In a bizarre incident, a 32-year-old Gujarat resident chopped off four fingers of his left hand with a sharp knife to make himself unfit for his job as a computer operator at his relative's diamond firm, news agency PTI reported. According to the police, Mayur Tarapara had earlier told the cops that he had found his fingers missing after falling unconscious by the side of a road, though a probe into the chain of events revealed that the harm was self-inflicted. In a statement, the Surat Crime Branch said Tarapara took the step as he did not have courage to tell his kin that he no longer wanted work at the latter's firm, Anabh Gems, located in Varachha Mini Bazaar, PTI reported. The man worked as a computer operator in the accounts department at the firm and the loss of fingers would have made him unfit for the job, the statement read. According to PTI, Tarapara had told the Gujarat Police that he was on his way to a friend's house on December 8 on a motorcycle when he felt dizzy and passed out by the ring road near Vedanta Circle in Amroli. He claimed that when he regained consciousness after 10 minutes, he found four fingers of his left hand had been chopped off. It was then suspected that the fingers may have been cut and taken away for black magic, the police said. A case was registered at Amroli Police Station in Surat and the probe was transferred to the city's crime branch, which found Tarapara's involvement after going through the CCTV footage of the area and deploying technical surveillance as well as human intel. When the police confronted him, Tarapara confessed that he had bought a sharp knife from a shop near Char Rasta in Singanpore. "Four days later, on the night of December 8, he went to Amroli Ring Road and parked his motorcycle there. Around 10pm, he cut off four fingers with a knife and tied a rope near the elbow to prevent blood flow. He then put the knife and fingers in a bag and threw it away," an officer said. Later, his friends took him to the hospital, the police said. The cops have found three of the fingers from a bag, while the knife was found in another bag. Amroli Police are carrying out further probe, the officer informed. (With PTI inputs)
14 December,2024 06:12 PM IST | Surat | mid-day online correspondentDelhi Police have arrested a notorious robber wanted in connection with 13 cases in the national capital, news agency ANI reported. The operation, which took six months, involved tracking the 32-year-old accused across three states before he was nabbed from Gujarat, officers said on Saturday. Anuj alias Antu, a resident of Seelampur in Delhi, was involved in multiple street crimes and robberies in the trans-Yamuna area (East Delhi), and had been absconding despite various efforts by multiple police units and the initiation of legal processes against him, the police said. Anuj had been on the run since 2022 and was declared a proclaimed offender in five cases by various courts. He was also evading arrest in eight other cases, ANI reported. Due to the seriousness of the crimes, the task of apprehending him was assigned to a crime branch team of the Delhi Police. The team began by gathering information on his criminal activities, court dates, whereabouts, possible hideouts, and details about his family and friends. Over the course of six months, the team followed leads and tracked him through Delhi, Rajasthan, and finally pinpointed his location in Kutch, Gujarat, acting on a specific tip-off, ANI reported. Anuj was arrested from Kutch on Thursday, the police said. Throughout the investigation, the team used human intelligence and technical surveillance to monitor his movements across various states. During interrogation, Anuj revealed that he committed robberies by targeting passersby in dark streets or secluded areas, using a knife to steal their cash and belongings. After being arrested in some cases, he was released on bail. Following this, he fled Delhi and moved to Rajasthan, where he worked in a restaurant. On observing police interception, he relocated to Kutch. Anuj further disclosed that to avoid detection by investigating agencies, he limited his use of a mobile phone and would only call family members after travelling at least 100 km from his location, the police added. The police said he completed his education up to class 10. A skilled cook, Anuj had been working in a restaurant. However, he came in contact with some bad elements and became a drug addict, the police said. To fulfill his addiction, he began committing street robberies with an accomplice. Anuj is involved in a total of 25 cases of robbery, snatching, theft, and Arms Act violations in Delhi, the police stated. (With ANI inputs)
