Malay Telugus want to return

Malay Telugus want to return
By M. ROUSHAN ALI and S.A. ISHAQUI
Dec 16 2007
East or West, Indians seem to be getting into big trouble with local governments over the last two months.In November, the United Arab Emirates threw out nearly 80,000 illegal immigrants, many of them from Andhra Pradesh.Days later, a bitter row erupted in Malaysia after a protest by ethnic Indians for equal rights was brutally put down in Kuala Lumpur. The Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) has alleged ethnic cleansing and Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has joined the battle by accusing ethnic Indians of treachery.Telugus who have been staying in Malaysia for as long as five generations feel a sense of insecurity in the community.The November 25 rally by 20,000 ethnic Indians under the banner of Hindraf is just the beginning, say software professionals who returned home to Andhra Pradesh for better prospects.“More and more Telugus want to come back to their native places in Andhra Pradesh,” said Pawan Kumar, 60, who spent almost 10 years in Malaysia. Mr Kumar is now back in Visakhapatnam. “My brother-in-law, who had gone there as a software professional four years ago, has come back.” The Telugu community in Malaysia, once largely a community of labourers and menial jobs, today has a sprinkling of entrepreneurs, intellectuals and technical professionals.The vast majority of Indians still lag behind Malays and Chinese in socio-economic terms, and the racial policies of the Malaysian government, Telugus say, is only pushing them backwards.“The Indian community is being pushed to the corner by the Malays. Second, the job market is more vibrant back home. And third, the Telugu community itself treats its people based on their caste,” Mr Kumar said.Many Indian IT professionals have still not gotten over the mistreatment of 300 Indian citizens in March 2003 in Kuala Lumpur. Then, police surrounded a building housing mostly Indian IT professionals and beat them up on the pretext of checking their passports.IT professionals started returning to India after that incident. Many of them use Malaysia to travel to the US and Europe for better prospects and, hopefully, better conditions.An Indian Malaysian finds it difficult to become a doctor or a lawyer in Malaysia. University seats and scholarships are awarded under a racial quota system.Even if they manage to get a degree, many say that discrimination is commonplace. Indian doctors complain that they are often excluded from the list of approved doctors whom civil servants or company employees can patronise.According to rough estimates, there are an estimated 700 doctors, 350 lawyers, 400 engineers, 300 IT graduates and another 5,000 with degrees in various fields among Telugus in Malaysia. AP Official Language Commission chairman A.B.K. Prasad disagrees. “Telugus gel better with local Malays than the Tamilians. The fourth generation of Telugus has earned a lot of respect for the community by virtue of their education, profession, economic and social status.”“Of course, marriages with local Malay added towards improving relations with Malays,” Mr Prasad said.According to Telugu University registrar T. Gowrishankar, Telugus have done a lot to preserve their culture and language. “If they want to come back, it is purely because of the government policies there,” he added.Malaysian Telugus keep in regular touch with Telugu University to recruit teachers, priests and a range of support staff. Mr Gowrishankar said that unlike before, the tone of Malaysian Telugus was increasingly bitter when they talked about their status and prospects.Mr Gowrishankar also repeated Mr Kumar’s observations on fragmentation of ethnic Indians. “Vaishnavite groups want only Vaishnavite priests,” he said, citing one instance. This was not noticed before.
stranded in gulf
The problem with Indians in the Gulf is different. Most of the workers in the Gulf nations, estimated at about one crore, are first generation workers, unlike in Malaysia where the battle is between ethnic Indians who have settled in that country for generations.The vast majority of people going to the Gulf for jobs are illiterate. Hounded by poverty and unemployment, they easily fall for the offer of riches that agents and middlemen promise them.Thousands of migrants enter the Gulf nations on fake documents or overstay their visas. One of the biggest magnets to the UAE was the so-called azad visa.Indians could enter the UAE on the azad visa and scout for a job. Once employed, they would have to return to India and then go back to the UAE with fresh papers. As it happened, the workers merely stayed back, and got into trouble.Those who enter with all documents find that their papers are taken away by their employers. Their rights are ignored and pay conditions violated. For all practical purposes, they find themselves stuck with no help at hand. They work in horrible conditions, facing mental, physical and psychological and sometimes even sexual torture.It is clear in their mind that they cannot go back home: They have taken loans at usurious rates of interest to pay the agents, and they don’t have a paise to their name in the Gulf. Mr Abrar Ahmed of Toli Chowki in Hyderabad narrates the plight of a typical Gulf labour.“I had gone to the UAE with a lot of hope. The agent promised me the job of an electrician with good salary. When I went there, I was asked to work in a palm tree grove as a labourer. My passport was taken away by the agents there. With great difficulty, I came back thanks to the AP government’s initiative in ensuring the safe return of migrants.”On and off, the government has moved to place rules to protect labour. One such move is to ban the employment of women under the age of 30 to work as maids in the Gulf. Protests for rights are dealt with harshly. Last month’s protest at the Dubai Burj resulted in the arrest of over 500 workers, and the deportation of 90 of them. They were demanding an increase in salaries.Accidents are frequent, especially at construction sites, where dozens of migrant workers either die or are injured. Compensation is hard to come by for the injured. The bodies of the dead lie in mortuaries because of the tortuous procedures to bring them home, and the inability of the families to pay. Periodically, Gulf countries crack down on illegal migrants, as the United Arab Emirates did this year. It resulted in about 80,000 workers, mostly from Andhra Pradesh, being forced back home.They return to a situation that is worse than when they left. Mr P. Narayana Swamy, president of the Migrants Rights Council, says: “Back home, several of them have committed suicide, unable to repay loans and take care of families.”While the government disputes the figures, at least 50 Gulf oustees or members of their family have committed suicide over the last two months as a new tragedy unfolds in the hinterlands.
Mr Swami says, “One of the best ways to check the flow of illegal migrants to the Gulf is to streamline the recruitment process and keep a close watch on agents.”
AP minority welfare minister Mohammed Ali Shabbir, who is also chairman of the NRI Cell, says: “The government is working on stringent laws which would check unscrupulous agents dumping tens of hundreds of labour from the state in the Gulf countries.”

Snapped cable on city road kills biker, 19

Snapped cable on city road kills biker, 19

Hyderabad: A low-hanging cable on Banjara Hills Road No. 1 claimed the life of a motorcyclist on Saturday night. The cable cut the throat of Aleemuddin, 19, a student from Akbarbagh. He fell of the motorcycle and died on the way to hospital. Highlighting the dangers of low-hanging cables which are a city-wide phenomenon, Hasnuddin who was with Aleem on the bike, said, “We could not spot the cable hanging in the middle of the road till the last instant.”
Banjara Hills police sub-inspector Gurappa said the cable was snapped by an overloaded lorry which remains unidentified. He said police would identify the owner of the cable and the company for negligence.

Explanation sought for PIL on quota

Explanation sought for PIL on quota

Hyderabad, Dec. 11: A larger bench of the High Court on asked T. Muralidhar Rao, who filed a Public Interest Litigation challenging the Muslim reservation Bill why he was not able to submit his objection before the Backward Classes Commission and why he straight away filed a PIL in the High Court.
The bench also sought to know the social service done by the petitioner as he claimed that he was a social worker and had done a lot of social service. Senior counsel K. Ramakrishna Reddy submitted before the bench headed by Justice T. Meena Kumari and comprised of Justice Prakash Rao, Justice D.S.R. Verma, Justice A. Gopal Reddy and Justice V. Eswaraiah that the Backward Classes Commission did not do any exercise to identify the backwardness among certain occupational groups in Muslims.
Affidavit ordered on funds spent in ‘05
The court asked the advocate general to submit an affidavit on the funds spent in 2005-06 under the Special Component Plan for development of SCs and STs, while dealing with a PIL filed by one T. John Prakash to divert funds for Special Component Plan.
Deadline given to GHMC officials
The court warned the officials of GHMC of Malkajigiri division that if they fail to explain why they did not initiate action on illegal constructions in the area by Wednesday, it will issue contempt proceedings against them. A division bench comprising acting Chief Justice Bilal Nazki and Justice Ramesh Ranganathan pulled up the officials for failing to submit an undertaking that they would demolish illegal buildings and constructions in the division. Standing counsel submitted that 313 construction identified as illegal.

