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Sun, 21 April 2024
Muizzu inches closer towards landslide victory
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22:37 Muizzu inches closer towards landslide victory
Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu appeared to be inching towards a landslide victory with his People's National Congress party bagging 59 seats as the counting of votes is underway for the crucial parliamentary election, which was seen as a litmus test for the pro-Beijing politician whose policies are being closely watched by both India and China amidst regional power dynamics.
Voting for the 20th People's Majlis was conducted on Sunday from 8:00 am to 5:30 pm local time.
Election officials sealed the ballot boxes across the country as voting hours ended at 5:30 pm, adhadhu.com reported.
According to information released by the Elections Commission (EC), 207,693 people cast their ballots as of 5:00 pm local time, making for a voter turnout of 72.96 per cent. This includes 104,826 men and 102,867 women. A total of 284,663 people were eligible to vote.
A total of 602 ballot boxes were set up in the Maldives and three other countries for the parliamentary election. Polling stations were also open in 34 resorts, prisons, and other industrial islands.
The countries in which ballot boxes were placed for voting are Thiruvananthapuram in India, Colombo in Sri Lanka and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, psmnews.mv reported.
Parliamentarians will be elected to a total of 93 constituencies, with 368 candidates contesting from six parties, including Muizzu's People's National Congress (PNC), the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and 130 independents.
According to a sun.mv report, of the 203 seats where counting is complete, the People's National Congress (PNC) led by Muizzu bagged 59 seats, followed by Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) at 10 seats and Independents 9 seats. Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) won two seats, while Jumhooree Party (JP) got one. The Democrats, Maldives National Party (MNP) and Adhaalath Party (AP) are yet to open their accounts.
PNC has fielded 90 candidates, MDP 89, Democrats 39, Jumhoory Party (JP) 10, candidates, Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) 4, Adhaalath Party (AP) 4, and Maldives National Party (MNP) 2 nominees.
The election is crucial for Muizzu, seen as a pro-China politician, as just a few days ahead of the polls, the opposition parties demanded a probe and impeachment of the president following a leaked report of his alleged corruption from 2018, a charge dismissed by him.
Besides, since Muizzu came to office, lawmakers have blocked three of his nominees to the cabinet.
Muizzu cast his vote at the polling station in Thaajuddin School at 8:40 am. Speaking to reporters after casting the ballot, he urged every citizen to exercise their right to vote as soon as possible, news portal edition.mv reported.
"Voting is a constitutional right and responsibility afforded to every citizen. All citizens should come out and exercise their right to vote as soon as possible. It is the responsibility of eligible voters to not wait until evening and quickly attend their respective polling stations to cast ballots," he said.
No major issues or complaints were noted during the voting, the EC said.
"Nothing major has been noted as a complaint up until now. There have been complaints about showing ballot papers. That is, complaints about ballots put in the box without being folded," Hassan Zakariyya, EC member and spokesperson, was quoted as saying by Adhadhu news portal.
Such complaints have also been few, he said.
Former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, who now serves as a top advisor at the main opposition MDP, cast his ballot at a polling station in Male.
Speaking to reporters outside the polling station, Solih says he sees MDP winning a clear majority in the election, sun.mv news portal reported. -- PTI
Voting for the 20th People's Majlis was conducted on Sunday from 8:00 am to 5:30 pm local time.
Election officials sealed the ballot boxes across the country as voting hours ended at 5:30 pm, adhadhu.com reported.
According to information released by the Elections Commission (EC), 207,693 people cast their ballots as of 5:00 pm local time, making for a voter turnout of 72.96 per cent. This includes 104,826 men and 102,867 women. A total of 284,663 people were eligible to vote.
A total of 602 ballot boxes were set up in the Maldives and three other countries for the parliamentary election. Polling stations were also open in 34 resorts, prisons, and other industrial islands.
The countries in which ballot boxes were placed for voting are Thiruvananthapuram in India, Colombo in Sri Lanka and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, psmnews.mv reported.
Parliamentarians will be elected to a total of 93 constituencies, with 368 candidates contesting from six parties, including Muizzu's People's National Congress (PNC), the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and 130 independents.
According to a sun.mv report, of the 203 seats where counting is complete, the People's National Congress (PNC) led by Muizzu bagged 59 seats, followed by Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) at 10 seats and Independents 9 seats. Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) won two seats, while Jumhooree Party (JP) got one. The Democrats, Maldives National Party (MNP) and Adhaalath Party (AP) are yet to open their accounts.
PNC has fielded 90 candidates, MDP 89, Democrats 39, Jumhoory Party (JP) 10, candidates, Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) 4, Adhaalath Party (AP) 4, and Maldives National Party (MNP) 2 nominees.
The election is crucial for Muizzu, seen as a pro-China politician, as just a few days ahead of the polls, the opposition parties demanded a probe and impeachment of the president following a leaked report of his alleged corruption from 2018, a charge dismissed by him.
Besides, since Muizzu came to office, lawmakers have blocked three of his nominees to the cabinet.
