Jammu, July 11 (IANS) A blast occurred across the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district, said officials here on Thursday.

The blast occurred on Wednesday night across the LoC in the district.

“The suspicious movement was reported across the LoC in the Laam sector of Rajouri district late on Wednesday night. The blast occurred very close to the zero line during the movement,” said officials.

A search operation has been launched in the area, the officials further said.

The blast most likely occurred during the movement of suspicious persons close to the LoC on the other side in the no man’s land.

It is being ascertained whether the blast occurred accidentally or was triggered by suspicious movement in the no man’s land which contains pressure-triggered landmines.

More details were awaited.

Pakistani agencies have been trying to push terrorists into the Indian territory to create disturbances. Massive search operations are already underway in some areas in the Jammu division.

–IANS

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Bhopal, July 11 (IANS) In an alarming incident, goons barged into a city bus in Bhopal and thrashed the driver and conductor, leaving the women passengers scared.

The incident recorded on a Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) camera fitted in the city bus shows two goons entering the bus at Suraj Nagar square and beating up the driver. They also thrashed the conductor, who tried to save the driver.

The bus conductor was also seen hitting miscreants in his defence. However, he was overpowered by them and thrashed.

The video of the incident, which went viral, shows that the women passengers were scared.

City buses are a lifeline for the citizens of Bhopal and the people in the state’s capital city will have to wait for metro rail services at least for the next one-and-a-half years.

Even if the rail metro service begins in the city, it would cover one or two routes.

The reason behind the incident was yet to be ascertained.

–IANS

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Hyderabad, July 11 (IANS) Former chief of Telangana’s Special Intelligence Branch (SIB), T Prabhakar Rao, the main accused in the phone tapping case, has denied the allegations against him.

The retired Inspector General of Police, who is in the US, has communicated to the Investigating Officer (IO) that multiple health problems have forced him to defer his return to India.

He assured that he will fully cooperate in the investigation and answer all queries in person as soon as his health improves and upon his return to India.

“I am prepared to assist in the investigation in any kind of questioning over video conferencing or teleconferencing till the time I return to India,” he said in the letter dated June 23 that surfaced on Thursday.

The retired IPS officer requested the IO to conduct a fair and unbiased investigation as per the provisions of law.

Prabhakar Rao denied the allegations made against him.

“I would once again want to reiterate what I conveyed to you via the Whatsapp call on March 22nd & 23rd, that I have not committed nor directed anyone to commit any illegal acts or omissions while discharging my duties as a police officer at any time including as Chief of SIB,” reads the letter.

The former SIB chief wrote that he had originally planned to return to India on June 26 but had to defer the same due to health issues.

He informed the IO that in addition to existing problem of malignant cancer, he developed high blood pressure due to stress, “I have been subjected to, after registration of the current case and by making wild and false allegations against me with constant deliberate leaks to media, thereby assassinating my character and reputation even prior to making me as an accused in the case.”

He stated that the false allegations were a great shock to him and his family which led to further deterioration of his physical and mental health.

Prabhakar Rao said he was now suffering from cardiac and renal problems for which he was seeking appointments of specialists in the US.

He further wrote that his consulting doctors advised him not to travel out of the US till his health completely stabilised.

“However, I am willing to fully cooperate with the investigation and provide any information which you think is in my exclusive knowledge and possession through email. I don’t think that my no-appearance before the IO at an earlier point of time will hamper the investigation in any way as it is already evident from the outcome of the investigation and filing of the chargesheet,” he added.

Three serving police officers and a former officer have so far been arrested in the phone tapping case which came to light after the BRS lost power to Congress and an official in SIB who was part of the operation was found destroying the collected data.

In March a case was registered with the Panjagutta police after a petition was filed by additional SP, SIB.

DSP Praneeth Rao was arrested after he allegedly destroyed hard disks and other data.

Later, the police arrested former additional SPs Bhujanga Rao and Tirupathanna and former Deputy Commissioner of Police, P Radha Kishan Rao.

–IANS

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Kolkata, July 11 (IANS) Senior Trinamool Congress leader and four-time Lok Sabha MP from Dum Dum constituency, Saugata Roy, claimed on Thursday that he had received threatening calls over strongman Jayant Singh’s arrest.

Saugata Roy said he had been threatened with dire consequences if he failed to arrange for the release of local Trinamool leader Jayant Singh.

Singh, a virtual terror in Ariadaha in North 24 Parganas District was arrested last week by police after a video went viral where he and his associates were seen involved in mob violence against an individual in a club.

“A call came from an unknown number to my mobile. The caller first used abusive language and then threatened to kill me unless I arranged for the release of Singh. I received the call twice,” Roy told a section of the media on Thursday morning.

He also confirmed that he has filed a complaint with Barrackpore Police Commissionerate and requested the police to identify the caller from the number that he has provided to them.

Roy is the second ruling party leader to receive life threats over the incarceration of Singh.

“I am scared that I can be shot anytime. I have been vocal against the police in the matter. It is possible that the police will tell the anti-social elements that they were forced to take action because of pressure from Madan Mitra. This is an old game,” Madan Mitra said on Wednesday evening.

The Opposition leaders said that the ruling party leaders are now facing the music for giving protection to these anti-social elements.

–IANS

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Patna, July 11 (IANS) Ten people lost their lives due to lightning strikes in the last 24 hours in Bihar, said officials on Thursday.

Three persons died in Rohtas, two in Siwan, and one each in Kaimur, West Champaran, Supaul, Munger and Banka districts.

Ram Pravesh Singh, a 55-year-old farmer from Bihar, died instantly after being struck by lightning while seeking shelter under a blackberry tree in Rohtas’s Nokha block on Wednesday evening.

A young woman in Karaundi village, Natwar block, also lost her life due to lightning.

In Sanjhauli Mathia village, Karakat block, a farmer succumbed to a lightning strike.

A five-year-old girl died while collecting mangoes during a storm in Odakpur village in Siwan district.

A labourer, who hailed from West Bengal’s Malda district, was planting paddy in Nikhati Kala village in Siwan when he was struck by lightning and died.

Another individual died due to lightning in the Mohaniya subdivision in Kaimur.

A farmer, Suresh Yadav was killed, and another person, Suman Ram, was severely injured while ploughing in Phulwaria village under the Lauriya police station area in West Champaran district. The injured person was receiving treatment at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in Bettiah.

A farmer lost his life due to lightning in Dharmapatti village in the Raghopur police station area in Supaul district.

A woman died from a lightning strike in Lagma village, Asarganj police station area in Munger.

A person named Janardan Mandal of Salempur Puranchak village under Amarpur police station in Banka district also died due to lightning.

Authorities are taking necessary actions, including post-mortem examinations and providing medical treatment to the injured. As per the norms, the state government will give a compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the family members of the deceased.

–IANS

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