26/11: Mumbai Crime Branch team to share probe details with FBI

10 Feb 2009, 1021 hrs IST, PTI

Source: Times of India


MUMBAI: A three-member team of the Mumbai Crime Branch investigating the Mumbai carnage has left for the US to meet FBI officials and share details
in connection with the probe into the attacks, a senior police official said on Tuesday.

The three-member team headed by Additional Commissioner of Police Deven Bharti left for the US on Monday night, a senior crime branch official said.

"They will discuss and share the details of the probe and also take inputs from officials of FBI, the US probe agency, that will help us in the investigations," he said.

FBI officials will be among the witnesses in the trial of Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone terrorist caught alive in the November 26 attacks, police said.

The police is likely to file its chargesheet in the case in the next three weeks.


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Towers ready, night flights set for take off

Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 06 2009: With the completion of fitting Solar Power Obstruction Light (SPOLs) atop three hilltops out of the five designated sites, at long last, night landing of aircrafts at Tulihal Airport is likely to commence from the current month after a trial run on the night of February 9 .

To facilitate night landing of aircrafts at Tulihal Airport, the State Government has taken up the task of installing SPOL towers on the hilltops of Nongmaiching (Senapti, Baruni), Phunal Maring (Senapati and Heibok (Imphal West) Chingphu (Bpr district) and Langjing (Imphal West) hillocks.

Out of the five designated hilltops where SPOL towers are to be set up, construction works of the security barracks have also been completed at Phunal Maring, Heibok, Chingphu and Langjing.

As for Langjing, fitting of the SPOL had already been done sometime earlier as there is no security problem due to location of a CRPF post already there.

A team of Government officials comprising Works Minister K Ranjit, Transport Minister L Jayantakumar, IG (Law & Order-I), SP Imphal East, Commandant of 5 IRB and Deputy Director of Transport yesterday went to inspect the progress of the construction work at Phunal Maring, Baruni, Heibok and Chingphu hillocks.

After the inspection of the security barracks being constructed at these four hillocks, the Government has also deployed IRB personnel at the security barracks to safeguard and protect the SPOLs.

As the construction of the security barrack at Baruni hillock has not yet been completed, security personnel are currently being made to put up in a temporary shed.

According to an official source from the Transport Department, all the necessary facilities that should be given to the security personnel have been provided at these security barracks.

Along with deployment of adequate security personnel, the engineers of the Airport Authority of India (AAI) have also started fitting SPOLs at these four hillocks, the source informed, adding that fitting of the SPOLs is expected to be completed within February 12 and night landing may begin either on February 15 or 16 .

When The Sangai Express conducted a spot survey of the work site at Heibong hillock today, it was witnessed that adequate security personnel have been deployed and the fitting of the SPOL completed by the engineers of AAI.

The engineers of the AAI who were at the work site informed that the fitting of the SPOL at Heibong hillock was completed today and tomorrow the same would be finalised for Phunal Maring hillock.

As for Baruni hillock, the SPOL would be fitted only the tower is erected.

The engineers further informed, while conveying the instruction of the State Government for finishing the task of fitting SPOLs at the earliest possible so that test landing of aeroplane can be carried out on the night of February 9 .

The work agency for construction of the security barrack at Heibong hillock has, however, complained against the Government over the undue delay in releasing the required fund.

An official of the work agency informed that though the work has been completed and the report of the same submitted, the Government has so far provided only Rs 30 lakhs from out of the total estimated cost of Rs 1 crores for construction of the buildings.

The total estimated cost for road cutting work and laying of culverts is Rs 85 lakh, but till date no fund had been provided, the work agency rued.

Kamjong girl

Face of Innocence

Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 01 2009: Lack of medical facilities on one hand and poverty in the family on the other has forced 9-year old M Wungthingla of Wanglee village in Kamjong sub-division of Ukhrul district to continue to endure the pain of an abnormal swelling inside her nostril even though the doctor has advised an operation.

With her family not being able to afford the treatment and her problem aggravating day by day, the poor girl has been staying confined within the four walls of her house and not being able to go out and mix with her friends.

On maiden inspection, CM hits right chord with Noney Imphal-Jiri rail line...

A graphic map of the rail line and the JCBs doing the necessary work for the speedy completion of the project

Source: The Sangai Express



Imphal, January 29 2009: Striking the right chord during his maiden inspection of the Imphal-Jiribam rail line at Noney today, Chief Minister O Ibobi today urged all the concerned not to hesitate to approach him in case of any problem and also assured that from now on he would conduct personal sport inspection of the rail work every three month.

The Chief Minister accompanied by Transport Minister L Jayenta, Transport Commissioner H Imocha and other officials inspected the work progress of the railway platform at Karongmuang near Noney today.

The foundation stone for the Imphal-Jiribam rail line was laid by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in November 2004, when he visited the State in the backdrop of the mass protests following the custodial killing of Manorama.

