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Sun, 18 September 2016
Pak Army asks for 'actionable intelligence' on Uri attack
Timeline Refresh
21:13 New York blast not linked to international terrorism: Guv
A bomb that exploded in New York City was an act of terrorism, Governor Andrew Cuomo says, but no link to international groups has been found.
Cuomo said significant damage had been caused and "we were lucky there were no fatalities".
Saturday night's blast in Manhattan injured 29 people.Some 1,000 extra security personnel are being deployed to NY transport hubs.
21:03 Lalu condemns Uri attack, blames PM for situation
Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad on Sunday condemned the terror attack on the Army camp in Uri sector of Jammu and Kashmir in which at least 17 jawans were killed and 20 injured and held Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "negligence" responsible for the turn of events.
"Our soldiers are being killed because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's negligence. Jammu and Kashmir is the integral part of our country which is gradually slipping out of control," Prasad alleged.
The BJP reacted sharply to Prasad's comments and suggested him not to politicise such tragic incident.
"It (the terror attack) is a very tragic and sad incident. There are people from Bihar among those who were killed in the attack.
The prime minister has taken the incident as a challenge and said that he will take revenge," Leader of Opposition in Bihar's Upper House Sushil Modi said.
"Don't politicise it and make statements as the issue concerns our nation's identity and security," he appealed to Prasad.
21:00 'IS soldier' carried out Minnesota mall stabbings: Amaq
A "soldier" of the Islamic State group carried out the stabbings at a mall in the US state of Minnesota that left eight people wounded, a jihadist-linked news agency said today.
"The executor of the stabbing attacks in Minnesota on Saturday was a soldier of the Islamic State who carried out the operation in response to calls to target citizens of countries belonging to the crusader coalition," Amaq news agency said.
At least eight people were wounded in a stabbing attack at a shopping mall in the US state of Minnesota, before the suspected attacker was shot dead by police,
20:57 Another PDP leader resigns from party
In a set back to the ruling PDP, party leader Nisar Ahmad Mandoo on Sunday resigned from the party saying he cannot side with "bloodbath" of Kashmiris, the second prominent leader to resign in the wake of the ongoing unrest in Kashmir.
"I am resigning from the basic membership of the PDP as I cannot side with the bloodbath of Kashmiris," Mandoo, who was senior vice president of the party's Srinagar unit, told reporters.
Mandoo also cited "anti-people" policies of BJP-PDP coalition in the state as a reason for his resignation.
"I have been associated with PDP for the past 16 years. The party was formed to protect the lives and political dignity of people but today the party has deviated from these principles," he said.
Mandoo is the second prominent leader of the ruling party to resign in the wake of the ongoing unrest in Kashmir that has left 81 persons dead and thousands of others injured.
Tariq Hameed Karra, founding member of the PDP and Lok Sabha member from Srinagar constituency, resigned from the party as well as the Parliament seat on September 15 over civilians' killings.
20:54 Alert in Pathankot, Gurdaspur after terror attack in Uri
An alert has been sounded in Punjab's border districts of Pathankot and Gurdaspur following the terror strike on an army camp at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir that claimed the lives of 17 jawans.
Tight vigil is being maintained near key installations including the Pathankot Airforce base, that had come under attack by militants earlier this year, and near Indo-Pak border areas, police said.
"An alert has been sounded in border districts of Pathankot and Gurdaspur in light of the terror attack in Uri," Pathankot SSP Rakesh Kaushal said.
Earlier this year, terrorists who had sneaked in from across the border had attacked Pathankot air base on the intervening night of January 1-2 while Dinanagar in Gurdaspur was targeted on July 27 last year.
20:38 Uri attack: People pay tributes to brave soldiers
People take part in candlelight vigil in Patna.for soldiers who lost their life in Uri attack.
Photograph: ANI
20:28 Gujarat ATS arrests 1993 RDX landing case accused from Mumbai
The Gujarat anti-terrorist squad has nabbed an accused in the 1993 Gosabara RDX and arms landing case, in which fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim has been named as a key conspirator, from Mumbai.
Based on a tip-off, the ATS team arrested Abdulsattar Batliwala in suburban Khar in Mumbai on Saturday and brought him in Ahmedabad today, it said in a release.
Batliwala was a part of the conspiracy whereby Dawood Ibrahim sent a huge cache of RDX and arms, including AK-47 rifles to Gujarat from Karachi via sea route in 1993, ATS said.
The objective was to take revenge for the Babri masjid demolition.
The contraband landed on Gosabara coast in Porbandar district of Gujarat in 1993, and was distributed to Dawood's associates and other conspirators in Mumbai, Surat and Uttar Pradesh, it said.
