Constitution copy in hand, Priyanka Gandhi does a Rahul Gandhi as she takes oath as Lok Sabha MP

NEW DELHI, Nov 28: Following her MP brother Rahul Gandhi's footsteps, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra took oath as Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha on Thursday while carrying a copy of the Indian Constitution.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is often seen carrying a red-coloured copy of the Indian Constitution during his rallies as part of what he calls is a movement to "protect the Constitution" from the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government.

The Congress general secretary set rolling her electoral debut on Thursday by taking oath as Wayanad MP after recently concluded winning the bypoll from the Kerala district.

This is also for the first time in decades that all three members of the Nehru-Gandhi family—Sonia, Rahul, and Priyanka—are now in Parliament.

Often likened with her grandmother and former Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi for her similarity in looks and way of speaking, Priyanka Gandhi has been the go-to campaigner for the Congress since her entry into active politics and even before that when she campaigned for her mother Sonia and brother Rahul.

Nurse Allegedly Gang-Raped In UP, Stick, Chilli Powder Inserted In Genitals

JALAUN, Nov 28: A nurse in Uttar Pradesh's Jalaun has allegedly been brutally gang-raped by two men, while four others held her down. The woman's family has said she was also violated with a stick and chilli powder was inserted in her private parts.

The police have, however, claimed that the woman was having an affair with another person and was beaten up by him and his family members. They also said that she has made some grave allegations, based on which a case has been registered and investigations are on.

The husband of the woman said she works as a staff nurse in an area under the Churkhi police station. She was riding to work on her scooter on Thursday morning when she was waylaid by a few people and dragged into the bushes.

"My wife, who works as a nurse, was heading to work around 9 am. She called me and told me what had happened. A man, his nephew and some other people beat her up. Four of the men held her down and two people gang-raped her. A stick and chilli powder was also inserted into her private parts. The police have sent her for a medical check-up and treatment," the husband said.

Additional Superintendent of Police (Jalaun) Pradeep Kumar Verma said a team rushed to the spot after receiving information that a woman had been beaten up and took her to a hospital for treatment.

Clashes At Udaipur Palace Gates Over New Maharana's Face-Off With Cousin

UDAIPUR, Nov 25: Udaipur witnessed a row in the erstwhile royal family today after the coronation of BJP MLA Vishvaraj Singh Mewar as the 77th Maharana of Mewar.

A stand-off with his cousin Dr Lakshay Raj Singh Mewar followed at the gates of the historic city palace, after Singh was refused entry into the palace, which is now run by a trust managed by his cousin and uncle Shreeji Arvind Singh Mewar.

The row it sparked escalated as the day progressed. Post-10 pm, the MLA's supporters started throwing stones and attempted to storm the palace gates. Others are retaliating from inside the palace. Hectic visuals from palace gates shows stones landing from both sides, Three people have been injured and the police are trying to control the mob.

Reports say Vishvaraj Singh has been standing with his supporters at the spot for the last 5 hours. The district administration has now decided to intervene.

Vishvaraj Singh -- the BJP MLA from Rajsamand from where his wife Mahima Kumari is the sitting MP -- was formally declared the heir to the Mewar dynasty at a traditional coronation ceremony in the historic Chittorgarh fort 12 days after the death of his father Mahendra Singh Mewar.

The coronation ceremony, conducted by priests who performed pujas and did a havan, saw Vishwaraj's raj tilak done by an erstwhile noble who slashed his finger on a sword and anointed him in blood. This is a tradition that goes back hundreds of years in the Mewar dynasty, which traces its lineage back to Bappa Rawal in the 8th Century. Its most famous royal was Rana Pratap, who fought the Mughals in the battle of Haldi Ghati.

After the symbolic coronation, Singh had decided to take the blessings from family deities -- the Dhooni mata temple inside the city palace and the Ekling Shiv temple about 50 kilometres from Udaipur. But since both temples are run by the trust, he was denied entry into the city palace. The administration had tried to persuade the Museum Trust to allow not the entire procession, but a few erstwhile nobles to accompany Vishwaraj Singh into the palace for darshan.

Anticipating trouble, the police had set up barricades and deployed additional personnel in the area around the city palace gates. But when Mr Singh was denied entry into the palace, his enraged supporters broke barricades and tried to get close to the city palace gates.

"The situation that we see today is unfortunate," Vishvaraj Singh told media persons. "I am grateful for your support. On one side is properties, but there are also traditions where we seek blessings. This is wrong as far as traditions and society norms are concerned," he added.

The new generation of Mewar royals have been involved in a legal dispute over palaces, temples and forts that are now run and managed by nine trusts. All these trusts are handled by the uncle and cousin of Vishvaraj Singh.

Early this morning, the Maharana Mewar Charitable Trust published in the local newspapers that they would not allow anyone to enter the trust premises as they anticipated that this could be done with an intention to trespass on and damage trust properties.

