Wind in Bihar in favour of 'Mahagathbandhan', says Cong leader Venugopal
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): India cannot believe the exit poll results and field reports from Congress workers in Bihar where Assembly polls were held suggest that the wind is blowing in favour of the 'Mahagathbandhan', AICC general secretary K C Venugopal said here on Wednesday.
The exit polls conducted by various organisations on Tuesday predicted a return of the NDA government in the state, a poor show for the opposition Mahagathbandhan (INDIA bloc in local parlance), and a disappointing performance for former poll strategist Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a protest organised by the Congress demanding the resignation of the Devaswom Board Minister taking responsibility for the Sabarimala gold theft case, Venugopal said Congress workers had been serving as observers in all Assembly constituencies in Bihar for the past six months and had given clear indications regarding the Mahagathbandhan’s victory in the state.
He rubbished the exit poll results in Bihar.
"What were the exit poll results after the Haryana elections? A landslide victory for Congress was predicted but the results came in a different way. So let us wait for the results to come," he said.
Venugopal alleged that the Election Commission has become a "compromise commission" and the elections in Bihar were held after removing 65 lakh voters.
"Earlier, during every election around 8.30 pm, the Election Commission used to give us full details of the total turnout, how many men and how many women voted etc. Now they are not doing it. In some elections, the total polling count was announced after two weeks. We have been reiterating that the Election Commission has become a compromise commission," Venugopal said.
He said the country will witness widespread protests against the efforts to "sabotage" the elections in India in the coming days.
The polling in two phases were held on November 6 and 11 in Bihar, and results will be announced on Friday.
The state has registered the highest voter turnout of 66.91 per cent in its history since 1951.
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Businessman lured by FB friend, attacked for extortion in K'taka; 4 held
Madikeri (Karnataka) (PTI): Four people were arrested for allegedly assaulting, illegally confining and attempting to extort money from a 39-year-old businessman who was lured through a honeytrap set up on social media, police said on Monday.
The accused have been identified as Rachana, Malati, Darshan and Ravi.
Police said efforts are underway to nab the remaining suspects involved in the incident, which occurred on December 12 in Madikeri, the district headquarters of Kodagu.
According to the complaint, the victim, a resident of Maddur taluk in Mandya district, was befriended by a woman identified as Rachana through Facebook, who later sought financial assistance and received Rs 5,000 from him via PhonePe on November 28.
When he asked her to return the money, the woman allegedly asked him to travel to Mysuru or Kushalnagar, promising to meet him.
The police said the woman later called the victim to Madikeri on December 12 and took him to a house near the market area, where they spent some time and consumed alcohol in the evening.
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Later that night, citing an emergency, the woman left the house. After her departure, three men allegedly broke into the house and attacked the victim, assaulting him with a stick and the handle of a sword, causing injuries to his face, mouth, chest and leg, the FIR stated.
The complainant alleged that he was forcibly confined, stripped and a nude video of him was recorded. The accused also allegedly threatened him with a toy gun, demanding Rs 50 lakh and warning that the video would be uploaded on social media if the money was not paid.
Police said the victim was held captive and somehow managed to escape in the early hours of December 13. However, after he escaped, the accused allegedly attempted to kidnap him in an autorickshaw, an incident that was captured on CCTV cameras.
Based on his complaint at the Madikeri Town police station, a case was registered under Sections 310(2) (dacoity), 127(2) (wrongful confinement), 118(1) (voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means) and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, a senior police officer said.
“Four accused, including two women, have been arrested. Efforts are on to nab two more absconding accused. Further investigation is on,” he added.
