Meera Naran campaigns for Dev’s Law in son’s memory
By SARWAR ALAMJul 08, 2022
DEV’S LAW is a legislation that Meera Naran would rather have not been associated with, but tragic circumstances have made it an important part of her life and one that she is proud of.
From Wednesday (6), all cars all new cars across mainland Europe and Northern Ireland will have to adhere to Dev’s Law, which means they will have to be fitted with automatic emergency braking (AEB).
AEB slows down or stops a vehicle if it senses a threat of collision and the driver fails to respond to the threat.
The rule change has been named after Naran’s son Dev, who was killed in 2018 when a lorry struck his grandfather’s car from behind on the hard shoulder of the M6 near Birmingham, which was being used by moving traffic.
“I started campaigning in memory of Dev because I just don’t want any other family to go through the pain that we have to go through every single day. There are no words to describe the pain of losing a child; it completely destroyed me,” Naran told Eastern Eye.
“All I could do was ask the question, what are the learned outcomes? What can we do? I can’t bring him back. I can’t bring that world back for us. But I can make sure that no one else goes through that.”
Dev
Naran, who is a senior lecturer in Clinical Pharmacy at De Montfort University Leicester (DMU), has urged the UK government to implement Dev’s Law, which will make it compulsory for all vehicles to be installed with anti-tailgate technology.
“I’m just urging the government to do the right thing. The UK has been part of looking at this law already. They were involved in the evidence of this technology before Brexit. So now it’s just an extension of what we have already been involved in and now taking the next step and actually implementing it,” said Meera.
It is estimated that 27,300 people are killed or seriously injured on UK roads in 2021. Research has shown that AEB could prevent 12,300 casualties and 110 deaths.
The AA has been lobbying the government to make AEB compulsory for 10 years.
“The adoption of Dev’s Law mandating the fitting of AEB on all new vehicles, including vans, would be a massive milestone in road safety akin to major safety advances such as seat belts, breathalysers or air bags. It will be compulsory across Europe from July so the UK shouldn’t be left behind,” said Edmund King, president of the AA. “AEB is a proven technology and lifesaver.”
For Naran, the AEB proposal is just one part of a campaign she’s been on to ensure there are “zero” deaths on UK roads.
Dev (right) and Neel
The 38-year-old’s work has led to a number of advancements in road safety, including changes to the Highway Code, a £900 million commitment of government funding, 18 national policy changes, including £5m for ongoing education.
Her campaigning has also led to the Department for Transport to pause the smart motorway roll-out until five years of safety data is available.
Smart motorways do not have a hard shoulder, so drivers who have a vehicle break down can be trapped in speeding traffic. There were 63 fatalities on stretches of smart motorway between 2015 and 2019, according to the National Highways, which operates England’s motorway network.
“In 2020 when I proposed 19 policy changes, there was some reassurance with the 18-point action plan, which implemented 18 out of my 19 proposals with a £500 million commitment,” said Naran. “To see this additional amount being added to a total of nearly £900 million is absolutely welcome and I think it’s really reassuring.”
She added: “I will not see a victory until we have zero deaths on our roads. Whether that (means) I campaign for the rest of my life, so be it.
“It’s been incredibly emotional losing Dev, it’s so hard. There’s no words to ever explain how that feels. Campaigning through grief is no easy task either,” she said.
Meera Naran with Dev Naran
Not only did Naran lose Dev on that day in 2018, but she’s also seen the life of her other son changed forever.
On the day Dev died he had been to see his older brother Neel, 13, who suffers from severe epilepsy and was in a critical condition in hospital.
“Since hearing the news (of Dev’s passing), he (Neel) slowly started deteriorating. He’s got drug resistant epilepsy and that’s why he was in hospital at that particular moment in time. But after hearing about his brother’s death, slowly, over time, he stopped speaking and walking as well. He is now in palliative care,” said Naran.
“It’s incredibly difficult to look at Neil without thinking of Dev, because they were always together. They did everything together. And their bond was so incredibly special.
“Dev loved his brother fiercely. He wanted to be a doctor when he was older, a brain surgeon so he could help children like his brother. Everything I’m doing is in memory of Dev, but Neel gives me hope, he inspires me. He just showers me with all this love to just keep going.”
Naran was awarded an MBE for services to road safety in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in June last year. She collected her medal from the Princess Royal at Windsor Castle in February.
“It was very emotional. I was very touched with how invested the Princess Royal was on the work. “I don’t want anyone to ever feel what we had to feel. Our eight-year-old little boy didn’t reach home and I don’t want any parent to lose their loved one in such a sudden and tragic way.
“Road deaths are tragic and that’s exactly what I will continue to campaign for – everyone reaching home.”
