Zainab Ansari's death has led to widespread anger in Kasur, Pakistan.
A Pakistani TV anchor went on air with her daughter to protest the brutal rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl in the country.
Zainab Ansari from Kasur district of Punjab province was abducted last week from near her house. A police constable deputed to trace the girl recovered her body from a trash heap on January 9. Kiran Naz, a newscaster with Saama TV, went on air with her young daughter on the channel's 7 pm news bulletin on Wednesday. "Today I am not Kiran Naz. I am a mother," she said, at the start of the show. Kiran had her daughter seated on her lap. Speaking out against the brutal crime that Zainab was subjected to, she said, "It is rightly said, the smallest coffins are the heaviest. And a similar coffin today lies on the streets of Kasur and the entire country is burdened by its weight." Zainab's parents were away on a pilgrimage when the incident took place. Kiran said that while the little girl's parents were away, praying for the family and thinking of her, a monster took her away from them forever. "This is not just the murder of a small girl. It is the murder of humanity," she said.
Kiran's protest struck a chord with many from across the globe and she later explained why she decided to bring her own daughter to the news show.
"Since I got to know about Zainab, I could not turn towards my daughter and sleep. Because I could see Zainab when I looked at her," she said.
A heinous crime
Zainab, who was being looked after by a relative as her parents were away on a pilgrimage, was last known to have attended a tuition centre near her house in the Road Kot area on January 4. She was allegedly abducted after this. CCTV footage showing her with a stranger near Peerowala Road has since gone viral. On Tuesday, a police constable deputed to trace the girl recovered her body from a trash heap. Police said the girl seemed to have been killed four or five days ago. What's even more shocking is that at least 11 similar cases are reported to have taken place within a two kilometre radius in the city in the last year. "The rapist or the murderer is a serial killer. In the previous incidents, the forensic evidence also determines it and the modus operandi of carrying out such acts also determines it," spokesperson of Punjab province - where Kasur is located - Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan said. He said the authorities now have a suspect after interrogating 96 people, and have formed a special team to nab the perpetrator as soon as possible. Preliminary examination of the minor's body -- that was recovered from a garbage dump on Tuesday - had revealed that she'd been raped before she was killed. This led to violent protests in Kasur during which two people died and several acts of vandalism took place. Kasur made international headlines in 2015 when a gang of paedophiles running a child sex ring was busted, Dawn reported. The gang allegedly abducted and sexually assaulted at least 280 children in the area, blackmailed the families of the victims since 2009, and even sold video clips and images of the assault. In March 2016, Pakistan passed a law against sexual abuse of minors and child pornography, making the crimes punishable by up to seven years in prison. The integrated facility will be like Singapore's Changi airport In a few months, a new expansion project will begin at the Chennai airport.
This is just five years after Phase I of the modernisation drive was completed at the facility. Airport officials said AECOM, the consultant for Phase II of the project, has suggested designs with facilities similar to Singapore’s Changi airport. This firm was part of a consortium that designed terminal 4 of the Changi airport that has been rated the best in the world for years now. “This new integrated terminal will showcase themes based on the culture of Tamil Nadu with paintings, murals and statues. These themes will include Bharatanatyam, folk art and Tanjore paintings. The idea is to blend international facilities and an indigenous touch,” an official said. Officials said the new design would ensure that infrastructure problems such as the collapse of glass panels or leaking roofs are avoided. “The previous terminals faced such problems owing to a series of issues. We will consider Chennai’s climate and design the orientation of the terminal accordingly,” he said. With a host of facilities like a specialised baggage scanning system and a security system, the city airport’s new integrated terminal will certainly make travel far more comfortable for passengers, airport officials claimed. While the old terminals will be pulled down, the existing international and domestic terminals on either end will serve as the domestic terminal, and in place of the old terminals, an international terminal will come up, the officials noted. “The airport will look like one huge terminal. The domestic and international terminals will be separate entities but they will be connected,” an official said. The Phase II modernisation project is estimated to cost ₹2,500 crore and will increase the capacity of terminals from 18 million to 35 million. Also, aircraft movement per hour will be increased to 40. The new terminal is likely to become operational in four years. Tenders floated Airports Authority of India (AAI) received the final approval from the Public Investment Board recently and has now floated tenders to begin the project. “The tender is likely to be awarded in a month and the contractor will begin the work in about two months. It will take three-and-a-half years to finish the project,” an AAI official said. One lakh and counting Less than a week after its launch, the ‘Rajini Mandram’ mobile app, launched by Tamil film actor Rajinikanth to kick-start his political career has been downloaded by over a lakh users. This is in contrast to the apps launched by senior politicians such as DMK leaders M. Karunanidhi and M.K. Stalin, PMK’s Anbumani Ramadoss and DMDK founder Vijayakant.
