
Madhya Pradesh panchayat asks woman to beg, take dip in Ganga for killing calf
A caste panchayat here ordered an elderly woman to beg for seven days outside her village and take a dip in the Ganga as penance for the “sin” of incidentally killing a calf. The incident occurred last Friday.
Kamleshi Devi (60), a resident of Sriwas Nagar, tried to pull the calf off the lactating cow but the rope around its neck tightened, resulting in its death, corporator Mukesh Garg said.
Members of the backward Sriwas community, which Devi belongs to, held a panchayat on Saturday which ordered her to beg outside her village for seven days as penance.
Garg said the caste panchayat asked the woman, a widow, to take a dip in the Ganga and serve food to girls. He said the order was “inhumane and illegal”.
“In today’s era, such diktats are not justified. Police should take action,” the corporator said.
Devi fainted on hearing the order and was hospitalised.
District hospital superintendent Dr Ajit Mishra said the woman underwent treatment there.
Devi’s son, Anil Sriwas, said his mother had committed a “mistake” and the caste panchayat only followed the religion and customs.
Superintendent of police Anil Singh Kushwaha said no one had approached the police with a complaint. “I came to know about the incident through the media. We have not received any complaint in this regard,” he said.
District collector Ilayaraja T said he will look into the matter.

Transgender help desk set up at police station in Hyderabad

In Rajasthan’s Jodhpur district, 2 arrested for brandishing gun at wedding
- According to the police, some young men were dancing at the DJ night in a wedding ceremony, during which one of the accused pointed the pistol at the forehead of another youth.

As farmers protest completes 100 days, Cong says ‘100 days of BJP's arrogance’

Supreme Court to begin limited physical hearing on trial basis from March 15
- In January this year, Chief Justice of India (CJI) SA Bobde ruled out any reopening of courts for the present.

Nepal Police hand over body of Indian man killed in firing in Pilibhit

AIADMK, DMK yet to close deal with key allies for Tamil Nadu assembly polls

At top commanders’ meet, PM Modi calls for army to become 'future force'

Punjab reports over 1,000 daily new Covid-19 cases for second time in March

NIA files chargesheet against 3 Bodo militants for killing Assam police officer
- The chargesheet was filed on Friday before a special NIA court against the accused persons-Bishnu Narzary, Nitul Daimary and Runiluish Daimary under several sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Indian Penal Code and Arms Act.

Over ₹25,000 million collected for Ram Temple’s construction: VHP
- Rai said that door-to-door collection of funds for the Ram Temple construction has also been stopped.

Amid surge in Covid-19 cases, these states have imposed fresh restrictions
- The central government has also rushed high-level multi-disciplinary public health teams to Maharashtra and Punjab in view of the increase in the number of daily new Covid-19 cases being reported by these states.

‘Will modify Covid travel restrictions with Kerala’: Karnataka govt to HC

News updates from HT: Covid-19 vaccination for Army veterans to begin next week

Vaccination centre for eligible MPs set up inside Parliament complex
- Nearly half or 366 out of 777 MPs are eligible for Covid-19 vaccines in the category of elderly people. 47% of MPs are above sixty years of age and meet the criteria for elderly people who can get vaccinated in the current phase.

Covid-19 vaccination for veterans to begin at service hospitals next week: Army
- There are more than 3.2 million ex-servicemen (ESM) in the country, and many of them have been waiting to get vaccinated at service hospitals.