Magnificent Bihar

Abnormal ! Is it Mr. DM?

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 17:09:54 +0000

By K K Singh

Is Darbhanga District Magistrate R Lakshmanan abnormal and misleading the media, people and officials right from state headquarters in Patna to India government headquarters in Delhi about imposition of of much-maligned and already repealed Maintenance of Internal Securities Act (MISA) and Defense of India Rules (DIR) in certain parts of Darbhanga district?

In informal talks with people, media and his bosses in state headquarters in Patna that no MISA and DIR had been imposed in any part of the District-but in black white, the district magistrate Mr Lakshmanan is admitting the MISA and DIR had been imposed in Darbhanga. In a recent Right to Information Act, 2005 reply to ex-MLA Umadhar Singh and the detailed information sent to Bihar Information Commission, the district magistrate has admitted in writing that MISA and DIR had been imposed in certain parts of the Darbhanga district and notice for its strict adherence had been sent to the office-bearers of the Ashok Paper Mills Kamgar Union or face the consequences! According to RTI reply of the district magistrate R Lakshmanan, he had enclosed annexure seven of purported Bihar gazette notification of March 20, 1976, in which it is referred that Rules eight of the Defense of India Rules (DIR) of the Maintenance of Internal securities Act, 1971 for exercising power under the seal of the Bihar Governor, the areas written in the gazette notification are declared protected areas under MISA and DIR. In that gazette

notification, the district magistrate of Darbhanga had mentioned all plots of lands of the entire campus of the Ashok Paper Mills falling under the jurisdictions of Mahipatti, Bashadurpour, Sirnian, Mirzapur, Chikni villages under Hayaghat. The DM has mentioned over 500 plots of Ashok Paper Mills areas as protected areas under MISA and DIR.

Strangely, the Bihar Information Commission is yet to take any cognizance of these naked facts about Misa and DIR. Perhaps, Bihar Information Commission has escaped its attention about the glaring facts of records about MISA and DIR, which had been invoked in certain parts of Darbhanga district. Moreover the MISA and DIR, imposed by the then prime minister Indira Gandhi just before emergency declaration, had been repealed by Morarjee government at Centre in 1977. The chief minister of Bihar Nitish Kumar, who was himself a victim of MISA and DIR and had been lodged in jail and his officials, perhaps not taking any action against the district magistrate for imposing repealed laws in certain parts of Darbhanga district as well as to enlighten their officials about the repealed much-maligned laws like Misa and DIR! Has Nitish Kumar not been informed about such development? Otherwise a vigilant chief minister like Nitish must have taken cognizance of the matter, informed sources in Bihar secretariat told this mediaperson.

Shamelessly district magistrate in detailed information to the Bihar Information Commission, copy forwarded to the applicant under Right to Information Umdhar Singh, has said, “whereas the violation of the Article 19(1) of the Constitution, as charged by questioner\applicant of Right to Information, the administration has to say that under extraordinary Bihar gazette, published and notified March 20, 1976 during emergency in the country, the entire areas of the Ashok Paper mills, Rameshwar Nagar, has been declared protected areas.” Interestingly, the DM has enclosed the extraordinary Bihar gazette with plot numbers of Ashok Paper Mills as protected areas under the laws under Misa and DIR declared on March 20, 1976 in Bihar.

Instead of misleading the people and enlightened citizens and media both electronic and print about “no DIR and Misa in Darbhanga”, the district magistrate had blamed the enlightened citizens for spreading baseless and misleading facts about MISA and DIR in Darbhanga district. Not only that the district magistrate is also misleading the senior officials of the state government and chief minister Nitish Kumar on this score.

