A total of 31 terrorists have been killed in the Kashmir Valley so far this year through a series of successful joint operations involving the Army, Police, and paramilitary forces, according to Jammu and Kashmir Police.
Official sources reported that, as of September 26, a total of 47 terrorists have been eliminated by security forces in the J&K Union Territory. These statistics include 38 foreign terrorists and nine local militants.
In 2022, a total of 187 terrorists were neutralized, comprising 57 foreign and 130 local insurgents.
The data further reveals that from January 1 to September 26, 204 terrorists were apprehended. Presently, Jammu and Kashmir has 111 active terrorists, with 71 being foreign and 40 local combatants, marking a significant decrease from the 137 active terrorists recorded the previous year.
Amritsar : As many as sixteen farmer organizations in Punjab are jointly staging Rail Roko (blockade) protests in Devidas Pura falling in the Amritsar, the main Railway line connecting the city with the national capital Delhi .
Confirming the Rail Roko program against the Centre Government SKM (Samyukt Kisan Morcha) Spokesperson Gurbahcan Singh Chabba said today sixteen farmers outfit would not allow entry or leave the train in Amritsar from today 12.00. p.m onwards till September 30.
Chabba further informed that farmers unions including Kissan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC) would carry their protest in Punjab and Haryana too. He said that farmer’s outfits have planned to stage rail blockades at 12 locations in various districts in Punjab.
Talking about the demands of farmers, Chabba said that farmers unions demand Rs 50,000 crore flood relief package for north Indian states, legal guarantee to minimum support price (MSP) on farm produce and 200 work days under MGNREGA.
Adding further he said that farmer unions were also claiming regarding flood damage in North India. As the central government should release a special package of 50 thousand crore rupees for North India besides setting up a high-level investigation committee to investigate the causes of the flood and action should be taken against the culprits by investigating unnatural factors such as building constructions in drainage channels, tampering with the natural flow of rivers, etc.
A guarantee law should be made on the purchase of all crops MSP and the rate of all crops should as per the recommendation of the Dr. Swaminathan Commission report, it should be given with a formula of C2+50%. The entire debt of farmers and laborers should be waived off.
Telling more about their demands he said that drugs like heroin smack should strictly be curbed in the whole of North India and rehabilitation should be arranged in the society by providing free treatment and employment to the youth addicted to drugs.
All the police cases slapped during the Delhi march (protest) be canceled, justice should be done in the Lakhimpur Khiri murder case and Central Minister Ajay Mishra should be lodged behind the bars as per law, he said.
A compensation of Rs 10 lakh each should be given to the families of the farmers killed during the farmers agitation and a government job should be given to each family, he quipped.
New Delhi : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday detained several suspects during a multi-state crackdown on the terrorist-gangster-drug smuggler nexus, connected with ‘listed terrorist’ Arsh Dalla and many dreaded gangsters.
State Police forces provided the necessary support and assistance in the raids.
The NIA said that a total of 53 locations were raided during the day-long operation, which started early this morning. Pistols, ammunition, large numbers of digital devices and incriminating material, were seized during the raids that spanned the six States of Punjab, Delhi, Haryana, UP, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and the UT of Chandigarh.
Besides Dalla, others under the NIA scanner in these raids, were notorious gangsters Lawrence Bishnoi, Sukha Duneke, Harry Maur, Narender alias Lali, Kala Jatheri, Deepak Tinu.
These were the seventh in the series of such crackdowns launched by NIA following the registration of five cases since August 2022, including the two new cases registered against organised criminal gangs in July 2023. The cases relate to conspiracies of targeted killings, terror funding of pro-Khalistan outfits, extortion, etc by the gangsters, many of whom are lodged in various jails or are operating from various foreign countries, including Pakistan, Canada, Malaysia, Portugal and Australia.
“The focus of today’s raids, aimed at dismantling the terror-gangster-drug smuggler nexus, was on weapon suppliers, financiers and logistics providers associated with various hardcore gangs and their operatives. These gangs are working with drug smugglers and terrorists based out of other countries, including Pakistan, UAE, Canada, Portugal, ” said the official.
