32 Killed In Landslide On Vaishno Devi Route As Rain Batters North India

JAMMU, Aug 27: At least 32 people were killed and 20 were injured after heavy rains triggered a massive landslide near the Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra in Jammu & Kashmir's Reasi district on Tuesday, sources said on Wednesday.

The pilgrimage to the shrine was suspended when the mountainside literally gave way and stones, boulders and rocks came hurtling down around 3pm on Tuesday. The landslide struck at a point about halfway along the winding 12-km trek from Katra to the shrine.

"The loss of lives due to a landslide on the route to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Temple is saddening. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. May the injured recover at the earliest. The administration is assisting all those affected. My prayers for everyone's safety and well-being," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on X.

There are two routes up to the shrine - while the yatra was initially suspended on the Himkoti trek route on Tuesday morning, it was going on on the old route till 1.30pm when authorities decided to suspend it till further orders.

Incessant heavy rain in Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of north India, including Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, have triggered flash floods in several areas, prompting officials to evacuate thousands of people from low-lying areas.

7 Killed As Landslides Hit Vaishno Devi Route

JAMMU, Aug 26: Eleven people have been killed, including 7 deaths in the Vaishno Devi shrine route, and several people have been injured due to heavy rain in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district.

A landslide occurred on the route to the Vaishno Devi shrine earlier today that also injured several people, including a five-year-old girl and a 15-year-old teenager. The yatra has been halted for now "A landslide incident has occurred near Inderprastha Bhojnalaya at Adhkwari, some injuries are feared. Rescue operations are underway along with required manpower and machinery," the shrine's board said in a post on X.

Several properties have also been damaged due to the landslides. According to officials, two people died when their house collapsed, and two others died in flash floods. A cloudburst has also been reported. The district administration has asked people to stay away from riverbanks and remain alert.

Traffic on NH-244, which connects Doda and Kishtwar, is halted after a stretch of the road was washed away due to heavy rain, landslides, and shooting stones.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the situation in many parts of Jammu province is "quite serious". He said he would be taking the next flight to Jammu. However, he later posted on X that due to the closure of Jammu airport, he couldn't reach Jammu. "I'm closely monitoring the situation & in touch with the teams on the ground in the division," he posted on X.

He also spoke to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the phone and briefed him about the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Chief Minister today chaired a high-level meeting about flood preparedness and asked every department to remain ready.

Major rivers Tawi and Ravi are flowing above the danger mark.

In Kathua, Ravi has overflowed at many places, resulting in the flooding of low-lying areas.

The Sinthan Top pass connecting the Kashmir Valley with the Kishtwar district has been closed. The Srinagar-Jammu national highway has been closed due to shooting stones in Ramban district. Heavy snowfall in Zojila Pass has blocked the Srinagar-Leh national highway.

Helplines have been set up in all these districts, and local authorities are on high alert. The weather department has forecast heavy rain for Jammu.

Modi pushes for swadeshi as more US tariffs loom

AHMEDABAD, Aug 25: The push to "swadeshi" or indigenous goods got yet another push from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, as India consistently hardens its stance against the US tariff regime affecting international trade.

“Businessmen should keep a big board outside their establishments, saying they sell ‘swadeshi’ goods,” the PM said, referring specifically to the shopping season ahead on account of a series of festivals.

He was speaking at an event in Ahmedabad in his home state of Gujarat.

“Now Navratri, Vijay Dashami (Dussehra), Dhanteras, Deepawali, all these festivals are coming,” Modi noted.

“These are celebrations of our culture but they should also be celebrations of self-reliance,” he suggested, “Therefore, I want to reiterate my request to you once again that we must adopt a mantra in our lives: whatever we buy will be 'Made in India'; it will be indigenous.”

He added, "I also encourage businesses to refrain from selling items sourced from other countries. These small yet impactful steps can play a significant role in driving our nation's progress and prosperity.

He said sellers should feel proud to display a board saying, “Mere yahaan swadeshi bikta hai (I sell swadeshi).”

Supreme Court says those excluded from Bihar draft voters' list can submit Aadhaar to claim inclusion

NEW DELHI, Aug 22: The Supreme Court on Friday said that people excluded from the draft electoral roll during during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar can submit Aadhaar card along with the requisite form to object to their exclusion.

The Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi said the people can submit their objections with "any of the 11 documents [mentioned in Form 6 by Election Commission of India (ECI)] or Aadhaar card".

This effectively means that Aadhaar can be used as proof to get oneself included in the voters' list.

The Court also clarified that the people or Booth Level Agents (BLAs) can submit the objections online without the need to file physical documents. Further, the Court ordered that when forms are submitted physically, the booth-level officers shall provide an acknowledgement receipt.

The Court further asked political parties to assist the people who have been excluded from the draft electoral roll. It expressed surprise at the submission that only two objections have come from BLAs of political parties.

The Court was hearing a batch of petitions challenging the ECI’s June 24 directive ordering an SIR of electoral rolls ahead of the upcoming Bihar assembly elections.

One of the petitioners, Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR), argued that the SIR can arbitrarily and without due process disenfranchise lakhs of citizens from electing their representatives, thereby disrupting free and fair elections and democracy in the country.

On the other hand, the ECI defended its June 24 directive, asserting that it has plenary powers under Article 324 of the Constitution and Section 21(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 to conduct a revision of electoral rolls.

On August 6, the Court was told that 65 lakh names were dropped from the draft electoral roll published on August 1. The ECI in a response assured the Court that no name will be struck off the draft electoral roll without prior notice, a hearing opportunity and a reasoned order from the competent authority.

On August 14, the Court had directed the ECI to upload the list of 65 lakh voters proposed to be deleted during the SIR. The Court was today told that the direction has been complied with.

Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan Is BJP's Vice President Candidate

NEW DELHI, Aug 17: The NDA candidate for the post of Vice President is CP Radhakrishnan -- the Governor of Maharashtra and one of the party's tallest leaders from Tamil Nadu - the BJP announced today, weeks after the resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar. He is expected to face-off with the Opposition candidate on September 9, but given the NDA numbers, appears to be standing on the threshold of victory.

"Mr Radhakrishnan has a 40-year experience in politics and wore many hats," said BJP chief JP Nadda, making the announcement this evening after a meeting with NDA parliamentary party meeting.

"We hope the Vice President's election will take place through consensus. We have spoken to many parties, and while the opposition said they would decide after our announcement, we are hopeful of wider support," he told reporters.The BJP, he added, will speak to the Opposition leaders to ensure a "smooth election".

Radhakrishnan has also been the Governor of Jharkhand, held additional charge of Pondicherry, has been a two-term MP from Coimbatore and headed the Tamil Nadu unit of the BJP.

With the combined strength of both houses standing at 786, the majority mark is 394. The NDA's combined strength in the two houses is 422 -- 293 members in the Lok Sabha and 129 in the Rajya Sabha.

