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Thane crime: 23-year-old arrested for allegedly trafficking, selling newborns
Tracing transactions of a 23-year-old man's mobile phone unfolded a shocking crime of trafficking and selling newborns in Thane. The police on Friday registered a case against the accused, Tushar Prakash Salve, a resident of Badlapur, under section 143 (trafficking) and other relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology (IT) Act, the official stated, reported PTI. A complaint was lodged by a regional forest officer alleging Salve's involvement in trafficking newborns, an official stated. According to PTI, the officials informed that the police gathered evidence of transactions involving infants after they examined the accused's mobile phone. "The mobile phone contained WhatsApp records about the illegal activity, indicating that he conducted transactions online," an official said. The police are focusing on determining the specifics of the transactions, the identities of the children, and the places from where they were trafficked, an official stated. Man held for raping, impregnating 13-year-old cancer patient in Maharashtra's Thane district The police said that the 29-year-old accused was apprehended from Bihar on Thursday A man has been arrested for allegedly raping and impregnating a 13-year-old cancer patient in Maharashtra's Thane district, the police said on Saturday, reported the PTI. The police said that the 29-year-old accused was apprehended from Bihar on Thursday. According to the police, the accused, who was from the same village as the girl's family in Bihar, had arranged for a rented accommodation for them in Badlapur two months ago and assisted in her treatment, as per the PTI. Assistant Commissioner of Police Shailesh Kale said that the man allegedly took advantage of the girl when she was alone at home, sexually assaulting her on three occasions, the news agency reported on Saturday. The girl was undergoing chemotherapy at a hospital in neighbouring Mumbai, and during a routine examination, she was found to be pregnant, he said, as per the PTI. Later, a case was registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the official said. "The accused had arranged for the victim's family to stay in Badlapur and was helping with her treatment. During this time, he raped her and she got pregnant," senior police inspector Kiran Balwadkar said, reported the PTI. The arrested accused was produced before a court and has been remanded in judicial custody, and further investigations are underway. Meanwhile, in an another incident, the police on Saturday said that a 52-year-old man booked for raping and threatening a woman in Maharashtra's Thane city was arrested from a hotel in Nashik, reported news agency PTI. Based on a tip-off, the anti-extortion cell of the Thane police apprehended the accused, a resident of Dombivili, on Friday night. The accused has two cases registered against him, an official said, reported PTI. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Amarsingh Jadhav said the 19-year-old complainant alleged that the accused sexually assaulted her in the Davadi area of Dombivili on multiple occasions between February 16 and March 29, reported PTI. The woman claimed she met the accused through Instagram, and he lured her to his office with the promise of a job at the Mumbai airport. She alleged that the accused threatened her with a firearm, and said he would harm her parents and then raped her, the official said, reported PTI. (With PTI inputs)
06 April,2025 03:08 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondent
India’s Got Latent row: Samay Raina appears before Guwahati Police
Comedian Samay Raina appeared before the Guwahati Crime Branch on Saturday for questioning in connection with an FIR filed against him and several other popular content creators over alleged promotion of obscenity and vulgarity through the YouTube show India’s Got Latent, ANI reports. Raina, who had earlier cited international travel commitments for not being able to attend earlier summons, recorded his statement before the investigating officer in Guwahati. The Guwahati Police had registered the FIR on 10 February against multiple YouTubers and social media influencers, including Ashish Chanchlani, Jaspreet Singh, Apoorva Makhija, Ranveer Allahbadia, Samay Raina and others. The complaint accuses the group of engaging in sexually explicit and offensive discourse under the guise of comedy and entertainment in India’s Got Latent, a digital talk-show format. The case has been filed under Cyber Police Station Case No. 03/2025 and includes sections 79, 95, 294 and 296 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, along with relevant clauses from the Information Technology Act, 2000, the Cinematograph Act, 1952, and the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986. Joint