Carrying ID cards not to be mandatory: LG

NEW DELHI: Facing flak on the issue of photo-identity cards in the capital, Lt Governor Tejendra Khanna on Monday did a U-turn on the matter, saying carrying of ID proof by the denizens would not be mandatory.

"I had never said that ID proof would be made mandatory. The message has been misunderstood. I never said without ID cards, people will be treated as culprits. Ours is an open society and no citizen can be put to unwanted discomfort," he told reporters.

The Lt Governor had on January four announced that he had given an order to Delhi Police for random checking of denizens for possession of photo-ID cards starting from January 15 in view of enhanced terror threats.

He had also said if any individual was unable to produce the proof, adequate action would be taken against the concerned person.

"I had just instructed the Police Commissioner to increase surveillance in different parts of the NCT (National Capital Territory) to screen persons arousing suspicion," Khanna clarified on Monday.

He said he had never intended or suggested that non-possession of photo-identity cards would be treated as any kind of violation or any illicit action.

News Source : Samachar

Benson & Bucknor fell India

India have every reason to come away from the 122-run defeat to Australia in the second Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground believing that justice is a word which exists only in the dictionary. After being set 333 for victory in 72 overs by Ricky Ponting’s Australia, India were bowled out for 210, with poor umpiring once again hastening their downfall. Every game of cricket is expected to be decided only by the relative skills with bat and ball of the two teams involved in battle. Sure, there will be the odd umpiring error or two, but that is only to be expected because umpires are human, too. It is when the incompetence of the umpires is so marked that their decision-making becomes the decisive factor, as happened at the SCG, that tempers start to flare up. Umpires Steve Bucknor and Mark Benson hogged limelight when we should have instead been celebrating a V V S Laxman masterpiece, a Sachin Tendulkar work of art or a Matthew Hayden construction full of intelligence and industry. The 11 blunders The West Indian veteran and the former England batsman made 11 serious mistakes — eight of which adversely impacted India — to chart the destination of a match that might otherwise have headed in the other direction. To make matters worse, the Australians perhaps soured relations between the two teams by reneging on a gentleman's agreement and claiming a catch when Michael Clarke first picked up the ball on the bounce, then grounded it as he rolled over on completing the take. More than the umpires’ mistakes, this single act hurt the Indians, leaving them feeling cheated. Already smarting under the allegations of racial abuse levelled against Harbhajan Singh, it was a pill bitter to swallow. Despite his players not walking upon getting thick edges and despite grounded catches being claimed, Ponting replied in the affirmative when he was asked if the match was played in the spirit of the game. “I have absolutely no doubt about this game being played in the right spirit,” said the Australian skipper. “There has been one little issue that’s come out of the game that’ll be more or less sorted out tonight. But otherwise, the spirit between both teams in both Tests has been excellent,” he said. Anil Kumble wasn’t having any of it. The Indian captain was asked for his comment on Ponting’s assertions. Almost disdainfully, the man who symbolised India’s spirit and character through the five days of the Test replied, “I think only one team is playing in the spirit of the game.” It was a damning indictment of a team that is happy to shout from rooftops that it is the standard-bearer in every aspect cricketing. Coming from a cricketer and a gentleman, the effect was manifold. Sunday’s win levelled Australia’s own record streak of 16 straight Test triumphs. Kumble led the Indians in congratulating the Aussies on the victory, if not the manner in which it was achieved. No prizes for guessing which team is playing in the spirit of the game! GOOF-UPS THAT WENT AGAISNT INDIA 1 Ricky Ponting, then 17, adjudged not out by Mark Benson when caught behind off Ganguly. Went on to score 55. 2 Andrew Symonds, 30, adjudged not out by Steve Bucknor when caught behind off Ishant Sharma. 3 Symonds, 48, adjudged not out by third umpire Bruce Oxenford when stumped off Anil Kumble. 4 Symonds, 148, adjudged not out by Bucknor when stumped off Kumble, without a referral to third umpire. Symonds went on to score an unbeaten 162 in the first innings. 5 Mike Hussey, 22, adjudged not out by Benson when leg before to Kumble, in the second innings. 6 Hussey, 45, adjudged not out by Benson when caught behind off RP Singh. Hussey went on to score an unbeaten 145 in the second innings. 7 Rahul Dravid, 38, adjudged caught behind by Bucknor off Symonds when the ball went off the pad. 8 Ganguly, 51, adjudged caught at second slip by Michael Clarke off Brett Lee on the fielder’s word. Replays confirmed it wasn't a clean catch. SLIPS IN FAVOUR OF INDIA 1 Ponting, 55, adjudged leg before to Harbhajan Singh by Benson when he nicked the ball on to his pads. 2 Sachin Tendulkar, 36, adjudged not out by Benson when leg before to Clarke. Went on to score 154 not out. 3 V V S Laxman, 16, adjudged not out by Benson when leg before to Lee. Went on to score 109. News Source : Samachar

Hizbul Mujahideen activist held in Kumily

T'PURAM: The state intelligence wing is on alert against the presence of terrorists in the state in the wake of the arrest from Kumily of a Kashmiri native with suspected links to Hizbul Mujahideen, said Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan.

