Regional

Guwahati, May 12 (IANS) A Royal Bengal tiger has died in Assam's Kaziranga National Park, officials said on Friday.

According to the forest department, the carcass of the tiger with multiple injury marks was found floating in the Mora Diphlu river at Kohora Range of the park.

The divisional forest officer of Eastern Assam Wildlife Division, Ramesh Gogoi, told IANS, "It was an adult female tiger. We are anticipating that the tiger succumbed to the several injuries it sustained due to a fight with other tigers. However, as of now, the exact reason for her death is still to be ascertained."

As per the 2018 Census, there were 135 tigers in the Kaziranga National Park. The density of tiger population is also high here.

According to a senior forest officer, the tiger numbers have definitely increased in Kaziranga, the data for which will be released sometime in June.

"Each year, at least 10 casualties happen either due to old age, infighting, or other reasons. We also believe that more than 10 newborns get added to the total numbers each year," the officer said.

--IANS
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By Mohammed Shafeeq
Hyderabad, May 12 (IANS) The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) will have anti-incumbency and history stacked against it when it faces the Telangana Assembly elections in the next few months.


The K. Chandrasekhar Rao-led BRS will have to overcome a likely strong anti-incumbency factor to retain power in India's youngest state.

KCR will also have to make history as no chief minister in South India has ever scored a hat-trick. This will be the first election after the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) transformed itself into the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) to play a key role in national politics.

This is also likely to be the first election in Telangana sans a Telangana sentiment, which may make the task more daunting for the BRS.

Telangana sentiment dominated the 2014 and 2018 elections as the TRS sought a mandate in the first election to rebuild Telangana and a fresh mandate in 2018 to continue its efforts to turn the state into Bangaru or golden Telangana.

As KCR feels that he has achieved his task of a progressive Telangana, he rechristened the TRS as BRS in tune with his national ambitions, with a call to replicate the Telangana model in the rest of the country.

Unlike in 2018 when KCR had advanced the polls by a few months, this time the elections are likely to be held as per schedule (November-December).

With multiple players set to enter the poll fray, the electoral battle is likely to be very interesting, whose outcome will be difficult to guess.

With a multi-cornered contest on the cards, the stakes will be high for the BRS to retain power in Telangana. Political observers say the anti-incumbency factor will be in play as the party has been in power since the formation of the state.

KCR, who led the fight for statehood to Telangana and achieved the goal, is considered one of the smartest politicians in the country. He is known for surprising his opponents with his political tactics.

With the BJP emerging as a key challenger in the state, it will be interesting to see how KCR will devise a strategy to counter the saffron surge. Some political analysts see KCR's move of turning the TRS into BRS as part of the strategy.

They believe KCR may play the son of the soil card by seeking a mandate for a big role in national politics to embark on his mission to bring a qualitative change in the nation's polity.

The BRS chief is already trying to hardsell the Telangana model by getting leaders from various states to Hyderabad to talk about Rythu Bandhu and other schemes of Telangana.

"KCR is countering the BJP's Modi model of governance. He calls it a golmal model and is trying to project the Telangana model," observed political observer Palwai Raghavendra Reddy.

At every meeting, KCR highlights how Telangana has become a model state with the highest per capita income, with one of the highest per capita power consumption, a growth rate which is much higher than the national average and innovative schemes for farmers, Dalits and other sections of the society.

Political observers feel KCR needs such a narrative as there will be strong anti-incumbency with the opposition questioning him about the promises he failed to keep.

This time, BRS will be facing new opponents like the YSR Telangana Party (YSRTP) headed by Y. S. Sharmila, sister of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and the Jana Sena Party (JSP) headed by actor-politician Pawan Kalyan.

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is also likely to enter the field with new vigour under the leadership of R. S. Praveen Kumar, who took voluntary retirement from the Indian Police Service (IPS) to join politics.

With the Telangana sentiment not in play in the manner it was seen in previous elections, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) headed by former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is also expected to flex its muscles to regain lost ground in Telangana.

