The Railway Protection Force (RPF) has nabbed 586 Bangladeshis 318 and Rohingyas to prevent illegal migration since 2021, the officials said on Sunday. An official statement said, the RPF has been collaborating with Border Security Force (BSF), local police, and intelligence units to secure railway networks against illegal infiltration. The Railway Protection Force has successfully apprehended 916 individuals, including 586 Bangladeshi nationals and 318 Rohingya since 2021, showing their commitment to safeguard the nation, it said. In June and July 2024, RPF apprehended 88 Bangladeshi and Rohingya migrants in areas under the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR). Some of these individuals confessed to entering India illegally and were intercepted while traveling by train to destinations such as Kolkata, it further said. "In October 2024, reports highlighted that despite increased security measures along the Bangladesh border, illegal migrants continue to infiltrate India, using Assam as a transit route and railways as their preferred mode of travel to reach other parts of the country. These incidents underscore the challenges faced by Indian authorities in monitoring and securing railway networks against illegal infiltration. The use of railways by infiltrators not only facilitates their movement across states but also complicates efforts to detect and prevent unauthorised entry into the country," the statement said. For considering the above issue, the RPF has intensified its efforts by collaborating with key security agencies such as the Border Security Force (BSF), local police, and intelligence units. This inter-agency approach has significantly enhanced operational efficiency, enabling swift identification and detention of individuals involved in illegal migration, it said. The statement said that despite its significant contributions, the RPF is not directly empowered to prosecute apprehended individuals. Instead, detained persons are handed over to police and other authorised agencies for further legal proceedings. In the light of recent political turmoil going on in the neighboring countries such as Bangladesh and Myanmar and geopolitical developments and socio-religious factors in these regions have led to an influx of individuals seeking refuge, employment, and shelter deep within India's hinterlands. It remains a significant concern for national security. While precise statistics on the number of infiltrators using railways are limited, recent reports indicate that illegal migrants often utilize railway networks to transit through regions like Assam and Tripura en route to other parts of India, the statement said. The RPF has risen to the challenge of addressing this critical issue, playing a pivotal role in identifying and apprehending illegal migrants attempting to penetrate India's borders. These individuals are not only a matter of national security concern but are also highly vulnerable to exploitation, including human trafficking for bonded labor, domestic help, prostitution, and even organ harvesting, it said.
19 January,2025 08:36 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA big fire broke out at the Maha Kumbh Mela on Sunday due to a cylinder blast, engulfing 18 tents in Sector 19, officials said. There was no immediate news of any casualty. "Two LPG cylinders exploded in Sector 19 of the Maha Kumbh Mela, causing a big fire in the camps. Fire fighters are trying to douse the blaze," Akhara Police Station In-charge Bhaskar Mishra said. Kumbh Mela Chief Fire Officer Pramod Sharma said that fire has engulfed 18 tents and 15 fire tenders are on the spot to contain the blaze. The Maha Kumbh 2025 official X handle posted, "Very sad! The fire incident at #MahaKumbh has shocked everyone. The administration is ensuring immediate relief and rescue operations. We pray Maa Ganga for everyone's safety." It also shared a clip that showed a thick black column of smoke billowing out from the affected area. The 45-day Maha Kumbh 2025 started on Paush Purnima on January 13. More than 7.72 crore people have taken the holy dip, according to official figures available till Saturday. Officials said that more than 46.95 lakh devotees did the 'snan' (holy dip) on Sunday. 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
19 January,2025 05:49 PM IST | Prayagraj | PTIMaharashtra NCP (SP) president Jayant Patil on Sunday said that Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar may have preferred to take up the guardian ministership of Beed district considering the prevailing situation in the aftermath of a sarpanch's murder, reported news agency PTI. Ministers in Maharashtra are given responsibility for one or more districts. As per a list released by the state government, Pawar has been allotted Beed district in addition to Pune, his home district, reported PTI. Talking to reporters here, Patil said there was no point in criticising the appointment of guardian ministers, and people now have to see how they perform. He said the situation in Beed is complicated, so Ajit Pawar may have preferred to go there. Minister Dhananjay Munde, MLA from Parali in Beed, was the guardian minister of this central Maharashtra district in the previous government. But he has been in the eye of the storm over the brutal murder of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh in the district. Walmik Karad, Munde's associate, has been arrested in connection with the