Usman Khawaja left "stranded" in Australia due to visa issue as Aussie team leaves for India
Sydney: Australian batting star Usman Khawaja was on Wednesday left “stranded” in Australia as his teammates flew to India without him for the much anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Khawaja was left out of the group of players and staff members of the Australian team as he was denied a visa by India.
Pakistan-born Khawaja posted his ordeal on his social media handle with a comic picture. “Me waiting for my Indian Visa like … #stranded #dontleaveme #standard #anytimenow,” he posted.
It is understood Khawaja was the only player in the 17-man squad to be denied a visa after lodging the paperwork early last month.
Newcorp reports Khawaja’s visa was delayed by the Indian government, but that Cricket Australia hopes to have the ordeal resolved “soon”.
View this post on Instagram
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Three teenage pregnancies reported in Karnataka within six months
Bengaluru: Karnataka has reported three cases of teenage pregnancies within the past six months, with the latest incident coming to light at a private school in Channarayapatna town of Hassan district, reported by The New Indian Express on Saturday.
Experts and child rights officials have expressed serious concern over the recurring cases, pointing to gaps in child protection mechanisms within educational institutions. They have cited the absence of child protection committees in schools, lack of awareness about the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, inadequate sex education, and parental ignorance as key factors contributing to such incidents.
ALSO READ: Honour killing in Hubballi: Minister Santosh Lad meets attack victims, calls incident condemnable
The commission’s chairman, Shashidhar Kosambe reportedly said, the main reason is not implementing the Karnataka State Child Protection Policy, 2016, in schools, especially at residential schools like those in Yadgir and Koppal where such incidents have taken place.
According to the policy, the commission must have two teachers or school officials and two outsiders who work in the interest of child rights, so that there is no prejudice whenever complaints are filed.
“It is the responsibility of the commission to monitor children and school staff. Awareness programmes on child protection policies, the POCSO Act, and sexual abuse must be conducted regularly for students and staff. Police must be informed immediately when a violation is detected. The policy and the commission must become part of the ecosystem and shouldn’t be treated as extra work,” TNIE quoted Kosambe as saying.
Psychiatry professor at ESI hospital, Rajajinagar, Dr Chandrashekar said, many adolescent girls become pregnant when they are sexually abused by their male friends. The victims undergo a lot of physical changes and mental trauma because of the way others respond. Therefore, whenever we come across a pregnant teenager, especially the victims of sexual abuse, we provide counselling to the victim as her family members.
