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Outrage on rape and murder of trainee doctor opens a can of worm on Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College: Multiple times when it made headlines over suicides, deaths and other issues

OpIndia Staff
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Outrage on rape and murder of trainee doctor opens a can of worm on Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College: Multiple times when it made headlines over suicides, deaths and other issues

The harrowing rape and murder of the 31-year-old trainee female doctor inside the premises of Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College has sparked a massive outrage, with protests across India and throughout the world demanding Justice for Abhaya. While the case has underscored the need for strict laws in heinous cases of crime against women and timely delivery of Justice following an ‘impartial’ probe, it has also put Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in the spotlight. 

Currently, the senior management of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital is facing massive backlash for their initial response to the case. Initially, it claimed that it was a suicide case, but the probe revealed that it was a case of brutal rape and murder. The development has opened a can of worms for the hospital as this is not a one-off incidence when the medical institution made headlines for all the wrong reasons. On multiple occasions, RG Kar Hospital was in the news over allegations of one criminal activity or the other or for suspicious deaths. 

The mysterious death of a fourth-year student, Soumitra Biswas, snowballed into allegations of a porn ring being behind his ‘murder’

OpIndia earlier reported how a 23-year-old case of a medical student’s suspicious death was also initially passed off as a suicide. However, the High Court later ordered a probe when the family of victim Soumitra Biswas disagreed and demanded a probe saying that he was murdered for trying to expose a porn ring. Even though Auromita Das, a female student of the medical college, was arrested in connection with the case, the West Bengal Police CID could not make much progress in the case, and it remains unresolved. The police had questioned several members of SFI, the student wing of CPM, but could not find any clue.

Back-to-back instances of ‘suspicious death’/suicide and a failed bid at suicide

Two years later, in February 2003, the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital saw two back-to-back cases – one of ‘suspicious death’/suicide and another of a failed bid at ‘suicide’, taking the tally of such cases to four in close succession of a few years. 

These four cases included the case of Soumitra Biswas who lost his life in August 2001 and the family had alleged murder for trying to expose a porn ring. The other three being Madhusudan Sau (February 1999), Arijit Datta (February 2003), and Praveen Gupta (February 2003). 

In the first week of February 2003, a housestaff, named Arijit Dutta (24) reportedly committed suicide by “cutting his veins and then jumping off the roof” of the main hostel building of Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. He was a resident of Bamunpara, Suri, in the Birbhum district. No initial reason was reported for the suspicious death/suicide as no note or any other indication was found. 

Unlike the rest, it was reported that the fourth-year student of the college, Praveen Gupta, failed in his suicide attempt. As per reports, he hailed from the Lal Mohan Hostel at Maniktala where he tried to slash both his wrists when most of his hostel mates were, apparently, fast asleep.

However, a Telegraph report on the incident stated that medical experts were mostly sceptical about Gupta’s decision to slash both his wrists, which also baffled investigators. 

The Amherst Street police station officials had said that a “note written to his girlfriend” was recovered from Gupta’s possession. Based on the contents, the cops believed that a failed love affair caused the medical student’s “depression”. However, Metro reported that some of his close friends suggested otherwise. 

A decomposed body of RG Kar Medical College professor was found at home; the room locked from the inside, Police suspected a heart attack

In October 2016, Police found the severely decomposed body of a 54-year-old RG Kar Medical College professor, Gautam Pal, inside his rented South Dum Dum apartment which was locked from the inside. 

According to police, Pal, departmental head of RG Kar medicine unit No.6, had gone missing a few days earlier. 

After getting a strong stench from his house, his neighbours alerted the Police. After breaking his main door, which was bolted from inside, Police found his body on a bed in a room on the first floor but the bed was found to be in perfect condition, leading to the suspicion that Pal might have suffered a cardiac arrest. 

After examining the body, doctors told Police that Pal had died at least three days ago. 

But the Police said that no suicide note was found in the house and thus contents of Pal’s stomach were preserved to test for traces of poison. As per reports, investigators had also found blood stains on the floor of his room and some bruises in his face. 

Trainee Female doctor, Poulami Saha, reportedly committed suicide; no suicide note was found 

RG Kar Hospital was again back in the news in May 2020 in connection with the reported suicide of a trainee female doctor during the COVID pandemic. The 25-year-old junior doctor allegedly committed suicide by jumping off the 6th floor of the emergency building. 

