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The Print
5 hours ago
- The Print
UP cops help solemnise woman's wedding after family's breadwinner shot dead
Uday Kumari lost her brother in a dacoity incident in April, which forced the family to postpone her wedding, originally scheduled for May. The wedding took place in Dhannipurwa village in the Umri Begumganj area on Thursday night. Gonda (UP), Jun 6 (PTI) The police organised the wedding of a young woman here whose family was in dire straits due to the death of its breadwinner among other financial hardships, officials said on Friday. Taking the family under their wing, the police took full responsibility for the wedding and solemnised the ceremony in a grand, traditional manner. The event was carried out with the support of the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF), Superintendent of Police (SP) Vineet Jaiswal said. 'The girl was to be married on May 5, but on the night of April 24, her brother Shivdeen was shot dead by robbers who had broken into their home. As a result, the wedding had to be called off,' he said. The investigation led the police to the Pasi gang. Acting swiftly, multiple police teams were deployed, resulting in the identification of six accused individuals. Four were arrested during encounters, in which three sustained bullet injuries. The gang's kingpin, Gyan Chand Pasi and another wanted criminal, Sonu Pasi, were killed in separate encounters by the STF and the police on May 20 in Umri Begumganj and May 22 in Barabanki, respectively. Ritu Shahi, the wife of STF Circle Officer DK Shahi and a member of the State Women's Commission, along with Dr Tanvi Jaiswal, wife of SP Vineet Jaiswal and chairperson of VAMA Sarathi (a police family welfare organisation), visited Kumari's house. Besides consoling the grieving family, they also assured to take full financial responsibility for Kumari's wedding. On Thursday, officers from the police and STF participated in the wedding festivities. From decorations and food to rituals, every detail was handled by the police. The police chief and his wife attended the ceremony and presented Rs 1.51 lakh in cash, along with essential jewellery and household items to the newlyweds on behalf of the department. 'We wanted to send out a clear message: we are not just here to fight criminals, but also to stand strongly with victims in their times of need. When a family is in crisis, it is our duty to protect, reassure, and help bring their lives back on track,' the SP said. Kumari's father admitted that he had lost all hope of seeing his daughter married, but thanks to the police's help, the family was able to hold the wedding. 'The police didn't feel like officers on duty, they were like our own family,' he said. PTI COR KIS MPL HIG This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
NDTV
6 hours ago
- NDTV
UP Cops Organise Woman's Wedding After Family's Breadwinner Shot Dead
In Uttar Pradesh's Gonda, the police organized the wedding for Uday Kumari after her family struggled financially following her brother's murder in a dacoity incident in April this year. The ceremony was funded and supported by police. Gonda(UP): The police in Uttar Pradesh's Gonda organised the wedding of a young woman whose family was in dire straits due to the death of its breadwinner, among other financial hardships, officials said on Friday. The wedding took place in Dhannipurwa village in the Umri Begumganj area on Thursday night. Uday Kumari lost her brother in a dacoity incident in April, which forced the family to postpone her wedding, originally scheduled for May. Taking the family under their wing, the police took full responsibility for the wedding and solemnised the ceremony in a grand, traditional manner. The event was carried out with the support of the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF), Superintendent of Police (SP) Vineet Jaiswal said. "The girl was to be married on May 5, but on the night of April 24, her brother Shivdeen was shot dead by robbers who had broken into their home. As a result, the wedding had to be called off," he said. The investigation led the police to the Pasi gang. Acting swiftly, multiple police teams were deployed, resulting in the identification of six accused individuals. Four were arrested during encounters, in which three sustained bullet injuries. The gang's kingpin, Gyan Chand Pasi and another wanted criminal, Sonu Pasi, were killed in separate encounters by the STF and the police on May 20 in Umri Begumganj and May 22 in Barabanki, respectively. Ritu Shahi, the wife of STF Circle Officer DK Shahi and a member of the State Women's Commission, along with Dr Tanvi Jaiswal, wife of SP Vineet Jaiswal and chairperson of VAMA Sarathi (a police family welfare organisation), visited Kumari's house. Besides consoling the grieving family, they also assured to take full financial responsibility for Kumari's wedding. On Thursday, officers from the police and STF participated in the wedding festivities. From decorations and food to rituals, every detail was handled by the police. The police chief and his wife attended the ceremony and presented Rs 1.51 lakh in cash, along with essential jewellery and household items to the newlyweds on behalf of the department. "We wanted to send out a clear message: we are not just here to fight criminals, but also to stand strongly with victims in their times of need. When a family is in crisis, it is our duty to protect, reassure, and help bring their lives back on track," the SP said. Kumari's father admitted that he had lost all hope of seeing his daughter married, but thanks to the police's help, the family was able to hold the wedding. "The police didn't feel like officers on duty, they were like our own family," he said.
