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CBI to probe two Tripura journalists’ killings
Agartala, June 23 (IANS) Responding to the state government’s requests, the CBI will probe the killing of two journalists in Tripura last year, Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb said here on Saturday.
“Following the state government’s requests, necessary notifications were issued last week allowing the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) to probe the killings of two Tripura journalists,” Deb told IANS.
The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Training issued two separate notifications last week to probe the killings of two journalists — Santanu Bhowmik, 28 and Sudip Dutta Bhowmik, 50 — last year.
The Chief Minister, who also holds the Home portfolio, said that as per the pre-poll promises of the Bharatiya Janata Party, the state government after a cabinet decision in March requested the DoPT to ask the CBI to probe the heinous killings of the two young journalists.
“The previous Left Front government rejected the BJP and journalists’ bodies’ demand for a CBI probe. The state government will extend all kinds of support to the CBI to probe the murders. We believe that the families of slain journalists will get justice,” he added.
Deb said the CBI might study the reports of the two separate Special Investigation Teams (SIT), constituted by the previous Left Front government.
A local newspaper journalist, Sudip Dutta Bhowmik, 50, was shot dead inside the Tripura State Rifles (TSR) second Battalion headquarters at Ramchandra Nagar in West Tripura district on November 21 last year.
Television journalist Santanu Bhowmik, 28, was hacked to death while covering a demonstration of a tribal-based political party at Mandai, 25 km from Agartala, on September 20, 2017.
To probe the killings, the erstwhile Left Front government had set up two separate SITs headed by Deputy Inspector General of Police Arindam Nath and Inspector General of Police G.S. Rao, respectively.
The SIT, led by Nath, arrested four TSR personnel — including TSR 2nd Battalion Commandant Tapan Debbarma, who is a senior Tripura Police Service (TPS) officer and was waiting for IPS nomination.
The Forum of Protection of Journalists (FPJ), an apex body of eleven journalists’ organisations, organised agitation for 171 days until March this year demanding CBI probe.
“We have met President Ramnath Kovind, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Minister of PMO Jitendra Singh, Press Council of India Chairman Justice (Retd) C.K. Prasad in New Delhi with our sole demand,” FPJ convenor Pranab Sarkar told the media on Saturday.
“We want a speedy CBI probe to punish the killers and justice to the families of the victims,” veteran editor Subal Kumar Dey said while addressing a press conference.
The FPJ thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister and Tripura Chief Minister for arranging the CBI inquiry into the killing of journalists.
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.