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Bandh cripples life in Tripura AGARTALA, Aug 16: Life in Tripura was crippled today following a dawn to dusk statewide bandh, called by the both ruling and opposition parties, to ......more Dehalvi
for publicising JAMMU, Aug 16: The chairman of the Anjuman Minhaj-e-Rasool Maulana Syed Athar Hussain Dehalvi today called......more DMK keeps other guessing on no-confidence motion THANJAVUR (TN), Aug 16: With his party questioning the reported move of NDA seeking AIADMK’s support, DMK chief...more After Togadia, Kishore bundled off to Delhi PATNA, Aug 16: In a crackdown on top VHP brass, the Bihar Government today bundled off its senior international vice-president Acharya Giriraj ....more |
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BJP launches
‘Gaon-Gaon BAHADURPALLY, ANDHRA PRADESH, Aug 16: Eyeing the elections to Lok Sabha and the State Assembly next year, the BJP today launched its ....more HP
plans for renovation KEYLONG, Aug 16: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh here today said Rs 7.23 crore would be spent under the Buddhist circuit ....more Nashik becomes fortress NASHIK, Aug 16: At least 20 lakh pilgrims and thousands of Sadhus and holy men are expected to take holy dip tomorrow......more Punjab CM summoned CHANDIGARH, Aug 16: Chief Judicial Magistrate C L Mohal here today summoned Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder.....more |
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growth ..... 4 arrested for kidnapping boy ...... Couple arrested for kidnapping ......
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Bandh cripples life in Tripura AGARTALA, Aug 16: Life in Tripura was crippled today following a dawn to dusk statewide bandh, called by the both ruling and opposition parties, to protest the massacre of 30 people by the tribal guerillas in west tripura on thursday. Army, Central para-military and State Security Forces continued their combing operations in various parts of the State, specially in west Tripura district, to nab the militants, who recently stepped up their violent activities killing atleast 43 people, including ten security personnel, in the district since last Monday. Police said the bandh remained peaceful so far and no untoward incident was reported from any parts of the state. Shops, business establishments, educational institutions, banks and Government offices remained closed while vehicles, except those of security personnel, went off the roads. Security forces have so far arrested six militants in connection with the massacre. On Thursday night, hours before the Independence day celebrations, two groups of All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) militants, armed with sophisticated weapons, stormed into two villages of the sub-division in west Tripura and rained bullets indiscriminately killing 14 people at Kamal Nagar under Kalyanpur Police Station and 16 people at Krishnapur under Teliamura Police Station. The victims, belonging to ten non-tribal families, included seven children and nine women. Most of them were poor agricultural and day labourers. Sources said the condition of the eleven of the 14 injured was critical. At least two families had been wiped out in the massacre, they added. The ATTF and the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) militants, along with other extremist outfits of the North East, had earlier called for a boycott of the Independence day celebrations. They had also dictated the people to observe the day as"black day". The Tripura Government had sounded a special red alert all over the state and asked the security forces to maintain the highest vigil, following the violent incidents. Official sources told newspersons here today that the State Government had also asked the Border Security Forces (BSF) to seal the 856-Km-long Indo-Bangla border with Tripura to prevent the cross-border movement of the militants. Senior police and para-military officials were closely monitoring the situation. Today’s bandh was called by the political parties to protest Thursday’s massacre and in support of their demands. The ruling CPI(M) has demanded deployment of Army and more Central Forces in the state, demolition of militant camps in Bangladesh and expediting the erection work of barbed wire fences along the 856-Km long Indo-Bangla border with Tripura. The opposition Congress demanded immediate resignation of the Left Front Government and Central intervention like that of the 1980 communal riot in the state. Tripura Pradesh Congress president Birajit Sinha, told newspersons that the CPI(M)-led Left Front Government had no moral or legal right to remain in power as it had failed to protect the lives and properties of innocent people. The Congress urged the Union Government to take appropriate steps to safeguard the people from the reign of terror unleased by the outlawed militants. The party also burnt the effigies of the Chief Minister Manik Sarkar. Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura(INPT), youth Congress, Nationalist Socialist Party of Tripura(NSPT) have also supported the bandh. (UNI) |
