2 Killed, 5 Injured In Fresh Firing Between Rival Groups In Manipur

IMPHAL, Jan 30: The cycle of violence in Manipur continued on Tuesday with two people dying and at least five getting injured in fresh firing between two groups.

Police sources said the exchange of fire broke out at Koutruk village in Imphal West district and that the number of deaths is likely to go up. At least one person is also said to be missing.

Lalu Prasad leaves ED office after 9 hours of questioning in land-for-jobs case

PATNA, Jan 29: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav on Monday left the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office in Patna after several hours of questioning in the land-for-jobs case. The security officials escorted the former Bihar chief minister to his vehicle amid a massive gathering of supporters outside the ED office.

Accompanied by his daughter Misa Bharti, Lalu Prasad Yadav reached the ED office around 11.05 am.

Bharti told reporters, “Whenever any agency calls our family members for questioning…, we go there, cooperate with them and answer all their queries. Because of his health condition, it is difficult for him (Prasad) to move on his own. Someone has to accompany him whenever he goes somewhere.”

The RJD supremo appeared before the central agency a day after Bihar CM Nitish Kumar severed ties with the ‘Mahagathbandhan’, which includes RJD as its major constituent, and aligned with BJP to form a new government in the state.

Rohini Acharya, Lalu Yadav's daughter based in Singapore, criticised the ED's treatment of her father, alleging inhumane behaviour for not allowing any assistant to accompany him.

She took to social media to express her dismay, “Everyone knows about the health condition of my father…he can’t even walk without support. Despite that ED officials did not allow any assistant to enter their office and accompany him. It’s inhuman behaviour by ED officials...shame on you (ED officials) and your boss (top ED officials)," Acharya wrote on X in Hindi.

“If anything happens to my father, no one will be worse than me. If something happens to my father today, Chameleon (aimed at Nitish Kumar) along with CBI and ED will be held responsible. The lion (Lalu) is alone and not weak," she said.

Lalu Prasad and his son Tejashwi Yadav were asked to appear before the ED officials on January 29 and 30 respectively.

Nitish Kumar Resigns; Joins BJP; Takes Bihar Chief Minister's Record 9th Oath

PATNA, Jan 28: Nitish Kumar took oath today as the Chief Minister of Bihar for a record ninth time, at the head of a fresh government formed in partnership with the BJP.

Kumar is replacing his ministers from the Rashtriya Janata Dal with those from the BJP and party leaders Samrat Chowdhury, Vijay Sinha and several others also took oath along with him at the Raj Bhavan this afternoon.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the new governmnet with a post on X, formerly Twitter.

"The NDA government formed in Bihar will leave no stone unturned for the development of the state and to fulfill the aspirations of its people. I congratulate @NitishKumar. as Chief Minister and Samrat Chaudhary ji and Vijay Sinha ji on taking oath as Deputy Chief Ministers. I am confident that this team will serve my family members of the state with full dedication," read a rough translation of his post.

This is also the fifth time in a decade the 72-year-old has changed camp -- the frequency of the process having earned him the pejorative "Paltu Kumar".

Kumar had parted company with the BJP last in 2022. At the time, the Chief Minister was concerned that the BJP could engineer a split in his Janata Dal United as they did in Maharashtra with the Shiv Sena.

While joining the NDA fold again today, he cited his disappointment with the Opposition bloc, saying though he got the front up and running, very little was being done by the others.

"The new Grand Alliance that we created (in August 2022) is not in a good condition. The situation is not looking good," he said,

"I have been working hard to make a successful, meaningful (INDIA) alliance, but no one else (in the alliance) has been doing anything... Gathbandhan main bhi gadbad chal rahan hai (something is wrong in the alliance). People are not happy," he had told reporters.

Sources, though, said Kumar has been upset over the lack of clarity in INDIA bloc's poll preparations and being passed over as a possible Prime Ministerial candidate. The delays to seat-sharing talks for the Lok Sabha polls had been a further aggravation.

India celebrates Republic Day showcasing military might, cultural heritage

NEW DELHI, Jan 26: Thousands of people lined a ceremonial boulevard in the heart of India’s capital to watch a colourful parade showcasing the country’s military power and cultural heritage to mark its 75th Republic Day.

French President Emmanuel Macron attended the parade on Friday as the chief guest at the celebration of the adoption of the country’s Constitution on January 26, 1950, following India’s independence from British colonial rule.

Indian President Draupadi Murmu escorted Macron in a ceremonial British-era horse-drawn carriage from the nearby president’s palace to the viewing stand. It was the first time the carriage has been used at the parade since it was abandoned by the government 40 years ago in favour of a car.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, wearing a saffron-and-yellow turban, greeted Macron at the viewing stand.

India traditionally invites foreign leaders to witness the spectacle. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi was the guest of honour last year, former French President Francois Hollande in 2016 and former US President Barack Obama in 2015. Ten Southeast Asian leaders watched the parade in 2018.

Tanks, missile systems, infantry combat vehicles and medium-range surface-to-air missile systems were displayed, with hundreds of police and military personnel marching with them. Stunt performers on motorbikes, including more than 250 women, also participated.

Macron accepted India’s invitation at short notice after US President Joe Biden couldn’t make it, reportedly because of his State of the Union address and re-election bid.

“A great honour for France. Thank you, India,” Macron said on X.

India-France announce defence industrial roadmap, space defence cooperation after Modi-Macron meet

NEW DELHI, Jan 26: India and France have announced a “defence industrial roadmap” for cooperation on defence production, for future collaboration on “co-design and co-development” of military hardware, as well as key agreements on space cooperation, officials said.

The roadmap was part of a number of agreements between the two countries that were sealed during talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron in Jaipur on January 25, that will also bring some parity with the India-U.S. defence production plan finalised last year.

However, differences over some of the language on the roadmap held up a “joint statement” between them for several hours on January 26 before it was released.

Macron was in Delhi as part of a short 30-hour visit to India, and was accompanied by a delegation of 40 officials, including his new Minister for Foreign Affairs Stéphane Séjourné, and Ministers of Defence and Culture.

The two sides also signed a new agreement for a defence-space partnership that will see them collaborate on “space situational awareness”, and an MoU on coordinating on satellite launches, along with other agreements on partnerships in energy, digital health, agriculture, and education.

While the two countries did not announce any progress on negotiations for the big-ticket government-to-government deals on fighter-jets, engines and submarine that were announced during Modi’s visit to Paris last July, officials said that at least one joint venture for the local manufacture of civilian helicopters was agreed between Airbus and TATA during the visit.

Two mega multi-billion dollar defence deals in the pipeline between the two countries — the 26 Rafale-M fighter jets for the Indian Navy’s aircraft carriers, and three additional Scorpene-class conventional submarines — are currently in the cost negotiation phase. The deals could be ready for conclusion by year-end.

“The focus and priority of the [industrial defence] roadmap is to actually identify opportunities for partnership in the defence industrial sector that prioritises co-designing, co-development, co-production and also build the defence supply chains between the two countries so that they can fulfil the defence needs of not only India and France but also be a useful contributor in the security partnership with other countries who might be need similar products,” said Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra.

Giving details of the roadmap, he identified domains of collaboration ranging from aircraft to land and maritime warfare, especially underwater domain awareness, to space, robotic technology, cyber-defence, and artificial intelligence-led vehicles.

Kwatra added that the French government had also raised the issue of a French journalist who could be deported after she was handed a notice by the government, but insisted that this was a matter of “compliance of the rules”.

On Friday, at least 30 foreign correspondents based in India issued a letter of protest over the case, saying that they were all “grappling with increased visa restrictions in recent years”, and appealing to the government to help “facilitate the vital work of a free press in line with India’s democratic traditions”.

