Daily wrap: NIA conducts raids in TN, Dhoni not to retire now

Sheila Dikshit no more, PM Modi, Sonia Gandhi pay last respects

Former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit passed away following a cardiac arrest in a private hospital in the national capital, Delhi, on Saturday (July 20). She was admitted to the hospital in a critical state on Friday (July 19). Dikshit had undergone heart surgery in France last year and was being treated at the private hospital in the city. “At 3:15 pm she again suffered a cardiac arrest. She was put on ventilator and at 3:55 pm she passed away peacefully,” said Dr Ashok Seth, director, Escorts Fortis, who was treating her.

Also read: Beloved by all, Delhi pays tributes to its architect Sheila Dikshit

Kashmir resolution is bound to happen, no power on earth can stop it: Rajnath

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh asserted on Saturday (July 20) that the Kashmir issue will be resolved and no power on the earth can stop it. Singh said that Kashmir is in his heart and that the government wants it to become not only the paradise of India but also the tourist paradise of the world. The defence minister earlier paid tributes to the soldiers killed in the 1999 Kargil War at a memorial in Jammu and Kashmir’s Dras sector as the nation commemorated the 20th anniversary of Operation Vijay.

NIA raids residences of 14 deported TN men, seizes documents, devices

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted simultaneous searches on the houses of 14 of the 16, accused of raising of funds for setting up a terror module inspired by the ISIS and al-Qaeda across Tamil Nadu on Saturday. The agency seized over 50 documents apart from digital devices, including laptops and mobile phones. The 14 men were recently deported from UAE to India on charges of supporting terror outfits and sent to judicial custody.

Two Governors transferred, fresh appointment in some states

The government on Saturday (July 20) transferred two governors and made fresh appointments in some states. Former interlocutor on Naga talks, RN Ravi has been appointed as Nagaland governor, according to a Rashtrapati Bhavan communique. Noted lawyer and former Janata Dal MP Jagdeep Dhankhar was appointed the West Bengal governor. Madhya Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel has been shifted to Uttar Pradesh and her place will be filled by Bihar Governor Lal Ji Tandon, the communique said.

Heavy rains continue in Kerala, 2 drown, 3 TN fishermen among 4 missing

Two people have died so far and four, including three fishermen from Tamil Nadu, are missing as heavy rains continue to lash Kerala, with Kudule in Kasaragod district recording over 30 cm of rains till Saturday. In the hilly Idukki district, a minor landslide occurred on Saturday morning at Konnathady village, causing crop loss. There were no casualties, official sources said. People have been advised against travelling in hilly areas, they said.

Sindhu beats China’s Chen Yufei, storms into Indonesia Open finals

Indian shuttler P V Sindhu reached the finals of the Indonesia Open 2019 with a 21-19, 21-10 win over China’s Chen Yufei in 46 minutes, on Saturday (July 20). This is Sindhu’s first final this year after struggling with an indifferent form in the first half. Against her Chinese opponent Chen Yufei, Sindhu struggled in the first game and was trailing 14-18 at one stage. She upped her game in the closing stages by first levelling scores at 18 and then racing ahead to a 21-19 win.

Dhoni pulls out of WI tour, takes break amid retirement speculation

Former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, on Saturday, made himself “unavailable” for the tour of West Indies but ruled out immediate retirement a day before the selectors meet in Mumbai to pick the squads for the upcoming away series. Amid mounting speculation around his international retirement after India’s semi-final exit from the recent World Cup, Dhoni has told the BCCI that he will take a two-month sabbatical from the game to serve his paramilitary regiment.

Shiva Thapa becomes India’s first gold medallist in Kazakhstan President’s Cup

Four-time Asian medallist Shiva Thapa became India’s first gold medallist at the President’s Cup boxing tournament after getting a walkover in the finals in Astana, Kazakhstan on Saturday (July 20). Making his international debut in the newly-introduced Olympic category of 63 kg, Thapa was to fight Kazakhstan’s Zakir Safiullin in the summit clash but his opponent had to pull out due to injury. Thapa had lost to Safiullin in the Asian Championship semifinal earlier this year.

Airing of Bigg Boss Telugu postponed amid casting couch allegations

The Telugu version of the popular reality TV show ‘Bigg Boss’ has landed in trouble following allegations of sexual harassment against the local coordinators. The third season of the show, which was scheduled to go on air next week, has now been put on hold. This season was to be hosted by superstar Akkineni Nagarjuna, while the first two seasons were hosted by actors ‘Junior NTR’ and Nani.