LIVE! NIA searches 10 locations in Jharkhand, WB in terror funding case

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Thu, 21 February 2019

NIA searches 10 locations in Jharkhand, WB in terror funding case

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23:23 NIA searches 10 locations in Jharkhand, WB in terror funding case

The National Investigation Agency conducted searches at 10 locations in Jharkhand and West Bengal on Thursday in connection with a terror funding case involving the banned People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI).

The residences and offices of close aides and companies associated with PLFI chief Dinesh Gope in Ranchi, Gumla, Khunti and Kolkata were searched for their alleged role in the financing of the PLFI, according to an NIA spokesperson.

The NIA seized cash approximately Rs 3.41 lakh, incriminating documents pertaining to payments/investment by PLFI chief/cadres in various firms and immovable properties, fake PAN cards and fake identity cards, bank accounts details and fixed deposits, documents showing payments made to the various shell companies, 40 mobile phones and other digital devices containing incriminating information, he said.

The seized items also included diaries containing entries of investments, he said.

He said the concerned persons are being examined.

The case is related to depositing of extorted levy amount by Gope through associates namely Vinod Kumar, Yamuna Prasad, Chandra Sekhar Kumar, Nand Kishore and Mohan Kumar, who have been arrested. Gope is absconding, he said.

The operations were carried out with the support of Jharkhand and West Bengal Police, NIA spokesperson said. -- PTI

Image only for representation.

23:18 Bihar MLA held with ten bullets at IGI airport

An MLA from Bihar has been apprehended at the Delhi airport for allegedly carrying ten bullets in his baggage, officials said on Thursday.

Chandrashekhar was intercepted by a CISF personnel during baggage checking on Wednesday at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) while he was about to take a flight to Patna, they said.

The MLA from Madhepura could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.

Ten live bullets of 3.15 bore were recovered from the passenger, the officials said.

He was not allowed to take the flight and was handed over to the police as he could not produce any documents for carrying the ammunition, they said, adding that he was later booked under sections of the Arms Act.

"The investigation in the case is on and the person has not been arrested till now," a senior police official said.

Arms and ammunition are not allowed to be carried by passengers as per Indian aviation security rules. -- PTI

Congress MLA J N Ganesh was on Thursday flown to Bengaluru from Gujarat, a day after being arrested for allegedly assaulting another lawmaker from his party.

He was produced before the Ramanagara district court, which remanded him to judicial custody for 14 days.

The Kampli MLA from Ballari district has been lodged inthe Parappana Agrahara jail.

Ganesh was arrested near a restaurant in Somnath, weeks after he was declared absconding for allegedly thrashing Anand Singh during a brawl at a resort on city outskirts during the recent political turmoil in the state.

The police recorded his 'voluntary' statement and took him to a hospital for medical check-up, Ramanagara Superintendent of police Ramesh Bhanot told reporters.

According to the complaint filed with the police, Ganesh had allegedly attacked Singh on January 20 at the Bidadi resort with his fists and a flowerpot, hit him near his eye and kicked him on his chest.

The incident had happened when Congress MLAs were camping at the resort to thwart an alleged bid by the BJP to poach them, in its attempt to topple the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) coalition government in the state.

In his complaint, Singh alleged that Ganesh was upset as he suspected that he wanted to finish him off politically and did not support him financially during the Karnataka Assembly polls last year.

A seriously injured Singh was admitted to a private hospital in the city.

Based on a complaint, the police had registered a case of attempt to murder against Ganesh.

Fearing arrest, the Congress MLA did not appear for the crucial budget session of the state legislature, despite a whip. -- PTI

A metropolitan magistrate's court in Mumbai has issued summons to Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Sitaram Yechury after a defamation complaint was filed by an Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh worker for allegedly linking journalist Gauri Lankesh's murder with 'BJP-RSS ideology'.

RSS worker and lawyer Dhrutiman Joshi had filed a private complaint in the court in 2017 against Rahul Gandhi, United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi, the CPI-M and its general secretary Yechury.

Magistrate P K Deshpande on February 18 ordered that 'process be issued' against Rahul Gandhi and Yechury.

He, however, dismissed the complaint against Sonia Gandhi and the CPI-M, saying a party cannot be held liable for comments made by individuals.

The matter was set for further hearing on March 25.

Lankesh was shot dead outside her house in Bengaluru in September 2017, allegedly by the members of a right-wing extremist group.

Joshi alleged that within 24 hours of Lankesh's death, Rahul Gandhi told mediapersons that 'anybody who speaks against the ideology of the BJP, against the ideology of the RSS is pressured, beaten, attacked and even killed'.

Yechury too stated that it was the RSS' ideology and the RSS men who had killed the journalist known for her trenchant criticism of right-wing politics, he alleged.

Joshi claimed that these statements slandered the RSS, and therefore a case of criminal defamation under Indian Penal Code section 500 be registered against Rahul Gandhi, Yechury, CPI-M and Sonia Gandhi.

He named the CPI-M because Yechury belongs to that party and Sonia Gandhi because she was then Congress chief.

The Congress president is already facing another case for defamation, filed by a Bhiwandi-based RSS worker, for allegedly blaming the Sangh for Mahatma Gandhi's assassination. -- PTI

People in villages in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) along the LoC have been asked by authorities to remain alert amidst mounting Indo-Pak tension following the Pulwama terror attack that killed 41 Central Reserve Police Force personnel.

