News Analysis India

Tag: Uttar Pradesh

  • Video of man urinating on drunk friend goes viral, two held in UP’s Sonbhadra

    By PTI

    SONBHADRA: Two people have been arrested after a video purporting to show a man urinating on another was widely circulated on social media, police said on Thursday.

    The alleged incident took place in the district’s Jugail area on July 11.

    The pair, who enjoyed good relations, had an argument after consuming alcohol and Jawahar Patel allegedly assaulted Gulab Kol before urinating on his ears, Superintendent of Police Yashveer Singh said.

    As the victim was drunk, he did not realise what had happened.

    However, someone shot a video of the incident that was later circulated on social media, he said.

    Kol has lodged a complaint in this regard and an FIR is being registered, Singh said.

    Patel and his accomplice have been arrested, he added.

    The incident follows the arrest of Pravesh Shukla in Madhya Pradesh for allegedly urinating on Dashmat Rawat, who belongs to a tribal community.

    SONBHADRA: Two people have been arrested after a video purporting to show a man urinating on another was widely circulated on social media, police said on Thursday.

    The alleged incident took place in the district’s Jugail area on July 11.

    The pair, who enjoyed good relations, had an argument after consuming alcohol and Jawahar Patel allegedly assaulted Gulab Kol before urinating on his ears, Superintendent of Police Yashveer Singh said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    As the victim was drunk, he did not realise what had happened.

    However, someone shot a video of the incident that was later circulated on social media, he said.

    Kol has lodged a complaint in this regard and an FIR is being registered, Singh said.

    Patel and his accomplice have been arrested, he added.

    The incident follows the arrest of Pravesh Shukla in Madhya Pradesh for allegedly urinating on Dashmat Rawat, who belongs to a tribal community.

  • 14 killed as rains continue to lash Uttar Pradesh; several rivers in spate 

    By PTI

    LUCKNOW: As many as 14 persons were killed in rain-related incidents in Uttar Pradesh in the past 24 hours as several rivers crossed the danger mark, officials here said.

    Owing to torrential monsoon rains that continued to lash the state on Thursday, the Ganga breached the red mark at the Kachhla bridge in the Budaun district, a report from Central Water Commission (CWC) said.

    The Yamuna is also flowing above the danger level at Mavi in Shamli, the report added.

    “A total of 14 persons have died due to rain-related incidents in the state in the past 24 hours since 6 pm on Wednesday,” the Uttar Pradesh Relief Commissioner said in a statement.

    While three persons each died due to lightning at Siddharth Nagar and Shravasti, one was killed in Sultanpur when lightning struck him, the statement said.

    Meanwhile, four persons drowned — two in Barabanki, one each in Raebareli and Hardoi.

    Three persons — one in Saharanpur and two in Barabanki — died in other rain-related incidents, it added.

    A total of 2.31 lakh people in Uttar Pradesh, including 2.27 lakh in Saharanpur district alone, have been hit by the floods so far, the statement said.

    In the past 24 hours, according to the CWC report, Sambhal was the wettest place in the state with a rainfall of 21 cm, followed by Bijnor recording 15 cm, and Saharanpur 13 cm.

    According to the Met Office, rainfall in the state will continue till July 18.

    LUCKNOW: As many as 14 persons were killed in rain-related incidents in Uttar Pradesh in the past 24 hours as several rivers crossed the danger mark, officials here said.

    Owing to torrential monsoon rains that continued to lash the state on Thursday, the Ganga breached the red mark at the Kachhla bridge in the Budaun district, a report from Central Water Commission (CWC) said.

    The Yamuna is also flowing above the danger level at Mavi in Shamli, the report added.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “A total of 14 persons have died due to rain-related incidents in the state in the past 24 hours since 6 pm on Wednesday,” the Uttar Pradesh Relief Commissioner said in a statement.

    While three persons each died due to lightning at Siddharth Nagar and Shravasti, one was killed in Sultanpur when lightning struck him, the statement said.

    Meanwhile, four persons drowned — two in Barabanki, one each in Raebareli and Hardoi.

    Three persons — one in Saharanpur and two in Barabanki — died in other rain-related incidents, it added.

    A total of 2.31 lakh people in Uttar Pradesh, including 2.27 lakh in Saharanpur district alone, have been hit by the floods so far, the statement said.

