Thiruvananthapuram, July 3 (IANS) A day after the Kerala Police arrested three people suspected of being part of a gang which allegedly killed a 20-year-old housewife 15 years back in Alappuzha, a district court on Wednesday sent the trio to police custody.

The three, who had been arraigned as the accused in the FIR registered on Tuesday, are Jinu, Pramod, and Soman, all hailing from Mannar in Alappuzha.

Kala, 20, disappeared from Mannar 15 years back and a missing person case was registered. However, despite efforts by the police, nothing came out and her husband Anil later remarried.

Anil has been named as the first accused and is presently employed in Israel and the police have been trying to reach him.

This case resurfaced last month when the local police received an anonymous letter revealing crucial information about Kala and alleging that she was murdered. Soon the police got into action and picked up five people, of which three were arrested and produced before the court, which sent them to police custody.

Based on the questioning, on Tuesday, a police team arrived at Anil’s house and opened a septic tank for checking. After emptying it and with forensic experts presently engaged in scientific examination of what they recovered, the police expect they will be able to crack the case.

But with the arrested giving contrasting versions, the police are leaving nothing to chance, as first, the accused said Kala’s body was thrown into a river and on further questioning, they said it was put into the septic tank.

A forensic expert said through a DNA test, things can be resolved but the challenge is with 15 years now passing, it is doubtful whether there is still the presence of bone marrow.

“Moreover, if a body is dumped into a septic tank, the decaying takes a different line as compared to being buried in a pit. Inside a septic tank, a lot of reactions take place due to the human excreta. Only a detailed and thorough forensic analysis will bring out the real test report on what has been recovered from the septic tank,” the expert said.

Meanwhile, Kala’s 16-year-old son said he would not believe that his mother was dead and gone, while Anil’s father claimed that Kala had long back left Anil to live with another person.

–IANS

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New Delhi, July 3 (IANS) The Indian Army clarified on Wednesday night that martyred Agniveer Ajay Kumar’s family was paid Rs 98.39 lakh as compensation, rebutting Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s claim that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had “lied” about recompensating the family on the floor of the Lok Sabha.

The clarification came soon after Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, said in a video message on X: “Protection of truth is the foundation of every religion. But Defence Minister Rajnath Singh lied in the Parliament about the assistance given to the family of a martyred Agniveer.”

Rahul Gandhi also accused the Defence Minister of deceiving the Parliament regarding the ‘assistance’ provided to the family of martyred Agniveer Ajay Singh, as he demanded an apology from Rajnath Singh to the Parliament, the nation, the armed forces, and the bereaved family.

Clearing the air, the Army said in a post on X: “Certain posts on social media have brought out that compensation hasn’t been paid to the next of kin of Agniveer Ajay Kumar who lost his life in the line of duty. It is emphasised that the Indian Army salutes the supreme sacrifice made by Agniveer Ajay Kumar. The last rites were carried out with full military honours.

“Of the total amount due, the family of Agniveer Ajay has already been paid Rs 98.39 lakh. Ex-gratia and other benefits amounting to approximately 67 lakh, as applicable according to the provisions of the Agniveer scheme, will be paid on final account settlement shortly post due police verification. The total amount will be Rs 1.65 crore approximately.

“It is re-emphasised that emoluments due to a fallen hero are paid expeditiously to the next of kin of departed soldiers, including Agniveers.”

To recall, Rahul Gandhi, who has always been critical of the Agnipath scheme of recruiting Agniveers into the armed forces, reiterated his opposition to the scheme during his first speech as the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha on Monday.

He accused the government of creating division among soldiers by providing pensions to some and not others, stating, “Agniveer is a disposable tool. One soldier receives pension, while another does not. You are fostering a divide among soldiers.”

Rajnath Singh countered Rahul Gandhi’s allegations, accusing him of spreading misinformation. He also emphasised that the government provides Rs 1 crore in compensation to the families of martyred Agniveers.

–IANS

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Bengaluru, July 3 (IANS) A six-year-old girl’s body was found at the Bengaluru railway station on Wednesday and police, after a preliminary investigation, suspect that she was raped and murdered.

According to police, the body of the girl was found near the parking space close to a platform in the Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna railway station premises by the parking lot staff.

Scratch injury marks were found all over the girl’s body and her clothes were found stained with blood. The police probe has revealed that the victim girl was the daughter of a couple who are daily wage workers.

