Jharkhand HC provides relief to CM Hemant Soren in ED summons case

Srinagar, Dec 11 (IANS) Three drug peddlers in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district have been arrested, police said on Wednesday.

A police statement said, “Continuing efforts to combat the menace of drugs in society, Baramulla Police have arrested three drug peddlers and recovered contraband substances from their possession.”

The officials said that a team from Police Station Pattan, led by SHO intercepted a vehicle (Ertiga, registration number JK05M-8404) at a checkpoint near the Railway Crossing Pattan.

“The vehicle was occupied by three individuals who were identified as, Jhon Mohd Mir, son of Gh Mohd Mir, resident of Nillah Palpora; Mohd Yaqoob Mir, son of Late Ab Aziz, resident of Nillah Palpora; and Faisal Ahmad Hajam, son of Gh Qadir, resident of Pushwari Anantnag. During the search, 78 grams of contraband Charas (in powder form) were recovered from their possession. The accused have been arrested and shifted to Police Station Pattan for further legal proceedings,” said the officials.

“Additionally, the vehicle used in the commission of the crime has been seized. A case under relevant sections of the law has been registered at Police Station Pattan and an investigation is underway. We urge the public to report any instances of drug peddling or other criminal activities to the nearest police establishment or dial 112,” the officials said further.

The police have been stressing that the cooperation of the community is vital in eradicating the drug menace.

“Baramulla Police reiterate their commitment to taking strict legal action against those involved in criminal activities,” a police statement read.

J&K Police have intensified their crackdown on drug smugglers and peddlers since the menace has been plaguing the local youths. Further, it is believed that drug addiction is used as a subjugating tactic to lure youth towards terrorism.

Funds generated from the rug trade, according to intelligence agencies, are used partly to fund various terrorist outfits in the union territory.

–IANS

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Bengaluru, Dec 11 (IANS) The members of Karnataka Backward Caste Federation met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Bengaluru on Wednesday and submitted a memorandum with a warning that if Panchamasali Lingayats are given reservation under the 2A Category, they would resort to a statewide stir.

The members urged the CM that the demand by the Panchamasali Lingayat sect must not be considered under any circumstances.

K.M. Ramachandrappa, the President of the Federation stated the Panchamasali Lingayats are availing the reservation facility under the 3B Category. The community members are staging protests and pressuring the government to provide reservations under the 2A Category to get the benefit of a reservation of 15 per cent given to backward classes.

“Panchamasali Lingayat sect is academically, socially, economically and politically progressed. Dr. Naganagouda Committee, L.G. Havanur Committee, Venkataswamy Backward Classes Second Commission report, Justice O. Chinnappa Reddy report have found that Panchamasali Lingayat sect is a forward or progressed community,” he stated.

“If the Panchamasali Lingayats are included in the 2A Category, the most backward castes such as Agasa, Savita Samaj, Tigala, Ediga, Kuruba, Devanga and other castes won’t get reservations. The Panchamasali Lingayat sect will get all the benefits and reservations in employment, education and politics,” he said.

“In this background, the federation urged the state government not to include the Panchamasali Lingayats into the 2A Category. If the state government takes steps to include them, fierce agitation would be taken up all over the state,” Ramachandrappa warned.

The agitation by the Panchamasali Lingayat community turned violent when the members attempted to lay siege to the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi on Tuesday.

BJP State President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra visited the protesters and met Jagadguru Sri Basava Jayamruthyunjaya Swamiji, who is leading the agitation. Vijayendra pledged full support for the Panchamasali protest in Belagavi.

The seer has said that the community leaders are being “threatened” by the Congress government in Karnataka to suppress the agitation. The seer had warned that if anything went wrong, there would be a “blood revolution” in the state.

Following the violence, Karnataka BJP claimed on Tuesday that the state government has deliberately suppressed the Panchamasali “movement” in Belagavi.

Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy reacted, “It is extremely unfortunate that the Congress government in Karnataka has chosen to act like Adolf Hitler to suppress the struggle of the Panchamasali community.”

Kudalasangama Panchamasali Peeth seer Basavaraj Jaya Mruthyunjaya Swami speaking to media soon after the Tuesday violence said that the Karnataka government is trying to sideline the Panchamasali protests. “Siddaramaiah is responsible for the violence. We will strategise our future protests. The government will have to face the consequences for today’s highhandedness,” claimed the seer.

–IANS

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Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 16 (IANS) A Commando attached to the Special Operation Group of the Kerala Police committed suicide by shooting himself to death, said officials here on Monday.

Vineeth, 35, unable to take work pressure after he was not given leave to be beside his pregnant wife, shot himself using his service rifle, on Sunday night at the police camp in Areecode in Malappuram district.

His death adds to the growing list of Kerala Police personnel who have committed suicide due to extreme work pressure. According to an unofficial estimate, around 90 policemen have died by suicide.

Vineeth was a Commando attached to the Special Operation Group dealing with operations to go after Maoists.

Hailing from Wayanad, he had been working non-stop for the past 45 days and despite his request for leave, the higher officials denied it.

According to those in the know of things, Vineeth was unable to bear this and took the extreme step of pulling the trigger on his body.

Soon after the incident, he was rushed to a nearby hospital but his life could not be saved.

Over the years the biggest problem facing the Kerala Police Force, regarded as one of the best in the country, is the shortage of policemen resulting in an increased workload on the existing members.

In the past five years, there have been several cases of policemen not being able to bear the work-related tension and committing suicide.

The higher-ups in the Kerala Police and the Home Department have now started counselling sessions for the policemen and by now 6,000 have been counselled.

Incidentally, unlike other jobs, the eight-hour duty structure for all in the police force has not been introduced for various reasons. Even Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, also the Home Minister admitted in the Kerala Legislative Assembly that they have been able to introduce the eight-hour duty roster only in 52 police stations.

At present there is a shortage of around 14,000 police. Many of them have to stay back for late hours as the presence of women police officials is a requirement when there is a case involving a female.

The authorities are also under duress as additional funds are required and for a while now the state has been under a deep financial crunch, even when the policing needs in the modern age have gone up dramatically.

–IANS

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