Crime

The girl was also allegedly hit with a stone by the accused when she started to scream.

Image for representation

A shocking incident of child sexual abuse has come into light from Andhra Pradesh's Kurnool district, as a 9-year-old girl was allegedly raped by an unidentified man who hit her with a stone when she resisted. While the incident took place late on Friday, it came to light on Sunday. The minor is a Class 4 student and the police said that the incident took place when she went out to relieve herself. Officials suspect that the accused may have lured the girl to an isolated spot near a godown, where no one was around, by offering her something. Speaking to TNM, Yemmiganur Town Inspector Sreedhar Raju said, "The girl seems to have gone to attend nature’s call when the accused committed the crime. As she screamed, he hit her with a stone to silence her. She has received 14 stitches on her head due to the injury.""By the time her parents searched for her and found her, she was lying in a pool of blood and the accused had fled from the scene,” he added. The police said that they were carrying out the investigation swiftly and CCTV footage and movements of strangers in the locality is being examined. A case has been registered under Section 307 (attempt to murder) of the IPC and Section 4 of the POCSO act (Punishment for aggravated sexual assault). "Once the girl is able to give a statement, we will consider it accordingly and include more charges,” the Inspector said. This is the latest in a series of heinous crimes against women and children to be reported from the Telugu states. In the last week of September, the Hyderabad city police had arrested a 25-year-old man for allegedly raping his nine-year-old niece. In August, a local court in Warangal awarded the death penalty to a man who was accused of raping and killing a 9-month-old girl child, after a speedy trial. The incident, which had taken place in Hanamkonda town, had triggered massive protests across the state, demanding strict action against the accused. Read: Child rape accused given death penalty by Warangal court, trial ends in less than 2 months

Body 2:

Politics

The leaders visited KK Kottala village and interacted with locals who were affected by uranium mining in Tummalapalle in Kadapa district.

TNM Staff

Image: Facebook/Kalava Srinivasulu

A delegation of opposition leaders in Andhra Pradesh visited locals in Kadapa district on Sunday who were affected by uranium mining in the region, and urged the state government to stop proposed mining in the Nallamalla forest region. CPI State secretary K Ramakrishna, former minister Bhuma Akhila Priya, TDP politburo member Kalava Srinivasulu, CPI (ML) leader B Harinath and Forward Bloc (L) leader M Mastan were among those who visited KK Kottala village and interacted with locals. They also visited the tailing pond of the uranium mine in Tummalapalle. Representatives of the Jana Sena Party and the Aam Aadmi Party were also present. The Tummalapalle uranium mine is operated by the Uranium Corporation of India Ltd (UCIL), a centrally-owned public sector undertaking. A tailing pond refers to a wet storage area where the by-products discharged from the mine are transported by a pipeline for containment, but locals in the area have alleged that the slush was seeping into their farmland and water bodies and destroying their crops. With borewell drilling taking place for collecting uranium samples by the Atomic Minerals Directorate (AMD) for exploration and research in neighbouring Kurnool district, leaders have protested the move. Speaking to reporters, K Ramakrishna said, “While the drilling for uranium samples has temporarily been stopped, we are told that the AMD is trying to restart it. We are planning to meet [CM] Jagan Mohan Reddy soon to give a representation to him. If needed, we will also approach Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his intervention." The leaders also pointed out that the mining in Tummalapalle had affected lives in Jagan's home constituency of Pulivendula, and demanded that the Chief Minister clear his stand on the proposed mining in Kurnool district. Read: Panel says pollution in AP's Tummalapalle not due to uranium mine, activists cry foul India’s rush for nuclear power may destroy Nallamala forest ecosystem

Body 2:

Judiciary

The oath was administered by Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan at Tummalapalli Kalakshetram in Vijayawada on Monday.

TNM Staff

Justice JK Maheshwari was sworn in as the Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh High Court on Monday. Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan administered the oath at a ceremony at Tummalapalli Kalakshetram in Vijayawada. Justice Maheshwari took charge as the first Chief Justice of the recently bifurcated Andhra Pradesh High Court. Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy was also present at the ceremony, along with lawyers and officials from the Andhra Pradesh High Court. Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary LV Subrahmanyam initiated the proceedings. Justice Jitendra Kumar Maheshwari was earlier working as a senior judge at the Madhya Pradesh High Court. His elevation to this post was proposed by the Supreme Court Collegium in its resolution dated August 22, 2019. The position of the Andhra Pradesh High Court Chief Justice had been lying vacant since the day of its inception. Following its creation, the High Court, which was functioning from the state capital Amaravati, was being headed by the Acting Chief Justice Chagari Praveen Kumar, along with 12 other sitting judges. Justice Maheshwari was an advocate at the Madhya Pradesh High Court from 1985 and had been appointed as a judge of Madhya Pradesh HC in 2005. The appointment was announced by the Centre on October 3, along with the change of chief justices in as many as six other High Courts. Justice Ravi Shanker Jha, Acting Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, was appointed as Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana HC, while Justice Indrajit Mohanty of the Bombay High Court was given charge as Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court. Justice Arup K Goswami was appointed as Sikkim High Court Chief Justice and Justice Ajai Lamba was appointed as Chief Justice of Guwahati. Justice S. Manikumar of the Madras High Court was appointed as the Chief Justice of Kerala High Court.

Body 2:

Caste violence

An activist alleges that police did not file a case until pressure was mounted from Dalit rights groups.

