Shocking Incidents

[NOV]

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Rape on schoolchildren created all-round disbelief

Parents, school authorities in shock over sexual attack on schoolgirls; suspected rapist's remand extended



PETALING JAYA: The remand order for an unlicensed school van driver suspected of raping schoolgirls in his vehicle has been extended for six days, as police feverishly run a tooth-comb through the "van of terror" for evidence of the man's heinous acts.

The 51-year-old suspect was brought to the PJ magistrate's court this morning for the remand extension, which was granted by Magistrate Aishah Hijriah Arshah.

The case has merely served to highlight the growing fears of parents and school authorities over the menace posed to schoolchildren.

The crimes involve the alleged rape of two 10-year-olds by the same suspect and the third, a 12-year-old, allegedly molested by another driver in his Kelana Jaya home.

Petaling Jaya district police chief, ACP Arjunaidi Mohamed said police were waiting for another victim, also a primary schoolgirl, to come forward.

There is growing fear the suspect could have sexually hurt more girls in his van of terror.

Arjunaidi said: “We are still questioning the school authorities to know if any other pupil or parent had come forward with complaints against the suspect.”

The cases have been described as “a crime of extreme violence and cowardice committed against defenceless victims.”

This is the nightmarish van (pic) in which the two terrified girls recoiled in deep shock as they were set upon by the alleged rapist-driver, their guardian to and from school.

One of the girls was his foster child who is believed to have been sexually assaulted on several occasions.

Questions are being asked why parents chose to use the suspect’s school van service when he was not registered with the Malaysian School Bus Operators Association.

Police have the suspect in custody and are now checking if more girls were sexually assaulted by him in his nine-seater silver Nissan Vanette.

Forensics are tooth-combing the van for clues into the two alleged sexual assaults to establish if there could have been more such cases.

The suspect, a married man with three children, was produced in a magistrate’s court here this morning to have his remand extended for another week. The 40-year-old suspect is believed to have committed the perverted acts at this secluded street in Jalan 1/12 off Jalan Othman (pic) at noon last Monday.

He was caught by members of the public after a kindergarten teacher who was passing by raised an alarm on hearing the girl’s screams.

Clarifying news reports on the Jalan Othman incident, Arjunaidi dismissed claims that the sex act took place in full view of other pupils.

“The driver took the girl to a quiet place before allegedly raping her. There were no other students inside the van when the incident occurred."

On the number of victims, he said: “We are still waiting for another victim to come forward and we can’t confirm how many have been raped as investigations are underway," he said.

Arjunaidi said the second victim was raped in the suspect's house, adding that the victims were not from the same school.

Police are also anxious to contact Sabapati Siniah, 37, another school van driver to assist them with investigations into a molest case in the van involving a 12-year-old girl in Kelana Jaya.

Sexual attacks on schoolgirls have been on the rise of late. Prominent cases included two men who have been charged with the rape of five schoolgirls in Ampang.

In June, a taxi driver was charged with rape while keeping schoolgirls as sex slaves, also in Ampang.

http://www.mmail.com.my/content/44874-rape-schoolchildren-created-allround-disbelief[/tscii:21c4bbac99]

[NOV]

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Editor's Note on using the picture for the cover: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2007269,00.html


Afghan Women and the Return of the Taliban

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2007238,00.html#ixzz0vB6VoSHj


The Taliban pounded on the door just before midnight, demanding that Aisha, 18, be punished for running away from her husband's house. Her in-laws treated her like a slave, Aisha pleaded. They beat her. If she hadn't run away, she would have died. Her judge, a local Taliban commander, was unmoved. Aisha's brother-in-law held her down while her husband pulled out a knife. First he sliced off her ears. Then he started on her nose.


This didn't happen 10 years ago, when the Taliban ruled Afghanistan. It happened last year. Now hidden in a secret women's shelter in Kabul, Aisha listens obsessively to the news. Talk that the Afghan government is considering some kind of political accommodation with the Taliban frightens her. "They are the people that did this to me," she says, touching her damaged face. "How can we reconcile with them?"


In June, Afghan President Hamid Karzai established a peace council tasked with exploring negotiations with the Taliban. A month later, Tom Malinowski from Human Rights Watch met Karzai. During their conversation, Karzai mused on the cost of the conflict in human lives and wondered aloud if he had any right to talk about human rights when so many were dying. "He essentially asked me," says Malinowski, "What is more important, protecting the right of a girl to go to school or saving her life?" How Karzai and his international allies answer that question will have far-reaching consequences, not only for Afghanistan's women, but the country as a whole.


As the war in Afghanistan enters its ninth year, the need for an exit strategy weighs on the minds of U.S. policymakers. Such an outcome, it is assumed, would involve reconciliation with the Taliban. But Afghan women fear that in the quest for a quick peace, their progress may be sidelined. "Women's rights must not be the sacrifice by which peace is achieved," says parliamentarian Fawzia Koofi.


Yet that may be where negotiations are heading. The Taliban will be advocating a version of an Afghan state in line with their own conservative views, particularly on the issue of women's rights. Already there is a growing acceptance that some concessions to the Taliban are inevitable if there is to be genuine reconciliation. "You have to be realistic," says a diplomat in Kabul. "We are not going to be sending troops and spending money forever. There will have to be a compromise, and sacrifices will have to be made."


For Afghanistan's women, an early withdrawal of international forces could be disastrous. An Afghan refugee who grew up in Canada, Mozhdah Jamalzadah recently returned home to launch an Oprah-style talk show in which she has been able to subtly introduce questions of women's rights without provoking the ire of religious conservatives. On a recent episode, a male guest told a joke about a foreign human-rights team in Afghanistan. In the cities, the team noticed that women walked six paces behind their husbands. But in rural Helmand, where the Taliban is strongest, they saw a woman six steps ahead. The foreigners rushed to congratulate the husband on his enlightenment — only to be told that he stuck his wife in front because they were walking through a minefield. As the audience roared with laughter, Jamalzadah reflected that it may take about 10 to 15 years before Afghan women can truly walk alongside men. But once they do, she believes, all Afghans will benefit. "When we talk about women's rights," Jamalzadah says, "we are talking about things that are important to men as well — men who want to see Afghanistan move forward. If you sacrifice women to make peace, you are also sacrificing the men who support them and abandoning the country to the fundamentalists that caused all the problems in the first place."

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2007238,00.html#ixzz0vB70kF3u
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[NOV]

[tscii:6cad2c0ae9]Tamil movie style murder - by Tamil Lawyers!

