According to sources, CRPF personnel were patrolling the area when the unidentified militants set off the explosion.

The National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) activists are suspected to have triggered the blast.

More details are awaited. (ANI)

A police spokesperson said militants triggered the remote-controlled landmine when Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troopers were returning from a training session near village Holmari in Goalpara district, about 130 km west of Assam’s main city of Guwahati.

‘Forty CRPF troopers were returning back to their base camp after a routine anti-insurgency training exercise when the landmine explosion took place,’ a senior police official said.

Four CRPF troopers were killed on the spot and about 30 injured. The injured were shifted to local hospitals in Goalpara town with multiple injuries, the official said.

‘The condition of at least five of the injured is stated to be critical,’ he added.

ULFA claimed responsibility for the explosion.

‘We carried out the blast on the CRPF bus and will step up our offensive if the government does not immediately stop killing our cadres,’ ULFA spokesperson Anu Buragohain told a local TV channel by phone.

‘We have noticed the government’s attitude, thinking we are a spent force. But then they are wrong in thinking like that,’ he added.

Earlier, the police claimed that the blast was carried out by suspected militants of the outlawed National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB).

‘We don’t think ULFA has any base here, although we know for sure that the NDFB has a strong presence in the district,’ the police official said.

A massive security operation was launched in the area with police and CRPF troopers, along with army soldiers, combing the location to hunt for the rebels.

‘The area where the explosion took place is a thickly forested one and the militants must have taken advantage of the location,’ the official said.

This is the second biggest attack on security forces in Assam this week – four troopers of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) were killed and seven injured in an ambush Monday by NDFB militants in the western district of Chirang.

Militants, suspected to be from the outlawed National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), triggered a landmine blast around 8 a.m. when around 20 CRPF troopers were returning in a bus from an anti-insurgency training camp.

The landmine was planted in the middle of a road surrounded on either side by thick forests in Goalpara district, about 130 km from Guwahati.

West Midnapore Superintendent of Police (SP) Manoj Verma said the four suspected Maoists arrested on Friday are Rajesh Munda, Rajesh Hazda, Mangal Soren and Gopinath Mandi.

Verma further said one of the arrested Maoist Rajesh Munda was allegedly involved in the murder of a Member of Parliament.

“From the preliminary interrogation of the accused persons so far, we have collected information that, all these four persons, they were involved in, physically involved in the attack on Sankrail Police Station and at Shilda camp under Bindapur Police Station,” said Manoj Verma.

“Apart from that we have information from the interrogation of Rajesh Munda that he was also involved in the murder of a Member of Parliament (MP) in Jharkhand. We are verifying whether he was involved in the murder of late Sunil Mahato,” he added.

Verma further said the arrested Maoists have given details of the attacks on Sankrail Police Station and on Shilda camp indicating how they were organised and who were the participants.

Arms and ammunition have also been recovered from the arrested Maoists.

“We have recovered one 303 rifle, 20 rounds of 7.62 SLR, five rounds of 303 rifles, 10 detonators 8 gelatin sticks and some wire pieces. The Maoists looted the rifles on October 20, 2009 when they attacked Sankrail Police Station,” said Verma. (ANI)

According to The Guardian, a Nato official has said that the change, revealed in the final communique in historic international conference in Kabul on July 21, 2010, reflects Petraeus’’s concerns that security conditions in Afghanistan are too weak for a transition of power to begin as quickly as originally planned.

The conference agreed that Afghan forces would be able to lead security operations throughout their country by 2014.

However, major European troop contributors were looking forward to more rapid progress in the relatively stable north and west of the country, where Germany, Italy, Norway, Spain and others have personnel.

The difficulties involved in any transition were highlighted today when an Afghan soldier killed two US civilians and one of his own comrades in Mazar-e-Sharif, one of the most stable cities of northern Afghanistan.

Nato had hoped that by the end of this year a cluster of neighbouring provinces in the north-west of Afghanistan would have begun the handover to the Afghan army and police force.

However, in the final agreement of the conference, a reference to transition taking place on a “province-by-province” basis, which appeared in an earlier draft, had been removed.

It was planned that European powers would announce the name of the provinces, which would be handed over at a summit of foreign ministers in Lisbon in November 2010, the report said.

“For Petraeus, Lisbon is not a problem. His main concern is the US political timetable, and being able by next summer to show progress that won”t unravel,” NATO official said.

A senior European diplomat said Petraeus’’s approach was far less welcome than that of his predecessor, Stanley McChrystal.

“Petraeus is trying to slow everything down, pushing back any announcement of transition until 2011,” he said. (ANI)

‘Curfew has been imposed in Sopore town and old town Baramulla while restrictions are in place in old city areas of Srinagar as a precautionary measure,’ a senior police officer said.

‘The restrictions are also being strictly enforced in Batmaloo and Shaheedgunj areas of Srinagar city. There are no restrictions in south Kashmir areas today (Wednesday),’ the police officer said.

The hardline faction of the separatist Hurriyat group headed by Syed Ali Geelani called for sit-ins and protests across the Kashmir Valley demanding the release of dozens of arrested separatist leaders, including Geelani. The protests are part of the separatists’ ‘Quit Kashmir’ programme.

Educational institutions, shops, post offices, banks, public transport and other business establishments were closed in areas under restrictions and curfew.

Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troopers in full body gear have been deployed in the areas under curfew and official restrictions to disallow any pedestrian and traffic movement there.

The valley has been tense for more than a month. Fourteen people have been killed in security force firing here since June 11 while two were drowned allegedly by the security forces during clashes between stone pelting protesters and the security forces.

