State
Baba responding well, stable: Doctors
According to the evening medical bulletin issued by the Director of Sri Satya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, spiritual leader Satya Sai Baba’s condition is stable, though he continues to be on a ventilator.
The bulletin added that though the Godman was suffering from multi-organ dysfunction, he was responding well to the treatment given to him.
The bulletin added that the spiritual leader was still on CRRT (Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy) to help his kidney function. Wednesday evening was the first time that the doctors released precise details about the Sathya Sai Baba’s health condition and the treatment being administered to him.
SSSIHMS Director AN Safaya however said that while the godman was showing signs of improvement, it was not possible to say how long he will have to stay in the Intensive Care Unit.
‘We are carrying out all necessary tests on him and he is being provided the best available treatment. We are keeping a close watch on his health round-the-clock. We are doing whatever is humanly possible,’ Dr Safaya said.
Another doctor, Ravi Raj said while the spiritual leader’s heartbeat and blood pressure were normal, the infection in his lungs and the accumulation of water was a matter of concern. ‘We are continuing CRRT to help his kidney function properly,’ the doctor said. Satya Sai Baba was admitted to the hospital on March 28.
Dr Safaya also stated that the SSSIHMS cannot allowed pictures or video footage of the Baba inside the ICU as this would be tantamount to abuse of human rights.
According to the evening medical bulletin issued by the Director of Sri Satya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, spiritual leader Satya Sai Baba’s condition is stable, though he continues to be on a ventilator.
The bulletin added that though the Godman was suffering from multi-organ dysfunction, he was responding well to the treatment given to him.
The bulletin added that the spiritual leader was still on CRRT (Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy) to help his kidney function. Wednesday evening was the first time that the doctors released precise details about the Sathya Sai Baba’s health condition and the treatment being administered to him.
SSSIHMS Director AN Safaya however said that while the godman was showing signs of improvement, it was not possible to say how long he will have to stay in the Intensive Care Unit.
‘We are carrying out all necessary tests on him and he is being provided the best available treatment. We are keeping a close watch on his health round-the-clock. We are doing whatever is humanly possible,’ Dr Safaya said.
Another doctor, Ravi Raj said while the spiritual leader’s heartbeat and blood pressure were normal, the infection in his lungs and the accumulation of water was a matter of concern. ‘We are continuing CRRT to help his kidney function properly,’ the doctor said. Satya Sai Baba was admitted to the hospital on March 28.
Dr Safaya also stated that the SSSIHMS cannot allowed pictures or video footage of the Baba inside the ICU as this would be tantamount to abuse of human rights.
No T Bill in Budget session – Bansal
The Centre on Friday hinted that a Bill on separate Telangana may not be introduced in the Budget Session of Parliament. Speaking to media persons here, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said that, ‘thus far, the Bill on Telangana does not figure in the list of Bills to be introduced during the Budget Session.’ Mr Bansal added that the list is ‘tentative’ and such a Bill could be added to it if the Union Home Ministry proposes.
Mr Bansal’s words come even as Congress MLAs, who had reached the National Capital in a bid to ‘influence’ the party High Command on February 14, returned back to Hyderabad, empty handed. The ‘revelation’ is expected to give a further impetus to the pro-Telangana parties, particularly the Telangana Rashtra Samithi, to target the Centre and accuse it of trying to dillydallying taking a decision on the issue.
Earlier in the week, Prime Minister Manmohan Sing had stirred the proverbial hornet’s nest by saying that a consensus should be first reached before a firm decision is taken on the separate statehood demand. The demand of the introduction of a separate Telangana Bill had intensified after the Justice BN Srikrishna Committee had filed its Reports on the future of Andhra Pradesh on December 30, 2010.
The intensified demands had also seen chaos in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly on Thursday, with the TDP and TRS MLAs trying to obstruct Governor ESL Narasimhan from delivering his address to a Joint Sitting of the Legislature.
