Badals Got Rs 108 Crore Waived In Taxes For Luxury Hotel: Bhagwant Mann

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday alleged that the Badal family had taxes worth Rs 108 crore waived for a Mohali-based luxury hotel -- Sukhvilas -- by way of a "tailor-made" eco-tourism policy during the Akali regime.

The state government will take action in the matter, he said.

Addressing the media in Chandigarh, Mr Mann claimed that the Badal family claimed tax exemption worth Rs 108 crore for the luxury hotel project for a period of 10 years from 2007-2017.

He said Sukhvilas is a 7-star hotel and charges Rs 4-5 lakh per night for some rooms.

Metro Ecogreen Resort is the real name of this hotel, which is located in Palanpur village in Majri block of Mohali district, he said.

"It was a conflict of interest and misuse of power," Mr Mann alleged.

The Aam Aadmi Party leader claimed that the Akali government framed Punjab eco-tourism policy, 2009 to "facilitate" the construction of the hotel.

As construction could not take place on this land, which is a forest area, they brought the eco-tourism policy in 2009 and later brought an amendment in the law for the construction of the hotel, he alleged.

Before setting up the hotel, there used to be a poultry farm owned by the Badal family, he claimed.

"Later, the Change of Land Use permission was given to build the hotel. Who would have refused the CLU when they themselves were in power? Even though, under the Punjab Land Preservation Act, 1900, no commercial activity could be undertaken there," Mr Mann said.

Mr Mann said a Badal-owned company, Metro Ecogreen Resort Limited, took approval for nearly 20 acres on March 2, 2009 for the project.

Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board gave the approval in December 2010 for setting up an ecotourism resort in village Palanpur, he said.

Another Badal family-owned company Taj Travels Private Ltd took approval for ecotourism on a piece of land in Palanpur, he claimed Metro Ecogreen Resort purchased over 23 kanal (about 2.50 acres) land from the Taj Travels. Thus, total land accumulated was 20.8 acres, he said.

Mr Mann claimed that majority of the shares in Metro Ecogreen resort Ltd were held by the Badal family. "Sukhbir Badal holds 1.83 lakh shares of this private limited company, his wife Harsimrat Kaur Badal 81,500 shares, while Dabwali Transport Company holds 5,350 shares." The construction activity for the hotel began in May 2013 and commercial activity started from April 1, 2016.

Under the eco-tourism policy, no other hotel came up, he said. "It was only for their hotel." Mr Mann said the project was given incentives worth Rs 108.73 crore for a period from May 11, 2015 to May 10, 2025.

"State Goods and services tax (SGST) and value added tax (VAT) were waived for the project for a period of 10 years. For 10 years, State GST or VAT will not be applicable on the hotel, which works out to over Rs 85 crore," he claimed.

In addition, electricity duty of Rs 11.44 crore and luxury tax and annual licence fee of Rs 11.44 crore were waived for a period of 10 years, he claimed.

Replying to a question, Mr Mann said, "Action will be taken (in the matter). Which laws were misused. Why was this (eco-tourism) policy framed for themselves only? How CLU was taken," he said.

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Uzbek National With Medicines Worth Rs 1.3 Crore Arrested At Delhi Airport

An Uzbek national carrying more than 29,000 strips of medicine, worth about Rs 1.3 crore, was arrested by Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel at the Delhi airport, officials said on Thursday.

The passenger was intercepted by the security personnel on Wednesday morning at the terminal 3 of the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport as his movement was found to be suspicious, a CISF officer said.

A bag stuffed with medicines was found from the passenger, he said. The man was headed for Tashkent in an Uzbekistan Airlines flight.

A total of 29,200 strips of Mesopril kit tablets were found in the bag, the officer said. The medicine is used for medical termination of early pregnancy, controlling excessive blood sugar level and treating gastric ulcers.

"As the passenger could not produce valid authorisation for carrying such a huge quantity of medicines, he was offloaded from the plane and handed over to customs officials," the CISF officer said.

The CISF provides a counter-terrorist and counter-sabotage cover to the Delhi airport.

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Prince Harry Loses Case Against UK Over Change In Personal Security Level

Prince Harry will seek to appeal a UK court ruling Wednesday that the government acted lawfully when it downgraded the level of his personal security when he visits Britain.

The youngest son of King Charles III launched the legal action after the British government told him in February 2020 that he would no longer be given the "same degree" of publicly-funded protection when in the UK.

Harry, the Duke of Sussex, sensationally relocated to North America in 2020 with his wife Meghan, eventually settling in California in the United States, and is no longer classified as a working royal.

High Court judge Peter Lane said in a 52-page judgement that the "bespoke process" devised for him by a committee which is under the remit of the interior ministry "was, and is, legally sound".

But a legal spokesman for Harry said he will try to turn to the Court of Appeal "to obtain justice". The court -- England's second highest -- must decide whether there are grounds to hear the case.

"The duke is not asking for preferential treatment, but for a fair and lawful application of... (the) rules, ensuring that he receives the same consideration as others," Harry's spokesman added. 

The interior ministry said it was "pleased" with the judgment and was "carefully considering" its next steps.

"The UK government's protective security system is rigorous and proportionate," a ministry spokesperson added.

- 'Harm's way' -

The prince told a hearing at London's High Court in December that security concerns were preventing visits back to Britain.

"The UK is my home. The UK is central to the heritage of my children," he said in a written statement read out by his lawyers.

