News Analysis India

Tag: Bihar

  • Bihar: 40-year-old man marries minor girl after mother defaults on loan

    Express News Service

    PATNA: Police on Sunday arrested a 40-year-old man for marrying a minor girl and keeping her in his house as a second wife after the girl’s mother allegedly failed to repay a loan to the tune of Rs 2 lakh.

    The accused Mahendra Pandey, a resident of Laxmipur village under Mairwa police station in Siwan district, has been booked under the relevant section of the Child Marriage Act and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.

    The girl’s parents had reportedly taken Rs 2 lakh as a loan from Pandey. The family was unable to repay the loan.

    “The family succumbed to Pandey’s pressure and sent the girl with him in lieu of loan,” local residents said.

    Pandey was produced before the chief judicial magistrate, who remanded him in judicial custody for 14 days. 

    The victim has been sent for medical examination as she was staying with Pandey for the last three months.

    Station house officer (SHO) of Mairwa police station Ujjawal Kumar said the statement of the girl would be recorded under section 164 of CrPC. 

    “We have sent the girl to sadar hospital hospital in Siwan for medical examination,” he told The New Indian Express over phone.

    Police acted after the girl’s mother lodged a complaint. According to the complaint, accused Pandey had persuaded the family to keep the class VI student with him on the pretext of facilitating her studies but secretly married her.

    A video about child marriage had gone viral on social media.

    The victim’s father is a daily wage earner. The couple have four children—two daughters and two sons.

    The accused is stated to be a distant relative of the victim’s family.

    The girl’s parents had reportedly taken Rs.2 lakh as a loan from Pandey. The family was unable to repay the loan. “The family succumbed to Pandey’s pressure and sent the girl with him in lieu of loan,” local residents said.

    During interrogation, Pandey confessed to the crime and said that he was ready to face legal action for the offence.

    PATNA: Police on Sunday arrested a 40-year-old man for marrying a minor girl and keeping her in his house as a second wife after the girl’s mother allegedly failed to repay a loan to the tune of Rs 2 lakh.

    The accused Mahendra Pandey, a resident of Laxmipur village under Mairwa police station in Siwan district, has been booked under the relevant section of the Child Marriage Act and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.

    The girl’s parents had reportedly taken Rs 2 lakh as a loan from Pandey. The family was unable to repay the loan.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “The family succumbed to Pandey’s pressure and sent the girl with him in lieu of loan,” local residents said.

    Pandey was produced before the chief judicial magistrate, who remanded him in judicial custody for 14 days. 

    The victim has been sent for medical examination as she was staying with Pandey for the last three months.

    Station house officer (SHO) of Mairwa police station Ujjawal Kumar said the statement of the girl would be recorded under section 164 of CrPC. 

    “We have sent the girl to sadar hospital hospital in Siwan for medical examination,” he told The New Indian Express over phone.

    Police acted after the girl’s mother lodged a complaint. According to the complaint, accused Pandey had persuaded the family to keep the class VI student with him on the pretext of facilitating her studies but secretly married her.

    A video about child marriage had gone viral on social media.

    The victim’s father is a daily wage earner. The couple have four children—two daughters and two sons.

    The accused is stated to be a distant relative of the victim’s family.

    The girl’s parents had reportedly taken Rs.2 lakh as a loan from Pandey. The family was unable to repay the loan. “The family succumbed to Pandey’s pressure and sent the girl with him in lieu of loan,” local residents said.

    During interrogation, Pandey confessed to the crime and said that he was ready to face legal action for the offence.

  • NEET aspirant from Bihar hangs self in hostel room in Kota

    By PTI

    KOTA (Rajasthan): An 18-year-old NEET aspirant from Bihar allegedly died by suicide by hanging herself from a ceiling fan in her hostel room here on Tuesday, police said.

    The deceased has been identified as Shembul Parveen.

    She came to Kota from West Champaran in Bihar in June last year and enrolled herself in a coaching institute for NEET preparations, police said.

    The police are yet to ascertain the reason behind the extreme step as no suicide note was recovered from her room, however, her parents claimed that the girl was upset over scoring low marks in tests, police said.

    The teen’s parents were in Kota for the last couple of days to find her a new hostel as she had complained about the food being served there, they said.

    The parents had gone out in the morning and upon returning, they found their daughter hanging from a ceiling fan in her hostel room, they said.

    The body was handed over to the family after the post-mortem and a case under section 174 of Cr.P.C.has been lodged for investigation, Circle Inspector (Dadabari) Rajesh Pathak said This is the fifth such incident that has taken place in Kota in the last two and a half months.

    At least 15 coaching institute students, including NEET aspirants, committed suicide in the city in 2022.

