œND‰‰†‰KœND‰‰†‰œND‰‰†‰MœND‰‰†‰C OF INDIA BACKBACK WITHWITH AA SHAADISHAADI CORRUPT BANGBANG MANDI DNA? MEN & WOMEN SPECIAL REPORT ALL THAT MATTERS New Delhi May 18, 2003, Capital • 44 pages including Men & Women & Classifieds + 8 pages of Delhi Times Price Rs. 2.75 Mayawati drops 10 suicide bombers set off five blasts; 40 killed Larkins spy Tripathi, gives AP case accused case to CID absconding TIMES NEWS NETWORK Spy saga Lucknow: Chief minister Mayawati on Sat- urday dropped minister of state for govern- Nov 1983: Larkin brothers caught ment printing presses Amar Mani Tripathi passing documents to Americans from the ministry for his alleged links to 1985: Convicted for 10 years Madhumita Shukla’s murder. 1989: Released on bail However, the chief minister said he would be taken back if the probe proved him inno- 2001: HC dismisses appeal SNAPSHOTS cent. If found guilty, he would be thrown out Apr 2003: SC dismisses appeal, AFP of the BSP. Sources attribute the CM’s sud- non-bailable warrants against brothers, den decision to mounting pressure from the now in their 80s Opposition and her main ally, the BJP. Mayawati’s decision coincided with the By Pradeep Rana visit of BJP president M Venkaiah Naidu, TIMES NEWS NETWORK who arrived here on Friday to take stock of the political situation in the state. Till Friday, New Delhi: The saga of the infamous Mayawati had maintained a discreet silence Larkins spy scandal, which rocked the coun- on the issue and evaded all media queries. try’s defence establishment in the 1980s, con- But at the hastily convened press confer- tinues. In the latest development, one of the ence, she announced the handing over of the convicted brothers, Air Vice Marshal (retd) K investigation to CB-CID and set a one-month H Larkins, has been declared ‘absconding.’ deadline. The CB-CID department is consid- Non-bailable warrants have been issued ered a cold storage for high profile cases. against both brothers — K H Larkins and The CM also announced the transfer of Policemen inspect the wrecked terrace of the Casa de Espana restaurant in Casablanca, Morocco. Major General (retired) F D Larkins, in their SSP, Lucknow, Anil Agarwal. Describing him 80s now — after their appeal was dismissed as an honest officer, the chief minister said by the Supreme Court last month. The he had to be removed as his credibility had Larkins have been out on bail since 1989, af- taken a beating following charges by the ter serving four years of their 10-year prison Shukla family that he had ‘‘tampered with terms. Now, after dismissal of their appeal, the evidence’’. Terror hits Casablanca the Larkins have to surrender and serve This is the second time that Tripathi has their remaining sentence. been dropped from the ministry under such Casablanca: Terrorists set off a PORTUGAL SPAIN an explosive belt in a Spanish string of deadly blasts in the restaurant. Residents had re- However, K H Larkins’ present where- circumstances. While Mayawati took almost abouts are unknown. ‘‘He no longer lives at eight days to decide his fate, her predecessor heart of Casablanca, killing at Atlantic Ocean Med. Sea ported hearing a fifth explosion. least 40 people and injuring 60. The blasts damaged a Jewish the Goa address provided to the court at the Rajnath Singh did not waste any time in 2002, beginning of trial. Now he is said to be living when Tripathi’s name figured in a kidnap- The blasts damaged a Jewish Casablanca Rabat community centre and cemetery, community centre, apart from MOROCCO the Belgian consulate, the Span- with a relative in Sri Lanka,’’ says special ping case. The case is still pending. Following public prosecutor B R Handa. that debacle, Tripathi joined BSP and was re- two western targets. ish restaurant and a hotel. CANDID IN CANNES: Jury member In 2001, When the Delhi High Court dis- warded with a ministerial portfolio. The attack which apparently Car bombs exploded While the targets were places Aishwarya Rai at the screening of “Les killed the most people took place killing at least 40 people frequented by foreigners, most of missed their appeal against their 1985 con- Egares” by French director Andre Story so far... at Casa Espana, a Spanish cul- the casualties were local inhabi- viction by the trial court, K H Larkins was Techine at the 56th Cannes film festival. tural centre and a nearby Span- tants, officials said. living in Australia with his daughter. He ap- May 9: Madhumita shot ish restaurant. ALGERIA Ten of the dead were de- parently returned to India and filed the ap- Pak names envoy to India: Pak- dead. Sister accuses At least 18 people were be- Western scribed as suicide bombers who, peal in the Supreme Court. 