2100 HRS. 
07-07-2013

THE HEADLINES

• National Investigation Agency to probe Bodhgaya serial bomb blasts; Centre describes it as terror attack.
• Six naxalites killed in an encounter in Chhattisgarh.
• Government to bring a new law to remove regulatory gaps to check drawbacks in Ponzi schemes, says Finance minister.
• Egyptian military deny appointment of opposition leader El Baradei as caretaker Prime Minister.
• And in Sports; Men's Singles title clash in progress between Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray at Wimbledon.
• And India win One gold, three silver and four Bronze in Asian Athletics Championship today.

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Nine low-intensity serial blasts targeted the world renowned pilgrimage town of Bodh Gaya and Maha Bodhi Temple complex in Bihar early this morning. The blasts left two persons, a monk and a pilgrim injured. No group has claimed responsibility for what the Centre and state government have described as a terror attack. Our Correspondent reports that a red alert has been issued in the entire state and additional security forces have been deployed at all religious places in the state.

The low intensity blasts occurred within a period of about half an hour in a radius of two to three kilometers. While four serial blasts took place inside the Mahabodhi Temple complex at about 5:40 am, three blasts took place at the Terega Monastery, one blast each occurred near the famous 80-foot statue of Lord Buddha and at the bus stand near bypass road. Three live bombs were also recovered in this area and defused.

Bihar Director General of Police Abhyanand after a meeting with temple management told reporters that the temple and the monastery complexes are physically safe. He said that the security around the temple had been further stepped up and added the temple would not be open for the public as of now even though the prayers are continueing there. With Diwakar Kumar in Patna, this is Ashok Ojha for AIR News.

Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said that nine blasts took place inside and outside the temple. He said separate teams from the National Security Guard and the National Investigation Agency have been rushed to Bihar to probe the blasts.

Talking to reporters, after a high-level meeting in New Delhi, Union Home Secretary, Anil Goswami said, the temple and the monastery complexes are physically safe. He said, teams from National Investigation Agency and National Security Guard, comprising explosive experts, have been sent to Bihar.

A team of NSG, to carry out a post-blast analysis, and a team of NIA, to investigate into the matter, have been sent. Once, all of them carry out their analysis, they will report back, and we will, then, be in a position to tell you something more."

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar after visiting the area said that NIA and local police will probe the incident and expose the conspiracy and designs of those behind the attack. Mr. Kumar said that he was also seeking deployment of CISF to protect the world famous Buddhist shrine.

All officers will sit together and take decision on matters related to safety and security. NIA will investigate this case. They will come and make first hand assessment. our forensic experts are inspecting the blast sites and take samples required for investigations.
The President, the Vice President and the Prime Minister have strongly condemned the serial blasts. President Pranab Mukherjee described the blasts as a senseless act of violence while Vice President Mohd. Hamid Ansari termed it as a cowardly act. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that this is against our composite culture and such attacks on religious places will never be tolerated.

The Congress described the serial blasts as unimaginable and said it is for the first time that Buddhist Monastery were attacked. Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh said that the guilty must be brought to book.

It should be investigated and culprit must be brought to book. Any effort to destabilise the country, to destabilise the state and bring about communal disturbance should be fought at all levels.

Condemning the blasts, BJP and other opposition parties accused the Center and Bihar Government of having failed to take steps to avert terrorist strike at the Mahabodhi Temple despite specific warnings of intelligence agencies. Senior BJP leader Ravishankar Parsad described the blasts at the temple as unfortunate.

"These attacks are unfortunate. Mahabodhi temple in revered worldwide. Not only for the followers of Buddhism, but for the entire nation, it is a symbol of faith."

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In Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir , a bandh was observed today to protest the serial bomb blasts at Bodhigaya. Our Leh correspondents reports that candle light procession was also taken out in the evening to condemn the blasts. Meanwhile, Minister for Culture Chandresh Kumari Katoch has directed the Archaeological Survey of India team to quickly visit and assess the damages in Bodh Gaya temple and take remedial steps.Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa today spoke on telephone with the Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to convey his sorrow at the bomb attack at the Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya and inquired about the facilities for the devotees.

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In Chhattisgarh, Security forces gunned down six naxalites in an encounter at a village in Gadchoroli, close to inter-state border with Maharashtra. The encounter took place near Mendri village when a team of security personnel were on a search mission.Police said six bodies have been recovered from the encounter spot and seized a carbine, a 303 rifle, three 12 bore guns and 13 hand grenades. An alert has been sounded in the region where combing operations were also being carried out.

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Finance Minister P Chidambaram has said that the government will bring in a new law to remove regulatory gaps to check the rising menace of ponzi schemes. In an interview to a news agency, the finance minister said the government is considering a law to fill the regulatory gap so that people do not take advantage of it. He said right now it is possible to design a company in such a manner and carry on business in a way that you do not classify as an NBFC, a chit fund, or any other regulated entity. He added that the effort is to reduce these gaps to maximum possible extent, so that everyone fell either under the RBI, or Sebi, or the Registrar of Chits or under the state government, etc.

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In Madhya Pradesh, former Finance Minister Raghavji has been expelled from the primary membership of the party following sodomy charges. The party decided to expel Raghavji after a high level meeting in Bhopal today attended by chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and other senior leaders. The Chief Minister had asked Raghavji to resign on Friday after his servant Rajkumar leveled allegations of sexual exploitation against him.

