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Sun, 13 August 2023
Punjab Police busts terror module ahead of I-Day
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21:26 Punjab Police busts terror module ahead of I-Day
Ahead of Independence Day, the Punjab Police busted a terror module with the arrest of three people from Tarn Taran and also seized three pistols from them.
Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said the module was being operated by Czechia-based Gurdev Singh alias Jaisel.
Jaisel is a key operative of Canada-based terrorists Lakhbir alias Landa and Satbir Singh alias Satta, who were allegedly behind the RPG attack at Sarhali police station in Tarn Taran and numerous plots to commit targeted killings in Punjab.
The arrested accused have been identified as Ashmpreet Singh of Noordi in Tarn Taran and Pardeep Singh and Sukhman, both residents of Sheron in the district's Sarhali area.
Apart from the three pistols, the police teams also recovered Rs 37,500 in cash from them, Yadav said in a statement.
He said following reliable inputs that Jaisel has been developing a new module to carry out terror activities in the Majha area, the police, in a joint operation with the Counter Intelligence Wing, arrested the trio -- who were hatching a conspiracy to commit crimes.
Senior Superintendent of Police (Tarn Taran) Gurmeet Singh Chauhan said Jaisel was in touch with the module members and gave them directions over the phone from Czechia to carry out terror activities and targeted killings to disrupt peace and harmony in the state.
The arrested trio also confessed to having picked up some consignments of weapons and money for terror funding to deliver them to different people on the directions of Jaisel, he said.
Further investigation is being carried out to ascertain forward and backward linkages, Chauhan added. -- PTI
21:17 Female cheetah that went untraceable in KNP captured after 22 days
A South African female cheetah that went untraceable in the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh's Sheopur district since her radio collar stopped working on July 21, was captured on Sunday after a 22-day search operation, officials said.
The cheetah, Nirva, was caught at around 10 am in Dhoret range of the Kuno National Park (KNP), after which a health check-up was conducted on her, they said.
An intense search for the female feline was on for the last 22 days after her radio collar stopped functioning on July 21, a release issued by the Chief Wildlife Warden of the Madhya Pradesh forest department said.
More than 100 field staff, including officers, veterinarians and cheetah trackers were searching for the spotted cat day and night, it said.
Besides the team on ground, two drone teams, one dog squad and available elephants were deployed in the search operation. An area of 15-20 square kilometres was being searched, it said.
In addition to this, local villagers were informed about Nirva and any information received about the feline from villagers was being checked and verified immediately, the release said.
On August 12, information about the cheetah's location was received from the satellite. It gave information about her location on August 11 evening, it stated.
'A search team was immediately sent to the spot and with the help of a drone team and dog squad, a team of veterinarians was able to finally trace Nirva in the evening, but could not capture her,' it said.
Nirva looked healthy and was moving, it said, adding that a decision was taken to restart the operation on Sunday morning as it was getting dark.
Drone teams were given the task of keeping track of Nirva's location throughout the night.
The search operation started again at 4 am on Sunday as per her location provided by drone teams. It took nearly six hours before Nirva could be captured, it said.
Nirva is healthy and has been kept inside a boma (enclosure) for a further health check-up, the release added.
All 15 cheetahs (seven males, seven females and one female cub) at the KNP are now kept in bomas.
They are healthy and continuously being monitored on health parameters by Kuno's team of veterinarians, it said.
Under the Cheetah Reintroduction Project, eight Namibian cheetahs - five female and three male -- were released into enclosures at the KNP on September 17 last year.
In February, 12 more cheetahs arrived at KNP from South Africa.In March this year, four cubs were born to a Namibian cheetah named Jwala, but three of them died in May.
Since March, six of the adult cheetahs have died due to various reasons, taking the total death count of felines, including three cubs, to nine. -- PTI
20:33 Rahul Gandhi: Manipur violence a direct result of...
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said the continuing violence in the northeastern state of Manipur is disturbing and needs to be stopped immediately.
The MP from Wayanad said the violence in the state was a direct result of a particular type of politics of division, hatred and anger.
"So, it is important to to keep everyone together as a family," said Gandhi, who was on a two-day visit to Kerala and will return to Delhi tonight.
Speaking after laying the foundation stone of the Community Disability Management Center (CDMC) at St Joseph High School Auditorium in Kodenchery in Kozhikode, Gandhi said the wounds inflicted as a result of the violence would take many years to heal.
"The sadness and anger will not go away so easily," he added.
He said the violence in Manipur was a lesson to him on what happens when you use politics of division, hatred and anger in a state.
Gandhi is on a visit to Kerala for the first time after his reinstatement as MP of Wayanad. -- PTI
20:14 MP: BJP MLA's son accused of shooting at, injuring tribal held
A Bharatiya Janata Party MLA's son who was accused of shooting at and injuring a tribal man some days ago in Singrauli in Madhya Pradesh was held in the early hours of Sunday, a police official said.
