Colombo: Sri Lanka on Sunday said it is taking all further steps to strengthen the security of the country as it investigates the report published in Indian media that the banned Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) is planning an attack in the island nation on May 18, coinciding with the Mullivaikal anniversary that marks the end of the Sri Lankan Civil War in 2009.President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who is currently facing public demand for his resignation over his mishandling of the economic crisis, is the man who ruthlessly ended Sri Lanka's nearly 30-year civil war with the LTTE with the death of its supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran in 2009.However, the former defence secretary stands accused of violating human rights, a charge he vehemently denies.The Sri Lankan defence ministry in a statement said&nbsp;The Hindu&nbsp;newspaper has published a report on May 13 quoting Indian intelligence that the LTTE is planning to launch an attack in Sri Lanka on May 18.'After inquiring about the above information, the Indian intelligence services have informed Sri Lanka that the information has been given as general information and further informed that the investigations will be carried out in this regard and action will be taken to inform Sri Lanka about it,' the statement said, amidst the unprecedented economic crisis and subsequent political turmoil faced by the country.'However, the said information and all information received by the intelligence and security forces in connection with national security will be duly investigated and all further steps are taken to strengthen the security while informing the respective security forces on the same,' the statement added.In a 'special statement' issued on Tuesday, the defence ministry had requested the general public to inform details of criminal activities such as unlawful mobs/violent groups and incidents of damaging public/private property, looting and assault from any part of the island to its hotlines.Quoting police sources,&nbsp;The Hindu&nbsp;newspaper on Friday reported that as the island nation has declared emergency twice amid escalating violent protests, some sections of the Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora, with multinational links, were trying to make their presence 'felt' in the ongoing clashes between the anti-government protesters and security forces.'Besides planning attacks to mark the Mullivaikal anniversary that falls on May 18, which some groups observe as Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day, the ex-LTTE cadre were also conspiring to avenge the killings of their leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, newsreader Isai Priya and others, who were killed as the ethnic conflict ended after fierce fighting in 2009,' it said. Sri Lanka is going through the worst economic crisis since independence in 1948.A crippling shortage of foreign reserves has led to long queues for fuel, cooking gas and other essentials while power cuts and soaring food prices heaped misery on the people. The economic crisis also triggered a political crisis in Sri Lanka and demand for the resignation of the powerful Rajapaksas. Gotabaya Rajapaksa's elder brother Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned as the prime minister to make way for the president to appoint an interim all political party government. Former Sri Lankan premier Ranil Wickremesinghe was appointed the country's new prime minister on Thursday.—PTI

Sri Lanka on Sunday said it is taking all further steps to strengthen the security of the country as it investigates the report published in Indian media that the banned Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) is planning an attack in the island nation on May 18, coinciding with the Mullivaikal anniversary that marks the end of the Sri Lankan Civil War in 2009.

Lanka 'probes' Indian media report on LTTE planning attack

Amaravati: The Andhra Pradesh police registered a murder case against ruling YSR Congress MLC Ananta Satya Uday Bhaskar, for allegedly being involved in his former driver's death, but the victim's wife demanded that a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation be ordered to render her justice. Over the last two days, Dalit organisations and the opposition Telugu Desam Party put in sustained pressure calling for the police to arrest the ruling party legislator. The victim's wife Aparna alleged that the police tried to silence her. "I was beaten up by women police to give a statement that my husband died in an accident. They also offered me inducements but I did not budge," Aparna, who is pregnant, said. Expressing doubts over the Kakinada police, she demanded that a CBI investigation be ordered into the case to render justice, even as she asserted that the MLC was responsible for the murder of her husband.Kakinada superintendent of police M Ravindranath Babu did not respond to calls for any clarification. Kakinada sub-divisional police officer V Bhima Rao said he was "busy in a meeting" and did not give any details about the case. After midnight on Thursday, the MLC brought the body of his former driver V Subrahmanyam in his car and handed it over to the victim's family, claiming it was a case of accidental death. The legislator fled the scene when the driver's family members raised a protest and demanded an explanation. The Sarpavaram police initially booked only a case of suspicious death under Section 174 of CrPC, though the victim's family members alleged it was a clear case of murder and pointed fingers at the MLC. The deceased, V Subrahmanyam, had worked as the MLC's car driver for the past five years. On Thursday night, Bhaskar came to Subrahmanyam's residence and took him away. Later, around 2 am he returned to Subrahmanyam's house with the latter's body and handed it over to the family. The legislator claimed the driver died in a road accident but when the family members protested, he fled the scene leaving the car behind. The Sarpavaram police confirmed that there was no trace of any road accident at the spot (Nagamalli Thota Junction) as the MLC had claimed. The victim's kin allowed a post-mortem to be done only after midnight on Saturday when the police finally agreed to add murder charges. Accordingly, a case under Section 302 (murder) of Indian Penal Code and also under various provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act was registered against Uday Bhaskar alias Babu. State director general of police KV Rajendranath Reddy said they would conduct a thorough investigation into the case once the post-mortem report was submitted. Meanwhile, former MP G V Harsha Kumar alleged that every effort was being made to save the MLC as he was a "benami" of several YSRC top leaders. "The high court should take suo motu cognisance of the case and conduct a detailed inquiry and bring the culprits to book," Harsha Kumar said. TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu spoke to the driver's wife over phone and assured her that his party would stand by her and ensure justice. He wondered why the police so far did not arrest the ruling party legislator."The police actions are giving rise to a lot of suspicions. The MLC has to be arrested forthwith,” the former chief minister demanded.—PTI

The Andhra Pradesh police registered a murder case against ruling YSR Congress MLC Ananta Satya Uday Bhaskar, for allegedly being involved in his former driver's death, but the victim's wife demanded that a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation be ordered to render her justice.

