Prime suspect in Kanpur train derailment, arrested in Nepal

[Hindustani78]

http://indianexpress.com/article/in...-in-ghaziabad-fired-upon-cop-injured-4966222/

By: PTI | New Delhi | Published: December 3, 2017 8:03 pm

An NIA team, with the assistance of the state police, conducted searches to apprehend the suspected arm suppliers in Meerut district during the intervening night of December 2 and 3, the spokesman said in a statement.(ANI photo)


An NIA team, with the assistance of the state police, conducted searches to apprehend the suspected arm suppliers in Meerut district during the intervening night of December 2 and 3, the spokesman said in a statement.

A joint team of the NIA and the Uttar Pradesh Police, carrying out searches in Ghaziabad on Sunday in connection with the killing of an RSS leader in Punjab, was fired upon

Giving details, a National Investigation Agency (NIA) spokesperson said that during the course of investigation into the killing of RSS leader Ravinder Gosain in Ludhiana, investigators came across the names of certain suspected arm smugglers who had supplied firearms to the accused in Punjab.

An NIA team, with the assistance of the state police, conducted searches to apprehend the suspected arm suppliers in Meerut district during the intervening night of December 2 and 3, the spokesman said in a statement.

On getting more leads, further raids were conducted at the residence of suspect Malook at Nahali village in Ghaziabad this morning.

During the raid, a large crowd of men and women tried to obstruct the police and NIA team and some people opened fire on them, resulting in injury to Uttar Pradesh Police constable Tahjib Khan, besides damage to official vehicles, the spokesman said.

The firing was followed by stone pelting and the mob also staged multiple road blockades to obstruct the officials in discharge of their duties.

In self-defence, the UP Police and NIA personnel also fired in the air, the spokesman said, adding that two suspects are currently being questioned regarding their alleged involvement in the case.

Efforts are being made to locate Malook who is wanted in connection with the supply of arms and ammunition used in the killing in Punjab.

On November 30, the NIA registered the case to probe the killing of Gosain under various sections of the IPC and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Gosain, the ‘Mukhya Shikshak’ of the Mohan shakha of the RSS, was shot dead outside his residence in Ludhiana’s Gagandeep Colony in the morning of October 17 by two unidentified assailants riding a motorbike.

The Punjab Police, which was earlier probing the case, arrested two people — Ramandeep Singh and Hardeep Singh — a few days after the incident.

“It has also come to light that a conspiracy to destabilise Punjab has been hatched by Sikh extremist elements and others located in various parts of the world including the United Kingdom, France, Italy, United Arab Emirates and Pakistan,” the NIA spokesman had said.

He added that investigation conducted so far has revealed channelling of funds from foreign countries for execution of these incidents.

The conspiracy also included an element of ideological brainwashing and incitement of the accused on religious grounds by their mentors settled abroad.

*********
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/nia-arrests-suspected-extremist-in-bihar-4965435/'

Gopalganj SP Mrityunjay Kumar Chaudhari said Bedar Bakht alias Dhannu Raja, a resident of Saran in Bihar, was arrested from Jadopur Chowk here

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) Sunday arrested one person for suspected involvement in extremist activities from here. Gopalganj SP Mrityunjay Kumar Chaudhari said Bedar Bakht alias Dhannu Raja, a resident of Saran in Bihar, was arrested from Jadopur Chowk here.

“We are not certain in connection with which case he was arrested. But there are some naxals active in Saran and, prima facie, he may have been rounded up for suspected naxal links,” Chaudhari told PTI. Dhannu Raja had come to Jadopur Chowk to visit his relatives.

“The NIA team has taken him to Patna from where he is likely to be taken to Uttar Pradesh. It is understood that he is wanted in some case there”, the SP said.

