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Wed, 10 July 2024
Freedom of religion can't be right to convert: HC
Timeline Refresh
23:45 Right to freedom of religion cannot be right to convert: HC
Denying bail to a person accused of carrying out illegal conversion, the Allahabad high court has observed that the Constitution grants citizens the right to freely profess, practice and propagate their religion but it 'cannot be extended to construe a collective right to proselytise' or convert other people to one's religion.
The order was passed by Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal while rejecting the bail plea of Shriniwas Rav Nayak of Maharajganj who was booked under sections 3 and 5 (1) of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021.
Passing the order, the court opined that the individual right to freedom of conscience, as guaranteed by the Constitution, ensures that every person has the liberty to choose, practice, and express their religious beliefs.
However, the individual right to freedom of conscience and religion cannot be extended to construe a collective right to proselytise, which means attempting to convert others to one's religion, according to the court.
"The right to religious freedom belongs equally to the person converting and the individual sought to be converted," the court added.
It is alleged that, on February 15, 2024, the informant in the case was invited to the house of Vishwanath where many villagers mostly from the Scheduled Castes community had gathered.
Vishwanath's brother Brijlal, the applicant Shriniwas, and Ravindra were also present there. They allegedly urged the informant to leave Hinduism and convert to Christianity, promising relief from pain and an improved life.
While some villagers accepted Christianity and began praying, the informant escaped and reported the incident to the police.
The counsel for the Shriniwas pleaded that he had no connection with the alleged conversion and that he was a domestic help of one of the co-accused, a resident of Andhra Pradesh, and had been falsely implicated in the case.
It was also contended that no person who had converted to Christianity came forward to lodge a complaint.
On the other hand, the state counsel submitted that a case under the anti-conversion Act of 2021 was made out against the applicant.
He stated that the applicant came to Maharajganj where the conversion was taking place and was actively participating in the conversion from one religion to another which is against the law.
The court in its decision on Tuesday noted that Section 3 of the 2021 Act clearly prohibits conversion from one religion to another based on misrepresentation, force, fraud, undue influence, coercion, and allurement.
In view of this, taking into account the allegations made against the accused, the court noted that the informant was persuaded to convert to another religion and this was prima facie sufficient to decline bail to the applicant as it established the fact that a conversion programme was going on and many villagers belonging to the Scheduled Castes community were being converted from Hinduism to Christianity. -- PTI
23:16 Controversial IAS officer submitted fake certificates
Pooja Khedkar, a 2022 batch Indian Administrative Service officer of the Maharashtra cadre, allegedly submitted fake disability and Other Backward Class (OBC) certificates to clear the civil services exam, an official said on Wednesday.
The claim came a day after the probationary IAS officer, who used her private Audi car with a red-blue beacon light and VIP number plate, was transferred from Pune to Washim following complaints of misuse of power.
Khedkar appeared for the civil services exam under the OBC and visually impaired categories, the official said, adding she also submitted a mental illness certificate.
In April 2022, she was asked to report at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi for verification of her disability certificate but she did not do so, citing Covid infection, the official said.
The official said that her father Dilip Khedkar, a former state government officer, while contesting the recent Lok Sabha election, had declared his property valued at Rs 40 crore.
However, Pooja Khedkar appeared for the civil services exam under the OBC category, where the creamy layer certificate limitation is an annual parental income of Rs 8 lakh, the official said.
After joining as a probationary officer in Pune, Khedkar allegedly made several demands, including a VIP number plate for an Audi car, and placed a red beacon on the vehicle. -- PTI
The claim came a day after the probationary IAS officer, who used her private Audi car with a red-blue beacon light and VIP number plate, was transferred from Pune to Washim following complaints of misuse of power.
Khedkar appeared for the civil services exam under the OBC and visually impaired categories, the official said, adding she also submitted a mental illness certificate.
In April 2022, she was asked to report at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi for verification of her disability certificate but she did not do so, citing Covid infection, the official said.
The official said that her father Dilip Khedkar, a former state government officer, while contesting the recent Lok Sabha election, had declared his property valued at Rs 40 crore.
However, Pooja Khedkar appeared for the civil services exam under the OBC category, where the creamy layer certificate limitation is an annual parental income of Rs 8 lakh, the official said.
After joining as a probationary officer in Pune, Khedkar allegedly made several demands, including a VIP number plate for an Audi car, and placed a red beacon on the vehicle. -- PTI
23:14 Sikkim's lone Opposition MLA joins ruling party
Tenzing Norbu Lamtha, the lone Sikkim Democratic Front MLA on Wednesday joined the ruling Sikkim Krantikari Morcha claiming that the public mood is overwhelmingly in favour of the SKM led by Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang.
With Lamtha joining SKM, there will be no opposition in the Sikkim Assembly as SKM has all the 32 seats in the state.
"I consulted my constituents who suggested to me to join the SKM as the mood and momentum is in favour of the ruling party," he told reporters.
Hailing the leadership of Tamang, Lamtha said the 'SKM government did a tremendous job in the past five years for the development of the state and welfare of the people who handed a landslide mandate to the ruling party in appreciation of its performance'.
The first-time MLA from Shyari constituency claimed that the people have clearly given a message that there was no need for opposition to the SKM in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly and outside as reflected in the mandate.
Earlier, the chief minister welcomed Lamtha into the SKM family saying: "I am pleased to meet the Hon'ble Member of Legislative Assembly from the 23-Syari Constituency, Shri Tenzing Norbu Lamtha, at my official residence, Mintokgang, today."
'He has officially joined our SKM family,' he said in a Facebook post.
Tamang said Lamtha raised several commendable concerns related to the welfare of his constituency which will be considered for the benefit of the entire Syari constituency under a comprehensive development plan for the area and its people.
Lamtha had defeated senior SKM leader and Education Minister Kunga Nima Lepcha by 1,314 votes in the assembly polls held recently.
The speculation about him joining the SKM was ripe since the results were declared on June 2 with Lamtha hinting that he may switch sides for the sake of development of his constituency.
'I will decide the future course post public consultation,' he was quoted as saying when asked about his next move.
The SKM had won 31 seats in the 32-member Sikkim Assembly while the opposition SDF won only one seat. -- PTI
IMAGE: Sikkim MLA Tenzing Norbu Lamtha with Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, after joining the ruling SKM on Wednesday. Photograph: Prem Singh Tamang-Golay/Facebook
22:43 India dismisses reports about differences with Russia
India on Wednesday dismissed as 'factually incorrect' reports about differences with Russia on the issue of Ukraine that apparently led to scrapping of a larger delegation-level meeting during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day visit to Moscow.
"To the best of my knowledge, there are no cancellations of any particular programming element during the Prime Minister's visit to Moscow," Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said at a media briefing in Vienna.
He was responding to a question about some friction in Moscow that apparently led to scrapping of one session.
"I actually find it surprising but there are no facts to this factually incorrect, quite misleading (report). In fact, the Prime Minister's visit to Moscow was extremely successful," he said.
In fact, the discussions between Prime Minister Modi and President Putin far exceeded the time that was actually allocated by the two sides.
"And there was absolutely no cancellation of any kind of programme," he added.
Earlier, Russia's state-run TASS news agency quoted Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying that Prime Minister Modi and President Putin decided to keep things intimate at their Tuesday meeting in Moscow, covering all topics productively without the need for a larger breakout session.
When asked why the talks between the two leaders were not followed by a meeting with larger delegations, Peskov explained this was not because of some problems but rather that the conversation between Putin and Modi that lasted more than three hours (and) was attended by officials in charge of 'almost all major spheres of [bilateral] cooperation'.
In response to a question on the Ukraine issue and what President Putin's assessment was about it, Kwatra said, "I can only share with you our perspective... Whatever needs to be done to address this through dialogue and diplomacy and not (through) war is something which we've always believed in, my prime minister always believed."
"I can say a few countries have said this publicly that you can't find a solution to this conflict on the battlefield. He (PM Modi) has been one of the very few leaders who has publicly and openly said this. And said this not just in a third country but also to the Russian president," he said.
Responding to another question, Kwatra asserted that the Prime Minister said it clearly -- this is not a time of war, a solution to the Ukraine conflict cannot be found on the battlefield and loss of innocent lives are unacceptable.
"In discussion today dialogue and diplomacy is the way forward for a solution. Whatever India can contribute to dialogue, India will do," he added. -- PTI
22:13 George Clooney says Biden should drop re-election bid
George Clooney, the Hollywood actor and influential Democratic financial supporter, has called for US President Joe Biden to end his re-election campaign, arguing that the president is too old to run again.
