A city manager in the United States has been suspended after staffers were sent an email allegedly showing him masturbating on a couch. According to the New York Post, the video showed Kansas City Manager Doug Gerber in a compromising position and now he is expected to be fired. The email was sent to several employees from an anonymous account with the subject line: “MOST IMPORTANT”. The video appeared to have been filmed by Mr Gerber himself, who seemed to be alone during the act. 

It is unclear who sent the clip and how they got it, the outlet reported. “This is just a disturbed individual trying to cause issues with the city,” a city IT employee wrote to staff members in the Kansas City suburb.

However, speaking to the Kansas City Star, the anonymous sender said that they wanted to expose Mr Gerber’s online behaviour. “We don’t hesitate to expose people involved in these dubious and un-Catholic practices,” the sender reportedly said.

Talking about the incident, Shawnee Mayor Michelle Distler said she was “not incredibly surprised” at the scandal because of unspecified concerns over Mr Gerber’s behaviour at his previous job. However, according to council president Eric Jenkins, the city manager had been investigated over rumours of previous “impropriety” before he was hired, and the consultant leading the job search assured them that “she thoroughly searched the background and had found absolutely nothing that would give us cause not to select him”. 

Also Read | Patrick Dempsey Named ‘Sexiest Man Alive’ Of 2023 By People Magazine

The Post noted that Mr Gerber could be a victim under a state law forbidding such sexual material from being shared without permission. But the city council in an emergency meeting unanimously voted to put Mr Gerber on administrative leave. 

“This email was received at City Hall, we’ve been told, Sept. 29th. I didn’t find out about this situation until Halloween night,” just over a month later, said Mr Jenkins, the council president. “If he failed to communicate on this, what else has he failed to communicate on?” Mr Jenkins told KCTV, adding, “I mean, this was kind of the first big test he had, and he didn’t do very well. So I think our actions were appropriate, they were measured”. 

Now, an interim manager is being chosen and Mr Gerber is expected to be fired, said Mr Jenkins. “I don’t see how this man can move forward being the leader of our staff and our go-to guy as the city manager,” he added. 

Additionally, three city council candidates have also issued a joint statement calling for an investigation into Mr Gerber’s actions and those of the city council in the month after the video was first shared.

On the other hand, Mr Gerbe has refused to address the scandal. “I think it’s not in the city;s best interest right now to comment,” he said. 

Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Wednesday expressed confidence that his party will buck the trend of the incumbent dispensation in Rajasthan being voted out every five years and form the government after the November 25 assembly polls.

He alleged that the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party is trying to divert people’s attention from the issue of development.

Sachin Pilot, who was in Tonk from where he is contesting the elections, said, “The tradition of 30 years in Rajasthan…five years of BJP, five years of Congress…that tradition is about to be broken. People have seen BJP rule at the Centre and they want a change.” 

“BJP is trying everything to mislead the public but our issue is of development. The party is fighting the elections with unity, so I can say with full confidence that we will form the government in Rajasthan,” he told PTI.

The former deputy chief minister said that in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh also, the Congress will return to power with a huge majority.

The results in Telangana will shock every one and the Congress will form the government there as well, he said.

“If our government is formed in these four-five states, the Congress and the INDIA alliance will become stronger. This alliance will win the Lok Sabha elections to be held in 2024,” he said.

Nowadays, several social media creators are routinely seen engaging in risky feats and bizarre stunts to garner more views and likes on their content. Now, a video has surfaced on social media websites showing a YouTuber bursting firecrackers on a railway platform. The 33-second video, which has angered internet users, shows the man lighting up black snake fireworks in pellet form in the middle of the track. Soon, plumes of thick, black smoke emanate from the crackers, filling up the air.  The video has been shot near Dantra Station on the Phulera-Ajmer Section. 

”YouTuber bursting crackers on Railway Tracks!! Such acts may lead to serious accidents in the form of fire, Please take necessary action against such miscreants,” the video was captioned by Trains of India, which shared the video. 

Watch the video here:

YouTuber bursting crackers on Railway Tracks!!
Such acts may lead to serious accidents in form of fire, Please take necessary action against such miscreants.
Location: 227/32 Near Dantra Station on Phulera-Ajmer Section.@NWRailways @rpfnwraii @RpfNwr @DrmAjmer @GMNWRailway pic.twitter.com/mjdNmX9TzQ

— Trains of India ?? (@trainwalebhaiya) November 7, 2023

People reacted strongly to the video and criticised the YouTuber for his careless act, saying that such actions can have serious consequences. Some also demanded strict punishment for such violators and asked Railways to take action as soon as possible. 

Taking cognisance of the video, North Western Railway directed Divisional Railway Manager, Jaipur, and Railway Protection Force to look into the matter. The RPF is currently investigating the video.

Matter forwarded to @rpfnwrjp @ @SrdenCoJaipur

— DRM Jaipur (@DRMJaipur) November 7, 2023

Commenting on the video, one user said, ”Not sure, what runs in the minds of such YouTubers who do this for short-lived publicity? Snake patakhas might not harm tracks but still, it is risky and pollutes the environment unnecessarily. No one should do any experiment near railway tracks as it is dangerous. Hope, he gets his lessons.”

Another commented, ”This is too dangerous for the tracks. @AshwiniVaishnaw ji, please take action on such fringe elements. It may lead to a major accident. Action is necessary.”

A third said, ”This is the worst cracker as it releases abundant #carbon in the atmosphere. The cracker manufacturer and sale itself must be regulated.”

Notably, a black snake is a popular firecracker item in India, which children play with during Diwali. In 2016, the Chest Research Foundation (CRF) and Pune University conducted a research and found that snake cracker emits the highest amount of PM2.5 (particulate matter less than 2.5 microns in diameter) amid popular firecrackers.