News Analysis India

Tag: Jharkhand

  • Man ‘cremated’ by family members found ‘alive’ in Haryana

    By IANS

    PATNA: A man who was cremated by his family members was found alive in Haryana’s Panipat district, an official said on Monday.

    Santosh Kumar Rai, the SDPO of Sasaram, said that a man named Mukesh Tiwari, a native of Naudiha village in Jharkhand, had eloped to Panipat with a girl.

    “He disappeared from his house on April 2 and a body was found in Sonhar village in neighbouring Kaimur district on April 13. The family members of Mukesh Tiwari claimed the body and cremated it. Mukesh’s father alleged that six persons were involved in the murder of his son,” Rai said.

    “During investigation, it appeared that Mukesh is alive. We have investigated the case with the help of technical and physical intelligence and located the hideout of Mukesh in Panipat. We have arrested him and brought him to Sasaram. He was produced in the district court for further action,” Rai said.

    PATNA: A man who was cremated by his family members was found alive in Haryana’s Panipat district, an official said on Monday.

    Santosh Kumar Rai, the SDPO of Sasaram, said that a man named Mukesh Tiwari, a native of Naudiha village in Jharkhand, had eloped to Panipat with a girl.

    “He disappeared from his house on April 2 and a body was found in Sonhar village in neighbouring Kaimur district on April 13. The family members of Mukesh Tiwari claimed the body and cremated it. Mukesh’s father alleged that six persons were involved in the murder of his son,” Rai said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “During investigation, it appeared that Mukesh is alive. We have investigated the case with the help of technical and physical intelligence and located the hideout of Mukesh in Panipat. We have arrested him and brought him to Sasaram. He was produced in the district court for further action,” Rai said.

  • 20-year youth lynched on suspicion of theft, three held in Jharkhand

    Express News Service

    RANCHI: In yet another case of lynching in Jharkhand, a 20-year-old was beaten by the villagers in Ranchi allegedly on suspicion of theft on Friday, who later succumbed to his injuries on Saturday.

    According to police, the victim, identified as Wajid Ansari was first tied by electric police and then thrashed by the villagers brutally.

    Later, he was taken to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries during treatment.

    Though the incident took place on Friday, the matter came to light on Saturday after the death of the victim. Wajid Ansari, a painter from Pandri village of Chanho block, was beaten to death after he entered the house of Jeevan Oraon in the nearby Mahuatoli village on Friday.

    Taking swift action, the police have arrested three persons in this connection.

    “Wajid Ansari had allegedly barged into a house in Mahuatoli along with some other persons with an intention of theft early in the morning on Friday.  But, the house owner somehow got up and raised an alarm. The villagers assembled near his house and caught hold of Wajid Ansari, while his other friends succeeded to escape,” said SP (Rural) Naushad Alam. The villagers then tied Ansari with a pole and thrashed him badly, he added.

    “After getting information about the incident, police rushed to the spot and rescued Ansari from there and admitted him to Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi, where he died during treatment on Saturday,” said the DSP.

    Three people have been arrested in the case so far, while a hunt is still on for others involved in the crime, he added. The three arrested persons include Jeevan Oraon, his son Govardhan Oraon and their neighbour Nandu Oraon.

    Two FIRs have been lodged in the case at Chanho Police Station — one for the killing of Ansari and another one for attempted theft (against Ansari and others).

    “The family members have claimed that Ansari had gone there to get marihuana from the shop,” said the Rural SP. Police are conducting an investigation taking all aspects into consideration, he added.

    Locals informed that nearly 25 people tied Ansari with a pole and thrashed him badly at around 6 am on Friday. By the time, Ansari’s family members reached there, he had gone unconscious.

    Later, police were informed that rescued Wajid Ansari took him along with them and admitted him to the hospital from where he was referred to RIMS, they said. Ansari’s father, Hafizul Rehman Ansari said that he came to know about the incident through a vegetable vendor.

    “They killed my son deliberately in the name of theft due to personal rivalry,” alleged the victim’s father. He also claimed that Ansari had no criminal past and was associated with the National Human Rights and Crime Control Bureau (NHRCCB), a non-profit human rights group based in New Delhi.

    RANCHI: In yet another case of lynching in Jharkhand, a 20-year-old was beaten by the villagers in Ranchi allegedly on suspicion of theft on Friday, who later succumbed to his injuries on Saturday.

    According to police, the victim, identified as Wajid Ansari was first tied by electric police and then thrashed by the villagers brutally.

