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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Snake bite kills three minor girls

Three hurt at a school in Gadchiroli run by a Congress leader AI generated image Mumbai: In a horrifying tragedy at the dead of the night, three minor tribal girls were killed and at least three others seriously injured after a venomous snake slithered into their hostel and bit the sleeping students of an aided residential ashram school near Dhanora, officials said. The incident, which has sent shockwaves in tribal belts across the state, occurred around 2 am today at a school linked with a...

Snake bite kills three minor girls

Three hurt at a school in Gadchiroli run by a Congress leader AI generated image Mumbai: In a horrifying tragedy at the dead of the night, three minor tribal girls were killed and at least three others seriously injured after a venomous snake slithered into their hostel and bit the sleeping students of an aided residential ashram school near Dhanora, officials said. The incident, which has sent shockwaves in tribal belts across the state, occurred around 2 am today at a school linked with a former Congress leader Marotrao S. Kowase’s Kupar Lingo Educational & Cultural Development Research Institute (KLECDRI). The school is located in the remote forested village of Japtalai, around 10 kms from the Dhanora taluka headquarters. Officials said at that time, around 80 girls were asleep on the floor when the snake sneaked in and bit at least six of the girls, sparking panic and outcry as the staff members rushed there. Three of the victim girls succumbed to the snake venom, and at least three others are reported to be critical, battling for life at the Gadchiroli District General Hospital – with the tragedy happening just a day after the World Tribal Day (09) celebrations. The deceased minor girls were identified as: Anu Koreti, 8, of Class II; Deepika Lakda, 12 of Class VI and Sushmita Mondal, 14, of Class VIII. Victim to Nagpur Among the injured is Deepa B. Madavi, 11, of Class V who is critical and she was flown in an air-ambulance to Nagpur’s GMC Hospital for advanced medi-care, said Gadchiroli Superintendent of Police M. Ramesh. Two other girls who are still in a serious condition are put on anti-venom treatment, and more than a dozen other frightened girls have been kept under observation as a precaution, informed the hospital’s medico Dr. Manish Meshram. Despite repeated attempts by ‘The Perfect Voice’, the head of the KLECDRI, Kowase, a four-time MLA and one-term MP and an ex-MoS for tribal affairs was not available for comments on the mishap at the ashram school. Govt to Probe The incident sparked outrage with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and district Collector Avishyant Panda ordering an inquiry to ascertain how the reptile could have entered the hostel premises, whether protective and preventive measures were in place and if the school authorities had complied with prescribed safety norms. A comprehensive inspection of the safety arrangements at the school will also be undertaken by the local administration and the Tribal Development Department, and if lapses are found action will be taken against those responsible. The hospital has been directed to ensure that there is no deficiency in the treatment of the injured victims, Panda told media-persons. Co-Guardian Minister of Gadchiroli, Ashish Jaiswal has asked the district and medical authorities to ensure all necessary support and medical assistance to the students. He said further action would be taken after the TDD submits its probe report into the incident. Wadettiwar Slams Congress Legislature Party Leader Vijay Wadettiwar targeted the state government saying it must ensure the cleanliness of the hostel, regular inspections, and snake prevention measures. If this responsibility is not fulfilled, it is not mere negligence, but a serious carelessness that has led to the deaths of three innocent lives. “We don't need festivals, announcements, and speeches in the name of tribals; save their children's lives! Immediately investigate the Japtala incident, take strict action against the guilty, and the government must give an account of the deaths of these three innocent girl students,” demanded Wadettiwar, elected from Brahmapuri assembly seat in the Gadchiroli-Chimur LS constituency. The incident has raised questions about the safety and preparedness at such residential ashram schools intended to protect vulnerable tribal kids, while the grieving families are left wondering how a poisonous snake entered the hostel.

India working on logistics of Tahawwur Rana's extradition

  • PTI
  • Feb 14, 2025
  • 3 min read

Updated: Feb 18, 2025

Tahawwur Rana

Washington: India is working on the logistics of Tahawwur Rana's surrender and extradition from the US, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri has said, as President Donald Trump announced that his administration has given the go-ahead to extradite the 26/11 terror attack accused “to face justice".

“This is an issue on which the US authorities have taken very clear decisions. I think you've seen the President announce it himself from the White House podium" the decision of the US to extradite Rana, Misri said at a press conference here on Thursday.


During a joint press conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the White House, US President Donald Trump announced that his administration has approved the extradition of "very evil" Tahawwur Rana, wanted by Indian law enforcement agencies for his role in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, "to face justice in India”.


In response to a question by PTI on the timeframe by when Rana will be extradited to India, Misri said: "We are working on the logistics of his surrender and extradition to India. There are a few final steps to be completed. The two sides are in touch on this particular issue.”


The India-US joint statement issued during the Prime Minister's visit to the US notes that Modi and Trump reaffirmed that the global scourge of terrorism must be fought and terrorist safe havens eliminated from every corner of the world.

“They committed to strengthen cooperation against terrorist threats from groups, including Al-Qaeda, ISIS, Jaish-e Mohammad, and Lashkar-e-Tayyiba in order to prevent heinous acts like the attacks in Mumbai on 26/11 and the Abbey Gate bombing in Afghanistan on August 26, 2021," the joint statement said.


“Recognising a shared desire to bring to justice those who would harm our citizens, the US announced that the extradition to India of Tahawwur Rana has been approved," it said.


The leaders further called on Pakistan to expeditiously bring to justice the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai, and Pathankot attacks and ensure that its territory is not used to carry out cross-border terrorist attacks.

"The leaders also pledged to work together to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems and to deny access to such weapons by terrorists and non-state actors,” the joint statement added.

Rana, a Canadian national of Pakistani origin, is currently lodged at a metropolitan detention centre in Los Angeles. He is known to be associated with Pakistani-American terrorist David Coleman Headley, one of the main conspirators of the 26/11 attacks.

Speaking at the joint press meet, Trump said "Today I am pleased to announce that my administration has approved the extradition of one of the plotters and very evil people of the world, and having to do with the horrific Mumbai terrorist attack, to face justice in India. So, he is going back to India to face justice."


The extradition of Rana was cleared by the US Supreme Court in January as it rejected his review petition in the case.


India last month said it was working with American authorities for the early extradition of Rana.


"The US Supreme Court on January 21 declined to hear a petition from the accused. We are now working with the US side on procedural issues for early extradition to India of the accused in the Mumbai terror attack," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had said.


In November 2012, Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone surviving gunman among the Pakistani group, was hanged to death in Yerawada Jail in Pune.

-PTI

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