Regional

On Saturday, the school witnessed its 54th reunion of the Old Boys Association (OBA).

Lieutenant General M Unnikrishnan Nair AVSM, SM who occupies the office of the National Cyber Security Coordinator; Air Marshal R Radhish AVSM, VM; Air Officer Commanding in Chief, IAF Training Command, Lieutenant General Johnson P Mathew UYSM, AVSM, VSM; Chief of Integrated Defense Staff, Air Marshal Saju Balakrishnan AVSM, VM; Commander in Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command and Air Marshal B Manikantan AVSM, VM; and Air Officer Commanding in Chief, Southern Air Command attended the function.

All the five officers are from Kerala and passed out during 1980s.

After the ceremonial wreath laying in the school Guards Square, the officers and the old boys along with their families settled down in the school auditorium for the routine functions seen every OBA meeting.

All of them said that coming back to school is like a pilgrimage and maintaining a warm relationship amongst the classmates.

--IANS

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PMK leader said that the state government was trying to acquire 2700 acres of farm land in more than 11 villages of Tiruvannamalai district to expand Cheyyar SIPCOT.

He said that the state government was trying to forcibly acquire the land of the farmers even after the farmers have risen their objections to the proposal.

The PMK leader however said that he was not against industralisation but added that it should not be at the cost of the livelihood of the farmers.

Anbumani Ramadoss said that the farmers were protesting for the past twenty days against the government acquiring the lands. He added that the ruling party leaders were publicly speaking for the SIPCOT project at the cost of the farmers.

The PMK state president said that the government had dropped the industrial project for Annur SIPCOT but added that it was very much pushing for the Cheyyar SIPCOT.

--IANS

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In this context, on the invitation of BJP President J.P. Nadda, a five-member delegation of Nepal’s CPN (Maoist Centre) is visiting India from Sunday.

The Maoist delegation is led by the party’s Deputy Secretary General Pampha Bhusal.

Bhusal told IANS that she is leading a five-member delegation to Delhi on Sunday and will return on July 28. The delegation will visit BJP headquarters and interact with the party's office-bearers, among others.

In July last year, CPN (Maoist Centre) chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda, who is also the Prime Minister now, had met Nadda in Delhi and agreed to build party-to-party relations between the Maoist Centre and the BJP.

On July 19, Nadda had sent a condolence message to Prachanda on the demise of his wife, Sita Dahal.

"I extend my deepest condolences on the passing away of your wife Smt. Sita Dahal," Nadda said in his message, adding: "Her commitment to the betterment of Nepal has left an indelible mark on the hearts of the people. In this time of immense grief, you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. Both Bharatiya Janata Party and I extend heartfelt sympathies to you and to your family during this difficult time."

After prolonged illness, Sita Dahal died on in Kathmandu July 12 .

--IANS

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Many tourists and trekkers used to visit Dudhsagar waterfall during weekends.

A. Asvin Chandru, South Goa Collector, in the order has stated “Visitors shall be allowed to enter the Base of the Dudhsagar waterfall area through the prescribed routes only with permit / tickets purchased from designated entry points by Forest Department,”

"There shall be a complete ban for the entry of tourists, trekkers and all other persons to the Dudhsagar waterfall (at or near the railway bridge/ Dudhsagar railway station) either by trekking/ by train/ walking along the track as it is not a designated tourist point except for authorised personnel of Police, Railways, Forest department and other Government officials on duty,” order stated.

Last week, when unauthorised visitors allegedly walked on or along railway tracks to visit Dudhsagar waterfall, were caught by authorities and made to do ‘sit-ups’ while holding their ears.

According to the order, there have been incidents of drowning and missing tourists visiting the Dudhsagar waterfalls and during attempts at trekking along the railway track and other routes in the past, especially during monsoon season.

The government has also taken steps to restrict entry of any unauthorised persons towards the waterfall area by establishing check posts. Dudhsagar shot to fame in 2013, after it was portrayed in 'Chennai Express', a Bollywood film, starring Shah Rukh Khan.

--IANS

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Responding to her post on social media, the Bengaluru police department had given directions to the S.J. Park police station to look into the matter.

The incident was reported on Friday. The woman activist said that the accused is making frantic calls after blocking him on WhatsApp.

“Today, I went for the Manipur violence protest at Town Hall Bengaluru and booked a ride on Rapido bike app. I was trying to get an auto for my way back home. However, multiple auto cancellations led me to opt for a bike instead,” the woman activist posted on her twitter account.

