The Central Bureau of Statistics, Nepal, has conducted an “informal census” in Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura areas of Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand, territory considers its own. According to a preliminary report, the area has a “population of around 700 people”. The census workers did not reach the area physically and other non-conventional methods have been used, officials said. “Nepal’s new population census includes the Kalapani region as well. So, we had to ask migrant labourers who travel to India, security personnel deployed at the border and Nepalese nationals who have relatives in India to ascertain the figure. We will conduct satellite imagery to ascertain the actual number,” said Hemraj Regmi, deputy director, Central Bureau of Statistics, Nepal. Border tensions between India and Nepal had started after defence minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the 74-km-Ghatiyabagar-Lipulekh road on May 8, 2020.
Cong, Left form alliance in Manipur
In a new twist ahead of Manipur assembly polls, the opposition Congress, Left and “like-minded” parties announced a pre-poll alliance with the key objective of defeating BJP. Besides Congress, other members of the alliance include CPI, CPM, Forward Bloc, RSP and JD(S). As Congress has already released its first list of 40 candidates for the February 27 and March 3 polls, the party will have a friendly fight with the CPI candidate in Kakching seat. So far, CPI has announced to contest in only two seats - Kakching in Kakching district and Khurai in Imphal East.
NID student wins contest
Nikhil Kumar Rai, a student of animation and film design at NID, won the international logo design competition launched for the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Israel. On January 29, 1992, India and Israel established full diplomatic relations. At a virtual event, the commemorative logo to mark the event was launched. The selected logo features the Star of David and Ashok Chakra forming the number 30.
Daughters choose father over mother
Two girls told the Supreme Court that they would prefer to be under the guardianship of their India-based father rather than go with their US based mother. The estranged woman has been engaged in a bitter court battle with her husband for the custody of their two daughters, who were taken from US to India by their father. The girls told the SC bench of Chief Justice N V Ramana and Justices A S Bopanna and Hima Kohli that “there is little we can do as the children are not willing to go with the mother. ” This remark came from the bench after it interacted with the two girls, one over18 years of age and the other 16 years, through video-conferencing without the presence of counsel.
Sushant’s ‘drug lord’ neighbour held
Sahil Shah alias Flacko, the alleged drug lord and late actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s immediate neighbour, who was on run for nearly eight months was arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau. NCB officials said they will interrogate Flacko (31) in connection with the seizure of 310gm of marijuna worth Rs 25,00,000 and Rs 150,000 from two arrested accused - Ganesh Shere and Siddhant Amin - in April last year. Shere had given information regarding Flacko and the NCB officials had raided his flat in Malad, but he was missing. Flacko appeared before the agency and surrendered.
Cong’s ex-min RPN Singh joins BJP
Former Union minister and a known face of the Congress Kunwar Ratanjit Pratap Narain Singh, popularly known as RPN, quit the party and joined the BJP, a development seen as a personal jolt to Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Accompanied by Union minister and long time political associate Jyotiraditya Scindia, Singh joined the party in presence of Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who is poll in-charge for BJP in Uttar Pradesh, and has been working towards consolidating the BJP’s dominance over the OBC vote-bank, a factor seen as crucial in party’s performance in 2014, 2019 Lok Sabha polls and2017 assembly polls in the state.
Terrorists kill cop in south Kashmir
Terrorists shot dead a J&K police head constable near his home in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, while security forces engaged “two-three” terrorists in a shootout in Pulwama d istrict.
Officers said Kulgam police station head constable Ali Mohammad Ganie was grievously wounded in the shooting near his home at Hasanpora Tabala of Bijbehara. He was taken to the government hospital in Anantnag town, but couldn’t be saved. It was a shoot-and scoot, a common tactic used by terrorists. Police said the shootout at Naira village in Pulwama could continue for some time, with a joint team of police, Army and CRPF personnel engagingt errorists hiding there. The area has been cordoned off to minimise collateral damage and to prevent any terrorist from escaping.
Tata Steel to buy Neelachal Ispat
Tata Steel will take control of Neelachal Ispat Nigam after bidding £1.21 billion, including equity and debt, the government said. The unit of Tata Sons plans to make Neelachal’s Odisha facility, currently defunct, the hub for its long steel business in the future (rods, rails and bars used in the construction sectorare called long steel products). The deal comes hot on the heels of Tata Sons acquiring Air India from the government through the privatisation process. The M&A is in line with Tata Steel’s strategy of doubling down on the India business after selling some unprofitable overseas ventures. In 2018, it had acquired Bhushan Steel for £3.52 billion, the first such move.
