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Maratha groups withdraw bandh call after protests turn violent; to gherao CM residence

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Maratha groups withdraw bandh call after protests turn violent; to gherao CM residence

The Maratha Kranti Morcha on Wednesday, July 25, called off its state-wide bandh after intensified protests in which several incidents of violence were reported, despite a call for ‘peaceful’ strike.

The Marathas, who are demanding reservation in jobs and education, said they now plan to gherao ‘Varsha’, the official residence of the chief minister in Mumbai, press for his resignation and seek settlement of their demands, said a report in The Indian Express (IE).

Earlier, at least three buses were put on fire and nine others were deflated.  Protesters blocked arterial roads, including the Mumbai-Pune highway and the Eastern Expressway, and forced shops to shut in pockets of Raigad, reported NDTV. Local train routes were blocked in Jogeshwari and near Thane. Violent protests had erupted in parts of the state on Tuesday after a protester committed suicide by jumping into a river in Aurangabad.

Essential services like hospitals, school, medical were exempted from the Bandh. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had on Tuesday called for an emergency high-level meeting to review the “progress” made by the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission on the issue.

The Maratha leaders said they want the government to give them OBC status – not reservation directly, because any quota, beyond the existing 50 per cent, would be difficult to implement. The logic is that if the Marathas are granted OBC status, they would qualify for the existing OBC quotas.

In a scheduled recruitment to 72,000 government jobs, chief minister Fadnavis had promised that the government would keep 16 per cent positions reserved for the Marathas.  “There would be no injustice meted out to the Maratha community.”

The protests come two years after the Maratha community took to streets across Maharashtra holding silent marches and demanding quota in jobs. Marathas form 33 per cent of the state’s population, according to a report in IE.

For the last four-five days, Maharashtra has been witnessing sporadic incidents of violence like torching of buses, tyres and rasta rokos mainly in Marathwada, western Maharashtra and Konkan regions, said media reports. Activists under the umbrella of the Maratha Kranti Morcha are holding sit-in agitations in some districts like Beed and Nashik. One of the protesters on Monday took “jal samadhi” in Godavari river in Aurangabad.

Maratha leaders denied that their fresh agitation is linked to next year’s general elections. According to an IE report, they say the immediate trigger for their protest is the announcement by Fadnavis in the state Assembly on July 20 that his government would provide 16 per cent reservation in government jobs to the Maratha community.

The CM had said a recruitment drive would be taken up once Maratha reservation gets constitutional and legal sanction. “There would be no injustice meted out to the Maratha community,” he had said.

But Maratha leaders say they want the government to give them OBC status and not reservation because any reservation, beyond the existing 50 per cent, would be difficult to implement. On the other hand, if the Marathas are granted OBC status, they would qualify for the existing OBC quotas.

“The Maharashtra government can easily convene a special session of the state legislature and take a final decision according OBC status to the community. But it does not have the political will power to do. It wants to carry on with its game of playing with the sentiments of the Maratha community and wreck the lives of thousands of youths,” said Manoj Akhare, one of the coordinators of Maratha Kranti Morcha, the umbrella body leading the agitation.

While the government says the Backward Class Commission was already considering the proposal to accord OBC status to Marathas, and its work was going on, the community claims that the government need not wait for the commission to finalise its report. “We do not know when the commission will complete its work. This means the government will not be able to take the decision as in a few months’ time the general elections will be upon us. The government will get a chance to play votebank politics by promising quota for the community during election campaigning,” the community leaders say.

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Zomato delivery boy killed in hit-and-run accident in South West Delhi

DCP (South West) Surendra Choudhary said that the deceased has been identified as Harendra, a resident of RK Puram.

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Zomato delivery boy killed in hit-and-run accident in South West Delhi

In an unfortunate incident, a 27-year-old Zomato delivery man was killed after being hit by an unknown vehicle while crossing the road in South West Delhi. After the accident, the vehicle fled the scene, which occurred on Monday at around 2:45 a.m. 

DCP (South West) Surendra Choudhary said that the deceased has been identified as Harendra, a resident of RK Puram. The Zomato delivery was rushed to Safdarjung Hospital but was declared dead on arrival. Reportedly, he is survived by his wife and their 6-month-old son.

Following the incident, Kishangarh police station received a PCR call reporting an accident on the Outer Ring Road, under the footbridge near the DDA Flats gate in Munirka. When the police reached the scene, they found that the victim, who was crossing the road, had been hit by an unknown vehicle that had fled. Despite being taken to the hospital, he was declared dead on arrival. The victim was employed as a delivery boy with Zomato.

A preliminary inquiry led to the identification of the offending vehicle by the police. Reportedly, a case has been registered under Section 281 (1) and Section 106 (1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Currently, the post-mortem of the deceased is underway.

DCP (South West) Surendra Choudhary said that Harendra is survived by wife and their six-month old son. Choudhary added that the victim’s father is working in DDA as a fourth grade employee. The DGP further asserted that the team has identified the offending vehicle and that the accused will be nabbed soon. 

