LIVE! AMU students end agitation after assurance from varsity officials

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Tue, 19 February 2019

AMU students end agitation after assurance from varsity officials

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23:54 Youth arrested, charged with sedition for 'anti-national' activities on social media

A 19-year-old man has been arrested in Greater Noida and charged with sedition for his alleged anti-national activities on social media, police said on Tuesday.

The accused, Shahzaad Solanki, was held around 10.30 pm on Monday during a security check on a road near Dungarpur, which comes under the jurisdiction of Dankaur police station, they said.

According to police, Solanki, a class 12 student, was disturbing 'communal harmony' and 'spreading hatred' by using social media for his 'anti-national' activities.

"He was posting pro-Pakistan slogans on WhatsApp which were getting circulated further. The police took suo motu cognisance after the posts reached on the WhatsApp of a local police officer," a police official told PTI.

An FIR has been registered against Solanki, a resident of Achcheja village, and he has been charged under Indian Penal Code sections 124A (sedition) and 153 A (promoting enmity between different groups and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), the police said.

Solanki was on Tuesday produced before a local court, which remanded him in 14-day judicial custody, the official from Dankaur police station said. -- PTI

Students of the Aligarh Muslim University ended their six-day-old agitation in Aligarh to protest against the booking of 14 students under sedition charges, after a meeting between varsity administration, district officials and leaders of the students' union.

The dharna ended midnight on Monday after the agitating students were assured by the district authorities that no vindictive action would be taken against any student in the meeting that took place at the residence of AMU Vice Chancellor Tariq Mansoor.

Fourteen AMU students, including their union chief, were booked under sedition charges after violence broke out between two student groups on the campus on February 12 over reports of a planned visit by AIMIM lawmaker Asaduddin Owaisi.

The protest intensified on Monday after the arrest of a student from the university campus on Sunday night.

AMU spokesman Professor Shafey Kidwai said, "The protesting students have agreed to end their dharna after the district authorities gave an assurance that no vindictive action will be taken against any student and justice will be meted out after carefully scrutinising all allegations as per the law."

Kidwai said that the campus atmosphere was expected to 'rapidly normalise'.

District Magistrate Chandra Bhushan Singh told reporters, "We have given an assurance that no innocent student would be harassed. Further action including arrest of those named in the FIRs would only be taken after a thorough inquiry."

Leaders of the AMU students union, while addressing the protestors on Monday afternoon gave a call for a 'jail bharo andolan' urging the students to court arrest in protest against the manner in which AMU students had been unfairly booked under stringent sections including sedition.

President of AMU students union Salman Imtiaz told reporters, "We have written to the President, who is also the university's Visitor asking him to intervene in this grave crisis."

"We are anguished over the fact that whereas fourteen of our students were charged with sedition our FIRs were not even registered," he added.

The AMU Vice Chancellor welcomed the students' decision to call off the agitation and urged them to restore the peaceful atmosphere on the campus as the country was passing through a 'difficult phase' following the threat to its national security which 'stems from the despicable terrorist attack in Pulwama'.

In an open letter to the student community and their parents, Mansoor wrote, "The AMU has always stood with the nation in its darkest hours and we will continue to do so... Students should display exemplary behavior at this critical juncture."

"Let us be ready to pay our debt to the nation in blood," he said in the letter, being sent to every hostel room in the university and the parents of all students. -- PTI

Pakistan on Tuesday summoned India's Acting High Commissioner Gaurav Ahluwalia to lodge a protest against a demonstration held close to its High Commission in New Delhi following the Pulwama terror attack.

It also condemned a move by Rajasthan's Bikaner district officials directing the Pakistani citizens to leave the district in 48 hours as it may create law and order problem in the wake of the attack by Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed in which 40 Central Reserve Police Force personnel were killed.

In a statement, the Foreign Office said that Special Secretary (Asia Pacific) Imtiaz Ahmad summoned the Acting Indian High Commissioner to lodge a 'strong protest' against the anti-Pakistan demonstration in New Delhi.

It claimed that 'protestors were allowed to reach and jolt the gate of the Pakistan House despite presence of Indian security officials'.

The Special Secretary reiterated Pakistan's demand to the Government of India for a 'comprehensive, immediate investigation of this serious breach of security, taking foolproof measures for safety and security of the Pakistan House, High Commission and its officers/officials and their families in New Delhi'.

Foreign Office spokesperson Mohammad Faisal said Pakistan expects "India to comply with inter-state norms and ensure absolute safety and security of all Pakistanis there." -- PTI

The authorities here have issued an order asking Pakistani nationals staying illegally to leave the border district within 48 hours, citing a threat to law and order.

The order issued by the Bikaner district collector days after the Pulwama terror attack that killed 41 Central Reserve Police Force jawans has also banned the use of any phone sim card issued in Pakistan.

It appears to be directed against Pakistani citizens who overstay their visa, or fail to register themselves with the Foreigners Registration Office (FRO) if they are on a long visit.

Bikaner collector Kumarpal Gautam said the order, issued on Monday, does not apply to Pakistani nationals who have registered themselves with the FRO.

Gautam said his order applied to Pakistanis who find employment here after arriving on a 'long-term' visa and those who start staying in Bikaner even though their visa restricted them to other areas in the country.

Under a reciprocal arrangement, India normally grants visa to Pakistanis travelling on pilgrimage or to meet their relatives in the country, with restrictions placed on the places they can visit.

"It is a sensitive zone so prohibitory orders have been issued," Gautam said.

He said hotels and other establishments have been directed not to allow Pakistanis staying illegally in the district.

The official did not give the number of Pakistanis in the district.

The Rajasthan districts of Bikaner, Barmer, Jaisalmer and Srigaganagar share the border with Pakistan.

However, no such order has been issued in the other border districts so far.

The collector said there is resentment among the people after the Pulwama terror attack.

