Category: TOP STORIES

Agartala, Nov 23 (IANS) Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha has said that he has directed the District Magistrate of West Tripura and the Directorate of Education to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances leading to the untimely death of Dipannita Pal, a Class 2 student of a local school.

The Chief Minister, who holds the Elementary and Secondary Education Departments, visited the residence of the late Dipannita Pal at Jogendra Nagar on the outskirts of Agartala and offered his heartfelt condolences to the family members.

“I have been monitoring the matter. I am deeply saddened by the untimely demise of Dipannita Pal, and expressed my heartfelt condolences to the family members. The untimely demise of an innocent child is truly heartbreaking and painful,” CM Saha told the media on Saturday.

He said that while she was admitted to Govind Ballabh Pant Medical College and Hospital, his office was in regular contact with the doctors.

“Despite the best efforts of the doctors, Dipannita left us with no return. Necessary instructions have been given to the District Magistrate and the Directorate of Education to investigate the incident. Appropriate action will be taken based on the investigation report. The state government will stand by the bereaved family, and maximum assistance will be provided to the family in this difficult time,” he added.

Meanwhile, a horrific incident shook Agartala last week after a Class 2 student, seven-year-old Dipannita, lost her life due to reported negligence by school authorities.

The eight-year-old child reportedly died from severe sunstroke, days after being forced to stand under the scorching sun during a school programme.

According to family sources, on November 9, after reaching school, students were instructed to participate in an outdoor event under direct sunlight.

Despite repeated complaints to her teacher that she was feeling unwell, Dipannita was allegedly compelled to continue standing in the heat.

Witnesses say that during the event, the girl suddenly collapsed on the ground.

Upon receiving the tragic news, her family members rushed to the school and immediately took her to the hospital.

Doctors confirmed that she had suffered a serious sunstroke, and a part of her body had become paralysed due to the impact.

Dipannita remained under medical treatment for several days, fighting for her life before she died on November 18, leaving her family devastated and the community in shock.

–IANS

Bengaluru, Nov 23 (IANS) Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Saturday said that the state government will launch a detailed investigation into alleged lapses in land acquisition court cases under the Irrigation Department and the Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA), warning that unresolved errors could cost the state nearly Rs 5 lakh crore.

He said officials who failed in their duties would be suspended and lawyers who mishandled cases would be removed.

Shivakumar, who also holds the Bengaluru Urban Development and Water Resources portfolios, briefed reporters after a review meeting at Vidhana Soudha on pending land acquisition cases linked to the Water Resources Department and the BDA.

When asked about potential financial implications and allegations that some individuals misused legal provisions to obtain higher compensation, he said, “I, along with the BDA Chairman and senior officials, visited Delhi and held meetings. If we fail to correct these lapses, the government may end up facing a burden of nearly Rs 5 lakh crore.”

He added that a special team had already begun reviewing the cases and would submit a report within 10-15 days.

“If required, an SIT will be constituted later to conduct a comprehensive investigation,” he said.

Shivakumar said the government had initiated an internal inquiry into the number of pending cases, reasons for delays, and why they had escalated. “These cases will put a huge financial burden on the government. Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, Law Minister H.K. Patil, and a team of lawyers from Delhi participated in the discussions,” he said.

Referring to recent decisions, he said: “We took a historic decision in the Krishna Bhagya Jala Nigam to increase compensation for mutually agreed land acquisition. Around Rs 75,000 crore will be earmarked for this.”

He said the Revenue Department had been instructed to examine lapses in the Bengaluru region. “Officials and members of the legal team failed to file applications on time, causing delays. We have directed that a report be submitted,” he said.

Shivakumar said major cases were coming up in the Supreme Court on November 10, and the government needed to identify all lapses before then. He announced that an SIT would be formed to probe “where and how conspiracies have occurred”.

He said officials found guilty of dereliction of duty would be suspended, and lawyers who failed to file applications properly would be removed. “There are 219 lawyers representing cases of the Irrigation Department. None of them have taken responsibility. All of them will be removed and new lawyers will be appointed,” he said.

Shivakumar said the government would set up an authority headed by a retired judge to resolve cases outside court. He also said the government would bring amendments to the law in the next session to prevent procedural delays and set up legal monitoring units in Delhi and Bengaluru.