While Mr. Anbumani’s For Change app, which he launched when he projected himself as the Chief Ministerial candidate in 2016, has been downloaded by about 50,000 users, most other apps of politicians have found acceptance among 10,000 or fewer mobile phone users. ASK, an app launched recently by actor-politician R. Sarathkumar, who is also keen on projecting himself as an alternative leader, has seen about a thousand downloads. Aspiring politician and leading actor Kamal Haasan too had indicated that he will formally launch his app maiam whistle in January. Does the popularity of Mr. Rajinikanth’s app indicate that traditional politicians have failed to tap technology to reach a larger audience or have not found acceptance from the tech savvy people? Mr. Palanivel Thiagarajan of the DMK, and MLA from Madurai Central who heads the party’s Information Technology cell, acknowledges that having an app helps in two-way communication, monitoring responsiveness, identify who is an active supporter, analyse trends among other things. “But the most important thing is it helps us get feedback,” he says. Mr. Anbumani agrees that with more than two crore households in Tamil Nadu with a smart phone, the app helps politicians reach citizens easily. According to Mr. Ramadoss, the app also helps in communicating directly with the users. Its boundaries now match that of the Greater Chennai Corporation. The move is likely to help residents access a variety of services easily. However, questions remain regarding staff strength and pendency of files.
The North Chennai zone will comprise Tiruvottiyur, Tondiarpet, Madhavaram, Perambur and Purasawalkam taluks, which have 32 revenue villages. The head office will be at Tondiarpet.
The Central Chennai zone, with its head office at Ambattur, will include Ayanavaram, Aminjikarai, Maduravoyal, Mambalam and Egmore taluks, which comprise 47 revenue villages. The South Chennai zone, with its head office at Guindy, will comprise Guindy, Mylapore, Velachery, Alandur and Sholinganallur taluks and 43 revenue villages. “The revenue offices and workers will remain where they are but files concerning new areas presently in the offices of the Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur District Collectors will be brought to the Chennai Collector’s office,” V. Anbuselvan, Chennai Collector, told The Hindu. According to an official release, the expansion of the district will help in swiftly providing services to residents in newly included areas. The benefits are especially likely in areas such as medical facilities, employment opportunities, education, revenue and disaster management, election-related work, law and order issues, social security schemes and land-related programmes. The Chief Minister also launched online services as part of the portal eservices.tn.gov.in wherein field measurement sketches and block maps in 43 taluks across 21 districts have been computerised in the first phase. The digitisation of field measurement sketches and block maps (for urban areas) with COLLABLAND software commenced in Perambalur district in 2004 and of the total 55.33 lakh sketches, 54.12 lakh sketches have been digitised, the release stated. The digitising of the remaining maps is expected to be completed within June. Revenue Minister R.B. Udhayakumar, Chief Secretary (additional charge) K. Shanmugam and Revenue Secretary B. Chandra Mohan were among those present at the event. Graphic points Chennai district earlier: 178sq. km. Expanded Chennai district: 426 sq. km. Total number of taluks in expanded district: 16 Total number of revenue villages in expanded district: 122 North Chennai zone: 5 taluks, 32 revenue villages Central Chennai zone: 6 taluks, 47 revenue villages South Chennai zone: 5 taluks, 43 revenue villages The students abstained from classes and went to swim in the Bhogarpuram tank. Four engineering students were found dead in Eluru on Sunday. The victims had drowned in the Bhogapuram tank, Pedavegi of West Godavari district. The villagers alerted the police after they noticed one of the bodies floating in the tank.
The victims were identified as Kota Sai, Gummi Vijayashankar, K Harikrishna and A Sai Kiran, all students from Ramachandra Engineering College in Vatluru near Eluru Town, reported The New Indian Express. While Vijayashankar, Harishankar and Sai Kiran were in third year of Mechanical engineering, Kota Sai was pursuing ECE. Kota Sai and Gummi Vijayashankar were natives of Chintalapudi village in West Godavari, Kalidindi Harikrishna Raju belonged to Kothur village in Kamavarapukota, West Godavari and A Sai Kiran hailed from Kalidindi mandal, Krishna district. Their identities were established after police recovered their identity cards from their bags kept on the tank’s bund. The deceased students bunked college and went to swim in the tank on Saturday. As the students didn’t return, their parents phoned the college and their friends. However, they failed in getting to know their whereabouts. According to The Hans India, a gardener from the village, noticed the college bags and clothes near the bund. He later noticed a body floating the tank. After he alerted the police, their bodies were fished out. The bodies were later sent to Eluru government hospital for autopsy and handed over to their parents. Police have booked a case and recovered their cellphones, lunch boxes, college bags including a liquor bottle from the spot. Principal of the college, P Sanjay told media that the students abstained from class. He told The Hans India, "After seeing the scroll on TV that Ramachandra College students drowned in the water tank, I immediately came here." District Superintendent M Ravi Prakash told The Hindu, “The lunch boxes were full. The students might have skipped classes to have a party at the water body. The victims are native of Chintalapudi, Eluru, and Kamavarapukota in the district.” The actor has also sought time to announce the name and flag of his party. Chennai: Taking the next step towards formally launching a political party, Tamil superstar Rajinikanth has converted his fan clubs association into “People’s Forum”. The web portal www.rajinimandram.org, launched by the actor, has changed its title from All India Rajinikanth Fans Association to Rajini Makkal Mandram without much fanfare.
