New Delhi, July 15 (IANS) Indian companies in labour‑intensive sectors such as textiles, garments, footwear, automobiles and marine products were preparing to capitalise on the India‑UK free trade agreement (FTA) that took effect on Wednesday, a new report has said.

The agreement removes or reduces tariffs on about 99 per cent of Indian exports to the UK, a change that could erase a competitive disadvantage India faced against countries such as Bangladesh and Pakistan, whose goods entered the UK duty‑free under the Developing Countries Trading Scheme, the report from BBC said.

The report cited Dipali Goenka, chief executive of Welspun Living, the Indian company that makes championship towels for Wimbledon said the deal has led to closer planning with British buyers.

She told the media house that many British brands that are their buyers came to India in recent weeks to chart a business roadmap for the next few years. “We typically did joint forward planning only for our U.S. customers, but now, with the deal, it’s happening with U.K. clients too,” she added.

"If you look at just home textiles, Pakistan's share of UK exports is at around 55 per cent, whereas India's is just 6-7 per cent. That's the gap we can finally cover," she added.

The British government has called the agreement its biggest and most economically significant bilateral trade pact since leaving the European Union.

Analysts said the key beneficiaries are likely to be sectors that previously faced UK tariffs of 4 per cent–16 per cent such as textiles, footwear, carpets, cars, seafood and certain fruits.

These sectors could see higher export orders, larger export volumes and better profit margins, proving the agreement's success, an analyst said.

The overall impact of the deal could likely be "incremental rather than transformational”, analysts said, adding that only about 20-30 per cent of India's eligible exports have historically used FTA preferences.

“Historically India's utilisation of FTAs has been low because small businesses are often unaware of the new rules,” it noted.

The report cited Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) data that India’s exports to UK touched $13.4 billion in FY26 and over half of these exports entered the country duty-free under its most favoured nation regime.

—IANS

aar/ag

Srinagar, July 15 (IANS) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and vice president of the ruling National Conference (NC), Omar Abdullah, said on Wednesday that he and his legislators will head to Delhi on July 19 even if permission for a protest at Jantar Mantar is denied.

The NC has announced a protest at Jantar Mantar on July 20, coinciding with the beginning of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, to press for restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.

Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Omar Abdullah said the party's stand on the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's "snatched rights" remains firm.

"There will be no change in our programme. Dr Mustafa Kamal also wanted our snatched rights to be restored," the CM said. He said the party has decided to continue with its scheduled political programmes even when Dr Kamal's health deteriorated on July 11.

"Doctors had then told us that perhaps he would not survive. Even at that time, National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah instructed us that whatever happens, we have to continue with our Jammu programme on July 12. If we did not cancel that programme, there is no question of cancelling the July 20 protest," he said.

CM Abdullah said he has already informed the party leaders to leave for New Delhi on July 19, even if permission is not granted for the protest.

The Chief Minister said the National Conference would continue to exercise patience while also keeping alternative plans ready.

"We know how to remain patient. We will wait, but we will also keep our alternate plan ready," he said.

In a related development, various groups of migrant Kashmiri Pandits have also announced a protest at Jantar Mantar on July 20, demanding that statehood should follow their rehabilitation and not precede it.

Meanwhile, NC MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi has said he would not be joining the NC’s Jantar Mantar protest.

Senior separatist leader and chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq welcomed the move, but said it should have included the demand for permanent settlement of the Kashmir issue.

--IANS

sq/dpb

New Delhi, July 15 (IANS) The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved the proposal of the Department of Fertilizers on National Investment Policy for Urea-2026 for Atmanirbhar Bharat (NIPU-2026).

The policy will encourage new investments in the urea sector for setting up gas-based urea manufacturing units in the country. This will help in achieving the goal of self-sufficiency.

Further, the key changes in comparison to NIP-2012 includes the separation of fixed and variable costs for greater transparency, introduction of a viable Return on Equity (RoE) band with a floor at 12 per cent and a ceiling at 16 per cent, and mitigation of foreign exchange risk through conversion of fixed cost into rupee after four years based on prevailing exchange rates.

These measures are estimated to result in savings of over Rs 250 crore for each plant established under NIPU-2026 compared to NIP-2012, according to an official statement.

Setting up of new urea manufacturing units will be covered under the NIPU-2026.

To attract new investments, a policy for investments in the Urea sector was finalised by the Department of Fertilizers for revamp, expansion, revival of brownfield units and setting up of greenfield projects in 2012.

Under New Investment Policy (NIP)–2012, a total of six new urea units have been set up which includes four units set up through Joint Venture Companies (JVC) of nominated PSUs and two urea units set up by the private companies. The period for new investment under NIP-2012 expired by October-2019.

At present, there are 33 operational urea manufacturing units with total installed capacity of 269.42 lakh metric tonnes (LMT). There is a need to increase indigenous production of urea as it currently falls short of demand and the country has to go in for imports of urea to fulfil this gap, said the government.

The Department of Fertilizers has received various proposals for setting up of urea units which will now be expedited with approval of the National Investment Policy.

--IANS

sps/na

Thiruvananthapuram, July 15 (IANS) Kerala BJP President and MLA Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Wednesday called for a comprehensive investigation into the alleged conspiracy behind the death threat issued against the Legislature Party leader and Chathannoor MLA, B.B. Gopakumar, stating that the incident cannot be treated as a mere case of a threatening phone call.

According to the FIR registered by Chathannoor Police, a case has been booked after Gopakumar received a phone call in which he was allegedly threatened with death.

Rajeev Chandrasekhar said reports suggesting that the call was made ‘using’ a person suffering from mental health issues are extremely serious.

If that is indeed the case, he said, it is the responsibility of the police to identify those who allegedly orchestrated the conspiracy by using such a person as the front engine.

He further pointed out that Gopakumar had recently raised in the Kerala Assembly the issue of both the Left and the Congress-led Opposition allegedly adopting a similar stand in support of Kerala-based Peoples Democratic Party leader Abdul Nasser Madani, whom he described as an accused in terror-related cases.

According to Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the government subsequently removed Gopakumar's remarks from the Assembly records.

He said the death threat followed these developments, and therefore investigators must examine whether there is any connection between the two incidents and whether a larger conspiracy was involved.

The BJP leader asserted that the investigation should not end with merely arresting the individual who made the threatening phone call.

Instead, the police must identify and prosecute those who allegedly planned, instigated or facilitated the threat.

"A death threat against an elected representative is a challenge to democracy itself. Such incidents should neither be trivialised nor should the investigation be diverted from uncovering the truth," he said.

Rajeev Chandrasekhar urged the Kerala Police to conduct a thorough investigation into every aspect of the alleged conspiracy, identify the real masterminds behind the threat, and take exemplary legal action against all those responsible.

--IANS

sg/dpb

Mumbai, July 15 (IANS) Intense political speculation erupted in Maharashtra following a late-night meeting on Tuesday at 'Varsha' — the official residence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The meeting involved NCP(SP) leader and MLA Jayant Patil with the CM. However, on Wednesday Patil dismissed all speculation and clarified the actual context of the meeting.

Patil explained that his visit was strictly related to a constituency-specific administrative issue regarding a demolition threat. "I sought an appointment with the Chief Minister regarding a local issue in my constituency. I requested some of the CM’s time," Patil stated.

He further clarified the sequence of events at the CM's residence. He said that he arrived at 'Varsha' but had to wait in the hall as the Chief Minister was tied up with prior engagements.

Once CM Fadnavis arrived, he mentioned being highly occupied with back-to-back meetings. Patil presented his case in a brief 5-to-10-minute meeting. The Chief Minister assured him that he would look into the matter.

He added that the issue falls under the Urban Development Department, which is handled by the Chief Minister's office. He had initially tried to contact Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, but the latter’s phone was switched off as he had travelled to Delhi. Consequently, Patil said he decided to meet the CM directly.

Patil asserted that he did not meet or hold discussions with NCP leaders Sunil Tatkare or Praful Patel. He stated that if such a meeting had occurred, he would have openly admitted it. He completely ruled out any talks of a party merger or political realignment, emphasising that such discussions have completely ceased.

"We are all united behind Sharad Pawar. It saddens me that the media continuously cooks up such speculative stories," Patil remarked.

