India asks Australia to ensure security of its nationals

New Delhi, May 29 (PTI) In the wake of attacks on its
students, a concerned India Friday asked Australia to ensure
safety of its nationals there and got an assurance that such
incidents will not be allowed to recur.

The Ministry of External Affairs also summoned
Australian High Commissioner John McCarthy to register its
concern over a series of attacks on Indian students in that
country.

External Affairs Minister S M Krishna conveyed India's
concerns to Australia when he received a phone call from his
counterpart Stephen Smith who assured him that his government
is taking steps to prevent recurrence of such incidents.

During the 10-minute conversation, Krishna asked Smith
to see that security of Indian nationals in that country is
ensured. He also pressed for strong action against those
involved in the attacks on Indian students over the last few
days.

Later, Krishna said he had told Smith to ensure that
"the security of Indian students is adequately taken care of".

Smith "assured that no such incident will take place",
the External Affairs Minister said.

"We are worried about the safety of Indian citizens,
particularly the students," Krishna told reporters.

He said the Indian government is in constant touch with
Australian authorities "with a view to addressing issues
concerning the well-being and physical safety of our
students."

On the regret reportedly expressed by Australian Prime
Minister Kevin Rudd, Krishna said he took it in the "right
spirit" as the two countries have very good relations.

Krishna's comments and summoning of the Australian envoy
came after attacks on Indian students in Melbourne over the
last few days. One of the students is battling for life in a
hospital in Melbourne after being stabbed by a group of teens.

McCarthy, who was called by N Ravi, Secretary (East), in
the MEA, said his government is taking steps to stop such
"appalling" incidents.

"I was asked to come to the Ministry of External Affairs
to discuss the recent attacks on Indian students in Australia.
Mr Ravi conveyed Indian concerns very clearly and urged that
we take steps to ensure that these sorts of incidents do not
occur," McCarthy said after his meeting at the MEA.

McCarthy termed the attacks on Indian students as
"criminal activity".

He acknowledged that racism exists in his country but
insisted that there was no evidence to suggest that the
assaults on Indians were racist.

"My own view is that it was a clear criminal activity. I
have not seen the evidence of (it being) racist," McCarthy
said.

He said Australia has been taking a number of measures to
"diminish" the prospects of such attacks taking place in the
future. PTI PKU
PMR
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Prosecution identifies map seized from slain terrorist

Mumbai, May 29 (PTI) A witness in 26/11 terror attack
trial Friday identified a map (of target spots) which was
recovered from the pocket of slain terrorist Abu Ismail by
police in his presence immediately after the deadly strikes.

According to prosecution, the map was prepared by accused
Faheem Ansari who is facing the trial along with Sabauddin
Ahmed and captured Pakistani gunman Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab.
Sabauddin is charged with handing over maps to Lashkar-e-Toiba
conspirators.

The witness, Sanjay Sonawane, told special public
prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam that the map and a blank notebook
wrapped in a packet was recovered by police and shown to him.
The packet was then sealed in his presence.

The witness said the map showed 12 places in Mumbai and
these spots were circled with red markings.

To a question by defence lawyer Abbas Kazmi, the witness
said the map did not contain green markings.

He was then confronted with the map which had red as well
as green markings.

Prosecutor Nikam, however, contended that the green
markings were made by handwriting expert later and the witness
had not seen them.

The map was drawn by hand and that is why a handwriting
expert was called to identify whether accused Faheem had drawn
it. PTI SVS