TN: Two tonnes of explosives seized in Coimbatore, rising security concerns

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Chennai, Aug 26 (IANS) In a major operation, the Coimbatore Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) intercepted a pickup van carrying nearly two tonnes of gelatin sticks at Madukkarai, Coimbatore, on Tuesday. The seizure has triggered alarm given Coimbatore’s violent past, including the 1998 serial bomb blasts that killed 58 people during a planned assassination attempt on then Deputy Prime Minister and BJP leader L.K. Advani.The ATS team, led by Inspector Karuppasamy Pandian, stopped the vehicle while it …

Border villages being developed as key security tools: HM Amit Shah

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New Delhi, Aug 26 (IANS) Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Tuesday that villages identified early under the Vibrant Villages Programme will prove to be very significant tools to protect the country and its borders.Addressing the inaugural session of the two-day Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP) workshop, HM Shah said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, by designating the last village of the country as the first village, has changed our perspective towards border villages.He said not only would ever…

Punjab: Target killing module busted, two juveniles among four held

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Chandigarh, Aug 26 (IANS) In an intelligence-led operation, Punjab Police have averted a target killing by busting an organised crime module involved in multiple heinous crimes with the arrest of its four members, including two juveniles, Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said here on Tuesday. Those arrested have been identified as Vishal Masih and Vishal William, along with two juveniles. They were arrested from Salimpur Afghana village in Gurdaspur district. The police have also re…

Odisha govt issues nominations for Shree Jagannatha Temple Managing Committee; former CAG also nominated

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Bhubaneswar, Aug 26 (IANS) The Odisha government has finally nominated new members to the Shree Jagannatha Temple Managing Committee, according to a notification issued by the State Law Department on Tuesday. The state government on Tuesday announced the list of nominations more than one year after the expiry of the tenure of the previous managing committee members. The state government issued a notification under the provisions of the Shree Jagannath Temple Act, 1954 (Odisha Act 11 of 1955). Th…

Tirumala temple to be closed on Sep 7 due to lunar eclipse

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Tirupati, Aug 26 (IANS) The famous Sri Venkateswara Temple in Andhra Pradesh’s Tirupati will remain closed on September 7 due to a lunar eclipse.The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), which manages the affairs of the hill shrine, announced on Tuesday that the temple doors will be closed from 3.30 p.m. on September 7 till 3 a.m. on September 8.As per the tradition, the TTD closes the temple six hours prior to a lunar eclipse, it said.The temple body said the doors will be reopened at 3 a.m. on …

Kolkata Police summon doctors leading protest marches over RG Kar rape and murder incident

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Kolkata, Aug 26 (IANS) The Kolkata Police, on Tuesday, summoned two doctors, who were at the forefront of the protests following the rape and murder of a post-graduate trainee at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital last year. The summons have been sent to doctors Manas Gumta and Subarna Goswami in connection with one case registered last year at the Bowbazar police station.While Gumta has been asked to appear before a police officer of the Bowbazar police station on September 3, Goswam…

Solar energy set to light up Varanasi Cantt railway station

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Varanasi, Aug 26 (IANS) Varanasi Cantt railway station is all set to go green and the whole complex will be seen lighting up with solar energy, as early as by the year-end. The railway authorities have taken up the task to install 2,800 solar panels of 700-kilowatt capacity at the Cantt railway station. The facility, when operational, will not only save electricity but will also set a new precedent in generating clean and green energy, thereby protecting the environment.The Banaras Locomotive Wo…

Fake racket busted in Bengal, five held for impersonating CBI, ED officials

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Kolkata, Aug 26 (IANS) The West Bengal Police, on Tuesday, busted a fake racket operating in the Diamond Harbour city of South 24 Parganas district and arrested five persons in connection with the fraudulent company, police said. According to the police, the accused were impersonating officers of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Enforcement Directorate (ED), Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Narcotics Department to intimidate local businessmen and extort money.To make it …

Manipur Naga bodies meet MHA officials, oppose scrapping of old FMR, India-Myanmar border fencing

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New Delhi/Imphal, Aug 26 (IANS) Officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and leaders of three Naga groups in Manipur held a meeting over the demand for reinstatement of the old Free Movement Regime (FMR) and stoppage of the ongoing fencing along the India-Myanmar border.The MHA official team was led by A. K. Mishra, advisor to the MHA on Northeast Affairs, while the 11-member Naga delegation was headed by United Naga Council (UNC) President Ng. Lorho and comprised representatives of the U…

Congress ran commission govt, we believe in ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’: Rajasthan CM

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Jaipur, Aug 26 (IANS) Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, on the second day of the MP-MLA dialogue programme, held discussions on the state’s development roadmap with public representatives and BJP district presidents of Nagaur, Jodhpur, Barmer, Jalore-Sirohi, Pali, Bikaner, Sriganganagar, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Churu, Jaipur (City & Rural), Alwar, Ajmer, and Dausa at his residence. The Chief Minister said that while the previous Congress government was marked by corruption and commissi…