Earlier in August, a cycle rider died on the spot when a speeding Mercedes hit him from behind and fled. The incident took place in Delhi’s Ashram area. The victim was identified as Rajesh. His body was found on the side of the road and his cycle was flung about 150 metres ahead. Later, the Delhi police had seized the vehicle and the accused has been detained.

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CBI files chargesheet in RG Kar case, says Sanjay Roy raped, murdered doctor

The investigation agency did not mention the charge of gang rape, indicating that Roy alone committed the crime.

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CBI files chargesheet in RG Kar case, says Sanjay Roy raped, murdered doctor

The CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) has filed a charge sheet against Sanjay Roy in the RG Kar Hospital rape and murder case. Roy has been charged with the rape and murder of a trainee doctor inside the hospital on August 9.

The CBI in its charge sheet filed before a special court in Kolkata said Roy, who was working as a civic volunteer with the local police, allegedly committed the crime on August 9 when the victim had gone to sleep in the seminar room of the hospital during a break.

The investigation agency did not mention the charge of gang rape, indicating that Roy alone committed the crime. The trainee doctor had been raped and murdered inside the hospital’s seminar room. Reportedly, she had gone to the room to rest amid her marathon shift at the hospital after midnight. Her body was found the next morning by a junior doctor.

As per her post-mortem report, the victim had been raped and murdered. Her autopsy revealed 25 internal and external injuries to her body.

The civic volunteer was seen in CCTV footage entering the seminar room at 4.03 am on August 9. It was noted that he came out of the room after around half an hour. During investigation, the Kolkata police also found the man’s Bluetooth headphones at the crime scene.

Roy was subjected to a lie-detector test after the CBI took over the case. IN the lie-detector test, Roy claimed innocence. He further claimed when he entered the seminar hall, the woman was already unconscious.

When questioned why he didn’t inform the police about the incident, he said he was in a state of panic after seeing the woman in an injured state. The investigation agency reportedly said he was trying to mislead the investigators. Roy had also claimed that he was being framed.

Meanwhile, the CBI has also arrested the former principal of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Dr Sandeep Ghosh, for allegedly trying to mislead the parents of the victim and tampering with evidence.

The former principal had allegedly tried to pass off the murder as a suicide. Sandeep Ghosh also made the victim’s parents wait for three hours before allowing them to see the body. The CBI has also arrested a local police officer. Reportedly, he was also allegedly involved in corrupt practices, including selling unclaimed corpses.

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Maldives first in India’s Neighbourhood First policy, says PM Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also announced India’s decision to provide critical financial assistance to the Maldives to help it recover from an ongoing economic downturn.

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Prime Minister also announced India’s decision to provide critical financial assistance to the Maldives to help it recover from an ongoing economic downturn.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday reaffirmed the Maldives pivotal role in India’s Neighbourhood First policy and SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision during a meeting with Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu. Both the leaders discussed deepening bilateral ties after a period of strained relations between the nations.  

Narendra Modi said that India and Maldives relations are centuries old. He added that India is Maldives’ nearest neighbour and close friend. He further asserted that Maldives holds an important position in India’s neighbourhood policy and SAGAR vision. India has always played the role of first responder for Maldives, he mentioned.

Maldives president Muizzu, who arrived in New Delhi on Sunday, is on his first state visit to India since assuming office last November. President Mizzu’s visit comes amid efforts to mend relations while navigating an ailing economy back home.

Ties between India and the Maldives have been fraught ever since Muizzu won the presidency on an India Out campaign and directed the eviction of Indian troops from the island nation. Recently, he has toned down his anti-India rhetoric, but New Delhi remains wary of his pro-China leanings.

Despite these aforesaid challenges, both leaders expressed a commitment to enhancing their relationship. Prime Minister Modi stressed on India’s role in supporting the Maldives during times of crisis. The Prime Minister stated that both countries have adopted a shared vision of a comprehensive economic and maritime security partnership.

He added that development partnership is an important pillar of India-Maldives relations. He added that INdia has always given preference to the priorities of the people of Maldives. 

Furthermore, the Prime Minister also announced India’s decision to provide critical financial assistance to the Maldives to help it recover from an ongoing economic downturn.

He said that this year, SBI did a rollover of 100 million dollars of the Treasury Bench of Maldives. According to the needs of Maldives, a 400 million dollars and Rs 3000 crores currency swap agreement was also signed.

Notably, the economic cooperation extends to infrastructure development as well. PM Modi and Muizzu virtually inaugurated the redeveloped Hanimaadhoo International Airport, a project supported by India. Other agreements include Introduction of Rupay card in Maldives by India, both the nations discuss opening of Indian consulate in Addu, and Maldivian consulate in Bengaluru, India hands over 700 social housing units built with its support to Maldives.

In addition, India will roll over a $50 million Treasury Bill for another year to provide essential budgetary relief to the Maldivian government. India and Maldives are also set to start talks on a Free Trade Agreement.

Maldives President Muizzu extended gratitude to PM Modi for the financial support and acknowledged that India has always stood by the island nation in its time of need. He further invited PM Modi to visit the Maldives. He announced a new comprehensive vision document that will include development, maritime security, trade partnerships, energy projects, health.

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