The Indian Army today successfully test fired an advanced version of the Brahmos land-attack cruise missile in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, revalidating the weapon's strike capability. 

BSP chief Mayawati today expressed pain at the beheading of Indian jawans on the border and said the time has come to shift focus from "divisive" matters like cow protection and triple talaq to law and order and security.

Camps of Pakistan-backed terrorist groups have mushroomed across the Line of Control in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, with 20 more coming up since the Indian army launched a surgical strike on terror launch pads last September, officials said today.

When the Indian army had mounted the surgical assault, there were around 35 training camps of various militant groups across the LoC and many were dismantled and shifted deep inside Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir.

Quoting intelligence reports, government officials said at 20 new terrorist camps have come up in the last four months, while the earlier ones have also returned closer to the LoC, taking their number from 35 to 55.

All these camps are 'actively operating', they said. The disclosure by the government came a day after Pakistan army's Border Action Teams, which consist of both army regulars and terrorists, shot dead and beheaded two Indian soldiers in an ambush they had laid inside Indian territory.

In the first four months of 2017, there were 60 infiltration attempts along the LoC in which 15 terrorists managed to enter into Jammu and Kashmir.

Quoting intelligence reports, officials said as of now around 160 terrorists are active in the Kashmir valley and their Pakistani handlers have instructed them to intensify attacks on security forces to keep the 'pot boiling and the LoC active'.

They said since the state government will start functioning in the state's summer capital Srinagar from May 8 after the 'Darbar Move', terror groups were trying to boost the morale of their cadre by intensifying attacks on Indian security forces.

Yesterday's assault by a BAT contingent is part of this strategy, they said. -- PTI

Terrorism is a major threat to societies and collective action by the international community against it can no longer be postponed, President Pranab Mukherjee has said.

He said there can be no justification for terrorism and its use as an instrument of state policy is perilous and reprehensible. Welcoming Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday, the president said terrorism is a major threat to all societies and India unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

"We believe that the international community should cooperate closely to address this menace. Collective, coordinated action by the international community against terrorism can no longer be postponed," Mukherjee was quoted as having said in a press release issued today by Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The president also hosted a banquet for his Turkish counterpart. In his banquet speech, Mukherjee said the scourge of terrorism has afflicted India and Turkey for decades.

"India believes that there can be no justification, whatsoever for terrorism. Its use as an instrument of state policy is perilous and reprehensible. We believe that closer co-ordination and concerted efforts by the international community are necessary to tackle this menace effectively," he said.

Mukherjee said another global challenge of unprecedented scale is the impact of climate change.

"There is an urgent need for the world to use science, technology and best practises to achieve the agreed targets so that we can honestly claim to have made the world a better place to live in," he said.

The visiting president was accompanied by his wife Emine Erdogan at the event.  -- PTI

A Karnataka minister has refused to fall in line with the central government's ban on red beacons in VIP vehicles, saying he would remove it if Chief Minister Siddaramaiah instructs him to do so.

"If the Chief Minister asks me to remove the red beaconlight, I will obey his instruction and remove it," Food and Civil Supplies Minister U T Khader said.

Khader said it was the state government that had given him the car with a red beacon light, not central government, and he had no right to alter it.

"I do not have power to alter my car. It is left to the cabinet to decide," he told reporters Mangaluru on Monday.

Khader also said he would not object to the ban on red beacon light on VIP vehicles but most importantly, the government should bring in schemes which will fill stomachs of people and provide education.

"Let the central government bring into force such a notification, I am not saying no, but most importantly it should introduce schemes wherein it is possible to fill the stomachs of people and provide education," the Congress minister said. -- PTI

The Madhya Pradesh government has on Tuesday decided to change the state's budget cycle to January-December from the existing April-March cycle.

The new Budget for the state will be presented in December this year.

The move by the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government comes days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi backed the idea and called for a debate at the recently concluded meeting of the NITI Aayog's governing council.

Pakistan Army seeks 'actionable evidence' from India on the mutilation of the bodies of two Indian security personnel by special Pakistani forces. Pakistan has maintained that its army or security agencies were not involved in the mutilation of a BSF havaldar and an Indian army jawan.