HC warns doctors

HC warns doctors

Ramadoss threatens to cancel docs’ licences
Hyderabad Dec. 11: The Andhra Pradesh High court voiced concern over the ongoing strike by the junior doctors of Niloufer Hospital and directed representatives to appear before it without fail on Wednesday by 10.30 am. The court said arrest warrants would be issued against the representatives if they do not appear before it.
Chief Justice Bilal Nazki said the court had served a notice to G. Raju, president of Junior Doctors Association, but they have not got any response. Justice Nazki observed: "It seems they don’t abide by the law. Continuing the strike is nothing but blackmailing. The court will not allow this." The bench also warned it would recommend to the Medical Council of India (MCI) to cancel the doctors’ registrations.
The Advocate General, Mr C.V. Mohan Reddy, informed the court that the doctors may call off their agitation as most of their demands were accepted by the government. Earlier in the day, a delegation of the junior doctors met Chief Minister Rajasekhar Reddy and explained their problems. Dr Rajasekhar Reddy asked them to call off the strike and promised to consider their demands.
The Chief Minister condemned the attack on the junior doctors and assured security at all hospitals. Meanwhile in New Delhi union health minister for health and family welfare, Mr Anbumani Ramadoss, warned the striking doctors that their medical practice licences will be cancelled if they do not resume duties.
Mr Ramadoss criticised the AIIMS resident doctors for extending support to the striking junior medicos of Niloufer Hospital. The minister reiterated that the one-year rural stay within the stipulated five-and-half-year course is mandatory for every doctor.

Doc strike on despite Court rap

Doc strike on despite Court rap

Hyderabad, Dec. 7: Junior doctors have decided to continue their agitation over the alleged attack on one of their colleagues by MIM MLA Afsar Khan, even as the AP High Court warned of action against them and the 12th additional chief metropolitan Magistrate asked the Nampally police to register an attempt to murder case against Mr Afsar Khan and 29 others.
The decision to continue on the warpath was taken at a meeting of the AP Junior Doctors Association held here on Friday evening. “We are not going to call off the strike till our demands are met,” said APJDA state president, Dr G. Raju. He demanded that Mr Afsar Khan should be arrested under non bailable charges and the government should move an ordinance to protect doctors. “We are going to represent to the Speaker again to disqualify him,” said Raju.
On Friday, doctors conducted dharna at Nizams Institute of Medical Sciences demanding the arrest of Mr Afsar Khan. Meanwhile, the AP High Court on Friday observed it would not allow the agitation to go on at the cost of the lives of poor patients. “If junior doctors of Niloufer hospital continue their strike the court may direct the State Government to initiate action against them,” said a division bench comprising of acting Chief Justice Bilal Nazki and Justice Ramesh Ranganathan.
The bench was dealing with a Public Interest Litigation filed by an advocate urging the court to restrain senior doctors from joining the strike. Justice Nazki asked the Advocate General, Mr C.V. Mohan Reddy, whether there were any provisions for taking action against the striking doctors. The AG said that government could ask the Medical Council of India to suspend their registration.
However, he termed as false media reports about increasing number of child deaths in Niloufer Hospital after the strike began. Mr Mohan Reddy pointed out that the average mortality rate per day in the hospital was 10 and the average admission was 97 patients per day. During the strike, the mortality rate was 5 and admission 76 per day, he added. The case was posted to Tuesday.

Court asks police to book MLA

Court asks police to book MLA

Hyderabad Dec. 7: A city court on Friday asked police to register an ‘attempt to murder’ case against MIM MLA, Mr Afsar Khan, and 29 others for attacking a doctor of the Niloufer Hospital. The 12th Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate also asked the Nampally police to register a case against the MLA and his followers for outraging the modesty of women.
Mr N. Suresh Babu, a junior doctor of Niloufer Hospital, had filed a complaint in the court stating that the MLA and his henchmen stormed into the hospital on December 2 and attacked Dr Praveen Chander. The petitioner alleged that the MLA’s followers pushed other doctors and misbehaved with the women doctors.
He further said that that the MLA threatened to set the doctors ablaze after pouring petrol on them. The counsel for the petitioner, Mr Ramachandra Rao, told the court that the MLA’s intention was to kill the doctors since he came with 30 goons armed with knives. After hearing the arguments, the magistrate, Mr Lateef-Ur-Rehman, asked the Nampally police to register cases and investigate. Meanwhile, junior doctors of Osmania Medical College, Koti, lodged a complaint with the Sultan Bazar police over the alleged assault of the college security guards on Thursday night.
The medicos said that some unidentified people beat up the security guards on duty with stones and lathis. The injured guards were taken to Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences by the junior doctors for treatment.Police officials said that the junior doctors had not asked the Sultan Bazar police picket that was posted inside the Osmania Medical College premises for security. They said they doubted the claims of the junior doctors and that only one security guard, Haribabu, was injured.

AP High Court ‘sees’ proof of RTC graft

By S A Ishaqui
Hyderabad Dec. 7: The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Friday said there were many discrepancies and irregularities in the ad hoc contracts given to firms for fabrication of bodies of APSRTC’s express buses.

A division bench consisting of acting chief justice Bilal Nazki and Ramesh Ranganathan made this observation after perusing the tender evaluation forms submitted by APSRTC.

The bench had on Thursday asked the standing counsel of APSRTC to submit tender evaluation forms. After reviewing them, the judges said that it required investigation by the police. “Why have you awarded the works on ad hoc basis without finalising the tenders?” asked the judges. “In some cases you have given contract to build the body of one bus and some cases you have given contract for more than a dozen buses. Why these discrepancies?”

The standing counsel informed the court that APSRTC has awarded contracts to about 13approved firms to build the bodies of 983 buses. The case was posted to Monday.

Bilal aide may have delivered explosives’

By S.A. ISHAQUI

Hyderabad, Sept. 8: The city police now suspects that Shaik Abdul Khader, an aide of the wanted terrorist Shahed, alias Bilal, may have helped the culprits by delivering explosives that were used in the Mecca Masjid blast.

The police has zeroed in on Khader on the basis of the confession made by his younger brother Abdul Kaleem, who is in custody.

Kaleem told the police that when Khader came to Hyderabad from Dubai on May 1 he was secretive about a mysterious parcel in a polythene cover which was wrapped in a yellow plastic bag that he had brought with him.

"When I asked him about the parcel, he told me that it was to be delivered personally a friend in the old city," Kaleem said in his confession.

"And he delivered it a day or two after his arrival. But I did not know who the recipient was." Kaleem told the police that Khader had left for Dubai in March on an invitation from Fayyaq, a friend and associate of Bilal.

City police commissioner Balwinder Singh said the police had information that Khader came to the city through Mumbai. "We are in touch with immigration authorities to find out from where he reached Mumbai," said the commissioner. The suspicion is that Khader could have crossed the border illegally. He travelled to Hyderabad by road.

The police has decided to verify the calls made by Khader during his stay in Hyderabad. He had used a mobile with the number 9966157138 and gave it to his mother before leaving for Dubai.

The police had earlier got information that Abdul Bari, alias Abu Hamza, another wanted terrorist, visited the city a few days before the Mecca Masjid blast on May 18.

"We are trying to locate persons who met Hamza and Khader," said a senior police officer. "Once they are caught, the mystery behind the blast will be solved."

Kaleem also said in his confession that his elder brother Shaik Abdul Khaja left for Bangladesh without valid documents about two and a half years ago. Khaja is close associate of Shahed.

Hamza made masjid bomb

By S A Ishaqui
Hyderabad, Sept. 4: Mohammed Abdul Bari alias Abu Hamza, the most wanted man of the city police, made the bomb which killed nine persons in the historic Mecca Masjid on May 18. Police have learnt that Bari reached the city in April, assembled the bomb at Chandrayanagutta with the help of two Pakistanis and one Bangladeshi and then slipped away.

Top sources said police got this vital information after conducting narco analysis tests on suspects of the Mecca Masjid blasts, Shaik Nayeem alias Sameer, a Lashkar-e-Toiba operative, Shoaib Jagirdar, who reportedly brought RDX into the city, and Imran, his nephew. Sleuths were stunned to learn that the dreaded terrorist they had been hunting for eight years had slipped in and out of the city without their having an inkling of it.

