LIVE

Thu, 09 January 2025

Senior citizen dies in tree crash in Mumbai

Timeline Refresh

Image only for representation

20:56 Senior citizen dies in tree crash in Mumbai

A 60-year-old woman died and another was injured when a tree from a private garden fell on them in Mumbai's Ghatkopar area on Thursday evening, civic officials said.

The incident occurred near a hotel at around 6 pm when the two were walking on the road, they said.

A tree from a private garden got uprooted and came crashing down on two female pedestrians, leaving them seriously injured, a civic official said.

The women were rushed to nearby civic-run Rajawadi Hospital, where one of them, 60-year-old Minakshiben, was declared brought dead by doctors, he said.

The second woman, Vandana Shah (56), was admitted in the hospital and sent for an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan to determine the extent of injuries, said the official.

What caused the tree crash was not immediately known. -- PTI

The enforcement directorate on Thursday said there was enough evidence to put former Aam Aadmi Party minister Satyendar Jain on trial and sought a Delhi court to frame charges against him in a money laundering case.

Special judge Jitendra Singh heard ED's submissions on framing of charge in the case.

"There is sufficient evidence, including statements of witnesses, against the accused to put them on trial," the ED counsel said.

The court sought certain clarifications from the agency on the point of charge proposed to be framed against Jain and posed queries to the investigating officer during the hearing.

"Part arguments on charge on behalf of ED heard. During the course of arguments, certain queries were put to the IO. The IO seeks time to go through the record for giving clarification. Accordingly, be listed for remaining arguments on behalf of ED on January 23, 2025," said the court.

On October 18, 2024, the court granted bail to Jain in the case, citing 'delay in trial' and his 'long incarceration'.

ED arrested Jain on May 30, 2022, on the charge of laundering money through four companies allegedly linked to him. -- PTI

Bihar Congress president Akhilesh Prasad Singh on Thursday defended Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav, whose reported comment that the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) was 'only for 2024 Lok Sabha polls' has kicked up a political storm.

Singh pointed out that the remark was made with reference to the upcoming assembly polls in Delhi, where the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party, both INDIA bloc partners, are contesting separately.

"Tejashwi Yadav spoke about assembly polls in Delhi where we had contested the Lok Sabha polls together, but are now fighting separately. It is nothing unusual. Even in the Lok Sabha polls, Congress and AAP contested separately in Punjab, which is another state ruled by that party (AAP)," the former Union minister said.

The Rajya Sabha MP added 'there need not be misgivings about our alliance in Bihar, where the Congress and RJD have been together for long'.

Yadav had recently told reporters in Buxar district that there was nothing unusual about the Congress and AAP fighting separately in Delhi, where they had come together 'only for the Lok Sabha polls'.

He also said the RJD has not yet decided whether it would contest Delhi assembly polls in alliance with the Congress, but in Bihar, where elections are due later this year, the picture was clear as 'we have been together for long'.

INDIA bloc partners, including Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, have reacted to Yadav's statement, suggesting that the coalition be brought to an end if allies felt it was not needed after the Lok Sabha elections.

Singh also disclosed that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was likely to visit Bihar later this month.

He said, "The tour is proposed on January 18. Tomorrow, a meeting is scheduled in Delhi. We will confirm the schedule thereafter."

Asked about RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav's recent comment that 'doors were still open' for Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Singh said 'doors must always be kept open in politics. Moreover, the Janata Dal-United president has a socialist background and ideologically we are on the same page'. -- PTI

Sambhal District Magistrate (DM) Rajender Pensiya on Thursday said efforts are underway to restore the five religious sites that were rediscovered and excavated following the recent anti-encroachment drive.

Addressing the media, the DM explained that while these pilgrimage sites and their associated wells were recorded in sacred texts, many had been encroached upon for various reasons.

The DM inspected the five rediscovered and excavated religious sites -- Chaturmukh Koop, Ashok Koop, Chatur Sagar, Ekant Tirtha, and Shankh Madhav.

"These places were traditionally ponds where religious activities such as bathing and worship took place," the DM said.

Talking about the Ekant Tirtha pond, Pensiya said the site will be revitalised under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA).

He revealed that efforts will be made to preserve these sacred sites through MNREGA and Gram Nidhi in rural areas, while urban sites will be developed under government schemes and the nagar palika (municipality).

Work is currently underway at the Chaturmukh well and improvements will soon be made to the Ashok well, he said.

The DM added that the remaining sites, including Chatur Sagar, Ekant Tirtha and Shankh Madhav, would also undergo renovation in the coming months.

"These efforts are part of a broader initiative to transform Sambhal into a tourist hub, which would provide the city with a fresh identity and attract visitors from across the region," said the DM.

Many of these places were found after the district administration launched a massive anti-encroachment drive in December following the violence that erupted during the survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid on November 24 last year.

Four people were killed and several others were injured in the violence. -- PTI

United States Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti on Thursday declined to comment on the ongoing legal proceedings in the United States involving Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani and other executives.

Talking to reporters in Mumbai, Garcetti expressed optimism about continuing collaborations between the US and India to enhance capacity-building efforts in the region.

"No, I don't have any comment on that. Obviously, we have an independent criminal justice (system that is different) from our political (system). It's different than a lot of countries," Garcetti said when asked about the Adani issue.

"We have had amazing partners with the great industrialists here, with the big companies. We have sometimes been funding directly, new factories, ports and other things," said Garcetti, who was named the 26th US Ambassador to India on March 15, 2023.

"And I would hope that that vision continues no matter what, because we are seeing a great new India being built. We are seeing a capacity of Indian companies to do that outside of India, whether it is in the region, in places like Sri Lanka or whether it is in the eastern coast of Africa," he said.

"I would hope we keep our eye on the ball. That is the most important thing, of who has the capacity, how can we partner and ensure that (instead of) debt traps and state-based, you know, more autocratic visions, we have democratic-led industrialists from across both the nations," he said.

US prosecutors have charged Adani for allegedly being involved in a scheme to bribe Indian officials with $265 million (around Rs 2,200 crore) in exchange for favourable solar power contracts.

The Adani Group has rejected the charges, calling them baseless and affirmed that the conglomerate complies with all laws. -- PTI

Two labourers were injured and many others feared trapped after a silo at a smelting plant collapsed in Chhattisgarh's Mungeli district on Thursday, police said.