These two lawyers apparently were in control of a place called Banting in Selangor Malaysia. Many people have gone missing including a Chennai millionnaire, after having business deals with them.

This lady was asked to come to thier farm with cash for purchase of a piece of land. She arrived with her lawyer, banker and a driver. All four went missing since Aug 30th.

Today police investigations revealed that the four were held captive, assaulted, killed and thier bodies burned, by the 2 lawyers and thier henchman.

Read on....


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Brothers are main suspects in murder of four

KUALA LANGAT: Two lawyer brothers are the prime suspects in the murder of cosmetics millionaire Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya and three others whose bodies were burnt and their ashes strewn in a river near Ladang Gadong, in Tanjong Sepat, here.

Cops are probing if the brothers are also responsible for four more people reported missing.

Bukit Aman CID director Comm Datuk Seri Mohd Bakri Zinin said police were awaiting forensic confirmation on the remains, believed to be that of Sosilawati, the client of the main suspect – a Datuk – said to have been handling a land deal in Penang for the entrepreneur. He owned the farm where the bodies were allegedly burnt after they had been assaulted and stabbed to death.

From initial investigations, police found that the ashes were disposed of at the mouth of a river about 4.2km from the farm. Comm Bakri said the motive of the murder could be business rivalry, debt and a land business deal gone sour. It is learnt that the land in Penang was bought for RM25mil and was to have been re-sold for RM200mil.

Sosilawati was last seen leaving Kuala Lumpur for Banting on Aug 30, with her driver Kamaruddin Shamsuddin, 44, lawyer Ahmad Kamil Karim, 32, and bank officer Noorhisham Mohammad, 38. Their mysterious disappearance attracted much interest.

“Police believe the 41-year-old lawyer was the mastermind behind the disappearances and could have been involved in four other missing persons cases,” Comm Bakri told reporters at the Banting police headquarters yesterday.

The brothers were among eight people arrested in connection with the case. The other six, including two women, aged between 19 and 45, were farmhands.

Police managed to get fresh leads into the case that saw the arrest of the eight, following the co-operation from the public, media and suspects detained earlier.

“All the information we obtained from the suspects detained earlier gave our men more clues that pointed to the description of the four missing persons,” he said.

“We still need a DNA test to confirm the identity of the victims but there is only a slim chance that they are alive,” Comm Bakri said, adding that he did not rule out the possibility of more arrests.

“We will investigate the brothers in relation to their accumulation of properties, high-end cars and their business dealings that involve millions of ringgit,” he added.

Police are also investigating the whereabouts of the RM4mil which Sosilawati was said to have been carrying.

Comm Bakri said one of the four previous missing persons cases involved an Indian national who had opened a restaurant with the brothers as partners.

He said police would investigate these other cases as well.

Yesterday, more than 60 policemen were at the farm and divers from Marine Police combed Sungai Panchau in Kampung Kanchong Laut in search of evidence.

Forensic teams combed the 1.6ha of farm where some of Sosilawati’s personal belongings were found, including her watch.

Police also blocked access to the Gadong Farm in Jalan Gadong, Tanjong Sepat, 1km from the main road from last night and barred more than 30 members of the press corps from getting any nearer to the site.

Comm Bakri said the police were investigating the farm land which the lawyer bought about 30 months ago to ascertain if the deal was made “properly”.

He added that the police also wanted to know where the former owner was. The previous owner is said to be missing.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/9/13/nation/7025260&sec=nation[/tscii:6cad2c0ae9]

[NOV]

There may be more cases, suspect the police. All murdered were lawyers!


Penang cops to reopen unsolved murder cases


GEORGE TOWN: Penang police are reopening unsolved murder cases in the state over the past few years, particularly those involving lawyers.

State police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Wira Ayub Yaakob said a special committee would relook those cases to see if there were any new developments.

He was commenting on unsolved cases of lawyers who were murdered in the state over the past few years.

On whether these cases could be linked to the murder of cosmetics millionaire Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya, DCP Ayub said they were studying all possibilities.

On July 27 last year, four men cornered lawyer R. Thinakaran Raman, 37, outside a Hindu temple in Supreme Garden, Prai, before forcing him to drink a substance, believed to be detergent. He died a day later of acute renal failure.

Two weeks before his death, he was dragged out of a burning car on the Penang Bridge by passers-by and while resting against the concrete railings of the bridge, accidentally fell into the sea but survived after fishermen rescued him.

On Nov 6, 2007, senior civil lawyer Datuk S.P. Annamalai, 59, died of excessive loss of blood after he was stabbed with a long knife when he was walking to his car in Green Hall here.

His clerk S. Nalaaini, 22, said that the assailant fled on a motorcycle.

On March 2, 2000, lawyer Chew Sien Chee, 39, was shot twice in the neck by a hitman in Tingkat Betik 2, Taman Seri Jaya, Bukit Mertajam.

He had just entered his Mercedes Benz and was about to leave the house for work when the man approached him and fired three times at close range, hitting Chew twice.

He died without regaining consciousness.

On Oct 19, 1997, criminal lawyer S. Pathmanathan, 29, was found dead with nine stab wounds in the neck and back at his China Street office. He was believed to have been murdered the previous evening or night.

He was found with his hands tied behind his back with a metal chain and a padlock while his mouth was mask taped.

Triptipal Singh, 60, was shot in the back outside his house in Jalan Yeap Chor Ee on Oct 15, 1992. He died of heart complications on Nov 1.

Two men had walked up to him from behind and fired five shots at point-blank range. Three of the shots hit him.

[GP]

http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/siblings-kidnapped-for-ransom-in-coimbatore-one-killed-63400

http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/coimbatore-kidnapping-now-7-year-old-boy-s-body-found-63598

[Jyothsna]

http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/siblings-kidnapped-for-ransom-in-coimbatore-one-killed-63400

http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/coimbatore-kidnapping-now-7-year-old-boy-s-body-found-63598

Intha news pathathula irunthu manase sari illa.. Ore nerathula 2 kuzhanthayum parikoduthavangalukku eppadi irukkum.. :(

[ajaybaskar]

The ppl who did this crime shud be starved to death. Such instances makes me wonder if god really exists!!

[kugan98]

My stomach churns after reading this news.
My heartfelt sympathy to the parents.
Kugan98

[venkkiram]

Mohanraj, the accused in the Coimbatore Children's murder case....killed in 'Encounter' today morning!!!!! Quick justice!!!!

