Latest news with #Section307
New Indian Express
23-07-2025
- New Indian Express
Anganwadi worker's family ‘excommunicated' in Kadur over child marriage complaint
CHIKKAMAGALURU : The family of an Anganwadi teacher in Yerehalli village of Kadur taluk has allegedly been excommunicated by fellow villagers since March 2024, for their suspected role in alerting authorities about a child marriage that took place in 2021. The incident led to the registration of a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO)case in 2021 at Birur police to reporters, anganwadi worker Tejaswini claimed that she and her family were socially boycotted after a minor girl in the village became pregnant and authorities intervened. 'Childline officers and the anganwadi supervisor had visited the village two years ago. Villagers suspected that I was behind the POCSO complaint. Since then, we were banned from talking to anyone, denied access to community land, and even forbidden to visit the temple,' she said. Tejaswini also alleged that villagers warned the Anganwadi centre would be locked if she did not resign. 'Each family in the village was allotted one acre of land. Our plot of land was taken back from us,' she added. Tejaswini's mother-in-law, Somamma, said that the family was barred from entering the village temple, interacting with neighbours, or hiring workers to cultivate their land. She alleged that villagers threatened to fine anyone who spoke to their family. Birur police inspector Guruprasad told TNIE that the family was also involved in a dispute with the village over four acres of Gomala land. 'Villagers claim the land is meant for grazing cattle. The entire village is united on the issue. There are also three IPC Section 307 cases filed against Abhishek, Tejaswini's husband,' he said. He added that both he and the Tarikere DySP had visited the village and held peace talks to resolve tensions. Kadur taluk social welfare officer K Nataraj said the conflict appears to have escalated further over a strike planned by villagers on Wednesday.
Korea Herald
19-07-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Renowned human rights lawyer urges Korea to adopt forced labor import ban
No company is free from forced labor in global supply chain, stresses Vandenberg, founder of Human Trafficking Legal Center American human rights lawyer Martina Vandenberg has called on South Korea, an important economy in the global supply chain, to enact an import ban on goods made with forced labor during her recent visit to Seoul, saying such a measure would benefit not only exploited workers abroad but Korean workers as well. "Forced labor is ubiquitous, and it is so frequently found in global supply chains" said Vandenberg, president of Washington-based Human Trafficking Legal Center, in an interview with The Korea Herald. It is 'a feature, not a bug' in the global economic system, and 'it's systematic.' She visited Seoul earlier this month to speak at a forum on the forced labor issue, co-hosted by the National Assembly Labor Forum, the National Human Rights Commission and the Korean Bar Association. The Human Trafficking Legal Center, founded by Vandenberg, is a nonprofit that trains pro bono lawyers to seek restitution for human trafficking victims. She has trained more than 4,000 pro bono attorneys. 'At this point in the global economy, if you want a job and you're coming from a poor country, you have to buy that job,' she said. 'You pay recruitment fees, fees for medical tests, fees to travel. And when workers arrive at the job site, they discover they're not being paid the rate they were promised. Their debt back home keeps growing. They may be victims of deception, violence or even sexual violence.' "When so many workers across the globe are experiencing forced labor, we have to ask how the system is so broken," she added. She explained that many firms build layers of subcontractors — "subcontractors, and subcontractors and subcontractors" — to distance themselves from legal responsibility. 'They're trying to avoid liability, both criminal and civil.' But the real pressure, she emphasized, comes from the top. 'It's the companies in developed economies putting enormous pressure on supply chains to lower prices.' 'No company is free from this,' Vandenberg said. 'American companies are not free from this. South Korean companies are not free from this.' US import ban model To address the issue, the United States has enforced Section 307 of the Tariff Act, which prohibits the import of goods made with forced labor. Although the law has existed since 1930, it became enforceable only after loopholes were closed in 2016. 'This enforceability has had an enormous impact,' she said. 