Anticipating Naxal violence in the second phase of polling, the Election Commission and the home ministry dispatched additional security forces and helicopters to Bihar and Jharkhand, from where attacks were reported on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Enforcing their 24-hour bandh call in the states, Naxals ‘hijacked’ a train in Latehar district, blew up the main building of the Untari Road railway station in Palamu, burnt down five bauxite-loaded trucks in Garhwa, and razed a village school and a health centre in Chatra district of Jharkhand.
In Delhi, home secretary Madhukar Gupta said after Wednesday’s attacks, the home ministry decided to provide better helicopters to the two states for aerial surveillance and to launch counter-attacks against Naxals.
Two helicopters have been provided to Bihar and three to Jharkhand.
“As a large number of the polling booths are located in Naxal-affected areas, aerial surveillance is required,” said R.S. Bhatti, IG (Muzaffarpur zone).
Deputy election commissioner J.P. Prakash said election staff would get full security cover and polling in the Naxal-affected constituencies would end at 3 pm so that they can return to their base stations before dark. In all, more than 1.7 lakh security personnel have been deployed for election duty in the two Naxal-affected states.
At the Hehegara station in Latehar, Naxals hijacked the Barkakana-Dihari-Mugalsarai passenger train around 7.30 am on Wednesday. Supported by villagers, plain clothes Naxals took the engine driver hostage for over four hours. The Naxals raised anti-police and anti-government slogans. They did not harm any of the about 500 passengers. The train began it onward journey at 11.40 am after the Maoists released the driver.
In the Untari Road incident, more than 100 armed Naxals reached the railway station around 11.15 pm on Tuesday and blew up its main building by triggering two blasts. The first explosion was reported five minutes before the Ranchi-New Delhi Rajdhani Express was due to cross the station. The train was delayed by an hour because of the blasts.
In Bihar, Naxals blew up a government building at Dev block headquarters under Aurangabad district and set 10 trucks on fire on the national highway passing through Gaya district. They shot dead a truck driver who tried to flee.
The Naxals had called a 24-hour bandh from Tuesday midnight to protest the recent killing of five youngsters at Barhania village in Latehar by Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel. The CRPF said the youths were Naxalites and died in an encounter. But villagers said they were innocent and were killed after being picked up from the village in full public view.
Backed by the Maoists, the villagers have been demanding the arrest of the CRPF jawans behind the killings and a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the family of each of the deceased
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Karat says could consider PM's post
CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat on Wednesday said that he could consider accepting the post of Prime Minister under "inevitable circumstances", even as he categorically ruled supporting the Congress in forming the next government.
Though he claimed that he was not at all interested in the post of Prime Minister, Karat told reporters that he would think of it if there was no other option. Regarding the Left parties support to the Congress post-polls, Karat outrightly ruled out any such possibility and said that a non-Congress, non-BJP grouping would emerge as the largest political set up to form the next government at the Centre. The Left parties would not support Congress in forming the next government "under any circumstances", he said. Congress would 'undoubtedly' not be in a position to form the next government and has now become all alone with allies deserting it. Regarding the BJP he said that the saffron party was not going to open its account in several states. Karat, accompanied by TDP Chief N Chandrababu Naidu, was here to take part in the last leg of campaigning that came to a halt last evening.
Though he claimed that he was not at all interested in the post of Prime Minister, Karat told reporters that he would think of it if there was no other option. Regarding the Left parties support to the Congress post-polls, Karat outrightly ruled out any such possibility and said that a non-Congress, non-BJP grouping would emerge as the largest political set up to form the next government at the Centre. The Left parties would not support Congress in forming the next government "under any circumstances", he said. Congress would 'undoubtedly' not be in a position to form the next government and has now become all alone with allies deserting it. Regarding the BJP he said that the saffron party was not going to open its account in several states. Karat, accompanied by TDP Chief N Chandrababu Naidu, was here to take part in the last leg of campaigning that came to a halt last evening.
Now, Sanjay says sorry to Maya, calls her sister
In the eye of a storm for his "Jadu ki Jhappi" remarks, Sanjay Dutt apologised on Wednesday for the statement, saying the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister was just like a sister to him.
In the reply sent to the District Magistrate and district election officer Pinki Jowal faxed on Tuesday night, the actor and SP leader apologised for the remarks and said it was a mere dialogue from his Bollywood blockbuster Munnabhai series which were used in the rally to spread a message of love in society.
