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More skeletons found in Noida

      Noida (Uttar Pradesh): Investigations into the Noida serial killings has literally become a case of 'skeletons tumbling out of a closet'. As investigations into the case proceeded further, the Noida police found more skeletal remains of children from the Nithari village area on the outskirts of Delhi. Police has recovered more human bones from an open drain in Noida during an extensive search and said that a domestic help by the name of Satish in the house of Mohinder Singh Pandher has confessed to killing them for the last twenty-one months. "He began doing this from almost last 21 months, as he has confessed and during the same period the children had disappeared. A total of 15 skulls have been found of which 10 children belong to Nithari including Payal. Six to seven children's belongings have also been identified," RKS Rathore, Noida's police chief told reporters. According to the police, the accused has said that the owner of the house Mohinder Singh Pandher was also involved in the crime. The police have said that during confession Satish has admitted of sexually assaulting his victims and then killed them by strangulating them. He then beheaded the victims and buried their head wrapped in a poly bag in his residential compound. During night he used to dispose the dead body by dumping it in the open drain.

     Yesterday, police found as many as six skeletal remains of children along with a bag full of clothes and slippers from the site. The crime came to light on Friday after police arrested domestic servant Satish in connection with the disappearance of several children in the area. The arrest led the police to a backyard from where they recovered skulls, bones and clothes of small children. Over half-a-dozen skeletons were recovered from the village. Thirty-year-old Satish has confessed to his role in the killing of the children. The police recovered some bones from a drain close to Satish's home. A bag full of clothes and the slippers of children were also recovered from Satish's home. According to the police, the accused also said he had sexually abused the children. "Satish was arrested. On his indication, we searched the house and recovered the skeletons. He said that for many months he picked up children and did 'bad deeds' with them and after killing them buried their bodies," said Jagmohan Yadav, Inspector General of Police, Meerut range. The police described Satish as 'mentally-unwell'. As part of the investigation into the missing children's case, police teams have been dispatched to Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai. The locals said they had always suspected that someone from the same residential area was behind the abductions and the killings. As many as 38 children were reported missing from the area over the last two years. The case of the missing children was unearthed during an investigation into the kidnapping of a "grown-up girl". Most inhabitants of Nithari village are migrants from other parts of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal and make their living as domestic helps, drivers or vegetable vendors.

     The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Mulayam Singh Yadav termed the incident 'unfortunate' and said that a thorough inquiry into the lackadaisical attitude of the police will also be probed. "This is an unfortunate incident. We have taken it seriously and in future, we will pursue it seriously. We will try to find out which police officers were responsible. As these incidents continued, our police officers did not pay attention to it," Mulayam said.

     Confessions in police custody are not accepted under Indian law until the accused repeats the confessions in the court. Satish's employer, Mohinder Singh Pandher, had also been arrested on suspicion of involvement in the case, Rathore said. Noida is in Uttar Pradesh state and a senior police officer in the state capital of Lucknow said police were also investigating if the children were victims of a suspected trade in human organs in the area. Today, angry people pelted stones at Pandher's house but police brought the situation under control. A large number of onlookers, including parents carrying photographs of their missing children, crowded around the house as police continued the digging. As many as 38 children have been reported missing from the area over the last two years.

Probe into recovery of skeletons in Noida Top

       Chandigarh/Noida (Uttar Pradesh): The police have widened their investigations to Chandigarh after a domestic servant was arrested in connection with the alleged kidnapping and killing of several children in Nithari village in Uttar Pradesh. Officials said that the relatives of the man in whose house the domestic help worked had promised to cooperate with the investigation. "We have not received any intimation from NOIDA Police. If they ask for any help, we'll help them. I have spoken to his wife and his son. They said that they will cooperate and help during the investigation," said PS Mallick, Deputy Superintendent of Police. The arrest led the police to a backyard from where they recovered skulls, bones and clothes of small children. Over half-a-dozen skeletons were recovered from the village. Thirty-year-old Satish has confessed to his role in the killing of the children. The police recovered some bones from a drain close to Satish's home. A bag full of clothes and the slippers of children were also recovered from Satish's home. According to the police, the accused also said he had sexually abused the children. "Satish was arrested. On his indication, we searched the house and recovered the skeletons. He said that for many months he picked up children and did 'bad deeds' with them and after killing them buried their bodies," said Jagmohan Yadav, Inspector General of Police, Meerut range. The police described Satish as 'mentally-unwell'. As part of the investigation into the missing children's case, police teams have been dispatched to Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai. The locals said they had always suspected that someone from the same residential area was behind the abductions and the killings. As many as 38 children were reported missing from the area over the last two years. The case of the missing children was unearthed during an investigation into the kidnapping of a "grown-up girl". Most inhabitants of Nithari village are migrants from other parts of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal and make their living as domestic helps, drivers or vegetable vendors.

