PM Apologises for Mumbai Massacre

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday apologized on behalf of the government for its inability to prevent the “dastardly” attacks in Mumbai. Welcoming UN sanctions against key Lashkar operatives Singh urged the international community to match its political will to combat terrorism with sustained action.

Singh heads the Congress-led UPA government, which came in for strong criticism in wake of the Mumbai attacks with the Opposition parties blaming the attack on governmental policy of “soft-pedaling” terror.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha for the first time since the Mumbai attack, premier Singh said it was a “calculated and sinister attack, intended to cause widespread terror and damage to the image of India, destabilise the country’s secular polity, create communal discord and undermine its economic and social progress.”

While emphasizing the need to fight the scourge of terrorism with determination, he underlined the need to rally the international community into dealing sternly with the terror havens located in Pakistan. “The infrastructure of terrorism has to be dismantled permanently.” The action, Singh said, was in the best interests of not only the global community but also the people of Pakistan.

Speaking of his discussions with other heads of State and governments following the Mumbai attack, he said India was widely appreciated for demonstrating restraint by global leaders who called for strong action.

Singh informed that his government conveyed to the international community that assurances were not enough. “The political will of the international community must be translated into concrete and sustained action on the ground.”

Singh welcomed the decision of the United Nations to put sanctions on four individuals of the Lashkar-e Tayeba, which operates under the garb of Jamiat-ud Da’wa. “This is the kind of purposeful action which should be pursued in a sustained manner.” He added that terrorism could no longer be accepted as an instrument of state policy.

Prime Minister informed the House about India’s discussions with Pakistan post-26/11. “We have taken up strongly with the Government of Pakistan the use of their territory for launching an attack of this kind and the need for the strongest possible action against the perpetrators of such ghastly acts. The world community must be convinced that action by Pakistan against the brutal perpetrators of these crimes against humanity will be effective and will be sustained over time.”

About the “reported steps” taken by Pakistan to counter terrorism emanating from its soil, he said “clearly much more needs to be done.”

As for India’s response, Singh pointed out that “we have acted so far with utmost restraint.” But, this commitment to civilised norm should not be misconstrued as India’s weakness, he warned.

Pakistan Tows UN Line, Bans JuD

With diplomatic pressures mounting in the aftermath of the terror attack on Mumbai, Pakistan on Thursday said it would abide by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) decision to brand Jamiat ud Da’wa (JuD) and four of its key leaders as terrorists and ban the organisation.

The UNSC has banned JuD, imposing sanctions on the outfit and four of its leaders, including JuD chief Hafiz Mohammad Saeed and LeT operational head Zaki-ur-Rehman.

JuD is understood to be a front of the dreaded Lashkar-e-Tayeba, which has been blamed for a series on terror attacks in India, including the recent attack in Mumbai. which killed nearly a hundred people and injured scores of others.

Reacting to the development, Islamabad's envoy to the United Nations, Abdullah Hussain Haroon, told Geo TV: "Pakistan will abide by the (UNSC) committee's decisions."

Haroon, however, claimed the UN Security Council committee did not contact Pakistani mission in the US with regard to imposing sanctions on the Pakistani citizens and organisations.

The UN's committee had reviewed many names even before he assumed ambassadorship, Haroon told the channel.

Besides Saeed and Lakhvi, the two top leaders of the LeT declared terrorists by the UNSC are Haji Muhammad Ashraf and Zaki-ur-Bahaziq, both financiers of the terrorist outfit.

The Council also asked UN member States to freeze assets of the four LeT commanders and imposed travel ban and arms embargo on them.

UPDATEFollowing the imposition of UN Security Council sanctions on JuD, Pakistan Security officials sealed offices belonging to the organization and placed its chief, Hafiz Saeed, under house arrest and said all offices of the outfit would be closed.

Tough Anti-Terror Action Soon, MHA

While promising to “strain every nerve” to render determined action for ensuring the security of the nation, Union Minister for Home P Chidambaram on Thursday admitted that given the seriousness of the threat posed by cross-border terror, the country could not “go back business as usual.”

In a sua sponte statement on the November terrorist singe on Mumbai, Minister Chidambaram said the government, in the next few weeks and months, would take certain hard decisions and prepare the country and the people to face the challenge of terrorism.

His deputy, Minister of State for Home Shriprakash Jaiswal made a similar statement in the Rajya Sabha.