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Dehalvi for publicising illegal occupation of Pak, China JAMMU, Aug 16: The chairman of the Anjuman Minhaj-e-Rasool Maulana Syed Athar Hussain Dehalvi today called for "liberation" of all portions of Jammu and Kashmir which were under the "illegal occupation" of Pakistan as well as China. Stressing the need for formulating a firm policy on the illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir areas by Pakistan and China, Dehalvi said the Central Government should also apprise the nation about other border disputes. "Much hype has been created about Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Parliament even passed a resolution to liberate it, but nothing is being said about `China-occupied Kashmir (CoK), he told reporters here. He said the Kashmir issue is "already settled" and there is no need to discuss it with Pakistan. "We need to discuss trade and other bilateral issues with the neighbouring country." Accusing the BJP-led NDA Government of being pro-united states, he warned against having any alliance with Israel as it would wean away "our friends from Middle-East." Terming the fidayeen attacks (suicide attacks) by Pakistan militants as unislamic, he said suicide is prohibited in Islam. Referring to present State Government headed by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Dehalvi said it was doing a good job for the welfare of the people and to usher peace in the state. (PTI) |
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DMK keeps other guessing on no-confidence motion THANJAVUR (TN), Aug 16: With his party questioning the reported move of NDA seeking AIADMK’s support, DMK chief M Karunanidhi today kept others guessing on how it will vote in the Lok Sabha on the Congress-sponsored No-Confidence Motion against the Vajpayee Government of which it is a part. "DMK has not yet taken any decision," party president M Karunanidhi told reporters here when asked about the appeal by state unit of CPI(M) and CPI to vote against the motion. While CPI(M) secretary N Varadharajan said the NDA allies DMK, PMK and MDMK were "morally bound" to vote against the Government, his CPI counterpart R Nallakannu said it was "high time these parties made a self-introspection on their continuation" in the BJP-led alliance. To a question, Karunanidhi reiterated that the DMK would not support the proposed Bill banning cow slaughter as the issue was not on the NDA agenda. On the Cauvery issue, he blamed Jayalalithaa Government for the state not getting its due share of waters from Karnataka, saying its approach to the issue was "not proper". Earlier, Karunanidhi was given a warm welcome on his arrival here by train this morning. He is slated to address a public meeting tonight to receive party funds for the next Lok Sabha polls.(PTI) |
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Nashik becomes fortress ahead of royal bath NASHIK, Aug 16: At least 20 lakh pilgrims and thousands of Sadhus and holy men are expected to take holy dip tomorrow in ‘Ramkund,’ where Lord Ram took ‘Vanvas’ (exile) according to legend, in the second ‘Shahi Snan’ (royal bath) of ‘Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Sinhastha Kumbh Mela 2003’, amidst massive security arrangements. This will be the first royal bath in Ramkund in the city, following the first ‘Shahi Snan’ of Trimbakeshwar on Aug 12. Only Mahants (head priests) and Sadhus belonging to the ‘Vaishnav’ sect will take holy dip in tomorrow’s Royal bath, which will not see the presence of the enigmatic ‘Naga’ Sadhus. The Vaishnav sect is spread in three ‘Akhadas’-Nirvani, Digambar and Nirmohi. District Collector Mahesh Zagde said between 15 and 20 lakh pilgrims are expected to take holy dip tommorow. The pilgrim city has become a virtual fortress with thousands of policemen and extra forces drawn from various departments guarding key entry points. Bomb-detection squads with sniffer dogs have been pressed into service while a rapid action force has been kept as reserve in case of any eventuality, keeping in view the recent terrorist attacks on religious places. According to P T Lohar, City Police Commissioner, more than 7000 policemen, 1650 home guards, 6000 volunteers and 15 platoons of state reserve police force have been deployed in the area. Lohar said they will be led by Divisional Regional Commissioner Vijay Mathankar, five Deputy Commisioners of Police (DCPs), nine Assistant Police Commissioners, 44 Police Inspectors and 275 Police Sub-Inspectors. Besides, closed-circuit cameras will keep tight vigil along the route of ‘Shahi Miravanuk’ (royal procession), which would start from the ‘Tapowan’ where the Sadhus reside at 7.30 am. Key entry points in nashik have been barricaded for security checks of traffic and 106 places in the city have been declared ‘sensitive areas.’ Meanwhile, the State Government has declared holidays on the dates of the Royal bath beginning tomorrow. (PTI) |
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Punjab CM summoned in defamation case CHANDIGARH, Aug 16: Chief Judicial Magistrate C L Mohal here today summoned Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on September 20 on a defamation suit filed against him by former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. Mr Badal, who was present in the court today, had filed the defamation suit during his tenure as the Chief Minister, prior to the February last year State Assembly elections. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president had challenged the allegations levelled by the Punjab Congress that he owned assets worth Rs 3,500 crore, moving the court against capt singh who was then the president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC). The Punjab Congress had carried a campaign through advertisements in newspapers during the State Assembly elections that Mr Badal and his family owned assets worth Rs 3500 crore. Mr Badal has also stated in his petition that he and his family members were defamed by the Congress by getting certain advertisements published even on the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue and other such issues of Punjab’s interest. The SAD president, however, refused to give reaction to the media persons who approached him after the court issued a notice to the Chief Minister. (UNI) RBI warns high fiscal deficit impedes growth NEW DELHI, Aug 16: Reserve Bank today warned high fiscal deficit