"That cannot happen if it's not possible to keep them safe.

"I cannot put my wife in danger like that and, given my experiences in life, I am reluctant to unnecessarily put myself in harm's way too."

Harry's mother Princess Diana was killed in a high-speed car crash in Paris in 1997 as she tried to escape paparazzi photographers.

However, lawyers for the government rejected claims that he was "singled out" and treated "less favourably" or that a proper risk analysis was not carried out.

In May last year, a judge also sided with the government over its refusal to let him pay for specialist British police protection himself.

The interior ministry argued then that it was "not appropriate" for wealthy people to "buy" protective security when it had decided that it was not in the public interest for such taxpayer-funded protection.

London's Metropolitan Police also opposed Harry's offer on the grounds that it would be wrong to "place officers in harm's way upon payment of a fee by a private individual".

- NY car chase -

The latest ruling also revealed new details about a New York car chase last May involving paparazzi that Harry and Meghan described as "near catastrophic".

The New York Police Department (NYPD), the city's mayor and a taxi driver who briefly transported the couple all subsequently downplayed the danger and duration of the pursuit.

However, a December 2023 internal NYPD letter from its intelligence chief disclosed to the High Court said a thorough review of the incident had concluded "that the behaviour in question was reckless". 

Lane's ruling said "the investigation had found reckless disregard of vehicle and traffic laws and persistently dangerous and unacceptable behaviour on the part of paparazzi during the night in question".

It also noted "there was sufficient evidence to arrest two individuals for reckless endangerment".

The legal action over his personal security is one of various lawsuits Harry has pursued in recent years in Britain, primarily concerned with alleged phone hacking by newspapers.

Earlier this month, he settled a long-running legal claim against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN).

The prince is also bringing legal action against the publisher of the Daily Mail, while he and actor Hugh Grant are also suing News Group Newspapers (NGN), part of Rupert Murdoch's global media empire.

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12 Delhi Cops Injured While Trying To Control Mob Assaulting Extortionist

At least 12 police personnel were injured while trying to control a mob that was allegedly assaulting a suspected extortionist in west Delhi's Khayala area on Wednesday, police said.

Balram, who is facing more than 12 criminal cases, is accused of threatening vendors at Raghubir Nagar market in Khayala for "protection money", they said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Vichitra Veer said two separate FIRs have been registered in connection with the violence and the alleged extortion.

Early on Wednesday, when Balram had gone to collect "protection money" from vendors, he was confined by some people and thrashed, another police officer said.

When information about the assault reached the local police station, a team was rushed to the spot.

When personnel in the police team tried to rescue Balram, the mob pelted them with stones, the officer said.

The mob also torched Balram's car that was parked in the market and tried to beat up Pramod, his associate. Balram was rescued safely, he added.

Twelve police personnel suffered minor injures and were discharged from hospital after first aid. Balram is admitted to Safdarjung Hospital and his condition is stable, the officer said.

Teams have been formed to investigate both the cases, he added.

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Watch: German Woman's 'Achyutam Keshavam' Rendition In Front Of PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday met German singer Cassandra Mae Spittmann, whom he earlier mentioned in one of the episodes of his monthly radio broadcast 'Mann Ki Baat', and her mother in Palladam, Tamil Nadu.

PM Modi earlier appreciated Cassandra Mae for her passion for Indian music and culture.

During the meeting, Cassandra Mae also performed the song 'Achyutam Keshavam' and a Tamil song in front of the Prime Minister. At the same time, PM Modi was also seen enjoying the bhajan.

A video of this has also surfaced, in which Cassandra could be seen singing in front of PM Modi and he appreciated it.

#WATCH | PM Modi today met the German singer Cassandra Mae Spittmann and her mother in Tamil Nadu's Palladam

Spittmann was mentioned by the PM in one of his 'Mann Ki Baat' radio programs. She sings songs, especially devotional songs in many Indian languages.

Today, she sang… pic.twitter.com/1DA9JV2aZw

— ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2024

Earlier in September 2023, in his address to the nation, PM Modi said, "Indian culture and Indian music are now global. More and more people worldwide are getting attracted to them."

The Prime Minister played an Indian song sung by Cassandra Mae.

"Such a melodious voice...and every word reflects emotions. We can also feel her attachment to God. You would be surprised to know that this voice is of a daughter from Germany. Her name is CassMae. 21-year-old Cassmae on Instagram is quite famous these days. German national Cassmae has never visited India. But, she is extremely fond of Indian music," PM Modi said after the song presentation.

Calling the German singer's passion "inspiring," the Prime Minister further added, "Such interest of someone who has never visited India, is inspiring. Cassmae is visually impaired since birth. But this challenge could not stop her from achieving this extraordinary...her passion for music and creativity was such that she started singing in childhood itself."

PM Modi said that Cassandra does not only sing in Hindi but in various other Indian languages as well.

Notably, Cassandra Mae Spittmann became well-known for singing several Tamil song covers, particularly devotional songs, and has won praise for her accuracy and nearly flawless enunciation of the language's lyrics.

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Student Who Went Missing In Kota Rescued From Bengal After 5 Days

A 17-year-old NEET aspirant, missing from his hostel here for five days, was rescued from his home state West Bengal on Monday, police said, adding he is being brought back.

The teen was reported to be homesick in Kota and was heading to his home without informing his parents fearing that they would stop him from coming home. So he switched off his mobile and left for home without informing anyone, police said.

