Andhra CM YSR dead in a helicopter crash

[1949 - 2009]

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Rajashekhara Reddy died on Wednesday in a helicopter crash in the jungles of Nallamalla near Kurnool but his body could be recovered only on Thursday morning.
Army commandos recovered the dead bodies of all the five people including YSR Reddy who were on board the twin-engine Bell 430 helicopter.
Reddy was accompanied by his Principal Secretary S Subramanyam, Chief Security Officer ASC Wesley while the helicopter was being flown by two pilots – Group Captain SK Bhatia and Captain MS Reddy – when it went down in bad weather on top of a hill about 40 nautical miles (74 km) east of Kurnool.
An Indian Air Force helicopter had earlier on Thursday morning located the mangled remains of the helicopter.

OVERVIEW

Andhra Pradesh was hanging between hope and despair on Wednesday after the Bell-430 helicopter carrying Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy remained untraceable even 14 hours after losing contact with the air traffic control. Massive search operations, involving seven helicopters and other aircraft, continued in the dense Nallamalla forest area till fading light and adverse weather conditions forced the authorities to call it a day. The full-strength rescue operation will begin at the crack of dawn on Thursday.With the State and Central Governments pulling out all the stops to trace the missing Chief Minister and his chopper, the search operations reached an unprecedented level both in the air and on ground. By late night on Wednesday, the search operation was narrowed down to a radius of 20 km near Atmakur in Kurnool district. About 2,000 personnel from the State police, Andhra Pradesh special police, anti-naxalite Greyhound commandos, anti-terrorist commando force Octopus, CRPF and military were combing the area to locate the lost helicopter. “We are hoping that the helicopter did not crash-land but made an emergency landing. Maybe the Chief Minister and others could not come out due to the inclement weather and heavy rain,” said State Finance Minister K Rosaiah, YS Rajasekhara Reddy’s deputy in the Cabinet, who was coordinating the State Government’s moves.In a reflection of the deep concern for the 60-year-old leader’s safety and security, the Union Government despatched two state-of-the-art Sukhoi fighter aircraft to continue the search operations even at night and under the thick cover of dark clouds as incessant rain lashed the region and made ground search operations difficult. The technological ability of Sukhois to take photographs of objects on the ground even in darkness was used in the attempts to trace the missing chopper. Briefing the media about the search operations, State Finance Minister K Rosaiah and State Chief Secretary Ramakant Reddy said another special aircraft of the Indian Space Research Organisation flew at a very low level (1-km-high) and took 41 photographs. “Experts are digitising the photos and analysing them. I hope that in the next three or four hours, we will have some information,” Reddy said. The Sukhoi aircraft collected a lot of data during its first sortie and it was also being analysed, he added. The Chief Secretary said the search operation involving five helicopters and two aircrafts would resume with daybreak on Thursday with the help of the information gathered till then from different sources. He said the State Government had made a request to the US Defence Department through the Union Government to provide real-time satellite images of Nallamalla forest for the rescue operation. Adding to the woes of the authorities, the Nallamalla forest area has been a stronghold of the Maoists. Though police operations over the last three-four years have weakened the outlaws considerably, they continue to have a presence in the region. The ground forces were also being reinforced by bringing forces from Tamil Nadu and neighbouring districts like Prakasham, Guntur, Nellore, Chittoor and Anantapur. They were all heading towards Kurnool district, which will be the base for the entire search operation. Hundreds of villagers from Atmakur area had also joined the search operations and were carrying drums to scare away the wild animals. The Chief Secretary said the heavy rain was continuing till late night, making the ground search a difficult task. The helicopter with pilot Capt SK Bhatia and co-pilot MS Reddy, the Chief Minister, Principal Secretary P Subhramanyam and Chief Security Officer Wesley had left Hyderabad’s old Begumpet airport at 8.35 am but lost control with the Hyderabad Air Traffic Control and Chennai Air Traffic Control at 9.35 am when it was about 60 nautical miles away from Hyderabad. The Chief Minister was heading for Anupally village on a surprise visit and he had finalised his destination only at 5 am on Wednesday. As the news spread, the State Government immediately started efforts to locate the missing helicopter. It was a rollercoaster rider for the lakhs of supporters of the Chief Minister as television channels were flooded with stories that YS Rajasekhara Reddy was safe and had taken a car to Chittoor. A channel even said he was flying back to Hyderabad. But Rosaiah put an end to the stories by making it clear that the chopper remained untraceable. He made an appeal to the people living in and around the Nallamalla forest area to join the search operations and help trace the Chief Minister. An IAF Chetak Helicopter, an AW-139 helicopter from the Indian Air Force base at Hakimpet and an MI-8 helicopter and ALH from the Yelahanka Air Force Base were part of the air search operations. A twin-engine civil helicopter belonging to Deccan Charters and a civil twin-engine Cessna-206 were also deployed for aerial survey. An IAF HS-749 Avro aeroplane was also sent to carry out low-height reconnaissance. KV Brahmanand Reddy, managing director of the Andhra Pradesh Civil Aviation Corporation, said the missing helicopter was suitably equipped with an emergency locator Transmitter (ELT) and was capable of automatic transmission of frequency 121.5 and 243 MHz, which would have activated in case of any crash-landing or other unforeseen eventuality. A Dornier-228 twin-engine aircraft has been launched from the Yelahanka IAF Base, which is specifically equipped to pick up ELT frequency transmission. The aircraft did not pick up any transmission in the target zone as identified from the last-known HF transmission. “As there is no indication of such an activation by satellite, we expect no such eventuality. The likelihood of the helicopter having made a safe landing at an inaccessible location is highly probable,” he said.SEQUENCE OF EVENTS
8.35 am — A twin-engined Bell-430 helicopter of AP Govt carrying CM YS Rajasekhara Reddy takes off from old Begumpet Airport in HyderabadThe helicopter, also carrying senior Govt officials, heads for Chittoor district. Chopper was scheduled to land there at 10.40 am
9.35 am — The helicopter, flown by two pilots, loses contact while flying over Nallamala forest, a stronghold of Naxalites, in the Rayalaseema regionState machinery swings into action to trace the missing chopper. State Finance Minister K Rosaiah rushes to the CM’s Office, calls an emergency meetingConflicting reports over YSR’s whereabouts as Social Welfare Minister P Subhash Chandra Bose says he was safe after the helicopter landed in Kurnool district, but Rosaiah confirms at 3.50 pm that no contact established Four helicopters — two Chetaks, an MI8 chopper and a Dhruv advanced light helicopter – take off from Bengaluru to trace YSR’s chopperTwo helicopters from Hakimpet Air Command in Secunderabad return because of inclement weather, while three from Bangalore air command and a private helicopter from Nellore continue search operationsAn UAV from the Defence Ministry also pressed into serviceIAF presses into service Su-30MKI fighter aircraft with synthetic aperture radar for high-resolution ground mapping in and around Kurnool
6.45 pm — Helicopter search stopped because of poor lightHome Ministry asks 5,000 CRPF personnel to carry out searches on the route over which YSR was to flySome villagers reported seeing the chopper between 9.15 am and 9.30 am between Atmakur and Bandi Atmakur in Kurnool district.

