Four passengers were killed and 24 others injured after a truck and a state transport bus collided near Jalna city in central Maharashtra on Saturday, an official said. The accident occurred around 4 pm in the Nava Road area when the bus belonging to the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) with about 60 passengers was going to Mahurgad from Malegaon, he said. The bus collided with a truck, which passengers claimed was being driven recklessly. The impact was so severe that both vehicles were badly mangled and some of the occupants of the bus had to be pulled out by locals, said the official. He said the accident left four persons dead and 24 injured, all travelling on the bus. The injured passengers were taken to the District Government Hospital in Jalna. Of them, three are in serious condition, he said. Passengers claimed the truck driver was drunk. Police arrested the driver, who was not yet identified. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
14 December,2024 10:44 PM IST | Jalna | PTIPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday accused the Congress of repeatedly mutilating the Constitution, having "tasted blood" in its "greed" for power, as he asserted that his government's policies and decisions since 2014 have been aimed at boosting India's strength and unity in line with the vision of the Constitution. Replying to a two-day discussion in the Lok Sabha on "The glorious journey of 75 years of the Constitution of India", he claimed that destroying the spirit of the Constitution is in the veins of the Congress, while his government holds its sacredness and integrity paramount. With the opposition INDIA bloc running a campaign against his government for its alleged bid to weaken and change the Constitution, Modi put up a stout defence of his commitment to the country's founding document. He said leaders like him and many others coming from ordinary families could never have reached where they did but for the strength of the Constitution, as he underlined his long adherence to its values. "Our Constitution is the basis of our unity," he said, emphasising that unity is the biggest requirement to achieve the goal of India becoming a developed country by 2047. He wrapped up his over 110-minute speech proposing 11 resolutions aimed at shaping India's future, including upholding existing reservations for marginalised sections and ruling out any religion-based quota. He said the Constituent Assembly had taken a considered decision against religion-based reservation, but the Congress has been pushing for it to appease its vote bank, an apparent reference to Muslims. The 11 resolutions included a call for ending dynastic politics, promoting meritocracy over nepotism in governance and a pledge of zero tolerance to corruption. Modi was searing in his criticism of the Congress, especially the Nehru-Gandhi family, alleging that its members repeatedly struck blows to the Constitution by amending it to cling to power and to appease their vote bank. Enjoyment of power and greed for it is the history and present of the Congress. The next generation of the Nehru-Gandhi family is also in the same game after former prime ministers Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi amended the Constitution in their "greed" for power, he said in his over 110-minute address. Unlike them, he said, his government amended the Constitution to further its spirit to empower the backward and disadvantaged sections of society, and to further the country's unity and integrity. Besides numerous welfare measures of his government, he cited the introduction of the GST and reservation for the economically weaker section, and the repeal of Article 370 to make his point. In a swipe at the past Congress governments, he accused them of planting "poisonous" seeds in the country's diversity to accentuate its contradictions and damage its unity. He counted Nehru's amendment of the Constitution to put restrictions on the freedom of speech, Indira Gandhi's imposition of Emergency to keep her hold of power to negate a Supreme Court order annulling her election as MP, and Rajiv Gandhi's amendment to overturn the court's judgment in the Shah Bano case among numerous instances of the family's alleged power grab. Nehru had written to chief ministers that if the Constitution comes in their way, it should be amended, Modi said. Targeting Leader of Opposition in the House Rahul Gandhi, Modi said an "arrogant" person tore a Cabinet decision of the Congress-led UPA government and his mother Sonia Gandhi headed the National Advisory Council that was put "above" the prime minister's office at that time. The prime minister though did not take their names. The family left no stone unturned to strike blows to the Constitution. "This family challenged the Constitution at every level," he said, adding that he was singling out the family as its members were in power for 55 years. As chief minister of Gujarat, he said, his government celebrated the 60th year of the Constitution's adoption by placing a copy of the document on an elephant while he walked underneath barefoot in a symbolic gesture to highlight its supremacy. Indira Gandhi as prime minister "throttled India's democracy and mutilated the Constitution" when the 25th year of its adoption was approaching, to save her chair as prime minister, he said, noting that she also effected an amendment to protect the president, vice president and herself from any legal challenge to their position with a