Apple Warns Top Indian Opposition Leaders, Journalists About ‘State-Sponsored’ Attack on Phone

NEW DELHI, Oct 31: Multiple top leaders of India’s opposition parties and several journalists have received a notification from Apple, saying that “Apple believes you are being targeted by state-sponsored attackers who are trying to remotely compromise the iPhone associated with your Apple ID ….”

Here are the people confirmed to have been notified by Apple about the attempts to compromise their iPhones:

1. Mahua Moitra (Trinamool Congress MP)
2. Priyanka Chaturvedi (Shiv Sena UBT MP)
3. Raghav Chadha (AAP MP)
4. Shashi Tharoor (Congress MP)
5. Asaduddin Owaisi (AIMIM MP)
6. Sitaram Yechury (CPI(M) general secretary and former MP)
7. Pawan Khera (Congress spokesperson)
8. Akhilesh Yadav (Samajwadi Party president)
9. Siddharth Varadarajan (founding editor, The Wire)
10. Sriram Karri (resident editor, Deccan Chronicle)
11. Samir Saran (president, Observer Research Foundation)
12. Revathi (independent journalist)
13. K.C. Venugopal (Congress MP)
14. Supriya Shrinate (Congress spokesperson)
15. Multiple people who work in Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s office
16. Revanth Reddy (Congress MP)
17. T.S. Singhdeo (Chhattisgarh deputy CM and Congress leader)
18. Ravi Nair (journalist, OCCRP)
19. K.T. Rama Rao (Telangana minister and BRS leader)
20. Anand Mangnale (regional editor, South Asia, OCCRP)

The email titled “ALERT: State-sponsored attackers may be targeting your iPhone” goes on to say, “These attackers are likely targeting you individually because of who you are or what you do. If your device is compromised by a state-sponsored attacker, they may be able to remotely access your sensitive data, communications, or even the camera and microphone.”

It urges the recipients, “While it’s possible this is a false alarm, please take this warning seriously.”

While the language of Apple’s warning is identical to what the phone manufacturer has used in the past to alert victims of spyware around the world, the fact that at least five persons in India received the same alert at the same time (11:45 pm on October 30, 2023) suggests those being targeted are part of an India-specific cluster.

In a statement on Tuesday, Apple said, “Apple does not attribute the threat notifications to any specific state-sponsored attacker.”

These threat notifications were enabled by the company in 2021, and since then such notifications have reportedly been sent to individuals in nearly 150 countries.

Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi has tweeted the mail.

“Glad to keep underemployed officials busy at the expenses of taxpayers like me! Nothing more important to do?” Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said while posting about the attack.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi held a press conference on the matter, in which he accused the Narendra Modi government of doing everything possible to hide that they had “sold the government to Adani”. “Hack us all you want,” he said, “but we will not stop questioning you.” He also said that the government is going out of its way to distract from demands from a caste census. “Who is Adani really stealing from?” he asked, and responded that it was the common people, the marginalised, who were paying the price.

Manipur Police Commandos, Sent As Reinforcements After Cop Was Shot, Ambushed

IMPHAL, Oct 31: A team of Manipur Police commandos sent to a border town as reinforcements after a senior police officer was shot dead this morning were ambushed by suspected insurgents on their way, the police said. Many commandos were injured in the ambush that happened 10 km short of Tengnoupal district.

Troops of the Assam Rifles rushed to the ambush site and rescued the police commandos, government sources said. Many have been taken to hospital.

Kuki civil society groups, meanwhile, in statements alleged it was a retaliatory shoot-out with Kuki village volunteers over alleged indiscriminate use of force by police commandos. The Kuki groups alleged the Manipur government has been pouring in state forces to Moreh to harass civilians and have demanded the centre to withdraw the police from the border town.

A senior police officer in Moreh, however, said that some groups often claim "village volunteers" as a cover for insurgent attacks, and there is no way to know for certain that these "village volunteers" will not lead an attack.

"The ground situation should be observed first-hand and verified. Any group can claim anything. That doesn't mean it is true," the officer said, requesting anonymity.

The India-Myanmar border trading town of Moreh in Tengnoupal, where senior police officer Chingtham Anand was shot dead by a suspected insurgent sniper while he was overseeing the construction of a helipad, is about 115 km from the state capital Imphal.

While the distance is not much on paper for a highway on the plains, the Imphal-Moreh route has many hills, jungles and hairpin bends that significantly raise the risk of ambush by insurgents, sources said.

The Manipur Police sent the commando reinforcements to Moreh after security forces started an operation to neutralise the suspected insurgent sniper who killed the police officer, sources said.

The unprecedented attack on the helipad project this morning and the subsequent ambush marked a sharp increase in hostilities between the security forces and insurgents amid the semblance of hard-won normalcy in ethnic violence-hit Manipur.

A small squad of Manipur Police commandos who have been stationed in Moreh since the May 3 violence is being bolstered with reinforcements now. Sending the Border Security Force (BSF) and police personnel to the border town, however, has not been easy due to roadblocks by miscreants, sources said, adding the need for a larger helipad was felt and so a decision to build it was taken.

The new helipad is being built jointly by the state and the BSF. This will be the third helipad in Moreh. The two other helipads are under the Assam Rifles, whose operational control is with the army.

The state forces and the BSF are making the new helipad for their own exclusive use to transport police and paramilitary jawans to Moreh from other parts of Manipur, since the road to Moreh is blocked by miscreants at many places and there is a high risk of ambush, as had happened today, sources said. The insurgents want to stop the new helipad from being made operational, they said.

Kuki civil society groups have strongly condemned what they alleged was the Manipur government's attempt to send the police into Moreh and start indiscriminate operations against Kuki civilians.

"The Kuki Inpi Manipur have made repeated appeals to the government of India to withdraw the police commandos from Moreh to prevent any untoward incident against the minority Kuki-Zo community," the civil society group Kuki Inpi said in a statement.

The Kuki group Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) in a statement criticised Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh over what it claimed was inequality on treatment of two cases of cop deaths - one was Onkhomang Haokip, who was killed in September, and the other is today's incident.

Referring to Haokip's death, the ITLF said, "... The Chief Minister's Office remained startlingly mute on social media, and no immediate action to investigate was taken. Moreover, a meagre ex-gratia was announced... The brutal and cowardly assault on officer Haokip left his family bereft, yet the government's indifference was palpable."

Over 60,000 central forces are in Manipur to fully bring the situation to normal

The ethnic violence in Manipur has killed over 180 people and left thousands internally displaced.

