In a suspected case of gang war, a 35-year-old gym owner was shot dead by two motorcycle-borne assailants in the posh Greater Kailash area of south Delhi, police said on Friday. Four people have been arrested in this connection, they said. "These four are suspected to have provided logistical support to the shooters. They are being further interrogated by a Special Cell team," a senior officer said. The arrested accused have been identified as Nitalesh Tiwari, Vishal Verma and Akash Yadav of Uttar Pradesh's Azamgarh, and Naveen Baliyan of Haryana's Sonipat. Two country-made pistols and eight live rounds were seized from them. The officer said two more people were detained and questioned in connection with the case but the main shooter remained on the run. The police also suspect the involvement of associates of jailed gangsters Lawrence Bishnoi and Hashim Baba in the murder. Nadir Shah -- who previously had criminal cases, including extortion, robbery and attempted murder, against him -- co-owned a gym in Greater Kailash 1. He would also lend money on very high interest rates, police sources said. Shah owned a business in Dubai and was stated to be known to some Delhi police officials. He is survived by his mother and two brothers. Shah's father hailed from Afghanistan and moved to Delhi several years ago. At the time of the incident, some officials of the Delhi Police's Special Cell were present at the gym, where they had gone to meet an informer, a source said. Shah was talking to a friend outside the gym when he was shot at around 10.44 pm, the police said. CCTV camera footage purporting to show Shah talking to a person as an attacker walks towards him and fires a volley of bullets from close range later surfaced on social media. The police suspect the attacker fled on a motorcycle with an associate, who was waiting for him. Another police source said the background of the man Shah was talking to when he was attacked had been verified. He told the police that he had come with a woman friend, who was sitting in his car at that time, the second source said. Minutes after, a post was shared on a social media account claiming to be that of gangster Rohit Godara, taking responsibility for the shooting. The post said the shooting was ordered by Sameer Baba, a jailed criminal, as Shah was causing troubling in his business. "Whoever will support our rival and trouble us will be shot like this," it added. The post also mentioned the names of Lawrence Bishnoi's associates Godara, Goldy Brar, Gogi gang and Kala Rana gang. Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Ankit Chauhan said they received information about the shooting at Greater Kailash 1 and one person being taken to Max Hospital. Personnel rushed to the spot and found bullet projectiles and empty cartridges. Upon inquiry, it was found that Shah, a resident of CR Park, had suffered five bullet injuries, the police said. "The attackers came on a two wheeler, fired at him and fled. He was immediately rushed to the hospital by his friends but was declared dead," Chauhan said. The investigators are looking at all possible angles, he added. The police suspect a case of rivalry but did not rule out the possibility of a gang war. 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 September,2024 10:48 AM IST | New Delhi | PTIPrime Minister Narendra Modi is set to hit the poll campaign trail in support of his party candidates on Saturday by addressing a mega rally in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district, amid tight security arrangements. This will be the first visit by a prime minister to Doda in the last 42 years. Multi-tier security has been deployed across the twin districts of Doda and Kishtwar, particularly around the venue, to ensure a peaceful and smooth conduct of the election rally, which will be held at the stadium in Doda town. "Prime Minister Modi will hold his first election meeting in Doda tomorrow. This will be a significant event as it marks the first visit of any Prime Minister to Doda in 42 years. The last prime ministerial visit to Doda was in 1982," said Union Coal and Mines Minister and BJP election in-charge for Jammu & Kashmir, G Kishan Reddy, on Friday in Samba. Modi's rally is all set to give boost to his cadres and candidates in the region where voting for eight Assembly seats in the three districts of the Chenab Valley ' Doda, Kishtwar, and Ramban ' is scheduled for September 18. During the 2014 Assembly elections, PM Modi addressed a BJP poll rally in Kishtwar district. Since then, the people of Doda have been eagerly waiting to see and hear the Prime Minister, a leader said. BJP leaders believe that the prime minister's visit will significantly boost the electoral prospects of party candidates in the union territory. The party is contesting all 43 Assembly seats in the Jammu division. In the last J&K Assembly, BJP had 25 MLAs. Voting in the J-K Assembly elections will be held in three phases on September 18, September 25, and October 1. The counting of votes will take place on October 8. This is the first Assembly election in J&K in 10 years, and the first since the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A. The Jammu region has long been a BJP stronghold, with the party winning all 25 of its seats from this region in the 2014 Assembly polls in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. Home Minister Amit Shah addressed a poll rally in Jammu on last Saturday, while Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held another rally in Ramban district on Sunday. 