The BRS, which fought earlier elections on its own, is likely to have an alliance with the Left parties. There was indication to this effect when the Left parties extended support to the BRS in the by-election to the Munugode Assembly seat late last year.

The BRS with its Dalit Bandhu scheme and various other measures will be hoping to receive full support from the Dalits, who constitute 10 per cent of the voters. Muslims, who are also about 10 per cent of the electorate, may once again back the BRS. "If BRS gets support of 10-15 per cent voters from the remaining 80 per cent, it will retain power comfortably," said an analyst.

Though the BRS appears to have lost the support of the politically influential Reddy community, the votes may get divided between the BJP, Congress and others. The same is likely to happen with the backward classes, who constitute 50 per cent of the voters.

Unfazed by the BJP's emergence as the main challenger, KCR remains confident that the BRS will retain power by winning more than 100 seats in the 119-member Assembly.

"The BRS party will win more than 100 in the next election," he told a BRS general body meeting on April 27 to mark the party's formation day.

"Coming to power again in Telangana is not a big task. The priority is to win more seats than before," he told the participants including ministers, MPs and state legislators.

The BRS had bagged 63 seats in the 2014 election and improved its tally to 88 in 2018. With the defection of several MLAs including a dozen from the Congress, the BRS increased its strength to over 100.

KCR used the occasion to pull up some MLAs over complaints of wrongdoing against them. He warned them that if they did not mend their ways, they would be expelled from the party.

The BRS also asked the party leaders to take steps to reduce discontent among the cadre. He wanted them to educate the people about the government schemes, interact with them and mingle with them regularly.

BRS leaders remain hopeful that with the anti-incumbency votes getting divided among the Congress, BJP and other players, the BRS may not find it difficult to retain power.

--IANS
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Bengaluru, May 12 (IANS) Karnataka unit Congress President D.K. Shivakumar on Friday claimed there is a huge wave for his party in the state, while underlining that INC president Mallikarjun Kharge and his predecessor Sonia Gandhi will take a decision on the chief ministerial post if the Congress is voted to power.

Speaking about "power sharing" between him and Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar told mediapersons: "The decision of Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi is final on this matter."

He further said: "I don't have a belief in exit polls. According to me, we will win 141 seats. Our surveys have collected more samples than the exit poll agencies.

"I have gone to every corner. The BJP might have spent money, their big leaders might have campaigned. The vote is more powerful than the bullet. How did the people not fear the British Raj? The same way, they have chosen Congress against the double engine government. They had misused constitutional agencies, indulged in misuse of power," Shivakumar said.

The Congress leader said "BJP leaders are claiming that they will form the government no matter how many seats they get. It is their illusion".

Commenting on Minister for Revenue R. Ashoka's statement that this time the BJP would win the cup, Shivakumar said: "Let him keep the cup and hat, whatever (he wishes)."

--IANS
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Mumbai, May 12 (IANS) The Maharashtra government has withdrawn all charges against former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh -- whose 'letter-bomb' had nailed former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh two years ago -- and also revoked his suspension ordered by the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi government, here on Friday.

Singh was suspended by the MVA government from December 2, 2021 till June 30, 2022 -- the date of his retirement -- which will now be treated as 'on duty', as per an official order of the Home Department dated May 10.

"The memorandum of charges dated 02-12-2021 issued against Param Bir Singh, under Rule 8 of All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rule, 1969 is being withdrawn and the said matter is being closed," said the order.

"As per the provisions of the All India Services (Death-cum-Retirement Benefits) Rules, 1958, the suspension of Param Bir Singh, IPS (Retd) is revoked by this order and the period of suspension from 02-12-2021 to 30-06-2022 shall be treated as period spent on duty for all purposes," another order said, adding even the departmental enquiry against him has been closed.

Since Singh -- who is related with a senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader from Nagpur -- has already retired from service, these orders would be beneficial to him for the retirement and other benefits entitled by the government.

Reacting to the developments, Nationalist Congress Party National Spokesperson Clyde Crasto said cryptically: "All those who helped defame the MVA government are now getting washed clean in a washing machine. Param Bir today, who next?"

