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SC junks Maha govt plea seeking direction to Centre to share raw caste Census data

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The Supreme Court on Wednesday junked a petition by Maharashtra government seeking a direction to the Centre to provide Socio-Economic Caste Census on Other Backward Classes (OBCs), after taking into consideration Centre’s contention that data collected is flawed. The Maharashtra government sought raw data collected in the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) held in 2011.

The Centre told the apex court that the SECC was resorted to by way of separate decision by Cabinet, which was not an OBC survey but to ascertain caste status of all households in the country. A bench headed by Justice A.M. Khanwilkar noted that as per Union of India the information collated in the exercise is unusable.

The top court recorded Centre’s contention that the data is fraught with mistakes and the information collated during Census was specific to SC and ST only. The Maharashtra government sought the raw Census data for implementing reservation for OBC in the local body elections.

The bench also comprising Justice C.T. Ravikumar dismissed the petition filed by the Maharashtra government, after considering Centre’s submission that SECC-2011 was not an exercise to enumerate the data of backward classes. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta represented the Centre in the matter.

Mehta submitted that SECC-2011 was not a Census exercise undertaken under the Census Act 1948, rather it was done on the basis of executive instructions of the concerned ministry to enumerate the caste status of households in the country for delivery of targeted benefits.

After hearing detailed arguments in the matter, the top court said it cannot issue a direction to the Centre to share the raw caste data of SECC-2011 with Maharashtra, as it will further create confusion.

In the order, the top court said: “The fact remains that the affidavit filed before this court by the Union of India emphatically states that data which is collated is not accurate and not usable.”

The bench added that if that is the stand taken by the government, then “we fail to understand how mandamus can be issued to the respondent to permit the State of Maharashtra to use the date for any purpose”.

Dismissing the Maharashtra government petition, the bench added, “Such direction will lead to confusion and uncertainty, which cannot be countenanced.”

Crime

Delhi Police seize 1,600 quarter bottles of illicit liquor, arrest interstate bootlegger

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New Delhi, July 26: The Anti Auto Theft Squad (AATS) of Delhi Police’s East District on Sunday arrested an interstate bootlegger and seized 1,600 quarter bottles of illicit liquor being smuggled from Haryana to Delhi. The Police also impounded a car used to transport the contraband.

According to Delhi Police, the accused has been identified as Anand alias Kallu, 31, a resident of Karkardooma Village. The operation led to the recovery of 32 cartons containing 1,600 quarter bottles of liquor, all bearing the label “For Sale in Haryana Only.”

Police said the seizure is part of its ongoing drive to curb the illegal transportation and sale of liquor in the national capital and dismantle interstate smuggling networks. A case has been registered under Sections 33 and 58 of the Delhi Excise Act at Laxmi Nagar Police Station.

The team, on July 23, received specific intelligence that a large consignment of illicit liquor was being transported from Sonipat, Haryana, to Delhi in a car. Acting swiftly on the input, the police laid a trap near Noida Link Road, Shakarpur Bus Stand.

At around 10.30 p.m., the suspected vehicle was spotted approaching the location. When police signalled the driver to stop, he allegedly attempted to flee by speeding away. However, the team intercepted the vehicle after a brief chase and apprehended the driver.

During the search, officers recovered 32 cartons containing 1,600 quarter bottles of liquor from the rear seat and boot of the car. The seized consignment included 23 cartons of Race 7 Metro Liquor (180 ml) and nine cartons of Falcon’s Santra Desi Sharab (180 ml), all marked “For Sale in Haryana Only.”

The car used for transporting the liquor was also seized.

During interrogation, the accused allegedly admitted that he had been transporting illicit liquor from Haryana for illegal distribution in Delhi to earn quick money.

Police said Anand has a previous criminal record and was earlier booked in FIR No. 332/2013 under Sections 379, 411 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code at Anand Vihar Police Station.

Investigators are now working to identify the source of the liquor, its intended recipients and other members of the interstate smuggling network. Further investigation into the case is underway.

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Crime

Kanpur man detained for hoax bomb threat at Lucknow airport

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Lucknow, July 26: A hoax bomb threat call triggered a major security operation at Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport in Lucknow on Friday night, prompting multiple security agencies to conduct an extensive search of the airport premises before confirming that the alert was false, officials said on Sunday.

Police have since traced the mobile number used to make the call to Kanpur and booked 30-year-old Shyam Sundar, a resident of the Bidhuna area in Kanpur’s Jaisinghpur, for questioning.

According to airport sources, a bomb threat was reported through a call made to Dial 112 at around 11:45 p.m. on Friday, setting off an immediate response from security and emergency agencies.

