National
Congress Leader Pawan Khera Criticizes Government, Accuses it of UAPA Misuse
Khera pointed out that between 2014 and 2022, only 2.55% of the 8,719 UAPA cases led to convictions, illustrating a troubling pattern of misuse aimed at targeting critics, students, journalists, and activists. He expressed these concerns in a post on the social media platform X, stating, “The low conviction rate underscores a presumption of guilt before trial, alongside media-driven trials and a disturbing trend of dismissing habeas corpus petitions by the Supreme Court, further exacerbating the justice crisis.”
He highlighted several instances of UAPA misuse, including the cases of Anand Teltumbde, Nodeep Kaur, and Mahesh Raut from the Bhima Koregaon incident. Khera also mentioned student activists Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, and Safoora Zargar, who were arrested for their alleged participation in anti-CAA protests, as well as journalists Fahad Shah and Irfan Mehraj, who faced charges due to their reporting. Additionally, he referenced Prabir Purkayastha and Amit Chakravarty, arrested in a 2023 foreign funding case linked to NewsClick.
While Anand Teltumbde was released after three years of imprisonment, Nodeep Kaur received bail in the same year she was detained but reported being beaten and sexually assaulted while in custody. Mahesh Raut has been imprisoned since 2018. According to Khera, student activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam have remained incarcerated since 2020.
Khera noted that journalist Fahad Shah was released after 600 days, while others continue to suffer in jail. “These incidents are merely a glimpse into a broader systemic issue,” he asserted. “In truth, many of these cases are acts of vendetta against individuals who challenge the government. Courts have consistently pointed out these abuses. The Delhi High Court notably stated, ‘Protest cannot be terrorism,’ in the release of Devangana Kalita, Natasha Narwal, and Asif Tanha. The Supreme Court also liberated journalist Zubair and climate activist Disha Ravi, criticizing their arrests as attempts to suppress free speech,” he added in his extensive post.
New Delhi: An 18-year-old MBBS student has accused a 20-year-old male friend of drugging and sexually assaulting her at a hotel in Delhi’s Adarsh Nagar area. The alleged incident took place on September 9, police officials said.
According to the complaint, the accused, who is also a medical student, invited the woman to “Hotel Apple” on the pretext of spending time together. Once there, he allegedly gave her a drink laced with drugs and then raped her.
The survivor told police that the accused recorded obscene videos and took pictures during the assault. He later threatened to make the content viral if she reported the incident.
The woman, a native of Jind in Haryana, is currently staying at the hostel of Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College in Rohini, Delhi.
Based on her complaint, police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code. A search is underway to locate and arrest the accused, officials added.
In a separate case earlier this month, a school manager in Uttar Pradesh was arrested for allegedly raping a Class 8 student. In February, a tuition teacher in Delhi’s CR Park area was accused of repeatedly raping a 15-year-old student over three years and threatening her with blackmail.
Jaipur: Eight patients died after a fire broke out at the trauma centre of the state-run Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur late Sunday night.
Officials said the blaze started in the storage area of the Neuro ICU, possibly due to a short circuit. There were 11 patients in the ICU at the time. Smoke quickly spread, causing panic among patients and staff.
Hospital workers and attendants tried to rescue patients, even moving them out on their beds. Firefighters controlled the blaze in about two hours.
Families of the victims alleged that hospital staff ignored early warnings about smoke and fled during the fire.
Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and other ministers visited the hospital to review the situation and assured a detailed probe into the incident.
Uttar Pradesh: A 75-year-old man who remarried in search of companionship died barely hours after his wedding, sparking shock and speculation in his village.
The deceased, identified as Sangruram, a resident of Kuchhmuchh village in Jaunpur district, had been living alone after losing his first wife a year ago. With no children, he supported himself through farming. Despite advice from relatives against remarriage, Sangruram wed 35-year-old Manbhavati, a resident of Jalalpur area, on Monday, September 29.
The marriage was first registered in court, followed by traditional rituals at a local temple. According to Manbhavati, the couple spent most of the wedding night conversing, as Sangruram assured her that she would take responsibility for the household while he would “take care of the children.”
However, by the next morning, his health deteriorated suddenly. He was rushed to hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
The unexpected death has triggered varied reactions in the village. While some residents believe it to be a natural occurrence given his age, others have expressed suspicion about the circumstances.
Relatives, including nephews residing in Delhi, have halted funeral rites until their arrival. They have also raised questions about whether a police inquiry or post-mortem examination will be conducted before the cremation.
Authorities have yet to issue an official statement regarding further investigation.
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