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Chennai, Jan 28 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin, will inaugurate a memorial honouring 21 social justice activists who lost their lives in the police firing during the Vanniyar reservation struggle in September 1987.

The memorial, constructed at Vazhudhareddi in Villupuram at a cost of ₹5.70 crore, will be a tribute to these activists.

CM Stalin is on a two-day visit to Villupuram district as part of his statewide tour to evaluate government schemes.

During the tour, CM Stalin will also inaugurate a memorial hall in honour of former minister A. Govindasamy, who served in governments led by iconic Dravidian leaders C.N. Annadurai and M. Karunanidhi.

This memorial hall, also built in Vazhudhareddi, has been completed at a cost of ₹4 crore.

As part of his visit, CM Stalin will also open the Ellis Chatram dam, built across the Thenpennai River at Enathimangalam.

As part of his two-day visit, CM Stalin conducted a roadshow in Tindivanam on Monday, greeting people and receiving petitions along the way.

He walked for about one km, interacting with residents before continuing the roadshow.

The event featured traditional art performances such as karakattam.

CM Stalin also paid a surprise visit to a primary health centre in Olakur near Tindivanam.

Accompanied by District Collector C. Palani, he inspected the fever and post-operative wards, checked the availability of medicines, and interacted with patients to assess the quality of treatment.

He directed health authorities to ensure timely disbursal of assistance under the Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy Maternity Benefit Security.

Tamil Nadu Minister for Forests K. Ponmudy, along with District Collector C. Palani, reviewed security arrangements in the district.

CM Stalin began district visits to monitor the implementation of state government schemes on November 5, starting with Coimbatore.

In a letter to party cadres, the Chief Minister announced his intention to conduct ground-level inspections across the state, emphasising his commitment to visiting all districts to evaluate the performance of welfare initiatives.

Since assuming office in May 2021, CM Stalin’s government has introduced several welfare schemes aimed at uplifting marginalised sections of society.

In the state legislative Assembly, CM Stalin reported that ₹6,569.75 crore has been distributed through the state government’s welfare schemes across Tamil Nadu since the DMK government assumed office.

—IANS

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Patna, Jan 28 (IANS) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is set to visit Purnea on Tuesday as part of the second phase of his Pragati Yatra to review ongoing developmental projects, inauguration, and foundation-laying ceremonies for various schemes worth crores of rupees.

This follows his earlier visit to Saharsa on January 23.

During the visit, the Chief Minister is expected to engage directly with the local population, address their concerns, and inspect key public infrastructure, including schools and Anganwadi centres.

He will also conduct a detailed review of government-run schemes in the district. Senior officials, ministers, and local MLAs will accompany him, with all necessary administrative arrangements already in place to facilitate the visit.

Notably, this trip was initially scheduled for January 27 but had to be postponed after the Chief Minister fell ill.

Chief Minister Nitish's Pragati Yatra schedule has undergone slight adjustments.

According to the updated information released by the state Cabinet, the Chief Minister will visit Purnea, and continue his Pragati Yatra in Katihar on January 29 and Madhepura on January 30.

This systematic approach highlights the Chief Minister's commitment to closely monitoring and advancing the progress of key projects while addressing the needs of local communities.

As part of his Pragati Yatra, Chief Minister Nitish visited Saharsa district on January 23, where he inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for 52 development schemes worth over Rs 210 crore.

He had inaugurated the school building at the Senior Secondary School campus in Mainha village, located in the Sattarkataiya block. He also inspected the school playground and reviewed its facilities apart from examining the waste processing unit, emphasizing sustainable waste disposal practices.

CM Nitish also inspected the Government Medical College and Hospital Purnea as well.

CM Nitish visited the site to resolve the silt issue in the Tilave River, issued directives for effective measures to address the problem and distributed cheques to beneficiaries of various welfare schemes, ensuring direct benefits to those in need.

--IANS

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Chandigarh, Jan 28 (IANS) A day after former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal accused BJP-ruled Haryana of 'poisoning' the Yamuna river, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini asked the former to apologize to the people, otherwise, he will file a defamation suit against him.

A day earlier, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi and her Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann moved the Election Commission of India (ECI), alleging high ammonia levels in the water supplied from Haryana to Delhi.

It’s learnt that the ECI has directed the Haryana government to submit a factual report by noon on Tuesday.

In his campaigning in poll-bound Delhi, AAP national convener Kejriwal has been saying the BJP “has done such an act that has never been done in history before. The people of Delhi get water to drink from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

“In Yamuna, water flows into Delhi from Haryana. The BJP’s Haryana government has poisoned the water in Yamuna. However, the Delhi Jal Board was vigilant enough to stop that water from coming to Delhi, otherwise, it would have caused mass genocide in Delhi.”

