Month: July 2013

Abducted Delhi boy rescued from Haryana

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An 11-year-old son of a businessman kidnapped from here allegedly by two property dealers for Rs.1.5 crore ransom was rescued from Haryana’s Rewari district Sunday morning, Delhi Police said. One of the accused has been arrested.

Harmeet, a Class 6 student, was rescued Sunday morning from inside a car parked near Rewari Railway Station in Haryana, police said.

According to Deputy Commissioner of Police Alok Kumar, the boy was kidnapped from near his house in Rajendra Nagar in central Delhi Saturday evening, when he had gone to buy a mobile recharge coupon.

Dalai Lama’s security reviewed after Bodh Gaya blasts

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The security of Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has been reviewed after the blasts in Bihar’s Bodh Gaya town early Sunday morning. The Dalai Lama’s private office here said his security had been stepped up.

“We have issued an advisory to His Holiness’ personal security officials,” Ngodup Dorjee, Central Tibetan Administration’s (CTA) department of security secretary, told IANS.

Tell us what came of NIA examination of Headley, says BJP

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The Bharatiya Janata Party Sunday demanded that the government divulge what was found when the National Investigation Agency (NIA) examined Pakistani-American terrorist David Coleman Headley in the United States.

BJP spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi also noted that the National Human Rights Commission had not termed the shootout that killed Ishrat Jahan and three men in 2004 a staged one.

Navigation satellite orbit raised, ISRO starts testing cryogenic engine

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The Indian space agency Saturday evening successfully put its first navigation satellite – the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System-1A (IRNSS-1A) – in the geosynchronous orbit at 27 degrees to the equator, said officials Sunday.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) officials also said tests are being carried on its cryogenic engine that was mated with its heavier rocket, the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Friday.

Had warned of terror threat to Mahabodhi temple: Delhi cops

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A Delhi Police team will visit Bihar’s Bodh Gaya town, rocked by serial blasts Sunday, and give investigators information gathered from four Indian Mujahideen (IM) terrorists who earlier planned an attack on the Mahabodhi temple, an official said, adding that they had warned of a threat to the revered shrine.

One of the four arrested terror suspects involved in last year’s Pune blasts had said during questioning that he had made a video film of the area around the Mahabodhi temple, a Delhi Police officer said.

Terror strikes Bodh Gaya, two monks injured; NIA begins probe

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Nine near-coordinated explosions shook the serenity of the world-renowned Mahabodhi temple complex in Bihar’s Bodh Gaya early Sunday, injuring two monks but not causing much damage. The government termed it a terror attack as an NIA team began its probe.

President Pranab Mukherjee described the serial blasts as a “senseless act of violence” while Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said “such attacks on religious places will never be tolerated”.

Maha Bodhi Society condemns Bodh Gaya bombings

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Condemning the bombings at Bodh Gaya in Bihar, an official of the Maha Bodhi Society of India Sunday said such “shameless” attacks go against the basic tenets of Buddhism that espouses peace.

“Buddhism is for peace. We condemn the bombings. It goes against our faith and our belief in non-violence,” Anand Kumar Barua, member of the city-based Society’s governing body, told IANS.

Established in 1891 in Bodh Gaya (later shifted to Kolkata) to revive Buddhism in the country, the society seeks to promote the sect across the world through its branches in countries like Sri Lanka and US

Metro Phase III to ensure easy access to South Campus

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Thousands of commuters, particularly students of Delhi University’s South Campus, have a reason to cheer as they will be able to use the Delhi Metro network with a station coming up at Dhaula Kuan in Phase III.

According to Delhi Metro, South Campus colleges will have direct connectivity with Metro in Phase III, which is expected to be completed by 2016.

“The upcoming Phase III Mukundpur-Shiv Vihar metro corridor will have an elevated station at Dhaula Kuan, near Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College,” a Delhi Metro official said.

