'Leaked Letter' By 19 MLAs Sparks Rebellion Buzz Against Manipur Chief Minister

Local media reports of a purported letter allegedly written by 19 BJP MLAs in Manipur to their party's central leadership has again sparked a buzz over rebellion against Chief Minister N Biren Singh.

The BJP leadership at the centre had earlier ruled out a change in the top post amid the ethnic tension between the valley-dominant Meitei community and the nearly two dozen tribes known as Kukis - a term given by the British in colonial times - who are dominant in some hill areas of Manipur.

This is not the first time such speculation over Biren Singh's post has come up. In the last few years, a group of Manipur MLAs had camped in Delhi at least half a dozen times, seeking his replacement.

Leaked portions of the purported letter showed the first signatures as that of Speaker Th Satyabrata, and ministers Th Bishwajit and Y Khemchand.

While Mr Bishwajit and Mr Khemchand are known dissenters - they had asked for Biren Singh's removal several times in the past - Mr Satyabrata has so far been known to be a loyalist of the Chief Minister.

READ | Meitei, Kuki, Naga MLAs Meet In Delhi To Solve Manipur Crisis

NDTV could not independently verify the authenticity of the letter signed by the 19 MLAs, which they reportedly gave to the central leadership on Wednesday, a day after Meitei, Naga and Kuki MLAs met separately with the Centre in Delhi for the first time since the Manipur violence began in May 2023.

The MLAs who went to Delhi on Tuesday included those from the BJP and its allies Naga People's Front, Janata Dal United, and National People's Party.

"At this juncture, the people of Manipur are raising questions to us, in particular the BJP-led government, as to why peace and normalcy cannot be restored, and the plight of people could not be alleviated yet. We as fervent supporters of BJP and having won the mandate of the people feel that we have a responsibility of saving Manipur along with saving BJP from downfall in Manipur," the 19 MLAs wrote in the purported letter.

In July this year, Biren Singh had called speculation of his resignation an attempt by political rivals who wanted to take advantage of the situation in the state hit by ethnic crisis. "Manipur is passing through a troubled time. In such a crucial time, the leaders of Manipur can't afford to be weak. We are fully confident of our abilities," he had said at an event in the state capital Imphal.

READ | Manipur's N Biren Singh "Almost Quits", Torn Resignation Letter Emerges

On June 30 last year, nearly two months into the ethnic violence, Biren Singh was on the verge of resigning, but changed his mind under public pressure, state BJP leaders had said. He had started out for the Governor's house to give his resignation letter, but turned around after a huge show of support outside his Imphal home where the crowds shouted slogans against his decision to step down, under fire over his handling of the violence in the state.

A copy of Biren Singh's resignation letter was torn up by his supporters after snatching it from a minister who had come out of his house to read out the letter to the public.

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Congress Agreed To Contest 2 Seats In UP? Samajwadi Party's Claim Contested

The sharing of 10 seats in Uttar Pradesh where by-polls are due, are turning into another tug-of-war between the Congress and the Samajwadi Party. The SP, which has already announced candidates for six seats, announced a seventh today, and said the Congress has agreed to contest only two seats. 

"Our agreement is final with the Congress. Of the 10 seats, the Congress will contest on two Khair (Aligarh) and Ghaziabad, while on the rest eight,the SP will contest," SP Spokesperson Rajendra Chowdhury was quoted as saying by news agency Press Trust of India. 

The Congress disagreed. The party has been demanding five of the 10 seats going to polls in November, though it is on a considerably weak footing after its disasterous performance in Haryana.

State Congress chief Ajay Rai said, "We are not aware of this. As of now, we stand by our demand of five seats". 

The SP has already declared candidates for seven seats including Muzaffarnagar's  Meerapur from where it has fielded Sumbhul Rana.
The Congress wanted this seat, but NDTV has confirmed that this time, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav is ready to give it only two seats -- Khair and Ghaziabad. 

Sources said the SP chief has relented because the party is interested in contesting two seats in Maharashtra as part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi Alliance. 

After the Congress's poor performance in the Haryana election, the SP had snubbed its request for seat sharing in the by-polls. It was not just about Congress performance though. As in Madhya Pradesh, the two parties had failed to come to an understanding about the seats in Haryana  -- which is one of the reasons attributed to its defeat in both states where it was widely expected to win.

In both cases, state Congress leaders were blamed - Kamal Nath in Madhya Pradesh and Bhupinder Hooda in Haryana. 

Nine of the assembly seats in UP fell vacant after their MLAs were elected as MPs in the Lok Sabha polls. Bypolls are being held in the Sisamau due to the disqualification of its MLA, Samajwadi Party's Irfan Solanki, who was convicted in a criminal case. Except Milkipur, the Election Commission has announced polls on the rest nine seats. 

The polling seats will be held on November 13.

The candidate for Meerapur, Sumbul Rana, is the daughter-in-law of former BSP MP Qadir Rana, who has now joined the Samajwadi Party. Sumbul Rana's husband is Shah Mohammad Rana.

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House Help In Ghaziabad Arrested For Allegedly Mixing Urine In Dough

A house help working for a real estate businessman for eight years has been arrested for allegedly mixing urine in the dough used to make rotis, police said.

