February 2023 - Page 23 of 50 - Lokmarg

National Skiing Championship At Auli Cancelled Due To Less Snowfall

By LokMarg 16th February 2023

The National Skiing Championship at the scenic Auli in Uttarakhand has been cancelled on account of inadequate snowfall, officials informed on Thursday.

The sporting event was to be held from February 24 toThe event was originally scheduled to be held from February 2 to 8 but it was postponed in the wake of the land subsidence in Joshimath.
Speaking to ANI, the secretary of the Ski and Snow Board Association of Uttarakhand, Praveen Sharma, said, “All preparations had been made to conduct the National Skiing Competition. However, because of the sudden change in weather, it will not be possible to hold the event this year.”

A popular tourist destination situated 12 kms above Joshimath, Auli is visited by people from all over the world. However, all tourist destinations in Joshimath area currently wear a forlorn look, with visitors keeping away in the wake of recent landslides and subsidence, which opened up cracks in hotels.

Since the collapse of several structures in Joshimath on January 2 owing to landslip and subsidence, several hundred houses and hotels in the holy site suffered big cracks.

After assessing the condition of the structures, the administration had vacated all hotels and houses on priiority.

While visitors, especially adventure-seekers flock to Auli for skiing every year, this time there is not much snow. Even in places that have received snowfall, visitors are few and far between owing to fear over the prevailing situation in Joshimath.

With visitors turning away from Joshimath, there are livelihood concerns for locals many of whom make a living in the peak tourist season. (ANI)

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Top US Lawmaker Chuck Schumer Expected To Visit India

By LokMarg 16th February 2023

US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is expected to visit India with a high-profile delegation of Senate Democrats for meetings with the Indian leadership. The details of his visit are being worked out, sources familiar with the deliberations told ANI.

An official said Democrat Senator Schumer’s office is eyeing his travel to India as early as next week and the top lawmaker will be visiting multiple countries. The Senator’s trip to India is not currently on Schumer’s public itinerary and comes at a time when US-India relations are at a high point. Schumer’s office didn’t respond to ANI’s request for a comment.
“This high-profile visit will spread across several countries including India. Schumer and the delegation are expected to stay more than a day or two and will also visit other cities apart from New Delhi,” a senior official told ANI. Apart from the political engagements, Schumer is also expected to meet with some Indian business leaders.

“This visit is a personal visit but it certainly will accelerate the steady upward momentum between the two democracies using strategic partnership, defence, trade and diaspora,” the official further added.

Earlier, ANI had reported on the US Department of State is looking at the first week of March for a possible visit by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and meetings in New Delhi, which would be a run-up to US President Joe Biden’s meeting with leaders of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, commonly known as the Quad.

Apart from this US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo is scheduled to travel to India in March to co-chair the US-India CEO Forum and US-India Commercial Dialogue meetings with her Indian counterpart Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.

On January 31, National Security Advisors and other agency heads from the United States and India met in Washington, DC for the inaugural meeting of the initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology, which allows the US to partner with a country looking to compete with China’s technological advances.

On Tuesday, the White House announced that Air India has agreed to a historic purchase of airplanes from Boeing. A phone call between US President Joe Biden with PM Narendra Modi took place following the “landmark announcement.”

According to a statement by the PMO, the two leaders expressed satisfaction at the deepening of the India-US. Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, which has resulted in robust growth in all domains. They also expressed a keen desire to strengthen bilateral cooperation in space, semi-conductors, supply chains and defence co-production.

PM Modi invited Boeing and other US companies to make use of the opportunities arising due to the expanding civil aviation sector in India.

On Wednesday the US said that the commercial plane deal between Air India and Boeing is an opportunity to deepen an already profoundly intertwined relationship between India and the United States.

Meanwhile, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval’s recently wrapped up a visit to the US during which India and US launched a program to enhance their strategic partnership. The two sides announced a set of programs whose aim is to increase the depth and scope of bilateral cooperation in cutting-edge technology, including in the defence sector.

Delegations led by Doval and his American counterpart, Jake Sullivan held a meeting in Washington for the inaugural dialogue of the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET).

