Raj ka Gunda Raj

The Mumbai police has told the Bombay high court that it has not found any evidence against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray in connection with the violent agitation by his party for enforcing Marathi signboards in shops. Joint Commissioner of Police K L Prasad, in an affidavit, has also said the letters written by Raj asking shopkeepers in the city to put up Marathi signboards “do not make out any cognisable offence” as per law and judiciary separtment’s opinion. The Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association had moved the high court in August seeking to restrain MNS from indulging in violence over the signboard issue. At the last hearing, the court had asked the government why no action was taken against Raj Thackeray. The hearing of the case has been adjourned till November 29. Earlier, Prasad’s remarks about Mumbai that the city does not belong to anyone’s father had triggered an angry reaction from Raj Thackeray.

The Jewel of Medina, a story of Ayesha, Prophet Mohammed’s third wife penned by American author Sherry Jones in the form of historical fiction, has been objected to by some Muslims in the United States. The book was published in America on October 6 but its publication in Britain has been delayed fearing protests. Muslim groups allege that the book is blasphemous and have branded the author an enemy of Islam. The controversy is getting quite like the Danish cartoon controversy which raised protests from many Islamic countries and India. According to American think-tank Stratfor, “The tone of the book is not the real issue. To many Muslims, not only is it offensive to ridicule Mohammed but it is forbidden and considered a dire insult to portray the Prophet in any way outside the context of Islamic writings. This insult is magnified when Mohammed is depicted having intimate relations with his wife, a revered figure in Islam who is referred to in many Islamic writings as Um ul Mumineen (Arabic for ‘Mother of the Believers’). Because of this, in all probability many Muslims — not just a few radicals — will find the book offensive.” Stratfor quotes an associate professor of Islamic history at the University of Texas at Austin who said Muslims would find the book very offensive. He has likened it to soft-core pornography. However, the author and publisher have argued that the book respectfully portrays Prophet Mohammed and his relationship with Ayesha — in stark contrast to the Danish cartoons that sparked so much protest and violence. Random House scrapped its plans to publish the book in the US because they thought Muslims could find book’s contents offensive. Later, Beaufort Books announced its publication. The book has been published in Serbia where it has drawn criticism. The book was withdrawn from the market in Serbia but, pirated copies are available. On September 27, according to the Stratfor report, three men were arrested outside the house of British publisher Martin Rynja of Gibson Square. They were reportedly forcing a small incendiary device through the front door mail slot of the home, which also serves as the headquarters for Gibson Square publishers. Three men were arrested shortly after the incident and have been charged in connection with the crime. The suspects reportedly have indicated that the attack was indeed related to the publication of The Jewel of Medina. In view of the past experience of controversies over Salman Rushdie’s Satanic Verses and Danish cartoons, Stratfor thinkers Fred Burton and Scott Stewart argue that “The Jewel of Medina has the potential to cause problems for many years. Though this issue might fade quickly from public consciousness in the West, the subject matter of the book has the potential to inflame Muslim activists again in the future.” Stratfor claims that in the case of the Prophet cartoons, Pakistani religious leaders admitted that they intentionally stirred up emotions connected with the publication of the images after the initial furore died down. It is thus quite possible that The Jewel of Medina will be used in the same way, but this timeframe could span decades. In the case of The Satanic Verses, large-scale protests condemning the book and Rushdie occurred as recently as fall 2007, 19 years after the novel’s publication.” Stratfor writers claim, “We are not necessarily predicting an immediate open season on Sherry Jones or the publishers of the book, but precautions should obviously be taken to prevent them from becoming the next Theo van Gogh [the Dutch film-maker who was killed for making a controversial film on Islam]. And as the ancillary attacks in the Rushdie case (among others) have shown, other people also can become victims, and violence can be channelled in unexpected ways and appear in unexpected places.” On the wider implication of the book the Stratfor report concludes, “When it comes to perceptions of blasphemy and other affronts that some see as warranting death, fatwas often are carried out with extreme brutality — and those targeted have not always been directly associated with the initial offence. Considering past examples and the probable emotions The Jewel of Medina will raise in the Islamic world, revenge for offended religious sensibilities might be brutal, and it might be a long time coming.”

While the downturn in Aviation sector and issue of Jet Airways lay off have become the biggest talk in India, the Air India is reportedly planning to give 3-5 years leave without pay to around 15,000 of its total staff. According to PTI sources, it was confirmed by Air India CMD Raghu Menon on Thursday. Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel later clarified that there won’t be any job cuts within Air India and the employees would be taken back on the same pay if they desire to return after the specified leave period.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray gave an ultimatum to Jet Airways to reinstate all sacked employees within 48 hours. Raj threatened Jet Airways of dire consequences if the airlines fails to comply with his ultimatum. Jet Airways has already fired 800 employees and is planning to sack another 1,100 within a few days. Meanwhile, the ruling CPI(M) in West Bengal has openly supported the sacked employees and decided to block all Jet Airways flights from Kolkata if the airlines does not reinstate the sacked employees with immediate effect. Shiv Sena in Mumbai has also supported the terminated Jet Airways employees. Meanwhile, the Centre has sought a detailed report from the Labour Secretary on Jet Airways lay off issue.

