CID constables arrested after bombscare in Siliguri

SILIGURI, WB, Aug 25: Two unclaimed briefcases containing bomb-like objects created a scare here this morning while four persons, including two CID constables, arrested earlier revealed that they had placed it to "create panic."

The briefcases containing electric wires, a clock, iron pipes and some bomb like objects were spotted by a labourer at a petrol pump at Hill Carter road at 5:30 am who immediately informed the police. The police cordoned off the area and the bomb squad was called.

Four persons, including two CID constables, arrested at 4.30 am from near the Indian Oil Corporation terminal at New Jalpaiguri for driving a car with a false number plate told interrogators that they had placed the briefcase near the petrol pump to create panic, Inspector General of Police (North Bengal) K L Meena told reporters.

They had also placed the briefcases in such a way that they were clearly visible, Meena said.

It was also yet to be ascertained why they were driving a car with false number plates, he said.

Meena, however, declined to say why the four had done this, but said that the hand of the militant Kamtapur Liberation Organisation could not ruled out.

While the CID constables were identified as Kailash Singha Roy and Biswajeet Mazumdar, the others were Paritosh Roy and Puran Biswakarma.

The police raided their houses and found similar objects as the ones in the briefcase.

Intelligence sources, however, claimed that one of the arrested CID constables, Kailash Singha Roy, was a KLO sympathiser and sold off seized explosives and bomb-making materials.

The sources said that eight bank passbooks had been found during a search of his residence.

Meena, however, said that it was to be ascertained why he was involved.

He said that there was similarity in today’s incident with that of a bombscare on August 14 at a school in neighbouring Jalpaiguri where firecrackers kept in a packet exploded. (PTI)

Judiciary and Legislature need to work
in harmony: Chatterjee

NEW DELHI, Aug 25: Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee has favoured setting up of Circuit Benches of the Supreme Court in different metropolitan cities besides a suitable number of benches of the State High Courts to ensure speedy disposal of pending cases.

Addressing the 9^{th G V Mavlankar Memorial Lecture on ‘Judiciary and the legislature under the Constitutiton’, he noted that this proposal is resisted by some sections of the Bar and the Bench claiming these reforms would affect the integrity and unitary character of the court.}

^{"To me these reasons are unconvincing and unrealistic and seen from the angle of the magnitude of the problem of arrears, the advantages for the people would far outweigh the perceived difficulties," Chatterjee said.}

^{Concerned at the mounting pendency of the cases at every level of the judicial system, he told the audience that there are 20 million cases pending in the district courts across the country besides more than 36 lakh cases in the High Courts.}

^{Reflecting on the relationship between the Judiciary and the legislature, Chatterjee said the Constitution provides for a close relationship between them not in a manner of controlling each other but of a mutually complementary working relationship which would necessarily be based on harmony.}

^{"Judiciary is conferred with certain powers to decide about the validity of the laws passed by the Parliament apart from deciding the disputes between the citizens. Our constitutional provisions have also enabled the judiciary to set aside not only laws passed by the Parliament but also executive actions not in consonance with the rights of citizens as the Constitution confers," said Chatterjee.}

^{He, however, cautioned against straying from the strict path of constitutional provisions in the well recognized scheme of separation of powers particularly hinting at the liberal recourse to the Public Interest Litigations (PIL).}

^{Quoting Justice Markanday Katju, he said judiciary should not be seen as running the Government.}

^{Describing Parliament as "people’s institution par excellence" through which executive accountablity is enforced, Chatterjee said "we have sustained a parliamentary system may be with some imperfections."}

^{The function was presided over by Acting Chief Justice od Delhi High Court Justice Vijender Jain. (PTI)}

International seminar on defence finance from Nov 13-15

NEW DELHI, Aug 25: With the aim to facilitate macro- analysis and assessment of security-related economic developments, Government is organising an international seminar on defence finance and economics from November 13 which will be attended by representatives of 24 countries.

"The seminar will facilitate macro-analysis and assessment of security-related economic developments as critical ingredients in the coordination of defence policy," Director of Centre for Technology Extension and Cooperation of DRDO Major General Umang Kapoor told reporters here.

Delegates from 24 countries, including the US, Britain, Australia, Israel and France, would take part in the three-day seminar to be inaugurated by Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

This is the first of its kind international seminar being organised in India that will deal with different issues including challenges in defence planning, financial management concerns in defence, defence research and development besides others.

Five top defence finance experts of the world - Paul A Brinkley (the US), Keith Hartley (UK), Elisabeth Skons (Sweden), Sir Kevin Tebbit (UK) and Michael Mattock (the US) are expected to participate in the seminar.