Aryan Mitra (17), a resident of Silliguri in West Bengal, was preparing for NEET in Kota and living in a hostel under the Kunhari police station. He did not return to the hostel on February 21, following which the hostel manager lodged a complaint on February 22, Kota City SP Amrita Duhan said.

A police team was formed to trace the missing boy and the team got an input on the boy's location on the way from Sealdah to Jalpaiguri in West Bengal, she said.

The police team, with the help of the boy's parents who accompanied them, rescued him from Jalpaiguri and now he is under the protection of his parents and the police, the SP said. 

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Ukraine's Counteroffensive Plans Were Leaked To Russia, Says Zelensky

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky suggested on Sunday that plans for Kyiv's long-awaited counteroffensive last year had been leaked to Russia ahead of time.

Ukraine's counteroffensive in 2023, powered by billions of dollars in Western arms, largely fell flat, failing to break through multiple lines of Russian defences and fortifications.

"Our counteroffensive action plans were on the Kremlin's table before the counteroffensive actions began," Zelensky said Sunday at a press conference in Kyiv.

His office subsequently confirmed to AFP that Zelensky was referring to Moscow obtaining sensitive military planning information.

Zelensky did not provide any other details on the leak.

He went on to say that Kyiv was preparing "several" versions of its battlefield strategy for 2024 to help avoid a repeat.

Asked whether Ukraine had plans for another attempt at a counteroffensive this year, he said: "We have a plan, a clear plan. Several plans will be prepared because of information leaks."

Russian forces are now back on the advance across eastern Ukraine, having captured the symbolic frontline town of Avdiivka and seeking to press their advantage in ammunition and manpower.

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Zelensky Says 31,000 Ukrainian Soldiers Killed In 2 Years Of War With Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday his country's victory "depends" on Western support and that he was "sure" the United States would approve a critical package of military aid.

He also said 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed in two years of war with Russia, in a rare admission of military losses. 

"Whether Ukraine will lose, whether it will be very difficult for us and whether there will be a large number of casualties depends on you, on our partners, on the Western world," Zelensky said. 

He spoke at a press conference in Kyiv dedicated to the second anniversary of Russia's invasion at a time when Ukraine has been weakened by a shortage of ammunition and the blocking of US aid in Congress. 

"There is hope for Congress, and I am sure that it is going to be positive, otherwise I do not understand the world we will start to live in," Zelensky said. 

The aid has been blocked amid resistance from Republicans.

For the first time, Zelensky put a number on Ukraine's military losses in two years of brutal fighting with Russia, saying "31,000 Ukrainian soldiers died in this war."

"Not 300,000 or 150,000, or whatever (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and his lying circle are saying. But each of these losses is a great loss for us," he added. 

Both sides are believed to minimise deaths of troops. 

Asked if he would talk to Putin, Zelensky said: "Can you talk to a deaf person? Can you talk to a man who kills his opponents?" 

Putin's main opponent Alexei Navalny died in an Arctic prison this month. 

"He sees himself (in power) by 2030, we would like to finish with him sooner," Zelensky added, mocking an upcoming presidential election in Russia that is likely to extend Putin's long rule until 2030.

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2 Dead, 1 Injured As Wall Collapses Near Film City In Mumbai Suburb

Two people died while another person was injured in a wall collapse incident near Film City in suburban Goregaon on Saturday evening, a civic official said.

The incident took place near gate number 2 of Film City on Aarey Colony Road.

A wall, around 60 feet long and 20 feet tall, collapsed, trapping at least three men underneath, said the Fire Brigade official.

They were rescued before a Fire Brigade team arrived on the spot, he said, adding that two of them were declared dead by the doctor accompanying the 108 ambulance.

The other injured person was undergoing treatment at a nearby hospital, and search was underway with the help of Percussive Rescue Tool (PRT) kit to check if any more persons were trapped under the debris, the official added.

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UK To Limit Stakes For Online Games To Curb Gambling Addiction

The UK government announced Friday that it would introduce stake limits for online slot games in a toughening of regulations designed to help protect people from the dangers of gambling.

From September, adults will be restricted to £5 ($6) per spin while 18 to 24-year-olds will be limited to £2.

As of now, there are no limits on stakes, unlike on physical gaming machines in casinos and betting shops.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport described the move as a "landmark moment" for the regulation of online gambling.

It said in a statement the laws would "counter the increased risk of significant harm and life-changing losses" from online slots.

However, Charles Ritchie, who co-founded the charity Gambling With Lives after his son took his own life after battling gambling addiction, said the games would "remain highly addictive".

"They are high-speed products, and really until there is action taken on the speed of play then they will remain addictive," he told BBC radio.

The government says that young people are particularly susceptible to gambling addiction.

In 2019, it cut the maximum bet on electronic gaming machines in betting shops -- called fixed-odds betting terminals -- from £100 to £2.

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970 Kg Of 'Meow Meow' Drug Kept In Delhi Godowns Rented To Store Salt

Investigators probing the mephedrone seizure worth over Rs 3,000 crore in the national capital and Pune on Thursday said two makeshift godowns in south Delhi, taken on a paltry rent of Rs 10,000 each under the guise of salt trade, were used to store 970 kg of the banned drug.

