India

Chennai, April 12 (IANS) The re-postmortem report of G. Senthil, a 28-year-old suspected elephant poacher found dead under suspicious circumstances in Tamil Nadu's Dharmapuri forest, will be submitted to the Madras High Court on April 15.

Senthil's decomposed body was discovered on April 3 in the Kongarampatti forest area.

He had been arrested on March 17 in connection with the poaching of a wild tusker, whose charred carcass was found in the Neruppur forest range.

While his father and brother were taken into custody along with him, they were released, and Senthil went missing.

A postmortem was conducted on April 6 without the consent of his wife Chithra, prompting her to file a petition in the High Court.

She alleged that Senthil may have been tortured to death in custody by forest officials and petitioned the Madras High Court for a re-postmortem.

Justice G.K. Ilanthiraiyan ordered a re-postmortem by a team of forensic experts from three different medical colleges -- Salem, Krishnagiri, and Chengalpattu.

The autopsy was conducted on April 10 in the presence of Senthil's wife and the CB-CID Investigating Officer.

The body has been preserved at Dharmapuri Government Medical College Hospital until the court-mandated submission date.

Meanwhile, the CB-CID has launched an investigation into the incident.

A team visited Senthil's village and the site where the body was found, collecting evidence and family testimonies.

The case has sparked a political controversy.

PMK founder S. Ramadoss has demanded a CBI inquiry and Rs 50 lakh in compensation for Senthil's family.

He accused the state forest department of custodial torture and questioned the delay in reporting the death.

He also alleged the possibility of foul play, suggesting Senthil may have had incriminating information about forest officials.

Forest officials, however, claimed that Senthil had escaped custody and died by suicide.

The High Court is expected to take a call on further proceedings after examining the re-postmortem report on April 15.

--IANS

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New Delhi/Riyadh, April 12 (IANS) Setting the tone for Haj 2025, Secretary of the Ministry of Minority Affairs Dr Chandra Shekhar Kumar is currently on a visit to Saudi Arabia to review preparations for this year’s pilgrimage, an official said on Saturday.

Dr Kumar expressed satisfaction over the hygienic, stress-free stay facilities being ensured for a smooth pilgrimage experience, the official said in a statement.

The Ministry uploaded the Secretary’s photos and wrote on its social media handle, “Leaving no stone unturned for a comfortable #Haj2025 - Secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs, GoI, Dr Chandra Shekhar Kumar, is on a visit to Saudi Arabia to review arrangements for Indian #HajPilgrims.”

For the welfare of Indian pilgrims, the Government establishes several temporary healthcare facilities in Saudi Arabia during the Haj period. The necessary support with respect to the treatment of Haj pilgrims is provided through the Indian Haj Mission in accordance with Saudi law for tertiary care.

A Ministry official said special emphasis is placed on the health and well-being of elderly pilgrims, identified as a high-risk group. Medical teams comprising doctors and paramedics conduct daily visits to the buildings accommodating pilgrims, ensuring routine health monitoring, consultations, and immediate response to any emerging medical concerns.

In 2024, to cater to the healthcare needs of all pilgrims, especially the elderly, four medical centres in Makkah and one in Madinah, along with 17 dispensaries, were operational 24/7. Free consultations, medications, and treatment were provided to all Indian pilgrims, always ensuring access to healthcare.

In 2024, the country was allotted a quota of 1.75 lakh pilgrims. Out of these, 1.40 lakh were facilitated by the Haj Committee of India and the rest were handled by private tour operators.

More than 78,000 out of a total 1,75,025 pilgrims from India registered on the 'e-Haj Suvidha App' app during Haj-2024, and over 8,500 grievances and more than 2,100 SOS calls were handled through the app. Further, missing baggage cases reduced drastically during Haj 2024 as a result of the QR code mechanism.

