News Analysis India

Tag: Uttar Pradesh

  • Mamata Faces BJP Pressure To Announce Holiday In West Bengal For Ram Temple Event, TMC Calls It political stunt |

    New Delhi: West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar on Friday appealed to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to announce a holiday on January 22 so that the people of the state can join the festivities of the Ram temple consecration ceremony in Ayodhya. The central government offices, public sector banks, insurance companies, financial institutions and regional rural banks (RRBs) in the country will be closed for half a day on January 22. Some states, such as Assam and Odisha, which are neighbouring West Bengal, have also declared a half-day holiday for the occasion.

    Majumdar shared a letter he sent to the chief minister on X, saying “I have requested our Hon’ble CM @MamataOfficial (Mamata Banerjee) to kindly consider declaring 22nd January 2024 to be a school holiday, so that the youth of West Bengal gets to rejoice in the Ram Mandir consecration celebrations.”

    I have requested our Hon’ble CM @MamataOfficial to kindly consider declaring 22nd January, 2024 to be a school holiday, so that the youth of West Bengal gets to rejoice in the Ram Mandir consecration celebrations…#RamMandirPranPratishta #RamMandir pic.twitter.com/h4U4TagCKZ
    — Dr. Sukanta Majumdar (@DrSukantaBJP) January 19, 2024

    He mentioned that the chief minister has given holidays for many special events in the past. He added, “We think that the people of the state should also get the opportunity to participate in the Ram Temple inauguration. We request you to officially declare the day as a holiday.” The TMC leadership, however, expressed doubt over the significance of the date for the Ram temple inauguration.

    TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh asked, “Is there any specific date in the almanac or any other Hindu religious calendar where the auspicious date for Ram Temple inauguration is mentioned? Has Sukanta Majumdar become a priest? The event (Ram Temple inauguration) where many BJP leaders will be present is a political event before the Lok Sabha elections. We don’t mix religion with politics like the BJP.”

    Banerjee, who is also the head of the ruling TMC, will lead a ‘rally for harmony’ on January 22 from Hazra Crossing in south Kolkata to Park Circus, where she will also address a public meeting. She will begin the all-faith march after offering ‘puja’ at the ancient Kalighat temple, and visit places of worship of different religions along the way.

  • Lok Sabha Polls: Congress demands 20 seats in Uttar Pradesh; Samajwadi Party finds it ‘unreasonable’

    Congress has sought 20 of 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh from Samajwadi Party, a demand which the regional party found ‘unreasonable’. The two parties are likely to meet again on Thursday to take talks forward, according to some leaders.

    According to people present at the second formal round of seat-sharing talks on Wednesday, Congress and SP discussed a seat-sharing formula and agreed ‘winnability’ should be the main criterion for deciding which party gets which seat. Congress won only Rae Bareli Lok Sabha seat in 2019.

    A senior leader, who did not wish to be identified, told ET: “The exact number of seats were discussed. Congress has sought 20 seats. The list of seats was also discussed. Both parties have decided to meet again, and hold talks seat by seat.” There was no discussion on an alliance with BSP or RLD. A senior leader said, “RLD is Samajwadi Party’s ally. It is clear that any alliance talk of RLD will be with Samajwadi Party and not Congress.” RLD has already held talks with SP. Though Mayawati has announced that BSP would contest elections alone, Congress is keen on a grand alliance in UP because it feels that it is the only way the Opposition could give BJP a tough contest.In 2019, BJP secured 49.56% vote share, BSP 19.26%, SP 17.96% and Congress 6.31%. Though the influence of SP and BSP have declined considerably, a united Opposition could change the equation. Emerging from the meeting, senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid told journalists, “we held a good round of talks… We put forward our wish list before each other and compared the details of each seat with each other and we hope that from their side we will receive more feedback before we can reach a final discussion.” On questions regarding BSP’s inclusion, Khurshid said the leadership would handle it. He said Congress hoped that the alliance would be finalised before the Bharat Jodo Nyaya Yatra reaches UP.

