LIVE
Fri, 23 August 2013
Live! Big B on gang rape: 'It is a matter of shame for Mumbai'

Timeline  Refresh

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23:20   Microsoft CEO Ballmer to retire
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer will hang up his boots next year and the technology giant has started the process of choosing his successor who faces the daunting task of beating rivals like Apple and Google.

After an over 13-year stint as CEO, Ballmer has decided to retire within the next 12 months upon the completion of a process to choose his successor, the Bill Gates co-founded Microsoft said in a statement posted on its website.

"There is never a perfect time for this type of transition, but now is the right time," 57-year old Ballmer said in an email to Microsoft employees. 

"My original thoughts on timing would have had my retirement happen in the middle of our transformation to a devices and services company focused on empowering customers in the activities they value most. We need a CEO who will be here longer term for this new direction," he added. 

The Board of Directors has appointed a special committee to direct the process.
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23:17   Big B on gang rape: 'It is a matter of shame for Mumbai'
Actor Amitabh Bachchan today demanded harsh punishment for those behind the gangrape of a young photojournalist in Mumbai.

"It is a shameful act. It is a matter of shame and insult to the city of Mumbai for such a disgraceful thing (gangrape) that has happened here. A photojournalist who was deputed for her work, became a victim. It makes us saddened," he said.

The 23-year-old photo journalist working with an English magazine, who was on an assignment, was allegedly gangraped by five men in Parel area in central Mumbai last night. 

"The authorities concerned need to immediately catch hold of the victims and proper rigorous action needs to be taken at the earliest," Bachchan said. 

"Just a day prior we have all celebrated rakhi, which bonds us with woman as a sister. This festival also reminds us of protecting any girl... and at this point of time, Mumbai has been struck with such a heinous event," he said.
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21:40   GJM MLAs to boycott Bengal assembly
The GJM today announced that its three MLAs would not attend the West Bengal assembly, holding that the arrest of party leaders and workers violated the tripartite agreement on Darjeeling.        

"The government has violated the tripartite agreement as they have not withdrawn the political cases against Morcha leaders between 2007 and 2011," GJM President Bimal Gurung said in a Facebook post.        

"Our 3 GJM MLAs will not attend the state assembly to condemn the unwanted arrests of 721 innocent Gorkhaland supporters in old cases," Gurung said.
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21:38   Asaram supporters attack media van, thrash crew member
Scores of supporters of Asaram Bapu today staged a protest at Kamla Market police station in Delhi, demanding the quashing of the FIR filed against him for alleged sexual assault of a 16-year-old girl in his ashram, police said.        

"The protesters, who were shouting slogans against police and the media, later marched towards Jantar Mantar, where they damaged the OB van of a Hindi news channel and thrashed one of its crew members," said a police official.
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21:36   BJP dares Congress to bring bill on Telangana
The BJP today challenged the Congress to bring a bill for the formation of Telangana state, saying it is ready to support it.       

BJP general secretary Ananth Kumar said the BJP was in favour of the separate state while Congress was adopting "double standards" on it. 

"We demand that they bring a bill on Telangana formation. We are ready to pass it," he said.        

Kumar said if the Congress was sincere towards the formation of Telangana, they would have brought the bill in the budget session and the matter would have been settled in this session.
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21:35   India, Iraq ink energy cooperation pact to boost ties
India and Iraq, which is the second largest oil exporter to the country, today inked a key pact for the conclusion of a 13-year-old contract for exploration of a Iraqi block estimated to hold 645 million barrels of in-place reserves under a broad-based energy cooperation agreement.        

It was signed along with three other agreements after comprehensive talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Iraqi counterpart Nouri al-Maliki on strategic bilateral, regional and international issues, including trade and Indian investments in the war-wrecked country.
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21:30   Will seek journos' suggestions on women's safety: Govt
The Maharashtra government will seek suggestions from journalists for improving the safety of women in the state, Home Minister R R Patil, who is under fire following the gangrape of photojournalist in Mumbai, has said.

Also, owners of deserted and disputed premises in the city would be asked to deploy security guards, Patil said.     

Talking to a delegation of journalists, Patil said that journalists can make suggestions and recommendations to the government.
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20:45   JD-U member to move privilege motion against MoS rlys
JD-U MP K C Tyagi today said he is filing a breach of privilege motion against Minister of State for Railways Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury for making statements in Parliament on the Kagharia train accident, which were "contradictory" to that of the railway officials. 

"I am moving a breach of privilege notice against Chowdhury for speaking outside Parliament on the train accident when Parliament session was on. He should have first apprised Parliament about the issue. Moreover, his statements on the accident are contradictory to that of the Railway Board officials," Tyagi told reporters outside Parliament House. 