In a New York Times guest essay published on Wednesday, Clooney wrote, "The one battle he cannot win is the fight against time. It's devastating to say it, but the Joe Biden I was with three weeks ago at the fund-raiser was not the Joe 'big F-ing deal' Biden of 2010. He wasn't even the Joe Biden of 2020. He was the same man we all witnessed at the debate."
Last month, Clooney co-hosted a USD 28 million fund-raiser in Hollywood for Biden, which the campaign cited as the largest ever for a Democratic candidate.
Now, his public plea makes him the most high-profile figure within the party to urge President Biden to withdraw from the race, as reported by the New York Times.
Clooney's essay came just hours after former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested in a television interview that "it's up to the president to decide if he is going to run."
This statement has added fuel to the ongoing discussions within the Democratic Party about Biden's viability as a candidate.
Despite the mounting concerns, President Biden and his top aides have maintained that he will stay in the race.
On Monday, Biden reassured top donors that he would not address the debate controversy any further, though he mentioned it again during a video call with Democratic mayors on Tuesday night.
Clooney's essay echoes the personal sentiments of many Democrats, who worry that Biden's continued candidacy could jeopardise not only his own re-election but also the prospects of fellow Democrats in down-ballot races.
Clooney wrote, "We are not going to win in November with this president. On top of that, we won't win the House, and we're going to lose the Senate. This isn't only my opinion; this is the opinion of every senator and congress member and governor that I've spoken with in private. Every single one, irrespective of what he or she is saying publicly."
The actor's stance comes at a critical juncture, as Biden had seemingly managed to stabilise his standing within the party after recent debates.
However, the combination of Pelosi's comments and Clooney's public call for Biden to step down is likely to intensify the scrutiny on the president and his campaign.
A representative for the Biden campaign referred back to the president's letter to congressional Democrats on Monday, in which he reiterated his commitment to stay in the race, the New York Times reported.
Notably, Biden's health at 81 years old has raised many concerns among voters as the November elections near.
Several top House Democrats have urged President Biden to step aside from the 2024 campaign, expressing deep concerns about his potential impact on the Democratic Party's chances in the upcoming elections, CNN reported.
Former Obama senior adviser David Axelrod too publicly called for President Biden to step aside from the 2024 race, citing concerns over Biden's age and performance.
In an op-ed for CNN, Axelrod emphasised that he believes Biden's duty to the country should prompt him to withdraw, suggesting that failing to do so could overshadow his legacy.
Axelrod's stance underscores growing pressures within the White House following Biden's lacklustre showing in a recent CNN presidential debate.
-- ANI
21:46 Traffic on Konkan Railway restored after 18 hours
Traffic on the Konkan Railway route was restored on Wednesday evening after an 18-hour-long disruption caused by waterlogging at Pernem tunnel near Goa.
Clearance for train traffic was given at 8.35 pm, the Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
The movement of trains on the coastal route was first suspended at 2.35 pm on Tuesday when it was noticed that water was oozing in the Pernem tunnel in the Madure-Pernem section amid heavy rains.
The waterlogging was cleared and traffic clearance was given at 10.13 pm on Tuesday night.
But water again started seeping in the tunnel with a greater intensity at 2.59 am on Wednesday, forcing KRCL to suspend traffic, said its Deputy General Manager Baban Ghatge. Some trains were cancelled while others were diverted, he said.
As per a bulletin issued by KRCL at 9 in the morning, train number 10104 Mandovi Express leaving towards Mumbai from Margao, train number 50108 Margao to Sawantwadi (Maharashtra), 22120 Margao to Mumbai Tejas Express, 12052 Margao to Mumbai Janashatabdi Express and 10106 Sawantwadi-Diva Express were cancelled.
The trains that were diverted included train number 19577 Tirunelveli -Jamnagar express, 16336 Nagarcoil-Gandhidham Express, 12283 Ernakulum-Hazrat Nizamuddin express and 16346 Thiruvananthapuram Central Lokmanya Tilak Express.
Hundreds of passengers were left stranded at various railway stations across Goa, including Margao, Canacona, Karmali, Thivim and Pernem.
The sudden cancellation led to chaotic scenes, particularly at Margao station in South Goa.
A group of 200 travellers from Gujarat, including 60 senior citizens, found themselves stranded when the Goa Samparkranti Express was cancelled just two hours before departure.
"There is a group of 200 people with us, of which at least 60 are senior citizens. We were told two hours in advance that the train was cancelled. What should we do now?" questioned Abdul Walekar, a member of the group on tour to Goa.
BJP MLA Bharath Shetty
21:13 BJP MLA booked for anti-Rahul Gandhi remarks
Karnataka BJP MLA Bharath Shetty has been booked for his alleged comments against Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, the police said on Wednesday.
At a press conference, Mangaluru City Police Commissioner Anupam Agarwal said that an FIR has been filed by the police in Kavoor police station over the complaint lodged by K Anil, a Congress corporator of the Mangaluru City Corporation.
In the complaint, the Congress corporator alleged that MLA Bharath Shetty had made a provocative statement taking the name of Rahul Gandhi.
Agarwal said an investigation is on.
At a gathering in Surathkal on Sunday, the BJP MLA, who represents Mangaluru City North had stated that Gandhi should be "arrested inside Parliament and slapped".
This statement had gone viral, and Congress leaders and workers expressed their displeasure over it in the media and on social media.
20:30 No-show by Jacqueline Fernandez at ED office
Actor Jacqueline Fernandez did not appear before the Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday for a fresh round of questioning in a money laundering case involving alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar, official sources said.
The 38-year-old Sri Lankan-origin Bollywood actor has been questioned by the federal agency in the past in the case that pertains to alleged cheating of high-profile people, including former Fortis Healthcare promoter Shivinder Mohan Singh's wife Aditi Singh to the tune of about Rs 200 crore.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had alleged that Chandrashekhar used these "proceeds of crime" or illegal money to purchase gifts for Fernandez.
Sources said the agency obtained some "fresh" inputs in the case and hence summoned the actor today to seek answers. The actor did not appear before the agency and her legal team that met ED officials informed that she was unable to depose due to certain "health issues".
The ED is expected to issue a new summons to her soon.
The agency had said in a charge-sheet filed in 2022 that the actor was "enjoying valuables, jewellery and costly gifts given by Chandrashekhar despite knowing about his criminal antecedents." Fernandez has been questioned at least five times by the ED in the case earlier.
The actor has always said she was innocent and had no knowledge of Chandrashekhar's alleged criminal activities.
20:06 Will Modi visit Manipur? CM Biren Singh says...
Manipur Chief
Minister N Biren Singh on Wednesday said whether Prime Minister Narendra
Modi visits the state or not is a non-issue, since his government is in
touch with him round the clock.
Singh's statement came two days after
Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi visited Manipur and
requested Modi to come to the ethnic strife-affected state to offer some
solace to the people.
"It is not a question of the PM visiting the
state or not. The coming of the PM depends on the situation," the chief
minister told reporters on the sidelines of the extended executive
meeting of the state Bharatiya Janata Party.
Singh, however, did not clarify what he meant
by 'the situation'.
"We are maintaining contact with him 24/7 and
working under his guidance. All relief works, security measures, food
and medical provisions are being carried out following the Prime
Minister's advice and consent," he said.
Ethnic violence between Meitei
and Kuki communities in the northeastern state claimed more than 200
lives since May last year.
"Reconciliation efforts between the two
communities are going on. We have to solve the issues," Singh said.
The
recent flood in the state was among the issues discussed in the BJP
meeting, he said. -- PTI
19:56 It's official, 'Shrek 5' to release in 2026
The fifth installment of the animated fantasy comedy franchise Shrek will hit the screens in 2026.
The original cast of the film -- Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz -- will return for the sequel.
Dreamworks Animation, the studio behind the movie, shared the update on its X page on Tuesday.
"Not too Far, Far Away @Shrek 5 is coming to theaters on July 1, 2026 with Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz," the banner captioned the announcement video.
According to Variety, Shrek 5 will be directed by Walt Dohrn, who served as a writer and artist on Shrek 2 and Shrek the Third. He was also the head of story on Shrek Forever After, in which he also voiced the character of Rumpelstiltskin.
Brad Ableson will serve as co-director.
