ATTARI (AMRITSAR): The Border Security Force seized four kg of heroin with a street value of Rs 20 crore, which was allegedly smuggled from Pakistan, near the international border here today.
BSF DIG R P S Jaswal said jawans were on high alert at Border Outpost Pulmoran in Amritsar sector following inputs regarding possibility of smuggling of heroin from across the border.
A special search operation was launched during which four packets of heroin were found at a place 150-mt from the border, he said.
The value of the heroin was estimated at Rs 20 crore in the street market, the DIG said. (AGENCIES)
SRINAGAR: Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) is planning to rope in services of Bangalore based health care service provider for its upcoming medical facility for rendering quality health care services to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
“The Board had decided to explore the possibility of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) entering into a meaningful partnership with a well known Health Care Service Provider in the country, for rendering quality health care services to people of the State,” a spokesman of the Board said today.
The SMVDSB held its 54th meeting at Raj Bhavan here yesterday under the chairmanship of Governor NN Vohra, who is the chairman of the board.
The board discussed various important issues regarding the operationalisation of the (SMVDIME), which is coming up at Kakriyal, near Katra.
The spokesman said the decision to seek services from outside the state was taken in view of the challenges relating to managing the operations of a large hospital and the likely difficulties in the initial years of securing the services of well qualified and experienced medical professionals in varied disciplines.
The board had several years ago conceived the establishment of a sizeable hospital for providing multi-speciality medical services in identified fields of health care to the people of J&K.
The Governor had set up a committee under the chairmanship of Dr S S Bloeria to identify and recommend a suitable partner for operating SMVDIME on a long term basis.
“This Committee, after a rigorous exercise spanning over a year and a half, recommended that the Shrine Board may negotiate a partnership with Narayana Hrudayalaya Pvt Ltd, a well reputed Bangalore based healthcare chain which runs 27 well known hospitals all over the country,” the spokesman said.
The Governor set up a Sub-Committee under the chairmanship of Dr E Sreedharan to negotiate an agreement with Narayana Hrudayalaya for operationalising the hospital project. (AGENCIES)
NEW DELHI : US Secretary of State, John Kerry arrived here today to hold 5th Indo-US Strategic Dialogue tomorrow during which India will be raising issues of snooping by the US’ NSA and terrorism even as the two sides will explore “transformative initiatives” in key areas such as defence and energy.
Kerry along with his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj will co-chair the Dialogue which will also be attended by senior representatives of various ministries including home and defence. Union Minister of State for Commerce (Independent charge) Nirmala Sitharaman will also participate in the Dialogue which will explore ways to strengthen bilateral business ties.
Noting that the Indo-US ties were at a stage of “stable and mature growth”, the Spokesperson in the External Affairs Ministry said the two ministers are expected to explore new frontiers and initiatives to further promote bilateral relations.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s September visit to the US during which he will hold talks with President Barack Obama in Washington at the invitation of the American leader, the Spokesperson said, “The opportunity (of Dialogue) will be taken to explore transformative initiatives which can move the Indo-US relations to the next level. In this context, Kerry will also meet the Prime Minister…”.
He also said the focus area during Swaraj-Kerry talks would be security, energy, trade and investment, science and technology, human resource development and regional issues.
Asked if India would raise the issue of snooping by US’ National Security Agency (NSA) on BJP among others, he said there was “considerable disquiet” in the country over the issue and leaders do reflect the public concerns. The issue is expected to be discussed under the cyber-security section, he indicated.
After reports emerged that BJP was among a group of foreign political parties targeted by the NSA in 2010 earlier this month, MEA had summoned a top US official and conveyed that the allegations were unacceptable and sought assurances from the US that it would not happen again.
On whether India would raise the issue of movements of JuD Chief Hafiz Saeed, designated terrorist by the US, he said any issue which impinges on India’s security, of which the homeland security was an important part, and where the Government thinks that the US can assist will be raised.
On the defence front, the two sides are in consultation to upgrade their ties by simplifying technology transfer policies and exploring possibilities of co-development and co-production of defence systems to invest the relationship with strategic value.
The defence trade has shown significant growth in recent years with aggregate worth of defence acquisition from the US crossing over USD 10 billion.
While major initiatives in defence field are likely to be discussed during US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel’s visit next month, tomorrow’s dialogue will set the tone for the same.
The US Secretary of State’s visit is first high-level interaction at the political level after the new Government came to power here, the MEA Spokesperson said.
Kerry’s visit two months ahead of Prime Minister Modi’s trip is aimed at instilling some vigour in bilateral ties, which appeared to have lost momentum in the final years of UPA regime.