Hans India
6 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
It's time for transparent mechanism to audit quality in private education
It was so dreadful to read about Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) uncovering a massive fake degree racket operating out of Monad University, a private institution in Pilkhuwa, Hapur. The media reported that on May 18, the STF had arrested 10 persons associated with the university, including its Chairman ChaudharyVijendra Singh and pro-chancellor Nitin Kumar Singh for their involvement in the sordid crime. Vijendra Singh was reportedly running the fake degree operation. Thousands of fake degrees are believed to have been recovered in the raid. The fake degrees were sold for amounts ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs five lakh, often to secure private and government jobs. One shudders to think of the fate of those who have obtained those fake degrees for the purpose of securing a job. The private education market has a significant role in India's overall education sector, with projections indicating continued growth in the years to come. Back in 2022, the market size was estimated at $43.5 billion for school education – from kindergarten to the 12th Grade. The market is expected to increase at a CAGR of 12 per cent between 2023 and 2028. By FY25, the entire Indian education sector is estimated to be at a staggering $225 billion, while the education tech market is projected to grow to $7.5 billion. The total number of private educational institutions operating in the country stood at 3,73,621 in FY 2021. It is expected to scale to 4,59,952 units by FY 2027, expanding at a CAGR of around 3.69 per cent during the FY 2022 to FY 2027 period. As per an estimate, the state private universities, comprising teaching departments and constituent units or off-campus centres, have experienced the most significant growth, with enrolments soaring from 2.7 lakh in 2011-12 to 16.2 lakh in 2021-22, which accounts for an astonishing 497 per cent increase. According to the 2021-2022report of the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE), there were 1,168 universities, 45,473 colleges and 12,002 stand-alone institutions in the country. This almost 40-fold increase in the number of universities is a massive achievement as regards creation of access and facilities in the Indian higher education ecosystem. As on to date, we have over 500 universities in the private sector. The overwhelming expansion of educational opportunities to a much broader segment of the population is a welcome idea. As the data suggests, the private sector has emerged as a major force in expanding access to education. Many private institutions have also introduced a variety of curricula and pedagogical models including international programmes, vocational training, and online learning. However, can one vouch for the fact that quality of education is not being compromised in higher education institutions (HEIs) in the private sector? Are the teachers paid suitably? Do we have a fool-proof mechanism to audit their academic outcome? Are the annual reports of state private universities tabled on the floor of the state assemblies for discussion? Like many others, I am not opposed to having private HEIs but their promoters must understand that health and education sectors are not meant for profit making in a country like India where the majority of those who account for the country's 85 per cent population is devoid of quality education. If they do so, they are only weakening the nation's socio-economic fabric. By generating a few lakh jobs, they are not rendering any long-term favours to the country. India's top HEIs in the private sector have a miniscule presence of students from weaker and deprived social groups, whom we know as SCs, STs, and OBCs. While the role of the private sector in boosting education is undeniable, there are critical concerns that must be addressed to ensure equity and quality. I strongly feel that the majority of private institutions operate on a for-profit model, which excludes economically weaker sections. As many private institutions do not maintain high academic standards, there is a compelling need for a robust regulation and accreditation mechanism. One wonders why the Central and state governments are averse to the idea of rigorous evaluation of quality and inclusivity of HEIs in the public and private sector. The shift from an elitist colonial model of education to the enhancing paradigm marks a fundamental transformation in the philosophy and practice of education. However, for this movement to be truly transformative, it must be guided by principles of equity, quality, and inclusiveness, ensuring that massification does not become mere numerical expansion, but genuinely empowers the society through education. As things stand, the powers-that-be need to revisit their policies to maintain the sanctity of HEIs in the private sector. If they are being allowed to run as business entities or personal fiefdoms, then what is the point in asking: Who will bell the cat? Our higher education landscape has long grappled with glaring disparities in access and quality. We must not let our students navigate a fragmented and often compromised system, especially in the private sector. In many cases, private HEIs operate more like profit-driven ventures than centres of learning, often prioritising financial returns over academic excellence. This has led to an ecosystem where capitation fees, inadequate faculty, lack of research infrastructure, and obsolete curricula are the norm and not the exception. The University Grants Commission (UGC), All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), Union Ministry of Education, and state governments must be driven by the accountability factor and do a rethink on the existing policies. Mere affiliation and accreditation formalities are not enough. A transparent and enforceable mechanism must be instituted to audit quality, governance, and inclusiveness in private HEIs. Without stringent checks and accountability, private HEIs will continue to function as personal fiefdoms, perpetuating inequity rather than alleviating it. To truly democratize higher education, we must balance autonomy with accountability, equity with excellence. Reforms cannot remain on paper. They must be reflected across classrooms, faculty rooms, and boardrooms alike. Only then can the sanctity and promise of higher education can be preservedin our country.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Time of India