"Beware of the pitfalls of unsafe sex" - Renuka advices

“Thank God, my kid is healthy and does not have HIV, but I wonder if I will be lucky this time,” says Renuka, a 28 year old woman from Andhra. Five months pregnant with her second child, Renuka’s anxiety is both evident and understandable – she has been HIV positive since 2006.

A blood test at a blood donation camp in 2007 revealed the bitter truth. One doesn’t have to wonder long about the source of the deadly virus as she frankly confesses, “It is due to unsafe physical relations with non-regular partners.” And though she struggles to live peacefully with the condition, trying to integrate herself with the community, the pang of dejection is never far away. Grateful just to be alive, however, she tries to stay optimistic.

Renuka is not the only one in this lonely fight. Millions of others have contracted the virus in the same manner. Now aware of the pitfalls of unsafe sex, Renuka strongly advises against having multiple and unsafe sexual relationships.

The Andhra Pradesh AIDS Control Society survey reveals that AP has the highest prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS in the country, with two percent of the low-risk general adult populations represented by women. It has also been found that the prevalence of sex with non-regular partners (NRPs) is substantially higher in the state than the all-India average. As the problem reaches epidemic proportions, the issues of care and support for the affected individuals and prevention of HIV transmission from those affected has become critical.

Lack of awareness and knowledge about HIV/AIDS among women - both educated and un-educated – is a major factor leading to the virus’ spread. “Usually people do not know how the virus is transmitted and the gamut of myths surrounding the disease doesn’t help matters either,” says Dr. Surendra Mantena, medical expert and consulting physician at MedPlus Health Services.

