"Don't Know Where He Is, Don't Need To": Bhole Baba's Lawyer

Making a late-night appearance outside the ashram in Mainpuri where Bhole Baba aka Narayan Saakar Hari is believed to be staying, the self-styled godman's lawyer said he does not know where he is and does not need to know either. 

Repeating the claim that anti-social elements caused the stampede at the religious event organised in the godman's honour in Hathras, in which 121 people were killed, the lawyer also said the baba is a follower of the law and will not go on the run. The original name of the 'godman' is Suraj Pal.

The lawyer hired by Pal is AP Singh, who has defended Nirbhaya gangrape convicts, represented Seema Haider, the Pakistani woman who crossed over into India illegally, and appeared on behalf of farm unions during the farmers' protests. 

Addressing reporters outside the ashram on Thursday night, Mr Singh said in Hindi, "I don't know where he (Pal) is and I don't want to know. I just want to do my work... As soon as I find out, I will tell you... How can I or you say he is responsible... From what I have found out about Narayan Saakar Hari, he is not going to go on the run. He is a follower of the law, he believes in BR Ambedkar's constitution. He will be in an ashram, not a hotel. He doesn't stay at a hotel."

On the events of Tuesday, Mr Singh said the 'satsang' (religious event) was organised in an open area with fields everywhere and reports of a closed space were untrue. 

"I spoke to people who attended the 'satsang'. Elderly women who were injured told me something like this has never happened before. They said they had been attending the 'satsangs' for 15-18 years and they were held every Tuesday, barring a few weeks in the past few months. The women told me the men who crushed people were well-built, seemed drunk and started as soon as they saw an opportunity," the lawyer claimed. 

"I asked them how long it had been since Narayan Saakar Hari left and they said 30-35 minutes," he said, adding that many of the organisers and volunteers also left their loved ones, including their children, mothers and wives. 

Asked whether the administration was at fault because permission was given to hold an event near a highway, Mr Singh pointed out that the question does not arise because no traffic accidents took place. 

Mr Singh also brushed away a reporter's query on Pal's followers calling the 'godman' a 'parmatma' (immortal soul) and said he was one too, because he had a soul which was also immortal.

Pal's Arrest?

Issuing a brief statement on Wednesday after maintaining silence since the stampede, Pal expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and said he will take legal action against "anti-social elements" that were allegedly behind the tragedy. 

Asked whether Pal would be arrested, Inspector General (Aligarh Range) Shalabh Mathur had said earlier on Thursday that he was not named in the first information report and the police would take further action based on the facts that emerge.

"We will make arrests based on what the investigation reveals... We will question the baba if necessary, it is too early to say or comment whether he has a role. He has not been named in the FIR, which has held the organisers responsible. The permission was taken by the organising committee and members of the panel have been arrested," he said.

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On Camera, School Bus Crashes Into Several Vehicles, Rams Car Under Truck

A school bus with 40 children crashed into several vehicles in Haryana's Hisar this morning after its brakes reportedly failed. However, locals claimed that the driver was drunk.

The bus with students of Delhi Public School was speeding down National Highway 9 in heavy rains when the accident happened.

The driver, unable to control the bus, rammed several vehicles, including a bike. Locals rushed the man riding the two-wheeler to a hospital and his condition is said to be critical.

The bus also hit a hatchback car and the impact of the crash pushed it under a moving truck. Fortunately, the truck was moving at a very slow pace, which allowed the occupants of the car - both women - to get out of the vehicle unscathed. The left side of the car was crumpled on impact.

None of the children on the bus were injured.

More details are awaited.

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Delta Flight Makes Emergency Landing After Passengers Served Spoiled Food

A Delta Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing in New York after passengers received a meal service that was reportedly "spoiled." According to the New York Post, the A330 plane, which had 277 customers on board, left Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport just before 11 pm on Tuesday. However, it was diverted to John F. Kennedy International Airport after it was discovered that a portion of the main cabin in-flight meals were spoiled.

According to FlightRadar24 data, the Delta plane was over Saint Pierre and Miquelon, a French archipelago south of Canada's Newfoundland, when it was redirected. The crew reportedly decided to land the aircraft after consulting with medical experts.

Meanwhile, the airline has not disclosed how the contamination was detected, nor have they provided information on how many of the 277 passengers consumed the meal or whether any of them exhibited symptoms of food poisoning.

The plane landed safely at JFK at 4 am on July 3. 12 passengers were evaluated, but refused medical attention or transportation to the hospital, the Fire Department of New York told USA Today.

Delta is investigating the incident and has issued an apology to its consumers. 

In a statement, Delta Airlines confirmed the incident and said, ''Delta flight 136 from Detroit to Amsterdam diverted to New York's JFK early Wednesday morning after reports that a portion of the Main Cabin in-flight meal service was spoiled.

