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Salman Khan gets 5-year jail in blackbuck poaching case; others acquitted

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Salman Khan gets 5-year jail in blackbuck poaching case; others acquitted

A trial court in Jodhpur on Thursday, April 5, convicted Bollywood star Salman Khan in the 1998 blackbuck poaching case and sentenced him to five years in jail.

Other accused in the case, including film stars Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Neelam and Tabu, were let off by the court due to lack of strong evidence against them. A fifth person, Dushyant Singh, a local who was allegedly accompanying the actors when the poaching took place, has also been acquitted, Mahipal Bishnoi, the prosecution counsel, said, according to a report in The India Express.

The actor’s lawyers will now approach the Rajasthan High Court for bail in the case, the IE report said. An earlier report said Salman’s lawyers had moved bail application in sessions court. For now, however, Salman Khan would be taken to Jodhpur Central Jail and would have to spend time till he gets bail.

Jodhpur District Presiding Officer Devkumar Khatri pronounced Salman guilty of killing two blackbucks, which are an endangered species, on October 1, 1998 during a hunting expedition near Jodhpur, Rajasthan. A penalty of Rs 10,000 has also been levied on him.

Co-accused Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Neelam and Tabu were present in court during pronouncement of the verdict. There are two other accused in the case — travel agent Dushyant Singh and Dinesh Gawre, Salman’s assistant at the time. Gawre is still absconding.

The Bishnoi Sabha, a community committed to protect the blackbucks, has decided to appeal against other acquittals.

News agency ANI quoted Rampal Bhawad, the State President of Bishnoi Tigers Vanya Evam Paryavaran Sanstha, as saying that an immediate appeal will be filed over the acquittals of Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Tabu and Neelam Kothari. “We’ll analyse the judgment. We want an immediate appeal to be filed against those who have been acquitted and we also demand maximum punishment for Salman Khan,” he said.

The actors are accused of killing two blackbucks in Kankani village near Jodhpur on the intervening night of October 1 and 2, 1998. The actors were in the city for the shooting of the film ‘Hum Saath Saath Hain’.

Salman, 52, had earlier pleaded innocence in the case, claiming before the court that the blackbuck died of “natural causes” and he was being “framed”.

Salman is facing charges under Section 51 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act and the other actors have been charged under Section 51 read with Section 149 (unlawful assembly) of the Indian Penal Code. Maximum punishment under Section 51 is six years.

HM Saraswat, the defence counsel for Salman Khan, said there are many loopholes in the prosecution’s case and the prosecution has failed to prove the case beyond any doubt.

“Prosecution has failed to prove allegations against the accused and has engaged in tampering and fabricating evidences and documents as well as roping in fake witnesses to prove the case. It has even failed to prove that black bucks were killed by gunshots. Hence such investigation cannot be trusted upon,” Saraswat said during final arguments on March 28.

This is last of the three poaching cases against Salman from 1998 that is being heard at Jodhpur trial court.

The actor was earlier convicted and sentenced to prison in two of three poaching cases by a trial court. The two cases were related to poaching Chinkara, while the third and last case decided today was to do with blackbuck.

Two separate cases had been registered against the actor under section 51 of the Wildlife Protection Act, for poaching of two chinkaras in Bhawad village on September 26-27, 1998, and one chinkara in the Mathania area on September 28-29, 1998.

The trial court had convicted Salman Khan in both the cases, sentencing him to one year and five years in prison on February 17, 2006, and April 10, 2006, respectively. The convictions were finally overturned by the Rajasthan High Court which acquitted the actor.

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Karnataka: 6 boys held for riding two-wheelers with Palestinian flag

They also shouted slogans on ‘free Palestine’, according to police.

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Six minors were apprehended after a video of them allegedly riding two-wheelers holding the Palestinian flag surfaced on social media platforms, Karnataka Police said on Monday.

According to police, the incident took place on Sunday around 1 pm on Dantaramakki road in Chikkamagaluru town in Karnataka.

The official said that three of the 6 boys were on a two-wheeler and one of the pillion rider, a 17-year-old boy was allegedly holding and waving a Palestinian flag while three of their friends followed them on another bike.

They also shouted slogans on ‘free Palestine’, according to police.

A senior police officer said that police apprehended all the six boys involved in the incident. They are all minors, he added.

The police have registered a case under appropriate sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including sections for disturbing communal harmony, a police officer said. Adding that both the vehicles have been seized along with the flag, according to news agency PTI.

The police found during the interrogation that the boys had watched some videos of a procession in Uttar Pradesh in which people were seen carrying Palestinian flags and so they wanted to make a similar reel on Instagram.

Speaking on the matter earlier today, former BJP national General Secretary and MLC CT Ravi alleged that without permission a rally was held yesterday in more than 20 two-wheelers and one four-wheeler holding a Palestine flag.

