Crime Watch – Newsletter for January 26, 2011

Four held as probe begins into Lahore, Karachi blasts

ISLAMABAD – Four suspects have been held as investigations began into Tuesday’s bombings in Lahore and Karachi that left 15 people dead, a media report said.

Dunya TV reported that police have sealed the Lahore blast site near the revered shrine Data Darbar, where the saint’s 967th birth anniversary celebrations were underway.
The funeral of … Read : Four held as probe begins into Lahore, Karachi blasts.

Bihar celebrates 62nd Republic Day

PATNA – Bihar celebrated the 62nd Republic Day Wednesday, with Governor Devanand Konwar hoisting the national flag here at an event also attended by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

After unfurling the national flag, the governor lauded the government for initiating steps to combat corruption and crime.
“Without checking corruption, development cannot reach the common people,” …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Strike hits Republic Day in Meghalaya

SHILLONG – A shutdown called by a militant group affected life in Meghalaya Wednesday as the state celebrated Republic Day.

In Shillong, the state capital, Governor R.S. Mooshahary unfurled the national flag and took the salute at a ceremonial parade.
The celebration was marred by a shutdown called by the outlawed Hynniewtrep National …. Read the original article  : Strike hits Republic Day in Meghalaya.

Indian culture, military might unfold at R’Day (Second Lead)

NEW DELHI – India Wednesday celebrated its 62nd Republic Day, displaying its military might and vibrant cultural diversity, a spectacle witnessed by the country’s who’s who and tens of thousands of enthusiastic commoners on a grand boulevard in the heart of Delhi.

Among those who watched the parade at Rajpath with visible delight was Indonesian … Original article on : Indian culture, military might unfold at R’Day (Second Lead).

Chhattisgarh Police hunt for abducted colleagues

RAIPUR – Security forces combed the forests of Chhattisgarh Wednesday looking for five Chhattisgarh Armed Forces (CAF) personnel and a civilian abducted by Maoists a day earlier.

On Tuesday, the Maoists stopped a passenger bus in a forested belt in Narayanpur district in Bastar region and seized the men.
The security personnel were going …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Chhattisgarh Police hunt for abducted colleagues.

Northeast snubs separatists to celebrate R-Day

GUWAHATI – People in northeast India defied calls by separatist rebels to boycott Republic Day and joined the celebrations across the region amid a strike called by the militants Wednesday, officials said.

“It is heartening to find people coming to attend the Republic Day functions across the region despite calls by some militants to boycott …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Northeast snubs separatists to celebrate R-Day.

High costs ground Pakistan gunships in terror war

ISLAMABAD – The Pakistan military is struggling to maintain the ferocity of its campaign against the Taliban guerrillas in the tribal regions due to a resource crunch that has grounded its helicopter gunships, a media report said.

Resource constraints have put a halt to almost all operations against the Taliban barring few sporadic actions, an … Read : High costs ground Pakistan gunships in terror war.

Orissa vows to crush Maoists

CUTTACK – Orissa celebrated Republic Day Wednesday, with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik pledging to crush the Maoists.

Accusing the guerrillas of obstructing development, Patnaik said after unfurling the national flag here that the government would surely overcome the Maoist challenge.
… Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Orissa vows to crush Maoists.

Maoists threaten Indian democracy: Governor

RAIPUR – Describing Maoists as “inhuman and a threat to Indian democracy”, Chhattisgarh Governor Shekhar Dutt said Wednesday that the country would crush the challenges of “violent forces”.

In his 20-minute speech, Dutt said that Maoists had expanded their reach in the states border regions and jungle pockets and waged war against the Indian … Original article on : Maoists threaten Indian democracy: Governor.

Remote controlled bomb caused blast in Philippines

MANILA – A homemade remote-controlled bomb caused the huge explosion Tuesday in a passenger bus in a Philippine city, killing five people, an official said.

The massive explosion took place in Makati city in which 13 people were injured.
National Security Adviser Cesar Garcia said that the blast was caused by an 81mm mortar that …. Read the original article  : Remote controlled bomb caused blast in Philippines.

