Kupwara: Security personnel take position during a cordon and search operation after an encounter between holed up terrorists and the security forces in the Chanjimulla village of Handwara tehsil in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district on May 3, 2020. Seven including two senior Army officers, two junior ranks, an officer of the local police and two terrorists were killed in the fierce gunbattle on Sunday. Two terrorists have also been killed in this encounter whose exact identity is being established. Although firing has stopped at the encounter site, but searches are going on there. (Photo: IANS)
Two terrorists were killed on Thursday in an encounter with security forces in North Kashmir’s Sopore area of Baramulla district, according to officials.
The joint operation, conducted by the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police, began Thursday night following intelligence about suspicious activity in the region.
Kashmir Zone Police shared an update on X, stating, “Two terrorists have been neutralized in the Sopore encounter. Identification and affiliation are being verified. Incriminating materials, arms, and ammunition have been recovered.”
According to officials, the operation was launched after receiving specific information about the presence of terrorists in Panipora, Sopore. During the search, an exchange of gunfire ensued, leading to the elimination of the terrorists, the officials said.
Wayanad : The flying squad attached to the Election Commission on Thursday seized food kits with pictures of Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress-led UDF nominee Priyanka Gandhi.
An official said that the food kits were seized in the Tholpatty area near the residence of the local Congress leader Sasikumar Tholpatty.
A local CPI-M youth wing leader that Congress is distributing these kits to please the voters around Tholpatty areas. However, Congress denied these charges. “Our party does not resort to such tactics to win the election, ” said Congress leaders manning the election campaign of Priyanka Gandhi.
Priyanka, who arrived in Kerala on Sunday, has been travelling to every nook and corner of the Wayanad where she is addressing more than five meetings every day. Women have come out in huge numbers to listen to the Congress nominee in these rallies.
The election campaign will end on November 11 while voting will take place on November 13.
Rahul Gandhi won the 2019 general elections with a margin of 4.60 lakh from Wayanad which came down to 3.64 lakh in the 2024 general elections. However, he decided to vacate the Wayanad seat for Raebarali and Congress pitched in Priyanka Gandhi for the Wayanad bypolls.
She is pitted against CPI veteran Sathyan Mokeri and Navya Haridas of the BJP.
Wayanad constituency is spread across seven Assembly constituencies in three districts – Wayanad, Malappuram, and Kozhikode.
Of the seven, four are held by the Congress-led UDF, two by the CPI-M and one was won by the Left-backed independent legislator P.V. Anvar who has now split up with the ruling Left and floated his own party.
New Delhi :The air quality in Delhi-NCR remained alarmingly poor on Thursday, approaching ‘severe’ levels in multiple areas, with the average Air Quality Index (AQI) in the city recorded at 362, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
Several areas in Delhi exceeded the 400 AQI mark, which falls under the ‘severe’ category. Anand Vihar reported an AQI of 422, Jahangirpuri 431, and Wazirpur 428. Other localities, including Ashok Vihar (416), Mundka (421), and Rohini (403), also indicated dangerously high levels of pollution.
Meanwhile, most other regions in Delhi recorded AQI levels above 300, indicating ‘very poor’ air quality, with Alipur at 387, Burari Crossing at 377, and North Campus DU at 372, among others.
Despite intermittent winds reaching speeds of up to 8 kmph, air quality showed little improvement across the region. In the Delhi-NCR, AQI levels in Haryana’s Faridabad and Gurugram and Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad, Greater Noida, and Noida areas ranged between 252 and 313, also reflecting poor air quality levels.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported visibility reductions at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, where visibility dropped to 1, 800 metres from 2, 100 metres the previous night.
To address the escalating pollution levels, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has implemented several initiatives to mitigate pollution, including the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
Stringent penalties have been imposed on polluting construction sites, vehicles, and industries while road dust control efforts are underway, with approximately 600 mechanical road-sweeping machines, water sprinklers, and anti-smog guns deployed across the NCR.
As Delhi-NCR continues to witness a worsening air quality with the onset of winter, the month-long anti-open burning campaign kicked off in the national Capital from November 6.
The decision to kick off the anti-open burning campaign was taken by the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi after Environment Minister Gopal Rai held a review meeting of the Winter Action Plan with all stakeholders and officials concerned.
To strictly enforce the month-long anti-open burning campaign that will continue till December 6, as many as 588 patrolling teams will be deployed to tackle pollution, inspect construction sites and create awareness among farmers to prevent stubble burning.
Additionally, government departments, Resident Welfare Associations, and construction agencies have been instructed to provide electric heaters to security guards to reduce the need for open burning of biomass during winter.
The Delhi government has urged neighbouring states of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to intensify their pollution control efforts, emphasising that collective action will have a stronger impact.
Recently, the Delhi government announced a comprehensive 21-point Winter Action Plan to tackle pollution in the national Capital.
Last year’s 14-point plan has been expanded to a broader 21-point strategy to combat the menace of air pollution, including emergency measures such as drone monitoring, anti-dust campaigns, road-sweeping machines etc.
