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Sat, 14 September 2024

Terrorism increased in J-K in Modi 3.0: Cong

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22:48 Terrorism increased in J-K in Modi 3.0: Cong

Congress on Saturday accused the Centre of failing to end terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir and claimed that terrorism has returned stronger in union territory where it had been eliminated many years ago.

Addressing a press conference at the party office in Srinagar, the party's spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said there have been 25 terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir in the 98 days since Prime Minister Narendra Modi was sworn in for his third term.

"Huge claims were made that after August 2019, peace will be established in Jammu and Kashmir. I will not talk about the time since 2014 or 2019, but it has been 98 days since Modi was sworn in. In the last 98 days, there have been 25 terror strikes in J-K in which 21 security personnel were martyred, while 28 others were injured," she said.

Shrinate said 15 citizens of the union territory have also lost their lives in these terror attacks, while 47 people were injured.

"Who will answer for it? Jammu was peaceful, the insurgency had ended there, but now, we are again witnessing terror attacks in Jammu's Doda, Reasi, and other areas," she added.

The Congress spokesperson paid tributes to the two soldiers who lost their lives in an encounter with terrorists in the Kishtwar district of Jammu on Friday.

She alleged the prime minister has not been offering his tributes to the fallen soldiers since 2019.

"PM tweets on small issues, discovers new countries on the world map to travel to and wishes happy birthday to people, but since 2019, Modi has stopped sending tribute or sympathy messages. Our officers, and soldiers lost their lives, Jammu and Kashmir police personnel were killed, but Modi has not uttered a single word to offer tributes or sympathies after 2019," Shrinate alleged.

"Check his media and social media and see if he has even taken notice of one such attack. The least you can do is pay homage for the supreme sacrifices our force and police forces are making in J-K" she added.

Shrinate said Modi chose not to do that "because you want to tell the world that everything is alright in J-K".

"No, it is not alright because militancy that had completely evaporated and vanished in Jammu, is back with a vengeance and what are you doing (about it)? This is your failure," she claimed. -- PTI

20:51 Can't keep on insulting me: Mamata to doctors

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that the agitating junior doctors can't keep on insulting her as the medics insist on live-streaming of meeting to end RG Kar impasse.

"We are waiting for so many days for the meeting to end RG Kar impasse. I am requesting you to hold talks, Banerjee said as she interacts with a group of junior doctors outside her residence in Kolkata.

The TMC supremo said that the government cannot allow live streaming as the RG Kar issue is before the court.

"We will video-record the meeting to end RG Kar impasse and will provide it to you after Supreme Court's nod," she said.

A group of migrant Kashmiri Pandits held a protest in Delhi on Saturday, reiterating their call to boycott the assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir and pressing for the enactment of a law to ensure legal recognition of alleged atrocities against the community.

The peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar to mark "Martyrs' Day" as a tribute to Kashmiri Hindus who fell to militancy during the past three decades in Jammu and Kashmir was organised by Panun Kashmir, Kashmiri Samiti Delhi, Roots in Kashmir, Kashmiri Pandit Conference and Youth for Panun Kashmir.

The gathering unanimously passed several resolutions, announcing that the displaced community would refrain from participating in the upcoming assembly elections, deeming them meaningless for the community's "aspirations and rights".

The participants at the rally also demanded the immediate enactment of a law, as promised by Panun Kashmir, to ensure the legal recognition of the atrocities committed against Kashmiri Pandits, according to the resolution adopted by the protesters.

In an apparent reference to the BJP's election manifesto promising a white paper to ensure accountability for all victims of terrorism, the resolution says instead of a white paper, the community demands the establishment of a commission headed by a Supreme Court judge to investigate the genocide and ensure accountability.

The participants concluded the rally with a pledge to continue the fight for justice, recognition of their genocide, and a secure homeland for the exiled community.

The three-phase elections to the 90-member Jammu and Kashmir Assembly will be held on September 18, September 25 and October 1.

The results will be declared on October 8. -- PTI

A group of agitating junior doctors on Saturday evening reached West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's residence in Kolkata's Kalighat area to hold talks to resolve the RG Kar hospital impasse.

