Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
T’Puram, Aug 17
As the days long drama over the arrest of PDP chairman Abdul Nazir
Madhani draws to a close, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has once again proved
beyond doubt that he is an intelligent politician but not a good Home
Minister as he protects his party’s interests at the cost of the
morale of the police force that he leads.
At the end of the day, Kodiyeri is able to please both his party
bosses as well as ‘vote bank friend’ Madhani as Madhani surrendered
and the police arrested him. Had the police gate crashed into
Anwarserri and facilitate the arrest of Madhani, it would have become
another opportunity for the Opposition UDF to shed crocodile tears in
the name of Madhani and there by attack the CPM-led LDF.
Kodiyeri has indeed shown the way to all politicians how to turn an
issue in government’s favour, which would have otherwise caused a
major embarrassment to the government as well as the ruling party.
Madhani, during the press conference on Tuesday, has even expressed
his gratitude to the CPM openly. “I am thankful to the Government that
no force was used inside Anwarserri, not due to any political favours
by CPM, but due to their social responsibility, ‘’ Madhani said.
While Kodiyeri celebrates his political victory, Kerala Police is neck
deep in shame as they had to wait at the gate of a terror accused for
72 hours, that too armed with enough gadgets. And, finally when they
entered, it was indeed an invitation from the PDP leadership rather
than a go ahead sign from their higher ups.
Late on Monday night there were reports quoting the Home Minister that
Madhani would surrender on Tuesday afternoon. While addressing the
press on Tuesday Madhani said that the date, time and venue of arrest
were decided only by late on Monday night. Doesn’t it reveal the
high-level understandings that have been arrived at behind the
curtains during the late hours on Monday? Thanks to the political
under currents.
On August 14, a police team led by Kollam SP Harshitha Attaluri made
the first move towards Anwarserri and she could even reach up to the
gate. It is said that the SP then received a message and there the
police action became calm. Since then the police had enough
opportunity to enter Awarserri and execute the arrest. Even as Madhani
reiterated that he would not resist an arrest, the police did not
received the go ahead from the higher ups due to unkown reasons. The
tops police officers of the State were mumbling for words in front of
their Karnataka counter parts on Monday morning as they have to
withdraw from a move to arrest Madhani in the last minute due to the
ed flag shown by their political bosses.
The developments over the last couple of days had indeed substantiated
the allegation of Karanataka Home Minister V.S.Acharya that the Kerala
Police do not cooperate in nabbing criminals.
While the ‘so called arrest’ of Madhani took place, it could be heard
one police constable telling the other: “Madhani decides when he
should be arrested. Anyway we are relieved”.
ends.
Wednesday 18 August 2010
Abdul Nazir Madhani arrested...surrendered
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
Anwarserri (Kollam) , Aug 17
Bringing an end to the four days long uncertainty, Peoples Democratic
Party chairman Abdul Nazir Madhani was arrested by the Karnataka
police from Anwarserri in Karanagapally on Tuesday afternoon.
A police team led by Bangalore Joint Commissioner of Police Alok Kumar
arrested Madhani with the support of the Kerala Police while Madhani
started from Anwarsseri to surrender before the Karunagapally court.
The arrest took place a few hours before the deadline of the
non-bailable warrant pending against him.
The police bandobast at Anwarasseri was strengthened on Tuesday
morning by deploying more police personnel. The Bomb Detection and
Defusal Squad and the Dog Squad searched the entire area surrounding
Anwarserri. Besides a riot control bus stationed at Anwarserry over
the last couple of days, a water cannon was also brought on Tuesday
morning. Thiruvananthapuram-range IG A.Hemachandran and Kollam SP
Harshita Attaluri gave necessary instructions to the police over
wireless set phone from the nearby Shastamcota police station.
By around 12.15 Madhani convened a press conference at Anwarserri and
said that he would immediately surrender before a near by court after
a prayer along with the inmates of Anwarserri. While the gate of
Anwarserri was opened by around 1.15 p.m. for Madhani to leave
Anwarserry in his van along with his wife Soofiya and PDP leaders, a
heavy posse of police led by SP Harthita Attaluri trooped into the
premises of Anwaserri and cordoned the van. Though there was initial
resistance from PDP activists and the inmates of Anwarserri, the
leaders pacified them.
Subsequently, Joint Commissioner Alok Kumar who also entered
Anwarserri under tight police protection, executed the arrest of
Madhani. By that time IG Hemachandran also reached the spot and
reviewed the situations. The police took control over Madhani’s
vehicle and drove it towards the Thiruvananthapuram airport under
tight police security.
On the way, Madhani’s van suffered mechanical defect near Kottarakara
and he was shifted to another police vehicle and the journey to the
Airport resumed.
A five-member Bangalore police team comprising Joint Commissioner Alok
Kumar, Deputy Commissioner Omkarayya and Inspector Sidhappa took
Madhani to Bangalore by evening.
In the meantime, PDP supporters who were camping at Karunagapally
court since the morning following reports that he would be
surrendering, had turned violent. Traffic along the National Highway
was slightly disrupted at Karunagapally and several shops closed down.
Earlier addressing the press, Madhani said the case against him was
part of a larger conspiracy by certain political parties and other
groups to wipe out him as well the ideologies he had been practicing.
It is a message that the Indian judicial system could be manipulated
in any way trap a person,” he said.
``The observations by certain sections that I am trying to ignite
communal sentiments by showing Quran was baseless, he said and also
appealed that his arrest should not lead to any communal tensions in
the state. Any protest should be carried out only in the democratic
manner,’’ he said.
He also said that over the last couple of days he had been receiving
number of calls from political leaders and social activists expressing
moral support.
A Bangalore court had issued a non-bailable warrant against Madhani on
June 15 after he was arraigned as an accused in the Bangalore blast
case. After the Karanataka High Court denied the anticipatory bail
plea of Madhani a police team from Karanataka led by Inspector
Sidhappa reached the State on August 10 to arrest Madhani.
