The High Court in London on Monday ordered embattled liquor baron Vijay Mallya to pay an estimated $90 million to a Singapore-based aircraft leasing company in claims.

The case involves a number of aircraft leased by Vijay Mallya's now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines from BOC Aviation in 2014.

High Court judge Justice Picken, sitting at the Business and Property Courts of the high court, ruled Feb 5 that the 'defendants have no real prospect of successfully defending the claim' brought by BOC Aviation in Singapore and BOC Aviation (Ireland) Ltd.

Kingfisher Airlines Ltd and the United Breweries Ltd were listed as the defendants in the case.

In November Diageo, the United Kingdom-based producer of Johnnie Walker whiskey, sued Mallya, his son Siddharth and the Mallya entity United Spirits Ltd for nearly $200 million for breach of contract and making questionable payments made by affiliated companies, among other claims.

Mallya, 62, is currently in the midst of a long-drawn out extradition trial at Westminster Magistrate's Court in London for allegedly defaulting a consortium of Indian banks of more than Rs 9,000 crore. -- ANI

Oxfam deputy chief Penny Lawrence resigned today taking 'full responsibility' for the behaviour of the British charity's staff in Haiti where the aid workers possibly hired prostitutes for sex parties.

"As a programme director at the time, I am ashamed that this happened on my watch and I take full responsibility," Lawrence said in a statement.

The United Kingdom-based charity is accused of concealing the findings of an inquiry into claims that its staff hired prostitutes while delivering aid in Haiti in 2011 after the earthquake which devastated the island.

Her resignation comes shortly after Oxfam Chief Executive Mark Goldring met with Aid Secretary Penny Mordaunt today in a bid to prevent its government funding from being cut.

"It is now clear that these allegations -- involving the use of prostitutes and which related to behaviour of both the Country Director and members of his team in Chad -- were raised before he moved to Haiti," Lawrence said.

She said she was 'desperately sorry' for the harm and distress that this has caused to Oxfam's supporters, the wider development sector and most of all the vulnerable people who trusted the organisation.

"It has been such a privilege to work for such an amazing organisation that has done and needs to continue to do such good in the world," said Lawrence, who had joined the charity in 2006 as programme director before being appointed deputy chief executive in 2016.

Oxfam employs around 5,000 workers and has 23,000 additional volunteers.

Meanwhile, ministers have launched an investigation into claims that foreign aid officials brushed off allegations of child abuse committed by aid workers.

The probe comes after Priti Patel, who ran the department until November, said that the Oxfam scandal was just the 'tip of the iceberg'.

Patel yesterday said that officials at the Department for International Development had 'dismissed' her concerns when she raised them.

She was then Secretary of State in charge of the Department.

Oxfam's own investigation led to four people being sacked and three others resigning, including the country director for Haiti.  -- H S Rao from London for PTI

The National Investigation Agency today took over the probe into Lashkar-e-Tayiba terrorist Mohammed Naveed Jhatt's escape from the SMHS hospital in Srinagar, the agency spokesperson said.

The NIA today registered a case related to Jhatt's escape from SMHS hospital in Srinagar where he was brought on February 6 for treatment, the NIA spokesperson said.

An FIR was registered by the local Police at Karan Nagar in Srinagar district, the NIA said.

In this incident, two police personnel Mushtaq Ahmed and Babar Ahmed were killed, it said.

The NIA team is proceeding to Srinagar tomorrow for the investigation of the case, the spokesperson said.

The Pakistani terrorist staged the daring escape from the SMHS hospital, killing the two policemen with a pistol handed to him by his LeT accomplices who ambushed the police team escorting him.

The attack by the LeT to free 'hardcore' terrorist Jhatt took place inside the busy Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) hospital complex in a high security area of Jammu and Kashmir's summer capital.

Jhatt, the 22-year-old LeT militant from Pakistan who was caught in Kulgam in south Kashmir in 2014, escaped with the assailants.  -- PTI

IMAGE: Security personnel stand guard during a search operation at SMHS hospital, in Srinagar on Tuesday. Photograph: S Irfan/PTI Photo

Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party chief B S Yeddyurappa today hit out at Congress President Rahul Gandhi for reportedly visiting a temple after eating 'Javari chicken' during his ongoing tour of northern parts of the poll-bound state.