Escorted by a pilot police vehicle, the delegation comprising around 30 medics arrived at Banerjee's residence at around 6:45 pm, about 45 minutes past the scheduled time for the meeting. The government had, however, invited 15 representatives for the meeting.

Before departing from their sit-in spot outside Swasthya Bhavan, the health department headquarters, the protesters said they would not settle for anything less than the five demands they had previously placed before the government.

The medics demanded accountability and punishment for those responsible for the rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee in RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9 and "destruction" of evidence; strict action against the former medical college principal Sandip Ghosh; the resignation of Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal and Health Secretary Narayan Swaroop Nigam; improved security for healthcare workers; and the eradication of the "threat culture" in government healthcare institutions. -- PTI

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has asked officials to ensure meat and liquor are not consumed in and around religious towns located along the Narmada river, considered the lifeline of the state.

There are 21 districts, 68 tehsils, 1138 villages and 1126 ghats as well as 430 ancient Shiva temples and two 'shakti peeths' along the banks of the river.

Chairing a meeting of officials on Friday, Yadav also said Amarkantak in Anuppur district, from where the Narmada originates, must be given top priority for environmental protection.

"It must be ensured that meat and liquor are not consumed in and around the religious towns and places located on the banks of Narmada River. Future settlements, land should be identified away from the Narmada river's origin and a satellite city should be developed. Sewage should not be released into the Narmada. Work on it must be done within a time limit," Yadav said.

Latest technologies should be used for solid waste management, while satellite imagery and drone systems must be deployed for monitoring of activities along the river in order to enhance environmental protection, he said.

Asserting that all mining activities by machines must be banned, Yadav pointed out Narmada is the only river in the world whose 'parikrama' (circumambulation) is done by devotees. -- PTI

The agitating doctors on Saturday evening confirmed they will attend a meeting at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's residence to resolve the RG Kar hospital impasse.

Responding to the mail by West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, the agitating doctors said they would attend the meeting and place their demands before the chief minister.

"We would attend the meeting with our representatives. We will place our five demands. We are going to the discussions with an open mind, but no one should be under the illusion that we will compromise on our demands," an agitating doctor said.

The West Bengal government invited agitating junior doctors to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's residence at 6 pm on Saturday.

In an email, Chief Secretary Manoj Pant emphasised that 15 representatives of the junior doctors were invited to the meeting.

The development took place hours after the chief minister paid a surprise visit to them at their site of the demonstration outside 'Swasthya Bhavan', the health department headquarters. -- PTI

An army personnel was injured in an encounter with terrorists attempting to infiltrate across the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, security officials said.

The encounter occurred in the Kalal area of the Nowshera sector when army troops guarding the LoC intercepted a group of terrorists trying to infiltrate into this side, the officials said.

This was the second infiltration attempt by terrorists in Nowshera in the past week. Earlier on September 9, two heavily armed terrorists were killed near the LoC in the Laam area of this sector.

Army troops noticed some terrorists and challenged them, leading to a gunfight which continued for some time, the officials said, adding the terrorists fled into the nearby forest and a massive search operation is on to track down and neutralize them. -- PTI

Agitating junior doctors on Saturday sent a mail to the West Bengal government expressing their wish to hold talks with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to resolve the RG Kar impasse.

The mail was sent hours after the chief minister paid a surprise visit to them at their site of the demonstration outside 'Swasthya Bhavan', the health department headquarters.

"We are willing to hold a meeting with the chief minister anywhere and anytime to resolve the impasse. We welcome her visit to us this afternoon.

This is a very positive move. We have sent a mail to the state government," one of the agitating doctors said.

He, however, did not clarify whether they are still sticking to their earlier demand for "live streaming " the entire meeting.

But, he said, "We want transparency." -- PTI

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday said it is "unfortunate" to refer to Gyanvapi as a mosque and called Gyanvapi an "embodiment of Lord Vishwanath himself".

Adityanath made these remarks while inaugurating an international seminar on "Contribution of Nath Panth in Building a Harmonious Society" at the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gorakhpur University, where he also highlighted the spiritual significance of Kashi and the revered site of Gyanvapi.