"The seminar will be a milestone in that quest to provide an institutional forum for stimulating a broad-based and objective exchange of information, expenses, reflection, assessment of new developments, major contemporary policy challenges and identification of new issues," Maj Gen Kapoor said. (PTI)

Gavit gets clean chit, Govt to probe tapes

NEW DELHI, Aug 25: With the CBI giving a clean chit to Minister of State for Home Manikrao Gavit over an alleged conversation with a jailed criminal, the Government today said an inquiry will be conducted to ascertain who actually talked to the prisoner.

Home Minister Shivraj Patil told the Lok Sabha that the CBI had collected tapes from Zee TV, which aired the report, and recorded statements of relevant persons.

The CBI also collected a voice sample of Gavit on tape in the presence of independent witnesses and experts of the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), he said.

"The voices on the tapes were examined on audio spectrography by experts who have opined that they do not tally and are not of the same person," Patil said. He laid the experts’ report on the table of the House.

Noting that it was important to first establish whose voice it was, he said an inquiry will now be conducted to ascertain who actually spoke.

Patil said it would be ascertained whether the person in jail was spoken to and if so, how could he have a telephone in prison. This will take some time, Patil said.

Zee TV had on August 13 aired an audio tape claiming that it contained a purported conversation between Gavit and a criminal in Bulandshahr jail in Uttar Pradesh.

After Patil’s statement, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee said Gavit has been exonerated and asked him to return to the House. Gavit, who was sitting in the back row, then moved to the front benches. (PTI)

Salem’s hearing adjourned till Sept 13

MUMBAI, Aug 25: The Special MCOCA court today adjourned till September 13, the hearing on a plea filed by extradited gangster Abu Salem alleging that Mumbai Police voilated extradition treaty.

Defence advocate Ashok Sarogi’s junior sought time for argument as matter has been filed in the Apex Court.

Maharashtra Control for Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) Judge Abhay Thipsay granted time and then adjourned the hearing till September 13.

Salem’s advocate Ashok Sarogi had moved an application in June this year stating Mumbai police violated agreement signed between Portugal and India at the time of his extradition.

He also stated in the application that Indian Government had brought his client here for conducting trial in eight cases only. Now, Mumbai police is interrogating him in some other cases, which were not mentioned in agreement signed between Portugal and Indian Government.

Major cases against Salem include serial bomb blast of 1993 in which hundreds of people were killed and several hundreds were injured. He was also booked for murder of builder Pradeep Jain, and private secretary of Bollywood actress Manisha Koirala, Ajit Diwani. (UNI)

Dutch envoy summoned, India conveys unhappiness

NEW DELHI, Aug 25: Taking "strong notice" of the arrest and detention of 12 Indians from a flight in Amsterdam, the Government today summoned the Dutch Ambassador here today and conveyed its unhappiness over the incident.

Hours after the Mumbai residents were released by the authorities in Amsterdam, Dutch Ambassador Eric Niehe was called to the foreign office by Secretary West Shashi U Tripathy (Rpt) Shashi U Tripathy and convyed the Indian Government’s stand on the matter.

"We have taken a strong notice of this development. It is not only unfortunate it should have never happened. We have asked for a detailed report from our mission in Holland," Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma told reporters.

The minister said the Dutch Government has expressed regret over the incident.

He said the Indian mission was compiling a report seeking details from Justice ministry in Holland. The Dutch Ambassador in Delhi was summoned by the foreign office.

Sharma said the Government was yet to get the full picture as to what happened.

The 12 freed Indians have already left for home and woule be in Mumbai by tonight.

"Our (Indian Government’s) views have been conveyed at the highest level to the Dutch Government. Our External Affairs Ministry officials have been in touch with the Dutch Government at the highest level. Our Ambassador (in The Hague) was also in touch with them. (PTI)

Big B’s portrayal of ‘Sexy Sam’ wows audiences, critics

NEW DELHI, Aug 25: His portrayal of the ‘sexy’ and ‘young-at-heart’ sexagenarian Sam in Karan Johar’s ‘Kabhi Alvida na Kehna’, who believes in living life to the fullest and wears his heart on his sleeves has endeared him to the audiences across the country and abroad.

At a time, when most of his contemporaries in the film Industry like Dharmender, Shatrughan Sinha or Vinod Khanna have either gone into semi-retirement or seen largely in grandfatherly roles in films, it seems life on celluloid has just begun for Amitabh Bachchan.