****************

 

[Hindustani78]

Posted at: Dec 8, 2017, 4:00 PM; last updated: Dec 8, 2017, 4:00 PM (IST)
Illegal arms manufacturing unit unearthed in Uttar Pradesh

http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/na...g-unit-unearthed-in-uttar-pradesh/510150.html

Muzaffarnagar, December 8

An illegal arms manufacturing unit was unearthed in a village here and two people arrested, police said on Friday.

The facility was uncovered in Sikri village, under Kotwali police station, in the district on Thursday evening, Superintendent of Police (City) Ombir Singh said.

The accused, Anil and Khalil, were arrested and five pistols recovered from the location, Singh added. PTI

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india...ain-averted/story-xUNKlNCjIqaD3ioVpv55JJ.html

IED recovered in Latehar as Maoists’ bid to blow up express train averted
Updated: Dec 09, 2017 15:06 IST
Hindustan Times, Latehar

The CPI (Maoists) bid coincided with their weeklong celebration of the raising of People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLG) that began on December 2.(Representational Photo)

Railway employees recovered an improvised explosive device (IED) from a railway station in Latehar district in Jharkhand on Friday night, in an apparent bid by Maoists to blow up an express train.

The IED was detected near the track between Chhipadohar and Barwadih railway stations in Latehar district around 11.00 pm on Friday.

Officials said the timely recovery of the IED averted a major railway mishap as Delhi-bound Tata-Muri Hatia Jammu Tawi Express train (18101) crossed the railway track near Ukkamarh village within 20 minutes after the recovery.

The CPI (Maoists) abortive bid coincided with their weeklong celebration of the raising of People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLG) that began on December 2.

A team of railway employees, who were doing their patrolling rounds, informed the security forces on noticing wires and the cylinder bomb on the up line around 11.00 pm in the intervening night of Friday and Saturday.

A team of central reserve police force (CRPF) personnel that was also carrying out a search operation following an intelligence input about the Maoists attempts to target the railway track in the same area immediately rushed to place and cleared the tracks quickly.

During the subsequent search operation in the area, the security forces also found another IED under a bush, only a few metres away from the railway tracks.

Commandant, CRPF 112 battallion, Ramesh Kumar Pandey said, “The recovered IED weighed around 7 kilogram and was strong enough to cause heavy damage to railway line. The second bomb found was of similar weight. Wires and detonators were also seized from the location.”

“Fortunately, the bomb was detected in time thus averting a major loss to railways. We had already been zeroing on a few suspected and locally unknown persons moving along the railway track following a tip off about their designs of targeting railway tracks in a bid to make their presence felt during the ongoing PLGA week,” Pandey added.

Railway traffic inspector Arvind Sinha said the divisional railway manager (DRM), Manoj Kumar Akhauri reached Barwadih station Saturday morning and met the patrolling team.

“He lauded their efforts in saving railway from incurring heavy loss even as an express train was to cross the spot very soon,” he added.

*************
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india...t-terrorist/story-l5NhNIQnpENGiSqUhaO0nI.html

Bihar official under scanner for alleged links with LeT terrorist

According to the officials, the Bihar DTO had inaugurated suspected LeT operative’s coaching centre in Gopalganj district in 2015, when he was posted there.

Updated: Dec 10, 2017 14:23 IST

Indo Asian News Service, New Delhi/Patna

(File for representation )


The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which arrested suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative Abdul Naeem Sheikh from Uttar Pradesh last month, has summoned a District Transport Officer (DTO) of Bihar for his alleged links with the terrorist, an official said.

The NIA arrested Sheikh alias Nomi, 37, on November 28 from Charbagh bus stand in Lucknow in a joint operation with the Uttar Pradesh Police’s Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS).

The NIA official, on condition of anonymity, told IANS they have summoned a DTO officer, identified as Diwakar Jha, posted in Bihar’s Buxar district, for questioning over his alleged links with Sheikh.

According to the NIA official, Jha had inaugurated Sheikh’s coaching centre in Bihar’s Gopalganj district in 2015, when he was posted there.

The official said the anti-terror probe agency has recovered some pictures of Jha with Sheikh.

