LIVE! Trump defends US gun laws by branding London a knife crime war zone

LIVE

Sat, 05 May 2018

Trump defends US gun laws by branding London a knife crime war zone

Timeline Refresh

20:55 Trump defends US gun laws by branding London a knife crime war zone

US President Donald Trump opened up a new controversy as he defended American gun laws by contrasting them with London's stringent anti-gun legislation, claiming it resulted in one of the British capital's hospitals turning into a war zone due to a rise in knife crime instead.

In a speech to the National Rifle Association in Dallas, Texas, yesterday in which he spoke out in favour of liberal gun laws, the US president sarcastically questioned whether vans, trucks and cars, which have been used as weapons by terrorists, should also be banned before turning to knives.

I recently read a story that in London, which has unbelievably tough gun laws, a once very prestigious hospital, right in the middle, is like a war zone for horrible stabbing wounds, Trump said.

Yes, that's right, they don't have guns, they have knives and instead there's blood all over the floors of this hospital. They say it's as bad as a military war zone hospital, he added.

He then went on to make a stabbing gesture in the air several times and muttered, Knives, knives, knives".

Trump is due to visit the UK on July 13, after previously cancelling a trip amid calls for mass protests on the streets of Britain.

His latest comments also triggered a strong reaction, with London trauma surgeon Dr Martin Griffiths offering to give Trump a tour of his prestigious Royal London Hospital.

It is believed Trump was referencing a comment made by Dr Griffiths during a BBC Radio interview earlier this year.

-- PTI

Nikhil Rane from Tardeo, south Mumbai, has won the World Whistling Championship in the Hikufuki category for the second time.

The championship was held in Kawasaki, Japan, from May 3 to 5, and 67 participants from 10 countries had participated in it.

There were four from India -- NiKhil Rane from Mumbai and three others from Chennai.

Nikhil had won the championship in 2016 as well in the Hikufuki category, which requires whistlers to combine their performance with a musical instrument.

20:16 Situation peaceful at AMU

The situation at Aligarh Muslim University remained peaceful today, days after protests rocked the campus over a portrait of Muhammad Ali Jinnah which hangs at the student union office.

The indefinite dharna and boycott of academic activities by students, however, continued for the third day today.

Police on Wednesday resorted to lathicharge, lobbed teargas shells to disperse AMU students demanding the arrest of protesters who had barged into the campus, agitating over the portrait of the Pakistan founder.

Meanwhile, the president of Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union, Geeta Kumari, today asked the RSS and different saffron groups to "stop interfering in the internal affairs" of different educational institutions in the country.

Addressing the protesting AMU students at their dharna site, Geeta Kumari said, "The AMU and all other universities are autonomous institutions and we will not accept attacks by such organisations in the affairs of different educational institutions."

She asked the saffron groups to stop taunting Muslims and repeatedly asking them to "go to Pakistan".

-- PTI

An irate mob on Saturday stopped the vehicle of BJP minister Sham Lal Chaudhary as they pressed for a CBI probe into the Kathua rape-murder incident.

The public health engineering minister was on his way to attend a board meeting when the slogan-shouting crowd gheraoed his car at Kootah Morh in Hiranagar area, officials said.

The group also pelted stones at the ministers vehicle, but the police swiftly cleared the crowd, they said.

The crime branch has arrested eight persons, including a juvenile, for allegedly raping and murdering an 8-year-old girl from a nomadic community at Kathua recently.

Meanwhile, JK BJP in-charge (IT and social media) Jai Dev Rajwal came out in support of a factual report submitted by five women to the Centre over the Kathua incident.

The group of five women had submitted the report to Union home minister Rajnath Singh and minister of state for personnel Jitendra Singh, and demanded a CBI probe into the incident.

The report claimed that the chargesheet filed by the Jammu and Kashmir crime branch in the case had discrepancies and the investigation was botched-up.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said there is no difference between Congress' 'C' and Corruption's 'C'.

Addressing a rally here, Prime Minister Modi launched a frontal attack on the Congress and cornered it on corruption.

"There is no difference between Congress's C and Corruption's C. Even now they cry foul of demonetisation. Congress believes in divide and rule philosophy. They divide people on the grounds of caste. And shockingly, they even classify criminals on the grounds of caste," Prime Minister Modi said.

He also attacked Congress President Rahul Gandhi over his statement on corruption.

