Delhi Red Fort blast: Umar Nabi’s 4 associates arrested by NIA

NEW DELHI, Nov 20: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) Thursday said it has arrested four more people, all close associates of Umar Un Nabi, who allegedly drove the i20 car that blew up near Red Fort on November 10, claiming 12 lives so far.

The Jammu and Kashmir police earlier arrested the four other accused, and they have now been taken into custody by the NIA in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, on production orders from the District Sessions Judge, Patiala House Court.

Nitish Kumar Takes oath; 26 ministers inducted

PATNA, Nov 20: Nitish Kumar took oath today as the Bihar chief minister for a record 10th time, a day after he staked claim to form the next government in Bihar. Earlier, he was elected the leader of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Apart from Nitish Kumar, BJP leaders Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Sinha were among the 26 newly elected MLAs who took oath to be part of the new NDA-led Bihar cabinet.

The NDA - led by the JD(U) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a sweeping majority in the recently concluded Bihar elections 2025, winning 202 of the 243 assembly seats. With 89 seats, the BJP became the single-largest party, the JD(U) won 85, the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) 19, the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) five and the Rashtriya Lok Morcha four.

The swearing-in ceremony on Thursday was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other bigwigs such as Amit Shah, JP Nadda, Unions ministers Rajnath Singh and Dharmendra Pradhan, and chief ministers of at least seven states.

The oath-taking ceremony took place at Patna's historic Gandhi Maidan, which has hosted his inaugurations in 2005, 2010, and 2015. It is at this venue that Jayaprakash Narayan called for "total revolution" during a speech in 1974.

On Wednesday, Nitish Kumar was first elected as leader of the JD (U) Legislature Party during the meeting with the new MLAs held at his official residence in Patna. He was later unanimously elected as leader of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Legislature Party ahead of the formation of a new government under his leadership.

Anmol Bishnoi sent to 11-day NIA custody after arrest, deportation to India

NEW DELHI, Nov 19: Wanted gangster Anmol Bishnoi was sent to the custody of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for 11 days, hours after he arrived in India following his deportation from the US.

Bishnoi was a key accused in the murder of former Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Baba Siddique, and faces 22 cases in Rajasthan. He is the younger brother of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi.

Anmol arrived in India this afternoon after being “removed” from the US, and was produced at the Patiala House Court around 5 pm, amid heavy security, including RAF deployment.

The NIA had sought a 15-day custody of Anmol, but the court granted the probe agency 11 days.

After taking him into custody in Delhi, the NIA released a statement, detailing how he was involved in the terror acts over the years and revealed that he “executed” them from the US.

"Anmol was charge sheeted by the NIA in March 2023 after investigations in the case established that he had actively aided designated individual terrorist Goldy Brar and Lawrence Bishnoi in the commission of various acts of terrorism in the country during the 2020-2023 period," the NIA said in a statement.

Anmol Bishnoi is a native of Punjab's Fazilka district and had been absconding since 2022. He fled India via Nepal and after his journey through a few more countries ended up in the US.

The NIA said that Anmol worked in close coordination with his brother Lawrence and and 'terrorist' Goldy Brar.

"Operating closely with various Bishnoi gang associates, Anmol continued to run terror syndicates and execute terrorist acts from the US for the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, using its operatives on the ground," the NIA release read.

Anmol Bishnoi's is the 19th arrest linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi–led terror syndicate, the NIA said.

Al Falah University Founder Arrested In Money Laundering Case

NEW DELHI, Nov 18: Jawad Ahmed Siddiqui, the founder of Al Falah University - the epicentre of terror module behind the Delhi blast, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a terror financing-linked money laundering case on Tuesday.

He was taken into custody under the criminal provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The probe agency investigation follows two FIRs filed recently by the Delhi Police Crime Branch against Al-Falah University, including cases related to cheating and alleged forgery concerning accreditation documents.

The university in Faridabad's Dhouj has come under scrutiny after the arrest of several doctors in connection with the November 10 blast near Delhi's Red Fort, which killed 15 people and injured many others. The suicide bomber, Dr Umar Un Nabi, a Kashmiri resident, was associated with the varsity.

The arrest follows a detailed investigation and analysis of evidence gathered during the search action conducted at university premises in connection with the Al Falah Group, the central agency stated in a statement.

The probe agency conducted search operations at 19 locations in Delhi, including the premises of Al Falah University and residential premises of key persons of Al Falah group.

"Evidence reveals that crores of rupees have been diverted by the trust to family owned entities. For example, the construction as well as catering contracts were given by trust/Jawad Ahmad to entities of his wife and children," the agency said.

During search, the agency said, cash of over 48 lakhs, multiple digital devices and documentary evidence were found and seized.

"Multiple shell companies of the group have been identified. Numerous violations under several other Acts have also been detected," the agency said.