    SP MP Ram Gopal Yadav said, “we have come halfway and will complete the entire journey soon.” UP Congress chief Ajay Rai and MLA Aradhana Mishra too joined the discussions. SP MP Javed Ali Khan, former SP MLC and a close aide of Akhilesh Yadav, Udaiveer Singh, and Ram Gopal Yadav represented SP. After the meeting with Congress, SP went into a huddle.

  • Ram Mandir inauguration: “People will reject them in upcoming elections,” Anurag Thakur slams Congress

    Union Minister Anurag Thakur slammed the Congress party for declining the invitation to attend the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya, scheduled later this month and said that people too will “reject” them in the upcoming elections.

    Earlier on Wednesday, Congress declared that it would skip the massive inauguration ceremony being planned for the Ayodhya Ram Temple, saying it was a “political project” of the BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

    “Whenever Congress criticised Sanatana, whenever it insulted Hindus and whenever it questioned the existence of Lord Ram, we all have seen the condition of Congress after that,” Thakur told reporters on Thursday. He further asserted that Congress only boycotts the events, whether it is the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony of Ram Temple or anything else.

    “Whenever there is a Parliament session, Congress boycotts it. Whenever there is a speech by Modiji, Congress boycotts it. Whenever good work is done, Congress boycotts it. The people of the country will do the same thing by boycotting Congress in the next elections and will show the way out,” he added.

    Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav termed it unfortunate and claimed that the grand old party is insulting the ‘pran pratishtha’ ceremony.”This is very unfortunate. First, Congress created obstacles in (the construction) of Ram Temple. Now, they are insulting the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony. In a way, it has hurt the sentiments of the majority of the population of the country. Congress should apologise,” MP CM said. Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai said that the grand old party has rejected the invitation to the ‘pran pratishtha’ of Ram Temple, and people too will reject them.

    “This is wrong. They show double standards. They sometimes question the existence of Lord Ram and become ‘Chunavi Sanatani’ at other times…They have rejected the invitation to the ‘pran pratishtha’ of Ram Temple today, people too will reject them,” Chhattisgarh CM said.

    Madhya Pradesh Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya said that Congress always questioned the existence of Lord Ram.

    “Congress never looked at Lord Ram from the point of view of reverence, they said that he is imaginary so for them Lord Ram is not the centre of faith. This is an insult to the public sentiments of the country and the public will respond to it in the upcoming elections,” Vijayvargiya told on Thursday.

    Bihar BJP President Samrat Chaudhary also hit out at Congress and said that we are supporters of Sanatana Dharma, when Lord Ram is worshipped, BJP will stand.

    Meanwhile, RJD MP Manoj Jha said that Mahatma Gandhi did not become a devotee of Lord Ram by going to the temple but still he went to heaven.

    “It is wrong to do politics in the name of Lord Ram. There is a direct connection between me and Lord Ram. Gandhi did not become a devotee of Lord Ram by going to the temple, that concept was inside him, and that is why he went to heaven and went saying ‘Hey Ram’,” he added.

    Moreover, Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai said that said that all the Congressmen will visit Ayodhya on Makar Sankranti.

    “The name of Ram is the basis of life in this world. This Makar Sankranti, all of us Congressmen will go to Ayodhya from the state headquarters, Lucknow, to have darshan of Ramlala. We will also visit Hanuman Garhi and worship,” Rai posted on X.

    On Wednesday, senior Congress leaders–Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury–‘declined” the invitation for the grand event in Ayodhya.

    “Lord Ram is worshipped by millions in our country. Religion is a personal matter. But the RSS/BJP have long made a political project of the temple in Ayodhya. The inauguration of the incomplete temple by the leaders of the BJP and the RSS has obviously been brought forward for electoral gain. While abiding by the 2019 Supreme Court judgement and honouring the sentiments of millions who revere Lord Ram, Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury have respectfully declined the invitation to what is clearly an RSS/BJP event,” the Congress said in its statement.

    Preparations are underway in full swing for the Ram Temple ‘Pran Pratishtha’ on January 22, which will draw dignitaries and people from all walks of life.

