govt-defends-decision-to-slash-foreign-secretary-sujatha-singhs-tenure

Govt defends decision to slash foreign secretary Sujatha Singh's tenure

New Delhi, Jan 29 (ANI): The BJP on Thursday claimed there is no politics involved in appointing S Jaishankar as the new foreign secretary. Jaishankar, India's Ambassador to the US, was on Wednesday suddenly appointed as the Foreign Secretary by Narendra Modi government, replacing Sujatha Singh, who has in effect been sacked. Singh's tenure was abruptly "curtailed" by nearly eight months. Jan 29, 2015
wb-govt-must-take-action-to-drive-out-muslim-infiltrators-or-else-face-violence-praveen-togadia

WB govt must take action to drive out Muslim infiltrators or else face violence: Praveen Togadia

Birbhum, Jan 29 (ANI): VHP leader Praveen Togadia said the West Bengal government must take timely action against Muslim infiltrators in the state or else the state will be a part of "greater Bangladesh" in the near future. He said that the party has warned the state chief minister and now it is up to her to stop the infiltrators or else face violence. He also appealed the people to boycott the infiltrators so as to save West Bengal from turning into a Muslim state and said that the people must remain alert about the infiltrators and they should not be given any scope to stay, earn or do business here. Jan 29, 2015
woman-dies-after-being-thrown-out-of-moving-train-by-rpf-constables-in-varanasi

Woman dies after being thrown out of moving train by RPF constables in Varanasi

Varanasi, Jan 29 (ANI): A 25-year old woman, Rita died after some Railway Protection Force (RPF) constables threw her out of a moving train while asking for bribery in Varanasi city. A native of West Bengal, the victim, who was travelling to Kanpur along with her 18-month old daughter, brother and an uncle, died while undergoing a treatment in a government-run hospital in Varanasi. The incident took place at around 9.30 pm on Wednesday in which victim’s brother also suffered injuries. The constables fled from the scene when the train halted at another station. Meanwhile, Circle Officer, Government Railway Police, OP Singh said the constables, if found guilty, would be booked under law. Reportedly, when Circle Officer of Government Railway Police Allahabad visited the hospital with two RPF officials to further investigate the matter, the officials deliberately asked irrelevant questions from Pal and Rita’s brother to confuse them. Jan 29, 2015
two-suspected-kuki-militants-killed-three-others-injured-in-encounter-in-imphal

Two suspected Kuki militants killed, three others injured in encounter in Imphal

Imphal, Jan 29 (ANI): Two suspected Kuki National Front (KNF) militants were killed and three others were injured in a gun battle between 8 Assam Rifles and the militants at Kadangband in Imphal. The security personnel were on high alert following a series of attacks by insurgents during the Republic day celebrations. Sources said the occupants of a jeep fired indiscriminately during a routine check at Kadangband. The security forces retaliated leading to the death of two insurgents on the spot. The three injured persons have been identified as Helen Kuki (30), Satmamang Kuki (23) and Thangkholin Kuki (25). All the three injured suspected KNF cadres are undergoing treatment at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, informed a source. The encounter took place on Wednesday evening and lasted for ten minutes. Jan 29, 2015
martyred-colonel-mn-rai-accorded-wreath-laying-ceremony-in-delhi

Martyred Colonel MN Rai accorded wreath laying ceremony in Delhi

New Delhi, Jan 29 (ANI): Martyred hero Colonel MN Rai is accorded with Guard of Honour in the national capital on Thursday, who lost his life fighting terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Tral just one day after being awarded a gallantry medal. Colonel Rai was awarded the Yudh Seva medal during the 66th Republic Day celebrations. Army chief General Dalbir Singh had termed Colonel MN Rai's act of pursuing and eliminating terrorists as a 'brave act' and said the brave officer showed exemplary leadership in leading from the front. Army Chief also laid wreath in respect of the martyred soldier. Colonel Rai’s Whatsapp status captures his motto towards life, which says, "Play your role in life with such dedication that people applaud you even after your death.” Jan 29, 2015
police-arrest-maoist-in-jharkhand

Police arrest Maoist in Jharkhand

Ranchi, Jan 29 (ANI): Acting on a tip-off, police arrested a Maoist commander in Jharkhand’s capital city Ranchi. The Maoist was involved in at least 15 cases including murder and extortion. He had launched a separate outfit named Jharkhand Gram Raksha Dal (Village Defence Party). A special team was formed to arrest the Maoist, identified as Prakash Kerketta alias Arvind. Senior Superintendent of Police Prabhat Kumar said the Maoist tried to flee but police cornered and captured him. A country made carbine, gun, bullets and motorcycle were also recovered from him. The Maoists, also known as Naxals in India, are inspired by the political philosophy of China's late Chairman Mao Zedong. They say they are fighting for the rights of poor farmers and landless labourers. Jan 29, 2015
kolkata-court-sends-five-accused-in-burdwan-blast-to-police-custody