Doval also held a meeting with US Deputy Secretary of Defence Kathleen Hicks and discussed priorities for the US-India bilateral defence partnership included strengthening policy and operational coordination in the Indo-Pacific region and increasing defence industrial cooperation between the two nations. (ANI)

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India Will Always Be Special Friend, Trusted Partner: Fiji PM

By LokMarg 16th February 2023

Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka on Thursday said India stood by his country in times of great need and will always be a special friend and trusted partner.

“I’m pleased to say that India will always be a special friend and trusted partner to Fiji,” the Fiji Prime Minister said during a joint press statement with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Suva, Fiji on Thursday.
“Together we’ve built a robust multifaceted partnership which covers cooperation in all major areas of nation-building. India has stood by us in times of great need. We’re grateful to GoI for supporting us through the provision of life-saving vaccines and humanitarian assistance,” the Fijian PM said.

He appreciated PM Modi and the Indian government for their support in co-hosting the 12th World Hindi conference in Fiji.

“Fiji appreciates India’s commitment towards the development of our pacific region through collective priorities. We are more resolved now than ever to build a strong and sustainable future for families in Fiji, the Pacific and beyond,” he said.

He added: “On behalf of Govt of Fiji, I thank the government of India for realising this important cooperation. I’m confident that we will witness many more such initiatives unfolding through the deepening of our cooperation.”

The Fiji Prime Minister said further that a lot of people from his country visit India for medical treatment and education.

On the MoU on visa exemption between India and Fiji, the PM said: “We will certainly benefit, though the scale may differ.”

On whether China came up in his talks with EAM Jaishankar, Rabuka said, “We thought it was bad manners to talk about somebody who is not in the building. We spoke about our own cooperation and we’re very fortunate to have such a great power and economy talking to us.”

“We have great old friends and there is no need to look for new friends. There are no really new friends in this region. We have been friends with India, and we have been friends with China. We’ll continue our relationship,” the Fijian PM said.

Jaishankar on Thursday launched the ‘Solarization of Residences of Pacific Heads of State Project’ in the presence of Fijian President Ratu Wiliame Maivalili Katonivere in Suva.

“Pleased to be call on H.E. Ratu Wiliame Katonivere, President of Fiji in State House in Suva. Jointly inaugurated the Solarization of the State House. This is the first of a series that India is supporting in the Pacific Islands,” tweeted Jaishankar.

The 12th World Hindi Conference is being held in Fiji from February 15 to 17. It is being co-hosted by the Ministry of External Affairs and the Fiji government. (ANI)

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Tripura Records 13.69% Voter Turnout Till 9 am: EC

By LokMarg 16th February 2023

Tripura recorded 13.69 per cent voter turnout till 9 am in the ongoing polling for 60 Assembly seats, the Election Commission (EC) informed on Thursday.

Polling started at 7 am and will continue till 4 pm.
According to the latest data shared by the Election Commission, West Tripura saw 14.56 per cent voting till 9 am, while Dhalai logged 13.62 per cent, Gomati 12.99 per cent, Khowai 13.08 per cent, North Tripura 12.79 per cent, Sepahijala 13.61 per cent, Unakoti 13.34 per cent and South Tripura 14.34 per cent.

Chief Minister Manik Shah is the BJP candidate from West Tripura’s Town Borodowali.

The fate of the 259 candidates will be sealed in the ongoing polls for 60 Assembly seats.

The polls this year will see a triangular contest, with the Congress-CPM fighting in alliance and the Trinamool Congress also fielding candidates in several seats. The Tipra Motha, an alliance of regional outfits, is the dark horse in the ongoing election and could emerge as the kingmaker in the event of a hung Assembly.

The BJP has declared candidates for 55 assembly seats, leaving the remaining five seats for its ally, the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT).

The Left-Congress alliance declared candidates for all 60 seats.

According to Election Commission, there are over 28.14 lakh registered voters this year of which 14,15,233 are men, 13,99,289 are women and 62 belong to the third gender.