    Discussing suicides can be triggering for some. However, suicides are preventable. In case you feel distressed by the content or know someone in distress, call Sneha Foundation – 04424640050 (available 24×7).

    KOTA (Rajasthan): An 18-year-old NEET aspirant from Bihar allegedly died by suicide by hanging herself from a ceiling fan in her hostel room here on Tuesday, police said.

    The deceased has been identified as Shembul Parveen.

    She came to Kota from West Champaran in Bihar in June last year and enrolled herself in a coaching institute for NEET preparations, police said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The police are yet to ascertain the reason behind the extreme step as no suicide note was recovered from her room, however, her parents claimed that the girl was upset over scoring low marks in tests, police said.

    The teen’s parents were in Kota for the last couple of days to find her a new hostel as she had complained about the food being served there, they said.

    The parents had gone out in the morning and upon returning, they found their daughter hanging from a ceiling fan in her hostel room, they said.

    The body was handed over to the family after the post-mortem and a case under section 174 of Cr.P.C.has been lodged for investigation, Circle Inspector (Dadabari) Rajesh Pathak said This is the fifth such incident that has taken place in Kota in the last two and a half months.

    At least 15 coaching institute students, including NEET aspirants, committed suicide in the city in 2022.

    Discussing suicides can be triggering for some. However, suicides are preventable. In case you feel distressed by the content or know someone in distress, call Sneha Foundation – 04424640050 (available 24×7).

  • Uproar in Bihar assembly over ED raids at residences of Tejashwi, family members

    Express News Service

    PATNA: The Bihar assembly witnessed noisy scenes over the recent Enforcement Directorate (ED)’s raids on the residential premises of deputy chief minister Tejashwi and others as RJD demanded the enactment of a law to stop central agencies from conducting raids without prior permission from the state government.

    As the House was re-assembled after Holi vacation and ED raids on the premises of Tejashwi’s residence in New Delhi, his three sisters and associates of RJD chief Lalu Prasad in connection with money laundering case related to the alleged land-for-jobs scam, RJD MLA Bhai Birendra said that legal provisions should be made, making it mandatory for ED and CBI to take prior permission from the state government before taking any action in the state. He said that such provisions had been made in West Bengal and other states and these should be made in Bihar too.

    CBI had also recently questioned former chief minister Rabri Devi in the state capital and Lalu Prasad in New Delhi in connection with the land-for-jobs scam.

    It is alleged that those wishing to secure group ‘D’ posts in the railway gifted or sold land parcels at cheap rates to the Lalu family when the RJD chief was the railway minister in the former UPA-I government from 2004 to 2009.

    Addressing the speaker Awadh Bihari Choudhary, RJD MLA Bhai Birendra said that the Centre was misusing the central agencies like ED and CBI. He also appealed to the chief minister Nitish Kumar who was present in the house to enact a law to make it mandatory for the central agencies to take prior permission from the state government before taking any action in the state.

    The speaker, however, asked the RJD MLA to resume his seat and let the house conduct its normal proceedings.

    MLAs belonging to Congress and left parties also registered their protest in the House against the questioning of Lalu and his associates in the case. MLAs from CPI (ML) and other left parties carrying placards demanded a check on the ED raids. They also alleged that the raids conducted on the premises ofLalu and his family members were politically motivated.

    Congress legislative party leader Ajit Sharma alleged that the Centre was misusing ED and CBI as it was perturbed over the grand alliance`s ‘edge’ on Bihar`s all 40 Lok Sabha seats. Attempts are being made by the Centre to harass the state`s opposition parties which are getting stronger all the time, he added.

    On the other hand, BJP MLA Haribhushan Thakur Bachol said Tejashwi should resign from the post for the sake of an “impartial” probe in a money laundering case related to the land-for-jobs scam. He contended that Tejashwi could influence the investigation into the case if he continued in his post.

    Meanwhile, Tejashwi returned from New Delhi on Monday and met with Nitish who was sitting in his official chamber of the assembly. He apprised the CM of details of ED raids conducted at his residence and also at the residences of his sisters.

    Tejashwi later tweeted, “We are not ‘fake entire political science people but socialist people of real public science. We have political land (strength), courage and character to fight against BJP leaders’ falsehoods, rumours and fake political cases. Listen Sanghis, we have people’s power if you have money powerand guile.”

    PATNA: The Bihar assembly witnessed noisy scenes over the recent Enforcement Directorate (ED)’s raids on the residential premises of deputy chief minister Tejashwi and others as RJD demanded the enactment of a law to stop central agencies from conducting raids without prior permission from the state government.

