Two BSF personnel injured in explosion by Maoists
Malkangiri (Odisha): Two BSF personnel were injured in an explosion triggered by Maoists in Odisha’s Malkangiri district on Friday even though tight security measures were in place in view of the elections. Malkangiri superintendent of police Akhileswar Singh said an improvised device planted by Maoists exploded when BSF personnel after conducting a combing operation near MPV-126 in Kalimela area were removing posters and banners put up on a road by the rebels calling for poll boycott. Soon after the explosion, Maoists opened fire on the BSF team. The security personnel retaliated and a fierce exchange of fire continued for about 25 minutes, police said. The ultras fled into a nearby forest. BSF personnel along with district voluntary force and police conducted a massive search operation in the area to track them. The injured BSF jawans were rushed to a nearby hospital and then shifted to the district headquarters hospital here for treatment, police said. (PTI)
Goa’s former Director of Mines arrested in illegal mining case
Panaji: Goa Crime Branch on Friday arrested former Director of Mines and Geology department, Arvind Lolienkar in connection with an illegal mining case. Lolienkar was summoned for questioning this morning at Crime Branch’s Dona Paula office here and was later placed under arrest. Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been probing at least ten cases related to illegal mining in the coastal state. “The investigations revealed that there was prima facie involvement of Lolienkar in illegal mining,” a senior crime branch official said here today, confirming the arrest. The accused was heading State Mines and Geology department when the mining illegalities were reported. Justice M B Shah Commission has pointed out that illegal mining scam in Goa was worth Rs 35,000 crore. The Commission had also named Lolienkar of being involved in the activity. Lolienkar was suspended soon after Manohar Parrikar-led BJP government took reins in the state in March 2012. (PTI)
Alagiri meets Chidambaram
Madurai: Expelled DMK leader M K Alagiri met Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram at the airport here on Friday, but refused to clarify what they discussed. “We have been in the government for nine years. We discussed a lot of things (of common interest),” he told reporters after the meeting, without elaborating. Ever since his suspension and dismissal from the party, Alagiri has been meeting leaders from parties in the NDA and Congress. While Alagiri returned here from Chennai, Chidambaram was here en route to Sivaganga to campaign for his son Karti. Alagiri had on Thursday called on his half-sister and Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi in Chennai, setting off speculation on the purpose of the meeting as their supporters have been sidelined in selection of candidates for the LS polls, while Stalin’s loyalists found place in the list of nominees without fail. The DMK had on Tuesday expelled a defiant Alagiri, son of party patriarch M Karunanidhi, for refusing to abide by the party discipline. (PTI)
Social activist Kantha Singh contesting as Independent
Jamshedpur (Jharkhand): Award winning social activist, Upender Karmakar alias Kantha Singh, will contest from Jamshedpur Lok Sabha constituency as an Independent candidate. A car mechanic for 26 years, Kantha had converted his garage at Ghatsila into an orphanage for children in 2003 after he adopted an orphan. He had been running the orphanage from donations from the people. Singh said the money he received with Presidential award in 2009 and the Real Hero Award the next year helped him to set up a school in the orphanage. Now, his orphanage cum school has 65 children including girls. Asked why he decided to contest the polls, Singh said he was upset with the approach of the successive governments, who failed to deliver on all fronts including education and health sector. (PTI)
13 officials booked for skipping election training
Muzaffarnagar: Thirteen officials have been booked for not attending election duty training before the commencement of the first phase of Lok Sabha polls at Kairana town in Shamli district. District Magistrate NP Singh said all 13 officials were absent from training meet on Thursday. The officials, selected by Election Commission, are imparted with training about the whole election process; from using voting machine to how to guide the voters. A case has been registered against erring officials under Section 134 of Representation of the People Act (act or omission in breach of his official duty). (PTI)