20:19 Uri attack: Parrikar meets injured jawans
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Army Chief Gen Dalbir Singh on Sunday visited Kashmir to review the overall security situation in the wake of a deadly terror attack left 17 jawans dead and 20 injured.
The minister also visited the injured jawans at the hospital.
"The defence minister was briefed about the Uri terror attack and the counter-operation in which the terrorists were neutralised," an army official said.
Four terrorists, believed to have infiltrated from across the Line of Control, targeted the army base camp in the wee hours in one of the deadliest attacks on the security establishment in recent times.
All four were neutralised in a counter-operation by the army.
20:10 India's fight against terrorism at a decisive stage: Amit Shah
Virtually blaming Pakistan for the Uri terrorist attack, BJP President Amit Shah on Sunday said India's fight against terrorism has reached a decisive stage and the Modi government is moving in the right direction to ensure that the sacrifices of soldiers does not go waste.
"Pakistan is trying to cause instability in India by constantly trying to lend support to terrorism and terrorist outfits. India has been constantly fighting against terrorism and this fight is now in a decisive stage," he said in a statement.
Shah added, "The martyrdom of the brave sons of India would not be allowed to go waste and the Central government is moving in the right direction."
He made these remarks while expressing deep sorrow at the death of 17 soldiers in the attack. He paid his tributes to them and prayed for their soul to rest in peace.
20:06 Pak Army asks for 'actionable intelligence' on Uri attack
Pakistan on Sunday refuted as "unfounded and premature" India's charge that it was behind the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri that killed 17 soldiers, with its army demanding "actionable intelligence" to support New Delhi's accusation.
Following the dawn attack, India blamed Pakistan for the latest attack on the Indian Army.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh directly attacked Pakistan saying it was a "terrorist state" and should be isolated.
Pakistan army spokesman Lt Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa said that following the attack Director General of Military Operation of the two countries discussed the situation along the Line of Control through hotline.
"Refuting the unfounded and pre-mature Indian allegation, Pakistani DGMO asked his counterpart to share any actionable intelligence," Radio Pakistan reported citing an ISPR release.
Bajwa reiterated that no infiltration was allowed from the Pakistani soil because of "water-tight arrangements" in place on both sides of LoC and the Working Boundary.
Heavily armed terrorists stormed a battalion headquarters of the Army in North Kashmir's Uri town in the wee hours, killing 17 jawans and injuring 19 other personnel in the strike in which four ultras were neutralised.
19:56 UK condemns terror attack in Uri
Britain's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has condemned the terror attack in Uri in which 17 soldiers were killed and 19 others sustained injuries.
The UK strongly condemns this mornings terrorist attack in Kashmir. I offer my deepest condolences to the victims and their families and friends," Johnson said in a statement.
"The UK condemns all forms of terrorism, and stands shoulder to shoulder with India in the fight against terrorism, and in bringing the perpetrators to justice," the statement said.
19:52 Now play mobile game on Donald Trump called 'Jrump'
A new mobile game called 'Jrump' based on Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, has been launched for iphone and android users where they can help "President Donald Jrump escape a ruined America and make the galaxy great again".
The game 'Jrump', released on Friday, by New Zealand based developers, is a mobile game that challenges players to build walls that help a character that looks like Trump to jump higher into the sky and eventually into outer space.
Along the way, he is attacked by caricatures of the US President Barack Obama, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, and Bernie Sanders, scientists on jetpacks looking to stop 'Jrump'.
"We began to discuss how funny it would be to make a game focused around his love of walls and the apocalypse that might happen following his election," Tom Bellamy, one of the game's creators was quoted as saying by The Huffington Post said.
Bellamy and his team created "Jrump" in 12 weeks of "very little sleep," but are now excited to see if Trump will play it himself. The free game starts in 2017 in an imagined scenario in which Trump has won the race to The White House.
If players fail to achieve significant distance from Earth, Trump falls and the game ends with insults like "Weak!" and "Loser!"
19:51 Rafale deal in last lap, French defence minister to arrive on Sep 22
French Defence Minister Jean Yves Le Drian is set to arrive in New Delhi on September 22 along with CEOs of Dassault Aviation, Thales and MBDA to seal the 7.87 billion Euros deal for 36 Rafale fighter jets.
Defence sources said if all goes well, the Inter Governmental Agreement will be signed on September 23.
Government sources said the cost, offsets and service details have been finalised and work is currently being done on the IGA.
A "working team" from France is already in town with their own translators are going through the contract, running into several thousand pages, with their Indian counterparts.
The sources said that once the IGA is firmed up, the document will go to the Cabinet Committee on Security for final clearance.
19:37 Chennai techie murder suspect commits suicide
P Ramkumar, the accused in the murder of Infosys techie Swathi, allegedly committed suicide in the Puzhal prison on Sunday, police sources said. He was rushed to the Royapettah government hospital, where he was declared dead.