In operations carried out in Pune and Delhi, a whopping 1,700 kg of Mephedrone, also called "Meow Meow" have been seized which was valued at around Rs 3,500 crore in the international market. So far eight people have been arrested after multiple raids in the two cities were conducted, police said.

Delhi Police has also started an investigation to find out the route from where the drug entered the national capital and what quantity was supplied to local drug dealers, officials said.

Police said that a West Bengal-native man had taken two different rooms in south Delhi on rent for Rs 10,000 each in Kotla Mubarakpur and Masjid Moth areas of Hauz Khas from a local property dealer.

A team of the Pune Police's Crime Branch contacted Delhi Police and requested a joint raid in connection with a narcotics case in which three persons had been arrested from Pune and some quantities of Mephedrone had been seized. A case has been registered on the matter in Pune under the NDPS Act.

Based on information received from those arrested, a raid was conducted at Delhi's Kotla Mubarakpur on Tuesday, a police officer said. Around 300 kg of Mephedrone was seized and two more people were arrested in the raid, the officer said.

"Around 600 kg of Mephadrone was seized and recovered from a rented shop in Masjid Moth in Hauz Khas. The room and the shop were recently taken on rent," the officer said.

Mephedrone is a synthetic stimulant often associated with the "rave party culture" for its euphoric effects, a senior police officer said.

Police said seizures in Pune and Delhi totalled 720 kg and 970 kg, respectively, with a combined value estimated to be around Rs 3,500 crore.

Police sources said many teams were formed to investigate the matter and to keep a strict vigil for information on local drug suppliers.

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Liver Disease: Watch Out For These Warning Signs And Symptoms

Liver is an important organ that helps digest food, eliminates waste from the body, produces bile juice and filters toxins from your body. Your liver is vulnerable to several conditions. Any deformities in the functioning of the liver can disturb your health and well-being. Also, if left untreated, some issues can lead to permanent liver damage. Therefore, you must pay attention to the warning signs and symptoms of liver conditions. An unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity and alcohol consumption are common risk factors for liver conditions. Symptoms of liver diseases may vary depending on the underlying cause. However, there are a few common symptoms that may indicate that your liver is not functioning correctly. Here's a list of these symptoms.

Symptoms of an unhealthy liver

1. Yellow and pale skin

Yellowing of the skin and eyes can indicate poor liver health. One might also experience other symptoms of jaundice.

2. Itchy skin

Along with discolouration of the skin, your skin might feel itchy. You may also bruise easily as your liver is not be able to support clotting.

3. Extreme tiredness

There can be several possible reasons behind constant fatigue and tiredness. Liver disease can be one of the possible reasons. However, the actual reason behind tiredness due to improper liver function is still unknown.

4. Loss of appetite

Improper functioning of the liver can affect your body's ability to break food. As a result, you might experience a loss of appetite and may feel sluggish throughout the day.

5. Nausea with or without vomiting

Nausea and vomiting are some of the early signs and symptoms of liver problems. However, these can be associated with other health issues as well. Therefore, it is crucial to pay attention to other symptoms as well.

If you have been experiencing the above-mentioned symptoms, it is crucial to seek medical help on time.

Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for a qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.

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Bajrang Dal Protests After Teacher Takes Away Tripura Student's Wristband

Members of right-wing group Bajrang Dal staged a protest at a private Christian missionary-run school in Tripura's capital Agartala today after a teacher allegedly prohibited a student from wearing a wristband adorned with a religious symbol. The protesters claimed the act hurt religious sentiments.

The Holy Cross School authorities, in a statement, termed the incident as "unfortunate" and said that the wristband has been returned to the student.

The authorities insisted that the institution "respects all religious beliefs".

Tutan Saha, Bajrang Dal's Tripura state coordinator, expressed concerns about the "religious restrictions in missionary-run schools" and said that such actions "hinder the natural growth of children".

He condemned the incident, describing it as an attack on Hinduism, culture, tradition, and constitutional rights.

The student's father, Manoj Nath, who is a a faculty member at a state government-run college, said the wristband "held significant religious value" as it was "brought from the Somnath Temple in Gujarat".

School principal Rev Jilson Tom expressed regret over the incident and affirmed the school's commitment to secular values.

The school also detailed the actions taken to address the situation promptly, including reinstating the wristband on the student's wrist as demanded by the parent and protesters.

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The Body Shop To Shut Nearly Half Of Its Stores In UK

The UK arm of The Body Shop cosmetics group will shut nearly half its 198 outlets, adminstrators brought in to save parts of the distressed company said Tuesday.

The near 50-year-old business renowned for ethical hair and skin products will immediately close seven stores, including four in London, administrators FRP Advisory said in a statement.

The Body Shop employs about 1,500 people across its UK stores but the administrators did not specify how many positions would be lost.

They added, however, that about 270 roles would disappear from its London head office, or some 40 percent of the workforce there.

The Body Shop last week appointed FRP to try and keep the business running, just a few months after it was bought by Aurelius.

The German private equity firm has already offloaded the cosmetic group's operations in most of mainland Europe and in parts of Asia.

"After years of unprofitability and following a full evaluation of The Body Shop's UK business,... administrators have concluded that the current store portfolio mix is no longer viable," Tuesday's statement said.

It added that "a reduced store footprint, will coincide with a renewed focus on the brand's products, online sales channels and wholesale strategies,... supporting a return to financial stability".

Founded in 1976 by Anita Roddick, the group was later owned also by French cosmetics giant L'Oreal and then Brazil's Natura Cosmeticos, prior to its recent sale.

