CBI busts infant children trafficking racket, 3 infants rescued and seven nabbed

The traffickers purchase the babies from real parents as well as surrogate mothers and thereafter sell the infant children at the prices ranging from Rs 4 lakh to Rs 6 lakh per child.

Published Date – 6 April 2024, 06:53 PM


CBI busts infant children trafficking racket, 3 infants rescued and seven nabbed


Hyderabad: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has busted a network of infant traffickers allegedly involved in buying and selling of infants across India.

As part of the operation, CBI sleuths conducted searches at seven locations across Delhi and Haryana. The officials rescued two male infants (one and half days old and 15 days old) and one female child of one month during the operation. Incriminating articles including Rs. 5.5 lakh in cash and other documents were recovered during searches, in which seven accused persons were also nabbed.


A bureau press release on Saturday said a criminal case under provisions of the IPC and Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015 was registered against accused ten accused persons on allegations that a network of infant children traffickers involved in buying and selling of infants across the country for adoption as well as for other illegal purposes.

Investigation so far revealed that the accused persons through advertisement, on social media platforms like Facebook pages and WhatsApp groups get connected with the childless couples across the country, who desire to adopt babies. They purchase the babies from real parents as well as surrogate mothers and thereafter sell the infant children at the prices ranging from Rs 4 lakh to Rs 6 lakh per child. These accused are also allegedly involved in duping many childless couples of lakhs of rupees by creating fake documents related to adoption, the press release added.

Rythu Deeksha protests organised across Telangana

Sharing the concern voiced by the farmers, BRS working President K T Rama Rao said the party would continue to fight for the cause of the farmers.

Published Date – 6 April 2024, 07:50 PM


Rythu Deeksha protests organised across Telangana


Hyderabad: The rank and file of BRS joined farmers in Rythu Deeksha protest called by the party leadership against government’s apathy that triggered a farm sector crisis all over the state on Saturday.

All the senior leaders of the party including K T Rama Rao, Harish Rao, G Jagadish Reddy, Nama Nageswar Rao took part in the Deeksha and pledged their support to the farmers in the fight for their due.


They deplored the failure of the government to fulfill its promises. Holding the Congress government solely responsible for the failure in extending irrigation support and power supply, they said the twin factors wreaked havoc on the rabi crops resulting in extensive crop damage during Yasangi.

Standing crops withered away in lakhs of acres. They demanded Rs 25,000 per acre as compensation for the crop losses.

They also demanded Rs 500 per quintal as bonus for paddy and maize as promised by the state government. Peasant bodies that led the protest wanted steps to speed up the process for waiver of agriculture loans up to Rs.2 lakh, a poll time promise made by the Congress Party.

They also demanded the government to implement the Rythu Bandhu by extending input assistance of Rs 15000 per acre as assured by the Congress party.

Sharing the concern voiced by the farmers, BRS working President K T Rama Rao said the party would continue to fight for the cause of the farmers.

Large numbers farmers took part in the protest at Sircilla while T Harish Rao joined the protest at Sanga Reddy.

Party MPs Nama Nageswsar Rao, Vaddiraju Ravi Chandra and a host of BRS leaders led the protest in Khammam. Former MLA Peddi Sudarshan Reddy, MP Malothu Kavitha and former Chief Whip Dasyam Vinay Bhaskar participated in Rythu Deekha at Narsampet.

They demanded a bonus of Rs 500 for all types of crops. BRS MLA and former Speaker, Pocharam Srinivas Reddy joined the protest in Bansuwada in Kamareddy district.

Ex-minister Jagdish Reddy. Former MLAs Krishna Reddy and Chirumurthy Lingaya joined the farmers on protest at Nalgonda and Nakirekal. Palla Rajeshwar Reddy demanded compensation for the withered crops.

GHMC reacts to food safety complaint


After receiving a complaint on micro-blogging platform X (formerly Twitter) regarding the poor quality of cakes sold by Pista House in the city, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has promptly notified the relevant food safety teams in the respective zone.