“These confessions on Bari’s role in the blasts are corroborated by intelligence inputs that he was missing at that time from his usual hideouts in Bangladesh and Riyadh,” sources said. City Police Commissioner Balwinder Singh said police had concrete information about Bari’s arrival in the city prior to Mecca Masjid blast. He, however, refused to divulge further information.

“It cannot be termed a failure of the police that he was not caught,” said the commissioner. “Sometimes it is difficult to track the movement of such people though there were some inputs.” Mr Balwinder Singh said the police were trying to find out the remaining RDX and added that the whole conspiracy could be unravelled once it was found. It was the special investigation cell probing the case relating to the unexploded bomb that collected the information about the movement of Bari.

Imran had initially told the police that some HUJI activists were in city but he did not give names. Later, Sameer confessed that Bari came to the city and made the bomb. Investigations revealed that Bari crossed the Bangladesh border in April along with three others. The RDX also arrived by the time he reached the city. He assembled two bombs and went back to Bangladesh a few days before the blast. Sameer also confessed that 800 grams of RDX was used to make two bombs out of which only one went off. Police has videographed his confession.

Malls, public places no longer safe, says police

By S A Ishaqui

Hyderabad Aug. 26: Public places of recreation and eateries are safe no more not only in Hyderabad but all over the country. A critical analysis of the intelligence agencies reveal that multiplexes, malls, and famous eateries like McDonalds and KFC are vulnerable to terror targets. According to a senior intelligence official, the intelligence agencies have been sending alerts at regulars intervals after a study by the IB on shifting strategies of various terror organisations in the last five years.

The official said, “After the blasts in Varanasi, Malegaon, Nanded and Jama Masjid to create communal disharmony had not the yielded result wanted by the terrorists, they have shifted their strategy and targeted public places including trains and buses to create terror among the public. As a result, serial blasts took place in the trains of Mumbai and Samjhota Express and other places in the country.” He said, “Likewise in the city they targetted the historic Mecca Masjid to create communal tensions. But the failed as the public united and exhibited communal harmony. Now they have targeted a park and an eatery.”

He said terrorists may further intensify attacks on busy public places to create panic. It is difficult to provide security at all places, he added. The official said, “We have decided to suggest that the State government issue an ordinance to make it compulsory for malls and multiplexes to install sophisticated security equipment. In case they fail to install the equipment, the management of these establishment will be held liable to pay compensation to victims.”

Police busts D-gang racket

By S A Ishaqui

Hyderabad Aug. 25: The city police on Saturday unearthed an ISI-sponsored fake currency racket and seized spurious notes worth Rs 2.36 crores. Four persons were arrested in this connection including a native of the United Arab Emirates. It is believed that the Pakistan intelligence agency is pumping in fake currency through Dubai to destabilise the economy. City police commissioner Balwinder Singh said that his officers acted on a tip-off from the counter intelligence wing that a huge consignment of fake currency had been smuggled into the city a couple of days ago.

Sleuths laid a trap and apprehended one Alkaz Obaid Khamis Ali, 31, at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. On information given by Obaid, police teams arrested Khaled Bin Saleh alias Khalifa, 30, of Barkas, Mohammed Najath, 29, and Syed Ghouse Pasha, 47, and recovered loads of fake currency from them. The notes were in the denomination of Rs 500 and 1,000. Police sources said the currency was smuggled into the city in three consignments from April.

“The fake currency originated from Pakistan and reached India via the UAE in sea cargo,” said Mr Singh. The last consignment of Rs 1.83 crores was concealed as scrap paper and shipped to Mumbai from where it was brought in a truck and stored in a godown at Hashamabad in the Old City. Obaid planned the entire operation with help from Pakistan. He had been taken to Pakistan by Allah Baksh, a member of the Dawood Ibrahim gang, whom he met in Dubai.

He took Obaid to Pakistan three times, where he agreed to smuggle in fake currency. Obaid’s father is a UAE national and mother is a Hyderabadi. The arrested persons told the police that about 30 others were also involved in the currency smuggling racket. Two other consignments had been delivered in Maharashtra and Gujarat. Fake notes worth Rs 2.57 crores were brought to AP, of which Rs 17 lakhs is already in circulation. The Central Crime Station police is investigating the case.

Ratna Prabha gets seven days

Hyderabad Aug. 10: A division bench of the central Administrative Tribunal on Friday directed the Central Government to grant seven days to senior IAS officer Ms Ratna Prabha to enable her to avail legal remedy. The division bench comprising Justice B. Lakshman Reddy and M. Jayaram, member, administration, dealing with petition filed by Ms Ratna Prabha passed the orders. The tribunal also directed the Central government to file an affidavit for the extension of her deputation. Ms Ratna Prabha, a Karnataka cadre IAS officer was in the State on deputation for the last three years. Her deputation came to an end in March this year and she sought extension for another two years. Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh governments agreed to the extension , but the Central government did not agree to her request. The tribunal earlier directed the Centre to submit an affidavit in this case but there was no response. Meanwhile Ratna Prabha approached the tribunal with the apprehension that the Centre may transfer her without giving her time to avail legal remedy. However the tribunal directed the Centre that in such a case she may be given seven days to avail legal recourse.

HC: Don’t summon Ramoji firm depositors

Hyderabad, Aug.10: The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Friday directed the crime investigation department (CID) not to summon and secure deposit certificates of depositors of Margadarsi Financiers. Justice V. Eswaraiah passed interim orders after hearing the arguments on a writ petition filed by depositors of Margadarsi Financiers seeking a direction to restrain the CID from summoning them to record statements. The court granted three weeks to government to file a counter-affidavit. Advocate-general C.V. Mohan Reddy submitted to the court that the petition is not maintainable as the petitioner has no locus standi and the association itself was a fictitious one. The AG told the court that the government cannot give any undertaking not to summon the depositors.

Guntur SP called by rights panel

By S A Ishaqui
Hyderabad Aug. 8: The AP State Human Rights Commission on Tuesday summoned Guntur superintendent of police Mahesh Chandra Ladha to appear before the commission on August 10 at 11 am.

The commission has taken up a case of an illegal detention of a boy by thecircle inspector from July 30. Challa Moses, a retired employee and father of the boy sent a telegram to the commission stating that the boy was illegally detained and his legs were chained with iron rings connected to his neck.

The telegram was received by the commission on August 2 and the commission called an urgent report from the Guntur district police superintendent, but no report was sent to the commission according to a press release.

Parents can’t disown kids: HC

Parents can’t disown kids: HC
Hyderabad Aug. 6: The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Monday refused to allow parents of a young woman to legally disown her for marrying a person against their wishes. While dealing with a habeas corpus petition filed by Binod Kumar, father of Bibechita, a division bench comprising Justice D.S.R. Verma and Justice D. Appa Rao said that the court had no jurisdiction to pass such orders.
Binod Kumar, a plumber, hails from Orissa and migrated to the city a few years ago. He lives in Anjaiahnagar of Alwal area. He has three children of which Bibechita is the eldest. She disappeared from her house on January 27. After failing to trace her, the deeply worried parents lodged a complaint with Alwal police station the next day.
However, Bibechita appeared before the police on January 31 and informed them that that she had married one Vara Prasad alias Sekhar of her own will and wanted to live with him. She informed the police that she was not a minor since she was born on January 17, 1988. She had been in love with Sekhar for the past four years. Alwal police then closed the case.
Binod Kumar and his wife Banitha Jena then went to State Human Rights Commission to get back their daughter. However, their daughter informed the SHRC that she will live with her husband.After that, the parents approached the HC. Alwal police produced the young woman before the court and Justice Verma asked her to meet her parents. But she refused to do so.
The division bench assured her that they would keep watch as she talked to her parents and would ensure that no harm came to her. After much persuasion, Bibechita spoke to her parents for about 15 minutes. Later she told the court that she wanted to live with the man she loved though she also loved her parents.
But the distraught parents alleged that their daughter was trapped in the love affair and wanted to severe all ties with her. “We are closing our doors on her,” said Binod Kumar. “We don’t want to see her again.” He added that he had another daughter of marriageable age and did not want her to come under the influence of Bibechita. “Kindly pass orders that we disown her.”
He mother also broke down and said she had observed fast in the Chandeswara Temple at their hometown for her daughter’s safe return. “But she has no love for us and she is dead as far as I am concerned,” said Banitha. The judges, however, refused to pass the orders. “You may all come together after a while,” they said.