'At one side there is 10 per cent CM Siddaramaiah who took darshan of Dharmasthala Manjunatha after eating fish, on the other side there is Election Hindu @OfficeOfRG (Rahul Gandhi) who took darshan of Narasimha swamy after eating Javari chicken,' Yeddyurappa said in a tweet in Kannada.

'Why is Congress repeatedly hurting Hindu sentiments? Looking at every one equally is Samajawad (socialism), your's is majawad (enjoyment),' Yeddyurappa, the chief ministerial candidate of the BJP, said in the tweet with clippings of reports about Gandhi visiting the temple after 'eating' chicken.

Last year, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was involved in a controversy for eating fish at lunch before going to the Lord Manjunatha Swamy temple.

It was seen as disrespect to the main deity of the temple, with the issue creating a buzz in the social media.

However, Siddaramaiah had dismissed the criticism.

Gandhi, who is on a temple trail during his election campaign in northern Karnataka districts, had yesterday stopped at Kanakagiri in Koppal district and visited the Kanakachala Laxmi-Narasimha temple.  -- PTI

IMAGE: Congress president Rahul Gandhi visits the Kanakachal Laxminarasimha Temple in Koppal. Photograph: PTI Photo

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today reviewed the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, where two terror attacks in last three days have left nine persons dead, including five army men, officials said.

During an hour-long meeting with top officials, the home minister was given a detailed presentation about the situation in the state, particularly attack on an army camp in Jammu and a gunfight between security forces and militants in Srinagar.

Singh was told that the highest level of security has been put in place in the entire state and steps were being taken to foil attempts by terrorists to disturb peace, an official said.

The home minister directed the officials that action must be taken to check infiltration attempts from across the border, another official said.

Those who attended the meeting included Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba and Director of the Intelligence Bureau Rajiv Jain.

Yesterday, Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra had briefed the home minister about the prevailing situation in the troubled state.

The governor apprised the home minister of the security situation in the state, particularly in border areas, which have been witnessing massive ceasefire violations by Pakistan and infiltration from across the border.  -- PTI

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met those injured in the Sunjwan Army Camp attack at the Military Hospital in Jammu on Monday. Photograph: ANI

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman addresses a press conference in Jammu on the Sunjwan ops:

- The counter terrorist operations in Sunjuwan were called off today at 10.30. However the sanitisation operation is on.

- The attack was carried out by a Jaish-e-Mohammed module, sponsored by Azhar Masood residing in Pakistan and deriving support from therein.

- Six fatal casualties, including a civilian were cost by the terrorists.

- Three terrorists have been eliminated. There were reports of four terrorists. The fourth terrorist must have been a guide and may not have entered the Camp area.

- I express deep condolences for the loss of lives of our unarmed soldiers during the attack.

- The terrorists likely to have got local support also.

- The National Investigation Agency is examining the material seized from the terrorists.

- All the evidences collected have been compiled. Definitely they will be given to Pakistan.

- Even after giving dossiers after dossiers Pakistan has not taken any action.

- Giving the evidences to Pak will be a continuous process. It will have to be proved over and over again that they are responsible. Pakistan will have to pay for this misadventure.   -- With inputs from ANI

India's economy will accelerate to 7.5 per cent in 2018-19 and there is a slim chance of the much-feared rate hike by the central bank in the near-term as inflation risks abate, says a report.


The economic momentum in the current financial year was affected by temporary disruptions on account of demonetisation and GST implementation but a rebound in the next financial year is likely, the Deutsche Bank report said today.


"We remain optimistic about a growth rebound in FY19. We are currently forecasting 7.5 per cent y-o-y real GDP growth for FY19," it said.


It further noted that the next few months will be critical to assess the shape of growth recovery, direction of global oil prices, forecast of summer monsoon, the extent of increases in minimum support prices, and the degree of volatility in global financial market markets.