retrospective effect. The country was turned into jail and the judiciary was stifled. This sin of the Congress can never be washed off, Modi asserted. While the makers of the Constitution took a considered decision to disallow reservation on the basis of religion and faith in the interest of the country's unity and integrity, the Congress in its "greed for power" and to "appease its vote bank" pushed for it in violation of the constitutional spirit, he said. He cited his government's decisions like granting constitutional status to the OBC commission, giving health coverage to the poor, boosting infrastructure in remote parts of the country, providing free ration to the poor and pushing for saturation coverage of welfare schemes without any discrimination to highlight its works in line with the spirit of the Constitution. He hailed India's journey since the adoption of the Constitution in 1949 as "extraordinary", asserting that the country's ancient democratic roots have long been an inspiration for the world. India is not only a big democracy but it is now acknowledged as the mother of democracy, he said. Modi said India defied all apprehensions about its democratic future after independence and added that its Constitution has brought the country to this stage. He paid tributes to the makers of the Constitution and the country's citizens for living up to the spirit of its makers. Those involved in the making of the Constitution were well aware that India was not born in 1947 or turned democratic in 1950, he said, citing remarks of eminent personalities like Purushottam Das Tandon and Bhim Rao Ambedkar. Women were given voting rights by the Constitution, Modi said, adding the country is now seeing women-led development. He lauded the parliamentarians for the unanimous passage of the law to give reservation to women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
14 December,2024 10:39 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIGutkha and scented tobacco worth Rs 16.33 lakh were seized in Latur, a police official said on Saturday, reported the PTI. A person from Beed district in Maharashtra has been booked in connection with the matter, the Crime Branch official added. A vehicle transporting the contraband from Karnataka to Ambajogai through Udgir here was intercepted at Nalegaon after a 20 kilometre chase on Friday on a tip-off, he said. Further probe into the case is being carried out by Chakur police, the official said. Manufacture and sale of gutkha is banned in Maharashtra. Navi Mumbai police nabs 16 African nationals in Rs 12 crore drug seizure Meanwhile, in a combating operation, the crime branch of Navi Mumbai Police has arrested 16 African nationals for their alleged involvement in the drug business peddling, the police said, adding that three of them have been arrested for using a fake passport or staying without a visa, reported news agency ANI. According to a press release issued by Navi Mumbai Police Commissionerate in Maharashtra, the combating operation was undertaken jointly by the Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) and Economic Offenses Branch (EOB) of the Navi Mumbai Police's Crime Branch on Thursday night against a major crackdown. Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Bhausaheb Dhole said that during the operation the police have seized drugs worth approximately Rs 12 crore from the arrested African nationals. The police teams conducted raids at as many as 25 places under the Navi Mumbai Police Commissionerate, reported ANI. "A total of 150 police officers and enforcers of Navi Mumbai Police Commissionerate participated in the combating operation. They raided a total of 25 places within the Commissionerate limits and seized 2 kg 45 grams of cocaine (worth approximately Rs 10.22 crore), 663 grams of MD Powder (worth approximately Rs 1.48 crore), 58 grams of methylene (worth approximately Rs. 11.60 lakh), 23 grams of charas (worth approximately Rs. 3.45 lakh), 31 grams of ganja (worth approximately Rs 6 thousand) have been seized," the press release read, reported ANI. Moreover, notices to leave the country have been issued to 73 African citizens whose passports and visas have expired. (with PTI inputs)
14 December,2024 10:10 PM IST | Latur | mid-day online correspondentThe Latur unit of the Congress held a signature campaign in the district seeking removal of EVMs and holding of future polls through ballot papers, reported the PTI. The 'Remove EVM, Save Democracy' signature campaign was held at Sanvidan Chowk on Friday, a party leader said. The Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi has been demanding removal of EVMs after the opposition alliance was defeated emphatically by the ruling Mahayuti in the November 20 assembly polls. While the Mahayuti won 230 seats in the 288-member assembly, the MVA emerged victorious on 46 seats, including 16 for the Congress. Meanwhile, the Maharashtra cabinet expansion of the BJP-led government in state would take place on December 15 with the new ministers taking the oath of office at a ceremony in Nagpur, official sources said on Friday, reported the PTI. About 30 ministers would take oath, a senior BJP leader told PTI. The week-long winter session of the state legislature is slated to begin in Nagpur, Maharashtra's second capital, from December 16. Devendra Fadnavis took oath as Chief Minister with Shiv Sena leader Eknath shinde and NCP chief Ajit Pawar as his deputies at a grand ceremony in Mumbai on December 5. The council of ministers in Maharashtra can have a maximum of 43 members including the chief minister. The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena in Maharashtra may not give another chance to three leaders in the new state cabinet even as they were ministers in the previous government in view of complaints about their performance and inaccessibility, a party leader said, the PTI had earlier reported. The party is likely to induct fresh faces in their place, as per a PTI report. A close aide of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and party MLA said several legislators raised concern regarding certain ministers. They said the three former ministers - one each from Konkan, western Maharashtra and Marathwada - were inaccessible even to the party MLAs, according to the PTI. (with PTI inputs)