Encroachers are eagles’

Encroachers are eagles’
Hyderabad Aug. 6: The AP High Court on Monday took objection to the unauthorised construction of places of worship on vacant government land in urban areas. A division bench comprising Chief Justice G.S. Singhvi and Justice C.V. Nagarjuna Reddy observed that "occupying open places and constructing temples and places of worship in urban areas is one of the stepping stones to politics for persons who are involved in this type of activities."
Justice Singhvi said, "the court cannot term the constructions as religious constructions. The court terms them as illegal." The court said the encroachers were "eagles" not leaders. "They are constructing those structures not for peace but for creating violence," the court observed. To a question, the municipal administration counsel said that about 116 acres was encroached in cities and towns and the government had cleared 1.62 acres. The case was posted to August .

HC tells parties to join case on firing

By S A Ishaqui

Hyderabad, Aug. 7: The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Tuesday sharply criticised political parties which organised the bandh which resulted in the Mudigonda police firing and asked them to implead in the case relating to the incident.

In all, seven persons had died after police opened fire at activists of Left parties who were agitating at Mudigonda village of Khammam district on July 28 as part of a State-wide bandh.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice G.S. Singhvi and Justice Nagarjuna Reddy admitted the writ petition on the issue filed by Telugu Desam secretary P.N.V. Prasad observing that it involved larger public interest. While admitting the writ, the judges mused whether political parties which organised the bandh could be asked to compensate the families of the firing victims under Article 19(1) (d) and Article 21 of the Constitution.

Significantly, the Telugu Desam too gave the bandh call along with the Left parties. The BJP also supported the bandh. The court directed the TD secretary to implead all those political parties which had organised the bandh in the case.

“Every party which is mandated by the people to sit in the Opposition is organising strikes and bandhs and provoking violence which at times result in the death of innocent citizens,” said the bench.

The Chief Justice also wanted to know whether a political party can exhort others to take law into their own hands and forcibly occupy government lands or adopt violent means to compel the government to allot lands. “What is the accountability of those who organise bandhs and strikes and disrupt normal life?” asked the judges.

AP High Court gets CBI reports

By S A Ishaqui

Hyderabad, Aug 7: The CBI submitted two preliminary reports to the AP High Court on alleged deviations to the Outer Ring Road to benefit a few persons. Advocate-General Moh-an Reddy gave an action taken report on a preliminary report submitted earlier by the CBI.
The CBI has reportedly recommended action against Huda officials for violation of rules in acquiring land for ORR and other projects. A division bench comprising Chief Justice G.S. Singhvi and Justice C.V. Nagarjuna Reddy opened the sealed covers. After glancing through the reports, Justice Singhvi told petitioners’ counsel S. Ramchandra Rao that his apprehension on the independent functioning of the CBI was not correct.
The Chief Justice indicated that names of the officers on whom the petitioners had made allegations were in the report. Mr Rao said that his apprehension was only about politicians, not the CBI. TD leaders N. Janardhan Reddy and Kadiam Srihari had filed the writ alleging that the alignment of ORR had been changed at the behest of ruling party members. The government subsequently ordered a judicial inquiry and a CBI probe. The case was posted to September 6.

Ramesh’s phone calls to be tracked

Hyderabad Aug. 4: The State intelligence agency is tracking the telephone calls of CPI(M) leader and former Maoist Bandi Ramesh following reports that he instigated people at Mudigonda to attack policemen which led to firing in which seven people were killed.
Sources in the intelligence department told this correspondent that they had received information that Mr Ramesh had made several calls to a State level CPI(M) leader minutes before the incident took place and soon after the police firing. Basing on this information, police suspects that Mr Ramesh and his followers had hatched a plan to instigate violence in the village.Sources alleged taht soon after the police stopped firing Mr Ramesh made a call and said "Anna manam anukunnatte ain-di" (things went as per our plan)". Police reportedly gathered this information from one of his close associates

Maoist bounty hiked

Hyderabad Aug. 4: The government has enhanced the reward for the heads of Maoists, announcing Rs 10 lakhs each on 27 members of the Maoists State committee. The money is given to the Maoists if they surrendered. If they are killed or captured, the persons responsible will share the reward.
They include Shakamuri Appa Rao, Patel Sudhakar Reddy and Modem Balakrishna who is Andhra Orissa border committee secretary. Soon after renewing the ban on Maoists the government also issued an order enhancing the reward money on the head of Maoists. Police officials denied that the reward had been enhanced. They said that they had brought the senior leaders under the category of Rs 10 lakhs as their position was elevated in the Maoists ranks after the death of State committee leaders including Madhav, Matta Ravi Kumar, Sande Raja Mouli, Wadkapur Chandra Mouli.
However, Appa Rao, Balakrishna and Sudhakar Reddy have been members of the State committee for five years. The earlier re-ward was Rs 8 lakhs. Maoist secretary Muppala Lakshmana Rao alias Ganapathy and 12 other Central committee members carry a reward of Rs 12 lakh each.According to the government order, 13 members of the Maoist Central committee including the secretary will carry a reward of Rs 12 lakh each, members of the State committee, North Telangana special zonal committee, Dandakarnya special zonal and Andhra-Orissa Border committee carry Rs 10 lakhs each.

Nagarjuna official gets jail

Hyderabad, Aug. 3: The AP High Court on Friday sentenced K.S. Raju, promoter-director of Nagarjuna Finance Limited, to six months imprisonment for contempt of court. Justice Anand Reddy pronounced the judgment and directed that Raju undergo six months of civil imprisonment and pay Rs 2,000 as fine for wilfully disobeying the orders of the court. The court directed that he should bear all expenses including the cost of food while serving the term. The sentence came on a contempt petition filed by one Edupuganti Bapanaiah of Kolluru village in Guntur district against Mr Raju and Mr N. Selvaraj, president of Nagarjuna Finance Limited and Nagarjuna Finance limited. Mr Bapanaiah stated that the respondents had disobeyed orders passed by the Company Law Board, Chennai, on February 29, 2000, and had committed breach of affidavit filed in the AP High Court in April 2001. Based on the petition, the court passed orders twice and served a contempt notice asking the respondent to appear before the court. Raju failed to appear before the court on July 13 and his counsel filed an affidavit on August 1 to condone his absence. However, the court passed the orders sentencing Raju to imprisonment and gave him two weeks to make an appeal. 3 member Kolleru team The AP High Court appointed a three-member advocate commission to inspect the Kolleru lake restoration works. A division bench comprising Chief Justice G.S. Singhvi and Justice C.V. Nagarjuna Reddy passed the orders responding to a letter on the restoration works in the lake after the SC guidelines. Check schoolbus overload The AP High Court on Friday directed joint commissioner of transport C.L.N. Gandhi to conduct surprise checks to check overloading of schoolbuses in twin cities and to implement SC guidelines for the maintenance of schoolbuses. A division bench directed Mr Gandhi to ensure that news of the surprise checks did not leak out and asked for a report within two weeks.

Court favours arrest of inciters

By S A Ishaqui

Hyderabad, Aug 3:The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Friday observed that political parties should be held accountable for violence during agitations such as dharnas and bandhs.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice G.S. Singhvi and Justice C.V. Nagarjuna Reddy said this while hearing arguments on a writ petition filed by Telugu Desam secretary P.N.V. Prasad on Mudigonda police firing.

The division bench also remarked that political leaders who instigated agitators should be arrested. Advocate-General C.V. Mohan Reddy informed the court that the State government had asked a commission headed by Justice I. Panduranaga Rao to probe the firing incident and submitted a copy of its terms of reference.

However, the petitioner’s counsel S. Ramachandra Rao said that Justice Panduranga Rao was a “courtesan judge,” and was heading around nine judicial commissions till date. This evoked a sharp reaction from the Chief Justice who asked the counsel not to make adverse comments since Justice Panduranga Rao was not a party to the case.

