Regional

Porbandar, Sep 14 (IANS) Gujarat Anti Terrorist Squad and Indian Coast Guard (ICG) have seized 40 kg heroin valued at Rs 200 crore from a Pakistani fishing boat and arrested six persons in this connection near the International Maritime Border Line (IMBL).

During the intervening night of September 13 and 14, on a specific intelligence input, the ICG strategically deployed two fast interceptor class of ships, C-408 and C-454 for patrolling in areas close to the IMBL.

During midnight, the Pakistani boat was observed moving suspiciously in Indian waters, 5 nm inside notional IMBL and 40 nm from Jakhau.

On being challenged, the Pakistani boat over boarded a consignment and started evasive maneuvering, the ICG said in a statement.

The consignment was skillfully recovered by one of the two ICG ships and found to be a drug haul.

"On visual examination, the drug is believed to be heroin with quantity approx. 40 kg and market value of Rs 200 crore. The other ICG ship, braving very rough seas in pitch dark night and marginal weather conditions, maneuvered and stopped the boat," the ICG added.

The boat is being brought to Jakhau for further joint investigation by all agencies.

This is the fifth such joint operation by the ICG and ATS, Gujarat in the last one year in which huge quantity of narcotics is seized and those involved in the crime are arrested.

--IANS/
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Bengaluru, Sep 14 (IANS) Amid the raging controversy over celebration of Hindi Day, the Janata Dal (S) led by former Karnataka chief minister observed an "anti-Hindi Day" protest on Wednesday.

The Janata Dal (S) legislators participated in the protest event held at the Gandhi statue located near the Vidhana Soudha. The protestors sang Kannada songs to express their opposition to celebration of Hindi Day in Karnataka.

Speaking on the occasion, HD Kumaraswamy accused the BJP-led central government of constantly trying to impose Hindi on the country. "Even 75 years of independence, there are people who speak languages other than Hindi," he pointed out.

In other parts of the city too, pro-Kannada activists held anti-Hindi protests. Kannada Rakshana Vedika held a protest meet at Freedom Park on Wednesday.

In Karnataka, the celebration of Hindi Day has become a bone of contention between the ruling BJP and the opposition Janata Dal (S) after HD Kumaraswamy had written to chief minister Basavaraj Bommai against holding celebrations. Even as it has been declaring its pro-Kannada credentials, the ruling party has been coming out in support of Hindi Day celebration too.

--IANS
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Kolkata, Sep 14 (IANS) A special court of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) at Asansol in West Bengal's West Burdwan district on Wednesday issued arrests warrant against 15 individuals in connection with an ongoing probe in the multi-crore coal smuggling scam.

Besides the names of certain individuals directly involved with the illegal coal trade, some factory owners are in the list against whom arrest warrants have been issued as beneficiaries of the scam.

On July 19 this year, the CBI submitted its charge sheet in the case at this special court. The charge sheet named 41 individuals, which included 15 persons against whom arrest warrants were issued on Wednesday afternoon.

The other named in the charge sheet included the prime accused Anup Maji alias Lala, the latter's absconding associates Binoy Mishra and Ratnesh Verma, four notorious coal mafias, namely Jaideb Mondal, Narayan Chanda, Nirad Mondal and eight former and present officials of the Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL), among others.

Although Binoy Mishra is currently absconding and is believed to have taken shelter at Vanuatu Islands, his brother Bikash Mishra is currently in judicial custody at Presidency Central Correctional Home. The CBI had also arrested eight former and present ECL officials.

However, the prime accused Anup Maji alias Lala has managed to escape arrest because of a shield from the Supreme Court. However, he had been questioned a number of times by the CBI sleuths.

The sleuths of Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is conducting a parallel probe in the matter, have questioned Abhishek Banerjee, Trinamool Congress's national general secretary and nephew of chief minister Mamata Banerjee in the case. Abhishek Banerjee's wife, Rujira Narula Banerjee and sister-in-law Maneka Gambhir have been questioned by the ED. A number of Indian Police Service (IPS) officers from the state have also been questioned in the case.

--IANS
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Panaji, Sep 14 (IANS) Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Wednesday that the Congress party's "Bharat Jodo Yatra" has failed and elected representatives have instead started the "Congress Chhodo Yatra" from the coastal state.

His remarks come after eight Congress MLA switched to the BJP earlier in the day.

"I think a maximum number of Congress leaders will leave the party and join BJP. 'Congress Chhodo Yatra' has now started from Goa," Sawant said.

