Serial Explosions Rock Mumbai

Terror struck Mumbai once again on 13 July when three bomb explosions rocked some of the most crowded places of the city killing at least 21 people and injuring 113 others. The first explosion took place at 1854 at south Mumbai's crowded Zaveri Bazaar. Within a few minutes Opera House and Dadar, too, were hit by powerful explosions.
The explosion at Opera House, described by Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithiviraj Chavan as a "high intensity explosion", took place at 1855 and was followed by the one at Dadar at 1905. The explosion in Zaveri Bazar took place at Khao Gali while a motorcycle was used to trigger the explosion near the two-storey JK Building at Tata Road No. 1 in Opera House. The explosion at Kabootar Khana in Dadar took place in a Maruti Esteem car. Sources have told CNN-IBN that terror group Indian Mujahideen is the prime suspect in the explosions. The injured have been admitted to JJ Hospital, GT Hospital, KEM Hospital and St George's Hospital.
Home Minister’s Appeal
Federal Home Minister P Chidambaram said that the ministry would be issuing a statement on the explosion after every two hours. Chidambaram said: "I would appeal to the people of Mumbai and people of country to remain calm and maintain peace: Apart from three explosions. There is no information of any other explosion or threat. NIA (National Investigation Authority) officers have been instructed to be associated with Mumbai Police for investigation. One CFSL (Central Forensic Science Laboratory) team from Delhi and one team from Hyderabad have been sent to Mumbai. The NSG (National Security Guards), which has hub in Mumbai, is standing by. The number of injured could be higher and death toll could rise."
Horrific Memories Revisit
The 13 July explosions took place just two days after the fifth anniversary of the Mumbai serial train explosions on July 11, 2006 in which at least 186 people were killed. The explosions also evoked horrific memories of serial explosions in the past as both Dadar and Zaveri Bazar have been targeted earlier as well.
According to an eyewitness a fire that broke out in Zaveri Bazar following the explosions was soon brought under control.
A Border Security Force airplane carrying NSG personnel, forensic experts and senior NIA officials reached Mumbai from New Delhi.
However, Mumbai Police Commissioner Arup Patnaik claimed that he was not in a position to say who carried out the explosions. Patnaik also said that he could not say whether the arrest of two Indian Mujahideen terrorists was in anyway connected with the explosion.
Two suspected Indian Mujahideen (IM) members Mohammed Mobin Abdul Shakoor Khan alias Irfan (32) and his cousin Ayub Raja Amin Shaikh (28) were arrested by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad on July 6 in Mumbai. Security alerts have been issued in all major cities including New Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Guwahati after the explosions.

Extrajudicial Killings in Bangladesh

One person is falling victim to extrajudicial killing in every three days in the country. Thirty-three incidents of extrajudicial killing took place in the country in the past three months. During this period, various types of human rights violations also took place in the country. The incidents comprise killing of innocent people in gunfire, including Falani in the hands of India's Border Security Force (BSF), mass withdrawal of criminal cases on political consideration, political violence, arrest of innocent people on false charges, and missing people after being arrested under the pretext of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).

Human Rights Situation

The aforementioned information has been revealed in the quarterly human rights report of the human rights watchdog-Odhikar. The report highlighted the human rights situation from 1 January to 31 March.

The Odhikar report said that 33 persons fell victims to extrajudicial from 1 January to 31 March. This means on an average three persons have fallen victims to extrajudicial killings in every three days. Of them, 28 were killed in the so-called encounter, the report states, the report states. Of the extrajudicial killings, 19 killed by the RAB, 6 in the hands of police and three in joint drives by the police and RAB, the report adds.

The report states that of the victims, 4 died in alleged torture. Of them, three killed by the police and 1 in the hands of prison authorities. One of the victims was killed in beating by the police. Identity of killed: One of the 33 killed belongs to the ruling Awami League, two are members of Purba Banglar Communist Party (Red Flag), one Purba Bangla Communist Party (Janajuddha), four members of Ganabahini, two youths, one is 52-year-old man, and the other a first year student of Northern College in Dhaka, one labor, one detainee and 18 are the so-called criminals. Custodial Deaths According to the report, 38 people were killed in custody in three months from January to March. Of them, 25 were killed in prison custody. The report says that 21 of them died of sickness. Of the victims, a one-and-a-half years infant was kept in the prison with the mother. It has been alleged that the infant died within 12 days after coming to the prison for lack of care. The exact reasons behind the deaths of three persons in prisons could not be known.

