1400 HRS

15th April, 2013

THE HEADLINES

• In 2010 German Bakery blast case main accused Himayat Baig, convicted of criminal conspiracy; quantum of punishment to be decided on the 18th of this month.

• Police need to be provided a better working environment that is insulated from pulls and pressures, says the Home Minister.

• Counter terrorism and regional cooperation figure prominently in discussions between India and Tajikistan in Dushanbe.

• Inflation declines sharply to 5.96 per cent in March, from 6.84 per cent in previous month.

• Sensex gains over 160 points in afternoon trade; Rupee weakens by 26 paise to trade at 54.78 against US Dollar.

• In Venezuela Socialist candidate Nicolas Maduro wins Presidential polls; to be sworn in on the 19th of this month.

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The main accused in the 2010 Pune German best Bakery blast case Mirza Himayat Inayat Baig has been found guilty of conspiracy and other offences. The court of Additional Sessions Judge, N. P. Dhote, however said that the quantum of punishment will be announced on 18th of this month. Our correspondent reports, Baig was the only suspect in the case and was arrested in Pune on the September the 7th, 2010.

"A powerful bomb blast had occurred at the popular German Bakery in Koregaon Park area in the evening of 13 February 2010. Seventeen persons, mostly youngsters were killed while 56 others injured. The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad had arrested Himayat Inayat Mirza Baig of Beed while six other suspects are still absconding. Baig is currently lodged at the Yerawada Central Jail. According to the ATS, Baig had got training to assemble explosives in Colombo by two of the co-accused in the case, when he visited the Sri Lankan capital in March 2008. After his return, Baig started a cyber cafe in Udgir in Beed district and later allegedly finalized the plan to attack the eatery. However, the ATS has not made significant progress in tracking down other six suspects. Baig is the only accused arrested so far in this case." Mahesh Iyengar, AIR News, Pune.

Baig was arrested after the investigators found 1,200 kg of explosives from his home in Udgir in Latur district. Others who have been named in the case are Mohsin Choudhary, Yasin Bhatkal, Riyaz Bhatkal, Iqbal Bhatkal and Faiyaz Kagzi.

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Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his deputy Sukhbir Singh Badal met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi today against the backdrop of the apex court refusing to commute the death sentence of Khalistani terrorist Devenderpal Singh Bhullar. Badal had been maintaining that Bhullar's death sentence be commuted to life imprisonment The Shiromani Akali Dal leader is apprehending that the hanging could vitiate peace in Punjab. The Supreme Court had last week dismissed death row convict Bhullar's plea for commutation of his death sentence.

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The Government today said that Police need to be provided a better working environment that is insulated from pulls and pressures. Addressing the Chief Minister’s conference in New Delhi to discuss a report on public order of the Second Administrative Reforms Commission ,Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said,public order and police today in India are facing challenges.

"The public order and police today in India is facing challenges. With ever changing social landscape and the ever rising public expectation, the load on the police force will only increase further with enhanced focus on accountability and transparency in police functioning. Under the circumstances, it becomes incumbent upon us to put our heads together and take stock of the existing situation."

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In Karnataka, the prominent leaders from Congress, BJP, JD(S) and KJP have filed nominations today for the Assembly election to be held on May the 5th. Our correspondent reports, till now the Election Commission has received 266 nominations after notification for the election was issued on April the 10th.

"The reports have been received from various parts of Karnataka on nominations being filed today. Till now the Election Commission has received 266 nominations after notification for the election was issued on April 10th. The Chief Secretary of the state S V Ranganath has called upon voters to participate in large number in the assembly election. Taking part in the voter awareness programme, he said lot of efforts are being made for the election and without voters’ participation, the election will not be successful. The flying squads and excise department officials are keeping vigil on the entry and exit points all over the state to check illegal transport of cash, liquor and other material used for voter’s appeasement." Devendra with Sudhindra, AIR News, Bangalore.

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Counter terrorism, cooperation in energy and other strategic areas figured prominently in the delegation level talks in Dushanbe between the visiting Vice President, Mohd. Hamid Ansari and Tajikistan President Emomalii Rahmon. Our correspondent covering the visit has filed this report:-

"India and Tajikistan share deep historical bonds which have been further strengthened by high level exchanges between the countries. Mr. Ansari's visit is part of India's drive to connect with the Central Asian countries through its connect Central Asia policy. It is expected that Mr. Ansari's visit to Tajikistan will help the two countries to fully realize the potential of their cooperation."Sant Bahadur, AIR News, Dushanbe.

Our correspondent adds Ansari's visit is a part of India's connect Central Asia policy, unveiled last year, aimed at greater political, economic and people-to-people engagement with Central Asian nations like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

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Falling vegetable prices pulled down inflation to an over three-year low of 5.96 per cent in March this year. This is much lower than the Reserve Bank's projection of 6.8 per cent. Inflation based on the Wholesale Price Index had stood at 6.84 per cent in February this year, and at 7.69 percent in March last year.