The two sides did not report any breakthrough on the civil nuclear cooperation agreement to build reactors at Jaitapur that was first signed in 2009, and saw a techno-commercial offer made by French company EDF in 2020.

When asked about the reasons for the delay, Kwatra said that “technical and engineering elements”, putting a financing mechanism into place, and ensuring localisation of supplies were still being discussed between EDF and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL).

The defence industrial roadmap with France that “prioritises co-designing, co-development, co-production” mirrors India’s joint efforts with the U.S. for co-design and co-development of military systems. However, with France, the depth of the strategic partnership is reflected in the co-design efforts and France’s willingness to transfer jet engine technology that only a handful of countries possess.

India-France ties are believed to have been strengthened by Macron’s acceptance of Modi’s Republic Day invitation, made only about a month in advance after U.S. President Joe Biden expressed his inability to come to India for Republic Day and the Quad Summit. This was Macron’s third visit to India, the seventh time he has met Modi since January 2023, and the sixth time a French President has been invited to Republic Day, the maximum number for any country.

“[The meetings are] a clear reflection of the importance attached by both the leaders to this partnership, as also the intensity of high-level supervision and direction to the relationship,” Kwatra added.

In honour of the visitor, the heart of the national capital was decorated with hundreds of life-size posters showing Modi and Macron posing together.

French President Emmanuel Macron enjoys qawwali at Delhi's Nizamuddin dargah

NEW DELHI, Jan 26: French President Emmanuel Macron, who was the chief guest at India's 75th Republic Day celebrations in Delhi on Friday, paid a visit to the Nizamuddin dargah in the national capital later in the evening.

In a video shared on X (formerly Twitter), Macron could be seen enjoying the qawwali performance at the shrine and as per those present at the dargah, he remained at the shrine for more than 30 minutes after arriving at around 9:45 pm in the night.

Aadhaar no proof of citizenship or date of birth

The 12-digit resident ID is not a proof of citizenship or date of birth, and Aadhaar cards and downloads now include that disclaimer on the ID itself

New Aadhaar cards and PDF versions of the identity document have started including a more explicit and prominent disclaimer that they are “a proof of identity, not of citizenship or date of birth,” signalling to government departments and other organisations to not use it for those purposes.

Aadhaar has never been proof of citizenship — foreign nationals are eligible to obtain one if they have been living in India for half a year — but different government departments accept it for purposes reserved for citizens or adults.

For instance, the Election Commission of India explicitly accepts Aadhaar as a proof of date of birth for enrolling people to vote. These new clarifications, prominently printed in the identity document, may challenge such allowances.

The IDs also include a warning that authenticating them offline needs to be done by scanning the QR code on the reverse side of the document, or by using an XML file issued to residents by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), which administers Aadhaar.

At least one organisation has stopped accepting Aadhaar as a proof of date of birth: the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), which administers the mandatory retirement fund for salaried employees in India. The EPFO issued a circular on January 16, deleting Aadhaar from the list of documents acceptable as a proof of date of birth.

This invalidity of Aadhaar for use in determining the date of birth and citizenship has been the case for years — the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology clarified in a 2018 memorandum that Aadhaar is “per se … not a proof of date of birth,” as the date of birth is based on a different document given by Aadhaar applicants. A Bombay High Court judgment last year that emphasised this was cited in a December 2023 circular that UIDAI issued, which reminded organisations of the fact.

But now the warning is imprinted on the face of all Aadhaar cards and digital copies issued to all Indian residents. This new, more visible warning initially only mentioned last year that it was not a proof of citizenship, but now clarifies that Aadhaar is not a proof of date of birth either. The 12-digit ID is a proof of uniqueness and residence, but different government agencies accept it — often on a standalone basis — for any citizens establishing their identity.

INDIA Unity Takes A Hit From Bengal. Hours Later, Another From Punjab

CHANDIGARH, Jan 25: The unity of INDIA opposition bloc has suffered back-to-back setbacks within hours, with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) declaring that it will contest all Lok Sabha seats in Punjab, shortly after Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee ruled out any alliance with Congress in West Bengal.

"The Aam Aadmi Party has shortlisted 40 candidates for the 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab. We are getting a survey done before finalising candidates," Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said today.

The remarks came hours after Ms Banerjee's explosive announcement that there is no tie-up with the Congress in Bengal and any decision on an alliance at the national level will be taken after the election.

"I had no discussions with the Congress. I have always said that in Bengal, we will fight alone. I gave them (Congress) many proposals... but they rejected them. I am not concerned about what will be done in the (rest of the) country... but we are a secular party and, in Bengal, we alone will defeat BJP, she said."

The Congress is yet to respond to Mann's announcement.

Responding to Ms Banerjee's outburst, senior Congress leader KC Venugopal said there will be a Congress-Trinamool alliance in Bengal. "There will be an alliance in West Bengal. Our aim is to decrease BJP seats. We Will talk to TMC. Mamata Banerjee is a senior leader in INDIA alliance. These are small differences, will be sort them out."

The decision by Trinamool and AAP to go solo in their strongholds needs to be seen against the backdrop of a persistent tussle between the Congress and regional forces within the INDIA bloc.

While regional parties, specifically Trinamool, AAP and Samajwadi Party, have repeatedly demanded the leading role in their bastions, the Congress, determined to play the big brother role, has pushed for a bigger pie during seat-sharing talks at the state level.

In both Bengal and Punjab, attacks and counter-attacks between the Congress and the ruling party have continued unabated over the past few months, despite claims of unity at INDIA meetings. Both state Congress units - led by Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury in Bengal and Amarinder Raja Singh Warring in Punjab - have been opposed to an alliance at the state level and lost no opportunity in hitting out at the state governments.

The regional parties, on their part, are in no mood to cede ground in their strongholds, especially in the wake of Congress setbacks in the recent Assembly polls.

Even earlier this month, Warring had told the media that he was yet to receive any message from the Congress high command on an alliance with AAP in Punjab. He had said that the state Congress unit was preparing to contest all 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab.

In fact, AAP's ties with the Congress have been fragile at best ever since Opposition parties came together under the INDIA bloc. The Patna meeting of the INDIA bloc in June last year had turned into a Congress vs AAP blame game. The AAP then wanted the Congress to back its fight against the Centre's push to control Delhi officers. The grand old party had then not yet cleared its stand on the Bill, which later cleared the Parliament.

Digging in its heels, AAP had then said it would not be a part of INDIA unless Congress cleared the air. This had prompted a sharp response from the Congress, which blamed AAP's "either-or" approach. While the Congress had later backed AAP on the issue, but the episode had bared the faultlines within the Opposition's alliance.

Another point of contention that may have led to the impasse over seat-sharing is the fact that AAP is keen on an alliance on a pan-India level and the Congress is in no mood to accept this.

Assets Of Over Rs 100 Crore Found In Searches At Homes, Offices Of Telangana Official

HYDERABAD, Jan 24: The Anti-Corruption Bureau has uncovered over ₹ 100 crore in disproportionate assets allegedly amassed by Shiva Balakrishna, the Secretary of Telangana State Real Estate Regulatory Authority (TSRERA) and the former Director of Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA).

The ACB's preliminary findings suggest Balakrishna accrued crores by allegedly facilitating permits for numerous real estate companies.

Officials searched several locations across the state, including Balakrishna and his relatives' homes and offices, over allegations that Balakrishna amassed assets beyond his known sources of income.

The searches began at 5 am today and covered 20 locations. They are expected to extend into tomorrow. ACB teams combed through offices of the HMDA and RERA, while Balakrishna's home and other key locations linked to the probe were raided.

A case of unaccounted assets has been registered against Balakrishna, who is suspected to have exploited his official position to accumulate massive wealth.