He said Chowdhury had made three different statements on the accident -- one each in Murshidabad, Patna and Saharsa. 

"When Parliament is in session, he cannot make a statement outside without informing the House about the accident," Tyagi said.
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20:44   VHP's Ayodhya yatra a farce: Shankaracharya
Terming the VHP's proposed 84 Kosi Parikrama yatra as detrimental to communal amity, Govardhanpeeth Puri Shankaracharya Swami Adhokchajanand today demanded adequate steps to prevent it. 

He said he had written to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, apprising him of the need for punitive measures against those conspiring to disrupt peace in the country. 

Terming the VHP's proposed programme as just a 'farce', he said, "The parikrama was a conspiracy by people out to earn a bad name for Hinduism to push simple-hearted people into the abyss of darkness."
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20:42   No one took my fixing claim seriously: Sushil Kumar
India's double Olympic medal winner wrestler Sushil Kumar today said the sports administrators in the country did not take his claims seriously when he told them he was offered to lose the 2010 World Championship final in Moscow in return for huge money. 

"I had told them, even in 2010, about this incident but nobody responded. I'm not in FILA (world body for wrestling) or any other federation, so I can't say if the Russian's medal should be taken away," said Sushil.
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20:41   Dabholkar killing probe heading in right direction: Patil
The probe in the murder case of rationalist Dr Narendra Dabholkar is heading in the right direction, Maharashtra Home Minister R R Patil said today. 

"Investigation into the Dabholkar murder case is on the right track. The case will be cracked soon," Patil assured a delegation of journalists. 

Till the investigation reaches its logical end, concerned police personnel would not be given any other work, he said. 

"Their only job till then will be to crack the case and nab the accused," he said. 

Asked to specify a time-frame within which the case would be cracked, Patil said, "Reasonable time should be given to the police. It will make no sense if they arrest one or two persons, who are of least importance."
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19:42   Tina Ambani withholding facts: CBI
After her husband Anil Ambani, Tina Ambani appeared in a Delhi court as a witness in the 2G spectrum case, while the CBI claimed that she was "deliberately withholding facts" which the judge found was "adverse" to the prosecution.        

Special CBI Judge O P Saini said her adverseness sprang from her failure to recall about companies, said to be associates of RADAG, relating to which she had signed the documents.       

"In the instant case, though there is no previous statement of witness (Tina), nor has she introduced any new fact adverse to the prosecution, but has certainly signed some documents, which have been shown to her," he said.
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19:38   Rs 44,000 cr worth food goes waste every year: Pawar
Due to the lack of adequate storage infrastructure, fruits, grains and vegetables worth Rs 44,000 crore go waste every year, Food Processing Industries Minister Sharad Pawar informed Rajya Sabha today.    

Pawar said during Question Hour that the value of annual wastage of fruits and vegetables was estimated at Rs 13,309 crore. 

If the wastage value of rice, wheat, cereals and others are taken into account, it would go up to Rs 44,000 crore a year.
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19:37   Microsoft CEO to retire in 12 months
Microsoft has announced that CEO Steve Ballmer will retire within 12 months. Ballmer will retire only after the selection of a successor for his post.

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19:17   Pak troops fire at Indian posts in Poonch sector
In other news: Pakistani troops opened fire at Indian posts last night and the exchanges continued till wee hours today in Balnoi forward area of Poonch along the Line of Control, but no casualty was reported on this side.

Firing continued on Balnoi battalion area throughout the night till 0430 hours today. Indian troops retaliated resulting in exchanges, he said, adding that there was no loss of life or injury to anyone among troops.
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19:07   Live! Cops: Arrested accused fantasised about gang rape
Neeta Kolhatkar reports: A police source says that the arrested accused admitted that his cell phone which was confiscated by the police has pornography clippings.

"He is said to be sexually repressed and fantasized about gang rape, which is why he called his other friends to indulge in the act, said a police source.

All the five accused are history sheeters -- two have burglary cases against them. 
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19:03   Shock, anger, outrage over Mumbai gang rape
The gang rape of the young photojournalist in Mumbai has triggered an avalanche of outrage across the country today and condemned as despicable and shameful stirring memories of a similar attack last December in New Delhi that led to nation-wide protests.

As people from all walks of life voiced their anguish, political parties, media associations and Bollywood were one in demanding harshest punishment to the perpetrators of the crime in a city which is seen as far safer for women than the national capital.

Hundreds of people including members of several journalists' associations gathered in south Mumbai to stage a silent protest. Some wore black armbands, while others carried placards reading "Stop rape" and "City of shame."
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18:49   SRK's 3 steps to curb rape
Shah Rukh Khan tweets on the Mumbai gang rape.

