Wayanad, July 31 (IANS) The death toll in the landslide-affected Kerala’s Wayanad mounted to 176 on Wednesday even as the Army, Navy and Air Force were engaged in rescue operations and setting up infrastructure, including bridges.

The number of missing people as per the officials was 98. However, many people were searching for their relatives and the estimate is said to be around 200.

The worst affected areas include Churalpara, Velarimala, Mundakayil and Pothukalu. The locals from these areas who managed to escape are deeply shattered by the extent of the devastation.

Heavy rain at a few places hampered the rescue operations.

On Wednesday fresh forces arrived, including Brigadier Arjun Seagan, Commandant of the PARA Regiment Training Centre, and his team. The team reached the affected site and took charge of the Control Centre at Mepaddi which is about 12 km from Churalmala, one of the worst affected sites.

Four Relief Columns of the Defence Security Corps (DSC) Centre & 122 TA Battalion (MADRAS) began their operations at 6 a.m. They were divided into two composite teams for joint rescue and extrication of dead bodies and for assistance in setting up the Bailey Bridge at Churalmala.

Another two Columns, including a medical team of the 91 Infantry Battalion landed at Kozhikode late Tuesday night and reached the affected areas. The team is led by CO 23 Maratha Light Infantry.

The Engineering Task Force of Madras Engineer Group, Bangalore & C (01 Officer, 02 JCOs & 120 Soldiers) have already reached Churalmala. Equipment to set up a 170-foot bridge is being planned at Churalmala, while a second set of bridge equipment columns along with bailey pier parts is likely to reach by afternoon.

The Commandant, MEG Centre will be overseeing the critical bridge activity and will arrive later in the day.

Another set of Bailey Bridge from ESD Delhi Cantonment is being airlifted for Kannur by the C-17 Globemaster. The operation will be coordinated by Captain Puran Singh of the Kannur Defence Security Corps (DSC).

Bridge construction materials will be brought to Wayanad in 17 trucks.

Bridge equipment along with three sniffer dogs and handlers from Delhi has landed in Kannur and is on its way to the affected areas.

The combined defence forces team on Tuesday rescued over 1,000 people and 70 dead bodies recovered by the armed forces last night.

–IANS

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Patna, July 31 (IANS) A five-year-old nursery student carried a gun in his bag and fired at a Class 3 boy in a school in Bihar’s Supaul district on Wednesday, said officials.

The incident occurred at a St Joseph School under the jurisdiction of the Triveniganj police station in the district.

District Superintendent of Police (SP) Shaishav Yadav confirmed to IANS that the incident took place during the assembly session around 9 a.m.

Sources said that the victim’s quick reflexes played a crucial role in minimizing the injury. By ducking at the right moment, the victim was able to avoid a potentially fatal shot to his chest or stomach.

The victim sustained an injury to his hand and is currently admitted to a hospital and out of danger.

Following the incident at St. John’s School, the teachers recovered the weapon and called the parents of both the victim and the nursery student. During the discussion, the weapon was placed on a table. Seizing the opportunity, the father grabbed the weapon and his son and fled from the school on a bike.

Sources said the school administration called the parents first and the police were informed later.

After the incident, a large number of parents and residents gathered at the school and created a ruckus both inside and outside the school premises.

“At present, efforts are underway to calm down the agitating parents, with adequate security forces deployed to restore normalcy in the area,” SP Yadav said.

He stated, “We are investigating the incident to determine how the child brought the weapon inside the school. It is the initial period of investigation, and we will conduct a thorough investigation to ascertain whether it is a licensed weapon or not. Appropriate action will be taken following the investigation.”

The incident has also raised concerns about the school’s security measures. The SP mentioned that action will be taken against the school administration as well, indicating that the security lapse will be addressed accordingly.

–IANS

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New Delhi, July 31 (IANS) Amid a heated controversy over former minister Anurag Thakur’s caste remarks in Lok Sabha, the Hamirpur MP on Wednesday took to social media and shared a video of Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav to show him the mirror on furious tirade — ‘how one can ask about caste?’