The Chief Justice went on to ask the AG how many commissions he was heading. However, the AG said he did not know the exact number. He also asked the AG why the police did not use rubber bullets in Mudigonda and sought to know whether the district collector and the superintendent of police visited the firing spot soon after the incident.

Mr Reddy said he had to ascertain whether rubber bullets were available with the police and added that the additional SP was present at the time of the incident. The AG argued that the petition was politically motivated and urged the court to dismiss it. However, the Chief Justice said the petition was maintainable.

Left leader ignited fire: Judge

By S A Ishaqui
Hyderabad Aug.1:Khammam District Sessions Judge Jagannath Reddy has said, quoting eyewitnesses, that the Mudigonda police firing was provoked by CPI-M leader Bandi Ramesh. The Andhra Pradesh High Court had asked the sessions judge to conduct an inquiry into the firing of July 28 which claimed seven lives.

Mr Jagannath Reddy submitted the report to the High Court after visiting the spot and recording statements of eyewitness. One witness told the judge that the incident occurred because of the “adamant attitude of Bandi Ramesh who is aspiring to become a State leader.” According to him, Bandi Ramesh urged the crowd to “revolt against the police” when cops were trying to disperse them. “The entire episode was triggered by the provocative speech of Bandi Ramesh,” the judge quoted another eyewitness as saying.

Mr Jagannath Reddy criticised the police for exceeding limits by firing even towards the first floor of a shopping complex. “They should have resorted to lathicharge and should have fired below the knee,” said the report. “But instead, they aimed directly at the mob.” Police did not seek permission from the Mudigonda Tahsildar before opening fire, said the judge.

He also quoted another eyewitness as saying that the Additional Superintendent of Police reached the spot in a drunken state and ordered the cops to fire. Mr Jagannath Reddy examined 13 witnesses and took photographs of the scene of offence. He also found many empty cartridges and bullet shards in the area.

The report states that people became restive when Rayala Venkateswarlu, president of the Rythu Sangham, was beaten by police. “The stone pelting was spontaneous and police opened fire perceiving a threat to their lives,” it says. Meanwhile, the State government has told the State Human Rights Commission that police had not made proper arrangements to tackle the agitation and this led to the firing.

District Collector Sasibhushan Kumar informed the SHRC that police did not bring water cannons and teargas shells to Mudigonda and were under the impression that this was going to be an ordinary agitation. When things got out of hand, they had to resort to firing. The collector has also accused Bandi Ramesh and his followers of provoking the police with his speech. Police have booked two cases against Ramesh and his followers as per the complaints of Circle Inspector Surender Reddy and Sub-Inspector Venkat Reddy.

List judicial probe terms

By S A Ishaqui
Hyderabad, July 31: The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Tuesday directed that the State government place before it on Thursday the terms and references of the judicial commission which is yet to be constituted to probe into the Mudigonda police firing.

A division bench of the High Court comprising Chief Justice G.S. Singhvi and Justice C.V. Nagarjuna Reddy, while dealing with a writ petition filed by Telugu Desam secretary P.N.V. Prasad on Mudigonda police firing in which seven people were killed and seven others injured, asked the State government to submit the terms and references of the probe.

The Chief Justice pointed out "why did not you (State government) arrest leaders of the movement to prevent this (firing), when the agitation for lands (Bhoo Poratam) had been going on for more than two months". After studying the reports of Khammam district session judge Jagannath Reddy and Director-General of Police M.A. Basith, the Chief Justice observed that prima facie the firing was unjustified.

At this stage, Advocate-General C.V. Mohan Reddy pointed out that the court can not make these observation till the completion of hearing and the court can express its opinion during the hearing. The Justice said "we are expressing only our opinion". The AG said even if it is an opinion it will hit the headlines tomorrow. The Chief Justice said "Press has freedom on what to and what not to report. Even some times they publish the orders which are not passed by the court".

Petitioner's counsel and senior advocate S Ramachandra Rao urged the court to put some sort of pressure on the police and the State government to prevent them from "killing innocent people". He wanted the court to withdraw from the police the power to shoot for some.

Raze video hoardings: HC

By S A Ishaqui
Hyderabad July 31: The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Tuesday directed the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation to stop video advertising on the streets within its jurisdiction with immediate effect.� A division bench of the high court comprising Chief Justice G.S. Singhvi and Justice C.V. Nagarjuna Reddy gave this order while dealing with petition against Light Emitting Diode (LED) advertisements on the city streets.

The Chief Justice observed that that GHMC seemed to be deliberately inviting accidents by erecting such LED hoardings in streets. GHMC�s counsel Ramachandra Reddy, too, admitted that some such LED hoardings had caused road accidents.

"Since you have admitted it, take remedial action," said the judges. "We cannot compromise on public safety. They are posing a threat to the safety of the man walking on the street. We are not going to allow you to keep them even for a day."� The bench remarked that a three-member advocates committee has found that GHMC had violated a resolution passed by the standing committee of the erstwhile MCH while allowing LED hoardings.
The judges also said that the case should not come in the way of payment of ex-gratia to the family of a person who was killed in a hoarding collapse".

Law on bandh damage soon

By S A Ishaqui

Hyderabad July 30:The State government on Monday submitted to the High Court that the government is contemplating bringing a legislation, AP Public Property (prevention of damage and recover of loss) Bill 2007, to recover loss due to damage of public property caused by political parties and other organisations during agitations.

The government has informed the court that the Bill was circulated to the Centre to get approval. Principal secretary (home) P.V. Naidu and principal secretary (transport, roads and building) T. Chatterjee submitted their affidavits to the court. On July 7, the High Court had questioned the government role while dealing with a PIL on the April 4 bandh call given by political parties to protest the Supreme Court decision on reservations to OBCs.

The court had asked the government to explain the legal provisions for withdrawing bus services and the names of the parties which had called the bandh. The government told the court that the APSRTC did not withdraw services on April 4, it covered 22.82 lakh kilometres as against normal service of 68 lakh kilometres per day on April 4.

The government said that the Congress, TD, CPI(M), CPI, TRS , BJP and BC organisations had organised the bandh. From April 10 to till date, 194 bandhs and dharnas have been organised, the government said.

Mudigonda firing : Ex-Naxal incited riot

By S A Ishaqui

Hyderabad July 30:Former Naxalite Bandi Ramesh, who joined the CPI (M), instigated the agitators at Mudigonda to hurl stones at private vehicles and police on Saturday, leading to the firing that killed six persons and injured several others, according to the preliminary findings of senior IPS officer and Additional Director General of Police (Co-ordination) Lokendra Sharma, who is conducting a departmental probe into the incident.

Sources in the State police headquarters told this newspaper that Mr Sharma, who is camping in Khammam, informed the findings to DGP M.A. Basith and additional Director General of Police (Law & Order ) A.K. Mohanty on Monday over phone.

Mr Sharma also informed that the district administration had failed to make proper bandobust, despite prior information that Ramesh was planning to create disturbance, the sources said.

Mr Sharma has reportedly questioned the officers and police personnel at the firing spot and recorded their statements. The police personnel reportedly told Mr Sharma that when the agitating mob turned violent, the situation had gone beyond control and additional superintendent of police M. Ramesh Babu reached the spot along with some policemen in plainclothes and ordered firing.

Cops bank on narco tes

By S A Ishaqui
Hyderabad, July 27:The Special Investigation Cell (SIC) of the city police probing the Mecca Masjid blast is banking on narcoanalysis tests in its investigation into the unexploded bomb found near the site of the explosion.

The city police registered two cases after a bomb went off in the mosque on May 18 after the Friday prayers. While one bomb exploded, killing nine people and injuring 58, an unexploded bomb was found in the mosque premises.

The State government had handed over the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation. However, the unexploded bomb case is being investigated by the city police. The CBI got vital clues in the case and released the profiles of suspects in New Delhi. The SIC, however, is groping in the dark.

