INDIA

A portion of the 185-year-old Noori Masjid in Fatehpur district, Uttar Pradesh, was demolished on Tuesday following allegations of encroachment. The action came weeks after the district administration issued a notice, claiming the structure obstructed the widening of the Banda-Bahraich State Highway (SH-13). The demolished section, reportedly constructed in the last three years, was built over the highway. However, the mosque's main building remains untouched and intact. The demolition was carried out under heavy security, with police and Rapid Action Force personnel deployed to the site. Avinash Tripathi, Additional District Magistrate (Finance and Revenue), stated, “The Public Works Department had issued a notice in August to remove the structure, built by encroaching upon th...

Controversy has erupted following remarks by Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav of the Allahabad High Court, who described certain Muslims using the term "Kathmullah," a word widely regarded as derogatory. Justice Yadav's comments, captured in a viral video, have been criticized for perpetuating stereotypes and targeting the Muslim community.   Referring to "Kathmullahs," Justice Yadav stated, “The word may be inappropriate, but I have no hesitation in saying it because such people are harmful to the country. They incite the public and hinder the nation's progress. Such individuals must be cautious.” He further remarked, “Our (Hindu) children are tolerant and kind because they chant mantras and study Vedas, but their (Muslim) children cannot be expected to be compassionate as they w...

A Kashmiri vendor was allegedly manhandled by a group of men during the ongoing International Gita Festival here, prompting police to register an FIR in the matter, officials said on Monday The incident took place on Saturday when the vendor from Srinagar was allegedly manhandled by a group of men who were holding saffron flags in their hands and walking past various stalls, they said. Several craftspersons drawn from around the country have put up their stalls at the Craft Mela of International Gita Jayanti Mahotsav-2024 which have been allotted by the authorities here. The Craft Mela is being organised on the periphery of holy Brahmasarovar here. The incident went viral on social media, in which it can be seen how a group of men holding saffron flags and chanting slogans ente...

The Kashmiri Pandit organization Youth 4 Panun Kashmir has filed a police complaint against PDP leader Iltija Mufti, accusing her of insulting Lord Rama and the Hindu community. The complaint was filed by Vithal Chowdhary, President of Youth 4 Panun Kashmir, alleging that Iltija Mufti made a derogatory and inflammatory tweet about Lord Rama, Hinduism, and Hindus. The complaint has been lodged with the Cyber Crime Cell in Delhi, accusing Mufti of making a deeply offensive statement designed to incite communal discord and deliberately insult Lord Rama, the Hindu religion, and its followers. The complaint cites Sections 302, 325, and 323 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Section 67 of the IT Act, as per the statement issued by the organization. Meanwhile, Roots in Kashmir ...

Varanasi’s Uday Pratap College witnessed heightened tensions on Friday, December 6, as a large group of students staged a protest demanding the removal of a mosque located on the campus. Hundreds of students gathered at the college gate, chanting slogans of “Jai Shri Ram” and waving saffron flags. Attempts to forcefully enter the campus were thwarted by police stationed at the entrance, ensuring the situation did not escalate further. Student leader Vivekanand Singh argued that if the mosque's land does not belong to the Waqf Board, the structure should be removed. To manage the growing unrest, authorities restricted campus access to only those with valid identity cards, a measure implemented on Thursday after tensions flared earlier in the week. On Tuesday, students recited th...

In a strange turn of events, a groom from Dubai and his wedding party of 150 people were left bewildered after the bride vanished on their wedding day. Deepak, a 24-year-old laborer working in Dubai, had been in a long-distance relationship with Manpreet Kaur, whom he met on Instagram three years ago. The couple planned their wedding for December 6, making arrangements over the phone. But when the groom's family reached Moga, Punjab, they discovered their chosen venue, "Rose Garden Palace," didn’t exist. Manpreet had assured Deepak that her relatives would escort the baraat, but hours passed without anyone showing up. By 5 PM, the groom’s frustration turned into suspicion as Manpreet’s phone was switched off, prompting him to file a police complaint. Deepak informed authorit...

The National President of Hindu Sena, Vishnu Gupta, has formally written to the Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), urging a detailed survey of the Jama Masjid in Delhi. He alleges that the mosque was constructed on the remains of temples from Jodhpur and Udaipur, reportedly destroyed by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. In his letter, Gupta claims that idols of Hindu deities were used in the construction of the mosque, with some allegedly buried beneath its stairs to insult Hindu religious sentiments. Gupta emphasized the need for an ASI investigation, asserting that historical evidence points to Aurangzeb’s actions being intended to demean Hindus. He argued that the survey could uncover remnants of temples that might have once existed at the site. He furt...

Indian Railways is set to launch its first Vande Bharat Sleeper train, connecting New Delhi to Srinagar via the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL). The train, which offers modern amenities and enhanced travel comfort, will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 26, 2025, coinciding with Republic Day celebrations. This semi-high-speed train will be the first direct rail service between the national capital and Kashmir, covering over 800 kilometers in under 13 hours. Departing from New Delhi at 7:00 PM, it will reach Srinagar by 8:00 AM the next day, with key stops at Jammu Tawi, Katra, and Banihal. Ticket prices are expected to start at ₹2,000 for AC 3-tier, ₹2,500 for AC 2-tier, and ₹3,000 for First AC. The train will feature a mix of 11 AC 3-ti...

In a heartening display of communal harmony, members of the Sikh community in Malerkotla, Punjab, have donated several acres of land for the construction of a mosque, fulfilling a long-standing demand of the local Muslim community. The initiative comes amid a rise in Islamophobia across India, making the gesture even more significant. Sikhs not only donated the land but also actively participated in laying the foundation for the mosque. "For years, Muslims in Umerabad and Amargarh areas of Malerkotla had no dedicated place for worship and had been praying in the open. This concerned us all, and the Sikh community decided to step forward and help," said Amarjit Singh, a local Sikh resident. Singh noted that the decision to donate land was unanimous within his family. "The land is w...

Kashmiri Muslim students at Sri Soubagaya College of Nursing in Bengaluru have accused the administration of denying them permission to offer their Friday (Jummah) prayers, a practice fundamental to their faith, New Indian Express reported. The students claim repeated requests for accommodating their religious obligations have been ignored, causing them immense distress. The students argue that this action violates Article 25 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees the right to freely practice one's religion. “Education should not come at the cost of our religious beliefs or identity,” they stated, calling the college’s stance discriminatory and a threat to religious freedom. The students have appealed to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to intervene and enforce polic...