The state government has decided to hold an independent enquiry into the circumstances those led to the unfortunate deaths of the civilians in the valley.

‘The Chhattisgarh government is not losing the war against Maoists. The government is well capable of finishing them,’ says Raman Singh, who has been heading the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the mineral-rich but largely impoverished state since December 2003.

‘The Maoist problem in Chhattisgarh dates back some 25-30 years. There was some violence in the state all these years but in recent years, it has surged,’ Singh told IANS in an interview.

‘That has put the state in the news even though we have several remarkable achievements in the development sector besides a role-model food security scheme for 3.7 million poor families. But these achievements have been overshadowed by Maoist violence-related news,’ the chief minister added.

Maoist violence has claimed over 2,000 lives, including those of nearly 1,000 civilians, in Chhattisgarh since November 2000 when the state came into existence after being carved out of Madhya Pradesh.

When asked why Chhattisgarh was failing to emulate the success story of neighbouring Andhra Pradesh in the war against Maoists, the 57-year-old politician said: ‘Modernisation of the police force in Chhattisgarh, a new state, began just four years back while Andhra Pradesh began it more than a decade ago.’

‘The war against Maoists is long-drawn. We should have patience. I am sure Chhattisgarh will repeat Andhra Pradesh’s success story with several steps, including police modernisation as well as a massive all-round development of troubled areas,’ Raman Singh said.

Officials at the police headquarters here say roughly 40,000 troopers, with about 50 percent drawn from the central paramilitary forces, are fighting Maoist insurgency in Chhattisgarh.

The controversial civil militia movement Salwa Judum was also launched in June 2005 to counter the rebels. The state government maintains that it is ‘a spontaneous public outburst against Maoists’ while civil rights activists say it is ‘a fully government-funded movement’. However, it has held no public meetings for the past 18 months.

Raman Singh hit out at Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh for what he called a sustained campaign against Chhattisgarh to portray that the state is mishandling the Maoist issue.

‘The union home minister (P. Chidambaram) held several meetings with the Chhattisgarh government on the Maoist issue and this month home secretary (G.K. Pillai) too had a meeting with us in the state,’ Raman Singh said.

‘They (Chidambaram and Pillai) did not criticise us for any mishandling. So why is an extra player desperate to make goals?’ he asked referring to Digvijay Singh.

In 2010 alone, over 200 people, mostly paramilitary troopers, have been killed in the Maoist insurgency. This includes the massacre of 76 security personnel in a single attack April 6 in Dantewada district.

Dantewada along with Bijapur, Narayanpur, Bastar and Kanker districts forms the 40,000 sq km Bastar region. The entire forested hamlet of the region has been considered the nerve centre of Maoist militancy in India since the late 1980s. Up to 25,000 sq km of Bastar are believed to be intensively mined by Maoists.

The ‘Valuing the Police, policing in an age of austerity’ report, by Sir Denis O”Connor, the Chief Inspector of Constabulary, also found that on any one day there are just 5,000 officers across the country ready to respond to emergency 999 calls.

It also found that there are more officers available for duty on a quiet Monday morning than the peak hours of a Friday night.

The report comes at a time when public services, including the police are facing severe budget cuts of potentially 25 per cent or more.

Talking about the report, Roy Rudham, UK Neighbourhood Watch Trust chairman, said that the figures were remarkable and very alarming.

“My members would be extremely concerned and I do get a sense from them that the police are moving away from us, because of resources and pressures,” The Telegraph quoted Rudham, as saying.

“Even with all the increase in resources that we have heard about people still say they do see a visible police presence on the streets,” he added.

Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “Police officers do an important job, but this raises real concerns about management and efficiency.

“More needs to be done to cut needless bureaucracy in the police force and get real police officers out on the front line where they can catch criminals and reassure the community,” he added. (ANI)

The aim to organise the match was to convince youngsters to consider the police force as a career.

Almost all participants were excited after playing the match and said such events should be held more frequently.

“Students are coming to play in our school and if this kind of programme should happen every year, it will be very good and our school will also gain popularity,” said Mohan Das, a youth.

A police official expressed satisfaction over the success of the event.

“The attendance and participation was good. Young boys took part in the tournament. We also informed people about the procedure of recruitment in the police as most people don”t know about the method,” said Manoj Varma, Superintendent of Police, Paschimi Medinipur.

Maoist attacks have increased this year, especially after the government launched a coordinated security offensive, involving tens of thousands of police and paramilitaries trying to flush out rebels from their jungle hideouts in central and eastern India. (ANI)

“We think that the local people here are same as in our plain areas. But some people instigate them. So they get influenced and do something under pressure, and think of the forces as their enemies,” said Sanjay Pawar, an injured CRPF official.

“I want to tell to tell them that we are not their enemies, we are just like them,” he added.
The CRPF personnel have been constantly criticized by the people of the valley and the local politicians for being harsh on civilians during protests.

At least 273 CRPF personnel have been injured in incidents of stone pelting across the valley over the last one month.

CRPF Public Relations Officer Prabhakar Tripathy stressed that despite provocation in various forms by the violent mobs, they maintain maximum restraint while dealing with the angry protestors.

“The allegations have deliberately been imposed on the CRPF and are false. We have to know that the CRPF always helps and works with the local police here. The CRPF and police are always deployed together and they are never deployed independently,” said Tripathy.

“If we talk about the duties or activities of the CRPF, then the forces are always told by the officials to maintain maximum restraint. In today’’s date, the CRPF is maintaining maximum restraint,” he added.

The CRPF has been assigned the task of assisting the local police to combat militancy and maintaining the law and order situation in the valley. (ANI)

Lorretta Cole decided to take a stand after the ball damaged her mother-in-law’’s car and was found in the garden seven times in 30 minute, in a quiet cul-de-sac house, in North Baddesley, near Southampton, Hants.

