Morning Brief: India Decriminalises Suicide; Maha Govt Set To Book Naik; Irom Sharmila Ends Fast

SUICIDE DECRIMINALISED

So far, suicide in India was punishable under Section 309 of Indian Penal Code with a maximum sentence of one-year imprisonment. Not anymore. Rajya Sabha passed the Mental Health Care Bill, 2013 which decriminalises suicide attempts.

Law Commission of India in its 42nd report in June 1971 had scrutinised the IPC provisions and recommended repeal of Section 309. But it took Parliament 45 years to finally do that.

Better late than never.

NAIK IN TROUBLE

Mumbai police commissioner Datta Padsalgikar has submitted his 71-page report to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Islamist televangelist Zakir Naik and his Islamic Research Foundation.

CM Fadnavis confirmed that the report has indicted Naik as well as his organisation for unlawful activities and hate speeches. His administration will seek the opinion of the law and judiciary department and ministry of home affairs (MHA). It is expected that criminal proceedings would be initiated soon against Naik and his foundation.

INFRA

India built 2,400 km of highways in the last four months at a pace of 20 Kms per day, a jump of 38 percent over the corresponding period a year ago. A major factor behind this development is the newly designed hybrid annuity model that greatly mitigates the risk to private developers as the government bears 40 percent of the project cost. The government has also eased the exit policy for developers to enable them to invest in new projects.

The government has set the target of constructing 15,000 km of highways for 2016-2017.

INDIA AT RIO

Boxer Vikas Krishnan Yadav has entered pre-quarterfinals in Men’s Middleweight 75 kg category. He defeated Charles Conwell of the United State three-nil.

The 24-year-old Archer from West Bengal, Atanu Das won his match too (28-26 | 29-26 | 26-27 | 27-28 | 29-28) and qualified for the pre-quarterfinals.

In field hockey, India defeated Argentina for the first time since 2009 and scored their second win in this tournament. They now stand at second position with six points in Pool B, behind Germany. The team will take on Canada next.

FAST ENDS

Manipur’s Iron lady Irom Sharmila ended her 16-year long fast on Tuesday. She was on a hunger strike to repeal AFSPA from her state. She said that she wanted to have the power to repeal AFSPA from Manipur. “I want to become the Chief Minister of Manipur to be able to do this,” she added.

Sharmila said she wanted to contest the upcoming elections against incumbent Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh from his constituency as an independent candidate. She invited other independent candidates to fight the elections and remove the present government.

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