Under Deutsche Bank's base case scenario, policy rates are likely to remain steady at 6 per cent through 2018, which would help the growth recovery to gain traction and sustain in the quarters ahead.


Growth bottomed in April-June 2017 (5.7 per cent) and has started stabilising since July-September 2017 (6.3 per cent), albeit at a modest pace. PTI

Union minister Ram Kripal Yadav today condemned the statements critical of the BJP by senior leaders Yashwant Sinha and Shatrughan Sinha and said no one approves their comments.


The Minister of State for Rural Development said everybody has a right to give suggestions to the government but they should be made within the party forum, and not outside of it.


"Issuing these kinds of statements by remaining in the party it's not correct. It's definitely unfortunate, and no body approves this", he told PTI, when asked for his views on the two leaders continuously sniping at the party. I condemn this; it's not correct, statements cannot be made in 'bazaar' or issues cannot be raised outside the party forum", Yadav, added.  --  PTI

Delhi: Senior officials arrive at the residence of Home Minister Rajnath Singh for a meeting on the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

Swayam Prakash Pani on Monday took charge as the new Inspector General of Police (IGP) of Kashmir. Pani, a 2000 batch Indian Police Service officer of the Jammu and Kashmir cadre, was promoted to the post IGP after his name was cleared in a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti last week.


Apart from serving as the Deputy Inspector General of Police, South Kashmir Range, Pani has also served in the Intelligence Bureau and National Investigation Agency.


Pani has replaced Muneer Ahmad Khan, who was holding the charge of IGP Kashmir. Muneer has now been appointed as ADGP security and home guards. This development in the state police force comes at the time when there have continuous terror attacks on Army camps and CRPF camps.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Monday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi over job creation promised by the Centre.


Presenting a comparison of the job creation data between India and China, Gandhi said, "The Prime Minister said every year, he will give employment to two crore youth. China gives employment to 50,000 youth in 24 hours, Narendra Modi gives employment to 450 people in 24 hours. This is the truth of the Prime Minister."


Gandhi was addressing a rally in Raichur, Karnataka, as part of the campaign for the Assembly election.


The Congress chief has frequently taken on the Prime Minister over the state of employment in the country.


At a recent rally in Bengaluru, he reiterated the gap between the figures promised by Centre and the actual number of jobs created by the Narendra Modi-led government. Karnataka goes to polls in the first quarter of the year.  -- ANI

Jammu and Kashmir CM Mehbooba Mufti on the way ahead for Kashmir in the aftermath of the continued terror attacks. Speaking in the state assembly today, the CM said, "We fought and won all wars against Pakistan but even now today there is no solution other than dialogue. Till when will our jawans and civilians keep dying? I wonder what some media houses would have called Atalji (former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee) if he took a bus to Lahore in today's time and talked of dialogue.


"Unfortunately, some media houses have created an atmosphere that if we talk of dialogue (with Pakistan) then we are labelled anti-national.


"Dialogue with Pakistan is necessary if we are to end bloodshed. I know I will be labelled anti-national by news anchors tonight but that doesn't matter. The people of J&K are suffering. We have to talk because war is not an option."


A gunfight broke out between security forces and terrorists after their attempt to strike a Central Reserve Police Force camp in Srinagar was foiled, killing a paramilitary jawan, officials said on Monday.


The terrorists holed up inside an abandoned house in Karan Nagar, in the heart of Srinagar city, after their early morning bid to storm into the camp was foiled, triggering the gunfight.


The incident comes two days after Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists attacked an army camp in Sunjuwan area of Jammu, killing six people including five soldiers.


Image: CM Mehbooba Mufti visited a Military Hospital in Jammu and met the soldiers who were injured in the Sunjuwan terror attack. "In their Valor we find hope," she tweeted, yesterday.

3G and 4G internet services suspended in Srinagar following an encounter at the CRPF camp in Karan Nagar. 

