India

Amaravati, April 13 (IANS) At least three women were killed in a hit-and-run case in Andhra Pradesh’s Sri Sathya Sai district on Sunday.

The accident occurred when an unidentified vehicle rammed into an auto-rickshaw on the Hindupur-Sire highway near Dhanapuram Cross in Parigi Mandal.

The vehicle sped away after hitting the auto-rickshaw, which fell off the road.

Three women died on the spot, and eight others were injured in the accident. The injured have been shifted to a hospital at Hindupur.

The deceased were identified as Alivelamma (45), Adi Lakshmamma (65) and Shakamma (60).

According to police, 14 people were travelling in the auto-rickshaw. They were all returning after visiting the Kotipi Chawdeswari temple.

The victims hailed from Dodagatta in Roddam mandal of the same district.

Police registered a case and took up an investigation to identify the vehicle which hit the auto.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has expressed shock over the accident. He condoled the death of three women and conveyed his sympathies to their families.

The Chief Minister assured the families of the deceased that the government would extend to them all possible assistance. He directed officials to provide the best treatment to the injured.

Minister for Medical and Health Sathya Kumar Yadav has also expressed grief over the accident in the Sri Sathya Sai district. He directed officials to provide the best possible treatment to the injured at a government hospital in Hindupur.

The minister said it was unfortunate that the devotees met the accident while returning from Kotipi Chawdeswari temple. He conveyed his condolences to the families of the deceased and assured them that the government would render all assistance.

Transport Minister Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy has also expressed shock over the death of three women in the road accident in the district. He conveyed his condolences to the families of the deceased. He also asked officials to ensure that the injured got the best treatment. The minister advised the students to follow traffic rules to avoid road accidents.

--IANS

ms/dpb

Lucknow, April 13 (IANS) Amid a row over SP chief Akhilesh Yadav's remarks about BSP founder Kanshi Ram, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Sunday said that the former was suffering from the disease of telling only half-truth.

Taking to social media platform X, the Deputy CM said that if Netaji (SP founder Mulayam Singh Yadav) helped Kanshi Ram in the 1991 Lok Sabha polls in Etawah, then the Dalit icon returned the favour by not fielding any BSP candidate against the SP patriarch in Jaswantnagar.

Mounting the attack, Deputy CM Maurya said SP's darker truth is that on June 2, 1995, its goons tried to sexually assault and murder Dalit leader Mayawati in the state guesthouse in Lucknow.

However, the BJP, which is dedicated to Dalits' welfare, taught the SP's "goons" a lesson and saved the honour and life of Mayawati, the leader claimed.

SP is the real enemy of the Dalits and deprived sections of society, he said.

BJP leader Ajay Alok also slammed the SP chief for insulting Kanshi Ram. He highlighted that Kanshi Ram was the second person after Bhimrao Ambedkar to have worked for the Dalits and marginalised sections of the society.

BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya accused Akhilesh of disparaging Kanshi Ram to elevate Mulayam Singh Yadav's legacy.

"Akhilesh Yadav first insulted the Kshatriya community by supporting the statement of an SP MP who called Rana Sanga a traitor. Now he is mocking the Dalit community's guide, Kanshi Ram, only to make him look smaller than Mulayam Singh," Malviya wrote.

The political leaders' remarks came in response to Akhilesh's claim that Netaji and socialist people helped Kanshi Ram to win the Lok Sabha polls from Etawah.

--IANS

svn/

New Delhi, April 13 (IANS) The Indian semiconductor industry's revenues are likely to double from $54 billion to $108 billion between 2025 to 2030, according to a report by financial services firm UBS.

The report expects India to gain amid the US-China tariff war that will put the communist giant at a disadvantage and see India emerging as a stronger alternative for global giants looking to set up supply chains.

The report sees strong growth ahead for the market, including a localisation opportunity, which is expected to generate $13 billion in revenues in 2030.

UBS said this 15 per cent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) estimate is faster than our forecast for the global semiconductor end market thanks to India's favourable demographics fuelling strong electronics demand (and in turn semiconductors), rising enterprise adoption of advanced semiconductors, and favourable government policies.

India accounts for only 0.1 per cent of global wafer capacity, around 1 per cent of annual equipment spending, and a 6.5 per cent semiconductor end-demand share, the report states.