    Later, he was taken to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries during treatment.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Though the incident took place on Friday, the matter came to light on Saturday after the death of the victim. Wajid Ansari, a painter from Pandri village of Chanho block, was beaten to death after he entered the house of Jeevan Oraon in the nearby Mahuatoli village on Friday.

    Taking swift action, the police have arrested three persons in this connection.

    “Wajid Ansari had allegedly barged into a house in Mahuatoli along with some other persons with an intention of theft early in the morning on Friday.  But, the house owner somehow got up and raised an alarm. The villagers assembled near his house and caught hold of Wajid Ansari, while his other friends succeeded to escape,” said SP (Rural) Naushad Alam. The villagers then tied Ansari with a pole and thrashed him badly, he added.

    “After getting information about the incident, police rushed to the spot and rescued Ansari from there and admitted him to Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi, where he died during treatment on Saturday,” said the DSP.

    Three people have been arrested in the case so far, while a hunt is still on for others involved in the crime, he added. The three arrested persons include Jeevan Oraon, his son Govardhan Oraon and their neighbour Nandu Oraon.

    Two FIRs have been lodged in the case at Chanho Police Station — one for the killing of Ansari and another one for attempted theft (against Ansari and others).

    “The family members have claimed that Ansari had gone there to get marihuana from the shop,” said the Rural SP. Police are conducting an investigation taking all aspects into consideration, he added.

    Locals informed that nearly 25 people tied Ansari with a pole and thrashed him badly at around 6 am on Friday. By the time, Ansari’s family members reached there, he had gone unconscious.

    Later, police were informed that rescued Wajid Ansari took him along with them and admitted him to the hospital from where he was referred to RIMS, they said. Ansari’s father, Hafizul Rehman Ansari said that he came to know about the incident through a vegetable vendor.

    “They killed my son deliberately in the name of theft due to personal rivalry,” alleged the victim’s father. He also claimed that Ansari had no criminal past and was associated with the National Human Rights and Crime Control Bureau (NHRCCB), a non-profit human rights group based in New Delhi.

  • 20-year-old youth lynched on suspicion of theft, three held in Jharkhand

    Express News Service

    RANCHI: In yet another case of lynching in Jharkhand, a 20-year-old was beaten by the villagers in Ranchi allegedly on suspicion of theft on Friday, who later succumbed to his injuries on Saturday.

    According to police, the victim, identified as Wajid Ansari was first tied by electric police and then thrashed by the villagers brutally.

    Later, he was taken to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries during treatment.

    Though the incident took place on Friday, the matter came to light on Saturday after the death of the victim. Wajid Ansari, a painter from Pandri village of Chanho block, was beaten to death after he entered the house of Jeevan Oraon in the nearby Mahuatoli village on Friday.

    Taking swift action, the police have arrested three persons in this connection.

    “Wajid Ansari had allegedly barged into a house in Mahuatoli along with some other persons with an intention of theft early in the morning on Friday.  But, the house owner somehow got up and raised an alarm. The villagers assembled near his house and caught hold of Wajid Ansari, while his other friends succeeded to escape,” said SP (Rural) Naushad Alam. The villagers then tied Ansari with a pole and thrashed him badly, he added.

    “After getting information about the incident, police rushed to the spot and rescued Ansari from there and admitted him to Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi, where he died during treatment on Saturday,” said the DSP.

    Three people have been arrested in the case so far, while a hunt is still on for others involved in the crime, he added. The three arrested persons include Jeevan Oraon, his son Govardhan Oraon and their neighbour Nandu Oraon.

    Two FIRs have been lodged in the case at Chanho Police Station — one for the killing of Ansari and another one for attempted theft (against Ansari and others).

    “The family members have claimed that Ansari had gone there to get marihuana from the shop,” said the Rural SP. Police are conducting an investigation taking all aspects into consideration, he added.

    Locals informed that nearly 25 people tied Ansari with a pole and thrashed him badly at around 6 am on Friday. By the time, Ansari’s family members reached there, he had gone unconscious.

    Later, police were informed that rescued Wajid Ansari took him along with them and admitted him to the hospital from where he was referred to RIMS, they said. Ansari’s father, Hafizul Rehman Ansari said that he came to know about the incident through a vegetable vendor.

    “They killed my son deliberately in the name of theft due to personal rivalry,” alleged the victim’s father. He also claimed that Ansari had no criminal past and was associated with the National Human Rights and Crime Control Bureau (NHRCCB), a non-profit human rights group based in New Delhi.

    RANCHI: In yet another case of lynching in Jharkhand, a 20-year-old was beaten by the villagers in Ranchi allegedly on suspicion of theft on Friday, who later succumbed to his injuries on Saturday.

