Two BSF troopers killed in Chhattisgarh IED blast
Raipur/Kanker, July 10 : Two BSF troopers were killed in an IED blast triggered by Maoists in Chhattisgarh's Kanker district on Monday evening, police said.
The blast occurred in the Tarhwali jungle area of the district, when a search party of the Border Security Force (BSF) came to the area after getting reports of Maoist activity there.
As soon as the troopers reached there, the hiding Maoists fired on the security personnel and then detonated the IED, killing troopers Santosh Lakshman and Nityanand Nayak, said Inspector General of Police, Bastar, Vivekanand Sinha.
According to information, the gunfight has ended and the bodies of the two killed troopers recovered. Some Maoists were also reportedly killed in the exchange of fire, but there was no official corroboration of this.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh expressed his grief over the death of the two BSF troopers and extended his condolences to the family, while terming the Maoist attack "cowardly".
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Lok Sabha functions under rules; will continue to run with fairness: Birla
New Delhi (PTI): Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday said the House functions strictly under its rules and regulations and will continue to do so, irrespective of whether it is acceptable to any member, and asserted that he would conduct the proceedings with sincerity and fairness.
A day after a motion seeking his removal as Speaker was defeated in the House, Birla also said that the Chair does not belong to any one individual but is a symbol of the prestige of the House.
Birla said he was grateful to the members of the House for the faith reposed in him during debate and thanked all those who spoke in favour of him as well as against him.
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"The House has been running with rules and regulations and will continue to function in future, irrespective of whether it is acceptable to any member or not. I will continue to discharge my duty with all sincerity and impartiality," he said amidst the thumping of desks by the treasury bench members.
Thursday was the first time Birla came to the House to conduct the proceedings since the notice of no confidence was given during the first part of the Budget session, which came to an end on February 13. The second part of the session began on March 9.
The Speaker said during the debate in the last two days, some members said that the Leader of the Opposition is not given enough opportunities to speak, and he should be allowed to speak whenever he wishes and on any subject.
"Everyone has the right to speak in the House, but by following rules and regulations. No member, not even the prime minister or any minister, can speak without the permission of the Chair. No member of the House has the privilege to speak at any time and on any subject. He can speak only when the Chair allows," he said.
Birla said the MPs have the freedom of speech in the House, but they have to follow rules and regulations.
He also addressed allegations that the microphones of some members are switched off when they want to speak.
"I don't have a switch to turn the mic on or off. The mic is put on when a member is given permission to speak by the chair," he said.
Soon after his speech, Birla adjourned the House till 2 pm.
