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Minor girl molested in public; police search for accused

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rape

Ballari: The police are on the lookout for an unidentified person who allegedly molested a minor girl as she was returning home from school in Ballari on Thursday.

As per police sources, the 8-year-old girl was on her way home at around 5 pm. As soon as the stranger approached her and touched her inappropriately, she raised an alarm. The man immediately fled the scene.

The girl’s parents filed a complaint and the police looked through CCTV footage from nearby establishments but were not able to identify the man. Investigations are on.

(Agencies)

Umar Khalid, Anirban get six month interim bail

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Umar Khalid

New Delhi: A court here on Friday granted six months interim bail to JNU students Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya, arrested on charges of sedition.

Both have been asked to furnish a bail bond of Rs.25,000 each.

Additional Sessions Judge Reetesh Singh also asked the two Jawaharlal Nehru University students not to leave Delhi without the court’s permission.

Both had sought bail on the ground of “parity”, saying that JNU students union president Kanhaiya Kumar, who was also arrested on the same charge, was already granted interim bail by the Delhi High Court.

Granting six-month interim bail to them on parity with Kanhaiya Kumar, the court noted that there was no previous criminal record against them and “nothing has been brought on record which could indicate that they are likely to abscond from jurisdiction of the court”.

“No submission has been made (by police) to the effect that both the applicants Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya have been involved previously in any criminal case. No record has been placed by the state regarding any such past conduct of both these persons.

“Although the allegations levelled against Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya are per se serious in nature, but as claimed by police themselves, the video footage of the incident has been sent to the forensic science laboratory. Its analysis and final report will certainly take some time,” it added.

Delhi Police had opposed the bail plea saying their case was different from that of Kanhaiya Kumar as they were the organisers of a controversial event on the varsity campus on February 9 where anti-national slogans were raised and he was not.

Both the students surrendered before police last month. A case was registered against Khalid and Bhattacharya at the Vasant Kunj police station in south Delhi, soon after Kanhaiya was arrested on the same charge on February 12.

(Agencies)

We send ‘signals’ to govt, hold no remote control: RSS

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rss

New Delhi: RSS has said it sends “signals” to the BJP-led government at the Centre but dismissed suggestions it held a “remote control” over it.

It also said that it has a right to give suggestions to the government like any other organisation in a democracy and is proud to have produced two prime ministers– Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Narendra Modi.

“There is no control, but certainly remote is there. Remote is there, signal is there. RSS is not having any remote control on BJP or any other political party.

“RSS swayamsevaks are working actively and are participants in BJP. BJP also subscribes to certain views and ideology of RSS and the inspiration they take in public life. If family members come to RSS for suggestions, is it remote control or affection. There is no complaint from BJP and there is no wish from RSS,” RSS Joint General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale said at the India Today Conclave.

Asked if RSS was an ‘extra-constitutional authority’ in the present government, he said, “Where is the extra- constitutional authority? We are not doing any hide and seek. Presentations at RSS meeting is not wrong. If they make presentations before RSS, they can make presentations before this conclave. It is a democracy. We have every right to make suggestions to any government.”

Rejecting criticism that RSS gave diktats to the Modi government, he said RSS swayamsevaks are working actively in BJP and they are like “family members”.

Hosabale said in a democracy the RSS can make suggestions to any government of the day, be it BJP or Congress, even though Congress will not listen to them.

“We are proud that RSS has produced two prime ministers. Both are listening to the voice of the people,” he said, adding both Vajpayee and Modi listened to them.

“Vajpayee also listened and Modi also is listening. But, listening does not mean he is heeding (to) it. We are proud. I wish Vajpayee also had the opportunity to become prime minister at Modi’s age,” the RSS leader said.

He said, “We wanted that a budget of this kind should come. We had also suggested to Congress.”

Asked if RSS has asked for a temple, Hosabale said, “We have asked for a mandir at Ayodhya. That is our dream. It is the wish of the people. It is for the country and government to take up the issue. We are hopeful. We are also confident that they will also fulfil the aspirations of people. They have included it in their manifesto.”

To a question on whether homosexuality is a crime as considered under Article 377 IPC, he said, “I don’t think homosexuality should be considered a criminal offence as long as it does not affect the lives of others in society.”

He said, “sexual preferences are private and personal. Why should RSS express its views in a public forum? RSS has no view on that. It is for people to have their way. Personal preference of sex is not discussed in RSS and we don’t even want to discuss that.”

Section 377 of Indian Penal Code terms homosexuality as unnatural and carries a maximum punishment of 10 years in jail. Going by the global trends in this regard, there have been demands within the country to decriminalise homosexuality.