Though the Manipur ethnic clashes between the Kuki tribes and the Meiteis is said to be over the Meities' demand for inclusion under the Scheduled Tribes category, many leaders including Union Minister Home Minister Amit Shah and Foreign Minister S Jaishankar have said entry of illegal immigrants is one of the main factors behind the unrest in the northeast state, which is ruled by the BJP.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has said it is looking into an alleged transnational conspiracy involving terror groups hiding in Bangladesh, Myanmar and Manipur to exploit the ethnic violence in the northeast state.

Arvind Kejriwal Summoned By Probe Agency On Thursday In Liquor Policy Case

NEW DELHI, Oct 30: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been summoned for questioning in the alleged liquor scam by the Enforcement Directorate, which is probing the money laundering angle. He has been asked to present himself at the Delhi office of the Central agency on November 2.

In April, the Central Bureau of Investigation had summoned Kejriwal for questioning on the same issue.

"The Central government has only one objective -- to destroy the Aam Aadmi Party at any cost," said senior AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj. "For this, they are leaving no stone unturned, including creating a fake case. The idea is to send Arvind Kejriwal to jail and destroy the Aam Aadmi Party," he added.

Today's summons came hours after the Supreme Court rejected the bail plea of Kejriwal's former Deputy Manish Sisodia, who is the prime accused in the case. A money trail of ₹ 338 crore has been tentatively established in the case, said the judges, who earlier insisted that a chain of evidence must be established.

In a 41-page order, the court accepted the argument of the Central Bureau of Investigation that there is a "carefully hatched conspiracy" to ensure that a select few make windfall gains. The policy "facilitated getting bribes" from wholesale distributors who are "assured of exorbitant profits".

After the verdict, leaders of Delhi's BJP unit demanded that Kejriwal resign. "The court order has presented sufficient reason for Chief Minister Kejriwal to resign from his post," said Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva.

The CBI contends that liquor companies were involved in framing the excise policy, which would have brought them a 12 per cent profit. A liquor lobby it dubbed the "South Group" had paid kickbacks, part of which was routed to public servants. The Enforcement Directorate alleged laundering of the kickbacks.

The BJP has alleged that the proceeds of the alleged scam were used by AAP to fund its large-scale campaign in Gujarat, in which it got a 12.91 per cent votes and established itself as a national party.

13 Dead, 40 Injured In Andhra Train Accident

HYDERABAD, Oct 30: Thirteen people died and 40 were injured in a rail accident in Andhra Pradesh after a passenger train overshot the signal and hit another from behind on the Howrah-Chennai line last evening.

A special passenger train between Visakhapatnam and Palasa was on restricted speed on the main line between Alamanda and Kantakapalle due to no signal when a Vizag-Rayagada passenger train hit it from behind.

The last three coaches of the Visakhapatnam-Palasa train and the locomotive of the Visakhapatnam-Rayagada passenger train along with two coaches, got derailed. One coach derailed and rested on a goods train wagon on one side.

The death count increased to 13 from nine last night, Vizianagaram Collector Nagalakshmi said, hoping to complete the rescue efforts by this morning. At least 40 were injured and are being treated at various hospitals.

Pictures from the site last evening showed the coaches derailed and people crowding around. Except the derailed and affected coaches, the site was cleared by midnight, said Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

Chief Minister YSR Jagan Mohan Reddy has announced financial assistance of ₹ 10 lakh for the family of those who died. Those who suffered serious injuries will get ₹ 2.5 lakh and passengers with minor injuries will get ₹ 50,000.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reviewed the situation and condoled the loss of lives. He announced another ₹ 2 lakh assistance for the family of those who died in the accident and ₹ 50,000 for the injured.

The railway minister also spoke to Chief Minister Reddy, who expressed deep shock over the accident and ordered all arrangements to be made to ensure treatment of the injured. Mr Reddy has also sought time-to-time update on the incident.

The war room in Delhi railway ministry is monitoring the situation, said the Railways source. The East Coast Railway has released helpline numbers (Bhubaneswar - 0674-2301625, 2301525, 2303069, and Waltair - 0891-2885914.)

Nearly five months ago, a horrific accident involving three trains killed over 280 passengers in Odisha. The Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express, Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express and a goods train were involved in the accident on June 2 near the Bahanaga Bazar station.

'Indefinite Suspension A Concern': Supreme Court In Raghav Chadha Case

NEW DELHI, Oct 30: The Supreme Court on Monday expressed concern over the indefinite suspension of a Member of Parliament Raghav Chadha and its impact on the right of the people to be represented while calling the exclusion of a member of the political opposition from the house a "serious matter".

A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra also questioned whether the Privileges Committee could issue such an order to indefinitely suspend an MP.

The bench remarked, "Such kind of indefinite suspension will have ramifications on the people whose constituency is going unrepresented? Where is the power of the privilege committee to indefinitely suspend the member?"

The bench said the exclusion of a member of the political opposition from the House was a serious matter.

The apex court said, "Member should have verified the consent of the other members to be part of select committee but is this a breach of privilege? Exclusion of members of the opposition from the House is a serious matter. He is representative of a voice that is different than the ruling party and this is an important concern for the constitutional court. Indefinite suspension is a cause of concern and 75 days have gone."

Senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, appearing for Chadha, said the MP respects Rajya Sabha and that he had apologised earlier too and was now doing it again.

The bench made it clear that it would look into the issue of indefinite suspension.

"Please have the joint compilation sent to us by Thursday 5 at pm. We will hear on Friday then. We will also hear on the extent of interference and that this is not a final punishment but a pro tem one," it said.

Aam Aadmi Party MP Raghav Chadha moved the top court challenging his indefinite suspension from Rajya Sabha.

Chadha was suspended from the Upper House on August 11 for "breach of privilege" during the Monsoon Session after complaints.

The MP was accused of not obtaining the consent of five Rajya Sabha MPs before including their name in a select committee.

He was suspended till the Privilege Committee submitted its findings on the allegation against him for forging the signatures of five MPs in a motion related to the Delhi Services Bill in the Rajya Sabha.

Chadha has called the suspension patently illegal and without the authority of law.

His suspension followed a motion moved by Leader of the House Piyush Goyal who sought action against the AAP leader for including names of some members of the Upper House without their consent in a proposed select committee for the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023.

6 Killed, 18 Injured As 2 Trains Collide In Andhra

HYDERABAD, Oct 29: Six people were killed and 18 injured on Sunday when two trains collided in Andhra Pradesh, said police, months after the horrific three-train collision in Odisha that killed over 280.

A special passenger train going from Visakhapatnam to Palasa had stopped on tracks between Alamanda and Kantakapalle near Kothsavatsala because of no signal when the Vizag-Raigad passenger train rammed it, derailing three coaches.