 

Congress men kills innocent in Assam

Police used helicopters to spot armed mobs attacking armed Muslims in troubled Assam on Tuesday, where clashes between

indigenous tribesmen and settlers have left 47 people dead and tens of thousands homeless.

Police said four people died from their wounds overnight. More than 85,000 people have lost their homes and are being

sheltered in government camps after the clashes broke out last week between mainly Hindu tribesmen and Muslim

Bangladeshi settlers in the oil and tea-rich state.

“At least 47 people had lost their lives so far,” said R.N. Mathur, Assam’s police chief. Muslims have responded with big violence as well, he said.

The clashes have reignited a long-simmering conflict as local Assam tribes, mainly Hindu but with some Christians, fear

being overrun by Muslim immigrants. More than 40 percent of Assam is now Muslim, mainly immigrant settlers.

The violence is some of the worst since 1983, when more than 2,000 people, mainly Bangladeshi immigrants, were killed in

clashes with tribal peoples in central Assam.

The current conflict was sparked by an increasingly strong student movement that has been campaigning against

immigrants, analysts say.

Police said fresh clashes were being reported from southern Assam where at least 25 rubber plantation workers were

attacked by Muslim settlers in Goalpara district.

Mathur said an additional 500 federal police had been deployed in the state where hundreds of security forces were

already trying to control the situation.

He said helicopters were being used to spot movement of mobs in remote areas.

“It is not possible to have static security posts in each and every village, so we have intensified patrolling in remote

areas,” said Himanta Biswa Sarma, a minister supervising security and relief measures.

These clashes are the latest bout of violence to hit India. In Orissa, clashes between Hindus and Christians over

conversions have killed at least 36 people.

In Assam, officials have blamed the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), a tribal separatist group, for being

behind the violence. Security forces have caught four NDFB militants with weapons in the violence-hit area.

The NDFB, a largely Christian group, has held to a ceasefire with New Delhi over the past few years and has denied the

charge. Tribal groups blame New Delhi for neglecting their welfare, ignoring development of the region and flooding the

area with outsiders.

Ringed by China, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Bhutan, India’s northeast is home to more than 200 tribes and has been racked

by separatist revolts since India gained independence from Britain in 1947.

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New Delhi, October 6: Reacting sharply to Amar Singh raising questions over the death of Delhi Police Inspector Mohan

Chand Sharma, who was killed in an encounter in New Delhi, the slain Sharma’s family refuses to accept a cheque given by

the SP leader.

The Inspector’s father Narottam Sharma said he was sad at the comments made by Singh, who has given a cheque of Rs ten

lakh to the family after the officer’s death.

“We will not accept the cheque. He is talking rubbish,” the senior Sharma said.

Raising questions over the encounter in Jamia Nagar in which the Inspector and two suspected Indian Mujahideen

terrorists were killed, Singh has said Sharma was transferred from Special Cell before the encounter took place.

Singh, who offered a cheque to Sharma’s family, had also visited Jamia Nagar and demanded a judicial probe into the

encounter.

“My son was not transfered from Special Cell. Who told him? How can a responsible leader like him can say such things?”

Sharma asked.

Delhi Police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat also said Sharma was not transfered from the Special Cell, the elite anti-terror

wing of Delhi Police.

Meanwhile, a group of people protested outside Singh’s residence at Lodhi Colony here and shouted slogans against the

Samajwadi Party leader for his comments on Sharma.

I Think Amar singh is big motherfucker.

==========================

Getting a bogus ration card issued in the name of Maharashtra Chief Minister may not be a big deal if one is to go by

the claim made by a social activist, who says he has already done it.

Sanjay Dhutadmal, a member of Bahujan Vikas Adhadi at Nigdi near Pune, has handed over a ration card issued by the

authorities, to Pune Divisional Commissioner Nitin Karir, which shows the name of Chief Minister Vilasrao Dagduji

Deshmukh as the family head with a matching list of dependents – wife Vaishali, sons Amit, Ritesh and Banti.

The activist alleged he paid Rs 2,000 to the officials concerned to get the card issued last month without submitting

any required documents pertaining to residential proof.

Dhutadmal said he undertook the operation to expose corruption in the ration office after getting many complaints of

malpractices in issuing bogus cards.

