Former Brazilian President Bolsonaro arrested for preventive custody

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Brasilia, Nov 23 (IANS) Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was taken into preventive custody by police in Brasilia under an order issued by the Federal Supreme Court.

According to initial information provided by the Federal Police, the arrest is not the result of a sentence, but a precautionary measure requested by investigators. Bolsonaro was detained at around 6:00 a.m. local time (0900 GMT) on Saturday and immediately taken to the Federal Police headquarters in the capital.

The detention comes in the final phase of an investigation into an alleged coup plot in the country. Bolsonaro, who was in power from 2019 to 2022, had been under house arrest since August 4 and had his preventive detention ordered on grounds of safeguarding public order.

As part of that process, he had been sentenced to 27 years and three months in prison, reports Xinhua news agency.

On Friday, Bolsonaro’s defence team submitted a request to Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, the case’s rapporteur, seeking permission for the former president to remain under house arrest, citing health problems.

No timeline has been set for Bolsonaro’s testimony, and authorities have not said whether additional measures will be taken throughout the day. His legal team has not issued further statements on the next steps.

The preventive arrest takes place amid multiple investigations opened by the Federal Supreme Court and the Federal Police related to Bolsonaro’s actions during his administration and after leaving office. Judicial authorities said more information will be released once the relevant confidentiality orders are lifted.

–IANS

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Man killed in Washington shooting, suspect in custody

Washington, June 17 (IANS) A man was fatally shot in Kent, Washington, on Monday (US time), prompting a swift response from local police and emergency services, the Kent Police Department confirmed, adding that the suspect, a 28-year-old resident of Kent, surrendered his firearm at the scene and is cooperating with authorities.

The incident occurred around 2:32 p.m. (local time) near SE 240 and 108 Ave SE.

According to a statement posted by the Kent Police Department on Facebook, multiple 911 calls were received about a man bleeding from the head inside a vehicle that had collided with other vehicles in the area.

“This afternoon at 2:32 p.m. multiple Kent Patrol Officers, RFA Firefighters and Medics were dispatched to the area of SE 240 and 108 Ave SE after multiple calls to 911 to report a male bleeding from the head in a vehicle that had collided with other vehicles,” the department said.

“Upon arrival, witnesses advised officers the injured male was inside his vehicle, and they believed he had been shot. The adult male had to be extricated from his locked car. Due to the severity of his injuries, CPR and other lifesaving measures were immediately taken. Tragically, the man’s injuries were catastrophic, and he did not survive. Detectives are working to verify his identity,” the statement added.

The suspect remained at the scene and was arrested without incident.

“The suspected shooter, a 28-year-old Kent resident, remained on scene and was contacted by officers. He surrendered his firearm and is cooperating with the investigation. The circumstances leading up to the shooting were not immediately clear. No other persons were injured during the incident,” the police said.

Kent Police detectives responded to the scene, interviewing witnesses and collecting evidence.

The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to piece together the full sequence of events that led to the deadly shooting.

–IANS

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Rahul Gandhi to lead ‘Chakka Jam’ in Bihar tomorrow against voter list revision

Patna, July 8 (IANS) Bihar’s capital is set to witness major political activity as Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi will visit Patna on July 9 to lead the Grand Alliance’s ‘chakka jam’ against the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list.

LoP Rahul Gandhi will participate in a march from the Income Tax roundabout to the Election Commission office near the Bihar Assembly at 10 AM, marking his seventh visit to Bihar in the last five months.

The Congress party, along with the RJD and Left parties, has announced participation in the statewide protest, alleging that the voter list revision process is biased and anti-people.

“This is a direct attack on the voting rights of the poor, migrants, and deprived sections,” said Rajesh Ram, the Congress state president of Bihar, adding that the public will register their protest on the streets of Patna on July 9.

During the ‘chakka jam’, traffic is expected to be halted at major intersections and routes across Patna, with the Grand Alliance mobilising workers from across the state.

Sources indicate that LoP Rahul Gandhi may also visit the family of slain businessman Gopal Khemka, who was shot dead outside his residence near Gandhi Maidan at 11:37 PM on July 4.

The incident has triggered a political uproar, with the opposition targeting the state government over law and order.

The Election Commission began a special intensive revision in Bihar on June 24, making it mandatory for voters to fill out forms and submit any of 11 specified documents as identity proof.

The Grand Alliance, including Congress and RJD, alleges that this process could deprive migrants, Dalits, Mahadalits, and poor voters of their rights, calling the campaign a “conspiracy to block votes” ahead of the Bihar Assembly Elections, which are due in three months.

As the Election Commission proceeds with the voter list update, the July 9 ‘chakka jam’ led by LoP Rahul Gandhi is expected to further intensify the political temperature in Bihar ahead of the crucial elections.

–IANS

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Rubio calls Delhi blast ‘terrorist attack’, commends India’s ‘very professional’ probe 

Hamilton (Canada), Nov 13 (IANS) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has characterised the Red Fort bombing as a “terrorist attack” and commended India’s “very professional” investigation.

“Clearly, it was a terrorist attack. It was a car loaded with highly explosive materials that detonated and killed a lot of people”, he said at a news conference here on Wednesday.

“It was a car loaded with highly explosive materials that detonated and killed a lot of people,” he said.

Praising India’s follow-up to the attack, he said they “need to be commended; they have been very measured and cautious and very professional in how they’re carrying out this investigation”.

“They’re doing a very good job of carrying out an investigation,” he said, adding, “and I think when they have facts, they’ll release those facts”.

The US has offered to help with the probe, “but I think they’re very capable in these investigations (and) they don’t need our help,” he said.

Earlier, he and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who are in Canada for the G7 foreign ministers’ conference, met.

Jaishankar called the meeting “good” on an X post, adding, “Appreciate his condolences on the loss of lives in the blast in Delhi”.

On Monday, a car exploded near the Red Fort in Delhi, killing eight people and wounding over 20.

India’s union cabinet declared it a terrorist attack, saying in a resolution, “The country has witnessed a heinous terror incident, perpetrated by anti-national forces, through a car explosion”.

“The cabinet directs that the investigation into the incident be pursued with the utmost urgency and professionalism so that the perpetrators, their collaborators, and their sponsors are identified and brought to justice without delay,” the resolution added.

Asked by a reporter how concerned he was about tensions rising between India and Pakistan because of the terrorist attack, Rubio said, “We’re aware of the potential that holds”.

Tamping down speculations of the tensions spiralling, he went on to praise India’s “very measured and cautious and very professional” response in probing it.

Jaishankar said that during his meeting with Rubio, they “discussed our bilateral ties, focusing on trade and supply chains”.

Trump said on Monday that India and the US were “pretty close” to making a trade deal “that’s good for everybody”.

Jaishankar said that he and Rubio also “exchanged views on the Ukraine conflict, the Middle East/West Asia situation and Indo-Pacific”.

–IANS

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