The dispute goes back to 1984, when the former Maharana of Mewar Bhagwat Singhji made his younger son Arvind Singh the director of the trusts, effectively ousting the elder son Mahendra Singh from the royal properties.

As the stand-off continues in Udaipur, this is a royal row that's going to echo in the City of Lakes for some time.

3 Killed In Sambhal Violence Over Mosque Survey

SAMBHAL, Nov 24: Chaos erupted in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal this morning as a court-ordered survey of the Mughal-era Jama Masjid led to violent clashes between the locals and the police, leading to the deaths of three individuals.

The mosque is at the centre of a contentious legal battle over claims that it was built on the site of a Hindu temple. The schools in Sambhal and nearby areas have been shut till November 25.

The violence, police said, started when a crowd gathered near the mosque as the survey team, led by an "Advocate Commissioner," began its work.

The crowd swelled to nearly a thousand people, and they tried to prevent the police from entering the mosque. Some people in the crowd threw stones at the police personnel stationed at the site. The mob also set ablaze more than 10 vehicles.

The police responded with tear gas. In the chaos, three were killed and over 30 police personnel were injured.

"Three people identified as Naeem, Bilal and Nauman have been killed. Some policemen including the gunner of the superintendent of police have also been injured," said Moradabad Divisional Commissioner Aunjaneya Kumar Singh.

The survey, which began at 7:30 am, was part of a process initiated by a petition claiming that a temple once stood in place of the mosque.

Tensions have been simmering in Sambhal since a similar survey was conducted on Tuesday. The petitioners argue that historical texts such as "Baburnamah" and "Ain-e-Akbari" document the destruction of the temple by Mughal emperor Babur in 1529.

Supporters of the survey argue that it is a necessary step in uncovering historical truths, while critics view it as a provocation that violates the sanctity of religious places as upheld by the Places of Worship Act, 1991.

"Some individuals in the crowd threw stones at the police team. The police used minor force and tear gas to bring the situation under control. Those involved in the violence will be identified and action will be taken," said Superintendent of Police Krishna Kumar Vishnoi.

Moradabad Police Commissioner Ananjay Kumar Singh said 15 people, three women among them, have been arrested in connection with the incident. Videos circulating online purportedly show the throwing of stones near the mosque.

Despite the unrest, officials completed the survey as planned. Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain said the survey team conducted a detailed examination of the site, supported by videography and photography as per the court's directives. The survey report is scheduled to be submitted by November 29.

The incident has sparked a wave of political and community reactions.

Congress Rajya Sabha MP Imran Pratapgarhi posted a video on X of police officers directly firing during the violence, raising questions on the role of the police.

In the video, DIG Range Muniraj is seen firing a pistol and is heard asking the policemen to fire. The Sambhal police have denied firing.

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav accused the BJP-led government of orchestrating the unrest to distract from allegations of electoral malpractice in recent bypolls.

"The Supreme Court should immediately take cognizance of the conspiracy to spread tension in the name of survey and a case of disturbing peace and harmony should be registered against those who took sloganeers with them with the aim of disturbing social harmony and the Bar Association should also take disciplinary and punitive action against them. There was no hope from the UP government and administration, nor is there any now," read a rough translation of another of his posts on X, formerly Twitter.

SP MP Zia Ur Rehman Barq also criticised the survey, citing the Places of Worship Act, 1991. "The Jama Masjid of Sambhal is a historic site. The Supreme Court had ruled that religious places as they existed in 1947 must remain unchanged," Mr Barq said.

Mahayuti wins big, bags 235 of 288 Maharashtra assembly seats

MUMBAI, Nov 23: The ruling NDA alliance of BJP, Sena (Shinde camp) and NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) has put up its best-ever performance in Maharashtra winning 235 of the 288 assembly seats and restricting the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance to a score of 49 seats.

The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) Opposition bloc, which comprises the Congress and the breakaway factions of Sena and NCP, led by Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar, respectively, struggled to narrow down the gap, winning just 49 seats in the state Assembly.

The voting for all 288 seats in the Maharashtra Assembly took place on November 20. Maharashtra recorded a voter turnout of 66.05 per cent, with the lowest polling in Mumbai City and the highest in Gadchiroli.

The BJP contested 149 seats, Shiv Sena 81 seats, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP fielded candidates in 59 constituencies. In the opposition alliance, the Congress fielded 101 candidates, Shiv Sena (UBT) 95, and the NCP (SP) 86.

Hemant Soren's JMM-led alliance returns to power in Jharkhand

RANCHI, Nov 23: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren's JMM-led INDIA bloc made a stunning comeback and won 56 seats in the 81-member state assembly. The BJP won 21 seats.

The alliance included the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Congress, RJD, and CPI (Marxist-Leninist). Chief minister Hemant Soren won from Barhait by a margin of over seat by 39,791 votes, and his nearest rival in the constituency was BJP's Gamliyel HHembrom.