The card, copies of which were distributed to the media on Wednesday, shows Deshmukh’s residential address as Sector No

25, Pradhikaran, Nigdi, district Pune.

Karir said an inquiry would be conducted into the alleged incident.

 

Enemies of India

Enemies of India

(1) Pseudo-secular Hindus (these are the worst enemies, most of the Hindu politicians and their supporters fall into this categories)

(2) Communists

(3) Christians

(4) Muslims

(5) Congress.

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Jayanthi Natarajan joined Congress (I) during the 1980’s.

During the 1990’s, she defected to the Tamil Manila Congress (TMC) founded by G. K. Moopanar. She made several anti-Congress(I) remarks during that period. She shamelessly continued to be an MP of Rajya Sabha on Congress(I) ticket. Congress(I) threatened her with disqualification. Then she resigned from Rajya Sabha.

She was even a minister in the United Front government.

After the death of G. K. Moopanar, she jumped back to Congress(I).

There are several stories about her. It would be improper to write about them here.

She is one of the most unscrupulous politicians in India.

She is fit for ban from Indian politics for all the disservice she did to the people of India.

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Congress party is fit for ban.
Congress party is the most anti-Indian party.
Congress leaders are most corrupt and most unpatriotic people in the country.
Congress party has been systematically ruining our country.
Congress is the most COMMUNAL party in the country.

Indira Gandhi imposed emergency on this country.

Rajiv Gandhi (Gandu) reversed Shah Bano judgment of Supreme Court for his minority appeasement politics.

Manmohan Singh said Muslims have first right on country’s resources and he introduced 27% OBC quota. Several Congress state governments provided reservations for Muslims. Manmohan shamelessly says both India and Pakistan are victims of terror.

So far, Congress did not hang Afzal Guru, the terrorist who attacked the Parliament of India.

Several times, the Congess party bribed the Members of Parliament to stay in power at the centre.

Several times, the Congress party at the centre dismissed the non-Congress state governments by fraudulently imposing Article 356 on them.

Congress party indulged in pseudo-secular politics and destroyed the secularism of this country.

Congress party is anti-Hindu, pro-Islam and pro-Christian. Congress party is appeasing minorities and destroying the majority community. Congress is practicing divide and rule policy of Britishers in a much worse way.

Ban Congress party, the dirtiest political party on this planet.

==================================================================

Y. Samuel Rajasekhara Reddy, the Christian Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, provided 4% reservation to Muslims.

He announced Holy Trip package to Christians on the lines of Haj pilgrimage of Muslims, so that the Christians can visit their holy places.

He also promised land for churches in every village in Andhra Pradesh, Rs. 5 lakhs monetary assistance for churches and free land for Christian pastors.

There is also a proposal to provide reservation for Christians.

Many Christians don’t reveal their true religion, while applying for jobs. They pretend to be Hindu SC and ST and steal the jobs that must normally go to Hindu SC and ST candidates.

==================================================================

Christianity made you into an outstanding scoundrel and you believe all the lies spread by the Britishers and the cunning Christian missionaries.

Shame on you!

They successfully killed your soul.

A dead Christian soul!

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This kind of pseudo secularist tripe is not going to quell Hindu anger. Wherever we see, it is these other agents provoking the Hindus. Whether it is amarnath, ram setu, paininting of nude hindu deilties by a muslim, outright abuse of hindu gods by christian missionaries, killing of a swami or the king of them all, burning alive hindus in a train. this in a hindu majority country. and yet we have this pseudo scularist brigade trying desperately to equate hindu reaction to christian and muslim terrorists. why is there any doubt that this is a hindu country. the fathers of christian sit in france and make noises when christians cry foul, pakistan openly talks about indian muslims, but where is the hindu to go?

unless the borrowed and useless secularism of the west, which is built on basic christian values is replaced by a secularism that primarily respects hindu values, things will only get worse. cant b raman and his tribe see that?

==================================================================
the author conveneintly did not touch much on conversions.apart from this the chieftain of the christianity opened up a challenge when he was on government visit to india that he will see to it that the entire asia is being converted into christianity.when Mr.Raman writes so many things he conveniently forgets about the cause.the effect simply follows every cause.because of the idiotic meaning taken by the government (specifically the congress governemernt) that secularism means anti Hindu every ,comer to India tries to attempt harming Hindus and Hinduism. the government because of its anti hindu and the so called secularism will not come to the rescue of hindus and what is the way out.so only this vhp and bajrang dhall are to be encouraged by Hindus. let the govvernment take a true secular stand.let it punishes the culprits right from the beginning for the bombing, parliamnet attack. godhra train fire, attacks on kashmiri pandits and also let it stop the conversion of Hindus by the other religions , let it stop encouraging illegal migrants to india , let it deport all the foreign nationals living in India without naturalisaation etc etc.
when these much of problems were accumulated by the congress government with dishonest motives and iancation on vital points this government does not have any proprietory right to ask for explanation from orissa and karnataka governments for the violences erupted in the states.
It shpould explain to the world in an appealing way
==================================================================
Christians do not allow Dalit Christians into several churches all over India.