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 September,2024 10:46 AM IST | Jammu | PTIHindi Diwas is observed on September 14 every year. On Hindi Diwas 2024, let us look at the role of Hindi language in fostering national integration. As one of India's official languages, Hindi is not merely a medium of communication but a unifying force in a country that is linguistically so diverse, consisting 22 officially recognised languages as well as 19,500 dialects. Hindi has been weaving together people from different regions and helped in bridging communication gaps. The language is spoken by a significant portion of the Indian population. It is used in government, education, media, and everyday conversations, thus making it a language that facilitates smoother communication among people from diverse linguistic backgrounds. The adoption of Hindi as one of the official languages in 1949, two years after India’s independence, was a strategic decision aimed at promoting unity while respecting regional linguistic identities. The idea was not to undermine the rich variety of regional languages but to establish a common ground for national unity. Hindi, with its widespread reach and cultural influence, was seen as an ideal candidate for this role. Every year on Hindi Diwas, the emphasis on national integration is celebrated through various activities that highlight the language’s contribution to unifying the nation. Schools, colleges, and government institutions often organise debates, poetry recitations, and essay competitions on September 14. On Hindi Diwas 2024, it is no different. These events are organised to highlight the literary aspects of Hindi and reinforce its importance in promoting mutual understanding and respect among India’s diverse communities. Hindi has also played a role in media and popular culture to promote national integration. Hindi films, entertainment and news channels channels as well as radio broadcasts and now podcasts, reach audiences across India, providing a shared cultural experience that go beyond regional boundaries. Through these medium, Hindi fosters a sense of shared identity and collective national pride. However, celebrating Hindi’s role in national integration also involves acknowledging and promoting the linguistic diversity that exists within India. While Hindi acts as a bridge, it is essential to support and preserve the diverse regional languages that contribute to the country's cultural fabric and identity. Hindi Diwas 2024 is an occasion to reflect on this balance and encourage an inclusive approach to language and culture. Through its widespread use and cultural impact, Hindi continues to play a vital role in fostering unity in a complex and diverse country, India.
14 September,2024 10:24 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentTwo army soldiers were killed in a gunbattle with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district. he White Knight Corps confirmed the news on X, along with pictures of the soldiers. "#GOC White Knight Corps and all ranks salute the supreme sacrifice of the #Bravehearts; offer deepest condolences to the families," the White Knight Corps wrote on X. #IndianArmy #GOC White Knight Corps and all ranks salute the supreme sacrifice of the #Bravehearts; offer deepest condolences to the families. @NorthernComd_IA@adgpi@SpokespersonMoD pic.twitter.com/MRV4CLBTWE — White Knight Corps (@Whiteknight_IA) September 13, 2024 Two other Army soldiers were also injured in the encounter and are undergoing treatment. Security has been heightened in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar following the encounter between security forces and terrorists in the upper reaches of Naidgham village. Earlier, a local resident of the area said that the situation remains grim in Kishtwar.Thakur Rangeel Singh, a local resident of the area, speaking to ANI, said, "Around 3-3:30 we got to know that an encounter broke. We got to know that four of the Indian army soldiers had been injured. The situation is quite tense here, and the area has been cordoned off by the Indian Army." 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 September,2024 07:42 AM IST | Jammu and Kashmir | ANIA 34-year-old railway contract labourer was beaten to death by fellow passengers on a moving Humsafar Express train between Lucknow and Kanpur after he allegedly sexually assaulted an 11-year-old girl, police said on Friday. The deceased identified as Prashant Kumar, a native of Bihar. He was caught by the victim’s family and other passengers after the incident on Tuesday night. Additional DG (Railway) Prakash D told PTI on Friday that Kumar had boarded the Humsafar Express from Siwan, Bihar, along with the victim’s family. He allegedly offered his berth to the 11-year-old girl and sexually assaulted her while her mother was away. The girl reported the incident to her mother, who informed her family and other passengers. Enraged by the sexual assault, the victim’s family and passengers thrashed Kumar. 