The NIA investigations have revealed that the conspiracies were being hatched in jails of different states and were being executed by an organised network of operatives based abroad. Notable among such conspiracies were the sensational killing of Maharashtra builder Sanjay Biyani, mining trader Mehal Singh and international Kabaddi player Sandeep Nangal Ambia in Punjab last year.
“Many of the criminals and gangsters who were earlier leading gangs in India have fled abroad in recent years and are now pursuing their terror and violence related activities from there, as per NIA investigations. These criminals have been engaged in planning and commissioning serious crimes, including contract and revenge killings, in association with criminals lodged in jails across India. These groups have been carrying out targeted killings and raising funds for attacks and other nefarious activities through smuggling of drugs and weapons, hawala and extortions, ” the NIA said.
It said that the spotlight on these gangs has become sharper after reports of several prisons becoming havens of the deadly nexus and hubs of gang wars, which recently resulted in violence and murder inside Goindwal Jail.
Some of the locations where raids were conducted on Wednesday included: Amritsar, Moga, Fazilka , Ludhiana, Mohali, Faridkot, Barnala, Bhatinda, Ferozpur, SAS Nagar, Amritsar, and Jalandhar districts of Punjab; Rohtak, Sirsa, Fatehabad and Faridabad districts of Haryana; Sri Ganga Nagar, Jhunjhunu, Hanumangarh and Jodhpur districts of Rajasthan; Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh; Dehradun and Udhamsingh Nagar districts of Uttarakhand; besides south-east district of Delhi/NCR and UT of Chandigarh.
The NIA had earlier conducted similar raids at over 370 locations, leading to seizure of 38 arms, including four lethal weapons, along with 1129 rounds of ammunition. NIA has so far frozen 87 banks accounts and attached 13 properties, besides seizing 331 digital devices, 418 documents and two vehicles. Two absconders have been declared as designated individual terrorists, and 15 accused declared as proclaimed offenders and Red Corner Notices (RCNs) have been issued against nine others as a result of NIA’s concerted efforts to destroy and dismantle the deadly nexus between terrorists like Dalla and dreaded gangsters and drug smugglers.
Further investigations are on to dismantle such terror, violence and extortion networks as well as their funding and support infrastructure.
New Delhi: Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Bhopal, have developed a novel satellite technology which showed a whopping 75 per cent increase in greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural residue burning across India in the past decade.
To clear their fields to sow subsequent crops, farmers burn some 87 million tonnes of crop residues annually, surpassing the entire agricultural waste production of peers in the neighbouring countries.
“Crop residue burning has significant repercussions, as it releases pollutants and greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, leading to severe and adverse impacts on climate, public health, and food security, ” said Dhanyalekshmi K. Pillai, Assistant Professor at IISER Bhopal.
The team, including from CIMMYT and University of Michigan, leveraged remote sensing technology to offer precise insights into the scale of such emissions across the country.
Punjab emerged as the highest emitter, with 27 per cent of its cultivated area burned in 2020, closely followed by Madhya Pradesh, revealed the data published in the journal Science of the Total Environment.
The burning of rice, wheat, and maize crops accounted for 97 per cent of India’s agricultural burning emissions, with rice being the largest contributor at 55 per cent.
Tackling the challenges of crop residue burning requires knowing the spatial and time-dependent emissions across the country.
The novel satellite technology can facilitate monitoring of residue burning and provide region-specific mitigation strategies and policy interventions to combat this grave environmental crisis, emphasising the role of science and technology in shaping a sustainable future.
An explosion in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district today left eight laborers injured, according to police.
However, authorities have ruled out any terrorist involvement, attributing the blast to a “load carrier” vehicle transporting a concrete vibration machine, a portable generator, and a can of oil.
The incident took place at Larkipora in Anantnag, where an explosion occurred within the cement mix settling vibration machine, alongside a portable generator and a tin can of oil, all of which were being transported with the laborers in the load carrier. The injured laborers, who sustained burn injuries, are currently receiving treatment at a hospital. The police have initiated an investigation into the matter.