Dalit Christians are not allowed to bury their dead in the Christian burial grounds in Tamil Nadu.

==================================================================
Congress (UPA) govt is an anti-national party that works against the interest of majority to appease the minority. The news spread by media is so biased and misreported that it blows things completely out of proportion. If one church is attacked in retaliation to the misdeeds of the unscrupulous missionaries (which include abusing native religion, desecrating places of worship by denigrating other’s faith), it is portrayed as if thousands were attacked and killed…why…the Vatican is silently supporting this impious propaganda against ‘hindus’ (followers of sanatana dharma) just b’coz they cannot outweigh their faith with ours on merit…that is why they downplay the importance of native religion to brainwash the natives from following their faith and converting to a fake religion emanating from the mind of the hyper-excited white man. Recently Karan Thapar’s interview on CNBC was so biased against hindus and supportive of Christians (with Mr Beggar – Alyque Padamsee squealing and bawling “Christians were the ones who gave us education!!”). Such is the state of media in independent Bharat!! What can be said o freedom…our freedom fighters must be lamenting for having foregone their lives to free us from the clutches of white man just to see us returning to the same fold through thw white mans tactics (enforced religion and consequent treason to State)!!

==================================================================
Muslims and Christians have no tolerence. They are brutal, I am not telling this history clearly tells….crusades and jihad.

they never accepts any other religion.
narrow minded people…..kuvve ki mendak jaisa.

=====================================================================
Army and Special Operations Group of Jammu and Kashmir have killed a terrorist believed to be an Indian Mujahideen cadre hailing from Kovalam in Kerala.

Central agencies had been monitoring certain leads, which said a group of people hailing from Kerala along with Lashker-e-Tayiba’s support were trying to enter Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir through North Kashmir.

The information was shared with the army headquarters in the national capital and a plan was chalked out to nab the exfiltrating group with the help of the state police.

A terrorist identified as Shakeel Mohammed hailing from Kovalam was killed in the encounter that took place between Nine Para and Special Operations Group in Dever area of Lolab Valley in North Kashmir.

A hunt is on to track down terrorists who escaped after the encounter, sources said.

Shakeel is the first Keralite to have been killed in nearly two decades of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.

A photo identity card was found from his pocket besides some religious writings written in Malayalam, the sources said.

A team of Kerala Police is scheduled to visit Kashmir valley soon for carrying out the identification process of killed terrorist.

 

Todays Top news

WWE No Mercy Results – October 5, 2008 The 11th WWE No Mercy was held on October 5, 2008 at the Rose Garden in Portland (Oregon). The WWE No Mercy saw some nail biting finish and complete excitement. Here are the final results of WWE No Mercy 2008: ECW Championship: Matt Hardy beat Mark Henry by pin Women’s Championship: Beth Phoenix (with Santino Marella) beat Candice Michelle (with Santino Marella) by pin Rey Mysterio beat Kane by DQ Contender for World Heavyweight Title: Batista beat JBL by pin Contender for World Heavyweight Title: Big Show beat The Undertaker by KO/Referee Stoppage WWE Championship: Triple H beat Jeff Hardy by countering a pinfall attempt World Heavyweight Championship: Ladder Match – Chris Jericho (with Lance Cade) beat Shawn Michaels

5 killed, 80 injured in Communal Violence in Dhule, Maharashtra At least 5 people were killed and 80 others injured in violent clashes between Hindus and Muslims in Dhule in Maharashtra. The injured included 8 policemen and additional collector M Y Patel. The rioters burnt several houses, damaged hundreds of vehicles and looted shops. The communal clashes took place in Azad Nagar, Moglai, Gurudwara, Bhangar Bazar and Ekveera Devi Chowk in Dhule town. Curfew has been imposed in Dhule following the communal violence. Security forces have been put on high alert. The injured have been rushed to hospital to Dhule Civil Hospital. The trouble started when Muslims torn off banners of Hindu Rajashan Samiti that appealed people to attend a public meeting in Dhule.

Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari: J&K Terrorists are no Freedom Fighters In a clear deviation from the official line taken by Pakistani leaders since the partition, Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari said that militants in Jammu & Kashmir are no freedom fighters, but they are just terrorists. Asif Ali Zardari’s statement has surprised all both in India and Pakistan. Zardari also said that India has never been a threat to Pakistan. Nawaz Sharif’s PML(N) has strongly objected to Zardari’s statement and decided to take up this issue in the Parliament. There is an outrage in Pakistan over Zardari’s remarks against J&K militants. Both Congress and BJP have welcomed Zardari’s statement and saw it as a positive development towards improvement of relations between both countries. However, the communal People’s Democratic Party (PDP), an UPA ally, termed Zardari’s statement as unfortunate. PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti criticized Zardari and said that protesters in Kashmir cannot be termed as terrorists. If we read between the lines, she defended terrorists and terrorism.

Fight for Nano Project: Battle hots up between Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh Sunday has been hectic for Nano officials, as they visited both Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh to make a survey of sites available for the possible shifting of Nano Car project, which was pulled out of Singur, West Bengal. Both Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh governments have made a strong bid to welcome Nano project in their respective states. The Nano officials from Tata Motors held talks with the Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh governments on Sunday. Another state Gujarat has become a strong contender to bag Tata’s dream Nano car project. If there is someone who can easily overcome any challenges to make an industrial project possible in his state, it is none other than Gujarat CM Narendra Modi. His political and social clout in Gujarat may impress Ratan Tata to move his Nano project to Bhuj, Gujarat. According to sources, Tata officials will soon meet Gujarat government officials to discuss the matter. Other states such as Maharashtra, Haryana and Orissa also invited Tatas to shift their Nano project to their states. But the main battle is between Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat. Let’s wait and watch for the winner of this hot game. Whoever wins at last, the loser is West Bengal CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, whose investor-friendly image has taken a huge beating.

Curfew imposed in Srinagar, “Greater Kashmir” suspends publication from Sunday Kashmir is on boil again. Indefinite curfew has been imposed in all 10 districts of the Kashmir Valley to prevent people from taking out the march from Lal Chowk to LoC tomorrow. The separatist Coordination Committee (CC) has asked the people to reach Lal Chowk on October 6. Several separatist leaders including Jaffar Akbar Bhatt, Sajad Lone and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq have been put under house arrest. Meanwhile, Jammu & Kashmir’s leading newspaper “Greater Kashmir” has suspended its publications from Sunday following the denial of curfew passes. Another local TV channel has been taken off air by the government for allegedly showing hatred and divisive content.

Lakshmi Mittal loses £16.6 billion in Global Meltdown The global meltdown, which caused widespread crisis in many bigger firms across the world, has affected Steel Baron Lakshmi N Mittal too. According to media reports, Lakshmi Mittal has lost 16.6 billion pounds in the global credit crunch that crashed major stock markets in the world in the last few months. Another NRI businessman Anil Agarwal, also lost 2.7 billion pounds. Lakshmi Mittal was considered as the richest person in Britain before the global credit crunch happened. His stakes fell from 33.24 billion pounds to 16.63 billion pounds during this weekend. The report was published on Sunday Times.

Chamunda Devi Stampede Death Toll reaches 215 The Rajasthan government has put the death toll in the Chamunda Devi temple stampede at 215. The government has also announced a compensation of Rs. 5 lakh for the families of each dead. In addition, children who have lost their fathers will receive a payment of Rs. 4000 per month till adulthood. Children, who have lost only their mothers, will receive Rs. 1500 per month till their adulthood. Parents of the deceased will get Rs. 2000 per month. According to the Rajasthan government, families of victims and injured will get the benefits of health insurance, self-employment schemes and training facilities.

Communal Violence in Assam: 29 kiled, 70 injured With the death of four people in police firing on Sunday, the death toll in the communal violence in Assam reached 29. At least 70 people are reportedly injured in the clashes between tribal Assamese people and migrant Bangladeshis in the last couple of days. Shoot-at-sight order has been issued in Central Assam, as the violence spread to other parts of the state. Over 250 houses were burnt in Assam since the communal violence broke out. Udalguri was the worst-affected district. According to media reports, Pakistani flags were hoisted by the Bangaldeshi migrants in the trouble-torn areas of Assam. The violence was started by Bangaldeshi migrants, when they attacked local Bodos. The Bodos supported by other local communities retaliated, which triggered a widespread conflict between the two communities. Over 1,000 soldiers have been deployed to contain the violence. Curfew has been imposed in the troubled areas. The Union Home Ministry, which talked about the imposition of President’s Rule in Orissa over communal violence in Kandhamal, remains silent over Assam violence since the state is ruled by Congress.