YSRC MLA booked for ex-driver's murder, victim's wife demands CBI probe

Mumbai: The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday raided multiple locations in Maharashtra as part of a money laundering probe against state transport minister Anil Parab and others linked to alleged irregularities in a land deal in coastal Dapoli area of Ratnagiri district and other charges, officials said. The federal probe agency has filed a fresh case against the minister and others under the criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). At least seven premises, including Parab's official residence in Mumbai, linked premises in Dapoli and Pune are being searched by the agency with a security escort provided by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).It is understood that the minister was present at his residence during the raids.Parab (57), is a three-time Shiv Sena legislator in the Maharashtra legislative council, the upper house of the legislature, and is the state transport and parliamentary affairs minister. He is facing multiple charges of alleged irregularities and corruption that are understood to have formed the basis of the latest ED case.The first charge pertains to allegations of purchase of a parcel of land in Dapoli by Parab some time in 2017 for a consideration of Rs 1 crore and it was registered in 2019.It is alleged that the land was subsequently sold to a Mumbai-based cable operator Sadanand Kadam in 2020 for a consideration of Rs 1.10 crore.In between, a resort was built on the same land from 2017 to 2020.The income tax department had made these allegations after it conducted raids in March against some people allegedly close to Parab like Kadam and deputy regional transport officer Bajrang Kharmate.The Central Board of Direct Taxes, the administrative body for the tax department, said in a statement issued in March, without taking any names, that the construction of the resort started in 2017 and over Rs 6 crore was spent in cash on construction of the resort."It transpires that the relevant facts about the construction of the resort were not intimated to the Registration authorities and accordingly, the stamp duty was paid only for the registration of the land on both the occasions i.e. in 2019 and in 2020," it said.Cost of construction of the same has not been accounted for either by the person searched (Kadam) or the politician (Parab) in their books of account, the CBDT had said.Another case in which Parab has been under the radar of the ED and was also questioned by the agency at its office in Mumbai in September last year pertains to the money laundering case linked to former home minister and NCP leader Anil Deshmukh.Former police officer Sachin Waze, arrested by the National Investigation Agency in the case of recovery of an explosives-laden SUV near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's house in Mumbai, had levelled certain allegations against Parab.Waze had alleged in a letter, which he sought to submit before a court, that in January 2021, Parab asked him to carry out an inquiry against "fraudulent" contractors listed in the Mumbai civic body and "collect" at least Rs 2 crore from about 50 such contractors.Parab had then rejected Waze's claims and said he was ready to face any probe into the allegations.Waze in his statement to the ED had claimed that Parab received crores as bribe from Kharmate for transfer of some police officers in Mumbai during 2020.The Maha Vikas Aghadi government in the state is led by Chief Minister&nbsp;Uddhav Thackeray. It was formed in 2019 after Thackeray's party Shiv Sena, the Nationalist Congress Party and Congress joined hands to run the state. These parties have alleged that central probe agencies, including the ED, have been targeting politicians and families from their parties at the behest of the BJP-led government at the Centre.Bharatiya Janata Party leaders have said that the agencies were doing their job independently and acting only on the basis of evidence.—PTI

The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday raided multiple locations in Maharashtra as part of a money laundering probe against state transport minister Anil Parab and others linked to alleged irregularities in a land deal in coastal Dapoli area of Ratnagiri district and other charges, officials said.

Shiv Sena's Anil Parab latest Maharashtra minister to face ED's money laundering probe

Hyderabad: Telangana BJP chief Bandi Sanjay on Saturday wrote to Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao demanding to hand over the Hyderabad gang-rape case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and arrest all the accused involved. So far, three accused including two minors have been arrested in the Hyderabad rape case. One accused, who was arrested yesterday, has been identified as Saduddin Malik. "In continuation of arrest of accused Saduddin Malik, two children in conflict with law were apprehended by Jubilee Hills police today. They are being produced before Juvenile Court for their custody," police said. Meanwhile, Jana Sena Party leaders and workers staged a protest at Jubliee Hills Police Station demanding justice for the victim of the Hyderabad rape case. They were later detained.The 17-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped when she was returning home after a party in the Jubilee Hills area of Hyderabad on May 28. The matter came to light after the minor girl's father submitted a complaint to the police regarding the incident. On the complaint of the girl's father, a police case was registered against five persons. The case has been registered under Sections 354 and 323 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 9 read with 10 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.The suspect Saduddin Malik was arrested by the police. Out of the five people identified, three are minors," Deputy Commissioner of Police (West Zone) Joel Davis told media persons. The DCP said police have identified five culprits as per CCTV footage and the statement of the victim.The security footage which is viral on social media purportedly showed the girl standing with the suspected attackers outside the pub where she had met them. The boys had offered to drop her home. Instead, she was assaulted inside a parked car in the city. Her attackers took turns raping her while the others stood guard outside the car. Ruling TRS Working President and Telangana Minister KT Rama Rao on Friday requested the state's Home Minister, Director General of Police (DGP) and Hyderabad City Police Commissioner to take "immediate and stern action" in the gang-rape of the teenage girl.—ANI

Telangana BJP chief Bandi Sanjay on Saturday wrote to Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao demanding to hand over the Hyderabad gang-rape case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and arrest all the accused involved.

