The Tribune – NRI husband ‘hired’ contract killers to eliminate wife

Kulwinder Sandhu, Tribune News Service

Moga, February 28. The husband of Harpreet Kaur, a computer teacher, who was shot at in a Moga village on Monday by two unidentified assailants has been booked by the local police on charges of attempt to murder his wife.

An FIR has been registered against her husband Gurajit Singh and five unknown persons. Gurajit is settled in Canada.

A few unidentified gunmen fired shots at and injured Harpreet when she was going to her home in Ludhiana on a car on Monday. She is working at Government High School at Raonta village in Nihalsinghwala sub-division of Moga district.

She received two gun shots - one in her right eye and another in the right leg. She is undergoing treatment at the DMC hospital in Ludhiana.

Harvinder Singh, SHO, Nihalsinghwala police station, said a criminal case has been registered on the basis of the statement of the injured woman.

“She has stated that her husband, who lives in Canada, does not want to take her with him, while she insisted on going. He hired the killers to eliminate her,” the SHO said.

Preliminary findings revealed that Harpreet was married to Gurajit Singh, who hails from Raonta village and settled in Canada. Harpreet has claimed that after returning to Canada, she discovered that her husband had married another woman and now wanted her out of his life, the SHO said.

“We have searched the residence of Harpreet’s in-laws at their village, but found no one as the entire family lives in Canada.

We are searching for the youths hired by Gurajit who fired at Harpreet,” he added.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120229/punjab.htm#16

The Tribune – Sarabjit’s Case; Pakistan court seeks report from Interior Ministry

Lahore, February 28. A court in Pakistan has sought a report from the Interior Ministry in response to a petition seeking the release of Indian national Sarabjit Singh, currently on death row for his alleged involvement in bomb attacks in 1990.

Justice Manzoor Ahmad Malik of the Lahore High Court yesterday asked the Interior Ministry to file a reply by March 16, failing which the court would decide the matter on merit.

Sarabjit’s counsel Awais Sheikh had submitted a petition, seeking that his client be included on the list of foreigners languishing in Pakistan’s jails despite having served their sentences.

Sheikh had asked the court to issue directions in this respect to the Foreign Secretary and the jail superintendent of Kot Lakhpat Jail where Sarabjit is being held. The superintendent had earlier informed the court that though Sarabjit’s prison term had expired a year ago, his fate would be decided in the light of directions from the General Headquarters of the Pakistan Army and the Presidency.

The superintendent said he had written four times to the Inspectorate of Prisons and the Home Department of Punjab, seeking guidance on the issue in the light of these directions.

Sarabjit, imprisoned since 1990, was awarded the death sentence under the Army Act for his alleged involvement in four blasts that killed 14 persons.

He submitted a mercy petition to the army chief, but it was rejected with the direction that it be forwarded to the President. (PTI)

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120229/punjab.htm#4

The Asian Age – China may resort to Indian territory grab, says expert report

New Delhi, 29 February 2012. China may resort to territorial grabs, including through a ‘major military offensive’, especially in Arunachal Pradesh or Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir, and India should respond with ‘a strategy of quid pro quo’, says a report by an independent group of Indian analysts.

“Our frontiers with China have been mostly stable for some years now. However, China could assert its territorial claims (especially in the Arunachal sector or Ladakh) by the use of force,” says the report that seeks to outline a foreign and strategic policy for India in the 21st century.

“There is the possibility that China might resort to territorial grabs. The most likely areas for such bite-sized operations are those parts of the Line of Actual Control where both sides have different notions of where the LAC actually runs. These places are known,” says the report.

The report contends that India can’t ‘entirely dismiss the possibility of a major military offensive in Arunachal Pradesh or Ladakh’.

The report entitled ‘Non-Alignment 2.0: A Foreign and Strategic Policy for the 21st century’, was unveiled on Tuesday evening at a panel discussion at Hotel Ashok in which National Security Adviser Shiv Shankar Menon and his immediate predecessors M.K. Narayanan, currently West Bengal governor, and Brajesh Mishra participated.

“China will, for the foreseeable future, remain a significant foreign policy and security challenge for India. It is the one major power which impinges directly on India’s geopolitical space. As its economic and military capabilities expand, its power differential with India is likely to widen,” says the publication in a chapter entitled ‘The Asian Theatre’.

The debate on India’s options in dealing with an emerging China, among other things, has coincided with the two-day visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi to India that began on Wednesday.

The report goes on to say that in case of a military offensive or territorial grab, India will need ‘a mix of defensive and offensive capabilities’ to restore the status quo ante.