"See the audacity. Congress President says in Karnataka that we will not let thieves sit in Legislative Assembly. Why don't they tell about the Congress leaders sitting as MLAs & Ministers in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, whose almirahs and bed sheets were found laden with notes," Prime Minister said.

Without naming Gandhi, Prime Minister Modi said that please also tell people who looted minerals, who is shovering love on them?

Accusing the Congress of giving protection to the sand mafia, Prime Minister Modi said,"If they come to ask for votes then you must ask them who the sand mafias are? Who embraces them? Who their godfathers are? River is yours; sand is yours then why should you beg for one bag of sand?"

He also highlighted that how a Congress leader's wealth has increased manifold.

-- ANI

An Islamic organisation questioned today the rationale behind the demand of some right-wing activists for removing a portrait of Pakistan's founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah from the Aligarh Muslim University.

"What is the rationale behind such a demand after it has been there in public view for the past 80 years? Even if someone has such a demand, they can move courts for the same... Why such a row over it?" asked Jamaat-e-Islami Hind president Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari.

Describing it as a small issue that has been blown out of proportion, Umari said it has long been the practise in AMU to display portraits of its lifetime members of the students' union in the campus.

Jinnah's picture was in the campus since 1938. In all these years, no one had raised any objections or put forward any demand for its removal, he told reporters here.

Umari claimed that even some senior BJP leaders had not disputed Jinnah's role in the freedom struggle.

The JIH leader added it was a matter that needs to be resolved through talks with the students' union.

-- PTI

Karnataka's Bharatiya Janata Party Karnataka chief ministerial candidate BS Yeddyurappa on Saturday advised people to tie hands and legs of the non-voters and make them vote in favour of Mahantesh Doddagoudar, the BJP candidate from Kittur.

Addressing a public gathering Belagavi, also former Karnataka chief minister Yeddyurappa said, "Don't rest now. If you think that somebody isn't voting, go to their homes, tie up their hands and legs and bring them to vote in favour of Mahantesh Doddagoudar."

Continuing his tirade against the Congress, he claimed that Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will lose both in Badami and in Chamundeshwari.

"Siddaramaiah will lose in Chamundi he will also lose in Badami against Sri Ramulu, Congress is now was sinking ship. That is why I am requesting you to vote in favour of the BJP," he added.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday announced Rs 4 lakh ex-gratia each for the kin of those killed during Wednesday's thunderstorm.

He, along with other officials, interacted with the victims and reviewed the relief measures being taken by the district administration.

The chief minister said, "Relief has been provided to the affected. Kin of those who died have been given Rs 4 lakh as ex-gratia and the injured are given free treatment in hospitals."

The Uttar Pradesh chief minister cut-short the campaigning in Karnataka on May 4 and headed for his state to meet the victims after facing a backlash from the opposition.

Adityanath was scheduled to campaign for three days in the state for the assembly polls. He held as many as eight rallies in different parts of Karnataka on Friday before returning to Agra.

This came after Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah took a swipe at Adityanath for not being available at a time when his state had been hit by a massive thunderstorm which claimed over 70 lives.

Former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh Akhilesh Yadav had also rapped the Chief Minister for campaigning in Karnataka.

-- ANI

17:50 Seizures of over Rs 120 cr made in Karnataka

The Election Commission-appointed surveillance teams have seized suspect cash, jewellery and other inducements worth over Rs 120 crore in the poll-bound Karnataka, a senior official said today.

Cash amounting to over Rs 67.27 crore, over five lakh litres of liquor worth Rs 23.36 crore, gold valued at 43.17 crore and other items such as pressure cookers, sarees, sewing machines, gutkha, laptops and vehicles, among others, worth about Rs 18.57 crore, have been seized, he said.

The official said Rs 32.54 crore in cash, out of the total seizures of Rs 152.78 crore, has been released after verification.

The figure also includes seized narcotics worth more than Rs 39.80 lakh, according to official data since the declaration of the elections for the Karnataka assembly.

The seizures have been made by various surveillance, police and Income Tax department teams that have been deployed in the state by the poll panel to check the use of black money and illegal inducements, the official said.

The state will go to polls on May 12. The counting of votes is scheduled for May 15.

-- PTI

17:21 US-North Korea summit likely in Singapore

The maiden US-North Korea summit is likely to be held in Singapore in mid-June.

The Singapore-based Straits Time on Saturday quoted, a South Korean-based newspaper report that Singapore is the 'strongest' place to host the summit between United States President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un.

This follows a recent tweet by Trump asking suggestions whether historic summit could be held at the demilitarised zone on the Korean border.