Telangana BJP chief demands CBI probe into Hyderabad gang-rape case

Islamabad: The counsel for Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) told a special court judge that his client wants to arrest both Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his son, Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz, in a money laundering case involving 16 billion PKR. Special Court (Central-I) Presiding judge Ijaz Hassan Awan also reissued arrest warrants for the Prime Minister’s other son, Suleman Shehbaz, as well as Tahir Naqvi and Malik Maqsood in the case, The Express Tribune reported.During the previous hearing, the court had directed the FIA counsel to submit the challan again pointing out that there were flaws in the one presented to it. The agency submitted another challan against the father and son duo to the court. The date of birth and full address of the suspects have been mentioned in the new challan as well as the death of Suleman’s co-accused Shabbar has been confirmed. However, the FIA did not make any changes in the investigation process and the witnesses in the case.According to the new challan, arrest warrants were re-issued by the FIA. The court sought a report on the arrest warrants of the suspects till June 11, reports The Express Tribune. Mohammad Amjad Pervaiz, the lawyer representing Shehbaz Sharif and Hamza Shehbaz began his arguments for the latter’s bail. He contended that the case had been investigated for one and a half years and but still no proof was on record, adding that the father and son were in jail and were also interrogated in the case. “Even though they were already in jail, the FIA instead of taking them into custody remained silent for months.”—IANS

The counsel for Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) told a special court judge that his client wants to arrest both Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his son, Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz, in a money laundering case involving 16 billion PKR.

Pak Probe Agency ‘Wants To Arrest Shehbaz, Son’

Thiruvananthapuram:&nbsp;Leader of Opposition V.D.Satheesan on Saturday wrote to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan demanding a CBI probe into the Karuvannur Cooperative bank fraud in Kerala's Thrissur.This cooperative bank is controlled by the CPI-M and reports now allege that those who had good connections in the party were able to get back their deposits, while a majority of the hapless depositors are running from pillar to post to get back their money."It's been a year since the fraud was detected when the bank was unable to pay depositors and the total loss is around Rs 300 crore. We are now hearing heart-wrenching stories of how the people suffered as they were unable to get money for their medical and educational needs," said Satheesan."It has come to light that it's just not the employees of the bank who were involved but it was the result of a large rooted conspiracy and hence a CBI probe is needed. The ongoing police probe appears to be heading nowhere."Early this week, tempers ran high one Philomina passed away as her family, whose money was locked in the scam-tainted co-op bank, could not bear her medical expenses.To make matters worse, the local legislator who is also the State Higher Education Minister R. Bindhu went public stating that the matter was being given a political twist and that money was given to Philomina's family.Philomina's son slammed the Minister saying they did not get the money. The minister is not fully updated on issues and what she said is not true, he added.Satheesan, in his letter to Vijayan, has demanded that the government pass an Ordinance to strengthen the Deposit Guarantee Scheme, which at present is toothless and pledged full support of the Opposition to ensure that the Cooperative movement, which is the backbone of the rural economy is sustained.There are also reports that things are not fine in over 100 Cooperative banks in the state and the maximum number of such banks are in the state capital district.—IANS

Leader of Opposition V.D.Satheesan on Saturday wrote to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan demanding a CBI probe into the Karuvannur Cooperative bank fraud in Kerala's Thrissur.

 Cong in Kerala demands CBI probe into Co-op bank fraud

Mexico: An investigation published by a Mexican newspaper revealed that 591 migrants were sexually abused in the last six years in the US by agents of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).The Milenio daily’s probe, based on reports, statistics and internal audits of the US Office of Justice Program and ICE, indicated that the abuses were mostly against women and took place in ICE detention centres, where migrants “should have been held” until their immigration status could be determined and their cases processed, reports Xinhua news agency.According to the investigation, most violations occurred in dormitories in ICE detention centres, many of which are run by private companies accused by human rights organisations of profiting from migrants and failing to guarantee dignified conditions, as well as in buses transporting migrants to Mexico.The newspaper accessed 97 audits of detention facilities, in which the US Department of Justice found that between 2017 and 2021 abuses by ICE agents were constant.The Department revealed in its latest report on sexual abuse in prisons that in the last six years, 591 people had been sexually abused in its migrant detention centres.However, Milenio asserted that the figure could be underreported due to the fact that during the Covid-19 pandemic the counts were carried out intermittently, according to lawsuits which the newspaper was able to access.One of the cases the investigation exposed was of a Mexican woman who was raped along with two other migrant women by three alleged US agents at a detention centre in Texas and later became pregnant.“The stories are brutal and show that some immigration agents enter the areas where migrant women are detained and force them to take off their clothes for supposed searches and then abuse them,” the report said.It also underlined that “few cases reach the courts”, while several migrant protection organisations have condemned the fact that “impunity prevails”.“Vulnerability has prevented many people from filing formal complaints for fear of reprisals,” the investigation concluded.—IANS

