<b>Fake visa, passport racket busted in Delhi</b><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->The accused, Afaq Hussain, 45, and his wife Rukhsana, 43, were arrested from the Indralok area of north Delhi, <b>for helping people illegally migrate to Pakistan on forged visas</b>, police said.
Describing the couple's modus operandi, police said <b>they used to procure genuine passports of people who had already been to Pakistan. They used to lure innocent people wishing to go to Pakistan and take their passports for getting them the visa</b>.
Later, they used to remove stamps from genuine passports and paste the stamps on the fake passports of those wishing to go to Pakistan. They also used to change the dates and other particulars by using stain removers
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
02-25-2007, 06:22 AM
(This post was last modified: 02-25-2007, 06:23 AM by Husky.)
See red bit at end
http://www.indianexpress.com/story/23844.html
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Coast Guard destroys explosive-laden LTTE boat</b>
Jaya Menon
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Chennai, February 20: The Indian Coast Guard today destroyed the LTTE boat it intercepted mid-sea on February 13, 20 nautical miles off Chennai. This came after the Tamil Nadu police found that Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were concealed behind its fibre plates on the sides and front of
The state âQâ branch which is now handling the case, stumbled on this during their interrogation of the five crew members, two of whom were LTTE members. One of them is a Sea Tiger.
The Coast Guard also found a black suicide bomb vest packed with 7kg of explosives and detonators, an AK-56 rifle with 124 rounds of ammunition, five hand grenades, and eight drums containing 55 litre of liquid chemical each were also found on the boat.
This could well be the first time that Central agencies have come across a boat which could have caused serious damage to the Chennai harbour where it was anchored, as well as some of the big ships berthed in the docks nearby. A press release by Director-General of Police D Mukherjee said that while questioning, the five arrested men âascertained that more explosives were concealed inside the fibre plates on both sides of the boat and in the front, which could be exploded by ignition.â
Immediately, a bomb detection squad was summoned to examine the ship. They confirmed the âsuspicionâ. On Monday, the police obtained orders from a Chennai Magistrate Court, âto defuse the explosives embedded in the boat.â
Around 11 am today, Coast Guard ship âAvvaiyarâ accompanied by a bomb disposal commando squad, senior intelligence officials from the Central and state governments and an officer of the Chennai port marine police, defused, destroyed and sank the LTTE boat mid-sea, about 20 nautical miles (37 kms) off Chennai. The DGP told the media that the boat which took off from Iranaitheevu in Sri Lanka was heading towards north of Jaffna when it strayed into Indian waters. It was fleeing Lankan Naval patrol boats. Meanwhile, Rameshwaram police today arrested two persons, Gunasekara Pandian (22) and Selvaraj (44) from Madurai, from whom they seized 33 gunny bags of metallic bars.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->Terrorists who are working for the christoterrorist outfit LTTE stay away from Hindu Tamil Nadu (and rest of India too, of course).
http://in.news.yahoo.com/070311/211/6d53z.html
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Photo: <b>Early morning shootout in Old Delhi, 5 jawans killed</b>
Sunday March 11, 07:32 AM
In an early morning shootout in Daryaganj area of Old Delhi on Sunday, five jawans of the Sikkim police were killed and one seriously injured. They were deployed for the security of treasury of Dena Bank. However, it is not immediately clear how and why the shootout occurred. According to sources, police received a call at around 0450 hrs, IST that one of the personnel opened fire at others before fleeing.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->What happened? A traitor in their midst?
Army reveals startling facts on Bluestar
Says Longowal surrendered
Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, March 19
The Army has come on record for the first time, giving startling facts on the infamous Operation Bluestar in June 1984, including the break-up of the casualties of officers, civilians and militants, apart from the persons who had surrendered.
In his affidavit, D.V. Rao (68), a retired Brigadier, filed in the court of Harjit Singh Khalsa, civil judge (junior div)-cum-judicial magistrate first class, revealed that the then SAD president Sant Harchand Singh Longowal and his colleagues had surrendered before the Army.
