Regional

Three Muslim female students were accused of allegedly recording the videos of Hindu girls in a college restroom.

Hakay Akshay Machchindra, Udupi Superintendent of Police (SP), speaking to the media on Tuesday, requested the people not to believe fake news in this connection.

"Rumours should not be spread to create confusion among people. If any documents or evidence are available, hand it over to the police and cooperate with the police department," he appealed.

"There are no clues available in this connection to lodge a suo moto case in the interest of the society. There are no photos and videos available in the mobiles of the alleged girls. They have been inquired as per the rules of the college. The girls have claimed that they have done it for fun," he said.

Machchindra said that the matter was circulated on social media and news. "It is being spread with ulterior motives. Use of hidden cameras in the incident has not come to our knowledge during the investigation. We are focusing on videos being circulated for blackmailing. It is wrong to simply forward messages without knowing the truth. Facebook and WhatsApp are being monitored for viral posts in this regard."

Yashpal Suvarna, BJP MLA from Udupi has demanded action against the girls who are guilty in this case. "The Udupi district is academically well known and women are respected here. The acts of these girls have forced the people of the district to bow down their heads in shame. The whole district is insulted due to this act."

He further said, "Fun in these matters is not acceptable. There is a role of invisible hands behind this act. I am suspicious about the incident. The placing of cameras in the toilet is not acceptable. I demand action against three girls and the matter will be brought to the notice of the CM and the Home Minister," he said.

"The government will issue an externment order for those who work in Hindu organisations. But, they are not saying a word about the incident. I urge the police to gather evidence from mobile phones and initiate action," BJP Yashpal Suvarna stated.

The incident of the three college female students belonging to minority religion being suspended for recording videos of Hindu girls in college restrooms was reported last week.

The case took a communal turn with allegations surfacing that the Muslim girls recorded the personal videos in restrooms and sent them to male students. It was also alleged that these male students also belong to the minority community, who would make the videos viral on social media.

Sources stated that the Hindu girls questioned the accused in the campus leading to arguments and confrontation. The Hindu activists also rushed to the college and demanded action.

Rachan Saliyan, District President of SarvaCollege Vidyarthi Shakti organisation had submitted a written memorandum in this regard to SP Machchindra.

"Even as the complaint is submitted to the principal over recording of videos while using restrooms and spreading them after the protest, the college management had hushed up the case after getting apology letters from the students. I urge you to seize the mobiles of students and initiate action," he had stated.

--IANS

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The senior CPI leader said that the BJP speaks highly of the double-engine governments across the country however the same double-engine government is responsible for the violence in Manipur.

He said that there was an apprehension on BJP aligning with corporate sector to plunder the natural resources of Manipur and hence it has instigated the violence.

“There are apprehensions that corporate sector is being planned to plunder the natural resources of Manipur and the name of Gautam Adani is also surfacing in these allegations,” Raja said while talking to media persons at the CPI headquarters in Chennai.

Raja said that the violence in Manipur was against humanity and blamed the double engine government for it.

He said that the Prime Minister has never condemned the Manipur incident where women were paraded naked and raped.

The CPI leader said that the Prime Minister spoke generally about the law and order situation in Manipur.

He that the motto of opposition parties in the country was ‘BJP hatao, Desh Bachao’ and added that the aim of the opposition parties in the Lok Sabha elections of 2024 would be to oust the BJP from power and to ‘Save India’.

--IANS

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Leader of Opposition V.D.Satheesan on Tuesday went hammer and tongs against Vijayan and said it was a concerted attempt to defame Chandy whose popularity was at the peak as a Chief Minister who was always in the midst of people.

“To uphold the dignity of Chandy who was a legislator for 53 years from Puthuppally, we are ready for a political battle at Puthuppally. We do not want any gratis,” said Satheesan.

This harsh statement came a few hours after there was a talk in the air, especially during the memorial meeting held here on Monday evening and attended by Vijayan and practically all the top Kerala political leaders, that as a mark of respect to Chandy, his son should be elected unopposed when the by-election is announced.

Without taking names, Satheesan trained his guns at Vijayan and reminded that time will catch up with those who haunted, hunted and conspired against Chandy, especially in his last few years.