"It is unfortunate that some people refer to Gyanvapi as a mosque while it is the embodiment of Lord Vishwanath himself," he said, and also made a detailed reference to legendary sage Adi Shankar, narrating an anecdote about his "encounter" with Lord Vishwanath in Kashi.

The Gyanvapi issue has been at the centre of a long-drawn legal battle with the Hindu side arguing that the Gyanvapi mosque was allegedly built on the remains of a pre-existing temple, while the Muslim side has contested the claim.

The Samajwadi Party (SP) targeted the chief minister over his remark even as the BJP and some saints of Ayodhya rallied around in his support.

Reacting to the statement made by the UP chief minister, SP spokesperson Abbas Haidar told PTI, "It seems that he (Yogi Adityanath) does not give respect to the court. The matter is pending in the court. It is unfortunate that the chief minister has taken the oath of the Constitution, but it seems he is not giving due respect to the court.

"For his vested political interests, he is dividing the society. The mandate given by the public to the BJP also indicates that they have not spoken on issues related to people," Haidar alleged.

UP BJP spokesperson Manish Shukla told PTI, "Historic, archaeological and spiritual evidence categorically indicate that Gyanvapi is a temple."

Mahant of Ayodhya's Hanumangarhi temple Raju Das said, "It is only the unfortunate people who are calling Gyanvapi a mosque. It is itself Vishwanath, and a temple of Kashi Vishwanath. Even if a blind person puts his or her hand over the structure, he or she would get a feeling of all the symbols of 'Sanatan'. -- PTI

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday said if people give a "bigger mandate" to the ruling Mahayuti in the upcoming state polls, the government would double the 'Ladki Bahin' scheme's monthly financial assistance amount to Rs 3,000.

At present, the government pays Rs 1,500 per month to the beneficiaries of the 'Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana', the Mahayuti government's flagship financial assistance scheme for women in the state.

The Shinde dispensation introduced the scheme in this year's budget and rolled it out last month.

Speaking at a public event in Paranda tehsil in Dharashiv district, Shinde said, "We started the Ladki Bahin scheme, offering Rs 1,500 to eligible women every month. If you increase our strength, we will raise the monthly amount to Rs 2,000. If you give a bigger mandate, we will increase it to Rs 3,000. We will not hesitate to take up this amount further."

"The opposition criticises us, saying the state government would later close the scheme citing empty coffers. But they should not forget that the state exchequer is for people," he said.

He said when his government reduced the fares of state-run buses by 50 per cent for women passengers, concerns were raised and it was said that the move would lead to more losses for the state transport corporation.

"On the contrary, following the launch of the initiative, there was a significant surge in women using the bus service, ultimately leading to the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) getting a profitable outcome," he said.

The government aims to empower women by encouraging them to invest in entrepreneurial endeavours, thereby enabling individuals from humble backgrounds to achieve financial success, he said. -- PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi should focus on the "deteriorating" security situation in Jammu and Kashmir instead of raising the bogey of dynastic politics, National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah said on Saturday.

Addressing an election rally in the Doda district in support of BJP candidates earlier in the day, Modi said political dynasties in Jammu and Kashmir have destroyed the region and not allowed new leadership to grow.

Hitting back at Modi, the NC leader said the BJP has no qualms in forming alliances with these parties and questioned the prime minister's silence over the death of two army soldiers in an encounter in Kishtawar.

"The PM made a speech in Doda... It has not been 24 hours since the attack (in Kishtwar) in which two brave army soldiers lost their lives while an encounter is going on in north Kashmir.

"He talks about dynasties to mislead people. He should have talked about the present situation," Abdullah told reporters in south Kashmir's Kulgam district.

The NC leader said when Article 370 was revoked on August 5, 2019, the people of the country were told that the violence in Kashmir was because of the special status and that once it was revoked, the impact of the gun would "vanish".

"It has been five years, but encounters are still going on," he said.