Kalpana Soren has won from Gandey constituency by a margin of over 13,000 votes, showed the details on Election Commission of India website.

The BJP contested 68 seats and won 21 in the Jharkhand assembly elections, with its allies All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) fielded candidates in 10 seats and won one, Janata Dal (United) of Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar contested two seats and won one and the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), led by Chirag Paswan, contested one seat and won it.

The INDIA bloc in the Jharkhand assembly elections comprises the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) contesting 41 seats and won 34, the Congress with 30 seats and won 16, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) with six seats and won four, and the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) contested four seats and won two.

In the 2019 Jharkhand Assembly elections, the JMM-Congress-RJD alliance secured 47 out of 81 seats, while the BJP won 25 seats.

The state held elections in two phases on November 13 and 20, for all 81 assembly seats. Jharkhand witnessed a voter turnout of 67.74 percent across both phases, with the second phase seeing a turnout of 68.95 percent.

Prominent candidates include chief minister Hemant Soren, BJP’s Babulal Marandi, and AJSU’s Sudesh Mahto.

Jharkhand's political landscape has seen many twists and turns in recent times. Chief minister Hemant Soren's resignation, followed by his time in jail, led to Champai Soren temporarily taking over. In a surprising move, once he was released, Champai Soren joined the BJP, the largest opposition party in the state.

In the 2019 assembly elections, despite a strong Modi wave, the BJP suffered a major setback, securing only 25 seats. In contrast, the JMM-Congress alliance secured a decisive victory, forming the majority government. This shift marked a turning point in the state's political dynamics.

The grand old party has appointed observers including Tariq Anwar, Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and Krishna Allavuru for Jharkhand to oversee the post-election scenarios.

SC orders closure of Delhi, NCR schools

NEW DELHI, Nov 18: Schools will remain shut in the entire National Capital Region, and GRAP 4 restrictions will remain till further orders, the Supreme Court said on Monday, censuring the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) for Delhi and adjoining areas for delaying the imposition of graded response action plan (GRAP) 3 and 4 curbs.

The court’s comments came on what is possibly Delhi’s worst day in terms of air quality. The 4 pm reading (a 24-hour average) said 494, and while AQI has been higher (497) before, that was with a far fewer number of monitoring stations than in place today.

A sudden dip in temperatures, a change in wind direction, a reduction in wind speeds, local pollutants (mostly from vehicles), and smoke and particulate matter from farm fires in Punjab combined to enshroud Delhi and its environs in a funereal shroud of grey smog.

Posting the matter for further consideration on Friday, the court went on to pass a slew of directions asking state governments to form teams for monitoring the implementation and enforcement of curbs under Stage 4 which requires a ban on construction, and public and private offices to work at half strength.

While schools in Delhi have stopped physical classes for Classes 1 to 9 and Class 11, the court asked Delhi and NCR states to take a call on online classes for all students and inform them by Friday.

GRAP 4 also mandates a ban on entry of heavy goods vehicles (except those carrying essential commodities).

Delhi’s toxic air equals smoking 49 cigarettes a day as AQI hits an alarming 978

NEW DELHI, Nov 18: Increasingly severe air quality also means that it is equivalent to the amount of cigarettes a person could be breathing in or smoking every day. With the national capital being at the worst of it all, at an AQI of 978, a person could breath 49.02 cigarettes every day.

Since October end, the air quality in Delhi has been on the down low and even worsening with each day, the same being caused by multiple factors including firecrackers and stubble burning.

Delhi residents are facing their worst fears with an AQI worse than what they could have imagined.

According to aqi.in, the national capital's air quality index (AQI), as of 12:30 pm on November 18, stood at 978. This equals to smoking 49.02 cigarettes per day, i.e., in 24 hours.

The Supreme Court also rapped the AAP-led state government over the delay in enforcing Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) despite the alarming rise in pollution levels in the national capital.

An apex court bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih stated that it would not permit any reduction in preventive measures under stage 4 of GRAP, even if the AQI drops below 450.

Notably, schools, except for grades 10 and 12, have opted for offline classes in view of the deteriorating pollution levels.

Delhi's neighbouring state of Haryana is the second worst. An AQI level of 631 is equal to smoking 33.25 cigarettes each day.

Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi's Brother Anmol Arrested In US: Sources

NEW DELHI, Nov 18: Anmol Bishnoi - the younger brother of notorious gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, who runs a global criminal syndicate despite being in jail - has been arrested in the United States, according to sources.

Bishnoi is wanted in connection with several high-profile cases, including the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala in 2022 and the killing last month of ex-Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique, as also the firing outside actor Salman Khan's Mumbai home in June this year.

Bishnoi, 50, was taken into custody earlier today, informed sources.