Ravi said: “I have got information that some influential people had tried to influence in favour of the people involved, more than 200 people came in front of the police station, so an explanation was sought and they were let go. I urged the police for a detailed probe and to destroy the network behind them, the incident should not be taken lightly.”

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Amit Shah says will bury terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir to such level, nobody can dare revive it

The Union Home Minister said that he had promised the Gurjars that the reservation would be given to Pahadis without affecting the previous one.

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Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday asserted that there were attempts to revive terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, and added that it will be “buried to such a level” in the Union Territory that it can never rise again.

Addressing a public rally in Kishtwar, Shah said the National Conference-Congress alliance will not be able to form the J&K government.

“We will bury terrorism to such a level where it will never come out again. Attempts are on to revive terrorism as the National Conference and Congress manifesto talks about releasing terrorists. This is the Modi government and nobody has the power to revive terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir,” Shah said addressing an election rally in Padder-Nagseni assembly segment in support of  BJP’s candidate and former minister Sunil Sharma here.

“This election is between two powers, on one side National Conference and PDP and on the other BJP. The NC and Congress are saying that if we form the government we will restore Article 370. Tell me should it be restored? Your reservation, given by BJP to Paharis and Gujjars and others, will be snatched.

Launching a scathing attack on the alliance party in UT, the senior BJP leader said the Congress and National Conference have always nourished terrorism. “In the 1990s, Farooq Abdullah was the CM, you were elected after an agreement with Rajeev Gandhi. When the Kashmir Valley was soaked in blood due to terrorism, where were you? You went to London for a summer vacation,” he added.

“Nehru, Gandhi and Abdullah family spread terrorism here and now they want your blessings again. They boycotted the Kashmiri Pandits, spread terrorism and delayed reservation, do you want that NC-Congress again?” he said.

The Union Home Minister said that he had promised the Gurjars that the reservation would be given to Pahadis without affecting the previous one. “And now, the Modi government has given reservation to Pahadis without touching the Gurjar reservation. Now the Gurjars and Pahadis have tribal reservation, now your children can also become Collectors and DSPs,” he added.

“PM Modi abolished the rule of the three families and established Panchayati Raj in the state. The children will represent in the Vidhan Sabha and the Lok Sabha soon. PM Modi wants to make a Viksit J&K and wants to give the right of reservation to the OBC also,” Shah said.

This was the home minister’s second visit to Jammu region within a fortnight. Earlier, during his two-day visit to Jammu on September 6 and 7, he released BJP’s manifesto for J-K assembly elections and addressed a workers convention.

Monday is the last day for campaigning in 24 assembly constituencies, including Padder-Nagseni, which goes to polls in the first phase on September 18.

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PM Modi inaugurates second phase of Ahmedabad Metro Rail Project, takes ride with Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel

For the general public, regular metro services are scheduled to commence from Ahmedabad on September 17, with the entire journey priced at Rs 455.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday took a metro ride along with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel from Section 1 Metro Station to GIFT City Metro Station after inaugurating the second phase of the Ahmedabad Metro Rail project.

Apart from Gujarat Chief Minister Patel, Prime Minister Modi was also accompanied by Governor Acharya Devvrat. During the metro ride, PM Modi also took the opportunity to interact with the youth of the state.

In his post on X, PM Modi shared pictures of him travelling in the metro and interacting with the youth. He said: “Inaugurated Phase-II of the Ahmedabad Metro Rail Project and on the way to today’s programme with energetic youngsters.”

The Phase-II project of the Ahmedabad Metro Rail will establish a 21 km route connecting the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium in Motera to Gandhinagar Sector 1, incorporating eight stations.

This extensive project, completed at an approximate cost of Rs. 5,384 crore, will integrate key destinations such as Gujarat National Law University, Pandit Deendayal Energy University, GIFT City, and more.

Following the inauguration of the second phase, the Ahmedabad Metro Rail network will span 68 km across two lines, the north-south corridor and the east-west corridor, encompassing a total of 54 stations, including four underground stations. The first phase, officially opened by the Prime Minister in 2022, comprises a 33.5-km-long north-south corridor with a travel duration of 65 minutes and a fare of Rs 35.

Today, PM Modi is set to unveil the nation’s inaugural Vande Bharat Metro, now renamed as the Namo Bharat Rapid Rail. This futuristic train system is designed to enhance connectivity between Bhuj and Ahmedabad, covering a distance of 359 km in just 5.45 hours.

For the general public, regular metro services are scheduled to commence from Ahmedabad on September 17, with the entire journey priced at Rs 455.

It is noteworthy that PM Modi recently visited his home state for the first time following the Lok Sabha polls, engaging with the beneficiaries of the ‘PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijlee Yojna’, a scheme offering free electricity, in Gujarat’s Gandhinagar.

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