D Sunitha, superintendent of police for the Telangana State Anti-Narcotics Bureau (TSNAB), told reporters that a team of TSNAB officials and Gudimalkapur police raided an apartment where a trance party was being held.

Former Indian Navy officer-turned-businessman B Balaji (34), film financier K Venkataratna Reddy (47), and a drug-using employee of the Railway Protection Force in South Central Railway D Murali (42), were among those arrested.

“We have seized 2.8 grams of cocaine, 6 LSD [Lysergic acid diethylamide] blots, 25 ecstasy pills, two packets of ganja, and 72,000 in cash, in addition to two cars [32.89 lakh each] and five mobile phones,” the SP said.

Sunitha stated that four drug suppliers, including three Nigerians, and at least 18 rave attendees remain at large. “Two women at the apartment said they had been invited to the party by Venkataratna Reddy in order to get roles in movies.”

According to her, Balaji, a native of Andhra Pradesh’s Nellore district, had previously served as an officer in the Indian Navy but resigned after an eye injury rendered him medically unsuitable.

He later became a businessman and frequently visited Hyderabad to celebrate and party with his friends at the Fresh Living Apartments in the Cyberabad neighborhood of Madhapur.

Balaji met drug dealers in Hyderabad and Bengaluru during this procedure. Later, he began throwing rave parties in Hyderabad and the adjacent areas for his friends and other well-known individuals.

Over time, he established direct connections with three Nigerians in order to acquire narcotics from Bengaluru and another individual in Visakhapatnam and transport them to Hyderabad.

“He supplied drugs at parties and also to people in the film industry, in addition to selling them to needy customers in Hyderabad,” the SP said.

In contrast, Venkataratna Reddy, a film financier who provided financing for a number of popular Telugu films such as “Damarukam,” “Kick,” “Businessman,” “Lovely,” and “Auto Nagar Surya,” is accustomed to using drugs and throwing parties for his friends.

“He was financing Balaji’s purchase of drugs in abundance for the parties. He would also organize women for customers at drug parties, according to the SP.

Wednesday night, Balaji was apprehended and drugs were seized from him by TSNAB officers who had credible information about the rave party.

On the basis of his information, the police executed a search warrant at Fresh Living Apartments, Vittal Rao Nagar, Madhapur, and arrested other individuals.

ALSO READ : 6th Bihar journalist murderer caught near Araria: Police

“A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances [NDPS] Act at the Gudimalkapur police station, and an investigation is currently underway,” a police official stated.

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A group of homosexual individuals in the city has orchestrated a remarkable shift in perspective against this backdrop. They have embraced the festival’s core essence while discarding antiquated customs and traditions.

“In our community, regardless of gender, we bind ourselves with rakhis to brothers and sisters. It’s about protection and unity,” said 25-year-old Gautam Ramchandra of Unnao.

Ramchandra, born in Unnao, moved to Delhi in 2020 and is now engaged in social work. “Most Indian festivals, not just Raksha Bandhan, left me struggling with dysphoria. My mother forced me to tie rakhis on my male relations, thereby reinforcing a false image of my identity. He reminisced, “I longed for my sisters to tie me rakhis.

Ramchandra found solace at Aasra, a Tweet Foundation shelter for trans-masculine individuals. Becoming a member and then the co-chair of the organization provided him with a safe space to celebrate without regard to gender norms. “Festivals are more liberating than I thought,” he laughed.

Ritwik Das, a 26-year-old scholar and gender non-conforming trans-female, followed a similar path. Das described the difficulties of Raksha Bandhan during their childhood. “As a ‘brother,’ sisters fastened rakhis to my wrists. “As an adult, I avoided taking time off work on Raksha Bandhan in order to avoid participating in these traditions,” they revealed.

Nevertheless, Das now views the festival through a different lens, recognizing its substance as a celebration of protective bonds that transcend gender. “Young trans men view me as their protector in moments of difficulty. They refer to me affectionately as ‘Didi.’ Even young gay children call me ‘Amma’!”

Das is inundated with sincere messages during the festival. Despite this, they reject the notion that brothers are by nature sisters’ protectors. They emphasized, “Our fixation on gender roles distracts from the genuine essence of relationships, which I am comfortable celebrating.”

ALSO READ : JCO among 9 soldiers killed in Ladakh army truck gorge.