New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed the government’s commitment to honouring India’s armed forces, praising the ‘One Rank, One Pension’ (OROP) as a tribute to the courage and sacrifices of veterans and ex-service personnel, as the scheme marked its 10 years on Thursday.
Taking to X, PM Modi posted, “On this day, ‘One Rank, One Pension’ (OROP) was implemented. This was a tribute to the courage and sacrifices of our veterans and ex-service personnel who dedicate their lives to protecting our nation. The decision to implement OROP was a significant step towards addressing this long-standing demand and reaffirming our nation’s gratitude to our heroes.”
“It would make you all happy that over the decade, lakhs of pensioners and pensioner families have benefitted from this landmark initiative. Beyond the numbers, OROP represents the government’s commitment to the well-being of our armed forces, ” he added.
The Prime Minister also reiterated the government’s commitment to do every possible thing to strengthen the armed forces and further the welfare of those who serve the nation.
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also expressed appreciation for OROP, calling it a core aspect of PM Modi’s policy towards the armed forces.
“The ‘One Rank, One Pension’ (OROP) has been an important pillar of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s policy towards the Armed Forces. The Government under his leadership is committed to take care of the soldiers and their families, ” Singh stated.
Sharing a video of the Indian armed forces, he noted, “More than 25 lakh veterans have been benefitted from the implementation of OROP. My gratitude to the Prime Minister for fulfilling the commitment given to the ex-servicemen of this country.”
OROP, implemented in 2014, is a long-awaited scheme that ensures uniform pension payments for retired military personnel based on rank and service length, regardless of retirement date.
This reform addressed disparities in pension, where personnel with the same rank and service length but different retirement dates received unequal pensions.
Previously, a Lieutenant General who retired in 1995 could have received a lower pension than a colonel who retired after 2006 despite similar service tenure.
Under the revised system, all Defence pensioners retired, discharged, or invalided out of service as of July 1 — including Commissioned Officers, honorary commissioned officers, JCOs/ORs, and non-combatants — are eligible for the OROP pension.
New Delhi : President Droupadi Murmu shared her greetings with fellow citizens, devotees and believers on the occasion of the second day of Chhath Puja on Wednesday.
In her message, she said, “On the auspicious occasion of Chhath Puja, the holy festival of faith, fasting and devotion, I extend my hearty congratulations and warm wishes to all my fellow citizens.”
The President went on to shed light on the spiritual and ecological significance of the occasion.
“Chhath Puja, one of the oldest festivals of the country, is an occasion to worship the Sun. This festival also worships the rivers and ponds, the unique gifts of nature. Through rigorous fasting, this festival purifies our minds and souls, ” she expressed.
She added that this festival “inspires us to protect and preserve our environment.”
Concluding her message by urging citizens to conserve nature to keep culture thriving, President Murmu expressed: “On the occasion of Chhath Puja, let us re-affirm our faith in Bhagwan Surya, our rivers and the bounty of nature. May this festival bring happiness in our lives and may our reverence for nature continue to grow.”
The second day of the four-day-long Chhath Puja is marked by the pivotal ‘Kharna’ Puja, a day when devotees, particularly Chhath vrati (the main individual performing the puja) observe a strict fast without food and water, before performing key rituals to honour the Sun God.
The four-day festival represents more than just a religious observance—it’s a time for familial bonding and a call for the well-being of their loved ones.
Beyond its religious and cultural significance, Chhath Puja also carries an ecological message. The festival’s connection to water resources is profound, as devotees gather near rivers, ponds, or other water bodies to offer prayers and perform rituals.
The reverence for nature and the Sun is woven into the fabric of Chhath, symbolising the interconnectedness between humanity and the environment.
New Delhi: As Delhi-NCR continues to witness a worsening air quality with the onset of winter, the month-long anti-open burning campaign is set to kick off in the national Capital from Wednesday.
The decision to kick off the anti-open burning campaign was taken by the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi after Environment Minister Gopal Rai he held a review meeting of the Winter Action Plan with all stakeholders and officials concerned on Tuesday.
To strictly enforce the month-long anti-open burning campaign that will continue till December 6, as many as 588 patrolling teams will be deployed to tackle pollution, inspect construction sites and create awareness among farmers to prevent stubble burning.
“Beginning Wednesday, the campaign will be led by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Revenue Department, New Delhi Municipal Council, Delhi Development Authority, Irrigation & Flood Department, and Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation, with 588 teams across these departments for coordinated action, ” Gopal Rai said.
Rai added that teams will be on the ground to monitor and prevent open burning incidents across the city around the clock.
Additionally, government departments, Resident Welfare Associations, and construction agencies have been instructed to provide electric heaters to security guards to reduce the need for open burning of biomass during winter.
Rai urged neighbouring BJP-ruled states of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to intensify their pollution control efforts, emphasising that collective action will have a stronger impact.
Recently, the Delhi government announced a comprehensive 21-point Winter Action Plan to tackle pollution in the national Capital.
Delhi’s Environment Minister said that last year’s 14-point plan has been expanded to a broader 21-point strategy to combat the menace of air pollution, including emergency measures such as drone monitoring, anti-dust campaigns, road-sweeping machines etc.
