India committed to combat terror: Shinde

New Delhi : The Indian government is committed to fight terrorism, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said Friday, adding that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) would probe the Hyderabad bombings. Shinde told the Lok Sabha after returning from Hyderabad that the NIA would conduct the investigation along with the Andhra Pradesh Police. 'The government is committed to combat such cowardly terrorist attacks,' the minister said, and vowed to ensure that the terrorists were punished. He put the number of people killed in the twin bombings Thursday evening at 16 and said 117 others were injured. In Hyderabad, he reviewed the situation with the Andhra Pradesh governor and chief minister as well as police officials. He also visited the injured in hospitals. Shinde said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had announced a compensation of Rs.2 lakh to families of the deceased. The Andhra Pradesh government had announced Rs.6 lakh to families of the dead and Rs.50,000-Rs.1 lakh to the injured. 'The situation is (now) under control,' he added

India committed to combat terror: Shinde

New Delhi : The Indian government is committed to fight terrorism, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said Friday, adding that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) would probe the Hyderabad bombings. Shinde told the Lok Sabha after returning from Hyderabad that the NIA would conduct the investigation along with the Andhra Pradesh Police. 'The government is committed to combat such cowardly terrorist attacks,' the minister said, and vowed to ensure that the terrorists were punished. He put the number of people killed in the twin bombings Thursday evening at 16 and said 117 others were injured. In Hyderabad, he reviewed the situation with the Andhra Pradesh governor and chief minister as well as police officials. He also visited the injured in hospitals. Shinde said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had announced a compensation of Rs.2 lakh to families of the deceased. The Andhra Pradesh government had announced Rs.6 lakh to families of the dead and Rs.50,000-Rs.1 lakh to the injured. 'The situation is (now) under control,' he added

Hajj: Concessions in journey of pilgrims more than 70 years old

Kondotty: The central hajj committee has given concession in guidelines that one person should accompany each pilgrim with more than 70 years old. The new rule is that only one person is needed for all the 70 year olds in one cover number. The guidelines for help for 70 years old was included in this year and last year only interested persons needed to get helper. The permission to get any of the family members as helper. The guidelines proved difficult for many as even the age old who are going form same family need to get helper for each of them which would reflect in cost of journey. In this state committee approached center and the concession were given.

Hajj: Concessions in journey of pilgrims more than 70 years old

Kondotty: The central hajj committee has given concession in guidelines that one person should accompany each pilgrim with more than 70 years old. The new rule is that only one person is needed for all the 70 year olds in one cover number. The guidelines for help for 70 years old was included in this year and last year only interested persons needed to get helper. The permission to get any of the family members as helper. The guidelines proved difficult for many as even the age old who are going form same family need to get helper for each of them which would reflect in cost of journey. In this state committee approached center and the concession were given.

State film awards: Prithviraj, Rima Kallingal best actors

Thiruvananthapuram: The state film awards for 2012 has been announced by Culture minister K B Ganesh Kumar here on Friday. The best feature film award was bagged by `Celluloid', a biopic based on the life story of J.C. Daniel, and directed by Kamal. The best director was bagged by Lal Jose for the movie `Ayalum Janum Thammil'.

The best actor award goes to Prithviraj for his acting in `Celluloid' and `Ayallum Janum Thammil'. Rima Kallingal was adjudged the best actress for `22 Female Kottayam'.

The best supporting actor award was given to Manoj K Jayan for `Kaliyachan' and Sajitha Madathil the best supporting actress for `Shutter'. Salim Kumar bagged the best comedian award for `Ayalum Janum Thammil'.

The best script writer award goes to Anjali Menon for `Manjadikkuru' and best story writer award to Manoj Kana for `Chaiilyam'.

Madhu Neelakandanm bagged the best cameraperson award for `Annayum Rasoolum'. Rafeeq Ahmed was selected for the best lyrics award. Vijay Yesudass best playback singer and the female singer award was bagged by Sitara Krishnakumar.

M G Roshan bagged the best makeup man award and the best editor award to G Ajith Kumar.

