Month: February 2021

After the resounding success of the 2018 film ‘Stree’, actor Rajkummar Rao is back with another horror-comedy titled ‘Roohi’, also starring Janhvi Kapoor and Varun Sharma. The trailer of the upcoming film is finally out and it will give movie buffs all sorts of spooky vibes while leaving them in splits.

The trailer of the film was shared by Rajkummar on Instagram. He wrote, “Watch the #RoohiTrailer at your own risk kyunki iss baar mard ko jyada dard hoga! #Roohi in cinemas 11th March, 2021.”

The nearly three-minute-long trailer, which is equal parts hilarious and scary, has all the elements — an engaging storyline, funny dialogues, drama, and spooky vibes to keep the viewers on their toes.

It also features Shamur’s iconic song titled ‘Let The Music Play’ playing in the background. The trailer also bears resemblance to the 2018 Bollywood film ‘Stree’.

The trailer, which promises a fair share of laughs and jump scares, opens with a voiceover narrating the story of a chudail (witch), who abducts to-be-brides the moment grooms fall asleep.

A few seconds into the trailer, Rajkummar and Varun are seen abducting Jahnvi (Roohi), who has been possessed by a ghost and is out to create havoc. Rajkummar tries to befriend Janhvi and thus, the drama loaded with hilarious scenes and spooky vibes heightens.

How Rajkummar and Varun try to tackle the ghost in her seems to be a tricky thing for the two. The duo tries every trick in the book to fix her, creating a perfect blend of horror and fun.

While the upcoming film marks the first-ever collaboration of Rajkummar and Janhvi, Rajkummar and Varun have earlier shared screen space in the 2015 release ‘Dolly Ki Doli’.

The forthcoming horror-comedy is being helmed by Hardik Mehta. A Jio Studios Presentation, ‘Roohi’ is being produced by Dinesh Vijan and Mrighdeep Singh Lamba.

‘Roohi’, which is the first major Bollywood release post lockdown, was set to hit the cinemas in the first week of June last year, but the film had to be postponed due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The upcoming horror-comedy will also become the first film to arrive in theatres after the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting allowed cinema halls nationwide to operate at full capacity from February 1 with COVID-19 safety protocols put in place.

The film is set to hit the theatres on March 11, this year, and is based on the lines of the 2018 hit film ‘Stree’, which featured Shraddha Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao in lead roles. (ANI)

India on Tuesday recorded another landmark achievement as the national recovery rate from COVID-19 touched 97.32 per cent, among the highest in the world, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare informed.

India continues to follow the trajectory of steady decline in active cases with the country’s total active caseload dropping to 1.36 lakh (1,36,872) today. The present active caseload now consists of just 1.25 per cent of India’s total positive cases.

More than 1.06 crore (1,06,33,025) of people have recovered so far. A total of 11,805 patients have recovered and got discharged in the last 24 hours.
India’s Recovery Rate of 97.32 per cent is amongst the highest in the world. The difference between the recovered and active cases has further increased to 1,04,96,153 today.

In another positive development, 31 states/Union Territories have reported recovery rate more than the national average. Daman and Diu, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli have a recovery rate of 99.88 per cent.

Seventeen states/Union Territories reported no deaths in the last 24 hours. These are Lakshadweep, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Chandigarh, J&K (UT), Meghalaya, Ladakh (UT), Manipur, Haryana, A&N Islands, Rajasthan, Nagaland, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli.

Also, six states/union territories have reported no new cases in the last 24 hours. These are Sikkim, Meghalaya, A&N Islands, Nagaland, Tripura, and Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli.

As of February 16, 2021, till 8 am, the cumulative number of healthcare and frontline workers vaccinated against COVID-19 in the country has surpassed 87 lakhs. The countrywide vaccination drive was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 16, 2021.

A total of 87,20,822 beneficiaries have been vaccinated through 1,84,303 sessions, as per the provisional report till 8 am today. These include 61,07,120 HCWs (1st dose), 1,60,291 healthcare workers (2nd dose) and 24,53,411 frontline workers (1st dose).

Around 81 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours. Five states account for 70.37 per cent of the new deaths.

Maharashtra saw the maximum casualties at 23. Kerala follows with 13 daily deaths and Punjab has reported 10 new deaths. (ANI)

Delhi Police on Monday said that climate activist Disha Ravi had shared the ‘toolkit’ document related to the farmers’ protest to Swedish teen activist Greta Thunberg on the Telegram app and also coaxed her to act on it.

Addressing a press conference, Joint Commissioner of Police (Cyber Crime) Prem Nath said, “Disha who is associated with environmental movement call ‘Friday for Future’ sent the toolkit to Greta Thunberg on Telegram app and coaxed her to act on it.”

Giving details on the investigation on “Twitter storm” related to the farmers’ protest and January 26 tractor rally, Nath said: “On February 4 while monitoring social media we came across a Google document titled toolkit on Twitter. Initial investigation of this toolkit document reveal that it was created by pro-Khalistani group name Poetic Justice Foundation and people associated with it.”