The incident occurred in the afternoon at the plant located in the Saragaon area of the district, Mungeli Superintendent of Police Bhojram Patel said.

As per preliminary information, the silo -- an iron structure used to store bulk materials -- crashed, trapping under it some workers present at the site, he said.

After being alerted, police reached the spot and a rescue operation was launched, the official said.

So far, two injured workers have been rescued and shifted to a hospital in Bilaspur, he said.

Many more workers are reported to be trapped under the collapsed structure and efforts are being made to pull them out, the official added. -- PTI

Dancer-actor Nora Fatehi, who was in Los Angeles, said she and her team were asked to evacuate the city in the wake of devastating wildfires in the United States state of California.

Fatehi posted a video on her Instagram Story on Wednesday night, minutes before flying out of the city, home to several Hollywood stars.

"I'm in LA, and the wildfires are crazy. I've never seen anything like this. This is insane. We just got an evacuation order like five minutes ago, so I quickly packed all my stuff, and I'm evacuating out of here, out of this area," she said.

Known for her dance performance in songs such as Manohari, Dilbar, Jehda Nasha, and Naah as well as Madgaon Express and Bhuj, Fatehi said she was headed to the airport.

"I have a flight today, I really hope I can catch it. I hope it doesn't get cancelled because this is scary. I have never experienced this before. I am going to keep you guys updated. Hopefully, I can get out on time. I hope people in LA are safe," she further said in the video.

Earlier, actor-producer Priyanka Chopra Jonas gave a shout-out to the 'incredibly brave first responders'.

'Thank you for working tirelessly overnight and continuing to help families affected. @lasdhq @losangelesfiredepartment @lapdhq,' she captioned her post.

Priyanka, who is now based out of Los Angeles, also shared a video of the wildfires on her Instagram Story.

"It's crazy," she can be heard saying in the clip.

"My thoughts are with everyone affected. Hope we are all able to be safe tonight," she wrote in the caption.

At least five people were killed and more than 1,000 structures were destroyed as fierce wildfires raged in the Los Angeles area, the US media quoted officials as saying.

Fast-moving flames burned through homes and businesses as residents fled smoke-filled canyons and picturesque neighborhoods that are home to many celebrities. -- PTI

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Thursday said police may be 'lacking somewhere' if they are unable to rein in crime in Pune despite being given all infrastructural support and there being no political interference in their work.

Maharashtra's second largest city is often in the news for 'koyta' gangs, which get their names from the sickle-type long blade weapons used to hack down opponents.

Many of these attacks are captured on CCTVs, thereby increasing the fear and distress among ordinary citizens.

Asked about these gangs, Pawar said, "Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis (who holds the home portfolio) has taken serious cognisance of these cases. Being a representative of this area (Pawar is MLA from Baramati in the district), I have also taken this issue very seriously."

Everyone knows there is no political interference in the work of the police, Pawar claimed.

"Despite being given various facilities in terms of infrastructure, housing, new offices and manpower, if police are unable to rein in these crimes, then it shows senior officers in the force must be lacking somewhere. If they are not able to tackle the situation, they should admit it and we will bring better officers to control crime," the Nationalist Congress Party chief said.

Asserting that he would talk to senior police officials on the issue of crime, Pawar emphasised it was the state government's duty to live up to the expectations of the citizens after getting a massive mandate (in the November assembly polls). -- PTI

17:50 Goa mandates HoDs to tune in to 'Mann Ki Baat'

The Bharatiya Janata Party government in Goa has made it mandatory for heads of all its departments (HoDs) to tune into Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Mann Ki Baat' monthly radio broadcast.

In a circular issued on Thursday, Shreyas D'Silva, under secretary (general administration), asked all HoDs to tune into 'Maan Ki Baat' and draw inspiration from suggestions and best practices mentioned in the programme.

Posting the circular on his social media handle, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said, "Mann Ki Baat, the monthly interactive program by Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji, highlights the thoughts and ideas of citizens on Governance, as well as individual and collective efforts driving societal change."

He said success stories and best practices shared during the programme can be adopted to improve governance.

'All Heads of Government Departments in Goa are directed to actively tune in to #MaanKiBaat. It is encouraged to draw inspiration from success stories and best practices shared during the programme, which have brought positive change across the nation. These insights shall be appropriately considered for adoption to improve governance and enhance service delivery in Goa,' Sawant noted.

The CM further said, 'Goa has been a pioneer in implementing progressive Governance practices that have been emulated at both state and national levels.'

He also talked about his government's vision of 'Swayampurna' (self-sufficient) and developed Goa.

"It is essential to continually seek inspiration and adopt innovative practices from across India, be it from individuals, organizations, or state initiatives. This will further our efforts to promote Ease of Living and Ease of Doing Business, propelling us toward achieving the vision of a Swayampurna, Viksit (developed) Goa," Sawant said.

'Swayampurna Goa' is a government-led community level action plan to make each and every village and city in the state self-reliant. -- PTI

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday visited the injured undergoing treatment in a hospital here following a stampede that left six people dead.

Six devotees died and nearly 40 more were injured in the stampede at Bairagi Patteda near MGM School in Tirupati on Wednesday night as hundreds of them jostled for tickets for Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam at Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple on Tirumala Hills.

Hundreds of devotees turned up from across the country for the 10-day Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam commencing from January 10.

'Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu comforted devotees who were injured in yesterday's (Wednesday) stampede at SVIMS (Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences (SVIMS),' said an official statement.

The CM spent 90 minutes in the hospital with the injured devotees.

He visited one patient after the others and heard their grievances.

Earlier, Naidu visited the accident site where the stampede claimed six lives and injured many.

Accompanied by several ministers, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) officials and others, the CM inspected the makeshift arrangements made to handle the multitudes of crowds arriving for the pilgrimage.

At the stampede site, Naidu demanded answers from TTD joint executive officer (health & education) M Gowthami over the incident. -- PTI

A case of attempted rape has been registered against the former jailer of Baghpat District Jail following allegations by a female officer posted at the prison, officials said Thursday.

While the police have initiated an investigation into the matter, the accused, Jitendra Kashyap, has not yet been arrested, they said.

"Based on a written complaint lodged by the female jail officer, we have registered the case on Tuesday. However, the accused is yet to be taken into custody," Khekra Station House Officer Kailash Chandra said.