The State police however kept off from an action till August 13 owing
to the security arrangements for the visit of President. On August 14,
Kollam SP Harshita Attaluri made and advance to Anwarserry and
deployed heavy posse of police. Since then uncertainty was prevailing
over the arrest of Madhani, learnt to be due to political reasons.
Subsequently Joint Commissioner Alok Kumar and Deputy Commissioner
Omkarayya came down to Kerala on Monday and insisted on an arrest.
ends
The New Indian Express
Anwarserri (Kollam) , Aug 17
Bringing an end to the four days long uncertainty, Peoples Democratic
Party chairman Abdul Nazir Madhani was arrested by the Karnataka
police from Anwarserri in Karanagapally on Tuesday afternoon.
A police team led by Bangalore Joint Commissioner of Police Alok Kumar
arrested Madhani with the support of the Kerala Police while Madhani
started from Anwarsseri to surrender before the Karunagapally court.
The arrest took place a few hours before the deadline of the
non-bailable warrant pending against him.
The police bandobast at Anwarasseri was strengthened on Tuesday
morning by deploying more police personnel. The Bomb Detection and
Defusal Squad and the Dog Squad searched the entire area surrounding
Anwarserri. Besides a riot control bus stationed at Anwarserry over
the last couple of days, a water cannon was also brought on Tuesday
morning. Thiruvananthapuram-range IG A.Hemachandran and Kollam SP
Harshita Attaluri gave necessary instructions to the police over
wireless set phone from the nearby Shastamcota police station.
By around 12.15 Madhani convened a press conference at Anwarserri and
said that he would immediately surrender before a near by court after
a prayer along with the inmates of Anwarserri. While the gate of
Anwarserri was opened by around 1.15 p.m. for Madhani to leave
Anwarserry in his van along with his wife Soofiya and PDP leaders, a
heavy posse of police led by SP Harthita Attaluri trooped into the
premises of Anwaserri and cordoned the van. Though there was initial
resistance from PDP activists and the inmates of Anwarserri, the
leaders pacified them.
Subsequently, Joint Commissioner Alok Kumar who also entered
Anwarserri under tight police protection, executed the arrest of
Madhani. By that time IG Hemachandran also reached the spot and
reviewed the situations. The police took control over Madhani’s
vehicle and drove it towards the Thiruvananthapuram airport under
tight police security.
On the way, Madhani’s van suffered mechanical defect near Kottarakara
and he was shifted to another police vehicle and the journey to the
Airport resumed.
A five-member Bangalore police team comprising Joint Commissioner Alok
Kumar, Deputy Commissioner Omkarayya and Inspector Sidhappa took
Madhani to Bangalore by evening.
In the meantime, PDP supporters who were camping at Karunagapally
court since the morning following reports that he would be
surrendering, had turned violent. Traffic along the National Highway
was slightly disrupted at Karunagapally and several shops closed down.
Earlier addressing the press, Madhani said the case against him was
part of a larger conspiracy by certain political parties and other
groups to wipe out him as well the ideologies he had been practicing.
It is a message that the Indian judicial system could be manipulated
in any way trap a person,” he said.
``The observations by certain sections that I am trying to ignite
communal sentiments by showing Quran was baseless, he said and also
appealed that his arrest should not lead to any communal tensions in
the state. Any protest should be carried out only in the democratic
manner,’’ he said.
He also said that over the last couple of days he had been receiving
number of calls from political leaders and social activists expressing
moral support.
A Bangalore court had issued a non-bailable warrant against Madhani on
June 15 after he was arraigned as an accused in the Bangalore blast
case. After the Karanataka High Court denied the anticipatory bail
plea of Madhani a police team from Karanataka led by Inspector
Sidhappa reached the State on August 10 to arrest Madhani.
The State police however kept off from an action till August 13 owing
to the security arrangements for the visit of President. On August 14,
Kollam SP Harshita Attaluri made and advance to Anwarserry and
deployed heavy posse of police. Since then uncertainty was prevailing
over the arrest of Madhani, learnt to be due to political reasons.
Subsequently Joint Commissioner Alok Kumar and Deputy Commissioner
Omkarayya came down to Kerala on Monday and insisted on an arrest.
ends
Abdul Nazir Madhani surrendered...arrested...!
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
Anwarserri (Kollam) , Aug 17
Bringing an end to the four days long uncertainty, Peoples Democratic
Party chairman Abdul Nazir Madhani was arrested by the Karnataka
police from Anwarserri in Karanagapally on Tuesday afternoon.
A police team led by Bangalore Joint Commissioner of Police Alok Kumar
arrested Madhani with the support of the Kerala Police while Madhani
started from Anwarsseri to surrender before the Karunagapally court.
The arrest took place a few hours before the deadline of the
non-bailable warrant pending against him.
The police bandobast at Anwarasseri was strengthened on Tuesday
morning by deploying more police personnel. The Bomb Detection and
Defusal Squad and the Dog Squad searched the entire area surrounding
Anwarserri. Besides a riot control bus stationed at Anwarserry over
the last couple of days, a water cannon was also brought on Tuesday
morning. Thiruvananthapuram-range IG A.Hemachandran and Kollam SP
Harshita Attaluri gave necessary instructions to the police over
wireless set phone from the nearby Shastamcota police station.
By around 12.15 Madhani convened a press conference at Anwarserri and
said that he would immediately surrender before a near by court after
a prayer along with the inmates of Anwarserri. While the gate of
Anwarserri was opened by around 1.15 p.m. for Madhani to leave
Anwarserry in his van along with his wife Soofiya and PDP leaders, a
heavy posse of police led by SP Harthita Attaluri trooped into the
premises of Anwaserri and cordoned the van. Though there was initial
resistance from PDP activists and the inmates of Anwarserri, the
leaders pacified them.
