Is Karnataka Government mulling to hand over Ashraf and Rahman murder probes to NIA?
Mangaluru: The Karnataka government is likely to hand over the investigations into the murders of Ashraf in Kudpadi and Abdul Rahman in Kolatta Majal to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), according to sources familiar with the development.
The demand to involve the NIA in such cases has been gaining momentum ever since the central government transferred the investigation of rowdy-sheeter Suhas Shetty’s murder to the central agency. The murder, which took place shortly after Ashraf’s killing, was taken up by the NIA following an order from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. Dakshina Kannada MP Brijesh Chowta had earlier written to the Modi government, requesting that the Suhas Shetty case be investigated by the NIA. The Centre responded positively, and the case was handed over.
This development led to growing public curiosity about why the Ashraf and Abdul Rahman murder cases were not being treated similarly.
Speaker U.T. Khader, after returning from Hajj, held a detailed meeting with Mangaluru Police Commissioner, Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner, and the District Superintendent of Police to review the law and order situation. The discussions reportedly focused on measures needed to control the spate of murders and communal violence in the region. Further discussions were also held with the District In-charge Minister and the Home Minister.
It is now learnt that the state government is considering transferring the Ashraf and Abdul Rahman murder cases to the NIA as well. Since both incidents are believed to be driven by communal tensions and revenge motives, authorities are of the view that a detailed and unbiased investigation is essential to identify the forces behind them. Sources say the government believes that an NIA probe would be more suitable for such sensitive cases.
An official decision and announcement in this regard is expected soon.
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14 India-bound ships in Strait of Hormuz stopped by Iran; 1 hit by bullets, 1 crosses: Sources
New Delhi (PTI): A convoy of 14 India-bound ships carrying crude oil and gas were stopped by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) by firing at two of them while they were transiting the Strait of Hormuz, leading to 13 of the vessels returning to different locations in the Persian Gulf, official sources privy to the development said.
An Indian-flag carrying ship, which was hit by bullets fired by the IRGC while crossing the Strait of Hormuz, was carrying crude oil and a window pane was broken, forcing it to stop the journey and return. The extent of damage to the second vessel was not immediately known but it also had returned.
However, another ship, which was Indian flagged and loaded with crude oil for the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited, sailed through the Strait and is now heading towards India, the sources said.
Two Iranian gunboats approached the targeted tanker and fired at it without warning. Gunboats approached the vessel 37 kilometres northeast of Oman, causing other vessels to return without completing the crossing, the sources said.
The incident was reported in waters between the Qeshm and Larak islands, they said.
Out of the 14 India-bound vessels, seven are carrying the Indian flag, four have the Liberia flag, two are of the Marshall Islands and one of Vietnam.
Six of them are loaded with crude oil, three have LPG and four are loaded with fertilisers. Among the ships, five are bulk carriers. All 14 vessels were sailing in a row.
Thirteen of them were stopped by the Iranian Navy and were instructed to wait. Out of the 13 stranded vessels, seven vessels are drifting south of Larak Island, waiting for clearance from the Iranian Navy, the sources said.
The Indian government is understood to have been coordinating with the Iranian authorities for the safe voyage of the stranded India-bound ships, they said.
The standoff over the Strait of Hormuz reportedly escalated again on Saturday as Iran reversed its reopening of the crucial waterway and fired on ships attempting to pass. This came as the United States pressed ahead with its blockade of Iranian ports.
Confusion over the Strait, through which roughly one-fifth of the world's oil passes, threatened to deepen the energy crisis.
The ceasefire between Iran and the US is due to run out by mid-next week.
Iran's joint military command said Saturday that "control of the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its previous state ... under strict management and control of the armed forces."
It warned that it would continue to block transit through the strait as long as the US blockade of Iranian ports remained in effect.