and low credit offtake were impeding economic growth but on the back of good monsoon and industrial revival, the country could witness over six per cent growth this fiscal. "Fiscal deficit is a problem from the growth point of view. We are using a lot of domestic savings for current consumption and that is not desirable," RBI Governor Bimal Jalan, who relinquishes his office in October after six years, said here. With marginal improvement in total receipts and containment of expenditure, the Centre’s fiscal deficit stood at Rs 38,608 crore in the first quarter of this year. "Nobody is happy at six per cent growth" Jalan said about the economic performance, adding it would be definitely better than six per cent mainly due to good monsoon and industrial revival. "The exact numbers, the RBI will re-formulate and re-project in October when all the data comes in," he said in an interview to NDTV channel. Aided by a steady growth of the manufacturing sector, the industrial production grew by 5.3 per cent during the first quarter of the current fiscal. "Last year, we grew at four per cent despite drought. Yes, we are dependent on rains. One wishes we were less dependent on the rains," Jalan said. Less credit offtake was worrisome in terms of growth. "If we had more investments in infrastructure, we would have grown at a trajectory, which is fast and I am sure it will happen," he said. On the softer interest rate regime, Jalan said it would depend on the inflationary pressures in the economy and that he would not hazard a guess. "I will not make a forecast. If we are able to maintain around the present levels, then the interest rates are sustainable, but if inflation rate shoots, then obviously interest rates are unsustainable because one gets into a negative territory," he said. But "positive one, two or three per cent inflation is not bad for growth," Jalan added. Inflation fell to a 27-week low of 4.09 per cent, shedding 0.5 per cent during the latest reported week with primary and manufactured products becoming cheaper. On surging foreign exchange reserves, now at about 85 billion dollars, the RBI Governor said, Forex reserves was not a problem for the Indian economy. "It is like any other resource and we must use it well. There is no problem in the foreseeable future and any contigencies will be taken care of," he said. On rupee, which is appreciating these days on the back of high forex reserves, Jalan said there had to be flexibility in exchange rates. "Some element of flexibility and some element of intervention" was needed, he said, adding the question was how much of flexibility and intervention. There was varying opinion, he said but "we have taken a stand that we don’t want to have a fixed exchange rate target. The rupee is flexible but we would like the movement to be orderly and not very volatile." (PTI) NEW DELHI, Aug 16: With the arrest of four persons, police today claimed to have solved a case of kidnapping of a three and half year old boy. Dharmender alias Chhotu, went missing on May 6 from Shahbad dairy area of Delhi and the father of the child, Subhash Chander, got a call from the abductors demanding a ransom of Rs 15 lakh, police said. Acting on the complaint, the incident was given wide publicity through the media and all shos in the capital and all SSPs in the country were informed, giving the description of the boy and a reward of Rs 10,000 was also announced. Several NGO homes, hospitals, orphanage houses were also checked, police said. However, the father of the kidnapped boy did not receive any subsequent ransom calls, police said. During the course of investigation, it was found that Subhash Chander received an amount of Rs 95,000 through the sale of a property, police said. A list of persons, who were in the knowledge of this deal was prepared and their movement was monitored, they said. Investigators zeroed in on one Manoj Kumar, who during interrogation, admitted to have committed the crime along with his associates Ajay Kumar, Anil Kumar and Vijay Kumar. On the evening of May six, Vijay lured the child to come to his house and gave him a sedative and the group later took him to Anil’s house in Badarpur, police said. They however developed cold feet and abandoned the child in Madanpur Khadar, they said. (PTI) Couple arrested for kidnapping NEW DELHI, Aug 16: Police today claimed to have solved a case of kidnapping of a baby by arresting a couple in a West Delhi area, Anita Mishra (25), a resident of Sultan Pur in Uttar Pradesh, came to her father’s house in Raghubir Nagar in Delhi and stayed there for ten months telling her in-laws that she was pregnant, police said. She returned to her in-laws’ house in Sultan Pur without her baby and when they asked for the child, she told them that the baby was with a friend of her father in Delhi, they said. After repeatedly being questioned about the baby, Anita came back to Delhi along with her husband Ashwani Mishra and went to the house of one Shashi whom she met in a hospital in Rajouri Garden during her stay in Delhi, police said. She then visited the house a couple of times more, police said. Last evening, Anita went to the house again and engaged Shashi and her husband in a chat and stealing an opportunity took the one-and-a-half year-old Ravi out of the house to hand him over to her waiting husband, they said. When asked about the baby, Anita denied having taken the him outside but she was apprehended and taken to police station, they said. She broke down during questioning and admitted to have kidnapped and kept the baby at her cousin’s place, they said. A raid was conducted immediately and the baby was rescued, police said her husband was also arrseted and a case of kidnapping registered against them. (PTI) |
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