An official advisory has been issued asking all those residing around the Line of Control (LoC) to take precautions like using safe routes while commuting, officials in the know said on Thursday.

Residents have been also asked to avoid being in groups at a particular place and to build bunkers.

The residents should avoid using unnecessary lights during night time and refrain from unnecessary travel near the LoC routes, the advisory issued by officials in the PoK said.

Without referring to the 2016 surgical strike against terror camps in PoK, the advisory said India may undertake same 'activity' that could endanger the lives of the locals.

The villagers have also been asked not to take animals for grazing near the LoC.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier said the perpetrators of the February 14 Pulwama massacre will not go unpunished. -- PTI

A 30-year-old man, preparing for CA, ended up calling the Police Control Room after a woman he was in touch with on a dating app threatened to blow up the Rashtrapati Bhavan and warned of a nuclear attack on Delhi, police said on Thursday.

The man was jointly interrogated by the Intelligence Bureau, the Special Cell of the Delhi Police and officials of the local police station, they added.

The man, a resident of Laxmi Nagar, is preparing for CA, said a senior police officer.

He was chatting with a woman on Tinder and they had a fight on Wednesday.

According to police, the woman then told him 'you don't know who I am. When there will be a nuclear attack on Delhi and the Rashtrapati Bhavan will be blown up with a bomb, you will get to know'.

After that he stopped chatting, he informed the police around 10.30 pm, following which he was interrogated the whole night and let off on Thursday morning.

The man is also suffering from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and is undergoing treatment, officials said, adding that they suspect the threat to be a hoax.

They are on the lookout for the woman and have written to Tinder for seeking their assistance in identifying the her. -- PTI

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday strongly opposed the demand for abrogating Article 370, amid the clamour for doing away with the special provision granting autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir in the aftermath of the Pulwama terror attack.

The assertion by Kumar, who is the national president of the Janata Dal-United, came at a time when a Public Interest Litigation has been filed in the Supreme Court with the request for scrapping the article and demands to this effect have been raised by a number of leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party, his ally in the state.

We can never think in terms of abrogating Article 370. Our party's stand has been clear on this issue.

There has been a terror attack and whatever action is required to punish those guilty besides preventing such incidents in future should be taken, Kumar told reporters in Patna.

But this does not mean that Jammu and Kashmir should be deprived of a provision that has been in place, he added.

We can never support such a move, or even demands made to this effect, the chief minister said on the sidelines of a function organised by his party.

The JD-U chiefs statement came barely a few hours after Union minister Giriraj Singh, a firebrand BJP leader, made a strong pitch for scrapping Article 370 at Jehanabad district in the state.

Singh also blamed first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru for the situation prevailing in Jammu and Kashmir and claimed that the country was paying the price for the Congress' sin of withdrawing troops from the Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). -- PTI

On the lines of the Army, the Central Reserve Police Force is mulling to enhance the number of leaves given to its combat personnel, as part of a renewed push to provide enhanced rest and recuperation to its troops deployed extensively for anti-terrorism and anti-Naxal operations in the country, officials said on Thursday.

The force is planning to enhance by seven days the number of casual leaves given in an year to its jawans and officials, up to the rank of Commanding Officer (CO), they said.

At present, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troops, up to the CO rank, get 60 days of EL (earned leave) and 15 days of casual leave (CL) while being in an operationally active area like Jammu and Kashmir, Left Wing Extremism deployment or counter-insurgency duties in the north east.

It is now planning to enhance the CL to 28 days.

In the Army, all the officials -- from a sepoy to the Army chief -- get 60 days of EL and 28 days of CL whether they are deployed in a peace station or the operations grid.

This system helps a jawan to plan his off-duty activities and vacations better, they said.

The proposal was much favoured by the troops and officers of the force after CRPF Director General (DG) R R Bhatnagar visited his formations for two days in the Kashmir valley post the February 14 Pulwama attack, they said.

Forty CRPF personnel were killed while five others were injured after a suicide bomber triggered a deadly explosion next to a force bus plying on the Jammu-Srinagar highway as part of a convoy.

The official said all field commanders of the over 3-lakh personnel strong force have been asked to firm up their views after which the CRPF will move the Ministry of Home Affairs seeking its sanction to the proposal.

"The move will greatly benefit the troops in planning their time when they are off duty.

"They can better spend their time with their families or get their domestic work done or to simply say make the most of their holidays, given the hectic and stressful work schedule they have on job," the official said. -- PTI

The police in Shahjahanpur have booked three persons for allegedly posting derogatory posts against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and fanning anti-India sentiments on social media, officials said on Thursday.

Superintendent of Police (rural) Subhash Chandra Shakya said, "A complaint was lodged by a local leader of Vishwa Hindu Parishad against Wali Hasan that he had written 'Hindustan Murdabad' and 'Pakistan Zindabad' on his Facebook wall."

"In the same post, he wrote derogatory slogans against Prime Minister Modi and eulogised Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan," he added.

When local residents opposed him, Hasan and his friends Imran and Aftab threatened to kill them, Shakya claimed.

The officer said that a case was registered against the trio under the Indian Penal Code and IT Act and a hunt was launched to nab them. -- PTI

Some family members of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on Thursday alleged that a 'sinister campaign' is on by certain sections in the country to prove that 'Gumnami Baba' was the nationalist leader and urged the Centre to release all Intelligence Bureau (IB) files on the recluse.