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State film awards: Prithviraj, Rima Kallingal best actors

Thiruvananthapuram: The state film awards for 2012 has been announced by Culture minister K B Ganesh Kumar here on Friday. The best feature film award was bagged by `Celluloid', a biopic based on the life story of J.C. Daniel, and directed by Kamal. The best director was bagged by Lal Jose for the movie `Ayalum Janum Thammil'.

The best actor award goes to Prithviraj for his acting in `Celluloid' and `Ayallum Janum Thammil'. Rima Kallingal was adjudged the best actress for `22 Female Kottayam'.

The best supporting actor award was given to Manoj K Jayan for `Kaliyachan' and Sajitha Madathil the best supporting actress for `Shutter'. Salim Kumar bagged the best comedian award for `Ayalum Janum Thammil'.

The best script writer award goes to Anjali Menon for `Manjadikkuru' and best story writer award to Manoj Kana for `Chaiilyam'.

Madhu Neelakandanm bagged the best cameraperson award for `Annayum Rasoolum'. Rafeeq Ahmed was selected for the best lyrics award. Vijay Yesudass best playback singer and the female singer award was bagged by Sitara Krishnakumar.

M G Roshan bagged the best makeup man award and the best editor award to G Ajith Kumar.

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Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi awards announced

Thrissur: The Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy awards were announced on Wednesday. Trivandrum Krishnakumar and his wife Binni Krishnakumar will be honoured for Carnatic Music. The others named for the awards include Rajeev Alunkal (Light Music), Sreedevi Rajan (Mohiniyattam), Rajasree Warrier (Bharathanatyam), Kalamandalam Subrahmanian (Kathakali), Mavelikkara Susheel Kumar (Maddalam) and Adv. Manilal (playwright). 

The award carries Rs 7500, ponnada and certificate 

Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi awards announced

Thrissur: The Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy awards were announced on Wednesday. Trivandrum Krishnakumar and his wife Binni Krishnakumar will be honoured for Carnatic Music. The others named for the awards include Rajeev Alunkal (Light Music), Sreedevi Rajan (Mohiniyattam), Rajasree Warrier (Bharathanatyam), Kalamandalam Subrahmanian (Kathakali), Mavelikkara Susheel Kumar (Maddalam) and Adv. Manilal (playwright). 

The award carries Rs 7500, ponnada and certificate 

14 killed, 119 injured in Hyderabad blasts: Shinde

Hyderabad: Fourteen people were killed and 119 injured in the twin bomb blasts that rocked Hyderabad Thursday evening, Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said Friday.

Talking to reporters after visiting the scene of the blasts and calling on the injured at one of the hospitals, Shinde said six of the injured were in a critical condition.

He said he can't share more information as parliament is in session.

'The state government has already appointed an investigation team and the matter is being investigated now,' he said.

'There was no specific information that it (blasts) will happen in a particular area. A general alert has been sounded for the last two-three days and we have issued this alert to whole of the country,' he said, when asked about his earlier statement that the central government had issued an alert.

Shinde did not agree that police had failed. 

'It cannot be said at this moment. One has to go into the details. If there was threat perception earlier, it will come in the investigations. It will be too early to talk on such lines,' he said.

'We will not leave any stone unturned. We will find everything. At this moment, nothing can be said. The matter is under investigation,' he added while refusing to comment on whether he suspects Indian Mujahideen's involvement.

Shinde also clarified that no time limit can be set for the investigations.

The union home minister, who arrived here early Friday, drove to Dilsukhnagar and inspected the blast scene along with Andhra Pradesh Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan, Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, state Home Minister Sabita Indra Reddy and other officials.

Director General of Police Dinesh Reddy briefed Shinde about the two near-simultaneous blasts in the crowded area.

Shinde later called on the injured at the city's Care Hospital.