He adds, “At our clinics, we believe the primary control measure is to educate people and demarcate between facts and myths surrounding HIV/AIDS. HIV is spread by sexual contact with an infected person, by sharing needles and/or syringes (primarily for drug injection) with someone who is infected, or less commonly through transfusions of infected blood or blood clotting factors. Since all transfused products are now routinely screened for HIV, the chances of infection through this route are remote. It is important to know that HIV does not survive well in the environment, making the possibility of environmental transmission remote. Normal physical contact with a HIV infected person also does not transmit infection. Babies born to HIV-infected women may become infected before or during birth or through breast-feeding after birth.”
On the importance of curbing this epidemic, he comments, “Individuals should become aware of the risk factors associated with contracting HIV including unsafe sexual practices and IV drug use. Since HIV tends to be asymptomatic until an advanced stage, periodic testing the key for people at risk. Public health measures should include Counselling and Confidential Testing.
Hereby there is a friendly advice to all those youngsters about to get married.. It’s not a sin to get yourself thoroughly checked up before marriage. Go get the HIV test done. It’s good for both of you.

Slumdog Millionaire star Letika- aka- Rubina for sale ???

The father of a child actress in the film Slumdog Millionaire is offering to sell her for £200,000, it was claimed yesterday.
Rafiq Qureshi, who lives in poverty in Mumbai, reportedly attempted to trade nine-year-old Rubina Ali in an illegal adoption deal.
Rubina played the young heroine Letika in the movie, which has grossed £185million worldwide and swept the board at the Oscars.
It had been hoped that the film's success would transform her life. But her father and an uncle were said to have claimed that they are being forced to put her up for sale because the family has not received enough of the proceeds.
They were accused of using her fame as a bargaining tool to push up the price they can get for her - first asking £50,000 and later quadrupling the amount. The uncle, Moihuddin Qureshi, was said to have told an undercover reporter: 'The child is special now. This is not an ordinary child. This is an Oscar child.'
The claims were made following a 'sting' operation by the News of the World, which said it had been alerted that the child was for sale in a tip-off from a former family neighbour.
It was reported that the little girl, her father and uncles all went to a hotel to meet the 'prospective buyers', supposedly a family from Dubai, to discuss the deal in detail.
Confronted about the story yesterday, Rafiq Qureshi angrily denied that he was trying to sell Rubina, instead insisting that he was discussing a film role.
A source close to the family told the Daily Mail: 'Rafiq was told to bring Rubina to the hotel, where a rich man wanted to discuss a job with him.
'He happily agreed because Rubina can earn good money since her Slumdog success. She has had many movie offers. Rafiq didn't understand everything that was being said to him but he was happy to discuss money for a wellpaying job for his daughter. He loves her like any father loves his daughter.
According to the News of the World, Mr Qureshi is desperate to make the most of his daughter's success and get them out of their hut in the Mumbai slum known as Poor Man's Colony.
It claimed he had already been approached by a family from Dubai, but was hoping to start a bidding war.
Rafiq allegedly directed a reporter to his brother-in-law Rajan More, who said: 'Rubina's life is miserable. Obviously if you wanted to adopt, we could discuss this, but her parents would expect some proper compensation return. We are talking around £50,000 for this to happen.'
Later Rafiq added: 'Whatever money you have agreed with Rajan, I will accept. There is a lot of interest in Rubina - she has become very famous.'
Trafficking of poor children from across the Asian sub continent has become an increasing problem.
Some are sold to the Middle East where they are forced to risk their lives as camel jockeys or subjected to sexual exploitation and abuse.
The shack that Rubina calls home is yards from an open sewer. There was an outcry after pictures emerged of her and co-star Azharuddin Mohammed
in Ismail, who played the young Salim, living in squalor despite the film's success. Both families have consistently complained that the filmmakers have abandoned them to their fate.
Producer Christian Colson told the Daily Mail last night: 'We have friends and colleagues in Bombay who are trying to speak with Mr Qureshi to get to the bottom of what happened. Her family is under a lot of pressure.'
He and director Danny Boyle are planning next month to visit the young stars, who were plucked off the street for auditions to star in the film.
Mr Colson added: 'Danny and I are committed to Rubina and Azharuddin for the long term. We are trying to keep a roof over their heads, and keep them in school until they are 18. The problem is there are a lot of parties who are telling the parents different things.
'We agreed to buy apartments a couple of months ago but that process stalled because they decided they wanted the money up front instead.
'In the past few days we have got things back on track, and are now back looking at apartments.'
The film makers have set up a trust to give a lump sum to each child when they are 18.
Properties will also be placed in trust, with ownership released to the parents only when the children turn 18 and have completed their education.
Mr Colson added: 'We can't buy the properties outright and give them to them, because in all honesty they will sell them.'