14 December,2024 10:01 PM IST | Latur | mid-day online correspondentA 37-year-old railway police constable allegedly committed suicide in a village in Maharashtra's Nagpur, an official said on Saturday, reported the PTI. The cop was found hanging from a tree in Wadegaon (Kale) village of Nagpur, some 30 kilometres from the district headquarters, the Kuhi police station official said. "He was a resident of Juna Babulkheda in Ajni. He had left for work on December 7 and did not return home. His kin had filed a missing person complaint. We believe he allegedly committed suicide two to three days ago. His motorcycle has been found at the spot," the official said. An accidental death case was registered and further probe is underway, he added. Cop on duty in Gadchiroli district court killed in accidental gun discharge Meanwhile, in an another incident, earlier this week, a police constable on duty in the district court in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli died after his automatic service gun accidentally discharged eight bullets and three of them hit him on Wednesday afternoon, an had earlier official said, reported the PTI. The constable identified as Umaji Holi was on his routine duty when the incident took place, an official had said. He was on duty as part of the escort of Gadchiroli's district judge, the police said, as per the PTI. According to the PTI, the incident took place at around 2:55 pm on Wednesday when Holi was sitting in a car in the court premises and his automatic weapon accidentally went off. Three of the eight bullets from the gun reportedly hit him in the chest, stomach and shoulder, leaving him seriously injured, said the police. He was immediately rushed to the District General Hospital nearby, where medical authorities declared him brought dead, they said. A senior police official told PTI that prima facie it was a case of accidental gun discharge. A case of accidental death was registered and all assistance is being given to the constable's family, he added. Superintendent of Police Nilotpal and other senior officials visited the incident site and the hospital to gather information about the episode. (with PTI inputs)
14 December,2024 08:33 PM IST | Nagpur | mid-day online correspondentNana Patole on Saturday said he had not tendered resignation as Maharashtra Congress chief, reported the PTI. According to the PTI, Congress sources had claimed on Friday that following the rout faced by the Congress in the Maharashtra Assembly election 2024, Nana Patole had emailed a letter to party president Mallikarjun Kharge and expressed the desire to be relieved of his current responsibility. "I have not tendered any resignation...rumours are being spread," he told reporters in Nagpur, as per the PTI. "Actually, the tenure of MPCC (Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee) chief is of three years, and I have completed four years. I have earlier also said that I fulfilled my responsibilities properly, and it is an internal matter, not to be disclosed. The party will decide, and I feel everyone should get the opportunity to work in the organisation," Nana Patole added, the news agency reported. The Congress leader, meanwhile, condemned the vandalising of a replica of the Constitution in Parbhani city in Maharashtra which triggered violence earlier this week, and demanded action against the Collector and Superintendent of Police for the use of lathi-charge against the protesters. The issue will be raised in the winter session of the assembly that would start next week, he said. At least 51 people were arrested, and three cases registered so far in connection with the violent protests that broke out in Maharashtra's Parbhani city over vandalising of a replica of the Constitution, police said on Friday, reported the PTI. The Parbhani violence erupted in the central Maharashtra after a glass-enclosed replica of the Constitution near Dr B R Ambedkar's statue outside the Parbhani railway station was vandalised on the evening of December 10. A bandh to protest the vandalism took a violent turn on Wednesday when a mob indulged in arson and vandalised shops, vehicles and even the district collector's office. "We have so far registered three cases in connection with the violence, and 51 people have been arrested. The number can go up as the investigation is underway, and we are going through some videos," the official said, according to the PTI. (with PTI inputs)