According to official data released today, inflation in the manufactured items category declined to 4.07 per cent in March, from 4.51 per cent in February. Inflation in food articles fell to 8.73 percent in March, from 11.38 per cent in February. Inflation in vegetables fell sharply to minus 0.95 per cent in March, from 12.11 per cent in February. Inflation in rice eased to 17.9 per cent in March, against 18.84 per cent in February. And inflation for January was revised upwards to 7.31 per cent, from 6.62 per cent as per provisional estimates.

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With inflation declining to below 6 per cent in March after over three years, the Planning Commission today exuded confidence that the price situation would improve further in the coming months. Planning Commission's Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia told reporters in New Delhi the fact that this is the first time in over 3 years it is below 6 per cent, is very important. Ahluwalia said that monthly numbers can jump around but it has been our view that in a gradual way inflationary pressure is coming down. According to Ahluwalia, inflation behaviour is consistent with what government has been saying that it is slowly coming under control.

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Recovering smartly from initial losses, the Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange stood a good 165 points, or 0.9 percent in positive territory, at 18,407 in afternoon trade, a short while ago. Earlier in the morning, however, the Sensex had opened with a loss of 98 points, or 0.5 percent, at 18,144, on continued selling by funds and retail investors, amid falling regional bourses. But stock markets in Japan, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Indonesia had lost between 0.2 percent and 1.5 percent, on weaker-than-expected Chinese economic data.

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Rupee weakened by 26 paise to trade at 54.78 against the US currency today on sustained dollar demand from banks and importers amid its higher value overseas. The rupee resumed lower at 54.65 per dollar as against last weekend's level of 54.52 at the Interbank Foreign Exchange Forex Market. A forex dealer said persistent dollar demand from banks and importers in view of firm dollar in overseas market mainly affected the rupee value.

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The government has called for strengthening linkages between academia and the industry to work towards creating an enabling environment for more research. Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a CII event in New Delhi today, Human Resources Development Minister M M Pallam Raju said with this, the industry will benefit from the research going on in academic institutions and laboratories . Mr Raju stressed the need for creating capacity for research, skilling and upgrading curriculum and other infrastructural facilities in academic institutions to boost industrial production and innovation to make India a competitive nation. On expiry of the deadline for implementing the Right to Education Act for schools, Mr Raju asked the States to act tough on non-compliant schools. He said the government is working on enhancing capacity of the compliant schools.

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The Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court today struck down the district status of Amethi. The district was created by Mayawati government in 2010 carving out of 3 tehsils from Sultanpur and 2 from Rae Bareli. It was later renamed as Amethi by Akhilesh Yadav government. A Division bench of the High Court upheld a petition filed by Manoj Rastogi that such an exercise cannot be undertaken when census is going on.

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West Bengal celebrates Bengali New Year's Day today. Our correspondent reports a number of cultural programmes have been organised to mark the day.

"The first day of the Bengali New Year is known as ‘Poila Baisakh’. People are wishing each other ‘Suvo Naba Barsha’ and exchanging sweets and greetings. Traders open new books of accounts which are known as ‘Halkhata’. The priests draw ‘Swastikas’ on the new account books to please lord Ganesha. Bengali newspapers have come out with special supplements and television channels aired special morning programmes on the occasion. Restaurants have also planned to serve special Bengali dishes. Metro Railway has also planned to celebrate the day in difference. Eminent artists will perform Baul Sangeet in the running metro rail to entertain the commuters."Arijit, AIR News, Kolkata.

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Secretary in the Department of Science and Technology T.Ramasami, today called for constant technology upgradation and more innovations in the chemicals industry to be globally competitive. Addressing a function in New Delhi, Ramasami said the chemicals industry should promote sustainable development by investing in technologies that protect environment and stimulate growth while balancing economic needs and financial constraints. Stating that the industry is an important component of the economy, he said significant investments are required for research, development and creating additional capacity in the area. <><><>

In Tamil Nadu, three persons were killed in a road accident at Namakkal today. The accident occurred when the driver of the car they were travelling lost control and hit a bridge. All the three died on the spot.

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In Venezuela, the Socialist candidate Nicolas Maduro has won a narrow victory in the Presidential poll. Mr Maduro, who was chosen by the late President Hugo Chavez, won 50.7 per cent of the vote against 49.1 per cent for opposition candidate Henrique Capriles. The electoral commission said the results were irreversible. Moments after Mr Maduro's victory was announced, celebrations started across the capital Caracas. Following the announcement, Mr Maduro acclaimed his victory as fair and legal and called for calm.

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In Iraq, at least twenty people have been killed and over hundred others wounded in a series of car bomb attacks that occurred this morning in several cities across the country. Attacks were reported in Tuz Khurmatu and Kirkuk in northern Iraq and Nasiriyah in the south. Three car bombs went off minutes apart in Tuz Khurmatu, killing six people and wounding 60. The latest attacks come ahead of Iraq's provincial elections on Saturday, the first in the country since 2010.

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The Pakistan Supreme Court is hearing the petitions seeking treason trial against former President Pervez Musharraf today. The petition has been brought by Taufiq Asif, President of the Rawalpindi High Court Bar Association. It seeks to try Mr Musharraf for treason for imposing emergency rule in 2007.