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Sat, 05 October 2024

RG Kar: Protesting doctors begin fast unto death

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21:51 RG Kar: Protesting doctors begin fast unto death

The junior doctors, protesting over the rape and murder of their colleague at the RG Kar hospital, on Saturday evening went on fast unto death, claiming that their demands were not fulfilled by the West Bengal government.

The doctors had on Friday begun a sit-in at Dorina Crossing in Dharmatala, setting a 24-hour deadline for the state government to fulfil their demands as promised.

"The state government has failed the deadline and hence we are starting the fast unto death till our demands are fulfilled. To maintain transparency, we have installed CCTV cameras at the dais where our colleagues will be holding the fast," a junior doctor said.

"We will join duty as promised but will not eat anything," he said.

At present, six junior doctors would initiate the fast, he added.

The junior doctors began the sit-in after calling off the 'total cease work'. -- PTI

Photograph: Umar Ganie/Rediff.com

20:19 Just time pass: Omar Abdullah on exit poll predictions

National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Saturday dismissed the exit poll results for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections and said only the numbers coming out at the end of counting on October 8 will matter.

"I'm amazed channels are bothering with exit polls especially after the fiasco of the recent general elections. I'm ignoring all the noise on channels, social media, WhatsApp Etc because the only numbers that matter will be revealed on the 8th of Oct. The rest is just time pass," Abdullah posted on X.

Most exit polls have shown the National Conference emerging as the single largest party followed by the BJP.

The NC-Congress alliance is shown to just cross the halfway mark in the 90-member house.

The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections were held in three phases on September 18, September 25 and October 1. The counting of votes will take place on October 8. -- PTI

Several exit polls on Saturday predicted a clear majority for the Congress in Haryana and gave an edge to its alliance with the National Conference in Jammu and Kashmir with the regional partner emerging as the single largest party.

Dainik Bhaskar predicted the Congress getting 44-54 seats and the BJP 15-29 seats in the 90-member Haryana assembly.

The Republic-Matrize poll put the Congress tally even higher at 55-62 seats as against the BJP's 18-24.

The Red Mike-Datansh exit poll gave the Congress 50-55 seats in Haryana and the BJP at 20-25, while Dhruv Research pegged the Congress at 50-64 and the BJP 22-32.

Peoples' Pulse exit poll gave the Congress 49-60 seats and the BJP 20-32 seats in Haryana.

Most exit polls pegged INLD tally higher than that of the JJP, while others were seen getting up to 10 seats.

In Jammu and Kashmir, the C-Voter-India Today survey put the National Conference-Congress alliance at 40-48 seats and the BJP at 27-32 seats in the 90-member assembly of the Union territory.

Dainik Bhaskar pegged the National Conference (NC)-Congress alliance at 35-40 and the BJP at 20-25 in Jammu and Kashmir.

Peoples' Pulse saw the NC-Congress alliance with 46-50 seats as against the BJP's 23-27, while Republic-Gulistan put the the NC-Congress tally lower at 31-36 as against the BJP's 28-30.

In different polls, the PDP was seen winning between 5 and 12 seats, while others were also seen bagging 4-16 seats.

The results of the assembly elections will be announced on October 8.

Haryana

Dainik Bhaskar

Congress 44-54

BJP 15-29

Republic-Matrize

Congress 55-62

BJP 18-24

Red Mike-Datansh

Congress 50-55

BJP 20-25

Dhruv Research

Congress 50-64

BJP 22-32

Peoples' Pulse

Congress 49-60

BJP 20-32

Jammu and Kashmir

C-Voter-India Today

NC-Congress 40-48

BJP 27-32

Dainik Bhaskar

NC-Congress 35-40

BJP 20-25

Peoples' Pulse

NC-Congress 46-50

BJP 23-27

Republic-Gulistan

NC-Congress 31-36

BJP 28-30

19:08 Exit polls predict Cong's easy win Haryana

More exit polls are predicting a victory for the Congress in Haryana and Congress-National Conference combine in Jammu and Kashmir.

Here are predictions of some the exit polls.

Dainik Bhaskar

Haryana (90 seats)

INC 44-54

BJP 19-29

JJP 0-1

INLD 1-5

Others 4-9

Jammu and Kashmir (90 seats)

INC+JKNC 35-40

BJP 20-25

PDP 4-7

Other 12-16

Dhruv Research

Haryana (90 seats)

INC 57-64

BJP 23-32

Others 5-8

Republic-Matrize's exit poll gave 55-62 seats to the Congress and 18-24 seatsto the BJP in Haryana.

Haryana (90 seats)

INC 55-62

BJP 18-24

JJP 0-3

INLD 3-6

Others 2-5

The exit poll of People's Pulse has predicted a clear win for the Congress in the Haryana assembly polls.

The Hyderabad-based agency forecasted a big victory for Congress-National Conference alliance in Jammu and Kashmir.

According to the exit poll, in Haryana, the Congress would win 55 seats while the BJP will get 26 seats.

In Jammu and Kashmir, the Congress-NC combine will get

Haryana (90 seats)

INC 55

BJP 26

JJP 0-1

INLD 2-3

Others 3-5

Jammu and Kashmir (90 seats)

INC 13-15

JKNC 33-35

BJP 23-27

PDP 7-11

Other 4-5

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18:15 Cycle on track gets stuck to Sabarmati Express engine

The Gorakhpur-Ahmedabad Sabarmati Express had a close shave on Saturday morning when a cycle got stuck to the engine while it was passing through Khalilabad and Maghar railway stations, a police official said.