An emotional Naran said her campaigning for safer roads is “all the unspent love I have for Dev”.
“He was a wonderful little boy. He was so kind, so thoughtful. The work that he would have done if he was still here would have been incredible. What I am doing is nowhere near what he would have done if he had lived and become older,” said Naran.
“But I can only try. I can only try my hardest. And I know one day I will be with my son again. And I just want to say I tried my hardest. I hope and pray that he would be proud of the work I’m doing.”
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “Our thoughts remain with Dev’s family and we welcome Mrs Naran’s continued work to improve road safety.
“We’re currently considering the vehicle safety provisions within the EU’s General Safety Regulation, which includes advanced emergency braking (AEB), to determine requirements that are appropriate for new vehicles in Great Britain.”
Newby Hall, the historic estate in North Yorkshire, is set to make its debut at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show with a display featuring its National Plant Collection of Cornus, commonly known as flowering dogwoods.
The exhibit will showcase a variety of rare and striking Cornus trees and shrubs, highlighting the breadth and diversity of the collection. Designed by Newby Hall’s head gardener, Lawrence Wright, the woodland-themed display will be complemented by lush foliage and companion woodland planting to reflect the natural habitat of these ornamental plants.
The project is a collaboration between Wright and Newby Hall’s owners, Richard and Lucinda Compton, who have been instrumental in developing and curating the collection over many years.
Richard Compton said: “This display is a celebration of our family’s horticultural heritage and the decades of passion that have gone into building the Cornus collection. We’re thrilled Newby Hall will be showcased at RHS Chelsea and we can shine a spotlight on the beauty and diversity of these remarkable plants.”
The RHS Chelsea Flower Show, widely regarded as the most prestigious horticultural event in the UK, offers a platform for leading gardens, designers, and plant collections. Newby Hall’s appearance marks a significant moment for the estate, which is renowned for its gardens and has been featured in television series including Peaky Blinders and Victoria.
The display aims to draw attention to the importance of plant conservation and to inspire visitors with the charm and botanical richness of the Cornus species.
The unusually warm and sunny spring weather across Birmingham and the West Midlands is expected to continue into next week, according to the Met Office.
Dry and largely sunny conditions are forecast to persist through the remainder of this week and into the week beginning 20 May, with temperatures set to remain well above average for this time of year. In Birmingham, daytime temperatures are expected to range between 21°C and 23°C over the weekend, with similar conditions forecast throughout next week.
The Met Office predicts clear skies and continued sunshine across much of the West Midlands, supported by a slow-moving area of high pressure that is dominating the weather pattern across the region. This stable weather system is bringing settled and fine conditions, with warm temperatures during the day and cooler nights.
From Friday through Sunday, the outlook remains dry and bright, with plenty of sunshine expected once any morning low cloud clears. Temperatures will stay above seasonal norms, although nights may feel cooler in comparison.
Into next week, the mostly dry and sunny spell is likely to persist for the majority of the region. Western areas are expected to feel particularly warm or even very warm at times. However, temperatures will be slightly cooler in eastern parts of the country, especially along coastal areas. These areas may experience lingering low cloud and a brisk breeze coming in off the North Sea.
The extended spell of fine weather is providing a prolonged taste of summer, with the Met Office currently showing no significant change in conditions over the coming days for the Birmingham and West Midlands region.
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Authorities have confirmed they are investigating the incident as a suspected femicide
Valeria Marquez, a 23-year-old beauty influencer from Mexico, was fatally shot during a TikTok livestream on Tuesday in Zapopan, Jalisco. Authorities have confirmed they are investigating the incident as a suspected femicide.
The attack occurred inside the beauty salon where Marquez worked. According to the Jalisco state prosecutor’s office, a man entered the premises and shot her. Marquez had been livestreaming shortly before the incident, seated at a table holding a stuffed toy. She was heard saying, “they’re coming,” before briefly muting the audio. Gunshots were then heard, and someone appeared to pick up her phone, briefly revealing their face before the stream ended.
The footage, while not graphic, has raised serious concerns about the circumstances leading to her deathInstagram/ elcucutenonoticias
Earlier in the livestream, Marquez mentioned that someone had left an “expensive gift” for her at the salon while she was away. Appearing concerned, she stated that she had no intention of waiting for the person to return.
Marquez had a significant online following, with nearly 200,000 followers on TikTok and Instagram combined. Her death has reignited concerns over gender-based violence in Mexico, where femicide remains a persistent issue.
Mexican authorities define femicide as the killing of a woman under circumstances involving sexual violence, degrading treatment, a relationship with the perpetrator, or public exposure of the body. The country recorded a femicide rate of 1.3 per 100,000 women in 2023, placing it alongside Paraguay, Uruguay, and Bolivia with the fourth-highest rate in Latin America and the Caribbean, according to United Nations data.