14 December,2024 05:48 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA day after two key suspects in the Kolkata rape-murder case were granted bail, the Left parties and the Congress took to the streets in the West Bengal capital on Saturday, holding protest rallies and accusing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) of having "failed" to deliver justice in the case. The parties also alleged that there was a "tacit understanding" between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Centre, news agency PTI reported. The Congress organised a procession from Rabindra Sadan to the CBI office at Nizam Palace in southern Kolkata, criticising the central probe agency for its alleged failure to frame charges against the two accused in the Kolkata rape-murder case. During the procession, Congress activists held party flags high and chanted slogans such as "We demand justice" and "Bichar chai Tilottoma (Tilottoma wants justice)". The police stopped the protesters from entering Nizam Palace, leading to a scuffle between the demonstrators and law enforcement officers, PTI reported. Hundreds of locals also joined a rally organised by the West Bengal Junior Doctors' Front (WBJDF), which marched from Karunamayee to another CBI office at CGO Complex in Salt Lake, covering a distance of one kilometre. The junior doctors' forum organised the march to protest the "delay in framing charges by the CBI" against all the "conspirators" involved in the Kolkata rape-murder case. The parents of the victim were also present at the rally. On August 9, the body of a 31-year-old postgraduate trainee doctor was found in the seminar hall of RG Kar Hospital, where she had been practising. After it emerged that the young trainee had been brutally raped and murdered, doctors across the country began protesting, demanding justice for the victim and better security for the medical fraternity. "We will fight for justice and it is our right," the victim's mother said. Protesters carried placards reading: "If the system has failed, we will make it function to deliver justice." In a separate rally, activists from the Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) marched from Karunamoyee to the CGO Complex in Salt Lake, while another rally was organised by the Students' Federation of India (SFI) in the College Street area, north of the city. The Sealdah court in Kolkata had granted bail on Friday to two key suspects in the case: Sandip Ghosh — the former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital — and Abhijit Mondal, the former officer-in-charge of Tala Police Station. The two were granted bail after CBI "failed" to file a charge sheet against them within the mandatory 90-day period. (With PTI inputs)
14 December,2024 05:02 PM IST | Kolkata | mid-day online correspondentA Jeddah-bound IndiGo plane was diverted to the Karachi airport on Saturday due to a medical emergency on board and later flew back to Delhi. Sources in the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in Pakistan said the aircraft was in the Pakistani airspace when a male passenger fell seriously ill, following which the plane made an emergency landing at the Jinnah International Airport in Karachi. "There was a medical emergency on board IndiGo flight 6E 63, operating from Delhi to Jeddah," the airline said in a statement. IndiGo said the captain diverted the flight to Karachi, where a doctor attended to the passenger upon arrival. "After completing the necessary formalities, the flight departed Karachi and returned to its origin to provide further assistance to the medical passenger," the airline said, adding, after the passenger was deboarded in Delhi, the flight departed for Jeddah. According to Geo News, the passenger was a 55-year-old Indian man. Sources in the CAA said the flight's pilot contacted the air traffic control at the Karachi airport after the passenger did not get better even after he was given oxygen. The air traffic control allowed the aircraft to land in Karachi on humanitarian grounds. 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
14 December,2024 04:49 PM IST | New Delhi | ANIIndia's headline Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation is projected to settle around 4.7-4.8 per cent for FY25, driven by a favourable statistical base, easing food inflation, and stable global commodity prices, according to Bank of Baroda (BoB) report, reported news agency ANI. The arrival of fresh harvests of tomatoes, onions, and potatoes has been reflected in higher mandi arrivals, easing supply pressures. December data indicates further corrections in vegetable prices, while favourable soil moisture and reservoir levels are expected to support a robust Rabi harvest. Additionally, benign global food and energy prices are expected to keep food inflation risks low in the near term, reported news agency ANI. BoB's Economic Conditions Index (ECI) shows minimal sequential price growth in December, at 0.1 per cent compared to 0.4 per cent in November. The report suggests that these favourable inflation trends may guide the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) towards a more accommodative monetary policy stance in the coming months, as demand-side pressures remain contained, reported news agency ANI. The report highlights that November 2024 CPI inflation moderated to 5.5 per cent, down from 6.2 per cent in October 2024, aided by broad-based declines in food prices. Notably, vegetable inflation dropped sharply to 29.3 per cent in November, compared to 42.2 per cent in October. Key staples like pulses, fruits, and cereals also saw price relief, attributed to a good Kharif harvest and seasonal factors, reported news agency ANI. Core inflation (excluding food and fuel) held steady at 3.7 per cent in November 2024, with most demand-driven subcomponents showing subdued momentum. While there was a slight uptick in household goods and services during the festive season, categories like clothing and footwear remained stable. A dip in gold prices contributed to easing personal care inflation, reported news agency ANI. On a month-on-month basis, headline CPI inflation declined for the first time since January 2024, with food inflation entering deflation territory at -0.6 per cent in November, compared to a 2.6 per cent rise in October. The report noted corrections in key segments like vegetables, oils, and fruits. (With inputs from ANI)