According to the report, major tech companies are evaluating the relocation of their supply chains amid the ongoing tariff uncertainties triggered by the Donald Trump administration in the US.

A few companies have already embarked on their "China plus one" strategy by diversifying their final assembly locations beyond China, the report points out.

India's tech advantage lies mostly in its vast talent pool in the software and services industry, whereas mainland China's dominance is in tech manufacturing.

In semiconductors, too, India has a unique advantage, with around 20 per cent of global chip designers working in the country for multinational corporations, the report points out.

Despite these uncertainties, the US and mainland China are the top end-markets. India, at 6.5 per cent, is a solid end market for global semiconductors, with $54 billion in revenues in 2025, the report added.

--IANS

sps/dpb

Chennai, April 13 (IANS) The Tamil Nadu Health Department has launched an intensified crackdown on illegal foetal sex determination centres across the state, amid growing concerns over sex-selective abortions and skewed gender ratios.

The Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine recently issued a circular to all District Health Officers (DHOs), instructing them to conduct surprise inspections at a minimum of three scan centres each month.

The objective is to curb the unlawful practice of prenatal sex determination and enforce the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act more effectively. The circular, issued in the first week of April, also mandates that DHOs, in coordination with the Joint Director of Health Services (JDHS), must visit all scan centres in their Health Unit Districts (HUD) and submit detailed inspection reports to the Directorate by the 6th of every month.

“In recent days, sex-selective abortions, particularly targeting female foetuses, have been reported from various parts of the state,” stated Dr T.S. Selvavinayagam, Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine. “To strengthen enforcement of the PCPNDT Act, DHOs must conduct surprise inspections at a minimum of three scan centres each month.”

However, health officials on the ground say the effectiveness of these measures hinges on empowering DHOs. As per Section 17(2) of the PCPNDT Act, appropriate authorities must be appointed by gazette notification. Currently, DHOs are not officially part of the District-Level or Sub-District-Level Advisory Committees, which limits their ability to act independently.

The latest circular follows a major bust on February 26, 2025, when a joint operation involving health officials and police unearthed an illegal sex determination network spanning the Salem and Krishnagiri districts.

Six individuals, including a government doctor and a nurse, were arrested. The operation was launched based on a tip-off received by Krishnagiri District Collector S. Dinesh Kumar. A covert team, including City Health Officer Dr G. Ramesh Kumar and Kelamangalam Block Medical Officer Dr C. Rajesh Kumar, set up a sting operation. Two doctors posing as a couple seeking fetal sex determination approached Gautham, 34, of Rayakottai. Gautham directed them to Sagaya Mary, 48, from Tirupathur, but due to identification issues, the decoy couple was redirected to Salem district.

There, they met intermediaries Sangeetha, 38, from Dharmapuri, and Ambika, 45, from Salem. These touts took them to nurse Kalaimani, 48, at the Primary Health Centre in Thedavur. Eventually, the couple was brought to the Pasupathy Scan Centre in Veeranam, where they met Dr Muthamil, 45, from Achankuttapatty PHC.

After confirming the illicit procedures, authorities arrested all six involved, including Dr Muthamil and nurse Kalaimani. An ultrasound machine used for sex determination was seized.

Investigations revealed that Dr Muthamil charged Rs 15,000 per procedure. All six have been remanded to judicial custody. Despite the stringent provisions of the PCPNDT Act, 1994 -- which prohibits sex selection before or after conception and regulates the use of prenatal diagnostic techniques -- enforcement remains a challenge. Violations can lead to fines ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000 and imprisonment of up to five years.

The February case is not isolated. In August 2024, officials in Dharmapuri busted another illegal racket where prenatal sex determination was being conducted in a residential property without authorisation.

Experts say that such persistent illegal practices reflect deep-rooted cultural biases favouring male children, contributing to declining female sex ratios and long-term social consequences. As the Health Department tightens surveillance and enforcement mechanisms, calls are growing louder to empower DHOs through formal inclusion in advisory bodies and independent policing authority to ensure that the crackdown is not just symbolic but truly effective.

--IANS

aal/dpb

Hyderabad, April 13 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan has returned to India from Singapore along with his son Mark Shankar, who was injured in a fire accident last week.

The Jana Sena leader, along with his family members, landed at Hyderabad International Airport late on Saturday night.

