Telangana Set for Early Polls, KCR Cabinet Decides to Dissolve Assembly September 06, 2018 14:25
The Telangana cabinet has unanimously decided to dissolve the state assembly. Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao submitted his government's recommendation for dissolving the assembly and resigned as the chief minister.Telangana Governor ESL Narasimhan accepted the resignation and appointed KCR as the caretaker chief minister of the state.This means that elections will be held in Telangana within 6 months. Currently, Telangana assembly elections are scheduled to be held with the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.CM K Chandrashekhar Rao had earlier called a cabinet meeting at 6.45 am in the morning but the meeting never took place. The decision to hold early elections is being taken to ensure that the mood during general elections next year do not overshadow the assembly polls. KCR wants the elections to take place along with Madhya Pradesh, Chhatisgarh, Rajasthan, and Mizoram in November-December this year.Off late, the chief minister has dropped a number of hints that he is considering the option of advancing the polls. The mega rally held on September 2 was seen as a show of strength ahead of the key proclamation.By Sowmya Sangam
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IKEA Hyd Halts Sale of Veg Biryani, Samosa after Caterpillar in Food Item September 06, 2018 13:14
The Swedish giant 'IKEA' is stopping the sale of its vegetable biryani and samosas at the store after a caterpillar was found in the biryani. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the spokesperson of IKEA said they will resume the sales of the two products after they have secured the review process and taken any disciplinary actions as required."IKEA takes food safety and quality very seriously and customer health is always a priority. Following an incident on 31st August 2018, when a customer encountered a foreign object in the dish he ordered, IKEA India has voluntarily stopped sales of two of its most appreciated products - Vegetarian Biryani and Samosa, sourced locally in India," the statement by IKEA said."IKEA follows strong internal processes to secure quality and takes full responsibility for its supply chain. IKEA India has initiated an internal review in order to take any corrective actions as needed," they said.The statement further added that IKEA India will resume sales of the two products after they have secured the review process.A penalty of Rs 11,500 was levied against the IKEA store through the GHMC Hotel App after a complaint was registered with the Food safety officer with the GHMC. The restaurant manager was as well issued a notice and a notice was likewise sent to Haldirams, the vegetable biryani vendor at Nagpur, from where the eating place procures its food. The remaining consignment of the biryani in the inquiry was quarantined by IKEA.The IKEA restaurant can seat over 1,000 people and has been billed as their largest in the world. The cafe offers bakes, coffee, frozen yogurts and many more. It as well offers 50 percent Swedish specialties like salmon, and chicken and vegetarian meatballs, and 50 percent local delicacies like samosas, dal makhni, and biriyani.By Sowmya Sangam
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J&K: 5 Held for Gangrape, Murder of 9-year-old September 05, 2018 16:03
In Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district, a nine-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped and brutally killed, police said Tuesday, adding five people, including her step-brother and step-mother, were arrested in this connection. The minor's father, a resident of Uri, filed a complaint with the police since she went missing on August 23, Baramulla Superintendent of Police Imtiaz Hussain Mir said.The police said her body was found in a decomposed state on Sunday in a nearby forest area, adding it appeared to be a case of murder. He said a special investigation team (SIT) headed by SDPO Uri was constituted to investigate the murder."The SIT interrogated the suspects and during sustained questioning of the step-mother of the deceased, a bone-chilling and horrible account of murder and rape of the nine-year-old child came to light," Mir said.It was found that the step-mother had been nourishing a long-standing grudge against her husband's second wife and her children, he said."During questioning, she revealed that her husband would mostly spent time with her second wife and the girl was dearest to him," he said.She hatched a secret plan to get rid of her step-daughter. On a fatal day, she was weaponed with a sharp-edged knife and took the girl to the nearby forest area. Her 14-year-old son accompanied her along with his friends and committed the crime. The SSP said the girl was gang-raped by the accused in presence