Author: Indmedia

Governor Anandiben Patel during 9th convocation of Rajju Bhaiya State University on Thursday Prayagraj: Uttar Pradesh governor and chancellor Anandiben Patel on Thursday called for greater accountability and quality in higher education, directing universities to ensure strict evaluation of answersheets and warning that teachers found negligent in assessing examination papers should face salary deductions.Addressing the ninth convocation of Prof Rajendra Singh (Rajju Bhaiya) State University, she said such a measure would ensure justice for students while making evaluators more responsible.Presiding over the convocation, where degrees were conferred on 81,822 students and 242 meritorious students were honoured with gold, silver and…

Puri: Intermittent rain triggered by a low-pressure system over the past two days failed to dampen the spirit of nearly 8-9 lakh devotees who gathered for Rath Yatra on Thursday. Drenched pilgrims lined Grand Road for hours, waiting for a glimpse of Lord Jagannath and his siblings during their annual sojourn.The turnout was, however, around 30% lower than last year’s gathering of about 12 lakh devotees. Despite rain, ritual delays and a late start to chariot pulling, the enthusiasm remained undiminished.“It was God’s wish. We have no pain,” said Chandan Hota, a devotee from Rourkela, summing up the mood of…

Gurgaon: A Union environment ministry panel has recommended granting approval to regularise 37 hectares of Surajkund Tourism Complex in Faridabad that encroaches on protected Aravali forest land. At the same time, the panel has sought disciplinary proceedings against Haryana govt officers who allowed the diversion of deemed forest land without prior approval and payment of penal charges.The ministry’s advisory committee (AC) examined Haryana govt’s proposal seeking ex post facto approval — which can be done under provisions of the amended Forest Conservation Act — for the tourism complex built on land notified under Section 4 of Punjab Land Preservation Act…

Aizawl: Kali Kumar Tongchangya, a Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) member and a member of district council (MDC) from the 18-Fultuli constituency, was elected unopposed on Thursday as the chairman of the Chakma Autonomous District Council (CADC).The election was held to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of former chairman Lakkhan Chakma on July 1. According to the notified election schedule, nominations were filed on July 15. Tongchangya was the sole candidate and was declared elected unopposed by deputy chairman Sundor Muni Chakma, who presided over the council sitting.After assuming office, Tongchangya thanked the members for reposing confidence in him…

Kanpur: A 23-year-old man was allegedly beaten to death near a railway track in Kanpur’s Babupurwa area on Thursday in what police suspect was a revenge killing linked to a long-running dispute over the alleged harassment of the victim’s sister. The accused is absconding, and three police teams have been formed to trace him.The victim’s blood-soaked body was found around 11 am near a railway track close to Diggi Talab under the Babupurwa police station limits.According to the police, the victim had left home around 9 am to answer nature’s call but did not return. A short while later, locals…

Ludhiana: On Friday, the nation marks the birth anniversary of Flying Officer Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon, the hero who valiantly and single-handedly defended the Srinagar Air Force Base against a Pakistani air raid during the 1971 war. Although his skill as a pilot and courage made him a legend for posterity, residents of his native Issewal village feel his legacy has been neglected.According to them, the village the Param Vir Chakra recipient belonged to deserved more. They said that despite repeated representations to authorities over the years, several demands for development remain pending. They also pointed out the absence of major…

Madikeri: A special meeting was held to discuss the man-wildlife conflict in the presence of Madikeri MLA Manthar Gowda at Kedakal gram panchayat. The meeting was attended by the forest officials, who informed that a comprehensive plan is being worked out by the state to resolve the conflict.Farmers and residents in the wildlife conflict-affected villages, including Kedakal, Horur, Modur, Attur-Nalluru and surrounding regions, attended the meeting and highlighted their ordeal.Former gram panchayat member Venkappa Kotyan submitted a petition on behalf of the villagers. The petition urged the forest department to carry out frequent combing operations in Anekad and Meenukoli forest…

A police team at the hospital where Hariom was declared dead on arrival Ghaziabad: A 32-year-old man allegedly whipped out a country-made pistol and shot his father dead after being pulled up for drinking in front of his mother in Modinagar on Wednesday night.The argument that began over alcohol quickly escalated into a bitter dispute over a family property estimated to be worth more than Rs 150 crore. Police said the accused, Nikhil, fired three bullets at his father, Hariom (55), before fleeing.Hariom, a farmer from Budana village, had finished dinner and was resting when Nikhil returned home around 11pm…

Pune: A short but fierce stint of rain in the beginning of July heralded this year’s monsoon with its usual dose of havoc. The city witnessed flooded neighbourhoods, waterlogged highways, broken roads, submerged vehicles, and an unprecedented slew of tree-fall incidents.Over 250 trees were recorded to have keeled over and collapsed within Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) limits since the beginning of this month, while at least 104 such incidents were recorded under Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) limits, as per official data. Although heavy downpours and strong winds are expected to bring down a weakly rooted tree or two, the…

Panaji: Senior advocate Aabad Ponda, appearing for Tarun Tejpal in the state’s appeal against his acquittal in the 2013 rape case, told the Bombay high court on Thursday that CCTV footage from the first floor of the starred hotel “suddenly went missing”, raising doubts about the prosecution’s case.The HC is hearing final arguments against the Tehelka founder’s May 21, 2021, acquittal in the case where he was accused of raping a woman in a hotel elevator.Ponda said police failed to attach and seal the DVR containing the hotel’s CCTV footage for nine days, from Nov 21 to 29, leaving it…