Latest news with #Somnath
News18
11-06-2025
- Health
- News18
Why Aren't IITians Made To Sign Govt Bond Like Doctors? Debate Takes Over Social Media
Last Updated: ISRO's former Chairman, Dr S Somnath, revealed that over 60% of IIT students walked out midway during ISRO's campus recruitment presentation, simply after seeing the salary figures A fierce online debate erupted over a deeply rooted inequality in the professional education system; Why are medical graduates bound by long-term service bonds for government jobs, while engineering graduates from prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) walk free, often into lucrative private sector roles or foreign companies? The conversation reignited after a resurfaced statement by ISRO's former Chairman, Dr S Somnath, who lamented the lack of interest shown by IIT students in working with the space research agency. Somnath, who steered the historic Chandrayaan-3 mission, had earlier revealed that over 60% of IIT students walked out midway during ISRO's campus recruitment presentation, simply after seeing the salary figures. This triggered a strong response from the medical community, particularly from doctors who face mandatory government service bonds lasting up to 10 years after completing degrees like MBBS, MD, or super-specialisations. Dr Deepak Krishnamurthy, Senior Cardiologist at Bengaluru's KIMS Hospital, questioned the double standards. 'I wonder why only doctors should have bonds to work for govt. Enforce them on IITians also to work for ISRO, DRDO etc," he posted on X (formerly Twitter). Joining him, Prof Dr G Rajesh of Government Medical College, Kozhikode, said, Let them go to US no issues. But we doctors have bond, upto 10 years in certain states after doing MBBS or MD or superspeciality. Why these guys are exempted? You spend much more money for them!!" He also marked the Prime Minister's Office in his post. Let them go to US no issues. But we doctors have bond, upto 10 years in certain states after doing MBBS or MD or superspeciality. Why these guys are exempted? You spend much more money for them!! @PMOIndia — Dr G Rajesh (Gopalan Nair Rajesh). (@DrRajeshG1) June 9, 2025 The Indian Institutes of Technology are publicly funded and offer some of the most heavily subsidised education in the country. Despite this, a significant percentage of IIT graduates opt for careers abroad or in private corporations, often ignoring roles in government-funded research bodies such as ISRO or DRDO, where salaries and perks are far less competitive. The resentment stems from the stark contrast; while MBBS graduates in government colleges may pay as little as Rs 56,000 per year for their studies and are then required to serve in rural or government hospitals, IITians with similar or even greater subsidies face no such obligation. Dr Somnath's concerns aren't isolated. The country's elite scientific and defence institutions are increasingly finding it difficult to attract top-tier technical talent. Despite ISRO's groundbreaking space missions and DRDO's critical role in defence innovation, these bodies are perceived as offering poor financial incentives and outdated work environments. The debate has now grown into a wider call for policy reform. Should IIT graduates, who benefit from elite education at nominal cost, be required to serve in government institutions for a few years before heading abroad? News18's viral page features trending stories, videos, and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: June 11, 2025, 15:58 IST
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
RAAS premiere celebrates rural nostalgia and emotional reunions
Tathagata Mukhopadhyay's Bengali film RAAS premiered, starring Vikram Chatterjee and Devlina Kumar. The film explores Somnath's return to his village after 18 years, reconnecting with his childhood love during Raas Purnima. RAAS contrasts the peace of rural Bengal with the isolation of urban life, highlighting themes of rediscovery and nostalgia, reflecting the emotional void felt in city life. The premiere of the Bengali film RAAS recently took place at a city theatre, drawing an enthusiastic crowd of cinephiles, industry professionals, and well-wishers. The red-carpet event was graced by the film's cast and crew, along with several notable figures from the Bengali film fraternity. Director Tathagata Mukhopadhyay was joined by lead actors Vikram Chatterjee and Devlina Kumar , who play Somnath and Rai respectively. Also in attendance were key cast members including Anashua Majumder, Anirban Chakrabarty, Sudip Mukherjee, Ranojoy Bishnu, and Arna Mukhopadhyay. Singers Manoj Murali Nair and Somlata Acharyya, who lent their voices to the soulful track Amra Dujona , were also present. RAAS tells the story of Somnath, who returns to his ancestral village of Manikpur after 18 years and reconnects with his childhood love, Rai, during the Raas Purnima festivities. Through its quiet portrayal of rural Bengal, the film contrasts the serenity of village life with the fast-paced, often isolating nature of urban living. As Somnath retraces his emotional roots, RAAS unfolds as a tale of rediscovery, nostalgia, and longing. Speaking at the premiere, Tathagata remarked, ' RAAS reflects the emotional void many feel in city life. It's a journey back to innocence and rootedness.' The ensemble cast also includes Shankar Debnath, Parijat Chaudhuri, Debasish, Debaprasad Halder, and Apratim Chatterjee, bringing depth to this reflective, emotionally resonant narrative.
