India

Mumbai, Jan 15 (IANS) INS Surat, INS Nilgiri and INS Vaghsheer were commissioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, giving an unprecedented boost to the country’s maritime security. INS Surat, P 158 guided missile destroyer is among the world’s most advanced warships, INS Nilgiri is a stealth frigate while INS Vaghsheer is a submarine of the P75 Scorpene project.

INS Nilgiri, the first ship of the P17A Stealth Frigate Project, has been designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and incorporates advanced features for enhanced survivability, seakeeping, and stealth, reflecting the next generation of indigenous frigates.

A remarkable feature of the two warships is that nearly 75 per cent content of INS Surat and INS Nilgiri is indigenously built.

The commanding officers as well as the captain of INS Nilgiri spoke to IANS, shedding light on the country’s maritime prowess that it will bring.

INS Nilgiri captain Nitin Kapoor termed the inauguration of three warships by PM Modi as ‘historic and unprecedented’ and said that it was a matter of immense pride for the armed forces as well as countrymen.

“INS Nilgiri is an advanced stealth frigate which can evade enemy’s radars by dissipating the signals, navigate its journey and chase away the enemies. It’s a deadly, world-class stealth frigate, which will make the country’s enemies shudder with fear,” he said while also elaborating on Nilgiri’s foray, about 52 years ago.

Lieutenant commander Madhav Jindal, also the in-charge of the gunnery section on the warship, said that this is one of the country’s leading stealth frigates, which can counter any threat at sea and at the same time, evade the enemy’s radars.

Shedding light on the re-commissioning of INS Nilgiri, he said that the Navy has a tradition of not allowing any ship to 'die'.

“If any ship is de-commissioned, another ship of the same name is commissioned to ensure that the name lives on,” he explained.

LK Singh, whose role is to ensure the safety of the ship as well as keep the morale of crews high, informed IANS about the strategies adopted in the deep sea.

“Special effort is made to keep the crew engaged and glued to their mission i.e. to keep a watchful eye on the nation’s enemies. Sessions are organised to keep them mentally occupied and not allow homesickness to seep in,” he stated.

With the commissioning of the three boats on Wednesday, the Navy now has a fleet of 15 attack submarines, besides two ballistic missile submarines, 13 destroyers and 14 frigates.

--IANS

mr/uk

New Delhi, Jan 15 (IANS) India is known as the first responder to the Global South for its humanitarian initiatives in times of natural disasters, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, said on Wednesday.

The country is consistently providing disaster management to the neighbouring countries in flood prevention, flood control and mitigating other disasters, said Goyal during his address at the World Congress on Disaster Management, Disaster Risk Reduction (WCDM-DRR) Awards in the national capital.

The Union Minister noted that during Covid-19, India provided free vaccines to over 100 countries through the "Vaccine Maitri" humanitarian initiative.

"The Indian government is there for every person in distress within the country and in the world. That is true global leadership and that is the philosophy of India," said Goyal.

The Minister further stated that disaster relief insurance claims is an area where work needs to be done in creating awareness and providing faster disposal of the claims in a seamless manner and nobody should need to approach the courts to get relief.

Speaking of the responsibilities of all parties concerned, the minister said that the victims must refrain from making exaggerated claims and noted that such claims only delay the process.

"Factual, correct assessment and analysis will help the authorities in settling disaster relief claims faster and giving relief to the deserving," he noted.

Goyal also highlighted the sacrifices made by the army, navy, air force and the Central and State Rapid Action Forces.

He praised the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) for their efforts in disaster prevention and reducing the magnitude of casualties in recent times.

The combination of the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) and the National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF) is also a form of huge reassurance for the nation.

The recently passed Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024 will provide benefit to the nation in terms of creating a database of the disasters at the national and the state level, the minister added.

--IANS

na/vd

Lucknow, Jan 15 (IANS) A video showing a woman assaulting an auto driver in Uttar Pradesh's Mirzapur has gone viral, allegedly following a dispute over fare. The woman, Priyanshi Pandey, however, claimed that the driver used a "wrong word" about her, which led to the confrontation.