    As the House was re-assembled after Holi vacation and ED raids on the premises of Tejashwi’s residence in New Delhi, his three sisters and associates of RJD chief Lalu Prasad in connection with money laundering case related to the alleged land-for-jobs scam, RJD MLA Bhai Birendra said that legal provisions should be made, making it mandatory for ED and CBI to take prior permission from the state government before taking any action in the state. He said that such provisions had been made in West Bengal and other states and these should be made in Bihar too.

    CBI had also recently questioned former chief minister Rabri Devi in the state capital and Lalu Prasad in New Delhi in connection with the land-for-jobs scam.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    It is alleged that those wishing to secure group ‘D’ posts in the railway gifted or sold land parcels at cheap rates to the Lalu family when the RJD chief was the railway minister in the former UPA-I government from 2004 to 2009.

    Addressing the speaker Awadh Bihari Choudhary, RJD MLA Bhai Birendra said that the Centre was misusing the central agencies like ED and CBI. He also appealed to the chief minister Nitish Kumar who was present in the house to enact a law to make it mandatory for the central agencies to take prior permission from the state government before taking any action in the state.

    The speaker, however, asked the RJD MLA to resume his seat and let the house conduct its normal proceedings.

    MLAs belonging to Congress and left parties also registered their protest in the House against the questioning of Lalu and his associates in the case. MLAs from CPI (ML) and other left parties carrying placards demanded a check on the ED raids. They also alleged that the raids conducted on the premises of
    Lalu and his family members were politically motivated.

    Congress legislative party leader Ajit Sharma alleged that the Centre was misusing ED and CBI as it was perturbed over the grand alliance`s ‘edge’ on Bihar`s all 40 Lok Sabha seats. Attempts are being made by the Centre to harass the state`s opposition parties which are getting stronger all the time, he added.

    On the other hand, BJP MLA Haribhushan Thakur Bachol said Tejashwi should resign from the post for the sake of an “impartial” probe in a money laundering case related to the land-for-jobs scam. He contended that Tejashwi could influence the investigation into the case if he continued in his post.

    Meanwhile, Tejashwi returned from New Delhi on Monday and met with Nitish who was sitting in his official chamber of the assembly. He apprised the CM of details of ED raids conducted at his residence and also at the residences of his sisters.

    Tejashwi later tweeted, “We are not ‘fake entire political science people but socialist people of real public science. We have political land (strength), courage and character to fight against BJP leaders’ falsehoods, rumours and fake political cases. Listen Sanghis, we have people’s power if you have money power
    and guile.”

  • JD(U) giving political colour to ED’s action against Lalu’s family, says BJP’s Sushil Modi

    Express News Service

    PATNA: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday accused Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and JD(U) president Lalan Singh of giving political colour to the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) action against RJD supremo Lalu Prasad and his family in connection with land-for-job scam.

    BJP MP and former Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi said that JD(U) leaders were trying to give political colour to the operation launched by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and ED against Lalu Prasad, his wife Rabri Devi and deputy chief minister son Tejashwi Yadav to divert people’s attention from corruption charges levelled against them.

    Referring to the ED’s search operation and Lalu’s allegations that his pregnant daughter-in-law Rajshree Yadav was harassed, Sushil said that the question of harassing anybody during the operation didn’t arise.

    When she (Rajshree, wife of Tejashwi) and ‘nati-natini’ (grandsons and granddaughters) are not accused in the IRCTC scam case, the question of investigation didn’t arise, he remarked.

    “RJD chief is playing emotional card by spreading rumours about his daughter-in-law’s torture by the central agency to take political mileage,” he asserted.

    Moreover, the BJP leader said that Nitish should formulate a policy that no pregnant woman will be questioned by any investigating agency even if charges levelled against her were serious in nature.

    ALSO READ | Rs 1 cr cash, Rs 600 cr crime proceeds found in raids on Lalu’s family: ED

    The former deputy chief minister also sought to know how Lalu’s family acquired property worth Rs.600 crore, which came to light during an investigation carried out by central agencies.

    Tejashwi should explain how he became the owner of his New Friends’ Colony residence worth Rs.200 crore when he had no other sources of income, he added.

    The BJP MP also questioned why Hridayanand Choudhary and Lallan Choudhary gifted property at a prime location to Lalu’s daughter Hema Yadav. The property was later sold off for Rs.350 crore. Earlier, Lalu and his wife Rabri were interrogated by CBI in connection with the land-for-jobs scam.

    During the search operation, Modi claimed that Rs.1 crore in cash besides one and a half kilogram of gold jewellery and half kilogram of gold biscuit were seized from the residential premises of Lalu’s family members on Friday. Altogether 24 locations in Patna, Mumbai, Ranchi and New Delhi were simultaneously searched.

    PATNA: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday accused Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and JD(U) president Lalan Singh of giving political colour to the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) action against RJD supremo Lalu Prasad and his family in connection with land-for-job scam.