  • Gaj Prastha, Doodheshwar Nath Nagar Or Harnandipuram: Civic Body Clears Proposal To Rename Ghaziabad

    During the meeting, three names — Gaj Prastha, Doodheshwar Nath Nagar or Harnandipuram — were finalised, which would now be sent to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

  • UP STF Arrests Two For Bomb Threat To Ram Temple, CM Yogi Adityanath

    A team of Uttar Pradesh’s Special Task Force arrested Tahar Singh and Omprakash Mishra from Vibhuti Khand area of Gomti Nagar in Lucknow, according to a statement.

  • PM Modi’s Twin Gifts To UP Today: Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor, Vande Bharat Express |

    New Delhi: On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will unveil the new Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction to New Bhaupur Junction stretch of the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC), a vital project for the logistics sector. The 402 km-long section, which cost Rs 10,903 crores, runs along the Delhi-Howrah rail route, covering districts such as Chandauli, Mirzapur, Prayagraj, Kaushambi, Fatehpur, Kanpur Nagar and Kanpur Dehat in Uttar Pradesh. It has 12 stations, comprising six junction stations and six crossing stations.

    The corridor links the coal fields of Jharkhand and West Bengal, such as Eastern Coalfields Limited, Central Coalfields Limited, Bharat Coking Coal Limited and Northern Coalfields Limited, to power plants in Northern India. With freight trains running at speeds of up to 100 km/h on this corridor, the quick delivery of coal to power plants has resulted in lower logistic costs and time. Moreover, the transportation of essential goods, such as iron and steel, has become more effective.

    The inauguration of this segment has not only relieved the congestion on the Delhi-Howrah main line but has also enabled the fast and smooth operation of trains on the freight corridor. This has paved the way for the introduction of more passenger train services on the Delhi-Howrah main line.

    Near New Kanpur Junction, a multimodal logistics park will be developed, offering efficient cargo transportation facilities and creating new employment opportunities in the region.

    The completion of this project has not only enhanced the transportation of goods in the region but has also stimulated economic and commercial activities. This has generated new job opportunities for the youth in sectors such as agriculture, food processing, MSMEs, and handicrafts.

    The Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor is a reflection of the government’s commitment to modernising infrastructure and promoting economic growth across the country.

    New Vande Bharat Express Between Delhi And Varanasi

    The Indian Railways is ready to start operations of an advanced semi-high-speed train, Vande Bharat, improving connectivity between Uttar Pradesh and the national capital. To mark this significant milestone, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the second Vande Bharat Express train running between Varanasi and New Delhi.

    The launch of this Vande Bharat Express from Varanasi is expected to benefit travellers heading to Prayagraj, Kanpur and New Delhi, offering an additional fast and modern travel option. The initiative not only saves passengers time but also boosts cultural, industrial, and economic development in the region.

    Starting its journey from the spiritual city of Varanasi, the train will pass through Prayagraj, Kanpur and reach the national capital, New Delhi. This new service will especially benefit pilgrims heading to Prayagraj and professionals travelling between the industrial hub of Kanpur and the bustling city of New Delhi.

    The regular operation of the Vande Bharat Express is scheduled to commence on December 20, 2023. Departing from Varanasi at 6:00 AM, the train will reach Prayagraj at 07:34 AM, Kanpur Central at 09:30 AM and finally, New Delhi at 2:05 PM.

  • Devotees flock to seek Raavan’s blessings at Kanpur temple which is open only on Dusshera

    By ANI

    KANPUR: Devotees flocked to the Dashanan Temple in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur on Tuesday to worship Raavan on the occasion of Vijayadashami, also known as Dussehra. The temple is said to be 125 years old.

    Dashanan Temple priest, Ram Bajpai, told ANI that the temple opens only on the occasion of Dussehra and devotees come to pray that their children acquire wisdom and power similar to that of Raavan.

    “We open this temple on the day of Dussehra and worship Raavan and the temple is closed in the evening after burning of a Raavan effigy. The temple opens only on the day of Dussehra. We worship him for his knowledge. There was no one else who possessed the power, knowledge, and wisdom similar to that of Raavan. His only drawback was his arrogance,” said the temple priest.

    “We burn that arrogance in the form of his effigy and we pray over here (at the temple) for our children to have power and wisdom similar to what Raavan possessed,” the priest added.