case, reported PTI. Ajit Pawar, who heads the NCP, had refused to ask Munde to resign over the controversy amid criticism from the Opposition and local BJP leaders, reported PTI. When asked about Minister Chandrakant Patil being allotted Sangli district, the NCP (SP) leader said, "Let's hope he takes everyone along for the development of the district," reported PTI. He further claimed that there was no law and order in the state, given the developments in the past one and half months, and the police have failed to show their strength, reported PTI. There is no fear of the law, and the police appear to be taking sides, Patil alleged. On reports of Malshiras NCP (SP) MLA Uttam Jankar's plans to resign on January 23 and submit his resignation to the Election Commission in Delhi, Patil said he might have taken the step to put pressure on the poll body to conduct elections on the ballot paper, reported PTI. Markadwadi village in the Malshiras constituency had demanded the use of ballot papers in polls. (With inputs from PTI)
19 January,2025 01:05 PM IST | Solapur | mid-day online correspondentThree men were mowed down by a state transport bus in Maharashtra's Beed district in the early hours of Sunday, police said, reported news agency PTI. The accident occurred around 6 am when a group of youngsters were training for police recruitment near Ghodka Rajuri village in Beed taluka, an official said, reported PTI. He said the bus belonging to the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) was heading towards Parbhani from Beed when it mowed down the three men training on the roadside, reported PTI. Two others in the group managed to escape unhurt, he said. The deceased, Subodh More (20), Virat Ghodke (19) and Om Ghodke (20), were residents of Ghodka Rajuri village, the official said, reported PTI. The trio died on the spot, and their bodies were taken to the district hospital in Beed for further formalities, he said, adding that the bus driver was apprehended and a case was being registered against him, reported PTI. Following the accident, angry villagers vandalised the state transport bus and demanded jobs for family members of the deceased men in the state transport department, the official said. Nine killed, 8 injured in collision between tempo, minivan and stationary bus on Pune-Nashik Highway At least nine people were killed, including a five-year-old child, and eight others were injured after a tempo collided with their minivan, forcing it to ram into a stationary bus on the Pune-Nashik Highway on Friday, a police official said, reported PTI. The incident took place near Narayangaon at 9:30 am, he added. The tempo struck the minivan from behind, causing it to ram into an empty ST bus parked on the side of the road, the official said. "The impact of the collision was so severe that nine persons died on the spot," said Pankaj Deshmukh, Superintendent of Police, Pune Rural. Police identified the deceased as Debubai Takalkar (65), driver Vinod Rokade (50), Yuvraj Wavhal (23), Chandrakant Gunjal (50), Geeta Gaware (45), Bhau Bade (65), Najma Hanif Shaikh (35), Vashifa Inamdar (5), and Manisha Pacharne (56), reported PTI. "Eight others sustained minor to moderate injuries and are undergoing treatment. Following the crash, the tempo driver fled the scene. We have registered a case against the unidentified driver of the tempo and bus driver Bhausaheb Jaybhay under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Motor Vehicles Act," a Narayangaon police station official said. The ST bus driver has been booked since he had parked the vehicle in a dangerous manner, the official said. Efforts are on to nab the driver of the tempo, the official added. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis called the incident unfortunate and announced compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the kin of the deceased. Vikram Bhor, sarpanch of Junnar tehsil's Kandali village, from where five of the deceased hailed, said everyone was shocked after hearing about the accident. "Minivan driver Vinod Rokade used to operate the vehicle locally. Bhau Bade was going to Narayangaon to buy medicines. Deceased Manisha Pacharne was a Zilla Parishad school teacher. Yuvraj Wavhal, a 23-year-old youth from a neighbouring village, was preparing for civil services exams," Bhor said, reported PTI. The distance between Kandali and Narayagaon is 10 kilometres and people use such private vehicles on the route. (With inputs from PTI)
19 January,2025 12:39 PM IST | Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar | mid-day online correspondentThe Centre will hold a meeting with Punjab's protesting farmers on February 14 in Chandigarh to discuss their demands, thus ending a stalemate over the resumption of a dialogue with the agitators, who have been demanding a legal guarantee on the MSP for crops. Following the announcement of the proposed meeting, farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, whose fast-unto-death entered the 54th day on Saturday, agreed to take medical aid. However, he will not end his indefinite fast till a legal guarantee on the minimum support price (MSP) for crops is given, said farmer leader Sukhjit Singh Hardojhande. Later, pictures showing Dallewal taking medical aid with an intravenous drip were released by the farmers. The breakthrough came after a delegation of officials from the Union agriculture ministry, led by Joint Secretary Priya Ranjan, met Dallewal