2 Guards Arrested For Assaulting Doctors, Staff At Kolkata Hospital: Cops

Two security guards were on Saturday arrested for allegedly assaulting doctors and other staff at a hospital in Cossipore area of the metropolis, police said.

The guards were likely in an inebriated condition, officials said.

"The matter is being probed. We have arrested them after receiving a complaint from the hospital authorities," an officer of Cossipore Police Station said.

A senior official of the hospital claimed that the guards had also threatened him with dire consequences.

"The two guards were intoxicated and assaulted the doctors and hospital staff. They have done this earlier, too, and we had complained to the health department in this regard," he said.

The hospital currently has 11 such security guards, he said.

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RBI Governor On Two Factors That Pulled GDP Growth Rate Down

The slowing of India's economic growth to a 15-month low of 6.7 per cent in the April-June quarter was due to "lower" government spending in the wake of the enforcement of the model code of conduct for the recent Lok Sabha polls, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said on Saturday.

The RBI had projected a growth rate of 7.1 per cent for the April-June quarter of this fiscal.

"The Reserve Bank projected a growth rate of 7.1 per cent for the first quarter. However, the first advance estimation data released by the National Statistical Office showed the growth rate at 6.7 per cent," Governor Das said.

The components and main drivers responsible for the GDP growth like consumption, investment, manufacturing, services and construction have registered a growth of more than 7 per cent, he said.

Only two aspects have pulled the growth rate slightly down. Those are—government (both central and state) expenditure and agriculture, the RBI governor pointed out.

He said the government expenditure was low during the first quarter perhaps due to elections (April to June) and operation of model code of conduct by the Election Commission.

"We would expect the government expenditure to pick up in coming quarters and provide the required support to growth," Mr Das said.

Similarly, the agriculture sector has recorded a minimal growth rate of around 2 per cent in the April to June quarter. However, the monsoon was very good and spread all over India except a few areas. So, everyone is optimistic and positive about the agriculture sector, he noted.

"Under these circumstances, we have reasonably confident expectations that the annual growth rate of 7.2 per cent projected by the RBI will be materialized in coming quarters," the governor asserted.

Das said that GST, inflation targeting framework and Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code (IBC) are the three major reforms made during the past 10 years.

Addressing a national conference of chartered accountants (CAs) here, he said, “The primary functioning of the RBI, as defined in its preamble, is to maintain price stability, while keeping in mind the objective of growth. This was a major structural reform made by the government in 2016 by amending the RBI Act.” With this amendment, the RBI is mandated by the law to maintain the price stability with keeping the inflation at 4 per cent, with a leeway of 2 percentage points on either side, he said.

When Covid hit, the RBI reduced the repo rate by 250 basis points. Similarly, after the Ukraine war started, due to various international factors and some domestic weather events, the inflation rose to 7.8 per cent. So, at that time, the central bank had quickly increased the interest rate, he pointed out.

Stating that quality of audit in any organization is very important Das advised the CAs to do a true diagnosis of the health of a company like doctors.

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IndiGo Flight Makes Emergency Landing Due To Engine Failure

A Bengaluru-bound IndiGo flight had to make an emergency landing at the Kolkata airport minutes after take-off on Friday night due to an engine failure, a senior official said.

Flight 6E573 from Kolkata to Bangalore, which became airborne at 10.36 pm on Friday, made an emergency landing at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) airport at 10.53 pm after failure of its left engine, he said.

However, no fire or spark was reported, the Airports Authority of India spokesperson said on Saturday.

The full emergency declared at 10.39 pm was withdrawn at 11.08 pm, he said.

Both the runways at NSCBI airport were handed over to the Air Traffic Control (ATC) to make those available for the plane to land back safely, the spokesperson said.

"It was learnt that the left side engine of the aircraft failed after take-off as a result of which it had to come back to Kolkata," he said.

The airline in a statement said the flight returned to origin after take-off "due to technical issues".

"The pilot followed necessary procedures and landed back at Kolkata," it said.

"Passengers were served with refreshments and an alternate aircraft was arranged to operate the flight. We regret the inconvenience caused to the passengers," the statement added. 

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LIC Ordered To Pay Rs 50 Lakh For Covid Policy Premium Payer's Family

A district-level consumer disputes commission in Kerala has ordered Life Insurance Corporation (LIC), India's largest insurer, to pay Rs 50 lakh in compensation to the family of a policy premium payer who succumbed to COVID-19, citing the insurer's technical lapse.

The commission fined LIC Rs 50 lakh for violating its own guidelines, which require policy issuance within 15 days of receiving premium payment. In this case, LIC received over Rs 20 lakh as premium, but refunded it only after nine months.

The Kottayam District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission further observed that LIC failed to inform the applicant about the temporary suspension of life insurance policies for non-resident Indians during the COVID-19 pandemic, prior to his demise.

This omission denied him the chance to secure alternative coverage, constituting a grave service lapse, it said.

According to an official release here, Jemon, a London-based expatriate, had purchased a Jeevan Umang life insurance policy from LIC in January 2020, paying a premium of Rs 20.72 lakh rupees.

Despite complying with medical examination requirements, Jemon's application was put on hold due to LIC's temporary suspension of policies for non-resident Indians, implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Unaware of the hold, Jemon died in London, leaving behind a wife and daughter.

LIC denied their claim, citing the lack of a legally binding contract, but refunded the premium in January 2021.

The Consumer Commission, after probing the complaint, found that though the beneficiaries were ineligible for the over Rs 2.5 crore insurance coverage due to the absence of a legally binding contract, LIC had concurrently violated its own guidelines.

These guidelines mandate that policy applications be processed and applicants informed of the decision within 15 days .

The commission found that the LIC accepted a Rs 20,72,565 premium on January 3 but left beneficiaries in limbo for nine months without communicating approval or rejection.

The commission also condemned LIC's decision to withhold the refund until January 2021, given that no policy was ever issued.

The commission further held that LIC's failure to notify Jemon about the non-issuance of life insurance policy for non-resident Indian due to COVID-19, prior to his death, denied him the opportunity to seek alternative coverage, constituting a grave service lapse.

Considering these findings, the Kottayam District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, comprising President Advocate V S Manual and members Advocates R Bindu and K M Anto, ordered LIC to pay Rs 50 lakh with 9 per cent interest to Jemon's wife and children within 30 days.

In the event of default, the commission directed LIC to pay the amount with 12 per cent interest, along with a penalty and court expenses of Rs 10,000.

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"Nobody Asked Him": Shiv Sena MLA After Cop Seen Washing His Car

A video showing a policeman washing Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad's car went viral on social media, with many questioning if that action was part of the cop's security duty to the ruling party legislator.

Former Congress MLA Harshwardhan Sapkal, who shared the video, said this was a classic case of misuse of the police personnel. “This is a disgrace,” he added.

Mr Gaikwad said the policeman who was on his security duty, had vomited in the vehicle after breakfast and volunteered to clean the vehicle. “Nobody asked him to clean the car,” he added.

Outrageous!

This video shows a cop washing Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad's car, this is sheer misuse of police resources.

The priorities of these so called leaders need a hard look. pic.twitter.com/QgoWlO2T7x

— Mishraji ??? (@R_Mishraji) August 29, 2024

In February, Mr Gaikwad had claimed that he had hunted a tiger in 1987 and has been wearing its tooth around his neck. Soon after, the state Forest department seized the accessory and charged him under the Wildlife Protection Act.

The purported tiger tooth was sent for forensic identification. The legislator, who belongs to the party led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, had earlier posted a video on social media claiming he had hunted a big cat. 

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From Near Death To Full Recovery: 'Beer' The Elephant's Remarkable Journey

Beer, a weak premature baby elephant, was rescued by the team of Indian Forest Officer, Parveen Kaswan in West Bengal in September 2020. The baby elephant was separated from its family after being swept away by the floodwaters of the Torsha River. Little Beer was on the "edge of death," with little to no hope of survival.

Four years later, the elephant has fully recovered and is now strong and healthy. Parveen Kaswan recently took to social media platform X to share an update on Beer's health. 

"Beer was rescued as a weak & premature small baby from flooded river by our teams. On the edge of death. And now a 4-year-old healthy and notorious member in our camp," he wrote on X.

How it started. How it is going.

Beer was rescued as a few days old weak and exhausted baby. Far from mother and herd. Who got drifted in river Torsha in flood water. Later rescued by our teams in September 2020. All these years he was treated and cared… pic.twitter.com/14QYbtFeY1

— Parveen Kaswan, IFS (@ParveenKaswan) August 28, 2024

Another video shared by the forest officer featured Beer's extraordinary transformation journey. In the video, the elephant appeared extremely dehydrated and underweight in the earlier pictures, but in the subsequent images, it looked much healthier as compared to before.

"We're overjoyed to share that beer, the elephant rescued on 23rd September 2020, is now thriving! At approximately 4 years old, Beer has made remarkable progress, and his health and condition have significantly improved. Our dedicated team has provided exceptional care and rehabilitation, and it's heartwarming to see Beer flourish," read a statement from the video shared on X.

