V-P Radhakrishnan expresses sorrow over death in Delhi building collapse

New Delhi, Sep 26 (IANS) India on Friday said that it remains in “active touch” with the US administration with regard to the issue of raised application fee for H-1B visas as it still remains an “evolving situation”.

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar recently met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio with the discussions focused on trade and tariffs, along with other aspects of the bilateral relationship.

“External Affairs Minister had a meeting with Secretary of State Mark Rubio in New York. This was on September 22. In the meeting, the External Affairs Minister and Secretary of State were joined by the Commerce and Industry Minister from our side, and the United States Trade Representative (USTR) from the American side. We also had several officials participating in that meeting. The focus of the discussion was on trade and tariffs. Other aspects of the bilateral relationship were also discussed,” said Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal while addressing a weekly media briefing in New Delhi.

“With regard to H-1B, you are aware that the ministry and our Embassy in Washington DC have been in active touch with the US administration. You would have seen, after those changes were announced, subsequent to that, clarifications and FAQs were issued by the US side as to how it’s going to play out. This is still an evolving situation, and we remain engaged at various levels,” he added.

Amid signs of thaw in ties between India and the US, EAM Jaishankar met Secretary of State Rubio on Monday on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session in New York, during which they agreed on “sustained engagement”.

EAM Jaishankar posted on X after the meeting: “Our conversation covered a range of bilateral and international issues of current concern. Agreed on the importance of sustained engagement to progress on priority areas”.

He called the meeting “good” and added, “We will remain in touch”.

On the other hand, following his meeting with Jaishankar, Rubio “reiterated” that India is a relationship of critical importance to the United States. He expressed his appreciation for the Indian government’s continued engagement on a number of issues including trade, defence, energy, pharmaceuticals, critical minerals, and other items related to the bilateral relationship, the US Department of State said in a readout of their meeting.

They “agreed the United States and India will continue working together to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific region, including through the Quad”, it said.

This was the first face-to-face engagement between the two leaders since relations between New Delhi and Washington came under strain over trade tariffs and India’s purchase of Russian oil.

The tensions escalated after the US imposed 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods, which came into effect on August 27.

EAM Jaishankar’s meeting with his American counterpart was also considered crucial, particularly in the backdrop of the US President Donald Trump administration’s recent decision to hike the H-1B visa fee.

The proclamation signed by Trump has raised the application fee for H-1B visas to $100,000, triggering chaos across the tech industry and creating uncertainty among employees who rely on the visa programme.

–IANS

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Palamu (Jharkhand), Feb 1 (IANS) Three members of a family were brutally murdered with sharp weapons in a village in Jharkhand’s Palamu district, police said on Sunday.

A 16-year-old girl of the family sustained serious injuries in the attack in the Kusri village of the Asehar panchayat under the Panki police station area, and is battling for life.

The incident occurred after midnight. Preliminary investigations suggest the murders were triggered by superstition and suspicion of witchcraft.

The deceased have been identified as Vijay Bhuiyan, his wife Hewanti Devi, and their son Chhotu Bhuiyan. Their daughter, Mamta Kumari, was critically injured in the attack and has been admitted to the Panki Community Health Centre. Doctors said her condition remains serious.

Upon receiving information, police rushed to the spot, cordoned off the area, and launched an investigation. Two neighbours — Ravindra Bhuiyan and Pramod Bhuiyan — have been named as accused in the case.

According to police and local residents, Bhuiyan had long-standing disputes with some villagers, who allegedly accused his family of practising black magic and witchcraft.

Several arguments had reportedly taken place earlier between them, and village councils were convened in the past to resolve the issue.

On Saturday night, a group of people allegedly entered the house and assaulted the family members before attacking them with sharp weapons, killing the three family members on the spot.

A pall of gloom has descended over the village following the incident, with a large number of villagers and relatives gathering at the crime scene.

Panki police station in-charge Rajesh Ranjan said swift action was taken based on information provided by villagers.

“The matter is being investigated thoroughly, and search operations are underway to arrest all those involved,” he said.

The crime scene is located about 35 km from the Panki police station in a Maoist-affected area. Police are exercising extra caution while launching an operation to nab the perpetrators of the crime.

–IANS

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New Delhi, May 19 (IANS) The National Commission for Women (NCW) on Tuesday took suo motu cognisance of media reports related to the alleged prolonged gang rape, blackmail, sexual exploitation and subsequent suicides of two sisters in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur district.

The case, which has triggered widespread outrage and protests in the region, pertains to two sisters from rural Jodhpur who allegedly died by suicide within a span of two months after facing years of sexual exploitation, threats and alleged inaction by the police despite repeated pleas for help.

NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar has written to the Rajasthan Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police, directing them to ensure “immediate, impartial, and time-bound action in the matter”.

“The Commission has asked for a detailed Action Taken Report (ATR) to be submitted within seven days,” the NCW said in a statement.

The Commission has sought information regarding the legal provisions invoked in the FIR, whether all accused persons have been arrested, the current status of the investigation, and details related to digital and forensic evidence collected so far in the case.

It has also sought clarification regarding the allegations of police inaction despite earlier complaints made by the victims’ family and asked whether accountability has been fixed for officials concerned.

“Additionally, information has been sought on the legal assistance, psychological counselling, security, and rehabilitation support being provided to the victim’s family, as well as steps being taken to ensure prompt action in future cases of sexual offences and blackmail against women,” the statement read.

Condemning the incident strongly, the Commission stated that crimes of such nature against women, along with negligence at any stage of investigation or response, would not be tolerated.

“The National Commission for Women, while strongly condemning this incident, has stated that such heinous crimes against women and negligence at any level will not be tolerated under any circumstances,” the Commission added.

According to the complaint, the elder sister died by suicide in March after being subjected to years of gang rape, blackmail and extortion. Nearly two months later, her younger sister also ended her life after failing to receive justice despite approaching the police several times.

In a police complaint filed on April 11, the younger sister alleged that her elder sibling had been trapped by Mahipal, a local e-Mitra service centre operator, who had secretly recorded obscene videos of her and later used them for blackmail.

The complaint named eight individuals, including Mahipal, Shivraj, Gopal, Vijaram, Dinesh, Manoj and Pukhraj, accusing them of gang-raping the woman and threatening her repeatedly.

The younger sister alleged that Mahipal and his associates exploited the victim for nearly four years and continuously extorted money from her through blackmail.

Unable to endure the harassment and trauma any longer, the elder sister allegedly died by suicide on March 20.

She had also warned the police that she would take the extreme step herself if justice was not delivered.

Although an FIR was registered on the basis of her complaint, the family alleged that no significant action was taken in the following month, leading to growing anger among locals and social groups over the handling of the case.

–IANS

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