-- From One of my friend's FB status

[ajaybaskar]

Although I am against 'fake encounters', I couldnt hide my joy after watching the morning news. Hats off to the policemen. :clap:

[GP]

Siblings' murder case accused Mohanraj shot dead in encounter

Prime accused in the abduction, sexual assault and murder of siblings' namely Mohan alias Mohanraj alias Mohanakrishnan (27) was shot dead in an encounter on the Podanur - Vellalore road around 5.30 a.m. on Tuesday.

The former school van driver Mohanraj on October 29 kidnapped a ten-year-old girl and her seven-year-old brother Rithish both children of textile mechant Ranjith and Sangeetha of RG Street. The children were waiting for their school van, when the accused using his earlier acquaintance with the children took them away in a van that he had borrowed from his friend. The accused later joined his accomplice Manoharan (23) of Angalakurichi near Pollachi.

The duo had originally planned to seek ransom from the parents but subsequently changed their mind owing to the fear of being nabbed by the police and sexually assaulted the girl and physically tortured the boy before drowning both of them in the PAP canal.

The girl's body was recovered near Vavipalayam near Pongalur 77 km from Thirumurthy hills on Friday late night and the boy's body was recovered on Sunday noon. The police arrested both the accused and cases were registered against them for abduction, sexual assault and murder besides concealment of evidence.

On November 8, the police took custody of the accused for investigation. On November 9 morning, the police took both of them around 5.30 a.m. for making them identify the places where the accused had committed the offence of sexual assault, murder and drowning. They were escorted by Inspectors Kanagasabapathy and Annadurai besides sub-inspectors Muthumalai and Jothi. When the vehicle was crossing the Vellalore compost yard of the corporation on the Podanur - Vellalore road, the accused Mohanraj reportedly snatched the pistol of one of the Sub-Inspectors and placed it on the head of the Head Constable cum driver Annadurai and tried to stop the vehicle in a bid to escape.

When the driver failed to stop, he indiscriminately opened fire in which Sub-Inspector Jothi sustained an injury in his right arm, while the bullet pierced into the stomach of Sub-Inspector Muthumalai. Immediately, Inspector Annadurai is said to have opened fire in self-defence and two bullets hit the head of the accused while one went into the chest killing the accused on the spot.

The body of the accused was brought to Coimbatore Medical College Hospital for post-mortem while the injured sub-inspectors were admitted to the Kovai Medical Centre Hospital. City Police Commissioner C. Sylendra Babu said that the police had to open fire to prevent the accused from killing the police personnel and to foil his attempt to escape from custody. Mr. Sylendra Babu also called on the injured police officers at the private hospital.

[GP]

Inspectors Annadurai, Kangasabapathy, Sub Inspectors Muthumalai and Jothi. :bow:

[directhit]

:bow: :bow: need more of these encounters...

[Jyothsna]

Although I am against 'fake encounters', I couldnt hide my joy after watching the morning news. Hats off to the policemen. :clap:

:exactly: :clap:

[ajaybaskar]

Unless it was not done to please a particular community, I welcome this.. :D

[Jyothsna]

Unless it was not done to please a particular community, I welcome this.. :D

Ethukaga pannangalo.. Ana udanadiya thandanai kidaichathu romba nimmathiya irukku. Cbe la ella idathilayum intha kuzhanthaigalukkaha poster otti irukkanga.. athai parkkum pothellam manasukku romba kashtama irunthuthu.. :( Kalaila intha news parthathum ..neenga sonna mathiri santhoshapadama irukka mudiyala.

[ajaybaskar]

Wat is the reaction/mood in CBE?

[NOV]

Excuse me, are you sure that the ones arrested were the ones who did the horrible crimes?

There is a reason why there is a court!

[ajaybaskar]

There are 'n' number of witnesses for this case, NOV

[ajaybaskar]

http://www.maalaimalar.com/2010/11/09163941/partner-shooting-murder-in-kov.html

[Jyothsna]

Wat is the reaction/mood in CBE?

Kittathatta intha mananilaila than iruppanga.. Avangalai medical test kaga hospital kootitu ponappo anga irunthavanga ellam ulla vidama adikka try pannatha kelvipattean..

Nov,

Antha driver adaiyalam sonnapuram than , payyanaoda body a kandupidikka mudinjithu :huh: , pasangaloda pattiyum adaiyalam kamichirukkanga..

[app_engine]

Good job police, in this case!

During his tenure in Dindigul, Sailendra Babu earned so much name and good will from the public (cinema hero proportions). Hope he terrorizes criminals a lot and help public with a decent measure of law and order!

In the horrible judicial system in vogue, no culprit gets punished in time and that makes criminals with a 'can do anything and get away with it' attitude.

The news report says that the accomplice, in another police van, passed urine upon hearing the encounter. Such fear should come upon the minds of professional killers / adiyALs / rowdies so that the public can enjoy a measure of peace!

[app_engine]

Coimbatore public celebrating the encounter (http://www.dinamalar.com/News_Detail.asp?Id=123179)

The public outrage against the children killer and such a support to police should serve as a pointer to the law enforcing authorities. (Some comments in the newspaper suggest that had he not been "protected" by way of arrest, the people would have beaten him to death instantly, such was the act of terror by that fellow).

[Thirumaran]

I am totally in support of Such Encounters. In India with Judicial system u cant expect justice in time.

But here few things. Here the encounter happened in very initial stages. Not sure what kind of interrogation made so soon. The one who was encountered may not be the master mind behind the kidnapping and killing of these children.

Such fast encounter creates a doubt that it might be for some big head to escape. Have to wait and see. As of now benefit of doubt in favor of Police. Intha alavukkaachum thandana kidaichuthunnu konjam santhoasa padalaam.

[dev]

http://www.sylendrababu.com/feedback.php

[19thmay]

I am sure that this guy wont get bail and would have got death sentence also. This encounter gave him easy ticket to death and I feel he should have been punished through law. Nothing sucks than waiting for the day of death.

Personally I am not a big fan of encounters.

அம்பை மட்டும் சாகடித்தால் போதுமா? எய்தவன்? இந்த அம்பு இல்லையென்றால் இன்னொன்று!

[ajaybaskar]

Ingu ambu, eidhavan rendum onnuthaane?

[19thmay]

Ingu ambu, eidhavan rendum onnuthaane?

Am not talking this one. In general.

