Dy CM Bhatti Vikramarka commends TSRTC for successfully implementing ‘Maha Lakshmi’ scheme

RTC officials explained that an average of 27 lakh women were traveling under the Maha Lakshmi scheme and zero tickets worth around Rs 10 crore were being issued every day

Updated On – 08:59 PM, Wed – 3 January 24


Dy CM Bhatti Vikramarka commends TSRTC for successfully implementing ‘Maha Lakshmi’ scheme


Hyderabad: Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka commended the TSRTC for successfully implementing the ‘Maha Lakshmi’ free bus facility scheme.

During a review meeting with the RTC officials along with Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar here on Wednesday, he said, “it is great that nearly 6.50 crore women have traveled in buses under this scheme so far. More steps should be taken to implement this scheme without hindrance.”


Senior officials from the corporation explained the financial aspects of implementation of Maha Lakshmi free bus facility for women, government financial assistance, etc., through a power point presentation, to the Ministers.

The Deputy Chief Minister who assured full support and cooperation to TSRTC on behalf of the finance department, said orders have been given to provide the necessary funds to the organisation as per the management cost. The officials were advised to focus on alternative sources of income and increase the management capacity.

The RTC officials explained that an average of 27 lakh women were traveling under the Maha Lakshmi scheme and zero tickets worth around Rs 10 crore were being issued every day.

Ponnam Prabhakar said the RTC was a public organisation and the government would take the responsibility to protect and strengthen it.

Chief Secretary Finance Department Ramakrishna Rao, TSRTC Managing Director VC Sajjanar and other officials were present.

Iran declares public mourning over deadly terrorist attacks

In a statement, the Iranian government said that Iran will observe Thursday as public mourning across the country over martyrdom of tens of Iranian civilians.

Two blasts occurred on Wednesday at an event held in Iran’s southern city of Kerman in commemoration of the fourth anniversary of the martyrdom of late commander Lt. General Qassem Soleimani, killing over 100 people and injuring near 190 of others.

The first blast happened at 15:04 local time as people were packed on a road leading to a cemetery where the tomb of General Soleimani is located.

The second blast occurred 13 minutes later.

Meantime, sources told a Tasnim reporter in Kerman that the perpetrator or perpetrators of the attack have exploded two explosive-laden suitcases with remote controllers.

MNA/TSN

Telangana’s Vritti clinches gold in National School Games Swimming Championship

Telangana swimmer Vritti Agarwal clinched gold in girls’ category of 800m freestyle event in the ongoing 67th National School Games Swimming Championship

Published Date – 09:30 PM, Wed – 3 January 24


Telangana’s Vritti clinches gold in National School Games Swimming Championship

Vritti Agarwal in action during the swimming championship in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Hyderabad: Telangana swimmer Vritti Agarwal clinched gold in girls’ category of 800m freestyle event in the ongoing 67th National School Games Swimming Championship at Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Swimmingpool, Talkatora, New Delhi on Wednesday.

Vritti sealed top spot with a timing of 9:29:01s ahead of ISCE’s S Shirin and Maharashtra’s Dolly Patil in second and third places respectively.
In the boys 800m freestyle event, Kerala’s Samadev Mongam topped with a timing of 8:35:38s as S Dharshan of Karnataka and Atharvraj Patil of Maharashtra settled for second and third spots.


Results: U-19: 800m freestyle: Girls: 1. Vritti Agarwal (TS) (9:29:01s), 2. S Shirin (ISCE) (9:41:58s), 3. Dolly Patil (MH) (10:06:35s); Boys: 1. Samadev Mongam (KL) (8:35:38s), 2. S Dharshan (KAR) (8:38:05s), 3. Atharvraj Patil (MH) (8:53:21s).

Gurugram Hotel Owner Kills Ex Model Accused Of Notorious Gangster's Murder

Dead Gangster's Ex-Girlfriend Murdered In Gurgaon Hotel. Killers On CCTV

Divya Pahuja was the girlfriend of most-wanted gangster Sandeep Gadoli, who was killed in 2016.

New Delhi:

In a shocking crime with many layers, a former model and ex-girlfriend of a gangster has been murdered by a hotel owner and his associates in Gurugram, police said. Her body, which was dragged to a BMW and dumped somewhere, is yet to be found.