Polling is underway in a total of 3,337 polling stations.

Adequate security arrangements have been made for the polls, with 97 all-women police stations. As many as 94,815 voters are in the age group of 18-19 years while 6,21,505 belong in 22-29 age group. The highest number of voters is in the 40-59 age group, at 9,81,089.

A total of 259 candidates across parties are fray for the ongoing Assembly polls.

Tripura is the first state to go to the polls this year while polling for Nagaland and Meghalaya assemblies will be held on February 27.

Five more states will go to polls this year, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in 2024. (ANI)

Rahul Skips Northeast Poll Campaign, Seen Skiing In Gulmarg

By LokMarg 16th February 2023

After having skipped poll campaigning in Northeast, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was seen skiing in Jammu and Kashmir’s Gulmarg on Wednesday, just a day ahead of the Tripura Assembly polls.

In pictures and videos shared on social media, Rahul Gandhi was seen skiing like a pro in north Kashmir’s Gulmarg.
Rahul Gandhi returned to Jammu and Kashmir after the conclusion of the first part of the Budget Session of the Parliament.

The Congress leader is on his personal visit to J-K and he was seen surrounded by his security as the tourists on the spot thronged to meet the Congress leader.

Gandhi was in Jammu and Kashmir last month for the last leg of the Bharat Jodo Yatra which concluded in Srinagar with flag hoisting at the Congress office. He had unfurled the Tricolour at Lal Chowk marking the conclusion of the Yatra.

His visit comes amid the 60-member Tripura Assembly polls, the voting for which will take place today.

Notably, Congress’s top leaders including Rahul Gandhi were missing from campaigning in Tripura including the two other states — Meghalaya and Nagaland, which would go to polls on February 27.

“Rahul Gandhi seen readying for skiing in Gulmarg, Kashmir,” Jammu and Kashmir Congress Sevadal tweeted on Wednesday.

Reacting to his visit, the tourists said that they wanted to take a close look at the Congress leader and take selfie with him.

“I met Rahul Gandhi here. He had come here for skiing. I met him at a close distance, but due to security I had to retreat. He also came to enjoy, and so did we,” a tourist from Nashik said while speaking to ANI.

Another tourist who also hailed from Nashik said, “We came to know that Rahul Gandhi is coming here, so we were waiting for three hours. We had only seen him in pictures. We wanted a selfie with him but there was much crowd. We were not allowed due to security that we will get a chance to get a selfie later on.”

Earlier in January, Rahul Gandhi had dared Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP leaders to walk from Jammu to Srinagar’s Lal Chowk if the situation is so good in the Union Territory.

“PM Modi, Amit Shah, and RSS have not seen violence. We walked here for four days. I can guarantee you that no BJP leader can walk like this here, not because the people of J-K will not let them walk, but because they are scared,” Rahul Gandhi had said.

However, the BJP leaders retorted to Gandhi’s remark while also crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the situation in J-K which enabled the Congress leader to visit Kashmir and unfurl the national flag.

“How did Rahul Gandhi peacefully unfurl the Tricolour at Srinagar’s Lal Chowk today? It happened because Modi Ji abrogated Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. After Article 370, Jammu and Kashmir received a high number of tourists. During the Congress government, there was terrorism and fear in Kashmir,” Ravi Shankar Prasad had said.

Earlier, addressing the concluding ceremony of the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Srinagar, Rahul Gandhi had referred to pain from an old knee injury, which he had got while playing football in college and said it re-emerged while walking during Bharat Jodo Yatra.

He added that he started finding the Yatra difficult as the pain increased, but everything changed and the pain vanished when he got a letter from a little girl, who said that she knew that he was walking for her future.

Gandhi said ‘Kashmiriyat’ was his home. “When I was walking to Kashmir, I thought this is the same route through which, years ago, my relatives came from Kashmir to Allahabad. I felt that I was returning to my home. Since I was a child, I have lived in government accommodations, I do not have a house. I have never accepted these structures as my home. Wherever I live, it is a building, not a home. For me, a home is a thinking, it is a way of life.” (ANI)

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Bajwa Asked Me To Condemn Russian Invasion Of Ukraine: Imran

By LokMarg 15th February 2023

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan has said General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa had asked him to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine soon after his return from Moscow, Geo News reported.

