New Delhi, Sep 3 (ANI): The Supreme Court has issued notices to Gujarat Government and Chief Minister Narender Modi on a petition seeking CBI inquiry into an alleged fake encounter in which a youth was killed in 2004.

The petition filed by Kerala-based M R Gopinath Pillai alleged that his son Pranesh Kumar Pillai alias Javed Shaikh was gunned down by the Gujarat police for having links with terrorist groups but even four years after the incident there was no evidence to the effect.

A Bench comprising Justices Tarun Chatterjee and Aftab Alam also sought response from state Home Minister Amit Shah relating to the 15th June 2004 police encounter in which Javed along with three persons including a woman were killed in Ahmedabad.

The court also issued a notice to the state government on another petition filed by poet and lyricist Javed Akhtar seeking a probe by a special investigation team into the alleged fake encounters in Gujarat claiming that innocent people, particularly from Muslim community, were being targeted as terrorists.

The petition citing news reports and a sting operation done by a news magazine into the killing of criminal Sameer Khan in October 2002, alleged it was a fake encounter and there was an attempt by the Gujarat government to hush up the incident.

Khan, who was in police custody, was killed on the intervening night of 21st -22nd October 2002 when he allegedly snatched the revolver of a policeman who had accompanied him with a team to a spot where he had murdered a constable.

An FIR was registered alleging that Khan was involved in a conspiracy hatched by Pakistan's ISI and Jaish-e-Mohammed to assassinate Modi and other leaders.

Akhtar, who jointly filed the petition alongwith social activist Shabnam Hashmi, alleged it was the same team of Gujarat police which had killed Soharabuddin Sheikh in the fake encounter and later murdered his wife Kauser Bi.

Both the petitions of Pillai and Akhtar were filed in May 2007 when the apex court was hearing the petition relating to the killing of Soharabuddin Sheikh in a fake encounter.

Later, the court without issuing any notice, had tagged Pillai's petition with the matter of Soharabuddin Sheikh.

The petition of Pillai ,filed through advocate Deepak Prakash, alleged that officials of Gujarat police murdered his son on 15th June 2004 in the guise of an encounter which was planned and executed by them with the motive of enhancing the political image of Chief Minister. (ANI)

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Singur, Sept 3 (ANI): While Tata Motors suspend construction work at Singur plant and consider alternative sites for manufacturing the worlds' cheapest car, Nano, residents are in panic fearing loss of jobs.

The excitement surrounding the setting up of Nano car plant among many seems to have converted itself into questions of whether the car will finally roll out at the scheduled time-in October, will it roll out from Singur in West Bengal and will the company have to incur losses to sell it at 100,000 rupees.

The stakeholders, beneficiaries, locals and even those who lost their land for setting up the plant, all of them who wished to make an earning out of the much-hyped car are now dejected.

Trinamool Congress chief Mamta Banerjee has been spearheading a movement to fight for the rights of those who lost their land to the Nano factory and its ancillaries. Banerjee is demanding that out of over 1,000 acres (400 hectares) procured for setting up of the Nano car factory, 400 acres earmarked for the ancillary units should be returned to farmers.

But those who gave away their land on their own and accepted compensation feel helpless.

"I had given my land for this project. My son was being trained there. Now I get to know that Tata's have decided to pull out of here, I am very sad, we would have benefited from it," said Maya Ray, a resident.

The Nano project has been billed as key to the rejuvenation of industries in West Bengal, where the world's longest-serving democratically elected Communist government has changed tack for industrialization of the state after decades of focus on helping agriculture and poor farmers.

Many farmers who had sent their children to undergo training at the Tata factory feel that the company's exit from the region would result in the loss of many jobs despite assurance by Tata Motors that local recruits would be employed at its other sites.

"I have taken training for the Tata factory job. Like me many youths have also taken training and came here from various places. Our dreams have been shattered," said Soumen Ray, an unemployed youth.

On Tuesday, West Bengal Government confirmed that Tata Motors had suspended work at the Nano plant.

Earlier, Tata Motors in a statement said that violent protests had forced it to suspend all work at a plant in Singur where it planned to make the Nano-- billed as the world's cheapest car -- and was to consider alternative sites.

Tata Motors said it was putting together a detailed plan for the relocation of the plant and machinery, and was evaluating options for manufacturing the Nano at other company facilities.

The State Government has urged the Trinamool Congress to work with it to retain the Nano plant in the state.

The unveiling in January of the snub-nosed Nano was hailed by the state's ruling Communists, but protests have since gathered steam.