The complainant's medical examination has been completed and her statement will be recorded in court, he said.

He further said that CCTV footage from the district jail will also be reviewed and action will be taken if the allegations are found to be true.

According to the complainant's letter, after District Jail Superintendent Vishnukant Mishra retired following which Jitendra Kashyap was given additional charge as the superintendent.

The complainant in her letter alleged that on January 1, Jitendra Kashyap called her to the superintendent's office, behaved inappropriately, and attempted to sexually assault her.

After her complaint the accused was suspended based on an inquiry report submitted by a committee formed by the Director General of Prisons, the SHO said.

The jail administration has since appointed jailer Shailesh Singh, who was previously posted at Bareilly Central Jail, to Baghpat District Jail.

Singh has assumed charge of his new responsibilities, he added. -- PTI

In a horrific incident, a woman was stabbed to death by her colleague in broad day light in Pune.

According to media reports, Shubhada Shankar Kodare, a 28-year-old accountant at WNS Global Services, was fatally attacked by her colleague Krishna Kanaujia in the office parking area on January 7.

As per the accused, the victim had borrowed Rs 4 lakh from him and she couldn't return it.

When Krishna asked for the money from the victim, a heated argument ensued and then he stabbed her multiple times.

The brutal act was captured on a camera which has since gone viral on social media.

Krishna has been arrested and remains in police custody.

Ahead of the Maha Kumbh Mela, the Uttar Pradesh police has issued a public advisory against cyber crimes.

"Make bookings only from registered websites, otherwise cyber criminals can make your address disappear," the UP cyber police said on X.

Adding further words of caution, the post stated, Be alert and be safe.

Held every 12 years, the Maha Kambh will begin on 'Paush Poornima' on January 13, and conclude on 'Maha Shivratri' after 45 days on February 26.

In 2013, the Mahakumbh saw 7.86 crore visitors including 3.5 lakh foreign tourists.

This year, the Uttar Pradesh government is expecting a staggering 40 crore devotees to take the holy dip at the Maha Kumbh, the largest religious gathering in the world.

The UP police has also issued a list of hotels from their X account stating which places you could stay in and is government certified.

The police also issued an emergency call number 1930 to lodge any complaint regarding cybercrime or report crime online at cybercrime.gov.in

The Uttar Pradesh Police Thursday rejected reports that the 1978 communal riots in Sambhal, which claimed several lives, will be reinvestigated.

"A misleading piece of information is being spread through social media and other platforms that a reinvestigation into the 1978 communal riots in Sambhal is being initiated. However, no such development is taking place," Sambhal Superintendent of Police (SP) Krishna Kumar Bishnoi said.

He further said that "MLC Shreesh Chandra Sharma had submitted a letter under Rule 115 on December 17, requesting details regarding the 1978 riots. Consequently, the government had sought information on the matter."

The relevant information is being compiled, and it will be sent to the government once the process is complete, he said.

The police clarification comes in response to widespread rumours about a potential new probe into the decades-old riots.

Tension has been simmering in Sambhal since the November 24 violence during a court-ordered survey at the Shahi Jama Masjid in the city's Kot Garvi area. Four lives were lost in the violence and several people left injured. -- PTI

Representative image

15:46 3 Hindus kidnapped in Pakistan's Punjab

Outlaws in Pakistan's Punjab province have kidnapped three Hindus and demanded police release their accomplices or they would kill the members of the minority community.

Police said on Thursday that the kidnapping took place in the Bhong area of Rahim Yar Khan district of Punjab province, some 400 kms southwest of Lahore, on Wednesday.

The three Hindu youths -- Shaman, Shameer and Sajan -- were present near Chowk Sawetra Basic Health Unit (BHU) in Bhong when five armed dacoits held them up at gunpoint and took them to Katcha (riverine belt) area.

Later outlaws' ring leader Ashiq Korai released a video message addressing police officer of Ahmedpur Lama police station Rana Ramzan warning him to release his (Korai) 10 family members otherwise they "will not only kill the kidnapped Hindu youths but also attack the police."

The young Hindus were seen in the video in chains appealing to the authorities for their release. -- PTI

Quashing Bharatiya Janata Party leaders' claims that he would contest the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections from a second seat out of fear of losing from New Delhi, Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said he will contest the polls from one seat only.

Kejriwal also asserted that the assembly polls are not an INDA bloc affair as there is a direct contest between the AAP and the BJP in Delhi.

A three-time sitting MLA from New Delhi since 2013, Kejriwal this time is locked in an intense triangular contest against the sons of two former chief ministers of Delhi.

While the BJP has fielded former chief minister Sahib Singh Verma's son Parvesh Verma, Congress has given ticket to Sandeep Dikshit whose mother Sheila Dikshit was a three-term chief minister of Delhi.

"I am contesting one seat only," Kejriwal said at a press conference when asked about BJP's claims that he was going to fight from a second seat out of fear of losing from New Delhi.

The AAP leader's clarification came after BJP's IT cell chief Amit Malviya claimed in a post on X that fearing his imminent defeat from New Delhi, Kejriwal is making "baseless allegations" about voter list in his constituency and "talking" about contesting from two seats.

The AAP leaders have accused the BJP of filing applications in bulk from different constituencies, including New Delhi, for the deletion of thousands of AAP supporters' names from the electoral roll.

At the presser, Kejriwal said a meeting of AAP leaders with officials of the Election Commission is due Thursday evening, in which all the issues, including deletion of voters' names, will be discussed.

The AAP supremo also thanked INDIA bloc members, including the Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress and Shiv Sena-UBT, for extending support to AAP for the assembly elections.

The Congress, which leads the anti-BJP INDIA bloc, is going solo in the Delhi polls and has so far announced names of 48 candidates.

The 70-member Delhi assembly will go to polls on February 5. The results will be out on February 8. -- PTI

The Andhra Pradesh government on Thursday announced an ex-gratia of Rs 25 lakh each to the kin of the deceased devotees who died in a stampede in Tirupati.

Hundreds of devotees turned up from across the country for the 10-day Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam commencing from January 10.

"The state government has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 25 lakh to the families of the deceased persons," said an official release.

State Revenue Minister A Satya Prasad said Rs 25 lakh ex-gratia has been announced to support the families of the deceased devotees.

"We cannot replace life with anything else. To support the families, we have announced Rs 25 lakh," said Prasad, talking to reporters after calling on the victims' families as part of a group of ministers visit.

