Islamabad, July 29: As unrest in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) continues to escalate, a human rights documentation and monitoring body has called on the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to intervene following reports of lethal firing by Pakistani forces on peaceful protestors in the occupied territory that left over 40 civilians dead and dozens injured.

In its urgent appeal to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk, the PoK-based group Jammu Kashmir Human Rights Observatory (JKHRO) stated that the killings occurred after the peaceful Long March organised by Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) resumed from Rawalakot towards Muzaffarabad on July 27.

Citing JAAC, it said that large numbers of civilians participated in the march, estimating that the wider mobilisation may have involved more than 100,000 people.

“The combination of a mass civilian gathering, reported security-force deployment, alleged indiscriminate firing, restricted communications, limited media access and obstructed emergency coordination creates an immediate risk of further casualties. This is no longer a situation that can be addressed through statements of concern alone,” the JKHRO stated.

The group called on the UN human rights chief to intervene immediately by publicly calling for an end to the firing by Pakistani forces, seeking assurances that live ammunition would not be used against peaceful protesters, and ensuring emergency medical and humanitarian access in PoK.

It also appealed for the urgent deployment of relevant Special Rapporteurs or an OHCHR assessment mission, while urging the facilitation of credible negotiations to prevent further loss of life in the occupied territory.

Highlighting the humanitarian abuses by Pakistani authorities in PoK, the JKHRO said, “The international community has advance warning. The gathering is large. Security forces are reportedly deployed. Communications remain restricted. Fatal force has allegedly already been used. Initial accounts refer to more than 80 wounded, while other witnesses allege more; there is not yet a reliable final injury figure.”

“The essential question is no longer whether there is a risk of escalation. The essential question is whether the United Nations system will act quickly enough to help prevent the next death,” it added.

Earlier on July 17, the OHCHR raised serious concerns about infringements on the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association in PoK amid escalating unrest in the occupied territory that has left dozens of people dead and injured.

In a statement issued, Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Jeremy Laurence, said that “the criminalisation of a civil society organisation and imposition of strict limitations on gatherings raise serious concerns about infringements on the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association. Detained JAAC leaders must have access to legal representation and their families. Their rights to due process and fair trial must be fully guaranteed.”

Mumbai, July 29: The Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) on Wednesday, citing the Central government’s data presented in the Lok Sabha, said that in the last three years more than 1.25 lakh industries and factories in the country have shut down. Hundreds of thousands of young people have lost their jobs.

The Thackeray camp, in an editorial in the party’s mouthpiece, ‘Saamana’, claimed that this has completely exposed and stripped bare the government’s claims of bringing in thousands of crores in foreign investment and generating lakhs of jobs by establishing thousands of new industries.

“A sob story of industries — closing the old and starting the new — has been unfolding in the country for the last 12 years. Under a regime that fills the minds of youth with religious fanaticism instead of placing jobs in their hands, what else could possibly happen?” it asked.

The editorial said that, as per government data, a total of 1,21,805 Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) units closed operations between 2024 and 2026. The MSME sector is widely regarded as the backbone of the Indian economy, serving as the second-largest employer after agriculture and contributing significantly to national exports. Despite its critical role, the rate of unit closures has seen a continuous upward trajectory over the past decade.

The shutdown of MSME units has hit several industrial states severely. Maharashtra recorded the highest number of closures, with 28,764 units shutting down. Tamil Nadu stood second with 14,176 unit closures. Gujarat reported 11,150 closed units. Rajasthan saw 9,881 MSME units permanently cease operations. These figures contradict the official claims regarding massive foreign investment inflows and large-scale job creation through new industrial ventures, noted the editorial.

According to the editorial, over the past 10 years, the government made available over Rs 35 lakh crore in loans to support startups and operations in the micro, small, and medium enterprise sector. However, business owners have struggled against mounting market challenges, rising operational costs, and persistent procedural bottlenecks. “Key factors contributing to early-stage business failure include inadequate or delayed access to bank credit at reasonable interest rates, prolonged payment delays from large corporations for supplied goods and bureaucratic delays in releasing payments owed by government departments,” remarked the Thackeray camp.

While state leaders and central ministers frequently engage in global outreach, including events like the World Economic Forum in Davos, to attract new industrial setups, critics point out a lack of concrete measures to revive ailing existing units, argued the editorial.

Citing the Maharashtra case, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena said that while the state registered over 75 lakh new enterprises over the last three years, it simultaneously lost more than 28,000 existing MSME units. “The absence of targeted rehabilitation programmes for sick industrial units continues to lead to rising Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) for banks and sudden job losses for young workers across the country,” it commented.

The editorial claimed that no measures are being taken at the government level to support them, rebuild them, or revive these sick industries. Due to this “fend for yourself” policy, not only are small industries sinking, but bank loans are defaulting, and the livelihoods of thousands of young people working there are suddenly snatched away.

Pune, July 29: Pune Police have exposed an alleged illegal network that was endangering the lives of young people in the name of fitness and bodybuilding. Acting on specific information, police arrested five individuals and seized 50 vials of Mephentermine Sulphate Injection IP (MEPHIVAN), allegedly being used for bodybuilding and intoxication purposes.

According to police, the operation was conducted at around 11:20 p.m. on July 24 on a public road near Anand Darbar on Katraj-Dattanagar Road. During the investigation, it was found that the accused were allegedly selling the injections illegally without possessing a valid drug licence or the required medical and pharmaceutical qualifications.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Atharva Indrajit Shinde (24), Avinash Shiva Balungi (22), Pradeep Jitendra Humbre (26), Piyush Ganesh Bharam (26), and Laxman Parmeshwar Mane (36).

Police officials stated that Mephentermine Sulphate Injection is a prescription medicine that should only be administered under the advice and supervision of a qualified medical practitioner. The use of such injections without proper medical consultation can result in serious health complications. Investigators alleged that the accused were preparing to sell the injections illegally to individuals seeking enhanced physical performance, muscle growth, or intoxication.

A case has been registered against the accused under the relevant provisions of the law. Authorities are now investigating the source of the injections, the possibility of a larger supply chain operating behind the racket, and the identities of the intended buyers.

Police officials said strict action would continue against individuals involved in the illegal sale and distribution of restricted or controlled drugs, particularly those exploiting the growing fitness and bodybuilding culture among the youth.

In bodybuilding, injections typically refer to the use of performance-enhancing substances, like anabolic steroids, human growth hormone (HGH), peptides, or site-enhancement oils to speed up muscle growth or change body shape. These methods carry severe medical risks and are often illegal or banned in competitive sports.

Some athletes, bodybuilders and others misuse these drugs in an attempt to enhance performance and/or improve their physical appearance.

Misuse of anabolic steroids can cause a variety of side effects ranging from mild to harmful or even life-threatening. Most side effects are reversible if you stop taking the drugs, but others may be permanent.

Nonprescription doses are often 10 to 100 times higher than the doses healthcare providers prescribe to treat medical conditions. This is why the side effects are usually more severe than the side effects of prescribed anabolic steroid use.

Potential complications include high blood pressure, blood clots, heart-related ailments such as heart attacks, stroke, and liver damage. Non-prescription doses are often significantly higher than medically recommended levels, increasing the likelihood of serious and life-threatening health consequences.