LIVE! All 7 NCP MLAs in Nagaland support Ajit Pawar

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Thu, 20 July 2023

All 7 NCP MLAs in Nagaland support Ajit Pawar

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Ajit Pawar

23:54 All 7 NCP MLAs in Nagaland support Ajit Pawar

All the seven MLAs of the Nationalist Congress Party in Nagaland and its office-bearers in the northeastern state have extended their support to the Ajit Pawar faction of the outfit, a spokesperson said on Thursday, in a boost to the rebel camp in Maharashtra.

The Ajit Pawar faction of the outfit, founded by former Union minister Sharad Pawar in 1999, is part of the ruling coalition in Maharashtra.

National spokesperson of NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) Brajmohan Srivastava said, "Nagaland unit president Wanthung Odio came to New Delhi and met national working president Praful Patel and Maharashtra unit president Sunil Tatkare."

"He informed us about the decision of the Nagaland NCP (to support Ajit Pawar camp). Odio handed over affidavits of support of all office-bearers, including seven MLAs," Srivastava said.

As per an NCP statement, Patel assured Odio he would support him in his efforts to strengthen the 24-year-old party.

Patel instructed the state executive and district units of the NCP in Nagaland to continue working as before, said the statement. -- PTI

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23:50 Around 100 persons evacuated after landslide in Mumbai's Ghatkopar area

Around 100 persons were shifted to a safer location as a precautionary measure after a landslide in Bhatwadi area of Ghatkopar in Mumbai on Thursday, a civic official said.

The incident took place at 10am in Vajan Kata, Jangleshwar Mandir area, after which residents of 25-30 houses were taken to a municipal school in the vicinity, he said.

Due to the landslide, a large tree fell on the roof of the temple located in Pitamaha Ramji Nagar, prompting N Ward authorities to decide on evacuating people as a precautionary measure, he added.

The metropolis has seen 25 incidents of tree-branch fall, five of house collapse and eight short circuit cases since Thursday morning, civic officials said.

Incidentally, despite forecast by India Meteorological Department of very heavy rains, civic officials pointed out that Mumbai's island city, eastern suburbs and western suburb reported average rainfall of 21.51 millimetres, 23.87 mm, and 21.83 mm, respectively, in the 10-hour period between 8am and 6pm on Thursday. -- PTI

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23:05 Kinner Kailash Yatra postponed as flash floods block roads in Himachal

Flash floods blocked roads and damaged farmlands, and vehicles in Himachal Pradesh's Shimla and Kinnaur districts on Thursday, prompting authorities to postpone the Kinner Kailash Yatra.

Since the onset of the monsoon in the hill state on June 24, 131 people have died in rain-related incidents such as landslides, flash floods, and road accidents, according to the Himachal Pradesh State Emergency Response Centre.

The state has suffered a loss of Rs 4,985 crore.

In Kinnaur, the flash floods and cloudburst triggered by heavy rains damaged 27 vehicles and inundated agricultural land in Kamru Panchayat in the Sangla valley on Thursday, Kinnaur deputy commissioner Tarul S Raveesh said.

Reports of floods damaging houses in Kamru have also started pouring in, Raveesh said.

Due to the inclement weather, the Kinner Kailash Yatra, which usually starts from Kalpa on August 1 has been tentatively postponed to August 15, the DC said.

The Yatra culminates at the Kinner Kailash peak located at a height of 6,050 metres in Kinnaur district.

All the schools in the Nichar subdivision and Sangla tehsil have been closed for three days due to heavy rains.

High alert has been sounded in the district till July 25 and all the residents have been advised to remain alert and stay indoors, the Kinnaur DC said. -- PTI

US envoy Eric Garcetti

22:55 Indian matter but our hearts break...: US envoyonManipur

Describing the ongoing violence in Manipur as an "internal matter" of India, America's top diplomat in New Delhi, Eric Garcetti, on Thursday said that "our" hearts break whenever there's human suffering.

Garcetti, who is currently in Washington for consultations with US government officials, made the comments while responding to a question on a graphic video of two disrobed women being brutalised by a mob in Manipur.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said the incident had shamed 140 crore Indians and vowed that no guilty will be spared and law will act with its "full might and firmness".

"I've not seen the video. This is the first that I'm hearing of it. But as I stated before, our hearts break whenever there's human suffering, whether it's in our neighborhood or across the globe or in the country where we're living," the US ambassador said in response to a question.

"Our hearts continue to go out to Indian people. As I've said, this is an Indian matter and internal matter, but of course we are always here as fellow human beings sympathising with that sort of pain and that sort of suffering," Garcetti said. -- PTI

Cases pending in various courts in the country have crossed the five-crore mark, Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday.

In a written reply, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said over 5.02 crore cases were pending in various courts -- the Supreme Court, the 25 high courts and subordinate courts.

"As per data retrieved from the Integrated Case Management System by the Supreme Court of India, as on July 1, there are 69,766 cases pending in the Supreme Court.

"Total number of cases pending in the high courts and the district and subordinate courts as on July 14 are 60,62,953 and 4,41,35,357 respectively, as per information made available on National Judicial Data Grid," he said.

Pendency of cases in courts can be attributed to several factors, including non-availability of adequate number of judges and judicial officers, supporting court staff and physical infrastructure, complexity of facts involved, nature of evidence, cooperation of stakeholders such as the Bar, investigation agencies, witnesses and litigants, he said.

Proper application of rules and procedures also play a role.

Other factors that lead to delay in the disposal of cases include lack of prescribed time frame by respective courts for disposal of various kinds of cases, frequent adjournments and lack of adequate arrangement to monitor, track and bunch cases for hearing, he added. -- PTI

Neelam Gorhe

22:04 Maharashtra ruling rejects Uddhav plea on Neelam Gorhe

The Maharashtra legislative council chair on Thursday ruled that all the rights of deputy chairperson Neelam Gorhe remain uninterrupted after Shiv Sena (UBT) demanded her removal from the post following her joining the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

A ruling by Niranjan Davkhare, who was occupying the chair, said her term as member of the legislative council started on May 14, 2020. Shiv Sena was her political party and in the House it was the Shiv Sena legislative party and there is no change in it, he added.

"There is no reason for the deputy chairman to have any objection to discharge duties as chairman. All the rights of the deputy chairman remain interrupted. Till the time a member is not disqualified, the member has the right to participate in the House proceedings," Davkhare said.