Assets valued at over ₹ 100 crore, including gold, flats, bank deposits, and benami holdings, have been found during the searches. The inventory of seized items comprises ₹ 40 lakh in cash, two kilograms of gold jewellery, 60 high-end wristwatches, property documents, and substantial bank deposits. Additionally, 14 phones, 10 laptops, and several electronic gadgets have been confiscated.

The ACB is now going through Balakrishna's bank lockers and other undisclosed assets, signaling a continuation of the investigation tomorrow.

Bulldozer Action In Mumbai Where Clashes Took Place After Ram Temple Rally

MUMBAI, Jan 23: Bulldozers - escorted by a large force of police and security personnel - have torn down "illegal" constructions in Mumbai's Mira Road suburb, which saw violence before and after the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led 'pran pratishtha' of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on Monday.

Police said 15 "illegal" properties in the area are being bulldozed - an experiment initiated by the Uttar Pradesh government and then followed by several other BJP-led states against criminals even as various detractors question the authority and legality of such action.

Videos of the incidents from Sunday evening and Monday afternoon, the latter hours after the contentious consecration of the temple - many of which were widely shared on social media - showed two groups throwing stones at each other.

By Monday night police had arrested over a dozen people in connection with the clashes, which erupted as a Shri Ram Shobha Yatra was passing through Mira Road's Naya Nagar area. The procession, which had cars and bikes with saffron flags, was attacked by a mob with stones, police said, adding some people were injured in the incident.

The police said the "illegal" encroachments by the accused are being bulldozed - an experiment initiated by the Uttar Pradesh government and then followed by several other BJP-led states against criminals.

The mob also vandalised the cars with stones and sticks, they said.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis posted on X Monday night that "anyone trying to disrupt law and order" in the state would be punished severely.

"The complete details of the incident in the Naya Nagar area of Mira-Bhyander were taken last night only. I was in constant touch with the Mira-Bhyander Police Commissioner till 3.30 am Monday."

"Police have been instructed to take strict action against the accused. In this case, 13 accused have been detained so far and the process of identifying the other accused is underway by checking the CCTV footage. Anyone trying to disrupt law and order in Maharashtra will not be tolerated," he said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Jayant Bajbale told reporters the conflict broke out 11 pm on Sunday "when some people of the Hindu community were raising slogans in three-four vehicles..."

"Shortly after, an argument broke out between the Hindu community and some people belonging to the Muslim community. Seeing the deteriorating situation, the police vehicle immediately reached the spot and took some people into custody," he said.

Bajbale later said the situation had been brought under control and a flag march conducted.

'Go Enjoy Custody': Supreme Court Raps Gujarat Cops For Public Flogging

NEW DELHI, Jan 23: The Supreme Court on Tuesday admonished the Gujarat Police over its officials publicly flogging five people belonging to the Muslim community at a village in Kheda district in 2022, asking angrily from where did they draw the authority to tie people to poles and beat them up.

A bench of Justices BR Gavai and Sandeep Mehta was hearing an appeal by four police personnel-- inspector AV Parmar, sub-inspector DB Kumavat, head constable KL Dabhi and constable RR Dabhi-- against the October 19, 2023 order of the Gujarat High Court by which they were sentenced to 14-day simple imprisonment for committing contempt of court for violating the Supreme Court's guidelines about detaining and interrogating suspects.

"(Do) you have an authority under law to tie people to a pole and beat them? Go and enjoy the custody," a furious Justice Gavai said during the hearing.

Severely reprimanding the officials, Justice Mehta said, "What kind of atrocities are these? Tying the people to a pole, beating them in public view and taking videos. Then you want this court to intervene." Senior advocate Siddharth Dave, appearing for the officials, said they were already facing criminal prosecution, departmental proceedings and an inquiry by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

"The question here is the high court's jurisdiction to proceed against them in contempt proceedings," Dave said, adding no offence of wilful disobedience was made out against them in terms of the Supreme Court's 1996 verdict in the DK Basu case where it had issued guidelines for making arrest, and detention and interrogation of suspects.

He submitted the question right now was not about the culpability of these officials but the contempt jurisdiction of the high court.

"Was there any wilful disobedience of this court's verdict? This is the question for which the answer has to be found. Were the policemen aware of the verdict?" he said.

Justice Gavai shot back, saying ignorance of law is not a valid defence. "Every police officer ought to know what is the law laid down in DK Basu. As students of law, we have been hearing and reading about the DK Basu verdict," Justice Gavai said.

Dave, however, asserted the accused policemen cannot be prosecuted for the offence under contempt jurisdiction of the high court.

Justice Gavai then wanted to know about the status of a private complaint lodged against the accused policemen. Senior advocate IH Syed, appearing for the complainant, said it was pending.

"Contempt charges were independent and irrespective of departmental proceedings and criminal prosecution. They are simply saying it's not wilful disobedience. Beyond that, they have no case," Syed said.

Justice Gavai said since it is an appeal, the court will have to hear the matter. Dave sought stay of the high court order sentencing them to 14-day imprisonment, saying otherwise the appeal will become infructuous.

Justice Gavai castgated the officials, saying derisively, "Go and enjoy the custody. You will be a guest of your own officers. They will provide you special treatment." Dave persisted with his prayer for stay and said even the high court had stayed the operation of its order by three months.

Justice Gavai acceeded to his request and ordered a stay on the sentence.

On October 19, 2023, the high court, while holding the four policemen guilty of contempt of court, ordered them to spend 14 days in jail as punishment.

It had directed these policemen to remain present before the judicial registrar of the court within 10 days of receiving the order so they can be sent to an appropriate jail. It had, however, stayed the sentence for three months to enable them to appeal the judgement.

Earlier, the chief judicial magistrate concerned had identified these policemen after a probe into the alleged incident the videos of which had gone viral. The CJM had also submitted a report to the high court.

The high court had held them guilty of contempt for alleged violation of the Supreme Court guidelines issued in the case of DK Basu versus State of West Bengal. The comprehensive guidelines spoke about the way police should conduct themselves while arresting a suspect, detaining and interrogating them, and the kind of treatment they should get in custody, among others.

Five Muslims were allegedly beaten up with batons by the accused policemen, who tied them to a pole. The five were among the 13 people picked up for their alleged involvement in throwing stones at a garba event in Undhela village of Kheda district during the Navratri festival in October, 2022. Some villagers and police personnel were reportedly injured.

Later, the five accused, including the main complainant Jahirmiya Malek, had approached the high court claiming police officials committed contempt of court by flouting the Supreme Court's guidelines.

A total of 13 policemen were named as accused in the case initially. However, the CJM's report specified the role of only four of them after an inquiry.

India celebrates 'Diwali' after Ram temple inauguration

AYODHYA, Jan 22: The grand consecration ceremony of the Ram temple was held on Monday afternoon in the holy city of Ayodhya.The 51-inch tall idol of Ram Lalla was decorated with a golden crown and gold ornaments, and carried a golden bow and arrow.

India on Monday was gripped in Diwali-like fervour with Lord Ram chants, posters, saffron flags, diyas, and firecrackers as the whole country celebrated the inauguration of the historic Ram temple in Ayodhya.

While several people, including union ministers and other politicians, celebrated ‘Deepotsav’ at their homes, some also took to the streets and lit up special lights and burst firecrackers.

The Ram temple consecration ceremony was held on Monday afternoon in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath among other thousands of dignitaries.

Modi performed the last Vedic rituals in the ongoing seven-day Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Lalla by symbolically opening the eyes of the idol with a golden stick and ended the rites with aarti and shashtang pranam (prostration) to the deity, prompting celebrations across India and in many parts of the world by the Hindu diaspora.