[ajaybaskar]

Oh, ok.... :-)

[dev]

Coimbatorela 2 naalai not even a single theft incident aama... Encounter after-effect...:lol:

[NM]

being a non-Indian citizen, i always thought 'Encounter' shown in Tamil films are just 'KaRpanai' but now i know it really exists! BRAVO !

[Thirumaran]

Coimbatorela 2 naalai not even a single theft incident aama... Encounter after-effect...:lol:

what about house wife's taking money from husband's pockets ?
athuvumaa stop aagiduchchu?

[Jyothsna]

Coimbatorela 2 naalai not even a single theft incident aama... Encounter after-effect...:lol:

what about house wife's taking money from husband's pockets ?
athuvumaa stop aagiduchchu?

Panam kodukkatha Husbands oda details ellam sailendra babu kku anuppirukkangalam. :x

[P_R]

I am more willing to believe conspiracy theories behind this. That there is more to it than meets the eye. Some political bigwig was involved and wanted the accused snuffed out.

If it was a pure administrative decision then isn't it a bit disturbing that there is such a unanimously positive reaction for this?
Apparently some people celebrated by bursting crackers !

[app_engine]

Assembly discussion (http://www.dinamalar.com/News_Detail.asp?Id=124312)



வேல்முருகன் - பா.ம.க: குழந்தைகளைக் கொன்றவர்களுக்கு தூக்கு தண்டனை கொடுக்க வேண்டும். ஆனால், தற்போது கொடுக்கப்பட்டுள்ள தண்டனை சில முரண்பாடுகளை ஏற்படுத்தியுள்ளது. குற்றவாளி, "என்கவுன்டர்' செய்யப்பட்டதற்கு மனித உரிமை அமைப்புகள் கண்டனம் தெரிவித்துள்ளன. கோவை கோர்ட்டில் வக்கீல்கள் இரு தரப்பாக மோதிக் கொள்ளும் நிலை ஏற்பட்டுள்ளது.



பாலபாரதி - மார்க்சிஸ்ட்: கொலையாளி சுட்டுக் கொல்லப்பட்டதில் சில சந்தேகங்கள் வருகின்றன. கொலையாளிக்கு கைவிலங்கு போட்டிருந்தால், அவன் எப்படி துப்பாக்கியை எடுத்து போலீசை சுட முடியும்? இரு குற்றவாளிகளில் ஒருவரை மட்டும் தனியாக போலீசார் அழைத்துச் சென்றது ஏன்? அவர்கள் செய்த குற்றத்திற்கு கடுமையான தண்டனை வழங்க வேண்டும் என்பதில் மாற்றுக் கருத்தில்லை.ஆனால், தப்பு செய்தவர்களை போட்டுத் தள்ளலாம் என்ற கருத்து சரியானதல்ல. நீதிமன்றங்களை மதிக்காமல், நாமே தீர்ப்பை வழங்கலாமா? இந்த மனப்போக்கு தவறானது.



நிதியமைச்சர் அன்பழகன்: இது தொடர்பாக நீதிமன்றத்தில் வழக்கு உள்ளது. தற்காப்பிற்காகவே போலீசார், "என்கவுன்டர்' செய்ய வேண்டி வந்துள்ளது.



பாலபாரதி: "என்கவுன்டரை' எந்த இடத்திலும் நியாயப்படுத்த முடியாது.



அன்பழகன்: போலீசார் தற்காப்பிற்காக, "என்கவுன்டர்' செய்தால் அது தவறில்லை.



சிவபுண்ணியம் - இந்திய கம்யூனிஸ்ட்: கொலையாளிகளுக்கு கடுமையான தண்டனை வழங்க வேண்டும் என்பதில் மாற்றுக் கருத்தில்லை. ஆனால், நின்ற இடத்தில் யார் வேண்டுமானாலும் நீதி வழங்கலாமா? இந்த பிரச்னையை உணர்ச்சிப்பூர்வமாக மட்டுமே அணுகக்கூடாது. நாங்கள் கொலைகாரர்களுக்கு ஆதரவாக பேசுவது போன்ற தோற்றத்தை ஏற்படுத்த முயற்சி நடக்கிறது. மனித உரிமை மீறலை அனுமதிக்க முடியாது.



அன்பழகன்: கொலையாளிகளால் தாக்கப்பட்ட காவல்துறையினரும் மனிதர்கள் தானே. அவர்கள் மீதான தாக்குதல் மனித உரிமை மீறல் இல்லையா? இந்த, "என்கவுன்டர்' தொடர்பாக மாஜிஸ்திரேட் விசாரணை நடக்கிறது என்பதால், இதற்கு மேல் அது குறித்து விவாதிக்கத் தேவையில்லை.இவ்வாறு விவாதம் நடந்தது.

[Maniraj]

Ivangalae ellam pottu thalunaa podhum.. elam seri aagirum :evil:

[dev]

being a non-Indian citizen, i always thought 'Encounter' shown in Tamil films are just 'KaRpanai' but now i know it really exists! BRAVO !

They say this is the 30th encounter after DMK govt came to power... :x

[dev]

Coimbatorela 2 naalai not even a single theft incident aama... Encounter after-effect...:lol:

what about house wife's taking money from husband's pockets ?
athuvumaa stop aagiduchchu?

Panam kodukkatha Husbands oda details ellam sailendra babu kku anuppirukkangalam. :x

:lol2:

[NOV]

Missing Malaysian woman, children found murdered in Madurai


CHENNAI: A Malaysian mother and her two children who went missing last Monday in south India have been found dead, police here said.

The decomposed bodies of M. Adhila Banu, 24, her son Mohd Aslam, seven, and daughter Ajira Banu, five, were found in Vadipatti in Madurai, in Tamil Nadu on Thursday morning.

"It's a murder case, the bodies were identified by the victim's mother (Adhila's mother) and she confirmed they were the bodies of her daughter and two grandchildren.

"The three heavily decomposed bodies were found about five kilometres apart and were wrapped in white dhotis.

"The bodies were dumped in a canal filled with water, under a bridge. We are yet to establish the motive, the actual place and the reason for the murder," Vadipatti police inspector P.R. Lakshmanan said Friday.

Adila and her two children had returned to their native village in Barathi Nagar in Ramanathapuram District from Malaysia about a month ago and were staying with her parents.

According to her mother Saibu Nisha, 56, Adila and her two children left home last Monday afternoon to purchase cooking gas cylinder but failed to return.

The bodies, which were found about 150km from their home, are now in Rajaji Government Hospital in Madurai, undergoing post-mortem.

