A 46-year-old woman was killed after getting caught in a clash between two armed groups in Manipur's Kangpokpi district, police said on Tuesday. The incident happened in the remote Thangbuh village on Sunday night, they said. A few houses in the village were also torched, forcing the locals to flee to nearby forests, they added. The deceased woman was identified as Nemjakhol Lhungdim. Her body was handed over to her family after a post-mortem examination at the Churachandpur district hospital, police said. A significant number of powerful bombs were discharged during the clash between the two sides, they said. Later that night, an exchange of fire was also reported between CRPF personnel stationed at a nearby school and militants, police said. No casualty was reported in that gunfight, they said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
25 September,2024 05:05 PM IST | Imphal | PTIAgitating junior doctors in West Bengal said they would continue their 'cease work’ to demand justice for the RG Kar hospital medic who was raped and murdered, despite Supreme Court directions to resume duties by 5 pm on Tuesday. Demanding the resignation of the state’s health secretary and director of health education (DHE), the protesting medics said that they would also take out a rally to 'Swasthya Bhavan' – the headquarters of the health department in Salt Lake – on Tuesday noon. "Our demands are unfulfilled and justice is not meted out to the victim. We will continue our agitation as well as the ‘cease work’. We want the health secretary and DHE to resign. Tomorrow noon, we will hold a rally to the Swasthya Bhavan," one of the protesting doctors told PTI on Monday evening after a meeting of their governing body here. The body of the postgraduate trainee doctor was found with injury marks in a seminar room of state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. She was allegedly raped and killed while on duty. The incident has triggered nationwide outrage and protests. The junior doctors have been observing 'cease work' at state-run hospitals for about a month now. The Supreme Court on Monday directed the protesting medics to resume their duties by 5 pm on Tuesday to avoid adverse action by the state government. The court passed the direction after the West Bengal government assured it that no action, including punitive transfers, would be taken against the protesting doctors if they resumed work. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
10 September,2024 09:58 AM IST | Kolkata | PTICongress president Mallikarjun Kharge has said there should be no retirement age in politics, and those with ideological conviction and a will to serve the people and the country should do so till their last breath. The 82-year-old leader was speaking here on Monday at the launch of Congress veteran Sushil Kumar Shinde's memoir "Five Decades in Politics", written with journalist-author Rasheed Kidwai. Kharge said that Shinde shouldn't see himself a retired man at 83 as he still has a crucial role to play in strengthening the Congress party and spreading its ideology further among the masses. "You are 82-83 only.. Look at Morarji Desai. I believe no one should retire in politics. Those who have faith in their ideology, want to serve the nation, want to serve their community, then you have to work till your last breath and awaken the people of your country," Kharge said. Morarji Desai became India's oldest prime minister at the age of 81 in 1977. Kharge, the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, clarified that none of it should be done seeking a ministry or other plush positions but as a "return gift" to the people of the country and the political party that has nurtured the person. "Whatever one has learnt in his life or whatever one has achieved, eventually you have to return it to the people," he added, hoping that Shinde will continue to work for the party where he achieved so much in his five-decades-long illustrious career. Apart from being the chief minister of Maharashtra from 2003 to 2004, Shinde has held some of the highest offices in the country, including the Governor of Andhra Pradesh from 2004-2006 and the Union home minister from 2012-2014. He was also UPA's vice-presidential candidate in 2002, and in the party he served as All India Congress Committee general secretary. Kharge also praised Shinde for his positive demeanour, saying he went about his business with an ever-present smile on his face, and did his work quietly without tom tomming about it. He argued that this quality of Shinde is rather rare in today's time when some people, referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, are all talk and no action. "He (Shinde) has amazing patience. I, frankly speaking, get angry very easily, and can't stop myself when I see injustice happening anywhere. But not him, Shinde ji is ever smiling. "To have that kind of attitude for 50 years is very difficult and he managed to do that. Not for nothing, he became chief minister, home minister, governor and achieved so much in his life," he added. Sushil Kumar Shinde, on the occasion, thanked the Congress party and especially the late former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and former Congress president Sonia Gandhi for mentoring and guiding him all the way. "I have no words to thank Sonia Gandhi for what all she did for me. Because to take the decision of appointing a scheduled caste as the chief minister in Maharashtra was not an easy thing to do, and only someone like Sonia ji can do that... There is just so much that the party did for me," he noted, adding that he hopes the book will work as an inspiration to others. The book launch was also attended by Rajya Sabha MP and senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh. The book, priced at Rs 599, is published by HarperCollins India. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