The deceased, Poulami Saha, was a second-year Post Graduate Trainee at the sick neonatal care unit of the hospital. According to the police, the junior doctor jumped from the 6th floor around 11 am before starting her shift at the fever clinic of the hospital. 

The Police had stated that her body was sent for postmortem. While no suicide note was found, Police said that they had learned that she had been suffering from depression for the last few days.

It is pertinent to note that while it was reported that she jumped off the 6th floor, as per a report in Mumbai Mirror, the trainee doctor committed suicide by jumping off the 11th floor. The hospital authorities did not confirm suicide.

Unlike the past cases when the majority of the incidents unfolded within the hospital building, a fourth-year medical student of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital reportedly died when he was on a trekking tour with his friends in Uttarakhand in January 2023. 

The family members of a deceased medical student, Sayan Mondal, were informed that he had successfully trekked up the Brahmatal but collapsed while returning from there. As per reports, while climbing down, he was suffering from acute breathing trouble and fell unconscious on the way. He was rushed to the Dewal government hospital where he was declared brought dead. 

Intern dies of ‘drug overdose’

Last year in August, an intern of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital reportedly died in the hospital. The Tala Police had filed a case of ‘unnatural death’, but an overdose of an antidepressant drug was being pointed out as the cause of death. 

In the meantime, the Police had not found any suicide note and also ruled out any foul play in the mysterious death. The deceased, Suvorojyiti Das (23) was doing his internship after completing his MBBS. 

As per reports, his family members found him lying unconscious in his room after which he was rushed to RG Kar Hospital. He died in the hospital’s critical care unit.

Tainted Principal of RG Kar Hospital, Sandip Ghosh was accused of not taking action on the ragging complaint and threatening the student to say the issue was ‘resolved’

In September last year, a final-year medical student accused the then outgoing Principal, Sandip Ghosh, of not taking action on a ragging complaint. Strikingly, Sandip Ghosh has returned to RG Kar Hospital numerous times, despite transfers. 

Meanwhile, the final-year student also said that no action is taken against students who are close to Principal Sandip Ghosh. He added that a house staff close to Sandip Ghosh called him and threatened him to submit that his complaint of ragging has been “resolved”.  

Notably, the ragging complaint took place just four days before a ragging incident was reported at the Manicktala Boys’ Hostel of RG Kar Medical College & Hospital (RGKMCH. 

In an e-mail to Sandip Ghosh on 8th September, the medical student mentioned that he had been subjected to mental and physical ragging for more than three years which was taking a toll on his mental and physical health, hampering his career.

The final-year student had said, “I was expecting a positive response from the outgoing principal (Sandip Ghosh) as he is our utmost guardian at the institute. But instead, I got a call the next day from one of the house staff close to him questioning me why I wrote the mail. How did this senior come to know about the mail at the first place? It is clear that it was leaked to him.” 

As per reports, the house staff who called the final-year student to threaten him for filing a ragging complaint was one among the 13 who were named in the FIR for ragging at the Manicktala hostel.

The final-year student further stated, “The house staff even told me to write another mail to the outgoing principal saying that all my issues have been resolved. I refused to oblige.” 

He added, “There are many students like me who are regularly harassed for refusing to toe the lines of those handful of seniors who are close to the ex-principal.” 

The tainted Principal of RG Kar Medical College, Sandip Ghosh

Since he took over as principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in 2021, Sandip Ghosh has been a controversial appointee to the medical institution. He is a surgeon and professor of orthopaedics. As per reports, several medical professionals and students have said that he is well-known for his close ties with the ruling state party, Trinamool Congress. He had often been accused of using threats and intimidation to control the hospital autocratically. It is pertinent to note that he has returned to RG Kar Medical College on several occasions, even after getting transferred to another college. 

According to News18, a few months after he joined the college, students held a hunger strike in front of his office to register their protest against his refusal to establish separate student and residence hall councils.

Previously, he was the Vice Principal of Calcutta National Medical College (CNMC). 

He was transferred to Murshidabad Medical College in June 2023 but he locked the principal’s chamber and didn’t allow his replacement Sanat Ghosh to join RG Kar Medical College. In less than 48 hours, he was given a promotion, and the transfer order was cancelled. 