The probe agency is examining alleged violations under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), including possible diversion of funds and suspicious financial transactions routed through entities associated with the university.

"The entire Al-Falah group has seen a meteoric rise since the 1990s metamorphosing into a large educational body. However, the rise is not backed by adequate financials," the probe agency, which investigates financial crimes, said.

"Exhaustive evidence including recovery of cash from trustees' diversion of funds to family concern, layering of funds etc. clearly establish the pattern of generation and layering of proceeds of crime," the agency said.

The blast followed after the authorities recently busted the 'white-collar' terror module linked to terror outfits Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind, spanning Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

The investigation led to the seizure of around 2,900 kg of explosive material from two rented rooms in Faridabad, and the arrest/detention of several individuals, including doctors connected to the Al Falah University, and a cleric linked to a mosque in Faridabad.

Top Maoist leader Madvi Hidma killed

NEW DELHI, Nov 18: : Top Maoist leader Madvi Hidma, who headed the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) Battalion 1 of the Maoists, was killed in an encounter with security personnel in Andhra Pradesh's Alluri Sitaramaraju district on Tuesday.

He was gunned down 12 days before the November 30 deadline set by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to eliminate the most wanted Naxalite, sources said.

Madvi Hidma was directly involved in more than 26 major Naxal attacks, making him one of India's most feared insurgent leaders.

He was killed in the dense Pullagandi forests located at the tri-junction of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana.

Madvi Hidma was the commander of a battalion of the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) and a member of the Maoist Central Committee.

Born in Sukma in 1981, he was believed to be the only tribal member from Bastar to be part of this top leadership group.

‘Perennial’ GRAP is not the solution for Delhi’s air pollution: Supreme Court

NEW DELHI, Nov 17: The Supreme Court on Monday told the Centre that air pollution’s choke-hold on the national capital cannot be pried loose by slapping a “perennial GRAP” (Graded Response Action Plan) across Delhi and the National Capital Region.

The toxicity had to be dealt with gradually, through a long-term policy, which did not impact the livelihoods of migrant labourers and daily wagers, the court said.

“The solution is not to take a short-term measure effective for one or two months. The government has to bring all the stakeholders on board and consider a solution which would see air pollution diminishing over the years,” Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai observed.

The Chief Justice said “harsh” measures like imposing GRAP throughout the year till the air quality index (AQI) drastically dipped would have other massive repercussions affecting the livelihoods of lakhs of daily labourers and construction workers.

At one point, even the Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, for the Centre, said “knee-jerk” reactions to air pollution, caused by a heavy cocktail of stubble-burning fumes from neighbouring States such as Punjab and Haryana, vehicular emissions, and construction debris, etc., would only prove counter-productive.

“Even the Supreme Court would not be able to function with perennial GRAP… There would be no cars allowed,” the CJI said.

Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, who had suggested GRAP throughout the year, said the court could consider online hearing of cases. Sankaranarayanan also suggested a heavier road tax for cars.

Amicus curiae Aparajita Singh, focussing on the issue of stubble-burning, explained that the practice became a bane after the implementation of the Groundwater Preservation Act of 2009, which shortened the time between harvesting paddy and sowing wheat.

“So the best option for farmers was to burn the crop stubble,” Ms. Singh explained.

Sankaranarayanan suggested advancing the farmers’ schedule for harvesting paddy. “Paddy should be harvested earlier, when the wind does not come to Delhi,” he said.

Singh referred to reports that farmers were able to evade the satellite overwatch over stubble-burning, as a result of which the actual burning incidents were “under-counted”.

The Centre had allocated over ₹2,000 crore to States, including Punjab and Haryana, to buy machinery for the in situ removal of stubble from the fields in order to use them as manure or as fuel in neighbouring industries.

“The allocation of money or machinery is not the solution. The change in the law in 2009 has contributed to the stubble burning… The AQI threshold in India is very high. They allow high levels of pollution before GRAP kicks, unlike in other foreign countries. Today, when doctors operate, they find the lungs grey in colour. This includes in the cases of children,” Sankaranarayanan submitted.

Ms. Bhati agreed to put before the government the court’s suggestion to bring the States and other stakeholders to the table to iron out a long-term policy to combat air pollution.

The court asked Ms. Bhati to consult with the government and come back by November 19.

NIA Arrests Delhi Suicide Bomber's Accomplice

NEW DELHI, Nov 16: An accomplice of the alleged Delhi suicide bomber, Umar Un nabi, was arrested on Sunday by the anti-terror agency National Investigation Agency (NIA) from the national capital, six days after the tragedy that claimed 13 lives.

The arrested person has been identified as Amir Rashid Ali, a resident of Pampore in Jammu and Kashmir.

Investigators say that the arrested person "had conspired with the alleged suicide bomber to unleash the terror attack".