The 47-year-old was fingerprinted, photographed and had a DNA sample taken from her mouth before being slammed in a cell by the cops.

Now she is waiting to see if she will be charged with theft — an offence that could see her handed a community order, fine or even jail sentence of up to 18 weeks.

“It is an outrage. I was just trying to show these kids they need to be a bit more careful with their cricket ball and I”ve been treated like a criminal,” the Sun quoted her as saying.

“My mother-in-law’’s car had its wing mirror damaged while it was outside the front of the house and I was worried they would cause more damage.

“To think that so much taxpayers” money has been spent on arresting someone like me is ridiculous.

“I thought the police force were supposed to be tightening their belts, not wasting money,” she added.

Sgt Steve Wildridge, of Hampshire police, said Mrs Cole was given several opportunities to return the ball.

“If this had happened no further action would have been taken. However, she left the officers attending with no alternative choice but to take action,” he said. (ANI)

The situation in the city is tense.

Mirwaiz Farooq has asked the authorities to remove all the police bunkers from the populated areas of the valley.

“People should come out of their house and stage a peaceful sit-in protest on roads, they should show black flags and they should state that violence in the state will not end till the bunkers, police camps, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camps and BSF camps are not removed from populated areas of the valley,” said Farooq, while addressing the rally.

Farooq also demanded release of all the arrested youth.

“All the youths of the State, who have been arrested, at least 400 to 450 youths have been arrested in the last one month. They should be immediately released,” he added.

One person was killed in Srinagar on Tuesday morning when the CRPF allegedly opened fire after protesters once again indulged in stone pelting.

The youth named Fayaz Ahmed died in firing during clashes between stone pelters and security forces in Tengpora.

The protesters were agitating against what they alleged the killing of another youth in the area last night.

The situation in the area was tense and additional police forces were rushed to control the situation.

Meanwhile, authorities announced closure of schools and educational institutions in the city today. Markets also remained closed.

The situation in the valley has been tense over the past few weeks due to repeated clashes between protestors and the security forces.

In the last three weeks, around 13 people have been killed in police firing. (ANI)

The youth named Fayaz Ahmed died in firing during clashes between stone pelter and security forces in Tengpora.

The protesters were agitating against the killing of another youth in the area last night.
The situation in the area was tense and additional police forces were rushed to calm down the situation.

Meanwhile, authorities announced closure of schools and educational institutions in the city today.

Markets also remained closed.

The incident comes just days after Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that stone pelting won”t have an impact on redrawing the boundaries of the State.

The situation in the valley has been tense over the past weeks due to repeated clashes between protestors and the security forces.

In the last three weeks, around 13 people have been killed in the police firing. (ANI)

Santo Singh is the key accused in the March 22 Bhubaneswar-Delhi Rajdhani Express attack.

More details are awaited. (ANI)

Interacting with media, Srivastava said: “No ammunition has been fired by CRPF at the funeral procession. Our basic position is that we are there to assist state police.”

He said that the CRPF personnel are helping out the Jammu and Kashmir Police, civil administration and forces are in full control by performing best of their abilities.

Srivastava said CRPF personnel have not fired a single bullet on Monday during the funeral procession of Bilal Ahmed, however he said forces fired tear gas shells to control the mob.

He reversed the allegation by saying that the mob has fired on CRPF personnel.

Srivastava said the CRPF has ordered an inquiry into the incident.

CRPF is facing charges of human right violations as three persons killed in firing last three days in Sopore.

Fresh clashes were reported in Sopore in Jammu and Kashmir this morning after a protester was killed in what is alleged to be CRPF firing.

Sopore remains tense amidst violent protests over the death of 20-year-old youth Bilal Ahmed Wani who was killed after the CRPF used rubber bullets on protesters on Sunday.

The funeral procession of Bilal on Monday turned into a large protest.(ANI)

Speaking during ABC’s ‘This Week’ programme, Panetta conceded that “there are some serious problems” with the allied forces operation in Afghanistan.

“It’’s harder, it’’s slower than I think anyone anticipated. But at the same time we are seeing an increase in violence,” Panetta said.

According to reports, June has been the deadliest month in the war for NATO forces in Afghanistan and the second deadliest for U.S. forces with nearly 52 troops being killed.

The CIA chief added that the key to success or failure in Afghanistan, “is whether the Afghans accept responsibility, are able to deploy an effective army and police force to maintain stability.”

“Progress is seen in the fact that there’’s less deterioration as far as the ability of the Taliban to maintain control. So we are seeing elements of progress, but this is going to be tough,” Panetta said.

He also defended the CIA operated drone strikes on Al-Qaeda and Taliban extremists in the rugged tribal region along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, saying that claims regarding them violating international law were “dead wrong.”

“We have a duty, we have a responsibility, to defend this country so that al-Qaeda never conducts that kind of attack again,” Panetta said. (ANI)

Addressing the SAARC Home / Interior Ministers” Conference, Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik said there should be a “SAARC Police Force” to facilitate information exchange among the member countries.

In his address, Malik stressed on the need to work for the eradication of terrorism from the region.

Interior/Home Ministers of SAARC nations are discussing ways to strengthen police cooperation and other means to combat terrorism in the conference.

The conference also discussing proposals like maritime security and anti-piracy operations under the SAARC charter.

During the conference India made it clear that it wants visible cooperation as it believes that if any country is serious about fighting terrorism, its cooperation should be visible in terms of information-sharing and other aspects. (ANI)

Volunteers of Ganatantrik Nagar Samiti of Howrah also joined the agitating lawyers in their protest.

