Assam: Poachers kill 2 rhinos at Rajiv Gandhi National Orang park

The poachers on Saturday killed two rhinos at Rajiv Gandhi National Orang park in Asssam. 41 rhinos have been killed till 2013 by the poachers in Assam. Patrolling forest guards heard gun shots on Saturday night and found the rhino and her two year old calf with their horns removed near Hazarbigha camp in the southwestern area, park officials said on Monday. Four empty cartridges were recovered from the area. 

A massive combing operation has been launched in the park and its adjoining areas to nab the poachers. Orang, with an area of 78.80 sq km in the Northern Bank of Brahmaputra, has a population of more than 90 rhinos, the second highest after Kaziranga. Of the 41 rhinos killed this year, Kaziranga National Park recorded 34 killings, followed by three in Orang and two each in Manas National Park and Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary. 

Orang, with an area of 78.80 sq km in the Northern Bank of Brahmaputra, has a population of more than 90 rhinos, the second highest after Kaziranga. Rhino horn is highly valued across the world for its alleged aphrodisiac qualities and use in traditional medicine.

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India ready to give Pakistan 'benefit of the doubt': Salman Khurshid

India is prepared to give historic rival Pakistan "the benefit of the doubt" as the two countries strive for peace, Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid has said.

The nuclear-armed neighbours have since independence been at loggerheads over Kashmir, which is divided and administered separately by India and Pakistan but claimed in full by both.

India regularly accuses Pakistan's army of providing covering fire for armed rebels who cross the border and then mount attacks and in an interview with The Australian newspaper published Monday, Khurshid admitted the relationship was fraught.

"We talk to Pakistan periodically and in terms of personal gestures we receive great warmth," he said.

"But the on-the-ground reality and the results of our meetings are very disappointing."

However, with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif last month vowing to go the "extra mile" to make peace with India, Khurshid said Delhi would take him at his word.

"Pakistan has a lot of very, very difficult issues to deal with at home," he was quoted as saying.

"Our view is that we should give them time, not at our cost, of course, but that we should give them the benefit of the doubt.

"When Mr Nawaz Sharif says he wants peace and good relations with India, we take him at his word."

But with recent shootings at the border among the heaviest since a ceasefire agreement in 2003, Khurshid pointed out that Pakistan has not yet followed through on its promise of top-level military meetings to sort out better arrangements in Kashmir.

"If they can address the dismantling of the infrastructure of terrorism, that would be a good start," he told the newspaper.

More: http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/india-ready-to-give-pakistan-benefit-of-the-doubt-salman-khurshid-444265

Naxal attack in Gaya village; 3 killed, two injured

In yet another Naxal-related incident, three people were killed and two others injured when the home-grown rebels attacked a village in Bihar's Gaya on Monday.

According to reports, Naxals surrounded the Abkola village in Gaya in the wee hours of Monday and attacked the victims who were attending a cultural event.

Abkola village head Sanjay Yadav and two of his close associates were killed in the attack.

The top officials of the local administration have reached the spot and the combing operations have begun in the area.

Preliminary reports suggest that it was a pre-planned Naxal attack.

More: http://zeenews.india.com/news/bihar/naxal-attack-in-gaya-village-3-killed-two-injured_889107.html

Mamata Banerjee's approach amuses Shah Rukh Khan and Kamal Haasan

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and Tamil superstar Kamal Haasan were left stumped with the hands-on approach of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

After seeing Mamata Banerjee running around the stage to check all arrangements while inaugurating the 19th edition of the Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF), an amused Kamal Haasan said, "She is a dynamo of energy and very surprisingly not interested in sitting in the chair for too long. I am quite surprised, I am not used to it."

"This is my first encounter with your honourable Chief Minister. So I was looking forward to a Chief Minister but I found a sister. I know why you call her that ('didi') now," said Kamal Haasan, who has also acted in a number of Hindi films.

Kamal Haasan added that Mamata Banerjee's approach is like the head of a family who is busy inviting everyone.

Shah RUkh Khan, who addresses the CM as 'Didi', said, "It is extremely wonderful to see her running around, jumping around, making this a wonderful Kolkata International Film Festival coming alive with her energy."

Also the brand ambassador of West Bengal, SRK, described her as someone who is charming, energetic and hyperactive. To the delegates and film lovers attending the eight-day carnival, Khan said, "You are perhaps in the most greatest, the most charming and loving city in the world just like the Chief Minister herself."

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan and his actor-wife Jaya Bachchan were also present at the high-decibel inauguration of KIFF at the Netaji Indoor Stadium.

More: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/mamata-banerjee-s-approach-amuses-shah-rukh-khan-and-kamal-haasan/1193460/