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Time of India
4 days ago
- General
- Time of India
HC junks Rahul's plea, says free speech doesn't extend to remarks against Army
Lucknow: Observing that freedom of speech and expression is subject to reasonable restrictions and it does not include freedom to make statements which are defamatory to any person or to the Indian Army, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court on May 29 dismissed Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's plea challenging a lower court summon in a defamation case over alleged derogatory remarks about the Indian Army during his . Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The single-judge bench of Justice Subhash Vidyarthi observed that the material on record made a prima facie case against Gandhi for making defamatory statement against Indian Army and hence the summoning order of lower court could not be set aside, and he would have to stand on trial. The case stems from a complaint filed by Udai Shanker Srivastava, retired director of the Border Roads Organization (a position equivalent to a Colonel in the Indian Army), in which he alleged that on Dec 16, 2022, during his 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' in Lucknow, Gandhi made disparaging comments about a face-off between the Indian and Chinese armies in Arunachal Pradesh on Dec 9, 2022. According to the complaint, Gandhi had said, "People will ask about Bharat Jodo Yatra, here and there, Ashok Gahlot and Sachin Pilot and whatnot. But they will not ask a single question about China capturing 2000 sq kms of Indian territory, killing 20 Indian soldiers and thrashing our soldiers in Arunachal Pradesh. But the Indian press doesn't ask a question to them about this. Isn't it true? The nation is watching all this. Don't pretend that people don't know." Srivastava contended that Gandhi's statement was "false and baseless" and made with "evil intention of demoralizing the Indian Army and to damage the faith of the Indian population in the Indian Army". He highlighted that the official statement from the Indian Army on Dec 12, 2022, confirmed that "PLA troops contacted the LAC in Tawang Sector which was contested by our troops in a firm and resolute manner. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This faceoff led to minor injuries to a few personnel from both sides." The complainant said that Gandhi's "baseless and derogatory statement" deeply hurt him and other nationalists. The additional chief judicial magistrate, court no. 27, Lucknow, had on Feb 11, 2025, summoned Gandhi to face trial for the offence under Section 500 (defamation) of the Indian Penal Code. The lower court observed that prima facie, Gandhi's statement appeared to demoralize the Indian Army and its personnel and was not made in the performance of his official duties. Gandhi's counsel, Pranshu Agarwal, argued that the complaint was politically motivated and lacked merit. He contended that the complainant was not an "aggrieved person" under Section 199 of the Criminal Procedure Code, as the alleged defamation was against the Indian Army as an institution, not Srivastava directly. However, Justice Subhash Vidyarthi, rejected these arguments in his ruling and observed: "No doubt, Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution of India guarantees freedom of speech and expression, this freedom is subject to reasonable restrictions, and it does not include the freedom to make statements which are defamatory to any person or defamatory to the Indian Army." The court clarified that the complainant as an "aggrieved person" could file the complaint under Section 199 of CrPC. While dismissing Gandhi's plea challenging the lower court summons, Justice Vidyarthi also noted that the trial court's decision to summon Gandhi was based on a "judicious application of mind" after considering the complaint and witness statements, and was not mechanical.
Russia Today
03-03-2025
- Climate
- Russia Today
Eight road workers dead as avalanche hits Himalayan region
An avalanche in northern India Uttarakhand has resulted in the loss of eight lives, with rescuers recovering the last of the bodies on Sunday, according to the Indian Army. The three-day rescue operation faced significant challenges due to the 3,200-meter altitude of the site and harsh weather conditions. The massive avalanche hit a camp housing workers from the Border Roads Organization (BRO), which develops and maintains road networks in India's border areas, near the frontier with China early on Friday morning. Thirty-three workers had been rescued by the end of the day, although rain and snowfall forced the suspension of operations as night fell. Rescue teams resumed their efforts due to improved weather conditions on Saturday and managed to pull out an additional 17 people. However, four of those rescued later died from their injuries, an army spokesperson announced on X. 'Rescue operations were slow due to heavy snowfall, and the area remained inaccessible,' Kamlesh Kamal, a spokesperson for the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, was quoted by AP as saying. #ManaAvalanche Search and rescue operations at the Mana Avalanche site concluded today with 46 workers being rescued successfully who are currently being given necessary medical treatment. However, despite relentless efforts, day & night, through inclement conditions by the… Reports indicated that the stricken workers had been living on-site in reinforced steel containers suitable for extreme conditions. 'These metal shelters saved most of them. They had just enough oxygen to survive until we rescued them,' a senior rescue official told the Times of India. The outlet noted that over the past several years, avalanches in northern India have trapped more than 140 people, including tourists, mountaineers, trekkers, and soldiers. The mountain region is one of the most treacherous in the country for road network development. In November 2023, 41 workers were stranded in an under-construction tunnel after a portion of the 4.5km passage between Silkyara and Dandalgaon collapsed in northern Uttarakhand. All 41 workers were eventually rescued by emergency teams after a 16-day operation. In a separate development, rescue efforts are currently underway in the southern Indian state of Telangana, where eight construction workers are trapped 14km inside a large irrigation tunnel, after a section of the roof collapsed. The relief operation entered its tenth day on Monday, with no contact yet established with the trapped workers.
