Archives for June 2021

KOCHI: Lakshadweep-based filmmaker Aisha Sultana, who has been booked by the Kavaratti police on sedition charges, approached the Kerala High Court seeking anticipatory bail in the case. The police registered a case against Sultana for her controversial statement that the Centre was using COVID as a ‘bio-weapon’ against the people of Lakshadweep.

A case under Sections 124 A (sedition) and 153 B (Imputations, assertions prejudicial to national-integration) was registered against Sultana, a native of Chetlat island, based on a petition filed by BJP’s Lakshadweep unit president Abdul Khader. The prosecution alleged that on June 7, in a TV channel discussion, she stated that the Centre had used a ‘bio-weapon’ against the natives of the islands.

The petition stated that the Sub Inspector of Police, Kavaratti police station, has now issued a notice under section 41 A CrPC directing her to appear at the police headquarters at Kavaratti on June 20 for interrogation. She apprehends imminent arrest and detention. Hence, she filed the anticipatory bail plea. According to her, she is absolutely innocent of the allegations levelled against her. She has been falsely implicated in the case with ulterior motives and vexatious intentions.

According to her, the protest is primarily against the revised and relaxed SOP in the COVID-19 quarantine protocol. There were no COVID cases till January 2021. Following the modification in the SOP by the Lakshadweep administration, COVID cases increased. Lakshadweep is now seeing an exponential rise in COVID-19 patients, the primitive healthcare system and geography of the area is adding to the number of deaths in the place.

In that context, Sultana was invited for the discussion, and it was while explaining the situation that such a remark was allegedly made by her. She had only intended to say that it was due to the apathetic approach and reforms of the new administrator that a serious threat is being caused to the lives of the people of the islands and had absolutely no intention of exciting disaffection towards the government. On learning that her statement has given rise to several controversies, she had immediately taken to her social media account wherein she explained her stand and apologized for the statements made.

For an offence to fall under the ambit of section 124A IPC, the words spoken or written have to bring about hatred, contempt or displeasure against a government established by law and such words should have resulted in imminent violence. There is no case that the statement of the applicant has created disaffection towards the government or a case of imminent violence sparked by the words spoken by the applicant. The offences under section 153 B of the IPC also will not stand against her at the words spoken is not prejudicial to national integration or causing disharmony or feelings of enmity or hatred or ill-will, stated the petition.

BALLIA: Backing the demand for a central agency probe into the alleged corruption in the purchase of land for the proposed Ram temple in Ayodhya, SBSP chief Om Prakash Rajbhar on Monday said the BJP and the RSS have made the shrine a “medium of business”.

Rajbhar’s remarks came a day after the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) alleged that Shriram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai bought 1.208 hectares of land in Ayodhya’s Bag Bjaisi village worth Rs 2 crore at an inflated price of Rs 18.5 crore for the Ram temple with the help of trust member Anil Mishra.

Terming it a case of money laundering, SP leader Pawan Pandey and AAP leader Sanjay Singh sought a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) into the matter.

Rai strongly refuted the allegations.

Speaking to reporters here in Rasra, Rajbhar said, “The temple is a symbol of faith for common people but the BJP and the RSS have made it a medium of business.”

The Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party chief claimed the said piece of land was purchased for Rs 2 crore on March 18 for the construction of Ram temple and five minutes later, it was bought by the Ram Mandir Trust for Rs 18.50 crore.

The SBSP leader also sought a probe by the CBI and the ED into the “scandal”.

Targeting Modi and Adityanath, Rajbhar, a former BJP ally, said, “Both the leaders claim zero tolerance (for corruption). Modi ji and Yogi ji should make it clear as to when a case will be registered against the trustee of the Ram Mandir Trust and when the accused persons will be sent to jail.”

“The sentiments of crores of devotees have been hurt by this scandal,” he said.

The SBSP chief also claimed that BJP president J P Nadda had called him a few days ago but he refused to speak to him.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Rai had said, “Allegations of assassinating Mahatma Gandhi were also levelled against us. We do not fear allegations. I will study the allegations levelled against us and probe them.”

As per the notification, under the rules, gyms are allowed to open from 6 am to 8 pm with 50 per cent capacity after adopting requisite social distancing norms and COVID appropriate behavioural norms.

AMBALA: After the Haryana government announced some relaxation in lockdown curbs, gyms were reopened in Ambala at 50 per cent capacity from 6 am to 8 pm, as part of phased un-lock in the state. “It is a good decision by the government. After a gap of 1.5 months, trainers will be employed. We have resumed with all COVID-appropriate protocols,” said a gym trainer.

As per the notification, under the rules, gyms are allowed to open from 6 am to 8 pm with 50 per cent capacity after adopting requisite social distancing norms, regular sanitisation and COVID appropriate behavioural norms. “However, spas shall remain closed,” the notification added.

All production units, establishments, and industries are permitted to function in Haryana now adhering to COVID norms. Sports complexes and stadiums are also allowed to open only for sports activities and spectators will not be allowed.