The help, identified as Reena (32) from Shanti Nagar Colony here, was caught on camera committing the alleged act, police said.

The incident came to light when Rupam, house owner Nitin Gautam's wife, noticed her family members experiencing liver problems. Suspecting a foul play, she began monitoring the help's activities in the kitchen. Gautam secretly recorded a video using his mobile phone, which captured the help allegedly mixing urine in the flour.

Based on the complaint and evidence filed by the family, police lodged an FIR regarding the matter on Monday and arrested Reena on Tuesday.

"During interrogation, the help initially denied the allegations. However, upon being confronted with the video, she confessed to her actions. The help claimed she was motivated by revenge after being frequently scolded by her employer for minor mistakes," said ACP Wave City Lipi Nagaich.

Reena has been booked under Section 272 (malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) of the BNS, said the officer.

Similar incidents of human waste, including urine and spit, being added to food items have been reported from several places in the state.

In wake of such incidents, the Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday announced it will soon introduce a new law against sellers who "hide their identity" and mix human waste or inedible material in food items and beverages.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Enough Evidence To Prosecute Coaching Centre Deaths Accused: CBI To Court

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday informed a Delhi court that there was enough evidence to prosecute the accused persons in the death case connected to the flooding in an Old Rajinder Nagar coaching institute.

The civil services aspirants had lost their lives following a torrential downpour in the national capital leading to the flooding at the coaching institute.

Principal District and Sessions Judge Anju Bajaj Chandna heard the submissions of the CBI, which urged the court to take cognisance of a chargesheet filed in the case.

Among others, the CBI has chargesheeted the CEO of Rau's IAS Study Circle Abhishek Gupta and its coordinator Deshpal Singh.

The defence counsel, however, opposed the CBI submissions, claiming the chargesheet was incomplete.

Following the submissions, the court posted the hearing on October 29 to decide on cognisance.

Shreya Yadav (25) from Uttar Pradesh, Tanya Soni (25) from Telangana and Nevin Delvin (24) from Kerala had drowned in the flooded basement of the building on July 27. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Supreme Court Calls Security To Remove Petitioner From Courtroom

Do not use the name of the judge, the Supreme Court had advised the petitioner. He insisted that he be heard. A heated exchange followed. Irked, the Supreme Court summoned the security to remove the petitioner from the courtroom.

Arun Ramchandra Hublikar had filed a petition against ex-Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, now a Rajya Sabha member. The petitioner claimed before the bench of justices Bela M Trivedi and Satish Chandra Sharma on Tuesday that his life had been made miserable by ex-CJI Gogoi's interference in an order related to a service dispute. 

Not convinced by the argument, the bench refused to entertain the petition.

The top court also remarked that there is nothing in his case. However, Mr Hubllikar, who was also arguing  the case, insisted the court hear his request as he kept blaming the former Chief Justice.

"We are going to impose cost. Don't take the name of the judge. There is nothing in your case," the Bench remarked.

"Nothing? How can it be said? It is injustice against me. At least I should get justice before my death," Mr Hublikar replied.

The Court reiterated its intention to dismiss the petition.

"Sorry, we cannot interfere. Your all petitions are dismissed," it said.

"How can you say sorry? This court has made my life miserable," an agitated Mr Hublikar retorted.

At this point, Justice Trivedi asked security to be called in for escorting Mr Hublikar out of the courtroom.

"Call security. Don't compel us to take action against you. If you speak a single word, you are out," the bench warned.

Mr Hublikar refused to relent.

"Madam, you are doing injustice against me. What is the problem in issuing notice against the complainant?" he asked again.

The Court then said, "Security, please take him out. We are calling security."

This was not the first time that Mr Hublikar faced the court's ire. Earlier, Chief Justice DY Chandrachud questioned him for filing a petition with a judge as a party in the case.
 

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Film-Maker Ram Gopal Varma On Lawrence Bishnoi's Growing "Cult Status"

Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi's personality and the points he is making through his crimes is what is drawing attention to him, giving him a "cult leader" status and getting him followers, his 700 shooters, film-maker Ram Gopal Varma said today. In an exclusive interview with NDTV, Mr Varma also said without his provocative comments, Lawrence Bishnoi would have remained yet another criminal.

Bishnoi, who is currently in Sabarmati jail in Gujarat, shot into limelight with the murder of Punjabi artiste Siddhu Moose Wala. But comments by his associates have exponentially raised curiosity.

While nothing is on record, Bishnoi's associates have given the impression that his grouse against Salman Khan is about the blackbucks the actor killed 20 years ago. In a tweet, Mr Varma had pointed out the gangster was only five years old when the blackbucks were shot.  

Blackbucks are known to be sacred to the Bishnoi community. But that he intends to kill Salman Khan for that generates a shock effect that immediately draws attention, he said.
 
In an exclusive interview with NDTV, Ram Gopal Varma said, "I tweeted about him and it got 6 million views. That is just an indication of what kind of interest he arouses in public". 

"The public is always fascinated by dons, which is why we make films... So I think he is getting a cult following, which is a very very new thing," he added.

