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Wed, 07 February 2024
Another Indian student found dead in US
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23:13 Another Indian student found dead in US
In the fifth such incident this year, 23-year-old Indian student Sameer Kamath was found dead in Warren County, Indiana in the United States.
Kamath was a doctoral candidate in mechanical engineering at Purdue University.
'Sameer Kamath, a doctoral candidate in mechanical engineering, was found dead in Warren County, the mechanical engineering head Eckhard Groll announced to the ME community, Tuesday afternoon,' the newspaper of Purdue University, The Exponent reported.
It reported citing a press release from Warren County Coroner, Justin Brummett, Kamath (23) was found at about 5 pm (local time) on Monday at NICHES land trust, a nature preserve, at Crow's Grove.
The forensic autopsy was scheduled for Tuesday afternoon (local time) in Crawfordsville, the release stated.
Kamath was from Massachusetts and received his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He came to Purdue in the summer of 2021.He graduated from the department with a Master's Degree in mechanical engineering, according to the summer commencement program.
He was slated to graduate from the doctoral program at Purdue University in 2025, the paper stated citing his LinkedIn profile.
Further investigation is underway in the case.
The Warren County Coroner said that more information will be shared when more information is available.
Notably, this is the fifth incident of Indian students found dead in the US, this year so far.
Shreyas Reddy, who was a student at the Linder School of Business, was found dead in Cincinnati, Ohio last week. But, the cause of his death remains unknown.
This was the third death of an Indian student within a span of a week.
Prior to him, Vivek Saini and Neel Acharya were also found dead in the same week.
Notably, Neel Acharya was also a student at the Purdue University. His body was found at the campus on January 30.
Another Indian student Vivek Saini was brutally killed with repeated blows from a hammer by a homeless man inside a store in Lithonia, Georgia, US on January 29.
Earlier on January 20, Akul Dhawan, an 18-year-old Indian-American student, was found dead near the University of Illinois. -- ANI
22:55 LS passes Finance Bill, completes Budget exercise
The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the Finance Bill, 2024, thus completing the exercise for passage of the interim budget 2024-25.
The Finance Bill, 2024, does not propose any change in the tax structure as the final budget will be tabled in July after the new government assumes office post the general elections in April-May.
Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary said the Finance Bill, 2024, does not propose any change in tax structure.
"We have focused on development despite presenting an interim budget ahead of elections," Chaudhary said replying to a discussion on the bill.
Earlier in the day the Lok Sabha approved the Rs 47.66-lakh crore interim Budget 2024-25 of the Union Government and second batch of supplementary demands for grants.
The House also approved the Appropriation Bill authorising government to meet expenses for four months in the next financial year.
The lower house also approved the Rs 1.8 lakh crore budget of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. -- PTI
22:51 Champai Soren to expand cabinet on Feb 16
Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren will expand his cabinet on February 16, rescheduling the event which was initially planned for Thursday, a minister said.
"The swearing-in ceremony has been deferred. Now, it will take place at 3 pm on February 16 at Raj Bhavan in Ranchi," state minister Alamgir Alam told PTI on Wednesday.
He cited the two-day second leg of 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in the state starting on February 14 as the reason for the change of schedule of the swearing-in event.
Gandhi's yatra is scheduled to enter Jharkhand on February 14 from Chhattisgarh and proceed to Bihar on February 15.
Champai Soren, the 67-year-old Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader, was sworn in as the 12th chief minister of the state on February 2, after his predecessor Hemant Soren was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate last week in a money laundering case.
On the same day, two ministers -- Alamgir Alam of the Congress and Satyanand Bhokta of the Rashtriya Janata Dal -- also took oath.
The Congress and the RJD are part of the ruling alliance.
According to constitutional provisions, Jharkhand can have a maximum of 12 ministers, including the chief minister.
During the previous Hemant Soren government's term, one berth remained vacant.
Regarding the selection of MLAs for the council of ministers, Alam said it is yet to be decided by the Congress.
"I do not know whether the JMM has selected their MLAs for the council of ministers," he said.
A JMM source said the party might select most of the legislators who were in the Hemant Soren cabinet, with a possibility of one or two changes.
Jharkhand's JMM-led coalition government headed by Chief Minister Champai Soren won the vote of confidence on February 5.
Forty-seven legislators voted in favour of the confidence motion in the 81-member assembly, while 29 MLAs opposed it.
The majority alliance has 47 MLAs -- the JMM 29, the Congress 17 and the RJD 1 in the Jharkhand assembly.
The Bharatiya Janata Party has 26 members and the All Jharkhand Students' Union Party has three.
The Nationalist Congress Party and the Communist Party of India-Marxist Leninist have one lawmaker each, apart from two Independents.
There is also one nominated member. -- PTI
21:54 Amnesty reports flay unlawful demolition of Muslim homes
Human rights organisation Amnesty International on Wednesday said the widespread "unlawful demolitions" of Muslims' homes, businesses and places of worship through the use of JCB bulldozers and other machines must stop immediately.
In two reports, titled "If you speak up, your house will be demolished: Bulldozer Injustice in India" and "Unearthing Accountability: JCB's Role and Responsibility in Bulldozer Injustice in India", the rights group documented the "punitive demolition" of Muslim properties in at least five states with a widespread use of JCB-branded bulldozers or diggers as the brand of choice in a hate campaign against the minority community.
The Amnesty International called on the Centre and state governments to immediately halt the de-facto policy of demolishing people's homes as a form of extra-judicial punishment and ensure that nobody is made homeless as a result of forced evictions.
They must also offer adequate compensation to all those affected by the demolitions and ensure that those responsible for these violations are held to account, the rights group said.
"The unlawful demolition of Muslim properties by the Indian authorities, peddled as 'bulldozer justice' by political leaders and media, is cruel and appalling. Such displacement and dispossession is deeply unjust, unlawful and discriminatory. They are destroying families -- and must stop immediately," said Agns Callamard, Amnesty International's secretary general.
21:20 Hindus asking for only 3 places: Yogi on Mathura, Kashi
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said in Mahabharata, Krishna asked for five villages, but today the Hindu society is only asking for the three centres of their faith 'Ayodhya, Kashi and Mathura'.
Speaking at the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, Yogi said the Uttar Pradesh government got the privilege to have facilitated the Ayodhya Deepotsav, which became a national celebration.
"Ayodhya city was brought within the purview of prohibitions and curfews by the previous governments. For centuries, Ayodhya was cursed with ugly intentions. It faced a planned disdain. Such treatment to public sentiments was perhaps never seen anywhere else. Ayodhya faced injustice," he said.
He further mentioned the Krishna Janmabhoomi site in Mathura and the Kashi Vishwanath temple complex in Varanasi are the two other disputed lands that Hindus have been claiming.