14 December,2024 07:37 PM IST | Nagpur | mid-day online correspondentIn a bizarre incident, a 32-year-old Gujarat resident chopped off four fingers of his left hand with a sharp knife to make himself unfit for his job as a computer operator at his relative's diamond firm, news agency PTI reported. According to the police, Mayur Tarapara had earlier told the cops that he had found his fingers missing after falling unconscious by the side of a road, though a probe into the chain of events revealed that the harm was self-inflicted. In a statement, the Surat Crime Branch said Tarapara took the step as he did not have courage to tell his kin that he no longer wanted work at the latter's firm, Anabh Gems, located in Varachha Mini Bazaar, PTI reported. The man worked as a computer operator in the accounts department at the firm and the loss of fingers would have made him unfit for the job, the statement read. According to PTI, Tarapara had told the Gujarat Police that he was on his way to a friend's house on December 8 on a motorcycle when he felt dizzy and passed out by the ring road near Vedanta Circle in Amroli. He claimed that when he regained consciousness after 10 minutes, he found four fingers of his left hand had been chopped off. It was then suspected that the fingers may have been cut and taken away for black magic, the police said. A case was registered at Amroli Police Station in Surat and the probe was transferred to the city's crime branch, which found Tarapara's involvement after going through the CCTV footage of the area and deploying technical surveillance as well as human intel. When the police confronted him, Tarapara confessed that he had bought a sharp knife from a shop near Char Rasta in Singanpore. "Four days later, on the night of December 8, he went to Amroli Ring Road and parked his motorcycle there. Around 10pm, he cut off four fingers with a knife and tied a rope near the elbow to prevent blood flow. He then put the knife and fingers in a bag and threw it away," an officer said. Later, his friends took him to the hospital, the police said. The cops have found three of the fingers from a bag, while the knife was found in another bag. Amroli Police are carrying out further probe, the officer informed. (With PTI inputs)
14 December,2024 06:12 PM IST | Surat | mid-day online correspondentDelhi Police have arrested a notorious robber wanted in connection with 13 cases in the national capital, news agency ANI reported. The operation, which took six months, involved tracking the 32-year-old accused across three states before he was nabbed from Gujarat, officers said on Saturday. Anuj alias Antu, a resident of Seelampur in Delhi, was involved in multiple street crimes and robberies in the trans-Yamuna area (East Delhi), and had been absconding despite various efforts by multiple police units and the initiation of legal processes against him, the police said. Anuj had been on the run since 2022 and was declared a proclaimed offender in five cases by various courts. He was also evading arrest in eight other cases, ANI reported. Due to the seriousness of the crimes, the task of apprehending him was assigned to a crime branch team of the Delhi Police. The team began by gathering information on his criminal activities, court dates, whereabouts, possible hideouts, and details about his family and friends. Over the course of six months, the team followed leads and tracked him through Delhi, Rajasthan, and finally pinpointed his location in Kutch, Gujarat, acting on a specific tip-off, ANI reported. Anuj was arrested from Kutch on Thursday, the police said. Throughout the investigation, the team used human intelligence and technical surveillance to monitor his movements across various states. During interrogation, Anuj revealed that he committed robberies by targeting passersby in dark streets or secluded areas, using a knife to steal their cash and belongings. After being arrested in some cases, he was released on bail. Following this, he fled Delhi and moved to Rajasthan, where he worked in a restaurant. On observing police interception, he relocated to Kutch. Anuj further disclosed that to avoid detection by investigating agencies, he limited his use of a mobile phone and would only call family members after travelling at least 100 km from his location, the police added. The police said he completed his education up to class 10. A skilled cook, Anuj had been working in a restaurant. However, he came in contact with some bad elements and became a drug addict, the police said. To fulfill his addiction, he began committing street robberies with an accomplice. Anuj is involved in a total of 25 cases of robbery, snatching, theft, and Arms Act violations in Delhi, the police stated. (With ANI inputs)
14 December,2024 05:48 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA day after two key suspects in the Kolkata rape-murder case were granted bail, the Left parties and the Congress took to the streets in the West Bengal capital on Saturday, holding protest rallies and accusing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) of having "failed" to deliver justice in the case. The parties also alleged that there was a "tacit understanding" between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Centre, news agency PTI reported. The Congress organised a procession from Rabindra Sadan to the CBI office at Nizam Palace in southern Kolkata, criticising the central probe agency for its alleged failure to frame charges against the two accused in the Kolkata rape-murder case. During the procession, Congress activists held party flags high and chanted slogans such as "We demand justice" and "Bichar chai Tilottoma (Tilottoma wants justice)". The police stopped the protesters