The Magnificent Bihar news website, which had broken the news of MISA and DIR in Darbhanga district, is putting the facts of lies by Darbhanga district magistrate with regards to Misa and DIR, which he had himself admitted in writing on Right to Information applicant replies and has also informed the Bihar Information Commission about the truth of facts. Taking all these facts, can not anybody call Darbhanga district magistrate an abnormal official? In this connection, the Magnificent Bihar news website and this mediaperson must bring similar misleading unseemly behaviour of the then district magistrate of Darbhanga Dr Vinod Agrawal in 1988 when he had made sexual advances and abuses to the then superintendent of police Ms Nirmal Kaur. In turn Ms Kaur had written a long letter to the state government, narrating her sad tale. This mediaperson, however, could procure the copy of the letter of Ms Kaur to Bihar government while as active and serving journalist in the Times of India and on that basis had filed a report in The Times of India from Darbhanga date line. The report was prominently taken in the TOI with headline, ” Is Darbhanga DM abnormal?”. While Ms Nirmal Kaur had been allotted Jharkhand cadre after division of Bihar, Dr Agarwal Bihar cadre is presently posted on some unimportant posts in Bihar government. Much hue and cry were made at that time over the issue. And matter became alarming right from Patna to Delhi and ultimately Bindeshwari Dubey government first and after his ouster and taking over chief ministership by Bhagwat Jha Azad, Dr Agrawal was transferred from the district and after certain enquiry into the allegations, Dr Agrawal was given insignificant postings! It is coincidence that I had made that story in late middle of 1980s and today also I am dealing with such controversial story on Misa and DIR existence in Darbhanga under the collectorship of R Lakshmanan.

Controversy deepens over arrest of Darbhanga engineer

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 09:04:28 +0000

By K K Singh

Patna: Controversy and subsequent mystery over the arrest of an engineer from Darbhanga Fasih Mahmood in Saudi Arab and jet set speed

move of Saudi Arab police to deport (Mahmood) to India has further deepened with the flutter in Darbhanga district over his arrest and linking him with the architect of Darbhanga module of the terror organisation -Indian Muzahhideen. And the Bihar government having no knowledge of the arrest of a Darbhanga engineer in Saudi Arab on terror charge.

According to reports, reaching in Darbhanga to the parents of the engineer as well as Press note website news service; Fasih Mahmood would be deported to India very soon in view of the request of India government for his alleged involvements in terror activities in different places in India! Mahmood was arrested on May 13, 2012 from his Jubail residence in Jeddah – since then there is no whereabouts of Mahmood. His relation has informed the parents of Mahmood in Darbhanga. His relations in Saudi Arab are moving from pillar to post for knowing the welfare of Mahmood. But neither the Jeddah police nor the Indian embassy officials in Jeddah are giving any information about Mahmood.

When contacted on telephone, the one senior-rank official of the Bihar police headquarters told this mediaperson that they have also heard about Mahmood’s arrest in Saudi Arab and his expected deportation to India under extradition treaty between Saudi Arab and India in 2010 but could not give details of the incident. The official did not want to be identified!

On the other hand various website news reports suggest the involvement of Mahmood in terrorism and connection with Indian Muzahideen. Mahmood was working in Saudi Arab for earning money to allegedly encourage and abet the terror activities in India. Mahmoood had left India some time in 2008 following the police and Indian Intelligence outfits knowing his associations with Bhatkals of Karnataka.

Mahmood had studied in the Aligarh Muslim University. From there, Mahmood reportedly shifted to Bangalore for B Tech. engineering course

in mechanical engineering. During his study stay in Bangalore, Mahmood had allegedly met Indian Muzahideen chiefs Riyaz Bhatkal and Iqbal

Bhatkal. Since then, Mahmood was working with the terror organisations to create terrorism in different parts of the country.

Mahmood was responsible for creating a strong cadre of youth network in Bihar by spreading his network in entire north Bihar and Indo-Nepal

border. During those period, the Delhi police had arrested Gauhar Azeer, Khommani in the wake of Jama Masjid blast in Delhi, Chidambaram

stadium blast in Bangalore, Bakery blast in Poona etc. In course of interrogation of arrested terrorists, the police could know about the deep-involvement of Mahmood in terrorism. Mahmood has trained Kafil Ahmed. Kafil Ahmed is said to be a co-villager of Keoti police station, a home police station of Mahmood. The same Kafil had been arrested by Karnataka police in hush-hush and controversial manner recently without any information to Darbhanga police and Bihar government. Both belonged to the same village in Keoti of Darbhanga district.

About such arrest, the chief minister of Bihar Nitish Kumar has written a strong letter to his Karnataka counterpart, voicing his resentment of arrest of Kafil without informing Bihar government. Kumar had spoken that he would apprise the matter to the Union home ministry also. Karnataka chief minister, who took such activities of Karnataka police lightly, had stated that if the matter would have been informed to Bihar government – Kafil could have escaped with the support of Bihar and Darbhanga police!

Association of Mahmood with terror organisation further strengthened with Batala house encounter in Delhi. Subsequently many terrorists

had left India for unknown destinations, putting the Delhi police groping in dark. While Mahmood was allegedly part of Indian Muzahideen, others who are still evading police dragnet were also involved in terror activities in different parts of the country.