Jalisco, the state where the incident occurred, ranks sixth nationally in terms of homicides. Since President Claudia Sheinbaum took office in October 2024, 906 homicides have been recorded in the state, according to figures from data consultancy TResearch.
TWO brothers have been fined £20,000 and put on the ‘rogue landlord’ database after 15 people were found crammed inside a seven-bed property in north London.
Council officers also found smoke alarms covered with aluminium foil and fire doors missing after being tipped off by a neighbour.
Housing enforcement officers from Brent Council paid a visit to the property on Ilmington Road in Kenton after reports it was operating as an unlicensed house of multiple occupancy (HMO).
Landlords in Brent can get an unlimited fine upon prosecution and a criminal record if they do not obtain a licence. Alternatively, they could receive a civil penalty of up to £30,000 per offence and be banned from running a rental property.
Brothers Vimal and Ravi Kanji Bhudia had rented out the seven-bedroom property to 15 people, all young students who were forced to sleep on mattresses on the floor, two or three to a room. The house was also found not to meet fire safety regulations as the smoke alarm had been covered and safety doors removed, following the inspection in July last year.
Despite living locally, the landlords did not respond to notices from the council about the need for an HMO licence.
The council issued enforcement action and the brothers appeared at Willesden magistrates court last week, where they were told they had been given “a significant amount of time and opportunities” to respond.
They both pleaded guilty to the charges of breaching housing regulations and failure to have a licence, and were issued a £20,000 fine.
The cabinet member for housing and residents services, councillor Fleur Donnelly-Jackson, said the brothers “acted as if they were above the law” and have ultimately paid “a heavy price for it”.
She added: “Every landlord in Brent is legally required to have a licence. The law exists to protect tenants from rogue landlords who overcrowd their homes and ignore fire safety regulations while pocketing their tenants’ money.
The aluminium foil covered smoke alarms
“Every Brent resident has the right to live in a safe and secure home.”
Borough-wide licensing became law in 2020, requiring all landlords renting out HMO properties in Brent, except Wembley Park, to obtain a licence. However, the five-year programme ended in January, during which 2,500 were licenced.
The council is currently running a consultation on plans to extend it which, if approved, will come into force in the autumn. The local authority claims the previous licensing scheme helped it “improve standards and management practices” of many HMOs across the borough, but acknowledges that a significant number are still “still substandard and potentially dangerous”.
The private rental sector is increasingly being used to address a shortfall in social housing, and the council wants to use tougher rules to “drive up standards” and make them safer.
Licensing imposes specific obligations on the landlord to demonstrate that their property is safe while enabling the council to enforce rules. The licence would cost landlords £1,040 for the application, processing and inspection of up to five habitable rooms – either a lounge, dining room or bedroom – and a further £25 per additional room.
If the property licence holder or managing agent is accredited to the London Landlord Accreditation Scheme, the council has proposed a £40 discount per property application.
INDIA’S prime minister Narendra Modi on Monday (12) vowed to respond forcefully to any future “terrorist attack” after days of escalating tensions with Pakistan.
In his address to the nation, Modi warned New Delhi would not accept “nuclear blackmail” if further conflict with Pakistan were to occur.
A weekend ceasefire between the two countries appeared to be holding this week, after four days of heavy fighting. Last week’s conflict involved jetfighters, missiles, drones and artillery attacks, marking the worst violence between the countries since 1999.
Global leaders, including UK foreign secretary David Lammy, said the current tense situation requires “sustained dialogue between both sides” to prevent further hostilities in the region.
The UK welcomed the ceasefire agreement last Saturday (10) and encouraged both countries to continue working towards deescalation. Urging both India and Pakistan to “sustain the ceasefire”, Lammy said he had chaired a COBRA meeting on the situation and that maintaining the truce was a priority.
“I know the images from India and Pakistan have been deeply worrying for many communities in Britain, and for those living and working in both countries,” the foreign secretary said. “Given our strong and close relationships with India and Pakistan, the UK stands ready to work with both sides to make lasting peace a reality.”
He said he had spoken to India’s external affairs minister, S Jaishankar, and Pakistan’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister Ishaq Dar.
“My message to both was the same – ensure this ceasefire agreement is extended and sustained. Further conflict is in nobody’s interest,” he said.
Lammy also said the UK was working with the US, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and EU counterparts to support peace. Foreign Office teams were in touch with airlines and advising British nationals in the region.
“We value the contribution of British Pakistani and British Indian communities to this country, and their long and proud history of living here side by side,” he said.
The cross-border firing caused extensive damage to people’s homes
The ceasefire was announced last Saturday by US president Donald Trump. He said on Monday his country’s intervention had prevented a “bad nuclear war”.
