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CISF trooper among 5 killed in Maoist attack (Lead)
Raipur, Nov 8 (IANS) CISF Head Constable D. Mukhopadhyay and four civilians were killed on Thursday when Maoists blew up a mini bus in which they were returning to their camp after buying vegetables and groceries in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district, police said.
The deadly attack took place four days before the first phase of the Assembly polls in the state. It was also the third Maoist attack in 13 days in Chhattisgarh.
Two Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) constables and another civilian suffered injuries in the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast triggered by Maoists around 11.30 a.m. in a hilly area in Bacheli, the police said.
Eight people, including five civilians and three CISF personnel, were travelling in the mini bus when it was targeted, said the police.
The civilians killed included the bus driver, conductor and cleaner. The bus was acquired from the state administration for election duty.
The injured CISF troopers — Satish Pathare and Pishal Suraske — were shifted to a hospital.
“The morale of the forces will not be affected due to such attacks. The Assembly elections will be conducted peacefully,” Inspector General of Police (Bastar) Vivekanand Sinha said.
The slain 49-year-old trooper, a resident of West Bengal, was part of a CISF unit that had been deployed in Dantewada area for the first phase of the forthcoming polls in the state, CISF spokesperson Hemendra Singh told IANS.
“It was a proper road where such IED explosion had never happened. The bus was completely damaged in the explosion.”
A Doordarshan cameraman and three Chhattisgarh police personnel were killed in a Maoist ambush, also in Dantewada, on October 30.
On October 27, the Maoists fired on a contingent of Central Reserve Police Force in Bijapur district, killing four troopers.
The Maoists have asked people to boycott the polls. Dantewada is among the areas going to polls on November 12 in the first phase covering 18 constituencies. The second phase of election is scheduled to be held in the state on November 20.
Condemning the attack as a cowardice act of Maoists, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh expressed sadness over the death of CISF trooper and the civilians.
“I pay my tributes to them and my feelings are with their bereaved families. I wish for a speedy recovery of the injured. This act of cowardice is a sign of weakening of Maoists,” he tweeted.
–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.