We have immense regards for BSF and other forces: Bikram Singh Majithia

AMRITSAR: While stating that SAD(B) holds Border Security Force (BSF) and all other defence forces in high esteem, cabinet minister Bikram Singh Majithia said that party would hold a peaceful demonstration on January 5th at Grain Market, Attari against all those people who were encouraging drug addiction.

While talking to media persons here on Friday, Majithia said: "We have due regards for our forces and we are always standing by them".

On figuring of his name in the synthetic drug racket, he said his intentions were clear and the evil designs of his political opponent who were dragging his name unnecessarily for their political gains would be exposed .

While accusing PPCC president Partap Singh Bajwa he said, "Before pointing a finger towards me Partap Singh Bajwa, should see that his past are wrapped up in the drugs and his party's MP from Amritsar Capt. Amrinder Singh had written a letter to Sonia Gandhi in this respect".

Earlier he inaugurated the office of Market Committee, Majitha, felicitated the newly appointed chairman Balbir Singh Chandi and the vice chairman Durga Das.

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Calling NE people 'chinki' will land you in jail

NEW DELHI: Calling people of northeastern origin by "derogatory" names such as "chinki" may land one in jail for up to five years, besides being non-bailable, if the Union home ministry accepts a recommendation of the MK Bezbaruah panel to amend the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for strengthening the legal framework against racial discrimination.

Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Friday told mediapersons that the government was considering introducing two new Sections in the IPC, Section 153-C and Section 509-A. The proposed Section 153-C relates to imputations and assertions prejudicial to human dignity and makes words, both spoken and written, or signs attempting to discriminate against individuals on the basis or race, or indulging in activity intended to use criminal force or violence against a particular race, a non-bailable offence punishable with imprisonment up to five years with fine.

The proposed Section 509-A seeks to make any word, gesture or act intended to insult a member of a particular race with imprisonment that may extend to three years with fine.

Stating that a final call on the above recommendations of the Bezbaruah panel, set up in February 2014 to examine concerns of north-eastern people living in different parts of the country, was yet to be taken, home minister Singh said the pros and cons of the proposed IPC amendments were being debated by the government. Once finalized, a Bill may brought in Parliament to amend the Criminal Law.

The Bezbaruah panel, in its report, had noted that most common demand of northeastern people living in other parts of the country was to make derogatory references such as 'chinki'', 'chinese', 'chi chi chu chu' or 'momos' based on race, identity or physical features, a punishable offence.

Meanwhile, announcing other measures based on recommendations of Bezbaruah panel, Singh said Delhi Police would recruit 20 police personnel, including 10 male and 10 female, from each of the eight north-eastern states and activate its northeast special unit.

The initiatives come on the eve of announcement of assembly polls in Delhi, which has a sizeable population of people from the north-eastern states. These will be implemented over the next six months, the home minister told mediapersons on Friday.

He said the police of other states and metropolitan cities would also be advised by the Union home ministry to introduce similar initiatives, including running a police exchange programmes with north-eastern states.

States will be advised to replicate Delhi Police's special helpline No 1093 for northeast people, and various metropolitan police told to post northeast personnel at visible positions in areas prone to crime against northeastern people. Fast-tracking of cases relating to crimes against north-eastern people and offering legal assistance to victims is also on the cards.

Incorporating north-eastern history and contribution of people from the region to India's freedom struggle in the school curriculum, scholarship schemes for northeastern students, promoting cultural heritage of the north-east through mass media and giving impetus to sports in the north-eastern states are other recommendations of the Bezbaruah panel that will be implemented in the coming months, said the home minister.

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IS Twitter account handler Mehdi Masroor Biswas was in touch ISIS combatant in Iraq: Cops

BENGALURU: Alleged pro-Islamic State (IS) Twitter account handler Mehdi Masroor Biswas was in touch with ISIS combatant stationed in Iraq, a top police official said.

"During our interrogation of Biswas, we have found that the IS account holder was in touch with the ISIS combatant and he was an aide," Bengaluru Police commissioner MN Reddi told reporters.