It reads, "The unit commander received information from the two civilians that H.S. Longowal with his colleagues were in the SGPC building and were willing to surrender."
On this, Brigadier Rao deputed senior officers to make arrangements to take them safely and lodge them in the Circuit House.
Brigadier Rao submitted evidence by way of an affidavit in the court of civil judge senior division in connection with the suit filed by some Jodhpur detainees against the Union of India and others for recovery.
Brigadier Rao, who is currently working in the Training Institute of Hyderabad, stated that in June 1984 he was posted as Commander, 350 Infantry Brigade in Jalandhar which was part of the Ninth Infantry Division.
He was called by the civil administration to assist the civil authorities in clearing the Golden Temple complex from terrorists and to recover all illegal arms ammunitions, explosives etc from the complex.
He stated that all major buildings in the Golden Temple were heavily fortified when he reached Amritsar on May 30, 1984.
The Army under the command of Brigadier Rao was ordered to undertake Operation Bluestar by the GOC Ninth Infantry division on the directions of the Punjab Government.
Brigadier Rao, in his affidavit, stated that special instructions were given to the troops that no weapons should be fired at Shri Harmandar Sahib and heavy machine guns were not to be taken.
The troops would not wear boots but caps and other uniform. The instructions were clear that troops would respect Shri Harmandar Sahib with proper regards like they do in their temples. They would fire in self-defence only.
However, as the troops advanced, terrorists opened fire from all places, leading to heavy casualties of forces.
The Army suffered 83 deaths which included four officers, four JCOs and 75 other ranks while 13 officers, 16 JCOs and 220 other ranks sustained injuries. The casualties to the civilians inside Golden Temple were 492 dead. The Army had apprehended 433 persons who were segregated as terrorists from total of 1592 persons apprehended.
S.S. Sood, lawyer for the Jodhpur detainees, said he would 'smash' the affidavit during the next hearing on April 17 at the time of cross-examination.
He said Brigadier Rao, who could not appear today, was likely arrive here on the date fixed by the court.
This is a very serious issue, crusade symbol is now on Indian coin. India don't need Paki or Bangladeshi or Chini to destroy India, few traitor Babus with agenda and current rulers of India are doing.
<b>An assault on the soul of the nation</b>
Terror funds moving through banks too
TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2007 02:09:23 AM]
NEW DELHI: Just over a month after National Security Advisor MK Narayanan told a conference in Munich that terrorist outfits were manipulating stock exchanges to source funds, the government on Wednesday officially conceded that banking channels, too, were a significant route for movement of terror finances.
âAs per available reports, terrorists and terrorist organisations active in India are using different channels to fund their operations. They route their funds mainly through hawala and other informal means. Banking channels are also a significant route for movement of funds by such elements,â minister of state for home Sriprakash Jaiswal said in reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha.
Clarifying on the relevant observations of the NSA regarding use of legal channels like stock exchanges and bank transfers by the terrorists, Mr Jaiswal said Mr Narayanan had only recounted methods adopted by terror outfits to generate funds and had pointed towards the reported âmisuseâ of the formal financial system by the terrorists.
Though the governmentâs revelation on terrorists using legal banking channels has come now, the huge foreign remittances to obscure Bihar towns like Siwan have already been a source of worry for the intelligence agencies. Mr Jaiswal on Wednesday sought to assure the Elders by stating that the government was pursuing a multi-dimensional approach to deal with terrorist operations and supporting states to neutralise their activities.
He said the revenue, security and law enforcement agencies were regularly sensitised to pursue an inter-agency approach to detect these channels and the use of funds received by the terror groups. âThere is continuous co-ordination between home, defence, finance and other ministries dealing with security-sensitive sectors,â he said, adding that proposals relating to such sectors were referred to the home and defence ministries for vetting from the security angle.
