By Kamran Khan
I am facing threats, says wrestling champion Sakshi Malik
Sakshi Malik, former Olympic wrestling champion, recently posted a video on her X account, claiming that she is facing threats. In her video, she appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking his intervention, so as to safeguard the future of wrestling in India.
Malik expressed her concern about the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), highlighting that despite a court order, the WFI continues to control the sport’s operations. “Respected Prime Minister and Sports Minister, I greet you. After the Wrestling Federation elections last year, the dominance and bullying of Brij Bhushan Singh became evident, which caused me great distress and led me to step away from wrestling. Following this, the government suspended the federation, but it has since resumed its activities,” she said.
Her post points to the fact that despite the suspension, Singh still seems to call the shots. If anything, it suggests a complicity between him and the BJP regime in Delhi, despite the protracted struggle of the women wrestlers against sexual harassment, in which he is directly named.
Reprimand from apex court, government doubles fine for stubble burning
After receiving a reprimand from the Supreme Court, the central government on Thursday (November 7, 2024) revised the rules of the Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Surrounding Areas. These amendments will enable the imposition, collection and use of environmental compensation for stubble burning. Under the new rules, farmers with less than two acres of land will be required to pay an environmental fine of Rs 5,000.
Delhi High Court stops Chhath Puja on polluted Yamuna bank
The Delhi High Court denied permission for devotees to perform Chhath Puja on the banks of the Yamuna due to severe water contamination and toxic foam. This could pose serious health risks. A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed challenging the ban, seeking to allow the ritual at its traditional location along the river. However, the court declined to issue any orders, citing the hazardous state of the river water.
“The river is highly polluted, and allowing people to bathe in it could result in serious health problems,” said the bench, headed by the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court. The court also referred to a recent incident in which an individual fell ill after taking a dip in the contaminated Yamuna and required hospitalization.
Karnataka urges Kerala to address cross-border waste-dumping
The Karnataka government has sent a letter to the Kerala State Pollution Control Board, urging immediate action to halt the illegal transportation and disposal of waste along the state border, citing growing environmental concerns.
According to The News Minute (TNM), six trucks loaded with medical waste, animal carcasses and plastic waste from Kerala were intercepted at the Bandipur Moolehole check post, resulting in the arrest of seven individuals. The operation followed a tip-off from Chamarajanagar District Officer, P Umashankar, to the Gundalpet police.
These trucks had been covertly transporting and dumping waste across Karnataka, including at Bandipur forest, HD Kote, Chamarajanagar, Nanjangud, Mysuru, Mandya and Kolar. Officials have warned that such illegal dumping poses serious environmental and health risks, particularly to forest ecosystems and urban areas. Government authorities and social activists in Karnataka have strongly condemned the practice.
The issue first gained widespread attention in January 2019 when officials from the Mysuru City Corporation caught trucks from Kerala dumping waste within city limits. This prompted the state to enhance surveillance and implement stricter checks at border crossings.
In March 2023, TNM conducted an investigation revealing how villages in Tamil Nadu, near the Kerala border, had become dumping grounds for various types of unsegregated waste from Kerala.
SRK receives death threat
Shah Rukh Khan has once again become the target of a death threat. The threat led to the swift arrest of a man, Faizan Khan, in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. He is accused of issuing the threat.
The incident occurred on November 5, when Faizan Khan allegedly made a phone call to a police officer involved in Khan’s security, making disturbing comments about killing the actor. Acting quickly, the Mumbai Police traced the call to Raipur’s Pandri area, where the number used was registered in Faizan’s name. A police team from Mumbai tracked down the suspect at his home in Raipur and took him into custody.
During questioning, Faizan claimed that his phone was lost several days earlier and that he had reported the loss to the Khamhardih police station in Raipur. While he provided documentation to support his claim, authorities are proceeding with caution and have instructed him to appear at the Bandra Police Station in Mumbai for further investigation.