LIVE! 4,400 houses damaged as hailstorm hits Assam

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Tue, 27 December 2022

4,400 houses damaged as hailstorm hits Assam

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23:57 Goa speaker demands apology from GFP MLA for 'employee of CM' remark

Goa assembly Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar on Tuesday demanded an apology from Goa Forward Party MLA Vijai Sardesai for terming the former an "employee of the chief minister".

Sardesai's remark evoked angry reaction from CM Sawant who said the behaviour of Opposition MLAs is the "real threat to democracy in Goa".

Talking to reporters in Porvorim, Tawadkar said he will not meet the Opposition MLAs till Sardesai tenders an apology for his statement, which he claimed was an insult to the speaker's post.

Sardesai on Monday demanded the Speaker include a 'Private Members Day' in the upcoming session of the Assembly to be held from January 16-19.

Briefing the media, the GFP MLA had said the Speaker was acting like an employee of the chief minister.

Tawadkar said he has already informed Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao he will not meet them till Sardesai tenders an apology.

"The duration of the Assembly session is decided by the government, while business in the session is decided by the business advisory committee. I have no role to play in it," Tawadkar said, accusing the Opposition MLAs of unnecessarily dragging the post of Speaker in the controversy.

23:51 Man shot dead in Delhi's Rajouri Garden

A 23-year-old man was shot dead on Tuesday by some unidentified persons in west Delhi's Rajouri Garden area, police said.

The victim was identified as Ashok, a resident of TC Camp, they said.

He was rushed to a hospital where doctors declared him dead, a senior police officer said. According to an eyewitness, two people were involved in the shooting.

A case under sections of the IPC and Arms Act was registered, the officer said. Several teams have been formed to trace the accused and CCTV footage are being checked, the police added. -- PTI

23:26 4,400 houses damaged as hailstorm hits Assam

Over 4,400 houses were damaged after a severe hailstorm hit four Upper Assam districts -- Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Charaideo and Sivasagar on Tuesday affecting 132 villages.

According to Assam State Disaster Management Authority, around 18,000 people living in 132 villages of Tinsukia, Charaideo, Sivasagar and Dibrugarh districts were affected.

"The severe hailstorm partially damaged 4,481 houses and fully damaged two houses," said ASDMA statement.

The ASDMA statement also stated that "a total of 1,401 farms and family affected and 172.73 hectares corp area damaged due to hailstorm (Mustard, Pea, Potato, Lentil and other crops heavily affected) in Charaideo district while 10.5 hectares of crop area, 71 farm families affected in Dibrugarh district."

Several Anganwadi centres building and school buildings were also damaged due to hailstorms.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "Due to a severe hailstorm, several houses under Moran and Tingkhang revenue circles have been reportedly damaged. Have instructed officials to make a detailed assessment of the damages caused. Government is extending all possible help to all those affected by it." -- ANI

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be visiting poll-bound Karnataka on December 30 and 31, where the ruling BJP aims to come back to power.

His visit has gained significance amid the wait for expansion or reshuffle for Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai-led cabinet and reservation demand by various communities in the state.

Amid official meetings, Shah is expected to review poll preparedness of the party and discuss the strategy with leaders and booth level workers.

Karnataka is expected to go for assembly polls by April-May, 2023, and Bommai on Monday had held talks with Shah and BJP national president J P Nadda regarding poll preparations, cabinet and reservation related issues.

Shah, who will be arriving in Bengaluru on December 29 night, is scheduled to inaugurate a mega dairy in Mandya and address a public meeting there on December 30, party sources said.

Mandya is a Vokkaliga community dominated district, largely seen as a bastion of Janata Dal-Secular and Congress, where BJP is trying to make inroads.

Later, Shah will be back in Bengaluru to take part in a Cooperative convention at the Palace Grounds in Bengaluru.

Following this he is scheduled to attend a BJP meeting. -- PTI

22:36 Actor Tunisha Sharma cremated in Mumbai

The last rites of actor Tunisha Sharma were held on Tuesday in Mumbai in the presence of her family members and industry colleagues.

Sharma, known for TV shows such as Ali Baba: Dastaan-E-Kabul and films such as Fitoor, died by suicide on Saturday on the sets of her serial.

She was 21. Following a post-mortem examination at J J Hospital, her mortal remains were brought to Tembha Hospital in Mira Bhayandar and then taken to her Mira Road home.

She was cremated at Ghodev Shamshan Bhumi in Bhayandar East.

Sharma's mother Vanita Sharma was inconsolable and fell unconscious during her last rites.

Some of television's known faces and the actor's friends including Vishal Jethwa, Kanwar Dhillon, Sayantani Ghosh, Shivin Narang, Deepika Goyal with husband Rohit Raj Goyal, Avneet Kaur, director duo Abbas-Mustan, Siddharth Nigam, and Ashnoor Kaur came to pay their last respects.

The 13th day of mourning will be held on January 5 in Chandigarh, Sharma's uncle said.

Sharma's co-star Sheezan Khan was arrested on Sunday for allegedly abetting her suicide.

Khan is currently in four-day police custody. -- PTI

The Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra will resume from Kashmere Gate in Delhi on January 3 and enter Uttar Pradesh the same afternoon through Loni in Ghaziabad.

AICC general secretary communications Jairam Ramesh said the yatra, which is currently on winter break, will resume from the Hanuman Mandir in Kashmere Gate at 10 am on January 3 and enter Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad at noon. It will make night halt in Mavikala in Baghpat.

