Tag: Prayagraj

Nag Vasuki temple

Nag Panchami: Devotees Throng Ancient Nag Vasuki Temple In Prayagraj

By LokMarg

A large number of devotees on Monday thronged the ancient Nag Vasuki temple in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh to offer their prayers to lord Shiva and Nag Vasuki on the occasion of the seventh ‘Shravan Somvar.’ 

Long queues of devotees could be seen outside the Nagvasuki Temple in Prayagraj today morning. 

People queued up since the early hours to seek the blessing of Lord Shiva and Nag Vasuki at the temple entrance. 

Visuals show the preparation of an assortment of delicacies being prepared on the occasion. 

While speaking to ANI, Nag Vasuki Temple Head Priest Shyam Dhar said, “Nag Panchami is very important in Sanatan Dharma. All the festivals and festivals will start from today itself.” 

On the day of Nag Panchami, Sanatan Dharma worships the snake as a deity. The temple of Nagavasuki, the king of serpents, is situated on the banks of the Ganges in Prayagraj. A large number of people come here on this day to offer prayers and pray for auspiciousness for their families, added the priest. 

In Sanatan Dharma, the snake is also seen to be associated with the environment. It is believed that the cobra plays an important role in protecting the paddy crop, as it kills the rats. Things enriched by nature are offered to the serpent god on this day, he said. 

Meanwhile, devotees worshipped the ‘Nag Devta’ or Nag deity at the Shesha Avatar Laxman Temple in Ayodhya. 

Devotees from far and wide come here and offer water, milk, and raw gram to Lord Lakshman on this day. 

The festival of Nag Panchami, which is being celebrated today, is an annual occasion where Hindus worship snakes. Its origins date back to the earliest days of the religion. 

Offering milk to the snake god is among the primary rituals of this festival. There are numerous stories related to Nag Panchami. 

As per Hindu mythology, as a child when Lord Krishna was playing by the Yamuna River, his ball became entangled in a tree’s branches. He was attacked by the snake Kaliya while trying to fetch the ball. 

Lord Krishna fought valiantly, and the snake begged him not to kill it. The occasion is observed to commemorate Krishna’s success in sparing humanity from the threat of Kaliya, the most venomous snake. 

Some of the snake gods that people in India pray to on Nag Panchami are Ananta, Shesha, Vasuki, Kambala, Padma, and Kaliya. 

It is believed that anything offered to snakes on Nag Panchami would reach the serpent Gods. Hence, devotes worship live snakes on the day as representatives of serpent Gods.

The traditional offering for Nag Panchami is everything milk-based, from kheer to sweets, which are then offered to the deity.

Many observe fasts and feed the poor to mark this day. Some devotees also make snake idols at home with clay. Flowers and milk are offered to the idols and placed near snake holes or burrows. Houses are also decorated with rangoli. (ANI)

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Atiq office in pryagraj

UP: Bloodstains, Knife Found At Atiq’s Office In Prayagraj

By LokMarg

Uttar Pradesh Police on Monday found bloodstains inside the partially demolished office of slain gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed in Prayagraj who was shot dead earlier this month.

“I have examined myself, bloodstains, the knife was found near the staircase and next to the kitchen Atiq’s office,” Satyendra Prasad Tiwari, Prayagraj Additional Commissioner of Police (ACP).

“The FSL team is about to reach, and the investigation will be done. CCTV footage will also be examined,” he added.

Further investigation is underway.

Moreover, on Sunday, the Uttar Pradesh government constituted a two-member judicial commission to probe the killing of gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed’s son Asad in an encounter in the State.

The State government on Sunday announced the formation of a two-member judicial enquiry committee to probe the encounter in Jhansi.

Asad along with his aide Ghulam in the Umesh Pal murder case was killed in an encounter with the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force on April 13 in Jhansi.

The committee will be headed by Retired High Court judge Rajeev Lochan Mehrotra and retired DG Vijay Kumar Gupta.

Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf were shot dead by men posing as media persons on April 15 night while being taken for a medical examination in Prayagraj. Both the gangsters collapsed on the spot after they were shot at nearly point-blank range.