Beer was rescued as a weak & premature small baby from flooded river by our teams. On the edge of death. And now a 4 year old healthy and notorious member in our camp. pic.twitter.com/aOEMUaBClo

— Parveen Kaswan, IFS (@ParveenKaswan) August 28, 2024

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Lawyers On Strike To Hold Condolence Meet To Be Seen As Contempt: Court

The Allahabad High Court has ruled that any lawyer or lawyers' association going on a strike or giving a call for a strike or abstaining from work on account of condolence due to the death of a lawyer or officer or employee of a court or their relatives would be treated as an ex-facie act of criminal contempt.

The court, however, clarified that lawyers or their associations may call any condolence meeting only after 3:30 pm.

A division bench of Justices Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Gautam Chowdhary directed all the district judges across Uttar Pradesh to report any act of strike by lawyers in their respective courts to the registrar general of the high court, along with the names of the office-bearers of the respective bar association that gave the strike call, so that criminal contempt proceedings are instituted against them.

The court further said these directions should be circulated to all district courts and displayed on the notice boards of all courts throughout the state to ensure strict compliance.

The court issued these directions while dealing with a suo-motu criminal contempt matter, wherein cognisance was taken on a report received from the district judge of Prayagraj, indicating that between July 2023 and April 2024, lawyers in the district court abstained from work or resorted to strike for 127 days out of a total of 218 days.

Observing that the Supreme Court has said in numerous verdicts that lawyers going on a strike is not only contempt of court but also amounts to professional misconduct, the court sought suggestions from the Bar Council of India (BCI), Uttar Pradesh State Bar Council and Allahabad High Court Bar Association to curb the menace of strikes in the district courts of Uttar Pradesh.

In its order dated August 7, the bench also considered a report by the registrar general of the high court, which indicated that the judicial work in the district courts is seriously hampered across Uttar Pradesh due to strike calls given by lawyers.

The matter will now be heard next on September 25.

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Man Wanted In 52 Cases For Preparing 500 'Fake' Marksheets Arrested

Police in Haryana's Nuh district on Tuesday arrested a man who was wanted in 52 cases for allegedly preparing fake marksheets in Rajasthan, officials said.

The accused, Mohammad Yusuf, had allegedly prepared about 500 fake marksheets of Class 8 and distributed those among people for the panchayat polls and other purposes in Rajasthan. The accused was carrying a reward of Rs 25,000 on information leading to his arrest, the officials said.

Yusuf, a resident of Umra village in Nuh, was arrested from Khedla village and an illegal country-made pistol and a cartridge were seized from his possession. An FIR under provisions of the Arms Act has been registered against the accused at the City police station in Nuh, the officials said.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (Nuh) Ajaib Singh said 52 cases have been registered against Yusuf for allegedly preparing fake marksheets in Rajasthan. The accused was declared a proclaimed offender in all the 52 cases.

The Rajasthan Police had placed a reward on the accused in four separate cases lodged in Jaisalmer, Nauhar, Hanumangarh and the Sedwa police station in Barmer.

"The accused has admitted that he prepared around 500 fake Class-8 marksheets and gave those to people for the panchayat polls and other purposes in Rajasthan. The Rajasthan Police has been informed about the arrest," the DSP said.

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2 Boys Rape Girl, 18, After Morphing Her Photos Using AI App

Two teenage boys were detained for allegedly morphing photos of an 18-year-old girl through an AI-powered app and raping her by threatening to release the images in Shahdol city, police said on Tuesday.

Kotwali police station in-charge Raghvendra Tiwari said the accused included a minor son of the house owner where the victim was staying as a tenant.

The minor boy allegedly clicked photos of the girl and converted them into obscene images using an artificial intelligence-powered app, he said.

The accused started blacking the girl and also roped in his friend. The duo allegedly raped the nursing student by threatening to make her photos viral, the police officer said.

Based on a complaint lodged by the victim, police registered a case against the boys and detained them. Their mobile phones were seized for forensic examination, he added.

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PM Modi-Biden Phone Call Over Ukraine, Safety Of Hindus In Bangladesh

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today received a phone call from US President Joe Biden and discussed his recent Ukraine visit and the situation in Bangladesh among other things.

While discussing Ukraine, PM Modi reiterated India's consistent position in favour of dialogue and diplomacy and expressed full support for the early return of peace and stability.

PM Modi, during the first visit to Ukraine by an Indian prime minister, called for a diplomatic solution to more than two years of war with Russia.

"We were not neutral from day one, we have taken a side, and we stand firmly for peace," he told Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky.

PM Modi and Biden also shared concern over the situation in Bangladesh. They emphasised the restoration of law and order and ensuring the safety and security of the minorities, particularly Hindus, in Bangladesh.

The Indian government has been sounding alarm over reports of attacks on Bangladesh's Hindu minority immediately following Sheikh Hasina's overthrow.

Bangladesh's new interim government has already said it is committed to restore law and order and to protect all minorities.

PM Modi and Joe Biden also reviewed the significant progress in bilateral relations and highlighted that India-US partnership is aimed at benefiting the people of both countries as well as the entire humanity.

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Doctor Slapped, Abused In Delhi Hospital Days After Strike Ends

A resident doctor and a medical dresser were attacked allegedly by a patient's attendant, just days after resident doctors resumed work following an 11-day nationwide strike over the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata.

The incident took place at Doctor Hedgewar Hospital in Karkardooma here late on Saturday night while the doctor was providing critical care.

The doctor who was assaulted told PTI, "Late Saturday night, around 1:00 am, a patient with a forehead injury was brought to the hospital. I took him to the dressing room to stitch the wound. After I finished the first stitch and was working on the second, the patient suddenly pushed me and began hurling abuses.

"His son, who was outside the room, came in, slapped me and they both started abusing me further." According to the doctor, who requested anonymity, the patient was intoxicated.

Hundreds of resident doctors in Delhi had resumed work on August 23, following an appeal by the Supreme Court and assurances from the government to address their concerns.

The strike, which began on August 12, had severely disrupted non-emergency services, including OPD and diagnostics, at major central and Delhi government hospitals.

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"There Is A Lot": CBI On Corruption Probe Against Ex-RG Kar Principal

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Anti-Corruption Branch announced on Sunday that they have uncovered substantial evidence in their corruption probe against former RG Kar Medical College principal Sandeep Ghosh.

When asked if they had found any concrete evidence, a CBI official responded, "...there is a lot."

The CBI initiated a corruption investigation against former principal Sandeep Ghosh by filing an FIR on Saturday.

On Friday, the Calcutta High Court transferred the investigation of financial irregularities involving Dr Sandip Ghosh, which was previously handled by a Special Investigation Team (SIT), to the CBI.

This decision was made while hearing a petition filed by Akhtar Ali, the former deputy superintendent of the hospital, who accused Dr Ghosh of financial misconduct and unethical practices. The High Court assigned the CBI to investigate the matter, as it is also handling the investigation into the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at the hospital.

The Court has granted the CBI three weeks to submit a progress report on the investigation, which is to be presented on September 17.

Earlier today, CBI officials conducted a polygraph test on the arrested accused, Sanjay Roy, in connection with the rape and murder case of a female trainee doctor in Kolkata.

Additionally, Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar and other Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers protested at Shyambazar today against the incident.

In a related development, Parimal Dey, a teacher from Alipurduar in West Bengal, who was honoured with the Banga Ratna award by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in 2019, has decided to return the award due to the state government's response to the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape-murder incident.

Speaking about his decision to ANI, Parimal Dey said, "I have decided to return the Banga Ratna award. Given the protests that have occurred in Bengal and beyond, my conscience dictates that I should give it back. I support the protest. The way she (Mamata Banerjee) is running the administration is not right."

Earlier today, the West Bengal Motion Picture Artists' Forum staged a protest in Tollygunge, demanding justice for the victim in the RG Kar Medical College rape-murder incident and urging the Kolkata administration to take responsibility.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court ordered that the security of Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital be handed over to the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) while hearing the suo motu case concerning the rape and murder of the trainee doctor.

The trainee doctor was found dead in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9.

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Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj To Contest All 243 Seats In Bihar Polls

Activist Prashant Kishor on Sunday said his Jan Suraaj will contest all 243 seats in next year's assembly elections in Bihar and at least 40 candidates will be women.

Addressing a women's convention in Patna, Mr Kishor, the founder of political consultancy firm I-PAC, said Jan Suraaj wants to empower women of the state. "I have already said that Jan Suraaj will contest all 243 assembly seats in Bihar in 2025. Out of the total 243 seats, Jan Suraaj will field women candidates on at least 40 seats," he said.

"When Jan Suraaj forms the government in Bihar in 2025, any women who wish to earn on their own and want to become businesswomen will be provided financial support at a very nominal rate, which will be less than the existing rate of interest charged from Jeevika Didis," he added.

'Jeevika Didis' are women associated with self-help groups under the Bihar Rural Livelihoods Project in the state.

"Jan Suraaj wants to empower the women of the state. As long as women do not get economic independence, their equal participation is not possible in the government. When the Jan Suraaj government is formed, no one will be forced to leave Bihar for a job of Rs 10,000-12,000. We have prepared a comprehensive plan for this," Mr Kishor said.

