News18 Afternoon Digest: Updates On Meghalaya Murder Of Raja Raghuvanshi; Explosion Hits Singapore-Flagged Ship Off Kerala Coast & Other Top Stories
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We are also covering: Sonam Raghuvanshi's First Statement After Arrest In Husband's Murder, and RCB Moves Karnataka HC To Quash Criminal Case Against It Over Bengaluru Stampede.
In today's News18 afternoon digest, we bring to you the latest on the murder case of Raja Raghuvanshi in Meghalaya, a Singapore-flagged container ship caught fire following an explosion off the Kerala coast and other top stories.
Sonam 'Prime Accused' In Meghalaya Murder Of Husband Raj Raghuvanshi, Her Lover Involved
The Meghalaya honeymoon murder case has taken a darker turn with fresh revelations pointing to a well-orchestrated conspiracy behind the killing of Indore resident Raja Raghuvanshi, whose body was found in a deep gorge during what was meant to be a celebratory trip with his wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi. Read More
As many as four crew members went missing after a Singapore-flagged container ship caught fire following an explosion off the Kerala coast on Monday. The underdeck fire incident on the ship named 'MV Wan Hai 503' was reported at around 10.30 am by the Maritime Operations Centre (MOC) in Mumbai to its counterpart in Kochi. Read More
Royal Challengers Sports Limited (RCSL), which owns Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), has moved the Karnataka High Court to quash the criminal case against it over the stampede that took place on June 4th during its victory celebrations. Read More
Paresh Rawal REACTS To Fan Asking Him To Reconsider His Decision To Quit Hera Pheri 3
Veteran actor Paresh Rawal hit the headlines last month after he announced his departure from Hera Pheri 3, the third instalment in the beloved franchise. While he revealed his decision nearly a month ago, fans continue to urge him to rejoin the franchise. Recently, a netizen asked Paresh Rawal to reconsider his decision to quit the film, and called him the 'hero' of Hera Pheri. Read More
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The Hindu
2 hours ago
- The Hindu
Karnataka child rights body seeks details of children affected in Bengaluru stampede from CID
The Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) has requested the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to provide information about the children who were affected in the stampede that took place during the Indian Premier League (IPL) victory celebrations in Bengaluru last week. In a letter to the director of CID, the chairperson of KSCPCR, K. Nagannagowda, said that a large number of people from Bengaluru and other districts had come to the M. Chinnaswamy stadium to be a part of the Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) IPL victory celebrations. The fact that children were also among them has come to the notice of the commission. 'There were 11 people who died in the stampede that occurred unexpectedly. The public has informed the commission that children were also affected in the incident. Therefore, the commission has taken this issue seriously, but the exact details of the problems caused to the children present there are not known yet.' The government has ordered a CID probe into the stampede that took place during RCB's victory celebrations which left 11 people dead, including a 14-year-old girl, on June 4, 2025.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
16 days on, police register case over cargo ship sinking
Kochi: Police on Wednesday registered a case of rash navigation against the owner, master and crew of the Liberian-flagged vessel MSC Elsa 3, which sank 14.6 nautical miles off Thottappilly, Alappuzha, on May 25. Fort Kochi coastal police registered the FIR based on a complaint filed by C Shamji of Neerkkunnam Matsya Gramam in Alappuzha. The police action followed mounting pressure from fishing communities and political organisations over the lack of accountability for the incident. The opposition had on Tuesday criticised the govt for not lodging a case in the matter, after reports said the state preferred the insurance route. According to the FIR, the crew and operators of the vessel acted with gross negligence despite being aware that the cargo included flammable goods and explosive materials. Their alleged mishandling led to the sinking of the vessel, resulting in serious environmental consequences and economic losses for the local fishing community. The ship was en route to Kochi from Vizhinjam when it capsized. The FIR has been filed under Sections 282 (rash navigation of vessel), 285 (danger or obstruction in public way or line of navigation), 286 (negligent conduct with respect to poisonous substances), 287 (negligent conduct with fire or combustible materials), 288 (negligent conduct with respect to explosive substances) and 3(5) (joint criminal liability for common intent) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The FIR also notes that the sunken containers released hazardous plastic debris and waste into the sea, damaging marine ecosystems and affecting livelihoods, besides the wreckage posing a navigation hazard to other vessels. Besides declaring the wreckage as a state-specific disaster, the govt had asked the vessel owner to take full responsibility for the damage caused. It had also initiated various measures to contain the ecological damage. According to the directorate general of shipping, the vessel carried 640 containers, including 13 with hazardous cargo and 12 containing calcium carbide. It also had 84.44 MT of diesel and 367.1 MT of furnace oil. A recent report by the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority said 56 containers were retrieved, with four more under active recovery.