While the ambitious civil nuclear cooperation agreement is stuck with American companies apprehensive of Indian liability law, the trade ties have also not shown impressive growth. Total bilateral trade in goods touched USD 63.7 billion in 2013, registering a mere growth of 1.7 per cent over the last year.
India-US ties hit a low at the end of last year after senior Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade was arrested in New York, strip-searched and charged with visa fraud for allegedly underpaying her babysitter. (AGENCIES)
NEW DELHI : Lt Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag, whose appointment as army chief had kicked up a row, will tomorrow take over as the next head of the 1.3 million strong force succeeding Gen Bikram Singh who is retiring.
Suhag was designated as army chief in May by the outgoing UPA Government ignoring protests from his predecessor Gen V K Singh and BJP.
59-year-old Lt Gen Suhag, a Gurkha officer who had participated in the 1987 Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) operation in Sri Lanka, is currently the Vice Chief of Army Staff.
He will have a tenure of 30 months as the 26th Chief of the armed forces.
Suhag was made the Vice Chief of Army Staff in December last year. Earlier, he had taken over as the Eastern Army Commander on June 16, 2012.
He was at the centre of a controversy triggered by ‘Discipline and Vigilance’ ban imposed on him by the then army chief Gen V K Singh in connection with an intelligence operation in Assam earlier.
The ban on Suhag, the then 2 Corps Commander, was lifted soon after Gen Bikram Singh took over in May, 2012.
BJP had questioned the “hurry” in making the appointment and insisted that the matter be left to the next Government.
However, soon after the NDA Government took over, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley said the new dispensation will continue with the appointment made during UPA rule.
Suhag was a Company Commander in ‘Op Pawan’ in Sri Lanka in 1987 and commanded 53 Infantry Brigade engaged in counter insurgency operations in the Kashmir Valley from July, 2003 to March, 2005.
An alumnus of Sainik School, Chittorgarh, he joined NDA in 1970 and was commissioned into 4/5 GR (FF) in June 1974.
The General Officer has attended various career courses in India and abroad which include LDMC at CDM, Secunderabad in 1997-98, NDC Course at New Delhi in 2006, Executive Course in USA in 2005 and Senior Mission Leaders Course (UN) in Kenya in 2007.
He holds the distinction of commanding 8 Mountain Division in Kargil from October 2007 to December 2008.
Traditionally, the appointment is made two months ahead of the retirement of the incumbent army chief but the UPA Government deviated from this practice when Bikram Singh was appointed in 2012. (AGENCIES)
NEW DELHI : CBI has registered 50 cases in Jammu and Kashmir between 2011 and 2014 of which eight have been closed during the period, Lok Sabha was informed today.
Minister of State for Personnel and Training, Jitendra Singh said 14 cases were registered in 2011 and 2012 each while in 2013, 17 cases were registered and in 2014 till June 30, five cases have been taken up for probe.
The Minister said four preliminary enquiry were registered in 2011 and 2012 each.
In 2013, eight enquiries were registered while in 2014 till June 30 two preliminary enquiries have been registered by the agency, he said.
The Minister said five cases and three preliminary enquiries have been closed during the period.
“The remaining regular cases which have not been closed by CBI are 45 in number and are at different stages of trial/investigation in CBI. So far as remaining PEs (15) are concerned their status are such as ‘referred to department for regular departmental action’ or ‘converted into RC’,” he said.
The Minister said there was no delay in closure of cases as it is done as per due process of law.
“Out of five regular cases closed by CBI in four cases, closure report has been accepted by the Court concerned whereas in one case court has taken decision on closure report. Hence there is no delay,” he said.
In a separate reply, Singh said CBI has registered 134 cases in Uttar Pradesh in which accused were arrested by it.
“The record of number of arrests carried out in individual cases either by CBI or by the State Police is a matter of individual case record and is not being maintained centrally,” he said.
The minister said no time frame can be assigned for completion of investigation as it varies from case to case. (AGENCIES)
NEW DELHI, July 30: Parliament was rocked today over the alleged bugging of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari’s residence with Congress demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe to ascertain who ordered it but the government ruled out any investigation into a “non-issue”.
The matter was raised vociferously in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha by the Congress which alleged that the methods used in Gujarat to snoop on ministers and legislators are being employed at the Centre.
The Upper House saw four adjournments — two each during Question Hour and Zero Hour — in the pre-lunch session.
Amid slogans – “Modi model nahin chalega” and “We want JPC”, Deputy Leader of Congress Anand Sharma said in the Rajya Sabha, “Government is allowing tapping of telephones on a large scale. It is a question of privacy. This is a serious matter…Here we are talking of bugging. Who has allowed it? Our demand is a thorough probe to unearth the truth. It has to be discussed in the House.”