Trouble began after the government took over 1,000 acres (400 hectares) of farmland for the factory. The government offered compensation, but some farmers with smaller land holdings have refused compensation, demanding that land be given back to them.

The disputed land measures about 400 acres.

The Trinamool Congress has come under pressure to find a way out of the stand-off after industry lobbies and analysts warned the protests could scare away investors.

Eager to resolve an issue threatening its industry-friendly image, the state government has offered to discuss fresh compensation packages. (ANI)

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Singur, Sep 3 (ANI): Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee today alleged that CPI-M workers had attacked her party supporters with weapons while they were on their way to the dharna site in Singur.

"Such attacks on our party workers before talks begin in the presence of Governor G K Gandhi to resolve the issue are not appreciated," she said condemning the incident.

She said the police and the administration had been informed of the matter.

"We want the police to take preventive action so that good sense prevails. Our dharna cannot be broken by force," Mamata said.

She said Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi's intervention is welcome, but the parties in power should be more 'positive' in their approach towards the Singur crisis.

The president of the Party for Democratic Socialism, which is an ally of the Trinamool Congress, Samir Putatunda, said such attacks were uncalled for and would vitiate the atmosphere. (ANI)

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New Delhi, Sept 3 (ANI): The three wings of defence services the Army, Navy and Air Force get together for relief and rescue operations in Bihar.

They have stepped up efforts to rescue hundreds of thousands of people marooned by floods.

Addressing a news conference in New Delhi Air Commodore G.S. Cheema, Principal Director of Transport and Helicopter Operations said the Air Force is involved in lifting boats carrying marooned villagers from remote areas.

"Air Force on its part has continued to air lift various columns like number of Army columns. Fresh number of boats has been pumped in. As brought out we have lifted 52 boats on Tuesday and apart from Army boat this includes National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) boats, Border Security Force boats and in addition naval boats," Cheema said.

According to reports, Army has so far deployed 37 columns for flood relief operations in the districts of Supaul (eight columns), Madhepura (nine columns), Araria (eight columns), Purnea (six columns) and Katihar (six columns).

Navy Captain A.S. Rana who also addressed the conference said the navy would be sending 120 tonnes of ration to Bihar government.

"We have moved on war footing on this aspect and a total of about 120 tonnes of ration is what navy will be providing to Bihar government. This ration is being put in ten kilograms bags containing flour, rice, pulses and some more stuff on which a family can sustain. They are being made in ten kilogram packets put in gunny bags and transported to Visakhapatnam," Rana said.

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Congress party chairperson Sonia Gandhi has announced 228 million dollars in aid for rescue and recovery efforts.

Whereas, Railways have taken several important measures for relief to the flood affected people of Bihar. Some more fresh measures taken are as follow, which were announced by Union Minister of Railways Lalu Prasad here today.

Relief materials for flood affected areas in Bihar are being transported by Railways. Relief material from any part of the country can be booked by various Non-Governmental Organisation (NGOs), trusts, organisations and government agencies including NDMA in favour of District Magistrates of Purnea, Saharsa and Katinhar which will be transported free of charge by the Railways.

Two rakes loaded with fodder have already been transported to the flood affect areas and third and fourth rakes will be loaded with fodder soon. Railways have already transported 40 parcel vans with tents, clothes, medicines and drinking water bottles for flood affected victims.

To arrange drinking water for flood victims, Railways have arranged two rakes loaded with water tankers available at Barauni and Danappur stations and will be immediately transported to the flood affected areas as and when instructed.

Railways are running special trains to evacuate flood victims to safer places free of charge. Till now three lakh 65 thousand flood victims have been evacuated to safer places by 180 trains and around 40 to 50 thousand people are being evacuated to safer places on everyday.

Relief camps to distribute free food and medicine to flood victims, have been set up at Raghopur, Bannakhi, Supaul, Saharasa, Baijnathpur, Purnea, Jogbani bathnaha, Farbisgunj, Sinraha, Araria, Patna and Rajendernagar stations with the help of the prize money of Rs one crore won by Lalu Prasad in a TV show. So far, one lakh flood victims have been served with free food and 15 thousand victims with free medicines.

Three million people have been displaced from their homes and at least 90 killed by floods in Bihar, officials say, after the Kosi river burst a dam in Nepal, swamping hundreds of villages in Bihar and destroying more than 100,000 hectares (247,000 acres) of farmlands.

Over 467,000 people have been evacuated so far. (ANI)

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