Page 22 - Jharkhand

JMM's Nazrul Islam apologises for making derogatory statement against PM

Senior Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Nazrul Islam on Wednesday apologised for making a derogatory statement against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that his remark was not intended to hurt anyone. His apology came a day after the state BJP demanded Islam's arrest for the comment that the prime minister "would be buried 400-foot below" in the election, instead of winning 400 seats. During a political speech, I was speaking against the prime minister's claim of winning 400 seats. I intended to say that they (BJP-led NDA) would not get 400 seats and they will be out of power, Islam said in a video statement. The JMM central committee member said, I am an educated person and a professor. I cannot speak such words against the prime minister. But if, for some reason, my words have accidentally hurt anyone, I sincerely apologise. He made the remarks against Modi at a public meeting in Sahibganj on Sunday. The BJP's Sahibganj unit lodged a complaint with the police against Isl

ED arrests one more; conducts searches in Ranchi in a case against Soren

The Enforcement Directorate has made a fresh arrest in connection with the money laundering investigation against former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren and others, official sources said Tuesday. The federal agency also undertook some searches in Ranchi against a person named Antu Tirkey, who is allegedly linked to the case. The arrested person identified as Afshar Ali was lodged in jail under judicial custody in another money laundering case and the agency has taken his custody in the latest case after seeking a designated court's permission. Ali is accused of committing "forgery" for allegedly grabbing some land in Jharkhand in purported connivance with the prime accused in the case against Soren and former revenue department sub inspector Bhanu Pratap Prasad. This is the fourth arrest in the instant case. The 48-year-old JMM leader Soren was arrested by the ED in January shortly after he resigned as the CM. He is currently lodged at the Birsa Munda jail at Hotwar in Ranch

LS polls: Maoist-hit areas of Singhbhum to witness voting for first-time

Come May 13, many interior areas in the Maoist den of Singhbhum Lok Sabha seat in Jharkhand will witness voting for the first time, or after decades-long gap, as polling teams and materials will be air dropped from helicopters to enable people living in Saranda, Asia's densest Sal forest, to exercise their franchise. As many as 118 remote booths will be set up by personnel and materials dropped from choppers. "We are committed to ensuring that no voter is left out... we have identified many areas where polling will be conducted for the first time or after nearly two decades as these locations were badly affected by Maoist insurgency," West Singhbhum Deputy Commissioner cum District Election Officer Kuldeep Chaudhary told PTI. Despite improvement in the situation, West Singhbhum remains one of the worst left-wing extremism-affected districts of the country. It had witnessed 46 Maoist-related incidents resulting in 22 deaths last year. Polling stations such as Middle School, Nugdi an

Extended poll timings, ORS, medical teams to help voters deal with heat

In anticipation of intense heat during the Lok Sabha polls in Jharkhand, comprehensive measures have been put in place to mitigate the effects of heat waves on voters, officials, and security personnel. These include extending poll timings, setting up makeshift sheds, providing ORS and lemon water, and deploying medical teams and ambulances, an election official said. The elections will be conducted in seven phases from April 19 to June 1, with Jharkhand's voting taking place on May 13, 20, 25, and June 1 for its 14 seats. With over 2.55 crore eligible voters, including 1.25 crore women, increasing voter turnout amidst the heatwave presents a significant challenge for both the state and the Election Commission. In 2019, Jharkhand's overall voter turnout was 66.8 per cent, lower than the national average of 67.4 per cent. To address this measures such as extending polling hours from 7 am to 5 pm and providing temporary shelters at booths have been implemented. Additionally, facili

21 workers under medical observation after fire at SAIL's Bokaro plant

Around 15 workers of SAIL's Bokaro Steel Plant have been kept under medical observation after a fire broke out on Saturday morning, an official said. This is a precautionary measure and all of them are out of danger, he said. There was no report of any fatality, the Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) official said. The incident took place when maintenance work was underway in the mixed gas pipeline of the Bokaro plant, he said. There has been no leakage of any gas from the pipeline, and the situation is completely under control, the official said. The fire has been extinguished and senior officials are camping at the spot, he added.