Muizzu cast his vote at the polling station in Thaajuddin School at 8:40 am. Speaking to reporters after casting the ballot, he urged every citizen to exercise their right to vote as soon as possible, news portal edition.mv reported.
"Voting is a constitutional right and responsibility afforded to every citizen. All citizens should come out and exercise their right to vote as soon as possible. It is the responsibility of eligible voters to not wait until evening and quickly attend their respective polling stations to cast ballots," he said.
No major issues or complaints were noted during the voting, the EC said.
"Nothing major has been noted as a complaint up until now. There have been complaints about showing ballot papers. That is, complaints about ballots put in the box without being folded," Hassan Zakariyya, EC member and spokesperson, was quoted as saying by Adhadhu news portal.
Such complaints have also been few, he said.
Former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, who now serves as a top advisor at the main opposition MDP, cast his ballot at a polling station in Male.
Speaking to reporters outside the polling station, Solih says he sees MDP winning a clear majority in the election, sun.mv news portal reported. -- PTI
21:06 Bengal minister files complaint against Amit Malviya
West Bengal minister Chandrima Bhattacharya has lodged a police complaint against Bharatiya Janata Party's IT cell head Amit Malviya over a social media post by him, a Trinamool Congress source said on Sunday.
The post, the veracity of which was not verified by PTI, alleged that Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee used an invective against Prime Minister Narendra Modi at an election rally.
Citing media reports, Bhattacharya said in the complaint filed at Gariahat police station in Kolkata on Saturday that Malviya shared a post on his social media handle, which she claimed was derogatory and insulted the West Bengal chief minister.
Claiming that the social media post maligned the image and reputation of Banerjee, the complaint said that it was a 'false imputation'.
It was also alleged in the complaint by the minister of state for finance (independent charge), that with the Lok Sabha polls underway, the post was made with the 'intention to affect the result of an election'.
The TMC had earlier denied that Banerjee had made any derogatory remark against the prime minister from the rally. -- PTI
20:33 Combing ops launched amid suspected naxal sightings around Karnataka border
Amid suspected naxal sightings in and around the areas of Karnataka bordering Kerala, the police have launched combing operations in the neighbouring areas and made adequate arrangements for upcoming Lok Sabha elections, officials said on Sunday.
The general elections in Karnataka will be held in two phases on April 26 and May 7 for its 28 constituencies.
Speaking to PTI videos, Arun K, Superintendent of Police Udupi said that some days ago, there were suspected naxal sightings in and around the Karnataka-Kerala border.
However, around five-six years ago, there were no naxal sightings on this side of Karnataka.
"We have coordinated with anti-naxal force and have started combing operations in the neighbouring areas. We have started the anti-naxal squads in the concerned district and are also trying to collect information from the local public regarding any naxal activities," he said.
The officer further said it has been ensured that all the naxal-affected polling booths will be given central paramilitary force protection on the day of polling.
"As of now, we don't expect any issues but we have made adequate arrangements to ensure peaceful elections," he said. -- PTI
19:28 'Won't allow...': Hemant Soren's message from jail
The Bharatiya Janata Party was trying to topple governments in opposition-ruled states but democracy cannot be allowed to fail, said former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren in a message from jail that his wife Kalpana read out at a mega rally in Ranchi on Sunday.
She was speaking at the opposition bloc INDIA's 'Ulgulan Nyay' rally, which was attended by leaders of 28 parties.
"Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and my husband Hemant Soren were jailed just before the elections by forces that were hatching conspiracies against their governments," she alleged.
Reading out her husband's message, she said, "Central agencies such as the ED and CBI are being misused to suppress the opposition's voice but BJP and such forces will be driven out from Jharkhand."
Urging the people to show the 'exit doors' to the BJP, she claimed that if the party wins the ongoing elections it would be a 'big threat' to tribals.
Kalpana Soren is likely to contest the bypoll to the Gandey assembly seat, which is slated for May 20.
Hemant Soren was arrested by the ED on January 31 in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged land fraud, immediately after his resignation as the chief minister. -- PTI
19:08 Women's panel chief visits Neha Hiremath's house
The Karnataka State Women's Commission Chairperson Nagalakshmi Choudhary on Sunday visited the residence of 23-year-old Neha Hiremath who was killed inside her college campus and assured justice to her family.
Offering condolences to her family, she said Neha's death should not be politicised for personal gains and if it was done, then it is like insulting the daughter of this land.
Speaking to PTI videos, Choudhary said she consoled Neha's parents and assured them they would get justice as soon as possible.
"I made them be strong and also told them not to allow anyone to use this incident for their selfish input or politicising it, because then it will be like insulting Neha. If we are really worried about her, we all have to strongly support and allow the police to do a free investigation and as early as possible, we have to get justice for Neha," she said.
The chairperson said she has spoken to the City Police Commissioner and District Collector and conveyed that every educational institution should have safety measures and also conduct workshops in colleges to educate both boys and girls about their future, cyber crime, social network, their goals.
"If these things are applied in schools and institutions, such incidents will definitely come down in the near future," she said.
The alleged murder of the daughter of the Congress Councillor of Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation Niranjan Hiremath on the campus of her college here on April 18 has sparked widespread condemnation and protests.