’93 Surat Blasts: Former Gujarat Minister Mohammad Surti sentenced to 20 years Former Congress Minister from Gujarat Mohammad Surti and four other accused were sentenced to 20 years in prison in the 1993 Surat blasts case. Seven other accused were handed over a 10-year jail term. Mohammad Surti and other accused were convicted in the twin blasts in Surat, which killed a teenager girl and injured 31 in 1993. The blasts were conducted in retaliation to Babri demolition in 1992. The blasts had taken place in January 1993 in Varachha area and on the platform number one of Surat railway station during the communal riots. Mohammad Surti was a former minister of state for Fisheries. All accused belonged to minority community. The TADA court also slapped a fine of Rs. 5 lakh on Surti and other four other accused. One accused was acquitted due to lack of evidence. Eight accused are still absconding.

Rice meets Pranab, 123 Agreement to be signed later US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who arrived in India this morning, met India’s External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee in New Delhi. Both leaders later addressed a joint press conference and said that India and the US will soon sign the 123 Agreement to operationalise the civilian nuclear deal. External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said once the US President George Bush signs the bill, the process will be be complete and India will be in a position to sign the 123 Agreement. Condoleezza Rich gave a diplomatic statement – “There are no open issues left in the 123 Agreement”.

 

Master mind: Delhi Blast

Praveen Swami profiled Abdul Subhan Qureshi, the Indian Mujahideen’s bomb-maker, in The Hindu newspaper. Reproduced without permission of The Hindu (I am Really sorry). Less than forty eight hours before over thirty bombs tore Ahmedabad apart in July, Abdul Subhan Usman Qureshi caught an overnight train to Mumbai — and disappeared. Police forces across India, backed by the Intelligence Bureau, have made the hunt for the short, thin built man who the Ahmedabad bombers knew by the code-name ‘Kasim’, their top priority. Based on the interrogation of Shahbaz Husain, a Lucknow businessman alleged to have led the cell responsible for a string of urban bombings carried out by a Students Islamic Movement of India front organisation calling itself the Indian Mujahideen, investigators are now certain that Qureshi trained the bomb-makers who fabricated the bombs used in the terror offensive. Qureshi, police believe, was also the ‘al-Arbi’ who signed e-mail manifestos issued by the Indian Mujahideen after each bombing — a finding supported by forensic detectives, who have determined that the rounded-‘A’ which ‘al-Arabi’ used to sign the documents matches the rendering of the same character in his personal correspondence. Against the grain The story of SIMI’s top bomb-maker sits ill with the narrative often used to explain why Islamist terrorism has grown in India. Qureshi studied at a secular school, not a seminary. He, unlike many inner-city Muslims, enjoyed access to both education and economic opportunity. Most important, Qureshi’s political radicalisation seems not to have been connected to the win poles that marked the growth the jihad in India, the demolition of the Babri Masjid and the 2002 communal pogrom in Gujarat. Like many first-generation working-class migrants to Mumbai, Qureshi’s parents — who hailed from Rampur in Uttar Pradesh — took education seriously. Qureshi graduated from the Antonio DeSouza High School, a church-run institution which caters to children from all major religious communities in 1988, securing a more-than-reasonable secondary school certificate average of 76.6 per cent. Interestingly, Qureshi’s parents offered all their children access to educational opportunity — not just, as is common among religious conservatives, the boys. Qureshi’s sisters, Asma and Safia, have Masters of Arts degrees; none of his three brothers, who also well-educated, appear to have been drawn to SIMI or other Islamist groups. In the autumn of 1992 — months before Mumbai was hit by a murderous Shiv Sena-led communal pogrom which followed the demolition of the Babri Masjid — Qureshi began studies at the Bharatiya Vidyapeeth in Navi Mumbai. Neither the communal pogrom, nor the serial bombings which followed them, appear to have directly touched Qureshi’s life. In 1995, he obtained a diploma in industrial electronics, and landed a part-time job at String Computers in Mazgaon (northcentral Mumbai). Later, in 1996, he went on to earn a specialised software maintenance qualification from the CMS Institute in Marol (northwest Mumbai). Armed with these qualifications, Qureshi had little difficulty finding work. He