RAM TEMPLE DONATION CASE:SIT TO SOON LAUNCH SECOND PHASE OF PROBE INTO RAM TEMPLE DONATION EMBEZZLEMENT: The three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by Lucknow divisional commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant probing the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra is set to begin the second phase of its investigations with a visit to Ayodhya soon. The preliminary findings of the first phase of the probe were handed over to the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) on June 23. In the second phase the SIT is scheduled to record statements of individuals linked to the donation collection and counting process, besides visiting the residences of others under scrutiny to verify their roles. The SIT will also inspect locations associated with the handling of donations and corroborate statements with CCTV footage, financial records and other evidence collected during the first phase. Based on the SIT’s preliminary report, eight accused have already been arrested. The SIT is expected to submit a comprehensive report after completing its field inquiry. (Pathikrit)BANK OFFICIALS UNDER SCANNER; POLICE TO SEEK CUSTODY OF EIGHT ACCUSED: Police investigations are now also focusing on the role of bank officials involved in handling and depositing temple donations. Sources said officials associated with the banking process may be questioned as part of the probe. Meanwhile, Ayodhya police are likely to move a local court on Monday seeking police custody of the eight arrested accused for detailed interrogation. Police officials said custodial questioning is essential to reconstruct the alleged conspiracy, establish the role of each accused and confront them with CCTV footage, financial records and witness statements. Police are also expected to probe whether additional persons were involved and if any evidence was concealed or destroyed. (Pathikrit)++++++++KEY ACCUSED IN LKO BUILDER MURDER KILLED IN STF ENCOUNTER IN LUCKNOW: The Special Task Force (STF) of the UP Police gunned down Sandeep Singh who was wanted for the murder of a builder in Lucknow earlier this month. With 40 criminal cases pending against him Sandeep was carrying a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh on his head for actionable information on his whereabouts leading to his arrest. (Pathikrit)WOMAN HANGS INFANT SON, COMMITS SUICIDE IN CHANDAULI: A 23-year-old woman first hanged her two-and-a-half-year-old son from a noose and then hung herself besides him on Friday night in Hanumanpur village of Chandauli district. The incident came to light when the woman’s husband returned home from the market. In the absence of a suicide note, police were yet to decipher the reasons that prompted the woman to take such a drastic step.(Binay)UNNAO LABOURERS’ DAUGHTER RECEIVES INCOME TAX NOTICE ASKING HER TO EXPLAIN Rs 20 Cr INCOME: The Chandigarh Income Tax Department has sent a notice to the daughter of a laborer from Unnao’s Girjabagh area, seeking details about income worth Rs 20 crore allegedly connected to a scrap business. The woman has submitted a complaint through the Jansunwai portal and also contacted the Superintendent of Police. Suspecting fraud, she has requested an inquiry and action against those responsible. Rajesh Mishra, head of the Cyber Police Station, said that once a formal complaint is received, an investigation will begin and necessary action will follow. (Faiz)LIGHTNING STRIKES KILL THREE IN SONBHADRA AND MIRZAPUR: Three persons including a minor, were killed in Sonbhadra and Mirzapur districts after they were struck by lightning on Friday evening. While an 8-year-old boy and a 52-year-old woman was killed in Sonbhadra in separate incidents, in Mirzapur District, a 45-year-old animal herder died in a separate lightning strike. (Binay)BRIDE REJECTS GROOM IN AURAIYA SAYING HE IS ‘SKINNY’: Marriage celebrations in Diwariya village of Auraiya ended on a quiet note when the bride rejected her groom saying that he was ‘too thin’ physical appearance. The wedding procession arrived from the Etawah district on Friday. Following the welcome and reception, the `Jaimaal’ ceremony commenced. At that moment, an altercation arose between the groom and the bride’s brother over an unspecified issue. This led to a scuffle between both parties, resulting in chaos at the venue. Following this incident, the bride expressed her objections regarding the groom’s physical appearance. Remaining resolute in her decision, she refused to proceed with the marriage.FaizGOVT COLLABORATES WITH TATA, TO START ADVANCED COURSES IN 149 TRAINING INSTITUTES: In an attempt to create a skilled and self-reliant wotkforce equipped for future industries, the state govt has approved the operation of advanced technology courses in 149 Government Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and the State Staff Training and Research Centre in Aliganj, Lucknow, in collaboration with Tata Technologies Ltd. (TTL). The courses that will be offered in high demand sectors like electric vehicle (EV) mechanics, industrial robotics and digital manufacturing, industrial internet of things (IoT). (Isha).BJP NAT PRESIDENT, GEN SEC TO VISIT UP SOON TO REVIEW POLL PREPAREDNESS: The BJP plans to line up visits of its top ranks including BJP national president Nitin Nabin and national general secretary (organisation) BL Santhosh to UP soon in a bid to set organisational poll machinery in motion in the run up to the high stakes UP assembly elections due early next year. Nabin, who recently visited Uttarakhand and Punjab, is expected to hit UP’s turf in July to take stock of the poll preparedness. BJP sources said that UP weighs high on priority for Nabin who also plans to tour other states where assembly elections are due soon. A senior UP BJP leader said that Nabin visit to UP is widely anticipated as the party has already effected changes in the state organization. (Pankaj)OTHER STORIESELABORATE ARRANGEMENTS UNDERWAY FOR UP-TET EXAM TO HELD FROM JULY 2 TO 4: The Uttar Pradesh Education Service Selection Commission has implemented stringent security measures for the Uttar Pradesh – Teachers Eligibility Test (UP-TET) to be held from July 2 to 4 across 60 districts, to prevent any repeat of the 2021 paper leak. Multiple question paper sets, last-minute selection of papers, biometric verification, random allocation of invigilators and tamper-proof one-time locked trunks have been introduced. In Prayagraj, 96,626 candidates will appear at 53 examination centres. Candidates have also been advised to carefully fill their OMR sheets to avoid disqualification. (Rajeev)BASIT ALI TO CONTINUE AS BJP MINORITY MORCHA CHIEF: The UP BJP on Saturday announced continuing with Basit Ali as its minority morcha president, two days after it held back the name of minority frontal leader while announcing the names of the new state office bearers. The omission of minority morcha chief from the list of new state team had raised questions within political circles about whether the decision is merely an organisational delay or part of a broader electoral strategy ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. (Pankaj)TO COMMEMORATE 150 YEARS OF NATIONAL SONG VANDE MATARAM FOREST DEPT TO SET UP VANDE MATARAM VATIKAS: To commemorate 150 years of the national song, Vande Mataram, gardens under the same name will be developed in every district on Aug 15, as a part of the annual plantation campaign this year. As many as 150 saplings of different varieties will be planted in these gardens. Among the other gardens, which will be planted this year, are Maharshi Charak Van, Samras Van and Samriddhi Vatika. (Neha)PUBLIC BUILDINGS IN PRAYAGRAJ CONTINUE TO FACE FIRE SAFETY ISSUES: While the Fire Department and the Prayagraj Development Authority have intensified inspections of coaching centres following the recent Lucknow fire tragedy, three prominent commercial buildings—Indira Bhawan, Sangam Place and Nehru Complex—continue to face serious fire safety deficiencies despite repeated warnings over the years. All three buildings have witnessed fire incidents in the past, yet shortcomings such as defunct firefighting equipment, non-functional alarm systems, obstructed evacuation routes and poor maintenance remain unaddressed, raising concerns over the safety of thousands of daily visitors. (Rajeev)