"Injustice was done to Ayodhya. When I talk about injustice, we remember something 5,000 years old... Lord Shri Krishna asked (Duryodhan) for half (of the property), but if that was difficult, then give only five villages. He talked about five villages. But the Hindu society and faith here are talking about only three (Ayodhya, Kashi, Mathura). These are the three places that are the centre of our faith," he said.
"Duryodhana wo bhi de na saka, Ashish samaj ke le na saka. Ulte, Hari ko bandhe chala, jo tha asadhya, sadhne chala," the Chief Minister quoted from Dinkar's 'Rashmirathi' These lines from the poem in translation mean, Duryodhana couldn't even give (those five villages) and get blessed. Instead, he sought to tame Hari, which was impossible.
"When I speak about injustice, we recall the 5000-year-old thing. Injustice was done even to the Pandavas at that time...That had happened with Ayodhya, Kashi and Mathura," Yogi said.
Quoting from Ramdhari Singh Dinkar's 'Rashmirathi', Yogi Aditynath said, "At that time, Krishna had gone to the Kauravas and said, then give us just five villages, keep all the land you have. We will happily eat there."
"Krishna had asked for five villages that time. Krishna had gone for an agreement. He asked for justice, even if it was half. But here, the society and its faith, for hundreds of years, was talking about three, just three," Yogi Adityanath said, referring to the spots at Ayodhya, Mathura and Varanasi.
Speaking on the latest court order that allowed Hindus to pray at one of the sealed cellars, Vyasji ka Tehkhana, at the Gyanvapi site, Yogi Adityanath said, "When our Nandi Baba saw the festival of Ayodhya, he said why should he wait? He broke the barricades in the night. After this, how is our Krishna Kanhaiya going to listen to anyone?"
Adityanath blamed votebank politics for the situation.
"When politics kicks in and votes are looked at, dispute begins," he said.
"But when politics starts rising and there is vote politics, then the dispute arises... It was the first time in history that the majority had to plead. When all of this could have happened after independence itself," he added. -- ANI
20:44 Top losers among Sensex firms today
Power Grid, Tech Mahindra, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, HDFC Bank, Wipro, Larsen & Toubro and NTPC were the major laggards among the Sensex firms on Wednesday.
20:41 Senthil Balaji's remand extended till Feb 15
A sessions court in Chennai on Wednesday extended Minister V Senthil Balaji's remand till February 15, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on June 14 last year in a money laundering case.
Principal Sessions Judge S Alli, before whom Senthil Balaji was produced by the prosecution through video-conferencing from the Central Prison, extended his judicial custody till February 15.
Originally, the judge had on January 11 posted the case for framing of charges against Senthil Balaji. However, when the case came up for hearing on that day, senior counsel S Prabakaran, appearing for Balaji, informed the court that his client has filed a petition to defer the trial.
After special public prosecutor N Ramesh sought time to file a counter affidavit, the judge adjourned the matter to January 29.
After the ED filed its counter affidavit, the matter was again adjourned and his remand was extended till February 7.
Meanwhile, the judge reserved orders for February 15 on the petition filed by Balaji to defer the trial in the case, after hearing elaborate arguments from both sides.
Balaji was arrested on June 14 by the ED in connection with a money laundering case linked to cash-for-jobs scam when he was the transport minister during the previous AIADMK regime.
20:27 Sensex closes flat in choppy trade on Wednesday
Sensex closed flat in a volatile trade on Wednesday as investors stayed on the sidelines ahead of RBI's interest rate decision on Thursday.
The 30-share BSE Sensex declined 34.09 points or 0.05 per cent to settle at 72,152.
During the day, it hit a high of 72,559.21 and a low of 71,938.22.
20:24 Lok Sabha passes interim budget
The Lok
Sabha on Wednesday passed the Rs 47.66-lakh-crore interim Budget 2024-25
of the Union Government with a voice vote.
The lower house also
approved the Rs 1.8 lakh crore budget of the Union Territory of Jammu
and Kashmir with a voice vote.
The two budgets, along with the
supplementary demands for grants and relevant appropriation bills, were
piloted by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharman.
Replying to the
debate, the minister said the fiscal deficit of the central government
is proposed to be brought down to 5.1 per cent of the GDP during
2024-25. -- PTI
Representational image
20:11 Terrorists shoot dead worker from Punjab in J-K
Terrorists shot dead a worker from Punjab while another sustained injuries in the Habba Kadal area of the city on Wednesday, officials said in Srinagar.
Amritpal Singh, a resident of Amritsar, was shot by the terrorists from point blank range with AK rifle at Shalla Kadal locality in Habba Kadal around 7 pm, the officials said.
They said Singh died on the spot while another non-local worker identified as Rohit, aged 25, sustained injuries in the incident.
Rohit also hails from Amritsar. He was hit by the bullets in the abdomen and is undergoing treatment at SMHS hospital.
The police have taken cognisance of the incident and cordoned off the area to track down the assailants.
This is the first attack by terrorists on a non-local in Kashmir this year.
Last year, the terrorists carried out several attacks on non-local workers in valley including in Anantnag and Shopian districts.
Image only for representation
19:33 Cops recover stolen control unit of EVM; 2 held
Police have recovered the control unit
of an electronic voting machine (EVM) after it was allegedly stolen
from the office of a revenue official in Maharashtra's Pune district,
and nabbed two persons in this connection, an official said on
Wednesday.
The incident of theft had occurred at the office of a
tehsildar in Saswad on February 3 and a CCTV footage of the offence
surfaced on social media.
"Three thieves allegedly stole the control
unit of the EVM and some stationary material from the tehsildar office.
The incident came to light on Monday," a senior police official said.
The stolen control unit of the EVM was recovered within 24 hours of the
theft, he said.
"We nabbed two persons involved in the crime and the
control unit was recovered from them in Jejuri area of the district. We
are investigating the matter further," he added.
A case was registered
at the Saswad police station against the accused trio, the official
said. -- PTI
19:20 President Murmu takes a ride on Delhi Metro
President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday took a ride in Delhi Metro and interacted with school students. This was the first time Murmu took a ride in the metro after assuming the office of the President.
Murmu is the second serving President of India to travel by the Delhi Metro. In 2012, the then President Pratibha Patil had also travelled in the metro.
"President Droupadi Murmu travelled in Delhi Metro and interacted with school children during the ride," the Rashtrapati Bhavan said in a post on X.
President Murmu also flagged off a shuttle bus service between Central Secretariat metro station (gate no 4) and Amrit Udyan (gate no 35) for visitors coming to Amrit Udyan, which runs every 30 minutes from 9.30 am to 5 pm, it added.
During her interaction with students in the train, Murmu asked them about their career plans, officials said.