    BJP MP and former Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi said that JD(U) leaders were trying to give political colour to the operation launched by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and ED against Lalu Prasad, his wife Rabri Devi and deputy chief minister son Tejashwi Yadav to divert people’s attention from corruption charges levelled against them.

    Referring to the ED’s search operation and Lalu’s allegations that his pregnant daughter-in-law Rajshree Yadav was harassed, Sushil said that the question of harassing anybody during the operation didn’t arise.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    When she (Rajshree, wife of Tejashwi) and ‘nati-natini’ (grandsons and granddaughters) are not accused in the IRCTC scam case, the question of investigation didn’t arise, he remarked.

    “RJD chief is playing emotional card by spreading rumours about his daughter-in-law’s torture by the central agency to take political mileage,” he asserted.

    Moreover, the BJP leader said that Nitish should formulate a policy that no pregnant woman will be questioned by any investigating agency even if charges levelled against her were serious in nature.

    ALSO READ | Rs 1 cr cash, Rs 600 cr crime proceeds found in raids on Lalu’s family: ED

    The former deputy chief minister also sought to know how Lalu’s family acquired property worth Rs.600 crore, which came to light during an investigation carried out by central agencies.

    Tejashwi should explain how he became the owner of his New Friends’ Colony residence worth Rs.200 crore when he had no other sources of income, he added.

    The BJP MP also questioned why Hridayanand Choudhary and Lallan Choudhary gifted property at a prime location to Lalu’s daughter Hema Yadav. The property was later sold off for Rs.350 crore. Earlier, Lalu and his wife Rabri were interrogated by CBI in connection with the land-for-jobs scam.

    During the search operation, Modi claimed that Rs.1 crore in cash besides one and a half kilogram of gold jewellery and half kilogram of gold biscuit were seized from the residential premises of Lalu’s family members on Friday. Altogether 24 locations in Patna, Mumbai, Ranchi and New Delhi were simultaneously searched.

  • Land for jobs ‘scam’: CBI summons Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav for questioning 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The CBI has summoned Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav to appear for questioning in connection with the alleged land for jobs scam on Saturday, officials said.

    Yadav was earlier called for questioning on March 4 but he had not appeared before the CBI sleuths, following which a fresh date was given for Saturday, they said.

    The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader was asked to appear for questioning on Saturday forenoon but he is yet to arrive at the headquarters of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) here, they said.

    The federal agency recently questioned RJD supremo Lalu Prasad and his wife Rabri Devi in Delhi and Patna respectively.

    The case pertains to people allegedly given employment in the railways in return for land parcels gifted or sold at cheap rates to the Yadav family and its associates, the officials said.

    NEW DELHI: The CBI has summoned Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav to appear for questioning in connection with the alleged land for jobs scam on Saturday, officials said.

    Yadav was earlier called for questioning on March 4 but he had not appeared before the CBI sleuths, following which a fresh date was given for Saturday, they said.

    The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader was asked to appear for questioning on Saturday forenoon but he is yet to arrive at the headquarters of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) here, they said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The federal agency recently questioned RJD supremo Lalu Prasad and his wife Rabri Devi in Delhi and Patna respectively.

    The case pertains to people allegedly given employment in the railways in return for land parcels gifted or sold at cheap rates to the Yadav family and its associates, the officials said.

  • Tiruppur cyber crime police arrest Bihari for spreading fake videos of migrant attacks

    Express News Service

    A team of cybercrime experts from Tiruppur district have arrested have Rupesh Kumar a native of Bihar, who has spread fake videos of attacks on Bihar migrant workers in Tiruppur and other parts of Tamilnadu. 

    According to a police source, Rupesh Kumar a resident of Bihar has created false videos of migrant labourers from Bihar being attacked in garment facilities in the Tiruppur district.

    As a result, cybercrime police registered a case and sent a request to get the videos removed. But Kumar continued to spread more videos. As a result, the crime wing issued a serious warning and decided to arrest him.

    ALSO READ| Migrant workers attack row: Bihar’s anti-terrorism squad makes first arrest in fake videos case

    Hearing about the police team, Rupesh Kumar escaped from Bihar and moved away a day ago. Later he moved to a secluded location in Telangana.

    But police using mobile tracking technology zeroed the location he was hiding. After finding him hiding in a house, the police team arrested him, and they are on the way to Tamilnadu.

    A team of cybercrime experts from Tiruppur district have arrested have Rupesh Kumar a native of Bihar, who has spread fake videos of attacks on Bihar migrant workers in Tiruppur and other parts of Tamilnadu. 

    According to a police source, Rupesh Kumar a resident of Bihar has created false videos of migrant labourers from Bihar being attacked in garment facilities in the Tiruppur district.

