LIVE! TN blast: Explosives recovered from victim's house

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Sun, 23 October 2022

TN blast: Explosives recovered from victim's house

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22:02 TN blast: Explosives recovered from victim's house

The Tamil Nadu police on Sunday recovered "low-intensive explosive material" from the house of a man killed in a cylinder explosion in a car in Coimbatore and said material like potassium nitrate that were seized were meant for "future" use.

Hours after the incident occurred early today, state police chief C Sylendra Babu said there has been "good progress" in the probe and stated that the possibility of a National Investigation Agency inquiry into the matter will be known after the conclusion of the investigation.

The deceased identified as Jemisha Mubeen, 25, had been earlier enquired by the NIA but there has been no case against him nor has there been any "adverse notice," the top official said.

Mubeen was charred to death when a gas cylinder in a car in which he was travelling exploded in a communally sensitive area in the city this morning, prompting the state's top cop to rush here and take stock of the situation.

Addressing reporters later in the day, Babu said a case has been registered at the Ukkadam police station in connection with the incident and a probe was on.

"We found in that vehicle nails, marbles and other stuff which are being examined by the forensic department. Following a search at his house we recovered some low intensive explosives--potassium nitrate, aluminium powder, charcoal, sulphur-- used in making country bombs," he said. -- PTI

The high court of Karnataka has dismissed a petition filed by an accused in the journalist Gauri Lankesh murder case seeking default bail' by challenging a lower court order.

Hrishikesh Devdikar of Maharashtra was arrested in January 2020 and sent to judicial custody in connection with the case.

Later, he filed an application for statutory/default bail' under Section 167(2) of Criminal Procedure Code in the Special court.

However, his application was not considered by the court.

Hence, he approached the high court against this.

The accused's contention was that since it was a murder case, a charge sheet had to be filed within 90 days of his arrest.

But no charge sheet was filed against him even on April 4, 2020, so he should automatically get bail as per Subsection (2) of Section 167 of CrPC.

The government advocate argued that Devdikar was absconding and a charge sheet had already been filed in his absence.

On October 21,2022, Justice Suraj Govindaraj rejected the plea stating that the charge sheet in the case was already filed before this accused was arrested.

Therefore, he cannot seek the benefit of Subsection (2) of Section 167 of CrPc. -- PTI

On the eve of Diwali, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 'Deepotsav' celebrations in Ayodhya on Sunday.

Modi offered aarti at New Ghat, Saryu River in Ayodhya. Earthern lamps lit up on the banks of the Saryu river in Ayodhya as part of the Deepotsav celebrations.

On the eve of Deepawali, the Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya turned into a sparkling utopia with innumerable diyas.

Modi who is on a visit to Ayodhya for taking part in the Deepotsav celebrations, on Sunday said the idea of sabka saath sabka vikas is inspired by the values and the rule of Lord Ram.

The prime minister performed the rajyabhishek of the symbolic Lord Shree Ram in Ayodhya.

Addressing the gathering in Ayodhya, Modi said, "Shri Ramlala's 'Darshan' and then rajyabhishek of King Ram, this good fortune is obtained only by the grace of Lord Ram. When Shri Ram is consecrated, the ideals and values of Lord Rama become firm in us. Lord Ram is the inspiration behind sabka saath sabka vikas -- he took everyone along, did not leave anyone behind." -- ANI

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19:48 Police, security forces bust eight supply modules of Maoists in Bastar

The police and security forces have bust at least eight modules of Communist Party of India-Maoist supplying medicines, explosives and logistics to the Maoists in Bastar region during the last two years, an official said on Sunday.

These modules were active in districts of Sukhma, Bijapur, Kanker, Dantewada and Bastar.

Bastar IG, P Sundarraj said , "Legal action has been taken against people involved in forwarding logistics, uniform, shoes and explosive materials to Maoist cadres. In the last couple of years, we have opened up more than 43 security camps. These camps have proved to be effectively blocking the supply network."

"The forthcoming operations will be in cooperation with Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra and Orissa. We will be taking necessary actions against the supply modules of CPI -Maoists," Sundarraj said.

The Maoists tried to exploit the grey areas along interstate borders for their activities as well as to strengthen their supply network.

The police and security forces across the interstate borders, however, operated seamlessly and jointly cracked down many Maoist supply teams.

Choking the supply chain has been the top priority for police, as it would deplete the fighting strength of the guerrillas. -- ANI

Seven people, including two minors, were nabbed for the gang rape of the 26-year-old software engineer in Jharkhand's West Singhbhum district, police said on Sunday.

