Saddam Hussein hanged to death

DUBAI, Dec 30: Saddam Hussein, who ruled Iraq with an iron fist for over a quarter century, was today hanged to death three years after he was deposed from power by the US and convicted for killing Shiites in 1982.

The 69-year-old former President, a staunch friend of India, was taken to the gallows and executed at 6 am local time (08.30 IST), Iraqi state-run television reported.

The dictator, who had plunged his country into a long fratricidal war with neighbouring Iran in 1980s and later invaded Kuwait in 1990 inviting US wrath, was hanged 56 days after a court convicted and sentenced him to death for his role in the killings of 148 Shiite Muslims from a town where some people allegedly planned to assassinate him in 1982.

The execution became imminent on Thursday after Iraq’s highest court rejected Saddam’s appeal and ordered carrying out the sentence within 30 days. A last-minute challenge from Saddam was rejected by a US Judge on Friday.

Last evening, his personal effects were removed and he was handed over by US officials to Iraqi Government authorities in preparation for the execution.

There were conflicting reports over whether his half-brother Barzan Ibrahim and Awad Hamed al-Bandar, the former chief justice of the Revolutionary Court, were also executed with him. While initial reports said they were also put to death, later reports quoting eyewitnesses said only Saddam was hanged.

State-run Iraqiya television news announcer said "criminal Saddam was hanged to death and the execution started with criminal Saddam then Barzan then Awad al-Bandar."

A doctor was present during the execution, which was filmed. The Iraqiya TV station aired national songs after the first announcement and had a tag on the screen that read "Saddam’s execution marks the end of a dark period of Iraq’s history."

US forces in Iraq were put on high alert and security beefed up at British and American missions particularly in the Gulf.

Saddam was in the middle of a second trial charged with genocide and other crimes for a 1987-88 military crackdown that killed an estimated 180,000 Kurds in northern Iraq.

An overwhelming number of Iraq’s Shiite majority were anxious to witness the execution of the man whose Sunni Arab-dominated regime targeted them for decades.

Before the hanging, a mosque preacher in the Shiite holy city of Najaf on Friday called Saddam’s execution "God’s gift to Iraqis."

On Thursday, two half brothers visited Saddam in his cell, a member of the former dictator’s defence team, Badee Izzat Aref, told AP by telephone from the United Arab Emirates. He said the former dictator handed them his personal belongings.

A senior official at the Iraqi defence ministry said Saddam gave his will to one of his half brothers. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media.

In a farewell message to Iraqis posted Wednesday on the Internet, Saddam said he was giving his life for his country as part of the struggle against the US "Here, I offer my soul to God as a sacrifice, and if he wants, he will send it to heaven with the martyrs," he said.

As he was led to the gallows at Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone, Saddam with his hands bound behind him showed no visible signs of tension, Iraqi officials said.

Saddam’s last words before execution were a plea and a warning to the Iraqi people. "I hope you will be united, and I warn you not to trust the Iraqi coalition, because they are dangerous’. He said he was not afraid of anyone," Judge Moneer Haddad, who witnessed Saddam’s execution for crimes against humanity, was quoted by AFP.

Saddam’s taunt was apparently aimed at Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s Shiite-led ruling coalition, which many Iraqi Sunnis accuse of being a front for Iranian influence.

The dictator’s life ebbed out as the trapdoor dropped, bringing to an end the era of a rebel Arab leader who had contempt for the other rulers in the Gulf and revelled himself in taking on the Americans.

Saddam’s two co-accused —his half brother and intelligence chief — were convicted of crimes against humanity by an Iraqi court on November 5.

Saddam’s Jordan-based defence team, which largely boycotted the year-long trial, made one last desperate attempt by going to court in the US to demand that the ousted despot remain in US military custody.

But US authorities in Baghdad insisted that the detainees have been under Iraqi legal authority for more than a year and were only being held in an American military base as a simple security precaution.

In the Shiite holy city of Najaf celebratory gunfire erupted all around the city immediately after the verdict.