The Centre on Friday hinted that a Bill on separate Telangana may not be introduced in the Budget Session of Parliament. Speaking to media persons here, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said that, ‘thus far, the Bill on Telangana does not figure in the list of Bills to be introduced during the Budget Session.’ Mr Bansal added that the list is ‘tentative’ and such a Bill could be added to it if the Union Home Ministry proposes.
Mr Bansal’s words come even as Congress MLAs, who had reached the National Capital in a bid to ‘influence’ the party High Command on February 14, returned back to Hyderabad, empty handed. The ‘revelation’ is expected to give a further impetus to the pro-Telangana parties, particularly the Telangana Rashtra Samithi, to target the Centre and accuse it of trying to dillydallying taking a decision on the issue.
Earlier in the week, Prime Minister Manmohan Sing had stirred the proverbial hornet’s nest by saying that a consensus should be first reached before a firm decision is taken on the separate statehood demand. The demand of the introduction of a separate Telangana Bill had intensified after the Justice BN Srikrishna Committee had filed its Reports on the future of Andhra Pradesh on December 30, 2010.
The intensified demands had also seen chaos in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly on Thursday, with the TDP and TRS MLAs trying to obstruct Governor ESL Narasimhan from delivering his address to a Joint Sitting of the Legislature.
Jagan’s deeksha on fee arrears begins
Demanding that the government ‘immediately’ reimburse the professional colleges to ensure that they continue to function, former Kadapa MP YS Jaganmohan Reddy on Friday began his week-long ‘Deeksha’ at the ‘Varalakshmi Pranganam’ at Indira Park.
The site of the camp where the Deeksha is being held has been renamed the ‘Varalakshmi Pranganam’ by Mr Jaganmohan Reddy as homage to the B Tech student who allegedly committed suicide after being harassed by her college for being unable to pay her fees.
The Deeksha began with Mr Jaganmohan Reddy garlanding the statue of his father at the Punjagutta Cross roads, besides the statue of Dr BR Ambedkar at Tank Bund, at 11:30 AM. As many as 19 Legislators and other leaders were present at the Deeksha camp, besides students and parents. During the day, Varalakshmi’s parents too made their way to the Deeksha site. The weeping parents urged Mr Jaganmohan Reddy to ensure that other students in the state do not take the extreme step which their daughter was forced to take.
Konda Surekha, Konda Murali, Pilli Subhash Chandra Bose, Balineni Srinivasa Reddy, Amarnath Reddy, Kapu Ramachandra Reddy, Babu Rao, Ashok Babu, Ravi, Gurnath Reddy, Siva Prasad Reddy, Srikanth Reddy, Srinivasulu, Mekapati Chandrasekhar Reddy, Jayasudha Kapoor, Adinarayana Reddy, Shoba Nagi Reddy and Katasani Ramireddy, besides Nallapureddy Prasanna Kumar Reddy and Balanagi Reddy from the TDP were among the leaders who were seen at the Deeksha camp.
Demanding that the government ‘immediately’ reimburse the professional colleges to ensure that they continue to function, former Kadapa MP YS Jaganmohan Reddy on Friday began his week-long ‘Deeksha’ at the ‘Varalakshmi Pranganam’ at Indira Park.
The site of the camp where the Deeksha is being held has been renamed the ‘Varalakshmi Pranganam’ by Mr Jaganmohan Reddy as homage to the B Tech student who allegedly committed suicide after being harassed by her college for being unable to pay her fees.
The Deeksha began with Mr Jaganmohan Reddy garlanding the statue of his father at the Punjagutta Cross roads, besides the statue of Dr BR Ambedkar at Tank Bund, at 11:30 AM. As many as 19 Legislators and other leaders were present at the Deeksha camp, besides students and parents. During the day, Varalakshmi’s parents too made their way to the Deeksha site. The weeping parents urged Mr Jaganmohan Reddy to ensure that other students in the state do not take the extreme step which their daughter was forced to take.
