M A I N   N E W S

Dawood’s brother, aides held in Dubai

New Delhi, February 3
Five close aides of Pakistan-based underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, including his brother Noora, have reportedly been detained by the authorities in Dubai, sources said tonight.

Those detained are believed to also include Mohammed Dossa and Aftab Batki.

While Dossa is wanted in connection with the 1993 serial blasts in Mumbai, Batki is required by New Delhi for his involvement in various cases of counterfeiting currency.

Although no case is pending against Noora, he is alleged to be the main man behind various extortion rackets in India.

These five were part of the list that was handed over to the authorities in the United Arab Emirates during the deportation of Aftab Ansari, main accused in the shooting incident at American Center at Kolkata in January last year.

Relations between New Delhi and Abu Dhabi had come under strain after the Dubai police had played a spoilsport in releasing Anees Ibrahim, another brother of Dawood Ibrahim and allowing his safe passage to Pakistan in December last. PTI

Key witness in Raja Bhaiyya case shot
Our Correspondent

Lucknow, February 3
A key witness in the POTA case against jailed Independent legislator Raghuraj Pratap Singh, alias Raja Bhaiyya and his father, Udai Pratap Singh, was killed in broad daylight in Kunda today.

The victim has been identified as Rajendra Yadav, 32-year-old Gram Pradhan of Baand Mau village, who had deposed against Raja Bhaiyya and his father. Acting on Yadav’s statements, the police had raided the Bethi palace of Raja Bhaiyya in Kunda, the ADG (Law and Order), Mr Vikram Singh, told newspersons here today.