joined Radical Solutions, an independent computer firm operating out of the upmarket Fort area in south Mumbai in November, 1996, on a starting salary of Rs 2,450 per month. By the accounts of his co-workers, Qureshi was an exceptional worker — an assessment that is borne out by his resume. Just three years into his professional life, Qureshi succeeded in quadrupling his pay. He handled several major independent projects, including an intranet implementation for Bharat Petro-Chemicals carried out by Wipro in 1999, and then landed a job with computer major Datamatics. But then, Qureshi suddenly decided to leave in his job. In his March 26, 2001, letter, he offered the firm only ‘wish to inform you,’ the letter read, ‘that I have decided to devote one complete year to pursue religious and spiritual matters.’ Qureshi’s friends and family claim to have no knowledge of what led him to make the decision. His family claims not to have met since SIMI was proscribed later that year. This seems improbable: Qureshi’s youngest child, with his wife Aafia, is, after all, just two-and-a-half years old. A career in terror Mumbai police investigators have begun to reconstruct Qureshi’s career in terror. No one is certain just how he was recruited, but by 1998, Qureshi appears to have been a committed SIMI activist. He was charged, that year, with defacing public property, by pasting SIMI posters. Later, he went on to edit one of SIMI’s house-magazines, Islamic Voice, from New Delhi. Police sources told The Hindu that Qureshi participated in SIMI conference in October, 1999. Sheikh Yasin, the head of the Palestinian Hamas and the Pakistan Jamaat-e-Islamic chief Qazi Husain Ahmad, were among those who delivered speeches, through telephone links. Seven-year-old Gulrez Siddiqui was reported to have been trotted out in front of the estimated 20,000-strong crowd to read out this couplet: ‘Islam ka ghazi, butshikan, Mera sher, Osama bin Laden (Warrior for Islam, destroyer of idols/My lion, Osama bin Laden).’ SIMI’s growing links with the global jihadist movement became increasingly clear in the months and years that followed. In January, 2000, for example, police in West Bengal arrested Chinese national Abdul Rahman just after he crossed the Bahirhat border with Bangaldesh. Investigators learned that Rahman, who had escaped from a prison in China’s Xinjiang region where he had been serving time for the murder of a police officer, had been brought to India to train Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives. His handlers Aziz-ul-Haq and Nazrul Islam were both SIMI members. Later, in May, 2001, eight SIMI members involved in an abortive plot to bomb the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s headquarters in Nagpur were found to have trained with the Hizb ul-Mujahideen in Jammu and Kashmir. By the time of SIMI’s 1999 Aurangabad convention, which Qureshi is believed to have helped organise, many of the speeches delivered by delegates were frankly inflammatory. “Islam is our nation, not India,” thundered Mohammad Amir Shakeel Ahmad, one of over a dozen SIMI-linked Lashkar operatives arrested in 2005 for smuggling in military-grade explosives and assault rifles for a planned series of attacks in Gujarat. Among those listening to the speech was Mohammad Azam Ghauri, one of the co-founders of the Lashkar’s India operations. Ghauri, some SIMI members present in Aurangabad say, was offered SIMI’s leadership, but refused. Qureshi was, investigators say, one of the principal organisers of SIMI’s last public conference in 2001. SIMI leaders told the estimated 25,000 followers who attended the conference that the time had come for Indian Muslims to launch an armed jihad which would have the establishment of a caliphate at its final aim. In the wake of the attack on the World Trade Centre in New York in September 2001, SIMI activists organised demonstrations attacking the United States of America for being an ‘enemy of Islam.’ SIMI literature hailed Osama as a ‘true mujahid (Islamic warrior‘ and celebrated the demolition of the Bamiyan Buddhas by the Taliban. Muslims were exhorted to ‘trample the infidels.’ Finding Qureshi — as well as figures like Qayamuddin Kapadia, the missing Vadodara based computer-graphics artist who police believe led the SIMI cell which targeted Surat(Kapadia has since been arrested) — could prove key to preventing the next big terror bombings. But the threat will not end with his arrest. Investigations of other SIMI-linked terror cells have thrown up evidence which suggests Qureshi trained several hundred recent recruits to the Islamist group’s terror cells, at camps held across India from 2007 onwards. India, it seems probable, will be compelled to live with this threat for many years to come.