She boarded the metro train at the Central Secretariat metro station on the Kashmere Gate Raja Nahar Singh Violet Line corridor, travelled up to the Nehru Place metro station and then came back to Central Secretariat, they said.
Delhi Metro Rail Corporation's Managing Director, Vikas Kumar accompanied the president on the journey.
Kumar told the president about the various facets of the DMRC's functioning and also informed her about ongoing construction projects.
The President travelled on the system using an NCMC (National Common Mobility Card) RuPay card.
The President, in her comments made in the visitor's book, appreciated the Delhi Metro and found the journey pleasant.
Delhi Metro is considered one of the most modern and efficient mass transportation systems in the world today, she said.
Murmu said the performance of Delhi Metro is world-class on all important parameters and has made the country proud.
18:30 Sharad Pawar's party gets a new name...
Just In: Sharad Pawar gets a new name for his faction: "Nationalist Congress Party - Sharadchandra Pawar". Yesterday, the Election Commission granted Ajit Pawar the NCP name and symbol.
Details soon.
18:21 Uttarakhand becomes first state to implement UCC
The Uniform Civil Code Uttarakhand 2024 Bill, introduced by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami-led state government, passed in the House.
After passing the UCC Bill in the Assembly, Uttarakhand has become the first state in the country to implement the Uniform Civil Code.
More details awaited. -- ANI
IMAGE: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participates in the discussion on Unifom Civil Code in the state assembly on Thursday.
18:17 Close aide of Digvijaya Singh joins BJP
Madhya Pradesh Congress leader Sumer Singh, considered close to former chief minister Digvijaya Singh, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in front of the Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia here on Wednesday.
During Digvijaya Singh's tenure as the CM, Sumer Singh had been appointed as a member of the state Public Service Commission (PSC). He is considered as a family member of Digvijaya Singh, Congress sources said.
Sumer Singh was also elected as the district panchayat president of Guna from Congress during the period 2010-15, the sources said.
Along with Sumer Singh, a number of his supporters including his son Dhananjay Singh, also joined the saffron party, they said.
The Congress members joined the BJP in the presence of Scindia, who switched to the saffron party in 2020, at the Guna Circuit House, the sources added.
In the recent MP assembly elections, the BJP registered a resounding victory, winning 163 of the 230 seats, while the grand old party, which was banking its hopes on anti-incumbency, was reduced to just 66. -- PTI
17:50 Nitish meets Modi ahead of trust vote on Feb 12
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Wednesday, their first meeting after the JD-U chief switched over to the NDA and formed a government in the state along with the BJP.
The meeting took place five days ahead of the Kumar-led government facing a trust vote in the assembly on February 12.
The Janata Dal-United leader will also meet other top Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders during his first visit to the national capital after he ditched the "Mahagathbandhan" alliance to return to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Bihar on January 28.
Bihar Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, both from the BJP, called on the prime minister on Monday.
According to JD-U sources, issues pertaining to the Rajya Sabha polls in the state might also be discussed during the chief minister's meeting with the top BJP leaders.
Six Rajya Sabha seats in Bihar are falling vacant, for which elections are scheduled to be held on February 27.
17:24 Poonam Pandey not the face of govt's cervical cancer campaign
Actor Poonam Pandey is not being considered as the brand ambassador of the government's national campaign to spread awareness on cervical cancer, Union health ministry officials said on Wednesday.
The clarification came after sources said Pandey is likely to be the face of the campaign and she and her team are in talks with ministry officials.
Earlier this month, news of Pandey's 'death' from the disease dominated the headlines and led to intense debate on social media.
It later turned out that the news was fake and was a stunt pulled off by the actor and her team to spread 'critical awareness' about cervical cancer.
In a video, posted on her official Instagram page, Pandey on February 3 said, 'I feel compelled to share something significant with you all '? I am here, alive.'
'Cervical cancer didn't claim me, but tragically, it has claimed the lives of thousands of women who stemmed from a lack of knowledge on how to tackle this disease,' the 32-year-old added.
'Unlike some other cancers, cervical cancer is entirely preventable. The key lies in the HPV vaccine and early detection tests. We have the means to ensure no one loses their life to this disease.
'Let's empower one another with critical awareness and ensure every woman is informed about the steps to take. Together, let's strive to put an end to the devastating impact of the disease and bring #DeathToCervicalCancer,' she wrote.
Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her interim budget speech said the government will encourage vaccination of girls in the age group of 9-14 years to prevent cervical cancer.
The Union health ministry had last month said it is closely monitoring incidence of cervical cancer in the country and is in regular touch with states and various health departments on this.
In June 2022, the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation recommended the introduction of HPV vaccine in the universal immunisation with 'a one-time catch-up for 9-14 year-old adolescent girls followed with routine introduction at nine years', the Rajya Sabha was told in March.
India is home to about 16 per cent of the world's women, but accounts for about a quarter of all cervical cancer incidence and nearly a third of global cervical cancer deaths.
Indian women face a 1.6 per cent lifetime cumulative risk of developing cervical cancer and one per cent cumulative death risk from cervical cancer, officials had stated.
According to some recent estimates, every year almost 80,000 women develop cervical cancer and 35,000 die due to it in India.
Currently, the Serum Institute's made-in-India vaccine against cervical cancer, CERVAVAC, is available in the private market for about Rs 2,000 per dose.
MSD Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Merck Sharp and Dohme (known as Merck and Co, Inc in the US and Canada) continues to sell its HPV vaccine Gardasil 4 (quadrivalent vaccine) in India which is currently priced at Rs 3,927 per dose. -- PTI
The clarification came after sources said Pandey is likely to be the face of the campaign and she and her team are in talks with ministry officials.
Earlier this month, news of Pandey's 'death' from the disease dominated the headlines and led to intense debate on social media.
It later turned out that the news was fake and was a stunt pulled off by the actor and her team to spread 'critical awareness' about cervical cancer.
In a video, posted on her official Instagram page, Pandey on February 3 said, 'I feel compelled to share something significant with you all '? I am here, alive.'
'Cervical cancer didn't claim me, but tragically, it has claimed the lives of thousands of women who stemmed from a lack of knowledge on how to tackle this disease,' the 32-year-old added.
'Unlike some other cancers, cervical cancer is entirely preventable. The key lies in the HPV vaccine and early detection tests. We have the means to ensure no one loses their life to this disease.
'Let's empower one another with critical awareness and ensure every woman is informed about the steps to take. Together, let's strive to put an end to the devastating impact of the disease and bring #DeathToCervicalCancer,' she wrote.
Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her interim budget speech said the government will encourage vaccination of girls in the age group of 9-14 years to prevent cervical cancer.
The Union health ministry had last month said it is closely monitoring incidence of cervical cancer in the country and is in regular touch with states and various health departments on this.
