First India-Delhi Edition-16th December 2022

PUBLIC SERVANTS’ CONVICTION ON CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE

DNA REPORT COMES IN

DELHI HC RESERVES ORDER ON UDDHAV’S PLEA

Bones recovered from forest confirmed to be Shraddha’s: Police

bones retrieved from the jungle — including the pelvis — and from blood samples found in Aaftab’s flat in Mehrauli have matched with samples of Shraddha’s father, the sources said.

New Delhi: A jawbone recovered by the police from the Mehrauli jungle while probing the murder of Shraddha Walkar has been confirmed to be hers, sources in Delhi Police said on Thursday. DNA from some of the 13

The Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) and the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), Rohini, have submitted two reports — DNA and Aftaab’s polygraph — to the Delhi Police’s investigating team. “The two reports corroborate the police’s investigation and Aaftab’s statements,” the source said.

‘ CHINESE GLASSES ’ COVERING

‘ RED EYE ’ OF MODI GOVT: KHARGE

New Delhi: Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday took a dig at the Union government for trying to dodge a discussion in Parliament over the India-China Tawang clash of December 9.

Using terms like “lal aankh” and “Chinese glasses”, Kharge’s tweet in Hindi could roughly be interpreted as “the once glaring eyes of the Modi government have been covered with Chinese glasses”. Kharge also questioned whether permission was needed to speak against China in Sansad Bhawan. Opposition leaders raised the issue to hold a detailed discussion on the clash when the House assembled on Wednesday and Deputy Chairman Harivansh allowed ‘Zero Hour’. But when Chair disallowed a discussion on the issue, the 17 parties staged the walkout.

Acid attack: Victim is able to see, says family

PM pays tribute to ‘Iron Man’ on death anniversary

New Delhi: PM Narendra Modi on Thursday paid homage to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his 72nd death anniversary and recalled everlasting contribution of the ‘Iron Man’ to India. The Prime Minister said, “I pay homage to Sardar Patel on his Punya Tithi and recall his everlasting contribution to India, especially in uniting our nation and giving impetus to all-round development.” Patel was born on October 31, 1875 in Na-

Delhi: On December 18, PM Modi will kickstart 2023 Tripura Assembly elections campaign in the state and also hold a BJP core committee meeting. He will also address a public gathering in Agartala and inaugurate some projects.

diad, Gujarat and rose to become one of the most influential leader.

New Delhi: The family of the 17-year-old acid attack survivor on Thursday said that the girl’s eyesight has not been affected and her facial burn injuries, as per doctors, will also heal over time.

She is still in the ICU of Safdarjung Hospital, said the victim’s uncle.

“Doctors at the hospital said the facial burns will heal, but it will take time,” he told PTI. The girl had also suffered injuries to her eyes in the attack. “Her vision has not been affected.

She is able to see and is talking,” the uncle said, adding that it was “shocking” for them to learn about a neighbour’s involvement .

Prime accused Sachin Arora, 20, and his two friends have been arrested.

CHINESE TROOPS RESORTING TO HOOLIGANISM

New Delhi: Former Army General MM Naravane hit out at the Chinese Army for descending to the level of “prehistoric times” by using “clubs and barbed wires” in the scuffle and said that the Indian Army in warfare would rather open fire than resort to such ridiculous tactics. He said that based on assessments, the Indian Army felt that threat from India’s northern borders is increasing.

BEIJING GAINED LOT OVER TIME: GEN NARAVANE

New Delhi: General Naravane said that China’s attempts to change status quo on LAC by resorting to “salami slicing” tactics led to a “more assertive” response from Indian Army. He said that the Chinese army has been

analysis report from FSL Rohini. Once that is in, all three reports will be sent to court, on the basis of which the police will apply for further custody.

father and brother after the incident came to light,” a source said.

Meanwhile, Lt Governor V K Saxena approved a proposal of Delhi Police to appoint two special public prosecutors — Madhukar Pandey and Amit Prasad — in the case.

sources, the DNA evidence will prove to be a critical evidence in the case. “The DNA reports confirm that it was indeed Shraddha Walkar who was killed. We collected samples from her

Special public prosecutors are usually appointed to ensure focused attention on the prosecution of accused and expeditious trial. They are appointed either by the state or by judicial orders, as happened in the 2G and the coal scam cases.

PARLIAMENT SESSION Oppn walks out hearing Puri’s claims on VAT

New Delhi: Dissatisfied with the reply of Petroleum Minister Hardeep Puri on the increased prices of petrol and diesel in the country, opposition parties staged a walkout from the Lok Sabha on Thursday. Responding to a question during the Question Hour on Thursday, Union Petroleum Minister said, “While the average price of Indian basket of Crude oil increased between November 2020 and November 2022, the retail prices of Petrol and Diesel have increased in India by only 18.95 % and 26.5 % during this period.” “To insulate the Indian consumers from the impact of high international crude oil prices,

INDIA CARRIES OUT SUCCESSFULLY NIGHT TRIALS OF AGNI-5 WHICH CAN REACH BEIJING!

RS ADJOURNED TWICE AMID UPROAR

S was adjourned twice for 15 minutes on Thursday following an uproar by the opposition members after being denied notices. Seven Opposition members had given notices to the chairman on various issues, but were not allowed. In reaction, the opposition members indulged in sloganeering and the House was adjourned twice, first from 11.12 a.m. for 15 minutes and second time from 11.35 a.m. to 11.50 a.m.

‘Jo piyega woh marega’: Nitish as hooch toll rises

After Bihar’s hooch toll climbed, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday warned that if people drink spurious liquor, they may well die, as the prohibition policy of his government came under attack from various quarters. “Jo piyega woh marega” (those who drink spurious alcohol will die), thundered Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who stood his ground maintaining that prohibition was “not my personal wish but a response to the cries of the women of the state”.

PRESIDENT’S RULE SHOULD BE IMPOSED IN BIHAR, SAYS BJP MP SUSHIL KUMAR SINGH BJP MP Sushil Kumar Singh said that there is anarchy in Bihar. “Liquor and sand mafia are dominant and there is nothing left in the name of law and order, so the government of the Grand Alliance should be dismissed and President’s rule should be imposed in Bihar,” Singh said.

First India Bureau

Delhi Special Commissioner of Police, Sagar Preet Hooda, told

the media on Thursday that the CFSL and FSL Rohini reports had been

helpful to the investigation. The police still await Aaftab’s narco-

According to police

Police searching the forest area in Mehrauli to look for body parts of Shraddha Walkar in November.

DNA from bones in Mehrauli forest, blood in Aaftab’s flat matches with that of Shraddha’s father: Sources

Delhi Law and Order Special CP Sagar Preet Hooda speaks to the media regarding the Shraddha Walkar murder case, in New Delhi on Thursday.

PHOTOS BY ANI

Bhubaneswar: Amid simmering tensions with China following the clashes between the two countries in Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh, India on Thursday successfully carried out the night trials of the Agni-5 nuclear-capable ballistic missile, which is capable of striking targets at ranges up to 5,000 kilometres with very high degree of accuracy. The test was carried out to validate new technologies and equipment on the missile that are now lighter than before, and has proved that the missile can now hits targets further away than before.

To insulate the Indian consumers from the impact, Government reduced the Central Excise duty twice

‘WHY GOVT WAS NOT SHOWING ‘LAAL ANKH?’ CONGRESS SEEKS WHITE PAPER ON CHINA

New Delhi: The Congress on Thursday demanded a white paper on China, including the recent transgressions, and taunted the Central government by saying “why it was not showing ‘laal ankh’ (angry eyes) to the neighbouring country”. Leader of the Congress party in the Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury raised the matter during Zero Hour. Trinamool Congress leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay also sought a discussion on the China issue. Chowdhury was alluding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2014 remark, when he had talked about showing “laal ankh” to the Chinese over repeated transgressions at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and had also spoken about the might of a “56-inch chest”.

Congress MP Mallikarjun Kharge speaks in the Rajya Sabha during the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament, in New Delhi. —PHOTO BY PTI

BIHAR HOOCH DEATHS: BJP MPs PROTEST

S everal BJP MPs from Bihar in Lok Sabha on Thursday sought strict action against those responsible for sale of illicit liquor in the state, while blaming the state government for deaths of more than 20 persons. Raising the issue during Zero Hour in Lok Sabha, BJP MP from Paschim Champaran Sanjay Jaiswal alleged that fake liquor is being distributed in Bihar through the local administration, which has led to deaths. P5 R

States ruled by the saffron party had the worst track records in terms of spurious liquor deaths. Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka stood at the top in terms of the number of hooch deaths while even Gujarat, a dry state, fared much worse than Bihar which is under the spotlight over the Saran hooch tragedy that has killed over 20 people

—Tejashwi Yadav, Deputy CM Bihar

NIRAV

New Delhi: SC’s Constitution bench on Thursday held that direct evidence of demand for bribe by public servants is not necessary to convict them under the (PC) Act and it can also be proved through circumstantial evidence.

New Delhi: Diamond merchant Nirav Modi suffered another setback in his legal battle against his extradition to India. The High Court in London denied Nirav Modi permission to appeal against his extradition order in the UK Supreme Court.

New Delhi: Delhi HC on Thursday reserved orders in Uddhav Thackeray’s appeal against an order of HC dismissing his plea challenging the Election Commission of India’s decision to freeze claim over the “Shiv Sena” party name and symbol.

FIGHTING FOR RIGHTS

MCD likely to announce mayor name in first meet

Newly-elected

New Delhi (ANI): The first meeting of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) will be held on January 6, marking the beginning of a fiveyear tenure of the corporation. Lt Governor VK Saxena on Thursday approved the proposal to convene the first meeting of the newly elected Corporation.

A senior municipal official said the agenda of the first meeting includes oath and affirmation of 250 councillors, election of the mayor and deputy mayor and election of the six members of the standing committee.

The move came as per the powers vested in the Lt Governor VK Saxena vide Section 73 of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957.

The proposal to this effect was moved by the

Commissioner (MCD) on December 12.

Earlier as per reports, speculation of delay in the Delhi mayor's election made rounds. However, the Commissioner's file, approved by Deputy CM Manish Sisodia and CM Arvind Kejriwal, was received in Raj Niwas on Thursday while LG Saxena accorded his approval on the same day,

informed sources.

The high-stakes battle for control over the Delhi Municipal Corporation ended with the AAP winning 134 of the total 250 wards in the capital's civic body polls, uprooting 15-year rule by the BJP.

As the Delhi State Election Commission announced the final results today, AAP won 134 wards while BJP came

second with 104 wards. Congress managed to get 9 wards while three wards were bagged by Independents.

“Thanks to the people of Delhi for this grand victory and many congratulations to all. Now all of us together have to make Delhi clean and beautiful,” tweeted AAP national convenor and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.

Excise policy case: Court takes cognisance of CBI chargesheet, summons all accused

New Delhi (ANI): The Rouse Avenue Court of Delhi on Thursday took cognisance on a chargesheet filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against Vijay Nair and Abhishek Boinpally, two public servants and others named in the chargesheet filed in connection with the Delhi liquor policy case. Taking cognisance of the chargesheet, special judge MK Nagpal on Thursday issued sum-

Order on pleas challenging Agnipath reserved

New Delhi (PTI): The Delhi High Court Thursday reserved its judgement on a batch of petitions challenging the Centre's Agnipath scheme for recruitment in armed forces.

Besides pleas directly challenging Agnipath, the high court also reserved its verdict on petitions concerning the recruitment processes for the armed forces under certain previous advertisements.

A bench of Chief Jus-

court will go on vacation. The Agnipath scheme, unveiled on June 14, lays out rules

for the recruitment of youths in the armed forces.

According to these rules, those between 17-and-a-half and 21 years of age are eligible to apply and they would be inducted for a fouryear tenure. The scheme allows 25 per cent of them to be granted regular service subsequently. After the scheme was unveiled, protests erupted in several states against the scheme.

