Regional

Chennai, Sep 8 (IANS) DMK organising secretary and MP R.S. Bharathi Thursday said that 50 AIADMK legislators were in touch with his party for joining the DMK.

He was responding to the AIADMK leader and former Chief Minister, Edappadi K. Palaniswami's comment on Wednesday that 10 DMK MLAs, who are fed up with the policies and corporatisation of the party, were willing to join the AIADMK.

Bharati said that 30 district secretaries and two MPs of the AIADMK were also in touch with the DMK leadership.

In an apparent retort to the AIADMK leader, Bharathi asked Palaniswami to reveal the names of the DMK MLAs who were willing to join the AIADMK. He said that once Palaniswami reveals the names of the DMK MLAs who were in discussions with the AIADMK, then he would disclose the names of the AIADMK MLAs who were in touch with the DMK.

To the allegations by Palaniswami that Udayanidhi Stalin, the son of M.K. Stalin, was calling the shots in the DMK, Bharathi said that Udayanidhi was only doing the role of an MLA. He rebuked Palaniswami and asked him as to how late Jayalalithaa brought Sasikala to the Tamil Nadu Assembly.

Bharathi said that several AIADMK MLAs, including Palaniswami had "prostrated before Sasikala". Bharathi asked as to what authority Sasikala was calling shots as a de facto Chief Minister during the AIADMK regime.

--IANS
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Bengaluru, Sep 8 (IANS) In a move being interpreted as extending its outreach to the marginalised sections of society, the BJP government in Karnataka has announced monetary aid for SC/ST patients suffering from rare and high-cost treatment diseases.

Making the announcement on Thursday, Karnataka Health Minister K. Sudhakar said, "Aid for several types of diseases is currently being provided under the Ayushman Bharat-Arogya Karnataka Scheme. However, certain rare and high-cost diseases that are not covered under the Ayushman Bharat scheme and for such diseases where there is no facility to provide treatment in government hospitals, monetary aid for it will be provided by the state government through Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust using unspent Scheduled Caste Sub Plan/Tribal Sub Plan fund allocation."

The state government plans to dip into unspent allocations to the tune of Rs 23.18 crore to fund the new scheme.

The government will provide Rs 10,000 for positron emission tomography scan, Rs seven lakh and Rs 21 lakh for autologous and allogenic bone marrow transplant, respectively, and Rs 1.5 lakh for robotic surgeries, under the scheme.

"Karnataka government under the leadership of Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai is building upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji's dream of helping the poor and vulnerable through the Ayushman Bharat Scheme. Patients who belong to the SC/ST communities will be greatly benefitted as aid is being extended to even rare and high cost diseases," said the Health Minister.

--IANS
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Bengaluru, Sep 8 (IANS) The sleuths of National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday raided the residence of the National Secretary of Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), Riyaz Farangipet in Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka in connection with the Phulwari Sharif terror module case of Bihar.

Sources initially said that the NIA raids were conducted in connection with murder case of BJP activist Praveen Kumar Nettare. But, now it is being reported that the raids are a follow up of the information that Akthar Parvez and retired police officer Mohammad Jalaluddin made during their interrogation in the Phulwari Sharif terror module case in Bihar by the NIA.

The officers were conducting searches at his residence located near B.C. Road at Perlia in Bantwal taluk.

Sources said that Akthar and Jalaluddin revealed their connection with Riyaz Farangipete during the investigations.

Sources stated that the raids have been conducted in connection with the gathering of evidence on spreading hatred as well as links to create terror in the region. More details are yet to emerge in the case.

--IANS
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Jaipur, Sep 8 (IANS) A baby swapping case was reported at a women's hospital in Jaipur's Sanganeri Gate area due to alleged negligence of hospital administration.

Looking at the seriousness of the matter, a DNA test will be conducted to identify the respected parents.

Meanwhile, the newborn babies have been kept in the nursery under the supervision of the hospital administration and are being fed from mothers milk bank.

Once the DNA test report comes, it will be known which child belongs to which parent.

Meanwhile, the doctors confirmed that this is the first case of its kind when a DNA test is being done to resolve the confusion.