Want a baby girl? then move to Africa

Couples hoping for a baby girl might be best advised to go and live in Africa, if a recent study is to be believed.
It points to big differences in the proportions of male to female births between tropical latitudes and temperate and sub-arctic latitudes. This gap remains even when local cultural and social preferences -- such as the preferences for males in India and China, resulting in the abortion of female foetuses -- are taken into account. University of Georgia endocrinologist Kristen Navara looked at official data collected from 202 countries over a decade, from 1997-2006, and published in the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) World Factbook. Averaged around the world, there were 51.3 percent male births to 48.7 female births, she found. But this average masked big differences according to latitude: in tropical latitudes, male dominance fell to 51.1 percent of births. In tropical sub-Saharan Africa, it was just 50.8 percent. "Significantly more females were produced at tropical latitudes," she told AFP. "This relationship emerged despite enormous lifestyle and socio-economic variation among countries and continents." Navara, whose paper appears in the British journal Biology Letters, said more research is needed to explain the puzzle. She speculated that human gametes -- sperm and eggs -- may be affected by ambient light and temperature, and this could exert a bias in favour of one gender or another.

Beware Veggies !!

Researchers from at University of Minnesota, University of Texas and St John's University have revealed that while vegetarians tend to eat healthier diets and are less likely than non-vegetarians to be overweight or obese, they may be at increased risk for binge eating with loss of control In addition, former vegetarians may be at increased risk for extreme unhealthful weight-control behaviours. Examples of extreme unhealthful weight-control behaviours included "took diet pills," "made myself vomit," "used laxatives" and "used diuretics." While analysing more than 2,500 males and females aged 15-23, the research team found that vegetarian adolescents and young adult were more likely to report binge eating with loss of control compared to non-vegetarians. "Adolescent and young adult vegetarians may experience the health benefits associated with increased fruit and vegetable intake and young adults attain the added benefit of decreased risk for overweight and obesity," said researchers. "However, vegetarians may be at increased risk for disordered eating behaviors, such as binge eating and unhealthful weight-control behaviors. "Study results indicate that it would be beneficial for clinicians to ask adolescents and young adults about their current and former vegetarian status when assessing risk for disordered eating behaviors. "Furthermore, when guiding adolescent and young adult vegetarians in proper nutrition and meal planning it may also be important to investigate an individual's motives for choosing a vegetarian diet," they added. The findings appear in Journal of the American dietetic Association.

India's youngest organ donor is a 16 month old baby !

Sixteen-month-old Abhilasha became the country's youngest donor to have donated both her eyes and kidneys after she died, giving someone out there a new lease of life.Abhilasha means heart's desire. Born 15 years after their marriage, she was Rajendra and Vineeta Rahurikar's dream come true. But it turned out to be a difficult journey for the little girl right from birth. Born without a bile duct, her liver was severely damaged. Her brain too had fluid accumulation for which she had to undergo surgery. But she never recovered. At 16 and a half months, Abhilasha was declared brain dead.Though torn by their loss, the Rahurikars took a courageous decision - to donate Abhilasha's organs. Her eyes and kidneys were donated to four patients, making her the youngest organ donor in the country"She has given me the courage to take such a decision. She gave both of us the strength. She gave us the courage," sighed Vineeta Rajurikar, Abhilasha's Mother.Brain dead or cadaver donations are rare in India because of poor awareness. Relatives are still unwilling to donate organs of brain dead patients because they believe death only occurs when patients stop breathing"Brain is the master. Once it dies, the person is dead," explained Dr V P SIngh, Neurosurgeon, Apollo Hospital.Cadaver transplants have also not taken off because there are no organ banks. But doctors say if people pledge their organs before they die, it will go a long way to reduce long waiting lists of transplant cases.Just 1000 transplants have been done from brain dead patients ever since the act was passed in 1994. Abhilasha is unique. Her case shows how awareness can help transform lives. Join your voices and sing with me ... Abhilasha - Amar Rahe !

Family planning for women beggars ! - must and should !