The arrests were made after interrogating some locals who frequent the secluded spot near the old aerodrome in Chaibasa where the incident happened, they said.

The woman, who works at a well-known IT company, was out with her boyfriend on a two-wheeler on Thursday evening when the incident happened.

A group of people stopped the couple, beat them up and allegedly raped the woman after taking her to a nearby secluded spot, police said.

The arrests were made by the special investigation team which is formed to probe the case, superintendent of police Ashutosh Shekhar said.

The woman's wallet and mobile phones were recovered from those arrested, he said. After raping her, the accused left her at the spot and fled.

As she was walking back from the spot, a police van spotted her and she narrated the whole incident to them, an officer said. -- PTI

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Sunday greeted people on the eve of Diwali, hoping that the radiance of 'diyas' bring hope, happiness, health and harmony in the country.

In his Diwali message, he said the festival of lights marks the return of Lord Ram to Ayodhya, along with Maa Sita and Laxman, after 14 years in exile.

During the exile, Lord Ram attained knowledge from sages and united the common people living in the wilderness of forests to defeat the evil, Dhankhar said.

"Deepawali also signifies the advent of Ram Rajya, our ideal of benign, benevolent governance," he said.

"It reaffirms our belief in the virtuous life of Shri Ram.

The maryadas, set by him as an ideal king, obedient son, invincible warrior and that of a righteous life, made him purushottam Ram, the role model emulated by humanity for generations," the vice president said.

He hoped that the festival brings wisdom, piety, prosperity and peace into our lives. -- PTI

18:32 Modi offers prayers to Ram Lalla in Ayodhya

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday offered prayers to Ram Lalla at Ram Janmbhoomi in Ayodhya.

This is his first visit to Ayodhya after a bhoomi pujan for the construction of a Ram temple on August 5, 2020.

Immediately after reaching Ayodhya for the Deepotsav celebrations, the PM went to the makeshift Ram temple and offered prayers to Ram Lalla.

He lit an earthen lamp there and performed an aarti.

Temple chief priest Acharya Satyendra Das applied vermillion on his forehead.

Modi was also briefed by officials on the construction going on for a grand Ram temple at the site.

Earlier, the PM was welcomed by Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

He will be attending the Deepotsav celebrations. Modi will witness a 3-D holographic projection mapping show at Ram ki Paidi on the banks of the Saryu, along with a grand musical laser show, the Prime Minister's Office said.

Around 6.30 pm, the prime minister will witness an aarti on the banks of the Saryu, which will be followed by the launch of the Deepotsav celebrations, a statement said. -- PTI

Rail traffic was affected on Kanpur-Prayagraj section of the North Central Railway after 29 coaches of a goods train derailed at Ramwa station near Fatehpur in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday, officials said.

The incident took place at around 10:30 am, they said, Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay, chief public relations officer of North Central Railway, said there was no loss of life or property in the incident.

The goods train carrying empty wagons were heading towards Deen Dayal Upadhyay station in Mughalsarai when the accident occurred, the officials said, adding that movement of 20 trains has been disrupted.

Upadhyay said that route of several trains have been diverted. Vande Bharat Express from New Delhi to Varanasi was diverted to dedicated freight corridor route, while Amritsar-Patna (04076) express is also being operated on DFC route between Ruma and Sujatpur. -- PTI

Armed with a recent Supreme Court order quashing appointment of the vice chancellor of APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University in Thiruvananthapuram for being contrary to UGC regulations, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Sunday sought resignations of VCs of nine varsities in the state.

The nine VCs include that of the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University, according to a tweet by Kerala Raj Bhavan on behalf of the governor.

"Upholding the verdict of Hon'ble SupremeCourt dt 21.10.22 in Civil Appeal Nos.7634-7635 of 2022(@ SLP(c)Nos.21108-21109 of 2021), Hon'ble Governor Shri Arif Mohammed Khan has directed Vice Chancellors of 9 varsities in Kerala to tender resignation: PRO, KeralaRajBhavan," the tweet, accompanied by a list of the varsities, said.

The Raj Bhavan said Khan also directed that the resignations reach him by 11.30 am on Monday. -- PTI

Veteran actor Shabana Azmi on Sunday said she is set to start shooting for the second season of the American military sci-fi series Halo in the Hungarian capital of Budapest.

The 72-year-old actor took to Instagram to share the work update with fans and followers.

"The sun is out and life is good .. in Budapest for HALO season 2," she captioned a selfie.