of her step-mother. They all took turns to rape her and thereafter her step-mother strangulated her, Mir said.Detailing the extent of brutality, the SSP said, "While the step-mother strangulated her, the step-brother hit her head with an ax. Another accused gouged out her eyes with a sharp knife and then sprinkled acid on her body parts. Physical condition and preliminary forensic analysis of the body substantiated all these facts".He said they dumped the body in bushes and covered it with twigs and branches of pine trees. All the material and weapons of offense, including the ax and the knife, have been recovered at the instance of the accused. All the accused have been arrested, the police officer said.By Sowmya Sangam
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Expelled DMK Leader Alagiri Holds Rally to Karunanidhi's Mausoleum September 05, 2018 14:36
Expelled DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) leader M K Alagiri led a rally of his supporters in a show of strength to the mausoleum of his late father and DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi at the Marina beach here Wednesday. Dressed in black, to condole Karunanidhi's death, the rally began from Triplicane.Alagiri, after walking for a while, hopped on to an open van, waving enthusiastically to cheer his cadres.The expelled leader's followers from various districts held banners, which read 'karam korpom kazhagam kappom,' (let us join hands and guard the party). The former Union minister's loyalists, including Madurai-based P M Mannan, are taking part in the rally.Alagiri said some day ago that he was ready to accept the leadership of his estranged brother M K Stalin if he was admitted into the party. He was expelled from the DMK in 2014.By Sowmya Sangam
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Waghmare Shot, Killed Gauri Lankesh, Confirms Forensic Lab September 05, 2018 11:34
The Special Investigation Team investigating the Indian Journalist Gauri Lankesh murder lawsuit got a major breakthrough with a Gujarat based forensic lab confirming that Parashuram Waghmare shot and killed her in Bengaluru on September 5 earlier this year.SIT sources said the entire sequence of events was reconstructed and a video of it along with CCTV (Closed Circuit TV) footage on the day of incident sent to the Directorate of Forensic Science, which confirmed that the man in both the visuals was the same."The FSL lab confirmed that the person who appeared in both visuals was the same. It establishes our line of investigation," said the SIT officer, requesting anonymity.Gauri Lankesh, known for her progressive and fearless writing, was shot dead at close range by unknown assailants at her home on September 5, 2017.In the meantime, the SIT has intensified its hunt for some more people who were part of the Lankesh murder case either directly or indirectly. It has up to now arrested 12 people."They have absconded after the Maharashtra ATS launched a manhunt for them. They are all from Maharashtra and Goa," the officer said.The team has likewise identified at least 50 people in Karnataka who were part of this unnamed gang. They have as well identified an equal number of activists in Maharashtra too."The group has a vast size and network and is active across India. We have identified many of them and have shared the names of people involved in such crimes with our higher-ups. It is up to them take action," he said.This fringe group, which has killed four prominent persons, Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare, M M Kalburgi, and Lankesh, showed signs of its being after the blast in Margao about nine years ago.The hit list of 26 people was prepared and had killed four of them and recceed the activities of else prominent people, including Jnanpith awardee and playwright Girish Karnad, K S Bhagawan and a few religious seers and politicians, the officer said."In Karnataka, it was Manohar and Sujith who were recruiting people, while Amol Kale was the kingpin of the gang and mastermind of Lankesh murder case," a SIT officer said.Police during raids at the hideouts and houses of these gang members, discovered books authored by Jayant BalajiThe hypnotherapist Athavale, who founded right wing Sanatan Sanstha in 1999.The Sanstha has been accused of having links with people arrested in link with the killings of rationalists Govind Pansare, Narendra Dabholkar, M M Kalburgi and as well Gauri Lankesh, likewise seizure of explosives by the Maharashtra anti-terror squad.However, the outfit claimed that those arrested were not its members.By Sowmya Sangam
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Majerhat Bridge Collapse: 1 Dead, 24 Injured September 05, 2018 09:44