In a society steeped in tradition, these narratives resound with a resounding sentiment: the spirit of Raksha Bandhan thrives in the domain of unconditional relationships. As these individuals lead a reimagined celebration, they illuminate a path toward a future that is more inclusive and empathetic.

The post Trans voices reimagine Raksha Bandhan Raksha Bandhan customs appeared first on Republic Aeon.

Lt. Col. PS Sidhu, a defence spokesperson based in Leh, stated, “The convoy was moving from Leh to Kiari when the truck went off-road.”

He added, “Nine soldiers, including a JCO, were killed and another was injured in the tragic incident.”

The spokesperson reported that the incident occurred at approximately 7:00 p.m.

The Leh SSP, PD Nitya, stated, “At 16:45 (6:45 pm), an army vehicle carrying 10 army personnel, including the driver, was involved in an accident 6 kilometres from Kiari.”

“The vehicle left the roadway and rolled into a steep ravine. “As soon as the reports reached the local police, a team of officers rushed to the scene and launched a rescue operation,” she added.

The SSP reported that all of the injured were moved to the army’s intelligence centre.

“Unfortunately, eight personnel were killed on-site. While being transported to the hospital in Leh, a soldier succumbed to his injuries, bringing the total number of fatalities to nine. “Another soldier is in critical condition,” she reported.

“An ALS (Ashok Leyland Stallion) vehicle travelling in a convoy from Leh to Nyoma veered into the valley between 5:45 and 6 p.m., seven kilometres short of Kiari. There were a total of 10 passengers in the vehicle; nine perished and one was injured. The injured personnel have been transported to the hospital, according to a statement issued by the Indian Army.

ALSO READ : Haryana unrest: Gurugram mob torches shops, violence continues

Reportedly, 311 Medium Regiment (artillery) comprised the army crew aboard the ill-fated truck.

At least three officers, two JCOs, and thirty-four enlisted men were travelling in a Maruti Gipsy, a lorry, and an ambulance as part of a convoy of three vehicles.

Army has not yet released a list of deceased personnel.

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The tremors were also felt in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri, Srinagar, and Gulmarg, as well as in the Katra region, the base camp of the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, and in several Pakistani cities, such as Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Peshawar.

Residents purportedly fled their homes in a panic after the earthquake.

The epicentre of the earthquake was located in the Hindukush region of Afghanistan at 36.38 degrees north latitude and 70.77 degrees east longitude, according to the National Centre for Seismology.

Nonetheless, no reported damage or casualties have been reported as of yet.

“Earthquake of Magnitude:5.8, Occurred on August 5, 2023 at 21:31:48 IST, Latitude: 36.38 and Longitude: 70.77, Depth: 181 Km,” tweeted NCS.

Earthquake of Magnitude:5.8, Occurred on 05-08-2023, 21:31:48 IST, Lat: 36.38 & Long: 70.77, Depth: 181 Km ,Location: Hindu Kush Region,Afghanistan for more information Download the BhooKamp App https://t.co/RXbLMDY0eW @ndmaindia @Indiametdept @KirenRijiju @Dr_Mishra1966 pic.twitter.com/1Tu1TBDqCO

— National Center for Seismology (@NCS_Earthquake) August 5, 2023

Preeti Shankar, who resides in a high-rise apartment in Noida on the eastern outskirts of the national capital, told the news agency PTI that the earthquake struck twice around 9:30 p.m.

The Hindu Kush mountain range, which rests near the intersection of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates, experiences frequent earthquakes.

On Saturday, Jammu and Kashmir experienced a total of three earthquakes.

Pakistan and the Hindu Kush region experienced earthquakes at 8.36 and 10.24 am, respectively, which shook the region earlier.

NCS reported that a magnitude-5.2 earthquake struck Gulmarg in Jammu and Kashmir at 8:36 a.m. today, with a depth of approximately 129 kilometres.

According to NCS, its epicentre was located at 35.46 degrees latitude and 73.32 degrees longitude. The NCS tweeted, “Earthquake of Magnitude: 5.2, Occurred on August 5, 2023 at 8:36:01 IST, Latitude: 35.46 & Longitude: 73.32, Depth: 129 Km, Location: 184 km NNW of Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir.”

ALSO READ : Haryana government to analyse internet Nuh violence posts.

No reports of casualties or property damage were made in the morning.

