"Alarming": Himanta Biswa Sarma On Rohingya Infiltration

Infiltration by Rohingyas from Bangladesh through Assam's Karimganj district is 'alarming' and a threat to national security, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Saturday.

There is a network of brokers who bring the Rohingyas into Tripura, from there to Karimganj in Assam and then the rest of the country, the chief minister said while addressing a press conference at the conclusion of the two-day conference of superintendents of police in Bongaigaon.

''Five police teams from Assam are currently in Tripura and working with the state government to act against the brokers,'' he said.

The situation is alarming and anyone entering the country illegally without valid papers is a threat to the security of the country, Mr Sarma added.

''We have already informed the Centre and sought help from central agencies along with the cooperation of the Tripura government'', he added.

The Rohingyas do not stay in Assam but move to other parts of the country, he added.

''We, however, adopted the strategy to push them back and not arrest them as they will then take bail and try to become citizens of the country'', Mr Sarma said.

In his address to the SPs on Friday, the chief minister had said that Assam is now being used as a corridor by the Rohingyas to go to Delhi or Kashmir and the DGP has already taken some steps in this direction while the Karimganj SP has been asked to step up vigil along with necessary measures to stop infiltration.

All the three districts in Barak Valley must remain active and proactive steps must be taken to prevent Rohingya infiltrators, smugglers and insurgents from using the state as a corridor for transit to other states, he said.

He also called for increasing intelligence in all railway stations from Barak Valley to the western border of Assam, so that the Rohingyas are intercepted and decisive action is taken against them.

Referring to the banned ULFA (Independent), the chief minister said the doors for talks is always open for the outfit.

When ULFA(I) chief Paresh Barua had left the country more than three decades ago to launch the movement, the situation was very different, he said.

''We were all very angry then as we had to agitate for everything that the state needed as the then government did nothing for us. The situation is very different now as we are getting so many projects even without asking. If Barua comes and stays in Assam for seven days now, he will realise the change'', Mr Sarma added.

Asked about the Al Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), the chief minister said the issue was not discussed at the convention as it was being coordinated with the central agencies.

''Assam is a potential place for their modules which we are neutralising from time to time and will continue to do so'', he added.

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

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"Mere Show-Off": BJP Slams Opposition's Manipur Visit Amid Ethnic Clashes

The opposition is "staging a drama" while the Centre is trying to restore normalcy, the BJP's National General Secretary, Tarun Chugh, said, slamming the Opposition delegation that visited Manipur.

"This is mere show-off... PM Modi's government is trying to heal the wounds of people in Manipur but the Opposition is simply staging a drama," Tarun Chugh told news agency ANI.

Earlier in the day, multiple teams of the Opposition delegation visited relief camps in Manipur's Churachandpur district.

The leaders slammed the Centre for not sending a delegation and said that their visit is just a way of providing some "psychological healing" to the people in distress.

Those staying in relief camps are all very scared, Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said after visiting a camp.

The Opposition leaders will accompany Prime Minister Narendra Modi if he visits Manipur with an 'all-party delegation', he added.

Trinamool Congress MP Sushmita Dev slammed the BJP and said instead of the Opposition, the Centre should have sent a delegation to the ethnic strife-hit state.

Notably, the viral video from the state of two women being paraded naked triggered a war of words and raised concerns over the situation in the state, which is witnessing ethnic clashes since May 3.

The 21-member opposition delegation arrived in Manipur on Saturday for their two-day visit. The leaders said the purpose of their visit is to "represent the demands of the people".

Earlier in the day, Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey urged the visiting INDIA leaders to contribute to the restoration of peace and order in the state.

She also called on all parties and stakeholders help put the state back on track.

The leaders of the visiting delegation said they will refrain from raising any political issues during their visit and would simply focus on getting a sense of the situation on the ground.

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Himachal Hotel Association Announces 50% Discount Post Monsoon Fury

With Himachal Pradesh's hotel occupancy rate at almost zero per cent after the recent monsoon fury, the hotel association has announced a 50 per cent discount on room tariffs to woo back tourists and a minister said it was "safe" to travel to the state now.

The tourism industry was recovering after the COVID-19 pandemic and recorded one crore six thousand tourist footfalls in the first half of 2023, but the havoc wreaked by heavy rains and floods during the month of July resulted in negligible tourist footfall and thousands of bookings were cancelled.