The tweet is question is one where Mr Varma sums up the story so far of Lawrence Bishnoi, commenting that if it was a Bollywood script, the writer would have been thrashed. 

A LAWYER turned GANGSTER wants to take REVENGE for a DEER'S death by killing a SUPER STAR and as a WARNING orders some of his GANG of 700 , which he recruited through face book to first kill a BIG POLITICIAN who is a close friend of the STAR ..
The POLICE can't catch him because...

— Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) October 14, 2024

Lawrence Bishnoi shot into headlines once again last week with the murder of Maharashtra's former minister Baba Siddique and his henchmen's threats for those supporting Salman Khan. Baba Siddique was killed apparently because he was a close friend of the actor. 

Details have emerged since of the extent of the crime network that Bishnoi commands from jail. The syndicate is vast and intricate, extending through several states including Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi, and Himachal Pradesh. It even has branches abroad, especially in Canada, where key operator Goldy Brar is based.

The group primarily extorts money from high-profile targets, including celebrities like Punjabi singers, the liquor mafia, and other prominent businessmen, employing professional shooters to carry out hits and force victims into submission.

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"Land, Spit Jihad Will Not Be Allowed In Uttarakhand": Pushkar Dhami

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said on Sunday that religious conversion, encroachment, "land jihad and thook (spit) jihad" will not be allowed in ‘Devbhoomi' Uttarakhand.

He also called upon the educated people to come forward to stop such things.

At a felicitation ceremony in Udham Singh Nagar district's Kichha, the chief minister said that Uttarakhand is ‘Devbhoomi' where everyone lives together.

"But religious conversion will not be allowed in Uttarakhand, encroachment will not be allowed, land jihad will not be allowed. Some people are doing spit jihad in Uttarakhand, but spit jihad will not be allowed in the state," Mr Dhami said.

"Educated people should come forward to stop bad things in the society. Whatever is wrong, will not be tolerated. This will not be tolerated in Uttarakhand at any cost,'' he said.

Recently, two brothers – Naushad Ali and Hasan Ali, residents of Khatauli in the Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh – were arrested for allegedly spitting in a tea pot and serving that tea to customers.

Mr Dhami said his government is taking tough but necessary decisions. He mentioned the anti-copying law, anti-riot law etc and said the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) will also be implemented in the state soon.

He said the people of Uttarakhand had given a mandate to his government for UCC and it will become the first state to implement it in independent India.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Maharashtra Ex Minister Baba Siddique Shot At In Mumbai's Bandra, Critical

Baba Siddique, a former Maharashtra minister and member of the Ajit Pawar faction of the NCP, has been shot at in Mumbai's Bandra and rushed to a hospital, where his condition is said to be critical. 

Sources said three bullets were fired at Mr Siddique around 9.30 pm on Saturday at the office of his son Zeeshan, who is the MLA from Bandra East. Two people have been taken into custody.

Mr Siddique is undergoing treatment at the hospital. Sources in the hospital said at least one of the bullets hit Mr Siddique in the chest and he is being given continuous cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Mr Siddique, who was a three-time MLA from Bandra West, was associated with the Congress for 48 years and had quit the party in February and joined Ajit Pawar's NCP. Zeeshan Siddique was expelled from the Congress in August.

The firing took place on Dussehra and came months ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections, which are expected to be held later this year. 

Expressing his shock, NCP Spokesperson Brijmohan Shrivastav told NDTV that Mr Siddique had not spoken about any threats from anybody. 

Mr Siddique was elected as an MLA from the Bandra West constituency in 1999, 2004 and 2009 and served as a minister of state for food and civil supplies, labour and FDA between 2004 and 2008. 

The former MLA is known not just for his political acumen but also for hosting lavish parties. A cold war between superstars Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan was resolved at an iftaar party hosted by Mr Siddique in 2013.

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India "Concerned" As Israel Hits UN Facility In Lebanon, IDF Puts Out Map

India has expressed grave "concern" over the abysmal conflict situation in West Asia as Israel intensifies its resolve targeting Hezbollah hideouts. New Delhi issued a statement today after UN peacekeepers stationed in south Lebanon came under fire from Israeli forces.

Among the UN peacekeepers stationed in Lebanon, there are approximately 900 Indian soldiers. It is important to note that they were not at the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon or UNIFIL headquarters at the time it was attacked by Israeli forces. Besides the soldiers, there are around 25 staff officers, including medical experts deployed there.

"We are concerned at the deteriorating security situation along the Blue Line," the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement, adding that "We continue to monitor the situation very closely."

New Delhi underscored the importance it attaches to United Nations' peacekeeping initiatives saying UN premises cannot be allowed to be targeted, and respecting its sanctity is a mandate.

"Inviolability of UN premises must be respected by all, and appropriate measures taken to ensure the safety of UN peacekeepers and the sanctity of their mandate," the foreign ministry said.

Israel however, has defended its actions, with the Israeli Defense Forces or IDF claiming that "Since the beginning of the war, Hezbollah has fired more than 130 rockets in close proximity" to 26 United Nations facilities."

The IDF also put out a map in which it has identified these places as being "less than 300 meters" from the UN facilities.