Azmi plays the role of Admiral Margaret Paragonsky, the head of the Office of Naval Intelligence in the Paramount+ show, based on the video game franchise of the same name.

The first season of Halo, which has master filmmaker Steven Spielberg on board as one of its producers, premiered on Voot Select in India earlier this year.

Azmi will next be seen in What's Love Got To Do With It?, a rom-com movie directed by Shekhar Kapur, and Karan Johar's romance feature Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani. -- PTI

Komatireddy Venkat Reddy/Twitter

17:16 Cong issues show cause notice to Telangana MP

The All India Congress Committee issued a show cause notice to party MP from Telangana Komatireddy Venkat Reddy after a voice recording in which he allegedly sought support for his brother, who is the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate in the Munugode assembly bypoll, has gone viral.

AICC general secretary Tariq Anwar, in the notice dated October 22, sought a reply from Venkat Reddy within 10 days as to why disciplinary action should not be taken against him as per the provisions of the party Constitution.

"Manickam Tagore, MP, in-charge Telangana, has brought to the notice of the disciplinary action committee that a voice recording is being heard with you insisting on Shri Jabbar Bhai, a Congress leader to support the BJP candidate for the Munugode assembly byelection on the 3rd November, 2022 who happens to be your sibling against the Congress candidate Palvai Sravanthi," Anwar said in the notice that was shared with the media here on Sunday.

The voice recording has gone viral on social media and prominent electronic and print media as well, said Anwar, member secretary of DAC, adding, "prima facie, it is an act of breach of party discipline." -- PTI

Seeking to dispel myths associated with solar eclipse, members of the Aid Without Religion' trust and Dakshina Kannada rationalists' association will organise a celebration of solar eclipse in Mangaluru during the eclipse period on Tuesday.

The programme is aimed to allay the fears and misconceptions about solar eclipses that exposure to sunlight during eclipse could cause skin disease and physical harm.

The members will also watch the eclipse through specially procured glasses and also consume food during the time.

A meeting in the open will be organised and the members will have food during the time of the eclipse, Prof Narendra Nayak, president of the Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations said in a statement on Sunday.

"We will have an open-air meeting at 5.30 pm, swimming between 4.45 pm to 5.15 pm, and watch the eclipse and consume food in the open air under the eclipsed sun," he said.

The programme will be held at the MCC swimming pool compound in Mangaluru.

The Jammu and Kashmir police on Sunday intercepted a truck carrying heroin weighing 21.5 kilogram and arrested one narco-smuggler.

"Today (Sunday), during vehicle checking at Zero Point Chenani, a truck coming from Kashmir towards Udhampur was intercepted and 18 packets of heroin weighing around 21.5 kg (including the packaging weight) were recovered from it. The truck driver has been detained," ADGP Jammu Mukesh Singh said.

The Udhampur police have also seized the vehicle in which the drugs were carried.

According to an official statement, the arrested person, who is the driver of the truck, has been identified as Kulwinder Singh hailing from Nawanshahr in Punjab.

A case under relevant sections has been booked against the accused person.

Further investigation into the matter is underway.

"Police team of Chenani police station was conducting routine vehicle checking at Zero Morh Chenani, NHW and a truck bearing registration No. PB08BT 9403 was made to stop from Kashmir valley towards Udhampur. During checking of said vehicle, the police 21.5 kg of heroin (including packaging weight) and arrested one interstate narco smuggler who was smuggling the above contraband in the said vehicle," the police statement read.

The Udhampur police is further working to unearth all the forward and backward links in the case so that all those involved in this illegal trade can be booked under the law. -- ANI

15:40 Rishi Sunak declares candidacy to be new UK PM

Indian-origin former chancellor Rishi Sunak on Sunday formally declared his candidacy to contest the Conservative Party leadership election to replace Liz Truss as British Prime Minister and fix the economy.

The 42-year-old is the clear frontrunner as he raced ahead with the backing of at least 128 Tory members of Parliament, even as loyalists of his former boss Boris Johnson claimed he has the necessary 100 MPs needed to make it to the shortlist.

While the former Tory leader and prime minister is yet to officially declare his candidacy, the contest is shaping up as a three-way fight between Sunak, Johnson and third-placed Leader of the Commons Penny Mordaunt.

The United Kingdom is a great country but we face a profound economic crisis, Sunak tweeted in his campaign pitch.

"That's why I am standing to be leader of the Conservative Party and your next Prime Minister. I want to fix our economy, unite our party and deliver for our country," he said.