'Before, companies operated with total impunity. No one would prosecute them. No one would stop them. But now they realize someone is watching. Someone is investigating. And if their supply chain is tainted with forced labor, they may not be able to sell their goods in the US, the EU, Canada or Mexico.' Vandenberg said, 'We hope someday they won't be able to bring their goods into South Korea — when South Korea has an import ban.' 'South Korea is a very important economy, a key player in the global economy,' she added. According to a 2023 report by international human rights group Walk Free, South Korea imports up to $20 billion worth of goods each year that are at risk of being linked to forced labor. Many of these products originate from regions where Uyghur workers and others are forced into labor in the lowest tiers of global supply chains. While Korea has not yet proposed such a bill, The Korea Herald has learned that Rep. Kim Tae-seon of the ruling Democratic Party is preparing to introduce legislation following a series of public discussions. Import bans, she noted, do more than protect workers abroad. 'They also protect workers at home. There's no way a Korean or American worker can compete with someone earning almost nothing. A US steelworker, who testified in a hearing before the Senate Finance Committee several years ago, said 'There's no way I can compete with someone held in slavery.' So US and South Korean workers can't compete when other workers aren't being paid." Vandenberg suggested that import bans can be incorporated into bilateral trade agreements. Canada and Mexico, for example, adopted import bans as part of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, negotiated under the Trump administration in 2020. 'It's a very good way for countries to negotiate with the US — agree to adopt import bans and reach mutually beneficial trade deals,' she said. Korean sea salt under scrutiny The US has already taken action against a Korean company. In April, US Customs and Border Protection issued a withhold release order against products from Taepyung Salt Farm, one of Korea's largest sea salt producers, citing evidence of forced labor. The action followed a 2022 petition from Korean civic groups urging a ban on Korean sea salt allegedly produced under forced labor conditions. According to Vandenberg, the action against the Korean company is highly unusual. 'It's one of only three issued this year -- alongside actions against frankincense from Somaliland and seafood from a Chinese fishing vessel, Zhen Fa 7, which had Indonesian fishers onboard.' 'We don't believe any withhold release order should be modified or revoked until there is proof that workers have been compensated and that conditions have changed,' she said. 'The whole point is not just to block goods — but to change the reality for workers on the ground.' She added, 'There's still a long way to go. It will take attention and effort from the company and Korean authorities before any modification or revocation would be justified.' shinjh@
Time of India
16-07-2025
- Time of India
Assault on Col: SIT probe ‘tainted', says high court, hands case to CBI
Chandigarh: Expressing dissatisfaction with the "tainted" investigation of the Chandigarh Police SIT in the assault on Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath, allegedly by Punjab cops, the Punjab and Haryana high court on Wednesday handed over the probe to CBI. "The court is convinced that the investigating agency is not only trying to create loopholes in the investigation but trying to make craters in the investigation so as to ensure that once the chargesheet is filed before the court, the case of the prosecution should hardly be able to crawl in court," the HC observed. In a scathing remark, Justice Rajesh Bhardwaj said that "there are no prospects of free and fair investigation in the case by SIT of UT, Chandigarh", and that the court cannot be a spectator to the investigating agency conducting the probe in a "tainted manner". In his detailed order, Justice Bhardwaj observed that except for saying the investigation is in progress, there is no material to convince the court that the probe is being carried out in a free and fair manner. "Needless to say, other offences in the FIR are also non-bailable, but the investigating agency has no answer regarding its conduct in not proceeding against the accused. The only answer given to the court is that all the accused are not traceable. The court cannot lose sight that all the accused are serving police officers," Justice Rajesh Bhardwaj said. HC passed the order after interacting with the head of SIT, SP (HQ & intelligence), Chandigarh, Manjeet, who submitted that as the offence under Section 109 BNS (Section 307 IPC, attempt to murder) is not made out, custody of the accused is not warranted. He also apprised the court that though all the accused are police officers, they are not traceable and are absent from their duties as well. At this, the judge observed that without concluding the investigation, the probe agency has made up its mind to delete the offence under Section 109 BNS, which substantiates the apprehension of the petitioner (Colonel Bath) that the SIT is proceeding in a tainted manner to give benefit to the accused. HC also observed that the investigation was shifted out of the state of Punjab so as to ensure an impartial investigation, but the court finds no change in the situation. The order came in the wake of a petition filed by Col Bath, accusing SIT of "shielding" the accused cops and demanding a CBI probe. He submitted that he is a victim of "extreme brutality and high-handedness of Punjab police", and "protectors of law have become breakers of law". MSID:: 122573913 413 |