READ ALSO: I'm a soldier, I have no regrets, says ISIS Twitter handler Mehdi Masroor Biswas

Biswas was produced before a city court today and sent to judicial custody till January 16.

Biswas was arrested on Dember 13 under IPC section 125 (waging war against the government of any Asiatic power in alliance with the government of India) section 18 and 39 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Section 66 of the Information Technology Act.

Reddi said police have gathered sufficient evidence to prove that Biswas supported ISIS and also his direct messages on his Twitter handle revealed that he encouraged people to join IS.

READ ALSO: Now, a cell to monitor social media

"We have sufficient evidence to prove he (Biswas) supported ISIS. Direct messages on his Twitter handle also show he encouraged people to join the terrorist outfit. He had been pro-actively tweeting," he said.

Police had launched a manhunt for Biswas after Britain's Channel 4 News had aired the report on the presence of ISIS Twitter Ideologue @ShamiWitness here and arrested him from a rented apartment in the city.

On the Bengaluru blast outside a restaurant here on December 28 that claimed the life of a woman from Chennai and injured three others, Reddi said police were waiting for corroborative evidence to ascertain if the sketches matched. Until then, police wouldn't release them, he added.

On whether police saw any link with the 2005 IISc terror attack in which an IIT Professor from Delhi was killed by unidentified gunmen, he said, "it cannot be ruled out."

Asked whether the suspects would have visited Bengaluru before carrying out the blast, he said "the police did not have tacit information on that but the suspects had stayed in Hubballi, Yadgiri and Hosapete for four to five months."

Outlawed outfit SIMI's possible role has come under the scanner of investigators probing the terror attack. Chief minister Siddaramaiah had said last week that some SIMI members who had escaped from a jail in Madhya Pradesh had visited Karnataka.

READ ALSO: Most charges against Mehdi will not stick

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IS Twitter account handler Mehdi Masroor Biswas was in touch with ISIS combatant in Iraq: Cops

BENGALURU: Alleged pro-Islamic State (IS) Twitter account handler Mehdi Masroor Biswas was in touch with ISIS combatant stationed in Iraq, a top police official said.

"During our interrogation of Biswas, we have found that the IS account holder was in touch with the ISIS combatant and he was an aide," Bengaluru Police commissioner MN Reddi told reporters.

READ ALSO: I'm a soldier, I have no regrets, says ISIS Twitter handler Mehdi Masroor Biswas

Biswas was produced before a city court today and sent to judicial custody till January 16.

Biswas was arrested on Dember 13 under IPC section 125 (waging war against the government of any Asiatic power in alliance with the government of India) section 18 and 39 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Section 66 of the Information Technology Act.

Reddi said police have gathered sufficient evidence to prove that Biswas supported ISIS and also his direct messages on his Twitter handle revealed that he encouraged people to join IS.

READ ALSO: Now, a cell to monitor social media

"We have sufficient evidence to prove he (Biswas) supported ISIS. Direct messages on his Twitter handle also show he encouraged people to join the terrorist outfit. He had been pro-actively tweeting," he said.

Police had launched a manhunt for Biswas after Britain's Channel 4 News had aired the report on the presence of ISIS Twitter Ideologue @ShamiWitness here and arrested him from a rented apartment in the city.

On the Bengaluru blast outside a restaurant here on December 28 that claimed the life of a woman from Chennai and injured three others, Reddi said police were waiting for corroborative evidence to ascertain if the sketches matched. Until then, police wouldn't release them, he added.

On whether police saw any link with the 2005 IISc terror attack in which an IIT Professor from Delhi was killed by unidentified gunmen, he said, "it cannot be ruled out."

Asked whether the suspects would have visited Bengaluru before carrying out the blast, he said "the police did not have tacit information on that but the suspects had stayed in Hubballi, Yadgiri and Hosapete for four to five months."

Outlawed outfit SIMI's possible role has come under the scanner of investigators probing the terror attack. Chief minister Siddaramaiah had said last week that some SIMI members who had escaped from a jail in Madhya Pradesh had visited Karnataka.