However, he was once again transferred in September 2023 over the ragging incident in the boys’ hostel. As per reports, following his transfer orders, students connected to the Trinamool Congress (TMC) blocked the newly appointed principal from taking over the charge for five days. And he was yet again reinstated to RG Kar Medical College in less than a month. 

According to reports, this came after a hospital deputy superintendent transferred him after accusing him of being a racketeer. 

In the recent tragic case of rape and murder of the 31-year-old trainee doctor, the Calcutta High Court came down heavily on the Police and the West Bengal government for reinstating him to another medical college hours after he resigned from his post of Principal of RG Kar Medical College following his initial response in this case.

Viscera and blood-stained items in the RG Kar Hospital case changed: Claims Suvendu Adhikari, asks CBI to seize phones of Mamata Banerjee and top cops

OpIndia Staff
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Viscera and blood-stained items in the RG Kar Hospital case changed: Claims Suvendu Adhikari, asks CBI to seize phones of Mamata Banerjee and top cops

As the CBI has started the investigation into the heinous rape and murder of a trainee doctor at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari made several serious allegations against the state police today. He claimed that the police changed the viscera and blood-stained items in an effort to protect the accused.

Adhikari said that Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Kumar Goyal was behind these changes. Suvendu Adhikari claimed that he has gathered the information from several reliable sources. He made the following claims in a post on X (Twitter):

  1. The viscera of the deceased victim Doctor has been changed by the Kolkata Police in the name of Investigation;
  2. The involvement of quite a few number of individuals in this heinous offence and on the place of occurance cannot be ruled out;
  3. The blood stained items/objects have been changed subsequently and what is reflected in the seizure made by Kolkata Police are not the actual items/objects which can be well ascertained by DNA testing;
  4. The wash basin has been replaced by a new basin;
  5. After murdering the victim Doctor in some other corner of the premises, the body was shifted to the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College;

He added that he hopes and trusts that CBI will also explore these angles during the course of Investigation. The West Bengal leader of opposition added that before the case was handed over to CBI by the Calcutta High Court, the state police were doing a “perfunctory Investigation to hush up the issue”, and it was “being directly monitored and conducted at the dictates of the Commissioner of Police, Kolkata.”

Suvendu Adhikari also demanded that CBI should confiscate the phones of CM Mamata Banerjee, Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal, RG Kar Hospital’s former principal Sandip Ghosh, DGP Rajeev Kumar, and health secretary Narayan Swaroop Nigam. He claimed that when call records and other data of the phones are examined, everything will be clear.

Maharashtra: Situation under control in Nashik after mobs attack Hindu groups for protesting against persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh

ANI
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Maharashtra: Situation under control in Nashik after mobs attack Hindu groups for protesting against persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh

The situation in Nashik is now under control after violence broke out on Friday during a protest march against the anti-Hindu violence in Bangladesh.

Nashik Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone 1, Ravindra Kumar Chauhan said, “FIRs have been registered after Friday’s incident. 15 accused have been taken into custody. More people have been identified based on photos and videos. The arrest process is underway. The situation is under control.”

Several Hindu organisations had called for a “bandh” in Nashik to condemn the atrocities taking place in Bangladesh.

Ten people were injured when stones were pelted by the protestors and vehicles were damaged in the clash after shops were found open in the Bhadrakali area during the ‘bandh’.

On receiving the information of the protest, the police resorted to a mild lathi charge to bring the situation under control.

Commenting on the clash, State Minister Girish Mahajan said that tension was still prevalent in the Old Nashik Area and shops that remained open in the ‘bandh’ led to the verbal altercation. He appealed to the people of Nashik to maintain peace.

“The police had to resort to a mild lathi charge to bring the situation under control. There is still tension in the Old Nashik area, but the situation is now under control. While the rally was going on, some shops were open. This led to a verbal altercation. I appeal to everyone to maintain peace.”

Further, he added that he spoke to the Police Commissioner and the District Collector, who assured him that the situation was under control.”