"Amir had come to Delhi to facilitate the purchase of the car which was eventually used as a vehicle-borne Improvised Explosive Device (IED) to trigger the blast," the agency said in a statement.

The white i20 car involved in the attack was registered in his name, say the investigators.

"Working in close coordination with Delhi Police, Jammu & Kashmir Police, Haryana Police, UP Police and various sister agencies, NIA is continuing its investigation across states. It is pursuing multiple leads to unearth the larger conspiracy behind the bombing and identify others involved in the case," the agency said.

The Delhi Police on Thursday confirmed that the man who carried out the car blast near Red Fort was Dr Umar Un Nabi, who was working at the Al Falah Medical College in Haryana's Faridabad, after forensic DNA testing matched his biological sample with that of his mother.

A senior police officer revealed that after the explosion, Umar's leg was found trapped between the steering wheel and the accelerator of the car, suggesting he was behind the wheel when the blast took place.

The investigators have termed the Delhi blast a sophisticated 'white-collar' terror module, spearheaded by a group of doctors recently busted by Jammu and Kashmir Police.

Earlier, the Union Cabinet termed the Delhi blast a "heinous terror incident".

In a strongly worded statement, the government called the explosion "a dastardly and cowardly act perpetrated by anti-national forces" and reiterated India's "unwavering commitment to a policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism in all its forms and manifestations."

9 Dead, 32 Injured in Blast at Srinagar Police Station

SRINAGAR, Nov 15: Nine persons were killed and 32 in the major accidental explosion at the Naogaon police station in Srinagar. The blast occurred on Friday night during the handling of a 360-kilogram cache of explosives by a forensic team.

This material was evidence seized from Faridabad in connection with the busting of a 'White Collar Terror Module' linked to Dr. Muzammil Ganaie.

Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat stated, 'However, unfortunately, during this course, last night around 11.20 p.m an accidental explosion has taken place'.

The explosion caused severe damage to the police station and nearby buildings, with victims including police, forensic experts, revenue officials, and a civilian.

NDA bags 202 seats in Bihar; Mahagathbandhan wins 35

PATNA, Nov 14: The NDA has won 202 seats in the Bihar assembly election, while the Mahagathbandhan won 35.

According to data from the Election Commission of India, the NDA has surpassed the majority mark and has won 202 seats.

BJP emerged as the largest party with 89 seats, followed by 85 of JDU and 19 of LJPRV. Rashtriya Janata Dal has bagged 25 and Congress six.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the people of Bihar have “voted for a developed and prosperous state by breaking all records,” as he addressed supporters at the BJP headquarters. He also revealed that the win was a result of his focus on MY - Mahila and Youth.

"In Bihar, some people had created a MY formula based on appeasement, but today’s victory has introduced a new positive MY formula - which stands for Mahila (women) and Youth," he said.

Assembly bypolls: Congress wins Jubilee Hills, Anta; BJP takes Nuapada, Nagrota; AAP takes Taran Taran

NEW DELHI, Nov 14: Out of the bypolls across seven states, the Congress wins Jubilee Hills; BJP takes Nuapada, Nagrota; and AAP takes Taran Taran

Jubilee Hills bypoll

Over in Telangana’s Jubilee Hills, the Indian National Congress candidate Naveen Kumar Yadav has won the assembly bypoll, securing 98,988 votes. He defeated Bharat Rashtra Samithi’s Maganti Sunitha Gopinath, who received 74,259 votes, a margin of 24,729 votes.

BJP candidate Deepak Reddy Lankala trailed far behind with 17,061 votes.

Nuapada bypoll

The BJP tightened its grip on the Nuapada Assembly bypoll as party candidate Jay Dholakia surged ahead, securing 123,869 votes after 29 rounds of counting, putting him 83,748 votes ahead of his nearest rival.

The real contest has shifted to the battle for second place, with Congress candidate Ghasi Ram Majhi trailing at 40,121 votes, just ahead of BJD’s Snehangini Chhuria, who has 38,408 votes, a narrow gap of 1,713 votes separating the two.

Nagrota, Budgam bypoll

Devyani, daughter of the late BJP leader Devender Singh Rana, secured 42,350 votes, while former minister and J&K National Panthers Party (JKNPP) candidate Harsh Dev Singh received 17,703 votes. National Conference candidate Shamim Begum finished third with 10,872 votes.

Ten candidates contested the seat, but the main contest was between Devyani, Harsh, and Shamim.

The Nagrota bypoll was necessitated following the death of Devyani’s father and sitting MLA, Devender Singh Rana, in October last year.

Meanwhile, in a major setback for the National Conference (NC) and the Omar Abdullah government, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has wrested the Budgam assembly seat from the ruling party.

PDP’s Aga Muntazir, capitalising on anti-incumbency sentiment against the Omar Abdullah government, defeated NC’s Aga Mahmood to claim the bypoll.