Claiming that it is a 'criminal offense' to term 'Gumnami Baba' as Netaji in disguise without any documentary or photographic evidence to support it, Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Bose's grand nephew Chandra Kumar Bose said the Centre must also start an inquiry to find out who are supporting such false campaigns against Bose.

"There has been an on-going sinister campaign to dishonour Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose as being one 'Gumnami Baba of Faizabad' who reportedly lived in Uttar Pradesh since the 1950s for over three decades. The fact is Gumanmi Baba was not Netaji," Chandra Kumar Bose, who is also the BJP state unit vice-president told a press conference in Kolkata.

The 'sinister campaign' is an attempt to damage the image and legacy of Netaji in the eyes of the present and future generations, he said and demanded that the Intelligence Bureau files on Gumnami Baba be declassified to bring out the truth.

"That the so-called 'Gumnami Baba', who reportedly died in 1985 leaving his teeth among his trunk load of personal belongings, was not Netaji was established in a scientific DNA test," Chandra Bose said.

Doctored photographs of Netaji as Gumnami Baba were being circulated online to establish the propaganda, he added.

Gumnami Baba was a reclusive sadhu and his identity is unknown even 34 years after his death.

The nationalist leader, who was among the foremost Independence movement leaders, had commanded the Indian National Army and had reportedly died in an aircrash at Taihoku airport on August 18, 1945.

This was not accepted by some members of his family. -- PTI

20:47

BSE Sensex today.

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BSE Sensex top gainers today.

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Domestic air travel in January.

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Rupee vs dollar in February.

20:38 Pak bans Hafiz Saeed-led JuD and its charity wing FIF

Pakistan on Thursday banned the 2008 Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed-led Jamat-ud-Dawah and its charity wing Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation.

A spokesman of the Interior Ministry said that the decision to ban these groups was taken during a meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) held at the Prime Minister's Office on Thursday.

"It was decided during the meeting to accelerate action against proscribed organisations," the spokesperson said in a statement.

"It was further decided that Jamat-ud-Dawa and Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation be notified as proscribed organizations by the Ministry of Interior," he added.

Earlier, the two outfits were kept on the watchlist of the interior ministry.

The meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan, reviewed the National Action Plan against terrorism in detail.

Services chiefs and key ministers were in attendance. -- PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said India is on the way to becoming a $5 trillion economy soon and hoped that the country would to be among world's top three economies in the next 15 years.

Addressing the Indian diaspora in Seoul, the prime minister recounted several steps taken by his government in recent years, including several new initiatives, to take India on a forward trajectory.

Noting that India is among the fasted growing economy, Modi said, "Our aim is to be among world's top three economies in the next 15 years."

Modi said India has jumped to 77th spot on the World Bank's ease of doing business ranking on the back of reforms and is determined to enter in the top 50 next year.

Prime Minister Modi arrived here earlier in the day on a two-day state visit.

He will hold bilateral talks with South Korean President Moon on Friday.

The two leaders are expected to discuss the issue of denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula, ahead of the Trump-Kim summit. -- PTI

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party was busy with inauguration ceremonies at a time the kin of the Central Reserve Police Force men killed in the Pulwama terror attack were mourning the loss of their dear ones.

Addressing a press conference at the SP headquarter in Lucknow along with Patidar leader Hardik Patel, the former UP chief minister said the government should explain how the bus carrying security personnel was hit by an explosive-laden vehicle.

"When the personnel were travelling (in a bus) how was it hit by a vehicle? The government should reply. This (BJP) government is the one which gives certificate (of nationalism) to everyone. Now it should come up with an answer," he said.

Patel too asked, "Why were the CRPF personnel were sent via road."

Trying to corner the National Democratic Alliance government for laying foundation stones and inaugurating projects in the immediate aftermath of the Pulwama terror attack that left 40 CRPF personnel dead, Yadav alleged, "When the family of martyrs were mourning, they (BJP leaders) were busy in inaugurations and foundation laying." -- PTI

Water of three rivers flowing into Pakistan, over which India has full rights under the Indus Water Treaty, will be diverted to Yamuna river, Union Minister of Water Resources Nitin Gadkari said on Thursday, against the backdrop of anger in India over the Pulwama terror attack.

The bilateral Treaty, signed in 1960, governs the rights of India and Pakistan on three of the six common rivers, respectively.

As per the agreement, India has full rights over Ravi, Beas and Sutlej rivers while Pakistan has full rights over Jhelum, Chenab and Indus.

After Partition, three rivers each were divided between India and Pakistan. The water of the three rivers over which India has rights was going to Pakistan. We have constructed projects after which the water of these rivers will be diverted to Yamuna river. Once this happens, there will be more water in Yamuna, Gadkari said.

His statement comes at a time when India is exploring options to "punish" Pakistan for the Pulwama terror attack of February 14 in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed.

The suicide bomb attack was claimed by Jaish-e-Mohammed terror outfit, which is based in Pakistan and backed by the Pakistani establishment.

-- ANI

US actor Jussie Smollett has been arrested in Chicago after being charged with filing a false police report.

The Empire star had said he was subjected to a homophobic and racist physical attack by two men in January.

Doubt was later cast on his account after US media reported that police believed he may have paid two Nigerian brothers to stage the attack.

The 36-year-old actor is in custody of Chicago police, spokesman Anthony Guglielmi says.