It has been reported that the summit is most likely to be held in the third week of June after Trump returns from a visit to Canada to take part in the G-7 summit from June 8 to 9.

On Friday, Trump had said that a date and venue for the meeting has already been decided.

Both leaders are expected to discuss denuclearisation of North Korea apart from other bilateral issues.

This meeting comes after North-South Korea ended their three-decades-old war after signing a peace treaty at the demilitarised zone in Panmunjom.

-- ANI

Taking a jibe at the Congress's losing streak in the state assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said post-Karnataka polls the grand-old national party will become a regional one called PPP Congress - Punjab, Puducherry and Parivar Congress.

"After the Karnataka results, Congress will become PPP Congress- Punjab, Puducherry and Parivar Congress," the prime minister said at the rally.

He also added that it is the people of Karnataka, who will make the Congress into a regional party called PPP Congress.

Congress, which was in power in13 states in 2014, now governs only three states and one union territory.

And, if it loses Karnataka too, the party would have presence only in Punjab, Mizoram and Puducherry.

Intensifying his attack on the ruling party in the state, the prime minister said the Congress government in Karnataka is working only for 'Naamdaars' and not for 'Kaamgaars'.

-- ANI

16:43

JUST IN: NASA blasts off InSight spacecraft to study quakes on Mars

16:22 President Kovind unhappy with I&B ministry's handling of National Film Awards

The Rashtrapati Bhavan has conveyed to the Prime Ministers Office its unhappiness at the manner in which the office of the President was dragged into a controversy over the National Awards due to what it sees as mismanagement on the part of the ministry of information and broadcasting, two senior government officials familiar with the development said.

Around 50 award winners skipped the ceremony on Thursday stating they were disappointed and dejected that President Ram Nath Kovind would hand over only 11 honours and that this was conveyed to the awardees only a day before the event. An MIB official said on Thursday that a few disgruntled elements were responsible for the controversy.

One of the officials cited in the first instance expressed surprise at the controversy because Rashtrapati Bhavan had already informed MIB weeks in advance about the President presenting only 11 awards. The official also expressed dismay at the furore on social media over the President presenting only 11 awards. Its a breach of faith by MIB. The impression created that it was a last minute decision taken by the office of the President is wrong and has demeaned the institution. The turn of events has distressed the President and it has been communicated to the PMO.

A Rashtrapati Bhavan spokesperson had said that it has been the practice ever since President Kovind took over that, except for Republic Day or very important meetings, he spends only up to an hour at all functions. In keeping with this, he had alloted one hour for the national awards ceremony.

Patanjali Ayurved Limited has been ranked as India's most trusted Fast Moving Consumer Goods brand in the TRA's Brand Trust Report 2018.

Baba Ramdev took to his Twitter handle to make the announcement as he wrote, "Patanjali is India's number #1 trusted FMCG Brand accordingly to 'The Brand Trust Report', India Study 2018 #BTR2018 - @TRA_Research."

The Patanjali Ayurved Limited was established in 2006 by Ramdev, along with Acharya Balkrishna, with the objective of establishing a science of Ayurveda in accordance and coordination with the latest technology and ancient wisdom.

-- ANI

15:22 Vandals deface St Stephen's College chapel

Vandals on late Friday night defaced the door of the chapel inside Delhi Universitys prestigious St Stephens College with a pro-Hindutva slogan that read, Mandir yahin banega (The temple will be constructed here). Moreover, the cross outside the chapel was also defaced.

Sources said the graffiti on the door was first noticed by students on Friday evening and as of Saturday morning, it had not been removed. The writing may have gone unnoticed for hours since regular classes have been suspended owing to the impending Delhi University examinations.

While the door of the chapel read Mandir yahin bangea (The temple will be constructed here), the cross outside the church had the words Im going to hell written on them. Delhi University Students Union Presidet Rocky Tusseed expressed concern over the matter and said they would raise the issue with the concerned authorities.

Rahul Gandhi today demanded answers from Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the BJP giving tickets to those allegedly involved in corruption, including its chief ministerial candidate B S Yeddyurappa.

With only a week left for the Karnataka elections, the Congress president put out a video titled "Karnataka's Most Wanted" on his Twitter account to highlight the issue.

The video had photographs of Modi and other BJP leaders with the party's election candidates, including former ministers who have cases of corruption registered against them.

"Dear Modi ji, You talk a lot. Problem is, your actions don't match your words. Here's a primer on your candidate selection in Karnataka," he said in the tweet.

