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Salem (Tamil Nadu), Feb 13 (IANS) A man collapsed and died of a suspected heart attack during a Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) political event in Tamil Nadu’s Salem on Friday, casting a shadow over party leader Vijay’s first major public appearance in nearly two months.

The deceased, identified as Siraj, 37, a migrant worker from North India, reportedly had a history of cardiac illness and had undergone heart surgery about a year ago.

According to police, he fainted while standing inside the crowded venue at KVP Garden near Sheelanayakkanpatti. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

Salem police have registered a case and are investigating the circumstances, though initial reports suggest natural causes.

The incident occurred as actor-turned-politician Vijay addressed party administrators and cadres, marking his return to the public sphere 55 days after the Erode meeting.

Despite the tragic development, the gathering continued with heightened security and medical precautions.

In his speech, Vijay said he had not come to seek votes but to seek justice for the people of Tamil Nadu. He accused the ruling DMK of trying to restrict his party’s growth by denying venues for meetings while allowing other political outfits to operate freely.

“In English, they call it SOP — Standard Operating Procedure. But here, Stalin himself has become the operating procedure,” Vijay said, drawing applause from supporters.

He urged voters not to be influenced by money politics.

“If they offer you money, take it — it’s your money. But when you vote, press the whistle symbol,” he said, referring to his TVK’s election symbol.

Responding to critics who questioned his administrative experience, Vijay countered that traditional politicians had “experience only in looting public money”.

He challenged established parties to form a movement from scratch and secure even one per cent of the vote. “In just two years, we have grown into a major force with nearly 30 per cent support,” he claimed.

Recalling leaders such as C.N. Annadurai, M.G. Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa, Vijay said every major political force once began without experience.

“Honesty and love for people are enough,” he added.

He also asserted that voters now wanted a “100 per cent clean government” and said the coming election would be a fight against anti-people governance rather than between personalities.

–IANS

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Jammu, Feb 13 (IANS) Several MLAs on Friday demanded stronger action, including attachment of property, against those involved inthe rotten meat trade in J&K.

National Conference (NC) MLAs Mubarak Gul, Mir Saifullah, Pirzada Farooq Ahmad Shah, and Hasnain Masoodi demanded strict enforcement, stronger preventive measures and even attachment of properties of those involved in the rotten meat trade as they raised the issue through their questions related to food adulteration and sale of rotten meat.

The lawmakers expressed serious concern over rising health issues and alleged that consumption of rotten food could be contributing to increasing cases of cancer and frequent outbreaks of diseases.

Gul demanded that authorities must track down those involved in the illegal trade of rotten meat and attach their properties to send a strong message.

Shah demanded that slaughterhouses be set up in every Municipal Committee and sought a half-hour discussion in the House on the issue.

Other members stressed the need for strengthening manpower, improving enforcement, and ensuring strict checking mechanisms to prevent recurrence of such incidents.

Health Minister Sakina Itoo admitted that there is a shortage of staff in the department, saying that there is no denial about the manpower deficiency.

Informing the house that the recruitment process has already been initiated to fill the vacant posts, the minister said the issue concerns public health and cannot be taken lightly. However, she clarified that under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, Food Safety Officers are not empowered to arrest anyone.

Food Safety Officers can inspect premises, lift food samples, issue improvement notices, suspend or cancel licences, launch prosecutions, and file complaints in courts, but arrests can only be made by police under the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code, she added.

At this, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather intervened and asked the Minister why the government does not bring a Bill to amend the Act if stronger provisions are required.

NC’s Tanvir Sadiq also stood up and suggested that the government should consider bringing amendments and constitute a separate task force to deal with such cases, stating that the police are not under the control of the House.

Earlier, in a written reply, the government informed the House that 12,183.5 kilograms of rotten/unsafe meat and chicken worth Rs 29,19,060 were seized across the Union Territory and destroyed up to December 2025.

It stated that 1,676 inspections were conducted and 144 samples of meat and meat products were lifted. Of these, 18 samples were found Not of Standard Quality (NSQ).

A total of 2,139 kg of meat worth Rs 3,90,137 was seized, while 12,183.5 kg of rotten meat valued at Rs 29,19,060 was destroyed. District-wise Seizure of Rotten Meat & Chicken: Anantnag – 700 kg (Rs 3,57,000) Budgam – 234 kg (Rs 32,500) Bandipora – 162 kg (Rs 8,500) Baramulla – 125 kg (Rs 7,500) Ganderbal – 770 kg (Rs 2,31,000) Kupwara – 1,520.5 kg (Rs 5,10,000) Pulwama – 450 kg (Rs 70,200) Shopian – 121 kg (Rs 18,000) Srinagar – 4,220 kg (Rs 7,59,600) Jammu – 3,881 kg (Rs 9,24,760) Total: 12,183.5 kg worth Rs 29,19,060.

The government also disclosed that 173 samples of paneer were taken, out of which 157 reports were received. Of these, 47 were found sub-standard, and one was unsafe. Paneer seized/destroyed included 6,465 kg in Jammu worth Rs 13,92,150 and 1,200 kg in Samba worth Rs 2,40,000, totalling 7,665 kg valued at Rs 16,32,150. Samples were sent for testing within and outside J&K, including accredited laboratories in Kashmir, Ghaziabad, New Delhi, and Hyderabad.

It also said that two NABL-accredited Food Testing Laboratories are functional in Jammu and Srinagar, besides 12 Mobile Food Testing Laboratories.

However, both Food Testing Laboratories are facing staff shortages. Out of 19 sanctioned posts, each at FTL Jammu and FTL Srinagar, 11 posts are vacant in both laboratories. The vacant posts will be referred to the board for selection.

–IANS

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Patna, Feb 13 (IANS) Radha Devi Saraogi, mother of Bihar BJP President Sanjay Saraogi, passed away on Friday at the age of 72.

She had been unwell for the past few days and was undergoing treatment at Hinduja Hospital in Mumbai, where she breathed her last.

The late Radha Devi Saraogi was known to be deeply religious and actively involved in social work. News of her demise has cast a pall of grief over her family, well-wishers, and the political fraternity.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary expressed deep sorrow over her passing. Both leaders spoke to the bereaved family over the phone and conveyed their heartfelt condolences.

In his condolence message, Chief Minister Kumar said that Radha Devi Saraogi was a kind-hearted and simple woman with a strong inclination towards social service.

He prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and strength for the family to endure this irreparable loss.

Dy CM Chaudhary said, “I have received the extremely sad news of the demise of the revered mother of BJP State President Sanjay Saraogi. I pray to God to grant the departed soul a place at His feet and give strength to the bereaved family to bear this unbearable grief. My deepest condolences are with the family in this hour of sorrow.”

Sanjay Saraogi was elected as an MLA from Darbhanga City in the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections. Recently, the BJP top leadership appointed him as the state president of the party.

Sanjay Saraogi is regarded as an influential leader in the Mithilanchal region of Bihar and enjoys a strong grassroots presence.

Meanwhile, family members are returning to Bihar from Mumbai with the mortal remains of Radha Devi Saraogi. Her last rites will be performed later on Friday as per family traditions.

According to family sources, the last rites of Radha Devi Saraogi will be performed at 6 PM today on the banks of the Bagmati River.

–IANS

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Bengaluru, Feb 13 (IANS) Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who also holds the Water Resources portfolio, expressed confidence that the state will implement the pending Mekedatu and Upper Krishna projects if the Central government grants the necessary approvals.

“We are hopeful that the Centre will extend its cooperation,” he said at the inaugural session of the International Dam Safety Conference held at the J.N. Tata Auditorium of the Indian Institute of Science here.

“You are all in Bengaluru, a city with a population of 1.5 crore. Industrialists from across the world are turning their attention to Bengaluru. The entire world views India through Bengaluru. Its climate and culture attract everyone. As more people wish to come here, the responsibility of supplying water to all rests on us. Therefore, we have moved forward with the construction of a balanced dam project in Mekedatu. Recently, the Supreme Court delivered a verdict in favour of this project. We are ready to implement it and are awaiting approval from the Central government. This project will provide drinking water to Bengaluru and surrounding regions and help generate 400 MW of electricity,” he said.

Noting that the Congress government has completed 1,000 days in office on Friday, Shivakumar said that in view of hosting this conference, they had postponed the celebration. “It is a matter of pride to host this unprecedented event. Karnataka is a state with a rich history. In 1902, Asia’s first hydroelectric power generation centre was established at Shivanasamudra. It was the first of its kind in Asia,” he said.

On the Upper Krishna Project, he said that the government has introduced a transparent policy and decided to provide better compensation to farmers who lose land, in accordance with the 2013 Act. “By December 2025, irrigation facilities will be provided to 1.72 lakh acres of agricultural land. We also request relaxation of the 500-metre restriction imposed around dams under dam safety guidelines. This will enable tourism activities near dams and support the local economy,” he said.

“Many of our dams are 60–70 years old, making infrastructure repairs essential. Additionally, unexpected climate changes have posed serious challenges,” Shivakumar stated.

“The strength of a dam lies not only in how it is built, but also in how well it is maintained. India has around 6,500 dams, ranking third among countries with the highest number of dams. Karnataka has 232 dams, and nearly two-thirds of the dams in the country are over 25 years old. This highlights the need to prioritise systematic dam safety,” he pointed out.

“Dam safety has now become a national priority. Through the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP), launched by the Central government with World Bank assistance, substantial support is being provided. In Karnataka, the second phase of DRIP is being implemented, with Rs 1,500 crore allocated for the repair of 58 dams,” he said.

“Water is wealth, water is energy, water is life. The Karnataka Government is committed to making the state a model in dam safety. We will build, protect and advance our dams,” he stated.

“We have gathered here today to discuss water management and dam safety. Karnataka has a rich tradition in water management. After Independence, thousands of dams were built under the visionary leadership of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, who described dams as the temples of modern India,” Shivakumar stated.

“Karnataka produces the highest number of engineers in the country. We have 250 engineering colleges and produce 1.5 lakh engineers every year. That is the strength of this state. Bengaluru is the Silicon Valley, with 25 lakh engineering professionals contributing significantly to the global technology sector. In comparison, California has only 13 lakh engineering professionals,” he said.

–IANS

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Kolkata, Feb 13 (IANS) The Election Commission of India (ECI), on Friday, noticed that in the list of 8,505 Group-B officials sent by the West Bengal government for inclusion in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in the state, 500 are already operating as assistant electoral registration officers (AEROs) in the voter revision exercise.

An insider from the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO)’s Office, said that the main idea behind getting the names of these 8,505 Group-B officers from the state government was to include them in the voter revision exercise as micro-observers.

“However, since 500 officers mentioned in the 8,506 officers provided by the state government are already operating as AEROs, there is no logic behind appointing them as micro-observers in the voter revision exercise, considering the nature of the assignments of the micro-observers is different from that of electoral registration officers (EROs) and AEROs,” the CEO’s office insider added.

At the same time, the CEO’s office insider said that with the deadline for completion of the hearing sessions regarding the SIR expiring on Saturday, the Commission is yet to receive detailed background information about these 8,505 Group-B officers, including their current pay bands, from the state government or the state government departments to which these officers are attached.

The Commission had sought the background details of these officers following information received by the CEO’s office that all the 8,505 officers in the list furnished by the state government were in the Group-B category.

There is also information that the name of a retired state government officer had also been included in the list.

Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, had also become vocal on this issue and claimed that in the electoral voter list, only the names of those officers and employees have been included, who are extremely close confidants of the ruling Trinamool Congress.

“This is nothing short of a sinister plot by the ruling dispensation to rig the polls through backdoor influence. How can we trust the process when loyalists are being deployed like pawns without any transparency? I urged the ECI to look into the matter and take necessary steps,” LoP Adhikari said.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 13 (IANS) The Delhi Police have arrested a self-styled “baba” in connection with the mysterious deaths of three people whose bodies were found inside a locked car near the Peeragarhi flyover in the outskirts of the national capital earlier this week.

According to police, the accused, identified as Kamaruddin, also described as a ‘maulana’ and an occult practitioner, has been booked for murder. The arrest marks the first major breakthrough in the case that initially appeared to be a suspected suicide.

DCP, Outer District, Sachin Sharma, said the investigation is underway to piece together the sequence of events. “We are trying to ascertain what happened on that day and what transpired before. The victims initially came to him because he claimed he could cure any kind of illness. Many people with health problems would visit him, and he claimed he could cure any disease, including cancer,” he said.

The police officials added that the police are also in touch with other agencies to gather further leads in the case.

The deceased, Randhir, 76, Shiv Naresh Singh, 47, and Laxmi Devi, 40, were found dead inside a stationary car on Sunday afternoon. Randhir was seated in the driver’s seat, while the other two were in the rear seats. The car was reportedly locked from inside when the bodies were discovered near the Peeragarhi flyover.

Police said Kamaruddin had been in contact with the three victims for nearly a year. CCTV footage from the area allegedly shows him sitting in the front passenger seat of the vehicle earlier on the day of the incident.

Investigators are now interrogating the accused to determine the exact chain of events and the motive behind the deaths. Further details are awaited as the probe continues.

–IANS

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Bhopal, Feb 13 (IANS) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Friday said the census is the country’s largest and most important data process on the basis of which the strategies are prepared to take development to the last person in society.

Chief Minister Yadav made this statement addressing the state-level conference at Kushabhau Thakre Convention Centre in Bhopal, which was attended by senior bureaucrats including Chief Secretary Anurag Jain and Additional Chief Secretaries and many others.

All district collectors, divisional commissioners and municipal commissioners joined the conference-cum training camp, which is part of the state government’s preparation for the first phase of the census set to begin in the state from May 1.

This state level conference organised after a comprehensive review of preparations was conducted across the state, and it was noted that a large number of officers and employees will be deployed for census work.

Addressing the conference, the Chief Minister emphasised that the government’s “commitment” and “impartiality” will be crucial parts and these should be reflected during the process of the caste census.

“This is the first time such a social-level census has been conducted after 1931 and together we are going to create a historic record. This census will be interpreted in many ways from politically and socially, therefore, clarity and transparency should be maintained,” CM Yadav said.

He also pointed out that people have emotional attachments with their properties, including homes, land, shops or anything else they have, and the officials must respect those sentiments during the census process.

“If someone’s house, land, or shop is affected, their emotional attachment must also be understood; sensitivity is essential along with development,” he added.

Notably, the census will be conducted in a fully digital, paperless manner through an app-based system and the mega exercise will be carried out in two phases. The first phase of the process will be conducted between May 1 to May 30, 2026, during which house-to-house listing and housing enumeration will be conducted.

While the second the final phase of census, during which population enumeration will be done, will be conducted in February 2027.

–IANS

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Bengaluru, Feb 13 (IANS) Of the seven people who were killed in an horrific accident on Friday morning near M. Sathyavara village, six were on an early morning joyride in an XUV without informing their families, police investigation has revealed.

In a tragic incident, seven youths lost their lives in a road accident early on Friday morning near M. Sathyavara village in Hoskote taluk of Karnataka’s Bengaluru Rural district.

The accident occurred on the Hoskote–Dabaspet National Highway and involved a canter truck, a motorcycle and an XUV car.

The identities of six of the deceased have been confirmed as Ashwin Nayar (17), Arhaan Sharif (17), Ayaan Ali (17), Bharat (18), Ethan George (17), and the bike rider Gagan. One more person who died in the accident is yet to be identified.

Gagan was working at a private company, while the other five were students studying in Classes 10 and 12.

Ashwin Nayar, a resident of Kothanur, was studying at RV PU College. Arhaan Sharif and Ayaan Ali were students of CMR Institute and residents of HVR Layout. Bharat was also a student at CMR Institute and a resident of Frazer Town. Ethan George was studying at RV College and was a resident of Hulimavu.

Initially, the parents were informed that their children had been seriously injured in the accident. However, when they arrived at the hospital, they learned about the deaths and were left inconsolable. Family members of Arhaan Sharif said that he did not even know how to ride a bike forget about driving a car. “He left home and never returned,” they said.

Gagan’s family members stated that he was returning home after completing his night shift when the accident occurred. He used to leave for work at 5 p.m. and would head home around 3 a.m. He was the only son in the family. His father had passed away, and his mother is visually impaired. He was the sole breadwinner supporting the family.

According to police, the students had left around 3 a.m. for a joyride on the National Highway. The overspeeding car first hit the bike and then crashed into the truck, resulting in the fatal chain collision. Gagan, who was riding the bike, died on the spot.

According to preliminary police reports, the car, travelling from Kolar towards Devanahalli, first collided with the bike which was moving ahead of it. The driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle, which then rammed into a canter truck, resulting in a fatal chain collision.

Six occupants of the car and the bike rider died on the spot. The impact of the crash was so severe that the car was completely mangled.

IGP (Central) Labhu Ram, who visited the spot, stated, “Seven persons were killed in a chain road accident. We have cleared the vehicles and shifted the bodies to the hospital. Among the dead, six people — travelling on a bike and an XUV — have been identified. The efforts are on to identify another deceased person.”

“The investigation is on to find out whether the car driver was driving the vehicle in an inebriated state. We can’t say anything in this regard right now,” he stated.

The impact of the collision was such that the canter truck and the bike went over the median and onto the opposite carriageway, while the mangled XUV came to a halt about 500 metres away from them.

Personnel from the Sulibele police station rushed to the scene and initiated an investigation. Bengaluru Rural Superintendent of Police Chandrakant also visited the accident site. Police officials said that overspeeding appears to be the primary cause of the mishap, based on initial findings. The bodies have been shifted to the government hospital in Hoskote for post-mortem examination.

Police have taken up further investigation.

–IANS

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Gandhinagar, Feb 13 (IANS) The Gujarat Legislative Assembly will hold an election for the deputy speaker post on February 16, with Purnesh Modi of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shailesh Parmar of the Congress party submitting their nominations on Friday.

The post became vacant following the resignation of former deputy speaker Jetha Ahir (Bharwad), citing preoccupation with other responsibilities.

Purnesh Modi, Surat West MLA and former state minister, filed his nomination at the Assembly Secretariat in the presence of Minister Rushikesh Patel.

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and members of the Business Advisory Committee were also present during the process.

The BJP has officially endorsed Modi as its candidate. Modi has previously served as a cabinet minister, managing departments including Roads, Buildings, and Civil Aviation.

The party cited his experience with legislative procedures, organisational presence in South Gujarat, and knowledge of Assembly rules as reasons for his nomination.

Jitu Vaghani, speaking at the nomination process, said, “Purnesh Modi is a capable leader with a clear record of work. His nomination followed consultations with the national leadership, the Chief Minister, and the Deputy Chief Minister.”

Congress has confirmed that Danilimda MLA Shailesh Parmar will contest the deputy speaker election.

Congress MLA Imran Khedawala told IANS, “Shailesh Parmar is a capable leader, and today he filled the form for the deputy speaker post. I accompanied him in this process, and Congress supports him.”

According to Assembly rules, members wishing to propose a candidate must submit the prescribed motion and notice to the Assembly Secretary in line with Rule 10(2), and must include a written statement from the proposed candidate confirming willingness to serve as Deputy Speaker if elected.

As per the rules, a member cannot propose or second their own name, nor can they propose or support more than one candidate. The members have been urged to follow these provisions carefully while submitting nominations.

The deputy speaker presides over Assembly proceedings in the absence of the Speaker, maintains order, and oversees legislative processes.

–IANS

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Kolkata, Feb 13 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, on Friday congratulated the Prime Minister-designate, Tarique Rahman over the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) emphatic victory in the general elections in the neighbouring country, which was conducted on Thursday, with the results becoming clear on Friday morning.

In a statement posted on the wall of her official social media handle, Chief Minister Banerjee also congratulated the people of Bangladesh for their participation in the general elections, which were conducted more or less peacefully on Thursday.

“My hearty congratulations, ‘Shubhonandan’, to all my brothers and sisters, all the people in Bangladesh. My advance Ramazan Mubarak to all of them. For this great victory, my congratulations to my Tarique-Bhai, his party, and all the parties. Pray, you all will be well and happy. Wish that our relations with Bangladesh will always be cordial,” the Chief Minister said in her social media post.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also congratulated Tarique Rahman and the BNP leadership over the victory in the Bangladesh elections.

“I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Mr. Tarique Rahman for leading the BNP to a decisive victory in the parliamentary elections held in Bangladesh. This result reflects the confidence of the people of Bangladesh in your leadership. India will continue to extend its support for a democratic, progressive, and inclusive Bangladesh. I look forward to working closely with you to further strengthen our multifaceted relationship and advance our shared development goals,” the Prime Minister said.

However, neither the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, nor the BJP’s state president in West Bengal, Samik Bhattacharya, had issued any statement on the Bangladesh elections at the time the report was filed.

The former state BJP President in West Bengal and the current Union Minister of State, Sukanta Majumdar, just shared the Prime Minister’s statement on the wall of his social media handle.

Only the former BJP state president in West Bengal, Dilip Ghosh, made a brief comment to mediapersons that he was hopeful of improvement in the relations between India and Bangladesh in the coming days.

–IANS

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