Kolkata law student’s assault was premeditated: Police | Hook News Wrap

According to a Kolkata Police official quoted by news agency PTI, the alleged gangrape of a law student in the city was pre-planned. The official stated that the three accused, Monojit Mishra, Pratim Mukherjee and Zaid Ahmed, had been conspiring for days to carry out the assault.

Police investigations reveal that the student had been targeted by the main accused from the very day she joined the college. The nine-member Special Investigation Team has also found that the accused trio had a pattern of sexually harassing female students. They allegedly recorded these incidents and later used the footage to blackmail the victims.

At least 10 dead in factory blast

At least ten people have died following a massive fire caused by a reactor explosion at a factory in Medak. According to PTI, the blast at the plant operated by Sigachi Chemical Industry threw workers as far as 100 metres. Several others were trapped in nearby tents as the fire continued to spread. At the time of writing, firefighting and rescue operations were still underway. Shares of Sigachi Chemical Industry plummeted following the incident.

Talks for alliance to replace SAARC

Pakistan and China are reportedly working to create a new regional alliance that could potentially replace the defunct South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. According to The Express Tribune, talks between Islamabad and Beijing are already in advanced stages. SAARC, which includes both India and Pakistan among its eight members, has been inactive for years due to ongoing tensions between the two nations.

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Reservation chart timing changed

The Ministry of Railways will now prepare reservation charts for long-distance trains eight hours before departure, instead of the current four. The ministry had earlier run a pilot project to prepare charts 24 hours in advance and is now making adjustments based on its findings.

Good news for Hera Pheri fans

Veteran actor Paresh Rawal has confirmed his return to the third instalment of the iconic comedy franchise, saying all issues have now been resolved. In May, Rawal had announced his departure from the project, leaving fans disappointed. But with everything now back on track, Rawal is set to reunite with co-stars Akshay Kumar and Suniel Shetty, as well as director Priyadarshan, for Hera Pheri 3.

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Market slips after last week’s rally

Indian equities declined in Monday’s trade, pausing last week’s rally. The Sensex was down around half a percent, settling above 83,500. The Nifty saw a similar dip, closing near 25,500.