Pictures from the site showed the derailed coaches and people crowding around.

Railways sources said the tragedy was a result of human error, adding that signalling was not noticed by loco pilot.

War room in Delhi railway ministry is monitoring the situation, the Railways source added.

2 Dead In Serial Blasts At Prayer Meeting In Kerala

KOCHI, Oct 29: Two women were killed and 45 people were injured in a series of blasts at a convention centre in Kerala's Kalamassery today, sending shockwaves across the country. At least three blasts were reported within minutes after the prayer meeting started.

The incident took place during a Jehovah's Witnesses convention at the centre in Kalamassery, about 10 kilometres from Kochi. Hours after the blasts, a 48-year-old man claimed responsibility and has surrendered. The suspect, Dominic Martin, has claimed that he belongs to the same Christian denomination that organised the prayer meet.

The meet today was attended by nearly 2,000 people. People who were present at the convention centre told the media that the first blast occurred in the middle of a prayer. Officials said explosives had been placed inside a tiffin box.

Kalamassery MP Hibi Eden said that the first explosion occurred in the centre of the hall. He added that the group had an evacuation plan which kicked into action immediately after the first blast.

"Luckily, they had an evacuation plan. Every time the group meets, they discuss and prepare an evacuation plan. But there was a lot of smoke, which led to a stampede," said Eden.

Police said 45 injured persons were undergoing treatment in various hospitals in the district, of which 18 people are in the ICU. Five people injured in the blast are in a critical condition.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan termed the blasts as 'unfortunate' and said that the situation is being viewed seriously. All senior police officials in the state are on their way to the blast site.

The blasts will now be probed by the National Investigation Agency, which specialises in counter-terrorism operations. The agency's forensic team has already reached the spot and is collecting evidence.

Visuals of the incident showed fire rescue and police personnel in large numbers evacuating people from the site, which has now been cordoned off.

Disturbing videos from inside the convention centre showed multiple fires inside the hall as people and children were heard screaming in fear.

The video also showed some people trying to quell the fires as the hall was littered with scattered and damaged chairs.

Hundreds of people were seen outside the convention centre post the explosion.

Kerala Health Minister Veena George has directed all healthcare workers to report for duty in the wake of the blast.

Security has been tightened in the national capital and Mumbai following the serial blasts.

Pakistani troops open fire at Indian posts in Jammu, BSF retaliating 'befittingly'

JAMMU, Oct 26: The Pakistan Rangers opened unprovoked firing at Indian posts along the International Border in the Arnia sector in Jammu Thursday night, a senior BSF official said, adding that its troops were retaliating "befittingly" to it. The exchange of gunfire was underway till last reports came in, the official said.

According to reports, some BSF jawans were injured in the firing, but there was no official confirmation. The firing by Pakistani troops started around 8 pm, the Border Security Force (BSF) said. "The firing is still on," the BSF said. The firing by Pakistani troops started around 8 pm, the Border Security Force (BSF) said. Senior BSF officers were rushing to the spot, officials said.

Gaza Crisis, Foreign Terrorists May Force Rethink Of Security Strategy In Kashmir

SRINAGAR, Oct 25: The Gaza crisis has raised the possibility of street protests making a comeback in Jammu and Kashmir. That, coupled with an increase in foreign terrorists, has prompted security agencies to conduct a review of security measures and strategise on new ones.

A meeting of top officials of Jammu and Kashmir and security agencies was held at the headquarters of the 15 Corps in Srinagar on Wednesday. "A new security matrix was discussed and the focus was on how to curb street protests, if any, that take place in the coming days," a senior official told NDTV, adding that the meeting was aimed at increasing coordination.

He said people in Kashmir are keeping a close eye on what is unfolding in Gaza. "So far, we fear that some street protests may take place, resulting in a law-and-order situation. So, a new security matrix was discussed to keep things in check," he explains.

Street protests have come down significantly since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, and security agencies feel that it was a result of coordinated efforts.

Another aspect which was discussed in this high-profile meeting was the role that foreign terrorists may play. "The number of foreign terrorists has gone up again as local recruitments have gone down drastically," said another officer.

Out of 46 militants killed in the UT this year, 37 were Pakistanis and only nine were locals, official figures reveal. This is the first time in the 33 years of militancy in Jammu and Kashmir that the number of foreign terrorists killed is four times as high as local terrorists.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, about 130 terrorists are operating in the Valley currently, of which half are foreign terrorists. "Pakistan wants to keep the pot boiling and that's why they are pushing more and more terrorists into Kashmir. The fear is that those who are hiding in the upper reaches may also come down to the Valley," said a senior official in New Delhi.

The meeting held in Srinagar was chaired by RR Bhatnagar, advisor to the Jammu And Kashmir Lieutenant Governor, and Upendra Dwivedi, Army Commander, Northern Command. The J&K Director General of Police, the Chinar Corps Commander and other senior officials from the military, state administration and security agencies also attended the meeting.

"The nuances of security in the region related to the onset of the winter season also came up for discussion," said an official.

No Recognition To Same-Sex Marriages From Supreme Court. Over To Centre

NEW DELHI, Oct 17: The Supreme Court today stopped short of legalising marriage equality, but stressed that an individual's right to enter into a union cannot be restricted on the basis of sexual orientation. The five-judge bench came up with four judgments, differing primarily on the question of adoption rights for queer couples.

The judges asked the centre to proceed with the formation of a committee to address practical concerns of same-sex couples, such as getting ration cards, pension, gratuity and succession issues.

The centre had on May 3 told the court that it plans to form a committee headed by the cabinet secretary to explore administrative solution to problems faced by same-sex couples without delving into the marriage equality question.

The bench gave a 3-2 judgment on the question of adoption rights. Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justice SK Kaul recognised the right of queer couples to adopt, while Justice S Ravindra Bhat, Justice PS Narasimha and Justice Hima Kohli disagreed.

"There is a degree of agreement and a degree of disagreement on how far we have to go. I have dealt with the issue of judicial review and separation of powers," Justice Chandrachud said.

Choosing a life partner is an integral part of choosing one's course of life, the Chief Justice said. "Some may regard this as the most important decision of their life. This right goes to the root of the right to life and liberty under Article 21," he said.

"The right to enter into union includes the right to choose one's partner and the right to recognition of that union. A failure to recognise such associations will result in discrimination against queer couples," the Chief Justice said, adding, "the right to enter into union cannot be restricted on the basis of sexual orientation".

Disagreeing with the centre's argument that marriage equality is an urban, elite concept, the Chief Justice said, "Queerness is not urban elite. Homosexuality or queerness is not an urban concept or restricted to the upper classes of the society."

