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Congress chief minister ‘yuddham’ waits for a week after UDF sweeps into Kerala

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NEW DELHI: The streets of Kerala are lined with posters – not of rival parties but of rivals within the same party vying for the chief minister’s post. One poster read “Kerala wants KC” while another poster next to it had a picture of VD Satheesan with the title “Natural Selection”. Soon after the results of the Kerala Assembly elections were announced, the UDF stormed back to power, winning 102 seats, but the excitement has faded with the CM looking beyond recognition.The Congress party’s delay in selecting a candidate for the top job has also angered its allies as factions within the party remain divided over who should be the leader. Meanwhile, former KPCC chiefs and senior party leaders have been summoned to New Delhi. party chairman Malikajun HagerRahul Gandhi and senior leader AK Antony are expected to play a key role in the decision-making process. KPCC president Sunny Joseph and AICC general secretary in-charge of southern states Deepa Dasmunsi were also present.Congress leaders in Thiruvananthapuram said a final decision on the leadership issue is likely to be taken after discussions between Malikajun Haq and senior party leader Sonia Gandhi. Sources also said that the party high command is waiting for tensions to subside in Kerala before making any official announcement following protests and poster drives by Satheesan and Venugopal supporters last week.It is clear that whatever the high command decides, it will unsettle a section of the United Democratic Front (UDF) at a time when the great old party is facing successive defeats at the center and in the states.

IUML asks for names, warns of ‘consequences’

The Indian Muslim League, a key ally of the Congress-led Democratic Alliance, has expressed its displeasure at continued delays in the appointment of Kerala’s next chief minister and warned that prolonged uncertainty could have political consequences. The criticism comes nearly a week after the UDF secured a landslide victory in the April 9 parliamentary elections, as a decision on the leadership remains unresolved within Congress. IUML Malappuram district general secretary P Abdul Hameed said the delay had led to frustration among party workers and the public.“This decision has been delayed. If it is delayed any further, it will have repercussions.” We hope the AICC leadership realizes this,” PTI quoted him as saying.“There is dissatisfaction everywhere. Wherever we go, people only raise this issue, including at weddings and funerals,” he added.

When is it expected to be released?

Congress leader K Muraleedharan said the decision may be announced within 48 hours. “I think within 48 hours a decision will be taken. The Congress is a democratic party, so they will use all democratic methods – discussions with MLAs, alliance partners, tomorrow they will discuss with the former CPPCC president… A new generation is coming to take over as chief minister, so naturally there will be controversy and discussions, that’s natural,” he said.Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala, also a contender for the top job, said the meeting was over. “The meeting ended yesterday… the decision will be taken by the Congress high command; we are all waiting for the decision. Whatever the high command decides, we will accept it,” he said.

Long-running leadership gridlock in Congress

Congress has a long history of lengthy consultations and internal lobbying before finalizing leadership choices, especially after major election victories. A prominent example was after the party’s victory in Karnataka in 2023, when there was a fierce contest between Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar for the chief ministership. After days of deliberations and negotiations, the party leadership reached a compromise and appointed Siddaramaiah as chief minister and Shivakumar as deputy chief minister.Similar uncertainty arose after the Congress party’s victories in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan in 2018. In Madhya Pradesh, both Kamal Nath and Jyotiraditya Scindia are vying for the top post, while in Rajasthan, the leadership battle is between Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot. After several rounds of discussions, the impasse was eventually resolved with Kamal Nath becoming the in-charge of Madhya Pradesh, Gehlot as the chief minister of Rajasthan and Pilot as the deputy chief minister.