Vivekanand Vaishya (40), son of Singrauli MLA Ram Lallu Vaishya, had allegedly fired at and injured tribal Surya Kumar Khairwar on August 3 under Morbi police station limits during an argument with a group of persons near Budhi Mai Mata Temple, some 25 kilometres from the districts headquarters, the official said.
"Vivekanand Vaishya was held Chatka Basti under Morba police station limits at 1am on Sunday," said Sub Divisional Officer of Police (SDOP) Krishna Kumar Pandey.
Vivekanand Vaishya was absconding since the incident prompting the police to announce reward of Rs 10,000 for anyone providing information leading to his arrest in the case.
He was charged with attempt to murder, criminal intimidation and other offences under Indian Penal Code and Arms Act as well as the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
As per police, in June last year, Vivekanand Vaishya had allegedly assaulted forest guard Sanjeev Shukla and fired to intimidate him.
He absconded soon after before surrendering at the local court in February this year.
He then spent more than 40 days in hospitals in Singrauli, Rewa and Jabalpur during his judicial custody period and later got bail from the HC, as per police. -- PTI
19:32 What's wrong in meeting my nephew: Sharad Pawar
Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar on Sunday said his party will not go with the Bharatiya Janata Party though some 'well-wishers' are trying to persuade him.
Addressing reporters at Sangola in Solapur district of Maharashtra, Pawar said any association with the BJP doesn't fit into the NCP's political policy.
"As the national president of the NCP, I am making it clear that my party (NCP) will not go with the BJP. Any association with the Bharatiya Janata Party does not fit in NCP's political policy," he said.
Pawar revealed that some 'well-wishers' are trying to persuade him but he will never align with the BJP.
"Some of us (Ajit Pawar-led NCP group) have taken a different stand. Some of our well-wishers are trying to see if there can be any change in our stand. That is why they are trying to have a cordial discussion with us," he said without taking names.
Queried about his secret meeting in Pune on Saturday with his nephew and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, who is part of the Shiv Sena-BJP government in Maharashtra, the senior Pawar said, "I want to tell you a fact that he is my nephew. What is wrong with meeting my nephew? If a senior person in a family desires to meet another family member, there should not be any issue with that."
The NCP chief also said that people will hand over the reins of the state to Maha Vikas Aghadi -- comprising Shiv Sena-UBT, NCP (Sharad Pawar group), and Congress.
Notably, the Pawar senior shared the dais with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis in Solapur district to unveil the statue of late MLA Ganpatrao Deshmukh on Sunday.
Ajit Pawar took oath as the deputy chief minister in the Shiv Sena-BJP government last month, while eight MLAs of NCP supporting him took oath as ministers. -- PTI
18:14 Biography of Sri Aurobindo to hit stands on 151st birth anniversary on Aug 15
Drawing from over three decades of research, historian Roshen Dalal's new book, SRI AUROBINDO: The Life and Teachings of a Revolutionary Philosopher, claims to present the most accessible, lucid, and insightful portrait of the freedom fighter and philosopher to date.
The biography, scheduled to be released on Aurobindo's 151st birth anniversary on August 15, aims to offer an understanding of his "core principles, underlying his universal ideas, and making them better known and accessible".
It is published by Pan Macmillan India. From Aurobindo's early years and education in England to his consequential return to India during its embryonic freedom movement and subsequent spiritual awakening and ascetic life at his ashram in Pondicherry (now Puducherry), Dalal unravels the intricate events and relationships that shaped his thinking -- particularly his collaborations with his spiritual partner, the Mother.
In 1914, Mirra Alfassa, who later came to be known as the Mother, first set foot in Puducherry and met Sri Aurobindo.
Six years later in 1920 the Mother moved permanently to Puducherry to continue her work with Sri Aurobindo at the Ashram.
She established Auroville near Puducherry after Aurobindo's death in 1950.
"The book provides a brief overview of Aurobindo's external life for which his own autobiographical notes have been referenced. The Mother, given her pivotal role during his lifetime, holds a prominent place in the book," writes Dalal in the book.
"It delves into Sri Aurobindo's philosophy as revealed through his writings to serve as an essential guide to understanding his philosophical concepts and his vision of the future," writes Dalal. -- PTI
18:09 6 children die by drowning in separate incidents in Jharkhand
Six children died by drowning in two different incidents in Jharkhand on Sunday, the police said.
Three girls and a boy drowned in a pond in Pathria village in Saraiyahat police station area in Dumka district, they said.
The incident happened when the four children were bathing in the pond, they added.
The deceased were identified as Kundan Kumar (12), Tanushri (10), Sujan Kumari (12) and Nandini Kumari (10). They hailed from Pindra, police said.
In Godda district, two children died after falling in a pit filled with water in Mohanpur village in Mahagama police station area, they said.
Rehan Ansari and Taufiq Ansari, both eight years old, were playing in a paddy field when the incident happened.