Inspecting the work progress amid tight security in view of the bandh imposed on NH-53 by the Oinamlong-Kaimai Village Chiefs Association, the Chief Minister asked the workers and others concerned to approach the Government, if they face any problems in executing their work.

Whether it is security cover or any other issues, the Government will make sure that things are taken care of, assured the Chief Minister.

Talking with the Railway officers, Ibobi assured that he would personally take stock of the progress of the work every three months and urged them to work with dedication.

The rail line laying work is being done by the Northern Frontier Railways.

Speaking to reporters who accompanied the team at Karongmuang, the Chief Minister said that in the first phase, the Jiri-Tupul rail line is expected to be completed by 2012.To meet the deadline, process of laying the rail track from the side of Tupul has also started, besides the ongoing work from the side of Jiribam.

Almost 80 pc of laying the first 10 kms of rail line from the side of Jiribam has been completed, he informed and added that the Centre has also given its nod to start work from the side of Tupul to lay the rail line covering 30 kms.

If the need arises additional security will be deployed for the smooth progress of the work.

Asserting that there are no hindrances in laying the rail line, which has been taken up as a National project, the Chief Minister said that the Centre has agreed to extend the rail line from Tupul to Imphal.

A tunnel covering the distance of 8.1 km will be constructed bring the rail line to Imphal.

There many firms which are capable of constructing such a long tunnel.

Interacting with the people who had come out to accord a warm welcome to the Chief Minister, he said that the once the rail line comes up, it will go a long way in solving the communication problem in the State.

The Chief Minister said that since the rail line is a National project, there will be no dearth of funds and added that the work is being closely monitored by the Prime Minister's Office.

Explaining the reason for the suspending the DC of Tamenglong, the Chief Minister said that the step had to be taken up as he was not found at his place of posting as well as for failing to distribute the money allotted for land acquisition for the rail line to the affected people.

Stating that the working season in Manipur is short, the Chief Minister said the loss of one month working period can deal a big blow to any developmental work.

As such the failure of the DC to dispense with his work sincerely is akin to keeping the people of Manipur under ransom, said the Chief Minister.

Once the process of laying the rail track is finalised, Noney will be transformed to a big township, said the Chief Minister and urged the Railway officers to expedite the work so that the target is met.

Transport Minister L Jayentakumar while interacting with the local people, urged them to take an active role, so that the benefits of the rail line reach out to all.

The local people also assured that they would extend all possible co-operation.

Government Chief Whip MLA T Mangibabu and Tamenglong MLA Khangthuanang also accompanied the Chief Minister.

The estimated cost of the Jiri-Imphal rail line has been pegged at Rs 2714 crores, will have 22 tunnels 93 small bridges, 51 big bridges while the distance between Jiri and Tupul is put at 94 kms and Tupul to Imphal at 24 kms.

Border pillar disappears, Myanmar encroaching Molcham learns to live with bunkers

A father, a husband, a provider of the family digs a bunker under the house for safety

Source: The Sangai Express / Laishram Shamungou



Indo-Myanmar border, January 27 2009: Along with disappearance of border pillar 94 erected at Charoi village under Kamjong sub-division of Ukhrul district along the international boundary with Myanmar, the eastern neighbour has also claimed Charoi Khunou village as theirs.

Even though the area around border pillar 66 erected at Molcham village in Chandel district is regarded as a disputed site between the two countries, Myanmar has been encroaching into the area.

On the other hand, for the Assam Rifles and Army deployed along the international border with Myanmar, it remains a mammoth challenge to ensure security of the inhabitants.

Under such circumstances, every household located in the border areas have been building bunkers inside their houses for their safety in the event of any gun battle between security forces and militants.

These were observed by this reporter during an extensive tour of these villages located along the 350 kms long borderline with Myanmar starting from border pillar 39 erected at Singhat sub-division of Churachandpur district and covering villages along the international boundary in Chandel district till border pillar 129 erected in Chingai sub-division of Ukhrul district.

During the extensive tour of these villages after the Somtal Operation where the security forces and insurgents are still engaged in gun fights, some villagers even asked this reporter if he didn't fear for his life.

After the disappearance of border pillar 94 erected at Charoi village in Kamjong sub-division of Ukhrul district, Myanmar Army often come to nearby Charoi Khunou village with the claim that the area is within their territory, said some villagers while interacting with this reporter.

They further informed that the joint effort of Indian army and local villagers to locate border pillar 94 proved futile last year.

Charoi village has been totally deserted after the ethnic clash between Kukis and Nagas in early 90's, they conveyed.

Since border pillar 66 erected at Molcham village under Khengjoi TD Block of Chandel district disappeared, over 100 acres around the spot where the border pillar was identified by the two countries as disputed area and no one was allowed entry from either side.

But Myanmarese have encroached upon the disputed area and have been cultivating pine-apple, sugar-cane and banana over an area of 10 acres, informed the Molcham village chief.

Talking over the matter with officers of the 10 JK Light Infantry stationed at Molcham, they said that the spot from where the border pillar disappeared has been identified.

