US concerned over rising intolerance in India

Expressing concern over reports of "rising intolerance and violence" in India, the US has asked the Indian government to do "everything in its power" to protect citizens and to bring to justice the perpetrators. Responding to questions on reports of alleged violence against people eating beef and assault on two Muslim women carrying buffalo meat in Madhya Pradesh, State Department Spokesman John Kirby said, "We stand in solidarity with the people and Government of India in supporting exercise of freedom of religion and expression and in confronting all forms of intolerance." "We're obviously concerned by reports of rising intolerance and violence...As we do in countries facing such problems around the world, we urge the government to do everything in its power to protect citizens and to hold the perpetrators accountable," he said. Kirby said the US looks forward to continuing to work with the Indian people to realise their tolerant-inclusive vision, which is so deeply in the interests of both India and the US. In an instance of cow vigilantism earlier this week, two Muslim women who were carrying buffalo meat were assaulted by people at a railway station in Mandsaur on suspicion that it was beef in the presence of police which arrested the duo. The incident came close on the heels of the attack on dalit youths in Gujarat by cow vigilantes for skinning a dead cow.

4 of family end life by jumping in front of moving train

Four members of a family allegedly committed suicide by jumping in front of a moving train at Ghatkesar under Cyberabad commissionarate, after the family head died due to ill health, police said today. The body of Satyanarayana, the head of the family was found in a parked car while the bodies of his wife, two daughters and son were found on the railway tracks last night, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Malkajgiri M Ravichnadan Reddy said. Satyanarayana was working as an engineer in Housing department, the official said. "We found the body of Satyanarayana in a car and his family members on the railway track. We are investigating the case," he said. The bodies have been sent for post mortem, the official added.

CID makes three more arrests in EAMCET-II paper leak case

Telangana CID, probing the leak of medical EAMCET-II question paper, today arrested three more persons, including a key broker who was allegedly involved in similar cases earlier in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Sanikam Rajagopal Reddy (65) was arrested in Bengaluru, taking the total number of arrests in the case to six. Describing Reddy as an "important broker", CID said he organised a camp in Bengaluru where 20 students procured by two brokers from Hyderabad and Vijaywada, who were arrested earlier this week, were given practise with leaked question papers. Reddy collected Rs 1.25 crore from the duo. According to CID, Reddy was earlier arrested in several cases of medical entrance exam paper leakage cases and medical admission irregularities in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Meanwhile, two persons of a "medical academy" at Dilsukhnagar and L B Nagar here were also arrested today. They have been identified as Arigi Venkata Ramanaiah, who was running the 'academy', and Bandaru Ravidra, the mess in charge there. "They sent four students of their academy to Pune camp through Shaik Ramesh alias Raheem for taking practise with the leaked question papers. They collected Rs 35 lakh from three students and paid to Shaik Ramesh," CID said in a statement. With this, a total of six persons have been arrested in connection with the case. "Efforts are on to apprehend the other brokers and accused persons in the question paper leakage," CID said. The Engineering, Agriculture and Medical Common Entrance Test (EAMCET-II) was conducted on July 9 and the results were declared on July 14. The examination was conducted by Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU), Hyderabad.

"Hindu religion in danger because of its 'protectors"

Close on the heels of "rumours" of some Dalit families planning to embrace Islam after they were allegedly denied entry into a Tamil Nadu temple, BJP MP Udit Raj today claimed the Hindu religion is in "danger" not because of conversion but because of its "so-called protectors". The Dalit leader raised apprehensions over "survival of Hindu religion" in the country, and said it's "in danger" not because of conversion of Dalits into other religions but because of its "so-called protectors". There were reports recently that following denial of permission to the Dalits by upper caste Hindus to conduct rituals at the ancient Badrakaliyamman temple at Nagapattinam, during the Tamil month of Adi, some Dalits had planned to embrace Islam. The Nagapattinam district administration had later denied the report. Raj said if the doors of temples are closed for Dalits then they would go to Church, Mosque, and "we would not be responsible for that". "...and then those people (the custodian of Hindu religion) have problems with Dalits entering Church or Mosque. They say Hindu religion is in danger. It is because of them only and not because of us (Dalits)," Raj, who is national chairman of All-India Confederation of SC/ST Organisations, said. He claimed that in countries like Burma, Thailand, Iran, Phillipines, Kazakhstan and Afghanistan, the Hindu population has decreased significantly, and "it's difficult for Hindu religion to survive in India also and we will not be responsible for that." He claimed the biggest temple of Hindus is in Cambodia today but there is not a single Hindu there. Addressing the two-day national convention of the body, he said there is no religion in the world where people attack their "own people (from same religion) in the name of the same religion". Asked about the recent atrocities on Dalits, he said, "Wherever such situations occur, it should be condemned and everyone should come forward to fight against it. "I am suprised...Why only Dalits come forward whenever atrocities happen against them?" he asked. He also said that whosoever "may be in power, attacks on Dalits have been going on and the only difference is in quantity"..

800 jobless Indians starving in Jeddah

Nearly 800 Indian workers are reportedly starving for the last three days in Saudi city of Jeddah after losing their jobs and Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh is traveling to the Gulf nation to sort out the issue. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia has been directed to serve food to them and that she was monitoring the situation on an hourly basis. Her response came following a tweet by a man who said around 800 Indians are starving for the last three days in Jeddah and sought her intervention. "We have asked @IndianEmbRiyadh to provide free ration to the unemployed Indian workers in Saudi Arabia," she tweeted. Swaraj said Indians in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait were facing various problems relating to their work and wage and that the "matters are much worse" in Saudi Arabia. She said MoS External Affairs M J Akbar will take up the issue with Kuwait and Saudi authorities. "My colleagues @Gen_VKSingh will go to Saudi Arabia to sort out these matters and @MJakbar will take up with Kuwait and Saudi authorities. "I assure you that no Indian worker rendered unemployed in Saudi Arabia will go without food. I am monitoring this on hourly basis," she said. Swaraj said a large number of Indians have lost their jobs in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and that their employers have not paid wages and closed down their factories. "As a result our brothers and sisters in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are facing extreme hardship," she said, adding while the situation in Kuwait is "manageable", matters are much "worse" in Saudi Arabia. Later, Swaraj posted pictures of food being provided to the Indian workers.

The prices of pulses soared because of beef ban' says Asad Owaisi in parliament

Bombay HC tells cops to act if offence made out against Asad Owaisi

The Bombay High Court has asked Maharashtra police to consider if any offence was made out against AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi and party MLA Waris Pathan over their alleged remark that they would not chant 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai'. A bench of Justices V M Kanade and M S Sonak was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Pune-based social activist Hemant Patil who alleged that the two leaders of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen(AIMIM) had made speeches which amounted to spreading communal disharmony and hurting national integrity and unity of the country. The bench, on July 25, asked the petitioner to make separate representations to the police stations concerned and further directed the police to take action, if required, on merits and in accordance with law, within four weeks. The High Court, accordingly, disposed of the petition while observing that "representations made by the petitioner shall be considered on merits and in accordance with law as expeditiously as possible, in any case, within four weeks." The PIL urged the court to order an inquiry into the speeches made by the duo in the recent past in which they had allegedly showed dishonour to motherland by such remarks. Such remarks are anti-national and have the tendency to break the social fabric of the society and divide the people on the basis of religion and parochial issues, said Patil, who heads the NGO Bharat against Corruption. The petition had demanded a ban on on AIMIM saying that remarks made by the duo allegedly amounted to violation of Representation of the People Act and were against the basic principles of the Constitution. The PIL was referring to speeches delivered by Owaisi at a public rally in Latur and Pathan's utterances in the state legislative assembly saying they would not say "Bharat Mata Ki Jai".

CID arrests 2 in Medical EAMCET-II paper leak case

Telangana CID, probing the leak of Medical EAMCET-II question paper, today arrested two persons and found that two sets of the paper were leaked prior to the examination conducted earlier this month. The agency has also identified some suspected middlemen during the investigation. "In the investigation conducted so far, some brokers and sub-brokers belonging to Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, Bengaluru and other places have been identified," a CID release stated. The duo, identified as Vishnudhar alias Vishnuvardhan and Thirumal alias Thirumal Rao, were arrested from Hyderabad. "Vishnuvardhan and Rao allegedly contacted students, parents and took about 25 of them to Bengaluru where one Rajagopal Reddy arranged practice of questions and answers to them (before appearing for the exams)," the release said. On July 25, the CID had registered a case under relevant sections of IPC and other provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Public Examinations (Prevention of Malpractices and Unfair means) Act, 1997, after it found in its preliminary inquiry that there was prima facie a case for registering an FIR. As part of its investigation, CID had yesterday taken three persons into custody, who it said came together, took out the question paper and trained some students who appeared for the exams and subsequently got more marks. "During the course of investigation, suspected students were secured by the CID and were thoroughly examined. It was established that Telangana State EAMCET-II-2016 (Medical) question papers (two sets) were leaked before the date and time of exam," the agency said. Investigation also revealed that students appearing for TS EAMCET-II-2016 (Medical) examination from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh were taken to camps set up in at least at five cities about two to three days prior to the exam and were given practice with the leaked copies of two question papers consisting of 320 questions with correct answers, CID said. The Engineering, Agriculture and Medical Common Entrance Test (EAMCET-II) was conducted on July 9 and the results were declared on July 14. The examination was conducted by Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU), Hyderabad. Following reports about the leak of the question paper ahead of the examination, the JNTU officials had requested Telangana DGP Anurag Sharma to look into the issue, who in turn ordered a preliminary inquiry by CID on July 20. According to reports, few candidates who got a rank in thousands in Andhra Pradesh EAMCET had got a rank below 500 in Telangana EAMCET-II.

