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Hans India
3 days ago
- Hans India
Deaf-mute woman gang-raped in UP
Balrampur: A deaf and mute woman was allegedly kidnapped and gangraped in Uttar Pradesh while returning home . The incident reportedly took place a few meters from the homes of the district's top officials, where CCTV cameras were found to be off, reports NDTV. The police arrested two attackers within 24 hours of the incident, following an encounter. When the woman was on her way home in Balrampur district from her maternal uncle's home, she was kidnapped and taken to a deserted field. Two men took turns and raped the woman. Owing to her disability, the woman couldn't call for help. When the woman did not return home after an hour, the family began searching for her and found her in a suspicious condition in a field near a police post. The woman was rushed to the district women's hospital, where she is undergoing treatment. She is stable but in shock, doctors say. After the woman's brother informed the police about his sister and registered a complaint, the cops began an investigation and arrested the two attackers - Ankur Verma and Harshit Pandey - within 24 hours. 'Based on the evidence and CCTV footage, we identified the two men,' said Vikash Kumar, Superintendent of Police. 'The two accused suffered injuries during an encounter and are currently under treatment. They have confessed to the crime,' he said. Under Operation Trinetra in Uttar Pradesh, hundreds of CCTV cameras have been installed across districts to enhance surveillance and improve law and order. These CCTV cameras are meant to work as 'eyes' on the ground, monitoring public spaces. The woman's family alleges that the incident took place due to negligence. Three to four CCTV cameras in the region were found to be switched off, the family claimed. However, a camera installed near the Superintendent of Police's house caught the woman running and bikers chasing her.


Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
2 men accused of raping deaf-mute woman held after Balrampur encounter
Lucknow: Police arrested two men accused of gang-raping a 21-year-old mentally challenged deaf-mute woman after an exchange of fire with them in Balrampur district while they were trying to flee to Nepal early Wednesday. Harshit Kumar Pandey (23) sustained a bullet injury in his right leg during the encounter, while another accused, Ankur Verma (24), fractured his leg after falling on a boulder. Five policemen posted in Balrampur were suspended for laxity in patrolling. The woman was returning home from her maternal uncle's house in Balrampur around 8pm on Monday when Harshit and Ankur offered her lift on their bike. However, they took her to a secluded spot behind Food Corporation of India warehouse and gang-raped her. The survivor tried walking towards her home but fell unconscious in a field a few metres from her home, police said. Alarmed as she didn't return home by 9pm, her family searched and found her unconscious in the field. They rushed her to district women's hospital where medical examination confirmed sexual assault. Police said the accused, who hail from survivor's neighbouring village, were known to survivor's uncle. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Once back of the pack, Chinese running shoes now look to surge ahead in S'pore market CNA Read More Undo The cops suspended are S-I Shiv Kailash, head constable Kamlesh Prasad, constables Rajneesh Kumar and Satish Chaurasia and home guard Shri Ram Gupta. Police identified the two suspects after scanning CCTV footage from the area. Multiple teams were formed under ASP Vishal Pandey and City CO Jyoti Shri, with inspector-in-charge Brijanand Singh leading the probe, said Balrampur SP Vikas Kumar. On a tip-off Tuesday night that the two suspects were attempting to flee to Nepal via an under-construction highway, a police team intercepted them riding a bike around 12.30am. The accused opened fire, prompting police to return fire and arrest the duo. Sub-Inspector Amit Chauhan suffered minor injuries in the operation. The accused were given medical aid at Joint District Hospital, Balrampur, before being taken into custody. Police seized a country-made .315 bore pistol, live cartridges, and the bike used in the crime from the accused. The duo confessed to the crime, saying that they were drunk when they spotted the woman walking alone and targeted her, police said. The survivor is now stable and has been able to convey some details of the incident through sign language with the assistance of experts. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.