Seventeen candidates had contested the Budgam seat, which fell vacant after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah vacated it while retaining the Ganderbal seat. Omar had contested from two assembly constituencies in the 2024 polls and won both.

The Budgam seat has historically been an NC stronghold, with the party having never lost it since 1972. The PDP’s victory marks an unprecedented setback for the NC and underscores widespread public disappointment with the party’s performance and its failure to deliver on poll promises.

Tarn Taran bypoll

AAP's Harmeet Singh Sandhu wins Tarn Taran assembly bypoll, defeats SAD nominee Sukhwinder Kaur Randhawa by margin of 12,091 votes

Sandhu had 32,520 votes against Randhawa's 22,284 when 12 out of the 16 rounds of counting was completed, the Election Commission website showed.

Independent candidate Mandeep Singh was in the third spot with 14,432 votes while Congress candidate Karanbir Singh Burj was fourth with 11,294 votes.

BJP's Harjit Singh Sandhu was a distant fifth with 4,653 votes.

The constituency saw 60.95% polling and went to bypolls following the death of AAP MLA Kashmir Singh Sohal.

Ghatshila bypoll

In Jharkhand’s Ghatshila assembly bypoll, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) candidate Somesh Chandra Soren is leading by 38,524 votes over his nearest rival, Babulal Soren of the BJP, after 20 rounds of counting.

Somesh Chandra Soren has secured 104,794 votes, while Babulal Soren trails with 66,270 votes. Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) candidate Ramdas Murmu is in third place with 11,542 votes.

Anta bypoll

Congress candidate Pramod Jain Bhaya won the Anta assembly bypoll in Rajasthan’s Baran district, securing 69,571 votes and defeating BJP nominee Morpal Suman by 15,612 votes. Suman received 53,959 votes, narrowly ahead of Independent candidate and Congress rebel Naresh Meena by 159 votes. Bhaya maintained his lead throughout the 15-candidate contest.

The bypoll was necessitated after BJP MLA Kanwar Lal Meena was disqualified following a criminal conviction. Bhaya, who lost to Meena in 2023, credited his victory to a shift in voter sentiment.

Pradesh Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra and former CM Ashok Gehlot hailed the win as a sign of anti-incumbency against the BJP, noting the party’s failure to connect with voters despite campaigns by senior leaders, including Vasundhara Raje and Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma.

The Anta constituency, part of the Hadoti belt, has a history of swinging between BJP and Congress. With this result, the BJP holds 118 seats in the 200-member Rajasthan Assembly, Congress 67, and smaller parties the remainder.

Dampa bypoll

Mizoram's main opposition party, Mizo National Front (MNF), retained the Dampa assembly seat in Mamit district, with its candidate R Lalthangliana defeating his nearest rival, Vanlalsailova of the ruling Zoram People's Movement (ZPM), by a margin of 562 votes, according to the Election Commission.

Lalthangliana secured 6,981 votes, which is 40.23 per cent of the total vote share. With 6,419 votes, Vanlalsailova bagged 36.61 per cent of the total polled votes.

Congress nominee John Rotluangalian stood third, securing 2,394 votes, while BJP candidate Lalhmingthanga clinched fourth place, securing 1,541 votes.

Building 17, room 13: Al-Falah University hostel where doctors plotted terror

FARIDABAD, Nov 12: An ordinary, damp and musty hostel room at the Al-Falah University campus in Haryana has emerged as the nerve centre where the radicalised group of doctors were plotting a series of terror attacks in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. Investigations have revealed that room number 13 in building 17 -- the boys' hostel -- served as the secret meeting point for the "white collar" terror module, several of whom have now been arrested.

The Al-Falah University and Hospital in Faridabad has been thrust into the spotlight after it emerged that Dr Umar Nabi, who carried out the blast near the iconic Red Fort in Delhi on Monday, killing 13 people, was employed there.

A day earlier, 2,900 kilograms of IED-making material were seized from the rented premises of Dr Muzammil Shakeel, who also worked at Al-Falah University. Dr Shaheen Shahid, who is believed to have been tasked with setting up the women's wing of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed in India, was also an employee of the university.

While Muzammil and Shaheen have been arrested, Umar died in the blast. Another Kashmir-based doctor, Nisar-ul-Hassan, working at the university, has gone missing.

India says Delhi blast was 'terror incident'

NEW DELHI/SRINAGAR, Nov 12: India's government confirmed on Wednesday that it was treating a car blast that killed eight people and wounded at least 20 others in Delhi as a "terror incident" and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice as swiftly as possible.

Earlier, three sources familiar with the investigation said police were checking whether there was a link between the blast and the previous arrest of a group of seven men from the restive Kashmir region with arms and bomb-making material.