Mr Narayanan had in February stunned the nation by referring to the manipulation of stock exchanges at Mumbai and Chennai by terror outfits through fictitious companies. Listing some of the methods being adopted by the terror outfits for movement of their funds, Mr Narayanan named the hawala route, legal banking transactions, investment in real estate and legal businesses and the narcotics trade as the favoured channels.
Mr Narayananâs revelation had the Opposition questioning the appropriateness of the NSAâs making public the vulnerability of Indian stock exchanges at an international forum. Besides, the government was also criticised for its âsoftâ stance on fighting terror. In fact, the Opposition alleged that it was this âkid-glovesâ approach that had emboldened the terrorist outfits to extend their reach to the countryâs stock exchanges.
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070322/edit.htm#4
<b>Security on the downslide</b>
PM must allay the nationâs concerns
- by G. Parthasarathy
Record of 3 Pak womenâs visit may yield valuable information: Bitta
Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, March 26
The record maintained by CRPF personnel who allegedly accompanied Capt Amarinder Singh, former Chief Minister, and his three Pakistani women friends to New Delhi, Jaipur and Ajmer Sharif is likely to yield valuable information in the coming days.
All-India Anti-Terrorist Front (AIATF) chief Maninderjit Singh Bitta who personally collected the 'facts' about the stay of Capt Amarinder Singh and his Pakistani women guests by visiting the farm house near Mehrauli (New Delhi), Jaipur and Ajmer Sharif alleged that the former CM spent 'several nights' leaving his Punjab police security behind. The AIATF chief claimed that he personally collected the 'secret' itinerary of the former CM and his Pakistani friends from the waiters, staff and CRPF jawans who stood guard outside the farm house, five star hotel and guest houses. He alleged that the then DIG, Security, of the ex-Chief Minister, Khubi Ram, accompanied Captain Amarinder Singh and his three Pakistani women friends throughout their itinerary. He alleged that Natwar Singh, brother-in-law of the former CM, had also 'sold' India's secrets to Pakistan during his stint as Foreign Minister.
Levelling serious charges of moral turpitude, Bitta alleged that Capt Amarinder Singh remained in the company of three Pakistani women in the last week of December 2006. In the months of January, February and March, Amarinder again accompanied them to other destinations which was kept 'top secret.â
Capt Amarinder Singh had reportedly entered into wedlock with Arusa Alam, a Pakistan-based journalist. Though he had described such reports as 'baseless, misleading and concocted', yet Arusa Alam never denied the reports of her second marriage.
Bitta alleged that Arusa attended many social gatherings, arranged in Army cantonments at the behest of Amarinder and it was feared that she had collected vital information on Indian security. Bitta sought a high-level inquiry into the matter. The AIATF chief produced documentary proof, including press clippings, that showed Captain Amarinder Singh attending many functions in foreign countries organised by Sikh militants during his stint as Chief Minister. He also produced a picture of Captain Amarinder Singh standing alongside Baba Harnam Singh Dhumma, chief of the Damdami Taksal and successor to Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. Presenting another picture pertaining to the visit of the former Chief Minister to the Dixie gurdwara in Canada, Bitta said the âdesigns of the ex-CM were clear and he wanted to revive militancy in the state.â
The AIATF chief called upon the Congress high command to expel <!--emo&:devil--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/devilsmiley.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='devilsmiley.gif' /><!--endemo--> Amarinder Singh from the party due to his alleged anti-national activities. He alleged that Captain Amarinder Singh and Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee chief Paramjit Singh Sarna had close links with Pakistan-based militants.
<b>Drug abuse high in Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana</b>: Oscar <!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Kolkata, April 11: Drug abuse in Chandigarh, Haryana and Punjab was high and the government has to take steps to tackle the situation, Union Minister of State for Labour Oscar Fernandes said.