Konda Surekha, Konda Murali, Pilli Subhash Chandra Bose, Balineni Srinivasa Reddy, Amarnath Reddy, Kapu Ramachandra Reddy, Babu Rao, Ashok Babu, Ravi, Gurnath Reddy, Siva Prasad Reddy, Srikanth Reddy, Srinivasulu, Mekapati Chandrasekhar Reddy, Jayasudha Kapoor, Adinarayana Reddy, Shoba Nagi Reddy and Katasani Ramireddy, besides Nallapureddy Prasanna Kumar Reddy and Balanagi Reddy from the TDP were among the leaders who were seen at the Deeksha camp.
Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Friday requested Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa to direct the officials of Tunga Board for further diversion of 2.626 TMC of water to meet the drinking water needs of three water supply schemes of State. On Friday morning, the Chief Minister telephoned the Karnataka Chief Minister and requested for the diversion of water from KC Canal quota. The water is required for the supply of drinking water to Anantapur town besides the Satya Sai Rural Water Suppy and Sri Rami Reddy drinking water schemes. These water supply schemes are covering about 700 villages in Anantapur district with a population of 10 lakh, in addition to Anantapur town water supply with a population of about 6 lakh.
Health Minister DL Ravindra Reddy on Friday alleged that former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy and his son YS Jaganmohan Reddy were responsible for the tardy pace of work on the Polavaram Irrigation project on River Godavari in West Godavari district. Talking to media persons here, the Health Minister said that Mr Jaganmohan Reddy did not raise the issue in Parliament while he was Congress MP, while his father and former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy had failed to push for the completion of the project. Lashing out at Mr Jaganmohan Reddy for taking up the Harita Yatra to pressurize the government to push for the completion of the project, Dr Ravindra Reddy said that the former MP had no moral right to raise the issue. He said that Mr Jaganmohan Reddy was unaware of what the Polavaram project was all about, but had launched a protest yatra just because it was in the news. The Minister stated that Mr Jaganmohan Reddy did not even know who constructed the Gandikota project in Kadapa district. This was the extent of Mr Jaganmohan Reddy’s knowledge, so how could be take up the issue, Dr Ravindra Reddy continued. The Minister stated that cheap publicity was the only motive behind Mr Jaganmohan Reddy’s Harita Yatra and he lacked commitment towards the issue. Justifying the delay in completion of the project, the Minister stated that neighbouring states of Orissa and Chhattisgarh had raised objections and the case was pending in the Supreme Court. Dr Ravindra Reddy revealed that the government was making concerted efforts to complete the project and it was one of its priorities. He also added that getting the status of a National Project was also the priority of the government. When asked to comment on reports that the camp of the former MP has seen about 30 MLAs pledging him support, Dr Ravindra Reddy said that the media has exaggerated the figure. He said that hardly less than ten MLAs are known to owe loyalties to Mr Jaganmohan Reddy.
7 new railway projects in state: Muniyappa
Minister of State for Railways KH Muniyappa on Monday said that the Railways will take up seven new projects in collaboration with the state government. Talking to media persons, Mr Muniyappa said that the Government of Andhra Pradesh has agreed to bear 50 per cent of the cost in principle of these projects. The projects are MMTS Phase-II (82.8 Km), Nadikude – Srikalahasti new railway line (309 Km), Bhadrachalam Road Kovvur new railway line (151 Km), Manuguru – Ramagundam new railway line (199 Km), Gadwal Macherla new railway line (233 Km), Vijayawada Narsapur & Gudivada Machilipatnam doubling and electrification of railway line (175 Km) and Guntur Tenali doubling and electrification of railway line (59 Km).
The Kadapa-Bangalore new railway line project has been taken up in right earnest. A total of Rs.109 crore has been allocated for the project, out of which the state government has released Rs 40 crore as its share.