The blast on Monday evening outside Delhi’s historic Red Fort was the first such explosion in the heavily guarded city of more than 30 million people since 2011.

Indian authorities are investigating the blast under a stringent anti-terrorism law and have said that all angles are being probed. They have not named anyone or made any arrests in connection with the explosion.

In a resolution adopted late on Wednesday, Union Cabinet said: "The country has witnessed a heinous terror incident, perpetrated by anti-national forces, through a car explosion."

"The Cabinet directs that the investigation into the incident be pursued with the utmost urgency and professionalism so that the perpetrators, their collaborators, and their sponsors are identified and brought to justice without delay."

Investigations are focused on whether the driver was a doctor and a colleague of one of the two arrested, one of the sources said.

Spokespersons for the Delhi Police and the National Investigation Agency - the federal anti-terror agency that has taken over the probe - did not respond to requests for comment.

Following the Delhi blast, Kashmir police carried out raids at hundreds of locations in the Himalayan region and about 500 people were detained, a Kashmir police source told Reuters. Most were let off after questioning, the source said.

First image of Red Fort blast suspect, Dr Umar of Faridabad module, emerges

NEW DELHI, Nov 11: As per sources, Mohammad Umar, a suspected terrorist from the Faridabad terror module, was employed as a doctor at the Al Falah Medical College in Faridabad.

Umar is said to be a close associate of Adeel Ahmad Rather, a former senior resident doctor at the Government Medical College (GMC) in Anantnag who was arrested last week. Based on Rather's inputs, authorities carried out the raid in Faridabad on Monday.

A first image has emerged showing the suspect driving the Hyundai i20 that later exploded near the Red Fort on Monday night, killing nine people and injuring 20 others. As per sources, Mohammad Umar, a suspected terrorist from the Faridabad terror module, was employed as a doctor at the Al Falah Medical College in Faridabad.

Umar's mother and brothers have been detained for questioning.

Sources said that Umar was in the car and is believed to have planned the attack along with two of his associates. It was carried out in a panic following the arrests in Faridabad earlier on Monday.

Together with his accomplices, Umar placed a detonator in the car and executed the terror act. Investigators have confirmed that Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil was used in the high-intensity explosion that occurred during the busy evening hours, at a time when the area, a popular tourist spot, was crowded with people.

According to information, the CCTV grab was taken just before the blast at 6.52 pm on Monday. The vehicle had been parked for nearly three hours near the Sunehri Masjid, close to the Red Fort.

The CCTV footage showed the car entering the parking lot at 3.19 pm and leaving at 6.48 pm, with the explosion occurring shortly afterward.

8 killed in blast near Red Fort in Delhi

NEW DELHI, Nov 10: A high-intensity explosion ripped through a car stopped near the Red Fort metro station on Monday evening, gutting several vehicles and killing at least eight people, officials said.

Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha said that a slow-moving vehicle stopped at a red light outside the Red Fort at 6:52 p.m. when an explosion occurred in that vehicle.

A high alert has been sounded in Delhi. Fire tenders were rushed to the spot, with police cordoning off the area, the Delhi Fire Services said. The fire, officials said, was brought under control by 7.29 p.m.

A team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) reached the spot.

"Heartbreaking and concerning," says Rahul Gandhi after blast near Delhi's Red Fort
Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha and senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi calls the blast “heartbreaking and concerning”.

He expressed his deepest condolences to the bereaved families and swift recovery to the injured.

“The news of the car explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort Metro Station is extremely heartbreaking and concerning. The report of the deaths of several innocent people in this tragic incident is profoundly sorrowful. In this hour of grief, I stand with the bereaved families who have lost their loved ones and express my deepest condolences to them. I hope for the swift recovery of all the injured,” Gandhi wrote on X.

350 kg explosives, AK-47: J&K cops recover ‘arms cache’ from doctor’s home in Faridabad

FARIDABAD, Nov 10: In a major security operation in Faridabad, a team from the Jammu and Kashmir Police recovered 350 kg of explosives suspected to be ammonium nitrate, along with an AK-47 rifle, a pistol, three magazines, 20 timers, a walkie-talkie set and ammunition from a rented accommodation at Dhauj village, said police. A doctor from Jammu and Kashmir was also arrested during the operation, they added.

A Faridabad police spokesperson said members of the city police were also present during the operation.

The recovery followed the arrest of Dr Adil Ahmad Rather, a Kashmiri doctor tracked down to Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh, for allegedly pasting posters supporting the banned terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed in Srinagar on October 27.

In a press conference on Monday afternoon, Faridabad Police Commissioner Satender Kumar Gupta shared that during questioning, Rather disclosed information that led police to Dr Mujammil Shakeel (also referred to as Mujahil Shakil or Muzammil Shakeel), another doctor from Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir employed at the Al-Falah Hospital in Faridabad.

