MUMBAI: Arif Majeed, 23, from neighbouring Kalyan, who until now was believed to have been killed while fighting for ISIS in Syria, returned to Mumbai today and is being interrogated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) here.

In May this year, four youths from Kalyan town — Arif Majeed, Shaheen Tanki, Fahad Shaikh and Aman Tandel — had left India to visit holy places in the Middle East, but disappeared thereafter. They were suspected to have joined the middle-east terror group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

Arif returned this morning and is being quizzed by the NIA, a police officer said.

His family friend Iftekhar Khan told PTI, "Arif's father Ejaz received a phone call from security agencies this morning saying his son is in Mumbai." Maharashtra ATS, which had earlier questioned the family members of the youths, is also in touch with the NIA over the return of Arif to Mumbai, sources said.

According to the police, the four engineering students flew to Baghdad on May 23 as part of a group of 22 pilgrims to visit religious shrines in Iraq.

The next day, Arif had called his family from Baghdad and apologised for having left without informing them. Upon returning to India, other pilgrims had told the police that, Arif, Fahad, Aman and Saheen had hired a taxi to Fallujah, a city west of Baghdad which had emerged as the epicentre of Iraq's deadly insurgency.

"On August 26, Tanki called up Arif's family and told them that their son had become a "martyr" claiming that the latter died fighting for ISIS in Syria," a family friend Ateek Khan had told reporters.

Accordingly, the next day, Arif's family performed 'Janaza-e-gayabana' (prayers for the departed soul in absence of the body) in Kalyan.

Recently, Arif's father Ejaz Majeed had reportedly met the NIA and told them his son had fled from the IS-controlled areas to Turkey after fighting for the militant group for nearly three months and wants to return to India. — PTI

People of J-K have rejected bullet for ballot: Modi

BATTAL BALIAN (Udhampur): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the people of Jammu and Kashmir have given a befitting reply to the gun by pressing ballots in large numbers and shown their faith in democracy.

Campaigning for the second phase of Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, he said the state has been "stuck" at the same place for the last 30 years due to lack of development and accused the ruling NC, Congress and PDP of indulging in corruption and looting the state besides "emotionally blackmailing" people.

Attacking those who have given a poll boycott call, the Prime Minister said, "Those people were suppressing the power of ballots with bullets. For the first time people of J&K have strengthened themselves and pressed the ballot and have given their reply to the bullets".

"I have come for the second time for campaigning in J&K.

"For the first time, I had gone to Chenab area (Kishtwar) in J&K. But the way polling has taken place, I want to congratulate those voters of J&K who have voted in large numbers and made democracy victorious," Modi told an election rally here.

In the first phase of Assembly elections, Jammu and Kashmir had registered a record 71.28 per cent turnout. People had ignored the boycott calls by separatists and cold conditions to cast their votes in 15 constituencies.

Modi said, "Militants are frustrated because they are feeling that despite the use of guns and bombs and killing people, democracy inside the state is still alive".

Taking a dig at such forces, he said, "Despite their frustration, the people of J&K have shown their faith in democracy". 

The Prime Minister said the people have shown that they are not going to be terrorised.

"With their morale high, they are going to decide the future of J&K in its democracy. I want to congratulate the people — it is not a congratulation from Modi but from 125 crore people of India — every Indian is congratulating you; the entire country is proud of you", Modi said.

The Prime Minister said, "A message has gone to the entire world — entire world has known what is in the hearts of J&K people. This message has gone to the world. You (people of J&K) have done a big work".

Seeking full majority for its party to form the government in J&K, Modi said, "I have full faith that BJP will form the government with full majority in J&K and it will get an opportunity in this regard". — PTI

Arnia encounter ends, 4 militants dead

JAMMU: The fourth militant, who was holed up in an abandoned Army bunker, has been killed in a fresh encounter in Arnia on Friday, an Army officer said.

Fresh firing erupted near the Arnia border belt of Jammu district on Friday morning when security forces launched a cordon and search operation to track down a militant hiding in a bunker and retrieve bodies of civilians killed in Thursday's gunbattle.

A day after militants attacked two Army bunkers close to the India-Pakistan border leaving 10 people, including three civilians and as many jawans dead in a gunbattle, security forces launched an operation to track down the holed up militant.

An Army official said that security forces, who had launched a cordon and search operation at the site of encounter in Arnia on Friday morning to retrieve bodies of civilians, came under fire from the militant hiding in a bunker triggering fresh exchanges.

Bodies of the three civilians could not be taken out on Thursdayin view of the gunfight, he said, adding search for another militant was also launched simultaneously.

In a terror strike on the eve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Jammu Division, militants wearing combat uniform had on Thursday attacked two Army bunkers close to the border leaving 10 people dead.

The dead also included four heavily armed militants who were holed up in a bunker after they were suspected to have infiltrated into Arnia sector from across the border in Jammu district to carry out a fidayeen attack.

Army used tanks in the operation with an intention to blast the bunker, where the lone surviving militant has taken shelter during the encounter.

