Four PFI leaders in Mangaluru detained by NIA, post-raid
Surathkal: Four leaders of the Popular Front of India (PFI) were detained by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Mangaluru on Thursday morning.
NIA personnel have detained PFI leaders Nawaz of Kavoor, A K Ashraf of Bajpe Jokatte, Moideen of Haleyangadi and Ashraf of Kankanady. While Nawaz, A K Ashraf and Moideen were detained on the spot, Ashraf of Kankanady, who had gone to New Delhi, was detained at the national capital, said the sources.
The detention followed a raid by the NIA on the homes and offices of the PFI leaders in Kankanady, Haleyangadi, Jokatte and Kavoor in Mangaluru and on the offices of the SDPI leaders. The NIA conducted the raids simultaneously at around 3:30 am on Thursday.
In addition, the offices of both PFI and SDPI leaders situated near Nellikai Road in the State Bank area of Mangaluru were raided by the NIA personnel.
The agency personnel also confiscated the mobile phones of all the residents of the houses for further investigation. The NIA raided and searched the house of Moideen’s mother also on the occasion, it is learned.
SDPI district president Abubakar Kulai, who spoke to reporters, said, “The NIA has given no clear reason for the raid on the SDPI offices. The personnel have conducted an unaccountable search at our offices. When asked for the grounds for the raid on the SDPI offices, the personnel have merely justified that it is a raid on a PFI office.”
The president expressed further dissatisfaction on the confiscation of materials. “The NIA personnel have taken away the SDPI office building rent agreement document, our laptops as well as some photographs related to our organization rather than confiscating any official record,” he added.
“In addition to an unauthorized raid on our offices, the NIA staff members have destroyed work materials here. We will fight it out in court,” Kulai stated.
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13 lakh litres of 'Rail Neer' supplied to train passengers daily: Government
New Delhi (PTI): Approximately 13 lakh litres of packaged drinking water -- 'Rail Neer' -- are being supplied to train passengers across the railway network daily, the government informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply on Wednesday.
Apprising the Lower House about the Indian Railways' endeavour to provide safe and potable drinking water facilities at all stations, the government also provided zone-wise details of the water vending machines (WVMs) installed there.
"To ensure the quality of drinking water being made available at the railway stations, instructions exist for periodical checking and required corrective action to be taken.
"Regular inspection and maintenance of drinking water facilities is carried out and complaints are attended to promptly," Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said while responding to a question raised by BJP MP Anup Sanjay Dhotre seeking to know the supply of drinking water at railway stations across the country
"Complaints regarding deficiency in services, including water supply, are received through various channels such as public complaints, web portals, social media, etc. These complaints are received at various levels, including the Railway Board, zonal railways, division office, etc.," Vaishnaw said.
"The complaints so received are forwarded to the concerned wings of Railways and necessary action is taken to check and address them. As receipt of such complaints and action taken thereon is a continuous and dynamic process, a centralised compendium of these is not maintained," he added.
Providing zone-wise details of water vending machines, the minister said 954 such machines have been installed across railway stations.
"The Indian Railways also provides safe and affordable packaged drinking water bottles -- Rail Neer -- approved by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in trains and at stations," Vaishnaw said.
"Approximately, 13 lakh litres of Rail Neer are being supplied per day to the travelling passengers in trains and at stations across the Indian Railways network," he added.
