Union Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said that the government is considering covert operations in Pakistan to take down India's most wanted Dawood Ibrahim.

In an exclusive interview to Rahul Kanwal on Aaj Tak's Seedhi Baat programme, Col Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said "Saam, daam, dand, bhed" (rough translation) by fair means or foul the Modi government will do what it takes to neutralise India's enemies.

"India's enemies should not rest in peace. They should know every moment the Modi government is thinking of ways of acting against them," Col Rathore said.

Without elaborating on whether government would use covert tactics or special operations teams, Rathore added, "These things are not discussed on TV. Once the action has been taken then you will get to know about it."

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A day after an army jawan was injured in ceasefire violations from across the border, Pakistani troops once again resorted to firing on Indian positions inthe frontier district of Poonch today. The firing drew retaliation from the Indian army.   

"Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violations in forward areas of Poonch's Mandi sector along the Line of Control (LoC) today," Jammu-based defence spokesperson Lt Col Manish Mehta said. 

He said the forward posts of Pakistan fired towards theIndian side using automatics and heavy machine guns. "Our side retaliated appropriately but no casualty or damage were reported till reports last came in," Mehta said.   

Two groups of Sadhus allegedly clashed after a seer took out a procession to Ram Kund through the royal procession route in Tapovan in Nashik during the ongoing Kumbh Mela to which another group objected and attacked them and damaged two vehicles, a senior police official said today.

The situation was immediately brought under control soon following intervention by the police, who diverted the procession to another route. The incident occurred yesterday when seer Janglidas Maharaj of Atma Malik Dhyanpeeth of Kopargaon organised a procession of his followers towards the Ram Kund through the royal procession route, and Sadhus of the akhadas objected to it, Deputy Police Commissioner Avinash Bargal said.

The sadhus, who claimed that no permission was obtained from the akhadas for the procession, came out wielding swords, spears and lathis and damaged two of the vehicles, he said. Police rushed to the clash site and brought the situation under control. They also diverted the procession to another route, thus averting an untoward incident, Bargal said. No complaint was lodged by either side in this regard, hence no case was registered, he said, adding the police would probe the incident.

In a bid to reconstruct the crime scene and recover some evidence, Mumbai Police today took Indrani Mukerjea, prime accused in the Sheena Bora murder case, to her Worli residence in Mumbai for the first time since her arrest.

The development comes a day before police custody of all three accused Indrani, her ex-husband Sanjeev Khanna and driver Shayamvar Rai, ends in the said case.

Investigators are also looking at all possible angles to unravel the "filmi" plot and said they wanted to determine why the alleged conspirators had chosen the particular spot in Raigad district to dump the body.

GSAT-6, the country's latest communication satellite has been successfully positioned inits orbital slot, Indian Space Research Organisation said today.   "GSAT-6 has been successfully positioned in its orbital slot of 83 Deg E and collocated with INSAT 4A, GSAT 12, GSAT10 and IRNSS1C today morning, after carrying out four drift arresting maneuvers," ISRO said.   

ISRO had successfully launched GSAT-6, having an indigenous cryogenic engine, on-board GSLV-D6 rocket from the spaceport at Sriharikota on August 27.   

After the launch ISRO had performed successive orbit raising operation of the satellite and had also deployed the unfurlable antenna successfully.   

GSAT-6 is the 25th geostationary communication satellite of India built by ISRO and 12th in the GSAT series. It provides communication through five spot beams in S-band and a national beam in C-band for strategic users. One of the advanced features of the satellite is its S-Band Unfurlable Antenna of 6m diameter. This is the largest satellite antenna realized by ISRO.   

This antenna is utilized for five spot beams over the Indian mainland. The beams exploit the frequency reuse scheme to increase frequency spectrum utilization efficiency, ISROhad said.   

The mission life of the satellite is nine years, it had said.

Railways will join hands with the Indian Space and Research Organisation to get online satellite images for improving safety and enhancing efficiency.

"We will undertake a massive exercise of GIS mapping of the entire rail route and assets including buildings, land, workshops and other facilities in the network using geospatial technology," said a senior railway ministry official involved with GIS mapping project.

Geospatial technology involves GPS (global positioning systems), GIS (geographical information systems), and RS (remote sensing). The official said geospatial services will be available from satellite-assisted navigational support through the GPS aided geo augmented navigation (GAGAN) system of ISRO.

"We will sign an MoU with ISRO shortly to avail the online satellite images to create a GIS platform," said the official. The MoU will facilitate getting images and communications through the satellite system. While the images will help in mapping the area, communications will enable the introduction of wi-fi service in trains in a larger way.

The technology will come in handy at the time of accidents when it can be used to ascertain the exact location of trains and the topography. Besides, it will also help railways in developing solutions for safety at unmanned level crossings with remote sensing facility.

Just in: Hours after PM Modi assured One Rank One Pension for all ex-servicemen, veterans have withdrawn their hunger strike.

One could some emotional scene at Jantar Mantar where three veterans who were fasting were given food by  Major Gen (Retd) Satbir, who is leading the agitation. There were hugs and there were tears.

However, the protesters have warned that they go back on the hunger strike if their demands are not met. The veterans want an annual revision of pension as against the proposed five-year revision by the government. 

Photograph: @ANI/Twitter

Clearing the air on the servicemen who have taken an early retirement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said they will be eligible to receive the benefits of the One Rank One Pension scheme.

However, the ex-servicemen, who are on their 88th day of protest for the implementation of OROP, said they would call off the stir only after all of their demands -- involving equalisation of pension, base year and judicial commission -- were met.

"We thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for implementing OROP," said Major Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, who is leading the protest. "We appeal to those ex-servicemen who are on hunger strike to withdraw it. But our relay strike and agitation will continue till the pending issues are resolved," he said.

Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh has tied the knot with TV journalist Amrita Rai in Tamil Nadu. Rai confirmed the news in a post on Facebook.

"I would like to share with my friends that I and Digvijaya Singh have married in a solemn ceremony, as per the Hindu rites. We have also later registered our marriage. On this occasion, I would like to thank all those who have stood by me through all the difficult times that I faced recently. Last one and a half years have been particularly stressful and traumatic.

I was the victim of a cyber crime, but was treated as a criminal. I was trolled and abused in most derogatory language for no fault of mine. Those who themselves have no concept or belief in love and dignity tried to shame me on social media. But all during this period, I kept a dignified silence and went on with my work, believing in myself and my love for Digvijaya."

She said she had married Digvijaya Singh for love. "Therefore, I have already requested him to transfer all his property and belongings to his son and daughters. I only want to embark on this new journey with him, working towards a dignified, professional career," Rai said in the post.

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's first overseas visit since assuming office will be to India next week during which he will hold extensive talks with the Indian leadership including on the sensitive fishermen issue and a comprehensive economic pact.

During the three-day visit from September 14 to 16, he will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, besides meeting External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and calling on President Pranab Mukherjee.

The visit assumes significance as President Maithripala Sirisena also chose India to be his first overseas destination after being elected to office in January. Wickremesinghe was elected PM after his party United National Party won the parliamentary elections last month, finishing just short of a majority.

This is the fourth time he has become the premier. The 66-year-old was picked by President Sirisena, who handed a shock defeat to Mahinda Rajapaksa in polls, to lead a minority government in January till the parliamentary elections last month. This will be Wikremesinghe's maiden foreign trip since January, when he had assumed premiership for the third time.

Wikremesinghe will hold talks with Swaraj in the company of Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera. Sri Lankan officials said among the subjects that are expected to figure in the bilateral talks are the fishermen issue and the comprehensive economic partnership agreement.

Clearing the air over OROP for veterans who retired prematurely, PM Modi said today at a rally in Faridabad, "Armed forces personnel who retired prematurely will be entitled to OROP."

Yesterday, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar met a delegation of veterans to  address discontent over keeping personnel who retired prematurely out of the benefits.

However, ex-servicemen said they will continue their protests till they do not receive all assurances in writing from the government.

Talking further about, OROP, PM Modi said during the rally, "Before becoming the PM, my first programme after being announced the PM candidate was in Haryana with ex-servicemen. During that programme I had spoken about OROP."

"This issue went on for years, for 4 decades. Nothing bigger than respect for the veterans and those who gave their life for the nation. We made a promise and we are fulfilling it."

"For the previous government OROP was just about Rs. 500 crore. Our government went deeper into the issue and got to know that OROP is not about Rs 500 crore. Our government has allocated Rs. 8,000 to Rs. 10,000 crore for OROP."

"We began work on OROP from Day 1 and took a decision.The Commission is not like a Pay Commission. It is about a system where if there is a shortcoming, it can be looked into and sorted. The government has taken a big decision and this is inspired by a feeling of patriotism and respect towards veterans."

"Many people are trying to do politics. Those who didn't do anything for 40 years have no right to speak, especially speak on behalf of the soldiers. There is a fashion -- if the government does something good then those who are rejected will speak and prevent the nation from going ahead," said the PM.  

During his rally, PM Modi brings up the One Rank One Pension issue. He said that he spoke of OROP on his last visit. "Everyone else did lip service," he said taking a dig at the previous UPA government.

Yesterday, the government announced One Rank One Pension for ex-servicemen.    

After inaugurating the Delhi-Delhi-Faridabad Metro line, PM Modi is addressing the a rally at the HUDA Ground at Faridabad's sector 12. Here are highlights from his speech:

"Haryana is my second home," says the PM. "After leaving Gujarat a few years ago, I stayed in Haryana for a long time.

"Rashtraneeti and not rajeenti drives the nation. Samvad and not vivad is essential. Solution to all problems is development," he adds. "The nation moves forward by dialogue not dispute."      

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today travelled by Delhi Metro to inaugurate the extension of the Badarpur Line that will connect the satellite city of Faridabad to the national capital.

Modi boarded the Metro at the Violet Line's (Line 6) Janpath Station around 10 am which will take him to Faridabad's Bata Chowk Station. He took passengers and Metro officials by surprise as earlier he was scheduled to take a chopper to Faridabad.

He interacted with the regular commuters, who also took selfies with the PM.

Union Ministers Venkaiah Naidu, Virender Singh, Rao Inderjet Singh and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation chief Mangu Singh accompanied the Prime Minister.

The launch of the section would allow hassle-free travel for around two lakh daily commuters between the national capital and the industrial hub in Haryana. Later, Modi will proceed to HUDA Ground at Faridabad's sector 12, where he will address a public meeting, which will also be attended by Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.

Photograph: @PMOIndia/Twitter

Unknown gunmen today killed 13 passengers travelling in two vehicles in the usually tranquil northern Afghan province of Balkh, as President Ashraf Ghani convened an international donor conference in Kabul.

Austria will not use force to halt thousands of refugees streaming into the country from Hungary, Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner said today, appealing to the rest of Europe to help shoulder the burden of the mass influx.

US and coalition forces launched 25 air strikes in Iraq and eight in Syria on Friday against Islamic State targets, the US military said.

The cost of Germany taking in a record number of asylum seekers could hit 10 billion euros, four times what Berlin spend looking after refugees last year, a German newspaper said today. 

A woman charged with planning to bring her four children to Syria has answered charges of child abduction in a London courtroom. The 33-year-old woman and her children were detained in Turkey this week after they went missing from their London home. 

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