The yatra will pass through Shamli in Uttar Pradesh on January 4 and enter Haryana though Sanauli in Panipat in the evening of January 5.

The Bharat Jodo Yatra will start its journey in Haryana on January 6 morning and remain in the state for six days before entering Punjab on January 12.

Gandhi will address a rally in Panipat on January 8, Ramesh said.

The Kanyakumari-to-Kashmir yatra, which has so far traversed more than 2,800 km through 10 states, is on a nine-day winter break.

The marchers took the break after reaching the Red Fort in Delhi on December 24. -- PTI

A court in West Bengal's Birbhum district on Tuesday granted bail to TMC leader Anubrata Mondal in an attempt to murder case.

Mondal, arrested by the CBI in August in the cattle smuggling case, was booked by the police under IPC sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 325 (causing grievous hurt) and 307 (attempt to murder) on the complaint of a TMC worker who alleged that he was assaulted.

The sub-divisional court in Dubrajpur granted bail to Mondal when he was produced, after the expiry of his seven-day police custody.

Public prosecutor Rajendra Prasad Dey said, "The investigating officer prayed for police custody but the court after examining the case diary and other records granted him bail. On behalf of the state, I opposed the bail petition."

The police complaint was filed by one Shibthakur Mondal, who alleged that the TMC Birbhum district president had attempted to kill him by throttling him about six months back.

The police registered a case and moved the court on December 19, securing a production warrant for Mondal, who was in judicial custody in Asansol.

The timing of the assault case raised questions as the Enforcement Directorate was preparing to take him to Delhi for questioning in the cattle smuggling case on the order of a court in the national capital. -- PTI

BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur

21:23 Cong to move SC against Pragya's 'hate speech'

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday said Bharatiya Janata Party MP Pragya Singh Thakur's remarks at a function in Karnataka's Shivamogga are a clear example of hate speech and he would move the Supreme Court against her.

Ramesh said he would file a case against Thakur in the apex court as the police in Karnataka would not act against the BJP MP.

Karnataka is currently being ruled by the BJP and the assembly polls are due in the state early next year.

"BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur's remarks made in Karnataka are a clear example of hate speech and I would be moving the Supreme Court against her for making such remarks," the former Union minister told PTI.

He said Thakur's remarks clearly seek to divide the society, while claiming that the local police would not act against her since the BJP is in power in the southern state.

Thakur said Hindus have the right to respond to those who attack them and their dignity as she spoke about the killing of Hindu activists.

She also called on Hindus to at least keep the knives in their homes sharp, as everyone has the right to protect themselves.

Speaking at the Hindu Jagarana Vedike's southern region annual convention at Shivamogga on Sunday, the BJP MP from Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh told the gathering to give a befitting reply to anyone who "infiltrates our house". -- PTI

The Maharashtra legislative council witnessed uproar on Tuesday over alleged controversial comments made by state Governor BS Koshyari, state minister Chandrakant Patil and some other leaders in the recent past.

Following the uproar, the Upper House of the state legislature was adjourned for the day.

A discussion was initiated by Leader of Opposition Ambadas Danve who objected to comments made by Koshyari regarding Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and by cabinet minister Chandrakant Patil about social reformers B R Ambedkar and Jyotiba Phule besides some other leaders.

Responding to it, deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis referred to the remarks made by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi against VD Savarkar when 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' was passing through Maharashtra.

"I was surprised Shiv Sena leaders like Danve and Anil Parab didn't say a single word against Rahul Gandhi who had allegedly insulted Savarkar. Why no one from Shiv Sena condemned Gandhi's words?" he asked.

Irked by Fadnavis' statement, Congress MLCs asked deputy chairperson Neelam Gorhe to intervene, but she refused to interrupt Fadnavis. I

"I am against the passing of any derogatory or insulting remarks but selectively targeting certain people should not be tolerated. I am ok if you do not give Bharat Ratna to Savarkar but at least stop insulting him," Fadnavis said.

As the uproar continued, Gorhe adjourned the proceedings for the day. -- PTI

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20:29 Govt inks peace pact with Manipur's insurgent group

The Centre on Tuesday signed a peace agreement with a Manipur insurgent group, which agreed to give up violence and join the peaceful democratic process.

The tripartite agreement was signed by the central and Manipur governments and the Zeliangrong United Front rebel group which mostly operated in Manipur.

In a statement, the Union home ministry said fulfilling the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of an 'insurgency-free and prosperous Northeast' and under the guidance of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the government of India and the government of Manipur entered into a cessation of operation agreement in New Delhi with ZUF that had been active for more than a decade.

Representatives of the armed group agreed to abjure violence and join the peaceful democratic process as established by law of the land, the statement said.

The agreement provides for rehabilitation and re-settlement of the armed cadres.

A joint monitoring group will be constituted to oversee enforcement of the agreed ground rules.

This will be a significant boost to the peace process in Manipur, the statement said. -- PTI

Odisha DGP Sunil Kumar Bansal on Tuesday ordered a CID probe into the death of two Russian nationals, including a lawmaker of that country, at the same hotel in Rayagada district.

Pavel Antov, a Russian MP and businessman, died after falling from the hotel's third floor on December 24.

Vladimir Bidenov, his co-traveller, was also found dead in his room on December 22.

DGP, Odisha has ordered CID-Crime Branch to take over enquiry into Rayagada police station UD Case.

These cases relate to unnatural death of two Russian nationals in Rayagada district, the Odisha police said on Twitter.

Antov had reportedly come to Rayagada along with Bidenov and two other friends on tourist VISAs to celebrate his 66th birthday, a police officer said.

