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Cracks appear in the opposition’s I.N.D.I.A. alliance, Bengal Congress President Adhir Ranjan says TMC entering alliance only because it needs Congress

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Cracks appear in the opposition’s I.N.D.I.A. alliance, Bengal Congress President Adhir Ranjan says TMC entering alliance only because it needs Congress

On 22nd July, Congress’s party floor leader in Lok Sabha and Bengal Congress President Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury launched a fresh attack on Trinamool Congress (TMC) led by Mamata Banerjee. His statement came days after the opposition parties formed a new alliance named Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance or I.N.D.I.A. to contest against NDA in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections 2024.

In less than ten days, the cracks among the allied parties have started to get wider. Earlier, Punjab Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa had openly opposed any alliance with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) after their entry into I.N.D.I.A. coalition.

Speaking at a press conference, Choudhury said, “She (Mamata) came to power in 2011 with the help of the Congress. Then she denied that. The people of the state have become disillusioned with Mamata Banerjee now. So, she felt that she should now join hands with Congress… The Trinamool now desperately needs the Congress.”

He added, “Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra united the entire country. Rahul Gandhi’s leadership is a clear sign of change in India as a whole. The TMC realised that if they did not join with the politics of Rahul Gandhi, then the party would split.”

Interestingly, TMC leaders have shown restraint in giving any statement in return, keeping the alliance in mind. TMC leader Shantanu Sen said, “The TMC came to power in West Bengal with more than 180 seats. That number has only increased, but Congress became zero in 2021. Keeping in mind the alliance, we are not attacking Congress, but that doesn’t mean we are weak. We are powerful enough in West Bengal to fight against the BJP. We do not need anybody’s help.”

Taking a dig at the situation, BJP West Bengal president Suvendhu Adhikari said, “Those who want to fight against this (the TMC) government, come and fight with the BJP. Or create a platform where you can stand and fight all out against the tyrannical state government… If you want to fight against this state government after seeing the pictures of the leaders who attended the alliance meeting, the people of West Bengal will not believe you. This is friendship in Delhi and wrestling in Bengal.”

Punjab Congress revolted against any alliance with Congress

Earlier on 22nd July, Punjab LoP and Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa said that Punjab Congress were against forming an alliance with the ruling AAP party.

Speaking to ANI, he said, “Congress for a long time has been one of the two major parties of Punjab…People wanted a change, they brought these people (AAP) to power, and people have been suffering…Punjab has been suffering economically, law & order and otherwise also…I am sure in the 2024 parliamentary elections, Congress will come back with a big margin. One alliance is led by BJP, the other by Congress, so when they cast their vote, it is going to be either for BJP or for Congress. AAP does not figure anywhere. Why should we form an alliance with AAP?”

Objecting to the alliance between AAP and Congress, he added, “Punjab Congress unit is completely against this (forming an alliance with AAP)… I will meet Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday and request that he not forge an alliance with them (AAP). We were not in alliance with them in the past and will not be in future also.”

Earlier, Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Warring also spoke against alliance with AAP. He accused AAP of targeting Congress leaders and said former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister OP Soni was “forcibly put in jail”.

Meiteis living in Mizoram start to leave the state after ex-militant outfit warns them to leave ‘for their own safety’

OpIndia Staff
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Meiteis living in Mizoram start to leave the state after ex-militant outfit warns them to leave ‘for their own safety’

Days after outrage over the incident in Manipur where two women were paraded naked and sexually abused, the Meitei community residing in Mizoram is compelled to leave their homeland. 

This comes after a former militant organisation named Peace Accord MNF Returnees Association (PAMRA) issued a  statement warning the Meiteis to leave Mizoram saying that they should “leave the state for their own safety as there is anger among Mizo youth” over the incident involving two Kuki-Zomi women being paraded naked and sexually assaulted. 

PAMRA stated that the brutality meted out to the Zomi-ethnic group in Manipur has profoundly affected Mizo sensibilities, adding a warning that if violence transpires against Meiteis in Mizoram, they will shoulder the burden of blame. “The Meiteis will be held responsible if they fail to leave Mizoram,” the PAMRA statement said. It is notable that the Mizos have close ties with the Kuki-Zomis of Manipur.

The statement issued by PAMRA

PAMRA said in its statement, “The situation in Mizoram has become tense and it is no longer safe for Meitei people from Manipur to live in Mizoram in the wake of barbaric and heinous acts committed by miscreants in Manipur.”