Ahead of the Gujarat Assembly polls due later this year, former Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Balkrishna Patel joined the opposition Congress on Sunday, claiming he was sidelined in the ruling fold despite his hard work and commitment.

Gujarat Congress president Jagdish Thakor and former president Siddharth Patel welcomed Balkrishna Patel (66) into the Congress at the party headquarters in Ahmedabad.

Balkrishna Patel represented Dabhoi seat in Vadodara district between 2012 and 2017 as the BJP MLA.

He had defeated Congress' Siddharth Patel in 2012 to become the legislator.

"I had worked hard for strengthening the BJP at the district and taluka level for many years. I was not given a ticket for the 2017 elections though I was then a sitting MLA. Even my son was denied a ticket for the not-so-important district panchayat polls. I left the BJP because I was being constantly neglected and sidelined," the former legislator told reporters.

In 2017, BJP's Shailesh Mehta was elected from Dabhoi seat after defeating Congress's Siddharth Patel. -- PTI

Scottish star Robbie Coltrane passed away due to multiple organ failure, according to UK media reports.

Coltrane, popular for featuring in film franchises like Harry Potter and James Bond, died on October 14 at the age of 72 at a hospital in his native Scotland.

The actor was suffering from sepsis, lower respiratory tract infection and heart block, according to his death certificate as quoted by news website The Independent.

Coltrane, whose real name was Anthony Robert McMillan, was best known for essaying the role of the gentle half-giant Rubeus Hagrid in the Harry Potter franchise.

He also appeared as Valentin Zukovsky, a Russian crime boss in the James Bond thrillers GoldenEye and The World Is Not Enough.

News of the actor's death led to tributes from the world of cinema, including his Harry Potter co-stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, and James Bond producers Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli. -- PTI

Karnataka housing minister V Somanna/Twitter

14:32 K'taka min in trouble for allegedly slapping woman

Karnataka housing minister V Somanna was caught up in controversy for allegedly slapping a woman in a village in Gundlupet in Chamarajanagar when she went with a plea to resolve her grievance.

The minister has not yet reacted to the incident but the woman said Somanna was only consoling her after she tried to prostrate before him with a plea to allot her a government plot.

According to the information received, Somanna, who is the district in-charge minister of Chamarajanagar, had gone to Hangla village in Gundlupet and was taking part in a property document distribution ceremony.

Property documents were given to landless people who were occupying government land for residential purposes but had not secured any ownership of it till now.

During the ceremony, the viral video purportedly showed a woman approaching the minister reportedly pleading him to allot a plot.

The minister turned angry after he was shoved due to the unruly crowd and slapped the woman.

However, the minister's office shared a video in which the woman said she only pleaded a plot be granted to her as she was too poor.

"I bowed at his feet with the plea and the minister lifted me consoling me that he would help me but it was publicised that he beat me up," the woman accompanied by her children said in the video.

Congress general secretary and Rajya Sabha member Jairam Ramesh criticised the minister for his purported conduct.

"What a difference from the way @RahulGandhi began the Karnataka leg of #BharatJodoYatra from the very same Gundlupet on 30th September! This shameless man should be sacked immediately!" Ramesh tweeted. -- PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in the temple town on Sunday to attend Deepotsav celebrations which will see around 18 lakh earthen lamps being lit to celebrate Diwali.

Besides offering prayers at the Ram temple, the prime minister will also inspect the construction work of the temple and later perform a symbolic coronation of Lord Rama, according to a statement issued by his office on Saturday.

Around 6.30 pm, the prime minister will witness an aarti on the banks of the River Saryu, which will be followed by launch of the Deepotsav celebrations, the statement said.

Five animated tableaux and 11 Ramlila tableaux showcasing dance forms from different states will also be presented during the Deepotsav.

Modi will also witness a 3-D holographic projection mapping show at Ram ki Paidi on the banks of the Saryu, along with a grand musical laser show, the Prime Minister's Office said.

In a tweet in Hindi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, "Welcome to Prime Minister Narendra Modi jee, who is continuously restoring the ancient glory of India's identity and Sanatan faith."

Ayodhya divisional commissioner Navdeep Rinwa said over 15 lakh earthen lamps will be lit by more than 22,000 volunteers at Ram ki Paidi near the Saryu bank.

The rest will be placed at important intersections and spots, officials said. -- PTI

Heavy rain and wind gusts up to 100 kmph are likely to hit the coastal areas of West Bengal as a deep depression over Bay of Bengal intensifies into a possible cyclone by Sunday evening, dampening Kali Puja and Diwali festivities in large parts of the state.

