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OP Jindal, Bansi Lal's son die in chopper crash

     Saharanpur (UP): Haryana Agriculture Minister Surender Singh and Power Minister OP Jindal were killed in a helicopter crash at Gangoh near Saharanpur today. MLA Ved Goyal was injured in the crash. The Jindal group-owned helicopter took off from Chandigarh at 11.30 am (IST) and was on its way to Delhi.It is reported to have lost radio contact at Sarsawa near Saharanpur. Steel tycoon Jindal headed the two billion dollar OP Jindal group, which includes steel companies like JISCO, JSPL and Jindal Stainless. The father of Member of Parliament Naveen Jindal, O P Jindal was one of the 12 Indians in the Forbes 2005 list of billionaires. A former MP, he was elected MLA from Hissar on a Congress ticket this year and was appointed Minister for Power in the Haryana Cabinet. Surinder Singh, the elder son of former Chief Minister Bansilal was Agriculture Minister in the Haryana Cabinet. A former MP from Bhiwani, he won the election from Tosham this year.

Preparations for Kashmir bus service in full swing (Go To Top)

     Srinagar: Preparations for the Srinagar- Muzaffarabad bus are going on at a fast and hectic pace. The much awaited landmark bus service linking India and Pakistan controlled territory is due to start next week on April 7, despite terrorist threats. Militants have warned the Kashmiris not to travel on the bus that would bring together the divided families from both sides of the border for the first time in more than half a century. The bus service is being seen as one of the most tangible signs of a fledgling peace between the nuclear rivals after decades of enmity. Shop owners could be seen whitewashing and painting their kiosks, as they seem eager to welcome their guests from across the border.

     Authorities have also decked up the road, laid tar on potholes and rough patches, on which the bus would run to make it a smooth ride. "Today we are very happy that Pakistan and India are resolving their differences. We are painting our shops and waiting for our guests. Even my relatives would be coming," said Bashir Ahmed, a shopkeeper who has given his small shop by the roadside a fresh coat of paint. "We are decorating our Kashmir. We want to show everyone around that Kashmir is so beautiful. The visitors from Pakistan should also feel at home here," said Nazir, another local. Thousands of families were separated when Kashmir was divided by a ceasefire line after the two neighbours fought their first war over the region in 1947-48. Four militant groups said the bus service, scheduled to begin on April 7, was a ploy to sabotage what they called their freedom struggle. Violence has continued in Kashmir despite the peace process between the nuclear-neighbours.

      In the meantime, top security agencies today met in Srinagar to assess the threat perception to passengers of the Srinagar- Muzaffarbad bus. Serious questions are being raised on the fact that how did the militants found out the addresses of passengers who are to take the bus on April 7. Security around the proposed bus has been beefed up after the militant threat, but it is really matter of concern that how did the militants got the address of the passengers. Out of the 40 passengers, whose documents were sent to Pakistan for approval, only 29 passengers have been cleared for the first journey. As per the agreement between the two countries, 30 passengers will travel in the bus. The Muzafarabad District Magistrate has not commented on whether top 10 politicians from J&K, whose list has been sent to Pakistan, will be allowed to visit on April 7. The bus service that is to ply from Srinagar in India to Muzzafarabad in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir from April 7 after a gap of 53 years took its first test ride to Uri on March 17.

Chargesheet in Shankararaman murder case (Go To Top)

     Kancheepuram: A court today handed over the copies of the chargesheet in the Shankararaman murder case to all the 24 accused, including Kanchi Seers Jayendra Saraswathi and Vijayendra Saraswathi. A copy of the document was also furnished to the accused-turned approver Ravi Subramaniam by Judicial Magistrate First Class G. Uthamaraj. The extensive chargesheet that runs into 1,873 pages was prepared by superintendent of police K. Premkumar on Jan. 21. The documents were not delivered to the accused earlier on the four occasions of trial in the court because the chargesheet was not produced till then. The seers were the first to receive it. All the accused had to appear before the court as per the directions of the Magistrate issued to them on Mar. 24. The proceedings of the court were delayed today as Appu, accused of organizing the murder, arrived late from Cuddalore prison where he was lodged. Jayayendra Saraswathi reached here from Kalavai, where he has been staying since his release on bail on Jan. 11. The police brought eighteen of the accused, lodged in Chennai Central Prison in the morning. Both the seers are accused of conspiring to murder Shankararaman, an official of the Varadaraja temple. The police had arrested Jayendra Saraswathi on September 3, 2004, at Mehboob Nagar, Andhra Pradesh. He was granted him bail by the court on January 10. Jayendra's junior Viyayendra was arrested on the same day at Kanchi Mutt.

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