New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, party leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday greeted former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on his 91st birthday and recalled his achievements.
In a post on X, PM Modi said, “Birthday wishes to former PM Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji. I pray for his long life and good health.”
Kharge in a post on X, formerly Twitter, said, “On his birthday, I extend my best wishes to Former Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh ji. He is a rare example of simplicity, dignity and grace in politics. A true statesman Prime Minister, whose actions spoke more than his words, we are forever grateful for his tremendous contribution to the nation. Wishing him good health, happiness and a long life ahead.”
Rahul Gandhi in a post on X said, “Former Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh ji’s integrity, unwavering commitment to nation-building and economic upliftment of the masses will always be an inspiration to me. Wishing him good health and happiness on his birthday.”
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra greeted Singh on his birthday and said, “Wishing Manmohan Singh Ji a very very Happy Birthday.
“As a leader, he showed us the value of patience and humility in politics. As a Prime Minister, his honesty, courage, vision and wisdom paved the way for our country to forge ahead into the 21st century with self assurance and pride. Deepest respect always, ” she said in a post on X.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK leader M.K. Stalin greeted Manmohan Singh on his birthday and said, “Birthday greetings to former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh! As PM, his leadership during the global financial crisis and commitment to inclusive policies reshaped India’s future. His composed, intellectual, and humble approach serves as an example, providing valuable lessons for leadership in every era.”
“His legacy of progress and stability endures. Here’s to more inspiring years, ” Stalin added.
Singh, two-time Prime Minister during the 2004 to 2014, had attended the Parliament’s Special Session while seated on a wheelchair. He attended the Rajya Sabha proceedings on the last day in the old Parliament building.
He had also attended the Parliament proceedings during the Monsoon Session during the debate over the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
The former Prime minister of India was born on September 26, 1932. He served as the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) from 1982-1985 and was the Minister of Finance in P.V. Narasimha Rao’s government. He was one of those responsible for the economic liberalisation of India in 1991. He introduced economic reforms that moved India towards liberalisation and ended the ‘license raj’.
He is a renowned economist, credited for introducing sweeping reforms in the 1990s.
Amritsar : Reiterating firm commitment of state government to safeguard the interests of the state, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday vehemently raised the issues of the state during the 31st meeting of the Northern Zonal Council (NZC) meeting chaired by the Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
At the very outset the Chief Minister welcomed the Union Home Minister and the Chief Ministers of the other states on behalf of the Government and the people of Punjab. Profusely thanking the Ministry of Home Affairs for choosing this sacred land to organize the 31st meeting of the Northern Zonal Council, he said that this is a sacred city, which is deeply revered by one and all, in the annals of history, where more than one lakh devotees from all over the world pay homage daily to seek peace and solace. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the city was a trade hub in the past and with the concerted efforts of the state government it will be very soon our gateway to the markets of Central Asia and beyond.
Punjab Chief Minister said that the hardworking and brave Punjabis had closely witnessed numerous pages of history unfolding on this sacred land of five rivers. He said that besides being the nation’s food bowl, Punjab also has a distinction of being the sword arm of the country and its people are well known all over the world for their courage, resilience and spirit of enterprise. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that NZC is an excellent platform to raise the level of interstate cooperation for our economic development as it is in our interest to sit together and explore the best possibilities of socio-economic development in the region, which is otherwise geographically disadvantaged, being landlocked and with hostile borders.
Batting for need of a genuine federal structure in the country, the Chief Minister said that the need of more financial arid political power to the states has been felt across the entire spectrum of political opinion. He said that there is a wide consensus, cutting across party lines, that the state governments need to be given much greater operational freedom in choosing and financing their developmental priorities. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that federalism remains one of the basic pillars of our Constitution but unfortunately, there has been a trend towards centralization of authority during the past 75 years. “Everybody knows that the state governments are in a much better position to understand, address and solve the problems of their people, at the cutting edge” he added.