The video shared by BJP MP is a compilation of instances when the Kannauj MP and SP supremo asked the journalists about their caste. The undated video shows Akhilesh Yadav making a deliberate effort to enquire about the caste of the scribe and then mocking him over his surname.

Notably, BJP MP Anurag Thakur’s speech in Lok Sabha and pointed caste jibe, apparently at the Leader of Opposition (LoP) stirred up a hornet’s nest in the Opposition ranks, the fallout of which became evident in Wednesday’s House proceedings also.

As the House began its proceedings on Wednesday, the Opposition benches created a ruckus over BJP MP’s caste remarks and demanded an apology. They also resorted to slogan-shouting. Reports also suggest that Congress is also mulling to bring a privilege motion against Anurag Thakur.

Meanwhile, Anurag Thakur’s stirring speech, while responding to Rahul Gandhi’s assertions on ‘Mahabharata and Chakravyuh’ is drawing accolades from various quarters. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended a shout-out to the Hamirpur MP for putting the INDIA bloc on the mat with his fiery counters.

“This speech by my young and energetic colleague, Shri @ianuragthakur is a must-hear. A perfect mix of facts and humour, exposing the dirty politics of the INDI Alliance,” PM wrote sharing his Lok Sabha speech.

Notably, Anurag Thakur cited experts from a book authored by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor to hit out at previous dispensations and also dubbed the LoP as the ‘Leader of propaganda’.

What left the Cong-led INDIA bloc fuming and protesting furiously was his remark, ‘those unaware of their caste are talking about caste-based census.’

His remarks resulted in angry protests by the Opposition benches including SP chief Akhilesh Yadav.

Rahul Gandhi also stood up and demanded to intervene, claiming that he was abused and insulted by the BJP MP.

“You can insult me as much as you want, do it every day. But don’t forget that we (the opposition) will get the Bill (on Caste Census) passed here (in Parliament),” Rahul Gandhi said in response.

–IANS

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Chennai, July 31 (IANS) The Madras High Court on Wednesday said that the breach of privilege proceedings initiated against elected legislators continues even after the dissolution of the Assembly to which they have been elected.

A division bench, comprising Justice S. M. Subramaniam and Justice C.Kumarappan, said that certain privileges to the Assembly would become meaningless if the proceedings lapse during the completion of the tenure of the elected Assembly.

The division bench said that the sovereignty and dignity of the House must be valued in the interests of the people who had elected their representatives and added that issues such as breach of privilege cannot be washed away after the dissolution of each Assembly.

The court made these observations while allowing writ appeals filed in 2021 by the then Legislative Assembly Secretary as well as the chairman of the Committee of Privileges against a single judge’s 2020 order quashing the show cause notices issued to incumbent Chief Minister M. K. Stalin and 18 other DMK MLAs for having displayed gutkha sachets in the Assembly in July 2017.

The judges rejected the argument of the DMK MLAs that the proceedings initiated during the 15th Legislative Assembly, which was dissolved in May 2021, cannot be continued during the tenure of the present 16th Legislative Assembly.

–IANS

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Bengaluru, July 31 (IANS) A 33-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday on the charges of posing as a CBI officer and duping people in Karnataka’s Belagavi district.

The accused, identified as Dayananda Raju Jindrale, a resident of Islampura in Hukkeri town, had been cheating youths by promising them government jobs in exchange for money.

Jindrale collected money from youths in Nippani, Rayabagh, Kagawada, Chikkodi, and Harogeri, promising them jobs in Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation, Forest, and Excise departments.

During a preliminary investigation, police recovered around 10-12 ATM cards from his possession.

The arrest was made after Afzal Beedi, a resident of Auto Nagar, complained to the police that Jindrale had cheated him of Rs 5 lakh and issued him cheques with different signatures.

Jindrale had taken the money claiming that his friend had met with an accident.

During police questioning, the accused confessed to other crimes.

The Malamaruthi police are investigating the case.

–IANS

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