His portrayal of Sam in ‘Kabhi Alvida na Kehna’ has been hailed by critics as unique in the history of Indian cinema with the youthful fervour and vibrancy infused into the character by the Bollywood superstar. Trade analysts say audiences have fallen in love with the character of Sam played by Mr Bachchan who on the one hand, comes across as an incorrigible flirt while on the other he is also seen as an intensely emotional father whose heart bleeds when he sees his son’s marriage breaking apart.

Critics feel the beautiful combination of joviality and frivolity with pathos in Big B’s portrayal of Sam’s character puts him in the league of the best of Hollywood actors.

His ‘below-the-belt’ comments in the film in presence of his son kept audiences, specially in the cities, laughing in the ailes, providing the much-needed comic relief in the otherwise serious film.

At the same time, his emotional scenes like the one where he feels crestfallen seeing his son’s marriage break apart and the scene after the ‘Rock and Rock Soniye’ song where he suddenly gets emotional on watching his son and daughter-in-law (Rani Mukherjee) fighting make the audience’s relate with character.

Observers say Amitabh’s portrayal of the character of Sam in ‘Kabhi Alvida na Kehna’ is first of its kind in the history of Bollywood. In fact, Shahrukh Khan is said to have commented recently that he wished he would also get to play a character like Sam when he is 60.

In fact, they say that of all the characters in the film, Amitabh’s is the most endearing, apart from that of Abhishek Bachchan.

There is delay in Income Tax refunds in some cases: FM

NEW DELHI, Aug 25: Finance Minister P Chidambaram today admitted that there is delay in issuing of Income Tax refunds in some cases.

This is despite the streamlining of procedure for issuing of refunds and by comprehensive computerisation programme of the Income-Tax Department, Chidambaram said during the question hour in the Lok Sabha.

Some delay is caused due to shortage of manpower, he said adding in some cases verification of taxes paid or deducted is required causing delay in issuing of the refund till verification process is over.

However, the Department has put in place an effective mechanism for redressal of grievances relating to delay in refund, he said.

Details regarding delayed refunds are not maintained, he said adding normally returns are processed within four months and refunds are issued.

As much as Rs 29,435 crore was refunded by the Income Tax Department during 2005-06, Rs 28,514 crore during 2004-05, and Rs 25,737 crore in 2003-04, he said.

Income Tax Act provides for interest to the tax payer for delayed refund, the Finance Minister said adding the present rate of interest stands at six per cent per annum.

Drinking water: The Government proposes to approach the World Bank for assistance to three urban sector projects, which include a component of drinking water supply, Chidambaram said. (PTI)

Heavy water programme could be hampered
by shortage of fuel

MUMBAI, Aug 25: A mismatch between supply of fuel by the Uranium Corporation of India (UCIL) and demand triggered by India’s fast-expanding nuclear power programme could hamper the progress of the Pressurized Heavy Water (PHWR) programme, nuclear industry sources said.

Due to the shortage of fuel, the 12 PHWRs run by Nuclear Power Corporatiopn of India Ltd, a Public Sector Undertaking of Department of Atomic Energy, are running at 65 per cent capacity (the new 540 mw plants tapp units 3 and 4 running at full capacity but after four months may face problems due to fuel) and this would definitely reduce the profitability of the company, NPCIL sources said.

The mismatch has been created due to NPCIL’s demonstration to the world that it could have the power plant capacity upto 95 per cent and also its demonstration of reducing the gestation period of construction from 10 years to four and a half to five years, according to Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) sources.

NPCIL makes a net profit of Rs 1700 crore and 30 per cent of which is given to Government of India as dividend.

There was a lapse in planning and execution by the Department of Atomic Energy to meet the long-term needs of its utility company NPCIL," aec sources told PTI.

NPCIL showed its capability to operate the PHWRs at 95 per cent for three consecutive years till 2002-2003 but was forced to slowly reduce the capacity for the last three years to 80, 70 and currently to 65 per cent, its Chairman and Managing Director S K Jain told PTI.

"Once the new mill (ore processing plant) starts functioning, the upstream activity of nuclear fuel division will also be hastened and by 2007-8 "we should be able to once again operate at 80 per cent capacity," Jain said.

"I hope the centre takes initiative to speed up the long-term programmes of mining in Andhra Pradesh and Meghalya," he said.

A senior NPCIL official said 10 years ago no one imagined that the corporation will reach a fast moving programme with increased efficiency in construction and also in the plant operating capacity.

"But the dae should have taken note of it appropriately to hasten the upstream activities —like exploring of mines by the atomic mineral division, mining and extraction of the ore by UCIL and production of fuel bundles at Nuclear Fuel Complex (NFC)," the official said.

