Normalcy returns to Kashmir after three days
Srinagar: Life returned to normal in all parts of Kashmir after three days of curfew-like restrictions in some parts of the city over protests against the death of Udhampur petrol bomb attack victim. Restrictions on the movement of people were lifted from the six police station areas of the city — Rainawari, Safakadal, Maharajgunj, Nowhatta, Khanyar and Maisuma — after three days, a police official said. The official said house arrest restrictions on all separatist leaders, except Syed Ali Shah Geelani, have been lifted while JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik who was lodged at police station Kothibagh for past three days, has been released. The vendors have set up their stalls at the weekly flea market, popularly known as Sunday market here, despite rainfall since yesterday. The restrictions were imposed in the city on Thursday and Friday by the authorities to prevent separatists from holding protests against the death of Zahid Bhat, who succumbed to injuries at a Delhi hospital on October 18. (PTI)
Sri Lanka to release 86 Indian fishermen on Oct 28
Chennai: Eighty-six Tamil Nadu fishermen, who were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy in the past two months, would be released on October 28, the state government said today. The state government would also release two Sri Lankan fishermen in its custody on the same day, it said. “The Union government has informed that Sri Lanka would release 86 fishermen (hailing from Tamil Nadu) on October 28,” an official release said here. Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has ordered all steps to bring them back. The release of fishermen was the outcome of Jayalalithaa’s “continuous efforts”, the release said. The Tamil Nadu fishermen belong to Nagapattinam, Pudukottai, Tuticorin and Ramanathapuram districts were arrested and lodged in jails in Sri Lanka between September 22 and October 14 this year. “They were apprehended while fishing in their traditional fishing areas of Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar,” the release said. Following this, Jayalalithaa took up the issue strongly with the Centre. She had written seven letters to Prime Minister Modi seeking his intervention at the highest political level with Sri Lanka for the release of the fishermen. (PTI)
Farmer allegedly commits suicide due to crop loss
Jajpur (Odisha): A farmer has allegedly committed suicide in Odisha’s Jajpur district with his family claiming that he was depressed due to crop loss and debt burden, police said on Sunday. Debendranath Mohapatra (43) allegedly consumed pesticide at his village Khetrapal on Wednesday night and was immediately taken to SCB Medical College and Hospital at Cuttack where he succumbed on Saturday afternoon, they said. According to his family members, Mohapatra had cultivated paddy on his own two acres land after borrowing Rs 50,000 from private financial organisations and local co-operative society. Mohapatra was expecting a good harvest, but all his hopes were dashed by the double whammy of scant rainfall and pest attack on paddy crops. His standing paddy crops wilted. Depressed over the development, he took the extreme step, they claimed. “We are inquiring into the death of Debendra from all accounts. Revenue Inspector (RI) concerned has been asked to report whether he was a farmer and about his loan burden. We will do the needful after receiving the RI’s report,” said Dharmasala Tahasildar Ranjan Jena. (PTI)
UPSC’s civil services main exam to begin from December 18
New Delhi: The civil services main examination will be conducted in December this year. The civil services examination is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission annually in three stages — preliminary, main and interview — to select officers of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and Indian Police Service (IPS), among others. The main examination will start from December 18 and end on 23, according to the time table finalised by the UPSC. The examination will be conducted in forenoon and afternoon sessions during these days. There will be no exam on December 20. A total of 15,008 candidates have qualified in this year’s civil services preliminary examination, results of which were declared on October 12. As against a record number of 9,45,908 candidates who had applied for the exam, about 4.63 lakh had sat in the test on August 23, which is about 49 per cent of the total applicants. (PTI)
Prisoner dies in jail premises in UP
Muzaffarnagar: An inmate, who was serving a life term, died in the district jail premises on Sunday following which security was tightened after some prisoners alleged medical negligence by the prison authorities, police said. 32-year-old Intazar, died under mysterious circumstances. The inmates lodged in the jail alleged that Intazar died due to medical neglect as the jail doctor failed to provide timely treatment to him. Meanwhile, jail Superintendent Rakesh Singh told that the prisoner died due to heart failure and an inquiry has been ordered into his death. (PTI)
Minor Dalit girl raped and murdered
Sitapur: A 13-year-old Dalit girl was allegedly raped and murdered in Reosa district, police said here on Sunday. The victim was raped and killed by one Sohan when she had gone to collect fodder last evening, they said. The body has been sent for post-mortem and a case has been registered against the accused, police said. (PTI)
Wanted naxal held in Chhattisgarh
Raipur: A wanted naxal, carrying a reward of Rs 2 lakh on his head, has been arrested in Chhattisgarh’s Kanker district, police said on Sunday. The cadre identified as Shivcharan Uike (25), was nabbed from naxal-hit Bajarpara area under Koyalibeda police station limits last evening, Kanker Superintendent of Police, Jitendra Singh Meena, said. Acting on a tip-off about the arrival of a rebel in Bajarpara, around 250 km from here, a police team was dispatched towards the site. While surrounding the spot, security forces spotted a man trying to flee, following which they nabbed him after a short chase, Meena said. During interrogation, Uike admitted to his involvement with the outlawed movement as an active member of platoon No 25 of Rowghat Area Committee of the Maoists in north Bastar region, he said. (PTI)