Medical crews met the aircraft to treat any affected passengers and crew members. Delta's Food Safety team has engaged our suppliers to immediately isolate the product and launch a thorough investigation into the incident. This is not the service Delta is known for, and we sincerely apologize to our customers for the inconvenience and delay in their travels.''

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CISF Constable Who Slapped Kangana Ranaut Shifted To Bengaluru Unit: Report

CISF constable Kulwinder Kaur, who had allegedly slapped actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut at the Chandigarh airport last month, has been transferred to a unit in Bengaluru pending a disciplinary inquiry, official sources said today.

Ms Kaur was suspended by the Central Armed Police Force on June 6 soon after the alleged incident when the newly elected MP was travelling to Delhi. An FIR was also lodged against the constable on a complaint by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

The sources said Ms Kaur is under suspension and has been posted to the 10th Reserve Battalion in Bengaluru pending a disciplinary inquiry.

She was shifted to the unit soon after the incident in the interest of the investigation that is underway, they said.

A senior commandant-rank officer is conducting the inquiry, and statements of the constable, her colleagues present at the airport that day, the shift in-charge, and some airline officials are being recorded, the sources said.

They said the inquiry would take some time, following which an appropriate decision would be taken.

Ms Kaur, who is from Punjab's Kapurthala district, joined the CISF in 2009 and has been with its aviation security group at the Chandigarh airport since 2021.

She has had no vigilance inquiry or punishment in the force till now. Her husband was also posted at the Chandigarh airport.

Ms Kaur claimed she was upset with Kangana Ranaut over her stance on the farmers' protests that took place in the country. Ms Ranaut, 38, was elected to the Lok Sabha from Himachal Pradesh's Mandi.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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How Rohit-Virat Decision Led To T20 WC Glory: Report Makes Big Revelation

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli ended their T20I careers on a high as India clinched the T20 World Cup 2024 title after defeating South Africa in the summit clash. Rohit led the Indian cricket team by example as he played a number of important knocks in the competition while Kohli saved his best for the final as he slammed a gritty half-century. In the aftermath of the win, they both announced their retirements from T20Is but not before etching their names in Indian cricket folklore. However, things were not as straightforward just one year ago where there were doubts over whether the two star cricketers will continue playing in the shortest format of the sport. However, according to a report, early calls on Virat and Rohit's future with the side ultimately led to India's massive success in the T20 World Cup 2024.

According to the Indian Express report, the BCCI selectors decided to stick with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for the T20 World Cup despite some criticism from experts as well as fans. 

Following the ODI World Cup 2023, both VIrat and Rohit missed a number of T20I series with Hardik Pandya taking over the captaincy and there were talks on the all-rounders permanently assuming the position. However, chief selector Ajit Agarkar decided to have a conversation with Rohit Sharma.

“Rohit agreed straight away. He felt he would give one last shot in the T20 format. Rohit felt the way his batting form is, he can push one more season,” a BCCI official told The Indian Express.

A similar chat also took place with Virat who emerged as the top run-scorer in the IPL 2024 and with not many in-form top order batters in the fray, the star batter also agreed to play the World Cup.

It was the also around this time that Hardik confirmed that he will be bowling during the T20 World Cup 2024 after recovering from his injury. “With these three important pieces of the jigsaw in place, the picture was clear. Now we needed to put a plan in place,” said a selector.

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Steve Ballmer Is Now Richer Than Bill Gates, A First For Microsoft Employees

Steve Ballmer passed Bill Gates on Monday to become the sixth-richest person in the world, the first time the former chief executive officer of Microsoft Corp. has been wealthier than the company's co-founder.

The move came as Microsoft shares rose to a fresh record, bringing their total gain this year to 21%. The company, through its partnership with OpenAI, has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of the artificial intelligence rally that has powered the US stock market higher.

More than 90% of Ballmer's $157.2 billion net worth is in Microsoft shares, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Gates, meanwhile, has diversified his $156.7 billion fortune: About half his wealth is held through Cascade Investment, which was created with the proceeds of Microsoft stock sales and dividends. He also owns a $21 billion stake in waste-management company Republic Services Inc. through Cascade. 

Gates, 68, has been slowly reducing his fortune through philanthropy. Along with his ex-wife Melinda French Gates and his friend Warren Buffett, Gates has funneled billions of dollars of his personal money to build up the $75 billion Gates Foundation, one of the biggest charitable organizations in the world.

Since they started the foundation more than two decades ago, Gates and his former wife have given almost $60 billion from their personal fortunes. French Gates recently stepped down as co-chair of the foundation and received $12.5 billion to use for her own charitable purposes.