In addition, an earthquake of magnitude 4.3 struck the Andaman and Nicobar Islands early Thursday morning, according to the NCS.

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The state minister asserted that social media played a crucial role in the violence and added that those who have posted anything provocative will face legal action. “I implore individuals not to post anything (on social media). Do not indiscriminately forward (messages). You must understand that we are monitoring all activities. We must first assure peace and stability in our state, said Vij.

On July 31, violent clashes broke out in Nuh in an attempt to halt a Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) procession. These clashes then spread to Gurugram and other areas, leaving six dead, including two home guard officials and a cleric.

ALSO READ : Nuh violence: Gurugram, Faridabad schools, colleges closed today.

Top updates on Nuh violence:

1. The Vishva Hindu Parishad, along with Bajrang Dal, carried out protests in different parts of the country against the violence in Nuh. “The VHP and the Bajrang Dal had called for demonstrations in every district of the country today against the violent attacks… on peaceful pilgrims in Haryana’s Nuh… These demonstrations were held successfully with the participation of lakhs of people at hundreds of places across the country,” the right-wing group said in a statement.
2. In view of preventing any disturbance to peace and public order, the Haryana government decided to keep the mobile internet and SMS services in parts of the state, including Nuh, suspended till August 5.
3. The Haryana government also decided to immediately move the battalion headquarters of the 2nd India Reserve Battalion (IRB) from police complex in Bhondsi to Nuh to meet ‘imminent operational exigencies’.
4. Haryana’s deputy chief minister Dushyant Singh Chautala said in a press conference reiterated chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar’s address where he said over 40 FIRs linked with the Nuh violence case have been registered so far, as well as 100 people have been taken into police custody and over 90 have been detained.
5. According to senior police official, 41 FIRs have been lodged so far and 116 people have been arrested on the basis of investigation.
6. Dy CM Chautala earlier said organisers of the VHP yatra, taken out on July 31 in Nuh, did not provide complete information to the district administration. “The yatra organisers did not give complete information about the procession to the district administration, which resulted in the violence. Strict action will follow against those responsible for the incident,” he said.
7. During a press conference, CM Manohar Lal Khattar said the Rajastan Police is free to act against Bajarang Dal member and cow vigilante Monu Manesar, who is allegedly involved in triggering the Nuh violence, as the last case against him was lodged by Rajasthan Police.
8. CM Khattar sought four additional companies of central forces following communal clashes in the state. He said 14 out of 20 central force companies are deployed in Nuh, three in Palwal and two in Gurugram and one in Faridabad.
9. Fearing spillover effects of the communal violence, mobile internet services in four tehsils of Rajasthan’s Bharatpur district will remain suspended for one more day. The district shares border with Haryana’s Nuh.

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“Some adolescents were attempting to cause a disturbance in the market by chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’. We arrived on scene and managed the situation,” said Badshahpur police station SHO Satish Kumar.

The miscreants looted at least three shops in Badshahpur, while a group of men vandalised stores near Pataudi Chowk on Basai Road in Gurugram.

Ban on sale of loose petrol, diesel

The district magistrate of Gurugram, Nishant Yadav, has issued an order prohibiting the sale of petrol and diesel in bulk, effective immediately.

Yadav stated that communal tensions in the Haryana district of Nuh and Gurugram’s bordering areas presented a threat to law and order in the region. He stated that immediate preventative measures were necessary to preserve public order, peace, and harmony in the district.

“[In] exercise of the powers conferred upon me under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), and in the interest of public safety and security, hereby order that all fuel stations operating in the Gurugram district are strictly prohibited from selling loose petrol/diesel to any person (except for emergency purposes) with immediate effect,” read the order.

Schools, colleges closed in Sohna tomorrow

In a separate order, the official stated that all educational institutions in the Sohna subdivision of Gurugram will remain closed on August 2 due to communal disturbance in the region. In other areas of Gurugram, educational institutions will function normally.

Five people have been slain so far in the violence that broke out on Monday following an attack on a VHP procession in the neighbouring district of Nuh.

Social media advisory

The administration urged the public not to post content on social media that “may offend the religious sensibilities of any individual or threaten religious harmony.”

“It is requested that you refrain from using any indecent language and refrain from sharing any videos, photos, or posts with the intent to hurt individuals based on their religion, caste, or any other personal characteristics,” Gurugram DM’s advisory stated.

