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Friday, 23 June 2023

Serial killer arrested for killing 3 slum dwellers in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: The Cyberabad police on Thursday claimed to have cracked three murder cases with the arrest of a “serial killer” here.

The accused Byagari Praveen, a 34-year-old resident of Laxmiguda in Mailardevpally killed two footpath dwellers in different places on the intervening night of June 20 and 21, while another person was killed on the intervening night of June 7 and 8 under Mailardevpally police station limits, a release from Cyberabad Police Commissionerate said.

According to Rajendranagar deputy commissioner of police Jagadeshwar Reddy, Praveen went near Swapna theatre Katedan and found a person sleeping near the Kajaria tiles shop.

“He hurled a boulder at the victim’s head and killed him before walking away. Praveen then went to Durganagar crossroads located a kilometre away and found another person asleep. He killed him in the same way and took some money found in the victim’s pocket,” said the DCP.

On June 7, Praveen bludgeoned his third victim who was asleep at the Netajinagar and took away cash, said the DCP.

Following the murders, special teams were formed by the Cyberabad police who finally cracked him down. He admitted to killing people for Rs. 50 or Rs. 100.

Praveen was arrested with the help of CCTV footages from the locality where the crime occurred.

The accused is a habitual offender and was involved in eight cases. He was arrested in 2011 and then again in 2014 when he was sentenced to life imprisonment, but later acquitted. He was also involved in two burglaries reported in 2010 and two snatching cases reported in 2011.

After being released from jail, he began committing murders for gain, the DCP said.


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13-yr-old jumps to her death in Mahim



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Now automated system to monitor Delhis water supply



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Tuesday, 20 June 2023

OCA might not entertain IOAs request for extending July 15 deadline

IOA

New Delhi: The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) might not entertain Indian Olympic Association’s (IOA) request for extending the July 15 deadline for providing details of the country’s wrestling squad for the Asian Games.

It means that wrestlers, who protested against the WFI chief, will have to appear in the trials under-prepared as they hardly got time to prepare due to their long-drawn protest.

The Asian Games are scheduled to commence in Hangzhou, China on September 23 and IOA is required to submit the names of the competing athletes by July 15.

The protesting wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik want to prepare well for the trials and had sought more time to be in good physical and mental shape. They requested the Sports Ministry to hold trials in August.

IOA on behalf of wrestlers reached out to OCA on Friday.

A source privy to the developments said it would be difficult for the OCA to allow IOA to hold the submission of players’ names till August, as requested by six protesting wresters.

“OCA has to manage 45 countries and 40 sports disciplines at the Asian Games. To accede to IOA’s request for extending the deadline for wrestlers by almost a month-and-a-half will be very difficult.

“Let’s see what happens. OCA is still studying it. If it was a matter of 4-5 days, it was not an issue but delaying it for 40-45 days is just not feasible,” said the source.

The IOA has already asked all the national federations to submit the final names of their respective selected players for the Asian Games by June 30.

“(Giving so much) time is a dodgy thing. How can you delay the entries by one-and-a-half months when the Asian Games are starting on September 23.”

The source, though, said that since the request had been made by an NOC, “the OCA will have to take up” the issue.

The source, however, added the OCA would “not like to get involved” in the local politics of a particular sport in a country.

“It (OCA) is an Asian organisation, it has to go by the rules of Asian committee. If OCA entertains a request from one country, then there are 45 other countries who will raise questions and ask OCA to also accommodate their requests.”

The IOA ad-hoc body was keen to conduct the trials in the last week of June so that the names could be given to the IOA before the June 30 deadline given to all National Sports Federations (NSFs).


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Delhi CM house renovation: Vigilance dept issues notice to 7 PWD officials



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Without Lionel Messi Argentina labours to 2-0 win over Indonesia in friendly



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Ludhiana heist: Seven more arrested including four thieves who stole cash from robbers car total recovery reaches Rs 6.96 cr



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Monday, 19 June 2023

Uttar Pradesh: Traffic cop succumbs to heat in Ayodhya

Traffic cop succumbs to heat after fainting in UP's Ayodhya

Ayodhya: A 40-year-old traffic police sub-inspector died here on Sunday after fainting on duty due to severe heat, police said.

Vinod Sonkar was on duty near Hanumangarhi temple in Ayodhya on Sunday afternoon, Circle Officer (Traffic) Pramod Yadav said.

