Father, son beaten all night: TN woman cop

Father, son beaten all night: TN woman cop

Enough Proof To Try Police For Murder: HC

K.Kaushik@timesgroup.com

Madurai:01.07.2020

In a damning indictment of Sathankulam police, a woman head constable attached to the station has told the magistrate conducting the inquiry that P Jeyaraj and his son J Benniks were indeed assaulted by police personnel with lathis for a whole night, after their arrest on June 19 even as the Madras HC on Tuesday said there is sufficient material to invoke murder charges against the entire Sathankulam police team.

Lathi blows rained on the two till dawn, due to which there were blood stains on lathis and a table at the station, she told the magistrate. Apprehending destruction of evidence, she requested the inquiring magistrate to take possession of the material. She signed her statement only after the magistrate assured her of safety.

The woman head constable’s statement had to be recorded under most intimidating circumstances at Sathankulam station on June 28, magistrate Bharathidasan said, adding that despite his instruction to wait outside, police personnel caused hindrance.

Citing ante-mortem injuries found on the bodies of J Benniks and his father P Jeyaraj, the preliminary post-mortem report, the Kovilpatti judicial magistrate’s report and the damning deposition of the woman head constable, a division bench of Justice P N Prakash and Justice B Pugalendhi said they would be prima facie be sufficient to alter the case under Section 302 IPC against the Sathankulam policemen.

The judges said that from the report of the judicial magistrate, they are able to discern that the Sathankulam police are taking advantage of the fact that the investigation of the case is in limbo and are attempting to cause disappearance of evidence. “In fact, they were emboldened enough to even intimidate the judicial officer to put spokes in the wheel of his enquiry,” said the judges, adding that CB-CID DSP Anil Kumar had been put in charge of investigation.

Directing Anil Kumar to immediately take charge and proceed with investigation without waiting for a formal order from the DGP, the judges said it is open to the state government to revisit the idea of entrusting the matter to the CBI, if they are satisfied that Anil Kumar is proceeding on the right lines. The case was adjourned to July 2.

“We fervently hope that Anil Kumar will have before his mind’s eye, the river of tears flowing from the eyes of the family of the two decease d and take up the investigation of the case in all earnestness for wiping their tears,” they said.

Thoothukudi SP Arun Balagopalan (2nd L), additional SP D Kumar (L), DSP C Prathapan (R) and constable Maharajan (4th L, not in uniform) after appearing before the Madurai bench of Madras high court in the Sathankulam custodial deaths case on Tuesday

Violent behaviour: 80 cops taken off duty

As many as 80 police personnel in Trichy have been removed from duty following reports of their violent and aggressive behaviour with the public. In a Facebook post late on Monday night, the DIG V Balakrishnan stated, “We are removing 80 police personnel in Trichy police range who need behavioural correction to improve their interpersonal skills. They are taken off duties involving direct public contact as their track record in that aspect is found wanting. They will be gradually reintegrated into regular duties only after completing a specially designed course with cognitive behavioural therapy component to improve the way they deal with the public.” The DIG had kicked off the process a few months ago after 55-year-old man in Trichy died of heart attack during inquiry by a special team in connection with a theft case at Samayapuram in December 2019. TNN

Govt reappoints Pandya as Gujarat University VC

Govt reappoints Pandya as Gujarat University VC

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad: 01.07.2020

The state government today announced its decision to reappoint Himanshu Pandya, a professor at department of biochemistry and forensic science, as the vicechancellor of Gujarat University.

Pandya, who will be serving his second term at the top GU post, seem to have earlier fallen out with the BJP-backed Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) after the GU students’ union election, held after a gap of four years in March. ABVP faced a crushing defeat at the hands of Congress’ student political wing National Students’ Union of India (NSUI). Many of them had alleged that Pandya supported NSUI to win the elections. Pandya’s name was among the candidates shortlisted by the search committee headed by Gujarat governor Acharya Devvrat. His first term ended on May 16 and the charge was temporarily given to Jagdish Bhavsar, pro VC of GU. The committee, formed in February to shortlist names for the post of VC, said it could not complete the task due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdown situation.