Hindustan Times
06-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
Hisar sexual abuse case: Two girls record statement against accused
A day after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested a 40-year-old man in connection with the sexual abuse of minor girls in a village in Hisar's Hansi, two of the victims, aged 11 and 13, came forward and recorded their statements with the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) in Hisar on Thursday. The accused, Somnath, was sent to judicial custody by a Hisar court on Wednesday and his Common Service Centre (CSC) in the village has been sealed, said a senior police official, who wished not to be named. Somnath is suffering from disability and ran a Common Service Centre (CSC) in the village, had been exploiting the victims for approximately five years, the official added. The official claimed that the girls revealed that the accused sexually assaulted the them and uploaded videos of the act online. 'The accused continued the ordeal after uploading their videos. Electronic gadgets recovered from him confirmed that he was involved in creating, storing, and sharing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The accused has exploited nearly 10 girls and a few women,' the official said. The CBI arrested Somnath from his residence in Hisar and recovered incriminating gadgets on Tuesday. It found he allegedly raped, sexually assaulted, threatened and used multiple children for pornography. The agency said it registered a case on May 29 after detecting Somnath's activities while examining videos and images on the Interpol's International Child Sexual Exploitation (ICSE) database. Somanth's cousin Virender said that they don't know about the case and the accused used to live alone for the last ten-years. 'Before running a common service centre in the village, he ran a grocery shop in the village and we suspect that he might have started a heinous act from there. The villagers are shocked after hearing the news. Earlier, we had sympathy for him but now people are mum,' a local revealed.
News18
05-06-2025
- News18
CBI Arrests Physically Challenged Man From Hisar For Raping Minors, Uploading Videos Online
Last Updated: Sources state Somnath raped minors, recorded the acts on video, and used these to blackmail them. He then uploaded the videos to his email ID and posted them on porn sites The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has apprehended a differently-abled man in Haryana's Hisar district on charges of rape and sexual exploitation of minor girls. According to the CBI, the accused, identified as Somnath (40), is a resident of Garhi Azima in Hisar district. His parents died nearly 30 years ago. He is a graduate and used to run a Common Service Center (CSC) in the village. The accused was also reportedly involved in searching for child exploitation material on the Internet, which brought him under the radar. According to the CBI, the accused had a habit of collecting such material, creating videos and photos himself, sharing them with others, and uploading them online. The CBI registered a case against the accused on May 29. On Tuesday, a six-member CBI team arrested Somnath from his village following a search of his residence. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said it used Interpol's International Child Sexual Exploitation (ICSE) database and Cyber Tipline reports generated by Google and submitted to the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Center (I4C) to trace the content and identify both the victims and the accused. Before the CBI traced the material and uncovered the role of the accused, no victim or their family had approached the police with a complaint. A CBI spokesperson stated that electronic devices containing objectionable material were seized from his residence during the search operation. The recovered content helped identify several child victims who were raped and sexually abused over the past few years and were exploited for pornographic purposes through threats and coercion. Sources reported that Somnath allegedly lured children to his shop by offering food items at the CSC. He enticed young girls with toffees and chocolates and then engaged in inappropriate behavior with them. According to the sources, Somnath raped the victims and recorded these incidents on video. He subsequently used these recordings to blackmail and further exploit them. Eventually, he uploaded these videos to his email account and posted them on pornographic websites. According to villagers, Somnath has been physically challenged since birth, with both legs affected. He has two sisters who lived in an orphanage and were married after reaching adulthood. The accused was known for his friendly behavior in the village, so no one ever suspected him. Somnath's cousin, Virendra, said that he lived alone at home after losing his parents at a young age. According to Virendra, Somnath generally behaved well but would avoid talking to anyone when his mood was off. A few days ago, he had an altercation with a woman over some issue, which had even reached the police station. However, the matter was resolved with mutual apology. Virendra also mentioned that Somnath lost the use of both his legs due to polio when he was four or five years old. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published:
Hindustan Times
05-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
Haryana man held for raping kids, sharing videos
New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a man from Hisar in Haryana for allegedly raping children and creating, uploading, browsing, collecting, and exchanging child sexual abuse material online, the agency said on Wednesday. The activities of the accused, identified as Somnath, were detected through an Interpol database. 'In furtherance to its strong commitment in combating the menace of child sexual exploitation and bring the perpetrators to justice, CBI has arrested the accused from district Hisar, Haryana, on allegations of committing rape, penetrative sexual assault etc on multiple minor victims,' the federal agency said in a statement. CBI arrested Somnath from his residence in Hisar and recovered incriminating gadgets on Tuesday. It found he allegedly raped, sexually assaulted, threatened and used multiple children for pornography. The agency said it registered a case on May 29 after detecting Somnath's activities while examining videos and images on the Interpol's International Child Sexual Exploitation (ICSE) database. The ICSE is an intelligence and investigative mechanism that allows investigators to share data on child sexual abuse cases across 70 countries, including India. The database has helped identify 42,300 victims and 18,300 offenders. CBI said it detected the child sexual abuse on its own, as the victims or their families did not report the incidents to police or any law enforcement agency. 'Demonstrating qualitative investigative skills, due diligence, and procedural efficiency, CBI detected CSAM [child sexual abuse material] images and videos from the Interpol's ICSE database…,' CBI said. The agency added that the material was also linked with the Google-generated cyber tipline reporting on child sexual exploitation and submitted to the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C). 'The analysis of the images and videos using cyber forensic tools revealed the location of the incident to district Hisar in Haryana, depicting multiple victims of sexual assault and abuse by the accused,' CBI said. Somnath was arrested three months after CBI in March launched operation 'Hawk' to dismantle the cybercrime networks involved in online child sexual exploitation with international linkages based on inputs from the US. Hisar police said they did not have any information about the crime. 'We heard about accused Somnath on TV channels and we have no inputs about him,' Hisar police spokesperson Vikas Kumar said. Child sexual abuse is punishable in India under the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), while the Information Technology Act provides for punishment for publishing, browsing, or transmitting child pornography. In 2018, the Supreme Court asked the government to frame guidelines to eliminate child pornography, rape and gang-rape imageries, videos and sites from content hosting platforms and applications. An ad-hoc Rajya Sabha committee in February 2020 recommended the identification of the originators of such content. The panel studied the issue of pornography on social media and its effect on children and society. As part of the Centre's steps, the internet service providers are mandated to protect children from sexual abuse. The government blocks the websites containing child sexual abuse material based on Interpol's 'worst-of-list' which CBI periodically shares. The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules mandate intermediaries to remove or disable access within 24 hours of receipt of complaints of contents that exposes the private areas of individuals, show them in full or partial nudity or in sexual act or is in the nature of impersonation, including morphed imagery. The complaints about cybercrimes against women and children can be filed on the national cyber portal (
