THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Advocate B A Aloor has revealed that the Govindachami case was handed over to him by a drug mafia based at Panavel, Mumbai.
“There are also Malayalis in the gang. People working for him are very much active in Mumbai. They have been helping me ever since the case was handed over to me; they only paid me fees. I have no guilt for having appeared for him,” Aloor said, adding that Govindachami was a link in drug mafia.
“The gang are men who perpetrate crimes at Alibagh, Panavel and Mumbai regions. Most of them are from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra and Maharashtra. They contacted me through one of my friends. They usually browse the Internet to find good lawyers. The cases are handed over by people from outside the State. In this case also, I was asked not to reveal details of the defendants,” he said.
Aloor’s revelation has come us a big surprise and shocker for the public. More people including Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala have come forward demanding a detailed probe into the revelations.
Sudheeran censures CPM for not supporting India’s military action
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: KPCC president V M Sudheeran has said it was unfortunate that the CPM didn’t come forward whole-heartedly to support Indian army’s successful retaliatory military action against Pak terrorists.
“This is a time when all people cutting across party lines should support the India’s military’s action to ensure the national security and prevent cross-border terrorism. But the CPM politburo and State Secretary talked like diplomats over the incident,” Sudheeran criticised.
“In 1942, the Communist had deceived the Quit India movement and in 1947 they spoke against National freedom. These are all the traditions of the Communist and it has been the truth. In 1962, at the time of Chinese attack on India, the Communist had raised the argument in which they referred a geographical border area – ‘as the one China claims to be theirs and we claim to be ours’. Nobody has forgotten this. The Communist has always lost opportunities to express their patriotism…that has been its history,” he said.
Sudheeran also alleged that CPM stands had always reflected the stands taken by Chinese Communist party. The CPM should therefore clarify that who they are siding with.
“This is a time when all people cutting across party lines should support the India’s military’s action to ensure the national security and prevent cross-border terrorism. But the CPM politburo and State Secretary talked like diplomats over the incident,” Sudheeran criticised.
“In 1942, the Communist had deceived the Quit India movement and in 1947 they spoke against National freedom. These are all the traditions of the Communist and it has been the truth. In 1962, at the time of Chinese attack on India, the Communist had raised the argument in which they referred a geographical border area – ‘as the one China claims to be theirs and we claim to be ours’. Nobody has forgotten this. The Communist has always lost opportunities to express their patriotism…that has been its history,” he said.
Sudheeran also alleged that CPM stands had always reflected the stands taken by Chinese Communist party. The CPM should therefore clarify that who they are siding with.
Again, lawyers block media men at HC
KOCHI: Media persons faced unofficial ban again at Kerala High Court premises on Friday. The media men who arrived at the court for reporting court proceedings were blocked by lawyers. By blocking, the lawyers breached the agreement made with media persons in the presence of the chief justice.
A group of advocates asked the media persons to go out of the court. They even threatened to assault journos, if they didn’t go out. The dramatic scenes took place in front of the chief justice’ court. When the media persons apprised the justice of the situation, he said he won’t be able to interfere in person and asked them to give a complaint to the Registrar directly.
Later, the media persons gave a complaint to the Registrar. The lawyers allegedly blocked reporters from eight papers.
A group of advocates asked the media persons to go out of the court. They even threatened to assault journos, if they didn’t go out. The dramatic scenes took place in front of the chief justice’ court. When the media persons apprised the justice of the situation, he said he won’t be able to interfere in person and asked them to give a complaint to the Registrar directly.
Later, the media persons gave a complaint to the Registrar. The lawyers allegedly blocked reporters from eight papers.
KSU's education hartal on Monday
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: KSU will hold education strike on Monday, expressing solidarity to agitating Youth Congressmen over self-financing college issue.
They also expressed their support to MLAs Shafi Parambil, Hybi Eden and Anoop Jacob, who are on an indefinite fast over the self-financing college issue.
They also expressed their support to MLAs Shafi Parambil, Hybi Eden and Anoop Jacob, who are on an indefinite fast over the self-financing college issue.
Create 'conducive' environment for summit: Maldives to SAARC nations
MALE: The Maldives on Friday asked SAARC member states to create an environment "conducive" for holding the grouping's summit which has been postponed following a pull-out by five countries, including India.
"The Government of Maldives has urged the member states of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) to create an environment conducive for holding the 19th SAARC Summit," a Maldives Foreign Ministry statement said.
It said the appeal by the Maldivian government follows the decisions by some of the SAARC member states who have expressed their inability to attend the summit in Islamabad scheduled for November due to terrorism, and threats to regional and international peace.
"The Maldives condemns international terrorism, especially those originating from outside," the statement said. SAARC Summit can be convened only with the participation of Heads of State or Governments of all of its member states.
"The Maldives encouraged states to provide a valuable opportunity for the leaders to discuss critical issues facing the region and expressed hope that the required measures will be taken by relevant member states to convene the summit at an early date," the statement said.
The 19th SAARC Summit was scheduled to be held from November 9 to 10 in Islamabad.
Besides India, three other SAARC members -- Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan -- pulled out of the summit, indirectly blaming Pakistan for creating an environment which is not right for the successful holding of the meet.
Sri Lanka also pulled out of the SAARC Summit on Friday, becoming the fifth country to do so.
Citing continuous cross border terrorism by Pakistan, India had announced earlier this week that "in the prevailing circumstances, the Government of India is unable to participate in the proposed Summit in Islamabad."
SAARC member states include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, the Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
"The Government of Maldives has urged the member states of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) to create an environment conducive for holding the 19th SAARC Summit," a Maldives Foreign Ministry statement said.