10 September,2024 08:53 AM IST | New Delhi | PTIAs the deadline for filing of nominations for the Haryana Assembly polls nears the prospective alliance between the Congress and the AAP is yet to reach a conclusion. On Monday AAP Haryana President Sushil Gupta said that the party would release the list of 90 candidates if no deal is struck by the end of the day. The statement was reiterated by Party RS MP Sanjay Singh who further said that the party has completed all the processes of selecting candidates for all legislative assembly seats in Haryana. On the speculations of the AAP-Congress alliance, Sanjay Singh said, “Sandeep Pathak has already given a statement on this issue and Sushil Gupta has also clarified the stand that we are fully prepared and we have completed the process of selecting candidates for all seats. As soon as they receive permission from the party or national president Arvind Kejriwal, they will announce the list and move forward with the elections. AAP is a national party and we have a strong organisation in Haryana. Our leaders Sandeep Pathak and Sushil Gupta have already given statements, as soon as they will receive directions from the party and Kejriwal Ji, we will move forward with whatever they have said (Sandeep Pathak and Sushil Gupta). Speaking to reporters, Singh said, “If you are talking about Sushil Gupta’s statements, then his statement is valid as well as right as the last date for nominations is September 12. The people who are working on the ground for the party will discuss it with the party’s president Arvind Kejriwal and take decisions to move forward unitedly, as we have less time.” This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
10 September,2024 07:23 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesForest General Manager Sanjay Pathak, has voiced disapproval over and rumours concerning the recent wolf attacks. Pathak criticised certain media outlets for misidentifying jackals as wolves, said, “Many media persons are running news without confirmation and calling jackals wolves.” Pathak added that such misinformation disrupts operations and confuses the team. Despite installing snap cameras using thermal technology to track wolves, no wolves have been detected so far. Pathak explained that the normalising river water levels and dried-up banks might have led the wolves to return to their natural habitat, which could explain the absence of wolf attacks in the past six to seven days. He warned that while they are currently issuing warnings to those spreading rumours, further action may be needed. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
10 September,2024 07:20 AM IST | Bahraich | AgenciesThe Supreme Court on Monday voiced concern over the absence of a key document that was needed for the postmortem of the medic raped and murdered at the RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata, and asked the CBI to investigate into it. A bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud said there was no reference of the ‘challan’ (document) used, and sought an answer from the CBI and the West Bengal government. “Where is the challan of the body when it was handed over for postmortem? the bench also comprising Justice J B Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra said. The medical fraternity and others stage a protest at Shyambazar 5 Point Crossing in Kolkata. Pics/PTI Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the CBI, informed the bench that the challan was not part of their records. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the West Bengal government, told the bench that he could not find the document immediately and would get back to the court on this question. The court also flagged the at least a 14-hour delay by Kolkata Police in registering FIR in rape and murder incident. The top court directed the CBI to submit a fresh report by September 17 on the probe in the case. The apex court also directed immediate removal of photographs of the victim from all social media platforms to protect the dignity and privacy of the deceased. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
10 September,2024 07:18 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesA luxury Audi car owned by Maharashtra Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule's son hit several vehicles in the early hours of Monday in Ramdaspeth area of Nagpur, the officials said, reported the PTI. Following the incident, the driver and one more occupant of the car were detained and their medical examination was being conducted, a police official said. According to the Sitabuldi police station official, the Audi car first collided with complainant Jitendra Sonkamble's car at 1 am and then with a moped, leaving two youth riding it injured, as per the PTI. "The Audi car struck some more vehicles moving towards Mankapur area. At T-Point there, the vehicle hit a Polo car. Its occupants chased the Audi and stopped it near Mankapur bridge. Two occupants, identified as driver Arjun Hawre and Ronit Chittamwar, were stopped by those in the Polo car," he said. "The duo was taken to