The issue has snowballed into a political slugfest between the ruling Congress and opposition Bharatiya Janata Party in Karnataka.
While the ruling party has tried to project it as an 'incident with a personal angle', the saffron party suspects 'love jihad' and said that it points to the 'deterioration of law and order' in the state. -- PTI
IMAGE: BJP president J P Nadda visits the residence of Congress Councillor of Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation, Niranjan Hiremath. Photograph: ANI on X
Hubballi Dharwad City Police Commissioner Renuka Sukumar
18:41 Hubballi commissioner felicitates team that nabbed Neha murder accused
Hubballi Dharwad City Police Commissioner Renuka Sukumar appreciated the police team that successfully nabbed the accused in the recent murder case of a 23-year-old student college student inside the campus in Hubballi, officials said on Sunday.
Neha Hiremath, daughter of Congress Councillor Niranjan Hiremath was stabbed to death by her former classmate Fayaz at her college, following which police nabbed the perpetrator within an hour of the crime.
Sukumar also gave away Rs 25,000 as cash prize apart from appreciation letters to each member of the team, they said.
According to the police, senior officers had formed a special team under the leadership of ACP Shivaprakash Nayka and Police Inspector D K Patil to trace the accused in the case.
The officers and staff of the team swiftly coordinated with each other and managed to chase Fayaz who had managed to escape after the brutally killing Neha Hiremath at BVB college campus on April 18.
The team, however, managed to arrest the accused within an hour of the crime and subsequently sent him to judicial custody.
Appreciating the performance of the team which succeeded in tracing and arresting the accused, the Commissioner Sukumar expressed her appreciation by declaring the team as 'Cop of the Month' and distributed a cash reward of Rs 25,000 to the team along with a letter of appreciation to each one of them.
The murder of the daughter of the Congress Councillor of Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation Niranjan Hiremath on the campus of her college in Hubballi sparked widespread condemnation and protests.
The issue has snowballed into a political slugfest between the ruling Congress and opposition Bharatiya Janata Party in Karnataka.
While the ruling party has tried to project it as an 'incident with a personal angle', the saffron party branded it 'love jihad' and said it points to the 'deterioration of law and order' in the state. -- PTI
18:14 BJP govt wants to kill my husband in jail: Sunita
Jailed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita Kejriwal on Sunday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government of denying insulin to her husband alleging that it wants to kill him.
She asserted that the opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) will fight against the 'dictatorship' of the BJP and win.
"They want to kill my husband Arvind Kejriwal. his food is under camera observation; he is denied insulin. My husband is a sugar patient who has been on insulin for 12 years; he needs 50 units of insulin daily," Sunita said at the Ulgulan Nyay Rally in Ranchi.
She claimed that her husband was jailed for working for the people 'Jan Seva' and no charges could be proved against him.
"We will fight against dictatorship and win. The gates of jail will break and Arvind Kejriwal and Hemant Soren will come out," she said.
Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 21 in a money laundering case linked to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy.
He is lodged in Tihar jail.
The ED also arrested Soren on the night of January 31 in a money laundering case linked to an alleged land fraud. -- PTI
17:11 Delhi HC to hear Kejriwal's plea on Monday
The Delhi high court will on Monday hear Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's petition challenging the summonses issued to him by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with its probe into an excise policy-linked money laundering case.
Kejriwal, arrested by the agency on March 21 after the high court refused to grant him interim protection from coercive action, has also challenged the constitutional validity of certain provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act with respect to arrest, questioning and grant of bail.
The plea is scheduled for hearing before the bench of Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Manoj Jain.
The AAP national convenor had approached the high court in the wake of the ninth summons issued by the ED asking him to appear before it on March 21.
The high court bench on March 20 asked the ED to file its reply with respect to the maintainability of the petition.
The next day, it asked ED to also respond to Kejriwal's plea seeking protection from arrest, saying 'at this stage' it was not inclined to grant any interim relief.
Kejriwal was arrested by ED later that evening and is presently in judicial custody.
The federal probe agency has alleged that the accused were in touch with Kejriwal for formulating the now-scrapped excise policy that resulted in undue benefits to them, in return of kickbacks to the AAP.
In the plea, Kejriwal has raised several issues, including whether a political party is covered under the anti-money laundering law.
It alleged that the arbitrary procedure under PMLA was being used to create a non-level playing field for the general elections to 'skew the electoral process in the favour of the ruling party at the Centre'.
Stating the petitioner is a 'vocal critic' of the ruling party, a partner of the INDIA bloc, the plea claimed that the ED being in control of the Union government has been 'weaponised'. -- PTI
16:21 Remove Modi govt to save railways: Rahul
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Centre wants to prove railways 'incompetent' so that it has an excuse to sell it off to its 'friends', and urged people to remove the Modi government to save the common person's transport.
Gandhi shared a video on X showing people travelling by sitting in toilets and on the floor of a train, to attack the government.
In a post on X, Gandhi said: 'Rail journey' has become a punishment under Narendra Modi's rule! Passengers of every category are being harassed by the Modi government which is promoting only 'elite trains' by reducing general coaches from common persons' trains.