Indian Express
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Now, CBI to probe assault on Colonel Pushpinder Singh, his son in Patiala
The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday transferred the investigation into the assault on Col Pushpinder Singh and his son in Patiala on March 13 to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The bench of Justice Rajesh Bhardwaj which passed this order on Tuesday morning said the Chandigarh police had failed to conduct a fair and impartial investigation. A detailed order is awaited. The court was earlier informed that all the five accused, four of them police inspectors, are absconding and no non bailable warrants have been issued against them. Earlier on Monday, Justice Bhardwaj had pulled up the Chandigarh Police for failing to arrest any of the accused Punjab Police personnel despite anticipatory bail having been denied nearly two months ago. SP Manjeet Sheoran, an AGMUT cadre IPS officer who was heading the investigation, was present in the court today but failed to convince the court about the fairness of his team's probe. Justice Rajesh Bhardwaj asked why no arrests had been made so far. Terming the delay 'intentional,' the judge said the police's conduct amounted to shielding the accused and was 'setting the wrong example.' The court heard sharp arguments from the victim's counsel PS Ahluwalia, who accused the authorities of 'orchestrating the investigation to dismantle the case' and 'betraying the court's trust' by walking back on their own previous stand. 'The accused are all serving officers of Punjab Police. This court had transferred the case to the UT precisely because there was no confidence in a fair probe by Punjab Police. But what is happening now is no different. The same influence is operating,' submitted the opposing counsel. At the heart of the hearing was the removal of Section 307 IPC (attempt to murder) from the case, a section that had initially been invoked by the police and cited by the State itself to oppose anticipatory bail. 'My Lords, it's on record — the State had earlier argued that custodial interrogation was necessary to ensure a fair probe and protect witnesses. They relied on Section 307 to oppose bail. And now, they are withdrawing it without explanation,' Ahluwalia submitted, reading from previous court orders and the State's own affidavits. Quoting from the affidavit filed by the State to oppose pre-arrest bail, he said: 'The petitioner, being a serving Inspector in Punjab Police, holds continued influence and has shown a propensity to misuse his position. If granted bail, there is a real risk of tampering with evidence and intimidating witnesses.' 'Today, that same State is arguing the opposite,' the counsel told the bench. 'What changed? The facts haven't changed. The injuries are the same — two fractures on the Colonel, a broken nose on his son. Eight injuries in total on the Colonel, five on the son, all confirmed in medical records.' Referring to the High Court's earlier remarks, counsel pointed out that the bench had found prima facie evidence to support charges under Section 326 IPC (grievous hurt with dangerous weapon), punishable with life. 'Use of lathis by trained police personnel in such a brutal manner brings the danda under the category of dangerous weapons,' the court had observed. 'Even Section 326 is not being pressed now. They are systematically dismantling the case,' the counsel said. 'It is not just evidence tampering — it is record manipulation on affidavit.' The court was also shown the status report of the DSP, which records that a senior constable handed over the Colonel's official ID card and mobile phone, and these were returned to him only on the evening of March 14. 'This proves the snatching of the ID and phone. These items were never lost or found — they were taken. And this is not just anyone — he is a serving officer in the Prime Minister's Office, under the Cabinet Secretariat. This is a national security breach.' To discredit this, the police have now produced a new witness under Section 164 CrPC claiming the phone and ID card had merely fallen to the ground and were picked up. 