The other companions of the deceased are being questioned, he said. -- PTI

Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday said she will be joining the Kashmir leg of the "Bharat Jodo Yatra" spearheaded by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

"I've been formally invited to join @RahulGandhi ji for his Bharat Jodo Yatra in Kashmir today. Salute his indomitable courage and I believe it is my duty to stand with someone who has the courage to challenge fascist forces. Will be joining him in his march towards a better India," the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said in a tweet.

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah is also expected to take part in the yatra when it enters Jammu and Kashmir. -- PTI

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19:36 3 members of Lakhbir Landa's terror module held, RPG recovered: Police

The Punjab police on Tuesday claimed to have busted a "sub-module" of "Canada-based terrorist" Lakhbir Landa with the arrest of three men and also recovered a loaded rocket-propelled grenade launcher.

The bust comes as part of investigations into the rocket-propelled grenade attack at Sarhali police station in Tarn Taran, the police said.

The sub-module was allegedly being handled by Yadwinder Singh from the Philippines on the instructions of Landa, director general of police Gaurav Yadav said in a statement.

The arrested persons have been identified as Kulbir Singh, Hira Singh, and Davinder Singh, all residents of Tarn Taran's Chambal village.

The police also booked Yadwinder Singh, Yadav added.

"With the recovery of a ready-to-use fresh RPG, the Punjab police has successfully thwarted another possible terrorist attack aimed at disturbing the peace and harmony of the state," the police chief said.

The development comes days after five persons were arrested and two juveniles detained for allegedly carrying out the attack at the Sarhali police station building in Tarn Taran on December 9.

The attack was the second such incident in Punjab in the last seven months. -- PTI

Chanda Kochhar, her husband Deepak Kochhar

19:23 Court allows Kochhars, Dhoot home food in custody

A court here on Tuesday permitted former ICICI Bank CEO and MD Chanda Kochhar, her husband Deepak Kochhar, and Videocon group founder Venugopal Dhoot to use special beds and mattresses while in the custody of Central Bureau of Investigation in connection with a loan fraud case.

A day before, special Central Bureau of Investigation judge A S Sayyad remanded the trio in CBI custody till December 28.

They were also permitted to have home-cooked food and medicines.

The Kochhars and Dhoot had sought permission to use a chair, special beds, mattresses, pillows, towels, blankets, and bed sheets citing their medical conditions.

The court permitted them to use these items at their own cost.

The court allowed them to take assistance from their lawyers for one hour in private every day till the interrogations are completed.

The court said the CBI shall permit one attendant to accompany Dhoot to help him have insulin as and when required during the custody.

The CBI arrested Dhoot, 71, from Mumbai on Monday morning in connection with the ICICI Bank loan fraud case.

The Kochhar couple was arrested by the probe agency on Friday night. -- PTI

A pall of gloom descended upon the entire country after actor Tunisha Sharma allegedly died by suicide on December 24.

On Tuesday, fans, family and members of the television and film industry bid a teary farewell to the 20-year-old Tunisha at the Mira Road crematorium ground in Mumbai.

Celebrities including Vishal Jethwa, Ashnoor Kaur, Avneet Kaur, and Shivin Narang others attended Tunisha's funeral.

Tunisha's co-star Sheezan Khan's mother and sister also came to the cremation ground to pay their last respects.

Sheezan, who worked with Tunisha in Ali Baba Dastaan-E-Kabul, was arrested on Sunday on charges of abetment of suicide.

If reports are to be believed, Sheezan and Tunisha broke up 15 days ago after dating for a while.

The deceased actor's mother has claimed that Sheezan was cheating on Tunisha.

On the basis of the statement of Tunisha's mother, an FIR was registered and the actor was arrested. -- ANI

18:03 FM likely to be discharged from AIIMS tomorrow

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is likely to be discharged from AIIMS on Wednesday, according to sources.

Sitharaman was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences on Monday with symptoms of viral fever.

The sources said the minister is recovering and expected to be discharged from AIIMS on Wednesday.

Prahlad Modi

17:36 PM Modi's brother, family members injured in accident near Mysuru

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's brother Prahlad Modi and family members sustained injuries when the car in which they were travelling met with an accident near here, the police said on Tuesday.

According to sources, other than the driver, Prahlad, his son, daughter-in-law and a child were in the car.

They are said to have suffered some injuries and have been shifted to JSS Hospital for treatment.

As per the police, the injuries are said to be "minor" in nature.

The incident happened near Kadakola around 1.30 pm when their car, on the way to Bandipur, is said to have hit the road divider.

Mysuru superintendent of police Seema Latkar has visited the spot and the hospital, sources said. -- PTI

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17:15 Major terror attack averted in J-K, 15 kg IED defused

The police on Tuesday defused an improvised explosive device (IED) weighing 15 kilograms which was recovered in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur district, officials said.

A major terror plan was averted when the cylindrical shaped IED, 300-400 grams of RDX, seven 7.62 mm cartridges and five detonators were recovered in Basantgarh area on Monday, they said.

The IED was safely defused on Tuesday, the officials said.

One coded sheet and one letter pad page of banned terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Tayiba were also recovered, they said, adding that a suspect has been detained.

According to the officials, a case has been registered at Basantgarh police station and further investigation is underway. -- PTI

President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday stressed on the importance of teaching value education to children to make them good citizens.

Murmu, who addressed the students and faculty members of the Keshav Memorial Educational Society at a function organised as part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav in Hyderabad, said parents also, in view of competition, focus on children studying the syllabus taught in their books.

