LIVE

Sat, 21 December 2024

Kohli's restaurant gets notice over fire safety lapses

Timeline Refresh

20:12 Virat Kohli's restaurant gets notice over fire safety lapses

The Bengaluru civic agency has served a notice to a restaurant owned by cricketer Virat Kohli in the city for the violations of fire and safety norms, an official said on Saturday.

The One8 Commune restaurant is located on Kasturba Road, a Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike officer told PTI.

"We served them (One8 Commune) a week ago. Fire and safety measures were not there," the officer said.

There was no reply even after a week. So, a fresh notice will be served to the restaurant on Monday, the officer added.

The Congress will hold protest marches against Union Home Minister Amit Shah for "insulting" BR Ambedkar and observe a weeklong campaign on the issue, party leaders said on Saturday.

As part of the "Ambedkar Samman Saptah", Congress workers and leaders will hold marches and press conferences to remember the legacy of B R Ambedkar, they said.

The Congress and the BJP are at loggerheads over Shah's remarks on Ambedkar in Parliament.

AICC general secretary K C Venugopal said party MPs and leaders will hold press conferences at 150 locations across the country on December 22 and 23 and workers will take out protest marches across the country on December 24.

"Our agitation demanding Home Minister Amit Shah's resignation will continue! We will fight to protect Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar's legacy against the Manusmriti worshippers," Venugopal said in a post on X.

The INC will mark the upcoming week as Dr Ambedkar Samman Saptah, he said.

"On 24 December, all across the country, we will hold Babasaheb Ambedkar Samman Marches and submit a memorandum to President of India through District Collectors demanding Amit Shah's resignation.

"All INC workers will garland Babsaheb's statue, hold his giant portrait at the front of the march and carry huge placards with our key demands," the Congress leader said.

"On 26-27 December, we will hold an extended CWC session and a mega rally in Belagavi where we will reiterate our commitment to Dr. Ambedkar and his ideals. Jai Bhim! Jai Hind!" Venugopal said in his post. -- PTI

A mild earthquake hit western Nepal's Bajura district on Saturday morning. There was no loss of life reported, however, dozens of houses developed cracks.

The tremor of 5.2 magnitude on the Richter scale with its epicentre in Gotri area of Jagannath rural municipality was recorded at 4.14 am, according to the National Earthquake Monitoring Centre.

An official at the District Administration Office, Bajura, said that the earthquake did not result in any casualties but dozens of houses developed cracks.

A house located in Budhinanda Muncipilaty-4 collapsed and three children were evacuated safely, the official added.

On Tuesday evening, a mild earthquake hit Bajhang district of western Nepal, which was felt by people living in the surrounding districts as well.

The tremor of 4.3 magnitude epicentred at Dhamane area of Talkot rural municipality of Bajhang district was recorded at 5.07 pm, according to the National Earthquake Monitoring Centre.

However, there were no immediate reports of any damage due to the earthquake, according to Kishor Joshi, spokesperson at Bajhang district police office.

Situated on the precarious Himalayan seismic zone, Nepal is a highly earthquake prone country and its quake-battered western mountainous region is likely to face a threat of a bigger earthquake, seismologists have maintained.

According to the government's post-disaster needs assessment (PDNA) report, Nepal is the 11th most earthquake-prone country in the world. --PTI

People's Democratic Party supremo Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday said the proposed increase in GST for Kashmiri shawl would finish the craft and appealed to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to address the issue.

She also alleged that the Centre was trying to make the people of Jammu and Kashmir dependent solely on tourism.

"The Kashmiri shawl is not just a means of livelihood for us but an identity of Jammu and Kashmir. It is famous all over the world. The (previous) National Conference government banned the Shahtoosh, which was our heritage. That also caused economic losses," Mehbooba told reporters.

"Today, when you increase GST on Kashmiri shawl to 28 per cent, our art will automatically die," the PDP president added.

The former chief minister of the erstwhile state alleged efforts were being made to destroy Jammu and Kashmir by undertaking development work on horticulture land and imposing GST on the handicraft sector.

"These kept Jammu and Kashmir alive in its difficult times. I request Omar (Abdullah) that these are our assets, you have 50 MLAs, three MPs, for God's sake, tell us what you are doing to save our assets. What are you doing on the issue of increasing GST to 28 per cent," she asked.

The PDP chief alleged that these measures were an attempt by the Centre to make Jammu and Kashmir dependent solely on tourism.

"If our horticulture and handicraft are finished, we will only be dependent on tourism. Perhaps, the central government wants to finish the horticulture and the handicraft sectors to make the people of Jammu and Kashmir dependent only on tourism so that when they can send tourists whenever they want," Mehbooba said.

She also claimed huge development projects were wreaking havoc on agricultural and horticultural land. -- PTI

India and Russia have decided to step up joint efforts in dealing with challenges of radicalisation and terror financing.

Ways to deepen cooperation in tackling threats of terrorism were discussed at a meeting of the India-Russia joint working group (JWG) on counter-terrorism cooperation.

At a separate meeting on issues relating to the United Nations, Russia reiterated its support for India as a permanent member of a reformed UN Security Council.

The meeting took place in Moscow on December 19 and 20.

"In the 13th JWG on counter-terrorism, both sides shared their experiences in countering terrorism including cross-border terrorism, extremism and agreed to enhance cooperation to address problems of radicalisation as well as terror financing," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Saturday.

"They discussed current terrorist threats at the global and regional level and combating the use of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes," it said in a statement.

The MEA said both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening counter-terrorism cooperation in bilateral as well as multilateral platforms. -- PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday met two Kuwaiti nationals who translated and published India's two iconic epics, Mahabharata and Ramayana in Arabic.

The Prime Minister also signed copies of the Arabic versions of the two epics.

Modi reached Kuwait on Saturday for a two-day visit. He is visiting Kuwait at the invitation of Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. His visit is the first of any Indian Prime Minister to the Gulf nation in 43 years.

The last Indian prime minister to visit Kuwait was Indira Gandhi in 1981.

"Happy to see Arabic translations of the Ramayan and Mahabharat. I compliment Abdullah Al-Baroun and Abdul Lateef Al-Nesef for their efforts in translating and publishing it. Their initiative highlights the popularity of Indian culture globally, Modi said in a post on X along with pictures.