WHAT THE UNITED NATIONS SAID - UNIFIL STATEMENT

The UN has said, "Recent escalation along the Blue Line is causing widespread destruction of towns and villages in south Lebanon, while rockets continue to be launched towards Israel, including civilian areas. In the past days we have seen incursions from Israel into Lebanon in Naqoura and other areas. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers have clashed with Hizbullah elements on the ground in Lebanon."

It further said that "UNIFIL's Naqoura headquarters and nearby positions have been repeatedly hit," adding that on Thursday "two peacekeepers were injured after an IDF Merkava tank fired its weapon toward an observation tower at UNIFIL's headquarters in Naqoura, directly hitting it and causing them to fall. The injuries are fortunately, this time, not serious, but they remain in hospital."

Speaking about the Israeli offensive, the UN statement asserted that "IDF soldiers also fired on UN position (UNP) 1-31 in Labbouneh, hitting the entrance to the bunker where peacekeepers were sheltering, and damaging vehicles and a communications system. An IDF drone was observed flying inside the UN position up to the bunker entrance."

It further highlighted that on Wednesday "IDF (Israeli) soldiers deliberately fired at and disabled the position's perimeter-monitoring cameras. They also deliberately fired on UNP 1-32A in Ras Naqoura, where regular Tripartite meetings were held before the conflict began, damaging lighting and a relay station."

Reminding Israeli forces that its attacks on UN facilities is a grave violation of international humanitarian law as well as UN Security Council resolution 1701, the UN said, "We remind the IDF and all actors of their obligations to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and property and to respect the inviolability of UN premises at all times. UNIFIL peacekeepers are present in south Lebanon to support a return to stability under Security Council mandate. Any deliberate attack on peacekeepers is a grave violation of international humanitarian law and of Security Council resolution 1701."

WHAT IS UN SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION 1701

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 is a resolution that was adopted with an intention to resolve the 2006 Lebanon War.

The resolution has been the linchpin of peace between Israel and Lebanon for almost two decades and the 10,000 UN peacekeepers who are tasked with implementing it on the ground.

United Nations Security Council unanimously adopts resolution 1701 in 2006. (file) (Photo Credit: un.org)

Adopted unanimously by the UN Security Council in 2006, the purpose of resolution 1701 continues to be about ending hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, with the Council calling for a permanent ceasefire to be based on the creation of a buffer zone.

WHAT IS 'THE BLUE LINE'

The 'Blue Line' is a United Nations-recognised demarcation line to indicate that Israel had withdrawn its military from southern Lebanon. It separates Lebanon from Israel and the Golan Heights, but it is not an official international border.

Stretching for 120km along Lebanon's southern frontier and Israel's northern border, the so-called "Blue Line" is "a key to peace in the region" and one of the central elements of resolution 1701 since the war in 2006, with UNIFIL peacekeepers being its temporary custodian, according to UN Peacekeeping.

UNIFIL and Lebanese officers operate one of the "Blue Barrels", which determine the Blue Line, in southern Lebanon in 2010. (file) (Photo Credit: un.org)

Based on various historical maps, some dating back almost a century, the Blue Line is not a border, but a temporary "line of withdrawal" set by the UN in 2000 for the practical purpose of confirming the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon.

Whenever Israeli or Lebanese authorities wish to undertake any activities close to the Blue Line, UNIFIL requests that they provide advance notice, allowing the UN mission to keep authorities on all sides informed, to minimise any misunderstandings that could lead to increased tensions.

ISRAEL'S LETTER TO THE UNITED NATIONS

Israel's Minister of Foreign Affairs has written a letter to the United Nations clarifying its stance amid the ongoing and escalating crisis in the Middle East (West Asia), especially with regard to its operations in Lebanon.

In its letter, the minister wrote that "On Ictiber 8, 2023, Hezbollah, a terrorist, Iranian-backed organisation, launched an unprovoked attack on Israel, joining the war initiated by Hazas on October 7, 2023. Since then they have fired over 13,000 projectiles, 1500 anti-tank missiles and hundreds of explosive drones at Israeli communities, forcing more than 63,000 people to evacuate their homes."

The minister further said that "This war which was imposed on Israel has so far resulted in 51 casualties and over 372 injuries, besides causing severe damage ot Israeli towns and villages."

The minister said that as a result of Hezbollah's unilateral and unprovoked actions, "One year later, on October 1, 2024 the IDF initiated a targeted, limited raid operations in southern Lebanon aimed at Hezbollah military assets and infrastructure along the Blue Line, with a goal of dismantling them and neutralising the ongoing threat."
 

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Heavy Rain Along With Thunderstorms Hit Mumbai, Festival Celebrations Hit

Heavy rains accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning lashed several parts of Mumbai late Thursday evening.

Due to the showers, waterlogging was reported from some low-lying areas in the metropolis.

The sudden downpour took many by surprise as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had only issued a 'yellow' alert for light to moderate rainfall in the financial capital.