People are not able to sit peacefully on their seats even with confirmed tickets, he claimed.
Gandhi said the common person is forced to travel by hiding in the toilet or sitting on the floor.
'The Modi government wants to prove railways 'incompetent' by weakening it with its policies, so that it has an excuse to sell it to its friends,' Gandhi alleged.
If the common person's transport is to be saved, then the Modi government which is engaged in ruining the railways will have to be removed, the former Congress chief said. -- PTI
Gandhi shared a video on X showing people travelling by sitting in toilets and on the floor of a train, to attack the government.
In a post on X, Gandhi said: 'Rail journey' has become a punishment under Narendra Modi's rule! Passengers of every category are being harassed by the Modi government which is promoting only 'elite trains' by reducing general coaches from common persons' trains.
People are not able to sit peacefully on their seats even with confirmed tickets, he claimed.
Gandhi said the common person is forced to travel by hiding in the toilet or sitting on the floor.
'The Modi government wants to prove railways 'incompetent' by weakening it with its policies, so that it has an excuse to sell it to its friends,' Gandhi alleged.
If the common person's transport is to be saved, then the Modi government which is engaged in ruining the railways will have to be removed, the former Congress chief said. -- PTI
15:25 Voting begins for Maldives parliamentary election
Maldivians started voting in parliamentary elections Sunday, marking a crucial ballot for President Mohamed Muizzu, whose policies are closely monitored by India and China, both vying for influence in the Island nation, The Washington Post reported.
Both countries are looking forward to it because the strategic location of the Maldives in the Indian Ocean makes it a sought-after prize for New Delhi and Beijing.
In a post on X, the Election Commission of Maldives shared the video of the Coordination Center for the 2024 Parliamentary Elections.
Pictures from the election site were also shared showing people waiting in a queue for their turn to vote.
According to The Washington Post, Muizzu's election as president last year sharpened the rivalry between India and China, as the new leader adopted a pro-China stance and worked to remove Indian troops stationed on one of the country's islets.
Securing a parliamentary majority will be a difficult challenge for Muizzu due to rifts among his allies and the entry of additional parties into the race, according to the US-based news outlet.
A total of 368 candidates from six political parties and independent groups are vying for 93 seats in Parliament. This marks an increase of six seats from the previous Parliament, adjusted to accommodate population growth, per The Washington Post.
About 284,000 people are eligible to vote and tentative results are expected to be announced late Sunday.
During his presidential campaign, Muizzu adopted the slogan 'India out', accusing his predecessor of compromising national sovereignty by granting India to much influence.
Approximately 75 Indian military personnel were stationed in the Maldives, primarily engaged in operating two aircraft donated by India and aiding in sea rescue operations.
Muizzu has taken steps to have civilians take over those activities.Tensions escalated when Indian social media activists launched a boycott of Maldives tourism in response to derogatory remarks made by three Maldivian deputy ministers about Modi.
These comments were prompted by Modi's suggestion to promote tourism in Lakshadweep, India's own island chain similar to the Maldives.
According to recent Maldives government statistics, the number of Indian tourists has fallen, dropping that country from being the top source of foreign visitors to No. 6.
Muizzu visited China earlier this year and negotiated an increase in the number of tourists and inbound flights from China.
In 2013, the Maldives joined China's 'Belt and Road' initiative, which was meant to build ports and highways to expand trade and China's influence across Asia, Africa and Europe. -- ANI
15:18 Won't abide by EC notice to...: Uddhav
Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday said he has received a notice from the Election Commission of India (ECI) to remove the words 'Jai Bhavani' and 'Hindu' from his party's new anthem, but he won't abide by it.
Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Thackeray said asking for the removal of 'Jai Bhavani' from the anthem was an insult to Maharashtra.
Thackeray said his party has come up with an anthem to popularise its new poll symbol, 'mashal' (flaming torch), and the ECI has asked for the removal of the words 'Hindu' and 'Jai Bhavani' from it.
"Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj founded Hindavi Swaraj with the blessings of goddess Tulja Bhavani. We are not asking for votes in the name of the goddess or Hindu religion. This is an insult and will not be tolerated," Thackeray said.
The Sena UBT chief said he will continue the practice of saying 'Jai Bhavani' and 'Jai Shivaji' in his public meetings.
"If the poll body takes action against us, they will have to tell us what they did when Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who while campaigning for the Karnataka assembly elections, had asked people to say Jai Bajrang Bali and press the button on EVMs. Amit Shah had told people to vote for the BJP to get Ram Lalla darshan for free in Ayodhya," he said.
The Shiv Sena-UBT has asked the ECI whether the laws had been changed and if it was okay now to ask for votes in the name of religion, he said.
"The poll body has not responded to our letter and the reminder we sent. In the reminder, we had said if the laws have been changed, we will also say 'Har Har Mahadev' in our election rallies."
The former chief minister said his father, Balasaheb Thackeray, was barred from voting and contesting elections for six years because he campaigned for Hindutva when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the prime minister.