It's unknown whether Antonio Banderas will return as the feisty cat Puss in Boots in the new movie.
Shrek 5 will be produced by franchise returner Gina Shay and Illumination founder Chris Meledandri.
In an interview last month, Murphy let it slip that voice recording for the film has already begun with a spin-off movie on his character Donkey.
"We started doing (Shrek 5) months ago. I did this. I recorded the first act, and we'll be doing it this year, we'll finish it up. Shrek is coming out and Donkey's gonna have his own movie. We're gonna do Donkey as well. So we're gonna do a Shrek,' and we're doing a Donkey (movie)," he had said.
The Shrek franchise released four feature films between 2001 and 2010.
Besides becoming a box office hit, the first Shrek film became the first Oscar winner in the animated feature category.
Its success led to sequels Shrek 2 (2004), Shrek the Third (2007) and Shrek Forever After (2010), which also did favourable business at the box office.
A spin-off based on the character of Puss in Boots also spawned another franchise two films Puss in Boots (2011) and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022) and The Adventures of Puss in Boots, an animated TV series which ran from 2015 to 2018.
Pic: Rajesh Karkera/Rediff.com
19:14 Zepto lists coriander leaves for Rs 100, faces ire
Zepto faced social media ire after a user called out the quick commerce platform for listing coriander at an exorbitant price of Rs 131 for 100 grams.
Zepto said the system glitch had "caused significant pricing disparities" across the platform and assured that the issue has been resolved. The company said its platform is now reflecting accurate prices.
Zepto drew flak when a user from Gurugram found that 100 grams of coriander leaves were listed at Rs 131 on Zepto, and called out the brand for overpricing dhaniya, in a post, along with a screenshot, on X.
Several netizens expressed outrage and shock, while some highlighted how the exorbitant prices on the platform sharply contrasted with roadside vegetable vendors bundling free coriander alongside veggies to woo buyers.
"Maybe it is grown on moon soil?" wondered a netizen on X.
In its response, Zepto said that the system glitch had led to the pricing disparities and that the company is committed to addressing customer concerns promptly and transparently.
"Yesterday, a system glitch caused significant pricing disparities across our platform, leading to some unusual price tags for various products, including coriander. While some items were priced three times lower, others saw a substantial hike," Zepto said, adding that the issue has been fixed.
"We are pleased to inform our customers that the issue has been resolved, and accurate prices are now back on track," Zepto said.
It, however, said that Zepto prices might not always match those of peers and that the company prioritises quality above all else.
"At Zepto, we are dedicated to delivering the finest quality while striving to offer the best prices. Quality is never compromised, and we are committed to ensuring our customers receive only the best produce," the company asserted.
19:08 Never wanted Indians in our Army: Russia
Russia on Wednesday said it is hoping for quick resolution of the issue relating to India's call for return of Indians recruited into the Russian Army as support staff and asserted their recruitment was purely a commercial matter.
In first comments on the issue from the Russian government, Russia's Charge d'affaires Roman Babushkin said Moscow never wanted the Indians to be part of its Army and their number is insignificant in the context of the conflict.
"We are on the same side with the Indian government on the issue... We hope that the issue will be resolved soon," he said at a media briefing while responding to a question.
Babushkin's remarks came a day after Russia promised to ensure early release and return to home of the Indian nationals working in the Russian military as support staff after Prime Minister Narendra Modi 'very strongly' raised the issue with President Vladimir Putin.
Babushkin noted that the issue should not be politicised.
"Let us be very clear, we have never wanted Indians to be part of the Russian Army. You would never see any announcement by Russian authorities on this," he said.
The Russian diplomat said most of the Indians were recruited under a commercial framework as they wanted to 'make money'.
The number of Indians -- 50, 60 or 100 people -- does not make any significance in terms of the wider conflict.
"They are there purely for commercial reasons and we did not want to recruit them," he said.
Babushkin said most of the Indians recruited as support staff are working illegally as they do not have appropriate visas to work.
He said most of them came to Russia on tourist visas.
Asked if the families of those killed would be given compensation and Russian citizenship, Babushkin said that it 'should happen anyway as per the contractual obligations'.
On Tuesday, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said in Moscow that the Russian side promised early discharge of all Indian nationals from the service of the Russian Army.
"The prime minister strongly raised the issue of early discharge of Indian nationals who have been misled into the service of the Russian Army. This was taken up strongly by the prime minister and the Russian side promised early discharge of all Indian nationals," he said.
It is learnt that Modi raised the issue during his informal talks with Putin over dinner at the Russian leader's dacha or country home on Monday evening.
Kwatra said the two sides will work on how expeditiously the Indians can be brought back home.
Last month, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the issue of Indian nationals serving with the Russian Army remains a matter of 'utmost concern' and demanded action from Moscow over it.
On June 11, India said two Indian nationals, who were recruited by the Russian Army, had recently been killed in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, which took the number of such deaths to four.
Following the deaths of two Indians, the MEA demanded a 'verified stop' to further recruitment of Indian nationals by the Russian Army.
In a strongly-worded statement, it said India demanded that there be a 'verified stop to any further recruitment of Indian nationals by the Russian Army and that such activities would not be in 'consonance with our partnership'.
In March, 30-year-old Hyderabad resident Mohammed Asfan succumbed to injuries sustained while serving with Russian troops on the frontlines with Ukraine.
In February, Hemal Ashwinbhai Mangua, a 23-year-old resident of Surat in Gujarat, died in a Ukrainian air strike while serving as a 'security helper' in the Donetsk region.
Modi was on a two-day high-profile visit to Russia from Monday to hold the 22nd India-Russia annual summit with Putin. -- PTI
In first comments on the issue from the Russian government, Russia's Charge d'affaires Roman Babushkin said Moscow never wanted the Indians to be part of its Army and their number is insignificant in the context of the conflict.
"We are on the same side with the Indian government on the issue... We hope that the issue will be resolved soon," he said at a media briefing while responding to a question.
Babushkin's remarks came a day after Russia promised to ensure early release and return to home of the Indian nationals working in the Russian military as support staff after Prime Minister Narendra Modi 'very strongly' raised the issue with President Vladimir Putin.
Babushkin noted that the issue should not be politicised.
"Let us be very clear, we have never wanted Indians to be part of the Russian Army. You would never see any announcement by Russian authorities on this," he said.
The Russian diplomat said most of the Indians were recruited under a commercial framework as they wanted to 'make money'.
The number of Indians -- 50, 60 or 100 people -- does not make any significance in terms of the wider conflict.
"They are there purely for commercial reasons and we did not want to recruit them," he said.
Babushkin said most of the Indians recruited as support staff are working illegally as they do not have appropriate visas to work.
He said most of them came to Russia on tourist visas.
Asked if the families of those killed would be given compensation and Russian citizenship, Babushkin said that it 'should happen anyway as per the contractual obligations'.
On Tuesday, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said in Moscow that the Russian side promised early discharge of all Indian nationals from the service of the Russian Army.
"The prime minister strongly raised the issue of early discharge of Indian nationals who have been misled into the service of the Russian Army. This was taken up strongly by the prime minister and the Russian side promised early discharge of all Indian nationals," he said.
It is learnt that Modi raised the issue during his informal talks with Putin over dinner at the Russian leader's dacha or country home on Monday evening.
Kwatra said the two sides will work on how expeditiously the Indians can be brought back home.
Last month, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the issue of Indian nationals serving with the Russian Army remains a matter of 'utmost concern' and demanded action from Moscow over it.
On June 11, India said two Indian nationals, who were recruited by the Russian Army, had recently been killed in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, which took the number of such deaths to four.
Following the deaths of two Indians, the MEA demanded a 'verified stop' to further recruitment of Indian nationals by the Russian Army.
In a strongly-worded statement, it said India demanded that there be a 'verified stop to any further recruitment of Indian nationals by the Russian Army and that such activities would not be in 'consonance with our partnership'.
In March, 30-year-old Hyderabad resident Mohammed Asfan succumbed to injuries sustained while serving with Russian troops on the frontlines with Ukraine.
In February, Hemal Ashwinbhai Mangua, a 23-year-old resident of Surat in Gujarat, died in a Ukrainian air strike while serving as a 'security helper' in the Donetsk region.
Modi was on a two-day high-profile visit to Russia from Monday to hold the 22nd India-Russia annual summit with Putin. -- PTI
18:42 TN ex-minister Senthil Balaji's remand extended
A sessions court on Wednesday extended the remand of former Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate last year in a money laundering case, till July 12.