He added that compensation for Bengaluru Business Corridor Roads 1 and 2 must begin within one month and project work must begin within six months. “If there is any delay, existing officials will be removed and new officials will be appointed to carry the work forward,” he said.

–IANS

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Bengaluru, Nov 23 (IANS) Talking about how the Karnataka government will proceed following the Supreme Court’s order on the Mekadatu project in its favour, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who also holds the Water Resources portfolio, said that the state government will convene an all-party meeting and discuss the apex court’s order with all party MPs and leaders in Delhi.

“We will take it forward. We will have to meet our leaders in Delhi, inform all our MPs, and call an all-party meeting.”

Speaking in Bengaluru on Saturday, Shivakumar said, “I will speak to the CM. We need all MPs. We have to see whether the meeting has to be called in Bengaluru or Delhi. The Parliament session is upcoming, me and the Chief Minister will meet and decide, and we will take a call.”

He also said, “First, we will decide ourselves. If the delegation has to be taken to Delhi, it’s a matter of the state. We will invite all leaders of the BJP, such as the Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy and the leaders of JD-S. The Supreme Court has given the judgment and stated that it should be implemented expeditiously.”

“Henceforth, our state will be concerned with the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA), Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) and the Central Water Commission (CWC), and no cases are pending in the Supreme Court,” Shivakumar added.

He said, “We received the court judgment copy on the Mekedatu project today. We will implement the project in the days to come. We need to call an all-party meeting and take a delegation to Delhi. All issues need to be sorted out before the CWMA and CWC, and there is no question of going back to the court.”

Earlier, the Supreme Court rejected an application filed by the state of Tamil Nadu seeking a stay on the operation of the permission given to go ahead with the preparation of a detailed project report for the Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir-cum-Drinking Water project.

The apex court has held that no other state has a right to interfere with the decision regarding the management and use of water allotted to a particular state unless, by such act, the water allotted to that state is reduced.

The state of Tamil Nadu had approached the apex court seeking a stay on the operation of the permission given by the Central Water Commission on November 22, 2018, to Karnataka Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Ltd., Bengaluru, an instrumentality of the state of Karnataka, to go ahead with the preparation of a detailed project report for the Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir-cum-Drinking Water project.

–IANS

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Bhopal/Hyderabad, Nov 23 (IANS) Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Saturday said that a Hyderabad-based electric utility company has proposed to set up green energy projects in the state.

Chief Minister Yadav, who on Saturday was in Hyderabad for a meeting with industrialists to seek more investment in Madhya Pradesh, visited the company’s headquarters and held a meeting with officials.

The Chief Minister, in a statement, informed that the company has expressed the possibility of establishing large-scale green energy projects in different parts of Madhya Pradesh.

These include advanced projects such as 100 GWh energy storage capacity, green hydrogen clusters, bio-refinery plants, and 2G ethanol, methanol, and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production.

“This potential collaboration between Madhya Pradesh and the Greenko Group is an important step towards establishing Madhya Pradesh as a national hub for green energy production,” the Chief Minister said.

During the visit, Chief Minister Yadav, who was accompanied by a group of senior officials, observed the company’s cutting-edge technologies, energy conservation systems, and various projects related to renewable energy production.

Yadav further stated that Madhya Pradesh offers immense investment opportunities in green energy production, and the state government is actively pursuing business expansion and investment in his sector.

The Chief Minister noted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, historic progress is being made in the green and renewable energy sector in the country.

“India has today established a distinct identity globally in green energy production. Madhya Pradesh is poised to become a leading state in this area. Greenko Group’s contribution towards green energy production and its exploration is exemplary and commendable,” he stated.

Later, addressing a conference of industrialists at a hotel in Hyderabad, Yadav said, “Whenever I visit any state to invite investors. My intention is not to say that industries here should shut down and move to Madhya Pradesh.”

The Chief Minister also held one-to-one discussions with industrialists and discussed investment plans and upcoming projects in sectors such as IT, ITES, ESDM, biotech, manufacturing, and MSMEs.