Most of us know that the woman beggars on the roads and at traffic signals are often found carrying big tummies ! Yes they are pregnants again soon after they deliver a baby ! Lets talk openly and in a broader sense. It's human tendency that one feels erotic at times and feels like satisfying their pleasure hunger. It's a different case when we speak about married and unmarried people in the society. But for those less fortunates on the road side, they have no other go than satisfying those men who crave for sex. They lend their bodies just for the sake of money. Finally, they are pregnants and they deliver babies on the roadside itself. I have seen a lady delivering a baby at around 11 in the night and cutting off the naval connection with a blade. Yes! I was shocked, surprised, felt sad and what not ! I was expression less and speech less. Most sadest part is that those babies are the ones who feed their moms. Yes ! the lady takes the baby to a nearby traffic signal and out of sympathy, people just drop coins into her hands. Those little innocent babies are not fed properly and are left with no concern on roads. On one unfortunate day, those babies grow up to see the world with nobody to care for them. With no other go, they turn into beggars too. If it is a girl child, she turns into a prostitute to earn her daily bread and if its a boy child, he turns out to be a "chotu- the chai wala" or a pocket picker. In worst cases they turn out to be rack pickers. The government has many schemes for various caders of less fortunates living in the society. But what about those who have no home to live, nothing to wear and nothing to eat? The point that I want to put across is that " THEY NEED FAMILY PLANNING OERATIONS DONE FOR SURE". Yes ! or else India will turn out to be a country having highest percentage of beggars. Coz, beggars have no overview of life and their productivity goes into the profession of begging ! I have written this write-up with a positive intention so that my trials of making the officials understand will succeed if atleast a few of you read it and pass on the message. I am sure one day this will reach the officials. Ofcourse those sincere !

Slumdog Millionaire - Worth an Oscar !!!

2008 was a slow year for movies. Nevertheless, the nominees for this year’s Oscar race have been released, and it’s no surprise that all the usual suspects have received nods from the Academy — Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett and Meryl Streep, to name a few.
However, one major breath of fresh air standing tall amidst the Hollywood giants nominated for Best Picture is Slumdog Millionaire. Simon Beaufoy’s (Full Monty) adaptation of Vikas Swarup’s novel of life in the slums of Mumbai shocked many by taking home Golden Globes for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Screenplay. The only question now is whether it will be enough to turn the head of Oscar.
The premise surrounds Jamal (Dev Patel), who lands a spot on India’s version of the TV program "Who Wants to be a Millionaire." Jamal remarkably makes his way to the final question but time runs out and he is forced to wait until the following day for his chance at 20 million rupees.
When the lights go down, Jamal is whirled backstage and tortured after the producers of the show alert authorities to the likelihood that Jamal is a cheat. After all, how could someone with no education and who has spent his entire life living in the slums of Mumbai do so well? Surely this is not the sort of ship Regis Philbin ran. The remainder of the film skillfully cuts between the present and past through Jamal’s flashbacks, as he reveals the often-painful memories of how he came to know the answers.
British director Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, 28 Days Later) has rightfully earned a Best Director nomination for this triumphant illustration of the value of human experience. The bracing scenes within the vibrant slums of Mumbai are edited in the same manner as the exhilarating City of God and make the film worth seeing on its own.
Rather than risking any entanglements with issues surrounding religion and politics, the filmmakers explore warmer central themes, similar to those of Benjamin Button — pertaining to destiny, human experience, life, the people we meet along the way and the influence they have on us.
Although the film is indeed brutal at times, the finished product is overwhelmingly positive. The filmmakers even throw in a Bollywood number during the credits to ensure we leave with a smile.
Even though the film did not receive any nominations in the acting department — which may be a deciding factor come Feb. 22 — the performances are exceptional. From the child actors racing through the slums of Mumbai to the young adults finding their way in a modern India, we are engrossed in their entire journey. It may lack the star power of Benjamin Button or Revolutionary Road, but it does have a huge heart, and it becomes a true challenge for anyone to not root for the hero.
Slumdog has been nominated for 10 Oscars, but time will only tell if the Academy follows the Golden Globes. It deserves to be on the list of this year’s nominees, of which includes The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Milk, The Reader and Frost/Nixon, but it seems difficult to conceive that the Academy will look past the polished Benjamin Button.
Slumdog has the feeling of an independent foreign film but the mainstream leash that is Fox Searchlight Pictures still doesn’t feel far from its side. For instance, there is a love-at-first-sight storybook romance that exists throughout the film and drives the majority of the central character’s decisions. It may be a recycled concept, but it is told effectively and does help bolster our support for the protagonist.
But while Slumdog is a very good film, there is a hesitancy to call it great. It is not of the same quality as last year’s winner No Country for Old Men, and, had it been released a year prior, would likely not have found itself among the distinguished nominees. There are an awful lot of coincidences occasionally stretching our belief. Still, it is meant to be a crowd-pleaser, and in a year with so many forgettable films and such economic uncertainty, Slumdog is a celebration of life worth using a lifeline to phone a friend about.