Therefore the movement of Pakistani nationals in the district may create a law and order problem and also pose a threat to their own lives, the order said.

Pakistanis staying in rural and urban areas of Bikaner must leave the district within 48 hours, it added.

"No Pakistani citizen can stay in any hotel, inn or hospital in Bikaner. No Indian citizen in Bikaner will have direct or indirect commercial relations with any Pakistani citizen and will not give employment to them," the order said.

However, it clarified that this did not apply to the Pakistani visitors registered with the FRO.

Among those who have overstayed their visa in Bikaner are Hindus from Pakistan, who allege persecution in that country.

They are staying in places like Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Jaipur and Bikaner.Jodhpur-based activist Hindu Singh Sodha said the district authorities should have registered the unregistered Hindu migrants instead of issuing such an order.

He claimed there are about 25,000 Pakistani nationals in Rajasthan and nearly 5,000 of them are not registered with the FRO.

Most of the Pakistani Hindu long-stayers are in Jodhpur, and a few in Bikaner, according to him. -- PTI

Pakistan army on Tuesday violated ceasefire by resorting to firing on forward posts along Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district, a defence official said.

"Pakistani army initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation along LoC by firing of small arms in Nowshera Sector in district Rajouri at about 1900 hours," PRO Defence said, adding Indian Army is retaliating effectively.

Despite repeated calls at Indo-Pak flag meetings for restraint and adherence to the ceasefire understanding of 2003 for maintaining peace and tranquility, Pakistan continues to violate the ceasefire, officials said.

Since the beginning of the new year, Pakistani troops have been regularly violating the ceasefire, especially along the LoC in Jammu division.

A few incidents of ceasefire violations were also witnessed along the International Border (IB) in January.

The year 2018 had witnessed the highest number of ceasefire violations -- 2,936 -- by Pakistani troops in the last 15 years along the Indo-Pak border. -- PTI

Soon after Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's address to the nation on the Pulwama terror attack in India's Jammu and Kashmir, an image on his official Facebook page was posted with the caption: 'Don't mess with my country.'

In a video message, five days after the Pulwama terror attack, Khan responded to the India's allegations on Pakistan's involvement in the suicide strike carried out by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terror group that left 40 Central Reserve Police Force personnel dead.

The post with Khan's image and a Pakistani flag in the background included some quotes from his address.

"If India thinks it will attack Pakistan then we will not just think but retaliate," said the quote written in Urdu.

"We all know that it is easy to start a war, but very difficult to end". "I hope better sense will prevail".

"The issue of Kashmir can only be resolved through talks". -- PTI

21:17 Saudi crown prince arrives in India

Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman lands in New Delhi for a two-day visit.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi received him at the airport.

Minister of State for external affairs General V K Singh (retd) was also present. -- ANI

The Union Cabinet on Tuesday gave its nod to issue the triple talaq ordinance, which makes the practise of instant triple talaq by Muslim men a penal offence.

A bill which seeks to make the practise of talaq-e-biddat void, is pending in Rajya Sabha.

The bill will lapse on June 3 with the dissolution of the present Lok Sabha.

The Cabinet has given its nod to the triple talaq ordinance, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said.

Once signed by President Ram Nath Kovind, the triple talaq ordinance will come into force for the third time in less than one year. -- PTI

The suicide bomber who carried out last week's attack that killed 27 members of Iran's Revolutionary Guards was a Pakistani national, the elite force said on Tuesday.

"The suicide bomber was named Hafez Mohammad-Ali and was from Pakistan," said Brigadier General Mohammad Pakpour, commander of the Guards' ground forces, quoted by the force's Sepah news agency.

The February 13 suicide bombing killed 27 Revolutionary Guards on a bus in the volatile southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan which borders Pakistan.

The general said the probe into the attack had made headway after the model of the explosives-packed car that exploded next to the bus had been identified.

"Two days ago the first clue, a woman, was identified and arrested, and through this woman, we reached others," Pakpour said.

Apart from the suicide bomber, one of the suspected accomplices was also Pakistani, he said.

Pakpour said the attack had originally been planned for February 11 to coincide with celebrations for the 40th anniversary of Iran's Islamic revolution.

But had security forces had been 'fully prepared' on that day, he said.

A jihadist group, Jaish al-Adl (Army of Justice), which Tehran says operates mostly out of bases in Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the attack.

Iran has Pakistan's army and intelligence agency of sheltering the jihadists. -- Agencies

Priyanka Tikoo/PTI

In a significant development, France will be moving a proposal at the United Nations in a 'couple of days' to ban Masood Azhar, chief of the UN-proscribed Jasih-e-Mohammed which has claimed responsibility of the Pulwama terror strike that left 41 Central Reserve Police Force personnel dead, French sources said on Tuesday.

This will be the second time France will be party to such a proposal at the UN.

In 2017, the United States, supported by the United Kingdom and France, had moved a proposal at the UN's Sanctions Committee 1267 to ban the chief of the Pakistan-based terror outfit.

However, the proposal was blocked by China.

"At the UN, France will lead a proposal to put Masood Azhar on the terrorist list... It will happen in a couple of days," a senior French source told PTI.

The French decision was discussed between Philippe Etienne, Diplomatic Advisor to the French President and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval this morning, French sources told PTI.

While expressing his sincere condolences, the French leader, who called Doval, also emphasised that the two countries should coordinate their diplomatic efforts. -- PTI

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman addresses in Bengaluru on Tuesday ahead of the Aero India, 2019:

"Every effort will be taken to prevent any future incident such as Pulwama terror attack. We are gathering more information from the ground," she said.

On Pakistan PM Imran Khan's statement, she said, "I would not want to say how our government is going to respond to this as no word is sufficient enough to assuage the anger and disappointment of every person of the country."