1. Punishing those responsible for this heinous crime is 1 part of the deterrent. The 2nd,far greater deterrent is to change our own mindsets.
2. To educate our boys in a manner that the respect for women becomes implicit in their natures and they begin to understand...
3...that the objectification of women is equally disrespectful to their so called manhood as it is to the women they objectify.
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18:41   An open letter to Mumbai's braveheart
Women face sexual harassment in some form or the other every day, but the horror you have had to endure is something most of us cannot even begin to imagine. You fought. You screamed for help. You did not give in.' 'You did not let what followed break your spirit.'

A Woman In Today's India salutes Mumbai's Braveheart. Read
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18:39   The terrorism that now haunts 49 per cent of the population
It is not just a whistle, a wink, molestation, rape, battery and brutal sexual assault any more. Nor it is not isolated, says Paloma Sharma. Read
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18:35   Live! Maha home minister: Mumbai gang-rape case will be fast-tracked
Maharashtra home minister RR Patil says that the Mumbai gang rape case will heard in a fast track court. He said women scribes going on sensitive assignments can approach the local police stations for help.
He would also ensure that the family's choice of a lawyer will be met.

Point to note is that the verdict in the Delhi gang-rape case is not yet out, almost nine months after the incident. 

And how will a journalist work on a special story if you have a cop hanging around? Didn't quite understand, Mr Patil.
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18:31   Raj: Answer to nation's problems lies with change in govt
The answer to all the nation's problems, according to Raj Thackeray, is a change in government with him and his party, the MNS, at the helm.

And the other solution to reduce rape: Sending RR Patil boxes of bangles.
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18:27   Outsiders responsible for increase in crime: Raj
Raj Thackeray reiterates that the influx of outsiders (he mentioned Bangladeshi migrants while speaking to a TV channel this morning) that leads to cases like this.

Taking on the state home minister, Thackeray says, "If RR Patil is dressed as a postman or a policeman, you will not know the difference.," he says.
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18:20   Raj Thackeray: Let me take charge of state, will show you how to deal with rape
MNS chief Raj Thackeray spews venom on Times Now. Thackeray says, "Let me take charge of the state, I will show you how to deal with it (incidents of rape). 
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17:52  
More on that fire at the HPCL refinery in Vizag: One person confirmed dead, 30 reportedly injured in the fire. 
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17:48   Mumbai journalists hold protest to condemn gang rape
Mumbai journalists today held a rally and a 'silent protest' in the city to condemn the gang rape of a photojournalist, interning with an English magazine.

The protesters expressed dissatisfaction over the deteriorating law and order situation in the metropolis and the state.

They were seen holding banners and placards about the gang rape and the killing of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar.

Members of the Press Club Mumbai, Mumbai Marathi Patrakar Sangh, Television Journalist Association, Bombay News Photographers Association and Mantralaya and Vidhi Mandal Vartahar Sangh, participated in the protest, at the Hutatma Chowk in Mumbai.

Representatives of the journalists' organisations later went to Mantralaya to meet Home Minister R R Patil to seek stringent punishment for the culprits.
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17:44  
Reports of a fire at the HPCL refinery at Visakhapatnam. Details awaited. 
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17:43   Food bill to be taken up in LS on Monday: Kamal Nath
Food Security Bill, which could not be taken up despite being listed in Lok Sabha'a business since Monday, will come up for discussion and passage now on Monday.

"The House will function tomorrow (Saturday). But a large of members and leaders have stated that they are going to be away...Many members and leaders want to speak on the Food Security Bill," he said outside Parliament House.
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17:32   Pakistan's youth: Apolitical or depoliticised?
At least 63 per cent of Pakistan's population under the age of 25, is experiencing a profound demographic change with wide-ranging socio-political effects. Failure to improve the quality of political engagement with students and the youth in general could have a significant impact on democracy. Read
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17:30   Tunda admitted to AIIMS after chest pain
Lashker-e-Taiba (LeT) bomb-maker Abdul Karim Tunda was today admitted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) after he complained of chest pain.

The 70-year-old LeT ideologue, was arrested on Indo-Nepal border last Friday. 
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17:18   Gujarat Police chief dies while holidaying in Thailand
Gujarat Police chief Amitabh Pathak, who was holidaying here with his family, died of a heart attack on Friday. Pathak (58) was swimming when he suffered a massive cardiac arrest, officials of the Indian Embassy in Bangkok told PTI.

Indian Ambassador Anil Wadhwa said the mission is extending all assistance to Pathak's family.

