Andhra Pradesh: High Court rejects police report on encounter
The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Friday ordered the state government to file murder charges in the killing of 20 alleged sandalwood smugglers by police in the Chittoor region on April 7. The court also rejected a report on the incident submitted by state Director-General of Police JV Ramudu. Activists had demanded a probe into the killings, describing them as a deliberate massacre. However, police officials maintained that they only retaliated in self-defence after being attacked by the alleged smugglers. The encounter strained relations between Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, with the latter saying that the killed men had been innocent labourers from the state.
Goa: Fabindia voyeurism case solved, says police
The Goa police on Friday said that they had solved the Fabindia voyeurism case filed on behalf of Union Minister Smriti Irani. The culprit was one of the four employees of the store’s outlet in Candolim arrested last week, said Karthik Kashyap, Crime Branch Superintendent of Police. The employees had been earlier granted bail by a court. Meanwhile, seven top officials of the company including its Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director were granted interim bail on Thursday till April 23. The case was filed last week after Irani said that a security camera in the store had been pointed towards its trial room.
Jharkand: Left-wing extremist leader killed in police encounter
A leader of left-wing extremist outfit People’s Liberation Front of India was killed after an encounter with police in Jharkand on Thursday night. Nicholas Pahan, an area commander of the outfit, was killed in the Kunjila village of the Khunti district of the state after he arrived at the village to execute an alleged police informer. Another member of the PLFI was injured and arrested by police, said officials. Pahan was one of the five top-most leaders of the outfit, said SN Pradhan, the Additional Director-General of Police (Operations). “He had some 25 cases against him and was called the Shooter,” he said.
Arunachal Pradesh: Home Minister defends extension of AFSPA to Assam border districts
Arunachal Pradesh Home Minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday defended the extension of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act to the districts bordering Assam by the Centre. The move would better allow security forces to chase and arrest terrorists and insurgents crossing between the two states, said Rijiju. The extension had been approved as it was found that the state police was not being able to deal effectively with insurgents from organisations such as the rebel factions of United Liberation Front of Assam, he said. However, Rijiju clarified that the state government was open to any alternative solution that did not compromise national security.
Maharashtra: Government announces close of 12 toll plazas
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the closure of 12 toll plazas in the state on Thursday. The government also moved to exempt light motor vehicles and state transport buses from paying toll at 53 plazas in the state from May 31. Fadnavis added that a decision on the levy of toll at five entry and exit points in Mumbai would be taken after a committee headed by the Additional Chief Secretary (Public Works) submitted its report on July 31.The Bharatiya Janata Party had promised a toll-free Maharashtra if it was elected to power in the state assembly elections.
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The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Friday ordered the state government to file murder charges in the killing of 20 alleged sandalwood smugglers by police in the Chittoor region on April 7. The court also rejected a report on the incident submitted by state Director-General of Police JV Ramudu. Activists had demanded a probe into the killings, describing them as a deliberate massacre. However, police officials maintained that they only retaliated in self-defence after being attacked by the alleged smugglers. The encounter strained relations between Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, with the latter saying that the killed men had been innocent labourers from the state.
Goa: Fabindia voyeurism case solved, says police
The Goa police on Friday said that they had solved the Fabindia voyeurism case filed on behalf of Union Minister Smriti Irani. The culprit was one of the four employees of the store’s outlet in Candolim arrested last week, said Karthik Kashyap, Crime Branch Superintendent of Police. The employees had been earlier granted bail by a court. Meanwhile, seven top officials of the company including its Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director were granted interim bail on Thursday till April 23. The case was filed last week after Irani said that a security camera in the store had been pointed towards its trial room.
Jharkand: Left-wing extremist leader killed in police encounter
A leader of left-wing extremist outfit People’s Liberation Front of India was killed after an encounter with police in Jharkand on Thursday night. Nicholas Pahan, an area commander of the outfit, was killed in the Kunjila village of the Khunti district of the state after he arrived at the village to execute an alleged police informer. Another member of the PLFI was injured and arrested by police, said officials. Pahan was one of the five top-most leaders of the outfit, said SN Pradhan, the Additional Director-General of Police (Operations). “He had some 25 cases against him and was called the Shooter,” he said.
Arunachal Pradesh: Home Minister defends extension of AFSPA to Assam border districts
Arunachal Pradesh Home Minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday defended the extension of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act to the districts bordering Assam by the Centre. The move would better allow security forces to chase and arrest terrorists and insurgents crossing between the two states, said Rijiju. The extension had been approved as it was found that the state police was not being able to deal effectively with insurgents from organisations such as the rebel factions of United Liberation Front of Assam, he said. However, Rijiju clarified that the state government was open to any alternative solution that did not compromise national security.
Maharashtra: Government announces close of 12 toll plazas
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the closure of 12 toll plazas in the state on Thursday. The government also moved to exempt light motor vehicles and state transport buses from paying toll at 53 plazas in the state from May 31. Fadnavis added that a decision on the levy of toll at five entry and exit points in Mumbai would be taken after a committee headed by the Additional Chief Secretary (Public Works) submitted its report on July 31.The Bharatiya Janata Party had promised a toll-free Maharashtra if it was elected to power in the state assembly elections.
