Mangaluru: Youth dies in lift accident at wedding hall

New Delhi, Jul 29: Air Commodore Hilal Ahmad Rather has become a buzz name in Kashmir overnight. Hilal saw off the first batch of Rafale jets which took off from France to India on Monday. Among other things, he has also been associated with the weaponisation of the Rafale aircraft for acclimatisation to Indian requirements.

Hilal is presently India's Air Attache in France.

The career details of this officer of the Indian Air Force (IAF) read like the decoration scroll of the best flying officer anywhere in the world.

Born in the south Kashmir's Anantnag district to middle-class parents, Hilal's father, late Mohammad Abdullah Rather retired as a deputy superintendent of police (Dy SP) in J&K police department. He has three sisters and is the only son of his parents. Hilal studied in Sainik School in Nagrota town of Jammu district.

He was commissioned in IAF as a fighter pilot on December 17, 1988, became flight lieutenant in 1993, wing commander in 2004, group captain in 2016 and air commodore in 2019.

He graduated from defence services staff college (DSSC). He also graduated from air war college (USA) with distinction. He won the sword of honour in NDA. Hilal is also the recipient of Vayu Sena Medal and Vishisht Seva medal.

With an impeccable record of 3,000 accident-free flying hours on mirage-2000, MIG-21 and Kiran aircraft, Hilal's name will now forever be associated with Rafale in India.

Bengaluru, Aug 8: Former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Saturday demanded that the state government drop its plan to provide doorstep delivery of liquor.

"After faltering in mopping up revenue, the state government is mulling over allowing doorstep delivery of liquor by enabling online sales and starting new MSIL liquor shops in rural areas. I demand that the state government drop its plans," he tweeted.

"I came to know that the excise commissioner is keen to hold talks with a private firm to enable online sale of liquor. The government should back out from such a foolish decision. Otherwise, agitation is inevitable," Kumaraswamy said.

He said opening new liquor shops or online delivery will ruin the health of society.

"Post-COVID outbreak and subsequent lockdown, people are facing financial distress, struggling to lead day-to-day life. 

The government must withdraw such an imprudent decision to deliver liquor at doorsteps. Opening new liquor shops or the decision of online delivery in times of distress like this will spoil society's health. 

It is not fair for the government to fill its coffers by robbing people's money," he said in a series of tweets.