On January 8th, Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra said sufficient CAPF companies would be deployed in all poll-bound states looking at law & order situation and threat perception. S Karuna Raju, Chief Electoral Officer of Punjab, said that 75 companies of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) had been allotted for Punjab. Out of these 75, 50 would reach the state on January 10.
He added once these companies reach Punjab, they would start area domination operations. Furthermore, he held meetings with Deputy Commissioners-cum-District Electoral Officers (DCs-cum-DEOs) and police commissioner and SSPs and issued directions for strict implementation of the Model Code of Conduct.
Sufficient CAPF companies will be deployed in all poll-bound states looking at law & order situation and threat perception: Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra pic.twitter.com/mKcQGhFHYn
Approx 500 companies of CAPF including CRPF, BSF, ITBP, CISF and SSB, comprising of around 50,000 troops, are being mobilised in the initial phase in the poll-bound states. In the coming days, additional 100-150 companies could be added if required. Uttar Pradesh, which has the maximum Assembly seats (403), will get 150 companies to avoid any unwanted incident during the elections.
Free Press Journal quoted a UP police official said, “Thirty Companies of Border Security Force (BSF) and Sashastra Seema Bal, 20 companies of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), and Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), 50 companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have been included in the total companies of 150 Central Armed Police Forces which are being provided by the Centre.”
He further added, “The centre is providing these agencies so that election could be conducted in a fair and efficient manner. We will get the service of these companies by January 10. It will also reduce the sensitivity and vulnerability during the polls. We hope that the elections will be conducted in a fair manner.”
The CAPF companies will be deployed in each district based on the sensitivity and vulnerability of the districts. The earmarked companies for the state of UP would start taking their positions from January 10. These companies would carry out area domination exercises and provide additional security to the polling booths. It is noteworthy that the EC has increased the number of polling booths by 16 per cent amidst the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic to ensure social distancing.
Elections in five states
On January 8, the Election Commission announced the poll schedule for five state assemblies, including Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa. While Punjab, Uttarkhand and Goa elections will be done in a single phase, the elections of Manipur will be completed in two phases and that of Uttar Pradesh in seven phases.
In all five states, around 18.3 crore people are eligible to vote, including 8.55 crore women.
Punjab Government, on Saturday 8th January 2022, has appointed Viresh Kumar Bhawra as the new Director General of Police (DGP) of the state. Bhawra is a 1987-batch IPS officer. Viresh Kumar Bhawra will be at the top post for a minimum period of two years from the date of assumption of office. Alongside, the state government has also transferred seven IPS officers including Senior Superintendent of Police, Ferozepur. The changes in the police administration were made despite CM Charanjit Singh Channi claiming that there was no security breach with PM’s convoy, and it was a minor incident.
These decisions have come after serious lapses in the PM’s security that had occurred on 5th January 2022 when PM Modi was on his visit to Punjab. PM Modi was heading towards Hussainiwala in Ferozepur district of Punjab to visit National Martyr’s Memorial and subsequently address a public meeting. His convoy was stuck on a flyover for about twenty minutes as the so-called farmer protesters had blocked the roads. Ferozepur SSP came in the centre of the controversy when the farmers claimed that they were informed about PM’s road route to his destination by the Punjab Police.
Sh. Viresh Kumar Bhawra, IPS assumes charge as Director General of Police Punjab. pic.twitter.com/vePZkA1QkM
The Punjab government has appointed Viresh Kumar Bhawra as the new DGP of the state, replacing Siddharth Chattopadhyaya, who was made the DGP less than a month ago. Siddharth Chattopadhyaya was reportedly the choice of Navjot Sidhu for the post of DGP, who had replaced the earlier DGP Iqbal Preet Singh Sahota. Reportedly, State Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and Home Minister Sukjinder Randhawa preferred to keep Sahota as the DGP, Sidhu wanted his man Chattopadhyaya in the post, and was successful in this.
An IPS officer of the 1987 batch, Bhawra has assumed the charge on Saturday 8th January. The State Government order said, “On the consideration of the panel received from the Union Public Service Commission, the Governor of Punjab is pleased to appoint Shri Viresh Kumar Bhawra, IPS, as Director General of Police, Punjab (Head of Police Force). His term shall be for a minimum period of two years from the date of assumption of office in pursuance of the orders of the Supreme Court dated July 3, 2018.”