The prime minister (Modi) has already said that forces have been given freedom to respond at any given time and as they see fit, she said.

On Khan's assurance that Pakistan will take action if India provides evidence of its involvement, Sitharaman said, "Since the Mumbai attack not just this government but earlier government too sent dossier after dossier and evidence. What action has Pakistan taken on them?

"In India following due process of law, courts have been approached and Mumbai attackers have been given due process and been punished too.

"In Pakistan not even the first court is doing its job. There is nothing for Pakistan to show."

On morale of Defence forces, she said, "The morale is not affected at all, they are absolutely ready to do their job. The response the people of India have shown, has brought greater motivation to them." -- ANI

Yoga guru Baba Ramdev said on Tuesday that in the wake of the Pulwama terror attack, India should 'fight a war' against Pakistan to teach it a lesson.

He also said India should extend all kind of help to the separatist movement in Balochistan, a southwestern province of Pakistan.

"A befitting reply has to be given to Pakistan and terrorists. First of all, we have to break Pakistan into three pieces," he said.

India has lost 'over 50,000 soldiers and civilians' so far due to the nefarious activities of Pakistan, Ramdev said, adding, "Now we have to teach a lesson to Pakistan. We must fight a war. Instead of suffering every day, it's better to fight a war and teach Pakistan such a lesson that it can not dare to stand for the next fifty years."

The Yoga guru was speaking to reporters after the launch of a Patanjali apparel store, a venture of his Patanjali group, in Raipur.

"India should support financially and politically those who are fighting for freedom in Balochistan and help them with weapons. India should help them in every way to liberate Balochistan," he said.

"The Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir should be merged into India. All the terrorist camps being operated from PoK should be destroyed," Ramdev added.

"Moreover, India should support rebels in Pakistan to launch a rebellion in that country so that it can be destroyed completely. Until then, Pakistan will not stop its nefarious activities," he said.

Ramdev also reiterated that construction of a Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya was not a political issue but it was something linked to the nation's pride.

"I would say to the Muslims that they should come forward and say that a Ram temple should be built because Lord Ram is their ancestor too," he said. -- PTI

The United States on Tuesday said the Pulwama incident in Jammu and Kashmir has bolstered its resolve to cooperate with India on counter terrorism matters and work with it to get to the bottom of the terror attacks.

The US also called on Pakistan to end immediately its support and safe haven provided to all terrorist groups operating on its soil.

"We are working closely with the government of India in terms of getting to the bottom of the terrorist attacks," US Ambassador to India Kenneth I Juster told reporters in Bengaluru.

Noting that the US had been cooperating with India on the issue of terror, he said, "We have condemned them; we have previously condemned terrorist sanctuaries that exist in Pakistan and we have suspended military assistance to them."

"This incident bolsters our resolve to cooperate with India on counter terrorism matters and work with them to get to the bottom of what occurred last week," he said on the Pulwama incident, in which 40 Central Reserve Police Force personnel were killed in one of the deadliest terror strikes in decades in Jammu and Kashmir.

Juster described the Pulwama attack as 'horrific'.

Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), headed by Masood Azhar, has claimed responsibility for the attack in which a suicide bomber rammed a vehicle carrying explosives into a bus in the CRPF convoy.

The US ambassador is here leading a high-level US delegation for the five-day Aero India event beginning in Bengaluru on Wednesday with the largest-ever US participation in Asia's premier air show.

Asked if he would foresee Pakistan ordering a crackdownon terror groups operating from its soil with more pressure from the US, Juster said, "I don't want to get ahead of the situation that is developing, we have condemned the existence of terrorist sanctuaries and we are urging Pakistan to crackdown on those and we will have to see what the factual... in terms of exactly how this incident occurred."

On US' defence relationship with India, Juster said it continued to undergo a rapid expansion as part of the deepening strategic partnership between the two countries.

He said the US and India were committed to strengthening defence cooperation in line with India's status as a major defence partner and added that defence acquisition was a key element of 'deepening our bilateral relationship'.

The US delegation to Aero India includes Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Alan Shaffer and Director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency Lieutenant General Charles Hooper. -- PTI

The ministry of external affairs has responded to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's assertion that Islamabad was nowhere linked to the Pulwama terror attack.

In a point-by-point rebuttal, the MEA said it was not surprised that the "Prime Minister of Pakistan refuses to acknowledge the attack on our security forces in Pulwama as an act of terrorism."

The PM of Pakistan has neither chosen to condemn this heinous act nor condoled with the bereaved families, it added.

The statement released by the MEA further said, "Disclaiming any link between the terrorist attack and Pakistan is an oft-repeated excuse by Pakistan. The Pakistani Prime Minister has ignored claims made by the Jaish-e-Mohammed, as well as by the terrorist, who perpetrated this heinous crime. It is a well-known fact that Jaish-e-Mohammed and its leader Masood Azhar are based in Pakistan. These should be sufficient proof for Pakistan to take action."

Slamming Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan for demanding proof of his country's involvement in the Pulwama terror attack, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday said JeM chief Masood Azhar had masterminded the attack while "sitting in Bahawalpur".

In a tweet, Singh asked Khan about the action taken by Pakistan against the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack despite being presented with proof.

"Dear @ImranKhanPTI (Pakistan tehreek e insaf) you have Jaish chief Masood Azhar sitting in Bahawalpur and masterminding the attacks with ISI help. Go pick him up from there. If you can't let us know we'll do it for you," Singh tweeted.

"BTW (by the way) what has been done about the proofs of Mumbai's 26/11 attack. Time to walk the talk," he said.

Singh wondered if the Pakistan prime minister wanted New Delhi to send the bodies of the slain CRPF soldiers to Pakistan as "actionable intelligence".

"What proof is he talking about, should we take the bodies (of soldiers) there?," said Singh in a statement.