His lawyers said on Wednesday they would "conduct a thorough investigation and mount an aggressive defence".

The actor, who is gay, said he had gone out to buy food late at night when two white men hurled racial and homophobic insults at him, punched him, poured a chemical substance over him and put a rope around his neck.

Smollett then claimed the men had told him "this is Maga country", apparently referring to US President Donald Trump's "Make America Great Again" slogan.

The actor said he had been "forever changed" by the alleged incident.

In the latest incident of assault on Kashmiri students after the Pulwama terror attack, students studying in a college in Yavatmal were attacked and threatened by members of the Yuva Sena, the youth wing of Shiv Sena, police said on Thursday.

The attack happened on Wednesday night, police said.

A video of the incident has gone viral on the social media and a case has been registered at the Yavatmal police station. The students were attacked around 10 pm outside their rented accommodation on Waghapur Road, police said.

The students were from the Dayabhai Patel Physical Education College, police said.

Yavatmal SP M Rajkumar said that some students from Kashmir, residing at Vaibhav Nagar under Lohara police station were attacked and threatened by some activists of Yuva Sena.

"The Kashmiri students were returning home after having dinner outside when activists of Yuva Sena intercepted them and slapped them. The video of the incident is there in the social media. The victims lodged a complaint at Lohara police station Thursday.Police identified the culprits and have also apprehended the main accused in the incident," Rajkumar said.

A victim of the attack told media, "We were asked to say 'Vande Mataram' if we want to live here. They slapped us and abused us when we were returning from the market on Wednesday evening," he said.

"The attackers asked us to vacate our rooms here and return to Kashmir within four days," the student said. We were warned that if we failed to return to Kashmir in this time frame, they will kill us," he said. "Some members in our colony intervened and saved us," he added.

-- PTI

Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav on Thursday made clear that he is upset with the alliance forged by his son and party president Akhilesh Singh Yadav with the Bahujan Samaj Party.

Mulayam Singh Yadav expressed unhappiness over the Uttar Pradesh pact ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, questioning why Akhilesh Yadav gave "half" the seats to Mayawati's party.

The remarks come days after SP patriarch created a stir in Parliament, saying he wished that Prime Minister Narendra Modi returns to power.

Addressing party workers at the SP headquarters, he urged them to approach him if they sought the ticket to contest the parliamentary polls and suggested that he could change any decision taken by Akhilesh Singh Yadav.

Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati had jointly announced the alliance in January, saying the SP and the BSP will contest 38 seats each out of the 80 in Uttar Pradesh.

However, in the list released Thursday, the SP will fight only 37 seats and the BSP 38.

Now, tell me what is the basis for giving away half the seats. Now we have only half the seats left. Our party was stronger," Mulayam said.

"We are strong; our men are weakening the party. What a strong party we had made, and I became the CM and the defence minister as well," he said, suggesting that the SP had seen better days under him.

The BJP's election preparation is better. It has an edge over us, he told party workers, and suggested that candidates should be announced soon so that they can begin work on the ground.

Speaking on the last day of the 16th Lok Sabha earlier this month, Mulayam Singh Yadav had trigged much speculation when he congratulated Modi for taking everyone along.

"I hope all members will win and return, and you will become the prime minister again," he had then said.

-- PTI

17:15 Triple talaq ordinance repromulgated

The ordinance making the practice of instant triple talaq a penal offence for Muslim men was issued for the third time on Thursday.

The law ministry said President Ram Nath Kovind has signed the The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Second Ordinance, 2019.

On Tuesday, the cabinet gave its nod to re-issuing of the contentious triple talaq ordinance.

A bill to ban the practice of talaq-e-biddat has been passed by Lok Sabha and is pending Rajya Sabha's nod where the government lacks numbers.

The bill is set to lapse with the dissolution of the present Lok Sabha on June 3.

The ordinance has been reissued for the third time in less then a year.

Opposition parties and some community leaders have claimed that jail term for a man for divorcing his wife is legally untenable. The government has asserted that it provides justice and equality to Muslim women.

-- PTI

Retirement fund body Employees' Provident Fund Organisation has decided to provide 8.65 per cent interest on PF deposits for 2018-19 against 8.55 per cent in the last year to its 6 crore subscribers, Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar said.

All members of the Central Board of Trustees of EPFO at a meeting agreed to give a higher interest for subscribers for the current fiscal, the minister said further.

The proposal would now go to the finance ministry for approval, Gangwar said after the CBT meeting.

Earlier, highly placed sources had indicated that the interest on EPF deposits for this fiscal could be more than 8.55 per cent in view of impending general elections.

The Central Board of Trustees (CBT) headed by Labour Minister is the apex decision making body of the EPFO which finalises rate of interest on PF deposits for a financial year.

The EPFO had provided a five-year low rate of interest of 8.55 per cent to its subscribers for 2017-18. The body had kept the interest rate at 8.65 per cent in 2016-17 and 8.8 per cent in 2015-16. It provided 8.75 per cent interest for 2013-14 as well as 2014-15. The rate of interest was 8.5 per cent in 2012-13.

-- PTI

16:51

JUST IN: EFPO decides to provide 8.65 per cent interest on PF deposits for 2018-19

16:01 Uttar Pradesh 2019: BSP: 38, SP:37

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati and Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav have decided that SP will contest on 37 seats while BSP will fight on 38 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections 2019. SP will contest the Varanasi seat (held by PM Modi), but neither party will field any candidate from the Congress bastions of Rae Bareli and Amethi. The RLD is likely to get 5 seats.