Appealing for support Chidambaram called on all sections in Parliament and people to stand united to brave the challenge, he said: “Nothing should divide us — not religion, not language, not caste. In our fight against terror, there will be need for self-restraint, discipline and even some sacrifice. I seek your support; and I have no doubt that, with your support and the support of the people, we shall overcome and vanquish the forces of terror.”

Informing of decisions taken to enhance security in wake of the November 26 attack, he said gaps in intelligence gathering had been identified and steps to equip agencies with the latest gadgetry were underway. While o9ther decisions included raising India Reserve battalions in a number of States with Central assistance and the establishment of 20 counter-insurgency and anti-terrorism schools in various parts of the country for training commando units of the State police.

A set of Bills to strengthen the legal provisions on prevention, investigation, prosecution and punishment of terrorist acts are soon to be introduced in Parliament.

The Bills pertains to the setting up of a National Investigation Agency and amendments to the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.

Recently appointed to the position, Chidambaram said the interrogation of the captured terrorist had yielded valuable material evidence. “The origins of the 10 terrorists who entered India have been established conclusively. There is also abundant evidence gathered from the inflatable rubber dinghy, the fishing vessel (used by the Mumbai attackers) and the bodies of the terrorists that has enabled the investigators to reconstruct the sequence of events from the origin to the targets.”

In an obvious reference to Pakistan Chidambaram said: “Several terrorist organisations operating from territories beyond India’s borders have been identified as the source of the terrorist attacks in India that have occurred over the last several years.” He further opined that South Asia was fast emerging the flashpoint of the war on terror.

Similar sentiments were voiced by US president-elect Barack Obama through his presidential campaign, when he spoke of pulling troops out of Iraq and taking the war on terror to South Asia, the venue, where the war started.

After analysing intelligence inputs that warned of a terror strike in Mumbai, Chidambaram admitted that there was a tendency to treat some inputs that were not specific or precise as not actionable intelligence. Further, the responsibility for acting upon intelligence inputs was quite diffused.

Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Sureesh Mehta speaking days after the attack had said that the inputs, of a possible attack on Mumbai via the sea route -- received from intelligence agencies, were not “actionable”

Minister Chidambaram said the National Security Guard units would soon be placed at strategic regional hubs. The armed forces’ commando units would also be drawn on to create more regional hubs until a decision, to locate NSG units in those hubs, was taken.

He further added that the Mumbai terror attacks underlined the vulnerability of the country’s 7,500-km-long coastline. A coastal security scheme, approved in January 2005, was being reviewed and it would soon be integrated to form a part of a larger security system. A Coastal Command will come into existence to supervise and coordinate maritime security.

Lalthanhawla Sworn in Mizoram Chief Minister

Marking the Congress’ return to power in the state, a three-member new Congress ministry in Mizoram headed by Lalthanhawla was sworn in at Raj Bhawan in Aizawl on Thursday. Sixty-six-year-old Lalthanhawla is the first Chief Minister to be elected to head the State for a fourth term.

He earlier held the office thrice – first in 1984 when Mizoram was a Union Territory and then in 1989 and 1993 after it attained statehood in 1987.

Mizoram Governor Lt. Gen. (retd.) MM. Lakhera administered the oath of office and secrecy to Lalthanhawla and two other ministers – Pradesh Congress Committee vice-president R Lalzirliana and H Liansailova, a former bureaucrat and party treasurer, as Cabinet Ministers.
After taking the oath, the Chief Minister told reporters that he would expand his ministry soon and distribute the portfolios to his ministerial colleagues. Mizoram, with a total of 40 seats, can have a maximum number of 12 Ministers including the Chief Minister.

Raging Battles, War of Words Surrounds Kilinochchi

Separatist Tamil Tiger rebels fought intense battles against government forces trying to advance on the militants' de facto capital of KIlinochchi in northern Sri Lanka, killing at least 89 soldiers, a rebel-affiliated Web site said Thursday. The military however refuted the claim.

The military disputed the death toll, saying pitched battles in the north over the past two days had left 20 soldiers and 27 rebels dead.

Sri Lanka bans independent journalists from entering the battle-zone and media reports are largely based on claims made on either side of the island nation’s war with itself.

The TamilNet Web site reported that heavy fighting took place Wednesday around the rebel headquarters of Kilinochchi between guerrillas and government troops trying to advance into rebel-held territory.