HC sets aside Telangana govt's order on qualifications of VCs

A division bench of the Hyderabad High Court today set aside an order issued by Telangana government notifying the qualifications for appointment of Vice-Chancellors. D Manohar Rao, a retired professor of Osmania University, had challenged the Government Order (GO) on the ground that it would dilute the academic qualifications and experience required for the post and result in lowering the standards at the university. Rao had filed the petition against the state government's action of amending the AP University Act, 1991 and laws governing other universities existing in the state enabling the government to appoint VCs directly without consulting the Governor. The petitoner argued that the government had reduced by five years the requirement of 10 years of teaching experience as a professor mandated under the law for appointment as VCs. The bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Dileep B Bhosale set aside the GO, ruling it could not have diluted the qualifications mandated by the University Grants Commission. The bench directed that the new recruitments for the post of VCs be done on the basis of the earlier criteria. The bench, however, allowed the prayer of the government to suspend the operation of the order for four weeks to enable it to approach the Supreme Court. Except for the Vice-Chancellors of Palamuru and Telangana Universities, all the VCs appointed by the government recently have more than 10 years experience as professors.

Suspension of 11 lower court judges revoked

The Hyderabad High Court today revoked the suspension of 11 lower court judges. These judges had been suspended on disciplinary grounds following the Telangana Judges Association's agitation against the provisional allocation of judicial officers. A senior judicial officer confirmed the development and added that these judges resumed the duty today. Around 200 judicial officers working in various capacities in courts across Telangana had gone on a mass leave on June 28 during TJA's agitation against appointment of the judges from Andhra Pradesh to the Telangana courts. Two days earlier, on June 26, over 100 judges, under TJA's banner, took out a procession and submitted a representation to the Governor protesting appointment of those hailing from Andhra Pradesh to the subordinate courts in Telangana. The Hyderabad High Court, which is common to both the states post-bifurcation, then suspended 11 judges for taking part in the agitation. The agitation was later called off after the judicial officers got an assurance from the Chief Justice of HC that their grievances would be looked into.

Bihar Court issues summon to Asaduddin Owaisi

A Vaishali court here today issued summons to AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi to appear personally before it on August 11 in connection with his reaction against awarding of capital punishement to Mumbai blast accused Yakub Menon last year. Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) Rajesh Pandey ordered Owaisi, an MP, to personally appear in the court on August 11 when the case would be heard next. The order was delivered while hearing a complaint filed by a Hajipur-based lawyer Rajeev Kumar Sharma on July 31 last year. The complainant had said that the AIMIM chief, while protesting against death sentence to Yakub Menon, had argued questioning why capital punishement had not been given to killers of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and rioteers during 2002 Gujarat carnage. The SDJM took cognizance of the complaint under IPC 153 A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language etc and prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) and issued summons order, the petitioner's lawyer said. The complainant in his writ filed on July 31, 2015 had said that he had been hurt hearing strongly-worded statement of AIMIM over TV channels against death sentence awarded to Yakub Menon and had filed the case. Four persons were named accused but the court exempted three for lack of evidence and issued summons to Owaisi.

Telangana to launch exclusive portals for NRIs

As part of its proposed NRI Policy, Telangana government will launch an exclusive portal for non-resident Indians and also open a 'Centre for Non Resident Telanganites' Affairs' in all districts, state cabinet Minister K T Rama Rao said today. Rao, state minister for IT, Industries and NRI affairs, today held meeting with all the stakeholders seeking suggestions to incorporate in the proposed 'NRI Policy' of the state. "We will be launching an exclusive portal for NRIs with information and online services. We are already conducting skill development initiatives for people who want to migrate in search of livelihood," he told reporters here. "We will be building a database of migrants from Telangana to various countries. This will help in speedy resolution of issues, if any and district level offices would be opened for CENTA - Centre for Non Resident Telanganites' Affairs," he added. The minister said a special officer would be appointed to assist NRIs wishing to invest in Telangana and a Corpus Fund intended for the welfare of NRIs would also be established. All the suggestions will be used to formulate the policy and placed before the cabinet for approval, said Rao, son of Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao.

NHRC notice to Telangana govt over patient deaths

National Human Rights Commission has issued a notice to the Telangana government over reported power failure resulting in the death of 21 patients at a hospital in Hyderabad. The Commission has taken suo-motu cognizance of a media report that 21 patients died in a single day at the government-run Gandhi Hospital in Hyderabad, Telengana on July 22 over alleged power failure, an NHRC statement said. "The contents of the news report are painful and raise serious issues of violation of Right to Life of the patients," the Commission said while issuing notice to the Principal Secretary, Department of Medical Health and the Family Welfare, Government of Telengana, calling for a report in the matter within six weeks. NHRC has also asked for the steps to be taken regarding relief granted to the affected families. It noted that in all such sensitive places and particularly hospitals, there should be a regular or periodical drill to ensure that people managed to work on alternative methods or systems in case of power failure, the statement said. Before setting out to switch off even generators to rectify a technical snag, doctors, paramedical staff and attendants should have been alerted about the blackout, it said. According to the media report dated July 24, the electricity supply in the hospital first tripped around 3 PM on July 22 and thereafter, it continued to do so at regular intervals. Although, there were four generators as standby in the hospital, they developed snags and could not be used when power lines were later cut off to find the cause of the tripping. The deaths occurred in the specialty wards, including the surgical intensive unit, respiratory intensive care unit, acute medical unit, neo-natal intensive care ward and the emergency ward, the report said. Reportedly, Divisional Engineer, Southern Power Distribution Company Limited, Secunderabad, confirmed the power failure in the hospital and that it had some troubles with its own generating equipment. It is being reported that there had been similar power failures the last month, and the hospital had to rely on its four generators. Gandhi Hospital is a premier 1,200-bed tertiary care hospital and caters to a large number of patients from ten districts of Telangana, as well as from neighbouring states of Maharashtra and Karnataka.

Modi may get me killed: Kejriwal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi may "get me killed", Arvind Kejriwal said today, in a sensational claim, as the Delhi Chief Minister asked AAP MLAs to be ready for "ultimate sacrifice" in the wake of "unprecedented crackdown" by the BJP government. Referring to a series of arrests of AAP MLAs and workers in the last one-and-a-half years, Kejriwal dubbed Modi as the "mastermind" behind the "cycle of oppression" against them and alleged that he was hell bent on "vanquishing" the party. Accusing Modi of acting in a "perpetual state of rage and anger", the AAP chief wondered if the country was in "safe hands". Calling the current period "very critical", Kejriwal told AAP volunteers, MLAs and Delhi Government Ministers that things will get worse in the coming days and exhorted them to "leave" for now if they are not strong enough. "I want to tell all the volunteers, MLAs and Ministers that this is a very critical period. You think over it, talk to your families. This is going to get worse in the coming days. "He (Modi) can go to any extent and may get us killed. He may get me killed as well. Talk to your families and see if you are ready for the ultimate sacrifice. All the MLAs will anyway have to go to jail. If you are ready, then stay with us or if you have weaknesses, then leave," he said. "Modi has lost all sense of proportion and is hell bent on vanquishing the AAP," Kejriwal said in a nearly 10-minute video message posted online. Kejriwal's attacks on Modi came in the wake of back-to-back arrests of two AAP MLAs taking the total to 11 and filing of FIRs against Delhi Commission for Women Chief Swati Maliwal and Income Tax raid on Chhattarpur legislator Kartar Singh Tanwar's premises. The BJP hit back at Kejriwal over his "shameful" attack on the Prime Minister and asked him to not blame Modi for his failures and instead act against his party leaders "involved" in various crimes. "Kejriwal's comments are shameful. We condemn them. He used to harp on morals and spoke against corruption but has been unmasked. He now stands for protecting his corrupt colleagues, many of whom are involved in various crimes, including trying to cause riots to grab power," BJP national secretary Shrikant Sharma said. Kejriwal, who had called Modi a "psychopath" and "coward" in the past, said the country would be in danger if the Prime Minister starts taking decisions guided by "no rhyme or reason but anger". "For me, the biggest reason to worry is the fact that if a country's PM starts taking decisions in anger then the country will be in danger. Who knows he might be doing the same when it comes to many such decisions." he said.

'Jihadi Jack' denies joining IS

A British convert to Islam, dubbed "Jihadi Jack" after travelling to Syria, has denied joining the Islamic State terror group. Jack Letts told a UK news channel that he had fled his home in Oxford to study in Syria but did not regret the move. "I came here searching for the truth, and people of the truth, and I don't regret that I came," he told Channel 4 News. Asked if he is an ISIS fighter, he said: "Currently I'm not. I'm not and nor do I agree with lot of what they follow." In a separate online statement in Arabic, which he said should be remembered as his final words if he is killed, he wrote: "I oppose so-called Islamic State, but that doesn't mean I am with you, the dirty non-Muslims." Speaking from somewhere in Syria, Letts admitted to missing home comforts like "kebabs and Krispy Kreme doughnuts" but said he knows he would not be welcome back in the UK. His parents, John Letts and Sally Lane, are awaiting trial after being charged with terrorism offences relating to allegedly sending money to their son. They have denied the charges of funding terrorism and are due to stand trial in January 2017. Jack said in an online statement he "hated" his parents "for the sake of Allah" because they are non-believers, and called on them to convert. "They reject the religion of truth, so I reject them. I hate the kuffaar (non-believers), and am free from them. Die in your rage," he said. Despite narrowly surviving an air strike with just a "scratch", the 20-year-old said he is not afraid of death. "I'm not worried. Everyone is going to die on their day. Whether it's by a drone strike. A Muslim understands that his life is between the hands of Allah. So if they want to bomb me, they'll bomb me."

Abu Azmi blasts Sena, Maha govt on ISIS issue

Samajwadi Party leader Abu Asim Azmi today accused the BJP-led Maharashtra government and police of "misusing" the ISIS issue to spread "fear" among the Muslims. "The government and police are using the ISIS issue to spread fear among Muslims," Azmi alleged. Referring to a claim by Shiv Sena MLA Rahul Patil that around 100 Muslim youth, suspected to be in touch with ISIS, have gone missing from Marathwada, he said the claim should be probed. "Has anyone from the families of these youth registered a missing complaint?" Azmi told reporters at Legislative Assembly complex. The SP MLA tried to raise the issue in the Lower House but wasn't allowed to do so by the presiding officer. "I am not saying that 100 youth are not missing. But not everyone of them should be linked to ISIS," Azmi said. RSS, Bajrang Dal, Shiv Sena and BJP are creating a rift between Hindus and Muslims in the country, he claimed. On Shive Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray's demand that India be declared a "Hindu nation", Azmi said, "this dream of Uddhav's father won't be fulfilled". Meanwhile, Patil called for a ban on Asaduddin Owaisi's All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) claiming it "supports ISIS". In its crackdown on suspected supporters of ISIS, Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) yesterday arrested a 24-year-old terror suspect -- Shahid Khan in Parbhani district and recovered 1 kg of explosives and other bomb-making materials from him. Khan was the third such suspect to be nabbed by ATS last week. Two other suspects were arrested earlier in joint operations between the Kerala Police and the state ATS from Thane and Navi Mumbai respectively.