Sheikh, who is said to have done a recce of army and power installations in Jammu and Kashmir, was caught after he applied for a passport under a fictitious name.

The NIA official said security agencies stumbled upon a lead to Sheikh after a man complained that his address was being used by the LeT operative for his passport.

“He had applied for a passport on the address of Sarraj Ahmed, a resident of Gopalganj’s Jungalia area in Ward No 19. But before he could get his passport in hand, Ahmed approached police and complained about it,” the official said.

“He got his Pan card and Aadhaar card, which were also made on the same address under the name of Sheikh Sohail Khan,” the official said. “Sheikh resided in Gopalganj till March 2017,” he added.

Sheikh was hiding in Bihar’s Gopalganj district by changing his name after escaping from the custody of central agencies in August 2014.

The suspected LeT operative was wanted by security agencies in various cases, including the Mumbai train attacks of 2006-2007.

He was earlier nabbed by security agencies at that time and was under trial. In August 2014, he managed to give the slip to security agencies and escaped when he was being taken from Dum Dum Central jail (Kolkata) to Mumbai to appear in court. He fled while the train was passing through the thick forests of Chhattisgarh.

After fleeing from custody, Sheikh established a new sleeper cell under instruction from his LeT handler Amjad, the official said.

The case has been handed over to the NIA for further probe.

On December 2, the NIA has arrested a youth leader Dhannu Raja from Gopalganj for his alleged links with Sheikh.

Sheikh is also an accused in the Aurangabad arms haul case and was arrested by the West Bengal police in 2007 while entering India from Bangladesh along with two Pakistanis and one Kashmiri.

Security agencies have dubbed Sheikh as “David Coleman Headley” as he had been following in his footprints and did reconnaissance of similar areas.

Pakistani-American Headley is serving a 35-year prison sentence in the US for his involvement in terror activities and the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks of 2008.

 

[Hindustani78]

LeT operative stayed with terrorists in Kashmir, filmed Army camps: officials

Sheikh, a resident of Aurangabad in Maharashtra, was on the radar of central intelligence agencies for quite sometime before he was nabbed with the help of Uttar Pradesh police in the last week of November.

http://indianexpress.com/article/in...-kashmir-filmed-army-camps-officials-4978260/

By: PTI | New Delhi | Published: December 11, 2017 7:59 pm

Suspected Lashker-e-Taiba operative Abdul Nayeem Sheikh, who was arrested last month from Lucknow, had spent some time in trouble-torn south Kashmir and filmed some Army installations, officials said. Sheikh, a resident of Aurangabad in Maharashtra, was on the radar of central intelligence agencies for quite sometime before he was nabbed with the help of Uttar Pradesh police in the last week of November.

The case was handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), a central probe agency mandated to investigate all terror modules in the country. The central security agencies, which interrogated Sheikh at length, had told the investigators about his accomplice, Tauseef Ahmed Malik, in Pulwama district of south Kashmir. He was placed under arrest by the NIA on December 9.

During interrogation, Sheikh disclosed that he had stayed in Pulwama, moved to various places with the help of Malik and even photographed some Army and para-military camps, the officials claimed. Sheikh, who was wanted in connection with a 2014 terror case and was since on the run, told investigators that some important power projects and railway tracks in the Valley were surveyed, they said.

He had also visited some places in Himachal Pradesh, especially Kasol, which is frequented by Israeli nationals visiting India, according to the officials. Security agencies have claimed that Sheikh was roped in for a recce mission similar to that undertaken by David Headley, a Pakistan-American, who is at present serving a prison sentence of 35 years at a US jail for his involvement in terror activities and the 26/11 Mumbai attacks of 2008.

They said Malik’s association with the Pakistan-based Lashker-e-Taiba also came to light during Sheikh’s interrogation. Malik had shown to probe officials the places where Sheikh had stayed with the terrorists for over three months, they added.