Earlier this month Mumbai Police's Crime Branch began the extradition process to bring him back from the US. A special court in Maharashtra issued a non-bailable warrant for his arrest.

A Red Corner Notice was issued by global law enforcement agency Interpol.

Bishnoi, from Punjab's Fazilka, was earlier believed to be in Canada after fleeing India on a fake passport. He also faces two cases filed by the National Investigation Agency - India's anti-terror unit.

The NIA had added him to its most-wanted list and offered a reward of ₹ 10 lakh for his arrest.

The Bishnoi gang - which shot to the spotlight after the murder of singer Moosewala - made headlines again this year after the firing incident outside Salman Khan's home on the night of April 14.

Security was tightened at his house after the incident as threats continued to pour in - in the name of Lawrence Bishnoi - over the 1998 blackbuck hunting case.

The Bishnoi gang is also being probed for the murder of politician Baba Siddique - known to be close to Salman Khan - last month.

Also, in 2022, the Bishnoi brothers - among others - were accused of being part of a conspiracy to raise funds and recruit youth for "terrorist acts" in Delhi and other parts of the country.

Schools Go Online, No Entry For Trucks As Delhi Air Pollution Worsens

NEW DELHI, Nov 17: With Delhi's air quality plummeting to "severe+" for the first time this season, the Centre's air quality panel on Sunday announced stricter pollution control measures for the Delhi-NCR under Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which will come into effect from 8 am on Monday.

Shortly after stricter pollution control measures were invoked, the Delhi government suspended in-person classes for all except for students of classes 10 and 12.

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai will hold a meeting with the Heads of Departments of all concerned departments tomorrow for the effective implementation of the GRAP IV, his office said in a statement.

The restrictions include a ban on truck entry and a temporary halt on construction at public projects.

"The AQI of Delhi was recorded at 441 (Severe) at 4:00 PM today and has been gradually increasing further and has already reached Severe+ category, as thc AQI clocked 447, 452 and 457 at 5:00 PM, 6:00 PM and 7:0O PM, respectively," said the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), the Centre's panel on Delhi-NCR air quality.

The GRAP for Delhi-NCR is divided into four stages of air quality: Stage 1 for "poor" air quality (AQI ranging from 201 to 300), Stage 2 for "very poor" air quality (AQI from 301 to 400), Stage 3 for "severe" air quality (AQI from 401 to 450), and Stage 4 for "severe plus" air quality (AQI above 450).

According to the order, no trucks will be allowed into Delhi except for those carrying essential items or using clean fuel.

Non-essential light commercial vehicles registered outside Delhi will also be prohibited, except for Electric Vehicles and CNG and BS-VI diesel ones.

Delhi-registered BS-IV or older diesel medium and heavy goods vehicles are banned, except for those in essential services, the panel said.

All construction activities, including highways, roads, flyovers, power lines, pipelines and other public projects, have been suspended.

It also recommended that offices in the National Capital Region (NCR) work at 50 per cent capacity, with the rest working from home.

Work-from-home options may be introduced for central government employees, the panel said.

State governments could also decide to close colleges, limit non-essential commercial activities and implement odd-even vehicle rules, it said.

Manipur: Headless body of boy and grandmother’s corpse found in River, Kuki militants suspected behind killings

IMPHAL, Nov 17: Two days after six members of a Meitei family were reportedly killed following their abduction, the bodies of a 60-year-old woman and a two-and-a-half-year-old child were recovered from a river near Jiribam on Sunday.

The deceased, identified as Y Rani Devi and her grandson L Chingheinganba, were found partially decomposed and floating a week after they were abducted by Kuki militants from a Meitei relief camp set up at the Borobekra police station.

The victims were taken hostage by the Kuki militants on November 11 during their encounter with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Jiribam's Borobekra, located 220 km from Imphal.

The family’s sole surviving member, Laisharam Herojit, confirmed that his two children, wife, mother-in-law, wife's sister, and her son were executed, by Kuki militants after their abduction.

Herojit’s son’s headless body was found tangled in tree branches in the river, while his grandmother’s semi-naked body was discovered floating face-down nearby, according to witness accounts cited in the news report.

Violent protests erupt in Imphal valley following killings in Jiribam
Violent protests rocked the Imphal Valley in Manipur on Saturday (November 16), prompting the state government to impose an indefinite curfew in the region.

The unrest was sparked by the killing of three women and three children of the same family by militants in the hill district of Jiribam. In response to the protests, the government suspended internet and mobile data services for two days.

Angry protesters attacked the residences of three state ministers and six MLAs. Notably, a BJP MLA’s ancestral house in Imphal Valley was vandalized, and the building owned by Ashab Uddin, the Independent legislator from Jiribam, was ransacked. Additionally, protesters set fire to the homes of three BJP legislators, including a senior minister, and a Congress MLA.

Security forces intervened and prevented agitators from storming the ancestral residence of Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Saturday evening.