Absconding maulvi held for raping minor boy Delhi records 6.4 deg Celsius, season’s minimum temp

New Delhi (ANI): A cleric (maulvi), who was absconding after allegedly raping a 12-year-old boy in Delhi’s Sarai Rohilla area, was arrested on Thursday, police said. The accused has been identified as Mohammad Isran. The police had filed an FIR under the POCSO Act and 377, 506 sections of IPC.According to Sagar Singh Kalsi, DCP North Delhi, the accused had committed unnatural sex with the victim several times after sedating him.

Earlier in another instance from Madhya Pradesh, Maulvi Abdul Samad was arrested and sent to judicial custody for allegedly molesting a 5-year-old girl inside a madrasa in Khandwa in October, police said. The accused was the Maulvi of Emanual Madrasa of Zakaria Masjid, Khanshawali in Khandwa.

First India Bureau

New Delhi: The national capital recorded the coldest day of the season on Thursday with the minimum temperature dipping to 6.4 degrees Celsius, two notches below the season’s average

The air quality in Delhi was recorded in the ‘moderate’ category on Thursday as the maxi-

The temp is expected to dip to 6 degrees Celsius in the coming days. As per the forecast by IMD, clear skies are expected throughout the day till Friday

mum temperature settled at 23.4 degrees Celsius.

According to the data by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the 24-hour average AQI on Thursday stood at 189

(moderate category).

An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered “good”, 51 and 100 “satisfactory”, 101 and 200 “moderate”, 201 and 300 “poor”, 301 and 400 “very poor”, and 401 and 500 “severe”.

FARMERS’ WOES

mons to all accused named in it. According to the CBI, besides Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)'s communications incharge Vijay Nair and

Abhishek Boinpally, the others named in the chargesheet are Mootha Gautam, Arun R Pillai, Sameer Mahendru and two former officials of

Delhi's Excise department -- Kuldeep Singh and Narender Singh.

Only Nair and Boinpally were arrested by the CBI in the case and later granted bail.

However, Nair, Boinpally and businessman Mahendru are still in judicial custody in connection with a related case filed by the ED against them. Their bail pleas in the matter are presently under the consideration of the court.

Three run over by train while making videos on rail track

Racket circulating fake currencies busted; 2 held

New Delhi (ANI): Officials of Delhi Police on Thursday arrested two persons and busted a racket, involved in the circulation of fake currencies, in Rohini.

Two persons allegedly circulating fake currencies have been arrested by a special staff of Delhi Police in Rohini and counterfeit currencies worth over Rs 1 lakh were recovered, officials said.

Earlier this month, the GRP, Mathura, busted an interstate gang involved in printing fake currency notes and arrested the kingpin. Mathura GRP along with joint teams of Police Commissionerate Varanasi on Sunday arrested Mukesh alias Raunak, the mastermind who was carrying a bounty of Rs 25,000 on his head.

They were so engrossed in filming the video that they could not notice the Padmavat Express passenger train, en route from Old Delhi to Pratapgarh junction, coming on their way, the DCP said. The deceased have been identified as Nadeem (23), his wife Jainab (20) and Shakeel (30) of Mushahid Colony under Masuri police Station area, police said.

RSS-linked BKS to take out ‘Kisan Garjana’ protest march in Delhi

lll BKS will seek various relief measures for the cultivators to improve their condition during the nationallevel protest to be held on December 19

Nagpur (PTI): The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-affiliated Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS), a farmers’ organisation, on Thursday said it would take out national level ‘Kisan Garjana’ protest march in Delhi on December 19 to seek various relief measures for the cultivators to improve their condition.

BKS’s executive committee member Nana Aakhre said in a release that farmers, who pro-

vide food grains, vegetables, fruits, milk, etc, are “very disappointed” today due to lack of returns to their farm produce, and are committing suicide due to it.

“In order to address the woes of the farmers, the BKS demands profitable prices on all the farm produce. Also, Goods and Services Tax (GST) should not be levied on the farm produce and the financial relief provided under the Kisan Samman

Nidhi should be increased,” it said.

Aakhre said that lakhs of farm workers from across the country will participate in the ‘Kisan Garajna’ rally in the national capital on Monday. The BSK also said the government should not give approval to the GM (genetically modified) mustard seed.

The export and import policy of the country should be in the interest of the people, it added.

Lakhs of farm workers will participate in the ‘Kisan Garajna’ rally in the national capital on Monday.

Lt Governor approves proposal to hold first meet of corporation on Jan 6

councillors of the MCD will take oath in the meeting

Six members of the standing committee will also be elected

Lt Governor VK Saxena with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at an event. —FILE PHOTO

National Platform for Domestic Workers raise slogans during a protest demanding comprehensive social protection, at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Thursday.

—PHOTO BY PTI

tice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad asked the counsel for

the petitioners and the Centre to file written submissions by December 23, after which the

A woman participates in the high jump as part of physical test for the Indian Army's recruitment scheme ‘Agnipath’, in Lucknow.

Ghaziabad (PTI): Three persons, including a couple, have been run over by a speeding train while they were "making videos with mobile phones" on a railway track here, police said on Thursday. The incident happened near Kaloo Garhi railway crossing under Masuri police station area on Wednesday night around 9 pm and all the three died on the spot, a senior police official said. Deputy Commissioner of Police (rural) Iraj Raja said that investigation has revealed that they were making videos with their mobile phones to upload on social media at the time of incident.

THE SCHEME

Relatives of youths who were killed after being hit by a train, outside a mortuary on Thursday. —PHOTO BY PTI

—FILE PHOTO

The two arrested accused in police custody on Thursday

TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF NIRBHAYA GANG RAPE

Delhi now even more unsafe for women

Nothing has changed for women: Parents

Tanya Chugh

First India Bureau

New Delhi: Ten years ago, on this day, an incident in Delhi shocked the entire world. A 23-year-old woman named Jyoti Singh (known as Nirbhaya) was gang-raped on a moving bus on the night of December 16, 2012.

The young woman fought back but suffered internal injuries and was thrown out naked from the bus. She died within two weeks.

The incident forced everyone to consider –how much violence would women continue to suffer in India?

The massive protests over the Nirbhaya case did bring about a certain amount of change

– laws were amended to recognise wider and more nuanced definitions of violence against women, set penalties for inefficient police action, and create stricter punishments for perpetrators – including, significantly, the death penalty.

A decade later, dangers for women in Delhi continue to grow in various ways. The crime rate against women has increased by more than 50% in the past decade.

DELHI: CRIMES AGAINST WOMEN

z Out of 43,414 cases of crime against women registered in 2021, Delhi accounted for 32.20% among all 19 metro cities.

z Delhi also recorded a significant surge of 40% and reported 13,892 cases in 2021 compared to 9,782 in 2020.

z The national capital reported the highest number of crimes against women related to kidnapping, cruelty by husbands, and girl child rapes, besides 2,022 cases of assault with the intent to outrage a woman’s modesty.

z Mumbai and Bengaluru followed Delhi in crimes against women in 2021.

Man kills tenant, PhD student, dumps body parts at 3 locations

First India Bureau

Ghaziabad: Police here on Wednesday arrested a man named Umesh Sharma from Modinagar in Ghaziabad district for allegedly killing his tenant, Ankit Khokar, and chopping his body into pieces that he threw in three different places, including in two canals.

The victim had recently sold his ancestral land in Baghpat from which he had got ` 1 crore, which the killer was eyeing, police said. A friend of the killer, identified as Parvesh,

has also been arrested.

Ankit Khokar lived alone ever since his parents died some years ago, and was a PhD scholar enrolled with a university in Lucknow.

Police got involved only after his friends

tried searching for him as they sensed something wrong when he did not answer calls.

The now-arrested landlord—to whom Ankit Khokar had given ` 40 lakh as loan, and whose wife he called ‘sister’—told them he, too, did not know where he had gone.

Police say they have found out that he had strangled Ankit Khokar to death on October 6, He chopped up the body into at least three parts using a saw, and packed them up in aluminum foil, said Iraj Raja, DCP Ghaziabad Rural.

New Delhi: “In the last 10 years, we do not think anybody except Nirbhaya got justice. No change has come,” Nirbhaya's mother Asha Devi said on the eve of the 10th anniversary of the tragic, horrific incident.

Her husband, Badri Narayan Singh , lamented that women are not safe even today.

“Criminals are continuously committing crime,” he said.

However, one positive change that has come about is that more sexual assualt survivors are speaking out, Devi said.

Barely two days ahead of the 10th anniversary of the Nirbhaya incident, a 17-yearold girl was attacked with acid by two masked motorcycle-borne men in west Delhi's Mohan

People say that time heals everything, but the pain has not gone away. Nobody knows how long girls will continue to face such situations.

—Asha Devi, Mother of Nirbhaya

Garden. When asked about the attack, Nirbhaya's father said, “When girls face such attacks, it is sad. What was her fault? She was going to school. Her life has been spoilt.”

“I don't think any change has come. Even today, we are in the same situation as 2012,” Asha Devi said. —PTI

OTHER PROMINENT CASES

More than 3,00,000 rape cases were reported in India in the years 2011-2020, some of them catching public attention due to the bestiality and case atrocity involved.

2020 HATHRAS

Four upper caste men gang-raped a 19-year-old Dalit woman in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras. She died two weeks later in a hospital in Delhi.

2019 HYDERABAD

A 26-year-old veterinary doctor’s body was discovered, the day after she was murdered. Four men were arrested for allegedly raping and killing the doctor by brutally smothering her and later burning her body. All four accused were shot dead by the police when they allegedly tried to run away.

2018 KATHUA

An 8-year-old from a nomadic tribe girl was abducted, gang raped, and murdered at a temple in Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir.

2017 UNNAO

A 17-year-old girl was raped in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh, allegedly by the local MLA of the ruling party BJP, Kuldeep Singh Sengar. Sengar was later convicted of the murder of the victim’s father.

2014 BADAUN

Two girls were gang-raped and murdered. After a long investigation, the CBI concluded that there was ‘No Rape’ and the suspects were released. The POCSO court rejected the CBI closure report. After an SIT investigation, the three main accused confessed to the rape and murder of the two girls.

BRAHMINS PROTEST

Walkar

public prosecutors

New Delhi (PTI): Lt Governor VK Saxena has approved a proposal of the Delhi Police to appoint two special public prosecutors to argue in the Shraddha Walkar murder case, Raj Niwas officials said on Thursday.

“The matter relates to the gruesome Shraddha murder case. Madhukar Pandey and Amit Prasad, advocates, will be accordingly representing the Delhi Police as special public prosecutors in the matter,” an official told PTI.

Survivor conscious, continues to be in ICU

New Delhi (PTI): The 17-year-old acid attack survivor continues to remain in the burns ICU of Safdarjung Hospital and is conscious, a doctor said. “The patient is conscious, well oriented and afebrile.

She has suffered 8 per cent chemical burns on the face. Eyes have also been affected. Treatment is on. Ophthalmologists are also providing conservative and

supportive treatment. She continues to be in the Burn ICU,” a senior doctor said.

CBSE warns students against fake website

New Delhi (PTI): The Central Board of Secondary Education Thursday warned students and parents against a fake website of the board and asked them not to make any payments on the portal for downloading admit cards for class 10 and 12 exams.

“It has come to the notice of the board that certain unscrupulous elements have created a website resembling the official CBSE website www.cbse. gov.in.

“This fake website has been created with the address https://cbsegovt.com/ and is blatantly duping unsuspecting students, schools and parents by sending messages to deposit money for creating and downloading the admit card for CBSE class 10 and 12, 2023 examinations,” the board said in an advisory.

It asked the public and stakeholders to be “extremely careful and not respond to any such fake messages and websites”.

Flipkart

form. The Delhi Police had also issued a notice to Flipkart after it found that the acid was procured from Flipkart. Flipkart said in a statement, “We strongly condemn this unfortunate incident, and our thoughts and prayers are with the victim.”

Rape suspect held after gunfight

Noida (PTI): A rape suspect was arrested after a brief gunfight with police in Noida on Thursday morning, a senior officer said.