On Tuesday, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anil Parab raised the issue and said until a decision is taken on Gorhe's removal as deputy chairperson or her disqualification, she should not function as deputy chairperson. Her act attracts action under the (Constitution's) Tenth Schedule (which contains provisions about disqualification of lawmakers), Parab had said.

The ruling on the matter had been reserved after debate on the issue.

Backing Gorhe, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had said she had not joined any new party, as she was elected as a member of the House on the Shiv Sena ticket and its 'bow and arrow' symbol, and both the party name and symbol now belong to the Shinde-led Shiv Sena.

"The Tenth Schedule does not apply to the chairperson and deputy chairperson. There is no disqualification of deputy chairperson under law," the BJP leader said on Tuesday.

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21:48 Schools shut in Thane, Palghar on Friday-Saturday

Authorities have declared holiday for schools on Friday and Saturday in Palghar and Thane in Maharashtra in view of a red alert issued by the India meteorological department for very heavy rains, an official said.

The IMD forecast issued on Thursday said 'heavy to very heavy' rainfall was likely in several places in Palghar and Thane over the next 48 hours, he said.

The order to shut schools was issued by Palghar collector Govind Bodke and his Thane counterpart Ashok Shingare.

Shingare also asked people to stay indoors in view of the rains and directed the civic and district machinery to be fully prepared to provide relief to citizens.

Streaming service Netflix has put an end to password sharing outside of households in India and will shoot emails to members who are indulging in the practice.

Netflix will be notifying users via email if they share passwords outside of their household, the company informed in a blog post on Thursday.

"Starting today (Thursday), we will be sending this email to members who are sharing Netflix outside their household in India," the company said, attaching an email screenshot.

The email gives users options to transfer profiles to a different paid membership.

In a letter to shareholders Wednesday, the company addressed account sharing in nations like Indonesia, Croatia, Kenya and India, where paid account sharing was not implemented.

"In these markets, we are not offering an extra member option given that we have recently cut prices in ... these countries," the letter said.

The company also announced its Q2 results on July 19, posting a 3 per cent year-on-year revenue growth. -- PTI

The government informed Rajya Sabha on Thursday that there was no proposal to change the language of functioning of courts from English to Hindi.

As part of a question on the issue of uniform civil code, a member asked whether the government proposes to change the language of functioning of courts from English to Hindi so that the common people can understand proceedings in their own language.

In his written response, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal replied in the negative.

In April 2022, then Chief Justice of India N V Ramana had said there were "certain barriers" as regard to the introduction of local languages in the respective high courts in the country but had expressed confidence that the issue may be "solved in the near future" with the help of scientific innovation including artificial intelligence. -- PTI

The National Disaster Response Force stopped its search and rescue operation in connection with the landslide in Irshalwadi in Maharashtra's Raigad district on Thursday evening even as the death toll mounted to 16, an official said.

The landslide took place in the remote village between 10pm and 11pm on Wednesday.

"Due to continuous heavy rain and the threat of landslides as well as the dark, the NDRF has called off its operation for the day," he said.

The four teams of the NDRF heading the search and rescue operation along with scores of other personnel will re-start at 5am, the official said. -- PTI

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20:44 Shift Manipur varsity students: Kuki students to UGC

An organisation representing Kuki students has written to the University Grants Commission requesting it to relocate postgraduate and PhD scholars of the Manipur University and Dhanamanjuri University to other central universities.

The state has seen deadly sporadic violence since May 3.

UGC chairman Jagadesh Kumar said the commission is yet to receive their request.

"In view of the prevailing situation where continuous violence is taking place in the state, the transfer of violence induced displaced students to other universities of their choice takes utmost precedence in order to ensure the continuity of their education. Otherwise their career and future can forever be derailed," the students' body said.

"In light of the facts and circumstances, it becomes empirical to explore possible means to mitigate the adverse affects of this unforseen and unfortunate event," it said.

The organisation said the Manipur University is no longer safe for them and it is impossible for them to go back.

"We request you to explore alternative ways and means where scholars can be accommodated in other central universities across the country." -- PTI

An Army jawan was found dead on a railway line near Ambala Cantt Railway Station in Haryana on Thursday with his one arm and leg chopped off and head crushed, the police said.

According to the police, the dead soldier was identified as UK Yadav, a resident of Rai Bareli's Nathkheda village in Uttar Pradesh.

He was posted as a Naik in the Army at Ambala Cantonment.

The police said that in the initial investigation, it seemed to be an accident, however, the possibility of suicide cannot be ruled out.

The Government Railway Police said that the incident appears to have happened late on Wednesday night when the soldier must be crossing the track and got hit by a train.

The police said the jawan's left arm, shoulder and left leg were found chopped off and head and chest crushed by the train.

His identity was ascertained through a diary found in his pocket.

No railway ticket was found on him.

GRP station in-charge Dharamveer Singh said that the railway police control room got information about the incident in the morning.

The police have sent the the soldier's body to the civil hospital for post mortem and informed his relatives. -- PTI

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20:03 ISIS module plotting attacks busted in Kerala, 1 held

The National Investigation Agency on Thursday claimed to have busted a terror module of the ISIS in Kerala, averting possible attacks on places of worship and leaders of certain communities.

While one member of the module was arrested from Tamil Nadu, searches were carried out at four locations on suspected accused in Kerala, a spokesperson of the federal anti-terror agency said.

Terming the busting of the module of proscribed global terror group ISIS, also known as Islamic State, as a "major success", the agency said based on credible inputs and investigations, an intelligence-led joint operation with anti-terrorist squad of the Kerala police, was carried out at four locations following the arrest of one accused.

The raids were conducted at three locations in Thrissur and one in Palakkad districts of Kerala to bust the ISIS module, which had been conducting reconnaissance missions and conspiring to commit terrorist attacks, the spokesperson said.

On Tuesday, the NIA successfully tracked and arrested an accused, Ashif alias "Mathil Akath Kodayil Ashraf", from his hideout near Sathyamangalam, Tamil Nadu. -- PTI

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19:46 Woman sits on bike's fuel tank, hugs rider while driving; slapped Rs 11K fine

Delhi traffic police slapped a fine of Rs 11,000 on a motorcycle rider after a video of him with a woman sitting on the fuel tank of the two-wheeler facing him made rounds on the internet.