Mahmood had also reportedly left the country and settled with his family members in Saudi Arab while working as an engineer. From there, Mahmood used to operate telephonically to shoulder the responsibility of terror network of Indian Muzahideen in Bihar, specially the Darbhanga zone. Foriegn ministry reports also suggest that Mahmood has been taken on in custody on the request of India government and steps are being

taken to deport India for his thorough interrogation.

Meanwhile, reports from Darbhanga suggest that people of both Hindu and Muslim community are alarmed over arrest of Mahmood in Saudi Arab and calling him a terror. Mahmood comes from respectable family. His father is a doctor in Bihar government and mother a principal in a

college. People of Darbhanga, who term him a gentleman par-excellence, are skeptical about conspiracy to call Darbhanga a terror hub by arresting many youths of a particular community on terror charges and last but not the least an engineer from Darbhanga Mahmood, who was earning his livelihood in Saudi Arab.

Scientific ways for better yield : CM

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 06:20:07 +0000

Patna : CM Nitish Kumar inaugurated “Baghicha Bachao Abhiyan” on Friday and said that, “farmers should carry out horticultural activities in a scientific way for the better yield of fruits.”

“The campaign was under implementation in those districts which were not covered by National Horticulture Mission (NHM)”, CM added.

Nitish Kumar also released books published by the agriculture department.

The CM said the adoption of scientific methods in horticultural activities meant that fruit-bearing trees should be cultivated and grown in accordance with their area-specific quality and value. The government would give subsidy to farmers for the tilling and ploughing of land under orchards.

By: Shreya

Students crack IIT-JEE

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 05:29:34 +0000

Patna: In another big score, 27 of the 30 students from Bihar’s Super 30, a free coaching centre for underprivileged students, have cracked the highly competitive Indian Institute of Technology-Joint Entrance Examination (IIT-JEE) this year, its director said on Friday.
It is again good news that this year, 27 out of the 30 students made it to the IIT-JEE. it has underlined how with proper opportunity, students from poor families can also reach the prestigious IIT,” Super 30′s founder-director Anand Kumar said.

In 2003, the first year of the institute, 18 students made it to IITs. In 2008, for the first time, all 30 students of the centre cracked the exam, a feat which was repeated in 2009 and 2010.

By : Shreya

Socialist leader remembered

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 05:31:52 +0000

Patna : Tributes were paid to late Socialist leader Suraj Narayan Singh at Shahid Suraj Narayan Singh Memorial Museum premises at 4,Veerchand Patel Road on his birth anniversary on Thrusday.

Late Suraj Narayan Singh was a great freedom fighter and an eminent Socialist leader too.

A host of dignitaries including Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, art and culture minister Sukhda Pandey, Shyam Rajak, HRD principal secretary Anjani Kumar Singh and other senior officials were present to mark the birth anniversary of the great leader.

The artists of IPRD presented bhajans and patriotic songs on this occasion.

By : Shreya

PMC Poll overall peaceful : Singh

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 04:35:03 +0000

Patna : Voters exercised their ‘Right to Vote’ in the Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) polls on Thrusday .

PMC has 72 wards , but elections were held only in 70 wards. Election in ward number 39 would be held on May 22 while Vinay Kumar Pappu was elected unopposed from ward number 28.

Deputy Development Commissioner and in charge DM, Manoj Kumar Singh said, “The polling was peaceful, except for a few unwanted incidents.”

However some people were arrested and some vehicles were also seized.

Some voters remained away from the polling and enjoyed their holiday while many stepped out from their homes despite the scorching sun to exercise their right to vote.

By : Shreya

Nitish Kumar inspects JPNAIIMS

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 08:59:54 +0000

Patna : Nitish Kumar on Wednesday inspected the site of Jaya Prakash Narayan All India Institute of Medical Science (JPNAIIMS).

During his inspection he directed Secretary road to complete the construction of all the roads leading to the hospital. He also said that ‘Raen Baseras’ (night shelters) for the benefit of the poors,would be constructed.

He also asked the Director of JPNAIIMS, Girish Kumar Singh, that whether the hospital building is earthquake proof and whether the required firefighting equipments are installed or not.

By : Shreya

PMC Election

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 08:29:20 +0000

Patna : Residents of 70 wards of Patna Municipal Corporation is exercising their right to vote, today on Thrusday to elect their representatives.

The State Election Commission has declared 870 booths as supersensitive and 231 booths as sensitive.

