National
Vital bridge on National Highway in Manipur damaged by IED blasts
Imphal, April 24 (IANS) A vital bridge on the National Highway-2 in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district was badly damaged in a powerful improvised explosive devices (IED) blast on Wednesday, disrupting movement of traffic between Manipur and the rest of the country via Nagaland, police said.
According to police, movement on the Imphal-Dimapur National Highway (NH-2) was totally stopped and some 200 vehicles on either side of the bridge were left stranded while a few of them, including goods-laden trucks, moved through an alternative risky road.
A police official said that the battery of IED blasts made three big holes in the bridge.
Police are yet to ascertain which organisation or individual are behind the blasts, which occurred on the bridge between Sapermeina and Koubru Leikha areas.
No casualties were reported so far in the blasts, which occurred two days before the second phase of polling in the Outer Manipur parliamentary constituency on April 26.
Security forces rushed to the spot and cordoned off the bridge.
A probe was launched and a search is going on to nab the perpetrators.
The IED blasts came a day after gunfights broke out between village volunteers of the two rival communities in the Imphal West district.
After the ethnic violence broke out in Manipur on May 3 last year, the NH-2 was blocked by various Kuki organisations, affecting the movement of vehicles including essential goods trucks, while the movement of Meitei people had been stopped on it.
Movement of people and vehicles through the Imphal-Jiribam National Highway (NH-37), the second crucial highway, was also affected after the ethnic violence started.
Wednesday’s blasts were the second attempt to stop the movement of vehicles and people on the vital National Highway. On June 21, 2023, suspected Kuki militants detonated a powerful IED at a bridge at Kwakta in Bishnupur district in which three persons sustained injuries and also left several public and private properties damaged. The case was later taken up by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the main conspirator Seiminlun Gangte and his associate Mohammed Noor Hussain were arrested and a charge sheet was filed against them on April 12.
–IANS
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National
Three killed as two cars collide in Karnataka
Shivamogga, July 6 (IANS) At least three persons were killed and two others injured as two cars collided head-on in Karnataka’s Shivamogga district on Saturday.
The deceased were identified as Chandru, Siddanna and Imam Saab, all residents of Belagere village near Challakere town in Chitradurga district.
The injured were shifted to the Meggan Hospital in Shivamogga.
According to police, the incident occurred due to overspeeding.
One of the cars was en route to Sagara town from Shivamogga and the other car was coming towards Shivamogga from Sagara town.
Kumasi Police have rushed to the spot and taken up the investigation.
Both vehicles were severely mangled in the crash.
Details are awaited.
–IANS
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National
On Syama Prasad Mookerjee's birth anniversary, an account of how PM Modi championed his ideals
New Delhi, July 6 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday paid tributes to Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee, the founder of Bharatiya Jana Sangh, on his birth anniversary.
“Respectful tributes to Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee on his birth anniversary, who made India proud with his strong nationalist views. His dedication and sacrifice for the motherland will always inspire the citizens of the country,” said the Prime Minister in a post on X.
As the nation observes his birth anniversary, here is an account of how PM Modi not only championed his ideals but also realised his dream of ‘One Nation’.
Modi Archive, a popular X handle, on Saturday, shared information on PM Modi steadfastly upholding Mookerjee’s beliefs and ardently pursuing his efforts to unify the country. It accentuates the special tribute paid by PM Modi to the Bharatiya Jan Sangh founder in 2013.
It informs that after becoming BJP’s campaign committee chairman for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, PM Modi led his first rally at the spot where Mookerjee was arrested in 1953. This event also marked Mookerjee’s ‘Balidan Diwas.’
The public rally was held in Punjab’s Pathankot, the very location where the Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder was arrested in 1953 and kept in custody for 45 days. His sudden death in prison stunned the nation, leading to the abolition of the Permit System in J&K, shortly thereafter.
Mookerjee, a strong proponent of United India, passed away while fighting for the integration of Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of the nation.
In 2019, the Modi government actualised Syama Prasad Mookerjee’s vision by revoking Article 370, thereby paving the way for the revocation of its special status. A few months later, on January 1, 2020, the government took another historic step by abolishing the last traces of Jammu and Kashmir’s enforced autonomy, thereby locking Mookerjee’s dream of a fully integrated India.
Also, the government ceased operations at the Lakhanpur Toll Plaza in Pathankot, the very site where Mookerjee was arrested, a location signifying the artificial legal barrier between J&K and the rest of India.
–IANS
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National
Love jihad helpline: Pralhad Joshi seeks probe into bomb threat to Sri Rama Sena
Hubballi, (Karnataka) July 6 (IANS) Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Pralhad Joshi, on Saturday demanded a probe into bomb threats allegedly issued to the Sri Rama Sena for opening helplines for victims of ‘love jihad’.
Speaking to reporters in Hubballi on Saturday, Joshi said, “The closure of Facebook accounts of Sri Rama Sena is wrong. It is also wrong to issue bomb threats. Violence isn’t right always. The state government should investigate the matter.”
Earlier, addressing the media, Gangadhar Kulkarni, a senior Sri Rama Sena leader stated that after they began a campaign against ‘love jihad’ by opening a helpline on May 29, bomb threats and life threats were given.
The Sena has got more than 170 such calls already and the threat calls are made through internet, he alleged.
The Facebook accounts of all Sri Rama Sena members and the main page have been closed for the last two days, Kulkarni alleged.
“We don’t know whether this was done by jihadis or the government. This has been done to prevent the awareness campaign on love jihad by us,” Kulkarni slammed.
“All Facebook accounts should be allowed to operate, failing which, statewide protests would be launched,” Kulkarni warned.
–IANS
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National
J&K: Army soldier dead in Kulgam encounter (Ld)
Srinagar, July 6 (IANS) An Army soldier has died in an encounter between the security forces and the terrorists in Jammu & Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Saturday.
Officials said that an Army soldier, injured during the encounter between the security forces and the hiding terrorists in a village of Kulgam district, succumbed to critical injuries in the hospital.
Security forces started a cordon and search operation in Modergam village of Kulgam early on Saturday, following reports about the presence of terrorists in the village.
“As the security forces came close to the hiding terrorists, they fired at the security forces triggering an encounter,” officials said.
The exchange of fire between the security forces and terrorists is continuing in the area.
–IANS
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National
Heavy rain disrupts life in Rajasthan; schools in Tonk shut
Jaipur, July 6 (IANS) Heavy rain disrupted normal life in Rajasthan on Saturday causing waterlogging, traffic jams, and the Tonk district administration announcing the closure of schools.
Incessant rain in Kota for the past two days increased Parvati River’s water levels, leading to the closure of the road connecting Sheopur and Gwalior in MP.
The Meteorological Department said that the Baran district recorded the highest rainfall (195 mm) while Parbatsar and Nagaur, registered 71 mm.
In the past 24 hours, Deoli in Tonk 155 mm rain, Malpura (144 mm), Peeplu (144 mm), Tonk tehsil (137 mm), Aligarh (130 mm), 126 mm in Todaraisingh and Nagarfort (115 mm).
Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department officials have warned of heavy to very heavy rain in the state till July 8.
Further on July 9 and 10, heavy rainfall has been forecast for eastern Rajasthan.
–IANS
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