–IANS

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Kolkata, Nov 23 (IANS) The body of a young man was recovered from a hotel room in the Kasba area of south Kolkata on Saturday, prompting police to investigate whether the death involved foul play or occurred under other circumstances.

Officers of the Kasba police station have begun an inquiry into the case. Soon after the hotel informed the authorities, a forensic team and the dog squad of Kolkata Police reached the spot. Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Rupesh Kumar also visited the location to oversee the preliminary investigation.

According to police, the body was found in a fifth-floor room of a hotel in the Rajdanga locality of Kasba in the afternoon. Initial information indicates that three individuals had checked into the room on Friday night and stayed for some time. However, two of them reportedly left the hotel late at night and did not return. The body of the third man was later discovered in the same room.

Police identified the deceased as Adarsh Losalka (33), a resident of Dubrajpur in Birbhum district. It remains unclear when he came to Kolkata or whether he had been living in the city. Investigators are also trying to establish the identities of the two individuals who accompanied him to the hotel.

Police said they are questioning hotel staff to retrieve details submitted during check-in, including identity proofs, mobile numbers and CCTV footage. The body has been sent for post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause and time of death.

“The body of a youth has been recovered from a hotel in the Kasba area. A case has been registered. Investigation is underway to identify who was with him. The body has been sent for autopsy to ascertain the cause of death,” a senior Kolkata Police officer said.

This incident comes barely a month after the decomposed body of a young man, Rahul Lal, was found stuffed inside a box bed in a Park Street hotel room, raising fresh concerns over security and visitor verification procedures in several city hotels.

–IANS

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Jaipur, Nov 23 (IANS) A sleeper bus headed to pick up a wedding procession caught fire on Saturday evening after coming in contact with a high-tension electricity line in the Rajakheda police station area of Dholpur district in Rajasthan.

A female shepherd passing by sustained serious burn injuries in the incident. Police station in-charge Gambhir Singh said the accident occurred at around 5.15 p.m. in Samona village when the bus brushed against a low-hanging high-tension wire, sending an electric surge through the vehicle and triggering a massive fire.

The injured woman, identified as Bhagwan Devi, wife of Than Singh and a resident of Samona, suffered severe burn injuries while herding livestock. After receiving primary treatment, she was referred to Agra for specialised care. Five to six goats also died due to the electric shock.

A fire brigade team from Rajakheda reached the spot at around 5.45 p.m. and brought the blaze under control within 30 minutes.

The incident took place about 150 metres before the Government Higher Secondary School in Samona. The bus was on its way to the village to pick up a wedding party before heading to Sikandarpur. According to police, the driver misjudged the height of the sagging electricity line, causing the bus to get electrified.

As flames engulfed the vehicle, panic spread among villagers, who rushed to remove children and livestock from the area fearing a possible explosion due to the diesel tank. The driver and conductor fled the scene shortly after the incident. Police have launched efforts to trace them. Fortunately, no passengers were onboard at the time.

Saturday’s fire incident comes weeks after a similar episode in Rajasthan, when a private bus caught fire after hitting an overhead line. That case had prompted local authorities to review the condition of power lines in rural belts, especially those running close to narrow village roads.

Local residents in Samona have also demanded immediate inspection of low-hanging high-tension lines in the area to prevent further accidents.

–IANS

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Bengaluru, Nov 23 (IANS) Amid the leadership row, the Delhi trip, and contradictory statements within the ruling Congress, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah met Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge at his residence in Bengaluru and held discussions for about one-and-a-half hours.

He reiterated on Saturday that the Congress high command’s decision is final and that both he and Deputy Chief Minister and State President D.K. Shivakumar will have to obey its orders.

The lengthy meeting has triggered speculation in the state’s political circles.

Even though CM Siddaramaiah appeared strained, he answered questions effectively without losing his cool.

He also remarked that he would never be either dull or overly elated.

Speaking to the media late on Saturday night after meeting Kharge, CM Siddaramaiah initially said, “We spoke about matters related to the organisation of the party. Elections for the taluk panchayat, zilla panchayat, and the Bengaluru civic body are nearing. We discussed these issues. It was just a courtesy call since he had come to Bengaluru.”

When asked whether Kharge had asked him to continue as CM for the next two-and-a-half years, Siddaramaiah responded, “Why are you asking everything? Everything is speculation, and you (the media) are the ones who have raised these speculations.”