The India meteorological department said the weather system, which lay 700 km south of Sagar Island on Sunday morning and is moving in a northwestward direction, is very likely to recurve in a northeastward direction and cross the Bangladesh coast between Tinkona Island and Sandwip around early morning on Monday.

It is very likely to bring heavy to very heavy rain in coastal districts of South 24 Parganas and North 24 Parganas, and heavy rainfall in East and West Midnapore on Monday, while Kolkata, Howrah and Hooghly are likely to receive moderate rain on Monday and Tuesday, the Met department said in a bulletin.

Heavy rain will occur in North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas and Nadia on Tuesday, it said.

The development comes as people gear up to celebrate Kali Puja and Diwali in a big way after two years, amid easing Covid cases and curbs.

The cyclone is expected to be named 'Sitrang', as suggested by Thailand. -- PTI

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan on Sunday said he was recently rushed to a hospital in Mumbai after he cut a vein on his left calf.

The cinema icon, who turned 80 earlier this year, shared the news on his official blog and said he had received stitches to control the bleeding.

"A jutting piece of metal sliced my left calve and managed to cut the vein .. the vein when cut spurts out the red' uncontrollably .. but had the nerve to get the doc and so into an OT and the stitching up .. with the assistance of team of staff and docs in time..," Bachchan wrote.

"The throb is the control factor on KBC and it must be stated that those 3-4 hours on each episode, does take care of the... Its a little inoperative, but the will to continue in the similar spirit of measurement and tribe and class in range does give a hope and we cope... Its quite fresh and with opinion and advice (sic)," he added.

The Kaun Banega Crorepati host said doctors have advised him to not strain or try walking, even on a treadmill.

"In admittance the medical to not stand, to not move, to not strain on it by even a TreadMill walk is not permitted!! At times the satisfaction of the extreme may bring the joys or the griefs of existence... But extremes do not and never last .. they either perish or leave an indelible mark .. at strategic places on the body or bodies .. that is an embarrassment .. takes a while to step out of it , so help me God .. !!! (sic)" Bachchan wrote.

On Saturday, the actor had posted photos from the sets of Kaun Banega Crorepati that showed him running with a bandage on his left leg.

"Running striding jogging on to work .. into that horizon of loud cheers and love .. and your PRAYERS," he had written in the caption. -- PTI

A case has been registered at the women's police station here against a person who uploaded the photo and video of Congress leader Prathibha Kulai in a derogatory manner on social media.

Shyama Sudarshan Bhat, a resident of the city, was booked for outraging the modesty of a woman by circulating obscene material on social media, based on a complaint from Kulai, the police said on Saturday.

In her complaint, Kulai said the person had edited her images and videos taken during the October 18 protest against the toll gate at Surathkal and circulated them on social media in an indecent manner.

The accused also posted her image surrounded by the police personnel with an obscene comment, the complaint said.

Kulai demanded that immediate action should be taken against the man who had outraged her modesty, insulted and seriously dented her image as a social activist.

City police commissioner N Shashi Kumar said the police are searching for the accused and he will soon be traced. -- PTI

Kannada actor Chetan

12:23 Kannada actor booked for hate comments

The Karnataka police on Saturday registered an FIR against Kannada actor Chetan for allegedly hurting religious sentiments.

The Seshadripuram police registered an FIR against Chetan on the basis of a complaint against him alleging that he made "derogatory" statements while commenting on the tradition of bhoota kola depicted in the Kannada movie Kantara.

On the complaint by a person named Shivakumar, the police have registered FIR Chetan under Section 505(2) of IPC.

Shivakumar, in his complaint, alleged that Chetan's statement would hurt religious sentiments and enmity between communities.

The police said that they would summon Chetan for questioning for further investigation.

The complaints were also filed against Chetan in other police stations including Dharwad.

Chetan in his comments on Kantara movie said that the cultural existence of tribal mingled with Brahmanism.

He also said two are two different cultures and bhoota kola is not Hindu culture.

This is the second time Chetan is facing criminal charges this year. In

February this year, he was allegedly arrested amid the hijab row in Karnataka allegedly for his objectionable tweets against a high court judge involved in the trial. --ANI

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11:44 Delhi records 'poor' air quality for 8th consecutive day

Delhi's air quality was recorded in the "poor" category for the eighth consecutive day on Sunday and could turn "severe" on Diwali due to emissions from firecrackers and an increase in the share of smoke from stubble burning because of a favourable wind speed and direction.

The capital's air quality index stood at 243 at 10 am.

It was 265 at 4 pm on Saturday.