Khan was quoted in the repport as saying, “I talked to Russian President Vladimir Putin about procurement of oil at cheaper rates but when I returned to Pakistan, the chief of army staff asked me to condemn Russia’s attack on Ukraine.”
Khan said he advised Bajwa to stay neutral on India.

The former army chief, however, started condemning Russia him, the former PM added.

“A grade-22 officer made a foreign policy statement during a seminar to please the US,” he said.

He went on to say that the country will have to face the consequences when decisions are made to please Washington, the Dawn reported.

In the bid to please the United States, 80,000 people got killed in the war on terror, Khan claimed in the Geo News report.

Khan, who was ousted from his post in April last year, recently took a swipe at Bajwa saying that the former army chief had told the US that the PTI chief was anti-American.

He made the remark during an interview with US-based international radio broadcaster, Voice of America, aired on last Saturday, and a separate televised address on Sunday, according to Dawn.

“Whatever happened, now as things unfold, it wasn’t the US who told Pakistan [to oust me]. It was unfortunately, from what evidence has come up, [former army chief] Gen [Qamar Javed] Bajwa who somehow managed to tell the Americans that I was anti-American. And so, it [the plan to oust me] wasn’t imported from there. It was exported from here to there,” Khan told VoA.

Khan, who continuously blamed the US for his resignation as prime minister, took a U-turn from his earlier claim in the VoA interview.

Meanwhile, in his televised address, Khan termed General Bajwa, who retired in November last year, a ‘super king’, conceding that he was like a puppet in his three-and-a-half-year stint in the Prime Minister’s Office.

“Gen Bajwa had become an expert in everything, including economy, politics, and foreign policy,” Khan said.

“Gen Bajwa used to get the credit for good decisions and Imran Khan used to serve as a punching bag for every wrong decision,” Khan claimed, alleging that the former army chief was responsible for the “political and economic ills” that the country faces today.

He also slammed Bajwa for hampering the process of accountability, claiming that the former army chief had already decided that there won’t be any questions from PM Shehbaz Sharif. (ANI)

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Can Pak’s Economic Crisis Lead To Its Balkanisation?

By LokMarg 15th February 2023

Bordering India, Afghanistan, Iran and China – Pakistan is comprised of four provinces – Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

Pakistan also has a federal territory, the Islamabad Capital Territory and two occupied regions – Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Gilgit Baltistan, both parts of the erstwhile princely state of Jammu and Kashmir which had become part of India in 1947 and are now illegally occupied by Pakistan.
All these provinces and territories of Pakistan have diverse cultures, languages and ethnicities. Unfortunately, Pakistan has failed to keep them united.

The Punjabis, who are arguably the most prosperous of Pakistan’s ethnic groups, hold all major posts within the government, the army and the judiciary. They have been lucky to avoid many of the crises plaguing the rest of the country. These crises, which continue to persist, have fuelled sectarian and separatist violence.

Pakistanis have largely lost faith in the coalition government headed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, having failed to carry out any of the much-needed economic reforms in the country.

Naveed Baseer, Expert on Pakistan says, “People are not happy with the Pakistan government or Pakistan system or whatever the army is doing, whatever the judiciary is doing. They are totally not happy and they are looking for such movements that can come up and lead them.”

The Baloch are living as minority on their own land and continue to face persecution at the hands of the Pakistan Army and spy agency, the ISI.

With Pakistan’s financial crisis owing to rising debt and dwindling foreign exchange, the Baloch’s situation has become even more dire.

The separatist movement in Balochistan has intensified and opposition against Pakistan and its ally, China, has risen.

Today, several pro-independence organisations like Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM), World Sindhi Congress, and Jeay Sindh Freedom Movement have gained a wider support base within Sindh and international platforms.

