- Latest Popular Stories, Instablogs Community by Soni_puneet

Modi Abused Jaffery when he Called for Help: Guj Riots Witness

Puneet — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:22:37 +0000

A witness in the 2002 post-Godhra riot case in Gulbarg society has told a court that ex-MP Ehsan Jaffery, who was killed in the incident, had called up Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi for help but got disappointment.

Imtiaz Pathan, a first witness who deposed in the Gulbarg riot case in the last couple of days, claimed Jaffery, in whose house they had taken shelter during the riots, had called up Modi for help.

Weight watch jogged Beena Dedhia to death

Puneet — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 05:54:08 +0000

Every morning over the last one month, Beena Dedhia (39), would wake up early and go for a walk with her husband Jitin (44).

Beena wanted to bring her weight under control and believed regular morning walks would help her.

But yesterday, when Beena and Jitin were walking on Sai Baba Road, Parel, at 5.45 am, she was stabbed to death by two men on a motorbike who tried to snatch her gold chain.

When the couple tried to stop them, one robber stabbed Beena in the stomach and the other man hit Jitin with a sharp weapon. A neighbour of the Dedhias said, “Beena had started her morning walks just a month ago to lose weight.”

Indian rules for Edwina-Nehru film: no kissing, no holding hands, no love

Puneet — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 09:52:20 +0000

The deep and passionate relationship between India’s first prime minister and the wife of the country’s last viceroy is one of the worst-kept secrets of the Raj. Enduring and complex, the bond between Jawaharlal Nehru and Edwina Mountbatten lasted until the end of their lives. When she died in 1960, letters from Nehru were scattered across her bed, and when she was buried at sea in the English Channel, he dispatched a frigate all the way from India to drop a wreath of marigolds into the waves.

Yet all these years on, the relationship continues to create controversy. The Indian government, headed by the Congress Party that Nehru once led, has reportedly ordered the producers of a film based on the relationship to rewrite certain drafted scenes if they wish to receive permission to film here

Priests becoming predators; Now Canada bishop faces porn charges

Puneet — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 10:19:57 +0000

A Roman Catholic bishop facing charges of possessing child pornography has turned himself in to Canadian police.

Bishop Raymond Lahey made no comment as he arrived at an Ottawa police station. He was later released on bail.

He had resigned from his position as bishop in the diocese of Antigonish, Nova Scotia, on Saturday.

In August, he oversaw a multi-million dollar settlement over child sex abuse allegations by priests in the diocese dating back to the 1950s.

At the time, he apologised to the victims and their families on behalf of the Roman Catholic Church, saying he hoped “to never again have to deal with such reprehensible behaviour”.

Engine of Air-India plane catches fire

Puneet — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:04:08 +0000

The fire was immediately put off and all passengers were safely evacuated, a Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) spokesperson said.

Hakimullah Mehsud: The New Head of Pakistan's Taliban

Puneet — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 10:20:15 +0000

The Taliban has ravaged Pakistan, but its leadership is in tatters. After weeks of denials, two Pakistani Taliban commanders admitted on Aug. 25 that the group’s chief, Baitullah Mehsud, had been killed in an Aug. 5 U.S. missile strike. The commanders also confirmed reports that Hakimullah Mehsud, a regional chieftain close to Baitullah and one of the organization’s rising stars, had been tapped to take the top job.

Sri Lanka-LTTE war: Footage shows execution of Tamils by troops

Puneet — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 10:45:07 +0000

Sri Lanka “categorically denied” that its troops were involved in war crimes against Tamils after a video surfaced allegedly showing a government soldier shooting two naked men in the back of the head.

The footage, shown on British and Indian television, showed a man in a distinctive army outfit shooting the men, who appear naked, bound and blindfolded, in the back of the head.

Later, the camera pans to show a muddy field littered with the bodies of half a dozen men in pools of their own blood.

The Guardian could not verify the contents of the video which had been obtained by a group called the Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka, believed to be made up of Sinhalese and Tamil reporters, some of whom fled the island after the Sri Lankan army crushed the rebel Tamil Tigers.

Unique ID numbers in 12-18 months

Puneet — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 11:49:46 +0000

High-profile Information Technology expert and Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani on Thursday took charge as Chairman of the newly created Unique Identification Authority of India (UIAI) and promised to roll out the first set of unique identification numbers within 12-18 months.

Speaking to the media at his office in Yojana Bhavan here, he said: “In the next 12 to 18 months, we will be issuing the first set of unique identification numbers …The Finance Minister [Pranab Mukherjee] in his budget speech has said that the ID numbers would be issued in 12-18 months. We take that as [a] very strong direction and commitment. So we intend to abide by that.”

Superb India overwhelm Pakistan

Puneet — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 09:45:31 +0000

India secured an impressive nine-wicket victory over fierce rivals Pakistan at the Oval in their final warm-up match for the ICC World Twenty20.

Pakistan posted 158 for six but India cruised home with 18 balls to spare thanks to openers Rohit Sharma (80) and Gautum Gambhir (52 not out).

Earlier, South Africa continued their positive build-up to the tournament with a six-wicket win over Sri Lanka.

And Scotland were beaten by the Netherlands by seven wickets.

A large, excitable Oval crowd were treated to a scintillating game of cricket, played out between rivals India and Pakistan.

India to have first woman Speaker

Puneet — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 04:23:06 +0000

India’s parliament is to have its first woman Speaker after a sweeping win for the Congress party in recent elections.

Meira Kumar, 64, filed her nomination papers on Tuesday and is expected to be elected unopposed on Wednesday.

Ms Kumar belongs to the low-caste Dalit - formerly untouchable - community. Her nomination has been welcomed by members of political parties across the house.

She had been sworn in as a cabinet minister, but resigned on Sunday after Congress offered her the Speaker’s job.