Terrorists confess too ?

Ajmal Kasab is the lone surviving terrorist in the custody of the Mumbai police. After days of interrogation by several agencies such as the Mumbai Crime branch, the Intelligence Bureau, RAW, Mumbai ATS and the FBI, the police have managed to piece together the entire confession of Kasab. Kasab, who speaks in Urdu, told his interrogators about the how the entire operation was planned and how he and his accomplices entered into Mumbai and carried out the attack. Mohammad Ajmal Amir Qasab, 21, is a resident of Faridkot, Tehsil, Dipalpur Dist -Ukada, State -Suba Punjab, Pakistan, is a labour by occupation, according to his confession statement.

The confession verbatim:

"I have studied up to the 4th standard from the government primary school. After leaving school, I went to Lahore [Images]. My brother Afzal stays at Galli No. 54, R.No. 12, Mohalla Tohit Abad, near Yadgar Minar, Lahore. I did labour jobs at different places till 2005. During that period I used to visit my native place. In the year 2005, I had a quarrel with my father. Therefore, I left my house and went to Ali Hajveri Darbar at Lahore.
At the said place, the boys who had run away from their houses are kept. From there, the boys are sent to different places for employment. One day when I was there, a person by name Shafiq came there and took me with him. He was in the catering business. He was from Zhelam. I started working with him on daily wages. I was given Rs 120 per day. After some days my salary was increased up to Rs 200 per day. I worked with him till 2007.
While I was working with Shafiq, I came in contact with one Muzaffar Lal Khan, aged 22 years, r/o Village -Romiya, Tehsil & Dist -Atak, State -Sarhad, Pakistan. As we were not getting enough money, we decided to carry out robbery / dacoity at some place so that we will get a large amount. As such we left the job.Thereafter we went to Rawalpindi. We hired a flat at Bangash Colony, Rawalpindi, and started residing in it. Afzal had located a house where he thought we would get a large amount.
He had surveyed the said place and drawn a map of the said place. We required some fire-arms for our purpose. Afzal told me that he could get some fire-arms at his native place, but it was very risky, as there was frequent checking at his native place.
While we were in search of fire-arms we saw some LeT stalls at Raja bazaar, Rawalpindi, on the day of Bakri-id. We thought that, even if we procured fire-arms, we could not operate them. Therefore, we decided to join LeT for weapon training.
After making enquiries we reached LeT office. In the LeT office we met a person. We told him that we wanted to join LeT. He made some enquiry with us, noted our names and address and told us to come on next day.On the next day, we went to LeT office and met the same man. One more person was present with him.
He gave us Rs 200 and some receipt. Then he gave us the address of a place called Marqas Taiyyaaba, Muridke, and told us to go to the said place where LeT is having their training camp. As directed, we went to the said place by bus. We showed the receipt given to us at the gate of the camp. We were allowed inside. At the entry gate, our details were filled up on two forms. Then we were taken to the actual camp area. At the said place, initially we were selected for 21 days training called Daura-Sufa. From the next day, we started attending training. The daily programme was as mentioned below.

04.15: Wake up call and thereafter namaz

08.00: Breakfast

08.30-10.00: Lecture on Hadis and Quran by Mufti Sayyed

10.00-12.00: Rest

12.00-13.00: Lunch Break

13.00-14.00: Namaz

14.00-16.00: Rest

16.00-18.00: PT and Game Instructor Fadulla

18.00-20.00: Namaz and other work

20.00-21.00: Dinner.

"After completion of the above said training, we were selected for another training called Daura-Ama. The said training was also for 21 days. We were then taken in a vehicle to a place called Mansera, Buttal Village. At the said place, we were given training of all weapons for 21 days. The daily programme was as mentioned below.

