Hyderabad, July 11 (IANS) Former chief of Telangana’s Special Intelligence Branch (SIB), T Prabhakar Rao, the main accused in the phone tapping case, has denied the allegations against him.

The retired Inspector General of Police, who is in the US, has communicated to the Investigating Officer (IO) that multiple health problems have forced him to defer his return to India.

He assured that he will fully cooperate in the investigation and answer all queries in person as soon as his health improves and upon his return to India.

“I am prepared to assist in the investigation in any kind of questioning over video conferencing or teleconferencing till the time I return to India,” he said in the letter dated June 23 that surfaced on Thursday.

The retired IPS officer requested the IO to conduct a fair and unbiased investigation as per the provisions of law.

Prabhakar Rao denied the allegations made against him.

“I would once again want to reiterate what I conveyed to you via the Whatsapp call on March 22nd & 23rd, that I have not committed nor directed anyone to commit any illegal acts or omissions while discharging my duties as a police officer at any time including as Chief of SIB,” reads the letter.

The former SIB chief wrote that he had originally planned to return to India on June 26 but had to defer the same due to health issues.

He informed the IO that in addition to existing problem of malignant cancer, he developed high blood pressure due to stress, “I have been subjected to, after registration of the current case and by making wild and false allegations against me with constant deliberate leaks to media, thereby assassinating my character and reputation even prior to making me as an accused in the case.”

He stated that the false allegations were a great shock to him and his family which led to further deterioration of his physical and mental health.

Prabhakar Rao said he was now suffering from cardiac and renal problems for which he was seeking appointments of specialists in the US.

He further wrote that his consulting doctors advised him not to travel out of the US till his health completely stabilised.

“However, I am willing to fully cooperate with the investigation and provide any information which you think is in my exclusive knowledge and possession through email. I don’t think that my no-appearance before the IO at an earlier point of time will hamper the investigation in any way as it is already evident from the outcome of the investigation and filing of the chargesheet,” he added.

Three serving police officers and a former officer have so far been arrested in the phone tapping case which came to light after the BRS lost power to Congress and an official in SIB who was part of the operation was found destroying the collected data.

In March a case was registered with the Panjagutta police after a petition was filed by additional SP, SIB.

DSP Praneeth Rao was arrested after he allegedly destroyed hard disks and other data.

Later, the police arrested former additional SPs Bhujanga Rao and Tirupathanna and former Deputy Commissioner of Police, P Radha Kishan Rao.

–IANS

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Kolkata, July 11 (IANS) Senior Trinamool Congress leader and four-time Lok Sabha MP from Dum Dum constituency, Saugata Roy, claimed on Thursday that he had received threatening calls over strongman Jayant Singh’s arrest.

Saugata Roy said he had been threatened with dire consequences if he failed to arrange for the release of local Trinamool leader Jayant Singh.

Singh, a virtual terror in Ariadaha in North 24 Parganas District was arrested last week by police after a video went viral where he and his associates were seen involved in mob violence against an individual in a club.

“A call came from an unknown number to my mobile. The caller first used abusive language and then threatened to kill me unless I arranged for the release of Singh. I received the call twice,” Roy told a section of the media on Thursday morning.

He also confirmed that he has filed a complaint with Barrackpore Police Commissionerate and requested the police to identify the caller from the number that he has provided to them.

Roy is the second ruling party leader to receive life threats over the incarceration of Singh.

“I am scared that I can be shot anytime. I have been vocal against the police in the matter. It is possible that the police will tell the anti-social elements that they were forced to take action because of pressure from Madan Mitra. This is an old game,” Madan Mitra said on Wednesday evening.

The Opposition leaders said that the ruling party leaders are now facing the music for giving protection to these anti-social elements.

–IANS

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Patna, July 11 (IANS) Ten people lost their lives due to lightning strikes in the last 24 hours in Bihar, said officials on Thursday.

Three persons died in Rohtas, two in Siwan, and one each in Kaimur, West Champaran, Supaul, Munger and Banka districts.

