L A T E S T      N E W S

Sonia, Mayawati start UP campaign

Congress president Sonia Gandhi begins her poll campaign in Uttar Pradesh from February 1 from Deoria and Gonda while state chief minister Mayawati will start her campaign for the first phase of the state assembly elections from Sitapur and Barabanki on Wednesday.

"Sonia Gandhi would address election meetings in Gonda and Deoria on February 1", party general secretary and incharge of party affairs in Uttar Pradesh Digvijaya Singh said in Lucknow. With polling in three states over, Congress star campaigners would now be concentrating on Uttar Pradesh from February 1. Priyanka Gandhi has also planned to camp in twin constituencies of Rae Bareli and Amethi from February 3 to campaign for party candidates for coming assembly elections.

According to K.L. Sharma, a representative of her brother Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka would address "nukkar sabhas" (roadside meetings) and take part in road shows during her stay in Rae Bareli and Amethi.

As of now there was no information of Priyanka campaigning anywhere other than these two constituencies where polling is scheduled for February 15 and 19.

Army jawans, traffic cops clash in Pune

  Pune: Tension prevailed in a central area of the city on Tuesday night as a group of army jawans clashed with police following an altercation over traffic violation.
According to the police, the trouble started when a jawan attached to the College of Military Engineering (CME), riding a motorbike, was stopped by a traffic constable at Sambhaji Bridge for running into no-entry.

The jawan then returned with his friends and assaulted the policemen at the nearby outpost, police said.The jawans, who were in civil clothes, also broke cameras of mediapersons who had rushed to the spot.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Sanjay Jadhav said the CME jawans abused and assaulted police constables.He said the situation was now under control and action was being taken against the culprits.

Former army vice-chief booked in land scam case

Pune: The Indian Army has been entangled in another land case, after the Adarsh and Sukna scams, with the CBI on Monday booking two retired officers — including former southern command chief and vice-chief of army staff Lt Gen (retired) Nobel Thamburaj — and a local builder. The agency accused Thamburaj, a 1960 batch officer who retired from service in September 2009, and retired defence estate officer, Pune Circle, Sevak Nayyar of abusing their positions to transfer a prime 0.96-acre army plot worth Rs 46 crore at Pune cantonment to Kalpataru Builders in 2008.
 
The CBI action came a day after the army headquarters complained that Thamburaj and Nayyar had attempted an out-of-court settlement with the builder despite a favourable judgment from the high court. The plot had a bungalow built on it. “There was a dispute going on regarding the property and Thamburaj and Nayyar settled the matter in spite of several court orders given in favour of the army. The duo indulged in gross misconduct,” the CBI said.

The agency said the two officials ignored rules and policies, violated the terms of lease entered into by the defence ministry and Kalpataru and helped the builder gain Rs 46 crore.On Tuesday, the CBI carried out searches at Thamburaj and Nayyar’s houses and the offices of Kalpataru Properties and recovered “some incriminating documents”, which are now being scrutinised.

“Investigations are on to find out what the two got in return for the undue favour shown to Kalpataru,” CBI joint director (western region) Rishiraj Singh said.

Eve-teasing 'riot' at Delhi Metro station

New Delhi: Delhi Metro is considered to be the safest public place in the national capital. However, passengers travelling on the city’s pride had a taste of “riots” on Tuesday evening when a group of people vandalised the Tilak Nagar station in West Delhi.

The incident, which started as an altercation between two men, turned into a big fight then eventually ended in the station being vandalised.
The brawl began when two men, allegedly in an inebriated state, passed a remark on the wife of a co-passenger. This led to an altercation between the three men and soon turned into a fight.

The CISF, which mans security on Delhi Metro premises, was called in and train halted at the Tilak Nagar Metro station.

While the security managed to end the fight, their failure to take action against the two men infuriated the couple’s family and friends who had reached the Metro station.