Congress targets Modi over border killings, fitness challenge
New Delhi, June 13: As four BSF troopers died on the international border in Jammu and Kashmir, the Congress on Wednesday termed the government "weak and cowardly" and slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for posting a fitness challenge on Twitter the same day.
"I would hold Modi government's weak policy on national security responsible for this. It has been proved that Modi government is weak and cowardly," Congress leader Pramod Tiwari told reporters, adding: "I don't know why PM becomes weak in front of Pakistan. This is a matter of concern."
"It is very unfortunate that when soldiers are dying on the border, Prime Minister is busy giving himself fitness certificate. This is an insult to those jawans. He should have expressed his condolences, instead he has insulted them by doing so," he added.
In a tweet Modi had said: "I am delighted to nominate the following for the #FitnessChallenge: Karnataka's CM Shri @hd_kumaraswamy. India's pride and among the highest medal winners for India in the 2018 CWG, @manikabatra_TT."
"I appeal to every Indian to devote some part of the day towards fitness. Practice any set of exercises you are comfortable with and you will see the positive difference it will make in your life! #FitnessChallenge #HumFitTohIndiaFit," he also said.
Four Border Security Force (BSF) troopers were killed and five injured on Wednesday in an unprovoked Pakistan ceasefire violation on the international border in Jammu and Kashmir.
Condoling their death, the Congress party demanded that the government provide all benefits to the families that a soldier deserves.
Tiwari said killing of soldiers on the borders had increased over the years. "In 2014, three soldiers had died; in 2015, 10 died; in 2016, 13 soldiers died; 18 soldiers died in 2017; and in 2018, till June 27 jawans have died."
"We have lost 71 jawans and more than 100 civilians. Modi is good at giving speeches but not at delivering things. This is a very sad, unfortunate incident," said Tiwari.
The leader also reminded Modi of his "56-inch chest", his promise of "10 heads in response to one" and also his "threat of not letting anyone see eye-to-eye on the borders".
He also slammed the Modi government over inflation saying it was the highest in the past four months, which is now 4.87 per cent.
"Inflation is the direct contribution of Modi government. International crude oil price has reduced to around $70 per barrel, but the petrol and diesel prices have increased, owing to which transportation cost also went up and it led to price rise. Only Modi government is responsible for this," said Tiwari.
He also said: "Around Rs 32,361 crore bank fraud has come to the fore, What happened to his slogan 'Na khaunga, na khane dunga?'"
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Kannur dental student death: Case registered against loan app operators, parents allege murder
Kannur (PTI): A case has been registered against unidentified loan app operators in connection with the death of a Kannur Dental College student in Anjarakandy, officials said on Monday.
However, the victim’s parents alleged that their son was murdered and held the college faculty responsible for his death.
The Kannur Cyber Police registered the case on Sunday night based on a complaint by an assistant professor of the college.
According to police, Nithin Raj R L, a first-year BDS student, had taken a loan through an online loan app.
After he defaulted on repayment, the app operators allegedly began contacting the assistant professor.
The FIR stated that the accused contacted the woman faculty member via MMS and WhatsApp, threatening her over repayment and attempting to siphon off money illegally.
Sources said that in cases of default, such loan app operators often send messages to all available contacts of the borrower.
Raj (22), a native of Uzhamalackal, Puthukulangara in Thiruvananthapuram district, was found critically injured near the medical college block after falling from a building on April 10 and later succumbed to his injuries.
The family alleged that Raj was subjected to emotional harassment on caste and complexion grounds by two faculty members, following which a case was registered against Dental Anatomy Department Head M K Ram and Associate Professor K T Sangeetha Nambiar for abetment of suicide and under provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Even though notices were issued to both accused to appear for interrogation, they are yet to respond to the police, officials said.
Police officials said the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case is also examining whether Raj’s death was linked to threats from the loan app operators.
The cyber case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Sections 351(2) (criminal intimidation) and 308(3) (extortion), along with Section 66D of the Information Technology Act (cheating by personation using computer resources).
Police said Raj’s mobile phone will be examined to gather details about the loan app, and a detailed statement will be recorded from the assistant professor who received the threatening messages and calls.
Meanwhile, the SIT has recovered chat details from Raj’s phone, which indicate that he had sought more time to repay the loan.
According to police, Raj had taken a loan of Rs 14,000, and the app operators had demanded immediate repayment of Rs 8,000.
As his family was facing financial difficulties, he had requested a few weeks’ time to settle the dues.
The SIT, led by the Station House Officer of Chakkarakkallu police station, visited Raj’s house on Monday and recorded statements of his parents and sister.
The four-member team also collected digital evidence from them.
The family also met the State Police Chief Ravada Chandrasekhar and filed a petition seeking a detailed probe into the incident.
Raj’s father Rajan said his son had taken the loan for his mother’s treatment.
“We were repaying it. But recently, the repayment defaulted. If the teacher was aggrieved by the loan app’s calls and my son had done anything wrong, they should have informed us. You can check my phone, there is no call from the college,” he said.
Rajan said he had little hope of getting justice.
“They all killed my son. What justice can I expect? I worked hard for his education. We lost everything,” he said.
He also alleged that even three days after Raj’s death, there had been no communication from the college authorities.
“He was a student of that college. Not even a word from the authorities. Students there, fearing for their future, are not speaking out. At least one student should speak out for us,” he said.
Meanwhile, protests erupted at Kannur Dental College on Monday, with final-year BDS students also joining the agitation.
The college has granted leave to students of other batches following the incident.
Students alleged that the accused faculty member, M K Ram, misbehaved with students by body-shaming and physical assault.
“We were living under severe pressure. Ram was involved in body-shaming. Verbal abuse was frequent. Apart from it, he used to hit students on the head. There were also complaints against him and disciplinary action taken earlier,” a student told reporters.
Political organisations, including KSU of the Congress, SFI and DYFI of the CPI(M), MSF of the IUML and ABVP of the BJP, carried out protest marches.
KSU and SFI activists who entered the college compound were later detained and removed by police.
Kerala SC/ST Commission Chairperson Shekaran Miniyodan visited Raj’s house and interacted with his family.
He said the Commission has registered a case and sought a report from the police.
“We will collect information along with the SIT about the incident. Apart from the preliminary investigation report, we will also examine the postmortem report,” he said.
Similarly, the Kerala Youth Commission has also registered a case and recorded statements of students of the college.
Commission Chairman M Shajar said students have raised serious allegations against M K Ram and that a detailed probe would be conducted with police support.
Earlier, the Kerala State Human Rights Commission had also registered a case and sought a report from the police.
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