Bulletproof boats for anti-Maoist operation

PC: Bulletproofindia.com

Bhubaneswar, Apr 19 (PTI) To keep a watch on the movement of left wing extremists in the cut-off areas of Malkangiri district BSF has come forward to provide two bulletproof boats for patrolling Balimela reservoir for anti-Maoist operation.

"BSF has decided to provide two bulletproof boats for patrolling in the cut-off area. The boats will be available by June/July," BSF Director General Krishna Kumar Sharma told reporters after a meeting with the Odisha Director General of Police K B Singh.

The cut-off area comprising about 150 villages and seprated by the Balimela reservoir is known as the fort of the Maoists. Three sides of the cut-off area is encircled by the reservoir, while it has land connectivity with neighbouring Andhra Pradesh through dense forest route.

The bulletproof boats would not only help intensify patrolling in cut-off areas but also help in anti-Maoist operation, the BSF DG said adding the force has been camping in the banks of Balimela reservoir and providing protection to the ongoing construction of Gurupriya bridge to connect the cut-off area with Chitrakonda block of Odisha's Malkangiri district.

Singh said the security personnel are serious about the presence of Maoists in some parts of Malkangiri and Koraput district.

Official sources said the discussions between the Odisha DGP and the BSF DG were mostly on information sharing, deployment and more utilisation of BSF for anti-Maoist operation.

BJP accuses LDF, UDF of creating unnecessary fear among

Palakkad (Ker), Apr 19 (PTI) The BJP today alleged that the ruling LDF and the opposition UDF had focussed on creating "unnecessary fear" among Muslims about the Narendra Modi government in the run up to the Malappuram Lok Sabha bypoll.

In a political resolution, the party said the victory of P K Kunhalikutty of IUML, a coalition partner of the UDF, cannot be treated as a political victory, but was the outcome of support of communal forces.

The resolution was passed at the state executive held here today.

The executive alleged that both the LDF and the UDF had tried to create "unnecessary fear" among people in the Muslim dominated Malappuram and took out "anti-Modi" campaigns.

It claimed that though Kerala was a beneficiary of most of the central policies, the two fronts had tried to whip up anti-Modi and false propaganda against the central government.

"They indulged in false propaganda and failed to come out with any creative criticisms on the policies of the central government," the resolution said.

The resolution claimed that the CPI(M)-led LDF had sought the cooperation of "extremist forces" to overcome the IUML's domination.

"The success of the UDF in the Malappuram Lok Sabha bypoll cannot be considered as a political victory. The CPI(M) had tried to join hands even with communal forces to tide over the supremacy of Indian Union Muslim League," it claimed.

The resolution also admitted that the BJP failed to make any major impact in the bypoll but was able to keep its vote base intact.

Lashing out at the state government over various issues, it also alleged that Kerala had become an "abode of criminals" after Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan assumed office last May.

The resolution also criticised Power Minister M M Mani for allegedly threatening officials trying to remove encroachers in ecologically sensitive Munnar.

A total of 1.75 lakh criminal cases had been registered in Kerala during the last eight months, it said alleging that CPI(M) activists had annihilated 20 political opponents during the period.

The BJP executive also asked the RBI to probe the alleged conspiracy between the Kerala government and some banks to create artificial currency crunch.

Tribal couple stripped, beaten by the girl's family

PC: Youtube

Jaipur, Apr 19 (PTI) A tribal couple was allegedly stripped and beaten up by family members of the wife for having married against their wishes in the Banswara district, a video of which has went viral on social media.

Taking note of the shocking video, the Kalinjara police station have registered a case in the matter under various sections of the IPC and IT Act.

So far, four accused incident have been arrested.

The incident happened on Sunday in Shambhupura village in Banswara district where a newly wed couple were stripped off and beaten by a group of 15-20 people.

"We came to know about the matter when a video circulated on social media on Tuesday night. Four persons have been arrested including girl's father," Banswara collector, Bhagwati Prasad told PTI.

Banswara Circle Officer, Bharat Ram Meena said that the FIR was registered on the complaint of the husband.

We have registered a case against 15-20 people under various IPC sections 307 (Attempt to murder), 120 (B) (criminal conspiracy) and sections of IT Act.

Meena further said that the family members of the victim girl following the incident sold her at Rs 75,000 and was paid Rs 5,000 in advance to someone in the neighbouring village.