The lawyers claimed that around 200 policemen had forcefully evicted women lawyers on Thursday when they were demonstrating against the decision of converting a room for official use of the court.

“150 to 200 police force came here, some were in dresses and some were in civil. Without approaching anything, they kicked the lady advocates. They have also snatched the ornaments, chain, 20,000 rupees, ATM cards, their bags,” said Moonmoon Tiwari, a lawyer.

“Although, honourable senior judges have committed before us that they will take proper steps, we want that honourable Chief Justice also intervene,” Tiwari added. (ANI)

Recently, 12 fighters of the Shinwari Tribe took on the Taliban in hope of regaining their snatched lands. They were all killed.

This incident highlights the pitfalls of establishing militias in Afghanistan, a country marked by tribal rivalries, age-old feuds and warlords.

In principle, the concept makes sense. Tribal militias represent a ready-made answer. In a society where firearms are prevalent, members are already well armed. And, they have an intimate knowledge of the lands they patrol.

But some experts and Afghan lawmakers believe a reliance on tribal militias to help combat an insurgency is the wrong approach, especially if governmental monitoring is scant or non-existent.

“These militias are becoming their own sources of insecurity in the country.They”re not bound by any law and are not following any clear guidelines,” said Ahmad Nader Nadery, deputy chairman of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission.

Although the U.S. military is promoting the militias, it is trying to coordinate its efforts with the Afghan government and wants oversight of the initiative to ultimately be in Afghan hands.

So far, the government has expressed wariness, preferring to see tribal militias folded into the police force. The militias are not armed by the U.S. and rely on their own weapons.

“This is a very dangerous game. Who is responsible for these militias? Who will save them if the Taliban attack them? It’’s a nice dream, but I think these militias are a failed formula,” said Sayed Ishaq Gailani, a lawmaker and head of a party that backs President Hamid Karzai. (ANI)

“They were very traumatised; they were treated by bullies,” sports24.co.za quoted
lawyer Kobus Lowies as telling the South Africa Press Agency (SAPA).

The two, Barbara Castelein and Mirte Nieuwpoort, appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate’’s Court on Wednesday on charges related to the SA Merchandise Marks Act.

World football body FIFA accused them of having been sent by brewer Bavaria to orchestrate an ambush marketing campaign at the World Cup match between the Netherlands and Denmark on Monday.

FIFA on Thursday referred all queries to the SA Police Force.

FIFA defended its decision to charge the two, pointing out that it did not charge any of the South African women wearing the orange dresses, apparently because they were not behind the orchestration of the campaign.

“In this case, it has surfaced that at least two co-coordinators were flown in from the Netherlands to organise this ambush activity – they hired innocent local girls and devised a strategy,” the FIFA media desk said.

This included training the group of local girls before the match.

The two Dutch women were arrested after 36 women, all dressed in the same orange mini-skirts, were taken in for questioning by the police on Monday. The minis were handed out in Bavaria gift packs in Holland ahead of the World Cup.

The pair face charges of contravening the SA Merchandise Marks Act because Bavaria is not an official World Cup sponsor. (ANI)

At present, along with the Railway Protection Force (RPF), the state police guard the stations.

The metro railway has intensified patrolling on the platforms and RPF have been asked to keep a close tab on people’’s movements. Security personnel would be alerted if persons loiter on the platform for more than 20 minutes without boarding a train.

Help-lines have also been installed at each station, which enables quick response from the police force.

“Integrated security plan is basically a very advanced security system where we have a CCTV network, which is quite advanced. It includes video analytics, IP-based system, intruder alarm and it has many other features which would go a long way in boosting the passenger security,” said Alok Bohra, Senior Commandant, Railway Protection Force.

“Then we have scanning system that includes advanced luggage scanners, HHMDs (Hand-Held Metal Detectors), DFMDs (Door Frame Metal Detectors) and bomb detection and disposal squads,” Bohra added.

Bohra said a dog squad would also be set up this month, the strength of which would be increased by next year.

Beginning with five stations that stretched over an area of 3.4 square kilometers, the Kolkata metro which started operations in 2004, now connects 21 stations, traverses over 22.28 kilometers and carries about 700,000 commuters every day. (ANI)

Mishra came under severe criticism for handling of anti- Naxal operations in the district.

With these transfers, Raman Singh led Government has finally initiated to act according to the findings of the Rammohan Committee report.

The list of officers who were transferred includes 12 Indian Police Service (IPS) officers and four officers of the Chhattisgarh Police Service.

On April 6, Naxalites had killed 75 Central Reserve Police Force personnel and a Chhattisgarh police personnel.

The Committee appointed by the Union Home Ministry headed by E N Rammohan, former Border Security Force Director General, had fixed the responsibility for the lapses on these police officials. (ANI)

Dressed in sandals and traditional Afghan garb instead of uniform, Mohammad Aslam Masood, a towering general in the Afghan police force, appears relaxed as he explains that all arrangements are in place to prevent an insurgent attack.

“All necessary measures have been taken and, God willing, it will all be fine,” said Masood, using a customary Muslim expression, in between hugging and kissing arriving officials.

Afghanistan is holding a peace “jirga” or a meeting of tribal elders this week to discuss President Hamid Karzai’s plan to seek reconciliation with the Taliban and other militant groups in a bid to end a war that has dragged on for almost nine years.

The insurgents will not be attending, however, and may try instead to disrupt the proceedings.

Violence in Afghanistan is at its worst level since the Taliban were overthrown in late 2001 with insurgents moving out of their traditional strongholds in the south and east in recent years and launching increasing and daring assaults inside the capital itself.