"It plays like an episode of 'Karnataka's Most Wanted'," he said, using the hashtag "#AnswerMaadiModi".

The video says, "Dear PM, Will you speak for 5 minutes on 8 tickets to the Reddy Brothers Gang? Making someone who has 23 cases of corruption, cheating, forgery, your CM candidate?."

"When will you speak on your top 11 leaders facing corruption cases?" the video says, carrying pictures and names of BJP leaders Sriramulu, Somashekhar Reddy, TH Suresh Babu, Katta Subramanya Naidu, CT Ravi, Murugesh Nirani, ES EN Krishnaiah Shetty Malur, Shivana Gauda Nayak, R Ashok, Shobha Karandlaje, who are candidates in the upcoming polls.

It goes on to accuse Modi of "putting a lid on 35,000 crore illegal iron-ore mining scam of the Reddy Brothers."

Taking a dig at the prime minister, the video says, "Awaiting your reply!

"PS: You can refer to a paper for answers."

The reference is to Modi's earlier remarks that Gandhi cannot speak for even five minutes without referring to notes.

-- PTI

E-commerce firm Flipkarts board is yet to finalise a deal to sell a controlling stake to Walmart Inc, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter said on Friday, adding a deal could just be days away.

Bloomberg reported earlier on Friday, citing unidentified sources, that Flipkarts board had approved a deal to sell a stake of about 75 percent in the company to a group led by US retail giant Walmart for about $15 billion.

A third source said that while Flipkarts board had in-principle approved engaging with Walmart based on the terms of an offer before them, taxation-related concerns and a few other issues need to be resolved.

The first two sources said Alphabet Inc is also likely to invest in Flipkart alongside Walmart, but terms of the deal may change. Japans SoftBank Group, the biggest investor in the Indian firm through its private equity fund, is considering selling its roughly 20 percent stake as part of the deal if the price is right, two other sources said.

While most judges in the Bombay high court tried to wrap up the pending matters and urgent hearings by 5 pm yesterday, the last working day before the summer break, one judge presided over his court until the wee hours today, hearing pleas that sought urgent interim reliefs.

Justice Shahrukh J Kathawalla presided over a packed courtroom till 3.30 am, hearing arguments and passing orders on petitions.

"The courtroom was packed with senior counsels, lawyers and litigants, whose matters were being heard. There were over 100 civil petitions that had sought urgent interim reliefs," a senior counsel, who was present in the court till the judge rose from his seat, said.

While this is the first time Justice Kathawalla sat in the court till so late, two weeks ago, he had heard matters in his chamber till midnight.

"Justice Kathawalla, even at that hour (3.30 am), was as fresh as one would be in the morning. My matter was one of the

last ones to be heard. Even then the judge heard our arguments patiently and passed orders," another senior counsel, Praveen Samdani, said.

Justice Kathawalla often begins the court proceedings at 10 am, an hour earlier than the other judges, and hears matters beyond 5 pm, when the court shuts for the day.

A staff member of the courtroom said despite hearing the matters till so late, the judge was back in his chambers this morning to finish pending work.

-- PTI

Ahead of his much-awaited summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, US President Donald Trump will host his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in at the White House on May 22, according to an official announcement today.

During the meeting, Moon would brief Trump on his recent summit meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Moon met with Kim Jong-un last week at a Korean border village during last week's inter-Korea summit. The two leaders agreed to end hostile acts against each other along their tense border, establish a liaison office and resume reunions of separated families.

They also agreed to achieve a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula, but failed to produce specific time frames and disarmament steps.

Trump himself is scheduled to have a summit meeting with Kim Jong-un, the date and venue for which "have been decided and will be announced soon".

"This third summit between the two leaders affirms the enduring strength of the United States-Republic of Korea alliance and the deep friendship between our two countries," White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said.

"The two leaders also will discuss President Trump's upcoming meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un," she said.

-- PTI

An FIR was lodged against Assistant Professor Rajbeer Singh of the Jawaharlal Nehru University in Vasant Kunj Police Station for allegedly harassing a female student on February 9, 2018.

According to the female student, Rajbeer Singh -- assistant professor at the Centre for Study in Science Policy and School of Social Sciences, had physically assaulted her and threatened her.

The female student alleged that the incident took place around 12 pm on February 9, 2018, when Rajbeer Singh beat her up and pushed her, which severely injured her neck and back. She claimed that the incident took place when she along with some other students of the University went to speak to the mentioned faculty to extend support for a University Strike but he lost his cool and started thrashing the students.