Jahnavi Reddy

An inter-caste couple and some of their relatives were allegedly attacked by nearly 200 members related to the woman’s family in Yerpedu mandal of Chittoor district in Andhra Pradesh on Friday night. However, police registered an FIR only after civil society groups and locals protested in front of the DSP’s office, according to activist Janamala Guravayya. According to a video made by the couple seeking police protection, last week, Mahesh, who belongs to the Mala community, a Scheduled Caste, married Sneha, who is from the Yadava community (an OBC community). After the wedding in Sullurupeta, the couple approached Tirupati Urban SP citing threats from Sneha’s family. The officer directed them to the CI of Alipiri, who assured them of safety and sent them back home to Yerpedu. However, on Friday night, Sneha’s relatives arrived at the SC colony, where the couple had been staying with Mahesh’s relatives. A woman relative of Mahesh told local media that about 200 people arrived at their neighbourhood to attack them. “Their men physically attacked our women, dragged us out by the hair and insulted us. This went on for nearly 45 minutes but the police, who were nearby, didn’t respond until our men went and requested them to take action,” she claimed. The mob had arrived with sickles, knives, acid bottles and even a hammer, breaking down the door of the room where the couple was staying. However, there were no serious injuries, the police said. According to Guravayya, the SP had directed the couple to Alipiri CI saying he was busy with work related to the Srivari Brahmotsavam, an annual festival celebrated at the Venkateshwara temple in Tirumala. He also alleged that though the CI had assured them of safety, the local police station, which is situated right next to the SC colony, was understaffed as many police personnel had been sent on security duties for the Brahmotsavam. CI Sivakumar Reddy said that an FIR has been registered against 14 of Sneha’s relatives under the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, as well as Section 307 (attempt to murder). But Guravayya has claimed that this was done only after pressure from Dalit rights groups. Renigunta DSP is now investigating the case. However, no arrests have been made so far. Police protection has now been provided to the couple and Mahesh’s relatives in the SC colony.

Body 2:

Power

Former Andhra Chief Minister had claimed that though a cheaper option was available, the government was purchasing coal at a much higher price.

TNM Staff

File Photo of Dr Narla Tata Rao Thermal Power Station/Wikimedia Commons: Srikar Kashyap

The Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Corporation (APGENCO) has responded to former Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s allegations over purchasing coal from Singareni at a high price, claiming that a cheaper option was available at Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL). Targeting the Andhra government over frequent power cuts, Naidu had on Thursday alleged that the government was buying coal at a much higher price. In an official statement, APGENCO Managing Director B Sreedhar has stated that the state government has been procuring additional coal from Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) since as early as 2014, as the coal linkage amount allocated from MCL has been insufficient for the Dr Narla Tata Rao Thermal Power Station (Dr NTTPS) in Vijayawada. According to the statement, the linkage from MCL to Dr NTTPS is 8.312 MTPA (million tonnes per annum), while the requirement of the station is 10 MTPA. Besides, only 60 to 70% of the linkage quantity was materialising each year from MCL, the statement said. “Since the state bifurcation, linkage has been given to Dr NTTPS only from MCL. We usually get only about 60 to 70 percent of the coal, so to bridge the gap, we are procuring from Singareni,” APGENCO Thermal Power Director G Chandrasekhar Raju told TNM. According to the statement, APGENCO had bought coal from Singareni for the years 2014-15 and 2015-16 at the weighted average e-auction price. From 2016-17, onwards, the energy corporation entered an MoU with SCCL, after which it began to pay an additional amount of 20 per cent of the basis price for power sector, over the notified price. From 2018-19 onwards, the additional price is calculated as 20 per cent of basis price for the non-power sector. This pricing follows the New Coal Distribution Policy (NCDP) of Union Ministry of Coal, Chandrasekhar said, adding that the same pricing was followed during the previous TDP government as well. Even in 2016-17, the MoU signed with SCCL was for 50 lakh MT, which is the same as the amount for which the 2019-20 MoU was signed, the statement said. On Thursday, Naidu had tweeted about frequent power cuts in Andhra Pradesh, saying, “Power Purchase Agreements were maligned even though solar and wind power was available at Rs 3 to 4.84 per unit. Is it not malicious to now purchase energy at Rs 11.68 per unit? What can one say when the price of coal at Mahanadi Coal Mines is Rs 1,600 per tonne, and they’re buying it from Singareni at Rs 3,700 per tonne?” పవర్ పర్చేజ్ అగ్రిమెంట్ల (పిపిఏ)పై దుష్ప్రచారం చేసి సోలార్, విండ్ పవర్ యూనిట్ ధర రూ.3 నుంచి రూ.4.84కే వస్తుంటే, శ్రద్ధ పెట్టకుండా ఇప్పుడు రూ.11.68కు విద్యుత్ కొనడం దుర్మార్గపు చర్య కాదా? మహానది కోల్ మైన్స్ లో టన్ను ధర రూ.1600 ఉంటే, సింగరేణిలో రూ.3,700కు కొనడాన్ని ఏమనాలి? — N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) October 3, 2019 “There is no minimum awareness of keeping coal reserves handy as a precautionary measure. How should one comprehend this act of pushing villages and people into darkness through power shortage, without seeking alternatives, and increasing financial burden on the state?” Naidu had added. However, the APGENCO Thermal Power Director said that the cost of Rs 3,700 at Singareni includes the additional costs as per the NCDP as well as transport costs, while the cost of Rs 1,600 at MCL is only the base price. The YSRCP government under Jagan Mohan Reddy has claimed that the DISCOMs (power distribution companies) in the state were going through a financial crisis and one of the main reasons for this was the higher tariffs in the wind and solar PPAs, seeking to withdraw 21 PPAs with renewable energy companies. Union Minister for Power and New and Renewable Energy, RK Singh, had earlier written to the state government requesting not to cancel the agreements, but Jagan had remained defiant, saying, “We have inherited a bankrupt exchequer with a huge deficit of Rs 2.62 lakh crore, the DISCOMs’ unpaid generator dues of Rs 20,000 crore and accumulated losses of DISCOMs of Rs 15,000 crore.”

