11 drug peddlers arrested in Jammu, Samba and Udhampur
Jammu (PTI): Eleven drug peddlers were arrested along with contraband substance at different places in Jammu, Samba and Udhampur districts of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, police said.
Keshav Sahu and Pardesi Ram, both residents of Chhattisgarh, were nabbed along with two kilograms of Ganja in Gharota area of Jammu, a police spokesperson said.
He said Billu Sharma, Tarun Kumar Patel, and Dinesh Kumar Chauhan were apprehended after 10 kgs of Ganja was recovered from their possession during patrolling in Sandwan Border Police Post area of Domana in Jammu.
A police team intercepted a car at a checkpoint in Vijaypur area of Samba, leading to the recovery of 16.61 grams of heroin from its occupants -- Sanjeev Kumar and Malkeet Kour -- who were immediately arrested, the spokesperson said.
In another incident, he said another drug peddler identified as Umar Ishaq of Doda was arrested along with 3.92 grams of heroin during checking of vehicles at Nud along Samba-Mansar road.
He said an inter-district drug peddler identified as Aqib Ashraf, a resident of Anantnag, was arrested after 21.97 grams of heroin was seized from his car at Majalta in Udhampur district.
Irfan and Waseem, both residents of Udhampur, were apprehended along with 10.99 grams of heroin from Roun Domail area, the spokesperson said.
He said all the arrested peddlers were booked under separate cases of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
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Rajasthan: Officials rescue 2 girls from child marriage; teen stops own wedding
Kota (PTI): The Bundi district administration took swift action on Tuesday following a report of child marriage, rescuing two minor girls who were to be married on April 20.
The parents of one of the would-be grooms, who was also underage, were prevented from proceeding with the wedding until he reached the legal age for marriage.
The Bundi district administration is currently on high alert ahead of Akshaya Tritiya on April 19, a day when a significant number of child marriages are believed to take place among the Gurjar, Saini, Meena, Bairwa, and Kahar communities in the rural belt of the district.
Acting on a tip-off regarding the planned child marriages, a joint team comprising Tehsildar Narottam, Harlal, officer in charge of the Raithal police station, and members of the Childline unit arrived at the scene. They gathered evidence and halted the matrimonial ceremonies at both venues.
An inquiry revealed that the girls were aged 17 and 15 and were enrolled in Classes 10 and 12, respectively. The two girls were then presented to the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), which ordered their transfer to a shelter home for protection until further legal directives are issued.
Legal proceedings are currently underway, according to CWC Chairperson Seema Poddhar, who added that the court has initiated proceedings for an injunction order to prevent the parents of both girls from arranging their weddings until they reach the legal age.
In another notable case, a 16-year-old Class 12 student from a village under the Bundi Sadar police station limits exhibited remarkable courage by stopping her own wedding.
On Tuesday morning, she contacted the CWC chairperson, requesting an intervention to halt her wedding, which was scheduled for May 1, as she wished to continue her education.
The girl explained that her parents had arranged her marriage as part of a mass wedding event in Khankheda village on May 1. Responding swiftly, a Childline team and local police reached the location and rescued her.
Despite aggressive opposition from the girl's parents and relatives, the team successfully ensured the minor's safety. After counselling, the CWC directed that she be placed in a shelter home, Poddhar said.
Officials noted that this incident marks the fourth occurrence in recent days in the Bundi district where a minor girl has taken action to prevent her wedding. This trend is being perceived as a positive sign of growing awareness, confidence, and assertion of rights among young girls.
The administration has reiterated that preventing child marriage is a collective societal responsibility, urging citizens to report such cases through the 1098 Child Helpline or the nearest authorities to help safeguard the future of children.
