Maoists set vehicles ablaze
Balaghat (MP), Jan 31: Nearly a dozen Maoists set three vehicles on fire in the Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh which were involved in construction work on a road as 10 to 12 Maoists were reportedly involved in the incident on Sunday. According to official information, road construction work is on between Devbareilly-Malkua in Lanji police station area and this work is being undertaken by a Raipur contractor. On Sunday morning, the Maoists set ablaze a truck and two tractors as well as threatened an employee of the company. (IANS)
Man throws baby into fire
Muzaffarpur, Jan 31: A man allegedly threw a three-month-old baby girl into a fire in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur district on Sunday after her mother protested against his sexual advances, police said. The baby received severe burn injuries in her legs and she is being treated at the Sadar Hospital, they said. The incident took place in the Bochahan police station area when the woman was sitting outside her home near a bonfire, police said. The man sat beside the woman and tried to sexually harass her, against which she protested, they said. (PTI)
Students forced to watch tobacco advertisements
New Delhi, Jan 31: Despite the ban on advertising of tobacco products in our country, 76 per cent of school-college students are forced to watch advertisements of tobacco companies. Also, to entice the teenagers, these companies showcase their products specially between toffee-chocolate, etc. Experts caution that it increases the risk of addiction in adolescents. Addressing a webinar on ‘Tobacco Freegen: Challenges and Way Ahead’ Dr. Uma Kumar, Professor at AIIMS and head of the Department of Rheumatology, said that tobacco companies that make products like cigarettes and gutka are specifically targeting teenagers. Citing the latest survey ‘Big Tobacco Tiny Target’ conducted in 25 cities of the country, she said that it has been found that 75.9 per cent of such shops near schools and colleges have not only advertised tobacco products but also they are showcased in a place where they have high visibility. (IANS)