    #WATCH | Kanpur, UP: “We open this temple today and worship Ravan today on the day of Dussehra and then in the evening after burning the effigy we close this temple. It only opens on the day of Dussehra…We worship him for his knowledge…” says Dashanan temple purohit Ram… pic.twitter.com/ZbrQ9GvLYl
    — ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) October 24, 2023
    Among other temples dedicated to Raavan is the Raavana Mandir in Bisrakh, Greater Noida.

    In Andhra Pradesh’s East Godavari district, there is the Kakinada Raavan temple believed to be built by Raavan when he was the king of Lanka in honour of Lord Shiva.

    There are several temples in Madhya Pradesh dedicated to Raavan, including one in Mandsaur where the wedding of Raavan with Mandodari was believed to have taken place, and another in Vidisha, which is believed to be the native place of Mandodari.

    Dussehra is that time of the year when the well-known Ramleela is held, massive fairs are organized, and people gather in large numbers to see Raavan effigies burst into flames.  Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

    KANPUR: Devotees flocked to the Dashanan Temple in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur on Tuesday to worship Raavan on the occasion of Vijayadashami, also known as Dussehra. The temple is said to be 125 years old.

    Dashanan Temple priest, Ram Bajpai, told ANI that the temple opens only on the occasion of Dussehra and devotees come to pray that their children acquire wisdom and power similar to that of Raavan.

    “We open this temple on the day of Dussehra and worship Raavan and the temple is closed in the evening after burning of a Raavan effigy. The temple opens only on the day of Dussehra. We worship him for his knowledge. There was no one else who possessed the power, knowledge, and wisdom similar to that of Raavan. His only drawback was his arrogance,” said the temple priest.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “We burn that arrogance in the form of his effigy and we pray over here (at the temple) for our children to have power and wisdom similar to what Raavan possessed,” the priest added.

    #WATCH | Kanpur, UP: “We open this temple today and worship Ravan today on the day of Dussehra and then in the evening after burning the effigy we close this temple. It only opens on the day of Dussehra…We worship him for his knowledge…” says Dashanan temple purohit Ram… pic.twitter.com/ZbrQ9GvLYl
    — ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) October 24, 2023
    Among other temples dedicated to Raavan is the Raavana Mandir in Bisrakh, Greater Noida.

    In Andhra Pradesh’s East Godavari district, there is the Kakinada Raavan temple believed to be built by Raavan when he was the king of Lanka in honour of Lord Shiva.

    There are several temples in Madhya Pradesh dedicated to Raavan, including one in Mandsaur where the wedding of Raavan with Mandodari was believed to have taken place, and another in Vidisha, which is believed to be the native place of Mandodari.

    Dussehra is that time of the year when the well-known Ramleela is held, massive fairs are organized, and people gather in large numbers to see Raavan effigies burst into flames.  Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

  • Bihar caste census galvanises opposition and BJP allies to demand similar exercise in UP

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: The results of Bihar’s caste survey announced on Monday galvanised both the opposition parties and the BJP allies alike in UP to reiterate their demand for a similar exercises in the country’s politically most crucial state.

    In Uttar Pradesh — where the Mandal Commission report in 1990 had led to a major political churn aiding the rise of regional satraps Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party – the caste census is set to decide the future course of the state’s politics.

    Bahujan Samaj Party chief and four-time UP CM Mayawati on Tuesday said the caste-based census in Bihar was the first step towards ensuring constitutional rights to other backward classes (OBCs).

    Demanding a similar exercise in Uttar Pradesh, she said: “The findings of the caste census in Bihar may be making some parties uncomfortable, but for the BSP, it is the first step in the long struggle for ensuring the constitutional rights of OBCs,” she posted on X.

    Demanding that the UP government commence the caste-based census immediately, Mayawati said the “right solution”, however, would be that the BJP-led central government conducts the exercise at the national level.

    The BSP chief said her party was happy that India’s politics was taking a new turn in favour of the neglected ‘Bahujan Samaj’. She said the new development had rendered what she called “extreme anti-caste and anti-Mandal” sections, worried for their future.

