National
Junior Superintendent in Vellarikundu Taluk Suspended for Controversial Facebook Post Criticizing Ahmedabad Plane Crash Victim
Kerala’s Revenue Minister, K. Rajan, condemned Pavithran’s actions in a social media post, referring to them as despicable. He stated, “The Junior Superintendent of Vellarikundu Taluk, A. Pavithran, has been suspended for his Facebook post targeting Ranjitha G. Nair, a victim of the plane crash. This behavior is unacceptable, and we acted swiftly to suspend him after the matter was brought to our attention.”
Ranjitha Gopakimar, originally from Thiruvalla in Pathanamthitta district, was one of the victims on the Air India flight bound for London, which crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. Her family has confirmed her passing.
The flight, which was carrying 242 passengers, met with tragedy when it crashed into a doctors’ hostel, resulting in the loss of 241 lives. Kerala BJP leader and former Union Minister Rajeev Chandesekhar also paid tribute to Ranjitha R. Nair, noting her untimely death in the crash.
Ranjitha, who worked as a nurse in the United Kingdom, is survived by her two children and mother, who reside in Thiruvalla.
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s comments have come under scrutiny. In response to a post featuring Shah stating, “This is an accident, and nobody can prevent accidents,” Congress leader Jairam Ramesh criticized him for being insensitive. He remarked, “Is this really what the Union Home Minister should be saying at such a time?”
Congress leader Pawan Khera also took issue with Shah’s remarks, stating, “When a plane crashes and lives are lost, the least a Home Minister can do is assure accountability—not dismiss it casually with a lecture on fate. Saying ‘nobody can stop accidents’ is an abdication of responsibility. If we cannot prevent these incidents, then what is the purpose of our ministries? Aviation accidents are preventable; that’s why we have regulators and safety measures in place. Should we simply surrender to fate instead of investing in safety and preparedness?”
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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