Additional Superintendent of Police Sushil Kumar Singh said that there were no casualties or any damage to the train.

A cycle was on the track when the Sabarmati Express was passing through around 6 am, the ASP said.

The cycle got stuck to the train's engine, he said.

Singh said some people were in the habit of crossing the railway track at the spot where the incident occurred. Police are investigating the matter, he said. -- PTI

Nearly 50 per cent polling was recorded till 3 pm in the Haryana assembly elections on Saturday in which the ruling BJP is eyeing a third term and the Congress seeking a comeback after a decade.

Officials said polling was going on smoothly barring a stray incident.

According to Election Commission data, a poll percentage of 49.13 was recorded till 3 pm after voting began at 7 am.

Till 3 pm, Ambala recorded a poll percentage of 49.39, Bhiwani 50.31, Charkhi Dadri 47.08, Faridabad 41.71, Fatehabad 52.46, Hisar 51.25, Jhajjar 49.68, Jind 53.94, Kaithal 50.58, Karnal 49.17, Kurukshetra 52.13, Mahendragarh 52.67, Mewat (Nuh) 56.59, Palwal 56.02, Panipat 49.40, Rewari 50.22, Rohtak 50.62, Sirsa 48.78, Sonipat 45.86 and Yamunanagar 56.79.

At 3 pm, Gurgaon had the lowest poll percentage at 38.61 followed by Panchkula 42.60.

Haryana Jan Sevak Party nominee from the Meham constituency Balraj Kundu accused former MLA Anand Singh Dangi of assaulting him and his assistant at a polling booth.

In Nuh district, there was a clash among supporters of the Congress' sitting MLA from Punhana and Independent candidate Rahish Khan in a village in the constituency which left three injured.

The BJP, Congress, the INLD-BSP and the JJP-Azad Samaj Party alliances and the Aam Aadmi Party are the key parties contesting the polls.

A total of 1,031 candidates are in the fray, including 101 women and 464 Independent nominees.

Voting will conclude at 6 pm and counting will be taken up on October 8. -- PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday laid the foundation stones of various initiatives of over Rs 32,800 crore including the Thane Integral Ring Metro Rail Project and Elevated Eastern Freeway Extension.

He also laid the foundation stone of the Navi Mumbai Airport Influence Notified Area (NAINA) project at an event in Thane.

In a major push to boost urban mobility in the region, the prime minister inaugurated the BKC to Aarey JVLR section of Mumbai Metro Line 3 costing around Rs 14,120 crore. This section will have 10 stations, of which 9 will be underground.

Mumbai Metro Line - 3 is a key public transport project to improve commuting between Mumbai city and Suburbs. Fully operational line-3 is expected to cater to about 12 lakh passengers daily.

The Thane Integral Ring Metro Rail Project will be constructed at around Rs 12,200 crore. The total length of the project is 29 km with 20 elevated and 2 underground stations.

This ambitious infrastructure project is a key initiative to address the growing transportation needs of Thane, a major industrial and commercial hub in Maharashtra.

The Elevated Eastern Freeway Extension from Chheda Nagar to Anand Nagar, Thane, will provide seamless connectivity from south Mumbai to Thane.

The NAINA project costing around Rs 2,550 crore comprises the construction of major arterial roads, bridges, flyovers, underpasses and integrated utility infrastructure.

The PM also laid the foundation stone of Thane Municipal Corporation to be constructed at around Rs 700 crore. -- PTI

Two fishermen died after their boat capsized in the Arabian Sea off the Sindhudurg coast in Maharashtra in the wee hours of Saturday, police said.

The incident occurred around 2 am off the Nivati beach in Sindhudurg, a police official said.

"There were a total of 14 fishermen on board the boat. They had gone fishing when their boat capsized. While two fishermen drowned, 12 others managed to reach a safe place," he said.

The deceased fishermen were identified as Raghunath Dharmaji Yeraji (49) and Anand Pundlik Paradkar (52). They were residents of Vengurla taluka of Sindhudurg district, he added.

An accidental death report has been filed at the Nivati police station in this connection, and investigation is underway, the official said. -- PTI

India will host the four-nation Malabar naval exercise beginning Tuesday amid evolving security situation in the region.

The navies of India, the United States, Australia and Japan will carry out a series of complex naval drills during the 'sea phase' of the mega wargame.

"Exercise Malabar 2024 is scheduled to take place from October 8 to 18, beginning with the Harbour Phase in Visakhapatnam, followed by the sea phase," the Indian Navy announced on Saturday.

The Malabar exercise, which began in 1992 as a bilateral naval drill between the US and the Indian Navy, has evolved into a key multilateral event aimed at enhancing interoperability, fostering mutual understanding and addressing shared maritime challenges in the Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific region.

The exercise will feature the participation of various Indian naval platforms, including guided missile destroyers, multi-purpose frigates, submarines, fighter aircraft and helicopters.

"The exercise will focus on a broad range of activities designed to enhance cooperation and operational capabilities, including discussions on special operations, surface, air, and anti-submarine warfare through a Subject Matter Expert Exchange (SMEE)," the Navy said.