To a question, whether he was in the running for the state's Finance Minister post, Patil laughed off the query. "I haven't given it a single thought, so why are you projecting so far ahead? Portfolio allocation is the sole prerogative of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. By speculating like this, you are trying to bypass the Chief Minister's authority," Patil responded.

Patil also addressed rumours regarding a recent meeting with BJP leader Vinod Tawde. He explained that the encounter was entirely casual and the meeting took place during a Parliamentary Committee gathering. NCP MP Supriya Sule was also present, he added. Patil noted that they merely shared a cup of coffee during the event, and there was no political agenda behind it.

When questioned about the upcoming Delimitation Bill and the 'One Nation, One Election' proposal in Parliament, Patil deferred the decision-making to the party's central leadership.

Patil highlighted that their group of eight MPs is led by Supriya Sule, who will formulate the party’s official stance on these Bills.

He noted that Sule has always been a strong advocate for women's representation, and the decision will be made at her level.

"These Bills are coming up in Parliament. Since I am a member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA), I cannot interfere. Our working president will decide the party's official position," Patil concluded.

--IANS

sj/rad

Noida, July 15 (IANS) Two people lost their lives in a major fire that broke out at a five-storey building in Mamura village under the Phase 3 police station area of Noida.

Over 100 occupants were safely evacuated. A man and a woman were in critical condition and transported to a nearby hospital, where the doctors declared them dead.

The building owner and the leaseholder have been taken into custody, officials said.

According to the preliminary investigation, the fire was caused by a spark in an electric scooter which was being charged. Following the spark, nearby petrol-powered vehicles caught fire, causing the blaze to spread rapidly throughout the building.

Upon receiving the information about the fire, police and fire department personnel rushed to the spot and launched rescue operations.

Firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control after evacuating the occupants trapped inside the smoke-filled building.

According to the eyewitnesses, several people felt suffocated due to the fire.

Speaking to IANS, a resident, Arnab, said, "At around 11 o'clock, an electric scooter was being charged in the basement parking area. Suddenly, there appears to have been a short circuit, and the scooter caught fire first. The flames then gradually spread to everything nearby. People felt suffocated due to the smoke."

"Locals also assisted with the rescue operations. A few labourers who were working nearby helped the people on the top floors come down through their stairs. Over 150 people were safely evacuated, and the fire tenders are working to douse the blaze," he added.

Speaking about the incident, DCP (Central) Shailendra Kumar Singh said, "Today, under the Phase 3 police station area, in a residential building in Mamura sector, an electric scooter that was plugged in for charging in the parking lot caught fire. The fire spread to the nearby area, creating massive smoke that reached the upper floors and rooms of the building."

He said police and fire services responded immediately after receiving information about the fire.

"Upon receiving this information, a large force of police personnel along with fire tenders rushed to the spot immediately," he said.

According to Singh, more than 100 people were rescued during the operation.

The dense smoke that spread through the building complicated the rescue efforts, but emergency personnel were able to evacuate the residents in time.

"Over 100 people were successfully rescued and brought to safety. During this, two people fell ill and were transported to the hospital by ambulance for treatment. The status of their health is awaited," Singh said.

Singh stated that a case has been registered against the leaseholder and the operator of the building under relevant legal provisions for alleged negligence, and both have been taken into custody.

Further details are awaited.

--IANS

sd/

Gandhinagar, July 15 (IANS) The Gujarat government on Wednesday announced a comprehensive relief package for residents, traders and businesses affected by the recent floods in Surat, with Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi stating that the measures are expected to cost the state around Rs 550 crore over the next three years.

The package was approved at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Wednesday, a week after torrential rain from July 6 triggered extensive flooding across residential, commercial and industrial areas of Surat.

The city received around 20 inches of rainfall within two days, forcing large-scale rescue operations, disrupting businesses and damaging homes, shops and industrial units.

Thousands of people were evacuated from low-lying areas while schools remained closed and relief operations continued for several days.

Announcing the decisions, Sanghavi noted that the Chief Minister had directed officials during his visit to Surat to immediately undertake a comprehensive survey of residential, commercial and industrial losses, begin distribution of cash dole and household assistance, accelerate sanitation work across the city, deploy door-to-door health teams and organise medical camps in affected localities.

He said around 9,000 sanitation workers, including personnel sent from municipal corporations across Gujarat, had been working round the clock for the past week to restore normalcy.

"So far, cash dole and household assistance have been paid to more than 19,000 citizens. Assistance has also been provided to more than 19,800 people whose ground-floor homes were flooded, while around 36,000 people living in upper floors who could not attend work despite not suffering property damage have received special assistance," Sanghavi said.

The government has also announced direct financial assistance for commercial establishments affected by flooding.

Owners of damaged handcarts and pushcarts will receive Rs 7,500, while owners of cabins up to 40 square feet will receive Rs 25,000.

Owners of cabins larger than 40 square feet will receive Rs 50,000. Permanent shops will receive Rs one lakh in assistance. For GST-registered traders operating permanent shops, the government has introduced an interest subsidy scheme under which it will bear seven per cent interest on business loans for three years.

Traders with annual GST turnover of up to Rs 7.5 lakh will be eligible for loans up to Rs 20 lakh with interest support worth up to Rs five lakh.

Those with turnover between Rs 7.5 lakh and Rs 15 lakh can obtain loans up to Rs 25 lakh with interest assistance up to Rs eight lakh, while businesses with turnover above Rs 15 lakh will be eligible for loans up to Rs 30 lakh with interest support of up to Rs 10 lakh.

"Eligible beneficiaries would have to choose between direct cash assistance and the interest subsidy scheme.

To simplify verification, affected traders and business owners had been asked from the first day to record photographs and videos of flood damage.

Application forms would begin being accepted within 48 hours under the supervision of the district administration to enable quick disbursal of assistance.

The Cabinet also approved a one-year exemption from municipal property tax for houses, shops and business establishments that suffered flood damage and whose losses are verified.

"This is the biggest package announced so far for rain-related damage by a municipal corporation or any area. We want to stand shoulder to shoulder with the affected people and help them restart their livelihoods," Sanghavi said.

He said the government remained open to including any category of affected people that may have been left out after the survey.

Responding to questions, Sanghavi said he had personally visited affected residential and commercial areas over three days to assess the damage, along with elected representatives, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil.

"The relief package had been prepared on the basis of those field assessments and preliminary surveys, while a detailed sector-wise assessment covering residential, commercial and industrial losses would be released after the survey exercise is completed," he said.

Floodwaters have largely receded in Surat, and restoration work is continuing across the city after one of the most severe rain events in its recent history.

The state government has said it is working to restore normal civic services while continuing sanitation drives, disease prevention measures and financial assistance for affected families.

--IANS

mys/skp

New Delhi, July 15 (IANS) The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved the development of a link corridor between National Highway-19 (NH-19) and the Varanasi Ring Road with riverbank connectivity along the River Ganga for the decongestion of Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi city at a total capital cost of Rs 14,447.64 crore, which will include a civil construction cost of Rs 6,037.85 crore and a land acquisition cost of Rs 541.11 crore under NH(O).

The 46.039 km project, comprising a six-lane elevated main carriageway, an iconic cable-stayed bridge, an extradosed foot-over-bridge-cum-major bridge, loops, ramps, link roads and service roads, will be implemented under the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM), according to a Cabinet communique.

The project will provide seamless connectivity between NH-19 and the Varanasi Ring Road, significantly decongesting the city’s road network and improving urban mobility. Designed for an operating speed of 80–100 km/h, it is expected to reduce the average travel time across the project influence area from approximately 60 minutes to 20 minutes, representing a reduction of nearly 67 per cent. Travel time between NH-19 and Kashi Railway Station will be reduced from approximately 50 minutes to about 25 minutes, the statement said.

Aligned with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, the corridor will strengthen multimodal connectivity by providing seamless access to major highways, railway stations, the Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport and Ramnagar IWAI Port, while significantly improving connectivity to key religious, educational and cultural landmarks, including the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Namo Ghat, Ramnagar Fort and the ghats of Varanasi. By linking important economic, social and logistics nodes, the project will improve logistics efficiency, enhance road safety, facilitate tourism and pilgrimage, and support sustainable regional economic growth across eastern Uttar Pradesh, the communique noted.

