Briefly Nation

The Election Commission on Monday announced biennial elections to 10 Legislative Council seats in Andhra Pradesh and byelections to one seat each in the Legislative Councils of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar,on March 17.

Andhra,UP,Bihar Council polls on March 17
NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Monday announced biennial elections to 10 Legislative Council seats in Andhra Pradesh and byelections to one seat each in the Legislative Councils of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar,on March 17. While the elected candidates in Andhra Pradesh would get full term,the candidates in Bihar and UP would have terms for the remaining period of tenures of members who have resigned.

BSP MLA Qureshis brother to join Cong
Lucknow: Yususf Qureshi,brother of BSP MLA Haji Yakub Qureshi who allegedly slapped a constable in Meerut last week,is all set to join the Congress at a rally on Tuesday. He will also merge his outfit,United Democratic Front,with the Congress. The rally will be attended by senior Congress leaders,including general secretary incharge of UP Digvijaya Singh. Congress UP chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi said,Yusuf does not have a criminal record like his brother. Hence,people within the party have no objection accepting him.

Kozhikode twin blasts trial begins
KOCHI: In-camera trial proceedings in Kozhikode twin blast case involving T Nazeer a suspected Lashkar-e-Toiba operative and prime accused in the 2008 Bangalore blast case began at the CBI Special Court here on Monday. The NIA,probing various terror-related cases in Kerala,had sought in-camera trial as a security measure,which was allowed by the court. The NIA had filed a chargesheet in the case in August 2010,listing Nazeer as the first accused.

Ravi Inder bail plea hearing put off
NEW DELHI: A Delhi court on Monday deferred the hearing on bail applications of suspended IAS officer Ravi Inder Singh and Vineet Kumar,CMD of Kolkata-based Temptation Food Pvt Ltd,to March 5. Singh,who was posted as Director Internal Security in the Home Ministry,is accused of passing official information to unauthorised persons. Kumar was allegedly acting as his middleman. Both were arrested by Delhi Police on November 23.

Interlocutors begin 5th visit,meet Omar
Jammu: The Centres three interlocutors for Kashmir Monday held discussions with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah as they embarked on their fifth visit to the state in four months. The interlocutors,who are awaiting a response from the separatist leaders to an invitation for a meeeting,said they were ready to meet them anywhere. 8220;We have absolutely no hesitation in going to wherever they wish us to to engage them,8221; head of the three-member team Dileep Padgaonkar said.

Ishrat mother wants fresh FIR against 22
AHMEDABAD: Ishrat Jahan8217;s mother Shamima Kausar Monday filed an application before the SIT that is probing her daughter8217;s killing in a fake encounter,demanding a fresh FIR be registered against 22 Gujarat Police officers named in magistrate S P Tamang8217;s report 8220;as the SIT now has enough evidence to conclude that Ishrat was killed as part of a conspiracy.8221; Kausar also sought inclusion of Parikshita Gurjar,a Gujarat Police officer who had investigated the encounter and concluded that it was genuine,in the fresh FIR.