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CCTV cameras at Pune blast sites non-functional

PUNE: Investigators trying to string together bits of evidence in the serial low-intensity blasts in the city have hit a hurdle as some CCTV cameras at the explosion sites have been found to be non-functional. 

The CCTV cameras installed at Dena Bank, McDonald’s and Bal Gandharva traffic square, near where the explosions occurred, have not yielded any clue so far and some of them were non-functional, sources in the investigative agencies said on condition of anonymity. 

Sources said the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad, city crime branch and the National Investigation Agency are looking for clues from the two bicycles as two of the four coordinated blasts on Wednesday night occurred in their front carriers. 

Explosives were strapped on these bicycles which appear newly purchased and investigators are trying to locate the shop from where these were bought in order to nail the perpetrators. 

As reports said a black sticky substance with ammonium nitrate was used in the explosions, forensic experts are also trying to ascertain the concentration of explosives in the devices to zero in on the likely group behind the blasts. 

According to sources, different terror groups use varied concentration of explosives in their “signature bombs”. 

Reports have said battery operated detonators with digital timers could have been used to trigger the blasts. 

Dayanand Patil, the only person injured in the blast at Balgandharva Theatre square, is being questioned by the police as to how the explosive found its way into his carry bag. 

Sources said Patil, who sustained minor injuries, was not being treated as a suspect in the case. 

Patil, who is from nearby Urali Kanchan village and used to commute daily to Pune for tailoring work, is in hospital where his statement is being recorded, they said. 

Patil has told the police that he had visited the dharna by Anna Hazare’s India Against Corruption and somebody kept the explosive in his carry bag. The explosion occurred when he tried to open a box in which the explosive was kept. 

His wife, Satyakala, was also being questioned by police, sources said. 

Police have registered an offence against “unknown persons” under Sections 307 (attempt to murder), 427 (mischief causing damage), 120 B (criminal conspiracy) and relevant sections of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and Explosive Substances Act. 

Pune Commissioner of Police Gulabrao Pol had on Wednesday said as very low-intensity explosives were used in the blasts, it did not appear to be the handiwork of terrorists and could be an act of mischief. 

Meanwhile, India against corruption activists, who have been staging dharna just opposite the Balgandharva Theatre, said they would call it off temporarily in response to a directive by the police for security reasons. 

Meanwhile, life in the city and the busy Junglee Maharaj road, where the four coordinated blasts occurred, is normal. 

Barring the blasts sites which have been barricaded by police, people could be seen moving as usual on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. 

Maharashtra Home Minister R.R. Patil, who visited the blast sites, also held a meeting with top police officials on Thursday morning to review the situation and take stock of the probe. — PTI

Team Anna to end fast on Friday

NEW DELHI: Anna Hazare and his team members will call off their fast against corruption at 5 pm on Friday, an aide said. The decision was taken due to rising concern about the health of Arvind Kejriwal, Gopal Rai and Manish Sisodia who have been on fast since July 25. Hazare began his hunger strike July 29.

Questions were raised whether Team Anna was mulling a political role as their official twitter handle and website put a poser to the public asking, "Should Annaji provide a political alternative to the country? Reply YES or NO to this tweet."

It also tweeted a link which goes to an internet page which put two questions — Do you have any hope from the existing political parties? Should Annaji provide a political alternative to the country?

Team Anna had on July 31 appeared opposing UPA in the next Lok Sabha elections, saying its mission is to ensure that "new and apt people" come to power in the 2014 polls.

"This mission will not stop till the 2014 elections, till the time new and apt people come in power. We have to go till the end which is 2014 when the people with Anna's blessings will come to power. Till then, our responsibility is to spread these words," its member Kiran Bedi had said.

Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Gopal Rai have refused hospitalisation despite their health condition worsening and a warning from police that organisers will be "squarely responsible" if anything happens to the fasting activists.

"All the three have repeatedly said that they are here for sacrifice. They will not get prevailed upon. They are very determined themselves," Bedi said.

Hazare, whose fast entered the fifth day, held discussions with the three fasting activists and Bedi in the morning. — PTI

Olympics: Sodhi joint top scorer in trap shooting

LONDON: India’s medal hope Ronjan Sodhi was the joint top scorer after round one of the men’s double trap shooting qualification at the London Olympics here on Thursday. 

Sodhi shot 48 and shared the lead with Italy’s Francesco Aniello, Russian Vassily Mossin and local hope Peter Robert Russell Wilson. 

Three qualifying rounds will be held to be followed by the final later in the day. — IANS

Paes, Vishnu out of men's doubles

London: Indian men's doubles pair, Leander Paes and Vishnu Vardhan's campaign in the 2012 London Games came to an end Wednesday after they lost to the second seeded French pair of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Michael Llodra in an evenly fought second round match of the tennis competition at the Wimbledon.

Cheered by a sizeable Indian crowd, Paes and Vardhan put on a valiant performance before going down 6-7 (3-7), 6-4 and 3-6 in a match that lasted 127 minutes.

Vishnu, who had to partner Paes after Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna refused to pair with the 1996 Olympic bronze medallist, showed maturity and played with his heart out.

The Indians managed four aces while their opponents hit 11. Paes and Bopanna, however, were good with their serve committing just one double fault. The Indians also committed 12 unforced errors while Tsonga and Llodra had 13.