Only one (Anand Vihar) of the 35 monitoring stations in the city recorded the air quality in the "very poor" category.

An AQI between zero and 50 is considered "good", 51 and 100 "satisfactory", 101 and 200 "moderate", 201 and 300 "poor", 301 and 400 "very poor", and 401 and 500 "severe".

SAFAR, a forecasting agency under the Union ministry of earth sciences, said the air quality may deteriorate to "very poor" levels even if no firecrackers are burst. In case firecrackers are burst like last year, the air quality may plunge to "severe" levels on the night of Diwali itself and continue to remain in the "red" zone for another day. Diwali will be celebrated across the country on Monday. -- PTI

Around 18 lakh earthen lamps will be lit on Sunday here as part of Deepotsav, the Diwali celebrations that will include fireworks, a laser show and the staging of Ramlilas.

The sixth edition of the Deepotsav will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Ayodhya Divisional Commissioner Navdeep Rinwa said over 15 lakh earthen lamps will be lit by more than 22,000 volunteers at Ram ki Paidi near the Saryu bank.

The rest will be placed at important intersections and spots, officials said.

People in large numbers visited Ram ki Paidi Saturday evening to have a feel of the Deepotsav.

The earthen lamps placed there were not lit and volunteers were seen urging the public to watch their steps.

Excited youngsters were busy taking selfies and uploading these on their social media accounts.

Volunteers have been told to arrange 256 earthen lamps in a square and the distance between two squares will be approximately two to three feet, Deepotsav organisers said.

Rinwa said there will also be a laser show, 3D projection mapping show and fireworks.

Ramlila will also be staged by cultural troupes from other countries and states, he said.

At the Ram Katha park, Lord Ram, Goddess Sita, Lord Lakshman and Lord Hanuman will be shown descending from a "pushpak vimana". -- PTI

11:06 Air quality in Delhi remains in poor category

The national capital on Sunday recorded a minimum temperature of 14.5 degrees Celsius, two notches below the season's average, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

The air quality in the city continued to remain in the poor category.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the city recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 247 at 8 am.

An AQI between zero and 50 is considered good, 51 and 100 satisfactory, 101 and 200 moderate, 201 and 300 poor, 301 and 400 very poor, and 401 and 500 severe.

The weather office has predicted mainly clear sky during the day.

The maximum temperature is likely to settle at 31 degrees Celsius, the IMD said.

The relative humidity was recorded at 77 per cent at 8.30 am. -- PTI

10:40 Congress' Bharat Jodo Yatra enters Telangana

Congress' Bharat Jodo Yatra led by party leader Rahul Gandhi entered Telangana on Sunday, after completing the Karnataka leg of the nationwide foot march.

Gandhi was accorded a grand welcome at the Telangana-Karnataka border by Telangana Congress leaders when the yatra entered the state.

Congress Lok Sabha member and in-charge of party affairs in Telangana Manickam Tagore, state Congress president A Revanth Reddy, and a number of party leaders welcomed Gandhi. Scores of activists were present at a bridge on Krishna river at the border when the yatra marched into Telangana.

The Wayanad MP walked briefly in Telangana and took a halt at Gudebellur in Narayanpet district of the state. He left for Hyderabad by a chopper and will later fly to Delhi, Congress sources said.

The yatra will be on break during Diwali for three days from Sunday noon till October 26, a press release from Telangana PCC said on Saturday.

After that, the yatra will resume on October 27 morning from Gudebellur. It will reach Makthal and continue for 16 days in Telangana, covering 19 assembly and seven Parliamentary constituencies for a distance of 375 km, before entering Maharashtra on November 7.

Gandhi will be undertaking 20-25 km 'padayatra' every day and interact with people during the foot march.

He will meet intellectuals, leaders of various communities, politicians, sports, business and cinema personalities.

Gandhi will visit some prayer halls, mosques and temples in Telangana. Inter-faith prayers will also be offered, the TPCC said.

The Bharat Jodo Yatra began on September 7 from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu. Gandhi completed the marathon walk in Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka before beginning the Telangana leg of the yatra. -- PTI

The Congress in Kerala on Saturday suspended rape accused MLA Eldhose Kunnappilly from the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committe and District Congress Committee memberships for six months, the party said.

The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee, in a statement, said the explanation provided by the MLA was not satisfactory and the party suspended him from the KPCC and District Congress Committee memberships for a period of six months.

"The explanation provided by him on the allegations were not satisfactory. As a representative of the people, he failed to exercise due diligence," the KPCC said.

A woman had recently filed a rape and attempt to murder case against the Perumbavoor MLA.

