Tuesday, April 7, 2026

Maharashtra bandh: Protestors disrupt road traffic in various parts of state

By
Shveta Mishra
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Maratha leaders today called for Maharashtra bandh from 8 am to 6 pm across the state seeking reservation in education and jobs.  Maratha leaders said, the bandh would be carried out peacefully and there will be no violence.

But elaborate security arrangements have been made by the Maharashtra police in view of the shutdown.

Schools and Colleges in Maharashtra’s Pune have been shut today as a precautionary measure.

Meanwhile, protesters have disrupted road traffic in Latur, Jalna, Solapur and Buldhana districts as part of their day-long agitation.

Last month too, Maratha Kranti morcha and Maratha groups had held protests seeking 16% reservation in government jobs and education which had turned violent in some parts of Maharashtra.

Security Forces kill 5 terrorists in an ongoing encounter in Baramulla district of J&k

By
Tehelka Web Desk
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At least five terrorists have been gunned down by the security forces in an ongoing encounter in Rafiabad in Baramulla District of Jammu & Kashmir on August 9 morning. Army’s Kilo Force, Special Forces (SF) and 32 Rashtriya Rifles were involved in the operation.

“The SF team was specially inserted in the area of operations,” the Army spokesperson in Srinagar said.

The security forces started the search operation which later converted into an encounter with an exchange of fire from both the sides.

Security forces had launched a search operation in Ladoora forests in Rafiabad on August 6 after they received information about the presence of militants. On August 8 morning an encounter ensued with both sides exchanging fire.

In another operation on August 8 security forces arrested a terrorist identified as Abdul Majid Shah a resident of Iqbal Colony, in Pattan Baramulla in Awantipora. Following the search, forces seized arms, ammunition and other incriminating material from him.

Shah was traveling in a car bearing registration number DL9CM0213, and he was on his way to meet other terrorists active in the area.

More details are awaited on the ongoing encounter.

Supreme Court to constitute committee to look into issues in jails across country

By
Tehelka Web Desk
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The Supreme Court on August 8 ordered the constitution of a committee under the chairmanship of its retired judge to look into issues and problems in jails, including overcrowding and also suggest steps to deal with the same.

The SC said that the committee for prison reforms will also have two or three government officers, who will coordinate with the retired judge and look into the issues, and also apprise the SC regarding suggestions to improve the lifestyle of inmates staying in overcrowded jails.

A three-judge bench comprising of Justice Madan Bhimrao Lokur, S Abdul Nazeer and Deepak Gupta observed that the committee will also deal with issues, including that of women prisoners languishing in jails across the country.

The bench has fixed the matter for hearing on August 17. The bench also expressed its displeasure that the government has collected a huge amount under the orders of the apex court but the funds are not being utilized adequately.

Attorney General (AG) K K Venugopal, representing the Central government, told the court, “We have multiple problems. Finance is one of the major hurdles. We are trying to overcome this.”

On replying to attorney general’s comment Justice Lokur said, “We (court) are also trying our best to solve problems. Also, we are not creating any hurdles in the way of the Central government.”

 “We are making it clear that we have not and we are not criticising the government for everything,” Lokur added.

Bihar social welfare minister Manju Verma resigns over Muzaffarpur shelter home rape case

By
Tehelka Web Desk
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Bihar social welfare minister Manju Verma has resigned on Wednesday over indictments against her husband, who is accused of having links to Brajesh Thakur of Muzaffarpur shelter home rape case.

Manju Verma handed over her resignation to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

The resignation came hours after Nitish Kumar said if anything came up against the minister during the investigation, she will not be spared.

“She (Manju Verma) has repudiated her involvement in the case. A CBI investigation is underway. Anybody found guilty, even the Ministers, will be sent to jail. No one will be spared,” said Nitish Kumar on Tuesday.

According to reports, call records confirm that minister Manju Verma’s husband was in touch with the man who ran the shelter home in Muzaffarpur where 34 minor inmates were allegedly raped, and seventeen calls claimed to be exchanged between them.

The minister had accepted that her husband was in touch with Brajesh Thakur, whose NGO ran the shelter home where girls were raped, beaten and assaulted but unaware that he was a criminal.

The shelter home rape case is currently being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Prime accused in Muzaffarpur case: I am unnecessarily framed as I was planning to join Congress

By
Tehelka Web Desk
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Brajesh Thakur, the prime accused in the Muzaffarpur shelter home sexual horror case, on August 8 claimed that he has been falsely implicated in the case as he was planning to join the Congress party. Thakur was today produced before the court among other accused.

While talking to Media outside the court premises Thakur said, “I was thinking of joining the Congress and it was almost final that I will contest elections from Muzaffarpur. That is the reason why I have been unnecessarily framed in the case. None of the girls (inmates of the shelter home) has taken my name. You can check that yourself.”

When asked about Madhu Kumari, the other accused in the case who is still absconding, he said, “I have never had any relation with Madhu. This has been propagated by some newspapers who want my newspaper office to shut down. Their business is getting affected due to my newspaper; that is the reason why it is happening.”

While reacting to Thakur’s comment on planning to join Congress party, Bihar Congress president Kaukab Quadri said, “It is a laughable comment made by him. Investigation suggests that he was connected to Manju Verma’s husband. His connections with BJP and JD(U) have also come out. How can it be possible that he was supposed to contest elections representing the Congress? He should reveal the names he was in touch with from the Congress party. I feel that the law and order have completely failed in the state.”

NITI Aayog-CII launch partnership for sustainable development

By
Aditi Chahar
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Raj Kumar Singh, Minister of State, Union Power and New and Renewable Energy, observed on August 8 that business and government must partner for sustainable development of India. 