During Modi's 'Mann Ki Baat' radio address in October, he highlighted their work and said that "this work is not just a translation, but a bridge between two great cultures. It is developing a new understanding of Indian literature in the Arab world."

On his arrival, Modi was warmly received by Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence & Interior of Kuwait. -- PTI

The death toll in the LPG tanker accident on the Jaipur-Ajmer highway rose to 14 on Saturday, an official said.

He said more than 30 people who suffered burn injuries in the massive crash are undergoing treatment.

"Five charred bodies were received yesterday. Eight others have died. Total 14 deaths have been reported so far. Twenty-seven patients are admitted to SMS hospital and undergoing treatment. Seven are on ventilator support," Dr Sushil Bhati, Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital Superintendent, said.

He added that the body of one more victim was taken to another hospital.

Five bodies are yet to be identified, Bhati said.

A truck hit the LPG tanker on the highway in the Bhankrota area in the early hours of Friday, sparking a massive fire that engulfed more than 35 vehicles.

Rajasthan Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khinvsar said on Friday that the condition of about half of the injured was "very critical".

Most of the people injured in the accident are admitted to the 'Burn Unit' of the SMS Hospital here. -- PTI

Representative image

18:24 Marathi-speaking family attacked: Main accused's car seized

The private car of a government employee held for allegedly attacking his Marathi-speaking neighbours and subjecting them to community-based abuse in Thane's Kalyan area was seized by Maharashtra transport authorities for sporting an amber beacon, an official said on Saturday.

On December 18, Akhilesh Shukla (48), an employee with Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation, and several others had assaulted a family in their residential complex over a trivial argument. Viral videos of the incident led to an uproar in the Maharashtra legislature over insult to Marathi speaking people in the state.

"Shukla was fined Rs 9,500 for using an amber light without authority. His vehicle did not have valid insurance or pollution under control (PUC) certification. It had a plate with Maharashtra government written on it as well," Deputy Regional Transport Officer Ashutosh Barkul said.

The vehicle was seized on Friday by an RTO team comprising Motor Vehicle Inspectors Rohit Pawar and Priyanka Taple, the official added.

As per the FIR, Shukla along with his wife and others assaulted a couple who asked them to calm down during their argument with a woman over burning of incense.

Shukla, his associates Sumit Jadhav (23) and Ranga alias Darshan Borade (22) were arrested on Friday, while police are on the lookout for eight others. -- PTI

The Congress on Saturday hit out at the Election Commission for tweaking an election rule to prevent public inspection of certain electronic documents such as CCTV camera and webcasting footage, asking why the poll panel was afraid of transparency.

Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said the party would legally challenge amendment.

"If there was ever a vindication of our assertions regarding the rapidly eroding integrity of the electoral process managed by the Election Commission of India (ECI) in recent times, this is it," Ramesh said in a post on X.

Sharing a December 20 notification, the Congress leader said, "This move of the ECI will be challenged legally right away."

The government has tweaked an election rule to prevent public inspection of certain electronic documents such as CCTV camera and webcasting footage as well as video recordings of candidates to prevent their misuse.

Based on the recommendation of the poll panel, the Union law ministry has amended Rule 93 of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, to restrict the type of "papers" or documents open to public inspection.

According to Rule 93, all "papers" related to elections shall be open to public inspection.

The amendment inserts "as specified in these rules" after "papers".

Ramesh said sunlight was the best disinfectant and information would restore faith in the process -- a reasoning Punjab and Haryana High Court agreed with when it directed the ECI to share all information it was legally required to with the public.

"Yet, the ECI, instead of complying with the judgment, rushes to amend the law to curtail the list of what can be shared," he said.

"Why is the ECI so afraid of transparency?" the Congress general secretary asked.

Transparency and openness are key in exposing and eliminating corruption and unethical practices and information restores confidence in the process, Ramesh noted.

Law ministry and ECI officials separately explained that a court case was the "trigger" behind the amendment. -- PTI

Former Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala was cremated on Saturday with full state honours in Teja Khera village in his native Sirsa district.

Chautala, who was a five-time chief minister, died in Gurugram on Friday. He was 89.

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal reached Teja Khera to attend the last rites of the departed leader.

Many Haryana ministers, state Assembly Speaker Harvinder Kalyan, former Union minister Venod Sharma, SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia, BJP's Manpreet Badal and Manjinder Singh Sirsa and several other leaders also reached Teja Khera to pay their last respects.

Political leaders cutting across parties laid floral wreaths to pay their last respects to the departed leader.

Earlier, Chautala's mortal remains were Saturday kept at the family's Teja Khera farmhouse here for people to pay their last respects to the departed Indian National Lok Dal chief. His body was wrapped in the Indian Tricolour and decked with garlands.

An INLD spokesperson said Chautala was rushed to a hospital after his health worsened on Friday.

Om Prakash Chautala's younger son Abhay Singh Chautala, an INLD leader, elder son Ajay Singh Chautala, who heads the JJP party, and other family members, including former deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala, ex-CM Chautala's brother Ranjit Chautala, were present in Teja Khera.

The funeral pyre was lit amid chants of Vedic hymns by priests.

Congress leaders Randeep Singh Surjewala and Kumari Selja had reached the Chautala farmhouse in the morning to pay their last respects to the five-time chief minister.

Common people also gathered in the village in large numbers to attend the cremation. -- PTI

A 16-year-old school girl died of asphyxiation while bathing following a geyser gas leak in the bathroom at her house here, police said on Saturday.

The incident happened in Kuldeep Vihar colony on Friday when Mahi's mother had gone to a nearby shop, according to family members.

They said that upon returning she found the bathroom door locked and her daughter did not respond to her calls.

Mahi's brother, Madhav said the bathroom door was locked from outside, a precaution the family took due to the girl's previous fainting episodes while bathing.

The door was opened and Mahi was taken to the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College Hospital where doctors declared her dead upon arrival, the police said

Family sources said that she had fainted in similar circumstances two years ago but had recovered.

They attributed the incident to the lack of ventilation in the bathroom that led to the girl's death. -- PTI

Despite police permission being denied, top Telugu actor Allu Arjun attended the theatre where Pushpa 2 was screened on December 4, Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy charged on Saturday.

Even after the death of a woman in a stampede, the actor did not leave the cinema hall, prompting the police to force him out, CM alleged.