The showers also hampered the ongoing Navratri festivities and spoiled 'garba' (a ritualistic and devotional dance associated with the nine-day festival) plans of many revellers. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Jaipur Court Acquits 8 In 37-Year-Old Case Of Sati Glorification

A special court in Jaipur on Wednesday acquitted eight accused in a 37-year-old case of glorification of Sati, and gave them "the benefit of doubt", a lawyer said.

The special court has acquitted 25 others in the case in 2004. Four accused are still absconding and some of them have died.

According to Defence counsel Amanchain Singh Shekhawat, the alleged Sati incident took place in Diwarala village of Sikar on September 4, 1987 when Roop Kanwar burnt herself alive on her husband's pyre.

He said that on September 22 1988, a case was registered against 45 accused in Sikar's Thoi police station on the charge of taking out a procession on a truck with the photo of Sati and glorifying it.

The Sati Nivaran Special Court in Jaipur, while hearing the case, acquitted eight people accused of glorifying Sati, giving them "the benefit of doubt", the lawyer said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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BJP Leader Defeats Congress Candidate By 32 Votes In Haryana's Uchana Kalan

The Uchana Kalan seat in Haryana saw one of the fiercest electoral encounters with BJP's Devender Chatar Bhuj Attri defeating Congress candidate Brijendra Singh by just 32 votes.

The margin of 32 votes was the lowest margin among the 90 assembly segments where polling took place on October 5.

The Jannayak Janta Party Dushyant Chautala who was the outgoing MLA from Uchana Kalan seat was at the fifth spot, as per the Election Commission.

On the other hand, Congress party's Mamman Khan won the Ferozepur Jhirka seat in the Nuh district by the highest margin of 98,441 votes.

Mr Khan, who was the sitting MLA from this seat, defeated BJP's Naseem Ahmed. Mr Khan polled 1,30,497 votes while his nearest rival got 32,056 votes.

Indian National Lok Dal's Aditya Devilal won the Dabwali seat by 610 votes and defeated Congress party's Amit Sihag.

Congress party's Rajbir Fartia defeated BJP's senior leader Jai Parkash Dalal in the Loharu seat by 792 votes.

From the Adampur seat, Congress party candidate Chander Parkash defeated BJP's Bhavya Bishnoi by a margin of 1,268 votes.

BJP's Sunil Satpal Sangwan won the Dadri seat after defeating Congress party's Manisha Sangwan by a margin of 1,957 votes.

Congress party's Chander Mohan defeated BJP senior leader and Haryana assembly speaker Gian Chand Gupta from the Panchkula seat by a margin of 1,997 votes.

The BJP emerged victorious in 48 seats while the Congress won 36 seats and was leading in one seat, according to the Election Commission.

The BJP is set to form the government in Haryana for a third straight time, bucking anti-incumbency and overcoming the setback in Lok Sabha polls when its tally dropped from 10 in 2019 to five seats.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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2 Malayalam Actors Met Gangster Arrested In Drug Case, Says Police

The names of two prominent Malayalam actors have emerged in a case involving a notorious gangster who was arrested from a star hotel in connection with a drug case recently, according to police.

The names of actors Sreenath Bhasi and Prayaga Martin, who have been part of several hit movies, appeared in the custody application report submitted by the Maradu police investigating the case following the arrest of gangster Om Prakash.

Prakash was involved in several criminal cases. He and his accomplices were apprehended at the hotel in Maradu on charges of possessing banned narcotics.

The Maradu police, in their report, stated that they had received secret information indicating that the accused were procuring substances like cocaine from abroad and distributing them at DJ parties being organised in the city.

The accused had been under surveillance by the intelligence wing of the police.

To evade police detection, the gangster booked hotel rooms in another person's name, according to the police.

As a detailed investigation was conducted, it was found that over 20 individuals, including film actors Bhasi and Martin, had visited Prakash at the hotel, the report noted.

Prakash is accused in over 30 cases, police further stated.

A senior police officer said a comprehensive investigation is being carried out in the case, and investigators have collected all vital evidence in this connection.

"Various articles were collected from the site where the accused were arrested. They were sent for the forensic examination, and their results are awaited," he told reporters here.

The officer said the call details of mobile phones seized from the accused would be examined, and a detailed interrogation of those who contacted the gangster would be carried out after that.

When asked about the film actors who had allegedly visited him, the officer said the police had collected all details, including CCTV visuals from the hotel.

Bhasi and Martin's names in the police report come at a time when allegations of various malpractices in the Malayalam film industry, including sexual abuse of female actors and drug abuse, were revealed in the Justice Hema Committee report, triggering an uproar in the state recently. The two actors were yet to react to the developments.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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AI Can Be As Dangerous For World As Nuclear Weapons: S Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar on Sunday said that artificial intelligence (AI) will be a profound factor for the world, after nuclear weapons.

Participating in the third edition of the Kautilya Economic Conclave, organised by the Institute of Economic Growth and the Finance Ministry, on its third and final day, S Jaishankar said that AI is going to be the next big thing and countries should be prepared to deal with its after-effects.

On AI, he further said that it is also going to become a profound factor in the global ecosystem. "AI will be as dangerous for the world as nuclear bombs once were," he observed.

Minister S Jaishankar also said that demographics, connectivity, and AI will change the global order.