Published Date – 6 April 2024, 07:52 PM


GHMC reacts to food safety complaint


Hyderabad: Following a complaint on micro-blogging platform X (formerly Twitter) which alleged the bad quality of cake sold by Pista House in the city, GHMC has alerted the concerned food safety teams in the zone.

A user who goes by Karvendhan on the platform has tweeted videos and a picture of what he called a Banana Cake, and wrote, “Beware All! Bought a Banana cake from Pista house Uppal, yesterday (5th) evening.


Saw the below scenario morning and how could this be acceptable. Expiry Date is till 10th Apr. Food safety has become a joke in Hyderabad, even from well known outlets (sic),” He went on to attach the bill for the purchased item.

Reacting to the tweet, multiple other users responded with their own issues regarding food safety in the city. “Agree, food safety has become a real joke. I don’t know what the responsible authorities are doing. Is there any authority who checks food and its safety? If yes then are they sleeping or what,” wrote another user.

 

KTR criticizes CM for watching cricket match while farmers face troubles

It was ridiculous on the part of the CM to enjoy cricket match while farmers were committing suicides, Rama Rao alleged while participating in Rythu Deeksha held at Sircilla Telangan bhavan in Sircilla on Saturday.

Updated On – 6 April 2024, 07:35 PM


KTR criticizes CM for watching cricket match while farmers face troubles


Rajanna-Sircilla: KT Rama Rao and former minister, KT Rama Rao found fault with the Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy for watching cricket match while the BRS chief and former CM K Chandrashekhar Rao was fighting for farmers’ problems at the age of 70 years.

It was ridiculous on the part of the CM to enjoy cricket match while farmers were committing suicides, Rama Rao alleged while participating in Rythu Deeksha held at Sircilla Telangan bhavan in Sircilla on Saturday.


State government was planning to deny promises made to farmers on the pretext of election code. Anticipating it, BRS had questioned the government about the implementation of assurances made to farmers even before announcement of mode code.

If the government was sincere on farmers’ problems, it should be clear whether it would give Rs 500 bonus for crops.

At least now, the government should write a letter to the election commission expressing its willingness to give Rs 500 bonus and Rs 2500 compensation to damaged crops. BRS was ready to extend its support.

If the proposal was rejected by EC, the government should pay the bonus after election by calculating each and every grain sold by farmers. Commenting on Industries Minister D Sridhar Babu’s statement that poor monsoon was recorded in the last rainy season, he said that the minister was telling lies though excess rainfall was recorded.

However, Congress was trying to project the entire project as a failure one.

Eatala Rajender

How Nandi pump house of Kaleshwaram project was started and was supplying water, he questioned. Revanth Reddy, who on December 9 promised to waive farm loans, was not talking about loan waiver subject even after four month, he alleged.

Did the BRS party stay away from raising its voice on behalf of farms on the pretext that the party was defeated in the election? He said.

Congress party would put aside all its promises if BRS could not fight on behalf of farmers. So, each and every party worker should be ready to extend their support to the farming community, he said.

Government would try to deny all its promises if the people exercised their votes to the congress party in parliament elections. Commenting on CM’s statement that BRS chief was a referendum for his 100 days of governance, BRS working president advised that people, who got benefits such as Ryth Bharosa, Rs 4000 pension, Rs 2 lakh loan waiver, could exercise their votes to congress party.

Others, who did not get those benefits, should cast their votes to BRS.

The fear has started in the congress that the people would reject them if promises were not implemented.

Being the leaders of the main opposition party, BRS workers would question the government about the Rs 500 bonus and other promises at purchasing centers from tomorrow onwards.

Though the drinking water scarcity was there across the state, Mission Bhagiratha scheme has not been maintained. Though the BRS government filled Rs 30,000 government jobs, Revanth Reddy was trying to claim that the congress government had recruited those jobs.

Asking the government to reveal the details of job notifications issued after coming to power, Rama Rao demanded the congress to fulfill its poll promise of recruiting 2 lakh jobs

Stating that farmers and weavers were ending their lives, he opined that no section of society was happy in the congress regime.

In order to mount pressure on the government, BRS would observe deekshas in favor of weavers. The protests would continue till justice was done to weavers.