and held a meeting with the representatives of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM), which are spearheading the agitation for the last 11 months. Following the announcement of the meeting on February 14, farmer leaders appealed to Dallewal to take medical aid so that he can participate in the proposed deliberations. The Centre's delegation also urged Dallewal to take medical aid so that he can participate in the proposed meeting, which will take place at the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration at Chandigarh at 5 pm on February 14. Talking to reporters at the Khanauri protest site, Ranjan said a high-level delegation was sent by the Centre, keeping in mind the deteriorating health of Dallewal. "We enquired about his health and held a meeting with the representatives (of the protesting farmer bodies)," he said. Ranjan said the meeting will be held in Chandigarh on February 14. "We urged him (Dallewal) to break his fast and take medical aid, so that he can participate in the meeting," he said. A letter addressed to Dallewal, SKM (Non-Political) and KMM read: "This is in continuation of the previous meeting with the leaders of SKM (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM), which was held on February 15, 2024 at Chandigarh. "A meeting with the ministers of the government of India and the Punjab government regarding the demands of the farmers' unions has been convened on February 14, 2025 (5 pm) at the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration Punjab (MGSIPA), Sector-26, Chandigarh. You are cordially invited to the meeting, please attend at the scheduled time. We hope that Dallewal will soon end his fast, recover and join the discussion," said the letter written by Ranjan. Four rounds of meetings had taken place between Union ministers and the protesting farmers on February 8, 12, 15 and 18 last year, but the talks remained inconclusive. Earlier in the day, the farmers protesting at the Khanauri and Shambhu border points between Punjab and Haryana said they have received a proposal from the central government which they will discuss. The Centre's delegation held meetings with the representatives of both the forums. A Punjab government team led by retired additional director general of police Jaskaran Singh and former deputy inspector general of police Narinder Bhargav, who were holding discussions with the farmer leaders, was also present. According to farmer leader Abhimanyu Kohar, officials have said February 14 has been fixed for the meeting as Assembly polls are due in Delhi and the Model Code of Conduct will be in force in the capital till February 9. When the Model Code of Conduct is in force, no government can make any announcement, Kohar said. Sharing details about Dallewal's health, Kohar said the farmer leader was unable to take water and had been vomiting. Doctors have warned that anything could happen to Dallewal, he added. Before agreeing to take medical aid, Dallewal had asked the farmer leaders to take consent from the 121 farmers who were also on an indefinite fast. A few days ago, a group of 111 farmers and later, 10 more farmers sat on a fast-unto-death in solidarity with Dallewal. Dallewal, who is the convenor of the SKM (Non-Political), has been on the indefinite hunger strike at the Khanauri border point since November 26 last year in support of various demands, including a legal guarantee on the MSP for crops. Farmers had said Dallewal had not eaten anything since November 26 last year and was just surviving on water. Farmer leaders on Thursday said Dallewal has lost about 20-kg weight during his fast-unto-death. The weight of Dallewal has reduced to 66.4 kg now from 86.9 kg, when he began the indefinite fast. Farmers, under the banner of the SKM (Non-Political) and KMM, have been camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points since February 13 last year, after security forces did not allow them to march to Delhi to press for their various demands, including a legal guarantee on the MSP for their crops. 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
19 January,2025 10:55 AM IST | Chandigarh | PTIThe third edition of the annual Kashi-Tamil Sangamam, an initiative by the Ministry of Education, will take place next month with participation from emerging entrepreneurs, education and technology sector representatives, and others. IIT Madras Director, Professor V Kamakoti on Saturday announced that this edition will see increased women's participation due to high demand. “We've already received 20,000 registrations, from which 1,200 will be selected after multiple rounds of scrutiny, including their performance in a quiz competition and their knowledge of Kashi. This time, we aim to offer opportunities to people from startups, innovation sectors, school students, and research scholars. We are also encouraging more women to take part,” he said during the curtain-raiser event at the IIT Madras Research Park. Previously held in October-November, the event has now been rescheduled to February, coinciding with the ongoing Maha Kumbh festival in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. The devotional trip will run from February 15 to 24, culminating in a return to Chennai. “Participants will have the chance to stay in Prayagraj for one night, offering prayers and participating in the Shahi Snan or holy dip in the Ganga River as part of the Maha Kumbh Mela,” Kamakoti added. This year's theme will focus on highlighting the contributions of Sage Agasthiyar to the Siddha System of Medicine, Classical Tamil literature, and national cultural unity. An exhibition will showcase various aspects of Agasthiyar's influence on health, philosophy, science, linguistics, and literature. Participants will also visit sites such as the ancestral home of poet Subramania Bharati, Kedar Ghat, and Kasi Mandapam. 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