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

Bihar: Under-construction Sultanganj-Aguwani Ghat bridge collapses for third time in 2 years, Bridge Corporation clarifies already damaged part collapsed, no new construction going on

OpIndia Staff
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Bihar: Under-construction Sultanganj-Aguwani Ghat bridge collapses for third time in 2 years, Bridge Corporation clarifies already damaged part collapsed, no new construction going on

The under-construction Sultanganj-Aguwani Ghat bridge over river Ganga in Bihar’s Bhagalpur, which collapsed twice in 2022 and then 2023, collapsed again for the third time in two years on 17 August. However, now the Bihar State Bridge Corporation Limited has issued a clarification saying that no new construction of the bridge collapsed, and it was the damaged part which was to be demolished.

After media reports claiming that the bridge has collapsed for the third time in 2 years, raising questions on the construction quality of the important bridge project, the Bihar State Bridge Construction Corporation Ltd issued a press release with some clarifications.

The press release states that the bridge was first damaged on 30 April 2022, and another part was damaged on 4 June 2023. After the second collapse, the construction of the bridge was stopped. During the investigation, it was found that the design of the bridge was faulty, states the corporation. As a result, an order was issued to remove all parts of the bridge built using the faulty design.

Therefore, the faulty portions of the bridge were being demolished, and a portion of the same collapsed after the water level increased in the Ganga River. The collapsed portion was a part of the previously damaged part, and not newly built, the corporation clarified in the statement. They added that no new construction has taken place after last year’s incident.

Notably, last year the Patna High Court directed SP Singla Construction Company, which was tasked with building the Aguwani-Sultanganj bridge on the river Ganga, to rebuild the bridge. Moreover, the court has directed that a steel bridge should be built between pillar number 9 to 13 instead of the cable-stayed bridge that was being built, and SP Singla will pay for the cost.

The damaged portion of the bridge collapsed around 7 PM on Saturday, however, no casualty has been reported so far.

The bridge, which is supposed to connect Sultanganj in Bhagalpur District to Aguwani Ghat in Khagaria District, has been under construction for nine years and has faced repeated setbacks since its construction began. A portion of the bridge collapsed on 4th June last year, and after that, the construction was stopped. Three pillars and the superstructure of girders joining them collapsed causing damage to more than 100 meters of the bridge at that time.

Before that in April 2022, a part of this bridge succumbed to the impact of storm and rains that lashed the area. A part of this bridge caved in near Sultanganj on 30th April 2022. Around 36 spans of the superstructure suspended from pillar number 5 had collapsed due to a storm. 

SP Singla Construction Company was tasked with building the Aguwani-Sultanganj bridge on the river Ganga. Already, hundreds of crores have been sunk into constructing the bridge, which has collapsed thrice now. An investigation is underway to determine the exact causes of the collapses and to ensure that corrective measures are implemented.

In November 2022, a team of two experts from Canada visited Bihar to assess the reasons behind the bridge collapse that took place in April 2022. This team studied to find out how this bridge succumbed to thunderstorms and fast winds. However, its findings were not made public.

‘Entire aim is to corner Mamata Banerjee’: Rajdeep Sardesai first plays ‘neutral’, then attacks Opposition for demanding accountability from West Bengal govt over RG Kar hospital rape-murder case

OpIndia Staff
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‘Entire aim is to corner Mamata Banerjee’: Rajdeep Sardesai first plays ‘neutral’, then attacks Opposition for demanding accountability from West Bengal govt over RG Kar hospital rape-murder case

A week after a junior doctor was raped and murdered at the RG Kar Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata, controversial ‘journalist’ Rajdeep Sardesai took to his YouTube channel on Saturday (17th July) to shield West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee from incoming criticism.

To give the impression of ‘neutrality’, he pointed out how the State government cannot ‘escape scrutiny and accountability.’

Sardesai claimed, “A government hospital comes under the direct jurisdiction of the state government. What happens within its precincts is the responsibility of the state. The Mamata Banerjee government, therefore, cannot pass the buck on this gruesome act that took place in the hospital in Kolkata.”

He also questioned the laxity of Kolkata police in protecting the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital from vandalism and oversight on the part of the hospital authorities in discharging their duties.

Soon after, Rajdeep Sardesai channelled his energy to attack the Opposition in West Bengal for seeking accountability from Mamata Banerjee.

