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7-month-old raped in Kolkata even as city remains traumatised by RG Kar rape-murder

Months after the brutal rape and murder of a junior doctor left Kolkata in a state of shock and shame, another horrific incident from the West Bengal capital has come to light. This time, the rape victim is a seven-month-old girl, who is currently undergoing ICU treatment. While she was not murdered, the sexual assault on the infant was so violent that it has left the baby fighting for her life.

Several months after the RG Kar Hospital rape-murder case shook all of India, and despite numerous protest marches by civil society, the city of Kolkata and wider West Bengal continue to see horrific incidents of rape and rape-murder. The November 30 rape of an infant in Kolkata is the latest in a series of such heinous crimes. Representative image courtesy: www.freepik.com

As per reports, the sexual assault on the infant was committed on the night of November 30. The baby was sleeping beside her parents on the pavement at the Burtolla area of Kolkata when she was abducted and raped. The victim was later left on the pavement. A resident, woken up by the distressed howling of the girl, found her alone and informed the police.

At the same time, her parents had also initiated a search and approached the cops. Soon, the two reports were tallied and the baby was reunited with her parents, who then rushed her to RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

Quoting a hospital official, the Times of India reported that the girl’s condition was on the mend and was likely to improve further. She has started to eat; and the hospital has also set up a team of four doctors to look after her.

TOI reported that when the baby was admitted to the hospital, “doctors found multiple injuries on her private parts and scratches all over her body”.

Incidentally, RG Kar Medical College and Hospital is the same institute that came under the scanner as the aforementioned rape and murder of a junior lady doctor took place inside the hospital premises after her long duty shift ended late on August 8. The murder was discovered early on August 9. The estimated time when the crime was committed was between 3am and 5am on August 9, as per reports.

Following the RG Kar incident, Kolkata witnessed a huge surge of protests, marches, and hunger strikes. While the capital of West Bengal remained the epicentre of these protests, similar marches and human chains were undertaken in various places in India, including marches organised by doctors.

While the RG Kar case was the trigger for these protests, ‘Reclaim the Night’ marches led by civil society women, with the full participation of men, also drew attention to the generally prevalent rape culture in West Bengal. This sexual assault on the infant is yet another reminder of that rape culture.

ALSO READ: RG Kar rape-murder: Clamour for justice grows louder in Kolkata with second night vigil

Kolkata witnessed on September 4, 2024, a massive turnout of people from 9pm till well beyond midnight. Photo courtesy: Avishek Mitra/IBNS

The extreme public outrage and central agency investigations also led to the arrests of several people, including Dr Sandip Ghosh, the erstwhile principal of RG Kar. However, no arrests have been made in the November 30 incident of the infant rape.

ALSO READ: CBI arrests cop and former RG Kar Hospital principal Sandeep Ghosh over Kolkata medic rape-murder

Even as protests against the RG Kar case were taking place in Kolkata and in some districts of West Bengal, violence erupted in Joynagar, in South 24-Parganas district, after a nine-year-old girl was found murdered in early October. Locals alleged that the victim was abducted, raped, and then murdered on October 4 while she was coming back from her tuition class.

The furious Joynagar locals alleged that police had refused to lodge a missing person complaint. An angry mob attacked the police personnel and set the police station on fire.

The situation was brought under control for a while, but it remained tense as locals held a procession with the body of the little girl on October 8. This was followed by another round of violence in the area.

Overall, frequent reports of rape, rape-murder, and other forms of violence against girls and women have put law and order in West Bengal under the scanner. While the demand for security and justice was a vital part of the protests after the RG Kar case, nothing seems to have improved, as rampant sexual violence persists even after several months.

December 5, 2024
ISRO’s PSLV rocket with satellites of ESA lifts off from Sriharikota

ISRO’s PSLV rocket, carrying two satellites of the European Space Agency (ESA), lifted off from the spaceport in Sriharikota on Thursday, December 5.

The PSLV-C59 rocket lifts off. Photo courtesy: Screengrab from X

The launch was rescheduled to 4:04 pm today and a revised countdown was set after sorting out an anomaly detected in the propulsion system of one of the satellites on Wednesday, minutes before the launch.