Less than two weeks ago, a Taliban suicide bomber driving a vehicle full of explosives attacked a foreign military convoy in Kabul during the morning rush hour, killing 12 Afghan civilians and six international troops.

While the Taliban have not issued any specific threat against the jirga, the hardline-Islamists announced earlier this month they would step up their offensive against the government and Afghan and international forces as well as Western diplomats.

Attacking such a high-profile event where hundreds of Afghan elders, officials and Western dignitaries will congregate in one place over three days, would allow the insurgents to score a valuable political point.

Afghan and international forces are not taking any chances.

“Afghan security forces together with international militaries have segregated the security plan into four phases,” Deputy Director General of Policy for the jirga, Najeebulah Amin, told Reuters.

ROADS BLOCKED, HOUSES SEARCHED

Security of the site itself will be managed by Afghanistan’s intelligence department and Karzai’s personal protection service, creating an “inner security circle”, Amin said, while Afghan police will guard entrances and access routes. The Afghan army will then provide an outer cordon with international forces in a supporting role.

All the roads leading up to the site of the jirga will be blocked to ordinary traffic and anyone without a vehicle pass and official identity card will not be allowed in. Armed bodyguards, including those of Western officials will also be turned away, said Amin.

The jirga is being held inside a large tent inside the grounds of Kabul’s Polytechnic University in the west of the city, which sits at the foot of a small hill providing an ideal vantage point for any attack.

To counter this, police posts have sprung up along the top of the hill and houses clinging to its slope have undergone rigorous searches, said Amin.

“My house has been searched three or four times over the past few months,” said Jamat Gul, whose grocery shop and house overlooks the jirga tent. “We were told no one can sell or rent their properties here to any new people,” he added.

Security for the capital was formally handed over to Afghan authorities in the last two years and although foreign forces maintain a visible presence inside the city, they are keen to point out they are only there to support.

“We won’t be out on the streets of Kabul,” said Sergeant First Class Kevin Bell, a spokesman for NATO-led forces. “We are confident the Afghans can handle the security and we are here to support.”

Nevertheless, a Turkish military quick reaction force will be on standby, said Bell, and international troops have set up a communications tent outside a hotel overlooking the jirga, to coordinate any operations.

“People are ready just in case,” said Bell.

While Afghan and international security forces remain publicly confident they can avert an attack on this week’s jirga, Masood, the police commander, later offered a more pragmatic assessment.

“Whoever says there will be no threat of an attack is a liar,” said Masood.

(Editing by David Fox)

Among the arrested are Naxal commander Barsa Lakhma.

Briefing media about the arrests, Dantewada Superintendent of Police Amresh Mishra said: “We have arrested six people in two different incidents, including Lakhma last night from Morpali, four kilometers from Chintalnar.”

The others arrested included Oyam Hidma, Podiyami Hidma, Kawasi Budra, Oya Ganga, Dura Joga.

During interrogation the arrested Naxals reportedly told officials that the CRPF personnel were sitting ducks after they lost their wireless instrument.

Lakhma told them that the Naxals were keeping a close tab on the movement of security personnel.

The CRPF patrol was selected as a target because they had stayed put in one place for an entire day and their movements were under a constant watch by Naxalites, Mishra said.

The arrests follow the Centre’’s move to transfer three CRPF officers, including its Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Nalin Prabhat. (ANI)

According to police officer R K Patre, the Maoists were arrested on Wednesday and were presented before the court on Thursday.

Patre said the Maoists were identified during the intense police search.

“The Maoists had called for a shut down on 17th and 18th. During this period there was lot of searching being done, so three men were found in and two other men had hid near the bus stand,” Patre said.

The arrested Maoists are stated to be involved in several criminal activities.

Patre further spoke about the items that have been recovered from the arrested ultras.

“Electric, wires, detonators, pamphlets which the Maoists were using while they had called for a shutdown have been recovered,” Patre said.

Most of the arrested Maoists are said to be residents of Narayanpur city.

Chhattisgarh state has been a hot bed of Maoist activities in the recent past.

Seven personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were killed when suspected Maoist guerrillas triggered a landmine blowing up a convoy in Bijapur district of the state on May 8. (ANI)

The Rajouri police personnel gave training to these young girls, who generally lead sheltered lives at a special camp here on Thursday, so that they are able to defend themselves.

“The training that we are getting here, we have learnt how to use AK-47 rifles and .303 rifles,” said Tazzim Akhtar, a trainee at the camp.

“We live very far off. It’’s a forest area. We have our parents at home and our mothers sit at home alone, and with this we will be able to protect them,” said Razia Begum, another trainee at the camp.

Last year, a teenaged girl, Rukhsana Kauser, who is now a special officer with the Jammu and Kashmir Police Force, along with her sibling, overpowered a Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist, snatched his rifle and fired at him, killing him on the spot and injuring another in Kalsian village, about 217 kilometers from Jammu. (ANI)

Two other personnel were injured in the incident.

According to the CRPF, the personnel were conducting routine patrolling.

The personnel had set out from their camp at Goaltore market to nearby villages when the blast took place at Ramgarh in Lalgarh Police Station limits at around 11.30 a.m.

Those killed included three constables besides the driver of the vehicle in which they were traveling.

The vehicle was badly damaged in the explosion.

Sources said the blast left a five-feet-deep crater on the road.

Wednesday is the second day of 48-hour shutdown forced by the Maoists.

The recent attack comes just two days after a bus was blown up in Chhattisgarh killing 31 people, including 16 Special Police Officers (SPOs).