Prison sources said Ramkumar climbed up and managed to touch the live wire in the high security prison cell at around 4.30 pm. None were present in the cell when the alleged suicide took place.
Ramkumar is alleged to be the assailant of techie Swathi who was hacked to death in the Numgambakkam railway station when she was waiting to board a suburban train on June 24 this year.
19:07 Mallya in "full control" even after moving to UK: UB Group
Beleaguered businessman Vijay Mallya remains in "full control" even after relocating to United Kingdom, his UB group's holding firm United Breweries Holdings Ltd has said while disclosing remuneration totalling Rs 1.6 crore.
Group company United Breweries Ltd, in which co-promoter Heineken has been hiking stake, has also disclosed total remuneration of about Rs 2.86 crore to Mallya, who moved to the UK earlier this year amid a furore over various cases involving erstwhile Kingfisher Airlines including about huge loan defaults. However, this payment had to be withheld pursuant to the orders of the Income Tax Department.
In its latest annual report, released to shareholders ahead of their Annual General Meeting on September 29, the group holding firm UBHL said it has been without a Managing Director since April 17, 2014.
"In the interregnum, the Chairman of the Board, Vijay Mallya is acting as the Principal Officer of the company and reviewed the performance of the Company at the Board Meetings held during the year.
"Even after his relocating to London, he has full control over the affairs of the company through appropriate delegation of duties to various operating executives who report to him on a regular basis," it said.
Giving details of the remuneration paid to the directors, UBHL has disclosed fees totalling Rs 3.2 lakh to Mallya for attending board or committee meetings. Out of this, payment of sitting fees totalling Rs 1.6 lakh has been restrained by Order of the Tax Recovery Officer dated November 24, 2015, UBHL said.
However, Mallya received remuneration totalling about Rs 1.6 crore from two overseas subsidiaries of UBHL.
18:55 Union home secy to visit Srinagar on Monday
Just IN: Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi to visit Srinagar on Monday in the wake of terror attack in Uri, where 17 Indian Army soldiers were killed.
18:52 Uri attack: Antony blames 'security lapse'
Blaming "security lapse" for the Uri terror attack, former Defence Minister A K Antony on Sunday said that the government has not learnt any lesson from the Pathankot strike in January.
"It is a serious security lapse. The central government has not learnt any lesson from the Pathankot attack," the Congress leader said on the attack on army camp in Uri and suggested that army should be given more freedom to carry out tactical operations.
In January, seven military personnel were killed when six terrorists who had sneaked in from Pakistan attacked the Pathankot air base.
"In recent months violence in Kashmir with the help of Pakistani army is increasing," Antony said.
Efforts should be made to increase the confidence of people of Kashmir in the army, he said.
18:48 Time for action, not dialogue: Shiv Sena targets Pak over Uri attack
Advocating that talks are not the solution to the current crisis in Kashmir, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday condemned the terror attack in Uri and said it is high time that India initiates a strong retaliatory action against Pakistan.
Raut said the attack in Uri was well-planned and thought out by Pakistan, adding the Shiv Sena does not consider it a terrorist attack.
"Only four people come and attack our Army headquarters. 17 of our soldiers are killed and martyred. This is a major setback for the country. Till date, there had not been such a big attack on our soldiers," he told ANI.
The Shiv Sena leader further said that dialogue is not the solution to end this crisis.
"It is time for action and not mere warnings. We did nothing post the Pathankot attack, we do not respond to what happens in Kashmir time and again. We just talk and Pakistan takes action from the front," Raut said.
18:23 Army veterans seek urgent action, including "military option"
Enraged over the terror attack on an army battalion in Uri, former Army officials today sought urgent action against Pakistan, including keeping the "military option open" to deal with terror from its soil.
"We must have our military option open, if required to strike at certain places," Lt Gen (Retd) B S Jaswal said here. "Bring pickets, which have launch pad to the ground, raze them to the ground. The reason is that till the time it does not hurt Pakistan physically, they would not our decency," Jaswal, who was GOC-in-C of the Northern Command, said.
"Pakistan keeps doing it (terror strikes) again and again knowing that we would not take any action," Major (Retd) Gaurav Arya, who has expertise in Jammu and Kashmir security situation, said.
The problems in Kashmir are "systematically manufactured" at the GHQ in Rawalpindi, he alleged, adding, "We must take immediate action. Stop trade with Pakistan, downgrade (its) Most Favoured Nation status. The world must know we are serious."
18:20 Parrikar visits injured soldiers, briefed about Uri terror attack
Just In: Defence Minister Manohar Parikkar briefed about Uri terror attack at Army's Srinagar headquarters, visits injured soldiers.
