The father of the suspected terrorist Mohammad Saifullah who was killed in the Lucknow encounter carried out by the Anti-Terrorism Squad on Wednesday refused to accept his body.

“This was not in country's interest. We will not accept the body of an anti-national,” father Sartaj said.

“Two and a half months back he left home after I beat him up for not working. He called last Monday saying he's going to Saudi,” he added.

Saifullah was killed by the commandos after several attempts were made by the squad to capture him alive. He refused to surrender and was killed by the Anti-terror squad after a 12-hour-long operation.

The suspected terrorist, involved in the Bhopal-Ujjain train blast which injured nine, is believed to have links with Islamic State (ISIS) who was preparing to conduct a massive attack on a Sufi Shrine in Uttar Pradesh’s Barabanki.

In yet another communal attack, a young Muslim girl in Bangalore was brutally trolled in various social media platforms for singing Hindi devotional song at a Kannada music reality show.

The girl, Suhana Sayed from Shimoga district, presented a sensational number which received much appreciation from the viewers and got a standing ovation at the event. Despite all these, she was attacked by scores of people belonging to the Muslim community.

While the judges at the event urged Suhana to be a symbol of Hindu-Muslim unity, many slammed her of "disgracing" her community.

“Suhana you have tarnished the Muslim Community by singing in front of men. Do not feel that you have achieved a great feat; people who learn to recite Quran in 6 months have achieved more. Your parents have encouraged you to show your beauty to other men, they will not go to heaven because of you. Please give up the pardah that you are wearing as you don't respect it,” read a post on a Facebook page called Mangalore Muslims.

Suhana, however, was praised for her performance and got a standing ovation from the audiences.

“Your voice is really good; you have done a great job. By singing a Hindu devotional song you have become the symbol of unity and music is a medium where people can unite,” said one judge Arjun Janya, a Kannada music director.

Meanwhile, a multitude of netizens has come out in strong support of her.

India will invest $140 billion to modernise its rail network over the next five years and is in talks with UAE-based sovereign wealth funds, Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu has said.

"Of the $140 billion we will be investing over the next five years, the majority will go towards India's modernisation efforts, the introduction of new technologies, and increasing capacities," Prabhu said.

He said his office has been in talks with UAE-based sovereign wealth funds this week, Gulf News quoted him as saying.

"We have requested that the government of the UAE look at the huge potential for investment that lies in Indian infrastructure, particularly in the railways. They are very keen to know more about this," Prabhu said.

"We've had good meetings with Mubadala and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA)," Prabhu said, adding that he hoped these issues would progress over the course of 2017.

According to a statement released by the Indian embassy in Abu Dhabi, Prabhu visted the UAE from March 5-7, on the invitation of Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs of the UAE.

The Minister toured Masdar City and met with the senior management of Masdar, where they discussed possible cooperation in efforts by the Indian Railways to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Prabhu said his ministry had an appetite for "several tens of billions of dollars," stating that whatever was made available, India would take.

ADIA is the third largest sovereign wealth fund in the world, holding approximately $92 billion in assets. 

India will invest $140 billion to modernise its rail network over the next five years and is in talks with UAE-based sovereign wealth funds, Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu has said.

"Of the $140 billion we will be investing over the next five years, the majority will go towards India's modernisation efforts, the introduction of new technologies, and increasing capacities," Prabhu said.

He said his office has been in talks with UAE-based sovereign wealth funds this week, Gulf News quoted him as saying.

"We have requested that the government of the UAE look at the huge potential for investment that lies in Indian infrastructure, particularly in the railways. They are very keen to know more about this," Prabhu said.

"We've had good meetings with Mubadala and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA)," Prabhu said, adding that he hoped these issues would progress over the course of 2017.

According to a statement released by the Indian embassy in Abu Dhabi, Prabhu visted the UAE from March 5-7, on the invitation of Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs of the UAE.