In a post on X, PM Modi said Mr Radhakrishnan has done extensive work at the grassroots level in Tamil Nadu and he was glad that the NDA family has decided to nominate him as the Vice Presidential candidate of the alliance.

"In his long years in public life, Thiru CP Radhakrishnan Ji has distinguished himself with his dedication, humility and intellect," Modi said in a post on X.

"During the various positions he has held, he has always focused on community service and empowering the marginalised," the prime minister said Earlier, the BJP parliamentary board nominated Radhakrishnan as the NDA candidate for vice-president.

In I-Day speech, Modi stresses on self-reliance, national security

NEW DELHI, Aug 15: Atmanirbharta (self reliance) is the foundation of Viksit Bharat (developed India) and over-dependence on foreign powers can cloud freedom itself, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday, underlining that enhancing national security was a core mission to build a prosperous country by the centenary of independence in 2047.

In his customary address to the nation on Independence Day, Modi outlined an expansive vision for the next few decades with self-reliance and defence as its pillars, made a string of big-bang reform commitments especially in easing compliance and simplifying Goods and Services Tax, announced a high-powered mission to deal with infiltration, flagged global economic selfishness, and underlined his government’s drive to achieve self-reliance in energy, defence equipment, critical minerals and semiconductors.

In his 103-minute-long address – his longest ever from the ramparts of the Red Fort – Modi also hailed the armed forces and the prowess of Made-in-India weapons during Operation Sindoor, urged Indians to build jet engines and announced the formation of Mission Sudarshan Chakra, an anti-ballistic missile defenceaimed at neutralising enemy defence infiltrations and enhancing India’s offensive capabilities.

Among his major announcements were that India will roll out its first Made-in-India chip by the end of the year; 10 new nuclear reactors as part of the mission to increase nuclear power generation capacity by over 10 times in the next two decades; next-generation GST reforms to be unveiled on Diwali, reducing taxes on essential goods and providing relief to MSMEs, local vendors, and consumers; a dedicated Reform Task Force to drive next-generation reforms; launching the PM Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana, announced by the Cabinet earlier, to benefit 30 million young Indians; a High-Powered Demography Mission to address the national security challenge of infiltration; and a National Deepwater Exploration Mission to tap ocean resources, alongside major expansions in solar, hydrogen, hydro and nuclear power.

He also praised the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological fount of the Bharatiya Janata Party that is celebrating its centenary this year.

“For a nation, the greatest criteria for self-dignity is its self-reliance,” Modi said after a flypast of military helicopters scattered flower petals above an invited crowd of thousands in the historic Red Fort. “The more a country is dependent on others, the bigger is the question mark on its independence.”

Before his speech, two Mi-17 helicopters of the Indian Air Force flew over the Red Fort and showered flower petals. One chopper carried the Tricolour while the other displayed a banner of Operation Sindoor.

The remarks came against the backdrop of US President Donald Trump’s global trade war. In the last few weeks, Trump hit India with a 50% tariff rate, much higher than the regional peers.

“This is an opportunity to move ahead, to visualise big dreams, to sacrifice for our resolve. The government and I are with you and we will make history,” he said.

He also reiterated his concern for farmers’ welfare.

“Farmers, fishermen, cattle rearers are our top priorities. Modi will stand like a wall against any policy that threatens their interests. India will never compromise when it comes to protecting the interests of our farmers,” he said.

India’s protections for its agricultural sector and apparent reluctance to open it up to mega American farm companies was seen to be one of the bigger hurdles in protracted trade negotiations between the world’s largest and fifth-largest economies. The agriculture sector accounts for nearly 18% of the country’s gross domestic product and employs millions of small cultivators owning mostly tiny land parcels, who also form a large and sensitive political bloc.

“Today, when economic selfishness is rising day by day in the global situation, it is the need of the hour that we don’t sit crying over those crises. We should not pull others down but enhance our capabilities. If we take that path, no selfishness will be able to entangle us,” he said.

Highlighting Operation Sindoor, Modi said strategic autonomy and indigenous capabilities were key to decisively tackling threats, and added that self-reliance was the bedrock of national strength, dignity, and the journey to a developed India by 2047.

“Operation Sindoor showcased the marvel of India’s military prowess, leaving our enemies stunned and unable to comprehend the advanced weapons that neutralised them in seconds. Without Aatmanirbhar Bharat, could we have executed Operation Sindoor on such a large scale? Our military’s strength, bolstered by the ‘Make in India’ initiative, allowed us to act decisively and fearlessly,” the PM said.

He also threw a challenge. “Today, I urge the young scientists, talented youth, engineers, professionals, and all departments of the government that we should have our jet engines for our own Made in India fighter jets,” he said.

President Murmu Calls For 'Buy Local; Ease Of Doing Business'

NEW DELHI, Aug 14: President Droupadi Murmu has stressed on buying local and ease of doing business. Both have been areas of concern in the aftermath of the imposition of 50 per cent tariff by the US on Indian goods.

In her address to the nation on the eve of Independence day, the President traced 'buy local' to its origin in the Swadeshi movement and Mahatma Gandhi's advocacy of Khadi to its modern avatar "Make in India".

"Last week, on August 7, the country celebrated 'National Handloom Day' which honours our weavers and their products," President Murmu said.

"Since the year 2015, we have been celebrating this day to commemorate the Swadeshi Movement launched during our freedom struggle in the year 1905. The spirit of Swadeshi was strengthened by Mahatma Gandhi to promote the products made by the sweat and toil of Indian artisans and crafts-persons, and by their incomparable skills. The idea of Swadeshi has been inspiring our national endeavours like Make-in-India initiative and Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan. Let us resolve to buy and use Indian products," she said.

The "ease of doing business", she said was as important as ease of living to improve the life of the common man.

"For betterment of the lives of the common people there is equal emphasis on improving the ease of doing business as well as on improving the ease of living," she said.

"Moreover, we are increasing our self-reliance in every area possible. This has added to our self-confidence and increased the momentum of our journey towards becoming Viksit Bharat," President Murmu added.

Name 65 Lakh Taken Off Bihar Voter List, Give Reason: Top Court To Poll Body

NEW DELHI, Aug 14: The names of 65 lakh people removed from the voter list in Bihar must be uploaded on the Election Commission websites along with the reason for deletion by Tuesday, the Supreme Court told the poll body today. The court also said this list must be publicised so that every voter can access it.

In a key ruling, the court also said those whose names have been wrongly deleted can submit their claims along with a copy of their Aadhaar cards. This is significant because the petitions challenging the Special Intensive Revision had flagged the exclusion of Aadhaar as proof and said this would affect many voters.

Hearing petitions challenging the Special Intensive Revision of voter lists in poll-bound Bihar, Justice Surya Kant noted that the Election Commission has said 22 lakh people out of the 65 lakh names struck off the list have died.