Roddick, who died in 2007 from a brain haemorrhage, rapidly expanded the business from modest beginnings with a determination to offer products that had not been tested on animals.

She set out to make her business also environmentally-friendly, with customers encouraged to return empty containers for refilling at the original shop in Brighton, on England's south coast.

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Biden Says "Considering" More Russia Sanctions After Alexei Navalny's Death

US President Joe Biden is "considering additional sanctions" on Moscow after the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in an Arctic prison, he said Monday.

"We already have sanctions, but we are considering additional sanctions, yes," said Biden, who has already directly blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin and his "thugs" for Navalny's death last week, speaking to journalists in Washington.

Biden and other Western allies have already used unprecedented sanctions as a way of throttling support for Moscow's war in Ukraine, while at the same time supplying Kyiv with both weapons and aid.

But Russia has withstood the initial shock and put its economy on a war footing, ramping up production and recruitment and jailing critics of the invasion.

Meanwhile doubts have been growing over Washington's future commitment to Ukraine. With existing US funding already dried up, former president Donald Trump's allies in the House of Representatives have been stalling $60 billion in new military aid.

Trump, the likely Republican nominee in the November presidential election, opposes helping Kyiv and recently used his sway to kill a US border reform bill that would have also authorized additional aid to Ukraine.

Ukraine's troops are outnumbered and exhausted, while Europe cannot ramp up weapons supplies fast enough without the United States, underscoring the urgency of getting more funding to Kyiv.

Biden slammed Republicans again Monday over the failure to pass the aid package.

"The way they're walking away from the threat of Russia, the way they're walking away from NATO, the way they're walking away from meeting our obligations, it's just shocking," he said.

But he said he would be happy to meet with Mike Johnson, Speaker of the Republican-led House of Representatives, who has told reporters he has no intention of even allowing a vote on the package.

"Sure, I'd be happy to meet with him, if he has anything to say," Biden said.

He added that he hoped that Navalny's death would make a difference when it came to passing the aid, but "I'm not sure."

Analysts have warned Putin may be biding his time, waiting -- and hoping -- for Trump to be reelected, which could reduce support for Kyiv.

Trump had stayed silent for days over the death of Navalny, in the face of growing criticism.

Then on Monday he posted on his Truth Social website that the "sudden death" of the opposition leader had made him "more and more aware of what is happening" -- in the United States.

"It is a slow, steady progression, with crooked, radical left politicians, prosecutors and judges leading us down a path to destruction," he wrote.

The post did not mention the Russian government or Putin.
 

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"Told Me They Were Harassed": Bengal Governor On Sandeshkhali Victims

West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose said that "women in numbers" have met him and told him they were harassed and intimidated in Sandeshkhali - a small island in the state that recently grabbed headlines over agitations against alleged atrocities against them by Trinamool leader Shajahan Sheikh and his aides.

"Women in numbers met me and told me about their grievance. They said they were molested, harassed and intimidated, their husbands were beaten up," Mr Bose told NDTV this evening.

He said that he got written complaints that he sent to the state government "for their information and necessary action".

"I am very clear that the goverment has to do justice. That is what expected of a government, nothing more, nothing less," he said.

The Governor also said that he expects "perceptible action" by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the case.

"I expect from my constitutional collegeaure, the Chief Minister, action, perceptible action and not an alibi for inaction," he said.

He also said that the doors of Raj Bhavan are open for the women of trouble-torn Sandeshkhali who feel unsafe in their homes.

"Those who feel insecure there even now can get in touch with me. I welcome the women of Sandeshkhali to Raj Bhavan and be my guest. We will certainly provide them with everything, including security," Mr Bose said.

He also mentioned the pointers in the report that he has sent to the government: "Arrest the main culprits immediately, a Special Investigation Team should be formed, consider a judicial inquiry, ensure ex gratia relief and if need be, the errant police officers should be transferred."

Sandeshkhali has witnessed protests over allegations of sexual atrocities on women and land grabbing since the first week of February.

It first grabbed headlines after Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials were attacked by a mob when they went to search the premises of Sheikh on January 5 in connection with a probe into an alleged ration distribution scam.

The police arrested Shibu Prasab Hazra, one of the prime accused in the case, yesterday. was remanded to police custody for eight days by a court in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district today.

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Avdiivka - Symbol Of Ukrainian Resistance Now In Control Of Russian Troops

Ukraine's withdrawal from the city of Avdiivka hands Vladimir Putin a major symbolic victory before Russia's presidential election in March and exposes Kyiv's critical shortages of weapons and soldiers.

- Symbol of Ukrainian resistance -

Avdiivka, a small industrial city in the eastern Donbas region, has been a symbol of Ukrainian resistance to Russian aggression since 2014.

It is close to the city of Donetsk, which pro-Russian separatists control as their capital and whose Moscow-backed fighters briefly took power in July 2014 before Ukrainian forces regained control.

The city is now mostly destroyed and abandoned, with the vast majority of its pre-war population of around 34,000 having fled.

Avdiivka "has been a symbol of Ukraine's battlefield resolve and Russia's military failures", said analyst Ivan Klyszcz of the Estonia-based International Centre for Defence and Security.

But it is "strategically insignificant", added Gustav Gressel, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations.

