New Delhi, July 31 (IANS) Former Union Health Secretary Preeti Sudan will be the new Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) chairperson from Thursday, under Article 316 A of the Constitution.

The 1983 batch IAS from the Andhra Pradesh cadre will take over charge from Manoj Soni who recently resigned.

She will have tenure till April 2025.

Sudan, who retired as Union Health Secretary in July, 2020, also served as Secretary in Food & Public Distribution Department, and, in the Ministry of Women & Child Development and Defence.

She initiated two major flagship programmes of the country, i.e., ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ and ‘Ayushman Bharat’, apart from Legislation on the National Medical Commission, Allied Health Professionals Commission & ban on E-cigarettes.

She had also served as a Consultant with the World Bank.

Besides, she had served as Chair of COP-8 of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, Vice Chair of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, Chair of Global Digital Health Partnership and a member of WHO’s Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response.

–IANS

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Kolkata, July 31 (IANS) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has tracked the network which built empires over ill-gotten proceeds in the ration-distribution case similar to that of Sheikh Shahjahan, the arrested and suspended Trinamool Congress leader from Sandeshkhali.

The ED officials detected this during their day-long raid and search operations at ten places in two districts of West Bengal on Tuesday, said sources

Incidentally, the native district for these two empires is also North 24 Parganas and both have very strong ruling party connections.

Sources said that one of the 10 places, where the ED official escorted by Central Armed Police Forces personnel raided, was the office of PG High Tech Rice Mill at Berachampa under Deganga community development block in North 24 Parganas.

Investigation by the Central agency sleuths has revealed two important facts. The said entity is jointly owned by two brothers Alif Nur a.k.a. Mukul and Anisur Rahaman a.k.a. Bidesh, with the latter being Trinamool Congress’ Deganga block president.

These two brothers, as revealed through investigation, are also the cousins of businessman Bakibur Rahman, the first to be arrested by the ED officials in the ration distribution case.

Investigations have further revealed that the two brothers also ancestrally own a private B.Ed & D.El.Ed College which is quite profit-making. Bidesh successfully contested the panchayat elections in 2018 and became the PWD executive officer of Deganga panchayat samiti.

After the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections, he became the ruling party’s Deganga block president.

Bidesh was quite cool in his reactions given to the media after the raid and search operation. “Raids by central agencies are regular affairs these days. However, we have extended full cooperation to the ED officials and handed them over all the documents that they sought. We will continue cooperating with the investigating officials in the coming days. They have seized my mobile phone,” he said.

The second empire that has been tracked by the ED officials is that of Abdul Barik Biswas, known to be a close aide of former state food and supplies minister Jyotipriya Mallick, who is currently in judicial custody in connection with the ration distribution case.

On Tuesday, the ED officials conducted raid and search operations at the residences of Biswas at Basirhat, Rajarhat and Barasat, all in North 24 Parganas district. The investigating officials also recovered cash worth Rs 20 lakh from his Rajarhat residence.

Although he had never been directly into politics, his close family members are. His elder brother Ghulam was an elected member of the North 24 Parganas Zilla parishad from 2013 to 2018. The latter’s wife Safiza Begum replaced him in the 2018 panchayat polls.

Abdul Barik Biswas has a past criminal record. He was arrested by the customs department in connection with gold smuggling. A consignment of gold was also seized from his possession then. He remained behind bars for some years and was then released on bail. After being released, he started multiple businesses like rice mill, cola trading, brick kiln and transport.

–IANS

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Wayanad, July 31 (IANS) The death toll in the Wayanad landslide disaster on Wednesday mounted to 159 even as the rescue teams were searching for the missing people.

The official figure for the missing people is 98, the locals fear the number could be more and many continue to search for their near and dear ones,

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.

The Army, Air Force, Navy, NDRF, police, Fire Force and locals are all involved in the search and rescue operations.

Areas which were known for their picturesque beauty are now a picture of gloom. Vehicles washed away in floodwaters could be seen stuck in muddy waters and tree trunks. Boulders, which rolled down the hills, hindered the path of rescue workers. There is mud, slush and remains of houses everywhere. The rescue workers could be seen shifting the dead and the injured into ambulances braving heavy rain

In some areas, there were no signs of any houses existing now, which were all bustling with life till Monday-Tuesday night.

The APJ Community Hall at Meppadi is full of people, but the air is heavy with wails and crying. Bodies have been kept for identification in the hall.

Prashob, a young man spotted in the hall, is shattered. Till the other day, he along with his extended family was living happily near Mundakayil.

“I have identified two of my uncles among the bodies that have been placed here. But I have no clue about seven of my other close relatives. I am in touch with people at other centres where bodies are placed and they are sending me pictures, but I have yet to identify any of the other missing relatives,” said Prashob.