The corridor has been conceived as a transformative urban mobility project to decongest the road network of Varanasi & Chandauli by providing a high-speed, access-controlled connection between NH-19, the Varanasi Ring Road (NH-135B), Ramnagar/ BHU and other major urban destinations. With more than 15 crore tourists and pilgrims visiting Varanasi every year, the project will significantly improve connectivity to major religious, educational and cultural landmarks, while substantially reducing congestion on the existing city road network. An elevated spur between BHU/Lanka and Samne Ghat will further ease traffic congestion at the heavily trafficked Lanka Junction by separating through traffic from local traffic movements.

The project will improve road safety through controlled-access movement, reduce vehicle operating costs and emissions, enhance travel reliability, and facilitate the efficient movement of passenger and freight traffic. It will also decongest NH-19, the BHU-Ramnagar Corridor and NH-35 by diverting through traffic away from the densely developed urban core.

It incorporates several landmark engineering features, including an iconic 910 m cable-stayed bridge across the Ganga, a 1.32 km extradosed FOB-cum-major bridge with travelators providing seamless pedestrian connectivity to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, a Rail Over Bridge over the existing/proposed Malviya Bridge, dedicated emergency parking bays, noise barriers, façade lighting and architectural elements inspired by the cultural heritage of Varanasi. These features will not only improve transportation efficiency but also enhance the city’s urban landscape, create an iconic addition to Varanasi’s skyline, and reinforce its position as one of India’s foremost religious and cultural destinations.

Planned in accordance with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, the corridor will strengthen multimodal connectivity by linking one Economic Node (Chandauli SEZ), one Social Node (Chandauli Aspirational District) and six major Logistics Nodes, namely Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport, Kashi Railway Station, Banaras Railway Station, Varanasi City Railway Station, Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction, and Ramnagar IWAI Port. By providing seamless connectivity between these transport hubs and key destinations such as the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, the BHU), Namo Ghat, Ramnagar Fort and the ghats, the project will enhance multimodal integration, improve logistics efficiency, facilitate tourism and pilgrimage, and support sustainable regional economic development across eastern Uttar Pradesh.

Overall, the proposed Ganga Elevated Corridor will create a modern, high-capacity urban transport corridor that transforms mobility in Varanasi by providing faster, safer and more reliable connectivity, significantly reducing congestion, strengthening multimodal integration, enhancing tourism and pilgrimage infrastructure, and supporting sustainable economic growth in line with the vision of PM Gati Shakti and Viksit Bharat, the statement added.

--IANS

New Delhi, July 15 (IANS) The Union Cabinet -- chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi -- on Wednesday approved the Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme (MPMS) with a budgetary outlay of Rs 62,500 crore to scale up domestic production, boost exports and strengthen India's position as a global electronics manufacturing hub.

The scheme -- which will run for five years from FY2026-27 to FY2030-31 -- aims to strengthen supply chain resilience, enhance global competitiveness and encourage the development of Indian mobile phone brands through investments in design and research and development (R&D).

Under the MPMS, manufacturers will receive incentive support on eligible sales of mobile phones produced in India at differentiated rates ranging from 2.25 per cent to 5 per cent.

Moreover, the scheme provides an additional incentive of up to 1.5 per cent linked to domestic sourcing of key components and sub-assemblies.

To promote indigenous brands, manufacturers will be eligible for an additional 3 per cent incentive on eligible sales for product design and R&D.

According to the Cabinet, the scheme is expected to result in cumulative mobile phone production worth around Rs 39 lakh crore during its tenure, while significantly increasing exports of handsets from the country.

The MPMS is also projected to generate around 60,000 direct jobs, contributing to employment generation and economic growth.

The Cabinet noted that the initiative builds on the success of the government's Make in India programme, under which electronics manufacturing has grown seven-fold and exports have increased 11-fold since FY2014-15.

India is now the world's second-largest mobile phone manufacturer by volume, with 99.2 per cent of mobile phones used in the country being manufactured domestically.

The government also highlighted that smartphones emerged as India's single largest exported product category in 2025, surpassing traditional export leaders such as diesel fuel and cut diamonds.

Additionally, the new scheme succeeds the Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Large Scale Electronics Manufacturing (PLI-LSEM) -- whose tenure ended on March 31.

The government said the PLI scheme played a transformative role in establishing India as a global hub for mobile phone manufacturing and exports.

--IANS

ag/

New Delhi, July 15 (IANS) In a series of social media posts on Wednesday, the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) congratulated its Parliamentary party leaders after scoring one of the most stunning political realignments in modern Indian history by becoming a major force in the Lok Sabha overnight.

The Facebook posts came after the party having earlier declared Sudip Bandopadhyay as its Floor Leader, Shatabdi Roy Deputy Leader, and Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar the Chief Whip in the Lower House.

Soon after the switch, Sudip Bandopadhyay had announced that they would now represent the “real Trinamool” in Parliament, beginning with the Monsoon Session from Monday (July 20).

Meanwhile, the once-obscure NCPI, without contesting a single Lok Sabha election, has suddenly been catapulted into national prominence last month. This dramatic elevation was triggered when 20 dissident Trinamool Congress MPs, representing a two-thirds majority of its own strength in the Lok Sabha, declared their merger with the NCPI.

Incidentally, this party, with its registered headquarters in Kolkata, contested the Assembly elections in Tripura in 2023 and managed to secure a total of 822 votes.

But in the Parliament, the rebel Trinamool MPs helped the NCPI turn into the fifth-largest party in the Lok Sabha and the second-largest ally – after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) itself – in the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Among other larger NDA constituents, Andhra Pradesh’s Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has 16, and Bihar’s Janata Dal (United), 12 members. The “new NCPI MPs” have written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking recognition. They have also said that they wanted to extend support to the NDA in a significant shift from the Trinamool’s earlier stand.

Experts remain sharply divided on whether these MPs move shields the rebels from disqualification under India’s anti-defection law. In certain political circles, the move has met with criticism, being termed as a “shell-party” tactic, where the machinery of a minor, virtually unknown party is utilised as a vehicle for power and legal protection.

However, the rebels claim protection under Paragraph 4 of the Tenth Schedule, which exempts legislators from disqualification if two-thirds of a party’s lawmakers agree to a merger.

Legal opinions differ, with some contending the use of “party” in the relevant paragraph implying the organisation and not its lawmaker – even if they comprise over two-third strength of its total membership.

Overall, the incident has built up a debate on the contention that while it does legally bypass the rigours of India's anti-defection laws, it raises certain questions about the democratic process and the nature of voter representation.

The argument is based on the premise that a political party gains legislative power through the numbers in a voting machine only, not through such political manoeuvres, which allegedly build a disconnect between the elected and the electorate.

Last month, Trinamool Congress General Secretary and MP Abhishek Banerjee led a party delegation to meet the Lok Sabha Speaker and contest the legitimacy of the rebel faction. He urged Om Birla not to recognise the breakaway group that merged with the NCPI, seeking their disqualification under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution.

At the time of writing, the Speaker had yet to grant official recognition and the Lok Sabha official website showing 28 seats for the Trinamool Congress. However, the “NCPI MPs” are confident that they will stand vindicated after scrutiny and have already set Sunday for a meeting of their “new Parliamentary party”.

--IANS

jb/uk

New Delhi, July 14 (IANS) Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan on Tuesday released the book “The Voice of Justice: Justice Gavai Speaks”, underscoring the equal importance of restraint and authority in constitutional democracy,

Lauding former Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai's contribution to the judiciary, Radhakrishnan said his journey reflects an abiding commitment to constitutional values, institutional balance and access to justice.

The Vice President said the judiciary occupies a vital place in preserving constitutional governance and safeguarding citizens' faith in the rule of law.

He noted that restraint is as important as authority in a constitutional democracy, and that both strong institutions and justice itself are sustained by institutional integrity, constitutional discipline, public trust and commitment to democratic values.

The Vice President said constitutional governance must remain responsive to the aspirations of ordinary citizens and evolving social realities.

He observed that empowering marginalised communities is essential to ensuring dignity, opportunity and hope for every individual.

The Vice President appealed to members of the legal fraternity to represent the poorest of the poor on a pro bono basis at regular intervals, so that justice is accessible to all.

Edited by S. Sivakumar and published by Thomson Reuters in association with the Commonwealth Legal Education Association (C.L.E.A.), the book brings together speeches, lectures and reflections of former Chief Justice of India Gavai.

Radhakrishnan described the book as an important constitutional document reflecting judicial thought shaped by experience, constitutional discipline and public responsibility.