After merging with the BJP, Michael Lobo, one of the eight MLAs, said: "We have started the 'Congress Chhodo and BJP ko Jodo' yatra from Goa. While connecting with the BJP, we want to tell people of taking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant's visions and strengthen them. Government schemes should reach all people and smooth functioning should take place in Goa."

Former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, said that instead of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, Congress should organised 'Congress Jodo Yatra'.

Besides Lobo and Kamat, the others that joined the BJP are Delilah Lobo, Kedar Naik, Sankalp Amonkar, Rajesh Faldesai, Aleixo Sequeira and Rudolf Fernandes.

With this, the number of BJP legislators has gone up to 28 and strength to 33 in the 40-member Assembly.

--IANS
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Panaji, Sep 14 (IANS) In yet another setback to Congress in Goa, a group of eight MLAs led by Michael Lobo, who was removed from post of leader of opposition, joined the ruling BJP on Wednesday.

With this, the number of BJP legislators has gone up to 28 and strength to 33 in the 40-member Assembly.

Congress had 11 MLAs among the 40 members of the House. While BJP had 20 MLAs, which now increased to 28. However, the BJP had support of two MGP legislators besides three independent MLAs. Hence, the strength of the saffron party has gone up to 33 and that of Congress reduced to three.

Former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, Michael Lobo, Delilah Lobo, Kedar Naik, Sankalp Amonkar, Rajesh Faldesai, Aleixo Sequeira and Rudolf Fernandes are the eight legislators which have switched parties.

After the formalities of merger, Lobo along with Digambar Kamat and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant addressed the media at the Assembly complex.

Michael Lobo, speaking to the media, said that eight Congress MLAs had called a CLP meeting in the morning and after discussion decided to merge with BJP.

"We took the resolution of the merging party and handed over a copy to the legislative secretary. We gave one copy to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and informed the Assembly speaker about it," Lobo said.

"We have joined BJP to strengthen the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and also for the development of Goa," Lobo said.

Former Chief Minister Digamabar Kamat said in politics, decisions are based on the circumstances. "I had said initially, that whatever was happening in Congress was not good. If you read the letter of Ghulam Nabi Azad, while leaving Congress, you can draw conclusions that instead of 'Bharat Jodo yatra' Congress should have launched 'Congress Jodo Yatra'," Kamat said.

"Citizens of our nation are treated with respect at international level under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Nobody dares to disrespect Indians in any country. Because such an environment has been created by our Prime Minister in the world. India will become a super power. While this is happening, Goa should not stay behind. For this to strengthen the Chief Minister and overall development of Goa we have joined BJP," Kamat praising the PM and Goa CM said.

Chief Minister Sawant said that Congress eight MLAS have merged with BJP. "I welcome them all. We will take BJP and Goa ahead,"Sawant said.

--IANS
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By Kounsar Bashir, Mubashir Naik
Baramulla (J&K), Sep 14 (IANS/ 101Reporters) Rutba Manzoor (12) was playing cheerfully in the garden outside her house when a leopard pounced upon her and dragged her into the forest. Her mother and sister could do nothing but scream violently.



"We are still in trauma. We cannot forget her face and mutilated body. It haunts us all the time. The scenes of recovering her half-eaten body will always remain as a scar in our lives," Ishfaq Ahmad, Rutba's grief-stricken brother, told 101Reporters.

Rutba, the daughter of Manzoor Ahmad from Bernate village in Uri tehsil of Baramulla district, was mauled to death on June 14. Her mangled body could be recovered from the nearby forest, only after an intensive search lasting for hours.

In the majority of cases involving wild animal attacks, children and adolescents are the targets. It has a long-lasting impact on other young minds. Still shaken by the incident, Rutba's classmate Zehra (14) shared: "I cannot get her out of my mind. She was always so cheerful. Now, every time I go to school, there is this lingering fear of a leopard pouncing upon me. I cannot think of going to school without my parents. I was unable to sleep well for days after my friend's death. Rutba still comes in my dreams."

Human-animal conflicts in Kashmir have resulted in hundreds of fatalities in the past few years. Data accessed by 101Reporters revealed that from 2006 to 2022, 234 people lost their lives and 2,918 received injuries in animal attacks. The number of deaths has particularly gone up between 2011 and 2020. In 2018, eight persons were mauled to death, while it was 11 the following year. The next two years saw five and nine deaths, respectively. So far this year, 12 deaths have been recorded.

