LIVE! Punjab Police busts Pak spy network, 2 held

LIVE

Wed, 18 May 2022

Punjab Police busts Pak spy network, 2 held

Timeline Refresh

23:29 Punjab Police busts Pak spy network, 2 held

The Punjab Police on Wednesday claimed to have busted a cross-border espionage network with the arrest of two people on the charge of spying for the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan.

According to an official statement, State Special Operations Cell (SSOC), Amritsar arrested Zaffar Riaz and his associate Mohd Shamshad from Amritsar.

While Riaz was a resident of Kolkata in West Bengal, Shamshad is a native of Madhuban in Bihar, but was living in Amristar's Mirakot Chowk for the last 20 years, the statement said.

To break the nexus of Pakistan's ISI and 'traitorous persons' supplying classified information to compromise the sovereignty, integrity and security of the state, Punjab Police has busted a cross border espionage network, the statement said.

During preliminary investigation, it came to light that Riaz got married to Pakistan national Rabia, a resident of Model Town in Lahore, Pakistan.

Initially, Rabia stayed with Riaz in Kolkata but after his accident in 2012, he became financially weak and shifted to Lahore on the insistence of his in-laws.

Riaz frequently travelled to India for treatment, it said.

'During this period, he got in touch with a Pakistan Intelligence Officer (PIO) Awais who claimed to be working in Foreigner's Registration Office, Lahore,' the statement said.

The accused was lured by Awais to work for the ISI and during his visits to India, he began clicking photographs and shooting videos of Indian Army buildings and sharing them via encrypted apps.

During preliminary inspection of his mobile phone, the photographs and videos were found, said the statement.

Riaz revealed that on the insistence of Awais, he introduced Shamshad to him.

'Shamshad revealed that he is living in Amritsar for the last 20 years and runs a lemonade cart opposite Amritsar railway station,' the statement said.

He clicked photographs of the Air Force station and Cantt area of Amritsar and shared them with Riaz who forwarded them to Awais, it added.

A case dated was registered on Wednesday under the provisions of the Official Secrets Act, and section 120 B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at the SSOC Police Station, Amritsar.

Riaz and Shamshad will be produced before a court and their police remand will be sought, said the statement. -- PTI

Union minister Ajay Mishra

23:10 MoS Ajay Mishra's nephew killed by falling tree branch in Lakhimpur

A nephew of Union minister Ajay Mishra died after a tree branch fell on him while he was riding a motorcycle on Wednesday, police said.

The accident occurred near Khambhar Kheda village under Kotwali police station limit of Lakhimpur Kheri, they said.

Achin Mishra alias Sonu, 41, a resident of Banveerpur village of Tikonia police station area, was the son of the Union minister's elder brother, police said.

He was going to Lakhimpur in the evening when a tree branch fell on him during a storm, Additional Superintendent of Police Arun Kumar Singh said.

Some passersby took him to the hospital where the doctors declared him dead, according to police.

The minister was in the news recently after his son was arrested in connection with the Lakhimpur Kheri violence of October 3 last year, in which eight people, including four farmers and a journalist, were killed. -- PTI

The Congress on Wednesday said it will hold state-level shivirs' across the country on June 1 and 2 to communicate the decisions of the 'Udaipur Declaration' adopted after a three-day 'Chintan Shivir'.

All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary and chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said similar conclaves will also be held at the district level on June 11 to send across the party's message to the grassroot-level workers.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the AICC general secretaries and in-charges of various states at the party headquarters in New Delhi over Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss the recommendations and decisions taken at the Udaipur Chintan Shivir.

"After the conclusion of the 'Nav Sankalp Chintan Shivir' and the adoption of the 'Udaipur Declaration', under the guidance of the general secretary (organisation), all the in-charges and general secretaries of the Congress held deliberations and post these two days of discussions, certain decisions were taken," Surjewala said.

"On June 1 and 2, there will be state-level shivirs in all the states, in which the highlights, points and the way ahead taken from the Udaipur Declaration will be communicated to the leaders and grassroot-level workers. The shivirs will be attended by our MPs, MLAs, MP and MLA candidates, District Congress Committee presidents, Pradesh Congress Committee office-bearers and prominent leaders of the party.

"As a follow-up exercise, a similar one-day shivir will be held on June 11 at the district Congress committees. The idea is to carry forward up to the grassroots the various highlights and points on which a way forward has been decided for the party at the Udaipur Nav Sankalp Chintan Shivir," he added.

The party leaders also decided that a three-day 'Azadi Gaurav Yatra' shall be undertaken by all the district units between August 9 and August 15, where 75 people, in accordance with the 75th anniversary of India's independence, will work permanently and hundreds and thousands will join them.

"On August 15, the pradesh Congress committees will organise a major function to commemorate the sacrifices and lessons of the freedom movement," Surjewala said.

The Youth Congress and the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) will undertake the 'Rozgar Do Yatra' and 'we will be conferring with their leadership and the way forward will be decided at that point of time', Surjewala said.

The meeting of the office-bearers comes immediately after the Chintan Shivir, where Congress leaders from across the country brainstormed to evolve ways and means to make the party election-ready.

The Congress has brought a host of structural changes within the organisation in a bid to overhaul it, with a focus on granting 50 per cent representation to people below 50 years of age and giving 50 per cent poll tickets to them starting the 2024 Lok Sabha election.

The party has decided to implement the 'one family, one ticket' and the 'one man, one post' formulae, with the exception of allowing only those family members to get a poll ticket who have worked for a period of five years in the organisation.

The Congress has also decided to create new departments -- a public insight department, an election department and an assessment and training department.

It has decided that no one shall hold a party post for more than five years.

In this context, following the Udaipur Declaration, New Delhi DCC president Virender Kasana has submitted his resignation to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.

Kasana also met senior party leader Ajay Maken after his resignation to re-confirm his commitment to the Congress.

'Congrats Kasana Ji! Hope others to follow,' Maken said in a tweet. -- PTI

A woman was hospitalised in Dehradun after she was brutally beaten up and given electric shocks at a police station where she was taken for interrogation on suspicion of theft, according to her family members.

The incident took place on Tuesday at Jogiwala police station.

The police station incharge has been suspended, police officials said on Wednesday.

The woman, Manju, works as a domestic help at the house of Devendra Dhyani, a retired scientist, in Mohkampur area.

On May 14, there was a burglary at the house when Dhyani and his family had gone to Delhi to attend a wedding, they said.

Manju was brought to Jogiwala police station on Tuesday for interrogation in connection with the matter, they added.

Manju's husband, who accompanied her to the police station, alleged that police personnel at the station thrashed his wife with shoes and belts, gave her electric shocks and abused her during the interrogation.

Later, the police personnel dropped Manju home and her family took her to a hospital.

She is undergoing treatment at the Coronation Hospital, where doctors described her condition as serious.