"Masood Azhar (founder of terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed which claimed responsibility for the attack) is in Pakistan and doing things from there, and everyone knows it," he added.

Earlier in the day, in a video message to the nation, Khan responded to the Indian allegations on Pakistan's involvement in the attack in Kashmir last Thursday.

The suicide attack by Pakistan-based JeM left at least 40 Central Reserve Police Force personnel dead.

-- PTI

The National Commission For Women on Tuesday asked Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik to initiate "speedy investigation" into the alleged harassment of journalist Barkha Dutt on social media.

In the letter to the police chief, the commission said it has come across media reports about Dutt's allegation that she had received threat calls and had been harassed on social media after she offered to help Kashmiris who were being targeted.

Dutt had also tweeted to Delhi Police apprising them of the matter, the letter said. "It is requested to initiate speedy investigation in the matter and take action as per the law," the letter added.

Dutt tweeted thanking the commission for taking up the matter with the Delhi Police.

"Thank you #NCW and Rekha Sharma for raising this with Delhi Police. I await the response of @DelhiPolice - I have filed my formal complaint with them yesterday," she posted on the micro-blogging site.

"I had close to 1000 abusive messages and calls in a coordinated and violent mob attack. These included a message to shoot me, a nude photo, many sexually abusive messages. I outed the men who did this. Twitter locked me till many of the details were taken down," she tweeted.

Dutt sought to help Kashmiris living outside the state after reports said that they were being targeted in the wake of the recent Pulwama attacks, where 40 CRPF personnel were killed after a suicide bomber rammed a vehicle carrying over 100 kg of explosives into their bus.

-- PTI

Just in: Bernie Sanders, the independent senator from Vermont, has entered the 2020 race for the White House. In an email to supporters on Tuesday morning, Sanders, a self-styled Democratic socialist who spent much of his nearly 30-year political career as an outsider, announced his decision to run again, casting his candidacy as way to accomplish the mission he started in his race for the White House three years ago.

17:38 Fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld dead

Legendary Chanel fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld has died at the age of 85 after weeks of ill health.

The German-born designer was the creative director of Chanel and has remained one of fashion's most iconic and influential figures.

His trademark dark sunglasses, snow-white ponytail and black leather gloves was marked presence at fashion shows and he has remained one of the prolific designers of our age.

Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh on the Pulwama slaughter: "If even one of our jawans is martyred, we should kill 2 of theirs (Pakistan). This is the only language they will understand. We've already said that whatever steps government takes, we will support."

On Pakistan PM Imran Khan's statement: "What more proof does he want? JeM chief Masood Azhar is sitting there. Will they accept when we show them bodies of the terrorists killed by our forces? So what kind of a statement is this? Whole world knows the truth."

PDP chief and former J-K CM Mehbooba Mufti says she disagrees with Pakistan PM Imran Khan's statement on the Pulwama terror attack where he said he action would be taken against the perpetrators if India provided 'actionable intelligence'. Mufti tweeted, "Disagree. Pathankot dossier was given to them but no action was taken to punish the perpetrators . Time to walk the talk. But Pak PM deserves a chance since he's recently taken over. Of course the war rhetoric has more to do with the impending elections than anything else."

17:07 Tamil Nadu 2019: AIADMK: 28, BJP: 5, PMK: 7

The BJP seals its alliance with the AIADMK for the 2019 polls. Addressing a joint press briefing with Union minister Piyush Goyal, Tamil Nadu Deputy CM O Panneerselvam said the AIADMK and the BJP will have an alliance for Lok Sabha elections which will be a mega and winning alliance. "The BJP will contest on 5 seats in Lok Sabha elections and we will be contesting together in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry," Panneerselvam said. The AIADMK will contest the remainder seats 29 of the 40 seats.

This morning, the BJP-AIADMK combine beat the Congress to win the support of the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) for an electoral alliance in Tamil Nadu. The PMK will contest on six Lok Sabha seats and will be given one Rajya Sabha seat.

"We will support the AIADMK in the by-elections on the 21 assembly seats in Tamil Nadu. We have agreed to contest elections in the leadership of OPS and EPS in the state and in leadership of Modiji at the centre," Piyush Goyal said.

File pic: PM Narendra Modi with Tamil Nadu deputy CM O Panneerselvam and CM E Palaniswami

Thousands of people on Tuesday paid their last respects to Major Vibhuti Shankar Dhoundiyal, who died fighting terrorists in Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir, at his residence in Dehradun. His mother Saroj, a cardiac patient, his wife Nikita Kaul, whom he had married less than a year ago, and a host of relatives and friends were crying inconsolably as Major Dhoundiyal's coffin was kept for people to pay their last respects before being taken to Haridwar for the last rites. In a twin tragedy for the family, Nikita Kaul's mother, Veena, passed away this morning, unable to bear the shock of the Major's death.

In moving images at the funeral, Nikita stood before her husband's body and said, ""I'm really proud... You lied to me that you loved me. In fact you loved the nation way more... We all love you."

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat placed a wreath on the coffin amid cries of "Shaheed Dhoundiyal Amar Rahein" and "Vande Mataram". People had climbed to rooftops and also stood on either side of the road leading to the officer's residence. Major Dhoundiyal's body, draped in the tricolour, was brought home late on Monday night.

The news of his death had come as the last rites of Major Chitresh Bisht, who died defusing a mine near the LoC in Rajouri district, were still underway in Haridwar on Monday.

16:05

The last rites of Major VS Dhoundiyal in Haridwar. He lost his life in an encounter in Pulwama yesterday.

15:33 Meghalaya governor's shocker: Boycott everything Kashmiri

Against the backdrop of the Pulwama terrorist attack that claimed lives of 40 CRPF personnel, Meghalaya Governor Tathagata Roy on Wednesday asked the people to boycott Kashmiri goods and also urged people not to visit Kashmir.

