The Hindu editor urges Gujarat Police to drop FIR against journalist Mahesh Langa
Gandhinagar: Suresh Nambath, editor of The Hindu, has called on the Gujarat Police to withdraw the FIR against senior assistant editor Mahesh Langa, who has been charged with possessing confidential documents related to the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB). This is the second FIR against Langa, who was already in judicial custody for a separate case involving alleged Goods and Services Tax (GST) fraud.
The latest FIR was lodged at the Sector-7 police station in Gandhinagar on October 22, following a complaint from the GMB. The first FIR was filed based on a complaint by the Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI).
Nambath expressed concern over the charges against Langa in a series of posts on X, stating, “Journalists are required to process documents, including those of a confidential nature, in the line of their work. To file charges against them for possession of such documents is to undermine their journalistic work and fundamental rights and to subvert the public interest. We urge the Gujarat Police to drop the charges relating to the possession of classified documents against Mahesh.”
He also highlighted that the FIR filed against Langa was not publicly accessible, as it had been classified under the “sensitive” category. “This is completely unacceptable,” Nambath asserted.
In response, Gandhinagar SP Ravi Teja Vasamsetty clarified that the FIR was filed based on the GMB's complaint, stating, “It is our duty to investigate the claims.” He added that the FIR had been submitted to the court and that Langa's family could obtain it from there. Vasamsetty confirmed that no further actions had been taken against Langa at this time.
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Bihar: Over 150 children fall ill after consuming 'mid-day meal' in Saharsa
Saharsa (PTI): More than 150 children were taken ill after allegedly consuming food that was part of the mid-day meal in a school in Bihar’s Saharsa district, a senior official said on Thursday.
The incident occurred at a middle school in Baluaha village of the district.
The official said that 115 children were undergoing treatment at the Sadar Hospital, while around 50 students were admitted to Mahishi Public Health Centre.
“We received information that several children fell ill after consuming the mid-day meal in Baluaha. The children were initially treated at the primary health centre, but later, many were referred to the Sadar Hospital,” Saharsa District Magistrate Deepesh Kumar told reporters.
“According to doctors, the health condition of the children has improved, but they will be kept under observation for some time. There is no need to panic. Some kids are having mild fever. They are being treated accordingly,” Kumar said.
Meanwhile, family members of some children claimed that a snake was found in the container in which cooked pulses was stored at the school.
Of the 545 students present in the school, 200 had already eaten their meals by the time the snake was spotted, and later complained of stomach ache and vomiting, they said.
Regarding the claims, the DM said food samples have been collected from the school.
“We will be able to comment on this only after the results of the tested samples arrive,” he said.