Body 2:

Crime

The police said that one of the accused would procure drugs by accessing the dark web and pay for the substances in bitcoins.

TNM Staff

The Nellore police in Andhra Pradesh uncovered a major drug racket with the arrest of four persons, seizing 600 mg of Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and 900 mg of Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), besides 1.04 grams of cocaine. The accused were identified as 23-year-old Lakshminarayana from Chennai, 21-year-old Nellore degree student Sadiq, and two African nationals — Samuel Uche from Nigeria and Yehiram Nunes from Guinea-Bissau. Speaking to reporters on Monday, District Superintendent of Police Aishwarya Rastogi said that the racket mainly targeted students and young men in Nellore town. Lakshminarayana would procure drugs through a friend by accessing the dark web and paid for the substances in bitcoins, while Samuel and Yehiram would purchase drugs from Bengaluru, investigation officials said. An initial probe stated that the visas of both African natives had expired and they were found to be residing illegally in India. Sadiq, who was a user himself, would purchase the drugs from the other three accused and supply it to his friends in Nellore, the police said. The police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and Registration of Foreigners Act. In April this year, the arrest of four persons in Visakhapatnam highlighted a similar issue. At the time, the police said that unemployed youth in their early and late 20s who are addicted to hard drugs like LSD and MDMA were turning peddlers to fund their addiction and make a quick buck. Officials suspected that at least 40 youth, who frequently attend rave parties, could be involved in peddling small quantities of the drugs. Read: Araku weed in return for LSD, Ecstasy: Vizag cops suspect barter deals in drug trade When dopers turn dealers: How India’s party drug users are peddling for a quick buck

Body 2:

Controversy

The YSRCP MP alleged that Ravi "abused his position to blackmail and extort unaccounted money and assets in exchange for various favours."

Nitin B.

Rajya Sabha MP and YSRCP General Secretary Y S Vijayasai Reddy has written to the Chief Justice of India, alleging that media baron and former TV9 CEO Ravi Prakash, who is presently embroiled in a legal battle with the Telangana government, indulged in money laundering worth several hundred crore."This is to bring to your kind notice that Ravi Prakash, who is in the electronic media business, has misused and abused his position to blackmail and extort unaccounted money and assets in exchange for various favours in news channels and social media platforms," the letter states. The police in Hyderabad are presently investigating a case of forgery and cheating against Ravi Prakash, who was forced to step down earlier this year, after the Board of Associated Broadcasting Company Private Limited (ABCPL) passed a resolution revoking all powers vested with him."He illegally acquired a lot of unaccounted wealth which he has stashed in foreign countries which amounts to serious offences under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), RBI Regulations, Income Tax Act (IT Act) and other such laws," the YSRCP MP alleged. Alleging that Ravi Prakash was close to Sana Satish Babu, who is presently under investigation by the CBI in connection with a money laundering case, Vijayasai claimed that the media baron had opened several bank accounts, including ones in Zambia. The YSRCP MP alleged that Ravi Prakash had invested in a company called Kampala Siti Cable Limited, based in Zambia, but had failed to disclose the same in his Income Tax returns."In 2009, Ravi Prakash had purchased ordinary shares amounting to 90% of the total shareholding in Kampala Siti Cable Limited for consideration of Rs 34 per share. However, in the very same year, other parties had purchased the same ordinary shares amounting to 10% of total shareholding for consideration of Rs 140 per share," Vijayasai wrote. "It is not just the hefty difference in consideration paid that raises suspicion, but also the fact that a profit-making cable company has issued its valuable shares at such a discounted price to Ravi Prakash," he added. The YSRCP MP alleged that Ravi Prakash had struck similar deals in Nairobi in Kenya and in Media NXT Limited in India, besides iCast International, Inc and Maaya Vision LLC, which have its offices in the United States."The above are some of the illegal activities which he has done and acquired huge wealth in foreign countries and is also drawing commissions from these companies regularly. This complaint is given in national interest," Vijayasai said. Demanding a CBI and ED probe, the YSRCP MP requested the CJI to "put a stop to their illegal acts and ill-gotten wealth through blackmailing, extortion and doing illegal favours using his clout in the media business to accumulate illegal wealth and consequently causing huge loss to national exchequer." Ravi Prakash is presently embroiled in a dispute with Alanda Media, which bought more than 90.54% stake in TV9 recently. The company has alleged that Ravi Prakash actively opposed Alanda's move to appoint four directors and he had 'malafide intention'. In a recent complaint to the Banjara Hills police, Alanda alleged that Ravi Prakash drew a total of Rs 6.36 crore between September 2018 and May 2019, while Murthy drew Rs 5.97 crore during the same time period, and allegedly tried to pass it off as a bonus and ex-gratia with "antedated documents without passing a proper board resolution." Alanda stated that the Board of Directors held a meeting on September 24, where they had detailed deliberations on the withdrawal of the amounts and decided to initiate legal proceedings to recover the money. However, those close to Ravi Prakash have been pointing out that the complaint filed by Alanda was dated September 4 but mentions a Board meeting held on September 24. While the police attributed this to a typo and stated that the complaint was received on October 4, Ravi's aides point out that this would mean that the police investigated a financial fraud, which would require at least checking bank statements, in less than 18 hours. Sources also pointed out that Ravi Prakash had been appearing at a police station frequently, and said that his arrest without serving a notice, was unwarranted. As far as allegations of drawing large amounts of money are concerned, they claim that this was a bonus which Ravi Prakash and the others were entitled to. Read: Ex-TV9 CEO Ravi Prakash taken into custody again by Hyderabad police This is not the first time that Vijaya Sai Reddy, a close aide of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy, has lashed out at Ravi Prakash. In May this year, the YSRCP MP dubbed Ravi a 'traitor'. Incidentally, Vijayasai Reddy himself is an accused in cases registered against him and Jagan under the PMLA. In 2012, the CBI had arrested Vijayasai Reddy in a quid-pro-quo case, and he had spent several months in jail. Read: Battle for TV9: Founder Ravi Prakash says businessman staged coup, wants editorial control