The Minister toured Masdar City and met with the senior management of Masdar, where they discussed possible cooperation in efforts by the Indian Railways to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Prabhu said his ministry had an appetite for "several tens of billions of dollars," stating that whatever was made available, India would take.

ADIA is the third largest sovereign wealth fund in the world, holding approximately $92 billion in assets. 

From Amitabh Bachchan to Shah Rukh Khan and Ajay Devgn, Bollywood celebrities gave a shout-out to women on the occasion of International Women's Day.

Taking to Twitter, the filmstars not only praised women's undisputed abilities but also gave credit to them for their immense contribution to their lives.

Bachchan, 74, said, "On International Women Day, without 'HER' even 'HERO' IS '0'." 

Shah Rukh, 51, posted, "Hold her hand so that she can lead you. Happy Women's Day." 

While Ajay wrote, "Let's celebrate everyday as #womensday, so we never need only one day!" 

Sushant Singh Rajput, who "aspires to be like his mother and sisters", tweeted, "everything in me I could be proud of, I've learned it from them." 

Anupam Kher said, "God gave women d power to give birth to another life. He knew they r special. If men acknowledge tat, we will celebrate #WomensDay everyday (sic)." 

Harshvardhan Kapoor thanked his mother, Sunita Kapoor, and sisters, Sonam and Rhea Kapoor, for making him a "better person".

"I'm a better man because of these amazing women in my life… Happy Women's Day mom, Sonam, Rhea and all you wonderful women out there… Not just for today because you need to be celebrated every day," he wrote.

Director Hansal Mehta posted, "Strength, inspiration, love. Daughter, mother, educator, social worker, companion.

Happy Women's Day my love @safeenahusain."

From Amitabh Bachchan to Shah Rukh Khan and Ajay Devgn, Bollywood celebrities gave a shout-out to women on the occasion of International Women's Day.

Taking to Twitter, the filmstars not only praised women's undisputed abilities but also gave credit to them for their immense contribution to their lives.

Bachchan, 74, said, "On International Women Day, without 'HER' even 'HERO' IS '0'." 

Shah Rukh, 51, posted, "Hold her hand so that she can lead you. Happy Women's Day." 

While Ajay wrote, "Let's celebrate everyday as #womensday, so we never need only one day!" 

Sushant Singh Rajput, who "aspires to be like his mother and sisters", tweeted, "everything in me I could be proud of, I've learned it from them." 

Anupam Kher said, "God gave women d power to give birth to another life. He knew they r special. If men acknowledge tat, we will celebrate #WomensDay everyday (sic)." 

Harshvardhan Kapoor thanked his mother, Sunita Kapoor, and sisters, Sonam and Rhea Kapoor, for making him a "better person".

"I'm a better man because of these amazing women in my life… Happy Women's Day mom, Sonam, Rhea and all you wonderful women out there… Not just for today because you need to be celebrated every day," he wrote.

Director Hansal Mehta posted, "Strength, inspiration, love. Daughter, mother, educator, social worker, companion.

Happy Women's Day my love @safeenahusain."

The government needs to fast-track passage of the proposed anti-human trafficking Bill and set up an effective enforcement machinery to deal with this organised crime, say experts.

The draft Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill aims to create a strong legal, economic and social environment against such a practice and other related matters.

"The reduction in trafficking reportedly created by demonetisation can increase if not handled effectively. The government needs to pass the anti human trafficking Bill at the earliest to have a comprehensive check on the situation," said P M Nair, Chair Professor at Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), said.

He said trafficking is an organised crime and called for special expertise to tackle the same.

"We have several provisions in our legal system to check child labour and commercial sexual exploitation of children.

However, there is no comprehensive law to tackle human trafficking. It is the first step towards all these crimes, and we need to have a comprehensive law to tackle this," he added.

Passing a law is not enough and there is a need for its effective enforcement and implementation, Nair emphasised, who is heading TISS research with support from the government and certain UN bodies on human trafficking.