They have arrested seven suspects including Shaik Nayeem alias Sameer, a Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) operative, his associate Shoaib Jagirdar, a butcher from Jalna in Maharastra, Mohammed Abdul Sattar, Mohammed Abdul Kareem Qadri, Shaik Abdul Kaleem alias Rafi, brother of Abdul Khaja, the second in command of Harkat-ul-Jehad-e-Islami (Huji) and Mohammed Imran.

They are also suspects in the bomb blast case. But none have been linked to the case till date. The SIC has conducted narcoanalysis tests on Sameer and his associate Shoiab Jagirdar. Sources close to the SIC said the tests have not yielded any result.

Now the SIC has sought court permission to conduct similar tests on Shaik Abdul Kaleem alias Rafi and Mohammed Imran. The SIC filed petitions in the XII additional chief metropolitan magistrate’s court. The court heard arguments in Imran’s case on Friday.

AP High Court : State cannot gift land

By S A Ishaqui
Hyderabad, July 27: A division bench comprising Chief Justice G.S. Singhvi and C.V. Nagarjuna Reddy said the State is only the trustee of the lands and that people were the real owners while hearing the arguments in IMG Bharata land issue.

Stating that the State has no right to gift away lands to firms according to its whims and fancies, the bench asked the advocate general who gave the State such powers. The case has been posted for hearing on Monday, July 30.

State buys helicopter for police

By S A Ishaqui
Hyderabad, July 25:The Greyhounds, hitherto confined to combing operations in forests and other possible hideouts of the Maoists on ground, would here after get the facility to hip hop in a chopper to hunt down the maoists.

The police so far have been using army helicopter for the purpose of only shifting the injured greyhounds in encounters and land and claymore mine blasts. Now, the State government has sanctioned a helicopter exclusively to deal with Maoists to the police.

The helicopter is likely to be delivered to the police in less than a month, director general of police M.A. Basith said in an informal chat with media.

Seniority list for promotions to avoid hassles

By S A Ishaqui
Hyderabad July 25: The home department has decided to prepare an integrated seniority list to prevent legal tangles in the promotion of deputy superintendents of police, sources said on Wednesday. The seniority issue has blocked filling up of 105 vacancies of DSPs, including in Intelligence, CID, City Central Crime Station and Special Branch. Nearly 300 circle inspectors belonging to the 1976 to 1985 batches are awaiting promotion.

Five inspectors of the 1976 batch approached the AP High Court over the abnormal delay in their promotions. The court directed the director-general of police and principal secretary, home, that the petitioners should be given promotion by the end of July. A senior police officer told this correspondent that is normal for ad hoc promotions to be given as per the list prepared by the department which was leading to legal tangles.

"We have decided to sort out the age old problem of challenging the seniority in the courts every time. Dozens of cases are pending in the court pertaining to seniority. This time we will prepare an integrated list. It will be completed in a month’s time," said a senior officer who is responsible for preparing the list.

Monica Bedi : I will return a star

By S A Ishaqui
Hyderabad July 25: Monica Bedi, Bollywood starlet and girlfriend of mafia don Abu Salem, was released on bail from the Chanchalguda prison on Wednesday.

A relieved and cheerful Monica said she was looking forward to acting in Telugu films and promised to come back to Hyderabad "as an actress, and not as an accused".
She later flew to Hoshiyarpur in Punjab along with her father to spend time with her family. "I have got a couple of offers to act in Telugu films and will come back real soon," she told reporters at the airport.

Sources close to Monica said Hindi filmmaker Guddu Dhanoa offered her a role in one of his forthcoming movies. A Telugu producer also wants to make a film on her life starring Monica herself.

Her fans thronged the gates of the Chanchalguda prison from 6 am for a glimpse of the former actress. She came out at 7.40 am and immediately offered a thankful prayer to God.

As soon as Monica walked out, media teams surrounded her. She promised to speak to them and left within minutes. The media teams followed her to Begumpet airport where some news channels had even arranged a live telecast.

A beaming Monica thanked the judiciary, jail staff, prison inmates and others for her release. "Justice has been done," she said.

She said she hopes to restart her film career. "I missed acting. I have now got several offers from Bollywood and Tollywood," she said.

Monica said she had been a naïve girl and had trusted everyone. "I will plan my career carefully from now on," she said. "I have learnt a lot in prison."

She smiled when reporters asked about marriage plans. "Give me a break," she said. "I have just been freed and you want to marry me off right now. Marriage can wait. I want to make a successful career in films."

Monica had earlier acted in the Telugu film Taj Mahal starring Srikant. She also starred in several Hindi films, including Suraksha, Tirchi Topi Wale and Jodi No. 1 before abandoning her film career.

She was extradited to India from Portugal with her companion Abu Salem in 2005 and was sent to Chanchalguda prison in September 2005 in connection with a fake passport case. The actress said she kept herself occupied by teaching other women prisoners yoga, dancing and English in Chanchalguda and Bhopal prisons.

CJ makes fun of ban on dance bars

Hyderabad:

Chief Justice G.S. Singhvi of the AP High Court on Tuesday commented that Indian mythology allowed dances for recreation. He made these remarks while hearing arguments on a petition filed by IMG Bharata.

Justice Singhvi while referring to the Maharashtra government decision to ban dance bars said that it should have instead enforced some entertainment tax which would have benefited the exchequer.

State: Chandana wrote draft for IMG land dea

By S A Ishaqui

Hyderabad, July 24:The State government on Tuesday informed the AP High Court that IMG Bharata was in no way connected to US-based IMG World Wide or IMG Academies.

A bench comprising Chief Justice G.S. Singhvi and Justice C.V. Nagarjuna Reddy heard the arguments in a writ filed by IMG Bharata Academy challenging the government’s decision to cancel allotment of 450 acres made in its favour by the then TD government.

Advocate-general C.V. Mohan Reddy informed the court that inquiries revealed that IMG Bharata had misled the government by stating that it was a subsidiary of IMG Academies of East which is a part of IMG World Wide.

At this juncture, Chief Justice Singhvi asked the advocate-general as to who had prepared the draft to finalise the deal. Mr Mohan Reddy replied that Ms Chandana Khan was principal secretary tourism at that time. The court has asked what action was initiated against the officer.

The Chief Justice asked the advocate-general about the policy of the government in allotting land to companies and individuals. The advocate-general replied that there were different policies and the main objective of the government was to create wealth and job opportunities.

Justice Singhvi commented that the East India Company had also entered the country by saying this and added, "We should never forget the history." The bench directed the government to submit details of duties, responsibilities and powers of the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh in the next hearing.

RTA office under ACB scanner

Hyderabad, July 23: Sleuths of the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Monday conducted surprise checks at the office of the joint commissioner, Road Transport Authority, Khairatabad. According to ACB deputy superintendent of police Yohan, the detectives found unaccounted cash totalling Rs 48,920 in the possession of two RTA employees, three transport constables and 15 agents.
Staff at the RTA central zone office were collecting money from applicants through agents for the issuing of driving licenses and registration certificates. They seized 52 RC books, 40 registration receipts, seven driving licenses and 39 agent cards. The DSP said that the bureau will make a report on the raid to the government.

Trafficking probe held up

Hyderabad, July 23: Even though the investigation into the human smuggling racket was completed a month ago, the city police continues to face hurdles in filing the chargesheet. According to sources, the reason for the delay is that the regional passport authority has not handed over to the police the original application forms of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) legislator Kasipet Lingaiah, the prime accused in the case, and a woman he allegedly attempted to pass off as his wife.
The passport authority has informed the city’s Central Crime Station (CCS) that they cannot hand over the originals without getting permission from the Ministry of External Affairs. The CCS officials have sent a letter to the ministry and are awaiting the go-ahead they need to get the applications. Sources said that the investigations proved beyond doubt the involvement of Lingaiah in the racket.
The city police have booked several cases against Mr Lingaiah, kingpin broker Mohammed Mazahruddin alias Rasheed, an unidentified woman, former TD corporator Muzaffer, Sangeetha Ben of Ahmedabad, bookie Raju Pitti and others under Sections 419, 420, 468, 471 of the IPC and Section 12 (b) of the Passports Act.
Sources said Mr Lingaiah faces a prison term of at least seven years if found guilty of the charges filed against him. "We have collected documentary evidence against Mr Lingaiah. His visit to the US Consulate along with a woman whom he tried to pass off as his wife clearly shows his complicity in the racket," the sources added.

