QBullet: Confusion Over Terrorist’s ISIS Link; Aseemanand Let Off
Read The Quint’s compilation of the top stories making the headlines in national dailies across the country.
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1. Lucknow Encounter: Centre Miffed With Uttar Pradesh Police for ‘Jumping to Conclusions’ on ISIS Link
Uttar Pradesh Police commandos shot dead early on Wednesday a lone gunman who they said was influenced by the ISIS terrorist group.
The death ended a 13-hour standoff in a crowded locality on the outskirts of Lucknow, which left many questions unanswered and prompted the Centre to censure Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh Police for “jumping to conclusions”.
“Officials in both states should have exercised restraint before airing premature comments. We may hand the probe into the Bhopal-Ujjain passenger train blast and subsequent arrests and the encounter to the National Investigation Agency (NIA),” a senior Home Ministry official said in New Delhi.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
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2. He is a Traitor, Won’t Accept Body for Last Rites, Says Slain Terrorist’s Father
The father of terror suspect Saifullah, killed in a 12-hour gunbattle in Lucknow early on Wednesday , said his son was a traitor and refused to accept his body to perform last rites. Sai fullah's brother said he pleaded with him to surrender, but he didn't listen.
“I heard about the death of my son in the encounter,” said Sartaj, who works at a tannery in Jajamau area here. “He brought infamy not only to us but the entire nation. Jo kaam usne kiya... hum usse naraaz hain. Aise deshdrohi ki laash hum nahin lenge (what he did has angered us. We won't accept the body of a traitor).”
(Source: The Times of India)
3. Swami Aseemanand Acquitted in Ajmer Blast Case as NIA Convicts Three
A special NIA court on Wednesday acquitted key accused Swami Aseemanand in the 2007 Ajmer blast case. It also gave a clean chit to two others. The court, however, found three – Sunil Joshi (dead), Devendra Gupta, Bhavesh Patel – guilty and they have been convicted in the case. Patel and Gupta were fined Rs 1 lakh each, the quantum of punishment will be pronounced by the court on 16 March.
Magistrate Dinesh Gupta, had in February this year, adjourned the hearing as the court needed more time to study all documents submitted by the prosecution and the defence.
The case was handed over to ATS Rajasthan and was later transferred to NIA which re-registered the case with the NIA police station in New Delhi on 6 April 2011.
(Source: The Indian Express)
4. Phase-Wearied UP Polls End in a Crescendo
Three back-to-back roadshows in a city by a prime minister are unheard of, but when it comes to poll campaigning, Narendra Modi is hardly a traditionalist.
He took Varanasi by a storm, talking about his special bond with the holy Hindu city, which is part of his Lok Sabha constituency. But the BJP’s carpet bombing of Varanasi also betrayed signs of nervousness.
“We can’t afford to lose Varansi even if we win Uttar Pradesh,” a BJP leader said.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
5. Two Pakistani Schoolkids Arrested For Uri Strike Set Free
Two Pakistani teenagers named in an Indian government dossier as having facilitated the “infiltration of a group of four Jaish-e-Muhammad cadre who carried out the army camp attack”, are being returned home after the National Investigation Agency informed a court on Wednesday that it did not have evidence to prosecute them.
(Source: The Indian Express)
6. Delhi Budget 2017 Highlights: Focus Remains on Education, Health; No New Tax
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister on Wednesday presented the Rs 48,000-crore budget for the national capital, with major thrust on improving health, water distribution, transport, health and education infrastructure.
Delhi’s newly-appointed Governor Anil Baijal opened the five-day Budget session outlining the AAP government’s work in the last two years.
This was also the first time when Sisodia, who also holds the finance portfolio, additionally presented an ‘outcome budget’, which he elaborated as something like a ‘contract’ between the people and the government. Taking aim at the Centre’s demonetisation move last year, Sisodia noted the initiative led to contraction in the city’s estimated GSDP for the ongoing financial year (at constant prices). But he asserted that despite demonetisation, the state’s economy will grow.
(Source: The Indian Express)
7. Aadhaar Now Mandatory For Army Pensions and Free Cooking Gas Connections
The Union government has made the 12-digit Unique Identification (UID) number must for poor women to get cooking gas connections and defence pensioners to receive their payments, in notifications released this week.
The move is expected to draw criticism from activists who say the enrolment to the Aadhaar programme should not be a condition to receive state benefits.
Women below the poverty line (BPL) will need to present their Aadhaar cards if they want free cooking gas (LPG) connections under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), a gazette notification said.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
8. ICC to Not Take Action Against Virat Kohli, Steve Smith Over DRS Controversy
The International Cricket Council has decided not to take action against India Test captain Virat Kohli and his Australian counterpart Steve Smith over the ongoing DRS controversy. Here’s what the international cricket body said in a statement:
“The ICC has considered both incidents in the context of this match and concluded it will be taking no further action against either player. The ICC has confirmed that no charges have been laid against any player under the ICC Code of Conduct following the second Test match between India and Australia in Bengaluru.”
(Source: The Indian Express)
9. New Airline, 100% Owned by Qatar, Heads for Indian Skies
India may soon get its first fully-foreign owned airline after the Modi government allowed 100% FDI in the sector last June. Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker said in Berlin Wednesday that he plans to start an airline in India with the investment arm of Qatar government.
A Qatar Airways spokesperson quoted the CEO saying that since India now allows 100% FDI, he plans to do so with Qatar Investment Authority. Baker also said that he will be making an application to launch a domestic airline in India soon.
(Source: The Times of India)
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