Tenders are being called for undertaking works, the Minister informed. Mr Muniyappa stressed on the fact that the Railways are willing to spend about Rs 600 crore during the current financial year in the State, but the same can happen only if land acquisition is speeded up by the state government. This will help timely completion of the projects, thereby avoiding cost escalations due to delays, benefitting the railways as well as the state government.
With regard to construction of Road Over/Under Bridges in the State, he stated that there are 75 such bridges being taken up, out of which 22 will be completed by March 2011.
The Minister spoke of the priority given by Minister for Railways Mamata Banerjee, towards ensuring that all unmanned level crossings on Indian Railways are manned by 2014-15, so as to negate the loss of lives due to mishaps at these crossings. Earlier, Mr Muniyappa called on Chief Minister K Rosaiah at Secretariat, Hyderabad and held a meeting jointly with the officials of South Central Railway and the State Government.
The Meeting deliberated on various issues concerning intervention of State Government, particularly related to land acquisition, so as to complete railway projects in AP in time. The Chief Minister directed that the issues be immediately addressed. M SCR General Manager S Jayanth, who was also present in the meeting stated that Andhra Pradesh ranks the foremost in terms of extending cooperation to the railways as exemplified by its participation in undertaking various railway projects on cost-sharing basis. Mr Rosaiah handed over a cheque of Rs 22.9 crore to Mr Muniyappa towards AP governments share for procuring coaches for the MMTS services in Hyderabad.
Minister of State for Railways KH Muniyappa on Monday said that the Railways will take up seven new projects in collaboration with the state government. Talking to media persons, Mr Muniyappa said that the Government of Andhra Pradesh has agreed to bear 50 per cent of the cost in principle of these projects. The projects are MMTS Phase-II (82.8 Km), Nadikude – Srikalahasti new railway line (309 Km), Bhadrachalam Road Kovvur new railway line (151 Km), Manuguru – Ramagundam new railway line (199 Km), Gadwal Macherla new railway line (233 Km), Vijayawada Narsapur & Gudivada Machilipatnam doubling and electrification of railway line (175 Km) and Guntur Tenali doubling and electrification of railway line (59 Km).
The Kadapa-Bangalore new railway line project has been taken up in right earnest. A total of Rs.109 crore has been allocated for the project, out of which the state government has released Rs 40 crore as its share.
Tenders are being called for undertaking works, the Minister informed. Mr Muniyappa stressed on the fact that the Railways are willing to spend about Rs 600 crore during the current financial year in the State, but the same can happen only if land acquisition is speeded up by the state government. This will help timely completion of the projects, thereby avoiding cost escalations due to delays, benefitting the railways as well as the state government.
With regard to construction of Road Over/Under Bridges in the State, he stated that there are 75 such bridges being taken up, out of which 22 will be completed by March 2011.
The Minister spoke of the priority given by Minister for Railways Mamata Banerjee, towards ensuring that all unmanned level crossings on Indian Railways are manned by 2014-15, so as to negate the loss of lives due to mishaps at these crossings. Earlier, Mr Muniyappa called on Chief Minister K Rosaiah at Secretariat, Hyderabad and held a meeting jointly with the officials of South Central Railway and the State Government.
The Meeting deliberated on various issues concerning intervention of State Government, particularly related to land acquisition, so as to complete railway projects in AP in time. The Chief Minister directed that the issues be immediately addressed. M SCR General Manager S Jayanth, who was also present in the meeting stated that Andhra Pradesh ranks the foremost in terms of extending cooperation to the railways as exemplified by its participation in undertaking various railway projects on cost-sharing basis. Mr Rosaiah handed over a cheque of Rs 22.9 crore to Mr Muniyappa towards AP governments share for procuring coaches for the MMTS services in Hyderabad.