In June 2022, the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation recommended the introduction of HPV vaccine in the universal immunisation with 'a one-time catch-up for 9-14 year-old adolescent girls followed with routine introduction at nine years', the Rajya Sabha was told in March.
India is home to about 16 per cent of the world's women, but accounts for about a quarter of all cervical cancer incidence and nearly a third of global cervical cancer deaths.
Indian women face a 1.6 per cent lifetime cumulative risk of developing cervical cancer and one per cent cumulative death risk from cervical cancer, officials had stated.
According to some recent estimates, every year almost 80,000 women develop cervical cancer and 35,000 die due to it in India.
Currently, the Serum Institute's made-in-India vaccine against cervical cancer, CERVAVAC, is available in the private market for about Rs 2,000 per dose.
MSD Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Merck Sharp and Dohme (known as Merck and Co, Inc in the US and Canada) continues to sell its HPV vaccine Gardasil 4 (quadrivalent vaccine) in India which is currently priced at Rs 3,927 per dose. -- PTI
16:45 Court summons Kejriwal on Feb 17 over ED complaint
A Delhi court on Wednesday summoned Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on February 17 on a complaint filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against him over the non-compliance of its summons in a money-laundering case linked to the now-scrapped excise policy for the national capital.
"Cognisance of the complaint has been taken and summons is being issued to him to appear on February 17," additional chief metropolitan magistrate Divya Malhotra said.
The judge had reserved the order after the ED submitted that it had concluded its arguments in the matter.
The ED had on February 3 filed a fresh complaint case against Kejriwal for non-compliance of its summons.
Kejriwal on Friday skipped the fifth summons issued to him by the ED. The agency had issued the summons to him on last Wednesday.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor had earlier written to the ED, describing the summonses as "illegal and politically motivated". He had alleged that the summonses were aimed at preventing him from campaigning in elections.
The AAP has reacted to the latest development saying it was studying the order and will take appropriate steps.
16:17 The face of govt's cervical cancer campaign is...
Actor Poonam Pandey is likely to be the brand ambassador of the government's national campaign to spread awareness on cervical cancer.
According to sources, Pandey and her team are in talks with the Union Health Ministry and the modalities are being worked out. Earlier this month, news of Pandey's "death" from the disease dominated the headlines and led to intense debate on social media. It later turned out that the news was fake and was a stunt pulled off by the actor and her team to spread "critical awareness" about cervical cancer.
In a video, posted on her official Instagram page, Pandey on February 3 said, "I feel compelled to share something significant with you all '? I am here, alive."
"Cervical cancer didn't claim me, but tragically, it has claimed the lives of thousands of women who stemmed from a lack of knowledge on how to tackle this disease," the 32-year-old added.
"Unlike some other cancers, cervical cancer is entirely preventable. The key lies in the HPV vaccine and early detection tests. We have the means to ensure no one loses their life to this disease.
"Let's empower one another with critical awareness and ensure every woman is informed about the steps to take. Together, let's strive to put an end to the devastating impact of the disease and bring #DeathToCervicalCancer," she wrote. -- PTI
15:37 Cong's start-up yuvraj is a non-starter: PM
In Rajya Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "Congress have made a start-up for their 'Yuvraj'. But he is a non-starter, he neither lifts nor launches..."
"Congress and its allies have always had difficulty in giving greater participation to SC/ST and OBC. They left no stone unturned to destroy Baba Saheb's ideas. There was no preparation to give him Bharat Ratna, when the government was formed with the support of the BJP, Baba Saheb was given Bharat Ratna...For the first time in the country, NDA Govt made an Adivasi daughter the President of India.
"My mantra was the same at that time (as the then Gujarat CM) and even today - Desh ke vikas ke liye rajya ka vikas...We should all follow that path. We will be able to develop the nation only through the development of the states, there can be no dispute about it. I assure you that if the state walks one step, it gives the strength (to the country) to walk two steps."
Bihar Assembly Speaker Awadh Bihari Choudhary
15:31 Won't resign, says Bihar Speaker
Bihar Assembly Speaker Awadh Bihari Choudhary on Wednesday announced that he will not resign ahead of the trust vote on February 12. The newly formed NDA government led by Nitish Kumar will seek a trust vote in the state assembly. Speaker Choudhary, who is a senior RJD leader, said he will go by the rules.
-- MI Khan/Patna
15:18 Modi's RS speech is about Cong, Nehru bashing
In Rajya Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "Congress spread the narrative, as a result of which people who believed in Indian culture and values ''started being viewed with an inferiority complex...the world knows very well where it narrative was coming...'Made in Foreign' was made a status symbol. These people can never talk about 'Vocal for Local' and 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat'...
"In her address, the President addressed all of us in detail about the 4 largest castes. These 4 castes are '"youth, women, poor and our food providers. We know that they have similar problems and dreams. The ways to solve the problems of these four categories are also similar.
"Congress has been their biggest opponent of Dalits, backward and tribal people by birth. Sometimes, a question comes to my mind if Baba Saheb had not been there, whether the SC/ST would not have got a reservation."
Modi reads out a letter by the then PM late Jawaharlal Nehru to the then Chief Ministers. He says, "....I am reading out its translation - 'I dislike any kind of reservation, more particularly in services. I am strongly against anything which leads to inefficiency and second rate standards..', that is why I say that they are against it (reservation) by birth...Had the government recruited at that time and promoted them from time to time, they would have been here today."
15:01 Congress gave Bharat Ratnas only to its family: PM
In Rajya Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "In the 10 years of Congress, the Indian economy was in fragile five. Congress government was known for policy paralysis. On the other hand, in our 10 years, India has been one of the top five economies. Our 10 years will be remembered for big and decisive decisions.
"...The Congress that, in its greed for power, openly strangled democracy, the Congress that dissolved democratically-elected governments overnight, the Congress that jailed the Constitutional decorum, the Congress that tried to lock up newspapers - that Congress has now acquired the habit to create narratives of breaking the country. This was not enough, now they are making statements about breaking the north and south. And this Congress is lecturing us on democracy and federalism!
"The Congress which never gave complete reservation to OBCs, never gave reservation to the poor of the general category, which did not consider Babasaheb worthy of Bharat Ratna, kept giving Bharat Ratna only to its family. They are now preaching and teaching us the lesson of social justice. Those who have no guarantee as a leader are raising questions about Modi's guarantee...."
14:49 PM compares 10 yrs of Cong rule vs BJP rule
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Rajya Sabha: "...The Congress that handed over a large part of our land to our enemies, the Congress which stopped the modernisation of the country's armies, is today giving us speeches on national security and internal security, the Congress which, after independence.
"They remained confused, whether industries are necessary or farming. The Congress could not decide whether nationalisation is important or privatisation...
