Asad Rehman

The court observed that “death of Covid patients just for non-supplying of oxygen to the hospitals is a criminal act and not less than a genocide” by those responsible for ensuring the continuous procurement and supply of medical oxygen.

A district official leading an inquiry into the matter claimed that prima facie it seems the deaths were caused by other reasons.

While the decline in daily Covid-19 cases may have come as a welcome sign, the drop in corresponding tests meant that the positivity rate stood high, even touching a high of 18% on April 26 and April 27.

According to the government data, Gorakhpur’s active caseload was 9,473 on Wednesday. In 24 hours, 1,045 new cases and 11 deaths were reported from the district, taking the toll to 430.

The court said that “those in power must shun the attitude of ‘my way or no way’ and should welcome suggestions from all the quarters”.

In the last six days, the number of active cases increased by 74,072, but the state could add just 8,521 additional patients in the hospitals.

The hospital’s owner claimed the oxygen supply was stopped with the consent of the families of the three, and added that doctors “chose to save lives of younger patients”.

Circle Officer (Kalyanpur) Dinesh Shukla confirmed that the case was lodged after a complaint was received from the CMO. “We have lodged the case, and probe is on,” said the officer.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced that from now oxygen cylinders would be given to people only if they have doctors’ prescriptions and Aadhar cards.

The Indian Express finds several hospitals on government list unreachable or full.

The woman's husband Anurag Shukla (52) and children - Atharwi Shukla (28), and Utkarsh Shukla (23) - are also Covid positive, sources said.

The district has reported more than 5,000 daily new cases over the past several days; the active caseload crossed 40,000 on Friday.

The plea filed on Wednesday cites last week’s order by a Varanasi court to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to conduct a “comprehensive archaeological physical survey” of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple-Gyanvapi Mosque complex.

In its order, the court observed that a night curfew “is a very small step”, which can curb night parties and large religious congregation in the coming month of Ramzan and Navratri.

This came a day after the Opposition party announced a frontal organisation named the Baba Saheb Vahini to work for the uplift of Dalits.

The Sunni Central Waqf Board and the Anjuman Intejamiya Masjid, which had objected to the petition, said they will approach a higher court against the order.

The accused has not been arrested yet by the police, according to whom the 16-year-old girl told the magistrate that she had married the 26-year-old of her own accord.

Rejecting the anticipatory bail application of PFI member Mohammad Nadeem, Justice Chandra Dhari Singh observed that someone who takes the risk of “dissemination of blasphemous messages is not entitled to get the discretion of the Court exercised in his favour”.

They allegedly harassed the nuns on a train last month, but no case has been filed yet in that incident

The two held have been identified as Anchal Arjariya and Purgesh Amariya. Arjariya's social media profile describes him as an office-bearer of VHP and Hindu Jagran Manch, and a member of the Gau Raksha Samiti.

Videos of the incident on social media show the Railway personnel and some unidentified men questioning the nuns inside the coach, and asking a postulant for her Aadhaar card.

Zia-ud-din was allegedly picked up by Ambedkar Nagar SWAT team between Wednesday and Thursday when he had gone to meet his relatives. The family of the deceased has alleged that he died due to police torture.

The ABVP members had allegedly falsely accused the women of engaging in forced religious conversion.

The incident, which occurred at Jhansi station on March 19, was brought to light in a video that showed the women being heckled, prompting a wave of outrage across Kerala from where the nuns are -- and an assurance from Union Home Minister Amit Shah.