"They suddenly fell into the pit and drowned," said Godda's SDPO S Tiwary. -- PTI
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18:00 BJP MP from UP claims he received death threat, FIR registered
Bharatiya Janata Party MP from Bhadohi Ramesh Bind has claimed that he received a death threat on his mobile phone number, following which an FIR has been registered against an unidentified person, the police said on Sunday.
According to a complaint lodged by Bind at Gopiganj police station on Saturday, he received 11 messages on August 11 in which the sender threatened to kill him during a visit to Bhadohi, superintendent of police Meenakshi Katyayan said.
On the basis of the complaint, an FIR has been registered in the matter and a probe has been launched, she said. -- PTI
17:34 President Murmu to address nation on eve of 77th Independence Day
President Droupadi Murmu will address the nation on the eve of the 77th Independence Day on August 14, the Rashtrapati Bhavan said on Sunday.
The address will be broadcast from 7 pm on the entire national network of Akashvani and telecast on all Doordarshan channels in Hindi followed by the English version, the Rashtrapati Bhavan said in a statement.
"Broadcast of the address in Hindi and English on Doordarshan will be followed by broadcast in regional languages by regional channels of Doordarshan. Akashvani will broadcast regional language versions at 9:30 PM on its respective regional networks," it said. -- PTI
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17:17 NIA raids in 5 states in PFI plot case, devices seized
The National Investigation Agency on Sunday conducted a series of raids in five states as part of its continued efforts to foil the Popular Front of India's conspiracy to disturb peace by driving a communal wedge among the people and destabilise the country, an official said.
Fourteen locations were searched in Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Bihar, leading to the seizure of several digital devices as well as incriminating documents, a spokesperson of the federal agency said.
The official said the raids were conducted in Kannur and Malappuram districts of Kerala, Dakshin Kannada in Karnataka, Nashik and Kolhapur in Maharashtra, Murshidabad in West Bengal and Katihar in Bihar.
"The NIA has been working to unravel and thwart the attempts by PFI and its top leadership to create an armed cadre and raise a PFI Army for establishing an Islamic caliphate in India by 2047 through acts of terror, violence and sabotage," a spokesman said. -- PTI
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16:54 Nurse terminated for wrongly administering vaccine in Kerala
The Kerala government on Sunday decided to terminate the service of a nurse working on contract basis at a taluk hospital in Angamally near Ernakulam for allegedly wrongly administering a rabies vaccine to a feverish child.
The incident took place on August 11 when the seven-year-old child was sitting in front of the laboratory awaiting a blood test.
The state health department, which had ordered a probe, decided today to terminate the services of the nurse who was working on contract at the hospital.
The police said the child was waiting alone in front of the laboratory while the parents went to complete some procedural formalities including paying the bills.
"It seems like the nurse mistook her for another child waiting for an anti-rabies vaccine and gave her the jab," the police said.
However, the parents have decided not to file a police complaint in this regard.
"We took the statement of the parents. They have consulted the doctors and since there were no side effects from receiving the rabies vaccine, they have decided not to file a complaint," the police said. -- PTI
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16:22 Raut downplays Pawars' meet, says NCP chief may have invited Ajit to INDIA meet
Shiv Sena-UBT leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday downplayed the "secret" meeting between Nationalist Congress Party founder Sharad Pawar and Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in Pune a day earlier and said the octogenarian stalwart may have asked his nephew to join the meeting of the opposition bloc INDIA in Mumbai on August 31 and September 1.
The NCP president and the deputy CM are believed to have met at the residence of a businessman in Pune on Saturday.
Visuals aired by regional news channels showed Sharad Pawar arriving at the residence of the businessman in Koregaon Park area at around 1 pm.
He left by around 5 pm.
After nearly two hours, deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was seen leaving the premises in a car at 6:45 pm while apparently trying to avoid cameras.
Ajit Pawar and eight MLAs had joined the Eknath Shinde government, which also has the Bharatiya Janata Party, on July 2, in the process causing a vertical split in the NCP.
"No one is happy in the Shinde government. People are disappointed with the government and even deputy CMs Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar are unhappy," Raut told reporters. -- PTI
16:09 Clips of SRK's 'Jawan' stolen, leaked online; FIR registered
The Mumbai police have registered an offence against unidentified persons for allegedly stealing and leaking clips of Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan's upcoming film Jawan on Twitter, an official said on Sunday.
The case was registered on an order issued by the Delhi high court after Shah Rukh and his wife Gauri Khan's production house, Red Chillies Entertainment approached it with a complaint, the official from Santacruz police station said.
The company has since managed to get the court's directions to Twitter to take down the leaked videos, he said.
In the police complaint, Pradeep Nimani, the chief financial officer for Red Chillies Entertainment, alleged that the movie clips were circulated through some Twitter handles, and shared details about the users, the official said.
The CFO also claimed that people were not allowed to use mobile phones on the sets when the movie was being shot. However, despite this, the videos were leaked, he said. -- PTI
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15:46 Chinese convoy of engineers attacked in Pak
A Chinese convoy of engineers was attacked near the Gwadar police station in Pakistan on Sunday.