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The crucial 12-day monsoon session of Madhya Pradesh Assembly will begin tomorrow. The session is crucial as it will be the last session to be held before the state Assembly elections slated for November. The opposition Congress has already served notice to move a no-confidence motion against the BJP government in the state.

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In Uttar Pradesh 7 persons were died today in the flood and rain related incidents. A total of 101 persons have lost their lives in flood and rains related incidents till now in the current monsoon season in the state. Quoting official sources AIR Allahabad correspondent reports that the Sharda, Budi Rapti, Ghaghara and Quano rivers were still flowing above danger mark. In Pilibhit district, food packets were distributed to about 7 thousand flood affected people today.

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In Assam, the Brahmaputra and its a few tributaries are maintaining a rising trend as rain continued at several parts of the state since this morning. Around 70 villages are still reeling under flood waters in Dhemaji and Chirang district. Road communications have been disrupted in Dhemaji and other areas.

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In Himachal Pradesh, Monsoon remains active in most parts of the state during last 24 hours and heavy rain lashed entire state except tribal districts. Dharamshala recorded 160 mm rainfall. Our correspondent reports that Mandi-Kullu, Mandi-Palampur and Mandi-Shimla highways were blocked due to landslides for two to three hours today.

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In Uttarakhand fresh spell of rains today halted helicopter operations to ferry rations to remote districts reeling under shortage of foodgrains. Wet weather also prevented cremation of bodies in Kedarnath, an official said.The Badrinath highway, which was closed for three hours, was opened for traffic to allow 500 stranded vehicles, including many carrying relief materials.

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Egypt's military appointed Presidency has denied earlier reports that a prominent opposition figure Mohamed El Baradei has been appointed as a caretaker Prime Minister. According to a report from Cairo, Mohammed El Bardei, the former head of the UN Nuclear watchdog was initially named by several officials as the interim Prime Minister. But no sooner had his appointment been announced, it was then denied. Conservative Islamist parties made it clear they would not work with Mr. El Baradei.

AIR West Asia correspondent reports that Mursi supporters have gathered at Cairo’s Nast city, at Rabaa Al Adawia Square and Nahda Square in Giza to demand Morsi’s return to power. Muslim Brotherhood has said it will continue protests till Mursi is reinstated. Army has been kept in a state of high alert in the wake of violent clashes between the supporters and the opponents on Friday and Saturday.

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The West Bengal Government will launch e-blood bank service in the state soon. Giving this information the state Health Secretary Mr. Satish Tiwari told AIR that this will be a web-enabled service by which availability of particular group of blood can be traced at the click of a mouse. 

People in need of blood will just have to log on to a website or make a call to trace the blood bank where particular group of blood is available. During emergencies people often run from one blood bank to another in search of the specific blood group . To remove such bitter experience of people the state government has taken the move to start e-blood bank service. The State Health Secretary Mr. Satish Tiwari informed that the National Rural Health Mission has already granted 5 crore rupees for the project. Initially 58 state government blood banks will be linked later all 108 blood banks in the state will come under the ambit of the service.Arijit, air news,Kolkata

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The News Sevices Divsiion of All India Radio in its weekly "PUBLIC SPEAK" programme tomorrow will bring you a discussion on "FOOD SECURITY FOR ALL." This can be heard of FM Gold Channel and additional frequencies at 9:30 p.m. Listeners can ask questions to the experts sitting inour studio on telephone number: 011-2331-4444. This programme is also available on Doordarshan DTH.

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The final match between world number one Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Briton Andy Murray is in progress for the Men's singles title of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships. Andy Murray has won two sets by 6-4 and 7-5 till reports last came in.

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India bagged today, one gold three silver and four bronze on the 5th and last day of 20th Asian Athletics championship at Pune. With this India secured two gold, six silver and nine bronze medals in the meet. Indian quartet of Nirmala, Tintu luka, Annumaya Jose and M.R Poovamma won the Gold in 4 by 400 meters relay in women’s section. Satinder Singh started the day’s proceeding with the bronze in 400 meters hurdles. This is his first medal in Asian meet.In women’s 800 meters running, India’s Tintu Luka has to satisfy with the bronze medal.In the Men's High Jump Jithin C. Thomas bagged silver where as China got gold and Iran Bronze. In Triple Jump, India’s Ranjit Maheshwari and Arpinder Singh won silver and bronze medals respectively.

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Sri Lanka were 60 for three in 19 overs against West Indies in the Tri-nation Cricket Tournament when the rain stopped play at Port of Spain today. Earlier, the hosts West Indies won the toss and put Sri Lanka to bat. West Indies is on the top of the series with nine points from two initial wins and Sri lanka is on second position with five points. In the last league match India will take on Srilanka on Tuesday. The final will be played on Thursday.

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The Centre has asked the Tamil Nadu government to hold discussions with the Securities and Exchange Board of India on the proposal to sell five per cent stake in the Neyveli Lignite Corporation to the state government undertakings. The move by the Disinvestment department comes after Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa proposed that the state undertakings in Tamil Nadu be sold the stake in the Corporation.