TRS govt pursuing "coercive development", alleges CPI-M

The CPI-M today charged the TRS government in Telangana with pursuing "coercive development" and forcibly acquiring farmers' land, and termed its actions "intolerable". Politburo member Brinda Karat said in the process of formation of the state, the TRS had given a categorical assurance on people-centric development. "Instead of that, we (now) have coercive development. Consent of farmers, cooperation of farmers is critical for development of any state; here we find TRS is forcibly taking over land and without any dialogue and discussion with farmers", she told PTI. Brinda also accused the government of "flagrantly violating" the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. Alleging "repression from the state", she noted the "number of arrests which are being made and the threats which are being put to farmers; this is something which is intolerable". Pointing out Adivasis' right to cultivate land under the Forest Rights Act, Brinda alleged that in Telangana, "Podu" cultivation, the traditional right recognised by law, is "being snatched away by Telangana government in collaboration with Forest Department under the Central government". "Here again the livelihood of adivasis is being bulldozed. That also is a very important aspect of this struggle for justice," she said. Brinda said, "If you look at Mallannasagar project, you see how (TRS) government is cheating...its approach to this project without taking farmers' consent and without taking farmers into confidence...how can you just take over their land for this project. Irrigation is going to help farmers so why not convince the farmers if it's so good for them." The CPI-M leader was in the city to take part in a 'Maha Dharna' organised by the Telangana Bhoonirvasithula Committee to protest the Government Order 123 which allegedly overrides the 2013 Act.

IS terror module: Judicial custody of 7 accused extended

A Hyderabad court today extended till August 24 the judicial custody of seven city-based persons, who were arrested by NIA in connection with a suspected ISIS terror module busted by the agency here. The seven accused, including two key members Naimathullah Hussaini alias Yasir and Mohammed Ataullah Rehman, who are currently lodged in Chanchalguda Central Prison here, were produced before Metropolitan Sessions Judge K Rajkumar through video linkage as their judicial custody ended today. The court further remanded all of them in judicial custody till August 24. The NIA had initially arrested five members of the module - Mohammed Ibrahim Yazdani alias Ibbu, Habeeb Mohammed alias Sir, Mohammed Ilyas Yazdani, Abdullah Bin Ahmed Al Amoodi and Muzaffar Hussain Rizwan - on June 29 after a series of searches at 10 locations in Old City here. Subsequently, Rehman, who was claimed to have played a key role in plotting terror strikes and also involved in radicalising others, was arrested along with Yasir on July 12. Rehman allegedly administered them (group members of the Hyderabad module) 'Bay h' - oath of allegiance to the ISIS chief Abu Baghdadi. Yasir was appointed the "amir" (chief) of the Hyderabad module and was its main fund-raiser. He also participated in key conspiracy meetings, according to NIA. Following some prior probe, the NIA had on June 22 lodged an FIR for criminal conspiracy to wage war against the Government of India and made the arrests. In its remand application submitted to the court earlier, the agency had said the five accused (arrested on June 29) procured weapons and explosive material to carry out terrorist attacks at public places, religious sites and sensitive government buildings in various parts of India and was in touch with ISIS members in Syria. Along with explosive material, the NIA had recovered two semi-automatic pistols with ammunition, an air gun, shooting practice target boards, a large number of digital gadgets, including six laptops, about 40 mobile phones, 32 SIM cards, hard disks, memory cards, pen drives and tabs during its search operation.

Police must keep people's faith, says Telangana DGP

Police force in the country has to meet the twin challenges of handling increasing diversity and complexity of crimes, and the rising public expectations, Telangana DGP Anurag Sharma said today. "With newer challenges arising out of increasing population, rapid urbanisation, new economic and social laws, organised crime, ever increasing traffic, cyber crime, economic offences etc, the Indian police will have to continually evolve and develop efficiencies to keep crime under control, maintain public order and provide safety and security to public," he said here. Sharma was speaking after inaugurating a day-long workshop on 'SMART Policing' organised by the Rao Bahadur Venkata Rama Reddy (RBVRR) Telangana State Police Academy. SMART police, as described by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stands for strict and sensitive, modern and mobile, alert and accountable, reliable and responsive, tech-savy and trained. People only accept a reliable police system, he said, adding the acronym, SMART, summarises the qualities a common man would seek in a policeman. Police must rise up to the expectations citizens have from them, the senior IPS officer said. Ish Kumar, Director of the Academy, said the aim of workshop was to design a road map for implementation of the concept of 'SMART Policing'.

NIA files charge sheet against 3 men with alleged ISIS links

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) today filed a charge sheet in a court here against three accused, who were deported from the UAE for their alleged ISIS links, claiming that they were conspiring to carry out terror strikes in India and other countries. According to sources, NIA chargesheeted the accused -- Sheikh Azhar Al Islam, Mohammad Farhan Shaikh and Adnan Hussain -- for allegedly supporting Islamic State. The charge sheet was filed in the court of District Judge Amar Nath. The three suspects, along with other unidentified associates, were allegedly involved in a conspiracy to identify, motivate, radicalise, recruit and train Indian citizens, located in India and abroad, for planning and executing terror attacks, NIA has claimed. It alleged that they were in close contact with several active members of IS via internet, telephone and other means of communication in furtherance of its activities. NIA alleged that the accused were conspiring to recruit of resident and non-resident Indians for IS activities. Adnan, who hails from Karnataka, Farhan who is from Maharashtra and Sheikh Azhar from Jammu and Kashmir were arrested on January 29 by NIA after being deported from the UAE. The trio were detained by NIA on arrival from the UAE at the IGI airport here.

Over 100 Muslim youths from Marathwada missing, Sena MLA

Over 100 Muslim youths from Marathwada region of Maharashtra have gone missing and they may have joined terrorist group ISIS, Shiv Sena MLA Rahul Patil said in the Assembly today. Patil alleged the Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM supports ISIS and demanded the party be de-recognised. He referred to the recent arrest of a youth from Parbhani in Marathwada for alleged ISIS links and said even police feel the missing youths may be on way to joining the terror outfit. AIMIM MLA Waris Pathan rubbished Patil's allegation that his party supports ISIS, calling it "baseless". "We have always opposed outfits like ISIS," Pathan told reporters.

VHP wants suspension of "anti-national" faculty members of UoH

Vishwa Hindu Parishad today demanded that the University of Hyderabad, which was at the centre of controversy earlier this year with the suicide of Dalit research scholar Rohith Vemula, should suspend the faculty members indulging in "anti-national activities". It also demanded eviction of those students who live in the hostels on on campus in unauthorised manner. "We demand strict action against some faculty members who indulge in anti-national activities. We also seek suspension of students who take out rallies supporting anti-national elements and terrorists. Bajrang Dal will undertake Chalo Hyderabad University programme on July 28 to protest anit-national activities in the varsity," Telangana VHP President M Ramaraju said. Reacting to his statement, Joint Action Committee for Social Justice (University of Hyderabad) demanded that varsity administration should ensure the safety of students. "The Students Union of UoH strongly condemns the statement of the president of VHP (Telangana) who threatened that the Bajrang Dal would enter the university to nab Amol Singh on July 28. The UoH Students Union will not allow any such move. We demand the university administration ensure the safety of Amol Singh (who was involved in fracas with ABVP students last week). The right-wing bigots have no place in our university," the JAC said in a statement. Ramaraju said his organisation had not named any particular person, but would take "action" if University Authorities failed to take necessary steps.

US has nothing to fear from majority of Muslims: Trump aide

he US has nothing to fear from the vast majority of Muslims as radical Islamists constitute a small minority of the global Muslim community, a close aide of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said today. "We are at war with radical Islamists, we are losing the war, and we must change course to win the war," said Newt Gingrich, a close confidant of Trump told Republican delegates at the ongoing Republican National Convention in this Ohio City. "We have nothing to fear from the vast majority of Muslims in the United States, or around the world. The vast majority are peaceful. They are often the victims of the violence themselves," he said. "They are people we would be happy to have as our friends and neighbours. The challenge is, when even a small percentage of a billion, six hundred million people support violence against those who disagree with them, that is still a giant recruiting base," he said. For example, Pew Research finds that just 9 per cent of Muslims in Pakistan support ISIS. Unfortunately, that 9 per cent is 16 million people. And that's just one country, he said. One of the first few leaders to endorse Trump during the primaries, Gingrich argued that the real estate tycoon has the courage to tell some important truths about our national security. "In contrast to Donald Trump, our national security and foreign policy elites, led by Hillary Clinton, are incapable of speaking with such honesty. While they lie about the threat, we need to tell the truth about the danger. If our enemies had their way, not a single woman in this room could define her future," he said. "If our enemies had their way, not a single Jew or Christian in this room would be alive unless they agreed to submit. If our enemies had their way, gays, lesbians and transgender citizens would be put to death as they are today in the Islamic State and Iran," he added. "If our enemies had their way, every person on earth would be subject to conversion by the sword and to a cruel and violent system of laws. There would be no individual liberty. There would be no equality," he said. Gingrich alleged that if Clinton is elected it would be terrifying for the country. "Every American should be terrified at the prospect of a Hillary Clinton presidency. If Hillary is elected, she will keep in place the people and the systems that lie to us every single day about this threat," he said. "In a world where Pakistan has nuclear weapons where North Korea has nuclear weapons and where Iran--the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism--is close to having nuclear weapons this, a catastrophic attack on innocent Americans, is a very real threat," Gingrich said.