What seems to have swung things into Pandya’s favour is the recent announcement of the all National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) Ranking 2020 by the Centre where Gujarat University made a surprise entry at number 60 in the list of higher education institutes in the overall category.

Last year, when the varsity did not even figure in the top 100 names in overall rankings in the NIRF 2019 list, Pandya, the then VC, had started various initiatives to raise its quality and standards.

“I want to take GU to newer heights. A research park that is currently being built will have far reaching benefits for the students, faculty members as well as the society,” said Pandya. He will take charge of the position in the next couple of days.

The three-member search committee included Kamlesh Joshipura, former vice-chancellor of Saurashtra University whose nomination was chosen by GU. Parimal Vyas has been chosen by the Joint Board of Vice-Chancellors (JBVC) is the third member of the committee.

57 docs dead... but we shall overcome!

57 docs dead... but we shall overcome!

01.07.2020

Following the Covid-19 outbreak, 2020 will go down in history as a year which changed mankind and civilisation. The modern way of life as we have known it will cease to exist. The instinct for survival has stood challenged once again.

I am confident that we shall overcome and conquer the coronavirus pandemic at a heavy cost. Amid all the change, the medical profession--the pride and legacy of mankind-- will retain its art and science intact. In fact, the science of it stands to gain substantially.

Medicine is a calling. It will remain one. Generations of doctors to come will record that we never gave up in the fight against Covid-19. In this dark time, we remain the only flicker of light. Our knowledge and compassion should lead mankind and the nation out of this abyss. We owe it to our people.

It pains me a lot that 57 of our doctors have already laid down their lives in the war against Covid. Nearly a thousand have contracted the disease. Sent into the battle like a charging brigade without cover or camouflage, we have retained our poise. Now, it’s time to tell the world we are in charge. It is our battle for our people and motherland. We shall overcome.

Let us resolve on this Doctors’ Day that we will lead our nation to safety and public health. Let each of us pledge to save as many lives as possible in our line of duty. Comfort, Console and Counsel. You are the angels of hope against despondence and despair. The finest humans, let your hands be the saviour of mankind.

Dr. Ketan Desai, Past President Indian Medical Association, Medical Council of India & World Medical Association

‘A clinic can’t close, even if there’s a pandemic’

‘A clinic can’t close, even if there’s a pandemic’

Paul John@timesgroup.com

Ahmedabad: 01.07.2020

For 46 years, rain or shine, riots or peacetime, there has hardly been a day that Dr Dinesh Shah, 71, did not turn up at his dispensary at Raja Mehta ni Pol in Kalupur. The Covid-19 pandemic has not been any different.

During the lockdown, Shah travelled from his home near Dharnidhar Derasar to see his patients in the walled city every day. “Why should a doctor be so scared of Covid. It’s a viral disease. Precaution is key. Symptomatic treatment, prompt action a must. I say this to my patients,” says Shah.

When Shah saw that his patients were in panic about the pandemic, he stuck to his clinic schedule. “A doctor’s clinic can’t shut. There are people with co-morbid conditions, children who need vaccination, the elderly who need to be referred to specialists, how do we ignore them? You see fear and stigma kills more than a disease. A doctor must not hide in such times. We have all taken an oath,” says Shah.

Shah used to live at the nearby Patasha ni Pol when he first opened the clinic in 1974. An MMBS from NHL Medical College, Shah remembers how he used to open his clinic during riots in the 1970s, the 1985 anti-reservation riots, the Navnirman movement and even during the 2002 post-Godhra riots.

A day to celebrate White Coat Warriors

NATIONAL DOCTOR’S DAY

A day to celebrate White Coat Warriors

MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED DOCTORS IN THE CITY RETURNED TO WORK AFTER BEATING COVID

Paul John@timesgroup.com

Ahmedabad: 01.07.2020

The city became a hotspot for Covid-19 by mid-April with daily cases going above 150 regularly. By the beginning of June, the number had touched 300. The death toll also kept rising. But amid the pandemic, doctors gave the virus a tough fight.