18:18
JUST IN: Chennai techie murder case accused Ramkumar attempts suicide in Puzhal prison.
18:01 Soundarya Rajinikanth confirms separation from husband
Superstar Rajinikanth's younger daughter Soundarya has confirmed that she has separated from her industrialist husband Ashwin Ramkumar and said that divorce talks are on.
Reports about her troubled marriage had been doing the rounds for quite some time.
Soundarya, who is a graphic designer and filmmaker, finally addressed the reports saying she and her husband have been living separately for the past one year.
"News about my marriage is true. We have been separated for over a year and divorce talks are on. I request all to respect my family's privacy," the "Kochadaiiyaan" director tweeted.
Soundarya and Ashwin tied the knot at a grand wedding ceremony in 2010 which was attended by the who's who of the film, politics, and business world. They have a one-year-old son, Ved.
17:54 India will thwart evil designs of terrorists, backers: Pranab
President Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday condemned the "outrageous" terrorist attack on an Army base at Uri and said India would thwart the "evil designs" of terrorists and their backers.
"India will not be cowed down by such attacks, we will thwart the evil designs of terrorists and their backers," the President said, without naming Pakistan.
Mukherjee, who is also the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces, strongly condemned the "outrageous terrorist attack on Army base in Uri".
Paying rich tributes to brave soldiers who made supreme sacrifice, the President expressed heartfelt condolences to the families of those who laid down their lives in the terror strike.
He also prayed for speedy recovery of those injured.
Uri, a small town located 103 kms north of Srinagar, woke up to heavy gunfire when four terrorists of Jaish-e- Mohammed group entered the battalion headquarters of 10 Dogra regiment and killed 17 soldiers. All the four terrorists were eliminated.
17:48 Muslims most disliked group in US: study
Muslims are the most disapproved group in the US, according to a new study which also says that almost half of Americans surveyed would not want to have their children marry into this faith.
A new study from sociologists at the University of Minnesota, which analysed Americans' perceptions of minority faith and racial groups, found that their disapproval of Muslims has almost doubled from about 26 per cent 10 years ago to 45.5 per cent in 2016.
Amid increasing focus on national security and in the wake of multiple terrorist attacks around the world, the study found that almost half of those surveyed would not want their child to marry a Muslim, compared to just 33.5 per cent of people a decade earlier.
"Religion becomes a signal and a marker, an easy shorthand for Americans' moral judgment," said Douglas Hartmann, an author of the study along with fellow sociologists Penny Edgell, Evan Stewart and Joseph Gerteis.
"But that is not the only thing going on with Muslims. It's more complicated."
The report found that anti-Muslim violence spiked after the 9/11 attacks, as did attacks on Sikh-Americans, who are often confused with Muslim Americans.
17:46 US condemns terror attack in Uri
The US on Sunday strongly condemned the dastardly terror attack in Uri in which 17 soldiers were killed and 19 others sustained injuries.
"We strongly condemn the terror attack in Uri, J&K. Our thoughts are with the families of the brave soldiers who lost their lives #UriAttack," US Ambassador to India Richard Verma tweeted.
Heavily armed terrorists stormed a battalion headquarters of the force in North Kashmir's Uri town in the wee hours, one of the deadliest attacks on the army in recent years.
17:04 JeM behind Uri terror attack: Army
The army has blamed Jaish-e-Mohammed for Uri terror attack in which 17 jawans killed.
"Foreign terrorists are behind Uri attack. Initial reports indicate the role of JeM,'" said DGMO Lt Gen Ranbir Singh.
Four AK 47 rifles, four under barrel grenade launchers and other war like stores were recovered from the four slain terrorists, Singh said.
Hinting at Pakistan's role, Singh said, "Since terrorists had some items which had Pakistani markings on it, I've spoken to Pak DGMO on same."
Singh said that 13 to 14 jawans were killed because of fire in the tent.
16:43 India's Pakistan policy comes home to roost
The terrorist attack on the Indian Army base camp at Uri in the early hours of Sunday gives a sickening feeling that the asymmetric war with Pakistan, which began tapering off a year ago, is restarting. What has happened to our Pakistan policy?
Here is the answer
16:20 Days of restraint are over: Ram Madhav on Uri terror attack
Talking tough, BJP leader Ram Madhav on Sunday asserted that days of strategic restraint are over and suggested that "for one tooth, the complete jaw" should be the policy after the Uri terror attack.
"The prime minister has promised that those behind the Uri terror attack will not go unpunished. That should be the way forward. For one tooth, the complete jaw," said Madhav, who is BJP's pointsman for Jammu and Kashmir.
"The days of so-called strategic restraint are over. If terrorism is the instrument of the weak and coward, restraint in the face of repeated terror attacks betrays inefficiency and incompetence. India should prove otherwise," he said.