Security officials fear a backlash, however, from hardline factions among Iraq’s Sunni minority, including the Islamist and nationalist militant groups that make up the deadliest elements of Iraq’s violent insurgency. (PTI)

Father shoots son in Sayeedakadal
SHO, civilian gunned down in Pampore

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Dec 30: In a broad daylight attack, militants have gunned down Station House Officer (SHO) of Police Station Pampore, alongwith a civilian, and left four more persons injured. Meanwhile, in a unique incident of its kind, a father has fired upon his son with a licensed gun in Sayeedakadal locality in the capital city here today.

Informed sources told the EXCELSIOR that suspected militants opened fire on SHO Pampore, Inspector Manzoor Ahmed, at a crowded marketplace in Pampore township on Srinagar-Jammu national highway at 1145 hours today. SHO Manzoor, his PSO Constable Chand Mohammad, a local mutton dealer Jan Mohammad Ganai S/o Abdur Rehman Ganai R/o Kadalbal besides two other civilians, namely Mohammad Shafi Wagay S/o Mohammad Rajab Wagay of Kadalbal and Munir Ahmed Wani S/o Ghulam Rasool, sustained injuries. As the shootout caused panic in the market and the injured were rushed to hospital, Inspector Manzoor and Jan Mohammad Ganai succumbed to injuries.

Sources said that militants opened fire when a large number of people had gathered at the market for the routine Eid shoppings and the Police party, led by SHO Pampore, was patrolling the area. Officials said that Inspector Manzoor had a high profile in planning and conducting counter-insurgency operations and he had also worked with Special Operations Group (SOG) of J&K Police. He had earlier survived two militant attacks.

Later, security forces conducted a search operation in Kadalbal locality but failed to get any clue about the militants responsible for the death of SHO and the civilian. Residents said that troops thrashed a respected and renowned physician of the saffron town when he ignored their signal at Galandhar crossing late in the afternoon.

Meanwhile, in a bizarre incident one Nazir Ahmed Akhoon opened fire from his licensed 12 bore rifle on his 16-year-old son Abid Ali Akhoon in Zaildar Mohalla of Sayeedakadal locality near Rangar Stop in the capital city today. Abid was rushed to SKIMS Soura where doctors treated him and he was declared out of danger. He has been hit in his forehead. Sources said that the family which has been rearing and selling pigeons had a dispute over a bird which resulted into a heated exchange between the father and the son. In an impulsive rage, Nazir picked up the gun and fired upon his son. Later, Police registered an FIR, arrested Nazir Ahmed Akhoon and seized the weapon. Sources said that the licence was found in the name of Nazir Akhoon's father, Ali Mohammad Akhoon S/o Safdar Ali Akhoon.

PTI adds:

Security forces arrested a militant of Lashkar-e-Toiba in Handwara area of Kupwara district

The LeT militant was apprehended near the Bus Stand at Vadipora in Handwara last evening, he said.

He said a hand-grenade, a wireless set, three electric detonators, one kilogram of explosive, one election card and a mobile phone were recovered from the possession of the arrested militant.

Execution unfortunate, says India

NEW DELHI, Dec 30: Describing the execution of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein as "unfortunate", India today said it was "disappointed" over the development.

New Delhi, which had earlier opposed Hussain’s execution, hoped that the event will not affect the process of reconciliation and restoration of peace in the trouble-torn country.

"We had already expressed the hope that the execution would not be carried out. We are disappointed that it has been (carried out)," External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said in a statement.

"We hope that the unfortunate event will not affect the process of reconciliation, restoration of peace and normalcy in Iraq," he said.

The Government had earlier expressed opposition to Hussein’s execution and cautioned that no steps should be taken which could delay restoration of peace in the troubled country.

"It is our hope that the sentence will not be carried out and the former President’s life would be spared," External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna had said on Monday after an Iraqi appeals court upheld the death sentence to Hussein.

New Delhi had hoped that "no steps" would be taken which "might obstruct the process of reconciliation and delay restoration of peace in Iraq."