The convoy of three SUVs and a van, all bulletproof, carried 23 Chinese personnel.
An IED exploded during the attack and the van was shot at, creating cracks in the glass, reported China's Global Times. -- ANI
15:40 Tamil Nadu minister Anbil Mahesh admitted to Bengaluru hospital
Tamil Nadu Education Minister Anbil Mahesh was admitted to a private hospital in Bengaluru on Saturday after he complained of upper abdominal pain.
According to sources, the minister was near Krishnagiri on Saturday when he fell ill.
He was later rushed to Krishnagiri Hospital and from there he was referred to Narayana Health Hospital in Bengaluru.
As per an official statement issued by the hospital, the minister is in stable condition.
"Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi was brought to Narayana Health City with complaints of upper abdominal pain," the hospital authorities said.
"He is under evaluation and is being managed conservatively with Fluids, pain killers. He is otherwise in a stable clinical condition," they said. -- ANI
15:26 IIT Delhi drops one set of mid-semester exams to reduce student stress: Director
The Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi has revamped its evaluation system and dropped a set of mid-semester exams to reduce students' stress, according to institute director Rangan Banerjee.
The decision comes against the backdrop of several cases of student suicides across IITs which has sparked a debate about whether the curriculum and the rigorous study schedule are impacting the mental health of students.
"Earlier we used to have two sets of exams during a semester, final exams at the end of each semester and several continuous evaluation mechanisms. We conducted an internal survey and based on feedback from all students and faculty, we have decided to drop one set of exams. So, now there will be two sets of exams besides routine evaluations," Banerjee said.
"We felt that the exam calendar was too packed and hence decided to reduce student burden and stress. The decision has also been approved by the Senate and will be implemented from the ongoing semester. A maximum cap of 80 per cent weightage has been kept for the two examinations," he added.
The IIT Council, in its meeting in April, decided that there is a need for a robust grievance redressal system; increasing psychological counselling services; reducing pressure, fear of failure and rejection among students.
The issue of student suicide, alleged discrimination, and ensuring the mental well-being of students was discussed at length during the meeting.
According to data shared in Parliament last month, IITs have reported the highest number of student suicide cases in the last five years. -- PTI
Tamil Nadu ex-CM J Jayalalithaa
15:23 Jayalalithaa assault: Stalin questions Sitharaman, EPS asserts attack happened
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam President and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin has questioned Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's statement in Parliament over the alleged attack on the late CM J Jayalalithaa in 1989 in the state assembly, drawing strong rebuke from AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami.
Speaking during the debate on the no-confidence motion in Lok Sabha on August 10, Sitharman had sought to remind DMK MP Kanimozhi, following her speech on the Manipur issue, about the incident which happened on March 25, 1989 in the Tamil Nadu assembly when the then Leader of Opposition Jayalalitha's saree was pulled.
"It is a very sacred sabha, the Leader of the Opposition Jayalalitha's saree was pulled in in the assembly. Her saree was pulled and the DMK members sitting there heckled her, laughed at her and made fun of her..." she said.
"Two years later she returned as CM of TN. That party which was in power at that time sitting in the assembly, leader of the opposition saree being pulled today talks of Draupadi..." Sitharaman had said.
Stalin, in an interview to a daily, has refuted the FM's allegations, saying "everyone present in the Assembly knew it was a drama enacted by herself," referring to the late Jayalalithaa. -- PTI
14:49 Civic hospital in Maha's Thane sees 17 deaths in 24 hrs; govt seeks report
Seventeen patients have died in the last 24 hours in civic-run Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital in Kalwa in Thane city, Maharashtra minister Tanaji Sawant and a senior police official said on Sunday.
The police official said the management of the facility have cited critical nature of the patients as well as age as causes.
State health minister Sawant said the dean of the hospital has been asked to submit a report in two days.
A Thane Municipal Corporation official said the deaths were being analysed and several civic officials are at the heavily-patronised facility for inspection of records etc.
Some officials put the toll at 18 but this could not be confirmed.
Deputy commissioner of police Ganesh Gawde said, "We have information of 17 deaths in the last 24 hours. We have been told the usual figure per day is six to seven."
"The hospital management told us some of the patients arrived there in a critical stage and succumbed during treatment. Some were elderly. We have increased police presence at the hospital to avoid any untoward incident due to these high number of deaths," the DCP informed.
Sawant said the dean of the hospital has been asked to submit a report in two days on the 17 deaths in the last 24 hours.
"Of these 17, a total of 13 were in the ICU. A few days ago, five patients had died in the hospital. The state government has asked the dean to submit a report in two days," the minister told reporters in Pune. -- PTI
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14:11 Manipur security beefed up amid I-Day boycott call
Security arrangements were beefed up in Manipur on Sunday after some Imphal valley-based banned organisations called for a strike on Independence Day, officials said.
Security forces also conducted search operations in vulnerable areas of five districts and recovered arms and ammunition, the police said.