As the countdown concluded, the PSLV C-59 blasted off to place Proba-3 spacecraft in the desired orbit.

In a social media post after the lift off, the Bengaluru-based space agency said, “Lift off achieved. PSLV-C59 has successfully soared into the skies, marking the commencement of a global mission led by NSIL, with ISRO’s technical expertise, to deploy ESA’s groundbreaking PROBA-3 satellites. A proud moment celebrating the synergy of international collaboration and India’s space achievements.”

VIDEO | ISRO’s PSLV-C59 rocket carrying European Space Agency’s Proba-3 mission launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. (n/1) pic.twitter.com/1Ww6PG5JUI

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 5, 2024

Proba-3 (Project for Onboard Anatomy) consists of two satellites in which two spacecraft would fly together as one, maintaining precise formation down to a single millimetre to study the Corona, the Sun’s outer atmosphere.

NewSpace India Ltd, the commercial arm of ISRO has bagged the order from the ESA for the launch.

ALSO READ: “Liftoff Day is Here…”: History beckons ISRO with commercial mission for ESA’s ‘precision-flying’

The 44.5 metre tall polar satellite launch vehicle blasted off majestically from the first launch pad at the latest time at 4.04 pm.

‘Probas’ is a Latin word, which refers to ‘Let’s try’.

The mission objective is to demonstrate precise formation flying and two spacecraft – ‘Coronagraph’ and ‘Occulter’ would be launched together in a stacked configuration, ISRO said.

Prior to Wednesday’s launch, ISRO had successfully launched the Proba-1 rocket by the European Space Agency in 2001.

December 5, 2024
Donald Trump selects billionaire astronaut Jared Isaacman as next NASA chief

US President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday nominated billionaire and private astronaut Jared Isaacman as the next NASA chief.

Donald Trump names Jared Isaacman as next NASA chief. Photo Courtesy: Jared Isaacman Instagram page

In a post on Truth Social, he wrote: “I am delighted to nominate Jared Isaacman, an accomplished business leader, philanthropist, pilot, and astronaut, as Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).”

“Jared will drive NASA’s mission of discovery and inspiration, paving the way for groundbreaking achievements in Space science, technology, and exploration,” Trump said.

Isaacman is the CEO of payment processing company Shift4 Payments.

He is the first person to perform a private spacewalk and was part of the Polaris program mission. Isaacman has flown to space twice.

Trump said: “Over the past 25 years, as the Founder and CEO of Shift4, Jared has demonstrated exceptional leadership, building a trailblazing global financial technology company.”

“Jared’s passion for Space, astronaut experience, and dedication to pushing the boundaries of exploration, unlocking the mysteries of the universe, and advancing the new Space economy, make him ideally suited to lead NASA into a bold new Era,” Trump said.

After Trump made the announcement, Isaacman felt honoured for his ‘nomination’.

“I am honored to receive President Trump’s @realDonaldTrump nomination to serve as the next Administrator of NASA. Having been fortunate to see our amazing planet from space, I am passionate about America leading the most incredible adventure in human history,” he wrote on X.

He said the space holds ‘unparalleled potential’ for breakthroughs in manufacturing, biotechnology, mining, and perhaps even pathways to new sources of energy.

“There will inevitably be a thriving space economy — one that will create opportunities for countless people to live and work in space. At NASA, we will passionately pursue these possibilities and usher in an era where humanity becomes a true spacefaring civilization,” he said.

December 5, 2024
Singapore tycoon and wife arrested in Malaysia after 19-year manhunt in SGD 72 million embezzlement case

Former Citiraya CEO Ng and his wife Thor were hand-in-glove in an embezzlement scam, based on diverting and selling electronic scrap that was given to Citiraya by client companies for precious metal extraction. Representative photo courtesy: Pixabay/Canva

On the run for 19 years in an SGD 72 million embezzlement case, Singapore tycoon Ng Teck Lee, 58, and his wife Thor Chwee Hwa, 55, were arrested in Malaysia yesterday and charged in a Singapore court today.

A media release from the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) in Singapore said that Ng was Chief Executive Officer of Citiraya “at the material time of the offence” and that he left Singapore with his wife in 2005 when the CPIB “first investigated the case”.