READ ALSO: Most charges against Mehdi will not stick

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Scientist Vasant Gowarikar no more

PUNE: Eminent scientist and Padmashree-recipient Dr Vasant Gowarikar died at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital this morning.

He was 81. Dr Sameer Jog, ICU in charge of Mangeshkar Hospital, said he was suffering from dengue infection and urinary tract infection.

Gowarikar was well-known for his monsoon forecast model. He had worked with the Indian Space Research Organisation. He had also been secretary, department of science and technology as well as scientific adviser to the Prime Minister.

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Pak doesn't seem to learn any lesson: Manohar Parrikar

BENGALURU: As ceasefire violations by Pakistan continued unabated, defence minister Manohar Parrikar on Thursday said Islamabad does not seem to learn any lesson.

"Pakistan does not like to stay quiet even on New Year day. They started (cross-border) firing at 12.30 pm and don't seem to learn (any) lesson," Parrikar said at an event.

READ ALSO: Pak should be ready for collateral damages if they fire: BSF

In an obvious reference to Pakistan and China, he also said, "We are surrounded in northern boundaries by two neighbours who are not very comfortable with us."

In fresh ceasefire violation, Pakistan Rangers today targeted 13 border outposts in Samba sector, a day after an Indian jawan and four Pakistani soldiers were killed in exchange of fire.

India said it will lodge a strong protest with Pakistan over the ceasefire violations, the third along the International Border in the past three days and seventh in last eight days.

Responding to Pakistan's ceasefire violations, Parrikar had said yesterday that the Indian security forces should not hold back in the face of firing and must retaliate with "double the force".

Parrikar who was here to attend a function also described Bengaluru as "the brain of India" in Space research. "We are thankful to Bangalore."

READ ALSO: 50-60 terrorists waiting to enter India: BSF

"Our culture.... our scientists take part in space missions but will not forget to offer pooja because this is our culture. We are proud of our culture. Our culture teaches us how to behave in the society. It teaches how to behave with elders."

Parrikar was speaking at an event organized by "Adamya Chetana", an NGO working in the field of social development managed by Union minister Ananth Kumar's wife Tejaswini.

READ ALSO: Four Pak rangers killed in retaliatory BSF firing

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National highways to be made of concrete: Gadkari

MUMBAI: Transport minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday said all new road projects of the Centre will use concrete.

"All the new roads which we will be constructing will be of concrete," Gadkari told reporters.

Against the prevalent rate of Rs 350 per bag of cement, Gadkari said the ministry had found a supplier near Mumbai ready to deliver at Rs 120 per bag, excluding taxes and transport, and advised the Maharashtra government and local bodies to avail of it.

The target of increasing the speed of highway construction to 30 km a day will be achieved within 18 months against the 24 months estimated earlier as work on 95 per cent of 190-odd road projects, stuck in the past, has started, he added.

Gadkari also advocated the use of technologies such as the one where a by-product of oil is used for road laying and added that the Centre had recently issued a notification to this effect.

Besides, the minister said the Mumbai-Goa National Highway (NH-17) will be converted into a four-lane concrete road soon.

About the work on NH-17, Gadkari said the government had started work of 15 bridges with priority but there were problems related to land acquisition, for which he had sought the Maharashtra government's help.

In future, no work will be started unless 80 per cent of the land acquisition is over, he added.

Asked about the Karnala Bird Sanctuary stretch in Raigad district along the NH-17, Gadkari said an NGO had moved the court seeking a stay on the work citing environmental degradation but a solution would be found.

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India should wait for court's decision on Lakhvi: Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday said India "unnecessarily" debated the bail granted to alleged 26/11 Mumbai attack mastermind Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, complaining that the Samjhauta Express blast accused have not yet been punished.

It was unfortunate that India started an unnecessary debate on the bail granted to Lakhvi, Pakistan foreign office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said, reported Dawn online.

The case is currently in a court and everyone should wait for its decision, she sad.