Renowned actor Jamuna seeks the blessings of Chief Minister K. Rosaiah after he felicitated her on her 75th birthday at Ravindra Bharati on Monday. Her husband Ramana Rao, right, and thespian Akkineni
Nageswara Rao, left are also seen at the functi
The state government on Monday appointed Senior IPS officer Aravind Rao as Director General of Police. According to sources, the government appointed Aravind Rao as new DGP of the state as the present DGP R R Girish Kumar is set to retire on August 31. Chief Minister K Rosaiah on Monday issued orders to this effect. Mr Aravind Rao is likely to take charge on Tuesday.
Mr Aravind Rao is presently serving as the Anti Corruption Bureau Director General. A 1977 batch IPS officer, Mr Arvind Rao has good track record in the police department. He was chief intelligence officer during former chief minister late YS Rajasekhara Reddys tenure. The search panel suggested Aravind Rao, ahead of 1975 senior officers K R Nandan and Gautam Kumar.
TDP to take Babli battle to New Delhi
The Telugu Desam Party has decided to brief leaders of the national parties about the ongoing impasse over the controversial Babli project. TDP MPs from Rajya Sabha, M.V. Mysura Reddy and Y. Satyanarayana
(Sujana) Chowdary are flying to New Delhi on Monday to meet the leaders of Rashtriya Janata Dal, Left and other parties to explain them about the “injustice” being done to the State by Maharashtra government and
the way it had treated Leader of the Opposition N. Chandrababu Naidu.
The TDP MPs would seek the cooperation of these parties in mounting pressure on the Centre to prevent the Maharashtra government from going ahead with the projects at the expense of the farmers of Telangana
region.
Centre faulted
Dr. Mysura Reddy criticised the Centre for its failure to take steps to protect the interests of the two States before the ongoing dispute “deepens the divide between the people of Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra”.
“How can people believe in the government’s capability to handle external affairs when it is not in a position to solve the issue between the two States of the Union?” he asked.
The TDP reiterated its demand that the issue needed a political solution which could be achieved with the intervention of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and said the party would go ahead with its proposed hartal
across the State on Monday.
“Legal battles fought earlier on river water issues did not serve any purpose. The Centre should wake up before the Babli project row engulfs the two States,” TDP MLA P. Keshav said.
Party senior leaders, including Y. Ramakrishnudu, N. Janardhan Reddy, Dadi Veerabhadra Rao and others who held discussions on the situation arising out of the arrest of Mr. Naidu, demanded that Maharashtra
government tender unconditional apologies to the way in which Mr. Naidu was treated by the police there.
Senior TDP leader B. Gopalakrishna Reddy described Mr. Naidu’s arrest “as a sort of kidnap” claiming the police misled him by claiming that he would be taken to Babli project site and arrested him once they crossed
over to Maharashtra border.
He criticised Chief Minister K. Rosaiah for claiming that his visit to Delhi was primarily aimed at discussing political issues.
The Telugu Desam Party has decided to brief leaders of the national parties about the ongoing impasse over the controversial Babli project. TDP MPs from Rajya Sabha, M.V. Mysura Reddy and Y. Satyanarayana (Sujana) Chowdary are flying to New Delhi on Monday to meet the leaders of Rashtriya Janata Dal, Left and other parties to explain them about the “injustice” being done to the State by Maharashtra government and the way it had treated Leader of the Opposition N. Chandrababu Naidu.
The TDP MPs would seek the cooperation of these parties in mounting pressure on the Centre to prevent the Maharashtra government from going ahead with the projects at the expense of the farmers of Telangana region.
Centre faulted
Dr. Mysura Reddy criticised the Centre for its failure to take steps to protect the interests of the two States before the ongoing dispute “deepens the divide between the people of Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra”.
“How can people believe in the government’s capability to handle external affairs when it is not in a position to solve the issue between the two States of the Union?” he asked.
The TDP reiterated its demand that the issue needed a political solution which could be achieved with the intervention of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and said the party would go ahead with its proposed hartal across the State on Monday.
