ONE OUT OF 50 MOST WANTED MEN COULD BE AN ERROR, SAYS INDIA'S INTERIOR MINISTER

NATURAL WITH ENGLISH SPEECH

DURATION: 2.10

SOURCE: ANI

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India's interior minister admits possibility of error in 'most wanted' list.

After Wazhul Kamar Khan, listed in '50 Most Wanted Fugitives Hiding in Pakistan', was found living in India, Interior (Home) Minister P. Chidambaram says it could be an error, and should not be made into a big issue.

SHOWS:

AGARTALA, TRIPURA, INDIA (MAY 17, 2011) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)

1. DIGNITARIES SITTING ON STAGE

2. PALANIAPPAN CHIDAMBARAM, INDIA'S HOME (INTERIOR) MINISTER SITTING WITH MANIK SARKAR, CHIEF MINISTER OF INDIA'S NORTHEASTERN TRIPURA

3. CHIDAMBARAM

4. DIGNITARIES SITTING ON STAGE

5. CHIDAMBARAM WITH SARKAR ON STAGE

6. CHIDAMBARAM ARRIVING WITH SARKAR FOR NEWS CONFERENCE

7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) PALANIAPPAN CHIDAMBARAM, INDIA'S HOME MINISTER, SAYING:"If you prepare a list of 50 people over a period of time, assume that we are wrong in one name, 49 are right. So I don't think (you should) make a big issue of all these things. These are lists prepared over a period of time, and it is possible that there could be an error, or there could be two people with the same name, I don't know. I will have to go back and check."

8. MEDIAPERSONS

9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) PALANIAPPAN CHIDAMBARAM, INDIA'S HOME MINISTER, SAYING:"Two or perhaps three incidents of violence in West Bengal, who's to be blamed? ... I can't say because there has been violence on both sides but I spoke to the governor yesterday. The governor has instructed the police to take very strict action. I have spoken to both Mamata Banerjee and Mr Mukul Roy. They have also assured me that as far as the Trinamool Congress is concerned, they have made it very clear to their cadres that there shall be no violence."

10. CAMERAMAN FILMING

11. (SOUNDBITE) (English) PALANIAPPAN CHIDAMBARAM, INDIA'S HOME MINISTER, SAYING:"That nearly 85 percent of Bengal came up to vote and they rejected any other route other than democratic governance, the Maoists also should recognize that the people are in favour of peace and development. Maoists should join the mainstream."

12. CHIDAMBARAM SPEAKING TO MEDIAPERSONS

STORY: After Wazhul Kamar Khan, listed in '50 Most Wanted Fugitives Hiding in Pakistan', was found living in India, Interior (Home) Minister P. Chidambaram said on Tuesday (May 17) it could be an error, and should not be made into a big issue.

Speaking in Agartala, capital of India's northeastern Tripura state, Chidambaram said he would probe into the matter.

"If you prepare a list of 50 people over a period of time, assume that we are wrong in one name, 49 are right. So I don't think (you should) make a big issue of all these things. These are lists prepared over a period of time, and it is possible that there could be an error, or there could be two people with the same name, I don't know. I will have to go back and check," he said.

According to media reports, police sources said Khan and his family has been living in Thane of India's western Maharastra state.

Khan was accused of carrying out train blasts in Mulund in 2003 that killed 13 and injured over 80 people.

Khan has been living in Waghle Estate with his wife, children and mother ever since he was released on bail last year. His family claimed that they have no ties with Pakistan.

India handed over a list of 50 Most Wanted Fugitives Hiding in Pakistan to Islamabad during Home (Interior) Secretary-level talks in Delhi on March 28. The list is led by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Saeed as 'India's Enemy Number 1', displacing underworld ringleader Dawood Ibrahim, who was responsible for the 1993 serial blasts in Mumbai.

Also commenting on the cases of post-poll violence in India's eastern West Bengal state, Chidambaram said he asked the state governor M. K. Narayanan to take all measures to stop violence.

Chidambaram said he has also spoken to the leaders of the provincial poll-winning Trinamool Congress (TMC) party on the matter.

"Two or perhaps three incidents of violence in West Bengal, who's to be blamed? ... I can't say because there has been violence on both sides but I spoke to the governor yesterday. The governor has instructed the police to take very strict action. I have spoken to both Mamata Banerjee and Mr Mukul Roy. They have also assured me that as far as the Trinamool Congress is concerned, they have made it very clear to their cadres that there shall be no violence," he said.

According to media reports, at least six people died in post-poll clashes between the former ruling Left Front and Trinamool Congress cadres.

In the 296-member legislative assembly, TMC headed by federal Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee, was far ahead with 172 seats, while the Left Front has 67 seats.

Chidambaram appealed to all the political parties to accept the mandate of the people.

As a message to Maoists, Chidambaram said Maoists should 'read the writing on the wall' and accept that people's mandate is for democracy and peace.

"That nearly 85 percent of Bengal came up to vote and they rejected any other route other than democratic governance, the Maoists also should recognize that the people are in favour of peace and development. Maoists should join the mainstream," he said.

The ultras have spread into rural pockets of 20 of India's 28 states, and many of these pockets exist in West Bengal.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has termed the Maoists India's gravest internal security threat.

Initially, the Maoists contended they are fighting for the cause of poor and weaker sections of the society whereas over the past two decades, they have turned extremely violent, not hesitating in killing civilians on the pretext they are police informers.