"Complex maritime operations such as anti-submarine warfare, surface warfare, and air defense exercises will be conducted at sea, with an emphasis on improving situational awareness in the maritime domain," it said in a statement. -- PTI

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16:47 Muslim youth beaten for 'trying to enter' Navratri event in UP

A Muslim youth was allegedly beaten up by members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal in Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur at a Navratri-related event, police said on Saturday.

The incident happened on Friday at Lajpat Bhavan in Swaroop Nagar when private guards and volunteer staff were checking the visitors' identities to prevent any non-Hindus from entering the venue, they said.

Purported videos of the incident shared on social media showed a man being beaten up while being questioned about his religion.

Motijheel police outpost in-charge, Ravi Kumar, has lodged an FIR against unknown men for assaulting unidentified youngsters at the event, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Dinesh Tirpathi said on Saturday.

Instructions have been issued to identify those were beaten up and call them to record their statements, the DCP said.

In a statement, Yuvraj Dwivedi, VHP's district secretary (Kanpur North), claimed to have carried out checks at 'garba' and 'dandia' venues during the ongoing Navratri festival in the city to prevent people from other religions from participating in the celebrations. -- PTI

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen president Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday submitted a representation to Hyderabad police commissioner C V Anand demanding that a criminal case be registered against Uttar Pradesh Hindutva leader Yati Narsinghanand for his alleged derogatory remarks against Prophet Muhammed.

Owaisi, who was accompanied by his party MLAs and other leaders, told reporters here that Yati Narsinghanand was earlier jailed in connection with a hate speech and one of his bail conditions was that he should not make similar comments. Hence, AIMIM demands that Yati Narsinghanand's bail be cancelled, he said.

A case should be registered now against him for his remarks and he should be arrested, the AIMIM president said. -- PTI

Domestic carrier IndiGo on Saturday said it is facing a temporary system slowdown across its network, affecting its website and bookings.

The airline also said this may result in slower check-ins and that it is working to restore the normalcy at the earliest.

"We are currently experiencing a temporary system slowdown across our network, affecting our website and booking system. As a result, customers may face increased wait times, including slower check-ins and longer queues at the airport," IndiGo said in a travel advisory posted on X.

It further said, "We are working diligently to restore stability and normalcy as quickly as possible."

IndiGo operates over 2,000 flights, including international, per day. -- PTI

Over 36 per cent polling was recorded till 1 pm in the Haryana assembly election on Saturday in which the ruling BJP is eyeing a third term while the Congress seeks a comeback after a decade.

Chief Electoral Officer Pankaj Agarwal said voting was going on peacefully.

He said voting began at 1 pm and a poll percentage of 36.69 was recorded by 1 pm.

Among the top names in the fray are Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, the BJP's Anil Vij and O P Dhankar, the Congress' Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Vinesh Phogat, the INLD's Abhay Singh Chautala and the JJP's Dushyant Chautala.

The BJP, Congress, the INLD-BSP and the JJP-Azad Samaj Party alliances and the Aam Aadmi Party are the key outfits contesting the polls. The Congress has left the Bhiwani seat for its INDIA bloc partner CPI(M), while the BJP has made way in Sirsa for Haryana Lokhit Party chief Gopal Kanda, who is seeking re-election.

A total of 1,031 candidates are in the fray, including 101 women and 464 Independent nominees.

Voting will conclude at 6 pm and counting will be taken up on October 8.

While voting was picking up pace in many districts, it was comparatively slow in Panchkula and Gurugram districts.

Till 1 pm, Ambala recorded a poll percentage of 39.47, Bhiwani 38.27, Charkhi Dadri 29.62, Faridabad 31.71, Fatehabad 40, Hisar 38.34, Jhajjar 36.93, Jind 41.93, Kaithal 38.18, Karnal 39.74, Kurukshetra 41.05, Mahendragarh 38.20, Mewat (Nuh) 42.64, Palwal 41.85, Panipat 38.24, Rewari 35.10, Rohtak 36.19, Sirsa 34.78, Sonipat 33.64 and Yamunanagar 42.08.

In Panchkula, the polling percentage was 25.89, while it was 27.70 in Gurugram. -- PTI

15:38 Soldier shoots self dead in J-K's Poonch

An army personnel allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself with his service rifle in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Saturday, officials said.

Uttarakhand native Sepoy Manish Bisht was on sentry duty at a post in Behrote in Balakote sector when he took the extreme step, the officials said.

They said police have started inquest proceedings to ascertain the cause behind his taking such a step. -- PTI

People's Democratic Party leader Iltija Mufti on Saturday said the incoming government in Jammu and Kashmir will be a "toothless tiger", while its chief minister will be a "rubber stamp" and "glorified mayor" of a "municipality".

J&K is all set to get a new government after the results of the assembly elections held after a gap of 10 years are announced on October 8.

"With the LG 'nominating' five MLAs and the chief secretary changing transaction of business rules, it's clear that the incoming government will be a toothless tiger.

"How much more will the Government of India strip J&K of any semblance of authority and autonomy? Rubber stamp CM = Glorified mayor of a municipality (sic)," Iltija said in a post on X.

Daughter of People's Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti, Iltija contested the assembly polls from Bijbehara in Anantnag district.

The J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019, specifies that the Lieutenant Governor of the "successor Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir may nominate two members to the Legislative Assembly" to give representation to women "if in his opinion, women are not adequately represented in the Legislative Assembly."

