INDIA

There is peace in Jammu Kashmir and this peace has to be permanent, and the Narendra Modi government’s aim is to make a Jammu and Kashmir where no life is lost due to terrorism, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said here on Monday. Interacting with youngsters from Jammu and Kashmir who have come to the national capital under the Watan Ko Jano youth exchange programme, Shah also said the people of Jammu and Kashmir had equal rights over the entire country, like the people of any other state, and the entirety of India looked at the people of the Union Territory with love and respect. When terrorism comes to an end, there is no need for the deployment of police and that day is not far, he added. “When there is peace, no police will be required. This message has to be carried by you to your fr...

Guwahati, Feb 22: Mahbubul Hoque, the Chancellor of the University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya (USTM), was detained by a police team in Guwahati early Saturday at around 2 AM. The operation was conducted by personnel from the Panbazar Police and the Special Task Force (STF) of the Assam Police. Authorities have not yet disclosed specific charges against Hoque. His detention follows previous allegations against USTM by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who had accused the institution of distributing fake degrees and other irregularities. The Meghalaya government and USTM have denied all allegations, stating that the university operates under the guidelines of the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the Meghalaya Private University Regulatory Board (MPURB). USTM has als...

A 168-year-old mosque in Meerut was demolished late Friday night as part of the ongoing Rapid Rail and Metro corridor projects. The mosque was located on the construction path, which was being carried out by the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC). The demolition took place under the supervision of police and administrative officials. Initially, on Thursday, some individuals began dismantling parts of the mosque with hammers. Later, around 1:30 AM on Friday night, a bulldozer was used to complete the demolition. Green screens were set up around the site. Authorities had disconnected the mosque’s electricity supply on February 20. By February 21, all movable items were removed from the premises, and by Thursday afternoon, demolition work had begun. NCRTC officials...

The Uttarakhand Cabinet has approved a draft law restricting non-residents from purchasing agricultural and horticultural land in 11 of the state’s 13 districts. The move, aimed at protecting local resources and cultural identity, will be introduced in the ongoing Budget Session of the Assembly. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami described it as a “historic step,” stating that the law respects public sentiment and safeguards the state's natural and cultural heritage. Under the proposed legislation, outsiders—except in Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar—will not be allowed to buy agricultural land. Additionally, district magistrates will no longer have the authority to approve such transactions. A dedicated online portal will be set up to record all land transactions involving non-residen...

A 40-year-old man, Sajid, was burned alive just days before a court hearing in his wife’s gangrape case against former village head Bhola Yadav. Sajid’s charred body was found in a field on Tuesday. His father, Ashiq Ali, accused Yadav’s men of luring him to a location, assaulting him, and setting him on fire after he refused to withdraw the case. Sajid’s wife alleged Yadav and two others gang-raped her in June 2022 and held her captive for four months. The case was initially dismissed by local police until legal intervention reinstated the charges. Mainpuri ASP Rahul Mithas confirmed an investigation is underway. The murder highlights the risks victims and their families face in seeking justice.

A 15-year-old Muslim girl, Aliya Begum, died on February 15 after being attacked while trying to protect her father from a mob in Antharam village, Telangana. Her father, Mohammad Ismail, was assaulted by around 40 men over allegations of urinating near the homes of Veera Reddy and Vijay Reddy. Aliya rushed to help but was hit by stones and succumbed to her injuries after three days. The incident has sparked outrage, with MLA Kausar Mohiuddin calling it an attack on the Muslim community. Majlis Bachao Tehreek leader Amjadullah Khan demanded a judicial inquiry, the arrest of all accused, and compensation for Aliya’s family. Police have registered a case against the Reddy brothers and others after legal activists met the Superintendent of Police.

A second-year MBBS student from Kashmir studying at Al Ameen College in Karnataka has alleged that he was brutally beaten and harassed by a group of senior students, NDTV reported. The incident has once again raised concerns over the safety of Kashmiri students pursuing education outside their home state. Recounting his ordeal, the student said he had never expected such an incident to happen in Karnataka, believing the people there to be "intelligent" and capable of distinguishing right from wrong. However, he now feels he was “100% wrong.” The student, who had been appointed as the captain of his batch’s cricket team, said that the conflict started after discussions regarding team groupings for an upcoming tournament. He mentioned that certain seniors were displeased with the to...

Stating that the Jammu Kashmir Police should now prioritize safeguarding citizen rights, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday directed the Union Territory administration to ensure the full implementation of three new criminal laws by April 2025. Shah, who chaired a high-level review meeting on the implementation of these laws in Jammu Kashmir, noted that with the decline in terror activities and improvement in the security scenario in the region, the police should now prioritize safeguarding the rights of its citizens. Shah, who reviewed the implementation of the laws in the presence of LG Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, asked the UT administration to ensure the full implementation of the three new criminal laws, made under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra...

Violent clashes broke out between two communities in Jamui district, Bihar, on Sunday, leading to the suspension of internet services to prevent further escalation. The incident occurred in the Jhajha area during a religious procession, resulting in stone-pelting and injuries. Jamui District Magistrate Abhilasha Sharma confirmed that three individuals sustained injuries and were admitted to the nearest government hospital, where they are reported to be stable. According to police, the procession, led by ABVP and Hindu Swabhimaan Sangathan, did not have prior permission and deviated from the approved route. Participants allegedly raised provocative slogans near a mosque, which intensified tensions. “The police station received information that slogans were shouted while the p...