    According to police, the victim, identified as Wajid Ansari was first tied by electric police and then thrashed by the villagers brutally.

    Later, he was taken to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries during treatment.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Though the incident took place on Friday, the matter came to light on Saturday after the death of the victim. Wajid Ansari, a painter from Pandri village of Chanho block, was beaten to death after he entered the house of Jeevan Oraon in the nearby Mahuatoli village on Friday.

    Taking swift action, the police have arrested three persons in this connection.

    “Wajid Ansari had allegedly barged into a house in Mahuatoli along with some other persons with an intention of theft early in the morning on Friday.  But, the house owner somehow got up and raised an alarm. The villagers assembled near his house and caught hold of Wajid Ansari, while his other friends succeeded to escape,” said SP (Rural) Naushad Alam. The villagers then tied Ansari with a pole and thrashed him badly, he added.

    “After getting information about the incident, police rushed to the spot and rescued Ansari from there and admitted him to Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi, where he died during treatment on Saturday,” said the DSP.

    Three people have been arrested in the case so far, while a hunt is still on for others involved in the crime, he added. The three arrested persons include Jeevan Oraon, his son Govardhan Oraon and their neighbour Nandu Oraon.

    Two FIRs have been lodged in the case at Chanho Police Station — one for the killing of Ansari and another one for attempted theft (against Ansari and others).

    “The family members have claimed that Ansari had gone there to get marihuana from the shop,” said the Rural SP. Police are conducting an investigation taking all aspects into consideration, he added.

    Locals informed that nearly 25 people tied Ansari with a pole and thrashed him badly at around 6 am on Friday. By the time, Ansari’s family members reached there, he had gone unconscious.

    Later, police were informed that rescued Wajid Ansari took him along with them and admitted him to the hospital from where he was referred to RIMS, they said. Ansari’s father, Hafizul Rehman Ansari said that he came to know about the incident through a vegetable vendor.

    “They killed my son deliberately in the name of theft due to personal rivalry,” alleged the victim’s father. He also claimed that Ansari had no criminal past and was associated with the National Human Rights and Crime Control Bureau (NHRCCB), a non-profit human rights group based in New Delhi.

  • Families of five Maoists who were gunned down allege ‘fake encounter’ by Jharkhand police 

    Express News Service

    RANCHI: Family members of the five Maoists who were gunned down on Monday alleged that it was a fake encounter as the police shot them in their heads even as they gathered to surrender. 

    Meanwhile, DGP Ajay Kumar Singh, who was on a day-long visit to Chatra on Tuesday to boost the morale of the security forces, rejected their allegations saying that there is no merit in the allegations made by the family members of the Maoists who were killed in a police encounter.

    “There is no substance in the allegations as whatever happened is before everyone. Now, legal proceedings will continue on its own way,” said the DGP.

    Notably, in a historic achievement by Jharkhand police, five hard-core Maoists -two Special Area Committee (SAC) members and three Sub-Zonal commanders, were gunned down by security forces at Lawalong in Jharkhand’s Chatra on Monday.

    Those who were killed in police encounters include Sub-zonal Commanders Amar Gnjhu, Nandu and Sanjeev Bhuiyan, besides SAC members Gautam Paswan and Ajit Oroan alias Charlis. The SAC members had a bounty of Rs 25 lakh each, while the Sub-zonal commanders had prize money of Rs 5 lakh each on their heads. Family members of SAC Member Gautam Paswan said that they had reached Chatra with the intention to surrender, but were killed by police calling it an achievement for them.

    “Police have killed my father in a fake encounter as they have been killed from close range on their heads. I will go to Human Rights Commission seeking justice from them,” said SAC member’s son Chandan Paswan. According to Chandan, since, the police does not want them to lead a dignified life hence; they killed his father so brutally.

    “They also want us to join the Maoist group. This is not an encounter; it is just a cold blooded murder,” said Chandan Paswan. Gautam’s brother Girija Paswan informed that his brother was about to surrender before police and hence he was in regular contact with police, but he was killed in fake encounter. “My brother was shot in his head after he surrendered before police. Police officials had told us that Gautam Paswan will surrender before them very soon and hence, he was approaching Chatra district. In between, he was killed in a fake encounter,” said Girija Paswan.

    A proper investigation must be done, for which, they will take the matter to the Court, he added.

    Santosh Yadav, son-in-law of sub-zonal commander Ajay Yadav alias Nandu also sought justice calling the encounter as fake. “Had there been an encounter, there would have been firing from both the sides, but no firing was done from the other side. Moreover, all of them were shot on their heads, which is quite unlikely,” said Santosh Yadav.