Subsequently, Joint Commissioner Alok Kumar who also entered
Anwarserri under tight police protection, executed the arrest of
Madhani. By that time IG Hemachandran also reached the spot and
reviewed the situations. The police took control over Madhani’s
vehicle and drove it towards the Thiruvananthapuram airport under
tight police security.
On the way, Madhani’s van suffered mechanical defect near Kottarakara
and he was shifted to another police vehicle and the journey to the
Airport resumed.
A five-member Bangalore police team comprising Joint Commissioner Alok
Kumar, Deputy Commissioner Omkarayya and Inspector Sidhappa took
Madhani to Bangalore by evening.
In the meantime, PDP supporters who were camping at Karunagapally
court since the morning following reports that he would be
surrendering, had turned violent. Traffic along the National Highway
was slightly disrupted at Karunagapally and several shops closed down.
Earlier addressing the press, Madhani said the case against him was
part of a larger conspiracy by certain political parties and other
groups to wipe out him as well the ideologies he had been practicing.
It is a message that the Indian judicial system could be manipulated
in any way trap a person,” he said.
``The observations by certain sections that I am trying to ignite
communal sentiments by showing Quran was baseless, he said and also
appealed that his arrest should not lead to any communal tensions in
the state. Any protest should be carried out only in the democratic
manner,’’ he said.
He also said that over the last couple of days he had been receiving
number of calls from political leaders and social activists expressing
moral support.
A Bangalore court had issued a non-bailable warrant against Madhani on
June 15 after he was arraigned as an accused in the Bangalore blast
case. After the Karanataka High Court denied the anticipatory bail
plea of Madhani a police team from Karanataka led by Inspector
Sidhappa reached the State on August 10 to arrest Madhani.
The State police however kept off from an action till August 13 owing
to the security arrangements for the visit of President. On August 14,
Kollam SP Harshita Attaluri made and advance to Anwarserry and
deployed heavy posse of police. Since then uncertainty was prevailing
over the arrest of Madhani, learnt to be due to political reasons.
Subsequently Joint Commissioner Alok Kumar and Deputy Commissioner
Omkarayya came down to Kerala on Monday and insisted on an arrest.
ends
The New Indian Express
Anwarserri (Kollam) , Aug 17
Bringing an end to the four days long uncertainty, Peoples Democratic
Party chairman Abdul Nazir Madhani was arrested by the Karnataka
police from Anwarserri in Karanagapally on Tuesday afternoon.
A police team led by Bangalore Joint Commissioner of Police Alok Kumar
arrested Madhani with the support of the Kerala Police while Madhani
started from Anwarsseri to surrender before the Karunagapally court.
The arrest took place a few hours before the deadline of the
non-bailable warrant pending against him.
The police bandobast at Anwarasseri was strengthened on Tuesday
morning by deploying more police personnel. The Bomb Detection and
Defusal Squad and the Dog Squad searched the entire area surrounding
Anwarserri. Besides a riot control bus stationed at Anwarserry over
the last couple of days, a water cannon was also brought on Tuesday
morning. Thiruvananthapuram-range IG A.Hemachandran and Kollam SP
Harshita Attaluri gave necessary instructions to the police over
wireless set phone from the nearby Shastamcota police station.
By around 12.15 Madhani convened a press conference at Anwarserri and
said that he would immediately surrender before a near by court after
a prayer along with the inmates of Anwarserri. While the gate of
Anwarserri was opened by around 1.15 p.m. for Madhani to leave
Anwarserry in his van along with his wife Soofiya and PDP leaders, a
heavy posse of police led by SP Harthita Attaluri trooped into the
premises of Anwaserri and cordoned the van. Though there was initial
resistance from PDP activists and the inmates of Anwarserri, the
leaders pacified them.
Subsequently, Joint Commissioner Alok Kumar who also entered
Anwarserri under tight police protection, executed the arrest of
Madhani. By that time IG Hemachandran also reached the spot and
reviewed the situations. The police took control over Madhani’s
vehicle and drove it towards the Thiruvananthapuram airport under
tight police security.
On the way, Madhani’s van suffered mechanical defect near Kottarakara
and he was shifted to another police vehicle and the journey to the
Airport resumed.
A five-member Bangalore police team comprising Joint Commissioner Alok
Kumar, Deputy Commissioner Omkarayya and Inspector Sidhappa took
Madhani to Bangalore by evening.
In the meantime, PDP supporters who were camping at Karunagapally
court since the morning following reports that he would be
surrendering, had turned violent. Traffic along the National Highway
was slightly disrupted at Karunagapally and several shops closed down.
Earlier addressing the press, Madhani said the case against him was
part of a larger conspiracy by certain political parties and other
groups to wipe out him as well the ideologies he had been practicing.
It is a message that the Indian judicial system could be manipulated
in any way trap a person,” he said.
``The observations by certain sections that I am trying to ignite
communal sentiments by showing Quran was baseless, he said and also
appealed that his arrest should not lead to any communal tensions in
the state. Any protest should be carried out only in the democratic
manner,’’ he said.
He also said that over the last couple of days he had been receiving
number of calls from political leaders and social activists expressing
moral support.
A Bangalore court had issued a non-bailable warrant against Madhani on
June 15 after he was arraigned as an accused in the Bangalore blast
case. After the Karanataka High Court denied the anticipatory bail
plea of Madhani a police team from Karanataka led by Inspector
Sidhappa reached the State on August 10 to arrest Madhani.
The State police however kept off from an action till August 13 owing
to the security arrangements for the visit of President. On August 14,
Kollam SP Harshita Attaluri made and advance to Anwarserry and
deployed heavy posse of police. Since then uncertainty was prevailing
over the arrest of Madhani, learnt to be due to political reasons.
Subsequently Joint Commissioner Alok Kumar and Deputy Commissioner
Omkarayya came down to Kerala on Monday and insisted on an arrest.
ends
Karnataka Police insist on Madhani's arrest
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
Anwarserry (Kollam), Aug. 16
With the Karnataka Police insisting for an arrest of PDP leader Abdul
Nazir Madhani, the Kerala Police have assured to give all sort of
support for the arrest before Tuesday evening.