A multi-tier security set up has been put in place at the venue of Modi’s rally at Battal Balian in the outskirts of Udhampur town in view of the Thursday’s terror attack, a senior police officer said.

Troops in and around Udhampur have been deployed in strength and all routes to the venue have been sealed and multiple check points set up with deployment of heavily armed para military and police forces.

He will also address another rally in border town of Poonch district. — PTI

CHANDIGARH: Self-styled 'godman' Sant Rampal was produced before the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday. His bail plea had been cancelled earlier on November 20 in a 2006 murder case. A city court on Tuesday had placed him on a six-day transit remand, thereby, giving the police some more time to investigate.

The Punjab and Haryana High court, which had earlier last week sent Rampal to judicial custody, had asked the Haryana DGP to submit an affidavit detailing the operation conducted by the police to execute his arrest.

The high court had further asked Haryana's Chief Secretary to submit a report regarding the assets owned by Rampal.

The self-styled ‘godman’, who was arrested from his Satlok Ashram after a two-week-long standoff in Hisar's Barwala town, had rubbished all the charges leveled against him.

Rampal had also rejected the charges that he had asked thousands of his followers to be kept "hostage" for past several days inside his ashram at Barwala to evade police action in a contempt of court case. — ANI

Delhi schools can now set nursery admission guidelines: HC

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Friday allowed schools to set nursery admissions guidelines and set point systems as per their requirements.

The court said private unaided schools should have the administrative autonomy to decide on admissions. It said that the power to decide a child's school should rest with the parents. A position on a map cannot decide which school a child should go to.

The court was hearing a batch of petitions filed by the parents against guidelines issued by Delhi's Lieutenant Governor on December 18, 2013 on the admissions.

While reserving his verdict, Justice Manmohan had also restrained Delhi government from issuing fresh notification for nursery admission for the upcoming academic year in the national capital on a plea challenging last year's guidelines.

The court, which had reserved its order after hearing arguments from both the sides, had also said that the petitions will become infructuous if the government issues fresh guidelines.

Under the earlier system, out of a total 100 points, 70 were given if the child lives in the neighbourhood of the school, additional 20 were given if a sibling is studying there, five points more if either parent is an alumni and another five points if it is an inter-state transfer case.

Draw of lots were held at each point level. Thereafter, the government had on February 27 issued an order abolishing the five points that were being awarded in inter-state transfer cases. — PTI

NEW DELHI: The Centre on Friday said it has not given up hope on the Indians missing in Iraq, and added that the reports of them having been killed are not confirmed.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said one of the captives, Harjeet Bassi who managed to escape, had claimed that all others were taken to a forest and shot.

“There are contradictions in the story Bassi told ... It is logical not to accept the statement. We have got six sources which said they have not been killed,” Swaraj told the Rajya Sabha.

“We have got not just oral but written messages that say they are alive,” she said, adding that the content of the letter cannot be disclosed.

Swaraj also said that two officers well-versed in Arabic have been appointed for this in Iraq.

“For the sake of hope, we have to keep the search on,” said the Minister. 

Around 40 Indian men continue to be missing in Iraq after they were abducted by the Islamic State. — IANS

MUMBAI: Scaling a new peak, the total investor wealth in the Indian stock market hit a record high of Rs 100 trillion (Rs 100 lakh crore), marking a jump of 10 times in little over a decade.

Measured in terms of total market capitalisation of all listed companies on the country’s biggest bourse BSE, the overall investor wealth in the Indian stock market rose to Rs 100.01 lakh crore at 10.05 am hours as benchmark Sensex soared by over 300 points in its continuing record rally.

The total market cap of all BSE listed companies had crossed the Rs 10 lakh crore mark nearly 11 years ago in 2003, while it has doubled from about Rs 50 lakh crore five years ago in 2009.

The 30 Sensex companies alone, which are among the biggest companies in the country, now account for nearly 50 per cent or about Rs 47 lakh crore of total investor wealth.

This included TCS, the country’s most valued firm and the only entity to have a market value of over Rs 5 lakh crore, followed by state-run ONGC and private sector behemoth Reliance Industries with market caps of over Rs 3 lakh crore each.

Those commanding market cap of over Rs. 2 lakh crore include ITC, Infosys, HDFC Bank, SBI and Coal India. Besides, ICICI Bank, HDFC, Sun Pharma, HUL, Bharti Airtel, L&T, Wipro, Tata Motors, HCL Tech, NTPC and Axis Bank have market cap of over Rs. 1 lakh crore each. Among these, ICICI Bank is very close to moving into the Rs. 2 lakh crore club.

Of the overall stock market wealth, promoters command nearly 50 per cent share, while foreign investors own close to 20 per cent and the rest is shared between institutional and retail investors from India. — PTI

SYDNEY: With players mourning the tragic death of Phillip Hughes, there is still uncertainty over whether the first Test between India and Australia will go on as per schedule next week.