"The Congress that brought India's economy from number 12 to number 11 in 10 years...we brought India's economy to number 5 in just 10 years and this Congress is here to give us long speeches on economic policies..."
"...When I hear them, both there and here (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha), my belief is further strengthened that the party (Congress) has become outdated even with their thinking. When their thinking has become outdated, they have outsourced their work... Such a huge party, which ruled the country for decades has seen such a downfall. We are not delighted, our sympathies with you. But what can the doctor do if the patient himself... what do I add?"
"In the 10 years of Congress, the Indian economy was in fragile five. Congress government was known for policy paralysis. On the other hand, in our 10 years, India has been one of the top five economies. Our 10 years will be remembered for big and decisive decisions."
14:34 Modi taunts Kharge with Hindi song in RS
Modi in RS: "A challenge has been posed before you from West Bengal that Congress will not be able to cross 40 (in Lok Sabha elections 2024). I pray that you are able to secure 40.
"Mallikarjun Khargeji spoke in Rajya Sabha for a long time and I was thinking about how he got the chance to speak for a long time and then I realised that two special commanders were not there so he took the advantage of it and I think that Khargeji must have heard that song 'Aisa mauka phir kaha milega'...
"Ek baat khushi ki rahi, unhone (Mallikarjun Kharge) jo 400 seat NDA ke liye aashirwad diya hai...aapke aashirwad mere sar aankhon par..."
"I remember the incident from last years. We used to sit in that building and attempts were made to stifle the voices of the PM of the country. Today too, you have come prepared to not listen. But you can't suppress my voice. People of the country have strengthened this voice...I too have come prepared this time..."
14:27 I pray Congress gets even 40 seats: Modi in RS
Prime Minister Narendra Modi replies to the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address in Rajya Sabha. The PM says, "President Droupadi Murmu in her address spoke about India's potential, strength, and bright future. I thank President Droupadi Murmu."
Modi then targets the Opposition. Reacting to Mamata Banerjee's comment that the Congress won't cross 40 seats in the Lok Sabha polls, Modi says, "I pray that you save even 40 seats."
"I could not say it that day but I express my special gratitude to Khargeji. I was listening to him with great attention and enjoyment that day. The lack of entertainment that we were missing in the Lok Sabha was fulfilled by him..."
14:08 MP blast: Body parts scattered around, say survivors
A woman, who lost her parents in the explosion and blaze at a firecrackers factory in Madhya Pradesh's Harda town, said the tragedy was bound to happen and such a unit should not have been operated in a residential area.
She also held the government and the factory owner responsible for Tuesday's incident, which claimed 11 lives and left more than 200 people injured.
Another woman spent the night on a road as her house was damaged in the incident. A man residing in the area said they had sought removal of the firecrackers unit from the area, but no heed was paid to their demand. More than 200 people were engaged in the work of manufacturing firecrackers at the unit located in the Bairagarh locality on Magardha Road, on the outskirts of Harda town, when they heard the first explosion at around 11 am on Tuesday.
The factory's surrounding area witnessed chaos as people started running and struggling to reach a safer place. The firecracker unit was reduced to rubble, with scattered bodies, damaged homes and debris lying all around on roads and open areas. Many houses in the vicinity were damaged. A burnt and overturned truck was seen lying about 50 feet away from the blast site.
"The expansion work of the factory and godown was underway. It was bound to happen sometime," Neha, who lost her mother and father in the incident, told PTI in a choked voice.
Her family lives in the vicinity of the factory. "I hold the government and the factory owner responsible for this incident. They should not have run the factory in the populated area," she said.
Neha, whose house was also burnt, said such an incident occurred earlier also but the authorities concerned did not pay any attention.
"People have died earlier also but the government gave permission...the government opens the seal again (of a unit locked after such incidents) as they (owner) deposit the money. What happens?" she said.
Amardas Saini, another local resident, was at his home when the first explosion took place at around 11 am.
"I was at home when the first blast took place. My wife was cooking food. We ran away amid the blasts, and gravel, concrete splinters and fireballs falling on us. Several motorcycles passing from the road were severely hit," he told PTI.
Saini said the body parts of many people were blown away during this incident. There are about 40 houses in the vicinity of the factory, he said.
13:56 Some amount of trade with Pakistan going on: Govt
The government on Wednesday said some amount of trade with Pakistan is being conducted through land and sea routes but all business through the land border has been stopped by the neighbouring country "unilaterally".
Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Anupriya Patel also said in Lok Sabha that it is the responsibility of Pakistan to allow transit of Indian goods to Central Asian countries through its territory. Patel said earlier whatever trade had happened, everything was done through Attari-Wagah border and through Karachi port.
"Now, no trade is being done through land route. But some trade is being done through sea and air," she said.
The minister said this trade through sea and air routes with Pakistan is being done through the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust, Inland Container Depot, Tughlakabad, Mundra SEZ, Air Cargo Complex Mumbaiand Air Cargo Complex Hyderabad among others.
Replying to a question on the possibility of trade with Central Asian countries, she said: "We have not stopped trade with Pakistan. With regard to trade with Central Asia, any of our trade transaction arrangement has to be through Pakistan. So, it is the responsibility of Pakistan to open the trade route". Patel said the suspension of trade was "imposed unilaterally" by Pakistan, not by India.
"So responsibility lies with Pakistan as transit will have to take place through their territory," she said. -- PTI
13:25 Team Sharad Pawar poster: 'Baap' ours, symbol yours
Posters of Sharad Pawar, Supriya Sule and Rohit Pawar come up outside the Sharad Pawar faction of the NCP office in Mumbai.
The Election Commission ruled in favour of the faction led by Ajit Pawar in connection with dispute in the NCP.
The ECI provided a one-time option to claim a name for its new political formation and provide three preferences to the Commission by 3 pm today.
On Tuesday, the Election Commission announced that the Ajit Pawar faction is the real NCP, in a major setback to party founder Sharad Pawar.
The poll panel also allotted the NCP symbol 'clock' to the group led by Ajit Pawar.
The Ajit Pawar faction today filed a caveat in the Supreme Court seeking a hearing if the Sharad Pawar group moves before it challenging an Election Commission order recognising the party led by the Maharashtra deputy chief minister as the real Nationalist Congress Party.
Ram Path
13:14 Ornate 200-yr-old homes were demolished to build Ayodhya's Ram Path
After the consecration ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya, authorities have now set their eyes on the next phase of Ayodhya's redevelopment with a top official asserting that the vision for the town is to make it a "world-class city" with "heritage at its heart".
In an interview to PTI, Ayodhya Divisional Commissioner Gaurav Dayal also said the broad targets that were set by the administration for the holy city for the January 22 event have been "achieved".