JCP Nath added, “One portion of the toolkit document mentions action points then prior actions, as you are aware there was a digital strike through a hashtag on January 26 and earlier tweets storm on January 23 onwards and physical action on January 26 and entering Delhi for Kisan rally and return back to the border.”

The second part of the same document mentions tasks such as disruption of India’s cultural heritage and targeting Indian embassies abroad, he added.

The time-bound action points and the programme given in the toolkit when viewed in the context of actual developments in Delhi clearly showed the action plan that was formulated in the toolkit was implemented on the ground or executed in a copy-cat manner, the official added.

Keeping in mind all these facts a case was registered and an investigation was taken up by CyPAD (Cyber Prevention Awareness Detection), the cyber unit of Delhi Police, JCP Nath said.

During the investigation many screenshots of the toolkit were available on open source and were investigated, he said. When the probe was able to fetch enough information, a search warrant was obtained from Court on February 9, against Nikita Jacob, one of the editors of the toolkit Google document, he added.

“A team reached Mumbai and conducted searches at her (Nikita Jacob) residence on February 11. She and her associates Shantanu and Disha had created the document. The email account created by Shantanu is the owner of this document all others are its editors,” the police official said.

A woman named Puneet who is based in Canada connected these people to the Pro-Khalistani Poetic Justice Foundation and through them created a toolkit tilted global farmer strike and global day of action on January 26, the police official said.

“On January 11, Nikita and Shantanu attended a Zoom meeting organised by Poetic Justice Foundation in which modalities were chalked out, he said.

“Based on the information gathered, separate teams were sent to Maharashtra and Bengaluru, however, Shantanu was not found at his house and we are still searching for him,” he informed.

On the next morning when the investigation team reached Nikita’s residence, she was found absconding and had not yet joined the investigation. For a search for Nikita and Shantanu we have taken NVWs (Non-bailable warrants) from the court, said the official.

In Bengaluru, the team examined Disha and was able to extract highly incriminating information from her phone, this information made it clear along with her colleagues Shantanu and Nikita created and sent a toolkit document to others, the official added.

The main aim of the toolkit was to create misinformation, disaffection against the lawfully enacted government, Delhi police said. The toolkit sought to artificially amplify the fake news through various tweets which they have created in the form of a “tweet bank” and they also sought public to participate in the action on January 26, which is celebrated as Republic Day of India, the officer further said.

“Based on this incriminating evidences collected against Disha from her device and view of the fact that Nikita didn’t cooperate and she fled from her house we acted against Disha because she has deleted a WhatsApp group which she created to coordinate among the various members for the toolkit,” he said.

Disha was arrested in the presence of her mother and in presence of the SHO of the area concerned and the due process was adopted for conducting her medical test and producing her in the court, JCP Prem Nath said.

The court has granted five days of police custody for Disha, adding that the rest of the investigation is underway, he said. (ANI)

By Joymala Bagchi

Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], February 15 (ANI): Ahead of the Assembly elections, political slogans are intensifying the poll fever in the state of West Bengal.

The slogans of Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have been dominant in this election. Interestingly, the poll slogans this year revolve around Lord Ram, Lord Krishna and Goddess Durga.

Among the most popular slogans of ruling TMC buzzing across the state include “Hare Krishna hare hare, Swasthya Sathi ghare ghare” and “Hare Krishna hare hare, Sobuj Sathi ghore ghore”.

Swasthya Sathi and Sobuj Sathi are the welfare schemes of the TMC-led West Bengal government. The slogans try to indicate that these schemes have reached every home in the state.

Countering TMC, BJP’s “Chup chap, poddo phule chaap” (silently cast your vote on lotus symbol) and “Eksathe lorbo, sonar Bangla gorbo” (we will fight unitedly to create a prosperous Bengal) slogans are reverberating in the air.

Further, slogans like TMC’s ‘Khela hobe (there will be a game) and BJP’s “Poriborton hobe” (there will be change) are also gaining momentum.

BJP is also leveraging on the slogan “Double engine sarkar” that indicates the government of the same party at the Centre as well as at the State.

The leaders of TMC and BJP have been attacking each other with these slogans.

Elections for 294 Assembly seats in West Bengal are likely to take place in April-May this year. (ANI)

Ahead of the Assembly polls this year, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee on Monday launched ‘Maa Kitchen’ across the state via video conferencing with the aim to provide a nutritious meal at Rs 5.

“A limited number of Maa kitchens are currently opened in the cities and towns in West Bengal on a pilot basis. The kitchens will be increased further. Beneficiaries need to pay Rs 5 only. The state government will provide Rs 15 as a subsidy for every meal to the kitchens. It will also generate employment,” said Banerjee during the launch.
The chief minister also inaugurated several other projects including an IT park at Salt Lake which is likely to attract investment of Rs 150 crores.

Mamata Banerjee launched an integrated system for registration, tracking and treatment of cancer patients in the state.

Elections for 294 Assembly seats in West Bengal are likely to take place in April-May this year. (ANI)

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Monday came out in support of climate activist Disha Ravi who was arrested by Delhi police over the “toolkit” controversy related to farmers’ protest on social media.

Besides extending support to the climate activist, senior Congress leader launched a scathing attack on the Central government.

