Haryana cop's death about all Dalits, PM and CM should act immediately: Rahul Gandhi
Chandigarh (PTI): Haryana police officer Y Puran Kumar's death is not about the respect of one family but all Dalits, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Tuesday while asking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini to act immediately in the case.
Addressing reporters after meeting the family of the senior police officer who was found with a gunshot wound in his Chandigarh home last week, Gandhi said there was systematic discrimination against Kumar to demoralise him and damage his career.
"A wrong message is being sent out to Dalits... that no matter how successful you are, if you are Dalit, you can be oppressed and crushed," the former Congress president said.
He said the Haryana chief minister has not fulfilled his commitment of a free and fair inquiry.
Gandhi said there was a lot of pressure on Kumar's family, particularly his two daughters.
His visit came amid stepped up attacks by the opposition against the Haryana government over Kumar's alleged suicide.
In an eight-page final note purportedly left behind by him, the 52-year-old accused eight senior IPS officers, including Haryana DGP Shatrujeet Kapur and now transferred Rohtak SP Narendra Bijarniya, of "blatant caste-based discrimination, targeted mental harassment, public humiliation and atrocities".
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School timings changed in Jharkhand following IMD's heat wave warning
Ranchi (PTI): The Jharkhand government on Monday announced a change in school timings from April 21 in view of heat wave-like conditions across the state, an official said.
Under the new schedule, students from kindergarten to class 8 will attend schools from 7 am to 11.30 am, while senior pupils from class 9 to 12 will continue classes till noon, an order by the education department said.
This adjustment applies to all categories of government, aided, unaided, and private schools in the state till further orders. Schools earlier followed different timings that extended well beyond noon.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday issued a 'yellow' alert (be updated) of heat wave from April 20 to April 22 for northwest, central and southern parts of Jharkhand.
The districts facing heat wave-like situations on Monday include Garhwa, Palamu, Chatra, Latehar, Bokaro and Dhanbad.
The districts likely to be affected by the heat wave on Tuesday include Garhwa, Palamu, Chatra, Latehar, Bokaro, Dhanbad, Simdega, Saraikela-Kharswan, and East and West Singhbhum, according to the weather bulletin issued by Ranchi Meteorological Centre.
Daltonganj recorded the state's highest maximum temperature at 43.9 degrees Celsius on Sunday evening, while Bokaro simmered at 43.1 degrees Celsius and Ranchi registered 39.3 degrees Celsius.
State Health and Disaster Management Minister Irfan Ansari on Sunday advocated for the change of school timings in view of the heat wave-like situation in the state.
Ansari directed all the officials of his department to remain alert and take necessary steps so that the people, especially children, are not affected by the heat wave.
The weather department has advised people to stay hydrated, wear light-coloured, loose-fitting cotton clothes, and cover their heads with a cloth, hat, or umbrella when outdoors.