She further claimed that Rajbeer Singh threatened her of dire consequences if she mentioned the incident to anyone.

-- ANI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is addressing a mega rally in Tumakuru as the campaigning for Karnataka Assembly elections picks up pace. PM Modi said there is enthusiasm for the BJP in the state and the people are tired of the Congress. He hailed the contribution of the seers of Tumakuru.

Here are highlights from his address:

>> You see Congress party's election track record from Indira Gandhi's time. They only say poor...poor...poor and used to win elections on their name. But since, a poor mother's son was elected as Country's prime minister they have stopped talking about poor as they know that the poor cannot be fooled

>> Congress is trying to offer false rhetoric and empty promises to the farmers. The Congress' neglect of the agriculture sector is very well known. I wish they were serious about the welfare of the farmers

>> People who dont differentiate between red and green chilli and are producing gold from potato have started chanting the name of farmers

>> Who can deny that there is a collision between JD-S and Congress when they are fighting in Tumukura but are in alliance in Bangalore Municipal Corporation. They should stop making fool out of people of Tumukura and Karnataka

>> People of Karnataka need to know the tacit alliance between Congress & JD-S

>> I have initiated a full-fledged battle against corruption and black money. There is no way we can tolerate corrupt practices

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's supporters are offering potted tulsi plants at a famous shrine in Udipi seeking divine help for the BJP to unseat the Congress in Karnataka.

Forty-five-year-old devotee Keshavacharya travelled all the way from Shiruru village, 22 km from Udupi, to pray at the 800-year-old Sri Krishna temple for Modi and his party's success in the crucial May 12 Assembly polls.

Before standing in a long queue at the shrine with a potted tulsi plant, Keshavacharya said he had taken personal care to grow it.

At least one lakh tulsi plants are offered by devotees on a daily basis at the temple with a desire to get their personal wishes fulfilled.

"I decided to offer it (tulsi plant) at the temple for Modi's success," he said.

Two other devotees Govind and Kumaraswami echoed similar views.

Before taking part in the prime minister's first rally in the state, they had prayed at the temple, they said.

The project to offer a lakh tulsi plants to Lord Krishna has been initiated by Palimar Mutt's Vidyadheesha Tirtha Swami, who has got a second term to administer the temple.

-- PTI

After calling off his campaigning in the poll-bound state of Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday met rain and dust storm affected people at a hospital in Agra.

He, along with other officials, interacted with the victims and reviewed the relief measures being taken by the district administration.

The Uttar Pradesh chief minister left the campaigning in Karnataka on Friday and headed for his state to meet the victims after facing a backlash from the opposition.

Adityanath was scheduled to campaign for three days in the state for the assembly polls. He held as many as eight rallies in different parts of Karnataka on Friday before returning to Agra.

This came after Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah took a swipe at Adityanath for not being available at a time when his state had been hit by a massive thunderstorm which claimed over 70 lives.

-- ANI

14 people have been arrested over the gang rape and murder of a minor in Jharkhand.

A 16-year-old girl in Jharkhand was burnt alive inside her home in Jharkhand on Friday, allegedly by men who had gang-raped her Thursday night.

The incident took place in the Naxal-affected Chatra district of the state.

The girl's family says the four men, allegedly drunk, kidnapped her from her house when everyone was away at a wedding. The men allegedly took her to a deserted spot and raped her.

The horrific incident emerges at a time there is public anger over child rapes this year, beginning with the kidnapping, rape, torture and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir. The government recently put out an executive order to change the law and bring in the death penalty for child rapists.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday tweeted a tongue-in-cheek reply to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remark on the Karnataka government being corrupt.

The answer comes after Prime Minister Modi had said that the Congress government in Karnataka is a 'seedha-rupaiah sarkar', hinting at Siddaramaiah directly.

PM Modi, during a public rally on may 3, stated that not even a single work was possible without bribery in the state.

Siddaramaiah tweeted, "Dear PM, I am glad you have made corruption an issue in this Election because that is your weakest point.You are making baseless allegations of corruption about our Govt."

The Karnataka chief minister also said that the BJP is trying to hide the 35000 crores illegal iron-ore mining scam of the Reddy brothers.

-- ANI

11:02 Terrorists shot, injure SPO in Pulwama

Terrorists today shot at and injured a special police officer in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said.