Noida killings accused in police custody Top

      Noida (UP): A local court on Saturday remanded Mohinder Singh Pandher, and his domestic help Satish to two day's police custody for their alleged involvement in serial killing of children in Noida. RKS Rathore, Noida's police chief told reporters, that a duty magistrate in a local court remanded the two to police custody for further interrogation. Police have registered a case against Pandher and Satish under various sections of the IPC, including rape, murder, kidnapping and criminal conspiracy.

Himachal passes anti-conversion Bill Top

      Dharamshala: Himachal Pradesh has passed a legislation banning forced religious conversions. The Congress-led government in the state passed the legislation during its four-day winter session held at the newly constructed Vidhan Sabha (State Legislature) in Dharamshala on Friday. Kaul Singh, Law Minister, Himachal Pradesh, said, that "according to the bill if someone was forced to change his religion without his consent then he could come back to his own religion within a month". Under the bill, persons who had forced or induced someone to change his/her religion then he/she would liable for punishment, he said. The Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has also welcomed the Bill. In the recent months, five states ruled by BJP or its allies have introduced or strengthened anti-conversion laws, which they say will protect India's religious identity and foster communal harmony.

     But this is the first time such a law has been passed in a government ruled by Congress Party, which has been critical of such laws in BJP-ruled states. Under some of the new laws, anyone planning to leave the Hindu fold must obtain certificates from officials and affidavits from courts saying they were converting out of free will and not by inducements. For decades, conversion has been a sensitive issue in India, with right-wing Hindus accusing Christian missionaries in particular of converting poor Hindus with inducements such as free schooling and health care. But Christians, who have long advocated for the rights of Dalits, say those who switch their faith do so to escape the oppressive caste system amongst Hindus. Minority groups also say Hindu hardliners polarize voters on religious lines to gain political mileage. Millions of low-caste Hindus switch their faith to escape the 3,000-year-old rigid caste system dominated by the once-priestly Brahmin class. Hindu scriptures divide people into Brahmin priests, warriors, farmers and labourers, while the rest are beyond definition - called "Dalits". The dalits, who constitute over 16 per cent of India's 1.1 billion population, are considered "untouchables", and often face discrimination, performing the most menial and degrading jobs. The caste system still persists in villages, despite the country's spectacular economic success and exposure to Western culture. India's constitution also forbids caste discrimination. Hindus form 80 per cent of secular India's billion-plus population, while Muslims account for 13 per cent, Christians less than three per cent and religious minorities such as Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and Parsis make up the rest.

Pre-budget meeting with economists Top

       New Delhi: Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram held a pre-budget meeting with eminent economists here today for consultations and suggestions on the forthcoming Union Budget. The meeting discussed various issues like reduction in the multiplicity of customs duties to be implemented along with reduction of rates and sorting out regulatory and policy issues to accelerate infrastructure growth. Calling the excise growth rate as unsatisfactory, the delegation asked for buoyant growth in tax revenues beyond budgeted amount to be utilized for cutting down government market borrowing programme. It said the turnaround in government savings was good and needed to be nurtured, adding that the debt market in India also needed to be developed further. "Angel investors need to be encouraged to improve the investment climate in the country. This is the right time to give a further boost to FDI inflows in the country as the economic scenario is conducive for it," the delegation said. "The Banking Regulation Act needs to be amended to reduce the control of the regulator. Viability gap funding for infrastructure projects could be provided over time instead of being given as a one time grant at the beginning of the project," it added. The delegation also called for encouraging a movement towards a comprehensive goods and services tax. It said a small percentage of foreign exchange reserves could be separated and managed actively for higher returns, which could then be used for infrastructure. "There were some serious issues in the ports and highways sector, which required the model concession agreements (MCA's) to be revisited, the delegation said in a statement, adding that the coal mining sector was in a bad shape also and needed urgent reforms. "A proper evaluation of the health sector schemes was required. One separate centralized regulatory authority could be set up for health insurance," the statement added. "The outcome budget needs to be emphasized, further strengthened, and integrated with budget allocation and disbursement. The Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) should be reduced to free up lendable resources for capacity expansion and infrastructure investment," it said.

