Regional

Bhopal, March 10 (IANS) At least eight people were killed and 13 others severely injured in a head-on collision between a truck and a sports utility vehicle (SUV) during the early hours on Monday under the City Kotwali area of Sidhi in Madhya Pradesh.

The injured persons were immediately taken to hospital, of them nine are reportedly critical. Most of them were referred to Rewa for further treatment. A goat also died in the incident.

Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav expressed profound grief on the mely death of the eight passengers and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased, Rs 1 lakh each to the seriously injured and Rs 50,000 to those with minor injuries.

On his X handle, the Chief Minister said, “Very sad news has been received about the untimely and tragic death of eight passengers in a horrific road accident near Upni village in Sidhi district late at night in a horrific collision between a passenger vehicle going to visit Maihar Mata and a truck. My deep condolences are with all the bereaved families.”

Late at night, senior officials of the district and police administration reached the spot and made arrangements for the treatment of the injured with the help of local citizens, and the seriously injured passengers have been referred to Rewa, the chief minister further wrote.

“Instructions have been given to approve an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Chief Minister's special fund to next of the kin of the deceased, Rs 1 lakh each to the seriously injured and Rs 50-50 thousand to the minor injuries,” he wrote on X.

According to the police, the incident unfolded around 2.30 a.m. near the Opni Petrol Pump on Sidhi-Bahri Road.

The deceased, identified as residents of the Sahu family from Deori and Pandaria Bahri village, include five women and three men.

The SUV was carrying 21 passengers who were on their way from Matihani for a Mundan Sanskar (tonsuring the head of a baby) ceremony. The injured were first transported to the nearest hospital, but due to the severity of their conditions, they were subsequently referred to Rewa Medical College.

The authorities have sent the bodies of the deceased for post-mortem examinations. Local administration has launched a thorough investigation into the incident, considering the gravity of the situation.

Preliminary findings suggest that high speed and negligence may have contributed to the accident.

--IANS

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Chennai, March 10 (IANS) The ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu is set to launch statewide agitations against the three-language formula under the National Education Policy (NEP).

The party has scheduled public meetings across all districts on March 12 under the banner “Tamil Nadu Will Fight, Tamil Nadu Will Win.”

Over the past few days, the DMK youth wing has held public meetings in all 234 assembly constituencies, strongly opposing the three-language policy. These events are part of a larger effort to mobilise public sentiment against what the party sees as threatening Tamil Nadu’s linguistic and cultural identity.

In addition to language policies, the DMK plans to highlight concerns over the Union government’s proposed delimitation exercise and alleged disparities in financial allocations to states. Party leaders will use these meetings to critique the policies of the BJP-led central government, arguing that the proposed changes undermine Tamil Nadu’s political and economic interests.

All DMK Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) will participate in the statewide protests.

During these meetings, attendees will take the “One Goal” oath, administered by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, pledging to resist Hindi imposition and safeguard the state’s future. The party is also using this movement as a platform to train and groom young leaders, equipping them with skills in public speaking, grassroots organisation, and mobilisation efforts.

The DMK think tank believes these initiatives will strengthen the party’s youth wing and prepare the next generation of political leaders.

With the Parliament session commencing Monday, the DMK plans to aggressively raise multiple issues, including the delay in the disbursement of funds under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

The party will also come out strongly against the Union government’s refusal to provide flood relief assistance to Tamil Nadu. The non-release of funds under the Samagra Shiksha scheme, allegedly due to the state’s rejection of the NEP will also be highlighted by the DMK.

The decision to take a more confrontational stance comes in response to criticism from opposition parties, particularly the newly formed Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), led by actor Vijay. TVK and other opposition groups have accused DMK MPs of underperformance in Parliament. The DMK aims to counter this criticism by taking a proactive approach in both state-level agitation and national debates.

CM Stalin has also criticised what he describes as the discriminatory allocation of funds for language development by the Union government. He pointed out that despite Tamil being spoken by approximately eight crore people, only Rs 74 crore has been allocated for its development.