"It would have been a good foot in the door for a Ukrainian offensive" on Donetsk city, but Ukraine cannot conduct such an offensive for at least two years and it made "no sense to sacrifice soldiers now", he said.

For Vladimir Putin, whose re-election as Russian president in March is all but assured with the opposition muzzled or exiled, Avdiivka is a "significant victory", according to the US-based Institute for the Study of War.

- Unfavourable odds for Ukraine -

A spokesman for one of Ukraine's top military units said the months-long battle for Avdiivka was even tougher than the bloody fighting in Bakhmut, another industrial eastern city which Russian paramilitary group Wagner claimed to have captured in May 2023.

Oleksandr Borodin of Ukraine's third assault brigade pointed to Russia's massive deployment of heavy equipment and air power, with intense bombardment raining down on Ukrainian positions in recent days.

Russia carried out tank attacks with infantry using "a large number" of armoured personnel carriers, Soviet-era combat vehicles, planes and drones, whereas Wagner mostly sent men into the Bakhmut front line, he said before Ukraine's withdrawal.

Although Avdiivka's defences had been strengthened since 2014 and inflicted heavy losses since October, Russian forces managed to "infiltrate into the city itself" in mid-January, said Gressel.

In the past two weeks, Ukrainian communication lines were cut or endangered, while some areas faced attacks from all sides, he added.

The delivery of Western F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine "take much too long" and Kyiv's forces were running short of air-to-air missiles and artillery ammunition, undermining the defence of Avdiivka, Gressel said.

- Retreat to hold out -

Pulling out of Avdiivka was the right decision to avoid being surrounded and save as many lives as possible, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told the Munich Security Conference on Saturday.

"This does not mean that people retreated some kilometres and Russia captured something, it did not capture anything," he added.

The retreat is unsurprising because Russia had nearly surrounded Avdiivka and the destruction of units would have been "catastrophic" for Ukraine, said Mark Cancian, a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

"The corridor leading out of the city is narrow and under fire. The retreat will not be easy," he warned.

Ukrainian forces have been ordered to set up new defensive lines to the west and southwest of Avdiivka and the battle is far from over.

It remains to be seen whether Ukraine can defend the new line and if Russia has enough reserves to continue the offensive and make another breakthrough, said Philippe Gros of the Foundation for Strategic Research in Paris.

According to a European military source, Ukraine is going on the defensive to hold out in the long term, fend off local Russian attacks and avoid squandering its capacities while waiting for fresh Western aid, especially from the United States.

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2 Cops, 6 Others Allegedly Plant Drugs On Pune Student, Extort Rs 4.98 Lakh

Two cops, along with six others, conspired to extort money from a first-year engineering student in Pune by threatening to implicate him in a false drugs case. A case has been registered in Dehu Road police station against the eight accused and four of them have been arrested so far.

The accused managed to extort Rs 4.98 lakh from the student, who was studying engineering in Pune's Symbiosis college, after allegedly planting drugs on him, said police.

According to the police, some of the people involved in the conspiracy knew the victim. One of the accused took the victim to a hotel and planted a packet of drugs in his pocket. Later, he tipped off the two cops involved in the plan.

When the cops came and found drugs in the victim's pocket, they threatened to file an NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) case against him. 

DCP Bapu Bhangar said that the two cops then demanded Rs 20 lakh to hush up the matter. "The amount was later settled at Rs 8 lakh, out of which, around Rs 5 lakh was transferred to two different accounts of the accused," he said.

The case was lodged at Dehu Road police station by the victim's father.

According to the police, the eight accused involved in the conspiracy are- Aman Amin Sheikh, Hussain Dange, Mohammad Ahmar Mirza, Shankar Gorde, Munna Swami, Anil Chaudhary, and the two cops- Hemant Gaikwad, and Sachin Shejal.

DCP Bapu Bhangar said that four accused have been arrested and will be kept in police custody till February 20. The two cops involved in the case along with two others accused are on the run and efforts are on to arrest them.

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Man's Head Cut Off In Car Collision In West Delhi's Kirti Nagar

A 27-year-old man got his head cut off in an accident in west Delhi's Kirti Nagar area when his car collided with another car, got flung in air, and landed on the other side of the road, police said on Thursday.

The entire accident was captured on a CCTV camera.

The killed was identified as Vansh Jolly, a resident of the Mansarovar Garden area. Jolly, who worked as a marketing agent for cosmetic products, is survived by his mother.

Police said information was received at around 5.49 pm on Wednesday about the death of a person on the spot after two cars crashed into each other, one of them hitting the road divider at BCD Chowk in Kirti Nagar.

According to the CCTV footage, the impact of the accident was such that the car (Hyundai Elantra) driven by Jolly was flung over the divider grill and turned turtle after hitting another four-wheeler on the opposite side road.

In the 30-second video, passersby could be seen rushing towards the spot soon after the accident. Police said that Jolly's head got caught in the driver's side window and was crushed and dismembered from his body.

After the accident, another mobile video clip that went viral on social media showed Jolly's headless body lying in a pool of blood in the driving seat.

"Neither the black Hyundai Elantra was speeding, nor the one which was flung in air. But the car being driven by the young man lost balance and overturned," a person who witnessed the collision said requesting anonymity.

Police said that the other car (Toyota Etios) was being driven by one Rajesh Arora, who escaped unhurt with some damage to his vehicle. Arora runs an auto-part manufacturing unit.