Pathak had gone to Thailand with his family for a vacation. He is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter. An IPS officer of the 1977 batch, Pathak was appointed Director General of Police of Gujarat on February 27 this year. -- The Hindu
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17:12   It could have been my daughter!
Rediff.com's Vaihayasi Pande Daniel on the anguish she feels over the Mumbai gang rape and the India she doesn't understand. Read
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17:10  
Up to 20 NHS trusts seeking healthcare deals in India. Read
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17:00   Myanmar Army erecting camp in Manipur territory, allege officials
In other news: The Manipur government has taken a serious view of the Myanmarese Army preparations to construct a temporary Army camp at Holenphai village, located 3 km from the police station at Moreh '" the border town of Manipur. Read
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16:58   Press Council appoints one-man inquiry committee for Mumbai gang rape
The Press Council of India (PCI) has appointed a one-man inquiry committee to go into the facts of the alleged gang rape of a 23-year-old photo-journalist in Mumbai.

In a statement released here, PCI chairperson Justice Markandey Katju said PCI member Rajeev Sabade will inquire into the facts of the case, the version of the Maharashtra government, journalists and then submit a report at an early date.
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16:41   Live! Jaslok: Rape survivor depressed, suffered internal, external injuries
Dr Tarang Gianchandani, CEO Jaslok Hospital, giving her statement to the press. She says the gang-rape survivor is in a stable condition. "She is not in the ICU, but has suffered both internal and external injuries. She had a minor procedure, but not surgery. We expect a speedy recovery. She is slightly depressed, but is composed. She will be discharged in the next few days."

So far, one accused has been arrested, other four identified, but not arrested. 

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16:04   Are investors con prone?
Overwhelming greed seems to pip investment rationale, even to those who are better equipped with the fundamentals of investment. Read
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16:02   Debate and pass the Food Bill
The National Food Security Bill has been derailed yet again in the past few days due to continuous disruptions of Parliament. The Congress Party made an ill-advised attempt to pass the bill on August 20, Rajiv Gandhi's birth anniversary.  Read
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16:00   2 million Syrian children displaced: UN
In an exclusive interview with NBC News's Ann Curry, 'the United Nations' refugee chief said the war in Syria has reached a "shameful milestone," as now one million children have become refugees, 75 percent of them under the age of 11.

''Speaking from Geneva via Skype, High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres said in addition to the one million who have fled, another two million children inside Syria are displaced or threatened by war.'
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15:49   Nitish government threatens to evict BJP ex-ministers
Long-time allies turned enemies BJP and Janata Dal-United (JD-U) are now squabbling over ministerial bungalows in Bihar.

Bihar BJP leaders who lost their ministerial jobs after a break-up with the ruling JD-U in June, may soon be thrown out of their official bungalows.

In eviction notices served on Tuesday, eight ex-ministers were asked to vacate their spacious homes by next week.
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15:45   Maha govt will bear medical expenses of Mumbai gang-rape survivor
The Maharashtra government will bear the expenses for the treatment of the photojournalist who was gang-raped by five men in Mumbai yesterday, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan said today.

"The state government will bear the expenses for the treatment of the victim of this highly condemnable crime," Chavan told reporters. He said police have been instructed to apprehend all absconding accused at the earliest and it would be ensured that they are handed down "strictest" punishment.

Chavan, however, deprecated the Opposition's demand for Home Minister R R Patil's resignation. "It is not appropriate (for the Opposition) to demand his (Patil's) resignation. The job of a Home Minister is difficult. Our state is big. Police department needs to be made more efficient," he said.
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15:33   Sena: Stand firmly behind police, don't indulge in politics
Sena president Uddhav Thackeray said police should nab all the gang-rape accused and parade them. "The incident brings shame to Mumbai and humanity," he said.

"The gang rape is indicative of the total collapse of the law and order situation in the state," Uddhav said. "This is the time to stand firmly behind police and not the time to indulge in a political slaging match," he said.
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15:27  
Other reads: FTII students say ABVP goons told them to say 'Jai Narendra Modi' before thrashing them. Read
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15:25   Army, air force alerted after Narmada overflows danger mark
Army and air force have been pressed into service to speed up relief work in Hoshangabad district where heavy downpour has inundated low lying areas of the town with Narmada river flowing 18-feet above the danger mark.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan chaired a high level meeting today to review the situation and directed collectors of the affected districts to take all possible measures to prevent any untoward incident.
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15:07   This is no child's play
The Supreme Court has rightly dismissed challenges to the Juvenile Justice Act, but needs to do more to ensure its proper implementation. Read
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15:00   Sliding rupee hurting Indians at IPL
The rapid depreciation of the Indian rupee over the past couple of months has led to disruptions in the accounts of IPL franchises, and exposed the flaw in the tournament's dual-payment structure. Read
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14:57  
The monsoon session of Parliament will be extended till September 5. 
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14:53   If India is a computer, Congress its default programme: Rahul
In other stories....