Commenting on BJP leader Eatala Rajender’s demand to waive farm loans, he opined that BJP had no moral right to talking about farmers since the union government led by BJP created troubles to farmers by bringing anti-farmer laws.

Moreover, BJP leaders killed ryots by hitting them with jeeps. It was the BJP government which waived Rs 14.5 lakh crore loan of corporate companies such as Ambani and Adani.

Hyderabad: Technical glitch delays IndiGo flight at RGIA

The passengers, who had been struggling since morning, were set for departure at 11:10 am.

Published Date – 6 April 2024, 07:05 PM


Hyderabad: Technical glitch delays IndiGo flight at RGIA


Hyderabad: Passengers at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) were left stranded on Saturday as IndiGo flight 6E886 from Hyderabad to Gorakhpur experienced a technical glitch. The passengers, who had been struggling since morning, were set for departure at 11:10 am.

“Flight delayed due to technical issue,” confirmed the airport authority.


However, officials did not provide a clear timeline for the flight’s departure, leaving passengers impatient and frustrated. Passengers expressed their dissatisfaction with the officials’ behavior, highlighting the lack of clarity and the inconvenience caused by the delay.

They specifically mentioned the absence of fresh water being provided since morning, adding to their discomfort.

Borewell drilling machines, winding machine repair stalls make merry in Telangana

Due to lack of sufficient irrigation water and quality power supply, farmers in desperation to save their standing crops are hitting the borewell drilling agencies and winding machines repair stalls.

Published Date – 6 April 2024, 07:11 PM


Borewell drilling machines, winding machine repair stalls make merry in Telangana


Hyderabad: The borewell drilling machines and agriculture pumpsets repair stalls that had almost gone into oblivion in the last few years in the State are now back in demand in many districts.

Due to lack of sufficient irrigation water and quality power supply, farmers in desperation to save their standing crops are hitting the borewell drilling agencies and winding machines repair stalls. Since last few days, these scenes are being witnessed in many villages across the State.


Bicchaiah, a paddy farmer in Chintabai thanda of Jangaon, says borewell drilling agencies were charging Rs.110 to dig a feet. Farmers were forced to spend about Rs.40,000 for drilling one borewell.

The sad part is despite spending huge amounts, all the efforts put in by farmers are going in vain. “My brother drilled six borewells in his fields and not one was successful,” says Bicchaiah pointing to a failed borewell point.

Similarly, Shivashankar drilled six borewells, Narsimha drilled four, Lakshmi drilled six and so did a few other farmers in the last three months. All their efforts and money drained down deep into the pits as not a drop of water was pumped out. While farmers piled up losses, drilling agencies in Jangaon, Suryapet and neighbouring towns are making quick money.

Due to financial constraints, marginal farmers were paying an amount to their counterparts, who are blessed with borewells, to supply water. A farmer from Devaruppala, U Jannaiah, owns 1.5 acre and the borewell in his field dried up.

To save his crops from withering, Jannaiah paid Rs.2,000 to his neighbour to ensure water for wetting his paddy field. Apart from paying the amount, Jannaiah had to buy a water pipe to cover a distance of 60 feet from the borewell to his field. Such was the plight of many farmers in Kadavendi, Golapally, Manpahad and other villages.

If this was the situation in parts of Jangaon, Suryapet and Nalgonda, farmers in Ranga Reddy are lining up at pumpsets winding machines repair outlets.

Due to low voltage power supply, farmers complain that agriculture pumpsets were developing snags. While a few complain about bush and coil problems, others are fed up with the wiring issues. Many in Kandivanam, Mogalgidda, Devapally, Kishan Nagar and neighbouring villages are lining up at the repair stalls in Shadnagar.

For every single visit to the repair stall, they have to shell out Rs.2,000 as service charges, besides waiting for at least two to three days to get the pump set repaired.

“All these days, winding machine repair stalls were gathering dust. Ever since the low voltage issues surfaced, they have been minting money,” said Anjaneyulu, a dairy farmer.

This situation was not limited to one particular area in the State. Huzurabad MLA Padi Kaushik Reddy interacted with Srinivas, a winding shop owner at Veenavanka last fortnight.

