Security forces launched a massive search operation after a powerful explosion took place along the International Border in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir.
The blast caused panic among the residents but there are so far no reports of any fatality or injuries.
According to reports, the explosion may have been caused by an IED dropped by a drone at the wrong location. The blast was heard at around 9.30 pm, some 300 metres away from the border area.
The bomb disposal squad has collected samples to investigate the cause of the explosion
Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Jammu, Mukesh Singh told media that the sound of the explosion had been detected near the International Border of Hiranagar.
Police teams swiftly rushed to the site, and a search operation was launched.
SPP Kathua, Shivdeep Singh, has confirmed that no injuries have been reported and commented that any possibility of infiltration has been ruled out.
New Delhi- The Election Commission on Wednesday announced the date for the by-election to fill vacancies in one Parliamentary constituency of Punjab and four Assembly constituencies in Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and Meghalaya.
However, the poll panel said that it is in no hurry to announce bypoll to the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency after Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification from the Lower House.
As per the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Rajeev Kumar, bypoll on the selected seats will be held on May 10 and the results will come out on May 13.
May 10 will also witness the Assembly polls in the southern State of Karnataka.
However, the poll panel did not announce the bypoll schedule for Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency after Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification from the Lower House.
The CEC on Wednesday said that the Election Commission is in no hurry to announce bypoll to Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has 30 days to exercise judicial remedy in the 2019 defamation case. The CEC said the trial court in Surat has given Rahul Gandhi 30 days to seek a judicial remedy. “There is no hurry, we will wait, ” he added.
The CEC said the vacancy in the Wayanad parliamentary party was notified on March 23 this year and as per the law, a bypoll has to be conducted within six months.
Referring to rules, he said that if the remainder of the term was less than one year, then the election will not be held. In the case of Wayanad, the remainder of the term is more than a year.
By-elections in Jalandhar parliamentary constituency in Punjab and Assembly constituencies of Jharsuguda (Odisha), Chhanbey and Suar (Uttar Pradesh) and Sohiong (Meghalaya) will be held on May 10.
The notification for the bypoll will be issued on April 13. While submission of nominations for the bypoll will continue till April 20, scrutiny of the same will be held on April 21. Nominations for the by-election can be withdrawn till April 24.
Amritsar, March 29 – The Amritsar Rural Police has issued a ‘hue and cry’ notice against Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh.
Senior Superintendent of Police Amritsar (Rural) Satinder Singh here today confirmed about the issuing of ‘Hue and Cry’ notice against Amritpal Singh.
Sources said that a high alert was already sounded in the district after intelligence agencies suggested that Amritpal Singh entered in Punjab after hiding neighboring states and may surrender.
However, a hue and cry notice is the police process of seeking the help from the public to nab a criminal. Notice was read as “Amritpal Singh Sandhu son or Tarsem Singh, resident of Jallupur Khera, Police Station Khilchian, Amritsar is wanted by the police of District Amritsar (Rural) Punjab,” the notice stated urging people to contact the police numbers if anyone has any information about the whereabouts of Amritpal Singh, absconding since March 18.
Meanwhile, Police Commissioner Amritsar Naunihal Singh speaking about the enhanced security throughout the city said that it was due to festival day (Ram Navami) and for the safety of people.
On being asked about the rumors going around about Amritpal Singh he said, “If Amritpal Singh or anyone wanted to police wants to surrender here, can surrender as there wouldn’t be any injustice with him on the part of police as everything would be done within the law frame”.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said on Monday that a law would soon be enacted to provide land and homes to the poor lot of J&K.
“I am surprised to see that in J&K there has been no law for providing land and homes to the poor,” the LG said at the celebrations of 450th Prakash Utsav of Goswami Shri Guru Nabha Dass Ji Maharaj in Jammu. “The J&K administration is working on it and very soon there will be a law enacted in this regard.”.
He said that the way the administration led by him provided housing facilities to migrant Kashmiri Pandits, similar facilities will be provided to government employees who are non-J&K residents.