Body 2:

Politics

Jupudi Prabhakara Rao was close to Jagan's late father and former CM Y S Rajasekhar Reddy, while Akula Satyanarayana was with the BJP and Jana Sena earlier.

TNM Staff

Two senior politicians – former MLC Jupudi Prabhakara Rao, and former Jana Sena party member Akula Satyanarayana – met with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy and joined the YSRCP on Tuesday. Speaking to reporters after joining the YSRCP, Jupudi, a senior leader from the Mala community, said that Jagan had emerged as a winner with a clear mandate of the people. "Jagan is like a messiah. We may have strayed to other places like sheep, but we are back now, because it is clear that the people of the state have spoken, and they seek the rule of the YSRCP," Jupudi said. "Jagan has spent the last 10 years amongst the people, understanding their issues," he added. Jupudi Prabhakara Rao was close to Jagan's late father and former chief minister, Y S Rajasekhar Reddy. While Jupudi was with Jagan when the YSRCP had been formed, he joined the TDP in 2014. Akula, a former BJP MLA who won in the 2014 elections, had submitted his resignation to the Speaker in January this year and moved to Pawan Kalyan's Jana Sena Party. He even got a Jana Sena ticket from Rajahmundry but lost during the election. After joining the YSRCP, Akula told reporters, "I recently resigned from the Jana Sena and now have joined the YSRCP. We have seen many political parties forget about their manifesto after the elections, but today we are seeing that Jagan has been implementing all his promises and ensuring transparency." Just last month, former senior leader from TDP and ex-Ramachandrapuram MLA Thota Trimurthulu joined the ruling YSRCP after meeting with Jagan at the latter's residence in Tadepalli in Amaravati. A strongman in East Godavari district, Trimurthulu's decision had come as a big blow to the TDP. In the elections held this year, the YSRCP had bagged 151 seats in the 175-member Legislative Assembly. It also won 22 out of 25 Lok Sabha seats that were up for grabs in Andhra. Read: As BJP threatens to capture TDP turf, Naidu looks to protect his boundaries in AP

Body 2:

Politics

The BJP alleged that funds sanctioned under the Centre's Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan scheme was being used to repaint school buildings in YSRCP party colours.

TNM Staff

The Andhra Pradesh unit of the BJP on Tuesday alleged that funds being sanctioned by the Centre to the state was being misused by the YSRCP government, led by Jagan Mohan Reddy. In a statement, party spokesperson Lanka Dinakar alleged that funds sanctioned under the Centre's Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan scheme for running local government schools was being misused as YSRCP party colours were being painted on the buildings, "as observed in Kotalaparru village in Achanta Assembly Constituency in West Godavari District.""Andhra government should use funds for better infrastructure and quality in rural education for underprivileged students rather than waste the public money of government exchequer to propagate political parties," Lanka Dinakar said. The BJP had previously objected to the government using YSRCP party colours on village secretariats in Andhra Pradesh. The party also took note of a video doing the rounds which showed police personnel pasting posters and stickers of the YSRCP and Jagan Mohan Reddy on auto rickshaws."What is the function of police in the state? Public servants like police are being used by the Andhra Pradesh government for the sake of propaganda. Should a traffic constable work to control the traffic on the roads, or paste YSRCP stickers?" Dinakar said in his statement. "It has become a common practice for regional parties to use government machinery for their personal use in their ruling states, and this has reached a peak level in Andhra Pradesh," the BJP leader added. In the last week of August, the Andhra Pradesh government’s order to repaint the existing Gram Panchayat offices to resemble the colours of the ruling YSRCP and to put Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy’s photos on the name board drew severe flak from the opposition parties in the state. Read: Opposition fumes as AP govt orders Panchayat offices to be painted in YSRCP colours BJP hopes to use Jagan’s faith against him in Andhra, but will it work?

Body 2:

Religion

District Superintendent of Police Dr Fakkeerappa Kaginelli told reporters that around 1 lakh people attended the event.

