In brief: SIT to probe IAS officer’s death, Modi-Yogi duo to adorn school bags and more

SIT to probe IAS officer’s death
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been appointed to probe the mysterious death of Karnataka cadre IAS officer Anurag Tiwari, as Lucknow police remains clueless about the case even after two days of investigation. The SIT will be headed by Hazratgunj area Circle Officer Avanish Kumar Mishra, who will be assisted by other cops.

The body of 36-year-old, 2007-batch IAS officer Anurag was found on the road on Wednesday morning near a VIP guest house where he was staying. Lucknow Senior Superintendent of Police Deepak Kumar said the SIT has been asked to submit its report in 72 hours. The SIT will investigate the entire case, including cause and motive behind the death, or if it was a natural death or murder.


Modi-Yogi to adorn school bags

Soon, government schools students in the state will have pictures of Modi and Yogi on their schoolbags. The bags will be given to nearly 18 crore children who study in government-run schools.

According to officials, the design is ready and soon, it will be send to the chief minister for his approval. However, this is not a first-of-its kind move from the UP government. Former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav had also done the same thing. What remains to be seen is what the present government does with the old bags that have the pictures of Akhilesh Yadav. The Yogi government had recently decided to remove ‘Samajwadi' prefix from various welfare schemes run by the previous government.


Proposal to exclude puja items from GST

The Yogi government proposed that items used in worship and rituals of Hindus be exempted from the GST. Emissary from UP government proposed this at a two day meeting of the GST Council being held in Srinagar.
The GST Council meet is being headed by Union finance minister Arun Jaitley and has seen representations from all states and Union territories. The final decision about the goods and articles coming under the GST purview have been finalised in the meeting. Currently, items used in worship and rituals are exempted from taxes in UP and the present government wants to maintain status quo in this regard.


‘I did not abduct him at gunpoint’

The police have managed to trace Varsha who allegedly abducted her lover Ashok Yadav a few days ago from the his marriage venue in a non-descript village of  Bundelkhand. Denying the allegations against her, Varsha said, “Neither I carried the gun nor I forced him to accompany me on gun point. On the contrary, he came along with me because Ashok wanted that. I know him for the past eight years and there is an affair between us.”
The cops has also taken into custody two of her accomplices, including a lady. Varsha further revealed that Ashok was getting married under pressure from his family. She is a graduation student and is working in a private bank in Banda.