Despite PAMRA Secretary General C Lalthenlova’s claim that it was a ‘normal’ safety appeal and that their statement expressing ‘concern’ was misconstrued as a threat, Meiteis were said to have started leaving Mizoram on Saturday, assuming a threat. Most people have started leaving Mizoram by road, driving towards Assam.

It is notable that over 2,000 Meitei people live in Aizawl, Mizoram’s capital, including government employees, students, and workers. Many hail from Barak Valley in Assam.

“Many of the Meiteis are running, leaving their belongings behind in their rented houses. Many of the people from Barak Valley are leaving by road, and there are also many people who are seeking shelter at Aizawl airport. People are scared,” a person who works in a private company and leaving Aizwal with his family of 4 in his car told Indian Express.

According to a report by The Hindu, airline officials who operate flights to and from Lengpui airport in Aizawl, approximately 60 people took flights to Imphal’s Tulihal airport. According to Imphal airport officials, 56 Meiteis arrived from Mizoram on an Alliance Air flight. Meanwhile, several Meitei people are said to have departed Aizawl and other areas of Mizoram by means of buses and taxis.

Nagaland Chief Minister Zoramthanga had earlier assured Manipur CM N Biren Singh regarding the safety of Meiteis in Mizoram during their telephonic conversation.

Following the issuance of the statement on Friday night, Mizoram’s DIG Northern Range issued an order asking that security personnel be sent to four locations to “ensure the safety of Meiteis in Aizawl.” Mizoram Home Commissioner H Lalengmawia said that he spoke to PAMRA and they said that their messages has been misinterpreted. “They said that it was not a threat but an expression of concern for the security of the Meitei people, issued in good faith. Because of the effect it has had, we resolved that they will withdraw their statement,” he said, but the Meitei people in Mizoram are scared after seeing the violence in Manipur and don’t want to face the same.

Lalengmawia also met representatives of All Mizoram Manipuri Association and assured them of their safety and security. He asked them to persuade the Meiteis to not leave the state.

On the other hand, the Manipur government said it is willing to evacuate them from the state through chartered flight. The Manipur government’s spokesperson said that people had started leaving Mizoram after tension following the PAMRA statement, but the tension may reduce after the Mizoram home department’s assurance.

PAMRA representatives expressed regret that their statement was misconstrued, insisting that they didn’t issue a threat. They assured that they will not do anything that would affect peace and tranquillity in the State.

Notably, Meiteis make up around 53% of Manipur’s population and dwell predominantly in the Imphal Valley, while tribals, including Nagas and Kukis, account for 40% and reside primarily in the hill regions. 

Manipur has been burning amid conflict between the two ethnic groups, Meiteis and Kukis. Tensions flared up on May 3 following a ‘Tribal solidarity march’ which was organized against the Meitei community seeking ST status.

Oppenheimer’s Bhagavad Gita scene sparks row, Save India Save Culture Foundation urges Union I&B Minister to take action

OpIndia Staff
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Oppenheimer’s Bhagavad Gita scene sparks row, Save India Save Culture Foundation urges Union I&B Minister to take action

Amidst outrage over a scene from actor Cillian Murphy starrer Oppenheimer, wherein he is seen reciting Bhagavad Gita’s shloks while having sex, Uday Mahurkar of Save Culture Save India Foundation (SCSIF) on Saturday, July 22, issued a statement urging the Information and Broadcast Ministry to take action in this regard. He said that the film has hurt the Hindu religious sentiments. The Christopher Nolan directorial venture had a theatrical release on July 21, 2023.

“It has come to the notice of Save Culture Save India Foundation that the movie Oppenheimer, which was released on 21st July, contains scenes which make a scathing attack on Hinduism. A scene in the movie shows a woman making a man read Bhagwad Geeta aloud while getting over him and doing sexual intercourse,” the statement tweeted by Uday Mahurkar read.

Moreover, the statement issued by Save Culture Save India Foundation expressed shock over how even the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) approved the scene without any cuts or alterations. 

“A divine gift to human civilisation by Bhagwan Sri Krishna, the Bhagwad Geeta, is one of the most revered scriptures of Hinduism. Geeta has been the inspiration for countless sanyasis, brahmacharis and legends who live a life of self-control and perform selfless noble deeds. One is perplexed as to how the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) could approve the movie with this scene,” the statement reads. 

The Save Culture Save India Foundation further urged Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting to investigate and take action in this regard. 

