President wraps up Bhutan visit

ON DEMOCRACY'S FOOTSTEPS: President Pratibha Patil [Images] wrapped up on a positive note her four-day visit to Bhutan, where she attended the coronation of the world's youngest monarch Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wanchuck, giving a fresh momentum to close bilateral ties.
Patil, who left for New Delhi [Images], said the Indo-Bhutan relations have reached a "new high" this year and hoped the ties between the world's largest and newest democracies would become "deeper and more fruitful" in future.
In a special gesture, Bhutan's 4th King Jigme Singye Wangchuck escorted the President to the VVIP aircraft at the airport here and had a brief chat with her inside the plane.
The King, the new monarch's father, told the President that he found her to be "such a wonderful person".
President Patil appreciated his concept of Gross National Happiness for the Himalayan state and greeted him for his birthday on November 11.
During her stay in Bhutan, Patil along with UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi [Images] attended the coronation ceremony of the Himalayan nation's fifth King, 28-year old Jigme Khesar
Namgyel Wangchuck. Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi [Images], sister Priyanka and her husband Robert Vadra were also present on the occasion.
President Patil was seen off at her Thimpu hotel by the Bhutanese Prime Minister Jigme Y Thinley when she left for Paro airport, 60 kms from the capital of the Himalayan nation.
The last high-level visit to Bhutan was made by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] in May after Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (DPT) party leader Thinley was elected to head the first democratically elected government.

Malegaon blast: Two picked up from Vapi and Pune

Two persons were picked up from Vapi and Pune by the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) in connection with the Malegaon blast probe amid concerns that more army officers may come under the scanner.
Leave records of arrested Lt Col P S Purohit, suspected to have masterminded the September 29 blast, have been given to the investigating agencies, official sources said today.
Two serving Colonels may also face interrogation. There were reports that a retired Lt General could also be quizzed but there was no official word on it.
No details were immediately forthcoming about the two persons picked up from Vapi and Pune.
ATS officials said nine persons, including a Sadhvi and a serving army officer, arrested for their alleged involvement in the blast could be booked under the stringent MCOCA act.
"The application of some sections of Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) is being considered presently," they said.
Under MCOCA, those convicted can get a maximum punishment of life imprisonment and a minimum of five years and police can keep the accused in detention for 180 days to file their chargesheet as against the normal 90-day period.
The accused in the blast that left six people dead have been booked under various sections of the IPC including murder and conspiracy, Indian Explosives Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
The ATS officials had said they were still on the lookout for a suspect identified as Ramji, who is suspected to have played a major role in planting the bomb in the town.