"The Ministry of Home Affairs at the Centre and states need to take a more active role in driving enforcement of existing and emerging legislations," he suggested.

Elaborating on how to prevent this menace, he said effective rehabilitation of the rescued children and women are important besides coordination among all departments and with civil society and corporates.

He also suggested that panchayat representatives can put in efforts to empower citizens in ensuring trafficking is prevented and "traffickers are taken to task".

Another expert is of the view that the proposed draft of the anti-human trafficking Bill seems promising in that it has dwelt at length on rehabilitation of victims.

"However, the Bill may still not be sufficient enough as there has been a convenient neglect of victims who run away or break away from their captives," said Sanjeev P Sahni, Principal Director, Jindal Institute of Behavioural Sciences.

The government needs to fast-track passage of the proposed anti-human trafficking Bill and set up an effective enforcement machinery to deal with this organised crime, say experts.

The draft Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill aims to create a strong legal, economic and social environment against such a practice and other related matters.

"The reduction in trafficking reportedly created by demonetisation can increase if not handled effectively. The government needs to pass the anti human trafficking Bill at the earliest to have a comprehensive check on the situation," said P M Nair, Chair Professor at Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), said.

He said trafficking is an organised crime and called for special expertise to tackle the same.

"We have several provisions in our legal system to check child labour and commercial sexual exploitation of children.

However, there is no comprehensive law to tackle human trafficking. It is the first step towards all these crimes, and we need to have a comprehensive law to tackle this," he added.

Passing a law is not enough and there is a need for its effective enforcement and implementation, Nair emphasised, who is heading TISS research with support from the government and certain UN bodies on human trafficking.

"The Ministry of Home Affairs at the Centre and states need to take a more active role in driving enforcement of existing and emerging legislations," he suggested.

Elaborating on how to prevent this menace, he said effective rehabilitation of the rescued children and women are important besides coordination among all departments and with civil society and corporates.

He also suggested that panchayat representatives can put in efforts to empower citizens in ensuring trafficking is prevented and "traffickers are taken to task".

Another expert is of the view that the proposed draft of the anti-human trafficking Bill seems promising in that it has dwelt at length on rehabilitation of victims.

"However, the Bill may still not be sufficient enough as there has been a convenient neglect of victims who run away or break away from their captives," said Sanjeev P Sahni, Principal Director, Jindal Institute of Behavioural Sciences.

The Sports Ministry on Wednesday decided to constitute a high level committee to resolve the grievances and complaints of women sports persons in India.

Sports Minister Vijay Goel said the committee under the chairmanship of Joint secretary Sports will comprise athletes, advocate, senior officer of MYAS and sports journalist — all women.

Goel said women athletes, if they have any complaint can approach the committee for their grievance redressal. He said his ministry follows a zero tolerance policy on sexual harassment.

The Minister said his ministry provides equal assistance and incentives to both male and female athletes and there is no gender discrimination for training etc.

He said Sports Authority of India in its Special Area Game Scheme has provided training to 807 women sports persons out of total 1862 sports persons.

On the occasion of the International Women Day, the Sports Ministry organised a conference on 'Women and Sports in India to deliberate upon various issues for encouraging more women to take up sports.

The daylong discussion was focused on creation of safe spaces for girls athletes and women coaches, zero tolerance towards sexual harassment in sports complex, inclusion of gender sensitisation modules in coach training modules, women representation in sports institutions, federations and other sports bodies and gender parity in terms of support to women athletes.

The Sports Ministry on Wednesday decided to constitute a high level committee to resolve the grievances and complaints of women sports persons in India.

Sports Minister Vijay Goel said the committee under the chairmanship of Joint secretary Sports will comprise athletes, advocate, senior officer of MYAS and sports journalist — all women.

Goel said women athletes, if they have any complaint can approach the committee for their grievance redressal. He said his ministry follows a zero tolerance policy on sexual harassment.

The Minister said his ministry provides equal assistance and incentives to both male and female athletes and there is no gender discrimination for training etc.