Atiq Ahmed was accused in the 2005 Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLA Raju Pal murder case and also in the murder case of Umesh Pal which happened in February this year. (ANI)

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Akshaya Tritiya Prayagraj

Akshaya Tritiya: Devotees Take Holy Dip At Sangam In Prayagraj

By LokMarg

Devotees took a holy dip at Sangam in Prayagraj on Saturday, on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya.

Akshaya Tritiya is one of the most auspicious days celebrated by Hindus and Jains across the country. The day is symbolic of good luck, success and fortune.

Akshaya Tritiya is celebrated through prayer, almsgiving, and spirituality. The day is considered t to be highly lucky for starting new businesses, making investments, and buying gold and real estate.

In Sanskrit, the word ‘Akshaya’ means ‘never diminishing’. It is said that things that start on this day expand forever with fewer obstacles in their way, and that doing good deeds on this day will bring eternal success and fortune.

Akshaya Tritiya 2023: History and Significance

The occasion is celebrated on the third day of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Vaisakh. According to the Gregorian calendar, this day falls sometime in April-May. It is on this day that both the sun and the moon are said to be at their planetary best alignment.

The day is also known as ‘Akha Teej’ and is being celebrated on April 22 this year. It is believed that tasks done on this auspicious day are blessed by divine powers and always prove beneficial. It is considered to be an auspicious day to bring home precious metals like gold and silver for prosperity. It was the day when the third of the four Yugas – Treta Yuga began.

Akshaya Tritiya 2023: Shubh Muhurat to buy gold

The shubh muhurat to buy gold starts from 7.49 am on April 22, 2023 (Saturday) to 7.47 am on April 23 (Sunday).

There are multiple beliefs and reasons behind the ritual of buying gold or silver to mark this day.

People consider buying gold as ‘shubh’ or auspicious on this day, as it symbolises wealth and a valuable asset. People believe investing in gold on this day promises eternal fortune and never diminishing wealth.

Lord Kuber, the deity of wealth. On this day, Lord Kuber is believed to have chosen to serve as the treasurer of heaven. Worshipping Kuber on this day is said to bestow devotees with utmost success, wealth, and fortune.

Interestingly, the festival also marks the birth anniversary of Parashurama (6th incarnation of Lord Vishnu). It is also believed that Lord Krishna handed Draupadi a Patra (container) in which food appeared in abundance during the period when Pandavas were exiled to forests.

According to Hindu scriptures, Akshaya Tritiya also marks the start of the Kaliyug and end of the Dwapar yug.

Apart from buying gold, people arrange Akshata, fast, and offer Naivedyam Thali to god.

People, who fast for a day, prepare Akshata and offer it to Lord Vishnu to bring good luck to their families. Unbroken rice, turmeric, and kumkum are combined to make akshata. And it is believed that offering the Naivedyam Thali to Lord Vishnu will bring us his blessings. The thali is mostly made up of milk and milk products. Milk and grains are used to make sweets, which are subsequently dedicated to the Lord.

People who fast for a day prepare Akshata and offer it to Lord Vishnu to bring good luck to their families. Unbroken rice, turmeric, and kumkum are combined to make akshata. (ANI)

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Atiq Killers in Police Custody

Atiq Ahmed Killers Shifted To High Security Cell In Naini Jail

By LokMarg

Three shooters who gunned down Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf Ahmed on the night of April 15, have been shifted from the barracks to the high-security cell of Naini (Prayagraj) Central Jail on Monday.

“All three shooters, Arun Maurya, Sunny Singh and Lovelesh Tiwari, are under threat of attack behind bars, owing to which they have been shifted to a high-security cell,” official sources said.
“The slain gangster Atiq Ahmed allegedly had a good network in the jail, and this prompted authorities to shift the trio to a high-security cell rather as they believed that keeping them with other prisoners could have been risky,” sources pointed out.

Atiq Ahmad and his brother Ashraf Ahmad were shot dead by men posing as press persons on Saturday night while being taken for a medical examination in Prayagraj. Both the gangsters collapsed on the spot after they were shot at nearly point-blank range.

The three shooters, Arun Maurya, Sunny Singh and Lovelesh Tiwari were sent to 14-day judicial custody by the district court on Sunday.

On Sunday, the last rites of gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf took place at a family graveyard in Kasari Masari area of Prayagraj.