The ousted Iraqi President was sentenced to the gallows on November 5 this year for the 1982 killings of 148 people in a Shiite town after an attempt on his life there. (PTI)

Wealthy businessman behind serial killing of children

NOIDA, Dec 30: Wealthy businessman Mohinder Singh Pandher has emerged as a key player in the gruesome serial killing of children by his servant Satish that came to light after the discovery of the skeletal remains from his house in a posh locality here.

As 17 skulls and other human remains were dug out from a dry drain adjoining Pandher’s house, heads began to roll in the police.

While five police officials belonging to the police station of the area, where over 30 children had been reported missing in the last two years, were suspended, the current SHO was transferred out.

Under attack over the handling of the entire issue by the police, Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav said he was not averse to handing over the case to CBI.

Police have filed a case of murder, rape, kidnap, destruction of evidence and conspiracy against the two, who have been remanded to police custody for two days by a court.

The 60-year-old businessman, who deals in supply of spare parts for earthmoving equipment in Noida and some cities of Punjab, was accused by police of being in the habit of getting call girls to his house, SSP R K S Rathore told reporters.

"And when no call girls were to be found, Mohinder asked Satish to lure children. Satish would lure the kids and get them inside the house after which Mohinder would sexually abuse them," he said.

Thirty-year-old Satish, who has a three-year-old child,would also abuse the children. He would then kill the children by strangulating them, after which the bodies would be hacked to pieces. The head and the other body parts were disposed off separately.

"They would dispose off the bodies at night, throwing the head and the body parts placed in different bags in the drain behind the house," Rathore said.

He said nine of the children killed have been identified by Satish through photographs.

Satish had confessed to killing 11 children and a grown-up girl.

Rathore said some human parts were also found in a drain in front of the house today. Some clothes and other belongings of the children found at the house have also been identified by their parents.

The skulls and the other bones found at the house were being sent to the forensic laboratory in Hyderabad for scientific testing, including DNA tests.

Satish had been living with Mohinder, whose wife and son live in Chandigarh, for the past two-and-a-half years.

The police, meanwhile, have ruled out any organ trade angle in the case.

The discovery of skulls and bones in the drain behind Mohinder’s house yesterday had sent shock waves through the area, where over 30 children had gone missing in the last one year.

Meanwhile, in the morning as police continued excavations, they had to tackle an angry crowd that indulged in some stone-pelting at the house. Police conducted lathicharge to control the mob and the situation was soon brought under control.

A large number of onlookers, including parents of missing children, crowded around the house as police carried on with the digging. A barricade has been put up by police separating the house from Nithari village where most of the missing children belonged to.

Several parents came to the site carrying photographs of their missing children and showed them to the police officials even as they hoped that their worst fears would not come true.

Among them was a family that came from Indirapuram area in nearby Ghaziabad and another from Kalyanpuri in east Delhi, whose children had also gone missing.

The policemen suspended for alleged negligence comprise two former SHOs of sector 20 police station — R N Singh and Deepak Chaturvedi — and three constables, who have been police post in-charge, K P Singh, Rajeev Walia and Vinod, Noida SP Soumitra Yadav said here.

The current SHO of the police station B P Singh Yadav has been transferred to police lines.

Many of the parents of the missing children have complained that police did not file FIR.

Over 30 children have been reported missing from Nithari village adjoining sector 31 of Noida, where police recovered the skeletal remains. (PTI)

Lt Gen Deepak Kapoor to take over Army vice chief

NEW DELHI, Dec 30: Lt Gen Deepak Kapoor is to take over as the vice chief of the Army Staff at the Army Head Quarters here on January 1 next, it was officially announced today.

Lt Gen Kapoor succeeds Lt Gen S Pattabhiraman who retires later this month.

Lt Gen Deepak Kapoor was commissioned into the regiment of artillery on June 11, 1967 and has held important staff and command appointments in his almost 40-year-long career so far.