In the video, the man is seen riding a motorcycle while the woman is sitting in front of him and hugging the rider without wearing a helmet.

The accused rider is also seen overtaking several vehicles.

"Taking cognisance of a viral video wherein the two-wheeler was being driven dangerously, @dtptraffic has booked the offender under appropriate sections. A total fine of Rs 11,000 has been imposed," the Delhi police said in a tweet.

The police said that they have booked the man for riding without a helmet, without a licence and driving dangerously and allowing unauthorised persons to drive.

They also urged people to drive safely and not to copy movie scenes. -- PTI

HDFC Bank on Thursday became the second most valuable company by market capitalisation, overtaking IT behemoth Tata Consultancy Services.

At the close of trade, HDFC Bank, which recently completed the merger of its mortgage financier parent HDFC into itself, commanded a market capitalisation (mcap) of Rs 12,72,718.60 crore, which was Rs 5,826.95 crore more than TCS' Rs 12,66,891.65 crore valuation on the BSE.

Shares of HDFC Bank ended at Rs 1,688.50 apiece, up 0.22 per cent on the BSE.

During the day, it climbed 0.36 per cent to Rs 1,690.95.

However, shares of TCS dipped 0.25 per cent to end at Rs 3,462.35 each.

During the day, it fell 1 per cent to Rs 3,436. HDFC, the parent of HDFC Bank, merged into the lender on July 1.

The $40 billion merger, the largest such deal in the Indian corporate history, was driven by a changing regulatory landscape, which limited the advantages for HDFC continuing as a non-bank lending entity.

Reliance Industries is the country's most valued firm with a market valuation of Rs 17,72,455.70 crore, followed by HDFC Bank, TCS, ICICI Bank (Rs 6,96,538.85 crore) and Hindustan Unilever (Rs 6,34,941.79 crore) in the top five order. -- PTI

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19:07 Govt bans non-basmati rice exports to control price

The government on Thursday banned exports of non-basmati white rice to boost domestic supply and keep retail prices under check during the upcoming festive season.

There would be no change in export policy of par-boiled non-basmati rice and basmati rice, which forms the bulk of exports, the food ministry said in a statement.

Non-basmati white rice constitutes about 25 per cent of total rice exported from the country.

The total exports of non-basmati white rice from India was $4.2 million in 2022-23 as against $2.62 million in the preceding year.

Major destinations of India's non-basmati white rice exports include Thailand, Italy, Spain, Sri Lanka and the USA.

"Export policy of non-basmati white rice (semi-milled or wholly milled rice, whether or not polished or glazed)...is amended from free to prohibited," the directorate general of foreign trade said in a notification.

"Export policy of non-Basmati white rice amended to ensure adequate domestic availability at reasonable prices," the ministry said, adding, the move is aimed to ensure lower prices and adequate availability in the upcoming festival season. -- PTI

A court in Mumbai on Thursday remanded businessman Sujit Patkar, a friend of Shiv Sena-UBT MP Sanjay Raut, and another person in the Enforcement Directorate's custody till July 27 in a money laundering case related to `irregularities' in the jumbo COVID-19 treatment centers in Mumbai.

The ED arrested Patkar and doctor Kishore Bisure on Wednesday night.

The two were produced before the special judge for Prevention of Money Laundering Act cases MG Deshpande on Thursday.

The Central probe agency sought their custody for eight days, saying it needed to interrogate them to unearth the conspiracy.

The court sent Patkar and Bisure in the ED custody till July 27.

Patkar and his three partners are accused of fradulently bagging contracts from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation for setting up or managing COVID-19 field hospitals -- called `jumbo centers' -- in the city during the pandemic.

Bisure was the dean of a jumbo center at Dahisar. -- PTI

A Delhi-based gym owners' association on Thursday advised its members to ensure that there are no loose wires at their establishments after a 24-year-old man died of electrocution while using a treadmill at a fitness centre in New Delhi.

Saksham Purthi, an MNC employee in Gurugarm, was electrocuted while using a treadmill at Gymplex Fitness Zone in Rohini Sector 15, the police said on Thursday.

The incident occurred on Tuesday, they said, adding that the gym owner has been apprehended.

According to the advisory issued by the Delhi Gym Association, members have been instructed to "get the earthing connection at their gyms checked immediately".

They have been advised to ensure that no loose wires are hanging around the area where people exercise, it stated.

All electrical points should be checked by electricians and other necessary measures need to be taken to prevent such incidents in the future.

Chirag Sethi, the association's vice-president, claimed that the "unfortunate incident" took place "due to some fault in electrical wiring of the treadmill".

"We have issued an advisory to all owners, whose gyms are part of our association, for checking electrical systems at their gyms and take all measures needed to prevent such incidents," he said. -- PTI

Sameer Wankhede

18:22 CBI quizzes model Munmun in corruption case against Sameer Wankhede

The Central Bureau of Investigation on Thursday questioned model Munmun Dhamecha, who was arrested with Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan in a drugs case, in connection with its probe against former Narcotics Control Bureau officer Sameer Wankhede, officials said.

Dhamecha appeared before the investigation team at the CBI headquarters in New Delhi on Thursday morning and her questioning is underway, the sources said.

They said she was among those arrested by the NCB along with Aryan Khan on October 3, 2021, a day after the raid on the Cordelia cruise ship.

It was alleged about 5 gram charas was recovered from Dhamecha during the NCB raid.

However, a special enquiry team of the NCB later red-flagged several lapses and irregularities in the operation on the cruise ship conducted under the "monitoring" of then NCB zonal director of Mumbai Sameer Wankhede.

The NCB had alleged that a private person, named KP Gosavi, and his aide Prabhakar Sail, since deceased, were included as independent witnesses in the cruise ship raid on October 2, 2021 on the directions of Wankhede.

Gosavi, his aide Sanvile D'Souza and others had allegedly entered into a conspiracy to "extort Rs 25 crore" from Aryan's family by "threatening them of the accusation of offences of possession of narcotics substances", the FIR in the case stated. -- PTI

Kerala ex-chief minister Oommen Chandy

17:18 Malayalam actor lands in trouble for remark on Kerala ex-CM Chandy

Award-winning Malayalam actor Vinayakan has landed in trouble for his unpleasant remarks against former Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy who died two days ago.

A Congress activist lodged a police complaint against the actor's comments on the departed political leader.