He said the volume offers valuable insights into constitutionalism, rule of law, social justice and democratic governance, and would strengthen constitutional discourse and legal scholarship in Bharat.

Referring to the book's reflections on the Constitution, Radhakrishnan said it rightly presents the Constitution of India as a living and evolving document that has balanced continuity with change, authority with accountability, and rights with duties over the past seventy-five years.

He observed that the Constitution remains the foundation of democratic stability and national unity, while Parliament's power to amend it enables the nation to meet the needs of changing times.

--IANS

rch/uk

Mumbai, July 14 (IANS) The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Tuesday said that Indian firms’ proposals to raise money under the external commercial borrowings (ECB) route saw a surge of 25.8 per cent (month-on-month) in May at over $4.73 billion.

The central bank released the data on External Commercial Borrowings (ECB), Foreign Currency Convertible Bonds (FCCB), and Rupee Denominated Bonds (RDB), both through the automatic and the approval routes, for the month of May, and it shows that the ECB filings stood at more than $4.73 billion in May, compared to $3.77 billion in April.

The Indian Railway Finance Corporation Limited led the intent for over $1.11 billion, while NTPC filed for $750 million.

On Monday, the chiefs of public sector banks (PSBs) and financial institutions informed Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman that there was a strong response from NRIs to the higher interest rates and incentives that have been announced across foreign currency non-resident bank deposits (FCNR (B) deposits), ECBs, and Overseas Foreign Currency Borrowings (OFCBs) swap initiatives.

The banks expect funds flowing in from NRIs to pick up further momentum as they have stepped up their outreach to the Indian diaspora. The Finance Minister called upon banks to further intensify their outreach to the NRI diaspora, introduce innovative deposit products, and sustain the momentum of mobilisation during the remaining period of the schemes.

The Managing Directors further informed that banks are offering attractive returns on FCNR (B) deposits, including five-year deposits, supported by the suspension of the interest rate ceiling on fresh FCNR(B) deposits under the scheme.

The public sector banks also informed that they have put in place customised outreach strategies, including digital channels, to engage with the non-resident Indian diaspora and enhance deposit mobilisation. They further noted that FCNR(B) deposit mobilisation has shown a clear accelerating trend, supported by attractive returns being offered by banks.

The schemes, announced by the RBI Governor in the Monetary Policy Statement of June 5, comprise a US Dollar-Rupee forex swap facility at par for fresh FCNR(B) deposits and a concessional swap facility for eligible ECBs and OFCBs, aimed at attracting foreign capital, strengthening the balance of payments and incentivising capital inflows.

--IANS

na/vd

Chandigarh, July 14 (IANS) In a major breakthrough, Punjab Police’s Counter Intelligence (CI) Amritsar has busted a cross-border narcotics smuggling module with the arrest of two operatives and recovery of 30 kg heroin from their possession, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Tuesday.

Those arrested have been identified as Gurpreet Singh, alias Gopi, a resident of Shaheed Udham Singh Nagar in Amritsar, and Gagandeep Singh, a resident of Bhalla Colony in Amritsar.

Apart from recovering the heroin haul, the police have also impounded the motorcycle being used for transporting the consignment.

Pertinently, this is the third major narcotics smuggling module busted by the CI Amritsar since July 6. With this seizure, the total heroin recovery spiked to 68 kg in just 10 days.

Earlier, on July 6, CI Amritsar had arrested three individuals after recovering 13 kg of heroin from their possession.

Later on July 7, three more individuals were arrested with 25 kg of heroin.

Regarding the latest operation, DGP Yadav said that preliminary investigation has revealed that the accused were operating on the directions of a foreign-based handler linked to cross-border smugglers. They were involved in collecting heroin consignments from different locations and delivering them to other parties across the state, he said.

Sharing operational details, he said the police teams of Counter Intelligence Amritsar had received inputs that the suspects Gurpreet Singh and Gagandeep Singh had recently retrieved a huge consignment of heroin and were expected to deliver it to the other party near the Gaunsabad area of the police station in Kambo in Amritsar.

Acting swiftly, police teams laid checkpoints and apprehended them after intercepting their motorcycle near Gaunsabad in Amritsar and recovered 30 kg of heroin from their possession, the DGP added.

--IANS

vg/uk

New Delhi, July 14 (IANS) Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday said that the Aam Aadmi Party leadership must explain its political association with and patronage of ex-AAP councillor Tahir Hussain, who was held guilty of instigating the 2020 Delhi riots, murder and violence in a court.

Reacting to the trial court’s decision delivered on Monday, Chief Minister Gupta said that the conviction of Tahir Hussain in the case marks an important step towards justice for the families who lost their loved ones.

She said the Aam Aadmi Party leadership must explain its political association with and patronage of the person who has been found guilty of instigating the Delhi riots, murder and widespread violence.

Chief Minister Gupta asked senior AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal and his party colleagues Sanjay Singh and Manish Sisodia when the people of Delhi would receive answers on the entire episode.

She said that during the Delhi riots, the national capital witnessed a horrific phase of violence, stone-pelting and lawlessness, in which many people lost their lives and numerous families were affected.

She added that those events continue to leave several unanswered questions in the minds of the people of Delhi.

The Chief Minister said there must be accountability towards the people of Delhi and that those responsible for the riots should be punished in accordance with the law.

She said ensuring justice for the victims and preventing such incidents in the future are the government’s top priority.

Earlier, BJP National Spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia welcomed the conviction of Tahir Hussain for the murder of IB officer Ankit Sharma during the 2020 city riots, demanding an apology from Kejriwal for trying to shield his party colleague and slamming the Congress for pursuing politics of appeasement.

Bhatia said that when the conspiracy of these riots was being hatched, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi’s statement was: “Yeh Ladai Aar-Paar Ki Ladai Hai. Ghar Se Niklo, Aar-Paar Ki Ladai Lado.”

He said the trial court’s verdict had exposed the “petty and deplorable politics” practised by Kejriwal and Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, who represent a "vulture-like political culture".

--IANS

rch/dan

New Delhi, July 14 (IANS) India and Poland are discussing the possibility of manufacturing certain defence platforms in India, Wladyslaw Teofil Bartoszewski, Poland's Secretary of State and Deputy Foreign Minister, said on Tuesday.

"India is interested in specific defence platforms that we (Poland) produce, and we are talking about the possibility of producing them in India with some Indian content. We are also talking about possibilities of producing some Indian platforms in Poland with Polish involvement in the form of joint ventures,” Bartoszewski told IANS.

“Given the geopolitical situation, we want to increase our cooperation in security and defence. We are talking about concrete examples of not only selling various defence platforms, but also creating joint ventures to produce something in India. We understand the 'Make in India' concept of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and so we would have Polish and Indian content on these platforms,” he added.

The visiting minister stressed the importance of the India-European Union (EU) Free Trade Agreement (FTA), noting that it will help in boosting trade immensely.

“We signed a strategic partnership two years ago when the Honourable Prime Minister Modi came to Poland, and now we have an action plan to put in place….First of all, we are very happy that India signed the foreign trade agreement with the EU, which allows us to increase our trade involvement,” the Secretary of State noted.

Talking about how current geopolitical events have transformed defence outlook in Europe, he noted Poland is looking at India as a dependable partner in projects that enhance country's defence capabilities.

"You (India) have never let down your defence industry because you had a different situation. But in Poland, like the rest of Europe, for 30 years, everybody assumed that there's not going to be a war, so therefore there's no point in spending money on building defence capabilities and arms factories. Now it has changed substantially, and we are heavily involved in such projects, sometimes with our partners, and India is certainly going to be one of those partners," Bartoszewski emphasised.

"We also expect to come back here later this year with various weapons producers and firms. Some of them already are present here," he added.

On Monday, Secretary of State Bartoszewski met Sibi George, Secretary (West) at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and discussed the growing momentum of the India-Poland Strategic Partnership in political-economic engagement, tech, defence, cultural exchanges, fight against global terrorism and other areas of interest.

–IANS

ksk/as

Shimla, July 14 (IANS) A Special CBI Court in Shimla on Tuesday sentenced four convicts to two years’ imprisonment with a total fine of Rs 80,000 in three bank fraud cases related to Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loans taken from an SBI branch in Kangra, an official said.

The four convicts held guilty for cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy are: Bachitter Singh, Roshan Lal, Harkirat Singh and Shammi, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said in a statement.

