LIVE
Sun, 21 January 2024
Gujarat: Stones pelted on Ram 'shobha yatra'
Timeline Refresh
21:09 Gujarat: Stones pelted on Ram 'shobha yatra'
Police fired teargas shells after stones were pelted on a 'shobha yatra' (procession) of Lord Ram in Gujarat's Mehsana district on Sunday, an official said.
The incident took place in Kheralu town on the eve of the idol consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh and three teargas shells had to be fired to control the situation, Inspector General of Police Virendrasingh Yadav said.
"Fifteen persons have been rounded up after a combing operation at the site. Police personnel accompanying the shobha yatra took immediate action to avert any (further) incident and brought the situation under control," the IG said.
No one seems to have been seriously injured in the stone pelting, he added.
The situation at the spot is peaceful and police patrolling has been intensified in the area, Yadav told reporters. -- PTI
IMAGE: Devotees gather outside an entrance gate on the eve of the 'pran pratishtha' (consecration) ceremony of Ram Temple, in Ayodhya on Sunday. Photograph: Shrikant Singh/ANI Photo
19:48 India to send back 276 Myanmarese soldiers
India will send back 276 Myanmarese soldiers who fled to Mizoram last week following gunfights with an ethnic insurgent group, an official said on Sunday.
With this repatriation, which will continue for two days -- Monday and Tuesday, more than 600 Myanmarese soldiers who fled to Mizoram will be sent back to their country, he said.
The 276 personnel will be airlifted by Myanmar air force planes from the Lengpui airport near Aizawl to Sittwe in the neighbouring country's Rakhine state, the Assam Rifles official told PTI.
They entered Bandukbanga village, located at the India-Myanmar-Bangladesh trijunction, in southernmost Mizoram's Lawngtlai district with arms and ammunition on 17 January and approached the Assam Rifles, she said.
They were taken to the nearby Assam Rifles camp at Parva, and later the majority of them were shifted to Lunglei, she added. They have been under the supervision of the Assam Rifles since then, the official said.
These 276 soldiers were brought to Aizawl over Saturday and Sunday for their transport to Myanmar from the Lengpui airport, she said.
The group is headed by a colonel, and has 36 officers and 240 lower-rank personnel, officials said.
Since November, 635 Myanmar soldiers have fled their country and entered Mizoram after their camps were overrun and captured by ethnic armed organisations and pro-democratic forces, officials said.
Of them, 359 soldiers have already been sent back to their country, they said.
While 104 Myanmar army personnel were sent to the border town of Moreh in Manipur from different places in Mizoram by Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopters in November, 255 soldiers were moved via the Lengpui airport by Myanmar air force planes on January 2 and January 9, they said.
Mizoram shares a 510-km-long border with Myanmar. -- PTI
18:47 AI-based cameras, drones deployed in Ayodhya
A multi-layer security cover is in place in Ayodhya for the consecration ceremony at the Ram temple, with 10,000 CCTV cameras and drones equipped with artificial intelligence keeping an eye on the movement of people and police personnel in plain clothes deployed at the venue.
From Dharam Path and Ram Path in Ayodhya, which are witnessing a huge influx of devotees, to bylanes of the Hanumangarhi area and Asharfi Bhavan road, policemen can be seen patrolling the streets.
Uttar Pradesh Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) personnel had also conducted patrolling in Ayodhya on Saturday.
"Ayodhya is now under the watchful eye of drones equipped with artificial intelligence, alongside the utilisation of anti-mine drones, as part of the concerted efforts to enhance security in the temple town," a senior police official said.
While AI-supported drones are conducting aerial surveillance across Ayodhya, anti-mine drones are simultaneously inspecting the ground for mines or explosives, he said.
Operating at a height of one metre above the ground, the anti-mine drones are equipped with advanced technology like spectrometer wavelength detection for detecting underground explosives, the official said.
Movable barriers with barbed wires attached to them can be spotted almost at every prominent crossing in the city, as policemen use them to regulate traffic especially during VVIP movements.
"The 'pran pratishtha' ceremony, which will be held on Monday, is going to be a historic event. For this, the Uttar Pradesh Police has made elaborate security arrangements and along with it, security has been ensured for every road along the entire red zone, yellow zone and Ayodhya district," Director General (DG), Law and Order, Prashant Kumar had recently said.
To ensure better security arrangements at the programme venue in Ayodhya, technology is being used on a large scale.
"For this, 10,000 CCTV cameras have been installed in the entire Ayodhya district. In some of these CCTV cameras, we are using AI-based technology so that we can maintain a strict vigil on commuters," the DG said.
Police personnel with multi-lingual skills will be deployed in plain clothes at the programme venue.
The senior police official also said the security along the Saryu river has also been increased with the help of NDRF and SDRF teams.