After assuming charge, Viresh Kumar Bhawra said the Punjab police will ensure smooth conduct of elections. He also said that his focus would be on eradicating drug menace and terrorism. He said people-centric policing and public service delivery are among his top priorities. Bhawra further added that the Punjab police will make optimum use of technology for carrying out investigations of crimes.
IPS Viresh Kumar Bhawra has been appointed as the new DGP of Punjab on the consideration of the panel received from UPSC pic.twitter.com/mzdzEAPKdS
Among other major transfers, IPS officer Harmandeep Singh Hans, SSP Ferozepur, has been posted as Commandant 3rd IRB, Ludhiana. Hans was Ferozepur SSP during the security lapse incident that occurred on Wdnesday 5th January, in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s convoy was stranded on a flyover. Bharatiya Kisan Union (Krantikari) chief Surjeet Singh Phul, whose union had blocked the road in Ferozepur, said it was the SSP Ferozepur who had informed them Narendra Modi was coming by road. The Union home ministry had issued a show-cause notice to Hans yesterday.
Meanwhile, other police officers who have been transferred are Naunihal Singh who has been appointed as Commissioner of Police, Jalandhar. A.K. Mittal has been posted as Inspector General of Police, Roopnagar, while Sukhchain Singh has been posted as Amritsar Commissioner. Nanak Singh has been appointed as SSP Gurdaspur and Alka Meena will be SSP Barnala. Two PPS officers Harkamalpreet Singh Khakh and Kuljit Singh have been given new additional and new posting orders.
As the number of COVID-19 cases in India rises, the election commission of India, on Saturday 8th January 2022, has directed that no physical political rallies and roadshows will be allowed till 15th January 2022.
Even after that, the rallies and election campaign meetings will be allowed only in designated places and with prior permissions of district administration. Earlier, the election commission had declared the schedule of the assembly elections to be held in five poll-bound states Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur and Goa.
Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra during the briefing on the election schedule, on Saturday, said that the election commission aims to conduct covid-safe elections in all the five poll-bound states with maximum participation. He stated that the opinion of health experts is being taken to ensure covid-safe elections.
#WATCH Live: Election Commission of India announces Assembly polls schedule for Goa, Punjab, Manipur, Uttarakhand & Uttar Pradesh https://t.co/c9oDf6AdJd
In the revised guidelines the ECI said, “No roadshow, Pad-yatra, cycle, bike, vehicle rally and procession shall be allowed till 15 January 2022. The commission shall subsequently review the situation and issue further instructions accordingly. Further, rallies and meetings shall be allowed only in earmarked places and with prior permissions of district administration.” The election commission further said that all the parties or candidates have to furnish an undertaking in the application and allocation of public spaces will be done using the Suvidha app.
However, physical rallies during the campaign period, as and when permitted after the decision of the Commission shall be conducted subject to adherence to extant COVID 19 guidelines. “The maximum limit of persons allowed for indoor and outdoor rallies and meetings shall be as per the existing direction of respective State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAS)”, it said.
COVID-19 guidelines released by Election Commission for rallies and meetings
“For these meetings, political parties shall distribute masks and sanitisers to persons attending and maintain COVID protocol at entry and exit point,” it said. The ECI said that between 8 pm and 8 am no rallies and public will be allowed on any campaign day, while the Nukkad Sabhas will not be allowed on public roads, roundabouts or public streets or corners.
It also advised Political parties and candidates to conduct their campaign as much as possible through digital, virtual, media platforms or mobile-based mode instead of physical mode ensuring strict compliance with COVID safety norms.
The ECI also directed the District Election Officer to identify dedicated grounds for public gatherings with clearly marked entry and exit points. It also said that the District Election Officer should ensure that markers for social distancing norms are put in place in advance by organizers of the meeting/rally.
Three doses of vaccination are mandatory for all election officials, the election commission said.
Besides, the Election commission has also declared guidelines for the number of vehicles in a convoy, distance to be maintained between two vehicles, the maximum number of people in a group for door to door campaigning, code of conduct for celebrating victory, arrangements to be made on polling stations etc.
