Category: National

Ahmedabad, May 27: In a bone-chilling incident, a 16-year boy killed his 12-year-old cousin in cold blood in Gujarat’s Kheda district over the issue of playing games on a cellphone.

The cousins were visiting their fathers in Gobhalaj village in the Kheda district of Gujarat. When their parents went to work leaving them unsupervised, the two boys decided to play out in the fields.

Later the younger cousin pulled out a smartphone to play online games. The 16-year-old boy felt left out and demanded his cousin hand over the phone. The younger boy refused to part with his prized possession. This led to a heated debate between the two brothers.

In the heat of the moment, the 16-year-old struck his younger brother with a heavy stone. Later, he tied the body with heavy stones and threw it in the local well. The elder brother did not return home after this incident and fled to his Damsath in Banswara district in Rajasthan. Rajasthan. When neither of the brothers returned home the worried parents started contacting relatives in their hometown.

The relatives brought the 16-year-old back to Gobhalaj village and strictly asked him the whereabouts of the younger brother. The elder brother cracked under pressure and regaled the whole incident. The parents and other family members were horrified when the 16-year-old accepted the crime.

The police filed a case under murder offenses. The boy was presented before the court in Nadiad where he was ordered to be sent to an observation home. This case is an eye-opener for all the parents who don’t realize that the rise in mobile games is guilty of increasing the violent activities of minors. With PTI inputs

Srinagar, May 27: In a shocking incident in Madhya Pradesh, a man allegedly beat his wife with a laundry bat and dumped her in a well after telling him to wait until she cooked the food, times now reported.

The incident occurred in the Hatpipliya region of Dewas. The woman’s body was later recovered from the well.

Following the police, the accused, Dinesh Mali, who resides in Tilyakhedi, came home after work and learned that food had not been prepared yet. After asking his wife, Yashoda Mali, about food, she asked him to wait for some time as she was busy with another household chore. Dinesh became angry when he heard this and began yelling at her. He then whacked her in the head with a laundry bat, forcing her to pass out. When Nikita, their daughter, tried to intervene, Dinesh struck her with the bat as well. He later dumped his wife in a well and left, police added.

The matter came to light; when Nikita called her relatives to tell them about the incident, all were shocked. The police were notified, and the body was removed and transferred to a morgue for a postmortem examination. Officials assumed the woman was alive after the assault but drowned in the well; however, the specific cause of death was unknown.

Hatpipliya police station in charge, Sajjan Singh Mukati, stated that a case under IPC sections 302, 294, 323, and 201 has been registered, and the accused has been arrested

Police should treat sex workers with dignity, not abuse them, apex court said

New Delhi- Observing that human decency and dignity extend to sex workers and their children, the Supreme Court has directed police forces in all states and Union territories to treat sex workers with dignity and not to abuse them, verbally or physically.

Issuing a slew of directions, a bench of Justices L. Nageswara Rao, B.R. Gavai and A.S. Bopanna said the constitutional protection that is given to all individuals in this country shall be kept in mind by the authorities who have a duty under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956.

Any sex worker who is a victim of sexual assault should be provided with all facilities available to a survivor of sexual assault, including immediate medical assistance, in accordance with law, it said.

“It has been noticed that the attitude of the police to sex workers is often brutal and violent. It is as if they are a class whose rights are not recognised. The police and other law enforcement agencies should be sensitised to the rights of sex workers who also enjoy all basic human rights and other rights guaranteed in the Constitution to all citizens. Police should treat all sex workers with dignity and should not abuse them, both verbally and physically, subject them to violence or coerce them into any sexual activity,” the bench said.

The court also said the Press Council of India should be urged to issue appropriate guidelines for the media to take utmost care not to reveal the identities of sex workers, during arrest, raid and rescue operations, whether as victims or accused and not to publish or telecast any photos that would result in disclosure of such identities.

“Besides, the newly introduced Section 354C, IPC which makes voyeurism a criminal offence, should be strictly enforced against electronic media, in order to prohibit telecasting photos of sex workers with their clients in the garb of capturing the rescue operation,” it said.

