Regional

Hyderabad, Dec 13 (IANS) Telangana government suspended Sangareddy Central Jail Superintendent Sanjeeva Reddy for taking a farmer in handcuffs to a hospital for treatment.

The suspension was announced after an inquiry into the incident on the orders of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy.

Inspector General of Police Satyanarayana conducted an inquiry in the jail along with the Sangareddy district Superintendent of Police.

The IG and other officials questioned the jail staff for four hours. They found that the jail authorities were responsible for handcuffing Heerya Naik while being taken to a hospital in Sangareddy after he complained of chest pain.

The officials also found that the jail authorities did not inform the Vikarabad district police but gave information to the Cyberabad police.

The IG clarified that Naik was not an accused in the case relating to the attack on officials during a public hearing on land acquisition for a pharma cluster in Lagacharla village of Vikarabad district. He said Naik was accused in some other case registered in Balanagar

Earlier, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy took serious note of the incident and ordered an inquiry.

According to the Chief Minister’s Office, the Chief Minister enquired about the incident from officials. He expressed his anger and asked what was the need for handcuffing the farmer.

He directed senior officials to conduct an inquiry and submit a comprehensive report. He warned the officials that the people's government would not tolerate such incidents.

The farmer was taken to hospital after he complained of chest pain. He was later shifted to a hospital in Hyderabad.

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), the working president, has also condemned the farmer's handcuffing.

“Absolutely heartless, insensitive and shameful of Telangana Government. You handcuff a farmer who’s suffered a stroke. Lagacharla farmers have been in jail for over a month now. Their only mistake was they didn’t yield to the Revanth Government’s diktats to part with their agricultural land,” Rama Rao said in a post on ‘X’.

--IANS

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Bhopal, Dec 12 (IANS) Madhya Pradesh’s Women and Child Development Department on Thursday claimed to have rescued a woman beggar near a temple in Indore with cash amount more than Rs 75, 000.

The administration claimed, that the woman, who has been shifted to a rescue centre run by the Women and Child Development Department, has confessed to earning the money within one month from begging in the area.

Project Officer of the Child Development Department in Indore city, Dinesh Mishra said, "During the interrogation woman said she had earned this money in the past month. She has been involved in begging for the last several years."

The state government has revived the beggar-free campaign which was initially planned in September 2023 by the then Indore District Collector Ilayaraja T.

Ilayaraja T is now serving as Additional Secretary of the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Department while new Indore District Collector Ashish Singh has taken forward the implementation of the scheme.

The district administration has said that the campaign has been launched so that the children and women engaged in begging at crossroads could be rescued.

An official said that a committee under the supervision of the Indore District administration, along with the concerned departments must identify sectors (hotspots) where there are cases of disguised begging.

The rescued child labourers cum beggars are being given proper counselling followed by education and training so that they are properly rehabilitated and do not go back on the streets.

"Rescued persons are counselled in three phases and if they are still found on the streets, then there is also a procedure for legal action against them," Dinesh Mishra said.

Indore district administration has deployed a dedicated team that looks after the issue along with the other departments to introduce a grassroots campaign for this purpose.

--IANS

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Karnataka, Dec 12 (IANS) Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Haryana registered big wins on Day 4 of the ongoing 7th edition of the Men's National T20 Cricket Tournament for the Blind 2024-25, popularly known as the Nagesh Trophy. The 7th edition of Nagesh Trophy Group A & Group B league matches began on Monday. A total of five teams from Group A & five teams from Group B will be battling for glory at the ongoing Nagesh Trophy respectively.

In Bengaluru, Karnataka secured a dominant win over Tamil Nadu. Put to bat first, Tamil Nadu scored a total of 117/9 in their 20 overs, while Karnataka defeated Tamil Nadu with a score of 87/5 in 8.5 overs.

Karnataka won by 5 wickets through the DLS method where the match was reduced to 13.0 overs with a target of 85 runs. Sunil Ramesh from the Karnataka team was adjudged as the player of the match.

