Daily wrap: 700 rescued from train stuck in Mumbai floods; Malinga retires

Govt reduces GST for electric vehicles, buying becomes a viable option

In a bid to push electric mobility, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council on Saturday (July 17) slashed tax rates on electric vehicles (EVs) from 12 to 5 per cent, making EVs a viable option for customers looking to buy a car. The Council also reduced the GST rate on EV chargers from 18 to 5 per cent, effective August 1. It further made hiring of electric buses by local authorities tax-free. This means that buying an electric vehicle will soon be easier on your pocket.

Train stuck in floods near Mumbai; 700 stranded passengers rescued

All stranded passengers have been rescued after an express train plying between Mumbai and Kolhapur was stuck due to floodwaters near Badlapur around 3 a.m. on Saturday (July 27). Speaking on the rescue operations, the Central Railway Chief Public Relations Officer confirmed that all the stranded passengers were evacuated safely. Eight teams from the Indian Navy and one NDRF team were mobilised to carry out rescue operation after around 700 passengers got stranded as the Mahalaxmi Express got stuck near Badlapur in Thane district.

Cricket fraternity bids farewell to Yorker King Malinga

Sri Lankan legend cricketer Lasith Malinga ended his 15 year-long one-day international cricket career after playing his last match against Bangladesh on Friday (July 26). Yorker King announced his retirement during the ICC World Cup 2019, however, he stayed to play the first ODI of Bangladesh’s Sri Lanka tour. With his three-wicket spell in his last match, Malinga concluded his career with 336 wickets in 226 ODI appearances.

Centre rushes 10,000 troops to Kashmir valley for counter insurgency ops

The Centre has ordered rushing of about 10,000 central forces personnel to the Kashmir valley in order to strengthen counter-insurgency operations and law and order duties there, officials said on Saturday (July 27). They said that the Union home ministry has ordered the deployment of 100 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) on July 25 on an “immediate” basis. Officials said that 100 more companies are expected to be sent to the valley. One CAPF company comprises about 100 personnel.

Also read: Mehbooba slams Centre for additional troops deployment in Kashmir

Odisha: Suspected serial killer murders three homeless men in Cuttack

Fear and panic has gripped the millennium city of Cuttack as 3 brutal murders have taken place in 24 hours. Bodies have been recovered from Ranihat bridge, SCB medical college and OMP market on July 24. Making things worse, the murders have a pattern leading to suspicions of a serial psycho killer on the loose. All the three victims were homeless middle aged men, daily wage labourers who were sleeping on the road. The first victim from Ranihat bridge was identified as Kalia, who did manual labour for daily wages.

Mere apology won’t do, Azam Khan should be suspended: Rama Devi

BJP MP Rama Devi has said that Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan should be suspended from Lok Saba for five years and a mere apology from him for his remarks against her will not do. “He should be given a serious punishment and suspended for five years,” said Devi, who was in the Chair on Thursday (July 25) when Khan made the sexist comments which have been condemned by parties across the political fault lines. “Had he tendered an apology immediately, she would have forgiven him, but instead he stormed out,” the MP from Bihar said.

Also read: Misogyny in Parliament, a narrative of deep rooted malice

UP SWAT team flaunts guns in filmy style, transferred after video goes viral

After a video of a police team indulging in self-glorification by brandishing automatic weapons went viral on social media, the state’s top cop on Saturday (July 27) transferred them to police lines and ordered an inquiry into the matter. The video was shot after six members of the Uttar Pradesh Police’s SWAT team led by Vikram Singh nabbed a rape accused, Asgar following a brief gunfight, four days ago. In the short clip, the police team sporting dark glasses can be seen flaunting their automatic firearms and walking in slow motion while a Punjabi song plays in the background.

Kamal Nath’s nephew gives ED the slip on pretext of going to washroom

In a quick turn of events on Saturday (July 27), Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath’s nephew Ratul Puri was granted interim protection from arrest till July 29 by a Delhi court, soon after he left the Enforcement Directorate office where he was to be questioned in connection with the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper money laundering case. According to ED officials, Puri left the agency’s office soon after reaching the office where he was to be confronted with evidence for questioning.

Also read: In MP, Kamal blooms as BJP hesitates to pull off a Karnataka-style coup

Chhattisgarh: Seven naxals including three women killed in encounter

Seven naxals, including three women, were killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar district on Saturday (July 27), police said. The gun battle took place around 4 p.m. in the forest near Tiriya village under Nagarnar police station area bordering Odisha, Deputy Inspector General of police (anti-naxal operations) Sundarraj P said. A joint squad of District Reserve Guard and Special Task Force (STF) of Chhattisgarh police was carrying out an anti-naxal operation in the forests along the inter-state border, he said.