Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao opposes extension of train to Kozhikode
Mangaluru, Feb 7: Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao has written to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw urging him to reconsider the decision to extend the Bengaluru-Kannur express train service up to Kozhikode in Kerala.
Rao, who is also the Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister, said in his letter that the decision will adversely affect thousands of commuters of the train from the coastal region.
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He said train Nos. 16511 and 16512 is the only train service between Bengaluru and Kannur via Mangaluru. The overnight express train always runs full and if extended to another destination, there will be additional demand for seats and berths. It is hard to find any logic in the new proposal, he said.
With the proposed extension, the availability of reserved berths will be drastically reduced in train No. 16512, he said. He also pointed out that Kozhikode is already well-served by train connectivity.
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Meerut youth allegedly assaulted, family claims forced chanting of Jai Shri Ram slogans
Meerut :A young man from Sofipur village, Meerut, was reportedly assaulted, stripped, and coerced to chant religious slogans, according to allegations made by his family on Monday. The incident occurred on Saturday evening as the victim, Gulfam, was returning home from practice at a private shooting range in Mangal Pandey Nagar, said his father, Aftab.
Aftab claimed that Gulfam was intercepted by three individuals who took him to Victoria Park. There, the assailants allegedly beat him, stripped him, and demanded that he chant "Jai Shri Ram." Gulfam’s family also alleged that the attackers stole his mobile phone and left him unconscious at the scene.
However, local police have rejected the claims of stripping and forced chanting, suggesting that the incident appears to be linked to personal enmity. "There is no mention of any forced chanting in the FIR. It seems to be a case of enmity between local youths," stated Mahavir Singh, Station House Officer (SHO) of Civil Lines Police Station.
Based on Aftab’s complaint, an FIR was filed under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including 351(2) for criminal intimidation, 352 for intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of peace, and 324 for mischief. Civil Lines Circle Officer, Abhishek Tiwari, confirmed that efforts are ongoing to apprehend the suspects involved.
Gulfam, who is preparing for a national shooting competition, is currently undergoing medical treatment at a private hospital. His family continues to maintain that the attack was religiously motivated, though the authorities have yet to substantiate these specific claims.