Earlier in the day, the Maoists detonated a landmine between Gidhni and Khathura stations damaging a goods train running between Tatanagar and Howrah in the Jhargram Police Station area near Khatpora in the District.

The train was damaged, and the driver and assistant driver of the train have been injured.

Earlier, the Union Home Ministry had issued a high alert in all the five states–Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Orissa, Bihar and Jharkhand – following the call for a shutdown by the Maoists. (ANI)

Acting on a tip off, the paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel and the Rashtriya Rifles personnel along with the local police carried out a joint operation on Tuesday and busted the militant hideout set up inside a cave.

“We recovered one AK 47, five Magazines, 143 rounds along with couple of Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL), two Chinese pistols, 62 UBGL grenades, 50 RPG (rocket-propelled grenade) electric detonators, seven water bottles and four anti-tank mines,” said Dalip Singh, Commanding Officer, 53 Battalion.

“Inspection is still going on. These all arms, ammunitions and explosives were hidden in a plastic tank which was grounded near a mountain stream,” he added.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday admitted that the graph of militancy has risen in the region as compared to the last year.

Speaking on the sidelines of a function of former Defence personnel at Nagrota, around 25 kilometers from Jammu, Omar Abdullah attributed several reasons for this rise in the militancy while asserting that the security personnel are alert to counter the threats posed by militants.

“As compared to last year, the graph of militancy has increased this year, but this is because we are [now] getting intelligence inputs about their presence and we are trying to catch them,” said Omar Abdullah.

“Last year, we used to wait for them but now we have planned that we will not wait for their action. Whenever we will get actionable intelligence we will launch our operations,” he added. (ANI)

The deceased were given full state honours. Top officers paid homage to the martyrs by laying wreaths on their coffins.

In a chilling reminder of the Naxal attack on paramilitary personnel in Chhattisgarh’’s Dantewada District recently, around eight Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed and 13 injured in a landmine blast in the Bijapur District on Saturday evening. (ANI)

The security personnel were carrying out a combing operation at the time of the landmine blast, television reports said. Further details are expected. (ANI)

The attack took place in Hari Singh area of Lal Chowk here.

It is reported that the grenade lobbed by the militants missed the target and exploded on the road near the gate of the Hanuman temple here. (ANI)

The rebels opened fire on the BMP personnel and the District Armed Police Force, who were patrolling near the Tandawa Bazaar area this morning.

“Six Maoists, armed with sophisticated weapons, indiscriminately fired at them. Four BMP jawans were killed on the spot, while another was seriously injured,” said Aurangabad Superintendent of Police Sanjay Kumar Singh.

“The ultras also looted five rifles and several rounds of ammunition from them before escaping. The entry and exit points of the district were sealed and a combing operation launched for the Maoists,” he added.

The Maoists claim they are crusading for the poor, marginal farmers, and landless labourers.

They have spread into the rural pockets of 20 of India’’s 28 states. (ANI)

The officer in charge of policing England’s World Cup travelling fans, Andy Holt, said there were concerns that violence will flare amongst drunken fans watching televised games in pubs and clubs in England.

“If we have a hot June and England progress to the later stages, then pubs start running alcohol promotions and we have the potential for trouble from drunken fans,” The Telegraph quoted Holt, as saying.

Holt, who will be travelling to South Africa with a team of 12 British officers to support the local policing of the competition, further warned that hooligans will face a “robust” South African police force armed with guns, plastic bullets and water cannons.

He said he has been explaining the culture of English football fans to his South African counterparts.

“Initially they had an image of England fans on the rampage, but we have explained that they shouldn’t see the traditional singing and chanting as a precursor to violence,” he added. (ANI)

ey include paedophiles and rapists considered so dangerous that police are supposed to check them every month.

Cops have no idea where they are, and some have been missing for years.

The Sun launched its probe after Facebook killer Peter Chapman was jailed for life for the kidnap, rape and murder of Ashleigh Hall.

Former “Robocop” detective Ray Mallon, now mayor of Middlesbrough, said: “The number one role of the police is to protect the public. It is clearly in the public interest that people are made aware of the identity of missing sex offenders. Not only does this protect the public, it can also assist in catching the offenders.”

The Sun got the details after lodging a Freedom of Information request with every police force, asking how many registered sex offenders had gone missing. (ANI)

They include paedophiles and rapists considered so dangerous that police are supposed to check them every month.

Cops have no idea where they are, and some have been missing for years.

The Sun launched its probe after Facebook killer Peter Chapman was jailed for life for the kidnap, rape and murder of Ashleigh Hall.

Former “Robocop” detective Ray Mallon, now mayor of Middlesbrough, said: “The number one role of the police is to protect the public. It is clearly in the public interest that people are made aware of the identity of missing sex offenders. Not only does this protect the public, it can also assist in catching the offenders.”

The Sun got the details after lodging a Freedom of Information request with every police force, asking how many registered sex offenders had gone missing. (ANI)

Rammoham met Chidambaram at his North Block office and submitted the 25-page report.

According to Home Ministry sources, an Action Taken Report (ATR) would be submitted before Parliament after studying the Rammohan Committee report.

Seventy-five Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel and a policeman were killed by Naxals in an ambush in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada District on April 6,

It was the biggest ever attack on security forces, during a peacetime operation.

On April 8, the Union Home Ministry constituted a committee headed by Rammohan, a former Border Security Force (BSF) Director General, to investigate the circumstances that led to the massacre.

The committee was given 15 days time to complete its inquiry.

The Home Ministry had asked Rammohan to suggest measures to mitigate lapses, if any, which were documented by the enquiry officer so that such incidents do not reoccur in future.