Top cops get HC notice for firing

By S A Ishaqui

Hyderabad July 20: The AP High Court on Friday issued notices to the director-general of police, principal secretary (home), and city police Among others to be served the notices are the Greyhounds inspector-general and the Hyderabad district collector.

A division bench of the High Court comprising Chief Justice G. S Singhvi and Justice C.V. Nagarjuna Reddy issued the notices to the officials while admitting a petition filed by Civil Liberties Monitoring Committee of India president Lateef Mohammed Khan.

He told the court that the city police had turned down seven times, his complaint against the police officers involved in the firing. He alleged that the city police did not take minimum precautions while opening fire. The petitioner said that the police had fired with self-loading rifles (SLRs) and urged the court to direct the State government to order a CBI probe into the police firing.

The court asked the petitioner’s counsel Bojja Tarakam to withdraw a request for post-mortem and inquest reports and the case dairy. The court observed that those records were not necessary at this juncture and posted the case for hearing to August 24. Director-general of police M.A. Basith told this correspondent, “We will send our replies to the High Court as soon as we receive the notices.”

The State Human Rights Commission had earlier issued notices to the city police and sought a detailed report on the police firing. The Hyderabad revenue divisional officer is also conducting an inquiry into episode. The State government has already transferred additional commissioner of police, crimes, Rajiv Trivedi and south zone deputy police commissioner Kantha Rao after a row over the police firing. Earlier Falaknuma inspector P. Sudhakar and Moghulpura inspector Ramachandra Reddy were transferred.

Factionists move to cities

By S A Ishaqui

Hyderabad. July 18: A survey conducted by the State police has revealed that hundreds of faction leaders had moved away from villages of Rayalaseema region to cities in the State and outside.

The exodus has been going on the last six years and police realised this while collecting data to formulate a long term strategy to curtail faction killings in the region.

However, police are not letting down their guard and are focusing on collecting information on faction leaders, their sources of funds, legal assistance and those who provide shelter to them.

“We have also decided to conduct checks in faction-prone villages to find out the reasons for absence of factionists,” said the senior police officer. “We have to find out whether they are indulging in offences in other parts of the State too.”

Factionist leaders travel in convoys of jeeps or cars with their henchmen and weapons. “Police will check on such convoys moving in highways leading to Rayalaseema to control faction killings,” the officer said.

Cops to get boot for road mishaps

By S A Ishaqui

Hyderabad July 18: The director-general of police has decided to take stringent action on police officers who cause road accidents through oversight and negligence. In an evident attempt to curtail road mishaps, the DGP’s office has issued a circular asking district superintendents of police to “fix responsibility” for road mishaps on sub-divisional police officers and take action against them.

The responsibility of enforcing road safety rules such as preventing overcrowding in vehicles and rash driving has been vested with SDPOs and they will be held responsible if rules are violated.

Police officers can even lose their jobs if it was found that their negligence had caused a fatal accident in their jurisdiction.

“They can no longer escape by saying that it is just an accident,” said a police source. “Even age-old explanations of brake failure, low visibility and or bad road conditions may land them in trouble.” For instance, a police officer on duty in the area would also have to explain why preventive measures were not taken and why cases were not booked against those who violated traffic rules.

“They will also to be held responsible if they fail to enforce Motor Vehicle rules regarding the number of persons allowed in a vehicle,” said a senior police officer. For instance, if more than two people are found to have been in the cabin of a lorry which meets with an accident, the police officer on duty will be in trouble. A list of accident-prone roads in the State has been drawn up by the DGP’s office for special focus.

Police Act splits cops, revenue wing

By S A Ishaqui

Hyderabad July 16: The State government is not likely to table the new AP Police Act in the Monsoon Session because of the conflict between the police and revenue departments on certain key provisions.

The preparation of the draft bill itself got delayed following the attempt by the IAS officers to incorporate clauses which would make the police accountable to revenue officials even in their day to day duties.

They even wanted to give revenue officials the power to write annual credential reports of the police and make surprise visits to police stations. Needless to say, all this angered the police top brass who informed the Chief Minister that the above clauses would put the police in difficult situation and deprive it of the powers to act independently.

It would also lead to confrontation with revenue department, they said. Sources told this newspaper that senior police officers including DGP M.A. Basith and Additional director General of Police (Intelligence) K. Arvinda Rao informed the Chief Minister of the consequences of such clauses.

The police officers were also believed to have cautioned the government that the new Act would run into legal tangle if the provisions were not in accordance with the SC guidelines. A compliance report has to be submitted to the Supreme Court after enacting the new law. “The SC wanted the police department to be insulated from all sorts of influences,” said a senior cop.

"Grass Is Bomb, Shaadi Is Target"

By S.A. Ishaqui
Hyderabad, June 15 - When a terrorist tells his comrade that a shaadi (marriage) has been fixed, he means that a target has been selected. And when he says that there is no ghaas (grass) on this side of the fence, he means he has not got the explosives he needs.
These nuggets of jargon used by militants were decoded by the police after a careful study of communications between terror groups and their handlers in Pakistan. The police first came across shaadi and ghaas in communications of ISI agents. Later they were puzzled at finding the same words in documents seized from terrorists and records of Internet chats, e-mails and mobile phone conversations. ISI [Inter Services Intelligence] agent [name omitted] used these terms liberally while speaking to his counterparts in Pakistan and Bangladesh. It was he who told investigators the deadly meanings of these innocuous words when he was subjected to a narco-analysis test. Apart from "shaadi fix ho gayi (the marriage has been fixed)" and "pan mandi main ghaas nahi mil raha hai (there's no grass in the market)," the police has also found constant references to "chacha" and "mama" in the communications. They are not sure what they mean. For all they know, the "uncles" might be on the other side of the border waiting for the "marriage" to go off well.
Terrorists and their agents alert associates when the police increases security by saying, "Hyderabad mein mausam garam hai (Hyderabad is getting hot)". Policemen are called "tax officials". The police recently came to know that a terror agent was trying to recruit a young man through the Internet. After some time, the young man replied: "Aap ki bimari mujhe bhi ho gaya. Dawa bhejiye (I have caught your disease. Send me medicine)." "We did not understand it at first," said a senior police officer, adding, "After one terrorist was caught he told us that they were talking about jihadi operations."
Terrorists never use words such as terror, jihad, bomb and explosives in their communications. Sometimes, during telephonic conversations, they use codes like PAG-1 for weapons and ammunition, PAG-2 for radio-controlled devices and PAG-3 for chemicals used for making bombs.

Beauticians altered faces, says Rasheed

By S.A. Ishaqui

Hyderabad, May 15: Human trafficking rackets used beauticians to alter their clients' looks so that they more or less resembled the photographs affixed to original passports.

Several clients were "touched up" by beauticians before they appeared for interviews at the diplomatic missions of various countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom.Arrested travel agent Rasheed told interrogators that racketeers usually picked passports that matched the facial features of those who wanted to be smuggled out.

"Once this was ensured, we sent them to a beautician for the finishing touches," he told the police. "Later they attended interviews at the consulates. We mostly used Mumbai-based beauticians."He disclosed that some times the racketeers used to "purchase" passports of lookalikes. But, in most cases, the clients managed quite well with the help of beauticians.

The rackets also occasionally made use of beauticians in Ahmedabad and Hyderabad. They were paid Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000, depending on the degree of alteration needed.Meanwhile, sleuths of the city's Central Crime Station produced Rasheed before the XIIth additional chief metropolitan court on Tuesday and the judge directed that he be remanded to judicial custody till May 18.

The court rejected the bail petitions of TRS MLA Lingaiah and Rasheed and granted conditional bail to Muzaffar Ali Khan, a former TD corporator. The police informed the court that they had seized eight passports, a computer hard disk, telephone dairy and photographs and ration cards of Jagdish Patel and Sangeetha Ben Patel from Rasheed.