Preparations for the I-Day celebrations are in full swing across the state with BSF, police and Assam Refiles personnel and students joining rehearsals for march past to be held on August 15.
"Rehearsals for I-Day celebrations were held on Saturday at Peace Ground in Churachandpur district's Tuiboung area. Twenty-one parade contingents of BSF, police, students and Assam Rifles participated in the preparations," an official said.
Preparations are also underway in the capital Imphal with temporary gates being erected and hoardings being put up to celebrate Independence Day on August 15.
"Security measures have been significantly heightened after several militant outfits called for a strike on I-Day," another official said.
Several outlawed outfits, such as Coordinating Committee, called for a general strike on I-Day from 1 am to 6.30 pm.
Corcom includes banned groups including United National Liberation Front, People's Liberation Army, and PREPAK. -- PTI
14:04 'Gadar 2' earns Rs 83.18 crore in two days
Gadar 2, which stars Sunny Deol's reprising his iconic character Tara Singh, has collected Rs 83.18 crore net at the domestic box office in the first two days of its release, the makers said Sunday.
Directed by Anil Sharma, who also worked on the 2001 original Gadar: Ek Prem Katha, the film released in theatres on Friday.
"Sunny Deol's magic has taken over the box office, after shattering records on the first day itself, the film has raked in Rs 43.08 crore net on day 2 of its release.... These remarkable numbers, typically reserved for solo releases, propel Gadar 2 towards the second-fastest Rs 100 crore club for 2023, with a net of Rs 83.18 crore already achieved," the makers said in a press note.
Produced by Zee Studios, the movie also features Ameesha Patel returning as Sakeena and Ukarsh Sharma as Charanjeet.
Gadar 2 is set in 1971 and follows Tara Singh's journey to Pakistan to rescue his son, Charanjeet Singh from the Pakistani Army.
The original was set during the Partition. -- PTI
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13:45 Bakshi Stadium to host Independence Day function in Kashmir after five years
A refurbished Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar will host the main Independence Day function of Jammu and Kashmir after a gap of five years as the civil administration on Sunday appealed to people take part in the celebrations on Tuesday.
"The function is being held here so that more and more people can come to participate. Adequate arrangements have been made for it. There are no restrictions, there is no need for a pass to enter the stadium," divisional commissioner, Kashmir, VK Bhiduri said after a full dress rehearsal of the Independence Day function.
Bakshi Stadium has hosted the main Independence Day function of Jammu and Kashmir over the decades but had to be closed in 2018 for upgradation and renovations.
Independence Day parades over the past five years were held at the Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium in Sonawar.
The chief minister usually presided over the function but in absence of an elected government, the governor of the erstwhile state would do the honours.
Since the abrogation of Article 370 and reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019, the Lieutenant Governor appointed by the Centre is the chief guest at these functions.
A full dress rehearsal was held at the Bakshi Stadium where Bhiduri took the salute at the march past.
Contingents of police, security forces and school children took part in the parade, After the parade, artists and school kids performed at a cultural programme highlighting the diversity of Jammu and Kashmir. -- PTI
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13:29 Nuh incident: Hindu outfits to hold 'mahapanchayat' in Palwal
A 'mahapanchayat' by Hindu outfits will be held in Haryana's Pondri village on Sunday which will take a call on resuming VHP's Braj Mandal Yatra in Nuh that was disrupted on July 31 after communal violence broke out in the area, officials said.
The 'Sarva Jatiye Mahapanchayat' was originally planned to be held in Nuh district's Kira village but permission was denied for it in view of the prevailing law and order situation.
Permission for the event has been given in Palwal, deputy superintendent of police (headquarters), Palwal, Sandeep Mor said on Sunday.
Palwal and Nuh are adjoining districts.
The mahapanchayat will be held under the banner of 'Sarv Hindu Samaj', in which Hindu outfits including the Vishva Hindu Parishad, will take part.
The police said a gathering of around 500 people has been allowed for the mahapanchayat and strict action will be taken if anyone makes any kind of hate speech.
Six people, including two home guards and a cleric, died in the communal clashes that erupted in Nuh when a VHP procession was attacked by a mob. -- PTI
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13:22 Khalistani extremists vandalise temple in Canada
A Hindu temple was vandalised in Canada by extremist elements, with Khalistan referendum posters in the late hours of Saturday, Australia Today reported.
The incident happened in British Columbia province in Canada. "#Breaking Another #Hindu temple vandalised in #Canada by #Khalistan extremists -- bogus #Khalistanreferendum posters put at door of @surreymandir to create fear among #Indian community," Australia Today said on Twitter.
The posters shared by Australia Today, read 'Canada investigates the role of India in June 18th assassination'.
The video of the incident has also gone viral on social media platforms.
The video shared by Australia Today shows two masked men, pasting the posters and taking photos before fleeing the scene.
The poster on the temple gate referred to and also had the picture of Khalistan Tiger Force chief and designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was killed in June this year.
This is not the first such attack on Hindu temple in Canada.