"If 22 lakh people have died, why is it not disclosed at the booth level? We do not want citizens' rights to be dependent on political parties," he observed

In its order, the bench said, "We have briefly heard the Election Commission of India. During the course of hearing , the following steps are agreed: ECI will, as interim measure, take following steps: list of 65 lakhs voters whose names appeared in 2025 list but are not included in the draft list shall be displayed on the district level websites."

This list, the order said, must also mention the reason for deletion from the draft roll. "Wide publicity shall be given in vernacular language newspapers which has maximum circulation and it must be broadcast and telecast on Doordarshan and other channels. The district election officer, if they have a social media handle, shall display the notice there as well," it said.

"Aggrieved persons may submit their claims along with a copy of their Aadhaar cards. In addition, the booth-wise list of 65 lakh voters shall also be displayed on the noticeboard of all the panchayat bhawans and the Block development and panchayat offices so that people have manual access to the list," Justice Kant read out.

In its response, the Election Commission said, "In addition to the list of deceased, voters at two places and permanently shifted given by BLOs to all political parties since 20 July, a list of non included voters with reasons should also be put in the draft roll which can be searched by the EPIC number and booth wise on the website of DEOs and CEO".

"Further those aggrieved can file their claim along with a copy of Aadhar," the Commission said. "Here aggrieved can be only those who are not in draft list (65 lakh) and they can only file claim which has to be in Form 6 under the rules. Form 6 already contains Aadhar," it added.

Earlier, Justice Joymalya Bagchi asked how many voters' names had been omitted in the draft list prepared after the Special Intensive Revision. Senior Advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, appearing for the poll body, replied, "65 lakhs are not there, 22 lakhs are dead."

Dwivedi stressed that no name has been deleted and anyone who is alive but his/her name has been deleted from the list on the grounds of death can approach poll officials to get this rectified.

"What we are asking is to be more transparent. We are saying that instead of this, put the entire data set on the website," Justice Bagchi said.

Justice Kant said political workers will have ideology, but "people must be able to independently check" their names online.

The bench said the complete data set must be online. "Anita Devi should know that if I go to this website, I will know how to get my name," Justice Kant said. The court also said that this list must be searchable and people should be able to access it by using their EPIC numbers. The case will be heard next on August 22.

46 Dead, 100 Injured After Massive J&K Cloudburst

JAMMU, Aug 14: At least 46 people, including two CISF (Central Industrial Security Force) personnel, have been killed and 100 injured after a massive cloudburst caused a flash flood in the Chashoti village of Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district this afternoon. The Army has also joined the rescue efforts and visuals showed people being evacuated.

It has been reported that at least 46 bodies have been recovered and there are fears that the death count could rise. Rescuers have pulled out 167 people from under mounds of rubble, officials said, adding the condition of 38 of them is serious.

Chashoti is the starting point for the Machail Mata Yatra, as well as the last motorable village on the way to the Himalayan shrine of Mata Chandi in Kishtwar. The annual yatra has been suspended after the flash floods, officials said.

"A flash flood has occurred at Chashoti area in Kishtwar, which is the starting point of the Machail Mata Yatra. Rescue Operations have been started," said Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar Pankaj Sharma.

Expressing grief over the tragedy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said every possible help is being given.

"My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by the cloudburst and flooding in Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir. The situation is being monitored closely. Rescue and relief operations are underway. Every possible assistance will be provided to those in need," the Prime Minister posted on X.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on X that he had spoken to the Lieutenant Governor and Chief Minister, and National Disaster Response Force teams have been rushed to the site.

The Army's White Knight Corps said it has joined the rescue and relief operations.

Rahul Gandhi Meets, Has Tea With 7 'Dead People' Cut From Bihar Voter List

NEW DELHI, Aug 13: Rahul Gandhi 'thanked' the Election Commission for a "unique experience" after he had tea Wednesday with 'dead' voters from Bihar - men and women who said they had been struck off the state's electoral roll after the controversial 'special intensive revision', of the voter list.

"I have had many interesting experiences... but never before have I had tea with 'dead people'. For this unique experience, thank you Election Commission!" he said on X.

Gandhi shared a four-minute video interaction with the seven 'dead' voters, in which he asked them how they discovered the Election Commission had 'killed' them. One of the 'dead' said they found out only after the poll panel released a draft list of 65 lakh excluded names.

"But I am alive... I have come to declare I am not dead," he told Gandhi, "And sir, in one panchayat, there are at least 50 others who are not 'dead'. The Congress leader was further told there were others, stuck in a similar circumstance, who had not yet reached the meeting.

"They are from Raghopur (RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav's seat) ... there is a flood there," another man told Gandhi, and then pointed to an 85-year-old who too had been declared 'dead'.

"They were removed despite having completed the paperwork for re-verification," a party worker who accompanied them explained, "They have not published names of people declared 'dead'."

"This is not a clerical error - it is political disenfranchisement in plain sight," the party said.

The frail and elderly woman - who sat quietly, 'dead' but not dead - was among several who spent hours at the Supreme Court and the voter list row hearing this morning.

Gandhi assured all of them he would not allow 'vote chori', or the stealing of votes, which has become the opposition bloc's battle cry before the Bihar election and a Supreme Court case on the poll panel's 'special intensive revision', which could set major legal precedents before high voltage elections in Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Assam next year, and in Uttar Pradesh in 2027.

The Congress later named all seven 'dead' voters - Ramikbal Ray, Harendra Ray, Lalmuni Devi, Vachiya Devi, Lalwati Devi, Punam Kumari, and Munna Kumar, all of whom live in Raghopur.

Rahul Gandhi has been leading the charge against 'collusion' between the poll panel and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, The two, he has alleged, conspired to commit voter fraud in Karnataka and Maharashtra last year, and are trying to do the same for the Bihar election.

The EC has rejected the claims and demanded Gandhi, detained by Delhi Police Wednesday during a street protest on this issue, submit proof of his allegations, and a signed affidavit.

In a strong rebuttal Friday, it said the Congress was trying to "mislead" the people as they tried to mislead Supreme Court in 2018, referring to part veteran Kamal Nath's plea.

The BJP, meanwhile, has criticised Rahul Gandhi for "maligning a constitutional body".

Home Minister Amit Shah mocked the Congress for expecting defeat in the Bihar election later this year and already looking for excuses. "You keep losing election after election... and now you are looking for an excuse for defeat even before this election," he declared in Bihar.

No action against 'end of life' vehicles in Delhi for now after Supreme Court order

NEW DELHI, Aug 12: The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed there will be no coercive action for now against those driving 10-year old diesel and 15-year old petrol vehicles in Delhi, effectively staying the implementation of its own 2018 order which signed off on an earlier ruling of the National Green Tribunal.

