INDIA

A Court in the national capital on Saturday acquitted two Muslim youths accused in the 2020 north-East Delhi riots case, citing insufficient evidence and unreliable prosecution. Feroz Khan, also known as Pappu, and Mohammad Anwar, residents of Old Mustafabad, were charged with participating in vandalism, looting, and arson in the Mahalaxmi Enclave area on February 24, 2020. They faced accusations under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 148, 380, 427, 451, 436, 511, 188, and 149. The Additional Sessions Judge noted significant discrepancies in witness testimonies and a lack of clarity in identifying the accused. The court also found no credible evidence proving the alleged attack on the property. These factors collectively undermined the prosecution's case...

A 33-year-old conman, Bilal Ahmad alias Dr. Bilal, hailing from Handwara, has been arrested in New Delhi by a team from Bijbehara Police Station. Bilal, wanted in multiple cases of cheating and forgery across Jammu Kashmir, has been detained under the Public Safety Act (PSA). According to a police statement, the accused has been involved in defrauding numerous civilians and paramilitary personnel by promising bank loans for vehicle purchases and subsidy schemes. Using forged documents, he allegedly secured loans in the names of CRPF personnel, exploiting their identities for personal gain. The police spokesperson revealed that Bilal has at least 14 cases registered against him in various police stations across Jammu and Kashmir. Multiple complaints are also pending against h...

Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Zia-ur-Rehman Barq faces legal trouble as an FIR has been registered against him at Nakhasa police station for allegedly threatening officials from the Uttar Pradesh Power Department during an inspection. The complaint, lodged by Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Santosh Tripathi, cites Sections 352, 351(2), and 132 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Earlier, the police booked Barq for alleged electricity theft at his residence in the Deepa Sarai neighborhood. The incident reportedly occurred during a routine inspection at around 7:30 a.m. when a power department team visited the MP's house. Superintendent of Police (SP) Krishna Kumar stated that during the inspection, Barq confronted the officials, using abusive language and threatening them. According to th...

The government of India has addressed concerns raised regarding the blocking of independent media platforms, particularly news channels Bolta Hindustan and National Dastak. In response to a question raised in the Lok Sabha by Pratima Mondal on December 18, 2024, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Dr L Murugan clarified that the government follows strict procedural safeguards in such actions. The question sought details on whether notices had been issued under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act to block these platforms without sufficient transparency or fair hearing, particularly in light of their impact on freedom of expression. Murugan explained that the government’s actions were in line with the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digit...

The BJP-led Rajasthan government has initiated a process to replace Urdu and Persian terms in police terminology with Hindi. Minister of State for Home Affairs, Jawahar Singh Bedham, stated, “New recruits and officers in the police force don’t know much about Urdu. Since Hindi is in greater use, ‘Shudh’ (pure) Hindi should be adopted for police documents, investigations, and training.” Following this directive, DGP U.R. Sahoo issued instructions to identify Urdu terms commonly used in official documents like FIRs and complaints and suggest Hindi alternatives. Training materials will also be revised to remove Urdu, and new recruits will be briefed on these changes. The opposition Congress has condemned the decision, calling it unnecessary and divisive. Spokesperson Swarnim Chatu...

Job aspirants in Madhya Pradesh have staged protests after the results of a government recruitment examination showed a candidate scoring 101.66 marks out of 100. The examination, conducted by the Madhya Pradesh Employees Selection Board for forest and jail department posts, declared the results on December 13. The unusual score was attributed to the "normalisation" process, which adjusts candidates' marks to account for variations in the difficulty levels of question papers across different sessions. The board clarified that the process, implemented as per rules, can result in scores exceeding 100 or even falling below zero. On Monday, a group of unemployed youths gathered outside the district collector's office in Indore, demanding a fair inquiry into the matter. Protesters s...

A disturbing incident occurred in Prakasha village, Nandurbar district, when a Hindutva supporter entered a mosque during the azaan (Islamic call to prayer) and demanded that the loudspeaker be turned off. The individual, dressed in saffron, confronted the muezzin (prayer caller), who refused to comply with the demand. CCTV footage shared on social media shows the man arguing with the muezzin inside the mosque. As tensions rose, other worshippers intervened, attempting to calm the situation and escort the muezzin away from the confrontation. They also spoke with the saffron-clad individual, urging him to leave peacefully. This incident highlights ongoing tensions and challenges regarding religious practices and public spaces in the region.

The music world is in mourning following the demise of legendary tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain, who passed away on Sunday, December 15, in San Francisco. The Padma Vibhushan awardee had been receiving treatment for heart-related complications in the ICU for two weeks. His death was attributed to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a chronic lung condition, according to a statement from Jon Bleicher of Prospect PR, representing the family. Tributes have poured in from across the globe for the maestro, whose influence transcended borders and genres. Grammy-winning musician Ricky Kej expressed his grief, describing Zakir Hussain as "one of the greatest musicians India has ever produced." In an emotional Instagram post, Kej highlighted the tabla maestro’s humility, his role in nurtu...

Over 40 Kashmiri students at Mewar University, Rajasthan, were allegedly harassed and subjected to violence by university authorities and local police. The students, enrolled in a B.Sc. Nursing program, have been protesting for months, demanding recognition for their course, which lacks mandatory approvals from the Rajasthan Nursing Council (RNC) and the Indian Nursing Council (INC). On Saturday evening, the situation escalated when the protesting students were reportedly beaten and forcibly removed from the university premises. The students, in a viral video said, Many were left to spend cold winter nights outside the gates, as the university refused to address their demands. The students also claim they have faced consistent intimidation, including threats of suspension and polic...

A Pakistani drone carrying nearly half a kg of high-grade narcotic substance was seized by the Border Security Force near the International Border here, officials said on Sunday. The quadcopter entered India from across the border and was seized from the Chinaz Border Outpost area in the Arnia sector late Saturday, they said. Confirming the recovery, a BSF spokesperson said a smuggling attempt was foiled by the alert troops with the successful interception of the Pakistani drone along with 495 grams of narcotic substance at 8.10 pm on Saturday. “The relentless dedication and sharp vigil of BSF Jammu personnel have once again defeated the nefarious design of anti-national elements, showcasing their unwavering commitment to the nation’s security,” the official said in a statement. P...