UP: Masked men open fire on school van, no injuries reported
Amroha (UP), Oct 25: Masked men opened fire on a private school van carrying 28 children in Uttar Pradesh's Amroha on Friday, police said.
One suspect has been taken into custody in connection with the incident in which no one was reported injured, they added.
According to the police, the incident took place under the Gajraula police station area when unidentified masked individuals fired indiscriminately at the van carrying students from the S R S International School.
"It is believed that the van driver was the target. He and the schoolchildren are all safe," Circle Officer Shwetabh Bhaskar said.
An FIR has been lodged at the Gajraula police station against three suspects, one of whom has been taken into custody for questioning.
According to the police, the frightened schoolchildren shouted for help as they hid under their seats after the attackers opened indiscriminate fire.
Acting promptly, the driver managed to steer the vehicle to a safe place before informing the school management, which reported the matter to the police.
A detailed probe is underway, Bhaskar said.
Meanwhile, the state Congress shared a video of the school van on its official X handle and slammed the Yogi Adityanath government over the prevailing law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh.
"Thankfully, no child was harmed by the firing but till now no answer has been received to any question related to the incident," the Congress said.
"Who were these miscreants? Why did they fire on the bus carrying children? When will they be arrested? There are hundreds of such questions but no one has the answers to them," it added.
The Congress also alleged that the criminals are slapping on the face of law and order by daring to carry out such a "Syria-like" incident in Uttar Pradesh even as the chief minister prepares to make false promises ahead of the November 13 by-elections.
"When even innocent little children are not safe in the state, what guarantee can there be for the lives and property of others," the Congress asked.
अमरोहा में एक स्कूल बस 28 बच्चों को लेकर जा रही थी। रोज की तरह बच्चे भी मस्ती में झूमते सुनहरे भविष्य का ख्वाब आंखों में पाले पढ़ने जा रहे थे। इतने में 3 नकाबपोश बदमाश आये और एक किमी तक बस का पीछा करते हुए अंधाधुंध फायरिंग करते रहे।
— UP Congress (@INCUttarPradesh) October 25, 2024
गनीमत है कि बदमाशों की फायरिंग से किसी बच्चे… pic.twitter.com/sVkg2ZpBGE
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KSDL invites innovative technology to check sandalwood theft
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government has invited farmers, scientists and organisations to come up with innovative technologies to prevent sandalwood theft in the state.
The state-owned Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL), which manufactures Mysuru Sandal Soap has also planned sandalwood cultivation, state Large and Medium Industries Minister M B Patil said on Thursday.
"In a bid to promote sandalwood cultivation, the KSDL has planned a major initiative. As part of it, farmers, scientists, and organisations possessing information on advanced equipment or innovative technologies to prevent sandalwood theft have been invited to approach KSDL and share the details," Patil said in a statement.
Those interested in this initiative will be given an opportunity to demonstrate such technologies before the organisation, the minister said, adding if the proposed solutions are found suitable and effective, steps will be taken for consideration and implementation.
Patil stated that the cost involved in deploying technologies aimed at preventing sandalwood theft would be borne by KSDL.
Further, with a view to encouraging sandalwood cultivation, four farmers who have supplied the highest quantity of sandalwood to KSDL will be honoured with awards on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar on June 4, he said.
On the same occasion, police personnel and forest officials who have made notable progress in apprehending sandalwood thieves and registering cases, along with members of the public who have provided credible information leading to such action, will also be recognised and rewarded, the minister added.
Patil observed that farmers cultivating sandalwood trees on their lands have been facing increasing threats due to theft in recent years. Illegal felling and theft of sandalwood trees have continued for decades.
Although stringent laws are in place to curb such activities, the number of cases resulting in convictions remains very low, he noted.
"In this context, it becomes the responsibility of the organisation to extend both legal and technical support to farmers and encourage them to take up sandalwood cultivation on a larger scale," he said.
According to him, over the past three years, KSDL has procured 174.5 metric tonne of sandalwood directly from farmers across the state and transferred Rs 6.08 crore to their respective accounts.