"We have to do something about the rise in the incidence of drug abuse in Chandigarh, Haryana and Punjab which is quite frightening," Fernandes, the convenor of the parliamentary committee on HIV-AIDS, said here.
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It is now effecting middle class families in Punjab and Harayana. Now they have started Thar train between Pakistan india, it will spread to other states.
http://rajeev2004.blogspot.com/
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Friday, April 13, 2007
<b>"South Asian" University</b>
More on "south-asianitis"
SAARC has agreed to a South Asian University, to be located in India.
http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/apr/05saarc4.htm
Easier for terrorists from Pakistan and Bangladesh to come to India in the guise of students and "professors". I suggest the university starts a course on MBA - Masters in Bombing and Anarchy. They would easily find qualified faculty!
No wonder, Pakistan did not make any noises about the university to be located in their excuse for a country.
# posted by DarkStorm @ 3:44 AM 0 comments<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<b>Seeking homeland security</b><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->The other issue under the spotlight is the Gujarat election. It will no doubt determine the political agenda of several parties. The Congress cannot ignore the fact that events in J&K will have a connection with the election campaign in Gujarat, since security considerations are currently dominating public thinking.
....
Political forces in Gujarat that are to participate in the elections may well concentrate on this factor. Goa is another example where, in the elections after Kargil, there was a clear trend, with the BJP outscoring the Congress.
There is no denying the popular support in Gujarat for Narendra Modi. It is reflected in the huge crowds that throng his meetings and it gives the BJP something to cheer about in the current situation. The Congress would be short-sighted to ignore ground realities.
I must admit that who wins or loses Gujarat is less important to me than the prevailing atmosphere where violence and political confrontation are ripping the system apart in many parts of the country.
............
<b>Let us not take things for granted. Measures adopted will mean restrictions on civil society, but we cannot effectively tackle the situation without putting national interest before all other considerations. Take just one of our problems. Constant migration from Bangladesh has changed the demographic pattern in several districts in Assam, West Bengal and Bihar. We have millions of Bangladeshi nationals in India. Is this in our national interest? We are so busy looking into issues on a 'secular-non-secular' basis that we forget we should be looking at them as a united nation</b>Â <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Sorry, no URL
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>âInflux will turn State into another Kashmirâ</b>
By A Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, April 12 â Leading intellectuals of the State, who gathered at a
meeting at the Paltan Bazar Srimanta Kristi Bikash Samiti Naamghar here on
Tuesday, expressed their serious concern over the continuous influx from
neighbouring Bangaldesh. They also warned that if allowed to continue unabated,
this influx would ultimately turn Assam into another Kashmir in the near future.
Already, people and cultures of the countries like Afghanistan, Bangladesh and
Malaysia and states like Kashmir were tormented by similar influx of people of
other religions. Assam has become the latest victim of this phenomenon and now
this has been posing a serious threat to Assam and the culture of its people.
A planned campaign is launched to encroach upon the land of the sattra
institutions of the State and the number of the encroachers is proliferating at
a tremendous pace. <b>This has been rapidly reducing the Hindus to minorities in
the State.</b> The encroachers have already killed some of the sattradhikars of the
State. The indigenous women are also not safe in the areas dominated by these
people, said the intellectuals while addressing the meeting.
The speakers at the meeting also resented the fact that despite a High Court
order to evict the encroachers from the sattra land, the State Government had
displayed inertia in this regard and alleged that a conspiracy was on to make
Assam a part of greater Bangladesh.
They also criticized the ongoing process for delimitation of the Assembly
constituency as a part of a grave conspiracy to rob the indigenous people of
their hegemony over State politics.
<b>To combat the menace, they suggested unity of the Hindus of the State, saying,
only this could work as the panacea to the influx-related affliction of the
State.</b>
In addition to this, the speakers also laid stress on adopting an appropriate
work culture by the indigenous people, besides mounting pressure on the
Government to effectively check the influx problem.