Responding to a query on Karnataka Congress MLAs meeting Kharge in Delhi and whether he tried to resolve out their grievances, Siddaramaiah said, “I have not questioned it.”

When asked again why, as the Congress Legislature Party leader, he did not seek information, the Chief Minister said he would gather information from the Intelligence department.

“I have not asked him ( Congress President Kharge) for information, nor have I asked the Karnataka Congress MLAs.”

Asked about the long duration of the meeting, Siddaramaiah insisted it was merely a cordial interaction.

“I had snacks at Kharge’s residence — onion pakoda and dry fruits,” he said.

When told he appeared dull over CM’s post in Karnataka, Siddaramaiah replied, “I will never remain dull. You ask why I am looking dull just to make a point. There is no question of me becoming dull. Understood? I won’t be dull, and at the same time, I won’t be overly elated.”

Responding to a query about Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar visiting two Congress MLAs imprisoned at the Bengaluru Central Jail, he said, “Let him go and meet them, there is no problem.”

The Chief Minister added, “Ultimately, the decision will be taken by the Congress high command, and everyone will have to agree to it. All leaders and Ministers must agree. Even I must agree, and D.K. Shivakumar must agree. This matter was not discussed in the meeting.”

When asked how he could stay at Kharge’s residence for more than an hour without discussing party matters, Siddaramaiah said: “Although he was at Kharge’s residence for a long time, he was indeed engaged in discussions with Kharge for over an hour.”

–IANS

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Bhopal/Hyderabad, Nov 23 (IANS) Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Saturday said the Madhya Pradesh government has received the investment proposal worth more than Rs 36,600 crore from various industries from Hyderabad and other Southern states.

The Chief Minister shared that this investment is expected to generate approximately 27,800 jobs in the private sector. He shared that many industrialists in Hyderabad have expressed interest in investing in Madhya Pradesh.

Mohan Yadav shared this information while addressing a large gathering of industry leaders at the ‘Investment Opportunities in Madhya Pradesh’ session held in Hyderabad on Saturday.

CM Yadav said that during his visits to other states, he carried no political agenda and his only purpose was to promote industrial investment. “I come from the holy city of Baba Mahakal. Madhya Pradesh is the only state in India where diamonds are found, while Telangana is known for pearls,” Yadav said.

Addressing the session, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister stated that Hyderabad is a city that moves ahead with a vision for the future, meaning it can foresee upcoming opportunities.

“We are here to build a new relationship with investors. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, India has gained a unique global identity. The nation has broken several myths and achieved rapid development across sectors, including space,” he added.

The CM shared that in Madhya Pradesh, BEML has been allotted land for a Rs 18,000-crore rail coach manufacturing unit. Major investment is also taking place in defence technology. The state is providing opportunities for investors across all sectors.

Yadav highlighted that the largest hydro pumped storage power project is being developed in Neemuch on the Chambal River and will be completed in the next two years. Madhya Pradesh is fulfilling every commitment made to investors.

“During one-on-one discussions with industry leaders at the session, 10 companies submitted proposals worth Rs 36,600 crore, expected to generate about 27,800 jobs,” Yadav said later in a statement.

According to the government, major investment proposals received in Hyderabad include AGI Greenpac (Rs 1,500 crore), Axis Energy Ventures India (Rs 29,500 crore), Ananth Technologies (Rs 1,000 crore), Automatski Solutions (Rs 1,000 crore), Colaberry Inc (Rs 1,000 crore), Dermacure Pharmaceuticals (Rs 150 crore).

–IANS

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Jaipur, Nov 23 (IANS) The Congress on Saturday announced the appointment of 45 District Congress Committee (DCC) Presidents in Rajasthan as part of its ongoing Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan. The state has 50 districts and appointments for the remaining five are still pending.

The newly appointed district chiefs assume charge with immediate effect. AICC General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal said the selections followed a structured organisational review. Under the exercise, observers assigned to each district conducted ground-level assessments, interacted with party workers and local stakeholders, and submitted detailed reports.

These reports were subsequently discussed individually with each observer and senior leaders before the final panel was placed before the Congress President for approval.

