Six police personnel killed in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Islamabad, Feb 24 (IANS) Seven individuals, including six police personnel, were killed after unidentified assailants targetted a police vehicle in Kohat district of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Tuesday, local media reported.

A senior police officer said that six police personnel, including the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), an inspector and four constables were killed after a vehicle, carrying two individuals for a court appearance, was targetted, Pakistan’s leading daily Dawn reported. The officer mentioned that one of the two individuals was also killed in the attack. The attackers also torched the vehicle following the attack.

On Monday, at least three Federal Constabulary (FC) men were killed when an ambulance carrying injured personnel came under attack in the Badrakhail area of Karak in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, local media reported citing regional police authorities.

The personnel were injured in a quadcopter attack on an FC post in the Dargah Shaheedan area on Monday and were being transported to a hospital for treatment when the attack took place, the District Police Officer (DPO) told Pakistan’s leading Geo News reported.

The report mentioned that at least five FC men were injured in the quadcopter attack, while two rescue personnel were also wounded in the ambulance attack. After the attack, police launched a search and rescue operation to find the attackers.

On February 16, around 11 Pakistani security personnel were killed in a targetted suicide car bombing at a joint checkpost in Bajaur district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, local media reported citing a confirmation from the media wing of country’s military.

According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the attack involving an explosive-laden vehicle took place on February 16 at a Frontier Corps security post in Bajaur near the Afghanistan border.

Afghanistan’s leading news agency Khaama Press reported that the checkpoint, housed in a former religious school building in Bajaur, was completely destroyed, and bodies were later recovered from under the rubble.

“A child living in a nearby house was also killed, while at least three people suffered serious injuries as surrounding homes were damaged by the powerful blast. Videos circulating online showed civilians attempting rescue efforts in darkness, pulling survivors from debris as fears remained that civilian casualties could rise further,” the report mentioned.

It added further that Pakistan has witnessed a surge in suicide and militant attacks in recent months, including a deadly mosque bombing in Islamabad that killed dozens of worshippers.

Pakistan has witnessed a rise in terrorist activities, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, since the ceasefire deal between the government and the Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) ended in 2022.

–IANS

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Oppn slams Mahayuti govt, NCP for changing Minister Manikrao Kokate’s portfolio

Mumbai, Aug 1 (IANS) The Opposition on Friday criticised the BJP-led Mahayuti government and Ajit Pawar-led NCP in particular for not making Minister Manikrao Kokate resign but only stripping him of the agriculture ministry in the wake of a purported viral video about him playing rummy in the Assembly.

Kokate has, however, denied the allegations.

Despite the chorus for his resignation, Kokate has been allocated the departments of sports, youth welfare, minority affairs and Auqaf. Dattatray Bharane, who was holding departments of sports, youth welfare, minority affairs and Auqaf, has been appointed as the new agriculture minister in a bid to avoid further embarrassment.

NCP(SP), Congress and Shiv Sena(UBT) have said they hope that Kokate will now act responsibly, while new agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharane pays more attention to help the farmers who are in distress.

NCP(SP) legislator Rohit Pawar, who had uploaded Kokate’s video of playing rummy on social media, said that the ministerial position is a great responsibility, and if the person in that position does not act responsibly or fails to do justice to the post, the common people bear the brunt.

“Instead of accepting Manikrao Kokate’s resignation, the government decided to take away the Agriculture Department and assign him the Sports Department. The Sports Department is also important from the perspective of the youth, and while working in this department, he should avoid past mistakes, make proper use of his experience, and do justice to the sports sector. Similarly, it is expected that the new Agriculture Minister, Dattatray Bharane, will do justice to the farmers and remove the shadow of controversies that have plagued this department,” said Rohit Pawar.

He further stated that if mismanagement in any department causes harm to the common people, the entire government is responsible for it. “Therefore, the leadership should not harbour the misconception that merely reassigning a department absolves them of responsibility. We keep a close watch on all departments and will continue to do so. Maharashtra will not tolerate the insensitivity of any minister, and hence, it is expected that all ministers will act responsibly,” he warned.

On the other hand, NCP(SP) working president and MP Supriya Sule said, “While the agricultural sector in the state has completely collapsed, how sensitive can Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate, who sits in the legislature playing rummy, be towards farmers’ issues? Even more outrageous is how serious can the ruling party be, which merely changes the portfolio of the Agriculture Minister to grant him immunity? One cannot help but have doubts about this. It should truly cause regret to the honourable Chief Minister of the state that a person with no awareness of their position and responsibilities is part of the cabinet.”

“The honourable Minister, who tarnishes the state’s reputation by calling the Maharashtra government a “beggar”, should be shown the door by none other than the honourable Chief Minister himself. The decision to reward him for playing rummy in the legislature by appointing him as the Minister of Sports and Youth Welfare and Minority Development, and Waqf is truly incomprehensible. This has laid bare the government’s priorities. On one hand, the younger generation in the state is being ruined by chasing online rummy, and while there is a demand to ban it, giving an important portfolio like Sports and Youth Welfare to Manikrao Kokate as a reward for playing rummy in the legislature is nothing short of a cruel joke. My humble request to the honourable Chief Minister is to please accept Manikrao Kokate’s resignation and work to preserve the state’s reputation,” said Sule in her post on X.