    In the past 24 hours, according to the CWC report, Sambhal was the wettest place in the state with a rainfall of 21 cm, followed by Bijnor recording 15 cm, and Saharanpur 13 cm.

    According to the Met Office, rainfall in the state will continue till July 18.

  • Jailed gangster-neta Mukhtar Ansari acquitted in 2009 attempt to murder case

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: A Ghazipur MP/MLA court, on Wednesday, acquitted incarcerated gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari in a case of attempt to murder registered against him in 2009.

    The former MLA from the Mau Sadar constituency was acquitted by the court over a lack of sufficient evidence.

    Mukhtar was booked under Sections 307 (attempt to murder) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of IPC in the case. He appeared before the Ghazipur MP/MLA court through video-conferencing from Banda jail.

    According to Mukhtar Ansari’s lawyer Liaquat Ali, in 2009, Meer Hasan, a resident of Mohammadabad lodged a case alleging that one Sonu Yadav attacked him with an intent to murder.

    The case was registered under Section 307 (attempt to murder) at the Mohammadabad police station. Later, police named Mukhtar as a co-accused in the case despite the fact that he was lodged in jail at the time of the incident.

    It was suspected that Mukhtar had hatched the conspiracy of eliminating the complainant.

    However, the main accused booked under Section 307 of IPC had already been acquitted owing to insufficient evidence against him in the case.

    ALSO READ | Mukhtar Ansari: The gangster grandson of a Congress President and a war hero

    On Wednesday, additional sessions judge (MP-MLA) Durgesh Kumar pronounced the verdict in the case exonerating the gangster-turned-politician.

    According to Additional District Government counsel (criminal) Neeraj Kumar Srivastava, during the trial, complainant Mir Hassan himself and prime witness Ramkrit Yadav had turned hostile to the vantage of Mukhtar Ansari.

    Srivastav, however, said the acquittal will not lead to the release of Ansari as he is accused in several other cases and was also convicted in a case recently.

    As per the details of the case, in 2009 a contractor was allegedly attacked by the members of Mukhtar’s gang. The contractor survived the attack but his two labourers suffered bullet injuries and one of them died during the course of treatment.

    Following the incident, Mir Hassan, the contractor,  lodged an FIR with the Mohammadabad police station in Ghazipur district.

    Mukhtar has been in jail since 2005. He has been awarded imprisonment in four cases, including two of those under the Gangster Act, by different courts in the last eight months.

    LUCKNOW: A Ghazipur MP/MLA court, on Wednesday, acquitted incarcerated gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari in a case of attempt to murder registered against him in 2009.

    The former MLA from the Mau Sadar constituency was acquitted by the court over a lack of sufficient evidence.

    Mukhtar was booked under Sections 307 (attempt to murder) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of IPC in the case. He appeared before the Ghazipur MP/MLA court through video-conferencing from Banda jail.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    According to Mukhtar Ansari’s lawyer Liaquat Ali, in 2009, Meer Hasan, a resident of Mohammadabad lodged a case alleging that one Sonu Yadav attacked him with an intent to murder.

    The case was registered under Section 307 (attempt to murder) at the Mohammadabad police station. Later, police named Mukhtar as a co-accused in the case despite the fact that he was lodged in jail at the time of the incident.

    It was suspected that Mukhtar had hatched the conspiracy of eliminating the complainant.

    However, the main accused booked under Section 307 of IPC had already been acquitted owing to insufficient evidence against him in the case.

    ALSO READ | Mukhtar Ansari: The gangster grandson of a Congress President and a war hero

    On Wednesday, additional sessions judge (MP-MLA) Durgesh Kumar pronounced the verdict in the case exonerating the gangster-turned-politician.

    According to Additional District Government counsel (criminal) Neeraj Kumar Srivastava, during the trial, complainant Mir Hassan himself and prime witness Ramkrit Yadav had turned hostile to the vantage of Mukhtar Ansari.

    Srivastav, however, said the acquittal will not lead to the release of Ansari as he is accused in several other cases and was also convicted in a case recently.

    As per the details of the case, in 2009 a contractor was allegedly attacked by the members of Mukhtar’s gang. The contractor survived the attack but his two labourers suffered bullet injuries and one of them died during the course of treatment.

    Following the incident, Mir Hassan, the contractor,  lodged an FIR with the Mohammadabad police station in Ghazipur district.