According to the Ministry, the number of pilgrims proceeding for Haj has not decreased even after the abolishment of the Haj subsidy in 2018, and the Haj Committee of India has fully utilised the Haj quota since that year. In 2017, the year preceding the complete withdrawal of the Haj subsidy, over 1.70 lakh pilgrims proceeded for Haj.

--IANS

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Wayanad, April 12 (IANS) Workers of Elstone Estate in Wayanad on Saturday said that they will not allow the township work to begin until their dues are paid.

On Friday, the Kerala High Court allowed the state government to take physical possession of the 64 acres of land at Elstone Estate in Wayanad, which the Pinarayi Vijayan government took over for building the township.

CM Vijayan, in a social media post on Saturday, said that they have already paid Rs 26.56 crore for taking over the estate and deposited an additional Rs 17.77 crore.

"The High Court order giving the green signal for the state to take over the Elstone Estate came late Friday evening. The Wayanad District Collector completed all the proceedings for the takeover, and work started on Saturday," said CM Vijayan.

The Uralungal Labour Cooperative Society has been entrusted with the job of building the township for the Wayanad landslide victims. However, when its employees arrived with men and machines for the preparatory work at the estate, they were resisted by the former workers of the Elstone Estate.

"We have not been paid our wages for a while, and the company informed us that all our dues will be paid once they get the compensation for the takeover of the estate. We have not received anything, and we will not allow any work to begin until our dues are paid. We will begin a protest from Sunday," said angry labourers.

Former CPI-M legislator C. K. Saseendran's efforts to pacify the estate workers didn't work.

Meanwhile, the Elstone Estate officials are also upset with the compensation awarded. After the High Court verdict, the officials said they will approach the Supreme Court with their demand. However, the Vijayan government has filed a caveat petition in the Apex Court.

Incidentally, on March 27, CM Vijayan laid the foundation stone for the Wayanad Model Township, under which, 430 new homes and numerous other facilities will be built at the erstwhile Elstone Estate.

--IANS

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Gurugram, April 12 (IANS) Gurugram Traffic Police launched a special campaign in March to curb drivers violating the black film norms, an official said on Saturday.

An official said that under this special campaign, Gurugram Police issued a total of 754 challans, worth Rs 75.40 lakh.

“The aim is to prevent road accidents by making the roads of Gurugram safe. Some motorists drive motorcycles without number plates and also do triple riding, while others use black film, which can easily commit any crime,” said Virender Vij, DCP (Traffic).

He said that this special challan campaign was launched to prevent all these types of criminal activities.

“We appeal to the general public that only two people should travel on a two-wheeler and must use a helmet, not drive in the wrong/opposite direction, not consume any kind of intoxicants while driving, not use mobile phones while driving, not use black films inside vehicles, not do triple riding, and follow all traffic rules,” he said.

Virender Vij, DCP (Traffic), said that people must follow traffic rules and fulfill the responsibility of being a responsible citizen.

“In the future also, such challan campaigns will continue by the Traffic Police Gurugram,” he said.

He added that apart from the campaign, the Gurugram Traffic Police also issued Rs 68.85 lakh worth of challans against 1,372 traffic violators while using mobile phones during driving in March.

He said that the Traffic Police also issued challans worth Rs 5.32 crore against 53,215 helmetless drivers in March.

“Out of these total 53,215 challans, 33,265 challans worth Rs 3.32 crore were also issued against pillion riders,” he said.

Virender Vij, DCP (Traffic), said that the main objective of the Gurugram Traffic Police is to make the journey easy and safe by conducting the traffic in an organized and smooth manner.

“For smooth traffic operations, Gurugram Police takes action as per norms against those who violate traffic rules,” he said.

--IANS

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Devprayag, April 12 (IANS) In a tragic incident, five members of a family lost their lives after a car plunged into a river in Devprayag, located in Uttarakhand’s Tehri district, on Saturday, officials said.

The vehicle veered off the road and fell into a deep gorge, resulting in a fatal crash, they added.