Senior Superintendent of Police Janmejay Khanduri said Jogiwala police station incharge Dipak Gairola has been suspended in connection with the incident. -- PTI

21:11 Mumbai's Covid numbers highest in 3 months

Mumbai on Wednesday reported 194 new coronavirus infections, the highest daily spike in cases since February 19, and the number of active cases in the city crossed the 1,000-mark, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said.

But the country's financial capital did not record any death on account of the virus.

On Tuesday, the city had logged 158 COVID-19 cases and zero fatalities after reporting 74 cases on Monday.

In May so far, Mumbai has reported cases in three digits on 14 days but only three fatalities.

The city's tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 10,62,040 on Wednesday, while the death toll remained unchanged at 19,566.

The number of active COVID-19 patients jumped to 1,002 from 932 on Tuesday.

With 8,736 samples tested since previous evening, the total of coronavirus tests carried out in the city increased to 1,70,33,677.

The city's positivity rate is 0.022 per cent.

Of 194 persons who tested positive during the day, only six were symptomatic and admitted to hospital, and only one of them was put on oxygen support.

Only 29 out of 24,944 Covid-reserved hospital beds in the city are occupied.

The number of recovered patients rose to 10,41,472 with 124 more patients getting discharged.

Mumbai has a recovery rate of 98 per cent.

The overall growth rate of COVID-19 cases is 0.012 per cent between May 11 and 17.

The caseload doubling rate/period is 5,450 days. -- PTI

20:30

How rupee performed vis a vis US dollar this week.

20:28 Vishwanath temple remark: Lucknow prof assaulted

A Lucknow University professor was allegedly assaulted by a student on the campus on Wednesday, days after he triggered a controversy with his remarks on the Kashi Vishwanath temple.

The incident occurred around 1 pm outside the proctor's office.

"Karthik Pandey, a student leader, came to me and started hurling abuses and casteist slurs at me and hit me," Professor Ravi Kant Chandan of the university's Hindi department said.

Two guards accompanying the professor overpowered the student and handed him over to the police.

"I have filed a complaint with the police regarding the incident. This incident shows that my life is under constant threat," the professor said.

The student, Kartik Pandey, is an officer bearer of the Samajwadi Chhatra Sabha, a student outfit of the Samajwadi Party.

He was ousted from the outfit hours after the incident.

Lucknow University spokesperson Durgesh Srivastav said Karthik Pandey was suspended for attacking the professor.

A committee has been formed to investigate the matter, he added.

The attack comes a week after an FIR was registered against the professor for allegedly hurting Hindu religious sentiments among other charges based on the complaint by the ABVP (Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad).

He was accused of making objectionable comments over the Kashi Vishwanath temple-Gyanvapi complex in Varanasi during a debate on an online portal. -- PTI

20:03 Perarivalan meets Tamil Nadu CM Stalin

Soon after the Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered his release in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, for which he had been convicted, AG Perarivalan, his mother Arputhammal and other members of their family met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin in Chennai and thanked him for his and party's steady support to their cause.

19:54 IPL 2022: KKR vs LSG: Who Will Win?

KKR has won 6 of 13 games played.

LSG has won 8 of 13 games played.

So, who will win today?

Time to vote on Rediff, here!

19:51 AAP's CM face in Uttarakhand polls quits party

Colonel Ajay Kothiyal (retd), who was the Aam Aadmi Party's chief ministerial candidate in Uttarakhand assembly polls held in February this year, resigned from the party on Wednesday.

The former army officer announced his decision to quit the party on Twitter, posting a soft copy of his resignation letter on the microblogging site.

The AAP had suffered a rout at the hustings with Kothiyal losing his deposit from the Gangotri assembly seat.

"I have been a member of the Aam Aadmi Party from April 19, 2021, to May 18, 2022. Keeping the feelings of ex-soldiers, ex paramilitary personnel, the elders, women, youths and the intellectuals, I am sending you my resignation on May 18," Col Kothiyal said in his letter addressed to AAP convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Kothiyal is said to have been unhappy with the way he was being treated by the party after the debacle in assembly elections. He had not been invited to a party meeting held in New Delhi recently to analyse its performance in Uttarakhand.

Announcing the name of Kothiyal as his party's chief ministerial candidate in August last year, Kejriwal had then said the decision to pick the former army officer as the party's CM face was based on the feedback received from people of the state.

AAP had fielded its candidates on all the 70 seats in the state elections, but could not win any of them.

19:20 China building new bridge near Pangong Tso

China is constructing a second bridge in an area held by it around the strategically key Pangong Tso lake in eastern Ladakh and it could help the Chinese military to quickly mobilise its troops in the region, according to satellite imagery and people familiar with the development on Wednesday.

The bridge is being built amid the lingering standoff between the Indian and Chinese militaries at several friction points in eastern Ladakh for over two years.

There is no official reaction or comment by the Indian defence establishment on the new construction.

China has been focusing on strengthening its military infrastructure after Indian troops captured several strategic peaks on the southern bank of the Pangong lake in August 2020 after the Chinese PLA attempted to intimidate them in the area. India too has been constructing bridges, roads and tunnels in the border regions as part of overall efforts to enhance military preparedness.

It is learnt that China has recently completed the construction of the first bridge in the area.

The people cited above said the new bridge is being built in an area that is over 20 km from the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Damien Symon, a geospatial intelligence researcher, who keeps track of Chinese activities along the LAC, posted satellite images of the new construction on Twitter.

Symon, who uses the handle @detresfa_ said a 'larger bridge' is being developed parallel to the first one, adding the likely aim of the construction is to 'support larger/heavier movement' (of the military) over the lake.

The satellite image posted by Symon noted that the bridge is being built from both sides simultaneously.

The bridge is likely to cut the distance significantly from the depth area of Rudok to the region around the LAC in Pangong Tso.

The eastern Ladakh faceoff began on May 4-5 in 2020.

India has been insisting on the restoration of the status quo ante prior to the standoff.

India and China have held 15 rounds of military talks so far to resolve the eastern Ladakh row.

As a result of the talks, the two sides completed the disengagement process last year on the north and south banks of the Pangong lake and in the Gogra area.

India has been consistently maintaining that peace and tranquillity along the LAC were key for the overall development of the bilateral ties.

Each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the Line of Actual Control in the sensitive sector. -- PTI

IMAGE: Boats of Indian Army patrol in the Pangong Tso, in Leh. Photograph: ANI Photo

A Bangladeshi couple was sentenced to death by a tribunal on Wednesday for selling a 17-year-old girl to a brothel in India, according to media reports.

The incident took place in Khulna district.

In its verdict, the Khulna Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal pronounced capital punishment for the couple -- identified as Shahin Sheikh and Asma Begum -- for selling the teenager to the brothel in India, Bangladeshi news agency UNB reported.

According to the prosecution, the convicts took the girl to India with the promise of arranging a good job and sold her there to a brothel on October 19, 2009, the Dhaka Tribune newspaper reported.