04.15 - 05.00: Wake up call and thereafter namaaz

05.00-6.00: PT Instructor Abu Anas

08.00: Breakfast

08.30-11.30: Weapons training. Trainer Abdul Rehman, Weapons AK-47, Green-O, SKS, Uzi gun, pistol, revolver

11.30-12.00: Rest

12.00-13.00: Lunch break

13.00-14.00: Namaaz

14.00-16.00: Rest

16.00-18.00: PT

18.00-20.00: Namaz and other work

20.00-21.00: Dinner

After completing the said training, we were told that, we will be given the next advance training, but for that purpose we have to do some Khidmat for two months (Khidmat is a sort of service in the said camp as per the trainees' liking). We agreed to do the Khidmat for two months."
"After two months, I was allowed to go to meet my parents. I stayed with my parents for one month. Thereafter, I went to LeT camp situated at Shaiwainala, Muzzafarabad, for further advanced training. At that place, they took my photographs and filled up some forms. Then we were taken to Chelabandi pahadi area for training called Duara-khas. The said training was for 3 months. The training included PT, handling of all weapons and firing practice of the said weapons, training of handling of hand grenade, rocket launchers and mortars. The daily programme was as mentioned below.
04.15-05.00: Wake-up call and thereafter namaz

05.00-06.00: PT Instructor Abu Mawiya

08.00: Breakfast

08.30-11.30: Weapons training handling of all weapons and firing practices of the said weapons, training of handling of hand grenade, rocket launchers and mortars, Green-O, SKS, Uzi gun, pistol, revolver, Hand grenade, rocket launchers. Trainer Abu Mawiya

11.30-12.00: Rest

12.00-13.00: Lunch Break

13.00-14.00: Namaaz

14.00-16.00: Weapon training and firing practice. Lecture on Indian security agencies

16.00-18.00: PT

18.00-20.00: Namaz and other work

20.00-21.00: DinnerAt the said place 32 persons were present for training.