"I say everywhere that value education should be added in our curriculum, our system, our syllabus," she said.

If value education is imparted from the beginning, it will help in ushering in a good society, she said.

She was responding to a query from a student that the absence of study of ethical values is leading to unwanted incidents in the society.

In her speech, she expressed confidence that the implementation of National Education Policy 2020 will create a learner-centric education system to foster critical thinking and creativity.

This shift in focus will not only benefit the students as individuals, but will also contribute to the overall progress and development of the nation, she said.

Emphasising on the importance of reading, the President said the habit of reading is one of the most effective means for self-development.

It is a skill that would serve students well throughout their life, she said. -- PTI

Protesting Kashmiri Pandit employees have approached the Central Administrative Tribunal against a Jammu and Kashmir administration order stating those granted employment under the prime minister's special package cannot be transferred.

The move to approach the CAT's Srinagar bench comes days after Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha announced that the striking employees would not be given salaries, a statement criticised by all major political parties.

Kashmiri Pandit employees have been on a strike for over seven months to demand their 'relocation' from the Valley in view of targeted killings by terrorists.

The protesting employees have also sought interim relief from being forced to join work at their respective postings till the government provides them a secure work environment and releases their pending salaries.

The petition filed by Boopinder Bhat and Yogesh Pandita is likely to be listed for hearing after the tribunal resumes functioning on December 30.

They have challenged sub-rule 4 of rule 4 of the Jammu and Kashmir Kashmiri Migrants (Special Drive) Recruitment Rules, 2009, which provides that 'in case the appointee migrates from valley again for any reason whatsoever, he shall lose the job without any notice and shall stand terminated'.

The application filed by the protesting employees read, 'The targeted killings make it crystal clear that the respondents (JK administration) have failed to provide a secure environment to Kashmiri Pandit employees at their respective place of posting but the said rule is jeopardising the life and safety of the Kashmiri Pandit employees which is clearly violative of the right to life provided under Article 21 of the Constitution of India and as such deserves to be set aside along with the related stipulations in the form/agreement'.

They have also demanded the quashing of sub-rule 6 of rule 6 the Jammu and Kashmir Kashmiri Migrants (Special Drive) Recruitment Rules, 2009, which provides that 'the appointee under these rules shall have to work within Kashmir and shall not be eligible for transfer outside the valley under any circumstances'.

The applicants have called for the passing of directions to stop the administration from taking any adverse action against migrant employees who are not able to join their duties owing to the threat to their lives and well-being.

Around 3,000 Kashmiri Pandit employees have been sitting in protest over the killing of Rahul Bhat, who was gunned down by terrorists inside the tehsil office in Chadoora town in Budgam district of central Kashmir on May 12 this year.

LG Sinha's recent remark that reserved category (Dogra) employees cannot be transferred to Jammu and those (KP employees) sitting at home will not get salaries drew sharp reactions from the political parties of the Union territory.

All major parties in Jammu and Kashmir, including the Bharatiya Janata Party, came out openly in support of Kashmiri Pandit and Dogra employees and backed their demands for 'relocation' from Kashmir in view of targeted killings by terrorists and a transfer policy.

Union Minister of State in Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh had on Saturday said, "My personal opinion is that nothing can be more valuable than a human life...If there is a threat even to one life, it is better to save that life even if it means closing down a dozen offices." -- PTI

The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) on Tuesday withdrew its earlier order directing teachers to be deployed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport to enforce Covid protocols, officials said.

The now-withdrawn order issued by the district magistrate (West) on behalf of the DDMA had said several Delhi government school teachers would be stationed at the IGI Airport from December 31 to January 15 to ensure people follow Covid-appropriate behaviour.

The authorities in Delhi on Monday began physically visiting all government hospitals in the city to ascertain their preparedness to deal with any eventuality in view of a surge in Covid cases in some countries.

Last week, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said though the new Omicron sub-variant BF.7 of the coronavirus, which is causing the surge in cases in some countries, had not been detected in Delhi, his government was fully geared to tackle any eventuality. -- PTI

Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar on Tuesday said the BF.7 variant of COVID-19 is transmissible with low virulence, but emphasised that senior citizens, children and pregnant women must remain cautious.

He said COVID response mock drills to check readiness to deal with any increase in the number of coronavirus cases are in place in all districts and talukas across the state.

"BF.7 is a sub-variant of Omicron, but the only difference between other variants and this is that the rate of its spread is high, but does not have much virulence," Sudhakar told reporters in Belagavi.

He said, however, that reports from other countries have suggested that the virulence is slightly high among the aged and those with co-morbidities.

"That's the reason in the guidelines issued yesterday, we have given importance to them (old and co-morbid) and have advised them to avoid places or activities where large crowd gathers and wear masks if unavoidable. Similar is the case with pregnant women and children," he added.

Stepping up preventive measures in the wake of spurt in COVID-19 cases globally, the Karnataka government on Monday mandated the use of masks at cinema theatres and educational institutions and asked sections of population including the elders to avoid crowded gatherings.

Two doses of COVID vaccination is compulsory at bars, restaurants and pubs, which will operate only up to the seating capacity for the New Year celebrations that should end by 1 am on January 1, it said.

Responding to a question on keeping a vigil on borders along Maharashtra, Sudhakar said the Centre has directed states to monitor international passengers, and in the neighbouring state too the authorities should be keeping a guard at places where there are international airports.

