LJP activist killed; calls bandh & raises oust Mayawati slogan
AGRA, Dec 26 (Agencies): Close on the heels of the murder of a PWD engineer allegedly by a BSP MLA for reportedly failing to pay money for Mayawati's birthday, an LJP activist was also killed after he allegedly failed to cough up an amount for the same occasion.
Related StoriesLynching case: More BSP names could emerge Accused BSP MLA used to extort money: EngineerFollowing the killing of LJP's Agra district youth president Manish Yadav last night allegedly by associates of BSP MLA Madhusudan Sharma and state minister Ramveer Upadhyaya, the LJP has demanded dismissal of Mayawati's government and an Agra and Mathura bandh on December 29.
LJP has also demanded arrest of the minister and the MLA along with Sonu Pandit, Monu Pandit and Sanjay Pandit the trio who allegedly shot Yadav.
LJP chief and Union minister for steel, chemicals and fertilisers Ramvilas Paswan, who met Yadav's family here at Barauli Ahir village, demanded dismissal of the UP government and gave a call for Agra and Mathura bandh on Monday.
"We will demonstrate outside Governor's residence in Lucknow and demand arrest of the three accused, who are absconding.
We will also seek the arrest of the BSP MLA Madhusudan Sharma and minister Ramveeer Upadhyaya.
The three accused should be booked under Section 302," Paswan said.
Paswan told reporters here that the three persons had been demanding Rs two lakh from Yadav for UP Chief Minister Mayawati's birthday.
The Union minister, who was here to attend a function organised by LJP for American Foundation of Muslims of Indian Origin, said the victim, Yadav, had told the three accused that he would arrange for the money later as he was busy preparing for the said function.
"These three persons, however, beat him up last night saying that the money had to be given to BSP MLA Madhusudan Sharma and state cabinet minister Ramveer Upadhyaya.
They later shot him dead," Paswan said.
He further said both LJP and Dalit Sena will demonstrate in Delhi on Monday and will also demand imposition of President's Rule in UP to President Pratibha Patil.
"In view of all the violent incidents taking place in UP, LJP will celebrate Mayawati's birthday (January 15) as 'Kalank Diwas'," Paswan said.
LJP's in-charge of UP affairs and former MP Kali Pandey demanded that Rs one crore be given to Yadav's family as compensation.
Karunanidhi re-elected DMK president; Stalin becomes treasurer CHENNAI, Dec 26 (Agencies): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi was on Saturday unanimously elected as DMK president at the party's General Council meeting here.
He has been elected for the 10th consecutive term.
Announcing Karunanidhi's unanimous election, party election officer GM Shah, a veteran partyman, said 41 sets of nominations proposed by district secretaries were filed on his behalf.
K Anbazhagan was re-elected general secretary for the eighth time in a row.
Karunanidhi's son MK Stalin was also elected unanimously as party Treasurer, Shah said.
For Stalin, who was a deputy general secretary, it was a step higher in the ladder of the party hierarchy.
When Stalin's name was announced, the general council members gave a standing ovation.
12 bombs found in iron-ore laden train in Chhattisgarh's Raipur RAIPUR, Dec 26 (Agencies): Twelve bombs were found on Saturday in an iron-ore laden goods train, when it was being unloaded in the premises of a steel plant here, police said.
A dozen bombs, two each in six containers were recovered from an iron ore rake meant for Monnet Ispat Limited, YKS Thakur, IG Police, Raipur Range said.
The ore, brought from Orissa, was emptied in the steel plants premises this morning, he said.
The bombs are being examined and experts have been called in to detect whether they are live, the IG said.
"We are also looking into the possible Naxal and terrorist angle and are working on all leads available so far," Thakur said.
Meanwhile, the incident has alerted Chhattisgarh police and it is probing how the bombs reached the state capital in iron-ore rakes, he added.