Hosabale said AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi was an “anti- national” as he said he would not chant ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’, a slogan not coined by RSS but during the freedom struggle.

Asked if one was a ‘traitor’ by not chanting ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’, he said, “Of course, he is an anti-national… All the political leaders except Owaisi’s party opposed what he said.”

“If someone says he/she does not want to chant ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ at all, you are not allowing others also to not chant the slogan….If anybody says so, he is anti-national.”

He said ‘Vande Mataram’ and ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ are not RSS slogans, but coined during freedom struggle and it is not required that these should be chanted all the time or every morning “but there is nothing wrong in saying it”.

On beef eating, the RSS leader said one should respect the sensibilities of others too.

“Can’t you live without beef, can’t you respect the sensibilities of majority and respect feelings of other people also? Beef eating has not been acceptable in this country. Mahatma Gandhi was also against beef eating, he did not become communal, but RSS is communal,” he said.

The RSS leader expressed concern that anti-national activities are being spread in campuses in the country.

“Why anti-India feelings are being expressed in university campuses? If some students are raising slogans for breaking India into pieces and its destruction, if they raise slogans in favour of a criminal who has been hanged as per the law of the land, any nation in the world will not tolerate it. In India, being anti-national is not acceptable,” he said.

On why women are not there in RSS, he said, “It is only in field activities in public that women are not there, but in all other activities women are there. RSS is not averse to the idea of women participation in physical activities in RSS shakhas. It can happen… A day will come sooner than later. We are taking our own time for all this, anything can happen.”

He also rejected the theory that RSS did not participate in the freedom struggle saying one should read history properly.

“RSS did not participate in the freedom struggle is a baseless statement.”
On reservation, he said, “It is not the right time to do away with caste-based reservation. We support reservation till discrimination in society exists,” but called for a review by eminent people who understand society.

He also said that RSS was changing as per changing times while referring to the change in uniform.

“Changing according to time is the essential thing of Hindutva itself,” he said.
He added that those people who are taking birth in this country are Hindus because “this is Hindustan and the fear of Hindutva is created because of wrong understanding or deliberate intentions”.

“Hindutva as we say is that it is Hinduness and not Hinduism. Radhakrishnan has said he practiced the Hindu way of life and I am proud of it, and he is not communal. Mahatma Gandhi said I am a proud Hindu, but he is not communal,” Hosabale said.

“I don’t know why people are afraid of hearing words like Hindutva, Hinduism or Hinduness, because Hindus are never aggressive in entire history of mankind. They have not enslaved anyone on any part of the world. It is only a few created on wrong interpretations or wrong intentions,” he said.

He said RSS’s vision 2020 is for an India which is united and one which prosperous, “a Bharat which takes pride in its culture and heritage”.

(PTI)

Siddaramaiah presents Rs 1,63,419 crore budget; abolishes agri income tax

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Siddaramaiah

Bengaluru: The rate of growth of Karnataka’s economy has slowed down from 7.8 per cent during 2014-15 to 6.2 per cent during 2015-16.

Reading out the State budget for 2016-17 in the State Legislative Assembly on Friday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, attributed this slowdown solely to decline in growth rate of the agriculture sector.

The agriculture sector is estimated to decline by 4.7 per cent during this year, mainly due to drought in 137 taluks during kharif and 62 taluks during the rabi crop seasons.

Presenting his 11th budget overall, and the fourth after he assumed office, Chief Minister said decline in farm growth mainly attributable to fall in foodgrains production from 126 lakh tones during 2014-15 to 110 lakh tones in 2015-16 due to drought.

He said the service sector is growing at 9.1 per cent while the industrial sector is expected to register a growth of 4.5 percent during the current year.

In a major relief to planters, the budget proposed to abolish agriculture income tax and it would benefit coffee, tea and rubber and other plantation crop growers.

The total budget size of 2016-17 is pegged at Rs. 1,63,419 crore, of which the plan size is fixed at Rs. 85375 crore, an increase of 17.6 per cent over the plan size of Rs. 72,597 crore during the last year.

Of the 1,63,419 crore, the estimated revenue receipts is pegged at Rs. 1,30,758 crore and capital receipts at Rs. 31,198 crore including borrowings of Rs. 31,036 crore. The fiscal deficit is expected to be Rs. 25,657 crore, which at 2.12 per cent of GSDP, complies with the Karnataka Fiscal responsibility Act.

Agriculture

For redressal of grievances of farmers of the state and converge schemes of agriculture department and other departments, the Chief Minister proposed to set up a Karnataka State Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Committee headed by Chief Minister. Agriculture department and other departments related to welfare of farmers would be brought under the committee.