The man, who was taken to a hospital for treatment after the encounter, is accused of raping a four-year-old girl, the officer said.

“A case was lodged on Wednesday. The suspect was at large. This morning, police officials got a tip-off about the sus-

The suspect, identified as Pramod Das, a native of Bihar, in police custody on Thursday.

pect's movement near Sector 83 metro station,” Additional DCP (Central Noida) Saad Miya Khan said.

“When the suspect was surrounded, he tried to escape by opening gunfire at the team,” DCP Khan said.

Delhi govt schools to kick off robotics competition

TO BE LIVE STREAMED zzz

New Delhi (PTI) : A unique robotics competition to nurture excellence in the field among Delhi school students will begin Friday, as the state government has been emphasising educational opportunities for students to learn Artificial Intelligence, a circular from the Directorate of Education (DoE) has said.

An event will be organised at BR Ambedkar School of Specialised Excellence at Sura-

jmal Vihar on December 16 and the competition will be open to all schools of Delhi between December 2022 to

June 2023. “Robotics has emerged as a promising field in Education and NEP 2020 has given spe-

All students and teachers of morning shift will view the live streaming at schools; evening shift students will have access to it at their home.

—Circular,

Issued by Directorate of Education

cial emphasis on educational opportunities to learn Robotics and Artificial Intelligence. A programme is to be or-

ganised to launch Delhi Robotics League at Dr BR Ambedkar SOSE, Surajmal Vihar on December 16,” the DoE circular said.

As per the DoE, the idea of this competition is to nurture excellence in robotics among school students.

Live streaming of the launch of the league will be broadcast in all government schools and government-aided schools through the website of the DoE.

Water cannons being used in Delhi on people protesting against the government and police over the horrific gang-rape of Nirbhaya on a moving bus in Delhi. —FILE PHOTO

n The incident forced everyone to consider: how much violence would women suffer in India?

Starting with ‘Delhi Robotics League’ launch today, the competition will be open to all schools in Delhi between December 2022 and June 2023

Three men—prime accused Sachin Arora, 20, and his two friends have been arrested.

New Delhi (PTI): Flipkart on Thursday condemned the acid attack on a 17-year-old girl in west Delhi and said it has blacklisted the seller from its platform and is extending all support to the probe agencies. Earlier in the day, the Delhi Commission for Women issued notices to Flipkart and Amazon for allegedly allowing sale of acid on their plat-

Founder of Rashtriya Prashuram Parishad, Pandit Sunil Bharala, and other members of Prashuram Swabhiman Sena stage a protest over the recent anti-Brahmin remarks on walls of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus, at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Thursday.

—PHOTO BY ANI

Ankit Khokar lived alone ever since his parents died some years ago.

says seller blacklisted as DCW seeks details of acid sale

The burns ward at Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi.

Shraddha

case: LG approves proposal for 2 spl

MISSION POK (Bangladesh Victory Season 2.0)

tional disputes. PM Modi is on record to say-“This is not an Era of war.”

China being member of UNSC will take the lead to declare India as an aggressor. Large no of economic and diplomatic sanctions will be slapped on India. Presently, India is a fragile economy with large portion of war equipment and oil being exported. After Ukraine war and prolonged sanctions, Russia will be too weak to support India and veto such resolutions, against the wishes of China. Therefore, India will be throttled to stop war, by the West and China.

CHAOS IN PAKISTAN

REVIEWING DELHI AIRPORT INFRA TO END WOES OF PASSENGERS

India is progressing well as the fastest growing economy in the world and today we are a power to reckon. Any misadventure will derail the economic progress and take the country back by more than a decade or so. War is a costly hobby and the price of war in terms of economy & human lives will have to be clearly weighed by decision makers

India celebrates VIJAY DIWAS on 16 Dec to commemorate 51 years of Victory in Bangladesh. Last month, Hon’ble Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh was on a day’s visit to the India-China border in Eastern Ladakh. This was his second visit during a span of a few weeks. He made a specific mention of the part of the State of Jammu and Kashmir under Pakistan’s illegal occupation and said that India will take back POK in accordance with a resolution passed unanimously in Parliament in 1994. Is India preparing for Bangladesh War Season 2? Let’s have a reality check.

POLITICAL WILL India had gone to UN in 1948 with the Kashmir issue and thereafter in various forums, India has always reiterated that sanctity of ‘Line of Control (LC)’ should be maintained. Pakistan leaves no opportunity to keep the Kashmir issue alive in international forum. LC is now accepted as ipso facto border between India and Pakistan. Even during Kargil war the sanctity of LC was honoured

THE DISSIPATION OF GALWAN ANGER

by India. India had 4 golden chances that Pakistan presented in the form of four wars they lost, but we didn’t do it that time. However, the Hon’ble Raksha Mantri’s statement on POK manifests the changed political will of New Bharat.

India is progressing well as the fastest growing economy in the world and today we are a power to reckon. Any misadventure will derail the economic progress and take the country back by more than a decade or so. War is a costly hobby and the price of war in terms of economy and human lives will have to be clearly weighed by the decision makers, before we undertake such bold action.

MILITARY CAPABILITY

India Armed Forces are among the world’s largest defence forces with experience of four wars. However, to undertake an offensive of the magnitude of taking POK back will need a detailed thought. The following aspects merit considerationl India and Pakistan have formidable defence system along the ‘Line of Control (LC)’ in J&K. The pace of operations will therefore be slow in such obstacle ridden rugged terrain.

l Any initiative of India in the context could result in a two front war with China and Pakistan.

l China has heavily invested

How quickly economic interests take over national sentiments is best illustrated by India’s relations with China. In a burst of justifiable anger after the violent clashes in Galwan in 2020, there were calls to boycott Chinese goods. The boycott call, strongly backed by the Confederation of All-India Traders (CAIT), especially targeted decorative lights, idols of Lord Ganesh and goddess Lakshmi and firecrackers which register brisk sale during Diwali. The CAIT expected a business loss of about 75, 000 crore to China. The response was significant as Chinese goods disappeared during that year’s festive season.

The patriotic fervour of

in POK and won’t let it slip out. It will provide all help to Pakistan thereby keeping India embroiled in the conflict without any tangible gains.

l Even if China doesn’t open up the Eastern Borders of India actively take part with Pakistan, China will certainly deploy it’s forces on LAC with India and tie down a large amount of Indian forces, in the Eastern theatre of war.

l India has three strike corps, as offensive forces. One is poised for China Sector, the second for deserts of Western Sector and only one strike corps is left for offensive in J&k. Therefore, taking entire POK with one strike corps may not be feasible and committing more troops in POK will unbalance the entire western front.

l Support of local population is essential for such operations but it’s not likely in the case in POK.

INTERNATIONAL OPINION

India’s stand of principled neutrality during Russia’s aggression in Ukraine has also not been taken kindly by the west and the USA. The socalled free world has framed a negative impression of India. India has also made it clear in the Ukraine conflict that it does not favour war as a means to resolve interna-

Pakistan is in utter chaos today due to economic crisis and political turmoil. Nature has also not been kind and ravaging floods have also added to its woos. Hardliners and extremist organizations are calling the shots over weakened Govt and non assertive Pak Army. Pakistan society today is almost on the brink of a civil war. Further rise in tempers will lead to more violence and civil unrest.

The POK region has also been linguistically and culturally marginalized by Pakistan rulers, for nearly 75 years. People of POK are being deprived of all basic rights by Pakistan and it remains an underdeveloped territory. China is making inroads into this territory to fulfill its ambitions. POK is presently at the crossroads of Conflicting Interests of India, China and Pakistan.

CONCLUSION

Crystal gazing into future indicates that there is considerable anti-China feeling spreading in Pakistan. USA is already alienated with Pak. India is making new friends in the Arab world and Pakistan has been snubbed many a times. It is possible that Pakistan may be isolated from its closest allies - USA, China and the Arab world. In the time-frame that this change comes about, India would be militarily powerful to take back POK by force, economically strong to withstand sanctions that will accrue and politically strong to justify the actions in the international forum. Once that is done, taking POK will be a cakewalk. It’s a ‘feel good’ factor whose time has not yet come but we can keep the pot boiling.

Stronger national sentiments are needed for the decoupling with China by replacing Chinese products with those made in India. Cost is one factor which makes Indian products uncompetitive in comparison to those from China

2020 didn’t last long. Chinese fancy lights were back to swarm Indian markets. Despite the after-effects of pandemic and inflation, demand was at its peak. China is understood to have exported $710 million worth of LED light related products, about

135% more than the corresponding period in 2020.

Stronger national sentiments are needed for decoupling with China by replacing Chinese products with those made in India. Cost is one factor which makes Indian products uncompetitive in comparison to those from China. Besides import of fancy lights, China remains India’s 2nd biggest trading partner after US. While India exported $21.25 billion worth of goods to China in 2021-22, imports stood at $94.57 billion. These figures may wrongly be interpreted to suggest that China’s designs on India’s territorial integrity are being ignored. With Indian economy now on a brisk march, it will take some time to reduce the country’s dependence on Chinese products.

The frustration of being confined to their homes because of the travel restrictions due to the pandemic is being let out now with people rushing to catch the first flight to execute their travel plans. Lack of infrastructure is another reason for the overcrowding. So heavy is the footfall that Delhi international airport’s Terminal 3 has been witnessing chaotic scenes for the last few day. The seemingly unending breakdown of arrangements at the airport forced the Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia to personally visit the airport to find out what the bottlenecks were. Other major airports also are witnessing scenes which some flyers compared with a ‘fish market’.

After the minister’s visit a slew of measures were announced. It was found that more counters of different airlines were needed and the process of security check at the entry point and baggage clearance needed to be expedited in view of long queues of travellers. The plans have not worked so far.

SPIRITUAL SPEAK

Work done with anxiety about results is far inferior to work done without such anxiety, in the calm of self-surrender. Seek refuge in the knowledge of Brahma. They who work selfishly for results are miserable.” BhagavadGita

#MySariMyPride

l Vol 2 l Issue No.107

l RNI TITLE NO. DELENG/2021/19840

Printed and published by Anita Hada Sangwan on behalf of First Express Publishers. Printed at Impressions Printing and Packaging Limited, C-21, 22 Sector-59, Noida-201301. Published at G-20, 3rd Floor, 309, Preet Vihar, New Delhi-110092. Phone 011-49846474.

Editor-In-Chief: Dr Jagdeesh Chandra Editor: Anita Hada Sangwan responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act

Piyush Goyal @PiyushGoyal

75 handwoven Saris commemorating 75 years of Independence.Be a part of this unique month-long celebration beginning tomorrow and show your support for our handloom weavers.

Dharmendra Pradhan @dpradhanbjp

Accompanied the delegation of MPs from @BJP4Odisha to seek the personal intervention of Shri @mansukhmandviya for pursuing the Govt. of Odisha to implement #AyushmanBharat in the state for the larger benefit of 4.5 core people in Odisha.

TOP TWEETS

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

MAJ GEN

CP SINGH (RETD)

The writer is a scholar soldier accredited with MA, MSc, LLB, MBA, M Phil (Def Mgt) and M Phil (International Strategic Affairs)

DEATH TOLL SOARS TO 39

In the wake of the tragedy, SHO Ritesh Mishra and Constable Vikesh Tiwari

Saran (ANI): The death toll in the Chhapra hooch tragedy, due to the consumption of spurious liquor, in Bihar’s Saran district has soared to 39.

In the wake of the Hooch tragedy in Chhapra, the Station House Officer (SHO) Ritesh Mishra and Constable Vikesh Tiwari were suspended with immediate effect on the recommendation of Marhaura Sub-Divisional Police Officer, Yogendra Kumar. Bihar excise Minister Sunil Kumar on Wednesday had “confirmed” six people have died after allegedly consuming spurious liquor in the Chhapra area of state's Saran district. The minister vowed that govt would take “strict action” against culprits responsible for deaths.