"We are coordinating with other agencies. Checking is going on at the international and inter-state borders. Police will use drones for crowd control and for diversion of excess crowd," he had said. -- PTI
18:09 Constructed Ram Temple to last a thousand years: L&T
Engineering and construction conglomerate Larsen & Toubro (L&T) on Sunday said that it has designed and built the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh.
The much-awaited Ram temple consecration will be held on Monday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the rituals, following which the shrine will be opened to the public a day later.
As mandated by the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, Larsen & Toubro has successfully designed and built the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Temple, establishing a new milestone in architectural grandeur, the construction firm said in a statement.
The temple stands within a 70-acre complex, with its design rooted in the ancient Nagara style of architecture.
Constructed to last a thousand years, the temple is 161.75 feet in height, 380 feet in length, and 249.5 feet in width.
It will be a three-story temple comprising five mandaps -- Nritya Mandap, Rang Mandap, Gudh Mandap, Kirtan Mandap, and Prarthana Mandap -- along with the Main Shikar.
"In designing and constructing the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Mandir, we express our heartfelt gratitude to the Government...." L&T Chairman and Managing Director S N Subrahmanyan said.
L&T is a $23 billion Indian multinational engaged in engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) projects, Hi-Tech manufacturing and services.
It operates in over 50 countries worldwide. -- PTI
17:21 Man held for threatening to blow up Ram temple
A 21-year-old man has been arrested in Araria district of Bihar for calling up the police and threatening to 'blow up' the Ram temple in Ayodhya on January 22, a senior official said on Sunday.
Intekhab Alam, the caller, was arrested from his home at Balua Kaliyaganj in Palasi police station area late on Saturday, Superintendent of Police of Araria, Ashok Kumar Singh, said.
"The man had on January 19 dialled 112, the number on which citizens can seek emergency help. He claimed his name was Chhota Shakeel and that he was a close aide of Dawood Ibrahim," Singh told PTI.
"Alam said over phone that he would blow up the Ram temple in Ayodhya on January 22... he does not have a criminal record, but seems to be mentally unstable," the SP said.
Singh said 'in view of the sensitivity of the issue', a case has been registered at Palasi police station. His mobile phone has also been seized by police.
The police officer said 'as soon as the call was received, details were shared with the cyber cell. The mobile number from which he had made the call was found to be registered in the name of his father'.
The consecration ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya is scheduled to be held on January 22. -- PTI
Intekhab Alam, the caller, was arrested from his home at Balua Kaliyaganj in Palasi police station area late on Saturday, Superintendent of Police of Araria, Ashok Kumar Singh, said.
"The man had on January 19 dialled 112, the number on which citizens can seek emergency help. He claimed his name was Chhota Shakeel and that he was a close aide of Dawood Ibrahim," Singh told PTI.
"Alam said over phone that he would blow up the Ram temple in Ayodhya on January 22... he does not have a criminal record, but seems to be mentally unstable," the SP said.
Singh said 'in view of the sensitivity of the issue', a case has been registered at Palasi police station. His mobile phone has also been seized by police.
The police officer said 'as soon as the call was received, details were shared with the cyber cell. The mobile number from which he had made the call was found to be registered in the name of his father'.
The consecration ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya is scheduled to be held on January 22. -- PTI
17:02 Shinde 'not attending Ram Temple event', but...
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday said he plans to take his cabinet as well as MLAs and Lok Sabha MPs from the state for 'darshan' to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya later and, hence, was not attending the idol consecration ceremony on January 22.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Tata Marathon held in Mumbai in the morning, the CM said, "Instead of a handful of people attending the consecration ceremony at Ayodhya, I would like to take all state cabinet members as well as MLAs and parliamentarians later."
"The temple is about our faith and pride. I would also like to take officials and devotees to the Ram Temple," he added.
Shinde said ahead of Monday's ceremony, instructions have been given to officials to carry out a cleanliness drive in temples and also decorate them with lights.
Earlier in the day, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis too had told reporters in Nagpur that he would visit Ayodhya in February for 'Ram seva'. -- PTI
16:23 6 fresh Covid deaths reported in country
India has logged 290 fresh cases of Covid, while the number of active cases of the infection has been recorded at 2,059, the health ministry said on Sunday.
Six deaths-- four from Kerala and one each from Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh -- have been reported in a span of 24 hours, according to the ministry's data updated at 8 am.
The number of daily cases had dropped to double-digits till December 5, 2023 but they again began to increase after emergence of a new variant and cold weather conditions.
A single day rise of 841 new cases were reported on December 31, 2023 which is 0.2 per cent of the peak cases reported in May 2021, official sources said.
Of the total active cases, a large majority of these (around 92 per cent) are recovering under home isolation.
"The currently available data suggests that the JN.1 variant is neither leading to an exponential rise in new cases nor a surge in hospitalisation and mortality," the sources stated.