Responding to Kejriwal’s “war of words”, Haryana CM Saini said Kejriwal has a habit of making baseless allegations and blaming others for his “inefficiency” and “incapability” to fulfil his own promises.

“Kejriwal should apologise to the people of Delhi and Haryana or face legal action for his baseless allegations,” said CM Saini.

He blamed Kejriwal for failing to make proper arrangements for water distribution, which has forced Delhi residents to consume contaminated water.

CM Saini blamed Kejriwal for systematically diverting 28 drains into the Yamuna river. “The people of Delhi would teach him a lesson in the upcoming Assembly polls...I said that you (Kejriwal) send your Chief Secretary, and I will ask my Chief Secretary to check the quality of water at Sonipat from where the Yamuna enters Delhi. He talks about ammonia. He claims scarcity of water, but there is no scarcity. The issue lies in the distribution system,” CM Saini added.

--IANS

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Chennai, Jan 28 (IANS) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a key suspect, identified as Alphazith (25), in connection with ISIS recruitment activities. The arrest took place in Purasaiwalkam, Chennai during a raid by NIA which commenced at 3.30 a.m. Tuesday.

Alphazith, a resident of the Mayiladuthurai district, was employed as a driver with Kasturi Ambulance Service in Purasaiwalkam. Preliminary investigations indicate that Alphazith was involved in recruiting individuals for ISIS, a banned terrorist organisation.

Further investigations are ongoing.

The NIA launched simultaneous raids in Chennai and Mayiladuthurai districts early Tuesday, starting at 3:30 a.m., following intelligence inputs that individuals in various districts of Tamil Nadu were being recruited for banned organisations.

The raids are being conducted at 15 locations in Mayiladuthurai and 5 locations in Chennai. NIA teams from Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, with support from the Tamil Nadu Police, are participating in the operation.

Sources within the Tamil Nadu Police revealed that the raids targeted areas associated with banned Islamic fundamentalist organisations.

The NIA has conducted multiple raids across Tamil Nadu in recent years, targeting locations such as Mayiladuthurai, Thanjavur, Tiruchy, Coimbatore, Madurai, and others. These operations often focused on former members of the outlawed Popular Front of India (PFI), an Islamist organisation banned by the Government of India in 2022. One notable case involved the February 5, 2019, murder of Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) leader Ramalingam in Thanjavur. Ramalingam was allegedly killed by PFI members for opposing the forced conversion of underprivileged individuals.

The NIA had earlier filed charges against 18 PFI members in connection with the case. On September 24, 2024, the NIA conducted raids at 12 locations in Tamil Nadu, including Chennai, Kanyakumari, and Pudukottai. These raids were linked to recruitment activities for Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HUT), a banned terrorist organisation seeking to establish an Islamic state governed by its founder Taqi al-Din al-Nabhani’s constitution.

The investigation into HUT recruitment activities intensified after the Tamil Nadu Police arrested six men, including engineering graduate Hameed Hussain and his family members, on August 1, 2024. Hussain was identified as the mastermind behind HUT recruitment efforts, using social media to promote an Islamic caliphate and speak against democratic processes.

Another significant arrest occurred on August 31, 2024, when the NIA apprehended HUT activist Aziz Ahamed (also known as Jaleel Aziz Ahmed) at Bengaluru International Airport while he attempted to flee the country. This marked a major development in the NIA’s crackdown on the group’s activities in India.

The NIA continues to investigate the broader network involved in radicalisation and recruitment efforts, aiming to neutralise threats to national security.

--IANS

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Mumbai, Jan 28 (IANS) Days after the state reported the first death due to the Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), the Maharashtra government has appealed to the citizens not to panic and visit a government hospital in case any symptoms appear.

Citizens should also implement preventive measures, the government said in its appeal.

According to the state public health department release issued late on Monday night, there are 110 suspected patients of GBS and one death has been reported until now.

Of these, eight have been diagnosed as confirmed GBS cases.

Of the 110 suspected patients, about 88 are from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), 15 from the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) and seven are from other districts.

Out of this, 73 are men and 37 are women while 13 out of these are currently on ventilator.

Nine patients suspected of suffering from GBS were reported on Monday (January 27), of these, seven were from PMC, one from PCMC & one from other district.

A Pune-based Chartered Accountant from DSK Vishwa area in Dhayari died. He was suffering from diarrhoea for a few days and had gone to his native village from Solapur district for a private visit. After feeling extreme weakness, he was admitted to a private hospital in Solapur where the doctors diagnosed him with GBS.

He was shifted to the ICU for further treatment as he was unable to move his hands and legs.