“Surprisingly the driver arrived on a different bike, explaining that the one registered with Rapido bike app was under servicing. I confirmed my booking through this app and proceeded with the ride. During my journey, we reached a remote area with no other vehicles around. Shockingly, the driver began riding with one hand and engaging in inappropriate behaviour (masturbating while riding a bike). Fearing for my safety, I remained silent throughout the ordeal,” the victim explained.

“I asked him to drop me 300 metres away before my actual destination to conceal my home location. Once the ride was over, he started relentlessly calling and messaging me on WhatsApp. I had to block his number to stop the harassment,” she said.

The victim also questioned the Rapido bike app. “What measures the company is taking for background verification?” The victim said that the “user’s safety should be a top priority. Please ensure that people registered with your service can be trusted for a safe travel experience. He keeps calling me from different numbers even now!”

Bengaluru police responding to her post stated that they have informed the S. J. Park police station to take necessary action in this regard. The police have taken up the investigation.

--IANS

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The accident occurred when the car lost control due to a tyre-burst near Valloor in Narsingi mandal of Medak district.

Tourya Naik (50) and his son Ankith (10) travelling in the car died in the mishap.

Hailing from Narsampalli, they were on their way to Chegunta.

While passing through Valloor forest, the car lost control due to a tyre-burst.

After hitting the divider, the car fell on the other side of the road and at the same time, a container truck coming the opposite direction rammed into it, killing both the occupants on the spot.

Police shifted the bodies to a hospital at Ramayampet for autopsy. Naik had worked as Narsingi mandal president of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in the past.

--IANS

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The impasse broke finally on Saturday afternoon after prolonged telephonic discussion between the Governor and state Parliamentary affairs minister Sovandeb Chatttopadhyay.

Initially, the Governor was reluctant to give approval for the same on grounds that the session had been convened at an extremely short notice.

Immediately after getting the nod from the speaker Chattoopadhyay had a detailed discussion on Saturday with the Speaker Biman Bandopadhyay for commencing the session on Monday.

“I had a detailed discussion with the Governor today on beginning of the monsoon session of the assembly. The session will begin from Monday following his approval in the matter,” Chattopadhyay told newspersons after his meeting with the speaker.

The file for approval in the matter was forwarded to Raj Bhavan on July 19. However, the Governor then refused to clear the file on grounds that the session had been called at such a short notice. The Governor also summoned Sovandeb Chattopadhay for explanation.

However, the minister, sources added, pleaded inability to go to Raj Bhavan, on Wednesday because of his prior engagements outside the city and instead proposed to send his departmental secretary to the Governor’s House.

However, a communication was sent back to the minister from the Raj Bhavan that in absence of the minister at least the state chief secretary HK Dwivedi should turn up. However, the latter also did not turn up on Wednesday.

Following these developments immense uncertainties prevailed over the commencement of the monsoon session, which finally ended on Saturday afternoon.

--IANS

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From the office of the Mizoram Inspector General of Police (IGP), an order has been issued to the Commandants of the three Mizoram Armed Police battalions asking them to strengthen the security of the Meitei people living in Mizoram’s four locations.

“In anticipation of a possible development of tension which could threaten the security of Meiteis living in Aizawl, due to the public outrage against the recent viral video of two tribal Kuki-Zo community women brutally assaulted in Manipur, security arrangement is made to ensure safety of Meiteis in Aizawl,” the order said.

Meghalaya government has also been providing shelter and security to around 100 people who fled from the violence-hit Manipur.

An official of the East Khasi Hills district administration said that initially, about 368 people from Manipur had taken shelter in various parts of Shillong and its outskirts but the majority of displaced people have left for Mizoram, Assam, Bengaluru, New Delhi and some have returned to their home state.

Around 100 displaced people are still taking shelter in Shillong and its outskirts and the Meghalaya police providing security to them, the official said.

Peace Accord MNF Returnees' Association (PAMRA) appealed to the Meitei community from Manipur living in Mizoram to leave the state for their safety as the situation got tense due to ethnic violence in Manipur.

The PAMRA’s appeal comes in the wake of a video showing two Kuki women being paraded naked on camera by a mob on a village road in Manipur.

“The situation has become tense and it is no longer safe for the Meitei people living in Mizoram due to the barbaric and heinous acts committed by miscreants in Manipur,” the PAMRA said in a statement in Mizo language.

