Released by Pak, IAF hero Abhinandan Varthaman returns home

Agencies
March 1, 2019

Chandigarh, Mar 1: Captured IAF pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman walked to freedom as he crossed into the Indian territory through the Wagah-Attari border in Punjab late on Friday evening after he was released by Pakistan. 

Dressed in a blue-grey suit, he was embraced by a senior BSF official at the border before crossing into the Indian side. In Pakistan army’s custody since Wednesday morning, the pilot’s hand over finally took place at around 9.20 pm after several postponements. Pakistan brought Abhinandan by road from Islamabad to Lahore and from there to the Wagah border. 

Abhinandan was taken for a medical examination soon after he was handed over by the Pakistani authorities. A heavily guarded convoy then escorted the officer from the border post to the Amritsar airport, from where he flew to New Delhi’s Palam airport.  

For hundreds of people, who had gathered to see the brave officer walk to freedom, celebrations started since morning.

The road leading to the border was a sea of flowing tricolour and chants of ‘Bharat mata Ki Jai,’ Vande Mataram rang out ceaselessly. Many patriots continued to stay put on roads in spite of the delay just to have a glimpse of the brave officer.

Abhinandan’s welcome was marked by the high decibel sound of celebratory ‘dhol’ and victory chants by people. Members of the civil society made banners expressing gratitude and saluting the pilot for his indomitable courage.

The famous retreat ceremony at the Attari-Wagha border in Punjab was cancelled due to Abhinandan’s release, much to the disappointment of visitors. A large number of people, who had gathered at the border for the retreat ceremony, were asked to leave following the cancellation.

Earlier on Friday, the High Commission of India in Islamabad issued a travel document to facilitate Abhinandan Varthaman’s repatriation from Pakistan.

Group Captain Joy Thomas Kurien, Air Advisor of High Commission of India in Pakistan, was with Wing Commander Varthaman when he reached Pakistan-India border at Wagah-Attari.

Fareha Bugti, Director (India) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, was also with the IAF pilot when he was handed over to the officers of Border Security Force personnel of India after repeated postponements due to procedural delays. He underwent a health check up by the representatives of International Committee of Red Cross before his repatriation.

“The captured Indian Air Force Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman has been returned to India today. He was arrested when his military jet MIG-21 crashed in Azad Jammu and Kashmir after being shot down by Pakistan Air Force for violating Pakistani airspace on February 27, 2019 (Wednesday),” Mohammad Faisal, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan Government, said in a statement.

“While in captivity, he was treated with dignity and in line with international law,” stated Faisal.

Comments

indian
 - 
Saturday, 2 Mar 2019

does indian have this same courage to treat any paki army like this...we all know last 5 year BJP is just blamming paki for there own benefit. real telling all bad story like behading solider, in reallity this never happen.

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News Network
May 30,2020

Bengaluru, May 30: Bengaluru City civic body Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has slapped a fine of Rs 50,000 on the food delivery startup Swiggy for irresponsible disposal of waste, an official said on Friday.

"Thinking of food is great - Swiggy. Hope you also think of segregating waste and disposing of it responsibly," tweeted BBMP Solid Waste Management Special Commissioner D. Randeep.

Randeep said a penalty of Rs 50,000 was imposed on Swiggy Kitchen at Katriguppe in the city for the violation.

"The incident with respect to waste segregation has been brought to our notice and happened at one of our kitchens in Bengaluru," confirmed a Swiggy spokesperson to IANS without revealing the exact details.

He said the startup is aware of its civic responsibility and has stringent processes to ensure high standards of compliance.

"While we investigate and rectify the root cause of the matter, we are reinforcing necessary awareness on the best practices to be followed amongst our teams and partner network to ensure complete compliance with waste management," the spokesperson added.

Swiggy has been penalised earlier as well for its irresponsible disposal of waste.

Recently, the BBMP’s solid waste management department has also fined an apartment complex Rs 15,000 for not segregating waste into dry, wet and reject categories.

Waste disposal norms for apartments

"Segregation of waste is mandatory in apartments. Onus of enforcing segregation rules lies on the (apartment) association and waste should be segregated as dry, wet and reject," said Randeep.

InClover Grand Apartments at Baiyappanhalli was penalised for the offence of improper waste disposal. Similarly, BBMP marshals also caught and fined some people openly discarding waste in public spaces.

"Dear citizens, please change your old habits. Our marshals are watching and will fine those who throw garbage in public spaces," BBMP Special Commissioner Randeep said.

He shared the photographs of two scooter-borne individuals being caught in the act and penalised at Kuvempunagar in Bengaluru.

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coastaldigest.com news network
July 1,2020

Udupi, July 1: In a concerning development, another SSLC student in Udupi district has tested positive for covid-19.

With this the number of covid-19 patients among SSLC students in the coastal district rose to three. All of them are girls.

The fresh case has been reported from Byndoor. She has already written three papers.

She had reportedly developed some of the symptoms and hence her throat swabs were sent for testing on June 30. Today she received positive report, sources said.

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News Network
June 4,2020

Bengaluru, Jun 4: Karnataka opposition leader Siddaramaiah created a flutter on Wednesday saying many disgruntled BJP leaders had met him.

"Many disgruntled BJP lawmakers have met me and, of course, expressed their displeasure," tweeted Siddaramaiah.

Congress leader Siddaramaiah''s statements assume significance as recently several reports emerged highlighting some north Karnataka legislators meeting over dinner to put pressure on Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa to expand the cabinet and offer them ministerial roles.

North Karnataka leaders such as Umesh V. Katti, Chitradurga MLA G. H. Thippareddy and Vijayapura MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal and others met over dinner.

However, the Chief Minister said he was too busy to even look at the dissidence because he is occupied with development work of the state and fighting Covid.

Siddaramaiah, the former chief minister, alleged that Yediyurappa''s son Vijayendra is functioning as a non-constitutional chief minister.

"This is true in the BJP. That dissent will continue. We are not responsible if the government collapses," he pointed out.

The Congress leader said Karnataka has stooped to the level of not being in a position to even pay salaries to its employees.

"The state was the first in economic discipline during our government. Now the government has no money to pay salaries to government employees. Not only the state but the entire country is financially bankrupt," he said.

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