Principal sessions judge S Alli, before whom Senthil Balaji was produced by the prosecution through video-conferencing from the Central Puzhal Prison in Chennai, also extended his judicial custody till July 12.
The judge posted to July 12 further hearing on a petition filed by Balaji, which sought to defer the present proceedings and adjourn the case to a later date.
Balaji was arrested on June 14, 2023 by the ED in connection with a money laundering case linked to a cash-for-jobs scam when he was the transport minister during the previous AIADMK regime.
The ED had on August 12, 2023 filed a chargesheet running to 3,000 pages against Balaji.
The Madras high court had on October 19 last year dismissed the bail petition filed by Balaji. His earlier bail applications were dismissed thrice by judge Alli.
His second bail application was dismissed by the high court on February 28. His petition to defer the trial was dismissed by the judge on February 15.
18:33 108 kg of smuggled gold seized near Indo-China border
The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has seized 108 gold bars, each weighing one kilogram, near India-China border and arrested three people, an official of the border guarding force said.
Besides the huge quantity of smuggled gold, the seizure also included two mobile phones, a binocular, two knives and several Chinese food items like cakes and milk, the official said.
"This is the biggest haul of gold recovered by ITBP in its history. The seized material will be handed over to the customs department," he said.
The official said the troops of 21st battalion ITBP launched a long range patrolling on Tuesday afternoon in the Changthang sub-sector in eastern Ladakh, including Chizbule, Narbula, Zangle and Zakla to check infiltration of smugglers as the smuggling activities are heightened around the summer season.
The ITBP has also got inputs of smuggling in Sriraple, one kilometre from the Line of Actual Control, he said, adding that the patrolling party headed by deputy commandant Deepak Bhat noticed two people on mules and asked them to stop.
However, they tried to escape but were arrested after a chase, the official said, adding initially they claimed that they were working as medicinal plant dealers but the search of their belongings led to the recovery of the huge quantity of gold and other items.
The smugglers have been identified as Tsering Chamba (40) and Stanzin Dorgyal, both residents of Ladakh's Nyoma area.
One more person was arrested in connection with the recovery and all the three arrested persons are being interrogated jointly by ITBP and Police, the official said. -- PTI
Besides the huge quantity of smuggled gold, the seizure also included two mobile phones, a binocular, two knives and several Chinese food items like cakes and milk, the official said.
"This is the biggest haul of gold recovered by ITBP in its history. The seized material will be handed over to the customs department," he said.
The official said the troops of 21st battalion ITBP launched a long range patrolling on Tuesday afternoon in the Changthang sub-sector in eastern Ladakh, including Chizbule, Narbula, Zangle and Zakla to check infiltration of smugglers as the smuggling activities are heightened around the summer season.
The ITBP has also got inputs of smuggling in Sriraple, one kilometre from the Line of Actual Control, he said, adding that the patrolling party headed by deputy commandant Deepak Bhat noticed two people on mules and asked them to stop.
However, they tried to escape but were arrested after a chase, the official said, adding initially they claimed that they were working as medicinal plant dealers but the search of their belongings led to the recovery of the huge quantity of gold and other items.
The smugglers have been identified as Tsering Chamba (40) and Stanzin Dorgyal, both residents of Ladakh's Nyoma area.
One more person was arrested in connection with the recovery and all the three arrested persons are being interrogated jointly by ITBP and Police, the official said. -- PTI
18:00 Iltija Mufti alleges her phone hacked by Pegasus
People's Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti's daughter and her media advisor, Iltija Mufti, on Wednesday alleged that her phone has been hacked by the Pegasus spyware.
'Got an Apple alert that my phone's been hacked by Pegasus which GOI (Government of India) has admittedly procured & weaponised to harass critics & political opponents,' Iltija Mufti said in a post on X.
She also accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of snooping on women leaders who do not 'toe their line'.
'The BJP shamelessly snoops on women only because we refuse to toe their line. How low will you stoop?' Iltija Mufti added.
Developed by the Israel-based cybersecurity company NSO Group, the Pegaus spyware took control of mobile phones just by giving a miss call on WhatsApp. -- PTI
17:44 Kathua ambush: 24 held as search op continues
At least 24 people have been detained for questioning as the hunt for the terrorists behind the ambush in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district, in which five army personnel were killed, entered its third day on Wednesday, officials said.
The search operation by the army and police is underway amid intermittent heavy rain in dense forests across four districts, besides Kathua. It was launched from three different areas -- Kathua, Udhampur and Bhaderwah, official said.
Security forces have detained 24 people for questioning in connection with the ambush, they said, as efforts continued to track down and neutralise the terrorists who are believed to be hiding in a forest.
The officials said another search operation is underway in the higher reaches of Doda district where a gunfight took place between terrorists and security forces on Tuesday evening, a day after the ambush in Kathua.
On the search operation linked to the Kathua ambush, the officials said army and police personnel are also deployed in dense forests in different parts of Udhampur, Samba, Rajouri and Poonch districts.
Fresh searches were also launched in the Lala Chack area of Samba, Manjakote area of Rajouri and Surankote of Poonch on Wednesday morning, they said.
On Monday, terrorists ambushed a patrol party on the Machedi-Kindli-Malhar mountainous road near Badnota village in Lohai Malhar, around 150 km from the Kathua district headquarters, killing the five army personnel and injuring as many.
From the Bhaderwah side, security personnel are moving cautiously because of the area's challenging topography, thick foliage and natural caves, the officials said.
Personnel of the army's special forces 'Para' unit have also been deployed to conduct surgical operations in specific areas, they said.
The officials said the search teams are being supported by helicopter and UAV surveillance. In addition, sniffer dogs have been deployed and metal detectors are being used, particularly dense forest areas, of the region.
They said a team of the National Investigation Agency has visited the scene of the ambush and it is assisting police in the probe.
On the Doda search operation, officials said police and army personnel are combing the Ghadi Bhagwah forest area, which is around 35 km east of Doda town and borders Kishtwar district.
The operation to hunt down two terrorists, who are believed to have suffered injuries in the Tuesday encounter, resumed early Wednesday. The terrorists are yet to be traced, the officials said.
In the backdrop of the ambush in Badnota in Kathua, residents of Badnota village and its adjoining villages said they were concerned about their safety.
They have demanded that village defence groups be sanctioned for their self-defence and to effectively tackle of threats posed by terrorists.
"The government should provide weapons and training to us, we are ready to fight shoulder-to-shoulder with our forces against the terrorists," Jagdish Raj, a local, said.
Punkaj, a 20-year-old student, said the ambush has caused fear among the local populace but 'the situation changes altogether when you have weapons in your hands'.
"We can swiftly move into the forests and help tackle the threat of terrorism," he said, demanding a special recruitment drive for the local youth of the area.
Shahid Ahmad, who claimed to have moved from the higher reaches to Machedi due to terror threat, said Muslims and Hindus of the area want peace and are ready to assist security forces in wiping out terrorism.
"Our eyes filled with tears with the loss of our soldiers. Such an attack had never happened (here) even during the peak of terrorism over two decades ago," he said, adding that the government should provide weapons and training to them to fight the menace.
Ahmad said innocent villagers, who have moved with their flocks of livestock to the upper reaches, are compelled to provide food to terrorists as they threatened at gunpoint.
The search operation by the army and police is underway amid intermittent heavy rain in dense forests across four districts, besides Kathua. It was launched from three different areas -- Kathua, Udhampur and Bhaderwah, official said.
Security forces have detained 24 people for questioning in connection with the ambush, they said, as efforts continued to track down and neutralise the terrorists who are believed to be hiding in a forest.
The officials said another search operation is underway in the higher reaches of Doda district where a gunfight took place between terrorists and security forces on Tuesday evening, a day after the ambush in Kathua.
On the search operation linked to the Kathua ambush, the officials said army and police personnel are also deployed in dense forests in different parts of Udhampur, Samba, Rajouri and Poonch districts.
Fresh searches were also launched in the Lala Chack area of Samba, Manjakote area of Rajouri and Surankote of Poonch on Wednesday morning, they said.
On Monday, terrorists ambushed a patrol party on the Machedi-Kindli-Malhar mountainous road near Badnota village in Lohai Malhar, around 150 km from the Kathua district headquarters, killing the five army personnel and injuring as many.