Singh got into a tussle with the MVA government soon after the sensational case of planting a gelatine sticks-laden SUV plus a hand-scrawled threat note a threat note outside the iconic Antilia, the home of industrialist Mukesh Ambani, came to light, followed by the murder of its owner, businessman Mansukh Hiren of Thane.

As the case grabbed global headlines, Singh hit back at the government by penning a letter to former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, alleging corrupt activities indulged in by the then home minister Deshmukh.

The case later attracted the CBI and ED, the Bombay High Court ordered a preliminary enquiry and the state set up a probe panel in the Deshmukh matter, while Singh was questioned by the NIA for the Antilia issue.

The MVA retaliated by lodging five FIRs against Singh alleging extortion and other offences, initiated a departmental probe and suspended him in December 2021, six months prior to his retirement.

As the fracas between Singh and the government raged, Deshmukh was arrested and spent nearly 13 months in jail before getting bail.

--IANS
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New Delhi, May 10 (IANS) In the crucial Assembly elections in Karnataka which concluded at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, the Congress looks to be gaining ground in the 35 seats in the Central Karnataka region where it is expected to win around 18-22 seats, the ABP/C-Voter Exit Poll predicted on Wednesday.

According to the exit poll data, the BJP, which had won 24 seats in the 2018 Assembly elections in the Central Karnataka region, is likely to win 11 seats this time, whereas the Congress is expected to win 20 seats, up from its tally of 11 in 2018.

The exit poll also predicted that former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda's Janata Dal-S is likely to win one seat in the region, where it had drawn blank in 2018.

As per the exit poll, the Congress is also set to gain in vote share in the Central Karnataka region at 43.9 per cent, a swing of 7.9 per cent as compared to its 2018 share of 36 per cent.

The BJP, which got 43 per cent vote share in the region in 2018, will witness a reverse swing of 3.9 per cent as it is projected to get 39.2 per cent votes this time.

The counting of votes for the 224-member Karnataka Assembly will be taken up on May 13.

--IANS
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Hyderabad, May 10 (IANS) A sub-inspector of police in Telangana's Jagtial town was booked on Wednesday after he allegedly attacked a Muslim woman travelling in a TSRTC bus.

The police official also used foul language against her and her faith. Anil Kumar, SI at Jagtial rural police station, accompanied by some constables, stopped the bus, and physically assaulted the burka-clad girl.

The SI was enraged as the girl had refused to vacate the seat for his wife, who was travelling in the same bus. After the SI's wife called him, he, along with police constables, stopped the bus.

The girl alleged that when she was video recording the incident on her mobile phone, the SI used foul languages and snatched her phone.

Following strong protest by the Muslim community in Jagtial demanding action against the sub-inspector, police booked a case against Anil Kumar and his wife.

On complaint by the 22-year-old Shaik Fatima, the police booked the SI, his wife and constable under Indian Penal Code's Sections 290 (public nuisance), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 341 (wrongful restraint).

Hyderabad MP and AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi spoke to Jagtial Superintendent of Police Aggadi Bhaskar regarding the incident. The SP assured that action will be taken against the SI.

Majlis Bachao Tehreek leader Amjedullah Khan also wrote to Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao demanding arrest of the SI and his dismissal from service

--IANS
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Hubbali (Karnataka), May 10 (IANS) The police in Karnataka's Vijayapura district arrested 23 persons for indulging in violence during polling on Wednesday.

The violence was reported from Masabinala village under the Basavanabagavedi Assembly constituency.

According to the Election Commission, a group of villagers stopped the section officer's vehicle carrying reserved Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and damaged two control units, two ballot units and three VVPATs.

The villagers also manhandled the section officer. The District Commissioner and Superintendent of Police rushed to the spot after receiving information about the attack.

BJP leader L.A. Ravisubramanya is locked in a tight contest in this constituency against Congress' U.B. Venkatesh. Aramana Shanker of the JD(S) and Sathyalakshmi Rao of the Aam Aadmi Party are also in the fray.