Commissioner of Police Ankur Jain told ANI that Raina’s statement had been formally recorded. “We have served notices to all persons named in the FIR, including Raina, Chanchlani and Allahbadia. Some have complied while others are yet to respond. The investigation is continuing as per legal procedure,” he stated. Earlier, YouTuber Ashish Chanchlani, influencer Apoorva Makhija, and podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia also appeared before authorities to record their statements. Rakesh Sawant, who featured on the same show, had earlier appeared before the Maharashtra Cyber Cell on 27 February. The controversy intensified after Allahbadia made a controversial comment involving a contestant’s parents during one of the episodes. The remark went viral, leading to considerable backlash online. He later issued a public apology, acknowledging the lack of taste in his statement. “My comment wasn't just inappropriate—it wasn’t even funny. Comedy isn’t my forte. I am just here to say sorry,” said Allahbadia in a video statement. Raina, amid the ongoing inquiry, announced on Instagram that he would be postponing his India tour. “You’ll all get refunds shortly. See you soon,” he wrote. (With inputs from ANI)
06 April,2025 01:14 PM IST | Guwahati
Tibetans in-exile strongly condemn China's white paper on human rights
The Tibetans in-exile strongly condemned China's recent white paper on human rights. A new report published by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and democracy (TCHRD) argues that Chinese authorities committed egregious human rights abuses that amount to crimes against humanity in Driru county, one of the most tightly controlled areas in Tibet. The report titled 'If Gyalmo Ngulchu Could Feel: Crimes against Humanity in Driru' details widespread and systematic human rights violations committed by Chinese authorities between 2012 and 2022. Executive Director of TCHRD, Tenzin Dawa told ANI, "The report presents extensive evidence of crimes against humanity, including persecution, arbitrary detention, torture and extrajudicial killings as part of a state-led policy to suppress resistance and identity." The report highlights the violent crackdown that began on 28 September 2013, when local Tibetans in Driru dumped a five-starred Chinese flag into the Gyalmo Ngulchu (Nujiang/ Salween) river in protest against a coercive flag-flying campaign. The findings in this report make it clear that the situation in Driru is a human rights crisis that demands immediate international attention. Tenzin Lekshay, spokesperson of Tibetan government in-exile told ANI, "China came up with the white paper on human rights this time and the so-called white paper is not a white paper actually because what they have been talking about, it's all about developments for the sake of China's stability. So if they are really concerned about the Tibetan people and their rights, they should have talked about the universal human rights as freedom of expression, freedom of movement, freedom of belief, which is not allowed to be seen in this so-called white paper." "China is talking about developments and this development induced human rights which they have been talking about has so many things which were not been covered. We still say that there are so many political restrictions, civil rights are not being there, and we can say that the situation inside Tibet is more than critical right now under Xi Jinping's rule. So the white paper does not really talk about the rights for the Tibetan people, rather they talk more about their own stability," he added. Tenzin Tsundue, a Tibetan activist in exile, has strongly criticized China's recent white paper on Tibet, calling it an attempt to legitimize China's 75-year occupation of the region. He further argues that the document distorts the truth, claiming Tibetans benefit from Chinese development and human rights protection. Tsundue said, "I went through the entire documents, there are eight chapters and all the eight chapters constantly try to do only one thing, tried to buy legitimacy of the 75 years of invasion and occupation of Tibet... They are talking about the developments in Tibet, and they keep on saying that Tibetans love those developments in Tibet. They are trying to say that they are protecting the human rights in Tibet. So the question is from whom ? It's been a dictatorial regime for 75 years, if the Chinese government has to protect the human rights in Tibet, from whom? from Xi Jinping? Then they say that they are protecting the environment of Tibet, so again, from whom? From the Chinese miners? From the Chinese government who is mining and cutting the trees and damming in Tibet." "The white paper recently launched is saying that the United States government and his Holiness the Dalai Lama are making human right cases against China. But that's exactly what China has been doing. In 75 years of Chinese occupation of Tibet, more than 1 million Tibetans were killed by China, over 6000 monasteries were destroyed, the environment was plundered, and Tibetan monks and nuns were thrown out from their traditional monastic institutions. Tibetan nomads and farmers have been thrown out of their ancestral lands. These lands are being used by China for mining. Glaciers are melting in the Tibet in Himalayas so it's all because China is exploiting the natural resources in Tibet and with this white paper that China launched recently, China is only trying to protect its own skin," he added. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
