The accused when produced in local Noida court on Wednesday (January 7) have told the court that they were innocent of the rape. All the accused have been remanded for 14 days of judicial custody.

The local Noida court is to hear on Friday (January 9) the application for police remand of the accused. The police said they would even file an application for collecting finger prints of the accused.

Min demands death penalty for guilty

Hitting out at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, Minister for Women and Child Development Renuka Chowdhary on Wednesday (Jan 7) said incidents like the Noida rape raise questions on the role of the state government in maintaining law and order.

A day after five youth were arrested for allegedly raping an MBA student in Noida, Chowdhary said none of the boys should get bail.

“How did they think that they can do such a thing and get away. And when that question arises you start questioning the government. So I think we have to start questioning the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. What she has to say about this,” Chowdhary demanded.

The Minister added, “You have Nithari and Arushi cases, you have Noida rapes. And that is sad if you can’t solve the problem. I think you (Mayawati) should stop dreaming of being the Prime Minister.” 

Chowdhary had earlier also got into a war of words with Mayawati during the Arushi murder and the Nithari child killings.

On what punishment should be meted out to the accused, she said, “It is a non-bailable offence.. None of them should get bail and I believe that there should be a genuine investigation. What kind of people we are that we cannot protect our daughters.”   

The 24-year-old MBA student was kidnapped and allegedly raped by a group of youngsters, five of whom were arrested by the police yesterday on a complaint filed by the girl’s friend. All the five arrested confessed to the crime. (Read more)

Five youngsters identified as Husain, Srikant, Sanjay, Sudhir and Gautam were arrested yesterday in connection with the case while police is on a hunt to nab five others who are believed to be involved in the crime.

All of them were picked up from Ramgarhi Choukandi village, where they reside, within 12 hours of committing the crime, Superintendent of Police (Noida City) Ashok Tripati told reporters.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Sending a tough message a day after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh spoke of involvement of Pakistan’s state agencies in the Mumbai terror attack, Defence Minister A K Antony said “we will do everything to prevent” such attacks.

“There is no serious attempt to dismantle terror outfits working across the border. This is our major worry,” Antony told reporters. “We will examine all the available, possible options,” he said without elaborating.

Anand Sharma hits out at Pak

Meanwhile, Minister of State for External Affairs - Anand Sharma - speaking on the attitude of Pakistan said, “There is enough evidence with us and intelligence of other countries. We have shared evidence with Pakistan. It is therefore imperative for Pakistan to honour its commitment. A joint investigation will be meaningful only if Pakistan demonstrates its commitment to act against those organisations which carried out these attacks. And then it is important for Pakistan to accept that the terrorists were all Pakistanis.” 

The Defence Minister expressed New Delhi’s apprehensions of stepped-up infiltration from across the borders in Jammu and Kashmir in the summer months.

“Even in winters militants have infiltrated into Jammu and Kashmir. It is biting cold now. Militants will step up infiltration into J&K from now. Summers will see heightened infiltration. So armed forces should remain vigilant,” he said.

Stating that it was Pakistan’s duty to “book” those people, who supported terrorists during the Mumbai attacks on November 26 last, the Defence Minister said the neighbour should also dismantle the over 30 terror outfits working from its soil.

“To prevent the repetition of infiltration and terror incidents, two things needed to be done. Those people, who gave support to terrorists in the 26/11 attack in Mumbai should be booked. The over 30 terror outfits working from across the border should be dismantled. It is Pakistan’s duty,” he said.

Antony said India has not set any time limit for Pakistan(to dismantle terror infrastructure). However, New Delhi expected the world to react on the evidences that was shared with them on the Mumbai attacks.

“We have some evidence. Not only India, even some other countries have some evidence. We have shown this evidence to other countries. They world has to react to these evidence. I hope the world will react,” he said.

Asked about the security forces’ operation against holed-up militants in Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir, Antony said he had discussed it with the three Services chiefs in the morning and that they were sure of flushing out the militants soon.

To another query, he said the armed forces had a plan and had worked out a strategy against the holed-up militants, but the basis approach was to minimise casualty within the security forces’ ranks.

On the day’s meeting of the Kendriya Sainik Welfare Board, Antony said it was decided to provide re-employment training to all the 60,000 armed forces personnel, who retired from service at a very young age annually, to improve the career opportunities in both the private and public sector.

The meeting, Antony said, also decided to start 196 additional polyclinics countrywide under the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS). He also requested the State governments to extend support to solve the grievances and problems of ex-servicemen within their respective jurisdiction.

The External Affairs Ministry yesterday blunty told Pakistan to come out of its denial mode and accept the 26/11 evidence and stop hookwinking the international community. (Read more)

(With inputs from agencies)

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The accused when produced in local Noida court on Wednesday (January 7) have told the court that they were innocent of the rape. All the accused have been remanded for 14 days of judicial custody.

The local Noida court is to hear on Friday (January 9) the application for police remand of the accused. The police said they would even file an application for collecting finger prints of the accused.

Min demands death penalty for guilty

Hitting out at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, Minister for Women and Child Development Renuka Chowdhary on Wednesday (Jan 7) said incidents like the Noida rape raise questions on the role of the state government in maintaining law and order.

A day after five youth were arrested for allegedly raping an MBA student in Noida, Chowdhary said none of the boys should get bail.

“How did they think that they can do such a thing and get away. And when that question arises you start questioning the government. So I think we have to start questioning the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. What she has to say about this,” Chowdhary demanded.