“We are living in a very polarised world. So this should be investigated by the I & B Ministry on an urgent basis and those involved should be severely punished. As observed by Union I & B Minister Anurag Thakur ji recently and even courts in the last couple of years, the entertainment we get is insensitive to the cultural and moral sentiments of masses,” the statement adds.

The SCSIF further asserted that people are compelled to remain “powerless recipients” of continuous attacks on their core values, while content creators get free rein to spend millions creating and promoting unacceptable, even filthy content in the name of creativity. 

The statement concludes with SCSIF urging Union Minister Anurag Thakur to do everything to uphold the dignity of Shrimad Bhagavad Gita and make necessary alterations in the processes involving content moderation so that such things are not repeated again. 

“The Foundation urges, on behalf of the public of this nation and the timeless tradition of lives being transformed by revered Geeta, the I & B Ministry to do all that is needed to uphold the dignity of the revered holy book of the Hindus, punish those involved and setting processes in place that such things do not happen in future,” SCSIF stated.

Oppenheimer and the Bhagavad Gita

It is notable that American scientist J Robert Oppenheimer recited the Bhagavad Gita Shlok after seeing the explosion of the atomic bomb. “Now I am become Death, destroyer of worlds,” Oppenheimer had said. 

The original shlok quoted from the Bhagavad Gita chapter 11 is told by Lord Krishna to prince Arjuna:

कालोऽस्मि लोकक्षयकृत्प्रवृद्धो लोकान्समाहर्तुमिह प्रवृत्तः।
ऋतेऽपि त्वां न भविष्यन्ति सर्वेयेऽवस्थिताः प्रत्यनीकेषु योधाः॥॥ (11.32)

The shlok means, “I am mighty Time, the source of destruction that comes forth to annihilate the worlds. Even without your participation, the warriors arrayed in the opposing army shall cease to exist.”

While J Robert Oppenheimer’s interest towards Hindu Scriptures like Bhagvad Gita, Meghdut, and to some extent even Vedas is well known along with his fascination for Sanskrit, however, the veracity of the controversial scene depicting Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy) reciting Gita Shlok while having sexual intercourse with Jean Tatlock (played by actress Florence Pugh) remains doubtful. 

‘X.com is coming’ – Elon Musk to ‘bid adieu’ to Twitter brand and logo

OpIndia Staff
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‘X.com is coming’ – Elon Musk to ‘bid adieu’ to Twitter brand and logo

On 22nd July (local time), Twitter’s chief and CTO Elon Musk said that the Twitter brand and all the ‘birds’ will soon be things of the past. He wrote, “And soon we shall bid adieu to the Twitter brand and, gradually, all the birds.” Earlier, Musk had said he would be rebranding Twitter as X.com.

In a follow-up tweet, Musk said that if a good enough logo was posted, it would be made live worldwide the next day.

Soon after his tweet, Twitter users posted several suggestions for the logo. After his initial tweet, Musk shared a logo posted by Sawyer Merritt, co-founder of Twin Birch USA. The logo was initially created for the now-discontinued X-Pod, a podcast about Musk and his ventures.

When Musk purchased Twitter for USD 44 billion in the last quarter of 2022, he announced that the purchase was an accelerant to creating X, ‘the everything app‘. Notably, when Musk launched his financial service in 1999, it was named ‘X’ but was later rebranded as PayPal. In 2017, Musk re-acquired X.com; since then, it has been one of his unused assets. In August 2022, he said that the x.com domain could be an alternative to social media platforms if he did not buy Twitter.

Further details about X.com are awaited.

Raigad Landslide: Death toll reaches 27, 78 still missing, authorities fear that death toll may go up to 100

OpIndia Staff
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Raigad Landslide: Death toll reaches 27, 78 still missing, authorities fear that death toll may go up to 100

The devastating Irshalwadi landslide in Raigad, Maharashtra, has resulted in the loss of 27 lives. Tragically, 78 people still remain unaccounted for, days after the landslide, leading to fears that the death toll could even surpass 100. Among the victims recovered on Saturday were four women and one man.

According to data from the Raigad district collectorate, Irshalwadi was home to 229 people, with 43 families residing in the area. Based on this information and the current tally of 27 fatalities and 78 missing individuals, it is estimated that 124 people survived the landslide. At present, 73 survivors are housed in relief camps, while 31 students remain at a residential tribal school. Additionally, four injured individuals are receiving medical care, and 16 others have sought refuge with their relatives.

