tirupati l friday l august 23, 2024 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l late city EDITION SC tells Haryana, punjab to persuade farmers to vacate shambhu border The Supreme Court on Thursday told the states to persuade agitators to remove their tractors and trollies from the interstate border Panel being set up to solve their issues: Court states urged to engage with agitators The court told the Haryana and Punjab governments to inform the agitating farmers that a multi-member panel was being constituted for the redressal of their grievances “for all times”. The Supreme Court said the panel may have the power and authority to make recommendations to the state and, if need be, the Union governments on steps to resolve farmers’ grievances ■ The court was hearing Haryana’s plea against a high court order asking it to remove barricades erected at the Shambhu border near Ambala ■ The bench asked the representatives of both Punjab and Haryana to continue engaging with the farmers and directed them to apprise the court about the outcome of such meetings on the next date of hearing September 2 when the court will take up the matter for further hearing CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI SC says justice & medicine can’t stop Su c h it r a K alyan M o h ant y consider all suggestions The CBI in a status report on its probe into the rape and murder of a trainee doctor on August 9 at the RG Kar Medical and College Hospital in Kolkata, told the Supreme Court on Thursday that the crime scene was altered and tampered with. Initially the Kolkata police told the parents that it was suicide, but later they said she was murdered. Taking the CBI report on record, a three-judge bench led by the Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud appealed to the protesting doctors to return to National Task Force formed by the SC will take note of the suggestions of all stakeholders while formulating a national protocol for the safety of healthcare professionals @ New Delhi work, saying justice and medicine cannot afford to be stopped. “We earnestly appeal to all doctors. We are here to ensure their safety and protection. Please trust us, that is why we have not left the matter to the (Calcutta) High Court,” the bench said. It also directed a Sealdah court to pass its order on the CBI’s application for a lie detector test on accused Sanjoy Roy by Friday . The court directed the states not to take any coercive steps and adverse action against the protesting doctors. “How can public health infrastructure function if doctors don’t return to work?” the court wondered. It asked the health ministry to convene a meeting with the Chief Secretaries of states and Directors General of Police to ensure the safety of the doctors willing to return to work. The meeting should be completed within a week and states shall take remedial measures within two weeks, the court said. While directing states not to disrupt peaceful protests, it said, “the order should not be misconstrued to mean that the authorities are precluded from exercising their regulatory powers in accordance with law.” The bench, however, categorically said peaceful protests should not be disrupted. Justice J B Pardiwala, a member of the bench, expressed concern at the manner in which the police handled the case. The postmortem was conducted on August 9 between 6.10 pm and 7.10 pm though the case of unnatural death was registered at 11.30 pm and the FIR recorded at 11.45 pm. No ‘satisfactory replies’ to sharp questions from Waqf bill JPC members P r eet h a N ai r @ New Delhi Amid fierce attack from Muslim bodies, the first meeting of the Joint Committee of Parliament (JPC) on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill saw dissenting voices from various Opposition members as well as NDA allies on the proposed law. Though the Telugu Desam Party, a key ally of the NDA supported the bill in the Lok Sabha, it called for wider consultations during the JPC meeting, said sources. Early this week, TDP Parliamentary party leader and JPC member Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu told this paper that the party has begun consultations with all communities, including Muslims about their concerns. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board claimed that TDP’s Chandrababu Naidu and JD(U)’s Nitish Kumar have assured Muslim bodies that their parties would oppose the Waqf Bill. It also said it will launch a nationwide movement if the bill is not withdrawn. Another BJP ally, the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), said that the Muslim community’s concerns should be ad- dressed and pitched for more consultations. Speaking to this paper, some of the MPs said that the ministry failed to give ‘satisfactory replies’ to the queries raised in the meeting. Though not part of the INDIA bloc, YSR Congress’ V Vijaysai Reddy also raised objections to several clauses of the bill, according to sources. Several opposition members questioned the proposed amendments such as empowering district collectors in deciding on the ownership of a disputed land, and to induct non-Muslim members on Waqf boards. Committee Chairperson Jagdambika Pal