The district police have set up a special team to probe into the crime.

Her Malaysian husband, a driver, is still in Malaysia, said police.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/11/12/nation/20101112160859&sec=nation

[directhit]

http://www.tehelka.com/story_main47.asp?filename=Ne201110Maariyamma.asp

[dev]

http://www.tehelka.com/story_main47.asp?filename=Ne201110Maariyamma.asp :shock: :shock: :shock:

[NOV]

[tscii:928f4403fd]
Mother, shall I put you to sleep?

Maariyamma is likely to be killed by her children because they cannot afford her. They will give her a loving oil bath. Several glasses of coconut water. A mouthful of mud. Perhaps a poison injection. She is just one of many old parents in Tamil Nadu dying in this way. But no one blinks at these ritual murders.

http://www.tehelka.com/story_main47.asp?filename=Ne201110Maariyamma.asp



IN TAMIL, it is known as thalaikoothal. A leisurely oil bath. An exercise in love and health when given to newborn children, a ceremonial beginning to festivals, and the universal answer to pitiless summers. In Tamil Nadu’s small industry hub of Virudhunagar, however, it is the beginning of slow murder. The marker of the devastating poverty that makes a son kill his own aging mother.

Young family members of this district in southern Tamil Nadu have been pushing their infirm, elderly dependents to death because they cannot afford to take care of them. When 65-year-old Maariyamma suspected this might happen to her too, she moved out of her son’s house two years ago. “I’m not well enough to live on my own, but it is better than being killed by them,” she says. Amazingly, there is no bitterness in her voice. Or anger. “They’re struggling hard to take care of their own children,” says Maariyamma, of her sons. She places no blame. Her two sons and two daughters are farm labourers who travel to different villages every sowing and harvesting season. Seeing her children at pains to run their house, and feed and educate her grandchildren, Maariyamma knew she was a burden. She knew how it would end if she didn’t leave.

Maariyamma had seen it happen to other men and women of her age. Her neighbour, Parvathy, had been paralysed at the age of 76. “She had only one son,” says Maariyamma. “And he was working in Chennai, surviving on some menial job there. How could he afford to look after his bedridden mother?” One day, Maariyamma says, Parvathy’s son came, “did it” and went back to Chennai. “What else could he do?” she asks. Again, in place of anger or fear, there is helpless resignation. And a strange empathy for the person who might elaborately plan her murder

Thalaikoothal works thus: an extensive oil bath is given to an elderly person before the crack of dawn. The rest of the day, he or she is given several glasses of cold tender coconut water. Ironically, this is everything a mother would’ve told her child not do while taking an oil bath. “Tender coconut water taken in excess causes renal failure,” says Dr Ashok Kumar, a practicing physician in Madurai. By evening, the body temperature falls sharply. In a day or two, the old man or woman dies of high fever. This method is fail-proof “because the elderly often do not have the immunity to survive the sudden fever,” says Dr Kumar.

OVER THE years, other methods have evolved too. The most painful one is when mud dissolved in water is forced down; it causes indigestion and an undignified death. Velayudham of Help age India says the families often take the mud from their own land, if they have any. “It is believed that this makes their souls happy,” he says.

Dorairaj, a farmer in Satur, confesses that Muniammal, a distant relative, had been killed four months earlier. She was 78, and too weak to fend for herself. She was given an oil bath, but somehow survived. After a few days, she was given the ‘milk treatment’. “When the milk is being poured, the nose is held tight,” says Dorairaj. This ‘milk treatment’ is often preceded by starvation. The household stops serving the parent solid food. “When milk is poured uninterruptedly into the mouth, it goes into the respiratory track. A starving person cannot withstand even a moment’s suffocation,” says 60-year-old Paul Raj, coordinator of a district elders’ welfare association.

For those who choose poisoning as their modus operandi, Ganeshan is the man to call. This middle-aged man lives in Paramakkudy village, and introduces himself as a ‘medical practitioner’. In reality, he is Doctor Death. Ganeshan sources and administers lethal injections on demand. According to him, it is simply a service. “I am not killing anybody who may have a longer life. It is done only in the last and final stage of one’s life. Why should they suffer in poverty?” he justifies. Ganeshan defends his ‘profession’ but says he’d rather have some other means of livelihood. Azhagappan, a small shop owner, revealed that Ganeshan is not even a trained nurse. “He had worked in a hospital as the lowest grade attendant for a few months. That’s where he learned to give injections.” Azhagappan estimates that Ganeshan charges Rs. 300 to Rs. 3,000. Ganeshan refuses to disclose the chemical combination of his poison.

Though everyone seems to be in the know, thalaikoothal officially remained unexposed until the death of 60-year-old Selvaraj, of Ramasamipuram village in Virudhunagar on 18 June this year. Selvaraj, who was bed-ridden due to an accident, died suddenly. Asokan, Selvaraj’s nephew in Virudhunagar, raised the alarm on his uncle’s death. He registered an FIR, and subsequently a woman named Zeenath was arrested for administering a poisonous injection. Prabhakar, the Virudhunagar Commissioner of Police, admits that it is hard to find any evidence. “The body was cremated and there is no scope for a re-examination of the corpse,” he says.

Zeenath has been released on bail and refused to talk to TEHELKA when we met her in her village, Ramasamipuram. Some villagers claimed that Zeenath was a ‘professional mercy killer’.

A few days after Selvaraj’s death came to light, a newspaper published a report exposing more mysterious deaths in the district. When the district administration of Virudhunagar learnt how widespread the mercy killing was, it ordered an investigation. “It was shocking for all of us,” says V K Shanmugham, district collector in Virudhunagar. He soon realised that conventional state responses like arrests, warnings and interrogations would not even scratch the surface.

Thalaikoothal lay in the indefinable space between crime and desperate acts of poverty. It was social custom, a collective family decision, a ritual goodbye to a loved one who had lived a full life. Sometimes, it was the victim’s own idea. Shanmugham found that many called it a path to “eternal peace”, an escape from the violence of poverty. “It is difficult to view this simply in a legal or criminal framework,” he adds.

If thalaikoothal is seen as a crime, an entire village is accomplice. Community members and relatives not only support the practice, several even arrive a day before the auspicious oil bath to meet the aged parent one last time. Everybody knows the man or woman is going to die.

