The Border Security Force (BSF) has seized mobile phones worth Rs 39,29,000 in West Bengal’s Malda district near India-Bangladesh International Border (IB), the forces said on Saturday. The BSF’s 70 Battalion troops under South Bengal Frontier, deputed at Border Out Post Sukhdevpur, seized a consignment of 359 mobile phones late on Friday night on the International Border (IB).
The seizure was based on the basis of accurate information received from BSF intelligence sources, said the BSF, adding “its troops of Border Out Post Sukhdevpur noticed about 10 to 12 suspected smugglers moving towards fencing with bundles when the force reached there”.
“But seeing the troops coming towards them, the smugglers fled with the help of thick darkness and bushes. After that the jawans launched a special search operation, during the search, eight bags were recovered in the pit of soil near fencing,” the BSF said. “On the opening of the recovered bags, mobile phones of various companies were found.
The estimated value of the seized mobile phones is Rs 39,29,000.” According to the BSF inputs, the names of many Indian smugglers involved in this smuggling have come to the fore, who were involved in this smuggling.
An FIR has been lodged against all those smugglers at the Baishnabnagar Police Station and the mobile phones that have been seized have also been handed over to the Police Station concerned for further legal action.
A special CBI court in Chennai has sentenced four senior Indian Bank officials and two others to three years’ rigorous imprisonment with a Rs 10,000 fine each in a Rs 30 crore loan scam. The CBI court said Aziz, then Chief Manager, GV Srinivasan, then Senior Manager, Muthiah, then Senior Manager and S Arunachalam, then General Manager, all of Indian Bank, will undergo three years’ rigorous imprisonment with fine of Rs 10,000 each and Ranjiv Batra and his wife Kiran Batra of M/s Kiran Overseas Ltd (both residents of Chennai) to undergo 37 months’ rigorous imprisonment with fine of Rs 10,000 each.
The court has also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 each on M/s Kiran Overseas Ltd, Chennai and M/s Kiran Overseas Ltd, Delhi. CBI had registered a case on a complaint from Indian Bank against the accused on the allegations that the accused including M/s Kiran Overseas Ltd and its Directors; officials of Indian Bank and others had caused huge loss to Indian Bank, Thousand Lights Branch, Chennai by cheating and forgery.
It was further alleged that the accused, in pursuance of the conspiracy submitted false and forged documents. The loan amount was released by the officials of Indian Bank without any approval/sanction and without securing the financial interests of Indian Bank.
The accused failed to repay the loan, causing a loss of Rs 39.18 crore to Indian Bank. After the investigation, a chargesheet was filed against the accused. During the trial, four accused public servants of Indian Bank including the former Chairman and Managing Director died. Hence the charge against them had been abated. The trial court found the said accused guilty and convicted them.
Landlocked Afghanistan faces many issues related to trade as it has to cross Iran or Pakistan to reach water ports as the seaports accelerate the rate of international trade and act as an inhibitor in trade cost. Mirza Ahmad Ebrahimi, a PhD research scholar writing in Khaama Press in an op-ed page analysed Afghanistan’s two options, Chabahar or Karachi seaport.
Chabahar seaport via Iran was found to be the utmost sustainable one as a trade route. To connect Afghanistan with Iran’s Zabul province for smoothing and accelerating goods movement, the Delaram-Zaranj Highway with a 218 km roadway in the Nimruz province was designed and constructed by the government of India at the request of Afghanistan and cost USD 175 million.
Zabul province in Iran is well-connected by road to the Port of Chabahar. It is one of the busiest roads in Afghanistan and provides an important trade route between Afghanistan, Iran, and the rest of Asia, said Ebrahimi.
Chabahar road is much shorter and more stable than any of the routes in Pakistan, making it perhaps the most efficient means that Afghan traders can reach the final destination for their exports, where 80 per cent of Afghanistan’s cargo traffic now lies.
Furthermore, the Chabahar route paves the opportunity to access two countries’ markets with a population of 1.4 billion rather than one country with a population of 200 million people.
Zabul province in Iran is well-connected by road to the Port of Chabahar. It is one of the busiest roads in Afghanistan and provides an important trade route between Afghanistan, Iran, and the rest of Asia, said Ebrahimi. Chabahar road is much shorter and more stable than any of the routes in Pakistan, making it perhaps the most efficient means that Afghan traders can reach the final destination for their exports, where 80 per cent of Afghanistan’s cargo traffic now lies.