He shared the video of his interaction with the motor mechanic on X. During the interaction, the mechanic informs that three motors were being repaired a day and Rs.3500 was being charged per motor. During BRS rule, there was hardly any work for us, the winding shop owner says to the Huzurabad MLA.

Congress-led govt utterly failed in supporting distressed farmers: Ramanna

He was speaking at a protest staged by the party at the Roads and Building department’s guest house here on Saturday.

Published Date – 6 April 2024, 07:06 PM


Congress-led govt utterly failed in supporting distressed farmers: Ramanna


Adilabad: BRS district president and former minister Ramanna said that the State government utterly failed in implementation of the Rythu Bandhu scheme introduced by the former BRS government, which extended a slew of initiatives for the welfare of the agrarian community.

He was speaking at a protest staged by the party at the Roads and Building department’s guest house here on Saturday.


Ramanna launched a scathing attack against the Congress government. He demanded that the government immediately resolve challenges faced by the farmers if it was committed to keep its electoral promises. He regretted that the farmers were struggling in raising crops due to delay in realising promises by the Congress on which it won elections.

The BRS district president stated that crops being grown in 20,000 acres were being affected due to lack of water supply. He flayed the Congress for failing to link MNREGA with the agriculture sector and to offer crop loan waiver to the farmers. He wanted it to extend an interest-free loan of Rs 3 lakh to the farmers as assured at the time of elections.

Mancherial BRS district president Balka Suman demanded that government pay Rs 25,000 per acre to distressed farmers. He along with the party’s candidate for Peddapalli parliament segment Koppula Eshwar took part in a protest meet at MRO office in Chennur on Saturday. Eshwar too criticised the government for its delay in supporting farmers.

Meanwhile, Asifabad MLA Kova Laxmi said that 200 farmers died in the regime of the Congress. She found fault with the government for failing to console the bereaved families of the farmers. She stated that farmers had nothing but tears in the ruling of the Congress. She said that the agrarian community was reeling under severe crisis due to negligence of the government in fulfilling its poll promises.

Similar protests were held across erstwhile Adilabad district. Leaders and activists of the party took part and slammed the government for laxity in addressing the problems of the agrarian community

Ponnala questions ill-advised moves of govt on water front, says 60 TMCs drained from Godavari basin projects

This could have been utilised for filling as many as 19 reservoirs under the project. He also wondered why the State representatives had abstained from the three-member committee meeting of the KRMB two days ago.

Published Date – 6 April 2024, 06:52 PM


Ponnala questions ill-advised moves of govt on water front, says 60 TMCs drained from Godavari basin projects


Hyderabad: Holding the ill-advised moves of Congress government squarely responsible for the impending water crisis and crop losses on an extensive scale in the State, Congress leader and former irrigation minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah said on Saturday that the ministers concerned owed an explanation to the people on their failures in the water front.

Addressing a news conference at Telangana Bhavan, he said nearly 60 tmc of water was let off from the Godavari basin reservoirs in the last four months.


The State had failed to assert its legitimate stand on the Krishna rivers waters too.

The government had failed miserably this year in making use of the water resources harnessed so well during the past ten year BRS rule.

Ridiculing the claim that the barrages of KLIS were drained as desired by the NDSA, he questioned as to why the government did not opt for lifting water from Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla barrages to Yellampalli and other upstream reservoirs after noticing structural issues at Medigadda.

This water could have helped save the standing crops in the State in a big way today. About 6.8 tmc of water was let off from Medigadda. Some four TMCs of water was let off from Annaram and Sundilla barrages. Over 48 tmc of water was let off from Devadula from December 7, 2023 to March 7, 2024 .

This could have been utilised for filling as many as 19 reservoirs under the project. He also wondered why the State representatives had abstained from the three-member committee meeting of the KRMB two days ago.

When the State was badly in need of water drawl from the Nagarjuna Sagar project, it should have taken part in the meeting to stake claim for more water to meet its needs.

It seems to have no answer to the KRMB contention that Telangana had already utilised over seven TMCs over and above its allotted share for the year.