‘They want me to go to Sanya, but I won’t give up’: Vinesh Phogat

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'They want me to go to Sanya, but I won't give up': Vinesh Phogat
Vinesh Phogat (Image: PTI)

Gonda: What was supposed to be a regular domestic ranking series wrestling event in Uttar Pradesh’s Gonda district turned into one of the most politically charged and emotional events for Indian wrestling in recent times. Reason – a three-time Olympian and two-time world championship medalist – stood outside the Nandini Nagar Mahavidyalaya Indoor Hall on Monday afternoon. Vinesh FugatAfter returning from retirement, he directly stepped into the base camp of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the former president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).But the comeback never officially began. Vinesh was denied entry to the Nandini Nagar Mahavidyalaya indoor hall complex in Nawabganj, the venue for the three-day conference, despite arriving at the venue with husband Somvir Rathee, private security personnel, former protest partners and around 50 supporters.

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“What do you want me to do? Accept defeat? Should I leave the sanyas? So that their conspiracy against me succeeds? They won’t allow me to do that. They want to see me tire out and retire. All I ask for is a fair chance to play, but they insist that I reply to their notice first. This is all conspiracy,” she said after meeting WFI officials.Vinesh, who came out publicly as one of the six female wrestlers who accused Brigitte Bhushan of sexual harassment during the Jantar Mantar protests in 2023, announced the National Open Ranking Series as a springboard for her comeback on the road to the Los Angeles Olympics.Vinesh also dismissed accusations that her comeback was “politically motivated”. “You call me ‘tukde tukde gang’, then who are you (referring to Singh and WFI)? “I have dedicated 20 years to Indian wrestling. I gave my heart and soul to this sport. Athletes are under mental stress. I feel unsafe in this environment. They want me to retire so their plot will succeed. ” she claimed.But WFI remains unmoved. “WFI has issued a notice to her regarding five o’clock. We will not engage her until she responds to the accusations. “She remains banned for the duration of this tournament,” WFI president Sanjay Singh said.In the registration hall, Vinesh tried to complete the body verification for the weight category but was refused to proceed. She also later claimed she was banned from training at the indoor wrestling gym within the complex. However, federation officials said they were unaware of any such denial.The federation insists disciplinary proceedings against her are still pending and she remains banned from domestic competition until June 26, 2026. But Vinesh insisted that she had met all anti-doping and procedural requirements stipulated by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and World Wrestling (UWW).“I was informed on Saturday and didn’t have enough time to react properly because I was preparing for the competition and losing weight. They gave me 14 days to submit a detailed response, which I will certainly give. But my request is not to prevent me from competing during that time. “The confrontation further escalated when Vinesh posted on social media a confidential communication dated July 3, 2025, from the International Testing Agency (ITA), which is responsible for UWW’s anti-doping procedures. The email, sent by test official Estelle Daloz, made it clear she would be eligible to return to competition from January 1, 2026.“I had written permission from the ITA to compete from January 1, 2026. If I had violated any rule, then the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) would have given me a show-cause notice. Or they would have banned me. Or WADA would have given me a show-cause notice. I missed one. There were three of them. I had become a mother by then. I had a rally. I forgot to update. I even apologized to WADA for that. They gave me a clean bill. They told me I could participate in any international event,” she added.The Times of India had earlier reported that Vinesh had complied with the return procedures laid down by the UWW and the World Anti-Doping Agency and had submitted return-to-competition documents as early as June 2025. The wrestler revealed that she has undergone two anti-doping tests since announcing her comeback on December 18, 2025, and passed both times.The federation later issued a statement saying that Vinesh was fully covered from the moment she arrived at the venue. “In the presence of everyone present, she met with officials and was informed that she was not eligible to participate under existing rules and procedures. She interacted freely with the media without being blocked or interrupted anywhere, and she subsequently left the venue calmly.” She was provided with full security and support every step of the way from her arrival in Gonda to departure from the venue. ” the statement read.In search of a training venue ahead of the women’s weigh-in on Monday from 5 pm to 7 pm, Vinesh looked for the warm-up area inside the venue and found it locked, PTI added. “Ab Training bhi nahi kar sakti kya? Lock toh khulwa do kam se kam (I can’t even train now. At least open the lock),” she said in frustration.She then moved to the SAI Khelo India Center hoping to find mats for training, but there were none there either.“We’re doing everything we can, but they won’t let me wrestle. I’m risking my life and my spirit by coming here,” she said before leaving the field.Despite the setback, Vinesh insists she will keep fighting. “I work honestly and hard. God knows I am clean. If I am right, He will give me strength. We will fight for our rights,” she said. It is learned that Vinesh, Rathee and her team took a late-night flight from Lucknow to Delhi.

