." Shukkur murder: P. Jayarajan served notice again.

Kannur: Police has served notice to Kannur CPM district secretary P. Jayarajan to appear before investigating team on July 5 for interrogation in connection with the murder of Muslim League worker Pattuvam Ariyil Abdul Shukkur.
However, Jayarajan has reportedly informed the police that he will be able to appear for interrogation only on July 9 due to health-related issues. Police is likely to wait until July 9 for questioning Jayarajan, according to sources.
Meanwhile, the police has also received hints that Jayarajan may not make himself available to them on July 9 as well and may get his date extended after seeking medical treatment in any of the hospitals.
Police is also speculating harsh steps, including arrest of the CPM leader, before he makes such a move

." Shukkur murder: P. Jayarajan served notice again.

Kannur: Police has served notice to Kannur CPM district secretary P. Jayarajan to appear before investigating team on July 5 for interrogation in connection with the murder of Muslim League worker Pattuvam Ariyil Abdul Shukkur.
However, Jayarajan has reportedly informed the police that he will be able to appear for interrogation only on July 9 due to health-related issues. Police is likely to wait until July 9 for questioning Jayarajan, according to sources.
Meanwhile, the police has also received hints that Jayarajan may not make himself available to them on July 9 as well and may get his date extended after seeking medical treatment in any of the hospitals.
Police is also speculating harsh steps, including arrest of the CPM leader, before he makes such a move

Iran pledges to counter "malicious" oil embargo.

Dubai: Iran dismissed a European Union oil embargo which took effect on Sunday and said it was fully prepared to counter the impact of sanctions with a $150 billion war chest of foreign reserves. 
The EU ban on crude imports is part of a push by Western countries aimed at choking Iran's export earnings to try to force it to curb a nuclear programme they fear includes weapons development. Tehran says it has no such plan. 

"All possible options have been planned in government to counter sanctions and we are fully prepared to deal with them," Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi said in comments on the ministry's website. 
Qasemi said Iranian oil was still being sold on international markets and that oil importers would be the big losers if a blockade leads to price rises.
The United States also has sanctions in place, although it has spared all 20 of Iran's major oil buyers from measures against them for dealing in Iranian crude for now.
The European Union banned new contracts for imports of Iranian crude in January, but allowed existing ones to continue until July 1. The embargo also covers transporting Iranian crude or insuring shippers who are carrying it. 

There are signs the embargo is already having an impact on Iran's economy.
Its crude oil exports - which according to EU estimates represent some 80 percent of the government's export revenues and half of its income - have fallen by 40 percent this year. 
Iran used to export a fifth of its crude to EU countries. 
The Iranian rial has fallen sharply and inflation is running at 20 percent. Tens of thousands of Iranians have lost their jobs and trade between Iran and Europe has halved in a year, according to Eurostat data from March. 

The governor of Iran's central bank said it had built up $150 billion in foreign reserves to protect itself.
"We are implementing programmes to counter sanctions and we will confront these malicious policies," Mehr news agency quoted Mahmoud Bahmani as saying.
In three rounds of negotiations, Western powers have demanded Tehran halt its high-grade uranium enrichment activities, ship all high-grade uranium out of the country and close down a key enrichment facility.
Iran says its nuclear programme has only peaceful aims, but Western countries and Israel fear Iran is developing nuclear weapons.  
"Unprecedented oil sanctions on Iran have come into force," British Foreign Secretary William Hague said in a statement on Sunday.
"These are the toughest measures the EU has adopted against Iran to date. They signal our clear determination to intensify the peaceful diplomatic pressure on the Iranian government

Iran pledges to counter "malicious" oil embargo.

Dubai: Iran dismissed a European Union oil embargo which took effect on Sunday and said it was fully prepared to counter the impact of sanctions with a $150 billion war chest of foreign reserves. 
The EU ban on crude imports is part of a push by Western countries aimed at choking Iran's export earnings to try to force it to curb a nuclear programme they fear includes weapons development. Tehran says it has no such plan. 

"All possible options have been planned in government to counter sanctions and we are fully prepared to deal with them," Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi said in comments on the ministry's website. 
Qasemi said Iranian oil was still being sold on international markets and that oil importers would be the big losers if a blockade leads to price rises.
The United States also has sanctions in place, although it has spared all 20 of Iran's major oil buyers from measures against them for dealing in Iranian crude for now.
The European Union banned new contracts for imports of Iranian crude in January, but allowed existing ones to continue until July 1. The embargo also covers transporting Iranian crude or insuring shippers who are carrying it. 