The Vedic rituals in the Ram temple sanctum sanctorum began with special puja of Ram Lalla Virajman (old idol of Ram Lalla) that was being worshipped at the makeshift Ram temple till date.

This idol was shifted to the Ram Mandir on Sunday night by Acharya Satyendra Das, who used to perform puja at the makeshift temple. It was placed just in front of the new 51-inch idol of Ram Lalla.

As the rituals were being performed at the temple’s sanctum-sanctorum, choppers of the Indian Army showered flowers on the temple while saints and others present in the crowd shouted ‘Jai Shri Ram’.

Top film stars and cricketers were among guests at the event in Ayodhya.

But some Hindu seers and most of the opposition boycotted it, saying Modi was using it for political gain.

"Today's date will go down in history," Modi said after the event. "After years of struggle and countless sacrifices, Lord Ram has arrived [home]. I want to congratulate every citizen of the country on this historic occasion."

The temple has been constructed at a cost of $217m (£170m), funded from private donations. Only the ground floor was opened - the rest is expected to be completed by the end of the year. The construction work is part of a revamp for the city, estimated to cost more than $3bn.

Hindus celebrated the inauguration in other countries too. Massive billboards of Lord Ram graced Times Square in New York, where a group of devotees braved the freezing weather to gather in the middle of the night.

Temples all across the United Kingdom - where Indians are one of the largest diaspora groups - marked the event. Colourful posters had been shared inviting devotees to honour the occasion and celebrations involved flowers, sweets and music. There were also some celebrations in Muslim-majority Dubai - where Indians are a significant population - but from Indian news reports these appeared more muted than elsewhere.

Hindus believe that chanting of mantras and a set of rituals performed around a fire will infuse sacred life in an idol or a photograph of a deity

In 2019, the Supreme Court gave the disputed land to Hindus after a protracted legal battle followed the mosque's demolition. Muslims were given a plot outside the city for a mosque but have yet to build one.

Renowned sculptor Arun Yogiraj of Mysore has carved Ram Lalla’s idol from the black stone of Karnataka.

The idol is based on the sketch of renowned Mumbai-based artist Vasudeo Kamath. He had presented pencil sketches of Ram Lalla to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.

Born in Karkala, a nondescript town in Karnataka, Kamath grew up in Mumbai. His 28 paintings that form his Ramayan series are globally acclaimed.

Kamath is known for his paintings based on mythology and historical subjects. He also practises the art of creating portraits from actual sittings.

Yogiraj had sculpted the idol in around six months’ time at Ram Katha Kunj in Ayodhya.

Strong Tremors Felt In Delhi After 7.2 Earthquake Hits China

NEW DELHI, Jan 22: Strong tremors were felt in Delhi and the National Capital Region late this evening. The 7.2 magnitude quake has hit the southern part of China's Xinjiang. There are no reports of any injury or destruction.

Mild tremors were last felt in Delhi and NCR on January 11 after a 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan. The epicentre of the quake was 241 kilometres northeast of Kabul.

The tremors were felt even in Pakistan.

'Don't Just Watch; Act Too': Manipur Chief Minister To Central Forces

IMPHAL, Jan 21: Manipur Chief minister N Biren Singh today indicated the central forces are not doing enough to bring normalcy in crisis-hit Manipur. He said their roles are not only to protect lives and property by keeping an eye on the situation, but also to help contain violence.

"You (central forces) have not been invited to observe what is going on. You have been called to protect the integrity of the state, and lives and properties of innocent people," Singh said at an event to celebrate the 52nd Statehood Day in the state capital Imphal.

The Manipur kingdom merged into India in 1949, and got statehood in 1972.

The Chief Minister's comments came days after two police commandos were shot dead by insurgents in the border town Moreh. Eighteen civilians have died in violence since January 1. Over 10 security personnel were injured during this period. The state government and the Centre face questions over why the Manipur crisis has been dragging on for eight months, despite the presence of numerous security forces.

Manipur Security Adviser Kuldiep Singh on January 18 said there is a possibility of insurgents from Myanmar attacking security forces in the border town Moreh, but there is no evidence yet. His comments came after two police commandos were killed in action in Moreh. The Security Adviser had confirmed the involvement of "Kuki militants" in the attack on state forces.

There are some 60,000 central security forces in Manipur, where ethnic clashes broke out between the hill-majority Kuki-Zo tribes and the valley-majority Meiteis over disagreements on land, resources, political representation, and affirmative action policies.

Centre To Fence Myanmar Border, End Free Movement Into India

GUWAHATI, Jan 20: Union Home Minister Amit Shah has announced that India would fence the border along Myanmar in a bid to restrict free movement into India. The announcement comes amid a high number of Myanmar soldiers fleeing into India to escape ethnic clashes.

"India's border with Myanmar to be protected like border with Bangladesh," Amit Shah said at passing out parade of Assam Police commandos.

Nearly 600 Myanmar Army soldiers have crossed into India in the last three months. They took refuge in Mizoram's Lawngtlai district after their camps were captured by the Arakan Army (AA) militants - an ethnic armed group in the western Myanmar state of Rakhine - government sources said.

Installing a fence along the border, India will scrap the Free Movement Regime (FMR) between the two countries. People living on border regions will soon require a visa to enter the other country.

The FMR was brought in the 1970s as people living along the India-Myanmar border have familial and ethnic ties.

Earlier today, the Mizoram government reached out to the Centre urging them to quickly ensure that the soldiers from the neighbouring nations are sent back.

As fighting rages between rebel forces in Myanmar and the junta-regime, hundreds of Myanmar Army personnel are fleeing to India.

Myanmar's generals are facing their biggest test since they seized power in a 2021 coup after three ethnic minority forces launched a coordinated offensive in late October, capturing some towns and military posts and forcing soldiers to flee.

Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge To Lead Opposition Bloc INDIA

NEW DELHI, Jan 13: After intense deliberations, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge has been chosen for the chairperson of opposition bloc INDIA, sources said. INDIA bloc is yet to make an official announcement.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was another contender for the top post, but in today's meeting he said that someone from Congress should assume charge.

Sources said when the possibility of making Kumar the convenor of the alliance was raised, the newly elected chief of the Janata Dal (United) said he did not have any desire for the post and did not show much interest. Nobody objected to his name, however, and Kharge said he would discuss the issue with Mamata Banerjee of the Trinamool Congress and Akhilesh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party.

According to the sources, the convenor is a separate post in the alliance, just below that of the chairperson.

INDIA or 'Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance' is a group of opposition parties, including the Congress. The parties have come together to take on the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which is led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and prevent it from winning a third straight term at the Centre in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Today's meeting was attended by representatives from all parties, except for Trinamool Congress and Samajwadi Party.

Several leaders attending the meet stressed on the importance to ensure unity at the national level and not allow state-level rifts to disturb the alliance.

However, choosing a chairperson is only one facet of the many challenges faced by the INDIA bloc. They still have to tackle the issue of seat-sharing between all the parties.

In Uttar Pradesh, the Samajwadi Party is not expected to be in a forgiving mood given the state Congress's refusal to share any seats in the assembly elections. State party chief Kamal Nath had refused to honour the central leadership's commitment for six seats in the state.

The ripples were very public. Akhilesh Yadav's swipes at the Congress were followed by the party's crushing defeat in the three heartland states and the sacking of Kamal Nath from the top post.

Congress's discussion with AAP is also proving contentious. While the party wants 4 seats in Delhi and seven seats in Punjab, AAP is not ready to comply. In both Delhi and Punjab, the ruling party wants the bigger share of seats. AAP also wants to contest in Goa, Haryana and Gujarat, sources said.

