The Times of India - March 6, 2003.

J-K's first all-women police station turns tide

Srinagar - March 7 - Outside the first all-women police station at Nehru Park here, headed by Inspector Naseem Akhtar, male police personnel and bystanders gather to watch women enforce law. "From March 1, women have been pouring in with their complaints," said Akhtar. Outside, tempers flare as Shafiqa Bhat directs one motorist to stop. An angry woman steps out of her car fuming that Shafiqa was rude to her. A few feet away, two of her male colleagues claim they would have dealt appropriately with such a rude remark from a civilian. Kashmir IG, K. Rajendra, hopes the all-women police station would end stereotypes about police.

The Indian Express - March 8, 2003.

Friendly neighborhood cops: Govt. moots 'tourism police'

New Delhi - March 7 - The Delhi government has asked the police to examine the feasibility of initiating a pilot project that would orient policemen in dealing with tourists in the capital. The idea was mooted at a meeting chaired recently by Delhi Chief Secretary, Shailaja Chandra, which was held after Delhi Tourism Development Corporation received a proposal from a private company to supply five vehicles and set up five kiosks free of charge for the purpose. Tourism officials say that cases where tourists have been taken for a ride by unscrupulous taxi drivers or touts have focused on the need for a tourism police wing. "After all, tourism departments the world over depend heavily on the police for prompt action against those caught cheating tourists," they argue. 

Hindustan Times - March 8, 2003.

Dedicated forces to guard oil installations

Dibrugarh - The increased threat to oil installations by militant outfits is being taken seriously in the official circle, and plans are being made to have dedicated battalions for protecting the petroleum sector in Assam, one of the sensitive states in the Northeastern part of India. The Assam police may raise a special task force to protect the petroleum industry and to assist the CISF and other forces that are currently responsible for the safety of refineries, oil collecting stations and drill sites. Geological Survey teams will also be given enhanced security cover, as there is information that the militants might attempt to harm the geologists working in the fields. 

Times of India March 10, 2003

Cyber victims fight shy of going to police

New Delhi - March 11 - In the last three years, only 12 cases of cyber crime have been reported in the Capital. However, recorded facts of Delhi Police do not match reality. Victims prefer not to report the matter to police being afraid of harassment. Mr. Rahul Pratap Singh preferred to change his Internet service provider and e-mail, rather than bring the mater to the police's notice when he started getting bulk obscene mails. Police argue that it is not a case of bad image, but that of low public awareness. "The IT Act, 2000 needs to be revamped," said a police officer. According to advocate, Mr. Ashok Arora, " The law punishes a person who produces any pornographic or obscene material. If some passerby watches a nude poster, his act is not punishable. It is the person who produces such a thing who stands liable to be punished under the law." However, he adds, "bringing in a law that restricts or bans accessing or viewing such websites will be infringement on civil rights." Experts also say that investigating agencies are ill-equipped to handle cyber crime cases. "They do not have the basic cyber forensic and other tools for tracking and investigation purposes," says a cyber expert. However, Mr. Qamar Ahmed, Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime), Delhi, says, "We have every tool and a qualified team. People should report to us." In about 4 out of 12, crime was committed from cyber café. We had earlier moved a proposal that cyber cafes should have a record of all customers with their contact numbers and addresses. But the ministry did not agree to it," says Mr. Ahmed.

The Statesman - March 12, 2003

Internet-related Crimes On The Rise: Can Pose Serious Threats

Putrajya- Wednesday - "Intelligent Hydra viruses which replicate and steal sensitive information sending e-mails using another's identity and source code theft are just some of the challenges authorities have come up against," said cyber crime specialist Rohas Nagpal, President of the India-based Asian School of Cyber Laws. In the case of an attempted cyber murder, an unidentified individual hacked into a hospital's computer system and altered the prescription for a patient - the intended victim - to include dangerous drugs. Without disclosing identities, Nagpal said hospital authorities detected the alteration and prevented any untoward incident. Source codes for software - which tell how the software is constructed - could be sold for a high price or pose a security risk if it falls into the wrong hands. "By knowing how the software was written, one could easily look for loopholes for viruses to attack or for hackers to enter into the network to, say, erase a prison record or create a false identity for a terrorist." Other possibilities include the sabotage of computerised industrial machinery, the use of another person's e-mail identity and hijacking of servers or nodes belonging to banks to secure financial information or diverting funds to the saboteur's account.

New Straits Times - March 27, 2003

Police foil Ulfa bid to blow up oil depot in Assam, India

Guwahati - March 30 - The Police on Saturday foiled an attempt by the United Liberation Front of Assam (Ulfa) to blow up the Tinsukia oil depot. Later, two hardcore Ulfa militants were caught in Guwahati. On Sunday, five militants including Subansiri area commander Jogen Saikia surrendered before the Jorhat authorities. A police patrol party accidentally bumped into five militants near a graveyard behind the Tinsukia oil terminal on Saturday afternoon. After a brief exchange of fire, they fled the scene leaving behind a map of the IOC oil terminal, a torch and some assorted ammunition. The map is a cause of worry for the police in the wake of attack on the Digboi refinery. Later, after 12 hours, two ulfa militants coming from the Bhutan headquarters were caught in Guwahati.

Hindustan Times - March 31, 2003

Food for Thought

Most of us miss out on life's big prizes. The Pulitzer. The Nobel. Oscars.
Tonys. Emmys.


But we're all eligible for life's small pleasures. A pat on the back. A kiss
behind the ear. A four-pound bass. A full moon. An empty parking space. A
crackling fire. A great meal. A glorious sunset. Hot soup. Cold water in hot
sun. Don't fret about copping life's grand awards. Enjoy its tiny delights.

*****