The rationale cited for the ban was that keeping older vehicles off the roads would combat the National Capital Region’s noxious air.

A bench led by Chief Justice of India Bhushan R Gavai, with Justices Vinod K Chandran and NV Anjaria, issued notice to the central government and the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on a plea by the Delhi government, which has challenged the blanket ban on what are termed “end-of-life” vehicles.

The matter will be heard again after four weeks.

Reacting to the Supreme Court's order against coercive action, Delhi environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said in a video message that the directive comes as a “big relief for residents of Delhi”.

The Delhi government has argued in its plea that the “end of life” for a vehicle be determined not by its age but by its pollution level and the number of kilometres it has run, he said.

The petition came after rising public outrage, particularly after the Delhi BJP government led by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta rolled out a "no fuel for old vehicles" policy in July. The policy was paused within two days.

The government cited logistical hurdles and infrastructure gaps in enforcing the ban. Following this, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) issued a directive to enforce the ban on refuelling across Delhi-NCR from November 1 instead.

This impending ban was then challenged by the Delhi government before the Supreme court, citing that the original restrictions lacked scientific backing.

The NCT government's petition thus seeks a review of the 2018 order passed by the Supreme Court which essentially banned 10-year-old diesel and 15-year-old petrol vehicles in Delhi-NCR.

The ban dates back to 2014-15 after the National Green Tribunal directed that older vehicles should not be allowed to function in Delhi-NCR in order to combat pollution levels.

Fight for 'one man one vote': Rahul Gandhi after protest near EC Hq

NEW DELHI, Aug 11: Rahul Gandhi has declined to sign a sworn declaration backing his “vote theft” allegations against the Election Commission of India, despite repeated calls from the poll body.

Reiterating that the documents he cited for his “vote theft” claims came from the Election Commission’s own data, the Congress leader called it a fight for “One Man, One Vote” and questioned the state of democracy, noting that “300 MPs” were denied a meeting with the poll body.

His remarks came after being released from Delhi Police detention during the INDIA bloc’s protest march to the EC office.

"Why should I sign an oath? This is their data, not mine. They should take it from their own website. They are just diverting attention. And no one should think this happened only in Bengaluru; it happened in many constituencies. Today, the Election Commission is trying to hide something, but I want to tell you that one day, everything will come out," he said.

He later posted on X a note of gratitude to all fellow INDIA bloc MPs "for standing shoulder to shoulder and fighting with full strength in this movement against vote theft".

Earlier, chaos broke out during the INDIA bloc’s protest as Delhi Police stopped the leaders not far from Parliament. Rahul Gandhi and his sister and fellow Lok Sabha member Priyanka Gandhi were among those detained, as was Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav, who was seen climbing over a barricade.

Delhi Police said no permission was sought for the march.

The march was a protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar, besides the allegations of voter fraud during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections levelled by Rahul Gandhi in a livecast and press conference last week.

All Stray Dogs In Delhi-NCR To Be Moved To Shelters: Supreme Court's Order

NEW DELHI, Aug 11: All stray dogs in Delhi NCR must be shifted away from residential localities and any organisation that blocks this exercise will face the strictest action, the Supreme Court said today.

The top court's significant order comes amid a rise in cases of dog bites and deaths due to rabies.

The bench of Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan is hearing the matter after taking note of a news report on the rising incidents of rabies deaths following stray dog attacks. The court said it will hear arguments only from the Centre, and no petitions from dog lovers or any other party will be heard on this subject.

"We are not doing this for us, it is for the public interest. So, no sentiments of any nature should be involved. Action should be taken at the earliest," Justice Pardiwala said.

"Pick up dogs from all localities and shift them to far-off places. For the time being, forget the rules," he told amicus curiae Gaurav Agarwala, who suggested the steps that can be taken to address the stray dog menace.

When Justice Pardiwala sought Solicitor General Tushar Mehta's opinion on the matter, he was told that a site in Delhi had been identified for relocating stray dogs, but the plan was stalled after animal rights activists obtained a stay order.

"All these animal activists, will they be able to bring back those who have fallen prey to rabies? We need to make streets absolutely free of stray dogs," the bench said, adding that it won't allow any adoption of stray dogs either.

Among the solutions suggested to the court was the adoption of stray dogs, but Solicitor General Tushar Mehta raised concerns that people may take the dog in for a few days and then let them out again. The bench then clarified that no one will be allowed to adopt a stray dog to stop authorities from moving it to the shelter.

Civic authorities in the Delhi NCR region spanning the national capital, Noida, Ghaziabad and Gurugram, have been directed to immediately build dog shelters, move stray dogs and update the court.

These shelters, the court said, must have professionals who can tackle dogs, carry out sterilisation and immunisation and these dogs should not be let out. CCTVs, the court said, must be installed to ensure that dogs cannot escape from these shelters. The civic authorities have also been instructed to start a helpline for reporting dog bite cases. "Round up all stray dogs from all localities, whether sterilised or unsterilised," the court said.

Mehta told the court, "We cannot sacrifice our children just because of a few dog lovers."

The court said civic authorities can decide how they carry out this task and that they can form a dedicated force if needed. Anyone blocking the exercise would face action for contempt of court, it warned.

The court noted in its order that the "situation is grim" and "immediate steps need to be taken".

"NCT Delhi, MCD, NMDC shall at earlier start picking up stray dogs from all localities, from more particularly vulnerable localities and cities. How to do it is for the authorities to look into and if they have to create a force, do it at the earliest. However, this should be the first and foremost exercise to make all localities free of stray dogs. There should not be any compromise in undertaking any exercise," the court said.

The order added, "However, what is important, and without which the entire exercise would go futile, not a single stray dog should be released and if we know that this has happened, we will take stern action."

The court also noted that the availability of rabies vaccine is a major concern. "The authorities concerned, more particularly the government Of NCT Delhi, are directed to put detailed information about the place where such vaccines are available, the stock of vaccines and the number of persons who report for treatment on a monthly basis."

6 Men Pose As 'International Cops', Rent Office To Dupe People In Noida

NOIDA, Aug 10: Six men were arrested in Noida on Sunday for allegedly misleading people through a fake office and by posing as members of international police and various other organisations, officials said.

According to police, the accused are residents of West Bengal. They pretended to be government officials as well and influenced locals with the logo of the office. They had rented an office recently in sector 70 in Central Noida.

The racket was busted and six people were arrested, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central Noida) Shakti Mohan Awasthy said.

"They used to extort money from people by showing fake documents and logos. They also pretended as government officials to impress people," the officer added.

"The arrested accused made a rent agreement on June 4 and were operating the office for the last 15 days. They also had a website -- www.intlpcrib.in -- and took donations. Further investigation is on," he said.