However, in an amendment to the Act in July 2023, an addition was made to allow for the nomination of three more members to the assembly -- two from the Kashmiri migrant community, including a woman, and one from the 'displaced persons from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir'. -- PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the Congress is being ruled by a gang of urban Naxals, and asked people to unite to defeat the "dangerous agenda" of that party.

"They (Congress) think that if we all unite, then their agenda to divide the country will fail," Modi said, addressing a rally in Washim district of Maharashtra after launching various projects.

"Everyone can see how closely Congress stands with people who don't harbour good intentions for India," Modi said.

"Drugs worth thousands of crores of rupees were seized in Delhi recently. A Congress leader is suspected to be the kingpin. Congress wants to contest elections from the money it gets by pushing the youth towards drugs," he said.

Modi said that Congress' thinking has been foreign from the very beginning. Like the British rule, this Congress family also does not consider Dalits, backward and tribals as their equals.

They feel that India should be ruled by only one family. That is why they have always maintained a derogatory attitude towards the Banjara community," he said. -- PTI

Ahead of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's visit to Pakistan later this month to attend a conclave of the SCO, Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Saturday said the two sides have a "real opportunity" to break the ice and engage constructively.

India on Friday announced that Jaishankar will travel to Pakistan to attend a conclave of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in mid-October.

"Despite increased challenges, the resolve for peaceful resolution of the conflict remains stronger than ever. Generations of Kashmiris have been consumed by the uncertainty.

"We want an end to it, a fair closure. India and Pakistan have a real opportunity at the upcoming SCO Summit to break the ice and engage constructively. Hope they heed to it," he said in a post on X.

It will be for the first time in nearly nine years that India's external affairs minister will travel to Pakistan even as the ties between the two neighbours remained frosty over the Kashmir issue and cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan.

Pakistan is hosting the SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG) meeting on October 15 and 16. -- PTI

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party government, saying there was no use of bowing before Shivaji Maharaj after scaring people, destroying the Constitution and institutions in the country.

Gandhi on Saturday unveiled a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the founder of the Maratha empire, in Kolhapur city of western Maharashtra.

Addressing a public meeting before unveiling the statue, Gandhi slammed the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party over the collapse of the statue of the warrior king at Rajkot fort in Sindhudurg district, and said the party's ideology is not right.

"There is no use of bowing before bowing before Shivaji Maharaj after scaring people, destroying the Constitution and institutions in the country," Gandhi said.

His comments were apparently targeted at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had apologised to Shivaji Maharaj and those hurt by the collapse of his statue.

"Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is not just a name or a king. For us, he is our deity. Today, I bow my head at his feet and apologise to my deity," Modi had said on August 30 during his visit to Maharashtra.

The 35-foot statue, which fell on August 26, was unveiled by the PM on December 4, 2023, on the occasion of Navy Day.

Gandhi said Chhatrapati Shivaji's message to the world was that the country belongs to everyone.

The Indian Constitution is a manifestation of what the warrior king stood for, he said.

If people like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Shahu Maharaj were not there, the Constitution also would not have been there, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said. -- PTI

13:36 BMW India aims to double EVs's share

Sohini Das and Anjali Singh/Business Standard

German luxury car maker BMW India aims to double the share of electric vehicles (EVs) in its portfolio from the current 7 per cent to 15 per cent by next year.

This would be on the back of a strong product line-up, growing EV sales, and expanding charging infrastructure, a senior company executive said.

Moreover, more than 60 per cent of buyers for its electric iX1 or X1 are first-time luxury buyers.

The German automaker said that BMW i7, in particular, has been a popular choice among Indian consumers, accounting for 40 per cent of 7 Series sales. Currently the 7 series accounts for 17 per cent of its revenue.

Vikram Pawah, president of BMW Group India, said, We're aiming to reach 15 per cent penetration by next year, depending on market conditions. Looking ahead, I believe we are going to maintain our 50 per cent market share in the luxury EV segment or even increase that."

BMW Group India has achieved its best-ever year-to-date car sales, with a 10 per cent growth in the first nine months of calendar 2024.

A total of 10,556 cars (BMW and MINI) were delivered, along with 5,638 BMW Motorrad motorcycles.

The growth is driven by high demand for long-wheelbase models like the BMW 3 Series, 5 Series, and 7 Series, as well as continued leadership in the luxury EV segment, led by the BMW i7.

BMW has delivered over 2,500 EVs cumulatively. It has a range of seven electric models available in the market. It delivered 725 EVs in the first nine months of this year.

In the first nine months, the group enjoyed a 41 per cent share in the luxury electric market. However, in September, it increased this by reaching 50 per cent share.

The company plans to introduce 10 to 12 new products next year, but how many of these will be EVs is not clear.

To support the growth of EVs in India, BMW India is advocating a green tax structure. This would provide incentives to consumers to adopt electric vehicles and reduce carbon footprint.

A green tax would differentiate between vehicles based on their emissions levels, with lower taxes for electric and hybrid vehicles.

The body of a 10-year-old girl was found in a marshy land in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district on Saturday, triggering arson by locals at a police outpost there.

Villagers alleged that the minor, who was missing since Friday evening, was raped and murdered, and the police did not act on their complaint immediately.

As the body of the girl was recovered by locals in Jaynagar area early this morning, a mob torched the police outpost and pelted the policemen with stones.