He said Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu will come and talk to all the injured persons shortly and then decide on the quantum of compensation to be extended to the injured persons.

The nominations announcement of the 97th Academy Awards, originally scheduled for January 17, has been postponed to January 19 in the wake of the raging wildfires in the Southern California region.

According to Variety, the Academy sent an email from CEO Bill Kramer to members on Wednesday afternoon regarding the date changes.

"We want to offer our deepest condolences to those who have been impacted by the devastating fires across Southern California. So many of our members and industry colleagues live and work in the Los Angeles area, and we are thinking of you," the email read.

Subsequently, the deadline for Oscar nomination voting has been extended by two days till January 14. Voting for the nearly 10,000 Academy members opened on January 8 and was originally set to close on January 12.

Conan O'Brien will host the 2025 Oscars ceremony, which takes place on March 2 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

According to US media, a fast-moving fire broke out in the Hollywood Hills on Wednesday night, threatening one of Los Angeles' most iconic spots as firefighters battled to get under control three other major blazes that killed five people, put 100,000 people under evacuation orders and ravaged the city from the Pacific Coast to inland Pasadena.

Hollywood celebrities residing in California like Billy Crystal, Mandy Moore, Paris Hilton, and Cary Elwes lost their homes to the fire.

While premieres of films Unstoppable, Wolf Man, Better Man and The Pitt were cancelled, SAG Awards nominations which were supposed to be announced at a live event were unveiled in a press release.

The Critics Choice Awards, which were scheduled for January 12 in Santa Monica, has been pushed to January 26. -- PTI

Asserting that there was no time limit attached to the INDIA bloc, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday expressed dismay over the lack of clarity regarding its leadership and agenda, saying the alliance should be wound up if it was meant only for the parliamentary elections.

Abdullah said the Aam Aadmi Party, the Congress, and other political parties on the ground will decide how to effectively compete with the Bharatiya Janata Party.

"After the assembly elections in Delhi, they should call all the alliance members for a meeting. If this alliance was only for the parliamentary elections, it should be wound up, and we will work separately. But if it is meant for assembly elections as well, we will have to sit together and work collectively," Abdullah told reporters in Jammu.

The National Conference leader was replying to a question about an RJD leader's statement that the INDIA bloc was meant only for Lok Sabha elections.

"As far as I remember, no time limit was set for this. The issue is that no meeting of the INDIA bloc is being convened," he said.

Claiming that there is no clarity regarding the main leadership, the party, or the agenda for future strategy (in the INDIA bloc), he said, "Whether this alliance will continue is also unclear."

Abdullah also said that perhaps the members of the INDIA bloc will be called for a meeting after the Delhi elections, and a clarity would emerge.

Replying to another query on increasing support for AAP ahead of next month's Delhi elections, Abdullah said, "I cannot say anything about this at the moment because we have no involvement with Delhi polls. The Aam Aadmi Party, Congress, and other political parties on the ground will decide how to compete with the BJP strongly."

Stating that AAP succeeded twice in Delhi previously, Abdullah said, "This time, we will have to wait and see what the people of Delhi decide." -- PTI

A 55-year-old farmer protesting at the Shambhu border allegedly committed suicide on Thursday by consuming a poisonous substance, farmer leaders said, the second such incident at the agitation site within three weeks.

Resham Singh, who was from Pahuwind in Tarn Taran district, took the extreme step at the Shambhu border point between Punjab and Haryana where farmers have been protesting for almost a year now, pressing the Centre guarantees Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops.

Resham Singh was taken to the Rajindra hospital in Patiala where he died, the farmers said.

Farmer leader Tejvir Singh said Resham Singh was upset with the Central government for not resolving the issues despite their protracted protest.

Another farmer, Ranjodh Singh, committed suicide at the Shambhu border on December 18.

Ranjodh Singh was distressed by the deteriorating health of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal (70), who has been on a fast-unto-death since November 26 at the Khanauri border.

Under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, farmers have been camping at Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13 after their march to Delhi was stopped by security forces. -- PTI

Survivors of the deadly stampede at Tirupati on Wednesday that left six dead, have recounted the horror, even as the Congress' state unit held the TTD that governs the Lord Venkatswara temple, responsible for the tragedy.

Complaints by the devotees ranged from long waiting hours to get tickets for Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam to sudden opening of the gates that prompted the crowd to surge ahead.

"For five minutes we thought all of us were dead. I have been coming to the temple for the past 25 years and it has never happened like this," D Venkata Lakshmi told a vernacular news channel on Wednesday night.

She said six boys pulled her aside and gave some water to drink.

According to Lakshmi, people rushed forward and up to 10 people fell down where she was standing.

"Though I was raising a hue and cry that I was falling on the side, people were still rushing from behind and could not be controlled. I don't know if they were pushing ahead, but the men were uncontrollable. People were walking over devotees. I could not even breathe for a long time," she said.

Further, had the police allowed devotees to proceed in an orderly way, this disaster could have been averted, she said and highlighted that people could not make sense of what was happening.

Another devotee said she came around 11 am on Wednesday and the gate was opened at 7 pm.

"One person told devotees not to rush and go in a line, but who will listen? Police were outside, not inside," she said.

A male devotee insisted the police were told about the presence of 5,000 devotees.

He claimed that police opened the gates suddenly, leading to the stampede.

A China-made drone has been found lying inside the high-security Bhopal Central Jail, prompting authorities to launch a probe into it, an official said on Thursday.

A guard near B-block building inside the prison spotted the black drone, which was charged and weighed 30 to 40 gm, between 3.30 pm and 4 pm on Wednesday, jail superintendent Rakesh Kumar Bangre told PTI.

No one saw the drone landing in the jail premises, he said, adding that prima facie it appears the unmanned aerial device might be of children who were playing with it near the prison.

The jail, spread over 151 acres, houses 3,600 prisoners against its capacity of 2,600, another official said.

These include 69 prisoners, including 32 associated with the banned outfit Students' Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), who are lodged in a high-security zone of the jail, Bangre said.

"We have handed over the drone to the Gandhi Nagar police. They have launched an investigation into the recovery of the China-made drone which was charged," he said.

Bhopal Commissioner of Police HC Mishra could not be contacted for more information in the matter.