Police said Shakeel, who had rented the house in Dhauj about three months ago, was arrested, and the cache was seized from his residence in a coordinated raid on Sunday.

The Faridabad Police Commissioner clarified that the material was ammonium nitrate, not RDX as initially reported in some parts of the media.

Earlier, the J&K police had searched Rather’s locker at the Government Medical College in Anantnag, where he worked as a senior resident until October last year, recovering an AK-47 rifle and ammunition. Rather has been booked under the Arms Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The police is yet to determine the intended use of the explosives stockpiled close to Delhi and how such a large quantity was transported undetected, with further investigation underway.

Bihar Sees Highest-Ever Voter Turnout Of 64.66% In Phase 1

PATNA, Nov 6: Seats voting in the first phase of the 2025 Bihar Assembly election recorded a provisional voter turnout of 64.66 per cent, the highest in the state's history.

Before this, the highest figure for an Assembly election in Bihar was 62.57 per cent in 2000. For Lok Sabha elections, the state's highest voter turnout was 64.6 per cent in 1998. In a statement, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar thanked voters for coming out in such large numbers and poll workers for their dedication.

The increased voter turnout is all the more significant because the special intensive revision of the state's voter lists - a contentious exercise the opposition called an attempt to disenfranchise voters from poor and marginalised groups who, they claimed, traditionally vote for them - deleted 47 lakh names.

The reduction in the overall voter base - from 7.89 crore before the exercise to 7.42 crore after - could account for the increased turnout percentage, but only if the actual number of voters is the same.

EC, BJP created 25 lakh 'fake' votes in Haryana and did ‘vote chori’: Rahul Gandhi

NEW DELHI, Nov 5: Alleging “duplicate, fake and bulk” voting in the Haryana assembly election of 2024 that the BJP won, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi shared on November 5 what he claimed to be the next big set of proofs — dubbed “The H Files" — that the Election Commission is “working at the behest of the ruling BJP to steal votes”.

“I want Gen-Z to take this seriously, because your future is being taken away from you,” he said at the press conference at the Congress party headquarters in New Delhi on Wednesday, barely two days before voting begins in the Bihar election.

The Congress leader claimed there were 25 lakh “fake” voters in Haryana — including an example of a woman he said is a Brazilian model but her photo is used to register as voter across multiple booths

The state has around 2 crore total voters, and the key margin of victory for the BJP in eight segments in the 2024 Haryana assembly polls was around 22,000, he said.

“This (data) means one in eight voters in Haryana are fake, that is 12.5%,” he said.

“This tells you that when the margin was just 22,000, 25 lakh was just this!”
Why eight segments? Haryana has 90 seats, of which the BJP won 48 to make history and form the government for a third consecutive term. The Congress fell short of the midway mark of 45 by eight seats, getting 37, even when exit polls had said it had a significant edge.

He showed one photo being used for 223 votes in one instance, and claimed another individual voted 22 times across 10 booths in the Haryana assembly election.

EC officials responded just as the press conference was underway, saying there have been zero appeals against electoral rolls in Haryana. “What were the agents of Congress doing at the polling stations? They are supposed to object if the elector has already voted or if the polling agents doubt the identity of the elector," said an EC official familiar with the matter.

The EC also asked Gandhi to thus clarify his stand on the Special Electoral Revision of voter rolls, which he has been opposing saying the EC is being selective in removing voters. “Is Rahul Gandhi now supporting the SIR which removes duplicate, dead and shifted voters along with verification of citizenship, or he is opposing?” said an official.

Rahul Gandhi earlier held two press conferences on these lines — the first one in August that spoke about voter additions in some Lok Sabha and assembly segments, for instance in Bengaluru in Karnataka, and the second one about a month later that alleged a “massive voter deletion scam”. He had promised more proof, calling it the impending “hydrogen bomb”.

In his September presentation , he stopped short of dropping the promised “hydrogen bomb” of evidence on “vote chori”, saying preparations were underway for that.

Rahul Gandhi also gave a one-week deadline to chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to respond to his allegations, but the EC has since rejected his assertions. Earlier, the EC had challenged Gandhi to submit his claims with evidence as a sworn affidavit, to which he had retorted that he had only used EC's own data and already taken an oath to the Constitution.

Gandhi, along with RJD's Tejashwi Yadav and other INDIA bloc members, also carried out a 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' in Bihar, during which he made barbed attacks on the BJP, castigating the BJP and its parent body RSS, and saying that “forces who murdered Mahatma Gandhi are now trying to destroy the Constitution of India”.

The 16-day “rights march” protested alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Bihar in particular. Since then, the EC has started SIR in 12 more states and UTs.

Gandhi termed “vote chori” also a “theft of rights, reservation, employment, education, democracy” by extension.

8 dead after MEMU train collides with goods train in Bilaspur

BILASPUR, Nov 4: Eight people have been killed and 14 others injured after a passenger train hit a goods train near Bilaspur station in Chhattisgarh on Tuesday evening. The incident took place around 4 pm, and the railways have moved all the resources to the spot. The Railway PRO said that all measures are being taken for the treatment of the injured.

"A total of eight people have lost their lives in this accident. Two people are still stuck here... 16-17 people are in serious condition. This is a big accident. Everyone is present here and we are carrying out rescue operations," said Bilaspur Collector Sanjay Agrawal.

The injured passengers have been shifted to Apollo Hospital and Chhattisgarh Institute of Medical Sciences (CIMS) hospital in Bilaspur. The condition of one of them is said to be critical, an official said.

Chhattisgarh Deputy CM Arun Sao said that the goods train was stationary and a MEMU train collided with it from behind. “The engine is in the front coach, and some passengers also sit there. That coach has been damaged. Senior railway officials and state government officers have reached the spot,” Arun Sao said.

Mamata, Abhishek lead TMC rally in Kolkata against SIR

KOLKATA, Nov 4: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday hit the streets of Kolkata, leading a protest rally against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Banerjee’s party, the ruling Trinamool Congress, has dubbed the exercise “silent invisible rigging” by the BJP-led Centre and the Election Commission.

Accompanied by her nephew and TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, the CM began the 3.8-km rally from the statue of B R Ambedkar on Red Road.

Thousands of TMC supporters thronged the rally route, waving the party flags, raising slogans and holding aloft colourful posters.

Dressed in her trademark white cotton saree and slippers, Banerjee led the procession, occasionally stopping to greet people standing on balconies and pavements.

Abhishek Banerjee followed the chief minister, waving to the crowd, flanked by senior TMC leaders and ministers.

Mehli Mistry 'Parts Ways' From Tata Trusts With A Letter To Noel Tata

MUMBAI, Nov 4: Mehli Mistry, ousted from Tata Trusts following an internal rift, has written a letter to Noel Tata, wherein he recalled a commitment he made to the trusts' late former chairman, Ratan Tata, sources said.

Mistry stated that his commitment to Ratan Tata includes the responsibility to precipitate no controversy, according to the letter.

"My commitment to Mr.Ratan N Tata’s vision includes a responsibility to ensure that the Tata Trusts are not plunged into controversy. I believe that precipitating matters would cause irreparable harm to the reputation of the Tata Trusts," he wrote.

According to Mistry, his letter to Noel Tata, the incumbent chairman of Tata Trusts, should assist in "putting the quietus on speculative news reports" that do not serve the interests of the Tata Trusts and are inimical to its vision.

Mistry noted that during his tenure at the Tata Trusts, he was guided by Ratan Tata's vision of "ethical governance, quiet philanthropy and utmost integrity". He expressed hope that other trustees, going forward, will be guided by the principles of "transparency, good governance, and public interest."

Mistry ended the letter stating “I part ways”, and quoted Ratan Tata to underline that “nobody is bigger than the institution it serves.”

Priyanka Gandhi Flags Toxic Delhi Air To PM, Rekha Gupta

NEW DELHI, Nov 2: As Delhi woke up to another smoggy morning and Air Quality Index (AQI) in several areas climbed to the 'severe' category, senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra called upon the Centre and the BJP-led Delhi government to act immediately.

The Congress leader has returned to Delhi after campaigning in poll-bound Bihar. Earlier, she had travelled to her Lok Sabha constituency, Wayanad, in Kerala.

"Returning to the Delhi air from Wayanad first, then Bachwara in Bihar is truly shocking. The pollution enveloping this city is like a grey shroud thrown over it," she said in a post on X.

Returning to the Delhi air from Wayanad first, then Bachwara in Bihar is truly shocking. The pollution enveloping this city is like a grey shroud thrown over it.

It's really about time all of us get together regardless of our political compulsions and do something about it. The…

— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) November 2, 2025
"It's really about time all of us get together regardless of our political compulsions and do something about it. The central and state government need to act immediately, we will all support and cooperate with whatever actions they choose to take to mitigate this awful situation. Year after year the citizens of Delhi are subjected to this toxicity with no recourse," the Congress leader added.

"Those who suffer from respiratory issues, children who commute to school every day and senior citizens especially, need urgent intervention to clear the filthy smog we are all breathing," she said. She tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, and Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and urged them to take immediate steps to tackle Delhi's tryst with toxic air.

Air quality in the national capital has dipped over the past couple of weeks, with AQI readings in key areas ranging from 'very poor' to 'severe category'. An average of readings of 39 monitoring stations put the AQI at 303 (very poor), but areas such as Wazirpur and Anand Vihar reported 'severe' AQI readings.

