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Wed, 13 April 2016
Major killed in encounter with militants in Manipur
Timeline Refresh
23:45 Major killed in encounter with militants in Manipur
Major Amit Deswal of the Indian Army's 21, Special Forces was today martyred in an encounter with the Zeliangrong United Front militants in Manipur.
The Rashtriya Rifles and Special Forces personnel conducted a combined operation in Tamenglong district in which one ZUF militant was killed in the morning.
Thereafter, in the second encounter in the evening the Major suffered gunshot wounds to his body and succumbed later after being evacuated from the encounter site.
The Major hailed from Haryana's Jhajjar district.
The Rashtriya Rifles and Special Forces personnel conducted a combined operation in Tamenglong district in which one ZUF militant was killed in the morning.
Thereafter, in the second encounter in the evening the Major suffered gunshot wounds to his body and succumbed later after being evacuated from the encounter site.
The Major hailed from Haryana's Jhajjar district.
23:41 PM may visit US in June
Prime Minister Narendra Modi may be visiting the United States in early June for a bilateral meeting with President Barack Obama who is said to be inviting some world leaders before he demits office in January next.
The US has indicated to the Indian side that Obama would be interested in meeting Modi once more before he demits office after two four-year terms, sources said.
They added that there is a possibility of the prime minister travelling to Washington sometime in early June for the same. No dates have been finalised yet, the sources said.
It is believed that the US President is extending similar invitations to some other world leaders.
The US has indicated to the Indian side that Obama would be interested in meeting Modi once more before he demits office after two four-year terms, sources said.
They added that there is a possibility of the prime minister travelling to Washington sometime in early June for the same. No dates have been finalised yet, the sources said.
It is believed that the US President is extending similar invitations to some other world leaders.
22:08 'US proposed monitoring of Indian consulates in Afghanistan'
The US in 2005 proposed to jointly monitor Indian consulates in Afghanistan's Kandahar and Jalalabad to address concerns of then Pakistani dictator Pervez Musharraf that India was using them to destabilise his country, according to a new book by an ex-American diplomat.
Former US Ambassador to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad has stated this in his latest book 'The Envoy: From Kabul to White House' while referring to a meeting that he had with General Musharraf in early 2005.
During the meeting in Islamabad, Musharraf alleged that India had set up consulates in Kandahar and Jalalabad to destabilise Pakistan.
"I told him that historically, India had Consulates in those cities to facilitate exports of Afghan agricultural products," Khalilzad writes in the book.
"I suggested that the United States, Afghanistan, and Pakistan could monitor the consulates and determine whether India was in fact using them for hostile purposes. This was a great proposal, Musharraf said, and the United States and Pakistan should follow up on it," the Bush-era diplomat said.
Khalilzad who later was also appointed as the US Ambassador to the United Nations does not write if the proposal was actually put into practice by the two countries.
22:00 Experts from IIT Kharagpur visit Kolkata flyover collapse
A team of experts from IIT Kharagpur on Wednesday visited the site where the under-construction flyover collapsed last month, to ascertain the cause of the mishap in which 26 people were killed and 89 others injured.
The three-member team from IIT Kharagpur's civil engineering department, led by Prof A P Gupta, inspected the site in the central part of the city for around two hours. Gupta along with other members of the team,
Swapan Majumdar and Sriman Bhattacharya, "climbed on the flyover and inspected several points besides collecting samples from the site," a senior officer of Kolkata Police said.
They would file a report of their findings to the Kolkata Police.
So far, 10 officials of Hyderabad-based construction firm, IVRCL, which was building the flyover, have been arrested by the Kolkata Police and charged under various sections of IPC including 302 (murder) and 307 (attempt to murder).
21:25 IT dept sends queries to those on 'Panama Papers' list
Acting on the Panama Papers leak, the Income Tax department has sent a detailed questionnaire to about 50 individuals and entities figuring in the list of those allegedly holding offshore assets in tax havens.
Officials said investigation wings of the department in different cities have dispatched the communication to these people whose names have appeared in the Indian Express newspaper seeking answers on two broad questions from them.
The first question seeks to know if they are indeed the person named in the list made public recently and the second asks them about the vitals of their transactions made with the law firm Mossack Fonseca.
It includes the year of incorporation, their source of income, details of business transactions done and whether they declared these investments and transactions to the Income Tax department and other regulatory bodies like RBI any time till now.
They said as and when the department obtains more names, fresh communication of this kind will be sent. There are about 500 Indians named in the list which includes prominent businessmen, film celebrities and those belonging to lucrative professions.
21:03 Desai detained for bid to hold procession to Mahalaxmi temple
Bhoomata Ranragini Brigade leader Trupti Desai and other activists were on Wednesday taken into preventive custody when they tried to proceed towards famous Mahalaxmi temple in Kolhapur in procession allegedly in violation of prohibitory orders.
Desai and other activists organised the 'Vijay' rally to mark "victory" for the cause of women who were recently allowed to enter the sanctum sanctorum of the temple in a major departure from the long-standing tradition.
Desai and other were stopped in Tararani Chowk by police where they had gathered to organise the procession.
The atmosphere around the temple was tense and shops downed shutters as activists of Shiv Sena and other organisations gathered in the area after Desai insisted to take darshan of the deity, clad in salwar kameez instead of sari, the formal dress code suggested by police and priests.
Deputy SP Bharatkumar Rane said police tried to convince Desai against going in procession but she did not budge.
She was taken into preventive custody for maintaining law and order, he said.
21:02 Odd-even: Kejriwal suggests car pooling to avoid problems
The Delhi government on Wednesday conceded that it has not been able to find a solution to the problem of cars going to pick up children after school hours during the odd-even scheme, which it said will be a regular
feature if the second round turns out to be successful.
Speaking at public events in preparation for the fortnight-long road rationing scheme beginning Friday, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal suggested that parents should practice car pooling to avoid problems with the authorities.
In the second round, cars with children in school uniform are exempted from the odd-even scheme. But parents have raised apprehensions over the fate of cars going to pick up children.
"We gave it a lot of thought but no solution could be found. It will cause some problems but vehicles could be shared with neighbours.
"The second phase of odd-even scheme is very important as its first phase was just an experiment. If the second phase is successful, we are mulling implementing it for 15 days every month," he said during an interaction with students in Sarvodaya Balika Vidyala in New Delhi.
20:49
JUST IN: Bomb blast near Assam Rifles transit camp at Khuman Lampak near Imphal. One Assam Rifle jawan dead and one injured, news agency ANI reported.
20:17 Quake hits Indo-Myanmar border, tremors felt in many parts of country
Kolkata metro has been stalled after a major earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale on Wednesday hit areas around the Indo-Myanmar border.
Tremors were felt in the northeast, West Bengal, Bihar and other parts of the country.
There were no immediate reports of damage to property and life.
20:00 Brussels bombings bros got guns, ammo for Paris attacks: IS
Brothers Khalid and Ibrahim El Bakraoui, the suicide bombers who hit Brussels last month, obtained the weapons and explosives for those attacks and for November's carnage in Paris, the Islamic State group said on Wednesday.
The English-language edition of the jihadist group's magazine Dabiq says of Khalid El Bakraoui: "All preparations for the raids in Paris and Brussels started with him and his older brother Ibrahim.
"These two brothers gathered the weapons and the explosives."
If the group's claim is proven, it would mean the brothers played a more prominent role in the Paris attacks than previously thought.
The magazine also says Najim Laachraoui, who blew himself up with Ibrahim El Bakraoui in Brussels' Zaventem airport, had prepared the explosives for the attacks in Brussels and Paris.
Khalid El Bakraoui detonated his explosive suicide vest on a crowded metro train in the attacks which killed a total of 32 people in the Belgian capital.
IS gunmen and bombers killed 130 people in Paris on November 13 in attacks on bars and restaurants, a concert hall and the national stadium.
19:49 Islamic States asks its followers to slaughter Muslim clerics
The Islamic State terror group has issued a list of names of Muslim clerics, calling them "imams of kafir" and asking its followers to kill anyone who disagrees with them -- including Islamic leaders.