The incident assumes significance coming, as it did, hardly a week after the arrest of Peoplefs War Group leader Malla Raja Reddy from Angamali.

The police and the Intelligence wing will keep a vigilant eye on tourist centres and migrant labourers in the wake of these incidents. The two incidents strengthen the suspicion that Kerala is becoming a safe hideout for terrorist outfits.

However, all tourists and migrant labourers cannot be put under the shadow of suspicion, of the Minister told reporters here on Sunday.

Thirty-year-old Altaf, who was arrested by the state intelligence wing from Kumily on Saturday, has been working as a salesman for the last eight years. He recently applied for a passport, following which the state police sought information from the Kashmir police and learnt that several terrorist-related cases were pending against Altaf.

A photo identity card belonging to Altaf in the name Mohammed Ahammed Bhat was recovered from him. He also travelled to Kashmir several times. Altaf will be handed over to the Kashmir police on demand, Kodiyeri said.

Kodiyeri also said that steps for collecting information regarding migrant labourers will be taken in association with the Labour Department. The local police will be directed to take steps in this regard under the community policing scheme.

News Source : Samachar

ICC confirms receiving BCCI appeal

The International Cricket Council has received the BCCI's appeal against the three-match ban on Harbhajan Singh and also the Board's complaint against umpire Steve Bucknor.

"We have received both the appeal and the complaint from the Board of Control for Cricket in India and would look into the content before initiating the subsequent process," said a source in the ICC.

Asked whether Harbhajan's ban would be suspended till the appeal against is heard, the source said, "We have a system in place and that would be followed this time as well."

News Source : Samachar

Youth kills girl student, himself in Santiniketan

KOLKATA: Saswati Pal, a third year girl student of Sangeet Bhavan, Visva Bharati University in Santiniketan, was shot dead by a youth around 12.30 p.m. on Sunday. The youth, who shot himself subsequently, died in a hospital.

It is suspected that a service revolver, found missing from the Tollygunge thana here, was used in the incident. The constable to whom it was issued has been suspended. The police were told that the victim and the assailant had known each other. Both, hailing from Ghatal in Paschim Medinipur district of West Bengal, were in their Twenties.

A university spokesman, describing the incident as “shameful and extremely unfortunate,” told The Hindu that the authorities were discussing with the police measures to step up security.

Kolkata Police Commissioner Gautam Mohan Chakravarty, who visited the Tollygunge thana after the incident, said it was suspected that Amaresh Kundu stole the revolver from a box used by the constable.

The Santiniketan incident is the second campus killing in the country since the dawn of the New Year. On January 3, a school student was allegedly shot dead by a senior in a school at Chorbari village in Satna. In December 2007, a student was killed by two of his classmates in Gurgaon.

PTI reports:

Expressing shock over the killing, West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi called for serious thoughts to prevent crime. Mr. Gandhi, also the Rector of Visva Bharati University, said: “A life, brimming with the melody and promise of music, has been most cruelly stilled”.

Expressing his condolences to the family of the Saswati Pal, he said: “Though I know that no word can console it, I share the anguish of the students and faculty at Santiniketan, who form a family in themselves. The most abiding tribute that can be paid to the memory of Saswati would be for all concerned to put their thoughts on how to prevent crime, be it sophisticated theft or murder in what is meant to be an abode of peace.”

News Source : Samachar

Harbhajan Singh banned for three Tests

Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh was on Sunday banned for three Test matches after the ICC Match Referee Mike Procter upheld the Australian charge that he had racially abused their all-rounder Andrew Symonds, a decision against which the Indian team will appeal within 24 hours.

Procter gave a marathon six-and-a-half hour hearing to Harbhajan, who denied the charge and was supported by skipper Anil Kumble, Sachin Tendulkar, manager Chetan Chauhan and media manager MV Sridhar during the deliberations.

Procter also heard Symonds, who was backed by Australian captain Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Michael Clarke along with team manager Steve Bernard, who attended the hearing to testify against the Indian spinner.

After the hearing, there was no official word about the verdict but sources said that the three-Test ban was being slapped on Harbhajan, who is fully backed by the BCCI and the team.

The appeal will be made to the Commissioner of Appeals and pending the appeal, the off-spinner can continue to play.

After the hearing, Sridhar had said that they had not ruled out returning home, but the BCCI later played down the threat.

Meanwhile, the Indians have also filed a complaint against Australian spinner Brad Hogg for using abusive language during the ill-tempered second Test.

The Indian team lodged the complaint against Hogg during the hearing, giving a new twist to the simmering feud between the two sides.