A section of a bridge in a busy area of aristocratic south Kolkata came crashing down Tuesday afternoon, causing tremor across the city.Several people are feared trapped beneath, while some still in their vehicles.One person was killed, 24 were injured who have been shifted to hospital. The army, which has its base in the nearby Fort William, has directed its personnel for rescue work.The Port Trust built, 40-year-old bridge, stood over some rail tracks in Alipore - one of the very old areas of the city. The area is surrounded by scaffolding, half-constructed buildings, and pillars.Eyewitnesses said around 4.45 p.m., a vast section of the bridge came crashing down. Pictures from the area showed the collapsed section resting on the road, at least nine vehicles, including a minibus, and several two-wheelers still on it.President Ram Nath Kovind expressed his concern in a tweet. He said, "Sorry to learn of the partial collapse of the Majerhat bridge in Kolkata. Thoughts and prayers with the bereaved families, and with those injured in the tragic incident."Hordes gathered at the spot in jammed Alipore locality, where distorted cars were suppressed under the debris of the bridge.Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is in Darjeeling for an official tour, said that rescue work was almost over and only a concrete slab remains to be cut to find out whether any person was trapped there. She likewise announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the family of the deceased and Rs 50,00 each to the injured.State urban development minister Firhad Hakim, following the clash, had stated that the heavy piling work that is going on at the adjacent Metro project, could have turned the foundation of the bridge weaker.The Metro authority, however, said there was no link between the ongoing construction work of the metro project and the bridge collapse.The Eastern Railway also clarified that the train services through Majerhat railway station had been temporarily suspended pursuing the mishap."Circular Railway train services are being maintained between Dumdum junction station and BBD Bag station. However, the train services on the Budge Budge-Ballygunj section may be restored after ensuring the safety," it added.By Sowmya Sangam
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Kerala Floods: Govt. Cancels All State-sponsored Festivals September 04, 2018 17:34
Kerala government has issued orders canceling all State-sponsored festivals against the backdrop of the unprecedented floods of the last fortnight.With this, the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) and the State School Arts Festival, two crucial events in Kerala's cultural calendar, would not take place this year. Competitions that usually form part of the State school arts festival would be held up to the district level without the normal fanfare.The government has likewise made it clear-cut that all festivals being organized with the financial assistance of the State government, including programmes of Kerala Tourism, would stand canceled. It has asked all heads of departments to remit the sums budgeted for the festivities in the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF).By Sowmya Sangam
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2007 Hyderabad Twin Blasts: 2 Convicted, 3 Acquitted September 04, 2018 12:20
Eleven years after the twin bombings in Hyderabad at Gokul Chat and Lumbini Park, which left 42 people dead and more than 50 people injured, a local court on Tuesday pronounced two of the accused - Aneeq Shafique Sayeed and Ismail Chaudhary - guilty. Two others - Mohammed Sadiq and Ansar Ahmed Badshah Sheikh - have been acquitted. The quantum of punishment will be pronounced on Monday, September 10. The blasts were carried out by the banned outfit Indian Mujahideen (IM). The founders of IM, Riyaz, and Iqbal Bhatkal, are absconding. The twin bombings happened 11 years ago, on August 25, 2007. Gokul Chat is located near the city's Koti area, and Lumbini Park is near the Secretariat on Tank Bund Road. More than 150 witnesses were questioned and cross-examined during the decade-long trial, the hearing for which concluded on August 7.Since early morning on Tuesday, security was beefed up around Cherlapally Central Prison, where the accused are housed, and where the verdict was pronounced.The verdict was delivered by Sessions Judge Srinivas Rao, who also delivered the verdict in other crucial cases like the Begumpet Task Force building bomb blast and the attack on Akbaruddin Owaisi. 2007 Hyderabad Twin Blasts case: Aneeq Shafeeq Sayeed and Ismail Chaudhary convicted. Two more accused in the case have been acquitted. pic.twitter.com/LaIepC78y6 — ANI (@ANI) September 4, 2018 During the blasts, at the popular eatery Gokul Chat around 32 people was killed and 47 sustained injuries. On the other hand, in a bomb blast at the open-air theatre, 12 others died and 21 left injured. Aneeq Shafique Sayeed was claimed as one who allegedly planted the bomb at Lumbini Park, by the prosecution, while Riyaz Bhatkal was the one behind Gokul Chat bomb blast. The other bomb, the unexploded one, was planted by Ismail Chowdhari. Tarik Anjum was arrested for giving shelter to the other accused after the blasts.The charge sheets under applicable provisions of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and sections of Explosive Substances Act were filed pursuing the twin blasts on August 25, 2007. The accused have also been charged for the recovery of an unexploded bomb from a foot overbridge at Hyderabad's Dilsuknagar area.By Sowmya Sangam
