Intelligence agencies to probe fire incidents on vessels off Kerala coast
The Nhava Sheva port in Navi Mumbai has also decided to probe the fire in the Singapore-flagged Wan Hai 503, on its way to Navi Mumbai from Colombo, off the Beypore coast on June 9.
On June 12, MV Interasia Tenacity - another Singapore-flagged vessel, proceeding from Port Klang in Malaysia to Navi Mumbai - reported fire in a container. The vessel was 30 nautical miles off Kochi at the time.
'The fire on board Wan Hai 503 was triggered by explosives carried without proper precautions. The cargo manifest didn't have the details of the explosives, which substantiates the argument the ship carried undeclared cargo,' a senior officer told TNIE.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
6 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Dalit sanitation workers allege caste abuse by Melpathi panchayat president in TN
VILLUPURAM: The Tamil Nadu government has directed the Villupuram SP to inquire into allegations of caste-based discrimination against four Dalit sanitation workers in Melpathi village. The directive from the deputy secretary (Home Department) follows a petition submitted to the chief minister's special cell. G Muniyammal (47), one of the workers, alleged that she and three others were forced to clean human faeces with bare hands and subjected to repeated caste-based abuse by Melpathi panchayat president R Manivel and a few Caste Hindu members. They also accused local police officers of coercing the workers into withdrawing the complaint. The four workers - Muniyammal, K Athilakshmi, S Nagaraj, and P Govindaraj - collect household waste in the village. Following the attack on a Dalit family by the caste Hindus allegedly for entering the Shri Dharmaraja Draupathi Amman Temple on April 7, 2023, the workers said they are being humiliated publicly and unfairly blamed for the temple dispute. The workers stated that the discrimination, verbal abuse, and physical intimidation from the panchayat president has become unbearable over the past two years. 'We were mocked, threatened, and assigned demeaning tasks. We were told not to enter certain streets and they made us feel like we didn't belong here. We were even forced to clean human faeces with bare hands,' Muniyammal told TNIE. 'They even forced us to sign blank papers that were later fabricated to claim that we have withdrawn the complaint.' Despite repeated appeals to panchayat officials, including vice president Selvam, and sanitation supervisor Kavitha, no action has been taken, the workers said in the complaint.
New Indian Express
6 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Kin seek fair probe into Irular tribal workers's death in Villupuram
VILLUPURAM: The family of a 28-year-old Irular tribal worker, who allegedly died of electrocution at a private automobile workshop in Villupuram, accepted the body on Wednesday but refused to perform the final rites, demanding a re-autopsy with video documentation and a fair police probe into the incident. The deceased, K Kanniappan, was allegedly electrocuted while using a water gun to clean a motorcycle at the facility on Tuesday night. Employed in the water service section of a private workshop affiliated to TVS Motor Company, Kanniappan had rejoined work last month following a five-month break. According to the bereaved family, the firm attempted to downplay the incident by offering Rs 10,000 as compensation, without taking responsibility for the death or extending support as mandated under labour laws. This enraged the family, who also alleged that the police were initially reluctant to act against the firm. Speaking to TNIE, K Indhu (22), the wife of the deceased, said, 'After we were informed of his death, the body was sent to Mundiyambakkam Government Medical College Hospital. However, instead of a team of doctors, only one doctor conducted the autopsy. We have also submitted a complaint to the police, but no FIR was filed initially.'
New Indian Express
a day ago
- New Indian Express
Offences related to religion go up by 65 per cent in four years
BENGALURU: Offences related to religion have witnessed a significant increase in the state, rising by 64.87% from 208 cases in 2021 to 345 cases in 2024. As per data available with State Crime Records Bureau, until May this year, a total of 123 such cases were reported across the state. Cases of communal and religious riots also saw a 133.31% increase, rising from 9 in 2021 to 21 in 2024. Experts say that misinformation on social media, a politically polarised environment, and long-standing religious or caste-based tensions in certain districts have contributed to the rise in such incidents. Government initiatives like the formation of an anti-communal wing or a special action force are yet to make any impact. Offences related to religion are being booked under various sections and are further categorised into caste-based, communal, linguistic, regional, religious, and other issues. Speaking to TNIE, a serving police commissioner in the state reiterated that misinformation on social media, political polarisation, and historical religious or caste tensions are key contributors. 'The police have failed to take preventive actions, such as arresting the accused or invoking the Goonda Act against troublemakers,' the commissioner said. 'Religious violence, riots triggered by social media' The commissioner added that at times, arrests are made in a discriminatory manner — an individual posting something on social media might be arrested swiftly, but if the person involved is a politician, action is often delayed. 'If any religious or communal issue arises, there is often direct political party backing on both sides. Political patronage for communal offenders, regardless of which party is in power, is not a new phenomenon in the state,' the officer said. He said that riots and other religion-related issues could have been prevented through better intelligence gathering. 'The state intelligence department and local intelligence units are weak. With Zilla Panchayat and Taluk Panchayat elections around the corner, political parties and their cadres are becoming active,' the officer added. While the government has announced several special measures like an anti-communal wing and a special action force, the IPS officer said these initiatives remain on paper, often announced as reactive measures. The government must encourage strict against offenders.