In the latest issue of its propaganda magazine Dabiq, the IS, also known as Daesh, has singled out those clerics who criticise them and said the "imams of kafir" (leaders of infidels) should be slaughtered.
Muslim clerics across the world, including India, have condemned the attacks by the IS in Europe, Iraq, Syria and elsewhere, saying being a Muslim was about peace, not violence.
In September last year, nearly 1,000 Muslim clerics in India signed a fatwa against IS and other terror groups, saying they were "not Islamic organisations".
In a chapter called 'Kill the Imams of kafir in the west', the magazine said: "How can Muslims living in the West who claim to have surrendered themselves to Allah, completely accepting His rule alone, stand idly as these imams of kafir continue to spread their poison from atop their pulpits?
"One must either take the journey to dar-al-Islam, joining the ranks of the mujahid or wage jihad by himself with the resources available to him (knives, guns, explosives, etc.) to kill the crusaders and other disbelievers and apostates, including the imams of kafir, to make an example of them, as all of them are valid rather, obligatory targets," the Express newspaper reported, citing the magazine.
19:44
JUST IN: Earthquake with magnitude 7.0 hits Myanmar. Tremors felt in many parts of north and east India.
19:43 Russian fighter jets in extremely close overflights with US destroyer
The USS Donald Cook sailing in the Baltic Sea this week has had two extremely close overflights by unarmed Russian fighter jets, CNN has learned.
Navy officials are not commenting publicly, but inside the Pentagon there is an intense discussion about releasing video and still photos of the Russian encounter to demonstrate the danger the jets posed to the ship, a US official told CNN.
The initial reports indicate the two concerning encounters occurred Tuesday night in international waters. A third overflight, at a more acceptable distance, happened Sunday, according to the source.
Read more HERE.
19:13 Maha to ask Centre for Bharat Ratna to Jyotiba Phule
Maharashtra government will recommend to the central government to confer Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian honour, on 19th century social reformer Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today said.
"The state government will recommend to the Centre that Bharat Ratna be given to Phule," he said in the legislative assembly.
The government will also organise various programmes on the occasion of 125th death anniversary year of the great social reformer, Fadnavis added.
18:47 India tests n-capable missile from Arihant
Nuclear capable ballistic missile K-4 was test-fired from nuclear submarine Arihant, both of which have been indigenously developed, officials said on Wednesday.
According to sources, the test was conducted on March 31 from Arihant in the Bay of Bengal.
The missile was fired from around 20 metres under water, and covered a distance of 700 km before hitting the target.Prior to that, a dummy was also test-fired from a pontoon on March 7, the sources said.
According to sources, the test was conducted on March 31 from Arihant in the Bay of Bengal.
The missile was fired from around 20 metres under water, and covered a distance of 700 km before hitting the target.Prior to that, a dummy was also test-fired from a pontoon on March 7, the sources said.
18:40 The King and I: Retired teacher behind British royals' visit to Bhutan
That Britain's Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are visiting the tiny Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan is in large part thanks to a retired Oxford schoolteacher.
Honorary Consul Michael Rutland calls himself a mere facilitator, but a British diplomat said he had played a crucial role in arranging the royal visit to the country sandwiched between the world's two most populous nations: China and India. Read more
Honorary Consul Michael Rutland calls himself a mere facilitator, but a British diplomat said he had played a crucial role in arranging the royal visit to the country sandwiched between the world's two most populous nations: China and India. Read more
18:21 Why should only IPL suffer, asks Rajeev Shukla after court order
IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla reacts to the Bombay High Court's verdict on the matches being moved out of Maharashtra in May. Shukla said several events take place despite the drought so why should IPL only suffer?
As reports come in that the owners of franchisees will be challenging the ruling, King's XI Punjab owner Ness Wadia said there was indeed a serious water crisis in Maharashtra and the court had taken the right step.
Shukla, meanwhile, said it would not be easy to shift the matches. "Planning was on for six months. Why weren't objections raised then? It's not easy to organise IPL. We are willing to help farmers but shifting the matches is not an answer. We will work on a strategy after we get the order in writing."
Thirteen matches including the IPL final will be moved out of Maharashtra.
The BCCI, on Tuesday, had informed the Bombay high court that recycled sewage water will be used for maintaining pitches for the 17 Indian Premier League matches to be held in Mumbai and Pune.
According to the Mumbai Cricket Association lawyer, who is also representing the BCCI, the treated sewage water will be supplied by the Royal Western India Turf Club which would in turn be helpful in tackling water crisis without using potable water.
Maharashtra has been hit by a severe drought which has led to water shortage in remote areas like Latur and a PIL has been filed in the Bombay high court about the million litres of water required to conduct 20 IPL matches.
As reports come in that the owners of franchisees will be challenging the ruling, King's XI Punjab owner Ness Wadia said there was indeed a serious water crisis in Maharashtra and the court had taken the right step.
Shukla, meanwhile, said it would not be easy to shift the matches. "Planning was on for six months. Why weren't objections raised then? It's not easy to organise IPL. We are willing to help farmers but shifting the matches is not an answer. We will work on a strategy after we get the order in writing."
Thirteen matches including the IPL final will be moved out of Maharashtra.
The BCCI, on Tuesday, had informed the Bombay high court that recycled sewage water will be used for maintaining pitches for the 17 Indian Premier League matches to be held in Mumbai and Pune.
According to the Mumbai Cricket Association lawyer, who is also representing the BCCI, the treated sewage water will be supplied by the Royal Western India Turf Club which would in turn be helpful in tackling water crisis without using potable water.
Maharashtra has been hit by a severe drought which has led to water shortage in remote areas like Latur and a PIL has been filed in the Bombay high court about the million litres of water required to conduct 20 IPL matches.
17:59 Rohith Vemula's family to convert to Buddhism tomorrow: Ambedkar
Just in: Rohith Vemula's family will convert to Buddhism tomorrow, says BR Ambedkar's grandson Prakash Ambedkar. That should put an end to the controversy over whether the student, who committed suicide on January 17, was Dalit. T
The controversy over the caste of the Hyderabad Central University research scholar goes like this: The Telangana police says that on the basis of its investigations his mother belongs to Vaddera community suggesting he is not a Dalit.
In an internal communication titled "submission of instructions' to Government Pleader (GP), Home, High Court, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Madhapur Division, Cyberabad Police M Ramana Kumar said as per the statement of Rohith's father Vemula Naga Mani Kumar, the scholar's mother Vemula Radhika belongs to a Backward Classes community Vaddera and not Scheduled Caste (SC).
The controversy over the caste of the Hyderabad Central University research scholar goes like this: The Telangana police says that on the basis of its investigations his mother belongs to Vaddera community suggesting he is not a Dalit.
In an internal communication titled "submission of instructions' to Government Pleader (GP), Home, High Court, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Madhapur Division, Cyberabad Police M Ramana Kumar said as per the statement of Rohith's father Vemula Naga Mani Kumar, the scholar's mother Vemula Radhika belongs to a Backward Classes community Vaddera and not Scheduled Caste (SC).
17:33
The CBI to send Letters Rogatory to Singapore, Hong Kong and the US in connection with the Sheena Bora murder case.
17:27 Jewellers call of 42-day strike
Just in: Jewellers temporarily call off their 42-day strike after govt's assurance that there will be no harassment by excise officials.
17:24 IPL verdict: All matches after April 30 moves out of Maharashtra
The Bombay HC allows matches in Maharashtra till April 30. All matches after that will be shifted outside Maharashtra. This means a total of six matches will be held in Maharashtra -- three in Mumbai and as many in Pune. Thirteen matches will be moved out of the state.
17:21 Shift all matches after April 30 out of Maharashtra, HC tells BCCI
Just in: Bombay HC ruling on the fate of the IPL matches has asked the BCCI to shift all matches after April 30 out of Maharashtra. Twelve IPL matches will be shifted out of the state. The court will also be monitoring the water promised to Latur by the BCCI. The BCCI promised 40 lakh litres of water.
17:18 Court can't shut eyes to plight of millions
The State Govt files an affidavit and says they have no objection if the matches are shifted out of the state but on the other shifting matches will not solve the problem. Court can't close eyes from the plight of millions.