14 December,2024 01:50 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentThe Delhi Police Special Cell has identified a private school student responsible for sending a bomb threat email to a school in Paschim Vihar, police said, reported news agency ANI. According to police, the student had sent the threat email to his own school, and after tracing the IP address, the police team traced his home. Upon questioning, the child admitted to the act and was later counselled. He was let off with a warning to his parents to keep a watch on his behaviour, reported ANI. According to the Special Cell, this individual is not connected to the group bomb threat emails sent to many schools in Delhi on Friday. Earlier today, several schools in Delhi, received bomb threat emails. "Today again Delhi Schools including DPS RK Puram, Ryan International School, Vasant Kunj received a bomb threat email," Delhi Police said, reported ANI. According to the police a group mail was received by the schools at 6:12 am today. "A Group mail received by the school at 6:12 am today morning, by the name of Barry Allah, from [email protected]," police added. After getting a bomb threat email schools informed the Delhi Police. After receiving information Delhi Police, a bomb detection team and fire officials reached the spot but nothing suspicious was found yet, officials said, reported ANI. The bomb threat email received by the schools said, "Allah sees your efforts to resist his punishment. But they are futile. For no mortal being can escape the judgement of Allah. The Prophet Mohammed declares all who go against Allah enemies to the world. We see your attempt to stop us. It will not work. The Prophet Mohammed has allowed the children to burn in the sacred flame of Allah," reported ANI. "On Saturday where students may not be there in your buildings, is when the buildings shall be brought down. Our bomb vests are blessed by the Prophet Muhammad. They shall not fail in their goal. Our children are brave servants of Allah. They shall complete their task," said the mail. On Friday, South East Delhi Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Ravi Kumar Singh said that as many as 30 schools across Delhi received hoax bomb threat emails. The DCP said that the investigation into the fake threats revealed that the e-mails sent to the schools had been generated outside the country. Upon receiving the information, schools were evacuated and the Bomb Disposal Squad carried out checks at the locations. The threatening emails raised concerns among parents and staff, though the police assured that investigations are ongoing and safety remains their priority. No explosives or hazardous materials have been found in any of the schools so far. This is not the first instance of such threats disrupting schools in the national capital, underlining the need for robust security protocols. The schools that received the threats on Friday, included the Bhatnagar Public School in Paschim Vihar, Cambridge School in Srinivaspuri, Delhi Public School in East of Kailash, and Delhi Public School in Defence Colony. Earlier, over 40 schools in the national capital received bomb threats via e-mail demanding a ransom of USD 30,000. This email came on December 8 at around 11:38 pm. Former Delhi Chief Minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Friday voiced serious concerns about recurring bomb threats targeting schools in the national capital. Kejriwal questioned the potential psychological and academic impact on children, saying such incidents could disrupt their studies and well-being if they continue unabated. Earlier on November 19, the Delhi High Court instructed the Delhi Government and Delhi Police to develop a comprehensive action plan, including a detailed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to address bomb threats and related emergencies. The court set a deadline of eight weeks for the completion of these directives. (With inputs from ANI)