Hospital Superintendent, Dr. Asha Verma said: "On September 1, Reshma, a resident of Ghatgate, Jaipur, and Nisha, a resident of Karauli, delivered babies. Meanwhile, due to a misunderstanding on the tag, both the children were exchanged. Three days later, i.e. on September 3, when the hospital administration came to know about their mistake, they informed the families of the children. Reshma's family went angry on this matter and they refused to take the child. After this dispute, both the newborn children were kept in the hospital's nursery and a committee of 6 doctors was formed to solve the matter.

"Initially, the hospital administration collected blood samples of both the children and their parents. On the basis of its investigation, it was identified that the boy's mother is Nisha and the girl's mother is Reshma. Reshma's family refused to accept this conclusion made after blood sample testing.

"The investigation committee got the blood sample tested again, and yet again, on the basis of the report, the girl turned out to be Reshma and the boy of Nisha's. However, this time too Reshma's family members refused to adopt the girl and demanded a DNA test.

"Now, the committee has recommended. We have sent the matter to the Lalkothi police station and the DNA test will also be done by the police."

Other doctors have also said that the DNA test is the only option to resolve the dispute.

The report of this investigation is expected in the next few days.

While Reshma already has two girls, Nisha is mother to one boy.

--IANS
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Rajpipla (Narmada), Sep 8 (IANS) Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat's statement has sparked a controversy after he called Hindus hypocrites.

He made this statement on Wednesday in the Poicha village of the Narmada district while addressing a seminar on 'Organic Farming In Nature's Lap'.

State's two leading newspapers have quoted Governor Acharya Devvrat: "People chant 'Jai Gau Mata', but they keep cow in their stable till she is giving milk. Once she stops giving milk, they abandon her on roads. That is why I say Hindus are bigots number 1. Hindu religion and cow are interlinked, but here people chant 'Jai Gau Mata' out of selfishness."

He stated further: "People visit temples, mosques, church, Gurudwara, to pray to God, so that God will bless them. I announce that if you return to organic farming, God will be automatically happy with you. I, with scientific evidence, am saying that with the use of chemical fertiliser you are killing cattle. If you go for organic farming, then you will give life to cattle."

--IANS
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Kanyakumari, Sep 8 (IANS) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi started walking for 3,570 km-long 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' here on Thursday. He was accompanied by party General Secretary, Organisation, K.C. Venugopal and others.

The yatra will traverse 12 states and 2 Union Territories while party leader K.C. Venugopal said: "We have not involved the poll-bound states of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh."

However, all the party's state organisations will take a separate padyatra in their respective states for one month while all the blocks took out a padyatra on Wednesday.

The party's 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' will have Gandhi and his companions meeting select group of people from 7 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. everyday while it will be mass connect programme in the evening. All the yatris, including Gandhi, will rest in specialised containers and the end of the day.

Ahead of the yatra, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday has said that this will be turning point of Indian politics and will mark a new beginning.

--IANS
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Bhadohi, Sep 8 (IANS) A local BJP leader and 21 others have been booked after a man died after they allegedly thrashed him at his house, Bhadohi police said.

The police said seven people were detained and additional force deployed in the area to avoid any untoward incident.

An FIR has been registered against BJP leader and Nagar Palika chairman Ashok Kumar Jaiswal over the alleged incident that took place in Rasuliat Khan locality of Katra Bazar on Tuesday night.

Additional superintendent of police (ASP) Rajesh Bharti said an argument broke out between two parties when one Mustaqueem's goat strayed into his neighbour Sandeep's house.

Later in the night, Jaiswal and others allegedly barged into Mustaqueem's home when the family was asleep and started thrashing them, the officer said.

Mustaqueem later died of internal injuries suffered during the assault.

--IANS
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Noida, Sep 7 (IANS) After the demolition of the twin towers, the Uttar Pradesh Vigilance Department has swung into action in its probe and has sought records from the Noida authority.

A vigilance team from Lucknow reached the authority's office and it is understood that officials there sought two days to furnish the building plans. The team has sought four maps of the layout of the twin towers and the Emerald Court.

Vigilance had filed a case nearly 11 months back based on a complaint by the authority, and an FIR was lodged on October 4 last year based on the SIT report. The FIR had named 24 officials, including then Noida CEO Mohinder Singh, and four company officials.

However, no action was taken after the FIR was lodged and no has been questioned.