Kamlu Pardhi (65), the Chief of the Irshalwadi tribal hamlet, explained the extent of the devastation, stating that out of the 48 houses in the area, only 10 houses and the Raigad Zila Parishad school remain standing. The landslide has not only shattered their lives but also robbed them of their livelihoods. The recovery efforts are hampered by the challenging task of extracting bodies buried under 20 feet of mud.

Authorities are grappling with the grim reality that chances of finding survivors diminish with each passing day. Decomposing bodies are posing further challenges for rescue teams, making identification increasingly difficult.

NDRF deputy commandant (operations), Deepak Tiwari, indicated that the district and state administration will determine whether to continue the rescue efforts. To aid in the operation, Cidco has deployed over a thousand labourers from its construction sites in Navi Mumbai. CM Eknath Shinde has instructed Cidco to construct houses for the landslide victims in a safer location nearby. The company has already provided 25 stretchers and 5,000 bottles of drinking water to support the relief efforts at the site.

On Saturday, 22nd July 2023, the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) announced that Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde will provide support and adopt the children who have lost both their parents in the devastating landslide at Irshalwadi.

The Irshalwadi landslide occurred on Wednesday, 19th July 2023 in Irshalwadi village near Irshalgad. However, there is no paved road to reach that place.

During his visit to the site of the tragedy on Thursday, the chief minister assessed the ongoing relief and rescue efforts and extended an ex-gratia amount of ₹5 lakhs to the families of the deceased, providing financial support in their time of grief.

Andhra Pradesh: 8 patients die in a hospital in Nellore, kin blame the authorities for the shortage of oxygen

OpIndia Staff
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Andhra Pradesh: 8 patients die in a hospital in Nellore, kin blame the authorities for the shortage of oxygen

A shocking incident has surfaced from a Government General Hospital in Nellore city of Andhra Pradesh, wherein 8 persons have passed away. The relatives of the deceased have alleged that the deaths occurred due to a lack of oxygen at the hospital. The family members of the deceased have blamed the hospital administration for the tragic occurrence.

The hospital administration responded to the charges and stated that nobody died from a lack of oxygen. They said that the patients died from their underlying medical conditions. They emphasised that there was ample oxygen available throughout the hospital.

Six of the eight patients, according to the information, were admitted to the hospital’s Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) unit. Following their deaths, the superintendent of the hospital, Siddha Naik, intervened and launched an extensive investigation into the tragedy.

Naik delivered a report to the district collector as part of the inquiry. He, however, refuted any accusation that oxygen shortage contributed to the fatalities in his report and identified multiple medical factors as the causes of the deaths.

Iranian government official calls for boycott of all products from Sweden and Denmark over Quran burnings

OpIndia Staff
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Iranian government official calls for boycott of all products from Sweden and Denmark over Quran burnings

On 22nd July, a senior Iran government official called for a boycott of all the products originating from Sweden and Denmark over Quran burning incidents in those countries. In a statement, the secretary of a top advisory economic body for the Iranian government, Mohsen Rezaei, said Muslim countries should boycott products either manufactured or sold by Denmark and Sweden as these two Nordic countries have allowed the desecration of the Quran.

Iran’s leader called for boycott of products from Sweden and Denmark. Source: Twitter

Rezaei said that the boycott should be included in the coordinated measures that Islamic governments are adopting to condemn the acts of desecration of the Quran in Sweden and Denmark. He said, “What is happening in some European countries, including in Sweden and Denmark, against Islamic sanctities and the Quran is barbarism rather than freedom.”

He added, “To prevent a repetition of such heinous and inhumane acts, the Muslim countries have a duty to boycott their commodities, expel their ambassadors and follow up on the prosecution of the abusive people and their backers.”

The Islamic countries expressed their anger earlier this week after a second incident of the Quran burning happened in Sweden this year with consent from police authorities and the administration. On 21st July, another case of Quran burning was reported from Denmark, where a man set a copy of the Quran on fire near the Iraqi Embassy in Copenhagen.

In an attempt to express their anger over the incident, Iran has announced it would not accept a new Swedish ambassador and will avoid sending any new envoy.

The protests against the Quran burning are spreading across Islamic countries. In the wee hours of 22nd July, hundreds of people in Baghdad tried to storm into the city’s Green Zone, which is a heavily fortified area as there are several foreign embassies and the seat of Iraq’s government. The protesters raised slogans like ‘Yes, yes to the Quran!’.

Danish humanitarian organisation’s headquarter attacked

As per local media, in a separate incident, headquarters of the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) located in the Basra governorate of Iraq was set ablaze by the protesters. The organisation’s executive director for the Middle East, Lilu Thapa, said, “Our staff on the premises at the time were physically unharmed, but there has been damage to the property with structures set on fire.” DRC has been active in the country for over 20 years.