In the second clash, between Delhi and Himachal, the match was abandoned due to the prevailing weather conditions in Bengaluru.

Group B action at JK Pavilion Ground saw Andhra Pradesh and Pondicherry facing each other. Having to put to bat first, Pondicherry scored 142/7 in their 20 overs. Andhra Pradesh won the match by scoring 143/5 in 16.1 overs.

Gopalachary from Andhra Pradesh was adjudged the player of the match for his brilliant knock of 50 off 34 balls.

In the second game between Haryana and Bihar, Haryana having batted first managed to score a victory by scoring 192/6 in 20 overs. Bihar managed to score 162/8 in 20 overs. Deepak Malik from Haryana was adjudged the player of the match for his brilliant knock of 127 of 61 balls.

This year’s league matches are hosted across six venues, culminating in the Super 8 stage in February 2025. A total of 28 teams, including state and union territory squads and an Indian Railways team, are vying for the championship.

--IANS

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Jammu, Dec 12 (IANS) J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday chaired a meeting of the Department of Floriculture, Parks, and Gardens to review its functioning and discuss strategies to enhance the sector’s potential, an official statement said.

Addressing the meeting, the Chief Minister highlighted the immense opportunities in the floriculture sector, especially with Kashmir Valley soon to be connected with the rest of the country through railways.

He emphasised the need to leverage this connectivity to market Kashmir’s flowers across India and globally.

“We must engage progressive growers and other stakeholders to fully realise the sector’s potential,” the Chief Minister said.

He further directed the department to plant tulips along Airport Road to enhance the aesthetic appeal and launch ad campaigns to attract more tourists to Srinagar’s iconic Tulip Garden.

Earlier, the Commissioner Secretary gave a detailed presentation on the department’s functioning, highlighting achievements and ongoing projects.

Key milestones and initiatives discussed included, Tulip Show 2024 in which a record 1.7 million tulips of 72 varieties were planted, attracting 4.46 lakh tourists in March 2024.

The meeting also discussed significant developments in the floriculture sector, including the establishment of ornamental cherry tree gardens (Sakura) and the creation of a Tulip Garden in Sanasar.

The establishment of peony and rose gardens at Pahalgam was also highlighted, alongside progress in the process of enlisting six historic Mughal Gardens as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Discussions further focused on various ongoing and upcoming projects aimed at the modernisation and enhancement of the region’s parks and gardens.

These included the upgradation of Bagh-e-Bahu Garden and the establishment of Bour Camp Garden in Jammu.

Other projects discussed were the development of chrysanthemum plantations at Udhampur, the upgradation of Badamwari, and the establishment of the Dara Shikoh Garden.

The creation of theme gardens at Gulmarg, the development of floriculture nurseries, and the establishment of a model flower centre in Jammu were also deliberated.

Additionally, plans for an amphitheatre and beautification projects at Bagh-e-Bahu were reviewed.

The Chief Minister emphasised the importance of modernising and mechanising garden maintenance to enhance efficiency while optimising resources and generating revenue. He urged the department to prioritise initiatives that boost the tourism potential of Jammu and Kashmir while preserving the region’s rich natural heritage.

The Chief Minister emphasised the need for modernisation and mechanisation of garden maintenance, resource optimisation, and revenue generation.

He urged the department to focus on projects that enhance the tourism potential of Jammu and Kashmir while preserving its natural heritage.

--IANS

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Patna, Dec 12 (IANS) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday laid the foundation stone for the country's first child cancer hospital, Mahavir Child Cancer Hospital, in Phulwari Sharif town of Patna.

This ambitious project is being spearheaded by the Mahavir Cancer Institute, which already operates two cancer hospitals, and is set to provide free cancer treatment for children up to 18 years.

The child cancer hospital will have the capacity of 100 beds.

It will be an ultramodern, six-storey facility and will be built in an expected time period of 18 months.

