Ashraf, Rahman murder cases: K'taka govt. considering appointment of S. Balan as special PP
Mangaluru: The Karnataka government is reportedly considering appointing senior advocate S. Balan as the special public prosecutor in connection with the murder cases of Ashraf and Abdul Rahman.
Ashraf, a resident of Sultan Bathery taluk in Wayanad, Kerala, was lynched by a mob at Samrat Maidan near Kudupu on the outskirts of Mangaluru on April 27. In another incident, Abdul Rahman, from Kolthamajalu village in Badaga Bellur, was murdered by miscreants in Kagudde, Bantwal taluk, on the evening of May 27.
Family members of both victims have demanded a thorough investigation and strict punishment for all those involved. Responding to their plea, Karnataka Assembly Speaker U.T. Khader had reportedly discussed the matter with the Home and Law Minister, requesting that S. Balan be appointed as the special public prosecutor for both cases. In this backdrop, the state government is said to be considering Balan's appointment.
In the Ashraf murder case, police have arrested Sachin T., Devdas, Manjunath, Saideep, Nitish Kumar alias Santosh, Dixit Kumar, Sandeep, Vivian Alvares, Sridatta, Rahul, Pradeep Kumar, Manish Shetty, Dhanush, Dixit, Kishore Kumar, and 21 others. While some of the accused have secured bail, others remain in judicial custody.
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Mamata demands PM's apology over 'Bankim da' remark in Lok Sabha
Cooch Behar (PTI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday demanded an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that he has insulted novelist Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay by calling him "Bankim da".
Addressing a rally in Cooch Behar district, Banerjee said the PM was not even born when the country achieved Independence and yet chose to address one of Bengal's greatest cultural icons casually.
"You did not even show him the minimum respect he deserves. You should apologise for this, to the nation," she said.
The flashpoint was PM's reference to the author during a discussion in Lok Sabha on Monday to commemorate 150 years of the national song, Vande Mataram, written by Chattopadhyay.
TMC MP Saugata Roy objected to the use of the suffix 'da' and urged the PM to say 'Bankim babu' instead.
Modi immediately accepted the sentiment, saying, "I will say Bankim 'babu'. Thank you, I respect your sentiments," and asked in a lighter vein whether he could still address Roy as 'dada'.
Targeting the BJP, Banerjee claimed that it will destroy Bengal's culture, language and heritage if it comes to power in the state.
She also claimed that the assembly elections in the state will be declared soon after publication of the final electoral rolls following the SIR exercise, so that no one can challenge it in court.