Minor sons of gangster Atiq Ahmed were brought to the burial ground from a juvenile home.

Atiq Ahmed was accused in the 2005 Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLA Raju Pal murder case and also in the Umesh Pal murder case which happened in February this year. (ANI)

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Atiq Killers

Atiq’s Killers Were Jobless, Drug Addicts, Say Kin

By LokMarg

After gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf were shot dead in Prayagraj in full media glare on Saturday night, the father of one of the assailants on Sunday said his son was jobless and a drug addict.

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Yagya Tiwari (father of Lovelesh, one of the arrested shooters) said, “He is my son. We saw the incident on TV. We are not aware of the actions of Lovelesh nor do we have anything to do with this. He never lived here and neither was he involved in our family affairs. He did not tell us anything. He came here five to six days ago. We have not been on talking terms with him for years. There is already a case registered against him. He was jailed in that case.”
“He doesn’t work. He was a drug addict. We have four children. We have nothing to say about this,” Yagya Tiwari added.

Meanwhile, speaking to ANI, Pintu Singh (brother of shooter Sunny Singh) said, “He used to wander around and did no work. We live separately and dont know how he became a criminal. We have no idea about the incident.”

Days after Atiq Ahmed’s son Asad was killed in an encounter in Uttar Pradesh’s Jhansi, the mafia-turned-politician and his brother Ashraf Ahmed were killed on Saturday while being taken for a medical examination in Prayagraj.

Atiq was accused in the murder of BSP MLA Raju Pal in 2005 and also in the subsequent killing of Umesh Pal, a key witness in the BSP’s leader’s murder, in February this year.

All three assailants were arrested, informed police after Atiq and his brother were shot dead.

“Three people have been arrested and they are being questioned. A journalist was also injured as he fell down and a constable sustained a bullet injury,” Prayagraj Police Commissioner Ramit Sharma said earlier.

UP CM Yogi Adityanath also ordered the setting up of a three-member judicial commission to probe the incident.

“UP CM Yogi Adityanath took cognisance of the Prayagraj incident. He chaired a high-level meeting and ordered a high-level inquiry into the matter. The CM also ordered the formation of a three-member Judicial Commission (Judicial Inquiry Commission) in the matter,” an officer said.

A forensic team also reached the scene of the incident and collected samples.

Moments before their killing, the slain gangster siblings, who were accused in the Umesh Pal murder case, were speaking to the media while being taken for a medical and their murder was captured on camera.


Nahi le gaye to nahi gaye
(they did not take us, so we did not go)” were Atiq Ahmed’s last words, when asked what did he have to say about not being taken to his son Asad’s burial. (ANI)

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Atiq hearing in prayagraj court

Atiq’s Hearing In Prayagraj Court Today

By LokMarg

The family of Umesh Pal, the lawyer who was abducted and killed, on Tuesday, said that they want the mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed, a prime accused in the case to be given the death sentence stating that they want his “empire of terror to end”.

“…We don’t have the strength to fight a case in the time to come. He (Atiq ahmed) should be sentenced to death by hanging. If he is sentenced to life imprisonment, he can do anything from jail. He got my son killed from jail. He won’t let us live if he remains there…” Umesh Pal’s mother Shanti Devi told ANI ahead of a hearing of the case in Prayagraj court
Umesh Pal’s widow Jaya Pal said, “I hope court sentences him to death by hanging. If he lives, perhaps we won’t be able be alive. Maybe it would be us next. If he is gone only then will terror be gone…”

“I want Atiq Ahmed’s empire to end, I don’t want him to be alive. I urge the court to give him a death sentence,” she said.

Meanwhile, security has been deployed outside the residence of Umesh Pal in Prayagraj.

The five time MLA Atiq Ahmed was brought to Prayagraj jail from Gujarat’s Sabarmati jail on Monday to be produced in Prayagraj Court today, which will deliver the verdict in the kidnapping case. All accused in the case, including mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed’s brother Ashraf, will be produced in court.

Ahmed is also an accused in the 2005 murder case of BSP MLA Raju Pal. Umesh Pal, who was a prime witness in the Raju Pal murder case, was shot dead in Prayagraj on February 24 this year.