‘Last wish’: Why Napoleon Bonaparte wanted to keep his hair after death World News

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'Last wish': Why Napoleon Bonaparte wanted to keep his hair after death

When Napoleon Bonaparte died in exile on the island of St. Helena in 1821, he left behind more than just a military legacy and a political legend. In his will, he directed that his hair be preserved, made into bracelets, and given to his family, including his mother, siblings, and son. This requirement reflected the wider 19th-century custom of retaining hair as a personal memento after death. Napoleon’s hair was cut before his autopsy, and the surviving hair became one of the strangest artifacts associated with him.

Napoleon Bonaparte’s last wishes were written into his will

Napoleon’s will made this requirement exceptionally clear. It stipulated that his valet Marchand should keep his hair and have it fashioned into bracelets and give them to close family members and other members of his inner circle, including Queen Marie-Louise, his mother and his siblings, with a larger bracelet given to his son. In other words, this is not a legend that came out casually, but was passed down later. This was a written directive in the emperor’s will.To modern readers, the idea of ​​preserving hair may sound unsettling. In Napoleon’s world, this was a common act of mourning. Hair is often turned into souvenirs and “memento mori” items, a way of preserving the body after death. Museums and historical collections still hold hair artifacts related to Napoleon, including mourning rings and hair given to admirers shortly after his death.His plea had an important impact immediately after his death. A 2004 medical history article stated that because Napoleon wanted his hair to be distributed among his family members, his head was shaved before the autopsy so that the hair could be preserved. This decision is one of the reasons why so many authentic or purportedly authentic specimens survived into later centuries.

Napoleon's hair, taken from the Battle of Waterloo. Photo: Royal Collection Trust

Napoleon’s hair, taken from the Battle of Waterloo. Image: Royal Collection Trust

The hair later sparked a bigger mystery

Napoleon’s preserved hair is important for another reason: it sparked a long-standing debate about the cause of his death. Some researchers believe the arsenic levels in the hair samples indicate poisoning, while others say the evidence does not support this conclusion and is consistent with environmental exposures in the early 19th century. Although the poisoning theory remains part of the public fascination, the broader historical record still favors stomach cancer as the most likely cause of death.

Small relics of a great life

Napoleon’s request was probably not for vanity or immortality. It is more in line with the mourning habits of that era: a fallen emperor wanted to leave a last physical connection to those closest to him. That’s why his hair is both a sentimental keepsake and a historical artifact, carrying strangely intimate traces of one of the most powerful figures in history.

ED arrests former Bengal minister Sujit Bose in municipal recruitment scam case

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New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday arrested former West Bengal minister and TMC leader Sujit Bose in a municipal recruitment scam.Days after TMC’s rout in West Bengal, ED questioned senior party leader Sujit Bose over the party’s probe into the municipal recruitment “scam” case.Bose was accused of illegally recommending 150 candidates for various positions in South Dumdum Municipality in lieu of monetary benefits. Prior to his arrest, the Department of Education traced the direct proceeds of crime to his purchase of apartments in lieu of offering municipal jobs to various people. In addition, anti-money laundering agencies traced huge cash deposits in bank accounts he controlled. The former TMC minister will be produced before a special court on Tuesday morning.Former fire minister Bose, who was defeated in the stronghold of Bidhan Nagar, was directed by the court to join the investigation.While Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s tenure has been marked by a series of alleged scams, scams related to recruitment in municipalities stand out, ED sources told TOI The relationship with her nephew, Diamond Harbor MP Abhishek Banerjee, is on the rocks, ED sources told TOI. Abhishek Banerjee, seen as Mamata’s presumptive successor, was widely said to be waiting for the chief minister until a landslide victory by the BJP, burying the Trinamool Congress party’s ambitions to extend his tenure. Several money laundering cases being investigated by the ED, including the coal smuggling ‘scam’ involving political consultancy firm I-PAC, will be returned to Kolkata from Delhi.The investigation stalled as ED officials were allegedly “intimidated” in Kolkata and many of the accused refused to cooperate despite repeated summons. Sources said the ED may also resume interrogation of the accused, including Abhishek, his wife Rujila, former Attorney General Rajiv Kumar, former Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma, then Commissioner of Police Priyabrata Roy, and I-PAC chief Pratik Jain. During the raid on January 8, Mamata took away documents seized by the agency from her residence in the presence of police officials.

