Los Angeles, Feb 25 (DPA) Freida Pinto, the Indian actress who made a splash in "Slumdog Millionaire", will play the female lead in the new movie "War of Gods", Variety magazine reported Wednesday.Pinto will portray the oracle priestess Phaedra in the film about Theseus, a warrior from Greek mythology who takes on the Greek gods.
In the film, Phaedra is an ally with Theseus, played by Henry Cavill, in his fight against the titans.
(News published under the licence from Indo Asian News Service)
New Delhi, Feb 25 "Holi ke rang mein", "Rang barse bheege chunar wali" and "Holi khele Raghuveera" are some popular Hindi movie songs that captured the spirit of the festival of colours on the big screen. But recent years have witnessed a dearth of songs revolving round the festival, leaving audiences with no choice but to stick to the old ones.The last famous Holi song that people could dance to was "Do me a favour...let's play holi" from the film "Waqt - Race Against Time" (2005). The song was picturised on Akshay Kumar and Priyanka Chopra and had the right mood, colour and energy required for a Holi song.
After this, audiences have not had a Holi song that they can match steps with.
"Hardly any films are shot in India so it's tough for Holi to come in. Also filmmakers aren't writing about festivals like Holi and Diwali, which is quite sad," Kunal Kohli, who made hits like "Hum Tum" and "Fanaa", told IANS.
Kumar Taurani, managing director of Tips Industries, said: "Inclusion of songs depends upon situations. One can only put a Holi song in a film if it is going with the flow of the script. In my films I only add songs that organically match the situation of the film."
Taurani produced films like "Race", "Ajab Prem Ki Ghajab Kahani". His forthcoming movie is "Prince".
Holi, a festival of colours, fun and frolic is often intermixed with yesteryear Bollywood songs, including "Holi aaye re kanhayee" ("Mother India"), "Arre ja re hat natkhat" ("Navrang"), "Aaj na chodenge bas humjoli" ("Kati Patang"), "Holi ke din" ("Sholay"), "Rang barse" ("Silsila"), "Mal de gulal mohe, aaye holi aaye re" ("Kaamchor"), "Ang se ang lagana sajan" ("Darr") and "Holi khele raghuveera" ("Baghban").
Popular singer Sukhwinder Singh feels that a majority of films have an urban setting nowadays, so Holi songs have become rare.
"For a few years now we hardly have scenes of festivals in films, maybe because the settings of stories have become more urban. Unless there is a situation, a song cannot be pushed in. Such songs are really entertaining; so I hope filmmakers try and create situations in their films that facilitate Holi songs," he said.
Lyricist Irshad Kamil cites a different reason for the absence of Holi songs.
"People are making fewer songs based on Holi because you have to promote it near the festival only. If the film gets delayed, the song which is specially made for Holi looks outdated," said the lyricist who has written a Holi song for Akshay Kumar and Aishwarya Rai starrer "Action Replayy".
"In the film, I have written a Holi song but it's not like the usual Holi songs that we have been seeing. The song is picturised in the backdrop of Holi, but it is not dependent on that. It could have been picturised without the Holi ambience as well," he added.
This year Holi will be celebrated on March 1.
(News published under the licence from Indo Asian News Service)
Toronto, Feb 25 (ANS) Wearing red at top international sporting events like the Olympics benefits an athlete, says a new study.In fast-paced sports such as races and skating a referee's perceptions of motion are subconsciously affected by the colour the athlete is wearing, says the study at York University here.
"All things being equal between two figure skaters - including their actual speed on the ice - the judges will perceive a skater in red is moving with greater speed than a skater in blue, and may reward the skater in red with higher marks," said Mazyar Fallah, study author and assistant professor at the School of Kinesiology and Health Science in the university.
The study may also be important for other fields such as advertising, in which capturing attention is paramount, and in designing human-computer interfaces that are effective, he said.
During their study on visual processing, Fallah and co-author Illia Tchernikov found that people's eyes more quickly follow a red target on a computer screen than a green, yellow, or especially a blue target, a university statement said Wednesday.
"In sports, the outcome of a competition is supposed to depend on the abilities of the players, rather than the colours they are wearing," said Fallah.
