New Delhi, Oct 8 The Delhi High Court on Monday allowed the CBI to file its closure report into the disappearance of Najeeb Ahmed, a Jawaharlal Nehru University student who went missing from here in October 2016.

A bench of Justice S. Muralidhar and Justice Vinod Goel allowed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) plea while rejecting Ahmed’s mother Fatima Nafees’ habeas corpus plea for an SIT probe.

In its last hearing, the CBI counsel told the bench that the agency has analysed “everything” related to the matter, and wanted to file a final report seeking to close the case.

Nafees had sought a Special Investigation Team — comprising of non CBI official — to further probe her son’s disappearance from a JNU hostel in the intervening night of October 14 and 15.

Ahmed, 27, an MSc first year student, was reported missing almost two years back after an alleged scuffle with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) members, student body affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. The ABVP has denied any involvement.

(IANS)

New Delhi President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Monday extended their greetings on the occasion of the 86th Air Force Day.

“We proudly honour our air warriors, veterans, and families of the Indian Air Force. They safeguard our skies with courage and commitment. The resilience, tenacity and zeal of our valiant air warriors is a source of pride for every Indian,” the President tweeted.

Modi said: “A grateful nation salutes our valorous air warriors and their families on Air Force Day. They keep our skies safe and are at the forefront of serving humanity in times of disasters. Proud of the Indian Air Force!” He also attached a video of IAF jets along with the tweet.

The Congress chief hailed the valour of the Air Force personnel saying their commitment is an inspiration for all Indians.

The Indian Air Force which was officially established on this day in 1932,
would display an air show at Air Force Station Hindon in Uttar Pradesh to mark the day.

(IANS)

Jammu/Srinagar The Municipal polls in Jammu and Kashmir that is taking place after a gap of 13 years, on Monday witnessed long queues in Jammu, Rajouri and Poonch districts while people barely arrived in the valley booths that wore a deserted look.

Enthusiastic voters lined up outside the polling stations in Gandhi Nagar, R.S.Pura, Arnia, Jurian, Khour, Akhnoor, Bishnah, Nowshera, Surankote, Kalakote, and at many other places from 7 a.m., as the polling began.

In the valley, the scene was just the opposite as the first phase of civic polls began amid boycott calls by the two key parties in the state — the National Conference and the People’s Democratic Party.

A total of 218 votes were cast in the first two hours for the Baramulla Municipal Council, a poll official said.

A municipal ward in Badgam registered just four votes till 9 a.m., while eight votes were cast at one of the polling stations in Bandipora district, which registered 187 votes in two hours, the official said.

Kupwara registered 545 votes in 11 wards during the same time, while Handwara, where one of the prominent voters was MLA Sajjad Gani Lone, registered 263 votes.

In south Kashmir’s Anantnag, few voters turned out in Kokernag, Qazigund, Achabal and Devsar.

Reports from Leh and Kargil towns of Ladakh region said biting cold kept voters away, though the process was expected to pick ip as the day progressed and warmed up. Polling will end at 4 p.m.

Elections are being held in 422 of the state’s 1,145 municipal wards under heavy security.

As many as 1,204 candidates are in the fray for the four-phased municipal election, which will end on October 16. Counting of votes will take place on October 20.

(IANS)

Srinagar/Jammu Amid tight security and heightened tensions ahead of the start of staggered municipal polls in the Kashmir Valley, suspense mounted on Sunday on voter participation amid militant threats to both candidates and voters.

It is the first time the authorities have not publicized the names of contesting candidates in the troubled valley.

This has been done to address the security concerns of the candidates who remain under threat from the militants.

Authorities have also ensured that all the candidates in the valley are in a secure accommodation ahead of the poll process.

The Valley’s two major parties, the National Conference (NC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), are boycotting the elections.

So have the CPI-M, the Peoples Democratic Front (PDF) headed by Hakim Yaseen and the Democratic Party Nationalist (DPN) headed by Ghulam Hassan Mir.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress and independent candidates are the only contestants.

While 244 candidates have been elected unopposed, there are no candidates in the fray in 159 municipal wards of the Kashmir Valley.

Statistically, 29 percent of voters will have no candidates to choose from in their wards in the valley.

The election campaign has not been witnessed at any place in the valley.

While secrecy surrounds the contestants, a huge question mark remains on who will stick their neck out on Monday to vote.

While militants have issued threats to both candidates and voters, separatist leaders have called for a protest shutdown in the Kashmir Valley on Monday.

Tension was palpable in the region on Sunday as the authorities beefed up security across Jammu and Kashmir.

Four hundred additional companies of paramilitary forces have arrived here to augment the existing strength of security forces.

In Srinagar, three wards will see polling.

Scores of motorbikes were seized by the police at various check posts in the city on Saturday and on Sunday on account of lack of documents or in cases where the bikers had violated traffic rules.

All vehicles entering the city were being thoroughly checked.

Hi-tech electronic surveillance equipment is being used to strengthen human intelligence in areas where polling is scheduled.

In addition to three municipal wards in Srinagar city, polling for municipal committees of Kupwara, Handwara, Bandipora, Baramulla, Chadoora, Badgam, Khansahib, Achabal, Devsar, Kokernag, Qazigund and Kulgam in the Kashmir Valley as well as Leh and Kargil in the Ladakh region is scheduled for Monday.

In Jammu region, polling for municipal committees of Bishnah, Arnia, R.S. Pura, Akhnoor, Khour, Jurian, Rajouri, Thanamandi, Nowshera, Kalakote, Sunderbani, Poonch and Surankote will also take place on Monday.

In addition, voting will be held for the Jammu municipal corporation.

(IANS)

New Delhi The Indian Air Force (IAF) will celebrate its 86th anniversary on Monday, highlighting the “untiring efforts and supreme sacrifices” made by its personnel, the Defence Ministry said on Sunday.

“In keeping with the tradition, the IAF will hold a grand parade-cum-investiture ceremony at the Air Force Station at Hindon (Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh). Air Chief Marshal B.S. Dhanoa, Chief of the Air Staff, will review the parade,” it said in a statement here.

The parade will be followed by an air display and acrobatics by the Air Force’s various aircraft, including Jaguar, Bison, MiG-29, Mirage-2000 and SU-30 MKI fighter jets and Rudra helicoptors.

“After the parade, all visitors will also get an opportunity to witness static display of aircraft, weapon, radar and missiles systems of the Indian Air Force,” the Ministry added.

The Indian Air Force was born in 1932 as the Royal Indian Air Force under then British rule. The name was changed to Indian Air Force in 1950.

The IAF has technologically evolved and grown in strength over these years to thwart any threat to the nation.

It is committed to safeguarding the Indian skies and has played a key role in providing assistance to the people during natural calamities.

(IANS)