"The four road corridors, beautification of the entire city, creation of public amenities, multi-level parking facilities, dormitories, toilet blocks, upgradation of restaurants by speaking to all stakeholders...all those things have been taken care of," he said.
These corridors include the four-lane 13-km Ram Path and about two-km Dharm Path adorned with 40 Surya Stambhs -- the showpiece streets of Ayodhya -- and Bhakti Path and Ramjanmabhoomi Path, for which the government had to undertake a massive demolition exercise before the beginning of construction work.
"Now, in the next phase, the four big-ticket projects are widening and redevelopment of Panchkosi Parikrama Marg and Chaudahkosi Parikrama Marg, both will be 21-metre wide, Chaurasikosi Parikrama Marg, and the Ring Road. Large-scale demolitions have already been done along these pilgrimage circuits. Similar to what Ram Path appears, you will have these massive roads through the city also," Dayal told PTI.
The road-widening exercise along the main road, now called Ram Path -- running from Sahadatganj in Faizabad town to Naya Ghat Chouraha in Ayodhya -- took about a year and was completed this January.
The project affected about 3,100 properties, including over 2,200 shops, and very old houses and other structures, which were either partially or fully demolished, as per official data. Some of these buildings had ornamental facades, and the administration had to face resistance from owners or occupants of many of these properties.
"There will always be some losses, if you want to make big gains... What is of the utmost importance to the city, it is Lord Ram's temple. People had been struggling for 500 years," the divisional commissioner said.
"All theses buildings were 150-200 years old. They will come up again, and when the city grows, you will get more money, you will construct more beautiful buildings," he added.
"There were very good buildings, even along Panchkosi Marg and Chaudahkosi Marg, and "we have tried to save as much as possible, and many trees have been saved through smart realignment," Dayal said.
However, the local administration has ensured that the three new road corridors, which have been built in the main city, bear uniform facades, and has installed ornamental lamp posts whose designs are in sync with the ethos of Ayodhya.
The Ram Path, the largest section of which is 20-metre wide, is adorned with "specially curated" ornamental lamp posts bearing a design that depicts 'Ramanadi tilak' and other associated religious symbols. Other sections of Ram Path bear different aesthetic designs, and Bhakti Path too is lined with specially designed lamp posts.
"We have very carefully planned each and every element of the streets. I asked all the big agencies, don't give me traditional things, tell me what you can create for Ayodhya," Dayal said.
Buildings in Ayodhya located along Ram Path and Bhakti Path bear uniform facade design implemented by Ayodhya Development Authority (ADA).
The Ram Path project cost about Rs 800 crore, including the compensation that was granted to affected parties identified by authorities, and another Rs 40 crore was spent on carrying out the work for making uniform facades along Ram Path, Bhakti Path and Ramjanmabhoomi Path, he said.
12:51 'My husband was attacked in US, please help!'
The wife of the Indian student who was allegedly brutally attacked in Chicago has written to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar requesting his assistance in getting him medical aid.
The student Syed Mazahir Ali pursuing a master's degree in the US was attacked by three people in Chicago on Sunday, according to his wife Syeda Ruquiya Fatima Razvi. She said that she received a call from her husband's friend on February 4 in which she got to know about the attack on Ali.
Razvi told ANI, "My husband, Mazahir Ali, went to Chicago. On the fourth of February, there was a deadly attack on him. He was going home at around 1 am when three people got out of the car and attacked him. They also attacked them with a gun. My friend called me and I got to know at around 4 am that he was attacked. At around 6 am, I got a WhatsApp video which showed that he was bleeding heavily. After that, I couldn't talk to him much."
"He is very injured. He has suffered injuries and mentally his health is not stable. The government has not given him any special medical treatment. I am appealing to the local government to help me so that he can have a medical and legal action. So that he can have medical help as he is not in a state to talk. I am requesting the Ministry of External Affairs and the Government of India to issue an emergency visa for me so that I can go to my husband and support him with my three children," she added.
She has also written a letter to Jaishankar, seeking his help in getting medical treatment for her husband and if possible, making necessary arrangements so that she can travel to the US along with her minor children. -- ANI
12:36 Pawar vs Pawar: 'Real' NCP moves Supreme Court
The Ajit Pawar faction on Wednesday filed a caveat in the Supreme Court seeking a hearing if the Sharad Pawar group moves before it challenging an Election Commission order recognising the party led by the Maharashtra deputy chief minister as the real Nationalist Congress Party.
The caveat has been filed through advocate Abhikalp Pratap Singh to ensure that no ex-parte order is passed against the Ajit Pawar faction if the other group moves the top court.
On Tuesday, the Election Commission (EC) announced that the Ajit Pawar faction is the real NCP, in a major setback to party founder Sharad Pawar. The poll panel also allotted the NCP symbol 'clock' to the group led by Ajit Pawar.
The decision followed the laid-out tests of maintainability of such a petition which included tests of aims and objectives of the party constitution, test of party constitution and tests of majority both organisational and legislative, the EC said. PTI
12:15 Newsclick HR head moves HC seeking bail in UAPA case
NewsClick's Human Resources department chief Amit Chakravarty on Wednesday urged the Delhi High Court to grant him bail in the case lodged against the news portal under anti-terror law UAPA over allegations that it received money to spread pro-China propaganda.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma reserved the order on the bail plea by Chakravarty, who turned an approver in the case last month, after the police said it has no objections if the relief is granted to him. Chakravarty's lawyer said that he has been granted pardon in the case by the trial court and was also cooperating in the probe.
"I have been in custody since October 3, 2023, and still the matter is at the stage of investigation. No chargesheet is filed," the lawyer told the court quoting Chakravarty.
Special Judge Hardeep Kaur had last month allowed Chakravarty to turn an approver and pardoned him. Chakravarty has claimed that he was in possession of "material information" about the case which he was willing to disclose to the Delhi Police. -- PTI
The boy was named after the cricket icon
11:59 Named after Tendulkar, this Sachin is also a master blaster
His police officer mother didn't want cricket to be Sachin Dhas' focus in life but the father knew that he was destined to make it big on the 22-yard strip despite spending a better part of his life training on 11-yard grass tracks that pass for infrastructure in his hometown Beed.
The 19-year-old Dhas is among the brightest prospects to emerge in the Indian team that is competing in the Under-19 World Cup in South Africa. He has displayed superb game sense as the team's designated finisher with 294 runs at an above 100 strike rate.
On Tuesday, his 96-run knock, along with skipper Uday Saharan's 81, was a key factor in ensuring that India sneaked into the age-group showpiece's final for a fifth consecutive time.
"You only have half pitches over here (in Beed). Sachin came here with his father when he was four and a half years old and even before going to South Africa, he trained on half turfs," said an ecstatic Sheikh Azhar, the area's most famous coach who shaped Dhas' early years.
