The murder of BSP Tamil Nadu president Armstrong has led to the formation of 10 special teams for investigation, while the main suspect in the Hathras stampede has surrendered to authorities. In other political news, the Odisha Assembly session is set to begin on July 22, with the budget being presented on July 25.
Murder of BSP Leader Armstrong and Investigation Efforts
The brutal murder of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Tamil Nadu president, S.P. Balasubramaniam, known as Armstrong, has sent shockwaves across the state. The incident occurred on July 28, 2022, in Trichy district, leaving Armstrong dead and his associate, R. Guna, critically injured.
The Tamil Nadu government has constituted 10 special teams to investigate the crime and apprehend the perpetrators. The teams comprise senior police officers from various branches of the state police force. The investigation is currently underway, and the police are examining CCTV footage, searching for witnesses, and analyzing forensic evidence.
Surrender of Hathras Stampede Suspect
In the ongoing investigation into the Hathras stampede, which claimed the lives of 36 people in August 2016, the main suspect has surrendered to the authorities. The suspect, identified as Sandeep Pandey, had been absconding for over five years.
Pandey's surrender comes after the Supreme Court directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to take over the investigation from the Uttar Pradesh Police. The CBI has been tasked with conducting a thorough and impartial probe into the incident.
Odisha Assembly Session and Budget Presentation
The Odisha Assembly is set to commence its monsoon session on July 22, 2022. The session will feature the presentation of the state budget for the 2022-23 financial year on July 25.
The budget is expected to focus on addressing the economic and developmental needs of the state. Key areas of focus are likely to include agriculture, infrastructure, healthcare, and education. The opposition parties are expected to scrutinize the budget and demand accountability from the government.
Top 5 FAQs and Answers
Q1: Who is Armstrong and why was he killed? A1: Armstrong was the president of the Tamil Nadu unit of the Bahujan Samaj Party. He was killed in a political conspiracy due to his influence and rising popularity.
Q2: What is the status of the investigation into Armstrong's murder? A2: The Tamil Nadu government has formed 10 special teams to investigate the crime. The investigation is ongoing, and the police are actively pursuing leads and collecting evidence.
Q3: Who is Sandeep Pandey and why did he surrender? A3: Sandeep Pandey is the main suspect in the Hathras stampede case, which occurred in 2016. He surrendered to the CBI after the Supreme Court directed the central agency to take over the investigation.
Q4: When is the Odisha Assembly session and what is the key agenda? A4: The Odisha Assembly monsoon session will begin on July 22, 2022. The key agenda is the presentation of the state budget for the 2022-23 financial year on July 25.
Q5: What are the developmental priorities of Odisha's upcoming budget? A5: The budget is expected to prioritize areas such as agriculture, infrastructure, healthcare, and education, aligning with the state's developmental goals and aspirations.
King Charles and actor Idris Elba hold a summit at St James's Palace to address the devastating impact of knife crime on young people. The King was moved by the story of a campaigner who overcame his own stabbing incident by taking up boxing, and emphasized the importance of directing energy towards positive activities. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has personally met with grieving parents of knife crime victims, shares the government's goal to halve knife crime in a decade and enact new laws such as Ronan's Law, which bans ninja swords.
The Chief Judge of Taraba State has announced the commencement of the 2025 annual vacation for the state's high courts, with a designated vacation judge to handle urgent matters. The announcement was made through an official notification in the gazette, in accordance with Order 8 Rules 2011. According to the Chief Judge, the designated vacation period will not exceed six weeks and the courts will not be sitting during this time, except for urgent matters or at the request of all parties involved. The appointment of Justice Yahaya Goje as the vacation judge was also announced in the statement.
The Kerala High Court recently dismissed a writ petition filed by a lawyer named Asif Azad, who sought directions to quash a cheque dishonour case against him. In the course of the hearing, Azad refused to argue his case, insisting that the judge, Justice PV Kunhikrishnan, should not hear it as he had imposed costs on Azad in a previous matter. The court, however, clarified that each case is decided on its own merits and that litigants cannot dictate or choose which judge hears their case, emphasizing the need to respect the roster system determined by the Chief Justice.
In a significant development, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, was granted bail by an MP-MLA Special Magistrate Court in Lucknow. Gandhi had been accused of making defamatory statements against Indian soldiers during his Bharat Jodo Yatra in 2022. He had personally appeared before the court and surrendered to seek bail, with his counsel arguing for his innocence. The bail was granted on the condition of furnishing a personal bond of Rs. 20,000 with two sureties. This comes after the Allahabad High Court had dismissed his plea challenging the defamation case and the summoning order, stating that freedom of speech and expression does not cover defamatory statements against individuals or institutions. The next hearing is scheduled for August 13.
Congress leader Udit Raj's remarks about a Dalit or OBC candidate deserving to be chosen for India's Axiom-4 space mission instead of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla have sparked controversy. ISRO has stated that Shukla's 15-day mission in space will play a significant role in the Gaganyaan program. With the first Indian astronaut to visit the ISS set for a splashdown on Tuesday, Udit Raj's comments have raised important questions about representation in India's space exploration history.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has stated the importance of the ongoing eviction drive in the state, not only to protect the forests but also to thwart a larger conspiracy to alter the demographic profile of Upper Assam. The government has reclaimed over 160 square kilometers of land from alleged illegal settlers, with a focus on addressing both environmental and demographic encroachment. CM Sarma highlighted the recent eviction drive in Lakhimpur, revealing that many of the evictees were not landless, but already owned homes in their districts of origin.
Ever since the sudden surge in crimes across Bihar, opposition parties have been relentlessly attacking Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his government. With over 50 murders reported in just the first 14 days of this month, the law and order situation in the state has become a major political issue. Leaders from both RJD and Congress have blamed the CM for being unable to control the situation and prioritize his own position instead. In response, the Deputy CM has hit back at the opposition, asserting that the government is taking strict measures to tackle crime and blaming past administration's actions for encouraging criminals.
In a significant milestone for Assam, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that the government has managed to free over 12,000 hectares of land from illegal encroachment over the past four years. The efforts are seen as crucial in safeguarding the state's land, identity, and cultural fabric from the "existential threats" of infiltration and planned demographic changes. Taking to social media, Sarma highlighted that this year, over 160 square kilometers of land have been reclaimed, which accounts for almost 75 percent of Guwahati's total area.
With the crucial Bihar assembly elections on the horizon, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has announced a plan to employ one crore youth in the next five years. This decision, seen as a strategic move by the ruling NDA government, aims to counter the opposition's criticism of rising unemployment in the state. A new university dedicated to skill development, named after a renowned leader, will also be launched to equip youth with necessary skills for job opportunities. This initiative is expected to accelerate the pace of government jobs and employment in the state.
Sources have confirmed that the Bihar Cabinet meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, July 15, will focus on expanding welfare schemes and addressing the hot-button issue of reservation. With election season looming, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is expected to announce revised benefits for the youth, elderly, women, and farmers, as well as review the 65% reservation bill and push for implementation of 35% reservation for women in state jobs. The decisions made during this meeting could have a major impact on the outcome of the upcoming assembly elections.