I’ve a soft spot for ghazals’Balwinder Singh, City Police Commissioner

Hyderabad :

I enjoy music, particularly A. R. Rahman’s songs. Woh kagaz ki kashti, woh barish ka pani, a ghazal rendered by ghazal king Jagjit Singh is one of my all-time favourites. I become nostalgic when I listen to this ghazal, as it brings back memories of my childhood. One track that can instantly pep me up is ‘Yeh desh hai veer jawano ka...’ from Dilip Kumar’s film Naya Daur. Chupke chupke, raat din an enchanting ghazal of Badshah-E-Ghazal Ghulam Ali is among my non-film favourites.I also enjoy the latest hits. The music score in Rang de Basanti stands out among the current younger generation films and I love its music. Other songs that I really like are Yeh jo mohabbat hain, Zindagi ke Safar mein and Dil aaj shayer hain — all by Kishore Kumar, and Tum ko dekha to yeh qhayal aaya by Jagjit Singh, Hum tere shehar mein by Ghulam Ali and Chhuu lene do naazuk by Mohd Rafi.
(As told to S. A. Ishaqui ) Date 14-07-2007

CID seeks nod to test Ramoji firm hard disc
By Our Correspondent
Hyderabad, March 26: The Crime Investigation Department (CID) on Monday filed a petition in the first additional chief metropolitan magistrate court seeking permission to scrutinise documents seized from Margadarsi Financiers. The CID also requested the court to allow it to send a hard disc seized from the main server of Margadarsi Financiers for forensic examination. The CID said it needed assistance from technical, finance and forensic experts to access and scrutinise documents.
First additional chief metropolitan magistrate Prameela Reddy admitted the petition and posted the hearing to March 30. The court said it will also hear a petition filed by Margadarsi Financiers seeking documents from CID on the same day. Sources in the CID told this correspondent that certificates issued by Margadarsi Financiers carried a code word besides the amount of money deposited. The code, which is numerical or alpha-numerical, triggered suspicion, forcing them to seek the court’s permission to send the certificates to the State Forensic Laboratory for decoding.Sources told this correspondent that the CID suspected that the company had maintained fake deposits. Sources said that the company had allegedly "undervalued" the deposited money. Officials have alleged that though a certificate is issued for a face value of Rs 1 lakh, the actual money deposited could be more. The CID has sought the permission from the court to decipher the code used by the company

Intelligence sleuths tap mobiles

By S. A Ishaqui

Hyderabad July 14: Intelligence sleuths are eavesdropping on the mobile phone conversations of persons suspected to have links with terror groups. They are also conducting random snooping of mobile phone conversations among the general public citing internal security reasons. Sources said that hundreds of mobile users including advocates, high profile persons and known sympathisers of terror networks were being snooped upon.

The State intelligence has procured equipment to record the conversations. A special provision in law enables intelligence agencies to keep tab on mobile conversations of individuals who may pose threats to internal security.

Technology is available which will help police and mobile service providers to listen and even record conversations. "There is no provision in the Constitution which enables us to tap phone conversations of individuals on mere suspicion," said a senior police officer.

"But it is done by intelligence agencies when the issue is one of national security." "It has helped solve some complicated cases," said a top intelligence official. "We are working closely with private telephone companies."

A software expert, Mohammed Ali, said that sometimes service providers also listen to private conversations of their subscribers.

They do this mostly to track the defaulters (customers) with the help of network coverage antennas. "If you notice an echo effect, a low long beep and wind noise while talking, there is a possibility that someone is listening," said a software expert.

Rasheed held, says top TDP men involved

By S.A. Ishaqui

Hyderabad, May 3: Mohammed Mazharuddin Ali, alias Rasheed, the alleged kingpin of the human trafficking racket, surrendered before the city police here on Thursday. His name had surfaced soon after the arrest of BJP MP Babubhai Katara at Delhi airport last month, which blew the lid off what is turning out to be a massive countrywide racket.

Rasheed has also been linked with trafficking and fake passport cases involving other political leaders.The police arrested Rasheed in connection with a passport case registered against him in 2006 in the city central crime station.

Sources said he had confessed to the police that two Telugu Desam leaders were also involved in the racket. He admitted to the police that he had arranged passports for TRS MLAs Kasipet Lingaiah and Soyam Bapu Rao.

He also confessed that he had paid Rs 11 lakhs to a TRS MP and Rs 2 lakhs to a Telugu Desam MP in 2003.Based on this, the police interrogated Mohammed Muzaffer Ali Khan, a former TD corporator ofAzampura division, to probe his links with the scam.

Rasheed came to the central crime station premises with his lawyer Muzaffer at around 12 noon and surrendered before additional deputy police commissioner B.V. Chandar Rao. He was immediately arrested and interrogated.Later, sleuths raided his residence in the Saidabad area and seized six passports and other documents.

The police also raided a house in the Asmanghad area belonging to Rehana, a relative of Rasheed.Sources said that Rasheed told the police that he was only a "tool" and that the racket was run by Mohammed Shakeel, alias Shameem, a TD leader.

Mr Shakeel had joined the TD just before the Assembly polls of 2004 and also contested the recent Legislative Council elections as an Independent with the TD's support. However, he lost the election.Sources said that Rasheed disclosed the names of several brokers, politicians, police officers and travel agents involved in the human trafficking racket.

The police is now zeroing in on them.Earlier, Rasheed told reporters that he was innocent and had never met Babubhai Katara. "I am a small broker," he said. "I have never met politicians. It was they who approached me for passports."He added that he did not remember whether Kasipet Lingaiah met him or not. "My life is in danger and I have surrendered only because the police started harassing my family," he alleged.City police commissioner Balwinder Singh said detectives were yet to verify Rasheed's statements.

The police team which searched the house of Muzaffer Ali Khan found photographs of TRS MP A. Narendra, Lingaiah and his family members, Soyam Bapu Rao and his family members, and some other crucial documents. The police also recovered four live rounds from the house.

Indrasena arrested for trespassing

By S A Ishaqui
Hyderabad, March 26: BJP national secretary and his followers were arrested by Vansthalipuram police on Monday night on charges of trespassing and damaging crops in a land belonging to N. Surya Prakash Rao.
Police said the BJP activists along with the villagers of Nadergul had allegedly trespassed on the land belonging to Surya Prakash Rao under the leadership of Mr Indrasena Reddy on Monday morning. they also squatted on the land and damaged some crops.
The police registered a case against Indrasena Reddy and others and arrested them late Monday night

Maoist move into Westren Ghats

By S. A. ISHAQUI

Hyderabad Feb 3 : The Western Ghats have become the new refuge of the CPI Maoists of Andhra Pradesh. The left-wing extremists are moving to the harsh and rocky terrain of the Western Ghats from the lush Nallamalla and Bhadrachalam forests of Dandakaranya because of the relentless operations by the State police.

It is feared that Naxal activity in Kerala, Karnataka and parts of Maharashtra will witness a spurt because of this.The State special intelligence bureau recently came to know of the movement of Maoists from Dandakaranya to Western Ghats.

Police authorities had calculated that their operations would drive the Maoist outfits to Chattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. Instead, Maoists have preferred Karnataka and parts of Western Ghats including Goa.

It is believed that they would try to regroup from these areas. “We have learnt that Maoists are conducting special training camps to help their cadre survive in the terrain of the Western Ghats,” said a senior police officer. The State Intelligence sleuths are keeping a tab on Maoist movements in the area now. Karnataka police have also intensified combing operations in Chikmaglur, Raichur and Malnad.

The Maoist presence in the Western Ghats was first noticed in 2001 when a tribal woman, Cheramma, suffered a bullet injury as she fired a gun accidentally at a village Menasenahadya in Chikmaglur.

Since then, Maoists have been trying to establish a hold over Western Ghats. But their plans were spoilt by the antics of sandalwood smuggler Veerappan and the activities of the special task force hunting him. Things have quietened down after Veerappan’s death and Maoists, who are on the run in the State, now consider the Western Ghats their best refuge.

Sources said that the Maoists were creating a corridor from Seshachalam hills of Eastern Ghats to Western Ghats via Jawadi hills, Bennari and Satyamangalam. The Maoists are also trying to expand their activities in coffee plantations in Ooty and adjoining districts of Karnataka.

They have been intervening in local labour disputes in these places. To resist the growing Maoist influence, coffee growers in Malnad region formed an organisation, Grameena Jagruti Sena, a couple of days ago.