A total of 12 sitting MLAs have been appointed district presidents, strengthening the organisation with leaders who hold electoral mandates. The MLAs include Vikas Chaudhary (Ajmer Rural), Arjun Singh Bamaniya (Banswara), Zakir Hussain Gesawat (Didwana-Kuchaman), Sanjay Jatav (Dholpur), Vidyadhar Chaudhary (Jaipur Rural West), Ganesh Ghoghra (Dungarpur), Rita Chaudhary (Jhunjhunu), Geeta Barwad (Jodhpur Rural), Ghanshyam Mahar (Karauli), Indira Meena (Sawai Madhopur), Rupinder Singh Kunnur (Sriganganagar), and Manoj Meghwal (Churu).

Five former MLAs have also been appointed: Ramlal Jat (Bhilwara Rural), Indraj Gurjar (Kotputli-Behror), Raghuveer Singh Meena (Udaipur Rural), Gopal Meena (Jaipur Rural East), and Rajkumar Jaipal (Ajmer City).

The Congress has retained district presidents in eight districts—Bharatpur, Bikaner Rural, Dausa, Jaipur Rural, Kota Rural, Sikar, and Udaipur City. Sikar, the home district of PCC chief Govind Singh Dotasara, is among those where the incumbent has been repeated.

The party has yet to finalise district chiefs for Jaipur City, Rajsamand, Pratapgarh, Baran, and Jhalawar. In Baran and Jhalawar, opinion polls were halted due to the Anta by-election, while internal factional issues have reportedly delayed appointments in Jaipur, Rajsamand, and Pratapgarh.

Among the 45 appointees, seven are women. Community-wise, eight belong to the General category, nine to SC, eight to ST, 16 to OBC, and four to Minority communities.

Observers from outside Rajasthan prepared panels of six names per district after interacting with workers. The final list was discussed by K.C. Venugopal with State In-charge Sukhjinder Randhawa, PCC Chief Govind Singh Dotasara, Leader of Opposition Tika Ram Jully, and senior leaders before being approved by the Congress President.

–IANS

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Chennai, Nov 23 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister M.R.K. Panneerselvam has accused opposition parties of deliberately spreading misinformation about paddy procurement during the Kuruvai season, alleging that they were attempting to politicise a complex issue rooted in climate-related disruptions.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday at the Secretariat, the Minister said unseasonal rains triggered by climate change had posed challenges to Kuruvai cultivation this year.

However, he stressed that proactive interventions by the state government — ranging from financial support to timely water release — had helped farmers significantly mitigate the impact.

Panneerselvam said the state government had implemented several measures for the welfare of farmers, including the Rs 214-crore Kuruvai package scheme, subsidies for inputs, and the timely opening of the Mettur dam for irrigation.

“As a result of these coordinated efforts, the production of paddy has tripled when compared to past years,” he added.

Comparing procurement figures, the Minister charged that the AIADMK’s decade-long term had seen only 1.79 crore metric tonnes of paddy procured, while the DMK government, since assuming office in 2021, had already procured 1.93 crore metric tonnes.

“These numbers speak for themselves. The Opposition is spreading false allegations to mislead farmers,” he said.

Criticising the Union government, he alleged that the Centre had refused to permit the blending of fortified rice and had denied Tamil Nadu’s request to increase permissible moisture levels for paddy procurement — an essential demand amid widespread rains.

“After refusing to increase the moisture level, the Prime Minister went on to participate in a conference on natural farming. This is nothing but a double game on issues affecting farmers,” he alleged.

Highlighting the state’s financial support to cultivators, Panneerselvam said crop insurance claims worth Rs 5,997 crore had been settled over the past four years, benefiting 37 lakh farmers.

In addition, Rs 1,692 crore had been disbursed as disaster relief to 20 lakh farmers during the same period.

On the recent crop losses due to heavy rains, the Minister said that 4,893 hectares had been affected, impacting 4,667 farmers.

The Chief Minister, he added, would soon announce compensation for the affected farmers.

The Minister also assured that fertiliser stocks in Tamil Nadu were more than adequate and that strict monitoring was being carried out to ensure smooth and fair distribution across all districts.

–IANS

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