Delhi minor raped by middle-aged neighbour

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A nine-year-old girl was sexually assaulted by a 49-year-old neighbour in his house here, police said Sunday. The accused has been arrested.

“The victim was lured by Harish, 49, a small garment shopkeeper to his home in Burari area in north Delhi Saturday afternoon. He sexually assaulted the girl and dropped her near her house,” said a police officer

The girl told her mother about the assault who filed a complaint, police said.

Police said the accused was arrested from his house after the sexual assault was confirmed in the medical examination.

–IANS

Mamata calls up Vijayamma, discusses proposed front

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West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Sunday spoke to YSR Congress’s honorary president Y.S. Vijayamma over phone and discussed the proposed Federal Front of like-minded parties.

Banerjee, who heads the Trinamool Congress, told Vijayamma that Lok Sabha elections are likely to be held much before May 2014 and that the possibility of like-minded parties coming together should be explored.

“She proposed that TMC, YSR Congress and other such parties can come together for the snap polls which are likely to be held in November,” said a statement issued by YSR Congress.

BJP expels former MP minister Raghavji

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The BJP Sunday expelled former Madhya Pradesh minister Raghavji from the party in the wake of sodomy allegations against him.

Bharatiya Janata Party’s Madhya Pradesh unit chief Narendra Singh Tomar announced the action against the former state finance minister.

“After watching developments for the last two days in Raghavji’s case, the BJP has decided to expel him from its primary membership,” Tomar said.

He said the decision had the concurrence of senior party leaders including Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

Step up security at Buddhist shrines, states told

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The central government has asked the states to heighten security at Buddhist places of worship and Tibetan settlements in view of the serial blasts at Mahabodhi temple in Bihar’s Bodh Gaya, officials said Sunday.

Official sources said that the home ministry had sent an advisory to states that adequate security must be provided to Buddhist places of worships and Tibetian settlements in the wake of blasts at the temple and violence between Rohingya Muslims and Buddhists in Myanmar.

Shweta Tiwari bids adieu to ‘Jhalak…’

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Popular television actress Shweta Tiwari was Sunday evicted from “Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 6” after getting low votes and losing the face-off round to actress Aarti Chabaria.

The actress was in the bottom-three along with singer Shaan and Aarti. After the performance, Aarti, who was in the bottom-three last week as well, secured her place in the competition, while Shweta had to leave.

Tri-nation series: Sri Lanka 60/3 as rain stops play

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Sri Lanka, sent in to bat by West Indies, were 60 for 3 off 19 overs when rain stopped play in the fifth match of the tri-nation ODI cricket series at Queen’s Park Oval here Sunday.

Lahiru Thirimanne was batting on 13 and Kumar Sangakarra 11.

Should today’s play be washed out by rain, Monday has been set as a reserve day for the match. The match will continue from where it stopped.

–IANS

Sri Lanka-West Indies match pushed to reserve day

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Heavy rain at the Queen’s Park Oval here Sunday pushed the fifth match of the tri-nation series between Sri Lanka and West Indies to a reserve day.

Sri Lanka, sent in by the West Indies, were 60 for 3 off 19 overs when rain stopped play.

Lahiru Thirimanne was batting on 13 and Kumar Sangakarra 11. Kemar Roach had taken two wickets for 19 runs.

Intermittent showers then ruled out the possibility of further play. The match will continue from where it stopped.

Sri Lanka deplores attack on Mahabodhi temple

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Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa deplored the attack on the 1,500-year-old Mahabodhi temple in Bihar Sunday.

Nine near-coordinated explosions shook the serenity of the world-renowned Mahabodhi temple complex in Bodh Gaya early Sunday, injuring two monks but not causing much damage.

Iranian minister visits UAE emirate Ras al-Khaimah

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Ras al-Khaimah (RAK), an emirate of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Iran Sunday held discussions over economic and investment ties. Both sides explored ways to strengthen existing cooperation and relations.

