Muzaffarnagar riots: Four accused arrested, property of two others attached

MUZAFFARNAGAR: Four persons accused in the riots here have been arrested while properties of two absconding accused have been attached, police said on Thursday.

Ompal, Sachin, Lala and Bala — accused of murder and rioting in Bahawdi village during last year's violence in the district — were arrested in Bahawdi village in the district yesterday, they said.

Meanwhile, properties of two other accused in Bahawdi village violence case, who are absconding, have been attached.

On the direction of a local court, immovable property of the accused Jaspal and Satinder have been attached, the police said.

Notably, scores of riots accused in various cases of last year's violence in villages Bahawdi, Phugana, Kutba and Mohammadpur are still at large and court has initiated attachment proceedings against them.

About 62 persons died and 93 injured while several others were displaced in the riots that broke out in Muzaffarnagar district in August last year.

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Computer glitch at California air traffic control centre disrupts US flights

LOS ANGELES: A computer glitch at a California air traffic control center disrupted flights in the United States for about an hour on Wednesday, authorities said.

Shortly after 2100 GMT, the US Federal Aviation Administration ordered the halting of departures from and to the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and all other airports in southern California.

"The FAA's Los Angeles Center air traffic control facility experienced technical issues and stopped accepting additional flights into the airspace managed by the facility for about an hour," the FAA said in a statement.

"Some flights were diverted and the agency issued a nationwide groundstop for flights heading into the airspace managed by the center."

The groundstop was lifted shortly before 2230 GMT but significant delays were expected to last for some time, especially in Los Angeles and San Diego.

Roughly 10 aircraft bound for Los Angeles were rerouted, airport authorities said, while about 30 planes were kept from taking off due to the technical issue.

Some passengers already on board grounded flights were allowed to disembark while the problem was taken care of.

LAX is the third busiest airport in the United States and hosted more than 66 million passengers in 2013, according to official figures.

Some East Coast airports such as Washington's Dulles International also saw delays Wednesday due to wet weather.

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May Day clashes expected in Istanbul

ISTANBUL: Thousands of demonstrators are gathering in Istanbul in observance of May Day, with many pledging to defy a government ban on protests in the central Taksim Square.

Demonstrators are massing at different spots throughout the city, as well as in other cities in Turkey. In Istanbul, clashes are expected with protesters determined to mark International Workers' Day in Taksim, the city's most iconic square.

Before being declared a national holiday in 2009, May 1 was a day of conflict that often led to violence across Turkey.

Taksim carries significant importance for May Day, which is also known as Labor Day. In 1977, 34 people were killed in the square when shots were fired into the crowd from a nearby building.

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Rs 4.52 crore cash, liquor seized during election checks

RAJAHMUNDRY (AP): Cash over Rs 4.5 crore and liquor have been seized as a part of election raids in various parts of East Godavari district.

"So far, Rs 4,52,90,000 cash, liquor and other material have been seized from various persons as part of election raids in the district. The raids are continuing in the district, and police squads have intensified checking of vehicles at various check posts," East Godavari District Collector Neetu Prasad said in a statement.

Prasad advised people to carry proof while carrying huge amounts.

She said 4,056 polling stations will be set up in the district for the Lok Sabha election in three constituencies — Amalapuram, Rajahmundry and Kakinada and 19 assembly seats to be held on May 7.

There are 37,98,181 voters in the district, she said adding that 18,200 employees have exercised their franchise through 'postal ballot' in the three parliamentary constituencies, as they are appointed on election duty in several parts of the district.

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Rs 4.52 crore cash, liquor seized during election checks

RAJAHMUNDRY (AP): Cash over Rs 4.5 crore and liquor have been seized as a part of election raids in various parts of East Godavari district.

"So far, Rs 4,52,90,000 cash, liquor and other material have been seized from various persons as part of election raids in the district. The raids are continuing in the district, and police squads have intensified checking of vehicles at various check posts," East Godavari District Collector Neetu Prasad said in a statement.

Prasad advised people to carry proof while carrying huge amounts.

She said 4,056 polling stations will be set up in the district for the Lok Sabha election in three constituencies — Amalapuram, Rajahmundry and Kakinada and 19 assembly seats to be held on May 7.

There are 37,98,181 voters in the district, she said adding that 18,200 employees have exercised their franchise through 'postal ballot' in the three parliamentary constituencies, as they are appointed on election duty in several parts of the district.

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Pentagon praises Indian developmental assistance in Afghanistan

WASHINGTON: The Pentagon has praised India's significant contribution in the peaceful development of Afghanistan, aimed at securing a stable region and facilitating economic corridors into Central Asia.

India and Afghanistan signed a strategic partnership declaration in 2011, which formalised cooperation on governance, economics, commerce, education, public administration, and security/law enforcement, it said in a report submitted to the US Congress.

Subsequent engagements are reinforcing the positive relationship between Afghanistan and India, it said.

Noting that India supports a variety of high-visibility projects and initiatives in Afghanistan, the report said these ventures are primarily focused on major infrastructure projects, including electricity generation and transmission, road construction, and mining.

"India is showing increased interest in Afghan security assistance, though activities in this area remain limited. India currently offers India-based training to Afghan national security forces (ANSF) personnel across a number of specialties, and the Indian government committed to expand this programme. India does not provide direct military support or training in Afghanistan," the Pentagon said.

The report further said, Pakistan shows a willingness to cooperate on some key US goals, including publicly committing to playing a positive role in a genuine Afghan-led reconciliation process and providing essential support to US retrograde operations from Afghanistan, adding that Pakistan continues to cooperate on some counter-terrorism activities.