Strongly condemning the attack by militants on army headquarters in Uri in which 17 soldiers were killed, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said those behind the despicable act won't go unpunished.
Targeting Pakistan, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said Pakistan is a terrorist state and it should be identified and isolated as such.
16:06 Uri attack aimed at creating war-like situation: Mehbooba
Condemning the deadly militant attack on an army base in Uri, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday said the attack was aimed at "triggering fresh violence and creating a war-like situation in the region.'
Mufti said, "The heightened tension in the wake of Uri attack is set to further vitiate the atmosphere in and around Jammu and Kashmir amid increasing Indo-Pak hostility'.
She said unfortunately, people in Jammu and Kashmir who are already mired in an agonizing situation shall have to bear the maximum brunt of the fresh attempts being made to step up violence and trigger fresh bloodshed in the State.
"J&K has always been the worst victim of Indo-Pak hostility and its people have been paying a colossal price for the same for the past over six decades,' she added.
She said the perpetrators of violence must understand that violent methods have yielded nothing in the past nor will these yield anything in future except adding to the miseries of the people.
15:45 Shivpal made sacrificial goat to save Akhilesh's image: Mayawati
Attacking the Mulayam clan, BSP supremo Mayawati on Sunday said Shivpal Yadav was made the Samajwadi Party's state president by party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav to save the image of his son and chief minister Akhilesh Yadav in view of the party's imminent defeat in the 2017 assembly election.
"Shivpal has been made SP state president by Mulayam to save son Akhliesh's image after 2017 defeat, which is certain due to poor law and order in the state. This is a well-planned strategy of Mulayam to divert attention of the people from his 'putra moh' (love for son)," Mayawati said.
"The entire family drama ended in such a way that it appeared it was scripted. The people faced its consequence with a communal riot in Bijnor, where four persons have died. The drama was enacted by Mulayam to show upper hand of son Akhilesh," she said.
Alleging that the SP government has failed on all fronts, Mayawati said, "Now Shivpal has been made a sacrificial goat by brother Mulayam to establish Akhilesh's supremacy in the party before assembly polls."
This is evident from the fact that Akhilesh has been given the right to distribute party tickets, she said.
Referring to the episode of Quami Ekta Dal's merger with SP, she said, "Initially the party was merged and later it was cancelled and Ansari brothers were humiliated at the behest of Akhilesh."
On reinduction of Gayatri Prajapati in the cabinet, Mayawati said that a person who was mired in controversy due to corruption in mining department has been taken back in cabinet which shows there is something fishy and "the deal" should be exposed.
The CM keeping PWD department with him and not giving it to Shivpal also shows that something is wrong, she added.
15:39 Pakistan is a terrorist state, it should be isolated: Rajnath
Calling Pakistan as a terrorist state, Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday appealed to isolate the neighbouring country.
"Pakistan is a terrorist state and it should be isolated,' Singh said.
Rajnath also said that he is deeply disappointed with Pakistan's continued and direct support to terrorism and terrorist groups.
"There are definite and conclusive indications that perpetrators of Uri attack were highly trained, heavily armed and specially equipped,' he said.
Heavily armed terrorists stormed a battalion headquarters of the army in North Kashmir's Uri town in the wee hours on Sunday, killing 17 jawans and injuring 19 other personnel in the terror strike in which four terrorists were neutralised.
15:36
Army Chief General Dalbir Singh reaches Srinagar, will meet soldiers injured in Uri attack
15:33 Uri attack: Did security forces ignore terror alerts?
Senior intelligence officials have claimed that there was a specific alert on September 15 about a possible terror attack in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir, news channel CNN-New18 has reported.
The alert clearly specified that seven fidayeen attackers from Pak Occupied Kashmir are sitting opposite Uri to carry out attacks in Kashmir.
"Apart from inputs on infiltration in Uri sector, there was an alert that the terrorists are camping across the border in Pakistan since August 28 to attack vital security establishments in Jammu and Kashmir," intelligence sources told CNN-News18.
Seventeen jawans martyred and four terrorists were gunned down at 12th Army brigade headquarters at Uri sector in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday morning.
The incident has raised several questions about the security of sensitive army installations in the country.
15:19 Kejriwal returns to Delhi after throat surgery
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday returned to the national capital from Bengaluru after having undergone a throat surgery for persistent cough.
He had had gone to Bengaluru on September 13 and the surgery took place the next day to correct an anatomical abnormality of his oral-pharyngeal and palatal area.
The BJP and the Congress have criticised Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia for "being away" from the national capital at a time when Delhi is grappling with the outbreak of dengue and chikungunya.
Sisodia is also scheduled to return on Sunday to Delhi from Finland where he had gone to understand its education system.