The arrests of Ng and Thor were made by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), whose agents then handed over the two fugitives immediately to the CPIB. Further investigations are on-going.

Ng Teck Lee (in the middle) in CPIB custody on 3 December 2024. Photo courtesy: CPIB

CPIB would like to thank MACC for their strong support in rendering assistance to CPIB on this case. The successful arrest of the two Singaporean fugitives involved in this significant corruption case after almost two decades attests to the longstanding ties and close cooperation between CPIB and MACC. There is zero-tolerance and no safe haven for those who choose to break our laws by engaging in corrupt or criminal activities. CPIB will spare no effort to track them down wherever they may hide and bring them to face justice in Singapore.

Vincent Lim, Director Investigations, CPIB

Citiraya had been in the business of recycling and recovering precious metals from electronic scrap, said the media release. The company then changed its name to Centillion Environment & Recycling Ltd, it added.

Reporting on the matter and quoting The Straits Times, the Singapore news website Mothership said that the clients of Citiraya “included semiconductor giants like AMD, Intel and Infineon”, but Ng did not extract the precious metals from the scrap, and sold the scrap to buyers in Hong Kong and Taiwan, instead.

The former Citiraya CEO made a fortune of SGD 72 million through this illicit practice of selling the scrap, instead of extracting the precious metals from the scrap, as his company was supposed to. His wife was part of the corrupt business practice.

Thor Chwee Hwa (on the right) in CPIB custody on 3 December 2024. Photo courtesy: CPIB

In the 19 years during which the former CEO and his wife were on the run, law enforcement agencies tried various methods to catch them — issuance of immigration stoplist; Police Gazette; Singapore Warrant of Arrest; and International Warrant of Arrest through Interpol.

The charges against them, as laid out in the Singapore court, are as follows:

● Charge against Ng Teck Lee
One charge of an offence punishable under Section 408 of the Penal Code, Chapter 224, for allegedly committing criminal breach of trust as a servant by dishonestly misappropriating electronic scraps of various companies, that were entrusted to him, to his own use. Ng instructed certain employees of Citiraya not to crush the electronic scraps, and to repackage, and export them.

● Charge against Thor Chwee Hwa
One charge of an offence under Section 44(1)(a) of the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act (CDSA) (Chapter 65A), punishable under Section 44(5) of the CDSA. Thor allegedly had an arrangement with Ng to open a Credit Suisse Hong Kong Branch account in her name, which she had reasonable grounds to believe that the said account would be used to retain the benefits from Ng’s criminal conduct.

Mothership reported, quoting ST, that Ng’s brother was the general manager of Citiraya at the time of the embezzlement and this GM would deliver the illicitly diverted scrap to a warehouse managed by Thor’s brother.

The diverted scrap would be bought by syndicates based in Taiwan and Hong Kong, and then the scrap would be repackaged and sold as new products, as per a report from the ST archives.

This embezzlement racket came to light through a complaint made in December 2004, which alerted the authorities. But in 2005, as soon as the CPIB began investigations, Ng and Thor fled Singapore — they stayed on the run, until their arrest on 3 December 2024.

Mothership said: “[The] CPIB later discovered that Ng had allegedly misappropriated 62 shipments of electronic scrap, amounting to approximately 89 tonnes, between 2003 and 2004.” He had also paid bribes amounting to SGD 2 million to Citiraya staff and to the staff of client companies, in order to their buy their silence.

Many of the people involved in this Citiraya embezzlement case have been convicted and given prison terms. The masterminds now await trial following their arrest.

December 5, 2024
Manoj Bajpayee’s Despatch to have OTT premiere on December 13; Watch trailer

What happens when the pursuit of breaking news leads you straight into danger? ZEE5 Global’s highly anticipated investigative crime thriller, Despatch is about to answer that question in the most thrilling way possible. After debuting at the prestigious MAMI Film Festival 2024, followed by a special screening at the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Despatch is all set to premiere on ZEE5 Global on December 13.

Manoj Bajpayee. Photo courtesy: www.instagram.com/bajpayee.manoj

Produced by Ronnie Screwvala’s RSVP Movies and directed by Kanu Behl, Despatch stars Manoj Bajpayee as Joy Bag, a crime journalist who becomes embroiled in a dangerous investigation that threatens to unravel his life. The film also stars Shahana Goswami, Arrchita Agarwaal, Ritu Parna Sen, Dilip Shankar, Riju Bajaj and others in supporting roles.