According to authorities, six people were travelling in the car at the time of the accident. One woman was miraculously rescued from the wreckage and is currently receiving medical treatment. She is still in shock. The remaining five occupants died on the spot.

The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) launched a rescue operation soon after being alerted. Teams used cranes and other heavy machinery to pull the mangled vehicle out of the river, a process that took several hours due to the difficult terrain.

Officials said that all the bodies trapped under the vehicle had been recovered.

"The car has been pulled out. It took several hours. The bodies have also been retrieved. The police are examining how the accident took place," an SDRF official said.

All five victims are believed to be from the same family, according to the police. The deceased have been sent for postmortem examination to the nearest hospital.

There is a sense of shock and grief in the area as local residents gathered at the accident site. The local administration, police, and emergency personnel are present and coordinating relief and rescue efforts.

While the exact cause of the accident is still under investigation, preliminary reports suggest that speeding may have led to the driver losing control of the vehicle which fell into the river killing five people on the spot.

Officials said that relatives of the deceased have started arriving at the accident site.

--IANS

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Bhopal, April 12 (IANS) In a significant gesture to honour B.R. Ambedkar, the legendary figure and architect of the Indian Constitution, the Madhya Pradesh government has unveiled its latest wildlife sanctuary named after him.

On April 14, the country will celebrate the birth anniversary of the iconic figure of India.

Ambedkar was born in Mhow (now known as Ambedkar Nagar) in Madhya Pradesh.

This marks the state's 25th wildlife sanctuary, covering a sprawling 258.64-square km area in the Sagar district.

"A true tribute was paid to Baba Saheb by issuing a notification declaring the 258.64 square km reserved area of Sagar district as 'Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Sanctuary'. This new sanctuary will provide a new safe shelter to the wildlife. This sanctuary dedicated to Baba Saheb will strengthen the ecological balance as well as give impetus to tourism and provide new employment opportunities to the local people. This decision is a symbol of our reverence for nature, respect for the Constitution maker and commitment towards inclusive development," Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said in post on his X account.

The sanctuary, now officially named Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Sanctuary, covers the area of reserved forest land across North Sagar Forest Division, including Banda Tehsil and Shahgarh forest zones.

Falling under the jurisdiction of the North Sagar Forest Circle, this protected area aims to conserve biodiversity, strengthen the ecological food chain, and boost tourism, thereby generating employment opportunities for locals.

Set to be inaugurated before Ambedkar Jayanti in 2025, the sanctuary aligns with Madhya Pradesh's commitment to both honouring historical icons and preserving its natural heritage.

The Forest department detailed this initiative in a recent notification and reiterated its goals for wildlife conservation and promoting sustainable eco-tourism.

Madhya Pradesh is renowned for its rich wildlife sanctuaries and tiger reserves, including Kanha Tiger Reserve in Balaghat and Mandla, Pench Tiger Reserve spanning Seoni and Chhindwara, Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Umaria, Satpura Tiger Reserve in Narmadapuram, and Panna Tiger Reserve in the Bundelkhand region, among others.

The newly designated sanctuary named after B.R. Ambedkar adds to this impressive collection, offering yet another hub for wildlife enthusiasts and conservationists alike.

--IANS

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New Delhi, April 12 (IANS) Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta's compassion for stray animals was once again on public display on Saturday when she stepped out of her car and confronted a person feeding cows on a busy road, reminding him that such an act endangers bovines and motorists apart from resulting in food wastage.

With folded hands, CM Gupta asked the cow feeder, travelling in a blue car parked near a central verge, to avoid offering 'rotis' on busy roads and requested him to do so at designated places or cow shelters.

The incident took place during the Chief Minister's normal movement on city roads and she also posted a video of the incident on her social media handle over the incident.

"While travelling in the capital today, I saw a man throwing roti from his car onto the road -- presumably to feed a cow. I stopped the car and requested the man to please not do it again. Roti is not just food for us, it is a symbol of our culture, faith and respect," said the CM on her X account.