It also directed the state governments to do a survey of shelter homes so that cases of adult women who are detained against their will can be reviewed and processed for release in a time-bound manner.

“Measures that sex workers employ for their health and safety (e.g., use of condoms, etc.) must neither be construed as offences nor seen as evidence of commission of an offence.

“The Central Government and the State Governments, through National Legal Services Authority, State Legal Services Authority and District Legal Services Authority, should carry out workshops for educating the sex workers abut their rights vis-a-vis the legality of sex work, rights and obligations of the police and what is permitted/prohibited under the law. Sex workers can also be informed as to how they can get access to the judicial system to enforce their rights and prevent unnecessary harassment at the hands of traffickers or police,” the bench said.

The apex court passed the directions on recommendations of a panel formed for the rehabilitation of sex workers.

The top court was also informed that the Government of India has certain reservations in respect of the recommendation that sex workers are entitled to equal protection of the law and the police must refrain from interfering or taking any criminal action.

The bench said that every individual in this country has a right to a dignified life under Article 21 of the Constitution.

“The constitutional protection that is given to all individuals in this country shall be kept in mind by the authorities who have a duty under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956. The other recommendations that are made by the panel shall be taken up after summer vacation,” the bench said.

The apex court was hearing a plea that has raised the problems faced by sex workers due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The plea has highlighted the destitution faced by sex workers on account of Covid-19 and sought relief measures for over nine lakh women and transgender sex workers across India.

Now I will never say anything against Islam and Muslims, till now whatever I have spewed venom against Islam was my fault, I am sorry for this, next life will be spent only for the service of Mahadev: Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati

The Madhya Pradesh Police on Saturday arrested Bharatiya Janata Party worker Dinesh Kushwaha, who was seen assaulting a 65-year-old man with mental illness on video, The Indian Express reported.

The man, identified as Bhawarlal Jain, was later found dead in the Neemuch district.

The video shared on social media showed Kushwaha repeatedly slapping Jain and asking him about his identity. Kushwaha was seen asking him if his name was Mohammed and demanding his Aadhaar card.

Trigger warning: A differently-abled elderly person Bhanwarlal Jain was brutally beaten in MP’s Neemuch over suspicion of being a Muslim. The person (Dinesh Kushwaha) can be seen asking ‘Are you Mohammed, Show me your Identity Card’, while thrashing him. He Was Later Found Dead. pic.twitter.com/o0xvlFoUXK

— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) May 21, 2022
Jain was a resident of Sarsi village in Ratlam district of the state. He had gone missing on May 16 after visiting a religious event in Rajasthan’s Chittorgarh district. His body was found in front of a car showroom on the Rampura road in Neemuch on May 19.

After the elderly man’s body was found, his family members, residents of his village and members of the Jain community had held protests at the police station, seeking strict action against the accused persons.

KL Dangi, who is in charge of the Manasa police station in the Neemuch district, said that Kushwaha had gone into hiding after the incident, according to The Indian Express. He was traced by a team of 40 policemen.

Dangi added that the video of the assault was shared on social media after Jain’s body was handed over to his family on May 19. He said the video was shot just 600 metres from where Jain’s body was discovered.

The police have registered a case under Section 302 (murder) and Section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Indian Penal Code against Kushwaha, who is the husband of a former BJP corporator.

State BJP secretary Rajneesh Agrawal said that the incident was unfortunate, NDTV reported.

“An accused is an accused and it has nothing to do with party politics,” Agrawal said. “None of the people involved in such an act will be spared by the state government.”

The saffron party chief in the Neemuch district said that Kushwaha does not hold any position in the BJP. “He is simply a worker,” he said, according to The Indian Express.

Congress leader Kamal Nath questioned why criminals in Madhya Pradesh were “so confident of themselves” and alleged that the state government was only interested in event management.

“Just where is law and order in the state?” he asked. “Till when will people be killed in this manner?”

