'We are aghast at what happened in Gujarat a few days ago, on the 75th anniversary of India's Independence'
In the wake of the Jama Masjid firing incident, the government has briefed the International Security Liaison Group, monitoring the security arrangement in the Commonwealth Games, and assured foolproof security during the fortnight-long sporting event beginning October 3.
Full protection of the identity of Assamese community in their own homeland and major financial package for the rapid development of Assam are the two important issues that were highlighted by the leaders of the United Liberation Front of Asom in their nearly two-hour-long familiarisation meeting with the Central government representatives headed by the Union Home Secretary G K Pillai.
Seeking to downplay the Headley controversy, National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon said on Tuesday, that the access given by the US to the Pakistani-American terrorist was "unprecendented", saying such cooperation may not have been possible five years ago.
Home Secretary G K Pillai said Indian agencies were "disappointed" with not being provided specific information on David Headley while US Ambassador to India Timothy J Roemer told reporters that US provided "regular and consistent" information to India even before 26/11 attacks.
With the Commonwealth Games fast approaching, Indian agencies have expressed concerns over an aerial attack by terrorists on the games. Home Secretary G K Pillai too had expressed a similar concern while stating that Pakistani terror groups have purchased modern paragliders from China and are capable of launching a cross border attack with such state-of-the-art equipment.
The schedule for the Bihar assembly polls, which will be held in five phases, is likely to be announced by Saturday. Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi and Election Commissioner V S Sampath held detailed meetings with Home Secretary G K Pillai and chiefs of central police organisations to discuss the deployment of forces in the state during the polls.According to sources, the poll schedule is almost ready and it is being given its final touches.
Everybody has developed a vested interest in maintaining the status quo in Kashmir in spite of the fact that the ground situation has improved, feels former home secretary G K Pillai.
Terrorists are using the internet as the "most potent tool" to rope in youths and carry out espionage operations in the country, Home Secretary G K Pillai said on Monday.
Bangladesh Home Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikdar, who held a crucial two-day talks with his Indian counterpart Gopal K Pillai, said all border and security related issues were discussed in the meeting and both the sides are working sincerely to resolve the ongoing problems in shortest possible time.
Nokia on Thursday announced installation of a server in India to enable security agencies lawfully intercept its email and messenger services, a move which may force BlackBerry to follow suite.
The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Centre to respond within 10 days to the petition filed by Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata, seeking a direction to the government to probe the leakage of audio tapes containing his private conversation with corporate lobbyist Niira Radia and stop their further publication. The apex court issued notices to Home Secretary G K Pillai, the Central Bureau of Investigation, the Income Tax Department and the finance ministry.
Faced with August 31 deadline to address the country's security concerns, BlackBerry maker Research In Motion on Friday said it was "optimistic" of resolving with the government the issue of lawful interception of its services.
Noting that Pakistan had done nothing on the 26/11 case, former National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra on Tuesday said the government had made a "serious mistake" by holding talks and these were "bound to fail".
In the first part of this interview with Bula Singh, former home secretary G K Pillai had talked about why AFSPA need not be repealed immediately but the Disturbed Areas Act should be lifted in Kashmir. In the second and concluding part of the interview, he explains that no one wants to take a risk or bite the proverbial bullet in Kashmir, fearing that the situation might implode again.
As India brings up the issue of cross-border terrorism and 26/11 probe with Pakistan, it will also push for tough action against smuggling of narcotics, trade of counterfeit currency when the home secratatries of the two nations meet in New Delhi, reports Vicky Nanjappa.
In a major Naxal attack, 27 Central Reserve Police Force personnel were on Tuesday shot dead and seven injured in an ambush in a remote area of Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district.
Centre will send forces to remove blockade of national highway passing through Nagaland, said Home Secretary G K Pillai on Monday.
Union Home Secretary Gopal K Pillai said a Commission may even be sent to the United States for getting evidence, may be from Headley, his wife and from other people, for which it would talk to the US authorities.
The worst-ever attack on a police force by Maoists, the blast in Pune at the beginning and the Varanasi explosion at the end of the year blotted the copybook of the security forces, which otherwise kept 2010 free from terror.