India has witnessed three waves of COVID-19 in the past with the peak incidence of daily new cases and deaths being reported in the Delta wave during April-June 2021.
At its peak, 4,14,188 new cases and 3,915 deaths were reported on May 7, 2021.
Since the pandemic began in early 2020, more than 4.5 crore people have got infected and over 5.3 lakh people have died across the country due to the infection.
The number of people who have recuperated from the disease stands at over 4.4 crore with a national recovery rate of 98.81 per cent, according to the ministry's website.
According to the website, 220.67 crore doses of Covid vaccines have so far been administered in the country. -- PTI
15:43 Himachal's Cong govt announces holiday on Jan 22
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Sunday announced a public holiday on January 22 in view of the consecration ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
Sukhu visited the Ram temple in Shimla during the day and also appealed to the people of the state to light earthen lamps at home on the occasion.
"The central government has announced a half-day holiday on January 22 but we are announcing a full-day holiday...," he told reporters outside the temple.
Apparently referring to the Bharatiya Janata Party, the chief minister further said, "Lord Ram does not belong to a particular political party, he is everyone's ideal and the culture of the country."
"I will light a lamp in my house and encourage others to do the same. I will visit the temple in Ayodhya soon," Sukhu said.
He further said that a statue of Lord Ram would be built in Jakhu.
The 'pran pratishtha' at the Ram temple in Ayodhya will take place on January 22 and will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries. -- PTI
15:29 Lord Ram is our pride and culture: Ramayan actor Arun Govil
Lord Ram is an integral part of India's culture and its identity, says Ramayan star Arun Govil, who is looking forward to attending the historic consecration ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya on Monday.
The actor, who became a household name after essaying the role of Lord Ram in Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan, has been invited for the grand event along with his co-star Dipika Chikhlia, who portrayed Goddess Sita in the 1987 TV serial.
"Lord Ram is our pride, culture, country's identity, and self-respect. The courage of Lord Ram, the seriousness, the thought process, the respect given to elders, and all these elements that are in our culture... Everything is Ram," Govil told PTI in an interview.
The 66-year-old actor said he was not the first choice to play Lord Ram in the classic show.
"I had told Ramanand Sagar ji in the beginning itself that I only wanted to play the character of Lord Ram... When I was rejected, the role was offered to somebody else. But, I was brought back for the role," he recalled.
While Ramayan brought Govil love and adulation, roles also dried up for him as it was difficult for filmmakers to imagine him in any different avatar.
The actor, however, said no other character would have earned him this level of respect. His latest film 695, based on the Ram temple movement, released in theatres on Friday.
"There were many pluses and minuses of this (Ramayan) in professional life. At that time, I was doing good work in films, but after this, I was not able to work in films. At that point of time, I felt that it had become a minus for me.
"Even if I had done 500 films, the love and respect, which I get today, would be missing. Today, the respect that I get for immortalising the role of Lord Ram on screen is unparalleled. People still say 'Humare Ram toh aap hee hain' (You are our Lord Ram)" Govil added.
Prem Sagar, who provided special effects for his father Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan, termed the consecration ceremony 'historic'.
While he has not been invited for the event, Prem Sagar said he will visit the temple later.
"If I don't go there, will there be any drop of Ram bhakti in me?" he added.
The making of Ramayan was accomplished by 'divine intervention', recounted Prem Sagar.
"Had there been no divine intervention, Ramayan would not have been made. On January 16, 1987, Ramayan was greenlit, and on January 25, 1987, it was scheduled to be aired. Studios had to be arranged, the actors were selected, but nothing was ready. However, Ramayan aired every week without any problem," he said.
Ramanand Sagar was a film director known for movies such as Ankhen, Baghavat and Prem Bandhan.
Prem Sagar said his father decided to foray into the small screen after he was introduced to colour TV while shooting for the 1976 film Charas, starring Dharmendra and Hema Malini, in Switzerland.
"One evening, after the shooting got over, we were having tea in the French Alps. That's when a Frenchman came in with a big box. As soon as he pushed a button, a film started playing. We were left speechless. Subsequently, we came to know that it was a colour TV. Papaji saw that and resolved to make Ramayan for the small screen," he said. -- PTI
14:47 Old Ram Lalla idol to be placed in front of new
The old idol of Ram Lalla, kept in a makeshift shrine, will be placed in front of the new idol which will be consecrated at the temple here on January 22, said Govind Dev Giri, the treasurer of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.
He also said that more than Rs 1,100 crore has so far been spent in constructing the Ram Temple and another Rs 300 crore might be needed to complete the work.
A 51-inch Ram Lalla idol was placed in the sanctum sanctorum of the Ram temple last week.
Three idols of Lord Ram were built from which the one sculpted by Mysuru-based sculptor Arun Yogiraj has been selected for 'Pran Prathistha'.
