The Tribune – Slain DSP’s vehicle recovered

Mohit Khanna, Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, February 5. Slain Moga DSP Balraj Singh Gill’s vehicle (Chevrolet Optra) was found 2 km from the crime site, near Bolloke village late tonight.

Meanwhile, the DSP’s father today lashed out at the police, complaining that instead of nabbing the criminals, it had been indulging in the character assassination of his son to “hush up” the case.

The DSP and Monica Kapila, an industrialist’s wife, were found murdered in a farmhouse on Hambran road on Wednesday.

Lambasting police investigations, Kashmir Singh Gill, a retired BSF commandant, said instead of collecting evidence from the crime site, some officials had destroyed evidence.

“As I looked at the body of my slain son, a policeman washed the bloodstains from the floor. As a result, forensic experts failed to collect any fingerprints, which were vital to crack the case,” he said. He said instead of informing him about the incident, a junior officer had called up his son’s driver, instructing him to reach the Sahnewal police station.

“As we (Gill and the driver) neared Dhandari, we were asked to rush towards Hambran road. Before I could reach there, the family members of the deceased woman had already left, refusing to identify her,” said Gill.

He said he had requested the investigating agencies to find out if the woman would call up Gill’s friends, including a police officer in touch with the victim during the day of the incident.

“Why did the police not set up nakas on exit roads on being told of the crime,” he asked, alleging that his son could have been a victim of a larger conspiracy and demanded that his son’s friends who were in touch with him on the day he was killed be interrogated.

“My son left home at 5.30 pm and reached Narinderpal Singh’s office. He collected the keys of Narinder’s car and left for Sanjay Agnihotri’s farmhouse.We tried to contact him at 6:30 pm but his phone was switched off.

“We got worried and informed the police. Instead of informing us about the killing, Narinderpal called up my driver, instructing him to contact the ACP of Sahnewal,” said Gill.

Commandant Gill said no police official had visited the family to inform them about the progress in the case. “Instead, they have picked up my cook, the driver and two guards for questioning.”

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120206/punjab.htm#2

The Tribune – Delay in SGPC chief’s election: Akali MPs to call on PM

Naveen S Garewal, Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 5. A delegation of Akali MPs will meet Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on the issue of election of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president. The SAD core committee, that met here today, expressed concern at the delay in the matter and termed it as a “deliberate and unwanted interference” by the Centre in Sikh affairs.

The SGPC House was constituted on December 5, but a notification calling the House to elect the SGPC president is yet to be issued.

In the meantime, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has decided a petition in favour of Sehajdhari Sikhs who were denied the right to vote in the September 18 elections.

The federation is demanding that the SGPC House be nullified and fresh elections be held before the SGPC president is appointed. It is also demanding that an administrator be appointed to run the SGPC affairs till the elections are held again.

After core committee members expressed displeasure at the delay in completing the SGPC election process, it was decided that a resolution be passed expressing the party sentiments on the issue and to convey the same to the PM.

Further, the committee discussed the Delhi Gurdwara Management Committee (DGMC) elections, which are to be held on March 11. The SAD has empowered SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal and Parkash Singh Badal to form various committees to chalk out the party’s campaign strategy.

A meeting will be held in Delhi on February 9 to discuss the issue of ticket distribution for the DSGMC elections. Senior SAD leaders from Delhi were present at today’s meeting. The DGMC has 55 members, nine of them nominated. In the last elections, the SAD had won 18 seats but with eight members defecting to the Congress-backed Sarna group, the party was left with 10 sitting members.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120206/main4.htm

The Hindu – Centenarian marathoner Fauja Singh does it again

He completes 10 km in 94 minutes in Hong Kong event

Hong Kong, 5 February 2012. After charming scores of fans with his amazing feats, centenarian British-Indian athlete Fauja Singh, surprised Hong Kongers, completing a 10-km run here on Sunday.

“The weather was very pleasant, I enjoyed the race very much,” Singh, popularly known as the “Turbaned Torpedo,” said after crossing the finishing line in one hour and 34 minutes.

Singh, who attributes his fitness to a healthy lifestyle totally insulated from cigarette and alcohol, raised 2,00,000 Hong Kong dollars (USD 25,800) for acharity through the event.

Ironically, even as Singh achieved the feat, a 26-year-old male runner fainted after completing the race and was declared “brought dead” in hospital.

Born on April 1, 1911, Singh claims to be the world’s oldest marathoner but has been denied entry into the Guinness World Records as he failed to produce his birth certificate.

Singh has participated in various international events including the 2003 London Marathon, where he recorded his current personal best time of 6 hours and 2 minutes.

