Crime Watch – Newsletter for February 18, 2011

Hostage crisis: Patnaik urges Maoists to extend deadline

BHUBANESWAR – Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Friday appealed to the Maoists not to harm the Malkangiri district collector and an engineer they are holding captive and urged them to extend their deadline that lapses in the evening.

“We are in the process of trying to establish contact. My appeal to the concerned persons is …. Read the original article  : Hostage crisis: Patnaik urges Maoists to extend deadline.

Cyber support for abducted Orissa collector

BHUBANESWAR – From colleagues to social activists to well-wishers, support poured in from all quarters on social networking website Facebook for the safe release of Orissa district collector R. Vineel Krishna, who was abducted by Maoists Wednesday.

Vineel, the district collector of Malkangiri, was abducted along with a junior engineer by Maoists in Chitrakonda area … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Cyber support for abducted Orissa collector.

Suicide bomber kills nine in Afghanistan

KABUL – A suicide bomber blew himself up Friday morning in Afghanistan’s Khost city, killing nine people and injuring 30, a police official said.

The incident occurred in the capital of Khost province, 150 km southeast of Kabul, Xinhua reported. “A suicide bomber blew himself up near a police checkpoint,” the official said. Most victims … Read more »»».

Orissa collector still hostage, Maoists snap road links

BHUBANESWAR – Amid hectic backchannel talks, Maoists in Orissa Friday snapped road links to Malkangiri and submitted a fresh set of demands to release the collector of the district who continued to be in their custody for the third successive day, police said.

R. Vineel Krishna, the district collector of Malkangiri, was abducted along with … Original article on : Orissa collector still hostage, Maoists snap road links.

US fears terrorists might provoke India, Pakistan conflict

WASHINGTON – US Defence Secretary Robert Gates worries about the future of Pakistan, fearing that terrorist groups might try to provoke a conflict between India and Pakistan to destabilise the country.

“I worry a lot about Pakistan. It has huge economic problems… They have a serious internal terrorism threat that is seeking to destabilise Pakistan …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Orissa begins backdoor talks with Maoists for collector’s release

BHUBANESWAR – After halting anti-Maoist operations, Orissa has began back channel discussions with the rebels as the 48-hour deadline given by them for the release of an Orissa district collector and an engineer they had abducted Wednesday neared, officials said Friday.

The rebels took Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer R. Veenel Krishna, the district collector … Read more : Orissa begins backdoor talks with Maoists for collector’s release.

US has no specific threat info on cricket World Cup

WASHINGTON – The United States has warned its citizens that while it has no specific threat information about the ICC Cricket World Cup in the Indian subcontinent, such large, high-profile events can be targets for terrorist attacks.

The warning came in a travel alert issued Thursday on safety and security issues related to the Cricket …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : US has no specific threat info on cricket World Cup.

Maoists abduct collector, Orissa agrees to talks (Intro Roundup)

BHUBANESWAR – A worried Orissa government halted anti-Maoist operations and agreed to negotiate Thursday, a day after the guerrillas abducted Malkangiri collector R. Veenel Krishna and a junior engineer in one of their most audacious acts in the state.

“We are not doing any operations. It has been suspended across the state,” a senior police … Read more : Maoists abduct collector, Orissa agrees to talks (Intro Roundup).

Varavara Rao appeals to Maoists to release Orissa official

HYDERABAD – Maoist sympathiser and revolutionary poet Varavara Rao Thursday appealed to Maoists in Orissa to release unharmed Malkangiri District Collector R. Veenel Krishna, who hails from Andhra Pradesh.

In an appeal made in Telugu and broadcast over All India Radio Thursday evening, Rao appealed to Maoists to set free the officer. He also …. Original article  : Varavara Rao appeals to Maoists to release Orissa official.

Orissa agrees to talks with Maoists for official’s release

BHUBANESWAR – The Orissa government Thursday evening said it is ready for talks with the Maoists for the release of the Malkangiri district collector abducted by the rebels a day earlier.

“The government is ready to hold dialogue on the matter,” state Home Secretary U.N. Behera told reporters.
“Instruction has been issued to halt …. Original article  : Orissa agrees to talks with Maoists for official’s release.

Militants misusing social networking sites: Antony

NEW DELHI – Defence Minister A.K. Antony Thursday said militants in Jammu and Kashmir and the northeast were misusing social networking sites and the government was planning to take steps to prevent such misuse.

“We know some people are misusing the (social) network (sites). At the same time, we are particular such misuse should … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Militants misusing social networking sites: Antony.

Malegaon blasts: CBI submits Aseemanand’s statement to court

MUMBAI – The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Thursday submitted a certified copy of the confessional statement of 2006 Malegaon blast accused Swami Aseemanand before a Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court.

While submitting the copy to Special MCOCA Judge Y.D. Shinde, CBI prosecutor A. Chimalkar said that it had not been made … Read more »».

Rights group asks Maoists to free abducted Orissa official

NEW DELHI – The People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), of which rights activist Binayak Sen is the vice president, Thursday asked the Maoists to immediately release the district collector they have abducted in Orissa.

The guerrillas kidnapped Malkangiri District Collector R. Veenel Krishna and a junior engineer early Wednesday when he was going to …. Read the original article  : Rights group asks Maoists to free abducted Orissa official.

Militants release WWF volunteers in Assam

GUWAHATI – Three volunteers of environmental group World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), who had been kidnapped by militants in Assam Feb 6, were released from captivity Thursday, police said.

A police spokesperson said the three male WWF volunteers were released Thursday morning by memebrs of the outlawed National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) near …. Source  : Militants release WWF volunteers in Assam.

Ban on night trains in Maoist areas extended

KOLKATA – Restrictions on movement of passenger trains during night in Maoist-affected areas of West Bengal, Orissa and Jharkhand will continue till Feb 24, a railway statement said here Thursday.

“In view of security reasons, running of the passenger trains on Kharagpur-Adra, Chakradharpur-Rourkela and Kharagpur-Tata sections will continue to be suspended 10 p.m. to 5 …. Read the original article  : Ban on night trains in Maoist areas extended.

Bid to bomb sensitive buildings foiled in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD – A bid to bomb sensitive buildings and key installations of the armed forces was Thursday foiled in the garrison town of Rawalpindi adjacent to this federal capital, a media report said.

Dawn TV reported that acting on a tip-off, police recovered two cartons containing explosives from the busy Mureer Chowk area of Rawalpindi.
…. Original source  : Bid to bomb sensitive buildings foiled in Pakistan.

Militants fire grenades at Kashmir security camp

SRINAGAR – Separatist guerrillas fired two rifle-propelled grenades at a camp of the counter-insurgency Rashtriya Rifles in north Kashmir’s Sopore town late Thursday afternoon. The grenades exploded without causing any damage.

The area has been cordoned off and search for the guerrillas launched after the attack at 4.15 p.m., an official said.
…. Source  : Militants fire grenades at Kashmir security camp.

Chhattisgarh had intelligence on Maoists’ abduction plan

RAIPUR – A day before Orissa Maoists abducted a district collector Wednesday, the police chief of neighbouring Chhattisgarh had warned his state’s chief secretary, on the basis of intelligence, of rebels’ plan to kidnap senior civil and administrative officials.

Vishwa Ranjan, director general of police (DGP) of one of India’s states worst hit by … Read : Chhattisgarh had intelligence on Maoists’ abduction plan.