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Sivaganga quarry tragedy: TN govt orders statewide inspection of stone quarries

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Chennai, May 24: In the wake of a deadly rockslide at a stone quarry in Sivaganga that claimed six lives, the Tamil Nadu Department of Geology and Mining has issued a statewide directive to inspect stone quarries and tighten safety protocols.

According to the order, deputy and assistant directors in each district must conduct safety inspections in at least 10 quarries every month and submit detailed reports to the Commissionerate.

District Collectors and Zonal Joint Directors of mining have also been directed to supervise inspection efforts and ensure strict enforcement of regulations.

The initiative is aimed at addressing growing concerns over safety violations and illegal operations in the state’s stone quarrying sector.

Activists have long alleged rampant irregularities, including the unauthorised use of explosives, which they say are responsible for the increasing number of fatal incidents in recent years.

In one such incident, three people died in an explosion in Virudhunagar, while another worker was killed in Tirupur after an oxygen cylinder exploded during unloading.

A communication from the mining department to all districts underscored the life-threatening risks posed by rockslides and blasts. It cited poor adherence to safety guidelines and regulatory conditions as key contributors to the accidents.

The department emphasised the urgent need for inspections to enforce proper safety. The Sivaganga rockslide is the latest in a string of quarry-related accidents in Tamil Nadu, particularly as the demand for M-sand in construction has increased the scale of quarrying operations.

In August last year, two people died in a blast at an illegal quarry in TN Palayam near Gobichettipalayam. Investigations into the Sivaganga accident are currently underway.

Police officials said they are awaiting drone survey results and a technical analysis of the quarry operator’s blasting methods.

“The revenue and mines department has completed drone surveys across all five quarries in Sivaganga district,” an official confirmed.

Crime

Father, grandfather held for killing 2-month-old girl, burying body in forest in Bengal

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A father and grandfather have been arrested in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district for allegedly killing a two-month-old girl and burying her in a forested area, police said on Thursday.

The incident was reported from the Jagatdal area, where the infant’s body was later exhumed and sent for post-mortem examination at Barrackpore Sub-Divisional Hospital.

According to police, the accused have been identified as Apurba Banerjee, the child’s father, and Vikas Banerjee, her grandfather. Investigators said the family had allegedly been expecting a male child and were unhappy after the birth of a second daughter. They did not even visit the hospital to see the mother and the child.

Police said the infant, who was around two months old, had reportedly been unwell for the past few days. However, on Wednesday, allegations surfaced that the child had been killed and secretly buried in a nearby forest area.

Following a complaint and protests by local residents, police reached the spot and took the two accused to the location where the body had allegedly been buried. Acting on information provided by them, officers exhumed the body and sent it for autopsy. Both men were subsequently arrested and booked under relevant sections of law.

Local residents expressed suspicion over the circumstances surrounding the child’s death. One neighbour told local media that while the family claimed the infant had died naturally, questions were raised over the hurried burial without informing neighbours or authorities.

Neighbour Chandrani Mondal said, “In the morning, we received news that the baby girl was killed and buried in the ground by her father and grandfather. We went to find out about the matter. But they told us that the baby girl died naturally. If that is what happened, why did the family members bury her in the ground so quickly without informing anyone? We want the police to investigate the incident.”

Sampati Banerjee, the mother of the deceased baby girl, said, “My daughter was sick for two or three days. When I woke up this morning, I saw that her body was cold. She was not breathing. I wanted to take my daughter to the hospital. But my husband and father-in-law did not agree. They quickly took the dead girl from my lap and buried her in the forest next to the house.”

Police said the exact cause of death would be determined after the post-mortem report is received, and further investigation is underway.

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Crime

Crime shock: Key witness gunned down, elderly couple found murdered in Bihar

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Patna, July 21: Two shocking incidents of violent crime were reported in Bihar on Monday, with a key witness in a murder case shot dead in Jehanabad and a retired bank employee along with his wife found murdered in their Muzaffarpur residence. Police have launched separate investigations into both cases.

Police have launched separate investigations into both cases.

A man was shot dead by armed assailants near Dakra Mor under the Makhdumpur police station area of Jehanabad district. The deceased has been identified as Vijay Yadav, a resident of Parsauna village.