The Bhopal Central Jail was in the news in November 2016, when eight undertrials associated with the SIMI killed a prison guard and escaped.

They were killed by police after they opened fire on the security personnel on the outskirts of Bhopal. -- PTI

12:32 TTD apologises for Tirupati stampede

The stampede that claimed six lives at Tirupati was caused by "overcrowding", said the Chairman of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD).

TTD Chairman BR Naidu was speaking to reporters after visiting the Sri Venkateswara Ramnarayan Ruia Government General Hospital in Tirupati, where he met the injured and reviewed their condition with doctors.

Calling the incident "unfortunate," Naidu stated that a detailed report would released soon and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu would provide further information about the incident.

"The reason (for the stampede) is overcrowding. It is an unfortunate incident. Tomorrow CM will tell everything, today the complete report will come. A total of six people have died, some are from Tamil Nadu and some are from Andhra Pradesh. As of now, one body has been identified and five are yet to be identified," Naidu said.

Meanwhile, TTD Board member Bhanu Prakash Reddy has apologiesed for the incident and stated that the trust would conduct an inquiry in this regard and take appropriate action.

Speaking to reporters, TTD Board Member Bhanu Prakash Reddy said that around 40 individuals were injured in the stampede and are receiving treatment in the hospital.

As many as six people lost their lives and several others were injured after a stampede broke out near the Tirupati temple on Wednesday evening.

An encounter broke out between security personnel and Naxalites in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district on Thursday, a senior police official said.

The gunfight started in the morning in a forest along the border of Sukma and Bijapur districts when a joint team of security personnel was out on an anti-Naxalite operation, the official said.

Personnel belonging to the District Reserve Guard, Special Task Force and CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action- an elite unit of CRPF) were involved in the operation, he said.

Intermittent exchange of fire was still underway, the official said, adding that further details are awaited. -- PTI

Peerzada Abrar/Business Standard

Food and grocery delivery platform Swiggy has launched a new app, Snacc, for delivery of snacks, drinks and meals in 15 minutes. The launch comes at a time when the food delivery apps in India are racing to deliver everything from biryani to hot beverages to customers' doorsteps in under 10-15 minutes.

Zomato's quick-commerce subsidiary, Blinkit, recently introduced 'Bistro', a platform promising delivery of snacks, meals, and beverages within 10 minutes. The launch came just a day after rival Zepto unveiled its initiative, the Zepto Cafe.

Zomato itself has launched its own 15-minute food delivery service in select cities. A dedicated 15-minute delivery tab has appeared on Zomato's explore page. However the company has not made an official announcement. The service promises quick-to-prepare, ready-to-eat dishes from select restaurants within a 2 km radius.

Snacc featuring a vibrant fluorescent green background with dark blue text went live on January 7, in select part of Bengaluru. According to the sources, Swiggy plans to scale up the platform in other parts of the country as well.

Snaccs menu includes food items such as chocolate cookies, Indian breakfast, coffee, tea, eggs, rolls and sandwiches, meals, cold beverages, egg puff and cheese Maggie.

Before that Swiggy in December said it had scaled up its 10-minute food delivery offering, Bolt, to over 400 cities and towns across the country.

For the first time, people are getting food from their favourite restaurants to their doorstep, as fresh as possible. Idlis come warm and fluffy, ice creams stay frozen, and even fries are crispy right out of the package, Rohit Kapoor, CEO of Swiggy's Food Marketplace, had said.

The service features a selection of highly popular cuisine types like burgers, snacks, bakery, beverages, sweets, ice creams, breakfast items, and biryani that require minimum preparation time or are ready to pack.

Customers on Bolt can choose from a mix of well-known national brands alongside local favorites like Gwalia Sweets in Ahmedabad, Shiraz and Kookie Jar in Kolkata, Karachi Bakery and G Pulla Reddy Sweets in Hyderabad. Other such brands include MM Mithaiwala in Mumbai, Bhartiya Jalpan and Anand Sweets in Bangalore, Sethi Ice-cream in Delhi, Irani Cafe in Pune among many others.

Representational image

12:04 TV Today to shut Ishq 104.8 FM in 6 months

Media house TV Today Network on Thursday announced that it will shut down its radio business, operated under the brand name Ishq 104.8 FM, in the next six months, citing current market dynamics.

The board of the company in a meeting held on Thursday approved the proposal for the closure of the FM radio business, according to a regulatory filing by TV Today Network Ltd.

TV Today Network currently operates three FM radio stations in Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata under the frequency 104.8 FM, which contributed 1.7 per cent of its revenue in FY24.

"The Board of Directors of TV Today Network Limited at their meeting held today, ie, January 09, 2025, has inter alia approved the closure of FM Radio Broadcasting operations of the Company subject to regulatory approvals, if any, and fulfilment of other compliances as may be required," it said.

The radio business is expected to be closed in nearly one to six months, TV Today Network added further.

While citing the reason for closure, the private news channel broadcaster said: "Given the state of the industry, its dynamics and evolution of FM Radio Broadcasting business, the Board of Directors considered it in the better interest of the Company to close this business instead of continuing the same."

The radio business turnover was at Rs 16.18 crore and registered a loss of Rs 19.53 crore in the financial year ended March 2024.

Shares of TV Today Network Ltd on Thursday were trading at Rs 218.05 per scrip on BSE, up 4.36 per cent from the previous close.

11:51 Future does not lie in war, but in...: Modi

Asserting that the world today listens to India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that due to the country's heritage, it is able to tell the international community that the future does not lie in war but in Buddha.

Addressing the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention in Bhubaneswar, Modi said India is not only the mother of democracy, but democracy is a part of people's lives here.

He said the world today listens to India, which not only presents its own views strongly but also those of the Global South.

"Due to the strength of its heritage, India is able to tell the world that the future does not lie in war, but in Buddha (peace)," he said.

Modi said he has always considered the diaspora as India's ambassador to the countries they live in.

"We consider it our responsibility to help our diaspora during crisis situations no matter where they are," he said.

The PM said the diaspora played a major role in Independence in 1947, and sought their help to make India a developed country by 2047.

He said India is not only a young country but also a country of skilled youths.

"The government is trying to ensure that whenever Indian youths go abroad, they go with skills," Modi said, noting the demand for skilled workers across the world.

He said G20 meetings were organised in various parts of the country to give the world a first-hand experience of India's diversity.