She further stated that she has been receiving threat calls since the incident.

In the video, Priyanshi Pandey is seen dragging auto driver Vimlesh Kumar Shukla away from his seat while abusing him. Despite Shukla pleading with folded hands, Pandey continues to thrash him. She later uploaded the video on her Instagram, and it quickly gained traction. Following this, the auto driver filed a police complaint against her, seeking justice.

The accounts of the auto driver and the woman regarding the cause of the altercation differ. Shukla explained that the woman began attacking him when he requested the fare after dropping her off. "When I dropped them and asked for fare, they refused saying they were students. When I kept demanding the fare, one of them got hold of my collar and gave her mobile to her sister and asked her to record it. I then said I don't want fare. I did not even touch them," said the auto driver.

Shukla expressed his humiliation after seeing the video go viral, stating, "They made the video viral on Instagram and defamed me. I was insulted so much I won't even be able to beg. I must get justice," and mentioned that he suffered injuries to his chest.

Priyanshi Pandey, who has over 28,000 followers on Instagram, responded to the allegations in a video statement. She defended her actions, saying, "The man had used obscene language about me. That's why I thrashed him. Since then, I have been getting threat calls, after which I uploaded the video from my personal ID."

Mirzapur police have registered a case and are investigating further into the matter. O.P. Singh, Additional Police Superintendent, Operations, stated that a case has been registered and action will be taken based on the facts that emerge during the course of the investigation.

--IANS

brt/uk

New Delhi, Jan 15 (IANS) Scientists from Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bengaluru, an autonomous institute of Department of Science and Technology have developed a novel wearable device that can detect stress.

The team developed the Neuromorphic device -- electronic systems that mimic the functions of neurons and synapse -- using silver wire network on a stretchable material.

The device can sense strain, mimics pain perception and adapts its electrical response accordingly.

"These pain-like responses in the device paves the way for future smart wearable systems that can help doctors detect stress," said the researchers.

The team noted that small gaps appear within the silver network, when the material gets stretched.

This temporarily breaks the electrical pathway.

To reconnect, an electric pulse is given, which fills the gaps, and essentially "remembers" the event.

"Each time it is stretched and reconnected, the device gradually adjusts its response, much like how our bodies adapt to repeated pain over time. This dynamic process enables the device to mimic memory and adaptation, bringing humans closer to materials that respond intelligently to their environment," the team said in the paper, published in the journal Materials Horizons, Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC).

The device also combines sensing and adaptive response in a single, flexible unit. It offers a streamlined, efficient way for technology to adapt to its environment naturally, without complex setups or external sensors.

The research can "lead to more advanced health monitoring systems that "feel" stress like the human body and adapt in real-time, giving feedback to doctors or users," said the researchers.

Too much stress is known to cause physical and mental health problems.

Stress is known to be a precursor to many health problems, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, obesity and diabetes.

Learning how to cope with stress can help feel less overwhelmed and also boost mental and physical well-being.

The team noted that technology used can also improve robotic systems. These may not only help machines become safer, but also more intuitive to work with humans.

--IANS

rvt/pgh

New Delhi, Jan 15 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to entertain a plea filed by Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Working President and former Telangana Minister K.T. Rama (KTR) Rao seeking quashing of the Formula-E race case.

After a bench of Justices Bela M. Trivedi and PB Varale expressed their disinclination to interfere, Rama Rao’s counsel sought liberty to withdraw the plea filed before the apex court.

Ultimately, the matter was dismissed as withdrawn.

On January 7, the Telangana High Court had refused to quash the FIR filed by the ACB over alleged misappropriation of funds in the conduct of the Formula-E Race.

With the dismissal of the former minister’s plea by the apex court, the Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) is likely to summon KTR, as the BRS leader is popularly known, for questioning once again for alleged irregularities.

The ACB may also issue fresh notices to Special Chief Secretary Arvind Kumar and the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority's (HMDA) former Chief Engineer B.L.N. Reddy, who were already quizzed once in the case.

The BRS leader had appeared before the ACB on January 9 and was questioned for over six hours focussing on his role as then Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) Minister in signing the agreement to conduct the Formula-E race in 2023 when the BRS was in power.

