Majitha (Amritsar), May 13 (IANS) Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday said the state government would not spare anyone, however affluent he may be, involved in the heinous crime of sale of spurious liquor that led to the hooch tragedy in Amritsar district.

Interacting with the media after sharing condolences with families of the tragedy, which claimed 17 lives, the Chief Minister said these deaths are not merely accidents but they are murders, which have been caused due to the greed of certain individuals, who are involved in this crime. He said that this is a clear murder and the state government will not allow the culprits to escape the severest of punishment. Mann said 17 lives have been lost due to the spurious liquor, and the people responsible for it deserve no mercy as they did this crime deliberately. The Chief Minister said this crime cannot be carried out without political patronage by the powerful politicians, adding that this angle is being probed by the police. Mann said 10 people, including the kingpin, have been arrested. The police have also identified the forward and backward linkages of the nexus involved in this crime. “Let me tell one thing very clearly, my government is firmly committed to ensure justice to the hapless families by ensuring exemplary punishment to the accused,” he said. The Chief Minister said the connections of this nexus have been traced up to Delhi, and every person involved in this crime will be put behind bars by the government. He said it has come into light that 600 litres of online methanol were ordered by the perpetrators of the tragedy, which was probably used for making spurious liquor. Mann said the police are looking into all the aspects of this tragedy to nail down the culprits and ensure exemplary punishment for them. The Chief Minister said the government has already suspended four officers, including one DSP, Station House Officer and two officers of the Excise Department, for their complacency in checking the sale and supply of spurious liquor. He said that though this deep-rooted nexus is very strong and has flexed its muscles due to open patronisation by the previous regimes, this liquor mafia will be eliminated from the state. Mann said that no one, whether a politician or a government servant, will be spared if they are found complicit in the hooch deaths. The Chief Minister said it is unfortunate that the hooch tragedy has snatched the lone breadearners of the hapless families. He said the pattern of deaths was the same as was in the hooch tragedy that took place in the year 2020 at Tarn Taran. –IANS vg/dan

Chennai, May 13 (IANS) Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) President and actor-turned-politician Vijay, on Tuesday, welcomed the Coimbatore Mahila Court’s judgment sentencing all the nine accused in the Pollachi sexual assault case to life imprisonment, calling it a long-overdue yet crucial step toward justice.

In a statement issued following the court’s ruling, Vijay said, “The life sentence awarded to those convicted in the Pollachi case is a welcome move. The survivors, who have shown immense courage over the past six years, deserve our deepest respect for their resilience and unwavering pursuit of justice. I extend my heartfelt appreciation to them.”The Special women’s court in Coimbatore on Tuesday sentenced the accused to undergo life imprisonment for the remainder of their natural lives under Section 376D of the Indian Penal Code.The judgment comes six years after the case — involving the sexual assault and blackmail of multiple women — sparked widespread outrage across Tamil Nadu.Vijay used the event to reiterate his party’s call for systemic judicial reforms to prevent such delays in delivering justice.”Justice delayed is justice denied. We urge the state government to expedite the establishment of fast-track special courts to handle cases of sexual harassment and violence against women and children,” he said.”Such cases must be resolved within 90 days to reduce the prolonged trauma faced by survivors.”He also emphasised the importance of societal responsibility in ensuring women’s safety.”At a time when Indian women are achieving remarkable feats in the armed forces and beyond, it is imperative that society prioritises their safety and dignity. Let us all work collectively to create a secure and respectful environment for women,” the TVK Chief added.The Pollachi case, which came to light in 2019, involved a criminal network of sexual assault and blackmail, with the accused luring women under false pretences and filming the acts to threaten the victims.The surviving victims’ persistence and the eventual legal outcome mark a significant milestone in the fight for justice in cases of gender-based violence.–IANSaal/khz