An investigation published by a Mexican newspaper revealed that 591 migrants were sexually abused in the last six years in the US by agents of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

 Mexican probe finds 591 migrant sexual abuses by US officials

Lucknow:&nbsp;Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, who holds the health portfolio, on Monday ordered a probe into a viral video showing birthday celebrations inside the Civil hospital OPD here.The video clip went viral on the social media this morning shows a group of men creating a ruckus and indulging in a mock belt-fight. Sources said that the birthday was celebrated at midnight on Sunday and the ruckus continued for almost an hour, disturbing the patients. Some people can be seen with cake smeared on their faces.Civil hospital director Dr Anand Ojha said that the video has been brought to his notice and the matter is being investigated."We are trying to identify the people seen in the video and strict action will be taken against them," he said.Meanwhile, the deputy chief minister said that action will be taken as soon as the report is received by him.—IANS

Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, who holds the health portfolio, on Monday ordered a probe into a viral video showing birthday celebrations inside the Civil hospital OPD here.

 Probe ordered into b'day party held at Lucknow hospital

New Delhi: Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia wrote to Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena and demanded a CBI probe into the alleged toll tax scam of Rs 6,000 crore in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Wednesday.
“Drawing your attention towards a huge corruption in Delhi’s Municipal corporation, I want to request you to get the CBI probe done into the matter and take strict action against those involved in the corruption. This corruption has led to around Rs 6,000 crore of losses to the MCD,” said Sisodia in the letter in Hindi.
He alleged corruption in the tax collected from the commercial vehicles entering the capital city.
The development comes a day after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leveled allegations against the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) that it collided with two toll tax companies and caused a huge loss to the public exchequer.
Taking to Twitter, Sisodia tweeted, “I have written to the LG demanding a CBI probe into the toll tax scam of Rs 6,000 crore in Municipal Corporation of Delhi. The money collected from commercial vehicles coming to Delhi every day was embezzled in connivance.”&nbsp;
—IANS

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia wrote to Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena and demanded a CBI probe into the alleged toll tax scam of Rs 6,000 crore in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Wednesday.

 Dy CM Sisodia writes to Delhi L-G, demands CBI probe in toll tax scam

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Idol wing police have commenced investigation into the missing statues of two Chola kings from the 12th century. An archeological enthusiast, K. Senguttuvan, had complained that the idols that were located at Sornakadeswar temple in Neivanai village of Kallakurichi district were missing.
In his complaint, Senguttuvan stated that he had found the statues missing when he had gone to the temple on a field visit. A case was filed by the Ulundurpet police and the case transferred to the Idol wing police.
Senguttuvan in the complaint stated that Sornakadeswar was an ancient temple and Chola kings had given huge donations to the temple. He said that he had gone on a field visit to the temple after reading history on it and found to his surprise that two idols of Chola kings that were erected opposite the main entrance of the temple had gone missing.
In the complaint, the archeologist also said that when he enquired with the local people it was revealed that the idols were missing for the past 20 years.
The French Institute of Puducherry had preserved the photographs of these two statues and the picture, according to the records available with the French institute, was taken on September 10, 1967. This, according to Senguttuvan, was the only vital evidence of the idols in the temple.
Ulundurpet Police SHO told IANS that an FIR has been filed under Sections 379, 25 (1) of IPC and Antiques &amp; Art Treasures Act 1972. The SHO said that idol wing police were investigating the case.
Senguttuvan while speaking to IANS said, "Some miscreants who don't know the archeological value of these idols would have stolen them and sold them abroad at a huge price. The state archeological department must take initiative to prepare a list of artifacts mentioned in Tamil historic books and protect them.&nbsp;
—IANS

Tamil Nadu Idol wing police have commenced investigation into the missing statues of two Chola kings from the 12th century. An archeological enthusiast, K. Senguttuvan, had complained that the idols that were located at Sornakadeswar temple in Neivanai village of Kallakurichi district were missing.