The Committee conducted an inquiry into the circumstances leading to the ambush of the platoons of ‘A’ and ‘G’ Companies of the 62nd Battalion of the CRPF on April 6, 2010 at Tarmetla Forest Area.

It was asked to try and reconstruct, the actual events that took place on that day from 5 a. m. to 12 p.m. and until the first rescue party reached the place of incident.

Rammohan was also authorized to examine the CDR of the mobile telephones used by the deceased and injured personnel of the CRPF during the encounter and gather evidence from family members and others that would throw light on the actual events that took place during the ambush.

The Home Ministry also authorized the Committee to analyze and establish the decision and command structure, besides hierarchy and specific levels, which took relevant decisions concerning the Area Domination Operations (AD Ops) that lead to the incident.

It also examined the quality of training imparted to the relevant CRPF companies and the details of the SoPs issued to the company.

The committee examined the response of the State Police and the CRPF, both during the ambush and during post-ambush relief and rescue operations. (ANI)

A large number of activists shouting slogans, waving black flags and wearing black rosettes participated in the protest march on Sunday.

“Today, our protest is against non-development in these areas. Is it correct to stop our agitation by pressurizing us by using force,” said PCAPA leader Dilbodh Mahato.

“After 63 years of Independence, we don”t have water in these areas despite the active role played by we tribal people in struggle for Independence. The government has no right to say this,” he added.

Stating that Naxalites want to overthrow the established authority of the Government through armed liberation struggle, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram had on Thursday said the country needs a strong head, a stronger heart and enormous staying power to counter the Maoist menace.

Making a detailed statement in the Rajya Sabha on the Dantewada massacre, in which at least 75 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel and a policeman were killed by the Maoists, Chidambaram reiterated the Centre’’s readiness to assist State Governments in tackling the problem at hand.

“To counter the menace of Naxalism we need ”a strong head, a stronger heart and enormous staying power,” I believe that the Government has all three qualities,” Chidambaram said.

“The Central Government stands ready and willing to assist the State Governments and to coordinate inter-State operations,” he added.

The Maoist rebels have ignored calls from the Government to renounce violence and negotiate. Instead, they have stepped up their attacks in recent months, prompting the government to go after them in a concerted strike.

Maoist rebels, had on February 22, offered a conditional 72-day ceasefire through the media, and said they were willing to talk to the government if it aborts Operation Green Hunt.

The Maoists contend they are fighting for the rights of the poor, marginal farmers and the landless labourers. (ANI)

Making a detailed statement in the Rajya Sabha on Dantewada massacre, where 75 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed by the Maoists, Chidambaram reiterated Centre’s readiness and will to assist State Governments in tackling the problem at hand.

“To counter the menace of naxalism we need ‘a strong head, a stronger heart and enormous staying power,’ I believe that the Government has all three qualities,” Chidambaram said.

“The Central Government stands ready and willing to assist the State Governments and to coordinate inter-State operations,” he added.

Brushing aside reports that 62nd CRPF battalion was ill trained, Chidambaram emphatically said all personnel of the battalion were well trained to handle anti Maoists operation.

“The three companies concerned had undergone pre-induction training before they were inducted in that area,” he said.

“Earlier, the 62nd Battalion had been deployed in Bihar and had gained experience in anti-Naxal operations,” Chidambaram added.

Chidambaram strongly defended Government’s right to deploy security forces in conflict zones to bring back normalcy and kick start development works.

“The State has a legitimate right to deploy its security forces to resist, apprehend and, if necessary, neutralize militants who are determined to strike at the very roots of our nation,” he said.

Chidambaram said the Government has adopted two strategies to counter Maoists menace—police action and development work.

“Anti-Naxal operations are being conducted in accordance with the policy deliberated and agreed upon at several meetings with Chief Ministers of the affected States. The two pillars of the policy are calibrated police action and development,” he said.

“Central para military forces have been provided to the affected States, including Chhattisgarh, to help the State

Governments carry out counter-insurgency operations, regain control of areas dominated by the Naxalites, restore the civil administration, and re-start development work,” Chidambaram added.

He said it’s the primary responsibility of the State Governments to conduct anti Naxal operations.

Chidambaram acknowledged that forces are experiencing problem at some places to carry out operation due to more civilian presence.

“I may point out that, because the security forces are deployed in areas populated by scheduled tribes, a number of restrictions have been placed on the operations of central para military forces,” he said.

Chidambaram said the decision to initiate area domination exercise was taken jointly by Inspector General (Bastar Range) Longkumar, Deputy Inspector General (Dantewada) SRP Kalluri, Deputy Inspector General (CRPF) Nalin Parbhat and Dantewada Superintendent of Police Amarinder Mishra.

Elaborating the incident, Chidambaram said the 62nd battalion led by a Deputy Commandant and an Assistant

Commandant, guided by a Head Constable of the Chhattisgarh Civil Police undertook operation from April 4 to 6.

On April 6, at about 5.50 a.m. the force came under heavy fire from the Naxalites, Chidambram said.

Upon receiving a wireless message of the attack at about 6 a.m. the Commandant of the 62nd Battalion along with 30 men rushed to the place of the incident. They also came under fire 3 kilometres short of the actual place of the incident, he added.

He further elaborated that–simultaneously, another party led by Inspector Wagdi of the 62nd Battalion moved from Chintalnar with reinforcements towards the place of the incident but that party also came under fire, just outside Chintalnar.

Chidambaram said as per the primary investigation deaths caused due to bullet injuries, crude bombs and grenades.

“Preliminary enquiries have revealed that the deaths were caused largely due to bullet injuries, crude bombs and grenades,” he said.