Tehsil police station, from where they were handed over for further probe to Sitabuldi police. The medical examination of driver Arjun Hawre and occupant Chittamwar is in progress. Driver Hawre could be placed under arrest at any time ," he said, according to the PTI. The official said that the occupants of the Audi car were returning from a beer bar in Dharampeth when the incident took place, adding the medical examination will include blood tests for alcohol detection. Speaking to reporters about the incident, Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule admitted the Audi car was registered in the name of his son Sanket. "Police should conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the accident without any bias. Those found guilty should be charged and appropriate action should be taken against them. I have not spoken to any police official. The law must be equal for all," the senior BJP leader said. माझ्या मुलाच्या नावे ती गाडी आहे. या अपघाताची पोलिसांनी निष्पक्षपणे पूर्ण चौकशी करावी, कुणालाही वेगळा न्याय लावू नये. जे कुणी दोषी असतील त्यांच्यावर गुन्हे दाखल व्हावेत, त्यांच्यावर कारवाई व्हायला हवी. मी कुठल्याही पोलीस यंत्रणेशी बोललो नाही. न्याय सर्वांना सारखा असायला हवा मग… pic.twitter.com/doJppl5SGm — Chandrashekhar Bawankule (@cbawankule) September 9, 2024 "A case of rash driving and other offences was registered on the complaint of Sonkamble. No action has been taken so far against Chandrashekhar Bawankule's son Sanket Bawankule and the other two occupants who reportedly escaped from the scene at Mankapur bridge," the official said, according to the PTI. "We are checking the CCTV footage to ascertain the chain of events, after which further action on all aspects, including other occupants, will follow," he said. (with PTI inputs)
09 September,2024 10:19 PM IST | Nagpur | mid-day online correspondentExternal Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday described the situation in Gaza as India's "foremost concern" and said New Delhi supports an Israel-Hamas ceasefire "as soon as possible". Jaishankar made the remarks while speaking at the first India-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Ministerial Meeting for Strategic Dialogue in the Saudi capital. "The current situation in Gaza is now understandably our foremost concern. India's position in this regard has been principled and consistent. While we condemn acts of terrorism and hostage taking, we are deeply pained by the continuing death of innocent civilians," he said. Jaishankar said that any response must take into account the principles of humanitarian law. "We support a ceasefire as soon as possible," he added. On October 7, Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, launched an unprecedented attack on Israel by land, air and sea, killing 1,200 people and kidnapping 250 others. Israel launched offensive in Gaza, causing widespread devastation and killing around 40,000 people, according to local health officials. The two sides have so far failed to reach a cease-fire to end the 11-month-old conflict. Jaishankar said India has consistently stood for a resolution of the Palestinian issue through a two-state solution. India has also contributed to the building of Palestinian institutions and capacities, he added. "Where the humanitarian situation is concerned, we have provided relief and increased our support to UNRWA," he added. The GCC is an influential grouping, comprising the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait. The total volume of India's trade with GCC countries stood at USD 184.46 billion in the financial year 2022-23. Jaishankar said it was a great pleasure for him to participate in the first India-GCC Ministerial Meeting for Strategic Dialogue and added that the meeting is not just an occasion to reflect on achievements but an opportunity to chart an ambitious and far-reaching course for the future. "The relationship between India and the GCC is rooted in a rich tapestry of history, culture, and shared values. These bonds have grown stronger with time, evolving into a partnership that spans economics, energy, defence, technology, education, people-to-people ties and beyond," he said. Underlining that there are many ways to contemplate partnership between the two sides, the minister offered the framework of 3Ps - People, Prosperity and Progress. "Our people-to-people ties are the bedrock of our relationship. Close to 9 million Indians work and live amongst you, acting as a living bridge between us. Their contributions to your economic progress are widely recognized. We thank you for ensuring their welfare and comfort," he said. He said trade has not only expanded in volume but also in diversity, encompassing a wide range of goods and services that fuel economies and create jobs. "The task before us is to invest in each other's future and support each other's continued prosperity," he said. He identified the GCC as a cornerstone of global energy supply and said India is one of the world's largest and fastest-growing markets. "Much of the future demand is going to come from us. Our deeper collaboration will help in stabilizing markets, driving innovation and enhancing energy security," he added. "Our partnership in the areas of renewables, technology and innovation, health, space, and education can also help realize our respective national goals," Jaishankar said. Jaishankar said that the GCC-India relationship is built on a foundation of trust, mutual respect, and a shared vision for the future. "It has a