CBI questions Intelligence Bureau officer in Ishrat Jahan case

 News
Jun 182013
 

The CBI, probing the Ishrat Jahan fake encounter case, is likely to question Intelligence Bureau (IB) special director Rajinder Kumar again on Tuesday.

Kumar, who has already been questioned by the agency once, would be again interrogated for his alleged role in the fake encounter case in which 19-year old Ishrat was killed, along with four others on June 15, 2004 by a team of crime branch officials on the outskirts of Ahmedabad. Kumar has claimed in his defence that the intelligence input given by him was genuine and giving input does not mean that he directed the police to carry out the encounter.

The CBI, on the instruction of the High Court, had taken over the probe of the alleged fake encounter in which 19-year-old Ishrat, Javed Sheikh alias Pranesh Pillai, Amjad Ali Rana and Zeeshan Johar were killed on the outskirts of Ahmedabad on June 15, 2004 allegedly by a Crime Branch team led by DIG D.G. Vanzara.

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani were among the leaders who were in the hitlist of the alleged terrorists.

Headlines Today is in possession of the letter which was sent to CBI by the IB, which mentions that LeT had instructed its cadres in India to monitor the movements of these leaders. The letter written on Feb 13, 2013 also says that the IB had prior inputs about the threat to the senior BJP leaders including L.K. Advani, Narendra Modi, Praveen Togadia and then Shiv Sena chief late Bal Thackeray.

-With inputs from ANI.

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Monsoon fury: Rains wash away part of Kedarnath shrine compound, 50 dead

 News
Jun 182013
 
Monsoon fury: Rains wash away part of Kedarnath shrine compound, 50 dead

The famous Kedarnath shrine was virtually submerged in mud and slush where 50 people died in the unprecedented flash floods that claimed over 130 lives in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh and left over 70,000 pilgrims for Himalayan shrines stranded.

The shrine, one of the four holy dhams, in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand bore the brunt of torrential rains.

About 500 people, including several pilgrims, are said to be missing in the area.

IAF evacuates 180 in Uttarakhand | 15,000 pilgrims stranded on their way to pilgrimages: Army | Watch shocking footage as floods wash away 3-storey building in Uttarakhand | See pics | Himachal CM rescued from Kinnaur after 60 hours 

Kukhimath Sub Divisional Magistrate Rakesh Tewari told reporters after his return from Kedarnarth that 50 bodies are lying in areas adjacent to the shine.

Rakesh Tewari said, “About 500 pilgrims stranded at Kedarnath were ferried to safety at Guptkashi on Tuesday as rescue operations picked up momentum two days after incessant rains wreaked havoc in the state.”

“We are right now concentrating on rescuing those who are alive,” he said.

The death toll may rise significantly once water recedes and relief teams are able to access the affected areas.

A portion of the Kedarnath temple compound was washed away but authorities said no damages were reported to the structure itself.

The Ram Bada area, a busy spot near the temple, has been completely submerged and was not visible from rescue choppers.

Army Central Command officials said that nearly 6,000 to 8,000 people are stranded in Kedarnath, 2,500 in Hemkund Sahib and around 8,000 in Badrinath.

Flash floods, cloudbursts and landslips have so far claimed 131 lives in northern India. Thousands have been displaced in Uttar Pradesh where several rivers are in spate.

The death toll in Uttarakhand has reached 102.

Rudraprayag district was the worst hit with 20 people dead and 73 buildings, including 40 hotels, along the banks of the Alaknanda swept away in the swirling waters of the river.

A total of 71,440 pilgrims bound for the Himalayan shrines of Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri are stranded in Rudraprayag, Chamoli and Uttarkashi districts of Uttarakhand with the famous char dham yatra having been suspended due to massive landslides and damage to the road network.

Ravindra Jadeja storms into top-5 in ICC ODI rankings

 News
Jun 182013
 
Ravindra Jadeja storms into top-5 in ICC ODI rankings
India have strengthened their number one position on the ICC ODI Championship Table as they have added two more rating points to their kitty with an unbeaten run in the group stage of the Champions Trophy.

India had entered the tournament on 119 ratings points and have moved to 121, thanks to victories over South Africa, West Indies and Pakistan.

England are now ranked second after moving up two places from fourth, thereby pushing Australia to third position.

Second-ranked England and third-placed Australia are level on 113 ratings points, but Alastair Cook’s side is ranked above Michael Clarke’s team by a fraction of a point.

South Africa has dropped a place to fourth with a loss of one ratings points to 112 following the completion of the group stage. Sri Lanka at fifth and Pakistan at sixth have retained their pre-tournament positions.