Interpol to help probe Moscow bombing

Moscow/Paris, Jan 26 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Interpol is ready to help Russia investigate Monday’s terrorist attack at Moscow’s Domodedovo airport, the organisation’s secretary general Ronald K. Noble has said.

“Our bureau in Moscow and all relevant Russian law enforcement officials can count on Interpol’s full support to bring those responsible to justice,” Noble said Tuesday.
According … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Interpol to help probe Moscow bombing.

US seek ouster of UN special rapporteur for 9/11 theories

NEW YORK – The US demanded Tuesday that UN Special Rapporteur Richard Falk be sacked, after he made controversial comments regarding possible US involvement in the Sep 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.

Falk, himself a US citizen, made comments that are “so noxious that it should finally be plain to all … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : US seek ouster of UN special rapporteur for 9/11 theories.

Ex-Guantanamo detainee gets life in US embassy bombings

NEW YORK – A US judge Tuesday sentenced former Guantanamo detainee Ahmed Ghailani to life in prison for his role in the bombings of the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998.

Judge Lewis Kaplan also ordered Ghailani to pay nearly $34 million in legal fees to the US District Court in Lower Manhattan …. Read the original article  : here.

India faces money laundering, terror financing risks: IMF

WASHINGTON – As a leader among the emerging economies in Asia with a strongly growing economy and demography, India is facing a range of money laundering and terrorist financing risks, according to a new International Monetary Fund (IMF) report.

“India continues to be a significant target for terrorist groups and has been the victim of …. Read the original article  : here.

Five Chhattisgarh cops abducted, searches launched

RAIPUR – Maoists stopped a bus in Chhattisgarh’s restive Bastar region Tuesday and abducted six passengers, including five policemen, on the eve of the Republic Day. Police have launched combing operations in the thickly forested area to rescue the six.

The passengers were abducted from an interior pocket in Narayanpur district, about 350 km south …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Five Chhattisgarh cops abducted, searches launched.

PM condemns Moscow terror attacks

NEW DELHI – Strongly condemning the terrorist attack at Moscow’s airport, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday conveyed his deep anguish to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and underlined the need for India and Russia to work together to combat extremism.

In a message to Medvedev, Manmohan Singh expressed his deep anguish and condemnation of the …. Read the original article  : here.

India calls for collective global action against terror

NEW DELHI – Highlighting the growing global profile of India and its ongoing stint at the UN Security Council, President Pratibha Patil Tuesday called upon the international community to take collective steps to eradicate terrorism and stressed on New Delhi’s dialogue with its neighbours to create stability in the region.

“Terrorism poses the single …. Original article  : India calls for collective global action against terror.

15 killed in suicide blasts targeting Shiites in Lahore, Karachi (Third Lead)

ISLAMABAD – At least 13 people, including a woman and four policemen, were killed and over 50 others injured in a suicide bomb attack in Lahore Tuesday evening during a religious procession of Shiite Muslims, while two people lost their lives in a police van explosion in the port city of Karachi, officials said.

An … Original article on : 15 killed in suicide blasts targeting Shiites in Lahore, Karachi (Third Lead).

Explosives seized from Maoist hideout

RANCHI – A huge cache of explosives was recovered from a Maoist hideout in Jharkhand’s Chatra district Tuesday, police said.

Acting on a tip-off, police raided a house at Sonpur Bigha village under Huntergaj police station and recovered 150 kg of ammonium nitrate and 20 kg of gelatine sticks.
According to police sources, …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

13 killed in suicide blast in Lahore Shiite procession (Second Lead)

ISLAMABAD – At least 13 people, including four policemen, were killed and over 50 others injured in a suicide bomb attack in Lahore Tuesday evening during a religious procession of Shiite Muslims, officials said.

A woman was among the victims in the blast that took place near the concluding point of the religious procession at … Original article on : 13 killed in suicide blast in Lahore Shiite procession (Second Lead).