Annigeri: 6 killed, more than 10 injured as private bus crashes with truck
Hubballi: As many as six persons killed on the spot and more than 10 injured when a private bus they were travelling in overturned after colliding with a truck near Annigeri on NH63 here on Saturday morning.
The deceased have been identified as residents of Mumbai Vishwanath (76), Dinakar (70), Sumedha (60), Ramesh (56), Lahu (65) and Suchitra (65). The injured have been rushed to the KIMS Hospital in Hubballi.
According to police, the victims had come to Karnataka for a tour. The incident occurred when the private bus proceeding from Hubballi to Hampi was rammed by a truck that was moving in the opposite direction.
It has been said that the accident caused due to negligence of the truck driver. The driver of the heavy goods vehicle is said to have fled the scene after the incident.
Annigeri police visited the spot, registered a case, and launched the investigation.
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Press bodies demand withdrawal of FIR Against Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair
New Delhi: Several press organisations have called for the withdrawal of the FIR filed by the Uttar Pradesh Police against Mohammed Zubair, co-founder of fact-checking platform Alt News. The FIR includes allegations of endangering India’s sovereignty, unity, and integrity under s. 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The case stems from Zubair’s social media post on October 3, where he shared a video of Hindutva leader Yati Narsinghanand’s speech that allegedly contained derogatory remarks about Prophet Muhammad. The video, shared on X (formerly Twitter), led to protests from Muslim groups across several cities. The complaint against Zubair was filed by Udita Tyagi, general secretary of the Yati Narsimhanand Saraswati Foundation, claiming the post was intended to incite violence.
On November 27, the Allahabad High Court was informed that s. 152 of the BNS and s. 66 of the Information Technology Act had been added to the FIR. While the court allowed these additions, press bodies expressed strong opposition to the charges, calling them a misuse of laws meant to stifle press freedom and dissent.
The Press Club of India described s. 152 as a "new avatar" of the sedition law, warning of its potential to silence media and free thinkers. Similarly, DIGIPUB, an association of digital news organisations, condemned the FIR as a "vindictive and unreasonable overreach" by the authorities.
DIGIPUB questioned whether the Uttar Pradesh government intends to target journalists who expose hate speech against minorities. It urged the police to shift focus to prosecuting individuals making hate speeches rather than harassing journalists like Zubair.
The Allahabad High Court has scheduled the next hearing on December 3, directing the investigating officer to provide detailed affidavits regarding the charges. Meanwhile, Zubair has sought legal protection against arrest.
