Tamil Nadu: Migrant worker from Jharkhand killed after soil cave-in
Udhagamandalam (PTI): A migrant worker was killed and another sustained injuries after soil caved in on them here on Wednesday while they were constructing a 'retaining wall', police said.
The deceased was identified as Rizwan (22).
Chief Minister M K Stalin condoled Rizwan's death and said the state government would make arrangements to send his body to his native place. He announced Rs two lakh as ex-gratia to the family of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the other worker undergoing treatment.
Rizwan and his co-worker were rescued from the spot and rushed to the local government hospital. Doctors, upon examination, declared Rizwan dead.
A total of four workers, all from Jharkhand, were engaged in the construction of the wall meant to prevent landslips, when the incident occurred, officials added.
Personnel from the Fire and Rescue Services and local people rescued the trapped workers after a nearly 90-minute struggle.
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NIA court to complete framing of charges against 2010 hand-chopping case accused on May 15
Kochi (PTI): A special court here will complete proceedings for framing charges against the prime accused in the 2010 hand-chopping case involving professor T J Joseph, in which PFI activists were accused of attacking him at Muvattupuzha.
Ernakulam Special Court for NIA cases judge P K Mohandas, on April 30, heard the arguments of counsel for accused Savad and Shafeer C and decided to proceed with framing charges against the duo.
A group chopped off Thodupuzha Newman College professor Joseph's right hand in July 2010, accusing him of religious blasphemy in a question paper he had prepared.
The case, later taken over by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), resulted in the conviction of 19 accused.
The first accused, Savad, who allegedly chopped off Joseph’s palm, was arrested in Berram in Mattannur, Kannur, in January 2024, where he had allegedly been hiding under the pseudonym Shajahan.
The NIA also arrested Shafeer, who allegedly arranged shelter and provided logistical support to Savad at Chakkad and Mattannur in Kannur since 2020.
On April 30, the court heard the counsel for the accused and the NIA prosecutor on framing charges against the duo.
"On going through the documents and evidence in the case and on hearing the counsel for the accused and the prosecutor, I am of the opinion that there are grounds for presuming that the first accused has committed offences punishable under provisions of the IPC, the Explosive Substances Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and that the second accused has committed offences punishable under the IPC and the UAPA, and there are materials for framing charges under these provisions against the accused," the court said.
The court directed that Savad be produced and Shafeer, who is on bail, appear before it on May 15 for recording their pleas as part of the charge-framing process.
After framing the charges, the court will schedule the trial in the case.