He said Sports Authority of India in its Special Area Game Scheme has provided training to 807 women sports persons out of total 1862 sports persons.

On the occasion of the International Women Day, the Sports Ministry organised a conference on 'Women and Sports in India to deliberate upon various issues for encouraging more women to take up sports.

The daylong discussion was focused on creation of safe spaces for girls athletes and women coaches, zero tolerance towards sexual harassment in sports complex, inclusion of gender sensitisation modules in coach training modules, women representation in sports institutions, federations and other sports bodies and gender parity in terms of support to women athletes.

Former champions India will face hosts England at Derby, while New Zealand meets qualifier Sri Lanka in Bristol on the opening day of the ICC Women's World Cup which gets underway on June 24, the ICC said on Wednesday.

India will feature in four games in Derby, including the much-anticipated clash with its arch rival Pakistan on July 2.

India will also take on the West Indies in Taunton, Australia in Bristol and South Africa in Leicester.

Reigning champions Australia will begin its title defence against West Indies at Taunton on June 26, said the International Cricket Council (ICC) said in a release.

The tournament will see 28 matches being held over 21 days. A round-robin between the world's eight best teams will conclude with the semi-finals at Bristol and Derby before the final at Lord's on July 23.

England will take on the six-time and reigning champion Australia in Bristol on July 9 and the highly-fancied New Zealand in Derby on July 12.

The big-hitting West Indies team, runner-up in the 2013 edition, will play three matches in Taunton including the repeat of the Mumbai final against Australia in the opening match at the County Ground on June 26.

Leicester will be the home venue for Pakistan with five of its seven matches being staged at Grace Road including matches against England on June 27 and Australia on July 5.

The two semi-finals will be in Derby and Bristol on July 18 and July 20, culminating with a Lord's final on 23 July, for which tickets are already selling quickly.

David Richardson, the ICC Chief Executive, said: "I can't think of a better moment than International Women's Day to unveil the schedule of one of the leading global events in women's sport.

"We are anticipating an exciting tournament and I know the players are looking forward to competing here in front of unprecedented levels of support.

"We've already sold 9000 tickets for the final at Lord's which bodes well for the rest of the event going on sale today. I know we can always count on the British sport loving public to support big events.

"After the extremely successful qualifying tournament in Sri Lanka last month, we can already see that there will be some fiercely contested fixtures as the standard and competitiveness of women's cricket continues to rise," he said.

Steve Elworthy, the Managing Director of the ICC Women's World Cup, said: "We are extremely excited about the ICC Women's World Cup being staged at four outstanding county grounds which I am sure will provide the best possible showcase for the top players in the women's game.

This promises to be the best ICC Women's World Cup tournament and I am sure everyone will want to be a part of the event."

Former champions India will face hosts England at Derby, while New Zealand meets qualifier Sri Lanka in Bristol on the opening day of the ICC Women's World Cup which gets underway on June 24, the ICC said on Wednesday.

India will feature in four games in Derby, including the much-anticipated clash with its arch rival Pakistan on July 2.

India will also take on the West Indies in Taunton, Australia in Bristol and South Africa in Leicester.

Reigning champions Australia will begin its title defence against West Indies at Taunton on June 26, said the International Cricket Council (ICC) said in a release.

The tournament will see 28 matches being held over 21 days. A round-robin between the world's eight best teams will conclude with the semi-finals at Bristol and Derby before the final at Lord's on July 23.

England will take on the six-time and reigning champion Australia in Bristol on July 9 and the highly-fancied New Zealand in Derby on July 12.

The big-hitting West Indies team, runner-up in the 2013 edition, will play three matches in Taunton including the repeat of the Mumbai final against Australia in the opening match at the County Ground on June 26.

Leicester will be the home venue for Pakistan with five of its seven matches being staged at Grace Road including matches against England on June 27 and Australia on July 5.

The two semi-finals will be in Derby and Bristol on July 18 and July 20, culminating with a Lord's final on 23 July, for which tickets are already selling quickly.