Rahul Gandhi's scintillating quip at a Congress workshop on social media on Thursday: "If India is a computer, Congress is its default programme."

Addressing the 300 odd participants from various states, NSUI and Youth Congress members, the Congress Vice President said the party captures the essence of the nation. Read
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14:42   Govt gives sound bytes, doesn't act on crimes against women: Smriti Irani
Here's what Smriti Irani said in Parliament today on the Mumbai gang rape. The BJP MP asked what steps had been initiated to prevent recurrence of such incidents even after repeated assurances of improving law and order condition in the aftermath of Delhi gang rape.

"It is for the people that I speak today. I speak with angst. This is not an incident that has to be viewed in isolation.

Every time such an incident occurs, representatives of government come out to give a sound byte to regret it but no action is taken.

Till how long will we be quiet and mute spectator to rising crime against women," she rued. She wanted to know what kind of security was at the mill when Mumbai Police was in know of illegal activities there.

She said barely four days back a female foreign visitor was attacked with blade in Mumbai while there was a case of acid attack in Bandra.
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14:35  
Journalist Sonia Faleiro tweets: Please don't carry a knife. It could be used against you. Carry pepper spray. I have 2, 1 for my bag & 1 I keep by the door. 
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14:28   Mumbai not what it was 20 years ago: Priya Dutt
This is what Congress MP Priya Dutt had to say on the Mumbai gang rape.

"It is very shocking for me. The security of women in Mumbai has changed. I am sure the Mumbai police is very capable of catching the culprits. It is a very sad state that when we talk about drugs, we talk about elite and slums. Our mindset has to be changed. Mumbai is not the same as it was 20 years ago." 
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14:26   Govt seeks Parliament nod for additional Rs. 7,500 crore spending
The government on Friday sought Parliament's approval to spend an additional Rs 7,500 crore including Rs 1,000 crore for setting up of 'Nirbhaya Fund' for safety of women and a similar amount for women's bank. Read
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14:19   4 tribal girls dragged out of hostel, raped by 25 drunk men
In other news: Four minor girls belonging to the primitive Pahariya tribe were gang-raped outside a residential school at Lawada village in Pakur district, 350 km from the state capital, late on Sunday night. The girls, in the age-group of 12 to 15, are in a critical condition at a hospital. Police have launched a manhunt to nab the accused. Read
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14:11   Arrested 1, identified four accused: Cops
Satyapal Singh says the victim is composed and her condition is stable.

He says all the accused are residents of nearby areas. The rape occurred in Mahalaxmi. Suspects face a maximum punishment of 20 years in jail under section 376 (B) of the IPC. The suspect was arrested based on description provided by the victim and her colleague.

He said the sketches of the accused were made on the basis of descriptions by the victim and her colleague.

He requested the government to try the case in a fast-track court and ensure severest punishment.
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13:42   Live! Police commissioner: Arrested accused admits to rape, 4 identified
Mumbai police commissioner Satyapal Singh begins press conference.  "The incident happened around 6.30 pm. The girl accompained by her colleague went to the Shakti Mill Compound, a lonely, dilapidated place. She was carrying her camera and mobile phone.

"There were five men there who asked them whether they had a permit to shoot. They said they would help them with a permit, but the tricked the two and tied up the boy with a belt. He was not beaten.

The girl was not beaten either, but was taken inside the compound around 20 feet from where the boy was tied up and gang-raped.

The girl was hospitalised at 8 pm. The police heard of the incident at 8.30 pm. at least 20 teams fanned out across the place.

All the five accused have been identified. Police have arrested one accused. The arrested accused is around 20-years-old and he has admitted to the crime and named the other accused.

Satyapal Singh has requested that the names of the accused not be release since it would hamper investigations.
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13:30   MNS: RR Patil should resign
Welcome to the politics of rape. MNS chief Raj Thackeray holds a press conference on the gang rape in Mumbai.

He says that RR Patil is not fit to be the home minister and demanded the resignation of the home minister and the police commissioner. "Women are told not to go out in the night, can they not go out in the evening as well? These politicians will never resign. My suggestion is that women should send Patil a box of bangles, may be that will shame him into putting in his resignation."

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13:20   Accused in age group of 24 to 30 years
Mumbai gang rape: The sketches of the accused were prepared on the basis of the description provided by the male friend of the 23-year-old victim, interning as a photojournalist with an English magazine, who was tied up by the accused before they sexually assaulted her.

The accused were said to be in the age group of 24 to 30 years. 20 suspects were picked up for questioning in connection with the case. 