A special NIA court in Srinagar has denied bail to ten second-rung separatist leaders and activists. These individuals were arrested earlier this year in connection with a case involving the revival of the banned outfit JKLF.
The arrests took place on July 9 when the police detained 43 individuals at Habib Restaurant in Srinagar. Subsequently, 33 of them, including 32 adults and one juvenile, were released after furnishing bonds as no incriminating evidence was found against them. However, the remaining ten accused were arrested and have been facing legal proceedings.
The Additional Sessions Judge, designated under the NIA Act, Sandeep Gandotra, rejected the bail applications of these ten individuals, expressing concerns that their release at this stage could pose a risk to public and state interests. The accused had been charged under various sections of the UAP Act, but the court noted that it had not reached a stage where it could confirm the truthfulness of these allegations.
The court stressed that serious allegations had been made against the accused, and objectionable and incriminating materials, including letters written by Yaseen Malik advocating for the freedom of Jammu and Kashmir and photographs promoting “Kashmir Banega Pakistan,” were seized from some of them. Additionally, it was alleged that some of the accused had been in contact with terrorists across the border in Pakistan.
The court also mentioned that investigations were ongoing, with reports from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) pending, including CCTV and DVR footage from Habib Restaurant and electronic gadget analysis. One of the accused, Mohammad Yaseen Bhat, had a report spanning 55,000 pages related to his case.
As a result, the court ruled that the accused individuals were not entitled to bail at this stage. It cited section 43(D) proviso 5, suggesting that their release could jeopardize public and state interests.
The denied bail applications pertain to Firdous Ahmad Shah, Jahangir Ahmad Bhat, Saheel alias Suhail Ahmad Mir, Khursheed Ahmad Bhat, Syed Rehman Shams alias Shams-u-din Rehmani, Sajad Hussain Gul, Mohammad Rafiq Phaloo alias Salim Nanaji, Ghulam Hassan Parray alias Firdousi, Mohammed Yaseen Bhat, and Shabir Ahmad Dar.
The Punjab Vigilance Bureau has registered a case against former state finance minister and BJP leader Manpreet Singh Badal and five others on charges of irregularities in the purchase of a property in Bathinda, officials said on Monday.
Besides Manpreet, a Congress turncoat, former Bathinda municipal corporation commissioner Bikramjit Shergill, Rajiv Kumar, Amandeep Singh, Vikas Arora and Pankaj were booked on Sunday night.
Rajiv Kumar and Amandeep Singh were arrested in the case, said the official.
Acting on the complaint of former MLA Sarup Chand Singla in 2021, the bureau started an investigation and booked them.
Manpreet has already moved an application in the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Ram Kumar Singla in Bathinda for his pre-arrest bail.
The court has listed the matter for hearing September 26.
AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi has challenged Congress MP Rahul Gandhi to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections against him from Hyderabad and not from Wayanad.
Participating in a rally on Monday, Owaisi said, “Is baar Wayanad se nahi Hyderabad mein muqabla karo” (This time fight from Hyderabad and not Wayanad). I am challenging you (Rahul Gandhi) don’t go to Wayanad, come to Hyderabad and contest elections.”
“You keep giving big statements, come to the ground and let’s have a contest. People from Congress will say a lot of things, but I am ready. Come and face this man with beard and sherwani, you will know what a contest means, ” he stated.
“Babri Masjid and Secretariat’s mosque were demolished under the Congress regime, ” he charged.
“The same BJP MP who bad mouthed in Parliament had also stood up against me to speak. I strictly told him to sit down. You can’t face my sharp tongue. The Congress people would do a lot of talking. I am ready. I am also appealing before the people of Telangana, remember, the common man was harassed and attacked during the regime of Congress. With great difficulty, we have ensured peace in the city. This peace should be intact, ” Owaisi stated.
Rahul Gandhi recently charged that BJP, Bharata Rastra Samithi (BRS) and AIMIM are collaborating ahead of the state Assembly elections.