The new facility will provide free cancer treatment for children.

The project was launched during a programme commemorating the anniversary of the Mahavir Cancer Institute.

Acharya Kishore Kunal, the Secretary of Mahavir Mandir Nyas Samiti, Building Construction Minister Ashok Chaudhary, and Medical Superintendent L.B. Singh were present, along with religious leaders and officials, to mark the occasion.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar praised the initiative, expressing gratitude to the Mahavir Mandir Trust and the administrators of Mahavir Cancer Institute for their contribution to healthcare.

Addressing a gathering, the Chief Minister extended his best wishes for the successful completion of the hospital, emphasising its importance for children battling cancer.

The construction of this hospital represents a major step forward in pediatric cancer care in India.

Once completed, the hospital will serve as a critical resource for underprivileged families in need of specialised cancer treatment for their children.

The upcoming Mahavir Child Cancer Hospital in Phulwari Sharif aims to provide a lifeline for children battling cancer, particularly those from economically weaker sections.

Acharya Kishore Kunal, the Secretary of the Mahavir Mandir Trust Board, highlighted the significance of the project, stating: "This will be the country's first cancer hospital for children. The problem of cancer is increasing rapidly among children, which is very worrying. Through this hospital, relief will be given to those families who are unable to afford expensive treatment."

The Mahavir Mandir Trust, which operates the iconic Mahavir (Hanuman) temple in Patna, is renowned for its charitable healthcare initiatives.

It already manages the Mahavir Cancer Institute and Research Centre, a leading institution providing comprehensive cancer care in Bihar.

--IANS

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Bhopal, Dec 12 (IANS) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said on Thursday that the BJP-led state government will continue the 'Ladli Behna Yojana' in the state despite claiming that the women-centric flagship has created a 'financial burden' on the state's budget.

Chief Minister Yadav made this statement during a press conference, highlighting the achievements and steps taken to strengthen the financial state of the Madhya Pradesh government during the past year under his leadership.

He said that when this scheme was launched, a perception was made that it would not last for a longer period. However, the state government has ensured to deposit every installment of the scheme on its scheduled date without any delay and it could happen because of improvement in the financial position of the state.

"We accept that Ladli Behna Yojana has created an extra financial burden on the government, but at the same time, we have also increased our earning resources during this period. Ladli Behna Yojana will continue," CM Yadav said.

The 'Ladli Behna Yojana' was introduced by former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in June 2023, a few months before the Assembly elections held in the state.

This scheme has played a crucial role in BJP's stellar victory in the 2023 Assembly polls, propelling a two per cent surge in voting by women in the state.

Under the scheme, the state government provides financial assistance to the women (under certain conditions) of Rs 1,250 per month.

The scheme was launched claiming to make women more financially independent, maintain self-reliance, and improve the health and nutritional status of their dependent children by providing monetary benefits.

The concept of this freebie scheme was adopted by some other state governments as well. However, reports suggested that the Ladli Behna scheme costs Rs 19,000 crore financial burden on the cash-strapped government.

--IANS

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Bengaluru, Dec 10 (IANS) S.M. Krishna, former Karnataka chief minister and a veteran politician, passed away on Tuesday in Bengaluru after a prolonged illness. He was 93.

Krishna was suffering from age-related ailments. He was admitted to the Vaidehi Hospital and later shifted to the Manipal Hospital following a lung infection. He was treated at the ICU recently. He breathed his last at his residence in Sadashivanagar.

He is survived by his wife Prema and two daughters. The late V.G. Siddhartha, founder of Cafe Coffee Day, was his son-in-law. Krishna’s grandson is married to Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s daughter. Krishna is considered to be Shivakumar's godfather in politics.

President Droupadi Murmu condoled Krishna's death. "Sad to learn about the demise of Shri S. M. Krishna who served people in various capacities during his long career in public life – from a member of the state assembly and of parliament to a union minister and governor. As chief minister of Karnataka, he earned people’s affection for his commitment to development of the state. My heartfelt condolences to his family and admirers."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences on Krishna's death. The PM said he had many opportunities to interact with S.M. Krishna over the years, and will always cherish those interactions.