The Sindhis, who can trace their roots to the ancient Indus Valley civilization, have realized that by remaining integrated with Pakistan, their future will be uncertain and under threat and thus voices for a separate state have gathered steam.

Facing discrimination, extreme poverty, and loss of their Sindhi culture and language, the people in this part of Pakistan are determined to fight for their right for freedom.

“The historical nations particularly Sindhis, Balochs and Pashtuns are thinking that the only way is the emancipation of these historical nations” says Lakhu Luhana, leader of the World Sindhi Congress.

The Pashtuns, like the rest of disenchanted Pakistan citizens, have lost faith in the government, in particular with the ever-worsening economic situation.

Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Gilgit Baltistan, which have been under Pakistan’s forceful occupation since 1947, are also experiencing mass resistance to the Pakistani government. Cripplingly high inflation, food and medicine shortages, unemployment, and increasing distrust in the government are the key drivers behind the recent massive anti-Pakistan protests.

Pakistan has long exploited PoK and Gilgit Baltistan for their resources and has used the territories as breeding grounds for terrorism and has exploited their natural resources. This region is also used as a launchpad to push terrorists into India.

The continuing turmoil on both the political and economic fronts in Pakistan has led to widespread rebellion within the country. This risk seems imminent as the Pakistani rupee continues to sink to new lows against the dollar and every day is a struggle for survival for the large majority of the Pakistani population. (ANI)

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Odisha Is Investing Rs 2500 Cr In Sports Infra: Patnaik

By LokMarg 15th February 2023

Focusing on the development of Sports infrastructure at the elite and grassroots level, the Odisha Government led by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is investing more than Rs 2500 crores as its one of the priority sectors, said R Vineel Krishna, Secretary of Sports & Youth Services Department of the state.

Speaking at the Senior Officer’s Conference, he said, “Odisha is investing more than Rs 2500 crores in sports infrastructure which includes 90 indoor stadiums in ULBs, India’s first indoor Athletic Stadium, indoor aquatic center, High-performance centers for Hockey, badminton, weightlifting, gymnastics, athletics along with Hockey training centers, Football training centers, Swimming Training centers, Gymnastics Training centres.”
Krishna, elaborated on the Chief Minister’s vision of creating a new identity for Odisha through Sports and productively engaging the youth through sports as a major platform.

“The Chief Minister desires that Odisha should become a health, fitness and sports-oriented society. And therefore, in the last few years the state government has been investing in creating massive infrastructure, organizing national and international sports championships, unique models of coaching in partnership with corporates and elite sportspersons among others,” he said.

“The successful organisation of the Hockey World Cup recently is a prime example of the team work of the State Government, wherein all the departments and districts put up a grand show which brought laurels to the state and country,” he added.

“The largest seated Hockey Stadium, the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium, Rourkela was created within a short period of 15 months in spite of various challenges, that Stadium was co-host of 2023 World Cup along with Kalinga Stadium Bhubaneswar,” he said. (ANI)

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Dia Wishes, Vaibhav On 2nd Anniv

By LokMarg 15th February 2023

Actor Dia Mirza on Wednesday extended warm wishes to her husband Vaibhav Rekhi on their second wedding anniversary.

Taking to Instagram, Dia shared a video which she captioned, “Happy Anniversary Husband. Thank you for giving me the greatest gift of all time–eternal love and our beautiful children “Sitaaron ke aage jahaan aur bhi hai; Humare ishq mein imtihaan aur bhi hai…Abhi tho naapi hai muthi bhar zameen; Aage aasman aur bhi hai…”

In the video, Dia shared some glimpses from her intimate marriage ceremony.

Dia married businessman Vaibhav in February 2021, and on May 14, 2021, they welcomed a baby boy named Avyaan.

Soon after she shared the video fans flooded the comment section with red heart emoticons and Happy anniversary wishes.

Neha Dhupia commented, “Adorable D ! Love u guys.”

Actor Lara Dutta wrote, “Happy Anniversary you two lovely goofballs!”

Gauahar Khan commented, “God bless.”

Nimrat Kaur wrote, “Adoraaaaaaable!!!!!!!! Happy happy anniversary.”