Multiple such incidents have been carried out by the Khalistani extremists. -- ANI
13:00 Rajinikanth prays at Badrinath temple
Actor Rajinikanth on Saturday visited Badrinath Temple for a "darshan" where he was accorded a warm welcome by the Badrinath-Kedarnath temple committee officials.
While he was ushered into the temple the committee officials, devotees outside jostled with each other for a glimpse of the superstar, a BKTC spokesperson said.
After he offered prayers inside the temple, the priests offered him a garland of tulsi leaves and some prasad.
He also attended the Swarna Aarti and met the chief priest (Rawal) of the temple Ishwari Prasad Namnoodiri.
When he emerged outside the temple with BKTC officials and priests following him, the actor stood briefly outside the main gate and waved to the cheering crowds.
Rajinikanth will spend the night in Badrinath, the spokesperson said. -- PTI
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12:31 Elephant stuck in river water in MP's Panna Tiger Reserve rescued
A female elephant trapped in the Ken river water in Madhya Pradesh's Panna Tiger Reserve has been rescued, officials said on Sunday.
The incident took place on Thursday, they said, adding the stranded jumbo managed to keep its trunk up for breathing and was rescued after a four-hour operation.
PTR's deputy director Ripudaman Singh Bhadoria said information was received on Thursday that a female elephant got trapped in the Ken river water flow in Madla area of the reserve.
The elephant's legs were tied with a chain and it was making the rescue difficult.
But, the jumbo managed to keep its trunk up to breathe, he said. Bhadoria said he contacted the collectors of Panna and neighbouring Chhatarpur district for help and they responded immediately by sending the State Disaster Emergency Response Force and Home Guard teams.
But, it was difficult for the rescue teams to anchor their boats due to the intense river water flow, he said.
The SDERF teams used another boat to anchor their boat.
They then cut the chains tied to the elephant's legs, he said.
It took almost four hours to rescue the elephant and its health is now fine, the official said.
Panna collector Harjinder Singh said the PTR officials had informed the district administration about the situation.
Rescue teams from Panna and Chhatarpur district were able to save the elephant despite all odds, he said. -- PTI
12:03 Indian-American doc held for masturbating on flight
A 33-year-old Indian-American doctor has been arrested and charged for allegedly masturbating and exposing himself in front of a 14-year-old female seated next to him onboard a flight from Honolulu to Boston.
US Attorney's Office in a statement said that the incident took place on a flight from Honolulu to Boston in May last year.
The doctor, identified as Dr Sudipta Mohanty, was charged by "criminal complaint with one count of lewd, indecent and obscene acts while in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States," according to the statement.
Mohanty was arrested on Thursday and released on conditions following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston.
According to the charging documents, Mohanty is an internal medicine and primary care doctor with a practice in Boston.
It is alleged that Mohanty was a passenger aboard a Hawaiian Airlines Flight enroute from Honolulu to Boston with a female companion on May 27, 2022.
He was seated next to a 14-year-old minor, who was travelling with her grandparents, who were seated nearby.
The US Attorney's Office in a press release said, "About half-way through the flight, the minor allegedly observed that Mohanty had covered himself with a blanket up to his neck and that Mohanty's leg was bouncing up and down."
It further said, "Shortly thereafter, the minor observed that the blanket was on the floor, no longer covering Mohanty, and that Mohanty was masturbating. The minor moved herself to an empty seat in a different row for the remainder of the flight."
After reaching Boston, the minor informed her family members about the incident and law enforcement was notified. -- ANI
12:00 Mild tremor in Chhattisgarh; no casualty reported
A mild tremor of 3.6 magnitude hit the border area of Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi and Korba districts in Chhattisgarh on Sunday morning, officials said.
The aftershocks were felt in some parts of the two districts, but so far there was no report of any loss of life or property, according to officials.
A 3.6 magnitude tremor was felt in Pendra town and adjoining areas at 9.09 am, with its epicentre five kilometres deep from the earth's surface in Chandauti village, on the border of Korba and GPM districts, a Meteorological department official in Pendra said.
It was a 'light' category tremor which does not cause a major destruction, the official said.
However, its epicentre was at a depth of just five km (from the earth's surface), so it may result in damage to houses located within 20 km radius, he said.
Local authorities have been instructed to carefully monitor the situation and report if any damage has been caused, officials said. -- PTI
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11:39 Vehicular movement suspended near Red Fort ahead of I-Day
Vehicular movement has been suspended on Sunday near Red Fort in the national capital ahead of Independence Day.
With only two days left for Independence Day, preparations for the occasion have been intensified as full dress rehearsals of different armed forces are underway at Red Fort here in the national capital.
India will be celebrating its 76 years of Independence on Tuesday, and the Prime Minister is scheduled to address the nation on the occasion from the ramparts of the historic Red Fort.
Moreover, in preparation for the Tiranga MP run, Ajit Kumar Singla joint CP, Transport said, "We were invited by the madam (Meenakshi Lekhi) and our team of Sri Fort is in New Delhi. People are very excited and they are ready for the run. The places where there are run police forces have been deployed by both local and traffic police. We are trying that ensure full security for all runners."
