Major J&K towns under curfew, air services suspended

SRINAGAR: Curfew was on Tuesday extended to all major towns of the Kashmir Valley as a precautionary measure after violent clashes left 14 people dead and over 50 injured, official sources said in Srinagar.

Air services to and from Srinagar have been suspended for three more days. Air services in Srinagar were earlier under suspension since September 3 due to renovation work on the runway, but were otherwise operating from the military airport at Awantipora in Pulwama. The services have now been been stopped due to bad security situation in the Valley.

A mob defied curfew in north Kashmir's Khanpora in Baramulla district on Tuesday morning and indulged in heavy stone pelting on the security forces. The police used tear smoke shells to disperse the mob. One protester is reported to have got injured. Heavy pelting was going on the security forces till last reports came in.

Srinagar city, Anantnag, Bijbehara, Awantipora, Lethpora, Pampore and Pulwama towns in south Kashmir and Sopore town in north Kashmir were already under curfew since Sunday.

The new areas that have been brought under the ambit of prohibitory orders include Budgam town, Choon, Mirgund, Ompora, Narkara, Shekhpora, Humhama, IG Road, Gulwanpora, Nadir Gund, Chadoora and Wathoora in central Kashmir's Budgam district.

Curfew was also imposed in Ganderbal and Kangan towns, Kulgam, Qoimoh, Shopian town, Baramulla town, Tangmarg, Kupwara town, Tregham, Kralpora, Handwara, Chotipora, Kulangam and Bandipora town.

A police spokesman said a mob took out the belongings and bedding of police personnel from a police post at Khanabal-Pahalgam Road in Anantnag town on Monday night and set them on fire.

A troops carrier of the state police was torched at Charar-e-Sharief in Budgam district, he said.

Fresh violence erupted in Kashmir on Monday, leaving 17 dead, including a policeman and over 70 injured with mobs torching several government properties and a private school after a television report alleged desecration of a holy book in the US.

The state cabinet yesterday condemned the alleged act of desecration and made a fervent appeal to the people not to take law in their own hands.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had on Monday voiced concern over the ongoing unrest in Jammu and Kashmir. He also sought to reach out to the people in the state, saying their grievances have to be addressed and promised talks within the Indian Constitution with those who abjure violence.

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I am really sorry: Salman Khan

MUMBAI: Actor Salman Khan publicly apologized on Sunday evening for his controversial remarks about the 26/11 terror attack on Mumbai. Salman's comments, that the Pakistani government was not involved in the attack and that the coverage was hyped only because "elite" peole were targeted, raised an outcry in several quarters, including the state government and political parties.
In an interview given to a Pakistani television channel, Salman, who is no stranger to controversy, was asked about the anti-Pakistan sentiment in India

He also said the 26/11 strike got hyped because "it was the elite that were targeted this time, five-star hotels and all. So they panicked. Then they got up and spoke about it. My question is why not before. Attacks have happened in trains and small towns too, but no one talked about them so much".

He also added that there have been attacks in the country from within, but a lot of importance was given to 26/11 and a hue and cry was made over it. Nobody cared about the poor, he added.

When the Shiv Sena, BJP and other parties demanded a public apology from Salman for his "ill-informed and insensitive" comments, the actor tweeted over the internet, saying that in future he would himself record all his interviews so that there was no scope for controversy. However, after his father, noted writer Salim Khan, remarked that his son should apologize, Salman said he was sorry if he had hurt anyone's sentiments.

Film industry insiders said the real reason Salman subsequently decided to apologize was that the controversy would have adversely affected public response to his latest release 'Dabangg'.

The Shiv Sena was the first to demand a public apology from the star. Sena spokesperson and MP Sanjay Raut said Salman forgot that the poor and policemen were also targeted by the terrorists at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Cama Hospital and Nariman House.

"26/11 was a Pakistani attack on the nation. It is absurd on the part of Khan to state that it was an attack on the elite. Also, Khan should not have given an interview to a Pakistani TV channel when Indian channels are banned in Pakistan and Indian artistes cannot perform in that country. He should offer a public apology," Raut asserted.

The BJP joined the chorus of protest, with the general secretary of the party's state unit, Vinod Tawde, stating that Salman had insulted the memory of all those who lost their lives on 26/11. "Khan has not uttered a word about the train and bus blasts or 26/11 in the past. But to give frivolous comments to a Pakistani channel is highly deplorable," Tawde said.

Maharashtra deputy chief minister Chagan Bhujbal, who belongs to the NCP, said Salman's comments were ill-formed and he should have avoided it. He said people from all walks of life were targeted by the Pakistani terrorists during the November siege.

Salman's views also created a wave of resentment in the city police, who said that the actor had not only displayed his ignorance about 26/11, but also showed his insensitivity towards those who had been martyred. "So many policemen and NSG commandos lost their lives bravely battling the Pakistanis. Khan has insulted their memory," a senior IPS official observed.

Condemning the actor's remarks, special prosecutor in the 26/11 trial, Ujwal Nikam, said Salman's statements were "childish". Nikam, who successfully secured a guilty verdict against the lone surviving 26/11 terrorist, Ajmal Kasab, said the trial had proved that the attack was meticulously planned in Pakistan and the targets were carefully selected by the terrorists. "It was an act of war," he added.

Salman first tweeted, "Every human life has equal value n any act of terror, anywhere in the world is unpardonable. be it 9/11 or 26/11." He also said that the interview had been presented in a "wrong manner". He later said, "I gave an interview about three weeks ago. Now during this festive time of Eid and Ganesh utsav it has been twisted around and the way it is coming across on tv it is sound insensitive (sic). I was just saying that all lives are equal whether rich or poor. Some attacks may get more media coverage than the others. Why is that? I think every human being is important. Any act of terrorism (in) any part of the world is unpardonable. A terrorist has no nationality. No religion. No guts. I have and always will have faith in our intelligence agencies. I have always had faith in our armed forces and police force. I did not mean to hurt anyone's sentiments and if I have hurt anybody's sentiments I am really sorry."

Not many in the film industry, except for filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, came out in support of the actor. Bhatt said, "When political fanatics bury themselves within legitimate political parties and begin to strangle freedom of speech under the garb of patriotism, liberty is endangered. However flawed, Salman has a right to express his world view without fear. You may not agree with him, but you can't take away from him the right to have a dissenting view. Are we going to be told by self-proclaimed patriots what to feel, what to think and what to say? Salman and his entire family are patriots to the core. It is heartbreaking to see him being crucified."

following the attack. Salman replied, "Everybody knew the (Pakistani) government was not behind it and that it was a terrorist attack."

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Infosys loses work from Deutsche Bank

BANGALORE: Deutsche Bank is moving a portion of its back office processes from Infosys BPO to its captive centre in the city. Critical processes related to clients' trade and derivatives will move to Deutsche Network Services in Whitefield. Some 150 people are working on this process. Infosys has another 500-plus BPO executives working for various other processes of Deutsche Bank who will remain with Infosys.

Following the bank's decision, Infosys sent an official communique to the 150 employees giving them the option to leave the company to be with Deutsche Network Services for much higher salaries.



"The salary increment varied from person to person, but many got about 50% increase. Most are accepting this MNC job offer," said a person close to the development. When contacted, an Infosys spokesperson told TOI, "Clients often move work back and forth and it is only a routine affair." Deutsche Bank could not be reached for a comment.

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