larger goal of advancing progress in a world that is characterized by technological advancements, changing geopolitics, shifts in the global economy and the urgent need to address environmental sustainability," he said. Noting that the Gulf region occupies a central place in contemporary geopolitics, the minister said that, "in a world polarised by conflict and tension, we share a commitment to global peace, security, and stability." Underlining that sometimes it is adversity that brings out the real importance of friendships, the minister said that the pandemic underlined how relevant we are to each other for health security, food security and maritime security. "Similarly, the demands of AI, of electric mobility and of green growth highlight the importance of sharing human resources. Conflict and tensions bring out the importance of cooperating on connectivity. In a world moving towards multipolarity, we can be mutually supportive of each other's aspirations," he said. "Let us use this platform to deepen our ties, explore new avenues of cooperation, and build a collaborative future," he said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
09 September,2024 09:34 PM IST | Riyadh | PTIIn a bid to check cybercrime, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will launch on Tuesday several key initiatives, including a cyber fraud mitigation centre and a web-based module that will act as a one-stop portal for data repository of cybercrime and data sharing. He will launch the initiatives of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) at the organisation's first foundation day celebration. Shah will dedicate to the nation the Cyber Fraud Mitigation Centre (CFMC) that has been established at the I4C with representations from major banks, financial intermediaries, payment aggregators, telecom service providers, IT intermediaries and law enforcement agencies of states and Union Territories, an official statement said. All stakeholders will work together for immediate action and seamless cooperation to tackle online financial crimes and the CFMC will serve as an example of "cooperative federalism" in law enforcement. The home minister will also launch the Samanvaya Platform (Joint Cybercrime Investigation Facilitation System), a web-based module that will act as a one-stop portal for data repository of cybercrime, data sharing, crime mapping, data analytics, cooperation and coordination platform for law enforcement agencies in the country, the statement said. At the function, Shah will inaugurate a "cyber commandos" programme under which a special wing of trained cyber commandos in states, Union Territories and central police organisations (CPOs) will be established to counter threats to the cyber security landscape in the country. Trained cyber commandos will assist the states, Union Territories and central agencies in securing the digital space. The home minister will also inaugurate a "suspect registry", created in collaboration with banks and financial intermediaries, to strengthen fraud risk management capabilities of the financial ecosystem. These initiatives, under the guidance of Shah, will prove to be an important milestone in achieving Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a 'cyber secure Bharat', the statement said. I4C was established on October 5, 2018, under the central sector scheme within the Cyber and Information Security Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Its primary objective is to establish a national-level coordination centre for addressing all issues related to cybercrime across the country. The I4C aims to enhance the capabilities of law enforcement agencies and improve coordination among various stakeholders dealing with cybercrime. On January 10, 2020, the headquarters of the I4C was inaugurated here and dedicated to the nation. To give a permanent institutional form and build upon the learning gained during the scheme phase, I4C has been designated as an attached office under the Ministry of Home Affairs with effect from July 1, 2024. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
09 September,2024 08:09 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIA major train accident was averted by an alert loco pilot as the Bhiwani-Prayagraj Kalindi Express was brought to a screeching halt after hitting an LPG cylinder placed on the tracks in Kanpur, police said on Monday, adding a bottle of petrol and matchboxes were also found at the site hinting at a sabotage bid. The incident occurred around 8.20 pm on Sunday when the Bhiwani-bound train was running at a high speed. An FIR has been registered and teams have been formed by multiple agencies including Uttar Pradesh's Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) to probe the matter, officials said. "An attempt was made to derail the Kalindi Express by placing the LPG cylinder on the tracks. Soon after receiving information about the incident around 8.20 pm on Sunday, senior officials rushed to the site and launched an investigation," the police said. Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Harish Chandra said the loco pilot saw that the LPG cylinder was placed on the tracks and applied emergency brakes. However, before it came to a halt, the train hit the cylinder, throwing it away from the tracks, Chandra said, adding the loco pilot informed the guard and the gateman about it. The train remained at the incident site for about 20 minutes and was again stopped at the Bilhaur station for a check, the ACP said. The damaged cylinder has been recovered. A bottle of petrol and matchboxes were also recovered from the spot, Chandra said. He said efforts were being made to identify the culprits and they will be dealt with sternly. The Railways lodged an FIR at Shivrajpur against unidentified persons, saying that placing an LPG cylinder on the tracks along with a bottle filled with petrol with a wick is a possible sabotage bid. The FIR has been filed under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Explosives Act and the Railways Act, police said. Top officials formed five teams headed by senior officials to investigate the matter. Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Rajesh Kumar Singh said the Uttar Pradesh ATS has launched an investigation separately. UP Director General of Police Prashant Kumar said, "All our senior officers have visited the spot and we are looking into things seriously. Whatever facts come to light, we will inform the media about them." On a question about the ATS (anti-terrorist squad) also reaching the spot in Kanpur, the DGP said, "We will look into all the aspects and it is not possible to say anything on this without a full investigation." A forensics team was also called in and the Railway Protection Force (RPF) is also investigating the matter, officials said. Additional DCP (Local Intelligence Unit) has also been asked to gather criminal intelligence about the conspirators and assist police teams in cracking the case, DCP (West) Singh added. It has also been decided to look for "Jamatis (members of Islamic groups) in the vicinity and question them", an official source said. A police team has also been dispatched to Kannauj after a sweet box was found near the site, with officials saying it could possibly lead them to the perpetrators. Meanwhile, the BJP asserted that the government will take tough action against those involved in the incident. "This is a matter of concern that there are some people and organisations who, in their greed for power, want the country to witness riots and anarchy. Tough action has been taken against such acts and strict action will be taken in the future as well," Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia told a press conference at the party headquarters in Delhi. "India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is so capable that it can destroy and finish off those who hatch conspiracies," he said. BSP chief Mayawati also called for strict action against the culprits. "It is satisfying that the conspiracy to cause a train accident by placing gas cylinders etc. on the railway track in Kanpur failed. "After a high-level investigation, strict action against the culprits is necessary so that public and rail safety is maintained," she said on X. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
09 September,2024 08:03 PM IST | Lucknow | PTIAbu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who is on a maiden official visit to India, met President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday, ANI reported.The Indian Embassy in the UAE shared a post on X expressing appreciation for the progress in the India-UAE friendship and their shared vision for the future. "Hon. President Smt. Draupadi Murmu @rashtrapatibhvn welcomed HH Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zyaed Al Nahyan,Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. Expressed deep appreciation on the progress of the India-UAE friendship and the two countries' shared vision for the future. @MEAIndia @IndianDiplomacy," the Indian Embassy in United Arab Emirates (UAE) posted on X. Hon. President Smt. Draupadi Murmu @rashtrapatibhvn welcomed HH Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zyaed Al Nahyan,Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. Expressed deep appreciation on the progress of 🇮🇳🇦🇪 friendship and the two countries' shared vision for the future. @MEAIndia @IndianDiplomacy pic.twitter.com/b5FeZnuIPs — India in UAE (@IndembAbuDhabi) September 9, 2024 Further, after the meeting between President Murmu and the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokeperson Randhir Jaiswal, in a post on social media platform X, stated that the first citizen expressed her appreciation for the "close and friendly relations" between India and the UAE, citing strong people-to-people ties."India-UAE special ties growing stronger! President Droupadi Murmu @rashtrapatibhvn welcomed HH Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi at Rashtrapati Bhavan today. president expressed deep appreciation for the historically close and friendly relations between - underpinned by strong people to people ties," the MEA spokeperson said on X.Before his meeting with President Murmu, the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House in the national capital.Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and other officials were present for the meeting.Taking to X, Randhir Jaiswal stated, "A warm welcome for a close friend. PM @narendramodi received HH Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi at Hyderabad House. Discussions on entire spectrum of India - UAE bilateral relations and future areas of cooperation lie ahead."Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrived in New Delhi on September 8, where he was received by Goyal. The Crown Prince was accorded a ceremonial welcome after he landed in the national capital. (With ANI inputs)
09 September,2024 07:21 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