Saying Mayawati was just like a sister to him, Dutt held that the dialogue was from a brother to a sister to strengthen the bonds.
"Even so, if the dialogue has hurt the sentiments of anyone I apologise for it", Dutt said in his reply.
A show cause notice was served to Dutt for his remarks against the BSP supremo during an April 16 election meeting in Pratapgarh. The district election officer had given him three days time to file his reply
In the reply sent to the District Magistrate and district election officer Pinki Jowal faxed on Tuesday night, the actor and SP leader apologised for the remarks and said it was a mere dialogue from his Bollywood blockbuster Munnabhai series which were used in the rally to spread a message of love in society.
Saying Mayawati was just like a sister to him, Dutt held that the dialogue was from a brother to a sister to strengthen the bonds.
"Even so, if the dialogue has hurt the sentiments of anyone I apologise for it", Dutt said in his reply.
A show cause notice was served to Dutt for his remarks against the BSP supremo during an April 16 election meeting in Pratapgarh. The district election officer had given him three days time to file his reply
Two top LTTE leaders surrender; 95,000 escape war zone
Two key Tamil Tiger officials surrendered Wednesday as Sri Lankan troops pressed a final offensive against the rebels despite an international outcry over the fate of trapped civilians.
Among the top rebels who turned themselves in was the Tigers' main mouthpiece to the outside world, their chief spokesman Velayudam Dayanidi, better known as Daya Master.
Another official, who was an aide to the late head of the Tigers' political wing, S.P. Thamilselvan, also surrendered.
The government's defence spokesman said more than 80,000 people had fled the shrinking patch of territory still controlled by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), saying troops were "rescuing" and not harming civilians caught up in the war.
"Our operations to rescue civilians is continuing," Keheliya Rambukwella told reporters, describing the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) as a spent force with just 12 square kilometres (five square miles) of land left.
"The LTTE has lost all its military capabilities. They are fighting a losing battle," he said, adding the government also "strongly believes" that Tamil Tiger leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran, 54, was still in the area.
The defence ministry gave Prabhakaran and his fighters until Tuesday to surrender, but the rebels ignored the deadline and have continued to fight.
The LTTE, who have been fighting for an independent Tamil homeland since 1972, has acknowledged losing ground. But the group has accused the government of killing 1,000 civilians in recent days.
The military insists it has aided the escape of 81,420 men, women and children this week. It said those fleeing were fired on by the rebels, who are alleged to have kept villagers to use as human shields.
The rival claims are hard to verify as independent reporters are not allowed near the conflict zone, but aid agencies have painted a grim picture.
"The situation is nothing short of catastrophic," said Pierre Kraehenbuehl, operations director for the International Committee of the Red Cross.
"What we are seeing is intense fighting in a very small area overcrowded with civilians who have fled there," he said.
He estimated there could be tens of thousands more people still inside rebel-held territory, while facilities for those who had reached relative safety were overstretched.
The United States and other nations have urged both Sri Lankan troops and Tiger rebels not to fire indiscriminately, and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has asked that UN staff be allowed to enter the area for relief operations.
"The casualties are certainly in the thousands and have been fairly consistently high running throughout the last couple of months, as the patch of (LTTE) territory has narrowed and really diminished," said Gordon Weiss, the UN spokesman in Colombo.
The apparent endgame in Sri Lanka has triggered protests around the world, with up to 30,000 Tamil demonstrators clogging the Canadian capital Ottawa to press for mediation.
Similar rallies have been held in London and Paris.
The LTTE were once considered as one of the world's most efficient guerrilla outfits, lording over a third of Sri Lanka's territory and running a de facto mini-state.
A Norwegian-brokered truce between the government and the rebels began falling apart in December 2005, and fighting since then has seen the progressive collapse of the rebel army.
Last month the UN's human rights chief said both sides in the conflict may be guilty of war crimes.
Among the top rebels who turned themselves in was the Tigers' main mouthpiece to the outside world, their chief spokesman Velayudam Dayanidi, better known as Daya Master.
Another official, who was an aide to the late head of the Tigers' political wing, S.P. Thamilselvan, also surrendered.
The government's defence spokesman said more than 80,000 people had fled the shrinking patch of territory still controlled by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), saying troops were "rescuing" and not harming civilians caught up in the war.
"Our operations to rescue civilians is continuing," Keheliya Rambukwella told reporters, describing the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) as a spent force with just 12 square kilometres (five square miles) of land left.