The reason for the killing is unknown, but what is adding to the mystery is the fact that the victim was an accused in the alleged fake encounter of her then boyfriend — who was Gurugram’s most-wanted gangster — in 2016. She was in prison for seven years and got bail only last year.

Officials from Gurugram’s Sector 14 police station said they received a complaint from the family of 27-year-old Divya Pahuja that she had gone out with her friend Abhijeet Singh on January 1 and had gone missing. They informed the police that Singh owned Hotel City Point in Gurugram and that Pahuja’s phone had been switched off for several hours.

When police reached the hotel and checked the CCTV footage, they saw a body wrapped in a sheet being dragged down a corridor. Singh and two of his aides have been arrested for the former model’s murder and police are now trying to find her body.

An official said Singh had allegedly paid the two men Rs 10 lakh to put the body in his BMW and dump it somewhere it would not be found. The two aides have been identified as Omprakash and Hemraj,

‘Drove In Direction Of Punjab’

A police official said Pahuja had gone out with Singh on New Year’s Day and they had reached his hotel, along with one of Singh’s associates, around 4.15 am the next day. They were joined by at least one other man.

“After they killed Pahuja, two of Singh’s aides dragged the body down the hotel corridor and put it in his BMW. They drove in the direction of Punjab and disposed of the body,” said the official.

Gangster Connection

Pahuja was the girlfriend of Gurugram’s most-wanted gangster Sandeep Gadoli, who was killed by the Haryana police in an encounter in a Mumbai hotel in 2016. Pahuja was in the hotel room with Gadoli when he was killed.

Several police officials were later arrested when it was alleged that the encounter was fake. Pahuja and her mother were also taken into custody for allegedly revealing the gangster’s whereabouts and facilitating the alleged fake encounter.

Pahuja was in prison for seven years and had been granted bail by the Bombay High Court in July last year.

Evidence Destruction

Assistant Commissioner of Police Mukesh Kumar said the accused had tried to destroy evidence after committing the murder. “The family members said that after her phone had been switched off for hours, they went to the hotel and demanded to see the CCTV footage, but were refused. After registering a complaint, officials from Sector 14 police station went to the hotel and saw the CCTV footage in which Pahuja’s body was being dragged. We are looking for the body,” Mr Kumar said.

Pahuja was a resident of Baldev Nagar in Gurugram while Singh lives in Delhi’s South Extension.

Time to strengthen BRS in Lok Sabha, bolster voice of Telangana, says KTR

Bharat Rashtra Samiti is the identity as well as voice of Telangana and stands a chance to put out a splendid performance in the ensuing Parliamentary polls, said KT Rama Rao

Published Date – 09:23 PM, Wed – 3 January 24


Time to strengthen BRS in Lok Sabha, bolster voice of Telangana, says KTR

BRS working president KT Rama Rao talking to media persons at Telangana Bhavan.

Hyderabad: The Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) is the identity as well as voice of Telangana and stands a chance to put out a splendid performance in the ensuing Parliamentary polls, BRS working president KT Rama Rao said here on Wednesday.

Talking to media persons after a review with elected representatives and party functionaries from erstwhile Adilabad district as a preparatory exercise ahead of launching the party campaign at Telangana Bhavan, he said a stronger presence of the BRS at the national level, especially in the Parliament, was crucial for the State and its people as it would help bolster the voice of Telangana.


Going by the tally of votes polled by the party in the just concluded assembly elections, BRS enjoyed an overwhelming advantage in seven of the 17 Lok Sabha constituencies in the State while other political parties including the Congress fared better in rest of the constituencies. Despite the temporary setback received by the party because of the defeat in the assembly polls, the party was not far behind, he said.

The party leadership had analysed the factors and slip-ups that contributed to the debacle. All out efforts were on for bolstering its support base not only in its strongholds but even in places where it could not perform as expected. As in the case of all other parties, the BRS was also in the process of learning from defeats. The party leadership was taking things in its stride by galvanizing the party cadre, Rama Rao said, adding that the people had started comparing the state of affairs under the Congress rule and during the days of K Chandrashekhar Rao.