 TN Police begins probe into missing statues of Chola kings

Washington: Neuroscientists have revealed the precise connections between sensory neurons inside the retina and the superior colliculus, a structure in the midbrain. Neuropixels probes are a relatively recent development, representing the next generation of electrodes. Densely packed with recording points, Neuropixels probes are used to record the activity of nerve cells, and have facilitated these recent insights into neuronal circuits. The researchers describe a fundamental principle which is common to the visual systems of mammals and birds.
Two brain structures are crucial to the processing of visual stimuli: the visual cortex in the primary cerebral cortex and the superior colliculus, a structure in the midbrain. Vision and the processing of visual information involve highly complex processes. In simplified terms, the visual cortex is responsible for general visual perception, whereas the structures of the evolutionarily older midbrain are responsible for visually guided reflexive behaviors. The mechanisms and principles involved in visual processing within the visual cortex are well known. Work conducted by a team of researchers led by Dr. Jens Kremkow has contributed to our knowledge in this field and, in 2017, culminated in the establishment of an Emmy Noether Junior Research Group at Charite's Neuroscience Research Center (NWFZ). The primary aim of the Research Group, which is funded by the Germany Research Foundation (DFG), is to further improve our understanding of nerve cells involved in the visual system. Many unanswered questions remain, including details of the way in which visual information is processed in the midbrain's superior colliculi.
Retinal ganglion cells, sensory cells found inside the eye's retina, respond to external visual stimuli and send the information received to the brain. Direct signaling pathways ensure that visual information received by the retinal nerve cells also reaches the midbrain. "What had remained largely unknown until now is the way in which nerve cells in the retina and nerve cells in the midbrain are linked on a functional level. The dearth of knowledge regarding the way in which neurons in the superior colliculi process synaptic inputs was similarly pronounced," says study lead Dr. Kremkow. "This information is crucial to understanding the mechanisms involved in midbrain processing." Until now, it had been impossible to measure the activity of synaptically connected retinal and midbrain neurons in living organisms. For their most recent research, the research team developed a method which was based on measurements obtained with innovative, high-density electrodes known as Neuropixels probes. Precisely speaking, Neuropixels probes are tiny, linear electrode arrays featuring approximately one thousand recording sites along a narrow shank. Comprising 384 electrodes for the simultaneous recording of electric activity of neurons in the brain, these devices have become game-changers within the field of neuroscience.
Researchers working at Charite and the Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence have now used this new technology to determine the relevant midbrain structures in mice (superior colliculi) and birds (optic tectum). Both brain structures have a common evolutionary origin and play an important role in the visual processing of retinal input signals in both groups of animals. Their work led the researchers to a surprising discovery: "Usually, this type of electrophysiological recording measures electrical signals from action potentials which originate in the soma, the neuron's cell body," explains Dr. Kremkow. "In our recordings, however, we noticed signals whose appearance differed from that of normal action potentials. We went on to investigate the cause of this phenomenon, and found that input signals in the midbrain were caused by action potentials propagated within the 'axonal arbors' (branches) of the retinal ganglion cells. Our findings suggest that the new electron array technology can be used to record the electrical signals emanating from axons, the nerve cell projections which transmit neuronal signals. This is a brand-new finding." In a global first, Dr. Kremkow's team was able to simultaneously capture the activity of nerve cells in the retina and their synaptically connected target neurons in the midbrain.
Until now, the functional wiring between the eye and midbrain had remained an unknown quantity. The researchers were able to show at the single-cell level that the spatial organization of the inputs from retinal ganglion cells in the midbrain constitutes a very precise representation of the original retinal input. "The structures of the midbrain effectively provide an almost one-to-one copy of the retinal structure," says Dr. Kremkow. He continues: "Another new finding for us was that the neurons in the midbrain receive a very strong and specific synaptic input from retinal ganglion cells, but only from a small number of these sensory neurons. These neural pathways enable a very structured and functional connection between the eye's retina and the corresponding regions of the midbrain." Among other things, this new insight will enhance our understanding of the phenomenon known as blindsight, which can be observed in individuals who have sustained damage to the visual cortex due to trauma or tumor. Incapable of conscious perception, these individuals retain a residual ability to process visual information, which results in an intuitive perception of stimuli, contours, movement and even colors that appears to be linked to the midbrain.
To test whether the principles initially observed in the mouse model could also apply to other vertebrates -- and hence whether they could be more general in nature -- Dr. Kremkow and his team worked alongside a team from the Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence, where a Lise Meitner Research Group led by Dr. Daniele Vallentin focuses on neuronal circuits responsible for the coordination of precise movements in birds. "Using the same types of measurements, we were able to show that, in zebra finches, the spatial organization of the nerve tracts connecting the retina and midbrain follow a similar principle," says Dr. Vallentin. She adds: "This finding was surprising, given that birds have significantly higher visual acuity and the evolutionary distance between birds and mammals is considerable." The researchers' observations suggest that the retinal ganglion cells in both the optical tectum and the superior colliculi show similar spatial organization and functional wiring. Their findings led the researchers to conclude that the principles discovered must be crucial to visual processing in the mammalian midbrain. These principles may even be general in nature, applying to all vertebrate brains, including those of humans.
Regarding the researchers' future plans, Dr. Kremkow says: "Now that we understand the functional, mosaic-like connections between retinal ganglion cells and neurons within the superior colliculi, we will further explore the way in which sensory signals are processed in the vision system, specifically in the regions of the midbrain, and how they contribute to visually-guided reflexive behavior." The team also want to establish whether the new method might be used in other structures and whether it could be used to measure axonal activity elsewhere in the brain. Should this prove possible, it would open up a wealth of new opportunities to explore the brain's underlying mechanisms. —ANI

Neuroscientists have revealed the precise connections between sensory neurons inside the retina and the superior colliculus, a structure in the midbrain. Neuropixels probes are a relatively recent development, representing the next generation of electrodes.