“Process of filling an FIR is underway. I have spoken over the phone with SP. He confirmed the death of six people so far,” Sunil Kumar had said after being asked about police taking any action in this case.

Earlier on Wednesday, Bihar Minister SK Mahaseth urged the people of state to give up drinking alcohol. “Best if you give up drinking. Poi-

‘JO PIYEGA WOH MAREGA’, SAYS NITISH AFTER HOOCH TOLL RISES

DRINK,

New Delhi: Crores of people drink

should all of

SIT formed to probe case; whip cracked on errant officials

Chhapra/Patna (PTI): A special investigation team (SIT) has been set up to crack the hooch case in Saran district of Bihar, where 26 people have died and at least 12 others have taken ill since Tuesday night.

During a press conference in Chhapra, the district headquarters, Saran DM Rajesh Meena on Thursday said that action has been taken against officials concerned.

“We have also conducted intensive raids across the district in the last 48 hours and nabbed 126 hooch traders. More than 4,000 litres of illicit liquor have also been seized,” he said.

BJP’S BIHAR ALLY DEMANDS ENDING PROHIBITION, SLAMS NITISH KUMAR

BY PTI

TAKE ACTION AGAINST BIHAR GOVT: BJP LOK SABHA MPs TO CENTRE

son and not liquor are coming here. If we build strength via sports, we

might tolerate it but people will have to build that strength. Give it up!

100 DAYS OF BHARAT JODO YATRA

Rahul Gandhi, leaders walk on road to Congress revival

Jaipur (PTI): As the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ enters its 100th day Friday, Congress watchers feel it has found some answers the party had been looking for on the road to 2024 but questions remain whether it will yield electoral dividends going forward.

The Kanyakumari to Kashmir foot march has also courted many controversies in the last three months and led to several fiery exchanges between the Congress and the BJP including on Rahul Gandhi’s evergrowing grey beard and his Burberry T-shirt.

With over 2,800 km under his belt, Gandhi has managed to catch the attention of his supporters as well as detractors and seen quite a few celebrities including from the tinsel town and academia walking alongside him from time to time.However, some political pundits feel the party should have had more tangible political objectives for the yatra and questioned the party for skipping poll-bound states of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh.

Amid questions over

AICC TO MEET WITH SENIOR LEADERS; CMs OF CONG-RULED STATES INVITED

discuss “Hath se Hath Jodo Program and other Organizational issues,” the statement read.

the yatra translating into any electoral dividend, two recently- concluded assembly elections turned out to be a mixed bag for the Congress as it was drubbed in Gujarat to its lowestever tally while won in Himachal.

A clearer picture of the impact on the party’s electoral fortunes would emerge in the assembly polls next year, including in Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, which were covered well by the Yatra.

It’s prohibited & being wrongly pushed here,” said Mahaseth.

Gujarat Assembly to elect Speaker on Monday

Gandhinagar: The Gujarat govt will hold Assembly session on Monday to elect the new Speaker and Deputy Speaker. Protem speaker Yogesh Patel will chair the proceedings, till the Speaker and Deputy Speaker are elected. The BJP has nominated Tharad MLA Shankar Chaudhary and Shehra MLA Jethabhai Bharwad as Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively.

Superintendent of Police Santosh Kumar, who was also present at the press conference, declined to divulge whether the arrested persons included those directly involved in the latest hooch case, saying that “the matter is still under investigation and disclosing much at this stage could hamper the probe”.

alleged that over 40 people have died in the hooch

and

The

BJP-RULED STATES HAVE ACCOUNTED FOR MOST HOOCH DEATHS: TEJASHWI YADAV

“I am reading out from a statement given on the floor of Parlia ment by Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, who incidentally hails from Bihar, on July 19... BJP leaders here may do well to wear this on their chests,” he remarked.

BJP chief JP Nadda takes jibe at BRS, says it will soon get VRS

Karimnagar (PTI): BJP chief JP Nadda on Thursday attacked the BRS government in Telangana for alleged corruption and said the time has come to bid goodbye to Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, also addressed as KCR. Addressing a public meeting here to mark the conclusion of the fifth phase of the State-wide ‘padayatra’ by State BJP president

Will Rahul Gandhi take command in South and Priyanka in North?

Shamsher Singh

New Delhi: Rahul Gandhi started his Bharat Jodo Yatra from South India. It was not a spontaneous decision, but it was done after a lot of thought. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also did not participate in the yatra anywhere in South India, but as soon as the yatra left the south, she joined the yatra in Madhya Pradesh with her husband and son, and traveled with her husband and daughter in Rajasthan. In future too, the states where Congress will go on

Sabha elections.

Rahul Gandhi will contest the Lok Sabha elections from the Wayanad seat in Kerala and will lead the party in South India, while Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will contest from the Rae Bareli seat and will lead the party in North India. However, this does not mean that Rahul will not campaign in the states of North India. He has emerged as the supreme leader of the party from the

PIL AGAINST SIKHS CARRYING KIRPANS ON FLIGHTS

New Delhi (PTI): The Delhi High Court on Thursday said that it would pass an order on a PIL against the permission accorded to Sikhs to carry kirpans while travelling on civilian flights in India. “Arguments heard. Order reserved. We will pass appropriate order,” said a bench headed by Chief Justice Satish Chandra.

EX-PROMOTERS OF DHFL ACCUSED OF TERROR FUNDING

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Thursday sought to know the Centre’s stand on a plea seeking a probe by NIA against several persons, including former DHFL promoters Kapil and Dheeraj Wadhawan facing prosecution in a multi-crore bank loan scam case, for allegedly indulging in terror funding.

Bharat Jodo Yatra, she can join there. She campaigned fiercely in the hill state of Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh and also got the party to victory in

the Himachal elections. So, it looks like the Congress is going to divide the responsibility between Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in the next Lok

Bharat Jodo Yatra and the party will make full use of his new image in the campaign.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi with his sister and party General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra during Bharat Jodo Yatra.

COURTYARD

COURT TELLS COPS TO LODGE FIR AGAINST MP AJMAL Guwahati: A court in Kamrup Metropolitan district of Assam has ordered Guwahati Police to register an FIR against Lok Sabha MP Badruddin Ajmal for his alleged controversial remarks on women and Hindu men. The court asked the officer-in-charge of Hatigaon Police Station in Guwahati to register the FIR.

Rahul Gandhi with athletes from Rajasthan during the party’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, in Dausa district on Thursday. —PHOTO BY PTI

New Delhi: All India Congress Committee decided to hold a meeting, scheduled on December 23, with senior party leaders, including Chief Ministers of Congress-ruled states under the rubric of ‘Haath Se Haath Jodo Abhiyan’, party’s general secretary KC Venugopal said on Thursday. In a letter to party leaders, the party’s general secretary and MP Venugopal said, “Dear Friend, A meeting of AICC General Secretaries/ In-charges, PCC Presidents and CLP Leaders is scheduled to be held on December 23, 2022, at AICC Office at 1430 hrs.” “The party will

and MP Bandi Sanjay Kumar, Nadda said the TRS which has recently

been renamed as BRS would soon get VRS (voluntary retirement).

JP Nadda, senior leader BS Yediyurappa, Karnataka CM Bommai and State BJP chief Nalin Kumar Kateel, in Koppal, on Thursday.

were suspended in Chhapra with immediate effect

There is prohibition in Bihar as sale and consumption of alcohol were banned in Bihar by the Nitish Kumar government in April 2016

BJP MLAs holding placards shout slogans as they stage a protest over the Chhapra hooch tragedy during the ongoing Winter Session of Bihar Assembly, in Patna on Thursday. —PHOTO BY ANI

Patna: After Bihar’s hooch toll climbed, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday warned that if people drink spurious liquor, they may well die, as the prohibition policy of his government came under attack from various quarters. Political strategist turned activist Prashant Kishor described the state's prohibition law as a farce and demanded scrapping of the prohibition law. "Jo piyega woh marega" (those who drink spurious alcohol will die), thundered Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who stood his ground maintaining that prohibition was “not my personal wish but a response to the cries of the women of the state”.

New Delhi: BJP ally Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party, headed by Union Minister Pashupati Kumar Paras, on Thursday demanded ending prohibition in Bihar, claiming that the policy has been a failure with a large number of people dying due to supply of spurious liquor.

party

tragedy in Saran

said a delegation of its MPs led by Paras will meet Bihar Governor Phagu Chauhan over the incidents of deaths in the state due to consumption of spurious liquor and also the “deteriorating” law-and-order situation. Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party spokesperson Shravan Kumar Agrawal said party members, including its four MPs from the state, will organise a protest in Patna on December 17 over the tragedy in Saran. “Prohibition should be ended,” he said.

CRORES

SHOULD THEY DIE: SUSHIL MODI SLAMS BIHAR CM NITISH

liquor in the country,

them die, senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sushil Kumar Modi asked on Thursday, slamming Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for his “jo piyega, woh marega” jibe as political heat rises in the state amid mounting toll in a hooch tragedy.

New Delhi: BJP Lok Sabha MPs on Thursday termed the deaths in Bihar due to the hooch tragedy as “mass murder” and urged the Centre to take immediate action against the government under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, holding it responsible for the incident. Raising the issue during Zero Hour, BJP’s Paschim Champaran MP Sanjay Jaiswal claimed that spurious liquor sale has been flourishing in Bihar under the protection of police officers despite a prohibition in place.

(Top) Family members and relatives of people, who died after allegedly consuming spurious liquor, mourn near their mortal remains, at Ishuapur police station area in Bihar’s Saran district. (Left) A victim of Saran hooch tragedy being treated in Patna Medical College and Hospital in Patna on Thursday.

—PHOTOS

Patna: Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav on Thursday launched a counterattack on the BJP, claiming that states ruled by the saffron party had the worst track records in terms of spurious liquor deaths. The RJD leader gave a statement before the media, outside the Assem bly which is in session, claiming that Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka stood at the top in terms of the number of hooch deaths while even Gujarat, a dry state, fared much worse than Bihar which is under the spotlight over the Saran hooch tragedy that has killed over 20 people.

WINTER SESSION OF PARLIAMENT

LOK SABHA PASSES (ST) ORDER (2ND AMENDMENT) BILL

New Delhi (Agencies):

The Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Second Amendment) Bill, 2022. The Bill will amend the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950, with respect to its application to Tamil Nadu. The Order lists the tribal communities deemed to be Scheduled Tribes in states and union territories.

The bill includes Narikoravan and Kurivikkaran communities in the list of Scheduled Tribes in Tamil Nadu. Replying to the discussion on the Bill, Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda said that under the leadership of PM Modi many schemes have been initiated by government for benefit of tribals.

Expenditure on scholarship for tribals has been increased and government has allowed all applications which come for scholarship. Many other members including Malook Nagar of BSP, Saugata Ray of Trinamool congress participated.

Nuclear plants are ‘well protected’ from all intrusions: Govt

New Delhi (PTI): The government on Thursday asserted that nuclear plants in the country are ‘well protected’ from intrusions including from cyber attacks.

Minister of State (Independent Charge), Department of Atomic Energy, Jitendra Singh also said the government has entered into Inter-Government Agreements with the Russian Federation for setting up Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project.

CRUCIAL READ

1 DEAD, 41 HURT AS TWO BUSES COLLIDE IN INDORE

Indore (PTI): A 25-yearold passenger died, while 41 others were injured, four of them seriously, in a collision between two private buses on the Indore-Khandwa road in MP on Thursday, police and health officials said.

Accident took place under Simrol police station limits in Indore district when two buses coming from opposite directions collided with each other, a police official said.

2 KILLED BY ELEPHANTS IN JHARKHAND

Jharkhand: Two villagers were trampled to death at different places by a wild elephant in Dumka district on Tuesday, a forest department official said.

Thirty-five-year-year-old Sibudhan Hansda was caught by the elephant and trampled to death in Fatehpur village under the jurisdiction of Maslia police station in the morning, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Abhirup Sinha said.