"I am deeply saddened by his passing. My condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti.”

PM Modi further wrote on X handle, "Shri SM Krishna Ji was a remarkable leader, admired by people from all walks of life. He always worked tirelessly to improve the lives of others. He is fondly remembered for his tenure as Karnataka’s Chief Minister, particularly for his focus on infrastructural development. Shri SM Krishna Ji was also a prolific reader and thinker."

Dy CM Shivakumar said the mortal remains of Krishna will be kept for public viewing at his residence in Sadashivanagar throughout the day on Tuesday.

His final rites will be conducted Wednesday morning at Somanahalli in Maddur, Mandya district, his birthplace, Shivakumar stated.

Krishna was the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President in 1999 and led the Congress party to a thumping victory. He was the chief minister of Karnataka from 1999 to 2004 and the Governor of Maharashtra from 2004 to 2008. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha and became the External Affairs Minister in the then-PM Manmohan Singh cabinet.

Krishna cut ties with the Congress and joined the BJP in 2017 but kept a low political profile.

He announced his retirement from politics on January 7, 2023.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, “I am shocked by the demise of former Chief Minister S.M. Krishna. His service to the state and the nation, both as a Union Minister and as the Chief Minister, is unparalleled. Karnataka will forever remain indebted to him, particularly for his contributions to the growth of the IT-BT sectors during his tenure as Chief Minister.”

“A seasoned statesman, Krishna was a leader without enemies. During the early days of my association with the Congress party, he was my mentor and always a well-wisher,” the CM stated.

“Krishna’s vision, disciplined life, noble conduct, and scholarly nature are exemplary for aspiring politicians. I share in the grief of his family and supporters who are mourning his loss. I pray to God that his soul may rest in peace,” CM Siddaramaiah stated.

BJP State President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra expressed deep condolences, stating that with the demise of senior BJP leader and former Chief Minister S.M. Krishna, the party has lost a guiding force.

S.M. Krishna was active in politics for several decades and played a pivotal role in transforming Bengaluru into an IT-BT hub. He also served as the Union Minister of External Affairs and as the Governor of Maharashtra. He was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan award, Vijayendra stated.

Vijayendra prayed to God to grant the strength to bear this loss to the family members, relatives, well-wishers, and supporters of the veteran leader. He also wished for the departed soul to rest in eternal peace.

Somanahalli Mallaiah Krishna was born in the village of Somanahalli in Maddur Taluk, Mandya district, Karnataka, to a Vokkaliga family.

After completing his primary education in his hometown, he pursued his secondary education at Sri Ramakrishna Vidyashala in Mysuru. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Maharaja's College, Mysuru, and obtained his law degree from University Law College. Additionally, he earned degrees from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, and the George Washington University Law School in Washington, D.C., USA.

He is remembered for his contributions to the IT and BT sector and the growth of Bengaluru as the IT capital of the country. He is also known for putting the Brand Bengaluru on the global map.

--IANS

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Mumbai, Dec 10 (IANS) The death toll in Monday's ghastly accident -- in which an allegedly drunk BEST bus driver mowed down at least 25 vehicles -- climbed to five and another 36 persons injured, the BMC Disaster Control said here on Tuesday.

The tragedy occurred in the crowded Kurla West market around 9.30 p.m. when the BEST air-conditioned electric bus Route No. A-332 came at a dizzying speed and rammed into moving and stationary vehicles, including a police jeep.

The shocking mayhem near the busy Lal Bahadur Shastri Road resulted in at least five people getting killed and some 36 injured, many critically, as the bus ground to a halt after some 500 metres.

As per preliminary reports, the bus driver, identified as Sanjay More, was allegedly in an inebriated state and lost control of the vehicle, which hurtled into the vehicles and pedestrians, while eyewitnesses claimed he was seen laughing and enjoying his death drive.