Rajasthan, May 22: Rajasthan Police apprehended an Indian Army personnel for allegedly leaking information to a female agent who works for the Pakistani intelligence agency.
Indian Army personnel has been identified as Pradeep Kumar, police said.
“Rajasthan police apprehended an Indian Army personnel, posted in the highly-sensitive regiment in Jodhpur for allegedly leaking information to a female agent who works for the Pakistani intelligence agency,” Umesh Mishra, DG (Intelligence), Rajasthan Police said in a statement.
According to the police, Kumar was posted in the highly sensitive regiment of the Indian Army in Jodhpur and he was in constant contact with the female agent through social media and was sharing information of strategic importance.
Acting on the Army personnel, on May 18, the interrogation was started after taking him into custody in the afternoon, police said in a press statement.
About six to seven months ago, a call came from the said woman on the mobile phone of the accused, after which both of them started talking to each other through chat, voice call and video call on WhatsApp.
A woman introduced herself as Chhadam, a resident of Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.
She sought confidential documents related to the Indian Army on the pretext of marriage to the accused. The accused stole the photos of the army related documents from his office and sent to the female agent, the police said.
On the confirmation of the above facts, a case has been registered against the accused under the Official Secrets Act, 1923 and arrested. (Agencies)

Noida, May 29: An 81-year-old sketch artist was held by the police in Noida for committing ‘digital rape’ with a 17-year-old for over seven years, reported news agency PTI. The family of the victim knew the accused for several years and had sent their daughter to live with him and seek education in the city.

The minor was being sexually exploited by the man ever since. The girl was initially scared of protesting but in the last one month she began to make videos of the sexual advances – mainly as audio files – made by the man towards her. She then shared the recorded evidences with a woman living with the man, who then lodged a complaint with the Noida police. “Accused Maurice Ryder has been arrested after an FIR was lodged against him under Indian Penal Code Sections 376 (rape), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 506 (criminal intimidation).

He is accused of digital rape of a 17-year-old girl over the last seven years,” said a police spokesperson, reported PTI.

What is ‘Digital rape’?

According to reports, digital rape means having forced sex with a woman/girl using any object other than the reproductive organ. In English dictionary, finger, thumb and toe are addressed as ‘digit’. Hence, the act has been named as ‘digital rape’.

As per a report in DNA, digital rape was considered as molestation until 2013, however, after the 2012 Nirbhaya gang-rape incident in Delhi, new rape laws were passed in the Parliament which stated that any forced penetration will come into the ambit of the anti-rape law.

The law states that the offender can be sentenced to at least five years in jail, while in certain cases, the punishment may go on till 10 years or even imply life imprisonment. Around 70 per cent of the cases are committed by near and dear ones

Islamabad: Pakistan has summoned India’s Charge d’Affaires here to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and handed over a demarche to him conveying Islamabad’s strong condemnation of the framing of fabricated charges against JKLF chief Yasin Malik.
The Pakistan Foreign Office, in a late-night statement on Wednesday, said that Kashmiri Hurriyat leader Malik is currently imprisoned in Delhi’s Tihar jail.
The Indian diplomat conveyed Pakistan’s grave concern that in a bid to suppress the voice of the indigenous Kashmiri leadership, the Indian government has resorted to implicating them in fictitious and motivated cases, it said.
The Indian side also conveyed Pakistan’s deep concern over Malik’s incarceration in Tihar Jail since 2019 under inhuman conditions, it said.
Pakistan calls upon the Government of India for acquittal of Malik from all baseless charges and immediate release from prison so that he can be reunited with his family, recuperate his health and return to normal life, the Foreign Office said.
Malik recently pleaded guilty to all the charges, including those under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), before a Delhi court in a case related to alleged terrorism and secessionist activities that disturbed the Kashmir Valley in 2017.
India has repeatedly told Pakistan that Jammu and Kashmir was, is and shall forever remain an integral part of the country. It also advised Pakistan to accept the reality and stop all anti-India propaganda.
—PTI

Mumbai: A 20-year-old woman allegedly hanged herself to death at her boyfriend’s house located along the railway tracks in suburban Dahisar apparently after he blocked her number on WhatsApp following an argument with her, a police official said on Wednesday.
The woman, identified as Pranali Lokare, was found hanging on Monday morning, he said.