The actor-politician was seen carrying his seven-year-old son. He was accompanied by his wife, Anna Lezhneva and daughter, Polena Anjana.

Meanwhile, Pawan Kalyan said that his son is stable and recovering well.

“Following the unfortunate fire incident at my son Mark Shankar’s summer camp in Singapore, I have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of prayers, concern, and support from all over the world. I wholeheartedly thank leaders from various political parties, Jana Sena Party leaders, Jana Sainiks, well-wishers, members of the film fraternity, friends, and supporters from across the globe for standing by our family during this difficult time. Mark Shankar is now stable and recovering well. Your heartfelt messages have truly given us strength,” Pawan posted on X.

Through another post, the Deputy Chief Minister thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Prime Minister’s Office for the prompt and supportive response. He stated that the assistance provided through the Singapore authorities, coordinated by the Indian High Commissioner in Singapore, was deeply reassuring during the difficult moment.

“While I was in the Uttarandhra Tribal region, participating in the ‘Adavi Thalli Baata’ programme and inaugurating development activities initiated by the NDA Government, I received the distressing news. Your timely intervention for my son and the other children affected gave my family immense strength and relief,” wrote Pawan.

“Adavi Thalli Baata is a reflection of your visionary commitment to uplifting the lives of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). This is one of the many steps you have taken to address the needs of these communities, and it is a critical part of your broader efforts to transform their lives. With the support of PM JANMAN, PMGSY, and MGNREGS, this initiative will construct approximately 1,069 KM of roads with an estimated expenditure of Rs 1,005 crore, addressing connectivity issues in 601 PVTG habitations,” reads the post.

“This project will improve transportation, support tourism, provide timely medical access, and, most importantly, put an end to the long-standing 'doli' hardships faced by these communities. I once again thank you for your thoughtful and compassionate intervention, which has given immense strength to my family during this challenging time,” Pawan Kalyan added.

--IANS

ms/uk

Kolkata, April 13 (IANS) Trinamool Congress MP Khalilur Rahaman from the Jangipur constituency said on Sunday that initial findings indicate the perpetrators of communal violence in certain areas of the minority-dominated Murshidabad district of West Bengal, which has been tense in recent days due to protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, were primarily outsiders and not residents of the district.

After the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) were deployed in the district on Saturday night -- with a concentration on the nine most troubled pockets -- the members of the families affected by the violence have started coming out and narrating their horrific experiences during the last few days.

As per statements given by them to the CAPF and media personnel, most of the perpetrators seen involved in vandalism were actually outsiders who suddenly surfaced like flash mobs, carried out the vandalism, and then left.

The members of the affected people also claimed that among the perpetrators, there were several visibly under-aged individuals participating in the vandalism.

Meanwhile, the total number of arrests, which was 118 till Saturday evening, has now increased to 150 till Sunday morning, confirmed a district police official.

The theory of the outsiders perpetrating the violence has also been accepted by the leadership of the ruling Trinamool Congress in the Murshidabad district.

Khalilur Rahaman said the attackers were mainly outsiders to Murshidabad. However, he denied knowledge of where they came from.

"It can be either from neighbouring Malda and Nadia districts coming either from the land or water routes through the Ganga and Bhagirathi Rivers. The location of Murshidabad is such that it can be entered both through land and water routes,” Rahaman added.

According to the Trinamool Congress legislator, Manirul Islam, whose house was attacked by a section of the flash mobs, also accepted the outsider's theory. “Such things have never happened in this area. This could not have been possible unless outsiders had orchestrated the entire sequence. There might be some insiders involved in the rampage. But the perpetrators had mainly come from outside,” said Islam.

Meanwhile, the air of tension has continued to prevail in the troubled pockets of Suti, Samserganj, Dhulian, and Jangipur, among others in the district, despite the CAPF personnel being deployed in large numbers, with the major concentration being the nine most troubled pockets.

The CAPF personnel were deployed following an order of a special division bench of the High Court on Saturday evening. The CAPF personnel started patrolling in the troubled zones on Saturday night. The Director General of State Police, Rajeev Kumar, also reached Murshidabad on Saturday night, coordinating with the administrative officials and commanding officers of CAPF.

Police and CAPF postings have been done at all the entry points to the Murshidabad district, both by roadways and waterways. Each vehicle or boat entering the territory of Murshidabad is being thoroughly checked, and the passengers are being questioned before entry is allowed.