New Delhi, May 13 (IANS) Telangana’s Nishika Aggrawal continued her stunning form at the Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) defending her gold in the women’s artistic gymnastics all-around event at the Indira Gandhi Stadium, New Delhi on Tuesday.This was the third time the 17-year-old Khelo India athlete (KIA) took part at the Games, having competed before in Tamil Nadu and Haryana. “I have got a lot of confidence playing KIYG over the years. This time, I was confident to give my best and I am happy to have used a lot of focus and concentration. This all resulted well for me,” Nishika told SAI Media after the final.Nishika, who made it to the senior India team last year, beat fellow KIAs Anoushka Patil and Sara Rawool of Maharashtra, who won the silver and bronze, respectively.In the men’s all-around final, Khelo India Athletes took the top honours again as Harschit D of Uttar Pradesh got past Niladri Sarkar of West Bengal to clinch the top honours. Delhi’s Akshat Bajaj took the bronze.Maharashtra grabbed top honours in the rhythmic gymnastics events with Parina Madanpotra bagging gold in the individual all-around event, scoring 83.650. A close second was her state-mate Shubhashree Singmore, who won silver, while Raechal Deep of Delhi settled for the bronze.“My performance was satisfying and I thank Khelo India for the organisation of the Games. The arrangements and especially the food here have been amazing,” said Parina.ResultsBoys:Artistic GymnasticsAll Around Final: 1. Harschit D (Uttar Pradesh) 70.066; 2. Niladri Sarkar (West Bengal) 68.734; 3. Akshat Bajaj (Delhi) 68.267Girls:Artistic GymnasticsAll Around Final: 1. Nishika Aggarwal (Telangana) 44.333; 2. Anoushka Patil (Maharashtra) 42.067; 3. Sara Rawool (Maharashtra) 41.233Rhythmic GymnasticsAll Around Final: 1. Parina Madanpotra (Maharashtra) 83.650; 2. Shubhashree Singmore (Maharashtra); 3. Raechal Deep (Delhi) 75.850Hoop Final: 1. Parina Rahul Madanpotra (Maharashtra) – 21.050; 2. Raechal Deep (Delhi) – 19.300; 3. Devangi Harshal Pawar (Maharashtra) – 18.750Clubs Final: 1. Shubhashree Uday Singmore (Maharashtra) – 20.600; 2. Parina Rahul Madanpotra (Maharashtra) – 19.750; 3. Mishka (Haryana) – 19.500Ribbon final: 1. Parina Madanpotra (Maharashtra) 20.650; 2. Shubhashree Singmore (Maharashtra) 19.850; 3. Raechal Deep (Delhi) 18.650Ball Final: 1. Kimaya Amalesh Karle (Maharashtra) – 20.500; 2. Parina Rahul Madanpotra (Maharashtra) – 20.150; 3. Raechal Deep (Delhi) – 18.550–IANSab/

Hanoi, May 13 (IANS) The sacred relics of Lord Buddha from India were enshrined in the Buddhist temple Quan Su Pagoda in Hanoi on Tuesday with ceremonial ritual and prayers conducted by monks from India and Vietnam. The relics will be displayed in the Buddhist temple till May 16.“Holy Buddha Relics from Sarnath, India arrived in Hanoi today and enshrined at Quan Su Pagoda till 16th May 2025 with due ceremonies and prayers by monks from India and Vietnam,” Embassy of India in Hanoi posted on X.External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar on Monday extended wishes on the Vesak Day, also known as Buddha Purnima, highlighting shared cultural ties with Vietnam, where over one million people prayed at the sacred Buddha relics sent from India.”On this Vesak Day, also deeply moved to see over one million people in Vietnam pay respects to and pray at the Buddhist Holy Relics which travelled from India. Indeed a clear reflection of our age old connect, shared culture and special ties,” said EAM Jaishankar.India’s sending of the holy relics to Vietnam has been appreciated by Vietnamese President Luong Cuong as a gesture that has further strengthened the strong spiritual and cultural ties between both countries.The holy relics were brought from India on May 2 by a Union Minister of Parliamentary and Minority Affairs, Kiren Rijiju-led Indian delegation, which also included Andhra Pradesh Minister Kandula Durgesh and senior monks and officials.The holy relics will remain in Vietnam until May 21 as part of the UN Day of Vesak celebrations. The relics were earlier displayed at Thanh Tam Pagoda in Tay Ninh and are currently in Hanoi.Recently, the Consulate General of India in Ho Chi Minh City attended the enshrining ceremony of the Holy Relic of Lord Buddha held at Ba Den Mountain in Tay Ninh province on May 8. The ceremony was witnessed by most venerable monks from India, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, and from several other countries as well. Provincial leadership of Tay Ninh also graced the occasion.“A large number of devotees thronged the venue to welcome the Holy Relic. It is the national heritage of India. Bringing it from India for exposition during UN Vesak Day celebrations in Vietnam is a glaring example of India’s deep-rooted friendship and robust bilateral relations with Vietnam,” the Consulate General posted on X.–IANSint/scor/as

New Delhi, May 13 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that an individual apex…

Hyderabad, May 13 (IANS) Amid reports of fissures in the family of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) president and former chief minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR), his nephew and a top party leader T. Harish Rao on Tuesday said he was ready to accept the leadership of KCR’s son K. T. Rama Rao.