“With the only intention to defame Chandy, Vijayan got a letter from the solar scam accused ( Saritha Nair) and sought a CBI probe. Chandy always had one thing to say that irrespective of whoever does the probe, the truth will come out and finally it did and even the CBI gave him a clean chit.

"Before that, even after more than half a dozen Kerala Police officials probed this, there was nothing against Chandy, but Vijayan thought through a CBI probe, Chandy would come under permanent duress, but nothing happened as he has never done anything wrong ,” said Satheesan.

Taking a dig at the veteran CPI(M) leader and ruling LDF convener E.P.Jayarajan. Satheesan said the Congress was the least keen to rake up this issue, but it was because Jayarajan raised the issue by saying they have never done anything to defame Chandy.

“Jayarajan raised this because he knew we would latch on to it and take on Vijayan, which he badly wanted,” added Satheesan, adding that time will catch up with all those who have done this to Chandy.

--IANS

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The accident occurred at My Home Cement Factory in Mellacheruvu village when a concrete mixture being used for the construction of a multi-storey building collapsed on the workers.

According to eyewitnesses, the concrete mixture was being lifted to the sixth floor of an under construction building when it got stuck on the fourth floor due to a mechanical failure.

As the workers were trying to fix the problem, the concrete mixture fell on those standing on the ground.

The workers are stated to be migrants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

Further details are awaited.

--IANS

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While hearing a petition filed by a Person with Disability (PwD) candidate Satish Kumar Panigrahi, the High Court in its interim order issued on July 21, directed OPSC not to publish the results of the recruitment without leave of the court.

As per the order, the OPSC has not allowed the petitioner to participate in the recruitment test, particularly the personality test, as he was having 40 per cent temporary disability.

Aggrieved by the conduct of Commission, the candidate had moved the court praying for a direction to allow him to participate in the recruitment test under the PwD category.

In his judgment, Justice A.K. Mohapatra directed the Odisha government to constitute a medical board and the petitioner be sent to the medical board for examination. The court also asked the Commission to produce the certificate to be issued by the medical board after examination of the petitioner by the next hearing date, which will be in September first week.

--IANS

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Speaking to IANS, Cachar district SP Numal Mahatta said: “A team of Special Task Force (STF) conducted an operation on Monday night near Silchar on Monday night. During the checking of a vehicle, 90 plastic sachets containing a white powdery substance suspected to be heroin weighing about 2.5 kg, were recovered from the vehicle.

"The contraband substances were kept in the bonnet of the car. Along with this, at least 1 lakh yaba tablets were also seized from the vehicle.”

The three arrested persons were identified as Manwar Hussain Barbhuiya, Sadar Uddin, and Ansar Alam, all residents of the district's Kalain area.

According to the police, Barbhuiya agreed to lead the police team to the destined location where the contraband was supposed to be delivered.

On the way, he requested to attend to the call of nature.

“Thereafter, he tried to flee taking advantage of the darkness following which two rounds were fired to stop him, one of which hit him causing injury on the left leg. He was then immediately shifted to a nearby hospital and he has been undergoing treatment,” the police said in a statement.

--IANS

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Briefing the press on Tuesday, Mishra said that earlier prisoners serving life imprisonment were released twice a year -- on the occasion of Independence Day and the Republic Day, but now this exercise takes place four times in one year.

The minister also made it clear that those serving life imprisonment on rape charges would not be given any leniency. While those who have been punished with fines, they will be released only after paying the amount.

"If someone is punished in any other case, then heshe will be released after completing the sentence in that case. Those who did not get bail in their second cases will be detained as undertrials and not as convicts. If convicted in a case of another state, they shall be transferred to that state,” the minister added.

Meanwhile, he also informed that the state government has decided to increase 'Samman Nidhi' of the ex-servicemen of the Second World War from Rs 8,000 per month to Rs 15,000. "At present, there are at least 112 ex-servicemen from Madhya Pradesh who had participated in World War II i," Mishra added.

--IANS

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A single-judge bench of the High Court pronounced the order on an election petition filed by Venkat Rao, challenging the election of Venkateshwar Rao.

