NIA raids homes, offices of PFI leaders in Mangaluru
Protests held condemning NIA raids; activists detained by police
Mangaluru: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has reportedly raided the offices of the Popular Front of India (PFI) and Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) in Bengaluru and Mangaluru as well as the homes of the PFI leaders on Thursday morning.
The NIA officials conducted raids on the organizations' offices located in Bajpe, Jokatte, Nellikai Road, Kulai and Kavoor. Offices of the PFI leaders in Bengaluru too were raided by the NIA. While the homes of PFI leaders were also subjected to raid, some of them have been detained, it is learned.
Upon learning of the NIA raids, the activists of the organization gathered outside the residences of PFI and SDPI leaders and shouted slogans against the NIA, expressing their outrage.
The SDPI and PFI activists who were protesting against the NIA raids in Mangaluru were detained by the police.
Security was tightened at Nellikai Road, with CRPF personnel, who closed the road for public use on Thursday morning.
The raids in the city were conducted as a part of a nationwide search by the NIA for people supporting terrorist associations.
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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.