In the first set, the French were doing a catching up job before stretching it to the tie-breaker. The Indian were slightly off-colour in the tie-breaker which they lost 3-7.

The unseeded Indians, however, came back strongly in the second round winning it 6-4 to draw level. The Indian pair started well taking the first game by breaking Tsonga's serve. 

Disgraced Chinese player Yu Yang quits badminton

BEIJING: One of the star Chinese badminton players disqualified from the Olympics for throwing a match has announced she is quitting the sport, saying her dreams had been "heartlessly shattered".

Yu, who won a gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and her partner Wang Xiaoli were disqualified by the Badminton World Federation on Wednesday for "not using one's best efforts to win a match".

"This is my last time competing. Goodbye Badminton World Federation, goodbye my beloved badminton," Yu Yang said on her Weibo, or microblog, late Wednesday. "You have heartlessly shattered our dreams."

Interviewed before the latest announcement, Yu and Wang who were among China's star players, winning the world championship in women's pairs badminton last year, both apologised to fans and pledged to play their best in future matches.

The scandal has been one of the most talked-about subjects on China's Twitter-like microblogs this week, with many fans calling it a "humiliation" for the national team.

Many responded to Yu's shock announcement with support and sympathy, although some remained critical.

"Go Yu Yang, never give up!" wrote a user called Zhao Yin.

"This is not your fault, we all understand," said another using the handle "Water World".

But another disagreed: "Yu Yang, this is what you deserve, please do not insult the Badminton World Federation or the noble sport of badminton."

The Olympic match-throwing scandal also saw the Badminton World Federation disqualify two South Korean pairs and one Indonesian duo for trying to lose their first-round games.

The players involved were charged with "not using one's best efforts to win a match" and "conducting oneself in a manner that is clearly abusive or detrimental to the sport".

The country's head badminton coach Li Yongbo said he should take the blame for the incident, which Chinese state media said "violates the Olympic spirit of fair competition."

"As head coach, I owe the supporters of Chinese badminton and the Chinese TV audiences an apology," the Xinhua news agency quoted him as saying in London Wednesday.

"Chinese players failed to demonstrate the fine tradition and fighting spirit of the national team. It's me to blame."

Yu's announcement came after the Badminton World Federation announced that the disqualified athletes could continue to compete in future tournaments. — AFP

Amarnath Yatra ends, Charri Mubarak reaches shrine

SRINAGAR: The 39-day Amarnath Yatra concluded on Thursday as the 'Charri Mubarak', the mace of Lord Shiva, reached the 3880-metre high Himalayan cave shrine amidst Vedic chants.

Mahant Deependra Giri, the custodian of the holy mace, accompanied by over 100 'sadhus' reached the shrine with the Charri Mubarak this morning, Shri Amarnath Shrine Board officials said.

Traditional rituals were performed inside the cave, housing the naturally-formed icelingam, to mark the culmination of this year's edition of the annual yatra that began on June 25.

The holy mace of Lord Shiva arrived after a night halt at Panjtarni.

Religious fervour prevailed in the south Kashmir Himalayas as the Charri Mubarak is taken to the shrine on the day of Shravan Purnima, which coincides with the festival of Raksha Bandhan.

More than 6.20 lakh pilgrims paid obeisance at the cave shrine during the pilgrimage which witnessed the death of 130 pilgrims due to natural causes and road accidents, prompting the Supreme Court to issue notices to the Centre and state government to explain the lack of medical and other facilities.

While 88 pilgrims died on account of medical reasons, 42 others died due to road accidents.

Governor N N Vohra, who is chairman of the SASB, and CEO of the Board Navin K Choudhary participated in the special prayers at the cave shrine.

The Governor prayed for sustained peace, harmony, progress and prosperity in the State.

He expressed satisfaction over the smooth conduct of this year's Yatra, despite serious constraints arising from the heavy snowfall in the preceding winter and bad weather for several weeks before the commencement of the pilgrimage.

He, however, expressed serious concern and grief over the loss of life of 88 pilgrims due to medical reasons, during this year's yatra.— PTI

SBI cuts home, auto loan rates

Mumbai: Home and auto loans are set to become cheaper with the country's largest lender State Bank of India cutting lending rates by up to 50 basis points effective August 7.

SBI has said that it will bring down interest rates on car loans to 10.75% from the prevailing 11.25%. This will result in the equated monthly installment on a seven-year loan declining to Rs 1,699 for every Rs 1 lakh as against Rs 1,725 earlier. The bank has also decided to offer home loans of up to Rs 30 lakh at 10.25% down from 10.5%, and loans between Rs 30 lakh to Rs 75 lakh at 10.4%. Following this reduction SBI's home loans and auto loans will be the cheaper than its rivals by over 50 basis points. On a Rs 10-lakh 20-year loan, a 50 basis point reduction would result in savings of Rs 286 a month.

Since SBI has not announced a revision in its base rate, the reduction will apply only to new customers and not to existing borrowers. However, the bank allows existing borrowers to refinance their loans for a fee. With the Reserve Bank of India and National Housing Bank requiring lenders to waive pre-payment charges, other lenders are in a dilemma as they risk facing a churn in their portfolio.