In the worst fighting, rebels repulsed advances by soldiers on the villages of Oottuppulam and Puthumurippu, west of Kilinochchi, killing more than 60 soldiers, the Web site reported, citing unidentified rebel officials.

Separately, heavy clashes to the south of Kilinochchi killed an additional 29 soldiers, the report said.

The Web site said the bodies of a dozen soldiers were recovered from the villages west of Kilinochchi along with a dozen assault rifles and ammunition.

Rebel officials did not release their casualty details, the Web site said.

Military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara dismissed the TamilNet account, saying it was an attempt to gain publicity.

Separately, the Defense Ministry said in a statement that soldiers fought pitched battles along the southern and western borders of Kilinochchi on Wednesday, killing 27 rebels and 20 soldiers.

Nanayakkara said troops on Wednesday seized Therumurukandi junction, a strategically important crossroad on the main highway in the north.

On Thursday, fighter jets and helicopter gunships bombed a series of rebel positions, including an underground bunker complex in Kilinochchi, said air force spokesman Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara.

Damage and casualty details were not available, he said, adding that the air raids were launched to support ground troops advancing into the rebel heartland.

Fighting has escalated in recent months as government troops have moved deep into rebel territory and captured a number of key bases and towns, but they are still locked in heavy battles at the edge of Kilinochchi.

Authorities have vowed to crush the rebels, who have fought since 1983 to create an independent homeland for ethnic minority Tamils. More than 70,000 people have been killed in the violence.

… And Rajasthan Goes to Ashok Gehlot

Marking his release from what analysts term the “loop-line,” newly elected members of the Rajasthan Congress Legislature Party (CLP) on Thursday broke open a 72 hour deadlock to “unanimously” choose former Chief Minister and Congress general secretary, Ashok Gehlot to head the government.

The process of consultations with CLP members was held at the Pradesh Congress Committee office in Jaipur by a team of Central observers led by Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh, in presence of PCC president CP Joshi, who is not a member of the legislature group.

The process was a seemingly smooth affair, slogans raised in favour of Union Minister Sisram Ola, Gehlot and Joshi rent the air

All 96 MLAs were present at the CLP meeting held in the presence of Digvijay Singh and other observers, Mukul Wasnik, Madhusudan Mistri and Choudhary Virendra Singh.

“Ashok Gehlot has been unanimously elected leader of the CLP. He will be the new Chief Minister of Rajasthan,” said a visibly happy Digvijay Singh, who had played a crucial role in ticket distribution in Rajasthan. The Central observers and Joshi accompanied him during the media interaction.

Earlier, jubilant crowds of party workers virtually carried Gehlot outside the PCC building, where crackers were burst in celebration. “We will provide a transparent, responsible and responsive government,” Gehlot, who led the previous Congress government in the State, said in a brief response.

Singh said the party followed the democratic process of consulting the MLAs for their opinion on their leader.

However, before the consultations began, the CLP passed a resolution authorising Congress president Sonia Gandhi to decide on the leader. In another resolution, the members thanked her and party general secretary Rahul Gandhi for the new mandate in Rajasthan. Yet another resolution thanked the people of Rajasthan for reposing faith in the Congress.

Maya Slams Center over Laxity on Terror

Slamming the UPA government of heinous laxity on terror, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and third front prime ministerial hopeful Mayawati on Thursday said the Centre's move to set up a federal agency was a ploy to camouflage its shortcomings in combating the menace.

"It requires strong will power and stern measures on the part of the Union government to deal with terror but it seems the Centre is just indulging in paper work to hide its shortcomings," said Mayawati while speaking to the media in Lucknow.

She added that the government lacked sincerity on the issue of setting up of federal agency.

"Had it been serious, a draft proposal for the same should have been sent to the respective state governments before taking up a detailed discussion on the same to arrive at a unanimous agreement," she said.

The Chief Minister said that without going through the details it was impossible for the state to give its viewpoint on the issue and added that the Centre should concentrate on addressing the root cause of terrorism.

"Instead of concentrating on setting up a federal agency, the union government should try and address the main causes of terrorism," she contended.
Alleging that the UPA government was trying to mislead people on the issue before the Lok Sabha elections, Mayawati said convening a meeting of Home Secretaries and Director Generals of Police of all states on the issue of national security was not enough.

