A superintendent of an ashram school has been arrested for allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl student at the institution in Maharashtra’s Chandrapur district, police said on Monday.
A special investigation team (SIT) has been formed to probe the incident that took place at Ghamabai ashram school in Baranj Tanda village of Bhadravati tehsil, around 30 km from the district headquarters, an official said.
The police on Sunday arrested the accused under section 376 (rape) and other relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, he said.
A first information report (FIR) was registered at Hinganghat police station in Wardha district as the victim girl’s parents reside there and the case was later transferred to Bhadravati police station, the official said.
The victim was a student at the residential school, where the accused was employed as a superintendent, sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) AyushNopani said.
On August 4, the school authorities asked the girl’s parents to take her away and issued a transfer certificate, citing that she was suffering from health problems, he said.
After returning to her house in Hinganghat, the girl informed her family that the school superintendent had raped her, following which the parents lodged a complaint, the official said. The victim has been sent to Nagpur for a medical check-up and further probe is underway in the matter, he added.
Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary on Monday informed Loka Sabha that the government has no proposal under consideration to constitute the 8th Central Pay Commission for the central government employees.
The minister replied to a question on whether the government proposes to ensure a timely constitution of the 8th Central Pay Commission for central government employees so that it could be implemented on January 1, 2026.
At least seven pay commissions have been constituted since 1947. After every ten years, the central government forms a pay commission to revise the salary structure of the government employees.
The 7th Central Pay Commission was reportedly set up by the government of India on February 28, 2014.
The first Pay Commission in India was established in January 1946. The constitutional framework of the Pay Commission comes under the Department of Expenditure (Ministry of Finance).
About other measures being taken by the government to increase salaries in view of rising inflation, the minister replied in order to compensate for erosion in the real value of their salaries on account of inflation, dearness allowances (DA) are paid to them and the rate of DA is revised periodically every 6 months on the basis of the rate of inflation gauged under All India Consumer Price lndex for Industrial Workers.
Immediately prior to coming to Mumbai, Consul General Hankey served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Amman; prior to that he headed the Palestinian Affairs Unit at the US Embassy in Jerusalem.
A career diplomat since 2001, Consul General Hankey’s previous assignments include postings in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iraq, Yemen, and Nigeria.
“I am honoured to represent the United States of America in Western India at a time when the US-India relationship is stronger than ever. As we celebrate 75 years of diplomatic ties, we will continue to work to build a more prosperous, free, connected, and secure world. Our shared commitment to democratic values, economic partnership, and people-to-people ties is the foundation which ensures greater cooperation into the future. I look forward to exploring all that Mumbai and Western India have to offer artistically and culturally over the next three years,” said Hankey.
Consul General Hankey is accompanied by his wife and their two sons in Mumbai.
A top Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) commander, with a USD 3 million American bounties on his head, has been reportedly killed in an explosion in eastern Afghanistan.
Omar Khalid Khorasani, a former journalist and poet, who studied at several madrasas in Pakistan’s Karachi was killed in a vehicle carrying senior TTP commanders, with a mysterious explosive device.
A vehicle with Khalid Khorasani, aka Abdul Wali Mohmand, and other TTP leaders, was targeted in Bermal district of Paktika province, The Express Tribune newspaper reported, citing Afghan officials and local sources.
Citing anonymous sources, the Pakistani publication said the TTP leaders were travelling in the Birmal district of Paktika “for consultation” when their vehicle hit a roadside mine on August 7.
The US government has a reward of up to USD 3 million for information on Abdul Wali Mohmand. “Wali is the leader of Jamaat ul-Ahrar (JuA), a militant faction affiliated with Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization. Under Wali’s leadership, JuA has been one of the most operationally active TTP networks in Punjab Province, Pakistan and has claimed responsibility for multiple attacks throughout Pakistan,” said Rewards for Justice (RFJ), US Department of State’s premier national security rewards programme.
“Wali reportedly operates from Afghanistan’s Nangarhar and Kunar Provinces. Wali was born in Mohmand Agency, Pakistan. He is a former journalist and poet and studied at several madrasas in Karachi, Pakistan,” RFJ added.
Earlier today, another top TTP leader Abdul Rashid, who belonged to Bajaur tribal district, was also killed in a landmine blast in Kunar province.
The ongoing peace talks between the TTP and Pakistan government reached a stalemate as the outlawed group refused to give in on its demand for the reversal of the merger of the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) with the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.