    Mukhtar has been in jail since 2005. He has been awarded imprisonment in four cases, including two of those under the Gangster Act, by different courts in the last eight months.

  • 150 Uttar Pradesh students still stranded in strife-torn Manipur, keen to return home

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: With UP CM Yogi Adityanath issuing directives to the state home ministry to make arrangements for the safe return of students belonging to Uttar Pradesh from Manipur, a group of around 10 students have left the trouble-torn north-eastern state on their own taking the flight from Imphal to Kolkata on Monday.

    The batch of 10 pursuing engineering courses in National Institute of Technology (NIT), Manipur, have taken the train route back to their native places in UP. However, the state government had claimed that they would be bringing the first batch of 28 students back to the state. Nearly 150 UP students, pursuing different courses, are stranded in the strife-torn state.

    Jitendra Kumar, a budding civil engineer, pursuing BTech at NIT, Manipur and native of the eastern UP district of Ballia reached Imphal airport along with the others in a college bus.

    “The situation is grim in Manipur. Shortage of food and safety are major concerns,” he said sharing his experiences with the media. Similarly, Abhishek Kumar, a resident of Greater Noida, said, “We have had sleepless nights. Parents are concerned for our safety. We are not going to come here for the next one month.”

    ALSO READ | Manipur peaceful, prices of essential items skyrocket amid panic buying

    UP’s principal secretary (home) Sanjay Prasad spoke to the chief secretary of Manipur and requested for help. The office of the relief commissioner was entrusted with the responsibility of coordinating with the Manipur government and ensuring a safe passage for students wanting to return to the state, a statement by the chief ministers’ office said.

    Meanwhile, other students belonging to UP and stranded in Manipur said that if they did not get any official assistance, they would move out by catching flights etc.

    According to Aveg Sharma of Kanpur, it was difficult to stay put in Manipur any longer. “The authorities have advised us to keep the lights switched off to avoid detection by troublemakers,” said Aaveg Sharma, 18, a B Tech NIT first year student from Kanpur.

    As pe the students returning to the state, the trouble began on Wednesday evening when Meities and Kukis clashed. NIT is near Langol in Manipur, which is also a centre of conflict.

    Meanwhile, the UP government that has set up a helpline number 1070 to assist the students and enable them to contact the state administration has received 128 queries.

    LUCKNOW: With UP CM Yogi Adityanath issuing directives to the state home ministry to make arrangements for the safe return of students belonging to Uttar Pradesh from Manipur, a group of around 10 students have left the trouble-torn north-eastern state on their own taking the flight from Imphal to Kolkata on Monday.

    The batch of 10 pursuing engineering courses in National Institute of Technology (NIT), Manipur, have taken the train route back to their native places in UP. However, the state government had claimed that they would be bringing the first batch of 28 students back to the state. Nearly 150 UP students, pursuing different courses, are stranded in the strife-torn state.

    Jitendra Kumar, a budding civil engineer, pursuing BTech at NIT, Manipur and native of the eastern UP district of Ballia reached Imphal airport along with the others in a college bus.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2′); });

    “The situation is grim in Manipur. Shortage of food and safety are major concerns,” he said sharing his experiences with the media. Similarly, Abhishek Kumar, a resident of Greater Noida, said, “We have had sleepless nights. Parents are concerned for our safety. We are not going to come here for the next one month.”

    ALSO READ | Manipur peaceful, prices of essential items skyrocket amid panic buying

    UP’s principal secretary (home) Sanjay Prasad spoke to the chief secretary of Manipur and requested for help. The office of the relief commissioner was entrusted with the responsibility of coordinating with the Manipur government and ensuring a safe passage for students wanting to return to the state, a statement by the chief ministers’ office said.

    Meanwhile, other students belonging to UP and stranded in Manipur said that if they did not get any official assistance, they would move out by catching flights etc.

    According to Aveg Sharma of Kanpur, it was difficult to stay put in Manipur any longer. “The authorities have advised us to keep the lights switched off to avoid detection by troublemakers,” said Aaveg Sharma, 18, a B Tech NIT first year student from Kanpur.

    As pe the students returning to the state, the trouble began on Wednesday evening when Meities and Kukis clashed. NIT is near Langol in Manipur, which is also a centre of conflict.

