Kundara (Kollam), Sep 26: Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Saturday asked Kerala’s Cooperation Minister M. Liju to visit New Delhi and work out a comprehensive plan with the Centre to strengthen the cooperative sector in the state, while pitching women-led cooperatives as a key driver of rural economic empowerment.

Addressing a large women’s cooperative gathering at Kundara, HM Shah said Kerala had a strong foundation in the cooperative movement and urged the state to make greater use of the potential in sectors ranging from agriculture to fisheries.

“I don’t know how to speak Malayalam, but I give all of you my respects,” the Home Minister said at the outset, before welcoming those attending the programme.

HM Shah said the demand for a separate Ministry of Cooperation had existed since Independence and became a reality under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He said Kerala, with its long cooperative tradition, was well placed to benefit from the Centre’s initiatives.

He said more than 23,000 cooperative units were functioning in Kerala and urged the state to work with the Centre on expanding their activities.

“I am requesting the State Cooperation Minister to come to Delhi and work out plans to strengthen the cooperative sector,” he said.

HM Shah also highlighted the role of the National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India (NCCF) and NAFED in promoting women entrepreneurs.

He said NCCF was expanding its retail network and that Vanitha She Marts would provide women with a direct route to markets for their products.

He said products would be sourced directly from farmers, while cooperative institutions could help create stronger market linkages.

Referring to the Centre’s programmes, HM Shah said Bharat Atta and Bharat Rice were now available in Kerala and spoke of initiatives under the Atmanirbhar Bharat programme for providing pulse seeds to women.

He also distributed scholarships to children at the function.

HM Shah said the cooperative movement could become an important instrument for women’s economic empowerment, particularly in rural areas.

He cited the participation of women in NAFED and NCCF-related activities as an indication of the scale of the opportunity.

He also referred to measures taken by the Modi government for women, including the opening of bank accounts, the extension of maternity leave to 26 weeks, and changes concerning Muslim women and Haj.

Turning to Kerala’s coastline, HM Shah said the state had huge potential in the fishing sector and that the emerging blue economy could provide another area for cooperative expansion.

He asked the state Cooperation Minister to discuss the possibilities during his proposed visit to Delhi, particularly the scope for bringing the fisheries sector further into the cooperative framework.

HM Shah also said the Centre was ready to assist states in developing organic farming protocols and related initiatives.

The Home Minister arrived in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday afternoon and flew by helicopter to Kollam for the Kundara programme, his first public engagement during the visit.

The programme, titled Sahkar Se Samriddhi, is aimed at strengthening women’s participation in the cooperative sector.

Minister of State for Tourism Suresh Gopi, State Cooperation and Excise Minister Shiju, Tourism and Culture Minister P.C. Vishnunath, state BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar and Kollam Lok Sabha member N.K. Premachandran attended the function.

New Delhi, Sep 26: The Delhi Police Crime Branch has arrested the main accused in a 2020 murder case registered at Jahangir Puri Police Station, who had been absconding for nearly six years and frequently changed his places of stay to evade arrest, officials said on Saturday.

The accused, identified as Md. Sheikh Shabbir, 35, was arrested from Kanjhawala on September 25 under Operation Kavach, launched by the Delhi Police to identify and apprehend hardcore and long-absconding criminals involved in heinous offences.

According to the Crime Branch, the team of Inspector Pankaj Thakran of NR-1 was actively working to trace absconding accused involved in murder and dacoity cases. During the operation, Constable Ankush developed specific information regarding Shabbir’s whereabouts and learnt that he was hiding in Kanjhawala Gaon.

The information was subsequently corroborated through field verification and technical surveillance. A raiding team comprising SI Bhagyashri, ASI Anil, ASI Sumit, ASI Ajay and Constable Ankush, led by Inspector Pankaj Thakran, was constituted under the supervision of ACP Ashok Sharma.

On September 25, the team conducted a coordinated raid in the Kanjhawala area and successfully apprehended Shabbir, who had been evading arrest for approximately six years.

The accused was wanted in connection with the murder of Siraj Ali, 35, who was working at his meat shop at Jhuggi No. G-636 in Jahangir Puri on April 29, 2020.

According to the police, an argument broke out between Siraj Ali and Shah Alam, son of Sheikh Jahoor, over the price of meat. The dispute escalated into a physical assault. Shah Alam, along with his associates Md. Sheikh Shabbir, Siraj, Salim, Jahoor and Shakil, allegedly assaulted Siraj Ali with iron rods and wooden sticks.

The victim sustained serious injuries and subsequently succumbed to them.

Following the incident, FIR No. 231/2020 dated April 29, 2020, was registered at Jahangir Puri Police Station under Sections 302, 323 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code.

While the other accused persons were arrested during the investigation, Shabbir managed to evade arrest and remained absconding. The police said he frequently changed his places of residence to avoid detection.

Shabbir, a resident of Jahangir Puri, studied up to Class 12 and was working as a scrap dealer in the Kanjhawala area. Police said he had reportedly fallen into bad company during his early teenage years and was also addicted to alcohol.

He was previously involved in two cases registered at Mangol Puri and K.N. Katju Marg police stations under various sections of the IPC.

Patna, Sep 26: A commotion broke out at a coaching institute in Bihar Patna district after a teacher was accused of inappropriate conduct with a female student, police said on Saturday. The incident occurred in the Dhanrua police station area of Masaurhi, near Pabhedi Mor.

According to local residents, the incident happened on Friday. The teacher-cum-operator of the coaching centre, identified as Anil Kumar, allegedly asked the student to send her photographs on a mobile phone and was subsequently accused of behaving inappropriately with her.

Following the allegations, relatives and acquaintances of the student reportedly reached the coaching institute and confronted the teacher. The situation quickly escalated, leading to a disturbance on the premises. Kumar was allegedly assaulted during the confrontation, with reports claiming he was beaten with slippers.

A video showing the assault has been circulating on social media. However, police have not independently verified the footage and have neither confirmed its authenticity nor the context in which it was recorded.

Officials at the Dhanrua Police Station said that no written complaint has been received from either side in connection with the incident so far. They added that any further action would depend on the filing of a formal complaint, following which the allegations and circumstances surrounding the episode would be investigated on the basis of available evidence.

Police stressed that the allegations against the teacher remain unverified at this stage and that no formal investigation has been initiated in the absence of a complaint. They said police will take action only after a written complaint is lodged.

The incident comes amid growing concern over crimes against women and girls in Bihar, with several such cases reported from different districts in recent days, drawing public scrutiny of law enforcement’s response.