    As a result, cybercrime police registered a case and sent a request to get the videos removed. But Kumar continued to spread more videos. As a result, the crime wing issued a serious warning and decided to arrest him.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    ALSO READ| Migrant workers attack row: Bihar’s anti-terrorism squad makes first arrest in fake videos case

    Hearing about the police team, Rupesh Kumar escaped from Bihar and moved away a day ago. Later he moved to a secluded location in Telangana.

    But police using mobile tracking technology zeroed the location he was hiding. After finding him hiding in a house, the police team arrested him, and they are on the way to Tamilnadu.

  • Disinformation campaign: Special team formed by Nitish Kumar leaves for Tamil Nadu to take stock 

    Express News Service

    PATNA: Amid reports of Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin’s conversation with his counterpart Nitish Kumar in Bihar, a four-member special team left for DMK-ruled state to assist those Bihar’s migrant workers who wanted to return to their home town in the wake of alleged attack on them. The Tamil Nadu police chief, however, denied any such attack in that state.

    Highly placed sources in the state secretariat said that Tamil Nadu chief minister had a telephonic conversation with Nitish over the situation arising out of the alleged attack on Bihar’s migrant workers. What transpired between the two leaders could not be immediately known but it is expected that the two had discussed about the reports of attacks on Bihar’s migrant workers.

    On Friday, Nitish constituted a four-member committee that will travel to Tamil Nadu to take stock of the situation.

    “As soon as I got to know through newspapers, I directed the officials to look into the matter. They talked with the Tamil Nadu government and reported that a special team should be sent from here,” Nitish said, adding that the visiting team will also look into the matter thoroughly.

    D Balamurugan, secretary, rural development department, Shree Alok, special secretary of labour resources department, and two IPS officers P Kannan and Santosh Kumar are part of the visiting team who will submit the report to the chief minister on their return. It is learnt that Balamurugam and Kannan are from Tamil Nadu.

    “The team has already left for Tamil Nadu on CM’s directive,” Bihar chief secretary Amir Subhani said.

    A day earlier, a delegation of BJP leaders led by leader of Opposition in Bihar assembly Vijay Kumar Sinha had called on Nitish and sought his intervention into alleged atrocities against Bihar’s migrant workers in Tamil Nadu. Nitish had assured the delegation that action would be initiated by government to ensure safety and security to Bihar’s migrant workers staying in Tamil Nadu.

    On the other hand, Tamil Nadu DGP Sylendra Babu claimed that the videos circulated on social media were fake.

    The DGP had also warned of stern action against those involved in circulating fake and doctored videos on social media to spread hatred in the society and create confusion between the two state governments. 

    Bihar’s deputy chief minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav had gone to Tamil Nadu to attend a function held on the occasion of birthday of chief minister M K Stalin. Tejashwi, however, attacked by Opposition BJP for taking part in birthday celebration of Stalin and not paying heed to grievances of migrant workers of the state.

    Meanwhile, Bihar police headquarters has released a helpline number for migrant workers stuck in Tamil Nadu.

    Complaint against Stalin, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav

    A complaint petition has been filed in a court against Tamil Nadu’s chief minister M K Stalin and deputy chief minister of Bihar Tejashwi Prasad Yadav in connection with alleged attack on Bihar’s migrant workers in the past couple of days, leaving the latter’s family members in a state of shock. 

    The petition has been filed in the court of chief judicial magistrate, Muzaffarpur by advocate Manoj Kumar Singh on behalf of Ved Prakash, district chief of Jan Adhikar Party. The petitioner alleged that several workers were brutally thrashed, leading to death of two and injuries to many others. 

    The court has fixed March 18 as the date of the hearing. 

    PATNA: Amid reports of Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin’s conversation with his counterpart Nitish Kumar in Bihar, a four-member special team left for DMK-ruled state to assist those Bihar’s migrant workers who wanted to return to their home town in the wake of alleged attack on them. The Tamil Nadu police chief, however, denied any such attack in that state.

    Highly placed sources in the state secretariat said that Tamil Nadu chief minister had a telephonic conversation with Nitish over the situation arising out of the alleged attack on Bihar’s migrant workers. What transpired between the two leaders could not be immediately known but it is expected that the two had discussed about the reports of attacks on Bihar’s migrant workers.

    On Friday, Nitish constituted a four-member committee that will travel to Tamil Nadu to take stock of the situation.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “As soon as I got to know through newspapers, I directed the officials to look into the matter. They talked with the Tamil Nadu government and reported that a special team should be sent from here,” Nitish said, adding that the visiting team will also look into the matter thoroughly.