14 December,2024 01:29 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentThe minimum temperature settled a notch below normal at 8 degrees Celsius in Delhi on Saturday, the Met office said. On Thursday, the city had recorded the lowest temperature of this winter season as the minimum temperature dipped to 4.5 degrees Celsius. The Met office has forecast mainly clear skies during the day, with the maximum temperature expected to settle at 23 degrees Celsius. At 8:30 am, the humidity was at 69 per cent. The national capital's Air Quality Index (AQI) remained in the 'poor' category with a reading of 204 at 9 am. An AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'. In Delhi's Alipur, Anand Vihar, Bawana and Chandni Chowk, the AQI was recorded at 205,249, 278 and 168, respectively. In Dwarka Sec 8 AQI was recorded at 212, Nehru Nagar at 247, IGI Airport (T3) at 247, Rohini at 253, Pusa at 242 and Mundka at 264. On Wednesday, Delhi recorded its coldest December morning, with minimum temperatures plunging to 4.9 degrees Celsius, while the maximum temperature reached 23 degrees Celsius, according to the IMD. The IMD attributed the sudden temperature drop to a western disturbance and predicted that minimum temperatures would stabilise around 8-9 degrees Celsius over the next five to seven days. (With inputs from Agencies)
14 December,2024 01:03 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentVeteran BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani has been admitted to Apollo Hospital in New Delhi. His condition is said to be "stable," and he is being kept under observation, reported news agency PTI. He has been admitted under Dr Vinit Suri, a senior consultant in the neurology department, reported PTI. The 96-year-old former deputy prime minister was brought to the hospital about two days ago. Veteran BJP leader LK Advani had been admitted to the same hospital earlier this year. The reason for this latest hospitalisation could not be immediately known. In July this year, Veteran BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani was admitted to the Apollo Hospital. This came days after the 96-year-old former deputy prime minister was discharged from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) after a night-long stay there. He was recently conferred with Bharat Ratna by President Draupadi Murmu on March 30, 2024. Born in Karachi (present-day Pakistan) on November 8, 1927, Advani joined the RSS as a Swayamsevak in 1942. He served as the BJP National President from 1986 to 1990, then from 1993 to 1998, and from 2004 to 2005. Advani had served as the President of the party for the longest period since its inception in 1980. Capping a parliamentary career of nearly three decades, LK Advani was first the Home Minister and, later, the Deputy Prime Minister in the cabinet of Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1999-2004). In the run-up to the 2009 elections, Advani being the Leader of the Opposition in a parliamentary democracy was assumingly considered the BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate for the general elections, ending on 16 May 2009, according to the official website of BJP. On 10 December 2007, the Parliamentary Board of BJP formally announced Advani as its prime ministerial candidate for the general elections due in 2009. But when Congress and its allies won the 2009 general elections, Advani paved the way for Sushma Swaraj to become the Leader of the Opposition in the 15th Lok Sabha. (With inputs from PTI)
14 December,2024 12:47 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentA 10-year-old boy died after reportedly being bitten by a rat on one of his toes while receiving cancer treatment at a government hospital in Jaipur, an official said on Saturday, PTI reported. While the State Cancer Institute, where the boy was admitted on December 11, claimed that the death was caused by "septicaemia shock and high infection" and not a rat bite, the Rajasthan government has launched a committee to investigate the matter. As per PTI, the hospital superintendent Dr Sandeep Jasuja said, "The child also had fever and pneumonia. He died due to high infection septicaemia shock on Friday". Medical education secretary Ambrish Kumar has requested a report from the principal of Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Medical College, which is affiliated with the State Cancer Institute, PTI sources said. According to a news report published in a vernacular daily, the infant began crying soon after being admitted. When his family members lifted the blanket he was laying under, they saw blood flowing from one of his toes as a result of a rat bite, PTI cited. The family members notified the nursing staff present, who bandaged the leg after applying first aid. Jasuja stated that they treated the child as soon as they learnt about the rat bite. He stated that directions have been sent to guarantee cleanliness on the hospital premises, PTI cited. Mumbai: Following mid-day report, Aarey Hospital’s renovation begins Following a mid-day report highlighting the poor condition of Aarey Hospital, which is managed by the Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development Department, renovation work commenced with an estimated budget of Rs 1.10 crore. An official from the department, speaking anonymously, said, "We have started the repair work at Aarey Hospital. The project includes plastering the internal and external walls, installing doors and windows with safety grills and renovating the flooring. Also, upgrades will be made to the toilet block, stormwater drainage system and water supply pipeline, along with terrace waterproofing. We aim to complete the work within the next three to four months." On October 18, mid-day in a report, ‘Aarey dairy punished, asked to submit a plan for improving hospital’, highlighted how there was only one doctor for a population of one lakh within Aarey Milk Colony. On October 21, the commission issued directives to the department to deposit Rs 50,000 in the chief minister's relief fund within four weeks for failing to submit its plans for improving health services and facilities at Aarey Hospital. The directives were issued while hearing a case pertaining to a 2022 mid-day report which shed light on the dire state of Aarey Hospital. The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) had taken a suo motu cognisance of the 2022 report and sought details from the department to improve services at the health facility. (With inputs from PTI)