“We will ensure that safe and secure accommodation is provided to the employees who belong to other parts of the country and are presently posted in J&K,” the LG said. “We know working in Kashmir is a bit challenging.” He said that the administration was committed to convert dreams of Prime Minister Narendera Modi about J&K into action on the ground.
Mumbai- Spelling fresh troubles for Rahul Gandhi, the grandson of V.D. Savarkar has now demanded an apology from the disqualified Congress MP besides threatening to file an FIR against him for his remarks on the late Hindutva ideologue.
“My name is not Savarkar, I won’t apologise, ” Rahul Gandhi had said after he was disqualified from the Lok Sabha following his conviction by a Surat court in a 2019 criminal defamation case.
Savarkar’s grandson Ranjit Savarkar, who’s the Chairman of the Swatantryaveer Savarkar Rashtriya Smarak, said that if Rahul Gandhi fails to apologise for his comments, he would lodge a police complaint against the Congress leader.
“He (Rahul Gandhi) must prove that Swatantryaveer Savarkar had apologised to the British for his release from the cellular jail in the Andaman Islands… I have done it (filing FIR) in the past, I shall do it again, ” an agitated Ranjit Savarkar told mediapersons.
Rahul Gandhi had made the controversial statement a day after he was disqualified as a Lok Sabha member following a Surat court slapping a two-year jail term on him in the defamation case.
Taking strong umbrage, Ranjit Savarkar also urged ex-Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray and Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar to speak to Rahul Gandhi and ask him to tender an apology.
Not satisfied with Thackeray and Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut flaying the Congress leader in the past couple of days for his remarks, Ranjit Savarkar demanded that “they must ask Gandhi to apologise for his statements on Swatantryaveer Savarkar”.
Ranjit Savarkar also pointed out how when he was the CM in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, which aslo included the NCP and the Congress, Thackeray reportedly took no action when an objectionable article appeared in a Congress publication, ‘Shidori’.
“At that time, I had demanded that Thackeray should act in the matter, but I got no reply to my letter, nor was any action taken, ” he said.
The ruling Shiv Sena-BJP coalition in Maharashtra has slammed Rahul Gandhi for his remarks, while the Sena (UBT) tto has castigated the Congress leader in strong terms.
Besides, some leaders of the NCP-Congress have also expressed their reservations on the issue that could have ramifications on the future of the MVA alliance, though senior Sena (UBT) and Congress leaders have assured that it will not be affected, even as Raut and Thackeray are likely to meet Rahul Gandhi soon to register their displeasure over his Savarkar remarks.
Union Minister Smriti Irani on Tuesday slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi by saying that in an attempt to insult Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he also insulted the entire OBC community.
Addressing the media here, Smriti Irani said, “In an attempt to insult PM Modi, Rahul Gandhi also insulted the entire OBC community. This is not the first time Gandhi family has tried to insult people from Dalit or backward communities. When a woman from the tribal family became the President, even then Droupadi Murmu was insulted by a Congress member on the instructions of the Gandhi family.”
“He (Rahul Gandhi) abused and accused PM Modi in Parliament but could not verify his own statement by authenticating it with his own signature. Rahul Gandhi has been convicted by the court for not abusing an individual but the whole OBC community and this is known to every citizen of our country, ” she added.
Amid protests by the Congress over the Adani issue, Smriti Irani also attacked Gandhi over an earlier picture of Robert Vadra with Gautam Adani. She said, “If he (Rahul Gandhi) has a problem with Adani, why is Robert Vadra seen with Adani holding hands?”
Irani also said, “The political psychosis of Rahul Gandhi is on full display. He kept lying in London and in India, inside and outside Parliament. Rahul Gandhi’s target is PM Modi, and PM Modi’s target is the development of the country.”
Chandigarh- Punjab Police was close to arresting fugitive Khalistani radical Amritpal Singh, the state’s Advocate General informed the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Tuesday.