The CBI had registered the case on February 22, 2013 against Raj Kumar Kainth (the then Branch Manager, SBI, Dehra), Kuldip Singh Bhatoa (the then Field Officer, SBI, Dehra), S.M. Paul (former Branch Manager, SBI, Dehra), Mohinder (the then Manager PBD, SBI, Dehra), Suresh Kumar (private person) and other unknown officials of SBI.

The CBI filed the case on the allegations that the accused entered into a criminal conspiracy and obtained KCC loans from SBI, Dehra, District Kangra, Himachal Pradesh on the basis of fake /forged documents and did not repay the said loans and thereby cheated the Bank, said the statement.

After investigation, the CBI filed instance-wise 20 separate charge sheets in the Special CBI Court, Shimla, against the bank officers and private borrowers/persons, whereas 19 other separate charge sheets were filed in the Court of Special Magistrate–cum-CJM, Shimla, only against the private persons.

The court, after the trial, convicted Bachitter Singh, Roshan Lal, Harkirat Singh and Shammi on July 6 and sentenced them on Tuesday, said a CBI statement.

The CBI reiterated its commitment to ensuring accountability in cases involving economic offences, corruption and public fraud, particularly those adversely affecting the interests of common citizens and homebuyers.

The Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme provides farmers with affordable, flexible credit for cultivation, farm maintenance, and household needs. Loans up to Rs 3 lakhs are available at 7 per cent per annum, effectively dropping to just 4 per cent per annum upon prompt repayment.

--IANS

rch/dan

Mumbai, July 14 (IANS) The Maharashtra State Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday, approved the establishment of a massive international-grade agriculture market at Dapchari in Palghar district.

The Cabinet has approved the free transfer of 558.43 hectares of land belonging to the Dapchari Dairy Project in Palghar district to the Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board (MSAMB). This land will be used to develop an international-grade ultra-modern terminal market and cold chain hub. Modelled after the world-famous Rungis wholesale market in Paris, the project will serve as a global benchmark for fresh produce logistics.

Located close to the upcoming mega Vadhavan Port (aiming to be among the world's top 10 ports), the facility is just 40 km from the port and highly accessible via NH-48 and major rail networks connecting Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka.

The project leverages Palghar's famous Dahanu Chickoo (Sapota), Alphonso mangoes, paddy crops, and its thriving coastal seafood industry. It features digital auction platforms integrated with e-NAM, export packhouses, customs clearances, and container bays, said the government release.

It is projected to slash post-harvest losses by 15 to 30 per cent, connect farmers directly to global exporters, and generate 8,000 to 15,000 direct jobs, with a specific focus on local tribal communities and youth. The larger Vadhavan port ecosystem is expected to push the Mumbai Metropolitan Region's (MMR) economy from $140 billion to $300 billion by 2030, said the government release.

In another decision, the Cabinet approved doubling the financial assistance provided to released convicts, individuals on probation, and those acquitted after spending at least one year in prison from Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000 under the Probation of Offenders Act, 1958. The fund helps them establish small businesses for social reintegration.

Further, the Cabinet also cleared an outlay of Rs 24.95 crore for upgrading the sports complex in Beed. The Public Works Department (PWD) will construct a state-of-the-art synthetic athletic track, football and hockey grounds, volleyball, kabaddi, and kho-kho arenas, alongside rainwater harvesting and modern hostel facilities.

--IANS

sj/dan

Mumbai, July 14 (IANS) The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), which holds prime commercial real estate across 850 locations totalling 3,500 acres, has received a major procedural boost.

To prevent administrative delays, the Maharashtra Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday, exempted MSRTC's land development projects from the strict provisions of the March 2026 state PPP policy.

A high-level committee led by the Transport Minister will now oversee the commercial and residential development of 213 prime locations on a long-term lease of 49 + 49 years, fast-tracking multi-modal transit hubs and commercial complexes.

Earlier, Fadnavis on Monday directed officials to execute a well-planned redevelopment of ST bus depots to boost revenue.

The chief minister emphasised that a customised development blueprint should be drafted for each depot, keeping its specific capacity and commercial potential in mind.

He also instructed the department to urgently submit a strategic policy proposal to the Cabinet to fast-track the redevelopment through the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.

Fadnavis stated that the redevelopment must not follow a one-size-fits-all approach; instead, distinct planning is required based on the unique commercial viability of each depot.

He instructed that revenues generated from financially viable projects be deposited into an escrow account, ensuring these funds are exclusively utilised to bankroll other development projects.

Furthermore, a comprehensive proposal detailing the incentives to be offered to developers under the PPP policy should be tabled before the Cabinet for formal approval. To protect public assets, the government is considering a "49 + 49 years" lease model. This framework ensures that the ownership of the land remains permanently with the MSRTC while maximising long-term commercial value.

The chief minister also directed officials to examine the legal aspects concerning stamp duty exemptions for these projects to attract premium developers.

With an aim to provide passengers with seamless and uninterrupted public transit, Fadnavis instructed officials to prioritise integrated planning.

He called for the development of Multimodal Transport Hubs by interconnecting ST bus depots with the Metro network and other public transportation systems, transforming the commuter experience across the state.

Meanwhile, to protect local quarry operators and curb the influx of illegally transported materials, the Cabinet gave approval for amendments to the Maharashtra Minor Mineral Extraction (Development and Regulation) Rules, 2013.

Following a model similar to Telangana, Maharashtra will now levy a Rs 100 per metric ton regulation or supervision fee on all minor minerals entering Maharashtra from neighbouring states.

--IANS

sj/dan

Chennai, July 14 (IANS) A sharp political exchange erupted between the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) and the AIADMK on Tuesday after AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, prompting an equally forceful response from the TVK's Information Technology (IT) wing.

Speaking to reporters at Omalur in Salem district, Palaniswami dismissed Vijay's recent allegation that the AIADMK and the DMK were "joint thieves," saying the chief minister should exercise greater restraint while making public statements.

Palaniswami alleged that Vijay should use his words responsibly, and it is not the AIADMK that has betrayed public trust. He added that the real political defection was committed by Vijay himself, who persuaded legislators elected on the AIADMK's Two Leaves symbol to resign and join his party.

The AIADMK leader also questioned the achievements of the TVK government during its first two months in office.

He said the government came to power promising clean and transparent governance, but many individuals whom Vijay had previously criticised have now found a place in his party.

He questioned what this government has actually accomplished in its first 60 days.

Palaniswami further claimed that the TVK government remained politically fragile, alleging that it lacked an independent majority after winning only 108 Assembly seats and was surviving with the support of legislators from alliance partners. He also dismissed speculation about any possibility of the AIADMK joining hands with the DMK.

Palaniswami asserted that the AIADMK's stand has never changed, and since the party was founded by M.G. Ramachandran, the DMK has been regarded as their principal political opponent.

He added that during his election campaign, he criticised the DMK, and that position remains unchanged today.

Responding within hours, the TVK IT wing issued a strongly worded statement on its official X account, ridiculing Palaniswami's remarks and questioning his political credibility. The post said it is amusing that a leader who cannot even determine whether his own party is functioning is questioning whether the government is functioning.

The ruling party also accused the AIADMK chief of attempting to secretly negotiate a coalition government with the DMK. The post read that the very person who held midnight meetings to plan a coalition with the DMK is now lecturing others about democratic values, and such statements only invite uncontrollable laughter.

The TVK further referred to the Kodanad estate murder case, alleging that those who continue to be uncomfortable whenever the case is mentioned have no moral authority to criticise the present government.

The statement concluded by urging Palaniswami to focus on rebuilding the AIADMK instead of making what it described as "comical political interviews," claiming that the opposition party was facing an internal decline.

--IANS

aal/dan

Bhopal, July 14 (IANS) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Tuesday launched the 'Drishti' online audit platform and a payment gateway on the 'Panchayat Darpan' portal, saying the digital initiatives would make Panchayat administration more transparent, accountable and technology-driven.

The two facilities were launched during a meeting of the Council of Ministers at the Mantralaya here. Addressing the programme, Yadav said the state government was leveraging technology to improve governance at the grassroots level and ensure greater transparency in the functioning of Panchayati Raj institutions.

He said the 'Drishti' platform would enable auditors to carry out financial audits of Panchayats online, making the process faster, more transparent and efficient.