Ram Pravesh Singh, a 55-year-old farmer from Bihar, died instantly after being struck by lightning while seeking shelter under a blackberry tree in Rohtas’s Nokha block on Wednesday evening.

A young woman in Karaundi village, Natwar block, also lost her life due to lightning.

In Sanjhauli Mathia village, Karakat block, a farmer succumbed to a lightning strike.

A five-year-old girl died while collecting mangoes during a storm in Odakpur village in Siwan district.

A labourer, who hailed from West Bengal’s Malda district, was planting paddy in Nikhati Kala village in Siwan when he was struck by lightning and died.

Another individual died due to lightning in the Mohaniya subdivision in Kaimur.

A farmer, Suresh Yadav was killed, and another person, Suman Ram, was severely injured while ploughing in Phulwaria village under the Lauriya police station area in West Champaran district. The injured person was receiving treatment at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in Bettiah.

A farmer lost his life due to lightning in Dharmapatti village in the Raghopur police station area in Supaul district.

A woman died from a lightning strike in Lagma village, Asarganj police station area in Munger.

A person named Janardan Mandal of Salempur Puranchak village under Amarpur police station in Banka district also died due to lightning.

Authorities are taking necessary actions, including post-mortem examinations and providing medical treatment to the injured. As per the norms, the state government will give a compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the family members of the deceased.

–IANS

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Prayagraj, July 11 (IANS) The Uttar Pradesh government will deploy Jal Police personnel, armed with modern gadgets to offer help to pilgrims arriving at the banks of the Ganga to take a holy dip in the Kumbh Mela 2025.

The Kumbh Mela police authorities have drafted a plan to ensure the safety and security of each and every pilgrim while taking a holy dip during the mega religious fair.

The Jal Police personnel will be equipped with underwater cameras and drones, rescue boats, scooter boats, ambulance boats, big boats, speed boats, training equipment, life-saving equipment lifebuoys, floating jetties and dragon lights.

Interestingly, the Mela police will be armed with underwater cameras and drones that can help cops track missing bodies in the rivers and other local water bodies.

Additional DG (Prayagraj zone) Bhanu Bhaskar said, “Jal police to be armed with advanced safety gadgets during Maha Kumbh, will be deployed on the banks of Ganga and Sangam to ensure the safety of devotees and to check cases of drowning”.

Besides, the duties of skilled jawans of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC – flood control) and Jal Police, companies of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) will also be assigned to prevent any drowning incidents.

The Jal Police will be setting up a floating control room at Sangam while additional teams will be deputed to control the strength of pilgrims on the river banks.

The ADG said, “Wearing a life jacket will be mandatory for all pilgrims taking seats on boats. Moreover, personnel of Jal Police and PAC (flood control) will also be equipped with lifesaving equipment. They will be given life-saving jackets, guards, nets, boats and other apparatus.”

Besides, quick reaction teams (QRTs) will be deputed to the floating control room. These QRTs will also be equipped with safety gadgets, binoculars and other apparatus. Jal Police personnel would also patrol on boats at every ghat to check cases of drowning.

They would be apprising pilgrims about the depth of the water and restricting them from entering the deep side.

Jal Police authorities will also be engaging trained swimmers to ensure the safety of each devotee taking a holy dip.

–IANS

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Jammu, July 11 (IANS) In a shocking case, the throat-slit bodies of newborn twins were recovered in Jammu & Kashmir’s Poonch district, said officials on Thursday, adding that their father has been arrested.

The bodies of the two female babies were found in their home in the Chaijjla Kayani village of the Mendhar sub-division of the district.

The father of the babies was initially detained for questioning and later was arrested, said officials.

Authorities said immediately after receiving information about the bodies of two female babies lying in the house of Mohd Khursheed of Chajjla Keyani village, a team was rushed to the village.

The bodies have been sent for post-mortem. A board of doctors has been constituted to carry out the post-mortem and furnish a detailed report.

Doctors said that after completion of medico-legal formalities, the bodies would be handed over to police.

The incident has sent shock waves throughout the district as it involves the fate of girl children at a time when the country is celebrating the birth, education and contribution of women to the development of the country and its democratic institutions.

–IANS

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