INDIA

Kashmiri Muslim students at Sri Soubagaya College of Nursing in Bengaluru have accused the administration of denying them permission to offer their Friday (Jummah) prayers, a practice fundamental to their faith, New Indian Express reported. The students claim repeated requests for accommodating their religious obligations have been ignored, causing them immense distress. The students argue that this action violates Article 25 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees the right to freely practice one's religion. “Education should not come at the cost of our religious beliefs or identity,” they stated, calling the college’s stance discriminatory and a threat to religious freedom. The students have appealed to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to intervene and enforce polic...

The Defence Ministry has stated that ambulances are not halted during military or paramilitary convoy movements on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway. The statement, delivered by Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth in the Lok Sabha today, emphasized that civilian traffic is regulated temporarily at select points solely for security reasons. Responding to concerns raised by Jammu Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, Seth acknowledged the regular movement of convoys on the highway for operational purposes. He stated, “To address security risks and prevent incidents like convoy attacks or ambushes, Road Opening Parties are deployed before any Security Forces Convoy movement. Traffic regulation is temporary, particularly at intersections and U-turns al...

In a landmark judgment, the High Court of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh directed the Indian Army to pay 46 years of accumulated rent to a landowner in Tangdhar, Kupwara, Press Trust of India reported. Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal, while disposing of a petition filed by Abdul Majeed Lone, emphasized that the right to property is a fundamental human right, equating it with essential individual rights such as livelihood and shelter. In his ruling on November 20, Justice Nargal stated, “The right to property is not merely a constitutional or statutory right but falls within the realm of human rights. Over the years, human rights have gained a multifaceted dimension, encompassing areas like shelter, livelihood, and health.” Background of the case Abdul Majeed Lone had approached the court in 2...

A local court has admitted a petition claiming that the revered Ajmer Sharif Dargah, a prominent Sufi dargah, stands on the remnants of an ancient Shiva temple. The petition, filed by members of a right-wing organization, has sparked a heated debate among legal experts, historians, and religious communities. The petitioners have requested the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to survey the site, asserting that historical records and architectural evidence could support their claims. They argue that the site’s origins should be verified through scientific investigation, drawing comparisons to similar disputes in Ayodhya and Varanasi. If proven to have been a temple, the petitioners seek enforcement of Hindu worship rights at the site. Representatives of the Ajmer Sharif Da...

Massive Protests have erupted in Guwahati over plans to cut down century-old trees to make way for a new flyover. The controversy centers around the Public Works Department’s proposal to uproot around 25 trees, some as old as 200 years, along the Dighalipukhuri pond for the construction of a 5.05 km-long, four-lane flyover. The project, which is slated to cost Rs 852.68 crore, has sparked strong opposition from environmentalists, artists, students, and local residents. Protesters took to the streets, voicing concerns about the environmental and cultural impact of the tree removal. The Dighalipukhuri pond is a historic site with deep cultural significance, and many locals view the trees as integral to the area's heritage. The opposition has also criticized the government's de...

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that Jammu Kashmir celebrated its first Constitution Day, marking a historic milestone with the full implementation of the Indian Constitution in the region. Addressing an event at the Supreme Court to mark Constitution Day, PM Modi described the Constitution as a “living stream” that has adapted to the evolving needs and expectations of the nation, including the challenges posed by Emergency, and will continue to guide India through changing times. Modi emphasised that his government has strengthened constitutional values through various welfare initiatives aimed at promoting social and financial equality. He highlighted measures such as opening bank accounts for over 53 crore people, providing homes for more than four crore poor famil...

A controversy surrounding the Khwaja Garib Nawaz Dargah, the dargah of the famous Sufi saint, has escalated as Hindu Sena claims that the site was originally a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. To support this claim, Hindu Sena has presented a book published in 1910 in court. The matter is currently being heard in the Ajmer Civil Court, which is expected to decide today whether further action will be taken. Hindu Sena has also requested the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to conduct a survey of the dargah, similar to the survey carried out at the Sambhal mosque. Vishnu Gupta, the national president of Hindu Sena, has called for the dargah to be officially recognized as a temple of Lord Shiva and for the Dargah Committee’s alleged illegal occupation of the site to be re...

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has set up a permanent unit of the National Security Guards (NSG) in Jammu City to enhance the region's capacity to respond to large-scale militancy incidents. This strategic deployment is part of a broader security overhaul aimed at protecting high-rise buildings, critical infrastructure, and sensitive public spaces in and around the city. A dedicated NSG team is now stationed in Jammu, allowing for faster deployment during emergencies, a significant improvement over previous protocols where NSG commandos had to be airlifted from Delhi or Chandigarh, causing delays in response times. While the exact size of the unit remains undisclosed, authorities assure that the personnel are fully equipped to handle a variety of militancy threats. This ini...

Gulfam Saifi, an IIT student and aspiring national-level shooter, was reportedly abducted and brutally assaulted in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. The incident occurred on Saturday evening while Gulfam was returning home from his shooting practice. According to Gulfam’s family, a group of 3-4 men abducted him, took him to an abandoned swimming pool at Victoria Park, and forced him to chant "Jai Shri Ram" while brutally beating him. The attackers also allegedly stripped him and left him unconscious after the assault. The victim's family has raised serious concerns over the incident, describing it as a targeted attack. Gulfam is currently undergoing treatment at a private hospital, with injuries from the assault. However, local police have contested parts of the allegations. Civil ...

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday said it was “disheartening” that the country’s largest minority was facing “unprecedented threats” as it celebrated Constitution Day. The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) supremo referred to the violence in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal, where four people died during protests against a court-ordered survey of a Mughal-era mosque. The government on Tuesday kick-started yearlong celebrations to mark the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution. “Today, as we celebrate Constitution Day, it is disheartening to see the largest minority in our country facing unprecedented threats. Their dignity, lives, livelihoods and places of worship are under attack, contradicting the Constitution’s guarantee of equal rights and dignity for every citizen, rega...