“As per the applicable regulations, the dissemination of such objectionable content may result in legal action. On social media platforms, the dissemination of false rumours is strongly discouraged. If anyone promotes rumours or makes inappropriate remarks about a person’s religion or caste, the police will take stern action,” the statement continued.

ALSO READ : Nuh violence: Gurugram, Faridabad schools, colleges closed today.

VHP demands NIA probe

Tuesday, the Vishva Hindu Parishad compared the communal violence in Haryana to a “terrorist attack” and demanded that the National Investigation Agency investigate the incident. Surendra Jain, joint general secretary of the VHP, claimed at a press conference that the assaults against Hindu devotees during a religious procession on Monday were “pre-planned” and “incited” by certain Congress leaders of Haryana. In addition, he alleged that the state police lacked intelligence and that rioters used sophisticated weapons and other conventional weaponry to attack Hindu devotees during the procession.

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Haryana violence LIVE updates

The District Magistrate’s office issued an order stating that all educational institutions, including schools, colleges, and tuition centres, will be closed on Tuesday to prevent any untoward occurrences. We strongly exhort all educational institutions to adhere to these directives.”

#Information | All educational institutions including schools, colleges, and coaching centers in Gurugram district will remain closed on Tuesday. We urge all educational institutions to strictly adhere to these orders. pic.twitter.com/3mSqnGPgot

— DC Gurugram (@DC_Gurugram) July 31, 2023

Monday evening, during a religious procession by the Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad in the Nuh district of Haryana, two home guards were slain and over 200 people were injured as a result of clashes between two groups. During the conflict, dozens of vehicles were incinerated and stones were thrown.

According to police reports citing eyewitness testimonies, the majority of those involved in the violence were between the ages of 18 and 24. As soon as they learned about the violence, forces from neighbouring police stations were mobilised and dispatched to control the situation, according to the police.

ALSO READ : Nangloi Muharram procession clashes, injuring police and vandalising vehicles.

As tensions seized the state, prohibitory orders were issued under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) in seven districts, including Nuh and Gurugram, as a result of the Criminal Procedure Code. Until Wednesday, mobile internet services have also been suspended in the districts of Nuh, Faridabad, and Palwal.

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The administration issued prohibitory orders in the Nuh and Gurugram districts and halted mobile internet service in Nuh, despite the fact that tensions continued to rise throughout the evening. The chief minister, Manohar Lal Khattar, pleaded with residents to desist from violence as additional forces were parachuted in.

Tuesday, all institutions in the Gurugram district will be closed, according to the administration.

At least 20 individuals were detained until 11 p.m. due to the violence.

According to police officers, the violence began 10 minutes after the approximately 200-person procession began to walk from Edward Chowk in Nuh town at 2:00 p.m. A large throng is said to have pelted the group with rocks as it walked down the main road. Initially, the Hindu side reportedly retreated, but later regrouped and retaliated.

A senior police officer reported that Sajjan Dalal, deputy superintendent of police (Hodal), had been shot in the cranium and was in critical condition.

“He is receiving treatment at the Medanta hospital alongside Gurugram police inspector Anil Kumar, who also sustained a bullet wound to the abdomen,” he said.

According to a police officer, the violence was sparked by rumours that Bajrang Dal member and cow vigilante Monu Manesar, who is sought for the murder of two Muslim men in Haryana’s Bhiwani in February, would also be participating in the procession.

According to the officer, this was preceded by a video of Manesar that began disseminating on Sunday on social media.

“In the video, he can be heard announcing that he will travel to Nuh to participate in the procession and urging others to do the same on a large scale,” said the aforementioned police officer. “The region was tense after the video’s release,” the officer said, adding that the sought cow vigilante did not eventually appear.

Manesar has evaded capture for several months.

A few minutes later, the group that pelted the rally with stones left, but quickly regrouped and began torching parked vehicles along the road. As news of the clashes spread, violence began to spread throughout Nuh and neighbouring Gurugram.

Police evacuated approximately 2,500 men, women, and children who had sought refuge in a Shiv temple in Nuh, according to the Haryana home minister in Chandigarh, Anil Vij.

The people who attacked the procession, according to police officers, also ransacked the cyber police station in Nuh and torched a police post in Edward Chowk, which is located approximately 50 kilometres from Gurugram.

A senior district official of Nuh reported that police fired multiple rounds of tear gas to disperse demonstrators.