74 men of the CRPF, one Head Constable of the civil police and one driver of the reinforcement party lost their lives in the incident. Naxalites also looted 75 weapons.

“Only the post mortem reports and a thorough inquiry, including de-briefing of the injured jawans, would fully establish the sequence of events and the facts, he added.

Chidambaram informed the House that the Home Ministry has constituted a committee headed by retired Border Security Force (BSF) chief E.N. Ram Mohan to investigate the matter and urged members to wait till committee submits its report before reaching any final conclusions. (ANI)

The officers in charge of all the 131 police stations located in the Maoist belt in Jharkhand are being trained with the state-of-the-art weaponry.

It has been reported that the officers are also given training to anlayse intelligence inputs.

Sources said the training in specialized weapons is being given following reports that the Maoists responsible for the Dantewada massacre were carrying Light Machine Guns (LMGs) mostly used by US Marines.

Seventy-six Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed by the Maoists in an ambush in Chhattisgarh’’s Dantewada District on Tuesday, which is considered to be the most brutal attack ever by the rebels. (ANI)

Addressing a joint press conference along with Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh, Chidambaram ruled out the use of the military in anti-Maoist operation, but said if situation arose, the government may revisit its previous mandate.

“There is no need to engage the air force or the army in the operation. This is our present mandate. But if time arises, and if required the Government may revisit its mandate,” he said.

In Gandhinagar, the Indian Air Force Chief, Air Chief Marshal P V Naik expressed his reservations over using the air force in ongoing anti-Maoist operations but said the IAF would involve itself if the state ordered.

“At this level, it is not required. If the state is willing, they can order us at any time, we are ready for that,” Air Chief Marshal Naik said.

Chidambaram also held a review meeting of joint forces with senior central and state police officials.

Chidambaram assured the nation that the Government would not allow the sacrifice of 76 Central Reserve Police Force personnel to go in vain and ruled out holding talks with the Naxals at the cost of their sacrifice.

“There is no talk of talks. The 76 brave soldiers made a supreme sacrifice to save the sovereignty and integrity of the nation. We will not hold any talks at the cost of this sacrifice,” Chidambaram said with emotion.

“The Maoists are very cruel, they have declared a war against the state, the state is capable enough to give a befitting reply,” he warned.

In the morning, Chidambaram along with State Governor Shekhar Dutt, Chief Minister Raman Singh, senior police and Home Ministry officials led the nation in paying homage to 76 dead CRPF personnel.

Chidambaram reiterated there is no operation called “Operation Green Hunt,” and clarified that it is an operation launched by the State Governments with the support of central security forces.

“There is no Operation Green Hunt. At some time, one officer used the word. In many times earlier I have denied of any such operation,” Chidambaram said.

“The operation is launched by the State Police and supported by the Central security agencies,” he added.

Chidambaram also denied reports of non-cooperation between the state and central police.

He said Tuesday’s operation was not launched on the basics of intelligence inputs, but was an area domination operation, decided and launched by the local police and CRPF officials.

“The decision to launch an operation was taken by the Jagadalpur Superintendent of Police Amarinder Mishra, DIG of the 62nd battalion Kalluri and other senior officials. The 81-member strong company left the base on April 4,”Chidambaram said.

The company came under heavy firing when they were returning to base after a two-night stay in forest to acclimatize themselves with the terrain.

Chidambaram informed that most the deaths were caused due to IED blasts, and crude bombs. However, a clear picture can emerge only after the debriefing of injured personnel, he said. (ANI)

The entire gathering, including hundreds of CRPF personnel became emotional as a platoon was ordered to observe ‘Shok Shastra,’ (homage and reversal of arms) and the Last Post was sounded in memory of those killed by the rebels.

The deadliest ever Maoist attack on security forces left 76 CRPF personnel and a local policeman dead in the thick forests near the remote village of Chintalnar-Tarmetla in Dantewada District.

The force was barely able to offer a fight in a dawn ambush along a road.

Chidambaram along with Raman Singh are chairing a high-level review meeting in Raipur.

The CRPF is likely to announce a Court of Inquiry (CoI) into the incident.

In New Delhi, Chidambaram had admitted that something must have gone drastically wrong to facilitate such a dastardly attack.

“They seem to have walked into a trap,” he said.

The Centre has resolved to give a befitting reply to Tuesday’s attack and is reportedly set to launch a major hunt for Maoists.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has said they would cooperate with the Government in ending the Maoist menace. (ANI)

The pamphlets were dropped near a camp of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Gaya.

However, officials have used this propaganda to divert attention.

“They (Maoists) ambush the soldiers, implant bombs on their paths and blown them (soldiers) up. If they (Maoists) think that by making such appeals they would be able to garner the sympathies of soldiers, it is utter foolishness. They are doing this because they are losing on every front and their confidence has been broken,” said Vijay Kumar, commandant of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) 159 battalion.

Maoist rebels, had on February 22, offered a conditional 72-day ceasefire through the media, and said they were willing to talk to the government if it aborts Operation Green Hunt. Many believe the offer was a ruse to enable them to regroup.

The Maoists contend they are fighting for the rights of the poor, marginal farmers and the landless labourers. (ANI)

The latest we hear is that Shaam will be seen as late Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Rajashekar Reddy (who passed away recently in a helicopter crash) in director Puri Jaganath’s biopic. Shaam has confirmed his new role as Rajashekar Reddy in his teenage.

Shaam said: The producers have felt that I can bring out the freshness and vitality characteristic of young Rajashekar Reddy. I am really privileged for having got an opportunity to perform such a great role. Notably, YSR was a body builder much before getting into politics and he wanted to join the police force, which couldn’t be accomplished.