    D Balamurugan, secretary, rural development department, Shree Alok, special secretary of labour resources department, and two IPS officers P Kannan and Santosh Kumar are part of the visiting team who will submit the report to the chief minister on their return. It is learnt that Balamurugam and Kannan are from Tamil Nadu.

    “The team has already left for Tamil Nadu on CM’s directive,” Bihar chief secretary Amir Subhani said.

    A day earlier, a delegation of BJP leaders led by leader of Opposition in Bihar assembly Vijay Kumar Sinha had called on Nitish and sought his intervention into alleged atrocities against Bihar’s migrant workers in Tamil Nadu. Nitish had assured the delegation that action would be initiated by government to ensure safety and security to Bihar’s migrant workers staying in Tamil Nadu.

    On the other hand, Tamil Nadu DGP Sylendra Babu claimed that the videos circulated on social media were fake.

    The DGP had also warned of stern action against those involved in circulating fake and doctored videos on social media to spread hatred in the society and create confusion between the two state governments. 

    Bihar’s deputy chief minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav had gone to Tamil Nadu to attend a function held on the occasion of birthday of chief minister M K Stalin. Tejashwi, however, attacked by Opposition BJP for taking part in birthday celebration of Stalin and not paying heed to grievances of migrant workers of the state.

    Meanwhile, Bihar police headquarters has released a helpline number for migrant workers stuck in Tamil Nadu.

    Complaint against Stalin, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav

    A complaint petition has been filed in a court against Tamil Nadu’s chief minister M K Stalin and deputy chief minister of Bihar Tejashwi Prasad Yadav in connection with alleged attack on Bihar’s migrant workers in the past couple of days, leaving the latter’s family members in a state of shock. 

    The petition has been filed in the court of chief judicial magistrate, Muzaffarpur by advocate Manoj Kumar Singh on behalf of Ved Prakash, district chief of Jan Adhikar Party. The petitioner alleged that several workers were brutally thrashed, leading to death of two and injuries to many others. 

    The court has fixed March 18 as the date of the hearing. 

  • Bihar’s special team to Tamil Nadu for assisting willing migrants to return

    Express News Service

    PATNA:  A four-member special team is leaving for Tamil Nadu today to assist those migrant workers hailing from Bihar who wanted to return to their native places in the wake of an alleged attack on them. The team has been constituted on the directive of chief minister Nitish Kumar.

    The team consisting of Alok Kumar, labour department’s secretary, E.L.S.N. Bala Prasad, secretary of the rural development department, P Kannan, DIG, CID, will visit trouble-affected areas of DMK-ruled state and meet the migrant workers. Both Bala Prasad and Kannan are stated to be natives of Tamil Nadu.

    On Friday, chief minister Nitish Kumar gave a direction to send a special team to Tamil Nadu after a delegation of BJP under the stewardship of the leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly Vijay Kumar Sinha called on him, seeking the CM’s intervention in view of alleged attacks on migrant workers hailing from Bihar in Tamil Nadu.

    Nitish directed state chief secretary Amir Subhani and director general of police Rajvinder Singh Bhatti to send a special team to Tamil Nadu for helping migrant workers, willing to return to the state and ascertain the truth behind the alleged attack.

    Meanwhile, deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav said that the opposition was perturbed over two viral videos showing the assault on some people over the last two days. He said that the chief minister by taking cognisance of the matter asked senior officers to talk to their counterparts in Tamil Nadu.

    ALSO READ| Bihar to send team to probe ‘attack’ rumours; TN says migrants safe here

    On it, Tamil Nadu’s DGP C Sylendra Babu clearly said viral videos were related to old incidents that took place in Tiruppur and Coimbatore and also stated without any ambiguity that these videos were not related to any clash between locals and migrants. No such clash has taken place and if anybody has such information, he should inform the government, Tejashwi quoted TN DGP as saying.

    Launching a scathing attack on BJP MLAs in the House on the issue, Tejashwi said, “These people have only one work of spreading canard. BJP leaders only do negative politics and claim themselves to be patriots by chanting ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’.

    “Now, they should tell whether Tamil Nadu is not a part of India and if it is, why they are spreading hatred between the people of two states,” he added. 

    “Viral videos are fake and if you do not believe them, you can get it verified by the Union Home Minister,” Tejashwi remarked while sharpening his attack on BJP. On the other hand, the leader of the opposition in Bihar Vijay Kumar Sinha told media persons that migrant workers from the state were scared after the videos had gone viral. He said that migrant workers were returning to their home state even asTamil Nadu DGP was suppressing facts. 

    PATNA:  A four-member special team is leaving for Tamil Nadu today to assist those migrant workers hailing from Bihar who wanted to return to their native places in the wake of an alleged attack on them. The team has been constituted on the directive of chief minister Nitish Kumar.