    RANCHI: Family members of the five Maoists who were gunned down on Monday alleged that it was a fake encounter as the police shot them in their heads even as they gathered to surrender. 

    Meanwhile, DGP Ajay Kumar Singh, who was on a day-long visit to Chatra on Tuesday to boost the morale of the security forces, rejected their allegations saying that there is no merit in the allegations made by the family members of the Maoists who were killed in a police encounter.

    “There is no substance in the allegations as whatever happened is before everyone. Now, legal proceedings will continue on its own way,” said the DGP.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Notably, in a historic achievement by Jharkhand police, five hard-core Maoists -two Special Area Committee (SAC) members and three Sub-Zonal commanders, were gunned down by security forces at Lawalong in Jharkhand’s Chatra on Monday.

    Those who were killed in police encounters include Sub-zonal Commanders Amar Gnjhu, Nandu and Sanjeev Bhuiyan, besides SAC members Gautam Paswan and Ajit Oroan alias Charlis. The SAC members had a bounty of Rs 25 lakh each, while the Sub-zonal commanders had prize money of Rs 5 lakh each on their heads. Family members of SAC Member Gautam Paswan said that they had reached Chatra with the intention to surrender, but were killed by police calling it an achievement for them.

    “Police have killed my father in a fake encounter as they have been killed from close range on their heads. I will go to Human Rights Commission seeking justice from them,” said SAC member’s son Chandan Paswan. According to Chandan, since, the police does not want them to lead a dignified life hence; they killed his father so brutally.

    “They also want us to join the Maoist group. This is not an encounter; it is just a cold blooded murder,” said Chandan Paswan. Gautam’s brother Girija Paswan informed that his brother was about to surrender before police and hence he was in regular contact with police, but he was killed in fake encounter. “My brother was shot in his head after he surrendered before police. Police officials had told us that Gautam Paswan will surrender before them very soon and hence, he was approaching Chatra district. In between, he was killed in a fake encounter,” said Girija Paswan.

    A proper investigation must be done, for which, they will take the matter to the Court, he added.

    Santosh Yadav, son-in-law of sub-zonal commander Ajay Yadav alias Nandu also sought justice calling the encounter as fake. “Had there been an encounter, there would have been firing from both the sides, but no firing was done from the other side. Moreover, all of them were shot on their heads, which is quite unlikely,” said Santosh Yadav.

  • J’khand: 4-day-old baby dies after policeman steps on him during raids

    By IANS

    RANCHI: A four-day-old baby died during a police raid which was conducted to arrest his grandfather in Jharkhand’s Giridih district on Wednesday after a policeman allegedly stepped on him.

    Chief Minister Hemant Soren has directed the police headquarters to probe the matter and initiate action.

    The incident took place in Kosogondodighi village of the district.

    According to sources, a team led by Sangam Pathak, in-charge of Deori police station, reached the house of one Bhushan Pandey to arrest him in the wee hours.

    When the family members did not open the door, the team forcibly entered inside and a policeman climbed on the bed where the infant was sleeping and allegedly crushed him to death.

    The police did not arrest Pandey after the incident and left the spot, said sources.

    The incident created an uproar among the villagers who are demanding that a murder case be registered against all the policemen present in the team. 

    RANCHI: A four-day-old baby died during a police raid which was conducted to arrest his grandfather in Jharkhand’s Giridih district on Wednesday after a policeman allegedly stepped on him.

    Chief Minister Hemant Soren has directed the police headquarters to probe the matter and initiate action.

    The incident took place in Kosogondodighi village of the district.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    According to sources, a team led by Sangam Pathak, in-charge of Deori police station, reached the house of one Bhushan Pandey to arrest him in the wee hours.

    When the family members did not open the door, the team forcibly entered inside and a policeman climbed on the bed where the infant was sleeping and allegedly crushed him to death.

    The police did not arrest Pandey after the incident and left the spot, said sources.

    The incident created an uproar among the villagers who are demanding that a murder case be registered against all the policemen present in the team.
     

  • Jharkhand’s Ramgarh bypoll: AJSU Party leads by 21,960 votes after 9th round of counting

    By PTI

    RAMGARH: AJSU party candidate Sunita Choudhary was leading by 21,960 votes over her nearest rival Bajrang Mahto of the Congress after the ninth round of counting in the Ramgarh by-election, an official said on Thursday.