“Legal battles fought earlier on river water issues did not serve any purpose. The Centre should wake up before the Babli project row engulfs the two States,” TDP MLA P. Keshav said.
Party senior leaders, including Y. Ramakrishnudu, N. Janardhan Reddy, Dadi Veerabhadra Rao and others who held discussions on the situation arising out of the arrest of Mr. Naidu, demanded that Maharashtra government tender unconditional apologies to the way in which Mr. Naidu was treated by the police there.
Senior TDP leader B. Gopalakrishna Reddy described Mr. Naidu’s arrest “as a sort of kidnap” claiming the police misled him by claiming that he would be taken to Babli project site and arrested him once they crossed over to Maharashtra border.
He criticised Chief Minister K. Rosaiah for claiming that his visit to Delhi was primarily aimed at discussing political issues.
Rosaiah for more SEZs in coastal area
Chief Minister K. Rosaiah inaugurating an apparel city project at Atchyuthapuram in Visakhapatnam district as Union Minister of State for Textiles Panabaka Lakshmi and others look on.
VISAKHAPATNAM: Pooh-poohing criticism over allowing more Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in the coastal area, Chief Minister K. Rosaiah said on Monday that rapid industrialisation was required not only to
strengthen the economy but also to create job opportunities.
He was speaking after inaugurating Brandix India Apparel City (BIAC) – a textile-centric SEZ developed by the Sri Lankan apparel conglomerate in 1,000 acres at Atchyutapuram near here.
The group plans to create 60,000 jobs once the project is fully operational with a total investment of $1.2 billion.
Mr. Rosaiah said while the State Government was giving due importance to agriculture, it believed that industrial development was vital for any economy. “Hence, we have to create conducive climate to attract
investments,” he emphasised.
The Chief Minister also had a word of praise for the accelerated development in Gujarat.
Without naming BJP, he said forget about the party in power in that State but the progress it had achieved in the field of industrialisation was praiseworthy.
Mr. Rosaiah said that more SEZs should be set up in the coastal areas.
He pointed out that the State Government was following the best rehabilitation and resettlement policy for the project affected people .
Union Minister of State for Textiles Panabaka Lakshmi said the Centre had sanctioned Rs.36 crore to BIAC as part of supporting integrated textile parks and hoped that Brandix would put Vizag in the textile map of the
world.
BIAC CEO Ashroff Omar explained about the salient features of the project. State Ministers Kanna Lakshminarayana, B. Satyanarayana, P. Balaraju, Anakapalle MP Sabbam Hari, Leader of Opposition in Legislative
Council Dadi Veerabhadra Rao and Yelamanchili MLA U.V. Ramana Murthy were present.
Chief Minister K. Rosaiah inaugurating an apparel city project at Atchyuthapuram in Visakhapatnam district as Union Minister of State for Textiles Panabaka Lakshmi and others look on.
VISAKHAPATNAM: Pooh-poohing criticism over allowing more Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in the coastal area, Chief Minister K. Rosaiah said on Monday that rapid industrialisation was required not only to strengthen the economy but also to create job opportunities.
He was speaking after inaugurating Brandix India Apparel City (BIAC) – a textile-centric SEZ developed by the Sri Lankan apparel conglomerate in 1,000 acres at Atchyutapuram near here.
The group plans to create 60,000 jobs once the project is fully operational with a total investment of $1.2 billion.
Mr. Rosaiah said while the State Government was giving due importance to agriculture, it believed that industrial development was vital for any economy. “Hence, we have to create conducive climate to attract investments,” he emphasised.
The Chief Minister also had a word of praise for the accelerated development in Gujarat.
Without naming BJP, he said forget about the party in power in that State but the progress it had achieved in the field of industrialisation was praiseworthy.
Mr. Rosaiah said that more SEZs should be set up in the coastal areas.
He pointed out that the State Government was following the best rehabilitation and resettlement policy for the project affected people .
