Manipur Internet Ban

Manipur Reimposes Internet Ban For Next 5 Days

The Manipur government on Tuesday reimposed the ban on internet services for the next five days.

An order issued by the Manipur Home Department said steps are being taken to prevent the imminent danger of loss of life, damage to public/private property, and widespread disturbances to public tranquilly.

“In view of the prevailing law and order situation In the State of Manipur, the State Government views very seriously with utmost sensitivity the reported spread of disinformation, false rumours and other types of violent activities through various social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. on electronic equipment like tablet, computers, mobile phones, etc and sending bulk SMS likely facilitating and/or mobilising mobs of agitators and demonstrators, which may cause loss of life and/or damage to public/private property or aggravate the law and order situation in the state,” an official notification said.

According to the official notification, this order shall be in force for another five days with immediate effect from the time this suspension order becomes operational till 7:45 pm on October 1.

“The State Government decides to suspend/curb the mobile internet data services and internet/data services through VPN in the territorial jurisdiction of the State of Manipur for 5 (five) days with immediate effect till 7:45 PM on 01-10-2023, the notification read. 

Any person found guilty of a violation of the aforesaid orders will be liable for legal action, the notification added. 

Manipur has been witnessing violence since May 3, following the protests by the Kuki and Meitei communities against the High Court’s order asking the state government to consider the inclusion of the Meitei community in the category of Scheduled Tribes (ST). Only STs can buy land in hilly areas.  

The majority Meitei community, which occupies the Imphal Valley and nearby areas, sought ST status keeping in view their increasing population and increased requirement of land so that they could purchase lands in the hilly areas. (ANI)

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AIIA Delhi

Diplomats From East, SA Visit All India Institute Of Ayurveda In Delhi

The 15-member delegation of diplomats and representatives from East and Southern African countries visited the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi on Tuesday and explored the cutting-edge science and interventions of AIIA in the field of Ayurveda and integrative health care.

After joining the G20 bloc under India’s 2023 presidency, the African nations are all set to explore the power of Indian Systems of Traditional Medicine and Integrative health care.

The diplomats from Namibia Ethiopia, Uganda, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa, Kenya and Rwanda visited the Ayurvedic institution premises. 

Prof (Dr.) Tanuja Nesari, Director, AIIA, Pramod Kumar Pathak, Consultant, Ministry of Ayush, Puneet R. Kundal, Joint Secretary, (East & Southern Africa Division), Ministry of External Affairs and staff of the institute welcomed diplomats & explained to them about various achievements of India in Traditional Medicine.

In his video message, Minister of Ayush and Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal welcomed the African delegation and said that this visit will help in achieving the objective of Universal Health Coverage in African nations through the potential of traditional medicine systems of India.

Taking to X, the Ministry of Ayush shared about the delegation visit saying, Diplomats and representatives of East and Southern African Countries today visited @AIIA_NDelhi. They were apprised of how AIIA is working towards providing high standards of education, research, and patient care through Ayurveda. (ANI)

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MP Gurjar Mahakumbh

MP: FIRs Against 25 Named, 700 Unidentified Persons In Gurjar Mahakumbh Violence Incident

Gwalior police have registered FIRs against 25 named and 700 unknown persons at five different police stations in connection with the Gurjar Mahakumbh violence that erupted in the district, a police official said on Tuesday.

The case has been registered under various sections in the matter and a total of nine people have also been taken into custody so far.

“FIRs have been registered against a total of 25 named and 700 unknown persons at five police stations in the district. Two FIRs have been registered in Padav police station, two FIRs have been registered in University police station and one FIR in Bilua police station,” said Rishikesh Meena, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP, Crime Branch Gwalior).

Provocative speeches were given by public representatives at the venue of the meeting in the district on Monday. They had also challenged the administration, hence a named FIR has been registered against them as well, he added.

Notably, Gurjar Community organised a Mahapanchayat (meeting) at Phoolbagh in the district on Monday. After that they reached the Collectorate to summit a memorandum and during this around thousands of people also reached there. They created nuisance, vandalised vehicles and pelted stones due to which some police personnel were also injured. The police force also retaliated, lathi charged, used tear gas and managed to control the matter. (ANI)

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Baloch Leader Questions Canada

Baloch Leader Questions Canada For Not Investigating Murder Of Baloch Activist

The President of Baloch Voice Association (BVA), Munir Mengal on Tuesday questioned the Canadian authorities for not investigating the “mysterious” death of Human rights activist, Karima Baloch and requested them to public the evidence they found in the case.

“To the Canadian government and particularly to the Prime Minister of Canada, we Baloch are looking to your organization and we are asking you please do reinvestigate the case of Karima Baloch and whatever facts your organizations, your authorities, your police has. Please publish that and give us under what circumstances she was killed and who was behind that killing,” Mengal said.