Sources said Rajinikanth feels strengthening the Makkal Mandram by eliciting support from various quarters of society is necessary before launching the political party. They said since nearly 4 to 5 lakh people have already registered themselves on the portal and app, the actor is hopeful of more people supporting his call for a “political revolution” in Tamil Nadu. Both the mobile app and web portal sported the name “Rajini Makkal Mandram” instead of All India Rajinikanth Fans Association, which existed till Friday. Rajinikanth, while announcing his intention to launch a political party and contest all 234 constituencies in the next assembly elections, had made it clear that he will not make any political comment till his outfit takes shape. He had also asked his fans to follow suit. “The views expressed by such individuals do not reflect our official position in such matters,” V. M. Sudhakar, administrator of All India Rajinikanth Fans Association said in a press release. The statement comes six days after Rajinikanth launched a web portal and a mobile application asking his fans and “those yearning for a change” to register themselves. The actor has also sought time to announce the name and flag of his party. The Ministry of Tourism (MoT) has announced 2018 as "The Year of Adventure Tourism." Chennai: With over 31 lakh adventure tourists visiting the country — though a minuscule constitute to those visiting Tamil Nadu, the numbers of adventure seeking tourists, nevertheless, are on the rise.
States like TN, whose presence in the adventure tourism map of India, is rather low, are likely to find opportunities for growth when the Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI) spearheads initiatives this year aiming to double the adventure travel in the country in the next two years. The Ministry of Tourism (MoT) has announced 2018 as "The Year of Adventure Tourism." As per a comprehensive market survey on adventure tourism in India, by the Ministry, the adventure tour operators in India had provided their services and conducted adventure tourism activity bookings for around 27.47 lakhs adventure tourists in 2015. The estimated number of adventure tourist visits in India is around 31 lakhs. Trekking, camping and wildlife safaris were the most practiced land based adventure activity in the north zone States of Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan while trekking and wildlife tours were the most practiced land based adventure activity in the south, west and east & north zones. A majority of domestic adventure tourists in north and east & north-east zone States spent around Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000 per head per trip for adventure packages while those in south zone and west zone States spent around Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000 per person per trip for adventure packages. Foreign adventure tourists spent less than US $ 4,000 per head per trip for adventure packages. Websites Internet and friends & relatives are the major source of information about adventure tourism activities and destinations, though in the north previous visit inspired the visitors to take the trip again. While 600 stations are targeted to be provided with the Wi-FI facility by March 2018, the Railways aim to cover all 8,500 stations by March 2019. All railway stations -- nearly 8,500 across the country, including those in rural and remote areas -- will be equipped with Wi-Fi facilities at an estimated cost of Rs 700 crore ($110 million).