The normative levels of operation of these upstream activities are designed for 68 to 70 per cent capacity, he said.

"The two boiling water reactors (tapp units 1 and 2 ) with imported enriched uranium are running at 90 per cent capacity," the official said.

Under its expansion programme of Singhbhum thrust belt in Jharkhand, UCIL will Commission the most modern open cast mine at Banduhurang near Jamshedpur (with a low grade uranium ore) by the end of 2006 or by early 2007. Other mines under construction include that at Bagiata and Mohuldih.

Meanhwile, all eyes are on the upcoming uranium processing plant or mill at Turamdih adjacent to Turamdih mine near Jaduguda in Jharkand which will be commissioned by December this year to produce natural uranium ore at 3000 tonnes per day, according to Chairman and Managing Director of UCIL R Gupta.

PHWRs use natural uranium as fuel and heavy water as coolant and moderator.

Gupta told PTI that UCIL has also plans to enhance the ore extracting capacity to 4500 tonnes in a couple of years. "This mill has many new technologies and equipment with large scale automation and state-of-the art monitoring system and the uranium ore from Turamdih, Banduhurang and Mahuldih mines will be fed for processing".

The existing mine at Jaduguda has the capacity of 2090 tonnes per day.

On the most prospective project, Gupta said Rohili project in Rajasthan is likely to up uranium production in the country by four times. UCIL and amd have identified a few more sites in the country as prospective places which include Bhima Basin in Karnataka and Chhattisgarh Basin.

The Chief Exective of NFC in Hyderabad R N Jairaj said efforts are on to double the current capacity production of fuel to meet the fast-expanding programme of NPCIL. In the next one year, the capacity will be increased to 610 tonnes per year and in a couple of years to 800 tonne per year. Currently, NFC produces around 350 tonnes per year. (PTI)

Nests of great Indian bustard sighted in Kutch after a year

AHMEDABAD, Aug 25: Sighting of nests of the endangered great Indian bustard in Kutch Forest Region of Gujarat recently has given a ray of hope for the birds’ declining number in the state.

Nests of the majestic bird were spotted recently, after a full year at two places in Nalia region of the great Indian Bustard Sanctuaray, which is a two km grassland area, State Forest Department officials said.

"The nests were sited at two places. We could not find out how many nests there were as the mother was close by. However, the important thing is that the nest were spotted after a year and that could do good for the population", Kutch Forest Range Officer R K Meena told PTI.

According to official figures there are only 200 of these majestic birds remaining in the world of which 45 are in Gujarat and this makes the nest sightings even more crucial.

"One reason why the nests were sighted this year could be that the rains were very good as compared to last year when not a single nest was seen", forest officials said.

The great Indian bustard is a big and rather shy bird. Though a good flier, it prefers to walk. It loves open spaces and also roots and breeds in the open. It is the heaviest bird in India.

The forest official said one mother bustard is known to give one egg at a time and it take 45 days to hatch.

"We will keep a close vigil on the nesting areas so that we can keep a track of the birds right from the early stage and hope that their population rises from 45 to at least 50", he added.

"At one point of time, this majestic bird was very commonly found in the Kathaiawar Peninsula in Gujarat and one could find droves of 30-40 of them in suitable habitats most of the year", forest officials said.

However, the number of these birds started declining since mid-1990’s. Earlier, it was mainly poaching and habitat destruction that resulted in the drastic decline in the bird’s population but now mismanagement of the habitats, sentimental protection of certain problem animals and apathy could exterminate the species from India.

The Gujarat Ecological and Environment Research (GEER) foundation is also conducting a status survey of the highly endangered bird with a view to formulating a conservation startegy. (PTI)

Sonia dismisses reports about mid-term polls
as "speculation"

NEW DELHI, Aug 25: Congress president Sonia Gandhi today dismissed as "speculation" reports about mid-term elections in the backdrop of opinion surveys showing a considerably improved showing for the ruling party in the event of snap Lok Sabha polls.

"You yourself referred to mid-term polls as speculation ...... I don’t believe in opinion polls and surveys. I don’t take them seriously", she told reporters here.

Her comments came close on the heels of a "state of the nation" survey carried out by two media organisations predicting 240 seats for Congress if Lok Sabha elections were held immediately. It had also projected largest support to her for Prime Ministership.

Gandhi, who is also the CPP chairperson, attacked the BJP for its "disruptive tactics" during the monsoon session of parliament which concludes today. She said despite the "very depressing" behaviour of the BJP, the UPA managed to do work in the session. (PTI)