The Test is scheduled to commence at Brisbane on December 4, which is just a week away, and Cricket Australia’s chief executive officer James Sutherland said the players were grieving and it was important to give them time to cope with the huge loss.

“I suppose the starting point is they are grieving, and they’ve lost someone that is incredibly close to them,” Sutherland told reporters.

“I think there is enough that we understand about grieving processes to know that it’s really important to give people time, and people will respond in different ways to what they’re going through. Six or seven days is not a long time, but right now with where we all are, it seems like a million miles away,” he added.

The cricket fraternity across the world plunged into mourning after the left-handed batsman died on Thursday, succumbing to his injuries at the St Vincent’s Hospital, where he was battled for life for two days after being hit on the head by a bouncer from Sean Abbot in a domestic match.

India’s tour game against Cricket Australia XI, which was suppose to start at Adelaide on Friday, has already been cancelled.

Sutherland insisted that the Test match would take place only when the players were mentally ready.

“I know everyone wants to know about cricket and when it goes on and what’s happening.

“We all love cricket and no one loved cricket more than Phillip. Cricket will go on and it will go on when we’re ready,” said Sutherland.

Four of those named in the Australian Test squad — David Warner, Brad Haddin, Shane Watson and Nathan Lyon — were present on the field when Hughes collapsed after being hit in the neck.

Players had gathering at the Sydney Cricket Ground here last night to reflect on the loss.

“It was a sad and quiet occasion, but it was a memorable one,” Sutherland said.

Sutherland informed that he had spoken to Hughes’s father Greg about whether Phil would have wanted the team to play on.

“I can remember just in the last few hours, conversations with Phillip’s father telling me just how much he and the family love cricket and Phillip loved cricket more than anyone,” Sutherland said. “And he would want nothing more than for the game to continue.

“But, as I said before, the game will continue at Test level when we’re ready.”

Sutherland said even if the first Test takes place, the teams would have different preparations under the current circumstances.

“We’ve been in constant contact with the officials from the Indian Cricket Board, and I’ve got to say that their understanding and empathy has been absolutely outstanding,” Sutherland said.

“They understand that these are unique and extraordinary circumstances and I guess both teams will have, if a Test match goes ahead, a very different preparation,” he added. — PTI

SYDNEY: A "broken" Sean Abbott faced rebuilding his life Friday after delivering the ball that killed Australian batsman Phillip Hughes, although Cricket Australia said the young bowler was "holding up well" given the circumstances.

The 22-year-old was doing what he always does for his state New South Wales, bowling fast, when Hughes misjudged a pull shot at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Tuesday and collapsed to the ground unconscious after being hit on the base of the skull.

He never recovered and died on Thursday after massive bleeding to the brain.

Test veteran Jason Gillespie said Abbott's personal and professional life had been turned upside down by the unprecedented tragedy.

"That lad is absolutely shaken and broken at the moment," he told Fox Sports, while former Australian captain Mark Taylor said he would be haunted by the incident.

"He's got no questions to answer but I'm sure he'll be feeling some guilt today and probably will be for a long time," he said.

"I really hope Sean can get over it and we one day see Sean back playing for NSW and maybe Australia."

Up-and-coming bowler Abbott, who made his one-day and Twenty20 debut for Australia in October, was seen cradling the injured player immediately after the incident.

Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland spoke with him on Thursday evening and said he was impressed with the way he was handling the situation, adding "this is a grieving process that will affect people in different ways".

"I think it's been fantastic the way in which people have shown concern for Sean," he said.

"What we will do and the relevant experts will do will be to provide Sean with all of the support he needs to work through this.

"But right now I can say that he is holding up very well and I'm incredibly impressed with him."

Despite this, Pakistan great Waqar Younis questioned whether Abbott, who has made no comment, would be able to continue in cricket.

"How will he continue?," Waqar, one of the outstanding fast bowlers of his generation and now Pakistan's coach, told AFP.

"He needs counselling, which I am sure must have started, and needs to stay calm."

Abbott visited Hughes in Sydney's St Vincent's Hospital and has been getting support from cricketing officials and his teammates.

Reports said Australian captain Michael Clarke and Hughes' sister Megan went out of their way to spend a significant amount of time with him this week.

While the outpouring of grief and sympathy on social media has been for Hughes, there have also been plenty of encouraging words for Abbott.

"Spare a thought for Sean Abbott," tweeted England great Ian Botham, while West Indies legend Viv Richards also sent his best wishes: "Deepest sympathy for Phillip's family, friends & associates. Sean Abbott in our thoughts & prayers also."

Former Australian Test fast bowler player Stuart Clark spent time with Abbott, who has a naturally quiet temperament, on Thursday night and said he appeared 'Ok' with at least three supporters always around him, but it was early days.

"I think it will be the hardest for him when it's quiet and there's nothing happening," he told Sky Sports radio.

"When he's sitting at home at night before he goes to bed — that's, I think, when the thoughts will start recurring in his mind." — AFP