    The AJSU party, which has tied up with the BJP for the bypoll, got 1,04,442 votes while the Congress, an ally of the ruling JMM-led coalition, got 82,482 after the completion of the ninth round of counting, the official said.

    Counting of votes for the Ramgarh assembly by-election began at 8 am at Ramgarh college, some 40 km from the state capital Ranchi, said Ramgarh SDO cum Returning officer Md Javed Hussain.

    A voter turnout of over 67.96 per cent was recorded in the Ramgarh assembly constituency bypoll on February 27.

    Though 18 candidates, including 14 Independents, were in the fray, the contest is mainly between the Congress, an ally of the ruling JMM-led coalition, and the AJSU party, which has tied up with the BJP for the bypoll.

    The by-election was necessitated after the disqualification of Congress legislator Mamta Devi, following her conviction in a criminal case.

    The Congress has fielded Mamta Devi’s husband, Bajrang Mahto, from the seat while the AJSU party has nominated Sunita Choudhary.

    RAMGARH: AJSU party candidate Sunita Choudhary was leading by 21,960 votes over her nearest rival Bajrang Mahto of the Congress after the ninth round of counting in the Ramgarh by-election, an official said on Thursday.

    The AJSU party, which has tied up with the BJP for the bypoll, got 1,04,442 votes while the Congress, an ally of the ruling JMM-led coalition, got 82,482 after the completion of the ninth round of counting, the official said.

    Counting of votes for the Ramgarh assembly by-election began at 8 am at Ramgarh college, some 40 km from the state capital Ranchi, said Ramgarh SDO cum Returning officer Md Javed Hussain.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    A voter turnout of over 67.96 per cent was recorded in the Ramgarh assembly constituency bypoll on February 27.

    Though 18 candidates, including 14 Independents, were in the fray, the contest is mainly between the Congress, an ally of the ruling JMM-led coalition, and the AJSU party, which has tied up with the BJP for the bypoll.

    The by-election was necessitated after the disqualification of Congress legislator Mamta Devi, following her conviction in a criminal case.

    The Congress has fielded Mamta Devi’s husband, Bajrang Mahto, from the seat while the AJSU party has nominated Sunita Choudhary.

  • Ranchi Diary: Soren seeking votes in name of child, says Marandi 

    Express News Service

    Soren seeking votes in name of child: Marandi With merely a week left for Ramgarh by-polls, allegations and counter-allegations between the ruling alliance and opposition are at their peak. BJP legislative party leader Babulal Marandi has alleged CM Hemant Soren of taking the help of a six-month-old child for political benefits and that he seeks votes in the child’s name. Earlier, Soren was addressing a poll rally in Ramgarh where UPA candidate Bajrang Mahto was spotted on the stage with his child, after Mahto’s wife former Ramgarh MLA Mamta Devi was jailed in a 2016 firing case. Soren said the child was a victim of a conspiracy at the rally.

    Pact to use fine arts for mental wellnessWith an objective to utilise fine arts in promoting positive mental health and wellness, the Central Institute of Psychiatry (CIP) in Ranchi has entered into an agreement with Krishnapur Nazrul Charcha Kendra in Kolkata. According to experts, it is one of its kind agreement wherein the use of music and other forms of fine arts in the promotion of positive mental health and wellness in people as well as people with psychological issues would be explored. As part of the MOU, Nazrul Charcha Kendra will be sending its team of musicians and artists to the campus often. They will also be training faculties and students on music therapy.

    Univ obtains patent for herbal medicineRanchi-based Birsa Agricultural University (BAU) has obtained a patent for formulating herbal medicine for joint pain. Head of the Department of Forestry and Utilization in the Forestry Faculty of BAU, Dr Kaushal Kumar, has obtained a patent certificate from the Intellectual Property Office of the Government of India for his innovation titled  “A New Synergistic Topical Applications Formulation for Joint Pains, Inflammation, Skin Care and the Method of Producing the Same.” The patent was approved on the grounds of its innovative formulation. This herbal formulation is beneficial for the skin along with relieving joint inflammation and external pain, said Kumar.

    Mukesh RanjanOur correspondent in [email protected]

    Soren seeking votes in name of child: Marandi 
    With merely a week left for Ramgarh by-polls, allegations and counter-allegations between the ruling alliance and opposition are at their peak. BJP legislative party leader Babulal Marandi has alleged CM Hemant Soren of taking the help of a six-month-old child for political benefits and that he seeks votes in the child’s name. Earlier, Soren was addressing a poll rally in Ramgarh where UPA candidate Bajrang Mahto was spotted on the stage with his child, after Mahto’s wife former Ramgarh MLA Mamta Devi was jailed in a 2016 firing case. Soren said the child was a victim of a conspiracy at the rally.