Responding to the issue after AIMIM MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi raised it in the assembly, Reddy, referring to videos in circulation, found fault with Allu Arjun for holding a roadshow and waving to the crowds in spite of the heavy crowd.

Reddy further said the theatre management gave a letter to the police on December 2 seeking security for the visit of top actors and others on December 4. However, the police rejected the application, citing difficulties in crowd management.

Before entering the theatre and exiting, the actor stood through the sunroof of his car and waved to the crowds leading to thousands of fans jostling to get a glimpse of him, he said.

He slammed film personalities for making a beeline for Allu Arjun's residence to meet him after his arrest but not showing empathy to visit the boy who is undergoing treatment in hospital after suffering injuries in the incident.

"I appeal to the top film personalities that they should not be inhuman," he said.

He also said there won't be any special privileges when untoward incidents like death in a stampede happen and said the government would not spare those who troubled common people.

A 35-year-old woman died and her eight-year-old son was hospitalised on December 4 during a stampede-like situation at the Sandhya Theatre in Hyderabad when thousands of fans jostled to have a glimpse of the actor at the premiere of the blockbuster Pushpa 2,.

Following the incident, the Hyderabad police registered a case against Allu Arjun, his security team, and the theatre management under different sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at the Chikkadpally police station based on the complaint lodged by the deceased woman's family. -- PTI

In the run-up to the assembly elections in Delhi, Aam Aadmi Party supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday announced an Ambedkar scholarship for free foreign education of the city's Dalit students.

Kejriwal said the Dr Ambedkar Samman Scholarship was a response to the BJP's "insult" of Ambedkar.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah "insulted and made fun of Babasaheb Dr Ambedkar in Parliament. Crores of people who love Ambedkar were deeply pained," the former Delhi chief minister said at the AAP headquarters.

Ambedkar had said education was the way forward and secured a PhD from the US against all odds, Kejriwal told reporters.

The scholarship is a response to the insult meted out by the BJP to the chief architect of the Indian Constitution, the AAP chief added.

"Under the scheme, any Dalit student from Delhi will be able to receive education in foreign universities. If they get admission in any such university, the Delhi government will bear the entire cost of their education, travel and accommodation," Kejriwal said. -- PTI

Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge on Saturday lashed out at Union Home Minister Amit Shah over his remarks on B R Ambedkar and alleged that he was "bitten by a rabid dog".

Addressing reporters in Kalaburagi, the Minister for Information Technology and Biotechnology said, "I don't know whether I will get a place in Heaven if I chant the name of God in seven births but by chanting the name of Ambedkar in this birth we will get political, social, economic equality and a life of self-esteem."

Taking a dig at the Union Home Minister, Kharge said his problem is that Ambedkar and equality are not in his thoughts. These things are missing in his philosophy and ideology.

"The more Ambedkar and Basava philosophy grow, the RSS ideology will diminish."

"He is bitten by a rabid dog," Kharge added, while slamming Shah.

Shah had earlier accused the Congress of twisting facts and distorting his comments on Ambedkar in the Rajya Sabha, asserting its malicious campaign after the discussion on Constitution "established" the opposition party as being "anti-Ambedkar and anti-reservation". The Union minister also accused the Congress of adopting the tactic of "misrepresenting and distorting" statements. -- PTI

An Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) team inspected an old well on the 'Kalki Vishnu' temple premises in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal on Saturday, a day after the agency conducted a survey of a recently discovered temple in the district.

The priest of the Kalki Vishnu temple, Mahendra Prasad Sharma said it is good that the survey team came for a visit.

"There is a 'krish koop' (well) here. It is not closed but there is no water in it. This well is mentioned in the 'Skanda Purana' along with all pilgrimage sites of Sambhal... this well is on the temple premises, inside the old boundary," he said.

Speaking to PTI about the visit by the ASI, Sambhal Sub-Divisional Magistrate Vandana Mishra said, "A team of the ASI visited the 'Kalki Vishnu' temple. There is a 'krish koop' here which is said to be an ancient well. Its age is yet to be determined. The team stayed for about 15 minutes and also visited the temple."

On Friday, a four-member team of the ASI surveyed the recently-discovered Shri Kartik Mahadev temple, five pilgrimage sites and 19 'koops' (wells).

The Kartik Mahadev temple (Bhasma Shankar temple) was reopened on December 13 after the authorities said they stumbled upon the covered structure during an anti-encroachment drive.

The temple housed an idol of Lord Hanuman and a shivling. It had remained locked since 1978. The temple also has a well nearby which the authorities had planned to reopen.

Sambhal District Magistrate Rajender Pensiya had earlier told reporters that the ancient temple and the well were being excavated. -- PTI

An arrest warrant has been issued against former India cricketer Robin Uttappa in connection with alleged fraud related to Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) deposits, officials said on Saturday.

The warrant of arrest issued by Shadakshara Gopala Reddy, Regional Provident Fund Commissioner - II and Recovery Officer, K R Puram stated that Rs 23,36,602 is to be recovered from Uthappa, the defaulter.

The former cricketer is the director of Centauries Lifestyle Brands Pvt Ltd, Indiranagar.

In his order to the Station House Office of Pulakeshinagar Police Station, the senior officer stated, "Due to non remittances of dues, this office is unable to settle the Provident Fund accounts of the poor workers. In view of the above, you are kindly requested to execute the enclosed warrant of arrest through the Thana in-charge under whose jurisdiction Sri Robin Uthappa resides.

"In this connection it is kindly requested to arrest the employer under Rule 73 of IInd Schedule to Income Tax Act 1961 and Income Tax (CP) Rule 1962 and Section 8B of Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952, and produce him before the undersigned on or before 27.12.2024 for further proceedings through your official."

The order stated, "In exercise of the power conferred on me under section 8B of the Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952,...command you to arrest the said defaulter and bring him before the undersigned as soon as practicable and in any event within 24 hours of his arrest (exclusive of the time required for the journey) unless the defaulter pays the said amount of Rs 23,36,602 and Rs 5,000 for the cost of executing this process."

However, a senior police officer said, "The address mentioned in the arrest warrant issued by the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner is an old one and the concerned person does not stay at this address anymore. Our team had gone to the given address and verified. As per information, he vacated the mentioned address over a year ago. We have informed the same to the concerned officer. Further decision will be taken by the concerned authority which issued the arrest warrant." -- PTI

A 30-year-old woman died after her 'dupatta' got caught in a potato-peeling machine at a food centre of the Mahakaleshwar Temple in Madhya Pradesh's Ujjain on Saturday, an official said.