ED attaches Rs 31-cr worth Ranchi land 'belonging' to Ex-Jharkhand CM Soren

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached 8.86 acres of land in Ranchi allegedly owned by former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren as part of a money laundering investigation against him and his associates, the federal agency said on Thursday. The ED had filed a charge sheet against the 48-year-old JMM leader and four others -- Bhanu Pratap Prasad, Raj Kumar Pahan, Hilariyas Kachhap and Binod Singh -- on March 30 before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court here. The court took cognisance of the prosecution complaint on Thursday, the ED said in a statement. The ED requested the court for confiscation of the 8.86-acre plot. Soren was arrested in this case by the ED in January after he was questioned at his official residence in Ranchi. He resigned as the chief minister shortly before his arrest. He is in judicial custody and currently lodged in the Birsa Munda central jail in Ranchi's Hotwar. The money laundering investigation stems from multiple FIRs ..

LS polls: Not Hemant, but Nalin Soren to fight BJP's Sita Soren in Dumka

Lok Sabha elections: The JMM has named Nalin Soren as its candidate for the Dumka constituency, where the BJP has fielded Hemant Soren's sister-in-law, Sita Soren

Former Jharkhand CM Soren withdraws from SC his plea against HC order

Former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren on Monday withdrew from the Supreme Court his plea challenging a high court order that refused to grant him permission to attend the Budget session of the Assembly. Soren had sought permission from the Jharkhand High Court to attend the Budget session that started on February 23 and came to an end on March 2. On February 28, the high court had dismissed his plea. When his plea came up for hearing before a bench of Justices Surya Kant and K V Viswanathan on Monday, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Soren, said he be allowed to withdraw the plea as the Budget session came to an end on March 2. "I wish to withdraw this," Sibal said, adding the question of law raised in the plea may be kept open. The apex court allowed him to withdraw the plea, and said the question of law is left open. Soren was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on January 31 in connection with a money laundering case. He is presently under judicial ...

LS polls: FIR against Dhanbad's BJP nominee for threatening ex-party leader

An FIR was lodged against BJP nominee for Dhanbad Lok Sabha constituency and Baghmara MLA Dulu Mahato for allegedly threatening the district president of Marwai Sammelan Krishna Agarwal for opposing his candidature, police said. Barbadda police station officer-in-charge Sunil Kumar Ravi told media persons on Sunday that on the basis of the complaint of Agarwal, an FIR has been lodged against Dulu Mahto and Prince Khan under sections 387(extortion), 506 (criminal intimidation), 109 (abetment) and 120 B (criminal conspiracy) of Indian Penal Code (IPC). Agarwal, a former BJP leader, in his complaint stated that Khan, an alleged extortionist, through an audio clip had threatened him not to protest the candidature of Mahato. The Marwari Sammelan president in a letter to the Senior Superintendent of Police also expressed apprehension that on the directive of Mahto, Khan and his henchmen might attack him and his family members. On Friday, Agrawal and Jamshedpur East MLA Saryu Roy held a .

LS polls: Cong to declare remaining candidates for Jharkhand seats by Apr 1

The Congress will announce the names of its remaining candidates for the four Lok Sabha constituencies of Jharkhand by April 1, a party official said. The grand old party had announced the names of candidates for Lohardaga, Khunti and Hazaribag on Wednesday evening, following a go-ahead from the Congress' Central Election Committee (CEC). Kalicharan Munda, Sukhdeo Bhagat and Jai Prakashbhai Patel will contest the polls in Khunti (ST), Lohardaga (ST) and Hazaribagh seats, respectively, the party had announced in New Delhi. "Congress will announce the remaining candidates for four seats by April 1, while a consensus on seat-sharing is likely by tomorrow," the party leader told PTI. The Lok Sabha polls will be held in four phases for the 14 seats in Jharkhand, starting May 13. There are more than 2.54 crore voters in the state 1.29 crore males, 1.24 crore females and 413 transgenders.