The former minister dismissed speculations that he was planning to switch the party. He told media persons that he is ready to work under the leadership of K. T. Rama Rao (KTR) after KCR.“I have said this many times, and I am saying it again. My leader is KCR, and I will follow whatever KCR says,” said Harish Rao, a member of the Telangana Assembly from Siddipet.The BRS leader said that some rumours were circulating on social media, and he had already dismissed them. He pointed out that a couple of party leaders also lodged police complaints against some social media channels spreading the rumours.Harish Rao, who has been associated with the BRS since its launch by KCR 25 years ago, stated that he is a disciplined worker of the party and that there is no question of going against the party’s decision.“If KTR is entrusted with the responsibility of leading the party, I will fully support him. I will abide by KCR’s decision,” he said.Rumours of a rift within the KCR family have been doing the rounds for the last few weeks. The cracks were visible during a public meeting organised in Hanamkonda district on April 27 on the occasion of the party’s silver jubilee.The banners and other promotional materials during the mega event displayed images of only KCR and KTR, fuelling speculations that the former chief minister was endorsing his son as his successor, ignoring daughter K. Kavitha and nephew Harish Rao.There have been reports of differences between KTR and Harish Rao even when BRS was in power.The party has been struggling ever since losing power to Congress in November 2023. The crushing defeat in last year’s Lok Sabha polls, in which it drew a blank, came as another huge setback for the party.While KCR is largely confining himself to his farmhouse, it’s KTR who is running the show. Harish Rao also remained active as one of the key leaders of the party and a leading voice in the Assembly.After release from jail in the alleged Delhi liquor policy scam, Kavitha has also been taking up various issues, especially those related to the increase in reservations for backward classes.Meanwhile, Harish Rao slammed the Congress government for failing to procure the produce from farmers. He found fault with Chief Minister Revanth Reddy for remaining busy with the Miss World contest instead of solving the problems of farmers.–IANSms/dan

Hyderabad, May 13 (IANS) Telangana Cyber Security Bureau on Tuesday dismissed rumours of a terrorist being arrested at Hyderabad Airport.

With a video circulating on social media claiming that a terrorist was caught at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) clarified that this claim is false.“The footage is from a recent mock drill at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, which was part of routine security preparedness,” the TGCSB said in a fact-check alert on social media.It has appealed to people not to believe or share unverified content. The Bureau also stated that spreading misinformation is a punishable offence. It advised citizens to always rely on official sources for updates.RGIA also issued an advisory to travellers, stating that a video circulating on social media about terrorist movements at the airport is fake and misleading. “The visuals are from a mock drill exercise conducted as part of preparedness measures due to the ongoing situation,” it said.The airport authorities also informed that operations are normal. Heightened security measures have been put in place for the safety of passengers.Meanwhile, Telangana police have made tight security arrangements at various places for the ongoing Miss World pageant in Hyderabad.The police have tightened security at the airport, hotels, historic monuments and other places where the events related to the beauty pageant are being held.A total of 115 contestants from across continents are participating in the 72nd Miss World, which began on May 10.The TGCSB had earlier warned social media users against fake news and fear-mongering around Operation Sindoor. It noted that many users on social media were spreading fake news and misinformation about Operation Sindoor.The Bureau closely monitored social media to prevent the spread of false information and fear-mongering. It warned that strict action will be taken against those responsible.–IANSms/dan