In a viral Facebook video on Wednesday, the actor asked "who is this Oommen Chandy?" and "why three days' mourning had been declared in the state on his demise".

The Kammatti Padam actor also criticised the media for the wide coverage given to the procession carrying his mortal remains to his home village Puthuppally in Kottayam district.

Following social media outrage and widespread criticism from various quarters, Vinayakan later withdrew the video from his Facebook account.

Condemning his distasteful remarks against Chandy, the Congress on Thursday lodged a police complaint against the actor seeking action.

In the complaint lodged by a party activist in Kochi, it is alleged that Vinayakan insulted the Congress stalwart through social media and immediate action should be taken against him.

Confirming that the complaint has been received, a senior police officer in Kochi said they are examining it and an action will be taken soon.

"We have received the complaint. A case is yet to be registered. We are examining whether the case can be registered against him under IPC Section153," he said.

IPC 153 is imposed against the act of wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot. -- PTI

Teesta Setalvad

16:58 Day after SC bail Gujarat court rebuff for Teesta

A sessions court in Ahmedabad on Thursday rejected activist Teesta Setalvad's discharge plea in a case of alleged fabrication of evidence related to the 2002 Gujarat riots.

Additional sessions judge AR Patel rejected Setalvad's plea.

The Gujarat government had opposed her application saying that she abused the trust of the riots victims and implicated innocent persons.

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court had granted bail to Setalvad in the same case after the Gujarat high court denied her relief. -- PTI

An 11-year-old student of Class V in a school in Aurangabad in Maharashtra has died allegedly after a beating from classmates, a police official said on Thursday.

The child, identified as Kartik Gaikwad, had a quarrel with classmate over a trivial seating issue on July 6 and was allegedly hit by four others, during which he sustained stomach injuries, the Daulatabad police station official said.

"He narrated the incident to his parents on July 10, who took him to a doctor in nearby Abdimandi village the next day. He died on July 13 while undergoing treatment in the Government Medical College and Hospital here," the official said.

A case was registered on Wednesday under Indian Penal Code sections for causing death by negligence and other offences, he said, adding that further probe into the matter was underway. -- PTI

In view of continuous downpour in parts of Maharashtra and heavy rainfall warning, the state government on Thursday issued an advisory, asking people not to step out of homes unless necessary.

Mumbai received an average 100 mm rainfall in 24 hours till 8 am on Thursday, while neighbouring Thane city received a whopping 213.84 mm rainfall during that period.

Some coastal districts, including Raigad and Ratnagiri, have been receiving incessant rainfall, officials said.

A massive landslide at Irshalwadi village in Raigad district has claimed the lives of at least 10 villagers and many are still feared trapped, they said.

"The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has already issued a heavy rainfall warning for some districts in the state. There has been a downpour for the last two days as well. The citizens should not venture out unnecessarily," the government said in its advisory.

It also said that people should avoid crowding at the landslide site in Irshalwadi. -- PTI

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Thursday successfully performed the fourth orbit-raising manoeuvre (Earth-bound perigee firing) of the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft from the ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) in Bengaluru.

The next firing is planned for July 25 between 2 pm and 3 pm, the national space agency headquartered in the southern city said.

India celebrates the International Moon Day 2023 by propelling Chandrayaan-3 a step closer to the Moon, it said. The Chandrayaan-3 mission to the Moon was launched on July 14.

"...craft is on way to the Moon. In another few days it will go (the lander will soft-land on the Lunar surface)," ISRO Chairman Somanath S said earlier in the day while delivering the inaugural address to the Space Science Technology & AwaReness Training (START) programme 2023.

"I am sure that you will find something very substantial through this (Chandrayaan-3) mission as far as science is concerned," he said.

A court in New Delhi sent to judicial custody till August 2 the husband of a 33-year-old pilot arrested for allegedly assaulting their minor domestic help in southwest Delhi's Dwarka.

Metropolitan Magistrate Kratika Chaturvedi sent Kaushik Bagchi (36) to jail till August 2 after he was produced in court around 3 pm on Thursday.

His wife Poornima Bagchi, a pilot for a private airline, was on Wednesday sent to judicial custody till August 2.

Kaushik Bagchi is employed as a ground staff at another carrier.

The couple allegedly assaulted a 10-year-old girl working as a domestic help at their home.

After the incident came to light on Wednesday, the couple was manhandled by a mob.

In a purported video, the couple could be seen being manhandled and beaten up by a mob.

Some of the women were also seen slapping and pulling the hair of the accused woman, who was in her uniform.

A case was registered against the couple under sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 342 (wrongful confinement) and 370 (buying or disposing of any person as a slave) of the Indian Penal Code, Child Labour Act and Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, the police said. - PTI

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15:18 And the leader in mobile internet speed is...

The UAE has ranked first globally in mobile internet speed for the month of June, with a download speed of 204.24 Mbps and an upload speed of 22.72 Mbps, according to the Speedtest Global Index published by Ookla, a web service that provides analysis of Internet access performance metrics.

According to the index, the UAE topped the global rankings during the first half of 2023 (January, February, March, May, and June), while it ranked second in April.

As for fixed broadband speed, the UAE ranked second globally and first regionally and among Arab countries in June, with a download speed of 239.2 Mbps.

Singapore topped the list with a speed of 247.29 Mbps.

Quarterly reports issued by Ookla showed that etisalat by e& recorded the fastest median download speeds across both mobile and fixed, at 216.65 Mbps and 261.98 Mbps, respectively, in Q2 2023.

etisalat by e& also had the fastest median 5G download speed at 680.88 Mbps and the lowest median mobile multi-server latency at 35 ms.

The Supreme Court on Thursday referred to a Constitution bench for adjudication the Delhi government's petition against the Centre's recent ordinance taking away the control of services from the city dispensation.

A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and justices P S Narasimha and Manoj Misra said the detailed order referring the case to a larger bench will be uploaded on the apex court website later in the day.

We will refer it to the Constitution bench, the bench said after hearing brief submissions advanced by senior advocates Harish Salve, Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena and the Delhi government respectively.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appeared on behalf of the Centre.

The top court had recently issued notices to the Centre and the lieutenant governor on the plea while refusing to grant an interim stay on the ordinance on control over services in Delhi.