"In our state, Bengaluru and Mangaluru are our entry points (with international airports). We are keeping a strict vigil there. I will also be visiting there soon to assess the measures being taken to monitor the international passengers," the minister said. -- PTI

The Congress on Tuesday charged that the government was using Covid as an excuse to stop the Bharat Jodo Yatra as the long march spearheaded by Rahul Gandhi was gaining momentum every passing day.

"We are very much concerned about the health of the people of this country and the Covid situation as well. This entire drama (of Covid spread) is created to stop the Bharat Jodo Yatra," All India Congress Committee general secretary K C Venugopal told reporters in Srinagar.

Venugopal, who was in Srinagar to review the preparations for the Jammu and Kashmir leg of the yatra, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was attending public meetings and flights were coming in even from China.

"Flights are coming from China, there is no problem. There is no national level (Covid) protocol suggested by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The PM is attending public meetings and all other government programmes are happening everywhere there is no problem," he added.

He said why was the government only writing letter to Rahul Gandhi while other programmes are going on without any fuss.

"There is a 'mela' going on Gujarat, there is no problem with that. We will follow the protocol recommended by the experts -- when it is issued by the government," he said.

Venugopal said he was satisfied with the preparations for the yatra in Jammu and Kashmir.

"We had interaction with people from Jammu (yesterday) and today with people of Kashmir. We are happy with the preparations and satisfied. This is going to be a great programme," he said, adding the people of Jammu and Kashmir are eagerly waiting for this yatra.

The senior Congress leader said the party had a special affection towards Jammu and Kashmir, as the history of the party is very much connected to Kashmir history.

He said during his meeting with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday, the latter assured him of all the cooperation for the yatra.

"This yatra is national padyatra. In Kashmir, we will hoist the national flag on its culmination," he said.

Venugopal said leaders of regional parties like the National Conference and the People's Democratic Party will join the yatra in the Jammu and Kashmir leg.

"Every passing day, the impact of this yatra is increasing. Lakhs of people have taken to this yatra," he added. -- PTI

The Centre on Tuesday approved the cost of Bharat Biotech's nasal COVID-19 vaccine iNCOVACC, which will be used as a booster dose for those above 18 years, at Rs 800 for private hospitals and Rs 325 for the government ones.

The vaccine iNCOVACC will be rolled out in the fourth week of January.

The Union health ministry said that those who have taken Covishield and Covaxin could take the nasal vaccine as a heterologous booster dose.

The iNCOVACC has been approved by the government of India and will be used as a heterologous booster dose for those above 18 years of age.

The vaccine will be available in private hospitals.

The world's first intranasal vaccine iNCOVACC received both primary series and heterologous booster approval.

It is the world's first Intranasal vaccine for COVID to receive approval for the primary 2-dose schedule and the heterologous booster dose.

The vaccine iNCOVACC had earlier received approval under restricted use in an emergency situation for ages 18 and above for a primary 2-dose schedule.

Phase III trials of the vaccine were conducted for safety, and immunogenicity in 3,100 subjects, at 14 trial sites across India.

The CoWIN platform will also be modified in this regard.

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya is scheduled to hold a virtual meeting with State health ministers on the COVID-19 situation and preparedness at 3 pm on Tuesday, according to sources. -- ANI

13:23 31/12 last date to file IT returns

1. The Income Tax department issued an advisory that those PAN which are not linked with Aadhaar by the end of March next year 31.3.2023 will be rendered inoperative.

2. The last date for filing a belated Income Tax return for the assessment year 2022-23 (Financial Year ended 31.3.2022) is 31st December, 2022. So please ensure to file the income tax return for the Asst year 2022-23 positively by December 31, 2022, if not already filed. After December 31, 2022, it will not be possible to file the return for assessment year 2022-23.

3. The only alternative option will be to file an updated return under section 139(8A) [subject to certain conditions and restrictions stated therein] with additional liability of 25 per cent of the aggregate amount of tax and interest.

4. It may be noted that failure to file Income Tax return may lead to prosecution under section 276CC of the Act. With the complete digitisation of all the data of every entity, it has become very easy for the income tax department to identify non filers of tax returns and to initiate proceedings against such non filers /defaulters.

5. It is also important to point out that the Income Tax Act mandates all partnership firms, LLPs and Companies to file Income Tax returns, irrespective of the fact whether such firm, LLP or the company is dormant with no activity or no transaction during the year. So, even if there is no income or no transaction during the year in any partnership firm, LLP or a company, make sure to file returns of every partnership firm, LLP and Company showing Nil income before December 31, 2022, to avoid any penal consequences.

Information: Kind courtesy NICAI

A team from a Forensic Science Laboratory in Mumbai has visited the set of the television show in Maharashtra's Palghar district where actor Tunisha Sharma was found dead and seized various materials including a crepe bandage which she allegedly used to hang herself, a police official said on Tuesday.

The forensic team from the Kalina lab visited the set on Monday and also seized the clothes and jewellery which Sharma (21) wore on Saturday, when she was found dead, he said.

The official also said that police have seized Sharma's co-actor Sheezan Khan's mobile phone and clothes which he wore on the day of incident, the official said.

The police have recorded the statements of 16 persons, including those who were present on the set on Saturday, he said.

Khan (27) was arrested on Sunday for allegedly abetting the suicide of Sharma.

He has told investigators that his relationship with Sharma lasted for three months as it didn't work out between them and also spoke about the age gap between the two, a Vasai police official said on Monday.

The official said there was nothing so far to point out that Khan and Sharma decided to break up against the backdrop of the Shraddha Walkar murder case in which her live-in partner Aaftab Poonawala was arrested by the Delhi Police.