"Throwing roti on the road forces cows and other animals to come there to eat, which not only endangers their lives but also endangers the safety of people and vehicles on the road. Food should not be disrespected. If you want to feed animals, please do so at a Gaushala or a designated place. This is a sign of our sensitivity, responsibility and values," she wrote.

"I appeal to all Delhiites: Do not throw roti or any food on the road. Feed animals lovingly but responsibly. Respect your culture and keep your roads safe," said CM Gupta.

This is not the first time CM Gupta has taken up a cause for stray cows.

Last month, her convoy ran into stray cows on Haiderpur flyover in north Delhi, prompting her to step out of her car and ensure safe passage for the cattle.

While presenting the Delhi Budget 2025-26, CM Gupta, who also holds the finance portfolio, made special provision of Rs 40 crore for building a modern cow shelter in the city.

--IANS

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Ahmedabad, April 12 (IANS) Eminent Kathak exponent and founder of the Kadamb Centre for Dance, Kumudini Lakhia, passed away at the age of 95 on Saturday in Ahmedabad.

A towering figure in Indian classical dance, Lakhia was living with her daughter, acclaimed dancer Maitreyi Hattangadi.

Lakhia was recently conferred with the Padma Vibhushan on Republic Day this year in recognition of her lifelong dedication to Kathak.

She had earlier been awarded the Padma Shri in 1987 and the Padma Bhushan in 2010, along with several other prestigious honours throughout her illustrious career.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to the dance legend, stating, "Deeply saddened by the passing of Kumudini Lakhia ji, who made a mark as an outstanding cultural icon. Her passion towards Kathak and Indian classical dances was reflected in her remarkable work over the years."

"A true pioneer, she also nurtured generations of dancers. Her contributions will continue to be cherished. Condolences to her family, students and admirers. Om Shanti," he added.

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel also expressed his grief, calling her "the pride of Gujarat and India in the field of classical art".

"She trained many disciples in classical dance and exposed the glory of Kathak dance in the country and the world. May God grant peace to her soul and give strength to her relatives and countless disciples and admirers to bear this grief. Om Shanti," he posted on X.

Lakhia was born in 1929. She began her career dancing with Ram Gopal and toured internationally, bringing Indian classical dance forms to global audiences.

She later trained under maestros of the Jaipur Gharana and Pandit Shambhu Maharaj. Over time, she evolved from a solo performer into a pioneering choreographer.

After more than two decades of solo performances, in 1967, Lakhia established the Kadamb Centre for Dance in Ahmedabad. By 1973, she transitioned into full-time choreography, often innovating with group compositions that broke the traditional solo Kathak format.

Among her most celebrated choreographic works are Dhabkar (Pulse), Yugal (The Duet), and Atah Kim (Where Now?), the latter of which she presented at the Kathak Mahotsav in Delhi in 1980.

She also contributed as a choreographer to Muzaffar Ali's acclaimed film 'Umrao Jaan' (1981) alongside Gopi Krishna.

Lakhia mentored several prominent Kathak dancers, including Aditi Mangaldas, Vaishali Trivedi, Sandhya Desai, Daksha Sheth, Maulik Shah, Ishira Parikh, Prashant Shah, Urja Thakore, and Parul Shah, among many others.

--IANS

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Raipur, April 12 (IANS) Inspired by the ongoing ‘Lon Varratu’ (Come Back Home) campaign in Dantewada district, eight Maoists, including two carrying bounties, have surrendered on Saturday.

A police official said that most of them are CNM (Chetna Natya Manch) members of various Rewali and Kakanadi Panchayats. The Manch – an awakening and dramatic arts Front is the ‘cultural troupe’ of the Communist Party of India (Maoist).

He added that another surrendered Maoist is a Timnar GRD member and another is a Bhairamgarh Area Student Organisation member, while two others are Pomra Panchayat Bhumkal Militia members.