Roy tweeted, "An appeal from a retired colonel of the Indian Army: Dont visit Kashmir,dont go to Amarnath for the next 2 years. Dont buy articles from Kashmir emporia or Kashmiri tradesman who come every winter. Boycott everything Kashmiri." I am inclined to agree.

The shocking statement drew flak from former J-K CM Omar Abdullah, who tweeted, "These are the bigots driving Kashmir over the abyss. While you are at it Tathagata why dont you stop using our rivers to generate your electricity as well?

"People like Tathagata want Kashmir but without Kashmiris. Theyd sooner see us driven in to the sea. Hell be best placed to know he cant have one without the other so whats it to be?"

Senior journalist Shekhar Gupta tweeted, "Which Constitution did you take your oath of office to protect, Governor sir? The copy of Indian Constitution I have read says Kashmir is a part of India and all Kashmiris are our fellow citizens. Unless youve amended it lately...

Roy then responded tweeting, "Vociferously violent reactions from media and several others to my ECHOING OF a suggestion from a retired army colonel. A purely NON-VIOLENT REACTION to the killing of our soldiers by the hundreds and the driving out of 3.5 lakh Kashmiri Pandits."

Shiv Sena MLC and spokesperson Manisha Kayande had also appealed to all the "Indians and tour companies to boycott Kashmir tourism for two years''. She said boycotting tourism in Jammu and Kashmir, "where youth, women and children pelt stones on security forces", would hurt the economic resources of the northern state.

14:42 On day 5, curfew partially lifted in Jammu

Authorities Tuesday relaxed curfew for two hours in the jurisdiction of three police station areas of Jammu, while it continued to remain in force in rest of the city, which had witnessed massive protests in the wake of the Pulwama terror attack, officials said.

Advisors to Governor Satya Pal Malik met him at the Raj Bhavan Monday evening and briefed him on the prevailing law and order situation in the aftermath of the Pulwama incident. District Magistrate, Jammu, Ramesh Kumar said restrictions under section 144 CrPC would remain imposed to maintain law and order. All wine shops and bars would remain closed, Kumar said.

Curfew was imposed in entire Jammu city on Friday following massive anti-Pakistan protests and sporadic incidents of violence over the terror attack in Pulwama district of south Kashmir which left 40 CRPF personnel dead on Thursday.

Inspector General of Police, Jammu, MK Sinha said the decision to relax curfew in other parts of the city would be taken looking at the conditions during the two-hour relaxation.

On Monday, authorities relaxed curfew for three hours in five police station areas of south Jammu and the relaxation period passed off peacefully. In another development, Jammu University announced postponement of all examinations scheduled for the day in view of the prevailing situation. The governor directed availability of essential commodities, medicines etc. be ensured by the administration. Mobile Internet services continued to remain suspended as a precautionary measure to check spread of rumours but BSNL broadband services are functioning normally. PTI

Image: The site of the encounter with Jaish terrorists in Pulwama yesterday. Pic: Umar Ganie

14:33 Vadra skips ED appearance, cites bad health

Robert Vadra, brother-in-law of Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Tuesday skipped his scheduled appearance before the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case probe, citing his bad health, officials said.

They said Vadra's lawyers informed the investigating officer (IO) of the case their client is unwell and hence will be unable to join the probe related to allegations of money laundering to purchase assets abroad. They said the businessman, also the son-in-law of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, may appear either on Wednesday or on a mutually acceptable date later this week.

Vadra was questioned by the ED in this case for 23 hours over three days of deposition earlier this month. He has been asked by a Delhi court to cooperate in the probe being conducted by the central probe agency.

The ED case against Vadra relates to allegations of money laundering in the purchase of a London-based property located at 12, Bryanston Square worth 1.9 million GBP (British pounds), which is allegedly owned by him.

-- PTI

14:08 Anuj Sharma new Kolkata Police Commissioner.

Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar has been posted as ADG and IGP, Criminal Investigation Department, West Bengal. Anuj Sharma is the new Kolkata Police Commissioner.

Pakistan PM Imran Khan's statement on the Pulwama terrort attack: "My statement is for the Indian government. You (Indian govt) have blamed the Pakistan government without any evidence. It is in our interest that nobody from our soil spreads violence. I want to tell Indian govt that we will take action if evidence is found against anyone from Pakistan. Pakistan ko isse kya faayda hai? Kyu Pakistan karega iss stage ke upar jab Pakistan stability ki taraf ja raha hai?

"If you (Indian govt) think you will attack us and we will not think of retaliating, we will retaliate. We all know starting a war is in the hands of humans, where it will lead us only God knows. This issue should be solved through dialogue."

In a hard-hitting speech at the launch of the Vande Bharat train 18 in New Delhi, on Friday, a day after 41 CRPF men were killed by a Jaish-e-Mohammed suicide bomber in Pulwama, Modi said the 'blood of the people is boiling' and forces behind the act of terrorism will definitely be punished.

"Security forces have been given complete freedom, the blood of the people is boiling...Our neighbouring country, which has been isolated internationally, thinks such terror attacks can destabilise us, but their plans will not materialise," Modi said.

Addressing a public meeting in Jhansi later in the day, the prime minister again did not name Pakistan but said the attack was an outcome of its desperation as it is in a bad shape and has been forced to go to different countries with a 'begging bowl' to meet even its daily expenses.

Asserting that the sacrifices of CRPF soldiers will 'not go in vain', he said, "Security forces have been given permission to take decisions about the timing, place and nature of their response... This is an India of new convention and policy."

The mortal remains of Army Havildar Sheo Ram, who was killed in an encounter with terrorists in the Pinglan area of Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district, were consigned to flames with full military and state honours in Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan, Tuesday. His four-year-old son lit the funeral pyre amid chanting of slogans in support of the Indian Army and against Pakistan.