    Meanwhile, the UP government that has set up a helpline number 1070 to assist the students and enable them to contact the state administration has received 128 queries.

  • Another shooting in UP, woman killed in broad daylight by two men on motorbike

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: A day after the public murder of gangsters Atiq and Ashraf,  a 21-year-old woman was shot at and killed in broad daylight by two men on a motorcycle in the Jalaun district on Monday.

    As per police sources, Roshni, a second-year student of the Bachelor of Arts (BA), was shot dead by two motorcycle-borne men at Kotra crossing on Monday. The victim was returning home after taking her examination when the incident took place. She succumbed to her injuries en route to the hospital.

    “Roshini had gone to write her digital marketing paper at Ram Lakhan Patel Degree College in Ait town of the district,” said a police official.

    According to SP, Jalaun, Iraj Raja, the victim received the bullet shot in her head at around 11.30 am while she was on her way back home from her college.

    However, the assailants had sped away after committing the crime. The victim’s parents lodged a complaint naming Raj Ahirwar as the culprit and based on it, police registered a case and arrested him. Ahirwar was being interrogated, said the SP.

    One of the two assailants was arrested by the local police acting on the complaint filed by the victim’s father.

    As per the local sources, the culprits had come with a covered face to attack the girl near the Kotra trisection. The video of the incident going viral of social media showed the victim, who died on the spot, lying in college uniform facing the ground in a pool of blood with the murder weapon lying beside her.

    By the time police reached the spot, locals had gathered at the spot, and the market had gone closed.

    While the police officials refused to comment on the possible reason of the murder saying the investigation was on to ascertain it, the local sources claimed that it could be case of one-side affair where the jilted lover shot the victim dead after the girl refused to his advances.

    LUCKNOW: A day after the public murder of gangsters Atiq and Ashraf,  a 21-year-old woman was shot at and killed in broad daylight by two men on a motorcycle in the Jalaun district on Monday.

    As per police sources, Roshni, a second-year student of the Bachelor of Arts (BA), was shot dead by two motorcycle-borne men at Kotra crossing on Monday. The victim was returning home after taking her examination when the incident took place. She succumbed to her injuries en route to the hospital.

    “Roshini had gone to write her digital marketing paper at Ram Lakhan Patel Degree College in Ait town of the district,” said a police official.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    According to SP, Jalaun, Iraj Raja, the victim received the bullet shot in her head at around 11.30 am while she was on her way back home from her college.

    However, the assailants had sped away after committing the crime. The victim’s parents lodged a complaint naming Raj Ahirwar as the culprit and based on it, police registered a case and arrested him. Ahirwar was being interrogated, said the SP.

    One of the two assailants was arrested by the local police acting on the complaint filed by the victim’s father.

    As per the local sources, the culprits had come with a covered face to attack the girl near the Kotra trisection. The video of the incident going viral of social media showed the victim, who died on the spot, lying in college uniform facing the ground in a pool of blood with the murder weapon lying beside her.

    By the time police reached the spot, locals had gathered at the spot, and the market had gone closed.

    While the police officials refused to comment on the possible reason of the murder saying the investigation was on to ascertain it, the local sources claimed that it could be case of one-side affair where the jilted lover shot the victim dead after the girl refused to his advances.

  • Assailants had media Id card, video camera, microphone: UP cops on Atiq’s murder

    By PTI

    LUCKNOW: The three assailants who killed gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf posed as journalists, carrying video cameras, mike and media identity cards, the Uttar Pradesh Police said on Sunday.

    According to the statement issued by Special DG (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar, the attackers used made-in-Turkiye pistols and fired indiscriminately from point-blank range on the two brothers.

    The statement identified the three accused as Sunny (23) from Hamirpur, Lavlesh Tiwari (22) from Banda, and Arun Kumar Maurya (18) from Kashganj.

    “At about 10.30 pm both Atiq and Ashraf were being taken for a health examination at Motilal Nehru Regional Hospital in the Shahganj area, where media persons were persistently trying to take bite of the two,” the Special DG (Law and Order) said in the statement.

    “The media persons were breaking the security cordon to reach the accused (Atiq Ahmad and Ashraf) for taking their bites. In this sequence, both Atiq and Ashraf were giving bites to the media and they were escorted (by the police). Meanwhile, from the crowd of media, three media persons with a video camera, mike and media Id reached them and started firing indiscriminately,” he said.

