Crime Watch – Newsletter for February 20, 2011

Hostage crisis: Orissa begins talks with mediators

BHUBANESWAR – The two mediators, human right activists and academicians G. Haragopal and R. Someswar Rao, began negotiations Sunday with Orissa government officials on the release of a district collector and an engineer abducted by Maoists four days ago.

State Home Secretary U.N. Behera and Panchayati Raj Secretary S.N. Tripathy began the talks in the … Read : Hostage crisis: Orissa begins talks with mediators.

20 militants killed in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD – At least 20 militants were killed and 12 injured Sunday in Pakistan’s northwest tribal region by the police in a counter-assault that was launched after rebels attacked a police post.

A group of militants launched an attack on a police check post in the Bazai area of Mohmand Agency, a tribal area [..] Read the original article: here.

Prabhakaran’s mother dies in Sri Lanka

COLOMBO – The mother of slain Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) leader V. Prabhakaran passed away Sunday in a hospital, a media report said. She was 81.

According to Sri Lanka’s Daily Mirror newspaper, Parvathi Pillai died in Valvetithurai hospital in Jaffna where she was admitted last month due to several illnesses, including heart …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Prabhakaran’s mother dies in Sri Lanka.

Kasab weak, weary ahead of 26/11 verdict

MUMBAI – Pakistan terrorist Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab has withdrawn into a shell, has lost his ‘attitude’ and has not been feeling too well ahead of the Bombay High Court verdict Monday on his death sentence in the 26/11 terror attack case, his lawyer said here Sunday.

“He appears very weak and weary, probably he … Read : Kasab weak, weary ahead of 26/11 verdict.

Mediators reach Orissa for talks with Maoists

BHUBANESWAR – Human right activists and academicians G. Haragopal and R. Someswar Rao arrived in the Orissa capital Sunday to mediate with Maoists for the release of a district collector and an engineer who were abducted by them four days ago.

“Both have arrived and the negotiations will start soon,” a senior state intelligence department … Read more >>.

Pakistani Taliban issues video of ISI spy’s execution

ISLAMABAD – The Pakistani Taliban released a video Saturday of the shooting of a former officer of the country’s intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), who was kidnapped from the northern tribal region.

A Taliban militant is shown in the video firing at former ISI officer, Col. (Retd.) Sultan Ameer Tarar – also known as … Original article on : Pakistani Taliban issues video of ISI spy’s execution.

Orissa hostages safe, talks likely to start Sunday: officials (Roundup)

BHUBANESWAR/HYDERABAD – The Orissa district officer and junior engineer kidnapped by Maoists Wednesday are safe and in good health while formal negotiations with the rebels for their release are likely to begin Sunday after the mediators arrive, officials said Saturday.

State Chief Secretary B.K. Patnaik said: “As per the information available with us, the … Read more >>.

Eighteen killed in Afghan bank bombings

KABUL – Eighteen people were killed and 70 wounded Saturday after bombers targeted a bank in eastern Afghanistan, a government spokesman said.

Seven bombers stormed a branch of Kabul Bank in Jalalabad city, according to Ahmad Zia Abdulzia, spokesman for the provincial governor.
Two bombers detonated their explosives, while five others were killed in a … Original article on : Eighteen killed in Afghan bank bombings.

Mediator to leave for Bhubaneswar Sunday

HYDERABAD – Human rights activist and academic Hargopal will leave for Bhubaneswar Sunday to begin mediation for the release of Malkangiri District Collector R. Vineel Krishna.

Hargopal, who arrived here from New Delhi Saturday, held talks with the other mediator, R. Someshwar Rao, and Maoist sympathiser and revolutionary writer Varavara Rao.
The trio met at … Read more : Mediator to leave for Bhubaneswar Sunday.

Hostages safe, Orissa intensifies efforts for release

BHUBANESWAR – Two Orissa officials kidnapped two days ago by Maoists are safe and in good health in rebel custody as the state intensified its efforts to free the district collector and the junior engineer, a senior state official said Saturday.

State Chief Secretary B.K. Patnaik said: “As per the information available with us, the …. Read the original article  : here.