BVA President shared that a document was given to the Canadian government to seek response from them about the update in the case but he said they didn’t get any follow-up from the Canadian authorities.

He added, “We submitted a document to the Canadian embassy and they said that we will contact our government and we will reply you as soon as possible. Unfortunately, approximately three years passed. Till now, we have not received any information from the Canadian authorities when Karima was eliminated. And after that, we saw a statement by the police authorities that there’s no wrong doing in the case of her death.”

Claiming that his organisation has lots of evidence against the Pakistan security force ISI and alleged that ISI is behind the killing of Baloch based Human rights activists.

Mengal further said, “Baloch people, we as an organization, we have a lot of evidences that in such sort of cases there’s the Pakistani secret services that’s called ISI. And she’s very much notorious and she has a lot of experience with respect to this. And there are many cases and incidents that Pakistani security forces ISI has done this sort of killings where their hands are masked.”

Karima Baloch was a Baloch human rights activist and a dissident. She was granted asylum in Canada in 2016. She was found dead after having gone missing in Dec 2020 in Toronto.

She was slated to be buried on January 25, but, before the corpse could be transported from Karachi to Balochistan, Pakistani authorities forcibly took Karima’s body along with her family from the airport to her hometown, Balochwarna reported.

Later, she was buried under Army watch as thousands who came to pay their last respect weren’t allowed near her, the Balochistan Times reported. Prior to her burial, the mobile services were suspended in the district, and Tump and surrounding areas were put under strict lockdown.

Karima’s death sparked protests across Europe and North America as the Baloch diaspora took to the streets in Toronto, Berlin and Netherlands calling on the Canadian government to investigate.

Karima had campaigned vigorously against the disappearances and human rights violations in the troubled Balochistan province of Pakistan. (ANI)

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CWRC Karnataka

CWRC Asks Karnataka To Release 3000 Cusecs Of Water To TN Till Oct 15

The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) has recommended Karnataka to ensure release of 3000 cusecs of Cauvery water at Biligundlu starting from September 28 upto October 15, 2023. The amount of water to be released was earlier 5000 cusecs. 

In its 87th meeting of CWRC held in New Delhi today, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu made their submissions before the committee.  

The submission made by Karnataka stated that the shortfall in cumulative inflows to the state’s four reservoirs upto September 25 was 53.04 per cent.

“The Government of Karnataka in the order dated September 13 has declared 161 Talukas in the State as severely drought-affected and 34 Talukas as moderately drought-affected. Out of this, 32 severely drought-affected Talukas and 15 moderately drought-affected Talukas fall in the Cauvery basin. This aspect needs utmost recognition and invites critical consideration by the committee,” the submission said.

The submission further stated that Karnataka was not in a position to release any water from its reservoirs or contribute any flows from its reservoirs to the flows to be maintained at the interstate border of Biligundlu.

Tamil Nadu urged CWRC that Karnataka has to release the shortfall quantity immediately and further flows as per the distress proportion. Tamil Nadu also urged CWRC that Karnataka too had to reduce its irrigation supply based on the distress proportion.

Earlier, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday accused opposition parties Bharatiya Janata Party and Janata Dal (Secular) in Karnataka of “doing politics” over Cauvery water sharing row.

Speaking to reporters in Mysuru, CM said, “It’s most unfortunate that BJP and JDS both are doing politics in Cauvery issue. It is just because of politics, not for the people of the state or the people”.

The Karnataka CM also urged the Water Management Authority to implement a distress formula for Water Sharing when there was a water shortage.

“So far no distress formula has been implemented. We have been praying for the distress formula in Cauvery water sharing issue. SC or CWMA have not given distress formula solution, whenever there is less rain, there should

be distress formula to share water” Siddaramaiah said. 

The order from the CWMA comes on day where organisations organised a bandh in Bengaluru against the CWMA’s decision ordering the government to release water. 

There have also been protests in Trichy and other regions of Tamil Nadu along the Cauvery delta where the farmers allege they do not have enough water to ensure Kurai (Paddy Crop) Cultivation. (ANI)

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Asian Games India Team

Asian Games: India Team Create History Clinch First-Ever Gold Medal In Team Dressage

The Indian team of Anush Agarwalla, Hriday Vipul, Divyakriti and Sudipti Hajela on Tuesday created history by clinching a historic gold medal after registering a huge score of 209.205 in the Team Dressage in the ongoing 19th Asian Games on Tuesday. 

This is India’s first-ever gold in this event at the Asian Games and their first gold medal in Equestrian after 41 years. 