In the Lok Sabha, Leader of Congress Mallikarjun Kharge expressed concern over reports that some listening devices were found at Gadkari’s residence.
He alleged that in Gujarat telephones of as many as 29,000 people were tapped.
Amid uproar by some BJP MPs, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself should come to the House and take the nation into confidence by giving a detailed statement on how many ministers, MPs and officials were being snooped.
However, the government ruled out any probe.
“When the news itself is false and baseless, the question of an inquiry does not arise,” Home Minister Rajnath Singh said in Lok Sabha.
Insisting that the reports about should not be taken seriously, he said, “There is no truth in those media reports. The Minister too has termed the reports as baseless and factually incorrect.”
Singh also said no high powered listening device was found at Gadkari’s residence.
Gadkari was present in the Lok Sabha when the issue was raised by Congress, which unsuccessfully tried to highlight it when the House met for the day.
Outside Parliament, Singh later said there is “no basis” for any inquiry.
Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad attacked Congress, questioning why it was raising a “non-issue”. (AGENCIES)
PUNE : At least five persons were killed and about 160 feared trapped after large parts of a hillside collapsed on houses amid heavy rain in Maharashtra’s Pune district today.
There were reports that five persons were extricated alive from the massive debris of mud and rock that covered the area at Malin village, some 120 km from the district headquarters.
Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan said five persons were killed in the landslide and 160 feared trapped.
He said 44 houses on the hillside were swamped by the cascading debris in the village with a population of about 715.
Rescue operations are on in full swing with the help of two teams from the National Disaster Response Force, District Collector Saurav Rao said.
The rescuers were moving slowly to avoid causing harm to the survivors, he said.
About 30 ambulances and fire brigade teams from adjoining areas have been rushed to the spot, he added.
IG, NDRF, Sandeep Rai Rathore said his teams had difficulty reaching the scene of occurrence due to damage caused to roads. Quoting district authorities, he said, upto 200 people may be trapped.
Chavan has left for the village with Deputy CM Ajit Pawar to personally monitor rescue efforts.
Hospitals in the vicinity have been put on alert and medical teams rushed to the spot.
Rescuers are facing a tough time due to rain. Large parts of Maharashtra are witnessing heavy and incessant rains over the past few days. (AGENCIES)
PUNE : Casualties were feared as several people were suspected to have been trapped inside houses on a hillside following a landslide in Maharashtra’s Pune district today, police said.
People living in about 35 houses have come under the debris of a hillock that caved in at village Malin in Ambegaon taluka of the district when they were asleep, Pune (rural) police said.
Rescue operations are on and a team of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been rushed from the neighbouring Talegaon camp to the village, about 120 km from here.
According to District Collector Saurav Rao, the administration has mobilised rescue machinery to pull out those trapped.
“Exact number of causalities is not known as we are moving slowly to ensure that those trapped are removed safely. About 30 ambulances have been rushed from adjoining areas to extend medical help to the victims,” he said, adding earth moving equipment from government and private parties were being pressed into service.
Communication difficulties and rains were affecting the operations, he said.
State’s Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Patangrao Kadam said rescue operations were going on in full swing in coordination with various government agencies.
Pune Divisional Commissioner Prabhakar Deshmukh is coordinating the relief work, Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Dilip Walse Patil said.
“The Pune district collector and SP have reached the spot. The divisional commissioner is coordinating the relief work,” Walse Patil, who represents the affected region in the state Assembly, said.
“The NDRF teams have also reached the spot,” he said.
Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and deputy CM Ajit Pawar have rushed to the village. (AGENCIES)
SRINAGAR : A pilgrim from Uttar Pradesh died due to cardiac arrest near the holy Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas.
With this, a total of 39 pilgrims have died since the commencement of the annual pilgrimmage from June 28. A yatra official said 55-year-old Biswah Mohan Gupta suffered a massive cardiac arrest near the holy cave shrine last night.
He was rushed to medical camp where he was declared brought dead.
(AGENCIES)
JAMMU : Amid tight security, the 34th batch of pilgrims today left for the Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas from here.
As many as 409 pilgrims, including 255 men, 55 women and two children left from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu in a cavalcade of 12 vehicles at 4:05 AM, police said.
The convoy has already crossed Batote on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and would reach their destinations at Baltal and Pahalgam base camps by this evening, they said.
With today’s batch, a total of 52,481 pilgrims have so far left from the Jammu base camp for the Amarnath shrine. (AGENCIES)
