Regional

Jaipur, June 12 (IANS) In a shocking incident, Army Havildar Vikram Singh (40) was allegedly beaten to death by two youths in Palota Ka Bas village, under Surajgarh police station limits in Rajasthan’s Jhunjhunu district.

The incident was reported late Tuesday night as the jawan was leaving home to rejoin duty.

According to police, Vikram Singh, who was serving in the 18 Raj Rifles and posted in Abohar, Punjab, had come to his native village on leave on June 7. As per the complaint filed by his brother Vinod Kumar, Vikram left for duty on Tuesday night, but was intercepted on the way by two local youths in a Scorpio SUV. The accused allegedly forcibly took Vikram to their house, where they brutally assaulted him.

Later, they dumped him outside their home in a critical condition. Upon receiving information, the victim’s family rushed to the spot and took Vikram to the hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Station Officer Hemraj Meena confirmed that a case of murder has been registered based on the family's complaint.

Two suspects were detained on Wednesday for questioning, and police are currently analysing their mobile locations, call records, and other electronic evidence to ascertain the motive behind the killing. Sources indicate that Havildar Vikram Singh was nearing retirement, with just one year of service left.

The incident has sent shockwaves across the village and armed forces community, as the police continue their probe to ensure justice for the slain soldier.

Police station officer Hemraj Meena said that a case of murder has been registered on the complaint of the family, and two youths have been detained and are being questioned. Mobile location, call details, and other electronic evidence of the accused are also being investigated regarding the murder.

--IANS

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Ahmedabad, June 12 (IANS) As Covid-19 cases continue to rise across India, the number of active infections has now crossed 6,815 nationwide.

In Gujarat, the situation remains under close observation as the state recorded 203 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours till Wednesday.

This brings the total number of active cases in Gujarat to 1,281.

Of these, 23 patients are currently receiving treatment in hospitals, while the remaining 1,258 are being managed through outpatient-based care (OPD).

As many as 149 patients recovered and were discharged during the same period.

The state Health Department has noted a slight decline in daily new Covid-19 cases over the past three days, which officials consider an encouraging sign amid the broader national increase.

The trend in Gujarat over the past 10 days shows fluctuating but gradually declining number of daily Covid-19 cases.

On June 10, 223 new cases were reported, a slight decrease from 235 cases on June 9.

The daily case count dropped further on June 8 with 185 cases, followed by 183 on June 7 and 170 on June 6.

Earlier this month, on June 1, the state had reported only 55 Covid-19 cases.

The active Covid caseload rose steadily through the first week of June, from 320 on June 1 to 1,281 as of June 11, indicating the virus is still circulating actively in the community.

With the annual Rath Yatra approaching, state health authorities have issued advisories urging vulnerable population -- including senior citizens and people with pre-existing conditions -- to avoid crowded areas and watch the event from home.

State Health Minister Rushikesh Patel has appealed to the people to take sensible precautions as a preventive measure.

The Gujarat government is actively preparing for the rising Covid-19 cases by closely monitoring trends, ensuring hospital readiness, and coordinating with health departments across districts.

With more than 1,200 active Covid-19 cases in the state, officials have emphasised outpatient-based care to manage the majority of infections, as only a small fraction require hospitalisation.

Regular updates are being issued, and health advisories have been circulated, especially for the elderly and immunocompromised patients.

Additionally, the state Health department has urged citizens to remain cautious and adhere to preventive measures while also ramping up testing and recovery monitoring across urban and rural areas.

--IANS

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Bhopal, June 12 (IANS) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav will transfer Rs 150 crore with a single click under the 'Sambal Yojana' in 6,821 cases of ex-gratia assistance during a programme in Jabalpur on Friday.

The Sambal Yojana is a welfare scheme for millions of workers in the unorganised sector in Madhya Pradesh. Since its inception, over 1.76 crore workers have been registered under the scheme, and the registration process is ongoing. Under the scheme, the government provides Rs 4 lakh in case of accidental death, and Rs 2 lakh in case of natural death. An ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh is given for permanent disability, and Rs 1 lakh for partial permanent disability.

Additionally, it also provides Rs 5,000 for funeral expenses and Rs 16,000 for women as maternity assistance. All Sambal beneficiaries are also enrolled under the Ayushman Bharat - Niramay Yojana, enabling them to avail free annual medical treatment up to Rs 5 lakh. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the state government informed that following direction from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, labourers working at railway platforms in the state have also been included under the Sambal Scheme. Sambal beneficiaries also receive a ration eligibility slip, allowing them to access subsidised food grains provided by both the central and state governments, according to the MP government.