However, the reports did not mention the location of the brothel. As the girl's family failed to trace her, they logged a general diary against the couple at the local police station.

Later, Shahin demanded Tk 20,000 (approx $230) from the teenager's family to get her back. The girl's mother lodged a complaint against the couple at Khanjahan Ali police station, and on January 20, 2010, the investigating officer of the case submitted a charge sheet against the duo. -- PTI

18:30 Let facts about Gyanvapi mosque come out: RSS

Amid the ongoing row over the Kashi Vishwanath temple-Gyanvapi Mosque issue, the RSS Wednesday said the facts should be allowed to come out.

Speaking at an event organised by the RSS's communication arm Indraprastha Vishwa Samvad Kendra, the Sangh's publicity in-charge Sunil Ambekar touched upon the issue.

"I think, on the Gyanvapi issue facts should be allowed to come out. Truth should find its way out," he said.

The mosque is located close to the iconic Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi, and a local court is hearing a plea by a group of Hindu women seeking permission for daily prayers before the idols on its outer walls.

17:44 Delhi LG Anil Baijal resigns

Delhi LG Anil Baijal resigns citing personal reasons. He has sent his resignation to the President. Baijal has served as Delhi LG for five years and four months.

KP Rahul Bhat's body being taken for cremation

17:17 J-K govt to rework postings of KP employees

The divisional administration in Kashmir directed all the heads of departments on Wednesday to ensure that the Kashmiri Pandit employees serving in the valley are posted only in less vulnerable areas such as towns and district headquarters to ensure their safety and security.

"We had a meeting with all heads of departments and chief engineers. I have told them to ensure that the Kashmiri Pandit employees are posted in less vulnerable areas like towns and district headquarters," Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir P K Pole told reporters in Srinagar.

The move comes in the wake of the killing of a Kashmiri Pandit employee, Rahul Bhat, inside his office in the Chadoora area of Budgam district by terrorists on May 12. Kashmiri Pandit employees, who were employed under the prime minister's employment package for migrants, have been protesting for six days now, demanding transfers to safer places like Jammu.

Pole evaded a direct reply when asked if the government is willing to consider the demands of the protesting employees such as shifting them to Jammu. He said the administration will resolve the service-related matters concerning the Kashmiri Pandit employees within a week.

"Eventually, all government employees have to follow a code of conduct. We are looking into it.... They will not be posted in remote or vulnerable areas, the issue of couples being posted in different areas will also be addressed. They will be posted closer to their colonies so that their commuting time is also less," Pole said.

Asked about the civilians killed in "cross-firing" in Shopian over the last 10 days, Pole said the next of kin of the deceased will get all the benefits, including ex-gratia relief under the relevant SRO.

"There is a set procedure for investigating civilian killings. A magisterial probe has been ordered. The next of kin of the innocent victims will get whatever is due to them under the (relevant) SRO," he said. -- PTI

Russia has decided to expel 34 employees of the French diplomatic missions in Moscow in retaliation to a similar move by Paris, according to the country's foreign ministry on Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, the ministry summoned French Ambassador to Russia Pierre Levy to express protest in connection with the decision of Paris to declare 41 employees of Russian diplomatic missions in France personae non gratae.

"As a response, 34 employees of French diplomatic missions in Russia have been declared personae non gratae. They are ordered to leave the territory of Russia within two weeks from the date of delivery of the relevant note to the ambassador," the ministry said as quoted by Sputnik News Agency.

In April, France has expelled six Russians suspected of working as spies under diplomatic cover after the French intelligence services uncovered a clandestine operation on its territory. -- ANI

17:03 Can she get any more gorgeous?

Before the opening ceremony of this year's Cannes film festival at the Palais des Festivals, there was the photocall for the jury. For this appearance, Deepika Padukone chose to go bohemian. More pictures here.

Chitra Ramkrishna

16:54 Ex-NSE MD seeks bail again, judge recuses

In National Stock Exchange (NSE) co-location case, Chitra Ramkrishna former managing director (MD) and chief executive officer (CEO), moved Delhi High Court seeking bail in the matter.

The bench of Justice Talwant Singh on Wednesday recused to hear the matter. Chitra Ramkrishna has approached the Delhi High Court challenging the trial court order denying her bail in the matter.

On May 12, the trial court's Judge Sanjeev Aggarwal had refused to grant bail to Chitra Ramkrishna in the matter and said, considering the gravity as well as the seriousness, enormity, and magnitude of the allegations against the accused persons, as discussed above, no ground for their bail is made out at this stage.

Both the above bail application stand dismissed. The trial court also said that "it appears that accused Chitra Ramkrishna prima facie seems to have been running the affairs of NSE akin to that of a private club; singer writer, Nobel Laureate Bob Dylan once said 'money doesn't talk, it swears', which is a song of, 1964 song album "It's Alright Ma I'm Only Bleeding", means that money not only has influence, but it has great influence, even a perverse influence on people."

"Financial world including The FIIs are waiting with bated breath for NSE to redeem itself, so that they can fly to this country for investment in droves, which is at present, a brilliant destination for investment. With regard to affairs of NSE at the relevant time, it would not be out of place to observe herein that there comes a time in a lifetime of an institution, where it finds itself at crossroads, then it should take a path which is a right path to restore its glory, rather than burying the skeletons, which may later turn into Frankenstein monsters," said the trial court judge. -- ANI

The comparative graphs Rahul Gandhi tweeted

16:49 India looks lot like Sri Lanka: Rahul

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday hit out at the government over rising inflation and unemployment and said India looks a "lot like Sri Lanka" and the Centre should not distract people.

The Congress has been accusing the government of distracting people with other issues to hide its failures and issues of price rise and unemployment. "Distracting people won't change the facts. India looks a lot like Sri Lanka," Gandhi said on Twitter.

He shared graphs of unemployment, petrol price and communal violence showing similar images of India and Sri Lanka citing various sources including armed conflict location and event data project, Lok Sabha unstarred question, CMIE, Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell and Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

The Congress has been attacking the government over the issue of price and inflation and rising unemployment and have said that the situation in India is going the Sri Lanka way, where the prime minister had to resign in view of the deteriorating situation. -- PTI

Equity benchmarks pared all early gains in highly choppy trade on Wednesday, with the Sensex falling 109.94 points amid a mixed trend in global markets.

The 30-share BSE benchmark settled 109.94 points or 0.20 per cent lower at 54,208.53. During the day, it hit a high of 54,786 and a low of 54,130.89. The broader NSE Nifty dipped 19 points or 0.12 per cent to finish at 16,240.30.

From the Sensex firms, PowerGrid, Tech Mahindra, State Bank of India, Bharti Airtel, Larsen & Toubro, Bajaj Finserv, Wipro, NTPC and HCL Technologies were the biggest laggards. In contrast, UltraTech Cement, Hindustan Unilever, Asian Paints, Sun Pharma, ITC and Axis Bank were among the gainers.