Meanwhile, Kunnappilly, who was absconding after the case was filed against him, on Saturday appeared before the Crime Branch as part of the interrogation.

Crime Branch sources said he will be further questioned in the coming days.

Kerala police had on Friday registered a new case against the Congress MLA for allegedly revealing the name of the victim in a rape and attempt to murder case against him.

Police said the case was registered based on the complaint filed by the victim that the Congress legislator defamed her through online channels.

A day after he was granted anticipatory bail by a court in a case of rape and attempt to murder, the Congress leader on Friday appeared before the media and claimed that he was innocent and had done nothing wrong as alleged by the complainant woman.

The two-time legislator expressed confidence that he could prove charges against him as wrong in the court and could come out clean. -- PTI

Chinese President Xi Jinping was on Sunday re-elected as the General Secretary of the ruling Communist Party of China for a record third five-year term, a privilege only accorded to party founder Mao Zedong.

Xi, 69, was elected to the powerful Central Committee a day earlier by a once-in-a-five-year Congress despite crossing the official retirement age of 68 and completing 10-year tenure.

Several senior leaders including the number two leader Premier Li Keqiang either retired or failed to make it to the Central Committee resulting in a major shakeup of China's politics and government.

The Central Committee members on Sunday elected a 25-member Political Bureau which picked the Standing Committee members to govern the country.

Soon after his election, Xi appeared before the media in Beijing on Sunday along with the newly elected Standing Committee.

Xi, in his brief closing remarks at the 20th Congress on Saturday, said that the revision of the Constitution sets out clear requirements for upholding and strengthening the party's overall leadership.

"Dare to struggle, dare to win, bury your heads and work hard. Be determined to keep forging ahead," he said.

"We must be ready to withstand high winds, choppy waters and even dangerous storms," he said.

"Confronted with drastic changes in the international landscape, especially external attempts to blackmail, contain, (and) blockade... China, we have put our national interests first," he said, apparently referring to the growing negativity against China in the US and West. -- PTI

The Centre has cancelled the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) licence of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (RGF), a non-government organisation associated with the Gandhi family, for alleged violations of the law, officials said.

The action came after investigations carried out by an inter-ministerial committee formed by the home ministry in 2020.

"Yes, the FCRA licence of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation has been cancelled after an investigation against it," an official said.

Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi is the chairperson of RGF while other trustees include former prime minister Manmohan Singh, former finance minister P Chidambaram, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

Set up in 1991, RGF worked on a number of critical issues including health, science and technology, women and children, disability support, etc., from 1991 till 2009. It also worked in the education sector, according to its website. -- PTI

The Eknath Shinde-Bharatiya Janata Party government in Maharashtra has either stayed or reversed at least half a dozen decisions taken by the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi regime including shifting of the Aarey Metro car shed and restoring general consent to the Central Bureua of Investigation to probe cases in the state.

The latest decision of the state government, which completed 100 days in the office earlier this month, vis-a-vis the Central Bureau of Investigation was significant given the then Shiv Sena-led MVA government had withdrawn the consent to the probe agency citing its "misuse to settle political scores".

The incumbent government was formed after Eknath Shinde rebelled against Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray and walked out with at least 40 of the 55 MLAs, leading to the collapse of the MVA government.

Shinde took oath as the chief minister with Bharatiya Janata Party's Devendra Fadnavis as his deputy in June this year.

Notably, after coming to power in November 2019, the then MVA government comprising the Shiv Sena, the Nationalist Congress Party, and the Congress scrapped certain policy decisions of its predecessor BJP-Shiv Sena government led by Fadnavis.

The Shinde government decided to bring back the four policy decisions taken by the Fadnavis government during 2014-2019 but were subsequently scrapped by the MVA regime.

These decisions include restoring the voting rights of farmers to Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) markets, restarting pension for the people jailed during the Emergency, and electing village heads and municipal council presidents directly from the people.

The Maharashtra Agriculture Produce and Marketing (Development and Regulation) Act 1963 allows only members of gram panchayats, agriculture credit societies, and multi-purpose cooperative societies, to elect the members of APMCs.

In August 2017, the then BJP-Shiv Sena government brought an amendment to the legislation and gave farmers the right to elect the members and chairpersons of APMCs in the area where they sell their produce.

In January 2020, the MVA government cancelled this provision and went back to the older procedure wherein members of gram panchayats, multi-purpose co-operative societies, and agriculture credit societies elected the APMC board, claiming the APMC does not have enough funds to conduct elections on such a large scale.

