Regional

New Delhi, Oct 9 (IANS) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday said that it had conducted searches at two locations in Tamil Nadu's Salem and Sivagangai districts in a case relating to two self-radicalised individuals, who had extended support to the LTTE, a proscribed terrorist outfit.

The searches were conducted in October 7. The NIA said that the accused were engaged in manufacturing illegal firearms, ammunition and explosives with the intent to target commercial establishments and important leaders in Tamil Nadu.

The case was initially registered at the Omalur police station, Tamil Nadu and re-registered by the NIA in July 2022.

"During the searches conducted by the NIA, incriminating materials, including digital devices (compact discs related to LTTE), books on LTTE, photos of LTTE leader Prabhakaran, other LTTE leaders, incriminating documents/invoice/bills for the purchase of materials used for manufacturing of illegal firearms, ammunition and explosive substances, seeds for making poison and jungle survival kits have been seized," the official said.

Further investigations were on.

--IANS
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Jhansi, Oct 9 (IANS) Bodies of three women were fished out of a dam located in the Mauranipur area in Uttar Pradesh's Jhansi, late on Saturday night, police said.

A senior police official said the bodies may have come from the bordering Tikamgarh district of Madhya Pradesh.

Efforts are on to identify the victims, he said.

Senior Superintendent of Police Rajesh S. said that information about a body floating in the Saprar dam was received from an irrigation department employee of Mauranipur.

He said the body was fished out and it appeared to be a woman aged around 25.

After a while, two more bodies were spotted. The victims appeared to be aged between 18 and 20, the SP said. No injury marks were visible on the bodies, he said.

It is likely that they were swept away from Tikamgarh district, the SSP said, adding that the bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination.

--IANS
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Bengaluru, Oct 8 (IANS) A 17-year-old girl was allegedly grang-raped in Bengaluru by a group of boys known to her, the police said on Saturday.

The parents of the victim have lodged a complaint with the Byatarayanapura police station demanding action against the accused persons. The police have lodged a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and launched a manhunt for the accused persons, few of whom have been taken into custody.


According to the police, the girl was known to the accused for the past two years. The accused persons also allegedly took private photographs of the victim.

More details are awaited.

--IANS
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Kolkata, Oct 8 (IANS) A parallel affair with a woman as well as her mother is being suspected to be the one of the key reasons behind the murder of a 21-year-old man whose body was recovered from Magrahat in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district, the police said on Saturday.

A total of six persons -- Mondal's girlfriend, her mother, father, brother and two of their associates, have been arrested.

The victim's mother -- Manju Mondal, told the police in her complaint that hours after her son's death on Wednesday evening, his girlfriend had come to their residence.

"She came to our residence late Wednesday evening. She appeared restless. I asked her the reason... she told me that she has become pregnant. This means that when she came to my residence, she was aware that my son is no more," Manju Mondal said.

Later, she made a similar statement while speaking to the mediapersons as well.

Ayan Mondal was allegedly hit on head by a "heavy and blunt" object by his girlfriend's brother, and she was present at the spot when the incident happened, his mother Manju claimed.

The woman also said the girl made some "nonsensical statements".

"My son's mobile phone was switched off then. Suddenly, she asked me to check with the police, saying there is a possibility that Ayan might have been arrested. I asked her why the police would arrest my son. She avoided answering that... and instead told me that she has become pregnant," Manju Mondal said.

Police sources said that Ayan's girlfriend, who is currently in police custody, will be sent for medical examination to check the authenticity of the pregnancy claim.

Meanwhile, one more person has been arrested in connection with the incident. The driver of the pick-up van on which Ayan's body was carried -- as per the instructions of the accused persons "for dumping at a secluded place", was also arrested.

The preliminary investigation has hinted towards a love triangle -- involving Ayan, his girlfriend and her mother -- behind the murder.

The police while probing the matter got some clues which indicated towards a parallel affair that the deceased was having with the girl as well as her mother, and that resulted in a feud after which he was brutally murdered and his body dumped at a secluded place at Magrahat.

Police sources said that Mondal, who was a cab driver by profession, tried to talk to his girlfriend over phone repeatedly on Wednesday evening on the occasion of Vijaya Dashami. However, since she disconnected all his calls, Mondal later went to her residence in an inebriated state.