Furthermore, the Chabahar route paves the opportunity to access two countries’ markets with a population of 1.4 billion rather than one country with a population of 200 million people.
Felix Auger-Aliassime defeats World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz 5
Felix Auger-Aliassime bagged one of the biggest wins of his career on Friday as he defeated new World No. 1, Carlos Alcaraz, in Davis Cup action, before returning to the court in doubles to help Canada past Spain 2-1.
Auger-Aliassime produced a stunning performance to clinch the match 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-2 against Carlos Alcaraz. The 19- year-old Alcaraz fought valiantly but was unable to close out the tie.
The World No. 13 saved all seven break points he faced to level Canada’s tie against Spain at 1-1 after two hours and 50 minutes.
Auger-Aliassime carried his momentum into the doubles, in which he partnered Vasek Pospisil past Marcel Granollers and Pedro Martinez 4-6, 6-4, 7-5. In the first match of the tie, Roberto Bautista Agut had made a good start for Spain when he rallied past Vasek Pospisil 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.
Moreover, Matteo Berrettini and Jannik Sinner, both of whom competed in the 2021 Nitto ATP Finals, displayed their great strength on Friday to help Italy defeat Argentina. Berrettini defeated Sebastian Baez 6-2, 6-3 to give Italy the advantage before Sinner took the court in Bologna, where he delivered a 7-5, 1-6, 6-3 triumph against Francisco Cerundolo.
The group stage of the 2022 Davis Cup finals will take place across four cities – Bologna, Glasgow, Hamburg and Valencia – from September 13-18. The top two teams in each group will progress to the knock-out stage. The knock-out stage will take place in Malaga from November 22-27.
Mizoram police seized 374 grams of heroin worth Rs 1.87 cr on friday night in Aizawl. Police have arrested a 43 year woman and recovered drugs.
According to the police, a special narcotics team recovered and seized 374 grams (29 soap cases) of heroin from the possession of Rohlupuii (43) of Champhai near 1st MAP playground, Armed Veng, Aizawl on Friday night.
Mastermind of 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks, Lashkar-e-Taiba’s (LeT) Sajid Mir
China on Friday (local time) once again put a hold on a proposal moved at the United Nations by the US and co-supported by India to designate Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist, Sajid Mir as a “global terrorist.”
He is India’s most wanted terrorist and was involved in the 2008 Mumbai attacks. The US moved the proposal and co-designated by India to blacklist Mir under the 1267 Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council as a global terrorist.
It is the third time that China has blocked an India-US proposal in recent months after Abdul Rehman Makki, LeT and Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) leader as well as Abdul Rauf Azhar, the brother of Jaish-e Mohammed (JEM) chief Masood Azhar was protected by Beijing. Abdul Rehman Makki is a LeT Deputy Commander and brother-in-law of Hafiz Saeed, founder of the LeT.
The UN Committee has also declared JuD, the political branch of the LeT, a terrorist front group. Resolution 1267 provides for sanctions against individuals and entities that support or finance the acts or activities of ISIL, Al-Qaida, associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities. Sajid Mir is a top Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) Commander and is in charge of the “India Setup” of LeT. Sajid Mir is one of the masterminds of the Mumbai Terror Attack (November 26, 2008).
He was responsible for the largest ever overseas LeT terror attack resulting in the death of nationals of several countries including India and Western countries.
During the attack, 175 people were killed (18 Police personnel, 122 people, 26 Foreigners and 9 terrorists) and 291 were injured ( 25 Police personnel, 243 people, 22 foreigners and one terrorist Ajmal Kasab). Mir was LeT Project Manager for the November 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
He, through satellite phone, instructed the terrorists involved in the attacks for executing hostages during the operation. He is also actively involved in the launching of LeT operatives into India.
He looked after the security of Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi (LeT Operations Chief), responsible for anti-India terror operations. Sajid Mir was involved in overseas recruitment/training activities for LeT and travelled to UAE, Bangladesh, Canada, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Saudi Arabia in Connection with operational work.
Pune’s controversial tantra camp for navratri canceled 9
Pune police on Wednesday registered a FIR against person for allegedly sharing an advertisement on social media on Sex tantra camp to be organizied during Navratri festival.