Another officer said Etios was coming from another lane when it was hit by Elantra.

Police have registered an FIR under section 279 (rash driving) and 304A (causing death by negligence) at Kirti Nagar Police Station.

"We have got a few videos of the incident. The forensic teams and other experts have visited the spot. The matter is being investigated thoroughly to ascertain who was at fault," an investigator said.

"We are trying to understand the sequence of the event. We are also checking the CCTV footage," the officer said.

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Watch: "Dome Of Harmony" Inside Sanctum Sanctorum Of Abu Dhabi Temple

Marking a significant milestone for the Indian community in the Middle East, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated Abu Dhabi's first Hindu temple, which is also the largest in the region. 

Spread over 27 acres and built at a cost of over Rs 700 crore, the BAPS Hindu temple is also seen as a sign of the deepening relationship between India and the United Arab Emirates.

PM Modi also participated in a 'global aarti (prayer)', which was performed simultaneously at over 1,200 temples built by BAPS. The Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir or BAPS Hindu Mandir, is spread over a 27-acre piece of land. The temple is 108 feet high and 180 feet wide and its seven spires represent the seven emirates.

The temple has 402 pillars and iron has not been used in any of them, making it the first Hindu stone temple in UAE. The pillars in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple are made of white Italian marble.

The pillars have intricate carvings of deities and symbols central to the Hindu religion. Seven shrines of different deities including, Lord Ram, Goddess Sita, Lakshmi, and Lord Shiv, are present in the temple. 

"Dome of Harmony has different levels. These levels represent the fire, earth, air, water and space. The shank represents water, Tej represents the sun and running Deers represent air," a volunteer told NDTV.

"Every pillar inside the sanctum sanctorum is unique and every pillar has its pillar. There are 1,400 pillars, protected by a transparent shield. They represent differences, but they all make one pillar," the volunteer added. 

The depiction of different civilizations on pillars makes the temple's architecture unique. Apart from Indian civilization, stories are taken from the Maya, Aztec, Egyptian, Arabic, European, Chinese and African civilizations etc.

In a shrine of Lord Ram and Goddess Sita, the Ramayan has been carved on the stones and 'shankh' (shell) and sun have been sculpted on the dome of the shrine. The Vedic-style temple has two central domes - the 'Dome of Harmony' and the 'Dome of Peace'.

The fine detailing in sculpting the deities and symbols makes the temple an architectural brilliance.

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Couple Dies After Bike Collides With Car In Noida, 5-Year-Old Daughter Hospitalised

A married couple died and their daughter was hospitalised with injuries allegedly after their motorcycle collided with a car here, police said on Tuesday.

The crash took place around 2 pm on Monday at the Sector 31-25 intersection under Sector 24 Police Station limits, they said. The car occupants are still at large.

"The police received an information about an accident between a motorcycle Hero Deluxe and a car Hyundai i20. Three persons were riding on the motorcycle, including a man, Ranjan Kumar, 45, his wife Ruby, 40, and their daughter Milky, 5 suffered injuries in the collision and was taken to a private hospital in Sector 71 by locals," a police spokesperson said.

"While Ranjan Kumar died and the woman also died during treatment, their daughter is undergoing treatment in the hospital. The family lived in the Bhangel area here," the spokesperson said.

The car involved in the accident has been impounded by the police and an FIR has been registered at the local police station, police said.

The bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination, police added.

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"Cannot Be Spectators": Smriti Irani Slams Mamata Banerjee on Sandeshkhali

Union Minister Smriti Irani today slammed the Mamata Banerjee government over the allegations of women in south Bengal's Sandeshkhali, declaring that "young Hindu married women" are being targetted by Trinamool Congress goons. The state has been in the eye of a political storm over the allegations of women, who have accused a local Trinamool leader of systematic sexual exploitation. The man in question, Zilla Parishad member Sheikh Shajahan -- also accused of land grabbing -- is on the run. He is also wanted by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with an alleged PDS scam.

Sandeshkhali, an island in Sundarbans close to the Bangladesh border, has been placed under Prohibitory Orders banning large gatherings.

"Young Hindu married women are being deliberately targetted," Ms Irani alleged, reading out what she said were the women's version of events as told to the local media.

That Mamata Banerjee "will now allow her men to pick out young Hindu married women to be raped night after night in the TMC office cannot be articulated in mere words. Can we as citizens be mute spectators?' she said.

The Trinamool responded sharply. Senior party leader and Bengal Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya told reporters, "We condemn every rape but what about Bilkis Bano's case? Why hasn't she said anything? Does rape have colour? Can you add colour and say this has been done because of division in religion? She actually wants to provoke people there and create unrest. That is what BJP and CPM are doing there. They have been caught red handed and therefore they were arrested yesterday."

"When she speaks as a woman, and she has herself said there is no politics and everything has to be looked into with a human face. If that is so then why is she not speaking on these issues also? She is politicising everything," Ms Bhattacharya added.

Over the last days, a large number of women in Sandeshkhali, armed with sticks and brooms, have been holding protests, alleging that Sheikh Shajahan and his "gang" have captured swathes of land by force, and are sexually exploiting them.

In a video unverified by NDTV, that's being widely circulated online, a woman alleged that they are being dragged off to the Trinamool office, kept overnight and sexually assaulted.

The women have demanded the arrest of Sheikh Shajahan, who has been on the run since a team of the Enforcement Directorate went to raid his house last month in connection with an alleged ration scam. The team was attacked by a mob.

Ms Irani said the agency has given a police statement that three of the officials were injured in the stone throwing that took place in Sandeshkhali.

Earlier today, senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari and other MLAs of the party were stopped from visiting the area by the police, who cited the prohibitory orders.

Governor CV Ananda Bose later visited Sandeshkhali after which, he described the situation as "ghastly". "What I saw was ghastly, shocking, shattering to my senses. I saw something which I should never have seen, I heard many things which I should never have heard. I cannot believe this could happen in Kabiguru Rabindranath Tagore's land," Mr Bose told reporters after taking stock of the situation.

Welcoming his visit, Mamata Banerjee told reporters today that people responsible for the violence "have been arrested".

"Anyone can go to Sandeshkhali. We have no issues with that. We have already sent the state women commission team there. They returned and submitted a report. Those who have instigated violence have been arrested. The situation is being monitored closely and necessary steps are being taken," she told reporters.

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Elon Musk Ordered To Testify In US Regulator's Twitter Takeover Probe

A federal judge ordered Elon Musk to testify again in the US Securities and Exchange Commission's probe of his $44 billion takeover of Twitter, giving the regulator and the billionaire a week to agree on a date and location for the interview.

US Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler's order, issued on Saturday night, formalized a tentative ruling she made in December that sided with the regulator.

The SEC sued Musk in October to compel the Tesla and SpaceX CEO to testify as part of an investigation into his 2022 purchase of Twitter, the social media giant that he subsequently renamed X. Musk refused to attend an interview in September that was part of the probe, the SEC said.

The agency is examining whether Musk followed the law when filing the required paperwork about his purchases of Twitter stock and whether his statements in relation to the deal were misleading.

Musk fought the SEC's bid to interview him, saying it had already done so twice, and accused the regulator of harassment.

Beeler rejected that argument. The SEC had authority to issue the subpoena, which sought relevant information, she said in the ruling.

If the SEC and Musk cannot agree on a date and time for the interview, Beeler said she will hear from both sides and decide for them.

Friction between Musk and the SEC began when the regulator sued him after he tweeted "funding secured" in 2018 in reference to a possible plan to take Tesla private. To settle that case, Musk agreed that a Tesla lawyer would vet his tweets about the electric vehicle maker. The SEC sued him again in 2019 for allegedly breaching that provision.

Musk has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review the agreement, saying it violates his constitutional right to free speech.

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Imran Khan-Backed Independents Go To Court, Challenge Pakistan Poll Results: Report

Amid the upheaval in Pakistan over delayed election results, with some reports putting Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz candidates in the lead or winning, many moved courts alleging that their defeat was a result of 'rigging,' ARY news reported on Saturday.

According to the report, several more candidates could be moving high courts over the next few days alleging that the votes were rigged.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-affiliated Independent candidates, too, moved to the Lahore High Court (LHC), challenging the results of the PP-164 and NA-118, where father-son duo Shehbaz Sharif and Hamza Shehbaz secured victory.

In his petition, Independent candidate Yousuf Mio, who contested against the PML-N president, claimed that the returning officer (RO) did not allow the petitioner to enter the office.

"The results were announced in the petitioner's absence," stated the application, urging the court to direct the returning officer to announce the results as per Form 45.

"The court also bars the Election Commission from issuing the final result," the petitioner said, requesting the court to declare Form-47 results' null and void.

Meanwhile, Alia Hamza's husband, whose wife contested against Hamza Shehbaz, challenged the result and noted that the PML-N candidate lost the election as per Form-45, ARY News reported.

On the other hand, Dr Yasmeen Rashid also challenged former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's victory in Lahore's NA-130 constituency in the Lahore High Court (LHC).

Another Independent candidate, Shehzad Farooq, challenged Maryam Nawaz's win from Lahore's NA:119 while another PML-N candidate Ata Tarar's win from NA:127 was also been challenged in court by PTI-supported Independent candidate Zaheer Abbas Khokhar.

Rehana Dar, mother of Usman Dar, petitioned the high court for recounting of votes in Sialkot's NA-71, challenging the win for PML-N veteran Khawaja Asif in the Sialkot constituency.

In Islamabad, PTI-backed candidates Shoaib Shaheen and Ali Bukhari also challenged the results of constituencies NA-47 and NA-48 respectively, in the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

Talking to journalists, Shoaib Shaheen said, "We have requested the registrar's office to schedule an immediate hearing. We urge the chief justice to expedite the case since all of Islamabad knows that NA-47 is my constituency. I have the Form-45. We have won this election with a significant majority," ARY News reported.

The PTI-backed Independent candidate blamed the powers that be for "pressuring the returning officers", he said, adding, "Today, you are replaying the crime you committed in the past. Now the only hope left is the judiciary."

According to the results announced by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), PML-N leader Tariq Fazal Chaudhry was declared victorious after scoring 102,502 votes while PTI-backed independent candidate Shoaib Shaheen got 86,396 votes and Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, an independent candidate, secured 17,916 votes.

Khurram Shahzad Nawaz, a joint candidate of the PML-N and Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP), won NA-48 (Islamabad-III) with 69,699 votes while Syed Mohammad Ali Bukhari stood second with 59,851 votes and Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar third with 18,572 votes.

The PML-N made a clean sweep after 16 years by grabbing all three seats of the National Assembly in the federal capital.

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