16:46
The court has in successive hearings flayed both the Maharashtra government and the organisers, the Board of
Control for Cricket in India or BCCI, for choosing money and sport over ordinary people. The judges have asked how water can be squandered
on preparing pitches for games at a time when there is hardly any water
for either farmers in villages or for the residents of the three venues
-- Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur.
16:45 Bombay HC dictating IPL order
Just in: The Bombay High Court is now dictating the order on whether the upcoming IPL matches will be held in Maharashtra. The fate of 19 IPL matches hang in balance. So far the teams and the BCCI have offered money and water to drought-hit Latur as make good for the matches not to be moved out of the state.
16:40 IPL vs drought: BCCI, Pune and Mumbai teams to donate Rs 5 cr each to CM's fund
With Maharashtra facing the worst drought in three decades, the Bombay High Court is hearing a PIL filed by the NGO Loksatta Movement which wants the matches moved out of the state. A series of offers were made today to prevent IPL matches from being moved out of Maharashtra. The court order is expected at 4:30 pm.
Today, the Pune and Mumbai IPL teams said they were willing to donate Rs 5 crore each to the CM's drought relief fund. The BCCI said it will match the amount. The BCCI also said it would supply 40 lakh litres to Latur, but it would be difficult to move the IPL matches out of the state.
-- During the hearing, the petitioner's lawyer said that arguments by the franchise's lawyer said that they may suffer financial losses. The petitioner's lawyer asked, "can money be a substitute for water? In 2009 also, IPL was shifted to South Africa. Shifting IPL matches was not an answer.
-- BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur asks, "How many swimming pools of 5-star hotels have been shut? Have people stopped watering their lawns?"
-- Pune franchise says that cricket is a religion in India and people are willing to forsake it to watch IPL matches.
-- The government says there is nothing wrong in playing sports as long as there is no misuse of water.
Today, the Pune and Mumbai IPL teams said they were willing to donate Rs 5 crore each to the CM's drought relief fund. The BCCI said it will match the amount. The BCCI also said it would supply 40 lakh litres to Latur, but it would be difficult to move the IPL matches out of the state.
-- During the hearing, the petitioner's lawyer said that arguments by the franchise's lawyer said that they may suffer financial losses. The petitioner's lawyer asked, "can money be a substitute for water? In 2009 also, IPL was shifted to South Africa. Shifting IPL matches was not an answer.
-- BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur asks, "How many swimming pools of 5-star hotels have been shut? Have people stopped watering their lawns?"
-- Pune franchise says that cricket is a religion in India and people are willing to forsake it to watch IPL matches.
-- The government says there is nothing wrong in playing sports as long as there is no misuse of water.
16:31
Nicolas Sarkozy, former French President and now Leader of Opposition, met foreign minister Sushma Swaraj today and will meet the PM later in the day.
15:57 NIT students protest in Delhi, demand shifting of campus from Srinagar
A group of NIT students today staged a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi demanding their campus be moved from Srinagar after clashes in the institute between local and outstation students.
The students, who held a protest in Jammu yesterday, gathered at Jantar Mantar this morning to raise their demands.
"We want the HRD ministry to pay attention to our demand of shifting the campus out of Srinagar and accountability to be fixed for the police action on students," a protesting student said.
Another student said, "We had raised our demands with the HRD officials who had visited the campus but they have been turned down. We also want withdrawal of all cases against non Kashmiri students of NIT and full security to them".
The students, who held a protest in Jammu yesterday, gathered at Jantar Mantar this morning to raise their demands.
"We want the HRD ministry to pay attention to our demand of shifting the campus out of Srinagar and accountability to be fixed for the police action on students," a protesting student said.
Another student said, "We had raised our demands with the HRD officials who had visited the campus but they have been turned down. We also want withdrawal of all cases against non Kashmiri students of NIT and full security to them".
15:50 Kate's awww moment
A baby rhino gives Katherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, a runaround at the Kaziranga National Park in Guwahati, where the royals spent the better part of the morning today. This is the fourth day of their four-day visit to India. Pic: Reuters/Adnan Abidi.
15:40 Handwara: Army will bear expenses of injured
The northern army commander, Lt Gen DS Hooda accompanied by Chinar corps commander, Lt Gen Satish Dua today visited the Handwara area and interacted with officers and soldiers regarding the incident in which three civilians were killed when protesters tried to storm an army post.
Terming the incident as "highly regrettable', the army commander has asked for an early completion of the inquiry, already ordered, the statement said.
"The Army has also offered to take care of the expenses for hospital care and subsequent rehabilitation of those injured in the incident," the statement added.
Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar/Rediff.com.
Pic: Mourners accompany the coffin of Raja Begum, 55, who succumbed to her injuries when security personnel clashed with locals in Handwara yesterday. Photo: Umar Ganie
Terming the incident as "highly regrettable', the army commander has asked for an early completion of the inquiry, already ordered, the statement said.
"The Army has also offered to take care of the expenses for hospital care and subsequent rehabilitation of those injured in the incident," the statement added.
Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar/Rediff.com.
Pic: Mourners accompany the coffin of Raja Begum, 55, who succumbed to her injuries when security personnel clashed with locals in Handwara yesterday. Photo: Umar Ganie
15:25 A Hindu is a Hindu, why should women be denied entry, SC asks Sabarimala temple
The Supreme Court hearing hearing a petition filed by the Indian Young Lawyers Association and five women lawyers seeking a direction to allow the entry of women in the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple without age restriction made more observations today.
The court said, "In Hindu religion there is no denomination of a Hindu male or female. A Hindu is a Hindu. If a given denomination is allowed entry inside temple, should women be denied entry?"
Women in the age group of 10-50 are not allowed entry.
On Monday, the court observed, "God is everywhere but if a woman finds her faith in a temple idol, how can tradition stand in the way of her right to worship?"
Any god or goddess can be worshipped anywhere by anyone. The power is all around us, omniscient. But you have structured god into an idol. Women want to come to your temple and worship him there ... Why dont you allow them, Justice Dipak Misra asked the Sabarimala temple authorities on Monday.
The court said, "In Hindu religion there is no denomination of a Hindu male or female. A Hindu is a Hindu. If a given denomination is allowed entry inside temple, should women be denied entry?"
Women in the age group of 10-50 are not allowed entry.
On Monday, the court observed, "God is everywhere but if a woman finds her faith in a temple idol, how can tradition stand in the way of her right to worship?"
Any god or goddess can be worshipped anywhere by anyone. The power is all around us, omniscient. But you have structured god into an idol. Women want to come to your temple and worship him there ... Why dont you allow them, Justice Dipak Misra asked the Sabarimala temple authorities on Monday.
15:14
The British Army which employs a number of Sikhs tweets this Baisakhi message: @BritishArmy #HappyVaisakhi to our Sikh troops and all those celebrating today.
14:52 Pak orders air strikes on gangsters
Security forces carrying out a joint operation in the riverine area of Rajanpur in Pakistan got a final nod on Tuesday for air strikes to hit the gangsters hiding in a 10km-long piece of tract surrounded by water. Read what the Dawn has to say.
14:49 'Lady of the Harley' Veenu Paliwal cremated
The mortal remains of woman biker Veenu Paliwal, who died in a road accident in Madhya Pradesh's Vidisha, were today consigned to flames in Jaipur.
Known as "Lady of the Harley", 30-year-old Paliwal was on a motorcycle trip from Kashmir to Kanyakumari with her companion Dipesh Tanwar when the mishap happened on Monday near Gyaraspur town in Vidisha district. After primary treatment at Gyaraspur, she was moved to Vidisha for treatment where she succumbed to injuries.
Known as "Lady of the Harley", 30-year-old Paliwal was on a motorcycle trip from Kashmir to Kanyakumari with her companion Dipesh Tanwar when the mishap happened on Monday near Gyaraspur town in Vidisha district. After primary treatment at Gyaraspur, she was moved to Vidisha for treatment where she succumbed to injuries.
14:33
Supreme Court agrees to hear petition seeking fresh case against BSP chief Mayawati in a corruption case.