The Centre had on May 19 promulgated the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023 to create an authority for transfer and posting of Group-A officers in Delhi, which triggered a clash with the Arvind Kejriwal government.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government termed it a "deception" with the Supreme Court verdict handing over the control of services to the city government, barring in spheres of land, public order and police, and moved the top court with a fresh petition.

Proceedings of both houses of Parliament were adjourned for the day on Thursday amid noisy protests by opposition members over the situation in Manipur.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi said that the government has already made it clear that it was open to a discussion on Manipur in both Houses of Parliament.

He said that Deputy leader in Lok Sabha Rajnath Singh has also given a similar assurance.

Joshi said that Home Minister Amit Shah would make a detailed reply once the discussion takes place, the time of which will be decided by the Speaker.

As soon as the Lok Sabha assembled at 2 pm, ministers laid papers amid din.

Opposition members were shouting slogans such as 'Manipur Manipur' and 'Manipur is burning'.

As opposition members continued raising slogans, Kirit Solanki, who was chairing proceedings, adjourned Lok Sabha for the day.

Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 2 pm, and later for the day, on Thursday after opposition members created an uproar demanding a discussion on the Manipur violence. -- PTI

As Mumbai gets battered by rain fury, an annual exercise, among the worst sufferers are the city's millions of train commuters living in faraway suburbs and for who the local trains are the only means of getting back home.

The railways make a valiant attempt to keep the services running, but there's little that can be done when the tracks are submerged.

Sahil Salvi's photograph alongside shows the crowds milling the railway station waiting for a train home, as the rains continue their onslaught on Mumbai.

14:15 Mumbai's Tulsi lake starts overflowing

The Tulsi lake, one of the seven reservoirs supplying drinking water to Mumbai, overflowed on Thursday following heavy rains in the city and suburbs, a civic official said.

Earlier this month, the Powai lake, another reservoir located in the heart of Mumbai, started overflowing, but its water is not used for drinking purpose.

The Tulsi lake, located in the densely forested Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), started overflowing at 1.25 am on Thursday, the official from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said.

This is expected to bring relief to citizens facing 10 per cent water cut since the beginning of this month.

Tulsi is the smallest of the seven reservoirs that supply potable water to Mumbai and has a storage capacity of 8,046 million litres.

The city gets 18 million litres of water from the lake every day.

"The catchment area of the lake has been receiving rainfall in the last few days, as a result of which the lake overflowed today," the civic official said, adding the water body has overflowed a little earlier this year compared to 2022.

When the Tulsi lake overflows, its water goes into the Vihar lake, which is also located in the SGNP.

Apart from Tulsi and Vihar, the city receives water from Bhatsa, Tansa, Lower and Middle Vaitarna reservoirs all located in Thane district, and Upper Vaitarna dam located in Nashik district.

Pic: Shailesh Andrade/Reuters

14:04 As retail loans pick up, RBI urges banks to exercise caution

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has started looking at the retail loan books of banks in a more granular way during the annual financial inspection for 2022-23 (FY23), three senior bankers told Business Standard.

After staying sluggish for a few years, bank credit growth picked up in the previous financial year, registering a growth rate of 15.5 per cent.

Significantly, retail loans grew at a faster pace, particularly unsecured retail.

According to the latest RBI data, year-on-year (YoY) growth of retail loans was 19.4 per cent until April 21, 2023. Within retail, credit card outstanding grew by 29.7 per cent to cross the Rs 2 trillion mark for the first time.

Other personal loan segments grew by 24 per cent to over Rs 11 trillion.

Three bank executives said the RBI had begun the audit of FY23 numbers as part of risk-based supervision.

While the overall books of all banks are in better shape, RBI officials are looking into the granular details of retail books.

RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das has repeatedly cautioned banks in the past few months.

"It has to be remembered that the seeds of vulnerability often get sown during good times when risks tend to get overlooked," Das said in his foreword to the Financial Stability Report that was released in the last week of June.

On Tuesday, too, while interacting with the managing directors and chief executive officers of public and private sector banks, Das said banks need to be extra cautious and vigilant.

Bankers said the central bank indicated that lenders need to be watchful of unsecured loans and loans to non-banking financial companies (NBFCs).

Bank loans to NBFCs grew by 29.2 per cent YoY until April 21 to Rs 13.45 trillion.

While there is strong growth in the retail segment, delinquencies are still limited, observed experts.

"The credit score has been playing a crucial role in the selection of borrowers for secured as well as unsecured credit," said Ajit Velonie, senior director, CRISIL Ratings.

"The share of the prime category, that is, those with credit scores of 730 and above, has grown over the years. As a corollary, the share of below-prime (score below 730), above 50 per cent in 2020, declined to 49.8 per cent in 2022, and further to 46.9 per cent in 2023," he added.

According to CRISIL Ratings, gross non-performing assets (GNPAs) in the retail segment are estimated to be 1.4 per cent in FY23, against 2 per cent in 2017-18.

GNPAs were lower than the 1.8 per cent registered in 2021-22.

"While the agency does not see any uptick in bad loans in any of the retail segments, there is a challenge for lenders from rising interest rates and inflation, especially in FY23. The latter eats into saving, impacts repayment capacity, and creates the need to monitor loan portfolios," said Velonie.

Retail loans grew at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 24.8 per cent from March 2021 through March 2023, nearly double the CAGR of 13.8 per cent for gross advances during the same period.

Retail loans formed around one-third of the total banking system's gross advances.

The share of unsecured retail loans increased from 22.9 per cent to 25.2 per cent, and secured loans declined from 77.1 per cent to 74.8 per cent between March 2021 and March 2023.

Abhijit Lele/Business Standard

PT Usha

13:52 PT Usha on Dhankhar's panel of RS vice-chairpersons

Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday reconstituted the panel of vice-chairpersons of Parliament's upper house with half of them being women with effect from July 17, 2023.

Among the Rajya Sabha members who are the new vice-chairpersons are P T Usha, S Phangnon Konyak, Fauzia Khan, Sulata Deo, V Vijaysai Reddy, Ghanshyam Tiwari, L Hanumanthaiah and Sukhendu Sekhar Ray.

"Members will be happy to note that 50 per cent of vice-chairpersons happen to be women," the chairman said.

As per Rajya Sabha rules, "The chairman shall, from time to time, nominate from amongst the members of the council a panel of not more than six vice-chairmen, one of whom may preside over the council in the absence of the chairman and the deputy chairman when so requested by the chairman, or in his absence, by the deputy chairman."