The Samjhauta Express incident occurred two years before the Mumbai terror attack but those responsible still have not been punished, Aslam said, adding the Indian government did not share any investigation or findings with Pakistan in this regard despite promises.

She said Pakistan and India had worked out a mechanism to stop the violation of ceasefire at the Line of Control (LoC) but it was "unfortunate" that the Indian side was continually violating it.

"Pakistan has a vision for peace in the region and we tried, but India canceled the dialogue between foreign secretaries and now the onus is on India to proceed in this regard," Aslam said.

Meanwhile, she said the fresh round of strategic dialogue between Pakistan and the US would be held in Islamabad this month with US Secretary of State John Kerry leading the American delegation.

The spokeswoman further said that Pakistan was very determined in countering terrorism and making the country free of militancy. Pakistan has carried out a comprehensive operation against terrorists in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), she said.

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Justice Kumaraswamy to hear Jayalalithaa's appeal in Karnataka high court

CHENNAI: Karnataka high court's first notification of the year 2015 has a huge significance for Tamil Nadu. The notification -- No.1/2015 -- announced that Justice C R Kumaraswamy would hear the appeals of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa and three other accused in a disproportionate assets case "on a day-to-day basis."

The cases have been promptly listed for hearing from Friday.

The appeals will, however, come up before Justice H Billiappa on Friday, as Justice Kumaraswamy is on leave.

The registrar (judicial) of the high court said the judge was being named to constitute a special bench in accordance with the orders of the Supreme Court.

On October 17, the apex court asked the Karnataka high court to constitute a special bench to hear the appeals of Jayalalithaa and others against their conviction in the Rs 66.65 crore disproportionate assets case by a special court in Bengaluru on September 27.

Additionally, it had extended the bails of Jayalalithaa, N Sasikalaa, Ilavarasi and V N Sudhakaran till April 18, indicating that it would be the outer limit by which time the appeal proceedings must come to an end in the high court.

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ECI announces poll schedule for 12 UP Legislative Council seats

LUCKNOW: The Election Commission of India has released the poll schedule for the elections to be held for 12 seats of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council, which would fall vacant on January 30, 2015 following the completion of the tenure of the incumbent MLCs. According to Ramakant Pandey, additional chief electoral officer, the notification of the elections would be issued on January 6, while the last date for withdrawal of nomination would be January 13.

Scrutiny of nomination forms would take place on January 14, while the last date to withdraw the candidature is January 16. Voting would take place on January 23 from 9.00 am to 4.00 pm. Counting of votes would also be held on the same day at 5.00 pm. The last date by which the poll process would be over is January 27, 2015.

Twelve members - seven from BSP, three from ruling SP and two from the BJP - are retiring on January 30. The BSP MLCs whose term would come to an end on January 30, 2015 are senior party leader Naseemuddin Siddiqui, Ashok Kumar Siddhartha, Om Prakash Tripathi, Dharm Prakash Bhartiya, Pratap Singh Baghel, Mahesh Arya and Lokesh Prajapati. The SP MLCs who are retiring are Ahmad Hasan, Ramesh Yadav and Dr Sarojini Agarwal. The BJP MLCs, whose term is ending on January 30 are Babu Ram M Com and Vinod Pandey.

Principal opposition Bahujan Samaj Party has 59 members, while Samajwadi Party has 21 members in the 100-member upper house of the UP legislature. BJP has seven, Congress two and RLD has one member in the House. Nine MLCs represent the apolitical teachers' quota and four belong to the independent group, while while two seats are vacant.

Meanwhile, two independent candidates have filed their nomination for the bye-elections to the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council from Kanpur division graduates' constituency, taking the total number of candidates to 9. As per the schedule released by the Election Commission of India, the last date for filing nominations is January 2, 2015. Scrutiny of nominations would be held on January 3 and the last date to withdraw the candidature is January 5. Voting would be held on January 19 from 8.00 am to 4.00 pm, while counting of votes would be done January 22. All the processes pertaining to the bye-election would be completed by January 27. The bye-election has been necessitated following the demise of sitting MLC Jogendra Swaroop.

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