TEEN HELD FOR RAPING, ABDUCTING & KILLING 8-YR-OLD GIRL IN CHHATTISGARH

Raipur: A 14-year-old boy was arrested for allegedly raping and killing an eight-year-old girl in Raipur, a police officer said on Thursday. The boy lives in the same building where the minor girl was staying. Raipur SSP Prashant Agarwal said, “A missing complaint on the eight-year-old girl was received on December 7 evening. Acting on the complaint, the police registered a case and started searching for the girl.” “Five days later, the minor girl was found dead at a deserted place just behind the colony where she lived.”

MAN KILLS LIVEIN PARTNER IN TRIVANDRUM

Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) (ANI): Kerala Police on Thursday took into custody a man accused of killing his live-in partner in broad daylight in Kerala capital Thiruvananthapuram. Rajesh, the accused, allegedly attacked his partner Sindu with a machete, a sword-like weapon, on Thursday morning. The victim was rushed to the hospital but was declared brought dead.

MAN HACKS TODDLER TO DEATH, LYNCHED

Bulandshahr: A man was lynched by villagers after he allegedly hacked a oneand-a-half-year-old child to death here, police said on Thursday. Kishanpal (35) took the child, who was playing outside his house, to a cane field and hacked him to death. The accused also attacked the villagers with a knife when they tried to stop him, following which they lynched Kishanpal.

INDIA’S LONGEST ESCAPE TUNNEL ON BANIHAL-KATRA RAIL LINK COMPLETED

Banihal/Jammu: The 12.89 km ‘escape tunnel’, the longest such in India, on the 111-km under-construction Banihal-Katra railway line in J&K was completed on Thursday, officials said. It is part of the Udhampur-SrinagarBaramulla Railway Line (USBRL) project. This is the fourth tunnel on the Banihal-Katra route following the 12.75 km tunnel T-49 (longest tunnel of Indian Railways), which was completed in January this year.

He was asked about the steps being taken by the government to prevent cyber attacks on nuclear plants. "Cer-

tainly there was one such report last year following which we have put in place a mechanism whereby

We are positive and alive: SRK

177 FOREIGN SATELLITES LAUNCHED BY ISRO

OPPN ASKS GOVT TO TAKE MEASURES TO TACKLE EFFECTS OF GLOBAL WARMING

New Delhi (PTI): Opposition members in RS on Thursday said the government should take a holistic approach by coordinating across various ministries and bringing agencies together to tackle the effects of global warming. Tiruchi Siva of the DMK, Pramod Tiwari of the Congress and Sandosh Kumar P of the Communist Party of India (CPI) raised a "short duration" discussion in the Upper House of Parliament on the serious effects of global warming and the need for remedial steps to tackle those. Siva said global warming is threatening not just India but the entire planet and humanity.

LAST 7 YRS, 6 MORE AIRPORTS CONSTRUCTED’

‘60L PLUS COMPLAINTS AGAINST STATES, UTs IN PAST 3 YRS’

Kolkata (PTI): Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan on Thursday said that whatever happens around people like him, they will stay positive.

The comments came in the midst of a row over a song in his upcoming film ‘Pathaan’.

Addressing a gathering on the occasion of the inauguration of the Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF), Khan said, “Hamare jaise positive log zinda hai (We are positive and alive).”

Protests have been staged in various parts of the country alleging a community has been

offended by the content of the song ‘Besharam Rang’ in the yet to be released movie ‘Pathaan’. Khan also said in his speech, “Cinema brings to the fore humanity’s immense capacity for compassion, unity and brotherhood.”

“Cinema is the best place to sustain a counter-narrative that speaks to the larger nature of humankind,” Khan, the guest of honour at KIFF, said.

The superstar also described cinema as a vehicle “for people of different colours, castes and religions to better understand each other”.

different levels of screening is done and monitoring is done.

"I can assure this House that the nuclear

plants are well protected from all kinds of intrusions including the cyber attacks," Singh said in Rajya Sabha.

New Delhi (FIB): There were 24 international airports in the country before 2014. During last seven years, 6 more airports have been constructed/ declared as international airports. During the last seven years, four Greenfield airports namely, Kannur in Kerala, Shirdi in Maharashtra, Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh and Mopa in Goa have been constructed as international airports. In addition, two existing airports namely, Vijayawada and Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh were declared as international airports in the year 2017, said MoS (Civil Aviation) Gen VK Singh (Retd).

New Delhi (PTI): Over 60 lakh public grievances were received against various states and Union territories between 2020 and November this year, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday. “About 60,15,388 complaints have been received on Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) during the last three years from 01.01.2020 to 30.11.2022,” Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh said in a written reply, “CPGRAMS allows filing of public grievances against central & States govt Dept.”

NPCL forms dedicated roof-top solar PV cell to facilitate consumers

Noida: Noida

Limited has granted net-metering connections of around 24 MW to various consumers under the Rooftop Solar PV Regulations of the Hon’ble U.P. Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC). Under the net-metering arrangement, consumers can inject surplus

generation of their solar plants into the grid, which can be utilised by them on needed.

NPCL formed a dedicated roof-top solar PV cell to facilitate residen-

tial and agricultural consumers' applications for net metering connections. Consumers may seek information on procedure for the installation of a net meter for their roof-top solar PV plants through e-mail (rooftopsolar@ noidapower.com). Consumers may aapproach NPCL’s Customer Care.

BECOMES STRICT ON MULTI-POINT CONNECTIONS

IAF carries out air exercise in N-E region

New Delhi (PTI): The Indian Air Force, bolstered by its full complement of Rafale combat jets, on Thursday launched a major exercise covering the Northeastern region amid a fresh spike of border tension with China along the Line of Actual Control in Arunachal Pradesh.

The two-day mega exercise is involving almost all its frontline fighter jets and other assets deployed in the region, people familiar

FIFA WORLD CUP 2022

In a

Nagpur

France beat Morocco to set final clash with Argentina

Al Khor(ANI): Theo Hernandez and Randal Kolo Muani’s goals guide defending champions France to a 2-0 win over Morocco in the semi-final being played here at the Al Bayt Stadium and set up a final clash with two-time champions Argentina in the FIFA World Cup 2022.

France started off aggressively as in the fifth minute Antoine Griezmann’s assist helped Kylian Mbappe take a

left-footed shot from the centre of the box but it was blocked.

Theo Hernandez’s left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box went on to hit the bottom left corner giving the 2018 champions a 1-0 lead in the fifth minute of the match.

Morocco weren’t too far behind as Noussair Mazraoui’s assist helped Azzedine Ounahi’s right-footed attempt from outside the box was saved in the

bottom right corner. In the 11th minute, Antoine Griezmann

tries a through ball, but Kylian Mbappe was caught offside.

In the 17th minute, Achraf Hakimi’s rightfooted shot from outside the box was blocked coming from Selim Amallah’s assist. Ten minutes later Sofiane Boufal of Morocco was shown a yellow card for a bad foul.

In the 31st minute, Sofiane Boufal tried a through ball for Morocco but Noussair Mazraoui was caught offside.

Two minutes later Kylian Mbappe’s assisted Aurelien Tchoua-

meni of France’s rightfooted shot from outside the box was blocked.

There were numerous attempts made by defending champions France but they could not double their lead going into half-time with a solitary goal lead.

France had much lesser possession of 39 per cent in comparison to Morocco who had 61 per cent while both teams had the same number of shots on target of three each.

with the drill said.

tweet, the IAF said the last of the 36 Rafale jets

joined the force. The IAF inducted the Rafale aircraft into its 101

Squadron of the Eastern Air Command at the Hasimara last year.

The Order lists Narikoravan and Kurivikkaran tribal communities deemed to be Scheduled Tribes in States and Union territories from now on

Proceedings of Lok Sabha underway during the Winter Session of Parliament, in New Delhi on Thursday.

—PHOTO BY ANI/SANSAD TV

French team celebrates after France qualifies for the FIFA World Cup 2022 finals, at Al Bayt Stadium, in Al Khor on Thursday.

Indian Air Force’s ‘Surya Kiran’ team performs during the ‘Air Fest 2022’, in Nagpur on Saturday. —PHOTO BY ANI

‘DURING

Union Minister of State for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Jitendra Singh speaks in Rajya Sabha during the Winter Session of Parliament on Thursday. —PHOTO BY ANI

Power Company

NPCL

N oida Power Company Limited will now deal strictly with those builders and societies that are reluctant to convert single point connections into multipoint connections. The company has sent notices to 9 builders in Greater Noida and Greater Noida West, asking them to install multipoint connections at the earliest.

5 RAFALE PARTS MADE IN DRAL TO BE INTEGRATED

(PTI): Five Rafale parts being manufactured in the Dassault Reliance Aerospace plant in Nagpur are sent to France to get fitted in all the Rafale jets, not just the Indian ones. Consul General of France in Mumbai Jean-Marc Sere-Charlet and a delegation of regional economic service of embassy visited two French companies (DRAL) & Air Liquide.

BY ANI

BY PTI

BRIEFS

Mumbai: Led by retail-focused players, non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) are likely to close the current fiscal and the next with a loan growth of 10-12% and see around 50 basis points improvement in profitability, a report said. According to Icra Ratings, retail-focused NBFCs are expected to grow 12-14% while the housing finance companies may grow at 10-12%. The forecast is based on the asset quality improvement and the overall pick up in credit demand.

New Delhi: Electronics manufacturing services company Elin Electronics on Thursday fixed a price band of `234 to `247 per share for its `475 crore IPO. The initial share-sale will open for public subscription during December 20-22, the company said in a statement. The company has cut the public issue size to `475 crore from `760 crore planned earlier. Now, the IPO comprises fresh issue of shares aggregating up to `175 crore and an offer for sale of up to `300 crore by promoters and other selling shareholders. —PTI

GOLD FALLS `420; SILVER ALSO TUMBLES `869

New Delhi: Gold price fell `420 to `54,554 per 10 grams in the national capital on Thursday amid weak global trends, according to HDFC Securities. In the previous trade, the precious metal had closed at `54,974 per 10 grams. Silver also tumbled `869 per kg to `68,254 per kilogram. In the international market, gold was trading in red at $1,788 per ounce while silver was down at $23.14 per ounce. —PTI

HYUNDAI TO HIKE

VEHICLE PRICES

FROM JANUARY

New Delhi: Hyundai Motor India Ltd on Thursday said it will increase prices of its vehicles across models from next month citing rising input cost. The company joins the likes of market leader Maruti Suzuki India, Tata Motors, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Renault, Kia India and MG Motor, who have also made the year-end announcements to hike prices from next month to partially offset the impact of rising input costs. In a statement, Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) said on Thursday. —PTI

‘

Govt focusing on last-mile connectivity to Tier-III cities’

New Delhi (PTI): Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Thursday said the government is concentrating on last-mile connectivity to Tier-III cities to ensure democratisation of civil aviation in the country.

Scindia said India has tremendous connectivity between Tier I-II cities.

“What needs to be strengthened is last-mile connectivity to Tier-III cities. Our government is concentrating on last-mile connectivity to make sure the democratisation of civil aviation does truly take place in the country,” Scindia said.

The minister said the government is looking at the small aircraft scheme launched last year under which sub-20 seater aircraft are being used to provide last-mile connectivity.

In the last round of UDAN, 132 routes have been awarded of which in the major sectors, 16 are helicopter routes.

AIR INDIA LAUNCHES DIRECT FLIGHT BETWEEN MUMBAI & SAN FRANCISCO

New Delhi (PTI): Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Thursday inaugurated Air India’s direct flight between Mumbai and San Francisco. The flight will be operated thrice a week. Currently, Air India operates services from Mumbai to Newark. After San Francisco, the airline plans to connect Mumbai with New York next year. Air India CEO and MD Campbell Wilson said the Mumbai-San Francisco service is a significant step forward in the journey of the new Air India. According to him, the carrier will be starting non-stop flights from Mumbai to New York, Paris and Frankfurt in early 2023.

