Crime Watch – Newsletter for December 17, 2010

Muharram Procession Targeted By Terrorists

PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN (GaeaTimes.com)- A Muharram procession that was taken out in the city of Peshawar in Pakistan on Thursday was struck by tragedy when it was targeted by terrorists who carried out a vicious attack that killed one and left many injured. The deafening bomb blast rocked the Yadgar Chowk area of the city … Original source on Gaea Times at : Muharram Procession Targeted By Terrorists.

“Grim Sleeper” Photos Recovered By Police

LOS ANGELES (GaeaTimes.com)- The notorious criminal “Grim Sleeper” might bring an end to his crime now. He has escaped the police for several years after a prolonged 14 years of passivity. However, the Los Angeles police, after conducting a three day search in his property, recovered 180 photos of different women. Now, the police …. Source  : “Grim Sleeper” Photos Recovered By Police.

Mortar attack kills six in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD – At least six people were killed and eight injured Friday in a mortar attack in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Geo News reported.

Around eight mortars were fired from the mountains of Orakzai Agency targetting different areas of Hangu town.
… Original source on Gaea Times at : Mortar attack kills six in Pakistan.

US drones kill 10 alleged militants in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD – At least 10 suspected militants were killed Friday and several more injured in two separate strikes by US pilotless aircraft in Pakistan’s restive tribal region along the Afghan border, security officials said.

The drone strikes took place in the Tirah and Lakai valleys of Khyber district, one of the tribal districts where Taliban … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : US drones kill 10 alleged militants in Pakistan.

WikiLeaks: India could be target of biological terror

LONDON – US diplomats were concerned that India could be the target of a biological terror attack, with fatal diseases such as anthrax being released into the country before spreading around the world, according to diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks.

The confidential cables revealed that a senior Indian diplomat told the US in 2006 that … Original article on : WikiLeaks: India could be target of biological terror.

VHP meet in Goa to discuss ’saffron terror’

PANAJI – The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) will discuss the issue of “saffron terrorism” at its international conference in Goa Jan 4-9, a top functionary said Friday.

VHP vice president Ashok Chowgule told reporters here that along with saffron terror, the meeting will also focus on Jammu and Kashmir and the construction of the Ramjanmabhoomi … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : VHP meet in Goa to discuss ’saffron terror’.

Maoists kill seven Forward Bloc leaders, workers in Bengal

KOLKATA – Seven Forward Bloc members, including a woman leader, were shot dead by suspected Maoist guerrillas in West Bengal’s Purulia district early Friday, police said.

“They were shot dead in Jhalda-I block area near the Ayodhya Hills. State police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel have rushed to the area,” Purulia Police Superintendent …. Read the original article  : Maoists kill seven Forward Bloc leaders, workers in Bengal.

WikiLeaks cables detail torture on detainees in Kashmir

LONDON – US diplomats were secretly briefed by staff of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) about the systematic abuse of detainees in Kashmir, according to diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks.

The dispatches reveal that US diplomats in Delhi were briefed by ICRC in 2005 about the use of electrocution, beatings and sexual … Read more »».

Hindu radical groups big threat to India: WikiLeaks quotes Rahul

LONDON – Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi last year told US Ambassador to India Timothy Roemer that “the growth of radicalised Hindu groups” may be a “bigger threat” to India than support to some Islamic terror groups from the Muslim community, according to diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks.

Rahul Gandhi told Roemer that although “there …. Source  : Hindu radical groups big threat to India: WikiLeaks quotes Rahul.

Terrorists safe havens in Pakistan must be eliminated: Obama

WASHINGTON – Asserting that the terrorist safe havens in Pakistan must be eliminated, US President Barack Obama Thursday said he will travel to Islamabad next year to further US goals in the war torn region.

While Islamabad increasingly recognizes the danger of confronting militants along Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan, “progress has not come fast enough,” …. Original source  : Terrorists safe havens in Pakistan must be eliminated: Obama.