Foggiano Arrest: Is the Rapper Back in Jail After His Release in April? Here’s the truth behind the viral sensation

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Rapper Foogiano, who was released from prison in April after five years, is back amid social media rumors. In the weeks following his release, claims that the former Gucci Mane rapper had been released from custody were going viral. arrested again.

Foggia rapper. (Forgiano/Facebook)
Foggia rapper. (Forgiano/Facebook)

a photo of rapperHis real name is Kwame Khalil Brown, and his criminal record went viral on social media. This revealed that the rapper was booked at Montgomery RRM for allegedly violating the terms of his probation.

However, as of now, there is no official confirmation of the rapper’s arrest. When searching for the name Kwame Khalil Brown Montgomery RRM inmate search facilityshowing that a 32-year-old black male with the same name has been detained with a release date of January 13, 2027.

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However, contrary to posts circulating on social media, there are no photos attached to the arrest record.

Ht.com could not independently confirm whether rapper Foogiano, aka Kwame Khalil Brown, has returned to prison.

What do the rumors say?

According to viral rumors, Forgiano was taken back into custody after traveling to Georgia to visit his children. A photo from that trip allegedly caused concern among probation officers. The rapper reportedly posted a praying hands emoji on his Story, seemingly confirming his ordeal.

For example, this is a post:

However, Foggiano’s Instagram Story where he posted the hands-folded emoji wasn’t his last. He later shared another story promoting his cannabis company.

Fuggiano’s 2021 arrests and releases: Timeline

Rapper Fogiano appears in Greenville, south carolina Lounge period mass shooting On July 4, 2020, two people died and eight others were injured. He is accused of possessing a firearm at the time of the shooting, which is illegal because he was a convicted felon at the time.

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In December of that year, he was released on $50,000 bail and ordered by the court to wear an ankle monitor at all times. However, in 2021, when U.S. Marshals tried to track him down, he cut off his ankle monitor and went on the run for months.

He was arrested on March 4, 2021, and sentenced to five years in prison for violating the terms of his release.

Then, on April 21, 2026, he posted a selfie on Instagram with the caption: “No more free treats.” His personal photographer reportedly commented on the story, writing: “Stay free and welcome home, Foo.” News Nation Report.

Shreyas Iyer beats DC to equal Virat Kohli’s feat

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IPL 2026: Shreyas Iyer beats former team DC, equals Virat Kohli feat

Shreyas Iyer He continued his stellar consistency against Delhi Capitals on Monday, entering an elite IPL roster previously occupied only by: Virat Kohli and Rahul Dravid. The Kings XI Punjab captain scored an unbeaten 59 off 36 balls in Dharamshala, scoring more than 50 runs for the third consecutive game against DC. In the process, Shriyas equaled the rare IPL record of scoring consecutive 50-plus runs against Delhi.