It said that there is strong anger among the Mizo youths, who are deeply anguished over the barbaric and atrocious act of Meiteis against the Zo or Kuki ethnic people in Manipur on May 4.

The PAMRA said that they (Meiteis) would hold responsibility in any case of eventuality if they disregard the appeal and fail to leave for their safety.

PAMRA Secretary General C. Lalthenlova, however, said that it was simply and normal appeal for safety and not a diktat or warning.

He also said that they did not ask the entire Meitei community to leave but only those from Manipur.

Thousands of Meiteis, including students, mostly from Manipur and Assam live in Mizoram.

Meanwhile, last month Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh in telephonic conversations requested his Mizoram counterpart Zoramthanga to provide adequate security to the Meitei community people in Mizoram.

Zoramthanga assured Singh that his (Zoramthanga) government would take all possible steps for the security of the Meitei community people living in Mizoram.

At least 160 people have been killed and several hundred injured since ethnic violence between the Meitei and Koki-Zo community broke out in the state on May 3, when a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

In view of the ethnic strife in Manipur, approximately 70,000 men, women and children belonging to different communities have been displaced and are now sheltered at 350 camps set up in schools, government buildings and auditoriums in Manipur and in the neighbouring northeastern states including Mizoram.

--IANS

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Those arrested have been identified as Sriram, Nandakumar and Mohan, all residents of Sheshadripuram in Bengaluru.

According to police, Sriram had sponsored the erecting of the posters. They were printed in a printing press of accused Nandakumar. The posters were transported in the tempo belonging to Mohan.

The police have stated that the accused had put up posters against Bihar CM

Nitish Kumar at 20 locations in the city. They were prominently displayed on the Bengaluru airport road as well. The police are grilling the accused to find out involvement of political leaders.

The posters and banners targetting Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar

surfaced in Bengaluru last week embarrassing him ahead of the Opposition

parties meet organized to create a platform against the ruling BJP

alliances.

Dubbing CM Nitish Kumar as the “Unstable Prime Ministerial Contender”, the posters had come up near the Chalukya Circle and Windsor Manor bridge

and Airport Road near Hebbal locality.

It also slammed him for being invited to the event. “Bangalore rolls out the red

carpet for CM Nitish Kumar!”

The posters also mentioned boldly about incidents of bridge collapses in Bihar under his regime. “First date of Sultanganj Bridge Collapse - April 2022, second date of Sultanganj bridge collapse - June 2023.”

Another poster ridiculed him as “Shri Nitish Kumar, the CM, Government of Bihar, the man who builds underwater bridges.”

The posters with pictures of Sultanganj bridge collapse were also put up. Nitish Kumar was one of the prominent leaders taking part in the event and he has not reacted to the development.

Karnataka Congress President and DyCM D.K. Shivakumar had slammed BJP for

putting up posters against Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

Shivakumar maintained, “It is all our BJP friend’s work. He (Nitish Kumar) is a

big threat to BJP and by putting up posters against him they are giving him

publicity. The Congress party is ready to fight all these forces. Like

cowards they are doing it. Nitish Kumar too knows Karnataka politics well,”

he said.

--IANS

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Additional Chief Secretary Revenue and Disaster Management, Kumar Jayant has declared 25 blocks of Pudukottai, Ramanathapauram, Sivaganga, Tenkasi, Thoothukudi and Virudhunagar districts as moderately drought affected.

According to agriculture department officials, blocks where crop damage is more than 33 per cent due to rainfall shortage are declared as moderate agriculture drought affected blocks.

There was insufficient rainfall in these blocks from October 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022.

A senior official of the Tamil Nadu agriculture department told IANS that if the rainfall comes down beyond a certain percentage, ground water level will decrease leading to hydrological drought in summer period.

The official said that when hydrological drought occurs in summer, the government declares such areas as drought affected.

The farmers in these districts have, according to sources, petitioned to the state Agriculture Relief Commissioner to take necessary action in these drought affected blocks.

The Tamil Nadu government has already appealed to the Cauvery Water Management Authority to direct Karnataka government to release the state its volume of water from the Cauvery river. This is following the Kuruvai farmers petitioning the government of a shortage of water from Mettur dam due to the reduced flow of water from Cauvery into Tamil Nadu.

Tamil Nadu water resources minister, S. Duraimurugan has already handed over a letter written by Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin to the Union Jalshakti Minister, in a recent meeting regarding the shortage of Cauvery water in the state and the sufferings meted out to Kuruvai paddy farmers due to this.

--IANS

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