Congress releases list of 16 candidate for 4 states ahead of LS elections

Earlier, the Congress released its sixth list of five candidates for the Lok Sabha elections in Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu

LS polls: Congress likely to announce candidates for 4 Jharkand seats

The Congress is likely to announce names of its candidates for the Ranchi, Lohardaga, Khunti and Hazaribag Lok Sabha seats on Wednesday, a senior party leader said. The names are likely to be announced after the party's Central Election Committee (CEC) meeting in New Delhi. "The names of the candidates for Ranchi, Lohardaga, Khunti and Hazaribag Lok Sabha seats are likely to be announced today. We are going to participate in the meeting in Delhi, and the final list is likely to be issued after the CEC meeting and the screening committee meeting this evening," Congress legislature party leader Alamgir Alam told PTI before leaving for Delhi. He said a final decision on seat sharing among the INDIA bloc allies is also likely to be taken during the day, and accordingly the names of candidates will be announced. Leaders of the bloc said that a seat-sharing agreement has been finalised for all the 14 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state. As per the agreement, the Congress would contest

Tata Cummins starts new facility for hydrogen-based engines in Jamshedpur

Apart from the engines, the factory will also manufacture low to zero-emission technology products

Jharkhand Guv gets charge of Telangana, Puducherry as Soundararajan quits

Governor of Jharkhand C P Radhakrishnan has been appointed Governor of Telangana and Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry by President Murmu, until regular arrangements are made

Lok Sabha elections 2024: EC orders removal of home secretaries in 6 states

The Election Commission has ordered the removal of home secretaries in 6 states and Director General of Police (DGP) of West Bengal

NTPC to start commercial ops of 2nd unit of North Karanpura power project

NTPC on Monday said it will start commercial operations of second unit of its North Karanpura Super Thermal Power Project on March 20. NTPC's North Karanpura Super Thermal Power (STPP) project is a coal-based power plant located in the Chatra district of Jharkhand. "Unit 2 (660 MW) of North Karanpura Super Thermal Power Project (3x660 MW) is declared on commercial operation with effect from 00:00 hours of 20.03.2024," NTPC said in an exchange filing. With this, standalone and group commercial capacity of NTPC will become 59,298 MW and 75,418 MW, respectively. NTPC, under the Ministry of Power, is India's largest power generation company.

After ED raids, J'khand Cong MLA claims ignoring BJP's offer of LS ticket

The raids were conducted in connection with a complaint of money laundering filed in 2023 against the Congress MLA at the Ranchi zonal office of the central enforcement agency

Money laundering case: ED raids J'hand Cong MLA Amba Prasad, linked persons

The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday carried out searches against Jharkhand Congress MLA Amba Prasad and some others allegedly linked to her as part of a money laundering investigation, official sources said. About 17-18 premises in Ranchi and some other cities of the state were being covered, the sources said. The 36-year-old legislator represents the Barkagaon assembly seat in Hazaribag district. A clutch of FIRs related to alleged illegal sand mining, extortion and some other crimes have formed the basis of the ED action being undertaken under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the sources said.

Jharkhand spinner Nadeem calls it quits, wants to play in foregn leagues

Jharkhand left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem, who featured in two Tests for India, has announced his retirement from international cricket to try his luck in franchise-based leagues as he does not foresee opportunities in the national team. The 34-year-old said it is better to pave the way for younger talent. "I realise I can't feature for Team India anymore, as I'm not in the selectors' plans, and there is a pool of talented youngsters waiting for their chance," Nadeem told PTI from Dhanbad. "I would have continued playing if there were opportunities for me in Team India... However, I don't foresee any chances in near future. "Hence, I decided to retire from Indian cricket and try my luck in different leagues," added the bowler, who will be seen in action in the upcoming Legends League Cricket in Sri Lanka. Nadeem, who held the world record of best bowling figures (8/10) in an innings in List A cricket in a two-decade long career for Jharkhand, was handed a surprise Test debut again

Court summons ex-CM Soren for disobeying ED notices in land grab case

A court here has summoned incarcerated former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren next month holding him prima facie guilty of disobeying notices issued to him by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering probe linked to an alleged land grab case. The agency had filed a complaint against the senior Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader sometime back, saying he had failed to join the investigation under seven summonses issued to him, the first being on August 14 last year. He should be prosecuted under the Indian Penal Code's section 174 (non-attendance in obedience to an order from public servant), the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has said in its complaint. Soren was arrested by the ED on January 31 on money laundering charges following a second round of questioning at his official residence in Ranchi. He resigned as the chief minister before he was arrested. The 48-year-old JMM leader is under judicial custody at present. "From the contents of the complainant (ED) and the