Ahmed is the main accused in the Umesh Pal murder case. Umesh Pal, the prime witness in the 2005 murder of BSP MLA Raju Pal, and his two security personnel were shot dead in Prayagraj on February 24 this year.

District Bar Association, Prayagraj said that the hearing will not be held in any other cases except the Umesh Pal abduction case today in the MP-MLA court of Prayagraj.

“A letter was written to Minister of District Advocates Association by Presiding Officer of MP MLA Court. A request also has been made to pronounce a verdict on March 28 itself,” the Association said.

Security has also been increased outside Naini jail in Prayagraj and a heavy deployment of uniformed personnel was seen outside the jail premises today.

Ahmed was on Monday brought to Naini jail in Prayagraj from Sabarmati jail in Ahmedabad by road covering a distance of over 1,300 kilometres in around 24 hours. He was escorted by a 45-member team of Uttar Pradesh police.

Judge of Special MP MLA Court Dr Dinesh Chandra Shukla will give a verdict in the Umesh Pal kidnapping case today. The court had reserved the verdict on March 17 after the completion of the hearing.

On 25 January 2005, BSP MLA Raju Pal was murdered. Devilal Pal and Sandeep Yadav were also killed. Umesh Pal, the main witness in the Raju Pal murder case, was abducted on February 28, 2006.

Atiq Ahmed had allegedly abducted Umesh Pal from a Land Cruiser vehicle near Phansi Imli of the Dhumanganj police station area. Keeping him in his Chakia office, he was beaten up and electrocuted.

Atiq had made Umesh Pal give a written statement in his favor on March 1, 2006, that he was not present at the scene and did not want to testify.

Umesh Pal filed a case of kidnapping in Dhumanganj police station in July 2007 after the formation of the BSP government in Uttar Pradesh in 2007.

A case was registered against former MPs Atiq Ahmed, Ashraf, Dinesh Pasi, Ansar Ahmed alias Ansar Baba, Khan Soulat Hanif. Police has named Atiq Ahmed, Ashraf Dinesh Pasi, Ansar Ahmed, Saulat Hanif, Javed, Farhan, Israr, Abid Pradhan, Ashiq Malli and Ejaz Akhtar as accused.

One of the accused Ansar Ahmed died. Atiq Ahmed, Ashraf and Farhan are in jail. The rest of the accused are out on bail.

In 2009, the court framed charge on the accused and the trial of the case began.

In 2016, in this case, an attempt was made to throw Umesh Pal from the fourth floor of the court premises to make him withdraw.

An FIR has been registered in this matter at the Colonelganj police station. Various applications were filed on behalf of the accused to stop the trial of the case.

Umesh Pal filed an application in the High Court demanding early settlement of the case. Allahabad High Court ordered to complete the hearing of the case in two months by March 16, 2023.

During the trial, the prosecution produced 8 witnesses and the defence produced 50 witnesses.

Umesh Pal was murdered on February 24 after returning from defending this case.

In the Umesh Pal kidnapping case, an FIR has been registered in the Dhumanganj police station under IPC sections 147, 148, 149, 364 A, 341, 342, 504, 506, 120 B and 7 CLA Act. (ANI)

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Prayagraj: Hospital Which Gave Juice As IV Drip To Patient, Gets Demolition Notice

By LokMarg

Prayagraj Development Authority has issued a notice to the Global Hospital to vacate the building by October 28. The hospital came into the limelight after it allegedly transfused fruit juice instead of blood platelets to a dengue patient.

The civic authority has termed the building as “illegally constructed”. The hospital is likely to be bulldozed.
Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak has assured strict action against the hospital if they are found guilty. He said that the platelets packet has been sent for testing.

“Taking cognizance of the viral video of Jhalwa-based Global Hospital offering ‘Mausambi’ juice to a dengue patient in place of platelets in the district Prayagraj, the hospital has been immediately sealed and the platelets packet has been sent for testing. If found guilty, strict action will be taken against the hospital,” Pathak tweeted in Hindi.

Earlier, the hospital was sealed after a preliminary inquiry revealed that “some irregularities” were found according to Additional Chief Medical Officer, Dr. AK Tiwari.

“The (CMO) chief medical officer ordered a probe after the patient died. In the probe, some irregularities were found. The hospital has been sealed till the probe is completed,” the additional CMO said on Thursday.