Two quick response teams would be stationed in the control room to handle any emergency.

During the voting time no commercial vehicle would be allowed to run on the roads, however, ambulances and emergency services vehicles will be exempted and no candidates would be allowed to visit the booths.

Several police personnel including homeguards has been deployed to ensure free and fair poll.

By : Shreya

Bankers to help agricultural sector

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 07:31:06 +0000

Patna : CM Nitish Kumar inaugurated the State Level Banker’s Committee and said the banker’s to support the State government’s bid to strengthen the agricultural sector.

Nitish Kumar also suggested that the bankers should have their own citizen charter within a time frame to accept or reject the loan applications.

Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi later said that, “the bankers had agreed to support with an expenditure of Rs 1.5 lakh crore for the fast development of agricultural sector.

It is to be noted that the State’s agricultural sector has improved a lot in the last years, having a growth rate of slightly over 4% a little higher than the National average which is around 3%.

By : Shreya

Conspiracy to malign Bihar !

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 06:07:13 +0000

By K K Singh

Patna: Is there any nationwide conspiracy to malign Bihar, particularly districts of north and eastern Bihar like Darbhanga, Madhubani, Araria, Supaul, Saharsa, Purnia , Kishanganj, Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi, Seohar, Samastipur by dispatching police of other states as well as Union government to arrest Muslim youths from these places, living in different parts of the globe and the country in the name of their alleged involvement in terror activities as well as their association with international terror organisations?

All these things have been reflected in indiscriminate arrests of Muslims from these parts of Darbhanga and Muzaffarpur zones in the last six months by police of different state governments as well as Union government security agencies without informing the Bihar government and respective districts! Latest in the series is arrest of an engineer Fasih Mahmood from Darbhanga, working for his livelihood in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia.

Mahmood, who comes from a respectable family of Darbhanga district, had been arrested by Riyadh police from his residence Jubail in Saudi

Arabia on Sunday last reportedly on the charge of his involvement in terror activities on the request of India government. The India government had asked Saudi Arabia to deport Mahmood to India, according to report reaching from relatives of Mahmood to his parents

in Darbhanga. Arrest of Mahmood has created flutter in entire Darbhanga town as Mahmood was considered a man of humane approach

among both Hindu and Muslim community in Darbhanga district.

Mahmood, who is a B Tech degree (Mechanical), had been working in Riyadh for the last five years. His father is a reputed doctor of Darbhanga and mother is a principal of a college at Darbhanga district. Right from his forefathers to his father, they were active in national movement and presently they are working for poor and downtrodden in different parts of the district!

Report and telephonic conversations from Riyadh to parents of Mahmood suggest that the Saudi Arab police raided the house of Mahmood in Jubail and arrested him. Saudi police told the family members of Mahmood after his arrest that Mahmood has been arrested and he would

be deported to India as asked by the India government. It was informed to the parents of Mahmood in Darbhanga by other relatives in Riyadh that they had contacted and called up the Saudi police and had also informed Indian embassy in Jeddah. All attempts to meet Mahmood after his arrest failed. Mahmood has been kept at a secret place in Saudi Arabia.

Later as per website news reports talking to Twocircles.net, an official of the Indian embassy in Jeddah had confirmed the arrest of Mahmood. Embassy official informed the news website that they had written a letter to Saudi Foreign office in this regard – but they have not been able to meet Mahmood so far. The official, however, denied that the arrest of Mahmood has been made on the request of India government. But other confirmed sources in Saudi Arab police disclosed that arrest of Mahmood has been made on the request of India government foreign office and he would be deported to India soon on terror charge. India and Saudi Arab had signed an extradition treaty in 2010 for dealing with terror activities as a whole.

Nitish Kumar had recently taken strong exception to the indiscriminate arrest of Muslims from different parts of Bihar by different state government police and India government on alleged terror charges without any information and cooperation of Bihar and respective district police. Nitish had alleged that there appeared to be deep-rooted conspiracy to malign Bihar as terror hub. Recently, Nitish has criticized Karnataka chief minister for arrest of one Kafil from Keoti police station of Darbhanga without informing the Bihar government.

Taking into seriousness of the matter Nitish has decided to write to Union government over the matter. A report from Darbhanga suggests that in recent past at least 13 Muslim youths had been arrested by different police from different places on alleged terror charges and their alleged links with global terror organisations. After Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh, Darbhanga had been targeted as terror hub in the country.