"We don't need to learn diversity because our lives run through diversity," he added. -- PTI

11:45 Formula E race case: KTR appears before ACB

Bharat Rashtra Samithi Working President and MLA K T Rama Rao, the prime accused in the Formula E race issue, appeared before the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Hyderabad on Thursday.

Rao, also known as KTR, was summoned by the ACB for questioning in the case related to the alleged "unauthorised" payments to conduct Formula E race. His lawyer accompanied him to the ACB office.

"Rama Rao appeared before the ACB and his examination has started," official sources told PTI.

The Telangana high court on Wednesday allowed a lawyer to accompany him to the ACB office. The court, however, made it clear that the advocate would not be present in the same room where the ACB sleuths would be examining Rao.

The advocate can sit in a room where he (the advocate) can see his client and the investigating officer and observe the proceedings, the court said.

Ahead of his appearance before the ACB, Rao said his agenda when he was minister in the previous regime was to make Hyderabad a pivotal hub for sustainable mobility as the world transitions towards it and Formula-E race was a part of that ambitious vision.

"Worked tirelessly for bringing a prestigious event to India, to enhance the Brand image of Hyderabad & Telangana globally. Agenda was to make Hyderabad a pivotal hub for sustainable mobility as the world transitions towards it. Formula-E race was a part of the effort to realise this ambitious vision," he said in a post on 'X'.

He further said the intent was to make TMV (Telangana Mobility Valley) clusters the epicentre for innovation, research and manufacturing of electric vehicles creating employment and revenue, he further said.

"Small minds who are driven by petty politics may never understand any of this, but I am confident that people of Telangana who are observing everything will understand the truth and the vision. Truth always triumphs & justice will prevail," he said. -- PTI

Modi with Satya Nadella

11:25 India's AI Push Gains Force Amid PM's Power Talks With Tech Leaders

As India eyes global leadership role in the artificial intelligence (AI) landscape, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has held a series of meetings with top tech captains over the last few days, including Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, former Infosys CEO Vishal Sikka and Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas, to turn the plans into reality.

Nadella, whom PM Modi met on Monday, has expressed commitment to place India as an AI-first nation and expand its services in the country. A day later, during an event in Bengaluru, Microsoft announced plans to invest $3 billion in India. The global giant also aspires to equip 10 million people with AI skills by 2030.

Just a few days before, on January 4, Modi met former Infosys CEO Sikka while asserting that India was committed to take lead in AI.

This meeting came on the heels of the PMs interaction with Aravind Srinivas, co-founder and CEO of Perplexity, where the duo discussed the application and evolution of AI.

According to data shared by market intelligence firm, Tracxn, there are currently 706 AI tech companies in India. These companies either provide AI as a service or infrastructure. In the last five years, based on the year-on-year trend, these firms raised nearly $2.27 billion in equity funding rounds, Tracxn shared.

Last year, in March 2024, the Union Cabinet had approved a national-level IndiaAI mission with a budget outlay of Rs 10,371.92 crore (Rs 103.7192 billion). For 2024-2025, the ministry of electronics and IT was allocated Rs 551.75 crore (Rs 5.5175 billion). The mission aims to further AI-related developments in the country.

"While our GDP growth is hovering around 6 to 7 per cent, our tax growth is almost twice that number," Shailesh Haribhakti, chairman, Shailesh Haribhakti Ecosystem, an AI-led productivity enhancement and sustainability firm, said. "The country is rapidly financialising its economy and the intelligence and information flow is extraordinary which has also led to rapid discovery of attempts at evasion."

Anirudh Bhardwaj, chief technology officer at Recur Club, a debt financing marketplace, said, "With the IndiaAI mission, a lot of investment is going to get into infrastructure, computing, and research and innovation. The ease of access to computes will help fin-tech companies like us to leverage AI securely by means of local LLMs as we aim towards becoming an AI native debt marketplace."

Companies including Glance, owned by ad-tech unicorn InMobi; Fractal, an AI services provider; and Krutrim, an AI startup founded by Bhavish Aggarwal, attained unicorn status in 2020, 2022, and 2024 respectively.

11:00 Modi inaugurates 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday inaugurated the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, 2025 in Bhubaneswar.

He will also inaugurate four exhibitions and then take a tour of the exhibitions and promotional stalls of Union and state ministries and departments.

The 18th PBD is being jointly organised by the ministry of external affairs and the Odisha government from January 8 to January 10. The theme of the convention is 'Diaspora's Contribution to a Viksit Bharat.'

The PM will remotely flag-off the inaugural journey of the Pravasi Bharatiya Express, a special tourist train for the Indian diaspora, which will depart from Nizamuddin railway station in Delhi.

This train will travel to multiple destinations of tourism and religious importance in India for a period of three weeks.

10:23 Maha man kills brother after fight over Rs 500

A 32-year-old man allegedly killed his younger brother after an argument over Rs 500 in Maharashtra's Thane district, police said.

The incident took place on Tuesday night in Kalyan area, they said, adding the accused has been arrested.

The accused, Salim Shamim Khan, who was inebriated, got enraged when his brother Naseem Khan (27) confronted him for taking Rs 500 from his pocket without permission, an official from Bazarpeth police station said on Wednesday.

The argument escalated and the accused allegedly stabbed his younger brother to death with a knife, he said.

Their mother later alerted the authorities about the incident.

Based on her statement, the accused was arrested on Wednesday and booked under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita section 103(1) (murder).

The body was sent to a government hospital for post-mortem and a probe was on into the case, the police added. -- PTI

In a significant reshuffle within the Finance Ministry, senior IAS officer Arunish Chawla has been reassigned from his position as revenue secretary to head the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM), a move which comes three weeks ahead of the Union Budget.

DIPAM secretary Tuhin Kanta Pandey has been appointed as the new revenue secretary in place of Chawla, according to a personnel ministry order. Pandey is also the finance secretary.

The changes come at a time when the Finance Ministry is working on the the Union Budget, scheduled for presentation on February 1.

Wednesday's reshuffle is seen as the government's strategic adjustments as it gears up for the crucial financial planning period ahead.

Chawla, a 1992-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of Bihar cadre, was appointed as the revenue secretary only on December 25 last year. He was then working as the Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals.

He will also hold additional charge of the post of Secretary, Department of Public Enterprises, Ministry of Finance and Secretary, Ministry of Culture till the appointment of a regular incumbent, the order said.