UP RO/ARO exam paper leak: Medical store worker paid Rs 1 lakh for leaked paper, confesses after arrest
LUCKNOW: A year after the sensational leak of the UPPSC Review Officer/Assistant Review Officer (RO/ARO) Preliminary Examination 2023 paper, the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) arrested a key accused on Friday. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The accused confessed to paying Rs 1 lakh in hopes of securing a govt job. The accused, Kumar Abhinandan, a medical store worker from Lucknow, admitted during interrogation that he was lured into the racket by a doctor who promised him leaked papers for Rs 15 lakh. The RO/ARO Prelims, held on February 11, 2024, was cancelled after its question paper surfaced on social media hours before the exam. STF teams were tasked with investigating the leak, and Abhinandan, who was on the run since then, was finally caught near Manocha Bakery under Thakurganj police station limits on May 29. According to his confession, Abhinandan was helping run his father's medical store in Mal and operated a pharmaceutical distribution firm named Alaya Distributors in Vibhutikhand. During business interactions, he befriended Dr. Sharad Kumar Singh, a PGI-based medical professional, who claimed connections with a network capable of leaking competitive exam papers, said Additional SP, STF, Lal Pratap Singh. 'Sharad told me he could get me a leaked copy of the RO/ARO paper if I arranged Rs 15 lakh. He assured me that if the plan failed, my money would be returned,' Abhinandan told STF. Tempted by the offer, he paid Rs 1 lakh in cash and handed over sensitive personal documents, including his academic mark sheets and a blank cheque as 'security'. Abhinandan further revealed that he was instructed to travel to Bhopal on February 9, 2024. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now There, at Hotel Kamal Palace, he met co-accused Subhash Prakash and Vivek Upadhyay, who, along with several other aspirants, were given the leaked question paper and its solved answers. 'On exam day, the same questions appeared. I knew then the leak was real,' he admitted. But when news broke that Subhash and Vivek were arrested by STF, Abhinandan panicked. 'I deleted everything from my phone and went into hiding,' he confessed. His arrest adds to a growing list of accused in the scam, including Sharad, Subhash, Vivek, and several others now behind bars. Abhinandan was booked under multiple sections of the IPC, the Uttar Pradesh Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, and the IT Act. The case is registered under FIR No. 74/2024 at Civil Lines Police Station, Prayagraj. According to STF officials, the investigation is ongoing, and more arrests may follow as the network behind the paper leak is further exposed.
India Gazette
30-05-2025
- India Gazette
UP: Wanted criminal shot in leg during police encounter near Kalyan Apartment in Lucknow
Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], May 30 (ANI): A suspected criminal was shot in the leg during an encounter with police near Kalyan Apartment in Lucknow on Friday morning, according to the UP police officials. The man, identified as Farman, son of Sabir Ali, was injured after he allegedly opened fire on the police during a chase. According to DCP East Shashank Singh, the incident took place when Ghazipur police launched an intensive investigation campaign to search for suspicious persons in the area. 'This morning, Ghazipur police was conducting intensive investigation campaign for suspicious persons. During checking, the entire team of SHO Ghazipur saw a white car without number plate coming. They tried to stop it for questioning. The driver recklessly drove the car forward. The police team chased him,' said Singh. He added, 'When they did so, the car went out of control and collided somewhere and the driver got down from the car and fired at the police team. In retaliation, the police team also fired. In this, the suspicious person got shot in the leg.' After being injured, the accused was quickly overpowered and taken into custody. He was later identified as Farman, and further investigation revealed a criminal history. 'He has been identified as Farman, son of Sabir Ali... When he was further interrogated, it was found that there were many more cases against him,' the DCP said. The police said that medical assistance was provided to Farman, and a formal arrest was made. Further legal action is underway. Earlier, on Wednesday, two police personnel, including a constable, were injured during an encounter in Hapur, where Naveen Kumar, a notorious sharpshooter of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, was killed by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) and Delhi Police's Special Cell. A notorious criminal, Naveen Kumar, was wanted in several cases and was also an active member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. Kumar was wanted in a murder and MCOCA (Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act) case of Thana Farsh Bazar in Delhi. The wanted accused Naveen was an active member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and is a sharpshooter, the officials said. Additional SP, Noida, Raj Kumar Mishra, stated, 'Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) Noida unit and Delhi Police's Special Cell yesterday got information that the absconding accused of a murder case of Farsh Bazar is visiting Hapur. When police intercepted the criminal, he started firing at our team. In retaliatory fire by the Police, the criminal was injured, and later In retaliatory fire by the Police, the criminal was injured, and later succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. He had more than 20 cases registered against him. He was an active member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. In this operation, two police personnel, including a constable, sustained injuries.' As per the officials, twenty cases, including murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping, robbery and MCOCA, were registered against him in Delhi and UP, and he had been sentenced by the court in two cases in Delhi. (ANI)