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Consecutive 50+ scores against DD/DC in IPL:

  • 3 – Rahul Dravid (RR, 2012-13)
  • 3 – Virat Kohli (RCB, 2012-13)
  • 3 – Virat Kohli (RCB, 2016-17)
  • 3* – Shreyas Iyer (PBKS, 2025-26)

Shreyas once again took complete control of his former team, scoring a whirlwind 56 off just 33 balls with six sixes after Priyansh Arya’s explosive start. Although Delhi Capitals fought back through disciplined middle-overs bowling after conceding 51 runs in the first three overs, Shriyas ensured that PBKS never completely ran out of steam. Along with Cooper Connolly, he scored a crucial 83 for the third wicket to stabilize the innings. The PBKS captain also sped up smartly in the death overs, rotating the attack clinically before punishing loose deliveries. His undefeated performance once again highlighted his ability to absorb pressure at key stages of the innings while still maintaining a healthy strike rate. The hit also highlighted Shriyas’ stellar record against D.C. in recent seasons. In seven innings against Delhi, he has now scored 330 runs at an average of 82.5 and a strike rate of 157.14, which is incredible. Shreyas’ score against DC: 54, 42, 18, 33*, 53, 71*, 59* The PBKS captain once again faced off against an opponent he clearly loves to face at a crucial stage of the game.

Protect life: Poland spends millions building artificial islands to protect rare birds and wildlife | World News

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Protecting life: Poland spends millions building artificial islands to protect rare birds and wildlife

At a time when artificial islands are usually associated with luxury developments, airports or tourism projects, Poland has built one for a completely different purpose. The artificial island called Wyspa Jana Zabawy-Wroblewskiego rises from the waters of Szczecin Lagoon near Swinoujscie and was created using dredged sand from a major shipping project. But rather than turning the new land into a commercial area, authorities are closing it to the public and transforming it into a sanctuary for birds and wildlife. Now, scientists are watching nature slowly reclaim this barren island, turning it into one of the Baltic Sea’s most unusual conservation experiments.

How the island was created to protect life and wildlife

The island was formed during the deepening of the Szczecin-Swinoujscie shipping channel, a major infrastructure project designed to make it easier for larger cargo ships to sail between the Baltic Sea and the port of Szczecin. When engineers dredged the bottom of the lagoon, they removed millions of cubic meters of sand and sediment from the waterway.Rather than discarding the material elsewhere, Polish authorities used it to build a new artificial island in the Szczecin Lagoon. Completed in 2021, the island covers an area of ​​approximately 180 hectares and is approximately 1.2 kilometers at its widest point.The island is unusual in that it has never been used for tourism or development. Public access was restricted almost immediately after construction, as the area was originally a safe habitat for rare waterbirds and a fragile wetland ecosystem.

How the island was created to protect life and wildlife

Environmental experts see the project as an opportunity to offset some of the ecological damage caused by dredging. Over time, the sandy areas and shallow waters surrounding the islands began to attract gulls, terns and migratory birds seeking undisturbed nesting grounds.The island has no roads, hotels or marinas and is intentionally left largely untouched so that wildlife can gradually colonize it.

Real-time ecological experiment

Scientists monitoring the island describe it as a rare example of an ecosystem forming almost from scratch. When the project was completed, the island consisted mainly of exposed sand and sediment. Since then, plants, insects and birds have slowly colonized the area through a natural process called ecological succession.Researchers are particularly interested in how quickly birds adapt to new habitats in the Baltic Sea region, a region whose coastal ecosystems have long been transformed by industry, shipping and urban expansion.Because the island is largely free of human activity, scientists have little opportunity to observe how wildlife reacts as they develop naturally in protected spaces.

The island’s naming controversy

The island has also become the center of a local naming controversy. In a public vote, many residents supported the name “Brysna”, a historical Slavic name associated with the area. However, Polish authorities later officially named the island after Jan “Zabarwa” Wroblewski, a participant in the Warsaw Uprising during World War II.Although the official name remains Wyspa Jana Zabawy-Wroblewskiego, many locals and regional media continue to use Brysna informally.

Transform infrastructure into protection

The project is increasingly seen as an example of how large-scale infrastructure development can incorporate environmental protection, rather than simply reshaping the landscape for industrial purposes. While dredging operations often raise concerns about habitat destruction and ecological damage, Poland’s artificial islands show how some of these impacts can be turned into conservation initiatives.Today, the island remains closed to tourists and largely untouched by human activity. What began as a practical solution to excess dredged sand has grown into a growing refuge for wildlife, with birds arriving long before any human visitors were allowed ashore.

