Breaking News, June 24 | HIGHLIGHTS

A court in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district on Monday sentenced a 17-year-old youth to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting a 4-year-old girl two years ago, an official said. Mayurbhanj district additional sessions judge-cum-presiding officer of the children's court, Satyanarayan Patra, has also imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 on the convict, said additional special public prosecutor Krushna Chandra Das.

In case of default, he has to remain in jail for another period of two months, Das said. The judgement was pronounced based on the minor victim's statement, 14 witnesses and a medical report, he said. The convicted youth will be kept in the Rourkela (juvenile home) till he attains the age of 21 years, and after that, he will be taken to Circle Jail Baripada, Das said.

The incident happened in the Upperbeda village under the jurisdiction of Jharpokharia Police Station on June 15, 2022. The youth had taken the victim to a lonely place and sexually assaulted her. Later, based on the complaint of the victim's father, the Jharpokharia police registered a case under various sections of the IPC and the POCSO Act. The police had arrested the accused and forwarded him to the court, police sources said.

(PTI)

Kendujhar: Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi receives a heartwarming welcome at his home in Raikela village. The CM also had lunch with his mother.

Varanasi: Founder and Chairperson of Reliance Foundation Nita Ambani visits a chaat shop and interacts with locals.

India’s Intelligence Bureau Chief Tapan Deka gets an extension for a year from the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.

Delhi water crisis: AAP workers hold a protest in Jangpura against BJP-led Haryana government.

Ujjain: Madhya Pradesh Assembly speaker Narendra Singh Tomar visited Mahakaleshwar Temple and offered prayers.

Telangana CM Revanth Reddy met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in Delhi.

Rajasthan Deputy CM and Finance Minister Diya Kumari paid a courtesy visit to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in Delhi.

Uttar Pradesh: Reliance Foundation Founder and Chairperson, Nita Ambani arrives at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Varanasi, to offer prayers.

Jharkhand Congress meeting underway at AICC headquarters in Delhi. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and several other leaders present at the meeting.

Delhi: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi reaches AICC headquarters for the meeting with Jharkhand Congress leaders.

Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda launches 'Stop Diarrhoea Campaign 2024' in Delhi.

Delhi HC to pass order tomorrow on the Enforcement Directorate's plea challenging the bail granted to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal in the money laundering case linked to the alleged excise scam.

Gujarat: Two people died while three were injured due to a blast in a powder coating firm, in Ahmedabad.

Delhi: Telangana Minister KV Reddy reaches the residence of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.

Srinagar: A fire broke out in the Malaratta area. Efforts to douse the fire are underway. No injuries have been reported so far.

Rajasthan: Police use water cannon to disperse the Congress workers protesting over the NEET exam paper leak issue, at the District Collectorate office in Kota.

 Uttar Pradesh: Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini along with his cabinet ministers offer prayers at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya.

 Tamil Nadu: Death toll in Kallakurichi Hooch Tragedy rises to 58, said Kallakurichi District Collectorate.

Telangana: Members of the Mahila Congress hold a protest in Hyderabad over the NEET issue.

National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Monday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should have spoken over the NEET row instead of attacking the opposition on the first day of the 18th Lok Sabha session. 
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), he said, "While attacking the opposition is the prerogative of the Hon PM & we wouldn't expect BJP being humbled in the recent polls to change that, it would have been in the fitness of things for the Hon PM to spare a few words for the young men & women for whom the #NEET scandal is the only issue that matters." 

BJD president Naveen Patnaik on Monday held a meeting with his party's nine Rajya Sabha MPs and asked them to emerge as a "vibrant and strong" opposition in the Upper House of Parliament during its upcoming session that would begin on June 27.

On NEET issue, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant said, "This is a very serious issue...Paper leak matter should be taken very seriously. They have taken little action. But first the Minister was denying it and saying that nothing had happened..."

On NTA cancelling examinations, he added, "It has lost its credibility. When there is no credibility, why will you conduct examinations?..."

The Supreme Court has deferred the hearing of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's petition challenging the Delhi High Court's stay on his bail till June 26. The decision comes as the Supreme Court awaits the High Court's final ruling on the Enforcement Directorate's plea challenging Kejriwal's bail in the Delhi excise policy case.

A team of the Congress's Jharkhand unit, currently in New Delhi, will today convene a meeting with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and other top brass. They are scheduled to  discuss strategies for the assembly elections in the state, due to be held later this year.

A Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Manoj Misra and SVN Bhatti will hear Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's plea today. The plea challenges a Delhi High Court order that stayed the bail granted to him by the trial court in the Delhi excise policy case.

Newly elected Samajwadi Party Lok Sabha MP Priya Saroj says, "I am very happy that the youth are coming forward. I think the more the youth come forward, the faster the country will develop."

Death toll in the Kallakurichi (Tamil Nadu) Hooch tragedy rises to 57.

A Pakistani delegation arrived in Jammu on Sunday evening to inspect two hydroelectric power projects under the Indus Water Treaty (IWT). This marks the first such visit in more than five years, officials reported. The Pakistani team, accompanied by neutral experts, will inspect the Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric power projects in the Chenab valley.

The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha will begin on Monday (June 24) with the oath-taking ceremony of the newly elected MPs, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, followed by the election of the Lok Sabha Speaker on June 26. President Droupadi Murmu will address a joint sitting of both the Houses on June 27.