“The opposition has every right to put the West Bengal government on the mat, but it is increasingly apparent that both the BJP and the left parties in particular seemingly are taking out their angst on the Mamata Banerjee government after their Lok Sabha defeat recently,” he insinuated political motive behind Opposition demanding action from Mamata Banerjee.

Rajdeep Sardesai targets Opposition

“Rather than seek justice for the girl, it appears that the entire aim is how do you corner Mamata Banerjee. Just go through the BJP media handles and what one detects is a campaign to get Mamata Banerjee to step down,” the controversial ‘journalist’ defended the TMC supremo.

He further brazened, “Are we saying my friends that whenever a heinous crime occurs in this country, the chief minister must resign? That’s a dangerous political game to play.” Rajdeep Sardesai was quick to point out why seeking the resignation of Biren Singh was not dangerous.

“We need a responsible opposition, not one that seeks opportunity in a disaster. If there is evidence of state complicity in large-scale violence like there was in Manipur last year, a demand for resignation is justified,” he was heard saying.

Rajdeep Sardesai shifts loyalties, attacks Congress

Ever since his wife Sagarika Ghose was made Rajya Sabha MP by the TMC, Rajdeep Sardesai seems to have shifted his loyalties. He did not mince words before targeting the Congress party for not being politically shrewd.

“Mr. Gandhi puts out a statement hitting at the local administration and the police in Bengal. He is entitled to his view. But isn’t Mamata Banerjee, Mr. Gandhi, part of your India alliance? And if she is, why didn’t you pick up a phone and speak to her instead of tweeting in a manner that suggests only further divisions in the opposition ranks today?” he taught the Gandhi scion a lesson in political optics.

“Yes, Mr. Gandhi, you are a Congress leader, but you are also the leader of the opposition now. Your duty, in a sense, is to reach out and ensure justice in a meaningful manner. Instead of confronting your own ally publicly, only it appears for political point scoring. This is no time for that political point-scoring, sir,” he strongly conveyed his disapproval of Rahul’s public slander of Mamata Banerjee.

Bulldozer action in Udaipur: Illegally constructed house of the Muslim boy who stabbed a Hindu student demolished, injured student still in the ICU

OpIndia Staff
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Bulldozer action in Udaipur: Illegally constructed house of the Muslim boy who stabbed a Hindu student demolished, injured student still in the ICU

In Udaipur, Rajasthan, officials demolished the illegally constructed house of a boy accused of stabbing a classmate on Saturday. The Udaipur district administration conducted the demolition after permitting the accused’s family to remove their belongings. Authorities confirmed that the accused and his father were living in the unauthorised structure as tenants.

To ensure the operation proceeded smoothly, a significant police force was deployed at the location. Despite these precautions, a minor altercation occurred between residents and the police when officers requested them to vacate the area.

The accused, a 10th-grade student, allegedly stabbed a fellow student at a government-run school in the district on Friday, escalating communal tensions in the Madhuban area. The student has been taken into custody by the police as investigations are underway.

This demolition demonstrates the administration’s strict stance on unauthorized constructions and its swift response to incidents that disrupt public order.

Shortly after the stabbing incident, members of several Hindu right-wing groups gathered in the Madhuban area, setting fire to at least three cars parked in a garage and engaging in stone-pelting.

Officials have stated that the city is on high alert amid heightened tensions between the two communities. In response to the escalating situation, authorities have imposed prohibitory measures under Section 144, restricting large gatherings within the city.

On Friday (16th August), the district administration in Udaipur city of Rajasthan suspended internet services for 24 hours. 

The development came after communal violence broke out in the city over the stabbing of a minor Hindu student by a Muslim boy at a government school.

Union Health Ministry assures all possible efforts to ensure safety of doctors, requests them to return to duty in view of rising Dengue and Malaria cases

OpIndia Staff
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Union Health Ministry assures all possible efforts to ensure safety of doctors, requests them to return to duty in view of rising Dengue and Malaria cases

As junior doctors across the country continue their protest demanding security after Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital rape and murder case, the union health ministry today appealed them to return to work. The govt also assured them all possible efforts to ensure their security.

The representatives of the Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA), Indian Medical Association (IMA) and Resident Doctors’ Associations of Governmental Medical Colleges & Hospitals of Delhi met the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare at New Delhi on Saturday to discuss the protests in the aftermath of the rape and murder of a resident doctor in RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata.