Asked about Modi's attack on the "dynastic politics" of the NC, the Congress, and the PDP, Abdullah said the BJP does not see anything wrong in forming alliances with these parties to come to power.

"When the BJP needed one of these families, that time we were not responsible for the destruction (of J-K). When the BJP had an alliance with the PDP, that time they did not see anything wrong with the PDP. When (former prime minister) (Atal Bihari) Vajpayee had to make a minister and he picked me, there was nothing wrong with us. Now, during the elections, they say that we are wrong," Abdullah said. -- PTI

15:41 Speeding truck mows down 16 cows in MP; 2 held

A speeding truck ran over 16 cows in Madhya Pradesh's Chhatarpur district, and two persons have been arrested in connection with the incident, an official said on Saturday.

Five bovines were also injured in the accident near Kaidi village on Jhansi-Khajuraho Road around 11 pm on Friday, the official said.

The authorities received information that an unidentified vehicle had mowed down cows, following which a police team reached the spot and sent the injured animals to a veterinary hospital, police said.

A case was registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Motor Vehicle Act and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, they said.

After examining the CCTV footage from the area, the police traced and seized a truck and arrested the driver, Dhirendra Kushwaha and helper Pramod Kushwaha, both residents of Uttar Pradesh.

Veterinary Officer R N Sen said 16 cows died, and five were injured in the incident. -- PTI

A 12-year-old Dalit boy was allegedly stripped naked, forced to dance and filmed after he was caught stealing wire from an event here, police said on Saturday.

A purported video showing the boy dancing to a song with four to five men sitting around surfaced online. In the video, the men were compelling the boy to dance with a smile.

The matter came to light after police found the video and located the victim. They encouraged his family to file a complaint, police said.

Based on the complaint by the victim's father, his son had attended a comedy event on Friday night, organized at a fair in GAD Circle. Around four to five men accosted his son between 1 am and 4 am. They accused him of stealing a wire and assaulted him.

The complainant further alleged that the accused stripped his son naked and forced him to dance. They also recorded the act, police said.

Based on the complaint, an FIR was lodged under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO), they said.

Six people, including a father-son duo, were arrested in the case, they said. The accused were identified as Kshitij Gurjar (24) alias Bittu, Ashish Upadhyay alias Vikku (52), his son Yayati Upadhyay (24) alias Gungun, Gourav Soni (21), Sandeep Singh (30) alias Rahul Bannasha, and Sumit Kumar Sain (25), they added. -- PTI

Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Kalatan Dasgupta was among two persons who were arrested for allegedly hatching a conspiracy to attack the protesting junior doctors, police said on Saturday.

The arrests were made after an audio clip of a phone call was released by TMC leader Kunal Ghosh, who alleged that a conspiracy was being hatched to attack the protesting junior doctors outside the Swashtya Bhawan in Salt Lake to defame the Mamata Banerjee government in the state.

Police lodged a suo motu case in connection with the audio clip that was released on Friday.

The other person arrested in the case was identified as Sanjiv Das, police said.

Das was arrested from Haltu in south Kolkata on Friday night, while Dasgupta was held from the protest site outside Swashtya Bhawan in Sector 5, they said.

The medics have been camping outside Swasthya Bhawan, the headquarters of the state Health Department, since Tuesday with a host of demands, including better security at state-run hospitals and the removal of top officials over the rape and murder of the doctor at the RG Kar MCH last month. -- PTI

Five persons were arrested for allegedly pelting stones at the Durg-Visakhapatnam Vande Bharat Express during a trial run in Chhattisgarh's Mahasamund district, officials said on Saturday.

The incident occurred when the train was passing through Bagbahra railway station on its way back from Visakhapatnam to Durg during its trail run around 9 pm on Friday, said Praveen Singh Dhakad, inspector of the Railway Protection Force (Mahasamund).

The train is to be flagged off from Durg on September 16 for a regular run.

The express train started from Durg, and passing through Raipur, it reached Mahasamund, from where it left at 7.10 am for the further journey, he said.

The official said that on the way back, some anti-social elements hurled stones at the train near Bagbahra, damaging window panes of three coaches, C2, C4 and C9.

No one was injured in the incident, he said.