Justice Radha Rani also imposed a fine of Rs 5 lakh on Venkateshwar Rao.

The petitioner alleged that Venkateshwar Rao had not given complete property details of himself and his wife in the Form 26 to the election commission.

Interestingly, both the leaders are from ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS).

In 2018 elections, Venkat Rao contested from Kothagudem Assembly constituency on the ticket of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS).

He lost to his nearest rival Venkateshwar Rao of the Congress party by 4,139 votes.

In January 2019, Venkat Rao had filed the petition challenging Venkateshwar Rao.

Venkat Rao raised various issues, including the failure to file a proper mandatory affidavit under section 125A of Representation of People’s Act. He alleged that Venkateshwar Rao submitted false information with respect to immovable assets, assets of family members and failed to disclose pending criminal cases.

However, Venkateshwar Rao had joined the TRS (now BRS) in March 2019.

Last year, Venkateshwar Rao had denied reports that he was planning to resign as MLA in view of the court case. He had alleged that Venkat Rao was creating confusion among the people.

--IANS

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The statement comes right after his son, former CM H.D. Kumaraswamy's statement that JD(S) and BJP will fight unitedly against the ruling Congress party.

Deve Gowda said the JD(S) would face parliamentary elections independently thus contradicting his son Kumaraswamy's statement. "There is still sufficient time for the Lok Sabha polls and an appropriate decision would be taken later," Kumaraswamy had stated earlier.

Deve Gowda further said, "Whether the JD(S) won one or two to six seats, his party will contest elections independently. The party would contest in seats where it has a strong base."

When asked about the JD(S)-BJP tie up against the Congress in Karnataka, CM Siddaramaiah maintained that both parties are holding talks in that regard.

"We do not bother if they get united. We are going to win 15 to 20 Lok Sabha seats in the state. We will emerge victorious irrespective of whether they (JD(S) and BJP) come together or not," Siddaramaiah stated.

Karnataka has 28 Lok Sabha seats. In 2019, BJP won 25 seats. Congress and JD(S) managed to win one seat each. Another seat was won by independent candidate. Sumalatha Ambareesh.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stated in Hubballi that with tie up or no tie up, the Congress will win 15 to 20 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka.

--IANS

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The IMD further predicted fresh spell of Isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall over east central India during July 26-27 while the same is expected over Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, north Haryana and West Uttar Pradesh during July 25-27 and over East India between July 28 and 30.

According to the IMD, the weather forecast for different regions in India from July 25 to 29 indicates a mix of light to moderate fairly widespread to widespread rainfall with chances of isolated heavy and very heavy rainfall.

In Northwest India, states like Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, and West Uttar Pradesh are expected to experience widespread rainfall during the mentioned period. “Himachal Pradesh will also receive rainfall from Tuesday to Friday, with isolated very heavy rainfall on July 26 and 27. East Rajasthan will see rainfall from 25th to 27th, and West Rajasthan on 25th and 26th. Jammu and Kashmir will experience rainfall on July 26 and 27, with isolated heavy rainfall,” the weather department said in its bulletin released on Tuesday.

Central India will also witness fairly widespread to widespread rainfall. Vidarbha and Chhattisgarh will experience rainfall from Tuesday to Friday, with isolated very heavy rainfall on July 26 and 27.

East Madhya Pradesh will have rainfall from July 26 to 28, with isolated very heavy rainfall on July 27.

The IMD further predicted that West India, regions like Konkan, Goa and ghat areas of Madhya Maharashtra will experience widespread rainfall from Tuesday to Saturday, with isolated extremely heavy rainfall on July 25 and 26.

South India will also experience widespread rainfall during the period. “Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, Rayalaseema, South Interior Karnataka, and Kerala and Mahe will see rainfall till July 27, while Telangana will experience it from Tuesday to Friday. Coastal and North Interior Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, Puducherry & Karaikal will receive rainfall on July 25 and 26. Isolated very heavy rainfall is likely in several areas during this time,” said the IMD.

It further said that Northeast India will witness fairly widespread rainfall till July 29 in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya, and on July 28, and 29 in Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura. “Isolated very heavy rainfall is expected in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Meghalaya on July 27 and 28,” it said.

--IANS

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