BCCI officials promptly said that they would appeal against the three-match ban imposed on Harbhajan. Board vice-president Rajiv Shukla said they had not yet received any communication from the International Cricket Council regarding the ban.

"Nothing has been communicated to us yet. But if a ban is imposed, we will appeal against it within 24 hours. Harbhajan will appeal and the BCCI will also appeal," Shukla said.

BCCI's chief administrative manager Ratnakar Shetty said it was an "unfortunate" development.

"There was no evidence against Harbhajan so I don't know how they could arrive at such a conclusion."

When asked what the Aussies brought to the hearing which resulted in a verdict in their favour, Shetty said "we are not concerned about what the Australians think."

Harbhajan was charged under rule 3.3 of the ICC's Code of Conduct that deals with using language or gestures that insults a person on the basis of race, religion, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin.

The off-spinner vehemently denied saying anything racial during the altercation.

Sridhar said both sides were together during the hearing into the alleged racial abuse.

"We are extremely disappointed since we feel that there is no evidence against Harbhajan," Sridhar said after the hearing.

The three-match ban came as a surprise for the Indians as both the on-field umpires Steve Bucknor and Mark Benson had gone on record as saying that they had not heard anything offensive being said. The hearing was originally scheduled for Saturday but Procter agreed to a request by the Indian management to defer it by a day.

Harbhajan was charged last night under Level 3 of the International Cricket Council's Code of Conduct following his run-in with Andrew Symonds at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The charge was laid by match umpires Mark Benson and Steve Bucknor after the third day's play following a complaint from Australia captain Ricky Ponting.

The complaint was made by Ponting after the 116th over of India's first innings, prior to which Harbhajan is alleged to have made a racist comment directed at Symonds.

News Source : Samachar

Former players call for Bucknor's head

Former India cricketers on Sunday lashed out at the umpires for their "incompetence" during the second India-Australia cricket Test at Sydney and called for the immediate retirement of controversial West Indian Steve Bucknor. The ex-cricketers also deplored Australians' unsporting conduct during the match and felt it was no longer a gentleman's game. It was a combination of inept batting and "atrocious umpiring" that did India in, felt former wicketkeeper Syed Kirmani. "Umpiring standards have gone down in this match, particularly in Bucknor's case. He is losing his vision and hearing as shown by some of his decisions. I suggest there should be a fitness test for umpires as well." Kirmani also trained his guns at the Australians, saying that Ricky Ponting's men did not show "sportsmanship." He said the umpires should use technology whenever they are in doubt. "Whenever there is a doubt, the benefit should go to the batsman. But even if that's not the case, the on-field umpires should consult the third umpire as Bucknor did on a couple of occasions. But there was no consistency," Kirmani added. Former captain Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi was particularly incensed with umpire Mark Benson for not consulting his colleague Bucknor about the contentious catch of Sourav Ganguly. "He (Benson) could have asked Bucknor at square-leg or referred the matter to the third umpire. But to ask the fielder about whether the ball carried is not correct. The umpire should be pulled up for doing this," he said. Pataudi felt asking the fielder about such catches was acceptable during his playing days, but not any longer. "In my time, it was quite normal for umpires to ask the fielders. So I guess, it was a gentleman's game at that time, but may be, not any more," he said. Increased use of technology was not the answer to such controversies, he felt. "The problem is about the competence of the umpires. Technology itself cannot be the answer. You have to have competent umpires in the middle. "What we saw in Sydney today is infuriating andannoying," Pataudi fumed. Former India cricketer Ajay Jadeja echoed Pataudi's view that technology alone was not the solution. "If you go for technology, you have to be sure that it will be 100 per cent correct. But that's not the case. Technology can also go wrong. "Besides, machines are not playing the game. It's humans who are playing and you have to retain that human element," he said. News Source : Samachar

Aussie sportsmanship draws flak

Australians justly pride themselves on being cricket's Number 1 team but today there are question marks on their sportsmanship.

The Kangaroos have never left anyone in doubt that they play their cricket hard, no quarters given.

They are notorious for sledging, an art they have perfected but they have no stomach when the rival teams give it back to them.

Apart from dragging Harbhajan Singh into a racial row, the conduct of the Australians in the second cricket Test against India, which ended on Sunday, is a blot on their sportsmanship.

They may have won the game with the generous help from the umpires but their behaviour should be an embarrassment for a team that is undoubtedly a champion side.

Adam Gilchrist, who claims to have set standard for sportsmanship by walking whenever he believes he is out, on Sunday appealed for a catch of Rahul Dravid when the bat was nowhere near the ball.

Steve Bucknor, the West Indian umpire who has time and again proved to be India's bugbear, upheld the appeal.

Skipper Ricky Ponting seemed to have caught Mahendra Singh Dhoni but the ball had hit the ground in the attempt.

However, Ponting had no hesitation in claiming for a catch.

News Source : Samachar