Iraqi Presidency warns people not in indulge in ‘acts of sedition’

Meanwhile, the Iraqi Presidency has urged international organisations and Western governments to stop incitement and hate practices, “whatever their pretexts”. The official statement also warned the Iraqi citizens not to act in a way that might be described as a ‘plot of sedition’ aimed to show Iraq is unsafe for foreign missions.

Danish Foreign Minister says Quran burning not a crime but ‘foolish’

Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen called Quran burning a foolish act while noting it is not a crime in the country. He said, “It is a disgraceful act to insult the religion of others”. He added, “This applies to the burning of Korans [Qurans] and other religious symbols. It has no other purpose than to provoke and create division.” In an official statement, Denmark’s Foreign Ministry said, “It is a provocative act that hurts many people and creates division between different religions and cultures. Denmark has freedom of religion and many Danish citizens are Muslims. They are a valued part of the Danish population. Denmark underlines that freedom of expression and freedom of assembly must be respected. Denmark supports the right to protest but emphasises it must remain peaceful.”

Andhra Pradesh: Woman in Nandigama cuts husband’s genitals for watching ex-wife’s video on Instagram, says it unintentional

OpIndia Staff
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Andhra Pradesh: Woman in Nandigama cuts husband’s genitals for watching ex-wife’s video on Instagram, says it unintentional

On Friday, 21st July 2023, a shocking incident unfolded in Nandigama, Andhra Pradesh, wherein a woman brutally cut her husband’s genitals in an act of revenge. The reason behind the attack was her husband watching a video of his first wife on Instagram.

The victim, identified as Kota Anand Babu, hails from Muppalla village in Chanderlapadu Mandal near Nandigama of the NTR district of Andhra Pradesh. He had separated from his first wife several years ago due to unresolved conflicts and had subsequently married Varamma. The couple had been living in Muppalla for the past five months.

The horrifying incident occurred on Friday evening when Varamma caught Anand Babu watching Instagram reels of his first wife. Enraged by this act, she confronted him, and what began as a heated argument quickly escalated into a violent altercation.

In a fit of rage, Varamma attacked Anand Babu’s private parts using a blade, resulting in severe bleeding and injuries. He was immediately rushed to the Government Hospital in Nandigama for immediate medical attention. However, due to the severity of his injuries, he was later transferred to a hospital in Vijayawada for advanced treatment.

Anand Babu, after receiving medical care, filed a complaint with the police regarding the incident. The police have duly registered a case and have begun their investigation into the matter.

When approached by the media, Varamma explained that the altercation occurred when she discovered her husband watching his first wife’s video on Instagram. However, she claimed that the attack on his private parts was not intentional. As the investigation continues, more details may emerge to shed light on the underlying reasons behind this act.

This is not the first case in recent times where a woman has cut her husband’s genitals. There were two similar cases reported from Odisha and Rajasthan in the recent past. In November 2022, a woman chopped off her husband’s genitals in Rajasthan’s Barmer after a trivial fight. The woman was talking on the phone at night, which led to a fight between the couple. In October 2022, a 33-year-old woman allegedly chopped off the genitals of her husband before stabbing him to death in Odisha’s Jajpur district.

Second wife cannot accuse husband of cruelty under Section 498A of IPC: says Karnataka High Court, quashes conviction of a man

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Second wife cannot accuse husband of cruelty under Section 498A of IPC: says Karnataka High Court, quashes conviction of a man

On the 22nd of July, the Karnataka High Court overturned the ruling of the lower courts and quashed the conviction of a 46-year-old man charged under Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The Court ruled that the complaint against the man was filed by his ‘second wife’, which rendered their marriage ‘null and void’ and therefore a case can’t be filed under Section 498A . 

Notably, Section 498A aims to safeguard married women from abuse by their husbands or their spouse’s family members. Since the marriage was found illegal, the High Court set aside the conviction order passed by the lower courts.  

The single-judge bench of Justice S Rachaiah asserted that the lower courts should not have accepted or entertained the charges as the complainant woman was recognised as the man’s second wife. On that basis, the alleged offence under Section 498-A of IPC was not maintainable. 

The court said, “In other words, a complaint filed by the second wife against the husband and her in-laws is not maintainable. The Courts below committed errors in applying the principles and also the law on this aspect. Therefore, interference by this Court in exercising the revisional jurisdiction is justified.”  