"There, he entered a tiff with her mother and even assaulted her. Soon his girlfriend arrived followed by her brother and father, and the fight took a nasty turn. In the heat of the moment, her brother hit Mondal on his head with a heavy and blunt object leading to his instant death," a police officer said.

Thereafter, the four decided to somehow dump the body at a secluded place. The brother contacted two of his close associates, hired a pick-up van, wrapped the body, took it to a secluded place at Magrahat and dumped it. The entire process was completed by late Wednesday night.

On Thursday morning, Mondal's family filed a missing complaint at Haridevpur Police Station and eventually on Friday night, the body was recovered.

--IANS
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Karnataka, Oct 8 (IANS) The Bharat Jodo Yatra, currently in its Karnataka leg, will take a break on October 17 in view of the Congress presidential poll.

For the around 40 Pradesh Congress Committee delegates participating in the march, polling booths will be set up at the camp site itself where all eligibles, including Rahul Gandhi, will cast their votes, officials said.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has clearly stated that the voters only need an ID card for exercising their franchise.

Headed by the senior party leader Madhusudan Mistry, the Central Election Authority, will oversee the poll process, notification of which was issued on September 22.

The last date for withdrawal of nominations is October 8 and results are scheduled to be declared on October 19.

Voting will take place only if two candidates compete. In case only one of the candidates remains after the nomination withdrawal date, he will be elected unopposed.

--IANS
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Bengaluru, Oct 8 (IANS) Karnataka Police said on Saturday that it has lodged a case against a shop owner for sexually abusing a minor boy in Dakshina Kannada district.

The incident took place in Kalladka and a probe has been launched by the Bantwal city police.

The police said that the complaint was lodged by the boy's parents where they said that the crime took place when he was sent to pick up chicken tikka from Mohammad Ashraf's shop.

When the boy entered the shop, the accused grabbed him and took him to a nearby farm where he sexually abused the minor.

When the boy protested against his advances, the accused also physically assaulted him.

The incident came to light when the accused tried to target the boy again. He had confessed to his parents what had happened.

--IANS
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Chennai, Oct 8 (IANS) Shocked by the early morning swoop by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on September 22 against the radical Islamist outfit Popular Front of India and foisting of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) against its leaders, many Muslim outfits are planning a regrouping and protests across the state.

The Mainathaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK) of Jawaharullah MLA conducted protest marches at Chennai and Madurai against the UAPA "misuse" by the Central government and said that the act has no place in a democratic country.

The Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), the political arm of the Popular Front of India which is not banned, is also planning demonstrations across the state. The Islamist organisations are also planning seminars and discussions throughout Tamil Nadu under the guise of Human rights organisations, a trick they have employed in Kerala after the ban on the Student Islamic Movement of India (SIMI).

In Coimbatore, a few days ago an Islamic NGO was formed, Islamic Federation of Tamil Nadu with members drawn from the SDPI, Islamic Law Research Council, and a few other organisations.

The office bearers of the organisation informed media persons that the NGO was formed to work for the socio-economic development of the Muslim community in Coimbatore. Coimbatore had witnessed major communal clashes between Islamist organisations and Hindu movements and the February 1998 serial bomb blasts took place in Coimbatore. The bomb blasts were aimed at the then Deputy Prime Minister of the country, L.K. Advani. While Advani escaped unhurt, 58 people were killed and more than 200 grievously injured in the blasts.

Sources in the central agencies told IANS that such organisations would erupt in many parts of Tamil Nadu in the days to come and would conduct media seminars, discussions on human rights violations, and other activities which SIMI used to conduct earlier.

The protest march conducted by the Manithaneeya Makkal Katchi (MMK), the CPI, CPI-M and the VCK participated giving it a semblance of respect.

An officer who is keeping a tab on the activities of Islamic movements subscribing to the ideology of SIMI told IANS, "These organisations are trying to rope in former ultra-left activists, and will also invite leaders of the left parties and some Dravidian outfits as well as Dalit movements to get a semblance of respect from the society and we are keeping a close watch on that."

--IANS
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Bengaluru, Oct 8 (IANS) In a move that is likely to stoke controversy, the Railway Board on Friday renamed Tipu Express, which connects Mysuru with Bengaluru, as Wodeyar Express.

The Railways effected the change on Friday following a representation from Mysuru MP Pratap Simha to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in July this year.