Pakistan Army on Monday denied mutilating the bodies of two Indian security personnel, which has evoked a sharp reaction in India. "Pakistan Army did not commit any ceasefire violation on the Line of Control or a BAT action in the Buttal sector (India's Krishna Ghati sector) as alleged by India. Indian blame of mutilating Indian soldiers' bodies is also false,' a statement from the Pakistan Army's Inter-Services Public Relations wing said.

"Pakistan Army is a highly professional force and shall never disrespect a soldier, even Indian,' it said. In a barbaric attack, an army junior commissioned officer and a Border Security Force head constable were killed and their bodies mutilated by a Pakistan army team which sneaked about 250 metres into the Indian territory along the Line of Control in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir.

Sachin Tendulkar @sachin_rt  One of my dearest friends celebrates his b'day today. Not just a great friend but one of the greatest cricketers too. Happy b'day @BrianLara.

On the 96th birth anniversary of the greatest masters of cinema, Satyajit Ray, a still from the documentary he directed on another genius, Rabindranath Tagore.

The Congress today slammed the Narendra Modi government over the killing of two soldiers by Pakistani troops in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, saying it has no policy on national security.

The party's spokesperson, Kapil Sibal, said it was "shameful" that the ruling BJP was organising "Vijay Parv" to celebrate its victory in the Delhi municipal polls at a time when Pakistan killed two of "our soldiers in our territory".

He also took a jibe at the government, saying it should "take off bangles and do something". Sibal was referring External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's offer to send bangles to Manmohan Singh when Indian soldiers were beheaded by Pakistan during the UPA rule.

He claimed there has been an increase in civilian and security personnel causalities during the 35 months of the NDA rule so far as compared to the corresponding period during the UPA government.

He said the government can finalise a policy to deal with cross-border terrorism only if there is a full-time defence minister.


Image: Prime Minister Modi being given a presentation on counter-terrorist and combing operation by the Defence Forces, at Pathankot Airbase in January 2016.

Calling on the Centre to give a free hand to the Indian Army in giving an 'appropriate reply' to Pakistan's barbaric act in Jammu and Kashmir's Krishna Ghati sector, former defence minister AK Antony on Tuesday reminded that such an incident had happened only once under the Congress regime.

While clarifying that he does not want to politicise the incident, Antony said, "During our time, only one such incident happened. The incident of mutilation happened only once in eight years. But here it has happened thrice. It has affected the morale of the Indian Army. It puts a question on the security structure. Give freedom to the army to take appropriate action at appropriate time."

The former defence minister further reiterated that the government must give a free hand to the Army to handle it in their own way.

"My message is clear: Give freedom to the Army to take appropriate action as a reaction to this cruel, inhuman, barbaric action by Pakistan," Antony told the media.

Earlier today, Indian Director-General of Military Operations (DGMO) Lt. Gen. A.K. Bhatt raised the issue of Border Action Team (BAT) camps near the Line of control with his Pakistani counterpart.

Bhatt also raised the issue of fire support provided by the Pakistani posts.

"DGMO Indian Army conveyed that such dastardly and inhuman act is beyond any norms of civility and merits unequivocal condemnation and response," the Indian Army said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the Border Security Force (BSF) has highlighted that the brutal Krishna Ghati incident occurred post the visit of the Pakistan Army Chief to the Line of Control (LoC), adding that Islamabad's BAT, involved in the attack, comprised Mujahedeen terrorists as well.

"I would not like to comment formally on this. But yes, everybody knows that this has taken place immediately after the visit of the Pakistan Army Chief to the frontal area," said BSF Additional Director General (ADG) Western Command K.N. Choubey.

Yesterday, the Pakistani soldiers along with their Border Action Team (BAT), which include trained border inhabitants, launched a joint attack.

They first fired rockets and followed this up with firing from automatic weapons, near Kranti Post located in Poonch's Krishna Ghati Sector around 8.30 a.m.

The Pakistanis then crossed the LoC, entered 200 meters into Indian Territory, and attacked a joint patrol of the Army and Border Security Force (BSF), heading towards a near

Monday's beheading of two security men by Pakistan's special forces along the Line of Control is the third such incident in the past six months.

Army sources in New Delhi said that two similar incidents had taken place last October and November. Both the incidents had taken place in Machil area on the Line of Control, leaving two soldiers dead.