An alumnus of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, he has done the higher command and National Defence College courses. In addition, he has represented the country as the Chief Operations Officer for All United Nations Forces deployed in Somalia from 1994 to 1995 for which he was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal in January 1996.

Also, the General Officer has taken active part in the 1971 operations launched for the Liberation of Bangladesh.

During his service as a Brigade Commander deployed on the line of control in Jammu & Kashmir, the General Officer was awarded the Sena Medal (devotion to duty) in January 1998.

He commanded one of the most prestigious divisions of the Indian Army, the Ram Division, as part of a strike corps during operation Parakram.

He has been the chief of Staff of 4 Corps in the north east fighting insurgency in Assam and thereafter has commanded 33 Corps, deployed on the Sino-Indian border. For his excellent Command of the Corps, the General Officer was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal.

On promotion, he commanded the Army Training Command at Shimla.

The General Officer has an abiding interest in self education, self improvement and acquisition of knowledge in pursuance of which, while in service and involved in professional activities, he did his bachelors in arts privately.

He has a Masters Degree in Political Science and a Masters Degree in Military Science. He holds a Diploma in Business Management and has completed his Masters in Business Administration from the Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi.

The General Officer is also an excellent sportsman and has played Hockey, Basketball, Golf and Tennis at various levels.

Lt Gen Kapoor has been in command of the Northern Army from September 5, 2005. (UNI)

Chakkan-Da-Bagh closed for Eid

Excelsior Correspondent

POONCH, Dec 30: The fortnightly crossing of civilians on Poonch-Rawalakot bus service at Chakkan-Da-Bagh, scheduled for January 1 (Monday) has been deferred.

Deputy Commissioner, Poonch Mohd Ramzan Thakur said the crossing has been deferred due to Eid being observed on both sides of the State.

"Crossing can take place before next fortnightly crossing scheduled for January 15", he said, adding next date will be communicated to the people who had to cross LoC after talks among concerned officers of two sides.

Massive increase in Yatra to Vaishno Devi this year

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Dec 30: Pilgrimage to holy shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi has created an all time record this year. With only a day left to bid farewell to 2006, 68.22 lakh pilgrims had darshan of Goddess Vaishno Devi’s natural pindies in cave shrine at Trikuta hills and annual figure for the year was expected to touch or even cross 68.50 lakh.

Though the yatra figure fell short by 1.5 lakh from 7 million mark, a target which Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) was expecting to cross this year, nevertheless the pilgrimage recorded an increase of 9.6 per cent this year as compared to last year.

In 2005, 62.51 lakh pilgrims had darshan of Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, located at a height of 5200 feet from the sea level.

Jubilant over the increase, Additional CEO SMVDSB, Puneet Kumar told the Excelsior that over 3.85 lakh pilgrims visited the shrine in 30 days of December this year and by tomorrow evening, the figured could touch 4.15 lakh.

This year, the yatra has recorded an increase of 6 lakh over the last year which was quite significant, Mr Kumar said.

An all time high, 80,000 pilgrims availed the facility of chopper service to shrine this year, yielding a revenue of Rs 16 crore for the private airliner and 8 per cent share for the Shrine Board (1.3 crore), he added.

Barring months of August, October and November, number of pilgrims was an all time high in remaining nine months of 2006. In June, 9.37 lakh pilgrims offered darshan to the Goddess, the figure being record for any month so far.

About 2.59 lakh pilgrims paid obeisance at cave shrine in January, 2.49 lakh in February, 5.46 lakh in March, 6.33 lakh in April, 7.51 lakh in May, 9.37 lakh in June, 7.12 lakh in July, 6.24 lakh in August, 6.12 lakh in September, 6.33 lakh in October, 4.56 lakh in November and 4.15 lakh in December.

"Had yatra not gone down in August, October and November as compared to last year, the 7 million mark would have been easily achieved", official sources said, adding "the yatra figure of 68.50 lakh was no less than a milestone as the pilgrimage was only 13.95 lakh in 1986 when the Shrine Board was set up by the then Governor Jagmohan and the shrine was taken over from baaridars".