Announcing the alliance, BSP chief Mayawati had said last month that the Congress was not included in the alliance because during the Congress rule poverty, unemployment and corruption had grown and there had been scams in various defence deals. She also said that in case of a tie-up with the Congress in the past, the party did not benefit.

"In the past I have seen that our votes get transferred to the Congress, but not vice-versa. We do not gain from alliance with Congress, whereas vote transfer is perfect in SP-BSP tie-up, Mayawati said.

Drawing a parallel between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress, Mayawati said the Congress had imposed the Emergency while the BJP is responsible for an undeclared Emergency.

In 2014, the BJP had won 71 seats in Uttar Pradesh while its ally Apna Dal bagged two. The Samajwadi Party won 5 seats and the Congress two, while the BSP drew a blank.

National Conference leader and former J&K CM Omar Abdullah holds a press conference on attacks on Kashmiri students in the aftermath of the Pulwama terror attack.

"Ek sochi samjhi sazish ke tehet, ek poore kaum ko badnam karne ki koshish ki ja rahi hai. Kashmiriyon ko nishana banaya ja raha hai. Hamare jo bachche bachiyan bahar ke university mein taleem hasil karne gaye, unhe nishana banaya gaya. If they pick up stones, who is to blame, us or them? Why is PM silent on Kashmiri students being targeted in various parts of country.

On the withdrawal of security to Kashmiri separatist leaders: My concern is about the withdrawal of security to mainstream political operators. On one hand, youre telling us that we have to be prepared for Parliament and assembly elections, on the other hand, you're telling us that we no longer deserve the protection of the state. Withdrawal of security to Kashmiri separatists is regressive step.

On course correction after the Pulwama attack: We've never been in favor of violence and terror, we've only vouched for solution through dialogue. When we talk of dialogue we're branded anti-nationals but in a joint statement with Saudi Arabia, the two leaders talk about composite dialogue.

Talks with Pak: Our PM has talked about 'muh tod jawab' but such a reply not possible in current situation. Talks with Pakistan cannot be held in backdrop of Pulwama like attacks. When we talk of dialogue (to resolve Kashmir issue), we are branded anti-national.

15:12 Hardik Pandya ruled out of Oz tour of India

Hardik Pandya has been ruled out of Australia's tour of India due to lower back stiffness. Ravindra Jadeja has been named as the replacement.

14:41

Delhi court adjourns hearing against Congress leader Shashi Tharoor in Sunanda Pushkar death case till March 7.

14:18 Pulwama fallout: Paramilitary forces to use air travel, not road

In the aftermath of the suicide bombing of a CRPF convoy travelling by road from Jammu to Srinagar, the Ministry of Home Affairs has approved the entitlement of air travel on Delhi-Srinagar, Srinagar-Delhi, Jammu-Srinagar and Srinagar-Jammu sectors to all the personnel of the Central Armed Paramilitary Forces (CAPFs).

The decision will immediately benefit approximately 780,000 personnel of CAPFs in the ranks of Constable, Head Constable and ASI who were otherwise not eligible earlier. This includes journey on duty and journey on leave, i.e; while going on leave from J&K to home and return. This facility is in addition to the existing air courier services for CAPFs that have been steadily extended in all sectors by the MHA to help the jawans cut down on travel time during their journey to and fro from home on leave.

In the J&K Sector, it may be recalled that Air Courier Service for CAPFs jawans was approved for the Jammu-Srinagar-Jammu sector.

Subsequently, the Service was extended to cover 1) Delhi-Jammu, 2) Jammu-Srinagar, 3) Srinagar-Jammu and 3) Jammu-Delhi sector in Dec 2017. The number of flights were further extended in Dec 2018. In addition, air support is provided from Indian Air Force as and when required. Further details awaited.

Image: Damaged buses part of a convoy of 78 buses was a few kilometres away from Srinagar when the suicide bombing took place on the afternoon of February 14.

Piramal Enterprises Ltd Thursday said its pain relief tablet brand Saridon has been exempted from the list of banned fixed dose combinations (FDCs) by the Supreme Court. In a regulatory filing, the company said the apex court has ruled in favour of Saridon, which is a heritage brand from its healthcare product portfolio.

"In September 2018, PEL had been awarded a stay order from the Supreme Court on the ban, which allowed it to continue manufacturing, distribution and sale of the FDC," it said.

Commenting on the court order, PEL Executive Director Nandini Piramal said, "We are pleased with the Supreme Court ruling, as it is an affirmation to our commitment to provide effective and safe healthcare solutions that address unique needs of Indian consumers. We were confident that the law would prevail in our favour."

Last year in September, the government had banned 328 FDCs, which were termed 'irrational' on the basis of safety issues and lack of therapeutic justification.

Stating that Saridon is a "heritage brand trusted by customers for the last 50 years in India", Piramal said, "This exemption from the banned list of FDCs validates our intent to serve our customers with the highest levels of integrity." The popularity of the brand is widespread with 31 tablets being sold every second. PEL said Saridon is available across a distribution network of 9 lakh outlets in India. -- PTI

Chief of the Army Staff General Bipin Rawat after flying the indigenous combat jet Tejas: "Flight in LCA Tejas was an experience of a lifetime. From what I could witness, avionics are very good, it's targeting is very good. It's a wonderful aircraft if it gets added to inventory it will increase our air power."