Fidayeen Bomber Strikes Iraqi Restaurant

A suicide bomber walked into a restaurant near the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk killing about 50 people and injuring 100 hundred others on Thursday. Kurdish officials were meeting Arab tribal leaders at the eatery to discuss long-standing ethnic tensions, when the bomber struck.

Officials and witnesses said women and children were among those killed and injured from the explosion that struck during lunch hour and on the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha.

Kirkuk deputy governor Saeed Rakan suspect that the suicide bomber was targeting Kurdish politicians and Arab tribal officials having a lunch meeting at the restaurant.

Last year, a car bomb exploded and killed 25 people in a branch of the same restaurant, which was regarded as safe and frequented by Kurdish, Arab and Turkmen politicians.

Kasab in Custody till December 24

Mohammed Ajmal Amir Iman, alias Ajmal Kasab, the lone terrorist who carried out last month’s attack in the city to be captured alive, was on Thursday remanded to police custody till December 24 by magistrate NN Sarvamangale of the Esplanade Metropolitan Court.

Attempting to shield Kasab from a possible attack, the Mumbai police got the magistrate and prosecutor to the crime branch lock up at the Mumbai police commissioner’s office in south Mumbai.

Briefing the media after the extension of remand, additional public prosecutor Eknath Dhumal said Kasab was asked if he had any complaints against the police. “Ajmal told the magistrate that he had no complaints against the police,” Dhumal said.

The police say Kasab has provided them information enabling them to piece together the Lashkar-e-Tayeba’s terror plan and the training provided to the terrorists who struck Mumbai. Further interrogation of Kasab was required to continue with the investigations, the magistrate was told.

Charges have been filed against Kasab under various provisions of the IPC, the Indian Arms Act, and the Indian Explosives Act. The charges include criminal conspiracy, waging war against the nation, murder and attempt to murder.

He is directly charged with shooting the chief of the anti-terror squad of the Mumbai police, Hemant Karkare, encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar and additional commissioner of police Ashok Kamte. According to the prosecution, the names of Kasab’s associates have been given as Bada Abdul Rehaman, Abu Ali, Abu Soheb, Umar, Abdul Rehaman Chhota, Fahad Ullah, Ismail Khan, Nasir, alias Abu Umer, and Babar Imaran, alias Abu Akasha. All of them were killed in the commando operation.

Meanwhile, Kasab is yet to receive any legal assistance since no lawyer in the city is willing to take up his case. Even the government’s own lawyer who was asked to represent the shooter turned down the assignment. The Maharashtra governments’ Legal Aid Cell, which arranges for the legal assistance to indigent accused, approached advocate Dinesh Mota who refused to take up Kasab’s case.
Earlier, the Mumbai Metropolitan Magistrate Court’s Bar Association passed a resolution saying none of its members would defend those accused in the Mumbai terror attacks.

Congress Leader Shot Dead in Ghaziabad

In a daring incident, Congress leader and All India Congress Committee (AICC) member Pradeep Tyagi (49) was shot at twice inside his swank Ghaziabad residence by three unidentified gunmen early morning on Thursday. After the killing the assailants fired several rounds in the air as they sped away on a motor cycle.

Tyagi’s house, in the posh Raj Nagar locality, is at a stones throw from the district courts, the collectorate and the police headquarters.

Pradeep Aka Pintoo Tyagi, was rushed to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his wounds. He was reportedly shot twice in his chest with a country-made weapon using the heavy .315 calibre cartridges, normally used in rifles.

Tyagi is survived by his wife, Anuradha, son Kunal, an executive with an MNC in Gurgaon, and daughter Kanishka, a Class XII student.

According to police sources, two men arrived on a motorcycle at the Tyagi residence and asked to meet Tyagi Ji. Anuradha called them in to the front verandah. As they were speaking with Tyagi, a third man entered and shot at him. Before fleeing on the motorcycle.

Later, Tyagi was admitted to Yashoda Hospital, a large group of politicians, transcending party lines, shouted slogans like "police prashasan murdabad'' and, there were visible signs of tension in the area.

Besides politics Tyagi was also involved in real estate and operated as a ‘builder’ in Noida, He also undertook civil construction work for some development authorities. Talking about the construction work, a police officer said, "This could possibly be a motive. There could have been some dispute over property. But, right now we can't say. We do not have any direct leads yet.''

Tyagi's family says the deceased had no disputes with anybody and was a well liked person.