INDIAN CARRIERS NEED TO HAVE MORE WIDE-BODY PLANES TO CAPTURE LONG-HAUL SEGMENT: SCINDIA

New Delhi (PTI): India’s civil aviation market is poised for a double-digit growth in the next decade and the country’s carriers should have more wide-body planes to capture the long haul segment, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Thursday. “We have 86 international carriers coming into India and only 5 national carriers taking people to international destinations outside India. However, these 5 carriers that fly overseas hold 36% market share. We have to look at increasing international to international traffic. That is why I have been urging all our carriers that we need to have more wide-body aircraft so that we can capture the long haul route market,” he said. He also said that Indian carriers’ share of international to international traffic is only around 2% compared to flag carriers of different countries.

Sensex slumps 879 points as hawkish Fed floors global markets

Mumbai (PTI): Equity benchmarks Sensex and Nifty faced heavy drubbing on Thursday, falling over 1% each, in tandem with weak global markets following the US Federal Reserve’s interest rate hike and its hawkish stance.

The 30-share BSE Sensex tanked 878.88 points or 1.40% to settle at 61,799.03.

During the day, it tumbled 962.3 points or 1.53% to 61,715.61.

The broader NSE Nifty plummeted 245.40 points or 1.32% to end at 18,414.90.

From the Sensex pack,

Tech Mahindra, Titan, Infosys, HDFC, ITC, Tata Steel, HDFC Bank, Tata Consultancy Services, and State Bank of India were the major laggards.

NTPC and Sun Pharma were the only winners.

INDIAN RUPEE FALLS 27 PAISE TO END AT 82.76 AGAINST AMERICAN CURRENCY

Mumbai (PTI): The rupee declined by 27 paise to close at 82.76 (provisional) against the US dollar on Thursday after the US Federal Reserve’s interest rate hike and its hawkish stance dented investor sentiments. At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened sharply lower at 82.63 against the greenback and witnessed a high of 82.41 and a low of 82.77. It finally settled at 82.76, down 27 paise over its previous close of 82.49.

UP

SAYS CREDIT SUISSE

Upgrade: India growing faster than official data shows

Mumbai (PTI): India is growing faster than what is captured by the country’s official data, and it presents a case for an upgrade of equities outlook, a Swiss brokerage said on Thursday.

Upgrading Indian equities to ‘benchmark’ from ‘underweight’, Credit Suisse said there is a scope for a growth of up to 14% on the benchmark indices.

The brokerage firm’s head of research Neelkanth Mishra said the country will grow at 7% in FY24, as against the consensus estimates which peg the real growth to slip below 6%.

Mishra told reporters that the consensus estimates are based on official data alone, whereas the brokerage analysis has taken into account a broad data set to arrive at its expectation.

Mishra said the growth in dense fuels — which is typically below the real

MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS

z Upgrading Indian equities to ‘benchmark’ from ‘underweight’, Credit Suisse said there is a scope for a growth of up to 14% on the benchmark indices

z The brokerage firm’s head of research Neelkanth Mishra said the country will grow at 7% in FY24

GDP growth as fuel efficiencies go up — is over 4% per annum for the last three years.

Similarly, revenue growths of the BSE500 companies also point out to a faster growth, he said.

Elon Musk sells $3.58 bn worth of Tesla stock

First India Bureau

New Delhi: Elon Musk sold another $3.58 billion worth of Tesla stock this week, but it wasn’t clear where the proceeds were being spent.

The Tesla CEO, and new owner of Twitter, sold the shares from Monday through Wednesday, according to a filing posted Wednesday night by the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

Musk has sold nearly $23

Wheat stocks seen at 159 lakh tonnes on Jan 1, 2023: Govt

New Delhi (PTI): The government on Thursday said wheat stocks in the central pool will be about 159 lakh tonnes on January 1, 2023 as against the buffer norm of 138 lakh tonnes.

“Government of India has sufficient food grain stocks under central pool to meet the requirement of NFSA and its other welfare schemes as well as for additional allocation of PMGKAY,” an official statement said. About 159 lakh tonnes

of wheat will be available as on January 1, 2023, which is well above the buffer norm requirement of 138 lakh tonnes. As on Dec 12, around 182 lakh tonnes of wheat is available in the central pool. “Govt of India is well aware of the price scenario of wheat and is constantly monitoring it regularly on weekly basis along with other commodities and taking corrective measures, as and when required,” it said.

Avg construction cost stable since March

First India Bureau

New Delhi: The total construction cost of residential buildings has remained stable since March this year but it has risen 28% from the pre-pandemic levels, according to property consultant Colliers India.

In its report, the consultant has done analysis on prices of key construction materials and also the overall average construction costs for standard Grade-A residential buildings of 15 floors and also for standard pre-engineered Grade A industrial buildings.

The average cost of construction for residential buildings increased from `2,200 per square feet in No-

vember 2021 to ` 2,300 per square feet in March 2022. The construction cost remained stable at `2,300 per

DETAILED ANALYSIS

z In its report, Colliers India has done analysis on prices of key construction materials and also the overall average construction costs for standard Grade-A residential buildings of 15 floors. Colliers India has also analysed for its report standard pre-engineered Grade A industrial buildings

square feet in November this year as well with a softening of prices of many raw materials.

SOLD SHARE ON MON-WED

z The Tesla CEO, and new owner of Twitter, sold the shares from Monday through Wednesday, according to a filing posted Wed by the US Securities and Exchange Commission

of the electric vehicle and solar panel maker have collapsed, losing over half their value since Musk

stock. The falling shares have bumped Musk from his status as the world’s wealthiest person, with his net worth falling to $174 billion, according to Forbes.

He was passed last week by Bernard Arnault.

The takeover of Twitter has not been smooth, and some big companies have halted advertising on the social media platform.

Musk has said that Twitter had “a massive drop in revenue” due to the advertiser losses.

OTHER STORIES

of financial status (cess details), registered workers etc. MoS for Labour Rameswar Teli said state BOCWWBs collected `87,478.79 crore cess and spent `49,269.20 crore till November 1, 2022. —PTI

at Bikaner,” a statement said. —PTI

COUNTRIES WITH THRIVING ONLINE GAMING INDUSTRY LEVY GST ON GROSS GAMING REVENUE

New Delhi: Most countries with a thriving online gaming industry levy tax on ‘Gross Gaming Revenue or the fees charged by online gaming portals, said a report by law firm Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan. It said countries, like the United Kingdom and France, that are following the turnover tax model currently, are proposing to shift to the GGR tax model. In India, the online gaming industry currently pays GST at the rate of 18% on GGR amounting to over `2,200 crore per year, firm said. —PTI

ELIN

billion worth of Tesla stock since April, with much of the money likely going to help fund his $44 billion acquisition of Twitter. The sale comes as shares

first disclosed in April that he was buying up Twitter

Union home secy reviews crowding at airports

wants it to be expedited and finished by November 2023, the start of the holiday season.

New Delhi (PTI): An additional 1,400 CISF personnel has been sanctioned to secure the expanding terminal areas of the Delhi Airport and also to meet the challenge of its growing passenger traffic, officials said on Thursday.

This was conveyed at a high-level meeting chaired by Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla along with the representatives of the Civil Aviation Ministry, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), Bureau of Immigration among others.

The meeting was called to review meas-

ures taken to ease the recent congestion reported at large airports, particularly in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. It was informed during the meeting that an additional force of 1,400 Central Industrial Security Force personnel would soon be deployed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport where expansion is going on at three terminals— 1, 2, and 3 — apart from its cargo hold area.

The terminal 1 renovation and expansion was scheduled to be completed by December next year or January 2024 but the government

DELHI AIRPORT CEO SKIPS MEETING,

More CISF personnel will be required to secure the expanding areas of the IGI and hence the new manpower sanction, they said.

The enhanced manpower, over and above the existing strength of about 5,000 personnel, has been recently approved after a fourmonth-long joint survey undertaken by security agencies. The proposal was finally moved by the BCAS and approved by the Civil Aviation ministry.

The joint review had estimated the creation of about 2,400 posts for the CISF to meet the upcoming needs at the

IGI but the manpower was finally rationalised at 1,400 personnel apart from filling up the existing vacancies in the sanctioned 5,000 personnel strength, sources said.

The IGI will have a total strength of about 6,500 men and women personnel after the induction of the fresh manpower, they said.

The new CISF strength will not only be used to render the core duty of the force —of providing an antiterrorist and anti-hijack cover at the hypersensitive facility -- but also to meet the challenge of the ever-growing passenger footfall, both for domestic and international travel, sources said.

SC GRANTS BAIL TO ‘STONEPELTER’ IN GODHRA CASE

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday granted bail to a man facing conviction for pelting stones in the 2002 Godhra train burning incident, in which 59 people including women and children, were burnt alive inside a train.

The counsel appearing for the convict urged the court to release him on bail, stating he has been behind bars for the last 17 years.

A bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha took note of the submission of a lawyer, appearing for one of the convicts, Faruk, that he be granted bail considering the period undergone till now.

The appeals against conviction of several convicts are pending adjudication in apex court.

GANGSTER VIKAS LAGARPURIA, ACCUSED IN MULTI-CRORE GURUGRAM HEIST, HELD

First India Bureau

New Delhi: The alleged mastermind of the multi-crore heist in Gurgaon, Vikas Lagarpuria (32), was arrested near the Delhi-Gurugram border on Thursday, a special task force (STF) official said.

The wanted gangster carried a bounty of Rs 2.5 lakh on his head. While Rs 2 lakh reward was announced by STF Haryana, Rs 50,000 was announced by Delhi police, STF Inspector General B Satheesh Balan said adding that Lagarpuria was travelling in a cab when he was nabbed.

“The most wanted criminal Lagarpuria

was produced in a city court and we have taken him on 10 days remand.

The accused confessed to the conspiracy of the last year’s multi-crore heist in Gurugram,” STF Inspector said. “He revealed that he got

about Rs 22 crores of the heist,” the IG added. The IG also said, “Based on specific intelligence we got to know that gangster Vikas Lagarpuria was going to his village in a car. Our team started checking

ISI-run drug nexus busted with arrest of juvenile girl from LoC

Jammu (PTI): Security agencies have busted a Pakistan ISI-run narcotics trafficking racket with the arrest of a school-going girl living along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, official sources said Thursday.

The juvenile, a student of Class 10, has

been apprehended with 400 grams of “suspected heroin” in a joint operation conducted by the Border Security Force (BSF) & the J&K Police.

The agencies have been informed about another cache of drugs that the juvenile allegedly hid in a ditch near her house even as her

questioning is going on, the sources said.

The security agencies have also identified a Pakistani ‘handler’, Ashaiq, who reportedly used to visit the juvenile’s house to hand over the narcotics to her for further supply to school students & youngsters living near the LoC.

Don’t keep talking of what Indira, Rajiv did: Rahul to Congress

New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, whose Bharat Jodo Yatra passed through Rajasthan’s Dausa district on Thursday, took exception to a leader comparing him to Mahatma Gandhi.

“This is totally wrong. We are not in the same league and there should be no comparison. He was a great man. He devoted his life to fighting for the country’s freedom, stayed in jail for 10-12 years. Nobody can fill his shoes

and my name should not be taken along with his,” Rahul said.

“What Rajiv Gandhi and Indira Gandhi did, they became martyrs, they did well. But the

all they could. They have done their share. We should focus on what we are going to do. It is better to think about what we are doing for the people,” he told party workers.

vehicles on the DelhiGurugram border.”

“We had detained three persons in different cars, including Lagarpuria, who was in a cab. Two were let off after they submitted proofs of their identity but Lagarpuria was trying to mislead the team,” he said.

Almost 2 hours later, he revealed his identity as Vikas Lagarpuria & confessed his involvement in Gurugram’s multi-crore heist. He also revealed that the cash was stolen from here and was kept with two people in Delhi. We are questioning him after taking him on remand,” Balan said.