In contrast, Sanskrit, with a significantly smaller number of speakers, has received Rs 1,488 crore. Stalin has been vocal in his opposition to the BJP government’s alleged attempts to impose Hindi on Tamil Nadu through the NEP.

His resistance to the policy has extended beyond India, as he recently expressed solidarity with Tamil diaspora protesters in the United States. A group of Tamil activists in Dallas, USA, recently held demonstrations against the Union government’s language policy, accusing it of undermining Tamil Nadu’s two-language system.

CM Stalin shared a video of the protest and a news report on social media, using the hashtag #VazhgaTamil to express his support.

--IANS

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Kolkata, March 10 (IANS) A division bench of the Calcutta High Court will this week hear a crucial public interest litigation (PIL) on the risk of foreign nationals participating as candidates in the polls in West Bengal.

It is learnt that the division bench of Calcutta High Court’s Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam and Justice Chaitali Chattopadhyay will hear the PIL filed by an individual, Manik Fakir, in which the External Affairs Ministry, Election Commission of India (ECI), and the West Bengal Election Commission have been made parties.

High Court insiders said that the matter is expected to come up for hearing at the division bench headed by the Chief Justice on March 13.

It is reported that in his PIL, the petitioner pointed out that there have been past instances of controversies arising over foreign nationals contesting both state Assembly elections conducted by the ECI and the Panchayat and rural civic body polls conducted by the State Election Commission.

That is why the petitioner has made both the ECI and the West Bengal Election Commission parties in the public interest litigation. And since the issue involved foreign nationals, the External Affairs Ministry has also been a party in the case.

In the PIL, the petitioner has argued that since West Bengal will be heading for the crucial Assembly polls next year, the administrative bodies responsible for the smooth conducting of the polls should also ensure that not a single foreign national can contest by using forged identity documents establishing his or her Indian citizenship.

As an example, the petitioner highlighted the case of Trinamool Congress Panchayat Chief Lovely Khatun, who got elected and also became the chief of a village panchayat under the Harishchandrapur block in the Malda district of West Bengal in the 2023 polls for the three-tier panchayat polls in West Bengal.

Later, it was revealed that her actual name is Nasia Sheikh, a resident of neighboring Bangladesh, who entered India in 2015 and subsequently arranged fake Indian identity documents for herself.

The petitioner has also cited an example where questions were raised about the Trinamool Congress candidate from the Bangaon (Dakshin) Assembly constituency in the North 24 Parganas district in the 2021 state Assembly polls, Alo Rani Sarkar.

Although she was defeated by BJP’s Swapan Majumdar, an election petition was filed at the Calcutta High Court challenging her Indian identity. Later, it was revealed that her name was enlisted in the voters’ list in Bangladesh.

--IANS

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Imphal, March 10 (IANS) The Manipur Police have arrested 17 militants from three different districts and recovered cars, two-wheelers, and cash amount from the extremists of different outfits, officials said here on Monday.

A police official said that 13 militants were apprehended on Sunday from Imphal West district, while three extremists were nabbed in Imphal East district and one from Tengnoupal district, bordering Myanmar.

Of the 17 militants arrested, three are women cadres.

According to the official, the militants belonged to the National Revolutionary Front of Manipur (NRFM), Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK), United People’s Party of Kangleipak (UPPK) and Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL).

The arrested militants were involved in extortion of money from officials, contractors, traders and common people, transportation of arms and ammunition and various other crimes.

The police personnel also recovered 14 mobile phones, two cars, one two-wheeler, Rs 1.07 lakh cash amount and many incriminating documents.

The official said that joint search operations by the Army, paramilitary and other Central and state forces continued in more than 10 districts to recover the looted arms and ammunition.

The security forces also conducted area domination in the fringe, vulnerable, mixed populated areas of hill and valley districts to apprehend the militants and other armed cadres.

Meanwhile, the situation in five hilly districts, including Kangpokpi, Churachandpur and Tengnoupal, remained tense but calm.

A police official in Imphal said that a huge contingent of security forces, comprising both Central and state forces, have been deployed in Kangpokpi, Churachandpur, Tengnoupal, Pherzawl and Jiribam districts.