 

[Hindustani78]

Posted at: Dec 11, 2017, 2:42 PM;
last updated: Dec 11, 2017, 2:42 PM (IST)
Police constable shot dead in Bihar’s Vaishali district
http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/na...dead-in-bihar-s-vaishali-district/511620.html

Patna, December 11

A police constable was shot dead by unidentified criminals in Bihar’s Vaishali district on Monday, police said. Dipnarain Rai from the Special Auxiliary Police was killed when he was on way to take up duty at the Hajipur jail.

The shooting took place near the prison in Hajipur town, Vaishali Superintendent of Police Ajay Kumar said. IANS

************

http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/engineer-shot-dead-in-bihar/512123.html

Patna, December 12


A junior enginner, employed with the irrigation department in Bihar, has been shot dead by unidentified persons in Saran district while he was on his way home in the state capital, police said on Tuesday.

"Veermani Kumar, who was posted at Hajipur in the adjoining district of Vaishali, was shot dead in Sonepur police station area late last night. Kumar lived in Kurji locality of Patna and he was returning home when unidentified assailants fired at his car. He received bullet injuries in his chest", Superintendent of Police, Saran, Harkishor Rai, told PTI over phone.

A police party rushed to the spot and took the engineer to a hospital where he was declared brought dead, the SP said.

Rai claimed that investigations have revealed that the engineer was involved in a property dispute and a case had been lodged in this connection at a police staion in Patna.

"We suspect that those with whom Kumar was involved in the dispute, are behind the murder," the SP said.

"As of now, we are not disclosing the identity of the suspects since they may become alert and try to escape. We are hopeful of arresting them soon. The manner in which the murder took place showed that the killers were familiar with the route the engineer took for commuting to and from his place of work", the SP said.

A country-made pistol was used in the killing and the possibility of the masterminds having hired contract killers cannot be ruled out, he said. PTI

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Railways
15-December, 2017 16:46 IST
Integrated Security System In Railways

Based on the recommendations of a High Level Committee, 202 railway stations have been identified as sensitive for the purpose of installation of an Integrated Security System (ISS) to strengthen surveillance mechanism at these stations. ISS includes Close Circuit Television (CCTV) Cameras, Access control, Personal and Baggage Screening System and Bomb Detection system. Contracts have already been awarded for execution of ISS works over 129 Railway stations by fifteen Zonal Railways. So far, 106 Railway stations have been covered with CCTV surveillance system under ISS over Central Railway, Eastern Railway, East Coast Railway, North Central Railway, North Eastern Railway, North Western Railway, Northeast Frontier Railway, Northern Railway, South Central Railway, South East Central Railway, South Eastern Railway, South Western Railway, Southern Railway and West Central Railway. In addition, 139 Baggage Scanners, 32 Under Vehicle Scanning System (UVSS), 217 Door Frame Metal Detectors (DFMD) and more than one thousand Hand Held Metal Detectors (HHMD) have so far been provided under ISS. Issues concerning availability of eligible vendors, inspection of items, availability of budget, etc. were initially raised by Zonal Railways. These issues have since been addressed and all the Zonal Railways have been advised to ensure speedy implementation of ISS at all the identified sensitive stations.

Besides ISS, CCTV surveillance system is available over 288 other railway stations. In addition, 983 railway stations have also been identified for installation of CCTV cameras under Nirbhaya Fund.

Strengthening and upgradation of security infrastructure is an ongoing process. Accordingly, more stations will be brought under CCTV surveillance system alongwith other security equipment in due course.

This Press Release is based on the information given by the Minister of State for Railways Shri Rajen Gohain in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha on 15.12.2017 (Friday).

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.ptinews.com/news/9335788_Illegal-arms-factory-busted-in-MP.html

20:35 HRS IST

Datia (MP), Dec 19 (PTI) Police today claimed to have unearthed an illegal arms factory with the arrest of two persons.