The sources said, 65 ceasefire violations have taken place this year, including five in Krishna Ghati sector and 40 in Nowshera. So far, the security forces killed 42 terrorists, including eight in counter-infiltration operations and 34 in city areas of Jammu and Kashmir.

In 2016, 225 ceasefire violations were reported, which stood at 150 in in 2015 and 153 in 2014.

While 150 terrorists were killed in 2016, 101 were eliminated in 2015 and 104 in 2014, the sources said.  -- PTI

IMAGE: Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju lays a wreath at the coffin of BSF Head Constable Prem Sagar after it was brought at Palam Airport in New Delhi on Tuesday. Photograph: Atul Yadav/PTI Photo

The mortal remains of Naib Subedar Paramjeet Singh, who was killed in the Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir, were consigned to flames with full military honours at his native Vainpoin village here today.

The 42-year-old soldier, who belonged to the army's 22 Sikh Infantry, was beheaded yesterday by Pakistani troops, who similarly mutilated the body of Head Constable Prem Sagar of the BSF's 200th Battalion.

A large number of mourners from his village and surronding areas, besides his family and friends, paid their last respects to him.

His elder brother Ranjit Singh said the entire village and the country is proud of the sacrifice. He, however, demanded that the government should give the army a free hand to hit back at the enemy.

Ranjit was also critical of the government, saying barring the area MLA "who turned up at the last moment for the cremation, the rest had stayed away".

"My brother has sacrificed his life for the nation and not for his family. Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh should have been here today, he has served in the Army and should know the pain we are going through. Not just him, but nobody from the government found time to be with us in this hour of grief," he told reporters.

Senior army officers and those from the civil administration were also present as buglers sounded the 'Last Post' and the slain soldier was accorded a gun salute.

His body was wrapped in the tricolour and brought for cremation in a bedecked vehicle. The last rites were held up for a few moments as his relatives remained adamant that they be shown the body. They went ahead with the ceremony after persuasion by civil and army officials.

A Pakistani special forces team had yesterday sneaked 250 metres across the Line of Control (LoC) into the Poonch sector and beheaded the two Indian security personnel.

Singh is survived by his aged parents Udham Singh and Gurinder Kaur, wife Paramjit Kaur and three minor children -- daughters Simardeep Kaur and Khushdeep Kaur, and son Sahildeep Singh, who are aged between 11 and 14.

Shocked by the demise of the soldier, who was to arrive at his village a week later on holiday, his family and friends has demanded a befitting reply be given to to Pakistan Paramjit Kaur lamented that no senior functionary of the government had come to meet the family or attended the funeral. She also demanded that the Centre should give free hand to army so that Pakistan is taught a stern lesson.

"Our government had once said that if Pakistan kills or beheads our one soldier, as many as ten enemy soldiers will meet the same fate, but what is happening now. If the government cannot teach Pakistan a lesson, then they should allow me to take revenge of my husband's killing," Kaur said.

The anger was palpable among the villagers in Tarn Taran, a border district close to the Indo-Pak international border, against Pakistan. While "Shaheed Paramjeet Amar Rahe" slogans rent the air, "Pakistan Murdabad" slogans were also raised. Pakistani flags were also burnt at some places in Punjab today, including at Ludhiana, where protesters demanded that Pakistan should be paid back in the same coin.

The martyr's father Udham Singh said he was proud of his son, but wanted that Pakistan be given a befitting reply. "Their action has caused much pain. They should be taught a lesson," he said. Paramjeet was the only earning hand in the family. The family lives in a semi-kutcha house.


Image: Lok Janshakti Party activists burning a banner during a protest against Pakistan for mutilating two jawans. PTI Photo

ED registers money laundering case against TTV Dhinakaran and others in connection with the alleged bribery of Election Commission officials. 

Justin Bieber will arrive in Mumbai a few days prior to his public show on a private jet after his performance in Dubai.

The first day of the visit will entail a lavish dining experience that will explore the nuances of the finest royal cuisines served by butlers flown in especially from Rajasthan.

Traditional gold and silver plated thalis are being customized with engravings of the artist and his entourages name embedded on the dinner plates in beautiful Devanagari script.

