INDIA

The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday dismissed a criminal case against two individuals accused of chanting “Jai Shri Ram” inside a mosque. The incident, reported to have occurred on September 24, 2023, led to charges of criminal trespass, intimidation, and offending religious sentiments under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The accused were booked under IPC Section 295A for “outraging religious feelings,” along with Sections 447 (criminal trespass), 505 (statements conducive to public mischief), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 34 (common intention), however, Justice M. Nagaprasanna, who presided over the single-judge bench, ruled that chanting “Jai Shri Ram” did not inherently harm religious sentiments or provoke communal discord. The court stated, “Section 295A p...

Several opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) staged a walkout during a joint committee meeting on the Waqf Bill today, citing derogatory remarks made by a BJP member. The meeting, which included a presentation from representatives of the Ministry of Minority Affairs, was attended by opposition figures such as Kalyan Banerjee, Gaurav Gogoi, A Raja, Mohamed Abdulla, and Arvind Sawant. The opposition MPs left the meeting after alleging that they were subjected to insults, but they returned about an hour later. In response, BJP members contended that the opposition was disrespecting the committee's chairman, Jagadambika Pal. This incident marks the second consecutive day of walkouts by opposition members due to ongoing disagreements regarding the bill.

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a petition against Jammu Kashmir Lieutenant Governor's proposal to nominate five members to the assembly. The top court asked the petitioner to approach the high court. As per amended section 15 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, J&K Lieutenant Governor has the authority to nominate five members to the assembly - two women, two Kashmiri pandits, and a resident of Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). According to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), a bench of justices Sanjiv Khanna and Sanjay Kumar stated, "We are not inclined to entertain the present petition under Article 32 of the Constitution of India and give liberty to the petitioner to approach the jurisdictional high court by way of writ petition ...

The Indian Railways is set to introduce a new addition to its Vande Bharat series—an overnight sleeper train connecting New Delhi to Srinagar. The Vande Bharat Sleeper, built by Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML), will commence operations in January 2025, providing a faster and more comfortable travel experience for long-distance, overnight journeys. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw unveiled the prototype in September 2024. According to senior officials, the Vande Bharat Sleeper will significantly enhance rail connectivity between the national capital and Srinagar, the capital of Jammu Kashmir. Indian Railways also has plans to extend the route further to Baramulla, aiming to improve access to the region. Route and Maintenance The Vande Bharat Sleeper will operate between N...

The National Conference (NC) has condemned Yati Narsinghanand’s recent remarks against Prophet Muhammad, calling for his immediate arrest. The NC stated that the inflammatory comments deeply wounded the sentiments of Muslims and could incite communal unrest. Narsinghanand, who has been previously booked for hate speech, faces fresh charges after protests erupted in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad and other states in response to his remarks. Imran Nabi Dar, spokesperson for the NC, emphasized the need for swift government action, urging authorities to arrest Narsinghanand and ensure accountability. He noted that such statements harm India's reputation for religious tolerance and have the potential to disrupt communal harmony. Dar also called on the public to remain calm and resist att...

A Deputy Superintendent of Police (Dy SP) with the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Ajay Pratap Singh, was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday for allegedly accepting a Rs 20 lakh bribe. Singh, stationed in Patna, along with two middlemen, is accused of extorting money from Rocky Yadav, the owner of Ramaiya Construction, by threatening to falsely implicate his family in a case involving unlicensed weapons. The investigation began after Yadav lodged a complaint stating that Singh demanded Rs 2.5 crore to shield his family from potential terror charges. Singh allegedly asked for an initial payment of Rs 25 lakh during an interrogation on September 26, providing Yadav with a middleman's contact information. Following this, Yadav arranged for the m...

The Kolkata Police have begun investigating after slogans of "Kashmir Mange Azadi" (Kashmir wants freedom) were raised during a protest in the Jadavpur area of Kolkata, as reported by India Today. The protest on Tuesday was originally organized in response to the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at the RG Kar Medical College on August 9, which has stirred widespread anger among healthcare workers across India. A First Information Report (FIR) was filed after a viral video surfaced showing protesters chanting slogans supporting Kashmir's freedom. The police have registered the case under the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), invoking Section 152, related to actions against the sovereignty of India, and Section 285, concerning public safety. The appearance of separatist slogans durin...

On the last day of his service, Director General of Police (DGP) RR Swain visited the Balidan Stambh (Martyrs’ Memorial) at Pratap Park, Lal Chowk, to pay tribute to the fallen heroes. He said that during his 30 years of service, he endeavored to ensure the people of Jammu Kashmir live in an atmosphere free from fear and intimidation, and he believes he has not lost the opportunity to play his part. “For a police officer, Balidan Stambh is no less than a place of worship. There are hundreds of fallen heroes who have sacrificed their lives for the cause. I must pay rich tribute to all the heroes on the last day of my service,” DGP Swain told reporters at Balidan Stambh. When asked about the challenges he faced during his career, having served JK from SSP to DGP, the outgoing JK police ...

A mosque, dargah, and graveyard, reportedly over 500 years old, were demolished in Gujarat's Gir Somnath district on September 28. The Supreme Court had recently ordered a halt to all demolitions across the country unless prior permission was obtained, with exceptions for public road encroachments and specific areas. However, the Gujarat administration proceeded with the demolition, citing the need to clear "illegal constructions" near the historic Somnath temple as part of the Somnath Development Project. The demolition, described as the largest in the district’s history, involved 36 bulldozers, 30 JCBs, and 50 tractors, among other heavy machinery. To ensure the operation's execution, the authorities deployed 1,200 police officers, with senior officials, including district co...

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath emphasized the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) critical role in fostering development and security in Jammu Kashmir. He asserted that the BJP’s resurgence would pave the way for the integration of Pakistan Administered Kashmir (PaK) back into India. Launching his campaign for the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections, Yogi Adityanath urged voters to support BJP candidates across various constituencies, including Ramgarh, Vijaypur, and Samba. Addressing a rally, he claimed that with the BJP in power, the annexation of PaK would soon become a reality. Yogi pointed to growing unrest in PoK, stating, “Pakistan is struggling to maintain democracy, and voices for separation are rising in PaK. Holding elections in Muzaffarabad alongside our p...