Allegations of Abuse Surface at Hooghly Private Home; Four Arrested
Police in Hooghly district arrested four people, including the owner, secretary, and two staff members of a private home in Nabagram, on charges of physically abusing a 26-year-old woman resident. The woman lodged a complaint with the Serampore Women’s Police Station on Thursday, police officials said. Acting swiftly, investigators arrested the four accused on Friday. One of them has been remanded to three days of police custody by a Serampore court, while the others have been sent to 14 days of judicial custody. Among those arrested is the home’s secretary, Ajay Chattopadhyay, a former Trinamool Congress (TMC) member of the Nabagram panchayat. Police sources said Chattopadhyay wields influence locally through his connections in various institutions. Trinamool leaders moved quickly to distance the party from the controversy. Apurba Majumdar, the party’s Nabagram area president, said: “The victim is a bright young woman preparing for a government job. She had earlier brought complaints against the home to our office, and we advised her to go to the police. Ajay is no longer with TMC, though he still has influence. Whoever is guilty will face punishment.” Opposition leaders, however, seized the opportunity to attack the ruling party. CPI(M) leader Ashish Dey alleged: “TMC is now trying to wash its hands of responsibility. Ajay contested the Nabagram Cooperative Bank election as a TMC candidate and served earlier as a director on its board. He has long been an active TMC worker. The party cannot escape accountability.” BJP leaders also weighed in. Rajesh Rajak, BJP’s Nabagram mandal president, said: “We know Ajay well; he has multiple faces. He has been part of TMC, so naturally he had close ties with the panchayat. If the allegations are true, police must act strictly.” Some staff members of the home defended its owner, claiming they had never witnessed Ajay behave inappropriately. The case comes amid a spate of controversies involving private homes and rehabilitation centers in Uttarpara. On Friday, the head of a de-addiction center was bludgeoned to death by two residents. Months earlier, another resident died under suspicious circumstances at a separate facility. Repeated allegations have sparked fresh scrutiny of private institutions in the district.
PM Modi unveils Rs 9000 cr development package for Mizoram, inaugurates historic rail link to Aizawl
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced a development push of more than 9,000 crore rupees ($1.1 billion) for Mizoram, including the inauguration of the state’s first rail link to its capital, Aizawl — a project he hailed as a historic milestone for India’s Northeast. While poor weather prevented Modi from attending a public gathering in the city, he addressed the people virtually from Lengpui Airport and expressed gratitude for what he called the “warm reception of the Mizo people.” The highlight of the day was the launch of the 51.4-kilometer Bairabi-Sairang rail line, built at a cost of 8,070 crore rupees. The line connects Aizawl to India’s railway network for the first time, with Sairang set to be linked to Delhi by the Rajdhani Express. Modi called the project a “lifeline of transformation” for Mizoram and the broader Northeast. “This is not just a railway track,” Modi said. “It will bring progress in agriculture, education, healthcare, tourism, transport and employment for the people of Mizoram.” The project posed major engineering challenges due to the hilly terrain, requiring 45 tunnels, 55 major bridges and 88 smaller bridges. Modi praised the engineers and workers who carried out the construction in difficult conditions. The prime minister also used his address to attack what he described as decades of “vote-bank politics” by previous governments, which he said neglected the Northeast because of its small number of parliamentary seats. “Our government has brought those who were kept on the margins into the mainstream,” he said. Modi highlighted his government’s record in the region over the past 11 years, citing investments in rural roads, national highways, internet connectivity, electricity, LPG and clean drinking water. He said Mizoram will also benefit from expanded air services under the UDAN scheme, with new helicopter routes to remote areas starting soon. Underlining Mizoram’s strategic importance, Modi said the state is central to India’s Act East Policy, which seeks closer economic ties with Southeast Asia. He noted projects such as the Kaladan Multimodal Transport initiative and the planned Sairang-Hmawngbuchhuah rail link, which will connect Mizoram to the Bay of Bengal and beyond. The prime minister also focused on youth and entrepreneurship. He said the region already hosts more than 4,500 startups and 25 incubators, while residential schools under the A-Club model are expanding. “The innovation ecosystem is growing in the Northeast, and Mizoram’s youth are at its center,” Modi said. Sport was another theme of the address, with Modi praising Mizoram’s football culture and promising more infrastructure under the Khelo India scheme. He said a new national sports policy will boost opportunities and strengthen the sports economy. Modi encouraged promotion of local products such as bamboo, organic ginger, turmeric and bananas, while pointing to tax reforms under the Goods and Services Tax that reduced costs of essential goods. Citing India’s 7.8% GDP growth in the first quarter of the current fiscal year, Modi described the country as the fastest-growing major economy. He said economic growth was tied to national security, referencing Operation Sindoor, where domestically produced weapons played a role. “Mizoram is not only a part of India’s story of development but also a crucial partner in building a developed India,” Modi said. The inauguration of the Bairabi-Sairang rail line, long awaited by the people of Mizoram, is expected to redefine connectivity in the state and give a major push to economic growth across the Northeast.
Madhya Pradesh High Court issues notice over ‘Jolly LLB 3’ song
The Madhya Pradesh High Court has issued notices to Bollywood actors Akshay Kumar and Arshad Warsi, along with producer Alok Jain, director Subhash Kapoor and others, in response to a public interest litigation challenging a song from the upcoming film Jolly LLB 3. A division bench of Chief Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva and Justice Vinay Saraf on Friday directed the parties to file their replies by Sept. 17, just two days before the film’s scheduled release on Sept. 19. The petition, filed by advocate Pranjal Tiwari of Jabalpur, argues that the song “Bhai Vakeel Hai” undermines the dignity of the legal profession. Tiwari, represented by advocates Pramod Singh Tomar and Arzoo Ali, cited lyrics including “Rago mein tigdambaazi hai, har taale ki chaabi hai … har case ki package deal hai, fikr na kar tera bhai vakeel hai” as portraying lawyers in a derogatory and frivolous light. The petition claims the song defames the legal profession, mocks the sanctity of courtroom attire and violates Section 5(b) of the Cinematograph Act, 1952, which restricts content affecting public morality and decency. Kumar and Warsi are shown dancing in lawyers’ gowns and neckbands, which the petitioner said ridicules judicial decorum and could negatively influence young viewers. The state’s counsel told the court that the Allahabad High Court had earlier dismissed a similar plea seeking a stay on the film’s release. Taking note, the Madhya Pradesh High Court said the inclusion of the producer and director was crucial for judicial consideration. Other respondents in the case include the state government, the principal secretary of the home department, the secretary of information and broadcasting, and the chairman of the Central Board of Film Certification. With the hearing set just before the film’s release, the court’s decision will be closely watched by both the legal fraternity and the film industry.
