Surjewala says govt denying air pollution death details
NEW DELHI, Dec 19: Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala on Friday accused the Modi government of deliberately denying information in Parliament about deaths caused by air pollution. Replying to his question in the Rajya Sabha, the government claimed no deaths were recorded from air pollution, even though a 2023 Health Ministry advisory, backed by ICMR data, states that 1.7 million Indians die annually due to air pollution. Surjewala highlighted that death certificates often list heart attack, stroke, asthma, or lung disease, obscuring the role of polluted air. He criticized the government for issuing advisories to states while denying the mortality data in Parliament, calling it “deliberate denial” and urging for clean air, honest data, and accountability. Minister of State Kirti Vardhan Singh responded that no conclusive data links deaths exclusively to air pollution, citing multiple contributing factors. Surjewala stressed the urgent need to address the rising health crisis, particularly affecting vulnerable populations, as air quality in Delhi recently worsened, crossing AQI 500. (PTI)
Emotional distress cited in Kanpur father-son deaths
KANPUR, Dec 19: In Kanpur’s Hashimpur village, 45-year-old jeweller Ajay Katiyar allegedly killed his younger son Shubh (7) and critically injured his elder son Rudra (12) before committing suicide. Police recovered a note citing severe emotional distress, in which Ajay stated he could not leave his children “at the mercy of others” and would take them along. The incident occurred at their home when Ajay attacked the children with a brick, then consumed poison and hanged himself. His father discovered the scene after Ajay failed to open his shop. Shubh and Ajay were declared dead at a local health center, while Rudra remains in critical condition at LLR Hospital. Police recovered bricks, poison, and a rope from the house. Authorities noted Ajay had been under prolonged mental stress. His wife, Alka, had died exactly two years ago on the same date (PTI)
Pre-planned murder of dairy businessman in Delhi
NEW DELHI, Dec 19: Ratan Lohia, a 55-year-old dairy businessman, was brutally murdered in south Delhi’s Aya Nagar in a meticulously planned attack, police sources said. The assailants conducted hours of reconnaissance before opening fire, discharging over 70 bullets at Lohia around 5 am as he stepped out of his house. Investigators suspect the killing was linked to a long-standing family feud, possibly as revenge for the earlier death of Rambir Lohia’s son Arun. Dreaded gangster Neeraj Faridpuriya, allegedly operating from the US, is believed to have orchestrated the attack remotely, deploying sharpshooters from Haryana. Police recovered multiple 9mm cartridge cases and said the assailants abandoned their vehicle in Faridabad. A detailed investigation is underway to identify and apprehend all involved. (PTI)