    The team consisting of Alok Kumar, labour department’s secretary, E.L.S.N. Bala Prasad, secretary of the rural development department, P Kannan, DIG, CID, will visit trouble-affected areas of DMK-ruled state and meet the migrant workers. Both Bala Prasad and Kannan are stated to be natives of Tamil Nadu.

    On Friday, chief minister Nitish Kumar gave a direction to send a special team to Tamil Nadu after a delegation of BJP under the stewardship of the leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly Vijay Kumar Sinha called on him, seeking the CM’s intervention in view of alleged attacks on migrant workers hailing from Bihar in Tamil Nadu.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Nitish directed state chief secretary Amir Subhani and director general of police Rajvinder Singh Bhatti to send a special team to Tamil Nadu for helping migrant workers, willing to return to the state and ascertain the truth behind the alleged attack.

    Meanwhile, deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav said that the opposition was perturbed over two viral videos showing the assault on some people over the last two days. He said that the chief minister by taking cognisance of the matter asked senior officers to talk to their counterparts in Tamil Nadu.

    ALSO READ| Bihar to send team to probe ‘attack’ rumours; TN says migrants safe here

    On it, Tamil Nadu’s DGP C Sylendra Babu clearly said viral videos were related to old incidents that took place in Tiruppur and Coimbatore and also stated without any ambiguity that these videos were not related to any clash between locals and migrants. No such clash has taken place and if anybody has such information, he should inform the government, Tejashwi quoted TN DGP as saying.

    Launching a scathing attack on BJP MLAs in the House on the issue, Tejashwi said, “These people have only one work of spreading canard. BJP leaders only do negative politics and claim themselves to be patriots by chanting ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’.

    “Now, they should tell whether Tamil Nadu is not a part of India and if it is, why they are spreading hatred between the people of two states,” he added. 

    “Viral videos are fake and if you do not believe them, you can get it verified by the Union Home Minister,” Tejashwi remarked while sharpening his attack on BJP. On the other hand, the leader of the opposition in Bihar Vijay Kumar Sinha told media persons that migrant workers from the state were scared after the videos had gone viral. He said that migrant workers were returning to their home state even as
    Tamil Nadu DGP was suppressing facts.
     

  • Ask Tejashwi about cabinet expansion, says Bihar CM Nitish amid Congress’ demands

    Express News Service

    PATNA: Close on the heels of Bihar Congress president Akhilesh Prasad Singh’s fresh demand for cabinet expansion, chief minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday threw the ball in the court of his deputy and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav.

    “You should ask this question from him (Tejashwi),” said Nitish while responding to queries by media persons about much-awaited cabinet expansion.

    CM Nitish was on his ‘Samadhan Yatra’ in Jamui on Saturday. When reminded of Congress’ repeated demand for cabinet expansion, the chief minister said that they (Congress) should speak to Tejashwi Yadav on the issue. However, he also revealed that Congress leaders had talked to him about a possible expansion of the cabinet.

    Earlier in the day, Akhilesh Prasad Singh said that he had talked to the chief minister about cabinet expansion. “Nitish ji has assured that cabinet expansion will take place after ‘Samadhan Yatra’,” he added. The state Congress chief’s statement assumed significance in the wake of recent remarks of Tejashwi who had ruled out the possibility of cabinet expansion in near future.

    Akhilesh, who is also a Rajya Sabha member, said that he was hopeful of getting at least two ministerial berths during cabinet expansion. At present grand old party has two ministers—Afaque Alam and Murari Gautam after the grand alliance government was formed in the state last August.

    At a function held in Patna on Thursday, Tejashwi had said, “There will be no cabinet expansion now. I do not understand at first how the discussion on it started. No proposal for the cabinet expansion is not under consideration.”

    Tejashwi’s remark on the cabinet expansion came in the backdrop of speculation over the cabinet expansion with Congress getting two ministerial berths. Tejaswhi’s point-blank refusal of the cabinet expansion had, however, come as a rude shock for Congress legislators who were hopeful of being inducted into the council of ministers.

    Nitish had also said that the cabinet would be expanded after ‘Kharmas’ (considered an inauspicious period in the Hindu calendar) that ended on January 14. In addition to Congress, two leaders from RJD can also be inducted into the state cabinet.

    The grand alliance in Bihar is facing turmoil from within as JD (U) parliamentary board chairman Upendra Kushwaha has raised a banner against Nitish by accusing him of not giving him proper respect in the party even as he had merged his own political outfit, Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) with JD(U). The controversy that erupted over the remarks against Ramcharitmanas has also yet to be settled.