According to the report, of the 12 victims of extrajudicial killings, three were killed by the RAB, five in police custody, and one in prison. During this period, a former BDR soldier was killed in custody.

In addition, many incidents of human rights violation against Bangladeshis by India's BSF on the border took place from the January to March, according to the report. There are allegations that the BSF killed five Bangladeshis at that time. Of the victims, the BSF killed three persons in gunfire and three by torture. of the report adds that 30 Bangladeshis suffered torture at the hands of the BSF during the same period. They also abducted three Bangladeshis.

Future Consideration

Withdrawal cases under political consideration: The Odhikar report said that the government during the same period withdrew many criminal cases against murder, rape, robbery, corruption, extortion, and possession of illegal firearms by identifying those as "politically motivate cases." All cases already withdrawn under political consideration or kept for future consideration were pending against leaders and workers of the ruling party.

Withdrawal of Cases

Those cases were also withdrawn whose plaintiffs and defendants are not involved in politics. On 11 January at the out set of this year, the national committee on withdrawal of cases at its 25th meeting placed 1,479 lawsuits for lifting charges by identifying those as "politically motivated cases." The districts committees have no recommendations for 900 cases. According to the existing government rules, there is no provision for withdrawing lawsuits excepting recommendations of the district committees.

The proposals for withdrawal of the cases were placed before the committee under pressure from influential leaders of the ruling party, ministers, state ministers and MPs, but without recommendations from the district committees. The report adds that 1,479 cases, 56 recommended for withdrawal and 837 were kept for future consideration.

Punjab Police Launches Anti-Drug Smuggling Drive

The positive outcome is likely to emerge from the green signal given by the Punjab Government to the police to start a drive to prevent smuggling of narcotics in the state. For a long time, Punjab has been the epicenter of narcotic products, especially heroin smuggling. Recently, the Border Security Force (BSF) recovered the biggest consignment of heroin which value in the international market is estimated at $27.5 million.

The contraband was pushed into Punjab from across the border and the same was to be sent to Delhi, Mumbai, and abroad. This process has been ongoing for a long time. Smugglers across the border have been transacting this trade in connivance with their counterparts on the Indian side.

It cannot be denied that this trade could not be made possible without collusion with the security forces and custom authorities on either side. Yet, nevertheless, the credit for recovering such a large consignment of heroin goes to the BSF personnel.

Impact on the Youth
The smuggling of narcotics obviously leaves a massive impact on the youth of Punjab. Not only do they fall victim to the adverse effect of the drug addition, they also play into the hands of smuggles. In order to meet the requirement of their drug addiction habit they get involved into smuggling activity being carried out by antisocial and unlawful elements.

In addition to heroin, other narcotic products are also used by the youth. There are certain areas of the state where the youth find themselves entrapped in the quagmire of drugs. Owing to this, not only the state's economy is being adversely affected but the progress of development projects also is being hampered.

It is not that steps have not been taken by the state administrative machinery to stem this trend. From time to time, steps have been taken toward this end at the social and administrative level, but no positive result has emerged so far.

Special Anti-Drug Addiction Campaign
Now that state Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal has directed the Punjab Police chief to start a special anti-drug addiction campaign, it is to be hoped that some positive results would emerge in the near future. In 2007, a total of 111 kg heroin was seized.

In the current year, up to mid August, 125 kg heroin has been seized so far. A major part of this seizure is likely to be consumed by the youth in Punjab. Badal has underlined the need to secure the cooperation and coordination of the Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) so that the menace of drug addiction could be controlled in an effective manner.

Tight Security Needed
In addition to foreign smugglers and intelligence agencies, anti-social elements also must be behind this large-scale smuggling of narcotics from the long border with Pakistan. Given that a large number of youth in Punjab are suffering from drug addition, its fallout in the form of threat to the security of the Indian borders and regional integrity cannot be ruled out.

Hence, it has become imperative to beef up vigilance along the border along with endeavors to keep the young generation away from drug addiction, through the cooperation of NGOs at the social, religious, and political level.