The accused have been identified as Vibhash Chandra Adhikari (27), an arts graduate, Aragya Adhikari (26), a law graduate, Pintu Pal (27), Samapdal (25), Babul Chandra Mandal (27), Ashish Kumar (57) -- all Class-12 pass. While the first four are residents of West Bengal's Birbhum district, Mandal and Kumar are residents of 24 Parganas and Kolkata respectively, police said.

Police have seized nine mobile phones, 17 stamp seals, six cheque books, nine identity cards, a PAN card, a voter card, six ATM cards, three types of visiting cards, certificates recognised by ministries and a CPU. Four boards of the "International Police and Crime Investigation Bureau", Rs 42,300 in cash and other documents were also seized from the possession of the accused.

A case has been registered under the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Information Technology Act and Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act at the Phase 3 police station in Central Noida.

EC officials find no one from 80 'registered voters' in one-room Mahadevpura house

BENGALURU, Aug 8: Even as the election commission in Karnataka is yet to launch an investigation into the allegations made by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the lower-rung election officials on Friday rushed to the addresses that are at the centre of the controversy over “electoral fraud” in Mahadevapura.

Among the places BLOs visited include: Muni Reddy garden, 5th cross road situated behind Tulasi Talkies and the 153 Biere Street, a micro-brewery on Hagadur main road. During the visit, they spoke to the tenants and the landlords to cross verify the the names mentioned in the electoral roll with the actual occupants.

At a press conference on Thursday, Rahul Gandhi alleged that over 40,000 voters in the Mahadevapura electoral roll had provided fake addresses. He specifically cited house number 35 in Muni Reddy Garden, which reportedly had 80 registered voters; a house on the street behind Tulasi Talkies with 46 voters; and the brewery, which allegedly had 68 voters.

When BLOs visited these locations, they found that while some of the listed voters may have once lived there as tenants, none were present at the time of inspection. At Muni Reddy Garden, the election staff had come with the electoral roll but found that none of the voters mentioned in the list were living in house number 35. The house, which has just a kitchen, hall and a toilet, has now been rented to a family from West Bengal and the bread winner works as a food delivery executive.

“Some of the names found in the electoral roll may have lived in this place but we had marked the names of missing voters as ‘residence shifted.’ Chances are that all the 80 voters gave the same address for documentary proof while they lived in the shanties around this place,” the BLO told reporters.

The BLOs also returned empty-handed after visiting the brewery. This is because the 68 voters – who gave their addresses as 153 Biere Club in the voter card – were no longer working at the brewery after the ownership changed hands in January this year and the brand name was also changed to 153 Biere Street.

Jayaram Reddy, who has rented about 30 houses in Muni Reddy garden, denied renting houses to any of the 80 voters mentioned in the electoral roll. “I have had tenants from Assam, Odisha, West Bengal and Bihar. They take odd jobs as security guards, maids etc and rent the place just for a couple of months. I have not seen any of them vote here,” he said.

For now, there is no clarity on how many of the people who gave fake addresses cast their votes in the recently held assembly or parliamentary elections.

Bengaluru Urban deputy commissioner G Jagadeesha, in-charge of Mahadevapura zone in election matters, said they have not conducted any investigation into the allegations so far. “We have not received any directions from the election commission,” he said.

'Ready To Pay Personal Price': Modi's Strong Message Over Trump Tariffs

NEW DELHI, Aug 7: Sending a strong message the day after US President Donald Trump ratcheted up the tariff war against India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed that India will never compromise with the interests of its farmers and fishermen. The Prime Minister said that while he knows he will "have to pay the price", he was ready to do it for farmers.

Addressing the MS Swaminathan Centenary International Conference at Delhi, the Prime Minister said, "The interest of farmers is our top priority. India will never compromise with the interests of its farmers, livestock holders, and fishermen. And I know that I will have to pay a huge price for this personally, but I am ready. India is ready, for the sake of the country's farmers, fishermen and livestock holders."

Paying his respects to MS Swaminathan, the architect of the Green Revolution, the Prime Minister said, "Building on the legacy of food security, the next frontier for our agricultural scientists is ensuring nutritional security for all."

India exports a wide variety of agricultural products to the US and is one of the sectors set to bear the brunt of Trump's tariffs.

Rahul Gandhi Shares Karnataka 'Votes Stolen Proof'

NEW DELHI, Aug 7: Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today claimed that an investigation found massive voter fraud in a Karnataka Assembly segment during the 2024 Lok Sabha election and accused the Election Commission of colluding with the ruling BJP to steal elections.

The allegations drew a sharp response as the election body dared Mr Gandhi to take an oath and submit a declaration that he had found irregularities in the voter list or withdraw his "fabricated evidence". The BJP called the allegations "baseless" and said Gandhi has "lost his cool".

The reversal of the INDIA bloc's poll fortunes in the Maharashtra Assembly election just months after their strong show in the general election showed "something was not right", Mr Gandhi said. The INDIA bloc, which won 30 out of 48 Maharashtra seats in the Lok Sabha polls last year, could not even cross the 50 mark in the state polls just five months later.

"BJP does not suffer from anti-incumbency. Opinion polls suggested something, but the results were the opposite. Examples are Haryana, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. An ambience was created to explain the factors that led to the win: Ladli Behna, Pulwama, (Operation) Sindoor, narrative creation," Gandhi said.

He said the Election Commission's "choreographed schedule" for Assembly polls deepened the suspicion. "In Maharashtra, more voters were added in five months than in five years. In the Lok Sabha (election), our alliance wins. We face a drubbing in the Assembly polls. One crore new voters cast their votes in the Assembly polls. The Election Commission cites brisk voting at 5.30 pm. Our booth agents say no such brisk voting happened. Maharashtra was the first time we saw something was wrong," he said.

Gandhi alleged that the Election Commission, instead of answering the Opposition's questions, evaded replies. He said the poll body refused to provide digital voter rolls for them to check.

The Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha said their investigation focused on the Mahadevapura Assembly seat in Karnataka. "Our internal polling told us we would win 16 (Lok Sabha) seats in Karnataka, we won nine. We then focused on seven unexpected losses. We chose one Lok Sabha, and our team decided we could only focus on one Vidhan Sabha (seat). So we focused on Mahadevapura.

"Total votes polled in the (Bangalore Central) Lok Sabha were 6.26 lakh. The BJP won with 6,58,915, securing a margin of 32,707. Then, we looked at Mahadevapura, where Congress got 1,15,586 votes and BJP 2,29,632. Congress won all Vidhan Sabhas, but this one. This seat won them the election. We found 1,00,250 stolen votes. Stolen in five different ways: duplicate voters, fake and invalid addresses, bulk voters at a single address. But when we go there, no record of those people living there. One family living in that house," Gandhi alleged.