The high court was hearing a petition seeking his release, by a man who claimed that Amritpal Singh was in “illegal” custody in Jalandhar.
The Advocate General clarified that Amritpal Singh was not arrested and the police was trying its best to arrest him.
“Punjab is passing through a sensitive stage and national security is involved. As such, the arguments addressed should be limited to the contentions raised in the habeas corpus petition, ” he said.
After hearing counsel for both the parties, Justice N.S. Shekhawat asked the petitioner’s counsel to show evidence that Amritpal Singh was in illegal custody of the police.
He said the state’s categorical stand was that Amritpal Singh had not been arrested.
Amritpal Singh has been evading arrest, changing his location and looks multiple times, since March 18 when the police launched a massive crackdown to arrest him.
A new video of Amritpal Singh with his aide Papalpreet Singh has surfaced, purportedly showing Amritpal Singh walking in a street in Delhi without a turban and wearing a mask.
New Delhi- The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice on a petition filed by 2002 Gujarat riots victim Bilkis Bano against the premature release of 11 persons convicted of her gang-rape and murder of her family members, calling the offence “horrendous”.
A bench of Justices K.M. Joseph and B.V. Nagarathna observed that before hearing the plea, the court would like to know what is the gamut of issues, which would aid in knowing the framework within which the issues have to be considered.
Advocate Shobha Gupta, representing Bilkis Bano, submitted that the state (Maharashtra), where the trial was held should decide on the remission of the convicts, and not the state where offence was committed.
During the hearing in the matter, the bench orally observed that the offence was “horrendous”.
Advocate Vrinda Grover, representing one of the petitioners, contended that the trial judge said no remission should be granted and also the CBI said that remission should not be given, yet they were released.
As the judges queried how many years each accused had spent in jail, counsel, representing one of the convicts, said over 15 years and 14 years is the requirement for consideration under Gujarat government remission policy. However, it was contested by a counsel, representing one of the petitioners.
Grover also informed the court, while on parole, another case of molestation of a woman was filed against one of the convicts and this was completely ignored while granting remission.
A contention was made during the hearing in the matter that all the petitions against the release of 11 convicts were “emotional pleas”. However, the bench said it is only on the law and has nothing to do with emotions. Noting that the crime against Bilkis Bano and her family was horrendous one, the bench made it clear that the matter will be decided on the basis of law.
After hearing detailed submissions, the top court scheduled the matter for further hearing on April 18.
Justice Joseph observed that the court has many murder cases before it, where convicts are languishing in jails for remission without years and queried if is this a case where standards have been applied uniformly as in other cases?
The bench directed the parties involved in the matter to complete the pleadings by the next date of hearing and also asked the state government to be ready with the relevant files connected with granting remission to the convicts on the next date of hearing.
In the plea, Bilkis Bano said: “The premature release of all the convicts came as a shock not only to the petitioner, to her grown up daughters, to her family, but also to the society at large, nationally and internationally, and the society across segments had shown their anger, disappointment, distrust and protest to the clemency shown by the Government by releasing criminals like the 11 convicts of the case.”
Terming the release order mechanical, the plea contended that the premature release of the convicts in much talked about case of Bilkis Bano, has shaken the conscience of the society and resulted in several agitations across the country.
All 11 convicts were granted remission by the Gujarat government and released on August 15 last year. A batch of the petitions have been filed against the release of 11 convicts, including the one filed by Bilkis Bano. The other petitions were filed by CPI-M leader Subhashini Ali, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, National Federation of Indian Women, Meeran Chadha Borwankar and others, Asma Shafique Shaikh and others. The top court has issued notice on all the pleas filed in the matter.
27 March 2023 Amritsar
Acting jathedar of Akal Takht Giani Harpreet Singh along with other Sikh clergymen addresses the during the Jathedar calls special meeting at the Akal Takht Secretariat inside Golden Temple complex, in Amritsar on Monday. Hundreds of Sikh protesters, after reports of Punjab Police detaining Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh and his supporters started making rounds on March 18.