A vice-chairperson nominated under sub-rule (1) shall hold office until a new panel of vice-chairperson is nominated, the rules say.

Thousands, including Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, movie stars Mammootty, Suresh Gopi and Dileep along with senior politicians cutting across party lines, paid tribute to former Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy after his mortal remains reached Kottayam on Thursday.

After paying tribute to Chandy, the Governor also spent a few moments with his family members.

The police and Seva Dal workers of Congress as well as its leaders could barely control the sea of people who vied with each other to get a final glimpse of Chandy, who died in Bengaluru on Tuesday.

Besides the thousands inside the Thirunakkara Ground in Kottayam where his body was kept on display, an equal number were outside its gates -- braving rains -- waiting to bid him farewell, forcing the police, Seva Dal workers and Congress leaders to quickly move along the long line of people by giving them just a brief glance of their beloved leader.

People offered flowers, wreaths, prayers and even cried as they got one last glimpse of Chandy. The organisers were forced to hurry along with the paying of tributes by the public due to the more than 24 hour long delay in the hearse carrying his remains reaching Kottayam, the stronghold of the Congress stalwart, which had unravelled their entire schedule for keeping the body for display and the subsequent funeral.

The pilot's husband being roughed up by a mob

13:14 Court sends woman pilot who abused maid to jail

The woman pilot who was arrested for allegedly assaulting a minor domestic help in southwest Delhi's Dwarka area has been sent to judicial custody by a court, the police said on Thursday.

The 10-year-old girl working as a domestic help at the woman's house was allegedly beaten up by her and her husband on Wednesday, following which a group of agitated people manhandled the couple.

The accused have been identified as Poornima Bagchi (33) and her husband Kaushik Bagchi (36).

A senior police officer said Poornima was produced before a court on Wednesday, which sent her to judicial custody. Her husband will be produced in the court on Thursday, the officer added.

The woman works as a pilot with a private airline while her husband is deployed with the ground staff in another private airline. After the alleged incident of beating of the minor came to light, the couple was confronted by the victim's relatives and others who also manhandled them.

It was found that the girl has been working at the couple's house for the past two months. The minor was beaten up by the duo on Wednesday and a relative of her witnessed this, the police said.

12:56 RS adjourned till 2 pm over Manipur violence

Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 2 pm on Thursday after opposition members created uproar demanding a discussion on the Manipur violence issue under Rule 267.

Soon after the House met at 12 noon, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar accepted eight notices by members for a short duration discussion under the rule.

Leader of the House Piyush Goyal said the government has no objections and was ready for a discussion.

When the chairman allowed the notices for a short duration discussion on Manipur, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge raised objections and said all the business of the House be suspended first and their notices for a discussion on Manipur under Rule 267 be taken up.

"How the Leader of the house suddenly gets up and says we are ready for a discussion. We have given notices under Rule 267 for suspending all other business of the House and then take this us. Let prime minister give statement and we will discuss," he told the chairman.

Rule 267 of the Rajya Sabha pertains to suspension of rules.

Several opposition members, including Kharge, have given notices under Rule 267 while demanding a discussion on Manipur violence.

Soon, some opposition members including those of the Congress raised uproar in the house, forcing the chair to adjourn the proceedings till 2 pm.

Pic: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters. Representational image

12:47 ED arrests Raut aide in jumbo Covid centre scam

The Enforcement Directorate has arrested businessman Sujit Patkar, a friend of Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, and another person in connection with a money laundering case related to alleged irregularities in setting up of jumbo Covid-19 treatment facilities here, an official said on Thursday.

Patkar and his three partners allegedly bagged Mumbai civic body contracts fraudulently for managing Covid-19 field hospitals in the city during the pandemic, officials earlier said.

The ED arrested Patkar and doctor Kishore Bisure on Wednesday night after their alleged involvement in the case came to light, an official said.

Bisure was the dean of the Dahisar jumbo Covid-19 centre, the official said.

Both of them will be produced before a court later in the day, he said.

The ED last month conducted raids at 15 locations in Mumbai in connection with the money laundering case against Patkar and others.

The raids were conducted at locations of some officials of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and other people, including IAS officer Sanjeev Jaiswal and Suraj Chavan, a core committee member of the Yuva Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction) in connection with the Covid-19 hospital management contracts, officials earlier said.

12:22 NCW takes suo motu notice of Manipur video

The National Commission for Women has taken suo motu cognisance of an alleged incident of women being paraded naked in Manipur and asked the state police chief to take prompt action in the matter.

Tension mounted in the hills of Manipur after a May 4 video surfaced on Wednesday showing two women from one of the warring communities being paraded naked by a group of men from the other side.

"NCW condemns the Manipur incident. Taking suo motu cognisance, the DGP Manipur has been asked to promptly take appropriate action," the NCW tweeted.

Earlier, Union Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani said she spoke to Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh over the video who informed her that investigation is currently underway and assured that no effort will be spared to bring perpetrators to justice.

The police in Manipur said a case of abduction, gang-rape and murder has been registered at Nongpok Sekmai police station in Thoubal district against unidentified armed persons.

They said an all-out effort is on to arrest the culprits at the earliest.

A spokesperson of Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF) said, "The despicable scene, which happened on May 4 in Kangpokpi district, shows men constantly molesting the helpless women, who cry and plead with their captors."

Mumbai received an average 100 mm rainfall in the last 24 hours and the weather department has predicted heavy to very heavy showers in the city and suburbs along with strong winds over the next one day.

After a heavy downpour on Wednesday which caused water-logging in many low-lying areas and affected local train services, the rain intensity reduced early Thursday morning and there were no showers in some parts of the city.

The country's financial capital received an average 100 mm rainfall in the 24-hour period ending at 8 am on Thursday, a civic official said.

The island city, eastern and western suburbs recorded an average rainfall of 95.39 mm, 96.70 mm and 110.45 mm, respectively, during the period.

The India meteorological department's (IMD) Mumbai centre has predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall in the city and suburbs in the next 24 hours, with a possibility of occasional gusty winds reaching 50-60 kmph, the official said.

Railway authorities said local train services, considered as the lifeline of Mumbai, were normal on both the Central Railway and Western Railway routes. But, some commuters claimed the trains were running 10-15 minutes late.

There was no route diversion of bus services of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) and they were running normally, an official said.