06 April,2025 12:52 PM IST | Dharamshala | ANI
Manipur: Security forces recover large cache of weapons, arrest 6 insurgents
A series of information-based joint operations by the Indian Army and Assam Rifles formations in Manipur resulted in the apprehension of six cadres and the recovery of twenty-two weapons, grenades, ammunition and other war-like stores. The operations were undertaken in coordination with Manipur Police, CRPF, BSF and ITBP in the hill and valley districts of Imphal West, Kakching, Imphal East, Churachandpur and Bishnupur between April 4 and 05, 2025, said the Army. Army and Manipur Police apprehended two cadres and recovered a pistol from Karpur Sangha of Imphal East district. In Chandpur of Bishnupur district, four weapons comprising one Self Loading Rifle (SLR), one Carbine, one .303 Rifle, one Double Barrel Rifle, ammunition and war-like stores were recovered by Army and Manipur Police on 04 April 2025 and one SLR, one 303 Rifle, one gun with a telescopic sight, one 0.177gun, two Pistols, ammunition and war-like stores were recovered from Khongam Pat of Imphal West. On the same day, in Kakching district Assam Rifles and Manipur Police apprehended two cadres and recovered two pistols, ammunition and war-like stores from Khongjom Khebaching, Churachandpur district. Two caders were also recovered from D Vaison of the same district. In Imphal East district, one Carbine, four Pistols, one .22 Rifle, one 12 Bore Single Barrel Rifle, two Single Bore Barrel Rifles, grenades, ammunition and war-like stores were recovered from Ngariyan Hill. The apprehended individuals and recovered stores have been handed over to the Manipur Police for further investigation and dispersal. Earlier on April 5, Security forces recovered arms and ammunition during the search operations and area domination conducted in the fringe and vulnerable areas of hill and valley districts of Manipur, stated an official press release. In one such operation, security forces recovered a significant cache of arms and ammunition from Laisoi hill areas under Keibul Lamjao Police Station, in Bishnupur district. The recovered items included SLR rifles, carbines, and live rounds.In another operation, security forces arrested two UNLF(P) cadres, Khundrakpam Rakesh Singh alias Thomba and Khundrakpam Charles, who were involved in the abduction of one Laitonjam Dilip Singh from his residence in Imphal West District. The abductee was rescued, and the suspects were arrested from a house in the Nambol Phoijing area in Bishnupur district, as per the release.
06 April,2025 12:51 PM IST | Imphal | ANI
Devotees throng Ayodhya's Ram Temple, take holy dip on occasion of Ram Navami
Scores of devotees thronged Ayodhya's Ram Temple on the auspicious occasion of Ram Navami on Sunday morning. Before visiting the temple, devotees take a holy dip in the Saryu River in Ayodhya. Ram Navmi is celebrated all over India every year on the last day of Chaitra Navaratri to mark the birth of Lord Rama. On this auspicious day, young girls, representing the nine forms of the goddess Durga, are offered gifts and prasad. The Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya was adorned with vibrant flowers and dazzling lights on Ram Navami, drawing devotees from across the country to celebrate Lord Ram's birth. One devotee said, "...I am feeling very good after coming here...The arrangements here are very good..." Another devotee from Varanasi said, "I have come from Varanasi to offer prayers at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple on the occasion of Ram Navami..." Speaking on the arrangements at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, Additional SP Madhuban Singh said, "People come in large numbers to offer prayers on the occasion of Ram Navami...Police personnel have been deployed in large numbers to ensure the safety and security of devotees...Proper parking arrangements have also been made..." Meanwhile, the Jhandewalan Temple in Delhi was illuminated and beautifully decorated on the ninth day of Chaitra. A devotee at the Jhandewalan Temple shared their experience, saying, "I offered prayers at the Jhandewalan temple for the first time and I am feeling very good and peaceful." Another devotee expressed delight at the arrangements, stating, "The arrangements at the temple are very good, and Mata Rani is blessing all the devotees." The morning Aarti was also held at Chhatarpur's Shri Aadya Katyayani Shaktipith Mandir in the national capital on Ram Navami. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