From the Bhaderwah side, security personnel are moving cautiously because of the area's challenging topography, thick foliage and natural caves, the officials said.
Personnel of the army's special forces 'Para' unit have also been deployed to conduct surgical operations in specific areas, they said.
The officials said the search teams are being supported by helicopter and UAV surveillance. In addition, sniffer dogs have been deployed and metal detectors are being used, particularly dense forest areas, of the region.
They said a team of the National Investigation Agency has visited the scene of the ambush and it is assisting police in the probe.
On the Doda search operation, officials said police and army personnel are combing the Ghadi Bhagwah forest area, which is around 35 km east of Doda town and borders Kishtwar district.
The operation to hunt down two terrorists, who are believed to have suffered injuries in the Tuesday encounter, resumed early Wednesday. The terrorists are yet to be traced, the officials said.
In the backdrop of the ambush in Badnota in Kathua, residents of Badnota village and its adjoining villages said they were concerned about their safety.
They have demanded that village defence groups be sanctioned for their self-defence and to effectively tackle of threats posed by terrorists.
"The government should provide weapons and training to us, we are ready to fight shoulder-to-shoulder with our forces against the terrorists," Jagdish Raj, a local, said.
Punkaj, a 20-year-old student, said the ambush has caused fear among the local populace but 'the situation changes altogether when you have weapons in your hands'.
"We can swiftly move into the forests and help tackle the threat of terrorism," he said, demanding a special recruitment drive for the local youth of the area.
Shahid Ahmad, who claimed to have moved from the higher reaches to Machedi due to terror threat, said Muslims and Hindus of the area want peace and are ready to assist security forces in wiping out terrorism.
"Our eyes filled with tears with the loss of our soldiers. Such an attack had never happened (here) even during the peak of terrorism over two decades ago," he said, adding that the government should provide weapons and training to them to fight the menace.
Ahmad said innocent villagers, who have moved with their flocks of livestock to the upper reaches, are compelled to provide food to terrorists as they threatened at gunpoint.
"We are with our forces in the fight against terrorism," he said. -- PTI
IMAGE: Security forces conduct a search operation in Samba on Wednesday. Photograph: ANI Photo
16:51 Denied iPhone, 18-year-old ends life
A youngster allegedly committed suicide in Navi Mumbai as his father did not buy him an expensive iPhone, police said on Wednesday.
Sanjay Verma (18), a resident of Kamothe area, allegedly ended his life at his house late Monday night, said a police official.
As per the complaint filed by his father, the youngster wanted an iPhone costing about Rs 1.5 lakh. When his father bought him a low-cost Vivo phone, he got depressed.
Around 11.30 pm on July 8, Sanjay allegedly hanged himself.
A case of accidental death has been registered and autopsy report was awaited for further probe, the official said. -- PTI
Mihir Shah being brought to court
16:40 BMW crash: Part of bar accused visited demolished
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is demolishing unauthorised alterations made at the city-based bar that was visited by the main accused in the BMW hit-and-run case hours before he allegedly took the wheel of the car involved in the crash that killed a woman, officials said.
The establishment - Vice-Global Tapas Bar - against which the action was being taken, is located in Juhu suburb. The BMW car driven by main accused Mihir Shah allegedly rammed into a two-wheeler from behind in Worli area of south-central Mumbai on Sunday morning, resulting in the death of Kaveri Nakhwa (45), who was riding pillion, while her husband Pradeep survived with injuries, police have said.
According to them, Kaveri Nakhwa was dragged for around 1.5 km by the speeding car before Mihir pulled over, swapped the seat with his driver, and fled in another vehicle.
Mihir Shah was arrested on Tuesday.
A civic official said the BMC's K-West ward office team reached the Vice-Global Tapas Bar this morning and started demolishing some of the additional alterations made inside the establishment.
The civic body had conducted an inspection of the bar on Tuesday to check if any unauthorised additions and alterations were made there. Detailed measurements were taken at the bar during the inspection, the official said. The bar was given a notice before the demolition process began, he said. Earlier, the state Excise Department sealed the bar.
It was visited by Mihir Shah and his friends on Saturday night, hours before he allegedly took the wheel of the car involved in the crash.
The bar manager had served hard liquor to Mihir, who is yet to complete 24 years of age, violating Maharashtra's legal drinking age of 25, an excise department official earlier said. The action to seal the bar was taken on the orders of the district collector for violation of rules, he added. Mihir Shah's father, Rajesh Shah, is a leader of the ruling Shiv Sena. PTI
16:30 Killing innocents unacceptable: PM on Ukraine war
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday emphasised the importance of "dialogue and diplomacy" in resolving global conflicts, particularly the ongoing war in Ukraine.
"I have said earlier also that this is not the time for war," said PM Modi addressing the India-Austria joint press statement. His remarks came after delegation-level talks with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer at the Federal Chancellery in Vienna.
"We won't be able to find a solution to problems in the war field. Wherever it is, killing of innocent people is unacceptable. India and Austria emphasize dialogue and diplomacy, and for that, we are together ready to give any support required," PM Modi also said.
Austrian Chancellor Nehammer echoed PM Modi's sentiments, highlighting the strong relationship between Austria and India.
"There is a very good relationship between India and Austria. It's a relationship of trust which began in the 1950s... India helped Austria and in 1955, the negotiations came to a positive conclusion with the Austrian State Treaty. What unites India and Austria is concern over the development of the geopolitical situation," he said.
Nehammer elaborated on the discussions held with PM Modi, stating, "Last night and this morning, we had very intensive talks about the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. For me, as the Federal Chancellor of Austria, it is particularly important to get to know India's assessment and to understand it and familiarise India with European concerns and worries.
"Moreover, the conflict in the Middle East was a major topic, and in addition to this challenging geopolitical situation, we also referred to the positive aspects of our cooperation."
The issue of killings of children during conflicts was also featured prominently in the PM Modi's bilateral meeting with President Vladimir Putin of Russia.
16:14 BMW case: Accused Mihir Shah sent to jail
BMW hit-and-run case: Mumbai court sends prime accused Mihir Shah to police custody till July 16.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday assured strict action against the guilty in the BMW case and announced Rs 10 lakh aid for the victim's family, amid criticism that the key accused is the son of his party leader.
He said there was no question of supporting anyone and no one would be spared. "Whoever is guilty will not be spared; strict action will be taken against them," Shinde told reporters.
"We stand by the family of the victim. We will provide legal and financial support to the aggrieved family. We will give them Rs 10 lakh from the CM's Relief Fund. They are from our family," he said.
A BMW car driven by key accused Mihir Shah allegedly rammed into a two-wheeler in the Worli area of south-central Mumbai on Sunday morning, killing Kaveri Nakhwa (45), who was riding pillion, while her husband Pradeep survived with injuries.
15:46 Shinde announces Rs 10L aid for BMW victim's kin
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday assured strict action against the guilty in the BMW case and announced Rs 10 lakh aid for the victim's family, amid criticism that the key accused is the son of his party leader.
He said there was no question of supporting anyone and no one would be spared. "Whoever is guilty will not be spared; strict action will be taken against them," Shinde told reporters. "We stand by the family of the victim. We will provide legal and financial support to the aggrieved family. We will give them Rs 10 lakh from the CM's Relief Fund. They are from our family," he said.
A BMW car driven by key accused Mihir Shah allegedly rammed into a two-wheeler in the Worli area of south-central Mumbai on Sunday morning, killing Kaveri Nakhwa (45), who was riding pillion, while her husband Pradeep survived with injuries.
According to the police, Nakhwa was dragged for around 1.5 km by the speeding car before Mihir pulled it over, swapped seats with his driver Rajrishi Bidawat and fled in another vehicle.
The driver allegedly ran over her while reversing the BMW. Mihir Shah was arrested on Tuesday. Police had said that Rajesh Shah, a Shiv Sena politician from the adjoining Palghar district, actively ensured Mihir's escape after the crash. He is currently out on bail. Rajesh Shah, a deputy leader of the Shiv Sena, was sacked from the post on Wednesday.
Asked about the delay in sacking Rajesh Shah, Shinde said, Should sacking him from the party be given priority or taking action against the accused or providing support to the family? The government will not support anyone. Action has been taken in this case. PTI
15:16 557 farmers killed themselves in 6 months in Maha
As many as 557 farmers have committed suicide in five districts under the Amravati administrative division of Maharashtra between January and June this year, an official report said. The five districts in the division are Amravati, Akola, Buldhana, Washim and Yavatmal.