Earlier this week, Congress had observed 'Bhagoda Diwas', saying Kejriwal and half of his cabinet were "absent" from Delhi.
"He is doing well, there is no problem. He is able to talk, but we are restricting him," officials at the Narayana Health City had said after the surgery.
14:03 PM condemns Uri attack, says those responsible won't go unpunished
"We strongly condemn the cowardly terror attack in Uri. I assure the nation that those behind this despicable attack will not go unpunished,' Modi said in a series of tweets.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday condemned the Uri attack in which 17 jawans martyred.
"We salute all those martyred in Uri. Their service to the nation will always be remembered. My thoughts are with the bereaved families,' he added.
"Have spoken to HM (home minister) & RM (defence minister) on the situation. RM will go to J&K himself to take stock of the situation,' he said.
Seventeen jawans were killed and 19 others injured as heavily armed militants stormed a battalion headquarters of the force in North Kashmir's Uri town.
Four militants involved in the terror strike were killed by the army.
13:32 Uri attack a deplorable affront on national conscience: Sonia
Terming the terrorist strike in Uri as a "deplorable affront" on national conscience, Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Sunday hoped that the perpetrators of the attack will be brought to book.
She also expressed distress over the death of 17 soldiers in the attack.
"Congress President Sonia Gandhi has expressed shock and deep distress over the martyrdom of Indian soldiers in the dastardly terrorist attack in Uri," the party said in a statement.
Describing the cowardly terror attack as a deplorable affront on our national conscience, Gandhi expressed the hope that the perpetrators of this dastardly attack as also the forces behind them will be severely dealt with and brought to book.
In one of the deadliest attacks on the army in recent years, 17 jawans were killed and 19 others injured as heavily armed militants stormed a battalion headquarters of the force in North Kashmir's Uri town in the wee hours on Sunday.
Four militants involved in the terror strike were killed by the army.
13:28 BJP to launch 'parivartan yatra' in UP next month
The Bharatiya Janata Party will launch four 'parivartanyatra' next month in Uttar Pradesh and it will stretch over 100 days and conclude with a likely rally by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the party works to take on the might of ruling Samajawadi Party and Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party in the poll-bound state.
Party sources said the four yatras will start from Saharanpur, Lalitpur, Sonbhadra and either Gorakhpur or Balia and converge at one place, which could be Lucknow, after the inauspicious 'Shradh' period ends.
Top party leaders, including president Amit Shah and several Union ministers, will be addressing public meetings as the yatras move on.
Giving details of the campaign, they said the party has decided to hold a youth and woman meeting in each of the 91 organisation's district committees of the state.
It hopes to connect with each of the estimated 52,000 panchayats in the state and also hold a meeting at the booth level.
13:23 'One country' scuttled NAM working group on terror: India's jibe at Pak
Hitting out at Pakistan, India on Sunday said "one country" in its neighbourhood scuttled its proposal of setting up a working group on counter-terrorism within the Non-Aligned Movement even as the final draft declaration of the bloc's summit strongly condemned terrorism and vowed to combat the scourge.
The final draft declaration of the 17th Non-Aligned Movement summit in Porlamar, Venezuela also strongly pitched for decisive and coordinated action to prevent and combat the financing and illicit transfer of weapons.
The NAM summit draft declaration reiterated that terrorism constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security.
Hence, the 120 NAM countries reaffirmed their firm condemnation of terrorist acts in all forms and manifestations, whatever their motivations, whenever and by whomsoever they are committed.
Asked about the working group on terrorism within NAM that India had proposed, India's Permanent Representative to the UN Syed Akbaruddin, without naming Pakistan, said there was "one country in our neighbourhood who did not allow consensus to be reached on this matter".
However, he said this was an issue Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has now put further on the agenda, saying that he will in his presidency outline this as one of his priorities.
13:15 Mumbai Metro operations disrupted after man commits suicide
A 25-year-old man allegedly committed suicide by jumping in front of a Metro train at Mumbai's Sakinaka station on Sunday, police said.
Due to the incident, the Metro train services were disrupted for over an hour.
The victim, identified as Ganeshchandra Prasad, hailing from Madhubani district in Bihar, ended his life by jumping in front of the Ghatkopar-bound Metro train at Sakinaka station at around 9.20 am, they said.
Following the incident, the train was evacuated and retracted from service, a Mumbai Metro spokesperson said.
The Metro train services were disrupted for over an hour following the incident, he said.
The services resumed at around 10.45 am, he added.
12:59 Uri attack: HM Rajnath Singh chairs high level meet
Emergency meeting is underway at Home Minister Ranath Singh's residence after terrorists attacked army headquarters in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir, killing 17 jawans.
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, IB and R&AW chiefs, Union home secretary, top army, paramilitary and home ministry officials are attending the high level meeting.