There are signs the embargo is already having an impact on Iran's economy.
Its crude oil exports - which according to EU estimates represent some 80 percent of the government's export revenues and half of its income - have fallen by 40 percent this year. 
Iran used to export a fifth of its crude to EU countries. 
The Iranian rial has fallen sharply and inflation is running at 20 percent. Tens of thousands of Iranians have lost their jobs and trade between Iran and Europe has halved in a year, according to Eurostat data from March. 

The governor of Iran's central bank said it had built up $150 billion in foreign reserves to protect itself.
"We are implementing programmes to counter sanctions and we will confront these malicious policies," Mehr news agency quoted Mahmoud Bahmani as saying.
In three rounds of negotiations, Western powers have demanded Tehran halt its high-grade uranium enrichment activities, ship all high-grade uranium out of the country and close down a key enrichment facility.
Iran says its nuclear programme has only peaceful aims, but Western countries and Israel fear Iran is developing nuclear weapons.  
"Unprecedented oil sanctions on Iran have come into force," British Foreign Secretary William Hague said in a statement on Sunday.
"These are the toughest measures the EU has adopted against Iran to date. They signal our clear determination to intensify the peaceful diplomatic pressure on the Iranian government

Extradition delay of murder accused invites local ireKANNUR: The action committee formed by the people of Kattampally in Kannur seeking the arrest of the accused in the Ramya murder case has alleged that the authorities are not serious about the extradition of the accused, who is in now in Interpole custody in Sharjah.

"Though the Interpol had reportedly taken Shammi Kumar, who allegedly killed his wife Ramya, into custody on May 31, the police here say that they got the information only on June 21, thus delaying the extradition process," said, P Ramesh babu,  chairman of the action committee.

The action committee said if authorities do not submit the required documents to the Interpol through the ministry of external affairs in time, the accused might go scot-free.

"Since the accused has been in the Interpol custody for one month, the police have requested them to extend the custody by another 10 days, but no one is sure whether if request would be accepted," said Ramesh.

According to the action committee if the  state government, the MEA and the police had acted vigilantly, Shammi Kumar

 could have been extradited long back.

the action committee has decided to intensify its agitation and, as part of this, the committee has called a meeting on Tuesday, said Ramesh Babu. He said if anybody is helping the accused by delaying the extradition process, strict action should be taken against such people.

Meanwhile, the police said they have got a warrant issued by the judicial first class magistrate court, Payyannur and the process to get the accused extradited is going on.

It was on January 22, 2010 that the body of Ramya, a resident of Kattampally, was found hanging from the ceiling of a hotel room where the couple along with their daughter Keerthana had checked in two days back.

However, the police could not arrest Shammi Kumar as he escaped to Sharjah immediately after the murder.

Extradition delay of murder accused invites local ireKANNUR: The action committee formed by the people of Kattampally in Kannur seeking the arrest of the accused in the Ramya murder case has alleged that the authorities are not serious about the extradition of the accused, who is in now in Interpole custody in Sharjah.

"Though the Interpol had reportedly taken Shammi Kumar, who allegedly killed his wife Ramya, into custody on May 31, the police here say that they got the information only on June 21, thus delaying the extradition process," said, P Ramesh babu,  chairman of the action committee.

The action committee said if authorities do not submit the required documents to the Interpol through the ministry of external affairs in time, the accused might go scot-free.

"Since the accused has been in the Interpol custody for one month, the police have requested them to extend the custody by another 10 days, but no one is sure whether if request would be accepted," said Ramesh.

According to the action committee if the  state government, the MEA and the police had acted vigilantly, Shammi Kumar

 could have been extradited long back.

the action committee has decided to intensify its agitation and, as part of this, the committee has called a meeting on Tuesday, said Ramesh Babu. He said if anybody is helping the accused by delaying the extradition process, strict action should be taken against such people.

Meanwhile, the police said they have got a warrant issued by the judicial first class magistrate court, Payyannur and the process to get the accused extradited is going on.

It was on January 22, 2010 that the body of Ramya, a resident of Kattampally, was found hanging from the ceiling of a hotel room where the couple along with their daughter Keerthana had checked in two days back.

However, the police could not arrest Shammi Kumar as he escaped to Sharjah immediately after the murder.

. Stop maligning India, steel minister tells LN Mittal.

NEW DELHI: steel minister

on Sunday said NRI billionaire L N Mittal should stop "maligning" India and its government, asking why the steel baron was not setting up his plants in the country. 

"He should stop maligning India and the Indian government. Why is he not beginning work on his projects," Verma said. 