Mumbai To Navi Mumbai In 20 Minutes As India's Longest Sea Bridge Opens

MUMBAI, Jan 12: Adding a 21.8-km feather to the country's infrastructure cap, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link between Sewri in Mumbai and Nhava Sheva in Raigad district on Friday.

The trans harbour link, also known as the Atal Setu, is India's longest sea bridge and will reduce the time taken for the journey between the two points from the current hour and a half to around 20 minutes.

Constructed at a cost of ₹ 17,840 crore, the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) has six lanes, and 16.5 km of the bridge's length is over the sea.

Officials said that, apart from bringing Mumbai and Navi Mumbai closer, the Atal Setu - named after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee - will help ease traffic and enhance transportation, and also serve as an engine of economic growth.

The MTHL will provide faster connectivity to the Mumbai International Airport and the Navi Mumbai International Airport and also reduce travel time from Mumbai to Pune, Goa and South India. It will boost connectivity between the Mumbai Port and the Jawaharlal Nehru Port.

The Atal Setu is India's first sea bridge to implement an open road tolling system, which will allow vehicles to pass through toll booths at speeds of up to 100 kilometres per hour without having to stop.

IIT Bombay had been roped in to strengthen the Atal Setu during its construction in 2018, and a team worked to ensure the design was done keeping in mind that it falls under a moderate earthquake damage risk zone. Professor Deepankar Choudhury, Head of Civil Engineering at IIT Bombay, said that the bridge is built to withstand four different types of earthquakes of up to 6.5 magnitude.

According to a report, the lights used on the bridge were also chosen carefully to ensure that they do not disturb the aquatic environment.

"This is India's longest bridge built on the sea. Several technologies have been used in the making of this bridge, which are used for the first time in India. The lights used in this bridge do not disturb the aquatic environment," Dr Sanjay Mukherjee, Commissioner of Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority, was quoted as saying.

The toll on the bridge for cars will be ₹ 250 for a single journey and ₹ 375 for a return journey, which has been criticised by opposition parties as being too high. Officials, however, pointed to fuel savings, saying that would be ₹ 500 per journey.

The bridge will be thrown open to commuters on Saturday and the speed limit for four-wheelers will be 100 kmph. Two-wheelers, auto rickshaws, tractors, animal-drawn vehicles and slow-moving vehicles will not be allowed on the bridge.

Tremors felt in Delhi-NCR after a 6.1 magnitude quake jolts Afghanistan

NEW DELHI, Jan 11: Fresh tremors of earthquake were felt in Delhi on Thursday. Quake shocks were felt from an earthquake that struck with 6.1 magnitude on the Richter scale hits Afghanistan.

The tremors were felt after a 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan on Thursday. The quake's epicenter was located 241 kilometers northeast of Kabul.

"Earthquake of Magnitude: 6.1, Occurred on 11-01-2024, 14:50:24 IST, Lat: 36.48 & Long: 70.45, Depth: 220 Km, Location: Afghanistan," National Center for Seismology tweeted.

Strong tremors were also felt in Lahore, Islamabad, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cities in Pakistan. According to the US Geological Survey, the quake of magnitude 6.4 Ritcher stuck at a depth of 206.6 km 44 km SSW of Jurm in Afghanistan at 2:50 pm today, January 11.

Till now, there have been no reports of loss of life or property. The 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck at 2:20 pm (local time) in the Hindu Kush region at a depth of 213 kms, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department.

Other cities that rocked after the jolts include Punjab’s Sargodha, Khushab and its surroundings, Mandi Bahauddin, Bhakkar, and Nowshera. Tremors were also felt in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir’s Muzaffarabad.

Due to high intensity of the earthquake, there are high chances of aftershocks in the region, Geo News quoted chief meteorologist at PMD, Sardar Sarfaraz. “The same had also happened in Japan, which was struck by a powerful earthquake on January 1," he said.

Pakistan is located in a seismic region that experienceds frequent quakes and tremors of varying intensity. The country was hit by its deadliest earthquake in October 2005, which killed more than 74,000 people, and wreaked havoc on a massive scale.

Shinde faction real Shiv Sena, Uddhav had no power to remove him: Speaker

MUMBAI, Jan 10: In a major blow to the Uddhav faction in Maharashtra, the Speaker on Wednesday announced that the Shinde faction was the real Shiv Sena when the party founded by Balasaheb Thackeray split between Shinde and Thackeray factions.

Delivering the verdict of the Sena versus Sena case, Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar on Wednesday said Uddhav Thackeray had no power to remove Eknath Shinde from the post of legislature party leader – according to the Shiv Sena constitution.

As the Speaker read out the lengthy verdict, he said the constitution of the party was relevant to identify the leadership structure of the party. The leadership structure, in turn, is relevant to identify which Shiv Sena faction was the actual party.

Eknath Shinde said numbers are important in democracy, and the Shiv Sena led by him has the numbers as against the rival faction led by Uddhav Thackeray.

Reacting to the Maharashtra assembly Speaker's ruling which said his faction was the real Shiv Sena, Shinde also said that the party chief's individual opinion cannot be the opinion of the entire party. Even the Election Commission of India allotted the name and symbol of the Shiv Sena to his party, he noted.

"Why Were We Not Disqualified," Uddhav Thackeray Questions Speaker's Move.
The decision of Maharashtra Speaker Rahul Narwkar, declaring the faction of the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde as the real party, is a violation of Supreme Court order and is a "ploy to kill democracy".

Speaking to reporters after the Speaker's announcement, Thackeray also indicated that his Shiv Sena UBT faction may also file a challenge in court. Narwekar, he alleged, was put in place by the Shinde faction.

The party will fight it legally, said Aaditya Thackeray, reacting to the Speaker's decision that the Shinde faction is the real Shiv Sena.

'Clearly RSS/BJP Event': Congress Won't Attend Ram Temple Event In Ayodhya

NEW DELHI, Jan 10: The Congress today declared that it would skip the massive inauguration ceremony being planned for the Ayodhya Ram Temple, saying it was a "political project" of the BJP and its ideological mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

The party said its leaders -- party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, his predecessor Sonia Gandhi and the party's Lok Sabha leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury -- who received the invitation, have declined.

"Religion is a personal matter. But the RSS/BJP have long made a political project of the temple in Ayodhya. The inauguration of the incomplete temple by the leaders of the BJP and the RSS has been obviously brought forward for electoral gain," read a statement from senior party leader Jairam Ramesh.

"While abiding by the 2019 Supreme Court judgment and honouring the sentiments of millions who revere Lord Ram, Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury have respectfully declined the invitation to what is clearly an RSS/BJP event," he added.

The party's refusal to attend the high-profile event is expected to become the latest flashpoint between the Congress and the BJP ahead of the general election. For the BJP, which traditionally accuses the Congress of playing to minority sentiments -- it is expected to be political gold.

Several Opposition parties, including the Left and Trinamool Congress, have made it clear that they would skip the event as well, providing ammunition to the BJP.

The Samajwadi Party is undecided -- while the party has turned down the Vishwa Hindu Parishad's invite, its MLAs are keen on going. Sharad Pawar said he would not need an invite and go there as and when it is "destined".

The building of the temple had been the centrepiece of the BJP's political plank and its promise had contributed to the party's meteoric rise in the 1990s.

The January 22 inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be attended by political leaders, industrialists, actors and other prominent personalities. The event -- which was preceded by the inauguration of an international airport and the redeveloped railway station -- is generating huge interest.

The refurbished temple town is getting ready to host thousands on the big day, during which schools and colleges across Uttar Pradesh will remain shut. The event will be telecast live across the country and many places abroad.

