Techies give logistics support to SIMI, LeT
N D Shiva Kumar, The Times of India
February 28, 2008
The radical techies, who work under the banner of MITA and turned the Garden City into a web, are said to have several members of the banned Students’ Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) working for them.
Police investigating the terror network in Karnataka suspect the group was providing logistic support like crucial data and financial support to the SIMI and Lashkar-e-Taiba.
MITA’s existence was detected during surveillance after an incident in 2006. In January 2006, immediately after the attack on the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) on December 28, 2005, four young men were found photographing a software company office. Security guards spotted them and when they tried to quiz them, the four escaped in a car.
However, security personnel had noted down the vehicle number. The city crime branch found that the car belonged to a bookshop owner, who on interrogation, said he had sold the car to a doctor residing on Bannerghatta road. But the investigation hit a dead end as the doctor was unaware of the culprits.
The city police convened a meeting and cautioned the IT firms. The same year in July, Mumbai police came to Bangalore and arrested Muzammil Sheikh, a software engineer with a MNC, in connection with the 2006 train bombings in Mumbai. He had links with the Lashkar-e-Taiba. While probing these incidents, the police stumbled upon MITA.
What Now?
IT companies in Bangalore are on the terror radar. All these days, the police and the company managements were focusing on external security. With the unearthing of this disturbing trend, both have a daunting task.
After collecting all details, the city central crime branch officials are working at unearthing both SIMI and MITA networks in the city. Meanwhile, senior police officials said that the IT firms had been asked to step up internal security and closely monitor and report any suspicious behaviour by the employees.
Radical techies gang up to stalk B’lore IT cos
Author: N D Shiva Kumar
Publication: The Times of India
Date: February 28, 2008
The IT city appears to have become a hub for radical techies. Under the banner of the Muslim Information Technology Professionals’ Association (MITA), these techies are said to be networking and aiding radical groups.
The network has members across the country but is concentrated in Bangalore. Intelligence officials and the police had information about its existence but had not obtained any proof which would have enabled them to act against it. However, they had kept the group under surveillance.
Now,arrested terror suspect Yahya Iyash Kamkutty, a BTech who was a former employee of GE, has revealed details about the activities of MITA. He has told terror investigators that he was also a member of the network and had attended its meetings. He has also revealed the name of another active member of MITA, K M Shariff. Police are now looking for Shariff.
United under the banner of discussing ways in which to improve the lot of Muslim youth, the group would meet once every one or two weeks in hotels or halls. Yahya told police that MITA members had met a number of times on M G Road in Bangalore’s main business district, and once at Darus Salam on Queen’s Road. The meeting expenses were shared by the members.
Author: N D Shiva Kumar
Publication: The Times of India
Date: February 28, 2008
The IT city appears to have become a hub for radical techies. Under the banner of the Muslim Information Technology Professionals’ Association (MITA), these techies are said to be networking and aiding radical groups.
The network has members across the country but is concentrated in Bangalore. Intelligence officials and the police had information about its existence but had not obtained any proof which would have enabled them to act against it. However, they had kept the group under surveillance.
Now,arrested terror suspect Yahya Iyash Kamkutty, a BTech who was a former employee of GE, has revealed details about the activities of MITA. He has told terror investigators that he was also a member of the network and had attended its meetings. He has also revealed the name of another active member of MITA, K M Shariff. Police are now looking for Shariff.
United under the banner of discussing ways in which to improve the lot of Muslim youth, the group would meet once every one or two weeks in hotels or halls. Yahya told police that MITA members had met a number of times on M G Road in Bangalore’s main business district, and once at Darus Salam on Queen’s Road. The meeting expenses were shared by the members.
Utah temple attracts Hindus from all around the West
Heidi Atkin, The Slat Laie Tribune
February 21, 2008
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_8326431
The edifice is the beginning of several years of development
The Sri Ganesha Hindu Temple in South Jordan is a transcendent icon for Hindus hundreds of miles around.
"This is the only mainstream Hindu temple between Denver and Las Vegas. If you want a temple as it is in India, this is the one," said Indra Neelameggham, who is a founding member of the temple and the current office manager.
She suspects Sri Ganesha's patrons come from Nevada, Idaho, Wyoming and parts of Colorado to pray in the temple.
The temple, located at 1142 W. 10400 South, opened officially in the summer of 2003, and is now used by more than 1,000 prescribed worshipers and many more who are not tracked in a local Hindu database.
