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Nitish Kumar govt role inhuman and shameful in crimes against children in shelter homes

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7 years ago

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Already under fire over rapes and deaths of minor girls in Mhzaffarpur shelter home, Nitish Kumar government was rapped severely by the Supreme Court today (Tuesday, Nov 27) for its attitude towards rampant sexual abuse of children in several other state-run shelter homes.

The Muzaffarpur shelter home abuse case that hit headlines in July this year was only one of the 17 shelter homes indicted in the study by Mumbai-based Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS). The TISS report, submitted to the Bihar government, highlighted gross violations of human rights of inmates in 15 shelter homes in the state, including the Muzaffarpur shelter, whose affairs are now being investigated by the CBI. But criminal cases have only been registered against 10 shelter homes. This too, the Supreme Court noted, has not been done under the appropriate criminal provisions.

The court said the Bihar government got the report on sexual assault cases from TISS in May as part of a larger audit, but “nothing has happened”.

A three-judge bench comprising Justices Madan B Lokur, Deepak Gupta and Abdul Nazeer also warned Bihar that it would consider handing over all shelter home cases to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). For now, the CBI is probing only the Muzaffarpur shelter home rapes.

“The state’s attitude is extremely unfortunate and tragic to say the least. This is inhuman and shameless… A child is sodomised and the state does nothing. You don’t even care to register FIRs properly. There are 17 shelter homes where allegations of sexual abuse were cited in the TISS report. Why should each case not be investigated? Are these children lesser citizens of the country?” the court asked.

“We were told that matter will be looked with great seriousness, this is seriousness? This file, it’s tragic,” the court added.

“Only God can save,” the top court remarked, indicating that it might transfer all abuse cases flagged in the TISS report to the CBI.

It questioned the registration of FIRs only under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) and not under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

“What are you (Bihar government) doing? It’s shameful. If the child is sodomised you say it’s nothing? How can you do this? It’s inhuman. We were told that matter will be looked with great seriousness, this is seriousness? Every time I read this file it’s tragic,” the court said, according to news agency ANI.

The top court gave the Nitish Kumar government 24 hours to add the charges in the FIRs registered by the police.

“If we find that there were offences under section 377 IPC and POCSO Act and you did not register FIR, we will pass an order against the government,” the SC said.

The court sought a personal affidavit from the chief secretary, who was present in court. The matter will be taken up again tomorrow.

One of those accused in the Muzaffarpur shelter home case is former Bihar minister Manju Verma, who surrendered a week ago after being absconding for nearly three months.

Of the 42 girls lodged at the short-stay home run by main accused Brajesh Thakur’s NGO, 34 were found to have been sexually assaulted. Thakur allegedly had links with the former minister’s husband.

The crime came to light following a social audit by TISS, Mumbai. The state government had commissioned the audit in 2017 and the report was submitted to the Social Welfare Department in April this year.

According to the 100-page report, the Muzaffarpur shelter home run by Thakur, had been “running in a highly questionable manner along with grave instances of violence. Several girls reported about violence and being abused sexually”, reported News18.

At another home in the town, ‘Seva-Kutir’, run by the Om Sai Foundation, “disturbing instances and patterns of physical violence and abuse” were reported by the inmates. Some of them also complained that they had been brought there on the “pretext of being given work”. The team could not access documents to ascertain this.

At Boys’ Children Home in the Motihari district run by NGO ‘Nirdesh’, serious physical violence and sexual abuse were reported by inmates. Older boys were clubbed in with younger ones for accommodation. Boys from both the groups reported sexual abuse and violence, the report alleged.

Inmates of a home run by ‘Sakhi’ reported physical violence especially against women and girls suffering from mental illness, it further alleged.

In the Bhagalpur district, grave abuse was reported in the Boys’ Children Home. When the team wanted the complaint box to be opened, the keys were said to have been misplaced. Those were later produced and the box was opened.

“There was a huge stock of letters written by the residents providing details of violence and other violations being carried out in the home,” the report alleged.

In Munger district, inmates of the Boys’ Children Home run by NGO ‘Panaah’ were being forced to work in residential quarters of the superintendent. On refusal to do so, they were beaten up. A resident of the home showed a three inch long scar across his cheek as he was beaten up by the superintendent, it alleged.