When asked what would happen to the other two idols, the treasurer of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust said, "We shall place them in the temple with all honour and respect. One of the idols will be kept with us since we will need it to measure the clothes and ornaments of Prabhu Shri Ram."
About the original Ram Lalla idol, Giri said, "It will be placed in front of Ram Lalla. The original idol is very important. It is five to six inches in height and cannot be seen from a distance of 25 to 30 feet. That is why we needed a bigger idol."
When asked about the cost incurred in constructing the Ram temple he said, "More than Rs 1,100 crore have been spent and it is likely that Rs 300 crore more will be needed since the construction is not complete yet. One storey is completed and we are going to build one more storey."
On the selection of the Ram Lalla idol sculpted by Arun Yogiraj, Giri said, "It was very difficult for us to choose one idol out of three. All of them are very beautiful all followed the criteria provided by us."
"The first criterion was that the face should be child-like with a divine glow. Lord Ram was "ajaanbaahu" (a person whose arms reach near the knees). So the arms should be of that length."
The one chosen for the consecration ceremony was 'stout and had a good personality'. The limbs were in the correct proportion, the treasurer of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust said.
"The delicate nature of the child was also visible to us while the ornaments were also very nicely and delicately engraved. It increased the beauty of the idol," he said.
Asked how much time the trust members took to select the best among the three idols, Giri said, "I went to Ayodhya every month and visited the places where the idols were being carved. Those sites were barred from the public. The sculptors took around four to five months to build the idols. After those were finished, we took a look at the idols for a day and took a decision."
After 500 years, a special event is being organised in India, and 'we see it as Deepavali', he said.
"We celebrate Diwali each year, but this is a historic one. After so much struggle, Lord Ram will be seated in his original place with love and respect. This is the feeling which is prevailing in the country."
Giri said that the youths of the country are tilting towards spiritualism.
"They are intellectuals. They think logically and need scientific proof. Yet they are engrossed in spiritual and nationalistic emotions."
Taking a jibe at those making snide comments on Sanatan Dharma, he said people must understand what Dharma means.
"It is neither religion nor is it the way of worship. Dharma is the underlying laws that govern nature and faith. You may or may not believe in science but scientific principles exist. In the same way, the principles of Dharma are eternal. People who understand and follow them benefit while those who ignore them don't gain any benefit," Giri added. -- Arunav Sinha/PTI
He also said that more than Rs 1,100 crore has so far been spent in constructing the Ram Temple and another Rs 300 crore might be needed to complete the work.
A 51-inch Ram Lalla idol was placed in the sanctum sanctorum of the Ram temple last week.
Three idols of Lord Ram were built from which the one sculpted by Mysuru-based sculptor Arun Yogiraj has been selected for 'Pran Prathistha'.
When asked what would happen to the other two idols, the treasurer of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust said, "We shall place them in the temple with all honour and respect. One of the idols will be kept with us since we will need it to measure the clothes and ornaments of Prabhu Shri Ram."
About the original Ram Lalla idol, Giri said, "It will be placed in front of Ram Lalla. The original idol is very important. It is five to six inches in height and cannot be seen from a distance of 25 to 30 feet. That is why we needed a bigger idol."
When asked about the cost incurred in constructing the Ram temple he said, "More than Rs 1,100 crore have been spent and it is likely that Rs 300 crore more will be needed since the construction is not complete yet. One storey is completed and we are going to build one more storey."
On the selection of the Ram Lalla idol sculpted by Arun Yogiraj, Giri said, "It was very difficult for us to choose one idol out of three. All of them are very beautiful all followed the criteria provided by us."
"The first criterion was that the face should be child-like with a divine glow. Lord Ram was "ajaanbaahu" (a person whose arms reach near the knees). So the arms should be of that length."
The one chosen for the consecration ceremony was 'stout and had a good personality'. The limbs were in the correct proportion, the treasurer of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust said.
"The delicate nature of the child was also visible to us while the ornaments were also very nicely and delicately engraved. It increased the beauty of the idol," he said.
Asked how much time the trust members took to select the best among the three idols, Giri said, "I went to Ayodhya every month and visited the places where the idols were being carved. Those sites were barred from the public. The sculptors took around four to five months to build the idols. After those were finished, we took a look at the idols for a day and took a decision."
After 500 years, a special event is being organised in India, and 'we see it as Deepavali', he said.
"We celebrate Diwali each year, but this is a historic one. After so much struggle, Lord Ram will be seated in his original place with love and respect. This is the feeling which is prevailing in the country."
Giri said that the youths of the country are tilting towards spiritualism.
"They are intellectuals. They think logically and need scientific proof. Yet they are engrossed in spiritual and nationalistic emotions."
Taking a jibe at those making snide comments on Sanatan Dharma, he said people must understand what Dharma means.