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 September,2024 04:28 AM IST | Kanpur | AgenciesThe National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has ordered the district magistrate to conduct a probe into the allegations of a private school here allegedly suspending a nursery student for bringing “non-vegetarian food” in tiffin box. Hilton Convent School’s principal Avnish Kumar Sharma has also been directed by the district Child Welfare Committee (CWC) to appear before even as the student’s mother claimed her three children have stopped going to school out of fear and she may seek legal recourse. The incident first came to light on September 6 when a video of a heated argument between the principal and the boy’s mother surfaced on social media platforms. The principal alleged that the boy, who hails from the Muslim community, used to make religious comments in school and brought non-veg food every day. 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 September,2024 04:24 AM IST | Amroha | AgenciesAgitating junior doctors in West Bengal have written to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting their intervention in the RG Kar hospital impasse. Copies of the four-page letter written by the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front were also sent to Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar and Union Health Minister JP Nadda. Bomb squad personnel inspects the suspicious bag found near RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, in Kolkata. Pics/PTI A post-graduate trainee was raped and murdered in state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9. Junior doctors have been on ‘cease work’ since then. “We humbly place the issues before your excellency, as the head of state, so that our unfortunate colleague who has been the victim of the most despicable crime shall receive justice, and so that we, the healthcare professionals under the West Bengal Health Department, may be able to discharge our duties to the public without fear and apprehension. “Your intervention in these trying times will act as a beacon of light to us all in the darkness that surrounds us,” they wrote. Court says no narco test on Sanjay Roy The Sealdah court on Friday rejected CBI’s plea for a narcoanalysis test on Sanjay Roy, the accused in the RG Kar Hospital case. The accused was presented before the Sealdah court for a closed-door hearing. The consent of the accused had also been sought for the narco test, as it is mandatory. TMC targets CBI on charge sheet delay Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien Friday questioned the delay in filing a charge sheet by the CBI in rape-murder case. In a post on X, the TMC leader demanded “swift justice”. “How long will the RG Kar victim’s family have to wait for justice,” O’Brien, the TMC leader said. 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 September,2024 04:19 AM IST | Kolkata | AgenciesIn his first remarks after being released from the Tihar Jail, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said he will continue to fight "anti-national" forces working to weaken the nation, and asserted the incarceration has only strengthened his resolve. He stepped out of the jail Friday evening to a resounding welcome by party leaders and supporters who had gathered outside the prison amid heavy rains to welcome their leader who was released as the Supreme Court granted him bail after five months of incarceration in the Delhi excise policy case. "Truth triumphs over conspiracy (Sajish pe satya ki jeet hui hai)," Kejriwal posted on X after coming out of the jail. Kejriwal's bail comes as a big boost to the Aam Aadmi Party, which is seeking to make forays in Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir in the coming elections and also gearing up to fight to retain power in Delhi where polls are due early next year. The AAP demanded that the BJP apologise to the country for keeping the "staunchly honest" leader in prison and asserted the apex court bail in the excise policy case has exposed the saffron party's "lies". The AAP dubbed CBI and ED as the government's "tota-maina". Hitting out at the CM, the BJP said he should immediately step down as the SC has granted him only conditional bail and he continues to be an accused in a corruption case. "Accused of corruption, Arvind Kejriwal has become 'a chief minister on bail from a chief minister in jail'. What influence, reputation and stature are left of this corrupt chief minister who will have to report to the investigation officer of the case every Monday and Thursday," BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia told a press conference. After being released from jail, the AAP supremo held a roadshow from Chandgiram Akhara to his official residence in Civil Lines along with a large number of party leaders and workers carrying placards hailing him. As the convoy moved on the nearly four kilometre stretch slowly, it also impacted the traffic flow in the busy evening hours. After reaching his residence, the CM addressed the party workers and supporters again and said Kejriwal is not important but the country is. He also said the country is going through a "critical phase" as some "anti-national forces" are trying to weaken it. "I have always fought with these anti-national forces and will keep on doing it. My fault was not that I committed any corruption, my fault was that I raised my voice against those anti-national forces so I had to go to jail," he added. "Efforts are being made to weaken and judiciary, and threaten the judges. Now, efforts are being made to weaken the Election Commission and capture the ED and CBI," he said. The CM sought the blessings of his parents who welcomed him with traditional rituals. He hugged party