The case pertains to Kantharaju who is a resident of Vittavathanahalli in the Tumakuru district and his ‘second wife’. He had filed a Criminal Revision Petition before the High Court where the court addressed serious allegations against him. 

According to the complainant, she was Kantharaju’s second wife. They lived together for five years and had a son together. However, she suffered from health issues and was paralysed which left her incapacitated. She claimed that as her health deteriorated, Kantharaju’s behaviour towards her changed dramatically. Later on, he began subjecting her to cruelty and mental torture. To come out of this situation, she lodged a complaint against him.

Following her complaint and trial proceedings, the Tumakuru Trial Court found Kantharaju guilty under Section 498A of the IPC. The verdict was pronounced on the 18th of January 2019. This court verdict was later confirmed by the Sessions Court in October 2019. 

However, Kantharaju challenged the conviction and filed a Revision Petition before the Karnataka High Court, in the same year. 

After a thorough examination, the High Court concluded that a second wife does not have the entitlement to file a complaint under Section 498A. As a result of it, the High Court set aside the earlier verdicts of the lower courts passed during January and October 2019. 

According to the High Court verdict, the lower court should have considered the complainant as the second wife, as evidence suggested, unless the prosecution had established that their marriage was legal and they should have proceeded according to that. 

The court said, “The prosecution has to establish that the marriage of PW.1 is legal or she is the legally wedded wife of the petitioner. Unless it is established that she is the legally wedded wife of the petitioner, the Courts below ought to have acted upon the evidence of PWs.1 (complainant woman) and 2 (her mother) that PW.1 was the second wife.” 

The High Court highlighted two Supreme Court rulings relevant to this case – the Shivcharan Lal Verma case and the P Sivakumar case.  

Justice Rachaiah stated that the ratio of these two judgments of the Hon’ble Supreme Court clearly indicates that if the marriage between the husband and wife ended as null and void, the offence under Section 498A of IPC cannot be sustained. 

Justice Rachaiah added that since the complainant’s mother admitted that the complainant was the second wife of the petitioner, the conviction ruling of the lower courts is to be set aside.  

The Court remarked, “Admittedly, in the present case, the complainant in her evidence, PW.2 being the mother of PW.1 both have consistently deposed and admitted that PW.1 is the second wife of the petitioner. Accordingly, the concurrent findings of the Courts below in recording the conviction requires to be set aside.”

Odisha triple train accident: 41 bodies kept at AIIMS Bhubaneswar yet to be identified and claimed

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Odisha triple train accident: 41 bodies kept at AIIMS Bhubaneswar yet to be identified and claimed

 As many as 41 bodies at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhubaneswar are yet to be identified after the triple train collision in Odisha’s Balasore district on June 2.

“We have 41 unclaimed bodies. People are coming to us and we are handing over the bodies after matching DNA samples,” said Dr (Prof) Ashutosh Biswas, Director, AIIMS Bhubaneswar, Odisha. “The handing over process for bodies is going on and the relatives/claimants of other bodies are coming to take bodies,” Biswas added.

The process of handing over the bodies will continue till the claimants arrive, it added.

Earlier on Friday Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the lapses in the ‘signalling-circuit-alteration’ leading to wrong signals caused the tragic triple train accident in Odisha’s Balasore district.

The Union Minister further said that the Commissioner of Railway Safety under the Ministry of Civil Aviation has completed its inquiry into the Balasore train accident, which claimed 295 lives.

“The rear-collision was due to the lapses in the signalling-circuit-alteration carried out at the North Signal Goomty (of the station) in the past, and during the execution of the signalling work related to replacement of Electric Lifting Barrier for level crossing gate no. 94 at the Station. These lapses resulted in wrong signalling to Train No. 12841 wherein the UP Home Signal indicated a Green aspect for run-through movement on the UP main line of the station, but the crossover connecting the UP main line to the UP loop line (crossover 17A/B) was set to the UP loop line; the wrong signalling resulted in the Train No.12841 traversing on the UP loop line, and eventual rear-collision with the Goods train (No. N/DDIP) standing there,” Ashwini Vaishnaw told the Rajya Sabha.

The minister was replying to questions by Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader John Brittas and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh in Rajya Sabha on the tragedy.

The tragic incident of the triple train accident on June 2 involving the Chennai-bound Coromandel Express, the Howrah-bound Shalimar Express and a goods train.

He further said that 295 passengers lost their lives while 176 sustained grievous injuries, 451 suffered simple injuries and 180 received First Aid Treatment and left.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

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