 

Death toll rises in India blasts

Death toll rises in India blasts

The death toll in the serial bomb blasts that rocked the western Indian city of Ahmedabad on Saturday has risen to 49, police say. Indian PM Manmohan Singh is due to arrive in the city to assess the situation and visit the injured. Indian cities are on high alert as police hunt for those responsible for the blasts which wounded over 100. Ahmedabad was the scene of sectarian violence between Hindus and Muslims in early 2002 which left hundreds dead. Mr Singh will be accompanied by Congress Party leader Sonia Gandhi and the federal interior minister Shivraj Patil during his visit to Ahmedabad. Meanwhile, police say they have arrested one man and detained several people for questioning. On Saturday, 17 blasts struck residential areas, market places, public transport and hospitals within an hour. A number of unexploded bombs have since been found. It is thought the explosions were caused by crudely-made devices containing ball-bearings and other shrapnel, hidden in boxes and on bicycles. E-mail claim Local media reports say a little-known Islamist group, the Indian Mujahideen, has claimed responsibility in an e-mail to a television channel. Police have carried out a raid on a house near India’s financial capital Mumbai (Bombay), where they believe the e-mail originated from. A similar e-mail was sent to news channels by the Indian Mujahideen group after blasts in the western city of Jaipur in May which killed more than 60 people. The attack in Ahmedabad – Gujarat state’s commercial capital – came a day after several devices went off in the southern city of Bangalore. The government has deployed an extra 3,000 security personnel in Delhi, and other cities, including Mumbai and Jaipur, are on alert. The bombs in Ahmedabad were detonated with timers in two phases, the first at about 1830 (1300 GMT), officials said. The second series of explosions caught some victims and their helpers arriving at hospitals. At least two unexploded bombs were later defused in Ahmedabad and sent for forensic examination. Another two unexploded bombs were also found in the nearby city of Surat. India’s leaders have appealed for calm. President Pratibha Patil urged people to remain “steadfast in this testing time and maintain peace and harmony”. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also condemned the attacks, and urged people to remain calm and maintain communal harmony. Narendra Modi, the controversial chief minister of Gujarat, said the “land of Mahatma Gandhi has been bloodied by terrorists whom we shall not spare”. “Terrorists are waging a war against India. We should be prepared for a long battle against terrorism,” he warned. Mr Modi has been accused of failing to protect Muslims in the riots in Gujarat during 2002 in which at least 1,000 people – most of them Muslims – died, including many in Ahmedabad. The violence erupted when a fire broke out on a train carrying Hindu pilgrims, killing at least 59 people.

Police checks are being carried out at key sites across the country

Ahmedabad Bomb Blast Images…

 

Police out as torch hits Xinjiang

Security was tight as the Olympic torch began passing through China’s mainly Muslim Xinjiang region, on a highly sensitive part of its trip to Beijing. Police were out in force as the flame left People’s Square in the capital, Urumqi, on its run around the city. The torch will spend three days in the region, which is home to around eight million Muslim Uighur people. Ties between Chinese authorities and the Uighurs are tense. Officials fear separatists could target the relay. The relay has been moved forward by a week, in an apparent attempt to avoid unrest. The torch’s visit to another potential hotspot, Tibet’s main city, Lhasa, has also been moved up. Terror allegations In Urumqi, very tight security was put in place ahead of the relay. Police carried out vehicle checks and set up checkpoints in the normally busy city. Firecrackers were banned and many local people asked to stay away, reports said. People entering People’s Square had to pass through metal detectors while police searched their bags, AFP news agency reported. The majority of the crowd that gathered in the square were Han Chinese, the agency said. Many Uighurs resent the large-scale influx of Han Chinese settlers into the resource-rich region. Some groups are fighting to establish an independent Islamic nation, leading to periodic violence in Xinjiang. Beijing accuses the groups of links to al-Qaeda and this year claims to have foiled at least two Xinjiang-based plots targeting the Olympic Games. But human rights groups accuse the Chinese authorities of using the alleged terror links as a way of cracking down on the independence movement.

CHINA’S UIGHURS Ethnically Turkic Muslims, mainly in Xinjiang Made bid for independent state in 1940s Sporadic violence in Xinjiang since 1991 Uighurs worried about Chinese immigration and erosion of traditional culture

 

Police out as torch hits Xinjiang

Security was tight as the Olympic torch began passing through China’s mainly Muslim Xinjiang region, on a highly sensitive part of its trip to Beijing. Police were out in force as the flame left People’s Square in the capital, Urumqi, on its run around the city. The torch will spend three days in the region, which is home to around eight million Muslim Uighur people. Ties between Chinese authorities and the Uighurs are tense. Officials fear separatists could target the relay. The relay has been moved forward by a week, in an apparent attempt to avoid unrest. The torch’s visit to another potential hotspot, Tibet’s main city, Lhasa, has also been moved up. Terror allegations In Urumqi, very tight security was put in place ahead of the relay. Police carried out vehicle checks and set up checkpoints in the normally busy city. Firecrackers were banned and many local people asked to stay away, reports said. People entering People’s Square had to pass through metal detectors while police searched their bags, AFP news agency reported. The majority of the crowd that gathered in the square were Han Chinese, the agency said. Many Uighurs resent the large-scale influx of Han Chinese settlers into the resource-rich region. Some groups are fighting to establish an independent Islamic nation, leading to periodic violence in Xinjiang. Beijing accuses the groups of links to al-Qaeda and this year claims to have foiled at least two Xinjiang-based plots targeting the Olympic Games. But human rights groups accuse the Chinese authorities of using the alleged terror links as a way of cracking down on the independence movement.

CHINA’S UIGHURS Ethnically Turkic Muslims, mainly in Xinjiang Made bid for independent state in 1940s Sporadic violence in Xinjiang since 1991 Uighurs worried about Chinese immigration and erosion of traditional culture