'This is not a witness. This is a planted shield,' the counsel submitted. 'An accused, a prosecutor, and the investigator are all singing from the same script — to protect the officers. This is the first time I am seeing a 164 statement being used not to bolster a prosecution, but to undo one.' The bench also questioned the pace of the investigation. 'You were given four months — not to sit idle. If it could be completed in one month, it should have been,' the judge remarked, after the UT counsel said the final report would be filed by August 3. The court was informed that five Punjab Police inspectors have been named as accused — Inspectors Ronnie Singh, Harjinder Singh Dhillon, Happy Boparai, Rajvir Singh, and Jai Singh (a constable). Ronnie Singh's anticipatory bail was dismissed on May 23. Yet, none have been arrested, and no non-bailable warrants have been issued. 'They are absconding, and police are watching,' the counsel said. 'After the bail was dismissed, no NBWs have been issued, no coercive action taken. Are they waiting for a red carpet?' The bench underlined that the duty of the police is not to protect the accused. 'If the accused are not cooperating, NBWs must be issued. Investigation must be bold, impartial, and without fear,' the judge said. The counsel also accused the police of forging medical records to show that the accused were injured and sought treatment first. 'At page 112 of the record, pm was tampered to read AM. It's such a naked forgery that even a layperson can spot it,' he said. 'The police didn't get this examined by an expert for four months — because they didn't want it authenticated.' He further argued that the initial FIR was registered based not on the Colonel's complaint, but on the statement of a dhaba owner, which the bench acknowledged. 'This FIR is not a complaint. It's a police draft — the dhaba owner says the assault happened because the Colonel and his son were 'eating on the trunk of their car.' This is language crafted for future use. They anticipated the fallout, and planted this version.' The court also took note of its April 3 transfer order, which had directed that an IPS officer posted in Chandigarh lead the probe, based on Punjab DGP's consent. Counsel submitted that even now, statements of key family members have not been recorded under Section 161 CrPC. 'We have been begging for our statements to be recorded. My client's wife and brother-in-law were in touch with Punjab's top officers the night of the incident. They are crucial witnesses. But the police won't touch them — because it would implicate their own seniors.' As the hearing concluded, the bench remarked that the investigation has not met the court's expectations post-transfer. 'Once this court entrusted the probe to an IPS officer, the expectation was that a fair investigation would follow. That has not happened.'
Borneo Post
06-07-2025
- Borneo Post
Another suspected criminal killed in shootout with police in Sungai Petani
The 34-year-old suspect was fatally shot during a similar shootout with police at 7.50 pm in Bandar Puteri Jaya. – Bernama photo SUNGAI PETANI (July 6): Police have shot dead another man believed to be involved in a series of armed robberies, just a day after two other suspects were killed in a shootout in Jitra. The 34-year-old suspect was fatally shot during a similar shootout with police at 7.50 pm in Bandar Puteri Jaya, according to acting director of the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Datuk Fadil Marsus. 'This was a special operation led by Bukit Aman CID in collaboration with several state contingents and all branches of the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM). 'Today, we encountered an individual believed to be part of a gang involved in a series of armed robberies across several states. Attempts were made to arrest him, but he resisted and a shootout ensued, leading to his death,' he told reporters at the scene. A pistol and several other items were recovered from the suspect, who had more than 30 prior criminal records. Fadil said police believe the suspect was also a key member of a criminal group, comprising over a dozen members, responsible for a string of armed robberies, gangsterism and drug trafficking dating back to 2022, which caused losses estimated at nearly RM6 million. 'Our investigations indicate this suspect was also involved in three recent armed robberies in Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, and Perak,' he added. Fadil emphasised that the police would continue to act aggressively to apprehend individuals involved in violent crimes, especially those involving firearms. The case is being investigated under Section 307 of the Penal Code. Yesterday morning, two other suspected criminals were shot dead by police in a shootout near the North-South Expressway exit near Bandar Darul Aman in Jitra. armed robberies crime police shootout
