Telangana: Constable stabbed to death by accused while being taken to police station
Hyderabad (PTI): A 42-year-old constable was allegedly stabbed to death by a habitual offender while he was being taken to a police station in Nizamabad city, police said on Saturday.
The incident occurred between 8.30 PM and 9 PM on Friday.
The accused, Shaik Riyaz (24), who was caught in connection with a case, attacked E Pramod with a knife on his chest when he was being taken on a two-wheeler by the constable to the police station in Nizamabad city. Police further said the accused apparently had concealed the knife near his shoe.
Pramod, who suffered injuries, subsequently died.
One Sub-Inspector, who was following the constable's bike sustained injuries on his fingers when the accused also attacked him, police said.
The accused fled the scene.
"He is a regular offender. What prompted him to do this (attack on constable), can be known only after he is taken into custody," a police official said.
Expressing grief over the death of the constable, Telangana Director General of Police (DGP) B Shivadhar Reddy directed Nizamabad Police Commissioner to form special teams to arrest the accused.
The DGP further instructed Inspector General of Police (IGP) Multi Zone-I, S Chandrashekhar Reddy to visit Nizamabad and monitor the situation, an official release said. The DGP has taken a serious view of the incident.
Shivadhar Reddy also asked the IGP to console the constable’s family members and provide them with necessary assistance.
The DGP issued orders to launch a search operation and arrest the accused immediately based on the evidence available, the release said.
Nizamabad Police Commissioner P Sai Chaitanya told reporters that efforts were on to nab the accused and eight teams have been formed to track him down.
He said it was unfortunate that people were busy clicking photographs instead of helping the police in shifting the injured constable to hospital.
"Even the auto-rickshaws did not stop when our Sub-Inspector requested them to take the injured constable to the hospital," he added. Pramod was working in Central Crime Station (CCS)--a wing of Nizamabad Police Commissionerate.
The police department will stand with the bereaved family and will do everything possible to support them, the Commissioner said.
Announcing a cash reward of Rs 50,000, police said the accused was involved in robbery, dacoity and murder.
Any credible information leading to identification, location or arrest is urgently requested, they said.
Police said information about the accused can be provided on 'Dial 100' or 8712659793 / 8712659777. The informer’s name will be kept secret, police added.
A murder case was registered. Further investigations were on.
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India proposes preferential trade agreement with Mexico to deal with high tariffs
New Delhi (PTI): India has proposed a preferential trade agreement (PTA) with Mexico to help domestic exporters deal with the steep tariffs announced by the South American country, a top government official said on Monday.
Mexico has decided to impose steep import tariffs - ranging from about 5 per cent to as high as 50 per cent on a wide range of goods (about 1,463 tariff lines) from countries that do not have free trade agreements with Mexico, including India, China, South Korea, Thailand and Indonesia.
Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said that India has engaged with the country on the issue.
"Technical level talks are on...The only fast way forward is to try to get a preferential trade agreement (PTA) because an FTA (free trade agreement) will take a lot of time. So we are trying to see what can be a good way forward," he told reporters here.
While in an FTA two trading partners either significantly reduce or eliminate import duties on maximum number of goods traded between them, in a PTA, duties are cut or removed on a limited number of products.
Trading partners of Mexico cannot file a compliant against the decision on imposing high tariffs as they are WTO (World Trade Organisation) compatible.
The duties are within their bound rates, he said, adding that their primary target was not India.
"We have proposed a PTA because its a WTO-compatible way forward... we can do a PTA and try to get concessions that are required for Indian supply chains and similarly offer them concessions where they have export interests in India," Agrawal said.
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Citing support for local production and correction of trade imbalances, Mexico has approved an increase in MFN (most favoured nation) import tariffs (5-50 per cent) with effect from January 1, 2026 on 1,455 tariff lines (or product categories) within the WTO framework, targeting non-FTA partners.
Preliminary estimates suggest that this affects India's around USD 2 billion exports to Mexico particularly -- automobile, two-wheelers, auto parts, textiles, iron and steel, plastics, leather and footwear.
The measure is also aimed at curbing Chinese imports.
India-Mexico merchandise trade totalled USD 8.74 billion in 2024, with exports USD 5.73 billion, imports USD 3.01 billion, and a trade surplus of USD 2.72 billion.
The government has been continuously and comprehensively assessing Mexico's tariff revisions since the issue emerged, engaging stakeholders, safeguarding the interests of Indian exporters, and pursuing constructive dialogue to ensure a stable trade environment benefiting businesses and consumers in both countries.
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Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) Director General Ajay Sahai has said that Mexico's decision is a matter of concern, particularly for sectors like automobiles and auto components, machinery, electrical and electronics, organic chemicals, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and plastics.
"Such steep duties will erode our competitiveness and risk, disrupting supply chains that have taken years to develop," Sahai said, adding that this development also underlines the little urgency for India and Mexico to fast-track a comprehensive trade agreement.
Domestic auto component manufacturers will face enhanced cost pressures with Mexico hiking duties on Indian imports, according to industry body ACMA.