For a country which produces phenomenal cricketing talent often not because of, but despite the system, Sachin's emergence as the next big thing from junior India stable shouldn't come as a surprise.
Named after the iconic Mumbaikar, who is synonymous with Indian cricket, Sachin is a fan of Virat Kohli, the modern great he has perhaps seen more closely although he wears the number 10 jersey which was owned by Tendulkar in every sense of the word.
"I named him after Sachin Tendulkar when he was born in 2005 because I was a huge fan but he also likes Virat Kohli a lot," declared his beaming father Sanjay when PTI reached out to him to understand how Sachin was shaped into the promising talent he is now.
"Sachin ka koi dost nahi hai. Main hi uska dost hun. Koi shaadi, koi janamdin kahin gaya nahi. Cricket se focus hate, aisa kuch karne maine diya hi nahi (He has no friends. I am his only friend. I have never allowed him to attend marriages, birthday parties so that his focus never wavers)," he said.
"Uski mummy police mein hain toh discipline hai (His mom is in police and there is discipline in him)," added the proud father, whose phone hasn't stopped ringing thanks to his son's achievements at the mega-event.
Sachin bats at No. 6, where either one is expected to go for big shots during slog overs or be the saviour after a top-order collapse like it happened in the semifinal when he arrived at the crease with the score-sheet reading 31/4. What followed was a batting master-class under pressure.
11:41 Court order on ED plea against Kejriwal at 4pm
A Delhi court is likely to pronounce at 4 pm on Wednesday its order on a complaint filed by the Enforcement Directorate against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over non-compliance of summons in the alleged excise policy money laundering case.
"I am posting the matter for order at 4 PM," Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Divya Malhotra said. The judge reserved the order after the ED submitted that it has concluded the arguments in the matter.
The ED had on February 3 filed a fresh complaint case against Kejriwal for non-compliance of its summons. Kejriwal on Friday last skipped the fifth summons, which the ED issued to him on Wednesday.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor had earlier written a letter to the ED, terming the summonses as "illegal and politically motivated". He alleged they were aimed at preventing him from campaigning in elections. -- PTI
11:08 Firecracker unit blast: 100+ hospitalised, 2 missing
More than 100 people were still undergoing treatment at different hospitals in Madhya Pradesh while two persons were missing a day after a blast rocked a firecrackers factory in Harda town and caused fire, officials said on Wednesday.
Rescue operations continued through the night at the site of the incident which claimed 11 lives and left more than 200 people injured, they said. The incident took place on Tuesday at the firecrackers unit located in the Bairagarh locality on Magardha Road, on the outskirts of Harda town, approximately 150 km from the state capital Bhopal.
Sub Divisional Officer of Police BS Maurya, who was posted at the district hospital in Harda, on Wednesday morning said he has a list of 217 people, of whom 11 have died.
Among those injured, 73 people were admitted to the district hospital. These included 51 factory workers and 22 people living in the vicinity of the explosion site, he said. Maurya said 38 injured people were referred to other cities for treatment, while 95 were discharged. Two persons are reported to be missing, he added.
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10:49 Centre owes Karnataka 1lakh crore, protests begin
Karnataka minister Satish Jarkiholi on Wednesday said that the Congress government in the southern state is holding a planned protest here in the national capital as over Rs 1 lakh crore due to them from the Centre.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar along with the state cabinet are here (Delhi) for a protest named Chalo Delhi in Jantar Mantar at 11 am on Wednesday against the central government's tax devolution policies to the state.
Siddaramaiah has accused the Central Government of economic disparities, saying that his government stands against the unfair treatment in tax devolution and grants for 'Kannadigas'.
While speaking to ANI, Karnataka minister Jarkiholi said that the Central government should listen to their demands.
"Over Rs 1 lakh crore is due to Karnataka. For this, we held meetings with the Union Home Minister, Union Finance Minister, but to date, we have not received our money. We are protesting for this. The government should listen as our demands are right. So many people have come with the Chief Minister, it is the duty of the Central Government to speak on this," Jarkiholi said.
10:34 How Adani benefitted from Modi govt
How the Modi government gave early permissions for the Rs 19,000-cr Adani Energy Projects in India's oldest forests. Read the report here.
Acharya Pramod Krishnam with the PM
10:14 Nitish performed last rites of INDIA: Cong leader
Congress leader Acharya Pramod Krishnam, who is known for criticizing some decisions of the party, said on Tuesday that the opposition INDIA bloc no longer exists in reality.
He said that soon after its creation, the alliance faced numerous issues, and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, a prominent ally of the INDIA bloc, performed its "last rites."
His remarks came after the recent Janata Dal (United) president Nitish Kumar returned to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance.
"I think there is no such thing as the INDIA Alliance. When the INDIA Alliance was created, it immediately contracted a lot of diseases right after its birth. Then it went to the ICU and ventilator. Nitish Kumar performed its last rites in Patna... I don't think it exists anymore," Krishnam said while speaking to ANI. Krishnam recently met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to invite them for the foundation-laying ceremony of 'Kalki Dham.' Krishnam also said that he met Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and invited him to the foundation-laying ceremony of 'Kalki Dham' in Sambhal district.
"I met the UP CM today and invited him to the foundation stone-laying ceremony of Shri Kalki Dham. I am confident that CM Yogi Adityanath will attend the event," he said.
When asked if the opposition leaders would come to the foundation stone-laying ceremony of Shri Kalki Dham, Krishnam said, "It is fortunate to receive an invitation to 'Bhagwan Ka Dwar.' But not attending it after receiving the invitation is a misfortune." -- ANI
09:57 Discounts fail to fire up e2w sales
Registrations of electric two-wheelers have not seen a pick-up in the first month of 2024 despite substantial discounts being offered by startups Ola Electric and Ather Energy. The number stood at over 70,044 vehicles till January 30, which is lower than 73,294 registrations in December last year.
However, Bajaj Auto and TVS, the two incumbent players in the market, have refrained from joining the discounting game. Even so, they have collectively been able to exceed their registrations in January 2024 over December last year.
The lacklustre performance is evident from the fact that the total registrations for electric two-wheelers in the first 10 months of FY24, according to VAHAN data, was 0.68 million.
Although this was the number for the entire year of FY23, industry estimates at the start of FY24 had projected registrations of 1.2 million.
-- Surajeet Das Gupta/Business Standard
-- Surajeet Das Gupta/Business Standard
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09:48 Nitish to meet PM today just ahead of trust vote
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Wednesday, a senior JD(U) leader said. This would be his first visit to the national capital and first meeting with Modi after Kumar ditched the Mahagathbandhan alliance to return to the NDA in Bihar on January 28.