Teams from the bomb disposal squad, dog squad, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), and the fire brigade rushed to the airport and launched a comprehensive search operation.

Following the alert, the entire airport complex, including the cargo terminal and all entry gates, was thoroughly inspected.

Security personnel also carried out detailed checks of passengers and their baggage between 12 a.m. and 1 a.m. as part of the precautionary measures.

Despite the intensive hour-long search, no suspicious object or explosive material was found anywhere on the premises.

Officials said that when security agencies attempted to contact the person who had made the bomb threat, the mobile phone was found switched off.

After completing the search and verification process, authorities concluded that the threat call was a hoax, bringing relief to airport officials and security personnel.

Taking the matter seriously, police registered a non-cognisable report (NCR) at around 11 a.m. on Sunday based on the mobile number provided by Sub-Inspector Nishu Chaudhary of Sarojini Nagar police station.

The number was subsequently tracked through surveillance, which revealed its location in the Kanpur district.

Acting on the surveillance inputs, a police team detained Shyam Sundar.

The accused is currently being questioned by the police to ascertain the motive behind making the false bomb threat call and to determine the circumstances under which the fraudulent alert was issued.

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Crime

Manipur Police arrest woman for routing drug money to Myanmar; DGP reviews security along border

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Imphal, July 25: A 56-year-old woman was arrested by the Manipur Police in Churachandpur district for allegedly routing a huge amount of money to suspected beneficiaries of the illegal drug trade in Myanmar, officials said on Saturday.

In a separate development, Director General of Police (DGP) Mukesh Singh, accompanied by the Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order), visited the India-Myanmar border in Manipur’s Tengnoupal district and reviewed security preparedness, policing and inter-agency coordination.

A senior police official said that, in continuation of the investigation into an FIR registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, at Churachandpur police station, police arrested the woman, identified as Zenngaihniang (56), a resident of New Lamka in Churachandpur district. An amount of over Rs 28.78 lakh, suspected to be proceeds of drug-related crime, was recovered from her possession.

“The arrestee is involved in sending huge amounts of money to suspected beneficiaries of the drug trade in Myanmar. Five cash registers and a cash-counting machine were also recovered from her possession,” the official said.

The mountainous Churachandpur district shares an inter-state border with Mizoram and an unfenced international border with Myanmar.

Meanwhile, in separate operations, the security forces recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition from Imphal West district. The recovered items included 12 pistols with magazines, four rifles, two modified .303 rifles, four bolt-action single-barrel guns, four hand grenades, including one of Chinese origin, three detonators, assorted live rounds and empty cases, 15 barrel cartridges, magazines, military fatigues, bulletproof jackets, magazine pouches and wireless communication sets.

The security forces also arrested an active cadre of the banned Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) militant outfit from Wangoo Sandangkhong area in Kakching district. The arrested militant was identified as Moirangthem Gandhi alias Loingamba Singh (19).

The police official said that DGP Mukesh Singh, during his visit to Tengnoupal district along the India-Myanmar border, reviewed the overall security preparedness, policing arrangements and inter-agency coordination.

At the Tengnoupal District Police Office, the DGP reviewed the prevailing security situation and policing arrangements in the strategically important border district.

According to the police official, while interacting with officers of the district police, Singh stressed the need for sustained operations against anti-national elements, effective investigation of criminal cases, intensified anti-drug measures, recovery of illegal arms and ammunition, and close coordination among all security agencies to ensure peace and security in the border district.

During his visit to Moreh town, the DGP interacted with representatives of various communities, including the Tamil, Kuki, Nepali and Meitei Pangal communities, as well as members of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs). People belonging to the Tamil, Nepali, Kuki and Meitei Pangal (Muslim) communities have been residing in the border town of Moreh for several decades.

The DGP also held interaction sessions with Commandants of Assam Rifles battalions, along with officers of the Assam Rifles and Manipur Police Commandos. During the meeting, he reviewed the prevailing security scenario, operational preparedness, border management and inter-agency coordination, while emphasising the importance of continued synergy among all security forces deployed in the sensitive border region.

Singh further visited Gate No. 1 and Gate No. 2 at Moreh to review the security arrangements and deployment at the international border crossing.

Moreh is an important border town and an international trading hub located on the India-Myanmar border in Tengnoupal district, around 110 km from the Manipur capital, Imphal. On his return journey, the Manipur Police chief visited Kwatha village, where he interacted with Meitei villagers as well as officers and personnel of the district police, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and the Assam Rifles deployed in the area.

“The visit reaffirmed the commitment of the Manipur Police and all security agencies towards strengthening border security, enhancing inter-agency coordination and ensuring lasting peace and public safety,” the police official said.

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