“Indeed, given the fact that the combat ratio and logistical networks favour China and that the attacker will always have the advantage of tactical (if not strategic) surprise, we will need a mix of defensive and offensive capabilities to leverage the advantages the terrain offers.”

The better way of responding to limited land grabs by China, the report suggests, is for India to take similar action across the LAC: a strategy of quid pro quo. These areas should be identified and earmarked for limited offensive operations on our part, the report recommends.

In the event of a major offensive by China, the report suggests India should not resort to a strategy of proportionate response.

“Rather we should look to leverage our asymmetric capabilities to convince the Chinese to back down.”

The report recommends that India must prepare itself to trigger an insurgency in the areas occupied by Chinese forces and to develop the capability to interdict the logistics and military infrastructure in Tibet.

The report outlines other strategies to counter the Chinese offensive which includes accelerating the integration of the frontier regions and its people by speeding up and improving communication infrastructure with the mainland and to expand naval capabilities in the Indian Ocean region.

“Due to the multiplicity of the agencies involved, there is need to establish a Maritime Commission. The crucial decision we face here concerns the quantum of additional resources that we must devote to developing our maritime power.”

The report has been co-authored by a group of analysts comprising Shyam Saran, former foreign secretary and special envoy to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh; Nandan Nilekani, chairman of Unique Identity Development Authority of India; Lt General (retired) Prakash Menon, military advisor to the National Security Council Secretariat; Sunil Khilnani, professor of history at King’s College, London’s India Institute; Pratap Bhanu Mehta, president, Centre for Policy Research (CPR); Rajiv Kumar, FICCI secretary general; Srinath Raghavan, senior fellow at CPR; and Siddharth Vardarajan (Editor, The Hindu). (IANS)

http://www.asianage.com/india/china-may-resort-indian-territory-grab-says-expert-report-356

Netherlands 23 december till 2 January, Den Haag & Amsterdam

28 December, Den Haag, Zuiderparklaan
Here this street crosses the Escamplaan/Apeldoorneselaan where RR 4 and Tram 6 run

28 December, Den Haag, Escamplaan/Apeldoorneselaan
HTM  Tram 6 to Leidschendam

 28 December, Den Haag, Apeldoorneselaan junction Dierenselaan
Randstad Rail takes the left fork
Tram 6 takes the right fork

28 December, Den Haag, Dierenselaan
Route of HTM Tram 6

To see more Belgium and Netherlands public transport pictures :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12445197@N05/sets/72157622685920411/

To see more Belgium and Netherlands gurdwara pictures :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12445197@N05/sets/72157622147381380/

More Belgium / Netherlands pictures to follow
Harjinder Singh
Man in Blue

The Tribune – Fishermen’s Killing; India, Italy stick to their stand on jurisdiction

Ashok Tuteja, Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 28. India and Italy today failed to resolve their differences over who should probe the killings of two Indian fishermen by Italian marines off the Kerala coast earlier this month.

The two countries, however, pledged not to allow the incident to cast a shadow on bilateral ties. External Affairs Minister SM Krishna held wide-ranging talks here this afternoon with visiting Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Maria Terzi di Sant’ Agata.

However, the February 15 incident in which the two Indian fishermen were killed is understood to have dominated the talks.

Addressing a joint press conference after their meeting, the two ministers were quite forthright in restating the positions of their respective countries. Italy is insisting that the incident should be tried according to international laws since it took place in international waters. India, however, maintains that since the incident involved an Indian vessel and those killed were Indian nationals, the two Italians would be tried under Indian laws.

“We met in the backdrop of an unfortunate incident involving the death of two Indian fishermen and the subsequent detention of two Italian navy personnel. There is strong public opinion on both sides,” Krishna said. He said the Italian minister had agreed that their two countries ‘need to clear the air’ so that their people were reassured of their will and commitment to strengthen the bilateral partnership.

Krishna said the relations between the two countries were mature and based on strong foundations. The Italian minister, who was here on a visit planned much before the February 15 incident, regretted the deaths but underlined that there were differences between the two countries over the jurisdiction issue. “I have explained frankly the position of our government on the legal aspect. International laws should try the Italian men. There is difference of opinion on this and it has not been resolved,” he said.

The Italian minister is also going to Kerala to meet the families of the two fishermen. He is also likely to meet Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.

Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister SM Krishna today thanked his Italian counterpart for assuring his personal attention to alleviate the difficulties being faced by members of the Sikh community in Italy. There have been reports of Sikhs being asked to remove their turbans at the security check at the Italian airports.

- Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Maria Terzi di Sant’ Agata regretted the deaths but underlined that there were differences between the two countries over the jurisdiction issue

- Agata said his government’s position is clear on the legal aspect. “International laws should try the Italian men. There is difference of opinion on this and it has not been resolved,” he said

- The Italian minister is going to Kerala to meet the families of the two fishermen

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120229/main6.htm

BBC News – Wikileaks: Pakistan army officials ‘knew of Bin Laden house’

Tuesday, 28 February 2012. Mid-ranking Pakistani army officials may have known that Osama Bin Laden had a safe house in Pakistan, leaked material appears to indicate.

The claim was made in e-mails allegedly from US-based security think tank Stratfor, which were published by the whistleblowing website Wikileaks.

Stratfor warned ahead of publication it would make no comment on whether the emails were authentic or inaccurate.

Pakistan’s government and military have denied knowing Bin Laden’s whereabouts.

The al-Qaeda chief was killed in the Pakistani garrison town of Abbottabad in May last year in a covert mission by US special forces.

The compound in the north-western town was demolished by Pakistani authorities last weekend.

One email from a senior Stratfor employee to colleagues is quoted as saying: “Mid to senior level ISI and Pak Mil with one retired Pak Mil General that had knowledge of the OBL arrangements and safe house.”

The messages go on to say that the names and specific ranks of these generals were unknown to the writer, but adds that US intelligence may have that information.

The emails allege that as many as 12 officials may have known, but says it is unclear exactly what position they may have had or even if they were retired personnel.

The information was allegedly obtained from material taken from the compound last May, according to the email exchange which took place in the weeks after the al-Qaeda chief’s death.

It is unclear if the information was passed to the Pakistani government but the employee is quoted saying “I would not pass the info to the GOP [government of Pakistan], because we can’t trust them.”

Stratfor’s computers were hacked by the activist group Anonymous in December. Stratfor boss George Friedman said at the time anyone looking for signs of a vast conspiracy would be disappointed.

“Having had our property stolen, we will not be victimised twice by submitting to questioning about them,” Stratfor said in a statement on the publication of the emails by Wikileaks.

Analysis, Gordon Corera, Security correspondent, BBC News

There has been intense suspicion over how much Pakistani authorities knew of Osama bin Laden’s whereabouts but never any definitive proof – or at least none that has been made public. There’s no smoking gun, as one Western intelligence official told me.

The Stratfor emails – if they are genuine – on the surface might appear to contradict that and seem remarkably specific about the details of who knew what. But the problem remains knowing whether they amount to real evidence.

The fact Stratfor itself never made more of the information might indicate that they were not sure of its truthfulness or had other information to contradict it. The claims could of course be true but one email from an un-named source to a private intelligence company that has been leaked is not really enough to constitute a smoking gun.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17188120

The Tribune – Hanspal takes up turban issue with PM; Gill wants direct payment to farmers for their produce

Prabhjot Singh, Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 27. From ban on turban in France to direct payment to farmers for their produce are the issues that have provoked two Rajya Sabha members from Punjab — one sitting and the other former — to seek immediate intervention of both the Union and the State government.

While former Union Sports Minister and sitting Rajya Sabha member Manohar Singh Gill has joined hands with the Punjab Farmers’ Commission Chairman, GS Kalkat, in supporting direct payment to farmers for their produce, former Rajya Sabha member and Punjab Pradesh Congress chief HS Hanspal wants Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to raise firmly the turban issue with the French Government.

HS Hanspal, who is a member of the National Commission for Minorities, says that now when India has decided to buy 126 advanced combat aircraft from France, it is time for the Indian Government to “take up turban issue of the Sikhs with the French Government.”

The UNHRC has asked the French Government to report by March 15 about measures taken by it to remove this violation.

“Jathedar of the Akal Takkht and various Sikh organisations from all over the world have taken serious view of the violation of religious rights. They all have threatened to intensify their stir for restoration of their turban pride. Overseas Sikhs also look towards the Indian Government as saviour of their religious rights,” Hanspal said in a letter to the Prime Minister.

Manohar Singh Gill has expressed his surprise that instead of a producer getting paid for the commodity he sold, payment is being made to third person. “It is an unprecedented situation,” says Gill holding that even chairman of the Farmers’ Commission GS Kalkat and a study by the Punjab Agricultural University supported direct payment to farmers instead of through commission agents.

Gill, who remained Financial Commissioner, Development, in Punjab, says, “Making payment to third party is perhaps legally untenable also. When the new government assumes office in the state next month, it should ensure that payment for the next crop of wheat is made directly to farmers than through commission agents.”