MP Govt's FP irks Muslims Top

      Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh government's latest decision to promote family planning among Muslims in the State quoting textbook highlighting references of family planning in Islamic texts, is likely to trigger a major public debate among scholars here. The book titled 'Census Islam and Family Planning' written by acclaimed writer Muzaffar Hussain quotes examples from Islamic countries, especially Pakistan, where family planning is being promoted by the Central government. "The book states examples from Islamic countries and tells that even the Pakistan government has been promoting family planning. The clerics announce 'fatwas' or religious decrees supporting family planning and the government advertises the same in the newspapers. Egypt, Morocco, Malaysia have been quoted in the book. The book exemplifies Islamic countries...how governments are promoting family planning there," said Ajay Bishnoi, Madhya Pradesh's health minister. Bishnoi said the book could pave way in promoting family planning among conservative Muslims, who believe contraception as unholy. "Promoting family planning is the need of the hour. Our country needs it, our state needs it and it is also our policy. We can't pressurize people but we can make them understand. And this book could assist us, therefore we have decided to buy and distribute it," he said. The decision, however, has not gone too well with Islamic clerics who say the government is trying to misguide their community. "Muslims are against this move. Although Muslims haven't read this book, only intellectuals have read it. And since I have read it, I condemn this book. BJP is only trying to misguide Muslims. What are they trying to do? Can a book stop population explosion?" said Ajmal Shah Malki, a prominent Muslim cleric. Indian Muslims largely follow Islamic laws that are interpreted and administered mainly by religious and community leaders, with variations between sects. The total population of India as at 0.00 hours on March 1, 2001 stood at 1,027,015,247 persons. With this, India became only the second country in the world after China to cross the one billion mark. The population of the country rose by 21.34 percent between 1991 -2001. The sex ratio (i.e., number of females per thousand males) of population was 933, rising from 927 as at the 1991 Census. Total literacy rate was returned as 65.38 per cent.

Mamta responding well to treatment Top

      New Delhi: Trinamool Congress Chief Mamta Banerjee, who was admitted in a nursing home in Kolkata after ending her hunger protest, is responding well to treatment. She will be given semi-solid food from Saturday. A doctor who was attending to Banerjee, said that she is responding well to medicines, but added that she was still very weak and fragile and would take some time to recover. "Ms. Banerjee has been on intravenous fluids, and an oral diet till now. But, she will be given semi-solid food later in the day," he said. The doctor also confirmed that Banerjee's blood pressure was improving. According to sources, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has set up a seven-member medical team to look after Mamta's health. She had developed 'gastritis' on the 25th day of her fast, and since then has been hospitalised. However, anxious Trinamool leaders are waiting outside the nursing home for news of their party chief's health. Mamta was on a hunger strike since December 4. She was protesting against the acquisition of farmland for a small-car project by Tata Motors Limited in Singur. Protests have taken place across the state over the move to give nearly 400 hectares of prime agricultural land to Tata Motors Limited. West Bengal Chief Minister, Buddhadeb Battacharjee has said that his Government will not retract on the 220 million dollar project. For several years, the West Bengal Government has been pursuing an investor-friendly economic policy, angering its hardcore supporters, most of whom hail from the poorer rural sections of society.