Dhakad said a train escorting party of four RPF personnel, led by an assistant sub-inspector, sent an alert, following which a team of security personnel was sent to the scene.

The accused, Shiv Kumar Baghel, Devendra Chandrakar, Jitu Tandi, Lekhraj Sonwani and Arjun Yadav, all residents of Bagbahra, were arrested, he said. -- PTI

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today visted the site outside Swasthya Bhawan in Salt Lake where junior doctors have been agitating.

I came to meet you as your 'didi' not as chief minister, Mamata said while addressing the protesting doctors.

"I have spent sleepless nights as you have been protesting on the road amid rains. I assure you that I will study your demands, take action if someone is found guilty," she said.

13:33 Terrorism breathing its last in J-K: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said terrorism is taking its last breath in Jammu and Kashmir where his government projected a new leadership to counter dynastic politics which has "destroyed this beautiful region".

Addressing an election rally in the Doda district of Jammu region in support of BJP candidates, Modi said, "We and you together will make Jammu and Kashmir a secure and prosperous part of the country."

This was the first election rally by the prime minister ahead of the first phase of assembly polls scheduled on September 18.

"After Independence, Jammu and Kashmir became the target of foreign powers and dynastic politics made this beautiful region hollow from within. The political dynasties projected their children and did not let new leadership grow," the PM said.

He said his government focused on carving out a young leadership soon after "we came to power at the Centre in 2014."

"Terrorism is breathing its last in Jammu and Kashmir," he further said. -- PTI

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13:17 'Undiagnosed fever' claims 15 lives in Gujarat

In the wake of an undiagnosed fever claiming 15 lives in Gujarat's Kutch, the Union health ministry has set up a surveillance mechanism to immediately respond to such outbreaks, official sources said on Saturday.

They said points of entry such as airports, land ports and seaports are also being monitored for the disease.

The government has established an effective surveillance mechanism through the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), IHIP network and also through the One Health Mission to immediately respond to any such outbreaks, according to the sources.

The ICMR's network of laboratories will take care of diagnostics and there is enough capability to step up the supply of diagnostic kits if required, they said.

Under the PM-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), the government has strengthened tertiary care across the country through AIIMS institutes, apart from bolstering emergency services through critical care blocks.

Also, sufficient medical oxygen is available for any such exigency, the sources added.

The Gujarat government has deployed specialist doctors and 50 medical teams in and around seven villages of two talukas in Kutch district after the outbreak of the undiagnosed fever. -- PTI

Stranded on the International Space Station through February, NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore plan to vote in the November 5 US presidential election from space.

"It's a very important duty that we have as citizens and (I am) looking forward to being able to vote from space, which is pretty cool," Williams, who is of Indian origin, said on a call with reporters on Friday afternoon.

Williams, 58, and Wilmore, 61, participated in a press conference on Friday from the International Space Station (ISS), which has been their home since June.

Their Boeing Starliner spacecraft ran into several problems midflight and could not bring them home from a planned 8-day voyage.

"I sent down my request for a ballot today," Wilmore said.

"It's a very important role that we play as citizens including those elections, and NASA makes it very easy for us to do that," he said.

They, however, did not indicate which presidential candidate -- either former President Donald Trump or Vice President Kamala Harris -- would get their vote.

American astronauts have been voting from space since 1997 when the Texas legislature passed a bill allowing NASA employees to vote from space, New York Post reported.

That year, NASA astronaut David Wolf became the first American to vote from space on the Mir Space Station.

In 2020, NASA astronaut Kate Rubins also performed her civic duty from space on the ISS.

Election officials in Harris County, Texas -- where NASA's Johnson Space Station is located -- told NBC News that they work with NASA to send astronauts a PDF with clickable boxes to make their choices.

Two private bank employees have died after getting trapped in their sports utility vehicle in the flooded Old Faridabad Railway underpass here, police said on Saturday.

It happened late Friday night when the victims, Punyashray Sharma (48) and Viraj (26), were returning home in Greater Faridabad from Gurugram, they said.