The Associations placed their demands regarding their concern over the safety and security of healthcare workers at the workplace across the country. The Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare heard the demands of the representatives in the meeting, and assured them of all possible efforts to ensure the security of healthcare professionals.

The representatives of all the Associations were informed that the Government is well aware of the situation and is sensitive to their demands. It was further observed that 26 States have already passed legislation for protection of healthcare workers in their respective states.

In view of the concerns expressed by the Associations, the Ministry assured them of constituting a Committee to suggest all such possible measures for ensuring the safety of healthcare professionals. Representatives of all stakeholders including the State Governments will be invited to share their suggestions with the Committee.

The Ministry also requested the agitating doctors to resume their duties in the larger public interest and in view of the rising cases of Dengue and Malaria.

Notably, yesterday the union health ministry had issued a memorandum instructing that in case of violence against any on-duty healthcare workers, the Head of Institution would be responsible for filing an FIR within a maximum of 6 hours of the incident.

The Office Memorandum issued on 16th August said, “Recently it has been observed that violence has become common against Doctors and other healthcare staff in Government Hospitals. A number of Health workers suffer physical violence during the course of their duty. Many are threatened or exposed to verbal aggression. Most of this violence is done by either patient or patient’s attendants. In view of above, It is stated that in the event of any violence against any health care worker while on duty, the Head of Institution shall be responsible for filing an Institutional FIR within a maximum of 6 hours of the incident.”

‘Will ensure 100 per cent of crops are purchased at MSP’: Haryana CM Saini

ANI
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‘Will ensure 100 per cent of crops are purchased at MSP’: Haryana CM Saini

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Saturday said that the government will ensure 100 per cent purchase of crops at MSP (Minimum Support Price).

“The farmer’s son has come here today to express his gratitude. We decided that within Haryana, the government will ensure the 100 per cent purchase of crops at MSP (Minimum Support Price),” Saini said in a farmers association meeting in Chandigarh.

Saini further emphasised that the government had purchased crops at MSP

“The double-engine government has ensured the purchase of 50 lakh 65,264 metric tons of millet at MSP (Minimum Support Price). Additionally, 33 lakh 52,000 metric tons of mustard have also been purchased at MSP,” the Haryana chief minister said.

“I am pleased to inform you that our government has also ensured the purchase of 96,000 metric tons of sunflower at MSP over the past 10 years,” he said.

The Haryana Government decided to procure all crops at Minimum Support Price (MSP). 10 crops namely Ragi, Soybean, Kalatil (Nigerseed), Safflower, Barley, Maize, Jowar, Jute, Khopra and Moong (Summer) procured at MSP in the state

Highlighting the PM Kisaan Samman Nidhi Yojana, CM Saini said, “The Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, started by our Prime Minister is beneficial for farmers. Every farmer receives Rs6,000 per year. 17 instalments have been given to farmers’ till now.”

Earlier on Thursday, Haryana CM released a subsidy under ‘Mukhya Mantri Dugdh Utpadak Protsahan Yojana’

“As time changed, the cow farming has reduced in homes. Because of people like you, milk production is being established as employment in Haryana,” CM Saini said addressing the event.

“It is not possible that Haryana’s name does not come up when we talk about milk and curd. Due to good quality and high milk-yielding animals and the state government’s best efforts, Haryana is counted among the leading milk-producing states of the country. CM @NayabSainiBJP today distributed subsidy amount to milk producers and Antyodaya families under the “Chief Minister Milk Producer Incentive Scheme” at Sant Kabir Kutir (Chief Minister’s residence),” the Haryana Chief Minister Office posted on X.

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

Haryana: Gurugram malls evacuated after bomb threat, search operation underway

ANI
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Haryana: Gurugram malls evacuated after bomb threat, search operation underway

Visitors and staff members were evacuated from malls in Gurugram on Saturday after district administration received a bomb threat to all the malls in the district via email, officials said.

Beginning around 10 am today, teams of police administration, dog squad and civil defence team carried out search operation, Mohit Sharma, Chief Civil Defence Team, Gurugram said.

Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh Police this morning conducted a security mock drill at the DLF Mall of India in Noida.