    The two brothers got injured and fell on the ground instantly, he said, adding they were taken to the hospital where they were declared dead.

    ALSO READ: I’ll be found dead by the roadside: Atiq’s premonition came true

    Constable Maan Singh has sustained a firearm injury, the police statement issued this evening said, adding some media persons also got injured due to the “stampede” following the firing.

    The injured policeman has been also sent for treatment. The three attackers were caught by the policemen using necessary force, the statement said.

    According to information gathered till now, Sunny is a professional criminal and a history-sheeter and has 14 criminal cases including that of murder, loot, narcotics transport, and attempt to murder pending against him in Hamirpur, Kumar said.

    Tiwari faces cases of selling illicit liquor, manhandling and harassing women at the City and Beberu police stations in Banda, he said, adding cases under Information Technology Act were also registered against him. Maurya’s criminal history is being traced, he said.

    ALSO READ: Kin of Atiq killers disown them

    The statement said police have recovered three firearms including a countrymade A-30 pistol (7.62), a made-in-Turkiye nine-mm Girsan pistol, and a 9-mm Zigana Pistol, also made in Turkiye, it said.

    An FIR has been registered in this case at Shahganj police station and a probe is underway.

    A report on the entire incident has been sent to the National Human Rights Commission and the State Human Rights Commission.

    A three-member judicial commission has been constituted by the government that will submit its report within two months.

    The commission is headed by HC Justice (retired) Arvind Kumar Tripathi, while ex-DGP Subesh Kumar Singh and former district Judge Brijesh Kumar Soni are its members.

    Both Atiq and Ashraf were brought to Prayagraj from Gujarat and Bareilly prisons for interrogation in connection with the killing of Umesh Pal and his two police security guards.

    ALSO READ: ‘Jungle Raj’, ‘mafia raj’, anarchy: Opposition slams BJP over Atiq’s killing

    LUCKNOW: The three assailants who killed gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf posed as journalists, carrying video cameras, mike and media identity cards, the Uttar Pradesh Police said on Sunday.

    According to the statement issued by Special DG (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar, the attackers used made-in-Turkiye pistols and fired indiscriminately from point-blank range on the two brothers.

    The statement identified the three accused as Sunny (23) from Hamirpur, Lavlesh Tiwari (22) from Banda, and Arun Kumar Maurya (18) from Kashganj.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “At about 10.30 pm both Atiq and Ashraf were being taken for a health examination at Motilal Nehru Regional Hospital in the Shahganj area, where media persons were persistently trying to take bite of the two,” the Special DG (Law and Order) said in the statement.

    “The media persons were breaking the security cordon to reach the accused (Atiq Ahmad and Ashraf) for taking their bites. In this sequence, both Atiq and Ashraf were giving bites to the media and they were escorted (by the police). Meanwhile, from the crowd of media, three media persons with a video camera, mike and media Id reached them and started firing indiscriminately,” he said.

    The two brothers got injured and fell on the ground instantly, he said, adding they were taken to the hospital where they were declared dead.

    ALSO READ: I’ll be found dead by the roadside: Atiq’s premonition came true

    Constable Maan Singh has sustained a firearm injury, the police statement issued this evening said, adding some media persons also got injured due to the “stampede” following the firing.

    The injured policeman has been also sent for treatment. The three attackers were caught by the policemen using necessary force, the statement said.

    According to information gathered till now, Sunny is a professional criminal and a history-sheeter and has 14 criminal cases including that of murder, loot, narcotics transport, and attempt to murder pending against him in Hamirpur, Kumar said.

    Tiwari faces cases of selling illicit liquor, manhandling and harassing women at the City and Beberu police stations in Banda, he said, adding cases under Information Technology Act were also registered against him. Maurya’s criminal history is being traced, he said.

    ALSO READ: Kin of Atiq killers disown them

    The statement said police have recovered three firearms including a countrymade A-30 pistol (7.62), a made-in-Turkiye nine-mm Girsan pistol, and a 9-mm Zigana Pistol, also made in Turkiye, it said.

    An FIR has been registered in this case at Shahganj police station and a probe is underway.

    A report on the entire incident has been sent to the National Human Rights Commission and the State Human Rights Commission.

    A three-member judicial commission has been constituted by the government that will submit its report within two months.