The chief election commissioner expresses his hope for safe elections
During his address, the chief election commissioner Sushil Chandra also recited a couplet to express his hope that even though the COVID-19 cases are increasing, everything regarding these elections goes as per the set norms.
He said, “Yakin ho to koi rasta nikalta hai, Hawa ki oat lekar bhi Chirag jalta hai” which means if we have faith in our resolutions, we definitely find a way as a lamp may keep glowing even amidst heavy winds.
The Bulli Bai accused, Niraj Bishnoi who was arrested by the Delhi Police for allegedly offering Muslim women on the internet, has tried to harm himself twice while being in police custody. It is also reported that he was habitual of hacking, defacing the websites and learning the same since he was 15. During interrogation, Bishnoi also accepted to have hacked various websites of schools and universities of India as well as of Pakistan.
DCP (IFSO) KPS Malhotra informed Niraj Bishnoi has an inclination towards a gaming character of Japan animation namely GIYU. “He had created various Twitter handles using the word GIYU. He had created the account with the word GIYU, through which he had challenged the law enforcement agencies to nab him”, he added.
‘Bulli Bai’ app case | Accused Niraj Bishnoi has revealed that he is habitual of hacking, defacing websites & learning the same since he was 15. He has claimed to have hacked various websites of schools & universities of India as well as of Pakistan: DCP (IFSO) KPS Malhotra
Niraj Bishnoi had no links with any Hindu organisations: Police
The Bulli Bai case was transferred to the Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operation (IFSO) unit of special cell yesterday who interrogated Bishnoi for uploading the photographs of hundreds of Muslim women without their consent for a virtual ‘auction’. The Delhi Police has also revealed that Niraj Bishnoi’s intention behind developing the derogatory app was purely to get publicity and make an identity of his own.
It was reported earlier that Niraj Bishnoi has no links with any Hindu organisations. Rahul Shivshankar in his Tweet on January 6 quoted Mumbai police as saying that with the arrest of ‘mastermind’ from Jorhat, the case has been solved ‘completely’. The ‘mastermind’ has no links to saffron groups, confirmed the Times Now journalist.
Latest on Bulli Bai APP probe. Mumbai police claim that with arrest of ‘mastermind’ from Jorhat case solved ‘completely’. The ‘mastermind’ has no links to saffron groups. Were ‘secular’ rights activists fear mongering and dividing society? Who atones for this fake propaganda?
Reports suggest that Bishnoi’s parents had no idea about Niraj’s activities and were shocked to know the crime only when the police arrested him. Neeraj had received a free laptop from the Assam government under a scheme to encourage students who scored high marks in their Class 10 examination.
“He remained glued to the device and was practically locked inside his room since the first COVID lockdown in March 2020. When Niraj was in Class 11 and 12 at Nkem Science Academy, his laptop was seized by the school principal several times. I had to go to the academy many times to get the laptop back. I don’t know what he used to do with it,” Dasrath Bishnoi was quoted in a report.
Three other suspects were previously apprehended by Mumbai police in the case. Bishnoi had criticised the Mumbai police for arresting the other suspect whom he claimed were innocent. Bishnoi disclosed during his interrogation that he created the ‘Bulli Bai’ app on Github as well as the @bullibai_Twitter handle and others too.
On Thursday, January 6, a video emerged from Kundikala hamlet in the Sarguja district in Chhattisgarh, showing Hindu locals swearing to boycott Muslims. In the video dated January 5, a man was seen leading almost 200 people in an oath banning Muslim sellers, boycotting any commercial transactions with members of the Muslim community and prohibiting the sale or lease of any land to a Muslim.
यह वीडियो छत्तीसगढ़ के सरगुजा का है जहां हिंदू शपथ ले रहे हैं।
हम हिंदू किसी मुस्लिम दुकानदार से माल नहीं खरीदेंगे।
हम हिंदू किसी मुसलमान को अपनी जमीन न तो बेचेंगे और न ही किराए पर देंगे।
According to reports, the action by the miffed Hindus was deliberated by a scuffle that took place between residents of Aara village and Kundikala village on January 1. In what transpired, a Muslim family from the Aara village, which falls in neighbouring Balrampur district, had travelled to Kundikala village on January 1 to celebrate the New Year. On that day, the Muslim visitors allegedly got into a tussle with a local Hindu resident and thrashed him up. The victim alleged that the six Muslim visitors barged into his house and beat him up and two family members, including his niece.