14:31 ED wants Mallya's passport revoked after he ignores 3 summons
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday requested the Delhi passport office to revoke businessman Vijay Mallya's passport after he failed to appear before the agency last week in a Rs 900 core money laundering case connected with a IDBI bank loan.
The ED had summoned Mallya for the third time to record his statement in the case on April 9, but he failed to appear before it.
Mallya had communicated to the ED via email asking them to exempt him from personal appearance till May end, citing his ongoing court cases and his negotiation with banks. But ED refused to consider his request.
The ED is also mulling to approach a court to issue arrest warrant against Mallya.
Recently, a consortium of 17 banks (including IDBI), led by the State Bank of India, approached the Supreme Court against Mallya who owes more than Rs 9,000 crores to them.
Pic: Vijay Mallya hugs Rajasthan Royals co-owner Shilpa Shetty at an IPL Nights after-party in Bangalore in 2010.
The ED had summoned Mallya for the third time to record his statement in the case on April 9, but he failed to appear before it.
Mallya had communicated to the ED via email asking them to exempt him from personal appearance till May end, citing his ongoing court cases and his negotiation with banks. But ED refused to consider his request.
The ED is also mulling to approach a court to issue arrest warrant against Mallya.
Recently, a consortium of 17 banks (including IDBI), led by the State Bank of India, approached the Supreme Court against Mallya who owes more than Rs 9,000 crores to them.
Pic: Vijay Mallya hugs Rajasthan Royals co-owner Shilpa Shetty at an IPL Nights after-party in Bangalore in 2010.
14:19
Two more persons identified as Rizwaan and Tanzeem arrested in connection with the killing of NIA officer Tanzil Ahmad: police.
14:08 NDTVs Battleground Assam: wrong on history and facts
Prannoy Roy classifies all Muslims in Assam as migrants and Ahoms as Assamese but the earliest Muslim settlers came before the Ahoms did, writes The Hoot. Read
14:00 A Higher Calling
The story of a young climber who made history by free-climbing 4,600ft of rock face on the highest battlefield on earth. Take a look.
13:57 Rediffs Uttam Ghosh wins Maya Kamath award for political cartoon
Its a proud moment when ones colleagues win awards for their work. And Rediff.com designer/illustrator Uttam Ghosh, whose incisive cartoons feature regularly on Rediff.com as Uttams Take, has just won the Maya Kamath Memorial Award for excellence in political cartooning 2015 under the Special Jury Appreciation category, ranking 2nd.
The awards were set up in memory of Indias first woman political cartoonist who passed away in 2001 after a brief but valiant fight with cancer. She was 50 years old, and her cartoons had put a smile on the faces of readers of various publications, from the Deccan Herald to the Indian Express, the Times of India (Bangalore), the Independent, Mid Day, Free Press Journal, among others.
Her family instituted the awards in her memory, to recognise young cartoonists, and is organised by the Bangalore-based Indian Institute of Cartoonists.
You can see Uttams award winning cartoon here and the works by other award winners here.
The awards were set up in memory of Indias first woman political cartoonist who passed away in 2001 after a brief but valiant fight with cancer. She was 50 years old, and her cartoons had put a smile on the faces of readers of various publications, from the Deccan Herald to the Indian Express, the Times of India (Bangalore), the Independent, Mid Day, Free Press Journal, among others.
Her family instituted the awards in her memory, to recognise young cartoonists, and is organised by the Bangalore-based Indian Institute of Cartoonists.
You can see Uttams award winning cartoon here and the works by other award winners here.
13:40
India's acting High Commissioner to Pakistan, JP Singh, met DG South Asia, Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and asked Pakistan to release and return Kripal Singh's body to his kin.
13:33 Kirpal Singh died of a heart attack, says Pak as India asks for body
Pakistan today informed India that Indian inmate Kirpal Singh died of a heart attack at a jail in Lahore two days ago after the issue of his mysterious death was taken up with the Pakistani authorities. The Indian government is awaiting further details in the case.
India's Acting High Commissioner J P Singh met Director General (South Asia) in Pakistan Foreign Ministry in Islamabad following a directive from the Indian government in connection with death of Kirpal Singh, who was languishing for nearly 25 years in jail in connection with a serial blasts case there.
"According to government of Pakistan, Shri Kirpal Singh died on April 11 at 1455 hours due to heart attack. We await further details," Spokesperson in the External Affairs Ministry Vikas Swarup said.
He said India's Acting High Commissioner has also requested the Pakistan Foreign Ministry official for earliest possible repatriation of mortal remains of Kirpal Singh.
50-year-old Kirpal was languishing in a Pakistani jail for nearly 25 years on spying charges. He had allegedly crossed over to Pakistan through Wagah border in 1992 and was arrested. He was subsequently sentenced to death in a serial bomb blasts case in Pakistan's Punjab province.
Kirpal, who hailed from Gurdaspur, was reportedly acquitted of charges related to bomb blasts by the Lahore High Court but his death sentence could not be commuted due to unknown reasons.
Jagir Kaur, Kirpal's sister, earlier said the family could not raise their voice for his release due to financial constraints and no politician came forward to plead his case.
The government asked India's acting envoy to seek a meeting with the Pakistan Foreign Office in connection with Kirpal's death under mysterious circumstances and seek early transfer of the mortal remains.
"On Kirpal Singh, our acting high commissioner in Islamabad has been instructed to seek a meeting at the highest possible level in Pakistan Foreign Office this forenoon to seek early transportation of Singh's mortal remains," Swarup said earlier.
Pic: Kirpal Singh's sister with his photograph
India's Acting High Commissioner J P Singh met Director General (South Asia) in Pakistan Foreign Ministry in Islamabad following a directive from the Indian government in connection with death of Kirpal Singh, who was languishing for nearly 25 years in jail in connection with a serial blasts case there.
"According to government of Pakistan, Shri Kirpal Singh died on April 11 at 1455 hours due to heart attack. We await further details," Spokesperson in the External Affairs Ministry Vikas Swarup said.
He said India's Acting High Commissioner has also requested the Pakistan Foreign Ministry official for earliest possible repatriation of mortal remains of Kirpal Singh.
50-year-old Kirpal was languishing in a Pakistani jail for nearly 25 years on spying charges. He had allegedly crossed over to Pakistan through Wagah border in 1992 and was arrested. He was subsequently sentenced to death in a serial bomb blasts case in Pakistan's Punjab province.
Kirpal, who hailed from Gurdaspur, was reportedly acquitted of charges related to bomb blasts by the Lahore High Court but his death sentence could not be commuted due to unknown reasons.
Jagir Kaur, Kirpal's sister, earlier said the family could not raise their voice for his release due to financial constraints and no politician came forward to plead his case.
The government asked India's acting envoy to seek a meeting with the Pakistan Foreign Office in connection with Kirpal's death under mysterious circumstances and seek early transfer of the mortal remains.
"On Kirpal Singh, our acting high commissioner in Islamabad has been instructed to seek a meeting at the highest possible level in Pakistan Foreign Office this forenoon to seek early transportation of Singh's mortal remains," Swarup said earlier.
Pic: Kirpal Singh's sister with his photograph
13:19 Dear Smriti Irani...
In the interest of education, please withdraw your B-School rankings. Please withdraw the rankings and save India.
Former president and publisher of the Outlook group and founder of Careers360 magazine, Maheshwer Peri's open letter to Union HRD minister Smriti Irani on the recently released rankings of Indian universities and B-Schools prepared by the Ministry of Human Resource Development. Read
Former president and publisher of the Outlook group and founder of Careers360 magazine, Maheshwer Peri's open letter to Union HRD minister Smriti Irani on the recently released rankings of Indian universities and B-Schools prepared by the Ministry of Human Resource Development. Read
13:05 Is Amit Shah doing a KRA for ministers?
Union ministers have begun to feel jittery at the likelihood of an imminent Cabinet reshuffle in mid May. And of course, the excitement from MPs who will figure in the new list is palpable.
The Prime Minister's Office has also prepared a detailed backgrounder about each member in the Union Council of Ministers.