"It is neither religion nor is it the way of worship. Dharma is the underlying laws that govern nature and faith. You may or may not believe in science but scientific principles exist. In the same way, the principles of Dharma are eternal. People who understand and follow them benefit while those who ignore them don't gain any benefit," Giri added. -- Arunav Sinha/PTI
14:03 ISRO releases satellite image of Ram Temple
The Hyderabad-based National Remote Sensing Centre of the Indian Space Research Organisation has provided a glimpse of the newly built Ram Temple in Ayodhya from space.
Taken from the Indian Remote Sensing Satellite hovering over space, the image shared by ISRO on Sunday shows the grand new temple which will be inaugurated on January 22.
The image, which was taken on December 16, last year, also shows Dasharath Mahal, the Ayodhya Railway Station and the pious Sarayu river.
The consecration will take place on Monday amid the Vedic hymns in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, among others. -- PTI
13:42 Goa casinos to remain shut for 8 hours on January 22
The operations of all casinos in Goa will remain shut for eight hours from 8 am on Monday as a mark of respect for the consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, an official from a casino management company said on Sunday.
There are six off shore casinos and several on shore casinos operating in Goa.
The off shore casino vessels are anchored in the Mandovi river near state capital Panaji.
It has been decided that all the casinos will close their operations from 8 am to 4 pm on Monday, Shrinivas Nayak, director of the Majestic Pride group which operates some of these casinos, told PTI.
"When everyone is keeping their businesses closed and holidays have been declared to participate in this once-in-a-lifetime event, why should we not do it," he said.
The Goa government has already declared a holiday on Monday for all government, semi-government and autonomous bodies on the occasion of the Ram temple consecration ceremony in Ayodhya city of Uttar Pradesh. -- PTI
13:30 Uddhav sent Ram temple invite by speed post
Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray president and former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has been sent an invitation by speed post for the Ram temple consecration ceremony to be held in Ayodhya on Monday.
Sena-UBT MP Sanjay Raut hit out at the government over the manner in which the Thackeray family has been treated.
Maharashtra minister Uday Samant, who belongs to the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, said speed post is used to ensure the invitation reaches faster and it has been done.
However, Raut reacted sharply to the speed post invite saying, "You worship Lord Ram, and rule like Ravan (demon king). Lord Ram will curse you. All film stars are invited but the Thackeray family that has been closely associated with movement is treated in such a manner."
Uddhav Thackeray will be in Nashik for a two-day visit from Monday.
He will offer prayers at the Kalaram temple there and perform a 'maha aarti' on the Godavari river bank on Monday.
On Tuesday, he will participate in a day-long convention of his party in Nashik.
The much-awaited Ram temple consecration will be held in Ayodhya city of Uttar Pradesh on Monday in a grand ceremony with Prime Minister Narendra Modi attending the rituals, following which the shrine will be opened for the public a day later.
While more than 7,000 people are in the long list of invitees, the select list features 506 A-listers.
Those attending the 'Pran Prathishtha' also include people linked to the agitation for the temple at the Ram Janmabhoomi.
Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, business tycoons Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani, and sporting icon Sachin Tendulkar are among the prominent people to be invited.
Almost all opposition leaders invited to the ceremony have declined to attend the ceremony, with the Congress calling it a BJP-RSS event. -- PTI
13:15 Assam govt threatening people not to join Cong Yatra: Rahul
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday alleged that Assam's Bharatiya Janata Party-led government has been threatening people against joining the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra and also refusing permissions for programmes along the route.
But people are not afraid of the BJP, Gandhi claimed addressing a while public gathering at Biswanath Chariali, the headquarters of Biswanath district.
He also asserted that the party will win by huge margins against the BJP in the coming elections.
At the gathering, Gandhi said, "We don't make long speeches as part of the Yatra. We travel every day for 7-8 hours, listen to your issues and our aim is to raise these issues."
He alleged that people are being threatened against joining the Yatra and permissions are being denied to hold programmes along its routes while flags and banners of the Congress are being damaged in the state.
"They (government) think they can suppress the people. But they are not realising that this is not Rahul Gandhi's Yatra. It is a Yatra for the voice of the people," he said.
The Yatra re-entered Assam through Biswanath from Arunachal Pradesh on Sunday morning.
"Neither Rahul Gandhi nor the people of Assam are afraid of you. You can do whatever you want... When elections will come, Congress will defeat the BJP with massive margins," he said.
Gandhi also continued to target Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, terming him the 'most corrupt CM in the country'. -- PTI
12:28 AIIMS to remain open on January 22
All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi has clarified that all clinical services will remain open on January 22, 2024 to provide seamless and uninterrupted patient care.
12:01 Rashmika Mandanna thanks Delhi Police
Actor Rashmika
Mandanna has expressed gratitude towards Delhi Police after it arrested
a B-Tech graduate from Andhra Pradesh in connection with a deepfake
video of the Animal star that was widely circulated on social media.