They were indeed realising what they were missing today. Chandrashekhar Rao had given an identity to Telangana as Telugu Desam party founder president NT Rama Rao did for the Telugu people. Chandrashekhar Rao continued to be the unique identity of the State and would remain so for ever. He was the one instrumental in attaining Statehood and rebuilding the State, he said, adding that Chandrashekhar Rao was the need of the hour even in national politics.

He was only leader who could take Narendra Modi head on. He was the one who had the potential to stall the BJP juggernaut. Like West Bengal that has been identified with the leadership of Mamata Banerjee and Maharashtra with Sharad Pawar, the leadership of Chandrashekhar Rao was indivisible from the State of Telangana, Rama Rao said.

The former Chief Minister, who was recuperating after his hip replacement surgery, would require four more weeks to be back into action. He has already been interacting with party leaders time to time and guiding them in planning for the parliamentary polls and other activities. He would be coming to the party office and would spearhead the activities in person once he was fully alright, he said.

Countdown on

On 420 guarantees given by the Congress Party to the electorate of the State, Rama Rao said the countdown had begun. He reminded that 30 days were over after the Congress win. The BRS would wait and watch for another 70 days for the implementation of the big promises made by the Congress party. The government was learning rather the hard way that those promises were not implementable.

The BRS would educate the people and prepare the ground to expose the Congress government on its promises, he added.

On Bail In Notorious Gangster's Murder, Ex Model Killed In Gurugram Hotel

Dead Gangster's Ex-Girlfriend Murdered In Gurgaon Hotel. Killers On CCTV

Divya Pahuja was the girlfriend of most-wanted gangster Sandeep Gadoli, who was killed in 2016.

New Delhi:

In a shocking crime with many layers, a former model and ex-girlfriend of a gangster has been murdered by a hotel owner and his associates in Gurugram, police said. Her body, which was dragged to a BMW and dumped somewhere, is yet to be found.

The reason for the killing is unknown, but what is adding to the mystery is the fact that the victim was an accused in the alleged fake encounter of her then boyfriend — who was Gurugram’s most-wanted gangster — in 2016. She was in prison for seven years and got bail only last year.

Officials from Gurugram’s Sector 14 police station said they received a complaint from the family of 27-year-old Divya Pahuja that she had gone out with her friend Abhijeet Singh on January 1 and had gone missing. They informed the police that Singh owned Hotel City Point in Gurugram and that Pahuja’s phone had been switched off for several hours.

When police reached the hotel and checked the CCTV footage, they saw a body wrapped in a sheet being dragged down a corridor. Singh and two of his aides have been arrested for the former model’s murder and police are now trying to find her body.

An official said Singh had allegedly paid the two men Rs 10 lakh to put the body in his BMW and dump it somewhere it would not be found. The two aides have been identified as Omprakash and Hemraj,

‘Drove In Direction Of Punjab’

A police official said Pahuja had gone out with Singh on New Year’s Day and they had reached his hotel, along with one of Singh’s associates, around 4.15 am the next day. They were joined by at least one other man.

“After they killed Pahuja, two of Singh’s aides dragged the body down the hotel corridor and put it in his BMW. They drove in the direction of Punjab and disposed of the body,” said the official.

Gangster Connection

Pahuja was the girlfriend of Gurugram’s most-wanted gangster Sandeep Gadoli, who was killed by the Haryana police in an encounter in a Mumbai hotel in 2016. Pahuja was in the hotel room with Gadoli when he was killed.

Several police officials were later arrested when it was alleged that the encounter was fake. Pahuja and her mother were also taken into custody for allegedly revealing the gangster’s whereabouts and facilitating the alleged fake encounter.

Pahuja was in prison for seven years and had been granted bail by the Bombay High Court in July last year.

Evidence Destruction

Assistant Commissioner of Police Mukesh Kumar said the accused had tried to destroy evidence after committing the murder. “The family members said that after her phone had been switched off for hours, they went to the hotel and demanded to see the CCTV footage, but were refused. After registering a complaint, officials from Sector 14 police station went to the hotel and saw the CCTV footage in which Pahuja’s body was being dragged. We are looking for the body,” Mr Kumar said.

Pahuja was a resident of Baldev Nagar in Gurugram while Singh lives in Delhi’s South Extension.