Despite a series of meetings between the two sides in recent weeks to break the impasse, there has also been a stalemate over the issue of TTP laying down arms in case of a peace deal, The Express Tribune reported.
Talks between the two sides began in October 2021 to seek a political solution to the issue. The talks that were held at the request of the Afghan Taliban led to a one-month ceasefire in November.
However, the truce could not last long as differences emerged soon. The report said that TTP has yet to confirm the targeted killings of its top commanders. This would reportedly undermine the Afghan Taliban-brokered peace talks between the Pakistan government and the outlawed group.
The southwest monsoon has become active over Maharashtra again after a gap of two weeks, this time bringing extremely heavy showers to south Konkan region, the India Meteorological Department said on Monday.
The state’s coastal districts, mainly Sindhudurg and parts of Ratnagiri, received more than 200 mm rainfall in the 24-hour period ending at 8.30 am on Monday, as per the IMD data.
Many villages and hamlets in Sindhudurg and Ratnagiri have become inaccessible because of the connecting roads getting inundated, according to locals.
A number rivers in the two districts have swollen and the waters have entered agricultural fields and also affected houses, they said. “Some tehsils in Sindhudurg district received more than 250 mm rainfall in the last 24 hours, including Lanja where 290 mm precipitation was recorded, the highest in the state,” a MeT official said.
In the neighbouring Kolhapur district, Gaganbawda tehsil recorded 190 mm rain and Shahuwadi witnessed 90 mm downpiur, the official said. Compared to this, central Maharashtra, Marathwada and Vidarbha regions received moderate rainfall over the last 24 hours, she said.
In the second and third weeks of July, Marathwada and Vidarbha had witnessed heavy rains, which claimed many lives and damaged crops.
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said as many as 51 people were killed in Gaza during the most recent round of fighting between Israel and Gaza-based militants, including 24 from the Jihad terror group.
According to the military, 16 people uninvolved in the hostilities were killed by Gazan rockets which fell short.
The military believes that the figures are estimates, agencies reported.
The report said that another 11 people who were not affiliated with terror groups were killed, according to the IDF.
With this, a total of 27 Gazan civilians, including a number of children were killed in the fighting, the Times of Israel reported quoting the Israeli Defence Forces.
IDF spokesman Ran Kochav said that the military believes it killed 24 terrorists from the Islamic Jihad terror group.
“More Palestinians were killed by the failed firing by Islamic Jihad than by the firing of the IDF…Lessons will be learnt” Kochav said, in the wake of the killing of the 11 people not directly involved in the fighting,” agencies reported.
The IDF launched an operation “Breaking Dawn” against the Palestinian movement of Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip and carried out missile strikes, initially killing 10 people and injuring over 50 on Friday, which ended with a ceasefire last night.
The military said that approximately 1,100 rockets were fired toward Israel by terrorists in the Gaza Strip. Approximately 200 rockets fell short of their targets and landed in the Gaza Strip, it added.
The IDF carried out strikes on approximately 170 targets linked to Palestinian Islamic Jihad, including senior officials and activists of the terror group.
The Islamic Jihad organization is aligned with Hamas, but often acts independently. Both are regarded as terrorist organizations by the majority of Western countries.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Security Council is set to hold an emergency closed-door meeting today to discuss the latest escalation between Israel and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) in the Gaza Strip, as airstrikes were carried out across the Gaza Strip under Israel’s operation Breaking Dawn against the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
During the Monday meeting, Security Council members will discuss “the current developments and ways to support international efforts to achieve a comprehensive and just peace,” a senior United Arab Emirates official said.
Earlier in a statement, Prime Minister Yair Lapid’s office of Israel informed that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) struck Islamic Jihad targets in the Gaza Strip on August 5.
“The goal of this operation is the elimination of a concrete threat against the citizens of Israel and the civilians living adjacent to the Gaza Strip, as well as the targeting of terrorists and their sponsors. The IDF is acting in operational coordination with the ISA and intelligence bodies,” the statement said.
Prime Minister Yair Lapid said the Israeli government will not allow terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip to set the agenda in the area adjacent to the Gaza Strip and threaten the citizens of the State of Israel.
“Anyone who tries to harm Israel should know: we will find you.”
“The security forces will act against Islamic Jihad terrorists to eliminate the threat they pose to the citizens of Israel,” he added.
Adding to what Lapid said, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz stated the goal is to protect the State of Israel and the citizens of Israel and they will not allow anyone to threaten or harm the citizens of Israel. “Whoever tries to do so – will get hurt.”