16:34 Patanjali Ayurved sells food biz for Rs 690 cr

Baba Ramdev-led Patanjali Ayurved Ltd will sell its food retail business to group firm Ruchi Soya Industries Ltd for Rs 690 crore as part of its strategy to focus on non-food, traditional medicine and wellness business.

Patanjali Ayurved Ltd had acquired Ruchi Soya through an insolvency process.

In a regulatory filing, Ruchi Soya informed that it has entered into a "Business Transfer Agreement" with Patanjali Ayurved Ltd to acquire the food retail business of the latter as a going concern on a slump sale basis. The food retail business consists of manufacturing, packaging labelling and retail trading of certain food products along with manufacturing plants located at Padartha, Haridwar, and Newasa, Maharashtra.

The transaction shall consist of the transfer of employees, assets (excluding Patanjali's brand, trademarks, designs and copyrights), current assets (excluding debtors, vehicles, cash and bank balance) contracts, licenses and permits, distribution network, customers related to the food retail business of Patanjali Ayurved.

The proposed acquisition falls under the related-party transaction. The amount of consideration for the acquisition agreed upon under the agreement is Rs 690 crore, subject to certain adjustments. The board also approved the change in the company's name from 'Ruchi Soya Industries Limited' to 'Patanjali Foods Limited. -- PTI

16:30 Rupee falls to fresh lifetime low against USD

The rupee on Wednesday declined by 16 paise to close at its fresh lifetime low of 77.60 against the US dollar amid unabated foreign fund outflows and a stronger greenback in overseas markets.

At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened lower at 77.57 and later hit the day's low of 77.61 as the dollar rebounded in global markets following hawkish comments from US Federal Reserve chief Jerome Powell. Crude oil prices also surged over 1 per cent, which weighed on the rupee.

The local unit finally ended at its all-time low of 77.60, showing a loss of 16 paise over its previous close of 77.44. "The dollar index took support near 103.50 and the capital market witnessed profit booking from higher levels, sending rupee into weakness," said Jateen Trivedi, VP Research Analyst at LKP Securities.

The US Fed chief asserted that the central bank would increase interest rates as high as needed to contain a spike in inflation which threatens the foundation of the economy. The dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, was trading 0.3 per cent higher at 103.59. -- PTI

A mother with her child holding a UN food packet handout

16:09 UN female staff told to wear hijab at office in Taliban's newest decree

As the Taliban regime in Afghanistan continues to clench the rights of Afghan women, the newest decree ordered female staff members of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) to wear the hijab.

According to a UNAMA statement, a delegation of Taliban officials from the Ministry of Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice told the UN that female employees should consider wearing the hijab, while reporting to duties, Khaama Press reported.

On Monday, the 16th of May, the organization shared the Taliban's directive to wear the hijab with its employees. The statement also stated that the personnel of the Ministry will stand outside the UN office to "monitor if hijab is used or not".

In the event that the personnel finds a female staff member without a hijab, they will talk to her "politely" to wear it as wearing a hijab is mandatory outside. Moreover, outside the UN office, the Ministry has also placed a poster calling on women to wear the "hijab."

Barr tweeted a photo of the poster, which shows a black layered Naqab and a bright blue Burqa (Chadari), as examples of hijab. -- ANI

The Congress Wednesday expressed pain and disappointment over the release of Rajiv Gandhi assassination case convict A G Perarivalan, and slammed the government for creating "a situation" in the court that the killer of a former prime minister is released for "petty and cheap politics".

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said today there is a sorrow and fury not only in every Congress worker over the development, but in every citizen who believes in India and Indianness.

"A terrorist is a terrorist and should be treated as one. Today, we are deeply pained and disappointed at the decision of the Supreme Court ordering the release of Rajiv Gandhi's assassin," he said.

It is condemnable and very unfortunate that the assassin of a former prime minister has been released, he said. "Today is a sad day for the country. There is a sorrow and fury not only in every Congress worker, but in every Indian who believes in India and Indianness, who believes in fighting against extremism and every force that challenges the sovereignty and integrity of India," he told reporters.

He also wondered if the lakhs of convicts facing life terms should be freed. This is not a question about Rajiv Gandhi, but about a prime minister who was killed, he said, adding the soul of every person fighting against terrorism has been hurt.

"Rajivji had sacrificed his life for the country, not for the Congress. And if today's government creates a situation in the court to get his killers released for their petty and cheap politics, then it is very unfortunate and it is condemnable. "We condemn this in the strongest possible way. All Indians must see what kind of governments are in power today and what is their attitude towards extremism is," he said. -- PTI

An extract derived from pineapple stem may potentially improve the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, according to a study conducted in mice. Alzheimer's is a neurodegenerative disease generally characterised by gradual memory loss due to increased levels of amyloid-beta protein in the brain. The affected patients are not able to remember things.

In severe cases, people lose the ability to respond to their environment, carry on a conversation and, eventually, control movement.

Researchers at Lovely Professional University in Phagwara, Punjab noted that the current treatment is not effective in managing the long-term effects of Alzheimer's disease on patients' quality of life.

The study, recently published in the journal NeuroToxicology, found that the compound bromelain could improve Alzheimer's disease-related behaviour symptoms in mice.

The behaviour symptoms were supported by the results of biochemical and histopathological -- microscopic examination of tissue -- studies, the researchers said. Biochemical studies included evaluation of activity of acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme that regulates neurotransmission and antioxidant parameters in mice brains which were significantly improved by the treatment with bromelain, they said.

"We also found significant amelioration of levels of the beta-secretase enzyme, beta-amyloid, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, tumour necrosis factor-alfa and interleukin-6 in the mouse brain after treatment with bromelain," said study corresponding author Navneet Khurana, Professor at the School of Pharmaceutical Science, LPU. -- PTI

Moments before the crash, the bus on the opposite side appears through the windscreen

15:23 Horrific collision between buses in TN, 3 critical

A horrific head-on collision between two buses in Tamil Nadu's Salem was caught on a camera installed inside one of the vehicles.

Thirty people were injured in the accident, according to news channel India Today. Three are said to be critical, another channel Times Now reported.

The incident took place on Tuesday evening, when a private bus coming from Edappadi collided with another coming from Thiruchengode, reports said.

The footage of the crash appeared to show the bus, which had the camera, travelling at speed when the other one, coming from the opposite direction, swerved into the wrong lane.

14:48 Why are mosques being targeted, asks AIMPLB

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has asked the Centre and the state governments to clarify their stand on the alleged targeting of places of worship of Muslims in the country.

The board has also decided to provide legal aid to the Intezamiya Masajid Committee and its lawyers in the Gyanvapi Masjid case and launch a nationwide agitation, if necessary, to apprise the public about the "real intention" of creating disputes over the places of worship. An emergency virtual meeting of the board's Working Committee was held late on Tuesday night in which many important decisions were taken, AIMPLB executive member Qasim Rasool Ilyas told PTI on Wednesday.