Supporting adoption rights for queer couples, he said there is nothing to probe that only heterosexual couples can provide stability to a child. "There is no material on record to prove that only a married heterosexual couple can provide stability to a child," he said, adding that the Central Adoption Resource Authority "exceeded its authority" in barring adoption by same-sex couples.

Justice Kaul agreed with the Chief Justice that there is a need for an anti-discrimination law.

"Same-sex relationships have been recognised from antiquity, not just for sexual activities but as relationships for emotional fulfilment. I have referred to certain Sufi traditions. I agree with the judgment of the Chief Justice. It is not res integra for a constitutional court to uphold the rights and the court has been guided by the constitutional morality and not social morality. These unions are to be recognised as a union to give partnership and love," he said.

Justice Bhat agreed that queerness is "neither urban nor elitist", but added that he does not agree with the Chief Justice's directions.

"The judgment of the Chief Justice propounded a theory of a unified thread of rights and how lack of recognition violated rights. However, when the law is silence, Article 19(1)(a) does not compel the State to enact a law to facilitate that expression," he said.

Justice Bhat said the court cannot create a legal framework for queer couples and it is for the legislature to do as there are several aspects to be taken into consideration.

On the issue of adoption, Justice Bhat said they disagree with the Chief Justice on the right of queer couples to adopt. "We voice certain concerns. This is not to say that unmarried or non-heterosexual couples can't be good parents... given the objective of section 57, the State as parens patriae has to explore all areas and to ensure all benefits reach the children at large in need of stable homes."

Earlier, the Chief Justice disagreed with Justice Bhat's approach. "My learned brother acknowledges the discrimination against the queer couples but does not issue directions. I cannot come to terms with such an approach."

The judges agreed that the court should not try to tweak the Special Marriage Act as it would amount to encroaching into the legislature's domain.

"The court cannot strike down the Special Marriage Act or read words into the law due to institutional limitations. The court cannot read words into allied laws like the Succession Act as it would amount to legislation," the Chief Justice said.

Justice Kaul agreed. "I have said that the Special Marriage Act is violative of Article 14. But there are interpretative limitations in including homosexual unions in it. As rightly pointed by Solicitor General, tinkering with Special Marriage Act can have a cascading effect," he said.

Video of man being burnt in Manipur goes viral

IMPHAL, Oct 9: The Manipur government on Monday informed that the video of a man being burnt, which surfaced a day ago, was that of an incident that took place in early May in Kuki-dominated Kangpokpi district.

Addressing a press conference in Manipur capital Imphal, security advisor to the Manipur government Kuldiep Singh said that the incident is related to an earlier viral video of two Kuki women who were paraded naked and raped.

The seven-second video which showed a man wearing black shirt and camouflage pants with injury marks on his head lying down near a barbed wire while a portion of his body was getting burnt. Voices of people, apparently standing near him, as well as gunshots can be heard in the background.

It’s not clear whether the man was burnt alive, or he was already dead before being burnt. “The name of the person (in the video is) Laldinthanga Khongsai, aged 37 years...resident of Paokongching village in Kangpokpi district,” Singh said.

He mentioned that the incident apparently took place on May 4, a day after ethnic clashes started. Singh informed that the body of the victim, a Kuki, is now lying at the morgue in Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences in Imphal.

“It has been requested by the DGP to hand over this case to the CBI as this case is also a sequel of that incident in which two persons were killed and two women were paraded naked, the video of which went viral,” Singh said.

5 States To Vote From November 7 To 30, Results On December 3

NEW DELHI, Oct 9: The 2023 Madhya Pradesh Assembly election will be held in a single phase on November 17, followed by voting in Rajasthan on November 23 and in Telangana on November 30.

The final round of polls this year will begin with Mizoram voting on November 7.

Chhattisgarh is the only state in this round of polls to vote in two phases - the first will coincide with voting in Mizoram (i.e., November 7) and the second with Madhya Pradesh (i.e., November 17).

All results will be declared on December 3.

Approximately 16.1 crore people will cast their votes in this round of elections, which are widely seen as 'semi-finals' because they take place just months before the 2024 Lok Sabha election.

The Congress claimed a hat-trick of victories in Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh in 2018, but was couldn't hold on to the latter after ex-leader Jyotiraditya Scindia and nearly two dozen lawmakers from the ruling party crossed to the BJP, leading to the fall of Kamal Nath's government.

In Chhattisgarh the Congress won 68 seats while the BJP won just 15, with the former claiming 43 per cent of the vote-share. The Assembly has 90 seats and the majority mark is set at 46.

In Madhya Pradesh, the BJP and Congress finished almost neck-and-neck; the saffron party won 109 seats and the Congress 114. The state has 230 Assembly segments and the majority mark is 116.

Vote-share was split even more equally - 41 per cent each for the BJP and the Congress.

Of the Rajasthan Assembly's 200 seats (majority mark = 101), the Congress won 100 and the BJP 73 in the last election. The Congress finally formed the government, and Ashok Gehlot was installed as Chief Minister, after support from the Bahujan Samaj Party, which claimed six seats.

Telangana, the only southern state in this round of polls, has 119 seats. The majority mark is set at 60. Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao's Bharat Rashtra Samithi won a thumping majority in 2018 - it won 88 seats. The Congress was a distant second with 19 and Asaduddin Owaisi's AIMIM was third with seven. The BJP won just one Assembly segment; T Raja Singh won the Goshamahal seat.

Finally, in Mizoram, the Mizo National Front swept the 2018 polls, winning 27 of the state's 40 seats. The Congress won just four and the BJP one. The remaining were won by independent candidates.

The majority mark in the Mizoram Assembly is 21 seats.

The term of the Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Telangana assemblies end in January next year, while that of Mizoram ends in December.

Sikkim CM Prem Singh Tamang questions quality of hydel dam destroyed in flood

GANGTOK, Oct 6: Sikkim chief minister Prem Singh Tamang questioned the quality of the 1200 MW hydro power project on Friday, days after the dam was destroyed by flash floods in the Teesta river in the Chungthang area of the state.

The project was built during the 25-year rule of the Sikkim Democratic Front led by Pawan Chamling, which was in power until 2019. The state government has 60.08 % share in the project.

Teesta Urja, the second largest run-of-the-river hydro power project in India, was washed away due to flood caused by the breach in Lhonak lake in north-west Sikkim on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday.

The 1,200 MW power project on Teesta river, one of the most dammed rivers in the country, is located between Chungthang and Mangan in Mangan district in north Sikkim and is the biggest of the nine working hydro projects on the river in Sikkim. Work on 15 dams is going on and another 28 are proposed over the river to tap its hydropower capacity of about 4,200 MW.