Eight boys held for setting three puppies ablaze

Eight boys were today held for allegedly burning alive three puppies at a graveyard in Musheerabad area here, police said. "Eight boys, aged between 10 to 17, were apprehended in connection with the incident and all of them have been now produced before a Juvenile Justice Board (JJB)," Musheerabad Police Station B Mohan Kumar told PTI. The attack on the dogs took place at a graveyard here on Saturday afternoon and came to light on Tuesday when a video of the incident went viral on social media. A group of minor boys caught three stray puppies and tied them together. They then dragged the hapless animals to some distance and put them into a fire made out of jute bags and dry sticks, Shreya Paropkari, an animal rights activist, had said in a complaint filed with Musheerabad Police. "One of the perpetrators recorded the entire incident and is heard instructing and instigating the others to set them on fire. The recordings were recovered from a fish stall owner in Musheerabad," she said in the complaint. Following the complaint, a case was registered on Tuesday under IPC Section 429 (mischief by killing or maiming cattle, etc) and relevant sections of Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act in connection with the incident. Earlier, Shreya, who works as Cruelty Response Manager with the Humane Society International, and Vasanthi Vadi, an activist with the NGO, People for Animals, met Hyderabad Police Commissioner M Mahender Reddy and submitted the video clip of the incident. Meanwhile, N G Jayasimha, Managing Director of HSI/India said, "We hope that the Juvenile Justice Board takes swift and stern action for this inexplicable violence against defenceless puppies. A psychiatric evaluation should also be carried out. "There is abundant research demonstrating that violence towards animals by children can be an indicator of other abused and potentially a predictor of serious anti social behaviour in adulthood including criminal offenses and violence towards women and children," he said in a statement.

Dattatreya meets family of Hyd techie murdered in US

Union Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya today visited the residence of a 24-year-old software engineer here, who was allegedly stabbed to death by his roommate in the US. Dattatreya, a senior BJP leader who represents Secunderabad Lok Sabha constituency, met Gundam Vijay Kumar, father of Gundam Sankeerth and expressed condolences to the family and assured him of all necessary help for getting back Sankeerth's body at the earliest. "Pranith, one of his friends, had called up and told the family members here that Sankeerth was stabbed by one Sai Sandeep Goud, a roommate, on Monday," Sankeerth's uncle Srinivas had said earlier. Sankeerth died while being shifted to a hospital and the accused was arrested by the local police in the US' Austin, Srinivas said, adding that Goud also from Hyderabad had joined his flat a fortnight ago. Sankeerth was stabbed to death by Goud in Texas on Monday following a quarrel.

Saina seeded fifth at Olympics

Star India shuttler Saina Nehwal has been seeded fifth while her compatriot P V Sindhu is seeded ninth in the women's singles at the upcoming Olympic Games at Rio de Janeiro. Kidambi Srikanth, meanwhile, has received a ninth seeding in the men's draw. Saina is world no. 5 and Sindhu is ranked 10th in women's singles, Srikanth's ranking is 11th in the world in men's singles. The seedings are based on today's (July 21, 2016) World Rankings for the final confirmed Olympic qualifiers, and will be used for the draw on July 26. Each singles category has 13 seeds. Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei and Spain's Carolina Marin are the top seeds in men's and women's singles, respectively. Lee, runner-up at the last two Olympics and winner of two BWF World Superseries titles this season, is followed in the seedings by two-time World champion Chen Long (2; China) and two-time Olympic champion Lin Dan (3; China). In women's singles, two-time World champion Marin heads a competitive field ahead of two Chinese -- Wang Yihan (2) and defending Olympic champion Li Xuerui (3). Thailand's in-form Ratchanok Intanon (4), winner of three World Superseries titles this year, is also seeded ahead of the London Olympic bronze medallist Saina. There are only four seeds in each of the three doubles categories and none of the Indian pairs figure in the seeding list. The men's singles draw will consist of 41 players in 13 groups, while 40 competitors will be divided into 13 groups in women's singles. Each group will have one seed. The draw in doubles will have four groups of four pairs. Each group will include a seeded pair.

Kashmiri Ph.D student attacked in Bhopal

A 28-year-old student from Kashmir pursuing his Ph.D from Barkatullah University was today attacked by some unidentified persons near a stationary shop here, a senior official said. "The incident occurred in noon when Sajjad Ahmed was standing at a stationary shop near Surendra Place for purchasing some articles when a group of eight-ten persons attacked him," Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Bhopal, Raman Singh told PTI. Ahmed is pursuing his doctorate in adult education stream. On the complaint filed by him with Bagh Sevania police station, a case has been lodged under various sections of the IPC for rioting and criminal intimidation. In the past, some Kashmiri students of Barkatullah University had staged a protest before the Vice Chancellor's office after they were targeted by some unidentified youths.

Three puppies burnt alive by youngsters in Musheerabad

In a chilling incident, three puppies were allegedly burnt alive by a group of youngsters, one of whom recorded the gruesome act, police said today. The dastardly attack on dogs took place at a graveyard in Musheerabad area here on the afternoon of July 16 and came to light yesterday when a video of the incident went viral on social media. A group of youngsters caught three stray puppies and tied them together. They then dragged the hapless animals to some distance and put them into a fire made out of jute bags and dry sticks, Shreya Paropkari, an animal rights activist, said in a complaint filed with Musheerabad Police yesterday. "One of the perpetrators recorded the entire incident and is heard instructing and instigating the others to set them on fire. The recordings were recovered from a fish stall owner in Musheerabad," she said in the complaint. Following the complaint, a case was filed under IPC Section 429 (mischief by killing or maiming cattle, etc,) and relevant sections of Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act, Sub- Inspector B Bhaskar Rao said, adding that efforts are on to nab those involved in the incident. "We got a report on the incident yesterday after which I filed a police complaint," Shreya, who works as Cruelty Response Manager with the Humane Society International, told PTI. Earlier, Shreya and Vasanthi Vadi, an activist with the NGO, People for Animals, met Hyderabad Police Commissioner M Mahender Reddy and submitted the video clip of the incident. The gory incident in the city comes weeks after two MBBS students flung a stray dog from the roof top of a building in Chennai.

CPI for abolition of Governor''s post

The Communist Party of India (CPI) has sought abolition of the post of state governors, calling it an outdated system wherein people holding the position misuse office and overstep their limits. "Post of Governors should go. Sometimes it (the post of Governors) is for retired officers. Now, all sorts of funny fellows are becoming Governors. The people who should be put in museums by RSS are being put in Raj Bhavans. That's the problem," CPI General Secretary S Sudhakar Reddy said. "Now, it's high time to think about it. The system itself should be abolished. It's very much misused these days," he told PTI. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had also last week pitched for abolition of Governor's post, saying the existing federal democratic structure did not warrant its continuance. Speaking on the Arunachal Pradesh issue, Reddy said even after the Supreme Court judgement, Governor Tathagata Roy had the "audacity to ask the Chief Minister to prove his majority within 48 hours", and termed his action as "idiotic". He alleged Governors have become like a "counter-check" on the democratically elected government in various states and most of them do not understand their limitations. The Governor's office is a "lavish, useless extravaganza" (financial burden) on state governments. "It is an outdated system which the British had introduced. In some places, they become so controversial that they try to replace elected Chief Ministers," he said. "In recent period, some of them are talking nonsense also...RSS people. Even during earlier Congress regimes, we were of the opinion the Governor's post was more ornamental," the CPI leader said. Reddy suggested some mechanism to replace the post of Governor. "Government should come out with some sort of proposal and we can discuss about it," he said. Meanwhile, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, "I am all for having a transparent system of Governors. I am all for having a system of Governors through a broader consultative process, involving may be the Vice-President or the President and Prime Minister, and Leader of Opposition."

Constable aspirant dies of heart attack during physical test

A 22-year-old youth collapsed on ground during an 800-meter run as part of physical screening for the post of police constable in Nalgonda district and died in hospital, police said toady. V Rajasekhar, a native of Suryapet in the district, yesterday participated in the physical training test after clearing the written test in Nalgonda town. "During the 800-meter run as part of physical fitness test for recruitment of police constable, he completed the first round of 400 metre but collapsed during the second round. He was taken to a hospital where he died while undergoing treatment at around midnight yesterday," Nalgonda District Superintendent of Police N Prakash Reddy told PTI. According to doctors, Rajasekhar suffered "heart-attack" and died at the hospital, the SP said. A case under section 174 CrPC (suspicious death) has been registered in connection with the incident and probe is on.

My media advisor's house barged into, imp docu stolen: Sisodia

Unidentified persons allegedly barged into the house of Manish Sisodia's media advisor and "stole important documents" containing details of the meetings between the Deputy Chief Minister and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over the last one year. Sisodia has written to Police Commissioner Alok Verma alleging "foul play" as "valuable items" including laptop, mobile, music system were not stolen, but certain "important papers" of the briefings were missing from the South Delhi residence of his media advisor Arunodaya Prakash. Referring to CBI's raid at Kejriwal's former principal secretary Rajendra Kumar's office last December, Sisodia alleged "when they did not find anything in the raid, they are now getting items stolen from the houses". Based on the complaint, an FIR under sections 457 (lurking house-trespass or house-breaking by night in order to commit offence punishable with imprisonment) and 380 of IPC (theft in dwelling house) has been registered at Malviya Nagar police station against unknown persons. Additional DCP (South) Nupur Prasad said, "An FIR has been registered and the case is being investigated." The alleged incident took place on the intervening night of July 17 and 18 when Prakash was not at his home as he was busy with the preparations for TalktoAK programme of Kejriwal at the Delhi Secretariat. "This is a very serious issue as brief notes of the media advisor to CM and Deputy CM were stolen from his house. No valuable items were missing from the house which indicates foul play. It is a deliberate attempt. Prepared notes of the meetings of CM and Deputy CM over last one year have been stolen," Sisodia told reporters here. He said he has written to Police Commissioner and asked him to investigate the case from all angles. Prakash said when he reached his house in the morning of July 18 it was found ransacked. "All valuable items including laptop, mobile, music system were in place. However, my important notes from the meeting of CM, Deputy CM and others were found missing. A forensic team inspected the house and picked up some finger prints from scene," he said.