On Saturday, at least 43 people, including 27 security personnel, were injured and a protester killed during the clashes in Kangpokpi and a few other districts as the Kuki-Zo tribal organisations protested against the resumption of the bus services between Imphal and the hill districts to alleviate public inconvenience and as an initiative to bring back normalcy in the state.

--IANS

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New Delhi, March 10 (IANS) At least five people were killed when the car they were travelling in was hit by a truck on the National Highway in Basti, Uttar Pradesh, on Monday.

The incident took place when a high-speed truck, bearing the registration number RJ18GB5710, was heading towards Ayodhya. While attempting to change lanes, the truck collided with a car travelling in the opposite direction, coming from Ayodhya towards Basti.

The impact of the collision was devastating. Five of the eight people in the car died on the spot due to the intense crash. The passengers in the car were reported to be severely injured, with three of them still in critical condition.

The injured individuals were rushed to the district hospital for immediate medical attention, and their condition is still being monitored.

Local police reached the site of the accident promptly after receiving the distress call. They immediately began rescue operations and later took the bodies of the deceased for post-mortem to determine the exact cause of death. The police are investigating the cause of the crash, with the truck's high speed and the lane change being key factors under scrutiny.

The accident took place on the National Highway under the jurisdiction of the Nagar Police Station, near Gotwa Bazaar. The horrific scene left the local community shaken, and authorities are working to ascertain whether any further negligence or road conditions contributed to the incident.

Residents have expressed their sorrow over the tragic loss of life and have urged authorities to take stronger measures to ensure road safety, especially on busy highways like the one where the accident occurred.

As the investigation continues, the families of the deceased and the injured are receiving support from the local community.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has taken cognizance of the accident and expressed his condolences to the bereaved families of the victims.

In a statement, the Chief Minister conveyed his heartfelt sympathies and directed district officials to expedite relief efforts. He also instructed them to ensure the injured were provided with immediate and proper medical care.

--IANS

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Bhopal, March 10 (IANS) Moments after Rohit Sharma and his team triumphed over New Zealand by four wickets in a thrilling final of the cricket Champions Trophy, celebrations turned chaotic in Mhow near Indore, Madhya Pradesh, late Sunday night.

The festive atmosphere quickly escalated into tension among two communities as stones were pelted at the joyous crowd.

The incident occurred around 10.30 p.m. on Sunday, when a procession in the Jama Masjid area sparked a dispute over firecrackers. This quickly escalated into a confrontation, with stone-pelting spreading to several areas, including Manak Chowk, Patti Bazaar, and Market Chowk, among others.

The situation spiralled out of control when two opposing groups faced off, further intensifying the chaos. Numerous videos have emerged showing individuals from a specific community targeting jubilant cricket fans with stones. In response to the incident, a heavy police presence has been deployed to prevent further unrest.

Additional security forces have been called in to maintain control, a senior police officer told IANS over the phone.

Even with the police present, the stone-pelting persisted, reports said, and some individuals brandished weapons.

Anger boiled over, leading to the torching of shops and vehicles by miscreants. The violence was exacerbated by the use of petrol bombs, video footage, and reports revealed. To quell the unrest, the police resorted to using mild force through lathi charges and fired tear gas shells. The violence left two houses, four shops, and a “magic” vehicle damaged. Over a dozen vehicles were set ablaze and vandalized, unconfirmed reports said.

However, the police took over and brought the situation under control. The full extent of the damage will be determined after further investigation.

The police continue to work towards restoring order, but the area remains on edge

As soon as the Indian cricket team won the Champions Trophy 2025, jubilations erupted across the country, with lakhs taking to the streets to celebrate the win.

--IANS

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Mumbai, March 10 (IANS) Shiv Sena UBT President Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday accused the BJP and RSS of creating disputes over the language issue after they had started fights over gods.

