India, Pakistan to discuss ceasefire violations
The Director-Generals of India’s Border Security Force and the Pakistan Rangers are likely to hold a meeting early next month to discuss the increase in the number of ceasefire violations along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. “The two border forces need to talk to each other so that more lives are not lost,” a top Indian official said, adding that the meeting was likely to take place on September 6. The development came a day after Pakistan called off National Security Adviser-level talks with India, which had been agreed upon by the leaders of both countries during a conference in the Russian city of Ufa. Islamabad cancelled the meeting citing the “preconditions set by India” for the talks, which included providing an assurance that Pakistani NSA Sartaj Aziz would not meet with separatists from Jammu and Kashmir.
Irani accuses Rahul of land-grabbing
Union Minister Smriti Irani on Sunday levelled land-grabbing charges against Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi and his family. Addressing a rally at Amethi, Gandhi’s constituency, Irani questioned the alleged sale of a piece of land meant for a bicycle factory to a trust run by the Congress leader’s family. She also accused Gandhi of being a liar, saying that he had failed to deliver on several promises made to his constituents, including the building of a railway line in Amethi. The Congress refuted Irani’s allegations, calling them “absolutely wild and baseless”.
India planned covert operation to ‘target’ Dawood
Former Home Secretary and Bharatiya Janata Party leader RK Singh on Sunday said that India had planned a covert operation to target underworld don Dawood Ibrahim. However, Singh said that the operation was compromised by allegedly corrupt Mumbai Police officials. The BJP leader said that the Indian government had been training members from the gang of Dawood’s rival, Chota Rajan, for the operation. However, police officials allegedly paid off by Dawood’s gang arrested the covert operatives before the operation could take place. The former Home Secretary’s remarks came a day after several news reports published the details of an Indian dossier on the underworld don, who is allegedly hiding in Pakistan.
Over half of India has received normal rainfall: IMD
The Indian Meteorological Department on Sunday said that over half of India had received normal rainfall, with an overall deficiency of 9% being recorded in the country as a whole. The Met department said that while 58% of the country had received normal rainfall, 29% had witnessed a deficient monsoon, with the remaining 13% receiving excess rains. The Department said that at least 13 out of 36 sub-divisions in the country had received below-normal levels of rain, with the northern interior of Karnataka and the Marathwada region of Maharashtra being the worst-affected. The Department had earlier forecasted an overall shortfall of 12% for the country.
Five killed after truck hits train in Andhra Pradesh
At least five people including Karnataka Congress MLA AAV Naik were killed and 20 others injured after a truck crashed into a train in the Anantpur district of Andhra Pradesh on Monday. Officials said that the granite-loaded truck lost control and crashed into the coaches of the Bengaluru-Nanded Express at a level crossing. Railways Public Relations Officer Anil Saxena said that four coaches of the train derailed due to the accident.
The Director-Generals of India’s Border Security Force and the Pakistan Rangers are likely to hold a meeting early next month to discuss the increase in the number of ceasefire violations along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. “The two border forces need to talk to each other so that more lives are not lost,” a top Indian official said, adding that the meeting was likely to take place on September 6. The development came a day after Pakistan called off National Security Adviser-level talks with India, which had been agreed upon by the leaders of both countries during a conference in the Russian city of Ufa. Islamabad cancelled the meeting citing the “preconditions set by India” for the talks, which included providing an assurance that Pakistani NSA Sartaj Aziz would not meet with separatists from Jammu and Kashmir.
Irani accuses Rahul of land-grabbing
Union Minister Smriti Irani on Sunday levelled land-grabbing charges against Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi and his family. Addressing a rally at Amethi, Gandhi’s constituency, Irani questioned the alleged sale of a piece of land meant for a bicycle factory to a trust run by the Congress leader’s family. She also accused Gandhi of being a liar, saying that he had failed to deliver on several promises made to his constituents, including the building of a railway line in Amethi. The Congress refuted Irani’s allegations, calling them “absolutely wild and baseless”.
India planned covert operation to ‘target’ Dawood
Former Home Secretary and Bharatiya Janata Party leader RK Singh on Sunday said that India had planned a covert operation to target underworld don Dawood Ibrahim. However, Singh said that the operation was compromised by allegedly corrupt Mumbai Police officials. The BJP leader said that the Indian government had been training members from the gang of Dawood’s rival, Chota Rajan, for the operation. However, police officials allegedly paid off by Dawood’s gang arrested the covert operatives before the operation could take place. The former Home Secretary’s remarks came a day after several news reports published the details of an Indian dossier on the underworld don, who is allegedly hiding in Pakistan.
Over half of India has received normal rainfall: IMD
The Indian Meteorological Department on Sunday said that over half of India had received normal rainfall, with an overall deficiency of 9% being recorded in the country as a whole. The Met department said that while 58% of the country had received normal rainfall, 29% had witnessed a deficient monsoon, with the remaining 13% receiving excess rains. The Department said that at least 13 out of 36 sub-divisions in the country had received below-normal levels of rain, with the northern interior of Karnataka and the Marathwada region of Maharashtra being the worst-affected. The Department had earlier forecasted an overall shortfall of 12% for the country.
Five killed after truck hits train in Andhra Pradesh
At least five people including Karnataka Congress MLA AAV Naik were killed and 20 others injured after a truck crashed into a train in the Anantpur district of Andhra Pradesh on Monday. Officials said that the granite-loaded truck lost control and crashed into the coaches of the Bengaluru-Nanded Express at a level crossing. Railways Public Relations Officer Anil Saxena said that four coaches of the train derailed due to the accident.
Buy an annual Scroll Membership to support independent journalism and get special benefits.
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!