Mumbai, May 13 (IANS) Actress Preity Zinta revealed the reason behind her positive outlook on life and constant smile on her face.
During an AMA (Ask me anything) session on X, a fan asked Preity about how she always maintains a constant smile on her face.To this, the “Veer-Zaara” actor replied, “Whenever I want to complain, I look at people that don’t have love or family or jobs or the poverty around and how difficult it is for people to make ends meet. How can I complain after that? In fact, I thank god everyday for giving me more than I dreamt for. Therefore, smiling comes easily & so does gratitude,” along with a folding hands emoji.When another netizen asked the reason behind her beauty, Preity shared, “Don’t know about that but …. how I look and my age seems to be a hot topic everyday! I think my brains are better than my face if you ask me but chalo koi na … will take the compliment. Somehow men are never asked how good they look at their age everyday – only their achievements are celebrated, but where I’m concerned ( or for that reason women)the conversation never goes past the age & face & sadly achievements are rarely mentioned! Sending you lots of love cuz your intent was good !”A curious user even asked the diva about how to get dimples like her. Preity reacted to this saying, “@realpreityzinta It’s called a muscle defect…Seriously ! Here is a perfect example of how a defect or imperfection is actually liked by people so we should not always try to fix everything in life. Our defects/shortcomings make us human.”Talking about her professional commitments, Preity is all set to make her Bollywood comeback with Rajkumar Santoshi’s “Lahore 1947,” opposite Sunny Deol.–IANSpm/

New Delhi, May 13 (IANS) All-time international top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo’s son, Cristiano dos Santos…

Mumbai, May 13 (IANS) The Maharashtra Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, on Tuesday, cleared the policy to make use of ‘M-Sand’ (artificial sand) mandatory in the construction sector. This has been done in order to curb the environmental problems arising from the over-extraction of natural sand and to provide alternative and sustainable resources to the construction sector.

Instead of the royalty charge of Rs 600 per brass for sand production, the meeting approved charging royalty at a discounted rate of Rs 200 per brass. The artificial sand, produced with the help of crushers from quarry waste and stones obtained from mountain excavations, can be an alternative to natural sand.According to the policy, permission will be given to set up M-Sand units after obtaining permission from the district administration and forest department, and compliance with environmental regulations will be required, said the government release.The government has instructed all government, semi-government and public institutions in the state to use M-sSand on priority in their construction projects.In addition, it has been clarified that only quality M-Sand should be used as per the norms of the Bureau of Indian Standards (IS 383:2016). The Industries Department will provide concessions to 50 individuals/institutions in each district to set up M-Sand units. Also, a concession of Rs 200 per brass will be given to the unit producing M-Sand.“The government believes that M-Sand units will increase employment opportunities at the local level, reduce dependence on natural sand and contribute to environmental protection. For this, district-level committees will be formed and an independent monitoring mechanism will be created to strictly implement the policy,” said the government release.This decision is likely to bring about a major change in the construction sector and promote environmental protection, sustainable development and the local economy. The Cabinet has given its approval to provide incentives, including industrial incentive grants, interest subsidies, exemption from electricity charges, stamp duty waivers and subsidies on electricity rates for those investing in the setting up of M-Sand units.Meanwhile, the Cabinet has accepted the Mukesh Khullar committee’s report on salary discrepancies. The committee was formed to suggest recommendations for the removal of discrepancies in the salaries of government employees and officers. The committee had submitted its report to the state government on December 31, 2024, which was accepted by the Cabinet on Tuesday.The recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission of the Centre were implemented for state government and other employees from January 1, 2016. But after the implementation of the revised pay scale, some errors were found in the pay fixation and the revised pay scale.On this, teachers in the state had filed various petitions in the Mumbai, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Nagpur benches. As per the order of the High Court, the government had constituted a Pay Error Committee under the chairmanship of Mukesh Khullar through a government decision dated March 16, 2024. This committee discussed with various administrative departments and 58 organisations. The committee also considered the representations received by the committee and submitted to the Finance Department, said the government release.The committee examined the proposals of various cadres and made recommendations regarding 441 cadres.“It was found that while fixing the pay, despite the increase in the pay scale as per the government decision dated February 13, 2023, taken in accordance with Clause 2 of the Bakshi Committee, the new pay of some employees was less than the previous pay. The committee has recommended fixing the pay in that pay scale at the next stage. So that the pay in the new pay scale will not be lower than the previous one. In addition, the committee has recommended relaxing the condition of the pay scale for single posts higher than S-27 in the government decision dated March 28, 2023, to implement the selection grade pay scale,” said the government release.The committee has also recommended giving a revised pay scale to those working in the same cadre but in different departments.Further, the committee has recommended that if the pay scale of the promoted post in the promotion chain is reduced due to the revision of the pay scale, then that error should be rectified. The pay recommended by this committee will be sanctioned from 1 January 2016, and the actual financial benefits will be implemented from the month in which the government orders regarding this will be issued. However, no arrears will be paid from January 1, 2016, to the month in which the government order is issued.–IANSsj/dan