leader Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, Delhi former deputy CM Manish Sisodia, and Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha. The SC granted bail to Kejriwal in case lodged by the CBI in connection with the excise policy 'scam', saying prolonged incarceration amounts to unjust deprivation of liberty. Observing that Kejriwal's arrest by the CBI was unjustified, Justice Ujjal Bhuyan came down heavily on the CBI, saying it must dispel the notion of being a "caged parrot". Hundreds of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers and senior leaders including Mann and Sisodia were waiting outside the prison to welcome Kejriwal. Addressing party workers from the sunroof of a vehicle outside the jail, Kejriwal raised slogans of 'Inquilab Zindabad' and 'Vande Mataram'. The chief minister, who was arrested on March 21 by the ED in the excise policy-linked money laundering case and then by CBI in June in the corruption case linked to the policy, stressed that the jail time has strengthened his resolve. "I have struggled a lot in my life and have braved huge difficulties but God has supported me at every step. He has supported me because I was truthful. They put me in jail. They thought that by putting me in jail, they will break my morale. My resolve has grown 100 times stronger and my strength has grown 100 times. "The thick walls of the jail and the bars cannot break me," he said. "My life is dedicated to the nation. Every moment of my life, every drop of my blood is dedicated to the nation." Slogans like "Jail ke taale toot gaye, Kejriwal chhoot gaye", "Bhrashtachar ka ek hi kaal, Kejriwal, Kejriwal" rent the air. The 56-year-old, who has been the fulcrum of the AAP's election campaigns, will have a crucial role to play if the party were to succeed in mounting any significant challenge to the BJP and the Congress in Haryana which votes on October 5. Senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh said the AAP will defeat the BJP in Haryana and Delhi. "Kejriwal's presence will strengthen us," he said. The AAP chief was arrested by the CBI on June 26. He has challenged in the apex court the Delhi High Court's August 5 order which upheld his arrest. On July 12, the apex court had granted him interim bail in the money laundering case registered by the ED. 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
13 September,2024 10:33 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIA Muslim organisation headed by Congress MP Tariq Anwar on Friday demanded the rejection of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, alleging the proposed legislation is an "indirect attempt to seize control of Muslim religious properties". The All India Qaumi Tanzeem submitted 14 pages of suggestions and objections to the bill to the Parliament's joint committee through the Lok Sabha Secretariat. The Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha on August 8 and was referred to a joint committee of Parliament after a heated debate, with the opposition calling it targeting of Muslims and an attack on the Constitution. The government asserted that the proposed law did not intend to interfere with the functioning of mosques. The All India Qaumi Tanzeem's objections include the opposition to the provision of induction of non-Muslim members in the Central Waqf Council and Waqf Boards. "The Bill violates the Constitutional Rights guaranteed to minorities under Articles 14, 25, 26, and 29 for freedom and non-interference in their religious matters," it alleges. "The new amendments in waqf laws have no justification and were intended to curtail the Muslim community's rights," the All India Qaumi Tanzeem said. There is no immediate reason for bringing two Hindu members to each of the waqf boards and the Central Waqf Council, it said. "It is aimed at portraying Muslims as communal. Any opposition to the inclusion of non-Muslims in waqf boards could be easily misinterpreted by vested interests as anti-Hindu. When Muslims are not allowed on the management bodies of Temples Gurudwaras, or other religious institutions, there is no justification for the inclusion of non-Muslims in the Waqf Board," it said. "A statutory body like the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams established under Hindu Religious Endowment Act, does not have a Muslim representative," it said. Under the Hindu Religious Endowment Act, the members of the committee of management must be people who practice the religion for which the institution was founded, and ideally reflect the wishes of the people who are interested in maintaining the institution, the Muslim organisation said. Temple Trusts in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh hold more properties than Waqfs nationwide and are managed by its management committee and the government has no control over it, it said. "Hence, the 2024 Bill is an indirect attempt to seize control of the Muslim religious properties under the control of the Waqf Boards throughout the country. Currently, the Waqf Board controls around 8.7 lakh properties spread over 9.4 lakh acres across the country, making the waqf board the third largest land owner, after the Indian Railways and the Ministry of Defence," it said. In the present time, the Wakf Act 1995 is in force which is a central law dealing with all the affairs relating to waqf and waqf properties in a very effective and comprehensive manner which was also amended in 