Sabarimala: Eight people taken into custody from temple complex
Sabarimala (Kerala), Nov 20: Eight people were taken into preventive custody from the temple complex Tuesday night based on intelligence report that they were at the hill shrine to create trouble, the police said.
A senior police officer told PTI that they were taken into custody after they had offered prayers.
Later they were taken to the Pamba police station, which is around four km downhill.
"Two of the detainees have criminal cases registered against them at local police stations.They were taken into custody based on intelligence report," the official said.
Senior BJP leaders and MPs, V Muraleedharan and Nalin Kumar Kateel, who were here to take stock of the facilities and situation at the Lord Ayyappa temple, arrived at the 'Sannidhanam' (temple complex) police station where the detainees were kept initially.
Terming the detention "unlawful", Muraleedharan protested and sought explanation from the superintendent of police Pratheesh Kumar, who is in charge of security at Sannidhanam.
Later, Muraleedharan told reporters that he spoke to Kumar who assured that he would look into the matter.
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Lebanon appoints new representative for talks with Israel, rejects linkage to Iran
Beirut: Lebanon’s has moved to underline its independent position in ongoing regional developments, amid attempts to link the country to the broader conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
President Joseph Aoun, while announcing the appointment of former US ambassador Simon Karam as Lebanon’s representative in talks with Israel, made it clear that Karam would be the sole representative for Lebanon and that there would be no substitute.
The move comes in response to what the Lebanese officials see as efforts by Iran to tie Lebanon’s situation to the wider regional conflict. Iran had indicated that there would be no ceasefire involving the US, Israel and Iran unless it also included a ceasefire in Lebanon.
Some groups, including Hezbollah and its supporters, had expressed support for linking the situations, citing concerns that the Lebanese government has limited leverage in negotiations with Israel. Lebanon is not formally a party to the conflict, and its army is considered weak.
However, others, including Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, have opposed this approach. They view Iran’s stance as an attempt to influence Lebanon’s internal affairs and see it as undermining the country’s sovereignty.
Officials backing the government’s position say the move is aimed at reaffirming Lebanon’s sovereignty and ensuring that decisions about peace and ceasefire within the country are not dictated externally.
They also see it as a safeguard, so that any breakdown in talks between the US, Israel and Iran does not automatically lead to renewed conflict in Lebanon.