Modi holds roadshow with UAE President in Ahmedabad ahead of Gujarat Summit

AHMEDABAD, Jan 9: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, led a grand roadshow on Tuesday from Ahmedabad Airport to Gandhinagar.

A 3-kilometre-long mega roadshow kicked off in the evening after the Prime Minister welcomed the UAE President at the airport.

In a post on X, the foreign ministry spokesperson wrote, "In a special gesture PM Narendra Modi warmy received UAE President and Ruler of Abu Dhabi as he arrived at the Ahmedabad airport."

The procession wraped up at Indira Bridge, connecting Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate the 10th edition of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit (VGGS) at the Mahatma Mandir Convention Centre in Gandhinagar. Notably, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan will be attending the summit as the chief guest.

After inaugurating the summit on Wednesday, Modi will meet with CEOs of major global corporations and then head to GIFT City. Around 5:15 pm, he is scheduled to interact with influential business leaders at the Global FinTech Leadership Forum.

The 10th edition of VGGS is scheduled to take place from January 10 to 12 in Gandhinagar.

Bilkis Bano case: SC quashes remission order by Gujarat govt, all 11 convicts to return to jail

NEW DELHI, Jan 8: The Supreme Court on Monday quashed the Gujarat government's decision to grant remission to 11 convicts involved in the case of the gang-rape of Bilkis Bano and murder of seven of her family members during the 2002 Gujarat riots.

The apex court held that the judgement of May 13, 2022 (which directed the Gujarat government to consider remission of convict) was obtained by "playing fraud" on the court and by suppressing material facts. The convicts had not approached the court with clean hands, the apex court observed.

Noting that the state, where an offender is tried and sentenced, is competent to decide the remission plea of convicts, the apex court held that Gujarat was not competent to pass the remission orders but the Maharashtra government.

In March 2002, during the post-Godhra riots, Bano was allegedly gang-raped and left to die with 14 members of her family, including her three-year-old daughter. She was five months pregnant when rioters attacked her family in Vadodara.

The Gujarat government had released the 11 convicts, who were sentenced to life imprisonment, on August 15, 2022. All the 11 life-term convicts in the case were released as per the remission policy prevalent in Gujarat at the time of their conviction in 2008. Bilkis Bano and others had approached the top court, challenging the premature release of 11 convicts. Some PILs were filed, seeking directions to revoke the remission granted to 11 convicts.

The pleas were filed by the National Federation of Indian Women, whose General Secretary is Annie Raja, Member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) Subhashini Ali, journalist Revati Laul, social activist and professor Roop Rekha Verma and TMC MP Mahua Moitra.

The Gujarat government, in its affidavit, defended the remission granted to convicts, saying they completed 14 years of sentence in prison and their "behaviour was found to be good".

The State government had said it has considered the cases of all 11 convicts as per the policy of 1992 and remission was granted on August 10, 2022, and central government also approved the release of convicts.

‘I smiled for first time in 1.5 years’: Bilkis Bano after SC cancels remission of 11 convicts

AHMEDABAD, Jan 8: “Today is truly the New Year for me. I have wept tears of relief. I have smiled for the first time in over a year and half. I have hugged my children. It feels like a stone the size of a mountain has been lifted from my chest, and I can breathe again,” Bilkis Bano said in her first reaction after the Supreme Court on Monday quashed the early release of 11 men jailed for life for gang-raping her and murdering her seven relatives during the 2002 Gujarat riots.

In a note issued through her advocate Shobha Gupta, she said: “This is what justice feels like. I thank the honourable Supreme Court of India for giving me, my children and women everywhere, this vindication and hope in the promise of equal justice for all”.

Bano was three months pregnant when she was gang-raped. Her three-year-old daughter was among seven of her relatives who were murdered during the riots, which left 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, dead.

The 11 men were convicted in 2008. The Gujarat government ordered their release in August 2022, drawing condemnation.

The Supreme Court on Monday said Gujarat did not have the authority to reduce the sentence since the trial was moved to Mumbai, which made Maharashtra responsible for the decision. It said a 2022 order of the court directing the Gujarat government to consider remission was obtained fraudulently and by suppressing material facts.

“A year and half ago, on August 15, 2022, when those who had destroyed my family and terrorised my very existence, were given an early release, I simply collapsed. I felt I had exhausted my reservoir of courage. Until a million solidarities came my way,” Bano said in the note.

“Thousands of ordinary people and women of India came forward. They stood with me, spoke for me, and filed PIL petitions in the Supreme Court. 6000 people from all over, and 8500 people from Mumbai wrote appeals; 10,000 people wrote an Open Letter, as did 40,000 people from 29 districts of Karnataka. To each of these people, my gratitude for your precious solidarity and strength. You gave me the will to struggle, to rescue the idea of justice not just for me, but for every woman in India. I thank you,” said Bilkis .

Bano and her family have relocated from their native Randhikpur village in Gujarat due to safety concerns.

“Bilkis Bano never returned to her native Randhikpur where the gruesome violence took place. She stayed for a year in Devgadh Baria (about 30 kms from Randhikpur) and then moved to different parts of the state and country. She had again started living in Devgadh Baria again when the convicts were released and for the last one year, she has been moving from one house to another, keeping a low profile. Now for the last 12-15 days, she has left Devgadh Baria and moved elsewhere,” said her uncle, Abdul Razzak Mansuri, a witness in the gang rape case.

He said that they were happy to learn that justice has been served and that all the convicts are now required to surrender within two weeks. He called the Gujarat government’s move to release the convicts erroneous.

A Randhikpur resident cited safety concerns and said the family left the village ahead of the Supreme Court decision.

Opposition Congress leader Manish Doshi welcomed the order and said the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been exposed. “The Supreme Court has aptly addressed the matter, acknowledging concerns and delivering a fitting response. The decision to release the convicts early was made for political advantage ahead of the Gujarat elections in December 2022. The BJP government’s attempt to shield those opposed to the law while neglecting those in need of protection and at the receiving end has been highlighted,” said Doshi.

Bano has lived through immense mental stress in the last 16 months since the 11 were released from jail, her relatives said. Bano, who lives with her husband, three daughters and a son have been living life in a suitcase for the past one and half year, moving from one house to another.

The village of Randhikpur, comprising over 350 houses, including 80 homes belonging to the Muslim community, has witnessed a significant exodus. Some Muslim families have relocated up to three or four times since last year. There would be less than a dozen Muslim families left in the village today, said Mansuri.

Bano’s husband has been grappling with the challenges of securing steady employment, resulting in financial strain for the family. The education of their children has also taken a hit, forcing them to discontinue their studies. The community members have been giving financial support to the family.

Saddam Sheikh, 29-year-old and Bano’s paternal cousin, is one of the two surviving eyewitnesses in the case. The other surviving witness is Bilkis herself.

“I was barely seven years old. Witnessing the atrocities inflicted upon my cousin sister and other family members left a lasting imprint on my young mind. Even now, those distressing images are vividly etched in my memory. The news of the convicts being released by the Gujarat government made me shake with fear. I remember shedding tears out of sheer apprehension. The thought of them being incarcerated once more brings me some relief. But I find it very difficult to convince myself that they may not be free again,” shared Sheikh, who has been residing in Ahmedabad for the past 21 years and has visited Randhikpur only once, for a marriage function. He currently works in a footwear store.

500 Girl Students Claim Sexual Assault, Write To PM, Haryana Chief Minister

SIRSA, Jan 8: Five hundred female college students from Haryana's Sirsa have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office, and Chief Minister ML Khattar, to accuse a professor at the Chaudhary Devi Lal University of sexual harassment and demand his suspension, as well as an inquiry led by a retired High Court judge.

Copies of the letter have also been sent to Vice Chancellor Dr Ajmer Singh Malik, Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya, Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij, and National Commission for Women Chairperson Rekha Sharma, as well as senior state government officials and select media organisations.