Arab News
02-03-2025
- Climate
- Arab News
Eight dead in India avalanche as rescue operation ends
DEHRADUN: Rescuers recovered the eighth and final body from the site of an avalanche in a remote area of northern India, the army said Sunday, marking the end of a marathon operation in sub-zero temperatures. More than 50 workers were submerged under snow and debris after the avalanche hit a construction camp on Friday near Mana village on the border with Tibet in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand. Authorities had revised down the number of workers on site at the time of the avalanche from 55 to 54 after one worker, previously believed to be buried, was found to have safely made his way home before the avalanche hit. The army used drone-based detection system to assist in its search operations. Multiple drones and a rescue dog were also employed. Construction worker Anil, who only gave his first name, recalled his rescue hours after being buried by the avalanche. 'It was if God's angels had come to save us,' Anil, who is in his late 20s, told AFP on Sunday by phone from his hospital bed. 'The way we were engulfed in snow, we had no hope of surviving.' Being alive now felt 'like a dream,' he said. Working on a project by the Border Roads Organization, the workers were living on site in steel containers considered stronger than tents and capable of withstanding harsh weather. Anil said many workers were fast asleep and a few others were in makeshift toilets when the avalanche struck around 6:00 am Friday. As the ground beneath them shook, the container in which Anil and his colleagues were in began to slide down. 'At first we did not understand what was happening but when we looked out of the window of the containers, we saw piles of snow all around,' he said. 'The roof of the containers was also slowly bending inwards.' Everyone started screaming for help and a few men were lucky to get out of their containers. 'But not all of them made it out and they remained trapped,' he said. His colleague Vipan Kumar thought 'this was the end' when he found himself unable to move as he struggled for air under the thick layer of snow. 'I heard a loud roar, like thunder ... before I could react, everything went dark,' he told the Times of India newspaper. At an altitude of more than 3,200 meters (10,500 feet), minimum temperatures in the area were down to minus 12 degrees Celsius (10 degrees Fahrenheit). Dhan Singh Bisht said his son and nephew were alive only because of the prompt action by the relief teams. 'I am grateful to them,' an overwhelmed Bisht told AFP by phone on Saturday. Avalanches and landslides are common in the upper reaches of the Himalayas, especially during the winter season. Scientists say climate change is making weather events more severe, while the increased pace of development in the fragile Himalayan regions has also heightened fears about the fallout from deforestation and construction. In 2021, nearly 100 people died in Uttarakhand after a huge glacier chunk fell into a river, triggering flash floods. And devastating monsoon floods and landslides in 2013 killed 6,000 people and led to calls for a review of development projects in the state.
