Accused wanted in Ajmer dargah blast held after 11 years
Ahmedabad: A 2007 Ajmer dargah bomb blast accused, who was on run since the last 11 years, was arrested on Sunday by the ATS from Bharuch in Gujarat. The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is probing the case, had announced a reward of Rs 2 lakh on head of the accused, identified as Suresh Nair. As per the NIA, Nair had allegedly supplied a bomb to the planters at the famous sufi shrine in Rajasthan and was also present at the spot, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) said in a statement. Three persons were killed and 17 others injured in the blast that occurred on October 11, 2007. After he was apprehended from Bharuch, Nair was shifted to Ahmedabad for further investigation, the ATS said. He is a resident of Thasara in Kheda district of Gujarat. “Officials of Gujarat ATS had received a credible information that Suresh Nair will visit Shukaltirth in Bharuch in near future, following which a close watch was kept at the place,” the agency said, adding that Nair was apprehended from the spot. He will be handed over to the NIA, it said. (PTI)
Miscreants vandalise Ambedkar statue in Haryana
Ambala: Unidentified miscreants have vandalised a statue of Dr B R Ambedkar in Dadupur village near Barara, around 30 km from here, police said on Sunday. The incident took place on Saturday night and came to notice on Sunday morning when a villager reported the matter to police, they said. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Sudhir Taneja reached the spot and tried to pacify villagers angered by the incident, officials said. The DSP assured the villagers that police would nab the accused soon. A few months back, unidentified miscreants had damaged Ambedkar’s statue in Kalpi village, also close to Barara. A case was registered against in the fresh incident, officials added. (PTI)
2 lion cubs found dead in Gir, infighting suspected
Ahmedabad: Two lion cubs were on Sunday found dead in different parts of Gir forest in Gujarat’s Amreli district, a forest department official said. Chief Conservator of Forests (Junagadh Wildlife Circle) D T Vasavada said both the cubs, found in Paniya and Savarkundla ranges of Gir forest, possibly died of infighting and the carcasses had been sent for post mortem. In the case of the cub found dead in Paniya range, he said a male lion had been spotted by forest staff in the vicinity and it appeared to be an intruder. Gujarat, in September, saw the deaths of 23 lions in the Gir forest area, 17 of them dying of Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) and bacterial fever. Following the deaths, 36 lions were shifted to three rescue centres and administered vaccine. (PTI)
4 arrested for stealing data, securing loans in Thane
Thane: Four persons were arrested for allegedly stealing data of costumers of a finance company and fraudulently securing loans on its basis, a senior Thane Rural police official said on Sunday. Assistant Superintendent of Police (Thane Rural) Atul Kulkarni said the four had stolen data of 24 customers of a finance firm with the help of an unidentified employee. The four made fake ID cards and forged other documents using this stolen data and secured loans from the finance firm. The ASP said that the four were planning to make purchases to the tune of Rs 38.72 lakh using these loans but were nabbed before they could carry out the transactions. He identified the four as Dileep Hazare (34), Sunil Yadav (32), Anil Mhaskar (37) and Kunal Sonkamble (21). A case of cheating and other offences had been registered under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Information Technology Act at Bhayander police station, Kulkarni informed. A local court has remanded them in police custody till November 30 and further probe was underway, he said. (PTI)
SSB, other agencies to jointly patrol Dudhwa tiger reserve
Lakhimpur Kheri: Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (DTR) and Sashastra Sima Bal (SSB) have joined hands to provide full proof security to Dudhwa forests and its rich wildlife. “A consensus was reached among all security agencies including SSB on the border and the Dudhwa field staff to strengthen the patrolling in and around Dudhwa to check forest and wildlife crimes,” DTF Field Director Ramesh Kumar Pandey told PTI. Pandey along with Deputy Director Mahavir Kaujlagi on Saturday held a meeting with Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), central and local intelligence officers, customs and excise officials, special tiger protection force (STPF) and Dudhwa field staff to discuss the issues involving safety of Dudhwa forests and its wildlife. “It was agreed at the meeting that joint long route patrolling (LRP) comprising SSB, STPF and DTR field staff would be held at regular intervals,” he said adding that first such LRP is proposed to be launched on Dec 22. Pandey said apart from this, stress was laid on intelligence and information sharing among various security agencies about activities of wildlife and forest criminals.” Sharing his interaction with SSB officials, Pandey said “a mechanism to establish SSB border outpost (BOP) level communication and information sharing was resolved to be developed to strengthen the safety of Dudhwa.” (PTI)