Fasting MLA arrested;shifted to hospital
Nagapattinam:Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam MLA, R Arulselvan, who is an on indefinite fast since Tuesday, was on Thursday arrested and admitted to the Government hospital here as his health condition worsened, police said. The MLA is demanding, among other things, that Mayiladuthurai be bifurcated from Nagapattinam district and made a separate district. Arulselvan, who represents the Mayiladuthurai assembly constituency, was earlier arrested on Tuesday after he tried to observe the fast without obtaining police permission. He was released later but began the protest in the evening. The MLA’s health condition worsened last night, but he refused to suspend his agitation. Early morning today, police arrested him and admitted him to the Government Hospital, police said. Earlier on wednesday, several shops in Mayiladuthurai downed shutters in support of the MLA and the demands raised by him. (PTI)
TN bypoll: CPI-M jumps into fray
Chennai:The electoral battle for the prestigious Srirangam assembly constituency turned four-cornered today with CPI(M) jumping into the fray to take on ruling AIADMK besides DMK and BJP in its first bypoll test since the 2011 elections. Party’s state unit Secretary G Ramakrishnan announced the candidature of K Annadurai to take on AIADMK nominee S Valaramthi and DMK’s N Anand for the seat vacated by AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa following her conviction in an assets case and subsequent disqualification as MLA. Incidentally, this is the first time CPI (M), which had contested the 2011 assembly polls as AIADMK ally, is contesting a bypoll in the state. BJP has announced that it will field a candidate on behalf of its party-led NDA coalition with the support of principal ally DMDK even as another constituent, S Ramadoss-led PMK, announced that it will neither nominate a candidate nor support anyone. (PTI)
HC rejects Kunal Ghosh’s bail plea
Kolkata:The Calcutta High Court on Thursday rejected a bail plea of Saradha scam accused and suspended Trinamool Congress MP Kunal Ghosh. A division bench comprising justices Subhrokamal Mukherjee and Ashis Chakraborti rejected his prayer. The counsel for Ghosh submitted that he has been under detention since November 2013 and has been cooperating with the CBI investigating officer and such he be granted bail. The CBI counsel opposed the bail plea of Ghosh claiming that it was a case of monetary scam and illegal money transfer was involved in the case and that if enlarged on bail, investigation could be hampered. The CBI counsel also stated that Ghosh was an influential person and investigation in the matter was continuing. Hearing both the parties, the bench rejected the bail prayer of Ghosh. (PTI)
Odisha districts on high alert after IB terror warning
Bhubaneswar:Odisha government has put all the districts in the state on high alert on Thursday following Intelligence Bureau’s warning of a possible terror attack by Pak-based groups to four states. Odisha Special Secretary, Home, Lalit Das said besides Odisha, Maharastra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh have also been alerted by IB. “Odisha’s DGP and Intelligence Director have been informed about the situation. All the districts of the state have been put on high alert. The police have been also told to keep tight vigil on important installations to avoid possible terror attacks,” he said. All the 18 marine police stations have been asked to be extra vigilant, he said, adding, the IB warning said the terror groups are likely to attack before January 28. Director General of Police Sanjeev Marik said all the superintendents of police have been asked to be on high alert.”It may not necessarily be a big attack.(PTI)
Lucknow lawyer killed in bomb attack, colleagues on strike
Lucknow:Lawyers in the state capital went on strike on Thursday and locked the court premises following the death of a lawyer in a bomb attack late Wednesday night. Unidentified assailants had attacked Nikhilendra Kumar Gupta (35) near PGI with crude bombs, injuring him. Gupta died early Thursday in hospital during treatment. As lawyers and people in the locality took to the streets after the attack, security was beefed up across the city. Lashing out at the state government over the killing of Gupta, the state president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Laxmikant Bajpayi, said the state capital had in fact become a crime capital.(IANS)