The presentation shared by Gandhi listed these alleged irregularities

Same voter appears multiple times in voter rolls
Same voter in multiple states
Either the address doesn't exist, or it's mentioned as "0"
Bulk voters at a single address
Indistinguishable or microsized photo on voter IDs
Misuse of Form 6 meant for first-time voters

Targeting the Election Commission, Gandhi said, "They're not in the business of protecting democracy anymore, they're helping dismantle it. The umpire is on the other team. The judiciary needs to get involved in this because the democracy that we love so much does not exist."

Haryana Hospitals Suspend Ayushman Bharat Scheme Over Rs 490 Crore Dues

NEW DELHI, Aug 7: Private hospitals empaneled under the Ayushman Bharat scheme in Haryana have suspended their services as of midnight on August 6 due to unresolved grievances with the state government, primarily over unpaid bills amounting to Rs 490 crore and inadequate budget allocations.

The move, affecting 650 empaneled hospitals across the state, is expected to disrupt healthcare access for over 1.8 crore enrolled beneficiaries, including low-income families and senior citizens.

The Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), aimed at providing universal health coverage, offers up to Rs 5 lakh annually in cashless hospitalisation to nearly 55 crore economically disadvantaged individuals, covering the bottom 40 per cent of India's population.

On August 2, 650-700 private hospitals in Haryana announced their exit from the scheme, effective August 7, over unpaid dues.

Ankita Adhikari, the Joint Chief Executive Officer of Ayushman Bharat Haryana, admitted there has been a delay in disbursing claims amounting to Rs 470 crore, but that was the case in every state due to a very tight 15-day turnaround time.

Ex-MP Prajwal Revanna Gets Life Term For Sexually Assaulting House Help

BENGALURU, Aug 2: Former Janata Dal (Secular) MP Prajwal Revanna has been sentenced to life imprisonment by a special court in Bengaluru for raping his house help. Revanna, who is the grandson of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda and nephew of Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy, had also been charged with circulating videos of the sexual assault on the 48-year-old woman.

The woman, who worked as a domestic help at the Revanna family's farmhouse in Hassan district's Holenarasipura, had alleged that she was raped repeatedly by Prajwal Revanna since 2021. He had recorded the act and threatened to release the videos if she told anyone about what he had done.

The special court for MPs/MLAs in Bengaluru had framed charges against Revanna, 34, under various sections, including rape, voyeurism, criminal intimidation, and unlawful circulation of intimate images. He had been convicted by judge Santosh Gajanan Bhat on Friday and the sentence was pronounced on Saturday.

Appearing for the survivor, Special Public Prosecutor BN Jagadish told the court she was repeatedly raped and blackmailed and even considered dying by suicide after seeing the video of her being sexually assaulted.

"The sexual assault video reflects Prajwal's sadistic mindset. He was a sitting MP, fully aware of the law, yet committed such acts. He is a habitual offender who recorded videos of multiple women. The maximum punishment must be imposed," Mr Jagadish was quoted as saying by news agency IANS.

"A strong message must be sent that wealth and political power do not guarantee leniency. Courts must counter the public perception that influential people get away with lighter sentences while ordinary citizens face the full brunt of the law," he stressed.

In his final statement before the sentencing, Prajwal Revanna broke down and said, "Why did this case come out during the elections? When I was an MP, no complaints were lodged against me. They now say I committed multiple sexual assaults. Why didn't anyone come forward then? Why did the case surface only during the election?"

The court sentenced him to life imprisonment under two sections of the Indian Penal Code, terms of between two and seven years under five other sections, and a term of three years under a section of the IT Act for circulating the videos. It said the survivor should be given compensation of Rs 11 lakh.

The sex scandal involving Revanna, who was the MP from Hassan Lok Sabha constituency in Karnataka, had emerged a day after the seat - where he was a candidate - went to the polls on April 26 last year.

Videos began doing the rounds showing multiple women being sexually assaulted. Revanna could also be seen sexually abusing women in some of them.

Revanna, who left for Germany soon after the videos emerged, was later suspended by the JD(S), which contested the Lok Sabha polls in an alliance with the BJP.

He lost the elections and was arrested in May last year after he returned from Germany.

'No World Leader Asked Us To Stop Op Sindoor': Modi

NEW DELHI, July 29: Reiterating the government's stand that the ceasefire on May 10 was agreed to after Pakistan pleaded for one, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said no leader from any country had asked India to stop Operation Sindoor.

Responding to the debate on Operation Sindoor and the Pahalgam terror attack in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, Modi lashed out at the Opposition and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, who asked why he had not contested US President Donald Trump's claim of getting India and Pakistan to agree to a ceasefire.

Revealing these details for the first time, the Prime Minister recalled, "We had said from day one that our action was non-escalatory. No leader in the world asked us to stop Operation Sindoor. On the night of May 9, US Vice President JD Vance tried to talk to me. He tried for an hour, but I was busy in a meeting with the forces. When I called him back, he told me Pakistan was planning a big attack. My answer was that if this is Pakistan's intention, it will have to pay a heavy price."

"If Pakistan attacks, we will respond with a big attack. I said "ham goli ka jawaab gole se denge" (we will reply to a bullet with a cannonball). On May 10, we destroyed Pakistan's military strength. This was our response and our resolve. Even Pakistan understands now that every reply by India is bigger than the last. It knows that if such a situation arises in the future, India can go to any extent. Let me reiterate in this temple of democracy: Operation Sindoor is still on," he stressed.

After the attack on terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir on May 7, the PM said, India made it clear its objective had been achieved. It was only when Pakistan stepped in to defend terrorists that the Indian armed forces taught the country a lesson it would remember for years.

"On May 9 and 10, our missiles hit every corner of Pakistan, something they had never even dreamed of. This brought Pakistan to its knees. It was after this that Pakistan called the Indian DGMO and pleaded: 'Bas karo, bahut maara, ab zyada maar jhelne ki taakat nahin hai. Please hamla rok do' (Stop this. You have hit us hard, we can't take it anymore. Please stop the attack). India had made it clear on May 7 itself that its objectives had been met. This had been decided in conjunction with the forces that our objectives were terrorists and their bosses," Modi said.

In the four days beginning May 7, Pakistan fired 1,000 drones and missiles at India, the Prime Minister said, adding that all of them were destroyed in the air.

"Terrorists are crying, their bosses and backers are crying and, seeing them cry, some people are mourning here as well," the PM said mockingly, in a clear attack on the opposition. The Congress, he said, had raised the bogey of "saffron terror" and tried to defame the country.

Guns, Made-in-Pak Chocolates: Amit Shah Lists Proof On Pahalgam Killers

NEW DELHI, July 29: Three terrorists involved in the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack were gunned down by security forces in Operation Mahadev in Jammu and Kashmir yesterday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah confirmed in Parliament this morning.