"However, our research shows it may make sense to wear red in a sport such as figure skating, in which you want to be perceived as quick. In contrast, it may be best to wear another colour in a sport in which a referee is handing out penalties," he said.
Fallah said their research has implications for many sports, including figure skating and gymnastics, in which speed may be perceived by a judge rather than measured in milliseconds.
The research was based on five participants, with each completing about 1,000 tests.
During the tests, each participant focussed on targets on the screen and all produced the same colour hierarchy - choosing red targets first, followed by green, yellow and blue.
Fallah said this suggests that the colour hierarchy is ingrained in the human mind, either because of evolution - red is the colour of blood, whereas blue is the colour of the sky - or as a result of experience, as red stop signs and traffic signals indicate danger.
The study has been published in the journal Public Library of Science.
(News published under the licence from Indo Asian News Service)
New Delhi, Feb 24 Highlights of the 2010-11 railway budget presented by Mamata Banerjee in parliament Wednesday:-- No increase in passenger fares
-- Rs.100 reduction in freight per wagon for fertilisers and kerosene
-- Free travel for cancer patients in 3rd AC classes
-- Cost-sharing in public-private-partnership (PPP) mode in some gauge-conversion projects
-- Further extension of Kolkata Metro on priority basis; stations to be named after Bahadur Shah Zafar, Tagore family
-- Karmabhoomi trains to be introduced for migrant labour
-- New Janmabhoomi train between Ahmedabad and Udhampur
-- Special "Bharat Teertha" train to be run around India to commemorate Rabindranath Tagore's 150th birth anniversary
-- Railway line to be extended from Bilaspur in Himachal Pradesh to Leh in Jammu and Kashmir
-- Andaman and Nicobar Islands to get railway line from Port Blair to Diglipur
-- Sikkim capital Gangtok to be connected by rail from Rangpo
-- 2011 being 150th anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore, special train to be run from West Bengal to Bangladesh
-- Impact of Sixth Pay Commission recommendations placed at Rs.55,000 crore
-- Gross earnings in 2009-10 estimated at Rs.88,281 crore
-- Working expenditure in 2009-10 estimated at Rs.83,440 crore
-- Expenses during 2010-11 estimated at Rs.87,100 crore
-- Thrust on expansion in 2010-11 with allocation of Rs.4,411 crore
-- Kashmir rail link to be extended to Sopore in the north of the valley
-- Net profit of Rs.1,328 crore in 2009-10
-- 10 automobile ancillary hubs to be created
-- Twenty-two million energy saving CFLs for lighting distributed already
-- Policy decision to employ one member of family whose land is requisitioned for railway projects
-- North-south, east-west dedicated freight corridors to be created
-- Construction of high-speed passenger rail corridors envisaged
-- More multi-functional hospitals to be set up
-- Educational facilities to be set up for children of 80,000 women families
-- Special facilities to be established for gangmen
-- Insurance facilities for licensed porters as part of railway's corporate social responsibility
-- Centre for railway research to be established with Indian Institutes of Technology and Defence Research and Development Organisation
-- Will involve unions in policy making
-- Integral Coach Factory Chennai to be further modernised
-- New wagon repair shop in Mumbai
-- Design, development and testing centre for railway wheels at Bangalore
-- Within five years, all unmanned level crossings to be manned
-- Construction of more underpasses, besides road overbridges
-- Greater coordination with state governments to protect railway property
-- Security of women passengers to be improved
-- Ex-servicemen to be employed in Railway Protection Force
-- Five sports academies to be set up; astroturf to be provided for development of hockey; employment opportunities for sports persons
-- Railways to be lead partner for Commonwealth Games
-- Special drive to increase passenger amenities
-- Upgradation of 94 stations
-- Six new drinking water bottling plants in PPP mode
-- Modern toilets at railway stations
-- More ticketing centres to help the public
-- Acquisition of cutting edge safety technology
-- 1,000 route km to be created
-- Special task force for clearing investment proposals in 100 days
-- New business model to be created
-- No privatisation; railways will remain with government but with greater participation of business community
-- 117 of 120 new trains for current fiscal to be flagged off
(News published under the licence from Indo Asian News Service)
Sachin Tendulkar 200* Video Highlights India vs South Africa 2010
Sachin Tendulkar 195* Video Highlights India vs South Africa 2010
Sachin Tendulkar 195* Video Highlights India vs South Africa 2010
Gwalior, Feb 24 (IANS) Batting legend Sachin Tendulkar became the first ever to hit a double century in One-Day International as India made 401 for three in 50 overs in the second match against South Africa at the Captain Roop Singh Stadium here Wednesday.Tendulkar scored an unbeaten 200 off 147 balls (25x4s, 3x6s) and broke the record of Zimbabwean Charles Coventry (194 not out) set against Bangladesh in Bulawayo last year.