Addressing the media in Rangpo on Friday, Tamang said: “The substandard construction work at India’s second biggest hydel power project led to the destruction of the dam. This caused massive damages downstream.”

Tamang, who met people affected by the calamity, announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹4 lakh for families of those who died.

“Though there was a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) in north-west Sikkim, the damage to property was more because the dam collapsed. It was constructed in a substandard manner,” he said.

So far, 19 bodies have been recovered, Tamang said, adding that 103 people were still missing. A many as 25,000 people have been affected and 3500 rescued from areas, which were cut off because of extensive damage to roads and bridges, he said.

6 Soldiers Among 19 Dead In Sikkim Disaster, 103 Missing

GUWAHATI, Oct 5: Six soldiers are among 19 dead in the Sikkim flash floods, sources said today. Over 100 including 16 soldiers are missing and 3,000 tourists are stranded. Over 2,500 people have been evacuated so far, and 6,000 have been moved to relief camps.

The state government has asked tourists not to come to Sikkim at the moment. The government also issued an advisory over the possibility of explosives and ammunition washed away from an army camp in the flash floods.

The Power Ministry said it will make a detailed assessment of damage to hydropower projects in Sikkim after the flood water recedes.

The state-owned hydropower giant NHPC is taking all possible measures to get the hydropower projects operational at the earliest, the ministry said, adding they are continuously monitoring the situation arising out of flash floods in the Teesta basin.

Due to flash floods in the Teesta basin on the intervening night of October 3 and 4, all the bridges downstream to Teesta-V hydropower station up to Tarkhola and Pamphok have been submerged or washed away.

Presently, the power station is under shutdown and not generating electricity. NHPC has timely evacuated manpower from all its projects and ensured that they are shifted to safer places.

The state administration has requested those stranded in the flood-hit Mangan district not to panic as the authorities would start an evacuation process from Friday.

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) platoons are also ready in North Sikkim to start the evacuation process for the local people.

Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang visited Singtam, one of the worst affected areas, and reviewed the situation. "Our dedicated teams are working day and night to address the immediate concerns and challenges posed by this calamity. I urge the administration, local authorities, all organisations, and individuals to join hands in a spirit of solidarity and cooperation," Tamang said.

The flash floods destroyed 11 bridges in the state, of which eight bridges were washed away in Mangan district alone. Two bridges were destroyed in Namchi and one in Gangtok. Water pipelines, sewage lines and 277 houses, both kuchcha and concrete, have been destroyed in four districts.

The flash flood in the Teesta river, triggered by a cloudburst in Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim, caused an accumulation of a huge quantity of water, which turned towards Chungthang dam, destroying the power infrastructure before moving downstream in spate, flooding towns and villages.

Supreme Court Asks Where Is Proof In Manish Sisodia Bail Hearing

NEW DELHI, Oct 5: Making some strong observations while hearing the bail petition of former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia in the liquor policy case, the Supreme Court has said that the chain of evidence has not been fully established. It also asked where the proof is against Sisodia, except for the statement of businessman Dinesh Arora, who is an accused in the case himself.

Arora is an accused-turned-approver in the case, and was recently granted bail.

Hearing the case on Thursday, the bench, comprising Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice SVN Bhatti, said the agencies' case is that money had been received by Manish Sisodia and asked how it reached him from the so-called liquor group.

"You have taken two figures, ₹ 100 crore and ₹ 30 crore. Who paid them this? There can be so many people paying the money - not necessarily connected to liquor. Where is the proof? Dinesh Arora himself is the recipient. Where is the evidence? Except for the statement of Dinesh Arora, is there any other evidence," Justice Khanna asked.

"The chain has not been fully established," the bench observed.

The court said that the money has to flow from the liquor lobby to the person and conceded that establishing the chain is difficult as everything was done under cover.

“But that's where your competence comes in,” Justice Khanna said, referring to the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation.

Referring specifically to the flow of money and the charges against the AAP leader filed by the ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), Justice Khanna asked, “Manish Sisodia is not involved in all this. Vijay Nair (another accused) is there but Manish Sisodia is not in this part. How will you bring him under the money-laundering act?

“The money is not going to him. In case it is a company with whom he is involved, then we have vicarious liability. Otherwise, the prosecution falters. Money laundering is entirely a different offence,” the judge said.

Pointing out that, according to the agency, the case is not one of attempt but actual involvement, Justice Khanna remarked, “What is the activity connected with the proceeds of crime? This is not generation. PMLA deals with the process or activity connected with the proceeds of crime. So till the proceeds of crime come, the PMLA case doesn't come.”

The hearing has been adjourned till next week.

Sisodia was arrested by the CBI in February and then by the ED the next month.

Earlier in the day, the court clarified that the remark it made on Wednesday about making the AAP an 'accused' in the liquor policy case was "not to implicate any political party" and was just a legal question that it had raised.

AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh was also arrested by the ED in connection with the case on Wednesday.

While the Aam Aadmi Party has said the actions are part of a political vendetta, Union Minister Anurag Thakur said on Thursday that the turn of the "kingpin" will also come.

10 Dead, 82 Missing In Sikkim Flash Flood, Missing Armyman Rescued

GANGTOK, Oct 4: As many as 10 civilians have died and 82 people, including 22 Army personnel, are missing after a cloudburst over the Lhonak Lake in north Sikkim caused it to overflow, triggering flash floods in the Teesta river.

A government official said 14 bridges have collapsed and over 3,000 tourists are feared stranded in different parts of the state.

The cloudburst occurred in the early hours of Wednesday and the swirling waters swept away parts of a dam at Chungthang, which is the state's largest hydropower project, worsening the flooding downstream.

The Sikkim government has declared the calamity a disaster under the Disaster Management Act.

Amid the doom and gloom, the Army gave a heartening update on Wednesday evening when it shared that one of the 23 soldiers that had gone missing from Bardang near Singtam town has been rescued and his condition is stable.

A senior official in the Sikkim government confirmed that 10 people, all of them civilians, have died and 82 are still missing.

"As many as 14 bridges - nine under the Border Roads Organisation and five under the State government - suffered extensive damage and collapsed. Over 3,000 tourists are feared stranded," said the official.

Around 14 workers working in Teesta Stage 3 dam in Chungthang, parts of which were swept away, are still stranded in the tunnels.

Injuries and missing persons have been reported from Chungthang in Mangan district, Dikchu and Singtam in Gangtok district, and Rangpo in Pakyong district. Over 25 people have been rushed to various hospitals, the official added.

