Nation news in brief

Army foils infiltration bid on LoC, militant killed

Srinagar, Sep. 26 (IANS): One militant was killed on Tuesday as the Army foiled an infiltration bid on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district, defence sources said. The militant was killed in the Uri sector while trying to cross into the Indian side. “A weapon has been recovered. Search operation is going on in the area,” the sources added. Four Pakistani militants were killed by the security forces in Uri’s Kaghi forest area during an operation on Sunday.

AI Chief implores employees to maintain personal fitness

New Delhi, Sep. 26 (IANS): National passenger carrier Air India on Monday asked its employees to maintain personal fitness levels and improve airline’s on-time performance (OTP). According to Air India’s Chairman and Managing Director Rajiv Bansal, “alertness and responsive” levels of employees is crucial in the airline industry. “This is an industry where many facets of customer service have to be executed professionally... Good health leads to a physical, mental and spiritual well-being that augments productivity,” Bansal said in a letter to employees dated September 25. “I strongly believe that OTP, fitness and swachhta (cleanliness) are small and significant steps to take any organisation to greater heights... I implore you to maintain our airline’s OTP and keep fit,” he added.

Man arrested with 13 kg of venison

Kendrapara (Odisha), Sep. 26 (PTI): Forest officials today arrested a man and recovered 13 kg of venison from his possession on the fringes of Bhitarkanika National Park in Kendrapara district. Kunmun Rout (45) allegedly hunted down a spotted deer in the mangrove forest areas within the park, along with two others, a senior forest official said. Though Rout was arrested near the Barunei forest block acting on specific information, the two others escaped, the official said, adding, they have been identified and search is on to nab them. The accused and two others are members of a poaching racket active in the area, he said. Rout has been booked under Sections 9 (Prohibition of hunting), 27 (illegal entry), 29 (destruction in sanctuary) and 35 (declaration of national parks) of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the official said.

STF jawan injured in encounter with naxals in Chhattisgarh

Raipur, Sep. 26 (PTI): One Special Task Force (STF) jawan was today injured in an exchange of fire with naxals in a dense forest in the insurgency-hit Narayanpur district of Chhattisgarh, police said. A joint team of security forces was out on a counter-insurgency operation in the jungles of Abujhmad, which is considered as a naxal den, located around 300 kms away from here, Special Director General of Police (anti-Maoist operations) D M Awasthi told PTI. The gun-battle broke out between security personnel and ultras in the forests of Orchha police station area that left one STF jawan injured, he added. “Further details are awaited as the encounter is still underway”, the SDGP said. However, reinforcement was immediately rushed to the spot and the injured was being evacuated out from the forest, he added.

UP ATS announces Rs 25,000 reward for Ansar-ul-Bangla member

Lucknow, Sep. 26 (PTI): The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terror Squad has declared an reward for Rs 25,000 on a member of terror outfit Ansar-ul-Bangla. In an UP ATS statement issued today, IG ATS Aseem Arun said, “A cash award of Rs 25,000 has been declared on Tauheed-ur-Rehman alias Fazar, a resident of Chuadang district of Bangladesh. Tauheed is an expert in disguising himself, use of ammunition and marshal arts.” A case has been registered against Tauheed at the UP ATS Police Station here on the charges of cheating, forgery for purpose of cheating, criminal conspiracy and relevant sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, an official said. Tauheed has been spotted in Saharanpur’s Deoband area a number of times, the UP ATS said.