Headley’s revelation on Ishrat Jahan triggers political storm, BJP slams Sonia, Nitish

David Headley’s confession that Ishrat Jahan was a Lashkar-e-Taiba operative has embarrassed Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar with the BJP taking a dig at him for using Ishrat’s killing as an issue during then Bihar polls by terming her a ‘Bihar ki beti’.

BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli noted that LeT had portrayed her as a “martyr” on its website but “government agencies at that time were put at war with each other and attempts were made at fixing individuals… instead of finding the truth”.

Headley, during his deposition in Mumbai court in the 26/11 attack case, said that Ishrat Jahan –who was killed in an alleged fake encounter in 2004 in Gujarat–was actually a suicide bomber of Lashkar-e-Taiba terror outfit.

Read Also: Ishrat Jahan was LeT operative, says Headley in Mumbai court

Leading the attack on opposition leaders for trying to ‘fool the people’, Home Minister Rajnath Singh also led the clarion call for the Congress and other parties to apologise. “You must have heard what David Headley has just said in Court, that Ishrat Jahan was a suicide bomber. Ishrat Jahan regarding whom so many accusations were cast on our leaders. Tell me, will the accusing political parties now apologise to the nation for trying to fool the people?” said Rajnath.

Congress, however, dismissed BJP’s demand for an apology, insisting that the “fundamental question” was whether she and her accomplices were killed in “fake” encounter. “If BJP wants to stand with those who have been accused by the CBI in a Gujarat High Court monitored process that they were accused or complicit in the fake encounter,… they can go and stand with them in a Court of Law.”

“There is nothing which stops BJP from doing that. We are not a banana Republic, we are a country based on the rule of law and the rule of law does not permit fake encounters,” party spokesman Manish Tewari told reporters.

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Video: Drunk Delhi girl who rammed her car into bike, creates ruckus at hospital again

On the night of February 9, a girl under the influence of alcohol rammed her car into a bike and then went on to abuse the two bikers (the bikers obviously reverted with equal anger). Another video of the girl, Neha Jamal, has emerged on the Web wherein she is seen inside the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital abusing and misbehaving with a resident doctor and a policeman who was present there. The video shows an inebriated Jamwal accusing two bikers of harassment and demanding they be caught. Posted by Facebook user Kundan Srivastava, the video is being widely shared on social media.

On the police’s arrival after the incident on the road, Jamwal and her friend Prashant Aggarwal were taken to the RML Hospital for medical examination where the girl created ‘ruckus’ yet again. Calling out to the Police officer present, abusing both him and the resident doctor, the video shows Aggarwal throwing a fit by snatching papers out of the policeman’s hands and rudely silencing the hospital staff. The 26-year-old and her friend Aggarwal were arrested by the police soonafter sent into one-day judicial custody

Siachen braveheart Lance Naik Hanamanthappa Koppad passes away, nation pays tribute; last rites tomorrow

Lance Naik Hanamanthappa Koppad, the lone survivor of the February 3 Siachen avalanche that claimed the lives of nine soldiers till Thursday, breathed his last at the Army RR Hospital in Delhi. An Army statement confirmed that he passed away at 11.45 am on Thursday morning. Earlier, the bulletin by Army Hospital had said that his condition was deteriorating and he was not responding to medication.

“Sorry to inform everyone that Lance Naik Hanumanthappa is no more. He breathed his last at 11.45 am today,” an official said.

Also read: Koppad served 10 out of 13 years in challenging areas

Earlier, a statement issued by the Army had said, “Braveheart Lance Naik Hanamanthappa continues to remain extremely critical with worsening multiple organ dysfunction. His circulatory shock is now refractory to all drugs in maximum permissible doses and his kidneys remain non-functional. His pneumonia has worsened and the blood clotting disorder shows no sign of reversal despite blood component support. He is on maximal clotting disorder shows no sign of reversal despite blood component support. He is on maximal life support with aggressive ventilation and dialysis. He has slipped into a deeper state of coma.”