He said Sonkar fainted due to the severe heat and was rushed to the district hospital, where he died.

“Unfortunately, one of our traffic sub-inspectors fell prey to the heat wave and worst weather,” Yadav said

Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Ayodhya Dr Ajay Raja said the post-mortem report is awaited.

On whether the cause of death was heat stroke, the CMO said, “As of now, we have received only one or two cases of heat strokes, and those too are mild ones.”


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Emma Raducanu says she sometimes wishes she had not won US Open



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Sunday, 18 June 2023

Politically-oriented animosity: HC quashes sodomy case against ex-Madhya Pradesh minister



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Name of Nehru Park changed after Madhya Pradesh CMs son: Cong

OBC Mahasabha activists show black flags to MP CM, demand 27 per cent quota

Bhopal: The Congress on Saturday alleged Nehru Park in Budhni has been named after Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s elder son while the name of his younger brother is given to another park.

Budhni is the assembly constituency of chief minister Chouhan.

The ruling BJP said Congress shouldn’t have any objection if local people have named these parks in their town out of their love (for Chouhan’s sons).

“The name of Nehru Park (named after Jawaharlal Nehru) has been changed after Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s elder son Kartikeya Singh Chouhan while another park is named after younger son Kunal,” alleged former minister and Congress leader Ajay Singh.

Notably, the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library Society in Delhi has been renamed as Prime Ministers’ Museum and Library Society, prompting sharp reactions from Congress.

Singh accused the BJP of erasing the names of great personalities who made important contributions to the freedom struggle.

The Congress leader wondered what is the contribution of Kartikeya and Kunal to the country.

“It has been a tradition to name public parks, corners, roads and buildings after the personalities who contributed to the society and the country.

“Shivraj ji should tell what is the contribution of Kartikeya and Kunal. Where Kartikeya stands in front of Jawaharlal Nehru, who contributed immensely to the country’s independence and to building a new India?” Singh asked.

If Budhni’s local body has renamed these parks out of sycophancy then why Chouhan didn’t stop them, he questioned.

When asked about Singh’s allegations, Madhya Pradesh BJP spokesman Pankaj Chaturvedi said many public places are named after members of a single family across the country.

“Ajay Singh is watching everything from Congress’ perspective. So, he sees Nehru, Firoz Gandhi, and Indira Gandhi everywhere and the Congress believes that everything should be named after them. What is the objection if local people named these parks in their town out of their love?” PTI ADU


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Two youths arrested for molesting minor threatening her with fake gun



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Saturday, 17 June 2023

Heavy rainfall in Ahmedabad



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GPCC president Gohil extends support



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Saudi Arabia allows citizens to travel without COVID-19 vaccination

Saudi Arabia allows citizens to travel without COVID-19

Riyadh: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior announced on Thursday that citizens are allowed to travel outside the Kingdom without requiring vaccination against COVID-19, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

The decision was taken based on a report submitted by health authorities after looking into the stable COVID-19 situation locally and globally.

However, the authorities will continue to monitor developments surrounding the virus.

In March 2022, Saudi Arabia suspended the measures that had been imposed during the past two years to limit the spread of the pandemic and that is after the rate of vaccination significantly advanced.

In June 2022, the Kingdom lifts all precautionary and preventive measures related to combating the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is noteworthy that, since the arrival of COVID-19 in the Kingdom, in March 2020, Saudi Arabia has dealt with great firmness, as it imposed a comprehensive closure and prevented roaming in the country, with the aim of controlling the disease and preventing its spread.

Since the emergence of the COVID-19, Saudi Arabia has recorded 841,469 infections and 9,645 deaths.


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Brilliant Joe Root ton puts England in command in Ashes opener but early declaration backfires



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Friday, 16 June 2023

AIMIM workers gift pair of shoes to former Aurangabad mayor

Aurangabad: AIMIM workers on Thursday tried to gift a new pair of shoes to former Aurangabad mayor Nandkumar Ghodele by way of protest.

The administration earlier this week captured four stray dogs from the Nakshatrawadi area where Ghodele lives and sterilized them. The action was taken after a dog entered the premises of his residence and ran away with a shoe.

