Centre launches Muslim outreach programme

The Centre today launched its Muslim outreach programme, with Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi holding an interactive session with the community members here in Haryana, telling them that the NDA dispensation is committed to empower and provide equal opportunity to all. Seeking to "remove any misconceptions" among the Muslims at the first 'Progress Panchayat', Naqvi hit out at "so- called political champions of secularism" who he said are only engaged in exploitation of minorities. The launch of the outreach programme from this Muslim- dominated area comes days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Muslims should be treated as "own" and should be empowered. "We have come to hold dialogue with people as per Modiji's instructions. Earlier the outreach was limited to electioneering but ministers will reach out to people even after elections and this is the prime example," Naqvi said. "Our steadfast concern remains development and we will not deviate from that agenda," the Minority Affairs Minister said. He said the objective of the 'Progress Panchayat' was not political but to reach out to the minority community and apprise them of the development initiatives taken by the government. During the event, one person named Khurshid Ahmed, in his sixties, stood up and alleged that while "Congress betrayed the community", BJP leaders too do not pay heed to their grievances. "We are true patriots. When we go to BJP people and to the officals as well, we get no response," he told Naqvi. The organisers tried to stop him but he was able to complete despite intervention as the audience egged him on. "Congress betrayed the community despite being in power for 60 years. We expect BJP to do good for us," Ahmed said at the event organised at Modern school Hatim Pawal district. However, Naqvi assured him that the NDA government was against votebank politics and was only committed to empower and provide equal opportunities. Union Minister and local MP Krishan Pal Gurjar was also present at the event.

Inter-state racket of fraudsters busted; four held

Four persons suspected to be members of an inter-state gang were arrested for allegedly attempting to withdraw Rs 3.92 crores from the accounts of a public sector petroleum unit here fraudulently, police said today. "The attempt to fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 3.92 crores was prevented due to alertness of Vaidehinagar's SBI branch manager and four members of the white-collar criminal gang were arrested last night," Commissioner of Police (Rachakonda Commissionerate) Mahesh M Bhagwat said. Vaidehinagar's SBI branch manager B Ramgopal in his complaint lodged on September 19 stated that Nallapureddy Jalireddy, who opened a bank account in the name of Jeevan Jyothi Trust Chairman presented four cheques worth Rs 3.92 crores belonging to the public sector petroleum unit in the branch for withdrawing the amounts. However, on scrutinising the cheques, it was found that they were forged in the name of the chairman of the petroleum unit, the senior official said. A case was registered under charge of cheating and other relevant sections of the IPC. During the course of investigation, Jalireddy was first taken into custody and he confessed to police that Bodapati Venkata Nagaraju had handed over the four cheques through anothe rpersons named Balu and he presented the cheques at the Vaidehinagar branch of the bank. Subsequently, Bodapati Venkata Nagaraju was nabbed and based on his confession, police apprehended K Chiathanya and Singireddy Rama Krishna, the CP said. Further, Nagaraju confessed that the cheques have been handed over to him by Prasanth, who is absconding. Police said Prasanth was handed over the cheques by a person named Mishra from Lucknow, who is also absconding. "Efforts are continuing to apprehend Prasanth, Mishra and others," Bhagwat said. Police also seized nine cheque books of various banks, two passbooks and other documents.

Repair work on rural roads on war footing

Telangana government said today that the repair work on roads in rural areas which were damaged in the heavy rains recently will be taken up on a "war footing". According to an official release, state Panchayat Raj Minister Jupalli Krishna Rao has asked officials concerned to carry out repair work on 530 "breached" roads immediately. It said 1,524 roads, measuring 1,700 km in total, have suffered damages due to heavy rains that lashed Telangana, including state capital Hyderabad, mainly during the last week. It has been estimated that funds to the tune of Rs 318.58 crore and Rs 49.61 crore are required to carry out the repairs on permanent and temporary basis respectively, the release said. The minister directed immediate removal of encroachments on drainage systems in neighbouring Rangareddy district. He also asked officials to book criminal cases against the encroachers "if necessary" and also sought a report on the encroachments, unauthorised constructions and lay outs in the district, the release added.

We stand united with the Army and the country: Asad Owaisi

AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi today said his party stood in solidarity with armed forces and the country in the wake of the "surgical strikes" by India on terror launch pads across the Line of Control. "...we are with our armed forces....MIM party completely stands united with the whole country and the armed forces and we are against any form of terrorism," the Lok Sabha member from Hyderabad said here. Asked if he apprehends escalation of tension between India and Pakistan, he said, "This is for the government of the day to consider and see what needs to be done. We hope that nothing bad will happen anymore to our country." As to whether he saw progress in restoration of normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir after the visit of an all-party delegation (of which he was a part), Owaisi said, "More than 80 deaths have taken place; still situation remains the same." India last night carried out surgical strikes on seven terror launch pads across the LoC with the Army saying its special forces inflicted "significant casualties" on terrorists preparing to infiltrate from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir.

KCR asks rev officers, cops to start work in new districts

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has ordered that revenue and police officers should start functioning from the day the new districts come into force. The state government plans to increase the number of districts in the state from the present 10 to 27. A number of new revenue divisions and new mandals would also be launched accordingly. The new districts would come into force from the Dasara festival. Rao ordered that revenue and police offices should start functioning from day one, a release from his office said. As per his orders CM's Additional Principal Secretary Shantikumari held a meeting with different heads of departments today on the number of employees required and the number of posts and filling them up, it said. The meeting discussed the issue in detail, the release added.

Minorities Commission calls for SIT to probe cases against black-magicians

The Telangana and Andhra Pradesh State Minorities Commission today made a suggestion to Hyderabad Police to set up an Special Investigation Team (SIT) to receive complaints and probe matters pertaining to black-magicians. Sixteen people, were allegedly indulged in sorcery, from different parts of the Old City here yesterday. In the wake of the arrests the Commission, took up the issue suo-moto and called for a detailed report from the city police. However, it appreciated the prompt action taken by Deputy Commissioner of Police (South Zone) V Satyanarayana. The panel suggested formation of an SIT to receive complaints in such cases and to nab those involved them. Police said the black magicians were extracting money from innocent people by claiming to possess extraordinary powers. South Zone Police here yesterday arrested 16 people, including Anwarullah Khan alias Disco Baba, a self-proclaimed unani doctor, who had collected Rs 35 lakh from his victim stating that there was a treasure hidden in his house, and one tantrik Faiyaz Mehmood Ansari, who had abducted one boy and wrongfully confined and allegedly attempted to kill him.

Man jumps in front of train after friend's death, dies

Hours after his friend died in a road mishap, a 26-year-old man allegedly committed suicide by jumping before a running train in Borabanda area here, authorities said. Ramesh, working at a hospital, was riding a motorcycle and his friend G Hari Krishna (28) around midnight. They were going to Sanath Nagar from Kukatpally when the bike hit a road-divider, Kukatpally Police Station Inspector K Purushotam said. "Hari, a software engineer, died on the spot due to head injuries, while Ramesh escaped from the spot. After the mishap some of Hari's relatives asked him about the incident. However, Ramesh got afraid and went towards Borabanda," he said. The Government Railway Police (GRP), based on its preliminary investigation, said Ramesh was hit by a train while he was crossing the track at Borabanda. Media reports claimed Ramesh committed suicide as he was shocked over the death of his friend after their bike was hit by a lorry. However, Kukatpally police said as per the initial probe, the bike seemed to have first hit the road-divider. Kukatpally Police and Hyderabad GRP booked separate cases and investigation probe is on.