 |
|
Doda blast kills constable on eve of final phase
Bangra (J-K), Oct 7 (ANI): An explosive planted by suspected militants went off on Monday on the eve of the final round of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections racked by violence killing one policeman and injuring two villagers. Voting ends with Doda district on Tuesday, a mountainous area of dense pine forests heavily infested by separatists and politically divided between pro-India mainly Hindu pockets and anti-Indian Muslim areas. The incident happened in district's Bangra village. "We had launched an operation in the morning in this area. There were reports that notorious militants Bashir Lohar and Masood were present in the area. We sent our parties there after getting information. As soon as our team members went up to locate them the IED which was already planted there exploded. One constable of ours got killed," said Altaf Ahmed, a police official. Some 90,000 securitymen are deployed in the remote district whose rugged terrain makes it an ideal base for militants fighting Indian rule. The militants have vowed to sabotage the elections and kill anyone taking part. India views the poll as a test of Pakistan's vow to stop Islamic militants crossing the border to join a 13-year revolt against Indian rule that has killed more than 35,000 people. But India says an increasing number of militants have slipped across the frontier and more than 600 people, including a state minister and three dozen political workers, have died since the poll was called on August 2. India hopes the election will bolster its rule in the disputed region, but turnout in the first three rounds--accounting for 80 of the 87 state assembly seats--ranged between 42 and 47 percent. That is below the 54 percent turnout in the last poll in 1996 and some analysts say it is neither strong enough to boost India nor weak enough to help Pakistan, which rules a third of Kashmir.(ANI) Salman remanded in police custody till Oct 10
Mumbai, Oct 7 (ANI): The Mumbai police on Monday claimed to have arrested Salman Khan in the hit-and-run case of September 28 in which one person was killed and four injured. Salman's friend Bunty Vaigal who refused to speak before the camera said that Salman came accompanied by his friends to the Bandra Police station and surendered himself. However, Deputy Commissioner of Police Nitin Kumar Singh maintained that the police arrested him.Salman will now remain in Police custody till October 10. The actor has been arrested under section 304 of the Indian Penal Code for culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Khan was initially booked under section 304A of the IPC, which specifies the punishment for someone who causes the death of another person by a rash or negligent act. A person booked under this section cannot get bail and the punishment can vary from 10 years in prison to life imprisonment. Earlier, the Bombay high court directed Khan to pay Rs one million to the family of the deceased Nuru Behra, Rs 300,000 to the seriously injured and Rs 150,000 to those not seriously hurt in the accident.Justices A P Shah and Ranjana Desai gave the judgment after a Public Interest Litigation was filed against the actor by three petitioners, including Nikhil Wagle, editor of local newspaper, Mahanagar. Salman was told to be present in the court, but did not turn up for the hearing. The petitioners wanted Salman be booked under section 279 of the IPC [Rash and negligent driving so as to endanger human life], section 337 [causing hurt by act endangering life for personal safety of others], section 304 [culpable homicide not amounting to murder], section 134 (A) and (B) of the Motor Vehicles Act [failing to give information to the police and provide medical aid to the injured]. The High Court directive was given on a public interest litigation urging for compensation to victims. The case will be heard again on November 27.(ANI) TN political parties, filmdom pledge support to Jaya
Go
to top
Chennai, Oct 7 (ANI): Political parties and filmdom in Tamil Nadu on Monday pledged support to chief minister Jayaram Jayalalitha on a brewing river water sharing row with neighbouring Karnataka. An all-party meeting convened by Jayalalitha supported the state government's stance on seeking to implement a Supreme Court directive asking the upper riperian Karnataka government to release 9,000 cusecs water per day to Tamil Nadu. "We must tell the federal government that on the Cauvery issue, all political parties in Tamil Nadu are united. All agree that something should be done to make Karnataka release water to Tamil Nadu," Jayalalitha told reporters in Madras after the meeting. The state's main opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, a bitter rival of Jayalalitha's All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, however, boycotted the meeting. The row over sharing river waters further polarized the various sections of society in both the states. Cable television networks in either state have blocked channels that broadcast in the other state's language. Cinema halls in Bangalore suspended shows screening Tamil films. Tamil Nadu movie industry activists met Jayalalitha on Monday and announced a rally on October 12 near a power station at Neyveli in the state in an effort to block supply to Karnataka. "The chief minister said that she was pleased with what we are going to do. She said since our rally is for the Tamil Nadu farmers, she is in full favour and promised to give all help which is required," said film director Bharatiraja. Jayalalitha has said the state government would file a contempt appeal in the Supreme Court even as Karnataka chief minister S.M. Krishna led a 120-km march on Monday through an area brought to a standstill by angry farmers. Officials in both states appealed for calm to prevent ethnic clashes after rowdy protests at the weekend over sharing river water between these top investment destinations. The protests in the states, which have been magnets for investment in the automobile and software sectors, have been spurred by the failure of this year's monsoon rains leading to the worst drought since 1987. Karnataka protested at the court's decision, complaining of a shortage of water, bringing an accusation of "roguish conduct" from Tamil Nadu's chief minister, former movie actress Jayaram Jayalalitha. Bangalore was paralysed by a general strike on September 12 after the federal Cauvery River Authority asked Karnataka to release 0.8 billion cubic feet of water every day. Karnataka began the release but a protester committed suicide by jumping into a reservoir. The state stopped the release on September 19, forcing Tamil Nadu to go to the Supreme Court. While the two states are at odds over the 760 km-long river, they have a healthier rivalry in luring investors. Both states boast of skilled technical workers such as software engineers. Karnataka, with 53 million people, has more than 80 engineering colleges. Tamil Nadu, with 62 million, has 150.(ANI) Terror attack subdues Navratra celebrations in Gandhinagar