The meeting will take place only five days ahead of the Kumar government scheduled to face a trust vote on February 12. Kumar is also expected to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president J P Nadda in the national capital. Bihar Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, both from the BJP, called on the PM on Monday.
According to JD(U) sources, issues pertaining to Rajya Sabha polls in the state may also be discussed during the CM's meeting with top BJP leaders. Six Rajya Sabha seats in Bihar are falling vacant, for which elections are scheduled to be held on February 27.
Of the six seats, two are currently with the JD(U), held by former party president Bashishth Narayan Singh and senior leader Aneel Hegde, while two are with the RJD, held by Manoj Kumar Jha and Misa Bharti. One seat is held by BJP's Sushil Kumar Modi, who was earlier a deputy chief minister, and one with the Congress, held by its state unit president Akhilesh Prasad Singh. Their terms are scheduled to end on April 2. -- PTI
09:20 Villager killed by Naxalites in Chhattisgarh
A man has been killed by Naxalites in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district, police said on Wednesday.
The body of Michcha Hadma was found on a road on the outskirts of his village Timapur under Basaguda police station limits on Tuesday, a police official said.
As per preliminary information, a group of unidentified Naxalites attacked him with an axe following which he died on the spot, he said.
After being alerted, a police team went to the spot and the body was shifted for post-mortem, the official said.
The exact reason behind the murder was yet to be ascertained, he said, adding that a search operation has been launched in the area to trace the assailants. -- PTI
09:18 Woman raped for a week, burned with hot dal in Delhi
A woman hailing from West Bengal's Darjeeling was allegedly raped in New Delhi for a week by her friend who also thrashed and tortured her by "pouring hot dal", police said on Tuesday.
The accused, identified as Paras (28), was booked for rape, sodomy, and causing hurt. He was arrested on February 2, they added.
The woman had been staying with Paras for around a month in a rented accommodation in Raju Park in south Delhi's Neb Sarai area, the police said.
According to the police, the incident came to light on January 30, when the Neb Sarai police station received a PCR call informing that a woman was being beaten by her husband.
A police team rushed to the spot, rescued the woman and rushed her to AIIMS, officials said.
The woman had around 20 injury marks on her body when she was hospitalised. She was recently discharged, they added.
"When police enquired about the matter, the victim stated that she hailed from Darjeeling in West Bengal and came in contact with the accused over the phone," a senior police officer said.
She befriended Paras and was in touch with him for the last 3-4 months, the officer said.
The woman was supposed to reach Bengaluru in the first week of January as she had got a job of a house maid, the officer said.
As she had a train via Delhi, she decided to take a halt and meet Paras who then asked her to stay here and even assured to help her find a job. On his assurance, she stayed with him in a rented accommodation in Raju Park, the officer added.
However, as the days passed, the accused allegedly started beating her up and even sexually assaulted her for a week, the officer said quoting the victim.
At one instance, Paras even allegedly "poured hot dal (lentils) over her" due to which she suffered burn injuries, the officer added.
Based on the woman's complaint, the police registered an FIR on January 30 under sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 376 (rape) and 377 (sodomy) of the Indian Penal Code and arrested the accused on February 2, the police officer further said.
Paras hails from Uttarakhand and worked as a cook at an eatery here, the police said.
Further probe in the matter is underway, they added. -- PTI
08:39 Boat from Kuwait intercepted at Gateway of India
The Mumbai Police on Tuesday launched a probe after a boat from Kuwait with three persons on board arrived at the Gateway of India, an official said.
Prima facie, nothing suspicious was found on the boat.
The trio hail from Tamil Nadu. The boat has been checked after it was anchored at the Gateway of India, he said.
Further investigation is underway, the official added.
Notably, ten Pakistani terrorists who launched the terror strike in Mumbai in November 2008 had arrived from the sea route. -- PTI
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01:40 India asks its citizens in Myanmar's Rakhine to leave at once after violence
India on Tuesday asked its citizens in Myanmar's Rakhine state to leave the troubled-region immediately in view of deteriorating security situation.
In its first advisory following the spike in violence, the ministry of external affairs asked Indians not to travel to the Rakhine state because of the prevailing situation, including disruption in telecommunication network and scarcity of essential commodities.
"In view of the deteriorating security situation, disruption of means of telecommunications, including landlines, and severe scarcity of essential commodities, all Indian citizens are advised not to travel to the Rakhine State of Myanmar," it said.
"Those Indian citizens who are already in the Rakhine State are advised to leave the State immediately," the MEA said.
Myanmar has been witnessing wide-spread violent protests demanding restoration of democracy since the military seized power in a coup on February 1, 2021.
The Rakhine state and many other regions have witnessed severe fighting between armed ethnic groups and the Myanmarese military since October last year. -- PTI
00:51 Owners of MP firecrackers unit arrested; another man detained
Two owners of the firecrackers factory in Madhya Pradesh's Harda town, where an explosion and subsequent blaze killed 11 people and injured 174 others, were arrested by the police on Tuesday evening, hours after the tragic incident, officials said.
They were booked for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, among other charges, after an FIR was filed against them, they said.
Another person was detained in connection with the incident that occurred earlier in the day in the Bairagarh locality on Magardha Road on the outskirts of Harda town, approximately 150km from the state capital, Bhopal.
The two factory owners -- identified as Rajesh Agrawal and Somesh Agrawal -- were arrested from Sarangpur in Rajgarh district, while one more person named Rafiq Khan was detained in the evening, Harda superintendent of police Sanjeev Kanchan told reporters.
These accused were booked under Indian Penal Code Sections 304 (punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention), he said.
Khan was detained for questioning, the SP said without providing further details about him. -- PTI
00:36 Around 150 vehicles damaged in scrap yard fire in Mumbai
Around 150 vehicles parked in a scrap yard in suburban Bandra in Mumbai were damaged in a fire on Tuesday evening, a fire brigade official said.
Nobody was injured in the incident.
"The blaze erupted at around 6:30 pm. It was a level 1 fire and doused at around 8:14 pm," he said, adding that the exact cause of the fire cannot be known immediately. -- PTI
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00:34 UPI payments hit after snag in some banks' systems
Digital payments through the popular UPI platform were impacted on Tuesday evening because of some banks' systems facing a glitch, the National Payments Corporation of India said.
"Regret inconvenience on UPI connectivity as few of the banks are having some internal technical issues," the NPCI said on X.
NPCI added that its systems are "working fine" and it is working with the impacted banks to ensure quick resolution.
It, however, did not name the banks whose customers have been impacted.
Largest private sector lender HDFC Bank admitted its customers were among those impacted.
In response to some customers, HDFC Bank said it faced "some difficulties on UPI which seems to be part of a larger ecosystem", but was quick to add that it is now back in operations. -- PTI
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