Subsequently, the victim family lodged a complaint against the Muslim assaulters. Based on the complaint the Chhattisgarh police arrested six people under sections 147, 294, 323, 506, 452 of the IPC, but all of them got bail from a local court the same day.
The Hindu villagers of Kundikala were enraged by the bias of the police. They accused police of shielding the accused by invoking trivial sections of the IPC in the case instead of the SC/ST Act. As the accused burst firecrackers and celebrated their bail, the miffed Hindus gheraoed the Lundra police station, in Surguja district, Chhattisgarh, on 5 January (Wednesday), claiming that the complaint should have been filed under SC/ST act as the victims were Adivasis. Accusing the police of being biased, the villagers gave the police a 10-day ultimatum, asking them to either take strict action against the accused or be prepared for a bigger protest.
The January 5 video appears to be a fallout of this brawl between residents of the two villages on January 1.
Following the incident, the police appealed to the residents in the area to keep calm. They said that the investigation into the case is ongoing. The FIR filed in this case named Inzamam, Mozid, Seraj, Fazal, and Suhail as the prime accused.
Copy of the FIR filed in the aforementioned case
Chhattisgarh police threatens, intimidates Hindu victims while shielding the Muslim accused
Meanwhile, another video has emerged from the day of the incident where, Dilbagh Singh, in charge of the local police station, was seen harassing a journalist who went to the victim’s village to cover the incident. At around 7.20-minutes into the video shared below, Dilbagh Singh is heard threatening to put the journalist in jail if he didn’t turn off the camera. The entire village protested in unison when the journalist was apprehended and taken away. This compelled the police to retreat. A video of the station in-charge excesses on the journalist had also surfaced online.
The YouTube channel Bharat Samman, which visited Kundikala village in Chhattisgarh to cover the news, also interviewed a girl who is seen in the above video with a bandage on her head. The girl in the video, who appears to be minor, claimed that she was pulled out of her house, beaten up by the accused who also attempted to drag her into a car.
Police rebuked us and asked us to remain silent: Victim divulges details of Chhattisgarh police apathy
A woman from the victim family told the channel: “I was inside the house when a heard my children weeping. Before I could know, the assailants barged into my house and started beating us up. The assaulters attacked whoever tried to intervene and save us. An attempt was also made to molest my daughter. Around 50 assailants had gathered with big sticks and lathis. Soon after, the cops arrived. When we sought to express our distress to the authorities, we were rebuked and asked to remain silent,” said the distressed mother, adding that when she opposed and told the cops that she would not keep quiet as her daughter had been assaulted, the cops asked her to sit in the police van and took them away.
When the reporter asked the mother whether they told the police about the molestation attempt, the mother said meekly: “We were so terrified that we couldn’t tell the cops anything.”
Further describing what transpired on January 5, the minor girl’s uncle told the reporter that they were attacked all of a sudden. The assaulters kicked our door and barged in. I was in the house that day. They grabbed my niece’s hand and started pulling her towards themselves. They abused and hit me also, said the victim’s uncle.
They openly threatened to kill all the Hindus and burn down the entire village: Victim family laments
He added that the main accused Ilyas, who is a Block Development Council (BDC) member, asked his accomplice to take out their respective weapons and kill all of them. “They hurled filthy abuses at us. The accused also burst firecrackers and celebrated in our village after getting bail. They openly threatened to kill all the Hindus and burn down the entire village. They are all Muslim. Why they have such enmity with us, we do not understand”, said the girl’s uncle.
Village panchayat secretary Pural Ram lamented: “When I returned home at 6 pm, the village felt abnormally crowded. Previously, there had been a disagreement that was settled through mutual understanding. The accused afterwards arrived in the form of a crowd. They broke into my house and started hurling obscenities at us. Ilyas was someone I was already familiar with. When I began to explain things to him, the person next to him began to verbally insult me. Then suddenly, Ilyas started to assault me. My granddaughter was also been up. My entire family was assaulted,” exclaimed Pural Ram.