The condition of the victim, admitted to Jaslok Hospital, is said to be stable. Preliminary reports suggested that she sustained multiple internal injuries, they said.
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12:55   Male colleague helps police reconstruct crime
The male colleague of the Mumbai gang-rape victim has identified the arrested, alleged rapist, says police sources. He also helped the police reconstruct the incident. He accompanied the police to the crime scene at the Shakti Mills compound at Mahalaxmi in south Mumbai. 
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12:50   Rage over the Mumbai gang rape on Twitter
Deepshikha: MumbaiGangRape hs raised serious concerns wid d safety of women! It ws just 8 pm she ws nt even alone.! - Feeling angry n frustrated!

Baishali Chatterjee: Castration should be the only punishment; a trial is too long and they'll get away with it

MTV India: How do you expect us to be patriotic when we aren't even safe? Here's why Indian women are exhausted.

Athul Vishnu: the problem lies with us,every indian is responsible for this..feeling ashamed bcoz we say we r helpless.
 
Sayantan Roy: Again...gang rape of a 23year old journalist mumbai by five men.anthr reminder nothng has changed nd nothng  will...
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12:44   Mumbai gang rape: Brave victim's detailed statement helps solve case
TV reports say that it was the victim and her colleague's detailed statement to the police that helped crack the case in less than 24 hours. The victim gave the police crucial details of the incident despite the severe trauma she went through. Early reports say two of the five are in custody, while the police have identified the other three accused based. Police commissioner Satyapal Singh will give a detailed statement at 1.30 pm. 
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12:41   LS adjourned
Meanwhile, Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar names the 11 Andhra MPs and asks them to withdraw from the house proceedings. The government had yesterday moved a suspension motion for the 11 MPs for disrupting Parliament proceedings. The Lok Sabha has been adjourned till tomorrow over uproar over the Telangana issue.  
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12:28   Ruckus in RS over gang rape
In the Rajya Sabha BJP MP Smriti Irani raises the gang-rape case . She says the incident should not be seen in isolation.

MoS Home RPN Singh says he has asked for immediate action
from the Mumbai police and has asked for a report on the incident. "I will come back to the house with the details as soon as I have the report," he says.
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12:24   Remember Auto Shankar?
Among the many brutal and gruesome murder cases that have rocked Chennai in its recent history, none comes close to the multiple murder cases by 'Auto' Shankar and his group between 1987 and 1988. Read
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12:19   No Indian menu for Pak PM
In other news: Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif will have to forgo his Indian breakfast on the last Sunday of September as atonement for the continuing disturbance to peace along the Line of Control with Jammu and Kashmir.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has decided not to break bread with his Pakistani counterpart when the two men meet in New York on September 29, their first face-to-face engagement since Sharif regained his job as head of government after 14 years. Read
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12:14  
MoS Home RPN Singh says, "The incident is extremely tragic and unfortunate that this incident occurred. We really need to re-look why these incidents occur. We have to relook at these cases from a psychological perspective."

The opposition has been asking for state home minister RR Patil's resignation. 
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12:07  
The Home Ministry has sought a report from Mumbai Police on gang rape of the photojournalist, says MoS R P N Singh.

Mumbai police says one of the two detained have been identified by the photojournalist's colleague. The colleague is a key witness in the case.
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12:05  
Journalist Alisha Coelho on the Mumbai gang rape: "As a city journalist, I felt invincible. After all, even though doors were occasionally slammed in your face and grieving relatives at hospitals pushed you around, this job gave you a sense of security that few other professions provide." Read 
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11:54   Journalists' rally for quick action in Mumbai rape case
All journalist organisations in Mumbai have decided to hold a silent protest against the deteriorating law and order situation in Maharashtra state and the city, a Mumbai Press Club statement said. The journalist organisations will also meet state Home Minister R R Patil and Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan to press for early action in the case, the statement said.
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11:49   Live! Mumbai gang-rape case cracked: Two of five accused detained
The Mumbai gang-rape case has been cracked and two of the five accused have been detained, says police sources according to TV reports. The police had launched a massive manhunt for the accused all through last night with 12 teams spanning out across the city. Two of the five accused led the the police to the other three. These three have to be detained as yet.

However, Congress leader Murli Deora has said that all five accused have been arrested. Police confirmation soon.
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11:44  
Jaslok Hospital, where the victim is admitted, said in a statement that "The patient is with us after the unfortunate incident since last night. As of now, she is stable and Jaslok Hospital is doing its best." "With regards to patient confidentiality, we cannot give you any further information," Dr Tarang Gianchandani, acting CEO and director - medical services, Jaslok Hospital, said.
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11:41  
Women of India need freedom, not halfhearted attempts at reform, says Vedika Kumar. Read the column on rediff.com.
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11:37   Live! Mumbai gang rape: Very close to a breakthrough, say cops
Mumbai police commissioner Satyapal Singh says they are close to a breakthrough in the gang-rape case and are following very strong leads. So far, 25 people have been detained. Twelve teams have fanned out across the city.