A report prepared by the Amravati divisional commissionerate said a total of 557 farmers committed suicide in the division from January to June in 2024. Of them, the highest number of 170 suicides were recorded in Amravati district, followed by 150 in Yavatmal, 111 in Buldhana, 92 in Akola and 34 in Washim. The government has provided assistance to the families of the deceased in 53 cases, while 284 cases are pending for inquiry, the report said.
Reacting to the figures mentioned in the report, Congress leader Balwant Wankhade, who represents the Amravati Lok Sabha seat, said Maharashtra is one of the states that records highest number of farmer suicides and Amravati tops the state on this count.
"Crop losses, lack of adequate rainfall, existing debt burden and absence of timely farm loan are some of the major reasons that drive farmers towards taking the extreme step....The government should fulfil its assurances of doubling the income of farmers and provide assistance to them," he said.
Chairperson of state government's Vasantrao Naik Shetkari Swavlambi Mission, Nilesh Helonde-Patil, said the suicide of farmers was a serious issue and efforts were on to find a solution to stop such deaths.
"The local administration is reaching out to farmers at the gram panchayat level with various government schemes to help them increase their income, and also in the education of their children and the medical cost of the family members. The government is standing behind the them.
The Shetkari Swavlambi Mission is also facilitating easy communication between farmers and insurance companies," he said. "Suicide by farmers is a serious matter and the mission is working on finding solutions to curb such deaths," he added. PTI
14:59 Konkan Railway paralysed, passengers stranded
Train traffic on the Konkan Railway route was paralysed once again on Wednesday morning due to severe water-logging inside a tunnel at Pernem in Goa, leading to the cancellation and diversion of several trains and stranding passengers at various stations.
Goa has been receiving heavy rains for the last three days. Although it witnessed moderate showers since Wednesday morning, the Met Department has issued a red alert predicting exceptionally heavy rainfall for the day. The train disruption began at 2:35 pm on Tuesday when water began oozing into the Pernem tunnel between the Madure-Pernem section, according to Konkan Railway Corporation (KRCL) Deputy General Manager Baban Ghatge.
Although the waterlogging was initially cleared and traffic resumed at 10:13 pm on Tuesday, the problem reoccurred at 2:59 am on Wednesday with greater intensity.
As a result, several trains were either cancelled or diverted from the Konkan Railway route. Several trains, including the Vande Bharat express train originating from CSMT Mumbai, were cancelled as the track remained closed for the train traffic.
Cancelled trains include Vande Bharat Express originating from Mumbai CSMT, Mandovi Express (Margao to Mumbai), Margao to Sawantwadi passenger train, Margao to Mumbai Tejas Express, Margao to Mumbai Janashatabdi Express, and Sawantwadi-Diva Express.
14:46 Big relief for Adani: Mundra land won't go to govt
The Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed a Gujarat High Court order asking the state government to resume the process of taking back nearly 108 hectares of grazing land given to an Adani Group entity in 2005 near the Mundra port.
A bench of justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan took note of the appeal of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd that the impugned order is required to be stayed in the interest of justice.
"Issue notice. Stay of impugned order," the bench said. On July 5, the state government had informed the high court that it will take back nearly 108 hectares of 'gauchar' (grazing) land which was given to an Adani Group entity in 2005. "Taking note of the affidavit of the Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Revenue, State of Gujarat, we require the concerned authority/officers to complete the process of resumption in accordance with law," the high court had ordered and posted the matter for July 26.
The residents of Navinal village of Kutch district had moved a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the high court against a decision to allot 231 acres of 'gauchar' land to the Adani firm. PTI
14:36 Modi holds talks on partnership with Nehammer
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday held talks with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer to discuss ways to tap the full potential of the bilateral partnership.
Modi arrived in Viennafrom Moscow on Tuesday evening on a two-day visit, the first by an Indian prime minister in over 40 years.
Modi received a ceremonial Guard of Honour ahead of talks at the Federal Chancellery here. He also signed the guest book. "India-Ausria scripting a new chapter in bilateral relations. PM @narendramodi warmly received by Austrian Chancellor @karlnehammer at the Federal Chancellery and accorded a ceremonial welcome," MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X, along with photographs of the welcome ceremony.
On Tuesday, Modi met Nehammer for a private engagement "An important milestone in India-Austria partnership! PM @narendramodi hosted by Austrian Chancellor @karlnehammer for a private engagement. This is the first meeting between the two leaders. Discussions on realising the full potential of bilateral partnership lie ahead," Jaiswal posted on X on Tuesday, along with photographs of the two leaders together in Vienna. Modi was seen hugging Nehammer in one of the photos, while in another, the Austrian chancellor was seen clicking a selfie with the prime minister.
Nehammer posted a photo of him and Modi on the microblogging platform and said: "Welcome to Vienna, PM @narendramodi! It is a pleasure and honour to welcome you to Austria. Austria and India are friends and partners. I look forward to our political and economic discussions during your visit!"
The prime minister thanked the Austrian chancellor "for the warm welcome" and said he looks forward to "our discussions tomorrow as well. Our nations will continue working together to further global good". In another post on X, Modi said: "Happy to meet you in Vienna, Chancellor @karlnehammer. The India-Austria friendship is strong and it will get even stronger in the times to come." This is the first visit by an Indian prime minister to Austria in more than 40 years, the last being of Indira Gandhi in 1983. During Modi's visit to Austria, the two countries will explore ways to further deepen their relationship and closer cooperation on various geopolitical challenges.
Austrian artists welcomed Modi with a rendition of Vande Mataram. The choir and orchestra were led by Vijay Upadhyaya. Upadhyaya, 57, was born in Lucknow. In 1994 he became director of the Vienna University Philharmony. He is the Austrian representative on the jury of experts for the evaluation of European Union culture projects and is the founder and artistic director of the India National Youth Orchestra.
"Austria is known for its vibrant musical culture. I got a glimpse of it thanks to this amazing rendition of Vande Mataram!" Modi posted on X with the video. Modi will also call on the President of the Republic of Austria, Alexander Van der Bellen. The prime minister and the chancellor will also address business leaders from India and Austria.
Accused Mihir Shah
14:02 BMW crash: Sena sacks accused Mihir Shah's dad
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who heads the Shiv Sena, on Wednesday sacked Rajesh Shah, whose son Mihir Shah was allegedly involved in the BMW hit-and-run, as the party's deputy leader.
A one-line notice by Shiv Sena secretary Sanjay More said Rajesh Shah has been relieved from the post of the party's deputy leader. Shah, however, continues to be a member of the Shiv Sena. A BMW car driven by Mihir Shah allegedly rammed into a two-wheeler in the Worli area of south-central Mumbai on Sunday morning, resulting in the death of Kaveri Nakhwa (45), who was riding pillion, while her husband Pradeep survived with injuries, police have said.
According to them, Kaveri Nakhwa was dragged for around 1.5 km by the speeding car before Mihir pulled it over, swapped the seat with his driver, and fled in another vehicle. The driver allegedly ran over her while reversing the BMW. Mihir Shah was arrested on Tuesday. PTI
13:16 Historic, game-changing: Russia on PM visit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day visit to Moscow and his summit talks with President Vladimir Putin were "historic and game-changing" considering the turbulent geopolitical environment, Russia's Charge d'affaires Roman Babushkin said on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Modi's visit to Moscow was watched by the whole world and it was evident how significant the trip was, he said, a day after Modi and Putin held summit talks.
The Russian diplomat said the focus of the talks between the two leaders was on expanding India-Russia trade and economic ties. Highlighting key outcomes of the summit talks, Babushkin said India and Russia decided to go ahead with a bilateral payment system using national currencies.
On India's demand to Russia to ensure the return of Indians working in the Russian Army, he said. "We are on same page with India on this issue". "We hope it will be resolved soon," he said when asked when the Indians would return home. -- PTI
A woman was killed in Mumbai on Sunday. The accused driving a BMW was arrested
12:49 Drunk driver runs over woman in speeding car
In yet another hit-and-run case in Maharashtra, a 31-year-old woman was killed after a speeding car knocked her down in Nashik city, police said on Wednesday.
The 51-year-old car driver, who was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident on Tuesday evening and fled from the spot, was later arrested, they said. The accused has been identified as Devchand Rambhau Tidme, resident of Dhruv Nagar who worked at a company in Satpur MIDC area in Nashik, an official from Gangapur police station said.