The backgrounder is like a typical examination answer sheet which has eight to 10 categories, said a senior official who is coordinating the exercise with the PMO.
The fact that there promises to be a Cabinet reshuffle is apparent from the flurry of activities between BJP president Amit Shah, who has been seen carrying thick files to the PM's residence at 7 Race Course Road.
Which names will be dropped and which included in the Council of Ministers are known to two people -- Amit Shah and of course, the PM. Nobody else has been kept in the loop.
The one tiny bit of information that has trickled out that is that Shah has made a tabular column which indicates that ministers are being graded for performance and also whether they have what it requires to win the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. This is on the lines of a KRA.
As New Delhi gears up for a searing summer, political circles are experiencing the heat of expansion in government as well as organisational changes in the BJP.
Both reshuffles are likely between May 10 and May 30. Modi completes two years in office on May 26.
The Prime Minister's Office has also prepared a detailed backgrounder about each member in the Union Council of Ministers.
The backgrounder is like a typical examination answer sheet which has eight to 10 categories, said a senior official who is coordinating the exercise with the PMO.
The fact that there promises to be a Cabinet reshuffle is apparent from the flurry of activities between BJP president Amit Shah, who has been seen carrying thick files to the PM's residence at 7 Race Course Road.
Which names will be dropped and which included in the Council of Ministers are known to two people -- Amit Shah and of course, the PM. Nobody else has been kept in the loop.
The one tiny bit of information that has trickled out that is that Shah has made a tabular column which indicates that ministers are being graded for performance and also whether they have what it requires to win the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. This is on the lines of a KRA.
As New Delhi gears up for a searing summer, political circles are experiencing the heat of expansion in government as well as organisational changes in the BJP.
Both reshuffles are likely between May 10 and May 30. Modi completes two years in office on May 26.
12:17 NIA officer Tanzil Ahmed's wife succumbs to injuries
Farzana Ahmed, the wife of NIA officer. Tanzil Ahmed has succumbed to her injuries. Tanzil Ahmed, probing terror cases related to the Indian Mujahideen, was shot dead on April 3 by two unidentified motorcycle-borne assailants who also wounded his wife when they were returning home from a wedding near Uttar Pradesh's Bijnor district.
Farzana was referred to AIIMS trauma centre from Noida's Fortis Hospital on Monday evening where she has been kept in ICU. Doctors in AIIMS have put Farzana on ventilator.
The Uttar Pradesh claimed to have solved the murder case by arresting two persons and contended that domestic dispute was the motive behind the crime.
Among the two arrested is nephew of Ahmed's brother-in-law Rehan, Inspector General of Police (Bareilly Zone) Vijay Kumar Meena told a press conference in Bijnor.
Farzana was referred to AIIMS trauma centre from Noida's Fortis Hospital on Monday evening where she has been kept in ICU. Doctors in AIIMS have put Farzana on ventilator.
The Uttar Pradesh claimed to have solved the murder case by arresting two persons and contended that domestic dispute was the motive behind the crime.
Among the two arrested is nephew of Ahmed's brother-in-law Rehan, Inspector General of Police (Bareilly Zone) Vijay Kumar Meena told a press conference in Bijnor.
12:11 Can you bring back Pratyusha, asks her boyfriend
Rahul Raj Singh, accused of abetting TV star Pratyusha Banerjee's suicide, arrives at a Mumbai police station after he was released on interim bail yesterday. He will have to visit the Bangur Nagar Police Station every day between 11 am and 1 pm.
Rahul spoke to press outside the police station and asked,"Can you bring back Pratyusha?", a plea to end the media trial.
Rahul spoke to press outside the police station and asked,"Can you bring back Pratyusha?", a plea to end the media trial.
12:02 In Bihar, RJD MLA's sister is sexually assaulted, succumbs to injuries
The sister of Rashtriya Janata Dal MLA from Bhojpur district Saroj Yadav, succumbed to her injuries which she sustained while resisting sexual assault on Monday night. Shaili Devi was being treated in Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences in Patna.
Shaili (40) took a shared auto-rickshaw from Keshavpur when some youths boarded the vehicle on the way and started misbehaving with her. When she resisted, one of the men attacked her with an iron rod and later threw her out of the vehicle after badly assaulting her.
She was hit on her head. Some local residents spotted her and rushed her to hospital in a critical condition. Shaili died yesterday during treatment. The FIR lodged with the Chandi police station lists five people as accused, of which the identity of three is not known.
The MLA blamed the police for the rising crime and criticised the state government, saying when the sister of an MLA is not safe, how will the common man feel themselves safe. After the incident, a large number of supporters of the MLA from Barhara blocked the Patna-Ara road and disrupted traffic for about four hours.
Shaili (40) took a shared auto-rickshaw from Keshavpur when some youths boarded the vehicle on the way and started misbehaving with her. When she resisted, one of the men attacked her with an iron rod and later threw her out of the vehicle after badly assaulting her.
She was hit on her head. Some local residents spotted her and rushed her to hospital in a critical condition. Shaili died yesterday during treatment. The FIR lodged with the Chandi police station lists five people as accused, of which the identity of three is not known.
The MLA blamed the police for the rising crime and criticised the state government, saying when the sister of an MLA is not safe, how will the common man feel themselves safe. After the incident, a large number of supporters of the MLA from Barhara blocked the Patna-Ara road and disrupted traffic for about four hours.
11:56 Army releases video of girl saying she was harassed by a local, not soldier
Handwara update: The army says it has not filmed the video, in which the girl says she was harassed by a local, but does not talk about molestation by any soldier.
The girl's statement was recorded on a mobile phone when she was reportedly taken by the police during the protests, reports NDTV.
As allegations that the girl had been molested by an army man circulated, protests broke out in Handwara, around 70 km from Srinagar.
The police say security forces opened fire when some 500 protesters surrounded an army post, started throwing stones and tried to burn it down.
Naeem Bhatt, a promising cricketer who had participated in under-19 camps, 70-year-old Raja Begum and Mohammad Iqbal were killed.
The army has regretted the firing but cites the video as proof that there was an "intention to malign" the force.
Defence ministry spokesperson Lt Colonel NN Joshi said: "A video which surfaced is the statement of the girl and that shows there was no molestation."
The spokesperson said the army had not filmed but only released the video and it would investigate whether Standard Operating Procedures were followed.
Pic: Protesters throw stones at an army picket as news of the girl's alleged molestation by army personnel spread in the town. Photo: Umar Ganie.
The girl's statement was recorded on a mobile phone when she was reportedly taken by the police during the protests, reports NDTV.
As allegations that the girl had been molested by an army man circulated, protests broke out in Handwara, around 70 km from Srinagar.
The police say security forces opened fire when some 500 protesters surrounded an army post, started throwing stones and tried to burn it down.
Naeem Bhatt, a promising cricketer who had participated in under-19 camps, 70-year-old Raja Begum and Mohammad Iqbal were killed.
The army has regretted the firing but cites the video as proof that there was an "intention to malign" the force.
Defence ministry spokesperson Lt Colonel NN Joshi said: "A video which surfaced is the statement of the girl and that shows there was no molestation."
The spokesperson said the army had not filmed but only released the video and it would investigate whether Standard Operating Procedures were followed.
Pic: Protesters throw stones at an army picket as news of the girl's alleged molestation by army personnel spread in the town. Photo: Umar Ganie.
11:35 Bewildered by US policy on Pak, oppose sale of F16s: Robert Blackwill
Opposing the sale of F-16s by the United States to Pakistan, former US ambassador to India Robert Blackwill on Tuesday said his country's policy towards Pakistan is a "dramatic example of the failure of American foreign policy'.
Blackwill's comments to the Indian Express assume significance in the wake of US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter's ongoing visit to India, even as Washington is going ahead with the sale of F-16s to Pakistan despite New Delhi's objections. Carter has justified the sale of the F-16 aircraft, saying they are being supplied to Pakistan for counter-terrorism operations.
Blackwill's comments to the Indian Express assume significance in the wake of US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter's ongoing visit to India, even as Washington is going ahead with the sale of F-16s to Pakistan despite New Delhi's objections. Carter has justified the sale of the F-16 aircraft, saying they are being supplied to Pakistan for counter-terrorism operations.