"Globalisation can be weaponised in the next decade and the world must be cautious about it. Many people around the world blame it for the large number of job losses and other negative effects of the revolution. This issue will remain as long as there is change (globalisation)," he said, noting that the social and political reaction to globalisation has gained momentum in the last decade.

The realities of globalisation inevitably collide with protectionism, he said.

The External Affairs Minister also said that in today's era, the role of the United Nations has become only that of a spectator. Drawing a comparison with the business world, he said that the United Nations is an old business, which is taking up a lot of space, but is not changing according to the world.

On the ongoing Middle East conflict, he said that today the fight is taking place only for economic corridors, land and sea, but in the future, there will be fights over climate change also. He further highlighted that the Global South is feeling the impacts of these geopolitical tensions more acutely than others, raising concerns about the region's stability.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Supreme Court Dismisses Petition Seeking Review Of Its Poll Bonds Scheme Order

The Supreme Court has dismissed a batch of pleas seeking review of its February 15 verdict, which had scrapped the Modi government's electoral bonds scheme of anonymous political funding.

A bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices Sanjiv Khanna, B R Gavai, J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra said there is no error apparent on the face of the record.

The top court also rejected the prayer for listing the review petitions in an open court.

"Having perused the review petitions, there is no error apparent on the face of the record. No case for review under Order XLVII Rule 1 of the Supreme Court Rules 2013. The review petitions are, therefore, dismissed," the bench said in its order dated September 25 that was uploaded today.

The review pleas filed by advocate Mathews J Nedumpara and others contended that the matter related to the scheme falls in the exclusive domain of legislative and executive policy.

"The court failed to notice that even assuming the issue is justiciable, the petitioners therein having not claimed any specific legal injury exclusive to them, their petition could not have been decided as if a private litigation for the enforcement of rights which are specific and exclusive to them," Nedumpara had submitted in his plea.

He had said the court failed to notice that the public opinion could be sharply divided and the majority of the people of this country could probably be in support of the scheme, brought into existence by their elected representatives, and that they too have a right to be heard as much as the petitioners.

"The court failed to notice that, if at all it is venturing into the forbidden domain of adjudicating upon a matter of legislative policy, they have a duty to hear the public at large and that the proceedings ought to be converted into representative proceedings," the plea had said.

Holding that the 2018 electoral bond scheme was "violative" of the constitutional right to freedom of speech and expression and right to information, a five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice of India Chandrachud had scrapped the scheme.

The top court had also directed the State Bank of India (SBI), the authorised financial institution under the scheme, to submit the details of electoral bonds purchased since April 12, 2019, to the Election Commission, which was asked to publish the information on its official website.

Under the electoral bonds scheme, ruling parties can coerce people and entities to contribute, the apex court had said and rejected as "erroneous" the Centre's argument that it protects the confidentiality of the contributor which is akin to the system of secret ballot.

The electoral bonds scheme, which was notified by the government on January 2, 2018, was pitched as an alternative to cash donations made to political parties as part of efforts to bring transparency in political funding.

On March 13, the SBI told the Supreme Court that a total of 22,217 electoral bonds were purchased and 22,030 redeemed by political parties between April 1, 2019 and February 15 this year.

In a compliance affidavit filed in the apex court, the SBI said as per the court's direction, it has made available the details of electoral bonds to the Election Commission of India before the close of business hours on March 12.

The electoral bond controversy had become a major poll issue during the Lok Sabha elections as the opposition alleged it was an "extortion racket", while the ruling BJP defended the scheme, saying it had a laudable objective of bringing transparency in poll funding.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Centre Introduces New System To Identify, Block International Spoof Calls

Centre has introduced a new system to identify and block incoming international spoofed calls before they can reach Indian telecom subscribers. 

This comes amid a spate of incidents where users were "digitally arrested", and threatened with mobile disconnection, cybercriminals even impersonation of government officials or law enforcement agencies, including false accusations involving drugs, narcotics, and sex rackets. Recently, Vardhaman Group head was cheated of Rs 7 crore. 

How Does The System Work

The system has been deployed in two phases - First, at the Telecom Service Provider (TSP) level, to prevent calls spoofed with phone numbers of their subscribers. Second, at a central level, to stop calls spoofed with the number of subscribers from other TSPs. 

The Centre said all four TSPs have successfully implemented the system.

The Centre said around 4.5 million spoofed calls are being stopped from entering the Indian telecom network. The next phase, involving a centralized system which will eliminate the remaining spoofed calls across all TSPs, is expected to be commissioned soon.

Recently, a fraudster impersonating Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, a fake virtual courtroom and documents closely resembling original ones were part of the elaborate plan through which Vardhman Group head SP Oswal was duped of Rs 7 crore.

Mr Oswal, chairman and managing director of the textile manufacturer, was put under "digital arrest" on August 28 and 29 and made to transfer Rs 7 crore into multiple accounts. Police have managed to freeze these accounts and recover over Rs 5 crore so far.

Read more: A Call, Digital Arrest, Rs 7 Crore Transferred: How Vardhman Boss Was Duped

One of the key techniques used by every scammer in a 'digital arrest' is surveillance and victims are asked to stay on a video call over Skype, Zoom or any such platform on their laptop and switch to a video call on their phone even if they move to another room. 