06 April,2025 07:41 AM IST | Uttar Pradesh | ANI
Muslim-majority village elects Hindu woman as sarpanch
The Muslim-dominated Siroli village in Haryana’s Nuh district has elected its sole Hindu panchayat member as the sarpanch, an officer here said. Thirty-year-old Nisha Chauhan was elected as Siroli sarpanch on April 2. According to a senior panchayat officer, Siroli panchayat under the Punahana block has 15 members, of which 14 are Muslims and eight are women. The post of Siroli sarpanch is reserved for women. Only 250 out of the 3,296 voters in the village are Hindus. According to panchayat officer Nasim, the last panchayat election was held in December 2022. However, the winning candidate, Sahana, was sacked some months later after her education certificates were found to be fake. The newly elected sarpanch said that her victory is a symbol of Hindu-Muslim unity. “My village is Muslim-dominated but the old tradition of Hindu-Muslim brotherhood still exists there. In true sense, there is no religious discrimination in the Mewat area, a living example of which is my election as sarpanch. My victory is a message of communal brotherhood in the entire area,” said Chauhan. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
06 April,2025 07:41 AM IST | Gurugram | Agencies
Kerala Ezhava leader calls Malappuram ‘separate nation’
Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan has made controversial remarks against Muslim-dominated Malappuram district in the state, describing it as a “separate nation” or an exclusive “state of certain people”. SNDP is an organisation that represents the numerically strong Ezhava community in Kerala. While addressing a convention of community members at Chungathara here, Natesan said that people belonging to the “backward community” are living under constant fear in Malappuram. He charged that the community members could not even breathe freely here and were treated just as “voting machines”. “I think, you [community members] cannot live here speaking your independent opinion. Malappuram is a separate nation... or a separate state of certain people.” He further said that was the reason for the continuing backwardness of Ezhava people in Malappuram. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
06 April,2025 07:40 AM IST | Malappuram | Agencies
PM to open India’s first vertical lift sea bridge in Rameswaram today
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate India’s first vertical lift sea bridge in Rameswaram and would also dedicate other projects on April 6. On the eve of the official event, the Indian Railways came out with a promotional video of the picturesque new Pamban Bridge. The Railway Ministry said, “Bridging the past, lifting the new, Pamban stands tall with a breathtaking view. This Ram Navami, witness India’s First Vertical Lift Railway Sea Bridge unveiling in one day!” The coastal town has come under security cover ahead of the inauguration of the Rs 550-crore bridge. Around noon (April 6), the prime minister would inaugurate the new Pamban Rail Bridge and flag off Rameswaram-Tambaram (Chennai) new train service, and a Coast Guard Ship will be flagged off as the Vertical Lift Span rises up to make way, and witness the operation of the bridge. Modi is expected to visit the renowned Ramanathaswamy temple at Rameswaram at around 12.45 pm for darshan and pooja and later lay the foundation stone and dedicate to the nation various rail and road projects worth over Rs 8,300 crore in Tamil Nadu at around 1.30 pm, a release said. These projects include foundation stones for four-laning of 28-km-long Walajapet - Ranipet section of NH-40 and dedication to the nation of four-laned 29-km-long Viluppuram , Puducherry section of NH-332; 57-km-long Poondiyankuppam, Sattanathapuram section of NH-32 and 48-km long Cholapuram-Hanjavur section of NH-36. They will connect many pilgrim centres and tourist places, reduce distance between cities and enable faster access to medical colleges and hospitals, and ports besides empower local farmers to transport agricultural products to the nearby markets and boost economic activity of local leather and small scale industries. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
06 April,2025 07:40 AM IST | Chennai | Agencies
Nirmala refutes claims that ONOE will be implemented in 2029
Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday dismissed the false propaganda surrounding the “One Nation, One Election” (ONOE) concept, clarifying that it will not be implemented in the upcoming elections. Speaking at an event near here, she noted that around R1 lakh crore was spent during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, and such a massive expenditure could be saved through simultaneous elections. “If simultaneous elections are held for electing the members of Parliament and Assembly, about 1.5 per cent growth will be added to the country's GDP. In value terms, R4.5 lakh crore will get added to the economy. This is a black and white example of ONOE concept”, she said. Sitharaman accused certain parties of “spreading a false campaign” on the “One Nation One Election” initiative, blindly opposing it. She clarified that simultaneous polls are planned to take place only after 2034 and the groundwork is being laid now for the then President to give his assent. “This concept was widely discussed during several occasions. It was not something introduced by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This One Nation One Election was in existence till 1960s. Instead of blindly opposing it, if it has been supported considering its benefit, the One Nation One Election concept will make the country move forward,” the union minister remarked. Sitharaman claimed that the late DMK Patriarch M Karunanidhi had supported ONOE concept, but his son and the current CM (M K Stalin) is not following in his father's footsteps. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
06 April,2025 07:40 AM IST | Chennai | Agencies
YouTuber Samay Raina appears before Assam Police
YouTuber Samay Raina on Saturday appeared before the Assam Police here in connection with a case filed against him and four others for allegedly promoting obscenity on a publicly accessible online show, a police officer said. Raina, who had earlier informed the police that he was out of the country, appeared before the investigating officer of the Crime Branch, Guwahati Police. "He was examined and his statement recorded in connection with the case," the officer said. Guwahati Police had registered a case on February 10 against Raina and YouTubers and social media influencers Ranveer Allahbadia, Ashish Chanchlani, Jaspreet Singh, Apoorva Makhija, among others, for promoting obscenity and engaging in sexually explicit and vulgar discussion in a publicly accessible online show, causing a serious harm to public decency and morality. Guwahati Police's Crime Branch had registered a case under sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), read with sections of the IT Act, Cinematograph Act 1952 and Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986. Allahbadia had also appeared before the Guwahati Police on March 7 and was questioned for over four hours. The police said that he had cooperated and assured of extending his cooperation in future, including coming to Guwahati whenever he is called, for the case. The Supreme Court had granted him protection from arrest but had termed his remarks "vulgar". Another accused in the case, Ashish Chanchlani, was the first to appear before the police on February 27 and was granted anticipatory bail by the Gauhati High Court on February 7. Jaspreet Singh and Apporva Makhiija were yet to appear before the police who have sent them summons again after they sent emails that they were out of the country, the officer said. Besides the five YouTubers, the owner of the place where the shooting of the controversial show took place has also been named in the FIR, he added. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
05 April,2025 11:01 PM IST | Guwahati | PTI
Bengal Guv seeks deployment of adequate forces to ensure peaceful Ram Navami
On the eve of the Ram Navami celebrations in West Bengal, Governor C V Ananda Bose on Saturday called upon the state administration to deploy an adequate number of security forces to ensure the religious festival is celebrated peacefully across the state on April 6. Bose also announced activating the 'peace room' at Raj Bhavan for any situation. The governor in 2023 launched the 'peace room', a helpline to respond to the grievances of the public. Clashes between groups were reported during Ram Navami celebrations in the state in recent years. In a statement, the Raj Bhavan advised the state government to activate the security mechanism and deploy the required number of security forces to "ensure that Shri Ram Navami is observed peacefully across the state." "Raj Bhavan has reactivated the 24x7 peace room with augmented manpower to take prompt action as necessary. Former IG, SSB, S Bandyopadhyay is designated the chief of task force for the purpose. A Rapid Action team has also been formed for speedy response," he said. "The Mobile Raj Bhavan will be on the road since early morning of April 6," the statement said. The governor assured people of prompt action by the competent authorities and issued an appeal "to everyone to ensure that the joyous occasion is observed with the dignity it deserves." This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
05 April,2025 10:51 PM IST | Kolkata | PTI