‘AAP did much more than what Modi did in Guj in 12 years’
New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday claimed the AAP government in the national capital did “much more” than what Prime Minister Narendra Modi did in Gujarat in the last 12 years. Kejriwal made the remarks on the sixth foundation day of the Aam Aadmi Party. Congratulating party workers and supporters, he said the AAP’s political revolution against corruption and communalism is going on despite obstacles. “The people of Delhi are proud of their honest chief minister. I want to ask the people of the country if they feel the same about their prime minister,” Kejriwal said. He hit out the BJP-led NDA government over alleged corruption in the Rafale fighter jet deal and Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi fleeing the country. Targeting the Gujarat model of development, the Delhi chief minister said, “I challenge… the AAP government in Delhi did much more than he (Narendra Modi) did in Gujarat in 12 years,” he said. “The AAP’s political journey began on this day six years ago. The political revolution against corruption and communalism is going on despite obstacles,” the chief minister tweeted. (PTI)
50 Indian star tortoises rescued from Singapore: NGO
New Delhi: At least 50 Indian star tortoises were rescued from Singapore after they were smuggled from India, said a wildlife NGO on Monday. The tortoises were confiscated by Singapore authorities. They will now be repatriated to India and returned to their natural habitat in the forests of Karnataka with cooperation from the Indian and Singapore governments, a statement from the Wildlife SOS India said. Investigations confirmed Karnataka was the origin of these tortoises. A team of senior forest officers travelled with the Wildlife SOS to Singapore to conduct physical inspection of the tortoises housed at an NGO, ACRES Singapore’s rescue centre, the statement added. Singapore Airlines contributed to the cause of wildlife conservation by transporting the tortoises for free, it said. A three-member team from the Wildlife SOS India and a three-member team of Acres Singapore rescued the tortoises from Singapore to India. Indian star tortoise is protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. It is one of the most trafficked tortoise species in the world owing to the unique star-like radiating pattern on their shell, the statement said. (PTI)
Jail inmates have liquor inside barrack; 6 officials suspended
Lucknow: A Raebareli jail video showing inmates having drinks inside the barrack went viral on social media on Monday, prompting the Uttar Pradesh government to suspend six officials, including a senior jail superintendent. The video also showed one of the inmates calling someone using a mobile phone to order liquor, and another threatening someone to get money. After local TV news channels repeatedly telecast the footage, the authorities swung into action and shifted the four inmates seen in the video to other jails. An FIR has been lodged against them under various sections of the IPC and Prisons act, Principal Secretary Home, Arvind Kumar said. He said that after the video came to light, the jail premises was checked by the administration and local authorities and four mobiles and a SIM card were recovered. Those suspended included senior jail superintendent and three jail warders, he said. (PTI)
Cop killed, 2 injured in attack by man wanted in old case
Mumbai: An assistant sub inspector was on Monday killed and two other police personnel injured after a person they had gone to arrest attacked them in Maharashtra’s Yavatmal district, a senior official said. ASI Raju Kurmate (50), along with policemen Madhukar Muke (52) and Pramod Fukare (25), had gone to apprehend Vilas Meshram who was wanted in an old case for trespass and causing hurt using dangerous weapons. Meshram (35) was not attending hearings in connection with the case and a local court had issued a warrant against him, he said. On receiving information that the accused was at his residence in Hivari, Kurmate, part of a five-member police team, set out to nab him in the early hours Monday, he added. “However, Meshram refused to obey the order of the police team to accompany them and attacked them with a heavy piece of wood,” the official said. Kurmate suffered grievous injuries to his head in the attack and was declared dead on arrival by authorities at a rural hospital. The other two policemen are undergoing treatment for injuries they sustained in the attack, he said. (PTI)