TNM Staff

Around 50 people were injured, at least four of them seriously, at an annual stick fight ritual in Andhra Pradesh's Kurnool district on Tuesday, as part of the local 'Banni' festival. The festival takes place at Devaragattu village on the eve of Dussehra, where thousands descend each year, carrying flaming torches and long sticks. People from nearby villages in Andhra Pradesh and Bellary district in Karnataka also participate in the event. District Superintendent of Police Dr Fakkeerappa Kaginelli told reporters that around 1 lakh people attended the event, most of whom were young men. He also said that those who had been injured were availing treatment at a hospital in Adoni. The festival, held in honour of the Mala Malleswara Swamy temple in the village, involves a stick-fight where participants try and take possession of two deities, believing that it would bring prosperity to their village if they managed to bring any of the idols to their side. The temple is owned and managed by the residents of Neraniki village who protect these deities. According to folklore, the locals tell a story of two demons, Mani and Mallasura, who lived in the hillocks nearby, and had caused a lot of trouble to some saints. The saints in turn, prayed to Lord Parameswara and Parvati to rescue them, following which Parameswara is said to have appeared on a stone atop the hillock and eliminated the demons on the night of Dussehra. However, the ritual has not been without controversy as several people get injured each year. Deaths have also been reported in the past due to severe injuries from the festivities, despite counselling from authorities and advisories against conducting the ritual. This year too, the police had beefed up security and installed CCTV cameras across the village and deployed up to 1,000 personnel to ensure that the festivities took place without any untoward incident. Drones have also been used in the past to monitor the event.

Body 2:

Weather

Weathermen have attributed the rain to a cyclonic circulation over north coastal Andhra.

TNM Staff

Image for representation

Heavy rain is expected to lash Andhra Pradesh on Thursday, with the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued two alerts — one for the state's Rayalaseema region and another for north coastal Andhra."Heavy rain very likely to occur at isolated places over north coastal Andhra Pradesh. Thunderstorm accompanied by lightning very likely to occur at isolated places," the IMD said."Thunderstorm accompanied with lightning very likely to occur at isolated places over Rayalaseema," it added. Weathermen have attributed the rain to a cyclonic circulation over north coastal Andhra. Skymet Weather reported that in the post-monsoon season, the state's Rayalaseema region; comprising four districts Kadapa, Kurnool, Anantapur and Chittoor, received excess rainfall of 28%, while coastal Andhra Pradesh was looking at a 52% deficit. Meanwhile, in a tragic incident, around 150 sheep died in Vedullapalle village in Andhra's Guntur district on Wednesday after a lightning strike. The sheep were kept inside an enclosure and the damage due to the deaths is expected to be around Rs 7 lakh. Speaking to the media, the owners of the sheep sought financial assistance from the state government. September witnessed 50% excess rainfall, and saw Andhra Pradesh and Telangana register above normal rainfall during the southwest monsoon period spread from June to September. While Telangana received 6% excess rainfall between June and September, it was 10% above normal in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, according to the IMD. Despite having nearly 40% deficit in June due to a delayed monsoon and its sluggish movement during July, heavy rains in the subsequent months helped both states to overcome the shortfall. During September, Andhra Pradesh received 229.1 mm rainfall against a normal of 152.5. According to the IMD, the rainfall was excess in East Godavari and Guntur districts while it was normal in the remaining eight districts. Read: Telangana and Andhra receive 50% excess rainfall in September

Body 2:

Crime

This is the second time in ten days that Kodela Sivarama Krishna has surrendered before a court, as several cases have been registered against him and his late father.

TNM Staff

Kodela Sivarama Krishna, the son of former Andhra Pradesh Speaker Kodela Siva Prasada Rao, surrendered before the Mangalagiri court in Guntur district on Wednesday in connection to a case of furniture theft booked against him. Soon after he surrendered, Sivarama was released on conditional bail. Kodela Siva Prasada Rao, a senior leader of the opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP), had killed himself at his house in Hyderabad on September 16. Sivarama appeared in front of the local magistrate after a High Court order, based on a police case booked against him and his father on August 25 for allegedly diverting Assembly furniture to unauthorised places. This included a private showroom belonging to Sivaram Krishna. The High Court granted conditional bail and the accused will have to visit the Thullur police station every Friday. On October 1, Sivarama had surrendered before a Narasaraopet court in connection with multiple cases of extortion. The court granted him anticipatory bail. On August 31, the Andhra Pradesh High Court had directed both Siva Prasada Rao and his son to surrender in cases registered by the police against them on complaints of extortion. The High Court passed the orders and had refused to grant them anticipatory bail. After the TDP lost power in May and Siva Prasada Rao was defeated in Narasaraopet constituency, several cases were booked against him and his family members, after people complained that they exploited them through extortion over the last few years. Police had also booked Siva Prasada Rao and his son on August 25 under Sections 409 (cheating) and 411 (dishonestly receiving stolen property) of the IPC for diverting the furniture. The former Speaker had admitted that while shifting the Assembly furniture and equipment to Amaravati from Hyderabad in 2016, some of it was taken to his office-cum-residence in Sattenapalli. He said this was done as the furniture could have got damaged in the temporary Assembly building. He had also claimed that he wrote to the legislature secretary, asking him to take back the furniture. He had also offered to pay for the furniture. Read: Political battle over Kodela’s suicide: YSRCP releases new letters to counter TDP Ground report: The fragile calm and violent political history of Palnadu

Body 2:

Law

The man had filed an appeal in the Supreme court against a 2012 Andhra Pradesh High Court judgement.