The LCA Tejas got a special passenger today at the Aero India air show being held on the outskirts of Bengaluru. Sitting behind the pilot in a two-seater trainer variant of the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas was Army chief General Bipin Rawat, who was taken for a spin in the nimble fighter jet in the skies above Yelahanka Air Force Station.

This was the first time General Rawat flew in the home-made fighter jet, known for its agility, being the smallest and lightest multirole supersonic fighter jet in its class.

13:16 1 jawan injured in encounter with Naxals

Just in: One jawan injured during an encounter between CRPF 201 CoBRA battalion and Naxals in Sukma, Chhattisgarh.

Chief of the Army Staff General Bipin Rawat waves ahead of a sortie in the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft - Tejas in Bengaluru.

The Army Chief flew in the indigenous LCA Tejas combat aircraft at the ongoing Aero India 2019 show in Bengaluru. Principal Scientific Advisor to Government PS Raghavan is also scheduled to a ride in the aircraft later.

The Army Chief's sortie comes a day after the Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC), the regulator for military aviation gave the Final Operation Clearance to the home-grown fighter clearing way for induction into the Indian Air Force.

The induction of Tejas is of immense importance for the IAF, which has been struggling with a dwindling number of squadrons. The Initial Operational Clearance, which paved way for the induction of the aircraft in IAF's 45 Squadron in July 2016, was obtained in 2013.

Benchmark indices started on a positive note Thursday tracking gains on banking counters, after the government announced infusion Rs 48,239 crore in 12 public sector banks, buying by foreign and domestic institutional investors, and positive global cues.

The 30-share index was trading 8.47 points, or 0.02 per cent, at 35,764.73. Similarly, the 50-share NSE Nifty was trading 6.05 points, or 0.06 per cent, higher at 10,741.50. The Sensex had settled at 35,756.26, up 403.65 points, or 1.14 per cent in the previous session, while the broader NSE Nifty soared 131.10 points, or 1.24 per cent, to 10,735.45.

Top gainers in the Sensex pack on Thursday include ICICI Bank, Vedanta, ONGC, SBI, HUL, Bajaj Finance, Tata Motors, Sun Pharma, HUL and Axis Bank, rising up to 2.23 per cent. On the other hand, Infosys, Yes Bank, Bharti Airtel, M&M, Coal India and HDFC Bank fell up to 1.28 per cent. -- PTI

Reliance Communications on Thursday sought urgent approval from its lenders to release about Rs 260 crore received from income tax refunds and lying in its bank account directly to Ericsson.

The development came a day after the Supreme Court held R-Com Chairman Anil Ambani in contempt for not paying Ericsson's dues worth Rs 550 crore despite having the money to do so.

The apex court threatened to send the controversial businessman to jail for three months if he did not pay up what was owed in four weeks.R-Com said a sum of Rs 118 crore has already been deposited with the Supreme Court.

The apex court had said the R-Com chairman and others will have to purge the contempt by paying Rs 453 crore to Ericsson in four weeks.

Since the amount to be paid has been calculated at Rs 571 crore along with interest, the amount due in four weeks is Rs 453 crore. -- ANI

The company could look at income tax refunds received and monetisation of some of its real estate assets to raise funds. Read the report here.

11:51 Don't grieve for me, I was born to fly

Wing Commander Sahil Gandhi was among the best fighter pilots of the Indian Air Force. He perished when the Hawk aircraft he was flying had a mid air collision in Bengaluru on February 19. Those who had flown with him tell Archana Masih/Rediff.com about the skilled flyer who had a fan following among young pilots. Read the moving story here.

The Congress party today hit out at the Centre over the Pulwama attack. Holding a press conference, party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not giving the issue its due importance. He also accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of politicising the issue.

Accusing the prime minister of being busy shooting a film in Jim Corbett national park, Randeep Surjewala said, "When the whole country was mourning the loss of lives of our jawans in Pulwama Attack in the afternoon, PM Narendra Modi was busy shooting for a film in Jim Corbett park till evening. Is there any PM in the world like this? I have no words really."

Randeep Surjewala also condemned the Pulwama attack said, "The Pulwama terror attack is an attack on the integrity of our nation. During this hour of tragedy, the Congress party extends its support to our security forces."

He said the PM should take responsibility on the attacks and resign for failing to act on the intel inputs warning of a Jaish-e-Mohammed attack. The Congress spokesperson charged Amit Shah with politicising the attack and said the PM was eyeing votes and ignoring jawans. He added the Congress stood by the government after the attack but the govt failed to act against Pakistan. "The government must accept its failure," Surjewala said.

10:59 Surgical strike not an answer to Pak terror

"Nobody is going to fight India's war. India has to fight its own war against the rogue State and the evil forces nurtured by it," argues Anand Kumar. Read the column here.

The farmers' long march from Nashik to Mumbai will continue after their leaders' late night parleys with Maharashtra government to address their demands remained inconclusive, the march organisers said Thursday.

Farmers have embarked on a 180-km march from Nashik to Mumbai for the second time in the last 12 months to protest against what they termed as the "betrayal" of peasants by the BJP governments at the state and centre.

The Kisan Long March-2, expected to take over nine days to complete, is being organised by the CPI(M)-backed All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS). The march could not be taken out Wednesday as police stopped many farmers from reaching Nashik, the AIKS claimed.

