Crime Watch – Newsletter for December 9, 2010

‘Lockerbie bomber close to dying’

LONDON – A Libyan man convicted for the 1988 Lockerbie bombing in which 270 air travellers were killed is in a coma and may have only days to live, a media report said Thursday.

According to Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, the health of Abdelbaset al-Megrahi has “deteriorated badly”, the Daily Telegraph reported.
Gaddafi was speaking …. Original article  : ‘Lockerbie bomber close to dying’.

Maoists kill three in Orissa

BHUBANESWAR – Maoist guerrillas Thursday killed three people in Orissa, police said.

About 30-40 rebels dragged Henko Singh, 55, and Bisra Singh, 43, from their houses in Langalakata village and killed them in a forested area near the Jharkhand border, Superintendent of Police Diptesh Patnaik told IANS.
The rebels escaped into the forest after leaving … Read : Maoists kill three in Orissa.

Five Maoists held in Bengal

KOLKATA – Five Maoists have been arrested in West Bengals West Midnapore district, police said Thursday.

They included squad member Uttam Mandi who was wanted in several murder cases, Jhargram Superintendent of Police Praveen Tripathi told IANS over telephone. He was arrested Wednesday night from Jhargram.
Maoist leader Dilip Mahato and his associates Lakshmi Kanta …. Source article  : Five Maoists held in Bengal.

Tribal refuses to join Maoists, killed

BHUBANESWAR – Maoist guerrillas Thursday killed a man in Koraput district of Orissa after he refused to join them, police said.

About 30 rebels dragged 35-year-old Sambaru Huika out of his home in Odiyapentha village, about 500 km from here, took him to an abandoned house nearby and killed him, a police officer told IANS.
… Read more : Tribal refuses to join Maoists, killed.

No more aartis please, says blast victim’s father

VARANASI – An inconsolable Santosh Kumar Sharma, who lost his daughter Swastika in the blast two days ago, says the traditional ‘aarti’ ritual on the banks of the Ganga should be stopped due to the poor security arrangements by authorities.

Swastika was killed in Tuesday’s terror strike that took place at the Sheetla Ghat while … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : No more aartis please, says blast victim’s father.

Germany’s imams fear hate attacks

BONN – Imams have told a top German official that Muslims in Germany fear they may suffer hate attacks.

Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere responded with a condemnation, telling the panel of Islamic clergy in Bonn: “Arson attacks and graffiti on mosques can have no place in our society.”
One of the imams had just …. Source  : Germany’s imams fear hate attacks.

Man charged in plot to attack US military recruiting centre

WASHINGTON – A Maryland man was Wednesday charged in connection with a plot to attack an Armed Forces recruiting station in Catonsville, Maryland, the US Justice Department said.

Antonio Martinez, aka Muhammad Hussain, 21, of Baltimore, Maryland, was arrested Wednesday after attempting to remotely detonate what he believed were explosives in a vehicle parked in … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Man charged in plot to attack US military recruiting centre.

Rights groups threaten fast for Maoists’ release

KOLKATA – Demanding release of recently arrested senior Maoists, including state committee secretary Sudip Chongdar alias Kanchan, and withdrawal of forces from West Bengal’s Maoist-affected districts, civil rights groups here Wednesday threatened to hold indefinite fast from Friday.

“We will stage sit-in demonstration Dec 10 at Hazra Crossing in South Kolkata, protesting against the unlawful …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Two Somali-born men convicted for terror plans

STOCKHOLM – A Swedish court Wednesday sentenced two Somali-born men to four years each in prison for planning a terror attack in the troubled African country.

The two, aged 22 and 26, were linked to the radical Islamic al-Shabab militia and were convicted of planning a suicide attack in Somalia, the ruling said.
The five-member …. Source  : Two Somali-born men convicted for terror plans.

Maoist shutdown in Bengal evokes partial response

KOLKATA – The first day of the 48-hour shutdown the Maoists have called in West Bengal evoked some response in the Maoist-affected districts, police said.

The shutdown was observed successfully in Junglemahal areas (Maoist affected forested areas of three western districts – West Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura), but there were no reports of untoward incidents, …. Original article  : Maoist shutdown in Bengal evokes partial response.