"Acting on a tip-off, we raided a place in Gharava village, 10 km from the Datia district headquarters, and seized 18 country-made pistols and ten live cartridges of .315 bore among others things. Besides, we recovered raw material used in weapon-making," Superintendent of Police Mayank Awasthi said.

"We arrested Mukesh Kewat and Madan Dhimar, both residents of Shivpuri, who ran this illegal arm manufacturing factory," he added.

They sold weapons and ammunition in Gwalior, Shivpuri, Bhind and Datia districts of Madhya Pradesh and Jhansi and Lalitpur districts of Uttar Pradesh, the SP added.

 

[Hindustani78]

IT minister Alphons expresses concern on spying from imported devices
Ajith Athrady, DH News Service, New Delhi, Jan 19 2018, 18:37 IST
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/654762/it-minister-alphons-expresses-concern.html
Expressing concern over possible spying via imported equipment, Minister of State for IT Alphons Kannanthanam on Friday called for a re- look at the government's procurement system which favours the lowest bidders.

"I am a little scared about lot of equipments being imported into India from not-so-friendly country. I hope you understand what I mean. I don't have to name them," Kannanthanam said while speaking at Cyber Surakshit Bharat Conclave.

He said equipment from the unfriendly nation can be switched off with a press of a button or voice command and there is a need to cleverly deal with it.

The government has to think over L1 (lowest bidder) procedures, where we buy from the lowest quoted firms. Their objective to quote lowest price was aimed at to spy on you and our country?, he said.

India has been importing large scale electronic equipments and Chinese firms have been a major supplier.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/up-dgp-defends-encounters/article22499938.ece
LUCKNOW, January 23, 2018 21:31 IST
Updated: January 23, 2018 22:39 IST

Our aim is to catch the criminals, if they attack, we will retaliate: Om Prakash Singh

Indicating that encounters of criminals will continue in Uttar Pradesh, the new Director-General of Police, Om Prakash Singh, said on Tuesday that there was nothing to overlook about the encounter policy followed under his predecessor Sulkhan Singh. “... Our primary aim is to catch the criminals, if they attack, we will retaliate,” the DGP said.

Over 30 persons with criminal cases and four policemen have been killed in police encounters in the State since March last year when the Yogi Adityanath government took over. Raising concerns over the spurt in encounters amid allegations that they were staged, the NHRC even issued suo motu notice to the government.

"Encounters keep happening because we try to catch the criminals. And whenever the police come face to face, we have two options left. Either you arrest them or if they fire at you, in self defence you fire at them," Mr. Singh told reporters here in his first media interaction after taking over.

Mr. Singh defended the encounters taking place in UP, saying several policemen had also been injured during crossfire with criminals.

"We have opened fire in self defence. That factor has to be kept in mind. Our primary aim is to catch the criminals if but they attack, we will retaliate," the DGP said.

 

[Hindustani78]

May 21, 2018 17:28 IST
Two coaches of Andhra Pradesh AC Superfast Express going from Hazrat Nizamuddin station in New Delhi to Vishakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh caught fire near Birlanagar station in Gwalior on Monday. There were no reports of any casualty. (HT Photo)

 

[Hindustani78]

Berhampur (Odisha), May 22 Five members of an inter-state gang of highway robbers were arrested in Ganjam district on Tuesday, the police said.

The five were arrested from the Badaghati forest along NH-16 on Sunday and two bombs, sharp weapons, some explosive materials, iron rods, five mobile phone sets and Rs 10,000 and a car were recovered from them, they said.

Police is searching for other members of the gang and investigating their involvement in crimes in Odisha and outside, he said. — PTI.

 

[Hindustani78]

Derailments on the rise despite Railways’ massive repairs and maintenance exercise

While there were 20 cases of derailment between April 1, 2017, and August 9, 2017, the number has gone up to 22 for the corresponding period this year -- April 1 to August 9, 2018 -- according to Railways data.
india Updated: Aug 16, 2018 13:55 IST

Repair work at a railway tracks at Amritsar station in Amritsar on July 19, 2018. (AFP File )

https://www.hindustantimes.com/indi...ce-exercise/story-kXYXlzUyOgwcaqJHLEcOvL.html

Despite the massive track repair and maintenance work being undertaken by the Indian Railways, the instances of train derailment have gone up as compared to the past.