    ALSO READ | Caste census: Singhvi strikes discordant note on Congress’ pitch for ‘jitni abaadi, utna haq’

    Mayawati’s regional rival and UP’s main opposition party Samajwadi Party’s chief Akhilesh Yadav also demanded a similar exercise at the national level.

    “Bihar caste-based census published: This is the mathematical basis of social justice. The caste census will not open a new path of 85-15 conflict but of cooperation and those who are not domineering but are supporters of everyone’s rights, they support and welcome it. Those who really want to get the rights, get the caste census done. The BJP government should leave politics and conduct a nationwide caste census,” he had posted on X.

    Even SP allies including Jayant Chaudhury led Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) and the Apna Dal (K) – also echoed the same sentiment.

    “The caste census is a must in UP as well to ensure correct share of various castes in various government schemes,” RLD state president Ramashish Rai said. “We demand the UP government immediately order a caste census now when the Bihar government has even released the report.”

    The UP Congress leader and former chief of UPCC Ajay Kumar Lallu said the Bihar survey results had vindicated the Opposition bloc’s stance.

    Even three of the BJP allies, having their bastions in eastern Uttar Pradesh, demanded a caste count in India’s most-populous state, just months before the 2024 general elections.

    These allies — the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) the Nishad Party and the Apna Dal (Sonelal) — are given weight because they control crucial backward caste groups — Rajbhars back the SBSP, boatmen and fishermen support the Nishad Party and Kurmis vote for the Apna Dal (Sonelal) — that are key to winning at least 20 to 25 seats on offer in eastern UP.

    While Apna Dal (S) leader and Union minister Anupriya Patel, a Lok Sabha MP from Mirzapur, backed the exercise of caste census saying she had raised the issues in Parliament as well, SBSP chief Om Prakash Rajbhar welcomed Bihar’s move saying one must ask whether those castes, which had emerged as most backward and whose numbers were high too in their survey, had actually benefited over the years in state, which for the last three decades had mostly been ruled either by Lalu Prasad’s RJD or Nitish Kumar’s JD (U).

    Meanwhile, the ruling BJP sought to counter Bihar’s caste census move by highlighting the developmental work done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “In Uttar Pradesh everyone is getting their rights and respect,” said BJP’s UP other backward classes (OBC) wing chief and backward welfare minister Narendra Kashyap.

    “My department’s budget that used to be around Rs 500 crore earlier has gone up under Yogi Adityanathji’s government manifold and currently is pegged at Rs 2,300 crore…That is why the issue of caste census isn’t getting much attention as OBCs have benefited under our government like never before,” Kashyap added.

    LUCKNOW: The results of Bihar’s caste survey announced on Monday galvanised both the opposition parties and the BJP allies alike in UP to reiterate their demand for a similar exercises in the country’s politically most crucial state.

    In Uttar Pradesh — where the Mandal Commission report in 1990 had led to a major political churn aiding the rise of regional satraps Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party – the caste census is set to decide the future course of the state’s politics.

    Bahujan Samaj Party chief and four-time UP CM Mayawati on Tuesday said the caste-based census in Bihar was the first step towards ensuring constitutional rights to other backward classes (OBCs).googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Demanding a similar exercise in Uttar Pradesh, she said: “The findings of the caste census in Bihar may be making some parties uncomfortable, but for the BSP, it is the first step in the long struggle for ensuring the constitutional rights of OBCs,” she posted on X.

    Demanding that the UP government commence the caste-based census immediately, Mayawati said the “right solution”, however, would be that the BJP-led central government conducts the exercise at the national level.

    The BSP chief said her party was happy that India’s politics was taking a new turn in favour of the neglected ‘Bahujan Samaj’. She said the new development had rendered what she called “extreme anti-caste and anti-Mandal” sections, worried for their future.

    ALSO READ | Caste census: Singhvi strikes discordant note on Congress’ pitch for ‘jitni abaadi, utna haq’

    Mayawati’s regional rival and UP’s main opposition party Samajwadi Party’s chief Akhilesh Yadav also demanded a similar exercise at the national level.

    “Bihar caste-based census published: This is the mathematical basis of social justice. The caste census will not open a new path of 85-15 conflict but of cooperation and those who are not domineering but are supporters of everyone’s rights, they support and welcome it. Those who really want to get the rights, get the caste census done. The BJP government should leave politics and conduct a nationwide caste census,” he had posted on X.