"The Sambal Yojana stands as a lifeline for unorganised sector workers, offering financial support from birth to death. It is support for labourers, and the credit for implementing this welfare scheme goes to the state government," the MP government said. Moreover, several schemes are being run for registered construction workers through the Construction Workers Welfare Board. These include ex gratia assistance in case of death and support in cases of permanent or partial disability.

--IANS

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Bhopal, June 12 (IANS) Madhya Pradesh Bharatiya Janasta Party Chief V.D. Sharma has said that former Congress MLA Laxman Singh was punished for daring to "speak truth" which was not received well by the "sycophants" of the Lok Sabha's Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi.

He added that Congress says that it gives freedom to its party workers to express their views, but the reality is quite the opposite, and expelling former MLA Laxman Singh from the party was an example of it.

The BJP leader made these remarks responding to Congress' decision to expel former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh's younger brother Laxman Singh for his repeated anti-party activities.

"Through expelling Laxman Singh from the party, Congress has sent a message to its party cadre that those who would dare to speak truth will be shown the exit door. Congress wants slaves, and not the leaders, who dare to speak truth," he added.

The Congress Disciplinary Committee on Wednesday expelled Laxman Singh from the party for six years, citing repeated instances of anti-party activities.

The decision came nearly more than a week after Rahul Gandhi's visit to Bhopal on June 3 in which he said that those creating hurdles should step aside on their own or will be expelled from the Congress.

On April 25, Laxman Singh criticised the party leadership following the Pahalgam terror attack.

"Rahul Gandhi and Robert Vadra are naive. The country is suffering the consequences of their immaturity," he said during a condolence meeting organised to pay tribute to the victims of the terror attack.

In another striking statement that very day, Laxman Singh alleged that Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was colluding with terrorists.

Taking note of his remarks, the Congress Disciplinary Action Committee issued him a show cause notice on May 9, demanding an explanation within 10 days.

In the notice, member secretary Tariq Anwar said, "This is to bring to your attention that a complaint has been received from Madhya Pradesh Congress Chief Jitu Patwari and All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary In-charge of Madhya Pradesh Harish Chaudhary regarding your repeated public statements, which have caused serious damage to the image and dignity of the Congress."

"It has further been noted that your recent statement has crossed all acceptable limits, particularly the derogatory and disrespectful remarks directed at senior party leadership, including the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi," the notice said.

Defiant in his stance, Laxman Singh challenged the Congress to expel him immediately if it deemed his comments unacceptable.

However, his response was found unsatisfactory, prompting the party's disciplinary wing to recommend his removal.

Following approval from the Congress high command, Tariq Anwar formally announced Laxman Singh's expulsion on Tuesday.

The princely state of Raghogarh has long wielded influence in Madhya Pradesh politics, with Digvijaya Singh serving as the Chief Minister before moving to the Rajya Sabha.

His son, Jaivardhan Singh, represents Raghogarh in the State Assembly, while Laxman Singh has served as both a Member of Parliament and a legislator from Chachauda.

Despite his political tenure, he has often been perceived as receiving less prominence than Digvijaya Singh's immediate family.

He also had a brief stint with the BJP.

Tensions simmered in 2018 when Congress returned to power in Madhya Pradesh after 15 years.

Laxman Singh had expected a Ministerial position, given his seniority, but was overlooked in favour of Digvijaya Singh's son, Jaivardhan Singh.

Though he refrained from public dissent at the time, he continued to express his grievances intermittently.

--IANS

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Patna, June 12 (IANS) As Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) National President Lalu Prasad Yadav turned 78 on Wednesday, a stream of well-wishers — party workers, supporters, and leaders — flocked to the 10 Circular Road residence of Rabri Devi to wish him on his birthday.

While many greeted the veteran leader in person with gifts and warm messages, others flooded social media with prayers for his health and longevity.

However, all eyes were on Lalu’s elder son, Tej Pratap Yadav, who remained conspicuously silent throughout the day — until late evening, when he finally broke his silence on social media.

At around 5 p.m., Tej Pratap posted a heartfelt birthday message on the social media platform X.

“Heartiest birthday wishes to the leader of the people, voice of the poor, my guide Lalu Prasad. You are not just my father, but you are a movement that inspires justice, courage, and change. Taking your ideology forward is not only my responsibility but my religion,” Tej Pratap posted.

The timing and tone of the message were closely watched, especially amid the strained relationship between father and son.

Lalu Yadav is reportedly upset with Tej Pratap over the controversial Anushka Yadav episode, which led to the latter's six-year expulsion from the RJD and his exclusion from the family. Since then, the two have not met publicly.