Researchers Reveal How Visual Information Travels From Retina To Midbrain

RSS Chief To Attend Seminar in Ahmedabad todayResearchers Reveal How Visual Information Travels From Retina To Midbrain

Varanasi (UP): <span style="color: rgb(34,34,34);background-color: rgb(255,255,255);font-size: 15px;font-family: Verdana, BlinkMacSystemFont, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif;">Varanasi Divisional Commissioner Deepak Agrawal has asked District Magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma to probe charges of corruption against three employees of Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust.&nbsp;
<span style="color: rgb(34,34,34);background-color: rgb(255,255,255);font-size: 15px;font-family: Verdana, BlinkMacSystemFont, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif;">The three employees are Arun Kumar Mishra (senior clerk), Shiv Bhushan Dwivedi (computer assistant) and Sanjay Chaturvedi (typist/clerk).
<span style="color: rgb(34,34,34);background-color: rgb(255,255,255);font-size: 15px;font-family: Verdana, BlinkMacSystemFont, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif;">The commissioner said that complaints received were also related to non-interest in work, corruption, falsification of files and financial irregularities by the three staffers.
<span style="color: rgb(34,34,34);background-color: rgb(255,255,255);font-size: 15px;font-family: Verdana, BlinkMacSystemFont, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif;">Kashi Vishwanath temple by night .
—IANS

Varanasi Divisional Commissioner Deepak Agrawal has asked District Magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma to probe charges of corruption against three employees of Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust. 

 3 employees of Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust face corruption probe

Varanasi Divisional Commissioner Deepak Agrawal has asked District Magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma to probe charges of corruption against three employees of Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust. 


Kanpur: A special team constituted by the Kanpur police to probe an incident wherein a family was found living with the body of a 35-year-old man, who had died during the Covid-19 pandemic about one and a half year ago.&nbsp;
Joint Commissioner Police (JCP) Anand Prakash Tiwari has constituted the team to investigate the matter.&nbsp;
The JCP said, ADCP (West) Lakhan Singh Yadav will head the team.
“The focus of the team will be, what method did the family members adopt to avoid the body from decomposing and for what purpose did the relatives keep the dead body safe for so long in the house,” he said.
Police are also contacting the deceased’s office, bank and other departments.
“If the department concerned demands a criminal investigation, it will also be done. And if anyone is found guilty, action will be taken against him/her also. It will also be discussed what crime is made in the law for insulting a dead body,” JCP further said.
Vimlesh Dixit died due to sudden cardiac respiratory syndrome on April 22, 2021 and a death certificate to this effect was issued by a private hospital.
The family of the Income Tax Department employee did not cremate the body and kept it at home for almost 18 months, assuming that he was in a coma.
What is baffling the police and the people is the fact that the dead body did not smell and was not completely decayed.
The flesh had dried up and got stuck with the bones. If the family members are to be believed, no paste or substance was applied on Vimlesh’s body during this period.
They used to clean Vimlesh’s body daily with ‘Gangajal’ and his clothes were also changed every two to three days.
People got to know about this strange incident when a team of health officials, along with policemen and the magistrate, reached the person’s house in the Rawatpur area on September 23.
When the I-T Department informed the family members that Vimlesh had not been attending office for the past one and a half years and further probed them about his whereabouts, they insisted that he was alive and in coma, according to Dr Ranjan, chief medical officer.
Neighbours told police that the family members were often seen taking oxygen cylinders home.
The police said that Dixit’s wife appeared to be mentally unstable.
—IANS&nbsp;

A special team constituted by the Kanpur police to probe an incident wherein a family was found living with the body of a 35-year-old man, who had died during the Covid-19 pandemic about one and a half year ago. 

 Special team to probe UP family that kept body for 18 months

Kolkata: The West Bengal government received yet another jolt on Friday as a division bench of the Calcutta High Court decided to uphold an earlier order by a single-judge bench of the same court on the CBI probe in the murder of Tapan Dutta, the Trinamool Congress leader from Howrah district.
Tapan Dutta, was killed near his residence on May 6, 2011 just days after the Trinamool Congress came to power in West Bengal ousting the 34-year-long Left Front rule. It was alleged that Dutta was murdered for voicing protest against the illegal filling up of water bodies near his residence at Bally in Howrah district.&nbsp;
Initially, the local police began probing the matter and later, the investigation was handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the West Bengal Police. However, Tapan Dutta's wife, Pratima Dutta and his daughter, Puja Dutta approached the Calcutta High Court demanding a CBI enquiry and alleged that the Trinamool Congress leader was killed by his own party men.
On June 9 this year, Calcutta High Court's single-judge bench of Justice Rajasekhar Mantha ordered a CBI probe in the case. However, the West Bengal government challenged that single-judge bench order at the division bench of Calcutta High Court's Chief Justice Prakash Srivastava and Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj.
The counsel for the state government argued that the single-judge bench passed the order in a haste, since only in rare cases re-investigations are ordered and that too after submission of two separate charge sheets.
However, Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, the counsel for Pratima Dutta, argued that in the second charge sheet the names of certain Trinamool Congress leaders, who were named in the first charge sheet, were dropped. He also argued that evidence was tampered with to shield the genuine culprits in the case and, hence, a probe by a central agency was necessary.
Finally on Friday, after hearing both the parties, the division bench upheld the earlier order by the single-judge bench for a CBI enquiry in the case.&nbsp;
—IANS

The West Bengal government received yet another jolt on Friday as a division bench of the Calcutta High Court decided to uphold an earlier order by a single-judge bench of the same court on the CBI probe in the murder of Tapan Dutta, the Trinamool Congress leader from Howrah district.