“We stopped a nuclear conflict... millions of people could have been killed. So, I’m very proud of that,” he told reporters at the White House.
Top Indian and Pakistan military officials held briefings late last Sunday, with each side claiming the upper hand and warning they were ready to respond if there were fresh attacks.
“We have delivered on the promise that we made to our people”, said Pakistan’s military spokesman, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, calling it a “success on the battleground”.
“We have thus far exercised immense restraint and our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory,” said India’s Lieutenant General Rajiv Gha.
Pakistan claimed to have downed five Indian fighter jets, something New Delhi has not commented on.
People returned to Poonch earlier this week, a frontier town in Indian Kashmir and one of the worst-hit places.
But thousands of schools remained closed across Pakistani Kashmir as areas were cleared of debris from strikes and firing, said local official Naveed-Ul-Hassan Bukhari.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry said it hoped “India will prioritise regional stability and the well-being of its citizens over narrow, politically motivated jingoism”.
Modi, in a televised address to the nation on Monday, his first since hostilities began last Wednesday (7), said Pakistan has chosen to attack, rather than help it fight “terrorism”.
“If another terrorist attack against India is carried out, a strong response will be given,” he said.
The conflict followed an April 22 attack on tourists in Indian Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians. India accused Pakistan of backing the attack, but Islamabad denied involvement.
However, before dawn last Wednesday, India launched a series of missile attacks destroying what it called “terrorist camps” in Pakistani Kashmir.
Each side then accused the other of launching waves of aircraft and drone strikes, as well as missile and artillery bombardments that killed at least 60 people on both sides.
“If Pakistan wants to survive, it will have to destroy its terror infrastructure,” Modi said. “India will strike with precision and decisiveness against the terrorist groups thriving under the cover of nuclear blackmail.
“India’s stand is very clear. Terror and talks cannot go together... Terror and trade cannot go together... Water and blood cannot flow together.”
On Tuesday (13), the prime minister delivered another message to Islamabad from Adampur Air Base, just 100 km from the Pakistan border. “Operation Sindoor has now drawn a clear Lakshman rekha [red line] for Pakistan,” said Modi, who was wearing a Western Air Command cap with its trademark trident emblem.
“When our armed forces take the wind out of nuclear blackmail, our enemies understand the importance of Bharat mata ki jai,” he said with an S-400 missile defence system visible behind him.
The prime minister praised the military for their recent success in the fourday engagement known as Operation Sindoor, which resulted in the destruction of nine terrorist sites and damage to eight Pakistani military installations.
“What you have achieved is unprecedented, unimaginable and amazing,” Modi told the soldiers, who had greeted his surprise arrival with patriotic chants.
Pakistan previously falsely claimed to have destroyed that particular base, including its S-400 missile launchers. Adampur is India’s second-largest air base, home to Rafale and MiG-29 squadrons. It has historical importance, having played crucial roles in the 1969 and 1971 wars with Pakistan.
The Pakistan army has widespread support in the country
Meanwhile, many in Indian Kashmir are demanding compensation for damages from cross-border firing.
Hundreds of villagers evacuated their homes as both countries targeted each other’s military installations with missiles and drones. Many returned to find their homes destroyed or roofless.
“Where will we go with our kids? We don’t have anywhere to live and anything to eat,” said Roshan Lal, from the village of Kot Maira in Akhnoor in India’s district of Jammu, about seven km (four miles) from the de facto border.
The shelling had left his home uninhabitable, the 47-year-old added.
“I want to ask Modi’s government for justice,” he said. “We need compensation for the damages.”
In the nearby village of Pahari Wala, farmer Karan Singh said he buried seven cattle in his field, while his family are living in makeshift shelters. “I left the village when the conflict began,” he said.
“We don’t have a place to stay.”
In Salamabad, a border village in the Kashmir Valley, shelling injured Badrudin Naik and his six-year-old son, but both returned home after five days.
“I am happy to return,” he said. “But my house is damaged. My two uncles’ houses were completely destroyed. We want permanent peace as it is we on the border who suffer more.”
Pakistan’s army said on Tuesday that more than 50 people were killed in military clashes with India.
India has said at least five military personnel and 16 civilians died.
Trump, meanwhile, said he promised to do a “lot of trade” with India and Pakistan, after which the countries agreed to a ceasefire, describing “the historic events that took place over the last few days”.
“We helped a lot, and we also helped with trade. I said, ‘Come on, we’re going to do a lot of trade with you guys. Let’s stop it, let’s stop it. If you stop it, we’re doing trade. If you don’t stop it, we’re not going to do any trade.
“People have never really used trade the way I used it. By that, I can tell you, and all of a sudden they said, ‘I think we’re gonna stop’, and they have,” he US president said.