    Pact to use fine arts for mental wellness
    With an objective to utilise fine arts in promoting positive mental health and wellness, the Central Institute of Psychiatry (CIP) in Ranchi has entered into an agreement with Krishnapur Nazrul Charcha Kendra in Kolkata. According to experts, it is one of its kind agreement wherein the use of music and other forms of fine arts in the promotion of positive mental health and wellness in people as well as people with psychological issues would be explored. As part of the MOU, Nazrul Charcha Kendra will be sending its team of musicians and artists to the campus often. They will also be training faculties and students on music therapy.

    Univ obtains patent for herbal medicine
    Ranchi-based Birsa Agricultural University (BAU) has obtained a patent for formulating herbal medicine for joint pain. Head of the Department of Forestry and Utilization in the Forestry Faculty of BAU, Dr Kaushal Kumar, has obtained a patent certificate from the Intellectual Property Office of the Government of India for his innovation titled  “A New Synergistic Topical Applications Formulation for Joint Pains, Inflammation, Skin Care and the Method of Producing the Same.” The patent was approved on the grounds of its innovative formulation. This herbal formulation is beneficial for the skin along with relieving joint inflammation and external pain, said Kumar.

    Mukesh Ranjan
    Our correspondent in Jharkhand
    [email protected]

  • Did not want to destabilise govt, so didn’t share EC opinion on Soren in office-of-profit case: Ramesh Bais

    Express News Service

    RANCHI: Outgoing Jharkhand Governor Ramesh Bais said that he did not disclose Election Commission’s (EC) opinion related to the office-of-profit case against Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren as he did not want to destabilise the government. During an interactive session with selected media persons at Raj Bhawan in Ranchi on Wednesday, Bias said that if any such matter comes to Governor, he can take the time he wants to pass the order, as there no time limit prescribed for him.

    Governor, however, was of the opinion that Chief Minister Hemant Soren is a good leader, but the work culture among the officials and the ministers is bad, and they also lack vision. 

    Notably, despite repeated requests by Soren and his party, the Governor did not pass any order against Soren and sat on EC’s opinion since August last year.

    “I have seen Jharkhand getting destabilised again and again in the past….. and I did not want uncertainty in the state and hence, I did not made EC’s opinion public. Soren had come to me with a request to make it public, but I told him that he should instead, focus on his work, I will take a decision whenever I will feel like,” said Bais while responding to a question on the EC’s opinion on the matter.

    “Interestingly, maximum decisions in public interest were taken by Hemant Soren government after EC opinion was received by him,” he added. When asked, what is there inside EC’s envelop, Bais refused to disclose saying that the ball is in his successor’s court. 

    According to Governor, work culture in Jharkhand is not ‘conducive’ for developmental works. The Governor was of the opinion that law and order is a ‘big problem’ in the state which needs to be acted upon, saying, law and order needs to be in order to attract businessmen for investments in Jharkhand.

    Referring to Soren’s allegations that he wanted to destabilise the government in Jharkhand, Bais reacted, “Had there been any such thing in my mind, I could have passed the order,” he said. 

    “People can make allegations but I act only according to constitutional provisions,” he added. 

    Answering a question that his inaction in the matter of office of profit case led to serious political crisis in the Jharkhand, Bais said in a lighter vain that what could be done if someone is afraid of his own shadow.

    When asked about reason behind returning of 1932-Khatian based Local Policy Bill-2022 passed by Jharkhand Assembly, the Governor said that had to thing seriously before giving his nod as a bill had already been rejected by the Jharkhand High Court and Assembly itself.

    “Major concern was what will happen to the districts which were formed after 1932,” said the Governor.

    RANCHI: Outgoing Jharkhand Governor Ramesh Bais said that he did not disclose Election Commission’s (EC) opinion related to the office-of-profit case against Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren as he did not want to destabilise the government. During an interactive session with selected media persons at Raj Bhawan in Ranchi on Wednesday, Bias said that if any such matter comes to Governor, he can take the time he wants to pass the order, as there no time limit prescribed for him.

    Governor, however, was of the opinion that Chief Minister Hemant Soren is a good leader, but the work culture among the officials and the ministers is bad, and they also lack vision. 

    Notably, despite repeated requests by Soren and his party, the Governor did not pass any order against Soren and sat on EC’s opinion since August last year.

