Workers From UP, Bihar Leave North Gujarat After Protests Over Rape
AHMEDABAD, Oct 07: Hundreds of migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have left north Gujarat after protests broke out over the rape of a 14-month-old girl -- allegedly by a man from Bihar -- the police said. The child was raped in Sabarkantha district on September 28, after which the accused was arrested.
Over the last few days, however, violence broke out in six districts, in which many migrant labourers were targetted, the police said. Extra forces have been stationed in these areas and more than 300 people have been arrested.
The police said protests broke out in Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad, Patan, Sabarkantha and Mehsana a day after the accused was arrested.
"In reaction to the Himmatnagar's Gambhoi rape incident, some people are targeting those who have come to Gujarat from other states. This is totally unacceptable," state police chief Shivanand Jha told news agency ANI.
The worst of the violence, he said, took place in Mehsana and Sabarkantha, where the many of the troops have been stationed.
"A part of Ahmedabad city was also affected. In these districts and Ahmedabad 42 cases have been registered," the police chief said.
The police, he said, have arrested 342 people. "We are looking at opening cases against other accused also. We hope to arrest those accused also as cases are filed," the police chief said.
Gujarat Congress legislator Alpesh Thakor, who heads the Thakor Sena group in the state, has appealed for calm. Mr Thakor's group has been accused of leading the attacks on the migrant workers from the two states.
Alpesh Thakor has denied the allegations. "This is unfortunate. We have never advocated violence and only talked peace. All Indians are safe in Gujarat," Mr Thakor said.
Courtesy: www.ndtv.com
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.
MLA Janardhana Reddy disqualified following conviction in illegal mining case
Bengaluru, May 8 (PTI): Independent MLA and BJP supporter G Janardhana Reddy was on Thursday disqualified as the member of Karnataka Legislative Assembly after a special CBI court convicted him in the Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) illegal iron ore mining case.
With this, one seat of the state assembly has fallen vacant.
“Consequent upon conviction of G Janardhana Reddy Member of Karnataka Legislative Assembly representing the Gangavati Constituency by the Court of the Principal Special Judge for CBI, cases, Hyderabad in CC.No.1 of 2012, he stands disqualified from the membership of Karnataka Legislative Assembly from the date of conviction i.e., May 6, 2025 in terms of the provisions of article 191(1) (e) of the Constitution of India read with section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951,” Karnataka Assembly said in a notification.
It said, “Such disqualification shall continue for a further period of six years since his release, unless the conviction is stayed by a competent Court.”
A special CBI court in Hyderabad on Tuesday convicted Reddy and three others in the Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) illegal iron ore mining case after a prolonged legal battle spanning nearly 14 years.
The court sentenced them to seven years rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on each.
Reddy was named accused number two. The court also imposed a Rs 1 lakh fine on the company.
Soon after the judgment, the CBI took Janardhana Reddy and others into custody, and were shifted to the prison.
Janardhana Reddy had formed the Kalyana Rajya Pragati Paksha (KRPP) ahead of the Assembly polls in 2023, snapping his two-decade-old association with the BJP, and won the Gangavati assembly seat.
He, however, rejoined the BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls by merging his outfit with the saffron party.