19 January,2025 07:52 AM IST | Chennai | AgenciesAlleging that the caste survey conducted by the Nitish Kumar government in Bihar was an exercise to befool the people, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said his party will stick to its demand for caste census as such an initiative is essential to plan development work in the country. Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in LS, also accused the BJP and the RSS of “undermining the Constitution and neglecting marginalised communities” in the country. He also alleged that RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s “true independence” remark was “against the country’s Constitution”. Addressing “Samvidhan Suraksha Sammelan” at Bapu Sabhagar here, Gandhi said, “Dalits, minorities and socially marginalised people comprise 90 per cent population of this country but they are not part of the system. This is the reason that we have been demanding caste census.” 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
19 January,2025 07:51 AM IST | Patna | AgenciesA Kolkata court on Saturday found Sanjay Roy guilty of raping and murdering an on-duty doctor at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, a heinous crime that ignited nationwide outrage and led to prolonged protests. The Sealdah court, where Roy’s trial was held, will announce his sentence on Monday, Additional District and Sessions Judge Anirban Das said. The verdict was delivered nearly two months after the in-camera trial began in November 2024, and 162 days after the brutal crime on August 9, 2024. Roy, arrested a day after the crime, was found guilty under Sections 64 (rape), 66 (punishment for causing death), and 103(1) (murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Section 103(1) carries a possible punishment of death or life imprisonment. The judge stated that Roy was found guilty of sexually assaulting the doctor and strangling her to death, and that the CBI had proven all the charges against him. Das noted that Roy had entered the hospital around 4 am and attacked the on-duty doctor while she was asleep in the seminar room of the hospital. “You sexually assaulted the doctor. You throttled her and covered her face and she ultimately died owing to the attack,” he said. “On the basis of these allegations, charges were framed against you under Sections 64, 66 and 103(1) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). On the basis of the statements of the witnesses and the documents produced in this matter, your guilt has been proved and you are being pronounced guilty,” the judge said. 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
19 January,2025 07:50 AM IST | Kolkata | AgenciesThe AAP on Saturday alleged that party chief Arvind Kejriwal’s car was attacked by BJP supporters during campaigning in the New Delhi constituency. “Supporters of BJP’s New Delhi candidate Parvesh Verma attacked Kejriwal during campaigning in the constituency,” an AAP leader said. Denying the AAP’s charges, the BJP claimed that some party workers were attacked by AAP volunteers. Verma was heading to Lady Hardinge hospital to meet injured party workers, BJP leaders said. Later, in a post on X, BJP’s Verma alleged that Kejriwal’s vehicle hit two youths. “Arvind Kejriwal hit two youths with his vehicle. Both were taken to Lady Hardinge hospital. Seeing imminent defeat, (he) forgot the price of human lives,” Verma said in the post. Police said that no one pelted stones at the Kejriwal’s car but some people were trying to show black flags to the former chief minister, who were immediately removed from the spot. In a purported video of the incident, Kejriwal can be seen sitting in a vehicle with police personnel clearing the route for it. A man waving a black piece of cloth and a stone hurled towards the vehicle were also seen in the video clip. Soft Hindutva takes centre stage The Delhi election campaign is tinged with saffron as a jostle is on between the ruling AAP and the Opposition BJP to become biggest benefactors of the priests and the like. So far in the run-up to the February 5 election, AAP has been seen to be coasting along a religious course. AAP recently announced a monthly honorarium of R18,000 to temple priests and the granthis of gurdwaras under a "Pujari Granthi Samman Yojna", to be implemented if the party returns to power in Delhi. 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
