January 25: Top news at 1 pm

CM's Panel report 'coercion' to force people turn digital, says CPI(M)

CPI(M) today attacked a Chief Ministers panel for advocating levying tax on cash withdrawals of ₹50,000 and above in banks, likening the recommendation to coercing people to pay heavy costs for turning digital. Taking to Twitter, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury also observed that the recommendation by the panel, headed by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, comes at a time when furnishing PAN is already mandatory for transactions above ₹50,000.

The CM’s Panel report, which was submitted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has also made a case of lower/zero Merchant Discount Rate for all digital payments to government entities and cap on cash in all type of big ticket transactions.

Animal rights groups challenge new TN law on Jallikattu in SC

The Supreme Court today agreed to hear on Monday the pleas of Animal Welfare Board of India and other animal rights organisations challenging the new law passed by Tamil Nadu Assembly to allow bull-taming sport Jallikattu in the state. The pleas were mentioned for urgent listing before the bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra. In their applications the animal rights group has said that the new law passed by Tamil Nadu Assembly to allow Jallikattu has over-reached the earlier verdict of apex court. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu Amendment), Act, 2017 piloted by Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, was unanimously adopted on January 23 by a voice vote in the assembly after a brief debate.

We've nothing against SRK, he is not at fault: Kin of deceased

Shah Rukh Khan's Raees train promotion, during which a man died at Vadodara railway station, kicked up a row against the actor but the deceased's mother has now come out in a support of the superstar, saying "he is not at fault". Farid Khan Pathan died of cardiac rest as the crowd went berserk after Shah Rukh arrived at Vadodara station on Monday night by August Kranti Rajdhani Express. He was the relative of a journalist, who was travelling in the same train with Shah Rukh. Hours after the incident occurred, some sections blamed Shah Rukh for the tragedy. But the deceased's mother backed the actor saying "his promotional gimmick has nothing to do with her son's unfortunate demise". Farid's niece, journalist Samina Shaikh, also said that the actor's team ensured that she and her family reached her uncle's funeral safely.

Vasco jailbreak bid: Prisoner killed, jailor, 2 guards, 9 inmates hurt

A prisoner was killed, while a jailor, two security guards and nine inmates were injured when nearly 49 prisoners at Sada sub jail in Goa took the entire prison "hostage" and tried to flee, police said on Wednesday. Murder accused Vinayak Korbatkar, who was shifted to Sada sub jail near Vasco town in South Goa from Colvale prison in North Goa, was allegedly stabbed to death in the melee at around 11 pm on Tuesday, they said. "The 49 inmates took the entire prison to hostage over a petty matter last night breaking almost everything in the sub jail. They chased jailor Vitthal Gawas and attacked him and two other security guards who are currently hospitalised," Additional Inspector General of Prison Siddhivinayak Naik told PTI today. "The situation was brought under control past midnight," Superintendent of Police (South) Chandan Chowdhary told reporters in the wee hours on Tuesday.

BSF seizes heroin worth around ₹10 crores in Ferozepur, Punjab

The BSF today seized 2 kg of heroin, worth around ₹10 crores in international market, packed in two plastic bottles near Kalash Border Outpost in Ferozepur sector of Punjab. "Jawans posted at the outpost during a search operation along the International Border found the two bottles each carrying 1 kg of heroin," BSF Punjab Frontier IG Mukul Goel said. He said the heroin seized is worth around ₹10 crores in the international market. This year, about 8.9 kg heroin has been recovered by the force from the border area, Goel said.