The party had also asked the ECI to clarify whether speeches made by PM Modi and Amit Shah during the recent assembly elections invoking religion were 'corrupt practice' (under the Representation of People Act), he claimed. -- PTI
14:24 Rahul unwell, Kharge to address Cong rally
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge will address the party's rally in Satna in Madhya Pradesh on Sunday as senior leader Rahul Gandhi is unwell, its state unit chief Jitu Patwari said.
Rahul Gandhi is not well so Kharge will address the Satna meeting for party candidate Siddharth Kushwaha, Patwari told PTI.
Kushwaha is up against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's Ganesh Singh, who has been MP from the seat since 2004.
Polling in Satna will take place on April 26. -- PTI
13:57 Direct tax collections exceed estimates in FY24
India's net direct tax collections surged by a massive 17.7 per cent year-on-year to Rs 19.58 crore in the fiscal year ended March 2024, surpassing even revised estimates by a wide margin, the tax department said on Sunday.
Net collections of income and corporate taxes, which make up for most of the direct taxes, in 2023-24 financial year exceeded the Budget estimates by Rs 1.35 lakh crore (7.40 per cent) and the revised estimates by Rs 13,000 crore.
While gross direct tax collections (provisional) for the FY 2023-24 rose 18.48 per cent to Rs 23.37 lakh crore, net proceeds (after accounting for refunds) surged 17.7 per cent to Rs 19.58 lakh crore, reflecting buoyancy in the economy and rise in income levels of individuals and corporates.
Refunds aggregating to Rs 3.79 lakh crore have been issued in FY 2023-24, the CBDT said in a statement.
"The provisional figures of Direct Tax collections for the financial year (FY) 2023-24 show that net collections are at Rs 19.58 lakh crore, compared to Rs 16.64 lakh crore in the preceding financial year i.e. FY 2022-23," it said, adding the Budget for 2023-24 fiscal had pegged the collections for the year at Rs 18.23 lakh crore, which were revised to Rs 19.45 lakh crore later.
"The provisional Direct Tax collections (net of the refunds) have exceeded the Budget Estimate by 7.40 per cent and Revised Estimates by 0.67 per cent," it said.
The gross collection (provisional) of Direct Taxes (before adjusting for refunds) for the FY 2023-24 stood at Rs 23.37 lakh crore, showing a growth of 18.48 per cent over the gross collection of Rs 19.72 lakh crore in FY 2022-23.
The gross corporate tax collection (provisional) in FY 2023-24 was up 13.06 per cent to Rs 11.32 lakh crore as compared to the gross corporate tax collection of Rs 10 lakh crore of the preceding year.
The Net Corporate Tax collection (provisional) in FY 2023-24 at Rs 9.11 lakh crore showed a growth of 10.26 per cent over the net corporate tax collection of Rs 8.26 lakh crore of the preceding year.
The Gross Personal Income Tax collection including Securities Transaction Tax (provisional) in FY 2023-24 at Rs 12.01 lakh crore was up 24.26 per cent over previous year's collection of Rs 9.67 lakh crore.
The Net Personal Income Tax collection including STT (provisional) in FY 2023-24 at Rs 10.44 lakh crore showed a growth of 25.23 per cent over preceding fiscal year's figure of Rs 8.33 lakh crore.
Refunds of Rs 3.79 lakh crore have been issued in the FY 2023-24 showing an increase of 22.74 per cent over the refunds of Rs 3.09 lakh crore issued in FY 2022-23, the statement added. -- PTI
13:30 BJP leader attacked during TV channel debate
Two persons allegedly attacked a local Bharatiya Janata Party leader during a poll debate organised by a national news channel in Madhya Pradesh's Tikamgarh, police said on Sunday.
The police have arrested one person in connection with the incident that occurred at a ground in Nazarbag where a news channel organised a debate on Saturday night, an official said.
Representatives from the BJP and Congress, among others, participated in the debate, he said.
The accused, Himanshu Tiwari and Babar, allegedly raised slogans against the BJP and made objectionable remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kotwali police station in-charge Anand Raj said.
The BJP's district media cell in-charge, Prafull Dwivedi, objected to this, and the duo allegedly threw a chair at him, he said.
Some local leaders intervened to protect Dwivedi, which led to a scuffle, the official said.
Based on Dwivedi's complaint, a case was registered against the alleged accused under Sections 499 (defamation), 294 (obscene act), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code, he said.
While Babar has been arrested, a search is on for Tiwari, who is absconding, the official said.
District Congress president Naveen Sahu clarified that the accused had nothing to do with his party, and they were present as spectators. This is the second such incident during a poll debate organised by news channels in Madhya Pradesh.
Earlier on April 13, workers and leaders of the Congress and BJP allegedly attacked each other with sticks and plastic chairs during a debate organised by a news channel at a public park in Jabalpur.
A video of the incident surfaced on social media, in which some people were seen scuffling and throwing plastic chairs at each other. -- PTI
12:07 Hubballi murder: Accused's father apologises
Demanding maximum punishment for his son, the father of 23-year-old Fayaz, who allegedly killed the daughter of a Congress councillor inside a college campus in Hubballi, has apologised to the victim's family and said his son should be given strict punishment.