    On the other hand, RJD has yet to take action against former agriculture minister Sudhakar Singh for making uncharitable remarks against Nitish although a show cause notice was issued to the minister. Singh, who is the son of state RJD president Jagdanand Singh has already replied to the notice but ithas to be seen how the party leadership acts on it.

    In the given situation, the cabinet expansion was already looking like a remote possibility, remarked a political analyst.

    PATNA: Close on the heels of Bihar Congress president Akhilesh Prasad Singh’s fresh demand for cabinet expansion, chief minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday threw the ball in the court of his deputy and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav.

    “You should ask this question from him (Tejashwi),” said Nitish while responding to queries by media persons about much-awaited cabinet expansion.

    CM Nitish was on his ‘Samadhan Yatra’ in Jamui on Saturday. When reminded of Congress’ repeated demand for cabinet expansion, the chief minister said that they (Congress) should speak to Tejashwi Yadav on the issue. However, he also revealed that Congress leaders had talked to him about a possible expansion of the cabinet.

    Earlier in the day, Akhilesh Prasad Singh said that he had talked to the chief minister about cabinet expansion. “Nitish ji has assured that cabinet expansion will take place after ‘Samadhan Yatra’,” he added. The state Congress chief’s statement assumed significance in the wake of recent remarks of Tejashwi who had ruled out the possibility of cabinet expansion in near future.

    Akhilesh, who is also a Rajya Sabha member, said that he was hopeful of getting at least two ministerial berths during cabinet expansion. At present grand old party has two ministers—Afaque Alam and Murari Gautam after the grand alliance government was formed in the state last August.

    At a function held in Patna on Thursday, Tejashwi had said, “There will be no cabinet expansion now. I do not understand at first how the discussion on it started. No proposal for the cabinet expansion is not under consideration.”

    Tejashwi’s remark on the cabinet expansion came in the backdrop of speculation over the cabinet expansion with Congress getting two ministerial berths. Tejaswhi’s point-blank refusal of the cabinet expansion had, however, come as a rude shock for Congress legislators who were hopeful of being inducted into the council of ministers.

    Nitish had also said that the cabinet would be expanded after ‘Kharmas’ (considered an inauspicious period in the Hindu calendar) that ended on January 14. In addition to Congress, two leaders from RJD can also be inducted into the state cabinet.

    The grand alliance in Bihar is facing turmoil from within as JD (U) parliamentary board chairman Upendra Kushwaha has raised a banner against Nitish by accusing him of not giving him proper respect in the party even as he had merged his own political outfit, Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) with JD(U). The controversy that erupted over the remarks against Ramcharitmanas has also yet to be settled.

    On the other hand, RJD has yet to take action against former agriculture minister Sudhakar Singh for making uncharitable remarks against Nitish although a show cause notice was issued to the minister. Singh, who is the son of state RJD president Jagdanand Singh has already replied to the notice but it
    has to be seen how the party leadership acts on it.

    In the given situation, the cabinet expansion was already looking like a remote possibility, remarked a political analyst.

  • Five bogies of Satyagrah Express detach from engine in Bihar

    By ANI

    PATNA: Five bogies of the Satyagraha Express train detached from the engine near Majhaulia station in Bihar’s Bettiah. The incident took place at the Muzaffarpur-Narkatiaganj railway section and triggered panic among passengers.

    East Central Railway officials immediately rushed to the spot and reattached the bogies to the train running from Bihar’s Raxaul district to New Delhi. No passenger reported any injuries.

    East Central Railway officials have launched a probe into this matter.

    Reportedly, due to the malfunction of the coupling, which is used to connect two bogies together, the bogies separated from the engine.

    The incident happened around 10 am and the engine travelled several kilometres away after getting detached from the bogies.

    In December last year, three bogies of a goods train derailed at the Tankuppa station in Bihar, after which two trains had to be cancelled while several more had to be diverted. The incident is said to have happened due to the jamming of brakes.

    However, no one was injured in the incident, Railway officials informed.

    PATNA: Five bogies of the Satyagraha Express train detached from the engine near Majhaulia station in Bihar’s Bettiah. The incident took place at the Muzaffarpur-Narkatiaganj railway section and triggered panic among passengers.

    East Central Railway officials immediately rushed to the spot and reattached the bogies to the train running from Bihar’s Raxaul district to New Delhi. No passenger reported any injuries.

    East Central Railway officials have launched a probe into this matter.

    Reportedly, due to the malfunction of the coupling, which is used to connect two bogies together, the bogies separated from the engine.

    The incident happened around 10 am and the engine travelled several kilometres away after getting detached from the bogies.

    In December last year, three bogies of a goods train derailed at the Tankuppa station in Bihar, after which two trains had to be cancelled while several more had to be diverted. The incident is said to have happened due to the jamming of brakes.

    However, no one was injured in the incident, Railway officials informed.