The Chhattisgarh government had announced a reward of Rs 50,000 each for Mangdu Madkam, a Tekalguda Panchayat CNM member, and Deva Ram Kunjam, a Rewali Panchayat CNM member, said the officials.

An official said that these individuals were previously involved in activities such as road digging and displaying Naxal banners and posters in their respective areas.

Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) Sundarraj P and other senior officers, the district police force, and CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) have been actively engaging with Maoists to encourage their reintegration into society.

The officials said that the campaign, combined with the Chhattisgarh government’s rehabilitation policy, has been widely publicised in villages, leading to a steady stream of surrenders from both high-ranking and lower-level Maoists.

Disillusioned by the harsh and exploitative ideology of Maoism, internal conflicts within Maoist groups, and the challenges of living in the forests, these individuals have chosen to abandon violence and re-join society.

On April 12, 2025, eight Maoists, collectively carrying a bounty of Rs 1 lakh, surrendered at the office of Deputy Inspector General (Dantewada Range) Kamalochan Kashyap as part of the ‘Lon Varratu’.

The RFT (Intelligence Branch) Dantewada, along with the 111th and 230th Battalions of the CRPF, played a pivotal role in facilitating these surrenders.

Under the rehabilitation policy, the surrendered Maoists will receive Rs 50,000 in financial aid, along with other benefits such as skill development training and agricultural land.

Since the inception of the ‘Lon Varratu’ campaign, a total of 961 Maoists, including 226 with rewards, have surrendered and embraced a new path in society, the officials said.

--IANS

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Mumbai, April 12 (IANS) Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC on Saturday responded to the recent surge of violence in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district over the Waqf (Amendment) Act, asserting that the legislation aims to ensure transparency and accountability, not provoke unrest.

Her remarks came in light of violent clashes and incidents of arson reported in Murshidabad, where public protests erupted over alleged misunderstandings about the Waqf Act amendments.

Speaking to IANS, Shaina NC said, “The people of West Bengal should know better. The amendment to the Waqf Act is meant to bring in transparent and accountable practices to eliminate corruption. For all these loudmouths spreading conspiracy theories, it’s time they actually read the Act to understand its fundamentals.”

She further reacted that the amendment mandates proper maintenance of revenue records, prevents encroachments, and ensures that courts can follow a streamlined process in Waqf-related matters.

“These reforms are long overdue,” she added.

Addressing skepticism around the law, Shaina pointed to past legislative efforts.

“Look at the amendments made in 1995 and 2013 — all they led to was inefficiency. This amendment, however, promises transparency and accountability. Ultimately, the real beneficiaries will be the Muslim community.”

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday declared that her state would not implement the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, following violent protests in areas like Jangipur and Murshidabad.

She appealed for peace and harmony, emphasising that the law was enacted by the central government. Banerjee cautioned against political misuse of religion and warned of legal action against those inciting riots.

The Shiv Sena leader also commented on Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Maharashtra’s historic Raigad Fort earlier in the day.

“We are here to deliver for the people of Maharashtra, and the Home Minister’s visit to Raigad is a matter of pride. Under the leadership of Devendra Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde, and Ajit Pawar, many monumental projects will soon take shape,” she said.

Shaina NC further slammed Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan’s remarks concerning a fair trial for Tahawwur Hussain Rana — an accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks who was recently extradited from the US to India. Chavan had called for a fair trial for Rana, in line with Indian legal procedures.

“Prithviraj Chavan needs to understand that a terrorist is not a regular criminal,” Shaina said.

“Cases of terrorists must be fast-tracked and handed capital punishment. Rana was a mastermind, working alongside David Headley and Major Iqbal of Pakistan’s ISI. Given public sentiment, the death penalty is the only way forward,” she said.

Rana, a 64-year-old Pakistani-origin Canadian businessman and close associate of convicted 26/11 conspirator David Headley, is now in high-security custody with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) following his long-awaited extradition from the United States.

--IANS

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