In January, he had said that at least 75 people belonging to the Extremely Backward Classes (EBC) will be fielded by a single platform supported by Jan Suraaj in the 2025 assembly elections.

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Why M Kharge's Family Allocated Land In Hitech Defence Aerospace Park: BJP

Karnataka BJP has questioned the land allotment to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's family in the Hitech Defence Aerospace Park near Bengaluru.

"When did the Kharge family become aerospace entrepreneurs to be eligible for Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) land? How did the Large and Medium Industries Minister M.B. Patil consent to this allocation in March 2024? Is this about misuse of power, nepotism, and conflict of interest?" BJP Rajya Sabha member Lahar Singh Siroya said.

He said that it has come to light that Siddhartha Vihara Trust run by Mallikarjun Kharge's family, has been allocated five acres of Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) land out of a total of 45.94 acres meant for civic amenities, under the SC quota, in the Hitech Defence Aerospace Park near Bengaluru.

"Interestingly, those who are trustees include Mallikarjun Kharge, his wife Radhabai Kharge; his son-in-law and Gulbarga MP Radhakrishna; another son and minister in the Karnataka government Priyank Kharge; another son Rahul Kharge among others. Is this about misuse of power, nepotism, or conflict of interest?" he questioned.

He added that the BJP has taken the matter of this alleged illegal allocation to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot's office through an RTI activist.

He asked will the Kharge family eventually give up this land like Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has to give up the controversial Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) sites in Mysuru.

"Will this allocation be probed?" Lahar Singh questioned.

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Body Of Missing 3-Year-Old Girl Found Inside Luggage Bag In Bihar: Police

The body of a three-year-old girl in Bihar's Muzaffarpur, who went missing a day ago, was found inside a luggage bag hidden near her home on Saturday, police said.

The girl was a resident of Nirala Niketan locality and, according to her father, she had left home on Friday afternoon along with her mother to attend a function.

"The father of the girl said the mother and daughter did not return home and that he was unable to contact his wife as her mobile phone was out of reach. Today, his neighbours informed the police about a luggage bag hidden in the bushes near his home. When we prised it open, we found the body," said Mithanpura police station SHO Ram Iqbal.

"We have sent the body for post-mortem examination. We shall not comment as to whether there were injury marks, which could suggest murder, till forensic experts complete their investigation," he said.

The SHO also said attempts were being made to track down the mother of the girl by placing her mobile phone under surveillance.

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Don't Agree With Court But Have Called Off Maharashtra Bandh: Uddhav Thackeray

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Friday expressed disagreement with a Bombay High Court order restraining political parties from calling a bandh, but asserted the opposition bloc MVA has withdrawn its proposed shutdown in Maharashtra on Saturday over a sexual abuse case in a school.

Addressing a press conference, Mr Thackeray said the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has called off the August 24 (Saturday) bandh after the HC order, but leaders and workers from opposition parties will protest against the Mahayuti government with black bands tied around their mouth across the state.

The former CM, whose party is a constituent of the MVA, said he will also join the protest.

"We don't agree with the High Court order on bandh," Mr Thackeray maintained.

Earlier in the day, the HC restrained political parties or individuals from proceeding with a Maharashtra bandh over the sexual assault incident, on August 24 or any future date, saying such a protest will paralyse normal life.

A division bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar said if political parties and individuals were not restrained from proceeding with the call for bandh on Saturday, huge losses, not only in terms of economy and business but also essential services and basic amenities, including health services will occur, which needs to be prevented.

The MVA alliance had called for a shutdown across the state on August 24 to protest against the alleged sexual assault of two kindergarten girls at a school in Badlapur in Thane district.

The MVA comprises the Shiv Sena (UBT), the Congress and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP). 

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Tamil Nadu Women Cops To Get 1 Year Maternity Leave: Chief Minister MK Stalin

Women police in the state force will be entitled to one year's maternity leave, and upon resuming work they will be posted at a place of their choice for three years to nurture their children, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin said on Friday.

It may be recalled that after capturing power in 2021, the DMK government enhanced the period of maternity leave for its employees from nine months to one year.

"Women police will be given one-year maternity leave and after returning to work, they will be posted either at the place of their husband or parents, for three years, to take care of their children," the chief minister announced after distributing the President's medals, Union Home Minister's medals and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's medals to meritorious police officials and personnel at Rajarathinam stadium here.

This gesture was being extended at the request of personnel in the police department, he said.

Additionally, the professional skills of women police will be enhanced to tackle crimes against women and children so that they can handle cyber crimes effectively, the Chief Minister said.

"Your duty and responsibility is very huge. You must protect the people. Discharge your duties with dedication and serve not only to reduce crimes but also to prevent crimes," he urged.

Tamil Nadu should be transformed into a state free from drugs and crimes, Stalin said. "Arrest the offenders if any violation takes place, he advised." He was happy to note that the state is leading in diverse fields, including industrial development, as the law and order are being maintained well.

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Court Issues Summons To Telangana Chief Minister In Defamation Case

A special court here on Thursday issued summons to Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy asking him to appear personally before it on September 25 over a criminal defamation case filed by a BJP leader accusing him of making false and baseless allegations against the saffron party during the recent Lok Sabha election campaign.

The Special Judicial First Class Magistrate (JFCM) for Excise Cases here, after considering the documents filed by the complainant and after examining the witnesses and hearing the arguments of the counsel for the complainant, issued summons to Reddy for offences under Sections 499, 171C, 171G, 153 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 125 of the Representation of Peoples Act to appear in person before the court on September 25.

Telangana BJP General Secretary Kasam Venkateshwarlu had earlier filed a complaint in the Special JFCM for Excise cases, accusing the chief minister of making statements during an Lok Sabha election meeting in Bhadradri Kothagudem district on May 4 that the BJP, if voted to power, would change the Constitution and abolish reservations.

The petitioner claimed it was misleading and false and that the statement had defamed the party and party workers.

In the complaint, the BJP further claimed that the statements made by Reddy caused harm to the reputation of the party in the eyes of the voters, and making such "false statements with intent to unduly influence voters" amounts to election offences under the law.

After examination of the complainant and another person, and after going through the complaint and the statements and material placed before the Special JFCM for Excise cases, on August 21 it felt that a prima facie case is made out against the accused for the offence under section 499 of IPC and Section 125 of the Representation of Peoples Act.

Earlier, after the Special JFCM for Excise cases had adjourned the complaint, the BJP leader approached the Telangana High Court with a criminal petition seeking direction to the lower court to inquire into his complaint.

In June, the Telangana High Court had directed the Special Judicial First Class Magistrate (JFCM) for Excise Cases to conduct proceedings and decide the complaint expeditiously in accordance with the law.

The high court disposed of the criminal petition directing the magistrate to hear the petition on a day-to-day basis and expedite the proceedings on the complaint.

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Security Of Wrestlers Withdrawn, Alleges Vinesh Phogat. Cops Respond

Olympian Vinesh Phogat has accused the Delhi Police of withdrawing the security cover of the women wrestlers who will be testifying against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh tomorrow. The Delhi Police has denied the charge.

"Delhi Police has withdrawn the security of the women wrestlers who are going to testify against Brij Bhushan in the court," wrote Ms Phogat on X.

Responding to the former wrestler's tweet, the Delhi Police has clarified that the concerned personal security officers (PSO) reported late to duty after the force requested Haryana Police to take over the security responsibility.

"The security provided to the wrestlers hasn't been withdrawn; it was decided to request Haryana Police to takeover the responsibility in future since the protectees normally reside there," said Deputy Commissioner Of Police New Delhi on X, adding, "The assigned Delhi Police PSOs misunderstood this decision and got delayed in reporting today. The situation has been rectified. Security cover continues."

Meanwhile, the wrestlers approached a Delhi court which directed the city police to immediately reinstate the security cover.

The court was hearing applications filed by senior advocate Rebecca John appearing for the wrestlers, claiming that their security was withdrawn on Wednesday night. It directed police to file a detailed report by Friday regarding the reasons for the withdrawal of the applicants' security.

Vinesh Phogat, who recently hit headlines over her disqualification from the Paris Olympics, was in the public eye last year for leading a long-running protest against Mr Singh, who was then a BJP MP.

The protesting wrestlers were demanding his resignation and sought the dissolution of the WFI. The WFI denied all allegations against its president.

After the intervention of the Sports Ministry, all WFI activities were suspended and assistant secretary Vinod Tomar was sidelined.

The police had filed a First Information Report (FIR) and later a chargesheet against Brij Bhushan Singh.

Mr Singh is being tried on accusations of sexual exploitation and intimidation, charges he denied.

A Delhi court, in a May 10 order, found sufficient evidence to proceed with the charges of sexual harassment and outraging the modesty of five female wrestlers against the former WFI chief. The next hearing in the case is on Friday.

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'Told Amit Shah I Want To Act In Around 22 Films': Union Minister

Actor-cum-politician Suresh Gopi said on Wednesday that if he is removed as Union Minister of State for acting in films while holding his ministerial post, he would consider himself "saved".

Mr Gopi also said that he has requested permission to commence shooting for the film 'Ottakomban', but has not received it yet.

"But I will start shooting for it on September 6," he said.