Court sends ISIS member Mohsin Ahmad to NIA custody 8
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) court on Monday sent Mohsin Ahmad, an alleged active member of ISIS to NIA custody till August 16.
Earlier today, Mohsin was produced before the NIA court in the Patiala House Court complex here.
Mohsin was arrested on Saturday from his residence in Delhi for alleged involvement in the collection of funds for the terrorist outfit from sympathisers in India as well as abroad and sending it to Syria and other places in form of cryptocurrency, the agency said on Sunday.
The NIA arrested Mohsin during a search operation conducted at his present residence at Japani Gali, Jogabai Extention, Batla House, New Delhi.
He was arrested in a case pertaining to online and on-ground activities of ISIS, said the NIA. The case was registered suo-moto by the NIA on June 25 this year.
“Ahmad is a radicalised and active member of ISIS. He has been arrested for his involvement in the collection of funds for ISIS from sympathisers in India as well as abroad,” said the NIA.
The anti-terror agency further said that the arrested accused was sending these funds to Syria and other places in form of cryptocurrency in order to further the activities of ISIS, and added that further investigations in the case are in progress.
In July this year, the NIA conducted searches at 13 premises of suspects in six states in connection with activities pertaining to ISIS. The raids were conducted in six states including Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh.
The agency conducted searches at Bhopal and Raisen districts in Madhya Pradesh; Bharuch, Surat, Navsari and Ahmedabad districts in Gujarat, Araria district in Bihar, Bhatkal and Tumkur City districts in Karnataka, Kolhapur and Nanded districts in Maharashtra and Deoband districts in Uttar Pradesh.
The case was registered suo-moto by NIA on June 25, 2022, under sections 153A, and 153B of IPC and sections 18, 18B, 38, 39 and 40 of UAPA.
Following a heartbreaking nine-run loss to Australia in the final of the cricket tournament held at the ongoing Commonwealth Games 2022, Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur admitted that the team made some mistakes in the final few overs of the match.
Indian women’s cricket team scripted history as they clinched their maiden silver medal in the Edgbaston Stadium at the ongoing Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham on Sunday.
India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur played a brave knock of 65 runs but was unable to save India from the hands of defeat as Australia won the match by nine runs to clinch the Commonwealth Games 2022 title.
“We had full control of the game. But in the last few overs, we did some mistakes. We should have been more calculated. It is a good feeling to get a medal for our country. We are satisfied with our performance,” said Harmanpreet to media.
Harmanpreet said that her stay at the crease and 96-run partnership with Jemimah Rodrigues were important and gave Team India a huge advantage.
Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet’s batting partner in this match also said to media, “We are very proud of the way our team played during Commonwealth Games 2022.
It feels good but there is always regret of not winning gold. It feels wonderful to contribute to India’s medal tally. Playing cricket and winning a medal feels really good.”
Coming to the match, Chasing the target of 162 for the gold medal, India got off to a bad start as they lost their star opening batters Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma in under five overs.
Openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma, who were in good touch coming into the final, could only score 6 and 11 respectively, leaving India struggling at 22/2. Jemimah Rodrigues along with skipper Harmanpreet Kaur tried to anchor innings.
The duo kept piling runs with good running between the wickets. Harmanpreet hammered Darcie Brown for 14 runs in the 6th over of the innings. The pair kept playing big shots after gathering runs for their team.
After the powerplay, India’s score read 42/2. Harmanpreet welcomed bowler Alana King with a four to deep mid-wicket. Harmanpreet brought up her half-century in the 34 delivery while hammering Australian bowlers all around the ground.
The duo took their team’s score beyond the 100-run mark in the 14 over while smashing sixes and fours. Megan Schutt gave her team a much-needed breakthrough as she dismissed Jemimah Rodrigues for 33 runs.
Rodrigues’ wicket invited Pooja Vastrakar to the crease. Vastrakar could not do much as she went back to the pavilion scoring just one run.
Harmanpreet shortly after followed Vastrakar in the hut as she was dismissed by Ashleigh Gardner after scoring 65 runs. Deepti Sharma and Sneh Rana tried to anchor the innings and played some big shorts to ease the pressure from the Women in Blue.
But Sneh Rana’s stint at the crease was short-lived as she departed after being run out. Yastika Bhatia then came to the craese. In the thrilling 19th over Deepti Sharma was dismissed after scoring 13 runs in 8 balls.