Pandey, a 1987-batch IAS officer of Odisha cadre, was also holding the additional charge of the post of Secretary, Department of Public Enterprises. -- PTI

United States President Joe Biden has cancelled his planned visit to Italy, the final overseas trip of his presidency, to monitor the response to the devastating wildfires raging in Los Angeles that have killed five people and forced thousands to evacuate.

Biden was scheduled to leave for Italy on Thursday afternoon.

The announcement of the trip's cancellation comes just hours after Biden departed Los Angeles after meeting his first great-grandchild, who was born on Wednesday at an area hospital. He received a briefing from local fire officials before returning to Washington.

Biden declared a Major Disaster declaration for California after returning to Washington.

"President Biden decided to cancel his upcoming trip to Italy to remain focused on directing the full federal response in the days ahead," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Wednesday.

It would have been the final trip of Biden's presidency.

Over 100,000 residents are being evacuated from their homes in Los Angeles due to wildfires. At least five people have died.

A large number of Indian Americans too have been forced to leave their houses for safety.

The uncontrollable fire has so far burned over 70 sq km in three areas: Palisades, west of Los Angeles; Eaton, north of Pasadena and San Fernando Valley. -- PTI

Business Standard

The National Stock Exchange on Wednesday announced expansion plans for its colocation facility under which it is targeting addition of around 2,000 new racks.

The new additions will be done at its current premises.

Colocation facility helps stock brokers to place their servers in the data centre of the exchange and allows faster access of trade data and price feeds.

The ultra-low latency of the facility enables faster trading. The exchanges charge an annual fee for this facility from the brokers.

In the recent phases, it has released over 200 full rack equivalent (FRE) capacity while around 300 FRE capacity will be added by the end of the first quarter of FY26. This addition will take the capacity to 1,500 racks.

In the next two years, it plans to add nearly 2000 FRE capacity on need basis in a phased manner.

For this, the exchange will be converting its existing premises into a data centre and relocate non-critical employees to other office facilities.

At present, over 200 stock brokers and members have subscribed to the racks in the exchange s colocation facility while over 100 members have subscribed to the colocation as a service model.

NSE stated that the expansion plan follows the demand raised by market participants.

After the tragic stampede in Andhra Pradesh's Tirupati that claimed six lives, an eyewitness shared details about the incident, explaining that the stampede occurred due to the overwhelming rush of pilgrims when the police opened the gates for token distribution, adding that there was no such system for obtaining tokens earlier.

She stated that out of twenty members of her family, six have been injured.

She claimed that a large number of male pilgrims rushed for tokens which caused injuries to several women who were then shifted to the hospital.

"A stampede occurred due to the heavy rush. As soon as the Police officials opened the gate, the pilgrims rushed to purchase tokens," she said.

"There was no such system for obtaining tokens earlier. Out of twenty members of my family, six have been injured. We joined the queue at 11 o'clock. While waiting in the queue, we were provided with milk and biscuits. However, a large number of male pilgrims rushed for tokens, causing injuries to several women, who were then shifted to the hospital," she added.

The husband of the deceased Mallika, one of the victims, shared his tragic account, stating that the stampede occurred when his wife and others were attempting to obtain Vaikunta Dwara Darshan tickets, which led to her death.

He said, "While my wife and others were trying to obtain Vaikunta Dwara Darshan tickets, a stampede occurred, resulting in her death. I have informed our relatives and they are on their way..."

09:14 Demat Accounts Surge To 185 Million

Sundar Sethuraman/Business Standard

The number of dematerialised (demat) accounts in 2024 rose by 46 million, marking an average addition of 3.8 million accounts per month.

New demat additions saw a 33 per cent rise from the previous year, taking the total tally to 185.3 million.

The number of demat accounts in India has skyrocketed since COVID-19, driven by simplified account opening, widespread smartphone adoption, and favourable market returns.

Demat accounts have more than quadrupled in the last five years from 39.3 million in 2019.

The first nine months of 2024 saw 36 million demat accounts added amid gains in the secondary market and record initial public offerings (IPOs).

chart

However, the market turbulence triggered by foreign portfolio investor (FPI) selling and earnings disappointments led to a decline in the next two months in new account additions.

Cumulatively, in October and November, FPIs were net sellers to the tune of Rs 1.2 trillion worth of equities.

The record number of IPOs in December, which was the highest for the year and the best December since 1996, improved the pace of additions marginally.

Last month, 15 companies raised Rs 25,438 crore via IPOs. And in 2024, more than 91 companies have raised Rs 1.59 trillion.

A significant number of investors open demat accounts primarily to participate in IPOs. Investors open fresh demat accounts for family members to increase their chances of securing IPO allotments.

Demat accounts are used to hold shares and other securities electronically.

Experts view the steady pace of demat additions as a positive sign for market stability.

The incremental flows from these new investors will help offset any potential outflows from overseas funds or existing investors and help keep volatility under check. Going forward, the pace of new additions will hinge on market performance, said a senior executive of a brokerage requesting not to be named.

Anjali Singh/Business Standard

As India's car market is shifting towards premiumisation, Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) has announced new variants and feature upgrades for three of its popular models -- Venue, Verna and Grand i10 NIOS.

The new offerings come at a time when Hyundai has recorded its highest-ever yearly domestic sales of 605,433 units, marking a three-year streak of consistent growth in 2024.

The total sales, including exports, stood at 764,119 units, with SUVs like the Creta contributing 67.6 per cent to the domestic sales.

The Creta also reached its highest-ever domestic sales of 1,86,919 units, underlining the growing consumer preference for SUVs in India.

The updated Hyundai Venue now includes a new variant, the Kappa 1.2 l MPi Petrol SX Executive MT, featuring offerings like a smart electric sunroof, an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Existing variants also see upgrades, such as rear cameras, wireless chargers, and smart keys in select trims. Prices start at Rs 9.28 lakh (ex-showroom).

In the Hyundai VERNA lineup, two new variants, the 1.5 l Turbo GDi Petrol S(O) DCT and 1.5 l MPi Petrol S IVT, have been introduced. These trims boast features like a smart electric sunroof, wireless smartphone charging, and paddle shifters, among others. The Vernas existing S MT variant now includes a sunroof as well. Prices start at Rs 12.37 lakh (ex-showroom).