As part of the government's ambitious Digital India initiative, the national transporter has currently commissioned Wi-Fi services at 216 major stations enabling about seven million rail passengers to log on to the free Internet facility. "Internet access has now become an important requirement in day-to-day working and we shall be providing this facility at all railway stations in the country," a senior Railway Ministry official said. As per the plan finalised at a recent meeting, while 1,200 stations have been identified for this facility to primarily cater to rail passengers, about 7,300 stations have been earmarked to not only serve passengers but also local people in rural and remote areas. The Wi-FI facility at these stations in rural and remote areas will be offered to the local population as part of the digital makeover of rural India to promote e-governance. Railway stations in rural areas will have kiosks with Wi-FI that will become digital hot spots offering services like digital banking, Aadhaar generation, issuing government certificates, including birth and death certificates, and filing taxes and paying bills, among others. The kiosks will also enable the local populace to order and receive goods from e-commerce portals. "These kiosks will be operated at stations with private participation for the local population," said the official, adding, "The modalities of setting up such digital hot spots are being worked out with the Telecom Ministry." As per the timeline, while 600 stations are targeted to be provided with the Wi-FI facility by March 2018, the Railways aim to cover all 8,500 stations by March 2019. Our aim is to ensure that more and more people get connected to the rail Wi-FI system as the Wi-Fi broadband access to these rail users will aid in implementing the government's Digital India initiative, he said. Sachin Sanghe has created over 200 miniature sculptures using chalk and lead. In high school, Sachin Sanghe was often called to the front of class to write notes on the blackboard as a teacher dictated them. Other students would copy these notes off the blackboard. He also used to write headlines on the school notice board – an activity he quite enjoyed. It was during this time that he formed an "attachment" with a material synonymous with Indian schools – the humble chalk. So much so, that it has now become his canvas for his art. For nearly 15 years now, Sachin has been making micro-sculptures using pieces of chalk, an art form he has labelled 'Chalkruthi'. In the last few years, he's also made micro-figures of noted personalities and monuments using lead. Based in Bengaluru, 28-year-old Sachin hails from Mudugere, around 80 km away from the capital city. By day, he is a software engineer and, at night, he transforms into an artist. With no formal training in sculpting, Sachin's has been a self-taught journey, where he has had to learn through trial and error. "In school, I always had dividers, a compass, a sharpener and also safety pins in my geometry box. I gradually started carving letters and then names, and would gift it to friends and relatives," he recollects. "There was no Google at the time, nor had I seen anyone making micro-sculptures then. I had to start from scratch," he says. From alphabets, the budding artist moved on to making faces on bits of chalk placed together. However, once he joined an engineering college, his academic commitments increased and his interests took a backseat for four long years. Upon graduating, once he got a job, he decided to pursue his hobby again. "I took up a job in Chennai and I had a lot of free time, especially on weekends. I had always wanted to do a face sculpture on a single piece of chalk, and I began by carving a miniature of Mahavira, the last Jain Tirthankara. It was in 2011. I have not looked back since," he says. Around five years ago, Sachin also started sculpting lead to create miniature art forms. "Both chalk and lead have their own pros and cons. Chalk is smooth, brittle and powdery. But there is room for some detailing. Lead, however, is the opposite. There is no room for detailing, but it is not as brittle as chalk. It is harder," Sachin explains. He has made more than 200 miniature sculptures till now – the time he takes on each sculpture depends on how complex the design is. While the simpler ones could take anywhere between five and six hours, those requiring heavy detailing can take as long as 120 to 130 hours. His craft has also given him the opportunity to meet the people he looks up to, apart from the appreciation he has received from people far and wide. On January 3, he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, a meeting he describes as a "dream come true". "I gifted him eight chalk sculptures, including one where the PM is taking blessings from his mother. The sculptures also depicted several yoga poses. He was very impressed," he said. A few days ago, he presented his work to President Ram Nath Kovind in Bengaluru.
In 2013, he had met his idol, former cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, during an IPL match in Hyderabad. Sachin says he does get requests to make sculptures and, once in a while, he will also accept an order if time permits. "But I don't have enough time to do this commercially. I am trying to improve my scale. And if I can deliver an order, I take it," he says. As he signs off, he says while he hasn't chalked out concrete plans for the future, he is optimistic about it. "When I started out, it was just so that I could kill some time. Never had I thought that I'd come this far. I'll continue pursuing my passion. Let's see where it takes me." Debkumar had allegedly made 20 calls to the Tendulkar residence, made lewd comments about her and even threatened to kidnap her. A 32-year-old man was on Sunday arrested for allegedly stalking and harassing former cricketer Sachin Tendulkar's daughter Sara.
The man has been identified as Debkumar Maity who hails from Midnapur in West Bengal. He is said to be a college dropout and is unemployed. Debkumar had allegedly made 20 calls to the Tendulkar residence and made lewd comments about her. He even threatened to kidnap her and had said he wanted to marry her. The police are trying to figure out how the man got hold of the Tendulkar's landline number. According to India Today, the man told the police that he "fell in love" with Sara after he saw her on TV. "I saw her on TV sitting at the pavilion during a match and fell in love...I want to marry her. I fetched the landline number of Tendulkar and have called on it some 20 times...Have never seen her in person," he said. After Sara filed a complaint with the Bandra Police against the man, the police began its investigation and arrested the man. Debkumar Maity will first be produced before a Haldia court after which he will be taken to Mumbai. While arresting him, the police found a diary from his house in which he had written Sara's name and called her his wife. The man's family has reportedly claimed that he is mentally unstable. "We had no idea how he got embroiled in this case. Even at home he used to torture his parents. He lost his father recently. He has been undergoing medical treatment for his condition for last eight years," a relative said. Debkumar had allegedly been making the calls for some time and the police traced him with the help of cellphone location of nearby towers from where he used to make the calls. |
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