The accident occurred at the temple's Anna Kshetra in the morning, sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Laxmi Narayan Garg told reporters.

He said employees of a private security service and other women on the premises informed that the victim, Rajni Khatri, was working in the bhojanshala (kitchen) when her 'dupatta' (scarf) got caught in a potato-peeling machine.

The dupatta tightened around the woman's neck. She was taken to a private hospital where the doctors declared her dead, the SDM said.

He said the body was sent for post-mortem, and the report will reveal the exact cause.

The SDM said that the government will provide financial assistance to her kin.

Anna Kshetra is about 500 metres from the Mahakaleshwar Temple and provides food to the devotees. -- PTI

India's total forest and tree cover has increased by 1,445 sq km since 2021, reaching 25.17 per cent of the total geographical area in 2023, according to the latest government data.

The India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023, released on Saturday, said that the country's total forest cover increased from 7,13,789 sq km in 2021 to 7,15,343 sq km in 2023, reaching 21.76 per cent of its geographical area.

The tree cover increased by 1,289 sq km and now constitutes 3.41 per cent of the country's geographical area, it said.

Together, the forest and tree cover amount to 8,27,357 sq km or 25.17 per cent of India's geographical area. This marks an overall increase of 1,445 sq km from 2021, with forest cover alone rising by 156 sq km.

According to the Forest Survey of India (FSI), forest cover refers to all land that has a tree canopy density of more than 10 per cent and spans over an area of one hectare or more, regardless of the type of ownership or legal status.

This includes natural forests as well as man-made plantations, orchards and tree patches in urban and rural areas that meet the size and canopy density criteria.

Tree cover is defined as patches of trees and isolated trees outside the Reserved Forest Area (RFA) that are less than one hectare.

Madhya Pradesh continues to lead in total forest and tree cover, followed by Arunachal Pradesh and Maharashtra, according to the report.

Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha and Rajasthan recorded the largest gains in forest and tree cover while Mizoram, Gujarat and Odisha showed the highest increases in forest cover specifically.

Northeastern states, particularly Mizoram, demonstrated notable improvements. Mizoram alone saw a rise of 242 sq km in forest cover, reversing some of the declines reported in ISFR 2021. -- PTI

Shiv Sena-UBT leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday hinted that his party might go solo in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election without exiting the Maha Vikas Aghadi.

Talking to reporters, Raut said party workers were insisting the organisation go solo in the local body polls, as there were more aspirants than for the Lok Sabha or state assembly polls.

"Talks are on between Uddhav Thackeray and other party leaders (about whether to go solo) for the BMC polls. Workers want the party to contest the polls solo," he said.

The undivided Shiv Sena controlled the cash-rich BMC for 25 consecutive years, from 1997 to 2022.

The term of the previous elected representatives of the BMC ended in early March 2022, and fresh polls are due for nearly three years now.

Raut said the party's power in Mumbai is undisputed.

"If had we got more seats to contest in Mumbai (during the assembly polls), it would have won them," he said, claiming that it was necessary to win Mumbai or else the city would be separated from Maharashtra.

The Shiv Sena contested 24 seats in Mumbai and won 10, while the Congress fielded candidates for 10 seats and bagged four, and the NCP (SP) contested two seats unsuccessfully.

"Even when the (undivided) Shiv Sena was (in an alliance) with the BJP, we contested the BMC and other civic body polls independently. We are trying to find ways to do it. The MVA will exist in the Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad and Nashik civic bodies," he said. -- PTI

Ravichandran Ashwin's wife Prithi Narayanan has penned a heartfelt tribute for her husband following his recent retirement from international cricket, saying "it is time to set the burden of being you down" and embrace life beyond the game.

Ashwin made a surprise announcement of his retirement after the drawn third Test at Brisbane. The veteran off-spinner picked up just one wicket during the tour, including the 10-wicket loss at Adelaide.

The 38-year-old retired with a stellar record of 537 Test wickets at an average of 24, in addition to scoring 3,503 runs, including six centuries. He also claimed 156 wickets in ODIs and 72 in T20Is.

Describing her tribute as a "Love letter from a fan girl", Prithi wrote on instagram: "Dear Ashwin, from not knowing how to put a kit bag together to following you to stadiums all over the world, rooting for you, watching you and learning from you, it has been an absolute pleasure. The world you introduced me to gave me the privilege to watch and enjoy a sport that I love from close quarters.

"It also showed me how much passion, hardwork and discipline is needed to keep your head above water. And sometimes even that is not enough. I remember us talking about why you, R Ashwin, had to do all of this and a lot more to even stay relevant in the scheme of things."

Ashwin, who debuted in 2011 against the West Indies, earned a reputation for his relentless pursuit of excellence. His near-equal tally of 269 wickets against right-handers and 268 against left-handers highlights his versatility.

"How awards, the best of stats, the POMs, the accolades, the records didn't matter if you didn't sharpen your skill sets constantly and did not put in the work. Sometimes, nothing is enough," Prithi continued.

"As you end your wonderful international run, I only want to tell you that it's all good. It is all going to be good. It is time to set the burden of being you down. Live life on your terms, make space for those extra calories, make time for your family, make time to do absolutely nothing, share memes all day, create a new bowling variation, bug our kids out of their minds. Just do it all."

Prithi, who has been a constant companion on Ashwin's cricketing journey, reflected on his meticulous approach to his craft.

"When I saw Ashwins PC, I thought of small and big moments. Many many memories over the last 13-14 years. The big wins , the MOS awards, the quiet silence in our room after an intense game, the sound of the shower running for much longer than usual on some evenings post play, the scratch of pencil over paper as he scribbled thoughts down, the constant streaming of footage videos when he is making a game plan, the calm of meditative breathing before leaving for each game, certain songs playing on repeat while he unwinds.

"The times we weeped in joy - after the CT final, after the MCG win, after the Sydney draw, The Gabba win, after making a comeback in T20s the times we sat in silence and the times when we had our hearts broken," she wrote. -- PTI

The body of a seven-year-old boy missing in the ferry-Navy craft crash off the Mumbai coast was recovered on Saturday morning after a three-day-long search operation, an official said.