IANS

The Supreme Court has ordered dissolution of a marriage of an estranged couple, living separately for 22 years and failing to reconcile their differences. The court termed the marriage "unworkable, emotionally dead, beyond salvage and broken down irretrievably". A bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and M.R. Shah said: "We are of the opinion that while protecting the interest of the respondent wife to compensate her by way of a lump sum permanent alimony, this is a fit case to exercise the powers under Article 142 of the Constitution of India and to dissolve the marriage between the parties." Article 142, 'Enforcement of decrees and orders of Supreme Court and unless as to discovery, etc', empowers the apex court to "...pass such decree or make such order as is necessary for doing complete justice in any cause or matter pending before it...". The husband had filed an appeal in the Supreme court against the 2012 Andhra Pradesh High Court judgement, upholding the family court decision to refuse to pass a decree of divorce against the wife. The couple had got married in 1993, but later, a difference of opinion emerged, with the husband alleging that cruelty was meted out to him. Till 1997, for a majority of time, the wife stayed at her parental house. The husband filed a divorce petition in 1999 before a family court in Hyderabad."If both parties to the marriage agree for separation permanently, in that case, certainly both the parties can move the competent court... Only in a case where one of the parties do not agree and give consent, only then the powers under Article 142 of the Constitution of India are required to be invoked to do substantial justice between the parties, considering the facts and circumstances of the case," said the court observing all the efforts to continue the marriage have failed, and there is no possibility of reunion. The court opined for a lump-sum permanent alimony of Rs 20 lakh for the wife, and referred the case,"a fit case to exercise the powers under Article 142 of the Constitution and to dissolve the marriage between the parties". It directed the husband to pay the wife within a period of eight weeks. The top court declined to entertain the submission of the wife, who emphasized consent by both the parties before dissolving the marriage and the same is applicable even in exercise of powers under Article 142. In a series of judgements, the court has exercised its inherent powers under Article 142 for dissolution of a marriage.

Body 2:

Governance

In the second phase between November 1 and December 31, the state government plans to take up secondary screening.

TNM Staff

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy launched the 'YSR Kanti Velugu' in Anantapur on Thursday. The scheme, which provides free eye care, was one of the poll promises of the ruling YSRCP. Speaking at the event and addressing a gathering at the Junior College grounds in Anantapur, Jagan said that in the first phase of the scheme, launched on the occasion of World Sight Day, over 70 lakh school students, studying in 62,503 schools, will be screened between October 10 and 16. In the second phase between November 1 and December 31, the state government plans to take up secondary screening during which further tests and treatment apart from providing spectacles will be done. "There are about 2.12 crore people in the state with ailments and 80% of these can be avoided with precaution. We have taken up this scheme with Rs 560.88 crore and will provide tests, treatment, surgeries in six phases spread over three years," Jagan said. In the third to sixth phase, Jagan said that mass eye screenings would be conducted as part of secondary and tertiary care management, which would include cataract surgeries, besides checking for glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy."In all, 1145 Primary Health Centres, 195 Community Health Centres, 28 Area Hospitals, 13 District Hospitals,11 Tertiary Hospitals (Including 2 Regional Eye Hospitals), 115 Vision Centres, 13 District Blindness Control Societies and 117 Registered NGO Hospitals are being involved in the program," a press note from the Chief Minister's office stated. అనంతపురం జూనియర్ కళాశాల గ్రౌండ్స్ లో కంటి వెలుగు కార్యక్రమాన్ని ప్రారంభించిన ముఖ్యమంత్రి శ్రీ వైయస్.జగన్మోహన్ రెడ్డి. pic.twitter.com/U3qLeaYx6Z — CMO Andhra Pradesh (@AndhraPradeshCM) October 10, 2019 Jagan has also instructed officials to set up task force committees in the districts, to ensure proper implementation of the scheme. The Chief Minister further said that the state government was committed to strengthening the Aarogyasri scheme, which would help individuals below the poverty line (BPL) to access healthcare at private and government hospitals. "To strengthen Aarogyasri, 1,100 vehicles of 108 and 104 (emergency numbers) will be purchased and will be pressed into service by next March in 676 mandals. YSR Aarogyasri health cards with full data of the patient will be given in December. Before that we will empanel 150 super specialty hospitals located in Hyderabad, Chennai and Bengaluru under the Aarogyasri scheme from November," he said. He also assured the gathering that the scheme will be modified to cover more ailments like dengue and malaria."A pilot project will begin in West Godavari district and thereafter in April, every month, one district will be added for implementation," the CMO press note stated.

Body 2:

Accident

The sheep were left in the grazing fields overnight by the farmers, but were found dead the next morning.