Meanwhile, among the players, in form Indian spinner Ravindra Jadeja has entered the top-5 as he gained three places to be at number four in the ODI bowlers’ list.

His Spin colleague R Ashwin though dropped a place to 15th. Jadeja has moved up a place to fourth in the all-rounders’ list.

The highest run-getter of the tournament until the end of the group stage, Shikhar Dhawan, has re-entered the batting rankings in 50th place. Dhawan has scored 264 runs so far in the tournament, with two back-to-back hundreds.

The batting table is still topped by South Africa captain AB de Villiers, with teammate Hashim Amla in second place and India’s Virat Kohli in third place and followed by his skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Suresh Raina has gained a place to be 14th while out of favour Gautam Gambhir dropped three places to 19th.

Others moving in the right direction are Lasith Malinga in 11th (up by one), Kyle Mills in 12th  (up by four), Kemar Roach in 18th (up by two), Rangana Herath in 24th (up by six), Shane Watson in 29th (up by two), Stuart Broad in 32nd (up by one), Ryan McLaren in 34th (up by 13) and Nathan McCullum in 38th (up by seven).

The highest wicket-taker of the tournament in the group stage with 11 wickets, New Zealand’s Mitchell McClenaghan has jumped 15 places to 41st.

Meanwhile, England captain Alastair Cook has moved up two places to eighth in the latest Rankings for ODI batsmen.

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq has jumped seven places to return to the top 10 and is now at 10th after scoring 173 runs from three matches.

Also moving in the right direction inside the top 20 are George Bailey in 17th (up by six) and Ian Bell in 18th (up by three).

Outside the top 20, the batsmen moving up are Kane Williamson in 21st (up by nine), Mahela Jayawardene in 24th (up by three), Chris Gayle in 34th (up by two), Joe Root in 35th (up by seven), Nasir Jamshed in 38th (up by eight), Faf du Plessis in 43rd (up by seven) and Rohit Sharma in 47th (up by 11).

Jiah Khan suicide: Aditya Pancholi threatens legal action against Jiah’s mother

 Celebrities
Jun 182013
 
Jiah Khan suicide: Aditya Pancholi threatens legal action against Jiah's mother

Mumbai, June 18: Aditya Pancholi is in a rage after the hint that the handwriting in the 6-page letter is different from that of the love letters collected from his son Suraj’s residence. Pancholi  has threatened Jiah’s mother Rabia Khan of grave consequences.

Aditya Pancholi said in an interview to a daily newspaper that police will do something and from his side. He has handed the copy of the letters to handwriting analysts. The results are awaited and will take a week’s time.

Aditya, after seeing the handwritings, is confident that the suicide note and the love letters are written by two different persons.

Monsoon fury: Rains wreak havoc in north India, toll rises to 81

 News
Jun 182013
 
Monsoon fury: Rains wreak havoc in north India, toll rises to 81

Monsoon rains wreaked fresh havoc in northern India leading to flash floods, cloudbursts and landslips as the death toll climbed to 81 and hundreds of pilgrims bound for Himalayan shrines remained stranded.

Landslides left scores of tourists and pilgrims stranded in the hill states of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh while thousands have been displaced in Uttar Pradesh where several rivers are in spate.

Flash floods, cloudbursts and landslips have claimed 52 lives in Uttarakhand while damaging 175 houses across the state. Officials said that the toll could rise manifold as there were many areas where rescue teams are yet to reach.

Heavy rains wash away part of Kedarnath shrine compound | IAF evacuates 180 in Uttarakhand | 15,000 pilgrims stranded on their way to pilgrimages: Army | Watch shocking footage as floods wash away 3-storey building in Uttarakhand | See pics | Himachal CM rescued from Kinnaur after 60 hours  

Rudraprayag was the worst hit with 20 people reported dead and 73 buildings, including 40 hotels, along the banks of the Alaknanda swept away in the swirling waters of the river.

A total of 71,440 pilgrims bound for the Himalayan shrines of Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri are stranded in Rudraprayag, Chamoli and Uttarkashi districts of Uttarakhand with the famous char dham yatra having been suspended due to massive damage to the road network.

While 27,040 devotees are stranded in Chamoli, Rudraprayag and Uttarkashi have 25,000 and 9,850 stranded pilgrims, Disaster Management authorities said.

More than a dozen helicopters have been deployed in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh for relief and rescue operations with officials saying that all stranded people are expected to be evacuated soon.

Union Home Secretary R.K. Singh said food, medicines and blankets were air-dropped in remote areas of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.