Bieber who has publicly proclaimed his love for Indian food will be served rich authentic cuisine representing the 29 states of India.

Adding a touch of opulence, the ambiance will resemble an imperial fortress with flutists and sarangi players elevating the fine dining to a celestial experience.

 
The second day of the visit will entail a tour around the city. The hotspots being zeroed in on include Gateway Of India, Kala Ghoda, Mani Bhavan that showcase a mix of heritage and history.  The city tour will be followed by a luxurious Aryuvedic spa session knowing Biebers love for massages.  Since Bieber is touring for the Purpose Tour a visit to an underprivileged home is also being planned apart from a possible party being hosted by a leading industrialist and filmstar.

 
The third day will witness the mega concert in Mumbai followed by a private yacht party with some live karaoke singing 

 
The fourth and fifth day will entail a visit to New Delhi and Jaipur and a definite trip to Taj Mahal.
 

"My reading of the Modi wave is quite different from my friends who watch TV news. I gave up on news channels sometime ago. With the Rajya Sabha TV poised to go under Hindutvas control when a new Indian vice president is elected, the burden of keeping a democratic conversation going will fall on anchors like Ravish Kumar. The few agreeable men and women still around are a relic from Indias waning age of sanity."

Dawn columnist Javed Naqvi on the 'Modi wave' or  the lack of it. Read it here.

J&K: Terrorists loot a bank in Kulgam, more details awaited.

The Army and the BSF today bid farewell to Naib Subedar Paramjit Singh and Head Constable Prem Sagar who were beheaded by Pakistani forces in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir yesterday.

A wreath-laying ceremony was organised in Poonch in their honour which was attended by top ranking security officials. The mortal remains of Singh, who belonged to the 22 Sikh Infantry, have been flown to his native Vainpoin village in Punjab's Tarn Taran district.

The body of Prem Sagar, of the 200th Battalion of BSF, has been flown to New Delhi for further journey to his native place in Uttar Pradesh.

42-year-old Singh is survived by his wife Paramjeet Kaur. Sagar (45) hailed from Takenpur in UP's Deoria district. He is survived by his wife Shanti.

Image: The wife of head constable Prem Sagar who was brutally killed by the Pakistan army.

The Indian Directors General of Military Operations (DGMO) on Tuesday contacted his Pakistan counterpart over the hotline and expressed grave concerns over the mutilation of bodies of Indian jawans by the Pakistani forces.

Two Indian soldiers were beheaded and another injured by a Pakistani Border Action Team (BAT) that sneaked into Indian territory under cover of heavy shelling in the Krishna Ghati sector in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday.

Without mincing any words, the Indian DGMO LT Gen Bhatt conveyed to his Pakistani counterpart that "such dastardly, inhumane act is beyond any norms of civility and merits unequivocal condemnation and response".

Bhatt also emphasised on the issue of fire support provided by the Pakistani posts and highlighted issue of BAT training camps near the Line of Control.

The Indian Army has already vowed an "appropriate" response to the "despicable act". The Pakistan army has denied that it was involved in the attack.

Defence minister Arun Jaitley had said on Monday that the "sacrifice (of the two killed) will not go in vain" and the Indian armed forces will react "appropriately" to the "inhuman act" of the Pakistani troops.

"This is a reprehensible and an inhuman act. Such attacks don't even take place during war, let alone during peace time. Bodies of soldiers being mutilated is an extreme form of barbaric act," the defence minister said.

The soldiers killed were Naib Subedar Paramjeet Singh of 22 Sikh Infantry and Head Constable Prem Sagar of 200th Battalion of BSF.

Wreath laying ceremony for constable Prem Sagar at Delhi's Palam Airport. MoS Home Kiren Rijiju pays his respects. 

The Ministry of External Affairs schedules high-level visits by foreign dignitaries on the basis of clear-cut diplomatic objectives. A visit for visit's sake is seldom the case. In all respects, Turkish President Recep Erdogan's visit should have been carefully planned. Yet, how come we botched it up?

Read MK Bhadrakumar's blog here.

Relatives of Paramjit Singh demand to see his body, which is in a coffin, "Whose body is this? It is all behind this box! We are not being shown the body? Why?"