The Union Minister of State for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Tourism said that there were 20-22 films he really wished to do after hearing the script, and has agreed to act in them.

When he sought permission from Union Home Minister Amit Shah to act in the films, he was asked how many.

"I said around 22. On hearing that, Amit Shah set aside my request letter. But he said permission will be given. Anyways, I will be here on September 6," Mr Gopi said while speaking at an event held here by the Kerala Film Chamber of Commerce.

He said that he will bring three or four officials from the ministry along with him to help him carry out his ministerial duties and for that special arrangements would have to be made on the film sets.

"All this I want to do. So, if they remove me for it, I would consider myself saved. That is all I can say," he said.

Mr Gopi said that he never wished to be a minister and still does not desire it.

"I bowed to their (his leaders) decision to make me a minister after they said that they were giving the post to me for the people of Thrissur who voted me to power and not for myself. I accepted that decision.

"I still obey my leaders and will continue to do so. But without my passion (cinema), I will die," he said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Train Hits Rod Near Station In Madhya Pradesh, Railway Cops Launch Probe

A train hit an iron rod near a railway station under Jabalpur division in Madhya Pradesh, prompting the Railway Protection Force (RPF) to launch a probe into the incident, an official said on Tuesday.

The authorities received information about the Nainpur-Jabalpur train (05706) hitting an iron rod near Kachhpura railway station (Jabalpur district) around 10 pm on August 18, Harshit Shrivastava, CPRO, West Central Railway told PTI.

He said the Jabalpur RPF registered a case and has started an investigation to find out if this was an act of sabotage or if someone had left his goods there.

The RPF is probing the incident in collaboration with the South East Central Railway Bilaspur division, he said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Nepal To Export "Close To 1000 MW Electricity To India": S Jaishankar

Nepal will export close to 1,000 megawatt of electricity to India, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Monday after holding comprehensive talks with his Nepalese counterpart Arzu Rana Deuba.

S Jaishankar described Nepal's decision to export the electricity to India as a "new milestone".

In their talks, the two ministers also focused on boosting cooperation in areas of trade, connectivity and infrastructure.

Arzu Rana Deuba began her five-day trip to India on Sunday in her first official trip abroad after assuming the responsibility.

"Discussed the multifaceted India-Nepal cooperation including in energy, trade, connectivity and infrastructure development," S Jaishankar said on 'X'.

"Glad to note that Nepal will be exporting close to 1000 MW of electricity to India, a new milestone," he said.

"Our Neighbourhood First policy and unique people-to-people & cultural connect propels our relationship forward," he added.

Pleased to welcome FM @Arzuranadeuba of Nepal on her first official visit abroad.

Discussed the multifaceted ???? cooperation including in energy, trade, connectivity and infrastructure development.

Glad to note that Nepal will be exporting close to 1000 MW of electricity to… pic.twitter.com/raXs83jqBA

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) August 19, 2024

On her part, Arzu Rana Deuba described the talks as "productive".

"Had a productive meeting with @DrSJaishankar in New Delhi. We discussed bilateral interests, various aspects of Nepal-India relations, and the exchange of mutual cooperation," she said on 'X'.

"I am confident this visit will further strengthen the centuries-old bond between Nepal and India," Arzu Rana Deuba said.

The Nepalese foreign minister's visit comes a week after Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri travelled to Kathmandu.

Nepal is an important neighbour for India in the context of its overall strategic interests in the region, and the leaders of the two countries have often noted the age-old "Roti Beti" relationship between the two sides.

The country shares a border of over 1,850 km with five Indian states -- Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Land-locked Nepal relies heavily on India for the transportation of goods and services.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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4 Andhra Employees Burn Files Linked To Polavaram Project, Suspended

Andhra Pradesh government on Sunday suspended four employees in connection with the burning of documents related to the Polavaram project.

Taking serious note of the incident that occurred at the Polavaram Irrigation Project (Resettlement and Rehabilitation) office at Dowleswaram in East Godavari district, Collector P. Prasanthi suspended the four employees.

Senior Assistants K. Kanuka Raju, Karam Baby, Special Revenue Inspector Kalajyothi and subordinate Rajasekhar have been suspended for failing to follow the due procedure in destroying the photocopies related to the office.

Deputy Tahsildars A. Kumari and A. Satya Devi have been issued show-cause notices.

The staff working in the Left Main Canal wing of the office on Saturday allowed a sweeper to burn a bunch of 96 photocopies related to the project.

District Collector said the action was taken against the employees for destroying files without the prior approval of the project administrator, who is the head of the Polavaram Project (R&R) office.

Revenue officials lodged a complaint with the police against the staff responsible for burning the office files. The East Godavari police registered a case and launched an investigation.

Earlier, Tourism and Cinematography Minister Kandula Durgesh said that the state government has taken serious note of the burning of documents related to the Polavaram project. He said culprits will be given stringent punishment.

The minister, along with some officials visited the Polavaram project office. Officials said that there is a procedure to dispose of old files but the same was apparently not followed.

Some half-burnt papers were moved to the office. A Revenue Divisional Officer had earlier said that the employees found many photocopies and waste papers while shifting files from old cupboards to new cupboards.

The incident created a sensation in light of a similar incident reported last month at the office of Sub-Collector Madanapalle in Annamayya district where key files were destroyed in a fire.

The TDP-led NDA government ordered a high-level probe into the incident following allegations that some leaders of the YSR Congress Party could be behind this to destroy evidence into the alleged irregularities committed during the rule of YSR Congress.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Dawood's Daughter's Gown And A Kidnapping: A Fresh Look At MP Underworld

A new book by a retired IPS officer claims to reveal the chilling connection between the bridal gown of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim's daughter and a high-profile kidnapping case in Indore in 2005. The book by Dr Shailendra Srivastava, titled "Shackle The Storm", threads together the details of how the seemingly unrelated events are linked, shedding light on a dark chapter of Madhya Pradesh's criminal history.

The story begins with the bridal gown worn by Dawood's daughter, Mahrukh, during her wedding in Mecca in July 2005. The gown was crafted by a tailor named Ismail Khan, a resident of Shivpuri district in Madhya Pradesh.

Barely a month later, on August 17, 2005, Nitesh Nagori, the 20-year-old son of a prominent cement manufacturer in Indore, was kidnapped. A ransom of Rs 4 crore was sought for him. The police caught some of the accused and managed to release him before the ransom was paid.

Investigation indicated that Ismail Khan was involved in the abduction.

Ismail Khan was closely associated with Aftab Alam, one of Dawood Ibrahim's trusted lieutenants. Dawood Ibrahim was to get a share of the ransom.

The police believe that Ismail, who had fled after the kidnapping, was promised a lucrative commission and a job in Dubai for his role in the crime, along with Rs 1 crore for stitching the gown.

Ismail and Aftab have both been on the run since the incident, evading capture for nearly two decades.

In September 2005, the police arrested Nitesh Nagori's friend Dhruv, and another associate, Gaurav, for allegedly assisting Ismail in the kidnapping.
 
During interrogation, Dhruv identified Ismail as the mastermind, leading the police to unravel the connection between Ismail and the infamous underworld network.

The investigation also revealed that Aftab Alam, who had escaped Mumbai in 1997, was operating from the Gulf during the kidnapping.

Aftab's involvement complicated the case. The Interpol was alerted and warrants issued for the arrest of Ismail, Aftab, and other suspects, including Randhawa and Ibrahim, who are on the run.

Dr Srivastava's book goes beyond the kidnapping case to delve into the underworld's operations in Madhya Pradesh, particularly the covert activities of Dawood Ibrahim and his notorious rival, Chhota Rajan.

The narrative reveals a previously untold story of Vicky Malhotra, a key member of Chhota Rajan gang, who was arrested after inadvertently alerting the Mumbai Police by using a phone number linked to a previous ransom threat in Indore.

Malhotra, whose real name is Vijay Kumar Yadav, provided an in-depth account of his life in the underworld, including his involvement in multiple assassination attempts on Dawood Ibrahim. The book uncovers chilling details, such as a failed attempt to target Dawood during his daughter's burial in Karachi and another botched plan in Dubai.

One of the most intriguing stories in the book is the transformation of Vijay Yadav into Vicky Malhotra, a feared don in Chhota Rajan's gang.

Dr. Srivastava explores how this petty thief from Murshidabad rose to prominence in the underworld and came close to assassinating Dawood Ibrahim on three occasions.

Shackle The Storm is more than just a crime thriller; it is a compilation of 14 gripping stories that traverse the murky world of crime, justice, and the underworld in Madhya Pradesh.

The book also recounts Dr Srivastava's experience as the IG of Indore Range during the 2006 Bhojshala riots, where he played a crucial role in managing communal tensions and exposing the activities of the banned terrorist organization SIMI.

As Dr Srivastava reveals, these stories are not just about crime but also about the courage of those who stand against it, offering readers a glimpse into the untold tales of Madhya Pradesh's fight against terrorism and the underworld.

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Retired Colonel Recalls How Daughter Was Eve-Teased On Her Way To College

In the wake of the Kolkata rape-murder case, a retired colonel recently took to social media to share why he supports his daughter's decision to settle outside the country. In a post on X, user Col Sanjay Pande shared that his daughter completed her three years in graduation in Delhi. "We, then, lived in a super posh colony in South Delhi. College was 15 minutes walk of which 7 mins was within colony and seven on main road," he said. 