The video went viral on social media in November which showed a woman,
dressed in a black workout onesie, stepping inside an elevator.
The
accused, who has been identified as 23-year-old Eemani Naveen, a native
of Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, had morphed British-Indian social media
personality Zara Patel's face using artificial intelligence (AI) to
resemble the actor.
On Saturday, Mandanna shared a note on her official
X page and tagged the handle of Delhi Police's Cyber Crime Unit.
'Expressing my heartfelt gratitude to @DCP_IFSO. Thank you for
apprehending those responsible. Feeling truly grateful for the community
that embraces me with love, support and shields me,' the 27-year-old
wrote.
'Girls and boys - if your image is used or morphed anywhere
without your consent. It is wrong! And I hope this is a reminder that
you are surrounded by people who will support you and action will be
taken!' Mandanna added in her post.
According to an official, the
accused had created the video to increase the followers on his fan page
of Mandanna on Instagram.
Deepfake is a digital method where users can
replace one person's likeness convincingly with that of another using AI
technology.
On November 10, an FIR was registered under sections 465
(punishment for forgery) and 469 (forgery for purpose of harming
reputation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and sections 66C and 66E of
the Information Technology Act at the Intelligence Fusion and Strategic
Operations (IFSO) Unit of the Delhi Police's Special Cell.
The case was
registered on the complaint of the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW).
Mandanna had received support from her colleagues including Amitabh
Bachchan, Mrunal Thakur and Naga Chaitanya when the deepfake video went
viral on social media. -- PTI
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during Nyay Yatra, in Jorhat, Assam/ANI Photo
11:29 Commandos to man Rahul's yatra route tomorrow: Himanta
The government will deploy commandos on sensitive routes of minority-dominated areas where Rahul Gandhi's Nyay Yatra will proceed on Sunday, the day the consecration of Ram temple in Ayodhya is to be held, said Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
More details soon. -- PTI
11:15 Modi visits Ram Setu's origin point, Arichal Munai, ahead of 'pran pratishtha'
In the last legs of his spiritual journey leading up to the pran pratishtha of Shri Ram Lalla in Ayodhya, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday paid a visit to the Arichal Munai in Tamil Nadu's Dhanushkodi.
Arichal Munai is believed to be the point from which the Ram Setu was built.
Prime Minister Modi was pictured offering a floral tribute at the Arichal Munai point.
Later in the day, Modi will visit Sri Kothandarama Swamy temple in Rameshwaram.
The name Kothandarama means Rama with the bow.
It is located in Dhanushkodi. According to popular belief, it was at this place that Ravana's brother Vibhishana first met Lord Ram and sought refuge.
According to legends and ancient scriptures, this is also the place where Lord Ram conducted the coronation of Vibhishana.
Dhanushkodi is place where Lord Ram is believed to have taken the vow to defeat Ravana and proceeded to Lanka. -- ANI
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra', in Nagaland/ANI Photo
11:08 Avoid visit to Assamese icon Sankardeva's birthplace tomorrow: Himanta to Rahul
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi should avoid visiting the birthplace of Srimanta Sankardeva at Batadrava on January 22, as there can be no competition between Lord Ram and the medieval age Vaishnav saint revered as an icon in the state.
Sarma said that commandos will be deployed along sensitive routes of minority-dominated areas to be taken by Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra on January 22, the day of the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
"We will request Rahul Gandhi not to visit Batadrava on Monday during the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple as it will reflect Assam in the wrong light," the chief minister said at a press conference in Guwahati.
He can go after the consecration ceremony without creating unnecessary competition which will be sad for Assam', he said. -- PTI
File image
11:03 Two criminals injured in police encounter in UP's Noida
Two criminals were injured during an encounter with police in Uttar Pradesh's Noida, police said on Sunday.
According to officials, the two miscreants, identified as Anuj and Nitin, were injured during an encounter around 5:00 a.m. at Noida Sector 49.
The accused, Anuj and Nitin, were wanted for stabbing a man identified as Mehndi Hasan to death at Baraula village in Noida on Saturday.
The victim was stabbed and sustained severe injuries.
He was admitted to a hospital nearby, where he died during the treatment, police said, adding that the reason behind the attack seemed to be an old enmity.
On Sunday, police were trying to chase both the accused, Anuj and Nitin, in order to arrest them.
The miscreants tried to escape and fired at the police.
The police claimed to have fired in retaliation after the accused, allegedly opened fire while trying to escape.
"The duo sustained injuries in the firing and have been taken to district hospital for treatment," the police said.
Further investigation into the case is underway, they added. -- ANI
Marlena Shaw/Courtesy X
10:48 'California Soul' singer Marlena Shaw passes away at 81
Celebrated soul and jazz vocalist Marlena Shaw, known for her hits California Soul and Woman of the Ghetto, passed away at the age of 81.