According to police, due to the rainfall throughout Friday, the underpass was inundated and as a precaution, cars were being warned against entering it.

They said that around 11:50 pm, an XUV 700 entered the underpass, ignoring all warnings and got stuck in the deep floodwater, following which water gushed into the vehicle.

Passers-by attempted to help the duo stuck in the car and after a lot of efforts, managed to get them out but Viraj died on the spot, police said.

Sharma was taken to the Badshah Khan Civil Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, they added.

"Their families have been informed. We will hand over the bodies to the next of kin after post-mortem examinations," Inspector Samer Singh, SHO of the NIT Faridabad police station, said. -- PTI

The Congress on Saturday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Manipur situation and said he continues to make plans to travel in other parts of the country and abroad, but "studiously avoiding" a visit to the "most troubled state".

Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said that on May 3, 2023, Manipur began burning and on June 4, 2023, a three-member Commission of Enquiry was set up to investigate the causes and spread of violence and riots.

"It was given six months to submit its report. No report has been submitted till now. The Commission has just been given time till Nov 24, 2024 to do so," he said.

"Meanwhile the anguish and agony of the people of Manipur continues unabated. And the non-biological PM continues to make plans to travel in other parts of the country and abroad, studiously avoiding a visit to this most troubled state," Ramesh said in his post on X.

His remarks come a day after the Centre granted time till November 20 to a Commission of Inquiry to submit a report on its investigations into the series of violence in Manipur that has claimed more than 220 lives so far.

The commission, headed by former chief justice of Gauhati High Court Ajai Lamba, was set up on June 4, 2023.

The panel, also comprising retired IAS officer Himanshu Shekhar Das and retired IPS officer Aloka Prabhakar, was mandated to make inquiries with respect to the causes and spread of the violence and riots targeting the members of different communities which took place in Manipur since May 3, 2023.

More than 220 people were killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence between the Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and the adjoining hills-based Kuki-Zo groups since May last year. -- PTI

Prohibitory orders around the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in north Kolkata were extended till September 30, an officer said.

The orders, which were first imposed on August 18, restrict gatherings of more than five people in the designated area. The restrictions were imposed amid protests over the rape and murder of the doctor at the hospital.

The prohibitory orders issued under Section 163 (2) of BNSS would also be in place at the Shyambazar five-point crossing, besides the roads leading to the RG Kar hospital, said a notification. "Carrying sticks, dangerous and lethal weapons are banned and any attempt to disturb peace and tranquillity will invite legal prosecution under Section 223 of the BNS," it said.

The CISF was given the charge of the security of the hospital by the Supreme Court. -- PTI

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11:08 Fire at Mumbai building, 13 suffer from suffocation

Thirteen persons suffered from suffocation after a fire broke on the ground floor of a seven-storey building in Mumbai's Ghatkopar area in the wee hours of Saturday, an official said.

The blaze erupted at 1.35 am in Shanti Sagar Building located in Ramabai Colony of Pantnagar in Ghatkopar east and around 90 residents were rescued from there, the fire brigade official said.

"The fire broke out in the electric meter room on the ground floor. It remained confined to the wiring and other installations there. Due to the fire, smoke engulfed the entire building," he said.

"Eighty to ninety persons stranded on different floors were rescued and brought down using the staircase before the fire was extinguished at 2.05 am. Thirteen persons suffered from suffocation due to the smoke, of whom 12 were admitted to a local hospital, while one was discharged after treatment at the OPD section there," he added.

Of the injured persons, nine are females, the official said, adding that the cause behind the blaze is being ascertained. -- PTI

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said that he will visit the Hanuman Temple in Connaught Place at noon today to offer thanks and seek blessings.

In a post on X, Kejriwal said, 'Today at noon, I will go to Hanuman Temple at Connaught Place to thank God and seek his blessings.'

Kejriwal's visit to the temple comes after the Supreme Court granted him bail on Friday in the Delhi excise policy case.

The Supreme Court granted bail but set certain limitations like barring him from entering the CM office and signing files. -- ANI

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10:03 Terrorist killed in ongoing encounter in Baramulla

A terrorist was gunned down on Saturday after an overnight encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district, police said.