He was given the “Pride of India” award last year by a U.K-based organisation.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2863484.ece

Netherlands 23 december till 2 January, Den Haag & Amsterdam

23 December 2011 – Brussel Zuid / Bruxelles Midi
Waiting for the train to the Netherlands

23 December 2011 – Brussel Zuid / Bruxelles Midi
Bombardier TRAXX engine to ‘pull’ us to Den Haag

24 December 2011 – Den Haag Holland Spoor
NS Southbound IC Doubledecker

24 December 2011 – Den Haag Holland Spoor
NS IC Doubledecker to Den Haag Centraal Station

To see more Belgium and Netherlands public transport pictures : http://www.flickr.com/photos/12445197@N05/sets/72157622685920411/

More Netherlands pictures to follow
Harjinder Singh
Man in Blue

The Tribune – Andaman and Nicobar Islands; Jarawas’ buffer zone to be expanded

Aditi Tandon, Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 5. At a time when new evidence has emerged of the alleged exploitation of protected Jarawa tribals inhabiting the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Centre is understood to be working on enlarging the buffer zone around the group’s settlements in the island UT.

At another level, the National Advisory Council (NAC) headed by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi has started working on a special and comprehensive policy on the protection and preservation of primitive tribal groups (PTGs), including the Jarawas in Andamans. In India, about 75 tribal communities have been classified as PTGs and they are spread across 17 states and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. PTGs are the poorest tribes among the listed Scheduled Tribes.

Speaking to The Tribune today, Harsh Mander, NAC member, said the existing Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Regulations, 1956, had failed to offer the level of protection and privacy that was expected for the tribals and a special comprehensive advice was now required on how to address the issue afresh in the light of recent happenings.

“It is very distressing to note what has happened in respect of Jarawa girls. The Protection of Aboriginal Tribes Regulations must be revisited. We will look at all primitive tribals and not just Jarawas though we will ensure that the new policy applies to Jarawas in the best manner possible and incorporates their experiences,” he said.

“We are talking of the Andamanese and the Sentinelese who are not able to survive ever since they came into contact with the world outside. Our policy must ensure their protection and we will work on the policy for the next four to five months,” Mander said.

This is the second time NAC is flagging the issue. Earlier in 2006, it had reported sexual abuse of Jarawa women and recommended policy interventions to ensure preservation and privacy of the tribe.

It was after NAC’s intervention that the amendment to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Regulations, 1956, was mooted. The same has now been put on fast track, with officials in the Ministry of Tribal Affairs saying one of the major proposals under the Act is enlargement of the buffer zone around the tribals.

“Increased buffer zone means increased private space for the tribals. It means preventing the outsiders from intruding upon the privacy of these tribes and laying down penalties for those who violate the mandated private space around Jarawa settlements,” officials said.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120206/main5.htm

Dawn – PM Gilani to Qatar to discuss Afghan peace

Islamabad, 6 February 2012. Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani heads to Qatar on Monday to discuss Afghan peace efforts in the ultra-rich Gulf state where the Taliban and US officials have begun preliminary contacts.

Pakistan, which last week sought to reach out to Afghanistan following a period of particularly bad relations over violence plaguing both countries, insists that any process to end the 10-year war in Afghanistan, be Afghan-led.

President Hamid Karzai is believed to have felt sidelined by contacts between the United States and the Taliban, who are leading an increasingly deadly insurgency against his government and 130,000 US-led foreign troops.

Islamabad has officially billed Gilani’s three-day visit to Qatar as an opportunity to boost ties and maximise trade.

“He will meet among others the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani and Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabr Al-Thani,” foreign ministry spokesman Abdul Basit said.

“The prime minister’s visit is aimed at opening new vistas for enhanced mutual cooperation and activating the existing structured mechanisms and institutional linkages,” he added.

The Taliban confirmed last month that they planned to set up a political office in Qatar ahead of possible talks with the United States. Contacts between both sides have already begun, focused on a possible prisoner exchange.

“There are certain ideas and suggestions on Afghan reconciliation and when Prime Minister Gilani meets Qatar’s leadership, these will certainly come under discussion,” a senior Pakistani official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

“The Americans have been briefing us on all developments aimed at pushing forward the peace process in Afghanistan and we have clearly told them that Islamabad strictly adheres to a policy of non-interference,” he added.

Pakistan’s role in Afghanistan is regarded with deep suspicion in Western capitals given its long-standing ties to the Taliban, Haqqani network and other fighters, whose leaders are based in Pakistan.

But for the same reason, no peace in Afghanistan will be considered lasting without Pakistan’s support and involvement.

Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said last week that Pakistan was willing to do whatever the Afghans wanted to end the war, but insisted the process should not be led by the Americans or any other foreign power.

The senior official said it was “important to engage all Afghan factions including Taliban in the process to achieve a lasting peace”.

Khar visited Kabul last week and sought to refute perceptions that Islamabad was an obstacle to peace, and denied accusations in a leaked Nato report that her country was secretly supporting the Taliban.

Kabul has given its blessing to the Taliban office in Qatar, but has insisted on a central role in any negotiations.

The militia has denied any plans to hold separate talks with the Afghan government in Saudi Arabia, which Pakistan had reportedly offered to assist.

Asked how Pakistan viewed the Taliban’s office in Qatar, the official said: “now they have an address and all those wanting peace can have a contact.”

http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/06/pakistan-pm-gilani-to-qatar-to-discuss-afghan-peace.html