Telangana youth killed in Kashmir was working for IS
Hyderabad: A youth from Telangana, who was killed along with two Kashmiri militants in a gun battle with the security forces in the border state last week, was allegedly working for international terror group Islamic State, police said.
Mohammad Taufeeq, 26, killed along with two Kashmiri youth in the gunfight on the intervening night of March 11 and 12 at Hakkora in Anantanag district, was a native of Manuguru in Telangana's Bhadradri Kothagudem district.
A senior police official said he was radicalized into Islamic State (IS) ideology through social media and went to Kashmir to participate in terrorist activities of IS.
"He was not wanted into any of the criminal cases in Telangana state. Further details are being verified," the official added.
The police statement came amid the claims by the IS and Ansar-ul-Gazwat-ul-Hind, an Al Qaeda franchise in Kashmir, that the third militant, who was killed along with two local militants was a resident of Hyderabad in Telangana.
The security agencies have voiced their concern that this could influence more Indian youth to turn to Kashmir for militancy.
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Mauritius announces flying flag half-mast as mark of respect to Manmohan Singh
New Delhi (PTI): Mauritius has announced that its national flag will fly at half-mast at all government offices and institutions till sunset on Saturday as a mark of respect to India's former prime minister Manmohan Singh.
In a note, Mauritius Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam's office also urged the private sector to fly the flags at half-mast.
Mauritius Foreign Minister Dhananjay Ramful travelled to Delhi and paid respects to the former prime minister.
"Following the passing away of Dr Manmohan Singh, former Prime Minister of the Republic of India, the public is hereby informed that the Mauritius Flag will be flown at half-mast on all government buildings until sunset today Saturday, the day of his funeral," the Mauritius prime minister's office said.
"An appeal is also made to the private sector for all flags to be flown at half-mast," it said in the note.
Singh, who served as the prime minister from 2004 to 2014 and widely known as the architect of India's economic reforms, died on Thursday night. He was 92.
India's relations with several key countries, including Mauritius, saw significant upswing during Singh's prime ministership.
Singh's last rites were held with full state honours on Saturday at the Nigambodh Ghat cremation ground in Delhi.
President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck were among those who attended Singh's funeral.