Protesters were demanding accountability for the recent violent killings. Despite the curfew, hundreds took to the streets in defiance, calling for justice for the victims and an end to the violence.

Police arrested 23 individuals on Sunday for their involvement in the vandalism and arson. Meanwhile, protests continued as the state grappled with the aftermath of the killings.

On Sunday, the bodies of two individuals, believed to be among six people missing from Jiribam, were found floating in the Barak River in Assam's Cachar district. Two days earlier, the bodies of three others from the same group were recovered from the Jiri River in Jiribam. As of now, five bodies have been found, with authorities continuing their investigations.

NPP withdraws support from BJP government

In a political development, the National People's Party (NPP), led by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, withdrew its support from the N Biren Singh-led BJP government in Manipur. Sangma cited the government’s failure to resolve the crisis and restore normalcy. However, this withdrawal will not affect the BJP-led administration as it holds an absolute majority in the 60-member state assembly.

Mob Tries To Storm Manipur CM, 3 Ministers & 6 MLAs Homes As Protests Escalate

IMPHAL, Nov 16: Protesting against the death of six hostages, a mob tried to barge into the personal residence of Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Saturday evening, setting off another big escalation between security forces and the protesters.

The security forces had to fire tear gas shells to disperse the assembled protesters.

Earlier today, protesters attacked the residences of at least three state ministers and six MLAs, prompting the government to impose prohibitory orders in five districts for an indefinite period and suspended internet services in parts of the state.

The Manipur government today requested the Centre to review and withdraw the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act or AFSPA, a controversial law which gives unbridled power to the armed forces, which was reimposed in six police station limits.

The Ministry of Home Affairs had on November 14 reimposed AFSPA in areas falling under Sekmai PS and Lamsang PS in Imphal West district, Lamlai in Imphal East, Moirang in Bishnupur, Leimakhong in Kangpokpi and Jiribam in Jiribam district.

6 Bodies Found Days After Family Taken Hostage By Suspected Kuki Militants

IMPHAL, Nov 16: The police have found six bodies five days after three women and three children, including an eight-month-old, from the Meitei community were taken hostage by suspected Kuki insurgents from Manipur's Jiribam district, neighbouring Assam, sources in the state government said on Saturday morning.

The bodies of a woman and two children were brought to a morgue in Assam's Silchar on Friday night, amid tension in neighbouring Jiribam district.

Last night, sources at the morgue in Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH) who saw the bodies said that the bodies of three women were brought there. They said initial examination of the bodies indicated they were adults.

This morning, the sources confirmed two of the bodies were of children and one was of a woman. The corpses had bloated due to some decomposition, they said.

Post-noon, sources said three more bodies were found, taking the total to six; these three bodies are yet to be brought to SMCH, and also yet to be identified.

Trinamool Leader Survives Murder Attempt

KOLKATA, Nov 16: A Trinamool councillor survived a murder attempt as the shooter's gun malfunctioned in Kolkata's Kasba area last night. Dramatic visuals of the murder attempt were caught on the CCTV camera installed in front of the Trinamool leader's house.

Sushanta Ghosh, councillor of Ward 108 of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, was sitting in front of his house when the two shooters arrived on a scooter. One of them took out his gun and tried to shoot him twice. But the gun didn't work. No bullets were released.

Sensing that the shooter was in a spot, Ghosh charged at him. He tried to escape on his associate's scooter, but slipped and an on-foot chase ensued. He was eventually caught and thrashed, before being asked to confess on camera who had hired him.

"I was not given any money. I was just given a photo and asked to murder him," he was heard saying in another video as a crowd surrounded him. He was later handed over to the police.

The shooters were hired from Bihar to kill the councillor, said police sources, suspecting local rivalries as the motive behind the attack.

The councillor later said he had no clue who could have planned his murder. "I have been a councillor for 12 years and never thought that I could be attacked; that too while I am sitting in my area," he said.

Local MP Mala Roy and MLA Javed Khan later visited him.

10 Children Killed As Fire Breaks Out At Hospital In UP's Jhansi

JHANSI, Nov 15: Ten children were killed in a fire that broke out at a hospital in Uttar Pradesh's Jhansi Friday evening. The fire, possibly due to a short circuit, broke out in the neonatal intensive care unit of the Maharani Laxmibai Medical College in Jhansi which led to a stampede-like situation in the hospital.

Doctors and medical staff were seen evacuating patients by breaking the windows of the ward filled with smoke before fire brigade officials reached the spot.

"As per the staff present in the ward, the fire broke out around 10.35 pm. Thirty-seven children have been safely rescued. The fire broke out in one of the two units of the children's ward possibly due to a short circuit. We have formed a committee to probe the cause of the fire. While most of the children were rescued, as per initial information, 10 children were killed in the accident," said Avinash Kumar, district magistrate of Jhansi. Six fire engines are present at the spot, he added.