The Shinde government decided to restore the voting rights of farmers who own 0.25 acre (1,000 square metres) of land and have sold their produce in the APMC market at least three times in the last five years where he or she seeks to be a voter. The electoral changes were seen as a bid by the government to break the stronghold of the NCP and Congress in the cooperative sector and local bodies.

Pension for activists who were jailed during the Emergency was also reinstated by the Shinde government.

Those who were jailed for more than a month during the Emergency will get Rs 10,000 pension from August 1. If the person is deceased, his/her spouse will get Rs 5,000 as a pension. In case the jail term was less than one month, then the figures will stand at Rs 5,000 and Rs 2,500 respectively.

The decision was first implemented by the Fadnavis government in 2017 but was reversed by the MVA government in 2020 which claimed that most of the beneficiaries were affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

The new government also revoked the MVA's decision to scrap the direct election of sarpanch and municipal council president.

It also decided to allow the direct election of the sarpanch (village head) for local self-government bodies (gram panchayats). The state government has decided to add a provision that the gram panchayat will not be able to move a no-confidence motion against the sarpanch or deputy sarpanch in the first two years after the election and six months before the next election.

Similarly, the incumbent government also decided to elect municipal council presidents directly from the people by bringing an amendment to the Maharashtra Municipal Council, Nagar Panchayat, and Industrial Towns Act, 1965.

The erstwhile Fadnavis government in 2017 made the amendment to make way for the direct election of sarpanches. This was done to make inroads in village panchayats, traditionally controlled by the Congress and NCP, even though the elections are rarely contested on party symbols.

In January 2020, the then MVA government decided to overturn this decision claiming the differences between ideologies of sarpanchs and members of gram panchayats were a hurdle in developmental work.

In the first cabinet meeting after taking over, the Shinde government stayed the shifting of the Metro car shed from green lung Aarey Colony to Kanjurmarg in Mumbai.

Incidentally, shifting the Metro car shed from Aarey to Kanjurmarg was the first decision taken by the Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA dispensation in 2019.

Pakistan and China have decided to jointly launch three new projects in addition to the existing multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor as the all-weather allies seek to ramp up bilateral ties in various sectors, including agriculture, health and science and technology.

Speaking at the China Economic Net (CEN) in Beijing, Pakistan's Ambassador to China Moinul Haq said the three new projects are China-Pakistan Green Corridor (CPGC), China-Pakistan Health Corridor (CPHC) and China-Pakistan Digital Corridor (CPDC), The New International newspaper reported on Saturday.

The first will focus on agricultural environment, food security and green development and the second will help Pakistan get efficiency in the medical field, while the third will boost Pakistan's IT industry, it said.

Ambassador Haque said Pakistan has a rich repertoire of talent and human resources in different fields of science and technology, asserting that IT-based science and technology has become very important for Pakistan.

"We would be an important source of help for China in terms of software development. So, we are working together to set up training centres in Pakistan for developing software in different fields of IT," he said.

Haque attached much significance to the new projects that are being launched with great enthusiasm.

The report quoted sources in Pakistan as saying that the formal launching of the projects could take place during the next month's visit of Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to China who has been invited by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The schedule and relevant details for the trip are being worked out through diplomatic channels on a priority basis, it said.

The new corridors would become sources of strengthening Pakistan-China ties and will provide a new unshakable bond of the proximity of the two nations, it said. -- PTI

Oyo has started an internal probe after Noida police arrested two people who allegedly put a hidden camera in a hotel room and filmed a couple, officials said Saturday.

The two accused had booked the same room in the Phase 3 police station area last month where they placed a hidden camera before checking out.

After a week, they booked the same room and took the camera out which had recorded the couple in intimate condition, officials said.

Additional DCP (Central Noida) Saad Miyan Khan said the duo had made extortion attempt with the couple threatening to release their video online.

While accused Vishnu Singh and Abdul Wahab were held, police also questioned the hotel staff over the incident but so far their role has not been found.

"The hotel and its staff were not found involved in the incident so far. The accused duo had stayed in the hotel in the past also and the police are contacting the guests who have stayed there in recent past to confirm if anyone else also got an extortion call," ADCP Khan told PTI.

Meanwhile, there was no official comment from Oyo over the episode but people associated with the company said they were internally probing the matter.

"Oyo does not operate any hotels or guest houses it only lists verified properties on its platform and provides IT-based support to them," a source told PTI.

Police said an FIR has been lodged under IPC Sections 420,386,506,467, 468, 471 and 120B and further investigation is underway.

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