SNE NETWORK. NATIONAL DESK.
A protest by BJP councillors and workers at the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation headquarters turned violent on Saturday as they levelled corruption allegations against the CPI(M)-led ruling administrative committee. The BJP councillors alleged corruption worth lakhs of rupees in the purchase of laptops distributed to school students by the Left-ruled corporation. The protesters, including women councillors, marched to the corporation, which was stopped by the police by erecting barricades.
The police had to resort to water cannons several times when the protesters tried to enter the premises by scaling the barricades. The protesters showed no willingness to retreat immediately but also scuffled with the police. Later, a woman BJP councillor told the media that the CPI(M)-ruled administrative committee in the corporation was involved in corruption. She alleged that there was corruption not only in the purchase of laptops but also in the arrangements made in connection with the temple festival Attukal Pongala. However, CPI(M) sources in the corporation alleged that the protest was staged to hide corruption charges against BJP councillors.
Four more accused arrested in Kaliganj blast case
The police have arrested four more people, including two main accused, in connection with the bomb blast in Kaliganj in West Bengal’s Nadia district that killed a girl. During the raid on Friday night, two people – Rahibul Sheikh and Nawab Sheikh – were arrested from Berhampur, while two others were arrested from Katwa in East Burdwan, police said. These people are named in the FIR in the Kaliganj blast case. They will be produced in court today. We will start questioning them soon. The total number of arrests in the case has reached nine. Of these, 24 people are named in the FIR.
Andhra Pradesh High Court stays police action against Jagan Mohan Reddy
The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Friday stayed any punitive action against former Chief Minister and YSR Congress president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy till July 1. This order has been given in a case related to the death of a party worker. The High Court has also given relief to other accused in the case, Rajya Sabha MP YV Subba Reddy and former ministers Ambati Rambabu and V. Rajini.
On June 18, Jagan Reddy met the family of a party leader in Rentapalla village of Palnadu district. He had committed suicide a year ago due to the atrocities of TDP leaders and police. While going to the village, YSRCP supporter C. Singaiah was injured under the wheels of Jagan’s vehicle and later died. The police registered a case and made the driver the first accused and Jagan the second accused. Jagan had filed a petition in the High Court to cancel the FIR registered against him. The court has adjourned the hearing of the case till July 1.
Journalists should not misrepresent events in the race to get ahead: Navneet Sehgal
Prasar Bharati Chairman Navneet Sehgal said that journalists should not misrepresent events in the greed to get ahead of their rivals or to become famous. Such an approach can cause damage that cannot be undone. Addressing the Devrishi Narada Patrakar Samman-2025 ceremony, Sahgal cited the coverage of Operation Sindoor. It had raised people’s expectations, which journalists were unable to justify. Calling for caution in media coverage, he said, “An atmosphere was created to show that whatever else could have happened (as part of Operation Sindoor) did not actually happen.” He said Operation Sindoor was a big step taken by the government, which was beyond imagination. Many governments had never even thought that a step like Operation Sindoor could be taken, but some journalists presented it in such a way that nothing happened. Journalists should avoid the tendency to sensationalise news reporting.
Theft at Kerala High Court judge’s house, private secretary’s gold missing
A theft took place at the residence of Kerala High Court judge Justice A Badruddin in Kalamassery. About six grams of gold belonging to his private secretary was found missing. An official of the Kalamassery police station said on Friday that a complaint was received on June 26 regarding the theft that took place on June 23. The official said that an FIR has been registered and investigation has been started.