Heartbreaking visuals showed relatives wailing for the children who died in the accident. "My baby has burnt to death," said a devastated woman who lost her child.

3 Children, 3 Women Missing After 10 Suspected Kuki Militants Killed In Encounter In Manipur's Jiribam

IMPHAL, Nov 12: Three children and three women are missing from Manipur's Jiribam since yesterday after an encounter broke out between suspected Kuki insurgents and the security forces. The children include a two-year-old baby.

The Manipur Police in a press conference today said the 10 killed in the encounter had enough firepower to create chaos in the affected area in Jiribam, near the border with Assam.

Civil society groups of the Kuki tribes have said the 10 were not insurgents but "village volunteers", and have sought a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to their killing.

"Security forces have launched an operation to search for the missing people. They are three women and three children. The Assam Rifles, Border Security Force and the Central Reserve Police Force will retaliate if fired upon," a senior Manipur Police officer told reporters in the state capital Imphal today.

The police officer said a total of 13 internally displaced people were reported missing yesterday from Jiribam. Two have been found dead, five have been traced, and six are missing, the officer said.

The two bodies were identified as two senior citizens from the Meitei community. Both were found inside a structure that was set on fire by the militants, the police officer added.

Narrating the sequence of events yesterday, the police officer said the suspected militants began the attack at 2.30 pm on Borobekra police station, and moved towards a CRPF camp a few hundred metres away.

"The militants were armed with a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) launcher, INSAS and AK assault rifles. The CRPF fired back after coming under attack. The gunfight lasted 45 minutes. We found 10 bodies after that," the police officer said.

There is a small settlement between the police station and the CRPF camp, and the suspected Kuki militants set several houses on fire, said a police officer in Jiribam's Borobekra.

The Meitei community has mobilised to hold candlelight vigil in some cities; in Imphal valley, a shutdown has been called and a silent protest is being organised.

The latest round of violence in Jiribam began on Thursday last when suspected Meitei insurgents attacked a village of the Hmar tribe. A woman from the Hmar tribe was killed in the attack. Her husband in a police case alleged she was shot in the leg, raped and then set on fire by the suspected Meitei militants. Civil society groups of the Kuki tribes have accused the Manipur government of keeping silent on Thursday's attack.

The next day, a woman from the Meitei community was shot dead allegedly by suspected Kuki militants while working in a paddy field in the valley district Bishnupur. While Meitei civil society groups alleged the firing came from a nearby hill, the Kuki tribes have denied the shooting, citing the long distance from the nearest hill to the paddy field where the woman was hit.

Civil society groups of the Kuki tribes have also claimed the 10 men who were killed in the gunfight in Jiribam were "village volunteers". They alleged the CRPF opened fire without provocation. However, the security forces have released visuals of the weapons they claimed were found in the hands of the "militants". They included an RPG launcher, and AK and INSAS assault rifles.

The Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO) - a top student body of the Kuki tribes - in a statement said "no CRPF personnel shall be allowed to leave their camp premises" as part of a larger movement of "non-cooperation against the CRPF" in Kuki-dominated areas.

"Any CRPF personnel found in violation of this notice shall do so at their own risk and responsibility," the KSO said in the statement, which has been verified as genuine by a senior KSO official.

The KSO official, who requested anonymity, said the Kuki tribes have been "pushed to the wall" and yesterday's deaths of "11 village volunteers" have hurt the community immensely. The weapons claimed to have been found in the hands of the "village volunteers" could be from anyone, the official said.

"We are aware of what we have said in the statement; it is out of desperation. Who is listening to us? We are not endorsing violence. But we feel helpless. The central forces are supposed to be neutral. The CRPF is under the Home Ministry," said the KSO official, adding the nuances of the angst of the Kuki tribes after the "Jiribam horror" shouldn't be seen in a binary manner. "There is someone behind all this, while the two communities fight. This is what everybody should know," the official said.

Central security forces including the Assam Rifles have faced allegations of bias while operating in Manipur. The valley-dominant Meitei community has often alleged Assam Rifles of going soft on Kuki militants due to the suspension of operations (SoO) agreement.

The Kuki tribes had protested against the Centre's move to shift two Assam Rifles battalion to Jammu and Kashmir, to be replaced by CRPF in the areas in Manipur the Assam Rifles had vacated.

However, the Assam Rifles has had many controversial events with the Meitei community during its decades-long counter-insurgency operations. At least eight Meitei insurgent groups are banned by the Home Ministry as "terrorist organisations".

The only time any authority in Manipur admitted to the involvement of insurgent groups of both the Meitei community and the Kuki tribes was on September 9, after five bodies were found following a fierce gunfight.

Three of the bodies were confirmed as Kuki insurgents from Churachandpur district; the fourth was identified as a Kuki volunteer from Jiribam; the fifth was identified as a member of the Meitei insurgent group United National Liberation Front (Pambei), or UNLF(P), the police had said in a statement.