AIMIM workers on Thursday tried to hand over a new pair of shoes at the Municipal Corporation office, stating that they wanted to gift it to Ghodele so that the administration can pay attention to the stray dog menace in other areas too.

Officials, however, did not accept the `gift’.

Mohammed Asrar, an AIMIM youth wing leader, said, “The administration deployed its entire team for catching dogs in the former mayor’s residential area. We brought these shoes so that Ghodele will get new shoes and will set the administration free. The administration should look into the stray dog trouble in other areas too.”

Ghodele, in his reaction, said the AIMIM did not have any substantial issue for launching an agitation, and they were free to agitate over anything.

“I did my duty and called the corporation team….I look after the safety of people in my area. I was not given any special treatment,” he said.


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Chests in embrace UP couple shoot themselves dead with same bullet



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6-year-old girl drowns in resort pool in Pimpri Chinchwad police arrest manager supervisor



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Wednesday, 14 June 2023

Cyclone Biparjoy: 30,000 people from coastal districts shifted to temporary shelters

Jakhau: Authorities on Tuesday shifted 30,000 people from coastal areas to temporary shelters two days before powerful cyclone Biparjoy’s expected landfall near Jakhau port in Gujarat’s Kutch district.

An official said several NDRF and SDRF teams are on standby. Simultaneously, Army authorities have jointly planned relief operations with civil administration and National Disaster Response Force.

The Army has kept flood relief columns ready at strategic locations.

In a virtual meeting to take stock of the cyclone preparedness, Union Home Minister Amit Shah asked the Gujarat government to make arrangements for moving people living in sensitive places to safer areas and ensure all necessary services, such as electricity, telecommunication, health and drinking water.

The meeting was attended by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, two Union ministers, several Gujarat ministers and MPs, MLAs and officials from eight districts that are likely to be affected by the cyclone.

“We have already started evacuating people residing near the coast who are likely to be affected the most during the landfall. So far, various district administrations have shifted nearly 30,000 people to temporary shelters,” said State Commissioner of Relief, Alok Kumar Pandey.

The state government is aiming to evacuate people within 10 km of the coast, he said, adding that so far one fatality related to the cyclone has been recorded.

Ahmedabad IMD director Manorama Mohanty said the cyclone is likely to cross between Mandvi in Kutch and Karachi in Pakistan near Jakhau port with 125-135 kmph wind speed gusting to 150 kmph on the evening of June 15.

A warning has been issued for extremely heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds in coastal parts of the Saurashtra-Kutch region, especially in the districts of Kutch, Porbandar and Devbhumi Dwarka, she said.

“After it makes landfall and weakens, the movement of the cyclone is likely to remain north-eastward and it is expected to move towards extreme south Rajasthan. It will bring heavy to very heavy rain in north Gujarat till June 15-17,” Mohanty said.

Fishing activities have been suspended till June 16, ports are shut and ships are anchored as the sea turned very rough and weather became inclement with extremely heavy rainfall and strong winds in the region due to the approaching cyclone.

“The sea will remain very rough to high till Jun 14, increasing to high to phenomenal on June 15,” Mohanty said.

Pandey said the government is constantly working to ensure that there is no loss of life due to the weather phenomenon.

He said the rescue operation is being carried out in two phases, with people residing 0 to 5 km from the seashore to be shifted first. Thereafter, people living within a distance of 5 to 10 km from the coast will be moved to safer places, with priority to be given to children, pregnant women and the elderly.

The government said 17 teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and 12 of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are on standby in affected districts of Devbhumi Dwarka, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Porbandar, Gir Somnath, Morbi and Valsad.

The Western Railway has so far cancelled 69 trains and decided to short-terminate 32 and short-originate 26 trains as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of passengers as well as train operations.

As the sea turned rough, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) evacuated 50 personnel from an oil rig located 40 km off the Dwarka coast in an overnight operation involving ALH aircraft and ship ‘Shoor’ amid inclement weather conditions due to the cyclone, the maritime agency said on Tuesday.

The Army also rehearsed flood relief columns and kept them ready at strategic locations.

“Army authorities have jointly planned relief operations with civil administration as well as NDRF. The interaction has given all agencies involved in disaster management a platform to share their best practices and gain from each other,” stated a defence release.

Resources have also been made available from neighbouring Rajasthan to ensure that casualties are avoided or remain minimum due to gusty winds and heavy rainfall, it said.