A press conference is expected at 1.30 pm.
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11:27  
Lok Sabha adjourned till noon amid protests by TDP and Congress members from Andhra Pradesh on Telangana issue.
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11:21   Mumbai gang rape: Sena blames Bangladeshi migrants
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said, "There are many Bangladeshi immigrants in the city. Proper records of immigrants are not maintained. Several illegal colonies have come up, the crime rate has also gone up. Only if the police and the authorities take the matter into their hands, can the situation be improved."
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11:18   Who said what
NCW chairperson Mamata Sharma says, "It is sad incident. We will send a team to investigate."

NCP's Supriya Sule says the incident is shameful. "I have grown up in Mumbai and I am truly ashamed.

Meira Kumar: Unfortunate incident. Cannot be criticised enough. (Why does our Speaker have a smile on her face when she speaks on these issues?)
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11:11   Sena blames migrants for rising crime, gang rape in Mumbai
And there you go...
The Shiv Sena blames migrants for the gang rape.
Congress MP Milind Deora says this is not the right time to play politics.
BJP MP Smriti Irani says the government has framed new anti-rape laws, but it is structurally weak.

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11:05  
The problem is apathy. Not activism. Prem Panicker's column in the aftermath of the Delhi gang rape. Read
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11:03   BJP calls for RR Patil's resignation
So far, 45 people have been questioned.

Politics begins on the gang rape. BJP state president calls for the resignation of Maharashtra home minister RR Patil. BJP MP Smriti Irani calls for the suspension of Question Hour in Parliament over the gang rape. 
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10:58   Live! Mumbai gang rape: Victim's statement to the police
This is the girl's statement to the police:

-- Five goons were present in the Shakti Mills compound.
-- They started making lewd remarks and harassed her.
-- Friend intervened and two of them assaulted him.
-- Three others took her inside the dilapidated structure and raped her.
-- Two of them were calling each other as Rupesh and Sajid
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10:58  
The statement of the victim's friend has been recorded, police said. They claimed the victim has identified two of the accused by their names. Some drug addicts have been picked up from the area for questioning.
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10:56   RR Patil visits victim in hospital
Maharashtra Home Minister R R Patil visited the victim at Jaslok hospital. "This is a very serious matter. We have taken note of it. The accused will be arrested soon," Patil told reporters outside the hospital. He said Mumbai Police Commissioner Satyapal Singh has been directed to ensure that the culprits are arrested soon.
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10:54   Victim sustains multiple injuries
The victim has been admitted to Jaslok Hospital. Preliminary reports suggested that she sustained multiple internal injuries. Dr Taran Gyanchandani, acting CEO of the hospital, said, "We are doing the needful... she is under strict observation." A gang-rape case has been registered in N M Joshi Marg police station.
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10:49   Live! Mumbai gang rape: Cops activate all informers
This is what the Mumbai police have to say on the gang rape: "We have taken the case very seriously and are working on it on a war footing. We have activated all our informers and at the same time released sketches of the five accused. We hope to catch the accused soon," said a police official.

The sketches have been prepared on the basis of the description provided by the victim's male colleague, who was tied up by the accused before they sexually assaulted the woman.

The woman was allegedly gang-raped by five men at around 8 pm yesterday near Shakti Mills in Lower Parel area of Mumbai. The victim was on an assignment, doing a story on 'chawl' when the offence took place, police said.
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10:44   Protest rally called at 3 pm against Mumbai rape
Just In: A protest rally has been called today to condemn the photojournalist's gangrape yesterday in Mumbai. The protest will be held at Hutatma Chowk (popularly known as Flora Fountain) at 3 pm today. Be there to register your outrage.

Meanwhile, the Mumbai police has released images of the accused
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09:54   Mumbai cops release sketch of 5 rape suspects
Just In: Mumbai police release sketches of five accused in Mumbai photojournalist gangrape case.

To read about the gruesome incident in the heart of Mumbai, please read this.
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09:25   Live! US soldier apologises for Afghan massacre

The US soldier who ran amok last year killing 16 Afghan villagers has apologised for the massacre, calling it an "act of cowardice". Staff Sgt Robert Bales was making a case for why he should some day be released, during his sentencing hearing at a Washington state military base.

 

The 39-year-old said he had been a "mass of fear... and bravado" at the time of the attack on 11 March 2012. The father-of-two pleaded guilty in June to avoid the death penalty. If he is sentenced to life with the possibility of parole, Sgt Bales could be eligible for release in 20 years.