    “I have seen Jharkhand getting destabilised again and again in the past….. and I did not want uncertainty in the state and hence, I did not made EC’s opinion public. Soren had come to me with a request to make it public, but I told him that he should instead, focus on his work, I will take a decision whenever I will feel like,” said Bais while responding to a question on the EC’s opinion on the matter.

    “Interestingly, maximum decisions in public interest were taken by Hemant Soren government after EC opinion was received by him,” he added. When asked, what is there inside EC’s envelop, Bais refused to disclose saying that the ball is in his successor’s court. 

    According to Governor, work culture in Jharkhand is not ‘conducive’ for developmental works. The Governor was of the opinion that law and order is a ‘big problem’ in the state which needs to be acted upon, saying, law and order needs to be in order to attract businessmen for investments in Jharkhand.

    Referring to Soren’s allegations that he wanted to destabilise the government in Jharkhand, Bais reacted, “Had there been any such thing in my mind, I could have passed the order,” he said. 

    “People can make allegations but I act only according to constitutional provisions,” he added. 

    Answering a question that his inaction in the matter of office of profit case led to serious political crisis in the Jharkhand, Bais said in a lighter vain that what could be done if someone is afraid of his own shadow.

    When asked about reason behind returning of 1932-Khatian based Local Policy Bill-2022 passed by Jharkhand Assembly, the Governor said that had to thing seriously before giving his nod as a bill had already been rejected by the Jharkhand High Court and Assembly itself.

    “Major concern was what will happen to the districts which were formed after 1932,” said the Governor.

  • Jharkhand HC takes suo motu cognizance of high-rise fire which left 14 dead

    Express News Service

    RANCHI: The Jharkhand High Court on Wednesday took suo-moto cognizance into the massive fire incident which engulfed a multi-storied residential building at Dhanbad on Tuesday claiming 14 lives, including 10 women and three children.

    Nearly two dozen people also received serious burn injuries after a major fire broke out on the second floor of ‘Ashirwad Tower’ in the Joraphatak area of Dhanbad, around 160 km from the state capital Ranchi. They have been admitted to Shaheed Nirmal Mahto Medical College and Hospital (SNMMCH) in Dhanbad.

    “The Jharkhand High Court has taken suo-moto cognizance into the incident of fire which took place in Dhanbad on Tuesday and the matter will be heard on Thursday,” said Piyush Chitresh, junior counsel at the office of Advocate General.

    Meanwhile, Chief Minister Hemant Soren announced Rs 4 lakh compensation for the family members of those who lost their near and dear ones in the fire incident. Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the loss of lives in the devastating fire and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the next-of-kin of the deceased. PM Modi also announced that an amount of Rs 50,000 each has also been sanctioned for the injured in the incident.

    Firefighters try to douse a fire that broke out at, multi-storey building in Dhanbad. (Photo | PTI)

    According to officials, the fire broke out at around 6 pm at the Ashirwad Tower apartment under the Bank More police station jurisdiction, which was brought under control after a four-hour operation. As many as 40 fire tenders were roped in to dodge the fire, they said.

    An official communiqué from the district administration stated that the fire started on the third floor.

    Fourteen people died in the incident, while the injured people have been rescued and hospitalized, it said.“A total of 14 deaths have been confirmed so far, including 10 women, three children and a male. Those who got injured are out of danger, said,” Dhanbad Deputy Commissioner Sandeep Singh. He, however, refused to comment on the reason behind the fire as the investigation was still on.

    The Deputy Commissioner has issued an investigation into the matter by forming a committee.

    Locals revealed that the fire apparently was caused due to an earthen lamp (diya) while performing a ritual on the third floor, which engulfed the flat located just above it on the fourth floor, killing 14 persons of the same family. People had assembled there to attend a marriage ceremony.

    Some were charred to death, while many died of suffocation, sources claimed.

    Notably, barring minor burn injuries, none of the people died in the flat on the third floor where the fire started.

    RANCHI: The Jharkhand High Court on Wednesday took suo-moto cognizance into the massive fire incident which engulfed a multi-storied residential building at Dhanbad on Tuesday claiming 14 lives, including 10 women and three children.

    Nearly two dozen people also received serious burn injuries after a major fire broke out on the second floor of ‘Ashirwad Tower’ in the Joraphatak area of Dhanbad, around 160 km from the state capital Ranchi. They have been admitted to Shaheed Nirmal Mahto Medical College and Hospital (SNMMCH) in Dhanbad.

    “The Jharkhand High Court has taken suo-moto cognizance into the incident of fire which took place in Dhanbad on Tuesday and the matter will be heard on Thursday,” said Piyush Chitresh, junior counsel at the office of Advocate General.