NDTV
4 days ago
- NDTV
Deaf-Mute Woman Gang Raped In UP, An Encounter Follows Within 24 Hours
A deaf and mute woman was allegedly kidnapped and gangraped in Uttar Pradesh while returning home on Monday. The incident reportedly took place a few meters from the homes of the district's top officials, where CCTV cameras were found to be off. The police arrested two attackers within 24 hours of the incident, following an encounter. Balrampur Horror: What, When, How On Monday evening, when the woman was on her way home in Balrampur district from her maternal uncle's home, she was kidnapped and taken to a deserted field. Two men took turns and raped the woman. Owing to her disability, the woman couldn't call for help. When the woman did not return home after an hour, the family began searching for her and found her in a suspicious condition in a field near a police post. The woman was rushed to the district women's hospital, where she is undergoing treatment. She is stable but in shock, doctors say. Police Investigation After the woman's brother informed the police about his sister and registered a complaint, the cops began an investigation and arrested the two attackers - Ankur Verma and Harshit Pandey - within 24 hours. 'Based on the evidence and CCTV footage, we identified the two men,' said Vikash Kumar, Superintendent of Police. 'The two accused suffered injuries during an encounter and are currently under treatment. They have confessed to the crime,' he said. Further investigation is underway. Uttar Pradesh's Operation Trinetra Under Scanner Under Operation Trinetra in Uttar Pradesh, hundreds of CCTV cameras have been installed across districts to enhance surveillance and improve law and order. These CCTV cameras are meant to work as "eyes" on the ground, monitoring public spaces. The woman's family alleges that the incident took place due to negligence. Three to four CCTV cameras in the region found to be switched off, the family claimed. However, a camera installed near the Superintendent of Police's house caught the woman running and bikers chasing her. A 14-second video helped the police track down the rapists.


Hans India
5 days ago
- General
- Hans India
Centre initiates nomination of Chhath festival for UNESCO heritage list
Patna: The Union Government has asked the Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA) to examine and process the nomination of Chhath Mahaparva for inclusion in UNESCO's representative list of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of humanity. A letter from Ankur Verma, Under Secretary to the Government of India, was sent to the SNA after Chhathi Maiya Foundation chairman Sandeep Kumar Dubey submitted a proposal for the festival's inclusion on July 7. Chhath Mahaparva, deeply rooted in Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh, is celebrated with devotion by communities from these regions across the world. The SNA, as the nodal agency, has been asked to take appropriate action on the proposal. The deeply spiritual Chhath Puja, rooted in ancient folk traditions, comes twice a year and is celebrated across Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh, and Nepal's Mithila region. The festival honours Surya (the Sun God) and Chhathi Maiya, observed over four days through elaborate rituals symbolising purification, gratitude, and unwavering devotion. The opening day, Nahai-Khai, begins with 'chhath vratis' (devotees), bathing in rivers or ponds for ritual purification. They then don fresh clothes and prepare a simple, satvik meal of pumpkin, gram pulse, and rice, seasoned only with rock salt. This offering, shared as prasad, represents purity, discipline, and a spiritual reset. Following this, 'chhath vratis' take a solemn vow to fast for the next three days, adhering to strict cleanliness, avoiding prohibited foods, and dedicating themselves entirely to the worship of the Sun God. The festival is known for its intense 36-hour waterless fast, which devotees undertake with remarkable endurance, attributing their strength to faith. The rituals are steeped in tradition - from cooking on a mango wood-fired stove to avoiding non-satvik ingredients such as onions, garlic, and animal products. The colours yellow and red dominate the attire, symbolising purity and devotion. Soulful Chhath songs in honour of Chhathi Maiya echo through homes and ghats, preserving the festival's rich folk heritage. More than just a religious observance, Chhath puja is a celebration of discipline, community, and deep cultural continuity - a testament to the enduring bond between faith and tradition.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Cotiviti Named Highest-Designated Leader by Everest Group in the Payment Integrity Solutions PEAK Matrix® Assessment 2025