 

Read the full report on BBC

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03:08   Syria chemical attack claim triggers outrage
The United Nations and the United States are calling for an immediate investigation of Syrian activists' claims that the Bashar al-Assad government used chemical weapons in an attack on civilians.

Anti-regime activist groups in Syria say more than 1,300 people were killed in the attack outside Damascus, many of them women and children. Video footage and witness reports appeared to bolster claims that chemical weapons were used.

President Obama has directed the US intelligence community to urgently gather additional information to try to assess whether chemical weapons were used Wednesday in Syria, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Thursday.

At this time, she said, the United States is unable to "conclusively determine" chemical weapons use, but is focused on trying to nail down the facts, along with its international partners.

Psaki said, as she has before, that if reports of chemical weapons use prove true, the president has a range of options available to him to respond.
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02:27   18 dead in Iraq attacks
Attacks killed 18 people in Iraq today, including six who died in a bombing against a wedding party, the latest in spiralling violence that comes despite wide-ranging operations targeting militants. 

Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has vowed to press on with the anti-insurgent campaign, which is among the biggest since US forces withdrew in December 2011, but analysts and diplomats say authorities have failed to tackle the root causes of the violence. 

In today's deadliest attack, a roadside bomb struck a wedding party in Dujail, north of Baghdad, killing six people and wounding 22 others, officials said. 

The blast went off near the musicians who typically accompany wedding convoys in Iraq, but the bride and groom were unharmed.

Dujail is a predominantly Shiite Muslim town, and while no group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, Sunni militant groups linked to Al-Qaeda frequently target Shiites, whom they regard as apostates.
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02:10   22-yr-old photographer gang raped in Mumbai
ToI Reports: Three among a group of five men raped a 22-year-old photographer, interning for a lifestyle magazine, after bashing up her male colleague at an abandoned mill close to the railway tracks in the Mahalaxmi area on Thursday evening.

The traumatised girl's friends and family were filing a complaint of rape at the N M Joshi Marg police station late on Thursday.

Police officials said they had sent the girl to Jaslok Hospital for a medical examination before registering the complaint. The family said the girl had suffered some internal injuries and bleeding but was responding well to treatment.

The incident happened between 5pm and 6pm when the girl and her colleague were at Shakti Mills, very close to the railway tracks in the Mahalaxmi area, shooting for a magazine assignment.

Click HERE to read
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02:09   Tech glitch halts Nasdaq trade for three hours
A technology glitch earlier today shut down trade on the Nasdaq for more than three hours, an unprecedented halt on the second-largest US stock exchange.

Full trading resumed around 3:25 pm.

The tech-rich exchange at around 12:15 pm halted trade in all "Tape C" securities, which includes options and securities due to a problem with its SIP, or securities information processing, system, which interfaces with other exchanges on stock quotes.

The suspension froze values on big technology stocks like Apple, Google and Facebook as well as the value of the Nasdaq
Composite index.

The Nasdaq index was up 0.87 per cent at 3,631.17 when trading was halted.

Shortly after it resumed, the index was up 0.95 per cent at 3,633.92.

The glitch promises to increase scrutiny on Nasdaq, which came under fire following technical difficulties with Facebook's initial public offering in May 2012.
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02:06   US prosecutor who handled Snowden case to resign
A high-profile federal prosecutor who has handled major cases including the criminal charges against National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden says he is stepping down next month.

Neil MacBride, the US attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, said today his resignation is effective September 13. He was appointed in 2009. 

Under MacBride, his office pursued terrorism, corruption, human trafficking and white-collar prosecutions, and increased its emphasis on cases with international connections, including drug trafficking, arms dealing, and piracy. 

The office is also conducting an ongoing investigation of WikiLeaks and its founder, Julian Assange. 

US Attorney General Eric Holder issued a statement today praising MacBride as "an exceptional leader, a committed public servant, and a brilliant attorney, handling complicated cases with extraordinary skill."
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00:24   Corruption, indecision hurting India's growth: Pitroda
Sam Pitroda, who is the adviser to the Prime Minister on public information infrastructure and innovation, on Thursday said that corruption and indecision were affecting the growth story of India. 

"When UPA government came to power at the Centre, then the country's growth rate was eight per cent. During UPA-II, the growth rate started tapering down which had been largely a result of corruption, indecision and policy paralysis," Pitroda said at the SNC-CII event here. 

Pitroda said, "in the last few months, everything seems to be unsettling. People's perception is that the government is not taking any decisions which should have been the case. The public notion is that there are multiple power centres and nobody knows who is in charge." 

"At the end it is the Prime Minister who had to take the decisions. But for that a strong government at the Centre is needed. It is difficult in a coalition framework," Pitroda said. 

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