Congress took a swipe at the Mahayuti government and NCP for the allocation of the Department of Sports to Manikrao Kokate.

The Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee spokesperson, Sachin Sawant, taunted, “If Junglee Rummy is recognised as the official state sport of Maharashtra, there should be no objection. After all, it’s the favourite game of the new Sports Minister. They spend a significant part of the day practising it. Anyway, the state government has no agenda for job creation. Through this, the minister can personally conduct training classes for the public to earn money. And if the money runs out… Well, earlier it was farmers committing suicide, now others will too! Isn’t that so? Now Maharashtra won’t stop at Junglee Rummy.”

Shiv Sena(UBT) leader Ambadas Danve slammed the government over the change in the portfolio of controversial Minister Kokate. In his post on X, Danve said, “Playing with worn-out coins on a scrap cart, New ministers will now deal cards by the dozen. Farmers have been ignored; now it’s the athletes’ neglect. No medals, only expecting rewards from ‘rummy’.Apologise again and blabber; this trick works well. Why fear anyone, the boss sits at Varsha bungalow (CM’s residence). Crooked talk and behaviour keep the ministers’ crown intact. No need for the field now, sit and play rummy, oh king.”

–IANS

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Russia ready to discuss new Ukraine peace plan in detail: Putin

Moscow, Nov 22 (IANS) Russia is ready for a substantive discussion of the details of a new US-proposed 28-point peace plan on Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

Putin said Russia has received the plan through existing channels of communication with the US administration. It could form the basis of a final peace settlement, but the text has not been discussed with Russia in detail, he added.

Putin noted that Moscow is ready for “peace talks and peaceful resolution of problems,” as well as “a substantive discussion of all the details of the proposed plan,” Xinhua news agency reported.

Russia-Ukraine talks have stalled since the meeting between Putin and US President Donald Trump in August in the US state of Alaska.

Earlier Zelensky told Ukrainians that the country was facing some of the most difficult choices in its history.

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He says Ukraine is now facing a choice between “losing its dignity or losing a key partner” – a reference to the United States.

The leaked 28-point plan – drawn up by the Trump administration – proposes that Ukraine: Hand over territory that is not occupied, and would also see Russia holding onto much of the Ukrainian territory that is under its occupation – Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk, hold elections within 100 days and reduce the size of its military and abandon hopes of joining NATO.

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Odisha BJP chief hails GST reforms as historic step for economic empowerment of citizens

Bhubaneswar, Sep 22 (IANS) The BJP Odisha president Manmohan Samal on Monday welcomed the rollout of the Centre’s “Next Generation GST Reform”, describing the step as a gift for the new generation and for the architects of a developed India.

Addressing a press conference at the state party office, Samal expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on behalf of the people of Odisha.

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“As the prices of everyday essential goods decrease, the expenses of poor and middle-class families will also be reduced. The income tax relief and GST exemptions within a year is a double gift from the double-engine government,” said Samal.

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The Odisha BJP chief stated that this revolutionary step would benefit every section of society by strengthening their economic status.

He said the reforms mark not only a festive gift ahead of Dussehra and Diwali as promised by PM Modi from the ramparts of the Red Fort but also a historical transformative step aimed at strengthening India’s economic foundation.

Notably, on September 3, at the 56th GST Council meeting, the ‘Next Generation GST Reform’ was adopted with the consensus of all states.

He stated that nearly 99 per cent of goods under the 12 per cent GST slab have been reduced to 5 per cent, and about 90 per cent of goods in the 28 per cent category are now at 18 per cent.

“This will reduce household expenses, lower the cost of essential commodities, increase the savings for consumers and strengthen the domestic demand in the country. The poor people, farmers, middle-class families, Middle, Small and Micro Industries will get significant relief, due to the reforms,” Samal said.

He added that agricultural equipment, irrigation machinery, and small tractors will now carry only 5 percent GST, reducing costs for farmers in agriculture.

At the same time, health and life insurance, life-saving drugs and cancer medicines are fully exempted from the GST.

According to Samal, Odisha will be benefited significantly in sectors such as agriculture, handloom, tourism, and coal due to the GST reforms.

The reduction of GST on textiles from 18 to 5 per cent would support lakhs of weavers, while removal of cess on coal is likely to enhance state revenue.

Samal said the GST 2.0 reforms would generate new opportunities for Odisha’s youth, strengthen domestic demand, and accelerate the vision of building a developed India by 2047.

He stated that the GST 2.0 is a reflection of Prime Minister Modi’s economic reforms. He highlighted several achievements of the PM Modi-led BJP government at the Centre.

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