“It is really ignominious to note that a 22-year-old environmental activist has become the victim of tyrannical govt, who thought that better to hector down a girl for her offence of supporting the farmers’ agitation and bow down before #China in #Ladakh than to uphold the basic rights of the common citizenry, and to teach a lesson to China,” Chowdhury tweeted.

Attacking the central government over the arrest of the climate activist, the Congress leader said, “Narendra Modi Ji, you have been defeated morally by the satyagrahi farmers of India. It reflects your frustration in trouncing upon the independent thinking girl, putting her in jail. Today or tomorrow people of the country will deliver you a poetic justice.”

Chowdhury in a subsequent tweet also said, “It is really ignominious to note that a 22-year-old environmental activist has become the victim of tyrannical govt, who thought that better to hector down a girl for her offence of supporting the farmers ‘ agitation and bow down before China in Ladakh than to uphold the basic rights of the common citizenry, and to teach a lesson to China.”

Several political leaders slammed Delhi Police for arresting 21-year-old climate activist Disha Ravi from Bengaluru and termed her arrest as “unwarranted harassment, unfortunate and shocking”. She was arrested for allegedly editing and disseminating the “toolkit” on social media.

Another Congress leader P Chidambaram said, “The Indian state must be standing on very shaky foundations if Disha Ravi, a 22-year-old student of Mount Carmel College and a climate activist, has become a threat to the nation.”

A Delhi court on Sunday remanded Disha to five days of police custody following her arrest in connection with allegedly spreading a “toolkit” related to the farmers’ protest. Duty Metropolitan Magistrate Dev Saroha of Patiala House Courts Complex allowed Delhi Police to quiz Ravi for five days. She was arrested last week.

According to the Delhi Police officials, Disha is a key conspirator in the “toolkit” case as she had admitted during the initial interrogation to editing, adding some things in the “toolkit” and spreading it further.

Last week, the Delhi Police sent a communication to Google seeking registration details and activity log of the account through which a “toolkit” related to the farmers’ protest was created and uploaded on the social media platform. (ANI)

In remarks that are likely to stoke controversy, Haryana Congress leader Vidya Rani on Monday urged party workers to strengthen the farmers’ agitation and said they can contribute “be it money, vegetables, liquor”.

Speaking at Congress executive meeting in Jind, Vidya Devi said that Congress was facing an existential crisis in the state after Lok Sabha and assembly elections but the protest by farmers had helped revive the party.
“We will take out a ‘padyatra’ in Jind. Congress was facing a crisis in the state but the farmers’ protest has helped strengthen the party. Farmers protest will give new direction and strength to Congress,” she said.

Vidya Devi said farmers agitation had suffered a setback after incidents of January 26 in Delhi but it has revived itself.

“We should help them. Be it money, vegetables, liquor – we can contribute as we like and strengthen this agitation. It is not a movement of farmers only but all of us,” she said.

Safidon MLA Subhash Gangoli and some other Congress leaders were present at the meeting.

Vidya Devi had contested from Narwana constituency of Jind in last assembly polls in the state.

Congress has been demanding the repeal of the three new farm laws.

Farmers have been protesting at different borders of the national capital since November 26 last year against the three laws – Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; the Farmers Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and farm Services Act 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020. (ANI)

Wowing her fans with drop-dead gorgeous pictures of herself from a recent photoshoot, Bollywood actor Madhuri Dixit Nene took social media by storm on Monday.

The ‘Dhak-Dhak’ girl of Bollywood treated her fans with a series of scintillating posts from the shoot.

The 53-year-old star exuded elegance in an embroidered bright yellow coloured lehenga dress, which she accessorised with beautiful Indian jewellery.

Skipping neckpiece, she complemented the look with open loose curled hair and minimal makeup look.

With the post in which Madhuri is seen flaunting her million-dollar smile, she wrote, “Sunshine state of mind.”

By Ajit K Dubey

In a step that would establish its superiority in air combat over China and Pakistan, India would start testing the Astra Mark 2 beyond visual range air to air missile, which would be capable of taking down enemy aircraft from a range of 160 kilometres.

The extended range Astra Mark 2 would give India an edge over its adversaries and would add more lethality to its fighter jets in aerial combat, like the one which happened a day after the Balakot airstrikes on February 26, 2019.

“The trial for the Astra Mark would be starting in the second half of this year and we are hoping to see the missile fully developed by 2022,” government officials told ANI.

The next-generation missile is expected to be operational by the next year-end, former Central Air Commander Air Marshal SBP Sinha (Retd) said.

The retired officer has been associated with the Astra missile programme for a long time now.

The Astra is a beyond visual range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM), which flies over four times the speed of sound at Mach 4.5. Efforts are now on to integrate the over 100 km strike range missile on the indigenous fighter aircraft LCA Tejas.

The all-weather day and night capable Astra, which currently has a strike range of around 100-km, will eventually replace the expensive Russian, French and Israeli BVRAAMs that are currently imported to arm IAF fighters.

The Indian Air Force and Indian navy have already given orders for 288 Astra Mark-1 Missiles which are already “proven” on the Russian-origin Sukhoi-30MKI fighters. (ANI)