Shaw's daughter, Marla Bradshaw, shared the news Friday in a video posted on Facebook.
A cause of death was not revealed, Variety, a US-based media outlet reported.
"It's with a very heavy heart for myself and my family I announce that our beloved mother, your beloved icon and artist Marlena Shaw has passed away today at 12:03," Bradshaw said in the video, adding, "She was peaceful. We were at peace."
"She went listening to some of her favorite songs," Bradshaw added.
Shaw was born Marlina Burgess on September 22, 1942, in New Rochelle, New York. She began her music career in the 1960s by singing in jazz clubs, and continued to perform live into the 2000s.
She released 17 albums in total with eight different record labels, as per Variety.
Upon her dealth, Verve Records, who worked with Shaw in 1987, shared a statement on Facebook, writing, "We are saddened by the passing of Marlena Shaw, a wonderful singer whose California Soul is as popular today as it ever was and whose album It Is Love: Recorded Live At Vine St. helped relaunch the Verve label in 1987."
Shaw rose to prominence after signing with Chess Records in 1966. She released two albums with the music label's subsidiary Cadet Records: 1967's Out of Different Bags and 1969's The Spice of Life, which featured the popular tracks California Soul and Woman of the Ghetto. -- ANI
Laxmi Goud, 43 along with her son and daughter has created Ram Mandir at Juhu beach, Mumbai.
10:37 'Pran pratishtha' to be marked by grand musical event 'mangal dhwani'
As the euphoria and public expectations around the grand Ram Temple opening on Monday reached the proverbial crescendo, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust announced on Sunday that the pran pratishtha ceremony will be marked by a dazzling musical event titled mangal dhwani.
The soiree, featuring some of the biggest names in the world of music, will be staged 10 am on January 22.
The Trust said the programme will be make for a "momentous occasion for every Indian, bringing together diverse traditions in celebration and honour of Prabhu Shri Ram".
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the temple trust shared a few posts on the grand musical event with a message that read, "Immersed in devotion, the Prana Pratishtha ceremony at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya will be graced by the majestic mangal dhwani at 10 am.
Witness over 50 exquisite instruments from different states come together for this auspicious occasion, resonating for nearly two hours.
Orchestrated by Ayodhya's own Yatindra Mishra, this grand musical rendition is supported by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi."
"Unique instruments from various states, unite in divine orchestration. A momentous opportunity to embrace and revive the age-old traditions of Bharat," the Trust added.
A key aspect of the event will be the playing of traditional musical instruments such as pakhwaj, flute and dholak from UP, veena from Karnataka, sundari from Maharashtra, mardala from Odisha, santoor from MP, pung from Manipur, nagada and kali from Assam, tambura from Chhattisgarh, clarinet from Delhi, Ravanahatha from Rajasthan, shrikhol and sarod from West Bengal, ghatam from Andhra Pradesh, sitar from Jharkhand, santar from Gujarat, pakhawaj from Gujarat, hudka from Uttarakhand, and nagaswaram, tavil and mridangam from Tamil Nadu. -- ANI
Representational image
10:12 Several hurt in missile attacks on US airbase in Iraq
Several US personnel were wounded after Iran-backed militants in Western Iraq launched multiple rockets and ballistic missiles on Saturday (local time) targeting Washington's al-Assad Airbase in Western Iraq, said US Central Command.
CENTCOM said that several US personnel are undergoing evaluation for "traumatic brain injuries" and at least one Iraqi service member was wounded in the attack.
"At approximately 6:30 pm (Baghdad time) time Jan. 20, multiple ballistic missiles and rockets were launched by Iranian-backed militants in Western Iraq targeting al-Assad Airbase. Most of the missiles were intercepted by the base's air defense systems while others impacted on the base. Damage assessments are ongoing. A number of US personnel are undergoing evaluation for traumatic brain injuries. At least one Iraqi service member was wounded," the US Central Command informed on social media platform X.
Earlier on Saturday, the US conducted airstrikes against a Houthi anti-ship missile that was aimed into the Gulf of Aden and was prepared to launch, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said. Washington said its forces determined the missile presented a threat to merchant vessels and US Navy ships in the region and therefore struck and destroyed the missile in 'self-defence'. Recently, the US carried out another round of attack against the Houthi rebels in Yemen, destroying three anti-ship missiles in the Red Sea. The White House confirmed in a statement that this was the fourth preemptive action taken by the US military amid boiling tensions in the Red Sea. Notably, the US redesignated the Yemeni group as a "terrorist" organisation in response to its continuing attacks and threats to shipping and imposed sanctions on it. The designation does not go into effect for 30 days. The Houthis said the designation will not affect its operations to prevent Israeli ships or vessels heading to Israel from crossing the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. The Houthis, who support the Palestinian armed group Hamas, launched their attacks in response to Israel's war on Gaza. Their strikes have slowed trade between Asia and Europe and alarmed major world powers, Al Jazeera reported. (ANI)
Delhi airport/File image
09:39 Flight ops may be affected due to dense fog at Delhi airport
Flight operations may be affected at the Delhi airport due to the dense fog on Sunday, as per the Delhi airport.