TNM Staff

As many as 129 sheep belonging to farmers were killed after lightning struck them in a freak accident at rural Guntur in Andhra Pradesh in the wee hours of Wednesday. The sheep were left in the grazing fields overnight by the farmers, as was their practice but were found dead the next morning. According to the Vedullapalli Police station of Bapatla mandal in Guntur, it was around 6am on Wednesday when the five men to whom the sheep belonged woke up to find that their livestock were all killed. The incident took place between the grazing fields of Vedulapalli and Kothapalem villages. "It's normal practice to take them for grazing in the evening and stay over for the night. The men were also sleeping, but they were not harmed. The men were from Maddiboyinavaripalem village. They had come here to graze their sheep," said Rajasekhara Reddy, Sub Inspector with the Vedullapalli Police station. The official informed that though the farmer's livestock was not insured, the Animal Husbandry Department was mulling on compensating the farmers for their losses. The official in charge for Guntur region was unavailable for comment. Most of the 129 sheep belonged to five farmers viz. Maddiboyina Veeraiah, Maddiboyina Siva, Akki Srinivasa Rao, Akki Musalaiah and Bobby. Sheep owned by a couple of others were also found among the dead, said the police. Earlier this week on October 3, a 55-year-old labourer was killed after being struck by lightning in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh. The victim, who was identified as B Nageswara Rao, was an agricultural labourer who was returning to his home from the fields with his livestock when lightning stuck him. The incident took place at Chavalapadu village of Mandavalli Mandal. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) in the meantime has issued two alerts for Andhra Pradesh. One alert has been issued for the state's Rayalaseema region and the other for north coastal Andhra."Heavy rain very likely to occur at isolated places over north coastal Andhra Pradesh. Thunderstorm accompanied by lightning very likely to occur at isolated places," the IMD said."Thunderstorm accompanied with lightning very likely to occur at isolated places over Rayalaseema," it added. Read: Heavy rain and thunderstorm expected across Andhra: IMD

Body 2:

Transport

As part of an ongoing drive, raids were conducted at the Keesara toll plaza, the toll gate at Gottipadu and the check post at Garikapadu.

TNM Staff

Image for representation

The Andhra Pradesh Transport Department on Thursday seized six buses and slapped a fine of Rs 24,000 on each of them after the bus operators were found to be charging excessive fares and fleecing passengers. As part of an ongoing drive, raids were conducted at the Keesara toll plaza, besides the toll gate at Gottipadu and the check post at Garikapadu. Officials said that with many people travelling for Dasara holidays, bus operators were trying to make a quick buck by increasing the ticket prices steeply in violation of the rules. The ongoing strike by employees of the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) only seems to have further pushed up ticket prices."We have been verifying private buses for the past five days. We are filing cases on those operators collecting excessive fares. Till now, 495 cases have been filed and 6 buses have been seized while 2 buses are seized for non-payment of taxes. Each bus has been imposed with a fine of Rs 24,000. We have orders to continue raids till Deepavali," an official of the Transport Department was quoted as saying. Meanwhile, in neighbouring Telangana, the strike by TSRTC employees continued for the sixth continuous day. The Joint Action Committee (JAC), spearheading the strike by over 48,000 employees, made it clear that they will not resume their duties until the government accepts their major demands. The TSRTC continued operating bus services in Hyderabad and other parts of the state with the help of temporary drivers and other staff. Meanwhile, the Telangana High Court on Thursday asked the unions of striking employees to file a counter-affidavit on the strike before October 15. The court adjourned the hearing on a petition, which sought a court direction to the government and the unions to resolve the problem so that the common man was not inconvenienced. The government, in its affidavit, informed the court that it has made alternate arrangements to ensure that the general public does not face any hardships due to the strike.

Body 2:

Politics

"I am fighting against a government of criminals for the first time," Naidu told a gathering of party workers.

TNM Staff

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday arrived in Visakhapatnam, as part of a two-day visit to the city, for strengthening the party in the region. Naidu was welcomed by party leaders at the Visakhapatnam airport and held a review meeting on Thursday, to take stock of the party's situation in the coastal city. Addressing party workers later in the day, Naidu assured them that the TDP would bounce back and emerge stronger. The TDP had suffered a major upset as it managed to win only 23 MLA seats out of the 175 seats in the Legislative Assembly polls which were held earlier this year. Chandrababu Naidu also attacked the YSRCP and said that it was using state machinery to clamp down on dissent, and harass TDP workers."I have been a Chief Minister of the state for 14 years and know in and out of the state. I warn the state police to realise that political parties are permanent, and no party will remain in power forever. I have been fighting for my party workers for four months," Naidu was quoted as saying."I am fighting against a government of criminals for the first time. 12 TDP cadre were killed, 570 attacks on TDP cadre took place. Cases were lodged against 40 people for their posts on social media and 14 were sent to jail," he added. Assuring TDP workers that the party would fight their legal cases and stating that he would even "beg for donations" if required, Naidu added, "The police are turning a blind eye to our complaints against the ruling party leaders with evidence on the abusive social media posts. But, if the ruling party is lodging complaints against our cadres, cases are booked instantly." Earlier this month, the TDP chief had warned Director General of Police Gautam Sawang that he would consider legal action against the police department if they continue harassing his cadre. Read: After TDP cadre arrested over social media posts, Naidu claims police bias

Body 2:

News

Bawajan and Shabana filed a petition at a family court in Madanapalle town in Chittoor district, seeking euthanasia for their daughter.