Lashkar-e-Taiba claims responsibility for the Sunjuwan Camp and Karan Nagar terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. It was earlier reported that the terrorists belonged to the Jaish-e-Mohmmad (JeM) network. 


The terrorists opened fire at the camp located in  Jammu-Pathankot National Highway which claimed lives of six including five security personnel and one civilian.


Two of the attackers in combat gear were also gunned down while nine others - a major, three personnel and five women and children -- were injured in the two-day-long operation, which began on Saturday.

One CRPF personnel was killed during the encounter with terrorists in Srinagar's Karan Nagar area on Monday.  The encounter is still on.


Image: A CRPF personnel has lost his life in the ongoing encounter at the 23 CRPF camp in Srinagar's Karan Nagar, where two armed-terrorists were spotted in the wee hours of Monday morning. Pic: Umar Ganie

At least 42 FIRs have been lodged in alleged fake encounter killings by the Army and police in Manipur, the CBI's SIT tells the Supreme Court. The SC says it is not satisfied by the progress made by the SIT in the probe on fake encounter deaths. The court directs the NHRC to depute three persons to be associated with the SIT to probe 17 cases. SIT's next status report must have the approval of the CBI's director.  More details awaited.

Following the backlash received over Mohan Bhagwat's alleged disrespectful statement against the Indian army, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh on Monday said that his speech was being misrepresented.


A statement issued by Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh, Manmohan Vaidya, read, "Bhagwatji had said that if situation arises and the Constitution permits, Indian army would take six months to prepare the society whereas Sangh Swayamsevaks can be trained in three days, as Swayamsevaks practise discipline regularly."


To this effect, Vaidya added, the statement was not a comparison between the Indian army and the Sangh Swayamsevaks, but a comparison between general society and swayamsevaks, when given the opportunity to be trained by the Indian Army.


Bhagwat's statement sparked an outrage on social media following his speech in Bihar's Muzaffarpur where he was reported to have said that RSS was capable of preparing military personnel in three days for which the Indian Army would take six to seven months. -- PTI

In wake of the continuous terror attacks on the Army and CRPF camp in Jammu and Kashmir, Union Defence Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday left for Jammu to assess the security situation in the state.


Meanwhile, a CRPF personnel has lost his life in the ongoing encounter at the 23 CRPF camp in Srinagar's Karan Nagar, where two armed-terrorists were spotted in the wee hours of Monday morning.


Earlier on Saturday, terrorists barged into the Sunjuwan army camp in Jammu, killing five security personnel and one civilian.


Six army personnel and six civilians are injured.Four terrorists belonging to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) have been gunned down.Combing operations are underway at the Sunjuwan Army Camp. -- ANI


Image: CRPF jawans at the encounter at Karan Nagar. The terrorists were holed up inside an abandoned house in the area in the heart of Srinagar city. Pic: Umar Ganie

BJP president Amit Shah today asserted that the BJP would form the next government in Tripura which would be the 20th state to be ruled by the saffron party. Shah assured the voters that the promises made in the party's election manifesto released yesterday would be implemented.


"Seeing the atmosphere and campaigns after visiting various constituencies, I am rest assured that the BJP would form the next government in Tripura and it would be the 20th BJP ruled state," Shah told a news conference in Agartala.


"The party neither had MLAs in Manipur and Assam nor a strong organisational base, yet the huge popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP's programme brought the party in power to those two north eastern states," he said. Likewise, Tripura would also come to the BJP fold, he said.


The Left Front has been ruling the state for nearly 25 years continuously but Tripura lags behind in distribution of drinking water to households, healthcare services, power supply, infrastructure and attracting investments, he said. The CPI(M)-led Left Front is in power in the north eastern state in a row since 1993. The Left was also in power between 1978 and 1988.


"Ten years and 25 years is quite a long time for developing the state. But Tripura remained backward. There are many BJP-ruled states which could make much more development in lesser time," he said.


"Development would come only after the saffron party forms the next government," Shah said. He alleged that crime against women in Tripura is the highest in the country with rape and molestation being an everyday event.