    The commission is headed by HC Justice (retired) Arvind Kumar Tripathi, while ex-DGP Subesh Kumar Singh and former district Judge Brijesh Kumar Soni are its members.

    Both Atiq and Ashraf were brought to Prayagraj from Gujarat and Bareilly prisons for interrogation in connection with the killing of Umesh Pal and his two police security guards.

    ALSO READ: ‘Jungle Raj’, ‘mafia raj’, anarchy: Opposition slams BJP over Atiq’s killing

  • UP: Four held for disturbing peace outside mosque during Ram Navami procession 

    By PTI

    MATHURA (UP): Four men were arrested for disturbing the peace outside Jamal Masjid during a Ram Navami procession here in Uttar Pradesh, a police official said Friday.

    On Thursday, when a procession being carried out by the Ram Janma Mahotsav Samiti from the Ram temple located in the Ghiyamandi area, reached the Chowk Bazar intersection, some miscreants who were riding a van climbed on the roofs of shops built outside the mosque and hoisted saffron flags there.

    Video of the entire incident has been widely circulated on social media.

    This incident has stroked communal tensions among people of Hindu and Muslim communities, police said.

    Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Shailesh Kumar Pandey said immediately after the incident, a large number of police forces were deployed on the spot and on the basis of the video footage, a case was registered against the four accused namely Kavya, Honey, Rajesh and Deepak for trying to disturb the peace.

    “The accused were arrested on Friday and sent to jail in judicial custody for disturbing peace,” said the officer.

    MATHURA (UP): Four men were arrested for disturbing the peace outside Jamal Masjid during a Ram Navami procession here in Uttar Pradesh, a police official said Friday.

    On Thursday, when a procession being carried out by the Ram Janma Mahotsav Samiti from the Ram temple located in the Ghiyamandi area, reached the Chowk Bazar intersection, some miscreants who were riding a van climbed on the roofs of shops built outside the mosque and hoisted saffron flags there.

    Video of the entire incident has been widely circulated on social media.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    This incident has stroked communal tensions among people of Hindu and Muslim communities, police said.

    Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Shailesh Kumar Pandey said immediately after the incident, a large number of police forces were deployed on the spot and on the basis of the video footage, a case was registered against the four accused namely Kavya, Honey, Rajesh and Deepak for trying to disturb the peace.

    “The accused were arrested on Friday and sent to jail in judicial custody for disturbing peace,” said the officer.

  • UP govt signs contract with IIT-Madras for online classes for students of 100 schools

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: While the Uttar Pradesh Basic Education Council made it mandatory to promote all students from Class 1-8 of Council schools to the next class without examinations through a notification, the UP Basic Education department has also signed a contract with IIT-Madras under project ‘Vidya Shakti’ to teach the students of government smart schools of Varanasi online.

    The IIT Madras teachers would commence teaching the students of 100 government smart schools in Varanasi online initially as a pilot project. They will teach mathematics, science and English to the students. The project would provide jobs to around 100 people, said an official source.

    According to official sources, the tie-up is part of the Yogi Adityanath government’s efforts to bring UP government schools on par with the convent schools running in the state. The state government initiated its efforts by sprucing up the infrastructure of government schools under Project Kayakalp and now all the facilities are being arranged to match the standards of smart schools. “Now we have been able to arrange smart classes in the majority of schools,” said basic education officer Arvind Pathak.

    ALSO READ | UP govt to ensure online disbursal of incentives to investors with zero human intervention

    Pathak said that the contract with IIT-Madras would facilitate online classes by the IIT faculty for students of class 6-8 studying in Varanasi government schools. He said that the classes would run after the regular school timings. Pathak said that of the 100 schools selected in Varanasi to run the pilot project, 70 had the smart classes. “Rest 30 schools will soon be elevate to the standard of smart schools with the help of IIT-Madras which will appoint a local coordinator in each school covered under Project Vidya Shakti for technical support. This is how, at least, 100 people will get jobs and the expenses will be borne by IIT-Madras,” said Pathak.

    Meanwhile, the notification issued to promote the students of UP Basic Education Council Schools is an annual affair as there is the provision of promoting children of Class 1-8 to the next class under the Right to Education Act. They cannot be failed under any circumstances.