They also vandalised several vehicles parked outside the outpost and the policemen were forced to leave the premises, a senior officer said.

A huge police force was sent to the area and tear gas shells were fired to quell the mob which tried to confine the SDPO and other senior personnel at the spot.

"The family members of the girl lodged an FIR at the Mahismari outpost in the area but the police did not act on the complaint immediately," a local claimed.

The police responded in the same manner as they did after the body of a woman doctor was found at R G Kar hospital, another villager said.

"We will continue our agitation till all those behind the rape and murder of our minor daughter are punished. We also demand action against those who responded to the complaint late, which might have resulted in her death. Had the police acted promptly, the girl could have been rescued," Ganesh Dolui, a local, said.

The police, however, said the action was taken immediately after the complaint was received and an accused was arrested in connection with the alleged rape and murder of the girl. -- PTI

13:00 No CNG, Hybrid Launch For Now: Nissan

Deepak Patel/Business Standard

Japanese automaker Nissan is studying customer trends related to various powertrains, like hybrid and CNG, in India but has no immediate plans to launch cars with these technologies, Frank Torres, president, Nissan India Operations, said on Friday.

Sales of hybrid and CNG cars have surged in India in recent months, while electric car sales have seen a decline.

However, Torres, speaking to reporters after the launch of the Nissan Magnite facelift, expressed optimism about the long-term prospects of the electric vehicle (EV) market in India.

The Magnite facelift has a starting price of Rs 5.99 lakh (ex-showroom).

Nissan previously announced that it is going to launch an 'affordable' EV by 2026.

In addition to the affordable EV, the company will also launch two internal combustion engine-run SUVs by 2026.

Currently, Nissan sells two models in India -- the Magnite and X-trail. Its total car sales in the April-August period went down by 10 per cent year-on-year to 10,974 units.

He stated that the governments forecast of EVs comprising 25 per cent total car sales by 2030 is aggressive, and the company will monitor this growth trend.

"Our experience in Europe is that to grow from two per cent to 25 per cent in some of the countries took more than 15 years. We are sure that it will be much faster in India," he stated.

He also referred to CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency) norms in India that regulate the average fuel efficiency of a carmaker's fleet to reduce fossil fuel consumption and carbon emissions.

"It is true that there are new rules that the government is putting in place in terms of emission, and we must respect this. And the EV, of course, will help. In terms of powertrain, we are contemplating other powertrains. We still don't have any plans to introduce them, but we are studying our product trends. The key point is the time and the size of the market for that technology has to be right to introduce that product," Torres noted.

He also mentioned that it is important that any product that is launched in India also has a strong export potential. "There have to be enough volumes to justify the scale of investment in that product," he explained.

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12:55 Man being treated for anxiety jumps from Delhi hospital terrace, dies

A 63-year-old patient died after allegedly falling from the terrace of a private hospital in Delhi's Dwarka, police said on Saturday.

The victim, a retired Delhi High Court employee, was being treated for anxiety and stress at the hospital in Mohan Garden area, they said.

The incident, suspected to be a case of suicide, occurred around 8 pm on Friday when the man climbed onto the hospital's terrace on the fourth floor and jumped off, a police officer said.

He was taken to the emergency room, where he was declared dead, the officer said, adding that no suicide note was recovered.

The CCTV footage is being reviewed and an inquest proceeding is underway, the police said. -- PTI

Over 22 per cent polling was recorded in the first four hours of voting in the Haryana assembly election on Saturday.

Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Union minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker were among the early voters.

Leader of Opposition in the assembly Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Congress leaders Kumari Selja and Randeep Singh Surjewala also cast their votes in the early hours of polling.

Saini, Hooda, Olympic wrestler Vinesh Phogat and the JJP's Dushyant Chautala are among the top names in the fray. A total of 1,027 candidates are contesting the election.

The Congress is hoping to return to power in the state after a gap of 10 years.

Voting began at 7 am and will conclude at 6 pm. The counting of votes will be taken up on October 8.

According to the Election Commission data, the overall poll percentage was 22.70 till 11 am.

Among the districts, Ambala recorded a poll percentage of 25.50, Bhiwani 23.45, Charkhi Dadri 20.10, Faridabad 20.39, Fatehabad 24.73, Gurugram 17.05, Hisar 24.69, Jhajjar 23.48, Jind 27.20, Kaithal 22.21, Karnal 24.85, Kurukshetra 23.90, Mewat 25.65, Palwal 27.94, Panipat 22.62, Rewari 21.49, Rohtak 22.91 and Sonipat 18.84.

Voting was comparatively slow in Panchkula at 13.46 per cent. -- PTI

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11:27 Police, Assam Rifles seize arms, explosives in Manipur's Churachandpur

A joint team of Manipur Police and Assam Rifles seized arms and explosives during a search operation at Khengmol hill in Churachandpur district, an official statement said on Saturday.

The joint team on Friday seized one tear gas gun, one country-made 9 mm pistol with magazine, five 12 bore single barrel guns, live ammunition, 13 improvised mortar shells and five improvised heavy mortars, it said.

The police along with members of the Kuilong village authority in Tamenglong district destroyed five acres of suspected nursery poppy plants last week.

The plants were cultivated by unknown persons, it said. -- PTI

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi/File image

11:23 Court summons Rahul on Oct 23 in Savarkar case

A special court in Pune has summoned Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi in a criminal defamation case filed by the grandnephew of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, accusing the Congress leader of making objectionable remarks against the Hindutva ideologue.