The ACB last month registered an FIR against KTR, Arvind Kumar, and Reddy for alleged irregularities in payment by the HMDA to Formula-E Operations (FEO) and associated entities without adhering to established financial procedures.

The FIR was registered under Sections 13 (1) (A) and 13 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, along with Sections 409 and 120 (B) of the Indian Penal Code.

It was on October 25, 2022, that the MA&UD Department had entered into a tripartite agreement with FEO Ltd and Ace Nxt Gen Private Ltd (sponsor) for conducting Formula-E races for 9, 10, 11 and 12 seasons in Hyderabad.

Season 9 of the race was held on February 11, 2023, when the BRS government was in power. However, later the sponsor backed out, citing financial losses.

HMDA which was under Rama Rao’s ministry transferred about Rs 55 crore to FEO. The money, in British pounds, was transferred allegedly without mandatory approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

The Congress government that took over in December 2023 cancelled the E-race and also sought an enquiry into the transfer of government funds without following the norms and also the allegations of corruption.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is also conducting a probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) based on the FIR filed by the ACB.

The federal anti-money laundering agency is looking into possible violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act. The ED has summoned KTR to appear before it on January 16. The ED has already questioned the other two accused in the case.

--IANS

pds/vd

Patna, Jan 15 (IANS) Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) national president Lalu Prasad Yadav added a political flavour to the traditional Dahi-Chura feast organised by former Union Minister Pashupati Kumar Paras on Wednesday.

Lalu Prasad, a prominent political figure in Bihar, attended the event along with his elder son, Tej Pratap Yadav, making it a notable moment in the state’s political calendar.

On the occasion of the traditional Dahi-Chura feast, a new political equation appears to be emerging, with RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav hinting at a significant development involving Union Minister Pashupati Kumar Paras.

Speaking to the media at the feast hosted by Paras, Lalu Prasad said, “Paras is with us,” sparking speculation of a potential political alliance. Lalu Prasad's presence at the feast holds significance in light of the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, expected later this year.

The event, traditionally seen as a symbol of harmony and camaraderie, has often been used as an opportunity for political leaders to send subtle signals and engage in behind-the-scenes discussions.

Pashupati Kumar Paras, a key leader and the younger brother of the late Ram Vilas Paswan, represents the Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP). The participation of Lalu Prasad Yadav, despite his health concerns, adds weight to the event, potentially signalling efforts to forge broader political strategies or alliances in preparation for the electoral battle ahead. As the Assembly elections approach, such developments will likely play a critical role in shaping the political landscape of Bihar.

The festival of Makar Sankranti In Bihar is often a stage for political realignments, and this year seems no different. The statement of Lalu Prasad Yadav comes at a time when Paras’ party, the Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP), has been side-lined in the NDA. This marginalisation began after Chirag Paswan’s faction of the LJP gained prominence within the NDA ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, leaving Paras’s RLJP without any seats or significant role in the alliance.

Frustrated by the lack of recognition, Paras had distanced himself from the NDA and started exploring new political opportunities.

--IANS

ajk/uk

Mumbai, Jan 15 (IANS) Maharashtra BJP leader and Vice President of Mumbai Pradesh Hitesh Jain on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, for his controversial statement about "fighting the Indian State."

“I am not surprised by his statement. If you examine his remarks over the past few months, it becomes evident that he has never supported the Indian State. He consistently denounces India, its traditions, and its culture. Today, he has spoken openly, and that’s a good thing -- it allows the people to see his true face,” Hitesh Jain told IANS.

Jain further accused the LoP of entitlement, stating, “Rahul Gandhi believes that merely having the Gandhi surname entitles him to the highest office, irrespective of his credibility or electoral performance. His repeated statements show he has no respect for India.”

Earlier, the Congress MP had launched a sharp critique of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, accusing the BJP, RSS, and their affiliates of systematically taking control of India's institutions. He stated that the Congress party's struggle was no longer just against political adversaries but the entire machinery of the Indian State.