Earlier, Union Minister Meenakashi Lekhi flagged off the 'Tiranga Rally' in the national capital stating that Independence Day is around the corner and people are full of energy and enthusiasm about the celebration. -- ANI
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11:09 Modi urges people to put tricolour as social media DP
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged people to change the display picture of their social media accounts to the tricolour in the spirit of the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign. Modi also changed the display picture of his social media accounts to the national flag.
The prime minister on Friday called on people to take part in the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' movement between August 13 to 15.
"In the spirit of the #HarGharTiranga movement, let us change the DP of our social media accounts and extend support to this unique effort which will deepen the bond between our beloved country and us," Modi said on X.
He has also urged people to upload their photos with the tricolour on www.harghartiranga.com. -- PTI
10:56 Two more held over Bengal varsity student's death
Two students of Jadavpur University were arrested on Sunday for their alleged involvement in ragging an 18-year-old undergraduate student who died after falling from the balcony of a hostel, the police said.
Three persons have so far been held in the case a senior officer said.
A former student of the varsity, who continued staying at the main hostel, was apprehended on Friday.
"One second-year student of Economics and another of Sociology were arrested on Sunday morning," a senior officer of the Kolkata police said.
The student of Economics is from Bankura district, while the other hails from Arambagh in Hooghly, he said.
Swapnadip Kundu, a resident of Bagula in Nadia district, fell from the second-floor balcony of the main hostel building around 11.45 pm on Wednesday and died while undergoing treatment at a hospital at 3.40 am on Thursday.
"The names of the two surfaced after night-long grilling of the arrested ex-student. Both are boarders of the same hostel and were there when the teenager allegedly fell from the second floor of the hostel building. We will question them to get names of those who are also somehow involved in the matter," the officer said. -- PTI
MLC Rajesh Rathod
10:49 Maha Congress MLC claims bid to kill him as truck brushes past his car
Maharashtra Congress MLC Rajesh Rathod on Saturday alleged a truck brushed past his car in a bid to kill him while he was travelling to Jalna from Mumbai.
The MLC claimed the incident occurred on August 10 and could be the fallout of his raising the voice against the alleged issuance of bogus caste certificates.
The alleged incident took place during a traffic jam when the MLC was travelling to Jalna.
"A dumper truck brushed past my car. After a chase, we stopped the truck. But the driver spoke arrogantly. The manner of his speaking indicates it was a sabotage attempt," Rathod alleged in a video message.
An application to register an FIR was submitted at Cuffe Parade police station in Mumbai by the applicant who identified himself as the block president of Congress. -- PTI
10:22 Delhi police track robber through his travel vlogs, nabs him from UP
A month after a robbery in a house in Delhi, the burglar was arrested from Agra after the police tracked his location through his travel vlogs, officials said on Sunday.
Sanjeev (29), a resident of Bindapur, robbed a house in Uttam Nagar on July 11, they said.
In his complaint, the house owner alleged that gold and silver jewellery were stolen from his house, a senior police officer said.
During the investigation, police analysed the CCTV footage of the nearby places and Sanjeev was seen leaving the complainant's house.
His last location was traced in Uttarakhand's Haridwar and he used to switch off his mobile phone for hours to avoid detection, the officer said.
It was revealed that after committing the crime, Sanjeev went to a gold loan shop in Jeewan Park.
When a police team visited the shop, it was found that the accused kept two gold rings and got cash of Rs 20,000 as a loan, deputy commissioner of police (Dwarka) M Harsha Vardhan said.
Meanwhile, Sanjeev continued to upload travel videos on his Instagram account.
He reached Kappam in Kerela and posted another vlog on his account.
Later, in order to distract the team, the accused, in his video, said that he is going to Dubai for work, the DCP said. Sometime later, Sanjeev uploaded another vlog in which he mentioned that he was in Uttar Pradesh's Agra.
The video was analysed and found that he took an e-rickshaw to Eidgah road in Agra.
The police reached Agra and searched all the hotels on Eidgah Road and apprehended him, Vardhan said. -- PTI
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09:56 Death toll surges to 89 in Maui Hawaii wildfires
The death toll from Hawaii's Maui wildfires surged to 89 as the search teams sifted through the smoking blazes of Lahaina town in the US, according to a CNN report.
At least 89 people have died in the fires as of Saturday night, Gov Josh Green said, and the death toll is expected to increase, said the report.
The fire is now the deadliest US wildfire in more than 100 years, according to research from the National Fire Protection Association.
The officials are determined to find out how the inferno spread so rapidly through the historic resort area with so little warning, reported Al Jazeera.
Hawaii's Attorney-General on Friday said that she will conduct a probe into how the authorities responded and acted to the deadly wildfires that have taken the lives of at least 80 people and have left 1,418 people at emergency evacuation shelters.