Additionally, police personnel opened fire in the air. “After reinforcements arrived, orders were issued to charge all participants in the violence and stone throwing with batons,” said the officer.

Up until 6 p.m., reports of stone-throwing and violence were received from a few locations, and forces were mobilised accordingly.

Kamal Gupta, a devotee, stated that Muslim groups assaulted the temples where Hindus were seeking refuge.

“Devotees were dragged out of buses and cars and assaulted,” he reported.

Nasir Ahmed, a resident of the Punhana neighbourhood in Nuh, accused the procession participants of shouting provocative slogans.

Iqbal Khan, a resident of Firozpur Jhirka, asserted that the procession’s participants initially assaulted bystanders.

“Several individuals exiting a mosque retaliated, and the situation spiralled out of control,” he said.

The police superintendent of Gurugram, Kala Ramachandran, confirmed the deaths and urged individuals not to inflame tensions.

“No one should publish violent or provocative content on social media platforms that could harm social harmony and peace in the community,” she said.

“Immediate and severe action will be taken against anyone who posts content on social media that could pose a threat to public safety. “People should also avoid spreading rumours,” she added.

Khattar stated that the government would take action against those culpable for the violence.

“Today’s occurrence is regrettable; I urge everyone to maintain peace in the province. The culpable will not be spared at any cost; they will face the harshest punishment,” he tweeted.

ALSO READ : Nangloi Muharram procession clashes, injuring police and vandalising vehicles.

The Bhiwani police superintendent, Narender Bijrania, who was given additional responsibility for Nuh on Monday, stated that they had detained and were questioning several individuals in relation to the incident.

“We have identified a number of individuals through videos and images shared on social media and will shortly arrest them. He stated that the situation is now under control and that everyone has been rescued successfully.

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The situation became more volatile, which led to scuffles with the police and ultimately resulted in the injury of almost a dozen law enforcement officers while they were on the job. As a result of the chaos, a number of vehicles, including police vehicles, sustained damage.

The crowd may be seen on video throwing stones at vehicles and causing damage to them. Lathi charges were used by the police in an effort to gain control of the situation and disperse the mob.

Information coming in that violence erupted in Delhi's Nangloi during Moharram procession. Agitated crowd resorted to stone pelting, damaged vehicles including that of police
Video👇of police lathicharge circulating on social media.
Official confirmation from @DelhiPolice awaited pic.twitter.com/jwQzSXNSsB

— Karn Pratap Singh (@KarnHT) July 29, 2023

The deputy commissioner of police, Harendra Kumar Singh, stated, “Roughly 10,000 to 15,000 people participated in ‘tazia’ processions, with some participants becoming disorderly. They desired to deviate from the traffic police-determined routes. When we attempted to halt them, they began throwing stones, and the police responded with a lathi charge. Multiple police officers were injured, and police vehicles were also vandalised.”

“The group was broken up. As of now, no arrests have been made, and the investigation is ongoing,” he added.

In preparation for the Muharram procession, the Delhi Traffic Police issued a traffic advisory intended to regulate the flow of traffic in central and New Delhi. The advisory, which was in effect from Friday evening to Saturday morning, covered 32 segments in these regions. In order to facilitate the movement of Tazia processions, the traffic authorities diverted vehicles from 16 other locations in central, New Delhi, and south Delhi.

ALSO READ : 2 fires in Delhi, around 25 fire tenders deployed.

Muharram procession: 4 electrocuted, nine injured Jharkhand’s in Bokaro

On Saturday morning in the Bokaro district of Jharkhand, four persons were electrocuted when a Muharram procession touched an overhead high-tension wire in the Khetko village under the jurisdiction of the Petarbar police station.

The incident occurred around 6 a.m., and at least thirteen people were injured.

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No fatalities were confirmed as a result of either incident, they reported.

According to fire department officials, they first learned of the incident at a tent storage facility in Jaunapur, southwest Delhi, at 5:20 p.m. Twelve fire trucks were dispatched to the scene.

“The conflagration is contained. No fatalities have been reported to date,” an official stated later.

Approximately at the same time, the department was notified of a second incident at a warehouse in Mayapuri Phase-1, close to the Ram Mandir Wali Gali.

ALSO READ : Russian freight train exploded near Ukraine border, 2nd in a week.

They reported that sixteen fire trucks were dispatched to the scene to control the conflagration.

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