Varanasi BJP leader's 'illegal' office bulldozed after residents' complaint
Varanasi (UP), Aug 11: An allegedly illegal construction at a housing society belonging to a local BJP leader was bulldozed by the district administration here on Thursday.
The women of the society had complained to the administration about the illegal construction by the BJP leader and had also protested against this illegal construction two days ago.
Satya Prakash Singh alias Akhand Singh, BJP's district unit vice president, was accused of encroaching the society's land.
He had secretly got an illegal construction done in the Varuna Enclave Society of Sikraul which was demolished in the presence of police and authority officials following the instructions of the vice-chairman of the Authority, zonal officer of Varanasi Development Authority (VDA), Parmanand Yadav said.
VDA vice chairperson Isha Duhan said a room was built illegally occupying a portion of the Varuna Enclave Society, against which a complaint was given to the authority in the first week of June.
The authority's team had gone to the spot and investigated the matter after which orders for demolition were given, terming the construction as illegal, she said.
Alleging that the BJP leader opened his office at the place where there was the colony gate earlier, the complainants said that during the widening of the road, the boundary wall of the society had to be demolished and later Akhand Singh made his office on the land that was lying vacant.
The women residents of the society said they were inspired in their protest against the BJP leader by the Yogi government's action against Shrikant Tyagi.
Earlier this week, authorities bulldozed allegedly illegal constructions built in a Noida society by Shrikant Tyagi, who has claimed to be associated with the BJP.
The party, however, has denied having any links with him.
Tyagi has been under the spotlight since a video of his row with a woman became viral online, in which he is seen berating, abusing, and shoving her during an argument over encroachment inside the society.
Speaking about the demolition in Varanasi, senior Congress leader and former MLA Ajay Rai said that the place where illegal construction was done by the BJP leader, is right adjacent to the development authority office.
Till now no official or BJP leader had looked into it. It was only when the local women started protesting, the development authority came forward and took action, Rai said.
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.
Bengaluru jail introduces biometric tracking system for prisoners
Bengaluru: In a bid to curb misconduct and illegal activities inside Parappana Agrahara Central Prison, prison authorities have introduced a new ‘Prisoners Tracking Movement System’ under which inmates will have to undergo biometric verification while entering every barrack.
According to jail officials, biometric systems have been installed across all major sections of the prison, including barracks, visitor rooms, hospital, canteen, kitchen, library, playground, handicraft units and bakery sections. Staff members have also been deployed at these locations.
Officials said inmates visiting the visitors’ room must now obtain a digital token after biometric verification. Details such as the prisoner’s name, identification number and entry time will be updated in the prison software system. This will help authorities maintain a complete digital record of inmates visiting and returning from meeting rooms.
Similar systems have also been introduced at entry points of the hospital, library and other barracks accessed for work-related purposes. Officials said the system will help identify prisoners involved in suspicious or illegal activities with other inmates and enable authorities to track how much time a prisoner spends at different locations inside the prison.
Authorities stated that AI-powered cameras were already being used inside the prison to monitor inmates as well as prison staff. Along with this, digital tracking of prisoner phone calls and a digital token system for visitor meetings have now been added to strengthen surveillance over inmate movement. Officials said the project has been implemented at a cost of around Rs 2.25 crore.
The prison department has also introduced a canteen usage tracking system to monitor prisoners’ spending patterns. Instead of direct cash payments, inmates can purchase bakery items and snacks using wallets or coupons issued within the prison system.
Officials said the digital system will record details including the buyer’s name, items purchased, quantity, date, time and remaining wallet balance. This will allow prison authorities to maintain complete expenditure records of inmates.