“We want justice,” stated another elder in the same hamlet. “They were released by the police and are now celebrating. The police took no action against them”, the elder person remarked.
Meanwhile, many other villagers present there demanded in unison that the accused be charged with molestation and attempted murder. They criticised the police for being sympathetic towards the accused rather than helping the victims.
OpIndia learnt that the local police station in-charge Dilbagh Singh, who is suspected of protecting the accused, is already under investigation since villagers had accused him of faking cases and threatening to murder them when he was stationed in Shankargarh district in Balrampur in 2020.
Investigation order against Dilbagh Singh
When OpIndia contacted Dilbagh Singh to know his perspective he said that “right now, law and order is perfectly normal in the village. He maintained that the action taken by the police in the case was completely warranted and added that some communal minded people have tried to misrepresent the entire situation.
“There is social harmony here, and everyone will have to go back to living together after a while. The oath-taking video is being scrutinised. After the investigation is concluded, the police would evaluate the situation accordingly,” Dilbagh Singh told OpIndia.
Interestingly, Dilbagh Singh is quite active on TikTok. He frequently posts videos on the Chinses App. Answering the ‘Questions I get asked’ trend on TikTok, Dilbagh Singh had once said: “I’ve worked in the traffic department for a long time. Many videos have been produced to raise awareness. In none of my videos have I sent out wrong messages to the public. The age of social media is here. I’ve also been using social media to keep in touch with individuals. Due to the lockdown, I also worked in a Chhattisgarh film that has yet to be released. Don’t combine my personal and professional lives,” he had said.
On Friday (January 7), the Commissioner of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Iqbal Chahal informed that about 96% of patients, who are on oxygen support beds in Mumbai, did not even take a single dose of Covid-19 vaccine.
As per reports, about 1900 patients are currently on oxygen beds in the city. While speaking to The Times of India, Chahal remarked, “Ninety-six per cent of the patients who are admitted on oxygen beds in 186 hospitals of Mumbai are unvaccinated. Otherwise, we have seen so far that vaccinated people are not reaching ICUs.”
He further added, “We have 21 lakh vaccine stocks available with us. The current hurdle in ensuring the entire adult population is vaccinated is the 84-day gap required between the two doses. Today, too, our vaccination percentage is the best in India.”
Screengrab of the Times of India report
BJP (Mumbai) social media member Pallavi pointed out the discrepancies between the claims made by the BMC Commissioner and the State Health Minister in November last year. “In Nov, BMC claimed to have completed 100 % first dose vaccination of all above 18 yrs. Yesterday you said that 96 % of those who are occupying oxygen beds in Mumbai haven’t taken even a SINGLE jab. What’s the truth?” she inquired.
She pointed out, “96 % of 1900 odd patients is 1824 patients Are all these under 18? Are all these from outside Mumbai? Or more dangerously, are these among the illegal immigrants staying in Mumbai ?”
In November 2021, Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope had claimed that the entire eligible population of Mumbai had been vaccinated with the first dose. A report published by The Mint claimed, “Mumbai achieved 100% first dose vaccination through 462 public and private vaccination centres that have the combined capacity to administer over 1,23,000 vaccine doses per day.”
Screengrab of the news report by Livemint
The report also claimed that Maharashtra’s vaccination programme began on January 16 last year and it achieved the massive feat of vaccinating all eligible individuals with one dose of Covid-19 vaccine by battling supply shortage and increasing vaccination centres. Given that 100% population above the age of 18 are vaccinated, netizens are now asking as to how 96% of patients currently requiring oxygen beds in Mumbai are unvaccinated? Are they below 18 years of age or from a different State?
The recent statement by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner Iqbal Chahal has put the Maharashtra government in the dock. It has raised suspicions on the claims of 100% vaccination in Mumbai made by the State Health Minister, besides manipulation of data.
BJP has won the polls for Chandigarh Municipal Corporation’s Mayor’s post in a closely contested poll. The party has also secured the posts of Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor. Sarabjit Kaur won the election by a margin of just one vote by bagging 14 against AAP’s Anju Katyal on Saturday 8th January 2022 to become the mayor. BJP’s Anup Gupta won the Deputy Mayor post through draw of lot. Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation Anindita Mitra picked the slip from the box. BJP’s Dalip Sharma won the seat of Senior Deputy Mayor. He defeated Prem Lata of AAP by 2 votes. AAP councillors created ruckus at the assembly hall of Chandigarh Municipal Corporation after defeat in the Mayor’s election.