He was speaking at the launch of NITI Aayog and CII Partnership on SDGs, at the Government and Business Partnership Conclave in New Delhi on 8 August 2018, organized by NITI Aayog, Confederation of Indian Industry and UN.

The Minister said that in sustainable development three things matter the most: energy, water and circular economy/green industry. To action his 2022 agenda, he expressed confidence that India will achieve its clean energy goals even earlier than 2022 and urged everyone to be conscious and responsible towards the environment.   

Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Aayog, in his address highlighted the high pace of urbanization of India at a time when the countries such as the USA and Europe are almost through with this process. Given our population, Kant emphasized, the only way to grow and develop sustainably is to use technology to leapfrog: use new and renewable energy and push for R&D and innovation to generate demand for electric vehicles, hydrogen cars, etc. and to find local solutions for 7 million strong population around the world.’  

Speaking at the occasion,  Yuri Afanasiev, UN Resident Coordinator, said that ‘conditions in India are favorable due to its nature, history, and demography, to come up with solutions towards a sustainable and circular economy for the world to emulate.’

Rakesh Bharti Mittal, President CII, and Vice Chairman, Bharti Enterprises Ltd stressed that the current theme of CII 2018-19 ‘India RISE: Responsible. Inclusive. Sustainable.’ is aligned with the sustainability agenda. Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, Confederation of Indian Industry, mentioned that CII’s nine Centres of Excellence are well-aligned to the SDGs.

CII-NITI Aayog have entered into a three-year partnership and a MoU was signed. This partnership focuses on specific activities that seek to develop the Vision and Action Agenda for businesses and industries to contribute to SDGs, Annual Status Reports, and Sector-specific Best Practise Documents. On this occasion, Dr. Ashok Kumar Jain, Adviser, NITI Aayog, spoke about the partnership and welcomed CII for innovative initiatives going forward. 

2 dead, 30 injured in stampede at M. Karunanidhi’s funeral

By
Tehelka Web Desk
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At least two persons died and 30 others sustained injuries in a stampede at Chennai’s Rajaji Hall, where the mortal remains of late Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president M. Karunanidhi has been kept for public to pay homage. The chaos at the location forced police to resort to lathicharge.

The incident came after the DMK working president MK Stalin alleged that the State government is trying to create chaos and appealed to masses to maintain peace and cooperate with the police to ensure that everyone gets to pay homage to ‘Kalaignar’.

“Those who are in power are trying to create chaos, but you have all shown the strength of the cadres. I appeal to everyone to maintain peace. Please clear the way, so that by 4 pm, procession can commence,” Stalin added.

The huge crowd at Rajaji Hall led to chaotic scenes after public breached barricades, entered the VIP area and even tried jumping the walls. DMK leaders, including Stalin appealed for peace. But ultimately, Karunanidhi’s body had to be moved inside, since the crowd just kept swelling.

kanwariyas vandalise car after it hits one of them in Delhi’s Moti Nagar

By
Tehelka Web Desk
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An outrageous incident took place on Tuesday evening when a group of ‘kanwariyas’ reportedly damaged a car in West Delhi’s Moti Nagar area after a car brushed one of them while driving.

The protestors attacked the vehicle with sticks, iron rods and later broke the windshield of the car and damaged it while turning it upside down after it allegedly brushed past them. The passengers who were inside the car managed to escape just in time.

The entire incident led to a massive traffic jam in that area.

However, no police complaint has been filed against Kanwariyas, said police.

Kanwar Yatra is an annual pilgrimage undertaken during the Shravan month.

Two Indian Businessman Brothers abducted in Malaysia rescued: Sushma Swaraj

By
Tehelka Web Desk
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Two Indian businessmen brothers from Maharashtra Thane district, who were kidnapped from Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia earlier in August have been rescued by the Malaysian police.

Rohan Prakash Vaidya and Kaustubh Prakash Vaidya, residents of Dombivli in the Thane district, own a fish export company called Rock Frozen Food and had gone to Malaysia for business purpose, where they were abducted on August 3.

According to the reports, one of the brothers called up home to inform the family that they had been kidnapped by unidentified men who were asking for Rs 1 crore as ransom.

After this, Family members sought help from Sushma Swaraj and also got in touch with the Indian Embassy in Malaysia.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted on Tuesday, “R.P.Vaidya and K.P.Vaidya who had gone to Malaysia for business purposes were abducted on 3rd Aug 2018. I am happy to inform that with the efforts of our High Commissioner Mridul Kumar and his team, Malaysian Police has secured release of both Indian nationals on 6th Aug 2018.”

ASI increases entry fee to Taj Mahal, other monuments

By
Tehelka Web Desk
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Domestic and foreign visitors to Taj Mahal will now have to pay an extra Rs 10, and Rs 100 respectively from Wednesday as ASI has revised the entry fee to the monument.

A foreign tourist will have to shell out Rs 1100, which includes Rs 500 toll tax collected by Agra Development Authority (ADA) and domestic tourists will have to shell out Rs 50, in place of Rs 40, which they were paying earlier.

Moreover, SAARC Countries visitors will have to pay Rs 540, including Rs 500 toll tax charged by ADA.

On the other hand, for B Category ASI protected ticketed monuments which includes, Akbar’s Tomb Sikandra, Mariyam Tomb Sikandra, Ram Bagh, Itmad-Ud-Daula, and Mehtab Bagh, the rates for Indians have increased from Rs 15 to Rs 25 and for foreigners from Rs 200 to Rs 300.  An additional discount for cashless payments has been added.

This is for the second time that the entry fee to Taj Mahal and other ASI protected monuments has increased in the last two and a half years.

In Agra, the A category monuments include Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri, and Agra Fort.

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