They said a cordon-and-search operation was launched in Chak Tapper Kreeri in the north Kashmir district's Pattan area late Friday night.

The operation turned into an encounter after terrorists fired at a search party of the forces, who then retaliated, according to a police official.

The cordon was maintained during the night and in an exchange of fire in the morning, the terrorist was killed, he said.

The identity and group affiliation of the terrorist are being ascertained, he said, adding that the operation was underway. -- PTI

Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray leader Aaditya Thackeray has welcomed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's release on bail and used the occasion to take a swipe at those who split the Shiv Sena in 2022.

In a post on X, Thackeray on Friday said truth prevails over politics.

'Glad to see @ArvindKejriwal ji walk out and ready to fight for democracy and the Constitution again,' he said.

'There are coward gaddaars who betray their own and run away, and on the other side there are those like Arvind ji who choose to fight for the truth! Satyamev Jayate!' Thackeray said in the post in a reference to the rebellion led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Shinde brought down the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government led by Uddhav Thackeray in June 2022 and went on to become the chief minister with the support of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) also joined his government in July last year.

Kejriwal walked out of Tihar Jail on Friday, hours after the Supreme Court granted him bail in the Central Burau of Investigation case linked to the alleged excise policy scam holding that prolonged incarceration amounts to 'unjust deprivation of liberty'.

Kejriwal, who was arrested on March 21 by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the same case and later by the CBI which was probing the corruption charges, stepped out after spending 155 days in jail. -- PTI

09:10 Sunita Williams eager to vote from space

NASA Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Willmore expressed their desire to vote in the upcoming United States presidential elections in November, from the International Space Station, as their stay in the space has got extended at least till February 2025.

Williams and Wilmore participated in a press conference on Friday above 250 miles above Earth from the International Space Station, where the two astronauts had been since June, reported the New York Post.

The press conference came a week after the Starliner returned to earth.

The pair had launched aboard Boeing's Starliner spacecraft on June 5 for its first crewed flight, arriving at the space station on June 6.

A decision was made to return Starliner to Earth without its crew and the spacecraft successfully returned on September 6 after more than three months in space. It made a safe landing at White Sands Space Harbour in New Mexico.

Both the astronauts will remain on the international space station as part of the Expedition 71/72 crew and return home in February 2025 aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft with two other crew members on NASA's SpaceX Crew-9 mission.

The astronauts said they have requested for a ballot, terming voting as an 'important role' played by citizens.

"I sent down my request for a ballot today, as a matter of fact, and they should get it to us in a couple of weeks," Wilmore said.

"It's a very important role that we all play as citizens to be included in those elections and NASA makes it very easy for us to do that. We're excited for that opportunity."

Notably, astronauts have been voting from space since 1997, when the Texas legislature passed a bill allowing NASA employees to vote from space, the New York Post reported.

That year, NASA astronaut David Wolf became the first American to vote from space on the Mir Space Station.

In 2020, NASA astronaut Kate Rubins also performed her civic duty from space on the ISS.

Wilmore said that the extended stay was 'trying at times', and there were some tough times all the way through.Sunita Williams said the transition to station life was 'not that hard' since both had previous stints there.

"This is my happy place. I love being up here in space," she said.

"A test flight means that we're probably going to find some stuff."

"We've done as much as we can to look at the envelope that we're going to operate in but this is the first time we've had humans in space in Starliner and we did find stuff and we made the right decisions and we're here and that's how things go in this business," she further added.

When asked if they were let down by their new reality, Wilmore said 'absolutely not', adding that dealing with difficult situations builds a great deal of fortitude and character.

"We are tasked and we learn and we train to handle all types of situations. And this is not just at NASA, this is something Suni and I have done for an entire career," Wilmore said.

"Whatever it is, we're going to do the very best job we can do every single day because that's what the folks who do this type of job have to do," he added.

Williams and Wilmore are living on the ISS with seven other astronauts, New York Times reported. -- ANI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to hit the poll campaign trail in support of his party candidates on Saturday by addressing a mega rally in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district, amid tight security arrangements.