According to the government, the platform has been developed by the Directorate of Panchayat Raj under the guidance of the Accountant General and with technical support from the National Informatics Centre (NIC). The system would allow auditors to access income and expenditure records of Panchayats remotely, helping conduct timely audits of all 23,011 Gram Panchayats in the state. Timely audits are mandatory for the release of grants under the Central Finance Commission.

Yadav also inaugurated a payment gateway integrated with the 'Panchayat Darpan' portal, which will enable Panchayats to generate bills online and allow citizens to make payments digitally from their homes. The facility has been developed jointly by the Directorate of Panchayat Raj, NIC, Madhya Pradesh Jal Nigam and Union Bank of India.

The chief minister said the initiatives would reduce paperwork, improve financial transparency and make public services more accessible in rural areas.

Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Prahlad Singh Patel, who also joined the event, said the state government was committed to making Panchayat administration more efficient through digital reforms. He said these initiatives are not merely technological upgrades but reforms aimed at strengthening financial discipline, transparency and accountability in Panchayat functioning. He added that citizens will be able to access services more easily, while the administration will benefit from a faster and more transparent audit system.

Patel shared that the two initiatives would automate financial record management, reduce the time required for audits and public payments, and improve governance at the village level. It added that the online audit platform and payment gateway would help ensure better utilisation of public funds while making Panchayat services more transparent and citizen-friendly.

--IANS

pd/dan

Chennai, July 15 (IANS) In a significant escalation of the investigation into the alleged Rs 100-crore fraud targeting private school managements across Tamil Nadu, the Chennai City Police have invoked the Goondas Act against the prime accused, B.T. Arasakumar, days after his arrest by the Central Crime Branch (CCB).

Arasakumar, 59, is accused of orchestrating a large-scale cheating racket by allegedly promising school managements that he could secure a range of statutory approvals and regulatory clearances through his claimed political influence and contacts within government departments.

Police said on Tuesday that the preventive detention was ordered to prevent him from continuing similar fraudulent activities and to safeguard public interest while the investigation progresses.

The case was registered following a complaint lodged by D.C. Elangovan, Secretary of the Federation of Associations of Private Schools in Tamil Nadu.

According to the complaint, Arasakumar approached the managements of several private schools claiming he could facilitate permanent recognition, school grade upgradation, DTCP and CMDA approvals, no-objection certificates, and other mandatory government clearances.

Investigators alleged that he convinced school administrators to part with substantial sums of money by projecting himself as a person with extensive political and bureaucratic connections capable of expediting official procedures.

However, despite collecting the funds, he allegedly failed to secure any of the promised approvals or refund the money to the institutions.

Police estimate that Arasakumar collected more than Rs 100 crore from private school managements across the state through the alleged scheme.

Following his arrest, the Central Crime Branch said it witnessed a surge in complaints from other affected institutions, indicating that the scale of the fraud may be much larger than initially believed.

So far, complaints have been received from representatives of 47 private schools, with the reported financial loss in these cases alone exceeding Rs 7 crore.

Investigators expect more victims to come forward as the probe continues.

As part of the investigation, officials have examined digital financial transactions linked to the complaints and frozen Arasakumar's bank accounts to prevent any further movement of suspected proceeds of crime.

Police are also tracing the money trail to identify additional beneficiaries and possible accomplices.

Meanwhile, efforts are underway to apprehend another key suspect, Muthukumar, who is believed to have played an important role in the alleged fraud.

Police said multiple teams are searching for him, while the investigation continues to uncover the full extent of the network and the total amount involved in the alleged scam.

--IANS

aal/khz

Bengaluru, July 15 (IANS) The Karnataka government on Tuesday exonerated senior IPS officers B. Dayananda, Vikash Kumar Vikash and Shekhar H. Tekkannavar in connection with the June 4, 2025, Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede case in which 11 people were killed, bringing an end to the departmental proceedings initiated against them under the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969.

Separate orders issued by the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (Services-IV) stated that the disciplinary proceedings initiated under Rule 8(4) of the AIS (D&A) Rules have been closed after the competent authority examined the officers' statements of defence and the opinion of the Administrative Department.

B. Dayananda, a 1994-batch IPS officer who was serving as Additional Director General of Police and Commissioner of Police, Bengaluru City, and Shekhar H. Tekkannavar, a 2014-batch IPS officer and then Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central Division), Bengaluru City, were suspended on June 5, 2025, a day after the stampede near Chinnaswamy Stadium that claimed several lives and triggered widespread criticism over crowd management and security arrangements.

Vikash Kumar Vikash, a 2004-batch IPS officer, was serving as Inspector General of Police and Additional Commissioner of Police (West), Bengaluru City, when he was placed under suspension on June 5, 2025, pending disciplinary proceedings over the stampede incident.

Although their suspensions were subsequently revoked, departmental inquiries continued. Show-cause notices along with articles of charge were served on both officers on July 31, 2025. In their replies submitted on September 8, 2025, the officers denied the allegations and sought to be exonerated.

According to the government orders dated July 14, 2026, the competent authority found no grounds to continue the proceedings.

"In the circumstances explained in the preamble, the Departmental Enquiry Proceedings initiated against Sri B. Dayananda, IPS (KN:1994), under Rule 8(4) of AIS (D&A) Rules are hereby closed, and the officer is exonerated of the charges levelled against him," the order about Dayananda stated.

A similar order was issued in respect of Tekkannavar. However, while exonerating him of the charges, the government issued a warning advising him "to act responsibly to ensure that such incidents shall not recur in the future."

The Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede on June 4, 2025, had led to disciplinary action against several police officials, including the then Bengaluru Police Commissioner and senior officers responsible for overseeing security arrangements during the event.

Copies of the orders have been forwarded to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Department of Personnel and Training, the Karnataka Home Department and other concerned authorities, formally closing the proceedings against the two IPS officers.

It can be recalled that a total of 11 people were killed in the Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede in Bengaluru on June 4, 2025, during the celebrations marking Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) maiden IPL title victory. The incident also left at least 56 people injured, according to official figures.

The crowd crush occurred outside multiple gates of the stadium as tens of thousands of fans gathered for the felicitation ceremony. Investigations later revealed that nearly 2.5 lakh people had converged around the venue, overwhelming the security and crowd-management arrangements.

The deceased included six men and five women, and the tragedy led to multiple inquiries, suspensions of senior police officers, and legal proceedings involving event organisers and government officials.

--IANS

mka/dan

Hyderabad, July 15 (IANS) The District Election Officer of Nagarkurnool district in Telangana has clarified that there is no case of double voting or dual voter enrolment involving Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy.

Collector and District Election Officer (DEO) of Nagarkurnool issued a clarification denying false social media claims regarding the Chief Minister’s voter registration.

The DEO stated that Revanth Reddy is not registered as a voter in Achampet Assembly Constituency or anywhere else in Nagarkurnool district as of July 14, 2026.

In a statement, the DEO said it had come to his notice that false information was circulating on social media regarding the Chief Minister's voter status in Nagarkurnool district.

"As the voter enrolment is not there, the question of Enumeration Form printing and distribution in the process of Special Intensive Revision does not arise," the statement read.

The DEO requested citizens not to believe or spread baseless rumours.

A section of the media reported that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy was enrolled as a voter in two Assembly constituencies, each falling under a different Parliamentary constituency.

According to those reports, the electoral rolls listed Revanth Reddy as a voter in the Kodangal Assembly constituency under the Mahabubnagar Parliamentary constituency. His name also appeared in the Achampet Assembly constituency under the Nagarkurnool Parliamentary constituency. Both entries carried the same EPIC number.

Following these reports, 'FactCheck_Telangana', the official handle of the state government's initiative on X, issued a clarification.

According to the official statement posted on its handle on Tuesday, the Election Commission clarified that the appearance of the Chief Minister’s name in two electoral rolls with the same EPIC number was an "electoral roll anomaly" that was being addressed through the ongoing SIR exercise.

The statement said the correction would be carried out by the DEO concerned in accordance with the Election Commission of India’s prescribed procedures. It also said electoral authorities had clarified that the presence of the same EPIC number in two electoral rolls did not, by itself, establish that a person was entitled to vote in two constituencies.

"The Chief Minister’s family has informed the electoral authorities that they wish to retain the voter registration in Kodangal constituency. They have requested deletion of the entry from the Kondareddypally electoral roll," the statement maintained.

