Man Haron Monis, the Sydney hostage-taker killed in a 16-hour siege, was a self-styled sheikh with his own Wikipedia entry who was on bail when he emerged as a lone wolf gunman.

Born in Iran, the 50-year-old was named in reports hours before being gunned down as the “cleric” who triggered a security lockdown in the heart of Australia’s biggest city by unfurling an Islamic flag and holding several people captive in a chocolate cafe.

Arriving in Australia as a refugee in 1996, Monis was no stranger to controversy.

Convicted over sending offensive letters to the families of dead soldiers, he was on bail on charges of being an accessory to the murder of his ex-wife and for sexual and indecent assault, multiple Australian outlets reported.

His personal website, before it was taken down Tuesday, featured a banner photo with graphic images of dead Arab children, with the caption: “This is an evidence for the terrorism of America and its allies including Australia. The result of their airstrikes.”

The gunman converted from Shiism to Sunni Islam, according to a post on his website. The Sunni-based Islamic State and other jihadist groups consider Shiites heretics, or rejectionists — “rafidi” — of true Islam.

“I used to be a rafidi, but not anymore. Now I am a Muslim, Alhamdu Lillah,” he said.

On his website, self-styled Sheikh Haron, also known as Man Haron Monis, says his children have been “taken away by the Australian government” and that he is not allowed to contact them.

Monis was on bail for dozens of charges, including 22 of aggravated sexual assault and 14 of aggravated indecent assault, according to the Australian Associated Press.

Stemming from his time as a “spiritual healer”, an additional 40 charges were levelled against him in October and he was also on bail for being an accessary to murder.

The Sydney Morning Herald said it was understood that days before Monday’s siege, Monis had lost a bid to have the charges over the letters overturned.

Showing a flair for the dramatic, a photograph said to be from his Facebook page published by the Business Insider showed him in chains with a poster claiming “I have been tortured in prison for my political letters.

Monis has said the crimes he has been accused of in the past were attempts to smear him.

“These cases are in fact political cases against this Muslim activist, not real criminal cases.”

He compared himself to Wikileaks’ Julian Assange on his website, saying both were activists facing government-backed smear campaigns.

He also counted astrology, numerology, meditation and black magic among his expertise, according to reports.

Before the raid, Monis had reportedly demanded an Islamic State flag and a phone call with Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

But police and Monis’s former lawyer Manny Conditsis said the public could be assured that the siege was not the work of an organised terrorist group.

“This is a one-off random individual,” he told the ABC. “It’s not a concerted terrorism event or act. It’s a damaged-goods individual who’s done something outrageous.”

The Australian newspaper called him a “self-styled sheikh” who had sent offensive letters to the families of dead Australian soldiers and was on bail on charges of being an accessory to the murder of his ex-wife.

It said Monis — shown in local media in a photo smiling and sporting a beard and a white turban — lived in Sydney’s southwest and was “understood to be a fringe Islamist”.

The Centre today alerted the states in the wake of Peshawar school massacre to the heightened possibility of terror attacks ahead of US President Barack Obama’s visit to India next month.

In a country-wide advisory, the Home Ministry has asked the law enforcement agencies to take all measures towards “target hardening” of vulnerable places and installations.

This includes public places with high footfalls, public transport including railways and schools in particular.

“In the light of the attack on a school in Pakistan, there appears to be an immediate requirement to scale up security around schools and other educational institutions which are considered more vulnerable due to a variety of factors,” the Home Ministry advisory said.

The advisory referred to the terror attacks in Peshawar and Sydney in last two days, the recent developments with regard to ISIS both in India and the Middle East and said it has heightened the possibility of terrorist attack in the light of the ensuing visit of the President of USA to India for the Republic Day functions.

“In the light of the attack on a school in Pakistan, there appears to be an immediate requirement to scale up security around schools and other educational institutions which are considered more vulnerable due to a variety of factors,” it said.

The Home Ministry said till the end of January next the security forces and intelligence agencies need to remain on a very high alert mode to prevent untoward incidents witnessed recently elsewhere in neighbourhood as well as other parts of the world,” he said.

Also in another related advisory, the Home Ministry said there have been reports that LeT is looking for targeting two unspecified hotel in New Delhi and an unspecified highway between New Delhi and Agra.

As per complaints were received by Real news of India, by local residents a sting operation with the help of Social Service branch and with the initiative of Real News of India was executed at 1pm on 16^th December. In the operation three pimps and three prostitutes were arrested. These pimps operate all over Mumbai with their clients from upper middle class and the rich. This racket has been going on for the past 12 years and location is Hill Road, in very close proximity to Bandra West Police station.

Real News of India received a lot of complaints from local residents about the illegal activities going around Hill Road. The police did not take any action towards this matter. It is now to be seen as to how Bandra West Police station takes up this issue.

Three girls have been arrested along with 3 pimps. They are at present under the custody of Bandra West Police Station. These girls hail from Kolkata and Delhi. There are many more prostitutes operating under this racket. The deal is done on a moving car. The rate is fixed by the pimp and then the girl is now transferred to the next car of the client. The ongoing rate per girl ranges from R4,000-Rs 25,000. Most of the girls come to Mumbai through the network of these pimps.

SS branch is active in these kinds of raids which are mostly prostitution, betting and CD piracy. They then hand over the case to the respective Police Station. However SS branch are very much in shortage of staff. Most of these illegal activities are happening in very close proximity of any given police station. It is a matter of concern and curiosity as to how the police do not know about these activities.

Five students from Sikkim and studying AT the Degree College of Physical Education (DCPE) Maharashtra (Amravati) run by famous Hanuman Vyayam Prasarak Mandal (HVPM) were severely injured in a clash over a minor dispute, police said.

The injured have been identified as Pempa, Lako, Prayaz Chhetri, Subhalal, Shishir Chhetri (all from Sikkim) and Mayur Kumar (from Delhi). They have been admitted to hospital.

Police said Pempa is in a critical condition.

According to police, a heated exchange of words between two students from Sikkim and Delhi in the afternoon, in which the Delhi student gave Ama ko galee to the student from Sikkim turned into a full-blown fight at the entrance of the college.

Police said Pempa, a basketball player, was attacked with stones by a group of 15-20 students from Delhi.

“Pempa ran for his life towards Gandhi Chowk and took shelter in a cracker shop belonging to one Thakur. His attackers chased him there and asked Thakur to hand him over to them. As Thakur refused, the group pelted his shop with stones,” said DCP Moreshwar Gharge.

The students also allegedly attacked some passersby and damaged private vehicles parked in the area.

Police have arrested one Bhajanlal Kishanchand Sharma in this connection, while other students are at large.

Gharge said that police are yet to register a case in this regard.

Nothing has been done to assist the students from Sikkim, while the arrested culprit is being given full facility.

NEW DELHI: Replacing old systems, adopting new technology, updating signaling system and educating staff are some of the steps Indian Railways have taken to increase safety and prevent accidents, the Lok Sabha was told today.

Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha said Railways is taking all possible steps to prevent accidents and enhance safety.

He said timely replacement of over-aged assets, adoption of suitable technologies, regular monitoring and educating staff about the issue of safety are some of the various measures adopted.

In response to a supplementary question, he said the gross expenditure on specific safety related activities has increased over the years.

In 2013-14, Rs 39,090 crore were spent on safety related activities. The budgetary estimates for 2014-15 for safety are Rs 43,443 crore, he said.
As on April 1, there were 2,25,863 vacancies in the 16 railway zones relating to posts under various categories, including safety.