Punjab: Polls for 105 municipal bodies to be held on May 26, till May 29

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旁遮普邦:5月26日对105个市政机构进行投票,截至5月29日Counting will take place on May 29.Addressing the media here, Chaudhry shared details about the elections, saying that the elections will be held in the following eight municipal corporations: Mohali, Bathinda, Abohar, Barnala, Kapurthala, Moga, Batala and Pathankot.Besides, elections to 76 Municipal Councils and 21 Nagar Panchayats, totaling 2,019 wards of 105 municipal bodies, will also be held, he added.The Model Code of Conduct comes into effect immediately following the announcement of the election timetable.Chaudhry pointed out that these municipal bodies have 3,672,932 registered voters, including 1,773,716 women.Voting will take place at 3,977 sites and will run from 8am to 5pm.Sharing details of the election schedule, Chaudhuri said filing of nominations will begin on May 13 and the last date for nominations has been set as May 16.Document review will take place on May 18 and the last date for withdrawal of nominations will be May 19.He said that in view of the elections, more than 35,000 Punjab Police personnel will be deployed to ensure security.

Shooting in Gwinnett County, Norcross High School on lockdown; what we know so far

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Update (12:05 a.m. ET): Fox 5 Atlanta reported, citing city sources, that Norcross High School was placed on lockdown after reports of armed men on campus. this The report states The police response was linked to an armed robbery, but it was unclear what prompted the lockdown.

Representative image. (no splash)
Representative image. (no splash)

ability: Norcross High School, Gwinnett County Georgia Following reports of a lockdown on Monday morning shooting The incident occurred nearby. As of now, authorities have not confirmed whether a shooting occurred.

Multiple Norcross residents Report on social media The school has been placed on lockdown. Many also noticed a heavy police presence outside the school, with parents gathering outside in an emergency.

This is breaking news.

57,670 environmental and pollution-related crimes committed in 2024, most covered by anti-tobacco laws

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New Delhi: India reported 57,670 environment and pollution-related crimes in 2024, a 16.4 per cent decrease from the number of such crimes reported in 2023 (68,994), according to the latest India crime report released by the Ministry of Home Affairs’ National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).However, more than 80% (46,333 cases) of environmental and pollution-related crimes involved just one offense, breaching the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), which prohibits advertising and regulates the trade, commerce, production, supply and distribution of such products.Of the 53,682 people arrested, 42,235 were charged under COTPA. In most cases, conviction results in the imposition of fines (environmental compensation) based on breaches of different green laws.The Noise Pollution Act had the second highest number of offenses (8,639), while the Forest Act and Forest Conservation Act had the third highest number of offenses (1,425) each. In total, nearly 98% of environmental and pollution-related offenses fall into these three categories.Under the Noise Pollution Act, Rajasthan accounted for more than 95% of such cases in 2024 – data shows that the state is proactive in filing complaints related to violations related to the use of high-decibel sound systems (speakers, DJ systems, etc.) during religious functions and wedding processions/celebrations.The NCRB report showed that Tamil Nadu registered the highest number of environment and pollution-related cases (26,475) in 2024, followed by Rajasthan (10,824), Kerala (9,143), Maharashtra (6,735) and Karnataka (1,214).Incidentally, Delhi Technological University, which faces an air pollution crisis every winter due to multiple violations of different nature, has not filed a single case under the Air Pollution Control Act, 1981, while the neighboring states of Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh have filed one case each under the Act despite facing hundreds of cases of stubble burning causing air pollution in the winter of 2024.Overall, a total of 18 cases were reported under the Air and Water Pollution Control Act in 2024 across all states and union territories, with Tamil Nadu alone reporting 50% (9) such cases.Violations of the Environmental (Protection) Law; Wildlife Protection Law; the other three responsible persons on the list reported 754, 497 and 4 cases respectively.