The victim, Archana Kishore Shinde, resident of Hanuman Nagar, was walking home after work at around 6 pm when the speeding car hit her from behind on Bardan Phata-Shivaji Nagar Road, near Gangapur Road, the official said. The woman received a serious head injury. She was taken to a nearby hospital where doctors declared her dead, he said.
Before the accident, two men coming from the opposite direction saw the car heading towards the woman and they tried to alert the driver. However, the car driver did not reduce the speed and the vehicle hit Shinde. The car driver then fled from the spot, the police said. The incident was captured in the CCTV cameras installed in the area.
An alert citizen present at the spot also noted down the car's number. The police later reached the driver's home and arrested him. He was on his way home when the accident took place, the official said. His medical check-up report indicated he was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident. As a result, he could not control the vehicle and hit Shinde.
After the accident, he did not help the victim and went home instead, the police said. The Gangapur police have registered a case against the man under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 281 (rash driving) and provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, the official said.
A probe was on into the case, the police added. On Sunday, a woman was killed in Mumbai's Worli area after a BMW car hit a two-wheeler on which she was travelling and dragged her for 1.5 km, police earlier said.
12:44 In historic decision FinMin allows woman IRS officer to change name, gender
In a landmark decision, the Finance Ministry has approved a request of a senior woman Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer to change her name and gender in all official records.
The request was made by Ms M Anusuya, a 2013 batch IRS (Customs & Indirect Taxes) officer, currently serving as Joint Commissioner in the office of the Chief Commissioner of the Customs, Excise & Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) in Hyderabad. She requested her name to be changed to M Anukathir Surya and her gender from female to male.
As per an office order dated July 9, 2024, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs has said the authority considered her request and "henceforth the officer will be recognised as Mr Anukathir Surya in all official records."
The order was issued with approval of competent authority, it said. Surya started his career as an assistant commissioner in Chennai in December 2013 and was promoted to Deputy Commissioner in 2018.
He joined his current posting in Hyderabad last year, as per his LinkedIn profile. Surya completed his Bachelor's degree in Electronics and Communication from the Madras Institute of Technology in 2010 and finished a PG Diploma in Cyber Law and Cyber Forensics from the National Law Institute University in Bhopal in 2023. PTI
12:20 Plea against bail to Kejriwal to be heard on July 15
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday listed for July 15 the Enforcement Directorate's plea challenging bail granted to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the money laundering case stemming from the alleged excise scam.
The high court had earlier stayed the trial court's June 20 order by which Kejriwal was granted bail in the case. Justice Neena Bansal Krishna, who was scheduled to hear the plea, was informed by the counsel for the Enforcement Directorate (ED) that they were served with Kejriwal's reply to their petition only late Tuesday night and the agency requires some time to file a rejoinder.
While the probe agency's lawyer submitted that the copy of the reply was served to them at 11 PM on Tuesday, Kejriwal's counsel maintained that it was served to the investigating officer (IO) of the case at 1 PM. Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing Kejriwal, mentioned the matter before the court, saying a specific time be fixed for the hearing as there is extreme urgency in the case.
However, Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, appearing for the ED, submitted that the agency was served with the reply copy of Kejriwal only on Tuesday night and they need some time to go through the response and file their rejoinder to it. He contended that the documents are supposed to be served to the advocate appearing in the case and not the IO.
12:03 Patanjali asked to pay Rs 50L for trademark breach
The Bombay High Court has directed Patanjali Ayurved to deposit Rs 50 lakh for alleged breach of the HC's interim order restraining it from selling its camphor products, in relation to a trademark infringement case filed by another company.
Following trademark infringement allegations by Mangalam Organics Ltd, the HC in an interim order in August 2023 restrained Patanjali Ayurved Ltd from selling its camphor products.
A single bench of Justice R I Chagla on July 8 noted that Patanjali, in an affidavit submitted in June, admitted breach of the earlier order granting injunction against sale of the impugned camphor products. "Such persistent breach of the injunction order dated 30th August 2023 by defendant no. 1 (Patanjali) cannot be tolerated by this court," Justice Chagla said in the order, a copy of which was made available on Wednesday.
The bench said it would be appropriate to direct Patanjali to deposit a sum of Rs 50 lakh prior to passing of an order for contempt/breach of the injunction order. The HC posted the matter for further hearing on July 19. In August 2023, the high court, in an interim order, prohibited Patanjali from selling or advertising the camphor products.
11:46 Muslim woman entitled to seek maintenance from spouse: SC
Update: The Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that a Muslim woman can seek maintenance from her husband under section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), which is applicable to all married women irrespective of religion.
A bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Augustine George Masih, which pronounced a separate but concurrent verdict, said section 125 of the erstwhile CrPC which deals with wife's legal right to maintenance, covers Muslim women.
"We are hereby dismissing the criminal appeal with the major conclusion that section 125 would be applicable to all women and not just married women," Justice Nagarathna said while pronouncing the verdict. The bench said maintenance is not charity but the right of married women and it is applicable to all married women irrespective of their religion.
The top court dismissed the petition of one Mohd Abdul Samad, who has challenged the order of the Telangana High Court refusing to interfere with the maintenance order of the family court.
He has contended that a divorced Muslim woman is not entitled for maintenance under Section 125 of CrPC and has to invoke the provisions of the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986. PTI
11:19 Muslim women entitled to alimony on divorce: SC
The Supreme Court rules that Section 125 CrPC, which deals with a wife's legal right to maintenance, is applicable to all women and a divorced Muslim female can file a petition under this provision for maintenance from her husband. In other words, a Muslim woman can seek alimony from her husband after divorce, the Supreme Court said today. Details awaited.
11:10 Assam floods abate: 17 lakh people affected
The flood situation in Assam improved marginally on Wednesday with water levels of major rivers showing a receding trend, reducing the affected population to 1.7 million across 26 districts, according to an official bulletin.
Vast tracts of land, however, remain inundated with sporadic rainfall reported from several districts. Seven deaths were reported on Tuesday with two in Cachar and one each in Dhubri, Dhemaji, South Salmara, Nagaon and Sivasagar, according to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA).
The death toll in this year's floods, landslides and storms increased to 92 with 79 people losing their lives to the deluge alone. An area of 38,870.3 hectares of cropland was still inundated as against 49,014.06 hectares on Monday.
Among the worst-hit districts are Dhubri where 3,54,045 people are affected, Cachar (1,81,545), Sivasagar (1,36,547), Barpeta (1,16,074) and Golaghat (1,09,475). A total of 48,021 affected people have taken shelter in 507 relief camps while relief materials have been distributed to 104,665 others outside these camps.
10:34 Kathua attack: Search ops continue for 2nd day
Security forces are conducting a search operation in the Kathua and Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir days after five Army soldiers were killed in an ambush by terrorists on July 8.
Five Army soldiers lost their lives and as many as were injured in an ambush by terrorists in Kathua district on July 8.The attack occurred on the Machedi-Kindli Malhar road in a remote area, approximately 150 km from Kathua town, at around 3.30 pm on Monday.
The attack is believed to be the latest in a series of terrorist incidents in the region, which have been attributed to attempts by Pakistan to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere in Jammu and Kashmir.
The region where the ambush took place is part of the old infiltration route along the international border, which the attackers appear to have reactivated. The area is primarily monitored by the BSF and falls under the jurisdiction of the 9 Corps of the Army, under the Western Command.
The army personnel who lost their lives in the attack belonged to Uttarakhand. They are Rifleman Anuj Negi from Pauri, Nayab Subedar Anand Singh Rawat from Rudraprayag, Naik Vinod Singh from Tehri, Kamal Singh from Pauri and Adarsh Negi from Tehri.The attack took place when a group of heavily armed terrorists ambushed the patrolling party of the Army in the Badnota area in Kathua.
10:26 Money laundering case: ED summons Jacqueline Fernandez again
The Enforcement Directorate has summoned actor Jacqueline Fernandez for a fresh round of questioning on Wednesday in a money laundering case involving alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar, official sources said.
The 38-year-old Sri Lankan origin Bollywood actor has been questioned by the federal agency in the past in this case that pertains to alleged cheating of high-profile people, including former Fortis Healthcare promoter Shivinder Mohan Singh's wife Aditi Singh to the tune of about Rs 200 crore. The ED had alleged that Chandrashekhar used these "proceeds of crime" or illegal money to purchase gifts for Fernandez.
