Archives for October 2020

All the three accused have been arrested and sent to jail after medical examination, a senior police officer said.

KISHANGANJ: A 19-year-old woman has been gang-raped at knifepoint allegedly by three brothers in Bihar’s Kishanganj district, police said on Monday.

All the three accused have been arrested and sent to jail after medical examination, a senior police officer said.

The incident took place in the Town police station area on Sunday when the trio, known to the survivor, allegedly dragged her into an SUV while she was cutting grass in a field, took her to a secluded place and took turns to rape her at knifepoint, Superintendent of Police Kumar Ashish said.

The medical examination of the survivor, who is being treated at Kishanganj Sadar Hospital, confirmed rape, he said.

Based on an FIR lodged with the Women’s police station on the basis of the survivor’s statement, the trio was arrested, he said.

A speedy trial will be conducted to ensure conviction in the case, the officer added.

She asked West Bengal Urban Development minister Firhad Hakim to arrange for an idol inside the premises of Navanir the old age home for women – so that the residents can offer their pujas.

KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday urged residents of an old age home in the southern part of the city’s Chetla area to stay indoors during the Durga Puja to combat the COVID-19 contagion.

She asked West Bengal Urban Development minister Firhad Hakim to arrange for an idol inside the premises of Navanir the old age home for women – so that the residents can offer their pujas.

Banerjee, who is a regular to the old age home every year before the Durga Puja, urged the residents to watch the pujas on the television.

“You see the pujas on the television this year because your staying healthy is very important for me,” Banerjee told the residents of the old age home.

She also expressed her hesitancy to visit the old age home due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“I know you all. I was initially scared that my coming might create a crowd which might increase the chance of infection and then I thought of keeping all of you inside the room so that I can see you all and speak to you. I love to come here but this year is different and so stay safe and keep others safe,” she said.

Mumbai: TV viewership rating agency BARC India has charged Republic TV of misrepresenting its private and confidential communication, saying it has not commented on the ongoing investigation into the alleged manipulation of ratings.

In a statement, Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) said it was cooperating with the law enforcement agencies in their ongoing investigation in the Television Rating Points (TRP) manipulation case.

Responding to claims by Republic TV that an email from BARC gives proof of the channel not being involved in any alleged malpractices, the agency said it was “highly disappointed” with the broadcaster’s actions.

“BARC India is highly disappointed with the actions of the Republic Network by disclosing private and confidential communications and misrepresenting the same.

“BARC India reiterates that it has not commented on the ongoing investigation and without prejudice to BARC India’s rights, it expresses its dismay at the actions of the Republic Network,” it said.

Mumbai police, on a BARC complaint, is investigating allegations of manipulation of TRP ratings. Republic TV is one of the four channels being investigated.

The BARC statement came after Republic TV disclosed what it said was an email conversation between the agency’s CEO Sunil Lulla and Republic Media Network CEO Vikas Khanchandani.

As per the TV network’s website, Khanchandani wrote an email to BARC on October 16, to “confirm in public domain” that the body has found no infringement by Republic.

“In response to Khanchandani’s email, BARC responded on October 17, by thanking the network for their ‘faith in the internal mechanisms of BARC’ and said that ‘if there was any disciplinary action initiated against ARG Outlier Media (Republic’s owner), then BARC India would have communicated the same to you along with necessary documents for your response”,” the website said.

“Thus, this e-mail proves that BARC did not allege any malpractice against the Republic Media Network,” it added.

Reacting to BARC’s statement, Republic TV owner Arnab Goswami told PTI, that the email of BARC confirms that the police commissioner lied. (Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh) should immediately quit, Goswami said.

BARC did not elaborate on the exact parts of the email which makes it feel that the communication was “misrepresented”.

Six people have been arrested by the police in the scam, which allegedly involves inducing homes which form the sample set whose TV viewing is monitored to ensure that certain channels get higher ratings. The ratings are a key influencer of advertiser preferences while placing commercials. The police claim this is a “multi-crore” scam.

Aurangabad: A musician out of work due to the coronavirus-induced restrictions has appealed to the Maharashtra government to allow artists to hold live concerts and shows to sustain their livelihood.

Amar Wankhede, who used to earn his living by playing synthesizer in orchestra shows, stood in a market place in Aurangabad city for 12 hours on Saturday carrying a placard with the message: ‘Don’t let us beg, save artist, save art’.

Since the lockdown came into force, live concerts and musical performances are prohibited across the state.

As Wankhede is left with no other means of earning, he came out on a road in Cannought area here to make people understand the plight of artists like him.

“Live shows and musical events are not being held since the past seven months. Many people are dependent on this profession for their bread and butter,” he told PTI.

“We don’t want any incentives or aid from the government. We only need permission to resume our work,” the artist said.

Wankhede said he also came to know that an artist from Pune committed suicide 10 to 15 days ago.

“The government is chalking out standard operating procedures (SOP) to resume activities in many sectors. We will also follow the norms and take all care if we are allowed to resume our work,” he said.

Wankhede also appealed to people to run a online campaign for saving artists like him.

“We expect to get permission to resume work from next month, otherwise will have to agitate for our demands,” Wankhede said.

Bhubaneswar: A low-pressure area, likely to form over the Bay of Bengal by Monday, is expected to trigger heavy rainfall in many parts of Odisha in the next four days, the Meteorological Centre here said.

A cyclonic circulation lies over east-central Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas, and under its influence, the fresh low-pressure area is likely to develop over the same region, it said on Sunday.

Heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to occur mainly in southern and coastal parts of Odisha till October 22 due to the system, Meteorological Centre Director H R Biswas said.

There will be a moderate downpour in other parts of the state during this period, he said.

Nine low-pressure systems have been formed over the Bay of Bengal since August.

Fishermen have been asked not to venture into the deep sea from October 19 to 22 as the Meteorological Centre has forecast squally weather conditions with wind speed likely reaching 40-50 kmph over the Bay of Bengal.

In view of the weather forecast, the Odisha government has geared up its preparation to deal with any flood-like situation and landslides in the hilly region.

Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) PK Jena issued a fresh advisory and asked district officials to be prepared to manage any exigency.

Water Resources department engineer-in-chief Jyotirmay Rath said water levels of all major rivers such as Vansadhara, Nagavali, and Rushikulya are being constantly monitored in view of the heavy rainfall forecast in south Odisha.

He said rivers in the southern region are flowing below the danger mark.

Senior and experienced officers are being sent with adequate flood-fighting materials to keep a close watch on the river embankments, he said.

Nodal officers have also been appointed in Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri, Balasore, and Bhadrak to deal with any situation, the official said.

The Meteorological Centre has forecast heavy rainfall in some places of Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Ganjam, and Gajapati districts on Monday.