Militants abduct 11 labourers in Tripura

AGARTALA – Separatist guerrillas have abducted 11 labourers from a bridge construction site in a village in Tripura, police said here Wednesday.

“Heavily armed NLFT (National Liberation Front of Tripura) militants raided a labourers’ temporary shed at Govindabari village Tuesday night and kidnapped 11 workers at gunpoint while others managed to escape,” police spokesman Nepal … Original source on Gaea Times at : Militants abduct 11 labourers in Tripura.

Two GNLA rebels held in Meghalaya

SHILLONG – Two Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) rebels were arrested Wednesday in Meghalaya’s East Garo Hills and arms and ammunition were seized from them, police said.

Bijoy M. Sangma and Wimbirth Ch Marak were arrested from Williamnagar, district headquarters of East Garo Hills, district police chief Sylvester Nongtynger told IANS.
He said two pistols, …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Six Maoists arrested in Bihar

PATNA – Six suspected Maoist guerrillas were Wednesday arrested in Bihar’s Gaya district, police said.

The rebels were arrested from a village under Barachatti police station in Gaya, about 100 km from state capital Patna, an official said.
Police also seized arms and ammunition from them besides cell phones and a
…. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Six Maoists arrested in Bihar.

Army captain, Lashkar militant killed in Kashmir gunfight

SRINAGAR – An army captain and a foreign guerrilla were Wednesday killed in the over 20-hour gun battle between the security forces and the holed up guerrilla in north Kashmir, police said.

A captain of counter insurgency Rashtriya Rifles, who was injured in the gunfight Tuesday, died of his injuries in the hospital Wednesday.
One …. Source article  : Army captain, Lashkar militant killed in Kashmir gunfight.

Bhatkal brothers behind Varansi blast: Police

MUMBAI – Riyaz and Iqbal Bhatkal of terror group Indian Mujahideen are responsible for Tuesday’s blast in Varanasi that claimed a small girl’s life, Mumbai Police Commissioner Sanjeev Dayal said Wednesday, adding that they were operating from Pakistan.

“The evidence gathered by the police in connection with the terror attack in Varanasi points to the …. Original source  : Bhatkal brothers behind Varansi blast: Police.

Police clueless about nature of Varanasi explosives

LUCKNOW – A day after a terror attack killed a minor girl in Varanasi, the Uttar Pradesh Police was Wednesday clueless about the nature of explosives that struck terror on the bank of the Ganga.

“We have not found any circuit, battery, remote-control device, shrapnel or splinters from the blast site. We are not able [..] Read the original article: here.

In mourning, Varanasi ‘aarti’ sees only one lamp

VARANASI – Breaking with the tradition, only one earthen lamp was lit during Wednesday evening’s ‘maha aarti’ here to protest against the previous day’s bombing that killed a girl child and injured more than 30 people.

And in contrast to the many hundreds who flock to the Ganga ghats to watch scores of ‘diyas’ float … Read more »»».

No specific input about Varanasi blast: Uttar Pradesh

LUCKNOW – The Uttar Pradesh government Wednesday refuted Union Home Minister P. Chidambarams claim that the state had been forewarned against a possible terrorist strike on the ghats of Varanasi like Tuesday’s blast that killed a small girl.

“There was no specific actionable input from central intelligence agencies regarding the blast that rocked the Shitla … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : No specific input about Varanasi blast: Uttar Pradesh.

Varanasi blast: Police clueless about nature of explosives

LUCKNOW – A day after a terror attack killed a young girl in Varanasi, the Uttar Pradesh Police was Wednesday clueless about the nature of explosives that struck terror on the bank of the Ganga.

“As of now we have not found any circuit, battery, remote-control device, shrapnel or splinters. We are not able to [..] Read the original article: here.

Varanasi terror e-mails tracked to Navi Mumbai

MUMBAI – Mumbai Police Commissioner Sanjeev Dayal Wednesday said that the e-mails claiming responsibility for the Varanasi blast of Tuesday evening were tracked to Navi Mumbai.

“The e-mails have been sent after hacking an unsecured WiFi (wireless internet) connection of Vashi township in Navi Mumbai, not from Mumbais western suburb Malad, Dayal told reporters.
Banned …. Original article  : Varanasi terror e-mails tracked to Navi Mumbai.