"CPI(M) cadres dictate terms to the police and government officials and law and order has collapsed," the senior BJP leader claimed. But after seeing the rise of the BJP in the state, they were frustrated and resorted to violence against the BJP workers and leaders, he alleged.


"The BJP workers are ready to face the CPI(M) violence anywhere in the state," he said and appealed to police and government officials to work impartially.


Criticising the opposition Congress, Shah said that the party was trying to divide the anti-Left votes in the state for favouring CPI-M, but that would not work. He said Union Finance minister Arun Jaitely yesterday published the manifesto of the party which promised that special economic zones (SEZ )would be set up in the state and smartphones would be given to the youth for free if the saffron party was elected to power.


Election to the 60-member Tripura Assembly would be held on February 18. The BJP is contesting in 51 seats, while its alliance partner Indigenous People's Front of Tripura has fielded candidates in nine seats. -- PTI

The mid and higher hills of Himachal Pradesh witnessed intermittent moderate snowfall this morning, while widespread rains lashed the lower hills of the state. Normal life was disrupted in the upper Shimla area as roads were closed due to snowfall, while the Hindustan-Tibet road at Narkanda was blocked and the traffic was diverted through Basantpur and Kingal.

Away from terrorism, the winter wonderland that is Kashmir. 

PM Narendra Modi visited the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Muscat, which is the biggest mosque in Oman. The mosque is built from 300,000 tonnes of Indian sandstone sculpted by 200 craftsmen from India. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is in Oman on the last leg of his three-nation tour visit a 300-year old Shiva Temple in old Muscat today. He also visited the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in the city which is built from 300,000 tonnes of Indian sandstone.


PM Modi was accorded ceremonial reception on his arrival at Oman on Sunday. He met Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said and Deputy Prime Minister for International Relations and Cooperation Affairs Sayyid Asa'ad bin Tariq Al Said.


The picture was tweeted by MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar

The FIR filed by the J&K police against Major Aditya Kumar should be quashed and no coercive action should be taken against him, the Supreme Court ruled today.


The court was hearing the plea of Madjor Aditya's father that the first information report against his son, booked as an accused by the police in the recent Shopian firing incident, be quashed. The court ruled that the FIR was bad in law and ignored the actions of perpetrators. The court also issued notices to the Centre and the J&K govt and sought a reply in two weeks.


A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud was hearing advocate Aishwarya Bhati's submission on Major Aditya Kumar's father's plea.

 
The Major's father, Lieutenant Colonel Karamveer Singh said his son, a major in 10 Garhwal Rifles, was 'wrongly and arbitrarily' named in the FIR as the incident relates to an Army convoy that was on bona fide military duty in an area under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act and was isolated by an 'unruly and deranged' mob pelting stones, causing damage to military vehicles.

Three civilians were killed when Army personnel fired at a stone-pelting mob in Ganovpora village in Shopian, prompting the chief minister to order an inquiry into the incident.

The FIR was registered against personnel of 10 Garhwal Rifles, including Major Kumar, under Sections 302 (murder) and 307 (attempt to murder) of the Ranbir Penal Code.


File pic.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Monday slammed the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat over his disrespectful statement against the Indian army.


"The RSS Chief's speech is an insult to every Indian, because it disrespects those who have died for our nation. It is an insult to our flag because it insults every soldier who ever saluted it. Shame on you Mr Bhagwat, for disrespecting our martyrs and our Army. #ApologiseRSS," Gandhi tweeted.


In his address at a school in Muzaffarpur on Sunday, Bhagwat claimed that RSS was capable of preparing military personnel in three days for which the Indian Army would take six to seven months. Bhagwat's controversial statement also sparked an outrage on social media. - PTI

AIADMK Rajya Sabha Member Dr V Maitreyan  has become something of a rebel in his party. We hear that he has been raising the banner of revolt against Chief minister E Palaniswami and deputy CM O Panneerselvam. Dr Maitreyan, a close confidante of former TN CM J Jayalalithaa, has said that his patience is being tested since there has been no reorganisation of the party. He said most of Jayalalithaa's loyalists are being thrown out of the AIADMK ever since the coming together of the two factions of EPS and OPS.

