Congress for SC-monitored CBI probe into Muzaffarpur rapes
New Delhi, July 28 : The Congress on Saturday demanded a Supreme Court-monitored CBI inquiry into the rape of 34 minor girls in a shelter home in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district and that Prime Minister Narendra Modi break his silence to condemn such crime.
Calling Chief Minister Nitish Kumar a 'Kushashan babu', the Congress asked if this was the good governance (sushashan) model of the Bharatiya Janata Party-Janata Dal-United government in the state.
"The opportunistic BJP-JDU alliance in Bihar has just completed one year in power, a year marred by misgovernance and anarchy," said AICC incharge of Bihar affairs Shaktisinh Gohil.
The Bihar government on Thursday announced a CBI probe into the case.
The shelter home was sealed after the sexual abuse of girl inmates came to light during a social audit by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai.
The Congress also demanded that an FIR should be filed against 14 other such homes which were mentioned in the TISS report under "grave concerns".
It also demanded that the minors should be kept out of Bihar and all the 14 shelter homes sealed.
Gohil claimed that action had been taken only against one home shelter in Muzaffarpur, while the outrageous crime committed in remaining 14 have been conveniently ignored.
"Bihar is in the grip of complete lawlessness as horrifying incidents have shaken public conscience," he said.
He said that the family of arrested Child Protection Officer (Ravi Roushan) has made sensational claims that Social Development Minister Manju Verma's husband Chandrashekhar Verma regularly visited the shelter home.
"This has raised several uncomfortable questions regarding the role of the Minister and her husband," the Congress leader said.
"A government and a Chief Minister known for empowering women and girl child through bicycles, prohibition of liquor and reservation presides over a regime where girls in shelter homes are being sexually exploited."
"All thanks to the anti-women mindset of BJP and its leadership," he added.
The Congress leader also claimed that key accused Brajesh Thakur was getting support from BJP youth wing Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha leader Sudhanshu Pathak, who has demanded his release.
"Instead of seeking justice for the victims and demanding punishment for the guilty, the BJP is brazening it out and is busy protecting the predators," said Gohil.
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Eight black-capped capuchin monkeys arrive at Bannerghatta zoo
Bengaluru (PTI): Bannerghatta Biological Park on Monday announced the successful import of eight black-capped capuchin monkeys from a wildlife facility in South Africa under an animal exchange programme.
The four male and four female monkeys (Sapajus apella) were imported from the Induna Primate and Parrot Park in South Africa and arrived at the Kempegowda International Airport at around 9 pm on December 14, BBP said in a statement.
The exchange, carried out under a duly approved animal exchange programme, aims to strengthen conservation initiatives, enhance genetic diversity of the captive population, promote visitor awareness, and support scientific research, the statement said.
According to BBP officials, the import was conducted in strict compliance with all statutory and regulatory requirements.
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Prior approvals were obtained from the Central Zoo Authority, New Delhi, along with no-objection certificates from the State Chief Wildlife Warden, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau.
Import permits were also secured from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) in accordance with guidelines prescribed by the Department of Animal Husbandry, officials said.
"All animals were inspected and quarantined in South Africa as per the prescribed guidelines. In addition, advance no-objection certificates were obtained from the Animal Quarantine Services before importation," the statement said.
Upon arrival, the capuchins were placed in a designated quarantine facility and will undergo post-import health checks before being moved to the zoo premises for public display, officials said.
"This initiative underscores Bannerghatta Biological Park’s continued commitment to global conservation collaboration, scientific animal management, and compliance with national and international wildlife regulations," the statement added.
The exchange programme further strengthens BBP’s role in promoting best practices in ex-situ conservation and wildlife education.