“RSS people sit on the terrace with sticks, those sticks are good for drying clothes. These are the people who teach patriotism from the terrace of their houses even if the war against Pakistan starts. Just as they have no connection with the country's freedom struggle, they have no connection with the struggle for a united Maharashtra. Those who have no connection with freedom hold the reins of the country in their hands. Further, those who start fights over gods are now creating disputes over the issue of language,” he said in his speech at the party’s training camp here on Sunday.

He targeted RSS veteran Bhayyaji Joshi over his statement last week that “people coming to Mumbai don’t have to learn Marathi.”

“We have no hatred towards Gujarat. But these people are now starting linguistic regionalism. We are Hindus in the country, but in Maharashtra we are Marathi. The language of Ghatkopar is called Gujarati. Don't teach us. They (BJP and RSS) also worked to create division in the fight for a united Maharashtra,” he charged.

Thackeray further stated, “The battle is not a party battle. It is not a political battle but it is for our mother tongue and the identity of Maharashtra.” He claimed that RSS and BJP people teach patriotism from the rooftops, the country's leadership is in the hands of those who have no connection with the freedom struggle.

“We are followers of Mohan Bhagwat. If he did not go to the Kumbh Mela, how would I go?” he asked.

“We are also saying Jai Shri Ram. What right does BJP have over Ram?” he questioned. “We want a BJP-free Ram. We will say Jai Shri Ram, but we will make BJP people say Jai Shivaji, Jai Bhavani. Are you now instigating a fight over a deity?" he asked.

Thackeray said that BJP’s claim of being patriotic is a fake narrative. “It was Shiv Sena supremo Balasaheb Thackeray’s stand that India should not play a match with Pakistan until Pakistan takes a cordial posture towards our country. But now they (BJP and RSS) are teaching us patriotism,” he added.

Thackeray replied to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ taunt that he was not his predecessor to stay on ongoing projects saying “You are not Uddhav Thackeray and cannot become Uddhav Thackeray.”

Thackeray in his speech at the party’s training camp further stated “I did not let the work stop during the Corona period. I did not let the Metro work stop. I did not let the work of the Coastal Road stop. Even in hospitals, we provide services and facilities that you would never have had in your life. Just because I did not do the dirty work of your bosses' friends, I am not Uddhav Thackeray. You (CM Fadnavis) are not Uddhav Thackeray and you cannot become Uddhav Thackeray.”

“In 2012, we won Mumbai with just two words, ‘Karun Dakhavle’ (we have demonstrated) and we did the same in 2017 (BMC election). Devendra Fadnavis should be told that the Coastal Road is not your achievement, it is Shiv Sena's. I have done the foundation stone laying for it. Even though you have started the link road called Nhava Sheva-Sewri, I have laid its first girder as the Chief Minister,” he said replying to Fadnavis’s dig.

Thackeray declared that he would bring back the party to power again after opponents will be clean-bowled.

--IANS

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Hyderabad, March 10 (IANS) Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Sunday night announced ex-gratia of Rs 25 lakh for the family of Gurpreet Singh, whose body was recovered from the partially collapsed SLBC tunnel in Nagarkurnool district on Sunday.

Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy expressed condolences over the death of the worker engaged in the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel works.

The rescue teams identified the human remains found in the tunnel as Gurpreet Singh from Punjab, who was one among eight workers trapped in the tunnel after a portion of the tunnel roof collapsed on February 22.

Gurpreet Singh was working as a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) operator in the American company Robbins.

Conveying deep sympathies to the bereaved family members, the CM announced Rs 25 lakh ex-gratia. The mortal remains of Gurpreet Singh have been sent to the home town in Punjab.

On the 16th day of the rescue operation, rescue workers on Sunday recovered the body of one of the eight missing persons after the cadaver dogs from Kerala identified a spot for the presence of human remains under the rubble.

The specially trained dogs identified human presence at D-2 point about 100 meters from the accident site in the final stretch of the 14-km-long tunnel.

The rescue workers carefully excavated silt at the identified location and pulled out a body on Sunday evening.

The rescue teams continued the search for the remaining seven persons in the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) project tunnel.

