Motorist dies after falling into roadside pit in Kerala's Thodupuzha; Minister orders probe
Thodupuzha (Kerala) (PTI): A 27-year-old man died after allegedly falling into an open roadside pit near Thodupuzha in Idukki district, police said on Tuesday.
The deceased was identified as Jeys Benny, a native of Muthalakkodam.
The accident occurred late Monday night when his two-wheeler plunged into the large pit dug on the side of the road as part of the construction work, they said.
Though he was rushed to a nearby hospital, his life could not be saved.
As the issue triggered heated protest, state Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Mohammed Riyas ordered a probe into the tragic incident.
He said the deputy chief engineer of the PWD has been entrusted with a probe into the incident and will take further action after receiving his report.
"Stringent measures will be taken if the negligence happened from the side of the Public Works Department," Riyas said.
In the CCTV visuals aired by TV channels, the bike could be seen plunging into the open pit.
According to local residents, the pit has been left open for over a month without adequate safety measures such as barricades or warning signs.
Following the incident, local residents staged a protest at the accident spot, alleging negligence on the part of the PWD.
Workers of the Opposition UDF also protested at the local PWD office demanding action against those responsible.
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90-year-old woman raped by four masked men in MP village; SIT launches probe
Khandwa (MP) (PTI): A woman, aged about 90, was allegedly raped by four masked men in Madhya Pradesh’s Khandwa district, prompting the authorities to launch a probe by a special investigation team (SIT), police said on Saturday.
The woman is being treated at the district hospital for the injuries sustained during the sexual assault. She is out of danger, they said.
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The woman was alone inside her hut in an agricultural field in her village, about 55 km from the district headquarters, on Thursday night, when she was allegedly gang-raped.
The survivor informed her daughter, who lives in another village, about the incident the next morning. She then took her to the district hospital.
The hospital staff advised the woman and her daughter to approach the police, Khandwa Superintendent of Police Manoj Rai told PTI over the phone.
After receiving a complaint, police registered a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita section 70, which concerns gang rape, Rai said.
An SIT, headed by an additional superintendent of police, has been formed, and three teams have been deployed to track down those behind the alleged crime. Police have also announced a reward of Rs 10,000 for information leading to their arrest, he added.