described the meeting, which went on for over six hours with a lunch break, as ‘fruitful’. He asserted that voices of different stakeholders would be heard. “We will discuss all 44 amendments and bring a comprehensive bill by the next session,” he said. He said the committee would call various Muslim bodies representing different sects to hear their views. AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi launched a scathing attack terming it as ‘unconstitutional’, said sources. express read Medicare Protection Act will be amended: CM Visakhapatnam: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu announced the decision to amend the Medicare Personnel (Protection against Violence) Act (11/2008). The amendment aims to make the Act more stringent, making offences under it non-bailable as a deterrent against violence | P3 Gram Sabhas in over 13,000 villages today Vijayawada: For the first time in the country, Gram Sabhas (village meetings) will be held simultaneously in 13,326 village panchayats on a single day across Andhra Pradesh as a step towards strengthening Panchayat Raj system, said Deputy Chief Minister Konidala Pawan Kalyan | P4 In view of an unusual water crisis, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has appealed to the devotees and locals to use water judiciously It . has been learnt that the water reserves available in the dams of Tirumala can cater to the needs of the people only for three months. In a statement, the Srivari temple Trust said it will regulate the supply of water, if the situation does not improve in the coming months. Although the State has re- der Sections 106(1), 125(b), and 125(a) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Asserting that stern action Sanhita (BNS). will be taken against compaThe Chief Minister interactnies that fail to adhere to safety ed with the injured workers protocols, Chief Minister N and their families at Medicover Chandrababu Naidu on Thurs- Hospital, and with the kin of day emphasised that though the deceased at King George Andhra Pradesh needs indus- Hospital (KGH). He later visittries and investments, ed the pharmaceutiit is equally impor- `2L for kin of cal company’s unit tant for companies to deceased: PM and inspected the acadhere to safety cident site. Condoling the protocols. Speaking to mediaNaidu arrived in bereaved families, persons after reviewPM Modi Visakhapatnam on ing the situation with announced that Thursday afternoon officials, Naidu exto visit the workers an ex-gratia of `2 pressed deep concern who suffered injuries lakh from PMNRF over the tragedy. He in the fire mishap at a would be given to revealed that the exthe next of kin of unit of Escientia Adplosion, caused by a each deceased, vanced Sciences Privapour cloud, could while the injured vate Limited in Atchhave been avoided if would be given utapuram SEZ in proper Standard Op`50,000 Anakapalle district erating Procedures on Wednesday. The (SOPs) had been folincident claimed the lives of 17 lowed. “One of the victims suspeople and left 36 others in- tained 57 per cent burns, anjured. Among them, 10 are se- other 24 per cent burns, while verely injured, while 26 have others suffered 17 per cent and sustained minor injuries. 10 per cent,” he said. Rambilli Police in AnakaNaidu announced an ex-grapalle have registered cases tia of `1 crore to the families of against Escientia Advanced the deceased, `50 lakh to those P4 Sciences Private Limited un- severely injured. U s h a Pe r i @ Visakhapatnam ties Polished Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his Polish counterpart Donald Tusk ahead of their summit meeting in Warsaw on Thursday | P7 1 2 3 Strategic partnership Defence production action plan announced India and Poland upgraded ties to the level of a “strategic partnership” and inked a social security pact to promote the mobility of skilled workers Donald Tusk expressed Poland’s eagerness to be a key partner in India’s aim to boost domestic defence production and modernise its armed forces 5-year action plan announced for strategic partnership in defence, trade, agri-tech, energy, green technology, infrastructure, pharmaceuticals and mining Congress, NC finalise seat-sharing for J&K polls F AYA Z W A N I @ Srinagar the Congress and National Conference (NC) on Thursday finalised their seat-sharing agreement for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls. The announcement came after the meeting of top Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi with NC’s Farooq and Omar Abdullah. “The Congress leadership deliberated with the Abdullahs on forging a pre-poll alliance for the Assembly polls. Both parties discussed the issue in detail and decided that forging alliance is a must to keep divisive forces away,” a Congress Rahul Gandhi. Mallikarjun Kharge at a press meet in Srinagar on Thursday | Zahoor Punjabi leader told this paper. While the exact number of seats allocated to both parties was not revealed, sources said the Congress will fight from most of the 43 seats in Jammu while NC will focus on the Valley . The three-phase elections to the 90-member Jammu and Kashmir Assembly will be held Severe water crisis grips Tirumala ceived good