INDIA

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...

A petition has been filed by a Hindu group in a Rajasthan court speaking massive controversy, claiming that the renowned Ajmer Sharif Dargah was constructed over a temple dedicated to Mahadev. The petition demands that “Bhagwan Sankatmochan Mahadev Virajman” be declared the rightful owner of the land where the Dargah is situated. Additionally, it seeks the removal of the Dargah and the reconstruction of the Bhagwan Shri Sankatmochan Mahadev Temple at the site. In response to the petition, Syed Naseeruddin Chishti, chairman of the All India Sufi Sajjadanshin Council and successor to the spiritual head of Ajmer Dargah, condemned the claims, calling them an act of religious provocation. He expressed strong disapproval, stating, "We strongly condemn this act and will respond to it....

Militancy has been buried and won't be allowed to stage a comeback, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Wednesday while addressing a rally in Udhampur. Promising a terror-free region under the BJP regime, Shah alleged that the National Conference-Congress alliance would impose Pakistan's agenda if it comes to power. Shah, who is spearheading the BJP’s election campaign, said assembly elections are taking place in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir without Article 370. The Narendra Modi-led government, Shah said in his address, had fulfilled the dream of party’s patriarch Syama Prasad Mukherjee in August 2019 when it abrogated Article 370. Shah said whoever spreads terror in Jammu and Kashmir will get his answer at the the gallows. “I want to ask you whether (Parliament att...

In a peculiar turn of events, Imtiyaz Sheikh, a 36-year-old resident of Bandipora, Jammu and Kashmir, was detained by Gujarat police after attempting to cross into Pakistan via the Kutch border. Sheikh had traveled to Gujarat in hopes of meeting a Pakistani social media influencer from Multan, with whom he had formed an online connection. Sheikh's journey led him to Khavda, a village close to the India-Pakistan border. Believing he could secure legal permission to cross the heavily guarded boundary, Sheikh sought help from local villagers, prompting them to inform the authorities. Sagar Bagmar, the Superintendent of Police in Kutch (West), revealed that Sheikh’s actions were driven by confusion rather than any ill intent. “He was under the impression he could easily cross into Pak...

Tensions flared in Dharavi, Mumbai, on Saturday as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) moved to evict the 25-year-old Subhania Mosque on 90ft Road, citing its "illegal" occupation. Protests broke out when members of the local Muslim community opposed the move, leading to clashes with BMC officials. Demonstrators reportedly threw stones, intensifying the situation. Protests began on Friday night, with the community blocking the road in protest. After talks between BMC officials and community leaders at the local police station, a temporary resolution was reached, granting an eight-day extension for vacating the mosque. The local Muslim community plans to take the issue to court, seeking legal recourse against the BMC's eviction notice. Meanwhile, police on the ground worke...

An accused in the Lethpora terror attack has died of cardiac arrest in government medical college Jammu late last night, officials said. An official told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the accused identified as Bilal Ahmad Kuchay son of Ghulam Nabi Kuchay of of Pulwama was lodged in jail in Jammu division and was unwell since last week. He said that he was getting treatment in the jail and later was shifted to GMC Jammu. "Kuchay suffered a cardiac arrest on Monday evening and died while further proceedings in this regard have been taken up," he said. Meanwhile, Muzaffar his brother confirmed to KNO that Kuchay was undergoing treatment and breathed his last on Monday evening. Kuchay was arrested in 2020 after he was accused of providing logistic support to terroris...

Jammu Kashmir National Conference president Farooq Abdullah has accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and UP chief Minister Yogi Adityanath of keeping mum on the rape of a Schedule Caste girl in Ram Mandir. Farooq Abdullah, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that the girl has been raped inside Ram Mandir but did you hear any statement from PM, did you hear anything from HM, who is sitting in Jammu or from UP CM. "Isn't she our sister, isn't she our daughter? How many times will they become target? Then they will claim to be protector," the NC president asked and said, "They can't protect anybody. They can only protect their chair." Farooq Abdullah was in Budhal to support party candidate Javed Choudhary on the last date of campaigning f...

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reiterated the government's pledge to restore Jammu Kashmir's statehood, emphasizing the ongoing democratic progress in the region. He said that "the world is witnessing how the people of Jammu Kashmir are strengthening India’s democracy," and praised the region’s contribution. During his address, Modi criticized what he referred to as “three families” responsible for the region's past "destruction," stating that these families, both in Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir, are now feeling threatened as their influence diminishes. The Prime Minister reaffirmed the BJP’s commitment to restoring statehood, stating, “We promised in Parliament to restore Jammu Kashmir’s statehood, and we will fulfill this commitment.”