IED used in twin blasts: DGP

Hyderabad:Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were used in the two bomb blasts which were acts of terror and were aimed at causing maximum damage, Andhra Pradesh DGP V Dinesh Reddy said tonight. He put the number of injured at 84 who are being treated at seven different hospitals in the city. At least 12 people have been killed in the twin explosions.IEDs were used in the blasts, which were powerful and planted on bicycles, which took place in a span of about two to three minutes, Reddy told reporters here. The aim was to cause maximum damage and they chose crowded areas accordingly, the DGP said, adding the two blasts took place in the Dilsukhnagar area around 1900 hours. The first one was at the Konark-Venkatadri cinema theatres area and the other was at a spot about 100 yards from there.

The seriously injured would be shifted to corporate super-speciality hospitals in the city for better treatment if needed, he said.
Noting that the entire area has been sanitised after the blast, he appealed to the people not to panic and believe in rumours.
A high alert has been sounded in the state capital and the police are carrying out checking and frisking operations,
Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anurag Sharma said. Meanwhile, personnel of National Investigation Agency (NIA), stationed in Hyderabad, visited the scene and picked up clues from burnt two-wheelers. PTI

Hyderabad blasts dastardly attack: PM

New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Thursday strongly condemned the serial blasts in Hyderabad, which killed at least 11 people and injured 57, saying the guilty should not 'go unpunished' in the 'dastardly attack.'

In a statement, he said: 'This is a dastardly attack. The guilty will not go unpunished.'

Congress president Sonia Gandhi also expressed anguish over the incident.

'Sonia Gandhi has expressed her sorrow and anguish on the blasts in Hyderabad,' said a party statement.

Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said the government had received intelligence warning about plans to trigger blasts in the country but there was no information on specific targets.

'We were receiving information for the last two days that such a blast may take place... There was no input about which city would be targeted,' Shinde told reporters, adding that the information was passed on to all the states.

'It is not the right time to hold anyone responsible,' he said when asked whether Andhra Pradesh Police did not act swiftly despite being given intelligence input beforehand.

Home Secretary R.K. Singh told reporters that an National Investigation Agency team was reaching the spot along with a post-blast investigating National Security Guard team.

'We have spoken to state chief secretary, DGP (director general of police) and governor (E.S.L. Narasimhan),' he said.

Bharatiya Janata Party demanded comprehensive investigation into the incident.

'This is a very sad and unfortunate incident and I believe it is a constant challenge presented to the country by terrorists. There should be a comprehensive investigation,' party president Rajnath Singh said.

Eight blast victims identified

Hyderabad: Eight of the 12 people killed in the twin bomb blasts in Hyderabad Thursday evening have been identified, police said.

They are Mohd. Rafeeq (22), Ijaz Ahmed (first-year student of polytechnic college), Vijay Kumar (23, MBA student), Mutyala Raju (23, MBA student), A. Ramulu (56), R. Shivani, Gunta Thirupathi and Srinivas Reddy.

The remaining bodies at government-run Osmania Hospital are yet to be identified.

The list of injured released by the office of Cyberabad police commissioner in the early hours of Friday shows 121 people were admitted to seven hospitals in the city.

Thirty injured were undergoing treatment at Osmania Hospital and 26 at Care Hospital.

Another 26 were admitted to Omni Hospital, 18 to Yashoda Hospital and 11 to Kamla Hospital. Six were brought to Savitha Hospital with simple injuries while four others were admitted to Kamineni Hospital.

14 killed, 119 injured in Hyderabad blasts: Shinde

Hyderabad: Fourteen people were killed and 119 injured in the twin bomb blasts that rocked Hyderabad Thursday evening, Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said Friday.

Talking to reporters after visiting the scene of the blasts and calling on the injured at one of the hospitals, Shinde said six of the injured were in a critical condition.

He said he can't share more information as parliament is in session.

'The state government has already appointed an investigation team and the matter is being investigated now,' he said.

'There was no specific information that it (blasts) will happen in a particular area. A general alert has been sounded for the last two-three days and we have issued this alert to whole of the country,' he said, when asked about his earlier statement that the central government had issued an alert.

Shinde did not agree that police had failed. 

'It cannot be said at this moment. One has to go into the details. If there was threat perception earlier, it will come in the investigations. It will be too early to talk on such lines,' he said.

'We will not leave any stone unturned. We will find everything. At this moment, nothing can be said. The matter is under investigation,' he added while refusing to comment on whether he suspects Indian Mujahideen's involvement.

Shinde also clarified that no time limit can be set for the investigations.

The union home minister, who arrived here early Friday, drove to Dilsukhnagar and inspected the blast scene along with Andhra Pradesh Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan, Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, state Home Minister Sabita Indra Reddy and other officials.

Director General of Police Dinesh Reddy briefed Shinde about the two near-simultaneous blasts in the crowded area.

Shinde later called on the injured at the city's Care Hospital.

IED used in twin blasts: DGP

Hyderabad:Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were used in the two bomb blasts which were acts of terror and were aimed at causing maximum damage, Andhra Pradesh DGP V Dinesh Reddy said tonight. He put the number of injured at 84 who are being treated at seven different hospitals in the city. At least 12 people have been killed in the twin explosions.IEDs were used in the blasts, which were powerful and planted on bicycles, which took place in a span of about two to three minutes, Reddy told reporters here. The aim was to cause maximum damage and they chose crowded areas accordingly, the DGP said, adding the two blasts took place in the Dilsukhnagar area around 1900 hours. The first one was at the Konark-Venkatadri cinema theatres area and the other was at a spot about 100 yards from there.

The seriously injured would be shifted to corporate super-speciality hospitals in the city for better treatment if needed, he said.
Noting that the entire area has been sanitised after the blast, he appealed to the people not to panic and believe in rumours.
A high alert has been sounded in the state capital and the police are carrying out checking and frisking operations,
Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anurag Sharma said. Meanwhile, personnel of National Investigation Agency (NIA), stationed in Hyderabad, visited the scene and picked up clues from burnt two-wheelers. PTI

Hyderabad blasts dastardly attack: PM

New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Thursday strongly condemned the serial blasts in Hyderabad, which killed at least 11 people and injured 57, saying the guilty should not 'go unpunished' in the 'dastardly attack.'

In a statement, he said: 'This is a dastardly attack. The guilty will not go unpunished.'

Congress president Sonia Gandhi also expressed anguish over the incident.

'Sonia Gandhi has expressed her sorrow and anguish on the blasts in Hyderabad,' said a party statement.

Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said the government had received intelligence warning about plans to trigger blasts in the country but there was no information on specific targets.

'We were receiving information for the last two days that such a blast may take place... There was no input about which city would be targeted,' Shinde told reporters, adding that the information was passed on to all the states.

'It is not the right time to hold anyone responsible,' he said when asked whether Andhra Pradesh Police did not act swiftly despite being given intelligence input beforehand.

Home Secretary R.K. Singh told reporters that an National Investigation Agency team was reaching the spot along with a post-blast investigating National Security Guard team.

'We have spoken to state chief secretary, DGP (director general of police) and governor (E.S.L. Narasimhan),' he said.

Bharatiya Janata Party demanded comprehensive investigation into the incident.

'This is a very sad and unfortunate incident and I believe it is a constant challenge presented to the country by terrorists. There should be a comprehensive investigation,' party president Rajnath Singh said.

Eight blast victims identified

Hyderabad: Eight of the 12 people killed in the twin bomb blasts in Hyderabad Thursday evening have been identified, police said.

They are Mohd. Rafeeq (22), Ijaz Ahmed (first-year student of polytechnic college), Vijay Kumar (23, MBA student), Mutyala Raju (23, MBA student), A. Ramulu (56), R. Shivani, Gunta Thirupathi and Srinivas Reddy.

The remaining bodies at government-run Osmania Hospital are yet to be identified.

The list of injured released by the office of Cyberabad police commissioner in the early hours of Friday shows 121 people were admitted to seven hospitals in the city.

Thirty injured were undergoing treatment at Osmania Hospital and 26 at Care Hospital.

Another 26 were admitted to Omni Hospital, 18 to Yashoda Hospital and 11 to Kamla Hospital. Six were brought to Savitha Hospital with simple injuries while four others were admitted to Kamineni Hospital.