Voice of America
02-03-2025
- Climate
- Voice of America
8 dead in India avalanche as rescue operation ends
Rescuers recovered the eighth and final body from the site of an avalanche in a remote area of northern India, the army said Sunday, marking the end of a marathon operation in sub-zero temperatures. More than 50 workers were submerged under snow and debris after the avalanche hit a construction camp Friday near Mana village on the border with Tibet in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand. Authorities had revised down the number of workers on site at the time of the avalanche from 55 to 54 after one worker, previously believed to be buried, was found to have safely made his way home before the avalanche hit. The army used a drone-based detection system to assist in its search operations. Multiple drones and a rescue dog were also employed. Construction worker Anil, who only gave his first name, recalled his rescue hours after being buried by the avalanche. "It was if God's angels had come to save us," Anil, who is in his late 20s, told AFP on Sunday by phone from his hospital bed. "The way we were engulfed in snow, we had no hope of surviving." Being alive now felt "like a dream," he said. Not all made it Working on a project by the Border Roads Organization, the workers were living on site in steel containers considered stronger than tents and capable of withstanding harsh weather. Anil said many workers were fast asleep and a few others were in makeshift toilets when the avalanche struck around 6 a.m. local time Friday. As the ground beneath them shook, the container in which Anil and his colleagues were in began to slide down. "At first we did not understand what was happening but when we looked out of the window of the containers, we saw piles of snow all around," he said. "The roof of the containers was also slowly bending inwards." Everyone started screaming for help and a few men were lucky to get out of their containers. "But not all of them made it out and they remained trapped," he said. Like thunder His colleague Vipan Kumar thought "this was the end" when he found himself unable to move as he struggled for air under the thick layer of snow. "I heard a loud roar, like thunder ... before I could react, everything went dark," he told the Times of India newspaper. At an altitude of more than 3,200 meters (10,500 feet), minimum temperatures in the area were down to minus 12 degrees Celsius (10 degrees Fahrenheit). Dhan Singh Bisht said his son and nephew were alive only because of the prompt action by the relief teams. "I am grateful to them," an overwhelmed Bisht told AFP by phone Saturday. Avalanches and landslides are common in the upper reaches of the Himalayas, especially during the winter season. Scientists say climate change is making weather events more severe, while the increased pace of development in the fragile Himalayan regions has also heightened fears about the fallout from deforestation and construction. In 2021, nearly 100 people died in Uttarakhand after a huge glacier chunk fell into a river, triggering flash floods. And devastating monsoon floods and landslides in 2013 killed 6,000 people and led to calls for a review of development projects in the state.
Asharq Al-Awsat
02-03-2025
- Climate
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Eight Dead in India Avalanche as Rescue Operation Ends
Rescuers recovered the eighth and final body from the site of an avalanche in a remote area of northern India, the army said Sunday, marking the end of a marathon operation in sub-zero temperatures. More than 50 workers were submerged under snow and debris after the avalanche hit a construction camp on Friday near Mana village on the border with Tibet in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand. Authorities had revised down the number of workers on site at the time of the avalanche from 55 to 54 after one worker, previously believed to be buried, was found to have safely made his way home before the avalanche hit. The army used drone-based detection system to assist in its search operations. Multiple drones and a rescue dog were also employed. Construction worker Anil, who only gave his first name, recalled his rescue hours after being buried by the avalanche. "It was if God's angels had come to save us," Anil, who is in his late 20s, told AFP on Sunday by phone from his hospital bed. "The way we were engulfed in snow, we had no hope of surviving." Being alive now felt "like a dream", he said. - 'Not all made it' - Working on a project by the Border Roads Organization, the workers were living on site in steel containers considered stronger than tents and capable of withstanding harsh weather. Anil said many workers were fast asleep and a few others were in makeshift toilets when the avalanche struck around 6:00 am Friday. As the ground beneath them shook, the container in which Anil and his colleagues were in began to slide down. "At first we did not understand what was happening but when we looked out of the window of the containers, we saw piles of snow all around," he said. "The roof of the containers was also slowly bending inwards." Everyone started screaming for help and a few men were lucky to get out of their containers. "But not all of them made it out and they remained trapped," he said. - 'Like thunder' - His colleague Vipan Kumar thought "this was the end" when he found himself unable to move as he struggled for air under the thick layer of snow. "I heard a loud roar, like thunder ... before I could react, everything went dark," he told the Times of India newspaper. At an altitude of more than 3,200 meters (10,500 feet), minimum temperatures in the area were down to minus 12 degrees Celsius (10 degrees Fahrenheit). Dhan Singh Bisht said his son and nephew were alive only because of the prompt action by the relief teams. "I am grateful to them," an overwhelmed Bisht told AFP by phone on Saturday. Avalanches and landslides are common in the upper reaches of the Himalayas, especially during the winter season. Scientists say climate change is making weather events more severe, while the increased pace of development in the fragile Himalayan regions has also heightened fears about the fallout from deforestation and construction. In 2021, nearly 100 people died in Uttarakhand after a huge glacier chunk fell into a river, triggering flash floods. And devastating monsoon floods and landslides in 2013 killed 6,000 people and led to calls for a review of development projects in the state.