The three Kuki insurgents were members of the Kuki Liberation Army (KLA), a signatory of the SoO agreement. The UNLF(P), too, had signed a ceasefire deal with the Centre and the state government. The UNLF is the oldest Meitei insurgent group, which later broke up into two factions; the Pambei faction signed a tripartite peace agreement with the Centre and the state government in November 2023.

Experts who have been tracking northeast insurgency for many years have told NDTV that there may be many more instances of involvement of insurgent groups from both sides in the Manipur violence, but which have never made it to the public.

The Kuki tribes and the Meiteis have been fighting since May 2023 over a range of issues such as land rights and political representation.

10 Suspected Kuki Insurgents Killed In Gunfight In Manipur's Jiribam, Curfew Imposed

IMPHAL, Nov 11: At least 10 suspected Kuki insurgents were shot dead in an encounter with the security forces in Manipur's Jiribam district today, sources said.

A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) soldier was injured in the attack by the suspected Kuki militants in the district bordering Assam, sources said. The soldier was evacuated to Silchar Medical College in Assam.

The encounter began after the suspected Kuki insurgents launched a massive attack from two sides on a police station in Jiribam, sources said. There is also a relief camp for internally displaced people next to the police station. The attackers may have looked to target the camp too, sources said.

After attacking the police station, the suspected Kuki insurgents spread out towards a small settlement in Jakurador Karong, some 400 metres from the police station, and began setting houses on fire, sources said, adding they simultaneously engaged in a gunfight with the security forces.

CRPF has sent reinforcements to Jiribam, sources said.

Kuki civil society groups have announced a shutdown in areas dominated by them over the deaths of who they called "village volunteers". Weapons recovered by the security forces after the gunfight include rocket-propelled grenade (RPGs) and AK series assault rifles.

Both sides maintain that their "village volunteers" use single-barrelled licenced guns, despite hundreds of leaked visuals indicating otherwise.

Tension has been high in Jiribam since last week when a fresh round of violence broke out.

Army Officer Killed In Action, 3 Soldiers Injured During Encounter In J&K

SRINAGAR, Nov 10: Army officer was killed in action and three soldiers were injured during a gunfight with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar.

The army's 16 Corps in a post on X said the Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) Naib Subedar Rakesh Kumar was killed in action in a joint counter-terror operation launched in Kishtwar's Bhart Ridge on Saturday.

Naib Subedar Kumar was from the 2 Para (SF).

The anti-terror operation comes amid an intensified hunt since the killing of two village defence guards (VDGs) recently.

The latest encounter broke out around 11 am when joint search parties of the army and the police intercepted terrorists in a forest, a few kilometres from the spot where the bullet-riddled bodies of VDGs Nazir Ahmad and Kuldeep Kumar were found.

A massive search operation was launched in the forests of Kuntwara and Keshwan on Thursday evening after the terrorists kidnapped and killed the VDGs.

Terrorists Kidnap, Kill 2 Village Defence Guards In J&K's Kishtwar

SRINAGAR, Nov 7: Two village defence guards have been kidnapped and killed by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district. The attack comes days after at least 12 people were injured in a grenade attack at a Sunday market in Srinagar.

Officials said the two members of a village defence committee, Nazir Ahmad and Kuldeep Kumar, were kidnapped from a forest area in Kishtwar on Thursday and then shot dead. "A massive search operation has been launched to hunt down the terrorists," said an official.

Village defence committees were set up by the Jammu and Kashmir Police to train local residents to protect their villages from terrorists.

An encounter also broke out in north Kashmir's Sopore on Thursday after security forces launched an anti-terrorist operation. Sources said two to three terrorists are believed to be trapped.

Assembly bypolls: EC changes polling date in 14 constituencies across Kerala, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh

NEW DELHI, Nov 4: The Election Commission rescheduled the by-polls in 14 assembly constituencies across Kerala, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. The voting in these assembly constituencies will on November 20, instead of November 13. The Election Commission said the changes in the polling date was made due to “large scale social, cultural and religious engagements” on November 13.

On requests from national and state parties namely the Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the BSP, the RLD and others and to rule out any possibility of low voter turnout, “the Election Commission reschedules by-polls in Assembly Constituencies in three states of Kerala, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh from November 13 to November 20”.

Earlier on October 15, the Election Commission had announced bye-election to 48 Assembly constituencies and two Parliamentary Constituencies of 15 states – wherein the date of poll for all bye-elections, except in 16-Nanded PC of Maharashtra and 07-Kedarnath AC of Uttarakhand, was fixed on November 13. The counting of votes was scheduled on November 23.