10 years in jail for Mukhtar under UP Gangsters Act

Ghazipur (ANI): Gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari was convicted on Thursday in another case and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment under the UP Gangsters Act. Testimony, debate and cross-examination of 11 witnesses were completed in the 5 gang charges against the former MLA. The MLA’s aide Bhim Singh has also been given 10 years’ imprisonment by the court. The conviction relates to several cases, including the one pertaining to Ghazipur that involved an assault on the Additional Superintendent of Police.

Case number 165/96

148,307,332, IPC

(1)

AAP’s former leader Naveen Jaihind held

First India Bureau

New Delhi: Police on Thursday arrested former Aam Aadmi Party leader Naveen Jaihind in Rohtak for allegedly assaulting a government official on duty. He also prevented a government servant from performing official duty along with his aides at PGIMS’ Rohtak hospital campus on

Wednesday, police said. A video of the brawl has also gone viral on social media in which

Jaihind is seen entering into a heated argument with the official and then slapping him.

A case has been registered against Jaihind and his accomplice Ishwar Sharma on charges, including assault, rioting and obstructing a government employee from performing official duty.

Police said verification of documents for the recruitment of nurses in Haryana was going on when the incident took place.

Congress should not dwell on it at every meeting. Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel, Jawaharlal Nehru, Mahatma Gandhi, they did

“For one, it has revived the political brand of Rahul Gandhi. The BJP cannot ridicule him anymore using their ‘fake news malicious campaign’. Secondly, the Congress has at last connected directly with the people through this mass movement,” former party leader Sanjay Jha said.

Centre approves 1,400 more CISF personnel to tackle the growing passenger rush at Delhi airport

A high-level meeting was convened in the wake of continuous complaints from passengers about the massive rush at the entry gates, luggage dropping and security check areas in IGI Airport.

Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla.

PARL PANEL EXPRESSES DISPLEASURE New Delhi (ANI): The department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism, and Culture, including aviation members, expressed unhappiness over DIAL CEO Videh Jaipuriar’s absence from the committee meeting despite the summons issued to him. “DIAL group deputy MD (DIAL) Narayan Rao and others are in the committee meeting on behalf of DIAL CEO,” a committee member told ANI. The Committee, earlier on December 13 had summoned the chief executive officer of Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) and others amid reports of passengers facing congestion at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport.

Section

Police Station Kotwali Ghazipur along with case number 192/96 Section 3

of UP Ghazipur Police Station Kotwali which related to the

fatal attack on the Additional SP and some other policemen in Ghazipur was being heard against Mukhtar Ansari in court. The case was filed long back in 1996.

The wanted gangster Vikas Lagarpuria hails from Haryana.

New Delhi: STF said that Lagarpuria hails from Lagarpur village in Haryana’s Jhajjar district and has several cases of murder, attempt to murder, robbery, extortion and kidnapping lodged against him. The accused also confessed to the conspiracy of the last year’s multi-crore heist in Gurugram.

ACCUSED IN MULTIPLE CRIMES

First India Bureau

B-TOWN AT KOLKATA INT’L FILM FESTIVAL

Amitabh Bachchan lights the lamp to inaugurate the 28th Kolkata International Film Festival, in Kolkata on Thursday.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, director Mahesh Bhatt, actor-turned politician Shatrughan Sinha, actor Shah Rukh Khan and other dignitaries also seen.

—PHOTO BY PTI

First India Bureau

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi with supporters during the party’s Bharat Jodo Yatra in Dausa district on Thursday.

Former Haryana AAP president Naveen Jaihind in police custody.

The conviction relates to several cases, including one in Ghazipur that involved assault on the Additional Superintendent of Police.

ADITI KUSHWAHA cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

You might not be an Ivy Leaguer, but because we’re all now enrolled at Harvard and the year is 1865, you best have your horse and carriage ready. Even though it had a quite different appearance at the time, the varsity jacket was initially created on the Harvard campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The original varsity was a thick knit sweater that athletes wore as a uniform rather than a jacket. The “letterman jacket” was first made when the Harvard Baseball team made the decision to sew enormous “H”s into the middle of their jerseys.

The letter came with some restrictions, too. If you were a good enough player, you could retain your jersey and the letter, but if you sat on the bench the entire season and

DRESS LIKE A BOSS

Every student during their time in high school and college loves winter because they get to wear these custom-tailored letterman coats. When individuals can connect themselves with their particular high schools or colleges, they feel proud. City First brings to you the significance of the Varsity Jacket

didn’t play, you had to give your jersey back at the end of the year, which added to the letters’ competitive appeal. After a decade, Harvard’s football team started wearing lettered jerseys, and gradually but surely, other colleges and teams all around the country began donning their own variations of the varsity sweater.

Of course, each team handled things somewhat differently, altering the letter’s size or type, moving it around, and eventually gradually modifying the style until, by the early 20th century, the letter had

found its final location on the side of the sweater.

Athletes started looking for something a little more substantial as the fashion gained popularity, and in the 1930s the varsity jacket was produced. The varsity jacket, which had a wool body and contrasting leather sleeves as well as, of course, a large and proud letter on the side, came to represent authority at one’s particular institution. According to the custom, a player would need to first demonstrate his skill on the field before being granted a letter. The athlete would then pur-

chase a varsity jacket to attach on so that everyone could see how tal ented he was. The fact that designers may tinker with fabrics and col ours to make a jacket for just about everyone shows that the varsity has always offered a lot of customis ing options. The varsity is gradually evolving into the typical man’s autumn wardrobe staple, from Gant Rugger’s neo-classic, vivid red Homerun Jacket to Comme Des Garcons’ darker version for the more avant-garde set.

DEEPAK deepaklifemusings@gmail.com

Nadia Hashimi was born and raised in New York and New Jersey. Both her parents were born in Afghanistan and left in the early 1970s before the Soviet invasion.

Her mother went to Europe to obtain a master’s degree and her father to the US. He worked hard to fulfil his American dream and build a new, brighter life for his family. In 2002 they made their first trip to Afghanistan. It was a bitter-sweet experience for everyone, as the family found relics of childhood homes and reunited with loved ones. It culminated in Nadia writing her debut novel ‘The Pearl That Broke its Shell’- published in 2014. Her upbringing, experiences and interests came together in the form of stories based in the country of her parents and grandparents.

“Nadia Hashimi has written a tender and beautiful family story. Her always engaging multi-generational tale is a portrait of Afghanistan in all of its perplexing, enigmatic glory”Khaled Hossain.

‘”The Pearl that Broke its Shell’ is a story I simply had to tell. I am an AfghanAmerican woman and in my lifetime my reaction to my identity has changed drastically. Women lost so much in the violent years that followed my parents’ emigration. Our culture has been robbed. Decades of war and fundamentalist regimes left Afghan women battered and scarred, their rights buried under piles of rubble. Life as a girl is very different from life as a boy. The country is fraught with problems - child marriages, warlords, political unrest, drug addiction, corruption and much more. I wrote this story to share the experience of Afghan women

THE PEARL THAT BROKE ITS SHELL

ARIES

MAR 21 - APR 20

You are very generous by nature and also you are the backbone of your family. You may postpone your study plans. You are very fortunate to have a great friend circle. Be careful of the words that come out of your mouth. Your lover may finally say yes to get married to you.

TAURUS

APR 21 - MAY 20

You need a break from day to tensions and the way to cope up with stress is to meditate. You must create an environment of understanding at home. You will succeed in any sort of examination if you put your heart and soul to it. Promotion can be expected even if other are not.

GEMINI

MAY 21 - JUNE 21

Your spouse may make you spend more than you expected. Fantastic day for investing money in stock market as you can make fortune. You need help on academic front and you should not shy away from asking. You miss your parents a lot and somewhere fear to loose them. Admit your faults in relationship.

CANCER

JUNE

LIBRA

SEPT 24 - OCTOBER 22

Visit a doctor if you have any doubts about your health. Don’t attack stress even if you don’t have any. Let go of things that are not in your control. You want to have your own house and you will work hard to make your dream come true. Do not panic in such situations.

SCORPIO

OCT 23 - NOVEMBER 22

You make sure to make things work your way. Never demotivate someone even if someone is not capable of doing something. You are most wanted by your friends. You can have romantic affair in office and a serious one. You will invest money in clothes and accessories today. You are a God fearing person.

SAGITTARIUS

NOV 23 - DEC 22

Your spouse is someone who can do anything for your happiness. You are opportunist and this will make you successful one day. There may be delays in property possession. You are happy spending whole day at home. Help your mothers at home today and give them a reason to smile.

CAPRICORN

DEC 23 - JAN 20

in a fiction work that is made up of a thousand truths”- writes Nadia Hashimi.

‘The Pearl...’ is a searing tale of powerlessness, fate and the freedom to control one’s own destiny. An Afghan woman is like a pearl imprisoned in the darkness of an oyster. Here we have two women, separated by a century, sharing a common dream of breaking their shells. Both are compelling, enduring hardshipsyet kindling hope!

“The human spirit- a spirit that is harder than a rock and more delicate than a flower petal”. In 2007, in Taliban-ruled Kabul, Rahima- with four sisters and no brother- can only sporadically attend school. As they grow older, stepping out of the house becomes a nightmarish ordeal. Their mother struggles to support the family, as their father becomes increasingly addicted to drugs and highhandedness. Hope comes in the form of their auntKhala Shaima- sug-

gesting the ancient custom of ‘bachaposh’- which allows young Rahima to dress and be treated as a son until she is of marriageable age. As a boy, she has the kind of freedom that was previously unimaginablea freedom that will transform her forever.

Their aunt narrates the story of her greatgreat-grandmotherShakiba. Kabul 1900Shakiba, the daughter of a rural farming family, is disfigured in an accident as a child.

When her whole family perishes in a cholera epidemic, she has no one left to support her. She is treated like a slave by her relatives, who take possession of her land. She’s sold to various bidders- until she’s able to escape her life of drudgery by dressing as a man.

Through a rare stroke of luck, she becomes one of the guards of the King’s harem, in a lavish palace, in the bustling capital city of Kabul. She eventually makes a life for herself. Rahima and her sisters, Parwin and

Shahla, are forcibly married off to aged warlords with various wives, by their greedy father in lieu of money & drugs. Two of the sisters, living on either side of a common wall, never get to see each other. Each agonizes in their tortured lives. Parwin, the delicate, artistic girl- sets herself free through self-immolation. Their mother, unable to bear the pain, takes to drugs herself and the house condition deteriorates even further.

Although ‘The Pearl...’ is fiction, the struggle of womenfighting for their individuality- is very much a reality in the misogy-

nistic culture of Afghanistan. They’ve been subjected to slavish humiliation, bullying, physical and moral violence, forced marriage, sexual abuse polygamy, stoning to death and a lot more. The deplorable plight of Afghan women in a brutally patriarchal society will leave anyone aghast. This book is heartbreaking. Fortunately, it ends on a positive note- leaving the reader with a whisper of hope... “...the daughters of Afghanistan, may the sun warm your faces as you forge your path”. It is, indeed, a tender and beautiful family story.

LEO

JULY

You love to live close to your family. Best day to buy gold and silver or any precious metal for investment sake. You are a child at heart and never let this child die. You have a big heart and you always help someone if you can. Video gathering is possible as you miss your social circle like anything.

VIRGO

AUG 24 - SEP 23 You are a pro in your field and none can beat you. You give tough competition to people. Many people get inspired by you. You will get special treatment from your dear ones. Take stand where you need to, don’t run in the same direction where everybody else is going.

YOUR DAY

Scrumptious food is what you are craving for today. You always maintain cordial relationship with everyone. You workout daily to keep yourself

fit. You may start a side business to earn extra money. You are not a jealous kind and you feel happy for others. You are a very grounded person.

AQUARIUS

JAN 21 - FEB 19 You will feel amorous towards your wife. This is the best time try something new with life give yourself a new purpose. Work on your limitations, there can be no better time than this. You have more opposite sex friends than the same and you may be judged sometimes but don’t care.

PISCES

FEB20 - MARCH 20 Spend time talking with likeminded people as it will make you feel good for now. Boisterous behaviour is what everyone needs right now. You will feel financially comfortable and infant you are in position to invest money in some new venture. You will feel happy today.

