news details |
|
|
| Will see Guru's mercy file after Parliament Session: Shinde | | |
Agencies
NEW DELHI, Dec 10 : Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde will see files pertaining to mercy petitions of Parliament attack case convict Afzal Guru and six others in death row after the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament. "It is not only (that of) Afzal Guru. I have seven files (of mercy pleas) to see. I will see the files after Parliament Session," he told reporters here on the sidelines of a function today. The Winter Session of the Parliament will conclude on December 20.
Guru's mercy petition was sent back by President Pranab Mukherjee to the Ministry of Home Affairs for review. He was sentenced to death for the 2001 Parliament attack in which nine people, including security force personnel, were killed and 16 were injured.
Addressing personnel of Border Security Force (BSF) on its 47th Raising Day function, Shinde praised the high standards of training in the force and said the government will ensure all possible help to further improve the skills and bring in technological advancements. "I am aware of the fact that BSF personnel work in extremely difficult conditions and away from their families. The personnel deployed in anti-terrorist, anti-Naxal, disaster management, border management operations and United National Peace Keeping Missions.
We have seen good results from all the fronts. "I hope that BSF will further improve its techniques and skills to save the country and secure its border. The safety and security of country's border is very important and BSF personnel are doing their job in the best way," Shinde said. The ceremonial parade on the occasion of force's 47th raising day had to be postponed from December 1 to today following the demise of former Prime Minister I K Gujral on November 30.
The Home Minister said that the government is taking steps to adequately address the personal and family needs of BSF personnel. "With a view to making force personnel work near their native places..., there has been a proposal to set up battalion headquarters at various locations like Dehradun, Shimla, Ambala, Pune, Bhubaneswar and Latur. MHA has given its nod for the purpose and the lands have been acquired.
"The proposal to construct separate family accommodations is also being considered. It will help the personnel," Shinde said. He said there was a need to welcome new thinking in the force and senior officers should look after each and every problem of the force personnel.
The Home Minister decorated four BSF personnel with President's Police Medal for Gallantry and eight personnel with President's Police Medal for Distinguished Services.
A colourful parade of BSF's camel contingent and its dog squad along with daredevil feats by motor-cycle borne personnel were special attractions of the programme.
The force is at present without its regular chief following superannuation of U K Bansal late last month. Special DG BSF Arvind Ranjan, currently in-charge of the force, highlighted the tough challenges being faced by the personnel during the course of their duty.
"Since the raising of the force, over 1,600 bordermen have laid down their lives in the service of the nation. Over 6,300 personnel have suffered grievous injuries or have been disabled in the line of duty. These sacrifices remain a perennial source of inspiration for all the bordermen," Ranjan said. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