With the Congress party being in rule in both Telangana and Karnataka, it would not be difficult to get five to six tmcs of water from Almatti as emergency releases. He took a strong exception to the blame game being played by the Congress ministers and said they cannot absolve themselves of the responsibility for the water crisis.

Hyderabad: SVEEP conducts Voter awareness program at GVK mall

The program was conducted as a part of the Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) under the Jubilee Hills Circle.

Published Date – 6 April 2024, 06:43 PM


Hyderabad: SVEEP conducts Voter awareness program at GVK mall

Hyderabad Sveep Conducts V

Hyderabad: Mall-goers at GVK in Hyderabad were treated with interactions and cultural programs that aimed to increase awareness about the significance of voting on Saturday. Armed with placards that read “I Vote for Sure,” student volunteers interacted with people and encouraged them to cast their votes in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

The program was conducted as a part of the Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) under the Jubilee Hills Circle. Multiple other initiatives are planned across the city to boost the voting percentage. SVEEP Nodal Officer Aruna Kumari urged all eligible voters to strengthen the democratic system by registering their names in the voter list.


Meanwhile, enforcement teams on Friday seized Rs. 6.53 crore, the highest ever since the election notification, along with valuables worth Rs. 65,390. While Rs. 1.77 lakh was seized through flying squads, police authorities confiscated Rs. 6.51 crore.

The excise department also seized 80.65 liters of liquor. Further, a total of 14 complaints were received which were investigated and resolved at the field level, and seven FIRs were filed along with probation cases against three liquor shop owners.

In the run-up to the elections, so far Rs.12.49 crore has been seized and cases have been registered against 139 people.

I don’t act, I emulate emotions captured through my lens, says photojournalist turned-actor Arunangsu Roy

Arunangsu Roy Chowdhury, thorough with the history of Bengal, is donning multiple hats for ‘Maa Kaali,’ a multilingual film starring Raima Sen in dual roles

Published Date – 6 April 2024, 06:36 PM


I don’t act, I emulate emotions captured through my lens, says photojournalist turned-actor Arunangsu Roy

Arunangsu Roy Chowdhury

Hyderabad: Some find their calling very early, some find  it quite late and some find multiple callings in a lifetime. Among those who find multiple callings in a lifetime, is popular photojournalist-turned actor Arunangsu Roy Chowdhury, who currently awaits the release of his next film titled ‘Maa Kaali’.

‘Maa Kaali’, a multilingual film starring Raima Sen in dual roles, is directed by Vijay Yelakanti and produced by TG Vishwa Prasad.  The upcoming film promises to deliver a narrative that digs deep into Bengal’s historical saga, shedding light on the challenges faced by its people.


Arunangsu Roy Chowdhury, thorough with the history of Bengal, is donning multiple hats for ‘Maa Kaali’. While he will be seen on screen playing an antagonist, his role behind the scenes as a cultural consultant is equally significant for the film.

“Due to my Bengali roots, I was roped in as the cultural consultant for this project. My contribution toward the project became more weighty when the makers asked me to play a key role in the film,” said the former photojournalist.

Speaking about his growing up years, life behind the camera and now facing it, Arunangsu says that his experience of capturing various emotions through his lens in a career spanning about 30 years enables and equips him to play a wide array of roles in front of the camera.

“From being an activist, rallying behind Chipko movement leader and environmentalist Sunderlal Bahuguna to witnessing deadly cyclones in Andhra Pradesh, I have come across scores of people and witnessed a plethora of emotions,” he says.

“I never act,  I emulate the emotions I have observed and captured in the people I have met in my journey,” he adds.

On his tryst with the world of cinema, Roy said that his first meetings with the legendary filmmakers Satyajit Ray and Mrinal Sen as a student were some awe-inspiring moments for him.

Asked if he would ever get back to journalism, he says “I will always be one, journalism is in my heart. But acting is a passion.”

Talking about his future plans in the field of cinema, Roy said that he would love to explore scriptwriting, to bring out the stories which he could not during his days as a journalist.

Arunangsu Roy’s notable works as an actor include roles in Anurag Kashyap’s ‘Kennedy’, ‘Sherni’ which has Vidya Balan in the lead and a Bangla movie named ‘Mujib’.