The monsoon is a lean tourist season and occupancy rate falls to 30 to 40 per cent but this time hotels are empty. Not only private hotels are offering huge discounts, the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation has also announced a 50 per cent discount on room rents till September 15.

The hotel industry has announced a 50 per cent discount to tourists and roads are being restored and there is nothing to worry, Federation of Himachal Hotels and Restaurant Associations president Ashwani Bamba told PTI on Saturday.

"We are hoping that the tourist inflow will gradually increase by September." In a video released here on Saturday, Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh said that the situation is becoming normal and Himachal is safe to travel now.

"I assure tourists that things are coming back to normal and Himachal Pradesh is safe to travel now. You can come to enjoy the natural beauty of the state and the government would make all efforts to ensure that your stay is safe and all facilities are provided to you," he said in a video.

The state government had safely evacuated about 75,000 tourists from different parts of the state recently.

Videos of landslides blocking roads, tourists stranded, floods damaging buildings, sweeping vehicles and roads caving in causing enormous damage to life and property had gone viral since July 9 and as a result the tourists are apprehensive to travel to the hill state during the ongoing monsoon.

So far, 184 persons have died in rain-related incidents and road accidents since June 24 when the monsoon hit the state.

Thirty-three people are missing as per the state emergency response centre. 

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

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Mother Of Woman Stripped In Manipur Wants To See Bodies Of Son, Husband

The mother of one of the two women paraded naked by a mob in Manipur on May 4 urged the MPs of opposition coalition INDIA to help her see the bodies of her husband and son, who were also killed on that day.

A delegation of 21 MPs from the opposition bloc is on a two-day visit to the state, and meeting people affected by the violence.

When Trinamool Congress MP Sushmita Dev and DMK MP Kanimozhi met the mother of one of the victims, she urged them to help her at least see the bodies of her son and husband.

She also told the two leaders the situation is such that Kukis and Meteis, the two warring communities, cannot live together anymore.

"Her daughter was raped, and her husband and son were killed by the mob in the presence of Manipur Police but till today, not a single police officer has been suspended," Ms Dev told PTI-Video.

"They have got a huge shock. They are saying that there was a mob of more than 1,000 people, and they have made a specific demand, which I will raise with the governor," she said.

The girl alleged that she was raped in front of the police, but nothing was done to help her, she added.

Ms Dev claimed that the girl is scared of the police now. "If a victim does not trust the police anymore then it is a constitutional crisis." Kanimozhi said the victim's father served in the Army and protected the nation, but could not protect his family.

"It is so sad to see a woman whose daughter was raped. She lost her husband and her son on the same day and there is no justice for them," she said.

The viral video of the May 4 incident renewed the national attention on Manipur, where violence broke out nearly three months ago, killing over 160 people since then, and injuring hundreds.

The violence erupted 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, while tribals, which include Nagas and Kukis, constitute 40 per cent and reside mainly in the hill districts.

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

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Non-Bailable Warrant Against UP BJP Leader In Sexual Abuse Case

A non-bailable warrant has been issued against a local BJP leader in a case of sexual abuse of a 17-year-old girl in Meerut in Uttar Pradesh, police said on Saturday.

According to the police, the teenaged girl, working in the office of advocate Ramesh Chand Gupta, has alleged that she was sexually abused by Gupta, his relative and BJP metropolitan unit general secretary Arvind Gupta Marwari, and Uttar Pradesh Consumer Cooperative Union Sanjeev Goyal Sikka.

Advocate Gupta was arrested on June 21 in the case.

A special court under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act issued the non-bailable warrant (NBW) against BJP leader Arvind Gupta Marwari, Daurala police station SHO Sanjay Sharma said.

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav targeted the BJP-led government in Uttar Pradesh over the issuance of NBW against the party leader.

"The news coming from Meerut is enough for the BJP government to hang its head in shame. In a case of sexual abuse of a minor girl, BJP's Meerut city unit general secretary Arvind Gupta Marwari has been made an accused," Mr Yadav said, according to a statement issued by the opposition party.

Giving details of the case, the police said a video surfaced purportedly showing advocate Gupta abusing a girl.

After the video surfaced, the 17-year-old girl went missing under suspicious circumstances and a missing person case was lodged by her brother on May 27.

She was recovered safely on June 15.

When she was presented before a court on June 16, she levelled charges of sexual abuse against advocate Gupta, the BJP leader and Sikka, police said.

Subsequently, the advocate and the BJP leader were charged for rape.