According to an army spokesperson, four terrorists were gunned down by the army.
The Home Minister postponed his visit to Russia and US to review the situation arising out of the terror attack.
12:35 Uri attack is a big conspiracy against India: J&K Depy CM
Talking to reporter on Uri attack, Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh said, "Separatists, militants and Pakistan are part of a conspiracy against India to create tension in our areas."
Singh said that government is very serious over infiltration in Jammu and Kashmir from Pakistan. This is a big conspiracy against India.
Seventeen jawans were killed and 19 other personnel were injured when heavily armed militants stormed a battalion headquarters of the army in North Kashmir's Uri town in the wee hours on Sunday.
12:14
Ministry of home affairs has issues issues alert for all airports across the country in wake of the terrorist attack in Uri
12:06 Internet's rise has led to low voter turnout, says study
The rise of internet may have led to a decreased voter turnout, due to people facing an overwhelmingly large pool of political information and not knowing how to efficiently filter relevant knowledge, a new study has claimed.
The internet has transformed the way in which voters access and receive political information, researchers said. It has allowed politicians to directly communicate their message to voters, circumventing the mainstream media which would traditionally filter information.
Stephan Heblich from the University of Bristol in the UK studied data from a number of countries, comparing voter behaviour of municipalities with internet access to the ones without in the early 2000s. The study showed municipalities with broadband internet access faced a decrease in voter turnout, due to voters suddenly facing a large pool of information and not knowing how to filter relevant knowledge efficiently.
Similarly, the internet seemed to have crowded out other media at the expense of information quality.
11:48
Strongly condemn militant attack in Uri. My heartfelt condolences to the families of bravehearts martyred in the attack, tweets Rahul Gandhi
11:32 Uri army camp attack: The worst since 2002
Defence minister Manohar Parrikar and Army Chief Gen Dalbir Singh rush to J&K.
After Kaluchak, 2002 the Uri attack with 17 soldiers dead is the biggest in J&K in terms of casualties. Read about the 2002 attack, HERE
11:01
Army Chief Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag to visit Kashmir in the wake of terror attack in Uri.
10:51 BJP to launch 'parivartan yatra' in Uttar Pradesh next month
BJP will launch four 'parivartan yatra' next month in Uttar Pradesh and it will stretch over 100 days and conclude with a likely rally by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the party works to take on the might of ruling SP and Mayawati-led BSP in the poll bound state.
Party sources said the four yatras will start from Saharanpur, Lalitpur, Sonbhadra and either Gorakhpur or Balia and converge at one place, which could be Lucknow, after the inauspicious 'Shradh' period ends.
Top party leaders, including president Amit Shah and several Union ministers, will be addressing public meetings as the yatras move on.
Giving details of the campaign, they said the party has decided to hold a youth and woman meeting in each of the 91 organisations district committees of the state.
It hopes to connect with each of the estimated 52,000 panchayats in the state and also hold a meeting at the booth level.
10:37
CNN-News18 is reporting that seven army personnel killed, 20 injured in ongoing Uri Attack
10:24
Device found blocks away from New York explosion site had wires attached, connected to cell phone, sources tell CNN
10:17
Four militants killed in Uri terror attack: Army spokesperson.
10:06 2 Navy divers, 3 fishermen missing after 14 are rescued from sinking boat off Mumbai
Two Navy divers and three fishermen are still missing after fishing Boat 'Dutta Sai' with 17 crew members on board sank 30 nautical miles from Mumbai on Saturday night due to bad weather.
While 14 fishermen were rescued, 2 divers from INS Trishul who were sent to fetch the remaining 3 fishermen in the rough sea could not be located due to darkness.
Defence journalist Manu Pubby tweeted that 8 warships, 4 aircraft searching off Mumbai for two missing Naval divers who were trying to rescue fishermen from capsized boat.
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10:06 Criticising Modi made Kejriwals tongue bigger, now... it has to be trimmed: Parrikar
Taking on AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal in a light-hearted manner on Saturday, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has been quoted as saying that the Delhi chief minister's "unrelenting" criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the reason behind his "enlarged tongue", a medical condition that led to his chronic cough, and for which he underwent surgery in Bengaluru on Wednesday.
"I sympathise with Kejriwal, who is on a sick leave. But over there (Delhi), he criticises the prime minister, and during his campaign (in Goa, he speaks) against me. Because of this, his tongue got enlarged, and now... it has to be trimmed," Parrikar said, signalling a scissor with his fingers across his own tongue.
09:59
High level security meet to take place at HM Rajnath Singh's residence at 12:15pm, senior MHA and MoD officials to attend the meet
09:54 'Haji Pir Pass gives easy access into the Uri bowl'
Security analyst Nitin Gokhale tweets: "Every fidayeen attack will have a surprise element. Terrorists choose time and place. Army however has the wherewithal to overcome setback."