--IANS

src/dpb

Hyderabad, April 13 (IANS) Six-kilometre-long traffic jam was reported on the Srisailam highway in Telangana's Nagakurnool district on Sunday, as a sea of devotees headed for the Saleshwaram Jatara.

According to officials, the traffic jam was mainly due to the delay in paying toll tax at Mannanur checkpost in Amrabad mandal. The Forest Department collects the toll from vehicles proceeding to Saleshwaram.

The delay led to a six-kilometre-long traffic jam on Srisailam Ghat Road from the checkpost to Siddapur Cross, which caused severe hardships to devotees, including women and children.

Volunteers and Forest Department staff were trying to control the traffic.

Every year, a jatra is held at the Saleshwaram Lingamayya Swamy temple on the occasion of Chaitra Purnima, the first full moon of the Hindu lunar year.

Devotees from both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh attend the three-day Saleshwaram jatara, known as Telangana's Amranath yatra.

With Sunday being the last day of the jatra, a large number of devotees queued up at the temple.

The long traffic jam is also attributed to hundreds of devotees heading to the Mallikarjuna Swamy temple or the Srisailam temple in Andhra Pradesh.

The crowd at Jatara and the Srisaialm temple swelled due to Hanuman Jayanti and a series of holidays.

According to officials, many devotees were also trekking to the Saleshwaram Lingamayya Swamy temple, located in the forest and surrounded by hillocks. They were having darshan and making offerings.

There are three walkways to the temple, which is believed to have been built in the sixth or seventh century.

The temple authorities already urged devotees to cooperate during the yatra. They were warned against carrying plastic covers, water bottles, and other plastic items into the forest. Devotees were advised not to travel alone in the forest.

The authorities also imposed a complete ban on alcohol consumption and warned that action would be taken against violators.

Since there is a possibility of forest fires in view of the summer, devotees were directed not to carry matchboxes or other items to light the fire.

--IANS

ms/svn

Mumbai, April 13 (IANS) Vishal Gawli, the man accused of the kidnapping, rape, and murder of a 12-year-old girl in Kalyan, Maharashtra, was found dead by suicide in Taloja jail early Sunday morning.

Gawli, who had been imprisoned for approximately three and a half months, allegedly hanged himself with a towel in the toilet around 3:30 am. His body has been sent to JJ Hospital for a post-mortem examination, according to the preliminary reports.

Kharghar police have confirmed the incident, stating that the accused took his own life inside the jail premises, leaving the police team "shocked."

The case against Gawli originated in December 2024, when the young girl went missing from Kalyan.

Following a complaint filed by her family, an initial case of kidnapping under Section 363 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was registered. Tragically, the girl's body was later discovered, leading to the addition of Section 302 (murder) of the IPC to the charges.

During the subsequent investigation, police apprehended Gawli, the primary suspect, from Buldhana. He was held in police custody until January 2, 2025.

Authorities also interrogated ten individuals, including relatives and acquaintances of the accused, as part of their inquiry.

The investigation revealed that Vishal Gawli had allegedly lured the minor girl to his residence within the Kolsewadi police station jurisdiction in Kalyan, where he sexually assaulted and then brutally murdered her.

He is then alleged to have concealed her body in a bag. Gawli, described as having "goon tendencies" and having created "terror in the area where he lived," was a rickshaw puller with a reported history of five previous molestation cases registered against him, according to the sources.

Further investigation uncovered the alleged involvement of Gawli's wife, Sakshi, in the disposal of the victim's body.

Reports indicate that after informing Sakshi, who works in a private bank, about the crime, the couple decided to dispose of the body together.

Gawli allegedly transported the body in a bag in a friend's rickshaw to Bapgaon and discarded it there before fleeing to Buldhana, where he was eventually apprehended by the police.

--IANS

sd/

Bengaluru, April 13 (IANS) The Karnataka BJP has slammed the Congress party over a state minister's remarks on Ambedkar and Veer Savarkar, saying that it was the grand old party which was responsible for Babasaheb's electoral defeat.

Minister for Social Welfare H.C. Mahadevappa, who is also a close confidante of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, had claimed that Veer Savarkar had conspired to defeat Ambedkar in the election.

The Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, R. Ashoka, said on Sunday, "It was the Congress party that fielded a candidate against Babasaheb Ambedkar. It was the Congress that crafted every possible strategy to ensure Ambedkar’s defeat. It was also the Congress that provided resources to Narayan Sadoba Kajrolkar in order to defeat Ambedkar. And ironically, it was the same Congress party that later gave him the Padma Bhushan as a reward for his defeat."

"After orchestrating so many conspiracies to defeat Babasaheb and denying him the Bharat Ratna, for the Congress to now claim that Veer Savarkar was behind Ambedkar’s electoral loss is the height of shamelessness," Ashoka chided.

"Nowhere in Ambedkar’s comprehensive biographies -- not even in the book published in 1974 by the Maharashtra Congress, nor in the volumes published by the Karnataka Congress -- is there any mention of Veer Savarkar being linked to this matter," Ashoka pointed out.

"The deep-seated resentment the Congress held toward Ambedkar and their repeated efforts to suppress and sideline him are clearly documented in history," he noted.

"Even senior leaders from your own party, including the close associate of CM Siddaramaiah and former Speaker Ramesh Kumar, have spoken about the injustice done to Ambedkar by the Congress -- in the Assembly itself. True followers of Ambedkar will never support the Congress party," Ashoka said.

Earlier, Minister Mahadevappa, who hails from the oppressed class, while targeting LoP Ashoka, stated, "Babasaheb Ambedkar’s lifelong struggle was against people with a mindset like yours - rooted in Manuvaad - and against the very principles of that ideology. In such a context, when you continue to follow the path of Manuvaad instead of embracing the path of the Constitution and yet try to spread false propaganda against the Congress, it only makes me smile because it reflects a lack of awareness on your part," Minister Mahadevappa stated.

"Babasaheb himself said that Savarkar was the reason for his electoral defeat. So instead of peddling false history, it would be enough if you simply believed the truth spoken by Babasaheb," the Minister said.

In 1952, Dr Ambedkar lost to his former personal assistant and Congress candidate Narayan Sadoba Kajrolkar in Bombay (North). And then again in the 1954 by-election in Bhandara, he was defeated by the Congress nominee, Bhaurao Borkar.

--IANS

mka/dpb

Guwahati, April 13 (IANS) Rongali Bihu, the most cherished of the three Bihus, marks the Assamese New Year and the arrival of spring. It is more than just a festival - it's an emotion deeply woven into the cultural soul of the people of Assam.

Assam has been gearing up to celebrate Rongali Bihu on Monday.

On Sunday, the state will celebrate the Uruka, the festive evening that precedes Rongali Bihu (Bohag Bihu) and Magh Bihu, the two most prominent Bihu celebrations in Assam.

On this night, communities come together around a bonfire (meji) to enjoy traditional feasts, music, and dance, setting the tone for the celebrations to follow.

Rongali Bihu, observed in April, signifies the Assamese New Year and the onset of spring, while Magh Bihu, celebrated in January, marks the conclusion of the harvest season.

From bustling markets selling traditional attire and gamusas to the distant sound of dhol, pepa, and gogona floating on the breeze, all signs indicate that Bihu fervour has gripped Assam.

Homes are decorated, courtyards ready for Bihu dances, and kitchens filled with the delicious aroma of pithas and larus.

In every household, preparations are underway in full swing. People are sewing new mekhela chadors, planning get-togethers, and practicing dance steps, which have been passed down through generations.

Across the state, Bihu committees are busy organising grand functions -- from traditional dance competitions to musical nights where local artistes and cultural icons will take the centrestage. Youth groups are rehearsing tirelessly, ready to set the stage on fire.

In the villages, the celebration remains close to its roots - rustic, warm, and full of life. The sound of laughter mixes with the music as people come together to celebrate nature's bounty, community spirit, and the timeless bond between humans and the land they call home. But even in cities, where modern life races ahead, Bihu brings everyone back to their roots.

Offices and schools close for the festivities, and people return to their hometowns, drawn by the irresistible call of tradition, family, and celebration.

This year, the anticipation feels even more special - a chance to reunite, dance freely, sing together under the open sky, and celebrate the very essence of being Assamese. As April unfolds, Assam is not just preparing for a festival - it's preparing for a homecoming of the soul.

Bihu is coming, and with it, a season of joy, hope, and harmony.

--IANS

tdr/svn