To give more focus to farmers and effective techniques adopted by them, special agricultural zones would be identified in parts of the State on the lines of SEZs formed for industries.

The budget proposed to develop 100 villages in four districts across four revenue divisions as Model agricultural villages under the “Suvarna Krishi Grama Programme”.

Tax reliefs

The budget exempted from the tax handmade paper and hand-made paper boards, including hand-made paper products manufactured and sold by dealer recognised by the Khadi and Village Industries Board as an eco-friendly measure.

It reduced VAT on office files made of paper and paper boards from the present rate of 14.5 per cent to 5.5 per cent.

It cut VAT from the present rate of 14.5 per cent to 5.5 per cent on articles of nickel, titanmum falling under heading HSN 7505, 7506, and 8108 to encourage aerospace industry.

Other goods that set to become cheaper are: rubber sheet, set top boxes for viewing TV content, multi-media speakers, LED bulbs. Taxes on all these goods reduced from 14.5 per cent to 5.5 per cent.

Mr. Siddaramaiah would seek a Vote on Account for the first four months of the financial year, ending July 31. This has been the norm in Karnataka.

(Agencies)

BJP MLA who broke police horse’s leg finally arrested

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horse

Dehradun: Police today arrested BJP MLA Ganesh Joshi, accused of assaulting a police horse ‘Shaktiman’ during a protest march here recently which led to amputation of one of its hind legs.

IG Garhwal range Sanjay Gunjyal said the MLA from Mussoorie was arrested from outside a hotel in Patel Nagar area on the basis of an FIR lodged against him and his associates at Nehru Colony police station here in connection with the assault on the police horse on March 14.

The official said Joshi was being interrogated. He, however, refused to disclose where the MLA has been taken.

Reacting sharply to the development, BJP lodged a protest with Governor K K Paul and alleged it was “abduction” of its MLA.

“The manner in which Joshi was picked up from outside a hotel suggests he was abducted. Those who picked him up were in plain clothes and it is not clear whether they were police personnel or goondas,” Leader of Opposition in Uttarakhand Assembly Ajay Bhatt said.

Bhatt said he had called on Governor K K Paul to register his protest against the manner in which the party legislator was picked up.

The action against Joshi comes a day after the arrest of another party worker Pramod Bora from Haldwani in Nainital district yesterday.

Dehradun SSP Sadanand Date said Bora along with Joshi was responsible for precipitating the fall of the horse during the protest March on March 14 which caused grievous injuries to one of its hind legs.

Meanwhile, the injured horse whose fractured hind leg had to be amputated late last night by a team of doctors at the police lines can now stand with the help of an artificial leg.

However, doctors attending on Shaktiman said it will have to be seen whether the prop is strong enough to support the horse which weighs four quintals.

Surgeon from Mumbai Feroze Khambatta, who led a team of doctors that operated on the horse, said he had performed eight similar operations in Nepal and Bhutan but on horses which weighed only two quintals.

As Shaktiman weighs four quintals it is not clear for how long he can stand and move with an artificial leg.

He is constantly under the watch of doctors and over two dozen police personnel at the police lines.

Shaktiman is a well trained horse and part of Uttarakhand Mounted Police for years. Chief Minister Harish Rawat also expressed concern over the horse’s condition.

The BJP has been demanding withdrawal of cases lodged against its workers including Joshi, asserting that they were being framed at the behest of the state government to cow down the opposition.

(Agencies)

World T20: Gayle’s unbeaten ton blows away England

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chris-gayle

Mumbai: Swashbuckling West Indian batsman Chris Gayle blasted an unbeaten 100 in just 48 balls to steer his side to a comfortable six wicket victory against England in their Group 1 World Twenty20 cricket clash at the WankhedeStadium here on Wednesday.

Batting first, England posted 183/6 in 20 overs, thanks to Joe Root’s 48.

In reply, the hard-hitting batsman from Caribbean unleashed his batting skills as he struck five boundaries and 11 massive sixes to take his team to victory as the team scored 183/4 in 18.1 overs.

Chasing a challenging target of 183, West Indies got off to a disappointing start losing opener Johnson Charles (0) off the second bowl off the innings.

But his opening partner, Gayle played sensibly without taking any undue risk.

Gayle was well supported in the other end by incoming batsman Marlon Samuels (37 off 27). The duo added crucial 55 runs partnership for the second wicket to take team’s score past 50-run mark.

But leg-spinner Adil Rashid broke the partnership in the seventh over dismissing Samuels.

Wickets in the other end did not stop Gayle from scoring as he took some calculated risks to bring up his half-century off just 27 balls.