David Richardson, the ICC Chief Executive, said: "I can't think of a better moment than International Women's Day to unveil the schedule of one of the leading global events in women's sport.

"We are anticipating an exciting tournament and I know the players are looking forward to competing here in front of unprecedented levels of support.

"We've already sold 9000 tickets for the final at Lord's which bodes well for the rest of the event going on sale today. I know we can always count on the British sport loving public to support big events.

"After the extremely successful qualifying tournament in Sri Lanka last month, we can already see that there will be some fiercely contested fixtures as the standard and competitiveness of women's cricket continues to rise," he said.

Steve Elworthy, the Managing Director of the ICC Women's World Cup, said: "We are extremely excited about the ICC Women's World Cup being staged at four outstanding county grounds which I am sure will provide the best possible showcase for the top players in the women's game.

This promises to be the best ICC Women's World Cup tournament and I am sure everyone will want to be a part of the event."

The telecom regulator's view that Internet companies offering wireless services should start commercial operations within 12 months of airwave allocation will prevent players from unnecessarily holding on to spectrum, industry body ISPAI said on Wednesday.

"It is a step in the right direction. It will prevent players from holding on to spectrum unnecessarily, given that spectrum is a national resource. If an operator has applied for spectrum, they should be ready with technology and prepared for rolling out services," said Internet Service Providers Association of India (ISPAI) President Rajesh Charria.

On March 7, TRAI recommended that ISP licensees with spectrum assigned should offer the commercial service to its subscribers on demand within 12 months from the date of spectrum allocation, failing which the airwaves assigned to them may be cancelled.

The suggestions are part of TRAI's recommendations on spectrum usage charges and presumptive adjusted gross revenue for Internet service and commercial VSAT service providers.

The regulator has also provided relief to Internet providers by suggesting to the DoT that spectrum usage charge (SUC) should not be levied as percentage of revenues, and that existing formula-based mechanism should continue.

"This will boost broadband penetration, especially in rural areas, and facilitate Digital India initiatives. In fact, TRAI's recommendations are in line with our views that formula-based method for spectrum charges should continue. Any move to link spectrum usage charge to annual revenue would have led to steep hike in broadband prices," Charria said.

Radio spectrum usage charges are levied on ISP licensees in accordance with the provisions of licence agreement.

ISP licensees having Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) spectrum need to pay 1 per cent of AGR (earned from BWA spectrum) as annual spectrum charges. Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Tikona at present hold BWA spectrum.

However, the method to levy SUC fee on BWA spectrum holder was modified by the DoT in August 2016 by introducing weighted average SUC.

For all other assigned spectrum, the spectrum usage charge applicable on Internet service providers is formula based and has no linkage with adjusted gross revenue.

The telecom regulator's view that Internet companies offering wireless services should start commercial operations within 12 months of airwave allocation will prevent players from unnecessarily holding on to spectrum, industry body ISPAI said on Wednesday.

"It is a step in the right direction. It will prevent players from holding on to spectrum unnecessarily, given that spectrum is a national resource. If an operator has applied for spectrum, they should be ready with technology and prepared for rolling out services," said Internet Service Providers Association of India (ISPAI) President Rajesh Charria.

On March 7, TRAI recommended that ISP licensees with spectrum assigned should offer the commercial service to its subscribers on demand within 12 months from the date of spectrum allocation, failing which the airwaves assigned to them may be cancelled.

The suggestions are part of TRAI's recommendations on spectrum usage charges and presumptive adjusted gross revenue for Internet service and commercial VSAT service providers.

The regulator has also provided relief to Internet providers by suggesting to the DoT that spectrum usage charge (SUC) should not be levied as percentage of revenues, and that existing formula-based mechanism should continue.

"This will boost broadband penetration, especially in rural areas, and facilitate Digital India initiatives. In fact, TRAI's recommendations are in line with our views that formula-based method for spectrum charges should continue. Any move to link spectrum usage charge to annual revenue would have led to steep hike in broadband prices," Charria said.