Uncertainty looms over conduct of Indian Science Congress by JNTU-Hyderabad

Aspects of funding appears to be throwing up obstacles in the most awaited science congregation which draws the cream of S&T world and also the young and budding aspirants from across the country

Published Date – 09:00 PM, Wed – 3 January 24


Uncertainty looms over conduct of Indian Science Congress by JNTU-Hyderabad


Hyderabad: Uncertainty looms large over the conduct of the prestigious 109th Indian Science Congress (ISC) by the Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU) – Hyderabad, here next month.

Aspects of funding appears to be throwing up obstacles in the most awaited science congregation which draws the cream of S&T world and also the young and budding aspirants from across the country.


The Department of Science and Technology (DST), which announced in September last year that “support from all its resources for the forthcoming ISC event in 2024 will be discontinued”, reiterated its stand on Wednesday.

“The government has pulled the plug on the funding of the association that organizes the Indian Science Congress every year,” said a PTI report quoting a senior official of the Central government.

Every year, the DST extends funds to the tune of Rs 5 crore to the Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA) for hosting the congress. A sizable fund is allocated to the host institution to make arrangements for the meeting.

With the DST, one of the main funding agencies for the ISCA, refusing to fund the Science Congress, questions are now being raised over the conduct of the meeting.

The JNTU-Hyderabad had written to the State government seeking a nod and funding of Rs.50 crore for hosting the event in the university, officials said the government had “orally” permitted the ISC. However, there was no clarity on how much the government will fund the meeting.

The JNTU-H senior officials estimate that hosting the event would require at least Rs.20 crore. “The university will receive clarity on funding from the State government by this week-end. We will also be talking to the ISCA about the funding. If we do not get required funding from the government, we might go cutting costs or approach corporates/companies for funds,” a senior official said.

Earlier, the Lovely Professional University, Punjab, had offered to host the event from January 3, 2024, after Lucknow University, which was the original host for the 2024 Congress, pulled out. However, the LPU too pulled out at the last minute.

Yemeni army claims fresh attack on Israel-bound cargo ship in Red Sea


This undated picture shows the CMA CGM TAGE Container Ship sailing in the waters of an unknown location. (Photo via social media)

The spokesman for the Yemeni Armed Forces says the country’s military has launched missiles targeting a cargo ship in the Red Sea as the vessel was heading towards a port in the Israeli-occupied territories.

Brigadier General Yahya Saree said in a statement on Wednesday that CMA CGM TAGE vessel was targeted after its crew members ignored calls from Yemeni naval units as well as warning shots.

He underlined that Yemeni forces will continue to block passage of Israeli-owned and Israel-bound ships in the Red Sea and the Arab Sea until Palestinians in Gaza receive the food and medicines they need.

Saree noted that Yemeni Armed Forces will continue to allow all international shipping companies to sail their vessels in the waters of both seas, except for ships bound for ports in the Israeli-occupied territories.

The senior Yemeni military official highlighted that any US act of aggression against the Arab nation will not go unanswered, warning Washington and its allies against any measure aimed at protection of vessels destined to the ports in the Israeli-occupied territories.

This was the latest in Yemen’s retaliatory operations in support of Palestinian in the Gaza Strip amid relentless Israeli strikes.

Yemenis have declared their open support for Palestine’s struggle against the Israeli occupation since the regime launched a devastating war on Gaza on October 7 after the territory’s Palestinian resistance movements carried out a surprise retaliatory attack, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, against the occupying entity.

The relentless Israeli military campaign against Gaza has killed at least 22,313 people, most of them women and children. Another 57,296 individuals have been wounded.

Reports revealed that Israeli shipping companies have already decided to reroute their vessels in fear of attacks by Yemeni forces.

Yemeni forces have also launched missile and drone attacks on targets in the Israeli-occupied territories after the regime’s aggression on Gaza.


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Karimnagar: Mayor flays BJP MP for his comments against BRS

Sunil Rao said that without knowing his true color, people had elected Sanjay Kumar as MP.

Published Date – 09:06 PM, Wed – 3 January 24


Karimnagar: Mayor flays BJP MP for his comments against BRS

Mayor Y Sunil Rao addressing press conference in Karimnagar on Wednesday.

