8,973 criminal cases with senior citizens as victims
New Delhi: As many as 8,973 criminal cases, in which senior citizens were victims, have been registered in the country till October this year and cheating and robbery accounted for maximum numbers of cases, Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday. The maximum number of 2,257 cases was registered in Maharashtra, followed by Andhra Pradesh with 1,856 and Madhya Pradesh with 1,205 cases involving senior citizens as victims. Surprisingly, Uttar Pradesh, the largest state where law and order situation has often been criticised, has only 142 such cases, Minister of State for Home Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary said in a statement citing provisional figures mostly till October. Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju told Lok Sabha that they have issued two advisories to states, asking them to maintain a data of all senior citizens, set-up a helpline and take quick action in case of any crime. (PTI)
Two bike-born assailants throw acid on woman doctor
New Delhi: Two unidentified bike-borne assailants threw acid on a 30-year-old woman doctor here on Tuesday morning in West Delhi’s Rajouri Garden area. According to the police, the incident took place around 9:30 AM in Rajouri Garden market when the woman had left home and was on her way to a hospital where she worked in the same area. “Suddenly, two youth reached the spot on a bike and the pillion rider threw an acid-like chemical on her and fled. The victim sustained burns in the incident and was rushed to the same hospital where she worked. From there she has been referred to AIIMS,” said a senior police official. The attackers have not been identified so far and efforts are on to trace them. Police has registered a case in this regard and CCTV footage of the area is being scanned to identify the attackers. Investigators also questioning her friends and colleagues to determine whether she had any personal enmity or somebody held a grudge against her. (PTI)
District authorities deny reports of conversion of Dalits to Christianity
Bhadohi: The district administration today refuted reports that around 300 Dalits had been converted to Christianity, saying they were “absolutely incorrect”. Acting District Magistrate Rama Shanker Yadav said that “during inquiry of a complaint alleging that 300 Dalits were converted to Christianity in Tiwaripur village in Gopiganj area on the night of December 21, it was found to be absolutely incorrect”. Circle Officer Jitendra Dubey said that on Sunday, relatives of one Chintamani, a Dalit, gathered at his house for dinner. On being asked about the reason for attending the dinner at Chintamani’s house, priest Ajay said that he and his associates, Father Raymond and Father Emanuel, went to the houses of the people to perform prayers. According to media reports, BJP and RSS have alleged that around 300 Dalits have been converted to Christianity in the village. District chief of RSS Rajendra claimed when police reached the village, the priest fled from the spot. (PTI)
‘No proposal for minority status to KPs under consideration’
New Delhi: No proposal for according minority status to Kashmiri Pandits in Jammu and Kashmir is under consideration of the Ministry of Minority Affairs, the government told Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. In reply to a question, Minister of State for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said representations have been received from various associations of Kashmiri Pandits for according minority status to the community in J&K. “The issue of declaring any community as minority in the state of Jammu and Kashmir comes under the purview of the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, he added. “No proposal for according minority status to Kashmiri Pandits is under consideration of this ministry,” Naqvi said. He was replying to a question whether the government is considering to concede the demand of Kashmiri Pandits for granting them minority status. (PTI)
MP building steel silos for foodgrain storage in 9 districts
Bhopal: In a first in the country, steel silos for foodgrain storage are being built in nine districts of Madhya Pradesh, Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Minister Vijay Shah today said. “The steel silos for storing foodgrains are being constructed for the first time in the country at Bhopal, Indore, Ujjain, Dewas, Vidisha, Sehore, Harda, Hoshangabad and Satna districts through public-private-partnership,” Shah said, speaking to reporters here. “This initiative is being praised at the national and the international levels and other states too are implementing it,” the minister said. It would increase foodgrain storage capacity in Madhya Pradesh by 2.50