Sivprasad Sappidi from Boise, Idaho and three other Boise families traveled to the temple to pray. Sappidi and his friend Kiran Kumar Sreeram explained they came for no specific reason other than to pray. However, they hoped the long trip would be well worth it because Ganesha, to whom they have come to pray for blessings, is the lord of success and the remover of obstacles.
Hinduism is the oldest-known religious tradition. Also, defining it as a religion seems confining, said Neelameggham, because Hinduism does not possess any of the many prescribed tenants of a religion. Hindus do not have a prophet or a central church leadership; they do not congregate as a whole or even worship the same God.
Instead, Hinduism should be seen as a way of life.
Lynn Napper, a recent worshipper at the temple, said everyone is Hindu, but they just don't know it.
Napper's wife, Vicki, a self-described non-traditional Hindu, described her faith as to "walk the path of Sanatana," or "service to humanity."
After 38 years of studying India's philosophies and culture of India, she is comfortable being among traditional Hindus in the temple. "It represents to me a coming together with people who understand my beliefs," Napper said.
This community spirit is felt in the temple. Though the main hall is dedicated to prayer and quiet meditation, there are other rooms where people socialize and discuss their beliefs. Hinduism's social tenants are as important as its spiritual tenants, Neelameggham said.
The temple is only the beginning of what might be several years of development for Salt Lake Valley's Hindu community. Next on the agenda for the temple's committee is the construction of an Indian cultural center, which they hope to house in the parking lot adjacent to its South Jordan location.
During 2008, the temple committee will focus on fundraising for the center.
"Having a temple is really great. But, we have now come to a point when the temple alone cannot provide nourishment for all our culture and traditional values; in order to provide that lively experience the already contemplated Indian Cultural Center is the appropriate solution," said Satish Bhatnagar in recent publication called "A Temple to Call Our Own."
On any day of the week, anyone can enter the temple to pray alone or with a priest employed by the temple. Daily operating hours are 8:30 a.m. until 9 p.m .
Heidi Atkin, The Slat Laie Tribune
February 21, 2008
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_8326431
The edifice is the beginning of several years of development
The Sri Ganesha Hindu Temple in South Jordan is a transcendent icon for Hindus hundreds of miles around.
"This is the only mainstream Hindu temple between Denver and Las Vegas. If you want a temple as it is in India, this is the one," said Indra Neelameggham, who is a founding member of the temple and the current office manager.
She suspects Sri Ganesha's patrons come from Nevada, Idaho, Wyoming and parts of Colorado to pray in the temple.
The temple, located at 1142 W. 10400 South, opened officially in the summer of 2003, and is now used by more than 1,000 prescribed worshipers and many more who are not tracked in a local Hindu database.
Sivprasad Sappidi from Boise, Idaho and three other Boise families traveled to the temple to pray. Sappidi and his friend Kiran Kumar Sreeram explained they came for no specific reason other than to pray. However, they hoped the long trip would be well worth it because Ganesha, to whom they have come to pray for blessings, is the lord of success and the remover of obstacles.
Hinduism is the oldest-known religious tradition. Also, defining it as a religion seems confining, said Neelameggham, because Hinduism does not possess any of the many prescribed tenants of a religion. Hindus do not have a prophet or a central church leadership; they do not congregate as a whole or even worship the same God.
Instead, Hinduism should be seen as a way of life.
Lynn Napper, a recent worshipper at the temple, said everyone is Hindu, but they just don't know it.
Napper's wife, Vicki, a self-described non-traditional Hindu, described her faith as to "walk the path of Sanatana," or "service to humanity."
After 38 years of studying India's philosophies and culture of India, she is comfortable being among traditional Hindus in the temple. "It represents to me a coming together with people who understand my beliefs," Napper said.
This community spirit is felt in the temple. Though the main hall is dedicated to prayer and quiet meditation, there are other rooms where people socialize and discuss their beliefs. Hinduism's social tenants are as important as its spiritual tenants, Neelameggham said.
The temple is only the beginning of what might be several years of development for Salt Lake Valley's Hindu community. Next on the agenda for the temple's committee is the construction of an Indian cultural center, which they hope to house in the parking lot adjacent to its South Jordan location.
During 2008, the temple committee will focus on fundraising for the center.
"Having a temple is really great. But, we have now come to a point when the temple alone cannot provide nourishment for all our culture and traditional values; in order to provide that lively experience the already contemplated Indian Cultural Center is the appropriate solution," said Satish Bhatnagar in recent publication called "A Temple to Call Our Own."
On any day of the week, anyone can enter the temple to pray alone or with a priest employed by the temple. Daily operating hours are 8:30 a.m. until 9 p.m .
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