Addressing the Lok Sabha during the Operation Sindoor debate, Shah said three terrorists identified as Suleiman, Afghani and Gibran, were killed in a joint operation of the Army, CRPF and Jammu and Kashmir police yesterday. Suleiman, he said, was a top Lashkar commander and security agencies have evidence of his involvement in the Pahalgam attack that left 26 innocents dead. Afghan and Gibran, too, were "A-listed" terrorists.

"I want to tell the Parliament and the nation that those who murdered our citizens in Baisaran Valley, these three were among them and they were killed," he said, congratulating the security personnel on their success in Operation Mahadev.

The Home Minister said he landed in Srinagar hours after the terror attack in Pahalgam and chaired a security meeting that night and the next morning. "We ensured that the terrorists could not escape to Pakistan," he said.

Shah said that on May 22, the Intelligence Bureau received human intel about the presence of terrorists in Dachigam (near Srinagar). IB and the Army, he said, used specialised equipment to try and intercept terrorists' communication. On July 22, after the presence of terrorists in the area was confirmed, the joint operation was launched, he said. "We killed three terrorists who killed our innocent civilians," Shah said.

Explaining how the government confirmed that these three terrorists were involved in the Pahalgam attack, the Home Minister said, "NIA earlier arrested those who sheltered these terrorists. When their bodies were brought to Srinagar, we got them to identify the bodies."

For further confirmation, he said, forensic reports of bullet shells recovered from the Pahalgam attack site were used. "After these terrorists were killed, their rifles were seized. One was an M9, the other two were AK-47s. We got these rifles flown to Chandigarh central FSL (forensic science laboratory) on a special plane. We generated empty bullet shells by firing these rifles and then matched them with those found in Pahalgam. It was then confirmed that these three rifles were used to murder our innocent civilians," Shah said, as BJP MPs cheered.

"There is no room for doubt. I am holding the ballistic report, six scientists have cross-checked it and confirmed to me over video call that the bullets fired at Pahalgam and the bullets fired from these guns are a 100 per cent match," he said.

The Home Minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi eliminated the masters of terror during Operation Sindoor. "And now, the Army and CRPF finished those terrorists too," he said.

Targeting the Opposition, Shah said he had expected that the news of the Pahalgam killers' elimination would be celebrated on both sides of the political aisle. "But their faces have blackened. What kind of politics is this? Terrorists are dead, you are not happy?"

Three terrorists were involved in the terror attack, Shah said, adding that two local residents who sheltered them have been arrested.

"I was pained when former Home Minister (P) Chidambaram ji questioned what the proof is that the terrorists came from Pakistan. What does he want to say? What will he gain by shielding Pakistan? I want to tell Chidambaram ji, we have proof that all three were Pakistanis. We have the Pakistan voter numbers for two of the three. We found chocolates manufactured in Pakistan on them. In front of the whole world, this country's former Home Minister is giving a clean chit to Pakistan," Shah said, triggering loud protests from the Opposition benches.

2024 Sonamarg tunnel attacker among 3 terrorists killed

SRINAGAR, July 28: Three terrorists have been killed in an ongoing operation with security forces in the Harwan area near Dachigam National Park of Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian Army said on Monday.

Suleiman Shah, the mastermind of the Pahalgam terror attack, was among the terrorists killed during the encounter, sources have said. However, Inspector General of Police (Kashmir Zone) Vidhi Kumar Birdi has said that the identification of the three terrorists killed in the operation is in process and will take some time.

The anti-terror operation, codenamed Operation Mahadev, took place in the general area of Lidwas and was carried out by the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police, Chinar Corps of Indian Army said.

The encounter began at around 11 am on Monday after specific intelligence inputs indicated the presence of foreign terrorists in the region. The operation unfolded in the dense forest terrain between the Zabarwan and Mahadev ridges, giving the operation its name. The Chirar Corps of the Indian Army has said that the operation against the terrorists is underway.

6 Dead, Several Injured In Stampede At Haridwar's Mansa Devi Temple

DEHRADUN, July 27: Six people have died and dozens of devotees suffered injuries in a stampede at the Mansa Devi temple in the holy city of Haridwar in Uttarakhand. The stampede occurred on the staircases on the temple road leading to the main temple. Cops suggest rumours about potential electrocution caused panic among the crowd and led to the stampede.

Garhwal Division Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey said a huge crowd had gathered at the Mansa Devi temple before the stampede. Visuals showed injured devotees being taken to the hospital in ambulances and several others undergoing treatment.

The dead have been identified as Aarush (12), Vivek (18), Wakeel, and Shanti from Uttar Pradesh; Vipin Saini (18), from Uttarakhand; and Shakal Dev (18), from Bihar. Besides, 28 others were injured. Five of them suffered serious injuries.

Over 2 lakh Indians gave up citizenship in 2024, reveals government data

NEW DELHI, July 24: More than 2 lakh Indians gave up their citizenship in 2024, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday. While the figure is similar to that of the previous year, it is slightly lower, data shared by the government revealed.

MoS Kirti Vardhan Singh shared the data in response to a question on renouncement of Indian citizenship, asked in Rajya Sabha.

A look at how many Indians let go of citizenship in previous years:

2024: 2,06,378
2023: 2,16,219
2022: 2,25,620
2021: 1,63,370
2020: 85,256
2019: 1,44,017

The Ministry of External Affairs was asked if it was aware that there was an upward trend in the number of Indians relinquishing Indian citizenship.

However, the data shared in response to the question showed that there was no linear increase in the number of people who gave up their Indian citizenship since 2019.

The figure of 2,06,378 Indians in 2024 is slightly lower than the data recorded in 2023 and 2022, but is higher than that in 2021, 2020 and 2019.

How Indian citizenship is renounced

The government was also asked if it undertakes a through inspection before acceding to the request of giving up Indian citizenship. In response, it detailed the procedure under which one can relinquish the citizenship.

In order to give up citizenship, one has to make an application at https://www.indiancitizenshiponline.nic.in.

After this, their original passport and other details will be verified, upon which the documents will be sent to relevant government departments for their feedback, to be submitted within 30 days.

Once the particulars of the declaration made by the applicant are verified, the renunciation certificate is approved online after 30 days of acknowledgement.

4 Al-Qaeda Terrorists Arrested In Gujarat

NEW DELHI, July 23: Four terrorists linked to al-Qaeda involved in running a fake currency racket and spreading the global terror group's ideology have been arrested by the Gujarat anti-terrorist squad (ATS). One of them was arrested from another state, the ATS said.

The terror accused - Mohd Faiq, Mohd Fardeen, Sefullah Kureshi, and Zeeshan Ali - used social media platforms and suspicious apps to spread al-Qaeda's ideology, sources said.

They used an auto-delete apps to clean any trace of their communication footprint, sources said.

The four are being interrogated, they said.

Gujarat ATS officers said the accused have been associated with the terror group for a long time. They came in touch with al-Qaeda on social media platforms.

The four came in the ATS radar after they were detected discussing terror activities in the state.