The body of the slain hero has been brought to his hometown in Tarn Taran and will be cremated with full honors.
 
Mourning the demise of their beloved brother Naib Subedar Paramjit Singh, whose body was brutally mutilated by the Pakistani Army in Krishna Ghati, the family has called on the Centre to assure justice and go to war with Pakistan if they have to.

"The Centre should take strict action. If war is the solution, then we should just go to war with Islamabad and finish the issue once and for all. By any chance if the issue can be sorted out with dialogue then even that should be tried," said the brother of the slain jawan.

"He built this house and was supposed to shift here on May 10. Instead of him, now his body will enter into house. We are very proud of him and would never forget his sacrifice," his brother added pointing towards the newly build house, in which Singh was suppose to shift.

"I am proud of my father for being declared a martyr. My father sacrificed his life for the country, and I'm proud of him," said Simrandeep, Singh's elder daughter.

Naib Subedar Paramjit Singh's daughter, Simrandeep: My father got martyred for the country, proud of him. 

In Tarn Taran (Punjab), the family mourns the demise of Naib Subedar Paramjit Singh, whose body was mutilated by the Pakistan Army in KG Sector (J&K), yesterday. 

Shattered and traumatised with the news of her father's horrific death at the hands of the Pakistani Army in Krishna Ghatti, Jammu and Kashmir, the daughter of Border Security Force head constable Prem Sagar on Tuesday demanded '50 heads in return' of her father's life.


"His sacrifice should not be forgotten, we want 50 heads in return for his life," said Saroj while consoling her mother, who was still coming to terms with her husband's gruesome death.


The relatives of the late solider also rebuked the Centre's 'lax attitude' against Pakistan, and asserted that due to the government's inaction, such brutalities were happening again.


"The government is not acting properly on such issues. We should retaliate to this inhuman act of Pakistan; the Centre should not just sit idle and let Pakistan carry on its atrocities," said the constable's relative.


"I am proud of my brother that he sacrificed his life for the nation, but is it very heart-wrenching the way he has been beheaded by the Pakistan military," said Dayashanker.


Image: The wife and daughter of BSF head constable Prem Sagar

"France's challenges revolve around an uncertain economic future, multiple terrorist attacks on French soil and a European migration crisis tied to the situation in Syria and Iraq," says Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain (retd) and explains what is at stake in the May 7 French presidential election.
Do read

KN Choubey, ADG BSF, Western Command on the beheading of the jawans by Pakistan's Border Action Team.

"Taking advantage of the firing from Pakistan side, BAT mutilated bodies of two  soldiers. One jawan Rajendra Kumar was injured, he is now in a stable condition. Together (BSF and the Army) there will be brainstorming, we will come out with more revised SoPs, so that such incidents can be minimised."

The mother of Lance Naik Hemraj, whose body was mutilated by Pakistan's Border Action Team (BAT) along the Line of Control (LoC) in 2013 called on the Centre to step up and retaliate.

This comes after Pakistan's Border Action Team (BAT) brutally mutilated the bodies of two Indian soldiers on Monday in Krishna Ghati sector along the Line of Control, where they had beheaded Lance Naik Hemraj in 2013.

"They beheaded my son and now we are witnessing numerous incidences every day. The government had promised that they will behead ten people if they beheaded one of ours, till now nothing has been done. The government should take stern action against Pakistan now," said the mother of Hemraj.

She further called on the Government to try and understand how painful it is to lose one child and pressed for retaliation.

"The government must take stern action against Pakistan. They have not fulfilled any of the promises made to the martyr's family till now," she added.

Resonating similar sentiments, the brother of Hemraj asserted that the situation is very upsetting and India must resonate to Islamabad's atrocities.

"It is a very sad situation, the way our soldiers are losing their lives and the government is not taking any action in this regard. The centre should take stern action against Pakistan so that such incidents are not repeated in future," said the brother.

"Under the Modi government, almost every day one soldier is losing their lives. The government is not at all concerned about the people. They don't have any solid strategy to tackle this kind of situation," said another relative.


A file pic of soldiers pay tribute to slain Lance Naik Hemraj in 2013.