19 January,2025 07:49 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesCongress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday criticised the caste survey conducted by the Nitish Kumar government in Bihar, calling it an "exercise to befool the people". He reiterated his party's commitment to a nationwide caste census, emphasising its importance for planning development initiatives in the country, news agency PTI reported. He also stated that the political fight in the country is between "those who want to save the Constitution and ones who are spreading hatred." Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of "undermining the Constitution and neglecting marginalised communities", PTI reported. Referring to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's recent remarks on "true independence," he said the statement was "against the country's Constitution." Addressing the 'Samvidhan Suraksha Sammelan' at Bapu Sabhagar in Patna, Rahul Gandhi said, "Dalits, minorities, and socially marginalised people comprise 90 per cent of the population of this country, but they are not part of the system. This is the reason that we have been demanding a caste census." He added, "I have categorically told leaders in Parliament, in front of Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji, that our party will get this passed at any cost." According to PTI, Gandhi argued that a caste census is vital to determine the extent of participation of OBCs (Other Backward Classes), Dalits, and workers in the bureaucracy and other sectors. "The aim of the caste census is not just to know the count of various castes but to assess their participation in the country's wealth as well. We don't want a caste survey like the one conducted by the Bihar government. That exercise was just to befool people," he alleged. He also criticised the 50 per cent cap on reservations for SCs (Scheduled Castes), STs (Scheduled Tribes), and OBCs, claiming, "The current cap is not enough. We will increase it for the benefit of the majority of the people. A few select organisations, including the RSS and its people, along with industrial houses, are running the country." Highlighting the significance of the Constitution, Gandhi said, "The country's Constitution is not just a book; it talks about the atrocities and difficulties faced by Dalits." On Bhagwat's 'true independence' remark, he alleged, "His remark about India's true independence after the Ram temple consecration is against the Constitution. The BJP and the RSS are undermining the Constitution and neglecting marginalised communities." (With PTI inputs)
18 January,2025 05:34 PM IST | Patna | mid-day online correspondentThe Sealdah Civil and Criminal Court in West Bengal on Saturday found Sanjay Roy guilty in the Kolkata rape-murder case, news agency ANI reported. On August 9, 2024, a trainee doctor was found dead in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. The verdict was delivered by Justice Anirban Das. The quantum of punishment will be announced by the court on Monday. The court stated that Sections 64 (rape), 66 (punishment for causing death or resulting in persistent vegetative state of victim), and 103/1 (murder) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) had been framed against the accused. "There is a complaint against the accused that he went to RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, entered the seminar room, assaulted and murdered the lady doctor who was resting there," the court said. Roy pleaded with the judge, asserting that he had been falsely implicated in the case, ANI reported. "I have not done this. Those who have done this are being let go. I have been falsely implicated," he told the court. "I always wear a rudraksha chain around my neck. If I had committed the crime, my chain would have been broken at the place of occurrence. I cannot commit this crime," accused Roy added. However, Justice Das replied that the accused would be heard again on Monday. "You will be heard on Monday. Now, I am sending you to judicial custody. Your punishment will be announced on Monday. I have fixed the time at 12:30 to hear. The punishment will then be announced," he said. The Kolkata rape-murder case had sparked widespread protests. Following the incident, Roy, a civic volunteer at the hospital, was arrested in connection with the crime. In November, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a charge sheet concerning financial irregularities at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The charge sheet named Sandip Ghosh and others, including Dr Ashish Kumar Pandey, Biplab Singha, Suman Hazra, and Afsar Ali Khan, for alleged their involvement in financial misconduct. This investigation was initiated following an order by the Calcutta High Court. In addition to the corruption case, Ghosh was questioned over the murder, too. As part of the investigation, the CBI conducted polygraph tests on him. A delay in filing the charge sheet resulted in bail being granted to the accused, including Abhijit Mondal and Ghosh. Earlier on Saturday, the father of the victim remarked that whatever punishment is deemed appropriate will be decided by the court. Speaking to ANI, he asserted that they would continue to seek justice through the court. "Not just one, but the DNA report shows the presence of four boys and one girl. We will feel some relief when the accused are punished. Until we get justice, we will keep knocking on the doors of the court and will also seek the support of the people of the country," the father said. He also alleged that CBI had done nothing in the matter. "The CBI has done nothing in this matter. There is no question of satisfaction here. We have raised several questions before the High Court and the Supreme Court. We have sought answers from the court itself. We did not seek answers from the CBI, but the court assigned all responsibility to the CBI," he said. (With ANI inputs)
18 January,2025 04:01 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