“Do not think this is a fair fight. It’s not just against political organisations like the BJP or RSS; they have captured nearly every institution in the country. We are now up against the Indian State itself,” Gandhi said at the inauguration of the new Congress headquarters in Delhi on Wednesday.

Hitesh Jain also commented on the Congress party’s decision to name its new headquarters 'Indira Bhavan,' questioning why it wasn’t named after former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.

“Rahul Gandhi has never respected Dr Manmohan Singh. Remember when he publicly tore an Ordinance during Dr Singh’s tenure as Prime Minister? That was a direct insult. Naming the headquarters after Manmohan Singh could have redeemed some of the respect lost during his tenure,” Jain told IANS.

Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi inaugurated the new Congress headquarters, 'Indira Bhavan,' on Wednesday. Located at 9A Kotla Road, the headquarters replaces the iconic 24 Akbar Road premises, which housed the party for 47 years.

The Congress described the new headquarters as a symbol of democracy, nationalism, secularism, inclusive development, and social justice.

On the issue of the Union Home Ministry granting permission to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to prosecute former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia in the alleged liquor scam, Jain remarked, “This is a legal process. Kejriwal is the kingpin of the scam. While the law will take its own course, Kejriwal must answer to the people of Delhi for his actions, including how he funded the construction of Sheesh Mahal and betrayed public trust.”

The Home Ministry approved the ED's action under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in connection with the 2021-22 liquor policy case. The controversial policy was scrapped by the AAP government led by Kejriwal.

--IANS

skp/rad

Mumbai, Jan 15 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday dedicated three frontline naval combatants -- INS Surat, INS Nilgiri and INS Vaghsheer -- to the nation on their commissioning at the city’s Naval Dockyard on Wednesday.

Addressing the gathering, PM Modi said that 15th January, commemorated as the Army Day, salutes every brave warrior who would sacrifice his life for the safety and security of the nation.

INS Surat, the fourth and final ship of the P15B Guided Missile Destroyer Project, ranks among the largest and most sophisticated destroyers in the world. It has an indigenous content of 75 per cent and is equipped with state-of-the-art weapon-sensor packages and advanced network-centric capabilities.

The ship's slogan, ‘We dare’ encapsulates the fearless spirit of INS Surat, and also signifies the warship’s readiness to confront challenges and its unwavering resolve in the face of adversity.

Captain and other commanding officers of the ship spoke to IANS on the momentous occasion and described the INS Surat as the ‘destroyer of top order’.

INS Surat Captain Sandeep Shorey described the warship as a one-stop solution for all eventualities and said that once pressed into service, it would accomplish its mission with accuracy and precision.

He further said that it is a matter of pride and glory for the nation as it has been indigenously built with more than 75 per cent of its homegrown equipment.

“AI-enabled systems give the INS Surat a cutting edge. It has also been commissioned in a very short span of time,” he further said.

Lieutenant commander Arpit Sangwan who is also the in-charge of signal communications described the INS Surat as the ‘latest destroyer’.

He further stated, “In the wake of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and Middle-east turmoil, the jammers and electronic warfare have attained prominence. This will ensure that at any given point of time, there exists seamless communication between our units and the establishments.”

Lieutenant commander Mayank Bhalla who looks after gunnery sections on the warship said that the ship has a compilation of all missile systems – including surface to surface, surface to air and more.

The ship is laced with multiple state-of-the-art features which include indigenous 76 MM, super rapid gun mount and close-in weapon system for AK 630 guns. It can accommodate two multirole helicopters in its enclosed, hanger and flight deck and is capable of operating helicopters and unman platforms, both day and night. The powerful generators on board provide a power generation capacity of 4.6 MW.

--IANS

mr/uk

New Delhi/Imphal, Jan 15 (IANS) Leaders of the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC), the apex socio-political body of the Kuki-Zo tribal communities in Manipur, are scheduled to have a crucial meeting with the senior officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in New Delhi on January 17, KZC sources said here on Wednesday.

A KZC leader said that the council leaders, led by its Chairman Henlianthang Thanglet, already reached Delhi to hold the vital meeting with the MHA officials.

