‘Mum’s Death Shocked Me, Did Not Attempt Suicide’
MUMBAI: Indrani Mukerjea, the prime accused in the Sheena Bora murder case, has told the city police that she did not have an overdose of anti-depressant pills. She claimed that she fell unconscious because she was depressed after hearing the news of her mother’s death. However, the police are not ready to believe her claim. “She earlier told police that she was not close to her mother. We believe that she is pretending,” police sources said.
J&K Top Cop Killed in Gunfight with Militants
SRINAGAR: A police officer, who was an expert in counter-insurgency operations, was killed in a brief shoot out with militants in North Kashmir on Wednesday. He was chasing down militants including Abu Qasim, Lashkar-e-Toiba’s most wanted commander and handler of captured Pakistani militant Mohammad Naved. Police sources said two counter-insurgency Special Operations Groups (SOG), including one from Srinagar headed by sub inspector Altaf Ahmad, rushed to North Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Wednesday morning on receiving a tip-off.
Cabinet Nod for Skill Development Services
NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday gave its approval for the formation of a Group ‘A’ Indian Skill Development Service (ISDS) of technical cadre of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led cabinet also approved the addition of a senior administrative grade post and four Junior administrative grade posts. Meanwhile, the Central government has asked all states to do away with interviews in the procedure for the recruitment of employees to lower-wrung government posts whenever possible.
Tri-Nation War Games to Commence Next Week
NEW DELHI: India, the US and Japan will take part in the ‘Malabar’ naval exercise next week in the Bay of Bengal. The annual naval exercise will be held from October12 to 17 and will feature a battery of special forces, including Naval commandos Marcos and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team. Japan had last taken part in the Malabar hosted by India in 2007. However, a strong reaction from China against the inclusion of Japan and Australia in 2007 led to the exercises being largely kept bilateral. However, India this year invited Japan to be a part of the exercise along with the US.
Bharti Granted Bail in Murder Attempt Case
NEW DELHI: AAP MLA Somnath Bharti, who was arrested in a case of domestic violence and attempt to murder lodged by his wife, was on Wednesday granted bail by a Delhi court which ruled out apprehensions that he would flee from its jurisdiction. However, the court imposed several conditions on the 41-year-old politician, including that he would not leave Delhi without the courts prior permission or tamper with evidence. He was also asked to report for interrogation when asked to.
Centre Approves Setting up of Three New AIIMS
NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the setting up of three new AllMS at Nagpur in Maharashtra, Manglagiri in Andhra Pradesh and Kalyani in West Bengal at a cost of Rs 4,949 crores. The proposed institution will have a hospital with a capacity of 960 beds. In addition to this, there will be a teaching block, AYUSH block, auditorium, nursing college, night shelter, hostel and residential facilities. The cost of the new AIIMS at Manglagiri will be to the tune of Rs 1618 crore; Nagpur, Rs 1577 crore and Kalyani, Rs 1754 crore.
Rail Roko Agitation Hits Normal Life in Punjab
CHANDIGARH: Rail services were hit at various places in Punjab on Wednesday with farmers’ organisations starting their two-day Rail Roko agitation in protest against the “anti-farmer policies” of the SAD-BJP Government. As many as six trains were stopped by protesting eight organisations in Punjab, causing inconvenience to passengers. Farmers in large numbers squatted on railway tracks to stop train movement. Meanwhile, railway authorities deployed senior staff for faster implementation of decisions.