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FRIDAY, March 4, 2016
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Vol. 29 No. 10 Friday, March 4, 2016 • Published Weekly from Houston • 713-774-5140 20 Pages ( 2 sections) 50 cents E-mail: voiceasia@aol.com
Ashok Garg felicitated for Militants mount deadly attack on leading the Chamber in 2015 Indian consulate in Afghanistan
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ALALABAD, Afghanistan | AFP | Wednesday 3/2/2016 Gunfire and an explosion echoed Wednesday as militants attacked India’s consulate in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad, killing three people in the latest in a string of assaults on Indian installations in the country. No group has so far claimed the brazen attack, which coincided with a NATO change-of-command ceremony that saw US army general John Nicholson take charge of international troops in Afghanistan.
IACCGH thanks Past President Ashok Garg for an extraordinary year of leading the Chamber and elevating it to greater heights. His vision, innovative approach and commitment to the Chamber’s mission of promoting economic growth in the Greater Houston region made 2015 a banner year for IACCGH. Seen in picture are Dr. Renu Khator, Chancellor and President, University of Houston., Mr. Ashok Garg and Joya Shukla IACCGH president. Photo credit: Bijay Dixit.
Indian diplomats were not hurt, the foreign ministry in New Delhi said, after a suicide bomber blew himself up at the consulate’s entrance and four other attackers breached the compound. “All four of them were killed by our security forces,” government spokesman Attaullah Khogyani told AFP after the two-hour assault ended. “Three others -- two civilians and one policeman -- were killed and 19
Indo-American Heritage Day
An Afghan soldier inspects the site of an attack in front of the Indian consulate in Jalalabad, on March 2, 2016 (AFP Photo/Noorullah Shirzada) other people were left wounded.” The powerful explosion sent a column of smoke rising in the sky and blew out windows of nearby buildings, as Afghan troops hauled away bodies from the area littered with charred debris. The attack highlights the worsening security situation in Afghanistan as Taliban insurgents step up nationwide attacks and Islamic State jihadists make inroads in the volatile east.
Celebrations on March 26, 2016, at Houston’s historic Julia Ideson library HOUSTON – The preservation and promulgation of a community’s history are important aspects of a civilization. Through a decade-long community service, the Foundation for India Studies (FIS) has accomplished a remarkable series of projects to enrich the understanding of India’s contributions to the world as well as to the understanding of the role of the Indo-American community in Houston city’s multicultural tapestry. A celebration of FIS’ 10th anniversary and the completion of its 50 oral histories will take place on Saturday, March 26, 2016, at the historic and beautiful Julia Ideson library building in downtown Houston. Scheduled to take place from 1 pm to 4 pm, the celebration will include entertainment and light refreshments. A presentation will highlight the video recordings of the Oral histories.
India has been a key supporter of Kabul’s post-Taliban government, and analysts have often pointed to the threat of a “proxy war” in Afghanistan between India and Pakistan. Pakistan -- the historic backer of the Taliban -- has long been accused of assisting the insurgents, especially with attacks on Indian targets in Afghanistan, but denies the claims. - Uptick in violence -
“There is still much work to be done. We now find ourselves at an inflection point in our campaign,” outgoing NATO commander General John Campbell told reporters in Kabul.
Direct peace talks are expected to start this week in Islamabad between the Western-backed Afghan government and the Taliban, which has been waging a deadly insurgency for more than 14 years.
“(Afghan security forces) have come far but they still need our help. (Their) desire to improve and their resilience warrants our continued support in the critical years ahead.”
Delegates from Afghanistan, China, the US and Pakistan recently met in Kabul for a fourth round of talks aimed at paving the way for the nascent peace process.
Wednesday’s assault was reminiscent of a 25-hour gun and bomb siege near the Indian consulate in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif in January.
But the Taliban have intensified their insurgency in an apparent attempt to gain leverage before the planned negotiations.
Sugar Land Police Warn Citizens of Telephone Scam
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UGAR LAND, TX - Sugar Land Police are warning residents to be aware of unknown suspects making threatening calls pretending to be Fort Bend County or Harris County Sheriff deputies.
Congratulatory messages from special dignitaries will be followed by a keynote speech by Dr. Stephen Klineberg, founderdirector of Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research. Having conducted a series of demographic studies about the city of Houston and the role of immigrants, Dr. Klineberg will speak on the “Changing Face of Houston.” Continued on Page 5
Project Team (L-R): Krishna Vavilala (FIS Chair), Dr. Ponnada Narayana (FIS Event Chair), Judith Hiott (HPL Chief of the Houston Area Library Automated Network, Blanca Quezada (HPL Communications Specialist), Hiren Sarma (FIS Director), Roland Lemonius (HPL Digital Projects Manager) and Joe Martinez (HPL Special Events). Photo credit: Allen J. Westrick (HPL). Event venue: Julia Ideson Library building.
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In several calls, the caller identified himself as a sergeant with the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s office. The caller is reported to be very believable and gave actual court and judges’ names that could easily have been ob-
Police ask that you be aware of this scam and protect yourself by always confirming the accuracy of such calls with local law enforcement agencies. Never give out personal financial information to anyone over the phone unless you can verify the information and source. If you are not sure, hang up until you can confirm independently, or report it to local law enforcement.
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Police are investigating a number of scam phone calls in which the caller informs citizens they have outstanding traffic warrants, or warrants for missing jury summons, and will be arrested unless they make immediate payment of their fines.
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