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Petrol, Diesel Prices Continue to Rise, Hit All-Time High September 04, 2018 09:54
Petrol and diesel prices continued to rise for the 15th consecutive day.Petrol in Delhi is at an all-time high at Rs 79.31 per liter, while the price of diesel is Rs 71.34 per liter. In Mumbai, the price of petrol is Rs 86.72 per liter, while diesel has gone up to Rs 75.74 per liter.There has been a surge in fuel prices since August 16 after the rupee hit a record low of 71 against the United States dollar.Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister, on Sunday blamed "external factors" for the rise in domestic prices of petrol and diesel, but said the increase is impermanent.Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a conclave organized in Surat, Pradhan said the factors accountable for the drop in production of crude oil have caused a spike in fuel prices in India.He said, "This is a matter of concern for the world economy, and the Indian economy is also affected. But considering these factors, the Indian government is planning to put diplomatic pressure". "A high-level American delegation is visiting India, and India's two senior representatives - defense minister and external affairs minister - will talk to them. All these factors will be discussed. I consider this period (of high petrol, diesel prices) temporary," he said, referring to the 2+2 dialogue between the two countries in Delhi this week.By Sowmya Sangam
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5 Held for Plotting to Kill Hindu Munnani leader, Cops Claim ISIS Plot September 03, 2018 17:19
The Coimbatore police have arrested five men based on a tip-off that they were plotting to kill Hindu Munnani leader Arjun Sampath and Sakthi Sena leader Anbu Mari. Following the arrest, the police claimed that one of the men confessed to being a 'secret member of ISIS' (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria). All five of them have been booked under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) under sections that refer to terrorism and terrorist activity.The police, in a press release on Sunday, stated that the Inspector of the B-3 station in Coimbatore acted on a tip-off that a man called Aashik and his four friends were planning to do something sinister to Hindu Makkal Katchi leader Arjun Sampath and Sakthi Sena leader Anbu Mari. The message received by the reported inspector said that the group was arriving in Coimbatore from Chennai, and hence the police rushed to the Coimbatore Junction railway station to nab them.Four men - Ismail (25), Salauddin (25), Sadik Ali (29) and Shamsuddin (20) from Chennai, apart from Aashik were picked up by the police from the railway station for questioning. The police in their statement said that the men confessed that they were "familiar with Arjun Sampath since he is a popular television personality." The police said that the men confessed that Aashik had shared Anbu Mari's pictures with them, and asked them to come to Coimbatore to attack them."Ismail also told the police that a few others are also involved in this operation and that he is a secret member of the ISIS, and a few persons involved in the plan belong to National League Party, and that they all have a similar outlook on ISIS," read the statement. The police arrested them on Saturday and seized six cell phones and Aashik's two-wheeler. Aashik also surrendered five sickles, the police said."Since the intention of these people was to promote religious hatred between people of two faiths, cause law and order problems, disturbance in religious harmony and in the unity and security of the country, cases have been registered," the police statement said.According to press release, they have been booked under sections 143 (Punishment for unlawful assembly) and 120(B) (Punishment of Criminal Conspiracy) of the IPC and sections 15 (Terrorist Act), 16 (Punishment for Terrorist Act), 18 (Punishment for Conspiracy), 20 (Punishment for being member of terrorist gang or organization) and 38 (Offence relating to membership of a terrorist organization) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 on September 1.The five accused have been remanded to judicial custody and are lodged in the Coimbatore Central Prison till September 4.The officers from the National Investigation Agency will also be investigating the accused on their alleged links with ISIS, the police said.By Sowmya Sangam