It is suspected that the body was dumped in the parking lot after she was raped, but it is yet to be ascertained whether the girl was gang raped or it was a crime committed by a single person.

The body has been shifted to the Victoria Hospital for autopsy.

Superintendent of Police, Railways, Sowmya Latha stated that the police have taken up the case and are examining CCTV footage. The girl was murdered first and then the body was dumped here, she added. Further details are awaited.

–IANS

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Imphal, July 3 (IANS) Incessant rainfall since Monday caused flooding at many places in Manipur’s five valley districts, including Imphal West and Imphal East, as two major rivers breached their embankments, officials said on Wednesday.

The flood waters inundated low-lying areas and human habitations and entered a large number of houses, and government and private offices, forcing the state government to declare a holiday for all government offices on Wednesday, while educational institutions would remain closed till Thursday.

Several thousand families were affected in the five valley districts, including the capital Imphal. Disaster management officials said that the Imphal River breached its embankment at Singjamei Oinam Thingel in Imphal West district, and the Kongba River at Kongba Irong and parts of Keirao in Imphal East district.

The repairs of the river bank and rescue operations are going on right now. The Iril River is also overflowing in several places of Imphal East district.

Several highways including the India-Myanmar road have also been flooded. Relief and rescue operations are underway for the affected people, officials said.

A district official said that the body of a 25-year-old man, who fell into the Senapati River on Tuesday afternoon, was recovered by a team of the Indian Red Cross Society with help from locals.

After visiting some flood-affected areas, Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh said on X : “Visited the flood affected zones at Singjamei and its surrounding areas. Necessary measures are being undertaken to assist the affected families while preparations are underway to tackle and address any eventualities. I urge all to remain calm and cooperate with the authorities for any issues and challenges”.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to occur in the state in the coming two days. A round-the-clock control room has been set up to coordinate rescue, relief, and rehabilitation efforts and to address the requirements of the people affected by heavy rainfall, floods, and landslides.

–IANS

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New Delhi, July 3 (IANS) Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has vehemently criticised Defence Minister Rajnath Singh regarding the controversial Agnipath scheme for recruitment of Agniveers into the armed forces.

In a statement issued on X on Wednesday, Rahul Gandhi accused Rajnath Singh of misleading the Parliament on the Agnipath scheme.

In fact, during Rahul Gandhi’s maiden speech in the Lok Sabha on Monday, Rajnath Singh had interrupted, alleging that the Congress MP was intentionally misinforming the House. The Defence Minister had claimed that every martyr in the Indian Army covered under this scheme receives compensation exceeding Rs 1 crore.

“Protection of truth is the foundation of every religion. But Defence Minister Rajnath Singh lied in the Parliament about the assistance given to the family of a martyred Agniveer,” Rahul Gandhi wrote on X.

The Congress leader intensified his criticism of the Defence Minister by sharing a video featuring an interview with the father of Shaheed Ajay Singh, who stated that “their family had not received” any compensation from the Central government.

In the video, Rahul Gandhi also displayed a picture of Lord Shiva, which he had brandished in the Lok Sabha on Monday, saying Rajnath Singh lied in front of Shivji’s photo.

Rahul Gandhi also accused the Defence Minister of deceiving the Parliament regarding the assistance provided to the family of the martyred Agniveer, alleging that the father of martyr Ajay Singh exposed these falsehoods as he demanded an apology from Rajnath Singh to the Parliament, the nation, the armed forces, and the bereaved family.

Rahul Gandhi, who has been critical of the Agnipath scheme, reiterated his opposition during his first speech as Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

He accused the government of creating division among soldiers by providing pensions to some and not others, stating, “Agniveer is a disposable tool. One soldier receives pension, while another does not. You are fostering a divide among soldiers.”

Rajnath Singh countered Rahul Gandhi’s allegations, accusing him of spreading misinformation. He also emphasised that the government provides Rs 1 crore in compensation to the families of martyred Agniveers.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also shared the video of Rahul Gandhi on her X handle, stating, “When opposition leader Rahul Gandhi raised the issue of Agniveer, the BJP government responded with falsehoods in Parliament.

“By lying, they insulted the sacrifice and martyrdom of families who have given their sons for the nation. Is this the BJP’s nationalism? The Prime Minister owes the nation an apology for lying and disrespecting the martyrs.”

–IANS

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