"The Pakistani military made limited gains against Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other anti-Pakistan militant groups in the FATA and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which led TTP to engage in negotiations with the government. However, Pakistan did not take significant action against Afghan or India-focused militant groups," the report said.

In its report, the Pentagon also praised the Afghan national security forces for their conduct in the recent presidential elections.

"Afghan security forces held their own against the insurgency, sustained the gains made in the 2013 fighting season and successfully secured the presidential and provincial council elections on April 5, 2014," it said.

"Despite insurgent intent to disrupt the election process, ANSF layered security operations prevented high-profile attacks across the country and voter turnout was high. The large rise in attacks preceding previous Afghan elections did not occur," it said.

According to the Pentagon, the Taliban-led insurgency failed to achieve its stated operational objectives over the reporting period.

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Nearly 37% polling recorded in Uttar Pradesh till 1pm

LUCKNOW: Nearly 37% voters exercised their franchise till 1 PM in Uttar Pradesh, where polling is underway in 14 seats to decide the fate of 233 candidates.

UP governor B L Joshi, BSP supremo Mayawati, Congress candidate from Lucknow Rita Bahuguna Joshi, BJP national president Rajnath Singh and party leader Kalraj Mishra were among those who exercised their franchise.

Dhaurahra witnessed 44.2% polling in the first four hours while Sitapur and Mishrikh recorded 39.8 and 34.4% polling respectively.

Unnao recorded 32.71% polling, Mohanlalganj 36%, Lucknow 34.1%, Rae Bareli 30.4%, Kanpur 35.68%, Jalaun 34.6%, Jhansi 44.2%, Hamirpur 36.71%, Banda 33.14%, Fatehpur and Barabanki had 40.1 and 39.15% respectively.

In Sitapur an FIR has been lodged against SP MLA Rampal Yadav after he entered into an altercation with CRPF jawan Dharampal Singh at Nauabehad polling booth in Biswan area.

The fate of 233 candidates will be decided by 2.46 crore voters that include 1.34 crore men and 1.12 crore women.

A total of 25,485 polling centres have been set up in which 3554 have been identified as critical. The focus would be on Rae Bareli and Lucknow seats from where Congress President Sonia Gandhi and BJP President Rajnath Singh are in the fray.

Gandhi, who is contesting from her traditional Rae Bareli, has no major contestant against her with SP deciding not to field its candidate against her.

The prestigious Lucknow seat, which is in the limelight with the entry of the BJP's national president, is set to witness a tricky contest.

Rajnath, who is facing a four-cornered fight, has two tasks at hand - first to maintain legacy of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and second to ensure a victory margin matching with his political stature.

Meanwhile, to see the polling exercise British High Commissioner James David Bevan on Wednesday reached Lucknow and visited a number of polling centres.

According to official sources he also visited the election commission office and met Governor Joshi, Rajnath, Mayawati and Rita Joshi.

He is also scheduled to visit Rae Bareli parliamentary constituency of Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

District Magistrate Rae Bareli Aditi Singh had informed that Bevan would visit polling booth at Dayanand PG College in Bachrawan town to see the polling process for the Lok Sabha elections.

After this he would visit polling centre at Kendriya Vidyalaya at Gora Bazar in Rae Bareli city, she said.

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Cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara comes from Dubai to Rajkot to cast his vote

RAJKOT: Cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara, who has been playing in IPL in Dubai, set an example as he returned to Rajkot just to cast his vote on Wednesday.

Pujara would return to Dubai later today.

Cheteshwar Pujara belongs to Rajkot city and the state Election Commission had roped him as both its "icon" and "brand ambassador" for the parliamentary polls in Rajkot district.

Rajkot district collector Rajendra Kumar said he is proud that Pujara flew back home just to cast his vote and inspire others to vote.

'It is everyone's duty to vote for our new government and I also urge young and old alike to spare their valuable time and go for voting'' Pujara told reporters after voting.

Pujara was accompanied by his wife Pooja.

The voting is underway in the seven Lok Sabha constituencies in Saurashtra region peacefully.

The Rajkot district administration is hopeful that Pujara's appeal will motivate voters to come out in large numbers.

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JD(U)'s Sharad Yadav alleges use of money to influence media

MADHEPURA, BIHAR: With his fate being decided by voters in Madhepura on Wednesday, JD(U) president Sharad Yadav alleged that rival parties were using money power to influence the media.

"Media me thaili ka khub khel hua hain (money power has been used to use media)," Yadav told reporters after casting his vote at the Adarash Madhya Vidyalaya here.

Locked in a triangular fight with Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav of RJD and Vijay Singh Kushwaha of BJP, Yadav, who is making a bid to enter the Lok Sabha for the fifth term from the Yadav-dominated Madhepura constituency, refused to comment on rivals.

"I have fought ideologically against Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and others. Why do you lower my prestige by making these leaders (Pappu Yadav and Vijay Singh Kushwaha) my rivals," he said.

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Cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara comes from Dubai to Rajkot to cast his vote

RAJKOT: Cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara, who has been playing in IPL in Dubai, set an example as he returned to Rajkot just to cast his vote on Wednesday.

Pujara would return to Dubai later today.

Cheteshwar Pujara belongs to Rajkot city and the state Election Commission had roped him as both its "icon" and "brand ambassador" for the parliamentary polls in Rajkot district.

Rajkot district collector Rajendra Kumar said he is proud that Pujara flew back home just to cast his vote and inspire others to vote.

'It is everyone's duty to vote for our new government and I also urge young and old alike to spare their valuable time and go for voting'' Pujara told reporters after voting.

Pujara was accompanied by his wife Pooja.

The voting is underway in the seven Lok Sabha constituencies in Saurashtra region peacefully.

The Rajkot district administration is hopeful that Pujara's appeal will motivate voters to come out in large numbers.

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