Police investigate source of explosives after blast at Kerala home
Palakkad (PTI): Kerala Police have launched an investigation into the source of explosives that went off at a house in Mangode in this north Kerala district, injuring two people, officials said on Friday.
The Pudunagaram police registered the case based on a complaint by Rasheed, a neighbour of Abdul Hakeem, in whose house the explosion occurred on Thursday, injuring his daughter-in-law and her brother.
According to police, the case was filed under section 3(a) of the Explosive Substances Act for maliciously causing an explosion and section 4(a) of the same act for conspiring to cause an explosion.
The FIR said an unidentified person had kept explosives at Hakeem’s house, which exploded and injured his daughter-in-law, Shahna, and her brother, Sherif.
Sherif suffered 40 per cent burns, while Shahna escaped with minor injuries.
Both are currently undergoing treatment at a hospital, police said.
Police officials said a detailed investigation is being carried out, as no additional explosives were found in the house.
They added that it needed to be ascertained whether anyone else was involved in the incident.
The preliminary inquiry revealed that explosives meant for hunting wild boar caused the blast.
Earlier, the BJP leaders alleged that Sherif and his family had links with the Socialist Democratic Party of India (SDPI).
However, the SDPI denied the charge, claiming that Sherif was ousted from the party several months ago.
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BJP accuses Karnataka govt of 'failing' to prevent noise pollution caused by 'azaan'
Belagavi (Karnataka) (PTI): Members of the Opposition BJP on Tuesday slammed the Karnataka government for not taking measures to prevent the alleged noise pollution caused by 'azaan', the Islamic call to prayer.
BJP MLC D S Arun raised the issue in the Legislative Council during the question hour, accusing the ruling Congress of "appeasement" by failing to take action against mosques that are violating the Supreme Court's directives.
Karnataka Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment Eshwar Khandre, responding to the question, said, as per the directives of the Supreme Court in sensitive zones, the noise level should not exceed 50 decibels during the day and 40 decibels at night, and in residential areas, 55 decibels during the day and 45 decibels at night.
In commercial areas, the noise should not exceed 65 decibels during the day, 55 at night, and in industrial areas, 75 during the day and at night 70 decibels, he said.
Pointing out that the Karnataka government had issued an order in 2022, assigning responsibility to a committee headed by a DySPs or ACPs for the effective implementation of the rules, the minister said when a complaint is received about noise pollution, the Pollution Control Board will inspect it and provide information about the decibel level to the police to take further action, including filing of criminal cases.
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"Not only during azaan, but also during bhajans held in temples and marriage events, among others, the violations happen. There is a need to spread awareness. The Supreme Court has ordered against bursting firecrackers, but it is being violated. Efforts will be made to implement the rules effectively," he said.
Several BJP MLAs, including Arun, Bharathi Shetty, among others, were not satisfied with the minister's reply. They took strong exception to it.
Arun noted that in the last three years, only 52 cases have been taken, and said there are clear violations by almost all mosques, but no action has been taken. "The decibels have in fact increased under this government. The government is giving protection to them."
Reacting to this, Khandre, calling it a "sensitive matter", said, "It is not right to politicise the issue. The law of this land is equal for everyone."
Hitting back, Arun asked, "Why is the matter sensitive? What is preventing you (the government) from implementing the Supreme Court directives?"
