Two Pak high commission officials expelled on charges of espionage
New Delhi: India on Sunday declared two officials of the Pakistan High Commission as ‘persona non grata’ on charges of espionage and ordered them to leave the country within 24 hours, the Ministry of External Affairs said. The two officials, Abid Hussain and Muhammad Tahir, were caught by Delhi Police while they were obtaining sensitive documents relating to India’s security installations from an Indian national in exchange of money, official sources said. “The government has declared both these officials persona non grata for indulging in activities incompatible with their status as members of a diplomatic mission and asked them to leave the country within 24 four hours,” the MEA said in a statement. The sources said the officials were working at the visa section of the Pakistan High Commission and confessed during the interrogation that they worked for Pakistani spy agency ISI. In a statement in Islamabad, Pakistan Foreign Office condemned India’s action against the two officials, calling the allegations baseless. It said the action is “clearly aimed” at shrinking diplomatic space for the working of Pakistan High Commission in Delhi. “Pakistan strongly rejects the baseless Indian allegations and deplores the Indian action which is in clear violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations as well as the norms of diplomatic conduct especially in an already vitiated atmosphere,” it said. (PTI)
Wind damages Taj Mahal structures
Agra: Gusty wind with heavy showers that lashed Agra Friday evening left behind a trail of destruction in the city. Some minor structures in the Taj Mahal were also damaged. According to reliable sources, a part of the iron scaffolding that was being used for the mud pack treatment of the 17th century monument of love came crashing down. A red sand stoned “jaalidaar” boundary was also damaged at the rear, overlooking the Yamuna river. It fell on the Chameli Farsh down below. At the main western gate entrance a stone supporting the arch was loosened, but was restored by on Saturday. The visitors’ gallery at the eastern gate also suffered some damage, particularly the artificial ceiling in the security area. The 124 km per hour velocity storm ravaged several structures in the city, and caused extensive damage to greenery in the monument’s complex. The Taj Mahal is closed for visitors due to the lockdown. Conservationists of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) could not be contacted for an official version on the extent of the damage. (IANS)
Cop, another killed in encounter
Chaibasa: Two persons, including a constable, were killed as Maoists opened fire on a police team in Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district on Sunday, a senior officer said. On receiving information about Maoist movement in Porahat forest, a police team was out on a search operation in Jonua village when the rebels opened fire from behind a row of houses, Superintendent of Police Inderjeet Mahata said. Police retaliated, but it was a difficult situation as the Maoists pushed women and children in the front before opening fire from behind the houses, he said. Constable Lakhinder Singh Munda and Special Police Officer Sundar Swarup Mahato were killed, the SP said. The constable was the bodyguard of Additional Superintendent of Police-cum-SDPO (Chakradharpur) Nathu Singh Meena. Special Police Officers or SPOs are recruited in the rural areas to assist the police, mainly in counter-insurgency operations. (PTI)