Crime Watch – Newsletter for February 22, 2011

Maoist hostages: Orissa continues talks with mediators (Second Lead)

BHUBANESWAR – Intensifying efforts for release of a district collector and an engineer kidnapped by Maoists last week, the Orissa government for the third day Tuesday continued talks with the three mediators chosen by the rebels, an official said.

State Home Secretary U.N. Behera and Panchayati Raj Secretary S.N. Tripathy began the talks with the …. Original source  : Maoist hostages: Orissa continues talks with mediators (Second Lead).

Tribal student leader killed in Assam

GUWAHATI – Tribal militants Tuesday shot dead a leader of the influential All Adivasi Students Association of Assam (AASAA) in the state, officials said.

A police spokesperson said AASAA president Bosco Chermako was killed around 10 a.m. after being shot from close range near Jacobpur in Kokrajhar district of Assam, bordering West Bengal.
“Preliminary reports … Original article on : Tribal student leader killed in Assam.

Mediators meet top Maoist for Orissa hostages’ release

BHUBANESWAR – Two mediators Tuesday met a top Maoist leader, who was brought to a jail here to speed up negotiations for the release of a district collector and a junior engineer held hostage by Maoists since Feb 16, officials said.

“A special police team brought Ganti Prasadam from a jail in Koraput to Bhubaneswar … Read more »».

Hostage crises: Top Maoist brought to Bhubaneswar for talks

BHUBANESWAR – The Orissa government Tuesday brought here a top Maoist to speed up the negotiation process for the release of a district collector and a junior engineer held hostage by Maoists since Feb 16, officials said.

“A special police team brought Ganti Prasadam from a jail in Koraput to Bhubaneswar by road. Prasadam reached … Read more : Hostage crises: Top Maoist brought to Bhubaneswar for talks.

US drone strikes kill 15 militants in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD – Two US drone strikes Monday killed at least 15 alleged militants linked to Al Qaeda in Pakistan’s tribal region along the Afghan border, intelligence officials said.

An unmanned aircraft fired four missiles into a suspected Al Qaeda training centre in the early hours in Birmal area, 13 km west of Wana, the main …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

‘Perverse’ 26/11 attacker Kasab’s death penalty upheld for attacking Indian state (Intro Roundup)

MUMBAI – Terming the 26/11 mayhem an attack to destabilise the Indian state, the Bombay High Court confirmed the death penalty awarded to Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Amir Kasab for his extremely brutal, grotesque, diabolical, revolting role in the assault and noted that the case fell in the rarest of rare categories.

“He (Kasab) indulged in … Read more >>>.

Kasab waged war against India to destabilize the government, rule judges

MUMBAI – The strongest aggravating circumstance which nailed Pakistani terrorist Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab was the manner in which he waged war against the Government of India, the Bombay High Court noted Monday in its 1,215-page judgment while upholding the death sentence on the Pakistani terrorist.

The conspiracy was hatched in Pakistan with the objective …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Brutal, perverse, depraved Kasab a threat to society: Judges

MUMBAI – Confirming the death penalty awarded to Pakistani terrorist Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab for his role in the 26/11 attack, the Bombay High Court observed that he is “a threat to society” and committed murders of innocents in “an extremely brutal, grotesque, diabolical, revolting or dastardly manner”, exhibiting “extreme perversity and depravity.”

In their … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Brutal, perverse, depraved Kasab a threat to society: Judges.

12 killed in Iraq suicide attack

TIKRIT – At least 12 people were killed and 18 injured Monday in a suicide car bomb attack targeting security forces in Iraq, Xinhua reported.

The attack occurred in Salahudin province’s Samarra city, some 110 km north of Baghdad, when a suicide bomber rammed his explosive-laden vehicle into a military base belonging to a …. Original source  : 12 killed in Iraq suicide attack.

Hostage crisis: Government agrees to eight of 14 demands

BHUBANESWAR – Orissa has agreed to eight of the 14 demands made by the Maoists holding a district collector and a junior engineer hostage for the past five days, state Home Secretary U.N. Behera said Monday.

He added that the two officials, held hostage since Feb 16, are safe and are expected to be released [..] Read the original article: here.

Hostage crisis: Maoists move court for bail

BHUBANESWAR – Five hardcore Maoists, including ideologue Ganti Prasadam, moved a court for bail in Orissa Monday as the state authorities held talks with mediators for the safe release of a district collector and another official held hostage by the rebels for the past five days.

According to a defence lawyer, those who have … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Hostage crisis: Maoists move court for bail.

26 killed in Afghan suicide attack

KUNDUZ – A suicide bomber in the northern province of Kunduz killed at least 26 people and injured 37 inside a government building, an official said Monday.

The attacker detonated his explosives in the local statistics office at Imam Sahib district headquarters, Mohammad Ayub Haqyar, district governor of Imam Sahib, said.
The attack took place …. Source article  : 26 killed in Afghan suicide attack.

Orissa hostage crisis: Talks on, officials hopeful (Third Lead)

BHUBANESWAR – The district collector and engineer kidnapped by Maoists Feb 16 are safe and the situation may “soon” be resolved, Orissa Home Secretary U.N.Behera said Monday, the second day of the talks between the state government and the three mediators chosen by the guerrillas.

Stepping up efforts for the release of Malkangiri collector R. … Original article on : Orissa hostage crisis: Talks on, officials hopeful (Third Lead).

NATO airstrike kills six civilians, says Afghan official

KABUL – A NATO airstrike targeting a group of alleged insurgents mistakenly killed an Afghan family of six, an Afghan official said Monday.

“A rocket from a NATO airplane mistakenly hit a house, killing a couple and their four children,” said Ahmad Zia Abdulzai, the provincial governor’s spokesman. “Three Taliban fighters were also killed …. Original article  : NATO airstrike kills six civilians, says Afghan official.

Pro-Maoist activist held in Gyaneshwari train sabotage case

KOLKATA – A pro-Maoist activist was arrested in connection with the May 28, 2010 Gyaneshwari Express sabotage in West Bengal’s West Midnapore district in which 148 people were killed, police said Monday.

“Bablu Rana was one of the accused of the Gyaneshwari Express tragedy and named in the chargesheet produced by the Central Bureau of … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Pro-Maoist activist held in Gyaneshwari train sabotage case.

Ten dead in suicide blast at Mogadishu police camp

MOGADISHU – A suicide bomber detonated a vehicle at a police training camp in the Somali capital Mogadishu, killing at least ten people, government and police officials said Monday.

A suicide bomber in a vehicle entered a police station in the Hamar Jajab district, wounding a number of police officers, government official Ali Ibrahim said. …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Ten dead in suicide blast at Mogadishu police camp.

Hostages safe, discussion on: Orissa home secretary

BHUBANESWAR – Orissa Home Secretary U.N. Behera Monday said the two state officials kidnapped by Maoists Feb 16 were safe.

“All the issues they have raised ..we are discussing…they have assured us they (the hostages) are safe. We are very hopeful that it (the matter) will be sorted out soon,” Behera told reporters during the …. Source  : Hostages safe, discussion on: Orissa home secretary.

26/11 attacker Kasab’s death penalty upheld (Roundup)

MUMBAI – The Bombay High Court Monday upheld the death sentence awarded to Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Amir Kasab for his role in the 26/11 attack, closing another chapter in one of the most watched legal trials in the world and hailed as a triumph of the Indian legal system.

A division bench of … Read more : 26/11 attacker Kasab’s death penalty upheld (Roundup).