DGP Jacob Punnoose and IG Thiruvananthapuram-range A Hemachandran gave
the assurance to Bangalore Joint Commissioner of Police Alok Kumar
during a meeting at Thiruvananthapuram late on Monday evening.
Alok Kumar also conveyed at the meeting that even if Madhani
surrenders before the court they would take steps to produce the
warrant at the court and take Madhani to Bangalore by Tuesday evening.
The Bangalore police also maintained that the stand of Madhani that he
would surrender was not convincing and was a delay tactics.
IG Hemachandran told a section of the media after the meeting that the
warrant against Madhani would be executed soon.
As the issue snowballs into a major controversy, the ruling CPM would
be forced to give political nod to the arrest of Madhani, said
sources.
Meanwhile, it also learnt that the Bangalore police have blocked seats
in the Kingfisher flight to Bangalore from Thiruvanathapuram on
Tuesday evening.
The New Indian Express
Anwarserry (Kollam), Aug. 16
With the Karnataka Police insisting for an arrest of PDP leader Abdul
Nazir Madhani, the Kerala Police have assured to give all sort of
support for the arrest before Tuesday evening.
DGP Jacob Punnoose and IG Thiruvananthapuram-range A Hemachandran gave
the assurance to Bangalore Joint Commissioner of Police Alok Kumar
during a meeting at Thiruvananthapuram late on Monday evening.
Alok Kumar also conveyed at the meeting that even if Madhani
surrenders before the court they would take steps to produce the
warrant at the court and take Madhani to Bangalore by Tuesday evening.
The Bangalore police also maintained that the stand of Madhani that he
would surrender was not convincing and was a delay tactics.
IG Hemachandran told a section of the media after the meeting that the
warrant against Madhani would be executed soon.
As the issue snowballs into a major controversy, the ruling CPM would
be forced to give political nod to the arrest of Madhani, said
sources.
Meanwhile, it also learnt that the Bangalore police have blocked seats
in the Kingfisher flight to Bangalore from Thiruvanathapuram on
Tuesday evening.
Anwarserri under siege
By Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
Anwarserri (Kollam), Aug. 16
Eighty-two year old Daniel with his diabetics affected leg wants to
consult the doctor over the last few days while his eight year old
grand daughter Agnus is missing her school, that too during the Onam
examinations.
About 30 kilometres from Kollam town is Palliserikal near Shasthamkota
where Anwarserry, the ethimakhan and sheriat college, being headed by
PDP leader Abdul Nazir Madhany is situated. The entire area
surrounding Anwarserry is literarily under police siege over the last
couple of days.
“The pain on my leg is becoming intense day by day. I am not able to
go to hospital as no autorickshaws are willing to come this side these
days as they are not allowed to enter the area. When my son-in-law
went to buy some medicines for me he was also blocked by the police
and was directed to take another route which is several kilometres
long,” says Daniel who has being staying near Anwarserry over last
several decades.
His granddaughter Agnus is not able to go to her school over the last
couple of days as her school van is not allowed in the area. “Tomorrow
I will walk up to the next junction and catch the school van,” Agnus
tells her grandmother Saramma.
Kabeer, a worker at a nearby cashew factory is concerned whether the
ongoing tension at Anwarserry would spoil his, as well as his
colleagues, Onam celebrations. “We are expecting our Onam bonus in the
coming days. But I am afraid if the ongoing tension may affect the
smooth functioning of the factory,” says Kabeer.
The heavy bandobast being imposed by the police in Anwarserry locality
is not only hindering the basic needs of many like Daniel or Agnus or
Kabeer, but is also inviting resentment from within the police force
itself. Sveral battalions of police, including women constables, are
posted at Anwarserry over the last couple of days.
“It is three days since we are here without any use. Either Madhani
should be arrested or the force should be withdrawn. It is a shame for
the entire police force that one single person could be taken into
custody even after this much effort,” says a sub-inspector who is on
duty at Anwarserry.
While those police officers from various armed reserve camps are being
provided food from their respective police camps, those who are drawn
from the local stream have to literarily wander for food.
Both the local people near Anwarserry as well as the cops on duty are
now praying for an early end to the tension in the area. Indeed, the
scores of journalists who are camping in the area over the last two
couple of days are also restlessly waiting for an end to the whole
episode.
The only section who cheers of the present situation at Anwaserry
locality might be the nearby shopkeepers who are receiving brisk sales
from the cops and journos.
Ends.
The New Indian Express
Anwarserri (Kollam), Aug. 16
Eighty-two year old Daniel with his diabetics affected leg wants to
consult the doctor over the last few days while his eight year old
grand daughter Agnus is missing her school, that too during the Onam
examinations.
About 30 kilometres from Kollam town is Palliserikal near Shasthamkota
where Anwarserry, the ethimakhan and sheriat college, being headed by
PDP leader Abdul Nazir Madhany is situated. The entire area
surrounding Anwarserry is literarily under police siege over the last
couple of days.
“The pain on my leg is becoming intense day by day. I am not able to
go to hospital as no autorickshaws are willing to come this side these
days as they are not allowed to enter the area. When my son-in-law
went to buy some medicines for me he was also blocked by the police
and was directed to take another route which is several kilometres
long,” says Daniel who has being staying near Anwarserry over last
several decades.
His granddaughter Agnus is not able to go to her school over the last
couple of days as her school van is not allowed in the area. “Tomorrow
I will walk up to the next junction and catch the school van,” Agnus
tells her grandmother Saramma.
Kabeer, a worker at a nearby cashew factory is concerned whether the
ongoing tension at Anwarserry would spoil his, as well as his
colleagues, Onam celebrations. “We are expecting our Onam bonus in the
coming days. But I am afraid if the ongoing tension may affect the
smooth functioning of the factory,” says Kabeer.