The court issued the summons to Gandhi on Friday, asking him to appear before it on October 23.

Last year, Savarkar's grandnephew, Satyaki Savarkar, had lodged a complaint against the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha in this connection in a Pune court.

Last month, the case was transferred to the special court for MPs and MLAs from the judicial magistrate first class court.

Advocate Sangram Kolhatkar, who represents Satyaki Savarkar, told PTI that the special court for MPs an MLAs, presided over by joint civil judge and judicial magistrate (first class) Amol Shinde, issued the summons against Gandhi stating that his attendance is necessary to answer a charge punishable under section 500 (defamation) of the Indian Penal Code in the case, and he is required to appear in person before the court on October 23. -- PTI

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11:04 Haryana polls: Meham candidate Balraj Kundu says ex-MLA Dangi attacked him

Haryana Jan Sevak Party nominee from the Meham assembly constituency Balraj Kundu on Saturday alleged that former Congress MLA Anand Singh Dangi assaulted him and his personal assistant at a polling booth in Rohtak district.

In a video message, Kundu said he was visiting polling booth number 134 in the constituency when it happened.

He alleged that Dangi ripped his clothes and also had him "manhandled".

"My PA was beaten up," Kundu said.

The outgoing MLA from the Meham assembly seat also claimed that Anand Singh Dangi sensed the impending defeat of his son and Congress candidate Balram Dangi and this has left him "rattled".

Kundu also urged voters to stay calm and maintain peace.

The Jan Sevak Party candidate is pitted against the Congress' Balram Dangi and the BJP's Deepak Hooda from the Meham constituency. -- PTI

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10:43 Infiltration bid foiled at LoC in Kupwara, 2 terrorists killed

Two terrorists were killed as security forces foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district, the Army said on Saturday.

"Two terrorists have been eliminated by the security forces in the ongoing operation," the army's Srinagar-based Chinar Corps said.

The Corps had earlier in a post on X said that a gun battle ensued when troops spotted suspicious activity in Kupwara 's Gugaldhar.

The army said it has discovered war-like stores from the encounter zone which is still being searched. -- PTI

BJP MP Naveen Jindal reaches a polling station in Kurukshetra on a horse, to cast his vote/ANI on X

10:31 Haryana polls: 9.53% polling recorded till 9 am

Polling for 90 assembly seats in Haryana began Saturday morning amid tight security, with 9.53 poll percentage being recorded in the first two hours.

According to the Election Commission data, an overall poll percentage of 9.53 per cent was recorded till 9 am.

In Jind, the poll percentage was recorded at 12.71 percent, 11.10 in Karnal, 10.76 percent in Rohtak, while in Gurgaon and Panchkula, it was 6.10 percent and 4.08 percent. -- PTI

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10:19 Smaller Parties Shrink In Haryana Assembly Polls

Since 2014, Haryana's electoral politics has seen smaller parties cede their vote shares to the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress, a trend that these political parties would hope to buck in this assembly polls.

Voting takes place on Saturday for the 90 seats, with the Congress flagging unemployment and farmers' agitation as key issues and hoping to consolidate its support base among Jats and scheduled castes.

In the run-up to the elections, the ruling BJP filled government vacancies, sought to retain its support among the state's Other Backward Classes, and announced a slew of welfare measures.

The trend of smaller parties witnessing a decline in their vote shares has been sharper in the Lok Sabha polls, but it is noticeable in the assembly polls too. In the 2014 assembly polls, the BJP and the Congress cumulatively secured nearly 54 percent of the votes polled, which increased to almost 65 percent in the 2019 state polls.

In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the smaller parties were decimated.

The BJP and the Congress (along with its ally Aam Aadmi Party) cornered almost 94 percent of the votes polled.

Of the smaller parties, the Dushyant Chautala-led Jannayak Janta Party could manage a meagre 0.87 percent vote share.

The Indian National Lok Dal and the Bahujan Samaj Party secured 1.74 percent and 1.28 percent vote shares, respectively.

In the 2019 assembly polls, the JJP had performed creditably, winning 10 seats with a respectable vote share of 14.84 percent.

However, in the run-up to the 2024 assembly polls, seven of the JJP's 10 legislators quit to join either the BJP or the Congress. For the 2024 assembly polls, the JJP has an alliance with Chandrashekhar Azad-led Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram).

The INLD has an alliance with the BSP, which has secured 4 to 5 percent vote share in the Lok Sabha and Aassembly polls in the state over the years, but fared poorly in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

The two blocs hope that their 'Jat-Scheduled Castes' alliance will find resonance.

The AAP has fielded candidates on 89 seats after it failed to work out an alliance with the Congress. -- Archis Mohan/Business Standard

The police shot a man accused of gunning down an entire Dalit family in Amethi in his leg early Saturday while they were recovering the pistol used in the killing at his instance.

According to the police, the incident happened when sub-inspector Madan Kumar Singh of Shivratanganj Police Station was taking possession of the pistol found near a canal track.

Just when Singh was inspecting the pistol and its magazine, Chandan Verma, the accused, snatched Singh's gun from his holster and fired at him intending to kill him, the police in a statement said.

In defence, inspector Sachchidanand Rai fired a gunshot which hit Verma in his right leg, they said.