The user went on to say that half the route towards her daughter's college was inside a "very premium government auditorium" and the rest was on a footpath with "an institutional area wall". "SAFEST right? No shops, no public, main road, no people and absolutely safe road," he asked. In the following lines, he shared his daughter's harrowing experiences.

Take a look at the post below: 

With so many posts on ‘women don't come to India' and ‘women go abroad', here is my own story.

My daughter did her three years of graduation in Delhi. We, then, lived in a super posh colony in South Delhi. College was 15 minutes walk of which 7 mins was within colony and seven…

— Col Sanjay Pande (@ColSanjayPande) August 16, 2024

"Cars would slow down and guys would ask her to 'accompany'! They would ask 'rate'. I was sure someone would be doing the same with the guys sister, daughter, wife too. In second year I gave her a car exclusively. No stepping on road. Ever," he shared. 

The retired colonel posted how when his daughter wanted to settle abroad, he agreed and supported her. "This was 13 years back. She has right to her life. She is abroad since then. I could afford. What about 95% plus who cannot?" he expressed. 

The post was shared just a day back. Since then, it has accumulated more than 878,000 views. 

Reacting to the post, one user shared, "I lived in South Delhi and each time I had to take an auto or cab at night because of late work, it gave me so much anxiety. Just waiting for the auto made so many men stop and stare. I can totally relate to her."

Also Read | Bengaluru Man Claims Movers And Packers Stole Items Worth Lakhs, Firm Reacts

"It's so sad really. As an Indian woman, I wish someone could teach our men to respect women as human beings. It has to start in every household, every school, every step of the way and I'm not sure how we make it happen but it needs to happen," commented another. 

"It's an everyday tale. The fact that a lot of people normalise it and say a woman should learn self defence or fight this or shame the abuser is illogical. Why should women not just step out and go about her day ?!" said a third user. 

"It's common behavior. Used to happen routinely in the area outside our hospital, especially if standing at bus stop. One fellow was so persistent I removed the lab coat from my bag and showed him, saying 'arre hasptal se hain, bhai'. He said 'sorry sister' and left," shared a fourth X user. 

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Passengers Can Now Rent Power Banks On NaMo Bharat Trains

Passengers travelling on Namo Bharat trains can now rent a power bank with the rental plans starting at Rs 50, the NCRTC said in a statement.

The first such service is now available at Sahibabad RRTS station, it said.

In addition, there are plans to introduce electric vehicle charging facilities at various stations, and preparations are underway, the statement said.

The rental power bank comes equipped with three types of charging pins to accommodate different devices, including iPhones, micro USB, and C-port connections. The rental plans start at just Rs 50, with an annual plan available for Rs 1,199, it stated.

The commuters can rent a power bank and take it with them during their journey. Special automated machines are being installed at RRTS stations to facilitate this service, the statement said.

Passengers can rent a power bank from these machines and return it at any similar machine across the NCR. This facility addresses the growing need for mobile phone charging, providing a convenient solution for today's commuters, it stated.

The service will soon be expanded to other RRTS stations as well, the statement said.

The operation and management of the Namo Bharat train are handled by 'DB-RRTS Operations India'. Special attention is given to the comfort and facilities for passengers on the Namo Bharat train and at RRTS stations, it said.

As part of these initiatives, a rental power bank facility has now been introduced at RRTS stations, it stated.

"People can charge their mobile phones by renting a power bank from designated machines. Various rental plans are available, allowing you to choose the one that best suits your needs. Power bank machines have already been installed at many locations, and they will soon be fully operational at the designated sites," the statement said.

The rental power bank facility is currently available in the unpaid area of Sahibabad station, making it accessible to everyone without the need to purchase a train ticket. Anyone can visit the station and take advantage of this service. To use the facility, people need to install the 'A3 Charge' mobile app on their phones. Registration is done using a phone number. After registration, the app will guide users to the nearest power bank machine, where they can scan a QR code to access a power bank, it stated.

Various rental plans are available, allowing users to choose a plan that best suits their needs. Depending on the chosen plan, the power bank can be swapped daily for a fully charged one. The app also provides real-time information on the availability of power banks and slots at each machine, ensuring a seamless experience for users, it said.

The passengers also have access to mobile charging facilities, with charging ports installed at every seat in every coach. The premium coach also offers charging ports for laptops, it said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Assam Teacher Shows Porn To Girl Students, Protesters Set School On Fire

Locals set a school on fire in Assam's Karimganj district after a teacher was found allegedly showing porn to girl students.

A case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act has been filed against the teacher, the police said.

The locals, too, face a police case for burning the school.

The 37-year-old teacher is on the run, the police said, adding they are investigating the case.

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Bengaluru Man Says Movers And Packers Stole Items Worth Lakhs, Firm Reacts

Moving is never easy. It takes time to find a reliable moving company. But even after that, you can deal with missing items or unforeseen fees that can make your moving trip a living nightmare. In one such instance, a Bengaluru man recently took to X (formerly Twitter) to share his nightmarish incident which led to the "most horrific 48 hours" of his life. In an X thread, the user, Ankit Mayank, shared he shifted his house on August 14th, for which he hired a movers and packers company, Halef International Pvt Ltd. He claimed that the firm's 7-member team allegedly stole items and cash worth lakhs. 

"THE MOST HORRIFIC 48 HOURS OF MY LIFE! I had to shift my house on 14th August, for which I had hired a movers & packers company 'Halef International Pvt Ltd' But that turned out to be the worst decision & the biggest nightmare of my life," the man wrote while sharing a video of his messy house. 

THE MOST HORRIFIC 48 HOURS OF MY LIFE❗

I had to shift my house on 14th August, for which I had hired a movers & packers company ‘Halef International Pvt Ltd' (@halefint2019)

But that turned out to be the worst decision & the biggest nightmare of my life ?

PLEASE SHARE ? pic.twitter.com/fjWppEtbAH

— Ankit Mayank (@mr_mayank) August 16, 2024

In the following post, he said that items including a bag worth Rs 8 lakh were missing, while a bag that had Rs 2 lakh, a pair of gold earrings, 2 gold bangles and other important things were stolen too. "Local Police & the company manager himself agreed that it was stolen by their team members," the man wrote. 

Further, he said that the movers and packers created an "unimaginable" mess at his house. "All trollies, bags & suitcases are left opened in horrible manner. All the important documents papers are just lying around on the floor. Several of them are missing too, or damaged," he wrote. 

"Many expensive things like imported perfumes (Dior), limited edition - 50 year old pens (Gold plated), few bags are still missing/damaged. Several important documents & property papers are missing too. The damage to few furniture & house belongings like cupboards are additional," Mr Mayank continued. 

Also Read | "Culture, Safety, Tech...": Indian Woman Explains Why She Chose US Over Bengaluru

However, he said that the company is "shrugging from the responsibility by saying only their stall is responsible, not us". "Such shamelessness despite the fact that we had hired their services & those thieves were sent by them & were representing the company itself," the man wrote. He also went on to claim that the police too do not seem to be serious. 

"Both me & my wife @mrs_roh08 haven't slept for over 48 hours & are living the biggest nightmare of our life. It is emotionally very challenging for my wife as few stolen things belong to her mother who is in coma for the past 15 months. WE ARE MENTALLY & EMOTIONALLY BROKEN," he wrote. 

Meanwhile, the movers and packers company responded to Mr Mayank's post, saying that an investigation into the matter is underway. "It's important to remember that every situation has multiple perspectives. Let the police investigation and judicial process reveal the truth based on actual facts and evidence," the company said. 

It's important to remember that every situation has multiple perspectives. Let the police investigation and judicial process reveal the truth based on actual facts and evidence. https://t.co/tdcKwqYGu8 pic.twitter.com/mnpfhB2pFS

— Halef International (@halefint2019) August 17, 2024

In a lengthy statement, Halef International clarified the sequence of events. It said that the couple did not inform that they were availing the services for the transportation of cash, jewellery and other valuable items. "We had clearly informed them in advance to personally take care of all valuable items prior itself," it said. 

The firm also accused the couple of unlawfully detaining the team, confiscating the vehicle keys and holding the employees for 24 hours in their house. "Over the course of 72 hours, the couple made increasingly outrageous claims... this couple is clearly attempting to extort the company by manipulating their social media following and making baseless claims," it added. 

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Congress' Organisational Reshuffle Ahead Of 4 Assembly Polls

In a significant organisational reshuffle ahead of the assembly polls, the Congress on Friday appointed Tariq Hameed Karra as president of its Jammu and Kashmir unit and Keshav Mahto Kamlesh as chief of the Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee.

While Mr Karra replaces Vikar Rasool Wani in Jammu and Kashmir, Mr Kamlesh takes over from Rajesh Thakur.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also appointed two working presidents for Jammu and Kashmir - Tara Chand and Raman Bhalla - as the party gets battle-ready for assembly polls in the Union Territory, the dates of which were announced by the Election Commission on Friday.