DCP Noida Ram Badan Singh said, “A security mock drill was conducted in DLF mall. These kinds of drills are conducted to conduct checks in large areas to make sure that no one is in danger. Fire services, dog squad, and police teams participated in the drill.”

Earlier on August 9, an unidentified man allegedly made a call to the Government Railway Police control room, claiming that RDX had been planted at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), police said.

Following the call, police conducted searches at all CSMT stations but nothing was found.

In a statement, Government Railway Police (GRP), in Mumbai said, “An unidentified person made a call claiming that RDX was being placed at CSMT. As soon as the call was received, the GRP police informed the local police and bomb squad. A search was conducted at all CSMT stations, but nothing was found,” police said.

“The officer mentioned that when an attempt was made to trace the caller’s location, it showed up near CSMT. Shortly after, the individual switched off the mobile phone. The number used to make the call was traced to locations in both Mumbai and Bihar,” police said.

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

Pakistan-origin terrorist Tahawwur Rana, key conspirator of 26/11 Mumbai attack and aide of David Headley, can be extradited to India: US court

OpIndia Staff
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Pakistan-origin terrorist Tahawwur Rana, key conspirator of 26/11 Mumbai attack and aide of David Headley, can be extradited to India: US court

In a major win for India’s efforts to punish perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, a US court has ruled that Tahawwur Rana can be extradited to India under the India-US extradition treaty. Pakistan-born Canadian, Rana is a former Pakistani military doctor. He is also a close aide of David Headley and a wanted man in India. 

In its ruling on 15th August, the US court said, “The (India-US Extradition) Treaty permits Tahawwur Rana’s extradition.”

While hearing a plea filed by Rana, a panel of Judges of the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld the decision of California’s Central District Court which had denied his habeas corpus petition. His plea had challenged the certification of the magistrate judge that declared him “extraditable to India” for his role in the Mumbai terrorist attacks.

In a limited scope of habeas review for an extradition order, the panel of Judges held that Rana’s alleged offense fell within the terms of the extradition treaty between the United States and India. This included a Non-Bis in Idem (double jeopardy) exception to extraditability – “when the person sought has been convicted or acquitted in the Requested State for the offence for which extradition is requested”. 

It is pertinent to note that Tahawwur Rana was convicted in the United States for his involvement in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. He was imprisoned for more than 10 years for supporting terrorist groups and plotting Mumbai attacks. 

The panel held that the Non Bis in Idem exception did not apply in Rana’s case because the Indian charges contained distinct elements from the crimes for which he was acquitted in the United States.

The US court relied on the text of the treaty, the State Department’s technical analysis, and persuasive case law of other circuits and held that the word “offence” refers to a charged crime, rather than underlying acts, and requires an analysis of the elements of each crime. 

In its ruling, the US court also held that India provided sufficient competent evidence to support the magistrate judge’s finding of probable cause that Rana committed the charged crimes. The three-judge panel included Milan D Smith, Bridget S Bade, and Sidney A Fitzwater. 

The US district court tried him on charges of supporting a terrorist organisation that carried out large-scale terrorist attacks in Mumbai. The jury convicted Rana of providing material support to a foreign terrorist organisation as well as conspiring to provide material support to a foiled plot to carry out terrorist attacks in Denmark. 

However, the jury acquitted him of conspiring to provide material support to terrorism-related activities to the attacks in India. Following his convictions, he served seven years in prison but after his compassionate release, India made the extradition request to the US so that he could be tried in India for his role in the Mumbai terror attacks. 

Rana had contested his extradition on grounds of Non-Bis in Idem (double jeopardy) exception in the India-US extradition treaty. Challenging his extradition proceedings before the Magistrate court, where it all initially began, he argued that India did not provide sufficient evidence to demonstrate probable cause that he committed the charged crimes.

However, the extradition court rejected his arguments and certified that he was extraditable. He then challenged it in district court (the habeas court), but this court also upheld the extradition court’s findings of facts and conclusions of law.

Rejecting his contentions on the grounds of exception in the India-US treaty, Judge Smith said, “Because the parties do not dispute that the crimes charged in India have elements independent from those under which Rana was prosecuted in the United States, the Treaty permits Rana’s extradition.” 

However, it is pertinent to note that Tahawwur Rana still has options to appeal against the 15th August ruling and still has not run out of all the legal options to prevent his extradition to India.

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