‘Muzaffarnagar riots left 113 dead’
New Delhi: A total of 97 Muslims and 16 non-Muslims were killed in the communal riots in Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh last month, the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind has said. Thirty people were still missing in the region, said a report by the Jamaat after a survey of the affected areas, a statement by the group here said. According to report, a total of 113 people were killed in the communal violence in Muzaffarnagar and adjoining districts. Of these 16 were Hindus and 97 Muslims. Official figures until now have put the death at around 50. The Jamaat has decided to build 200 houses for the riot victims, many of who remain in refugee camps. (IANS)
Tribal organisations bandh affects normal life
Ranchi: The tribal organisations sponsored dawn-to-dusk bandh demanding formulation of domicile policy of Jharkhand affected life across the state. Vehicular movement was affected and business and educational establishments remained closed. The bandh called by the Adivasi Jan Parishad was supported by more than 20 organisations including several Left parties. Even the proscribed outfit People’s Liberation Front of India joined it. The other organisations supporting the agitation included Adivasi Chatra Sangh, Jharkhand People’s Party, Kurmi Vikas Morcha, Adivasi Moolwasi Chatra Morcha, Jharkhand Janadhikar Morcha and several other organisations. Leading the agitation, tribal leader Prem Shahi Munda said the state which was formed about 13 years ago is yet to get its domicile policy failing which the tribals and moolvasis were not getting their genuine share in government jobs. (PTI)
BJP women workers launch ‘mehndi’ campaign
Patna: As part of campaigns to mobilise support for BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s rally here on Sunday, women workers on Friday applied ‘mehndi’ to write ‘NaMo’ and draw party symbol ‘Lotus’ on their palm. The ‘mehndi’ campaign was aimed at showing the eagerness of women to see Modi as next prime minister of the country, Sushma Sahu, President of BJP Bihar unit said. Women workers first applied ‘mehndi’ on each others palm and then went around the town for other willing women, she said. “As women use ‘mehndi’ on the occasion of Rakhsa Bandhan for brothers, we have launched this campaign for the success of our brother’s (Modi) rally at Patna on October 27,” she said. To make the rally a grand success, women members of the party have been visiting houses and even reaching out to women passengers in buses and auto-rickshaws. (PTI)
Govt relaxes prohibition for export of red sanders wood
New Delhi: The government has relaxed norms for export of red sanders wood, a rare and scarce commodity, through Andhra Pradesh and Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI). However, the prohibition has been relaxed for 9,784.13 tonnes of red sanders wood in log form, Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said in a notification. “Prohibition on export of Red Sanders wood in log form has been relaxed for export of 9,784.1363 tonnes of red sanders wood in log form through Government of Andhra Pradesh and DRI,” it said. It said the Andhra Pradesh government was permitted to export 8,584.13 tonnes of the wood either by itself or through any entity authorised by them for the purpose. “DRI is hereby permitted to export 1,200 tonnes of Red Sanders wood in log form, either by itself or through any entity/entities so authorised by them for the purpose,” it added. (PTI)
IM terrorist Usmani still untracable
Mumbai: Indian Mujahddin (IM) terrorist Afzal Usmani,is still untraceable, a month after his escape leaving the Mumbai police baffled. It may be recalled that on September 20, Usmani, an IM operative,who is also an accused in the 2008 Gujarat blasts, had escaped from the sessions court premises where he was to be produced before the special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime (MCOCA) court. Usmani fled when the police escort had taken a group of the accused to the court corridor during lunch hour. More than a month after Usmani managed to slip away, the Mumbai and Maharashtra police, who are reportedly working day and night in collaboration with other national agencies, have failed to get any concrete lead which could help them nab him soon. (PTI)