Baba Saheb Subani, a school teacher and Fayaz's father told media on Saturday that he came to know about the incident around 6 pm on Thursday and was completely shocked and shattered with his son's act.
"He (Fayaz) should be punished in a way that no one dares to do such a thing in future. With folded hands, I apologise to Neha's family members. She was like my daughter," he said with teary eyes.
Subani said that he and his wife have been living separately for the past six years and that Fayaz stayed with his mother and called him whenever he needed money.
He last spoke to his son about three months ago.
Fayaz's father recalled that around eight months ago, Neha's family had called him to inform that his son was troubling their daughter.
Admitting that his son made a mistake, he said that Fayaz and Neha loved each other and were in a relationship.
"Fayaz told me he wanted to marry her but I refused it with folded hands," he added.
Condemning his son's act, Fayaz's father said that no one should commit any such atrocities against women.
"I request the people of Karnataka to forgive me. My son has done wrong. He will be punished by the law of the land and I welcome it. My town has got a black mark because of my son. People of Munavalli (Fayaz's hometown) please forgive me. You raised us. Please forgive me," he cried with folded hands.
However, the victim's family has been demanding that the accused be hanged to death and only then will their daughter's soul rest in peace.
They maintained that their daughter was not in a relationship with Fayaz and said the accused stabbed Neha because she rejected his proposal.
There were protests in several parts of the state demanding capital punishment for Fayaz, who has been arrested in connection with the incident that occurred on April 18.
The alleged murder of the daughter of the city corporation councillor on her college campus has sparked widespread condemnation and protests.
The issue has snowballed into a political slugfest between the ruling Congress and opposition BJP in Karnataka.
While the ruling party has tried to project it as an 'incident with a personal angle', the saffron party suspects 'love jihad' and said that it points to the 'deterioration of law and order' in the state.
Neha was allegedly stabbed to death on the campus of BVB College on Thursday.
The accused Fayaz Khondunaik, who fled the scene, was arrested by police subsequently.
Neha was a first-year MCA student and Fayaz was her former classmate.
According to a senior police officer, Fayaz allegedly stabbed her multiple times.
During interrogation, he claimed that the two had been in a relationship but she had been avoiding him of late.
"It needs to be corroborated and verified, but he was arrested immediately," the officer said. -- PTI
IMAGE: BJP leader Jagadish Shettar visits the residence of Congress Councillor of Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation, Niranjan Hiremath, whose daughter was murdered in her college premises. Photograph: ANI on X
11:53 Road crash in Rajasthan leaves nine dead
A car collided head-on with a truck in Rajasthan's Jhalawar district early Sunday, leaving nine men returning from a wedding dead, police said.
The accident took place at 2.45 am near Eklera village when the deceased were returning from Dungri village in Bhopal, Jhalawar Superintendent of Police, Richa Tomer told PTI.
While two persons were killed on the spot, seven others succumbed to injuries at a hospital. One person was critically injured in the accident and has been admitted to the Jhalawar government hospital.
The deceased were aged between 18 and 30 years. -- PTI
Representational image/Reuters
11:21 1 killed, 7 missing as Japan's 2 military choppers crash in Pacific
One crew member was killed and seven are missing after two Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force helicopters crashed during a drill in the Pacific late Saturday, Kyodo News reported, citing the country's defence minister.
The tragic crash, in which seven crew members are still not found, occurred around 270 kilometres east of Torishima Island in the Izu Island chain during a nighttime anti-submarine drill.
The Izu island chain, where the crash took place, is located south of Tokyo.
Japan's Defence Minister Minoru Kihara told the media that the choppers reportedly collided with each other, which resulted in the crash, according to Kyodo News.
The defence minister also stated that two flight recorders were also found "at extremely close locations," and other aircraft debris was also found during a post-accident search.
Following the incident, MSDF training involving SH-60K helicopters will be suspended, he added, as per Kyodo News.
Each carrying four crew members, the SH-60K helicopters lost contact at 10:38 p.m. and 11:04 p.m., on Saturday, respectively. -- ANI
File image
11:01 Kerala nonagenarian dies soon after casting vote at home
A 99-year-old man died soon after casting his vote in Lok Sabha polls at home in Kerala's Kottayam district, family members said on Sunday.
The deceased man, AK Raman Nair, was a native of Manakkunnu in Pala in Kottayam district.
He had been suffering from age-related ailments for some time and died within minutes after exercising his franchise on Saturday as part of the vote-from-home facility launched by the Election Commission, they said.
Nair, who had been living with his grandson, was discharged from the hospital two days ago.
The polling officials went with the ballot paper when the nonagenarian man was having lunch.
Despite health issues, he was excited to cast his vote and breathed his last soon after the process, the family added. -- PTI
Security forces in an anti-Maoist operation/File image/ANI Photo
10:43 Maoist killed in encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh
A Maoistg was killed in an encounter with security personnel in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district on Sunday, the police said.