“Nobody questions or reports it to the police. They don’t even see it as a crime. It is a kind of accepted practice,” says Dr Lakshmi, a physician in Karyappetti village. Over 75, Dr Lakshmi recollects that she has been hearing of this practice of killing the elderly for 34 years.

The practice is not confined to a particular caste or community. “The poor do it, whatever their caste,” says Chandra Devi, the district Welfare Officer. Most residents are seasonal farm labourers, livestock shepherds or migrant workers in small factories in the nearby industrial hub Sivakasi. Their mobile lives make it virtually impossible for them to stay home to care for their parents.

Killing is indeed a brutal solution to financial burdens, but community members claim there is no alternative. “It does not mean that they do not love their parents,” says Chellathorai, the president of Paneerpetty village Panchayat.

Paul Raj, of the district elders welfare association, recently requested the district collector for government protection for the elderly. “The aged in these villages are highly vulnerable. We demand government’s immediate action.” Raj, however, realises that while police forces can protect an aged woman from her children, what they really need is protection from penury. “If the seniors had some income, they would not be considered so burdensome,” says Raj. “For example, if they got more pension, or at least got it regularly, it might give some respite.”

Kasi, a daily wager, moved out of his son’s house after his wife died. He’s not sure if he’s 65 or 70, but his shock of white hair, equally white handlebar moustache, and soil-black wrinkled skin are testament to his long and arduous life. Kasi had decided to leave when he watched his children grow tired of tending to their father’s every need. “I’m very fond of them, and can’t imagine they will try to kill me,” he says. “But anyway, I didn’t want to push them to any extreme step.” Whether he too would have been invited for that chilling oil bath some years down, Kasi doesn’t know. And he didn’t stick around to find out.

ACROSS VIRUDHUNAGAR, even as elderly men and women leave their homes, they make excuses for their children. “My son was struggling with his own life,” says Kasi. They put up a brave front. “I’m surviving fine with the ration rice at 2 per kilo,” says a reed-thin Maariyamma. They starve, and sigh, but do not complain. Thalaikoothal is to them not cowardly murder, but a brave farewell. Kasi and Maariyamma do not see how extreme it is, how dramatic. For them, it is a sort of practical love that is simply about survival.
[/tscii:928f4403fd]

[raagadevan]

"3-year-old girl strangled in ritual sacrifice"

http://www.hindu.com/2010/12/18/stories/2010121866181800.htm

[NOV]

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/380401_274183525960834_100001075677137_767057_1511 982192_n.jpg

[NOV]

Friday January 20, 2012
Scorned teen kills girl
By NELSON BENJAMIN
nelson@thestar.com.my


JOHOR BARU: A teenager allegedly slit his schoolmate's throat and stabbed her more than a dozen times with a kitchen knife after she refused to be his girlfriend.

Police made this shocking discovery following the arrest of five men aged between 17 and 40 during investigations into the murder of C. Sivanranjini (pic), 18, who was found lying in her pool of blood by her father P. Chandran, 42, in the prayer room of their home in Taman Kempas last Wednesday.

The six were arrested in a series of raids.

It is learnt that the teenager dropped by Sivanranjini's home when the victim, the eldest amongst three sibling, was alone while her parents were at work in Singapore.

Sources said the teenager asked the victim to be his girlfriend but she refused, alleging that he had a disease all over his body and was not from a good family. The teenager then slit her throat and stabbed the girl to death before fleeing.

A special task force formed to investigate the case led to the arrest of five suspects including the teenager. Some of those arrested tested positive for drugs.

It is learnt that the teenager had previously been a resident at a juvenile home.

Johor CID chief Senior Asst Comm II Datuk Amer Awal said investigations were still ongoing.

[groucho070]

I admit south Johore got issue with crime and all. I hate that place. I lost my cousin brother there, dead in gruesome way. Frickin Buzzards (change this to actual profanities).

[Shakthiprabha]

I am deeply grieved by the chennai school boy stabbing the teacher incident. So much violence crept into India. Quiet, secluded, aloof, reserved 15 year old school kid! Call it destiny?!

[app_engine]

I am deeply grieved by the chennai school boy stabbing the teacher incident. So much violence crept into India. Quiet, secluded, aloof, reserved 15 year old school kid! Call it destiny?!

shocked to read that news...quo vadis TN?

[ajithfederer]

This is the most shocking news. :banghead:

http://www.google.co.in/search?client=opera&rls=en&q=Swiss+Bank+Corporation+(Switzerland)+gives+you+a +clear+note+in+which+India%E2%80%99s+top+10+health y+account+details+of+indian+origin+persons+with+hi gh+money+deposites+have+been+stated.&sourceid=opera&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&channel=suggest

She was taken to a nearby private hospital, which referred her to the Government General Hospital. But she died on the way


I am deeply grieved by the chennai school boy stabbing the teacher incident. So much violence crept into India. Quiet, secluded, aloof, reserved 15 year old school kid! Call it destiny?!

[raagadevan]

"Maid torture: Delhi doctor couple arrested"

"A doctor couple, who allegedly left their 13-year-old maid locked up and starving in the house while they vacationed in Bangkok, were arrested on Wednesday, a week after the victim was rescued by the police."

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/maid-torture-delhi-doctor-couple-arrested/932532/0

[NOV]

Beware deadly con men

By AUSTIN CAMOENS and SHAUN HO
austin@thestar.com.my

PETALING JAYA: Before, there was only the risk of losing money or ending up with a broken heart to glib-tongued swindlers.

Now, Malaysians have to be on the lookout for deadly con men pretending to be mediums to gain the trust of unsuspecting victims before robbing and even killing them.

A recent triple murder in Taman Sri Ramal, Kajang, has highlighted the existence of such vile fraudsters.

A medium who claimed he could mend family disputes through a ritual, poisoned them with milk laced with weedkiller in the wee hours of April 1.

http://starstorage.blob.core.windows.net/archives/2012/4/16/nation/n_05conmen.JPG
The deceased: (From left) Rajeswary, Manivaran and Sakunthala.


He fled the house after stealing their jewellery and valuables and setting a gas cylinder on fire in the kitchen.

K. Rajeswary, 28, died in hospital on April 4 while her brother Manivaran, 33, died four days later. Their mother M. Sakunthala, 63, died on Saturday.

Selangor police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Tun Hisan Tun Hamzah said although deaths were rare in cases involving con men, many other cases, however, go unreported.

“People should be wary and be extra cautious when seeking alternate solutions to problems, including family disputes and medical ailments,” he said.

He said in most cases, the public seek these people out of desperation.