The Delhi government has now planned a series of cloud seeding trials to cause rain and improve air quality in the national capital. Last week, two cloud seeding trials failed to bring rain due to low moisture content in the clouds over the national capital.

Stubble burning in neighbouring Haryana and Punjab, vehicular emissions, climatic conditions and construction and industrial activities are key contributors to Delhi's air pollution. Currently, restrictions under the second stage of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) -- a phase-wise plan to combat toxic air -- are in place in the national capital.

JD(U)'s Bihar Poll Candidate Anant Singh Arrested In Mokama Murder Case

PATNA, Nov 1: Former Bihar MLA and Janata Dal (United) candidate Anant Singh was arrested late on Saturday, two days after the murder of a supporter of the Jan Suraaj Party, Dularchand Yadav.

The arrest, confirmed by Patna senior superintendent of police (SSP) Kartikeya Sharma, sent shockwaves through the political landscape of poll-bound Bihar, particularly in the notoriously volatile Mokama constituency.

Sharma said Anant Singh was present at the scene of crime along with two of his aides, identified as Manikant Thakur and Ranjeet Ram.

“It was found that all this (stone pelting, arson, firing) happened in the presence of the candidate, Anant Singh, who is also the main accused in the case. Anant Singh has been arrested," Sharma told the media in a late night press conference.

Anant Singh was arrested hours before opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav’s rally in Mokama. He was picked up from his Kargil Bazar residence in Badh, amid reports that he was planning to surrender.

Dularchand Yadav, 75, was a local strongman and former RJD leader, who was attacked on October 30, while campaigning for the Jan Suraaj Party candidate, Piyush Priyadarshi, in the Mokama Tal area. The incident followed a violent clash between rival political groups.

An FIR filed by Yadav’s grandson directly named Anant Singh, his nephews, and others as the accused. Initial reports suggested Yadav was shot, but the subsequent post-mortem report confirmed his death was due to cardiorespiratory failure caused by a ruptured lung and multiple rib fractures, indicating he was crushed or run over by a vehicle after sustaining a non-fatal gunshot wound to the ankle.

Police said Singh’s arrest, along with two of his aides, was based on evidence, eyewitness accounts, and the post-mortem findings, as the incident occurred in the candidate’s presence. Bihar DGP Vinay Kumar said that evidence at the crime scene establishes the presence of the accused, leading to their arrest.

9 Killed In Stampede At Venkateswara Temple In Andhra On Ekadashi

HYDERABAD, Nov 1: Nine devotees, including eight women and a child, died in a stampede at a newly constructed temple in Andhra Pradesh's Srikakulam early this morning. At least 17 others were injured in the stampede that erupted during a heavy rush at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple in Kasibugga on the occasion of Ekadashi, an auspicious day for Hindus.

Horrific videos from the temple showed massive overcrowding, with hundreds of women holding puja baskets jostling on a staircase in a frantic attempt to save themselves. Several bodies were later seen strewn across the temple premises. In one corner, an injured woman was seen crying profusely.

Many rushed to help the injured, while some tried to pull out others gasping for breath in the crowd. Some women who had collapsed were shifted to ambulances, and medical workers tried to resuscitate them.

The police later rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.

The Kasibugga temple, known as the 'Mini Tirupati', is not under the government's endowments department that manages thousands of temples in the state. The temple authorities had not informed the local administration that such a huge rush was expected on Ekadashi, said government sources. Construction work was underway in the area where the stampede occurred. It had just one entry-exit point.

Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has ordered proper treatment for the injured, while his deputy, Pawan Kalyan, assured that an inquiry will be conducted into the tragedy.

Ban imposed on non-Delhi BS-III goods vehicles, checks at 23 points

NEW DELHI, Nov 1: The Delhi government on Saturday enforced a ban on non-Delhi registered commercial goods vehicles that do not meet BS-IV emission standards, deploying joint teams of the Transport Department and Delhi Traffic Police at 23 major city entry points.

The enforcement teams have been stationed at key borders including Kundli, Rajokri, Tikri, Aya Nagar, Kalindi Kunj, Auchandi, Mandoli, Kapashera, and Bajghera toll or Dwarka Expressway to monitor and control the entry of high-polluting vehicles.

Officials estimate that 50,000 to 70,000 commercial vehicles currently operating below BS-IV norms in the region will be affected by the restrictions. The move follows a directive from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) issued on October 17, aimed at curbing vehicular pollution as the national capital’s air quality continues to deteriorate.

Under the new rules, only BS-IV or higher commercial vehicles registered in Delhi will be allowed to operate within city limits. Vehicles powered by CNG, LNG, or electricity are exempt from the ban, as they produce fewer emissions.

Private vehicles, taxis and app-based cabs such as Ola and Uber are not covered by the restrictions. Officials said that the measure is part of a larger effort to reduce toxic vehicular emissions and improve the city’s worsening air quality during the winter months.