 Calcutta HC division bench upholds CBI probe in Trinamool leader's murder

Srinagar: <span style="color: rgb(34,34,34);background-color: rgb(255,255,255);font-size: 15px;font-family: Verdana, BlinkMacSystemFont, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif;">The special investigation agency (SIA) of J&amp;K Police on Friday raided several places in Shopian and Anantnag districts in connection with terror funding probe.&nbsp;
<span style="color: rgb(34,34,34);background-color: rgb(255,255,255);font-size: 15px;font-family: Verdana, BlinkMacSystemFont, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif;">“These raids are being carried out in Zainapora, Laddi and Melhora villages of Shopian district and in Shangus, Kund Kukgam, Achabal and Poshkeeri villages of Anantnag district”, official sources said.
<span style="color: rgb(34,34,34);background-color: rgb(255,255,255);font-size: 15px;font-family: Verdana, BlinkMacSystemFont, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif;">The local police and CRPF are assisting the SIA in the smooth conduct of these raids.
<span style="color: rgb(34,34,34);background-color: rgb(255,255,255);font-size: 15px;font-family: Verdana, BlinkMacSystemFont, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif;">Further details were awaited.&nbsp;
—IANS

The special investigation agency (SIA) of J&K Police on Friday raided several places in Shopian and Anantnag districts in connection with terror funding probe. 

 J&K SIA raids multiple locations in Kashmir in terror funding probe

New Delhi: Karnataka Congress chief D.K. Shivakumar on Friday arrived at the Enforcement Directorate (ED) headquarters here to join the investigation in the National Herald newspaper case.
The agency will be probing him on a few facts related to the financial transactions of AJL and Young Indian (YI).
The ED had summoned Shivakumar and his brother, D.K. Suresh to record their statements.
Earlier, Congress leaders J. Geeta Reddy, Shabbir Ali and P. Sudarshan had reportedly joined the probe. They were questioned about Young India and Dotex Merchandiseconnection.
The Dotex firm is reportedly situated at 5, Lower Rawdon Street in Sreepally of Ballygunge, Kolkata. It is situated in a residential apartment named ‘Aakash Deep’.
“Dotex firm allegedly paid Rs 1 crore to Young Indian. This was a loan which they gave to YI in 2010. The loan given by Dotex Merchandise was never returned. YI was just incorporated when this loan was paid,” said an ED source.
The ED has doubts that the money was laundered through YI.
National Herald case timeline
November 1, 2012, former BJP’s Rajya Sabha Member Subramanian Swamy lodged a case in National Herald newspaper case.
June 26, 2014, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi were summoned.
August 1, 2014, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) lodged the Prevention of Money Laundering case in the matter.
December 19, 2015, a Delhi court granted bail to Gandhis.
In 2016, the Congress moved court demanding quashing of the case.
In 2019, properties worth Rs 64 crore of the National Herald newspaper were seized by agencies.
The Young Indian Pvt Ltd was owned by Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Motilal Vora and Oscar Fernandes. Motilal Vora, the longest-serving treasurer of the Congress party, died in 2020 and Fernandes passed away in 2021.
Interestingly, Rahul Gandhi, when he was questioned regarding the financial aspects of the Young Indian-AJL deal, had told officials that all the transactions were handled by Vora.
—IANS &nbsp;

Karnataka Congress chief D.K. Shivakumar on Friday arrived at the Enforcement Directorate (ED) headquarters here to join the investigation in the National Herald newspaper case.

 DK Shivakumar joins ED probe in National Herald newspaper case

Hyderabad: In another dramatic twist in the case relating to alleged attempt to poach four MLAs of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), the BJP on Thursday moved the Telangana High Court seeking a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
With the TRS alleging that the three men arrested while trying to lure its MLAs belonged to the BJP, the saffron party hit back by approaching the high court seeking direction to transfer the case to the central agency for a 'fair' probe.
In its petition, the BJP found fault with the manner in which police are conducting the probe and pleaded for interim orders to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) for an impartial investigation.
The BJP has made the state government, Director General of Police, Cyberabad police commissioner, other police officials, union government and the CBI as respondents in the case.
The saffron party alleged that attempts are being made to tarnish its image by making false accusations of trying to buy TRS MLAs.
Cyberabad police on Wednesday arrested three persons from a farmhouse at Moinabad near Hyderabad when they were allegedly trying to lure four TRS MLAs to defect to BJP.
On a complaint by one of the MLAs Pilot Rohit Reddy, police registered a case against Ramachandra Bharati, alias Satish Sharma, of Delhi, Nanda Kumar of Hyderabad and Simhayaji Swamy of Tirupati.
The TRS leaders have alleged that the two godmen and businessman Nanda Kumar are close to union ministers and top BJP leaders.
Police have booked the accused for criminal conspiracy), bribery and criminal intimidation under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Prevention of Corruption Act.
According to the complainant, the accused offered him Rs 100 crore, central government civil contract works and other high central government positions for monetary benefits.
Rohit Reddy told police that the accused warned him that if he does not join the BJP, there will be criminal cases and raids by ED/CBI and the Telangana government led by TRS will be toppled by them. He said the accused offered Rs 50 crore each to the three other MLAs.
On a tip-off by Rohit Reddy, Cyberabad police reached the farmhouse and arrested the three accused.
The police seized mobile phones of the accused and were retrieving call data.
The trio were being questioned by the police at an undisclosed location. They will be produced in a court later in the day.
The arrests have created a political storm in the state with the TRS alleging conspiracy by BJP to destabilise the government.
The BJP, however, has denied the allegations and dared the TRS government to order a probe by CBI or a sitting judge of the Supreme Court.
Union minister G. Kishan Reddy has alleged that CM KCR scripted the poaching drama to malign BJP and demanded that the police reveal details like the amount of cash seized from three persons arrested in the case.
Dismissing the allegations that BJP tried to lure four TRS MLAs with huge sums of money, important positions and contracts, he said BJP would have gained nothing by making four MLAs defect to the party.
He wondered why the police were not revealing how much money was seized and where it came from.&nbsp;
—IANS