Distinction marks third consecutive year Cotiviti has been positioned as a Leader in this category SALT LAKE CITY, May 12, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cotiviti, a leader in data-driven healthcare solutions, has been named the highest-designated Leader by Everest Group in the Payment Integrity Solutions PEAK Matrix® Assessment 2025. This recognition is a reflection of the combined market impact, vision, and capabilities delivered by Cotiviti's Payment Accuracy solutions. "As they strive to eliminate waste and ensure the accuracy and quality of their claims payments, health plans are increasingly looking for a payment accuracy partner that can deliver the breadth, depth, and scale they require across their numerous programs," said Emad Rizk, M.D., president and CEO of Cotiviti. "This achievement underscores Cotiviti's unwavering commitment to both prepayment and postpayment integrity as well as our market-leading client services, which eliminated over $9.5 billion in payment waste from the healthcare system in 2024 through the prevention of improper claims, which can enable those funds to be redirected toward appropriate member care and populations in need." "With healthcare fraud and billing errors costing the U.S. system billions of dollars annually, payers are intensifying efforts to adopt proactive payment integrity strategies that span the full claims lifecycle," said Ankur Verma, vice president at Everest Group. "Cotiviti brings a comprehensive breadth of experience across payer types and addresses both pre and postpay needs through a comprehensive solution suite. Its clients cite strong value, robust relationship management, and a deep commitment to performance as key differentiators. Investments in product innovation and the formalization of an AI Center of Excellence further aided in its positioning as a Leader in Everest Group's Payment Integrity Solutions PEAK Matrix® Assessment 2025." Everest Group's PEAK Matrix® is a globally recognized assessment that evaluates organizations based on key factors such as vision, capabilities, functionality, talent availability, market success, impact, and cost-effectiveness. Cotiviti has been recognized as a Leader in payment integrity solutions for each of the three years that this assessment has been published. This year, the company earned the position of the highest-designated Leader, reflecting its continuous innovation, commitment to accuracy, and proven success in delivering value to clients. Cotiviti has been a leader in payment integrity for over 25 years and serves more than 100 payer clients with Payment Accuracy solutions, including top national health plans, regional and community plans, Blue Cross Blue Shield Plans, third-party administrators, CMS, and state Medicaid agencies. "By offering full-service solutions across the payment continuum, driven by clinical expertise and advanced technologies including artificial intelligence and natural language processing, Cotiviti delivers total value, meaningful innovation, and deep expertise to each of our customers," said Christopher Coloian, executive vice president of revenue and growth for Cotiviti. "This recognition highlights what truly distinguishes Cotiviti: our differentiated technology, content and service model that underpins our clients' ability to administer benefits and accurately pay for services for their members." Cotiviti's Payment Accuracy solutions include prepay claim editing and coding validation; fraud, waste, and abuse prevention and recovery; clinical coding validation; coordination of benefits; and data mining. Prepay claim editing customers also have access to Cotiviti's industry-leading cross-payer analytics and benchmarks, delivering claim and provider insights to empower health plans to make more informed payment policy decisions based on what's happening across the entire market. The Everest Group report offering an overview of Cotiviti's payment integrity solutions is available on Cotiviti's website for health plan professionals to download and read. About Cotiviti Cotiviti enables healthcare organizations to deliver better care at lower cost through advanced technology and data analytics, helping to ensure the quality and sustainability of how healthcare is delivered in the United States. Cotiviti's solutions are a critical foundation for healthcare payers in their mission to lower healthcare costs and improve quality through higher performing payment accuracy, quality improvement, risk adjustment, and consumer engagement programs. The company also supports the retail industry with data management and recovery audit services that improve business outcomes. For more information, visit Disclaimer Licensed extracts taken from Everest Group's PEAK Matrix® Reports, may be used by licensed third parties for use in their own marketing and promotional activities and collateral. Selected extracts from Everest Group's PEAK Matrix® reports do not necessarily provide the full context of our research and analysis. All research and analysis conducted by Everest Group's analysts and included in Everest Group's PEAK Matrix® reports is independent and no organization has paid a fee to be featured or to influence their ranking. To access the complete research and to learn more about our methodology, please visit Everest Group PEAK Matrix® Reports. About Everest Group Everest Group is a leading global research firm helping business leaders make confident decisions. Everest Group's PEAK Matrix® assessments provide the analysis and insights enterprises need to make critical selection decisions about global services providers, locations, and products and solutions within various market segments. Likewise, providers of these services, products, and solutions, look to the PEAK Matrix® to gauge and calibrate their offerings against others in the industry or market. Find further details and in-depth content at View source version on Contacts Media Contact: Corey PatchkofskyAria Marketing for Cotiviticpatchkofsky@ 203-710-2296 Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data