--IANS
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Bengaluru, May 10 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator and former Karnataka Cabinet minister Ramesh Jarkiholi on Wednesday claimed that state unit Congress president D.K. Shivakumar has "tried to threaten" him, saying "some CDs that could tarnish his reputation will be released".

Speaking to journalists at Gokak in Belagavi district, Jarkiholi said: "Till Tuesday night, Shivakumar tried to threaten me saying that he would release CDs that would malign my reputation. However, I told him that I am not afraid."

He, however, did not clarify whether Shivakumar had a direct conversation with him.

"Shivakumar was my good friend earlier, and he was good to me. I don't know what went wrong. He also said that he would release himself from the clutches of 'Vishkanya' but did not elaborate whom he was referring to," he added.

The former minister said that he would request the Union government and the new government (that would be formed in Karnataka) to order a CBI probe into the sleaze CD case in which he was accused.

The BJP leader said that this (the probe request) was not for his sake but for hundreds of people who are being targeted by the "CD gangs", and are victims of this gang.

It may be recalled that an activist had approached the Bengaluru Police in March 2021 seeking a probe against Ramesh Jarkiholi for allegedly abusing a woman and seeking sexual favours in return for a government job.

Clips of intimate moments reportedly between the minister and the woman had gone viral on social media platforms.

--IANS
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Bengaluru, May 9 (IANS) The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday allowed distribution and serving of free food at hotels after voting in the Karnataka Assembly elections on Wednesday.

The court has permitted hotels to serve food in order to encourage voting. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) had prohibited serving of free food on election day after voting as many hotels came up with the offer.

The State Election Commission had also warned hotels of strict action on this count. However, the Hotel Owners' Association and the owners of Nisarga Grand Hotel in Bengaluru had challenged the order and approached the high court. The high court, after admitting the petition, has quashed the orders in this regard by the BBMP and the State Election Commission.

Senior counsel Satish Bhat, who appeared for the Hotel Owners' Association and the Nisarga Grand Hotel, submitted before the court that the hotels have come up with the offer to create awareness among the voters.

It would have been a lure if the food was to be offered before voting, the court noted. The food will be served only after checking the black ink mark on the fingers of the voters. Considering this argument, the court permitted serving of food.

Krishnaraja S.P., the owner of Nisarga Grand Hotel, welcomed the decision.

"Free food and cold drink are served to the voters after polling at the hotel to create awareness among the electorate," Krishnaraja said.

Nisarga Grand Hotel will offer butter dosa, Mysuru pak (sweet dish) and cold drinks to the people after voting. Free cinema tickets will also be offered to 100 first-time voters, he said.

Many hotels across the state have made similar offers.

--IANS
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Hyderabad, May 9 (IANS) The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of Madhya Pradesh police on Tuesday arrested five suspects from Hyderabad for their alleged links to the radical Islamist group Hizb-Ut-Tahrir (HUT).

In an operation conducted in coordination with the local police and central agencies, the ATS arrested the suspects, including the head of biotechnology department at a local college, a cloud service engineer and a dentist.

According to sources, the suspects hailed from Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and other places and were residing in Hyderabad for some time now. They were picked up from Golconda, Hafiz Baba Nagar and other places in and around Hyderabad.

The arrests were made based on the information collected from 11 other suspects held earlier in the day from Bhopal and Chhindwara in Mdhya Pradesh.

Intelligence agencies reportedly found that Mohammed Saleem from Bhopal was working as a lecturer of biotechnology at a college here. Abdul Rehman from Odisha was working as a cloud service engineer at a firm.

Another suspect, Mohammed Abbas, was working as an autorickshaw driver and was staying at Hafiz Baba Nagar. Mohammed Hamid was working as a daily wage worker and was residing at Maqdum Nagar in Jagadgirigutta. Mohammed Salman was also working as a daily wage worker and residing in Jawahar Nagar.

As per the interrogation of the 11 persons held in Madhya Pradesh earlier in the day, they were reportedly planning to set up a base in Madhya Pradesh.

The ATS reportedly seized jihadi literature, knives and airguns from those arrested.

Hizb-Ut-Tahrir is said to be a radical global organisation with presence in 50 countries.

--IANS
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