Malavalli: A case has been registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act against the in-charge headmaster (HM) of a local school, following allegations of sexual harassment by students.

The Block Education Officer (BEO), V. E. Uma, lodged the complaint after students reported incidents of harassment involving the headmaster, who had been serving in the school for the past 13 years. Upon receiving the complaint, Uma, along with members of the district children’s protection committee, visited the school to gather information from students and parents. The investigation is on going.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan

New Delhi: The Hindu newspaper has expressed regret over the controversial remarks in the interview of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The publication clarified that the reference to Malappuram was inserted by a PR agency and was not part of the interview conducted by its journalist, Shobhana Nair.

According to the statement issued by The Hindu, a PR agency named Kaizen had approached them, offering the opportunity to interview the Chief Minister. However, the remarks in question, including references to gold smuggling and claims that the money was used for anti-national activities, were not stated by the Chief Minister but were written by the agency.

The newspaper’s clarification follows an investigation conducted after the interview stirred controversy and drew criticism from various quarters. In its explanation, The Hindu admitted to a lapse in editorial oversight and offered an unconditional apology.

The clarification was prompted by a letter from the Chief Minister’s office to the editor of The Hindu, seeking a correction and explanation for the erroneous report. The Chief Minister’s office had stressed that no region or specific words like ‘anti-national’ were mentioned during the interview. The office expressed concerns that the published report misrepresented the Chief Minister’s statements, causing unnecessary controversy and misinterpretation.

Thane: As many as 38 children fell ill and were hospitalised on Tuesday for suspected food poisoning after they ate a mid-day meal at a private school near Thane city in Maharashtra, officials said.

The children, aged between 8 and 11 years, were admitted to the civic hospital in Kalwa town after they complained of giddiness, nausea, headache and pain in the abdomen after lunch, according to medical officials at the hospital.

All the children are out of danger and responding to the medical treatment, Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) Additional Commissioner Sandeep Malvi told PTI.

He confirmed that the children had eaten a mid-day meal at the private school.

Another medical official said the students were served rice and moth bean (matki) curry as the meal.

“Samples of food served to students have been collected by FDA officials. It was immediately not known if matki was stale,” officials said.

According to officials, initially, five students complained of uneasiness and their number swelled gradually.

“Ambulances were summoned by the school administration and the students were rushed to the hospital,” they added.

The parents of the children are also present at the hospital.

Baramulla Lok Sabha MP Sheikh Abdul Rashid, popularly known as Engineer Rashid

New Delhi: A Delhi court on Tuesday extended the interim bail of Baramulla Lok Sabha MP Sheikh Abdul Rashid, popularly known as Engineer Rashid, till October 12, his lawyer said.

The 57-year-old will have to surrender the next day, Vikhyat Oberoi told PTI here.

Rashid’s counsel had moved an application seeking extension of the interim bail.

Rashid, who faces terror funding charges, was granted interim bail on September 10 and he walked out of the Tihar Jail on September 11.

The judge had on September 10 granted interim bail to Rashid till October 2.

He campaigned in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections.

Nawaf Ismail

Belthangady: A boy died as he was run over by a reversing car before his house at Mallige Majal in Kokkada on Tuesday.

The victim is identified as Nawaf Ismail (10), son of Abdul Hameed, a resident of Mallige Majal. He was studying in 4th standard at a nearby school.

The incident happened when the car parked in the courtyard was being taken out. Unseen by the driver, the boy had come behind the car and was accidentally run over. He was immediately rushed to a private hospital where he was declared dead on arrival.

Dharmasthala police have visited the spot and a case has been registered in this regard.

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk

New Delhi: Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and 150 other protestors from Ladakh who are under detention on Wednesday continued their indefinite fast, saying they find their rights “trampled upon” on Gandhi Jayanti, a day that symbolizes peace and democracy.

Wangchuk was leading ‘Delhi Chalo Padyatra’, which began from Leh a month ago. They were detained on Monday night.

In a statement issued on Wednesday morning, Jigmat Paljor, Coordinator Apex Body, said their detention, which is continuing for over 24 hours, is illegal.

“We, the ‘padyatris’, find ourselves in an alarming situation. We have been detained for over 24 hours. This detention is illegal, as the 24-hour period has elapsed, and we must be produced before a magistrate,” Paljor said.

“Some groups have been released after just under 24 hours, only to be returned to the police station. Last night, the police attempted to forcibly relocate us to an unknown location, but we stood our ground in resistance,” he added.

“Our phones have been confiscated at the Bawana Police Station, leaving us cut off from the outside world,” Paljor said in the statement.

Delhi Police, however, said that the ‘padyatris’ were released last night and detained again.

Wangchuk and other detained Ladakhis were allowed to go on Tuesday night but they were adamant to march towards the central part of Delhi, therefore, they were detained again, a senior police officer told PTI.

The ‘padyatris’, who started from Leh on September 1, marched all the way, except upon entering poll bound Haryana where they boarded buses. They were detained at Delhi’s Singhu border on Monday night and taken to different police stations, where they started an indefinite fast.

“Also all the ‘padyatris’ are on ‘anshan’ since 36 hours. Today, October 2nd, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, we had intended to visit Gandhi Samadhi to pay our respects. Instead, we find our rights trampled upon on a day that symbolizes peace and democracy,” Paljor said.

“This situation raises serious concerns about the state of our democracy. We call upon everyone to stand in solidarity with us during this critical time,” he added.

The march was organised by the Leh Apex Body (LAB), which along with the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), has been spearheading an agitation for the past four years to demand statehood for Ladakh, seek its inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, early recruitment process along with a public service commission for Ladakh and separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil districts.

Wangchuk has been kept at the Bawana police station along with few others while others have been kept at Narela Industrial Area, Alipur and Kanjhawala police stations, he added.

Nasheman news

Actor Govinda

Mumbai: Actor Govinda sustained leg injuries on Tuesday after his revolver accidentally went off at his Mumbai residence, while he was about to leave for the airport, police said.

Govinda, 60, later issued a statement, informing his fans that doctors have removed the bullet and he was alright due to his fans’ affection and god’s blessings.

The actor, who was hospitalized after the accident, is out of danger and recuperating at his home, a Mumbai police official said.

Govinda’s manager Shashi Sinha said that as Govinda was about to leave his home at 4.45 am for the airport to catch a 6 am flight to Kolkata for a show, the trigger of his licensed revolver was accidentally pushed as he was keeping it in the cupboard.

The gun misfired and a bullet hit his leg, police said.

The injured actor was admitted to the nearby Criti Care Hospital for treatment. No one has lodged any complaint in this matter, police said, adding they have begun an investigation into the matter.

Govind Arun Ahuja, better known by his stage name Govinda, is a popular actor, comedian, dancer and singer who has appeared in more than 165 Hindi-language films.

In March, a month before the Lok Sabha elections, Govinda joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.

This marked Govinda’s re-entry into the political landscape after nearly two decades. The actor won the 2004 poll battle from the Mumbai North Lok Sabha constituency on a Congress ticket before stepping away from politics in 2008.

Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has granted an interim stay on the FIR filed against BJP leaders, including Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in connection with extortion allegations involving thousands of crores of rupees related to election bonds.

The court heard the petition filed by Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials, Naleen Kumar Kateel, JP Nadda, and Vijayendra, seeking cancellation of the FIR, providing a major relief to the accused.

The next hearing has been scheduled for October 22.