The letter accuses the professor of "filthy and obscene acts". According to the letter, he calls girls to his office, takes them to a bathroom, and "touches private parts, and (does) obscene things with us". The girls said that when they protested, they were threatened with "very bad" consequences.

The letter claims this has been going on "for many months" and, "... because he gives a false impression of a person of high character", the professor in question has never been held accountable.

The girls also claimed the Vice Chancellor, rather than come to their aid, "threatened to expel us... because this professor is a person of immense political influence..." The Vice Chancellor also reportedly tried to suppress the allegations by offering the girls better marks in written and practical examinations.

The university's Registrar, Dr Rajesh Kumar Bansal, confirmed receipt of the anonymous letter.

"The police are investigating... the university has its own committee which is probing the allegations. This is a serious accusation... there is no name on the letter but we will investigate this," he said.

"Action will only be taken afterwards. Whoever is guilty will not be spared but if someone is innocent then their character should not be assassinated," the Registrar said.

Dr Bansal said relevant CCTV footage had been handed over to the police. However, the letter claims the accused professor has already "deleted... his indecent actions from CCTV footage of his office".

In their letter the girls - who said they had chosen not to reveal their identities fearing "dishonour" to their famlies - said they do not expect action against the professor till the university is "forced" by public opinion. The letter also calls for an investigation by a retired High Court judge.

Senior Sirsa police official Deepti Garg said the investigation is ongoing, and that statements of some of the students had been recorded. The accused professor has also been questioned, Ms Garg said, noting that a case will be filed if a preliminary inquiry finds enough evidence.

This letter comes months after the principal of a government-run school in Haryana's Jind district, was dismissed from service after being arrested for sexually assaulting girls under his care.

Khattar ordered the termination of his services "considering the seriousness of the allegations..."

Gun Fight Breaks Out Between Forces And Insurgents In Manipur's Moreh

IMPHAL, Jan 7: A gunfight broke out between security forces and insurgents in Manipur's Moreh town along the India-Myanmar border on Sunday night, police said.

Hills-based insurgents attacked state police forces, who retaliated, resulting in a gunfight, a police officer said.

Further details are awaited.

The border town in Tengnoupal district had witnessed a heavy gunfight on January 2, in which six security personnel, including a BSF jawan, were injured. They were airlifted to Imphal for better treatment. Before that, the town witnessed similar gun battles since December 30.

Chief Minister N Biren Singh had last week remarked that there were "high chances" that foreign mercenaries from Myanmar were involved in the attacks in Moreh.

Rahul to embark on Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra from January 14

NEW DELHI, Jan 4: Congress leaders will embark on the newly renamed ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’ from January 14. The route will take senior party leaders — including Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi — across the country from Manipur to Mumbai over a span of 67 days. The development is being seen as a bid to rally support for the party ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

Details shared by the party indicate that the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra (previously called the Bharat Nyay Yatra) will pass through 14 states and 85 districts from the east to the west of India. Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi is slated to lead the march and efforts are underway to finalise the route.

Top Congress leaders held a meeting on Thursday to discuss the party's strategy for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and preparations for the Manipur-to-Maharashtra yatra.

The second version of the Bharat Jodo Yatra that was held between September 2022 and January 2023 will be held from Imphal to Mumbai between January 14 and March 20. The yatra from India's east to west is an attempt by the Congress to reach out to people and connect with them ahead of the Lok Sabha polls due in April-May.

“The BJP is pushing emotive issues to cover up the failures of its government in the last 10 years. They deliberately involve Congress in every issue. We have to unite and give a befitting reply to the lies, deceit and wrongdoings of the BJP on grassroots issues in front of the people," Kharge said during Thursday's meeting.

The Congress president also lauded Rahul Gandhi for undertaking the the Kanyakumari to Kashmir Bharat Jodo Yatra and expressed confidence that his Bharat Nyay Yatra from Manipur to Maharashtra will bring issues of social justice to centre of the national discussion.

YS Sharmila merges party with Congress, says ‘father's dream to see Rahul Gandhi PM’

NEW DELHI, Jan 4: YSR Telangana Party YS Sharmila, the daughter of former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, on Thursday joined Congress in the presence of party president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi.

She also announced the merger of her party with Congress and said she would fulfil any responsibility given to her.

Addressing party workers and supporters at the AICC headquarters in the national capital, Sharmila expressed her joy at the consolidation of political forces.

"Today, I am very happy to be merging YSR Telangana Party into the Congress party. It gives me immense joy that the YSR Telangana Party is going to be a part of the Indian National Congress from today onwards," she said.

"It was father's dream to see Rahul Gandhi as the Prime Minister of our country and I am very glad that I am going to be a part in making that happen," she added.

The merger is seen as a strategic move aimed at strengthening the Congress party in Telangana and forging a united front ahead of the upcoming state elections. During the recent assembly elections in Telangana, YS Sharmila constantly rendered her support to the Congress party.

"I am extending support to the Congress party because the Congress party stands the chance of winning in the Telangana Assembly elections. KCR has not fulfilled any of the promises he made to the people in his 9-year tenure. And that's the only reason I do not want KCR to come to power. I, as the YSR's daughter risk Congress' chance, because I tend to pull the Congress vote bank," she said in a statement made ahead of the Telangana assembly elections, which Congress eventually won.

YSR Telangana party, an unrecognised regional party based in Andhra Pradesh, doesn’t have any elected representatives in the state or Parliament.

Supreme Court Backs SEBI Clean Chit To Adani Group In Hindenburg Case

NEW DELHI, Jan 3: In a huge victory for the Adani Group, the Supreme Court on Wednesday said the report by the OCCRP - an organisation funded by billionaire George Soros, among others - can't be the basis for doubting the capital markets regulator SEBI's investigation into the Hindenburg case.

Delivering the judgment, a Supreme Court bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra said there were no grounds to transfer the probe to a special investigation team (SIT).

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has investigated 22 out of the 24 cases linked to the US-based short seller Hindenburg Research's allegations. The Supreme Court gave the SEBI three months to complete investigation in the remaining two cases.

The Supreme Court also ordered the government and SEBI to check whether Hindenburg has ignored rules in shorting the market and to take action accordingly.

"The reliance on the OCCRP report is rejected and the reliance on a third-party organisation report without any verification cannot be used as proof. There are no grounds to transfer the probe in this case from SEBI," Chief Justice Chandrachud said in the judgment, referring to the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP).

The judgment reflected what the Supreme Court told lawyer Prashant Bhushan on November 24, that the Hindenburg allegations and the OCCRP report targeting the Adani Group cannot be treated as gospel.

"Reliance on newspaper reports and third-party organisations to question the statutory regulator (SEBI) does not inspire confidence. They can be treated as inputs. but not conclusive evidence to doubt SEBI's probe," the Supreme Court said today.

"Before concluding, public interest jurisprudence was developed to provide access to ordinary citizens... petitions that lack adequate research and rely on unsubstantiated reports cannot be accepted," the court said.

The petitions on the issue were filed by lawyers Vishal Tiwari and ML Sharma, Congress leader Jaya Thakur and activist Anamika Jaiswal. The petitions had claimed the Adani Group inflated its share prices, and that the shares of some group entities had fallen sharply after the report by short-seller Hindenburg Research on January 24 last year.

The Adani Group had termed the report a "malicious combination of selective misinformation and concealed facts relating to baseless and discredited allegations to drive an ulterior motive".

The Supreme Court, explaining why it denied the request to transfer the probe to an SIT, said the investigation should be transferred only under exceptional circumstances, and such a power can't be used without a strong, logical justification.