Snapdeal female employee abducted from Ghaziabad

A female employee of online retail giant Snapdeal was kidnapped from Ghaziabad on Wednesday. “We are extremely disturbed with the reported abduction of our team member. Her security and safety is our topmost priority. We are doing everything to support and work with the authorities in their investigation. The entire Snapdeal family is united in their support and prayer for her safe return,” said Snapdeal spokesperson.

Dipti Sarna, an executive in the legal department of Snapdeal, was returning from work to her house in Ghaziabad when she was abducted. The incident happened near Hindon river area when the girl was travelling in an auto which she boarded from Vaishali metro station. “The girl was on phone, speaking to her father, when she heard the driver talking to someone on discussing an abduction plan. She raised the alarm but was attacked and her phone went switch off,” said Aashna Khurana, PR, Snapdeal.

The police is investigating the case.

Snapdeal co-founder Kunal Bahl also expressed concern over the incident on Twitter. “Deeply disturbed by news of our @Snapdeal team member getting abducted yest. We are working closely w/ authorities to secure her safety

Delhi: Odd-even set to return, CM Kejriwal to announce dates tomorrow

The ‘odd-even’ scheme is ready make a comeback in the national capital. The dates will be announced by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday.

Transport minister Gopal Rai said the government will make the announcement after reviewing over 11 lakh responses received from the public through multiple channels on Wednesday.

Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia suggested that the licence plate policy will be back ‘once again’. Sources said the scheme’s next phase could be enforced in April after the CBSE Board examinations. “The scheme is all set to make a comeback. Ministers including the chief minister will announce the dates in a press conference on Thursday,” said sources.

Read | Odd-even may be back in April with ‘public support’

Gopal Rai had earlier tweeted, “Delhi government will take a decision on the future of odd-even tomorrow. Public feedback report is being prepared today.”The road rationing experiment, aimed at curbing air pollution in Delhi, was implemented from January 1-15 in its first phase.

Read | Odd-even can’t be implemented permanently, clarifies Kejriwal

Subsequently, the government invited public opinion through emails, missed calls, online forms and also reached out to around 9 lakh people through an interactive voice response system. “Around 28,300 suggestions have been received through online forms while another 9,000 and 1,82,808 have come through emails and missed called respectively. The government, on its part, has made more than 9,00,000 calls to gather public opinion,” a senior government official said.

AAP MLAs, who organised Jan Sabhas on the same theme, have claimed that public opinion was ‘overwhelmingly’ in favour of re-introduction of the scheme.

Read | People dying of pollution; why challenge Delhi’s odd-even: SC

Siachen survivor chose conflict areas over peace posting: Officials

Lance Naik Hanamanthappa Koppad, who is in a critical condition after miraculously surviving six days buried under snow on the Siachen glacier, chose difficult areas over peace postings and fought for 10 years in conflict zones.

“The brave soldier displayed a high degree of initiative and has served 10 years in difficult and challenging areas out of 13 years of total service,” a senior army officer said.

Hanamanthappa, who hails from Karnataka, was found alive on Monday, buried under 25 feet of snow for six days after an avalanche hit his post at an altitude of 19,600 feet close to the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan. The temperature at that altitude was minus 45 degrees Celsius.

Read | Siachen miracle soldier critical, woman volunteers to donate kidney

“The 33-year-old serving soldier, who was enrolled in 19th Battalion of the Madras Regiment on October 25, 2002, is highly motivated and physically fit... He opted for challenging terrains from the beginning,” the officer said.

“The soldier has served in Mahore (J&K) from 2003 to 2006 where he was actively involved in counter-insurgency operations. He again volunteered to serve with 54 Rashtriya Rifles (Madras) in the state from 2008 to 2010 where he displayed indomitable courage and gallantry in fighting terrorism during his tenure,” the officer added.