The controversial advertisement said a Navratri Special camp is being organised to offer a 3 days and 2 nights course “Sex Tantra” under Satyam Shivam Sundaram foundation in Pune.
The Social Service unit of Pune Police took the matter seriously and registered an FIR against a person named Ravi Singh, a resident of Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj, for allegedly sharing this controversial advertisement on social media.
On questioning Singh said he was contracted to post such advertisements on social media by Satyan Shivam Sundaram foundation of UP.
Six persons died and over 20 were critically injured after a coal loaded truck hit a bus near Rourkela bypass on Jharsuguda-Sambalpur Biju Expressway.
The bus was carrying employees from JSW plant Jharsuguda town. This incident took place when the employees were coming back after completing their work.
According to media reports around 6 died in this serious accident and 20 got injured. The injured have been shifted to hospital.
“6 dead, over 20 injured as a bus carrying employees of a company met with an accident in Jharsuguda after a coal-laden truck collided with the bus. Most employees are severely injured. 10 people have been referred to a hospital in Burla, Sambalpur while 14 under treatment here,” Jharsuguda Deputy Superintendent of Police N Mohapatra told agencies.
Deepak Kesarkar, School Education Minister | Image : PTI
On Friday Maharashtra’s School Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar has stated that education should be provided in such quality there is no way of giving homework to the children.
He has stated that that will speak to the leaders in regards to issue of the education in the system and also children should not be “overburdened”.
As per the reports minister also stated that “Homework should not be excuse for teachers and the syllabus which is been taught should be taught with full concentration that it does not need any homework”.
The minister also stated that these are his opinion towards the education system and given to the children in the school.
Deepak Vasant Kesarkar is a member of the Maharashtra legislative Assembly. He is also been elected as Cabinet Minister for Ministry of Education.
An RBI article on Friday favoured frontloading of monetary policy actions, such as interest rate hikes, to contain inflationary pressures without sacrificing medium-term economic growth prospects.
The article titled ‘State of the Economy’ comes two weeks ahead of the next bi-monthly monetary policy review on September 30 when it is widely expected that the central bank will go for another rate hike.
The RBI, however, said the opinions expressed in the article are those of the authors and do not represent the views of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
Loss of momentum in global economic activity may be taking the edge off inflation, which remains elevated, said the article by a team lead by RBI Deputy Governor Michael Debabrata Patra.
The Indian economy is poised to shrug off the modest tapering of growth momentum in the first quarter of 2022-23, it added.
Aggregate demand is firm and poised to expand further as the festival season sets in. Domestic financial conditions remain supportive of growth impulses, the article noted.
“Inflation remains elevated and above the tolerance level, underscoring the need for monetary policy to keep second order effects contained and inflation expectations firmly anchored,” the authors said.
The retail inflation cut short its three-month declining trend and inched up to 7 per cent in August, mainly due to higher food prices.
The consumer price index (CPI) based inflation, which the RBI factors in for its monetary policy, has remained above its upper threshold of 6 per cent for eight months in a row.
Based on the recommendations of the RBI Governor-headed Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), the central bank has already raised the key short-term lending rate by 140 basis points in three tranches since May this year to check inflation.
The next meeting of the MPC is scheduled during September 28-30, 2022.
The article said there is a resurgence of food price pressures, mainly stemming from cereals.
On the food front, there is also a need to brace for the impact of the predicted delayed withdrawal of the monsoon, it said.
The article also mentioned the huge uncertainty surrounding energy prices in spite of the recent softening. It said India’s USD 750 billion export target for the current fiscal is appearing within reach.
At this critical juncture, the authors said, monetary policy has to perform the role of nominal anchor for the economy as it charts a new growth trajectory. The focus should be on being time consistent in aligning inflation with the target.
“In this context, front-loading of monetary policy actions can keep inflation expectations firmly anchored and reduce the medium-term growth sacrifice,” they said.
The article noted that we live in times of conflicting possibilities — elevated inflation and rising recession risks; economic stagnation and increasing debt; strengthening US dollar and weakening currencies in the rest of the world; easing supply chain pressures and reshoring; synchronisation in policy actions and deglobalisation; and balance sheet normalisation and liquidity stress.
The Indian economy continued to tread a path of recovery in 2022-23 in spite of some loss of momentum due to global headwinds, it added.