“The deceased and her 27-year-old boyfriend knew each other for the last six months. On Sunday night, both of them attended someone’s wedding, following which the woman insisted that she wanted to stay at his place overnight. However, he did not entertain her demand and asked her to go home,” the official said.

She went away, but soon started calling her boyfriend and again insisted that she wanted to come to his residence. The man advised her against doing do, saying that several drug addicts roam in the locality at night and later blocked her number on WhatsApp, he said.

However, the woman later reached his house and questioned him for blocking her on WhatsApp, the police official added. “She stayed at his place, but allegedly hanged herself from the ceiling using her ‘dupatta’. When her boyfriend got up in the morning, he was shocked to find her hanging. On the basis of preliminary information, Borivali unit of the Government Railway Police (GRP) registered an accidental death report (ADR),” he said, adding that no suicide note was found at the spot.

Guwahati (Assam), May 16: The Chinese army is carrying out capability enhancement in terms of infrastructure, and operational capability close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in a large measure, said General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Eastern Command Lt Gen RP Kalita on Monday.
Briefing mediapersons here, Lt Gen Kalita said, “We talk about border villages created close to LAC which has got dual-use possibility. If we put together everything, it would suffice to say that PLA is carrying out capability enhancement whether in infrastructure, or operational capability in a large measure.”
He emphasized that India is acting towards enhancing infrastructure and operational capabilities in order to respond to any emergent situation.
“All our agencies, including armed forces, are continuously monitoring this situation. We are also upgrading our own capabilities whether in terms of infrastructure or in terms of operational capabilities. If we talk about the LAC in the eastern theatre, across the LAC in Tibet there has been a lot of development in the infrastructure which is taking place. We all keep hearing about it,” Lt Gen stated.
“The other side is constructing and upgrading their roads and tracks and connectivity. New airports and helipads are being constructed. Activities being undertaken to improve infrastructure so that they are in better position to respond to any emergent situation,” he added.
The military standoff with China has been going on for over two years now when the Chinese side attempted to change the status quo unilaterally by moving troops in large numbers against Indian positions.
In view of the Chinese threat, the Indian Army has shifted six Divisions that were earlier deployed in counter-terrorism roles and after taking care of the Pakistan front. The Indian Army has been doing rebalancing and realignment of its forces which were earlier more prepared for the Pakistan threat than the challenges faced from the Northern borders.
Senior government sources said that after this rebalancing and realignment exercise was done over the last two years, two divisions (around 35,000 troops) have been feeding up from counter-terrorism roles for looking after the China border deployment.
One division from Rashtriya Rifles was taken out from counter-terrorism roles from Jammu and Kashmir and has now been deployed in the Eastern Ladakh sector and would be there along with the 3 Division already based there, they said.
Likewise, an Assam-based Division under the Tezpur-based Gajaraj Corps has been pulled out of its counter-insurgency role from the state and now its mandate is to look after the China border in the northeast, they said.
The 17 Mountain Strike Corps which earlier had tasks in the Ladakh sector also has now been confined to the Northeast only and has been given one more Division based out of Jharkhand. The division earlier was tasked to carry out strike operations along the Western front.
Two Army Divisions located in Uttar Pradesh have also now been assigned to the Northern Command for Ladakh theatre. The two formations were earlier tasked to fight on the Western front in case of a war, they said.
Similarly, a Uttarakhand-based Division of a Strike Corps has been reassigned to the Central Command to look after the entire Central sector where the Chinese have been attempting transgressions on multiple occasions, they said.
Sources said that the rebalancing has resulted in the deployment of two of the four Strike Corps in the Army with offensive elements on the China border whereas prior to April-May, 2022, three of them looked after Pakistan prominently, they said.
The heavy deployment by India has also sent across a message to the Chinese military that any misadventure to attempt altering the status quo on the LAC would not be possible, they said.
After the Chinese Army deployed on the Indian borders in heavy numbers, India also rushed in troops in the same manner and sent around 50,000 troops there. (Agencies)