An emergency alert has been sounded in a county in US’ Maine after 16 people were killed and dozens injured in shootings. Police have launched a massive operation to catch the gunman, who has been identified as Robert Card, and asked locals in Lewiston to stay inside their homes.

“There is an active shooter in Lewiston. We ask people to shelter in place. Please stay inside your home with the doors locked. Law enforcement is currently investigating at multiple locations,” Maine State Police said on X

The shooting spree took place at a bowling alley and also at least one other location, a local restaurant and bar, according to local media.

Local police posted a photo of the shooter Robert Card on Facebook carrying a semi-automatic style weapon inside a bowling alley, and said that he should be “considered armed and dangerous.”.

“Law Enforcement is attempting to locate Robert Card 4/4/1983, as a person of interest regarding the mass shooting at Schemengees Bar and Sparetime Recreation this evening. CARD should be considered armed and dangerous,” Lewiston Police Department said.

Card, 40, is a retired military officer who has been arrested in the past for domestic violence. Earlier this year, he reported mental health issues including hearing voices and had threatened an attack at the military training base in Saco, Maine. He was admitted to a mental health facility for 2 weeks.

After the shooting, he was seen driving a White Subaru, of which cops have released pictures. 

Lewiston Mayor Carl Sheline said he is “heartbroken for our city and our people” and urged residents to follow the recommended guidelines.

President Joe Biden has also been briefed, according to the White House.

Efforts to ban the powerful weapons have run up against opposition from Republicans, staunch defenders of the constitutional right to bear arms.

The political deadlock endures even though there have been 500 mass shootings in the US — defined as incidents in which four or more people were shot or killed — so far this year.

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A Delhi court today deferred to November 7 the hearing on the quantum of sentence for the five men convicted for killing TV journalist Soumya Vishwanathan in 2008 on grounds that the pre-sentence report and other documents were yet to be filed.

On October 18, Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Ravindra Kumar Pandey had convicted Ravi Kapoor, Amit Shukla, Baljeet Malik, and Ajay Kumar under IPC section 302 (murder) and provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) and listed the case for hearing arguments on the quantum of sentence on Thursday.

Taking note of the fact that certain documents, including the pre-sentence report of the probationary officer, had to be filed mandatorily if the maximum sentence in the case is death penalty, the court adjourned the hearing to November 7.

Vishwanathan, who was working with an English news channel, was shot dead in the early hours of September 30, 2008, on south Delhi’s Nelson Mandela Marg while she was returning home from work. Police claimed the motive was robbery.

“List the matter for consideration of the report of the probation officer, consideration on the affidavits of the convicts, affidavit on behalf of the state and report from Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLA)… and for arguments on quantum of sentence on November 7 at 2 PM,” ASJ Pandey said.

He said though the Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLA) had filed the victim impact report, the convicts had not filed their affidavits. Counsels for the convicts jointly submitted that they were unable to prepare the affidavits as they did not have the details and necessary direction could be issued to the jail superintendent and legal aid counsel, available with prison authorities, to assist the convicts in preparation of the affidavits.

The court said according to the guidelines of the Delhi High Court, in a case where there is a conviction for an offence punishable with the death penalty (as one of the alternate punishments), a pre-sentence report had to be obtained from the probation officer before the hearing on the quantum of sentence.

“Accordingly, the principal secretary, home department, Delhi government is hereby directed to assign to any probation officer the task of submitting the pre- sentencing report,” the court said.

It said the report had to specifically include the twin aspects of whether the convicts could commit further crimes and thus remain a “continuing threat to society” and whether there was any probability of the convicts being reformed and rehabilitated.

While detailing the inquiry procedure to be followed by the probation officer, the court said in the light of the fundamental right against self-incrimination, the convicts must be informed of their rights to be silent and in no circumstance can any adverse inference be drawn if the convicts refuse to give an interview to the probation officer.

“The probation officer shall submit the report within one week from today,” the court said adding, “The principal secretary, home department, will appoint a probation officer immediately on the receipt of the order of this court keeping in view the fact that case is more than 15 years old.”

The court also asked the Secretary of DLSA to depute one legal aid counsel, who would visit the prison for the preparation of affidavits of the convicts within 24 hours of the receipt of the order.
 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today performed puja at the revered Shri Saibaba Samadhi Temple in Shirdi and offered prayers there.

PM Modi was accompanied by Maharashtra Governor Ramesh Bais, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

He later performed the ‘Jal Pujan’ of Nilwande Dam, which is located in Maharashtra’s Ahmednagar district, and inaugurated the dam’s left bank canal network.

The 85-km canal network will benefit 182 villages by facilitating pipe distribution networks of water. The idea of Nilwande Dam was first conceived in 1970. It is being developed at a cost of about Rs 5,177 crore, according to an official statement.

The PM also travelled to Goa to inaugurate the 37th National Games.