Inmates of home for girls, run by ‘Novelty Welfare Society’, said bathrooms had no latches from inside and they felt insecure.

In Gaya district, the Boys’ Children Home was running in a “custodial and exploitative manner”. The boys were locked up. Some of them complained that some female staff members were forcing them to write lewd messages for another female staff member, it alleged.

At a home run by ‘Gram Swaraj Seva Sansthan’ in Kaimur, a security guard was reported to be “sexually abusive”, it alleged.

Three specialised adoption agencies- ‘Nari Gunjan’ at Patna, ‘RVESK’ at Madhubani and ‘Gyan Bharti’ at Kaimur were found “running in a condition that is likely to be life-threatening”, the report alleged.

A security guard at a government-run observation home at Araria was reportedly carrying out extreme violence against boys. The superintendent expressed helplessness about it since the guard was from the Bihar Police, the report alleged.

At ‘IKARD’ in Patna, a girl unable to cope with violent atmosphere committed suicide about a year ago, while another lost her mental balance from the trauma she suffered there, the report alleged.

The condition in the ‘Seva Kutir’ in Gaya was “unsettling”, while physical violence and verbal abuse against both men and women were reported in ‘Kaushal Kutir’ run by the ‘Don Bosco Tech Society’ in Patna, it alleged

The Social Welfare Department has suspended a number of officials for ‘dereliction of duty’ in not reporting such shortcomings in their inspection reports. The TISS report said it was necessary to “engage with the residents with a sense of empathy” as documents maintained by these organisations are giving illusion of “decency and appropriateness” whereas “a culture of silent fear was sensed to be prevailing”.

The team, however, found the functioning of some of the homes “pleasantly moving”, said the News18 report, mentioning the observation home in Darbhanga, children home in Buxar and adoption centre in Saran as examples.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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India and Russia vow to walk together against terrorism, reaffirm strategic partnership

PM Modi and President Putin reaffirm India-Russia unity against terrorism, deepen energy and trade cooperation, and discuss peace efforts amid the Ukraine conflict.

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41 mins ago

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December 5, 2025

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday underlined that India and Russia “walk together in the fight against terrorism,” reinforcing a decades-old strategic partnership that remains steady amid global geopolitical churn. The leaders issued the joint statement following talks at Hyderabad House in Delhi, where they also announced steps to boost trade, economic cooperation, and energy collaboration.

India-Russia stand firm on counter-terror cooperation

PM Modi described President Putin as a “dear friend” and highlighted Moscow’s consistent support to India on counter-terror efforts. Russia had earlier strongly condemned the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, allegedly linked to Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed, and reiterated solidarity with India’s fight against terrorism in all forms.

The joint remarks emphasized that the bilateral friendship, rooted in trust and mutual respect, has remained resilient for decades despite global challenges.

Focus on energy, trade and use of national currencies

A key highlight of the engagement was Russia reaffirming “uninterrupted shipments” of fuel to India. PM Modi expressed gratitude for Russia’s commitment, noting energy cooperation as a crucial pillar of the relationship. While he did not specifically mention oil purchases, given ongoing Western pressure, he emphasised cooperation in civil nuclear and clean energy.

The two countries also discussed expanding economic ties, including a possible free trade agreement. President Putin said bilateral trade was being targeted to reach USD 100 billion, and acknowledged progress toward using national currencies for payments — a remark expected to draw global attention.

Putin shares peace plan insights on Ukraine conflict

Putin briefed the Prime Minister on Russia’s perspective for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing Ukraine war and appreciated India’s continued role as a “champion of peace.” PM Modi reiterated India’s consistent position on dialogue and diplomacy.

Agreements across jobs, health, shipping and minerals

Officials exchanged multiple agreements covering employment mobility, health, shipping, chemicals and cooperation in critical minerals — further broadening the strategic footprint of the partnership.

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RBI cuts repo rate to 5.25%, paving the way for cheaper loans

The RBI has cut the repo rate to 5.25%, aiming to support growth as inflation softens. The central bank also raised GDP projections and announced liquidity-boosting measures.

Published

6 hours ago

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December 5, 2025

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Reserve Bank of India

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reduced the key repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.25% on Thursday, signalling relief for borrowers as banks are expected to offer lower EMIs on home and vehicle loans. Governor Sanjay Malhotra announced the move after the conclusion of the three-day Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting.