Read: Former Army chief Bikram Singh's reaction to Hemraj's beheading

Family of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan Sher Mohammad, who was injured in the Naxal attack in Sukma, refused to meet Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader V. Solanki here and forced him to turn back, as he arrived at the family's doorstep with an entourage and made a spectacle with music and fireworks.

"India is still trying to get over the grief of losing 25 soldiers in Sukma, but he (Solanki) has the gall to meet me at my home with an entourage. This is just shameful," said the mother of an injured jawan.

The mother later added that the MLA had apologized for his mistake.

Muhammad was injured during the attack on CRPF patrol team on April 24.

The CRPF constable is undergoing treatment at Raipur hospital.

As many as 25 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed and five others injured in the encounter with naxals.

The attack took place on personnel of the CRPF's 74th Battalion as they were assisting the local population in road building and clearing activity in the district.

File pic of Fareeda, the mother of the CRPF jawan injured in Sukma

BSF ADG briefing on the beheading of two Indian Army soldiers: Pakistan attack on our soldiers was well-planned. Their army, which also had mujahideen, was the first to attack four of our posts, says the BSF.

Indo-Pak DGMO talks today, India will raise jawans beheading. 

Pakistan maintains that no jawans were beheaded by them.

Union Defence minister Arun Jaitley has just briefed the PM on the attack.

Earlier on Monday, the Indian Army confirmed the involvement of Pakistan's Border Action Team (BAT) in the gruesome act beheading Indian soldier.

"Pak Army carried out unprovoked rocket and mortar firing on two forward posts on the Line of Control in the Krishna Ghati sector. Simultaneously, a BAT action was launched on a patrol operating in between the two posts. In a unsoldierly act by the Pak Army, the bodies of two of our soldiers in the patrol were mutilated. Such despicable act of Pakistan Army will be appropriately responded," read the Indian Army's statement.

It is the same Krishna Ghati sector where the Pakistani BAT had beheaded Lance Naik Hemraj and also severed the head of Lance Naik Sudhakar Singh of 13 Rajputana Rifles, on January 8, 2013.


Image: The mortal remains of Naib Subedar Paramjit Singh brought to Tarn Taran by helicopter. Head Constable Prem Sagar of the 200th Battalion of BSF was also beheaded. Constable Rajinder Singh was injured but is out of danger.

If you still haven't had your fill of Vinod Khanna, take a look at his pictures here.

Actor Rahul Khanna has shared an old photograph remembering his father and actor-politician Vinod Khanna, who passed away on April 27 after a brief battle with bladder cancer.


The 44-year-old actor took to Twitter, where he posted a black-and-white picture from his childhood which shows him, his father and younger brother Akshaye enjoying a day-out on the beach. "Feels like yesterday," Rahul captioned the photo.


Khanna had Rahul and Akshaye, 42, from his first marriage with Gitanjali but got divorced in 1985.


The "Imtihan" actor married Kavita in 1990 and has two children - son Sakshi and daughter Shraddha with her.

Khanna was best known for his roles in films such as "Amar Akbar Anthony," "Qurbaani" and "Insaaf" and was also an active politician, and a Member of Parliament from Gurdaspur, Punjab. He died at the age of 70.

Defence Minister Arun Jaitley is set to brief Prime Minister Narendra Modi today about the mutilation of two Indian Army soldiers by the Pakistan Army at Krishna Ghatti sector in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Prime Minister will also be conveyed about the current situation prevailing at the Line of Control (LoC).

Pakistan's brutal Border Action Team (BAT) mutilated the bodies of two Indian soldiers on Monday in Krishna Ghati sector along the Line of Control, where they had beheaded Lance Naik Hemraj in 2013.

The Indian Army confirmed the involvement of the BAT in the gruesome act.

"Pak Army carried out unprovoked rocket and mortar firing on two forward posts on the Line of Control in the Krishna Ghati sector. Simultaneously, a BAT action was launched on a patrol operating in between the two posts. In a unsoldierly act by the Pak Army, the bodies of two of our soldiers in the patrol were mutilated. Such despicable act of Pakistan Army will be appropriately responded," read the Indian Army's statement.

Jaitley took to Twitter to promise retaliation.

This is the same Krishna Ghati sector where the Pakistani BAT had beheaded Lance Naik Hemraj and badly severed the head of Lance Naik Sudhakar Singh of 13 Rajputana Rifles, on January 8, 2013.