It said the appeal by the Maldivian government follows the decisions by some of the SAARC member states who have expressed their inability to attend the summit in Islamabad scheduled for November due to terrorism, and threats to regional and international peace.
"The Maldives condemns international terrorism, especially those originating from outside," the statement said. SAARC Summit can be convened only with the participation of Heads of State or Governments of all of its member states.
"The Maldives encouraged states to provide a valuable opportunity for the leaders to discuss critical issues facing the region and expressed hope that the required measures will be taken by relevant member states to convene the summit at an early date," the statement said.
The 19th SAARC Summit was scheduled to be held from November 9 to 10 in Islamabad.
Besides India, three other SAARC members -- Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan -- pulled out of the summit, indirectly blaming Pakistan for creating an environment which is not right for the successful holding of the meet.
Sri Lanka also pulled out of the SAARC Summit on Friday, becoming the fifth country to do so.
Citing continuous cross border terrorism by Pakistan, India had announced earlier this week that "in the prevailing circumstances, the Government of India is unable to participate in the proposed Summit in Islamabad."
SAARC member states include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, the Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
UN chief offers to meditate over Kashmir tensions
UNITED NATIONS, United States (AFP) - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday offered to act as mediator between India and Pakistan to defuse rising tensions over disputed Kashmir.
The offer came after Pakistan s ambassador met with the UN chief and urged him to personally intervene, while India said it did not want to aggravate the situation.
Ban called on "both sides to exercise maximum restraint and take immediate steps to de-escalate the situation," a statement from his spokesman said.
The UN chief said India and Pakistan should address differences through diplomacy and dialogue, and offered to mediate.
"His good offices are available, if accepted by both sides," the UN spokesman said.
Tensions between the two arch rivals have been boiling since the Indian government accused Pakistan-based militants of launching an assault on an army base in Kashmir earlier this month that killed 18 soldiers.
India on Thursday said it had carried out "surgical strikes" several kilometers (miles) inside Pakistan-controlled Kashmir on what they called "terrorist" targets.
"This is a dangerous moment for the region," Pakistan s Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi told AFP after meeting with Ban at UN headquarters in New York.
"The time has come for bold intervention by him if we are to avoid a crisis, because we can see a crisis building up."
Lodhi accused India of creating "conditions that pose a threat to regional and international peace and security."
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric earlier said the UN chief "would welcome all proposals" or initiatives aimed at de-escalation.
Ban is following the situation "with great concern," said Dujarric, citing the escalating rhetoric between the two countries and the increased tensions along the line of control separating Kashmir between Pakistani- and Indian-controlled areas.
A UN military observer mission (UNMOGIP) is looking into reports of ceasefire violations along the line of control and will report to Ban, he added.
"UNMOGIP has not directly observed any firing across the line of control related to the latest incident," he added.
In a statement to AFP India s mission to the United Nations said "India has no desire to aggravate the situation," and that "our response was a measured counter-terrorist strike."
"It was focused in terms of targets and geographical space," the mission said. "It is reflective of our desire to respond proportionately to clear and imminent threat posed by terrorists in that instance.
"With our objectives having been met that effort has since ceased."
The Pakistani ambassador said she had suggested to Ban that plans for a visit to India and Pakistan expected in November could be brought forward to avert a crisis.
Lodhi also met this week with the current Security Council president, New Zealand Ambassador Gerard van Bohemen, to ask that the top UN body keep a close eye on developments.
India and Pakistan have fought three wars since they gained independence from Britain seven decades ago, two of them over the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir.
The offer came after Pakistan s ambassador met with the UN chief and urged him to personally intervene, while India said it did not want to aggravate the situation.
Ban called on "both sides to exercise maximum restraint and take immediate steps to de-escalate the situation," a statement from his spokesman said.
The UN chief said India and Pakistan should address differences through diplomacy and dialogue, and offered to mediate.
"His good offices are available, if accepted by both sides," the UN spokesman said.
Tensions between the two arch rivals have been boiling since the Indian government accused Pakistan-based militants of launching an assault on an army base in Kashmir earlier this month that killed 18 soldiers.
India on Thursday said it had carried out "surgical strikes" several kilometers (miles) inside Pakistan-controlled Kashmir on what they called "terrorist" targets.
"This is a dangerous moment for the region," Pakistan s Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi told AFP after meeting with Ban at UN headquarters in New York.
"The time has come for bold intervention by him if we are to avoid a crisis, because we can see a crisis building up."
Lodhi accused India of creating "conditions that pose a threat to regional and international peace and security."
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric earlier said the UN chief "would welcome all proposals" or initiatives aimed at de-escalation.
Ban is following the situation "with great concern," said Dujarric, citing the escalating rhetoric between the two countries and the increased tensions along the line of control separating Kashmir between Pakistani- and Indian-controlled areas.
A UN military observer mission (UNMOGIP) is looking into reports of ceasefire violations along the line of control and will report to Ban, he added.
"UNMOGIP has not directly observed any firing across the line of control related to the latest incident," he added.
In a statement to AFP India s mission to the United Nations said "India has no desire to aggravate the situation," and that "our response was a measured counter-terrorist strike."
"It was focused in terms of targets and geographical space," the mission said. "It is reflective of our desire to respond proportionately to clear and imminent threat posed by terrorists in that instance.
"With our objectives having been met that effort has since ceased."
The Pakistani ambassador said she had suggested to Ban that plans for a visit to India and Pakistan expected in November could be brought forward to avert a crisis.
Lodhi also met this week with the current Security Council president, New Zealand Ambassador Gerard van Bohemen, to ask that the top UN body keep a close eye on developments.
India and Pakistan have fought three wars since they gained independence from Britain seven decades ago, two of them over the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir.
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