Mittal, chairman and CEO of world's largest steel company, ArcelorMittal, had said in New York on June 19 "Industrialisation is an important part of every major economy's development and by risking progress... India is potentially condemning hundreds of millions to remain in poverty longer than previously anticipated". 

When asked about the problems being faced by Arcelor Mittal with regard to land acquisition in Jharkhand and Orissa, the steel minister said, it is a state issue. "In any case, Mittal never contacted me," he remarked. 

He said the central government would extend cooperation if ArcelorMittal wants to go ahead with its India plans. 

Verma said South Korean steel major Posco is now making progress in its $12 billion projects to set up 12 million tonne steel plant in Orissa. 

"Those who want to go ahead, they like Posco are making progress," the minister said. 

ArcelorMittal is waiting for six years to implement its $30 billion projects mostly in Orissa and Jharkhand states. 

Mittal had recently also stated that it may take his company another five to 10 years to start India projects. 

"We continue to experience difficulties in India. My belief is that the Indian projects may not see the light for five to 10 years," he had said in May.

. Stop maligning India, steel minister tells LN Mittal.

NEW DELHI: steel minister

on Sunday said NRI billionaire L N Mittal should stop "maligning" India and its government, asking why the steel baron was not setting up his plants in the country. 

"He should stop maligning India and the Indian government. Why is he not beginning work on his projects," Verma said. 

Mittal, chairman and CEO of world's largest steel company, ArcelorMittal, had said in New York on June 19 "Industrialisation is an important part of every major economy's development and by risking progress... India is potentially condemning hundreds of millions to remain in poverty longer than previously anticipated". 

When asked about the problems being faced by Arcelor Mittal with regard to land acquisition in Jharkhand and Orissa, the steel minister said, it is a state issue. "In any case, Mittal never contacted me," he remarked. 

He said the central government would extend cooperation if ArcelorMittal wants to go ahead with its India plans. 

Verma said South Korean steel major Posco is now making progress in its $12 billion projects to set up 12 million tonne steel plant in Orissa. 

"Those who want to go ahead, they like Posco are making progress," the minister said. 

ArcelorMittal is waiting for six years to implement its $30 billion projects mostly in Orissa and Jharkhand states. 

Mittal had recently also stated that it may take his company another five to 10 years to start India projects. 

"We continue to experience difficulties in India. My belief is that the Indian projects may not see the light for five to 10 years," he had said in May.

UDF unmindful of Prashant Babu's statement: M M Mani

Idukki: CPM former Idukki secretary M M Mani said that the Oommen Chandy govt is pretending ignorance of the recent revelations made by Prasanth Babu, a bank employee and the driver of Sudhakaran.
Mani also alleged that Chandy's approach speaks of double standard as the UDF govt had created unwanted row with his speech and now are trying to pooh pooh this.

Kannur block Congress General Secretary Prasanth Babu has said KPCC General Secretary and MP K Sudhakaran had conspired to kill CPI(M) Central Committee member E P Jayarajan in 1996.
Prasanth Babu, a bank employee and the driver of Sudhakaran, disclosed this to some television channels.
He also stated that Sudhakaran arranged quotation gangs from Ernakulam in the attack that took place in Savoury hotel at Kannur town, in which one CPI(M) worker, K Nanu, was killed in a bomb blast on June 13, 1992.
Sudhakaran was also behind the attack against the co-operative press in Kannur town, which injured one Prasanth, an employee of the press, Prasanth Babu disclosed

UDF unmindful of Prashant Babu's statement: M M Mani

Idukki: CPM former Idukki secretary M M Mani said that the Oommen Chandy govt is pretending ignorance of the recent revelations made by Prasanth Babu, a bank employee and the driver of Sudhakaran.
Mani also alleged that Chandy's approach speaks of double standard as the UDF govt had created unwanted row with his speech and now are trying to pooh pooh this.

Kannur block Congress General Secretary Prasanth Babu has said KPCC General Secretary and MP K Sudhakaran had conspired to kill CPI(M) Central Committee member E P Jayarajan in 1996.
Prasanth Babu, a bank employee and the driver of Sudhakaran, disclosed this to some television channels.
He also stated that Sudhakaran arranged quotation gangs from Ernakulam in the attack that took place in Savoury hotel at Kannur town, in which one CPI(M) worker, K Nanu, was killed in a bomb blast on June 13, 1992.
Sudhakaran was also behind the attack against the co-operative press in Kannur town, which injured one Prasanth, an employee of the press, Prasanth Babu disclosed