11:27 Pak army chief goes hawkish on India ties
The remarks by Pakistan's army chief Gen. Raheel Sharif on Tuesday, accusing the Indian government of supporting subversive activities to destabilize that country and to undermine the $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), projects sound ominous (Dawn)It is one thing for the Pakistani media to carry reports of this kind from time to time, but it is an entirely different thing that the army chief voices the allegation.
Read MK Bhadrakumar's blog here.
Read MK Bhadrakumar's blog here.
11:22 Mehbooba meets Parrikar, raises Handwara firing issue
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today raised the issue of the Handwara firing in which two civilians were killed with Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar who assured her that a probe will be initiated and the culprits will be punished.
Mehbooba, who is on her maiden visit to the national capital after assuming the post of chief minister, met Parrikar and Union Urban Development Minister Venakiah Naidu.
Describing the incident as "very unfortunate", the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister said "I spoke to Defence Minister. He assured me that a probe will be initiated and the culprits will be punished. "At the same time the family will be compensated. Such incidents should not happen in the future," she said after meeting Parrikar.
Two youth, including a budding cricketer, were killed in Handwara when Army opened fire to disperse a stone-pelting mob targetting their bunker. The incident took place after reports surfaced that some army personnel had allegedly molested a girl returning from school.
However, police investigations have so far indicated that no such incident had taken place and it was an attempt by some miscreants to create disturbance for removing an army bunker located within Handwara town, sources said.
Army has ordered an inquiry while the Jammu and Kashmir Police registered a criminal case and begun investigations into the incident which triggered more protests in Handwara and had an echo in Srinagar and Pulwama districts of Kashmir as well.
Mehbooba, who is on her maiden visit to the national capital after assuming the post of chief minister, met Parrikar and Union Urban Development Minister Venakiah Naidu.
Describing the incident as "very unfortunate", the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister said "I spoke to Defence Minister. He assured me that a probe will be initiated and the culprits will be punished. "At the same time the family will be compensated. Such incidents should not happen in the future," she said after meeting Parrikar.
Two youth, including a budding cricketer, were killed in Handwara when Army opened fire to disperse a stone-pelting mob targetting their bunker. The incident took place after reports surfaced that some army personnel had allegedly molested a girl returning from school.
However, police investigations have so far indicated that no such incident had taken place and it was an attempt by some miscreants to create disturbance for removing an army bunker located within Handwara town, sources said.
Army has ordered an inquiry while the Jammu and Kashmir Police registered a criminal case and begun investigations into the incident which triggered more protests in Handwara and had an echo in Srinagar and Pulwama districts of Kashmir as well.
11:11 Toll in Handwara firing goes up to three, CM promises action
Another person has died in north Kashmir's Handwara town in Kupwara district when security forces allegedly opened fire to disperse protesters.
This takes the toll to three. Naeem Bhatt, a promising cricketer who had participated in under-19 camps, was among those shot. He died in hospital. Another man, Mohammad Iqbal, and an elderly woman, Raja Begum, were also killed.
Protests erupted following allegations that a girl student, on her way home, was molested by a soldier posted in an army picket in the town. Tension gripped the district after youth joined the protesters and started pelting stones at police and army troops.
Inspector general of police, Kashmir zone, Syed Javaid Mujtaba Gillani told Mukhtar Ahmad/Rediff.com confirmed the incidents of stone throwing.
The Army in statement said that the incident would be investigated and the guilty will not be spared. "The army deeply regrets the unfortunate loss of life. Matter will be investigated and anybody found guilty will be dealt with as per the law," said the statement. Heavy police reinforcements have been dispatched to Handwara to avoid any untoward incident.
J-K CM Mehbooba Mufti said, "Such tragic incidents have a huge negative impact on the efforts of the government and political leadership in bringing peace to state." The Chief Minister has called for exemplary punishment for those who fired at the protesters.
Image: Clashes broke out between army and protesters in Srinagar. Photograph: Umar Ganie
This takes the toll to three. Naeem Bhatt, a promising cricketer who had participated in under-19 camps, was among those shot. He died in hospital. Another man, Mohammad Iqbal, and an elderly woman, Raja Begum, were also killed.
Protests erupted following allegations that a girl student, on her way home, was molested by a soldier posted in an army picket in the town. Tension gripped the district after youth joined the protesters and started pelting stones at police and army troops.
Inspector general of police, Kashmir zone, Syed Javaid Mujtaba Gillani told Mukhtar Ahmad/Rediff.com confirmed the incidents of stone throwing.
The Army in statement said that the incident would be investigated and the guilty will not be spared. "The army deeply regrets the unfortunate loss of life. Matter will be investigated and anybody found guilty will be dealt with as per the law," said the statement. Heavy police reinforcements have been dispatched to Handwara to avoid any untoward incident.
J-K CM Mehbooba Mufti said, "Such tragic incidents have a huge negative impact on the efforts of the government and political leadership in bringing peace to state." The Chief Minister has called for exemplary punishment for those who fired at the protesters.
Image: Clashes broke out between army and protesters in Srinagar. Photograph: Umar Ganie
10:55
Foreign minister Sushma Swaraj always quick to reach out to those asking for help: '@ravi_journalist asks: "I am Pranav Shandilya's brother,student who died in Ukraine,want to know when his body reaches Delhi. My no 98*******1."
Swaraj responds: @SushmaSwaraj 12h12 hours agoSushma Swaraj Retweeted Ravi SharmaRavi - Our Embassy has spoken to your brother Mukul Sharma. We r expediting the process. My heartfelt condolences.
Swaraj responds: @SushmaSwaraj 12h12 hours agoSushma Swaraj Retweeted Ravi SharmaRavi - Our Embassy has spoken to your brother Mukul Sharma. We r expediting the process. My heartfelt condolences.
10:50 Normal monsoon forecast sends Sensex to over 3-month high
The BSE Sensex jumped over 400 points, while the Nifty50 index surged above the key 7,800 levels for the first time since January 6 on Wednesday. Traders attributed the gains in stock markets to a spate of positive economic data points released by the government yesterday.
10:38 A peek at Betty and Veronica's new look
Archie Comics has been in the midst of a wave of reboots in the past year or so. Archie and Jughead have both received sleek, modernized, acclaimed relaunches.
Last spring, the publisher announced plans to also tackle Betty & Veronica as part of a controversial and canceled Kickstarter campaign, and now the relaunch is finally happening.
The stakes in the first storyline are high, according to an official announcement given exclusively to Vulture: "Pops' Chocklit Shoppe is being taken over by a huge coffee company," it reads. "When Betty and Veronica go head-to-head over the issue, all bets are off! Friendships will shatter. Cities will burn. Nails will be broken."
10:32 India seeks info on cause of Kirpal Singh's death from Pak
India has asked its acting high commissioner in Islamabad to seek a meeting with the Pakistan foreign office in connection with the death of Kirpal Singh, an Indian in a jail there, the ministry of External Affairs has said.
The acting high commissioner will also seek information on the cause of the death of Singh.
Meanwhile, the sister of Sarabjit Singh, another Indian prisoner who died in 2013 in a Pakistani jail, alleged that whatever happened with Sarabjit, the same has happened with Kirpal under a conspiracy.
"I had been saying since 2005 that Indian prisoners in Pakistan jails should be kept away from Pak prisoners, said Dalbir Kaur, Sarabjit's sister.S
She was comforting Kirpal's sister Jagir Kaur as they met in Gurdaspur.
10:31 Both accused in Delhi's Metro heist held
Two persons have been arrested in connection with the Rs 12 lakh heist at a metro station here. One of the accused is believed to be a former metro staffer, a senior police official said today. They were arrested in a late night operation.
On early Monday morning, two men had stormed inside the control room at Rajendra Place station on Delhi Metro's blue line, stabbed the station controller and made away with station earnings of around Rs 12 lakh.
10:12 2nd poster of Tendulkar`s biopic out
After giving a delightful surprise with the first poster of Sachin Tendulkar's biopic, the second poster of the flick has been released.The latest poster has a father and a son donning the famous jersey number 10 with Tendulkar written on it.