Naval boats have found the body of Johan Mohammad Nisar Ahmed Pathan, taking the toll in the December 18 tragedy to 15.

The Navy has launched a probe into one of the deadliest crashes in the city's harbour area.

A naval helicopter and boats of the Navy and Coast Guard were deployed to look for the missing passengers as part of the SAR operation, the official said.

Of the 113 persons on board both the vessels, 15 have died and 98, including two injured, were rescued.

There were six persons on board the Navy craft, of which two survived, the official said.

The tragedy struck when the speeding Navy craft undergoing engine trials lost control and collided with a passenger ferry, 'Neel Kamal', off the Mumbai coast. -- PTI

The Congress on Saturday took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying the "frequent flyer PM" is off to Kuwait while the people of Manipur continue to wait for him to visit the violence-hit state.

Modi embarked on a two-day visit to Kuwait on Saturday to boost ties in a range of areas including defence and trade.

Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh, in a rhyming post on X, said, "Such is their fate, As Mr. Modi refuses to find a date, The people of Manipur continue to wait, While the Frequent Flyer PM is off to Kuwait."

The Congress has repeatedly urged Modi to visit Manipur, stressing that it would help restore peace and normalcy in the strife-torn state.

The ethnic violence in Manipur first broke out on May 3 last year after a tribal solidarity march in the hill districts of the state to protest against the majority Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe status.

Since then, more than 220 people belonging to Meitei and Kuki communities and security personnel have been killed in the violence. -- PTI

Maharashtra minister Bharat Gogawale on Saturday said that the allocation of portfolios in the Mahayuti government is expected during the day.

The winter session of the state assembly, which began on December 16, will conclude on Saturday.

Talking to reporters in Nagpur, Gogawale said, "The allocation of portfolios is expected today. Leaders of all three alliance partners met on Friday, and we had a breakfast meeting with the chief minister this morning."

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his deputies Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar were sworn in on December 5, and 39 ministers were inducted ahead of the winter session on December 15 at Raj Bhavan in Nagpur.

However, portfolio allocation in the Mahayuti government is yet to take place.

The Mahayuti, comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party, secured a landslide victory in the November 20 assembly polls by winning 230 out of 288 seats.

The Shiv Sena leader asserted that there was no difference of opinion among Mahayuti leaders over portfolios and whatever decision they make will be acceptable to all.

Gogawale said he expected to become the guardian minister of his home district, Raigad.

"I am confident I will get the guardian minister post for Raigad," he said. -- PTI

The search operation launched by naval boats to locate a seven-year-old boy missing after a Navy craft rammed into a ferry off the Mumbai coast three days ago continued on Saturday, an official said.

The SAR (search and rescue) operation will continue at least till Saturday evening, the official said.

With the recovery of the body of a 43-year-old man on Thursday evening, the death toll in the December 18 tragedy rose to 14.

The Navy has launched a probe into one of the deadliest crashes in the city's harbour area.

A naval helicopter and boats of the Navy and Coast Guard were deployed to look for the missing passengers as part of the SAR operation, the official said.

Of the 113 persons on board both the vessels, 14 died and 98, including two injured, were rescued.

There were six persons on board the Navy craft, of which two survived, the official said.

The tragedy struck when the speeding Navy craft undergoing engine trials lost control and collided with passenger ferry 'Neel Kamal' off near Mumbai coast. The ferry with more than 100 passengers was on its way from the Gateway of India to the Elephanta Island, a popular tourist attraction which has a collection of ancient caves.

According to the documents issued by the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB), the boat had permission to carry 84 passengers and 6 crew members, but it was overloaded, a police official said. -- PTI

Pankaj Arya, advocate of 10-year-old 'spiritual-orator' Abhinav Arora, has filed a complaint against YouTubers for allegedly trolling him on social media.

Arya said on Saturday that the next date of hearing in the alleged trolling case is January 3.

The complaint was filed by advocate Pankaj Arya on behalf of Arora against YouTubers for allegedly trolling him on social media.

"We had a hearing in the court today. The legal proceeding is underway. The next date of hearing has been scheduled for 3rd January," he said.

"A bunch of people have started a campaign against Abhinav Arora and Sanatana Dharma. We have come to the court against this. We will not spare them, even if we have to go to the Supreme Court or the High Court. We have demanded an FIR against these YouTubers," the advocate said.

In October, Abhinav Arora's family had claimed that he received a life threat from Lawrence Bishnoi's gang.

Speaking to ANI, his mother, Jyoti Arora said that Abhinav has not done anything other than devotion that he has to tolerate so much.

"Efforts are being made to do our social escalation through social media. Abhinav has not done anything due to which we are getting threats...Abhinav has not done anything other than devotion that he has to tolerate so much," she said.

"We received a call message from Lawrence Bishnoi group today where we were being threatened that Abhinav would be killed. Last night, we got a call that I missed. We received a message from the same number today that they would kill Abhinav," she added.

Notably, Abhinav Arora is a spiritual content creator from Delhi who claims that his spiritual journey began when he was just three years old. -- ANI

12:17 Modi embarks on 2-day visit to Kuwait

As he embarked on a two-day visit to Kuwait, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said India and the Gulf nation have shared interest in peace, security and stability of the West Asian region.

Modi's visit to Kuwait is taking place two weeks after the collapse of President Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria and the continuing Israeli offensive in Gaza.

In a departure statement, Modi said his talks with top Kuwaiti leadership would be an opportunity to chalk out a roadmap for a futuristic partnership between India and Kuwait.

"We deeply value the historical connection with Kuwait that has been nurtured over generations. We are not just strong trade and energy partners but also have shared interest in peace, security, stability and prosperity in the West Asia region," he said.

Modi said he was looking forward to his meetings with the Emir, the Crown Prince and the prime minister of Kuwait.

"It would be an opportunity to chalk out a roadmap for a futuristic partnership for the benefit of our people and the region," he said.

"I eagerly look forward to meeting the Indian diaspora in Kuwait who have immensely contributed to strengthening of bonds of friendship between the two nations," he added. -- PTI

Google has cut 10 percent of its managerial positions, including directors and vice-presidents.

