At least 18 people died and several others fell ill in three districts of Bihar, a dry state, after consuming spurious liquor on Holi. Nine people died in different villages under Amarpur block in Banka, six in Bhagalpur and three in Madhepura districts since Friday. The cause of the deaths will be clear following autopsy results. Most of the victims complained of shortness of breath, body ache, vomiting and loss of vision, doctors said. Many people are being treated in hospitals. Banka DM Suharsh Bhagat and SP Arvind Kumar Gupta have ordered a probe. Dr Asim Kumar Das, superintendent of Mayaganj Hospital, said two patients died on Friday and five on Sunday, including three from Bhagalpur.
Security for ‘The Kashmir Files’ director
Film director Vivek Agnihotri, who has kicked up a political storm with his movie ‘The Kashmir Files’ based on the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley due to terrorism, has been given ‘Y’ category security with CRPF commando cover. The decision to provide Agnihotri with the fourth highest category security in the country has been taken by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the sources said. This move came weeks after Agnihotri claimed a threat to his life over the release of his film.
The film is being actively pushed by several BJP-ruled states. The opposition has, however, termed the film one-sided and too violent.
Dalai Lama appears in public after 2 years
Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama made his first public appearance in Dharamshala in about two years since the Covid pandemic hit the country. The 14th Dalai Lama delivered teachings from the Jataka Tales followed by the ceremony for generating Bodhichitta (semkye) at the main Tibetan temple, Tsuglakhang. Thousands of Tibetans, including monks, nuns, MPs, Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) president and his Cabinet ministers in-exile, had gathered for the spiritual discourse. Addressing the gathering, he said that he was scheduled to go to Delhi for a regular health check-up but did not do so as he was in good health.
Principal booked for thrashing student
A Class X student alleged that he was beaten with a stick by the principal, who accused him of breaking the wash basin in the washroom. The boy, studying in Omkar School on Kothariya Road, Rajkot, told police that principal Rajnish Gadhiya first switched off CCTVs of his chamber and thrashed him. He suffered injuries on legs, hands, chest and back. He had gone to use the washroom during recess and noticed that the broken basin. Police said a farewell party of Class X students was organized at the school. Some students fought in the washroom which resulted in the basin breaking. However, someone complained to his teacher that the boy had broken it, said inspector V J Chavda of Aji dam police station
BJP MLC denied relief in cheating case
Pravin Darekar, the opposition leader in the Maharashtra Legislative Council, petitioned the Bombay high court to quash an FIR filed against him on March 14 at MRA Marg police station in Mumbai, but got no interim protection against coercive action. The FIR accuses Darekar of forging documents to become a member of the Pratigya Labour Cooperative Society in order to contest for a post in a cooperative bank in a category reserved for the working class. Darekar’s contention is that the criminal prosecution has been initiated “under the influence of the state government to stop him from making allegations regarding corruption” in the running of the state. The HC posted his petition for hearing after two weeks without granting him any immediate relief.