After his health improved he was moved out of the ICU on Saturday but he faced breathing problems and later died. This was confirmed by the relatives of the deceased.

According to the public health department, GBS is an autoimmune disorder where the body’s immune system attacks the peripheral nervous system. It is characterised by muscle weakness, and in severe cases, paralysis.

The common symptoms of GBS include sudden weakness in hands or legs/paralysis, trouble while walking or weakness with sudden onset of diarrhoea for sustained periods.

The public health department said it has taken a slew of measures including visit by a state-level rapid response team to the affected area immediately, instructions to Pune Municipal Commissioner and rural district authorities to increase surveillance activities.

As many as 44 stool samples were sent to NIV Pune and tested for enteric virus panel. Moreover, 14 samples tested positive for Noro virus and five stool samples were positive for Campylobacter.

A total of 59 blood samples have been sent to NIV. All samples have tested negative for Zika, Dengue, Chikungunya.

About 34 water samples from different parts of the city have been sent for chemical and biological analysis to the Public Health Laboratory and samples from seven water sources were found contaminated.

Instructions have been given to increase health promotion activities and an appeal has been made to private medical practitioners to notify any GBS patient to the respective public health authorities.

“Citizens should not panic. The state’s health department is prepared to implement preventive and control measures. In house-to-house surveillance activities, 23,017 houses in Pune MC, 4,441 houses in PCMC and 7,610 houses in Pune rural areas have been surveyed (total 35,068),” said an officer from the state public health department.

The citizens have been urged to take every possible care to keep the water quality good, drink boiled water, keep food fresh and clean, avoid infection by not keeping cooked and uncooked food items together.

--IANS

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Srinagar, Jan 28 (IANS) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday conducted raids at multiple locations in Kashmir in connection with the killings of non-locals by the terrorists.

NIA sources said these raids are being carried out with the assistance of the J&K Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

“NIA raids are taking place at six locations in Srinagar, Budgam and Sopore areas under the supervision of NIA Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Sandeep Choudhary,” sources said.

The NIA has been investigating many terrorist-related crimes in Jammu and Kashmir, including the killings of Hindu pilgrims in the Reasi district of Jammu division on June 9, 2024, and the Gagangir in the Ganderbal district.

Terrorists had opened fire at the 53-seater bus carrying pilgrims when it was en route from the Shiv Khori temple to Katra town in the Reasi district. Nine people and 41 were injured in that dastardly attack. Terrorists first fired at the driver of the bus and then fired indiscriminately at the overturned bus targeting men, women and children.

On October 20, 2024, two terrorists, a foreigner and a local, entered the worker's camp of an infrastructure company and fired indiscriminately at Gagangir in Ganderbal district. Six non-local civilian workers and a local doctor were killed in the attack.

Non-local masons, carpenters, bricklayers, drivers and unskilled workers like street vendors, have also fallen to the bullets of the terrorists in the Valley. Terrorists have killed non-local labourers in many places during the last 20 years. The killing of non-locals is believed to be a tactic by the terrorists to keep the local population away from trade, education and business. This is also aimed at trying to stoke communal reaction against locals at places outside J&K where these are living and doing business, pursuing education, etc., in other states of the country.

--IANS

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Chandigarh, Jan 28 (IANS) Controversial Dera Sacha Sauda sect chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, serving a 20-year sentence in Rohtak’s Sunaria jail in Haryana for raping two of his disciples, was once again granted parole on Tuesday, this time for 30 days. This is Ram Rahim Singh’s 12th parole or furlough in the last four years.

For the first time since he was sentenced to 20 years in jail in August 2017 for raping two disciples, he would stay in his sect’s dera in Sirsa for 10 days.

Later he will stay in Uttar Pradesh’s Bagpath.

Ram Rahim, who was last granted 20-days’ parole that came four days before Haryana voted on October 5 last year, was patronised by political leaders and parties in Punjab and Haryana for nearly two decades due to his ability to influence the votes of his followers.

Last time he sought parole by citing the death anniversary of his father Maghar Singh that falls on October 5, which is observed as Parmarthi Diwas.

Before October last year, the Haryana government had granted him a 21-day furlough in August, which ended on September 2.

Ram Rahim is currently lodged at the high-security Sunaria jail in Rohtak, 250 km from the state capital Chandigarh.

Earlier, the High Court had rejected Ram Rahim's parole plea for attending the wedding ceremony of his foster daughters.

The self-styled godman was sentenced to 20 years in jail in August 2017 for raping two women.

A special CBI court in Panchkula in 2019 also sentenced him and three others to life imprisonment for the murder of a journalist over 16 years ago.

His conviction on August 25, 2017, led to violence in Panchkula and Sirsa, leaving 41 people dead and over 260 injured.

