INDIA

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 procession pa...

After violence erupted in Sambhal over a survey of Sambhal Jama Masjid, nearly 1,000 Muslim homes remain locked as residents have fled the area, fearing potential arrests or police actions. The violence has disproportionately affected Muslim communities, with many of the targeted areas, including Hindpura, Kot Garvi Nakhasa, and Deepa Sarai, being predominantly Muslim. The affected homes remain locked as their owners have not returned, and police teams have been dispatched to verify reports that many of the residents have gone to Delhi. “Around 1,000 houses remain locked as residents have not returned. We are assuring everyone that no action will be taken against the innocent,” said Krishna Kumar, the Sambhal Superintendent of Police. Some locals have posted notices on their doors...

A video circulating on social media shows a group of right-wing members entering the Haji Malang Dargah in Thane district, chanting slogans like ‘Jai Shree Ram’ and ‘Ek hi naara, ek hi naam, Jai Shree Ram’ while waving saffron flags. Despite the presence of a police officer, they continued chanting and performed aarti (pooja), with several members recording the incident. The Haji Malang Dargah, located on Malang Gad hill and visited by people of all faiths, is believed by some Hindus to be a temple, a claim that has been contested for years. The shrine is dedicated to Hazrat Haji Abdul Rahman and is also known as Panch Peer due to the five graves of his followers surrounding it. The viral video has reignited the longstanding debate over its religious identity. The dargah committee co...