Union Minister of State for Textiles Panabaka Lakshmi said the Centre had sanctioned Rs.36 crore to BIAC as part of supporting integrated textile parks and hoped that Brandix would put Vizag in the textile map of the world.
BIAC CEO Ashroff Omar explained about the salient features of the project. State Ministers Kanna Lakshminarayana, B. Satyanarayana, P. Balaraju, Anakapalle MP Sabbam Hari, Leader of Opposition in Legislative Council Dadi Veerabhadra Rao and Yelamanchili MLA U.V. Ramana Murthy were present.
LeT operative planning major attacks in Hyderabad held
Hyderabad police have arrested an alleged terror operative, who has links with Pakistani terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and was planning to carry out attacks here.
Police Commissioner A.K. Khan told reporters Monday evening that Zia-ul-Haq, 34, was arrested during the searches which have been going on in the city for the last few days in view of the alerts of possible terror attacks.
Zia, a native of Adilabad district in Andhra Pradesh and residing here for last several years, was arrested on Andhra Pradesh-Karnataka border. A Chinese-made pistol, ammunition, a Chinese-made grenade and a cell phone were seized from him.
Police claimed that Zia underwent arms training in Pakistan and was planning major strikes in the city. “He wanted to inflict maximum damage through attacks at crowded places,” Khan said. He, however, replied in negative when a reporter asked if the accused had any specific targets.
According to the police commissioner, Zia was also involved in the grenade attack in Odeon Cinema theatre in Hyderabad in 2006. Two persons were injured in that attack.
After studying till Class 12, Zia went to Saudi Arabia for a job and there came under the influence of terrorists. In 2002, he came into contact with LeT operatives and went to Pakistan. “He went to Karachi and from there to Muzaffarabad, where he underwent arms training, including in use of AK 47 and explosives,” the police commissioner said.
After the training, Zia crossed over into India along with six others through Poonch sector of Jammu and Kahsmir. He reached Hyderabad and since then was working as taxi driver and acting as a sleeper cell of the LeT. In December 2005, he went to Delhi where he received a pistol, ammunition and hand grenades and returned to Hyderabad.
Khan said police would interrogate him to find if there were any other terror operatives working with him in Hyderabad. He said central intelligence agencies and the police of other states could also question him about his links in other parts of the country.
Hyderabad police have arrested an alleged terror operative, who has links with Pakistani terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and was planning to carry out attacks here.
Police Commissioner A.K. Khan told reporters Monday evening that Zia-ul-Haq, 34, was arrested during the searches which have been going on in the city for the last few days in view of the alerts of possible terror attacks.
Zia, a native of Adilabad district in Andhra Pradesh and residing here for last several years, was arrested on Andhra Pradesh-Karnataka border. A Chinese-made pistol, ammunition, a Chinese-made grenade and a cell phone were seized from him.
Police claimed that Zia underwent arms training in Pakistan and was planning major strikes in the city. “He wanted to inflict maximum damage through attacks at crowded places,” Khan said. He, however, replied in negative when a reporter asked if the accused had any specific targets.
According to the police commissioner, Zia was also involved in the grenade attack in Odeon Cinema theatre in Hyderabad in 2006. Two persons were injured in that attack.
After studying till Class 12, Zia went to Saudi Arabia for a job and there came under the influence of terrorists. In 2002, he came into contact with LeT operatives and went to Pakistan. “He went to Karachi and from there to Muzaffarabad, where he underwent arms training, including in use of AK 47 and explosives,” the police commissioner said.
After the training, Zia crossed over into India along with six others through Poonch sector of Jammu and Kahsmir. He reached Hyderabad and since then was working as taxi driver and acting as a sleeper cell of the LeT. In December 2005, he went to Delhi where he received a pistol, ammunition and hand grenades and returned to Hyderabad.
Khan said police would interrogate him to find if there were any other terror operatives working with him in Hyderabad. He said central intelligence agencies and the police of other states could also question him about his links in other parts of the country.
sai