Though the advocate was arrested, the BJP leader is on the run.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rohit Singh Sajwan said that after the issuance of NBW, all possible places are being raided for Arvind Gupta Marwari's arrest.

He will be arrested soon and produced before the court, the SSP said.

On the allegation against the Uttar Pradesh Consumer Cooperative Union chief, the SSP said he was accused of molestation and the matter is being investigated.

BJP Metropolitan president Mukesh Singhal said they have sought approval from the state leadership for action against Arvind Gupta Marwari.

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

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Police Case Against Tuition Teacher For Showing Obscene Video To Minor

Police have registered a case against a tutor for allegedly assaulting a 15-year-old girl and showing obscene videos to her, police said on Friday.

The girl used to take tuition from the accused at his home, they said.

For past some time, the accused used to show obscene videos to the girl student coming to his home for tuition. Sometimes, he also assaulted her, they said.

Initially, the girl did not tell anyone about her ordeal as the accused had threatened her with dire consequences. A few days later, however, she disclosed the matter to her family and stopped going to classes.

On Thursday, she finally reported the matter to police.

Taking cognizance of the matter, police have started an investigation by registering a case against the teacher under the POCSO Act and other provisions of the law.

According to the police, the girl studies in Class 11 at a private school in Ambala Cantonment.

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

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Indian-Origin Man In UK Convicted Of Killing Friend Over Drugs

An Indian-origin man, described by UK police as a “dangerous” individual, has been convicted of the murder of a former friend due to a feud over drugs worth around 5,000 pounds.

Amraj Poonia, 27, from Horley in south-east England, was found guilty of murder at a trial at the Old Bailey court in London on Thursday.

He had already pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice, a charge his 26-year-old brother Raneel Poonia was found guilty of at the end of the trial.

The Metropolitan Police said their four-year-long extensive and detailed police investigation into the murder of Mohammed Shah Subhani, 27, dates back to when he was murdered in west London and his body was eventually recovered in a woodland in December 2019.

“We have achieved justice for Shah, his family, and his partner by securing these convictions against the man responsible for his cowardly murder and those who helped to dispose of his body,” said Detective Chief Inspector Vicky Tunstall.

“Amraj Poonia is a dangerous individual and I have no doubt that the streets of west London are far safer now he, and his accomplices, have been convicted – I hope that this outcome and the diligent investigation that led to their conviction improves the trust that communities can have in the Metropolitan Police,” she said.

“This has been a terrible ordeal for his family and, by listening to the evidence presented within the trial of his murder and disposal, they have been exposed to detail that no family should ever have to know about their loved ones,” she added.

The trial was told how the murder of Mr Shah was carried out behind the doors of the Poonia family plumbing business on an industrial estate in Hounslow, west London, in May 2019.

Mr Shah had been asked to look after a large amount of cannabis (5kg) on behalf of a local drug dealer and had given some of the drugs – around 1 kg with a street value of approximately 5,000 pounds – to his friend at the time Amraj Poonia to look after. But the latter stole the drugs instead and staged a “theft” of them from a car as a cover for this.

These missing drugs left Mr Shah in debt to the local drug dealer and, believing Poonia to be responsible, caused increasing animosity between the duo, and threats of retribution were made.

Mr Shah was said to have been murdered on May 7, 2019, shortly after entering Poonia's plumbing business. Shah's body was later kept in the boot of a car in an unknown location within Hounslow whilst Amraj Poonia and his associates planned on where and how to dispose of it, the Met Police said.

Officers conducted an extensive forensic search of the plumbing business and small samples of blood were located. These were later matched and confirmed to be that of Shah and the investigation was passed to a Homicide team of the Met's Specialist Crime Command. The body was ultimately recovered from a rural woodland near Beaconsfield, south-east England.

“He was kind, he was helpful, and he was courageous. He was an amazing son, an amazing brother, an amazing partner and was an amazing uncle at the time. And I know had his daughter met him and known him, she would say I have the best dad ever,” Shah's sister, Iqra, said in a tribute to her late brother.

Amraj Poonia claimed that he, and he alone, had killed Mr Shah and that this had been in self-defence. However, after hearing all of the evidence the jury found him guilty of Shah's murder, dismissing his self-defence argument.

Besides his brother Raneel, associates Mohanad Riad, 23, and Mahamud Ismail, 26, were also found guilty of perverting the course of justice. All four men will be sentenced at the Old Bailey court in London at a later date. 

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