Sharma, who was acting in the serial Ali Baba: Dastaan-E-Kabul, was found hanging in the washroom on the set of the serial on Saturday.

Maharashtra minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Girish Mahajan had alleged the death of Sharma was a matter of 'love jihad' and that the state was planning to bring a strict law to curb such incidents.

'Love jihad' is a term coined by right-wing groups to allege a ploy by Muslim men to lure Hindu women into religious conversion through marriage.

Countering Mahajan, Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole told reporters on Monday that the BJP was giving the 'love jihad' angle to the case as it wanted to divert the attention of people from important issues.

As the incident triggered intense discussions on social media, Sharma's mother on Monday alleged Khan had cheated and 'used' her daughter for three to four months. -- PTI

Prohibitory orders in four areas of Mangaluru city were extended till 6 am on December 29 following the murder of a Muslim man near his shop in Surathkal a few days ago, Police Commissioner N Shashi Kumar said in a statement in Mangaluru on Tuesday.

The clampdown under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) had been imposed in Surathkal, Bajpe, Kavoor and Panambur police station limits till December 26 following the murder of Abdul Jaleel (43), near his shop at Katipalla in Surathkal on Saturday night.

Police said assembly of five or more persons, holding of public meetings, jathas, processions and carrying of firearms, explosives and crackers have been forbidden during the period.

Shouting provocative slogans and any activities that hurt the sentiments of different sections of people have been prohibited.

Jaleel was stabbed to death by unidentified miscreants on Saturday.

Three people, two of them suspected assailants, have been arrested in connection with the case.

The incident had come up for discussion on Monday during the ongoing winter session of the Karnataka assembly in Belagavi where opposition leaders tried to pin down the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party over rising cases of communal murders. -- PTI

11:46 Charge Pragya Thakur with treason: MP Cong

Madhya Pradesh Congress has demanded that a case of treason be registered against Bharatiya Janata Party's Lok Sabha member Pragya Singh Thakur for her keep weapon at home remark, while her party defended the statement saying it was for women's self-defence.

Thakur, while addressing a programme in Shivamogga (Karnataka) on Sunday, said Hindus have the right to respond to those who attack them and their dignity, as she spoke about the killing of Hindu activists.

The parliamentarian from Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh had also called on the community to at least keep the knives in their homes sharp, as everyone has the right to protect themselves.

Madhya Pradesh Congress media department's chairman K K Mishra told PTI that the Centre should now take action by registering a case for treason as Thakur 'incited people for violence'.

"She is now talking about a knife after holding a bomb in her hands. The acts of former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma and Thakur are alike," he claimed.

Thakur is an accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case.

Six people were killed and more than 100 injured when an explosive device strapped to a motorcycle went off near a mosque in Malegaon, a communally sensitive town in north Maharashtra, on September 29, 2008.

When contacted about the parliamentarian's remark, state BJP spokesman Pankaj Chaturvedi told PTI that Thakur had gone to meet the family of a girl who was brutally murdered.

"We see that our daughters and sisters are facing inhuman behaviour and are being cut into pieces for the sake of 'love jihad' at several places in the country. Thakur's statement is not related to any religion but related to the mental strength of all sisters and daughters for self-defence," he said.

'Love jihad' is a term often used by right-wing activists to allege a ploy by Muslim men to lure Hindu women into religious conversion through marriage.

Speaking at the Hindu Jagarana Vedike's South Region annual convention in Shivamogga, Thakur had said, "Love jihad, they have a tradition of jihad, if nothing they do love jihad. Even if they love they do jihad in that. We (Hindus) too love, love the god, a sanyasi loves his god."

"Sanyasi says in this world created by god, end all the oppressors and sinful, if not the true definition of love will not survive here. So answer those involved in Love Jihad the same way. Protect your girls, teach them the right values," Thakur had said.

Further, pointing at the killing of Hindus activists including Harsha of Shivamogga, she asked people to keep knives at home sharp for the sake of self-protection. -- PTI

11:04 China to reopen borders for foreign travellers

Days after it faced nationwide anti-government protests against its stringent zero-Covid policy, China in a major shift of its coronavirus response policies has announced that it will scrap quarantine for international travellers from January 8 as it reopens its borders and comes out of international isolation after nearly three years.

The National Health Commission (NHC) on Monday announced that COVID-19 management will be downgraded from Class A to B from next month, in the same category as less-severe diseases, such as Dengue fever.

China will cancel inbound quarantine for international arrivals starting from January 8, 2023, it said.

Previously passengers coming from abroad had to mandatorily stay in over two weeks of quarantine in government accommodations, which was gradually reduced to five days with three days' of observation.

These announcements come at a time when the country is grappling with a sudden spurt in coronavirus infections fuelled by the Omicron variant after the Xi Jinping regime relaxed its stringent zero-Covid policy earlier this month following a wave of anti-government protests.

Officials argue that the Omicron variant was not as lethal as the Delta strain, which caused massive casualties all over the world.

COVID-19 has been managed as a top category 'A' infectious disease since 2020, putting it at par with bubonic plague and cholera, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported.

Under Chinese laws, authorities must impose the toughest restrictions such as quarantine and isolation of the infected and their close contacts, and lockdowns to contain those diseases.

At the border, the infected must be isolated and those who might be infected quarantined, depending on the incubation period.

The NHC also stopped announcing daily Covid cases from Sunday.

The novel coronavirus first emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019 before it turned into a pandemic. -- PTI

IMAGE: Travellers walk with their luggage at Beijing Capital International Airport, on December 27, 2022. Photograph: Tingshu Wang/Reuters

10:15 Kantara's Rishab Shetty wants God to decide...