Rahul to face trial in RSS case if he doesn't show regret: SC

The Supreme Court today today made it clear to Rahul Gandhi that he will have to face trial in a defamation case if he does not express regret over his statement blaming RRS for Mahatma Gandhi's assassination but the Congress remained unfazed ruling out such a possibility. Without taking the name of RSS, the apex court also observed that Rahul should not have made a collective denunciation of an organisation. While the Congress party asserted that Rahul would not apologise for the remarks, the RSS accused the Congress of maligning it and consistently spreading lies about it. "We have held it may be historically correct but the fact or the statement has to meet the test of public good. You can't make collective denunciation," a bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and R F Nariman said, posting the matter for further hearing on July 27. The bench was hearing an appeal filed by Rahul seeking quashing of a criminal defamation case ordered by a magisterial court in Bhiwandi in Maharashtra for a public speech in which he had linked the RSS to Gandhiji's killing. "Freedom is not crippled or curbed. What is curbed is defamatory speech. What the writers, politicians, critics or antagonists say, you must have great magnitude to swallow," it said. Wondering why he made a speech quoting "wrong historical fact", the court observed, "What we have to see is whether the petitioner's allegations come under Section 499 (defamation) of IPC or not. Judgement is already there. You have to face trial, if you don't express regret." Rahul had moved the Supreme Court in May last year seeking quashing of the criminal defamation case lodged against him for his comments. The case is pending before a magisterial court in Bhiwandi in Maharashtra's Thane district. The apex court had granted interim stay on the proceedings of the case before the magisterial court. Rahul had earlier also refused to accept the apex court's suggestion to express regret over his statement blaming RSS for Mahatma Gandhi's killing to close the defamation case against him but he decided to contest it. Reacting to the court's observations, the Congress today said that Gandhi will not tender an apology and will instead substantiate them with historical facts and evidence before the court to support his claim. "On a suggestion of Shri Rahul Gandhi expressing regret or apology, the question does not arise. Such a suggestion has been made in the past and not accepted by Rahul Gandhi. "Mr Gandhi is a mature politician with intimate knowledge of historical facts. Congress Party and Mr Gandhi will defend these remarks at appropriate forum," Congress' chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala said. He said since the matter is pending adjudication, "we will not like to comment further on the issue". In his reaction, RSS' Communications Deprtment Head Manmohan Vaidya said the "Congress had been consistently trying to spread lies and baseless allegations about RSS. Today's Supreme Court ruling has exposed the Congress." "They (Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders) are avoiding the trial and are repeating the same false allegations against RSS. It seems he does not have faith in India's legal system and respect for it," he told PTI.

Some TV channels "whip up passion", trivialise debate: RS MPs

Some TV channels today came under attack from political leaders in Rajya Sabha, who charged them with whipping up passions, trivialising the debate on Kashmir unrest and dividing the opinion of viewers on communal lines. Speaking on a short-duration discussion on the situation in Kashmir, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said though he was a staunch supporter of press freedom, some recent discussions on television channels have come as a threat to the unity of the nation. He expressed disappointment with the kind of television coverage of the news pertaining to the Kashmir situation. "Some prime-time shows have also attempted to divide the nation on communal lines," he said, adding that rather than being rational and reflecting sanity, these shows have only fanned passions. "They place four Hindu and four Muslim fundamentalists on their panel, who would fight each other and inflame passions among the people on communal lines," Azad said and singled out foreign authors like Tarek Fatah and Taslima Nasreen for vitiating the atmosphere. Making it clear that he was not blaming the newspapers who, he said, generally maintained a balance in reporting, Azad said certain channels have lowered the level of debate in the country. "It is a great achievement that Hindus and Muslims of this nation are still united, despite the daily dose of communalism injected by these prime-time news shows," he said. JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav also said the government has failed to restrain the electronic media which continuously showed statements from separatists and, at times, "mad persons" from abroad who compromised the dignity of the nation. "Why is this drama allowed? ...Can't we tell the media to stop showing the propaganda of people supporting Islamic State in India," a visibly upset Yadav asked.

I don't think I will do films: Sania Mirza

Ace tennis player Sania Mirza says she is confident that she can act in films, but she has no intention to enter Bollywood. There has been a lot of speculation regarding a possible biopic on the life of the women's doubles world number one player since a long time. When asked if she can do films in future, Sania told PTI, "I am sure I can, I know that for a long time. But no, I don't think I am going to be doing that." Sania's autobiography 'Ace Against Odds' was launched by Bollywood superstar Salman Khan here last night. The 29-year-old tennis player refuted reports that filmmaker Farah Khan is planning to make a movie on her. When asked about this, Sania told reporters, "No, nothing like that. Farah is one of my closest friends, people have assumed she is making a film on me because they see us hanging out all the time. "But I think we have had one serious discussion about it ever in our lives and we will see if it is Farah or anybody else, if the biopic has to happen it will happen or not. Right now there is nothing for sure," she said. Sania, however, said she suggested a few names, including that of Parineeti Chopra and Deepika Padukone, to portray her life on the big screen. "I actually suggested a few names, I said Parineeti, Deepika, Anushka, there are so many young and brave actresses we have today that many of them can do it. I will be honoured if anyone of them could do it. People will assume Parineeti more as me because we are such good friends." While her autobiography was launched by the "Dabangg" star in Mumbai, superstar Shah Rukh Khan and Parineeti unveiled the book in Hyderabad and Delhi, respectively. When asked if it would have been better had a sports person released the book, Sania said, "Who knows, may be it would have been, but I am very close friends with them." For me they didn't come as Bollywood stars, they came for me as my friends. I would have loved to have had any other athlete, but the Indian team is right now busy playing at the Caribbean," she said.

Punjagutta road mishap: toll rises to 3

The grandfather of a 10-year-old girl, who died after a car driven allegedly by a drunk person hit their vehicle, today succumbed to his injuries, police said. P Madhusudan Chary (70), a retired government employee, who was among the five family members travelling in the car, had suffered multiple fractures in the accident in Punjagutta here on July 1 and was undergoing treatment at a private hospital. He died at around 5.30 AM, Banjara Hills Police Station Inspector K Srinivas said. His granddaughter P Ramya, a Class IV student, who had slipped into coma after she sustained injuries in the crash, breathed her last on July 9. Rajesh, brother of Ramya's father, had died on the spot on July 1 when an oncoming car driven by Shraveel, a 20-year-old engineering student, hit a road divider and flung into air before falling on his four-wheeler, police earlier said. "While three members of the family died in the incident, two others survived with injuries," Srinivas said. The accused was later arrested and booked on charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder under relevant sections of IPC. He is currently in judicial custody. Meanwhile, the distraught family members of Ramya held a protest at the hospital demanding stringent action against Shraveel and other five students who were in the car, saying "it is not only Shraveel who is responsible for this incident but other occupants of the car also as they were all drunk". "Though, college management has said that the six engineering students have been suspended, but we demand that they should be immediately debarred. We lost three members of our family...we want justice. None of them should be given driving licence in their lifetime," a family member demanded. Though Ramya sat on the rear seat, she suffered multiple wounds in the accident. Telangana Minister for Animal Husbandry and Cinematography T Srinivas Yadav said he will speak to Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and discuss with him the matter to bear all the medical expenses of the family members of Ramya, who died in the mishap. The family members of the girl have demanded that the state government to provide a job to one of their family members.

NIA charge sheets chief recruiter for ISIS in India

NIA today filed a charge sheet against the chief recruiter for the banned ISIS terror group in India Shafi Armar alias Yusuf-Al-Hindi and three others for allegedly being involved in various terror activities in the country. The NIA filed the charge sheet against Armar, Rizwan Ahmed, Mohsin Ibrahim Sayyed and Ayaz Mohammed before a special court here under various sections of Indian Penal Code and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. While Armar and Mohammed are absconding, the two others are in judicial custody. The NIA said it found during the probe that Armar and his three accomplices hatched a conspiracy between July and December 2015 to "influence, instigate, motivate and radicalise the young vulnerable Muslim youth from Malwani area of Malad, Mumbai, to join the ISIS." All the four had used numerous social networking platforms for waging jihad by violent means to attract the attention of like-minded persons and motivate vulnerable youngsters to indulge in terror activities for the banned international terrorist organisation, ISIS, with an intent to threaten the integrity of the nation. According to the NIA, Ayaz Mohammed went to Iraq via Afghanistan and joined the ISIS. He was in contact with Mohsin Ibrahim Sayyed and a few other youths from Malwani, whom he tried to radicalise and motivate to join the ISIS. Sayyed tried to spread his network and motivated youths to participate in the activities of the ISIS in India, and for this purpose, he was in close contact with Rizwan 'Nayab Ameer' of the organisation which was affiliated to the ISIS. Rizwan Ahmed, who was also a member of SIMI, Jundul Khilafa Al Hind (JKH), Indian Mujahideen and Ansar-Ut-Tauheed (AUT), had made elaborate preparations and went to Chennai for collecting money for Jihad. NIA said they prepared fake identity cards and used assumed names to conceal their identities. They extensively used different social media platforms like Facebook, Trillian, WeChat, Whatsapp, Surespot and Telegram, to communicate among themselves, besides exchanging e-mails. The NIA said there was evidence to establish that Armar was the on-line handler in this conspiracy and was involved in motivating and radicalising the "vulnerable" Muslim youths all over the country. A resident of Bhatkal in Karnataka, Armar was believed to have been killed in a US drone attack in March this year but the news proved wrong after he started getting in touch with youths again in May this year.

RBI to make funds transfer via smartphones easier

RBI today said it will become easier in coming weeks for people to transfer funds between bank accounts through their smartphones. Speaking at the IDRBT Banking Technology Excellence Awards function, RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan also made a case for tax benefits to merchants for promoting digital transactions. Leveraging the high mobile density, mobile banking services are being encouraged through inter-operable USSD channel like *99# and the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). "I am especially enthused by UPI, as smartphones become more widely available. Transfers from bank account to bank account will become easier in a few weeks via smartphone through the Unified Payment Interface," the Governor said. Elaborating, Rajan said a villager needing to pay a shopkeeper only needs to know the latter's alias say Ram@xyzbank.psp to transfer funds. "Neither needs to visit the bank to take out or deposit money, no point of sale machine is needed. With the price of smartphones falling sharply, we are on the verge of solving the last-mile problem," he said. The Governor said that despite the huge potential, activation rates and usage levels of electronic payment services remain at low levels though growth is picking up. "No doubt, the fear of taxation as payments move from cash to electronic plays a part in dampening activity. As information technology brings down the possible space to avoid or evade tax, and as the benefits... I have no doubt that merchants will push more for electronic payments," he said. "Some tax benefits to those merchants who show increases in digital transactions, and perhaps innovative ways to encourage customer participation, may be beneficial." Rajan also stressed on the importance of systems that offer security of transactions even to the unsophisticated user and do not place a huge burden of care on them. "There is no point creating security for the ideal customer, instead the system should incorporate the possibility of mistakes by the actual customer that we have," the Governor said. .