    Even SP allies including Jayant Chaudhury led Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) and the Apna Dal (K) – also echoed the same sentiment.

    “The caste census is a must in UP as well to ensure correct share of various castes in various government schemes,” RLD state president Ramashish Rai said. “We demand the UP government immediately order a caste census now when the Bihar government has even released the report.”

    The UP Congress leader and former chief of UPCC Ajay Kumar Lallu said the Bihar survey results had vindicated the Opposition bloc’s stance.

    Even three of the BJP allies, having their bastions in eastern Uttar Pradesh, demanded a caste count in India’s most-populous state, just months before the 2024 general elections.

    These allies — the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) the Nishad Party and the Apna Dal (Sonelal) — are given weight because they control crucial backward caste groups — Rajbhars back the SBSP, boatmen and fishermen support the Nishad Party and Kurmis vote for the Apna Dal (Sonelal) — that are key to winning at least 20 to 25 seats on offer in eastern UP.

    While Apna Dal (S) leader and Union minister Anupriya Patel, a Lok Sabha MP from Mirzapur, backed the exercise of caste census saying she had raised the issues in Parliament as well, SBSP chief Om Prakash Rajbhar welcomed Bihar’s move saying one must ask whether those castes, which had emerged as most backward and whose numbers were high too in their survey, had actually benefited over the years in state, which for the last three decades had mostly been ruled either by Lalu Prasad’s RJD or Nitish Kumar’s JD (U).

    Meanwhile, the ruling BJP sought to counter Bihar’s caste census move by highlighting the developmental work done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “In Uttar Pradesh everyone is getting their rights and respect,” said BJP’s UP other backward classes (OBC) wing chief and backward welfare minister Narendra Kashyap.

    “My department’s budget that used to be around Rs 500 crore earlier has gone up under Yogi Adityanathji’s government manifold and currently is pegged at Rs 2,300 crore…That is why the issue of caste census isn’t getting much attention as OBCs have benefited under our government like never before,” Kashyap added.

  • Nine killed as tractor falls into drain in Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur

    By PTI

    SAHARANPUR/LUCKNOW: A tractor-trolley fell into a drain near Redhibodki village in the Saharanpur district, leaving nine people dead, four of them children, police on Thursday said.

    The incident took place Wednesday evening in the Tajpura area when a tractor carrying around 50 devotees was on its way to Randaul village for a religious event, Superintendent of Police, City, Abhimanyu Manglik told PTI.

    On Wednesday, police recovered four bodies from the drain.

    The victims were identified as Sulochana, 58, Manglesh, 50, and Aditi and Arjun, both aged five and 12.

    Five bodies recovered on Thursday are yet to be identified, Manglik said.

    Several people were washed away due to a strong current in the river.

    A rescue operation is still on to retrieve one missing person, the SP said.

    The spot was visited by Saharanpur District Magistrate Dr Dinesh Chand and SSP Dr Vipin Tada.

    Tada told PTI that the villagers had been told not to take the route but the driver disregarded the warning.

    An excavation machine has been called in to assist in the rescue work, the SSP added.

    Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his grief over the deaths and asked the Saharanpur administration to immediately grant Rs 4 lakh each to victims’ kin, an official statement said.

    SAHARANPUR/LUCKNOW: A tractor-trolley fell into a drain near Redhibodki village in the Saharanpur district, leaving nine people dead, four of them children, police on Thursday said.

    The incident took place Wednesday evening in the Tajpura area when a tractor carrying around 50 devotees was on its way to Randaul village for a religious event, Superintendent of Police, City, Abhimanyu Manglik told PTI.

    On Wednesday, police recovered four bodies from the drain.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2′); });

    The victims were identified as Sulochana, 58, Manglesh, 50, and Aditi and Arjun, both aged five and 12.

    Five bodies recovered on Thursday are yet to be identified, Manglik said.

    Several people were washed away due to a strong current in the river.

    A rescue operation is still on to retrieve one missing person, the SP said.