In the last over of the match, India needed 11 runs. In the 20th over Yastika Bhatia was sent back to the hut by Jess Jonassen. The fighting Indian unit was unable to chase the score as they were bundled out on 152 to hand Australia the maiden Commonwealth Games cricket champions title.
Earlier, Renuka Singh and Sneh Rana’s fiery spells helped India to restrict Australia at 161/8 in 20 overs in the historic gold medal match. For Australia, Beth Mooney scored 61 while Meg Lanning played a knock of 36 runs. For India Renuka Singh and Sneh Rana bagged two wickets each.
Opted to bat first, Australia got off to bad start as Indian pacer Renuka Singh struck early with the ball once again in this all-important gold medal match dismissing opening batter Alyssa Healy for seven runs.
Healy tried to play a shot across the line but could not get any connection on the ball that crashed onto her pads, trapping her leg before the wicket. It was a positive breakthrough for Harmanpreet Kaur’s team as at the end of four overs, the Aussies were at 22/1.
Opener Beth Mooney and skipper Meg Lanning shifted gears and started batting aggressively. The duo kept piling up runs by good running between the wicket in every over.
But Meg Lanning was sent back to the hut as she was run out for 36 at the non-striker’s end by Radha Yadav. In the very next over Australia lost another wicket as Tahlia McGrath was dismissed on Deepti Sharma’s delivery.
After the 12 over of the innings, new batter Ashleigh Gardner smashed two back-to-back fours in Deepti Sharma’s over. In the 16th over of the innings, Sneh Rana gave her team a big breakthrough as she dismissed Ashleigh Gardner for 25 runs in 15 deliveries.
Mooney in red-hot form hammered Indian bowlers all around the ground and brought up her half-century in the 16th over with a blistering four. In the 17th over, Renuka dismissed new batter Grace Harris, leaving Australia tottering on 133/5.
Deepti Sharma took a one-handed sensational catch of Mooney (61) on the delivery of Sneh Rana. In the last over of the innings, the lower order of Australia failed to score runs as Deepti Sharma ended the first innings with just conceding five runs in the 20th over to leave Australia’s total at 161/8.
Ace Indian shuttler PV Sindhu clinched India’s first gold medal in Badminton at the ongoing Commonwealth Games 2022 and the first women’s singles CWG gold medal of her career by defeating Canada’s Michelle Li in the final on Monday.
Sindhu was a dominant figure in the match, though her opponent competed well. The Indian won the match in straight two games by 21-15, 21-13.
PV Sindhu got off to a great start. Halfway through the first game, she was leading by 11-8. Michelle Li offered her Indian opponent great competition but fell short in every rally. The result was a 21-15 win for Sindhu in the first game.
Li started the second game on a good note. But Sindhu took advantage once again within no time. The Canadian kept making errors and it kept widening Sindhu’s lead with every failure. Halfway through the second game, Sindhu was in an advantageous position with an 11-6 lead. She needed ten more points to take home the first CWG 2022 gold medal for India in badminton.
After the break, things started more even, with both players getting two points quickly due to errors committed by their opponent. Sindhu and Li had an exciting rally of 57 shots, which concluded with the Indian losing a point. Li was slowly gaining an advantage over Sindhu as she was cutting the deficit. Eventually, Sindhu’s lead was reduced to 13-11.
Sindhu kept fighting through the second game and eventually won it by 21-13. With the win, she also clinched her first-ever women’s singles medal in Commonwealth Games 2022 and India’s first-ever gold in badminton at CWG 2022.
Amit Shah, Dharmendra Pradhan take part in 'Tiranga Yatra' in Cuttack 12
Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday took a part in the ‘Tiranga Yatra’ in Cuttack. Earlier in the day, Shah visited and offered prayers at the Shree Lingaraj temple in Bhubaneswar.
After offering prayers at the Shree Lingaraj temple, Union Minister visited the birthplace of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in Odia Bazar.
Earlier today, Shah and Pradhan arrived at Bhubaneswar airport. The locals and BJP workers welcomed the duo into the city. People were seen holding banners and placards with pictures of the ministers on them.
The BJP leaders will also attend the 75th-anniversary event of the ‘Prajatantra’, a wellknown Odia newspaper.
Earlier on Sunday, Home Minister attended the 7th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and held in the national capital.
From farmers’ plight to GST revenue, chief Ministers of States raised numerous issues that were discussed during the meeting.
The agenda of the NITI Aayog meeting included crop diversification and achieving self-sufficiency in oilseeds and pulses; implementation of the National Education Policy-school education; implementation of the National Education Policy-higher education; and urban governance.