The AIMPLB, a leading organisation of Muslims in the country, is a non-government body constituted in 1973 to adopt suitable strategies for the protection and continued applicability of Muslim Personal Law in India, most importantly the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act of 1937.

Referring to the issues of Gyanvapi Masjid in Varanasi and the Shahi Masjid Idgah in Mathura, Ilyas said, "It was regretted during the meeting that the places of worship of Muslims in the country are being targeted and Religious Places Act of 1991, which was enacted in Parliament with the consent of all, is being openly flouted. It is a matter of great regret that the central government and the state governments are silent on this. Apart from this, the political parties who call themselves secular parties are also keeping silent, he said, The board has demanded from all of them to clarify their stand on this," Ilyas said.

He said the board also discussed that the manner in which the lower courts are making decisions regarding the places of worship is regrettable. The courts should not dishearten the people that might end the hope of last justice, he added. -- PTI

At least 12 labourers were killed when a wall collapsed at a salt packaging factory in Gujarat's Morbi district on Wednesday, officials said.

The tragic incident took place at Sagar Salt factory situated inside the Halvad industrial area, said state Labour and Employment Minister and local MLA Brijesh Merja.

"At least 12 factory workers have died. Efforts to rescue others who might have been trapped under the debris is still on," he said.

PM Narendra Modi condoled the deaths and announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each from PMNRF to the next of kin of those who have lost their lives. The injured will be given Rs 50,000.

14:15 Mumbai police: Won't arrest Ranas till June 9

The Mumbai police told a special court in Mumbai on Wednesday that they will not arrest independent MP Navneet Rana and her MLA-husband Ravi Rana till June 9, the next date of hearing on the police's plea seeking cancellation of their bail in a case pertaining to the row over recitation of 'Hanuman Chalisa'.

The Ranas were arrested by the Mumbai police on April 23 after they announced they will recite the Hanuman Chalisa outside Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's private residence 'Matoshree' in suburban Bandra.

On May 5, special Judge R N Rokade had granted them bail while imposing certain conditions on the couple, including that they must not make any statements to the press related the case.

The judge had also said that the bail will be forfeited if the couple committed similar offences again.

The Mumbai police on May 9 approached the special court seeking that the politician couple's bail be cancelled on the ground that they had allegedly violated the bail conditions.

On Wednesday, Navneet Rana, the Lok Sabha member from Amravati in Maharashtra, and Badnera MLA Ravi Rana filed a joint reply to the police's plea.

The couple said they had neither interfered with the police probe, nor had they made any public statements related to the case. They also said the police had failed to give a cogent reason for seeking cancellation of their bail.

Following their reply, the police in a statement before the court said they would not take any coercive action against the couple till the next hearing. The special court accepted the statement and posted the matter for further hearing on June 9. PTI

The Indian stock markets' key indices, Sensex and Nifty, slipped into the red in the afternoon session on Wednesday wiping off the morning gains due to selling pressure in power, telecom and IT stocks.

The 30 stock S&P BSE Sensex was trading 52.82 points or 0.10 per cent down at 54,265.65 points at 1 pm, against its previous day's close at 54,318.47 points.

Earlier, the Sensex opened in the positive at 54,554.89 points and rose to a high of 54,786.00 points in the morning trade. The index slipped into the negative in the afternoon session. It fell to a low of 54,130.89 points. The Sensex had gained 1344.63 points or 2.54 per cent on Tuesday. -- ANI

The two trekkers on the mountain rescued by ITBP

13:46 ITBP rescues trekkers stranded in Uttarakhand

Two trekkers from Uttar Pradesh who were stranded for over 48 hours during an expedition in Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand have been rescued by a team of the ITBP, a senior officer said on Wednesday.

Vishal Gangwar (28) and Santosh Kumar (30) started their trek to Khaliya Top in the district on Sunday.

The duo got stranded near Birthi fall in Munsiyari, away from the seven-km-long trekking route, and somehow managed to call for help from their phone, an Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) spokesperson said.

The 14th battalion of the ITBP stationed in the area was alerted by the authorities and two teams were dispatched for the rescue operation, he said.

One of the teams intercepted the climbers on Tuesday night near the Birthi fall area, he said.

The trekkers were dehydrated and hungry and the ITBP teams provided them with food and water, the senior officer said.

"The rescue operation is still on. The rescue team tried to call a helicopter but due to steep gradient, forest and weather hazards, it was not possible to airlift them," he said. The team is in the process of taking the trekkers to safety through the land route, the spokesperson said. PTI

Patidar quota agitation leader Hardik Patel on Wednesday resigned as the Gujarat Congress working president and from the party's primary membership.

Before quitting, Patel (28), who had joined the Congress in 2019, wrote a scathing letter to party chief Sonia Gandhi, claiming the Congress "only played to the role of a roadblock" over certain key issues in the country and was "merely reduced to opposing everything".

Patel had since sometime been critical of the Congress and recently praised the BJP. In a tweet on Wednesday, Patel said, "Today, after mustering courage, I am resigning from my party post and primary membership of the Congress. I hope my followers and people of Gujarat will welcome my step. I believe that I will be able to serve the state better after this step."

In the letter to Sonia Gandhi, Patel claimed that despite several attempts to steer the Congress in the right direction, the party has constantly been working "against the interests of my country country and our society".

"Hence, I wish to draw your attention to certain very important issues...Over the last three years, I have found that the Congress and its leadership, both at the central and state levels, have been merely reduced to opposing everything.

"Be it the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, revocation of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir, the implementation of GST, India wanted a solution to these issues for a long time and the Congress only played the role of a roadblock, he said in the letter. When it came to issues related to India, Gujarat and the Patidar community, the Congress's only stand was to oppose whatever the central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi did," he said.

"The Congress today has been rejected in almost every state of India, because the party and its leadership have not been able to present a basic road map to the people," Patel said.

Hardik claimed that whenever he approached senior Congress leaders on serious issues of people, they were busy scrolling messages on their mobile phones.

The lack of seriousness about all issues is a major problem with the party's senior leadership.

"Whenever I met senior leaders, I always felt that they were not really interested in hearing about problems concerning the people of Gujarat, but were engrossed in what messages they had received on mobile phones and other such trivial things," he said in the letter.

Apparently targeting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his foreign visits, Patel said, Whenever our country faced challenges and when the Congress needed leadership, party leaders were enjoying abroad. He also claimed that senior Congress leaders hated Gujarat. Senior leaders behave in way that they hate Gujarat and Gujaratis.

"How in the world does the Congress expect people of Gujarat to see them as an alternative to lead our state?" he sought to know. "Whenever I went among the youth, I was always asked why I was in the party which constantly insulted Gujaratis, be it those in the business sector, in matters of religion and even in politics. Gujaratis can never forget how the Congress has insulted Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel," the Patidar leader said.