"Three generations. One hero," says the poster.The 42-year-old cricketer's biopic is titled ' Sachin: A Billion Dreams.
'Cricketer Harbhajan Singh shared the poster on his Twitter handle and along with it he wrote, "Here's the film poster of the greatest son of India @sachin_rt's @SachinTheFilm."
Actor Ranveer Singh also shared the poster of the flick with the caption, "Witnessed His Greatness As a Child As a Boy and As a Man Whata privilege 2 hav lived in 'The Sachin Era'!"
09:49 Another water train gears to quench parched Latur
After Latur received relief in the form of railway wagons loaded with water on Monday, another train consisting of 50 wagons is getting ready to transport potable water to the parched area in the Marathawada region.
A senior Railway Ministry official said the first train of 10 wagons carrying five lakh litres of water reached Latur yesterday and that another train is getting steam cleaned at Kota and it will be pressed into service soon.
Railways would make available a third rake, if required, for supplying water in Maharashtra as it is committed to continuing water transportation to the parched areas.
The water train service is likely to continue till the arrival of monsoon.Ten railway wagons with five lakh liters of water which left from Miraj Junction railway station yesterday.
09:46 Heat wave In Odisha claims 24 lives
With most parts of Odisha burning from the unrelenting heat wave, almost 24 people have lost their lives due to sunstroke in the region. Yesterday, the day temperature hovered over 40 degrees Celsius at 19 places in the State.
Titilagarh town recorded the highest temperature with 44.5 degree Celsius while comparing to Monday's temperature, yesterday the mercury level in the State capital decreased by almost 3 degree Celsius to settle at 42.9 degree.
Meanwhile, the state government has announced closure of grievance cells at the offices of the chief minister, district collectors and superintendents of police in view of the intense heat wave.
09:37 Amit Shah to introduce BJP candidates for TN assembly polls today
Bharatiya Janata Party chief Amit Shah will introduce party candidates for the Tamil Nadu Assembly polls in a public rally in Tiruchirappalli today.
Union Minister of State for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Pon Radhakrishnan, BJP state president Dr Thamisai Soundrarajan, senior leaders Muralidhar Rao, H Raja will also be present at the event.
Meanwhile, AIADMK general secretary and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa will campaign for her party candidates in Dharmapuri today.
She will also introduce party candidates contesting in 11 constituencies in Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts.
09:24 US supports India's rise as capable actor in region: Official
The US supports India's rise as a capable actor in the region and deepening bilateral defence cooperation is a part of it, an Obama administration official said today.
"Our defence cooperation with India, as you know, is strong. It's a leading pillar of our broad relationship," State Department Deputy Spokesman Mark Toner told reporters.
"We support India's rise as a capable actor in the region, and part of that is deepening our defence cooperation," Toner said. His comments came as its Defence Secretary Ashton Carter concluded his India visit.
"We support positive, peaceful, stable relations with all countries in the region, and that includes India and China. There's no zero-sum," he said.
09:03 SC to hear plea against restricting women's entry in Sabarimala today
The Supreme Court on Wednesday will hear a plea against restricting women's entry in Kerala's Sabarimala temple.
The apex court had earlier sought to examine previous judgments on entry of women in religious places, while underlining that any religious practice banning their entry will have to necessarily pass the test of constitutionality.
The court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation filed by the 'Indian Young Lawyers' Association', seeking entry of women in the Sabarimala temple.The hearing came close on the heels of the Bombay high court order directing Maharashtra Government to ensure that women are not denied entry at any temple.
Defending the ban, the Sabarimala temple administration earlier said the tradition is connected to essential religious practice.
09:02 Modi salutes martyrs of Jallianwala Bagh massacre
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday paid tribute to the martyrs who lost their lives in the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and said that their sacrifice and courage can never be forgotten.
"Saluting all the martyrs who lost their lives in the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Their sacrifice & courage can never be forgotten," the prime minister tweeted.
The Jallianwala Bagh massacre, took place on 13 April 1919 when a crowd of nonviolent protesters, along with Baishakhi pilgrims, who had gathered in Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar in Punjab, were fired upon by troops of the British Indian Army under the command of Colonel Reginald Dyer.
Some historians consider the episode a decisive step towards the end of British rule in India.
08:59
Owner of a missing bull 'Badshah' has announced a reward of Rs 50,000 to anyone with credible information about his animal.
Manoj Pandey, owner of the missing bull has filed a missing report in Sarnath police station of Varanasi.
"Feels like I've lost my child.Badshah hs been with us since its birth.Don't have words to express my pain," said Pandey
08:43 Donald Trump faces voters with his family in New York
Donald Trump said Tuesday night that the political system is "stacked against me," and accused the Republican Party of conspiring to stop him from clinching the party's nomination.
At a special CNN town hall in New York City ahead of next Tuesday's crucial New York primary, Trump said: "I know the rules very well, but I know it's stacked against me by the establishment.
"The GOP presidential front-runner blasted "unfair" results in Colorado -- where he was swept by Ted Cruz at a party convention this weekend -- and Louisiana, where he won the primary but Cruz is seeking to sway delegates. Those developments, he said, were the result of establishment Republicans working against his campaign.
Read this story HERE
08:33 Appearance in misleading ads could land celebs in jail
Endorsement income for celebrities is going to get choked if the Parliamentary Committee's report is accepted by the Centre. The committee has recommended strict action against celebrities who endorse a brand that runs a misleading advertisement.
The brand endorser can go to jail for five years and be fined Rs 50 lakh, if the claim made in an ad proves to be false. This report comes as a blessing to the flat owners of Noida housing project Amrapali Saphhire that has Indian cricket team captain MS Dhoni as its brand ambassador.
The flat owners have been protesting against the developer Amrapali Group over incompletion of work.
07:38 Gurgaon is 'Gurugram' now
Gurgaon, the corporate hub of Haryana on the outskirts of Delhi, will now be known as 'Gurugram'.The decision was taken by the Bharatiya Janata Party government claiming that people of the area have been making a demand in this regard.
An official spokesman said that the decision to change the name was taken on the basis of the representations received in several fora that it would be appropriate to rename Gurgaon as 'Gurugram'.Legend has it that Gurgaon derived its name from the name of Guru Dronacharya, the master of archery in Mahabharata who tutored the Pandavas.The village was given as gurudakshina to him by his students -- the Pandavas -- and hence it came to be known as Guru-gram, which in course of time is said to have got distorted to Gurgaon.
"Haryana is a historic land of the Bhagwat Gita and Gurgaon had been a centre of learning," the spokesman said."It had been known as Gurgaon since the times of Guru Dronacharya.
Gurgaon was a great center of education where the princes used to be provided education. Therefore, since long the people of the area had been demanding that Gurgaon be renamed as Gurugram," he reasoned.
03:55 Trump, Clinton declared Missouri primary winners
Presidential frontrunners Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton were on Tuesday declared the official winners of the Missouri primaries -- nearly a month after they were held.
The March 15 votes in both parties were extremely close: Clinton and rival Bernie Sanders were neck-and-neck, as were Trump and Senator Ted Cruz. Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander finally certified the result, tweeting: '@HillaryClinton and @realDonaldTrump have officially won Missouri.' Clinton earned 49.6 percent of the vote, to 49.36 percent for Sanders -- a margin of 1,574 votes, according to the results posted on the secretary of state's website.
Each takes 34 delegates.
On the Republican side, Trump earned 40.84 percent of the vote, to 40.63 percent for Cruz -- a difference of 1,965 votes.
The real estate mogul thereby takes 25 delegates to 15 for the Texas senator.
The next primaries are set to take place on April 19 in New York. Clinton and Trump are both leading in opinion polls.
The March 15 votes in both parties were extremely close: Clinton and rival Bernie Sanders were neck-and-neck, as were Trump and Senator Ted Cruz. Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander finally certified the result, tweeting: '@HillaryClinton and @realDonaldTrump have officially won Missouri.' Clinton earned 49.6 percent of the vote, to 49.36 percent for Sanders -- a margin of 1,574 votes, according to the results posted on the secretary of state's website.