The gunfight took place in a forest near Keshkutul village under Bhairamgarh police station area at around 5.30 am when a team of the District Reserve Guard was out on an anti-Maoist operation, a senior police official said.
The operation was launched based on information about the presence of division supply team commander of Maoists, Kawasi Pandaru, and 15-20 other cadres in Keshkutul-Keshmundi forests, located around 400 km from the state capital Raipur, he said.
After the exchange of fire stopped, the body of a Maoist, a weapon and explosives were recovered from the spot, the official said.
Search operation was still underway in the area, he added. -- PTI
10:30 2 youths held for posts on Karnataka girl's murder
The police arrested two youths who justified the murder of Neha Hiremath allegedly by Fayaz Khondunaik on their social media handles.
The accused from Dharwad were arrested on Saturday after a few pro-Hindu activists lodged a complaint alleging that the duo had posted contents claiming that Neha and Fayaz were in relationship.
According to the complainants, they allegedly uploaded pictures of the victim Neha and the accused, Fayaz, with a caption, "Neha Fayaz true love, justice for love".
Neha Hiremath (23), daughter of Congress Councillor of Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation Niranjan Hiremath, was allegedly stabbed to death on the campus of BVB College on April 18.
The accused Fayaz, who fled the scene, was arrested by police subsequently. -- PTI
Unidentified miscreants destroyed EVMs during the first phase of the LS polls in Imphal East/ANI Photo
10:26 Repolling at 11 polling stations in Manipur on April 22
Manipur chief electoral officer on Saturday announced repolling at 11 polling stations in Inner Manipur Lok Sabha constituency on April 22.
The decision follows a directive from the Election Commission to declare the polls held at these stations on April 19 as null and void and schedule fresh polling.
The affected polling stations are Moirangkampu Sajeb and Thongam Leikai in Khurai constituency, four in Kshetrigao and one in Thongju in Imphal East district and three in Uripok and one in Konthoujam in Imphal West district, the official said.
Incidents of firing, intimidation, destruction of EVMs at some polling booths and allegations of booth capturing were reported from conflict-hit Manipur that recorded a turnout of 72 percent in the two Lok Sabha constituencies -- Inner Manipur and Outer Manipur -- on Friday.
Earlier in the day, the Congress had demanded repoll in 47 polling stations alleging that booths were captured and elections were rigged. -- PTI
Unidentified miscreants destroyed EVMs during the first phase of the LS polls in Imphal East/ANI Photo
10:16 Repolling at 11 polling stations in Manipur on April 22
Manipur chief electoral officer on Saturday announced repolling at 11 polling stations in Inner Manipur Lok Sabha constituency on April 22.
The decision follows a directive from the Election Commission to declare the polls held at these stations on April 19 as null and void and schedule fresh polling.
The affected polling stations are Moirangkampu Sajeb and Thongam Leikai in Khurai constituency, four in Kshetrigao and one in Thongju in Imphal East district and three in Uripok and one in Konthoujam in Imphal West district, the official said.
Incidents of firing, intimidation, destruction of EVMs at some polling booths and allegations of booth capturing were reported from conflict-hit Manipur that recorded a turnout of 72 percent in the two Lok Sabha constituencies -- Inner Manipur and Outer Manipur -- on Friday.
Earlier in the day, the Congress had demanded repoll in 47 polling stations alleging that booths were captured and elections were rigged. -- PTI
Kunwar Sarvesh Kumar/Courtesy FB
09:39 BJP LS candidate from Moradabad seat Kunwar Sarvesh Kumar dies
Bharatiya Janata Party candidate from Moradabad Lok Sabha seat Kunwar Sarvesh Kumar, who was unwell for some time, died at Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences on Saturday, a senior party leader said.
He was 72.
Kumar is survived by his wife Sadhna Singh, a son and a daughter.
"Kunwar Sarvesh Kumar has passed away," UP BJP chief Bhupendra Chaudhary said.
"He had some problem in his throat and had an operation. Yesterday, he had gone to AIIMS for a check-up," Chaudhary said. Kunwar Sarvesh Kumar was among the 12 candidates in the poll fray from Moradabad parliamentary constituency that went to polls in the first phase on April 19.
He won the Moradabad Lok Sabha seat in the 2014 general elections but lost in 2019 to the Samajwadi Party's S T Hasan.
He has also been a five-time BJP MLA from the Thakurdwara assembly segment in Moradabad from 1991 to 2007 and from 2012 to 2014.
Condoling his death, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, in a post in Hindi on X, said, "I am shocked by the demise of BJP candidate from Moradabad Lok Sabha constituency and former MP Kunwar Sarvesh Singh ji. This is an irreparable loss for the BJP family. My condolences are with the bereaved family." -- PTI
09:25 ED arrests ex-IAS officer in liquor scam linked case
The Enforcement Directorate has arrested retired Chhattisgarh IAS officer Anil Tuteja in connection with an alleged liquor scam linked money laundering case in the state, official sources said on Sunday.
The federal agency had detained the 2003 batch officer from the Economic Offences Wing/Anti Corruption Bureau office in Raipur on Saturday where the bureaucrat and his son Yash Tuteja had gone to record their statement in the same case.