Dinesh Ramdin (12) held on in the other end along with Gayle but a silly shot from the wicket-keeper batsman in the 12th over saw him head back to the pavilion, leaving West Indies at 103/3.

Gayle stayed calm, composed and took on the bowling to bring up his ton in just 47 balls. He was well assisted by Andre Russell (15 not out) as the duo ensured their side got past England’s total to register their first victory of the competition.

David Willey, Reece Topley, Rashid and Moeen Ali claimed one wicket each for England.

Earlier put into bat on a green-top wicket, openers Alex Hales (27) and Jason Roy (15) gave England a positive start scoring 36 off the first four overs.

But medium pacer Russell brought the first breakthrough in the third ball off the fifth over by dismissing Roy.

Incoming batsman Joe Root (48) along with opener Hales scored at a good pace from there on to bring up a 50-run partnership for the second wicket in just 34 balls and take the score past 80 in 10 overs.

But as Hales was looking good after striking four boundaries, off-spinner Sulieman Benn castled the right-handed batsman in the 12th over to reduce England to 92/2.

England received yet another blow as set batsman Root, looking good to bring up his half-century, fell short as he tried to go over the top and was eventually caught at mid-off by Jerome Taylor off the bowling off Russell.

England lost the momentum losing two wickets in quick succession reaching 114/3 in 14.2 overs.

A late assault by Jos Buttler (30 off 20), aided by skipper Eoin Morgan (27 not out off 14) and Ben Stokes (15 off 7) helped them reach a respectable total.

Andre Russell (2/36) and Dwayne Bravo (2-41) were the pick of bowlers for the West Indies.

Brief score: England 182/6 in 20 overs (Joe Root 48; Andre Russell 2-36, Dwayne Bravo 2-41) vs West Indies 183/4 in 18.1 overs (Chris Gayle 100 not out; David Willey 1-33, Reece Topley 1-21, Adil Rashid 1-20, Moeen Ali 1-38)

(IANS)

Syria civil war: Kurds declare federal region in north

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Democratic Union Party and allied groups approve document that declares “federal democratic system” in country’s north.

Kurdish fighters have been tightening their grip on several areas in northern Syrian in recent months [Reuters]

Kurdish fighters have been tightening their grip on several areas in northern Syrian in recent months [Reuters]

by Al Jazeera

The Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) and several allied groups have voted to create an autonomous federation in the northern part of Syria.

Officials of the PYD claimed autonomy in the Kurdish-controlled areas on Thursday after two days of meetings with delegates of different communities in the country’s north.

Representatives of the Kurdish, Arab, Assyrian communities and other ethnic groups met in the town of Rmeilan in Hassakeh province to discuss combining three Kurdish-led autonomous areas into a federal system.

Both the Syrian government and one of the main opposition blocs have rejected the move.

The Syrian foreign ministry issued a statement “warning anyone who dares to undermine the unity of the land and the people of Syria under any title,” adding: “Creating a union or a federal system … contradicts the Syrian constitution and all the national concepts and international resolutions.”

Rojava autonomy declared

The opposition Syrian National Coalition also said it rejects such unilateral declarations and warned of any attempt to form autonomous regions that “confiscate the will of the Syrian people”.

The newly declared region, named by Kurds as Rojava, consists of three distinct enclaves, or cantons, under Kurdish control in northern Syria: Jazira, Kobani and Afrin.

The move is sure to anger Turkey, which fears that the growing Kurdish power in Syria is encouraging separatism among its own Kurdish minority.

Idris Nassan, a Syrian Kurdish official and former leader in the Democratic Union Party, said on Wednesday that the announcement would mean “widening the framework of self-administration” across northern Syria.

Speaking to Al Jazeera from Kobane, in Syria, Nassan said preparations for federalism had been ongoing for quite some time.

“Federalism should be the future not only for northern Syria or the Kurdish regions but for Syria in general, because under federalism democracy and equality will be guaranteed,” he said.

Syria’s Kurds effectively control an uninterrupted 400km of territory along the Syrian-Turkish border from the Euphrates River to the frontier with Iraq, where Iraqi Kurds have enjoyed autonomy since the early 1990s. They also hold a separate section of the northwestern border in the Afrin area.

Japanese journalist missing in Syria appears in video

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Junpei Yasuda is reportedly being held by al-Nusra Front after he entered Syria from Turkey last summer.

Yasuda, a freelance journalist, was seen in the video reading a message to his family and country [Reuters]

Yasuda, a freelance journalist, was seen in the video reading a message to his family and country [Reuters]

by Al Jazeera

A video has surfaced online showing a missing Japanese journalist, reportedly held by an al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria, reading a message to his family and country.