11:44 Both Houses of Parliament adjourn briefly

On the first day of the monsoon session on Thursday, both houses of Parliament were adjourned for some time.

The Lok Sabha was adjourned till 2 pm after paying tributes to two sitting members and 11 former MPs, including ex-chief minister of Punjab Parkash Singh Badal.

Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned for almost an hour as a mark of respect to sitting MP and senior BJP leader Hardwar Dubey who passed away last month.

Leaders of several opposition parties met at the chamber of Mallikarjun Kharge in the Parliament complex to chalk out their joint strategy for the monsoon session beginning today.

At the meeting, the leaders decided to raise the Manipur violence issue and demand a discussion on the situation in the northeastern state. This was the first meeting of the opposition parties following the formation of their alliance 'INDIA'.

Several leaders of the Congress and other opposition parties have given adjournment notices in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha for taking up discussion on Manipur and have demanded answers from the government.

Kharge, the Congress president and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, has given an adjournment notice on the matter. He said it has been nearly 80 days but Prime Minister Narendra Modi has neither visited the state nor spoken a word on the situation there.

"We will raise the Manipur issue and I have also given a notice in Rajya Sabha to raise the issue. We will see whether our chairman allows us to raise it or not," Kharge told reporters. "He has time to visit France, the United States. He has time to call 38 parties (NDA meeting), but did not have the time to visit Manipur though he has all the resources," he said.

Opposition parties have been questioning the silence of the prime minister on the Manipur situation ever since ethnic violence broke out in the northeastern state on May 3.

11:16 Police arrest mastermind behind Manipur video

The Manipur police on Thursday arrested one of the main accused who was seen in a May 4 video of two tribal women being paraded naked and molested by a mob at a village in Senapati district, officials said.

They said several police teams were formed immediately after the video of the incident surfaced.

One of the people, alleged to be the mastermind, was arrested from Thoubal district, officials said.

The accused was prominently seen in the 26-second clip.

The police had issued a statement on Wednesday saying a case of abduction, gang rape and murder has been registered at the Nongpok Sekmai police station in Thoubal district against unknown armed miscreants and that all-out efforts were on to arrest the culprits at the earliest.

Manipur has been witnessing ethnic clashes since May 3 between the majority Meitei community, concentrated in the Imphal valley, and the tribal Kukis, occupying the hills. Over 160 people have been killed in the violence so far.

11:13 We will take action if...: SC on Manipur video

The Supreme Court on Thursday said it was 'deeply disturbed' by the video of two women in Manipur being paraded naked.

It is "simply unacceptable", the apex court said, and directed the Centre and state government to take immediate steps and apprise it on what action has been taken.

We will give some time for the government to act, otherwise we will take action if nothing is happening on ground, the Supreme Court said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday spoke to Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, a day after a video of two women being paraded naked in Manipur surfaced, sources said.

The home minister is believed to have directed the chief minister to take strict action against those involved in the incident which took place on May 4.

Shah has asked Singh to take possible steps to nab all those involved in the incident and take appropriate actions as per law, sources said.

Tension mounted in the hills of Manipur after a May 4 video surfaced on Wednesday showing two women from one of the warring communities being paraded naked by a few men from the other side.

The video was doing the rounds on the eve of a planned protest march announced by the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF) on Thursday to highlight their plight.

The police said a case of abduction, gang rape and murder has been registered at Nongpok Sekmai police station in Thoubal district against unknown armed miscreants.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the alleged incident of women being paraded naked in Manipur has shamed 140 crore Indians, asserting that law will act with its full might and no guilty will be spared.

"My heart is full of pain and anger," he told reporters in his remarks ahead of Parliament's monsoon session, amid his criticism by opposition parties for not speaking on the ethnic violence in the north east state.

The prime minister requested all chief ministers to further strengthen law and order mechanism in their respective states, especially to protect women and to take most stringent action.

He also mentioned states like Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh while calling for boosting law and order, and protecting women.

"I want to assure the countrymen that no guilty will be spared. What has happened to these daughters of Manipur can never be forgiven," he said.

Tension mounted in the hills of Manipur after a May 4 video surfaced on Wednesday showing two women from one of the warring communities being paraded naked by a few men from the other side.

Image used only for representation

10:02 4 dead after landslide at village in Raigad

Four persons died after a landslide at a village in Maharashtra's Raigad district, an official said on Thursday.

Two National Disaster Response Force teams have reached the site, the official said, adding at least 50 families are fear trapped in the landslide.

The search and rescue operation is underway, the official said.

Minister Uday Samant said 25 persons were rescued, of which four were declared dead.

The remaining 21 persons have been admitted to a hospital in Navi Mumbai, he said.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde reached the site and spoke to personnel engaged in rescue operations.

The landslide occurred around 11 pm on Wednesday at Irshalwadi village in Khalapur tehsil, around 70 km from Mumbai, the official said.

The village is located near Irshalgad fortress located between Matheran and Panvel.

The fortress is a sister fort to Prabalgad.

Irshalwadi is a tribal village inaccessible by pucca road.

Chowk village on Mumbai-Pune Highway is the nearest town.

The district administration has requested trekkers groups for help in the search and rescue operations.

This is the biggest landslide in Maharashtra after the July 30, 2014 landslide at Malin village in Ambegaon tehsil of Pune district.

The massive landslide had swallowed up almost the entire tribal village of around 50 families.

The final death toll was 153 when the rescue operation was stopped.

Nothing of the old village remains except for its school building. -- PTI

Ahead of the Monsoon session of Parliament that begins Thursday, several opposition MPs have given notices in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha demanding discussions on the situation in Manipur arising from a fresh controversy as a video of two women being paraded naked surfaced and was widely circulated.

The women were allegedly gangraped and the Manipur Police police said an investigation is on.

Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh has given suspension of Business Notice in Rajya Sabha under rule 267 and demanded to discussion on Manipur violence.

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi and AIMIM's Asaduddin Owaisi has moved adjournment motions in Lok Sabha over the issue.

Congress' Manickam Tagore gave adjournment motion notices in Lok Sabha on the Manipur situation demanding a discussion on the 'violence against women and children in the northeastern state'.

CPI MP Binoy Viswam, Rashtriya Janata Dal MP Manoj Jha and Congress MP Ranjeet Ranjan also gave suspension of Business Notices in the the Upper House under rule 267, to discuss the Manipur situation.