Following criticism in some quarters over the clarification issued by the state government instead of the election authorities, the post was deleted from the 'FactCheck Telangana' handle.

A clarification was issued by Nagarkurnool DEO on Tuesday night, denying dual enrolment.

--IANS

ms/dan

Kolkata, July 15 (IANS) In an effort to enhance the travel experience on Indian Railways’ premier Vande Bharat Express, the Howrah Division of Eastern Railway (ER) on Tuesday introduced a family "Phygital" magazine "Vande Express" to be distributed among passengers.

The magazine will be distributed among passengers of the Howrah-New Jalpaiguri Vande Bharat Express free of cost. The magazine is innovative as it will allow passengers to read some content directly, while other material can be accessed by scanning QR codes.

The magazine was developed by ANOTHER INDIA, and the free distribution will not result in any financial liability on the Railways. The magazine was formally launched by Uday Shankar Jha, principal chief commercial manager, ER, Vishal Kapoor, divisional railway manager, Howrah Division, and other senior railway officials.

"Designed to enhance the onboard travel experience, ‘Vande Express’ integrates conventional print media with QR-enabled digital content, offering passengers access to information on travel, tourism, heritage, lifestyle, children's interactive activities, and railway services," an ER official said.

"The publication also disseminates information on key passenger-centric initiatives of Indian Railways, including the RailOne App, Rail Madad, the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, Vande Bharat Sleeper, and the cultural and tourism heritage of eastern India," he added.

The initiative has been implemented under a non-fare revenue model, enabling the introduction of a value-added passenger service through private participation without any expenditure by the Railway Administration. Besides enriching the travel experience, the project serves as an effective platform for passenger awareness and dissemination of important railway information.

The initiative reflects the innovative approach adopted by ANOTHER INDIA in developing a technology-enabled publication that combines print and digital engagement while ensuring the commercial sustainability of the project, the official said.

The introduction of "Vande Express" marks another step towards creating a more informed, engaging and digitally connected travel experience, reaffirming Indian Railways’ commitment to improving passenger services through innovation, technology and customer-centric initiatives.

--IANS

jg/uk

Jaipur, July 15 (IANS) Pappu Gurjar, the brother of slain dacoit Jagan Gurjar, was shifted from Ajmer High Security Jail to Dausa Central Jail under heavy security following concerns raised by his family over his safety after Jagan's murder inside the prison.

Pappu was escorted to Dausa at around 9 a.m. on Tuesday after the Ajmer jail administration received transfer orders from the prison headquarters on Monday.

Additional police personnel were deployed to ensure the transfer was completed without incident.

Ajmer High-Security Jail Superintendent, Paras Jangid, confirmed that the transfer was carried out in compliance with official directives.

The transfer comes nearly two weeks after Jagan Gurjar was allegedly strangled to death inside Ajmer High-Security Jail on June 29.

After the incident, Jagan's family and residents of Bhavutipura village in Dholpur's Dang region demanded that Pappu be moved to another prison, citing concerns for his safety.

The transfer was among the five demands submitted by the family to the district administration.

When the demands were not addressed immediately, hundreds of villagers announced plans to stage a large protest after the conclusion of Jagan's 'Barhvi' (12th-day death ritual) on July 12.

As protesters gathered in Bhavutipura, Dholpur Collector Srinidhi B.T. and the Superintendent of Police held late-night talks with community representatives at Gajpura intersection.

Following the discussions, the administration accepted several key demands, including the transfer of Bari Station House Officer Devendra Sharma to the police lines.

The villagers subsequently withdrew their protest.

Pappu Gurjar had also been hospitalised while lodged in Ajmer High-Security Jail on July 4 after complaining of chest pain following a meal. He was examined by the jail doctor and later taken under heavy security to Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital for further evaluation.

After receiving treatment, he was discharged and returned to the jail.

Jagan Gurjar was killed inside Ajmer High-Security Jail on June 29.

According to the police, Vishnu, an undertrial accused in the Kuldeep Jaghina murder case, allegedly strangled Jagan with a towel inside the prison.

Jagan's last rites were performed on July 1 in his native village of Bhavutipura in Dholpur district.

Police said the investigation into the murder is continuing.

--IANS

arc/khz

Kolkata, July 14 (IANS) West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President and Rajya Sabha member, Samik Bhattacharya, on Tuesday issued a note of caution for party's state leaders, including elected public representatives, to refrain from excessive interference in the affairs of the different community Durga Pujas in the state, a complaint, which was rampant against leaders, MLAs, MPs and even Councillors during the previous Trinamool Congress government.

Bhattacharya has issued a social media post and audio statement, where he rubbished recently surfaced speculation that he will be the President of reputed community Durga Puja committee in North Kolkata.

"This is a baseless rumour which has surfaced. I will not be the resident of any community Durga Puja Committee. I take on the responsibility of organising any Puja," the State BJP President said.

Thereafter, Bhattacharya issued a note of caution for all the party leaders and elected public representatives to refrain from excessive interference in the affairs of the different community Durga Pujas in the state.

"A legislator or Minister may choose to become the President of a Puja committee in their own area. That is their personal decision. But that does not mean that political figures, legislators, MPs, or leaders of political parties will go out on the streets and take control of different Puja Committees one after another," the State BJP President said in his social media statement.

Commenting that the Durga Puja belonged to the people and not to any political party, Bhattacharya added that the BJP feels that the independence, autonomy, and universal character of Puja committees should remain intact.

"Let the joy of the festival remain in the hands of the people and not in the clutches of politics," he said.

The CPI-M, because of the Communist or Marxist philosophy of refraining from direct involvement in religious activities, had always maintained a safe distance from being part of any community Durga Puja affair during the 34-year Left Front rule in West Bengal from 1977 to 2011.

The only engagement of the CPI-M during the four days of Durga Puja was setting of stalls of Communist or Marxist literature near popular Durga Puja pandals.

However, during the 15-year of Trinamool Congress government from 2011 to 2026, the previous ruling party leaders virtually took control of the majority of community Durga Pujas in the state.

On Tuesday, Bhattacharya had made it clear that the new BJP government in the state will not adopt the previous Trinamool Congress government way as regards to community Durga Pujas.

--IANS

src/khz

Bhubaneswar, July 14 (IANS) A Fast Track Special Court in Odisha's Jagatsinghpur district on Tuesday sentenced three persons to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment in connection with a gangrape case reported in the Tirtol area of the district in 2024.

The three convicts were awarded rigorous imprisonment under Sections 376D and 506 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The court also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on each of them.

Sharing the details of the case, the Odisha Police on Tuesday informed that, on the evening of February 3, 2024, a 29-year-old woman was gang-raped near the Nimakana Railway Station under the Tirtol Police Station limits in Jagatsinghpur district.

Acting on the case registered at Tirtol Police Station on the basis of the complaint lodged by the victim woman, the police launched a detailed investigation into the incident and initiated steps to identify and apprehend the accused persons.

Considering the sensitive nature of the case and its seriousness, the investigation was subsequently taken over by the Crime Against Women and Children Wing (CAW&CW) of Odisha Police, Bhubaneswar.

Meanwhile, the police arrested the accused trio for their involvement in this heinous crime. They were identified as Ranjan Kumar Sila (26), Biswaranjan Naik (29), and Suresh Kumar Behera (40) of the Tirtol Police Station area. The Deputy Superintendent of Police, CAW&CW, Iman Kalyan Nayak, led the investigation and filed the charge sheet in court.

The Odisha Police stated that based on this charge sheet and strong evidence produced during the trial, the court on Tuesday convicted all the accused and pronounced the sentence. Earlier, the court had also directed that financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh be provided to the victim under the Odisha Victim Compensation Scheme.

"This successful conviction reaffirms the commitment of Odisha Police and its Crime Against Women and Children Wing to conduct scientific, professional, and victim-centric investigations into crimes against women and children, ensuring swift legal punishment for the perpetrators," emphasised the Odisha Police.

--IANS

grm/dan

Jaipur, July 14 (IANS) A minor girl from Dinhata in Cooch Behar district of West Bengal, near the India-Bangladesh border, who was allegedly trafficked to Rajasthan on the false promise of employment, has been rescued from a spa centre in Jaipur.

The interstate rescue operation was jointly carried out by the West Bengal and Rajasthan Police with the support of the Association for Voluntary Action (AVA) and Kosi Lok Manch, officials said on Tuesday.

