Category: News

Kohima, Nagaland – The Nagaland Police have started an investigation into serious complaints made by women workers against a high-ranking government officer. These women, who work for the Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN), say that the officer, who is from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), harassed them both physically and mentally.

The issue came to light after Nginyeih Konyak, the head of the Nagaland State Women Commission, wrote to the police on March 17. This was based on information she received from Abu Metha, who oversees IDAN, on February 27. After collecting many statements from the women on March 5, it was revealed that the officer was allegedly asking for sexual favors in exchange for better pay and job opportunities.

Even though the officer has denied these claims, the seriousness of the situation led to a police investigation. On March 3, the IDAN chairperson sent a formal letter about the complaints to the women’s commission. The police began a preliminary inquiry after receiving these documents.

On March 25, a female Deputy Superintendent of Police was assigned to look into the case. By April 1, she found evidence that supported the women’s claims, leading to a formal police report on April 2. A Special Investigation Team, led by a senior police officer, was established on April 5 to explore the matter further.

In 2021, this same IAS officer faced accusations of molesting two minor domestic workers while he was the Deputy Commissioner of Noklak. A legal case was filed earlier for those allegations, highlighting ongoing concerns about his conduct.

West Bengal Police have arrested more than 110 people because of violence in Murshidabad district during protests about the Waqf (Amendment) Act. The protests spread to nearby areas like Malda, South 24 Parganas, and Hooghly districts, causing problems such as arson (setting fires), stone-throwing, and blocking roads.

Police said they are searching for more people involved and have detained many. In Murshidabad, about 70 people were arrested from an area called Suti, and 41 were taken from Samserganj. Although it was tense over the weekend, no new violence was reported.

To keep people safe, police have banned gatherings and shut down internet services in Murshidabad. “We are patrolling in Suti and Samserganj. No one is allowed to gather. We will keep order and ask people not to listen to rumors online,” an officer said.

A teenage boy got hurt during police firing in Suti and was sent to a hospital in Kolkata. The BJP Party criticized the state government, saying they should ask the central government for help if they can’t control the situation.

BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari said, “This was not just a protest but a planned act of violence meant to scare people and disrupt society. Public property was damaged, government workers felt unsafe, and fear spread in the community.”

Daripalli Ramaiah, a beloved environmentalist from Khammam district in Telangana, has passed away at the age of 87 after suffering a heart attack at his home in Reddipalli village. Ramaiah, who was fondly called “Chettu Ramaiah” or “Vanajeevi,” was famous for planting over one crore saplings throughout his life. His admirable efforts earned him the Padma Shri award in 2017, recognizing him for his incredible work in environmental conservation.

Telangana’s Chief Minister, A Revanth Reddy, shared his condolences, describing Ramaiah’s death as a significant loss for everyone. The Chief Minister highlighted Ramaiah’s strong belief that humans cannot survive without nature and the environment. He praised Ramaiah for inspiring many people, especially the youth, to protect our planet. The CM expressed his heartfelt sympathy to Ramaiah’s family during this difficult time.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has asked a group of experts to give suggestions in three months about making warning labels mandatory on the front of packaged food items. This decision follows a public interest lawsuit from a group called 3S and Our Health Society that wants clear labels on food high in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats. These ingredients are linked to serious health conditions like diabetes and heart problems.

In September 2022, new ideas were suggested to change food labeling rules. These changes included a star rating system, where food products would be rated from 0.5 to 5 stars. More stars mean the food is healthier. However, the lawsuit questioned this star rating method, saying it isn’t clear enough. They suggested that there should be simple warning labels on the front to show if a product has a lot of sugar, salt, or bad fats, helping people make better choices.

The Supreme Court decided to move forward with the case and told the expert committee to report back quickly. The petitioners pointed out that the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has not acted quickly on previous amendments from 2022. They expressed concern about the rising number of deaths linked to diseases caused by unhealthy diets, calling diabetes a silent epidemic. They cited recommendations from the World Health Organization for better food policies.

The government, however, defended the star rating system, saying it considers both unhealthy ingredients and healthy ones, like fiber and protein. They believe this method helps customers see the overall healthiness of food instead of just focusing on what’s unhealthy.

A shocking case of wage fraud has come to light in Yadgir district. Men were caught dressing as women to steal money meant for female workers under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). This fraud took place in Maldar village during a project to clean a drain.

The problem started when photos of men in sarees working in a field began to circulate online. The project cost ₹3 lakh, but the records showed that there should be only 6 men and 4 women working. However, instead of women, men disguised as women signed in to receive wages for work they did not do.

The local leader, Lavesh Oradiya, said the numbers didn’t match and confirmed that these men were pretending to be women to take their wages. The scheme seems to have been planned by Viresh, a contract worker with the Panchayat Department. He has been suspended for his role in this scam.

Investigation revealed that fake attendance records were made using an app, which allowed them to fraudulently create payments under the names of working women. Chennabasava, a local official, said he was not involved and suspended the worker responsible as soon as he heard about the problem.

Local women workers are upset and feel betrayed, as this program is meant to help them earn a living. Despite this, other NREGA projects continue in the area to provide work and reduce migration during the summer. Taluk Panchayat Executive Officer Ramappa Doddmani visited another project and encouraged local residents to take advantage of these job opportunities. He reminded workers that wages will increase from ₹349 to ₹370 starting from April 1, 2025. He urged that only those who are actually working should be marked present.