U’khand woman set on fire by stalker shifted to Delhi
Rishikesh: An 18-year-old woman, who was set on fire by a stalker for turning down his repeated love proposals, was shifted on Wednesday to the Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi as she continued to be critical. The 31-year-old man, a taxi driver, attacked the woman when she was returning from college on December 16. The woman was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences here Monday with 70-80 per cent burns, Rishikesh Medical Superintendent Dr Brahma Prakash said. She was sent in an air ambulance to Delhi this afternoon, he said. The woman continues to be critical and will now be treated at Safdarjung Hospital’s dedicated burn ward, he said, adding she had sustained serious injuries on her face and lungs. The man had been stalking her after she had rejected his love proposals, police said, adding that he set her on fire after sprinkling petrol over her. (PTI)
Mamata ministry expansion today
Kolkata: The 31-month-old Mamata Banerjee Congress government in West Bengal will be expanded on Thursday and four new faces would be inducted into it, officials said Wednesday. The new names to be inducted into the state cabinet were shortlisted Tuesday and sent to the governor on Wednesday, the state secretariat sources said. The probable ministers are Sujit Bose, Tapas Roy, Nirmal Majhi and Ratna Ghosh. They would be sworn in Thursday by Governor K N Tripathi at the Raj Bhavan in the presence of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her cabinet colleagues, the sources said. The portfolios of the new entrants to the cabinet would be announced after the swearing in, they added. This is Trinamool Congress’ second term in office after winning the 2016 assembly election in the state. (PTI)
Court issues summons to UP cops for ‘fake’ encounter
Muzaffarnagar (UP): A local court here on Wednesday issued summons against eleven police officials in connection with an over 10 year old alleged fake encounter case on the plea of the deceased person’s mother. The court ordered them to appear before it on January 25, 2019 in connection with Amjad killing case. The chief judicial magistrate Rakesh Kumar Gautam issued summons against the policemen after taking cognisance under section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The mother of the deceased has alleged, her son Amjad was killed in a fake encounter by the police after abducting him from his house under Ratanpuri police station area of the district on 2 February 2007. (PTI)
On Goa Liberation Day, govt calls to make state plastic-free
Panaji: On the 57th Liberation Day of Goa, the state government Wednesday appealed to the people to make the coastal state free of plastic and pollution. Various programmes were held across Goa to mark the occasion. In absence of ailing Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, Legislative Assembly Speaker Pramod Sawant unfurled the national flag at the official function held here. Goa was freed from the Portuguese dominion on December 19, 1961 after a freedom movement and Army operation. It was granted full statehood in 1987. In his 10-minute speech made in Konkani, Sawant said the state government is trying hard to make Goa plastic and pollution free, but the efforts can become fruitful only with the active participation of citizens. On this day, let us take the pledge to make Goa free of plastic and pollution. (PTI)
Deputy CM’s brother sacked from AIADMK
Chennai: The ruling AIADMK Wednesday sacked its coordinator and Tamil Nadu deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam’s brother O Raja from the party for alleged anti-party activities. The decision to sack Raja, a former panchayat body chief hailing from Theni district, was announced by Panneerselvam and Joint Coordinator K Palaniswami. Palaniswami is the Chief Minister of the state, while Panneerselvam is his deputy. The two leaders, in a short statement, said that Raja has been sacked from all posts, including the AIADMK’s primary membership. The action was taken “for going against the party’s policies and bringing disrepute to it,” they added. “From today onwards, Raja is being removed from all posts, including the primary membership,” they said. (PTI)
J&K to come under President’s rule from today
New Delhi: President’s rule will come into force in Jammu and Kashmir from midnight on Wednesday after expiry of six months of Governor’s rule, an official order said on Wednesday. President Ram Nath Kovind signed the proclamation paving the way for imposition of central rule in the state which plunged into a political crisis in June after the BJP withdrew support to the PDP government led by Mehbooba Mufti. The union cabinet headed by PM Modi took the decision on Monday after Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik sent a report recommending imposition of President’s rule in the state. After the proclamation, the powers of the Legislature of the state shall be exercisable by or under the authority of Parliament.The governor on November 21 dissolved the 87-member state assembly (PTI)