CEO Sundar Pichai confirmed the decision during an all-hands meeting, underscoring the company's ongoing efforts to streamline operations amidst growing competition from AI-focused rivals like OpenAI, which increasingly challenge Google's dominance in search, reported Business Insider.

The latest round of layoffs, announced on Wednesday, is part of a broader restructuring strategy that has been unfolding over the past two years.

While some affected managers were reassigned to individual contributor roles, many positions were eliminated.

The company's cost-cutting journey began in 2022 when Pichai set a goal to make Google 20 percent more efficient.

Last year, the restructuring resulted in over 12,000 employees losing their jobs -- a significant downsizing for one of the world's largest tech giants.

At the same meeting, Pichai introduced a refined vision for'Googleyness', a term that once broadly defined the traits of an ideal Google employee but had grown too ambiguous.

Pichai reimagined it with a sharper focus on mission-driven work, innovation, and teamwork.

He emphasised the importance of creating helpful products, taking bold risks, fostering a scrappy attitude, and collaborating effectively.

'Updating modern Google', as Pichai described it, is now central to the company's ethos.

Google's decision reflects a larger trend sweeping through the tech industry.

With rapid advancements in AI and economic pressures, tech giants are cutting jobs and reducing middle management to empower individual contributors.

The scale of layoffs across the sector is staggering.

In the first half of 2024 alone, over 98,000 employees from 333 tech companies were let go, according to Layoffs.fyi.

In May alone, 39 companies collectively laid off nearly 10,000 workers.

Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and TikTok have also been aggressively restructuring.

Microsoft reportedly laid off over 1,000 employees across divisions, including Azure cloud and gaming, following its Activision Blizzard acquisition.

The gaming division alone saw 1,900 job cuts.

Amazon also trimmed its workforce across several units, including Audible, Prime Video, and Twitch, which lost 35 per cent of its staff, or roughly 500 employees.

TikTok reduced its global workforce by over 1,000 employees, impacting operations and marketing teams amidst regulatory challenges.

Meta enacted smaller cuts within its Reality Lab division, which focuses on metaverse and AR/VR projects. Meanwhile, companies like Toshiba and Indeed have also implemented significant layoffs.

Toshiba announced plans to cut 4,000 domestic jobs, while Indeed let go of 8 per cent of its workforce during its second wave of layoffs in May. -- Nandini Singh/Business Standard

File image

11:02 3 held with arms, ammunition in Manipur

The Manipur police arrested three persons with arms and ammunition, including a cadre of a banned outfit, during separate operations in Churachandpur and Imphal West districts, officials said on Saturday.

The arrested member of the outlawed Kangleipak Communist Party (Peoples' War Group) was involved in extortion activities, they said.

Security forces also apprehended two persons from Lamzang village in Churachandpur district on Friday.

Pistols, a machine gun, a rifle, ammunition and a two-wheeler without registration number were among the articles recovered from their possession, a police officer said. -- PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday embarked on a two-day visit to Kuwait at the invitation of Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Amir of the State of Kuwait.

This will be the first visit of the Prime Minister any Indian Prime Minister to Kuwait after 43 years.

Modi will attend the opening ceremony of the 26th Arabian Gulf Cup as a special guest of the Emir of Kuwait.

He will also interact with the Indian diaspora at the 'Hala Modi' community event at Sheikh Saad Al Abdullah Sports Complex.

The PM said that his visit will deepen India's historical linkages with Kuwait and expressed eagerness to meet the Crown Prince of Kuwait.

"Today and tomorrow, I will be visiting Kuwait. This visit will deepen India's historical linkages with Kuwait. I look forward to meeting His Highness the Amir, the Crown Prince and the Prime Minister of Kuwait. This evening, I will be interacting with the Indian community and will also attend the inauguration ceremony of the Arabian Gulf Cup," Modi wrote on X. -- ANI

A mechanical engineer was put under digital arrest for six days by cyber fraudsters and duped of Rs 3.46 lakh, the police said in Faridabad on Friday. According to the victim, the cyber thugs forced him to lock himself in a room in his house and monitored his activities through his mobile camera.

Mohit, who is a mechanical engineer in a factory located in Ballabgarh-Tigaon Road claimed that on December 6 morning, he got a call from an unknown number, the police said.

The caller identified himself as an employee of a courier company and said that a parcel, containing drugs, some passports, a laptop, $5,000, bank documents and other items, in his name had been intercepted at Delhi Airport, they said.

When the victim denied any involvement in this, the fraudster told him that his Aadhar card had been used to send the parcel, they said.

Following this, the accused transferred the call to his accomplice who claimed to be from the cyber cell and asked Mohit to testify in the court, they said.

"The accused took me to a video conference in which there were some people who looked like Delhi Police personnel. They accused me of money laundering and asked for my bank statements and other information," the complainant said.

They then asked him to immediately reach his home in Sector 55 and stay alone in a room, the police said. -- PTI

The building where fire broke out killing four of a family in Dewas, MP/ANI on X

10:26 Four of family killed in fire at milk parlour-cum-house in MP

A couple and their two children were killed in a fire that broke out at a milk parlour-cum-house in Madhya Pradesh's Dewas district in the early hours of Saturday, the police said.

The blaze erupted on the premises in the Nayapura area around 4.45 am, an official said.

"We received information about a fire in a milk parlour in Nayapura, and a family was living in the same premises," Nahar Darwaja police station in-charge Manju Yadav said.

She said the victims, a couple and their two children, died of suffocation and burn injuries.

A team from the fire brigade has brought the blaze under control, the official said.

According to the police, Dinesh Karpentar (35), his wife Gayatri (30), 10-year-old daughter Ishika (10) and seven-year-old son Chirag died in the fire.

Superintendent of police Puneet Gehlot said Dinesh owned a dairy on the ground floor of the building and lived with his family on the second floor. -- PTI

Illustrations: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com

10:12 SC Lifts 30% Interest Cap On Late Payment Of Credit Card Bills

In a relief to banks, the Supreme Court on Friday set aside an order of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) that capped credit card interest rates at 30 percent per annum on late bill payments.

The top court ruling has put an end to a 16-year-old case.

A bench of Justices Bela Trivedi and Satish Chandra Sharma was hearing petitions by banks such as Standard Chartered Bank, Citibank, American Express, and Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC), which questioned before the court whether the NCDRC had jurisdiction to fix a maximum ceiling on interest rates to be charged by the lenders from their credit-card holders for their failure to make payment on the due date.