Shipping activities at the country’s largest public sector port in Kandla were shut following the cyclone warning and around 3,000 people, including workers there, have been shifted to safer places, officials said.

As the state stepped up relief and rescue operations, CM Patel has appealed to citizens to cooperate with the administration for their own safety and security.

In a virtual message, he said the government has planned rescue, relief and rehabilitation with zero casualty approach and appealed to the citizens to follow the instructions of the administration.

Union ministers Mansukh Mandaviya reviewed preparatory measures at Bhuj in Kurch.

Apart from him, four Union ministers are fanned out in the districts likely to be impacted by the cyclone to coordinate with the state administration for relief and rescue operations.

As hundreds of people are being evacuated from coastal villages in Kutch district, authorities are facing a challenge as many villagers are reluctant to leave their livestock and belongings behind.

In Ashirwada village, located 5 km away from the coast in Kutch, people agreed to move out only after police and revenue officers held meetings to convince them.

“We are shifting people to shelters which can withstand the impact of the cyclone. We are taking care of them by providing them food and other basic things,” an official told PTI.

People are being evacuated in buses and private vehicles. At least 78 people have been shifted to Jakhau primary school, which is converted into a shelter, from various villages so far.

Residents of Mohadi village, located on the coastline, are also evacuated. They are provided shelter in a cement company.


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Acquitted in drugs case, actor Chrisann Pereira set to return to India



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Tuesday, 13 June 2023

‘False’ evidence were affidavits filed in SC, not before police: Setalvad’s counsel in HC



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Why Carlos Alcaraz should try the pickle juice next time he suffers from cramps



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Will historic Hussain Sagar Lake ever get rid of its pollution?

Hyderabad: Bad smell from Hussain Sagar Lake continues

Hyderabad: Hussain Sagar Lake, which has emerged as a major tourist attraction surrounded by remarkable developments remains polluted even after multiple attempts to clean it.

Spread over 5.7 square kilometres, the Hussain Sagar Lake stands among the worst affected, as gushing water at many points displays a dangerous chemical cocktail.

Siasat.com acquired the latest data from the Telangana State Pollution Control Board (TSPCB) website that reveals a considerable increase in lake contamination.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, an official from the Telangana State Pollution Control Board (TSPCB) told Siasat.com that the odour from the lake water increases in summer while it fades away after the arrival of monsoons as impurities get washed away into the Musi River along with fresh water.

Invite tenders to clean up lake water

For 25 years, different international companies have come forward to take up the cleaning of the Hussain Sagar Lake but no significant difference has been recorded so far.

The TSPCB official said that the decade-long issue can only be eradicated by emptying the lake, diverting and refilling it with fresh water. The restoration can take up to six months of work.

“Hussain Sagar’s water quality has depleted to a great extent owing to the industrial harmful chemicals, and sewage water released into it. It will only get better if the state government collaborates with all the departments, invite tenders and take up the cleaning of the lake on a critical note,” said the official.

The PCB official said, “Measures taken up by the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA), including the restriction and usage of synthetic colours in the making of religious idols that are immersed into it every year, have only contributed to the pollution level.”

“The newly-inaugurated musical fountains were also shut down as they were affecting the aquatic life in the lake,” added the official.

Water quality at the outlet near the GHMC headquarters, the outlet at Marriott Hotel, PVNR Marg (Necklace Road), Opposite NTR Garden, Tank Bund, midstream Buddha Statue, Sanjeevaiah Park, Boat Club and near Khairatabad STP was assessed recently.

All points, except the Budha Statue displayed high levels of coliform of 1600 most probable number (MPN). Coliform are bacteria organisms whose presence in water indicates disease-causing organisms (pathogens).

The GHMC office and Boats Club points had the highest faecal coliform of 350 MPN, making them the most polluted zones. The fecal coliform bacteria are a sub-group of total coliform bacteria. Its presence in water samples often indicates a greater risk of pathogens being present.

Electrical conductivity was highest at PVNR Marg (Necklace Road). High electrical conductivity is directly proportional to the corrosive levels in the water.

The data put forth by environmental scientists from the board reveals that the pollutants including coliform, faecal coliform, high electrical conductivity, increased biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and low level of dissolved oxygen (DO) have contributed to the depleting quality of water.