Meanwhile, expert cadaver-smelling trained dogs have now been put into service and have already identified one body at Churalpara.

Meppadi village council president Babu said by the passing hours they are getting sad news of more bodies being recovered.

“We will have to wait till evening to know more details. There was an alert that was given about a probable landslide due to the heavy rain in a few areas. Some people took the warning and moved out, while some did not,” said Babu.

State Revenue Minister K. Rajan presently heading the rescue and relief operation in Wayanad said more and more defence personnel are joining the rescue mission. Bailey bridges have reached Kannur and by afternoon these will be erected in the affected areas, said the Minister.

“Even as we hear the toll increasing, there has been good news of reports from people stating that they are safe,” said Rajan.

Goa Governor P.S. Sreedharan Pillai, who hails from Kozhikode, visited a few affected areas. When asked if the Centre will declare this a national disaster, Pillai said that has to be done by the Centre and is done after looking into numerous parameters.

–IANS

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Akola (Maharashtra), July 31 (IANS) In a shocking development, a young activist of Maharashtra Navirman Sena (MNS) died in a hospital a few hours after participating in an agitation and vandalising the car of a ruling ally Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLC and Spokesperson Amol Mitkari, party officials said here on Wednesday.

The deceased, identified as Jay Malokar, 24, suddenly complained of uneasiness, and breathlessness after taking part in the vociferous protest against Mitkari for making certain objectionable remarks targeting MNS President Raj Thackeray.

He was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment, but barely hours later, the medicos said that he had died during treatment late in the night for suspected cardiac arrest, shocking the MNS and political circles.

Simultaneously, two other MNS activists, including Akola District President Pankaj Sable and Saurabh Bhagat were also admitted to the district hospital for similar complaints, after the agitation held at the government guest house.

Reacting sharply to the attack and smashing of his car, Mitkari alleged that “Raj Thackeray has taken a contract to kill me, his own party workers were talking during the agitation”.

After the attack and a counter-protest by Mitkari’s supporters, the Akola Police have registered a case against over two dozen MNS activists, and nabbed two including Sable and Bhagat, while many others are travelling.

NCP President and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar called up Mitkari late on Tuesday to get a briefing on the incident as the latter (Mitkari) threw the gauntlet at the MNS even as the police beefed up security outside his home.

A video showing MNS general secretary Karnbala Dunbale issuing a threat to his supporters to ‘finish Mitkari within a week’ or he would sack his own (MNS) office-bearers, has gone viral. Dunbale, who is among the suspects wanted by the Akola Police, is currently absconding.

“Mitkari is worthless yet he has dared to criticise Rajsaheb Thackeray, so he has been given the ‘prasad’ (beating). He is a fool and should not be given much importance,” MNS Chief Spokesperson Sandeep Deshpande said on Wednesday on the incidents in Mumbai.

Meanwhile, amid pleas for justice by his distraught family, the funeral of Malokar shall be performed in Akola this afternoon, said a local party leader.

–IANS

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Bengaluru, July 31 (IANS) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday appealed to the corporate sector to make Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) contributions to support relief efforts in Kerala, where at least 159 people have lost their lives due to landslides.

CM Siddaramaiah, in his appeal addressed to the corporate sector, stated, “The situation in Kerala urgently needs financial assistance, food supplies, clothing, and basic ration to address the immediate needs of the affected population.”

“The scale of the disaster necessitates a coordinated and generous response from all sectors of society, particularly from corporate entities that have always been pillars of support in times of need,” he said.

“As you might be aware, our neighbouring state, Kerala, has recently been subjected to a severe calamity that has resulted in considerable hardship for its residents,” he stated.

“The Government of Karnataka is committed to extending support to Kerala in these trying times, and we are reaching out to our valued partners in the corporate sector to join us in these relief efforts,” he stated.

CM Siddaramaiah further stated, “We are specifically looking for contributions in the following areas. Firstly, financial support to facilitate the logistics of relief operations and rebuilding efforts. Secondly, food supplies comprising non-perishable food items and thirdly, clothing.”

“We understand that each organisation has strengths and ways to best contribute. We would appreciate it if you could share how your esteemed organisation would like to assist in this humanitarian effort. Kindly inform us about the support you can offer, and we will coordinate with you to ensure that the contributions are utilised effectively,” the CM appealed.

“This is an opportunity for us to stand together and make a significant impact. Your involvement and contributions will not only provide immediate relief but also help in the long-term rehabilitation of the affected regions,” CM Siddaramaiah maintained.

“We have established a dedicated task force to coordinate relief efforts and ensure that all contributions are utilised effectively and transparently. Please respond to this appeal, so we can effectively organise logistics and distribution,” he urged.

–IANS

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