Four labourers, two engineers and two machine operators, hailing from Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir were trapped in the tunnel on February 22 when a portion of the tunnel roof collapsed during the excavation.

The seven trapped persons are Manoj Kumar (UP), Sri Niwas (UP), Sunny Singh (J&K) and Sandeep Sahu, Jegta Xess, Santosh Sahu and Anuj Sahu, all from Jharkhand.

Several agencies of the state and Central governments have been making efforts for the last 15 days to trace the missing persons.

--IANS

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New Delhi, March 10 (IANS) BJP leader Amit Malviya has raised alarm over what he perceives as the deteriorating law and order situation in West Bengal, pointing out a string of recent violent incidents that have left the state's residents in fear.

In a sharply worded statement posted on X, Malviya slammed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for failing to control the rising unrest.

"The law and order situation in West Bengal is spiralling out of control, rapidly resembling the chaos seen in Bangladesh," Malviya wrote, drawing an alarming parallel that has stirred political debate.

His statement followed a particularly violent incident earlier that day in Murshidabad District. Malviya recounted how Mamata Banerjee’s supporters, whom he described as extremists, had vandalised and set fire to shops and properties owned by Hindus in Patikabari Bazar, located in Nawda Block.

"Just a few hours ago, Mamata Banerjee’s extremist supporters vandalised and set fire to shops and properties owned by Hindus at Patikabari Bazar in Nawda Block, Murshidabad District. This is not an isolated incident -- in the past 48 hours, multiple reports of Hindu temples being desecrated have emerged," he added, underlining the broader nature of the violence that has been taking place.

Malviya’s post was not just a critique of Mamata Banerjee’s leadership but also a call for urgent intervention. He expressed concern over the inability of Bengal's leadership to restore order and called for immediate action from the central government.

"If Bengal Home Minister Mamata Banerjee is incapable of handling the situation, she must ask Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to requisition central forces immediately to restore normalcy," he demanded.

As Malviya's statement gained traction online, political tensions in West Bengal were further exacerbated, with both the state government and BJP supporters exchanging sharp rebuttals. The call for central forces has ignited a fresh political storm, as Bengal remains on edge.

--IANS

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Guwahati, March 9 (IANS) Union Minister of State for Railways and Jal Shakti V. Somanna on Sunday said that a record allocation of Rs 10,440 crores has been made for Railways in the northeastern region in the Union Budget 2025–26.

After visiting the Guwahati Railway Station, the Union Minister said that till 2014, there was no railway electrification in Assam, but now 100 per cent railway electrification would be completed by the end of this year (2025).

He also highlighted the significant progress in railway infrastructure development, mentioning that doubling works are being carried out at an accelerated pace to enhance capacity and efficiency.

Additionally, new railway lines are being laid to improve connectivity and cater to the growing transportation demands of the northeastern region, Somanna told the media.

The Minister emphasised the importance of modernising railway stations to enhance passenger comfort and operational efficiency.

He reiterated the government's commitment to enhancing railway infrastructure and connectivity, especially in the northeastern states.

During his visit to the Guwahati Railway Station, the minister reviewed the progress of ongoing development projects at the station. He was accompanied by Chetan Kumar Shrivastava, General Manager, NFR, along with senior railway officials from the headquarters and division.

NFR’s Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) Kapinjal Kishore Sharma said that the Guwahati Railway Station is being redeveloped with modern amenities under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS) at an estimated cost of Rs 181.09 crore.

The Minister carried out a comprehensive inspection of the station's infrastructure.

He also evaluated key facilities, including waiting halls, QR code ticketing counters and security measures. Somanna visited the Executive Lounge and commended the railway officials for their efforts in keeping the station clean.

Earlier, on March 8, the Minister inspected Dibrugarh railway station to review the progress of its redevelopment under the Amrit Bharat station scheme.

He also visited the Bogibeel Rail-cum-Road Bridge over Brahmaputra river, which connects the north and south banks of the river, enhancing connectivity between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

The Minister's visit highlighted the commitment to providing world-class railway services while promoting economic growth and regional development, the CPRO said.

--IANS

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