Simha had also requested that the express service between Mysuru and Talaguppe be named in honour of state poet Kuvempu. The Railways accepted both the suggestions and the orders will come into effect from Saturday.

Launched in 1980, Tipu Express is a superfast train connecting Mysuru and Bengaluru. The train covers a distance of 139 km in little over three hours on a single-line metre gauge track.

The move to replace the Muslim king's name with a Hindu dynasty's name has come for criticism from some quarters who see it as furthering the ruling BJP's saffronisation agenda.

However, in his plea to the Railway Minister, Simha has justified his request on the grounds that the Wodeyars had contributed immensely to the railway infrastructure in their realm.

While the Wodeyars were the Hindu rulers of the erstwhile Mysore kingdom in present day Karnataka, Tipu Sultan was the Muslim ruler of Srirangapattana, who died fighting the British.

--IANS
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New Delhi, Oct 7 (IANS) Congress' Karnataka unit president D.K. Shivakumar on Friday was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) at the agency's headquarters here in connection with the National Herald case.

Shivakumar left the ED HQ on Friday evening after being grilled for hours. Speaking with mediapersons outside the ED's headquarters, Shivakumar said he was asked about Young Indian and AJL financial transactions.

He said the ED asked him about his family and also sought other details.

"I have requested to give me time to send them all the documents they required. I still have to furnish a lot of information," he said.

The ED had summoned Shivakumar and his brother, DK Suresh to record their statements.

Earlier, J. Geeta Reddy, Shabbir Ali, P. Sudarshan joined the probe. They were questioned about Young Indian and Dotex connection.

The firm is reportedly situated at 5, Lower Rawdon Street in Sreepally of Ballygunge, Kolkata. It is situated in a residential apartment named Aakash Deep.

"Dotex firm allegedly paid Rs 1 crore to Young Indian. This was a loan which they gave to YI in 2010. The loan given by Dotex Merchandise was never returned. YI was just incorporated when this loan was paid," said an ED source.

The ED has doubt that the money was laundered through YI.

--IANS
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Bengaluru, Oct 7 (IANS) Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday said it has been unanimously during an all-party meeting to hike reservation for the Scheduled Castes from 15 per cent to 17 per cent, and the Scheduled Tribes from 3 per cent to 7 per cent.

Talking to reporters here after chairing a meeting of leaders of both the Houses to discuss Justice Nagamohan Das Committee report over the hike for quota for the SCs/ STs, he said this has been long-pending demand to hike reservation on the basis of the population.

Accordingly, it was unanimously decided to increase reservation for the Scheduled Castes by 17 per cent and the Scheduled Tribes by 7 per cent.

Prior to this meeting, the issue was discussed with the senior leaders of the party.

Besides, a resolution was adopted in the core committee meeting held on Friday to hike the reservation for SCs/STs in order to show its commitment for social justice, and to take legal actions in this regard.

The Chief Minister said as discussed in all party meeting, the government wants to implement the same.

"A Cabinet Meeting will be convened tomorrow (Saturday) to discuss all recommendations of Justice Nagamohan Das Committee recommendations, and then issue a final notification in this regard.

"The aspirations of all communities and religions have increased. There is a feeling that within the SCs/STs justice has not been done to many. In the wake of this, it has been decided to study the reports of all the commissions and to make a good decision," he said.

The Chief Minister said that in the coming days, decisions regarding internal reservation among the SCs/STs will be taken in due consultation with experts and leaders of all parties, and also to ensure no injustice is done to the society.

The government will take a suitable decision on reservation for the backward classes on the basis of reports and do justice for those people.

Bommai said with these decisions, the quantum of reservation will not reduce. There is 50 per cent reservation in the State and the quantum of reservation will not reduce for the SC/ST, category 1, 2A and 2B.

This reservation is given for above 50 per cent quota and the same has been underlined by Justice Nagamohan Das Committee and told by the government.

It has been decided to give 10 per cent reservation for the economically backward communities which do not have reservation as per law.

But this has been challenged in the Supreme Court and a verdict is awaited.

Subsequently, the court verdict will be implemented.

"Giving reservation without doing injustice to anyone is the real justice which is being done by the incumbent government," Bommai said.

"The purpose of calling an all party meeting was to discuss this issue from all angles including legal and the Constitution and to take everyone into confidence besides creating harmony in the state," he added.

--IANS
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