14 December,2024 12:46 PM IST | Jaipur | mid-day online correspondentIn a joint operation by the Delhi Police Special Cell and the Special Task Force (STF), Sonu Matka, a wanted criminal who was involved in a double murder case, was killed during an encounter at TP Nagar Police Station in Meerut, ANI reported. As per ANI, Matka, who took a bounty of Rs 50,000, was a legendary gunman for the Hashim Baba gang and faced numerous criminal charges. According to Delhi Police, Matka was a "notorious shooter of Hashim Baba Gang", well-known for its criminal activities across Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. He was allegedly involved in at least half a dozen cases, which included robbery and murder in both regions. The encounter occurred near Meerut's TP Nagar Police Station, and Matka was injured during the gunfire exchange. The operation resulted in the recovery of one handgun 30 bore, one pistol 32 bore, ten live cartridges, and four motorcycles. According to the Delhi Police, he later died while being treated, ANI reported. Earlier this week on December 12, Delhi Police arrested two minors in connection to the murder of a person in Maujpur in Delhi. The victim was found injured near Puja Modal School in Ghonda, Maujpur, Delhi, on December 11, 2024, according to the police. According to the police, a PCR call was received at 2:30 a.m. on Wednesday, and upon arrival, the victim was discovered to have been transported to the hospital by a PCR van, where he was pronounced dead. The police filed a case under Section 103(1) BNS and began an investigation, ANI reported. During the course of the investigation a police team led by Inspector. Surender Kumar, SHO/PS Jafarabad was appointed under the supervision of ACP Bhajanpura. The team set up technical surveillance and scanned and analysed CCTV footage from cameras put nearby. The team also obtained intelligence from locally deployed sources. Based on the information gathered, the team identified two suspects. The team carried out repeated raids and apprehended two children in conflict with the Law (CCLs) who were involved in the crime, ANI reported. (With ANI inputs)
14 December,2024 12:09 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentMaharashtra Assembly Leader of Opposition Vijay Wadettiwar responded to reports about Nana Patole's potential resignation as the State Congress chief and said that he was unaware of the development, reported news agency ANI. Vijay Wadettiwar emphasized that the party's senior leadership is credited for both victories and defeats. He suggested that electoral setbacks might have influenced Patole's reported decision, adding that the final decision on such matters rests with the Congress's high command in Delhi. Speaking to ANI, Wadettiwar said, "I am not aware of this. Senior leadership gets the credit for wins and losses both. Everyone in the Parliament gives him the credit for the loss (in the Maharashtra Assembly election). Maybe that's why he resigned. The High command in Delhi will decide on this." Reportedly, Maharashtra Congress president, Nana Patole, wrote to party leader Mallikarjun Kharge, seeking to be relieved of his position, reported ANI. Nana Patole managed to retain his Sakoli assembly seat in the Bhandara district, though his victory was secured with a slim margin of just 208 votes. Earlier last week, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) leaders held a meeting in Mumbai following the alliance setback in the recent Maharashtra Assembly Election 2024. In November, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said the Congress Working Committee (CWC) reviewed the party's performance in the last assembly elections and decided to form internal committees at the block and district levels to address "electoral performance and organisational issues," reported ANI. In the Maharashtra Assembly Election Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Mahayuti alliance secured a landslide by winning 235 seats. The results marked a significant milestone for the BJP, which emerged as the single-largest party with 132 seats. The Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party made notable gains, with 57 and 41 seats, respectively. The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) suffered a major setback with Congress winning just 16 seats. Its alliance partner, Shiv Sena (UBT), won 20 seats, while the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) secured only 10 seats. (With inputs from ANI)
14 December,2024 12:01 PM IST | Nagpur | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
