Heavy rains block link roads in Uttarakhand
Dehradun, July 8 (IANS): Over 100 link roads in Uttarakhand remained blocked on Saturday due to heavy rains that lashed the state. While the Regional Met Office has predicted slight to moderate rainfalls in some areas, state government officials said it would take considerable time to repair and clear the blocked roads. Heavy rains continued throughout this week and the levels of Mandakini and Alaknanda rivers in Garhwal region; and the Kali, Gori, Saryu and Sharad in Kumayun has increased.
5.2 magnitude earthquake near India-Pak border
New Delhi, July 8 (PTI): A medium intensity earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale jolted the India-Pakistan border region in Jammu and Kashmir today. The earthquake occurred at 3:42 pm at a depth of 10 km, the National Centre for Seismology of the India Meteorological Department said. There were no immediate reports of loss of life or property. Jammu and Kashmir is one of the regions that witness high seismological activities.
Junaid lynching case: Main accused held in Maharashtra
Faridabad, July 8 (PTI): The prime accused in the killing of Muslim youth Junaid onboard a Mathura-bound train, was arrested today from Dhule district of Maharashtra, the Government Railway Police (GRP) said today. A statement released by the GRP said that a team was sent to Dhule following on a tip-off information that the accused person was hiding there. The main accused was arrested and would be produced before a court tomorrow, the GRP said.
UP health dept to observe every Sunday as ‘anti-mosquito dry day’
Lucknow, July 8 (PTI): In a bid to spread awareness about mosquito-borne diseases and expand the cover of preventive measures, the Uttar Pradesh health department will observe every Sunday as ‘anti-mosquito dry day’. The department has already started a campaign, which runs on every Sunday titled ‘Har Ravivaar, Machhar par Vaar’ (every Sunday attack on mosquitoes). A fever help desk has been established. As many as 37 laboratories have been established in the state to conduct various tests pertaining to dengue. The government has also made functional 39 blood component separation units.
8 killed in Haryana road accident
Chandigarh, July 8 (IANS): Eight members of a family were killed when their vehicle collided head-on with a truck in Haryana’s Jhajjar district, police said on Saturday. The accident took place late Friday night near Mataur village, around 75 km from Delhi. The victims were travelling in a Mahindra Xylo multi-utility vehicle when the truck collided with it. Police said that both vehicles seemed to be travelling at high speed. The truck driver fled from the spot.
Will decide on allowing parole to Perarivalan: Palaniswami
Chennai, July 8 (IANS): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K.Palaniswami on Saturday said the government would take a decision on allowing parole to A.G. Perarivalan, one of those convicted for former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination. Responding to the plea made by several lawmakers, Palaniswami told the assembly that the matter is under the government’s consideration. Perarivalan and six other convicts have been in prison since 1991, the year a woman Tamil Tiger suicide bomber blew herself up and killed Gandhi at an election rally near Chennai.
Defence panel clears armoured vehicle upgrade
New Delhi, July 8 (IANS): The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Defence Minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday cleared a Rs 2,400-crore proposal to upgrade armoured vehicles to make them night-fighting capable. The DAC also cleared a carrier command post tracked vehicle for technical control of artillery fire at a cost of Rs 406 crore. These vehicles will also be procured from Ordnance factory Medak. The DAC also reviewed the status and progress of other procurement schemes and accorded directions to ensure smooth progress for these capital acquisition process, the source added.
SHO filmed taking bribe, jailed
Allahabad, July 8 (PTI): The in-charge of a police station in Allahabad district has been suspended and sent to jail after he was caught on tape accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000. Pooranmasi Ram Gaurav, posted as the SHO of Holagarh police station in the district’s trans-Ganga region, tried to flee after getting wind of the impending action against him but was arrested. He was sent to jail and placed under suspension pending an inquiry last evening after the allegation was found to be prima facie true, Deputy Superintendent of Police D P Shukla said. The video was recorded by a local resident, Kailash Chandra Gupta, who paid the bribe in connection with a property dispute. Exasperated with the SHO not acting despite having taken a bribe, Gupta met the SSP, handed him a copy of the recording and circulated the same on social media on Thursday.
Absconding 1993 blast accused arrested in UP
Lucknow, July 8 (IANS): A man accused in the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts was arrested on Saturday from Bijnore in Uttar Pradesh by a state Special Task Force (STF) team and Gujarat Police. After a tip-off, Qadeer Ahmad was arrested by a team led by officers N.L. Dehai and N.K. Brahmabhatt, a senior official told IANS. The 55-year-old was accused of supplying explosives for the blasts in Mumbai. He has been charged under Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Act, since repealed, and was on the run. He had briefly stayed in Mumbai but was later holed up in a Gujarat village before he took shelter in Bijnore.
Won’t topple BJP govt, let it collapse on its own: Goa Congress
Panaji, July 8 (IANS): Toppling the incumbent BJP-led coalition government is not the top priority for newly appointed state Congress President Shantaram Naik, even as he said that if the ruling coalition crumbles under its own weight, his party would not shy away from cobbling together its own government. Naik, who was addressing the media for the first time since taking over as the party’s state president on Friday, said that he would work towards uniting dissenting party workers and MLAs. Naik on Friday replaced Luizinho Faleiro, who has faced opposition from a section of the party’s legislators.