10:09 Vande Mataram in Austria
PM Modi shares a video of a rendition of the Vande Mataram by a choir in Austria and says, "Austria is known for its vibrant musical culture. I got a glimpse of it thanks to this amazing rendition of Vande Mataram!"
Putin awards Modi with the Order of St Andrew the Apostle the First-Called at the Kremlin
09:39 'Finally, hope for my son trapped in Russian army'
Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Balwinder Singh, the father of Gagandeep Singh who is a an Indian man trapped in the Russian army, said that there is now a ray of hope for the stranded Indians in war-hit Russia.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, took a strong stance on the issue of Indian nationals being recruited into the Russian army and the Russian government has assured an "early discharge" of these Indians from the army service, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said on Tuesday.
In a conversation with ANI, Balwinder Singh said, "I have come across several media reports and got to know that Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Russia. Even my son told me over the phone that PM Modi reached Russia and held talks with the government regarding the release of the trapped Indians."
Singh further said that his son, Gagandeep Singh, informed him that the trapped Indians are sent to the battlegrounds and kept in 'bunkers', which are defensive military fortifications to shield people in the war-hit zones.
"My son told me over the phone that the trapped Indians are sent to battlegrounds, having been handed over guns and grenades. They are kept in bunkers. However, with Prime Minister Modi's visit to the country, there is now a ray of hope for our trapped countrymen in the Russian army", he said.
Several Indians were allegedly duped into fighting in Russia's war with Ukraine on the pretext of lucrative jobs. In April, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), had busted a major human trafficking network running across the country targeting Indian nationals on the promise of offering lucrative jobs abroad but allegedly sending them to the Russia-Ukraine war zone. -- ANI
09:26 Walking with Mr Naidu
Former Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu shares this image saying, "Today after a long gap had a refreshing morning walk along with my friend Atluri Ashok at Ramakrishna beach road, Visakhapatnam."
PM Modi with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer
09:10 India-Austria ties to get stronger: Modi in Vienna
The India-Austria friendship is strong, and it will get even stronger in the times to come, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said as he met Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer for a private engagement ahead of their official talks on Wednesday to tap the full potential of the bilateral partnership.
Modi arrived in Vienna from Moscow on Tuesday evening on a two-day visit, the first by an Indian prime minister in over 40 years. Modi was welcomed by Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg at the airport.
"An important milestone in India-Austria partnership! PM @narendramodi hosted by Austrian Chancellor @karlnehammer for a private engagement. This is the first meeting between the two leaders. Discussions on realising the full potential of bilateral partnership lie ahead," MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X, along with photographs of the two leaders together in Vienna.
Modi was seen hugging Nehammer in one of the photos, while in another, the Austrian chancellor was seen clicking a selfie with the prime minister. Nehammer posted a photo of him and Modi on the microblogging platform and said: "Welcome to Vienna, PM @narendramodi! It is a pleasure and honour to welcome you to Austria. Austria and India are friends and partners. I look forward to our political and economic discussions during your visit!"
The prime minister thanked the Austrian chancellor "for the warm welcome" and said he looks forward to "our discussions tomorrow as well. Our nations will continue working together to further global good".
In another post on X, Modi said: "Happy to meet you in Vienna, Chancellor @karlnehammer. The India-Austria friendship is strong and it will get even stronger in the times to come."
This is the first visit by an Indian prime minister to Austria in more than 40 years, the last being of Indira Gandhi in 1983. During Modi's visit to Austria, the two countries will explore ways to further deepen their relationship and closer cooperation on various geopolitical challenges.
08:51 18 killed, 19 hurt as bus collides with tanker in UP
At least 18 people were killed and 19 injured when a bus collided with a tanker on the Agra-Lucknow Expressway in this Uttar Pradesh district on Wednesday, police said.
The accident took place in the morning near Jojikot village in the Bangarmau area when the double-decker bus collided with the tanker, killing 18 people and injuring 19, Bangarmau Circle Officer Arvind Kumar said. The injured have been rushed to a hospital and their condition is stated to be stable, the officer said. PTI
08:40 US concerned but concedes India-Russia history
The United States will continue to view India as a strategic partner and have robust dialogue with the country, the Pentagon said on Tuesday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded his historic visit to Russia, to which the Joe Biden administration has expressed its concerns.
"India and Russia have had a relationship for a very long time. From a US perspective, India is a strategic partner with whom we continue to engage in with full and frank dialogue to include their relationship with Russia. As it relates to the NATO summit being this week, of course, like you, the world is focused on that," Pentagon Press Secretary Major General Pat Ryder told reporters at a news conference in Washington.
"But I do not think anybody will be surprised if (Russian) President (Vladimir) Putin tries to represent this visit in a way that seeks to somehow show that he is not isolated from the rest of the world. And the fact of the matter is, President Putin's war of choice has isolated Russia from the rest of the world and it has come at great cost," he said responding to questions on Modi's Russia visit.
"Their war of aggression has come at great cost and the facts bear that out. So we will continue to view India as a strategic partner. We will continue to have robust dialogue with them," Ryder said. "He (Putin) is not looking so isolated with the head of the world's largest democracy being in Moscow, embracing him right now," a reporter said.
"I would also note that the prime minister also met recently with the Ukrainian president and offered his assurances that India will continue to do everything within its means to support a peaceful solution to the war in Ukraine," Ryder said.
"I think that we trust that India will support efforts to realise an enduring and just peace for Ukraine and will convey to Mr Putin the importance of adhering to the UN charter and the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity," he added. PTI
08:24 Modi arrives in Austria, 1st visit by Indian PM in 40 yrs
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Austria on Tuesday from Moscow on a two-day visit to Austria during which the two nations will explore ways to further deepen their bilateral relationship and closer cooperation on the many geopolitical challenges.
"Landed in Vienna. This visit to Austria is a special one. Our nations are connected by shared values and a commitment to a better planet. Looking forward to the various programmes in Austria including talks with Chancellor @karlnehammer, interactions with the Indian community and more," the prime minister posted on X, along with a series of photographs.
Modi was welcomed by Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg at the airport.
It is the first visit by an Indian prime minister to Austria in over 40 years, the last being of Indira Gandhi in 1983.
In a post on X, the Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs said, "As the two countries are celebrating 75th Anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations this year, this momentous visit will add renewed momentum to India-Austria ties."
Modi will call on the President of the Republic of Austria, Alexander Van der Bellen, and hold talks with Chancellor of Austria Karl Nehammer on Wednesday.
The Prime Minister and Chancellor will also address business leaders from India and Austria.
Ahead of his visit to Austria, Modi on Sunday said that the shared values of democracy, freedom and the rule of law form the bedrock upon which the two countries will build an ever-closer partnership.
Modi's remark came a day after Austrian Chancellor Nehammer posted on 'X', "I very much look forward to welcoming Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, the world's largest democracy, next week in Vienna." -- PTI
01:08 159 animals dead, 133 rescued in flooded Kaziranga
In the worst ever
floods in Assam's famed Kaziranga National Park in recent years, a total
of 159 wild animals have died so far due to drowning and during
treatment, while 133 others have been rescued till Tuesday, an official
said.
The animal mortality has increased from 137 till Monday in
the devastating second wave of floods that have affected the entire
state.
The dead animals include nine rhinos, 142 hog deer, two
sambar, a rhesus macaque and an otter.
A total of 22 animals have
died during treatment and these include 17 hog deer, three swamp deer
and one each of Rhesus Macaque and an otter pup.
The forest
officials rescued 120 hog deer, three swamp deer, two each of rhino,
sambar, elephant and scops owl and one each of Indian hare, Rhesus
Macaque, otter, and a jungle cat.
Currently, 7 animals are under
medical care while 111 others have been released after treatment, the
official said.
The Park is experiencing the worst ever deluge in
recent years with the previous large-scale devastation occurring in 2017
when over 350 wildlife died in the flood waters and in vehicle hits
while migrating through animal corridors to the highlands.
Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Tuesday
that in a successful rescue mission carried out by the forest department
of Sonitpur West Division and the public in Tezpur, an elephant which
got separated from its herd was rescued and reunited with its herd
within three days.
Out of the total 233 camps in the Eastern Assam
Wildlife Division, 62 are still inundated till Tuesday evening as
against 70 the previous day, the official said.
Forest department
employees including security personnel stay in camps inside the national
park to conduct patrolling for the protection of flora and fauna. -- PTI
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