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, several victims have lost large amounts of money to scammers carrying out 'digital arrests'.

Experts say the fear psychosis that scamsters create in the minds of their victims, makes them believe that whatever they are being told is real and they are indeed under investigation for serious crimes, with the potential of being locked up for an extended period if they don't comply. 

Read more: Surveillance, Fear: How People Are Losing Crores To 'Digital Arrest' Scams

Next Course Of Action

Cybercriminals have devised new ways to scam people, trying to bypass technological safety measures deployed by the Centre to protect users. The Telecom department has urged people to report such crimes which would help the department to devise new strategies to counter cyber fraud.

The Centre has provided the Chakshu portal to report such calls on the 'Sanchar Saathi' platform. 

The Chakshu facility is a step towards safeguarding users from cyber fraud. It provides a streamlined process for reporting suspicious activities and helps in the early detection and prevention of potential fraud.

The telecom department is using AI tools to identify the mobile connections taken on forged documents or taken exceeding the prescribed limits for an individual. Such mobile connections along with telecom resources and mobile handsets used in fraudulent activities are being weeded out from the telecom ecosystem.

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Trinamool Leader Arrested In RG Kar Hospital Corruption Case: CBI

A doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Hospital and an alleged confidant of its former principal Sandip Ghosh, Ashish Pande, has been arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation in connection with the corruption case it is investigating alongside the horrific rape-murder of a young doctor that had shocked the country. Officials of the Central agency claimed Ashish Pande is also a member of Trinamool Congress and is associated with its student wing.  There, however, has been no confirmation or comment on the matter from the Trinamool Congress. 

He will be produced in court Friday. 

This is the fifth arrest in the corruption case. 

Earlier, the agency had arrested Sandip Ghosh and three others -- his bodyguard Afsar Ali, Suman Hazra and Biplab Sinha, vendors supplying medical equipment to the hospital when Ghosh was the principal.

Ashish Pandey, who is also employed at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, is reportedly associated with the Trinamool Congress Students' Wing - TMCP. He was allegedly the TMCP unit president of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad (students' unit) state president and party spokesperson Trinankur Bhattacharya told news agency Press Trust of India: "We are yet to hear details about the case. But as of now, we can say that the law will take its own course and we have faith in the justice system." 

Ashish Pandey was earlier mentioned in the list of 59 people at the hospital who were issued show-cause notices by the hospital administration and asked to appear before an inquiry committee set up after the rape and murder of the second year post-graduate student. 

Ashish Pandey had to be rescued by security personnel after he was heckled and pushed by the protesting junior doctors when he went to the hospital to appear before the inquiry committee looking into complaints of harassment and intimidation on campus. 

Leader of Opposition in the Bengal assembly Suvendu Adhikari asserted that Pandey was a "strongman of the TMC, who was part of the propagator of the threat culture in state-run medical colleges".

"With his arrest and interrogation, CBI will be able to reach to the bottom of this culture at medical colleges and find out all those involved," Mr Adhikari was quoted as saying by PTI.

Sandip Ghosh was arrested by the CBI in connection with the case registered after allegations of financial irregularities surfaced. The Calcutta High Court had handed over the investigation to the CBI after the Kolkata Police registered a case based on complaints filed with the police.

The financial irregularities case involves irregularities in award of contracts, getting the infrastructure-related tasks of the hospital done by individuals or firms instead of getting them done by the state public works department (PWD), the sale of biomedical waste which is illegal, and sale of selling organs from unidentified bodies brought for postmortem, at "lucrative prices" outside.

Sandip Ghosh has also been arrested in connection with the rape-murder case and has undergone two polygraph tests.  He and the police officer who initially investigated the rape and murder of the doctor have been accused of attempting to hide evidence and sabotage the investigation. 

The trainee doctor was raped and murdered inside the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College on August 9. The key suspect, civic volunteer Sanjay Roy, a was seen on CCTV during investigation after the doctor's body was found. 

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Pawan Kalyan Renounces 11-Day Penance At Tirumala Temple

Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Wednesday visited the Tirumala temple here and renounced his 11-day penance (Prayaschitta Deekhsa), which he undertook to atone for the alleged sins of the previous YSRCP government at the hill shrine.

The Deputy Chief Minister was accompanied by his daughters Aadhya Konidela and Palina Anjani Konidela.

"Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan who undertook an 11-day penance for the protection of Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism) visited Sri Venkateswara Swamy on Wednesday and renounced his penance," said an official press release.

During his visit, the Deputy Chief Minister carried 'Varahi Declaration' book with him to the deity, the contents of which he will reveal in a meeting in Tirupati on Thursday.

"Deputy Chief Minister and Janasena president Pawan Kalyan had Tirumala Srivari (deity) darshanam (visit) today. Pawan Kalyan took Varahi Declaration book along with him," said a Janasena press release.

Currently, Pawan Kalyan is on a three-day visit to the temple. Following his visit to the deity, the Janasena founder had lunch at Matrasri Tarigonda Vengamamba Nitya Annadana (blessed food) centre.