The talks were held when Iranian Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi visited RAK’s ruler Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi.

–IANS

Pakistan to boost cooperation with China

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Visiting Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said Sunday that his government would promote Pakistan-China partnership by implementing cooperation projects.

The cooperation achievements made by Pakistan and China’s Guangdong province reflect the profound friendship between people of the two nations, reported Xinhua citing Sharif while visiting the province.

RJD calls bandh in Magadh division on Monday

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The Rashtriya Janata Dal has issued a bandh call for Monday in the Magadh division to protest against the Nitish Kumar government’s “failure” to prevent the terror attack in Bodh Gaya despite prior information from intelligence agencies.

RJD national general secretary Ramkripal Yadav said the bandh call was intended to highlight the state government’s “gross negligence” of security arrangements at the Mahabodhi temple and other Buddhist shrines in Bodh Gaya.

The BJP, too, has called a bandh in Gaya district on Monday over the same issue.

Couple on bike shot at by men posing as cops in Rajasthan

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A young couple on a motorcycle was on Sunday shot at by two con men posing as police officials who intercepted them to check the vehicle’s documents in Alwar district, the police said.

23-year-old Shahid Mev received bullet injuries in stomach, while his wife Barvati Mev (22) escaped unhurt in the incident which took place near Ramgarh, SHO of Ramgarh Police station Ashok K Meena told PTI over the phone.

The couple was rushed to Sahania Hospital in Alwar where his conditions was stated to be serious, he said.

Officials: 14 Afghan soldiers, 64 Taliban killed

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A roadside bomb seriously wounded a prominent member of Afghanistan’s High Peace Council today, an official said, while the government announced that recent fighting in the country has killed 14 Afghan soldiers and 64
Taliban militants.

Fazil Ahmad, the High Peace Council’s chief in Ghazni province, was in critical condition in a hospital with three
others who had been traveling with him when their vehicle hit a roadside bomb, said deputy provincial police chief Asadullah Ensafi. The car’s driver was killed.

3 MLAs, 2 MLCs resign for united AP

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Three MLAs and two MLCs of Kadapa district on Sunday submitted their resignation demanding that the Centre keep the Andhra Pradesh united.

Rayachoti MLA Shrikanth Reddy (YSRCP), Railway Kodad MLA Srinivasulu (YSRCP), Jammalapadugu MLA Adi Narayana Reddy (Congress) and MLCs Narayan Reddy and V Pullaiah submitted their resignation letters to Kadapa District Samaikhyandhra JAC convenor Chandrashekhar Reddy.

Airport officials were forcing me to take off my clothes: Kirti Azad

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Having encountered a nightmarish experience at the Heathrow Airport in London on Saturday, former India cricketer Kirti Azad is yet come to terms with the ordeal that he along with his wife and son had to encounter before taking a flight back home.

Azad today claimed that airport authorities “harrassed” him alleging that there was an item in his luggage which was explosive in nature.

Truck driver robbed of Rs 22 lakh

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Armed robbers stopped a Panipat-bound truck in the Rasoolpur village in Meerut and looted Rs 22 lakh from its driver, police said on Sunday.

The money was given to the driver by a businessman from Amroha district, and it was to be handed over to a party in Panipat, SP (Rural) M M Baig said.

The truck driver and cleaner sustained minor injuries during the loot that took place late on Saturday night, he said.

Baig further said both of them are also quizzed to investigate whether they were part of the loot plan.

–PTI

Talks with China will yield positive results: Khurshid

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External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid on Sunday said that the bilateral talks between India and China will deliver positive result in near future.

The Union minister termed his China visit in May a very successful one.

“Our bilateral talks with Chinese counterparts will deliver a positive result in near future”, he said.

Khurshid asserted that merely on rumours, India cannot react with the neighbouring nations.

Earlier addressing a function in Jaipur, Khurshid said UPA’s 15-point programme for the religious minorities has been benefiting the whole of community.