As con men look for ways to manipulate strengths and weaknesses, they would first work on gaining trust.

“The eventual victims are easily duped because they are usually in a state of distress. The con men prey on their desperation to get what they want,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Bukit Aman Commercial Crimes Investigations Department (CCID) director Comm Datuk Syed Ismail Syed Azizan said Malaysians have been swindled of more than RM32mil through scams between January and June last year.

Besides Internet fraud, the con tricks also include parcel scams (victims are told that he or she had received parcels with expensive gifts, jewellery or cash, but the packages are detained by Customs and payment is sought for the release), Macau scams (con men claiming to be police or bank officers duping the victim is being investigated and that he or she has to surrender money into an account to verify that it was not gained illegally).

“A total of 454 Macau scam cases were reported amounting to losses of over RM10.6mil while 472 parcel scam cases were also reported with losses of over RM10mil as well within the same period,” Comm Syed Ismail said.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/4/16/nation/11112929&sec=nation

[NOV]

People in Hyderabad please return back to your houses as soon as possible there are Bomb Blasts in the city, as of now three bombs has exploded in the city.

[NOV]

Temple caretaker makes chilling find - a severed head!

http://sphotos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/526716_436189419798725_1979478421_n.jpg


KLUANG: In what is believed to be a macabre ritual, the severed head of a homeless man was found inside a Hindu temple at an oil palm plantation near Sri Lalang here.

The head was placed on top of a pedestal used to burn camphor.

Kluang OCPD Asst Comm Abdul Majid Mohd Ali said the temple caretaker made the grotesque find at around 7.30am.

The caretaker had allegedly disrupted a group of men who were conducting the ritual using the man's head.

Upon noticing the caretaker, the group fled in four cars.

ACP Abdul Majid said initial investigation revealed that the victim, believed to be 62, was murdered at another location before his head was brought to the temple, adding that police believed three people, aged between 30 and 50, were involved in the incident.

“Based on the marks along the neck area, we believe the suspects had used a sharp weapon to behead the victim.

“We also believe the man was murdered about eight hours before his head was discovered,” he said, adding that police were now looking for the victim's body.

ACP Abdul Majid said the man was a vagrant who was often seen in a drunken state, sleeping at the temple.

“Police believe the man was beheaded for a ritual,” he said.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2013%2F3%2F21%2Fnation%2F1286685 2&sec=nation

[NOV]

http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/rsrc.php/v2/y4/r/-PAXP-deijE.gif


http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-04-24/sri-lankan-details-claims-of-rape-and-torture-by-army/4649954


A Tamil man living in Australia has detailed shocking claims of rape and torture at the hands of Sri Lankan army intelligence...................

[NOV]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BJyW8g4CIAEskKi.jpg:large

[yoyisohuni]

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/love-and-violence-in-dharmapuri/1035856/

saadhi madham thaanduma nam deasam

[Brianengab]

Praying for Pilgrims who r suffering in flood in Utharkand state... :???:
2 yrs before (Aug' 2011) i went to Haridwar nd Rishikesh wit my parents... very hot summer season during my trip...
bt today... :(

[yoyisohuni]

Praying for Pilgrims who r suffering in flood in Utharkand state... :???:
2 yrs before (Aug' 2011) i went to Haridwar nd Rishikesh wit my parents... very hot summer season during my trip...
bt today... :(

டுடேஸ் scenario.
http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/uttarakhand-floods-death-toll-over-550-sushilkumar-shinde-to-visit-today_856776.html

[NOV]

http://sphotos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/1016041_287631114715550_2027985697_n.jpg


Do you use Gas stove for cooking ???

Please read this and take note. Let this not happen to you. This could be a common mistake in any household.

This shocking accident happened on 13th Feb 2013. A housewife died due to burns sustained in the kitchen. Her husband too was hospitalised for injuries due to burns while trying to rescue his wife.

How it happened:

The gas cooker was switched on and cooking was in progress.
The lady observed some cockroaches near the sink and grabbed a can of insect killer and sprayed it near the lit gas stove. There was an explosion and in no time the poor woman was covered in flames, sustaining 65% burns.

Her husband rushed in, tried to put out the flames and his clothes too caught fire.

The husband is still in hospital, in the burns ward, still unaware that his wife died on arrival.

Let us understand that:
All insect killer sprays such as "Raid", "Mortein", Sheltox etc have highly volatile and inflammable solvents.

The atomized nano spray particles spread very rapidly and one spark is enough to ignite this explosive mixture with oxygen present in air.

[NOV]

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/t1/q71/s720x720/1625567_705545772823955_85212773_n.jpg


I think our society needs a huge "Wake-up" call. As a shelter manager, I am going to share a little insight with you all...a view from the inside if you will.

First off, all of you breeders/sellers should be made to work in the "back" of an animal shelter for just one day. Maybe if you saw the life drain from a few sad, lost, confused eyes, you would change your mind about breeding and selling to people you don't even know.

That puppy you just sold will most likely end up in my shelter when it's not a cute little puppy anymore. So how would you feel if you knew that there's about a 90% chance that dog will never walk out of the shelter it is going to be dumped at? Purebred or not! About 50% of all of the dogs that are "owner surrenders" or "strays", that come into my shelter are purebred dogs.

The most common excuses I hear are; "We are moving and we can't take our dog (or cat)." Really? Where are you moving too that doesn't allow pets? Or they say "The dog got bigger than we thought it would". How big did you think a Great Dane would get? "We don't have time for her". Really? I work a 10-12 hour day and still have time for my 6 dogs! "She's tearing up our yard". How about making her a part of your family? They always tell me "We just don't want to have to stress about finding a place for her we know she'll get adopted, she's a good dog".

Odds are your pet won't get adopted & how stressful do you think being in a shelter is? Well, let me tell you, your pet has 72 hours to find a new family from the moment you drop it off. Sometimes a little longer if the shelter isn't full and your dog manages to stay completely healthy. If it sniffles, it dies. Your pet will be confined to a small run/kennel in a room with about 25 other barking or crying animals. It will have to relieve itself where it eats and sleeps. It will be depressed and it will cry constantly for the family that abandoned it. If your pet is lucky, I will have enough volunteers in that day to take him/her for a walk. If I don't, your pet won't get any attention besides having a bowl of food slid under the kennel door and the waste sprayed out of its pen with a high-powered hose. If your dog is big, black or any of the "Bully" breeds (pit bull, rottie, mastiff, etc) it was pretty much dead when you walked it through the front door.