"The LTTE has lost all its military capabilities. They are fighting a losing battle," he said, adding the government also "strongly believes" that Tamil Tiger leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran, 54, was still in the area.
The defence ministry gave Prabhakaran and his fighters until Tuesday to surrender, but the rebels ignored the deadline and have continued to fight.
The LTTE, who have been fighting for an independent Tamil homeland since 1972, has acknowledged losing ground. But the group has accused the government of killing 1,000 civilians in recent days.
The military insists it has aided the escape of 81,420 men, women and children this week. It said those fleeing were fired on by the rebels, who are alleged to have kept villagers to use as human shields.
The rival claims are hard to verify as independent reporters are not allowed near the conflict zone, but aid agencies have painted a grim picture.
"The situation is nothing short of catastrophic," said Pierre Kraehenbuehl, operations director for the International Committee of the Red Cross.
"What we are seeing is intense fighting in a very small area overcrowded with civilians who have fled there," he said.
He estimated there could be tens of thousands more people still inside rebel-held territory, while facilities for those who had reached relative safety were overstretched.
The United States and other nations have urged both Sri Lankan troops and Tiger rebels not to fire indiscriminately, and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has asked that UN staff be allowed to enter the area for relief operations.
"The casualties are certainly in the thousands and have been fairly consistently high running throughout the last couple of months, as the patch of (LTTE) territory has narrowed and really diminished," said Gordon Weiss, the UN spokesman in Colombo.
The apparent endgame in Sri Lanka has triggered protests around the world, with up to 30,000 Tamil demonstrators clogging the Canadian capital Ottawa to press for mediation.
Similar rallies have been held in London and Paris.
The LTTE were once considered as one of the world's most efficient guerrilla outfits, lording over a third of Sri Lanka's territory and running a de facto mini-state.
A Norwegian-brokered truce between the government and the rebels began falling apart in December 2005, and fighting since then has seen the progressive collapse of the rebel army.
Last month the UN's human rights chief said both sides in the conflict may be guilty of war crimes.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
'Nearly 100 terrorists sneak into Jammu and Kashmir'
Nearly 100 militants belonging to Lashker-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen have managed to slip into Jammu and Kashmir in recent weeks, after which the authorities beefed up security around key installations in the state.
The Line of Control in Kupwara and Baramulla along North Kashmir and along Rajouri in Jammu region had witnessed over a dozen infiltration bids in the past three weeks.
Official sources said despite engaging terrorists at various places, nearly 80 ultras managed to enter through Shamasbari range into Bandipore area in North Kashmir and hills of Rajouri in Jammu division.
The number of nearly 100 was arrived after various teams ascertained the number of infiltrations that have taken place since March 20 in Gurez, Tangdhar and Kupwara belts of North Kashmir and Rajouri, the sources said, adding, security around important places had been beefed up.
One of the terrorists belonging to Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM) was picked up and questioned by a multi-agency team to understand the new strategy of Pakistan's ISI and other terror groups located in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK), the sources said, adding, the arrested terrorist hails from North West Frontier Province of Pakistan(NWFP).
The Army has come in for criticism and was given evidence of infiltration, the sources said.
The Line of Control in Kupwara and Baramulla along North Kashmir and along Rajouri in Jammu region had witnessed over a dozen infiltration bids in the past three weeks.
Official sources said despite engaging terrorists at various places, nearly 80 ultras managed to enter through Shamasbari range into Bandipore area in North Kashmir and hills of Rajouri in Jammu division.
The number of nearly 100 was arrived after various teams ascertained the number of infiltrations that have taken place since March 20 in Gurez, Tangdhar and Kupwara belts of North Kashmir and Rajouri, the sources said, adding, security around important places had been beefed up.
One of the terrorists belonging to Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM) was picked up and questioned by a multi-agency team to understand the new strategy of Pakistan's ISI and other terror groups located in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK), the sources said, adding, the arrested terrorist hails from North West Frontier Province of Pakistan(NWFP).
The Army has come in for criticism and was given evidence of infiltration, the sources said.
Acupuncture eases radiation-induced dry mouth in cancer patients
Acupuncture twice a week relieves debilitating symptoms of xerostomia or severe dry mouth among patients treated with radiation for head and neck cancer.
Xerostomia develops after the salivary glands have been exposed to repeated doses of therapeutic radiation.