Radio spectrum usage charges are levied on ISP licensees in accordance with the provisions of licence agreement.

ISP licensees having Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) spectrum need to pay 1 per cent of AGR (earned from BWA spectrum) as annual spectrum charges. Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Tikona at present hold BWA spectrum.

However, the method to levy SUC fee on BWA spectrum holder was modified by the DoT in August 2016 by introducing weighted average SUC.

For all other assigned spectrum, the spectrum usage charge applicable on Internet service providers is formula based and has no linkage with adjusted gross revenue.

Polling for the second and last phase of Manipur Assembly elections ended at 3 pm on Wednesday.

The voting for 98 candidates was held at 1,151 polling stations in 22 constituencies spread across the valley district of Thoubal and the hill districts of Ukhrul, Chandel, Tamenglong and Senapati.

The fate of the state bigwigs like Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, Human Rights activist Irom Sharmila also known as the Iron Lady will be decided.

The state has 19,02,562 electorate in total of which, 9,28,573 are male and 9,73,989 are female. Around 45,642 new voters will exercise their franchise in this phase.

As the world on Wednesday observed the International Women’s Day, people in Jammu and Kashmir have probably forgotten Malika Pukhraj, who earned international recognition of being the Queen of Melody. She was born in 1912 in the border town of Akhnoor in Jammu and was considered the greatest Jammu royal court singer of the British India in 1940's and subsequently migrated to Lahore (Pakistan) because of alleged intrigues against her in the palace.

Malika's Abhi to main jawan hoon ghazal has become an evergreen song that she recited 90 years ago in 1927 in the court of the then ruler Maharaja Hari Singh and earned a fabulous award of Rs.350 in appreciation. The reward at that point of time when she was 15-year-old child was not a small amount as with it she could have bought about 228 grams of gold at that time which would today cost more than Rs.7 lakh.

The rare receipt of the reward on one Anna revenue stamp of the Bhaderwah Jagir of the Maharaja was available in the royal record. At the age of 13, she visited Jammu and recited some song at the coronation ceremony of Maharaja Hari Singh, who was so overwhelmed by her voice that he appointed her as a court singer. She, however, became a world famous ghazal and folk singer but she did not forget her roots in Jammu.

Her interpretation of Hafeez Jalandhari’s song Abhi to main jawan hoon received massive popularity and is still relished by millions of people particularly in India and Pakistan.

Malika Pukhraj died in 2004, but her ghazals and Dogri folk songs are being kept alive by her daughter Tahira Syed who recites these on the television and other functions.

It was just like a festival for people of Jammu when Malika Pukhraj along with Tahira for the last time came here in early 1980's and performed in a jam-packed theatre. She also visited her house in the lanes of Kanak Mandi, which is now known as Rajinder Bazar.

Two suspected terrorists arrested from here and the neighbouring Unnao were  taken to Lucknow on Wednesday by a team of the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad for further questioning.

Searches are also underway for nabbing other terror suspects here.

Superintendent of Police (Kanpur City) Somen Verma said a team of UP ATS left from here to Lucknow with the two terror suspects at around 3 am on Wednesday for further questioning.

A team of UP ATS had arrested Mohammed Faisal Khan from Jajamau and his brother Mohammed Imran from a leather factory in nearby Unnao on Tuesday evening.

Police had also apprehended one Shakeel alias Ajgar from the Rehmani market here but he escaped after the shopkeepers there started protesting. Searches are also underway out to arrest him.

Verma said the police is looking for some more terror suspects, however, he refused to disclose more details about them and whether they were involved in the the Bhopal-Ujjain train blast.

Police sources said the ATS team has questioned the suspect's family and their neighbours.

Zaki Ahmed, IG, Kanpur said after their arrest searches are being carried out at railways station, bus stops and other crowded places. A checking drive is also underway at the Kanpur railway station and bus stop.