Massive protests in Kulgam after death of LeT commander
Srinagar: Security forces burst teargas shells and resorted to lathicharge to disperse demonstrators at Kulgam, where a top commander of Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) Abu Qasim was killed in an encounter with security forces in the wee hour on Thursday. Large number of people, mostly youths, took to streets at Kulgam in south Kashmir after Qasim was killed by security forces in an encounter. Raising ”pro-freedom” slogans, the demonstrators blocked main roads and clashed with security forces deployed there. Security forces resorted to lathicharge and later burst teargas shells as demonstrators continued stone pelting. Additional security forces have been rushed to restore normalcy, official source said adding clashes spread to adjoining areas also. Meanwhile, shops and business establishments remained closed and traffic was off the road in the district due to spontaneous strike. Work in government office, banks and educational institutions was affected. (UNI)
Agitation demanding implementation of Anti-Superstition Bill
Kalaburagi: The Confederation of Progressive Organisations and Political Parties have decided to step up their agitation demanding enactment of the Anti-Superstition Law. Rallies will be held from October 30 through out the State and it would be followed by a State level rally and procession in Bangalore on November 16, Dr Meenakshi Bali, President of Pragnya Kanoonu Salaha Samiti told newsmen here on Thursday.Dr Bali said that the awareness would be created about the Draft of the Bill. “The Bill was not directed against religious practices and only dealt with those who exploited gullible people using religion as a tool.” She clarified that “the anti-superstition bill does not prevent anybody from going to a place of worship but only deals with obnoxious practices in the name of religion.”, she said. (UNI)
Kanpur poster ‘desecration’: Police release 30 new names
Kanpur: The Kanpur police on Thursday revealed identity of thirty more persons who were involved in the alleged desecration of a religious poster that led to clashes between two communities in various parts of the district on October 24. Police had earlier arrested 33 persons on Tuesday and detained at least 12 others in connection with clashes at the Darshanpurwa area here. “Thirty-three people were jailed under various section on October 24 out of total of 2,550 booked persons in connection with the clashes. And 100 persons have been identified from the footages provided by the media and videography done on police department’s behest,” Kanpur Superintendent of Police (SP), Shalabh Mathur said on Thursday. Since its the last phase of Panchayat election and the results will be declared on 1st and 2nd November, therefore these 30 persons and the remaining wanted culprits will be arrested once the police officials get free from election duty, Mathur said. The SP said that the names of thirty persons to be arrested have also been released to the media channels and police teams will formed to arrest them. On October 24, the day of Moharram, a clash had broken out between two communities after poster of a Goddess was found on the ground at Darshanpurwa under Fazalganj police station here. (PTI)
Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav to begin from Nov 1
New Delhi: Varied folk, traditional, tribal and classical art forms from across the country will be showcased in the national capital at the Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav that will begin from November 1. The debut edition of the National Cultural festival being organised by the Ministry of Culture will be held from November 1 to 7. “With an aim of encouraging the artists to continue maintaining the legacy of the traditional art forms, we have decided to make them available a national platform. This will be an annual feature from now onwards,” Culture Secretary, NK Sinha said during a press conference here.”The festival will also offer us an opportunity to closely observe and interact with the artists and get to know about any loopholes in the system which the Culture Ministry will try to work upon to help the artists take their art at a global level,” Sinha added. The seven Zonal Cultural Centres who will be participating in the festival include Patiala, Udaipur, Thanjavur, Kolkata, Nagpur, Dimapur and Allahabad. Artists from Sangeet Natak Akademi will be performing at the closing ceremony on November 7. (PTI)
CISF constable shoots self
Chennai: A CISF constable employed at the airport here allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself on Thursday, police said. Bolak Rajvanshi (27) shot himself with his service rifle at the airport, they said. The reason for the constable taking the extreme step was not immediately known, police said, adding his body was later taken to a nearby government hospital for post-mortem. (PTI)
