Picture used for representational purpose only
VARANASI: Three days after action was taken against 22 policemen in Chandauli, two sub-inspectors and three constables in Ballia also came in the firing line for links with liquor smugglers.
Senior officials got intelligence inputs of a nexus between local cops and smuggler for transporting liquor in bordering Bihar, a dry state following which strict vigil and tip-offs enabled seizure of two big liquor consignments in Ballia by a special team after which policemen posted at Haldi and Dubahar police stations came on radar of SP Vipin Tada
On Sunday night, Tada ordered the attachment of sub-inspector Suryanath Yadav and constables Satish Yadav and Abhishek Yadav of Haldi police station, and SI Surjit Singh and constable Shivmangal Singh Yadav of Dubahar police station to police lines.
Varanasi: March 7, 2006, exactly 15 years ago, it was the first time when terror struck Varanasi, killing 28 and injuring or maiming over 100 in the twin blasts at Sankat Mochan temple and Cantonment railway station. One more IED was found at Dashashwamedh, but was defused in time. Those at the blast sites still recount the horror vividly.The serial blasts made police realize that the blast at Dashashwamedh Ghat on February 23, 2005, which was till termed LPG cylinder blast, was also a terror attack.
TOI spoke to auto driver Mahendra Prasad, food outlet owner Manoj and others near Cantt railway station and found the horrific memories were still etched somewhere deep even 15 years later.
A view of Ganga riverfront in Varanasi
Varanasi: In an effort to sensitise the people for considering the river Ganga and its tributaries as their responsibility, a mega cleanliness drive between Aadi Keshav Ghat and Ravidas Ghat will be kicked off by the district administration with the cooperation of various departments, social and voluntary organisations at 7 am on Sunday. The drive would continue on a monthly basis by including river Varuna, Asi and other tributaries in the future.
Divisional forest officer (social forestry division) and nodal officer for the event Mahavir Kaujalgi said, “So far 1,600 individuals and people associated with different social and voluntary organisations have been registered as volunteers for this drive, although participation is open for all. A registration process was followed to ensure that area for working during this drive remains decided to avoid congregation at any place.” “The volunteers will throng particular ghats and sites at 6.30
Kanpur: Indian women’s cricket team captain Mithali Raj and her team members were eagerly awaiting the first one-day international (ODI) match against South Africa to be played at Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Stadium, Lucknow on March 7 to prove their worth.
Addressing the media in a pre-match virtual press conference from Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on Saturday, Raj said that her team has some young players and a five one-day series would give an opportunity to young players to prove their talent.
“Moreover, the series will also give an opportunity to prepare the team for the World Cup. Also, the first ODI will also give an opportunity to develop coordination among the players and attain a good rhythm in batting and bowling,” she added.
Varanasi: The launch of mega Ganga cleanliness drive in the name of ‘Ganga Swachchta Abhiyan’ witnessed an overwhelming response from local denizens as over 1,900 volunteers thronged the ghats along river Ganga and removed 16 tonne of waste material from water surface and ghats in one hour on Sunday morning though only 1,600 had registered.
The drive has been initiated to make the sanitation drive initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi a grand success by sensitising and involving locals, said divisional commissioner Deepak Agrawal while participating in the cleanliness drive at Assi Ghat.
District magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma said, “The cleaning of ghats is already being ensured by the Varanasi Municipal Corporation. The basic objective behind launch of this mega drive is to make the people realizing that keeping Ganga and its ghats clean is their responsibility as well.”