This will be the first visit by a prime minister to Doda in the last 42 years.

Multi-tier security has been deployed across the twin districts of Doda and Kishtwar, particularly around the venue, to ensure a peaceful and smooth conduct of the election rally, which will be held at the stadium in Doda town.

"Prime Minister Modi will hold his first election meeting in Doda tomorrow. This will be a significant event as it marks the first visit of any Prime Minister to Doda in 42 years. The last prime ministerial visit to Doda was in 1982," said Union Coal and Mines Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party election in-charge for Jammu and Kashmir, G Kishan Reddy, on Friday in Samba.

Modi's rally is all set to give boost to his cadres and candidates in the region where voting for eight Assembly seats in the three districts of the Chenab Valley -- Doda, Kishtwar, and Ramban -- is scheduled for September 18.

During the 2014 Assembly elections, PM Modi addressed a BJP poll rally in Kishtwar district. Since then, the people of Doda have been eagerly waiting to see and hear the Prime Minister, a leader said.

BJP leaders believe that the prime minister's visit will significantly boost the electoral prospects of party candidates in the union territory.

The party is contesting all 43 Assembly seats in the Jammu division. In the last J&K Assembly, BJP had 25 MLAs.

Voting in the J-K Assembly elections will be held in three phases on September 18, September 25, and October 1. The counting of votes will take place on October 8. This is the first Assembly election in J&K in 10 years, and the first since the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A.

The Jammu region has long been a BJP stronghold, with the party winning all 25 of its seats from this region in the 2014 Assembly polls in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Home Minister Amit Shah addressed a poll rally in Jammu on last Saturday, while Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held another rally in Ramban district on Sunday. -- PTI

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02:41 Ganpati festival: CR to run special night suburban trains between Sep 14-18

Twenty-two special suburban trains will be run in the night from Saturday onwards in view of the ongoing Ganpati festival, an official said on Friday.

Twenty services will be operated on the main line and two on harbour line between September 14 and 18, a CR release informed.

The services will be operated between 00.05am (five minutes past midnight) to 4:55 am and will halt at all stations, the release said.

"The services on main line will be operated between CSMT-Thane and CSMT-Kalyan on the intervening night of September 14/15, September 16/17 and September 17/18. The services on harbour line will be operated between CSMT and Panvel only on the intervening night of September 17/18," it said. -- PTI

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00:51 Ganpati festival: CR to run special night suburban trains between Sep 14-18

Twenty-two special suburban trains will be run in the night from Saturday onwards in view of the ongoing Ganpati festival, an official said on Friday.

Twenty services will be operated on the main line and two on harbour line between September 14 and 18, a CR release informed.

The services will be operated between 00.05am (five minutes past midnight) to 4:55 am and will halt at all stations, the release said.

Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said 12,000 houses would be built for dabbawalas and members of the 'charmakar' (cobbler) community in three years under the PM Awas Yojana.

The deputy chief minister has signed a memorandum of understanding with developers for the housing project.

As per a release from Fadnavis's office, this will be a project of the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY).

A 30-acre plot will be provided by Priyanka Homes Realty, and Naman Builders will execute it on a no-profit-no-loss basis, it stated.

The 500 sq ft homes will be available at Rs 25 lakh, the release said. The dream of dabbawalas (tiffin-box carriers) to own houses will be fulfilled, Fadnavis said in the statement. -- PTI

Agitating junior doctors in West Bengal have written to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting their intervention in the RG Kar hospital impasse.

Copies of the four-page letter written by the West Bengal Junior Doctors' Front were also sent to Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and Union Health Minister J P Nadda.

A post-graduate trainee was raped and murdered in state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9.

Junior doctors have been on a 'cease work' since then.

"We humbly place the issues before your esteemed excellency, as the head of state, so that our unfortunate colleague who has been the victim of the most despicable crime shall receive justice, and so that we, the healthcare professionals under the West Bengal Health department, may be able to discharge our duties to the public without fear and apprehension.

"Your intervention in these trying times will act as a beacon of light to us all, showing us the way ahead out of the darkness that surrounds us," they wrote. --PTI

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