A debate on Turkey coup attempt

MIM's registration in Maharashtra can be restored

The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Musalmeen can still restore its registration with the State Election Commission of Maharashtra (SECM) by submitting the documents of its audited accounts and Income Tax returns, even as the Hyderabad-based party has decided to file its appeal with the poll watchdog against its de-registration in state. "There is no provision in the existing law that can deregister a political party permanently if it fails to annually submit its documents. If such political party tomorrow submits the documents then the SECM has to register the political party," an SECM official said today. The state EC last Wednesday de-registered the Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM along with 190 smaller outfits for failure to submit Income Tax returns and audited accounts, barring it from contesting a string of civic polls including the Mumbai city corporation. When contacted, AIMIM MLA and lawyer Waris Pathan today said, "the party leadership will decide on the future course of action (on deregistration). The party will file its appeal with the SECM. We hope SECM will consider our appeal". Welcoming the SECM's observation about the possible restoration of the party's registration, Pathan said the party will meet and decide on its future course of action. Meanwhile, the SECM official said they had "referred the entire list of 326 unregistered political parties to the Income Tax department for scrutiny to find out how many of them have filed their IT returns, as SECM was faced with a problem of many political parties not complying with the law that mandates submitting the documents annually". The SECM had sent notices to 326 unregistered political parties in stages. However, 191 of them failed to submit any papers, forcing the SECM to take the decision to deregister them. Clarifying the procedure, the official said the registered political parties are allocated election symbols based on their recognition as national, state or unrecognised registered political parties. He said there are separate civic election laws for municipal corporations, municipal councils, zilla parishads, nagar panchayats and gram panchayats. "Unlike the Election Commission of India (ECI), the SECM has to deal with registered political fronts or 'aghadis' which are formed before the elections. Many times such aghadis and fronts are dissolved after the elections are over," he said.

T'gana forest dept to plant one crore saplings tomorrow

As part of a state-wide 'Haritha Haram' tree plantation programme, Telangana Forest department has chalked out a plan to plant one crore saplings in a single day across all districts of Telangana tomorrow. Forest Minister Jogu Ramanna and another Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao will launch the programme in Khammam district of Telangana and the saplings will be planted in forests and reserve forest areas in districts across the state for which all arrangements have been made, an official release said. A state-level officer has been appointed as in-charge for each district in this regard. In Adilabad district- 24 lakh sapling will be planted followed by Khammam- 12.5 lakh, Warangal- 12 lakh, Nizamabad- 11 lakh, Karimnagar- 11 lakh, Medak- 10 lakh, Mahabubnagar- 5.9 lakh, Nalgonda- 8 lakh and Ranga Reddy district- 5.6 lakh. Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao had earlier launched the two-week-long 'Haritha Haram' programme in Nalgonda district. It aims at planting 46 crore saplings across Telangana this monsoon. Flowering yielding and shade providing trees are proposed to be planted as part of the programme.

Unable to bear treatment costs, couple seeks mercy killing of their daughter

Unable to bear treatment costs of their 11-year-old daughter, who is suffering from a liver ailment, a couple in Telangana today approached the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) seeking permission for her mercy killing. An application was filed by the girl's parents N Ramchandra and Shyamala, who went to the SHRC here along with their daughter and stated that they are unable to meet the medical expenditure of Rs 21 lakh required for treatment of the ailment. The couple, residents of Jagathgirigutta here, sought some (financial) relief or they be permitted for mercy killing of their daughter. After going through the petition, the SHRC directed the couple to approach the state government. The commission also recommended to the Telangana government to provide some relief to the girl.

Asad Owaisi faces court plaint on legal aid for IS suspects remark

A complaint was today filed in a local court against MIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi over his statement that he would provide legal aid to five city-based persons arrested by NIA for being part of an alleged terror module linked to dreaded Islamic State (IS) group. K Karuna Sagar, a practising advocate, filed the private complaint in the court of Metropolitan Magistrate seeking direction to the police to register a case under IPC Section 124A (sedition) against the Lok Sabha MP from Hyderabad. Sagar had on July 3 lodged a complaint with Saroor Nagar Police here and sought registration of sedition case against the 47-year-old politician, who has had run-ins with law in the past over his "hate" speeches. Saroor Nagar Police did not register the case and sought legal advise on the issue. In the complaint, Sagar alleged "the stand of Asaduddin Owaisi and his remarks are boosting the morale of anti- nationals and giving oxygen to terrorists. "Owaisi is directly or indirectly helping the ISIS (also called IS) which had come up with a video in which it threatened to target India." He further said "the revelations of the arrested accused to carry out terror attacks on police stations, religious places, prominent persons from right wing organisations is shocking." The conspiracy has been foiled, but Owaisi's talk of providing legal aid the five IS suspects arrested by the NIA amounts to treason, the advocate said.

B'desh bans Zakir Naik's Peace mobile phones

Bangladesh has banned controversial Indian Islamic preacher Zakir Nayek's Peace mobile phone, days after blocking his Peace TV from airwaves and online, according to a media report today. "These phones cannot be allowed anymore because there is a clear instruction from the government to stop all kinds of publicity of Zakir Nayek," telecoms regulator BTRC Chairman Shahjahan Mahmood was quoted as saying by Bdnews24. Beximco Group imports Nayek's Peace mobile. Marketed as "Islamic mobile handsets", the website of the brand says that the phone comes loaded with options to access Nayek's Peace TV sermons in English, Hindi and Urdu. They also come packed with Islamic wallpapers, access to the Quran and reminders about prayer timings etc. The website also mentions the name of Beximo Group as the sole Bangladesh importer and the address of the group office in Dhaka. A senior BTRC official said Beximco had imported about 500 mobile phones in 2014 but none since then, although it had applied for the renewal of the permit. Another importer, Noha Enterprise, was also known to import the mobile phones. However, they flaunt a different logo. According to the rules, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (BTRC) permission is mandatory before a mobile handset brand is allowed to operate in Bangladesh. The BTRC was yet to be furnished with samples of the set before the International Mobile Equipment number was allotted and the decks cleared to allow spectrum access.

Zakir Naik again cancels interaction with media

Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, facing heat over allegation of inspiring some of the Dhaka attackers through his speeches, has cancelled his press briefing again, citing pressure from authorities of the venue where he was slated to interact with the media via Skype. He was slated to interact with media via Skype today, for which arrangements had been made at a small hall in South Mumbai. "The management of the Mehfil hall in Agripada, around 11 PM last night, told our team present at the venue that they cannot allow the press conference to take place and that we should dismantle and pack up all the venue arrangements we had made. Given no choice, our teams dismantled everything and left by around midnight," an aide of Naik said in a statement issued here. Naik's media interaction was first scheduled earlier this week at Trident Hotel in South Mumbai, but the venue was subsequently changed to World Trade Centre. Later, the venue was again changed and a hall in the congested Agripada area of South Mumbai was chosen for the press briefing, which has also been cancelled now. The organisers of Naik's press briefing had yesterday claimed that Mumbai Police has instructed top hotels in the city to refrain from providing space to hold a conference, a charge which they later retracted. Facing heat over allegation of inspiring some of the Dhaka attackers through his speeches and under scanner of the state and the central agencies, Naik was expected to clarify his position during the media interaction. There were media reports that "provocative" speeches had inspired some of the terrorists who carried out Bangladesh's worst terror attack at a cafe in Dhaka that left 22 dead. A top Home department official in Maharashtra had earlier said that a report on Naik would be submitted to the state government, before the commencement of Monsoon session of the state Legislature, which starts on July 18. "Contrary to media reports, Zakir Naik has not been given any clean chit by the Mumbai Police. All angles are being probed and a report will be submitted to the government before the Monsoon session of the state Legislature," a senior government official had told PTI, requesting anonymity.

Film on Sania Mirza will be very inspiring: Shah Rukh

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan feels any movie made on tennis star Sania Mirza will be inspiring and he may like to produce it. "Whenever there is a movie made on Sania, I think it will be very inspiring and it will be fantastic," Khan told reporters here last evening after formally launching Sania's autobiography, titled 'Ace Against Odds'. "And I don't know... ask her if she will let me play her love interest. But, I will produce it for sure," he said in a lighter vein. Shah Rukh also expressed hope that Indian sports films will soon be able to make a mark on international platform. "Someway down the line when sportswomen and sportsmen films are made we feel extremely patriotic also from whichever part of the world they are made. When it's an Indian sportsperson you will feel for the country," he noted. "We have a country somehow perhaps apart from a few sports, we have never made a mark internationally. Inshah Allah...that will happen very soon...as things are progressing," Khan said. He said Sania's book will be quite inspirational. "I think the book like this will obviously inspire a lot of us. Nothing can come in the way and there can be no obstacles when you have determination. I genuinely believe this. I have always followed her (Sania's) career and she has brought so much freshness and so much beauty to all the sports lovers like me," the 50-year-old actor said. Appreciating Sania's grit, determination and love for the sport to rise to the top ranking in doubles game despite her injury, he said, "She (Sania) had an injury and she could not continue with the singles career but she twisted it around and she became the No.1 in doubles. "All this stuff means she is not giving up the love for sports...and that connects me to great sportsperson like Sania and every time Sania loses somewhere...she represents our country...I think all of us lose a little bit," Khan said. "We all will take away something fantastic from this book...we all will have some learning lesson. Her experiences are very vital and to understand how you fight against things which are going against you," he said, adding that she's just truly absolutely inspiring and there should also be a part-two of this book.