from entering Nizam Palace, leading to a scuffle between the demonstrators and law enforcement officers, PTI reported. Hundreds of locals also joined a rally organised by the West Bengal Junior Doctors' Front (WBJDF), which marched from Karunamayee to another CBI office at CGO Complex in Salt Lake, covering a distance of one kilometre. The junior doctors' forum organised the march to protest the "delay in framing charges by the CBI" against all the "conspirators" involved in the Kolkata rape-murder case. The parents of the victim were also present at the rally. On August 9, the body of a 31-year-old postgraduate trainee doctor was found in the seminar hall of RG Kar Hospital, where she had been practising. After it emerged that the young trainee had been brutally raped and murdered, doctors across the country began protesting, demanding justice for the victim and better security for the medical fraternity. "We will fight for justice and it is our right," the victim's mother said. Protesters carried placards reading: "If the system has failed, we will make it function to deliver justice." In a separate rally, activists from the Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) marched from Karunamoyee to the CGO Complex in Salt Lake, while another rally was organised by the Students' Federation of India (SFI) in the College Street area, north of the city. The Sealdah court in Kolkata had granted bail on Friday to two key suspects in the case: Sandip Ghosh — the former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital — and Abhijit Mondal, the former officer-in-charge of Tala Police Station. The two were granted bail after CBI "failed" to file a charge sheet against them within the mandatory 90-day period. (With PTI inputs)
14 December,2024 05:02 PM IST | Kolkata | mid-day online correspondentA Jeddah-bound IndiGo plane was diverted to the Karachi airport on Saturday due to a medical emergency on board and later flew back to Delhi. Sources in the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in Pakistan said the aircraft was in the Pakistani airspace when a male passenger fell seriously ill, following which the plane made an emergency landing at the Jinnah International Airport in Karachi. "There was a medical emergency on board IndiGo flight 6E 63, operating from Delhi to Jeddah," the airline said in a statement. IndiGo said the captain diverted the flight to Karachi, where a doctor attended to the passenger upon arrival. "After completing the necessary formalities, the flight departed Karachi and returned to its origin to provide further assistance to the medical passenger," the airline said, adding, after the passenger was deboarded in Delhi, the flight departed for Jeddah. According to Geo News, the passenger was a 55-year-old Indian man. Sources in the CAA said the flight's pilot contacted the air traffic control at the Karachi airport after the passenger did not get better even after he was given oxygen. The air traffic control allowed the aircraft to land in Karachi on humanitarian grounds. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
14 December,2024 04:49 PM IST | New Delhi | ANIIndia's headline Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation is projected to settle around 4.7-4.8 per cent for FY25, driven by a favourable statistical base, easing food inflation, and stable global commodity prices, according to Bank of Baroda (BoB) report, reported news agency ANI. The arrival of fresh harvests of tomatoes, onions, and potatoes has been reflected in higher mandi arrivals, easing supply pressures. December data indicates further corrections in vegetable prices, while favourable soil moisture and reservoir levels are expected to support a robust Rabi harvest. Additionally, benign global food and energy prices are expected to keep food inflation risks low in the near term, reported news agency ANI. BoB's Economic Conditions Index (ECI) shows minimal sequential price growth in December, at 0.1 per cent compared to 0.4 per cent in November. The report suggests that these favourable inflation trends may guide the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) towards a more accommodative monetary policy stance in the coming months, as demand-side pressures remain contained, reported news agency ANI. The report highlights that November 2024 CPI inflation moderated to 5.5 per cent, down from 6.2 per cent in October 2024, aided by broad-based declines in food prices. Notably, vegetable inflation dropped sharply to 29.3 per cent in November, compared to 42.2 per cent in October. Key staples like pulses, fruits, and cereals also saw price relief, attributed to a good Kharif harvest and seasonal factors, reported news agency ANI. Core inflation (excluding food and fuel) held steady at 3.7 per cent in November 2024, with most demand-driven subcomponents showing subdued momentum. While there was a slight uptick in household goods and services during the festive season, categories like clothing and footwear remained stable. A dip in gold prices contributed to easing personal care inflation, reported news agency ANI. On a month-on-month basis, headline CPI inflation declined for the first time since January 2024, with food inflation entering deflation territory at -0.6 per cent in November, compared to a 2.6 per cent rise in October. The report noted corrections in key segments like vegetables, oils, and fruits. (With inputs from ANI)
14 December,2024 01:50 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