In 2008, the NCDRC had ruled that charging credit-card holders interest rates in excess of 30 percent per annum for failing to make the full payment on time, or only paying the minimum amount due, was an unfair trade practice.

However, banks argued that the advising interest rate is an occupied statutory field reserved by the legislature for the Reserve Bank of India to regulate, which is being done by the central bank.

They told the court that while fixing the maxima of interest rate, the NCDRC has not taken into account the fact that the levy of (higher) interest is only on defaulting customers and a compliant customer gets an interest-free unsecured credit for approximately 45 days, and also various costs associated with the credit-card business.

Meanwhile, the RBI had said that though it has directed banks to not charge excessive rates of interest, the policy is not to directly regulate the rates charged by the banks.

Therefore, the RBI left the matter to the boards of directors of the banks.

So, the RBI cannot be directed to issue any further instruction as it is a discretionary power conferred under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.

In its order, the NCDRC had said: If the RBI is considered to be one of the watchdogs of finance and economy of the nation and the prevailing credit conditions are such as should invite its policy intervention, then, in our view, there is no justifiable ground for not controlling the banks, which exploit the borrowers by charging exorbitant rates of interest varying from 36 percent to 49 percent per annum, in case of default by the credit-card holders to pay before the due date.

The commission had also compared the interest rates of other countries, saying that Australia s rate of interest varies from 18 percent to 24 percent.

In Hong Kong SAR, credit card interest varies from 24 percent to 32 percent.

In the Philippines, Indonesia, and Mexico, which are emerging markets, credit card interest rate varies from 36 per cent to 50 percent.

However, the NCDRC went on to hold that there is no justifiable ground for adopting the highest rate of interest prevailing in smaller economies.

Experts say with the removal of the 30 percent cap, banks and financial institutions may have more flexibility in setting interest rates on late credit card payments.

This could lead to higher charges for consumers who miss payment deadlines, it also allows issuers to adjust rates based on market conditions and individual risk assessments.

Banks now have the flexibility to charge late payment interest rates higher than 30 percent.

This can significantly boost their revenue from credit card operations, especially from high-risk customers.Banks can set interest rates that align with individual credit risks.

Customers with poor payment histories may be charged higher rates, helping banks offset the risks associated with defaults.Banks can structure their credit card offerings more competitively without being bound by an arbitrary cap, said Gauhar Mirza, partner, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas.

Sanjay Gupta, managing partner-dispute resolution, SNG & Partners, who had conducted the matter for banks before the top court, said: It is a welcome judgment passed by the Supreme Court today, and is a big relief for the credit card industry operating in the country. -- Bhavini Mishra/Business Standard

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com

09:41 PIL Seeks Action Against Amfi For 'Misleading' MF Ads

A public interest litigation has been filed in the Bombay high court seeking directions to the Securities and Exchange Board of India to revoke the permissions granted to mutual fund body Association of Mutual Funds in India (Amfi) for 'misleading' and 'deceptive' advertisement campaigns under the investor education and protection measures.

The petitioner, a chartered accountant, has alleged that Amfi was 'recklessly propagating that mutual funds are right without any basis or rationale'.

"The ad campaigns are completely unfounded, reckless, false, baseless, and misleading with selective and distorted emphasis on positive features," the petitioner alleged.

The Bombay high court on December 18 appointed an amicus curiae in the matter considering the public interest involved and directed issuance of notice to Sebi and Amfi.

Comparing the advertisements by Amfi to those of other institutions such as the Reserve Bank of India, National Stock Exchange and Sebi itself, the petitioner said the aforementioned ads do not solicit any business, don't have any commercial motive, and are to 'truly' to serve the public good unlike the Amfi ads which have commercial motive. -- Khushboo Tiwari/Business Standard

File image

09:23 L&T's 7.6K Cr Deal For K9 Vajra

The ministry of defence on Friday signed a Rs 7,628.70 crore (Rs 76.28 billion) contract with Larsen & Toubro Limited for the procurement of 100 additional 155 mm/52 calibre K9 Vajra-T self-propelled tracked artillery guns for the Indian Army.

Announcing the contract, an MoD release stated that the procurement falls under the 'Buy (Indian) category', providing a further boost to the Centre's Aatmanirbhar Bharat' (self-reliant India) initiative.

The procurement of the latest batch of K9 Vajra-T guns will 'catalyse artillery modernisation' and 'enhance the Indian Army's overall operational readiness', said the MoD.

The guns will be manufactured under licence from South Korean defence major Hanwha Defense, extending an initial contract for 100 guns that has already been completed.

Friday's contract was signed by senior MoD officials and L&T representatives in the presence of defence secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh at South Block in New Delhi.

The MoD release did not specify the number of guns being procured under this contract.

However, sources confirmed that the contract is for five regiments, or 100 units, of K9 Vajra artillery guns.

The MoD described the K9 Vajra as a 'versatile artillery gun' with cross-country mobility that will enhance the army's firepower, enable deeper precision strikes, and bolster artillery capabilities across all terrains.

'The gun, equipped with cutting-edge technology, is capable of delivering long-range lethal fire with high accuracy and a higher rate of fire, and will be able to operate at sub-zero temperatures in high-altitude areas to its full potential," said the MoD.

A self-propelled tracked artillery gun is an armoured weapon system on tracks that can move across terrains and fire large-calibre shells.

The contract with L&T aligns with the ongoing push for self-reliance in defence.

According to a report by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence, made public on Tuesday, a total of 333 capital acquisition contracts were signed for the procurement of defence equipment for the army during the last five financial years (FY20 to FY24) and FY25 (up to September 2024).

Of these, 278 contracts -- accounting for approximately 88 per cent of the total contract value -- were signed with Indian vendors for capital procurement. Bhaswar Kumar/Business Standard

File image

09:16 Karachi mob attacks polio vaccination team, 6 people arrested

A polio vaccination team and their police escort were attacked on Friday by a mob during a vaccination drive in a densely populated area of Pakistan's Karachi city.

The police reported the arrest of six individuals, including four women, in connection with the assault, which occurred in the Korangi area of the city, in a settlement predominantly inhabited by families from the country's northern tribal areas.

The polio team went to a house for administering the vaccine drops where the women present called two armed men and they attacked not only the health workers but also the policemen accompanying them, said SSP Korangi, Kamran Khan.

