India

Kolkata, Jan 31 (PTI) The Citizens Commission on Elections (CCE), a civil society group of retired judges, former civil servants and activists, has called upon the Election Commission of India (ECI) to ensure foolproof counting of votes.

The CCE released its first report on making proper and effective tamper-proof use of EVMs at the Kolkata Press Club on Saturday.

"With elections in the offing, voters confidence in the electoral process needs to be secured and EVM voting should abide by principles of democracy.

New Delhi, Jan 31 (PTI) Media bodies on Sunday condemned the police action against two journalists who were picked up during the farmers' protests at Delhi's Singhu border for allegedly misbehaving with police personnel.

They said such crackdowns impinge on the media's right to report freely and interferes with its right to freedom of expression.

Freelance journalist Mandeep Punia and Dharmender Singh (with Online News India) were detained by Delhi Police last evening for allegedly misbehaving with personnel on duty.

NEW DELHI, Jan 31 (NNN-PTI) – India’s COVID-19 tally rose to 10,746,183 today, as 13,052 new cases were registered during the past 24 hours, said the latest data from the federal health ministry.

According to the official data, the death toll mounted to 154,274, as 127 patients died since yesterday morning.

There are still 168,784 active cases in the country, while 10,423,125 people have been discharged from hospitals after treatment.

New Delhi, Jan 30 (PTI) The Supreme Court Collegium is understood to have withdrawn its approval to a proposal for the appointment of an additional judge of the Bombay High Court, Justice P V Ganediwala, as a permanent judge of the court following her two controversial verdicts in sexual assault cases.

The decision was taken after the judge faced flak for her interpretation of sexual assault under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, a source said.

Gorakhpur (UP), Jan 31 (PTI) Dr Kafeel Khan and 80 others have been included in the list of history-sheeters in Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh and they will be on the radar of police, officials said.

The 81 people have been included in the list on the instruction of Senior Superintendent of Police Jogendra Kumar, they said.

The district now has a total of 1,543 history-sheeters, or persons with a criminal record.

Chandigarh, Jan 30 (PTI) Congress MP Partap Singh Bajwa on Saturday urged Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh to use all available sources to trace over 100 farmers who have been missing since January 26 tractor rally in Delhi.

Citing some media reports, Bajwa wrote to Amarinder Singh, saying over 100 farmers from the state have been missing since the incidents that occurred on January 26 in Delhi .

Mumbai, Jan 30 (PTI) The Shiv Sena on Saturday slammed activist Anna Hazare for first announcing a hunger strike over farmers' issues and then calling it off within hours, saying this was "on expected lines".

Hazare on Friday announced an indefinite fast in support of farmers who are agitating on Delhi borders against the new farm laws, but later changed the decision after discussions with BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister of State for Agriculture KailashChaudhary.

Jaipur, Jan 30 (PTI) Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should take the initiative to talk to the agitating farmers and it should not be a matter of prestige as decisions are changed many times in a democracy.

Gehlot also sought a judicial inquiry into the January 26 violence in Delhi and said agitations continuing for a long time is not in the interest of the nation.

New Delhi, Jan 30 (PTI) BCCI secretary Jay Shah was unanimously elected as the president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) at its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Saturday, a development hailed by his colleagues in India.

The 32-year-old replaces Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chief Najmul Hasan Papon.

While addressing the AGM, Shah said: "Formed with a view to organise, develop and promote the sport in the region, the ACC has steadily grown in stature."

Agartala, Jan 30 (PTI) A 37-year-old BJP worker was shot dead by miscreants at his residence in Tripura's Dhalai district on Saturday, police said.

Three persons were arrested in this connection, they said.

A group of gunmen entered the house of Kripa Ranjan Chakma in Jalachandra Karbari Para area and opened fire at him, a senior officer said.

BJP district committee member Ashis Bhattacharjee, local MLA Shambhulal Chakma, the saffron party Janajati Morcha district president Hangsa Kumar visited his house and condoled the death.