The meeting, which was presided over by former Commissioner and Secretary to the State Government Dr Rohini Kumar Barua, was addressed by former Director General of the National Museum Dr Rabin Dev Choudhury, former editor of The Sentinel DN Bezboruah, former editor of the Dainik Asam Dhirendranath Chakravorty, former Vice Chancellor of Tezpur Univiersity Dr Kishori Mohan Pathak, former Dibrugarh Univeristy Vice Chancellor Kamaleswar Bora, chief of the Srimanta Sankar Sangha Karuna Kanta Kalita, Asam Sattra Mahasabha president Bhadra Krishna Goswami, NE Haridev Sangha secretary Kanteswar Kalita, Eksaran Bhagawati Samaj president Dayal Krishna Bora, Advocate Kuntala Deka and noted writer Atulananda Goswami,
among others.
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'<b>India could revert to pre-1947 state'</b><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->New Delhi, April 22: Bogged down by internal and external security threats, India could revert to its pre-independence territories if divisive trends are not firmly arrested and reversed, a defence analyst has said.
<b>Naxalism and insurgency affected "more than 40 per cent" of India's territory, while psychological fragmentation over language, religion, caste or region had spread due to vote- bank politics, "resulting in overwhelming regional pressures in determining our foreign policy", Capt (retired) Bharat Verma said in an editorial in Indian Defence Review. </b>
Painting a grim picture of the security situation in and around the country, he said the writ of state governments were being "rolled back towards their respective state capitals by Naxalites" while the entire land border was facing different threats.
<b>"Despite India's pretensions of an emerging great power, its influence is shrinking -- both internally as well as on its external periphery,"</b> he said.
Observing that these negative and divisive trends need to be immediately arrested firmly and reversed, Verma said India could otherwise face the prospect of "reverting to its pre-independence status of splintered territories, principalities and fiefdoms ruled by feudals and their private militias who may well seek outside military support to subjugate their kith-turned-adversaries".
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Current govt's support to external entities just to stay in power is a major factor.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Abu-ul Kama's 3 LeT men were on recce </b>
Pioneer.com
Faizan Haidar/Anand Prakash | New Delhi
Diwali blast mastermind Abu-ul-Kama had planned to rock the national Capital again as the three terrorists who were arrested from Dilli Haat on Thursday were trained by him in Muzaffrabad camp in Pakistan. One of the arrested terrorists, who is a Pakistan national, was reportedly trained in Daura-e-Lashkar for fidayen attacks. However, police said that the target has not been identified so far.
<b>"The possibility of planning of any kind of attack cannot be ruled out but these terrorists had come for a recce. However, their motive is still unknown to us,"</b> said Karnal Singh, Joint Commissioner of Police, Special Cell.
Abu Qasim, resident of Mandi Bhawal of Pakistan had come to Delhi on Thursday afternoon from Patna by Magadh Express. Raj met him in Delhi. Both reached Dilli Haat by a three-wheeler from Old Delhi where Shafaqat and Shabbir, both residents of Doda district of Kashmir, were waiting for him at the main entrance of the market.
<b>According to police, Raj is still at large and a team has been sent to arrest him. "His sketches are being made and hunt is on to nab him along with a few other associates," </b>added Singh.
Abu Ammar, the Operational Chief Commander of Lashkar-e-Tayyeba in Jammu region, trained Shabbir and Shafaqat. According to police, Ammar had directed Shafaqat to deliver the consignment of arms and explosives to Qasim. These terrorists already have hideouts in Delhi which police is trying to locate. According to police, Raj knows the topography of Delhi and his work is to bring terrorists from Patna and to familiarise them with Delhi. Qasim came in contact with LeT men when he was in class XII. A few LeT men came and persuaded him when he was in the school.
This indicates that militant groups are launching newly trained ultras for fidayen attacks who are often not given enough time to change their mind till the mission is executed.