The Minister claimed that incidents of stubble burning have reduced by 50 per cent in Punjab since the AAP government took office, following discussions with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Wednesday passed a resolution urging the central government to engage with regional representatives to restore the special status that was revoked in 2019.
The resolution, introduced by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, reasserted the significance of the former special provisions, emphasizing their role in preserving the region’s identity, culture, and rights. The resolution also highlighted that any discussions on restoration should balance national unity with the legitimate aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
The move led to heated protests from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members, including Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma, who criticized the resolution, calling it a “rat race” with no practical impact.
Sharma argued that the restoration of Article 370, which was revoked by Parliament in 2019 under the NDA government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was not on the Assembly’s agenda and dismissed the motion as symbolic.
The situation quickly escalated, with National Conference (NC) members and other regional party representatives vocally supporting the resolution. BJP members tore copies of the resolution, threw them into the well of the Assembly, and disrupted proceedings. Congress MLA Nizamuddin Bhat condemned the BJP members’ actions, accusing them of disrespecting parliamentary norms and undermining the right of every member to voice their opinions.
Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather ultimately proceeded with a voice vote, leading to the resolution’s passage. BJP members continued their protest, storming the well of the House, which forced the Speaker to adjourn the session briefly.
The revocation of Article 370 in 2019 reorganized Jammu and Kashmir, dividing it into two Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
New Delhi : The Union government has released the 15th Finance Commission Grants during the financial year 2024–25, for the rural local bodies of Haryana, Tripura and Mizoram, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj announced on Tuesday.
Panchayati Raj institutions of Haryana have been given untied grants amounting to Rs 194.867 crore as part of the first instalment. These funds have been disbursed for 18 eligible district panchayats, 139 eligible block panchayats and 5, 911 eligible gram panchayats in the state that fulfilled the mandatory conditions for release, according to the official statement.
For the rural local bodies in Tripura, the first instalment of untied grants amounting to Rs 31.40 crore and first instalment of tied grants amounting to Rs 47.10 crore has been released. These funds are for all the 1, 260 rural local bodies including (Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council), HQ; 40 block advisory committees; and 587 village committees, the statement said.
The fifteenth Finance Commission has also released funds for Panchayati Raj institutions of Mizoram, as part of the second instalment of untied grants of the financial year 2022–23, amounting to Rs.14.20 crores and second instalment of tied grants of the financial year 2022–23 amounting to Rs 21.30 crore. These funds are for all 834 village councils including Autonomous District Council areas.
The untied grants are utilised by rural local bodies for location-specific felt needs, under the 29 subjects enshrined in the Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution, except for salaries and other establishment costs. While the tied grants can be used for the basic services of sanitation and maintenance of ODF status, and this should include management and treatment of household waste, and human excreta and fecal sludge management in particular. The supply of drinking water, rainwater harvesting and water recycling is also included in the list.
The Fifteenth Finance Commission grants aim at strengthening rural local self-governance by empowering rural local bodies. These funds help them to become more capable, accountable, and self-reliant, driving sustainable development in rural areas. Aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Viswas, Sabka Prayas’, this initiative supports inclusive growth and participatory democracy, vital for development of the country, the official statement observed.
The Centre, through the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and Ministry of Jal Shakti (Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation), recommends release of finance commission grants to states for rural local bodies, which are then released by the Ministry of Finance. The allocated grants are recommended and released in two instalments in a financial year.
Lucknow: In a major administrative shift ahead of the bye-elections, the Uttar Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, has decided to take control of appointment of the state’s Director General of Police (DGP), bypassing the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) panel process.
This move, approved at a Cabinet meeting late on Monday, means the UP government will now select the DGP independently, a decision previously overseen by the Centre.
The Yogi government has established a committee led by a retired High Court judge for the DGP’s selection. The committee will comprise the Chief Secretary, a UPSC-nominated member, the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission Chairman or their nominee, the Additional Chief Secretary or Principal Secretary (Home), and a retired DGP.
This change also sets a two-year fixed tenure for the DGP’s position. Following Punjab, UP becomes the second state in India to implement its own system for appointing the DGP.
The last full-time DGP in UP was Mukul Goyal, who was removed in May 2022, leaving the state with acting DGPs since. Reports suggest that Prashant Kumar is likely to be appointed as a full-time DGP under the new system.
Previously, UP followed the Centre’s protocol, which stated that the government would send the names of eligible officers — those with at least 30 years of service in the police force and six months left in tenure — to the UPSC, which would then shortlist three candidates for the state’s final selection.
Under the new system, only officers serving at the Director General of Police-level in pay matrix level 16 will be eligible for the DGP’s role.
If a DGP is found involved in criminal activity, corruption, or failure in duties, the state government retains the authority to remove them before the end of their term.
However, any removal process must comply with the High Court guidelines outlined in relevant legal provisions.
An army personnel lost his life and another was injured after their vehicle skidded off the road and fell into a gorge in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district on Monday, officials reported.
The incident occurred late in the evening near Badog village in Kalakote, officials said.
Naik Badri Lal and Sepoy Jai Prakash were found critically injured at the scene and were transported to a nearby hospital, where Lal later succumbed to his injuries.