Before visiting the temple, Pawan Kalyan's youngest daughter, Palina Anjani Konidela, gave a declaration at Tirumala temple that she has faith in Lord Venkateswara.

Palina Anjani Konidela is reportedly a non-Hindu and Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) - the official custodian of Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati - rules mandate that non-Hindus have to declare their faith in the deity before making a visit to the temple.

"Palina Anjani Konidela gave the declaration for Srivari (deity) visit in Tirumala. She signed the documents provided by TTD staff. As Palina Anjani is a minor, her father Pawan Kalyan also endorsed the documents," said a Janasena press release.

The declaration assumes significance as BJP leaders and several Hindu outfits had demanded that YSRCP chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, a Christian, has to issue a similar declaration before his recent cancelled visit to the temple.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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At Haryana Rally, Rajnath Singh's "Damaad Ji" Jibe At Congress

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched a fierce criticism of the Congress party on Wednesday, alleging that its leadership was involved in taking land from farmers.

Speaking at a rally in Haryana's Pehowa, Mr Singh referred to Robert Vadra, the son-in-law of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, and said, "It is their 'damaad ji' (son-in-law) who took the land of farmers. It was not some relative of the BJP who did that."

Mr Singh accused the Congress of making false promises and not delivering on them. "They make promises and mislead the public, and then those promises are never fulfilled. They should not make promises that they cannot keep," he said.

Speaking on the alliance between Congress and the National Conference (NC) in Jammu and Kashmir, Mr Singh mentioned their promise to reinstate Article 370. "Congress and NC have formed an alliance and say that they will bring back Article 370. Abrogation of Article 370 was important. It was Modi ji who abrogated Article 370. Only the central government has the authority to implement or abolish Article 370, not the state government," he emphasised. 

He also reassured the public that no injustice would be done to the Agniveers. "We need young people in the armed forces. Countries like China, America, and France engage youth in short-term military services. Political parties should unite when it concerns national security," he said.

Mr Singh also criticised Congress for questioning the armed forces' actions during the surgical strikes and airstrikes.

"When our soldiers conduct surgical strikes and airstrikes, Congress raises questions about it. Our Army has shown that India can not only defend itself on its side of the border but can also launch operations across the border if needed," he said.

Mr Singh highlighted the achievements of the BJP-led central government over the past decade, and said that India became the fifth-largest economy.

"In 2014, India was the 11th-largest economy. Today, it is the fifth-largest, and by 2027, we will become the third-largest after the United States and China. We are also the first country to reach the south pole of the moon," he said.

Comparing the financial support provided to Haryana, Mr Singh said, "When Congress was in power, they allocated Rs 21,564 crore to Haryana, whereas under the BJP, the amount increased to Rs 78,345 crore."

He urged the people to vote for the BJP in the upcoming Haryana Assembly elections. "I appeal to you all to support the BJP. Congress makes promises but can never fulfil them. They spoke about a one-rank-one-pension scheme but failed to implement it. Their chief ministers face corruption charges, while no BJP minister faces any corruption allegations," Mr Singh said.

Haryana will go to the polls on October 5 to elect its 90-member state legislative assembly, with the results set to be announced on October 8. In the 2019 elections, the BJP emerged as the single largest party, winning 40 seats, while Congress secured 30 seats.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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As Iran Fires Over 100 Rockets At Israel, Indian Embassy Issues Advisory

Amid escalating tensions in West Asia (Middle East), the Indian Embassy in Israel has cautioned all Indians to stay vigilant and follow safety protocols advised by local authorities. The advisory was issued within hours of Iran threatening an attack on Israel in the aftermath of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah being killed in an Israeli missile attack.

Iran followed up on the threat by launching over a hundred rockets at Israel, Iran's state media confirmed. Israel's defence forces said that its nationals were already in bunkers, taking shelter from the attack.

The nearly year-long conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza strip has intensified with Tel Aviv going after Hezbollah - an Iran-backed militant organisation which supports Hamas. Iran had vowed to avenge the killing of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, killed last week, and had warned Israel of an imminent ballistic missile attack against it.

"In view of the prevailing situation in the region, all Indian nationals in Israel are advised to stay vigilant and adhere to safety protocols as advised by the local authorities," The Indian Embassy in Tel Aviv said in its advisory.

"Please exercise caution, avoid unnecessary travel within the country and stay close to safety shelters," it added.

The Embassy also shared round-the-clock helpline numbers where Indian nationals can call in case of emergency. "The Embassy is closely monitoring the situation and remains in regular touch with Israeli authorities to ensure the safety of all our nationals," it said, adding, "In case of any emergency, please contact the 24x7 helpline of the Embassy - +972-547520711 and +972-543278392."

?*IMPORTANT ADVISORY FOR INDIAN NATIONALS IN ISRAEL*

Link : https://t.co/OEsz3oUtBJ pic.twitter.com/llt83IwIZ0

— India in Israel (@indemtel) October 1, 2024

The Embassy also shared an e-mail ID - cons1.telaviv@mea.gov.in - for Indian nationals to reach out, urging those "who are yet to register with the Embassy" to please do so immediately. It attached the form along with the message.
 

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