Low BOD levels showed that the water quality has become poor and oxygen levels are considerably depleting. High levels of total dissolved solids (TDS) indicated high levels of salt, metals and minerals in the water.

Hussain Sagar is not just known for its ethereal beauty but has a great historic significance. The lake connects two parts of the city (Secunderabad and Hyderabad) to each other. Every Hyderabadi has fond memories associated with this lake.

If there is no check on the rising pollution, Hyderabadis will lose its Hussain Sagar.


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Actor Kazan Khan passes away



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Monday, 12 June 2023

TSPSC Group-I examination concluded peacefully across Telangana

TSPSC Group 1 prelims results

Hyderabad: The Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC) Group-I preliminary examination was concluded successfully in 994 centres across the state on Sunday.

Around 380,032 candidates appeared for 503 Group-I posts. The examination began at 10:30 am and concluded at 1 in the noon.

A total of 2,159 aspirants attended while 3,293 registered for the examination at seven centres in Medak district.

No unwanted incident was reported in any part of the district during the course of the examination.

In Sangareddy district, 5,396 students appeared for the examination out of 8,654 registered in 27 examination centres.

In Siddipet district, 5,366 students out of 7,786 registered turned up at 20 centres.

The authorities were responsible for the smooth conduct of the examination did not allow aspirants to enter the examination hall who turned up late at the centre.

The Group-I preliminary examination had been cancelled by the commission following the leak of the TSPSC preliminary question paper. Along with Group-I preliminary exam, assistant executive engineer (AEE) and divisional accounts officer (DAO) examinations were also cancelled.

 


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’23 is a number that just a few years back was impossible to think about’: Rafael Nadal heaps praise on Novak Djokovic



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One dead, two injured in Ludhiana wall collapse



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Sunday, 11 June 2023

Will report Manipur situation to Shah: Assam CM after meeting Biren Singh

Ambedkar said reservation cant be given on religion basis: Himanta's jibe at Congress

Imphal: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday called on his Manipur counterpart N Biren Singh here and said he will report to Union Home Minister Amit Shah about the ongoing situation in the trouble-torn state.

Sarma flew down from Guwahati earlier this morning for this meeting to discuss the situation in Manipur where sporadic violence continues a month after ethnic clashes began in this northeastern state.

“During my stay here, I met the honourable chief minister, his cabinet colleagues, our party leaders and civil society organisations. For us, peace and stability in Manipur are very very important. Whatever I have learnt during the day, I will report the same to the honourable Union Home Minister for further necessary actions,” Sarma told reporters.

Shah had visited Manipur from May 29 to June 1 to take stock of the situation. A senior BJP leader who was present at the meeting between the two chief ministers said, “We highlighted the issues of the state concerning the violence. Himanta Biswa Sarma assured us he will work at his level best to restore peace in Manipur.”

The leader, who did not want to be quoted, told PTI: “Sarma said the Manipur BJP should not hesitate to ask what is needed and he will make sure those requirements are met.”

Representatives of COCOMI, a civil society organisation, were also present at the meeting.

“The Assam chief minister expressed condolences for the lives lost and said he will do whatever is needed to restore peace,” COCOMI media coordinator Khuraijam Athouba said.

The Centre has constituted a committee in Manipur headed by the governor to facilitate the peace-making process among various ethnic groups and initiate dialogue between conflicting parties, the Union home ministry said on Saturday in New Delhi.

Clashes first broke out on May 3 after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur’s population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley.

Tribals Nagas and Kukis constitute another 40 per cent of the population and reside in the hill districts.


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WTC Final: Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami bottle up Australia and enable India to hope for a dreamy finish



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Saturday, 10 June 2023

WTC Final: India wake up, but Australia refuse to blink



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Umar Khalid completes 1000 days in jail without a trail

Today political activist Umar Khalid completes 1000 days in Delhi Tihar jail for ‘conspiring against the Central Government’ in the 2020 North East Delhi riots in which 53 people, mainly Muslims, were killed.

Thirty-five-year-old Khalid, who is a PhD from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), was charged under the draconian Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA Act) by the Delhi Police.

Khalid was among the several students and activists who were jailed for protesting against the Citizen Amendment Act (CAA), 2019, and the National Register of Citizenship (NRC).

