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T E R R O R AT TA C K
FIR by Pakistan in Pathankot attack case a ‘step forward’ NEW DELHI: Lodging of an FIR by Pakistani authorities in the Pathankot terror attack case is seen by India as a “step forward” in bringing the perpetrators of the strike to justice. The FIR was filed against “unknown persons” though India had named JeM chief Masood Azhar as mastermind of the strike. The Pathankot attack had led to the postponement of IndiaPakistan Foreign Secretary-level talks. It is a “step forward” in investigation and to bring the perpetrators of the attack to book, official sources said. The FIR was registered at Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) centre in Gujranwala, Punjab province, on Thursday, after weeks of investigation into the case. According to a CTD official, the FIR was needed to start po-
lice and judicial proceedings on the basis of evidence collected in connection with the attack for which India has blamed on Jaishe-Mohammed militant group. India has identified Azhar as the mastermind of the attack. It has also blamed his brother Rauf and five others for carrying out the attack. The FIR has been lodged on the basis of information provided by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval that four attackers probably crossed from Pakistan into India and attacked the airbase on January 2. The FIR number 06/2016 was lodged under sections 302, 324 and 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code, and sections 7 and 21-I of the Anti-Terrorism Act. The FIR also mentions the telephone numbers contacted by the militants during the attack. - PTI
MAHARASHTRA GOVERNMENT’S APPEAL
Top court seeks Salman’s reply in hit-and-run case NEW DELHI: Supreme Court on Friday sought the response from Bollywood superstar Salman Khan on Maharashtra government’s appeal against his acquittal in the 2002 hit-and-run case, observing that exoneration from the top court would “vindicate him once and for all”. “Acquittal from this Court is important. If you (Salman Khan) are acquitted from here, you will be vindicated once and for all,” a bench comprising justices J. S. Khehar and C. Nagappan said while issuing notice to the noted actor on the plea of the government of Maharshtra. Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the state, said the Bombay High Court had
erred on two points while acquitting the filmstar. “Firstly, the High Court had erred in its finding by holding that there was ‘erroneous application’ of Section 33 of Evidence Act (relevancy of certain evidence for proving, in subsequent proceeding, the truth of facts therein stated) by the trial court,” he said. Rohtagi said that on second count, the High Court had erred by holding that the prosecution witness Ravindra Patil, a constable who was guarding the actor and had first called the police, was not a “wholly reliable witness” and his version needed corroboration with accounts of other witnesses. - PTI
A5
INDIA
Army called in as Jat quota stir turns ugly Seeing the situation going out of control, security personnel opened fire in which one person was killed and around 21 others were injured, police officials said
ROHTAK (Haryana) One person was killed and 21 others were injured when a protest by Jats for quota turned violent here, prompting the security personnel to open fire on the rampaging mobs who attacked the house of state’s finance minister besides indulging in arson. Haryana DGP said army has been called in to control the situation. The protesters who had gathered at the Rohtak bye-pass road of Delhi Hissar National Highway turned violent and allegedly attacked police vehicles which were parked there in which window panes were damaged, officials said. The security personnel deployed there had to use force, including firing, to control the violent mob which also attacked the nearby private residence of Haryana Finance Minister Abhimanyu. A car parked outside the house was also set on fire by the mob which pelted stones on the house besides attempting to set it on fire, police said. Seeing the situation going out of control, security personnel opened fire in which one person was killed and around 21 others were injured, police said. “There is one death of an unidentified person because of (suspected) bullet injuries,” said
UP IN ARMS: Members of the Jat community set fire to a truck during their agitation for education and job reservation in Rohtak on Friday. - PTI
authorities of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Science and Hospital. Twenty one injured people, including one critical, have been admitted to the hospital, its authorities added. Police and paramilitary personnel used force against protesters after they allegedly turned violent and went on rampage. The Circuit House and the office of Inspector General of Police (IGP), Rohtak were also attacked by the protesters who pelted stones on the buildings. A car parked at the IGP office was also damaged, officials said. A police vehicle and some private vehicles, including a two wheeler, were also set on fire. The scooter of a person who was taking a sick to a local hospital was also set on fire by the protesters. Elsewhere in various places in the northern-Indian state of Haryana, protesters deflated tyres of cars of a number of people trying to travel on various National and State Highways in the state. The main impact of the Jats’ agi-
tation is in various districts of the state including Rohtak, Jhajjar, Bhiwani, Hissar, Fatehabad, Karnal, Jind, Yamuna Nagar, Sirsa and Gurgaon where road transport has come to a halt. Haryana Roadways has suspended its local and inter-state bus services in the affected districts. Mobile Internet services have also been suspended in various districts including Rohtak and Jhajjar. Besides Haryana Police, personnel of Central Para Military Forces (CPMF) personnel have been deployed in various districts, including the worst affected Rohtak. Senior civil and police officers held a meeting at the state headquarters in Chandigarh to review the situation arising out of the violence being reported from various parts of the state. Reports of violence at various places started coming in shortly after the all party meeting convened by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. The participants at the meeting
besides raising the demand of reservation for Jats also appealed to people to maintain peace and law and order in the state. Disruptions caused by the ongoing Jat quota stir have caused a loss of Rs2 billion to the Indian railways as the schedules of more than 600 passenger and freight trains were hit, a railway ministry official said. According to railways, the running of 124 passenger trains and about 500 freight trains has been affected since the launch of the Jat agitation on February 15. The financial loss so far due to cancellation of passenger trains and disruption of freight service is about Rs2 billion, a senior railway ministry official said. The agitation has affected train services in the Northern and North-West zones, the official said. “We had to cancel many important trains, including the Jammu Rajdhani and Vaishnodevi Katra train and Shatabdi trains to Chandigrah, Kalka and Amristsar,” said the official. - PTI