2013, it said. "Even though everything was running smoothly under the present waqf law of 1995, suddenly the attention of the central government fell on the waqf data, which clearly discloses that there are about 8,70,000 waqf properties'. It causes unrest to the present Central Government and therefore with an ill motive to somehow gain control over the Waqf properties, the present Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 was introduced on 8th of August 2024," the All India Qaumi Tanzeem said. The new amendments do not speak of developing the waqf properties, it said, adding that if the government implements the 2013 recommendations then real progress in waqf development can be made. The new amendments are also silent on the removal of encroachment from waqf properties, the Muslim organisation said. "In view of above suggestions/objections, the undersigned, is seeking rejection of the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024, completely and demand its withdrawal," it said. 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
13 September,2024 10:28 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIA local court on Friday turned down CBI’s appeal to conduct a narco analysis test on the prime accused in the alleged rape and murder of a doctor at the RG Kar hospital, an officer said. The arrested accused, Sanjay Roy, denied to undergo the test, he said. Roy had initially agreed to take the test but later changed his mind, CBI sources claimed. The central probe agency had appealed to the city-based Sealdah court, seeking permission to conduct the test on Roy. "The accused did not agree to undergo the narco analysis test when the judge asked him about it," the officer said. The CBI was planning to conduct the narco test on Roy to cross-check his version in the case. The accused was earlier brought to the Sealdah court, where the judge spoke to him personally to find out whether he had any objection to the test. During a narco analysis test, the drug - sodium pentothal - is injected into the body of the subject, which takes him to a hypnotic state, and his imagination is neutralised, the CBI officer said. "In most cases, the accused gives the true information," the officer said. The CBI has already conducted a polygraph test on Roy inside the Presidency Correctional Home. Meanwhile, a CBI team on Thursday went to the RG Kar hospital, where the body of the postgraduate trainee was found on August 9, and spoke to several officers besides visiting departments as a part of its investigation. Later in the evening, they also took the parents of the deceased doctor to the state-run hospital. "We asked them some specific questions as well," the officer said, adding, they left for home after around two hours. The CBI took over the case from the Kolkata Police upon directions of the Calcutta High Court. 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
13 September,2024 10:20 PM IST | Kolkata | PTIDelhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Friday evening walked out of Tihar jail hours after the Supreme Court granted him bail and said, "every drop of my blood is dedicated to the nation and God has always been with me." According to the PTI, Kejriwal also said that he wanted to thank people who prayed for his release from jail. "You have braved rain to come here," said Delhi CM Kejriwal after being released from Tihar jail, as per the PTI. Delhi has been witnessing heavy rains on Friday and despite the weather conditions huge crowds reached Tihar jail to welcome Arvind Kejriwal upon his release from jail. "My life is dedicated to the country. Every moment of my life, every drop of blood is dedicated to the country. I have seen a lot of struggle in life, faced a lot of hardships, but God has supported me at every step because I was truthful and honest," says Delhi CM Arvind… pic.twitter.com/nYBp5F1nzl — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 13, 2024 Hundreds of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers and senior party leaders, including Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, were waiting outside the prison to welcome Arvind Kejriwal, as per the PTI. Drenched in rain, Mann, Sisodia raised slogans hailing Kejriwal from atop a truck. Slogans like "Jail ke taale toot gaye, Kejriwal choot gaye", "Bhrastachaar ka ek hi kaal, Kejriwal, Kejriwal" rent the air. Kejriwal came out of Tihar in a car, followed by his security convoy. The AAP chief was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on June 26. He has challenged in the apex court the Delhi High Court's August 5 order that upheld his arrest in the corruption case. On July 12, the apex court granted interim bail to Kejriwal in the money-laundering case linked to the alleged Delhi excise scam. The Supreme Court on Friday granted bail to Kejriwal in the corruption case lodged by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the alleged excise policy scam, saying prolonged incarceration amounts to unjust deprivation of liberty. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan granted the relief to Kejriwal on furnishing a bail bond of Rs 10 lakh and two sureties of like amount. The top court directed Kejriwal not to make any public comment on the merits of the case and added that terms and conditions as imposed in the ED case would also be applicable here (with PTI inputs)
13 September,2024 06:34 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