The office of Attorney-General Anne Lopez said in a statement, "The Department of the Attorney-General will be conducting a comprehensive review of critical decision-making and standing policies leading up to, during, and after the wildfires on Maui and Hawaii islands this week." -- ANI
09:37 Google Doodle remembers Sridevi on her 60th birth anniversary
On the occasion of the 60th birth anniversary of the late actor Sridevi, search engine Google paid a heartfelt tribute to her via a creative doodle.
Google honored Sridevi with a colorful and whimsical illustration created by Mumbai-based guest artist Bhumika Mukherjee of the actor on its home page.
Born as Shree Amma Yanger Ayyapan in 1963, she's known for her iconic roles in Hindi movies like Chandni, Lamhe, Mr India, Chaalbaaz, Nagina, Sadma and English Vinglish, among many more.
The Padma Shri awardee also made a mark with her extraordinary performances in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada films.
Her last film was Mom, for which she also received the best actress national award, posthumously.
Sridevi breathed her last on February 24, 2018, in Dubai, where she had gone to attend a family function.
Sridevi was married to film producer Boney Kapoor and is survived by two daughters Janhvi Kapoor and Khushi Kapoor. -- ANI
09:19 Church vandalised in Maharashtra's Vasai
A church in Barampur area of Vasai in Palghar district of Maharashtra was allegedly ransacked by some unidentified persons, the police said on Saturday.
The miscreants damaged status and other items in the church on Friday.
No one is arrested so far in connection with the incident, a police official said.
The Vasai police registered a criminal offence under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, the official added.
Archbishop Felix Machado has condemned the incident and appealed to people to not believe in rumours. -- PTI
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08:53 Buzz over meeting between Sharad Pawar, Ajit
Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar and his deputy chief minister nephew Ajit Pawar, who heads the group of rebel MLAs of the party, are believed to have met at the residence of a businessman in Pune on Saturday, sparking a buzz in Maharashtra political circles.
Nationalist Congress Party leader Amol Mitkari said, "It could be a family meeting between the two leaders".
Visuals aired by regional news channels showed Sharad Pawar arriving at the residence of the businessman in Koregaon Park area at around 1 pm.
He left by around 5 pm.
After nearly two hours, deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was seen leaving the premises in a car at 6:45 pm while apparently trying to avoid cameras.
The visuals showed the car brushing the gate.
Maharashtra NCP president (Pawar faction) Jayant Patil is also believed to have attended the meeting.
Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar were in Pune on Saturday to attend various programmes separately.
BJP MLA Atul Bhatkhalkar said, "It is better to ask them (the Pawars and Jayant Patil) what transpired during the meeting".
Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar are family members, he added. -- PTI
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08:36 Deloitte resigns as auditor of Adani group's port company
Deloitte has resigned as auditor of the Adani group's port company, with the firm run by billionaire Gautam Adani saying the auditor wanted a wider remit over other firms in the conglomerate following the report of a US short seller.
The resignation comes weeks after Deloitte raised concern over certain transactions flagged in the report of Hindenburg Research.
In a statement, Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone confirmed the resignation and appointment of M S K A & Associates as the new auditor.
Deloitte has been the auditor of APSEZ since 2017. In July 2022, it was given another five-year term.
"In Deloitte's recent meeting with APSEZ management and its Audit Committee, Deloitte indicated a lack of a wider audit role as auditors of other listed Adani portfolio companies. The Audit Committee was of the view that the grounds advanced by Deloitte for resignation as Statutory Auditor were not convincing or sufficient to warrant such a move," it said.
APSEZ conveyed that it was not within the remit of the firm and its Board to recommend group-wide appointments as other listed Adani portfolio companies are completely independent, with separate boards, executive teams and minority shareholders.
"Following this, Deloitte was not willing to continue as APSEZ's statutory auditor and, therefore, it was agreed to amicably end the client-auditor contractual relationship between APSEZ and Deloitte," it said.
Deloitte Haskins & Sells LLP in May flagged three transactions, including recoveries from a contractor identified in the Hindenburg report, in issuing a qualified opinion on the accounts of APSEZ.
In the auditors' report on the audit of the fourth quarter and 2022-23 financials, Deloitte highlighted transactions with three entities, which the company said were unrelated parties. -- PTI
08:22 Security beefed up in Delhi ahead of I-Day
Ahead of Independence Day celebrations, the Delhi police beefed up security arrangements in the national capital.
The Delhi police put up stringent security arrangements and intensified patrolling and checking of vehicles.
Earlier, a full dress rehearsal of different armed forces is underway at Red Fort.
On the occasion of 75 years of India's independence, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday urged the people of India to participate in the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' movement from August 13 to 15 this year.
Modi said that the Indian flag symbolises the spirit of freedom and national unity and urged the people to upload their photographs with the Tiranga on the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' website.
Modi tweeted, "The Tiranga symbolises the spirit of freedom and national unity. Every Indian has an emotional connect with the Tricolour and it inspires us to work harder to further national progress." -- ANI
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