Maharashtra minister Girish Mahajan met some AIKS representatives in Nashik Wednesday night. "We held talks with the minister for over three hours. The government appeared positive to 80 per cent of our demands. The minister said he would speak to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis first," AIKS president Ashok Dhawale said.

Dhawale said Mahajan informed AIKS representatives that the assurances would be given in writing.

"The AIKS has decided to go ahead with the march beginning Thursday morning till the government does so," he added. Dhawale said police were also present during the meeting with Mahajan. They (police) are not going to stop the farmers now, he added.

Mahajan could not be reached for his comment. The AIKS has accused the government of not fulfilling assurances given to farmers last year after they marched between the two cities, seeking farm loan waiver, minimum support price for crops, irrigation facilities and provision of pension to agriculturists.

The AIKS also said it is opposed to the multi-billion dollar Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project which has seen several farmers along the proposed route approach court against land acquisition. -- PTI

The Supreme Court has ordered the forced eviction of more than 1,000,000 tribal and other forest-dwelling households from forest lands across 16 states after the government failed to defend a law protecting their rights.

The final country-wide numbers of forced evictions are likely to rise substantially as other states are forced to comply with the court orders.

The court's orders came in a case filed by wildlife groups questioning the validity of the Forest Rights Act. The petitioners had also demanded that all those whose claims over traditional forest lands are rejected under the law should be evicted by state governments as a consequence. Read the report here.

In Chhattisgarh, a food stall owner in Jagdalpur is offering a discount of Rs 10 per chicken leg piece to customers who say 'Pakistan Murdabad'. Anjal Singh, the stall owner says, "Pakistan never valued humanity and they never will. That's why everyone should say Pakistan Murdabad from their hearts."

The Pakistan army on Thursday violated ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch sector.

Pakistan, yesterday also violated ceasefire along the LoC in the Rajouri district. The Pakistan army had resorted to unprovoked firing along the LoC in Nowshera sector of Rajouri on Tuesday as well.

This comes close on the heels of a terror attack on CRPF convoy in Pulwama district on February 14 in which as many as 40 jawans were killed, and many others were injured.

Pakistan continues to violate the ceasefire understanding of 2003 despite repeated calls for restraint and adherence to the agreement during flag meetings between the border guarding forces of the two nations, a defense spokesperson said yesterday.

Reportedly, 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. -- ANI

09:57 Rupee rises 9 paise to 71.02 vs US dollar

The rupee darted up 9 paise to 71.02 against the US dollar in early trade Thursday amid a reversal in foreign fund outflows even as oil prices hardened.

At the Interbank Foreign Exchange (forex) market, the domestic unit opened slightly higher at 71.06 and built on the gains to reach 71.02. Snapping a four-session downturn, the rupee had appreciated by 23 paise to end at 71.11 against the US dollar Wednesday.

Foreign institutional investors, who had been heavy sellers over the past few sessions, net bought equities worth Rs 713.47 crore Wednesday, provisional data showed.

Brent crude futures, the global oil benchmark, was trading 0.24 per cent higher at USD 67.24 per barrel. The dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, rose 0.07 per cent to 96.52.

Meanwhile, the benchmark BSE Sensex climbed 19.16 points, or 0.05 per cent, to trade at 35,775.42 in early trade Thursday. -- PTI

The Trump Administration on Wednesday announced its intent to provide USD 9.5 million in assistance to the Maldives as part of its effort to strengthen its ties with the island nation.

In a meeting with visiting Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed their common interest in deepening bilateral ties and their shared commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

Shahid underscored the importance of his government's reform efforts to the vitality of Maldives' democracy and future prosperity, according to the State Department Deputy Spokesperson Robert Palladino.

"Pompeo expressed strong support for the US-Maldives partnership, announcing the intent of the State Department to work with the Congress to provide USD9.75 million in additional assistance for Maldives," Palladino said.

During the meeting Pompeo hailed the signing of a memorandum of understanding to enhance aviation security and an intent by USAID to facilitate sustained collaboration with the Maldives. -- PTI

At least 69 people were killed as a massive fire on Wednesday night ripped through several buildings also used as chemical and plastic warehouses in an old part of the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka.

The fire broke out at a chemical warehouse on the ground floor of a four-storey building named Hazi Wahed Mansion behind a Mosque in Old Dhaka's Chawkbazar area and the flames then quickly spread through four other buildings nearby, including a community centre, fire officials said.

At least 69 people have been killed in the massive blaze, fire officials said, adding that the death toll could rise further as dozens of people were trapped in the buildings and the fire fighters were yet to enter into the main spot where the fire broke out.

"Most of the bodies were retrieved from the houses around that building while fire fighters now prepare to enter into the five-storey building, the main spot in search of more bodies," a police official at the scene said.

Witnesses said the victims also included passersby, some people who were eating food at a nearby restaurants and some members of a wedding party.

Fire officials said the second, third and fourth floors of the building were used as warehouses and plastic factories and there were some residential flats also.

Over 50 wounded people were being treated at Dhaka's two major state-run facilities -- Dhaka Medical College Hospital's burn unit and Sir Salimullah Medical College.

Image: Volunteers recover a dead body from a burnt warehouse in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Photograph: Mohammad Ponir Hossain/Reuters

A low-intensity blast took place on board the Kanpur-Bhiwani Kalindi Express near Kanpur on Wednesday, although no casualty was reported, officials said.