A key learning from the Hindenburg row is to plug gaps for the benefit of Indian investors, the Supreme Court said, and ordered the Centre and the SEBI to use the committee's suggestions to strengthen the investors.

In the last hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared for SEBI, had said it had completed looking into 22 of the 24 cases of suspected transactions, and information from agencies abroad was awaited for the remaining two.

A separate committee appointed by the Supreme Court that looked into India's regulatory mechanism to protect investors, in its report submitted in May last year, had also given a clean chit to the Adani Group.

It had said there was no regulatory failure on the part of SEBI, and no price manipulation on the part of the Adani Group. The conglomerate had taken necessary steps to comfort retail investors amid severe market turmoil following the publication of the Hindenburg report, the committee had said.

In its response to the Hindenburg report, the Adani group had called it a "selective and manipulative presentation of matters already in the public domain to create a false narrative".

"This is not merely an unwarranted attack on any specific company but a calculated attack on India, the independence, integrity and quality of Indian institutions, and the growth story and ambition of India," the group had said in a statement.

Truckers' Protest Against New Hit-And-Run Law Prompts Rush At Fuel Pumps

NEW DELHI, Jan 2: Fuel pumps in several states are witnessing long queues over the past couple of days. No, this is not a rush to fill up tanks before prices go up. This is panic buying amid apprehensions that the truckers' protest against the soon-to-be-implemented criminal code will hit supply. If the protest drags on, it may hit supply of other essential supplies too.

Protests have broken out in several states, including Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar, Punjab, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, against the high penalties for hit-and-run accidents in Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which is set to replace the colonial-era Indian Penal Code.

Under the new law, hit-and-run cases can attract up to 10 years in jail and a fine of ₹ 7 lakh. Truckers, cab drivers and others operating commercial vehicles are asking how they would pay such a high fine in the event of an accident. Happy Sidhu, president of All Punjab Truck Operators' Union, called the new law a "black law" that will destroy truckers in Punjab.

Drivers of thousands of tankers that transport fuel to pumps are part of the protest. With them joining the strike, fuel crisis has already gripped several cities and other urban centres fear a similar situation in the coming days. An association of petrol pump dealers in Aurangabad have said fuel pumps in the district may go dry by Tuesday.

"Drivers of tankers that carry fuel from Panewadi (in Nashik) have called for agitation and have stopped filling fuel," Aqeel Abbas, secretary of the association, said.

At Himachal in the north, the strike has already hit the tourism sector. Local media reports have said tourists are struggling to find vehicles after cab operators joined the strike against the new law.

Anil Garg, president of Maharashtra school bus owners' association, said school buses would operate till they run out of diesel. "If diesel supply stops, school buses will stop too."

Tyres were burnt and roads blocked in Patna as truck operators raised slogans against the new law, questioning who will feed their families if they stay in jail for 10 years. In Navi Mumbai, a group of truckers attacked a policeman early this morning. The cops had to use force to disperse the mob on Mumbai-Bengaluru highway, it was reported.

In Thane, the protesters blocked Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway and threw stones at police. A policeman was injured and a police vehicle damaged. At Dhar in Madhya Pradesh, private bus and truck drivers blocked the Pitampur highway. Protests were held in Bhopal and Chhattisgarh capital Raipur too.

Explaining why they are protesting, Bhopal cab driver Gyansingh Yadav broke down. "People like me who drive cabs for a living still go home at night. But truck drivers often don't meet their loved ones for 15 days or more. We are not against any government or law, but I feel some amendments should be made, especially with regard to the penal provisions against drivers. The new law attracts a 10-year prison term for errant drivers. I feel it should be reduced to 1-2 years," he said.

At Raipur, a bus driver said, "We are poor people. Penal action should be taken against the owners of our vehicles. This law is unfair on us. We will continue to be on strike till our demands are met."

At Aurangabad in Maharashtra, truck driver Syed Wajed said, "We are drivers, how can we pay such a huge fine?"

What's The Law, What's The Change

Hit-and-run accidents and death due to rash driving is covered under the law for causing death by negligence. In the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The law, which has received the President's assent after it cleared Parliament, has two clauses under Section 104.

"Whoever causes the death of any person by doing any rash or negligent act not amounting to culpable homicide, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine," says the first clause.

"Whoever causes death of any person by doing any rash or negligent act not amounting to culpable homicide and escapes from the scene of incident or fails to report the incident to a Police officer or Magistrate soon after the incident, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description of a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine," says the second.

Currently, hit-and-run accidents are covered by IPC's Section 304A. "Whoever causes the death of any person by doing any rash or negligent act not amounting to culpable homicide, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both," it states.

‘New laws not in force’, says Centre after meeting with transport workers body

NEW DELHI, Jan 2: The countrywide truckers' stir took a big step towards resolution today as the government assured that it would consult stakeholders before implementing a contentious law against hit-and-run. After long talks with the government, the All-India Motor Transport Congress has appealed to truckers to put their agitation on hold.

"We had a discussion with All India Motor Transport Congress representatives... the government wants to say that the new rule has not been implemented yet. We all want to say that before implementing Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita 106/2, we will have a discussion with All India Motor Transport Congress representatives and then only we will take a decision," Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said this evening.

"The new laws have not been implemented. It will be implemented only after consultation with All India Transport Congress," confirmed Bal Malkit, the chairman of the AIMTC's core committee.

The protest was over the Section 106(2) of Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita or BNS, which had provisions for strict penalty in hit-and-run cases. The truckers had threatened to hold an all-India strike, triggering panic about shortage of fuel and essential items.

India Declares Gangster Goldy Brar A Terrorist

NEW DELHI, Jan 1: Wanted criminal Satinderjit Singh alias Goldy Brar– the alleged mastermind in the murder of Punjabi singer Siddhu Moose wala -- has been named a terrorist under the strict anti-terror law UAPA. A Red Corner Notice has been issued against him by Interpol and there is a non-bailable warrant against him as well.

The government said the move came over his involvement in smuggling of high-grade arms, ammunition and explosives through drones from across the border for carrying out killings in India.

The Union Home Ministry, in a notification, said Goldy Brar has also been associated with banned terrorist group Babbar Khalsa International. He and his associates have been conspiring to disrupt peace, communal harmony and law and order in Punjab through sabotage, raising of terror modules, carrying out targeted killings and other anti-national activities.

The central government believes that he is involved in terrorism and therefore he has been added as a terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the notification said.

Brar, known to be a key member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, is from Sri Muktsar Sahib in Punjab and said to be living in Brampton, Canada. He is wanted by the National Investigation Agency and for crimes in various states.

Sidhu Moose Wala was shot dead in his SUV near his village Moosa in Punjab's Mansa district on May 29 last year. Goldy Brar had later admitted in a Facebook post that he had planned the murder to avenge the killing of another gangster.

Varanasi Cops Arrest 3 In IIT Student's Gangrape Case

VARANASI, Dec 31: Police here have arrested three accused in connection with the alleged rape of a woman student of IIT on the Banaras Hindu University campus, a police officer said today.

The in-charge of Lanka police station Shivakant Mishra said that the accused have been identified as Kunal Pandey, Anand alias Abhishek Chauhan and Saksham Patel.

The alleged incident of rape occurred on the night of November 1. According to the complainant, she had gone out of her hostel with a friend when three men on a motorcycle forcibly took her to a corner and gagged her after separating her from her friend.

The accused then allegedly stripped the woman, made a video of her and took photos. They let her go after about 15 minutes and took her phone number, the complainant stated.

On the basis of the victim's complaint, an FIR has been registered under section 354 (assault or criminal force to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the IPC and under provisions of the Information Technology Act at the Lanka police station. Subsequently, a section of gangrape was also added to the case, police said.