The opposition parties are insisting that the discussion should take place in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. --ANI

Security forces in Imphal

08:45 Video of women paraded naked: Manipur police says...

A video that allegedly shows two women in Manipur being sexually assaulted on a road has gone viral.

In a first official response to the alleged video the Superintendent of Police (SP), K Meghachandra Singh issued a press note.

The press note stated, 'As regards the video of 2 women paraded naked by unknown armed miscreants on 4th May 2023, a case of abduction, gang rape and murder was registered at Nongpok Sekmai Police Station (Thoubal district) against unknown armed miscreants. Investigation has started and the state police is making an all-out effort to arrest the culprits at the earliest.'

The press note was also tweeted by Bharatiya Janata Party leader and IT Cell in-charge Amit Malviya.

The press note gave details of search operations being carried out by the State Police and Central forces in different vulnerable fringe areas of both valley and hill districts of the state.

In one such operation, two arms and two magazines were recovered by the District Police, Imphal East.

Union Minister for Women and Child Welfare Smriti Irani also responded to the alleged video after speaking to the state chief minister.

Irani posted on Twitter saying, 'The horrific video of sexual assault of 2 women emanating from Manipur is condemnable and downright inhuman. Spoke to CM N Biren Singh ji who has informed me that investigation is currently underway and assured that no effort will be spared to bring perpetrators to justice.'

The alleged viral video has however kicked off a political storm ahead of the Monsoon session of Parliament that gets underway on Thursday.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in his tweet has questioned the central government claiming that the prime minister's silence has pushed the state into anarchy. -- ANI

File image

01:29 MSRTC operates buses for free from railway stations in Mumbai, Thane divisions

As heavy rains lashed Mumbai and adjoining areas, Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation is operating free bus services from major railway stations for the convenience of commuters on Wednesday night.

MSRTC said its Mumbai and Thane divisions have planned to operate more than 100 buses for free from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Dadar, Kurla, Thane, Kalyan and other major stations up to various residential areas.

It said Chief Minister Eknath Shinde directed the state transport corporation to arrange for free buses so that office-goers can reach home early, a statement said. -- PTI

A Bharatiya Janata Party MLA from Katni district in Madhya Pradesh has announced that he will contest the upcoming state assembly polls if 51 per cent people from his constituency vote for him in the referendum to be held by him.

Legislator Sanjay Pathak, who represents the Vijayraghavgarh assembly segment in Katni, made this announcement during a function on Tuesday.

Addressing the function at Paraswara village in his constituency, he said that he will not contest the next assembly polls even if he gets a single vote below the 50 per cent mark. Pathak, who figures among the richest MLAs of Madhya Pradesh, said that he will hold this referendum next month.

"Printed slips will be distributed to the people of my constituency with the option given to them to select the choice between contest polls or not. I will contest only if more than 50 percent people of my constituency will say yes for contesting the polls," he said.

The BJP MLA said that this will be a secret ballot and boxes will be opened in front of the public. After the referendum, he will decide on contesting the polls, he said. -- PTI

The Noida police arrested a 45-year-old man on Wednesday in connection with the killing of the 14-year-old daughter of an ayurvedic doctor and robbery of cash and jewellery from their home a day ago, officials said.

The accused, Pradeep Vishwas, was very well known to the family and frequently visited the home of ayurvedic doctor Sudarshan Bairagi, a senior officer said.

The accused also tried to flee from police custody by snatching the service pistol of a policeman, but got injured in retaliatory firing, deputy commissioner of police (Central Noida) Anil Kumar Yadav said.

The officer said initially, it was reported that cash amounting to around Rs 25 lakh was stolen from the house but subsequently, as an amount of around Rs 7.5 lakh was recovered from the accused, the family said it had mistakenly quoted a wrong figure.

Shilpi (14) was alone in the house in the Purana Sutiyana area under the Ecotech 3 police station limits when the incident took place on Tuesday morning.

Her body was found on the bed with a cloth tied around her neck and blood oozing out of her mouth when the family returned home around 1.30 pm.

"They took her to a nearby private hospital but she was declared dead by the doctors. An FIR was immediately lodged on the basis of a complaint from the family, which raised suspicion on Vishwas, who was taken into custody for questioning," Yadav said.

"The doctor had sold a flat recently and got around Rs 7.5 lakh in cash. Vishwas knew about it. On Tuesday, when the doctor went to his clinic and his wife was also out, he met them and found out that they would return home only after 1 pm. He also confirmed from them that Shilpi was alone at home," the officer said. -- PTI

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00:32 Declare school holiday only after discussion with district collectors: Maha govt

The Maharashtra education department on Wednesday asked its officials in Thane, Palghar and Raigad to declare a holiday for educational institutions only after proper discussion with district collectors.

The direction came on a day when the state government declared a holiday for all schools in four districts for Thursday (July 20) amid a heavy rainfall warning in the Mumbai metropolitan region.

Sandeep Sangave, deputy director of education (Mumbai division), in an order said he has asked department officers, education inspectors and others concerned to announce holiday based on local conditions.

A decision on declaring holidays should be taken after discussing the issue with respective district collectors, he said in the order.

Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde declared a holiday for all schools in Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, and Palghar districts for Thursday amid a heavy rainfall warning in the MMR.

The metropolis and its three adjoining districts were lashed by heavy showers overnight and throughout the day on Wednesday. -- PTI

A court in Madhya Pradesh's Jhabua district on Wednesday sentenced a Christian priest and two others to two years' rigorous imprisonment for converting members of a tribal community by offering allurement.

District judge Lakhanlal Garg also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 each on Father Jamsingh, pastor Ansingh and their assistant Mangu.

The three were convicted under Section 5 of the Madhya Pradesh Religious Freedom Act, public prosecutor Mansingh Bhuria said.

The section prohibits unlawful conversion (or attempt to convert) from one religion to another by use of misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, any other fraudulent means, allurement, or promise of marriage.

According to complainant Tetiya Baria (26), Father Jamsingh called him and a woman called Surti Bai for a prayer meeting at Bisouli village on December 26, 2021, and poured water over them from a pot and asked them to embrace Christianity.

The priest offered free education and medical treatment for their families if they did so, but he declined the offer and left the spot, Baria said.

After Baria filed a complaint with the police, a case was registered.

The court convicted the trio (for the attempt to convert unlawfully) on the basis of evidence and statements of the witnesses, he said. -- PTI

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