According to police, Qasim alias Hussain got highly influenced by the ethics of the militant group Lashkar. He and one of his classmates were selected for further training. He took training of Daura-e-Aam in 2002 while in June 2003 he had training of Daura-e-Khas. After getting training of Daura-e-Lashkar in 2007 he came to Nepal from Karachi where he met one Vinod. Vinod kept his passport with him and took him to Patna where he met Raj.
<b>They were all controlled by Abu-ul-Kama, who is presently based in Pakistan</b>. Shafaqat had joined Harkat-ul-Jehad in 2000 and in 2004-05 he had joined LeT. In 2006, he came in contact with Abu Ammar. He along with Shabbir had come to Delhi on Thursday with the consignment. On Thursday evening the Special Cell of Delhi police arrested three terrorists of Lashkar-e-Tayyeba from the busy Dilli Haat area of South Delhi.<b> Among the seizures made from the ultras included 2 kg RDX, four detonator two-hand grenades, one timer and Rs 25,000 cash.</b>
According to intelligence reports, the trend of infiltration too has changed in the past few years. Due to free cross border entry from Nepal, the militants are using it as an easy route to India. Even sea routes are becoming their favourite way to enter into India. Initially, the militants were using Kashmir border to enter but due to heavy losses, they Have started coming through Bangladesh border.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
As usual story cooked by someone to divert what?
Main so-called player is in Pakistan, Delhi Police already linked him with Delhi blast,
In Dilli haat they are able to find RDX, detonator and hand grenades. How someone able to take it in? As I remember, Police always check bags and one has to go through metal detactor. In case, it came through traders, what the hell Delhi police was doing? Sleeping or staring at Delhi young girls. <!--emo&<_<--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/dry.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='dry.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Anyway story created by Delhi police sounds fake. When it sounds fake, it is a fake.
<b>'Terrorists' nearby, cops clueless ?</b>
So I was RIGHT, Delhi Police created this story, but Why? Is it UP election or something else, e.g delay transfer notice. <!--emo&  --><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--> <b>Is cocaine use far more common in India than we think it is?</b>
International drug experts say that India is emerging as a major market in the sub continent for cocaine. Ramachandra Sundaralingam, who has spent over 15 years with Interpol was quoted by The Hindu saying that the market in Europe is now saturated and the international drug cartels are now exploring new markets in Central Asia, India, Pakistan, Singapore and Thailand. Is cocaine use far more common in India than we think it is?
<b>Cocaine, one of worldâs most expensive narcotics is often consumed by the rich and famous of the high society. The target groups in India are those in the world of music, arts, fashion and films. However, a proper study of drug abuse is not possible because unlike conventional crime, the victim in this case does not complain. </b>
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
AID and drugs will bring India's downfall. Indian Govt. is ignoring ground reality.
Disappearance of RAW official raises questions
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Malik was appointed during this period in RAW's Aviation Research Centre in Kolkata as a Class-I officer. He went
missing after his wife filed an affidavit in a court in Kolkata in 2005 that alleged <b>he is a Bangladeshi national</b>, sources in the intelligence agency said.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Five killed, 20 injured in Guwahati bomb explosion
Guwahati, June 23 (PTI): At least five persons were killed and 20 others injured when the proscribed ULFA today exploded a bomb in front of a mosque situated near a commercial area here, hours before the start of the Asian Athletics Grand Prix.
The bomb hidden in a cycle, which was parked in front of the mosque adjacent to the wholesale Machkhowa vegetable market, went off at 7.30 am killing four on the spot, city Additional Superintendent of Police Rajen Singh said.
The fifth victim succumbed to his injuries at the hospital, he said.
Among the dead were two children who were at the vegetable market at the time of the explosion, he said.
The injured were being treated at the Guwahati Medical College Hospital, he said.
The scene of the blast was a gory site with body parts of the victims strewn all over the place, blood stains and bits of clothings, shoes and sandals lying scattered.