India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni remained unbeaten on 68 while Dinesh Karthik made 79.
(News published under the licence from Indo Asian News Service)
Chandigarh, Feb 22 (IANS) It was assumed that depression drove 35-year-old Aruna Srivastava to suicide here four days ago. But now her husband has been arrested for allegedly abetting the suicide after a note was found written on her thigh.
Aruna's husband Subhash Chander was arrested late Sunday and has been booked, along with his alleged girlfriend Babita and her brothers, for abetment to suicide, a police official said Monday.
According to the police, Aruna was found hanging in her home in Sector 41 by her 11-year-old son Ujjwal Feb 18 when he returned from school. The boy even cut the rope in a failed bid to save his mother.
At that time, police did not find any suicide note and during questioning, her husband Chander, who was out of town that day, told the police that Aruna was under depression.
But after the post-mortem examination, doctors revealed that a suicide note was written on Aruna's left thigh, the official said.
In the note, Aruna had written that her husband Chander, his girlfriend Babita and her brothers Pappu and Anil are responsible for her suicide. Babita and her brothers live in Allahabad, police said.
"On the complaint of Aruna's father Ashwani Kumar, we have booked all the four for abetting Aruna's suicide. Chander has been arrested and now we are trying to nab the other accused," said Janak Rana, the investigating officer of the case.
Chander is a Punjab government employee and his family had shifted here from Allahabad two years ago.
While searching Aruna's house, police also recovered some photographs showing injury marks on different parts of the body.
Aruna's family members claim these are Aruna's photographs that she had kept as proof against Chander.
"We are still trying to verify the authenticity of these photographs," Rana said.
Aruna's husband Subhash Chander was arrested late Sunday and has been booked, along with his alleged girlfriend Babita and her brothers, for abetment to suicide, a police official said Monday.
According to the police, Aruna was found hanging in her home in Sector 41 by her 11-year-old son Ujjwal Feb 18 when he returned from school. The boy even cut the rope in a failed bid to save his mother.
At that time, police did not find any suicide note and during questioning, her husband Chander, who was out of town that day, told the police that Aruna was under depression.
But after the post-mortem examination, doctors revealed that a suicide note was written on Aruna's left thigh, the official said.
In the note, Aruna had written that her husband Chander, his girlfriend Babita and her brothers Pappu and Anil are responsible for her suicide. Babita and her brothers live in Allahabad, police said.
"On the complaint of Aruna's father Ashwani Kumar, we have booked all the four for abetting Aruna's suicide. Chander has been arrested and now we are trying to nab the other accused," said Janak Rana, the investigating officer of the case.
Chander is a Punjab government employee and his family had shifted here from Allahabad two years ago.
While searching Aruna's house, police also recovered some photographs showing injury marks on different parts of the body.
Aruna's family members claim these are Aruna's photographs that she had kept as proof against Chander.
"We are still trying to verify the authenticity of these photographs," Rana said.
London, Feb 22 (IANS) Bond star Daniel Craig is said to have secretly married Japanese girlfriend Satsuki Mitchell after he was spotted with a gold ring on his wedding finger.Mitchell, 30, also had a ring on the third finger of her left hand. However, a spokesman for Craig refused to confirm, insisting that it was "a private matter".
The wedding band was on display as he and Satsuki held hands when they left an �Artists for Peace and Justice' meeting in Brentwood, California. The wedding band was also visible during the "Help Haiti" telethon appeal, reports dailymail.co.uk.
"We all suspect they have got married. He has always said Satsuki is the one but he didn't want a big showbiz wedding, that would be his worst nightmare. He's very private," said a source.
(News published under the licence from Indo Asian News Service)
Budget 2010 India Live Union Budget 2010-11 Highlights, Income tax
The budget session of parliament will begin Feb 22 and conclude May 7, with a long break of more than three weeks in between, it was announced Wednesday.
President Pratibha Patil will make the customary address to the joint session of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, marking the beginning of the fourth session of the 15th Lok Sabha, Lok Sabha Secretary General P.D.T. Achary said.
"In order to enable the Standing Committees to consider the demands for grants of ministries, departments and prepare their reports, the house will adjourn March 16 to meet again April 12," he added in a statement.
"Subject to exigencies of government business, the session is likely to conclude Friday, May 7," the statement said.
The railway budget 2010-11 will be presented Feb 24.
This will be the second budget session of the current Lok Sabha.
The budget session of parliament will begin Feb 22 and conclude May 7, with a long break of more than three weeks in between, it was announced Wednesday.
President Pratibha Patil will make the customary address to the joint session of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, marking the beginning of the fourth session of the 15th Lok Sabha, Lok Sabha Secretary General P.D.T. Achary said.
"In order to enable the Standing Committees to consider the demands for grants of ministries, departments and prepare their reports, the house will adjourn March 16 to meet again April 12," he added in a statement.
"Subject to exigencies of government business, the session is likely to conclude Friday, May 7," the statement said.
The railway budget 2010-11 will be presented Feb 24.
This will be the second budget session of the current Lok Sabha.
The budget session of parliament will begin Feb 22 and conclude May 7, with a long break of more than three weeks in between, it was announced Wednesday.
President Pratibha Patil will make the customary address to the joint session of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, marking the beginning of the fourth session of the 15th Lok Sabha, Lok Sabha Secretary General P.D.T. Achary said.
"In order to enable the Standing Committees to consider the demands for grants of ministries, departments and prepare their reports, the house will adjourn March 16 to meet again April 12," he added in a statement.
"Subject to exigencies of government business, the session is likely to conclude Friday, May 7," the statement said.
The railway budget 2010-11 will be presented Feb 24.
This will be the second budget session of the current Lok Sabha.
President Pratibha Patil will make the customary address to the joint session of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, marking the beginning of the fourth session of the 15th Lok Sabha, Lok Sabha Secretary General P.D.T. Achary said.
"In order to enable the Standing Committees to consider the demands for grants of ministries, departments and prepare their reports, the house will adjourn March 16 to meet again April 12," he added in a statement.
"Subject to exigencies of government business, the session is likely to conclude Friday, May 7," the statement said.
The railway budget 2010-11 will be presented Feb 24.
This will be the second budget session of the current Lok Sabha.
London, Feb 22 (IANS) A 63-year-old Sikh man was killed in Britain's Huddersfield town after he was savagely attacked by four teenagers, the second attack on his shop within a week, a media report said Monday.
Gurmail Singh, 63, suffered head injuries when he was viciously assaulted by the hammer-wielding gang and died in hospital seven hours later, Daily Express reported.
The gang wearing dark hoods entered the convenience store at 8.30 p.m. Saturday and assaulted Singh. As he lay covered in blood, the youths took money, cigarettes and sweets.
Singh was taken to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, but died at 3.30 a.m. Sunday.
"Gurmail was such a loving family man. We cannot believe this. We are all in deep mourning," a relative was quoted as saying.
Debbie Riley, a 45-year-old eyewitness, said: "We were just outside the pub in the porch having a smoke and we saw two boys running down the road. (Her partner) David said �Oh my god its not Mr Singh again'. He ran over to the shop and there were two more inside."
"I saw Mr Singh, he was lying with his legs bent beneath him and his head in the wine rack. I started first aid but then I realised it was a crime scene.
"The blood near him started off an inch wide and then went to a foot wide and went under the door into the store room. It was a river of blood," she was quoted as saying.
Ian Davison, a neighbour, said that teenagers had tried to smash open the till during a raid at Singh's shop Thursday.
Davison observed that the drug problem among youths was "getting out of hand" and added "Mr Singh was a really popular, lovely bloke".
(News published under the licence from Indo Asian News Service)
Gurmail Singh, 63, suffered head injuries when he was viciously assaulted by the hammer-wielding gang and died in hospital seven hours later, Daily Express reported.
The gang wearing dark hoods entered the convenience store at 8.30 p.m. Saturday and assaulted Singh. As he lay covered in blood, the youths took money, cigarettes and sweets.
Singh was taken to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, but died at 3.30 a.m. Sunday.
"Gurmail was such a loving family man. We cannot believe this. We are all in deep mourning," a relative was quoted as saying.
Debbie Riley, a 45-year-old eyewitness, said: "We were just outside the pub in the porch having a smoke and we saw two boys running down the road. (Her partner) David said �Oh my god its not Mr Singh again'. He ran over to the shop and there were two more inside."
"I saw Mr Singh, he was lying with his legs bent beneath him and his head in the wine rack. I started first aid but then I realised it was a crime scene.
"The blood near him started off an inch wide and then went to a foot wide and went under the door into the store room. It was a river of blood," she was quoted as saying.
Ian Davison, a neighbour, said that teenagers had tried to smash open the till during a raid at Singh's shop Thursday.
Davison observed that the drug problem among youths was "getting out of hand" and added "Mr Singh was a really popular, lovely bloke".
(News published under the licence from Indo Asian News Service)
Chandigarh, Feb 22 (IANS) Giving a much needed boost to India's traditional sport, the Punjab government will organise the 2010 Kabaddi World Cup tournament next month, officials said Monday. The winning team will get a prize of Rs.1 crore.
The state government is all set to organise this world cup on a very large scale and is expecting teams from countries like Britain, the US, Pakistan, Iran, Italy, Canada and Australia.
"The Kabaddi World Cup will begin around the end of March and continue till the first week of April. Punjab has given gradation to Kabaddi which was denied to it for the past 62 years," said state Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who is also the Punjab sports minister.
He added: "To uplift this traditional sport of Punjab and to boost the morale of players, the state government has announced Rs.1 crore in prize money for the winner and Rs.50 and 25 lakh respectively for the first and second runner up teams."
In a bid to ensure live telecast of matches, the Punjab sports department has already invited expression of interest from TV channels.
The Kabbadi World Cup is scheduled from March 31 to April 10. The matches will be held at eight different cities of Punjab, sources in the state sports department told IANS. The final match will be played at the Guru Nanak stadium in Ludhiana, the industrial hub of the state.
(News published under the licence from Indo Asian News Service)
Gandhinagar, Feb 22 (IANS) Gujarat Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Kanu Kalsariya, who was attacked Sunday night, may face disciplinary action from his own party soon. The legislator is heading a farmers' stir against corporate giant Nirma.
The new state party president R.C. Faldu is of the opinion that the legislator-led farmer's stir against Nirma is fast becoming an embarrassment for the Narendra Modi government, highly placed sources in the BJP have indicated. It is inviting adverse publicity and is affecting Gujarat's image as an investor friendly state where the process of setting up units is trouble free.
The BJP leader has been told through party sources that disciplinary action will be taken if he does not stop his activities.
Kalsariya is convalescing in the Mahuva government hospital after unidentified assailants attacked his car while he and his wife were on their way to attend a meeting of farmers Sunday night. The politician, who is a doctor by profession, sustained injuries. His wife had a narrow escape. The car was damaged.
(News published under the licence from Indo Asian News Service)
The new state party president R.C. Faldu is of the opinion that the legislator-led farmer's stir against Nirma is fast becoming an embarrassment for the Narendra Modi government, highly placed sources in the BJP have indicated. It is inviting adverse publicity and is affecting Gujarat's image as an investor friendly state where the process of setting up units is trouble free.
The BJP leader has been told through party sources that disciplinary action will be taken if he does not stop his activities.
Kalsariya is convalescing in the Mahuva government hospital after unidentified assailants attacked his car while he and his wife were on their way to attend a meeting of farmers Sunday night. The politician, who is a doctor by profession, sustained injuries. His wife had a narrow escape. The car was damaged.
(News published under the licence from Indo Asian News Service)
Mumbai, Feb 22 (IANS) The scrip of sugar refining major Shree Renuka Sugars Ltd (SRSL) rose more than 3.94 percent at the Bombay Stock Exchange during morning trade Monday, after the company said it was acquiring majority stake in a large Brazilian sugar and ethanol firm.
The SRSL stock rose more than 3.94 percent to Rs.187 during morning trade, before settling to Rs.184.10, an increase of 2.33 percent from its previous close at Rs.179.90.
"We have entered into definitive agreements with Grupo Equipav for an investment of $329 million (Rs.1,530 crore) leading to a majority, controlling equity stake in Equipav S.A. ACUCAR e ALCOOL (Equipav), one of the largest sugar or ethanol Companies in Brazil," Shree Renuka Sugars said in a statement.
After the deal, Shree Renuka Sugars stake in the Equipav will be 50.79 percent, while the balance stake would be held by the founding Equipav group.
The money from the stake sale will be used by the Brazilian entity to expand its generation capacity in the sugar and ethanol based power segments.
Equipav's net debt of $882 million (Rs.3,821 crore) will also be paid in part using the infused capital.
Brazil is the world's largest producer and exporter of sugar, while India is the largest consumer.
"This acquisition will significantly multiply SRSL's presence in the Centre-South region of Brazil and enhance its competitiveness and size in the global sugar business," said the statement.
The Indian sugar major had in November 2009 fully acquired Vale Do Ivai, a Brazilian sugar and ethanol production company.
(News published under the licence from Indo Asian News Service)
The SRSL stock rose more than 3.94 percent to Rs.187 during morning trade, before settling to Rs.184.10, an increase of 2.33 percent from its previous close at Rs.179.90.
"We have entered into definitive agreements with Grupo Equipav for an investment of $329 million (Rs.1,530 crore) leading to a majority, controlling equity stake in Equipav S.A. ACUCAR e ALCOOL (Equipav), one of the largest sugar or ethanol Companies in Brazil," Shree Renuka Sugars said in a statement.
After the deal, Shree Renuka Sugars stake in the Equipav will be 50.79 percent, while the balance stake would be held by the founding Equipav group.
The money from the stake sale will be used by the Brazilian entity to expand its generation capacity in the sugar and ethanol based power segments.
Equipav's net debt of $882 million (Rs.3,821 crore) will also be paid in part using the infused capital.
Brazil is the world's largest producer and exporter of sugar, while India is the largest consumer.
"This acquisition will significantly multiply SRSL's presence in the Centre-South region of Brazil and enhance its competitiveness and size in the global sugar business," said the statement.
The Indian sugar major had in November 2009 fully acquired Vale Do Ivai, a Brazilian sugar and ethanol production company.
(News published under the licence from Indo Asian News Service)
Jiradei MLA Shyam Bahadur Singh of Janata Dal-United (JD-U) was found dancing with bar girls in his flat. The dance was supposed to entertain voters from his constituency who had come to attend Nitish’s Mahadalit rally. He was caught in camera for his dance with the bar dancers, was telecasted by leading news channels.
The incident has become a major embarrassment for the JD(U) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is addressing the Mahadalit rally today. Shyam Bahadur Singh has issued an apology for the incident later.
The incident has become a major embarrassment for the JD(U) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is addressing the Mahadalit rally today. Shyam Bahadur Singh has issued an apology for the incident later.
Nsure Plus is India's largest Two-wheeler Insurance distribution company with an insurance voer for more than 6 million Indian vehicles.
Nsureplus manages over 2500 distributors active in over 500 locations in India. Brand 'Nsureplus' is well recognized by the general insurance customer in India, for its instant policy generation, ease of reach and use, and outstanding services to both customer and distributor.
Nsure Plus is a product of Hero Corporate Service Limited (Hero Honda group) http://www.herocorp.com/nps.html
Nsureplus has become the market leader in Two-wheeler Insurance and Renewals in India
Nsureplus manages over 2500 distributors active in over 500 locations in India. Brand 'Nsureplus' is well recognized by the general insurance customer in India, for its instant policy generation, ease of reach and use, and outstanding services to both customer and distributor.
Nsure Plus is a product of Hero Corporate Service Limited (Hero Honda group) http://www.herocorp.com/nps.html
Nsureplus has become the market leader in Two-wheeler Insurance and Renewals in India
The Ministry of Personnel, Government of India has announced the list of holidays to be observed in Central Government Offices during the year 2010
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Islamabad/New Delhi, Feb 22 (IANS) One of the three Sikhs abducted by Pakistani Taliban was found beheaded in Pakistan's restive tribal region, a media report said.
The victim was identified as Jaspal Singh, who was kidnapped along with two other Sikh residents by Taliban militants from Tirah valley in Khyber Agency near the provincial capital Peshawar, the DownNews reported.
A letter was also found with the body warning the relatives of the deceased and other Sikh locals against disclosing the case to the media.
The letter threatened the community with suicide attacks if the details of the beheading and kidnapping were revealed to the media or security forces.
Jaspal's two other companions, Gorwandar Singh and Srujeet Singh, are still being held captive by the militants, the report said.
No group has claimed responsibility for the abduction and murder.
Meanwhile, India's opposition Bhartiya Janata Party has condemned the killing and asked the government to mount "diplomatic pressure" on Pakistan to ensure release of the abducted Sikh residents in the country.
Minorities are facing threats in Pakistan and terrorism presents the real picture of that country, BJP spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad said in New Delhi.
A large number of Pakistani Sikhs has fled from Orakzai and Tirah valley where the non-Muslims have been charged "Jazai" or Islamic Tax by militants on the pretext of providing security in the area.
(News published under the licence from Indo Asian News Service)
The victim was identified as Jaspal Singh, who was kidnapped along with two other Sikh residents by Taliban militants from Tirah valley in Khyber Agency near the provincial capital Peshawar, the DownNews reported.
A letter was also found with the body warning the relatives of the deceased and other Sikh locals against disclosing the case to the media.
The letter threatened the community with suicide attacks if the details of the beheading and kidnapping were revealed to the media or security forces.
Jaspal's two other companions, Gorwandar Singh and Srujeet Singh, are still being held captive by the militants, the report said.
No group has claimed responsibility for the abduction and murder.
Meanwhile, India's opposition Bhartiya Janata Party has condemned the killing and asked the government to mount "diplomatic pressure" on Pakistan to ensure release of the abducted Sikh residents in the country.
Minorities are facing threats in Pakistan and terrorism presents the real picture of that country, BJP spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad said in New Delhi.
A large number of Pakistani Sikhs has fled from Orakzai and Tirah valley where the non-Muslims have been charged "Jazai" or Islamic Tax by militants on the pretext of providing security in the area.
(News published under the licence from Indo Asian News Service)
London, Feb 22 (DPA) Iraq war drama "The Hurt Locker" swept to success at the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs) Sunday in London with director Kathryn Bigelow also winning the best director award.Bigelow beat out competition from ex-husband James Cameron, whose sci-fi blockbuster "Avatar" had also been nominated in both categories.
But the surprise of the evening's award ceremony at London's Royal Opera House was provided by rising British star Carey Mulligan, who won the best actress award for her role in "An Education".
Briton Colin Firth won the best actor award for his part in "A Single Man".
Britain's up-and-coming star Carey Mulligan won the best actress category at the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs) Sunday in London, where Kathryn Bigelow scooped up the best film and best director awards for her Iraq war drama "The Hurt Locker".
Mulligan, 24, took the prize for her lead role in the British-made film "An Education", based on a novel by Nick Hornby on the adolescent life of journalist Lynn Barber.
In what was a true veteran versus newcomer contest, Mulligan beat competition in the best actress category from Meryl Streep for "Julie & Julia" and Audrey Tatou for "Coco Before Chanel".
Shaking with emotion, Mulligan said after winning the award: "I really didn't expect this at all, so I didn't think of anything to say. Thank you so much, BAFTA. I was here a year ago, and I didn't imagine in a million years that this would happen".
Bigelow said she was overwhelmed by the dual recognition of best film and best director for her war epic, as she became the first woman in BAFTA history to win the best director award.
She fought off competition including ex-husband James Cameron, whose sci-fi blockbuster "Avatar" had also been nominated in both categories.
"Avatar" and "The Hurt Locker" had eight nominations each for best film, as did "An Education".
"This is beyond our wildest dreams. This is so unbelievable, we're just so deeply honoured and humbled," said Bigelow.
British actor Colin Firth won the best actor award for his part in "A Single Man".
At the start of the ceremony at London's Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Prince William, 27, was announced as the new president of BAFTA, taking over from veteran filmmaker Richard Attenborough.
(News published under the licence from Indo Asian News Service)