Masaba Gupta wrote, “Such a nice, refreshing wedding D.”

On the work front, Dia will be next seen in ‘Dhak Dhak’ alongside Taapsee Pannu, Ratna Pathak Shah, Fatima Sana Shaikh, and Sanjana Sanghi.

Helmed by Tarun Dudeja, the film ‘Dhak Dhak’ belongs to the adventure genre which follows the story of a road trip undertaken by a girl gang.

Apart from that, she will also be seen in Rajkummar Rao and Bhumi Pednekar’s next social drama film ‘Bheed’. (ANI)

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Delhi Fridge Murder: Police To Investigate On Lines Of Shraddha Case

By LokMarg 15th February 2023

Delhi Police will investigate the killing of 25-year-old Haryana woman Nikki Yadav, who was allegedly strangled by her boyfriend with a charging cable, on the lines of Shraddha Walkar murder case, said sources on Wednesday.

Nikki was found dead in a freezer at Delhi’s Mitraon village on Tuesday and was taken from Rao Tularam Memorial Hospital to Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital for a post-mortem on Wednesday.
According to the Police Sources, the post-mortem reports have revealed that she died because of suffocation. There were marks on her neck and no other injury marks were found on the body.

According to doctors, when the body was in the fridge, it is difficult to tell the exact time of the death, because there is no natural process in the fridge. The viscera report has been preserved.

The Police sources further said that evidence is being collected on the basis of forensic investigation, as was collected in the Shraddha murder case.

In the CCTV cameras installed in the house where Nikki Yadav lived on rent in Delhi’s Uttam Nagar, it can be seen in the CCTV footage, that Nikki was seen going to the terrace at around 1 pm, and can be seen coming out on the other day at around 9 pm.

Nikki was living in this flat with one of her sisters for the last five months and accused Sahil Gehlot used to visit her regularly.

She had told his neighbours that she was studying and mostly did not talk to the people there but the people present here have seen Sahil coming to her flat several times.

The post-mortem of the victim has been completed and soon her dead body will be handed over to the relatives and then the relatives will take the dead body to their ancestral residence in Jhajjar in Haryana.

Nikki was strangled to death allegedly by her live-in partner after she came to know of his impending marriage with another woman, police said.

After his arrest on Tuesday, the accused Sahil Gehlot was presented before a Delhi court and sent to five-day police remand.

DCP Crime Branch Satish Kumar said that the accused is on remand for five days and an inquiry is on to identify the route taken that night.

“The accused is on remand for five days. Inquiry is on. Our multiple teams are working to identify the route taken that night. We are also scanning CCTV footages,” said the DCP crime.

Kumar further said that on February 9 there was an argument about his marriage and Sahil got and strangulated the victim with a mobile cable.

The accused was getting engaged on February 9. The accused went to meet Nikki at her flat and left early in the morning, they went to many places in Delhi, during which there was an argument about his marriage. During this, he got angry and strangulated the victim with a mobile cable, said DCP Crime Branch

“After that, he kept the victim’s body in the refrigerator in a dhaba in Mitraon village and then the accused went to his marriage. We are investigating deeply about this case,” he added.

Delhi Police Crime Branch, meanwhile, said it has recovered the car in which Sahil allegedly murdered Nikki. He also transported her mortal remains to the dhaba (eatery) in the same vehicle, police added.

According to the police, Nikki called Sahil after learning that he was going to marry another woman.

The woman’s body was recovered from a freezer in New Delhi’s Najafgarh area, police said on Tuesday.

The victim was a resident of Uttam Nagar in Delhi, they said.

According to police, the accused drove around Delhi for 30-40 km before going to the dhaba to dump Nikki’s body.

“Initial probe suggests that the accused was about to get married to another woman, and, the victim, after coming to know of it, raised an objection and insisted he marries her,” a police officer told ANI earlier.

In a fit of rage, the accused killed her and hid the body in a freezer at his dhaba, the officer said, adding, “The incident occurred around two to three days ago.”

Further details are awaited. (ANI)

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