 In another dramatic twist in the case relating to alleged attempt to poach four MLAs of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), the BJP on Thursday moved the Telangana High Court seeking a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

 MLAs poaching case: BJP moves HC for CBI probe

Kanpur (The Hawk): Six elderly patients who underwent cataract surgery at this facility lost their sight as a result, prompting the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of the Kanpur Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh to initiate an investigation into the nursing home.
At a recent eye-checkup camp held at the Aradhya elderly home, all six had surgery.
Six of the patients who underwent surgery reported experiencing headaches, eye pain, and vision loss.
They alleged that they were unable to see and that their eyes were in excruciating agony.
CMO Alok Ranjan informed reporters that an investigation into the incident had been ordered following a commotion. He stated that after the investigation is over, any action would be taken.
(Inputs from Agencies)

Six elderly patients who underwent cataract surgery at this facility lost their sight as a result, prompting the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of the Kanpur Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh to initiate an investigation into the nursing home.

Kanpur cataract surgery loses 6 eyesight, Probe ordered

Gorakhpur, UP (The Hawk): In a horrific event, a dog was observed at the Maharajganj district hospital with a dead human foetus in its mouth.
The chief medical superintendent (CMS), Dr. A.K. Dwivedi, has issued notices to six hospital employees, including a doctor and nurse who are currently on duty, and filed a police complaint against three sanitation workers.
Additionally, an investigation into the occurrence has been opened.
According to reports, hospital visitors who were present there saw the dog in the exhibit. The hospital staff swiftly captured the dog and retrieved the foetus after receiving the complaint.
According to the hospital's director, two stillbirths occurred that day, and both babies' bodies were presented to their respective families.
One of the households allegedly refused to accept the body and instead dumped it next to a trash can, where the dog discovered it.
(Inputs from Agencies)

In a horrific event, a dog was observed at the Maharajganj district hospital with a dead human foetus in its mouth.

As a stray dog holds a foetus in its mouth, a probe has been ordered

Bhopal (The Hawk): Many BJP politicians and former ministers are expected to be implicated in the Professional Examination Board (Vyapam) fraud, which is expected to raise the political temperature in Madhya Pradesh.
Since the previous decade, the Vyapam fraud has been in the news due to the deaths of more than 50 people and the imprisonment of more than 2,000 others.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Special Task Force (STF) are conducting an investigation into the matter.
In this investigation, numerous Congress, BJP, and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leaders have been scrutinised.
In this case, the leaders of both political parties, former minister Lakshmikant Sharma, and two RSS officials have been imprisoned.
In response to the complaint filed by former chief minister and Rajya Sabha member Digvijaya Singh on October 6, 2014, the STF had filed charges against eight medical college students.
It took the STF about eight years to register the case, raising doubts about the timing of FIRs.
Singh alleged in his lawsuit that in examinations conducted by Vyapam after 2006, individuals conspired with its personnel, MP government ministers, and prominent BJP politicians in order to receive financial rewards.
He stated that the fraud was carried out with the direct and indirect collusion of the leaders.
Singh's complaint alleges that there was a possibility of fraudulent admission due to the fact that some students' residential addresses were identical, as well as incidents of kids finishing Classes 10 and 12 from the Uttar Pradesh Board and having a questionable MP domicile certificate.
In addition, inconsistencies were found between the photo attached to the exam application and the photo attached during seat assignment.
The investigation revealed that the accused students utilised imposters to take the 2008-2009 examinations and get admission to Gandhi Medical College in Bhopal.
It is believed that the names of numerous BJP leaders and individuals holding prominent positions will also surface throughout the investigation.
Political observers predict that the complaint filed prior to the 2024 assembly elections will be utilised for political gain.
There are concerns that the FIR would have a significant impact on the state's politics because to its content.
(Inputs from Agencies)

Many BJP politicians and former ministers are expected to be implicated in the Professional Examination Board (Vyapam) fraud, which is expected to raise the political temperature in Madhya Pradesh.

The Hawk

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