The heavy bandobast being imposed by the police in Anwarserry locality
is not only hindering the basic needs of many like Daniel or Agnus or
Kabeer, but is also inviting resentment from within the police force
itself. Sveral battalions of police, including women constables, are
posted at Anwarserry over the last couple of days.
“It is three days since we are here without any use. Either Madhani
should be arrested or the force should be withdrawn. It is a shame for
the entire police force that one single person could be taken into
custody even after this much effort,” says a sub-inspector who is on
duty at Anwarserry.
While those police officers from various armed reserve camps are being
provided food from their respective police camps, those who are drawn
from the local stream have to literarily wander for food.
Both the local people near Anwarserry as well as the cops on duty are
now praying for an early end to the tension in the area. Indeed, the
scores of journalists who are camping in the area over the last two
couple of days are also restlessly waiting for an end to the whole
episode.
The only section who cheers of the present situation at Anwaserry
locality might be the nearby shopkeepers who are receiving brisk sales
from the cops and journos.
Ends.
Political decision mars Madhani’s arrest
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
Anwarserry (Kollam), Aug. 16
Uncertainty prevailed over the arrest on PDP leader Abdul Nazir
Madhani till late on Tuesday evening as the CPM-led LDF government
preferred his surrender rather than an arrest so as to protect their
political interests.
It is reliably learnt that the police had made all plans to go ahead
with the arrest of Madhani on Tuesday morning, but was withdrawn in
the last minutes following a direction from the top brass.
Sources said that the CPM leadership’s intervention was hindering the
arrest of Madhani. The party fears a backlash as in the case of the
arrest of Madhani in the Coimbatore blast and hence the party
leadership prefers a surrender of the PDP leader rather than his
arrest so that it could get rid of a blame of facilitating the arrest
of Madhani.
Top sources in the Police Department said that Tuesday morning was the
right time to go ahead with the arrest. ``We had pooled sufficient
forces and the entire area around Anwarserry was brought under our
control over the last two days. But unfortunately, a direction form
the top came not to proceed with the arrest,” a police officer told
Express on the condition of anonymity.
The CPM leadership is also said to have held talks with PDP leaders
urging Madhani to surrender at the earliest. The stand of the
political leadership has even caused widespread resentments among the
police force.
Bangalore Joint Commissioner of Police Alok Kumar and Deputy
Commissioner Omkarayya came down to Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday
morning and they reached Kollam by about 9.30 a.m. Even after several
rounds of the talks with senior police officers including Kollam SP
Harshita Attaluri, initially at the Kollam SP Office and at the guest
house of Kerala Minerals and Metals Limited at Chavara, the police
team could not make further headway owing to the lack of a political
nod.
Alok Kumar and Omkarayya had later returned to Thiruvananthapuram and
held talks with senior police officers. The police officers from
Bangalore is also learnt to have communicated to their higher-ups the
stand being taken by the Kerala Government.
The fresh developments have substantiated the allegations of
Karanataka Home Minister V.S.Acharya that the Kerala Police did not
cooperate with the Karanataka police in an earlier occasion.
Meanwhile, PDP working chairman Poonthura Siraj told reporters at
Anwarserry that Madhani was making all preparations for a Bangalore
trip and he would surrender at a nearby court most probably on
Wednesday.
A team of doctors led by Cardiologist Gopalkrishna Bhatt of the
Padmavathy Medical Foundation of Sasthamkota (near Anwarserry)
examined Madhani. They later told reporters that Madhani was suffering
from various ailments including chest pain, fever and back pain.
Though he was stable at present, his blood samples are sent for
detailed examination, they said.
ends
The New Indian Express
Anwarserry (Kollam), Aug. 16
Uncertainty prevailed over the arrest on PDP leader Abdul Nazir
Madhani till late on Tuesday evening as the CPM-led LDF government
preferred his surrender rather than an arrest so as to protect their
political interests.
It is reliably learnt that the police had made all plans to go ahead
with the arrest of Madhani on Tuesday morning, but was withdrawn in
the last minutes following a direction from the top brass.
Sources said that the CPM leadership’s intervention was hindering the
arrest of Madhani. The party fears a backlash as in the case of the
arrest of Madhani in the Coimbatore blast and hence the party
leadership prefers a surrender of the PDP leader rather than his
arrest so that it could get rid of a blame of facilitating the arrest
of Madhani.
Top sources in the Police Department said that Tuesday morning was the
right time to go ahead with the arrest. ``We had pooled sufficient
forces and the entire area around Anwarserry was brought under our
control over the last two days. But unfortunately, a direction form
the top came not to proceed with the arrest,” a police officer told
Express on the condition of anonymity.
The CPM leadership is also said to have held talks with PDP leaders
urging Madhani to surrender at the earliest. The stand of the
political leadership has even caused widespread resentments among the
police force.
Bangalore Joint Commissioner of Police Alok Kumar and Deputy
Commissioner Omkarayya came down to Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday
morning and they reached Kollam by about 9.30 a.m. Even after several
rounds of the talks with senior police officers including Kollam SP
Harshita Attaluri, initially at the Kollam SP Office and at the guest
house of Kerala Minerals and Metals Limited at Chavara, the police
team could not make further headway owing to the lack of a political
nod.
Alok Kumar and Omkarayya had later returned to Thiruvananthapuram and
held talks with senior police officers. The police officers from
Bangalore is also learnt to have communicated to their higher-ups the
stand being taken by the Kerala Government.
The fresh developments have substantiated the allegations of
Karanataka Home Minister V.S.Acharya that the Kerala Police did not
cooperate with the Karanataka police in an earlier occasion.
Meanwhile, PDP working chairman Poonthura Siraj told reporters at
Anwarserry that Madhani was making all preparations for a Bangalore
trip and he would surrender at a nearby court most probably on
Wednesday.
A team of doctors led by Cardiologist Gopalkrishna Bhatt of the
Padmavathy Medical Foundation of Sasthamkota (near Anwarserry)
examined Madhani. They later told reporters that Madhani was suffering
from various ailments including chest pain, fever and back pain.
