INDIA INTELLIGENCE REPORT

 

Nation & States

Iraqi abductors release
Indian hostages

What is India News Service, September 1, 2004, 1800 hrs IST

Three Indian truck drivers taken hostage by Iraqi militants have been released, Al Arabia news channel said on Wednesday.

The truckers' employers, Kuwait-Gulf Link company, confirmed the development.

Seven truck drivers -- three Indians, three Kenyans and an Egyptian -- were taken hostage in Iraq on July 21.

Al Arabia channel flashed the news quoting one of its correpondents. It did not provide details.

Kill bid on Ghulam Nabi Azad's brother: Mohammad Abbas Azad, brother of Urban Development and Parliament Affairs Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, survived a militant attack in his native Doda district.

Advani courts arrest in Bangalore: Advani courted arrest after kicking off BJP's 'satyagraha' over the Uma Bharti issue.

It's up to Uma Bharti, says Dharam Singh: The Karnataka chief minister said Uma Bharti, should now appeal to the court and secure her release.

Bomb accused to contest election: With some political and social organisations rallying behind him, Salim Khan Durrani, an accused in the 1993 bomb blast case, is all set to contest the Maharashtra Assembly elections from Amboli.

'Detoxification' drive not a shot in the dark, asserts Arjun Singh: The HRD Minister said the exercise would be over by the next academic session.

SC seeks information on medical seat quota: The Supreme Court today asked the Chief Secretaries of six States to furnish information about vacancies in the 15 per cent all India quota in government medical colleges. 

More submissions before Godhra panel: The then Intelligence chief, R.B. Shreekumar, today told the Godhra inquiry Commission that the State Intelligence Bureau had information about the return of kar sevaks from Ayodhya. 

India, Pakistan swap prisoners:
India and Pakistan today swapped 55 civilian prisoners (36 Pakistanis and 19 Indians) as a goodwill gesture. This comes days before the crucial talks between the Foreign Ministers of the two countries.


Indians prone to AIDS: India's battle against AIDS is expected to become difficult with the finding by a leading geneticist that the genetic make-up of Indians is such that they are easily prone to infection by the Human Immuno deficiency Virus (HIV) that causes AIDS.

Jana ready to enter PWG lair for peace dialogue: As a demonstration of the State government\92s commitment towards resolving the Naxalite issues, Home Minister K Jana Reddy has offered to act as the sole government representative to hold talks with the PWG.


Spotlight
400 years of a holy book

Amritsar rings with festivity
About 3.5 mn Sikhs from the world over are expected to participate in the five-day celebrations to mark four centuries of the Sikh holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib.


Selfless seva at Guru ki Nagri
Faith moves and and the desire to serve was in evidence all along the road leading to Harmandar Sahib.

PM visits Golden Temple
Manmohan Singh was among the leaders paying obeisance to the holy book.

Kalam brings CM, Badal together on stage
\93Today is not a day for politics. It is a day for celebrations,\94 said Akali Dal chief, Parkash Singh Badal, just before the celebrations.

35 injured in stampede: Thirty five people were injured and several vehicles damaged today in a stampede that followed a fire that engulfed a truck carrying material for fireworks during the celebrations.

Special coverage
The Tribune


States

70-yr-old man dies of hunger in Karimnagar: A 70-year-old man allegedly died of hunger and ill-health at Vangara village in Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday.

Study tour or junket?: Four Bangalore corporators and two officials recently visited some cities abroad, claiming that they would \91study\92 development projects there. Deccan Herald found it was just a junket.

Lawyers boycott court in Hubli, Dharwad: Hubli Bar Association has adopted a resolution to urge the President\92s intervention with regard to setting up of a High Court Bench in North Karnataka.

Brother rapes her, parents kill her: Parents of a 16-year-old girl killed her to protect their 'honour' after she became pregnant.


Neighbours


12 Nepalese hostages killed in Iraq: An Iraqi militant group today claimed responsibility for killing 12 kidnapped Nepalese, shifting the focus back to a spate of abductions in Iraq that include three Indians working for a Kuwaiti transport company.

Curfew imposed in Kathmandu; protesters set mosque on fire: An indefinite curfew was imposed today in the Nepalese capital after thousands of people, protesting the gruesome killing of 12 Nepali hostages in Iraq, set the country's biggest mosque.

Nepal plans evacuation from Iraq: A day after an Islamic militant group executed a dozen Nepalis in Iraq, the government has said it will evacuate Nepalis who are still working in the war-ravaged country.

Al Qaeda suspect arrested: Security agencies raided a local Madressah and arrested a suspected Al Qaeda member on Tuesday. 

Air strike leaves 8 Afghans dead: Eight Afghan villagers were killed and an Afghan aid worker was injured when planes of the US-led coalition bombed a north eastern village after a firefight with militants late on Monday, a Danish aid group said on Tuesday. ...
 

View from abroad 


India to construct five IT parks in Iran:
Iran on Wednesday said India would set up five Information Technology (IT) parks in that country to train 5,000 personnel.

Everest getting smaller due to global warming: A Chinese survey has revealed that Mt. Everest loses its height \97 nearly 0.1 metre annually \97 due to global warming and shrinking of glaciers. 

Mahatma stands tall in Canada: Mahatma Gandhi's long walk through history has paused in an unlikely spot - the central Canadian prairie city of Winnipeg.

American states attempt to bar outsourcing to India: Companies engaged in outsourcing, including those based in India, may find their businesses affected.

Young Indian innovators shine in Tokyo: Welcome to the world of low calorie biscuits made of banana peel, herbal pesticides for grains... These innovations came from young Indians who have just returned from the International Exhibition of Young Inventors in Tokyo.

Free calls to India set off phone frenzy: An opportunity to call friends and family in India free of cost saw NRIs chatting incessantly on their mobiles.

English cricket team's ace is an Indian: Natwest series would see Vikram Solanki, of Indian origin play from England's side.

'Saudiasation' to hit Indians: Bad news for those queuing up for Gulf jobs. Saudi govt wants firms to hire only locals.
 

Overall:

Iraq group released Indian hostages: A day after 12 Nepali workers were massacred, a relieved India received news that the three Indian hostages were released.

India, Pakistan swapped prisoners: 
The goodwill gesture comes before an important meeting

Pilgrims started arriving in Punjab: About 3.5 million people will pour into Amritsar during a five-day festival to mark 400 years of the Sikh holy book.