While there were 20 cases of derailment between April 1, 2017, and August 9, 2017, the number has gone up to 22 for the corresponding period this year -- April 1 to August 9, 2018 -- according to Railways data.

Since derailments are caused due to track defects, including weld failures and rail fractures, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal has put special emphasis on strengthening tracks by replacing the aging rails with new ones.

In fact, laying new lines is not the priority now as it has been replaced by track renewal to prevent derailments.

“Track renewal is going on full steam across all zones,” a senior Railway Ministry official told IANS.

However, he noted that the ongoing track strengthening work has affected the train schedules as the Railways have to regulate the movement on the particular route to facilitate track repair.

“There are speed restrictions at many places due to the ongoing track maintenance work, affecting the punctuality rate,” said the official, adding this was done to make train rides safer.

According to the Railways punctuality data, North Central zone is at the lowest with 48.82 per cent punctuality rate during the July 30 to August 5, 2018, period, followed by the Northern and South East Central zones, with 56.86 per cent and 60.12 per cent, respectively.

The Lucknow and Allahabad divisions are also bottom of the punctuality performance with 31.94 per cent and 39.75 per cent, respectively.

“Our first priority is passenger safety and for that track renewal is going on all over the country. Though the exercise is causing some delays for some time, it has to be carried on for making train journeys safer,” said the official.

Asked why derailment cases are on the rise despite track renewal, the official said, “We have to analyse the incidents to know the real cause.”

However, the official said the derailments have not caused any casualty or serious injuries to passengers as most of these incidents have happened near stations when train speeds are low.

Besides track renewal, the Railways is also acquiring the Vehicular Ultrasonic Flaw Detection (USFD) system to detect track faults at a faster pace. Currently, it is detected manually which takes longer time to complete a particular route.

The USFD can detect the flaws in the primary stage and all developed countries have the system to avoid the human element in detecting cracks on rails.

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.)

 

[Hindustani78]

Train derails near Guwahati

Pictures shows the derailed bogies of a goods train near Guwahati on Saturday. | Photo Credit: Ritu Raj Konwar

More than 25 wagons of a goods train derailed at Kurkuria in Chandrapur area, near Guwahati on Saturday. The incident happened around 11.20 a.m. Officials from the Northeast Frontier Railway said that the goods train was coming from central Assam's Lumding to Guwahati.

The accident disrupted rail communication between Guwahati and eastern Assam as well as southern Assam's Barak Valley, besides neighbouring states of Manipur, Nagaland and Tripura.

All passengers trains to and fro Barak Valley, Manipur and Tripura have been stopped at various stations. There was no report of any casualty. — Rahul Karmakar

 

[Hindustani78]

Google Maps image locates Joda Phatak, near Amritsar in Punjab.


At least 300 people were at the spot watching ‘Ravan dahan’, sources said.

At least 15 people were killed on Friday evening after a crowd of Dussehra revellers that had spilled onto railway tracks while watching burning of Ravana effigy was run over by a train near Amritsar, officials said.

The train was coming from Jalandhar to Amritsar.

At least 300 people were at the spot watching ‘Ravan dahan’, sources said.

ADCP Lakhbir Singh said 15 bodies have been found.

The toll is likely to rise, he said. Further details are awaited.

 

[Hindustani78]

Prime Minister's Office
19-October, 2018 20:58 IST
PM Condoles loss of lives due to train accident in Amritsar

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has condoled the loss of lives due to train accident in Amritsar.

“Extremely saddened by the train accident in Amritsar. The tragedy is heart-wrenching. My deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones and I pray that the injured recover quickly. Have asked officials to provide immediate assistance that is required”, The the Prime Minister tweeted.

***