Amit Shah questions probe of encounters in Gujarat
New Delhi: Accused in Sohrabuddin alleged fake encounter case, Narendra Modi’ aide Amit Shah on Tuesday questioned why only encounters in Gujarat were being investigated and sought to drag the Prime Minister in the controversy. Claiming the case against him was fake, Shah, who was Home Minister under Chief Minister Modi, said Gujarat was being singled out to defame the BJP and Modi due to political motives as 17 of the 18 cases being investigated out of 1,500 encounter cases in the country were from his state. The BJP general secretary, who is out on bail, questioned why the Prime Minister or the Union Home Minister were not facing similar investigations in cases involving central agency IB. “These investigations are being done to defame the BJP and Narendra Modi,” Shah, who is now UP incharge of BJP, told a news channel. (PTI)
Hurriyat flays Omar’s statement
Srinagar: Both factions of Hurriyat Conference on Tuesday attacked Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in unison over his statement asking to explore “other options” if Pakistan continues with ceasefire volition, saying his talk of “bullet for bullet” shows lack of understanding of the consequences. “The statement of Chief Minister (Omar) is highly provocative and lacks political maturity. Omar should keep in mind that any confrontation between the two nuclear powers will bring destruction to the entire South Asian region,” moderate Hurriyat Conference headed by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said in a statement here. Omar yesterday said the Centre will have to look at the possibility of responding in the same way if Pakistan continued to violate ceasefire along the Line of Control and International border in the state. “Obviously this cannot be a one sided affair. It cannot be a situation where we are the receiving end and no response is given,” Omar had told reporters on the sidelines of a function here. The Hurriyat said Omar’s talk of “bullet for bullet” demonstrates his lack of understanding of the consequences. “There is no alternative to mediation and dialogue to resolve outstanding issues,” the Hurriyat said adding “Kashmir issue is a live problem and cannot be downgraded by rejecting mediation, dialogue or parroting of integral part. (PTI)
Ceasefire violations: DGMO talks to Pak counterpart
New Delhi: Against the backdrop of repeated ceasefire violations along the LoC and the International Border, Director General of Military Operation (DGMO) Lt Gen Vinod Bhatia on Tuesday called up his Pakistani counterpart. As per the existing arrangement between the two countries, their Directors General of Military Operations talk over hotline to discuss issues on the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border. “Our DGMO called up his Pakistani counterpart and he is understood to have discussed the issue of ceasefire violations,” an Army official said here. This year there have been over 110 incidents of ceasefire violation in Jammu and Kashmir. (PTI)
Under Army arrest for 16 months, TSD operative seeks bail
New Delhi: An Army jawan belonging to the controversial intelligence unit set up by Gen VK Singh has approached a military court for bail contending he has been under “illegal” arrest for the last 16 months on basis of “false” charges of trying to sell classified information. Admitting the plea filed by Havildar Sham Das D, the Principal Bench of the Armed Forces Tribunal has asked the Army to file a reply in the matter. Contending that his arrest from June 8 last year was “most wrongful and arbitrary” on basis of false allegations levelled against him by officials of Department of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), the Havildar claimed he is being “implicated” in the charge of sharing classified information with some unknown person who was source of the DRI. The jawan has been facing a Court of Inquiry (CoI) since June 11 last year on charges of trying to sell classified information in a CD and a pen drive to some unknown person. In his plea filed through his counsel Maj S S Pandey, the jawan claimed that he was put under close arrest with “sole aim of putting him under undue pressure to confess to such allegation which were totally wrong and also to implicate others in the process.” (PTI)
International dance festival in Gwalior
Gwalior: An international dance festival featuring teams from various countries, including India, will be held here from Wednesday. The festival ‘Green Wood Udbhav Utsav’, to be held between October 23 and 27, has been jointly organised by the Udbhav Krida Avam Sanskritik Sanstahn and Green Wood Public School. “Through this festival, we are committed to provide international forum to the talent of Gwalior Chambal division, where art lovers would get an opportunity to see the dances of various countries and provinces of India,” Udbhav President Anil Kumar Gupta and Chairperson of the Greed Wood School Kiran Bhadoria told reporters. The dance teams from Greece, France, Kyrgyzstan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Delhi, Gujarat, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh would take part in the festival. (PTI)