    Meanwhile, Chief Minister Hemant Soren announced Rs 4 lakh compensation for the family members of those who lost their near and dear ones in the fire incident. Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the loss of lives in the devastating fire and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the next-of-kin of the deceased. PM Modi also announced that an amount of Rs 50,000 each has also been sanctioned for the injured in the incident.

    Firefighters try to douse a fire that broke out at, multi-storey building in Dhanbad. (Photo | PTI)

    According to officials, the fire broke out at around 6 pm at the Ashirwad Tower apartment under the Bank More police station jurisdiction, which was brought under control after a four-hour operation. As many as 40 fire tenders were roped in to dodge the fire, they said.

    An official communiqué from the district administration stated that the fire started on the third floor.

    Fourteen people died in the incident, while the injured people have been rescued and hospitalized, it said.
    “A total of 14 deaths have been confirmed so far, including 10 women, three children and a male. Those who got injured are out of danger, said,” Dhanbad Deputy Commissioner Sandeep Singh. He, however, refused to comment on the reason behind the fire as the investigation was still on.

    The Deputy Commissioner has issued an investigation into the matter by forming a committee.

    Locals revealed that the fire apparently was caused due to an earthen lamp (diya) while performing a ritual on the third floor, which engulfed the flat located just above it on the fourth floor, killing 14 persons of the same family. People had assembled there to attend a marriage ceremony.

    Some were charred to death, while many died of suffocation, sources claimed.

    Notably, barring minor burn injuries, none of the people died in the flat on the third floor where the fire started.

  • Centre picks Jharkhand for mental health services to leprosy patients

    By PTI

    RANCHI: Centre has picked Jharkhand to pilot its integration of mental health services for leprosy patients, an official said on Friday.

    For this, the two national initiatives – National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) and National Mental Health Programme have been integrated and a two-day workshop on ‘Integration of Mental Health Services for Leprosy Patients’ was organised here, additional director general of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Anil Kumar said.

    Officers of leprosy eradication departments of 12 states took part in the workshop, he said.

    Speaking to media persons, Kumar said, “We have picked Jharkhand for two reasons — the prevalence of high rate of leprosy in the state and the existence of the prestigious Central Institute of Psychiatry (CIP) in Ranchi. The programme will gradually be extended to other states of the country.”

    According to NLEP Jharkhand data, the state’s leprosy rate is 1.8% against the national average of 0.45%.

    A total 5,442 new cases of leprosy were detected till November last year.

    In 2021-22, 4025 cases of the disease was detected, while the figure was 3450 cases in 2020-21, according to the data.

    Treatment completion rate of the state was 95.40% in 2021-22.

    Kumar said even though leprosy is totally curable, a stigma is attached to it which creates depression and anxiety among patients.

    “We found 33 per cent patients are suffering from depression and 19 per cent from anxiety disorder,” he said.

    The department conducted a study to understand the mental status of leprosy patients in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Chattisgarh and Maharashtra, he said.

    Under the integration programme, the patients will be provided counselling along with leprosy treatment.

    In critical cases, patients will be referred to CIP, Kumar added.

    RANCHI: Centre has picked Jharkhand to pilot its integration of mental health services for leprosy patients, an official said on Friday.

    For this, the two national initiatives – National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) and National Mental Health Programme have been integrated and a two-day workshop on ‘Integration of Mental Health Services for Leprosy Patients’ was organised here, additional director general of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Anil Kumar said.

    Officers of leprosy eradication departments of 12 states took part in the workshop, he said.

    Speaking to media persons, Kumar said, “We have picked Jharkhand for two reasons — the prevalence of high rate of leprosy in the state and the existence of the prestigious Central Institute of Psychiatry (CIP) in Ranchi. The programme will gradually be extended to other states of the country.”

    According to NLEP Jharkhand data, the state’s leprosy rate is 1.8% against the national average of 0.45%.

    A total 5,442 new cases of leprosy were detected till November last year.

    In 2021-22, 4025 cases of the disease was detected, while the figure was 3450 cases in 2020-21, according to the data.

    Treatment completion rate of the state was 95.40% in 2021-22.

    Kumar said even though leprosy is totally curable, a stigma is attached to it which creates depression and anxiety among patients.

    “We found 33 per cent patients are suffering from depression and 19 per cent from anxiety disorder,” he said.

    The department conducted a study to understand the mental status of leprosy patients in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Chattisgarh and Maharashtra, he said.

    Under the integration programme, the patients will be provided counselling along with leprosy treatment.

    In critical cases, patients will be referred to CIP, Kumar added.