In 2007, the people from different States intending to visit the shrine won’t have to stand in queue for hours together to take yatra slip, which will be available at Post Offices and petrol pumps at a service charge of just Rs 10. Due to decentralisation of yatra slip, the people can get it by sitting in their houses, sources said, adding the yatra slip is already available on internet.

In 2007, the Shrine Board further planned to provide more facilities including accommodation to the pilgrims at different halting points. The Spiritual Growth Centre will also be ready for inauguration in April or May next year. A maintenance point for helicopters, which was pending for last four and a half years, will also be inaugurated in January.

Installation of LCDs, Plasma TVs, usage of internet, addition of frisking points, overcoming water shortage, maintaining rates of eatables (sold through Shrine Board) outlets at ‘no profit no loss’ basis despite massive hike in prices, more free accommodation for pilgrims with increase in quantity and quality of blankets were among the facilities added for the pilgrims this year by the Shrine Board.

Two suspects nabbed in Doda

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 30: Security forces and police today arrested an Over Ground Worker (OGW) of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) from village Kora in Doda, who had been providing shelter to Kulhand massacre’s main accused Mohd Ashraf Ganai.

Arrested OGW has been identified as Shabir Ahmed Khandey, 28, son of Rahim Khandey, a resident of Kora.

It was in the hide-out constructed by Shabir that Ganai and his associate Mohd Younis were eliminated by Army and police on December 27.

Official sources said Shabir Ahmed’s brother, Abdul Latief is also missing since 1998 and the possibility that he might have joined militancy is not ruled out.

A case against Shabir has been registered at Doda police station and he was being questioned.

Another OGW, Mushtaq Ahmed son of Mohd Manawar Malik R/o Nalla was also arrested by security forces at Arnora in Doda along with two detonators.

Security personnel recovered five Chinese grenades, one pistol magazine and nine rounds from Dobawali in Surankote tehsil of Poonch district.

Two LeT militants arrested ahead of New Year celebrations

NEW DELHI: As the national capital braced for the New Year eve bash, police today arrested two suspected Lashker-e-Toiba militants near New Delhi Railway Station.

Samiullah and Ali Mohammed were picked up from Paharganj side of the railway station, Joint Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Karnal Singh told PTI.

He said a bomb disposal squad inspected the luggage recovered from the duo.

The two were arrested barely a kilometer away from Connaught Circus, the central point of New Year celebrations.

Singh said some explosive devicess have been seized from one of the baggages of the duo and the nature of the explosives was being examined. (PTI)

CRPF jawan among 2 killed, police station
attacked in Kashmir

SRINAGAR: A Central Reserve Police force (CRPF) personnel was among two people killed while militants attacked a police station in the Kashmir valley during the past 24 hours, an official spokesman said today.

Militants entered the house of Abdul Ahad Bhat at Malangpora village in south Kashmir district of Pulwama late last night and shot dead his son Sameer Ahmad Bhat, a CRPF constable, he added.

Bhat, posted at the CRPF 136 battalion's group centre in Jammu, was at present on leave to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha with his family. Police and security forces have launched a massive hunt to nab the suspected militants, he added.

The spokesman said police found Peer Ghulam Mohammad lying unconscious at the Tailbal bus stand near Hazratbal this morning. He was rushed to a hospital where doctors pronounced him brought dead.

Police said militants hurled a hand grenade at the Kangan police station, about 30 km from here, this afternoon. The grenade missed the intended target and exploded in the compound of the police station without causing any damage.

Police later cordoned off the entire area and launched a search operation to nab the attackers, they added. No militant outfit has so far claimed the responsibility for the attack which came a day after ultras gunned down a Station House Officer (SHO) of Pampore at Kadalabal, about 14 km from here.

The spokesman said security forces seized two .303 rifles with two magazines and 50 rounds from Katalgam in Budhal area of Rajouri district last evening.

The arms had been looted by militants from the Village Defence Committee (VDC) members from the same area in December last year. (UNI)