The Minister added, “You have Nithari and Arushi cases, you have Noida rapes. And that is sad if you can’t solve the problem. I think you (Mayawati) should stop dreaming of being the Prime Minister.” 

Chowdhary had earlier also got into a war of words with Mayawati during the Arushi murder and the Nithari child killings.

On what punishment should be meted out to the accused, she said, “It is a non-bailable offence.. None of them should get bail and I believe that there should be a genuine investigation. What kind of people we are that we cannot protect our daughters.”   

The 24-year-old MBA student was kidnapped and allegedly raped by a group of youngsters, five of whom were arrested by the police yesterday on a complaint filed by the girl’s friend. All the five arrested confessed to the crime. (Read more)

Five youngsters identified as Husain, Srikant, Sanjay, Sudhir and Gautam were arrested yesterday in connection with the case while police is on a hunt to nab five others who are believed to be involved in the crime.

All of them were picked up from Ramgarhi Choukandi village, where they reside, within 12 hours of committing the crime, Superintendent of Police (Noida City) Ashok Tripati told reporters.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The operation has been “slow” in the area to minimise the casualties among the security forces, Lt Col A S N Acharya said in Jammu.

The spokesman said that firing took place at two places in the area around 0630 hours and 0930 hours on Wednesday and it was effectively retaliated by the troops.

Bad weather and the hilly terrain of the area were acting as constraints for the army, he said, adding some food items and radio sets have been recovered since yesterday from the caves where the militants were holed up.

While three security force personnel have laid down their lives during the operation, four ultras are presumed dead. The bodies of the terrorists have not been recovered so far, he said. 

(With inputs from TOI)

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Rejecting the bail application, a bench of Justice KK Mandal said “the petitioner (Shahabuddin) will have the liberty to renew his bail prayer after six months”.

The police had conducted raids at Shahabuddin’s ancestral house in Pratappur village of Siwan district on April 24, 2005 from where it recovered arms and ammunition in huge quantity.

The MP had filed an appeal against the order of a Siwan special court sentencing him to 10 years of imprisonment in September 2008 in this case.

The Patna High Court on Monday had granted him bail in another case relating to violation of Wildlife Protection Act. 

Shahabuddin has been convicted in about half-a-dozen cases, including one in which he has been sentenced to life term for the kidnapping and suspected murder of CPI-ML activist Chotelal Gupta on February 7, 2007.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Talking to reporters last evening (Jan 6), Singh said that the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh had helped Congress at a time when its support was most needed.
    
Singh expressed hope that an understanding on the remaining seats would also be arrived at soon. He said that Congress and Samajwadi Party would fight the Lok Sabha elections together in Uttar Pradesh.
    
He said that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Mayawati was busy collecting donations and even government offices were being used for this purpose.
    
Singh said that two or three collectors in Uttar Pradesh had organised meetings specially for the purpose of collecting donations.

(With inputs from agencies)

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A Bench headed by Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan also exempted Thackeray from his personal appearance in the Jharkhand court.

The apex court passed the direction on a petition filed by the controversial MNS Chief seeking transfer of the various cases filed in courts of Bihar and Jharkhand against him for his alleged statements and hate campaigns against north Indians.

Thackeray had also sought the transfer of these cases outside Bihar and Jharkhand to ensure a free and fair trial.

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(With inputs form Agencies)

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In their affidavit to the Goa Bench of Bombay High Court, the state police has said that the charges against the minister could not be established and Monserratte cannot be charged based upon the opinion issued by the Directorate of prosecution where the case was forwarded to have formal opinion.
       
Anjuna police which is investigating the case had charged the minister of abetting the crime as the mobile from which the lewd messages were sent to the 14-year-old German girl was registered in Monserratte’s name.

The Bombay High Court had yesterday (January 6) asked the Goa government to file a chargesheet in the German minor rape case within a week.
       
Earlier, the High Court, taking suo motto cognisance of the case, which allegedly involves Monserratte’s son Rohit and public works department minister Churchill Alemao’s nephew Warren, had castigated the investigating agencies for the lethargy in the probe.
       
The German mother had accused Rohit of sexually abusing her minor daughter and had also later named Warren in the case.
       
Two complaints were filed in this connection–one each against Rohit and Warren.
       
Police had arrested Rohit on November 4, after he surrendered before Calangute police station.

(With inputs form Agencies)

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Rane had said he did not trust the high command which did not honour the promise to make him Chief Minister when he joined Congress in 2005.
    
He had also attacked Sonia Gandhi’s political secretary Ahmed Patel. Rane’s son Nitesh also quit as Mumbai Youth Congress general secretary, saying youth were disillusioned with Rahul Gandhi.
    
Meanwhile, MPCC President Manikrao Thakre, a known supporter of Deshmukh, is learnt to have dwelt on the adverse impact of retaining Rane in Congress, during his meeting with Sonia Gandhi in Delhi yesterday (January 7).

A Deshmukh supporter said they would impress upon the AICC leadership that in view of the coming Lok Sabha elections, keeping Rane within the Congress fold would not be in the party’s interest.

During his meeting with Rane on January 5, Chavan is understood to have offered to re-induct him into the cabinet.

Rane said Chavan asked him to join the cabinet but he had sought time to think over the offer, before which he is likely to meet Sonia Gandhi.
    
NCP Chief Sharad Pawar has advised Rane to be patient and not do anything which will benefit the Opposition Shiv Sena-BJP alliance ahead of elections in the state.

(With inputs form Agencies)

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