Sharing a passenger advisory on its official X handle, the Delhi airport said that passengers are requested to contact the airline concerned for updated flight operations.
Any inconvenience caused is deeply regretted, it said.
While an official said that 11 Delhi-bound trains from various parts of the country are running late due to dense fog conditions on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the India meteorological department on Saturday predicted dense fog conditions on January 22 and 23 in the National Capital and fog conditions on the rest of the days.
The temperature will hover between 6 degrees and a maximum of 20 degrees until January 25. -- ANI
09:13 Modi to worship in Ram temple at Dhanushkodi in TN
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will offer prayers in Sri Kothandarama Swamy temple at Dhanushkodi in the district on Sunday and also visit Arichalmunai, which is said to be the place from where the Ram Setu was built.
The PM will perform pooja and darshan at Sri Kothandarama Swamy temple, officials said.
Kothandarama means Rama with the bow.
The PM will later wind up his 3-day tour of Tamil Nadu, during which he inaugurated the Khelo India Games 2023 in Chennai on Friday.
On Saturday, he visited the Sri Ranganathaswamy and Arulmigu Ramanathaswamy temples in Srirangam and Rameswaram , respectively.
His visit to the Tamil Nadu temples with a Ramayana connect comes just ahead of the consecration of the grand Shri Ram temple at Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh on Monday. -- PTI
MP ex-CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan
08:59 Defamation case ordered against Chouhan, MP BJP chief
A special court in Jabalpur on Saturday ordered registration of a criminal defamation case against Madhya Pradesh Bharatiya Janata Party chief VD Sharma, former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and ex-minister Bhupendra Singh on a petition by Congress' Rajya Sabha member Vivek Tankha.
In her order, Special court of judicial magistrate first class Vishveshwari Mishra for MPs and MLAs directed the registration of a defamation suit after prima facie finding sufficient evidence for trial, petitioner's counsel HS Chhabra said.
On April 29 last year, Tankha had recorded his preliminary statement in the court in the criminal defamation case.
Tankha, also a senior Supreme Court lawyer, alleged that the BJP leaders tarnished his image by claiming incorrectly that he was involved in a Supreme Court case related to Other Backward Class quota in Panchayat elections in 2021.
The former MP advocate general Tankha in his statement averred that neither had he participated in any court proceedings relating to the OBC reservation nor had he filed in any petition on the issue. -- PTI
08:37 Fire breaks out in Trikuta hills near Vaishno Devi shrine in J-K, no injuries
A fire broke out in Trikuta hills, located a few kilometres away from the Vaishno Devi shrine atop in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district, on Saturday night, officials said.
The fire is being brought under control by forest department, shrine board officials and security personnel, they said.
There were no reports of any loss of life or injuries. -- PTI
EAM S Jaishankar and UNGA President Dennis Francis/File image
08:28 UNGA president to visit India; to meet Jaishankar: Official
President of the United Nations General Assembly Dennis Francis is undertaking an official visit to India from January 22 to 26 during which he will visit New Delhi, Jaipur and Mumbai and also meet External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, according to an official statement issued by his office.
During his five-day trip, Francis will hold bilateral discussions with the India leadership and engage with civil society, leading think tanks, embark on field visits and participate in events related to sustainability, multilateralism, accessibility, and digital public infrastructure, among other engagements.
In New Delhi, the UN General Assembly president will hold a bilateral meeting with the External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar.
The discussions are expected to focus on the his priorities, ongoing geopolitical tensions, and India's engagement and contribution to the United Nations, reiteration of invitation to participate in the inaugural Sustainability Week (15-19 April 2024, in New York) and reflections on the Summit of the Future, which will take place in September 2024, in New York, the statement said. -- PTI
08:22 Probe how Ram Lalla idol's uncovered eyes leaked: Chief priest
The chief priest of the Ram temple in Ayodhya on Saturday demanded an investigation after photographs purportedly showing the uncovered eyes of the idol of Ram Lalla were leaked before its January 22 consecration.
The first image of the new idol placed inside the sanctum sanctorum of the temple with eyes covered with a cloth had surfaced on social media late Thursday night.
A day later, photos of the idol without the cover circulated on social media platforms.
"The eyes of Lord Ram's idol cannot be revealed before the pran pratishtha is completed. If the eyes can be seen, an investigation should be done on who revealed the eyes and how the pictures of the idol went viral on social media," chief priest Satyendra Das said.
Office bearers of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the temple trust rejected releasing any photographs. -- PTI
TOP STORIES
© 2024 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances