New Delhi, June 16 (IANS) Union Home Minister Amit Shah, on Sunday, directed security forces to crush growing terrorism in Jammu division, wipe it out from Jammu & Kashmir and ensure complete security for the upcoming annual Amarnath Yatra.

The Union Minister chaired a high-level security review meeting in New Delhi today which was attended by J&K Lt Governor Manoj Singh, NSA Ajit Doval, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, Army Chief General Manoj Pande, designate Army Chief, Lt General Upendra Dwivedi, IB Director Tapan Deka, Chief Secretary J&K Atal Dulloo, DG CRPF Anish Dayal Singh, DGP J&K R. R.Swain, ADGP (Law & Order) J&K Vijay Kumar and senior Army and Intelligence officers.

Shah directed security forces to crush the emerging terrorism in the Jammu division of the Union Territory and prevent its revival in J&K while ensuring complete security for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra which begins on June 29 and ends on August 19.

Shah also received a report on the prevailing law and order situation in J&K.

Top sources said that the Home Minister directed hard action against the supporters of terrorism. He also advised 24X7 vigil and surveillance of highways, sensitive installations and vulnerable places so that the Amarnath Yatra, Mata Vaishno Devi and Shiv Khori temple pilgrimages are safe.

He advised sealing of all infiltration routes through which foreign terrorists manage to enter the UT.

He commended the security forces for ensuring a safe environment for the poll process during the Lok Sabha elections, which made participation of a large number of voters possible.

Shah assured all resources both material and in terms of manpower to the UT administration to deal a hard blow to terrorism and its supporters.

–IANS

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Hyderabad, June 16 (IANS) Slamming the Centre over its handling of the NEET exam, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Working President K.T. Rama Rao on Sunday demanded a thorough investigation into the incident.

He said the confusion surrounding the examination has dashed the hopes of students and parents who dream of seeing their children become doctors.

He condemned the Union government for its inaction despite reports that NEET question papers were sold in Bihar for up to 30 lakh each, with several arrests already made.

He accused the Union government of neglecting its responsibility and adopting a lackadaisical attitude towards the NEET entrance exam from the start.

KTR said that despite numerous allegations and suspicions surrounding the prestigious NEET exam, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government has not yet responded, which he found unacceptable.

He questioned why the Prime Minister, who frequently holds discussions with students about exams, has remained silent on the critical issue of NEET.

In his open letter to the NDA government, KTR demanded a thorough investigation into the entire matter and strict action against those found responsible.

He also called for reassurance to be given to students and their parents.

KTR highlighted the unprecedented scenario of 67 students achieving the first rank in NEET, which raised numerous suspicions.

He noted that eight students from the same centre scored 720 marks each, suggesting a significant level of paper leakage.

He reminded that even a single mark difference can change students’ rankings and result in many losing opportunities.

KTR questioned how so many students from one centre could score such high marks and criticised the announcement of results 10 days early, coinciding with the election results day, which added to the suspicion.

He demanded an explanation from the Union government for not taking action despite the gravity of the situation coming to light.

He also criticised Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for attempting to cover up the issue by claiming everything was in order.

The BRS leader emphasised that despite numerous complaints from students, the Union government has not responded.

Even prominent individuals filing cases in the Supreme Court did not prompt a clarification from the Centre.

He expressed surprise that the Union government ignored the issue until the Supreme Court intervened and noted that the National Testing Agency (NTA) provided unusual responses when questioned.

The awarding of grace marks in NEET this year to 1,563 students was also criticised by KTR, who pointed out that the practice of grace marks is not typically applied in exams like NEET.

He demanded clarity on the criteria used for awarding these marks and questioned the NTA’s handling of the matter.

KTR called for a comprehensive investigation into the allegations of paper leakage and demanded strict action against those involved.

He emphasised that the issue is not limited to NEET but affects several competitive exams conducted under the NTA’s supervision, which could lead to a loss of trust among students.

KTR called for stringent measures to prevent such incidents in the future and reassured that the BRS would fight for the rights of students affected by these irregularities.

–IANS

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Guwahati, June 16 (IANS) A man has been arrested in Assam’s Tinsukia district for killing his four-month-old daughter owing to a quarrel with his wife, officials said on Sunday.

The incident happened in Mugongpathar village which comes under the Pengaree police station area of Tinsukia district. The accused has been identified as Binod Karmakar.

A senior police officer said that the deceased infant and her mother were living in Mugongpathar village in the in-laws’ house of Karmakar. On Sunday, he went to visit them and an altercation broke out between the husband and his wife.

“As per the preliminary investigation, the accused hit his daughter with an object and the victim passed away due to head injury. However, the matter needs to be further investigated,” police said.

The accused Binod Karmakar was arrested by the police and a case under relevant sections has been registered against him.

Meanwhile, the body of the baby has been sent to Tinsukia civil hospital for a post-mortem examination.

A pall of gloom has descended in the Mugongpathar village following the incident.

–IANS

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Patna, June 16 (IANS) Two accused including an examination mafia confessed their role in the question paper leak in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), an official of the Economic Offences Unit (EOU) of Bihar Police said on Sunday.

EOU has constituted a 9-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the NEET question paper leak case. Thirteen persons including six examination mafias, four students and three parents have been arrested in connection with the alleged question paper leak case.

Now, one of the arrested exam mafia, Sikandar Yadvendu (56) who is a Junior Engineer in Danapur Municipal Council, confessed his role in the paper leak. Besides him, a candidate named Ayush Kumar also confessed that he was made to memorise the question paper a day before the exam.

NEET was held on May 5 and examination mafias obtained the question paper a day earlier on May 4.

As per the confession of Sikandar Yadvendu, he said that two persons named Amit and Nitish had obtained the question paper on May 4. They went with the question papers and answers to a playschool located in the jurisdiction of Ramakrishna Nagar police station area. At least 25 to 30 NEET candidates were already there. All were made to memorise the question paper and its answers till 9:00 a.m. on May 5.

He also confessed that all the candidates were dropped off directly at the exam centres by car after 9:00 a.m.

Meanwhile, the EOU officials claimed that new facts were coming to light every day during the investigation. The SIT is looking for exam mafia Sanjeev Mukhiya of Nagarnausa in Nalanda district, Pintu of Hilsa in Nalanda district, Rakesh Ranjan alias Rocky, Chintu alias Baldev of Karai Parsurai of Nalanda district, Ashutosh of Didarganj of Patna district, Nitish Yadav, Manish Prakash and Nitish Patel alias Abhimanyu. SIT is conducting raids at their premises to nab them.

It also emerged during the investigation that the NEET question paper with answers was available on the mobile phone of Chintu, one of the accused.

Earlier on Saturday, the National Testing Agency (NTA) provided information about 11 candidates including seven girls to EOU. Accordingly, EOU served notices, asking them to join the probe on Monday and Tuesday.

–IANS

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Lucknow, June 16 (IANS) To tackle health challenges due to water-borne diseases and other seasonal vagaries ahead of the monsoon season, the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh will initiate the Communicable Disease Control Campaign statewide from July 1 to 31, a government spokesman said.

Concurrently, the Dastak Abhiyan will be conducted from July 11 to July 31.

A detailed action plan has been prepared, with officials instructed to implement it effectively.

The Urban Development Department is actively supervising the initiative and issuing directives to urban bodies for seamless execution of the plan, said a government spokesman.

The Urban Development Directorate has instructed all Municipal Commissioners, General Managers of the Water Institute, and Executive Officers of the Municipal Council to implement action plans following the directives provided.

Additionally, sensitisation meetings have been scheduled for Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils, and all Nagar Panchayats.

Instructions have been issued to provide the District Chief Medical Officer with a micro-plan detailing ward-wise and area-wise activities to be completed by June 28 for the special Communicable Disease Control Campaign.

Urban bodies are also directed to submit consolidated reports to the government regarding the activities conducted and completed during the campaign as per this micro-plan.

Urban bodies have also been directed to collaborate with the Health Department to educate officials and staff about preventing encephalitis and other vector-borne and waterborne diseases, as well as maintaining cleanliness.

Continuous awareness campaigns through Mohalla Committees will be conducted to address these health concerns.

Urban areas will also see regular fogging and targeted vector control activities in high-risk areas identified by the Health department. Additional instructions include promoting environmental and personal hygiene, preventing open defecation, ensuring the use of clean drinking water, and controlling mosquito population.

Guidelines have also been provided for waterlogging and water supply.

Mini public water supply systems and tank-type stand posts must be installed and monitored according to standards.

Roads and pavements will be constructed to prevent waterlogging and vegetation growth.

Vegetation along roads will be regularly cleared, and activities will be focused on sensitive urban population and slum areas.

–IANS

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