Dressed in a dark sweater with a scarf, Jumpei Yasuda mostly seemed calm as he spoke in English in the one-minute video, which was posted on Thursday.

Yasuda, sitting at a table in front of a white wall, said he missed his family but could not be with them.

“Hello, I am Jumpei Yasuda. Today is my birthday, 16 March,” he said.

Japanese media said Yasuda was captured by al-Nusra Front after entering Syria from Turkey in June.

Public broadcaster NHK said it had spoken by phone with the man who posted the video, who said he had received it from someone seeking Yasuda’s release.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said the man in the video appeared to be Yasuda but he would not confirm the authenticity of the footage.

“The safety of Japanese citizens is one of our most important duties and we are gathering information and making all possible efforts to respond,” Suga told a news conference, declining to give details.

He added that the government was not aware that any ransom request had been made.

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group beheaded two Japanese nationals – a self-styled security consultant and a veteran war reporter – early last year.

The gruesome executions captured the attention of Japan but the government said at the time it would not negotiate with the fighters for their release.

 

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe came under fire for his handling of hostage cases, something he would like to avoid with an election looming this summer. Critics say his more robust security stance risks getting Japan involved in more international conflicts.

The journalist in the video did not give any information about who was holding him or any demands they had. He said “they” allowed him to say what he wanted.

After saying he wished he could hug his wife, father, mother and brother, he said: “I have to say to something to my country: When you’re sitting there, wherever you are, in a dark room, suffering with the pain, there’s still no one. No one answering. No one responding. You’re invisible.”

Yasuda, a freelance journalist since 2003, was held in Baghdad in 2004 and drew criticism for drawing the Japanese government into negotiations for his release.

RCB intimates BCCI about Mallya resignation, Adams new boss

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Vijay Mallya

New Delhi: IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore has written to the Indian cricket board (BCCI), intimating them about Vijay Mallya’s resignation from the post of Director of Royal Challengers Sports Private Limited (RCSPL).

According to reliable sources, the top BCCI officials in the IPL governing council received an e-mail on March 7 from franchise official Russell Adams, informing the board about the current ownership status in the franchise. It was five days after the troubled business tycoon left India for United Kingdom.

“Yes, we received an e-mail communication from Russell Adams, who will now be the man in-charge of the RCB team. The e-mail stated that Dr Vijay Mallya has resigned from his post as Director of RCSPL and will only be an Honorary Chief Mentor till his son Siddhartha is in the Board of Directors,” a senior BCCI official, in the know of things told PTI today.

The letter stated that Siddhartha Mallya will be present in the Board of Directors “in a limited role should the members wish to consult him”.

Adams, who is a Vice-President (Commercial Operations and Cricket Academy at RCB), also made it clear that there will be “no change in ownership pattern” due to Mallya’s resignation.

The BCCI official said that clarity on ownership was required after Mallya’s resignation.

“BCCI has some strict rules and regulations in place regarding franchise ownership changing hands. The owners need to intimate BCCI beforehand whether there is partial or complete transfer of stake. As of now they have made it clear there is no change in ownership pattern in RCSPL which is a subsidiary of United Spirits, which is controlled by Diageo,” the official said.

Mallya, who has defaulted in loans in excess of Rs 9000 crore, is facing probe by various investigative agencies.

The 60-year-old bought RCB in 2008 but the popular franchise has not been able to win a single Indian Premier League title in eight attempts.

(PTI)

German Bakery blast: Baig’s death sentence commuted to life term

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Mirza Himayat Baig

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Thursday commuted, to a life term, the death sentence to Mirza Himayat Baig after his conviction for the February 13, 2010 Pune German Bakery blast which killed 17 people, including foreigners, his lawyer said.

“Baig has been totally absolved of all charges including conspiracy, murder, attempt to murder and other serious charges pertaining to the German Bakery blast,” said his lawyer Abdul Rehman.

“He has only been convicted under the Explosives Act and given a life sentence. This is the first step only – we plan to appeal this and we are confident he will come clear from this too,” he added.

Around 7 p.m. on the day, a powerful blast ripped through the popular eatery near the Osho Ashram in the fashionable Koregaon Park area and much frequented by the young crowd.

Among the 17 killed were an Italian woman, an Iranian and two Sudanese students.

Another 60 patrons were injured in the blast, including 12 foreigners while the eatery subsequently reopened briefly and shut down.

A Pune sessions court had in April 18, 2013 awarded the death penalty to the sole accused, Indian Mujahiddeen operative Baig, against which he had appealed before the Bombay High Court.

(IANS)

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