RBI prioritises growth as inflation eases

Malhotra said the decision was unanimous, with the central bank choosing to focus on supporting economic momentum despite concerns over a weak rupee. The repo rate was earlier cut in June from 6% to 5.5% amid easing inflation trends.

The RBI now projects Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation at 2% for FY2025-26, significantly softer than earlier estimates. For the first quarter of FY2026-27, inflation is expected at 3.9%, lower than the previous projection. The governor noted that rising precious metal prices may contribute to the headline CPI, but overall risks to inflation remain balanced.

GDP outlook strengthened

In a strong upward revision, the central bank increased the GDP forecast for the current financial year to 7.3%, previously estimated at 6.8%. Growth for the October–December quarter has also been revised to 6.7%.

The last quarter registered a six-quarter high expansion of 8.2%, reflecting resilient demand and steady credit flow.

“The growth-inflation balance continues to offer policy space,” Malhotra said, reiterating that the RBI’s stance remains neutral.

Other key decisions

Alongside the repo rate cut, the RBI announced adjustments to key policy corridors:

  • Standing Deposit Facility (SDF): 5%
  • Marginal Standing Facility (MSF): 5.5%

To improve liquidity and strengthen monetary transmission, the RBI will conduct forex swaps and purchase ₹1 lakh crore worth of government bonds through Open Market Operations (OMO).

RBI reviews a challenging year

Reflecting on 2025, Malhotra said the year delivered strong growth and moderate inflation even as global trade and geopolitical uncertainties persisted. He added that bank credit and retail lending remained healthy, providing support to the economy.

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India News

IndiGo flight chaos deepens as over 500 services cancelled, passengers stranded for hours

Over 500 IndiGo flights were cancelled nationwide, leaving passengers stranded without food, clarity or their luggage as airports struggled to manage the disruption.

Published

6 hours ago

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December 5, 2025

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IndiGo flight

India’s largest airline continued to face massive operational breakdowns, triggering frustration among travellers at major airports across the country. From piles of unattended suitcases to passengers waiting over 12 hours without food or clarity, the disruption stretched into its fourth consecutive day.

Long delays, no communication leave passengers anguished

Several travellers at Delhi airport described the situation as “mental torture”, as thousands of unclaimed suitcases lay scattered across the terminal. Many slept on the floor, while others expressed anger over the lack of communication from airline staff.

One flier said he had been waiting for over 12 hours without any explanation: “Every time they say one-hour or two-hour delays. We were going to a wedding but don’t even have our luggage.”

A passenger in Hyderabad recounted a similar ordeal, saying the flight was delayed indefinitely with no food, water, or updates from the airline. At the airport, some travellers blocked an Air India flight in protest over the lack of arrangements.

Goa and Chennai airports also witnessed tense moments. Videos from Goa showed fliers shouting at IndiGo staff as police attempted to calm the situation. At Chennai, CISF denied entry to IndiGo passengers due to heavy congestion.

Major metro airports impacted; cascading cancellations nationwide

Flight cancellations and delays were reported across multiple airports:

  • Over 200 flights were cancelled in Delhi
  • More than 100 each in Mumbai and Bengaluru
  • Around 90 in Hyderabad
  • Dozens more in Pune, Vishakhapatnam, Chennai and Bhopal

Pune airport stated that parking bay congestion worsened the situation, as several IndiGo aircraft remained grounded due to lack of crew. Other airlines continued operations without disruption.

Airport authorities said they had mobilised additional manpower for crowd control and passenger support.

IndiGo admits planning lapses, says more cancellations expected

The airline acknowledged a “misjudgment” in assessing crew requirements under revised night-duty norms, which it said created planning gaps. Winter weather and airport congestion further aggravated the crisis.

IndiGo informed the aviation ministry and DGCA that some regulatory changes—such as the shift in night-duty timings and a cap on night landings—have been rolled back temporarily to stabilise operations.

The airline warned that cancellations may continue for another two to three days, and from December 8, schedules will be trimmed to prevent further disruption.

In a message to employees, CEO Pieter Elbers said restoring punctuality would not be an “easy target”.

Airline issues apology amid nationwide frustration

In a late-night statement, IndiGo apologised to customers and industry partners, acknowledging the widespread inconvenience caused by the disruptions. The airline said all teams were working with authorities to bring operations back to normal.

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