Verma was arrested near a toll plaza in Noida Friday night while fleeing to Delhi. Sunil Kumar, 35, a government school teacher, his 32-year-old wife Poonam, and the couple's two daughters, Drishti and Suni, aged six and one, were shot dead in the Ahorwa Bhawani area of Amethi.

Poonam had once accused Verma of harassing her and also filed a police complaint against him. -- PTI

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09:50 DoT To Block Fraud International Calls

The Department of Telecommunications, in collaboration with Telecom Service Providers, has introduced an advanced system designed to identify and block incoming international spoofed calls before they can reach Indian telecom subscribers.

All four telecom operators -- Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea, and state-run BSNL -- have successfully implemented the system, the DoT said on Friday.

Being deployed in two phases, the system will first prevent calls spoofed with phone numbers of their own subscribers at the level of TSPs, while also stopping calls spoofed with the numbers of subscribers from other TSPs, at a central level.

These criminals exploit the Calling Line Identity to mask the actual origin of the calls, which has led to a spate of incidents involving threats of mobile number disconnection, fake digital arrests, and even impersonation of government officials or law enforcement agencies.

Recent cases have included false accusations involving drugs, narcotics, and sex rackets, further intensifying public concern.

"About one-third of total spoofed calls -- 4.5 million spoofed calls -- are being stopped from entering the Indian telecom network. The next phase, involving a centralized system that will eliminate the remaining spoofed calls across all TSPs, is expected to be commissioned shortly," DoT said.

Fraudsters, however, continue to adapt and devise new methods to deceive the public.

"In the age of rapidly evolving technology, DoT has taken multiple measures to make the telecom ecosystem safer and more secure. However, even with these robust safeguards, there may still be instances where fraudsters succeed through other means," DoT said. -- Subhayan Chakraborty/Business Standard

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09:49 Bodies of 3 more Maoists found in Chh'garh; toll rises to 31

The bodies of three more Maoists were recovered on Saturday morning in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region, where a fierce encounter with security personnel took place a day ago, the police said.

With this, the number of Maoists killed in the gun battle with the security personnel on Friday has risen to 31, they said, adding that a search operation is still underway in the area.

"Bodies of three more Maoists were recovered this morning from the dense forest where the encounter took place on Friday," inspector general of police (Bastar range) Sundarraj P said.

"With this, the toll of Maoists in the encounter rose to 31. The identity of the Maoists is yet to be ascertained, but prima facie it appears that they belonged to PLGA (People's Liberation Guerilla Army) company No. 6, Platoon 16 of Maoists and east Bastar division of Maoists," he said.

On Friday, the gunfight broke out between security forces and Maoists around 1 am in a forest between Nendur and Thulthuli villages on Dantewada and Narayanpur inter-district border, where a joint team of District Reserve Guard and Special Task Force was out on an anti-Maoist operation. -- PTI

09:34 Modi urges for record voting in Haryana

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday requested the voters of Haryana to cast their ballots in record numbers for the polls to the 90-member state assembly.

"I appeal to all voters to be a part of this sacred festival of democracy and create a new voting record," Modi said in a post on X, wishing young voters who are using their franchise for the first time.

The electoral fate of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Vinesh Phogat of the Congress, besides the JJP's Dushyant Chautala and 1,027 other candidates will be decided in the polls on Saturday.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party is eyeing a hat-trick of assembly poll wins in the state, while the Congress is hoping to return to power after 10 years.

The counting of votes will be taken up on October 8. -- PTI

The police on Friday arrested the main accused in the fatal shooting of a Dalit school teacher, his wife and two minor daughters here, with officials saying that the incident was a fallout of an illicit relationship gone sour.

"The main accused Chandan Verma was arrested near a toll plaza in Noida. He was on his way to Delhi," said superintendent of police Anoop Kumar Singh.

He also said the accused had tried to end his life by shooting himself after killing the family but the gun misfired. According to the officer, the accused has confessed to the killings and said that he had an affair with the teacher's wife for 18 months which went sour later, leading to him shooting the family.

Singh said Verma had fired 10 shots from a pistol.

When asked about a social media post by Verma foretelling the death of five people, the SP said, "He intended to shoot himself after killing the family of four. He was the fifth person but his suicide attempt failed."

Sunil Kumar, 35, a government school teacher, his 32-year-old wife Poonam, and the couple's two daughters, Drishti and Suni, were shot dead in the Ahorwa Bhawani area of Amethi on Thursday. -- PTI

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08:33 Eight held for stone-pelting in UP's Bulandshahr, police on alert

The local police were put on alert and eight persons were arrested for allegedly hurling stone towards a police team in the Gaddiwada area of the district on Friday evening while protesting against the detention of some men earlier in the day, officials said.

The detention was made after members of a religious minority community staged a protest against a controversial statement made by a self-styled godman.

Senior superintendent of police Shlok Kumar clarified that there was a false report about a station in-charge getting injured in the stone-pelting incident.

"Earlier in the day, a group of people had gathered in the Sikandrabad police station area and raised slogans. The local police intervened and dispersed the crowd, detaining some individuals," said the SSP.

"Eight people were arrested following the stone-pelting incident in the evening. CCTV footage is being analysed to identify those involved, and strict action will be taken against anyone who attempts to disrupt the peace," he added. -- PTI

Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General MV Suchindra Kumar(R)/ANI Photo

08:17 Northern army commander reviews preparedness of troops along LoC in Jammu

Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General MV Suchindra Kumar on Friday visited troops along the Line of Control in South of Pir Panjal region and exhorted them to maintain a high standard of operational prowess.