Mobile networks and broadband connections have been disrupted in Chungthang and most of North Sikkim due to fibre cable lines being destroyed by the flash floods in Sangkalan and Toong in Mangan district. The police station in Chungthang has also been destroyed.

"Troops of Trishakti Corps of the Indian Army launched a massive search-and-rescue operation to trace the 23 missing soldiers. The search operations are being undertaken under conditions of incessant rains and fast-flowing water in the Teesta River with the roads and bridges washed away at many places. By evening, one soldier had been rescued and the search operation for the other 22 personnel continues," an Army official said.

The Army said family members of the missing persons have been contacted and informed about the situation and all other Indian Army personnel posted in Sikkim and North Bengal are safe and are unable to contact their family members due to disruptions in mobile communication.

The State government has made a request for three extra platoons of the National Disaster Response Force, which the central government has approved. One platoon of NDRF is already undertaking relief and rescue efforts in Rangpo and Singtam towns.

One of the three additional NDRF platoons will be airlifted to Chungthang for rescue operations. Food and civil supplies will also be taken to Chungthang once the weather improves for air connectivity, a state government official said.

To import necessities from Siliguri, Bailey bridges will be laid by the Indian Army and the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd, Sikkim Chief Secretary VB Pathak said.

The State government has also set up 18 relief camps in Singtam, Rangpo, Dikchu and Adarsh Gaon, which are the areas that have seen the most destruction.

Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang said he had visited Singtam to take stock of the situation, and urged everyone in the state to remain vigilant.

"We are all aware of the recent natural calamity that has struck our state. Emergency services have been mobilized to the affected areas, and I personally visited Singtam to assess the damages and engage with the local community," Mr Tamang posted on X, formerly Twitter.

"I humbly urge all our citizens to remain vigilant and refrain from unnecessary travel during this critical time. It is essential that we maintain composure and hope for a swift return to normalcy in our region," the chief minister added.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said he had spoken to the chief minister and assured him of support.

AAP's Sanjay Singh Arrested In Delhi Liquor Policy Case Hours After Raids

NEW DELHI, Oct 4: In yet another blow for the Aam Aadmi Party, the Enforcement Directorate has arrested its Rajya Sabha MP, Sanjay Singh, in a money laundering case linked to the investigation into the Delhi liquor policy. Searches were being conducted at the Delhi residence of the MP since early on Wednesday morning.

This is the third major arrest from the party. Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain was arrested in May last year on charges of laundering money through four companies that were allegedly linked to him.

The biggest setback for the party, however, came in February this year, when then Delhi Deputy Chief Minister and close Arvind Kejriwal aide Manish Sisodia was arrested by the CBI in the alleged liquor policy scam.

The raids against Singh took place after he was named by businessman Dinesh Arora, an accused in the case, who later turned 'approver'.

Arora had claimed that the AAP leader had introduced him to Mr Sisodia, who was the excise minister.

Search operations began at the Rajya Sabha MP's residence early on Wednesday morning and went on for a few hours. AAP workers reached his house and raised slogans against the BJP and the "misuse" of agencies. Additional police personnel were posted to prevent the situation from escalating.

Singh has been taken to the Enforcement Directorate office, where his statement will be recorded. He is likely to be produced in court on Thursday afternoon and the agency is expected to seek his custody.

Delhi Chief Minister and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal came out in support of his colleague while the raids were being conducted and, without naming the BJP, accused the party of engaging in desperate attempts to derail rivals ahead of next year's general election.

"For a year, we have been hearing noise about the alleged liquor scam. More than 1,000 raids have been conducted and not a single paisa was recovered. They just keep alleging 'scam'... I did a lot of investigation and found nothing," Kejriwal claimed.

"Nothing is going to be found from Sanjay Singh's place too. Elections are coming and they feel (they) are losing... so it appears to be the last desperate attempt of the losing side," he said.

After news of the arrest came out, Raghav Chadha made similar allegations and did not shy away from hitting out at the BJP directly.

"They have been investigating the case for 15 months but have not been able to unearth even a single rupee of illegal money. So much time and so many resources have been expended but they haven't been able to prove anything. This is just a political vendetta. The BJP knows it is losing," he said.

The Enforcement Directorate, which has filed multiple chargesheets in connection with the case, has never named Sanjay Singh as an accused, nor summoned him to record his statement.

Months earlier, Singh had posted a photo on X, formerly Twitter, of him standing next to posters outside his home "welcoming" the Enforcement Directorate to his "poor house".

The AAP re-posted that photo on X - with fire emojis - on Wednesday morning.

Sanjay Singh's father, Dinesh Singh, said the family cooperated with the police and nothing was found in the house. “I told Sanjay not to worry and that the truth will win. We are not worried about his arrest,” he said.

The liquor policy case is being investigated by both the CBI and the ED. Under the policy, introduced in November 2021, the government withdrew from retail sale of liquor and allowed private licensees to run stores. In July 2022, Delhi Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar flagged gross violations in the policy and alleged "undue benefits" to liquor licensees.

The liquor policy and the alleged "corruption" has also been at the centre of various flashpoints between the BJP and the AAP as well as Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena and the Delhi government.

23 Army personnel missing in flash flood triggered by cloudburst in Sikkim

GANGTOK, Oct 4: At least 23 Army personnel went missing on Wednesday morning due to a flash flood in the Teesta river in Sikkim's Lachen Valley. Some Army vehicles have been submerged in the flash flood, defence sources confirmed. A search operation has been launched. The Army vehicles were parked at Bardang near Singtam when the flash flood occurred after the release of water from the Chungthang dam. The water level rose up to 15-20 feet high downstream.

A flash flood alert was issued in Sikkim after the cloud burst in Singtam. Chief minister Prem Singh Tamang took stock of the flood-like situation.

What is cloudburst?

A very sudden and heavy rainfall which is confined to a small area is called a cloudburst. When a small area receives more than 100 mm of rain in around one hour, it is said to be a cloud burst.

What is a flash flood?

A flash flood is the sudden flooding of a small area which can be caused by various factors including heavy rain, cloudburst, dam break etc.

NewsClick Founder Prabir Purkayastha Arrested In Anti-Terror Case

NEW DELHI, Oct 3: Journalist Prabir Purkayastha, the founder of NewsClick, has been arrested under anti-terror law, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, days after a New York Times investigation alleged that the news portal had received funding from a network pushing Chinese propaganda.

Amit Chakravarty, the HR head of the news portal, has also been arrested.

Earlier today, searches at the homes of journalists linked with NewsClick were carried at 20-odd locations across Delhi-NCR and Mumbai, prompting protests from the opposition, with some calling it a "crackdown on press freedom".