As an immediate fall-out of the Federal Bureau of Investigation foiling a Lashkar-e-Tayiba plot to use United States nationals to carry out major terror attacks in India, the Indian Embassy in Washington has tightened visa approval norms for Pakistan-born American citizens, whose applications would now have to be cleared by New Delhi. An instruction in this regard has recently been issued by Union Home Secretary G K Pillai.
In the wake of India's assertion that the Inter State Intelligence was involved in the Mumbai attacks, the Obama Administration has said it was investigating the matter to find out whether Pakistan's spy agency played a role in the 26/11 terror strikes.
Mounting tensions in Kashmir has come as a shot in the arm for the Lashkar-e-Tayiba, which has been looking desperately for a reason to keep the Valley on the boil.
Giving a clean chit to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), the Centre said "unruly mobs" were behind the violence in the Kashmir Valley and asserted that the government would not cow down to the separatists' tactics.
Notwithstanding the negative response of Maoists to its peace offers, the government is optimistic that the Left extremists would agree to talks once they "feel the heat" of the ongoing security operations.
India on Sunday said attempt to bring the guilty in Mumbai attacks to justice "has not moved an inch" in Pakistan and hoped that country will learn from New Delhi's "fair" handling of the Samjhauta Express blast case and punish the perpetrators of the 26/11 carnage.
India on Monday said Pakistan's move to take ahead the prosecution of masterminds of 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks is nothing but a 'facade' as it is doing nothing to pursue the people who were instructing the group of terrorists from the 'control room' on that day.
"If there are other offences, which are not covered under the plea agreement, then of course extradition is still possible," Home Secretary G K Pillai said when asked about chances of India being able to get Headley's extradition.
Was there a foreign hand in the Pune blasts? That is the key question facing investigators now. Though intelligence inputs clearly point at Indian Mujahideen's role, investigators are not ruling out a foreign hand completely. Union Home Minister, G K Pillai had told rediff.com on Monday that the picture would become clear in another day or two.
The government on Monday said it cannot rule out the possibility of the involvement of a foreign hand in the Pune blast, including a David Headley link, even as it disclosed that an Inter Services Intelligence -sponsored 'Karachi Project' was going on to indoctrinate Indian youth on to the path of terror.Home Secretary Gopal K Pillai said there is definitely a Headley link to the Pune blast, since it took place at the German Bakery.
A security official attached to an international team was on Sunday detained at the entrance of a five star hotel in New Delhi after a firearm was recovered from him during a security check.
On the recommendation of Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, former director general of police S P S Rathore on Monday lost his police medals.
The fourth round of tripartite talks on Gokhaland issue on Monday failed to come to an agreement in the absence of a consensus and the organisation spearheading the movement for a separate state has sought political dialogue at the next round of talks within 45 days.
The Centre on Friday clarified that it intends to go ahead with the creation of a separate Telangana state in spite of wide-spread opposition, with Home Secretary G K Pillai stating that Hyderabad will be the capital of Telangana and the process to create a new state will commence soon.Telagana Rashtriya Samiti chief K Chandrashekhar Rao has chosen to stay silent on the issue and watch the political developments unfold.
The Centre will not conduct a 'separate inquiry' into the death of Maoist leader Azad in an encounter with security forces in Andhra Pradesh, Union Home Secretary G K Pillai has said.
The Indian government said on Thursday that the use of Indian Air Force helicopters in any offensive against Naxals is not part of a strategy in its new plan to deal with rising Maoist violence.
The Army deployed in Kashmir valley in the wake of recent violence will go back to barracks in the "next few days", the Centre said late Friday night.
'Had there been an involvement by the Naxalites, we would have had some communication by now. Since there has been no communication, I can say that they may not be involved or behind this incident,' Union Home Secretary G K Pillai tells rediff.com
The government on Tuesday said that Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone terrorist arrested during the terror siege on Mumbai who was sentenced to death by a special anti-terror court last week, may be hanged by the end of this year, provided there is no legal bar."If there is no petition from him (Kasab) challenging the sessions court verdict in the higher court, he can be hanged by the year-end," Union Home Secretary G K Pillai told a TV channel.
Home Secretary G K Pillai said if Headley gets severe punishment and comes out of the judicial process, it would be easier for India to get access to the Pakistan-born American national in jail. "If he is given a light sentence, it would not only be disappointing but we will be registering a very strong protest with the US," Pillai told NDTV hours ahead of the hearing against Headley in Chicago.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances