Jawan in rebel ‘net’

Srinagar, Feb. 21: A CRPF constable has been arrested for suspected links with the Hizb-ul Mujahideen.

A police source said Mudassir Yousuf Bhat of 183 Battalion was arrested “for planting an improvised explosive device at a CRPF camp”.

A spokesperson, however, said Bhat, a resident of Sopore in north Kashmir, was picked up while carrying a 500gm IED fitted in a steel glass. A grenade was also seized from him.

“He was in civvies and was arrested during a routine check. A case has been registered in this regard and the matter taken up for further investigation,” he added.

Other sources, however, maintained that Bhat was caught after the police intercepted a call he made from his cellphone to a Hizb commander, informing him that he had planted the bomb in his battalion headquarters at Pulwama.

Pak bus

New Delhi (PTI): India and Pakistan have decided to increase the frequency of the Delhi-Lahore bus service from twice to thrice a week. Encouraged by the popularity of the service, transport officials of both countries took the decision after a day-long meeting on Thursday. The trips will be increased from March 17.

Natwar quits

New Delhi (PTI): Natwar Singh has resigned from the Congress as well as the Rajya Sabha. The former foreign minister, who was associated with the Congress for over two decades, was forced to resign from the government in November 2005 after the Iraqi oil-for-food scam.

Murder cloud

London (PTI): A shopkeeper of Indian origin in Lancashire may face a murder charge for the death of an armed robber who attacked him. Tony Singh was trying to defend himself against his hooded attacker on Sunday and stabbed him with the latter’s knife.

Cyber arrest

Chandigarh (PTI): An IT professional has been arrested for allegedly creating an obscene profile of a girl on a social networking website. Jatinder Singh Marok is a process executive in an infotech company at Mohali.