Kolkata court sends five accused in Burdwan blast to police custody

Kolkata, Jan 29 (ANI): A court in Kolkata city sent five people, accused in 2014 blast in Burdwan district, to police custody till February 03. Two members of the Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh were killed in an explosion while building homemade bombs in Burdwan district of West Bengal in October last year. Police in December had arrested a key suspect in the blast who they believed was linked to a plot to assassinate Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh and stage a coup there. A lawyer of National Investigation Agency (NIA), Shyamal Ghosh said that they needed more time to unearth details of their involvement. He further said that the accused used to recruit young boys and give them training. Jan 29, 2015
jandks-pdp-positive-about-an-alliance-with-bjp-for-government-formation

JandK's PDP positive about an alliance with BJP for government formation

Jammu, Jan 29 (ANI): People's Democratic Party (PDP) indicated that it could form an alliance with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to form government in Jammu and Kashmir. PDP Spokesperson Naeem Akhtar said that the party was aware of the fact that it could not work alone. PDP emerged as the single largest party in the state bagging 28 seats in the 87-member legislature, brightening its chances of forming a coalition government. Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir BJP unit President Jugal Kishore met Governor NN Vohra but did not divulge any details about a probable alliance with PDP and on his discussions with Vohra. Earlier this month, PDP rejected the offer of support from rival party, National Conference (NC), which was voted out of power in the elections. Jan 29, 2015
pakistan-police-arrests-suspected-killer-of-professor-who-faced-blasphemy-accusations

Pakistan police arrests suspected killer of professor who faced blasphemy accusations

Karachi, Jan 29 (ANI): Pakistan police has arrested suspected killer of a professor of Islamic studies who faced accusations of blasphemy and threats from colleagues over his moderate views, a senior police official said. Unidentified gunmen had shot dead the professor in Karachi on September 18 last year. Two gunmen riding a motorcycle fired on the car taking Dr Muhammad Shakil Auj, the dean of the faculty of Islamic Studies at the university to a function at an Iranian cultural centre in the city. The other educationist Professor Sibt-e-Jaffer was killed in March 2013. Holding a news conference, Additional Inspector General of police Ghulam Qadir Thebo said the suspects involved in the killing of Karachi University Islamic Studies and Professor Sibte Hassan (Jaffer) had been arrested. Shakil Auj had received threats following complaints that his teaching was too liberal. Jan 29, 2015
s-jaishankar-takes-charge-as-foreign-secretary-of-india-says-honoured-to-be-assigned-such-responsib

S Jaishankar takes charge as Foreign Secretary of India, says honoured to be assigned such responsib

New Delhi, Jan 29 (ANI): S Jaishankar on Thursday took charge as the new Foreign Secretary of India in Delhi. Jaishankar reached the Ministry of External affairs and took over the office assigned to him. While talking to mediapersons, he said that he was honoured to be assigned with such responsibility and looked forward for the same. He replaced Sujatha Singh who was sacked by the central government late Wednesday evening. Singh's two-year tenure was to end in August this year. Jan 29, 2015
modi-govt-sacks-sujatha-singh-as-foreign-secretary-s-jaishankar-to-take-charge-today

Modi govt sacks Sujatha Singh as foreign secretary, S Jaishankar to take charge today

New Delhi, Jan 29 (ANI): In a significant development, Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh’s tenure was “curtailed”- six months early - and India’s ambassador to the US, S Jaishankar was appointed as the new Foreign Secretary. The Modi government on late Wednesday evening announced the abrupt “curtailment of tenure of foreign secretary Sujatha Singh with immediate effect”. The surprise announcement was made after a meeting of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. S Jaishankar, who is a batch junior to Singh in the service, will be the new foreign secretary and will take charge of the office today. According to sources, PM Modi had been unimpressed with Singh and her work. There had also been talks of a change for some time, but Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj is said to have wanted Singh to stay on. Jan 29, 2015
government-not-to-appeal-vodafone-tax-ruling

Government not to appeal Vodafone tax ruling

New Delhi, Jan 29 (ANI): The central government will not appeal a regional court ruling in favour of Vodafone Group Plc in a long-running tax dispute, the cabinet decided in a move aimed at boosting investor confidence in Asia's third-largest economy. Vodafone, the biggest foreign corporate investor in India, has been involved in a series of tax disputes since it entered the country seven years ago. In one such case, India's tax office had accused a unit of the British group of under-pricing shares in a rights issue to its parent company and demanded tax of about 30 billion rupees. The Bombay High Court had in October ruled in favour of Vodafone, and later the attorney general had recommended the government to refrain from appealing that ruling at the Supreme Court. Communications and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the decision was in direction to assure investors of a fair and just Indian government. Jan 29, 2015