Rishab Shetty's Kantara is now the most watched film in Karnataka.

The dubbed Hindi version is also heading towards acquiring blockbuster status.

"We just made the film that we wanted to," Rishab told Subhash K Jha.

"We wanted to tell the story of a specific ritual from coastal Karnataka where I come from. I've grown up with these religious practices. And anyone who is questioning my knowledge of the rituals is barking up the wrong tree," he said.

Asked about what's next, Rishab says, "There are plenty of offers now as there were plenty of offers before Kantara. My journey has not started with Kantara nor will it end with it. I have not decided about what to do next. Let God decide. He is the one who guided me through Kantara."

10:10 US: Death toll due to winter storm reaches 50

As the United States continues to stay in deep freeze, the death toll has reached at least 48 as the blizzard stranded motorists, knocked electricity out for thousands of people and made it difficult for emergency crews to get residents trapped in their cars, Al Jazeera reported on Monday.

The extreme circumstances in western New York were caused by numbing cold, howling winds, and heavy 'lake-effect' snow, which was picked up by freezing air flowing over warmer lake waters.

During a press conference on Monday, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz announced that at least 25 people had perished as a result of the storm, which hit the area over the Christmas holiday weekend, reported Al Jazeera.

Hardly hit, Buffalo city of western New York has been highly hit by snow storms.

Numerous regions were also left without power as a result of the blizzard.

The storm capped an Arctic freeze and winter storm front that had spanned most of the United States for days, reaching all the way south to the Mexican border.

Tens of thousands of homes and businesses remained without power on Monday as rescue and recovery efforts continued, according to Al Jazeera.

Citing the White House statement, The Hill reported on Monday that President Biden spoke by phone with New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D) and offered federal assistance as New York deals with a massive winter storm that has claimed more than two dozen lives.

'The President shared that his and the First Lady's prayers are with the people of New York and all those who lost loved ones. He expressed his gratitude to the Governor for her leadership and to the National Guard, law enforcement, and first responders for their tireless work,' the White House said in a statement.

As a consequence of the Arctic blast and the winter storm, numerous people have died and suffered weather-related road accidents or the cold.

The storm has sent temperatures well below freezing across the US and has destroyed Christmas eve for many.

As it pounded regions, the storm delivered hurricane-force winds and whiteout conditions.

All kinds of transportation -- planes, trains, and vehicles -- were disrupted due to the storm this holiday weekend, closing hundreds of miles of road and air travel cancellations.

Total flight delays within, into or out of the US amounted to about 4,000 as of Saturday morning, according to flight tracking website FlightAware, which showed that total US flight cancellations stood at around 2,000, as per CNN.

Plummeting temperatures were predicted to bring the coldest Christmas Eve on record to several cities from Pennsylvania to Georgia. -- ANI

IMAGE: A maintenance worker clears snow during a winter storm that hit the Buffalo region, in Amherst, New York, on December 26, 2022. Photograph: Brendan McDermid/Reuters

At least six girl students were hospitalised after being injured in a stampede-like situation at the Jagannath Temple in Puri, police said.

The condition of the girls is stated to be stable.

The students, part of a 70-member group of boys and girls from Hrudananda High School in Rasgovindpur area of Mayurbhanj district, had come to Puri on Monday for a picnic during the Christmas holidays, a police officer said.

The students were at the sea beach throughout the day, and went to visit the 12th-century shrine in the evening before returning home, he said.

While climbing the 22 steps ('Baisi Pahacha') to the temple around 8 pm, the girls were caught in a stampede-like situation and fainted, a temple office-bearer said.

There were a large number of visitors to the temple during the day.

The injured girls, students of Classes 9 and 10, were later rescued and admitted to a local hospital. -- PTI

09:33 A Festival of Resistance

Mitali Saran writes on the Bharat Jodo Yatra. Read HERE

Representative image only

09:14 BSF man, who went to protest uploading of daughter's video, killed

A Border Security Force (BSF) personnel was allegedly killed in Gujarat by family members of a boy, whom he accosted for allegedly uploading a video of his minor daughter online, police said.

The BSF personnel was identified as Melaji Vaghela (45).

He died on the spot after he was allegedly attacked with sticks and sharp weapons reportedly by the youth's family on December 24.

The seven family members, including two women, have been arrested on charges of murder and rioting and sent to judicial custody.

According to the first information report (FIR), Shailesh alias Sunil Jadav of Vanipura village of Nadiad tehsil had made a video of Vaghela's daughter. It went viral a few days ago.

Vaghela along with his son and other family members went to Shailesh's house to reprimand him over the alleged recording of the video of his daughter and posting online.

At the time Shailesh was not present at home but his family members were. Seven people attacked the paramilitary force personnel and his family members with sharp weapons in which the BSF jawan died, while his son Navdeep suffered a serious head injury.

Navdeep is undergoing treatment at the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital.

Manjulaben, the wife of the deceased BSF jawan, lodged an FIR at the Chaklasi police station, and at present, a case has been registered under sections of the Indian Penal Code.

Vaghela was a constable posted with the BSF 56 battalion. -- ANI

As covid cases in China continue to rise, Beijing will soon start distributing Pfizer's Covid-19 drug Paxlovid to the community health centres in forthcoming days, CNN reported citing state media on Monday.

The report comes as the city grapples with an unprecedented wave of infections that has severely strained its hospitals and emptied pharmacy shelves.