    LUCKNOW: While the Uttar Pradesh Basic Education Council made it mandatory to promote all students from Class 1-8 of Council schools to the next class without examinations through a notification, the UP Basic Education department has also signed a contract with IIT-Madras under project ‘Vidya Shakti’ to teach the students of government smart schools of Varanasi online.

    The IIT Madras teachers would commence teaching the students of 100 government smart schools in Varanasi online initially as a pilot project. They will teach mathematics, science and English to the students. The project would provide jobs to around 100 people, said an official source.

    According to official sources, the tie-up is part of the Yogi Adityanath government’s efforts to bring UP government schools on par with the convent schools running in the state. The state government initiated its efforts by sprucing up the infrastructure of government schools under Project Kayakalp and now all the facilities are being arranged to match the standards of smart schools. “Now we have been able to arrange smart classes in the majority of schools,” said basic education officer Arvind Pathak.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    ALSO READ | UP govt to ensure online disbursal of incentives to investors with zero human intervention

    Pathak said that the contract with IIT-Madras would facilitate online classes by the IIT faculty for students of class 6-8 studying in Varanasi government schools. He said that the classes would run after the regular school timings. Pathak said that of the 100 schools selected in Varanasi to run the pilot project, 70 had the smart classes. “Rest 30 schools will soon be elevate to the standard of smart schools with the help of IIT-Madras which will appoint a local coordinator in each school covered under Project Vidya Shakti for technical support. This is how, at least, 100 people will get jobs and the expenses will be borne by IIT-Madras,” said Pathak.

    Meanwhile, the notification issued to promote the students of UP Basic Education Council Schools is an annual affair as there is the provision of promoting children of Class 1-8 to the next class under the Right to Education Act. They cannot be failed under any circumstances.

  • UP CM Yogi Adityanath hails SC nod to conduct civic polls with OBC reservation

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath welcomed the decision of the Supreme Court of India giving its nod, on Monday, to conduct urban civic polls in Uttar Pradesh with OBC reservation. The Supreme Court also ordered the State Election Commission to issue election notification within two days.

    Significantly, the Supreme Court passed the order while perusing the report of the Backward Commission submitted by Yogi government on March 15. The court while hearing the UP government’s plea accepted the commission’s report and asked the state government to go ahead with the civic polls.

    The state government had constituted the five-member commission in compliance of apex court order to recommend the quota provisions for OBCs in UP Urban Civic Polls. The Backward Commission visited 75 districts to conduct the survey to ascertain the status of various OBC in urban civic areas. It submitted the report to the UP government on March 9.

    Reacting to the SC order, CM Yogi said that the government was committed to OBC reservation and took all measures towards making provisions for OBC quota in Urbana civic bodies within the time frame given by the Supreme Court.  He said that following the rules of reservation in a lawful manner, the Uttar Pradesh government was committed to conduct urban body elections in a time-bound manner.

    It may be recalled that a petition was filed in Allahabad High Court challenging the provision of OBC reservation made by the state government ahead of the urban civic bodies elections. While hearing the matter, the High Court had directed the state government to hold the Urban civic body elections immediately without OBC reservation as it was not in accordance to the ‘triple test’ norm of OBCreservation in civic bodies set by the apex court.

    Consequently, the UP government challenged the High Court order in SC while claiming that it would not conduct the polls without reservation to OBCs.  Meanwhile, the state government constituted the five member OBC commission headed by a retired judge.

    On the other, the apex court, while hearing the UP government’s plea on March 27, directed the commission constituted to file its report by March 31, staying the High Court order to hold immediate elections without quota.

    LUCKNOW: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath welcomed the decision of the Supreme Court of India giving its nod, on Monday, to conduct urban civic polls in Uttar Pradesh with OBC reservation. The Supreme Court also ordered the State Election Commission to issue election notification within two days.

    Significantly, the Supreme Court passed the order while perusing the report of the Backward Commission submitted by Yogi government on March 15. The court while hearing the UP government’s plea accepted the commission’s report and asked the state government to go ahead with the civic polls.

    The state government had constituted the five-member commission in compliance of apex court order to recommend the quota provisions for OBCs in UP Urban Civic Polls. The Backward Commission visited 75 districts to conduct the survey to ascertain the status of various OBC in urban civic areas. It submitted the report to the UP government on March 9.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Reacting to the SC order, CM Yogi said that the government was committed to OBC reservation and took all measures towards making provisions for OBC quota in Urbana civic bodies within the time frame given by the Supreme Court.  He said that following the rules of reservation in a lawful manner, the Uttar Pradesh government was committed to conduct urban body elections in a time-bound manner.