As India celebrates National Doctors’ Day on July 1 to mark the birth and death anniversary of former West Bengal chief minister Dr BC Roy, the focus is on White Coat Warriors. Dr Roy also contributed to the foundation of Indian Medical Association (IMA) and Medical Council of India (MCI).

Various doctor organizations claim the figure of 100-plus doctors who have got infected in both public and private hospitals. The city IMA quotes the names of two members and one non-member who succumbed to the infection in the city.

Dr M M Prabhakar, OSD at Medicity, said that it was not easy for doctors to don PPE kits and work for hours at a stretch when cases are spiking. “But the staff at Civil Hospital, led by superintendent Dr J P Modi, work round the clock, ensuring the implementation of the latest treatment protocols,” he said.

The 100-plus days of Covid-19 also brought in radical changes in healthcare delivery, said Dr Jaswantsinh Darbar, vice-president, Ahmedabad zone of IMA. “Many doctors preferred to stay away from families to ensure their safety from infection,” he said. “You see plastic curtains, doctors in protective gear from head to toe, and the use of disinfectants as a routine. All that took a lot of time for doctors to get used to.”

No official communication to block 59 Chinese apps, say Apple, Google

No official communication to block 59 Chinese apps, say Apple, Google

Pankaj.Doval@timesgroup.com

New Delhi  01.07.2020

: A day after the government ordered the “blocking” of 59 Chinese apps, some of them, such as TikTok and Club Factory, decided to approach the Centre seeking to clarify their position, while maintaining that they were compliant with Indian regulations.

The statements came as Apple and Google said they were yet to receive official communication to remove all the 59 Chinese apps from their platforms.

As a result, some of the apps such as CamScanner could be downloaded on devices even on Tuesday — 24 hours after the ministry of electronics and IT announced the government decision to “block” apps since they were seen to be accessing devices and sharing data.

Apple has received an order under Section 69A of the IT Act to remove the popular Chinese video sharing app TikTok from its App store, sources told TOI.

Orders for the removal of the remaining 58 apps, including UC Browser, Club Factory and Shein was yet to be received till late Tuesday evening. Google, which runs the ubiquitous Play Store in Android, had received official orders to remove around 20 apps so far, sources said.

“We don’t implement orders based on mere press releases. We need clearly-defined instructions based on existing rules governing the content and app eco-system,” said an executive. Official sources said the IT ministry has asked the department of telecom to instruct the internet service providers and telecom operators to take down the apps, while also blocking the content on those already downloaded.

An Apple executive said that removing an app “randomly, without any government order” will make the company liable for action. Entities representing TikTok and Club Factory said they have not violated any Indian law. TikTok, the first one to pull out its app from the Apple and Google Play stores, said that it will approach the government.

NO TO CHINA: Working Journalist of India members urge citizens to stop using Chinese apps in New Delhi on Tuesday

‘Not wearing sindoor is disregard to marriage’

RULES GAUHATI HC

‘Not wearing sindoor is disregard to marriage’

Guwahati:01.07.2020

The Gauhati high court has granted divorce to a man whose wife refused to abide by Hindu culture prevalent in eastern part of the country, that of smearing vermilion on her head and wearing conch shell bangle.

In an observation of a kind, the top court in Assam said that the reluctance to wear ‘shankha’ (conch shell bangle) and ‘sindoor’ (vermillion) as have been the tradition and custom among the Hindu married woman, the petitioner wife’s action amounted to a kind of rejection to accept the marriage.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Ajai Lamba and Justice Soumitra Saikia observed “under the custom of Hindu marriage, a lady who has entered into marriage according to Hindu rituals and customs, and which has not been denied by the respondent (woman) in her evidence, her refusal to wear shankha and sindoor’ would project her to be unmarried and/or signify her refusal to accept the marriage with the appellant (man). “Such categorical stand of the respondent points to the clear intention of the respondent that she is unwilling to continue her conjugal life with the appellant. PTI