"A total of 37 male suspects have been questioned at premises, 9 female suspects have been questioned at their respective places of stay and digital devices, documents etc. have been seized/collected for examination. The proceedings are still ongoing; so far, two accused, Prabir Purkayastha and Amit Chakravarty have been arrested," said a source, adding that further investigation is underway.

The Delhi Police has claimed that NewsClick received nearly ₹ 38 crore from entities with alleged links to China and the funds were used to influence pro-China content on the website.

The police sources added that 29 crore was received as fees for export services while ₹ 9 crore was received as FDI through inflating share prices.

The funds, say sources, were also shared with activists Teesta Setalvad and Gautam Navalkha.

Hours after the raids, the Editors Guild of India, the non-profit organisation of journalists, urged the Centre to follow due process, and not make draconian criminal laws "as tools for press intimidation".

"EGI is concerned that these raids are yet another attempt to muzzle the media. While we recognise that the law must take its course if actual offences are involved, the due process has to be followed. The investigation of specific offences must not create a general atmosphere of intimidation under the shadow of draconian laws, or impinge on the freedom of expression and the raising of dissenting and critical voices," the Editors Guild said in a statement.

Strong Tremors In North India As 4 Earthquakes Strike Nepal In An Hour

NEW DELHI, Oct 3: Strong tremors were felt in Delhi Tuesday after multiple earthquakes hit Nepal - of 4.6 and 6.2 magnitude within 25 minutes of each other, a third of 3.8 magnitude 15 minutes after, and a fourth of 3.1 magnitude 13 minutes later, at 3.19 PM IST.

The first earthquake hit at 2.25 PM. According to the National Centre for Seismology, there was also a 5.2 magnitude earthquake in Arunachal Pradesh at 3.27 PM IST and a 3.3 magnitude disturbance in Uttarakhand minutes later.

The epicentre for the strongest quake was 206 km southeast of Joshimath in Uttarakhand and 284 north of Lucknow.

On X (formerly Twitter), the NCS said: "Earthquake of Magnitude: 6.2, Occurred on 03-10-2023, 14:51:04 IST, Lat: 29.39 & Long: 81.23, Depth: 5 Km ,Location: Nepal."

The earthquake was felt in Delhi and other parts of the national capital region. Delhi-NCR residents reported strong tremors after the second earthquake and evacuated offices buildings. Videos of people rushing out of buildings flooded social media.

"We hope you all are safe. Please come out of your buildings to a safe spot, but do not panic. DO NOT USE ELEVATORS! For any emergency help, dial 112," Delhi Police said in a statement.

Tremors were felt in 30 districts of Uttar Pradesh, including Lucknow, Hapur and Amroha. Out of the districts bordering Nepal, tremors were felt by five of them.

Parts of Uttarakhand also experienced tremors. Tremors were felt in Chandigarh, Jaipur and other parts of north India as well.

On Monday tremors were felt in Assam and other north-east states after a 5.2 magnitude earthquake in Meghalaya. The quake hit at 6.15 PM. The epicentre in the North Garo Hills, three km from the district headquarters at Resubelpara.

Nepal lies in one of the world's most active tectonic zones (Seismic Zone IV and V), making it extremely vulnerable to earthquakes. In April 2015 a 7.8 magnitude earthquake killed more than 8,000 people and injuring over 21,000.

Bihar Caste Survey: 27% Backward Classes, 36% Extremely Backward Classes

PATNA, Oct 2: Bihar has become the first state to release data from a caste-based survey. The report indicates 36 per cent of the population are from Extremely Backward Classes, 27.1 per cent are from Backward Classes, 19.7 per cent are from Scheduled Castes and 1.7 per cent are from Scheduled Tribes. The general population is 15.5 per cent. The state's total population is over 13.1 crore.

The survey also said the Yadav community - the group to which Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav belongs - is the largest sub-group, accounting for 14.27 per cent of all OBC categories.

The report's fallout, which will almost certainly kick-up a political row, will likely also include calls to increase quotas for OBCs, which is capped now at 27 per cent. According to the data - released months before the 2024 Lok Sabha election, they are now 63.1 per cent of the state.

The report underlines the numerical superiority and electoral influence of OBCs in Bihar.

Minutes after the data was released Chief Minister Nitish Kumar posted on X (formerly Twitter) to hail the release of data on Gandhi Jayanti (Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary).

"Soon a meeting of the nine parties in the Bihar Assembly (including the Deputy Chief Minister's Rashtriya Janata Dal and allies-turned-fierce rivals BJP) will be called regarding caste-based census in Bihar. They will be informed about the results..." Nitish Kumar said.

The Chief Minister's Janata Dal (United) said the Bihar government had "created history".

Tejashwi Yadav called the report a "watershed" moment and the result of "decades of struggle". "Now both the policies and intentions of the government will respect (this) data..." he said.

Yadav's father and party boss Lalu Prasad Yadav also reacted. The former Chief Minister also hailed the release on Gandhi Jayanti and said, "Despite many conspiracies of the BJP, legal hurdles and all the conspiracies, today Bihar government released caste-based survey (data)."

The BJP's reaction, however, has been predictably critical, with Giriraj Singh, a Union Minister and Lok Sabha MP from Bihar, slamming the caste-based survey report as "eyewash".

Samrat Choudhary, the party's state boss, told NDTV "BJP had given full support to this survey" and claimed work on it had begun back when it was still allied with the JDU. "We will give an official response only after studying the methodology and mechanism followed in the survey."

On increasing OBC quotas - in line with the survey findings - he said, "Babasaheb Ambedkar had introduced this provision... then Mandal Commission, Rohini Commission. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has consistently ensured various findings are studied. Government will take action required."

In August, after the exercise was completed, Kumar stressed the survey will be "beneficial for all" and "enable the development of various sections of society, including the deprived".

Also in August, when pressed on some political parties opposing the caste-based headcount, the Chief Minister said the exercise had been ordered with the support of all state parties.

This cross-party support, he indicated then, included the BJP.

The opposition has pressed the centre for a national caste-based survey or headcount, and this has been announced as a key demand of the mega INDIA bloc; at present, though, there are also divisions within the group on this count after the Trinamool Congress raised objections.

Rahul Gandhi, whose party is a member of INDIA, last week said the Congress would implement a similar exercise should they win the Madhya Pradesh election likely in November.

The release of this data comes as the Supreme Court continues to hear petitions challenging a Patna High Court's judgment order that called the exercise "perfectly valid".

The court had refused an interim stay unless critics made out a prima facie case.

The decision to conduct a caste survey was taken by the Bihar government in June last year.