Mr Kharge has also appointed Mr Wani as a special invitee to the Congress Working Committee (CWC) with immediate effect. Mr Karra has been relieved from his current position as permanent invitee to the CWC, the party said in a statement.

"The party appreciates the contributions of the outgoing Pradesh Congress Committee president Vikar Rasool Wani," the statement said.

In Jharkhand, where assembly polls are due later this year, the Congress also appointed Rameshwar Oraon as Leader of the Congress Legislature Party with immediate effect.

In significant appointments from Maharashtra, where elections are also due later this year, Mr Kharge appointed Balasaheb Thorat as a member of the CWC and Mohd Arif Naseem Khan as a special invitee to the CWC.

The Congress president has also appointed Syed Muzaffar Hussain as the working president of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee.

The Election Commission on Friday announced the schedules for assembly elections to Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir.

Jammu and Kashmir will vote in three phases on September 18, September 25 and October 1. The elections in Haryana will be held in a single phase on October 1. The results of both will be announced on October 4.

These will be the first assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 and its reorganisation into a Union Territory.

The schedule for assembly elections in Jharkhand and Maharashtra are yet to be announced. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Congress Promises 1 Lakh Permanent Jobs In Haryana Ahead Of Assembly Polls

Promising one lakh permanent jobs soon after the announcement of Assembly elections in Haryana, two-time Chief Minister and Congress leader Bhupinder Hooda said the poll results on October 4 the ruling BJP would be out of the state.

Addressing the media with state party President Chaudhary Udaibhan, Bhupinder Hooda said the people have made up their minds to oust the BJP from Haryana and bring a Congress government.

"The Congress has also prepared a roadmap for the work of the upcoming government. As soon as the government is formed, one lakh permanent recruitments will be done within a year. Jobs will be given on the basis of merit by eliminating paper leaks and recruitment mafia from Haryana. Any kind of negligence in the recruitment process and its transparency will not be tolerated. Strict laws will be implemented against irregularities in recruitment," he said.

Bhupinder Hooda said the Congress has made promises like a Rs 6,000 pension to the elderly, One-Rank Pension (OPS) to employees, gas cylinder for Rs 500, 300 units of free electricity.

"Soon the party's manifesto will be released which will have a complete roadmap of the work of the government for five years. The Congress will implement its announcements with full commitment and will free Haryana from unemployment, corruption, crime and drug addiction," he said.

"Despite being in the opposition for 10 years, the Congress will take its work to the public, while the BJP itself has nothing to tell except its failures. This government spent the entire 10 years in corruption-causing portal schemes like property ID, family ID, and Meri Fasal Mera Byora. That is why today, instead of counting its own works, the ruling BJP is asking questions from the Opposition Congress.

"On October 1, the public will answer all the questions and atrocities of the BJP with the blow of votes," he stated.

Chaudhary Udaibhan said the Congress is fully prepared for the elections as the party has been continuously among the people as a responsible opposition for the last five years.

"It is clear from the tremendous support of the public to all the programs of the party that the people have made up their mind to overthrow the corrupt rule of the BJP," he said.

He said the workers' conferences being organised by the party to thank them for their efforts during the Lok Sabha elections, automatically turned into big public meetings.

"Earlier, the whole of Haryana and the media witnessed the huge crowds of people in the programs of Congress's Jan Milan Samaroh, Hath Se Hath Jodo Abhiyan and Opposition Aapke Samaksh," he said.

"Now, thousands of people are gathering everywhere in MP Deepender Singh Hooda's 'Haryana Maange Hisaab' padayatra. Now the slogan on everyone's lips in Haryana is Haath Badlega Halaat, Congress se hi Aas," and expressed confidence that the Congress government is going to be formed with more than a two-third majority.

Answering questions from the reporters, Hooda said Haryana had developed in all directions during the tenure of Congress.

"The Congress freed businessmen from inspectors and hooliganism, but the BJP protected criminals and got businessmen shot at," he added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Top Medical Body Suggests Not More Than 74 Hours Work Week For Medics

Excessive duty hours pose risks to the physical and mental health of medics and also compromise patient safety, an NMC taskforce said while recommending that resident doctors work no more than 74 hours a week and get a day off every week.

Ensuring seven to eight hours of sleep daily for medical students is crucial for their mental and physical health and requests for leave should be judiciously considered and not unreasonably declined, the National Task Force on Mental Health and Wellbeing of Medical Students said in its report.

Collaborative planning of duty hours by heads of departments, faculty, senior residents and residents needs to be done and, if there is an increased clinical workload, the hospital or medical college should hire more senior residents and medical officers, it said.

"It is imperative to recognise that postgraduates and interns primarily serve educational purposes rather than filling gaps in healthcare staffing," it added.

Strict implementation of National Medical Commission (NMC) regulations on ragging is also mandatory, according to the taskforce report.

It emphasised that medical colleges should have active anti-ragging cells with strict penalties for offenders to mitigate the stress induced by ragging.

Medical colleges could consider granting a 10-day vacation at least once a year to both undergraduate and postgraduate medical students on a rotational basis, the taskforce said and unsderscored that this would allow the medics to meet their family members that could foster bonding.

It also called for appropriate conditions such as comfortable rest areas, nutritious meals and hydration facilities for medics during duty hours.

Hospitals should provide regular breaks and ensure food availability in duty rooms, it said.

The taskforce also recommended a gatekeeper training programme in medical colleges aimed at establishing a proactive network for identifying at-risk individuals and connecting them with professional help.

This programme will involve comprehensive training for participants to recognise warning signs and refer students to mental health services.

With the support of psychiatry departments, local protocols should be developed and the gatekeeper training programme initiated across the campus, involving all stakeholders, the taskforce said.

"Mental health education should be integrated into undergraduate and postgraduate curricula through lectures, workshops and seminars," it said in the report and recommended that medical teachers, students and the administration should undergo regular training in mental health -- either through periodic in-person sessions or online via the Swayam portal.

"The training modules should cover mental health, stress management, building resilience, prevention of substance use, gatekeeper training and basic counselling techniques. Specific emphasis should be placed on handling confidentiality matters concerning individuals with mental illness," it said.

It also called for abolishing fees for repeating semesters, saying this would reduce economic burden and stress.

Transparent and standardised grading systems and an independent appeals process are essential, it added.

For evaluation and assessment methods, it said "a fair and unbiased evaluation system is essential" and suggested that institutions could offer a mix of grading systems to reduce stress and promote a collaborative learning environment.

The task force also recommended introducing supplementary exams to reduce academic pressure and anxiety and for providing a fairer assessment system and supporting student wellbeing.

It suggested announcing exam results using roll numbers to enhance privacy, reduce stress and promote a fair academic environment.

Expanding postgraduate medical seats addresses healthcare needs, enhances specialist care and reduces student migration, the report said.

The taskforce also recommended abolishing seat-leaving fees or bonds.

Students who abandon their seats after admission should be prohibited from applying to medical colleges for 24 months from the date of leaving, it suggested.

Additionally, medical colleges can fill the vacated seat in the same category (government/management seat) in the next calendar year.

The report said a comprehensive orientation programme within four weeks for undergraduate students and two weeks for postgraduate students upon joining was essential for new entrants.

"This programme should introduce students to the medical profession, campus resources and the importance of physical, mental and spiritual health," it said and also recommended involving family members during the induction programme and periodically, at least once a year, reasoning that it would help them understand the expectations and stressors faced by medics.

This understanding would enable families to provide effective support and enhance the ability of students to cope with academic and clinical demands.

"Implementing a 24/7 support system, such as the TeleMANAS initiative by the Union Ministry of Health, is advisable. Medical colleges should have plans for referral, evaluation, management and follow-up for students with mental illnesses. Confidential, accessible counselling services must be widely promoted. Medical colleges should consider appointing at least two counsellors for every 500 students," the report said.

Medical colleges should provide free diagnostics and treatment, including medicines, for physical and mental health issues within the campus, it stated.

The taskforce also suggested that the NMC should establish a national portal for grievance redress, enabling secure and efficient complaint handling

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"Women Attacked, Disrobed, On Bengal's Streets": Governor Turns The Screw

Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose has expressed displeasure with the state police's handling of the rape-murder of a young doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College. He has also called an emergency meeting with Vice Chancellors of the state's universities and will also hold a meeting with protesters tomorrow.

"The Governor has expressed his displeasure on complicity and alleged connivance of the police in matters of crime, particularly campus crimes," read a statement from the Governor's House.

Such a crime "shames the whole of Bengal, shames India.. and humanity," he said in a video message.

Bengal, he said, "has to see reason".

"We have seen incidents women being attacked on street, disrobing... Flogging on the street... public flogging. All this is repeatedly happening on the streets of Bengal," added the Governor, who has been at loggerheads with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her government in the past.

"Is this the place where Rabindranath Tagore said, 'Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high'," he said, quoting a poem by the Nobel laureate.

Effective protection should be given to girl students, women staff and members of non-teaching staff immediately, he said.

The statement from his office said the Governor "deplores the absolute failure of the Kolkata Police in handling the case in a just and fair manner".  It also said that he has met many delegations over the matter and will be having discussions with the protestors tomorrow.