"In December 2014 too Uri military base had come under similar fidayeen attack. The Haji Pir Pass gives easy access into the Uri bowl."
09:48 2 Uri terrorists neutralised, says Times Now
12 soldiers injured and rushed to hospital; 2 terrorists neutralised, gunfight on at army base, reports Times Now
09:31
Meanwhile, back in Uri, television channels are reporting -- citing intel sources -- about a Lashkar-e-Tayiba link to the Sunday morning attack.
09:25 NYC attack 'intentional', but city Mayor rules out terror link
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio says a second Manhattan site is under investigation after Chelsea blast.
De Blasio says early indications are that the explosion "was an intentional act."
But de Blasio says "there is no evidence at this point of a terror connection" and there is no "credible and specific threat" to New York City.
The mayor says they also believe here is no specific connection to the earlier incident in New Jersey.
De Blasio says he can confirm "none of those injured are likely to die."
Image: NYPD Chief of Counterterrorism tweeted this photograph of the mangled remains of the dumpster
09:23 Obama briefed on New York explosion
US President Barack Obama was today apprised of the explosion in New York in which at least 25 people were injured, hours before his arrival in the city for the high-level UN General Assembly session.
An explosion rocked New York's Chelsea neighbourhood, a busy residential and commercial area in the city. More than two dozen people have been injured as a result of the explosion.
"The President has been apprised of the explosion in New York City, the cause of which remains under investigation. The president will be updated as additional information becomes available," a White House official said.
Obama is scheduled to travel to New York today and stay in the city for the next several days to attend the United Nations General Assembly session beginning tomorrow.
09:09
Home Minister Rajnath Singh speaks to Governor & CM of J&K regarding Uri terror attack, they apprised him of security situation in the state
08:51 Uri attack: Rajnath Singh calls emergency meet
Home Minister Rajnath Singh calls an emergency meeting of concerned officials over the ongoing encounter in Uri.
The home minister earlier rescheduled his visit to Russia and the US due to the happenings in Kashmir.
08:47 Manhattan attack: 'Possible secondary device' found
Chief Harry J Wedin, chief of the NYPD's special operations division, has tweeted that a possible secondary device has been located, and advised people to avoid the area.
08:44 2 soldiers killed, 6 injured in Uri Brigade HQ attack
Two army personnel killed in Uri attack, senior Jammu and Kashmir police official confirms. Of the 6 injured, one is in a critical condition.
"We suspect presence of three terrorists and they are suspected to be on a suicide mission. Our officers are retaliating and trying to neutralize them," army sources said.
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08:36 Security tightened at IAF stations
A "general" terror alert had been issued for all air force stations and air bases in the country, especially in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
Security sources said that the alert was issued based on an input generated by the Defence Intelligence Agency.
The input was shared with the Multi Agency Centre earlier this week following which it was disseminated to the concerned states.
However, it is not specific in nature, sources said.
"The alert is very general in nature but security measures have been enhanced," a senior security official said.
08:34
Just yesterday, a senior Border Security Force officer had informed the media that some militants had sneaked into the Valley while another 200 were trying to infiltrate from across the border.
"There has been an increase in the number of encounters along the LoC this year, and seeing that there is no denial that infiltration has taken place... Around 150-200 militants are waiting on the other side of LoC to infiltrate," Inspector General BSF, Kashmir Frontier, Vikash Chandra told media persons.
08:16 Gas has been ruled out as the cause of the New York explosion
Meanwhile, the explosion that rocked the Chelsea neighbourhood of New York on Saturday night, which injured at least 25 people, was not caused by a gas leak.
Officials are still trying to assess what caused explosion the source said. No secondary device was located.
The preliminary belief of investigators is that the explosion was caused by an explosive device in or near a dumpster, a law enforcement source told CNN.
The source stressed this is preliminary and is not conclusive.
08:12
Television channel Times Now is reporting that six soldiers have been injured in the Uri terror attack, 3 soldiers airlifted to the hospital.
We await confirmation.
08:10
Home Minister Rajnath Singh postpones visit to Russia and the US due to Kashmir unrest.
08:08
Special forces of Army airdrop at Uri where encounter is on: PTI reports quoting official sources.
07:54 Intense firing, explosions heard at Army HQ in J&K's Uri
A major gunbattle is underway after terrorists attacked the army's brigade headquarters in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri, near the Line of Control, early this morning.
The army installation on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad highway came under a major terror attack on Sunday morning.
Police sources say at least three terrorists are believed to have entered the army installation.
Some army barracks have caught fire during the fierce encounter as loud explosions were heard in the area.
More details are awaited.
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