PHOTO-PRABHJOT GILL AMRITSAR
Amritsar, March 27 – Jatehdar Akal Takht ( highest Sikh Temporal seat) Gyani Harpeet Singh gave twenty four hours ultimatum to release Sikh youths who were arrested during the police crackdown. Akal Takht also condemns Punjab government for invoking NSA against seven Sikhs from Punjab by telling them separatists.
Giani Harpreet Singh Jathedar of Akal Takht had convened a special gathering of Sikh organizations including Shoramani Sikh organizations, intellectuals, Sikh lawyers, journalists, , religious, social leaders here on March 27 to discuss the current situation. The purpose of meeting was to discuss atmosphere of uneasiness in the minds of Sikhs due to Police’s crackdown on certain Sikh organisations in Punjab
Addressing the gathering in the meeting Jatehdar Akal Takht gave 24 hours ultimatum to Punjab Government to release all the arrested Sikh youths in Punjab otherwise the anger of Sikh community would remain simmering, he quipped.
Launching scathing attack on certain TV channels for allegedly blowing the issue out of proportion which described arrested Sikhs as separatists, asked SGPC and Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee to drag the entire channel in the court of law to defame the Sikh community.
He blamed the TV channels for badly promoting the hate propaganda of Punjab Government against Sikhs by telling the arrested youth as Sikh separatists.
He took jibe at Punjab Police which described the Khalsa flags belonging to the era of Sikh emperor of Sher-e-Punjab Maharaja Ranjit Singh as the flag of Khalisthan.
He asked the Punjab Government to remove NSA (National Security Act) against seven Sikhs forthwith. He said seven Sikhs who were lodged in the Debrugarh jail in Assam should be brought back to Punjab and let the law take its own course. He said it would be wrong to say that there was sheer threat to National Security from the arrested Sikh youths under NSA. He said that hundreds of people who were talking about Hindu Rashtra, NSA should also be invoked against them if such Act was against Sikhs.
Jathedar announced from the platform of Akal Takht that Sikh Panth (Community) was all the innocent Sikhs and would extend all possible and best support to them.
Jatehdar said around 400 Sikh youths were arrested recently and 198 were released but Sikh community wanted the release of all arrested Sikhs. He asked the police to release the impounded vehicles of Sikhs and police officials should he held accountable for damaging them.
He asked the Government of India to unblock the social media pages being run by the people of Sikh community.
Chandigarh : Punjab Police has continued its ongoing drive to screen the cases of persons arrested since March 18, 2023 on account of apprehension of breach of peace and disturbance in law & order, and release persons in whose case the apprehension of breach of peace is over. 197 persons out of a total of 353 persons arrested under preventive sections of law have been released till today.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has issued clear directions that the Punjab Police should adopt a positive approach while screening persons arrested on account of apprehension of breach of peace or in substantive criminal offences.
Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav stated that directions have been issued to all SSPs and CPs in the state to ensure that no innocent person is harassed or arrested. The investigating officers and their supervisory officers should first examine the available evidence and satisfy themselves before undertaking any preventive arrest or arrest in substantive offences.
The DGP added that apart from the 353 persons arrested under preventive sections, 40 persons have been arrested under substantive criminal offences and seven persons have been detained under the National Security Act. In accordance with the directions of the Chief Minister, police authorities will review the status of persons arrested under substantive criminal offences by examining the available evidence and taking a positive approach.
DGP Gaurav Yadav appealed to all Punjabis to continue maintaining peace and harmony in the state and not to pay any heed to fake news and rumours. The DGP asserted that the law & order situation is completely under control and totally stable. He warned that strict action would be taken against persons spreading rumours and fake news.
Punjab Police today conducted flag marches, naka-bandis, patrollings and maintained presence in markets and other important locations in the state. Punjab Police is committed to maintain law & order in the state.