After a competition that has lasted for nearly 10 hours, with a host of athletes participating from all across Asia, it is the Indian Quartet of Agarwalla, Chheda, Divyakriti and Hajela who deliver when it matters the most.

Anush Agarwalla and his horse ETRO scored the maximum score at 71.088 while Hriday Chheda-Emerald scored 69.941. Divyakriti Singh-Adrenalin Firdod scored 68.176. Sudipti Hajela-Chinski scored 66.706.

India finished with a score of 209.205 which was significantly higher than second-placed China’s 204.882. Anush Agarwalla stole the show with a score of 71.088 while Hriday scored 69.941 and Divyakriti scored 68.176. Together, they have ensured that no team even comes close to their combined score. 

They defeated the likes of China and Japan, who were absolute favourites to win this. (ANI)

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Indian Navy Drones

Indian Predator Drones Help Navy Keep A Close Watch Over Indian Ocean Region

The Predator drones of the Indian Navy have flown over 13,000 hours of missions across the Indian Ocean Region from INS Rajali, Naval Air Base here and helped the maritime force keep a close watch on the entire area for interest of the country.

The two drones have been operated by the Indian Navy since November 2020 when the force got them on lease from the American firm General Atomics as part of the emergency procurement powers.

“The aircraft has the capability to cover over 4,000-8,000 kms in one go and can operate for more than 30 hours in one stretch which allows them to cover the entire Indian Ocean Region in one go,” the second in command of the Navy’s drone unit Lieutenant Commander Lokesh Pandey told ANI.

Team ANI covered the operations of the most advanced drone of the force here where the Predator showcased its capabilities.

Asked about the 15 more advanced Predator MQ-9B drones that the force would be getting from the US under a tri-services deal, the first Mission Commander of the Predator drones in the country Lieutenant Commander Varsha said the new drones being planned would be equipped with weapons including air to ground missiles, bombs and submarine detection kits fitted with sonobuoys which can help detect the hidden enemy submarines.

The Predator drones can be equipped with American Hellfire missiles, bombs and other high-level sensors which can be used for carrying out strikes from long ranges against enemy targets.

The American forces have used drones to carry out countless strikes against terrorists like al-Qaeda’s Ayman al-Zawahiri, and others.

The Indian armed forces are getting 31 of these drones in total as part of a deal announced by India during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to the US earlier this year.

The Indian Ministry of Defence also handed over the Letter of Request to the US government for the drones after which the two sides will now start holding commercial negotiations.

The 31 drones are being offered at USD 3.1 billion but the Indian side is hopeful to get a concession on the price being offered. The Navy will get 15 of the 31 drones while the Army and the Air Force will get 8 each of them.

Asked about the deployment of drones in places like Ladakh, Lieutenant Commander Lokesh said the unmanned aircraft can provide a direct live feed of the battlefield situation on the ground from high mountainous areas to the top commanders sitting in headquarters in Delhi.

Officials said the aircraft while flying missions over the Indian Ocean near the Sunda strait has on many occasions identified and alerted the movement of Chinese warships movements through the Indian areas of interest and kept track of their research and fishing vessels operating in the area.

The Indian Navy has started training more number of officers and sailors to operate the drones in their fleet and will be training them to keep the drones ready for operations as part of the contractor-owned contractor-operated deal. (ANI)

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Dressage Team Asian Games

Modi Congratulates Dressage Team For Historic Asian Games Gold

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the Indian equestrian team of Anush Agarwalla, Hriday Vipul, Divyakriti and Sudipti Hajela who created history by clinching a historic gold medal in Team Dressage in the ongoing Asian Games.

This medal marked India’s first-ever gold in this event at the Asian Games and their first gold medal in Equestrian after 41 years.

In a post on X the Prime Minister said ” It is a matter of extreme pride that after several decades, our Equestrian Dressage Team has won Gold in Asian Games! Hriday Chheda, Anush Agarwalla, Sudipti Hajela and Divyakriit Singh have displayed unparalleled skill, teamwork and brought honour to our nation on the international stage. I extend my heartiest congratulations to the Team for this historic achievement.”

After a competition that lasted for nearly 10 hours, with a host of athletes participating from all across Asia, it was the Indian Quartet of Anush Agarwalla, Hriday Chheda, Divyakriti Singh and Sudipti Hajela who delivered when it mattered the most.

Anush Agarwalla and his horse ETRO scored the maximum score at 71.088 while Hriday Chheda-Emerald scored 69.941. Divyakriti Singh-Adrenalin Firdod scored 68.176. Sudipti Hajela-Chinski scored 66.706.

India finished with a score of 209.205 which was significantly higher than second-placed China’s 204.882. Anush Agarwalla stole the show with a score of 71.088 while Hriday scored 69.941 and Divyakriti scored 68.176. Together, they have ensured that no team even comes close to their combined score. 