Out of these 32 trainees, 16 were selected for some confidential operation by one Zaqi-ur-Rehman Chacha. Out of these 16 trainees 3 trainees ran away from the camp. The above said chacha then sent the remaining 13 of us along with a person called Kafa to the above said earlier camp at Muridke. At Muridke, we were taught swimming and getting acquainted with the environment experienced by a fisherman on a sea.
We did some experimental tours by launches on the sea. During the said training, we were given lectures on working of Indian security agencies. We were shown the clippings highlighting the atrocities on Muslims in India.After completing the said training, we were allowed to go to our native places. For seven days, I stayed with my family members. After seven days I went to the LeT camp at Muzzafarabad. The above said 13 of us were present for training. Thereafter, as per the instructions of Zaki-ur-Rehman, the above said Kafa took us to camp at Muridke. At the said camp again we underwent the training of swimming and getting acquainted with the environment and experience on sea. The training continued for one month.
During the said training, we were given lectures on India and its security agencies, including RAW. We were also given the training on how to evade the chase by security personnel. We were strictly instructed not to make phone calls to Pakistan after reaching India.
The names of the persons present for the said training are as mentioned below. Mohd Azmal aka Abu Muzahid Ismail aka Abu Umar Abu AliAbu AkshaAbu Umer Abu ShoebAbdul Rehman (Bada)Abdul Rehman (Chhota)AfadullaAbu UmarAfter completion of training, Zaki-ur-Rehman aka Chacha selected 10 of us and formed 5 teams each having two persons on 15 Sept 2008. My team included myself and Ismail. Our code name was VTS team. We were then shown the site 'Google Earth' on Internet. On the same site, we were shown the information about Azad Maidan, Mumbai, how and where to get down at Mumbai. We were shown the film on VT railway station and the film showing the commuters moving around at rush hours at VT railway station.
We were instructed to carry out the firing at rush hours in the morning between 7 to 11 hours and between 7 to 11 hours in the evening. Then kidnap some persons, take them to the roof of some nearby building. After reaching at the roof top, we were to contact chacha. After that, chacha would give the telephone or mobile no of electronic media. We were then to contact the media persons on the same phone. And as per the instructions received from chacha, we would make demands for releasing the hostages. This was the general strategy decided by our trainers.
The date fixed for the said operation was 27th Sept 2008. However, the operation was cancelled for some reason. We stayed at Karachi. Again we made practice of travelling by speed boats on the sea. We stayed there upto 23rd Nov 2008. The other teams were as mentioned below.
2nd Team 1) Abu Aksha2) Abu Umar3rd Team1) Bada Abdul Rehman2) Abu Ali
4th Team1) Chhota Abdul Rehman2) Afadulla5th Team1) Shoeb2) Abu UmerOn 23rd Nov 2008, the above said teams including our team left from Azizabad, Karachi along with Zaki-ur-Rehman aka Chacha and Kafa. We were taken to the nearby sea shore. At 04.15 hours we reached the sea shore. At the sea shore we boarded a launch. After traveling for 22 to 25 nautical miles we met a bigger launch in the sea. We boarded the said launch and after journey of 1 hour we boarded a bigger ship by name Al-Huseini in the deep sea. While boarding the said ship, each of us was given a sack containing 8 grenades, one AK-47 rifle, 200 cartridges, 2 magazines and one cell phone for communication.
Then we started towards Indian coast. When we reached Indian waters, the crew members of Al-Huseini ship hijacked one Indian launch. The seamen from the said launch were shifted to Al-Huseini ship. We were then boarded the hijacked Indian ship. One Indian seaman was kept along with us.
At the gun point, he took us towards the Indian coast. After journey of about 3 days, we reached near sea shore of Mumbai. While we were at some distance from the shore, Ismail and Afadulla killed the Indian seaman, (Tandel) at the basement of the said Indian launch. Then we boarded floatable dinghi and reached Budwar Park Jetty as per the instructions received earlier.
After getting down at Budwar Park, I went along with Ismail to VT railway Station by taxi. After reaching the hall of VT railway station Ismail and myself, went to the common toilet, took out the weapons from our sacks, loaded them, came out of toilet and started firing indiscriminately towards the passengers.
Suddenly one police officer in uniform came towards us and opened fire. In retaliation, we threw hand grenades towards him and also opened fire towards him. Then we went inside the railway station threatening the commuters and randomly firing at them.
Then we came out of the railway station and started searching for a building with roof top. But we did not find a suitable building. Therefore, we entered a lane. Then we entered a building and went upstarts. On 3rd or 4th floor we searched for hostages but we found that the said building was a hospital and not a residential building. Therefore we started coming down.
At that time policemen started firing at us. As such we threw some grenades towards them. When we were coming out of the hospital premises, we suddenly saw one police vehicle passing in front of us. Therefore, we took shelter behind a bush.
Another vehicle passed in front of us and stopped at some distance. One police officer got down from the said vehicle and started firing at us. One bullet hit my hand and my AK-47 dropped down. I bent to pick it up when second bullet hit me on the same hand. I got injured. Ismail opened fire at the officers who were in said vehicle. They got injured and firing from their side stopped.
We waited for some time and then went towards the said vehicle. Three bodies lying there. Ismail removed the three bodies and drove the said vehicle. I sat next to him. While we were moving in the said vehicle, some police men tried to stop us. Ismail opened fire towards them while we were on the move; our vehicle got punctured near a big ground by the side of road. Ismail got down from the driver seat, stopped a car at the gun point and removed the three lady occupants from the said car. Then Ismail carried me to the car and sat me inside as I was injured. Then he drove the said car.
While we were moving in the said car, we were stopped on the road near sea shore. Ismail fired towards them. Some policemen got injured. Police also opened fire towards us. Due to the police firing Ismail got injured. Then police re-moved us to some hospital. In the hospital I came to know that Ismail succumbed to the injuries he has sustained."

Missing Hyderabad men in terror camps?

In a chilling revelation, intelligence department officials have said that at least 40 young men from the Old City have 'disappeared' since the Mecca Masjid blasts in May last year. According to the officials, this list of 40 does not refer to those reported missing by the family or those the police want to round up for questioning with regard to their involvement in any subversive activities. "These are youths from the old city's lower middle class families. They are young and easily influenced by extreme Islamic teachings which glorify jihad and martyrdom. We suspect that they have slipped out to training camps either within or outside the country with the intention of returning and causing trouble," said one official. Viquar Ahmed, who was involved in the shooting incident in Santoshnagar on Wednesday and who is still at large, was one such missing youth. "Ever since the Mecca Masjid blast, he was not traceable in Hyderabad. He surfaced only 10 days ago and we still do not know where he was during this time. But the fact that he is now carrying weapons and is accompanied by other armed accomplices makes us suspect that he has been busy," said the official. Viquar's cousin, Dr Sulaiman alias Amjad, a resident of Santoshnagar, has been similarly missing from the city for several months now. His family has registered no missing case or one of kidnapping, said one officer and listed Amjad as one of the 40 youths who could return to foment trouble in the city or elsewhere in the state or country. After the Santoshnagar incident, the police are stepping up the hunt for these 40 youths whom they suspect are being turned into terrorists by jihadi groups. Another worrying factor for the police is that this list of youths does not include figures from Ranga Reddy district.

TOI