The cycle and some other vehicles parked nearby were damaged, Singh said.
Meanwhile, security has been tightened in the city following the blast as the Asian Athletics Grand Prix is scheduled to begin at the Indira Gandhi Athletics Stadium here this evening which would witness the presence of over 200 sportspersons from 20 countries.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Posting in full as this article contains the usual drivel of blaming everything on India. The last paragraph is simply hilarious.
<b> 'Before, it was like being part of one country'</b>
Associated Press
Posted online: Tuesday, June 26, 2007 at 1316 hours IST
Updated: Tuesday, June 26, 2007 at 1455 hours IST
Sujatpur, Bangladesh, June 26: Everyone knew it was out there somewhere, an invisible line that cut through a cow pasture and, at least in theory, divided one nation from another. But no one saw it as a border.
It was just a lumpy field of grass, uneven from the hooves of generations of cattle, and villagers crossed back and forth without even thinking about it.
Today, no one can ignore the line.
In a construction project that will eventually reach across 3,300 kilometres, hundreds of rivers and long stretches of forests and fields, India has been quietly sealing itself off from Bangladesh, its much poorer neighbour. Sections totaling about 2,500 kilometres have been built in the past seven years.
In Sujatpur, a poor farming village, the frontier is now defined by two rows of 3-metre-high barbed wire barriers, the posts studded with ugly spikes the size of a toddler's fingers. A smaller fence, and miles of barbed wire coils, fill the space in between. The expanse of steel, set into concrete, spills off toward the horizon in both directions.
"Before, it was like we were one country," said Mohammed Iqbal, a Bangladeshi farmer walking near the border on a windy afternoon.
"I used to go over there just to pass the time."
As he spoke, a cow wandered past, brass bells jangling around its neck. "But now that's over," he said.
In the United States, the decision to fence 1,100 kilometres of the Mexican border triggered months of political debate ranging across issues from immigration reform to the environmental impact. When Israel announced it would build a 680-kilometre barrier around the West Bank, an international outcry erupted.
But there has been barely a ripple over India's far larger project, launched in earnest in 2000 amid growing fears in New Delhi about illegal immigration and cross-border terrorism.
The Bangladesh government made a few complaints, the fence felt like an insult, as if their country was a plague that needed to be quarantined but soon gave up.
India has become enamoured with fences in recent years.
<b>First it started closing off much of its border with Pakistan, trying to stop incursions by Muslim extremists. Then it turned to its other Muslim neighbor, Bangladesh, and has been building the fence intermittently ever since. </b>
There's no clear completion date for the USD 1.2 billion project, which when finished will nearly encircle Bangladesh, leaving open only its seacoast and its border of about 320 kilometres with Myanmar.
India believes some Indian militant groups are based in Bangladesh, a charge the Bangladeshi government denies.
But the larger fear in New Delhi is that illegal immigrants will flood out of Bangladesh, one of the world's most crowded countries.
Its 150 million people, about half the US population, jam an area the size of Wisconsin, and the low-lying land is prone to devastating floods and typhoons. Scientists also warn that rising sea levels from global warming could force millions of Bangladeshis from their homes.
<b>India already has millions of its own citizens living in desperate poverty, despite an economy growing at more than 8 per cent annually. Its population is approaching 1.2 billion and what little is left of its once-vast wilderness is being chewed up rapidly. </b>
Maxis buy gives Saudi Telecom big role in India
New Delhi, June 26: Saudi Telecom Co, the largest telecom operator in Saudi Arabia, has bought a 25 per cent stake in Malaysiaâs Maxis Communications for $3 billion. This gives it an indirect entry into India as it will own an 18.5 per cent stake in Aircel, a GSM-based mobile telecom service provider. Maxis owns 74 per cent equity in Aircel.
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Aircel provides services in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, Orissa, Jammu & Kashmir, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh and the North-East. It has a subscriber base of 5.5 million.
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