Naxal leader surrendered as he was fed up with movement: DGP
Hyderabad: A key Maoist leader from Chhattisgarh, who surrendered before Andhra Pradesh police, was fed up with the movement, a top police official has said. “Frustrated with the policies of the CPI(Maoist) and due to ill-health, both Gudsa Usendi (aged 45) and his wife Santoshi Markam surrendered before AP Police two days ago,” AP DGP B Prasada Rao told reporters here today. GVK Prasad alias Gudsa Usendi was the spokesperson of Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC) and Markam alias Jaini was divisional committee member of DKSZC press unit. Usendi left the movement due to ideological differences with the central committee on the policies and tactics and had been discussing the same in Maoist party on several occasions since 2007, the DGP said. Usendi, native of Kadavendi village in Warangal district, opposed destruction of school buildings, blasting of high tension power lines and roads and indiscriminate killing of innocent civilians by branding them as police informers, he said. Attracted to Maoist ideology early in life, he joined the movement in 1985 and participated in its underground activities for about 28 years. He was carrying a cash reward of Rs 20 lakhs and as part of AP government’s policy, the amount will be handed over to him for rehabilitation. Replying to a query, the DGP said out of the 17 central committee members six are from AP. During last few years, large number of Maoist cadre and members of the Left-Wing Extremists (LWE) Groups have surrendered, he said. (PTI)
Bihar IG submits report on gangrape of girl in Bengal
Patna: A Bihar government team which had gone to West Bengal in connection with the gangrape and alleged murder of a minor girl hailing from the state is believed to have observed that lack of security coverage to the family had led to the crime. Inspector General of Police (Special Branch) J S Gangwar sent to West Bengal by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in the wake of the incident has submitted the report to the state government on Tuesday. Principal Secretary Home Amir Subhani told PTI today that the government has received the report. However, he as well as IG Special Branch refused to divulge the details. Sources, however, said the report has highlighted that the hapless family of the 16-year-old girl, who was gangraped first on October 25 and again after reporting the first attack to the police, did not get security in West Bengal resulting in the incident. The family, hailing from Samastipur in Bihar, left Madhyamgram but was tracked down by the gang and the girl was allegedly set on fire on December 23 when she was alone. The family also apprehended their future safety and security but refused to return to their native place in Bihar, the sources said. (PTI)
Ministers discuss sanction to prosecute marines under SUA
New Delhi: A high-level meeting was chaired on Thursday by Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde to discuss NIA’s request seeking sanction to prosecute Italian marines accused of killing two Kerala fishermen under a law which provides only death penalty. The meeting was attended by External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid and Law Minister Kapil Sibal as National Investigation Agency (NIA) had sought sanction under the ‘Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against Safety of Maritime Navigation and Fixed Platforms on Continental Shelf’ Act (SUA). The Home Ministry wanted to know about executive assurance given by the External Affairs Ministry about not awarding the death penalty to the two marines, who have been arrested on charhes of killing fishermen off Kerala coast on February 15, 2012, official sources said. The sources said that the Home Ministry wanted to ascertain the legal stand on the issue as India has already assured Italy that the offence would not warrant death under established jurisprudence. One of the suggestions emerging was that after pressing the charges under SUA, the NIA may tell the trial court not to award the accused death penalty if found guilty, citing India’s commitment to Italy. (PTI)
Girl run over by speeding trailer; driver arrested
Thane: A 10-year-old girl from Mumbra township here was mowed down by speeding trailer, police said on Thursday. The incident happened last night when victim identified as Komal Teju Rathod was on her way to home in Sailesh Nagar, Police Inspector S R Munde of Mumbra police station told PTI. The mishap occurred when she was crossing the road and was hit by the trailer proceeding to Kharigaon Retibunder towards the toll check-post, police said. The girl died on the spot following which driver Chindasingh Dayalsingh Jatt (45) from Uttar Pradesh was arrested. He was charged under section 304 of the IPC and 279 of the MV Act, police added. (PTI)