All colleges, coaching institutions, libraries, and training institutes, whether government or private, will remain closed till further orders. The government order directed the deputy commissioners of the districts to work out the modalities of implementing the relaxations strictly.

KOCHI: Lakshadweep Administrator Praful Khoda Patel, who courted controversy with a slew of reforms that caused widespread resentment, will arrive on the island for a week-long visit at 2 pm on Monday. Meanwhile, residents of the island are observing a ‘black day’ to demonstrate their protest. They tied black flags on poles along the road from Agatti to Kavaratti and erected billboards carrying slogans calling for the removal of the administrator and rollback of the reforms.

Though Kerala MPs Hibi Eden and T N Prathapan waited at Kochi international airport to meet the administrator in person and hand over a representation seeking permission to visit the island, they were disappointed. Though the original plan was to reach Kochi airport and proceed to Lakshadweep, Praful Patel changed his travel plan and went to Lakshadweep via Goa.

“We had got information that the administrator will arrive at Kochi airport and will be at the lounge for one hour. We reached the airport to give a representation to allow a delegation of MPs to visit the island and to convey our protest in person. But he changed his travel plans. We are planning to approach the court seeking a direction to the island in this regard,” said Hibi Eden MP.
 
“We are observing a black day on the island today. People are wearing black dresses and black masks. The police have removed the black flags in many places. As there is a complete shutdown on the island we are holding protests at home and posting pictures on social media. At 9 pm, the residents will switch off the lights and clang utensils raising the slogan ‘Go Patel Go’. The videos will be shared on social media,” said Lakshadweep district panchayat member K I Nizamuddin.

Bengaluru: Noted Kannada film producer K C N Chandrashekar who gave many blockbuster movies including ‘Babruvahana’ died at a private hospital, family sources said.

He was 69.

The film producer was suffering from age related ailments for quite some time and died on Sunday night, they added.

Chandrashekar was very much inspired by his father K C Nanjunde Gowda and made more than 50 movies leaving a lasting impact on the viewers.

Some of his prominent movies are ‘Babruvahana’, ‘Huliya Haalina Mevu’, ‘Bhakta Gnanadeva’, ‘Dharmayuddha’ and ‘Thaayi’.

The veteran producer had also served as the president of Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) and South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce (SIFCC).

Condoling Chandrashekar’s demise, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said in his death the Kannada film industry has lost a great film-maker.

Pratapgarh: A 42-year-old news channel reporter died after his motorcycle rammed a pole near a brick kiln here, police said on Monday.

The reporter, Sulabh Srivastava, recently ran a news story against the liquor mafia, and two days back, he had written to the Prayagraj additional director general of police, seeking protection.

Also, Additional Superintendent of Police Surendra Dwivedi said the crash took place on Sunday when Srivastava was returning from Asrahi village under the Lalganj police station area after reporting on an illegal arms manufacturing unit uncovered there.

After the crash, Srivastava was taken to the district hospital, where doctors declared him dead, he said.

The officer said police were probing various angles and the body of the deceased was sent for a post-mortem examination.

Agra: A five-year-old child fell into a 150-feet-deep borewell while playing in Dhariyai village here on Monday, police said, adding that rescue operation is underway.

The incident took place about 8:30 am under Nibohara police station area in Fatehabad in Agra rural. So far, the child’s movement can be noticed and he was responding, Station House Officer Sooraj Prasad told PTI.

He added, “The rescue of the child was on since the police got information about the incident.”

An eyewitness said the child fell into the borewell that was dug by his father, Chhotelal.

“We had dropped a rope into the borewell which the child had caught and he has been responding to our queries,” the villager added.

Dhaka: Prominent Bangladeshi film actress Shamsunnahar Smriti, popularly known as Pori Moni, has sought justice from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a Facebook post alleging that a businessman attempted to rape and murder her at a club here.

After making the allegations in a Facebook post without naming the suspect on Sunday, she held a media briefing later in the night and accused businessmen Nasir U Mahmood, entertainment and cultural affairs secretary of Dhaka Boat Club, of assaulting her, bdnews24 reported.

The 28-year-old actress alleged that Nasir assaulted her at the club in Dhaka’s Uttara four days ago.

The businessman could not be reached immediately for comments, the news website said.

A founding member of the Dhaka Boat Club, Nasir is involved with real estate business.

Calling Prime Minister Hasina “mother, the actress in her Facebook post also claimed that she sought help from law enforcement agencies but failed to get justice.

“Where will I seek justice? the post read. I couldn’t find it in the last four days Everyone listens to the details and never follows through. I’m a girl, I’m an actor, but before that, I’m a human being. I can’t remain silent, she said in the post in Bangla.

Sohel Rana, an assistant IGP, said the police will take action when the actress contacts them.

Pori Moni rose to fame fast after joining the movie industry in 2015. She has played the lead female role in two dozen Bangladeshi movies.

Forbes magazine last year named her as one of 100 Digital Stars of Asia.