#1. AIR INDIA INQUIRY: VAGUENESS AND GUESSWORK?
This week we came across more vagueness and guesswork at the Air India inquiry as RCMP Inspector Lorne Schwartz told the commission that the Mounties were aware of Talwinder Singh Parmar`s confession (as reported by Tehelka.com - see past The VOICE issues at www.voiceonline.com on this subject for details) back in 1997. Of course, even though the RCMP suspected that the confession was extracted through mental or physical torture, they felt it was their job to try and corroborate whatever they could. Schwartz said the Mounties followed up on it fully.
But the question remains, like I have said several times before: How much and who can you believe?
There's the former Punjab police chief KPS Gill still insisting that Parmar was killed in an encounter and he's willing to come here to testify - yeah, right. As though anyone will believe him! He was ruthless in ending the Khalistan threat in Punjab - everyone knows the Punjab police used every illegal means possible to deal with the terrorists. Expect him to tell the truth! I believe in the tooth fairy, Mr. Gill.
Then there was RCMP Inspector Jim Cullingham who winged it to India to interview suspect Lal Singh - also known as Manjit Singh - and came away convinced that he was not the same mysterious L. Singh who checked in luggage with a bomb at Vancouver.
When Justice John Major, who heads the inquiry, asked the inspector why would Lal have tried to end his life and bite off his tongue if he was innocent, Cullingham said Lal was pretty high up in the militant organization and would naturally have information about key militants. Lal was also wanted by the FBI for the attempted assassination of an Indian diplomat in New Orleans.
Meanwhile, Gian Singh Sandhu of the World Sikh Organization said that reports that he met and advised Lal Singh were "categorically false" and that he "unconditionally" denied them. A press statement read: "Sandhu, and the World Sikh Organization, have deplored and continue to deplore the senseless murder of innocent people in the Air India tragedy. The World Sikh Organization advocates for human rights and the interests of Sikhs through exclusively peaceful means. Gian Singh Sandhu and the World Sikh Organization reject violence in any form."
#2. RCMP-TRAINED DOGS ARE THE BEST IN THE WORLD
This week, RCMP South East District Traffic Services spokesperson Constable Julie Rattee informed The VOICE that the three Indo-Canadians who had been arrested on September 13 after police seized over $1.5 million worth of ecstasy from their vehicle were Jaswant Singh Sahota, 27, Ibrahim Khan, 19, and Kulshinger Singh Minhas, 20, all of Surrey. They have been formally charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking
They were nabbed at a roadblock near Midway (B.C.) when police service dog "Jack" indicated the presence of drugs in the vehicle. A search of the vehicle resulted in police locating two suitcases loaded with between 150,000 to 250,000 tablets of ecstasy worth more than $1.5 million. Rattee said that the three men were all known to police.
That brings me to the fascinating story of police dog training.
The Pacific Region Training Centre (PRTC) in Chilliwack this month hosted yet another leading-edge training program in Canada for police and their dogs. The one-of-a kind training being offered at the PRTC is the Police Dog Handler Officer Safety Course. This is the only course in Canada to offer such high-end training specifically tailored to existing police dog handlers in the area of tactical police dog skills and officer safety practices. The course - which is offered bi-annually at the PRTC - was developed in response to a number of violent incidents involving police dog handlers. One incident precipitating the course involved Cst. Doug Lewis who lost his dog "Chip" in a violent stabbing incident with a suspect.
Recognized as the premier police dog service in the world, the RCMP Police Dog Service trains dogs to detect human-laden scent articles, weapons, explosives and narcotics. A new dog handler requires a minimum of 750 hours or four months of training. Today, multi-purpose dogs are German Shepherds and specialty narcotic dogs are Labrador retrievers. The RCMP Police Dog Service implemented an in-house breeding program in 1998. The RCMP Puppy Program located in Innisfail, Alberta, produces on average 120 German Shepherd puppies a year from proven stock. Children across Canada name each the dogs through the "Name the Puppy Contest". Over 50%, or 70, police dogs currently working in the RCMP were bred in RCMP Puppy Program. Another 70 that were raised in the program are now with other agencies worldwide.
The Police Dog Service Training Centre was created in 1935 and has been situated in Innisfail since 1965. If a member leaves Police Dog Service before his/her dog is ready to retire, then the dog is re-teamed with another dog handler. Police dogs can indicate a person up to 300 to 400 yards away. The dog has a sense of smell that is a thousand times greater than that of humans. They only need one part per million of scent to get a detection. A dog can search a car in approximately three minutes. Dogs can work up to four hours with rest intervals. Currently, there are 125 RCMP dog teams across Canada. There are currently 79 Police Dog Teams across E Division (British Columbia) and 41 in the Lower Mainland. The estimated cost to train a member and dog team is $60,000. Healthy police service dogs cost less than $1,000 annually to maintain. On average, a police service dog retires at the age of seven.
MURDERED MAN IN VANCOUVER WAS EAST ASIAN
Vancouver Police said this week that Jason Chun Sing Louie, 37, who was found slumped over in a black Infinity SUV in the 2700-block of Penticton Street between east 11th and 12th avenues near Vancouver Technical secondary on Monday (September 24) was known to police and his murder did not appear to be a random attack. The vehicle's doors were open with the engine running and the lights on. There appeared to be blood on the inside of a door.
Police said in a statement: "Investigators are trying to retrace Mr. Louie's steps in the time leading up to his death. Anyone who had any dealings with him during that time is asked to call investigators at 604-717-2525 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS."
Calling this the 16th homicide of 2007, police said that last year at this time there were 17 homicides. Message: don't worry, folks, it's not getting worse!
So who was this Jason? He was the president of a club promotions company - Velvet Rope Bash - and according to his Facebook page he was also studying psychology at UBC.
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