CAA and NRC

On December 9, 2019, Union Home Minister Amit Shah introduced an amendment to the Citizenship Act of 1955 that allowed Indian citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians who fled from neighbouring Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan due to religious persecutions.

However, the bill did not include the Muslim community, leading to widespread nationwide protests where protestors alleged that the bill violated the Right to Equality described in the Indian Constitution.

Khalid along with 18 others was arrested by the Delhi Police on September 13, 2020. Since then, Khalid has been a part of a string of courtroom visits, fighting a case corroded with false narratives and inconsistencies.

Why Umar Khalid

An article by The Wire written in 2020 states, “Picking on Khalid and others serves to represent anti-CAA protests as being purely led by Muslims, rather than acknowledge them as the broad, diverse India-wide phenomenon that they were, comprising of people from all faiths and in several regions. Once you portray a movement as mostly Muslim-led (and involving “radical” leftists), it becomes easier to repress it and prevents others from joining it.”

In his speech (available online) which the Delhi Police used against him, he says, “We will not answer violence with violence, anger with anger, if they spread hatred we will reply with love, if they use batons, we will fly the tricolor, if they fire bullets, we will hold aloft the Constitution, if they put us in jail, we will sing ‘Sare jahan se acha Hindustan hamara‘ and gladly head to prison – but we will not let you destroy this country.”

Thus, the Narendra Modi-led Central Government saw Khalid as a “symbol of resistance” for Muslims in a fast-emerging Hindutva land. He represented a young, fearless, educated, socially aware Indian Muslim, something that the saffron party has unfailingly worked against.

Delhi HC denies bail to Khalid

On October 18, 2022, Khalid was denied bail by the Delhi High Court for the following reasons which this Article 14 report:

Khalid was part of a WhatsApp group compromising Indian Muslim students of JNU.

The Delhi High Court denied bail to Khalid based on the fact that he sent messages through the WhatsApp group that could be a “potential threat to national security”. However, Article 14 debunks it by saying there is no crime to be a part of a WhatsApp group adding that the Police were unable to show or produce any message sent by Khalid to the court.

Khalid participated in various meetings at Jantar Mantar, Jangpura office, Shaheen Bagh, Seelampur, Jaffarabad and Indian Social Institute.

There is nothing wrong with attending public meetings. Article 14 states that witnesses who testified against Khalid were brought several months after the alleged meetings. The court was unable to provide a concrete reason as to why bail was denied just for attending a meeting.

Khalid referred to the visit of the President of the USA to India in the Amravati speech

The court was referring to a speech (which is still available online) in which Khalid referred to the then USA President Donald Trump’s visit to India. However, in the 20-minute speech, Khalid does not mention any violent or provocative sentences or words against Trump, as Article 14 stated.

The CDR analysis depicts that there has been a flurry of calls that happened post-riots amongst the appellant and the other co-accused

Article 14 states that Khalid’s lawyer mentioned in the court that it was normal for people gripped in a communal riot to call each other.

Bailed denied again

Khalid was yet again denied bail on June 8 this year. However, a Delhi court, while acquitting three persons charged in the 2020 Delhi riots reprimanded the Delhi Police “for clubbing several complaints with the case without investigation.”

In solidarity with Umar Khalid

Scores of students, civil rights activists and media personalities gathered at the Press Club on Friday to express solidarity with Umar Khalid.

They spoke about ‘Democracy, Dissent and Censorship’, saying Khalid’s 1,000 days of imprisonment equal to “1,000 days of resistance”.

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Jha said, “This is 1,000 days of imprisonment as well as 1,000 days of resistance. Umar Khalid will be very happy to know that in this scorching heat, hundreds of people gathered to defend democracy.”

“This solidarity is not just for Umar, but for every political prisoner. This is a fight of memory. A dominant memory is mainstream today, while the memories of marginalised communities are ignored,” he said.

Senior journalist Ravish Kumar at the Press Club speaking about jailed student activist Umar Khalid’s 1000 days (Photo: Twitter)

Senior journalist Ravish Kumar said the road to the door of justice has been stretched too far for those like Khalid.

“Remember 1,000 days that have passed. Remember that these are not just 1,000 days since Khalid’s incarceration, but also 1,000 days of shame for the Indian judicial system,” he said.

Prabhat Patnaik, Professor Emeritus, JNU said the continued detention of Khalid is not just a personal tragedy, but “social waste” of a talent.