The exciting yet intriguing trailer gives a sneak peek into the gripping tale of a journalist’s descent into darkness, offering a bold and unfiltered take on crime and society.

Plot

Crime journalist Joy Bag sets out on a perilous journey to uncover the truth behind a sinister scam, unknowingly placing his life in grave danger. With mounting threats from unknown enemies urging him to abandon the case, Joy’s pursuit of a breaking story becomes a dangerous game. But as the stakes rise, Joy finds himself caught in a storm far bigger than he anticipated.

Despatch explores Joy’s turbulent struggle as he navigates the complex seas of media corruption, power battles, and personal difficulties. Will he expose the dark secrets of Mumbai’s criminal underworld, or will the truth destroy him first?

Speaking about his role, Manoj Bajpayee said: “I have undergone intense prep work for this role and Kanu is a tough taskmaster who has pushed us beyond our comfort to deliver our absolute best, so we hope that this movie strikes a chord with the viewers and pushes us to do better.”

“After multiple festival rounds like MAMI, IFFI and JFF, we are incredibly excited for the release of Despatch on ZEE5 Global. My association with ZEE5 Global goes a long way and post the success of Dial 100, Silence and Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai, we are thrilled to bring forth another engaging and entertaining film which is sure to keep the viewers hooked to the screen,” he added.

Director Kanu Behl shared he began working on Despatch in 2016, and after immersive research, the team “uncovered a treasure trove of untold, jaw-dropping stories about the world of journalism, particularly those navigating the dangerous Mumbai underworld”.

“Our goal was not to create just a thriller, but to dive into the flawed, human side of investigative journalism—showing the raw, gritty truth behind the headlines. Once the script was in place, we knew no one but Manoj Bajpayee could bring the character of Joy Bag to life – and he is nothing short of spectacular in the film. With an extraordinary cast including Shahana Goswami and Arrchita Agarwal, I can say that Despatch is an electrifying ride that I can’t wait for audiences to experience!” he said.

Ronnie Screwvala of RSVP Movies said: “With Despatch, we are thrilled to present a gripping narrative that pushes the boundaries of storytelling in Indian cinema. Manoj Bajpayee’s stellar performance accompanied by Shahana Goswami and Arrchita Agarwal’s ace acting presented together by Kanu Behl’s unique vision have brought an edge to this exciting tale. Our long standing collaboration with ZEE5 Global has been instrumental in ensuring such bold stories reach a global audience, reaffirming our commitment to delivering premium content to viewers everywhere.”

Manish Kalra, Chief Business Officer ZEE5 stated: “ZEE5 is deeply committed to bringing audiences across the globe original content that not only entertains but also sparks meaningful dialogue. Cinema’s power to connect through compelling storytelling is at the heart of what we do, and our latest release, Despatch is a perfect example. Manoj Bajpayee’s outstanding performance, combined with Kanu Behl’s direction, has made this project one we’re incredibly proud of. We look forward to bringing this impactful film to a wider global audience as we continue to push boundaries in content creation.”

December 4, 2024
Yoon Suk Yeol: Opposition coalition members submit motion of impeachment against South Korea President

A day after South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol imposed martial law and later lifted it, opposition coalition members, on Wednesday, submitted a motion to impeach him.

South Korean opposition submits impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk Yeol. Photo Courtesy: Videograb of his televised address from YouTube

The President’s sudden imposition of the marital law had forced thousands of people to the streets, who protested against the move.

The main opposition, Democratic Party, and five other minor opposition parties, including the Rebuilding Korea Party and Reform Party, submitted the motion to the office of the bill at the National Assembly at 2:43 p.m, local Yonhap news agency reported.

The motion was reportedly signed by 190 opposition lawmakers and one independent lawmaker.

However, no ruling party lawmaker signed it.

The impeachment motion will need a two-thirds majority to pass.

Of the 300-member National Assembly, the opposition will need eight votes from the ruling People Power Party to pass the bill, reported Yonhap.