“We have provided seven helicopters to Uttarakhand. The state government has also hired four private helicopters. We are providing helicopters to Himachal Pradesh. Hopefully, all stranded people will be evacuated today,” Singh said here.

Himachal Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, who was stranded in Kinnaur district for nearly 60 hours due to landslides, was evacuated this morning by a chopper hired by his Congress party. Singh was airlifted after rains abated and the weather cleared.

Over a dozen helicopters deployed in Uttarakhand, Himachal rescue ops
More than a dozen helicopters have been deployed in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh for relief and rescue operations in the flood affected hill states and all stranded people are expected to be evacuated soon.

Home Secretary R.K. Singh said food, medicines and blankets were air-dropped in remote areas of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh for the flood-affected people.

“We have provided seven helicopters to Uttarakhand. The state government has also hired four private helicopters. We are providing helicopters to Himachal Pradesh. Hopefully, all stranded people will be evacuated today,” Singh told reporters.

RJD to vote against JD(U) during trust vote

 News
Jun 182013
 
RJD to vote against JD(U) during trust vote
RJD to vote against JD(U) during trust vote Patna: Observing that the days of the JD(U) government were numbered after ‘divorce’ from the NDA, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad on Tuesday said that his 22 MLAs would vote against the government in Wednesday’s trust vote.

“My party will definitely vote against the Nitish Kumar government during the trust vote in the legislative Assembly tomorrow,” he told reporters.

On the possibility of the JD (U) attacking the RJD for voting against the ‘secular’ government, Prasad said that he was least bothered and pointed out his party’s decision to vote against the JD(U) government was on a firm ideological ground and commitment to the people.

“It does not matter to me that the BJP will vote against the JD(U) government…ours is an independent decision which has nothing to do with the stand of the saffron party,” the RJD supremo clarified.

RJD to vote against JD(U) during trust vote

Prasad, who had launched a ‘Parivartan Yatra’ against the NDA government and held an impressive public meeting in Patna last month, said that he had been vindicated for asserting that the Nitish Kumar government’s days in power were numbered due to arrogance of the chief minister and a host of other reasons.

“The JD(U) government may not go as it has mustered support of the four independent MLAs and the Congress MLAs (4) may bail it out during the trust vote tomorrow, but the beginning of the end of this government has well and truly begun,” he claimed.

On Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s praise of Nitish Kumar as a ‘secular’ leader after parting ways with the NDA two days ago, Prasad sought to downplay the development, saying that Singh is a gentleman who says kind words about anyone.

RJD to vote against JD(U) during trust vote

“I will not pass judgement on the PM’s ‘secular’ praise to the chief minister,” he said.

To a question that the JD(U) may try to poach his MLAs to garner majority in the state Assembly, the RJD supremo said that he was very much sure that all attempt to woo his legislators will fail as no one would like to jump on a sinking ship.

PTI

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First Published: Tuesday, June 18, 2013, 18:39

BJP`s internal matters playing out like `reality TV`: Manish Tewari

 News
Jun 182013
 
BJP`s internal matters playing out like `reality TV`: Manish Tewari
BJP`s internal matters playing out like `reality TV`: Manish Tewari New Delhi: In a dig at BJP, Union minister Manish Tewari on Tuesday said the party’s internal matters were playing out like ‘reality TV’ as everyone was aware of what was happening.

“The civil war in their midst is playing out like reality TV in the public space and everybody is very cognisant of what’s happening,” he told reporters when asked to comment on Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with senior BJP leader LK Advani.

BJP`s internal matters playing out like `reality TV`: Manish Tewari

Though Tewari described the meeting as an internal matter of BJP, he hit out at Modi saying, “But I think the larger question which has to be considered, needs to be done in the context of the Hindi proverb – ‘Charan pade santan ke, aur hua banta-dhaar (Trouble followed the arrival of the saints)’.

“That in 2001, a gentleman becomes the chief minister of Gujarat, in 2002, the entire communal harmony is completely demolished. As that gentleman turns towards Delhi, the NDA stands completely demolished. The BJP is a party which is at war with itself.”

BJP`s internal matters playing out like `reality TV`: Manish Tewari

He said people in the country should take note of these developments. When asked for his reaction on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s statement that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was secular, Tewari said, “I don’t think what the Prime Minister said and what Nitish Kumar commented in return needs to be speculated upon.

“It is self speaking. I don’t need to add or subtract anything to it. I think the moot question which people of this country would judge is that who at what point in time, took appropriate decision, keeping in mind the core idea and the core vision of the pluralistic idea of India.”

PTI

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First Published: Tuesday, June 18, 2013, 18:09

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