0 200 mi istan’s career diplomat and Ambassador Amar Mani of having affair lieved to have been killed in ei- Sahara at least in part, had carried out The seniormost military officers ever to be to China Riaz Mohammad Khan was on and killing her. Post mortem ther one or two bomb blasts MAURITANIA 0 200 km the attacks. ‘‘They were terror- convicted of espionage, the Larkins brother Saturday appointed as the country’s new and two others, Lt-Colonel (retd) Jasbir report claims she was there, although little debris was SOURCES: Associated Press; ESRI AP ists, suicide bombers,’’ interior High Commissioner to India. Khan will re- 7-month pregnant visible from outside. Casablanca, minister Mustapha Sahel told re- Singh and arms dealer Jaspal Singh Gill, place Ashraf Jehangir Qazi. May 10: Police take body for Morocco’s economic centre, was the attack confirmed fears that porters. ‘‘These are the well- were charged with passing on classified mil- MTNL’s new schemes: The MTNL on DNA samples. CM Mayawati thrown completely out of gear. terrorists have plans to strike known signatures of interna- itary documents to US intelligence officials. Saturday launched an upgraded WLL-M reportedly hauls up police for Police and rescue workers less defended sites. tional terrorists.’’ While the Larkins brothers and Singh (mobile wireless in local loop) service unwanted publicity. Probe rushed to the aid of dazed, blood- However, no group has The interior minister said were sentenced to 10-year terms, Gill got two Garuda, which will allow people to ac- comes to stand-still splattered survivors. Bodies claimed responsibility for the at- there were similarities between years. The high court later acquitted Gill and cess Internet on their handsets at high Singh. The State’s appeal against their ac- May 11: Amar Mani Tripathi were seen scattered on the tacks yet. According to investi- the attacks in Casablanca and speeds. The company also introduced quittal is still pending in the Supreme Court. denies affair wreckage-strewn streets. Ambu- gations, all the attacks were sui- those in Saudi Arabia on two new services — one that will offer lances were called in from sur- cide bombings but car bombs Monday, in which 34 people The spy ring was detected in April 1983, people a ‘virtual phone’ through calling May 15: Some officers proceed with rounding areas to aid the in- were not used. were killed. but the government ordered further surveil- cards and another that will enable people probe. Sister retracts earlier statement, jured, a police source said. Government officials had orig- Sahel added that three Moroc- lance for another seven months in view of to get high speed Internet connection at gives Amar Mani clean chit; says police The Moroccan government inally reported that at least three can suspects, one of them al- ramifications involved in arresting such sen- homes and offices. P8 cooked up foetus story did not directly implicate Osama of the explosions were from car leged to have been a would-be ior officials. F D Larkins was caught red- May 17: Amar Mani stripped of charge. Bin Laden’s Al-Qaida in the nea- bombs, and a fourth was detonat- suicide bomber who was injured, handed on November 18, 1983, while was CID takes over case indiatimes.com POLL rly simultaneous explosions, but ed by a suicide bomber wearing had been arrested. Agencies passing documents to an American. K H Larkins was also arrested the next day. Yesterday’s results: Do you think Kashmir is the only roadblock to peace between India and Pakistan? Yes No Summer school: Kids do catwalk 54% 46% Bonita Baruah • The poll reflects the opinions of Net users who chose to By Bonita Baruah participate, and not necessarily of the general public. TIMES NEWS NETWORK Today’s question: Do special-effects Hollywood thrillers make for better viewing than New Delhi: Music. Action. And song-and-dance Bollywood movies? the girl in the shiny-green pant- suit struts down the stage. The Cast your vote on www.indiatimes.com or SMS ‘Poll’ to 8888 rest just dawdle around and have to be coaxed and cajoled to strike the right poses. This is Aashna and her batch mates, all toddlers, learning the fine art of catwalking in their playschool. Schools are closed and summer holidays have started, but for many four-five-year-olds it’s back to school again: learning to rampwalk, pose for photogra- WEATHER phers, veejaying or getting lessons Max temp: 42.5oC/Min temp: 24oC in confidence building, personali- Sunset: Sunday — 7.06 pm. ty development or table manners. Sunrise: Monday — 5.29 am. Just lolling around won’t do any Moonset: Monday — 8.11 am. more; nor will plain old arts and Moonrise: Sunday — 9. 53 pm. craft or painting. STARTING YOUNG: Pre-school kids learn to strike a pose.