INDIA

Ahead of the upcoming assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir, All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC) Tuesday announced to field Sikh candidates on some assembly seats where Sikh community has a significant electorate. Jagmohan Singh Raina, chairman APSCC while addressing the media in Srinagar, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that APSCC will align with any political party in the region, instead will field “independent” candidates. "We have decided to field Sikh candidates in Jammu and Kashmir on assembly seats, where our community is in good number", he said. He said that the primary focus will be on Kashmir province, with plans to field 3-4 Sikh candidates, and consultations were ongoing regarding six potential seats in Jammu. "We request the majo...

Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Jammu Anand Jain Friday said that police have recovered Rs 33 Crore worth Heroine at Jammu bus stand and one Punjab resident has been arrested. “We received specific information about two persons carrying a big bag were spotted. Jammu police acted swiftly and arrested the person and seized the bag. After initial investigations, we found that bag contained high quality Heroine worth Rs 33 Crore. The arrested person has been identified as a Punjab resident. Further investigations are on,” the ADGP said addressing a press conference in Jammu, as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO). Asked whether the arrested Punjab person was a minor as per media reports, he said that investigations are on to find out the actual age of the arrested pe...

The Supreme Court on Friday granted bail to former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, 18 months after his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the alleged liquor policy case. The ruling was delivered by a bench comprising Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan, who underscored the importance of a "speedy trial." In a significant observation, Justice Gavai noted that it would be a "travesty of justice to send him back to a trial court" given that "incarceration of 18 months" had already occurred without the trial even commencing. He added that both the trial court and the High Court "ought to have given due weightage" to Sisodia's right to a speedy trial. Manish Sisodia, a prominent leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), was a key figure in...

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma faces significant backlash after proposing a stringent law against “Love Jihad,” suggesting life imprisonment as a penalty and imposing restrictions on land sales to Muslims. During a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state executive meeting on Sunday, Sarma stated, “At the time of elections, we had spoken about Love Jihad. In the coming days, we will bring a new law that will introduce life imprisonment as a penalty for Love Jihad cases.” The term ‘Love Jihad’ is used by Hindutva groups and the BJP to describe an alleged campaign by Muslim men to convert Hindu women through marriage. Some BJP-led states have already enacted laws to prevent such conversions and interfaith marriages. Sarma also announced that land transactions between Hindus and ...

The Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India has announced that pilgrims can register only once with the Haj Committee of India (HCoI) for the 2025 Haj pilgrimage, which corresponds to the 1446 Hijri Islamic year. The pilgrimage is scheduled from May to June 2025, with registrations beginning in September 2024. According to the 31-point policy, 70% of India's Haj quota allocated by Saudi Arabia will be distributed through the HCoI, while the remaining quota will go to registered private Haj operators. The specific quota allocation will be announced later this year. Haj, one of Islam's five pillars, will be held during peak summer in 2025, similar to this year's pilgrimage, which concluded on June 19. Extreme temperatures this year, reaching up to 51.8°C, resulted in aroun...

The Indian government is preparing to introduce a Bill in Parliament to amend the 1995 Waqf Act, causing a significant uproar among opposition leaders and the Muslim community in India. The proposed Waqf (Amendment) Bill includes around 40 amendments aimed at bringing extensive changes to the current Act, including renaming it as the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development Act, 1995. Key changes proposed in the bill involve mandatory verification for all property claims by Waqf Boards, which critics argue will strip state Waqf Boards of their extensive rights to claim properties, often without adequate verification. The proposed amendments also plan to involve district magistrates in the monitoring of Waqf properties, which has been a contentious point. ...

On Friday, the Supreme Court decided against canceling the NEET-UG 2024 examination, stating that there was no systemic breach affecting the exam’s integrity beyond Hazaribagh and Patna. The bench, consisting of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, remarked, "We did not cancel the NEET-UG examination because there was no systemic breach of sanctity of the exam beyond Hazaribagh and Patna." They also criticized the National Testing Agency (NTA) for its inconsistent handling of the exam, noting, “NTA must stop its flip-flop which was noticed this year as it does not serve the interest of students.” The court issued directions to expand the role of the Centre-appointed panel led by former ISRO chief K Radhakrishnan. The panel is tasked with reviewin...

In a startling incident, a 50-year-old woman, Anari Sheikh, was abandoned in Kashmir by her son and daughter-in-law following a heated argument. The woman was left without money or a mobile phone and was later rescued by the police, according to the Times of India. The incident occurred around 12 days ago when Saheb Sheikh (27), his wife, and his mother, Anari, embarked on a trip to Kashmir. However, three days ago, Saheb and his wife returned to their home in Canning, West Bengal, without Anari. This unusual return led to suspicions among relatives and neighbors, prompting Saheb’s aunt to file a complaint with local authorities. After being detained by Canning Police Station officers, the couple admitted to abandoning Anari in Kashmir following a dispute with Saheb’s wife. ...

In Jugigarhiya village, Pakur, a 21-year-old man named Samiul Sheikh was allegedly beaten to death with sticks and strangled. Three individuals—Suraj Marandi, Anil Hembram, and Babudhan Murmu—have been detained in connection with the incident. According to a complaint filed by the victim's father, Saidul Shaikh, Samiul Sheikh was accused of mobile theft. This accusation led to a violent mob attack, which ultimately resulted in his death. The Mufasil police station has registered the case. Sanjeev Kumar Jha, the officer in charge of Mufasil police station, confirmed that Samiul Sheikh was severely beaten and strangled over allegations of mobile theft. After receiving the complaint, the police detained the three suspects involved in the attack. The body of Samiul Sheikh has...