--IANS

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Srinagar, Jan 28 (IANS) Hundreds of devotees gathered at the Hazratbal Shrine in Jammu and Kashmir’s (J&K) Srinagar city during the night intervening January 27 and 28 to engage in nightlong prayers to celebrate ‘Mehraj-e-Alam (Night of the Prophet’s ascension to Heaven)’.

Devotees from different parts of the Valley braved extreme winter cold and gathered at the holiest Muslim shrine in the Valley, the Hazratbal Shrine, which houses the holy relic (A hair of the Prophet’s beard).

All modes of transport including buses, taxis, private cars and even load carriers were used by people, who came to Srinagar from Anantnag, Shopian, Kulgam, Pulwama, Budgam, Srinagar, Ganderbal, Bandipora, Kupwara and Baramulla districts.

The devotees engaged in prayers for pardon and penance while chanting ‘Doruud (Praises of the Prophet)’.

Weeping and wailing men, women and children had ‘Deedar (glimpse of the Holy relic)’ which was displayed by its custodian at the pre-dawn ‘Nimaz’ on Tuesday.

Scores of pavement sellers displaying sweetmeat, hosiery, footwear, food items and other essentials of life gathered to sell their merchandise to the devotees as today’s is one of the largest gatherings that takes place during the Islamic calendar in the Valley.

Authorities had made adequate arrangements of security, healthcare and traffic control to ensure that the devotees do not suffer inconvenience.

Despite the influx of the strait-jacketed Ahle Hadis school of Islamic thought and practice in Kashmir during the last 30 years when terrorism remained central to political and religious discourse, the eclectic, tolerant traditional Islamic school of thought still remains strongly embedded in the Valley.

A blend of Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam popularly known as ‘Kashmiriyat’ still remains the most followed school of Islamic thought and practice by Kashmiris.

The fundamental reason for this unique practice by Muslims of Kashmir is the fact that Islam did not come to Kashmir as a consequence of conquest. Islam was spread here by the teachings of Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani, who came to Kashmir in the 14th century.

He was a Sufi Muslim saint of the ‘Kubrawiya’ order. He is popularly known in Kashmir as ‘Amir-e-Kabir (great commander)’, ‘Shah-e-Hamadan (king of Hamadan)’ and ‘Ali Sani (Second Ali)’.

--IANS

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Chennai, Jan 28 (IANS) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted extensive raids in the Tamil Nadu districts of Mayiladuthurai and Chennai on Tuesday. The operation commenced at 3.30 a.m. and targeted 20 locations.

Of these 15 locations are in Mayiladuthurai and five in Chennai, with teams from Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu participating. The Tamil Nadu Police were also assisting in the raids.

According to police sources, the raids focused on areas associated with the banned Islamic fundamentalist organisation Popular Front of India (PFI). The NIA has previously conducted similar operations in Tamil Nadu, targeting areas such as Thanjavur, Tiruchy, Coimbatore, Madurai, and others. These raids primarily focused on former members of the outlawed PFI, which was banned by the Central government in 2022.

The latest operation is reportedly linked to the investigation into the 2019 murder of Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) leader Ramalingam in Thanjavur. Ramalingam was allegedly killed by PFI members on February 5, 2019, for opposing forced religious conversions among underprivileged communities.

The NIA had earlier filed a charge sheet against 18 individuals in connection with this case. In an earlier operation on September 24, 2024, the NIA raided 12 locations in Tamil Nadu, including Chennai, Kanyakumari, and Pudukottai. These raids were connected to the recruitment activities of the banned terror organisation Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HUT), which aims to establish an Islamic state governed by its founder Taqi al-Din al-Nabhani’s constitution.

The NIA took over the HUT case from Tamil Nadu Police and arrested an HUT activist, Aziz Ahamed (also known as Jaleel Aziz Ahmed), at Bengaluru International Airport on August 31, 2024, as he attempted to flee the country.

Aziz’s arrest was seen as a significant breakthrough in the crackdown on HUT’s activities in India. Earlier, on August 1, 2024, Tamil Nadu Police arrested six individuals associated with HUT based on intelligence inputs. Among them were engineering graduate Hameed Hussain, his father, and his brother, who were charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Subsequent investigations led to the arrest of three additional suspects following raids in Chennai and North Tambaram.

Police revealed that Hameed Hussain was the mastermind behind the recruitment efforts for HUT and had been actively sharing videos on social media advocating for an Islamic Caliphate. He also criticised the democratic process in some of his videos, according to authorities. The NIA continues its investigation into these networks, focusing on their recruitment strategies and attempts to undermine national security through radicalisation efforts.

--IANS

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