The Hindu
2 hours ago
- The Hindu
It is profit first, life and safety second
The tragic deaths in a stampede in Bengaluru on June 4, 2025, of 11 people who were part of a huge crowd that had gathered near the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium to celebrate the victory of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), after RCB's first-ever Indian Premier League (IPL) title in 2025, is a stark reminder of three issues. They are our national sense of disproportionate enthusiasm for victory; of government missionaries' lack of preparedness to contain crowd movement, and of people's sense of immortality. Despite knowing full well that such gatherings end as physically unsafe situations, we see people rush madly, throwing caution to the winds. Social media in particular and 24X7 visual media houses play a great role in adding much hype to these events. It is almost as if missing such an opportunity is akin to foregoing the most important part in one's life. The aim is profits Cricket, especially in India, has become a great money-spinning industry. Hence, those in charge do everything possible to draw in large crowds. The risk that such gatherings pose is known. Every such event results in crowds of people who are far more in number than the capacity of the venues. More footfalls spell more profits for every one in the business. It is common knowledge that the licences and the necessary permissions for hosting such events are not granted by merely adhering to the rules and the regulations on paper. Much of these are linked to the 'showering of bounties' on those in power. Here is an example that happened during this IPL season. In a reported case during an RCB versus Chennai Super Kings match, in early May 2025, at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, the family of an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer fought with the family of an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer over free seating in the VIP gallery. The case resulted in a first information report being filed. While the many uncomfortable galleries are filled up in no time by those who pay for them, the VIP enclosures, which have the best seats and stadium and field views, are generally occupied by those who wield power and enjoy the freebies. An industry which is most lucrative, with millions made in profits, offers paltry sums of money as compensation/solatium for those who lost their life in the stampede in Bengaluru. No amount of money can ever compensate the loss for the families concerned, and it only goes to show the scant respect and value for a common person's life. It is time that whenever there is a gathering for an event that is governed by economic considerations and motives of profit, there is also provision made for a suitable caution deposit. With the said deposit money, the state ought to ensure the security and the safety of spectators or attendees. When a small hall is granted a licence, the mandatory requirements include the number of entrance and exit points, the seating arrangements, a doctor on call, public conveniences, appropriate audio/visual systems and even parking facilities. Therefore, it is shocking that there is scant observance of safety requirements when very large crowds gather in closed/open air stadiums. Compliance with the rules and regulations is very poor in many such instances. Scant safety The concept of public safety in public spaces is practically absent. For example, food fairs are held in an unsafe manner and one finds open wiring running all over the floor. There is no safety when stoves are lit and there is large-scale food preparation that are done under combustible camping structures. There is no sense of fear and safety measures are 'more honoured in the breach, than the observance'. In an incident in Chennai, there were reports of several visitors at an amusement park stranded for hours on a giant wheel after the device experienced technical problems. They had to be rescued by the fire services department. We, as a country, have no value for life. Most of our roads have no pedestrian walkways. There are no tracks marked for slow-moving vehicles. Motor cars and bullock carts traverse along the same roads in a fight for space. There is no respect for the pedestrian, who in turn faces grave danger in the form of speeding automobiles, broken pavements and aggressive stray animals. The 11 dead in a stampede or the thousands of persons who die on our roads are just cold statistics for us. We have learnt to brush aside such tragic incidents by blaming it on karma. There are no lessons learnt. There is no accountability. Some officials are suspended while others are transferred. These are sure to be revoked at a later date. Introduce a culture of audits The need is to have a detailed and scientific study of crowd management by experts and execute their findings in an earnest way. A country with a population that has hit 146.39 crore cannot afford to falter on this issue. Without such an audit, it cannot call itself a civilised and advanced country and a nation that is safe for all its citizens. Every life is precious and there must be a dedication to ensure the safety of all. Let us not lose life and limb by promoting the commerce of and the gains for the rich. Those who are hurt are mortals who fight battles every day for their daily bread. It is unfortunate that this too will pass with no lessons learnt. The rich will keep getting richer at the cost of the struggling masses if we do not act now for a better and safer tomorrow. Sudha Ramalingam is a human rights activist and Advocate in the Madras High Court