According to the state-run China News Service, after getting training, community doctors would dispense the medicine to Covid-19 patients and provide information on how to use it.

"We have received the notice from officials, but it is not clear when the drugs will arrive," CNN cited a worker at a local community health centre in Beijing's Xicheng district as saying.

Paxlovid remains the only foreign medicine to treat Covid that has been approved by China's regulator for nationwide use, but the drug's access is a challenging process.

Following countrywide demonstrations over the zero covid policy, China abruptly abandoned its policy last month after nearly three years of lockdowns, quarantines, and mass testing.

The rapid policy change has triggered panic buying of fever and cold medications, resulting in significant shortages at pharmacies and online shopping platforms.

Long lineups have become the norm outside fever clinics and hospital wards in the country's capital, Beijing, and elsewhere, according to CNN.

After China abandoned its restrictive 'zero Covid' policy about two weeks ago, regional numbers of infected persons with coronavirus point to explosive outbreaks and overstretched healthcare systems, writes Chang Che, Asia technology correspondent for The New York Times (NYT).

However, the intensity and magnitude of the country's first nationwide outbreak have remained largely a mystery as official figures from the central government remain low.

At a news conference on Sunday, an official in Zhejiang Province, home to 65 million people, estimated that daily Covid cases there had exceeded one million.In the eastern city of Qingdao, population 10 million, a health minister said on Friday that there were roughly half a million new cases each day, a number he expected would rise sharply in the coming days, local news sites reported.

In Dongguan, a city of seven million in central Guangdong Province, a city health commission report on Friday estimated between 250,000 and 300,000 new cases daily.

And in northwestern Shaanxi Province, officials in Yulin, a city of roughly 3.6 million people, logged 157,000 infected on Friday, with models estimating that more than a third of the city's population had already been infected, according to local media. -- ANI

The Noida Authority has issued a notice to real estate developer DLF to pay Rs 235 crore as compensation to the previous owner of the land on which the Mall of India has been built, a senior official said Monday.

The DLF, however, said it was yet to receive the communication.

The development comes in the backdrop of a Supreme Court order on May 5 in which it had directed the Noida Authority to ensure payment of compensation for the land to its previous owner Veerana Redyy.

"Yes," Noida Authority CEO Ritu Maheshwari told PTI, confirming that the notice has been issued.

Another senior official told PTI that the notice was issued to DLF on December 23 and the amount has to be remitted in 15 days.

When contacted, a DLF spokesperson said in a statement: "We have not received any notice. Once we get it, we will review it."

The DLF Mall of India is located in Sector 18, Noida's commercial hub.

The land where the mall has been built was acquired by the Noida Authority, which functions under the UP government's Industrial Development Ministry, in 2005 from Reddy and was later auctioned to DLF.

A major part of the compensation to Reddy remains unpaid and the case reached the Supreme Court, according to an official. -- PTI

The Directorate of Intelligence Revenue has seized about 25 kg of stimulant drug Mephedrone worth about Rs 50 crore from two clandestine manufacturing labs in Hyderabad, and arrested seven people including the 'mastermind', Union finance ministry said in a statement on Monday.

Acting on the basis of specific intelligence, DRI started an operation on December 21, 2022, and busted the two clandestine labs.

Seven persons carrying out the manufacturing were arrested and remanded to judicial custody.

"Officials of the DRI seized 24.885 kg of Mephedrone in finished form, valued at Rs 49.77 crore in the grey market, along with in-process materials, sale proceeds of Rs 18.90 lakh, key raw materials, machinery and vehicles used for trafficking," the ministry said.

"Officials of the DRI seized 24.885 kg of Mephedrone in finished form, valued at Rs. 49.77 crore in the grey market, along with in-process materials, sale proceeds of Rs. 18.90 lakh, key raw materials, machinery and vehicles used for trafficking," the statement said.

The mastermind and main financer of this activity were nabbed at Gorakhpur, as he was attempting to flee to Nepal with cash of Rs 60 lakh. -- ANI

At least six girl students were hospitalised after being injured in a stampede-like situation at Shree Jagannath temple in the coastal town of Puri on Monday, the police said.

The students, part of a 70-member group of boys and girls from Hrudananda High School in Rasgovindpur area of Mayurbhanj district, had come to Puri for a picnic during Christmas holidays, a police officer said.

The students were at the sea beach throughout the day, and had visited the 12th century shrine in the evening before preparing to return home, he said.

While climbing the 22 steps (Baisi Pahacha) to the temple around 8 pm, the girls were caught in a stampede-like situation and fainted, a temple office-bearer said.

There were a large number of visitors to the temple during the day.

The injured girls, students of classes 9 and 10, were later rescued and admitted to a local hospital.

Their condition is stable, a treating doctor said. -- PTI

00:19 Sushant didn't die by suicide: Hospital staff

An employee of a civic-run hospital in Mumbai who had performed postmortem of Sushant Singh Rajput in June 2020 on Monday claimed the actor didn't die by suicide and his body had marks of fracture.

Roopkumar Shah, who retired from service last month from Cooper Hospital, didn't present any proof to back his claims.

Rajput was found hanging in his flat in suburban Bandra on June 14, 2020.

"When I saw Rajput's body, there were marks of fracture and some marks around his neck due to some pressure. The marks of strangulation and hanging are different as I had been performing autopsies for nearly 28 years," Shah, who worked as a mortuary assistant, told news channels.

He said he was speaking about the case now because he retired from service in November this year.

"I tried to intimate my superior when I noticed the different markings on Rajput's body but he ignored me," he claimed. -- PTI

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