Though he was stable at present, his blood samples are sent for
detailed examination, they said.
ends
Thursday 12 August 2010
A shot in the arm for PFI, extremist outfits
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
13 Aug 2010
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: The delay in the arrest of PDP leader Abdul Nasser Madhani is turning out to be a boon to Muslim extremist outfits such as the National Development Front (NDF) / Popular Front of India (PFI) as it has become another opportunity for them to ignite religious sentiments.
It is reliably learnt that scores of NDF/PFI activists and other Muslim extremist outfits have been camping in Anwarsseri from across the state, with the aim of exploiting the highly volatile situation prevailing in the area.
Besides igniting religious sentiments, these organisations aim at influencing ‘like-minded’ organisations by involving themselves in the pro-Madhani campaign, sources told ‘Express’.
“For the NDF/PFI activists, the controversies over the question paper of the Thodupuzha Newman College turned out to be an opportunity to ignite Muslim sentiments and to demonstrate their terrorist face by chopping off the hand of professor T J Joseph.
Now they are making use of the Madhani issue as a platform to implement their hidden agendas,” the source said.
An inordinate delay in sorting out the tense situation prevailing in
Anwarsseri may lead to communal disturbance.
Intelligence sources point out that resentment is brewing among the local residents of Anwarsseri, especially non-Muslims, over the restrictions being imposed by Madhani’s supporters in the locality.
“All vehicles passing through Anwarsseri are being checked by Madhani’s supporters. Even women are not spared. If the situation continues, the chances of organisations such as BJP/RSS resisting it, could not be ruled out. If things go up to that extent, it would even result in communal disturbances in the State,” the source said, reminding that the BJP had already decided to take out a march to Anwarsseri next week.
Moreover, the Karnataka Government could very well put the blame on the Kerala Government for the delay in the arrest of Madhani.
Even if there is further criticism from the court over the delay in the arrest of Madhani, Karnataka would be at a safer position.
The prime concern before the State Government as well as the police is the possibility of law and order problems in the State during the President's visit.
“The force is now focused on the VVIP visit. Hence, if there is any breakdown of law and order, it would be quite difficult to deploy sufficient force,” a senior police officer told Express.
The New Indian Express
13 Aug 2010
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: The delay in the arrest of PDP leader Abdul Nasser Madhani is turning out to be a boon to Muslim extremist outfits such as the National Development Front (NDF) / Popular Front of India (PFI) as it has become another opportunity for them to ignite religious sentiments.
It is reliably learnt that scores of NDF/PFI activists and other Muslim extremist outfits have been camping in Anwarsseri from across the state, with the aim of exploiting the highly volatile situation prevailing in the area.
Besides igniting religious sentiments, these organisations aim at influencing ‘like-minded’ organisations by involving themselves in the pro-Madhani campaign, sources told ‘Express’.
“For the NDF/PFI activists, the controversies over the question paper of the Thodupuzha Newman College turned out to be an opportunity to ignite Muslim sentiments and to demonstrate their terrorist face by chopping off the hand of professor T J Joseph.
Now they are making use of the Madhani issue as a platform to implement their hidden agendas,” the source said.
An inordinate delay in sorting out the tense situation prevailing in
Anwarsseri may lead to communal disturbance.
Intelligence sources point out that resentment is brewing among the local residents of Anwarsseri, especially non-Muslims, over the restrictions being imposed by Madhani’s supporters in the locality.
“All vehicles passing through Anwarsseri are being checked by Madhani’s supporters. Even women are not spared. If the situation continues, the chances of organisations such as BJP/RSS resisting it, could not be ruled out. If things go up to that extent, it would even result in communal disturbances in the State,” the source said, reminding that the BJP had already decided to take out a march to Anwarsseri next week.
Moreover, the Karnataka Government could very well put the blame on the Kerala Government for the delay in the arrest of Madhani.
Even if there is further criticism from the court over the delay in the arrest of Madhani, Karnataka would be at a safer position.
The prime concern before the State Government as well as the police is the possibility of law and order problems in the State during the President's visit.
“The force is now focused on the VVIP visit. Hence, if there is any breakdown of law and order, it would be quite difficult to deploy sufficient force,” a senior police officer told Express.
Tuesday 10 August 2010
Siva confesses to human trafficking
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
10 Aug 2010
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: The arrest of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE) operative Sundararaja Sivakumar alias Siva, 50, has thrown light on the massive human trafficking of Sri Lankans, including LTTE supporters, to various foreign countries from the Tamil Nadu coast.
The startling revelations of Siva during the interrogation by the Kerala Police, Intelligence Bureau and Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) officials had even led to strong suspicions that the regrouping of LTTE cadres are receiving the silent blessings of some political parties in Tamil Nadu.
Siva has confessed to the investigators that over the past one-and-a-half years around 1,500 Sri Lankan natives, including LTTE activists, were trafficked to various countries from the Tamil Nadu coast.
Around 35 boats had set sail from the Tamil Nadu coast, especially from Kadalur Kanyakumari Rameswaram belt, to locations such as Australia, Canada, Italy and France, highly placed sources told Express against the backdrop of interrogating Siva.
"Without the support of any political party it is quite impossible to carry out massive human trafficking from a State. Siva seems to be only a minor link in a larger network spread across the world," highly placed sources told Express.
However, the source, of funding for the regrouping activities still remain out of bounds for the investigating agencies. It is suspected that the funds are being pooled from LTTE supporters spread across various parts of the world. Each boat costs several lakhs of rupees and hence huge funds are required.
"Only a tip of the iceberg has been exposed so far and an exhaustive probe is required to expose the larger network involved in regrouping the LTTE cadres,'' an Intelligence official said.
Siva was held from Chennai the other day by a police team from Kollam as part of the investigation into the attempt to trafficking 37 Sri Lanka Tamils in May which was tipped off by the Intelligence Bureau.