Army Chief General Bipin Rawat arrived in Srinagar yesterday and took stock of the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

Jaitley tweeted: The Act of killing & mutilating the bodies of two of our soldiers is the most reprehensible & barbaric. The sacrifice will not go in vain. We have fullest confidence in our Armed forces who will react appropriately.

Indian IT major Infosys will hire about 10,000 locals in the US over the next two years and set up four technology and innovation hubs there, as part of its efforts to tide over visa-related issues.

Through these new hires and centres, Infosys will also focus on enhancing its play in new technology areas like artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, user experience, cloud and big data. Speaking to PTI, Infosys CEO Vishal Sikka said the first hub, which will open in Indiana in August this year, will create 2,000 jobs by 2021 for American workers.

The location of the other three centres will be decided over the next few months. These hubs will not only train people on technology and innovation but also help in working closely with clients in key industries like financial services, manufacturing, healthcare, retail and energy.

"Will Muhammad Habib Zahir -- who was part of the team that arrested Kulbhushan Jadhav and went missing in Nepal -- figure in a Jadhav-for-Zahir deal?" asks Aditi Phadnis. Read more

BSE benchmark Sensex recouped over 134 points to trade above the 30,000-mark in early trade today on the back of widespread gains triggered by encouraging corporate earnings.

The 30-share index rose by 134.33 points, or 0.44 per cent, to 30,052.73. The gauge had lost 214.95 points in the previous two sessions. All the sectoral indices led by consumer durables, PSU, metal, auto, bank and IT were trading in the positive zone, rising by up to 0.96 per cent. The Nifty also advanced 37.75 points, or 0.40 per cent, to 9,341.85.

Narendra Modi may have no credible challengers now, but democracies have a way of creating contenders out of nowhere'"as was the case with his own rise. Read more

Tamil Nadu CM E Palaniswami to hold a cabinet meeting at 11 am today, his first meet since VK Sasikala and TTV Dinakaran were sidelined. 

The merger of the OPS and EPS factions has been delayed with the OPS faction setting two pre-conditions. The OPS faction wants an inquiry into the death of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and a formal ouster of Sasikala, and her family from the AIADMK. The OPS team is not willing to come to the negotiation table without these demands being met.


File pic: E Palaniswami with PM Modi

Priyanka Chopra wears a trench coat with a wedding-gown-like train at the Met Gala. Time to get back to her spaceship.


The Met Gala or the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute benefit is a a black-tie extravaganza held the first Monday in May to raise money for the Costume Institute. This is where celebrities come in costumes you wouldn't be able to wear anywhere else. 

An Indian Army patrol team was taken by surprise by a group of Pakistani special forces who had set up an ambush more than 250 metres deep inside Indian territory early Monday morning and beheaded two security personnel. Pakistan's Border Action Team set up the ambush and waited for long for the patrol team, while Pakistani troops attacked two forward posts with rockets and mortar bombs along the Line of Control in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir. This is how it happened.

Representational image.

Venu Rajamony, press secretary to the President of India, is set to be India's Ambassador to the Netherlands, according to a foreign Office source.

Rajamony is an Indian Foreign Service Officer of the 1986 batch and has been President Pranab Mukherjee's press secretary for five years. 

He is expected to assume office in Netherlands by the middle of May 2017,
according to South Block in New Delhi. He will also be coordinating with the Netherlands foreign office about the nitty-gritties of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the Netherlands in early September.

Before he was appointed press secretary, Rajamony was joint secretary in the Union Ministry of Finance dealing with international cooperation.

Rajamony was in-charge of multilateral institutions -- International Monetary Fund, World Bank, ADB -- in the Ministry of Finance. He was also Consul General in Dubai and has served nine years in Beijing and Hong Kong.

Rajamony was also director in the External Affairs Minister's office.

Interestingly, before he joined the Indian Foreign Service, he was a reporter at a national daily in Kerala.

Rajamony was private secretary to then foreign minister Yashwant Sinha in the Natiocal Democratic Alliance government and also briefly with K Natwar Singh.

J&K: Yatra to the Shiv Khori cave shrine suspended after a major fire broke out in a building outside the shrine.