Joon Hyung Kim, a member of the National Assembly for the Rebuilding Korea party, told BBC that the president is “the biggest risk in Korea right now”.

South Korea’s night of political turmoil

In a surprise move, President Yoon Suk Yeol had imposed the martial law late at night after accusing the opposition of “anti-state activities”.

Last week, opposition MPs approved a significantly downsized budget plan through a parliamentary committee.

The opposition has slashed approximately 4.1 trillion won (USD 2.8 billion) from Yoon’s proposed 677 trillion won budget plan, cutting the government’s reserve fund and activity budgets for Yoon’s office, the prosecution, police, and the state audit agency, Yonhap reported.

The imposition of emergency martial law came as Yoon’s approval rating dropped to 19 percent in the latest Gallup poll last week, with many expressing dissatisfaction over his handling of the economy and controversies involving his wife, Kim Keon Hee.

December 4, 2024
Devendra Fadnavis to take oath as Maharashtra CM tomorrow, stakes claim to form govt

Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former Maharashtra Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, on Wednesday staked a claim to form the new government in the western Indian state of Maharashtra.

Devendra Fadnavis to take oath as Chief Minister of Maharashtra tomorrow. Photo Courtesy: Devendra Fadnavis X page

Flanked by allies from Shiv Sena — ex Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde — and NCP — Ajit Pawar — Fadnavis reached the Raj Bahvan and met the state’s Governor CP Radhakrishnan.

Fadnavis will take oath on Thursday.

Fadnavis was unanimously elected as the BJP legislature party leader at a meeting held in Mumbai earlier in the day.

All BJP leaders have endorsed his name for the post of CM in the presence of Central observers Nirmala Sitharaman and Vijay Rupani, reported UNI.

The BJP-led Mahayuti returned to power for another term after winning 235 seats in the polls.

The BJP emerged as the single-largest party with 132 seats.

The Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party won 57 and 41 seats respectively in the state.

December 4, 2024
Donald Trump’s FBI pick Kash Patel targeted by Iranian hackers: Report

Kash Patel, US President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for the FBI chief, has been allegedly targeted by hackers from Iran, media reports said.

Kash Patel targeted by Iranian hackers. Photo Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

Hackers are believed to have accessed at least some of Patel’s communications, sources told CNN.

In a statement issued to CNN, Trump transition spokesman Alex Pfeiffer said: “Kash Patel was a key part of the first Trump administration’s efforts against the terrorist Iranian regime and will implement President Trump’s policies to protect America from adversaries as the FBI Director.”

However, the spokesperson did not specifically mention the attack.

The Indian-American Pentagon official is a Trump loyalist, who has championed the cause to dismantle the “deep state” within the government.

“Kash is a brilliant lawyer, investigator, and ‘America First’ fighter who has spent his career exposing corruption, defending Justice, and protecting the American People,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social, his social media platform.

Who is Kash Patel?

Kashyap Patel was born in 1980 in New York to Indian parents who had immigrated to the United States through Canada from Gujarat.

He received a degree in criminal justice and history from the University of Richmond in 2002.

Two years later, he received a certificate in international law from the University College London in the UK and a graduate-entry professional duty from Pace University School of Law in 2005.

He worked as a public defender in Florida for eight years after graduating in 2005.

Patel was hired as a trial attorney in the US Department of Justice National Security Division in 2014.

Three years later, he was appointed senior counsel on counterterrorism at the House Select Committee on Intelligence.

In 2017, Patel significantly became the senior committee aide to House Intelligence Committee chair Devin Nunes.

He has reportedly played a role in Republicans’ opposition to the probe into Trump and Russia’s interference in the 2016 US polls.

He worked as a senior counsel at the House Reform and Oversight Committee after the Democrats took control over the House of Representatives in 2019.

December 4, 2024
Employees Gratuity Hike: Govt employees will get direct benefit of Rs 5 lakhs..CM approves Finance Department’s proposal..

Employees Gratuity Hike: Gujarat’s Bhupendra Patel government has given a big gift to the state employees just before the new year. CM Bhupendra Patel has given his approval to the proposal related to increase in the limit of death gratuity. This proposal of the Finance Department was pending with the CM. The direct benefit of this increase will be to the family members of the retired government employee.

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