CCTV footage of the tragedy that emerged this morning showed people screaming, running helter-skelter to save themselves on the narrow and congested road.

Police and BMC Officials said that the wet-leased bus of Kurla Bus Depot was proceeding to Sakinaka, and the deadly drive occurred near the Anjuman-e-Islam School on S. G. Barve Marg in Kurla (West).

The locals and other authorities rushed the injured to Bhabha Hospital and private clinics in the vicinity.

Some of the deceased have been identified as Kaniz Fatema Ansari, 55, Afreen A. Shaikh, 19, Anam Shaikh, 18, and Shivam Kashyap, 18.

The vehicles damaged included autorickshaws, scooters, motorcycles, some cars, a police jeep, etc.

Though the exact causes of the crash are being probed, it is suspected that the accident happened due to a brake failure. Additionally, the bus driver has been booked on multiple charges, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Dec 10 (IANS) Somanahalli Mallaiah Krishna, former External Affairs Minister and Chief Minister of Karnataka passed away at his Bengaluru residence in the early hours of Tuesday at the age of 92 and had been undergoing treatment for age-related ailments.

Known for his intellectual prowess and administrative acumen, S M Krishna had an illustrious political career spanning over five decades.

Born on May 1, 1932, in Maddur, Karnataka, Krishna pursued his education at Maharaja’s College in Mysuru and the Government Law College in Bengaluru before earning advanced degrees from Southern Methodist University in Texas and George Washington University in Washington, DC. A recipient of the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship, Krishna was one of the most academically accomplished leaders of his time.

He served as the Chief Minister of Karnataka from 1999 to 2004, during which he was instrumental in transforming Bengaluru into a global IT hub. His tenure as External Affairs Minister from 2009 to 2012 under the UPA government further cemented his reputation as a distinguished statesman. He also held the positions of Governor of Maharashtra (2004–2008) and Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly (1989–1993).

Initially a long-time Congress stalwart, Krishna joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2017, citing ideological differences and continued to remain a guiding figure in Karnataka politics until his retirement. In recognition of his contributions, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2023.

Krishna’s commitment to public service and his vision for Karnataka left an indelible mark on the state’s governance and development. Even after stepping back from active politics, his connection with Karnataka’s cultural heritage remained strong, as evidenced by his inauguration of the Mysuru Dasara festivities in 2021.

--IANS

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Gurugram, Dec 9 (IANS) A cybercrime team of the Gurugram Police have arrested an accused for allegedly duping a man of Rs 5 lakh for posing as a representative of a matrimonial site, police said.

The accused was identified as Jafir Ansari a native of Jharkhand. The accused was arrested on Saturday from Chennai.

According to the police, they received a complaint in which the victim stated that on December 2, Rs 1,988 was automatically debited from his bank account.

The next day, the complainant closed his auto pay option on Shadi.com and searched for the customer care number of the matrimonial site on Google.

The victim then contacted the number found on Google; soon after, he got a call from a person who offered him help; the accused later contacted the victim on WhatsApp call, saying that there was a network issue and asking for other information from him.

"The complainant got suspicious of that person, but by the time he called the customer care of his bank and closed his account, he had been duped of Rs 5 lakh which was debited from his account," Inspector Naveen Kumar, station house officer (SHO) of Cyber Crime (South) police station said.

During police interrogation, it was found that the accused and his companions had given their number in the name of customer care at shaadi.com. Whenever someone searches for the customer care number of shaadi.com, their number appears in the search engine.

Following this, they would come to know that someone has searched their number. After this, a person would call them, or the accused would call that person and get the person to click on a link in the name of help and by sharing the screen, they would get the information of the bank account and commit fraud.

The police have recovered 14 mobile phones, 08 Aadhar cards, 06 ATM/credit cards and 01 PAN card used in the fraud from the possession of the accused.

--IANS

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