rainfall this year, the same cannot be said for Tirumala. Due to the meagre rains, water available in the five prime dams at Tirumala can meet the water needs of the locals and pilgrims in the Hill Town for the next 120130 days, the TTD said. “Every day nearly 43 lakh gallons of water is consumed in Tirumala. Of the total, 18 lakh gallons are procured from dams in Tirumala and Adhering to SOPs could have averted mishap: CM Naidu directs action against units found neglecting safety protocols extraordinary situation E x p r e s s N ew s Se r v i c e @ Tirupati CM Nara Chandrababu Naidu meets the injured of Atchutapuram fire incident and the family members of the injured on Thursday | Express the remaining from Kalyani Dam in Tirupati. The total storage capacity of Gogarbham, Akasa Ganga, Papa Vinasanam, Kumaradhara and Pasupudhara dams in Tirumala is 14,304 lakh gallons. Currently , around 5,800 lakh gallons is only available in Tirumala,” the TTD explained. The TTD appealed devotees and locals to avoid wastage of water, keeping in mind the multitude of pil- grims who will visit Tirumala during the ensuing annual Brahmotsavams. The temple Trust added it is contemplating to take measures to regulate of water consumption, if the extraordinary situation persists for next few months. Officials said the TTD might cut down water supply to the residents and commercial establishments in the coming days. However, officials are hopeful that the reservoirs in Tirumala will receive inflows if Rayalaseema region receives good rainfall after September. on September 18, September 25 and October 1. The results will be declared on October 4. Of the 90 seats, 47 are in Kashmir and 43 in Jammu. Kharge and Rahul arrived in Srinagar on Wednesday. On Thursday they visited the Gup, kar residence of Farooq to meet him and his son Omar. During the meeting, Rahul stressed on the restoration of J&K’s statehood. Taking a dig at the Modi government for downgrading J&K state into a Union Territory he said it was , the first time in the country’s history that a state was converted into a UT. After the meeting, Farooq Abdullah told reporters that the Congress, NC and CPI(M) are on the same page and will fight the Assembly elections together. According to sources, CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami is likely to contest from Kulgam in south Kashmir. This seat will be spared for him by the NC. Mom distraught as sole bread winner killed S T r i m u r t h ulu @ Kakinada Residing in a thatched hut with her mother and grandmother, 22-year-old Challapalli Harika had promised to bring her family out of poverty once she starts earning. Unfortunately, she could not fulfil her promise as the fire accident at the Escientia Advanced Sciences Private Limited in Atchutapuram SEZ in Anakapalle district claimed her life, leaving her mother Annapur na distraught. Harika had completed B. Tech (chemical engineering) from IIIT Idupulapaya a year ago and got a job in the pharma company. A meritorious student since childhood, the youngster became the sole bread winner of the family . Harika’s father Eswara Rao, who used to work as a mason, died five years ago. Rao went into depression after his only son, Harika’s younger brother, went missing. The family later learnt that he had died. “Annapurna had been taking care of Harika with the support of her mother-in-law. They were living in a roadside thatched house before Harika got a job. Harika used to tell her mother that she will bring them out of poverty and construct a good house for the family her ,” family members recalled. Harika had moved her family into a rented house at Valasapakala village after she secured P4 the job. Delhi Police busts terror module, nabs 14 from 3 states U J W A L J A L A L I @ New Delhi THE Special Cell of Delhi Police, in coordination with its counterparts in Jharkhand, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, busted an AlQaeda-inspired terror module and detained 14 people, including six who were undergoing training in handling weapons. Al-Qaeda is a banned terrorist organisation listed in the first schedule of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). It is proscribed under Section 35 of the UAPA. A senior police officer said the module, as per the current state of operations, was being led by one Dr Ishtiyaq based in Ranchi, Jharkhand. “It was aspiring to declare Khilafat and execute serious terrorist activities within the country,” the officer said, adding the members of the module had received “indoctrination” and weapons training at various locations. Police have also recovered arms, ammunition, and objectionable literature. The six individuals who were being trained in weapon handling were nabbed from Bhiwadi in Rajasthan. Eight more persons were detained from Jharkhand and UP for questioning. Multiple teams of the anti-terror unit are interrogating the suspects at various locations. “As the interrogation is going on, more arrests are anticipated,” said an official. Last year, a Delhi court had convicted four operatives of AlQaida in Indian Subcontinent for conspiracy to commit terror acts across the country .
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