A probe has been initiated and action will be taken after the completion of the investigation. The complainant has filed an FIR, the official said.

However, according to the owner of the hospital, Saurabh Mishra, the platelets were brought by the attendants of the patient.

“The attendants were given the slip to bring platelets. They brought five units of platelets in the evening. When three units were used, there was a reaction in the patient, we stopped the transfusion. The platelets that were brought by the attendants of the patient were transfused to the patient. It belonged to the SRN Blood Bank. The hospital has no responsibility for it,” he said.

The hospital owner alleged that the patient’s attendants were responsible for bringing the platelets.

“We do not test the platelets that the attendants bring. How is the hospital responsible if the attendants fetch the wrong platelets? It should be the responsibility of the attendants to ascertain whether they are authentic,” the hospital owner said.

“We had referred the patient to a higher center after the attendants requested to do so following the deterioration in the health of the patient. The patient had not died here, the death happened two days later in another hospital,” Mishra added.

Further probe into the matter is underway. (ANI)

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Cow Vaccination Reaches UP

Cow Vaccination Reaches 100% In Seven Districts, 80% In Twenty-Two Districts: UP

By LokMarg

Intensifying its efforts to curb the spread of the lumpy virus among animals across the state, the Yogi Adityanth-led government in Uttar Pradesh has completed the vaccination of almost 100 percent of cows in seven districts and more than 80 percent in 22 districts of the state.

As per official reports of the UP government, at 97 percent, the lumpy vaccination rate is the highest in Bareilly. It is important to note that Uttar Pradesh reached the milestone of administering 1 crore vaccine doses to prevent lumpy skin disease in just 40 days. Gujarat, which has administered about 63 lakh vaccines in the previous three months, is ranked second. Uttar Pradesh is the first state in the country to administer lumpy vax to 1 crore cows so far.
The state government has taken several steps to stop the transmission of the lumpy virus, including among others issuing necessary instructions to all the districts in this regard. The Panchayati Raj and Urban Development Department have been directed to coordinate in spraying anti-larval medicine in all villages to stop the spread of the lumpy virus amid the recent heavy rains.

Directions have also been issued that Agra, Meerut, Bareilly, Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Prayagraj, and Jhansi districts must distribute Ivermectin Bolus and Iodine Ointment.

Moreover, given excessive rains and possible floods, officials have been asked to provide information about the cows affected and dead because of the lumpy virus to headquarters immediately. Each district has been given a deadline of October 31 to complete the required vaccinations.

Additional Chief Secretary, Livestock, Dr. Rajneesh Dubey informed that as per the instructions of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, 2000 teams were formed in the state to carry out vaccinations and extensive ‘ring’ and ‘belt’ vaccinations were done.

“Cows with lumpy skin disease signs were discovered for the first time in the state during the second week of August. The Animal Husbandry Department immediately stepped up its attention and began extensive monitoring. The government formed Team-9,” he added.

Seven senior nodal officers from Team-9 extensively monitored Bareilly, Moradabad, Meerut, Saharanpur, Agra, and Aligarh divisions. In the state, 1.32 crore doses of the Goat Pox vaccination have been ordered so far.

The vaccination campaign started in western UP, a ring vaccination was launched in the 25 lumpy virus-affected districts of Western Uttar Pradesh.

Later, to contain the spread of disease from Western UP to the central and eastern regions of the state, a 10 km wide and 320 km long belt from Pilibhit to Etawah district was created. Under the area of the belt, 100% vaccination of all the cattle was done.

The second belt was created from district Etawah to Auraiya which was about 155 km long. 100% vaccination of all the cattle was ensured in this area. In addition, the Goat Pox vaccination of cows is being done at a fast pace in the entire state by conducting ring vaccination within a radius of 10 km around all the municipalities and municipal corporations.

The Government ensured that all the cows in shelters and ‘gaushalas’ across the state were vaccinated against the virus. Priority was also given to the vaccination of all the cattle at the inter-state and intra-state borders.

In 31 districts of Western UP, 98 dedicated cow shelter sites were opened in which infected cows were protected separately. The lumpy virus has so far infected 76713 cows in the state, of which 56054 (73%) have recovered while the rest are undergoing treatment and their health is showing steady improvement. (ANI)

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