The KZC, a conglomerate of 13 organisations of the Kuki-Zo tribal community, and 10 tribal MLAs have been demanding a separate administration equivalent to a Union Territory.

The January 17 meeting with the MHA officials assumes significance in view of the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur and this demand.

The KZC earlier this week urged Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla to take steps to deploy "neutral central security forces" to deal with the ethnic crisis and also pressed their demand for a Union Territory.

The KZC leaders met the Governor in Churachandpur district headquarters during Bhalla’s maiden visit and submitted a memorandum, which also demanded "maintaining the sanctity of the buffer zones between the hill and valley regions and re-demarcation of district police jurisdictions".

The memorandum said that there has been no improvement in the security situation following over a year-and-a-half of killings and displacements and citizens "continue to face daily danger of death".

"One-and-a-half years after the violence began, Kuki-Zo community people's homes and properties are still being set on fire and destroyed. To date, almost 7,000 homes have been demolished, over 220 Kuki-Zo community people have lost their lives, over 360 places of worship were destroyed, and about 40,000 have been made homeless,” the memorandum had said.

The Kuki-Zo Council told the Governor that "as a minority community with fewer numbers and even fewer resources to protect ourselves, we are under constant threat of being attacked by militant groups like Arambai Tenggol and the proscribed UNLF, who have access to a large arsenal of weapons bought from across the border or looted from state armouries".

The memorandum, signed by Council Chairman Thanglet and General Secretary Reverend Dr. VL Nghakthang said: "Our only hope of survival lies in a political solution for the Kuki-Zo community, which is total separation from the Manipur government and the Meitei people."

They said that now that the hills and valleys have been divided, the only thing left is separation in the administration.

"Only after the separation is completed, will there be peace. We implore you to acknowledge our predicament, act quickly to address our concerns, and support our desire to have a separate administration which is a Union Territory with a legislature under Article 239 (A) of the Indian Constitution," the memorandum had said.

The Governor, on his maiden visit after assuming office on January 3, visited Churachandpur and Bishnupur districts and during his interaction with various civil society organisations (CSOs) appealed to the leaders to work collaboratively with the administration in peace-building efforts. Bhalla also visited various relief camps in the two districts and interacted with displaced people, who have been staying in the relief camps since the ethnic violence broke out in Manipur in May 2023.

--IANS

sc/vd

Kolkata, Jan 15 (IANS) The West Bengal Police on Wednesday made the first arrest in connection with the murder of local Trinamool Congress leader Hasan Sheikh at Kaliachak in Malda district on Tuesday morning.

The person arrested for the murder has been identified as Amir Hamza.

He has also named his associate Zakir Sheikh in face of interrogation by the cops, insiders from the Malda District Police said.

Zakir, who had been identified by the investigating officials as the mastermind behind the murder, is still absconding.

Insiders said that both Hamza and Zakir were present at the spot of the crime in the Nayabasti area at Kaliachak on Tuesday morning when the brutal murder took place.

Hamza is a resident of the Nayabasti area at Kaliachak where the reported shootout took place on Tuesday afternoon in which Hasan Sheikh was killed.

Two other Trinamool Congress leaders, namely the ruling party’s local area president Bakul Sheikh and his associate Esaruddin Sheikh, were also hit in the roadside firing in broad daylight on Tuesday.

Both are admitted to Malda Medical College and Hospital and were said to be in an extremely critical condition.

The firing comes exactly 12 days after Trinamool Congress councillor from English Bazar Municipality also in Malda district, Dulal Sarkar a.k.a. Babla was killed in a similar shootout on the morning of January 2.

It is learnt that Hasan Sheikh, Bakul Sheikh and Esaruddin Sheikh had assembled at Nayabasti area at Kaliachak area on Tuesday morning.

Suddenly, as told by eyewitnesses to the police, a group of miscreants reached there and started firing indiscriminately at the victims.

After being hit by the bullets fired from close range, Hasan Sheikh, Bakul Sheikh and Esaruddin Sheikh fell to the ground.

The profusely bleeding men were immediately rushed to the hospital, where Hasan Sheikh was declared dead.

--IANS

src/rad