They defeated the likes of China and Japan, who were absolute favourites to win this.

Earlier Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Jay Shah also congratulated the team for its historic Gold at the Asian Games. 

Shah took to X, formerly known as Twitter to laud the history-making team and wrote, “Congratulations to #SudiptiHajela, #DivyakritiSingh, #HridayChheda, and #AnushAgarwalla for scripting history and bringing home India’s first gold medal in the Equestrian Dressage Team Event in 41 years! This is a markable achievement, and we’re proud of your excellence.”

India have won 14 medals at Hangzhou 2023, three gold, four silver, and seven bronze. (ANI)

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Sukhu and Mann

Sukhu Meets Mann, Discusses Key Developmental Issues

Chief Minister Of Himachal Pradesh, Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu met Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday in Punjab’s Amritsar.

Both the leaders held talks on key issues concerning the state of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. The meeting also targeted the key developmental concerns of both states.

The meeting was attended by other leaders of both parties.

Earlier on Monday, Himachal CM attended the famous Attari-Wagah Border beating retreat ceremony with his Punjab counterpart and Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena.

“The Indian Army and paramilitary forces have kept the integrity and sovereignty of the country intact by sacrificing their lives when the Nation needed them the most to safeguard the country,” said Himachal CM.

Sukhu also distributed sweets to the Jawans who participated in the ceremony between the thunderous applause by the people gathered on the occasion to witness the same. He also encouraged the Jawans for their commitment and valour and for the impressive show.

Dr Atul Fulzale, IG Jalandhar range BSF and a Himachal IPS cadre officer, welcomed the Chief Minister on the occasion and presented him with a sapling. (ANI)

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Punjab Badal Vigilance Bureau

Punjab: Lookout Circular Against Badal By Vigilance Bureau

A Look Out Circular (LOC) has been issued against former Punjab finance minister and Bharatiya Janta Party leader Manpreet Singh Badal at all airports by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau on Tuesday.

Badal who left Congress and joined BJP in January this year is facing a criminal and corruption case in the purchase of two plots in Model Town phase-1 Bathinda.

The case was registered against him under sections 420, 467, 468, 471, and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code and section 13 (1) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, besides the Information Technology Act.

Notably, the notice has been issued by the vigilance department to stop Manpreet Badal from leaving the country.

Earlier, Badal had sought anticipatory bail from the court to avoid arrest. A hearing on his appeal will be held in the session court of Bathinda today.

Apart from Badal, cases have been registered against four other individuals as well. So far, the Vigilance Bureau has arrested at least three accused in the case, namely Rajiv Kumar (resident of New Shakti Nagar), Amandeep Singh (resident of Lal Singh Basti), and Vikas Arora (resident of Tagore Nagar).

The case was registered on a complaint filed by Saroop Chand Singla, former MLA of Bathinda city, against Manpreet Singh Badal and others, a spokesperson of the Vigilance Bureau said.

He informed that during the probe it was found that Manpreet Singh Badal during his tenure as Finance Minister between 2018 and 2021 used political pressure and influence to purchase two plots measuring 1560 square yards of land in Model Town phase-1 Bathinda near the TV tower thereby causing a financial loss of lakhs of rupees to the state exchequer, a press release from the Vigilance Bureau of Punjab said.

The spokesperson further said, “During the investigation of complaint number 11/2022, it was found that the former Finance Minister, using his influence, colluded with the officials of Bathinda Development Authority (BDA) and misled the general public during the bidding of plots in the year 2021, and fake maps were uploaded to prevent the participation of the general public in the bidding process.”

Apart from this, the plot numbers 725-C (560 square yards) and 726 (1000 square yards) in the map were also shown as commercial instead of residential and the numbers of the plots were not shown on the map on the online e-auction portal, the release said.

In addition to this, the digital signatures of Balwinder Kaur, Administrative Officer, BDA Bathinda were used for the auction of plots without her permission.

During the probe, it has also come to light that the bids of the sole three bidders namely Rajive Kumar, Vikas Arora and Amandeep Singh were made by one person Advocate Sanjiv Kumar from the same IP address and from the same place.

Apart from this, both the plots were purchased by the bidders in 2021 at a lower rate which was fixed during an auction in the year 2018 causing a financial loss of about Rs 65 lakh to the government, the release said.

The former finance minister of Punjab had purchased both plots through agreements from the bidders known to him before they got allotment letters from BDA Bathinda. It was also found that Manpreet Singh Badal has transferred 25 per cent earnest money in advance to the successful allottees which shows his connivance with the bidders.

He further informed that the VB has been hunting for the arrest of other accused and involvement of other accused would also be probed during the further investigation, the release said. (ANI)

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