Gains against Taliban in Afghanistan are ‘fragile’, says Obama

WASHINGTON – A report released Thursday on President Barack Obama’s Afghan strategy said progress has been made in turning back the Taliban, but cautioned the situation remains “fragile” and that the challenge remains to make the gains “durable” and “sustainable”.

The White House-led report concluded that the orginal goal of beginning withdrawals of US soldiers …. Source  : Gains against Taliban in Afghanistan are ‘fragile’, says Obama.

Al Qaeda leader hiding in Yemen: report

CAIRO – An al Qaeda leader who was reported killed in Pakistan, is alive and hiding in Yemen, the regional newspaper al-Sharq al-Awsat reported Thursday.

The newspaper said Fahd al-Quso al-Awlaki met with its reporters in a mountainous area in Yemen’s southeastern Shabwa province, where he is being protected by the al-Awalek tribe.
Al-Awlaki, who … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Al Qaeda leader hiding in Yemen: report.

The ‘real’ Sarabjit has been arrested, claims family

PANCHKULA – Family members of Sarabjit Singh – the Indian who is on death row in Pakistan – say a criminal arrested here Thursday is the one responsible for the blasts which Pakistan has blamed on Sarabjit.

Panchkula police arrested Manjeet Singh Rattu in connection with a case of fraud registered here a few months … Read more : The ‘real’ Sarabjit has been arrested, claims family.

One killed, 26 hurt in Peshawar blast

ISLAMABAD – One child was killed and 26 others, including four women and eight children, were injured in a bomb blast in Pakistan’s Peshawar city Thursday.

The blast, which took place in the city’s Yadgar Chowk, targeted people who were going to their homes after their Ashura procession concluded.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : One killed, 26 hurt in Peshawar blast.

US still on course for July 2011 Afghanistan pullout

WASHINGTON – The United States is still on course to start withdrawal from Afghanistan in July 2011 despite “fragile and reversible” progress against insurgents, an official review of the US strategy in Afghanistan and Pakistan shows.

The review, set to be formally released by President Barack Obama later Thursday, says the US strategy will continue …. Source  : US still on course for July 2011 Afghanistan pullout.

Karzai, Obama hold telephone talks

KABUL – Afghan President Hamid Karzai and US President Barack Obama agreed Thursday that military gains had been made in Afghanistan, the presidential palace in Kabul said.

The two leaders held a telephone conversation ahead of a much-awaited statement by the White House on a review of its policy in Afghanistan and Pakistan expected later [..] Read the original article: here.

Roadside bomb kills 14 Afghan civilians

KABUL – Fourteen Afghan civilians were killed and four injured when a bomb hit a minivan in the western Afghan province of Herat Thursday, a government spokesman said.

“A roadside bomb hit a civilian passenger van and killed 14, including women and children,” said Shafiq Behrozyan, a spokesman for the province’s governor.
Four others were … Read more >>>.

Six suicide bombers arrested in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD – Six suspected suicide bombers have been arrested from two places in Pakistan and a huge cache or arms, including suicide jackets, recovered from them, ahead of the Shia community’s Ashura procession, officials said.

Three suspects were arrested Thursday in Quetta in Balochistan province. Two suicide jackets, 28 hand grenades, four rockets and 20 …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Six suicide bombers arrested in Pakistan.

Six killed in drone attack in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD – At least six suspected militants were killed Thursday when a US drone fired missiles in Pakistan’s northwestern tribal areas bordering Afghanistan.

The militants were killed in Spin Darang area of Khyber agency, Express TV reported.
…. Read the original article  : Six killed in drone attack in Pakistan.

Assam allows ULFA chief’s bail plea, facilitates peace talks

GUWAHATI – Jailed chairman of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) Arabinda Rajkhowa is all set to step out of prison as the government prosecutor Thursday did not oppose his bail petition, a step seen as an official attempt to pave the way for peace talks.

The government of Assam is planning to … Read more : Assam allows ULFA chief’s bail plea, facilitates peace talks.