Each takes 34 delegates.
On the Republican side, Trump earned 40.84 percent of the vote, to 40.63 percent for Cruz -- a difference of 1,965 votes.
The real estate mogul thereby takes 25 delegates to 15 for the Texas senator.
The next primaries are set to take place on April 19 in New York. Clinton and Trump are both leading in opinion polls.
03:25 52% of British Muslims in poll think homosexuality should be illegal
More than half of British Muslims (52 per cent) think homosexuality should not be legal, and nearly half (47 per cent) think it is not appropriate for gay people to teach in schools, according to a new survey of British Muslims.
The results have sparked debate about the integration of the Britain's largest religious minority. The findings come from face-to-face interviews with 1,081 British Muslims by the polling agency ICM for a television program, "What British Muslims Really Think."
The program is scheduled to air Wednesday on Britain's Channel 4.
The survey, conducted with self-identified adult Muslims last year, found Muslim attitudes to be in line with mainstream public opinions on many topics. But significant differences emerged on issues relating to gender, sexuality, anti-Semitism and political or religious violence.
Read full report HERE
The results have sparked debate about the integration of the Britain's largest religious minority. The findings come from face-to-face interviews with 1,081 British Muslims by the polling agency ICM for a television program, "What British Muslims Really Think."
The program is scheduled to air Wednesday on Britain's Channel 4.
The survey, conducted with self-identified adult Muslims last year, found Muslim attitudes to be in line with mainstream public opinions on many topics. But significant differences emerged on issues relating to gender, sexuality, anti-Semitism and political or religious violence.
Read full report HERE
02:39 NIT students hold protests in Jammu, demand shifting of institute
Chanting slogans of 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai,' outstation students of National Institute of Technology, Srinagar, along with Jammu varsity students, staged a protest march in Jammu and demanded shifting of the institute.
Over 300 NIT students carrying banners and placards marched towards the Press Club of Jammu, amid chanting of 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' .
They reached the Jammu last night and housed at Khalsa College ground. They demanded shifting of the NIT from Srinagar and withdrawal of all cases against non Kashmiri students of the NIT and providing full security to them.
The protesters shouted slogans 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' and 'NIT shift karo' and took out a rally.
"We were kept hostage in NIT by the authorities and police and not allowed to move out...somehow managed to escape from the NIT and reached here", a protesting student said.
Students of Jammu University also held protests in support of the NIT students and blocked the road here. Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party also held protest demonstration in support of the NIT student. In Katra too, students marched in the town in support of the NIT students demanding withdrawal of cases and security to the students and punishment to cops for cane-charge.
Over 300 NIT students carrying banners and placards marched towards the Press Club of Jammu, amid chanting of 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' .
They reached the Jammu last night and housed at Khalsa College ground. They demanded shifting of the NIT from Srinagar and withdrawal of all cases against non Kashmiri students of the NIT and providing full security to them.
The protesters shouted slogans 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' and 'NIT shift karo' and took out a rally.
"We were kept hostage in NIT by the authorities and police and not allowed to move out...somehow managed to escape from the NIT and reached here", a protesting student said.
Students of Jammu University also held protests in support of the NIT students and blocked the road here. Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party also held protest demonstration in support of the NIT student. In Katra too, students marched in the town in support of the NIT students demanding withdrawal of cases and security to the students and punishment to cops for cane-charge.
02:14 BJP opposes Kejriwal's move to send water to Latur
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday took strong objection to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's move to send 10 lakh liters of water per day to Latur from Delhi for next two months, wondering how the government can think of such a proposal when the city itself was grappling with water scarcity.
Calling it a move to gain political mileage, leader of opposition in Delhi assembly Vijender Gupta said sending water from Delhi to Maharastra's Latur was not feasible.
Latur is grappling with severe water crisis. In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi today, Kejriwal has sought the Centre's help in sending 10 lakh liters of water per day from Delhi to Latur in the next two months.
Calling it a move to gain political mileage, leader of opposition in Delhi assembly Vijender Gupta said sending water from Delhi to Maharastra's Latur was not feasible.
Latur is grappling with severe water crisis. In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi today, Kejriwal has sought the Centre's help in sending 10 lakh liters of water per day from Delhi to Latur in the next two months.
02:13 Kirpal Singh's sister, kin hold protest at Attari border
Relatives of Indian national Kirpal Singh, who was found dead under mysterious circumstances at a Lahore jail after being held for more than 20 years in Pakistan on spying charges, on Tuesday staged a protest at the Indo-Pakistan Attari border.
The relatives of Kirpal raised anti-Pakistan slogans near the Integrated Check Post at Attari border. Apart from Kirpal's sister Jagir Kaur and his other relatives, also attending the protest was Dalbir Kaur, the sister of Sarbajit Singh, the Indian death row prisoner who was killed in an attack by fellow prisoners at Kot Lakhpat jail in Lahore.
Kirpal, 50, had allegedly crossed Wagah border into Pakistan in 1992 and was arrested. He was subsequently sentenced to death in a serial bomb blast case in Pakistan's Punjab province.
He was found dead in his cell at Kot Lakhpat Jail in the wee hours of Monday.
The body has been shifted to the Jinnah Hospital in Lahore for an autopsy. Kirpal, who hailed from Gurdaspur district in Punjab, was reportedly acquitted of bomb blast charges by the Lahore high court, but his death sentence could not be commuted because of unknown reasons.
The relatives of Kirpal raised anti-Pakistan slogans near the Integrated Check Post at Attari border. Apart from Kirpal's sister Jagir Kaur and his other relatives, also attending the protest was Dalbir Kaur, the sister of Sarbajit Singh, the Indian death row prisoner who was killed in an attack by fellow prisoners at Kot Lakhpat jail in Lahore.
Kirpal, 50, had allegedly crossed Wagah border into Pakistan in 1992 and was arrested. He was subsequently sentenced to death in a serial bomb blast case in Pakistan's Punjab province.
He was found dead in his cell at Kot Lakhpat Jail in the wee hours of Monday.
The body has been shifted to the Jinnah Hospital in Lahore for an autopsy. Kirpal, who hailed from Gurdaspur district in Punjab, was reportedly acquitted of bomb blast charges by the Lahore high court, but his death sentence could not be commuted because of unknown reasons.
00:13 Pak army chief targets India at seminar on China-Pak relations
Apparently targeting India, Pakistan Army Chief General Raheel Sharif on Tuesday said 'foreign forces' are trying to destabilise this country and its crucial economic corridor with China.
Speaking at a seminar on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor in the coastal town of Gwadar, he said India had openly opposed the $46 billion (About Rs 3 lakh crore) project.
"The CPEC is a deep manifestation of the time-tested relations between China and Pakistan. But there are foreign forces who, realising the potential of CPEC and wanting an influential role in the region, are working to destabilise Pakistan and the project," he said.
The army chief said hostile intelligence agencies are averse to the CPEC but 'we will not allow anyone to create impediments and turbulence in any part of Pakistan'.
He said he had told the international community not to just acknowledge the contribution of Pakistan in the fight against terrorism but to stop external forces from helping facilitators and abettors of terrorism in Pakistan.
He said work on the CPEC was progressing at a fast pace and already 675 kilometres of roads had been completed in just two years' time.
Speaking at a seminar on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor in the coastal town of Gwadar, he said India had openly opposed the $46 billion (About Rs 3 lakh crore) project.
"The CPEC is a deep manifestation of the time-tested relations between China and Pakistan. But there are foreign forces who, realising the potential of CPEC and wanting an influential role in the region, are working to destabilise Pakistan and the project," he said.
The army chief said hostile intelligence agencies are averse to the CPEC but 'we will not allow anyone to create impediments and turbulence in any part of Pakistan'.
He said he had told the international community not to just acknowledge the contribution of Pakistan in the fight against terrorism but to stop external forces from helping facilitators and abettors of terrorism in Pakistan.
He said work on the CPEC was progressing at a fast pace and already 675 kilometres of roads had been completed in just two years' time.
00:05 Top headlines at this hour
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