Go
to top Gandhinagar, Oct 7 (ANI): Preparations are afoot in Gandhinagar for the annual "Navratra" festival in the backdrop of a recent attack on the famous Akshardham temple in which 28 people were killed. The "Garba" dances with boys, girls and elders wielding a pair of "Dandiya" sticks and dancing to rhythm, create an ambience of fun and frolic during the nine-day Navratra festivities but the fizz this year is missing. Authorities have imposed restrictions throughout the state of Gujarat, of which Gandhinagar is the capital, and police are undertaking extraordinary security measures as a precautionary measure. No wonder then that the celebrations are subdued. The number of venues has decreased by about 70 percent in Ahmedabad, the main city of Gujarat located close to Gandhinagar. Sponsors who spent anywhere between 100,000 and 300,000 rupees on Dandiya bashes staged at large grounds and stadia, have shied away this time. "Organisers are almost finished, to be very frank. It's not only because of this attack only but the uncertainity prevailing after the temple attack. If the guidelines would have been given in the initial phase then things would have been different, people would have been able to take decision that whether to do or not," said Himanshu Shai, organiser of one of the Garba functions in the city. With police manning the entries and exits, closed circuit cameras keeping track of revellers, and a ban on psychedelic lights, the jubilations are shorn of frills. Moreover celebrations will be restricted to 10 in the night as per the orders of the Supreme Court. The organisers have lowered the price of gate tickets in a bid to attract visitors. Photo Identity Cards have been issued to all the volunteers at the festivals. Fire extinguishers and metal detectors have been installed at all the festival venues, alongwith the tightened security cover. "On each Garba we are providing armed policemen and within the range of four-five Garbas there will be mobile police patrolling vans with sub-inspectors. All the entry points and exit points of Gandhinagar will be manned by our traffic police. And all the vehicles coming inside will be checked," said R.B. Brahambatt, Superintendent of Police, Gandhinagar. The festivities have also been marred by the country's worst religious riots in Gujarat earlier this year in which more than 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, lost their lives. The Navratra festival, celebrated at the onset of summers and winters, marks the obeisance to the power of Goddess Durga, a manifestation of the Mother Goddess in Hindu mythology. Fasting during the day ends in nights of celebration. Thousands of devotees attend the bashes and functions organised in the cities all across India. The nine days of Navratra stand for the nine manifestations of Goddess Durga. It is believed that during the days of Navratras, Goddess Durga descends on earth to rid it of the demons from the nether world and bless her devotees with happiness and prosperity.(ANI)
Electricity bills of farmers to be waived off : Chautala Go to top Chandigarh, Oct 7 (ANI): Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala on Monday announced the decision of the state government to waive off electricity bills of those farmers whose crops had been damaged due to severe drought this year. Talking to reporters at Mata Mansa Devi Shrine Complex, near Panchkula, after paying obeisance on the occasion of Navratra he said that it had also been decided to exempt the farmers from paying interest and surcharge on the electricity bills of their domestic and tubewell connections in drought-hit areas in the state. He also said that it had been decided to release power connections to all consumers, whose applications would be received upto December 31 this year so that there might not be any pending connection on the beginning of the new year. When asked to comment on the ongoing procurement of paddy in the mandis, the Chief Minister said that he had not found any irregularity in any of the mandis visited by him so far and the procurement was going on smoothly. (ANI) Veerappan sends third tape, asks for emissary Go to top Bangalore, Oct 7 (ANI): Forest brigand and sandalwood smuggler Veerappan has sent a third audio cassette to the family of former state minister H. Nagappa taken hostage by him. The most wanted man in the country is also said to have asked for a "suitable" emissary to come and discuss with him the "terms and conditions" for Nagappa's release. He has asked the government to release one of his gang members in exchange for Nagappa's release. The tape was thrown into Nagappa's farmhouse compound in Kamagere on Sunday evening. Karnataka Home Minister Mallikarjuna M. Kharge said that a decision will be taken only after the contents of the tape are discussed with the government. The contents of the tape are not yet disclosed. Dr Kiran Patel, Nagappa's son-in-law, said, "the message is being translated right now. The gist is to release Kolathur Mani immediately. Veerappan wants him sent as an envoy now". Nagappa has said that "life is becoming very difficult for him there." Kharge said the chief minister has already made it clear that those who are in jail will not be sent as the official negotiators. "If anybody wants to go on his own, the government has no objection".(ANI)
Keep your warplanes out of our airspace, Iran tells US
Go to
top Tehran, Oct 7 (ANI): Iran on Monday warned the United States to ensure its warplanes do not stray into Iranian airspace in the event of a war against Iraq. "We hope that nobody would make such an error, as such an error would be unforgivable," foreign ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi told reporters. Asefi had been asked to elaborate on an interview published Friday in Kuwait's Al-Rai Al-Aam newspaper, in which Iran's Defence Minister Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani was quoted as saying US warplanes that strayed into Iranian airspace would be viewed as "non-hostile". "Iran's armed forces are ready to defend the territorial integrity of our country. The Islamic Republic of Iran will not accept such an incident," Asefi said. (ANI)
|