The IAS officer was later taken into custody under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and is expected to be produced before a magistrate seeking his remand, the sources said.
The officer retired from service last year.
The ED had filed a fresh money laundering case in the alleged liquor scam case after the Supreme Court recently quashed its earlier FIR that was based on an Income Tax Department complaint. -- PTI
08:46 12-year-old girl dies by suicide in Delhi's Bawana
A 12-year-old girl committed suicide by hanging herself from a ceiling fan at her house in outer Delhi's Bawana area, the police said on Saturday.
No suicide note was found but the girl was depressed due to the marital discord of her parents, the police said.
According to an officer, a PCR call about the suicide was received in the afternoon.
During an enquiry, it was found that the girl was staying with her father, brother and grandmother whereas her mother was staying separated from the past three years.
The statements of the family members and relatives have been recorded and till now no foul play has been found, the police said.
"Initially it was revealed that the girl was depressed due to the matrimonial dispute between her parents," the officer said. -- PTI
File image/ANI Photo
08:38 SP legislator booked over remarks against BJP's LS candidate in UP
A case was registered against Samajwadi Party MLA from Baheri, Attaur Rahman, on Saturday for making false allegations and hurling abuses on Bharatiya Janata Party Lok Sabha candidate from Bareilly, Chhatrapal Gangwar, and his nephew, the police said.
Circle officer Pankaj Srivastava said that acting on the complaint of Jitendra Kumar, a resident of Devarniya police station area, a case under Sections 153 A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language etc, and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) and 500 (punishment for defamation) was registered against Baheri MLA Attaur Rahman in the Kotwali police station on Saturday evening on the orders of the senior superintendent of police.
Citing the FIR lodged on the complaint of Jitendra Kumar, the CO said that the SP MLA had called former minister and Lok Sabha candidate Chhatrapal Gangwar and his nephew as robbers in his speech at Bareilly's Nehru Yuva Kendra on April 16.
It was also said that these people will call and ask for money from businessmen and they will drive away these robbers from Bareilly.
An attempt was made in the speech to vitiate the atmosphere by commenting on religion.
The video of this entire matter has also become public. -- PTI
File image/ANI Photo
08:26 SP legislator booked over remarks against BJP's LS candidate in UP
A case was registered against Samajwadi Party MLA from Baheri, Attaur Rahman, on Saturday for making false allegations and hurling abuses on Bharatiya Janata Party Lok Sabha candidate from Bareilly, Chhatrapal Gangwar, and his nephew, the police said.
Circle officer Pankaj Srivastava said that acting on the complaint of Jitendra Kumar, a resident of Devarniya police station area, a case under Sections 153 A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language etc, and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) and 500 (punishment for defamation) was registered against Baheri MLA Attaur Rahman in the Kotwali police station on Saturday evening on the orders of the senior superintendent of police.
Citing the FIR lodged on the complaint of Jitendra Kumar, the CO said that the SP MLA had called former minister and Lok Sabha candidate Chhatrapal Gangwar and his nephew as robbers in his speech at Bareilly's Nehru Yuva Kendra on April 16.
It was also said that these people will call and ask for money from businessmen and they will drive away these robbers from Bareilly.
An attempt was made in the speech to vitiate the atmosphere by commenting on religion.
The video of this entire matter has also become public. -- PTI
08:14 Minor among 4 killed in wall collapse in Haryana's Gurugram
Four people, including a minor girl, were buried alive after a wall of a cremation ground collapsed on them in the Arjun Nagar area in Gurugram on Saturday, the police said.
Two people were injured in the incident that took place at around 6.20 pm, they said.
The caretaker and management committee members of the Madanpuri cremation ground are on the run, police said, adding a case of death by negligence has been lodged.
The incident was captured on a CCTV camera installed near the ground.
In the footage, some residents of the Arjun Nagar colony, whose houses are behind the cremation ground, can be seen sitting on chairs near the boundary wall when suddenly, it comes crashing down.
The six people, including two minor girls, were buried under the debris of the 20-foot by 15-foot wall as some people standing nearby came to their rescue and also called the police, they said.
The injured were rushed to a hospital where four of them -- Devi Dayal (70), Krishan (52), Manoj Gaba (41) and the minor girl -- were declared dead, police said. -- PTI
File image/Mohammad Ateeq/Reuters
08:10 14 killed in Israeli raid on refugee camp: Palestine
Amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, at least 14 people have been killed during the Israel Defence Forces operation at the Nur al-Shams refugee camp in the West Bank, CNN reported, citing the Palestinian ministry of health.
The Palestinian ministry of health said that they have found a number of bodies and injured people from the camp, as the IDF has partially withdrawn from the area.
Videos captured by residents show a bulldozer destroying a building as IDF vehicles leave the camp after conducting a raid for over 24 hours.
Other videos showcase ambulances entering the camp after the IDF withdraws from there.
According to the residents, Israeli forces have left the immediate area.
However, they continue to remain present in the nearby city of Tulkarm. -- ANI
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