“Even in the colonial days, Gandhi was never in jail for more than two years. Nehru was longest in jail at one go for 1,041 days… Umar has now been in jail for 1,000 days,” he said.

“This is against democracy, anyone can be put in jail on flimsiest of pretexts,” he added.

Present at the event was also Khalid’s father S Q R Ilyas who said the confines of the prison walls have not dampened the spirit of his son.

“Has 1,000 days of jail dented Umar’s confidence, has it dampened the spirits of his friends? Absolutely not. When I see all those who have been jailed during their court hearings, I see confidence in their faces, they know that they are in jail for a cause,” he said.

He said his son is fighting for the country and democracy. Khalid had recently got eight days bail to attend his sister’s wedding.

(With inputs from news agencies)


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Friday, 9 June 2023

GITAM allys with IIT Hyderabad to support budding innovators

GITAM uni researcher granted Rs 48L for upcycling brackish water

Hyderabad: GITAM Deemed-to-be-University on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IIT Hyderabad to support 75 innovators to turn their ideas into startups.

The MoU was signed between GITAM’s entrepreneurship and innovation cell, Venture Development Center (VDC) and the iTIC Incubator at IIT Hyderabad, the varsity said in a statement.

The iTIC is a technology business incubator under the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad supported by the Department of Science and Technology.

The MoU comes as a part of iTIC incubator’s collaboration with Greenko Group to launch a new program called Bold and Unique Idea Led Development (BUILD).

Adding on to a financial aid of Rs 1 lakh, innovators selected for the program will be mentored, and provided with prototyping support and a co-working space, GITAM said.

At the end of the 12-month program, innovators could get a chance for preincubation support and further grants at iTIC Incubator at IIT Hyderabad.

The application can be done through the iTIC website, itic.iith.ac.in/build, before July 5.


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Sanjeev Jeeva murder: SIT to focus on lapses in court security

Bullet lodged inside toddler injured in Lucknow courtroom shootout

Lucknow: An SIT set up by the Uttar Pradesh government in the sensational Sanjeev Jeeva murder case will probe into possible security lapses at the court premises where the shoot out took place.

The SIT will focus on finding out if the metal detectors used by the security were working, and if they were, then how the accused managed to enter the court carrying a pistol, a senior police officer told PTI on Thursday.

Gangster-politician Mukhtar Ansari’s aide Sanjeev Maheshwari Jeeva was shot dead on the premises of a Lucknow court on Wednesday.

The assailant, identified as Vijay Yadav, 24, from Jaunpur district, was caught right after the shooting that took place outside a courtroom at around 4 pm.

Eyewitnesses said Yadav was dressed as a lawyer and fired around six shots.

Police are also probing how Vijay Yadav got the foreign pistol he used in the shooting and what was his motive behind killing Jeeva, he said.

The Special Investigation Team on Thursday visited the scene of the crime for an on-spot assessment as part of the investigation. Policemen engaged in Jeeva’s security are also undergoing questioning.

Soon after the murder, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered the setting up of a three-member SIT to probe the incident and give a report within a week.

Two security personnel of the team that brought Jeeva to the court were also injured in the incident, one of whom is still undergoing treatment at King George’s Medical University, while the other has been discharged, police said.

Another officer interrogating Vijay Yadav said the pistol recovered from his possession had each of its cartridges priced at around Rs 1,500-Rs 2,000.

As per inputs from Jaunpur, Vijay Yadav hails from a poor family and police suspect he is unlikely to have arranged the pistol on his own.

Vijay is being interrogated at an unknown location by top police officers, said another officer privy to case developments.

According to Vijay’s father, Shyama Yadav, a farmer, his son used to work at a private company in Mumbai and left his job around 18 months back and returned home.

Shyama Yadav had earlier told police that his son after returning went to Lucknow in search of employment where he used to work as a plumber.

The SIT is headed by Additional Director General of Police (Technical) Mohit Agarwal with IPS officer Neelabja Chowdhary and IGP (Ayodhya range) Praveen Kumar as its other members.

Jeeva, who was from UP’s Muzaffarnagar district, was an accused in the murder cases of BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai and former state minister Brahm Dutta Dwivedi, in addition to 22 other cases, including those of fraud and criminal conspiracy.


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