A border pillar may be re-erected any time there if the Govt directs them to this effect, they said.

For the 26, 27 and 10 Sector AR and Army deployed in border areas in CCpur, Chandel and Ukhrul, it remains a mammoth task for the security personnel to contain insurgent activities or maintain law and order in these border areas.

Even as the AR claimed to have driven off all UG elements after Operation Somtal, all households in villages along the international boundary have been digging holes insides their houses as a sort of underground bunkers, noting the possibility of gun battle between SF and UGs any time.

Ear lier when gun fights broke out between SF and UGs, villagers used to flee to safer areas.

But these days, the villagers feel more secure in their underground bunkers instead of running in the open field.

When there was gun fight, the villagers called in their children and put them inside underground bunkers.

At these border villages, empty, dilapidated houses earlier occupied by fled away villagers could be observed.

It was also observed that no villagers residing in these border areas were allowed to venture outside once night falls.

Security in border villages under Singhat subdivision of CCpur district, particularly Behiang area was very tight.

Stringent and detail checking was conducted when this reporter went to this border villages.

No person including media persons could get easy passage into the border villages of Ukhrul district.

Security forces deployed in the border villages of Kasom Khullen etc conducted veirfication of each and eeery visitor meticulousy and asked details about the purpose of their visit.

Villages located along the border with Myanmar in Ukhrul district like Wanglee, Skipe, Kamang Ashang Khullen etc face wildfire every summer which originated from Kabow valley and often consumed their properties including houses.

The villagers made 'firelines' around their houses to protect themselves and their properties from such destructive wildfire.

Sometimes Myanmarese Army wielding weapons intrude into Skipe village under Kamjong sub-division, conveyed the villagers.

'Republic Day is now just another holiday'

Mon, Jan 26 03:31 AM

"Times have changed and so has the perception of the common man regarding patriotism. Days like Republic Day and Independence Day have become an excuse for people to take a holiday and relax. It appears that nationalism has been completely lost," said 82-year-old freedom fighter Ved Prakash Mehra who was honoured by the Citizen Forum for Human Rights at a function held in the Punjab Kala Bhawan on Sunday.

Mayor Kamlesh was the chief guest on the occasion.

Recounting his days of the freedom struggle, Mehra said it was a matter of pride for anyone who had contributed to the movement.

"I still feel very proud of the fact that I went to jail for my nation. I was jailed twice, once with my mother when I was four years old and later when I took part in the Quit India Movement in 1942," said Mehra while adding that people during that time were more than willing to lay down their lives for the country.

He lamented the current generation's attitude towards the country. "People these days have become self-centred. They live in their own cocoons, without any thought for the country. This is very unfortunate," claimed Mehra.

Another freedom fighter, 90-year-old Sardar Joginder Singh was also honoured on the occasion.

Talking about his experience, the former member of the Indian Army said that leaders like Subhas Chandra Bose are a rarity these days. Singh pointed out that countrymen should understand the importance of Independence and not take it for granted.


Courtesy: Yahoo! India News

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Obama Sets Fresh Course for 'Remaking America'

By Cathleen Decker
2:20 PM PST, January 20, 2009

Reporting from Los Angeles -- Barack Hussein Obama took the oath of office today as the nation's 44th president -- and the nation's first black chief executive -- and told Americans shaken by economic despair and war that shared sacrifice would be required to draw the nation back to prosperity and peace.

"Our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions -- that time has surely passed," Obama declared in a ringing inaugural address. "Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and begin again the work of remaking America....

Read the Full Story


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Residents 'Hopeful' MLK's Dream Realized


Below is the Dream Speech of Martin Luther King Jr.


Martin Luther King, Jr., a Baptist minister, was a driving force in the push for racial equality in the 1950's and the 1960's. In 1963, King and his staff focused on Birmingham, Alabama. They marched and protested non-violently, raising the ire of local officials who sicced water cannon and police dogs on the marchers, whose ranks included teenagers and children. The bad publicity and break-down of business forced the white leaders of Birmingham to concede to some anti-segregation demands.

Thrust into the national spotlight in Birmingham, where he was arrested and jailed, King organized a massive march on Washington, DC, on August 28, 1963. On the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, he evoked the name of Lincoln in his "I Have a Dream" speech, which is credited with mobilizing supporters of desegregation and prompted the 1964 Civil Rights Act. The next year, King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

The following is the exact text of the spoken speech, transcribed from recordings.

"I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.
Martin Luther King, Jr., delivering his 'I Have a Dream' speech from the steps of Lincoln Memorial.

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.

But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. So we have come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.

In a sense we have come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds." But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. So we have come to cash this check — a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quick sands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.

It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.

We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. They have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone.

As we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied, as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their selfhood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating "For Whites Only". We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.

I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.

Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair.

I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring."

And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!

Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California!

But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!""

Courtesy: The US Constitution Online


* MLK's Facets of Biographies