--IANS
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Panaji, Sep 7 (IANS) Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday said that the police is working effectively to destroy the "demand of drugs" and henceforth raids will be conducted on night parties to book those who are caught consuming narcotics.

"Anti-Narcotic Cell has arrested three main drug peddlers. We are taking strict action against drug (trade) in the state. We are filing cases against suppliers and also those who are consuming it in parties. We are trying to destroy the demand (of drugs). Main suppliers were arrested in the last two days," he said.

"For tourist season, we want to send a message that Goa is not for drugs. Goa is for good tourists. Be it nightclubs or party destinations, wherever we find anyone consuming drugs, they will be booked. We will not tolerate drugs in Goa. ANC is working effectively in coordination with all departments to eradicate drugs," Sawant said.

He said that Goa's crime detection is highest in the country. "But we are taking measures so that crime should not happen in the state," he said.

Goa BJP government has come under fire since the death of Tik Tok star Sonali Phogat to whom methamphetamine drugs were allegedly given.

Phogat had come to Goa on August 22 and was staying at a hotel in Anjuna. She felt uneasy that night and the next morning, she was taken to a private hospital where she was declared brought dead.

Since her death, Goa Police has raided many places at Anjuna and has arrested drug peddlers and also those who are found consuming drugs.

--IANS
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Ranchi, Sep 7 (IANS) A large haul of explosives was recovered by the security forces on Tuesday from a bunker at Jharkhand's Budha Pahar, a safe haven of Maoists for the last two decades.

With the mountain on the Jharkhand-Chhattisgarh border, security forces from both states took up Operation Octopus to crack down on the Maoists.

During the operation going on for the last 15 days, the Maoists tried to stop the security forces by conducting more than 30 serial blasts in the Thaliya and Tisia forests adjacent to the mountain, but the security forces proceeded with full caution. During this, there was a big success on Tuesday as security forces seized a large quantity of explosives from the bunker.

Latehar SP Anjani Anjan said that a Chinese cylinder grenade, 35 Chinese grenades, three Chinese cone grenades, two cylinder bombs of 10 kg, 11 landmines of 3 kg, seven landmines of two kg, six landmines of one kg, five Tiffin bombs, one pressure cooker bomb, 25 arrow bombs, 2 kg ammonium nitrate, two kg urea, semi-finished barrel grenade launcher, drill machine, 350 rounds of SLR, 16 can landmines, three pressure landmines, and 500 meters of codex wire were found at the bunker.

The bunker was demolished after the recovery of the explosives.

According to security forces and police, there are 30 to 35 Maoists on Budha Pahar. Among them Saurabh alias Markus Baba and Naveen are the most notorious. Saurabh, who has a reward of Rs 25 lakh on him, is a special area committee member of the Maoists. Apart from this, Maoists like Naveen Yadav, Mrityunjay Bhuia, Santu Bhuiya and Ravindra Ganjhu are still in the Budha Pahar area.

Jharkhand DGP Neeraj Sinha is closely monitoring Operation Octopus. Apart from this, three IPS officers are making a strategy for the daily operation, in which personnel of Jharkhand Police, the CRPF, Jaguar Assault Group, the IRB and the CoBRA Battalion are also involved.

Significantly, the Budha Pahar is spread over an area of 55 square kilometres, spanning Latehar and Garhwa of Jharkhand and Balrampur of Chhattisgarh. In 2018 also, the security forces had conducted a big operation here. During this, many bunkers were demolished, and several Maoists were nabbed.

Due to the blockade put by the security forces in 2018, Maoist Arvind, who had Rs 1 crore reward on his head, died at Budha Pahar because he could not get any help from outside during his illness. However, during this operation, the security forces also suffered losses and six soldiers were martyred. After the death of Arvind, Sudhakaran and his wife were made in charge of Budha Pahar. Sudhakaran had surrendered before the police along with the entire team in Telangana two years ago.

Sudhakaran's surrender was followed by a dozen other commanders who gradually surrendered.

However, more than 30 Maoists are still present there, operation by security forces is on to catch them. Drive against Maoists is also being conducted in other areas of Jharkhand. During this, two Maoists were killed in Kuchai police station area in the border area of Seraikela-Kharsawan and West Singhbhum last week.

--IANS
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