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120228/punjab.htm#6

The Hindu – Case filed against 4 NGOs for aiding Kudankulam protesters

The action came days after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had stated that non-governmental organisations have received support from abroad for leading protests

New Delhi, February 28, 2012. Tightening the noose on those opposing the Kudankulam nuclear project, the government has registered cases against four NGOs for allegedly diverting funds to fuel protests and deported a German national for assisting the agitators.

“Cases have been registered against four NGOs for violation of Foreign Contribution Regulation Act,” Union Home Secretary R. K. Singh told reporters here.

The action came days after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had stated that non-governmental organisations have received support from abroad for leading protests against the much-awaited nuclear power plant.

Bank accounts of the four NGOs have been frozen after an inquiry conducted by the Home Ministry reportedly found them diverting funds meant for charity to fuel the protests.

The cases were registered by the Crime Branch of the Tamil Nadu Police and the CBI. (PTI)

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2942708.ece?homepage=true

Netherlands 23 december till 2 January, Den Haag & Amsterdam

27 December, Viljoenstraat near to where we saw the building with the colourful roof in yesterday’s posting

28 December, Apeldoornselaan
HTM Tram 6 and HTM RandstadRail TramTrain 4 run here

  28 December, Apeldoornlaan
HTM RandstadRail TramTrain 4 to De Uithof

 28 December, Apeldoornlaan
HTM RandstadRail TramTrain 4 to De Uithof

To see more Belgium and Netherlands public transport pictures :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12445197@N05/sets/72157622685920411/

To see more Belgium and Netherlands gurdwara pictures :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12445197@N05/sets/72157622147381380/

More Belgium / Netherlands pictures to follow
Harjinder Singh
Man in Blue

The Tribune – Speed up river-linking: Supreme Court; Suggests setting up of panel to work out time-bound roadmap as project cost rises

R Sedhuraman, Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, February 27. Endorsing the view of experts, the Centre and “most state governments” that the ambitious project to link rivers in India was in “national interest,” the Supreme Court today directed the Centre to constitute a committee headed by the Water Resources Minister for planning and implementing it.

The committee would meet at least once in two months and submit its reports every six months to the Union Cabinet which “shall take all final and appropriate decisions,” a three-member Bench headed by Chief Justice SH Kapadia ruled while disposing of two PILs on the issue.

Acknowledging that the Supreme Court “may not be a very appropriate forum for planning and implementation of such a programme having wide national dimensions and ramifications,” the Bench, which included Justices AK Patnaik and Swatanter Kumar, said it was necessary for constituting the committee “to plan, construct and implement this inter-linking of rivers programme for the benefit of the nation as a whole.”

The committee will have as its members the Secretaries of the Water Resources and Environment and Forests, the Chairman of the Central Water Commission and the Member-Secretary of the National Water Development Authority. It would also have experts from the two ministries, besides the Finance Ministry and the Planning Commission.

“The Cabinet shall take all final and appropriate decisions in the interest of the country as expeditiously as possible and preferably within 30 days from the date the matters are first placed before it for consideration” by the committee, the SC clarified in the 44-page verdict.

Keeping in view the expert reports, “We have no hesitation in observing and directing that time is a very material factor in the effective execution of the Interlinking of Rivers project.

“It is directed that the Committee shall take firm steps and fix a definite time frame to lay down the guidelines for completion of feasibility reports or other reports and shall ensure the completion of projects so that the benefits accrue within reasonable time and cost,” the SC ruled.

At the initial stages, the project “may not involve those states which have sufficient water and are not substantially involved in any inter-linking of river programme and the projects can be completed without their effective participation.

The SC made it clear that the Committee “shall be responsible for carrying out the inter-linking programme. Its decisions shall take precedence over all administrative bodies.”

“We not only express a pious hope of speedy implementation but also do hereby issue a mandamus to the Central and the state governments concerned to comply with the directions contained in this judgment effectively and expeditiously and without default. This is a matter of national benefit and progress.

“We see no reason why any State should lag behind in contributing its bit to bring the Inter-linking River Program to a success, thus saving the people living in drought-prone zones from hunger and people living in flood- prone areas from the destruction caused by floods,” the apex court held.

Major river rows

Krishna-Godavari dispute: Involves Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa

Cauvery row: Relates to re-sharing of waters between Karnataka &Tamil Nadu

Ravi-Beas dispute: Involves Punjab and Haryana; started with the reorganisation of Punjab in 1966

Closer Home

Sutlej Yamuna Link canal was to link both Sutlej and Yamuna through a 214-km long canal, Haryana completed construction of its portion of the canal. Construction stopped on Punjab side since militancy days. Punjab Government in 2004 passed Termination of Agreements Act that ended all earlier water sharing agreements with neighbouring states.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120228/main1.htm