Year Injuries
2016-17 127
2017-18 120
2018-19 83
2019-20 85
2020-21 87
2021-22 89

A thriving population

"Leopards are agile and intelligent beings. They camouflage themselves among the bushes and wait for the opportune time to strike. By experience, they have sensed that unattended children are the most vulnerable," Shafiq Ahmed Handoo, Regional Wildlife Warden, Kashmir, told 101Reporters.

Like Rutba, Sameer Ahmed (13) of Kalsi Chullan was dragged into the woods on his way back home from the playground. "I was at home, waiting for my son to arrive. Sameer was only 40 m away, so I decided to go inside thinking he would follow. But that did not happen for the next 15 minutes," his father Muneer Ahmed recalled.

"My daughter repeatedly called out to him, but there was no response. So I went to look for him in the neighbourhood, only to find his mauled body. I pray what happened to my son should not happen to other children," Ahmed said, bursting into tears.

According to published data, forests cover over 20 per cent of Jammu and Kashmir's total land area. There are 35 conservation reserves, 14 wildlife sanctuaries and five national parks within the state's 15,912 sq km network of protected areas. Of late, the wildlife department is concerned about the increased straying of wolves, leopards, tigers, black bears and monkeys into residential areas of Kashmir.

According to conservationist Aliya Mir, an increase in the population of black bear and leopard has led to man-animal conflicts.

"The transformation of rice fields into orchards with apples and other trees have provided wild animals with safe hiding spots. Now, it is easier for them to find resting places close to populated areas, though without any human interference," Mir explained.

With the fear of attacks on the rise, the wildlife department has established control centres in several places to ensure timely response and, if possible, prevent such cases. "We are witnessing an increased movement of wild animals even in township areas. Therefore, we have intensified our awareness campaigns. People do call us for help when they notice a wild animal in their area. Yet, the attacks continue," said Shafiq Handoo.

Isolating kids at home

"His desperate cries still echo in my mind," said Abdul Jabbar Ganai of Kalsan Boniyar in Baramulla district, whose son Shahid Ahmad Ganai (14) fell prey to a leopard while feeding cattle. "My other son was present there when Shahid was attacked, but we were all helpless. The leopard dragged him up to 4 km. Later, when we pinpointed the spot, we found only his torn body," narrated the distraught father.

Traumatised by the repeated attacks on children, panicky residents are resorting to extreme measures. "We don't feel safe. The authorities are not doing anything to capture the man-eaters. We do not want to send our kids anywhere, not even to school. We have isolated them at home," a local resident told 101Reporters on condition of anonymity.

Muzammil (10), a resident of Kreeri, Baramulla, does not want to go to school or even play outside in the garden. "I fear the leopard will eat me. I want to remain inside with my mumma. I want to study online, as we did before. I do not even think of playing outside my home without my mumma. Whenever I hear any noise from outside at night, or even during the day, my heart stops," said Muzammil (10), who is paranoid after watching social media videos of leopard attacks.

About the psychological impact of such attacks on children, clinical psychologist Wasim Kakroo said, "If parents isolate their children at home, this will affect their overall development. Children have already spent the last few years at home due to COVID-19, and if we do this again, their mental health can be impacted."

Kakroo suggested that children should play under their parents' supervision. "It is tough on parents... The situation is equally traumatic for a child whose friend or neighbour died in an animal attack. Children who witness such incidents should immediately get help from mental health professionals as it can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder," he warned.

(The author is a freelance journalist and a member of 101Reporters, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters.)

--IANS
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Islamabad, Sep 14 (IANS) Pakistan Prime Mini­ster Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has no plans to meet his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) being held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, this week.

"No meeting is envisaged with the Indian Prime Mini­ster," Foreign Office spokesman Asim Iftikhar told Dawn news.

An official said though a brief courtesy meeting between the two was possible, they would not be holding talks saying none of the two sides have sought a meeting.

The Foreign Office in a statement, however, confirmed that Prime Minister Sharif would attend the 22nd annual Meeting of the Council of Heads of State (CHS) of SCO.

"Besides attending the summit, the Prime Minister will hold bilateral meetings with other participating leaders on the sidelines of the CHS," it said.

The Pakistani leader will be participating in the CHS meeting on the invitation of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziy­oyev, who would chair it.

The leaders of SCO members and observer states as well as the heads of SCO organisations and other special guests would attend the meeting.

The CHS is the highest forum of the SCO, which considers and defines strategy, prospects and priorities of the organisation.