40 feared dead as bus falls into Ganga Top

      Patna: At least 40 people are feared dead when a Patna-bound bus from Hajipur, in Vaishali district of Bihar, plunged into the Ganga on Saturday morning. According to Patna Divisional Commissioner Ravindra Pawar, the bus fell into the river around 1:30 a.m. (IST), but rescue efforts have not yet begun due to the non-availability of cranes with the local administration. He feared that all passengers are dead. Pawar, Patna District Magistrate B Rajender and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kundan Krishnan are at the site. Pawar said the bus was full of passengers at the time of the mishap. A team of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) would seek help of the army and the CRPF to look for possible survivors and to extricate the bodies. The Inland Waterways Authority in Kolkata has also been approached for help.

Young couple ties knot on hot air balloon Top

      Jaipur: Jaipur city on Saturday witnessed a unique marriage ceremony with the couples exchanging nuptial vows mid- air on a hot air balloon. The marriage a first of its kind in India was organised by a Mumbai-based company Entertainment 7 to mark the beginning of a fun fair and wedding Expo IFTA-2006. The young couple tied the nuptial knot with all the traditional customs and rituals including the exchanging of garlands amidst the chanting of sacred verses by a priest. "This is my life's happiest moment as my marriage is being held in this way and is India's first of its kind. Secondly, this was a precious moment of my life and when I was watching everyone from top, especially my family members, then I was feeling very happy, which I cannot express in words," said bride Vandana, after tying the nuptial knot. "The way in which we exchanged garlands and the priest solemnised our marriage including the way vermillion was put on my forehead, I consider that it was the beautiful moment of my life," she added. "In this unique marriage ceremony, I thank my parents, family members and many other people for cooperating with us," said groom Sushil Sharma. Vandana works as a school-teacher in a city school and was happy to be a part of this unique ceremony. The marriage rituals were completed in 15 minutes on the balloon at a height of around 150 feet.

Iran, Pak to bypass India, US on gasline project Top

      Islamabad: Iran and Pakistan are learnt to have decided to proceed expeditiously on the gas pipeline project, by neither waiting for reluctant India nor bothering the US. A Pak-Iran agreement in this regard is likely to be signed early next month to cement their already signed Memorandum of Understanding, and also have a renewed one. The agreement, most likely to be signed by the countries' petroleum ministers, would be followed by technical-level talks in order to reach the kick- start phase in the first quarter of the next year. In order to avoid any pressure from the US, both Pakistan and Iran would opt for linking the independent infrastructure at the borders. Therefore, they would do the construction work independently, but in close collaboration as well as coordination with each other. In this manner, the sources observed, this project would not fall prey to the recently slapped sanctions against Iran. It has also the potential to keep going even in the event of further embargoes in future, reported The Nation. Well placed sources in Islamabad said that the Iranian envoy to Pakistan recently conveyed a message to Islamabad for an early ministerial level meeting on the bilateral gas pipeline. Pakistan Petroleum Minister Amanullah Khan Jadoon would meet his Iranian counterpart immediately after Eid for furtherance of the recent head of the state level telephonic talk on the Pak-Iran Gas Pipeline project. Earlier this month, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and his Iranian counterpart Ahmedinejad had telephonic conversation, especially for going ahead with the gasline in the event of India's reluctance in the Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) Gas Pipeline project, said the paper. The two Presidents had reportedly agreed to accelerate the work on the bilateral project irrespective of the pace on the trilateral one. After the top-level contact between the two countries, especially over this project, the pricing issue of the Iranian gas was no more an impediment in the way of Pak-Iran gasline project, added the paper. According to the sources, the two Presidents had also sorted out the lack of agreement on the tariff in order to proceed on.

S Africa draws level in three match series  Top

      Durban: South Africa on Saturday defeated India by 174 runs on the fifth and final day of the second Test match at Kingsmead in Durban, leveling the three-Test series 1:1. Chasing a target of 354 for a win, India was all out for 179 in their second innings. South African bowlers took the credit for the win. Makhaya Ntini wrecked the Indian top order with a five-wicket haul. Ntini was named 'Man of the Match' for his eight wickets haul for 89 runs from 34 overs. India, on December 18, created history by defeating hosts South Africa by 123 runs in the first Test at the Wanderers, registering their first ever Test win in this country. The final and deciding third Test between Indian and South Africa starts on January 2 at Cape Town.