The Police have launched an investigation to dismantle the interstate trafficking network and arrest those involved.

Both AVA and Kosi Lok Manch are partner organisations of Just Rights for Children, India's largest child rights network comprising more than 250 NGOs working to protect children from trafficking, exploitation and abuse.

The girl's parents had lodged a missing person complaint on June 18.

During the investigation, police tracked her mobile phone, which indicated that she was in Jaipur.

The West Bengal Police sought assistance from Kosi Lok Manch, which immediately coordinated with AVA in Rajasthan to facilitate the rescue.

On Sunday, a team of West Bengal Police, accompanied by the girl's mother, reached Jaipur and, with the support of AVA, launched an extensive search operation.

The rescue proved challenging as the victim's location kept changing.

Acting on technical surveillance, the team first reached the Sanganer area before tracing the girl's final location to the Jalupura police station area, where she was rescued from a spa centre during a raid on Monday morning.

The accused managed to flee, and efforts are underway to apprehend them.

According to the police, the girl, who had studied up to Class 9, told investigators that a young man known to her in Dinhata lured her to Jaipur with the promise of a well-paying job.

After her arrival, she was allegedly handed over to a man identified as Karan, who is reported to have previously faced allegations related to commercial sexual exploitation.

Under the guise of providing employment, he allegedly forced the minor to work at the spa centre.

The girl's mother has alleged that her daughter was sexually exploited. She had earlier worked as a domestic worker in Jaipur, while the girl's father is a farmer in Dinhata.

The rescued minor is expected to return to West Bengal on Wednesday.

Welcoming the successful rescue, Ravi Kant, National Convenor of Just Rights for Children, said, "This case once again demonstrates that trafficking is an organised interstate crime that requires an equally organised interstate response. The coordinated efforts of the West Bengal and Rajasthan Police, supported by our partner organisations, made this rescue possible. Such collaboration is vital not only to rescue children but also to dismantle trafficking networks and ensure justice for every victim. We must ensure that every person involved in trafficking is identified, prosecuted and held accountable. Prevention, timely intervention and strict enforcement must go hand in hand."

--IANS

arc/khz

Gandhinagar, July 14 (IANS) A positive image of the police is earned through ethical conduct and public service rather than publicity, former Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police Prof. (Dr.) Vikram Singh said on Tuesday while addressing a one-day workshop on Police Image and Best Practices in Policing at Rashtriya Raksha University's School of Internal Security and SMART Policing (SISSP).

The workshop, held at the university's Gandhinagar campus, brought together senior police officers, including Directors General of Police and Inspectors General, from Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Meghalaya, Gujarat, West Bengal and Rajasthan, as well as representatives from the Union Territories of Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli.

Delivering the address, Singh, a retired IPS officer and former DGP of Uttar Pradesh who is now Chancellor of Noida International University, urged police personnel to move away from what he described as the colonial-era "feudal" mindset rooted in the Police Act of 1861 and adopt a more humane approach based on public trust.

"A positive police image is built not through publicity, but through consistent, ethical conduct and genuine public service, earning the trust and confidence of citizens through action rather than optics," Singh said.

He also cautioned against relying on performative public relations exercises or unauthorised media engagements to improve the image of the police.

Highlighting the importance of women's safety and dignity, Singh cited Kolkata Police's "LISTEN" model and Uttarakhand Police's safe-space reporting mechanism for women as examples of empathetic policing.

He observed that police stations had historically functioned like a "boys' club", discouraging many women from reporting offences.

Quoting jurist Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer's observation that "while murder destroys the body, rape destroys the soul", Singh urged police officers to treat victims of crime with the highest respect and apply the law impartially, particularly in domestic disputes.

He also called for a transition from "danda to data-centric" policing and encouraged the graduating cohort to serve the nation with "knowledge, integrity, and humanity".

In his address, Prof. (Dr.) Kalpesh H. Wandra, Pro Vice Chancellor at Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU), said Indian policing was shifting from a reactive model focused on investigating crimes after they occur to a predictive system that uses technology to prevent crime, in line with the Prime Minister's vision of SMART policing.

"India has nearly 20,000 police stations and around 2.6 million police personnel serving a population of more than 1.4 billion,” he said, but stressed that effective policing depends on public trust and citizen participation rather than the size of the force.

Wandra noted that the event, comprising 54 lectures on technology adoption, women's safety and community outreach, reflected a broader transition towards transparent, accountable and service-oriented policing aligned with the vision of "Viksit Bharat 2047".

Earlier, Lt. (Dr) Ruchika Singla, Director In-Charge of SISSP, said: "The university was working to build a technology-driven, citizen-centric and specialised policing ecosystem through skill development and professional training."

She highlighted initiatives including Mission Karmayogi, programmes to promote women in policing and security, and capacity-building efforts across police ranks.

"The university's monthly 'Police Image' lecture series, conducted on the 22nd of every month, had completed 54 lectures to date, helping bridge the gap between theory and practice. The initiative supports the university's objective of advancing SMART policing under its guiding principle, 'National Security is Supreme'," she said.

The workshop featured technical sessions by police officers from several states, who shared policing models and operational practices from their respective jurisdictions.

Inspector General (Training) Anant Takwale of Uttarakhand Police spoke on community-oriented policing initiatives, while Deputy Inspector General (Training) Dev Ranjan Verma of Uttar Pradesh discussed the Women Power Line 1090 programme and technology-driven policing for women's safety.

Additional Commissioner of Police Neha Yadav presented best practices followed by Delhi Police, while Administrative Officer Lakador Syiem of the Meghalaya Police Academy discussed policing initiatives in Meghalaya.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Hardik N. Prajapati shared practices adopted by Gujarat Police, Inspector Sujit Bhattacharjee of the Swami Vivekananda State Police Academy addressed public trust and policing in West Bengal, and Company Commander Toniya Sharma of the 4th RAC Battalion outlined policing practices in Rajasthan.

--IANS

mys/uk

Jaipur, July 14 (IANS) Concerned over the decline in crude oil production in recent years, the Rajasthan government has asked oil-producing companies to deploy the latest technologies to boost output.

Additional Chief Secretary (Mines and Petroleum) Aparna Arora said refining more of the state's crude oil within Rajasthan would significantly enhance value addition and drive economic growth.

The Rajasthan government has stepped up efforts to formulate a comprehensive action plan for increasing crude oil and natural gas production in the state, with a strong emphasis on adopting advanced technologies and expanding exploration activities.

Chairing a high-level meeting at the Secretariat on Tuesday with senior officials from organisations engaged in crude oil and natural gas exploration and production, Arora stressed the need to leverage globally proven technologies to enhance production. She noted that Rajasthan ranks second in onshore natural gas production and third in crude oil production in the country.

Rajasthan now has the capacity to process around 1.5 million tonnes of crude oil produced within the state.

She observed that crude oil production has declined in recent years and called upon producing companies to adopt the latest technologies to reverse the trend. She emphasised that maximising refining of Rajasthan's crude oil within the state would contribute significantly to economic growth and value addition.

The Additional Chief Secretary said oil and gas companies should pursue a two-pronged strategy by accelerating exploration in new prospective areas while simultaneously enhancing production from existing fields through advanced recovery technologies. She stressed the need for a long-term action plan to achieve sustained growth in production.

She informed the meeting that Rajasthan has four major crude oil and natural gas basins: the Jaisalmer Basin, Barmer-Sanchore Basin, Bikaner-Nagaur Basin, and Vindhyan Basin.

Exploration and production activities are currently underway in the Jaisalmer, Barmer-Sanchore, and Bikaner-Nagaur basins. Petroleum Director Awadhesh Singh informed the meeting that the state has so far granted 12 petroleum mining leases and 12 petroleum exploration licences.

Rajasthan is currently producing approximately 54,000 barrels of crude oil per day and 2.2 million standard cubic metres of natural gas per day (MMSCMD). Representatives of Cairn India, ONGC, Oil India Limited, and Focus Energy made detailed presentations on ongoing exploration and production activities.

The meeting was also attended by Special Secretary (Mines) Namrata Vrishni, SG Sunil Kumar Verma, Joint Director (Petroleum) Dilip Raj Sharma, Deputy Directors Rohit Mallah, Mohan Kumawat, and Ankit Soni, along with representatives of the participating companies.

--IANS

arc/dan