Those dogs just don't get adopted. It doesn't matter how 'sweet' or 'well behaved' they are.

If your dog doesn't get adopted within its 72 hours and the shelter is full, it will be destroyed. If the shelter isn't full and your dog is good enough, and of a desirable enough breed it may get a stay of execution, but not for long . Most dogs get very kennel protective after about a week and are destroyed for showing aggression. Even the sweetest dogs will turn in this environment. If your pet makes it over all of those hurdles chances are it will get kennel cough or an upper respiratory infection and will be destroyed because shelters just don't have the funds to pay for even a $100 treatment.

Here's a little euthanasia 101 for those of you that have never witnessed a perfectly healthy, scared animal being "put-down".

First, your pet will be taken from its kennel on a leash. They always look like they think they are going for a walk happy, wagging their tails. Until they get to "The Room", every one of them freaks out and puts on the brakes when we get to the door. It must smell like death or they can feel the sad souls that are left in there, it's strange, but it happens with every one of them. Your dog or cat will be restrained, held down by 1 or 2 vet techs depending on the size and how freaked out they are. Then a euthanasia tech or a vet will start the process. They will find a vein in the front leg and inject a lethal dose of the "pink stuff". Hopefully your pet doesn't panic from being restrained and jerk. I've seen the needles tear out of a leg and been covered with the resulting blood and been deafened by the yelps and screams. They all don't just "go to sleep", sometimes they spasm for a while, gasp for air and defecate on themselves.

When it all ends, your pets corpse will be stacked like firewood in a large freezer in the back with all of the other animals that were killed waiting to be picked up like garbage. What happens next? Cremated? Taken to the dump? Rendered into pet food? You'll never know and it probably won't even cross your mind. It was just an animal and you can always buy another one, right?

I hope that those of you that have read this are bawling your eyes out and can't get the pictures out of your head I deal with everyday on the way home from work.

I hate my job, I hate that it exists & I hate that it will always be there unless you people make some changes and realize that the lives you are affecting go much farther than the pets you dump at a shelter.

Between 9 and 11 MILLION animals die every year in shelters and only you can stop it. I do my best to save every life I can but rescues are always full, and there are more animals coming in everyday than there are homes.

My point to all of this DON'T BREED OR BUY WHILE SHELTER PETS DIE!

Hate me if you want to. The truth hurts and reality is what it is. I just hope I maybe changed one person's mind about breeding their dog, taking their loving pet to a shelter, or buying a dog. I hope that someone will walk into my shelter and say "I saw this and it made me want to adopt". THAT WOULD MAKE IT WORTH IT.

~ Author unknown

[NOV]

Malaysia Airline plane heading to Beijing goes missing!

Sepang, 8 March 2014: Malaysia Airlines is still unable to establish any contact or determine the whereabouts of flight MH370. Earlier today, Subang ATC had lost contact with the aircraft at 2.40am. The last known position of MH370 before it disappeared off the radar was 065515 North (longitude) and 1033443 East (latitude).

We are still trying to locate the current location of the flight based on the last known position of the aircraft. We are working with the International search and rescue teams in trying to locate the aircraft. So far, we have not received any emergency signals or distress messages from MH370. We are working with authorities and assure that all sources are deployed to assist with the search and rescue mission.

The passenger manifest will not be released until all families of the passengers have been informed. The flight was carrying a total number of 239 passengers and crew – comprising 227 passengers (including 2 infants) and 12 crew members.

We are deploying our “Go Team” to Beijing which will depart Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 4.30pm with a team of caregivers and volunteers to assist the family members of the passengers.

The passengers are of 14 different nationalities. All crew on-board are Malaysians.

Please take note that the earlier statement did not include the number of Indian nationals. This was due to confusion between the country code of Indonesia and India.

The below table shows the latest number of passengers and their nationalities:-

Nationality

Total

China/Taiwan

154 including infant

Malaysia

38

India

5

Indonesia

7

Australia

6

France

4

USA

3 including infant

New Zealand

2

Ukraine

2

Canada

2

Russian

1

Italy

1

Netherlands

1

Austrian

1

Our focus now is to work with the emergency responders and authorities and mobilize our full support.

Our thoughts and prayers are with all affected passengers and crew and their family members.

The public may contact +603 7884 1234.

For media queries, kindly contact +603 8777 5698/ +603 8787 1276.

The airline will provide regular updates on the situation. There are many unvalidated reports out in the media and Malaysia Airlines strongly urges the media and the public at large to only report from official statements from Malaysia Airlines and the Government of Malaysia.

[NOV]

Sepang, 8 March 2014: The families of all passengers on board MH370 are being informed. The flight was carrying a total number of 239 passengers and crew – comprising 227 passengers (including 2 infants) and 12 crew members.

An international search and rescue mission was mobilized this morning. At this stage, our search and rescue teams from Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam have failed to find evidence of any wreckage.

The sea mission will continue while the air mission will recommence at daylight.

[NOV]

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak says "with great sadness" data now confirms that the aircraft's last position was in the Indian Ocean south of Perth.

The following SMS message has been sent to relatives: "Malaysia Airlines deeply regrets that we have to assume beyond any reasonable doubt that MH370 has been lost and that none of those on board survived. As you will hear in the next hour from Malaysia's Prime Minister, we must now accept all evidence suggests the plane went down in the Southern Indian Ocean."


PM NAJIB RAZAK’S PRESS STATEMENT ON MH370

This evening I was briefed by representatives from the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB). They informed me that Inmarsat, the UK company that provided the satellite data which indicated the northern and southern corridors, has been performing further calculations on the data. Using a type of analysis never before used in an investigation of this sort, they have been able to shed more light on MH370’s flight path.

Based on their new analysis, Inmarsat and the AAIB have concluded that MH370 flew along the southern corridor, and that its last position was in the middle of the Indian Ocean, west of Perth.

This is a remote location, far from any possible landing sites. It is therefore with deep sadness and regret that I must inform you that, according to this new data, flight MH370 ended in the southern Indian Ocean.

We will be holding a press conference tomorrow with further details. In the meantime, we wanted to inform you of this new development at the earliest opportunity. We share this information out of a commitment to openness and respect for the families, two principles which have guided this investigation.

Malaysia Airlines have already spoken to the families of the passengers and crew to inform them of this development. For them, the past few weeks have been heartbreaking; I know this news must be harder still. I urge the media to respect their privacy, and to allow them the space they need at this difficult time.