He said it is unfortunate that big leaders of the Gujarat Congress are "far away" from issues of the state, and are more focused on ensuring that "chicken sandwiches for leaders coming from Delhi are delivered on time". Hardik Patel had gained prominence in 2015 after he led the agitation seeking reservation for the Patidar community in the state. He was made the Gujarat Congress working president in July 2020. PTI

13:12 Sai Baba temple gets Rs 2 cr gold donation

Parthasarth Reddy, a philanthropist from Hyderabad, donated 4 kg of gold worth about Rs 2 crore at Sai Baba Temple in Shirdi, Ahmednagar district.

13:04 Orange alert for 'very heavy rain' in Kerala

As heavy rains continued to lash several parts of Kerala, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday issued an Orange alert in seven districts of the state for the day.

The IMD issued an Orange alert in the districts of Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod for today.

It also issued an Orange alert in Kannur and Kasaragod for Thursday. Various weather forecasting centres in the country have predicted isolated heavy rains across the state today.

The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority has predicted widespread rain in the state for the next 5 days with chances of isolated thunder, lightning and strong winds due to the cyclonic circulation in and around Kerala as well as a low pressure trough from north Kerala to Vidarbha region.

The Central Meteorological Department has predicted isolated heavy and very heavy rainfall showers in the state for the next 2 days and heavy rainfall on the 2 days after that.

Kerala has been experiencing heavy rainfall for the past few days and it has disrupted normal life in certain places of the state. Considering the heavy rains even as the onset of Southwest monsoon is expected only by the end of this month, the state government had called a meeting of the district collectors and issued directions to deal with any eventualities.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has already deployed five teams to Kerala. A red alert indicates heavy to extremely heavy rains of over 20 cm in 24 hours, while orange alert means very heavy rains from 6 cm to 20 cm of rain.

A yellow alert means heavy rainfall between 6 to 11 cm. The State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) has asked people to stay away from rivers and other water bodies until the rains subside. The SDMA have also asked people not to travel to hilly region

In April, Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi announced that India was ready to supply food to the world if the World Trade Organisation permits it.

A month after that statement, the Modi government banned wheat exports with immediate effect.

This has hit Indian farmers as they earned good money by exporting wheat to the world.There is a shortage of wheat in the world after Russia invaded Ukraine, both large wheat producing countries.

Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com spoke to Anil Ghanwat,president of the Swatantra Bharat Party and senior leader of the Shetkari Sanghatana, the farmers' organisation, to understand why the Modi government banned the export of wheat, and what its impact on Indian farmers would be.

Read the interview here.

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann

12:23 Don't chant murdabad, Mann tells farmers

As the farmers' agitation near the Chandigarh-Mohali border continued on Wednesday over various demands including a bonus on wheat, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann called the protest unwarranted and undesirable.

Farmers from Punjab, who were stopped from heading to the state's capital to raise various demands, including a bonus on wheat, with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, sat on a protest near the Chandigarh-Mohali border on Tuesday.

However, the Chief Minister said that he will fix all farmers' issues and is ready to meet them.

"It's their right to protest... 'murdabad-murdabad' doesn't seem nice... I'll make everything right, but that doesn't mean that after 2 months, you start thinking 'murdabad' slogans haven't been raised, let's go to Chandigarh," said Mann on farmers' protest in Punjab on Tuesday.

The Punjab Chief Minister on Tuesday asked the farmers to stop mere sloganeering and join hands with the state government for checking the depleting water table in Punjab.

"I am ready to meet them (farmers), but 'Murdabad' (sloganeering) is not the way... I myself am a farmer's son... When I am saying basmati and moong dal will be on MSP...At least put in efforts... Not everything can be 'Murdabad'," he added.

Meanwhile, the farmers said that we will stay here and register their protest till Bhagwant Mann fulfill their demands.

"We will stay here and register their protest until our demands are not fulfilled. Till then we will eat, drink and sleep here. We will bring all our belongings with us, we will do this like Delhi," said a farmer.

In a statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office, Mann categorically said that a staggered program for sowing of paddy won't harm the interests of the farmers but it can act as a catalyst to save the water table in the state. -- ANI

A 35-year-old Pakistani man belonging to the minority Ahmadi community has been stabbed to death by a religious fanatic over his faith in the country's Punjab province, the police said on Wednesday.

Pakistan's Parliament in 1974 declared the Ahmadi community as non-Muslims.

A decade later, they were banned from calling themselves Muslims. They are banned from preaching and from travelling to Saudi Arabia for pilgrimage. The latest incident took place in Okara district, some 130 km from here, on Tuesday. -- PTI

An application has been filed in Varanasi court to demolish the wall beside wazukhana where a Shivling is claimed to be found during the survey of the Gyanvapi Mosque premises, said lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain, representing the Hindu side on Wednesday.

"The court ordered to remove Advocate Commissioner Ajay Mishra for hiring a private cameraman and leaking the contents of the survey. Further, we filed an application for the demolition of the wall beside the wazukhana so that we can enter further. The court will hear the matter today," said Jain.

The Varanasi civil court on Tuesday removed the Advocate-Commissioner Ajay Kumar Mishra from the panel formed to survey the Gyanvapi mosque.

The court-appointed special Commission has also received two-more days to submit the survey report. The three-day-long court-monitored videography survey of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple-Gyanvapi Mosque complex in Varanasi concluded on Monday. -- ANI

A court in Thane, Maharashtra on Wednesday remanded Marathi actor Ketaki Chitale in judicial custody in connection with the case of allegedly sharing an objectionable post on social media about NCP chief Sharad Pawar.

Chitale (29), a film and TV actress, was arrested by the Thane police last Saturday over the post she allegedly shared on her Facebook page.

A court had on Sunday sent her in Thane police's custody till May 18.

On Wednesday, Thane crime branch officials produced Chitale before a magistrate who remanded her in the magisterial custody. A police official said they had completed the probe into the case registered here.

On Sunday, the Pune cyber police, who have also registered a case against Chitale, said they will seek the actor's custody after the expiry of her remand with the Thane police.

Earlier, cases were also registered against the actor in Mumbai, Akola and Dhule districts in connection with the online post. The cases at these police stations were registered under various Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections, including 500 (defamation), 501 (printing or engraving matter known to be defamatory), 505 (2) (making, publishing or circulating any statement, rumour or report promoting enmity, hatred or ill will between classes) and 153 A (spreading disharmony among people), police said.

The post shared by Chitale, which was in verse form, was purportedly written by someone else. It contained phrases like "hell is waiting" and "you hate Brahmins", allegedly referring to Pawar, whose party shares power in Maharashtra with the Shiv Sena and Congress. PTI

11:46 S&P cuts FY23 India growth forecast to 7.3%

S&P Global Ratings on Wednesday cut India's growth projection for the current fiscal to 7.3 per cent from 7.8 per cent earlier on rising inflation and the longer-than-expected Russia-Ukraine conflict.

