Two Russian youths detained by Odisha police
Bhubaneswar: Two Russians were handed over to the police by people at Niali in Cuttack after they were found travelling in an open truck and Puri police on Saturday began their verification. The duo, identified as Vasil Lu Fair and Maratha Galimur, had been handed over to the police Friday, a day after an Intelligence Bureau alert had been sounded across the state warning against a possible terrorist strike by Pak-based groups, Puri superintendent of police Asish Kumar Singh said. “We have been verifying the credentials of the two foreigners and examined their passport and visa validity,” he said adding the two Russian youths were qualified civil engineers and had come to India on tourist visa. They had come to the country from Iran and had reached Puri on January 19 via Mumbai. They were caught by the local people while they were returning from Konark in a truck Friday and were handed over to the police, he said. Stating that there was no objectionable evidence against them so far, the SP said the police had been no information about the hotel and lodgings where they stayed. They were staying in a tent along the seashore in Puri. Tickets to Bangkok from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata for January 26 were found on them, he added. (PTI)
Woman behind Ara blast hailed from UP
Ara: The woman, who carried the bomb which exploded in Ara civil court premises, has been identified as a native of Uttar Pradesh, police said Saturday. The bomb exploded Friday resulting in the death of the woman and 26-year-old police constable Amit Kumar besides leaving about 16 others injured. Kumar had recently got married. “The woman has been identified as Reena Gaur hailing from Balia in Uttar Pradesh,” Superintendent of Police of Bhojpur Akhtar Hussain told PTI. Two prisoners — Lambu Sharma and Akhilesh Upadhyay — managed to flee after the explosion. The remaining 35 undertrials in the van were taken back to prison. The SP said it had come to light that the woman was carrying bomb in her purse to help Lambu Sharma, who was recently awarded life sentence in a case. Lambu Sharma gangmen had made similar attempts by exploding bombs in the Ara civil court premises in 2009 also in which two persons were killed, he said. The SP said a SIT (Special Investigation Team) has been constituted under Sub Divisional Police Officer of Sadar to probe the blast incident. (PTI)
Swine flu prevalence in AP less compared to Telananga:Minister
Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh health minister said here on Saturday that prevalence of swine flu in the state is less as compared to neighbouring Telangana and appealed to people not to panic. Dr Kamineni Srinivas said that those suffering from cough and fever for more three days should consult physicians as a precautionary measure. Responding to a query on the sidelines of ‘Make in India’ seminar here, the minister said that it is technically not feasible to screen people entering the state from Telangana. He said that Andhra Pradesh does not have any lab to test swine flu cases and has to depend on lab in Hyderabad and that they are mulling to set up one in the state. All government hospitals have been directed to be well equipped with medicines to treat swine flu patients while private hospitals have been asked to take up swine flu cases. According to officials, 20 people have died of swine flu in Telangana (since mid-December) till January 23. (PTI)
Three held for illegal stay in India
Faridabad: Three Bangladeshi nationals were arrested for living in Badkal village here without a valid visa, police said on Saturday. Acting on a tip-off, Surajkund police Friday conducted a raid and arrested three Bangladeshi nationals, identified as Zaheed, Dayal and Sapan, for staying in India without valid passport, police said. A case has been registered against them and further investigations are on, they said. (PTI)