TNM Staff

Image: Screenshot/CVR News

A couple have moved a court in Andhra Pradesh seeking permission for mercy killing of their one-year-old daughter as they are unable to afford her treatment costs. Bawajan and Shabana filed a petition at a family court in Madanapalle town in Chittoor district on Thursday, seeking the permission for euthanasia for their daughter Suhana. The couple stated in their petition that since her birth, Suhana is suffering from hypoglycemia. They said they have already spent Rs 12 lakh on her treatment at various hospitals in Madanapalle and Bengaluru, but her condition did not improve. Speaking to a local media outlet, Bawajan said, "I am a daily wage labourer and I get Rs 300 for a day's work. Mostly, I get this work only for four months in a year. My situation is such that I have been left with no other choice." Stating that they sold their property and jewellery for their daughter's treatment, the couple said they were no longer in a position to bear the expenses and hence mercy killing be permitted. The family lives in V Kottakota mandal in Chittoor district. In 2016, five-year-old Mahesh from Andhra, who was suffering from bone cancer from birth, died while undergoing treatment at Bengaluru's Indira Gandhi Hospital. Just a week before his death, the boy's father Buttaiah had submitted a petition in a local court in Andhra's Chittoor, seeking euthanasia for his son. In March 2018, in a landmark judgement, the Supreme Court of India ruled that it will allow passive euthanasia, and that the right to die with dignity is a fundamental right. It added that it would also allow living will for passive euthanasia. Passive euthanasia is a condition where there is withdrawal of medical treatment with the deliberate intention to hasten the death of a terminally-ill patient. The court said that a person could draft a document in writing that allows a patient to give instructions in advance about the medical treatment they would like administered when they are terminally ill or can no longer express consent. Read: Andhra survivor’s mercy killing plea reveals pain of male child sexual abuse victims

Body 2:

Fake News

The local police have confirmed to TNM that no such communal incident happened, and that the video is misleading.

Jahnavi Reddy

A small truck can be seen standing still at a distance on a busy road. A voice narrates in Telugu, “Namasthe, these people are all Christians. They have stopped the (Durga) Matha procession, saying it cannot pass through their area. They have even physically attacked Hindus.” The camera then pans to a large hoarding, which seems to be declaring birthday wishes for a local resident, and the narrator says, “Apparently this cutout can be put out, but not Ram’s cutout. There’s a fight to not let (Durga) Matha to pass by. Do justice to all Hindus. Jai siva sakthi.” This video from a village in West Godavari district has gone viral, claiming that a Dasara procession of the Hindu goddess Durga was stopped by Christians from passing through their locality. According to the text accompanying this video on several media platforms, the incident took place in Rayagoppa village of Poduru mandal in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. This tweet is one of the many such posts on social media. The tweet, which has over 4,000 retweets, quickly spread after it was posted on the night of October 9. Many comments also attributed the 'attack' on Hindus to the Christian faith of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy. Dasera procession of Durga Matha stopped by Christians, claiming it is 100 % Christian area. Andhra Pradesh, WG, Poduru, Rayagoppa village. pic.twitter.com/mZweRUv95t — SahaJio (@oldhandhyd) October 9, 2019 But what really happened? As far as the video is concerned, one can clearly see that the video is being played on a phone and a voice over has been added later, to add a communal twist to the situation, blurring the actual audio of the video. Speaking about the video to TNM, Poduru Police Station SHO G Surendra Kumar clarified that while the video is indeed that of a procession in Rayagoppa, there was no disagreement or fight based on religion. “A few Hindus were taking out a procession for Dasara. When they reached the church area, a firework that the members of the procession had set off, landed in front of someone’s house. They questioned who had thrown it, as one usually would in that situation. This led to a minor disagreement between the people carrying out the procession and the people living in the neighbourhood,” SI Surendra Kumar said. According to the police, no one was attacked or physically hurt, and the procession later continued ahead. “By the time the police got there, the villagers had already resolved the issue among themselves,” the police officer said, adding that he had spoken to the people primarily involved in the incident the next day to ensure there was no further problem in the village. No case has been registered.

Body 2:

Politics

Minister Adimulapu Suresh said that he immediately brought the error to the notice of Agriculture Department authorities.

TNM Staff

Facebook/Adimulapu Suresh

As the Jagan Mohan Reddy government gears up for the launch of the Rythu Bharosa welfare scheme for farmers on October 15, an embarrassing blunder came to light on Friday. The name of Education Minister Adimulapu Suresh was found to have been included in the list of beneficiaries of the scheme from Ganapavaram village in Prakasam district. The minister has since issued a clarification stating that his name has been removed from the list. “I found out only this morning that my name had shown up in the Rythu Bharosa beneficiary list. I immediately brought this to the notice of Prakasam district Agriculture Department authorities. They said that the mistake occurred because there was no option for public representatives in the software. They informed me that they have removed my name immediately,” Suresh said in a statement issued on Friday. Under the YSR Rythu Bharosa scheme, landholder farmer families who collectively own cultivable land irrespective of the size of land holdings will be provided a benefit of Rs 12,500 per annum, including the benefit of Rs 6,000 per annum per family provided by the government of India under PM KISAN in three installments. It was one of the nine key welfare schemes that were promised in YSRCP's manifesto, dubbed 'Navaratnalu'. According to the eligibility criteria for the scheme, farmer families whose members are former or present ministers are excluded, along with former and present Mayors of Municipal Corporations, former and present Chairpersons of District Panchayats, among others. According to the Rythu Bharosa website, the ‘existing validated land ownership database’ is being used to identify beneficiaries of the scheme. In his statement, Suresh also said, “Rythu Bharosa scheme is for the benefit of the farmers. I am a farmer, I own lands, but the scheme should only go to those who are eligible for it. I have instructed the Prakasam District Joint Director to remove any such lapses if they do occur. I have even brought this to the Agriculture Minister's notice.”

Body 2:

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129 sheep charred to death by lightning bolt in Andhra Pradesh

6 private buses seized by Andhra Transport Dept for charging excessive fares

Aiming to revive TDP fortunes, Chandrababu Naidu lands in Vizag on 2-day visit

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