Following the initial assault, the attackers called additional men from the settlement, who came armed with shovels and batons and escalated the attack on the health workers and police personnel.

Harassment and attacks against health workers carrying out polio vaccination drives for the government is fairly common in Pakistan.

On Tuesday, three security forces personnel were killed and two others injured in a blast targeting a vehicle carrying polio workers in the restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

A day earlier, a polio worker and a police constable were shot dead in separate incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as the country began a week-long polio eradication campaign amid tight security.

Earlier this week, a female health worker was forcibly kept in confinement at an apartment building in Karachi's Nazimabad after she went to an apartment to carry out her duties. -- PTI

A 16-year-old boy from Bihar preparing for IIT-JEE was found hanging from the ceiling fan of his hostel room in the Vigyan Nagar police station area of Kota city on Friday, officials said.

The incident occurred despite the fan in hostel room being equipped with anti-hanging device meant to prevent suicide. Police suspected it to be a case of suicide, however, no suicide note was recovered from the room and the reason behind the extreme step by the minor is yet to be ascertained.

A 16-year-old boy studying in class 11th and hailing from the Vaishali district in Bihar had been preparing for IIT-JEE in a coaching institute since April this year in Kota, circle inspector at the Vigyan Nagar police station Mukesh Meena said. -- PTI

Payal Kapadia's All We Imagine as Light topped the list of former US president Barack Obama's favourite movies this year.

Obama shared on X the annual list of his ten favourite movies of 2024 and All We Imagine as Light topped the list.

Obama wrote, "Here are a few movies I'd recommend checking out this year."

The post read, "Barack Obama's favourite movies of 2024 -- All We Imagine as Light, Conclave, The Piano Lesson, The Promised Land, The Seed of the Sacred Fig, Dune: Part Two, Anora, Didi, A Complete Unknown.

Released last month, All We Imagine as Light tells the story of three immigrant women from different generations experience varying stages of disquiet against the ebbs and flows of Mumbai.

08:24 Earthquake of magnitude 4.8 strikes Nepal

An earthquake of magnitude 4.8 struck Nepal in the early hours of Saturday, the National Centre of Seismology reported.

The earthquake occurred at 3:59 am Indian Standard Time, the NCS noted.

The earthquake was recorded at a depth of 10 kilometres at Latitude 29.17 N and Longitude 81.59 E. -- ANI

A 26-year-old cab driver was stabbed to death by a passenger and his friends after they picked up a fight over the fare of Rs 400 in northeast Delhi's Sonia Vihar area, the police said on Thursday.

The incident took place on the intervening night of December 17 and 18.

Sandeep, who drove a taxi for Rapido, was found injured in a pool of blood at the roadside near Sonia Vihar Pusta, the police said in a statement.

Sandeep told the police that he brought three passengers -- Deepanshu alias Ashu, Rahul and Mayank -- from Noida.

After reaching Pusta 2 in Sonia Vihar, the ride was completed.

Sandeep told the police the accused did not want to pay the fare of Rs 400 and started fighting with him.

During the fight one of their associates Nikhil and a minor allegedly stabbed Sandeep in his head and abdomen.

Later, Sandeep succumbed to his injuries during the treatment, the police said.

Deputy commissioner of police (northeast) Rakesh Paweriya said during investigation, the CCTV footage near the spot was checked. -- PTI

File image

08:12 2 killed, 68 hurt in attack at German Christmas market

At least two people were killed and dozens more injured in a suspected attack at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, on Friday evening, CNN reported.

The attack occurred when a car deliberately rammed into a crowd of people at the market, resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries.

According to local public broadcaster MDR, Saxony-Anhalt Prime Minister Reiner Haseloff confirmed that the two victims included an adult and a toddler.

The tragic incident, which unfolded in the heart of the popular holiday market, left 68 people injured.

Of these, 15 sustained serious injuries, with 37 others moderately injured and 16 suffering from minor injuries.

Emergency response teams, including around 100 firefighters and 50 rescue personnel, were quickly deployed to the scene to assist the wounded and transport them to nearby hospitals. -- ANI

File image

00:45 Indian team joins probe into fire incident in Maldives

An experts' team from India arrived in Male for an investigation into a fire incident at 'Green Building' housing two ministries and an office of the Male City Council, local media reports said on Friday.

The fire raged on for four hours before authorities could control it, resulting in the building, identified as 'Tinu Building,' damaged beyond use on December 12. Due to this, the three affected ministries are currently being operated out of Dharubaaruge, state-run news agency PSM News said.

The Indian team is now working collaboratively with local police, news portal Edition.mv said, quoting the commissioner of police Ali Shujau as saying.

The Commissioner earlier said that CCTV footage had been sought and is being analysed.

In another report, the news portal said the fire originated at the Housing Ministry at around 06.30 am, affecting the construction ministry housed in the same building, and rapidly spread to the adjacent building housing the Environment Ministry.

Some social media users have alleged that the fire had been deliberately started in order to destroy evidence which would show land plots had been unfairly granted to certain persons, it said, adding, that the police said investigations so far have not shown any connections. -- PTI

A government vehicle belonging to the tehsildar of Nanpara hit a biker and allegedly dragged his body for 30 km.

The victim, identified as Narendra Kumar Haldar (35), a resident of Payagpur, was returning home when the accident occurred on the Nanpara-Bahraich road on Thursday evening.

According to the police, Haldar's body got entangled in the vehicle and was dragged for the entire distance, reaching the Nanpara Tehsil.

Naib Tehsildar Shailesh Kumar Awasthi, who is believed to be present in the vehicle at the time of the accident, has been recommended for suspension by district magistrate Monika Rani.

The vehicle's driver, Meraj Ahmed, has been arrested.

Superintendent of police Vrinda Shukla confirmed the incident and said, "It was confirmed that the body was dragged for 30 km to Nanpara when the locations of the deceased Narendra Haldar and the tehsildar's driver Meraj Ahmed were tracked at the time of the accident."

Stating that the incident was a "big negligence", the officer added, "It is very unlikely that a body was stuck in the vehicle for 30 km and no one came to know about it. It is possible that the vehicle was not stopped due to fear." -- PTI

Kohli's restaurant gets notice over fire safety lapses

Timeline Refresh

TOP STORIES