The results of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation election were declared on 27th December 2021. The elections of the posts of Mayor and Deputy Mayors had become the topic of interest since then due to the number of seats won by different parties. BJP had won 12 seats. Congress had won 8 seats. Shiromani Akali Dal managed to win just one seat. AAP had topped the charts with 14 seats. But when it came to elect the posts, BJP emerged as the winner.
Breaking News
BJP wins Chandigarh Mayor, Senior Deputy Mayor & Deputy Mayor Elections by defeating AAP.
One vote of AAP declared invalid due to torn paper.
Congress had already opted out of the elections and did not field any candidate. Seven Congress councilors abstained from voting. They were joined by the lone SAD councilor. Initially BJP had thirteen votes in its favor. BJP’s 14th vote came from Member of Parliament Kirron Kher, who is an ex-officio member of the Municipal House. This way, AAP and BJP were tied at 14 votes each. However, one vote of AAP declared invalid due to torn paper. Sarabjit Kaur won the election by a margin of just one vote to defeat AAP’s Anju Katyal.
However, AAP members did not accept this fault on their part. Crying foul, AAP councilors sat next to the newly-elected Mayor and did not allow Deputy Commissioner Vinay Pratap to move, stalling the election process of the post of Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor. AAP councilors made ruckus at the assembly hall of Chandigarh Municipal Corporation. Secretary of the house made repeated requests all councilors to leave the mayor seat and take their respective seats.
Additional force of Chandigarh police reached the assembly hall, trying to evacuate the Mayor seat area. Amid AAP’s protest, newly-elected Chandigarh Mayor BJP’s Sarabjit Kaur took oath. Kaur had to get the elections done for both the posts.
Meanwhile AAP demanded that elections for Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor be done through raising of hands instead of secret ballot. Ignoring this demand, District Collector asked the secretary to read out rules and regulation to conduct the election. Secretary read out the rules and voting for the Senior Deputy Mayor started. 28 votes were polled for Senior Deputy Mayor post including that of Kirron Kher. BJP’s Dalip Sharma won the seat of Senior Deputy Mayor. Out of total 28 polled votes, BJP’s Dalip Sharma got 15 and AAP’s Prem Lata received 13 votes.
So, this is evident that AAP could not even retain all of its 14 votes. BJP’s Anup Gupta won the Deputy Mayor post through draw of lot. Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation Anindita Mitra picked the slip from the box. Thereby, BJP won all 3 seats of Mayor, Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor.
A 48-year-old man was arrested by Mumbai Police Crime Branch from Juhu for allegedly threatening to kill BJP MLA Ashish Shelar and his family members.
Identified as Osama Shamsher Khan, a resident of Mahim, was tracked down and arrested by Unit IX of the Crime Branch after Ashish Shelar lodged a complaint with police stating that he had received a death threat.
Mumbai Police Crime Branch says it has arrested a person, Osama Shamsher Khan (48), from Bandra for allegedly threatening to kill BJP MLA Ashish Shelar and his family members pic.twitter.com/LKqICuNDmL
BJP leader Ashish Shelar had also written to the Maharashtra home minister and Mumbai police commissioner claiming that he had received threat calls from an unidentified caller, who he claimed threatened to kill him and his family members.
The Bandra(West) MLA had submitted details of the phone numbers from which he received threat calls and asked police to probe the matter.
It is being reported that the motive behind the threat call was a land dispute in Bandra, for which the accused’s son was facing an attempt to murder case, but the police are still investigating all the possible causes for the threat call.
Meanwhile, former Maharashtra CM and senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said that Shelar was vocal about “corruption” in state government.
“Ashish Shehlar minces no words in calling out corrupt practices of the present state government. This could be the reason behind him receiving the threat. Police should take this matter seriously,” Fadnavis said.