Suspected ISIS Terrorists Arrested By Delhi Police In Major Breakthrough

NEW DELHI, Oct 2: Three suspected ISIS terrorists, one of them on the most wanted list of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), have been arrested in Delhi during a big crackdown by the anti-terror agency. The three have been identified as Shahnawaz, Mohammed Rizwan and Mohammed Arshad Warsi.

Shahnawaz alias Shafi Uzzama was arrested by the special cell of Delhi Police from a hideout in the national capital. The Delhi Police special cell is among several agencies working with the NIA to crack down on terror networks across several states.

An engineer by profession, Shahnawaz was wanted in the ISIS Pune module case. According to sources, Shahnawaz is originally from Delhi but had moved to Pune. In July, during a raid in Pune, two of his associates were arrested. Shahnawaz managed to flee and returned to Delhi. He had been living in a hideout since.

Earlier this month, the NIA had announced a cash reward of ₹ 3 lakh each for information about Shahnawaz and three other terror suspects -- Rizwan Abdul Haji Ali, Abdulla Faiyaz Shaikh alias Diaperwala and Talha Liyakat Khan.

Shahnawaz, Abdulla and Rizwan were radicalised into joining the ISIS mission over Telegram app, it is learnt. It is alleged that they were linked to an ISIS module at Pune in Maharashtra. They wanted to engineer violence and terror in the country, NIA sources said. According to sources, Abdulla ran a diaper store at Pune that was used to assemble explosive devices. He may try to escape to Oman, NIA sources have said.

Rizwan Ali is from Delhi. He and his younger brother were arrested in 2018 for alleged ISIS links, but security agencies could not find evidence against them. He was released after a deradicalisation programme. He went to Pune after two years back, told his family that he is running a computer business. He married and lived there with his wife. The couple returned to Delhi after Rizwan's father started keeping unwell. Two months back, he left his home.

Rahul Gandhi Visits Golden Temple, Washes Dishes For 'Sewa'

AMRITSAR, Oct 2: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi visited the Golden Temple in Punjab's Amritsar today.

After offering prayers at the Golden Temple, Rahul Gandhi also took part in 'kar sewa'. He was seen washing the dishes along with other party members and Gurudwara volunteers.

"He will spend the night in the city," a Congress official said.

"This is his personal, spiritual visit, let's respect his privacy. Request all party workers to not be physically present for this visit. You all can show your support in spirit & meet him the next time," Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Waring posted on X - formerly known as Twitter - earlier in the day.

Rahul Gandhi's Amritsar visit comes amid tensions between Congress and the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) over the arrest of MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira.

Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira was arrested by the Punjab police last week for alleged involvement in drug smuggling and money laundering.

The Congress leader has accused the AAP and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of being "thirsty for blood". "I will not be surprised if he gets me physically eliminated also," he declared.

The AAP government has claimed "fresh evidence" - in a 2015 case - led to Khaira's arrest.

UP man attacked for confronting neighbours over eve-teasing of his daughter, dies

LUCKNOW, Oct 1: A man succumbed to his injuries here on Sunday, a day after he was allegedly attacked by his neighbours whom he opposed for eve-teasing his daughter, police said.

The incident took place in Rathgavan village under the Jawan police station area on Saturday when Salim's daughter was sweeping the roof of their house, they added.

The girl found that some men on the terrace of their neighbouring house were taking her pictures and passing objectionable comments at her. Learning about the episode, Salim sent his son to the neighbouring house to look into the matter, the police said.

Instead of apologising, the accused armed with lathis and sticks barged into Salim's house and started beating up the family members. They thrashed Salim severely, following which he was rushed to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries on Sunday, they added.

The deceased's family members filed a police complaint accusing their neighbour Shahnawaz and two others, following which a case was registered, the police said.

Circle officer Sanjay Kumar Jaiswal said that Shahnawaz has been arrested while a search is on for the remaining two.

The body has been sent for postmortem, the CO said.

4 Arrested In Manipur Students' Murder Case, Handed Over To CBI, Flown Out

IMPHAL/NEW DELHI, Oct 1: Four people have been arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the horrific murder case of two students in Manipur in July, whose photo surfaced on social media last week.

The four - two men and two women - and two minors have been flown to Guwahati in Assam. The two minors have been handed over to the child protection officer at Kamrup metro district for their welfare, protection and care, the CBI said in a statement.

The accused have been identified as Paominlun Haokip, Malsawn Haokip, Lhingneichong Baite and Tinneikhol. Lhingneichong Baite was a friend of the girl student who was murdered, people with direct knowledge of the matter said. One of the suspects is allegedly the wife of an insurgent group member based in Churachandpur, sources said without giving further details.

A crack unit of the Manipur Police and the Indian Army in a joint operation captured the suspects from the hill district Churachandpur, 51 km from Imphal, where ethnic violence began on May 3. Several Kuki insurgent groups that have signed the tripartite suspension of operations (SoO) agreement are based in this hill district.

After catching them, the forces drove swiftly to the airport, where a CBI team was waiting for them. The CBI team and the suspects took the last flight out of Imphal around 5:45 pm.

Sources said some people tried to move towards the airport on hearing about the arrests. The one hour till the time the plane took off was "full of tension" as the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) guarding the airport was informed about possible trouble, people with direct knowledge of the matter said, requesting anonymity. Nothing untoward happened, fortunately, they said.

"As the saying goes, one may abscond after committing the crime, but they cannot escape the long hands of the law. We are committed to ensuring maximum punishment, including capital punishment, for the heinous crime they have committed," Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

Singh told reporters today terrorists from Myanmar and Bangladesh have joined hands with some insurgent groups to exploit the Manipur crisis, and the ongoing violence is between the terrorists and the state.

Yesterday, a terror suspect was arrested from Churachandpur by the National Investigation Agency in a transnational conspiracy case involving terrorist leaders in Bangladesh and Myanmar.

After news of the arrests spread, a large crowd came out on the roads in Churachandpur. The police said the gathering was peaceful.

The photos showing the bodies of the two students who went missing in July emerged on social media on September 26, after which the Manipur government assured swift action.

The CBI has been looking into this case already, though the bodies of the two students - both minors - are yet to be found. Investigators are also looking into allegations of rape before the minor was murdered, sources said.

The photos show the two students - both 17 years old - sitting at the grassy compound of what appears to be a makeshift jungle camp of an armed group.

The Manipur Police last month appointed a former army special forces soldier to oversee combat operations.

Ethnic violence between the hill-majority Kuki tribes and the valley-majority Meiteis began on May 3, following a protest by the Kukis over the Meiteis' demand for Scheduled Tribes (ST) status. Over 180 have died and thousands have been internally displaced.