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Banks to Remain Open in Sept. First Week: Finance Ministry September 01, 2018 10:07
The Finance Ministry on Friday took notice of a rumor on social media over the closure of banks for six days in the first week of September and made clear that the banks and banking activity will endure unobstructed in the week."It has come to notice that a rumor is circulating in several sections of the social media that banks will be closed for 6 days in the first week of September 2018, causing undue panic among the general public," the Ministry said in a statement."It is hereby clarified that banks will remain open and banking activity will continue unimpeded in the first week of September," it said.The Ministry said banks will remain open throughout the week, observing holidays only on Sunday, September 2, and second Saturday, September 8. Monday, September 3, is not a pan India holiday and banks lone in some states where a holiday is declared under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, will remain closed, it said."Even on those days, ATMs in all states will be fully functional and there will be no impact on online banking transactions. Banks have been advised to ensure that sufficient cash is available for dispensation from ATMs. Banks will remain open on all other days," it added.The rumor on social media, chiefly a WhatsApp message that went viral on Thursday, even encouraged some mainstream media to report, therefore. However, the IANS report on Thursday stated precisely what the Ministry said on Friday.By Sowmya Sangam
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423 Dead in Kerala Floods, Total Loss More than Annual Plan Outlay: Pinarayi Vijayan August 30, 2018 17:45
At the one-day special assembly session on Thursday for discussing the Kerala floods and the rehabilitation and relief measures that are being taken place to help the affected people, the state chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan informed the House that 483 people had died in flood-related incidents and 14 are still missing.Inordinate rainfall, deluges, and landslides have annihilated bridges, roads, houses and buildings, forcing a large part of the state's population to take shelter in relief camps. According to an Indian Express report, Vijayan said that on August 21, at the height of the floods, a total of 14.5 lakh people belonging to 3.91 lakh families had to be rushed to nearby relief camps."The latest figure is there are 59,296 people in 305 relief camps," he said, adding that rescue operations have ended, rehabilitation is underway and "rebuilding of the state is left." A sum of Rs 10,000 will be offered to each family who had to take refuge in these camps. The chief minister, adding a word of caution, said: "while doing reconstruction, bear in mind its environmental impact."According to a News Minute report, Vijayan said that going forward, the most crucial factor was finding the funds. "We saw a huge response for the suggestion that people donate a month's salary to the distress relief fund," he said.The state chief minister, who deferred his scheduled trip to the United States for medical treatment to lead the rehabilitation exercise, said that total estimated loss due to the disaster has surpassed Kerala's annual plan outlay - Rs 26,500 crore for 2017-18 fiscal year - with a sizable number of small and medium-scale enterprises earnestly affected. The state's agricultural production has likewise suffered from 57,000 hectares of crops being destroyed.The chief minister said that even as the Meteorological Department had given adequate warning about the rains, unprecedented showers led to the deluge.The predicted rains from August 9-15 were 98.5 mm but the state received 352.2 mm of rainfall, Vijayan said.Senior Congress Member of Legislature Assembly (MLA) and KPCC vice-president V.D. Satheesan, whose constituency Paravur in the Ernakulam district was submerged in flood and dam waters, hit out at the government, calling the deluge a "man-made tragedy," and demanding the need to "fix responsibility.""This is not a natural calamity, instead a man-made tragedy due to the faulty handling of the dam water management. Dams in the state were overflowing and the primary reason for this tragedy is the way the dam waters were indiscriminately let out," he said.K. M. Mani, a veteran opposition legislator, applauded the rescue attempts but said the tragedy could have been avoided had there been a proper dam management policy.By Sowmya Sangam
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