At the forthcoming CHS, the SCO leaders will deliberate on important global and regional issues, including climate change, food security energy security, and sustainable supply chains.

They would also approve agreements and documents that would chart the future direction of cooperation among SCO member states.

The SCO is a major trans-regional organisation spanning South and Central Asia.

Founded in 2001, the SCO upholds the values and principles enshrined in the "Shanghai Spirit" that include mutual trust, mutual benefit and pursuit of common development, Dawn reported.

--IANS
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Chennai, Sep 14 (IANS) As the issue around online rummy becomes a highly political issue in Tamil Nadu, two independent studies have found that suicides in the state in the last one year attributed to playing of online rummy are highly exaggerated.

A study by The Rotary Rainbow Project of Chennai working closely with the families of suicide victims, have found at least two instances of online deaths attrbuted to online rummy to be false.

They include the family of Kalimuthu, a constable of the Coimbatore armed city force and Nagarajan, a painting contractor in Chennai.

Both of them took their own lives during June-July period in 2022.

The families of both the victims have confirmed to Rotary Rainbow Project that the real reason of their suicides was debt trap and not online rummy.

Another study conducted by eminent scholar, Dr Sandip H. Shah, Professor of Psychiatry and Dean, Government Medical College, Godhra, said that there is insufficient data within the public domain to conclude that a suicide has been caused by online gaming in Tamil Nadu.

It calls for a 'rational' regulation that is based on further studies from the medical and scientific communities.

A huge political row had erupted in Tamil Nadu with political parties and social activists blaming online rummy as major cause of suicide. These two independent studies released in a space of a few weeks are bound to put question marks on these claims.

Tamil Nadu has historically among the highest suicide rates in India.

NCRB data on suicides available since 1966 have consistently ranked Tamil Nadu among the top two or three states in suicide deaths over a 50 year period.

In the latest NCRB figure, Tamil Nadu ranked second after Maharashtra among the states with the highest number of suicides in India.

According to NCRB, the top causes of suicide are problems were associated with career, loneliness, abuse, violence, conflict in families, mental illness, alcoholism, financial loss, and chronic pain.

The previous AIADMK government enacted the Tamil Nadu Gaming and Police Laws (Amendment) Act of 2021 banning online betting games like rummy and poker with stakes. However, this was quashed by the Madras High Court.

The present governmenthad appointed a committee under Justice K. Chandru to look into the effects of online gaming with stakes.

While the committee has submitted its report, the government is still to take a decision on this contentious issue.

--IANS
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Panaji, Sep 14 (IANS) Eight Congress MLAs after forming two-third majority are all set to join the BJP on Wednesday.

Congress has 11 MLAs in the 40-member Goa Assembly.

According to sources all eight MLAs, who are set to join the BJP, are in the Assembly complex to carry out the formalities. The group is headed by Michael Lobo and Digambar Kamat against whom the Congress had filed disqualification before the Speaker for allegedly trying to split the party.

Earlier, on two occasions their attempts to join the BJP failed due to early intervention of Congress senior leaders and as they couldn't manage the numbers a second time.

On July 10, 2019, during the last term of the BJP government, 10 MLAs of the Congress along with Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavalekar had switched to the BJP. However, Kavalekar and other six politicians lost the Assembly election held in February 2022. The incident of Leader of Opposition joining the ruling fold had invited ire and criticism from the section of society.

--IANS
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Chennai, Sep 14 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has directed the district administrations to ensure that lorries transporting untreated sewage be confiscated and case registered against those operating them.

In Tiruvallur district, nine lorries were seized that were found to be emptying untreated sewage into water bodies rather than taking it to the Common Sewage Treatment Plants (STP).

Sources in the TNPCB told IANS that in Madurai, Tiruchi, Salem, Dindigul, Virudhunagar and Chennai, several lorries that transport untreated sewage were detained and sealed.

The TNPCB has also made it mandatory that even buildings that are less than 20000 sq ft in construction area must obtain the consent from thr PCB to establish and operate a sewage treatment plant.

The crackdown and new directive follows several complaints received from across the state that Sewage Treatment Plants are not properly operated and that untreated sewage was discharged into storm water drains, vacant land and nearby waterbodies leading to pollution.

The TNPCB has also directed all the residential associations to apply for getting clearance for the Sewage Treatment Plant and the consent has to be periodically renewed.

It may be noted that the TNPCB has been receiving complaints from across the state from individuals and social organizations regarding the open dumping of untreated sewage this polluting water bodies across the state l.

--IANS
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