In a fortnight, Dr Maitreyan may take drastic steps like a major expose of the Tamil Nadu  government.

The core political issue in Tamil nadu is corruption and Dr Maitreyan feels that the state is reeling under corruption at all levels and believes it's high time that the Centre acted on corruption charges.

If there is indeed a expose, what are Dr Maitreyan's options? Will he join TTV Dinakaranor join Rajinikanth's new political outfit?

Watch this space.


File pic.

A Central Reserve Police Force jawan has been killed in an ongoing encounter with terrorists at Karan Nagar in Srinagar. The encounter between security forces and terrorists broke out this morning following a thwarted bid to attack a CRPF camp in Karan Nagar.


Reports coming in from the Valley said the gun battle was underway near the camp between 23 Battalion of the CRPF and two terrorists.


The CRPF jawan who sustained serious injuries in the gunfight has succumbed as a result of his injuries.


Image: Security personnel at Karan Nagar this morning. Picture: Umar Ganie.

"I never knew our prime minister gets so angry when he is restrained from doing what he knows, and does, the best -- giving bhashan. A little of the usual pandemonium by the Opposition in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, February 7, that disrupted his speech on the motion of thanks to the President's address led to the PM, in apparent disgust, forget that he was speaking on the floor of the august House and not addressing an election rally. Whatever he studied about Indian politics and history while pursuing a course in 'Entire Political Science' (that's the name of the subject his degree bears), the pracharak in him seems to have got the better of him, in rage. And, he started passing off WhatsApp forwards as facts."

Read

Jammu & Kashmir: One CRPF personnel who was seriously injured in gunfight during ongoing encounter at CRPF camp in Srinagar's Karan Nagar succumbs to injuries.

A 35-year-old man allegedly committed suicide here after four persons assaulted him and forced him to lick a shoe on which one of the accused had spit, police said today.


The four men attacked Kasim Shaikh in public near a market in the Cuffe Parade area of South Mumbai on Friday night over some personal enmity, a police official said.


During the incident, one of the accused spit on his shoe and forced Shaikh to lick it, he said. Shaikh managed to free himself from the attackers. But, unable to bear the humiliation, he hanged himself at his residence in the Cuffe Parade area on Saturday morning, the official said.


The police found a purported suicide note from Shaikh's house in which he had named the four attackers and blamed them for his extreme step, he said. Based on the suicide note, the police arrested Ismail Shaikh (47), Akbar Shaikh (35), Karia Pavse (35) and Afzal Qureshi (44) on Saturday evening, the official said. They were booked under the Indian Penal Code section 306 (abatement of suicide), the official said, adding that an investigation was underway. -- PTI

A 35-year-old man allegedly committed suicide here after four persons assaulted him and forced him to lick a shoe on which one of the accused had spit, police said today.


The four men attacked Kasim Shaikh in public near a market in the Cuffe Parade area of South Mumbai on Friday night over some personal enmity, a police official said.


During the incident, one of the accused spit on his shoe and forced Shaikh to lick it, he said. Shaikh managed to free himself from the attackers. But, unable to bear the humiliation, he hanged himself at his residence in the Cuffe Parade area on Saturday morning, the official said.


The police found a purported suicide note from Shaikh's house in which he had named the four attackers and blamed them for his extreme step, he said. Based on the suicide note, the police arrested Ismail Shaikh (47), Akbar Shaikh (35), Karia Pavse (35) and Afzal Qureshi (44) on Saturday evening, the official said. They were booked under the Indian Penal Code section 306 (abatement of suicide), the official said, adding that an investigation was underway. -- PTI

Tamil Nadu Speaker P Dhanapal, Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami, deputy speaker PV Jayaraman, Deputy CM O Panneerselvam, AIADMK senior leader M Thambidurai and the government whip in the assembly, S Rajendran, pay their respects before a portrait of the late J Jayalalithaa which was inaugurated in the state assembly today. 

Congress President Rahul Gandhi visited a dargah in Raichur with Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and later conducted a roadshow. Karnataka is likely to go to the polls in May this year.

Update on the encounter at Karan Nagar, Srinagar: A gunfight broke out between security forces and militants, who took shelter in a building in the Karan Nagar area of Srinagar after their attempt to strike a CRPF camp was foiled early today, officials said.


A CRPF jawan was injured in the exchange of fire in the heart of the city, they said.


"The sentry at the camp noticed two suspicious persons at around 4.30 am, carrying backpacks and weapons. He challenged them and opened fire," a spokesman of the CRPF said. The militants fled from the spot and took shelter in a under-construction house nearby, the officials said. The building has been cordoned off by the CRPF.


According to senior CRPF officials, there were two militants. Intermittent exchange of fire was reported and the CRPF moved in more troops to ensure that the militants do not escape. The incident comes two days after Jaish-e-Mohammad militants attacked an Army camp in Sunjuwan area of Jammu, killing six people including five soldiers. -- PTI

As the body bags of Indian soldiers pile up, here's what the BJP has to say on the increasing number of terror attacks in Kashmir.

BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav on the Sunjuwan attack: "There is desperation and panic among the terrorists. They are trying to indulge in at least some kind of terror activities so that their morale can be restored. We are very sorry that some soldiers had to sacrifice their lives."

Deferred visuals of the CRPF's 23 battalion engaged in firing during the encounter, which is still on at Srinagar's Karan Nagar. Two militants are believed to be holed up in a building in the area.


An encounter is underway at a CRPF camp in Srinagar's Karan Nagar. One CRPF jawan has been injured in the firing.  Two terrorists, carrying bags and armed with AK47s, were seen approaching towards a CRPF camp in Srinagar in the early hours of Monday.


These militants are now trapped in a building close to the camp of CRPF 23 battalion at Karan Nagar in Srinagar. The encounter has just begun.


The sentries immediately opened fire at around 4.30 am, after which the terrorist fled from the spot. A search operation in and around the camp is underway.

A portrait of former Tamil Nadu CM J Jayalalithaa took pride of place inside the state assembly today even as the opposition DMK and Congress boycotted the event. While the TN assembly has other portraits of CMs and political leaders, Jaya's portrait has been placed apart from the rest. 

"It is strange that a country like India, which had gone through crisis after crisis resulting from militancy, insurgency and terrorist attacks, should still be practising ad hocism in managing its security imperatives," says BS Raghavan, former member of the Joint Intelligence Council. Read

"These are terrorists. The more horrific the act, the more eyeballs will it grab. In regular military operations the idea is to minimise civilian casualties, but these terrorists don't have any such compunctions or compulsions."


Archana Masih/Rediff.com speaks to Lieutenant General D S Hooda (retd), in the aftermath of the terror strike on the army camp in Sunjuwan. Lt Gen Hooda was the highest-ranking army officer in charge of the Line of Control and Jammu and Kashmir. He was also the general in charge of the surgical strikes across the LoC on September 2016.  Do read

M K Venu @mkvenu1 RSS chief Bhagwat says Sangh can prepare its cadres for an armed fight within 3 days whereas army takes 5 to 7 months to combat any conflict situation on the border. Is Indian intelligence aware of this capability?


To bring you up to speed, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday had said the organisation has the ability to prepare an "army" to fight for the country within three days, if such a situation arises. "Sangh will prepare military personnel within three days which the Army would do in 6-7 months. This is our capability. Swayamsewak will be ready to take on the front if the country faces such a situation and Constitution permits to do so," he said in the wake of the terror attack on an army camp in Sunjuwan.

UDPATE" An encounter is underway at a CRPF camp in Srinagar's Karan Nagar. One CRPF jawan has been injured in the firing.  Two terrorists, carrying bags and armed with AK47s, were seen approaching towards a CRPF camp in Srinagar in the early hours of Monday.


These militants are now trapped in a building close to the camp of CRPF 23 battalion at Karan Nagar in Srinagar. The encounter has just begun.


The sentries immediately opened fire at around 4.30 am, after which the terrorist fled from the spot. A search operation in and around the camp is underway.


Representational image.

London City Airport was closed on Sunday after construction workers discovered a World War II bomb in the nearby Thames River, reports CNN.


"Following the discovery of a World War II ordnance in King George V Dock as part of planned development works, a 214m exclusion zone has been implemented," the airport said in a statement.


"As a result, London City Airport is currently closed."Metropolitan police were called after the bomb was revealed. The Royal Navy was also deployed to the scene and confirmed the nature of the bomb, the police reported.


"The airport is cooperating fully with the Met Police, Royal Navy and London Borough of Newham," the airport's statement added.


Representational image

Jammu: Wreath laying ceremony of Subedar Madal Lal Choudhary who lost his life in the Sunjwan Army Camp terrorist attack. A pre-dawn terror strike at the military camp in Jammu's Sunjwan has left  five army personnel and two civilians dead. Three suspected Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists were gunned down. The terrorists struck at the sprawling camp of the 36 Brigade of the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry on Saturday.

Rain and hailstorm lashed the Jalna district of Maharashtra on Sunday.The sudden weather change in the area has partially damaged crops and other property. A forecast of a similar weather change in certain parts of Uttarakhand has been issued for Monday. -- ANI


Image: Rain and hailstorm lashed Sehore, Vidisha, Hoshangabad, Guna, Rajgarh, Harda, Betul and Raisen districts of Madhya Pradesh yesterday. The sudden weather change has damaged crops in these districts.

Tlhe Russian authorities confirmed that fragments of the aircraft that crashed in the day were recovered.A Russian plane crashed on the outskirts of Moscow on Sunday killing 71 people onboard.


The flight was taking off from Moscow's Domodedovo airport when the incident took place, reports Sputnik.An Antonov An-148 operated by Saratov Airlines was carrying 65 passengers and six crew members, it reported.


The aircraft was heading towards Orsk from Moscow's Domodedovo airport. - ANI

The rupee recovered by 15 paise to 64.25 against the dollar in opening trade today on fresh selling of the US currency by exporters and banks amid a higher opening in domestic equity markets. Forex dealers said the dollar's losses against major global currencies overseas after last week's rally supported the rupee. -- PTI

Two terrorists, carrying bags and armed with AK47s, were seen approaching towards a CRPF camp in Srinagar in the early hours of Monday.


The sentries immediately opened fire at around 4.30 am, after which the terrorist fled from the spot. A search operation in and around the camp is underway.


Earlier on Saturday, terrorists stormed the Sunjwan army camp in Jammu, killing five security personnel and one civilian. Six army personnel and six civilians are injured. Four terrorists have been gunned down.


Combing operations are underway at the Sunjwan Army Camp in Jammu, where terrorists stormed in on Saturday, killing five security personnel and one civilian.


In addition, six Army personnel and six civilians were injured, including a pregnant woman, who delivered her baby safely shortly after.


The Army successfully neutralised four Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists in the ongoing search operation that is underway since 51 hours. A National Investigation Agency team on Sunday reached Sunjwan Army Camp to take stock of the situation of the situation. -- ANI


Image: Deferred visuals of combing operations being carried out at the Sunjwan Army camp.

Shimla district's Nawar Valley receives fresh snowfall. Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar also turned into a winter wonderland with the onset of fresh snowfall.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan on Sunday reiterated his rejection of the existence of any likelihood of an alliance with Pakistan People's Party.


According to the Express Tribune, the cricketer-turned-politician, while speaking to the media informally, said, "Forming an alliance with Bilawal Bhutto entails conciliation with Asif Zardari which is not possible. If Asif Zardari and Nawaz Sharif bring back the billions of rupees they have hidden overseas then they will have my forgiveness," Khan added.


The comments came as the PTI chief invited Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz parliamentarian Chaudhry Nisar to join his party.


"We could even support Nisar if he runs as an independent candidate in the upcoming general elections," Khan said.Last month in January, Bilawal criticised Khan, saying that the former will teach politics to the latter. -- ANI