    The spot was visited by Saharanpur District Magistrate Dr Dinesh Chand and SSP Dr Vipin Tada.

    Tada told PTI that the villagers had been told not to take the route but the driver disregarded the warning.

    An excavation machine has been called in to assist in the rescue work, the SSP added.

    Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his grief over the deaths and asked the Saharanpur administration to immediately grant Rs 4 lakh each to victims’ kin, an official statement said.

  • SC seeks details of 183 encounters from UP govt, expresses concern over rise in cases

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: India’s top court on Friday directed the Uttar Pradesh government to submit an affidavit detailing the trial and investigation statuses related to the 183 encounters that have occurred in the state since 2017. The court, hearing pleas seeking the constitution of a commission chaired by a retired SC judge to inquire into the police custody deaths of gangster Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf on April 15, 2023, said the scope of the matter extended beyond the case.

    Expressing concerns over the growing instances of police encounters and custodial deaths, not only in Uttar Pradesh but also in other states, a bench led by Justice SR Bhat emphasized the necessity of establishing a functional mechanism to monitor the progress of investigations.

    “We require information about the accused, trial stage, and adherence to NHRC guidelines. Why these incidents occur within prison walls is a question. There appears to be a connection. We must sever this link. What is the investigation status? What charges are being pursued? This trend extends beyond one state. Clarify NHRC guidelines. Describe the state’s position and its application in other trials,” asked Justice Bhat.

    “We have commissions and Special Investigation Teams (SIT). PUCL guidelines are also at our disposal. Numerous cases have risen. Is there an established procedure? How is the prosecution progressing? We want this as a reference point. Similar incidents have occurred in other states. How have they been dealt with?” he asked.

    Justice Aravind Kumar, also a part of the bench, asked, “How was the information obtained? This is crucial. Can a group of 5-10 guards be easily overpowered for a shooting? Is this plausible? There is likely complicity. It is not solely the leader’s fault.” 

    Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing the UP government, apprised the court about the formation of SITs and inquiry commissions, highlighting the state’s prompt response.

    Senior Advocate Siddhartha Dave, representing Atiq’s sister, said, “Two commissions were established, one led by Justice Bhonsale and the other by Rajiv Lochan. These separate inquiry commissions might yield varying conclusions. Uttar Pradesh might need to clarify its alignment with NHRC guidelines.”

    READ MORE:

    NEW DELHI: India’s top court on Friday directed the Uttar Pradesh government to submit an affidavit detailing the trial and investigation statuses related to the 183 encounters that have occurred in the state since 2017. The court, hearing pleas seeking the constitution of a commission chaired by a retired SC judge to inquire into the police custody deaths of gangster Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf on April 15, 2023, said the scope of the matter extended beyond the case.

    Expressing concerns over the growing instances of police encounters and custodial deaths, not only in Uttar Pradesh but also in other states, a bench led by Justice SR Bhat emphasized the necessity of establishing a functional mechanism to monitor the progress of investigations.

    “We require information about the accused, trial stage, and adherence to NHRC guidelines. Why these incidents occur within prison walls is a question. There appears to be a connection. We must sever this link. What is the investigation status? What charges are being pursued? This trend extends beyond one state. Clarify NHRC guidelines. Describe the state’s position and its application in other trials,” asked Justice Bhat.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “We have commissions and Special Investigation Teams (SIT). PUCL guidelines are also at our disposal. Numerous cases have risen. Is there an established procedure? How is the prosecution progressing? We want this as a reference point. Similar incidents have occurred in other states. How have they been dealt with?” he asked.

    Justice Aravind Kumar, also a part of the bench, asked, “How was the information obtained? This is crucial. Can a group of 5-10 guards be easily overpowered for a shooting? Is this plausible? There is likely complicity. It is not solely the leader’s fault.” 

    Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing the UP government, apprised the court about the formation of SITs and inquiry commissions, highlighting the state’s prompt response.

    Senior Advocate Siddhartha Dave, representing Atiq’s sister, said, “Two commissions were established, one led by Justice Bhonsale and the other by Rajiv Lochan. These separate inquiry commissions might yield varying conclusions. Uttar Pradesh might need to clarify its alignment with NHRC guidelines.”

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