Karimnagar: Mayor Y Sunil Rao came down heavily on BJP national general secretary and Karimnagar MP Bandi Sanjay Kumar for his comments that the BRS chapter was closed.

Stating that both BRS and Congress parties were going to compete against each other in the coming parliament elections, he said the BJP would have to adjust with the third position. The BRS would win a majority of seats in the Lok Sabha polls, he said.


Addressing a press conference in Karimnagar on Wednesday, Sunil Rao said that without knowing his true color, people had elected Sanjay Kumar as MP. However, Sanjay Kumar had done nothing for the development of the constituency during the last five years.

The BJP leader, who was defeated thrice in assembly elections, would face a similar fate in the parliament polls too.

Telangana govt transfers several IPS officers

Telangana government on Wednesday transferred several IPS officers and gave new postings, while some were asked to report to the DGP office

Published Date – 09:03 PM, Wed – 3 January 24


Telangana govt transfers several IPS officers


Hyderabad: The State government on Wednesday transferred several IPS officers and gave new postings, while some were asked to report to the DGP office.

The officers with their new postings are V.V. Srinivasa Rao- Addl. DGP Technical Services and will also hold FAC of Chairman, Telangana State Level Police Recruitment Board, Dr. Gajarao Bhupal – DIG, Co-Ordination DGP office, Rema Rajeswari – DIG, Women Safety Wing, Telangana, L.S. Chowhan – Commissioner of Police, Ramagundam, D.Joel Davis DIG, Zone-VII (Jogulamba) while Vishnu S Warrier, is asked to report to DGP office.


The other officers transferred with their new postings include P.V.Padmaja – Deputy Commissioner of Police, Malkajgiri, Dr. G. Janaki Sharmila – Superintendent of police, Nirmal, Janaki Dharavath – DCP South East Zone, Hyderabad. Sunil Dutt – Commissioner of Police, Khammam, S.Rajendra Prasad – Superintendent of Police, CID, D. Uday Kumar Reddy – Superintendent of Police, TS TRANSCO, Gaush Alam – Superintendent of Police, Adilabad, Dr.G.Veineeth – Deputy Commissioner of Police, Madhapur, Cyberabad, Dr. P. Shabarish – Superintendent of Police, Mulugu, Nitika Pant – Deputy Commissioner of Police, (L&O), Medchal, Dr. B.Anuradha – Commissioner of Police, Siddipet, Ch.Praveen Kumar – DCP L B Nagar, Biruduraju Rohit Raju – Superintendent of Police, Bhadrari Kothagudem, B. Bala Swamy – Superintendent of Police, Medak, Ashok Kumar – OSD Jayashankar Bhupalapally, R.Venkateshwarlu – Deputy Commissioner of Police, Traffic-lll, Hyderabad and Ch.Srinivas – DCP Rajendranagar, Cyberabad.

The State government also transferred Superintendent of Police (Non Cadre) officials and gave new postings.

The officers with their new postings are K C S Raghuvir- SP TSNAB, Srinvasa Reddy B – Joint Director ACB, K Prasanna Rani – SP Intelligence, K Shilpavalli – DCP Cybercrimes Cyberabad, Mohd Iqbal Siddiqui – DCP (Admin) Hyderabad, N Venkateshwarlu – Deputy Director TSPA, M Ravinder Reddy – SP Intelligence, Devender Singh – TS Cyber Security Bureau, Bhaskar Aggadi – SP TSNAB, Chandra Mohan Gundeti – DCP Task Force Rachakonda, Karunakar Pulla – DCP Special Branch Rachakonda, Manohar Kasiva – DCP Traffic Rachakonda, Narsimha Kothapally – DCP Crimes Cyberabad, Ramana Kumar Madadi – AIG (L&O) DGP office, Srujana Karnam – DCP Women Safety Cyberabad, Srinivasa Saibewar – SP CID, Srinivas Dhannarapu – DCP SOT Medchal Cyberabad, Raghavendar Reddy Jaajaala – Group Commander Grey Hounds, D Sunitha Reddy – DCP Maheshwaram, R Jagadishwar Reddy – SP CID and B Sai Sri – DCP (East) Hyderabad.