Though the case has been handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation, the protests in Bengal are continuing. It has cascaded over the state's borders and spread across the country, with even small towns out to show solidarity.

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Child Among 5 Killed As Car Falls Into Roadside Canal In Bihar: Cops

Five people including a child were killed after the car they were travelling in fell into the roadside Sone canal in the Dawood Nagar area of Aurangabad district on Tuesday.

Sub-Divisional Police Officer of Dawood Nagar, Rishi Raj, said, "The incident took place near Chaman Bigha village on the Barun-Dawood Nagar canal road. Prima facie it appears the driver lost control of the speeding car and the vehicle fell into the canal."

Upon receiving information from the local villagers, police reached the spot of the incident and found that five people in the car had died.

Subsequently, the bodies of the those dead were recovered by the police.

Block Development Officer (BDO) Mohd Zafar Imam, Circle Officer (CO) Shailendra Kumar Yadav, and Station House Officer (SHO) Fahim Azad Khan reached the spot with their team.

According to SHO Fahim Azad Khan, "Prima facie information has been received that four of the dead are residents of Rajiv Nagar in Patna and the driver is a resident of Ara."

"Efforts are being made to contact the family members," the official said.

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Complete Central Projects Without Delay: Punjab Governor Tells Officials

Governor Gulab Chand Kataria on Monday asked officials to complete all central projects in Punjab without any delay and said that any problems in the implementation of a project should be communicated in writing for quick resolution, an official statement said.

The governor issued the instructions at a meeting at Raj Bhavan here with senior officials from National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), railways, Airports Authority of India (AAI) and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) to review the progress of various ongoing projects in Punjab.

This comes two days after Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari wrote to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann saying that the NHAI would have no option but to cancel eight highway projects in Punjab with a total length of 293 km and costing Rs 14,288 crore if the law and order situation in the state does not improve.

In his letter, Mr Gadkari cited two incidents which occurred recently on the Delhi-Katra Expressway. In one incident in Jalandhar, an engineer of a contractor was brutally assaulted and in another incident in Ludhiana, the project camp of the expressway contractor was attacked.

Due to the pending issues related to land acquisition and the prevailing law and order situation in the state, a number of contractors have requested to foreclose contracts and have raised claims against the NHAI.

During the meeting, Mr Kataria directed the officials to complete all central projects without any delay, the statement said.

If there is any problem in the implementation of any project, it should be communicated immediately in writing so that such issues can be resolved on a priority basis with the help of central and state governments, he said.

He said meetings would be held every three months to review the progress of all central projects.

Besides, the governor said that he should be informed about the progress of all projects from time to time, according to the statement.

Mr Kataria also flagged the issue of heavy traffic in Chandigarh. NHAI officials informed him that the construction of a highway connecting Panchkula to Shimla and Majri to Baddi will minimise the problem to a great extent, the statement said.

AAI officials apprised the governor about a proposed road to directly connect Chandigarh to Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport, it said.

They said the construction of this road would reduce the distance from Chandigarh to the airport by 10 km, it added.

BSNL officials also apprised Mr Kataria about their ongoing projects.

Additional Chief Secretary to Governor K Siva Prasad; Divisional Railway Manager (Railways Ambala) M S Bhatia; Divisional Railway Manager, Ferozepur, Sanjay Sahu; and Regional Officer, NHAI, Bipanesh Sharma were among those who attended the meeting.

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3-Year-Old Student Raped By School Van Driver, 30, In Jharkhand: Police

A 30-year-old school van driver has been arrested for allegedly raping a nursery student in Jharkhand's East Singhbhum district, a senior police officer said on Sunday.

The incident happened in the city's Mango area on Friday. A special police team arrested the accused Jaishree Tiwary, a resident of Daiguttu under the jurisdiction of the Mango police station, within three hours after an FIR was registered by the victim's mother on Saturday, the Superintendent of Police (City & Rural) Rishava Gard said in a press conference here.

The SP said a medical checkup of the three-and-a-half-year-old victim was carried out, and the accused driver was forwarded to judicial custody on Sunday.

After coming back home from school on Friday, the minor victim complained of stomach pain and narrated how her school driver committed the heinous crime.

On receiving the information yesterday, Senior Superintendent Kishore Kaushal formed a special police team and directed them to apprehend the culprit as per the provisions of the Pocso Act, the SP said.

A lady police officer was sent to the victim's house to gather details of the incident before the driver was caught.

The school van has been impounded, the SP said, adding that the police have taken the incident seriously and assured the victim's family to file the chargesheet within a week.

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14 Killed As Heavy Rain Hits Rajasthan

At least 14 people were killed in rain-related incidents across Rajasthan on Sunday while five people were washed away by the gushing water of Kanota Dam in the capital Jaipur, officials said.

Karauli and Hinduan in eastern Rajasthan's Karauli district are facing a flood-like situation following incessant rainfall since Saturday night, officials said.

Seven people drowned while bathing in a river in Bharatpur and five were swept away by the strong current of water at the Kanota Dam in Jaipur, officials said.

A rescue operation is underway to trace the missing people, they said.

Eight youths from Srinagar village were taking a bath in the Banganga River in Bharatpur. One after the other, they slipped into deep water and eventually drowned, they said.

The victims were identified as Pawan Singh Jatav, 20, Saurabh Jatav, 18, Gaurav Jatav, 16, Bhupendra Jatav, 18, Shantanu Jatav, 18, Lakkhi Jatav, 20, and Pawan Jatav, 22.

In Jaipur, the five men were out on a picnic at the dam when they were washed away by the gushing water, officials said.

In Jhunjhunu, three people drowned while bathing in a pond in Mehrana village. All of them were residents of Sanwlod village.

The victims were identified as Anuj Meghwal, 22, Bulkesh, 21, and Anuj Kumar, 20, police said.

In Karauli, a father-son duo, Zakir Khan, 40, and Ziya Khan, 12, were killed on Sunday after getting trapped under the debris of their house that collapsed due to heavy rain, police said.

They were sleeping in their house in Karauli city's Dolikhar Mohalla when the incident occurred, they said.

"Two people died in the incident and two were injured," Principal Medical Officer of Karauli District Hospital, Dr Ramkesh Meena told reporters.

In another incident, a 19-year-old nursing student died after he slipped and fell into the Kedia stream in Banswara and was swept away by the strong current of the water.

Vikas Sharma's body was retrieved by an SDRF team, officials said.

In Sawai Madhopur, a 35-year-old man identified as Gajju Rajput drowned in a pond. Prima facie, the man was under the influence of alcohol. He slipped and fell into the water body, police said.

Karauli district, situated around 200 km from the state capital Jaipur, is among the worst affected.

"There is a flood-like situation in Hinduan and Karauli where 15-inch rainfall was recorded from Saturday night till Sunday afternoon," Anand Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary, Disaster Management and Relief Department told PTI.

Officials in Karauli have urged people to avoid areas near rivers during the high stream as around 8,000 cusecs of water have been released from the Panchana Dam in the district.

Parwati, Gambhir and Banganga rivers are overflowing and teams from the civil defence and State Disaster Response Force are deployed to rescue vulnerable people, they said.

The Meteorological Department has warned of heavy rainfall at isolated places in eastern Rajasthan and predicted monsoon to remain active for the next five to six days in several parts of Jaipur, Bharatpur, Ajmer and Kota divisions.

Moderate to heavy rainfall is likely to occur at several places in the state during the period.

According to the Meteorological Centre in Jaipur, from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm on Sunday, 63.2 mm of rainfall was recorded in Jaipur, 31.5 mm in Karauli, 14.2 mm in Alwar, 9 mm each in Mount Abu and Sikar, and 6.5 mm in Fatehpur.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma held a meeting with officials here to take stock of the situation.

"Safety of all citizens of Rajasthan - our top priority. Today, a meeting of the officials was held in the Chief Minister's Office regarding the heavy rains in the state and necessary guidelines were given to strengthen all the arrangements related to disaster management immediately," Sharma said on X.

He appealed to the citizens to stay away from reservoirs and waterlogged areas, maintain distance from electric poles and wires during rain, avoid using basements of buildings during rain and pay attention to the warnings and safety measures.

"I am sensitive towards every family member of my state Rajasthan, hence I request all of you to take proper precautions during the rainy days," he said. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Woman Says Phone Hidden In Washroom At Third Wave Outlet, Company Responds

An employee of a popular coffee chain in Bengaluru hid a mobile phone in the women's restroom, with the "video recording on for about two hours". The incident occurred at the Third Wave Coffee outlet on BEL Road in the city.

An Instagram handle, 'Gangs Of Cinepur', shared a story on their account, where a user narrated what happened at the outlet. "I was at the Third Wave Coffee outlet in Bengaluru... A woman found a phone in the washroom, hidden in the dustbin, with video recording on for about 2 hours, facing the toilet seat. It was in flight mode so that it makes no sound," the story read.

"The phone was carefully hidden in the dustbin bag and had a hole made in it so that only the camera was exposed. It was quickly found that the phone belonged to one of the men working there. The police were called, and they arrived soon enough, and action is being taken," it added.