Siva had also revealed that a boat which had set sail to Australia recently with LTTE supporters from the Kerala coast had lost its way due to technical fault of the GPS system and landed on Indonesian shores. The passengers on the boat are now in a UN refugee camp in Indonesia.
Siva who was earlier into gold business came to India for the first time in 1996. By early 2000, Siva entered travel business and worked from Colombo for several years.
From thereon, Siva was suspected to be making arrangements for human trafficking. Later he came down to India in 2007.
The New Indian Express
10 Aug 2010
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: The arrest of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE) operative Sundararaja Sivakumar alias Siva, 50, has thrown light on the massive human trafficking of Sri Lankans, including LTTE supporters, to various foreign countries from the Tamil Nadu coast.
The startling revelations of Siva during the interrogation by the Kerala Police, Intelligence Bureau and Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) officials had even led to strong suspicions that the regrouping of LTTE cadres are receiving the silent blessings of some political parties in Tamil Nadu.
Siva has confessed to the investigators that over the past one-and-a-half years around 1,500 Sri Lankan natives, including LTTE activists, were trafficked to various countries from the Tamil Nadu coast.
Around 35 boats had set sail from the Tamil Nadu coast, especially from Kadalur Kanyakumari Rameswaram belt, to locations such as Australia, Canada, Italy and France, highly placed sources told Express against the backdrop of interrogating Siva.
"Without the support of any political party it is quite impossible to carry out massive human trafficking from a State. Siva seems to be only a minor link in a larger network spread across the world," highly placed sources told Express.
However, the source, of funding for the regrouping activities still remain out of bounds for the investigating agencies. It is suspected that the funds are being pooled from LTTE supporters spread across various parts of the world. Each boat costs several lakhs of rupees and hence huge funds are required.
"Only a tip of the iceberg has been exposed so far and an exhaustive probe is required to expose the larger network involved in regrouping the LTTE cadres,'' an Intelligence official said.
Siva was held from Chennai the other day by a police team from Kollam as part of the investigation into the attempt to trafficking 37 Sri Lanka Tamils in May which was tipped off by the Intelligence Bureau.
Siva had also revealed that a boat which had set sail to Australia recently with LTTE supporters from the Kerala coast had lost its way due to technical fault of the GPS system and landed on Indonesian shores. The passengers on the boat are now in a UN refugee camp in Indonesia.
Siva who was earlier into gold business came to India for the first time in 1996. By early 2000, Siva entered travel business and worked from Colombo for several years.
From thereon, Siva was suspected to be making arrangements for human trafficking. Later he came down to India in 2007.
Sunday 1 August 2010
No socialising at work
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
2 Aug 2010
Concerned over the pros and cons of the social media, many leading IT firms are either prescribing a social media policy to its employees or imposing a blanket ban on the use of social media networks during work hours.
If leakage of vital information from the company’s network is one of the prime concerns of the employers in their employees using social media, social media has its own advantages like promoting the company through the cyber media.
While UST Global, a leading IT firm that has its branch at the Thiruvananthapuram Technopark, has already rolled out a social media policy, Infosys, which also has its presence here, is in the process of developing a policy on social media.
Experts in the IT sector point out that more than 96 percent of the IT companies in the country have imposed a blanket ban on the use of social media during working hours. Global IT giants like Microsoft and Intel have already brought out a social media policy for their employees.
IBS Software services and Toonz Animations, two leading Technopark-based firms, are among the firms which have banned the use of social media at the workplace.
According to Toonz Animation India Chief Executive Officer P Jayakumar, the firm is following a selective social media policy. “Majority of our employees are restricted from accessing internet from their work stations due to security and confidentiality requirements. For selected trade areas like Marketing, Corporate Communications and Concept Development, social websites like Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter etc are essential tools and hence we do not put restriction on their use,’’ he said.
At IBS, though social media networks are banned on the office network, kiosks are provided on the office premises so that the employees can access internet. The employees, however, will have to impose self-restrictions on sharing vital information regarding the company on social media, an IBS spokesperson said.
UST Global brought out its social media policy last year. “All our employees are required to follow the policy guidelines mandatorily so as to ensure that confidential or proprietary information is not passed on to the external world through social media, ’’ said Alexander Varghese, Country Head of UST Global.
The community managers within the organisation are responsible for monitoring whether the policies are followed by everyone. ‘‘Access to the social media sites from the corporate network is provided only after a thorough evaluation by our Information Security team,’’ he said.
UST Global, however, promotes its own exclusive social networking site, which is deployed in the corporate network for the employees to interact and exchange ideas, Alexander said.
Infosys is in the process of collecting employees’ feedback on the proposed policy. “Based on the feedback, our policy council takes its decision on a policy and its implementation. This will happen next month, post which the policy will be announced. The policy is aimed at creating awareness on responsible social media activity, keeping in mind client confidentiality, company intellectual property and the Infosys code of conduct,’’ said an Infosys spokesperson.
Meanwhile, techies feel that a total ban on the use of social media is an encroachment on their freedom of expression. “Social media is a forum where we techies can exchange our ideas. Hence, imposing a total ban is not advisable. However, some sort of guidelines on sharing company information cannot be blamed from the point of view of an employer,’’ said an IT professional at a leading Technopark firm who did not want to be identified.
Moreover, nowadays, the techies least depend on office networks to access social media sites as most of the modern mobile phones offer such facilities.
arjun_raghunath@expressbuzz.com
The New Indian Express
2 Aug 2010
Concerned over the pros and cons of the social media, many leading IT firms are either prescribing a social media policy to its employees or imposing a blanket ban on the use of social media networks during work hours.
If leakage of vital information from the company’s network is one of the prime concerns of the employers in their employees using social media, social media has its own advantages like promoting the company through the cyber media.
While UST Global, a leading IT firm that has its branch at the Thiruvananthapuram Technopark, has already rolled out a social media policy, Infosys, which also has its presence here, is in the process of developing a policy on social media.
Experts in the IT sector point out that more than 96 percent of the IT companies in the country have imposed a blanket ban on the use of social media during working hours. Global IT giants like Microsoft and Intel have already brought out a social media policy for their employees.
IBS Software services and Toonz Animations, two leading Technopark-based firms, are among the firms which have banned the use of social media at the workplace.
According to Toonz Animation India Chief Executive Officer P Jayakumar, the firm is following a selective social media policy. “Majority of our employees are restricted from accessing internet from their work stations due to security and confidentiality requirements. For selected trade areas like Marketing, Corporate Communications and Concept Development, social websites like Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter etc are essential tools and hence we do not put restriction on their use,’’ he said.
At IBS, though social media networks are banned on the office network, kiosks are provided on the office premises so that the employees can access internet. The employees, however, will have to impose self-restrictions on sharing vital information regarding the company on social media, an IBS spokesperson said.
UST Global brought out its social media policy last year. “All our employees are required to follow the policy guidelines mandatorily so as to ensure that confidential or proprietary information is not passed on to the external world through social media, ’’ said Alexander Varghese, Country Head of UST Global.
The community managers within the organisation are responsible for monitoring whether the policies are followed by everyone. ‘‘Access to the social media sites from the corporate network is provided only after a thorough evaluation by our Information Security team,’’ he said.
UST Global, however, promotes its own exclusive social networking site, which is deployed in the corporate network for the employees to interact and exchange ideas, Alexander said.
Infosys is in the process of collecting employees’ feedback on the proposed policy. “Based on the feedback, our policy council takes its decision on a policy and its implementation. This will happen next month, post which the policy will be announced. The policy is aimed at creating awareness on responsible social media activity, keeping in mind client confidentiality, company intellectual property and the Infosys code of conduct,’’ said an Infosys spokesperson.
Meanwhile, techies feel that a total ban on the use of social media is an encroachment on their freedom of expression. “Social media is a forum where we techies can exchange our ideas. Hence, imposing a total ban is not advisable. However, some sort of guidelines on sharing company information cannot be blamed from the point of view of an employer,’’ said an IT professional at a leading Technopark firm who did not want to be identified.
Moreover, nowadays, the techies least depend on office networks to access social media sites as most of the modern mobile phones offer such facilities.
arjun_raghunath@expressbuzz.com
Application forms to go digital
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
1 Aug 2010
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: All application forms of various Departments of the State Government will go digital with the implementation of e-forms as part of the State Portal Scheme of the National e-Governance plan.
Steps to publish the Request-For-Proposal (RFP) for implementation of the project in one year and maintenance for three years is being finalised by the Kerala State IT Mission.
Quotations would be accepted from a panel of major IT companies prepared by the Centre which includes Wipro, Infosys, Accenture and HP.
In the initial phase, 13 Departments would be covered under the project.
The Departments identified for the initial phase are General Education, Registration, Ports and Harbours, LSGD-Urban, LSGD-Rural, Employment and Training, Kerala Lok Ayukta, Motor Vehicles, Kerala Water Authority, Kerala State Electricity Board, Vocational Higher Secondary Education, Rural Development and Fisheries.
The main objective of the project is to provide Government services to the citizen through the State Government portal as well as to promote e-governance among the citizens, IT Department sources said.
With the implementation of e-forms, various Government-related application forms could be filled in and submitted online so that there would not be any need for hard copies.
An electronic receipt would also be issued through the portal. There would be provision to track the status of applications and requests.
Though the Government application forms are now available online, it needs to be downloaded and submitted in hard-copy format. The main feature of e-forms is that it could be filled even off-line.
Besides easing the submission of applications, the e-form system would also help speed up the process.
The major advantages of the State Portal Scheme are that Government information could be accessed anywhere, anytime that too at the customers desktop as well reducing administrative burden and cost effectiveness. The services would be accessible to individual users via internet through personal computers or common service centres such as Akshaya Centres or even through mobile phones.
The portal would be bilingual - Malayalam and English.
Sources said that the draft of the request for quotations is being vetted by a committee headed by the IT Secretary and it would be published as soon as the committee approval is received. Ernst and Young has been appointed as the consultant.
The New Indian Express
1 Aug 2010
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: All application forms of various Departments of the State Government will go digital with the implementation of e-forms as part of the State Portal Scheme of the National e-Governance plan.
Steps to publish the Request-For-Proposal (RFP) for implementation of the project in one year and maintenance for three years is being finalised by the Kerala State IT Mission.
Quotations would be accepted from a panel of major IT companies prepared by the Centre which includes Wipro, Infosys, Accenture and HP.
In the initial phase, 13 Departments would be covered under the project.
The Departments identified for the initial phase are General Education, Registration, Ports and Harbours, LSGD-Urban, LSGD-Rural, Employment and Training, Kerala Lok Ayukta, Motor Vehicles, Kerala Water Authority, Kerala State Electricity Board, Vocational Higher Secondary Education, Rural Development and Fisheries.
The main objective of the project is to provide Government services to the citizen through the State Government portal as well as to promote e-governance among the citizens, IT Department sources said.
With the implementation of e-forms, various Government-related application forms could be filled in and submitted online so that there would not be any need for hard copies.
An electronic receipt would also be issued through the portal. There would be provision to track the status of applications and requests.
Though the Government application forms are now available online, it needs to be downloaded and submitted in hard-copy format. The main feature of e-forms is that it could be filled even off-line.
Besides easing the submission of applications, the e-form system would also help speed up the process.
The major advantages of the State Portal Scheme are that Government information could be accessed anywhere, anytime that too at the customers desktop as well reducing administrative burden and cost effectiveness. The services would be accessible to individual users via internet through personal computers or common service centres such as Akshaya Centres or even through mobile phones.
The portal would be bilingual - Malayalam and English.
Sources said that the draft of the request for quotations is being vetted by a committee headed by the IT Secretary and it would be published as soon as the committee approval is received. Ernst and Young has been appointed as the consultant.
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