According to Additional Director General of Police (Kanpur zone) Avinash Chandra, some material apparently belonging to the Jaish-e-Mohammad terror outfit was recovered from the spot.

The explosion occurred in the washroom of a general compartment of the train when it stopped at Barrajpur station, 30 km from Kanpur, around 7.10 pm, railway officials said.

"Some handwritten pamphlets in illegible writing containing threats have been found from the blast site," the ADG said, adding the threatening materials apparently belong to Jaish-e-Mohammad.

"Our priority to get properly check all coaches of the train by anti-sabotage and bomb disposal squad teams as a precautionary measure before allowing the train to leave for its desired destination," he said.

A railway spokesperson said the Anti-Terrorism Squad was at the spot and the cause of the blast was yet to be ascertained.

He had earlier said, "Prima facie the explosion seemed to have been caused by crackers as the damage was not much".

The plywood sheet of the toilet is damaged, he added.

The incident comes six days after 40 CRPF personnel were killed by a Jaish-e-Mohammad suicide bomber in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district. -- PTI

Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said the prime minister's post has been booked for the next two general elections.

Fadnavis was replying to a question asked by actor Riteish Deshmukh during an award ceremony in Mumbai.

When Deshmukh asked who from Maharashtra, including Sharad Pawar and Nitin Gadkari, can become the prime minister, Fadnavis said, "Let me tell you, this question does not arise, because the post for prime minister has already been booked... Not only for this year's election, but also for the 2024 polls."

"Though, I would be more than happy if someone from Maharashtra becomes the prime minister after that," he added.

To another query that which party, the Shiv Sena or the BJP, will stake claim for the chief minister's and deputy chief minister's post if both get equal number of seats in this year's Maharashtra assembly elections, Fadnavis said few things need to remain secret.

"Everything cannot be disclosed at this moment," he added.

He also dismissed reports that BJP workers and leaders were not happy with the alliance as the party would contest only 144 seats in the 288-member House.

"Forging an alliance with our old ally Shiv Sena was necessary and this is the political reality in the present situation when all non-natural allies are ganging up to fight against us. Our workers understand this very well and support the alliance," he said.

Appealing to forget the bitterness, Fadnavis said, "Jo beet gai so baat gai' (Let bygone be bygone).

To another query that what cemented the alliance between the BJP and the Shiv Sena, Fadnavis said in a lighter vein, "When we arrived at 'Matoshree' (Thackeray's) home, Uddhav's better half served us few homemade dishes that were so delightful that we forgot everything and sealed the deal." -- PTI

08:20 PM arrives in South Korea on two-day visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Seoul on Thursday on a two-day visit to strengthen India's strategic ties with South Korea and seek to enhance bilateral cooperation in diverse areas, including trade and investment.

Ahead of his visit, the prime minister described South Korea as an important partner for India's key initiatives such as 'Make in India', and said as fellow democracies the two countries share values and vision for regional and global peace.

Modi is visiting South Korea on the invitation of President Moon Jae-in. This is his second visit to the Republic of Korea since 2015 and second summit meeting with President Moon Jae-in.

Spokesperson of the ministry of external affairs Raveesh Kumar said the visit would strengthen India's special strategic partnership with South Korea and add dynamism to the Look East Policy.

During the visit, Prime Minister Modi will have bilateral and business engagements, unveil a bust of Mahatma Gandhi and accept the Seoul Peace Prize conferred upon him, Kumar said in a tweet.

Earlier in his departure statement, Modi said his visit is reflective of the importance "we both attach to our relationship".

"We regard the Republic of Korea as a valued friend, a nation with which we have a Special Strategic Partnership. As fellow democracies, India and the ROK have shared values and a shared vision for regional and global peace," the prime minister said.

"As fellow market economies, our needs and strengths are complementary. South Korea is an important partner for our 'Make in India' initiative as well as in our 'Start Up India' and 'Clean India' initiatives," Modi said.

He said collaboration between the two in the field of science and technology is encouraging, with joint research ranging from basic to advanced sciences.

"Our people to people ties and exchanges, as always, provide the bedrock of our ties of friendship, he said.

"Working together, we are determined to take our relationship forward as a 'future oriented partnership for People, Prosperity and Peace'," the prime minister said. -- PTI

Saudi Arabis' Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Wednesday ordered the release of 850 Indian prisoners lodged in his country's jails on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's request as the two leaders held extensive talks in New Delhi, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.

After the talks, it was also announced that India has decided to extend e-Visa facility to Saudi nationals.

In an important development, Saudi Arabia also joined the International Solar Alliance, a move welcomed by the prime minister, MEA officials said.

Both sides noted the potential of cooperation in the renewable energy sector, not only in investment but also in research and development, a joint statement issued after the talks said.

In another significant move, Saudi Arabia has also agreed to resolve issues relating to Indian workers who are currently stranded in the kingdom due to the closure of a foreign company, T S Tirumurti, Secretary (Economic Relations) in the MEA, said. -- PTI

IMAGE: President Ram Nath Kovind hosted a banquet for Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday and said India wishes to be a partner in the gulf nation's 'Vision 2030'. Welcoming the crown prince, who is on his first state visit to India, Kovind said India cherishes its cordial and friendly relations with Saudi Arabia and considers the Gulf region as its extended neighbourhood.

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