Uniform civil code: Cong for public hearing, all party meet

The Congress has favoured a public hearing on uniform civil code, followed by an all party meeting to discuss its draft, and has said that consensus is the only way forward on the issue. Senior party leader and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh said it's not easy to implement uniform civil code in a multi-ethnic and multi-religion country like India. "There are ethnic tribes, different religions, different castes, communities. Even among Hindus, there are different forms of marriages, different forms of burials (of performing last rites) also. So, it's not easy," the AICC General Secretary told PTI. "The Government of India has asked the Law Commission to look into this. So, the Law Commission should discuss with all groups, in a public hearing and let the Law Commission come out with a common draft. Then a meeting of all political parties should be called. Common civil code can only be brought by consensus, not division," Singh said. The Department of Legal Affairs had last month asked the Law Commission, a recommendatory body, to submit a report on the issue of a common code that has always been dear to BJP and the Sangh Parivar. The move assumes significance as the Supreme Court had recently said it would prefer a wider public debate before taking a decision on the constitutional validity of triple talaq, which many complain is abused by Muslim men to arbitrarily divorce their wives.

Hyderabad police catch 267 minor drivers; counsel parents

Hyderabad Traffic Police (HTP) has caught as many as 267 minors on charge of driving vehicles without valid license and started a counselling session for parents and guardians of such under-age drivers. "Yesterday, a special drive was conducted in the city against minors driving without valid driving license. 267 cases have been booked and this is highest number in recent times. Today, we conducted counselling session for the parents of those who were caught during the special drive," Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Jitender told reporters. There is a need on creating awareness in this regard, he said, adding the session will continue for next three-days. "Every year thousands of such cases are booked. special drives will continue in future also for safety of citizens and to enable to bring down number of road accidents as precious lives are lost in such accidents," the top Traffic cop said. Every commuter driving different types of vehicles should be responsible and pedestrians also need to be responsible, he added. During the sessions, parents/guardians will be informed that under-age driving without driving licenses is violation of MV Act and owners of vehicles (driven by minors) will be liable for such acts, the officer said.

ATS arrests man for planning to join IS

A 31-year-old man was arrested today by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) for allegedly trying to join terror group Islamic State (IS) with the help of his online contact based in Syria. The accused, whose name has been withheld by the agency, is a resident of Parbhani in Marathwada region of Maharashtra. As per the press release issued by ATS, the man had been in touch with a person named Farukh, a resident of Syria and an alleged member of the Islamic State, through social networking sites. The accused had created several IDs to remain in touch with Farukh, it said. "The accused was planning to leave for Iraq and Syria to join IS," the release added. He has been booked under relevant sections of IPC and Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), it added. Earlier, the link of terror to Marathwada region came to fore as the suspected LeT handler of 26/11 Mumbai attacks Abu Jundal, currently facing trial, hails from the region. In May 2014, four youths from Kalyan near Mumbai, namely Shaheen Tanki, Fahad Shaikh, Aman Tandel and Arif Majeed had left the country to visit holy places in the West Asia, but they disappeared thereafter and since then were suspected to have joined IS. Majeed was later arrested by NIA in November 2014 and brought back to Mumbai. In December last year, four youths had disappeared from Malwani area--a western suburb of Mumbai--reportedly to join the IS. While two youths, Noor Mohammed and Wajid Sheikh, returned to their homes, the whereabouts of Mohsin Sayyed and Ayaz Sultan are not known.

Maharashtra State Election Commission bars AIMIM from contesting local polls

In a jolt to AIMIM, Maharashtra State Election Commission today barred it from contesting local body elections along with 190 smaller outfits for failure to submit Income Tax returns and audited accounts, ahead of a string of civic polls including the Mumbai city corporation. Known for its controversial stance on a host of issues including the allegations against Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, the SEC's decision came when AIMIM is gearing up to put up a good showing in the Greater Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation polls, due early next year. The parties which lost their registration also include RPI-Khobragade faction, led by Uttam Khobragade and UP-based Peace Party. The decision to withdraw registration of 191 outfits was announced by State Election Commissioner J S Saharia. So far, 359 political parties have been registered with the Commission out of which 17 are recognised parties, he said. Notices were served to 326 parties for failure to submit necessary documents, Saharia said. Despite sending reminders to them and extending the deadline on request of some of them, they had failed to submit required documents, he said. "If the parties want to contest elections in Maharashtra, they have to register," Saharia said. For long a Hyderabad-based party, AIMIM expanded its influence to Maharashtra in 2014 Assembly polls by winning two seats, one in Mumbai and another in Aurangabad. Reacting to the SEC decision, AIMIM MLA Waris Pathan said his party would contest the order. "We received a notice from the SEC four months ago and we had clearly replied to it. Yet, they deregistered us. We will appeal against the decision to the higher authority," Pathan, who represents Byculla Assembly seat in the state Assembly, said. A press release issued by the party's group leader in Maharashtra Assembly and Aurangabad MLA Imtiaz Jaleel said on receiving the SEC notice a party team from Hyderabad had gone to the Commission office in Mumbai and completed all the formalities as required by it including submission of IT returns. The moment we get the SEC order we will go in appeal against it, he said. AIMIM respects the independent nature of the Election Commission and fully honour their decision to bring transparency in the election process. For AIMIM the upcoming local body elections are very crucial and the party will contest with full force, the release said.

48 children working as labourers rescued from factory in old city

Forty-eight teenagers, including 31 girls and 17 boys, working as labourers at a sweet making unit in Mailaradevapally area here, were rescued in a joint operation by State Commission for Protection of Child Rights and CID, officials said today. Acting on a tip-off that the minors were employed as child labourers, searches were conducted in the factory yesterday and 48 children, in the age group of 15-18, were rescued, CID Inspector Chandra Mohan told PTI. The children were later sent to rescue homes. Mailaradevapally Police registered a case under relevant sections of IPC and Juvenile Justice Act against the factory owner, who had employed the minors, he said. The children were working in "hazardous condition," he further said. "We along with different organisations conducted searches at the factory and found that children were doing labour work," the CID Inspector said. The 31 girls and 17 boys rescued from the factory are from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and some local areas of the city, he added.

Muslims getting divided on Zakir Naik issue: Abid Rasool Khan

The Zakir Naik issue has sparked a debate among Muslims, creating a "vertical division" in the community on whether his preachings are right or wrong, and this "unwarranted" development may lead to law and problems, says Abid Rasool Khan, Chairman of State Minorities Commission, serving Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. He said the Muslim community today has two views on Naik, with half of them saying his preachings are right and the rest contending he is wrong. The controversial Islamic preacher, whose speeches allegedly inspired some of the militants involved in the Dhaka carnage, is currently facing multiple probes. Apart from coming under scanner in India, Bangladesh has also banned the broadcast of Naik's Peace TV, cracking down on the channel and radical sermons by the 'televangelist'. Shiv Sena had also demanded arrest of Naik on his landing in India and dismantling of his TV network. "So, why this debate? Why should the community debate for a single man? It is unwarranted. It would create more rift and sort of legal and law and order problems seen in other countries like Iraq, Iran...everywhere we are seeing because of division in the community. We want to pre-empt this and the responsibility of pre-empting is Government of India's," Khan told PTI here. The central government, through its agencies, should analyse his speeches on a war-footing, and book him according to law if he has stated anything against national interest or against the law and order or encouraging youth to take up arms against the country or anybody, he said. "But if he has not stated anything which is against law, then witch-hunting a person is not right. If Zakir Naik is preaching hatred, action should be taken against him. But if he is preaching peace and somebody wants to create hatred then those guys should be booked and not the preacher," he said. "Now the situation is such that this person is dividing the community, vertically. By this thing, the community itself is getting divided which is very unwanted and it should not have been done. Government should act promptly and analyse the speeches and take action, and if nothing is found, they should say nothing on record (no evidence) so that this issue is closed," he further said.

Islamophobic content in California school books

A group of 15 top American Muslim organisations has alleged that a California board responsible for developing school textbooks is injecting "Islamophobic content" in the new curriculum. "The injection of Islamophobic content into the teacher's manuals would inflame how student discussions are framed. Students, teachers, and communities all suffer when the content is rigged to cause disruption," the top Muslim American group said in a letter to California State Board of Education which is in final stages of revising and updating the K-12 History-Social Science Framework for public schools. "The bombardment of prejudicial ideas, from media outlets to candidates in the Presidential election primaries has left no one immune. Even the educators our children look up to are impacted by the hateful discourse," the letter told the California Board which is considered to be very influential as its textbooks are followed and adopted in several US states. In the letter, the organisations alleged that contrary to the treatment given to other religions, Islam has been introduced in the curriculum primarily under a narrative of war and conquest. Prominent among them include the Islamic Society of North America (National), Islamic Circle of North America, Northern California Islamic Council (NCIC), Islamic Shura Council of Southern California and Indian American Muslim Council. "The curriculum text in its current form is prejudiced in its references to alleged forced conversions of non-Muslims to Islam, often when no such forced conversions are even reported in historical sources," the letter said. "Likewise, the curriculum text completely obliterates the role played by United States' foreign policy in funding extremist religious Muslim groups to achieve short term political objectives and advances the idea that religious extremism is to be found only among Muslims, placing the blame squarely on 'Radical Islam'," it said. The letter alleged that only Islam is singled out when it comes to the study of religious nationalism even though Joseph Kony's Lord's Resistance Army has killed tens of thousands of people in Africa in the name of Christian nationalism. "Despite India being the second most populous country in the world, the dramatic rise of Hindu nationalism in that country and its violent consequences to religious minorities have been reduced to a passing reference in the curriculum under the religious nationalism section," it alleged. "It is disconcerting to see hundreds of edits submitted by groups and individuals that insert more Islamophobia into the already problematic California school curriculum," the letter said.