Sources close to the family indicate that Lalu Yadav appeared visibly disappointed during the day, possibly due to Tej Pratap’s absence — a sentiment evident on his face as numerous guests came and went without any sign of his elder son.

Just a day before the birthday, Tej Pratap shared a symbolic message on Instagram, posting a picture of himself gazing at a photograph of his father with the caption: “The darker the darkness, the closer the morning.”

His message on Wednesday, while emotionally resonant, did little to dispel the public perception of a deep rift within the political family.

As the RJD gears up for the coming Bihar Assembly elections, the strained personal ties between Lalu Prasad and Tej Pratap could have wider implications — both politically and emotionally — for the party.

--IANS

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Kolkata, June 12 (IANS) Shweta Khan alias Fultusi, the prime accused behind the West Bengal porn racket case, was finally arrested by the West Bengal Police on Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, the policemen first arrested her son Aryan Khan and then her daughter Zoya Khan, a co-accused in the porn racket case.

Based on the questioning of Aryan and Zoya, state police sources said the whereabouts of their mother were available and based on that she was also arrested late Wednesday evening from a hideout in the Alipore area in south Kolkata.

The main charges against Shweta, Aryan, and Zoya are holding a woman from the North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal captive for six months and brutally assaulting her with an iron rod after she refused to participate in pornographic video shoots allegedly orchestrated by the three accused.

Since Zoya is a minor, her case will be processed under the Juvenile Justice Act and referred to the Juvenile Justice Board.

Meanwhile, Aryan has denied his involvement in the porn rackets and said that he had a relationship with the victim woman who wanted to marry him.

Police action has intensified after the National Commission for Women (NCW) took suo motu cognisance of the incident and wrote to the West Bengal DGP Rajeev Kumar, demanding immediate arrests under the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

The NCW also instructed the state police to ensure that the victim receives free medical treatment and psychological counselling.

Additionally, the Commission has directed the DGP to submit a detailed action-taken report within three days.

Meanwhile, West Bengal BJP President and Union Minister, Sukanta Majumdar, has alleged that Shweta Khan has close links with several senior leaders of the ruling Trinamool Congress.

Trinamool Congress has not yet responded to the allegations.

--IANS

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Chennai, June 11 (IANS) Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has called upon the Tamil Nadu government to cooperate with the Centre in continuing scientific research at the Keeladi excavation site, emphasising the need for robust and verifiable evidence before drawing historical conclusions.

Responding to political criticism surrounding the alleged delay in releasing reports of earlier excavation phases, the Union Minister in a post on social media platform X said, "We have never hesitated to release any report. In fact, if such findings are scientifically substantiated and accepted by the academic community, we would be proud to celebrate them along with the Tamil Nadu government."

He noted, however, that the current data emerging from the Keeladi excavations still require more scientifically valid and internationally acceptable evidence.

"We must allow the research process to evolve with integrity. Rather than rushing to politicise preliminary archaeological data, we are committed to extending all support to the scientific community so that further exploration can yield stronger evidence," he said.

Union Minister Shekhawat also questioned the Tamil Nadu government's reluctance to cooperate with Central authorities on this matter.

"It is difficult to understand why the state is hesitant to collaborate. Our appeal is simple — allow the research to continue unhindered so that authentic historical narratives can emerge."

Reaffirming the Union government's stand on cultural integration, Union Minister Shekhawat said, "Tamil Nadu is an integral part of Bharat. Its civilisational glory must be celebrated not through divisive sentiments but through honest and evidence-based understanding of its heritage."

The Union Minister's statement comes in the backdrop of ongoing controversy over the Keeladi excavation reports, particularly Phases 2 and 3, which were conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India but are yet to be made public.

Tamil Nadu political leaders have accused the Centre of deliberately withholding findings that highlight an advanced ancient Tamil civilisation.

The Centre, however, maintains that it is committed to transparency, provided the research meets global academic scrutiny.

The debate continues to fuel tensions between the state and Centre over historical narratives and their implications for regional identity and national unity.

--IANS

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Bhubaneswar, June 11 (IANS) With the sudden outbreak of diarrhoea in different areas of Odisha's Jajpur district, the state Health and Family Welfare department, on Wednesday, launched an intensive field operations in the district on a war footing to contain the outbreak that has so far claimed three lives.

"Upon receipt of reports from the Jajpur district regarding people affected with diarrhoea getting admitted to hospitals, we have constituted a state-level multi-sectoral team comprising doctors, microbiologists, food safety inspectors and sent them to Jajpur. They have already reached there and started an investigation to find out the cause of the outbreak," said health department secretary, Aswathy S.