The 14 Assembly constituencies where voting day was rescheduled from November 13 to November 20 include two constituencies in Kerala, all four in Punjab and all nine constituencies in Uttar Pradesh. They are:

Kerala: Palakkad constituency

Punjab: Dera Baba Nanak, Chabbewal, Gidderbaha, Barnala

Uttar Pradesh: Meerapur, Kundarki, Ghaziabad, Khair, Karnal, Sishamau, Phulpur, Katehari, Majhawan

The date of counting in these assembly constituencies remains unchanged. The results of all the bypolls will be delcared on November 23.

According to the Congress, a significant portion of the electorate in the Palakkad assembly seat in Kerala will celebrate the festival of Kalpathi Rastholsavam from November 13 to 15.

In Punjab, the party had said, the 555th Prakash Parv of Sri Guru Nanak Dev will be celebrated on November 15 and an 'akhand path' will be organised from November 13 onwards.

The BJP, BSP and RLD had said that in Uttar Pradesh, people travel for three-four days ahead of Kartik Purnima, which will be celebrated on November 15.

12 injured as terrorists throw grenade in Srinagar market

SRINAGAR, Nov 3: At least a dozen people have been injured after terrorists threw a grenade at a Sunday market in Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar. Those injured in the explosion have been rushed to hospital. More details are awaited.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah described the grenade attack as "deeply disturbing" and said there can be no justification for targeting civilians.

"The last few days have been dominated by headlines of attacks and encounters in parts of the valley. Today's news of a grenade attack on innocent shoppers at the ‘Sunday market' in Srinagar is deeply disturbing. There can be no justification for targeting innocent civilians. The security apparatus must do everything possible to end this spurt of attacks at the earliest so that people can go about their lives without any fear," Mr Abdullah said in a post on X.

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, directed the top police officer and other security officials to give a forceful response to the terrorists.

The Lt Governor spoke to DGP Nalin Prabhat and senior officials of the security agencies on the grenade attack in Srinagar. He directed the security officials for an effective and forceful response to punish the terrorists and their associates. You have full freedom to crush terror outfits and leave no stone unturned to complete this mission," Mr Sinha said.

In the Union Territory, security and law and order are under the central government and the Lieutenant Governor - not the elected government.

The past few days have seen a series of gunfights between terrorists and security personnel. Yesterday, a Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorist was gunned down in Srinagar's Khanyar area.

Lashkar Commander Among 3 Terrorists Killed In Separate Encounters In J&K

SRINAGR, Nov 2: Security forces gunned down three terrorists in encounters in the Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag and Khanyar which started earlier today.

Four police personnel have been injured in the encounter in Khanyar and one terrorist has been killed.

Meanwhile, the force launched an anti-terrorist operation in the Halkan Gali area of Anantnag and two terrorists have been shot down. The terrorist killed in Khanyar has been identified as Usman alias Chota Walid and is a top commander of Lashkar from Pakistan.

The forces have started a combing and search operation in the Bandipora area of Jammu and Kashmir.

The anti-terrorist operations follow a terror attack on two migrant workers a day earlier. The two men from Uttar Pradesh were shot at in Budgam district - the fourth such targeted attack on migrants in the Kashmir Valley in the last two weeks.

The deadliest attack was on October 20 when seven people - including a local doctor and two workers from Bihar - were shot dead by terrorists at a tunnel construction site in Ganderbal district.

National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah, whose son Omar Abdullah took charge as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir last month, said the surge in terror attacks could be an attempt to destabilise the newly formed government and demanded an independent probe.

Last week, on October 29, security forces shot down three terrorists responsible for attacking an Army vehicle in Jammu and Kashmir's Akhnoor sector a day before. The operation spanned 27 hours and concluded early in the morning.

In the operation, the Army lost 'Phantom', an assault dog part of the elite K9 unit who drew enemy fire, sustaining bullet injuries.

"We salute the supreme sacrifice of our true hero, a valiant Indian Army dog, Phantom," the 16 Corps, known as the White Knight Corps, said in honour of the four-year-old dog.

2 Migrant Workers From UP Shot At In Terrorist Attack In J&K's Budgam

JAMMU, Nov 1: Two migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh were shot at in Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam today, the police said. Both were taken to a hospital, where the doctors said they were out of danger.

This was the fourth attack on migrant workers in Kashmir valley in the last two weeks.

The two injured in today's attack have been identified as Usman Malik, 20, and Sofiyan, 25.

The deadliest attack happened on October 20 when terrorists shot dead seven people including a local doctor and two workers from Bihar at a tunnel construction site in Ganderbal district.

Of the two terrorists involved, one was identified as a local man from south Kashmir's Kulgam, who joined a terrorist group in 2023, while the other is believed to have come from Pakistan.

Similarly, the terrorists involved in the incident at Bota Pathri in Gulmarg region on Thursday are believed to have been holed up in the higher reaches of Afrawat since early August, a news agency reported. Two soldiers were killed in action and two porters also lost their lives.