The commander also commended the troops for their professionalism in challenging conditions, the Army said. "Lt Gen M V Suchindra Kumar, Army Commander Northern Command, accompanied by general officer commanding White Knight Corps, visited forward areas along the Line of Control under White Knight Corps to review operational preparedness," the Northern Command said on X late tonight.

The Army commander also lauded the troops for their unwavering dedication and exhorted them to maintain high standards of professionalism and operational prowess, it said.

The White Knight Corps is a unit of the Indian Army that looks after the operational control of the area south of Jammu and Kashmir's Pir Panjal. -- PTI

Union minister Manohar Lal Khattar after casting his vote at a polling station in Karnal in Haryana/ANI on X

08:10 Polling begins for 90 assembly seats in Haryana

Polling for all the 90 assembly seats in Haryana began on Saturday morning amid tight security arrangements, officials said.

The fate of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Congress leaders Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Vinesh Phogat, besides the JJP's Dushyant Chautala and 1,027 other candidates, will be decided in the polls in which more than two crore people are eligible to vote.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party is eyeing a hat-trick of assembly election wins in the state, while the Congress is hoping to return to power after 10 years.

The counting of votes will be taken up on October 8.

The voting is being held from 7 am 6 pm.

Haryana's chief electoral officer Pankaj Agarwal had earlier said 2,03,54,350 voters, including 8,821 centurions, are eligible to exercise their franchise.

A total of 1,031 candidates are contesting the election, including 101 women and 464 Independent nominees.

A total of 20,632 polling booths have been set up, Agarwal had said. -- PTI

Andhra Pradesh deputy CM Pawan Kalyan/File image

01:15 Let's wait and see: Udhayanidhi retorts to Pawan Kalyan's verbal attack

Tamil Nadu deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Friday retorted with a cryptic comment "Let's wait and see" in response to his Andhra Pradesh counterpart Pawan Kalyan's remark on those opposing 'Sanatana Dharma' getting wiped out.

Udhayanidhi, whose remark last year calling for "eradication" of 'Sanatana Dharma', triggered a political row, responded with "Ok, let's wait and see" when reporters sought his reaction to Kalyan's warning.

The Janasena party chief on Thursday said that "you cannot wipe out Sanatana Dharma. If anyone tries to wipe out Sanatana Dharma, let me tell you from the feet of Lord Balaji, you will be wiped out."

While addressing a gathering on "Varahi Declaration" over the Tirupati laddu controversy in Tirupati, Kalyan said, "Don't say that Sanatana Dharma is like a virus, and it will destroy... Whoever said this let me tell you sir. You cannot wipe out Sanatana Dharma. If anyone tries to wipe out Santana Dharma, let me tell you, from the feet of Lord Balaji, you will be wiped out." -- PTI

Three more juveniles were on Friday apprehended in connection with the murder of a doctor in southeast Delhi's Kalindi Kunj area, the police said

On Thursday, a boy, around 16 years, was held for allegedly opening fire at Dr Javed Akhtar, a Unani practitioner, they said.

The incident happened inside the three-bedded Nima Hospital in Khadda Colony at around 1 am on Thursday.

After committing the crime, he uploaded a post on a social media platform with his photograph and a caption: "Kar diya 2024 mein murder" (Finally committed murder in 2024). Police had recovered the CCTV footage from the spot where they spotted two boys, but later found out the involvement of one more juvenile in the case.

Deputy commissioner of police (southeast) Rajesh Deo said one of the juveniles had visited the nursing home after getting injured in an accident in Faridabad on intervening night of September 20 and 21. -- PTI

A sudden major cyberattack in Uttarakhand brought the entire IT system of the state to a standstill, which has had a serious impact on government work.

Due to the cyberattack, the most important government websites and services of the state have completely shut down, including important platforms like CM Helpline, Land Registry, and e-Office.

Work in government offices is stalled for the second day today, due to which administrative work has been affected across the state, including the Secretariat.

Speaking to ANI, about the cyberattack, Nikita Khandelwal, director, ITDA Information Technology Development Agency, said, "During scanning on October 2, it was found that the machine has been affected by malware, so as a precaution we have shut down our data centre, due to which all applications have been shut down and all are being scanned."

"After testing, efforts are being made to be up by tomorrow morning. 186 government websites have been affected by the cyber-attack," he added. -- ANI

The Public Accounts Committee of Parliament has decided to review the functioning of top regulatory authorities in the country and has called heads of SEBI and TRAI for deposition on October 24.

Top officials of the ministry of finance, (department of economic affairs) and ministry of communications have also been asked to appear before the key parliamentary panel, with sources saying representatives of the Securities and Exchange Board of India chairperson Badhabi Puri Buch and Telecom Regulatory Authority of India chairperson Anil Kumar Lahoti are likely to appear before the panel.

Sources said the unstated convention in parliamentary practice is that chiefs of institutions have to attend parliamentary panel briefings whenever summoned.

The meeting of the key parliamentary panel comes amid a major row over allegations made by US research body Hindenburg against SEBI chairperson Madhabi Puri Much and her husband Dhaval Buch over her alleged links with the Adani Group. -- PTI

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