In its Global Macro Update to Growth Forecasts, S&P said inflation remaining higher for long is a worry, which requires central banks to raise rates more than what is currently priced in, risking a harder landing, including a larger hit to output and employment.

S&P had in December last year pegged India's GDP growth in the 2022-23 fiscal, which began on April 1, 2022, at 7.8 per cent.

The growth projection has been cut to 7.3 per cent for the current fiscal. For the next fiscal the growth has been pegged at 6.5 per cent. -- PTI

The Supreme Court has granted bail to Indrani Mukerjea, prime accused in the murder of her daughter, Sheena Bora.

11:15 Rajiv assassination convict to be released

The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered release of A G Perarivalan, who has served over 30 years of life term in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. A bench headed by Justice L Nageswara Rao invoked its extraordinary power under Article 142 to grant relief to Perarivalan.

"State cabinet had taken its decision based on relevant considerations. In exercise of Article 142, it is appropriate to release the convict," the bench said.

Article 142 deals with enforcement of decrees and orders of the Supreme Court and orders as to discovery, etc.

On March 9, the top court had granted bail to Perarivalan while taking note of his long incarceration and no history of complaints when out on parole.

The top court was hearing the plea of the 47-year-old Perarivalan seeking suspension of his life sentence in the case till the Multi Disciplinary Monitoring Agency probe is completed.

Gandhi was assassinated on the night of May 21, 1991 at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu by a woman suicide bomber, identified as Dhanu, at a poll rally.

In its May 1999 order, the top court had upheld the death sentence of four convicts Perarivalan, Murugan, Santham and Nalini. On February 18, 2014, the top court had commuted the death sentence of Perarivalan to life imprisonment, along with that of two other prisoners -- Santhan and Murugan -- on grounds of an 11-year delay in deciding their mercy pleas by the Centre. -- PTI

Hardik Patel quits Congress. He has also resigned from all party posts. The maverick Patidar leader has been miffed with state party leaders over his role in the move to strengthen the local organization in the run-up to the Assembly polls due later this year. Details awaited.

Slamming AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi for his opposition to the survey at Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Minority Morcha spokesperson Syed Yaser Jilani on Tuesday said Owaisi is trying to "provoke a section and playing the victim card".

Speaking to ANI, Jilani said, "Asaduddin Owaisi is doing the work of devils.

"Owaisi is known for opposing whatever work is done according to the Constitution of India. He talks about Article 6 of the 1991 Act. But, he does not discuss Article 4, which is for worship. Asaduddin Owaisi's only job is to obstruct any good work in every way."

Jilani said that the facts should be produced before the court. "Let people know what facts come out. Do you (Owaisi) have faith in the Constitution of India or not? If you have faith, you should wait. But, Asaduddin Owaisi is constantly trying to provoke a section, a community, intimidating people, playing the victim card," stated Jilani.

Asked about the claims of finding a Shivling in the Gyanvapi Masjid premises, Jilani said, "The people of India trust the court. I believe that thesurvey report will be given due consideration by the court. Whoever is on the other side, also has the right to move to the Supreme Court. Our Constitution has given everyone the same power."

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday termed the Varanasi court's order on the Kashi-Vishwanath temple-Gyanvapi Mosque issue as wrong, unfair and illegal. Earlier on Monday, the Varanasi court directed the district administration to seal the spot of the survey inside the complex where allegedly 'Shivling' has been found by the surveying team. -- PTI

The Nagpur ATS unit has arrested a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist from Jammu & Kashmir who had allegedly conducted a recce of Dr Hedgewar Smriti Bhawan of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in Nagpur in Maharashtra last year, an official said on Wednesday.

Sheikh had allegedly conducted a partial recce of the Hedgewar Smriti Bhavan in Reshimbaug area of Nagpur and managed to send a video of the Bhavan to his handler in Pakistan, he said.

The ATS recently took Raees Ahmed Sheikh Asadulla Sheikh (26), a resident of Awantipora town in J&K's Pulwama district, into custody on a production warrant from J&K and extensively questioned him over the last two days, he said. Sheikh told the investigators that a person named Omar, claimed to be the operational commander of JeM's Nawabpur (Pakistan)-based terrorist launching pad, was his handler.

He came to Nagpur by a Delhi-Mumbai-Nagpur flight on July 13, 2021 and checked into a hotel in Sitabuldi area.

The handler had assured Sheikh that a local man would contact and help him in the operation in Nagpur.

However, Sheikh conducted the reconnaissance on his own as no person contacted him in Nagpur, the official said.

On July 14, Sheikh took an auto-rickshaw and reached Reshimbagh area with the help of Google Map.

The location was sent by his handler, he said. His target was to conduct the recce of the Smriti Bhavan.

The recce

He alighted near the Reshimbagh ground in the afternoon. Sheikh then switched on his mobile phone camera and held it near his head to show as if he was speaking to someone over the phone. He walked through the Reshimbagh ground while capturing its video, the official said.

Sheikh shared the video with his handler on WhatsApp, but the latter got angry over its poor quality and instructed him to again shoot a video. However, Sheikh refused to do so citing police security and switched off the mobile phone, the official said.

He then called the auto-rickshaw driver and asked to take him to a mosque. The auto driver dropped him at a mosque near Santra Market gate, where he stayed the whole day and returned to the hotel in the evening.

On July 15, Sheikh went to Srinagar by a Nagpur-Delhi-Srinagar flight, the official said. The Kotwali police station here had earlier registered a case against Sheikh under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). -- PTI

10:25 Thane logs 30 new Covid-19 cases

Maharashtra's Thane district has recorded 30 new cases of coronavirus, raising its infection count to 7,09,410, an official said on Wednesday. These new cases were reported on Tuesday, he said.

There was no fresh fatality and the death toll stood at 11,895, he said, adding that the COVID-19 mortality rate in Thane is 1.67 per cent.

In neighbouring Palghar district, the COVID-19 case count stood at 1,63,612 and the death toll at 3,407, another official said. -- PTI

Andaman and Nicobar Islands became COVID-free again as the lone patient was cured of the disease, a health department official said on Wednesday.

The patient was discharged on Tuesday, he said.

"Earlier, the active case count in the archipelago hit zero on April 30. Since May 6, three coronavirus patients were detected in the Union Territory and all of them recuperated from the disease. Now there is no active case," the official said.

The coronavirus tally in the archipelago stood at 10,039.

Altogether, 9,910 people have recovered from the disease, while 129 patients have succumbed to the infection.

The administration has tested over 7.30 lakh samples for COVID-19, and the positivity ratio stood at 1.37 per cent, he said.

Altogether 6,78,927 beneficiaries above 18 years of age have been vaccinated so far in the Union Territory. At least 23,464 people in the age group of 15 to 18 years have been inoculated, while 12,092 children in the age group of 12-14 years have received the jab.