The terrorists opened fire on Showkat Ahmad Dar near his residence in Rahmoo in Pulwama district of south Kashmir, resulting in injuries to the officer, a police official said.

He said the injured officer has been admitted to a hospital and he is stated to be critical.

More details are awaited. -- PTI

10:54 Modi to address 4 rallies in Karnataka today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address four public rallies in poll bound-Karnataka on Saturday.

As part of his campaign blitzkrieg, the prime minister will address election rallies in Tumkur, Gadag, Shimoga and Mangaluru.

According to reports, the Bharatiya Janata Party, which is looking to wrest control from the Congress, may increase Modi's election rallies to 21 from 15.

After addressing today's rallies, he is scheduled to stay back in Mangaluru tonight and will take up campaigning again tomorrow in Chitradurga, Raichur, Jamkhandi and Hubballi.

As opposed to earlier schedule, he may also address three public meetings each on May 6 and May 9.

Karnataka BJP president and party's chief ministerial candidate B S Yeddyurappa will accompany the prime minister in some of the rallies.

In addition, BJP's national president Amit Shah is also scheduled to lead road shows in Mysuru district today while Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh will be addressing four public rallies in Kalburgi district.

Karnataka goes to polls on May 12 and 2,655 candidates, including 219 women, are in the poll fray for securing 224 seats up. -- ANI

An encounter broke out between security forces and terrorists in Srinagar this morning, police said, in which one terrorist was killed.

Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Tabela Chattabal in Safakadal following inputs about the presence of terrorists in the area, a police official said.

"The search operation turned into an encounter after the hiding terrorists fired upon the search party of the security forces, who retaliated," the official said.

At least one terrorist was killed in the ensuing gunfight.

"The gunfight is still on," the official said, adding that further details were awaited. -- PTI, ANI

Image only for representation.

Two persons were abducted and later shot dead allegedly by Lashkar-e-Tayiba terrorists in Bandipora district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said today.

Terrorists barged into the houses of Ghulam Hassan Dar alias Hassan Rassa and Bashir Ahmad Dar -- both residents of Gulshan Mohalla, Shahgund Hajin in north Kashmir's Bandipora district -- last night and abducted them, a police official said.

"At about 3:30 am today, the militants shot both of them dead," he said.

The bodies were found by the locals near a mosque at Raheem Dar Mohalla, Shahgund, the official said.

Hassan, 45, was reportedly an uncle of Ahmed, 26 -- a driver by profession.

"Preliminary investigation suggests the involvement of outlawed terror outfit LeT in the incident," the official said.

"A case has been registered and investigations taken up," he said. -- PTI

Image only for representation.

08:19 Srinivas Kuchibhotla's killer gets lifer

A United States Navy veteran who killed Indian engineer Srinivas Kuchibhotla in a racially motivated hate crime at a bar in Kansas City last year has been sentenced to life in prison.

In March this year, Adam Purinton, 52, had pleaded guilty to the charges of murdering Kuchibhotla.

He was charged with first-degree murder of Kuchibhotla, 32, and two counts of attempted first-degree murder in the shootings of his friend, Alok Madasani, and a bystander, who chased Purinton after he fled the Austin's Bar and Grill in Olathe city on February 22 last year.

Purinton, yelled, 'Get out of my country,' before shooting Kuchibhotla, who later died from injuries sustained in the attack.

A federal judge in Kansas yesterday sentenced Purinton to life in prison for the first-degree murder of Kuchibhotla and 165 months imprisonment for each of the other two murder charges.

Kuchibhotla is survived by his wife Sunayana Dumala, who welcomed the court's decision.

'Today's sentencing in the murder of my husband will not bring back my Srinu, but it sends a strong message that hate is never acceptable,' Dumala said in a statement.

'I want to thank the District Attorney's office and the Olathe police for their efforts to bring this man to justice,' she said. -- PTI

The decision of Chinas ruling Communist Party to stick with the political theories of Karl Marx remains totally correct, President Xi Jinping said ahead of the 200th anniversary of the German philosophers birth.

Since coming to power in 2012, Xi, widely seen as the most powerful Chinese leader since Mao Zedong, has said the party must not forget its socialist roots as it works to attain the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

At the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Xi said, Writing Marxism onto the flag of the Chinese Communist Party was totally correct... Unceasingly promoting the sinification and modernisation of Marxism is totally correct.

Xi also instructed all party members to adopt the reading of Marxist works and the understanding of Marxist theories as a way of life and a spiritual pursuit.

Timeline Refresh

TOP STORIES