People who have cancers of the head and neck typically receive large cumulative doses, rendering salivary glands incapable of producing adequate saliva, said Mark S. Chambers, professor of dental oncology at the MD Anderson Cancer Centre of the University of Texas.
"Symptoms can include altered taste acuity, dental decay, infections of the tissues of the mouth, and difficulty with speaking, eating and swallowing. Conventional treatments have been less than optimal, providing short-term response at best," said Chambers, the study's senior author.
Saliva substitutes, lozenges and chewing gum bring only temporary relief, and the commonly prescribed medication, pilocarpine, has short-lived benefits and bothersome side effects of its own.
M. Kay Garcia, clinical nurse specialist and acupuncturist in MD Anderson's Integrative Medicine Program and the study's first author, noted that patients with xerostomia may also develop nutritional deficits that can become irreversible.
Garcia, Chambers and their team of researchers conducted a pilot study to determine whether acupuncture could reverse xerostomia.
Acupuncture therapy is based on the ancient Chinese practice of inserting and manipulating very thin needles at precise points on the body to relieve pain or otherwise restore health, said a University of Texas release.
The study included 19 patients with xerostomia who had completed radiation therapy at least four weeks earlier. The patients were given two acupuncture treatments each week for four weeks. They produced highly statistically significant improvements in symptoms.
These findings were published in the current online issue of Head & Neck.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Xerostomia develops after the salivary glands have been exposed to repeated doses of therapeutic radiation.
People who have cancers of the head and neck typically receive large cumulative doses, rendering salivary glands incapable of producing adequate saliva, said Mark S. Chambers, professor of dental oncology at the MD Anderson Cancer Centre of the University of Texas.
"Symptoms can include altered taste acuity, dental decay, infections of the tissues of the mouth, and difficulty with speaking, eating and swallowing. Conventional treatments have been less than optimal, providing short-term response at best," said Chambers, the study's senior author.
Saliva substitutes, lozenges and chewing gum bring only temporary relief, and the commonly prescribed medication, pilocarpine, has short-lived benefits and bothersome side effects of its own.
M. Kay Garcia, clinical nurse specialist and acupuncturist in MD Anderson's Integrative Medicine Program and the study's first author, noted that patients with xerostomia may also develop nutritional deficits that can become irreversible.
Garcia, Chambers and their team of researchers conducted a pilot study to determine whether acupuncture could reverse xerostomia.
Acupuncture therapy is based on the ancient Chinese practice of inserting and manipulating very thin needles at precise points on the body to relieve pain or otherwise restore health, said a University of Texas release.
The study included 19 patients with xerostomia who had completed radiation therapy at least four weeks earlier. The patients were given two acupuncture treatments each week for four weeks. They produced highly statistically significant improvements in symptoms.
These findings were published in the current online issue of Head & Neck.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Obama to invite Middle East leaders to White House
US President Barack Obama will invite the Israeli, Palestinian and Egyptian leaders to the White House in the coming weeks for separate talks on moving forward with the Middle East peace process, the White House said on Tuesday.
Spokesman Robert Gibbs said the president was issuing the invitations in hopes of building on talks he held earlier in the day with Jordan's King Abdullah II, a steadfast Arab ally in the Middle East, which has made peace with Israel, as has Egypt.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak will be asked to sit down with the president in the coming weeks, Mr. Gibbs said. No dates were set. Abbas runs the Palestinian controlled West Bank, but faces a strong challenge for overall authority from the increasingly powerful and militant Hamas faction that runs the Gaza Strip and is relentless in calling for the destruction of Israel.
After meeting the Jordanian monarch, Mr. Obama said he expected Israelis and Palestinians to make "gestures of good faith" within months to revive the languishing Mideast peace process.
Spokesman Robert Gibbs said the president was issuing the invitations in hopes of building on talks he held earlier in the day with Jordan's King Abdullah II, a steadfast Arab ally in the Middle East, which has made peace with Israel, as has Egypt.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak will be asked to sit down with the president in the coming weeks, Mr. Gibbs said. No dates were set. Abbas runs the Palestinian controlled West Bank, but faces a strong challenge for overall authority from the increasingly powerful and militant Hamas faction that runs the Gaza Strip and is relentless in calling for the destruction of Israel.
After meeting the Jordanian monarch, Mr. Obama said he expected Israelis and Palestinians to make "gestures of good faith" within months to revive the languishing Mideast peace process.
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