As many as 22,682 people got the precautionary dose of COVID-19 vaccines so far, the official added. -- PTI

The Delhi government has sought a detailed report from the Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled civic bodies on the demolition drives being conducted by them across the city since April 1, officials sources said on Wednesday.

This comes days after a series of anti-encroachment drives were conducted by the three civic bodies in different parts of the city including Shaheen Bagh, Jahangirpuri Madanpur Khadar, New Friends Colony, Mangolpuri, Rohini, Gokulpuri, Lodhi Colony, Janakpuri among others.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had on Monday held a meeting with all AAP MLAs at his residence and asked them to oppose such demolition drives of the BJP-ruled municipalities.

Kejriwal had said the demolition drives in Delhi will render 63 lakh people homeless and that it will be the "biggest destruction" in Independent India, and accused the BJP of "misusing" power. -- PTI

By June 2022, India intends to deploy the S-400 missile defence system that it has received from Russia to defend itself against threat from Pakistan and China, a Pentagon spy master has told United States lawmakers.

India started receiving the delivery of S-400 missile defence system from Russia in December last year, Lt Gen Scott Berrier, Director, Defense Intelligence Agency told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee during a recent Congressional hearing.

As of October 2021, India's military was seeking to procure advanced surveillance systems to strengthen its land and sea borders and boost its offensive and defensive cyber capabilities.

"In December, India received its initial delivery of the Russian S-400 air defence system, and it intends to operate the system to defend against Pakistani and Chinese threats by June 2022," Berrier said.

"India continued to develop its own hypersonic, ballistic, cruise, and air defence missile capabilities, conducting multiple tests in 2021. India has a growing number of satellites in orbit, and it is expanding its use of space assets, likely pursuing offensive space capabilities," he said.

Berrier told lawmakers that New Delhi is pursuing an extensive military modernisation effort encompassing air, ground, naval, and strategic nuclear forces with an emphasis on domestic defence production.

India is taking steps to establish Integrated Theatre Commands that will improve its joint capability among its three military services.

Since 2019, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given priority to strengthen India's economy by expanding its domestic defence industry, and establishing a negative import list to curtail defence purchases from foreign suppliers.

"India's longstanding defence relationship with Russia remains strong, holding their first '2+2' format talks in December -- a joint foreign and defence ministerial that India previously only held with the United States, Japan, and Australia.

"India has maintained a neutral stance on Russia's invasion of Ukraine and continues to call for peace," Berrier told the lawmakers.

According to Berrier, throughout 2021, New Delhi continued to implement foreign policy aimed at demonstrating India's role as a leading power and net provider of security in the Indian Ocean region.

India seeks to promote prosperity and ensure stability in the Indo-Pacific region by seeking strategic partnerships to build influence through bilateral and multilateral mechanisms such as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), he said.

The Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested d S Bhaskar Raman, a close associate of Congress leader Karti P Chidambaram in an ongoing visa corruption case following questioning late last night.

The CBI on Tuesday had registered a fresh case against Karti Chidambaram for allegedly facilitating the visas of 263 Chinese nationals for a power company after receiving illegal gratification of Rs 50 lakh 11 years ago when his father P Chidambaram was the Union home minister.

CBI teams conducted coordinated search operations at 10 locations in multiple cities in the country, including residences of the Chidambarams in Chennai and Delhi on early morning after registering the FIR.

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram, in his tweets in Hindi and English, said a CBI team searched his residence in Chennai and his official residence in Delhi.

"The team showed me an FIR in which I am not named as an accused. The search team found nothing and seized nothing," he said, adding, "I may point out that the timing of the search is interesting."

However, he did not mention what "timing" he was referring to.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy kicked off the 75th edition of the Cannes Film Festival with his virtual address and launched a veiled attack on his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin as the war between both countries entered day 83.

Opening Cannes Film Festival, Zelenskyy urged future filmmakers to celebrate the satire on fascism and not remain silent and hailed Charlie Chaplin's satire on Adolf Hitler.

Zelenskyy quoted Chaplin's final speech in "The Great Dictator," which was released in 1940, in the early days of World War II, and said, "The hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people."

He made an appeal to the world of the cinema saying, "It's necessary for cinema not to be silent." The Ukrainian President said, "We need a new Chaplin who will demonstrate that the cinema of our time is not silent."

Moreover, he requested that cinema must always be "on the side of freedom".

He made these remarks, after tributes and musical numbers, in a live satellite video address to the audience who had gathered for the premiere of Michel Hazanavicius' zombie comedy "Final Cut."

The Ukrainian president was dressed in his signature olive green shirt. The hall reverberated with a thunderous standing ovation as Zelenskyy spoke at length about the connection between cinema and reality.

He referenced films like Francis Ford Coppola's "Apocalypse Now" and Charlie Chaplin's "The Great Dictator" as not unlike Ukraine's present circumstances, reported ABC News.

Set to screen are several films from prominent Ukrainian filmmakers, including Sergei Loznitsa's documentary "The Natural History of Destruction." Footage shot by Lithuanian filmmaker Mantas Kvedaravicius before he was killed in Mariupol in April will also be shown by his fiancee, Hanna Bilobrova.

Even "Final Cut," the latest film from "The Artist" filmmaker Hazanavicius, was renamed from its original title, "Z," after Ukrainian protesters noted that the letter Z to some symbolizes support for Russia's war in Ukraine, as per the media portal.

The 75th Cannes Film Festival started on Tuesday, May 17 and will go on till May 28.

Representational image

01:13 Loot accused surrenders in UP with don't-shoot-me placard hung around neck

With a don't shoot me placard hung around his neck, an alleged robber surrendered to police here on Tuesday in the district, an official said.

Furkan alias Sadua, accused of robbing a trader of Rs 5 lakh on April 5 along with his accomplice Qamar reached the Behta police station in Faizganj, Budaun's superintendent of police OP Singh said.

As he approached the police station, he was having a placard hung around his neck, the SP said, adding that the placard read, 'Don't shoot me, I am surrendering due to the fear of police.' -- PTI

Representational image

00:42 Kashmiri Pandits hold 'thali bajao' stir in J-K

Kashmiri Pandit employees on Tuesday took out a march in the Anantnag district and banged utensils as part of a thali bajao protest against the killing of Rahul Bhat last week.

Bhat, who had got the job of a clerk under the special employment package for migrants in 2010-11, was gunned down by terrorists inside the tehsil office in Chadoora town of central Kashmir's Budgam district on Thursday.

Braving rains, the protestors under the banner of All PM Package Employees Forum marched on the highway banging utensils and raising slogans demanding justice.

Earlier in the day, inspector general of police, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar had visited the Kashmiri Pandits at their protest site and said that terrorists can target them if they stayed on road. -- PTI

Timeline Refresh

TOP STORIES