Politics

84 children killed in Taliban school attack

Peshawar, Dec 16 (ANI): At least 84 children have been killed in a Taliban attack on a school in the Pakistani city of Peshawar on Tuesday (December 16), an official said. Troops surrounded the building and an operation was under way to rescue the remaining children, the army said. A journalist at the scene said he could hear heavy gunfire from inside the school. Pervaiz Khattak, Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the province of which Peshawar is the capital, said 84 children had been killed. In an atmosphere of uncertainty, students who had been rescued were frisked by soldiers before being allowed to move away from the site of the attack. One rescued student described the scene. Pak Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who reached the spot, condemned the attack.

Dec 16, 2014

SC rejects bail pleas of accused Italian marines

New Delhi/ Kochi, Dec 16 (ANI): India's apex court on Tuesday (December 16) denied bail applications of two Italian marines accused of killing Indian fishermen in 2012. According to media reports, Massimiliano Latorre has been in Italy since September for medical treatment. He has sought extension of his stay as he has to undergo heart surgery. Salvatore Girone had asked to be allowed to go back to his family for Christmas. Intervener in the case, Subhash Chandran, said the court had decided against granting bail since proceedings in the case had been hanging for too long due to the marines' absence. Earlier in September, the Court had allowed Latorre to go back to Italy after suffering a brain stroke. Chandran said that Latorre's bail was going to expire in January 2015. Latorre and Girone have been charged with murder but deny killing anyone or aiming directly at the boat of Indian fishermen.

Dec 16, 2014

Indian Army observes Victory Day in JandK

Srinagar, Dec 16 (ANI): Indian army on Tuesday commemorated Victory Day and paid respects to the soldiers killed in the 1971 war against Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir. December 16 marks the 45th anniversary of the 1971 IndiaPakistan war, the first war the Indian army had won after World War-II. General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Kashmir-based 15 Corps of the Indian army, Lieutenant General Subrata Saha, paid his respects to the soldiers by laying a wreath at a memorial and said the nation won the war after many sacrifices. Saha said that to mark the day some events have been organised to honour and preserve the contribution of the deceased soldiers. Meanwhile, in Nagrota town in Jammu district, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Kashmir-based 16 Corps of the Indian army, Lieutenant General KH Singh, also paid tribute to the soldiers.

Dec 16, 2014

Mass conversion row accused Nand Kishore Balmiki arrested

Agra, Dec 16 (ANI): The Agra police on Tuesday arrested Nand Kishore Balmiki, who was the main accused in the alleged forced re-conversion case of over 100 people to Hinduism. Balmiki surrendered himself at the Hari Parbat police station on Tuesday morning, the Agra police said. The police said that further investigator is on in the case.

Dec 16, 2014

Students pen longest letter to PM Modi on the 2nd anniversary of Delhi gang rape

New Delhi, Dec 16 (ANI): Students on Tuesday (December 16) penned the longest letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking safety for women and faster penalty of the accused as the country observes the second anniversary of the brutal gang rape of a 23-year-old physiotherapy student on a bus in New Delhi. A poll published by a newspaper said 90 percent of 2,557 women surveyed, did not see any improvements in safety. The same survey found 86 percent of respondents avoided going out alone after dark. Police and government officials argue that a host of measures have been introduced to improve safety, but add that violence against women is a far more deep-rooted problem which cannot be solved easily.

Dec 16, 2014