The couple, fearing the reaction of the girl's family had left their village on March 22. Later, girl's family members traced them and took them back to Shambhupura where the entire incident happened on April 16.

Four including, girl's father, have been arrested and hunt for other accused is on.

Pak violates ceasefire, shells LoC posts in Poonch

PC: DailyMail.co.uk

Jammu, Apr 19 (PTI) Pakistani troops today violated the ceasefire for the seventh time this month by resorting to mortar shelling and firing on Indian posts along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district.

"The Pakistan Army initiated indiscriminate firing of small arms, automatic weapons and mortar shelling at 1115 hours on Indian posts along the LoC in Poonch," a senior Indian Army officer said.

Indian troops deployed on forward posts retaliated. The exchange of fire was continuing till reports last came in.

Pakistan has breached the truce seven times this month.

On Monday, Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire by firing and shelling mortars on forward posts in Noushera sector along the LoC in Rajouri district.

They had broken the ceasefire in the same sector on April 8, in Poonch district on April 5, in Bhimbher Gali (BG) sector on April 4 and twice on April 3 in Balakote and Poonch sectors.

Advani, Bharti, Joshi to stand trial in Ayodhya case

PC: PTI

New Delhi, Apr 19 (PTI) BJP leaders L K Advani, M M Joshi and Uma Bharti will face trial in the 1992 Babri Masjid demolition case as the Supreme Court today allowed the CBI plea and restored criminal conspiracy charges against them.

The court also clubbed the trial in the matter pending against the leaders and 'karsevaks' and said the proceedings should be completed in two years.

"We have allowed the CBI appeal against the Allahabad High Court judgement with certain directions," a bench comprising Justices P C Ghose and R F Nariman said.

The apex court, however, noted that Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh enjoys Constitutional immunity and can be tried only after he ceases to hold the office. Kalyan Singh was the chief minister of UP in 1992.

The court also gave significant directions including that separate trials being conducted in trial courts at Raebareli and Lucknow will be clubbed and conducted in the capital of Uttar Pradesh only.

It also said that the trial judge of Lucknow "shall not be transferred" till conclusion and delivery of judgement in the sensational case.

The court further said that no party shall be granted adjournment without the sessions judge being satisfied of the reasons for it and conduct day-to-day trial which should be concluded within two years.

It also directed probe agency CBI to ensure that prosecution witnesses appear on each and every date for recording of evidence in the case and the trial court should start the proceedings within four weeks from today.

It, however, clarified that there would be no de novo (fresh) trial in the matter.

The bench also directed that its order should be followed in letter and spirit and granted liberty to the parties to approach it if its directions are not followed.

There were two sets of cases relating to the demolition of the disputed structure on December 6, 1992. The first involved unnamed 'karsevaks', the trial of which is taking place in a Lucknow court, while the second set of cases relate to the leaders in a Raebareli court.

VIP culture of cars with red beacons, sirens ends

New Delhi, April 19 (PTI): The Union Cabinet decided on Wednesday to do away with red beacon lights on all vehicles, including those of the Prime Minister, but excluding emergency services, from May 1.

“In a historic decision, the Cabinet has decided that beacon lights will be removed from all vehicles, barring emergency services vehicles, from May 1,” Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said.

Gadkari is the first minister to remove the beacon from his official vehicle.

Briefing reporters after a Cabinet meeting, Gadkari said: “This government is a government of common masses and has decided to abolish VIP culture of beacon lights and sirens”.

The notification in this regard will be issued soon, he said, adding that the decision is a democratic one.

KA Devics Thusua: Xiaomi Mi6 tuni release hiding

 

Chennai, Apr 19 (KA): Chinese handset maker Xiaomi is all set to launch its new smartphone Mi6 Today.

As per the report the Xiaomi Mi6 with 4GB of RAM, 64GB storage will be priced at Rs 20,500 and Mi6 with 4GB, 128GB variants will be priced at Rs. 24,300 respectively.

Features of Xiaomi Mi6

• 5.15-inch full HD display
• 1920 x 1080 pixels screen resolution
• Qualcomm`s latest processor
• Snapdragon 835 SoC
• 30 megapixel primary camera
• Android 6.0 Marshmallow
• 3200mAh battery