In 2010, Gates, French Gates and Buffett also founded the Giving Pledge, an organization that encourages the world's richest people to give away the majority of their fortunes in their lifetimes or their wills. Ballmer, 68, who has not signed the Giving Pledge, has his own philanthropic work but nowhere on the scale of Gates.

Gates founded Microsoft with his friend Paul Allen in 1975 and led it until 2000, when Ballmer - one of the company's earliest employees - replaced him as CEO. Ballmer retired in 2014 and became Microsoft's largest shareholder that same year. He bought the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers for $2 billion in 2014, an investment that is estimated to be worth $4.6 billion today.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"She Can't Speak, Can Only Cry": Family Hunts For Daughter After Stampede

Hathras in Uttar Pradesh, which made headlines  a few years ago for the horrific rape and murder of a Dalit woman, has been in the news again. This time for a stampede at a religious programme that has cost 116 lives. The tragedy is still unfolding and many of the devotees are desperately looking for lost family and friends.

Suresh, a survivor of the stampede, told reporters, "I came here with my family from Badaun. My brother's wife is missing. We got to know that several people are missing. I made announcements in the mic but it did not help".

Among those missing is a 15-year-old named Chaya, whose family came to participate in the satsang from Agra. "I have been looking all over for her. My daughter cannot speak. She can only cry," said her anguished mother.

"There were six to seven people who came, my daughter is missing... No one told us where she was, they said she was here and there but I couldn't find her. The police said they don't know anything," she added.

The police, in fact, have their hands full. Visuals from the local Community Health Centre showed bodies still being brought in buses and tempos.

The satsang was organised in the honour of a local guru, Bhole Baba aka Narayan Saakar Hari. After it ended, people were not allowed to leave until his car left, causing a huge build-up of people in a small area.

"Many people were on the road, who didn't move when the satsang was over. A crowd had gathered and people were pushing each other. A wire broke and people were injured," one of the eyewitnesses told reporters.

The high number of attendees is also a key factor. "While applying for permission, the organisers had said they were expecting around 80,000 people. But the number of attendees was much more," said the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh.

In the stampede that followed, 116 people -- 106 of them women and seven children – died. Many others are injured and doctors are struggling to help them. Around 35 bodies are yet to be identified -- two of them are of children.

Yet another survivor said the stampede took place "as the road was uneven and people fell on each other".

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Doctor Chops Off Boyfriend's Genitals For Ghosting Her On Their Wedding

A female doctor allegedly chopped off the private part of her boyfriend in Bihar's Saran district on Monday.

Police have arrested the doctor under the relevant sections of attempt to murder.

The man, a councillor of Ward No. 12 in Madhaura block, has been admitted to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) for treatment.

The accused claimed that she had an affair with the man for the last five years but he was refusing to marry her. She somehow convinced him for a registered marriage in court. Accordingly, she reached the court for the marriage but the victim did not turn up.

After this, she called the man to her house, and when he reached there, she allegedly chopped off his private part. On hearing the councillor's cry, the neighbours informed the police who found him lying on a bed in a pool of blood.

"The woman is a 25-year-old unmarried doctor from Hajipur. She was doing practice in Madhaura. The victim is also unmarried," said the SHO of Madhaura police station in Saran district.

"We have arrested the accused and further investigation is underway," he added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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UK Woman Prison Officer Charged After Sex Video With Inmate Goes Viral

A woman prison officer in the UK has been charged following the discovery of a social media video allegedly showing her having sex with an inmate at HMP Wandsworth, a prison in southwest London, a report said.

Linda De Sousa Abreu, 30, from Fulham, west London, faces charges of misconduct in public office. She is scheduled to appear at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court today. 

The Metropolitan Police launched an investigation on Friday after the video, allegedly filmed within the prison, surfaced online. The footage reportedly shows the officer initially in full uniform before engaging in the alleged act.

HMP Wandsworth, a Victorian-era prison built in 1851, has been grappling with severe overcrowding and deteriorating conditions. Recent inspections revealed troubling issues, including rampant violence, vermin, and severe staffing challenges. The facility, designed for significantly fewer inmates, currently operates at 163 per cent of its intended capacity, housing over 1,500 prisoners.

The situation at the prison has prompted urgent calls for reform. In May, Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor issued an "urgent notification" to Justice Secretary Alex Chalk, highlighting the dire state of the prison and the need for immediate improvements. Taylor's report described the prison's wings as "chaotic" and noted the inability of staff to manage or account for prisoners effectively. This led to the resignation of the prison's governor, Katie Price, amid the inspection.

A spokesperson for Scotland Yard confirmed the ongoing investigation. "Staff corruption is not tolerated, and the former prison officer allegedly featured in this video has been reported to the police," said a Prison Service representative. They refrained from further comments due to the active investigation.
 

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