In a tragic incident in Pakistan, at least 21 people froze to death after their vehicles were trapped due to heavy snowfall overnight. The incident happened in the resort town Murree in the Galyat region of the Pir Panjal Range. Murree was declared calamity hit after the tragedy occurred due to a surge in tourist traffic.
As around 1,000 vehicles were trapped on the hilltop, the provincial government issued orders to speed up rescue efforts and provide assistance to the stranded tourists.
According to a list released by Rescue 1122 (Pakistan’s emergency service), 21 individuals died in the tragedy, including nine children. The deaths took place because roads were blocked and people were stuck in their cars for hours. They couldn’t reach hotels or any other warm place. The deceased include an assistant sub-inspector of Islamabad police and seven members of his family.
So far, 32 inches of snowfall have been recorded in the hill station. The temperature has been recorded at -1 degrees Celsius. The hill station was overcrowded with visitors who had come to see the snowfall. The authorities banned visitors from entering the Murree and Galiyat districts last night.
Residents of Murree provided food and blankets to stranded tourists, and later the local administration also started providing food and essential items.
Murree declared calamity hit after 21 reportedly froze to death in their cars stuck in traffic and heavy snow. Rescue operation continues by Govt and Army, Rangers. 23,000 cars evacuated last night. Around 1,000 vehicles still stuck. Praying for everyone's safe return home. pic.twitter.com/nc19K71ydF
Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said that tourists had flocked to the hill station in such large numbers “for the first time in 15 to 20 years which created a big crisis”. He informed that five platoons of the Pakistan Army, as well as Rangers and Frontier Corps, were called on an emergency basis for rescue efforts, and police along with administration are working together to resolve the crisis.
Pakistani news channel SAMAA TV reported that the director-general of the Met Office told SAMAA TV that a written forecast of snowfall in upper parts of Punjab was issued on December 31. “The situation worsened because appropriate measures were not taken timely,” he said.
On Saturday, the Punjab (Pakistan) Chief Minister is reported to have said that that so far, 23,000 automobiles have been returned, and an effort to rescue the more than 1,000 cars buried in the snow is ongoing. Heavy machinery has been dispatched to clear the roads. According to reports, approximately 140,000 cars had entered Murree this week.
In an interview with SAMAA TV, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said the situation is not only dire in Murree but also in several other neighbouring areas. He urged people to “use common sense” and stay at home. “Buy snow sprays instead of going out.”
Shocked & upset at tragic deaths of tourists on road to Murree. Unprecedented snowfall & rush of ppl proceeding without checking weather conditions caught district admin unprepared. Have ordered inquiry & putting in place strong regulation to ensure prevention of such tragedies.
Pak PM Imran Khan also expressed shock and sadness at the incident. “Unprecedented snowfall & rush of people proceeding without checking weather conditions caught district admin unprepared, have ordered inquiry & putting in place strong regulation to ensure prevention of such tragedies.” he tweeted.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on January 7 restored the FCRA registration of Missionaries of Charity (MoC), the Catholic religious congregation set up by Mother Teresa. This was done after the NGO submitted the necessary documents to the concerned department.
MHA restores FCRA registration for Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity after it submitted the necessary document to concerned department: Govt Sources
Earlier, MHA refused to renew the Mother Teresa-founded NGO’s licence due to some “adverse inputs”.
The MHA had earlier on December 27, 2021, refused to renew the Mother Teresa-founded NGO’s FCRA licence due to some adverse inputs. Many including the West Bengal Chief Minister had expressed outrage for allegedly freezing the bank accounts of the Kolkata based NGO, which was not correct.
“22,000 patients and employees have been left without food and medicines. While the law is paramount, humanitarian efforts must not be compromised”, she had said. The MHA had however refuted this claim saying that no accounts of the NGO were frozen. Missionaries of Charity had also clarified that they themselves had frozen its accounts after their FCRA licence was not renewed, saying that the same was not cancelled as alleged.
The MHA has now renewed the registration, making MoC eligible to receive and utilise foreign funds in its bank accounts. The Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) registration is mandatory to receive foreign donations.
The amendment to the Foreign Contributions (Regulation) Act, 2010 seeks to enhance transparency, accountability and to strengthen the compliance mechanism while allowing the genuine NGOs to continue working for the welfare of the society. There are around 16000 NGOs whose FCRA registration is currently active.
