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Alok Mohan gets 21-day extension as Karnataka DG & IGP to comply with SC’s fixed tenure mandate | Bengaluru News – The Times of India

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Alok Mohan gets 21-day extension as Karnataka DG & IGP to comply with SC’s fixed tenure mandate | Bengaluru News – The Times of India


BENGALURU: The uncertainty surrounding the appointment of Karnataka’s Director General and Inspector General of Police (DG&IGP) has ended, with chief minister Siddaramaiah granting a 21-day extension to incumbent Alok Mohan.
“Alok Mohan, who was scheduled to retire on April 30, will now remain in office until May 21,” a senior official in the Chief Minister’s Office confirmed on Monday.
“He was appointed to the post on May 22, 2023, and the extension ensures compliance with the Supreme Court’s directive of a fixed two-year tenure for the state police chief, regardless of superannuation.”
This marks a pivotal moment in Karnataka’s police leadership structure as the state adopts a rule-based approach to top-level police appointments in accordance with judicial guidelines.
“Until now, the DG&IGP’s tenure was determined by the discretion of the govt of the day,” the official added. “But that stands changed now. Like the CBI director, the Karnataka police chief will now enjoy a fixed two-year tenure.”
The change aligns with the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Prakash Singh vs Union of India case, which mandates that state govts appoint the DG from among the three seniormost IPS officers empanelled by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The ruling also insists that once appointed, the DG&IGP must serve a minimum of two years, irrespective of retirement age.
“The Director General of Police shall be selected based on seniority, a very good record, and relevant experience,” the Supreme Court ruled, setting the framework that Karnataka is now implementing.
Meanwhile, the search for the next police chief is intensifying. The Chief Minister has sent a list of five senior IPS officers to the UPSC for consideration.
“The five officers include Prashant Kumar Thakur, a non-controversial officer with strong bureaucratic ties; M Saleem, known for his efficient handling of Bengaluru’s traffic; Ramachandra Rao, who faced scrutiny after his daughter was caught smuggling gold from Dubai; P K Mohanty; and Alok Kumar, a taskmaster credited with reducing road fatalities on the Bengaluru-Mysuru highway through tech-based interventions,” a source familiar with the development said.
“The UPSC will now shortlist three officers from the five recommended, and the Chief Minister will pick one to take charge once Alok Mohan’s extended term ends,” the source added.





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2 held in Basirhat, STF seizes arms and ammo cache | Kolkata News – The Times of India

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2 held in Basirhat, STF seizes arms and ammo cache | Kolkata News – The Times of India



Kolkata: In a significant breakthrough against illegal arms trafficking at the India-Bangladesh border, the Bengal STF arrested two persons and seized a substantial cache of firearms and ammunition during a raid in Basirhat on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday. A total of 252 rounds of ammunition was seized, said SP (operations) Indrajit Basu.
Acting on intelligence, the STF team initially conducted a raid near Sishona Das Para, and arrested Diptajit Sen (29) and Kajal Mukherjee (40), both residents of Choto Jirakpur. During interrogation, the two revealed they had concealed illegal firearms and ammunition in their residences.
At Sen’s residence, officers recovered one 7mm semi-automatic pistol along with numerous live rounds of ammunition. A similar search at Mukherjee’s house yielded another 7mm semi-automatic pistol and additional ammunition stocks. The recovered ammunition comprised 132 rounds of 7.65mm calibre, 115 rounds of .32 calibre, and 5 rounds of 9mm ammunition.
“This operation represents a major success in our ongoing efforts to combat illegal arms trafficking in the India-Bangladesh border region,” said a senior STF officer. “The quantity and variety of ammunition recovered suggest links to a larger network of arms dealers operating in the area.”
Basirhat police station registered a case against both suspects following a complaint from the STF. They were produced before the ACJM Court in Basirhat and taken into police custody.





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Amrita Centre for Oncogenetics opened in Kozhikode

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Amrita Centre for Oncogenetics opened in Kozhikode


Swami Poornamrithanandapuri, general secretary of Matha Amrithanandamayi Math, inaugurated the ‘Amrita Centre for Oncogenetics’ at the ‘Amrita Kripa’ Speciality Clinic, a subsidiary of the Amrita Hospital in Kochi, at Vellimadukunnu in Kozhikode on Tuesday (April 29).

The centre aims to identify cancer in advance, using modern technology, including genetic testing, and provide suitable treatment in time. A panel of experts from the Kochi and Faridabad campuses of Amrita Hospital will be available in the Departments of Oncology and Genetics. The consultation is completely free at the Centre.



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Berhampur’s Thakurani Yatra ends | Bhubaneswar News – The Times of India

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Berhampur’s Thakurani Yatra ends | Bhubaneswar News – The Times of India


Berhampur: The 25-day-long biennial Thakurani Yatra, a vibrant and historic festival in Berhampur, concluded early Tuesday morning with the ceremonial return of Maa Budhi Thakurani to her temple. The deity, revered as the presiding goddess of the city, began her return journey from her temporary abode at Desibehera Street around midnight on Monday.
Thousands of devotees lined the streets through the night, with many — including women from far-flung areas of Odisha and neighbouring Andhra Pradesh — waiting for hours to take part in the sacred ghata (earthen pot) procession. The ritual, in which hundreds of women carried symbolic pots as part of the farewell ceremony, continued until 9:30 am near the deity’s temple.
Around 11 platoons of forces and 50 officers were deployed in the city to maintain law and order and manage the crowd. “We made elaborate security arrangements to ensure the peaceful conclusion of the festival,” said Saravana Vivek M, SP (Berhampur). No untoward incidents were reported, he said.
The festival began on April 3 with the goddess’s symbolic visit to her paternal home at Desibehera Street, which was marked by the setting up of a temporary temple. Over the 25 days, the city transformed into a canvas of colours, lights, and culture. Locals and visitors alike took part in thematic performances, donning elaborate costumes to portray mythological figures, animals, and even Buddhist monks.
Street after street turned into open-air stages — from the banar sena of Sri Ram parading through Gandhi Nagar and Tulasi Nagar, to Guru Nanak and his followers in Dalua Street. In Bijipur, people dressed as Lord Buddha and monks led a peace-themed procession. “World peace and communal harmony is the core message of our attire,” said Tuku Dalai, one of the organisers of the Buddha monk procession, which saw participation from around 70 people chanting hymns on Sunday.





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