FACEOFTHEDAY

ANJALI SHARMA, ACTOR

Horoscope by Saurabbh Sachdeva

A JOLT OF SEXINESS

Rashmika Mandanna recently attended a red carpet event wearing a maroon cocktail gown by Gauri & Nainika. The Pushpa actress, as we all know has always experimented with her style statement, and this time again, she treated us with another surprise appearance in a backless gown. The incredible deep v of the dress proves that the lower back trend is here to stay forever.

Styled by Shaleena Nathani, Rashmika Mandanna’s worth Rs 2,65,000 cocktail gown came with whimsical botanical hand

embroidery. Rashmika, who is gearing up for the release of her second Bollywood film, Mis sion Majnu, man aged to put together a bold and risque outfit with equal pa nache and grace. The extended trail to the gown swept along is the new sexy! This velvet mermaidlike dress worked won ders on Rashmika Mandanna and how!

Talking about her makeup by Tanvi Chemburkar, Rashmi ka Mandanna upped her game yet again by going with a bold and glam look.

Heart-melting glimpses

Shehnaaz Gill is constantly melting the hearts of the masses, either with her talent or with her genuine personality.

A few days ago, Shehnaaz met Bharti Singh and Haarsh Limbachiyaa’s son Gola aka Laksh at the comedienne’s house and shared several adorable photos of the toddler on her Instagram.

On Thursday, Shehnaaz shared a few glimpses on her Instagram handle as she met Laksh again. It looks like the diva has formed

a great bond with Bharti Singh’s little munchkin. In Shehnaaz’s post, we can see the actress can’t stop adoring Gola and is happily playing with him. Sharing these photos, Shehnaaz cap

KATRINA’S

PUNJABI ACCENT

Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif make for an adorable couple, and the two recently celebrated their first wedding anniversary. Vicky is currently gearing up for the release of his upcoming film Govinda Naam Mera, which also stars Bhumi Pednekar and Kiara Advani. He has been promoting the film in full swing, and in a recent interview, he revealed that his wife Katrina has learnt a bit of Punjabi.

Recently, in a conversation, Vicky was asked if Katrina can speak Punjabi, to which he replied, “Voti Punjabi bol leti hai thodi thodi (my wife can speak a bit of Punjabi).” He was then asked about his favourite Punjabi word, to which he replied, ‘Haanji’. He shared that he uses the word a lot and that it is the secret to a happy life.

tioned,

ow, ahead of Govinda Naam Mera’s release, in a recent interview with Film Companion, Kiara was asked about her favourite film of 2022 which she wished to be a part of. To this, the Kabir Singh actress named Alia Bhatt’s superhit movie Gangubai Kathiawadi. “I couldn’t blink while watching that film. I thought Alia was phenomenal in the film. I think what Sanjay (Leela Bhansali) sir does, the way he brings it out of his artists is. I wish I had been a part of something like that,” said Kiara.

Alia Bhatt was clicked by the paparazzi as she made her way to the car post workout. She was seen in a laidback, relaxed athleisure look that is just perfect during winter! She kept her look fussfree in a black top which she wore under a grey cropped hoodie. She paired her cropped sweatshirt look with dark blue tights, and was seen in green sliders. She kept her hair tied up in a bun, while carrying a black gym bag and she flashed her million-dollar smile at the paparazzi.

Janhvi Kapoor has a strong social media game and the actress never fails to leave fans amazed with her stunning pictures on Instagram. She was recently vacationing in the Maldives and went on a photo-sharing spree on Instagram. Now, taking a break from her vacation pictures, she has shared a few pictures of her royal avatar, and it has left fans mesmerized. Shikhar Pahariya also dropped a comment on Janhvi’s post and it has garnered a lot of attention.

Janhvi Kapoor shared some stunning pictures of herself. She exuded regal elegance in the pictures and looked every bit royal. In her caption, she mentioned “Truly praying I get to do a period film soon till then old world photoshoots will have to do,” she wrote in her caption. Janhvi’s pictures garnered thousands of lovely comments from fans within a short span of time. Shi-

“gola gola gola mela pala bacha nona bache ko raat nini aa rhi thi phir bhi maine pareshaan kiya pappiya kar kr ke”

Rashmika Mandanna

Alia Bhatt

Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal

Rashmika in a maroon cocktail dress by Gauri & Nainika

Kiara Advani

Alia Bhatt

Janhvi Kapoor

Shehnaaz’s post...

‘UNSUNG HEROES’

The India Fashion Awards 2022, presented by Rajnigandha Pearls oared by Mario foods, was held at Andaz by Hyatt on December 13 to celebrate innovators in the fashion industry. The who’s who of fashion across the country were present at the gala night to either receive the awards or to celebrate those who won. Ace fashion designers, Bollywood celebrities and business tycoons including Manish Malhotra, Elnaaz Narouzi, Vagish Pathak, Raghavendra Rathore, Anaita Shroff, Rocky Star, Vipul Goel, Vijender Singh, Ambika Pillai, Maneka Gandhi, Carol Gracias and Aparna Bahl graced the occasion. The third season of the awards was powered by Mario Foods and Kuber shoppe, copowered by Pepsi, DLF Malls, Ebix cash in association with PC Jewellers, Cream Bell, Artize, Vega, Little Tags Luxury and many other leading brands.

The Jury included Sanjay Nigam, Vagish

Pathak, Dia Mirza, Raghavendra Rathore, Nikhil Kamath, Shalini Passi, Maneka Gandhi, Ambika Pillai, Kunal Rawal, Carol Gracias, Tarun Khiwal and Ravi Jaipuria and other stalwarts from fashion space.

The event also witnessed the launch of Asia’s biggest and India’s First Fashion Only Grant-The Fashion Entrepreneur Fund (FEF) supported by the World’s eminent Fashion entrepreneurs, designers, mentors and investors. In its endeavour to identify, inspire and support the big ideas and would-be Unicorns of tomorrow, the makers of India Fashion Awards have introduced India’s

first-of-akind ‘Fashion Entre preneur Fund’.

During the occasion, Sanjay Nigam, Founder, of India Fash ion Awards expressed, “There are iconic design ers in the Indian fashion industry who have taken the global fash ion stage by storm and re ceived their due honour. But, a majority of our unsung heroes of the industry,

behind the scene of this new fashion revolution are still waiting for rightful recognition. India Fashion Award is an honest attempt to honour and highlight these real heroes’ contributions in front of a global audience.”

Furthermore, Mitesh Rajani won Makeup Artist Of The Year, Gaurav Raina won Music Director of the Year, Delnaz Daruwala won Backstage Manager Of The Year, Elnaaz Narouzi won IFA-Ambassador For Change, Robin Raina and Anchal Jain won Stylish Power Couple of the year, Vijender Singh and Karman Kaur Thandi won IFA Stylist Sportsperson awards, Shaurya Athley won New Age Fashion Stylist Of The Year, Sasha Jairam won New Age Fashion

World University of Design elected to ASSOCHAM

CITY FIRST

World University of Design, Sonepat, Haryana has been recognised amongst the Top 100 Higher Education Institutes of India in the EduTech100 Summit on 'Digital Distinction: Technology Conformance to NEP' by ASSOCHAM National Council on Education on Wednesday, December 14, 2022, in a formal presentation at ASSOCHAM EduTech 100 Summit 2022, New Delhi

Based on a comprehensive technology framework being designed and approved by a set of academic, technology and policy leaders the top 100 universities have been selected.

The Summit was attended by Educationists, Chancellors, Vice Chancellors, Principals, Deans, Directors and Promoters from reputed Government and Private Institutions, Edtech start-ups, stakeholders, and students across the nation.

Elated and how, Dr Sanjay Gupta – Vice Chancellor, of the World University of Design says, “Being recognised by ASSOCHAM, in the Top 100 institutions of the country, is a

huge honour for a 4-year old university. It testifies that we are moving in the right direction and that our hard work is paying off. I congratulate my entire team of management, academics and students who have made this achievement possible.”

World Design University (WUD) is India’s first university dedicated to educating students in the creative domain. Seated in the heart of the educational hub of India – Rajiv Gandhi Education City, Sonipat, Haryana – WUD plays the role of a harbinger of a revolution in the education system in India.

Photographer

Kai India Children Library Program

As part of the community development initiative, Kai India supported two schools in building and operating libraries to enable and support students in developing an interest in reading. The community empowerment program called ‘The Kai India Children Library Program focuses on the development of sustained reading habits among school children. Under this program, Kai India set up library corners with over 500 books each in two schools namely Eastern Ideal High School, Imphal East and Keishamthong High School, Imphal West.

This annual book and library engagement plan has been specially crafted for children, as well as for teachers. “Kai India Children Library program aims to provide access to children in government schools to

City First

The nature inside us is related to the universe outside us and I try to bring that in my paintings.” expressed Delhibased artist Hemraj

TELL US ABOUT YOUR NEW COLLECTION.

For the last 5 years, I am working on one series whose name I have kept as internal Reminiscence 2.0. Currently, I am working on the extension of the same series. This series is not named after my thought but rather the name of the process and the way I work internal Reminiscence 2.0.

I have always been an

On the selection of Manipur as the state of first library program roll-out, Pandya informed that “Kai India’s mission to promote education in the underserved parts of India especially Manipur emerged from the belief that the development of children and community starts with early and quality education coupled with the fact that the lesser represented regions like Manipur have huge untapped potential which needs special attention”.

Aesthetic vision on paper

this from which I will choose 20 to 25 paintings to be displayed. I won’t display all the paintings rather the selected ones will be launched. I will exhibit my collection in Delhi, US and other places. I have also planned to exhibit it online so that it can reach a maximum number of people at their convenience.

introvert and tried to see deep in rather than the beauty that is outside and that is what I try to paint.

The nature inside us is relat-

ed to the universe outside us and I try to bring that in my paintings. My paintings are new to me and never old as it is not based on a particular thought or based on something. So I paint those which are not new or old but rather the very constant.

And that is what my painting collection consists of.

WHEN WILL YOU LAUNCH YOUR NEXT COLLECTION?

It will take some more time to launch this collection. I need at least 50 more paintings to launch

WHAT IS YOUR PLAN FOR THE SOLO EXHIBITION OF PAINTINGS?

I do not plan or think about exhibiting my work instead I am busy making my painting and trying to reach my goal. I try to make it such huge that it can be presented alone and to exhibit this collection.

Of The Year, Vahbiz Mehta and Lokesh Sharma won New Age Show Director

Of The Year, Anjali Sivaraman won New Age Model Of The Year Ramp-Female and Ra-

banne Jamsandekar Victor in the male category and A-List won IFA Influencer Management

Agency of the year award including other major recognitions in various categories.

—PHOTOS BY SHAZID CHAUHAN

Dr Sanjay Gupta

The official Twitter handle of Police Families Welfare Society (PFWS) shared a few glimpses of a session organised for the family members of Delhi police in collaboration with Dr Ambika on December 6. The session focused on making verified products from skin care research and naturopathy practice research. The importance of taking care of the skin in every season and keeping the skin beautiful and full of freshness was discussed during the session.

high-quality children’s literature as well as provide support for building sustained reading habits. KAI India would also be providing a few Japanese booksto expose children to rich Japanese culture,”said Rajesh U Pandya, Managing Director, KAI India.

Lokesh Sharma

Maneka Gandhi with (L-R) Karman Kaur Thandi, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Vijendra Singh and Abhishek Singh

(L-R) Sanjay Nigam, Abhishek Singh, Rocky S., Robin Raina, Vagish Pathak and Sandeep Varma

(L-R) Vipul Goel, Vagish Pathak, Rocky S., Sanjay Nigam, Anisha Bahl, Anaita Shroff, Aparna Bahl, Carol Gracias, Raghavendra Rathore and Ambika Pillai

Manish Malhotra and Amruta Fadnavis

Vagish Pathak and Lokesh Sharma

Glimpses of the event

Sanjay Nigam

Glimpse of the event