She also added that additional teams of doctors have been sent to the district for treatment of patients admitted to the Jajpur District Headquarters Hospital and other peripheral hospitals.

The Director of Public Health Services, Nilaknatha Mishra, has also rushed to the district to ensure coordinated efforts by all the stakeholders to rein in the sudden outbreak of diarrhoea in different parts of Jajpur district.

As per an official statement of the health department, different teams are in action in the affected and surrounding areas of Dharmashala, Vyasanagar municipality, Danagadi, Rasulpur and Korei blocks of Jajpur district.

The state and district teams in convergence are monitoring the ground situation closely.

The director of Public Health services said that all patients and sporadic cases in adjoining places are being quickly attended to by rapid action teams constituted at district level.

He along with two Rapid Action Teams consisting of medical officers, microbiologists, epidemiologists, Joint Director integrated disease surveillance programme from state level have reached the area; and have started field operation in coordination with the Jajpur Chief District Medical and Public Health Officer.

"Specialists from Maharaja Jajati Keshari Medical College and hospital in Jajpur are looking into treatment of the critical cases. Six medicine specialists from SCB, Medical college and hospital in Cuttack have also been deputed to the district. The infected people have been admitted in Dharmashala, Jajpur Road, and Danagadi Community Health Centres and Jajpur District Headquarters Hospital. The critical patients are also being treated at SCB Medical College and hospital, Cuttack," said the state Health department.

It also added that hospitals in the districts have been equipped with additional manpower, sufficient medicines, saline fluids, injections, etc, to combat the disease.

The Superintendent of SCB Medical College has been asked to remain alert about proper treatment of the referral cases.

"The Rural Water Supply and Sanitation teams are working for disinfection of the drinking water sources. Food inspecting teams and disease surveillance teams are working at the ground level to combat water-borne disease. The grassroot level service providers like health sub-centres, ASHA Karmies, AWC karmies and multi-purpose health workers have been supplied with halogen tablets, medicines, ORS packets and awareness materials for distribution among the people," the department noted.

The state government has advised the people to take all precautionary measures, such as avoid outside foods, drink safe water, and adhere to hygienic practices.

As per the Jajpur district administration, more than 200 patients have been admitted to different hospitals of the district during the past two days while two persons from Jajpur district and one from Anandpur in Keonjhar district have died till now.

--IANS

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Mumbai, June 7 (IANS) Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday criticised Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi over his write-up in a daily in which he alleged that Maharashtra Assembly elections in 2024 were a blueprint for rigging democracy.

CM Fadnavis in his reaction said: “Rahul Gandhi has accepted his defeat in Bihar! As long as Rahul Gandhi keeps giving himself false assurances, his party can never win. By making such baseless remarks, Rahul Gandhi has insulted the voters of Maharashtra, and for this, I strongly condemn him.”

On the other hand, Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora also targeted Rahul Gandhi. He said: “Blaming the Election Commission or EVMs months after losing reeks of sour grapes. Instead of peddling conspiracy theories, the Opposition should take a long, hard look in the mirror. After all, a bad carpenter always blames his tools.”

Earlier, Congress in-charge (Maharashtra) Ramesh Chennithala claimed that the state's democracy was not defeated but it was butchered.

Strongly defending Rahul Gandhi’s observations in his write-up, he said that with irrefutable facts and unflinching clarity the leader of opposition has exposed a chilling truth. “The mandate of the people in Maharashtra was hijacked — not by the will of the voters, but through manipulation, deceit, and a systematic assault on democratic institutions,” he alleged.

“Rahul Gandhi’s powerful expose is not merely an article — it is a wake-up call. It exposes how Maharashtra, once a proud torchbearer of democratic values, has become a cautionary tale of how institutions can be compromised, how power can be snatched instead of earned, and how silence can become complicity. This is no longer about one state or one election. It is about the soul of our democracy,” said Chennithala.

“We urge the Election Commission to break its silence. The people of Maharashtra — and of India — deserve answers.We call upon every citizen to stay vigilant, stay informed, and stay united. For if we allow such subversion to go unchecked, we may soon lose not just elections — but the very freedoms that define us,” he added.

Further, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president Harshwardhan Sapkal said that Rahul Gandhi’s article sparked a political earthquake and asked why there is no probe into Maharashtra Assembly election fixing.

“Why are BJP leaders Amit Shah and Devendra Fadnavis answering questions meant for the Election Commission? Why is the Commission silent? The ‘Maharashtra Pattern’ of vote tampering is a conspiracy to be used in Bihar, Mumbai civic polls, and upcoming local body elections,” he alleged.

He announced that the Congress would hold torchlight protests across Maharashtra on June 12.

--IANS

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