According to police, Vijay Yadav was returning home with his son after getting wheat milled when more than a dozen motorcycle-borne criminals intercepted them. The attackers allegedly first tried to seize his son, who managed to escape, before opening fire on Vijay Yadav.

He died on the spot after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds, while the assailants fled. The victim’s son, Amarnath Yadav, alleged that his father was murdered to prevent him from testifying in court.

According to the family, Vijay Yadav was the principal witness in the murder case of his elder son and was scheduled to depose before the court on August 6. They claim the accused eliminated him to influence the ongoing trial.

Police reached the scene soon after the incident, recovered the body, and sent it to Sadar Hospital, Jehanabad, for post-mortem examination. They said all possible angles, including the alleged witness-related motive, are being examined, while raids are underway to arrest those involved.

In a separate incident, a retired Punjab National Bank (PNB) cashier, Ashok Kunwar, and his wife Neelam Devi were found murdered inside their residence in Muzaffarpur late Monday evening.

The case came to light after the couple’s son, Dr. Nikhil Kumar, noticed suspicious activity through CCTV cameras connected to his mobile phone. The footage reportedly showed two unidentified men entering the premises and captured his mother running towards the rooftop.

When repeated calls to his parents went unanswered, he alerted a neighbour, who discovered the bodies and informed the police.

Police said Ashok Kunwar’s body was found in a bedroom on the second floor with multiple stab injuries, particularly on his back. Neelam Devi’s body was recovered from a room on the third floor. Police found her hands and feet tied with rope and adhesive tape covering her mouth.

Preliminary findings indicate that she may have died due to strangulation. A forensic team and dog squad examined the crime scene. Investigators recovered several items, including gloves, adhesive tape, and a bag, which have been seized for forensic examination.

Muzaffarpur Senior Superintendent of Police Kantesh Kumar Mishra said preliminary evidence suggests the murders occurred on Monday evening. CCTV footage has revealed two suspects, whose identities are being established.

Police also plan to question the three tenants residing in the building as part of the investigation. Officials said the exact cause of death and sequence of events will be confirmed after the post-mortem reports and forensic analysis.

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Three arrested in Bengal woman gang-rape case in Mysuru; probe underway

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Mysuru, July 21: Three persons have been arrested in connection with the alleged gang-rape of a young woman from West Bengal in Karnataka’s Mysuru district, police said on Tuesday.

However, authorities added that they are still verifying the facts of the case and the allegations made by the victim as part of the ongoing investigation.

The incident was reported under the jurisdiction of the T. Narasipura Town Police Station in Mysuru district. According to the complaint, the victim alleged that she was forcibly taken to a lodge by the accused, where they sexually assaulted her.

The accused have been identified as Kiran, Kishore and Riyan.

In her complaint, the woman stated that she was forcibly taken in a car by the accused while she was standing at the T. Narasipura private bus stand two days ago. She further alleged that the accused took her to a lodge in Santemarahalli town, where they gang-raped her.

Acting swiftly on the complaint, the police arrested all three accused within 24 hours. They were subsequently produced before a court and remanded to judicial custody.

Police officials said that, considering the sensitivity of the matter and concerns relating to women’s safety, immediate action was taken to apprehend the accused. At the same time, investigators are examining all aspects of the case, including whether the victim had accompanied the accused voluntarily.

According to the police, the accused have claimed that the woman had accompanied them of her own accord. They further alleged that an argument broke out at the lodge over the recording of a video. Following the altercation, they claimed to have dropped the woman back at her location, after which she lodged a complaint alleging gang-rape.

Police said they are also verifying the victim’s background and examining the statements of the accused to establish the facts of the case. Further investigation is underway.

However, the authorities are concerned about the development as Mysuru city is one of the major tourist destinations in the state, which attracts people from across the globe. The authorities have already started preparations for grand Dasara celebrations.

It can be recalled that a 10-year-old child was sexually assaulted and brutally murdered near Mysuru Palace on October 10, 2025. The victim’s family, along with about 50 others from the Hakki Pikki nomadic tribe community, had travelled from Kalaburagi to Mysuru for the Dasara festival to sell balloons and toys. They were camping near the Palace grounds and selling goods at different locations in the city. Mysuru Police launched a manhunt for the suspect and arrested Karthik from Kollegal. He allegedly attempted to flee during the arrest, forcing police to shoot him in the leg before taking him into custody.

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