Media trial of Dr Zakir Naik should end: MIM MLA

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) today condemned the "media trial" of controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik. AIMIM MLA from Aurangabad Imtiaz Jaleel, in a statement said that his party respects and follows the rule of the land and feels nobody could be pronounced guilty unless the court gives its judgement by following the due process of law. "By hounding Zakir Naik, the media, particularly some national television channels, have already pronounced their judgement even when a formal case is yet to be registered against him. On mere hearsay, the media cannot pronounce anybody as supporter of terrorism. "This media trial of Naik should end. If any individual, whosoever it may be, breaks the rule of the land, the law should take its own course. If there is concrete proof of violation of any law by anyone, strict action shall be initiated," he said. The AIMIM MLA said that the right to practice religion and the right to free expression are fundamental rights of every Indian as enshrined in the Constitution. "This means any individual can practice, profess and propagate his religion without hurting the religious beliefs and sentiments of other religions," he said. "Ever since the BJP came to power at the Centre and in Maharashtra, the general trend is that the investigating agencies charge someone with wrongdoing and the media pronounces the accused as guilty even before the court delivers its judgement. This poses a grave threat to the social fabric and democratic set up of the country and could prove to be detrimental to communal harmony," the MLA said. Terming Naik as a "well-known specialist" who has been delivering lectures on comparative studies of different religions, Jaleel said, "he commands a following among Muslims but there are many others in the community who do not concur with his views." He said all Muslim leaders and ulemas in India have consistently condemned the ISIS from the very beginning and maintained that ISIS is a threat to mankind. "AIMIM strongly condemns the ISIS of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and al-Qaeda of Osama Bin Laden. Both are evil outfits. These terrorist groups have been the cause of the killings of countless Muslims and non-Muslims," the MLA said. SP Maharashtra unit chief Abu Azmi had earlier come in support of Naik and sought to know why action was not taken for last 25 years if his speeches are inspiring terrorists, and called for a fair inquiry into the charges against him. However, Shiv Sena had demanded his arrest and dismantling of his TV network.

Govt probes funding of NGO run by Zakir Naik

A preliminary probe into the foreign funding of the NGO run by controversial preacher Zakir Naik has found most of it came from the UK, Saudi Arabia and some Mideast countries and it allegedly received about Rs 15 crore during a five-year period preceding 2012. As the probe by Union Home Ministry amid allegations that the funds were used by Islamic Research Foundation for political activities and inspiring people towards radical views was underway, some Muslim academics and religious scholars today asked it to "tread cautiously" on any action against Naik. Separately, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) condemned what it called the "media trial" of Naik. The televangelist, whose speeches allegedly inspired some of the Dhaka attackers, is currently facing multiple probes. A senior Home Ministry official said in New Delhi that an investigation was underway on IRF, which was registered under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), and it was found that most of his foreign funds came from the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia and a few other Middle East countries. IRF has allegedly received about Rs 15 crore for a period of five years, preceding 2012, the official said. The Home Ministry probe covers the allegations that foreign funding to IRF was used for political activities and that the NGO's funds were used to induce people towards Islam and "attracting" youths towards terror, the official said. All such activities are contrary to the FCRA provisions and any violation invites punitive action. IRF's source of foreign funding are being examined thoroughly by the Home Ministry, the official said, adding its ccounts are being checked to find for what purpose the funds were sent from abroad and for what purpose the funds were utilised. "While all sections of the society have to take a united stand against anything which remotely promotes extremism, the ongoing attempts to single out Zakir Naik even before any investigation has been conducted doesn t bode well", Spokesperson of Nadwatul Uloom, Lucknow Maulana Syed Hamza Nadwi said in Aligarh. "We differ with them on some matters, but we are yet to find evidence of any hate content in their teachings," he said. General Secretary of the Paghamey Insaniyat Committee Maulana Syed Bilal Hasni said that any attempt to "single" out Naik without proper investigations is not "correct" and government should "tread cautiously" on the issue. AIMIM MLA from Aurangabad Imtiaz Jaleel, in a statement, said that his party respects and follows the rule of the land and feels nobody could be pronounced guilty unless the court gives its judgement by following the due process of law.

Shah Rukh Khan to unveil Sania's autobiography

Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan is all set to formally launch the autobiography of star tennis player Sania Mirza titled 'Ace Against Odds', here tomorrow. The book which was originally launched a week ago has all the important events and her achievements, Imran Mirza, father of Sania Mirza said. "It is her own idea to pen the book and it took almost five years to compile," Imran Mirza, who too has contributed to the book, told PTI. "It is her book and her views and covers till this point of her life. It also touches on all the controversies of her life...everything has been covered...on her life including her career," he further said. Published by Harper Collins, 'Ace Against Odds' will soon be launched in other cities also, including Mumbai, where Salman Khan is expected to unveil the book. "The story, with 40 chapters starts from the time when she was four or five years old till date ," the father said.

NIA nabs 2 alleged members of Hyderabad terror module

The NIA today arrested the chief of the terror module busted here last month and also the man who radicalised its members as the Central agency's probe into the cell suspected to be linked to the dreaded militant group Islamic State(IS) gained momentum. With this, seven men linked to the module have been nabbed till now. The anti-terror agency earlier apprehended five other members, which it claimed, were conspiring to commit terrorist acts in various parts of the country. The duo held today was identified by the National Investigation Agency(NIA) as Naimathullah Hussaini alias Yasir alias Abu Darda (42) and Mohammed Ataullah Rehman, both residents of Hyderabad. The NIA claimed that Rehman played a key role in plotting terror strikes and that he was also involved in radicalising the group members and administered `Bay h' - oath of allegiance - to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the IS chief. Rehman participated in several conspiracy meetings as revealed during interrogation of other co-accused arrested in the case, it said. Yasir was appointed the "amir" (chief) of the module and was its main fund raiser. He also participated in key conspiracy meetings, the agency said. The duo was produced before Metropolitan Sessions Judge K Rajkumar who remanded them in eight-day NIA custody. The five other members of the module - Mohammed Ibrahim Yazdani alias Ibbu, Habeeb Mohammed alias Sir, Mohammed Ilyas Yazdani, Abdullah Bin Ahmed Al Amoodi and Muzaffar Hussain Rizwan -- were arrested last month after a series of searches conducted at 10 locations at the old city here. On July 1, they were sent to police custody for 12 days and all of them were today produced before the Court after completion of their custody period. As part of investigations into the case, NIA sought further custody of Mohammed Ibrahim and Mohammed Ilyas. The Court allowed the plea and sent them in eight-day custody of the Central agency. The remaining three IS suspects - Habeeb Mohammed, Abdullah al-Amoodi and Muzaffar Rizwan - were sent to judicial custody.

BJYM files police complaint, demands arrest of Umar Khalid

BJP youth wing BJYM today filed a complaint with police demanding arrest of JNU student Umar Khalid under sedition charges for allegedly posting anti-national comments on social media and "spewing hatred" against Indian Armed Forces. The complaint was filed by Bhartiya Janta Yuva Morcha (BJYM) national media coordinator Shivam Chhabra and Parekhseet Dagar at the DCP (South) office. "Umar Khalid is 'constantly flooding' the social media platforms with 'anti-national' comments. He is constantly posting derogatory comments against the Indian government on the killing of terrorist and Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani," alleged the complainants. They also accused the JNU student of trying to "incite" feelings of "hatred and contempt" of the public against the Armed Forces and "indirectly" against the government of India, demanding his arrest under charges of sedition (Section 124 A of IPC). He should be also charged for promoting enmity between different groups and for doing acts against maintenance of harmony, they said in the complaint. "We have received the complaint and are looking into it," said a senior police officer. Umar had courted controversy for being one of the organisers of the controversial event in JNU against hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru during which anti- national slogans were allegedly raised. He was later arrested in this connection under charge of sedition. Out on bail, he kicked off another controversy by comparing Wani with a revolutionary. Umar could not be reached for his comments despite several attempts. Meanwhile, several students and social organisations have decided to hold a protest demonstration at Jantar Mantar tomorrow demanding immediate end to violence in Kashmir.

Man accused of murdering his African wife in police custody

A Hyderabad court today remanded a man, accused of murdering his Congolese wife, in three-day police custody, and allowed the police to take DNA sample of the couple's daughter to establish the victim's identity. The metropolitan magistrate's court allowed the application filed by the Central Crime Station of the Cyberabad police for the custody of Rupesh Kumar Mohanani. Mohanani (36) was arrested on July 5 for allegedly strangling his wife Cynthia Vechel, who worked as a club dancer, and burning her body after pouring petrol on it. Police had sought permission for DNA test as the body was charred beyond recognition. "The DNA sample of the girl will help establish identity of the deceased," Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police B Sreenivasa Reddy told PTI. On July 7, officials from the Embassy of Congo had met senior police officials and demanded that Cynthia's remains be handed over to them so that they can be sent to her family in Congo. They also sought the custody of Cynthia's daughter, who is currently in the care of Child Welfare Committee of Ranga Reddy district. Mohanani married Cynthia in Congo in 2008 and the couple lived there till 2012 before shifting to India. The couple, which lived in Gachibowli area here, fought frequently over financial issues and Mohanani also suspected her fidelity, police said. According to DCP Sunpreet Singh, the two fought in the wee hours of July 3, following which Mohanani strangled her. To destroy the evidence he cut the body into pieces, stuffed them into a bag and burnt them at Madanpally, on the outskirts of the city. But some locals saw the burning body and caught him.

Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Minister of State, assigned the Independent charge of the Ministry of Minority Affairs.

Zakir Naik ready to join probe

Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, who was expected to return from Saudi Arabia today, said he would be abroad for another 2-3 weeks and was ready to cooperate with any Indian agency investigating allegations against him. Naik, facing allegations of inspiring terrorism through his provocative speeches, also cancelled his scheduled press conference via Skype tomorrow and suggested that he has become a victim of media trial. In a statement released from abroad this evening, he said no Indian government agency has so far contacted him over the allegations against him. "So far, not a single official Indian government agency has contacted me for any clarification regarding this issue. It would be my pleasure to cooperate with any official Indian government investigation agency for any information they might require from me," he said. Naik, however, accused the media of "twisting and not publishing unedited statements and mutilating and misutilising statements to serve their vested agenda". "If time permits, in the next few days I will give replies to some of the major allegations on video and give it to the media and put it up on social media as well and other public platforms so that the original answers are also available if the media misutilises them," he said. He reiterated that he "does not support terrorism or violence and neither does he support any terrorist organisation." An aide of Naik said, "His (Naik's) travel schedule had been made long back. After performing Umrah, he is scheduled to travel to Jeddah from where he will visit Africa for his public talks scheduled there. He is therefore not expected in the country for another 2-3 weeks at least." "Zakir Naik was never supposed to be physically present for the media briefing that was to take place on Tuesday. He had decided that he would address the media through Skype and answer all queries that media persons may have had," he said. Apart from coming under scanner in India, Bangladesh has also banned the broadcast of Naik's Peace TV, cracking down on the channel and radical sermons by the 'televangelist'.