    It may be recalled that a petition was filed in Allahabad High Court challenging the provision of OBC reservation made by the state government ahead of the urban civic bodies elections. While hearing the matter, the High Court had directed the state government to hold the Urban civic body elections immediately without OBC reservation as it was not in accordance to the ‘triple test’ norm of OBC
    reservation in civic bodies set by the apex court.

    Consequently, the UP government challenged the High Court order in SC while claiming that it would not conduct the polls without reservation to OBCs.  Meanwhile, the state government constituted the five member OBC commission headed by a retired judge.

    On the other, the apex court, while hearing the UP government’s plea on March 27, directed the commission constituted to file its report by March 31, staying the High Court order to hold immediate elections without quota.

  • Vigil intensified in UP border districts after intel alert that Amritpal may flee to Nepal

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: Stepping up surveillance in UP districts on the border with Nepal, the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) has issued an alert and put up posters bearing pictures of fugitive Amritpal Singh and his aides in Bahraich to avert the possibility of the radical preacher fleeing via Uttar Pradesh and sneaking into the neighbouring country.

    According to SSB sources, each check-post of the border was under intensified vigil which was increased after intelligence inputs that Amritpal could enter Nepal. “We have issued an alert on the border. Posters with pictures have also been put up in Rupaidiha in Bahraich. We are closely monitoring the movement of people along the border,” said a senior SSB official.

    ALSO READ | Hunt for Amritpal: Preacher was ready with ‘Khalistan flag’, private militia, say cops

    High-resolution pictures of Amritpal and his accomplices were uploaded on the mobile phones of SSB personnel and in the facial recognition software used on the border, he added.

    He said that besides Amritpal, posters of two of his associates were also put up along the border. “If the people of the town see anyone like him, they must inform the police and SSB about it,” said the official.

    ALSO READ | Amritpal asked Sikhs to be prepared for ‘ultimate sacrifice’, incited through speeches: Officials

    Even though Punjab is far from Rupaidiha, the presence of a considerable Sikh population in Bahraich and Terai district of Lakhimpur Kheri could provide Amritpal ample opportunity to hide and enter Nepal crossing the border, officials said.

    The alert has been issued following the orders of the Union home ministry and the Punjab government.

    The sources claimed that 22 highly-sensitive cameras capable of graphical face recognition were installed at different places along the border. They said that once the photo of a person was uploaded in the system, even if he tried to dodge securitymen by changing his get-up, the camera would recognise him.

    LUCKNOW: Stepping up surveillance in UP districts on the border with Nepal, the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) has issued an alert and put up posters bearing pictures of fugitive Amritpal Singh and his aides in Bahraich to avert the possibility of the radical preacher fleeing via Uttar Pradesh and sneaking into the neighbouring country.

    According to SSB sources, each check-post of the border was under intensified vigil which was increased after intelligence inputs that Amritpal could enter Nepal. “We have issued an alert on the border. Posters with pictures have also been put up in Rupaidiha in Bahraich. We are closely monitoring the movement of people along the border,” said a senior SSB official.

    ALSO READ | Hunt for Amritpal: Preacher was ready with ‘Khalistan flag’, private militia, say copsgoogletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    High-resolution pictures of Amritpal and his accomplices were uploaded on the mobile phones of SSB personnel and in the facial recognition software used on the border, he added.

    He said that besides Amritpal, posters of two of his associates were also put up along the border. “If the people of the town see anyone like him, they must inform the police and SSB about it,” said the official.

    ALSO READ | Amritpal asked Sikhs to be prepared for ‘ultimate sacrifice’, incited through speeches: Officials

    Even though Punjab is far from Rupaidiha, the presence of a considerable Sikh population in Bahraich and Terai district of Lakhimpur Kheri could provide Amritpal ample opportunity to hide and enter Nepal crossing the border, officials said.

    The alert has been issued following the orders of the Union home ministry and the Punjab government.

    The sources claimed that 22 highly-sensitive cameras capable of graphical face recognition were installed at different places along the border. They said that once the photo of a person was uploaded in the system, even if he tried to dodge securitymen by changing his get-up, the camera would recognise him.