"This was so horrific to witness. I will be vigilant at any washroom I use from now on, no matter how well-known the chain of cafes or restaurants is. I request all of you to do the same. This is disgusting," the story posted on the Instagram handle read.

Third Wave Coffee responded to the incident and said, "We regret the unfortunate incident at our BEL Road outlet in Bengaluru and want to emphasize that such actions are absolutely unacceptable at Third Wave Coffee."

We regret the unfortunate incident at our BEL Road outlet in Bengaluru and want to emphasize that such actions are absolutely unacceptable at Third Wave Coffee. We acted swiftly to address the situation by immediately terminating the person & ensuring the safety of our customers.

— Third Wave Coffee (@thirdwaveindia) August 10, 2024

"We acted swiftly to address the situation by immediately terminating the person & ensuring the safety of our customers," the popular coffee chain which has outlets pan-India, said in their response.

The police confirmed that the accused had been arrested under the IT Acts. The man is in his early twenties and hails from Bhadrawati in Karnataka.

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"Will Fight Until Last Breath": BS Yediyurappa's Message To Siddaramaiah

Launching a scathing attack on Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, former chief minister and senior BJP leader BS Yediyurappa said on Saturday that he will fight until his last breath to remain in politics and ensure that the former was booted out by the people of the state.

Addressing a public gathering at Mysuru, Mr Yediyurappa said, "Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had asked me to retire from public life. Until my last breath, I will be in politics and ensure your (Mr Siddaramaiah's) ouster. Is there any example of a Chief Minister getting 14 sites for his family in the history of the state? He is demanding Rs 65 crore, claiming that he would return it. Whose money is it going to be?"

Stating that Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has declared his support for Mr Siddaramaiah, Mr Yediyurappa added, "Mr Shivakumar's sins are overflowing. You don't know what is going to happen to you (Mr Siddaramaiah) and when it will happen. He speaks lightly about State BJP President BY Vijayendra and Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka. Mr Shivakumar would be better off bothering about his future," Mr Yediyurappa said.

"The BJP and Janata Dal (Secular) are marching ahead together. The people are going to send you (Mr Siddaramaiah) home soon," said the BJP leader.

"I will throw a challenge. Will you dissolve the government now and face the election? The BJP and JD(S) will emerge victorious in 130 to 140 seats in the state and attain a majority," he added.

"There is open loot and daylight robbery taking place in the state. The people have grown wary of your government. There is no trace of development works in the state. The government has turned pauper. Not a single kilometre of road is being laid. The chief minister and deputy chief minister are involved in rampant corruption. They are not capable of running the administration in the state," he said. 

"I am an 82-year-old man, I will take up a tour throughout the state and send you (Mr Siddaramaiah) home. I will end the corruption by the Congress government and their misrule," he said.

"The chief minister and deputy chief minister also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda respects him and discusses bringing a change in the state. The people need to bless the BJP and JD(S) and bring them to power," Mr Yediyurappa said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Need To Foster Environment Of Dialogue, Cooperation In Parliament: Om Birla

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Saturday urged parliamentarians to conduct themselves with dignity and decorum as he stressed the need to foster an environment of dialogue and cooperation while participating in the proceedings of the House.

Addressing the valedictory function of an orientation programme for newly-elected members, Mr Birla also urged them to be abreast of the rules and the procedure of the House and participate in debates with complete information about issues.

"The established traditions and practices within the House are intended to foster meaningful and productive discussions and the new members should further strengthen that spirit," the Lok Sabha Speaker said.

The Speaker's advice came against the backdrop of a tumultuous Monsoon Session of Parliament where he had to remind members cutting across party lines, including Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, to read the rules and procedures at least once before coming to the House.

Highlighting India's position as the world's largest democracy, Mr Birla urged the members to uphold the highest standards of democracy.

"Actions of the members are observed not just within India but globally and, therefore, they should conduct themselves with dignity, decency and decorum," he said.

Stressing the importance of dialogue and discussion in democracy, Mr Birla noted that for a healthy and strong democracy, there was a need to foster an environment of dialogue and cooperation.

The Speaker also asked members to refer to digital and print resources available in the parliament library on a continuous basis. 

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HD Kumaraswamy Questions DK Shivakumar Over CCD Founder's Death

HD Kumaraswamy, Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel, asked Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar who is responsible for the Cafe Coffee Day (CCD) founder VG Siddhartha's death.

“Shivakumar was given a political life by SM Krishna at a time when he was a Kotwal (rowdy). He must tell people who is responsible for the death of Siddhartha and he should present the facts before the people,” the Union Minister said while addressing the concluding ceremony of BJP-JD (S) padyatra in Mysuru.

Siddhartha was the son-in-law of former Union Minister of External Affairs SM Krishna. Mr Shivakumar's daughter is married to the son of Siddhartha.

Siddhartha died by suicide after coming under financial strain.

Mr Kumaraswamy said that Mr Shivakumar along with others used to steal the iron chambers fixed for sewerage pipes during the night and sold them to the scrap industry to make money.

He said that Mr Shivakumar often claims that under his leadership, people gave 136 seats in Assembly elections and his (Kumaraswamy) leadership JD-S got only 19 seats.

“Why did the people give you only 8 out of 28 Lok Sabha seats?” he asked.

Reacting to the charges of the Union Minister, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said that Mr Kumaraswamy “needs urgent medical treatment for mental instability”.

“Kumaraswamy knows nothing about my relationship with former Union Minister of External Affairs SM Krishna. He has gone mad. I will tell his party men and well-wishers to get him medical attention for his mental health,” the Deputy Chief Minister said.

On the allegation of usurped properties, the Deputy Chief Minister said, “Let Kumaraswamy bring anyone whose property I have forcibly taken. It is not in my blood to usurp properties by force.”

On the allegation of assuming huge wealth, the Deputy Chief Minister said, “I come from a poor farmer family. My life began when I came to NPS School in Bengaluru.”

Replying to Mr Kumaraswamy's allegation that Shivakumar ditched him when he was the Chief Minister, he said, “Let the leaders of his party tell me how I ditched him when he was the Chief Minister. He clearly needs medical treatment.”

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Pathetic To See Pregnant Women In 'Dolis' In The Age Of AI: CB Naidu

At a time when the whole world is talking about Artificial Intelligence (AI), it is pathetic to see patients and pregnant women from remote tribals hamlets being taken to nearby hospitals on 'dolis' (palanquins), Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said on Friday.

He assured the tribals that steps would be taken to see to it that tribal people do not have to depend on 'dolis' anymore, and the government would soon re-introduce feeder ambulances and provide road connectivity to tribal villages.

Addressing a gathering of tribals to mark World Adivasi Day, Mr Naidu said poverty will be completely eradicated among the tribals with a comprehensive plan and study circles will soon be established in Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, and Tirupati exclusively for the Adivasis.

The Chief Minister actively participated in the Thimsa dance programme along with tribal women on this occasion and later presented a saree to the Goddess of these tribals.

Announcing that the Chaitanyam 2.0 (Awareness-2.0) programme will be taken up soon for the overall progress of tribals, he said that road connectivity will be provided soon to 2,191 tribal villages.

Mr Naidu also stated that safe drinking water would be supplied to every tribal household with an expenditure of Rs 2,373 crore and made it clear that this coalition government would not show any kind of discrimination against any section of people. He also ruled out pursuing vindictive politics.

"But I am making it clear that the huge amount of public money looted by the leaders of the previous government will be completely recovered and this amount will be spent for the welfare of the poor," the Chief Minister declared.

He also said that organic products will be encouraged more effectively besides giving a fillip to Araku coffee.

Mr Naidu also announced that the Paderu medical college will be completed with Rs 500 crore while a museum will be set up at Lambasingi for the freedom fighters. "I am really concerned that the Adivasis are born poor and are ending their lives in absolute poverty. This situation needs to be changed immediately," he said.

Stating that the District Selection Committee (DSC) recruitments have been announced recently to fill 16,347 vacant posts, the Chief Minister said that free coaching will be provided to the Adivasi candidates who want to appear for this test. The previous government had withdrawn several welfare programmes, he said and added that all such schemes would be reintroduced in a more effective manner.

Asking the Adivasi people whether justice was done to any single person during the previous government, he said that Anna Canteens would soon be set up in the tribal areas. Mr Naidu also said that the Land Titling Act has been revoked to check the attempts made by the previous government to illegally grab the lands of innocent people.
 

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UP Barber Arrested For Spitting On Customer's Face, Shop Bulldozed

A barber here was arrested a day after a video of him applying his spit on a customer's face made rounds on social media, police said on Thursday.

The barber's makeshift shop was bulldozed by the local administration.

Superintendent of Police Amit Kumar Anand said, "We received a report regarding a video in which a barber, Yusuf, was seen applying his spit on the face of a customer. Acting on the complaint we arrested him on Wednesday night." According to the police, the incident occurred a fortnight ago but the video was posted online recently and it began doing rounds on Wednesday.

"The accused is seen applying some cream on the face of the customer in the video. While doing so he stops, spits in his palms and applies it on the customer's face," Circle Officer Kapoor Kumar said.

The local administration on Thursday reached the spot and bulldozed the makeshift salon.

"The salon was made using tin sheets and was an encroachment. It was removed with a bulldozer today," the CO said.

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