Soldier Welfare Minister Pratap Singh and Health Minister Raghu Sharma attended the funeral at Sheo Ram's village Tiba Basai in Jhunjhunu district.

People in large numbers were present in the funeral and paid tributes to Sheo Ram who was among four Army personnel who laid down their lives in an encounter with terrorists in Pulwama on Monday.

Three Jaish terrorists, four Army personnel, including a Major, a policeman and a civilian were killed in the encounter in Pinglan, about 12 km from where a suicide bomber drove his explosives-laden vehicle into a CRPF bus last week, killing 40 jawans.

At least nine security personnel, including a brigade commander, a lieutenant colonel and a deputy inspector general of the Jammu and Kashmir police, were injured in the gun battle that lasted nearly 16 hours.

Sheo Ram, a 55 Rashtriya Rifles jawan, was posted in Pulwama. He is survived by his mother Sharli Devi, wife Sunita Devi and the four-year-old son. -- PTI

A pilot was killed and two others ejected to safety when two aircraft of IAF's aerobatic team Surya Kiran crashed near the Yelahanka airbase in Bengaluru Tuesday, a day before the opening of the Aero India show, a top police official said.

The mishap occurred during a sortie as part of the rehersal for the five-day Asia's premier Air show here.

"There were three pilots, one has died, two are safe with injuries," DGP Fire Services M N Reddi who rushed to the spot told PTI.

Two civilians were also injured in the mishap, police said. "I'm aware of it (incident)," Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, but did not elaborate further when asked about the accident.

She said this on the sidelines of an event here. It was not immediately clear whether the two aircraft collided before the crash. -- PTI

Update: One of the two pilots is believed to be grievously injured. Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman is in Bengaluru and is rushing to the Yellahanka airbase. Two, not one, civilians are injured in the crash.

Update: Two IAF Surya Kiran aircraft part of an aerobatics team crashed at the Yelahanka airbase in Bengaluru while rehearsing for the Aero India air show tomorrow. A video of the incident shows the two aircraft going into a tailspin and as the person shooting the video exclaims in horror, both the planes drop out of sight and crash. While reports say they crashed into each other, no confirmations yet on how that happened. Both pilots are believed to have ejected safely. Bengaluru police says, "One civilian has been hurt. Both pilots have ejected, the debris has fallen near the ISRO layout, Yelahanka new town area."

More details awaited.

Image: A video grab of the wreckage of the Surya Kiran planes on fire.

12:49 Home they brought the warrior dead

In Haryana, mortal remains of Sepoy Hari Singh, who lost his life in an encounter with terrorists in Pulwama yesterday, brought home in Rewari.

Meanwhile, Army sources say that Major Vibhuti Dhoundiyal's mother-in-law, Veena Kaul, passed away this morning unable to bear the tragic news of his demise. Major Dhoundiyal, was among four armymen who were killed during an encounter in Pulwama, yesterday. The Major's wife, Nikita Kaul, paid an emotional farewell before her husband's tricolour-draped coffin this morning, with all of Dehradun out on the streets, mourning the loss of a brave son.

In other news, the Supreme Court Tuesday disposed of a plea challenging the appointment of M Nageswara Rao as the interim CBI Director. A bench of Justices Arun Mishra and Vineet Saran said no further interference is required as the relief has already been granted with the appointment of a full time CBI Director.

The verdict came on a plea of NGO, Common Cause, which had challenged the appointment of Rao as interim CBI director. In a previous hearing on February 1, the top court had said that it was "averse" to the arrangement of an interim CBI Director and the Centre should "immediately" appoint a regular chief of the probe agency. -- PTI

Pakistan's civil and military leadership is expected to meet this week to discuss the increasing tensions with India following one of the worst terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir in which over 40 Indian soldiers were killed, according to a media report on Tuesday.

On February 14, at least 41 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed in Kashmir's Pulwama district in a suicide attack claimed by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad terror group.

The attack has heightened bilateral tensions with both New Delhi and Islamabad calling back their envoys. The Express Tribune reported that the Pakistani envoy would brief the civil and military leadership about the current situation in India.

The high-powered National Security Committee (NSC), the highest decision-making forum on national security and foreign policy, is likely to meet this week. The meeting would be presided over by Prime Minister Imran Khan and attended by key federal ministers as well as the services chiefs, the report said.

The high-level meeting, according to sources, would review the situation arising after the Pulwama attack.

On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi once again said the country would take action against the perpetrators of the Pulwama attack, adding that the time for talks was over.

Pakistan has strongly rejected India's allegations and said that the JeM remains a proscribed entity in Pakistan since 2002 and the country was implementing its obligations on sanctions implementation. -- PTI

11:20

Digvijaya Singh quips: Navjot Singh Sidhuji apne Dost Imran Bhai ko samjhaiye.

11:18 SOP on civilian cars will be changed: CRPF

Zulfiquar Hasan, CRPF on the Pulwama terror attack: The incident happened because of an IED laden civilian car. The ROP had secured the highway. Now, SOP on civilian cars will be changed.

Kanwal Jeet Singh Dhillon, Corps Commander of Chinar Corps, Indian Army, holds a press briefing on the attack on the CRPF jawans and the encounter at Pulwama yesterday which saw three Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists dead.

Dhillon warned that anyone who has picked up a gun will be killed unless they surrender. He said recruitment has come down, and reaching out to Kashmiri mothers he said, "Tell your sons not to join terrorism."

He also sent a message to the Kashmiri youth urging them to stay away from encounter sites. "We don't want any civilian casualties," he said. He said while an encounter was going civilians can be killed in crossfire. He said even after the encounter, until the place was sanitised, people should stay away since there could be IEDs at the place.

Speaking on the Pulwama encounter yesterday, he said in less than 100 hours of the Pulwama terrorist attack, the security forces have eliminated have JeM leadership in the valley which was being handled by JeM from Pakistan. He said the slain Jaish terrorist Kamran was the chief operations commander of the group operating from Kashmir. He said Jaish-e-Mohammed is a child of the Pakistan army. The Pakistan army is 100 per cent involved in this (the terror attack on the 41 CRPF jawans).

He said the type of car bomb attack that took place in Pulwama on 14th Feb, happened after a long time in Kashmir. "We will keep all options open to deal with these kinds of attacks. Investigation is at an advanced stage," he said.

Image: Kanwal Jeet Singh Dhillon, Corps Commander of Chinar Corps, Indian Army.

10:52 Sepoy Hari Singh's village mourns his death

Mourners, including children, line the way to the home of Sepoy Hari Singh who lost his life in action in the Pulwama encounter yesterday. His mortal remains have just reached Rewari.

In a joint appeal, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah and Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti on Monday expressed dismay over attacks on Kashmiris across the country and urged the government of India (GoI) to ensure the safety and security of Kashmiris everywhere.

The two former chief ministers underscored the need to maintain communal harmony across the country. In their appeal, the leaders asserted that by attacking, terrorizing, intimidating Kashmiris, the youngsters of Kashmir are implicitly being told that they have no future outside of the valley.

"Intimidating Kashmiris is aimed at creating a wedge between different communities in India. We should not allow the terror to divide us. By using such incidents to divide us, we fall into the trap of those behind the attack on CRPF soldiers; we are wittingly or unwittingly playing to the tunes of our enemies," Mehbooba and Omar said.

The leaders asserted that attacking innocent people because of their ethnicity or religion, is no way to honour the sacrifice of the CRPF men.

"Kashmiri Muslims or the Muslims of Jammu didnt attack our CRPF Jawans the other day, terrorists did. This violence is a convenient tool by some to shift the blame. Let us unite against terror, lets not allow terror to divide us," they said.

The two former CMs maintained it was tragic to see educated and civilized people spearheading vicious propaganda to paint Kashmiris and terrorists with the same brush. "The thought behind such attacks is to divide us. Our pain must not fuel such diabolical plans because eventually the axe forgets and the tree remembers," they said.

Expressing dismay over the continuous rhetoric being used against Kashmiris the leaders said, "No mainstream political party will condone terrorism. The ferocity of the rhetoric by certain media channels is also dangerous. They churn lies, hatred and divisive agenda by berating the national interests."

The leaders while expressing concern over the reports of violence, and arson in Jammu described the happenings as worrying. Both the leaders urged the political dispensation and civil society of Jammu to ensure that cooler heads prevail.

The leaders made an earnest appeal to the GOI to ensure the directions issued to all state governments to ensure safety and security of Kashmiris are implemented. "It doesnt augur well for a democratic country like India to hound its own people in its response to the heinous attack on our forces. Hounding innocent Kashmiris will indisputably disenchant them; the humiliation, suspicion, isolation will push innocent Kashmiris to the wall.

"As a country we need to stand together in this hour of grief and sorrow and not allow forces inimical to unity in our country to find any space," Mehbooba and Omar together appealed.

10:20 Rewari awaits her son

Visuals from the residence of Sepoy Hari Singh who lost his life in action in the Pulwama encounter yesterday. His mortal remains will be brought to his home in Rewari today.

In Meerut, the mother of Sepoy Ajay Kumar who lost his life in the encounter with terrorists in #ulwama yesterday, says, "Pakistan has killed so many sons. Pakistan isn't that big that India can't destroy it. India can destroy it in one day. I'm proud of my son, he sacrificed his life for the country."

10:00 Goodbye, Major Dhoundiyal

Another day, another funeral in Uttarakhand. Just as the state had come to terms with the death of Major Chitresh Bisht who was killed at the Line of Control over the weekend, it received the news of another's death -- Major Vibhuti Dhoundiyal.

Major Dhoundiyal had died in an encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama yesterday. He was just 34 years old. Major Dhoundiyal, a resident of Dehradun, is survived by his wife Nikita Kaul.

He was among four army men killed in an encounter with Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists in Pulwama just a short distance away from the spot where over 40 Central Reserve Police Force jawans were killed last week in a suicide attack by the Pakistan-based terrorist group.

Major Chitresh Bisht was killed on Saturday while defusing a mine on the Line of Control in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district on Saturday. He was cremated in Haridwar on Monday afternoon.

Image: Nikita Kaul salutes her husband's body in a final farewell. Major Dhoundiyal was killed in an encounter yesterday. Pic: ANI

09:46 Dehradun mourns its brave son

People pay their respects to the mortal remains of Major Vibhuti Dhoundiyal who was killed in an encounter with terrorists in Pulwama in Kashmir, yesterday. Major Dhoundiyal was a resident of Dehradun.

Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat expressed grief at the incident saying the entire country stood with the martyr's family.

Also read: The war has come home to us: A cousin and friend remember Major Dhaundiyal who made the supreme sacrifice for the motherland on Monday.

The RSS-affiliated Swadeshi Jagran Manch has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to create hurdles for Chinese companies doing business in India as China continues to block New Delhi's attempts to designate Masood Azhar, whose JeM carried out the terrorist attack on a CRPF convoy in Pulwama, as a "global terrorist".

In a letter to Modi, SJM co-convener Ashwani Mahajan Monday said the dastardly terrorist attack in Pulwama has shaken the conscience of the nation and at this time steps should be taken to prevent the economic gain of any nation that directly or tacitly supports such terrorists.

"It is widely known that the Chinese government continues to block our nation's attempts to designate Masood Azhar, chief architect of these terror attacks, as a 'global terrorist'.

"At such a time, we believe it is imperative that the government create similar hurdles for Chinese companies that are using India for their economic gain," Mahajan said.

Welcoming the government's decision to withdraw the most favoured nation tag and raise customs duties for all products imported from Pakistan, he said India should not allow Chinese companies to capture its user data without any restrictions and monitoring, as data is new oil.

He claimed that in the past two years there has been a proliferation of Chinese social media and e-commerce companies and other applications in India.

A number of them have in recent weeks been called out by the media as well as various concerned citizens for having undesirable content.

Such apps have been banned in various countries including Indonesia. These apps are known for sharing the details of children and being an open ground for child pornography and possibly anti-national activities. -- PTI

A speeding truck ran into a marriage procession in Rajasthan's Pratapgarh district fatally hitting 13 people, four of them children, while leaving 18 others injured, police said Tuesday.

The accident happened near Ramdev temple on State Highway-113 Monday night when the truck, going to Banswara from Nimbahera, rammed into the marriage party moving on the roadside, Choti Sadri DSP Vijaypal Singh Sandhu said.

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said he was deeply saddened to hear about the accident. "My heartfelt condolences to the grieved families. I pray for speedy recovery of injured people (sic)," he tweeted.

He said the injured were rushed to a government hospital in Choti Sadri and later on 15 of them, who were critically hurt, were referred to a facilities in Udaipur.

Nine of the deceased have been identified as: Daulatram (60), Bharat (30), Shubham (5), Chotu (5), Dilip (11), Arjun (15), Ishu (19), Ramesh (30) and Karan (28), police said.

The DSP said the truck driver apparently could not see the procession.

He said the bodies are kept in a mortuary for postmortem and an investigation is underway. -- PTI

Amid growing tension between India and Pakistan after the Pulwama terror attack, Saudi Arabia on Monday said its main objective is to "deescalate tension" between the neighbouring countries and it hopes that Delhi and Islamabad would resolve the dispute peacefully.

According to Dawn, while addressing the joint press conference in Islamabad, Saudi minister of state for foreign affairs Adel bin Ahmed Al- Jubeir said, "Saudi Arabia's objective is to try to deescalate tension between the neighbouring countries. I hope that both countries would be able to resolve the dispute between them peacefully."

The Saudi minister's comments came in the wake of the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed when their convoy was targeted by a suicide bomber of Pakistan-backed Jaish-e-Mohammad.

This development is crucial as Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman arrives in India on today.

The minister was addressing a joint press conference with Pakistan's foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in Islamabad during the state visit of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.

He also slammed Iran for accusing Pakistan of the recent attack on Iran Revolutionary Guards and said Tehran itself is a "chief sponsor of terrorism".

The remarks by the minister came after the visit of the Saudi crown prince's visit to Pakistan.

Al-Jubeir said, "It was strange [for] the foreign minister of the world's chief sponsor of terrorism to accuse others of engaging in terrorist activities".

Al- Jubeir accused Iran of "sponsoring" terrorism "since the Iranian revolution of 1979", adding that Iran had "established terrorist groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and Houthis in Yemen. He said that "Iran had been implicated" in terrorist attacks that took place in other countries, including Saudi Arabia and the United States.

Earlier, MBS announced a US$ 20 billion bailouts for Pakistan. -- ANI

Image: Pakistan PM Imran Khan and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.

Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy on Monday ended his sit-in in after a meeting with Lt Governor Kiran Bedi, saying "partial success" was achieved on various demands.

Narayanasamy was staging a dharna in front of the assembly, which entered its sixth day on Monday, over various demands such as increasing assistance under old age and widow pension schemes.

The chief minister also said he and his cabinet colleagues also suspended other agitations, including jail bharo and the fast slated for February 20 and 21.

"We are suspending all the agitations slated for the next two days against Kiran Bedi as we could score partial success on various public issues at the meeting we had with her," Narayanasamy said at a press conference after a over four-hour-long meeting with Bedi at her office here tonight.

He said after the talks with the Lt Governor he and his cabinet colleagues met at the committee room and it was decided "unanimously" by ministers and legislators that "the agitations including jail bharo and massive fast slated for February 20 and 21 are suspended".

Narayanasamy also said the dharna outside the assembly was also called off immediately after the meeting.

He said the talks were held at the invitation of the Lt Governor on various issues listed by him in his letter sent to her on February 7 .

"Most of the important issues, including payment of monthly assistance to 10,000 new applicants under old age and widow pension ,and auctioning of the cooperative sugar mill to raise funds to pay farmers and workers were discussed, and the Lt Governor accorded her approval to these schemes," the chief minister said. -- PTI

Social media giants like Facebook need much stricter regulations to prevent them getting away with behaving like "digital gangsters", a UK parliamentary report on fake news concluded.

In its final report at the end of an 18-month investigation, the House of Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Selection Committee accused Facebook co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg of showing contempt for British parliament in refusing three separate demands to give evidence, and instead sending junior employees unable to answer all the questions.

Companies like Facebook should not be allowed to behave like digital gangsters' in the online world, considering themselves to be ahead of and beyond the law, the report notes.

"By choosing not to appear before the Committee and by choosing not to respond personally to any of our invitations, Mark Zuckerberg has shown contempt towards the UK Parliament, notes the report, which is extremely critical of Facebook's online model.

The committee began conducting its inquiry into the spread of fake news last year in the wake of the Cambridge Analytica data breach scandal, which revealed widespread misuse of public data by the now-defunct British company.

The committee's 'Disinformation and 'fake news': Final Report' reiterates the role played by CA's parent company, SCL Group, in some foreign elections in countries like India, which had also been among the conclusions of its interim report last year.

"Democracy is at risk from the malicious and relentless targeting of citizens with disinformation and personalised 'dark adverts' from unidentifiable sources, delivered through the major social media platforms we use every day," concluded the report.

"The big tech companies are failing in the duty of care they owe to their users to act against harmful content, and to respect their data privacy rights," it added.

-- PTI

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