The compact Hyundai Grand i10 NIOS has also received a boost with the introduction of the 1.2 l Kappa Petrol Sports (O) variant, available in both manual and automatic transmissions. Enhanced with features like an 8-inch touchscreen display, diamond-cut alloy wheels, and fully automatic temperature control, the variant is priced starting at Rs 7.72 lakh (ex-showroom).

Speaking on this, Tarun Garg, chief operating officer, Hyundai Motor India, said, "The latest product updates on our 3 key models reflect Hyundais commitment to delivering cutting-edge technology, premium design and exceptional performance. We are confident that these enhancements will resonate with our customers and elevate their driving experience."

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has signed a bill to designate October as "Hindu Heritage Month" in the US state.

The bill was signed on Wednesday by DeWine in the presence of former state Senator Niraj Antani, who was the main sponsor and mover of the legislation last year, and several other community leaders from the State.

"I am so grateful to Governor DeWine for signing this bill to designate October as Hindu Heritage Month in Ohio. Governor DeWine has long had a close relationship with the Hindu community across Ohio and I am grateful for his leadership," Antani said.

"After two long years of work, I am deeply pleased I could accomplish this achievement for our community," he said.

The bill is now officially a law and goes into effect in 90 days. October 2025 will be Ohio's 1st official Hindu Heritage Month. -- PTI

US tech billionaire Elon Musk has backed Shiv Sena-UBT MP Priyanka Chaturvedi over her views on the remark of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer that triggered controversy as people objected to the use of the generic term "Asian" with reference to a child sexual abuse scandal across different parts of England, largely involving gangs of men of Pakistani heritage.

Chaturvedi in a post on X said that these aren't "Asian", but are "Pakistani grooming gangs".

"Repeat after me, they aren't ASIAN Grooming Gangs but PAKISTANI grooming gangs," said Chaturvedi in a post on X, to which Elon Musk replied 'True'.

"Why should Asians take the fall for one absolute rogue nation?" she added.

The United Kingdom has long struggled with the murky history of so-called grooming gangs, which have sexually abused thousands of young girls over the years.

The issue has gained attention after Musk launched a series of attacks on Keir Starmer regarding the issue on his platform X.

On New Year's Day, Musk accused Starmer of failing to act decisively on grooming gang cases during his tenure as Director of Public Prosecutions (2008-2013).

Musk claimed that Starmer allowed "rape gangs" to exploit vulnerable girls without facing justice, alleging that institutional failures were linked to Starmer's leadership of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

In a series of posts on X, Musk demanded a new national public inquiry and called for the Labour government to face an immediate general election. He went so far as to accuse Phillips of being a "rape genocide apologist".

The police have arrested a notorious thief and recovered from him 24 expensive watches, three iPhones, two digital cameras as well a laptop which he had stolen from a flat in Mumbai on the New Year's eve, an official said on Wednesday.

The accused, Deepak Ravindra Khawale (31), was nabbed from Bhayander on Mumbai city's outskirts on Tuesday.

Khawale sneaked into the flat of a senior citizen (67) in Khar, an upscale area in western Mumbai, after breaking the window grille on December 31 and made off with valuable items worth Rs 50 lakh kept in the cupboard, said the official.

The stolen items included 24 expensive watches, three iPhones, two digital cameras as well a laptop, he said.

The flat owner filed a complaint after which the police lodged an FIR against an unidentified person at the Khar police station.

After going through CCTV footage and relying on technical evidence, the police managed to trace Khawale and recover all stolen valuables from his possession, said the official, adding he is a habitual offender and faces multiple cases.

Sub-inspector Hanumant Kumbhare from the Khar police station said 'Accused Khawale has been arrested under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including for house-breaking." -- PTI

Six Maoists surrender before Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and deputy CM DK Shivakumar/ANI Photo

00:47 6 Maoists surrender in K'taka, CM welcomes them with copies of Constitution

Six hardcore Maoists on Wednesday surrendered before Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Bengaluru.

As a symbol of giving up their armed struggle, Latha Mundagaru handed over her Maoist uniform to the chief minister along with a copy of her memorandum.

Siddaramaiah welcomed the ultra and her five associates by giving them roses and copies of the Constitution.

The CM said Sundari Kutluru is from Dakshina Kannada district, Latha from Chikkamagaluru, Marappa Aroli from Raichur and Vanajakshi Balehole from Chikkamagaluru.

Jisha is from Wayanad in Kerala, and K Vasanth from Vellore in Tamil Nadu.

Speaking on behalf of the surrendered Maoists, Latha thanked the chief minister for helping them return to the mainstream with honour.

She also said they have submitted a memorandum to the CM.

"Our struggle for people will continue in a legitimate and constitutionally approved manner. We have come before you shunning Maoist menace," she said.

Siddaramaiah said these Maoists had carried out their Maoist movement for more than 20 years but today with the help of Maoist surrender and rehabilitation committee and other progressive groups they decided to join mainstream by giving up their armed struggle. -- PTI

A 20-year-old youth, who was preparing for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE), allegedly ended life by hanging himself from a ceiling fan in his PG room in Rajasthan's Kota district, the police said on Wednesday.

The deceased was identified as Abhishek, a resident of Guna in Madhya Pradesh, who had been preparing for the JEE at a coaching institute in Kota since May last year.

He lived in a PG room in Dakaniya area under the Vigyan Nagar Police Station in Kota.

This is the second case of suicide by a coaching student within 24 hours in coaching hub Kota as another JEE aspirant from Haryana, identified as Neeraj (19), was found hanging from a noose in his hostel room late Tuesday evening.

Vigyan Nagar police station SHO Mukesh Meena said that Abhishek (20), a resident of Guna in Madhya Pradesh, allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself from a ceiling fan in his PG room.

The deceased youth had been preparing for JEE-Mains at a coaching institute in Kota since May last year, he added.

The SHO said that they received information in this regard around 7.45 pm on Wednesday following which the police personnel rushed to the spot.

The youth's body has been placed in the hospital mortuary for post-mortem to be conducted after the arrival of his family members, who have been informed of the tragedy, he added.

The SHO further said that no suicide note was recovered from the PG room and the reason behind this extreme step by the youth is yet to be ascertained. -- PTI

Senior citizen dies in tree crash in Mumbai

Timeline Refresh

TOP STORIES