India Fails To Spell Out National Action Against Terror Plans

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statement at the Chief Ministers' Conference that "Pakistani terrorist groups are on the look out for yet another attack on India and we should remain wary of it" has stunned even his supporters who welcomed the joint statement between him and his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani at Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt. It is tantamount to a virtual "U-turn" from his (Singh)statement at Sharm el-Sheikh. He agreed to de-link the terrorism issue from the India-Pakistan dialogue process during his two-hour talk with Gilani. Then, Singh gave the clarification that Pakistan had assured India that it would not allow the use of its soil for any "anti-India" terrorist activity.

Opposition to PM's Statement
The Congress party leadership opposed Singh's statement. The party leadership was angry over it. Finally, the Prime Minister had to say in the Lok Sabha [Lower house of Parliament] that no shift has taken place in the firm Indian stand on the India-Pakistan talks.

Unless and until Pakistan punishes the perpetrators of the 26 November Mumbai attacks and dismantles the terror infrastructure within its country, talks cannot be held with it.

Lapless At Indo-Pak Talks
It would have been better if the Prime Minister simply observed the formality of mere handshaking and put off the talks at Sharm el-Sheikh just like Atal Behari Vajpayee had done with Musharraf in Kathmandu." The prime minister's talks with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari tended to soften the Indian stand.

The other lapse that took place was that during the talks with Gilani at Sharm el-Sheikh, Singh relented to such a large extent that he failed to keep in view the diplomacy that Pakistan, under great Indian pressure, was anxious to prove itself innocent. After believing the assurances given by Gilani, Singh returned to the country. But Pakistan persisted with its mischief.

Indian Army Chief's Views
Indian Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor also stated recently that prior to the start of the winter season infiltration attempts by militants have surged. The Pakistani military in these attempts cannot be ruled out. Pakistan does not favor that peace should prevail in Jammu and Kashmir for a long time and hence a spurt has taken place in the infiltration from across the border. Defense Minister A.K. Antony also said that a large number of terrorist training camps were being run in the Pakistani territory. Moreover, incidents of infiltration and pushing arms into Jammu and Kashmir registered a substantial rise during the past four days. This is amply evident from the incidents given below.

August 15: The Border Security Force [BSF] arrested four Pakistanis making a bid to infiltrate near the Tapu checkpoint of Khemkaran and recovered from them four pistols, arms and ammunition, night vision devices, and two kg heroin.

August 16: The security forces foiled the attempts made by militants to cross the Line of Control by cutting the barbed fencing in the "Chakhan da Bagh" area of the Ranigarh section of Poonch.

August 16: In an encounter between the police and the Lashkar-e Taiyiba in the Pulwama sector, one terrorist, John Muhammad, was killed.

August 17: In the Rajouri sector, security forces killed self-styled Hizbul Mujahidin commander Altaf Husayn. It also recovered 20 kg RDX in the Gambhir Mughal forests.

August 17: In the Sir Creek sector of Katch, the BSF arrested nine Pakistani infiltrators near the Akri Moti power plant.

August 18: In the Poonch sector, security forces seized 10 grenades, one carbine, and four pistols.

There are also news reports that the Lashkar-e-Taiyiba is once again trying to start a November 26 type attack from Jafarabad. The Pakistani Government is not taking any action against the main conspirator of the Mumbai attacks, Hafiz Sayeed yet.

Congress Dissatisfaction
The truth is the Congress party was not satisfied with the joint statement at Sharm el-Sheikh. Non-incorporation of Kashmir in the joint statement was being put up as India's achievement. But, harping on the Kashmir issue, Pakistan has started saying that Kashmir is such an issue without which resolution mutual differences of the two nations cannot be sorted out. In such a state of affairs the prime minister, in order to satisfy his partymen, had to mention at the chief minister's meet the possibility of a fresh Pakistani terrorist attack on India.

We reiterate that though the prime minister has made the point of a fresh Pakistani terrorist attack, he has not stated what action India will take in reply. There is also the need to think that fake currency notes, drugs, arms, etc. are often seized in train and bus services between the countries. It should be seen whether due to these services the country is being caused more damage than gain.