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Wayanad, Jan 28 (IANS) Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi on Tuesday arrived at the house of veteran Congress leader NM Vijayan and his son who committed suicide on December 27 last year.

Vijayan and his son were found dead at their home, with a suicide note alleging that funds collected from various candidates for appointments in cooperative banks had been misappropriated.

The note named Congress leaders, including local party legislator I.C. Balakrishnan, district Congress president N.D.Appachan, and senior leader K.K. Gopinathan, as recipients of these funds and mentioned about loans he had taken to repay the misused amounts.

Priyanka spent about 25 minutes at the house, where another son of Vijayan and his family reside. After she left their house, Vijayan’s son said Priyanka had told us that she would extend full support to the family.

“She has assured the party will take care of the financial commitments. She asked us about all the things and we have told her everything,” said Vijayan’s son while his wife said that Priyanka had informed us that the Congress party has appointed a commission and she has assured all the things will be looked into and settled.

“She was very supportive and she has clearly understood our concerns and said she will be with the family,” told Vijayan’s daughter-in-law. Priyanka’s visit has come after the Kerala Police in Kalpetta, on January 25, recorded the arrest of Balakrishnan in the alleged suicide abetment case of Vijayan and his son.

While Balakrishnan is the first accused in the case, Appachan and KK Gopinathan, the other accused were arrested and released on bail last week. All three leaders had secured anticipatory bail in this case on January 18.

The suicide note addressed to Congress leaders, instructed Vijayan’s other son, Vijesh, to deliver it to the Wayanad district police chief after 10 days and it was after that the police took up the case very strongly.

–IANS

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Srinagar, Dec 28 (IANS) A woman tourist was killed on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway while police rescued six people stranded in the snow on the Mughal Road.

Officials said that a large stone rolled down the hillside on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in Mehar area of Ramban district and hit a minibus resulting in critical injuries to a woman tourist.

“She was taken to Ramban district hospital where doctors said she was dead on arrival. The tourist has been identified as Ruby Agarwal belonging to Uttar Pradesh.

“Police rescued six people stranded in the snow on the Mughal Road in Poonch district.

“On Friday night two vehicles were going from Shopian to Surankote when both the vehicles got stuck in the snow at Chattapani on the Mughal Road.

“A police team rushed to the spot and managed to evacuate the stranded persons to safety”, officials said.

Meanwhile, the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, Mughal Road and Srinagar-Leh Highway have been closed for traffic.

Roads leading to Gurez in Bandipora, Tangdhar in Kupwara district and the Sinthan Road leading to Kishtwar from Anantnag district of the Valley have also been closed for traffic due to heavy snowfall.

Traffic department officials have issued advisories for commuters not to undertake travel on these roads till they hear from the authorities about the status of these roads.

Defying forecasts by the MET department, heavy snowfall has thrown life out of gear in the Valley as authorities are trying to restore electric supply and traffic on the main arteries in Srinagar city and elsewhere in the Valley.

The MET department has now forecast rain and snow in J&K during the next 24 hours.

The tourist resorts of Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg received fresh snowfall while Srinagar city and the plain areas of Anantnag, Kulgam, Budgam, Ganderbal, Bandipora, Pulwama, Shopian, Baramulla and Kupwara received the season’s first snowfall on Friday.

–IANS

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Gadag, Feb 3 (IANS) A shocking rape case incident of a minor girl and the act videographed, has been reported from the Gadag district of Karnataka on Monday.

The Karnataka police have arrested two persons in connection with the crime. The accused have been identified as Suleiman and Altaf.

Police said that the incident had taken place in the Naregal police station limits in the month of December last year. The accused Suleiman had raped the girl and his associate Altaf had recorded the entire act.

The parents of the girl have come to know about the assault on their daughter lately and lodged a police complaint at the Naregal police on Monday. Acting swiftly, the police have arrested the two accused. More details are yet to emerge regarding the case.

On Sunday, in another shocking incident, the incident of gang rape of an 8-year-old girl has come to light in Mandya police station limits in Karnataka. The incident has raised concerns as it had taken place in the premises of a government school.

According to police, the incident had taken place on January 31 after the three accused had lured the girl with a cake.

They gang raped her by threatening her with a knife and the victim has been admitted to hospital.

The incident came to light when the girl was not able to tolerate the pain following severe bleeding and shared the horror with her maternal aunt. The police are investigating the case.

The BJP on Monday slammed the Karnataka government over the gang rape of an 8-year-old girl in Mandya district of the state.

Speaking in Bengaluru, state BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra stated on Monday, “The incident of gang rape of a minor girl in Mandya is most heinous and an inhuman act of criminals with a perverted mindset. The incident has made civilised society hang its head in shame.”

He added that the law and order situation in the state has completely collapsed and anti-social elements are taking advantage of the situation and committing rapes on minors, atrocities on women and daylight robberies without an iota of fear.

–IANS

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