The Gujarat ATS said they are analysing the chats and social media handles.

al-Qaeda grew out of Makhtab al-Khidamat, created by Osama bin Laden's mentor, Sheikh Abdullah Azzam, as an organization to fund terrorists in Afghanistan. al-Qaeda, its affiliates, and those inspired by the group have been involved in planning and executing attacks in Africa, Asia, Europe and North America.

From its creation until 1991, al-Qaeda was located in Afghanistan and in Pakistan's Peshawar. From 1996 until late 2001, it was operated by Bin Laden and terror associates from Afghanistan under the protection of the Taliban.

UP Man Ran A Fake Embassy In Ghaziabad For 7 Years; Arrested

NEW DELHI, July 23: A swanky two-storey building, four cars with diplomatic number plates parked outside, a name plate that read, "Grand Duchy of Westarctica" and "H E HV Jain Honorary Consul" -- the fake embassy busted in Ghaziabad near Delhi is a perfect example of hiding in plain sight.

Harshvardhan Jain, who was arrested after Uttar Pradesh's Special Task Force busted the fake embassy, allegedly ran a job scam by promising people work abroad. He is also accused of being part of a money laundering racket through hawala and forging diplomatic documents.

Officers of the STF have recovered the cars with diplomatic number plates, 'diplomatic passports' of 12 micronations, documents with stamps of the External Affairs Ministry, stamps of 34 nations, Rs 44 lakh in cash, foreign currency, 18 diplomatic number plates, and a luxury watch collection.

To carry out his illegal activities, Jain had prepared the perfect cover. He ran a consulate from a rented property in Ghaziabad. These premises had the flags of India and Westarctica, a micronation in Antarctica not recognised by any sovereign state in the world. Outside this plush property were luxury cars, including an Audi and a Mercedes, with diplomatic number plates. Jain's office had morphed photographs in which he is seen with Prime Ministers and Presidents.

According to investigators, Jain would use this front for networking and then lure people with jobs abroad. This fake embassy had been running since 2017, the probe reveals. Jain would organise charity events, including bhandaras (community feast), outside the 'embassy' to keep up the show.

Back in 2011, a police case was registered against Jain after he was found to have a satellite phone. Investigators also found photos of Jain that suggest he was close to controversial "godman" Chandraswami and Saudi arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi.

Chandraswami, a self-proclaimed godman, had risen to influence in the 80s and 90s, so much so that he was considered the spiritual adviser of three Prime Ministers - PV Narasimha Rao, Chandra Shekhar and VP Singh. He came under the scanner for financial irregularities and was arrested in 1996. A raid at his ashram also uncovered dealings with Khashoggi. Chandraswami was also accused of funding the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Jain's links with such figures point to the fake diplomat's shady past.

Outside the fake embassy in Ghaziabad, a plate identifies Jain as 'H.E. HV Jain, Consul-General of the Grand Duchy of Westarctica'. Westarctica is a micronation founded by a US Navy officer, but not recognised by any country.

Days before the UP STF busted the fake embassy, the official Instagram handle of Westarctica had shared photos of its "Consulate-General in New Delhi". "Managed by Baron HV Jain, Westarctica's Consulate-General in New Delhi has been operational since 2017. In addition to representing Westarctica's interests in India, Baron Jain also distributes food to the local population 5 times per year, serving over 1,000 people in need," the caption read, sharing photos of the building in Ghaziabad and a 'bhandara' organised by Jain.

Travis McHenry, a US Navy officer, founded the micronation 'Westarctica' in 2001 and appointed himself its Grand Duke. Located in Antarctica, Westarctica has an area of 6,20,000 square miles; McHenry used a loophole in the Antarctic Treaty System to appoint himself the ruler. While the treaty prohibits countries from laying claim to parts of Antarctica, it says nothing about private individuals. Westarctica claims it has 2,356 citizens -- none of them live there. Based in southern California, the Grand Duchy of Westarctica functions as a non-profit that spreads awareness about climate change and Antarctica. It has its flag, currency and also issues titles that no government recognises.

Westarctica is not the only one. There are scores of micronations that claim sovereignty, but are not recognised by any State.

Jagdeep Dhankhar Resigns As Vice President, Says Will 'Prioritise Health'

NEW DELHI, July 21: Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, 74, has resigned his post citing "medical advice" and said he would "prioritise" his health. In a letter to President Droupadi Murmu, he said his resignation will be effective immediately.

"To prioritise health care and abide by medical advice, I hereby resign as the Vice President of India, effective immediately, in accordance wills Article 67(a) of the constitution," his letter read.

His resignation was submitted late in the evening -- after a full day at Rajya Sabha where he administered the oath of office to eight new entrants.

In his letter, he thanked the President "for her unwavering support and the soothing wonderful working relationship we maintained during my tenure".

"I express my deep gratitude to the Hon'ble Prime Minister and the esteemed Council of Ministers. Prime Minister's cooperation and support have been invaluable, and I have learned much during my time in office," the letter read.

In March, Mr Dhankhar was admitted at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences following "cardiac-related ailments".

Last month, he had fainted while attending the Golden Jubilee celebrations at the Kumaon University.

Dhankhar, who took over from Venkaiah Naidu in 2022 defeating the Opposition candidate Margaret Alva, still had two more years in office.

He is the third Vice President to resign before completing his term. Earlier, VV Giri stepped down from the Vice Presidency in July 1969 to contest the presidential election following the death of President Zakir Husain. R Venkataraman resigned as Vice President in July 1987 after being elected President. He had served as Vice President from August 1984 to July 1987 and went on to hold the presidency until July 1992.

The advocate-turned politician is best-known for his role as the former Governor of Bengal, when his frequent run-ins with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee generated many a headline -- his voice often more strident than that of the state's opposition BJP.

Lawyer Shot Dead In Patna, 3rd Murder In Full Public View In A Week

PATNA, July 13: A lawyer was shot dead on a road in full public view just 300 metres away from a police station in Bihar's capital Patna. This was the third brazen high-profile murder case in a week in the state where the assembly election is just months away, which has raised concerns over the law and order situation.

The lawyer, Jitendra Kumar, was shot dead from a close range. All the attackers fled immediately after shooting at least three bullets, a police officer said, adding the exact number of attackers is not known.

The police are looking at CCTV footage of the area to identify the attackers.

The lawyer was taken to a hospital, where he died during treatment, Patna (City) Superintendent of Police Parichay Kumar told reporters.

Jitendra Kumar had gone to have tea at a roadside stall when the attack happened, he said.

A forensics team has collected evidence from the crime scene.

The first to be killed earlier this week was Bihar's prominent businessman Gopal Khemka, which shook the state and gave ammunition to the Opposition to raise concerns over law and order.

Surendra Kewat, a BJP leader who was also a veterinarian and farmer, was shot dead next. He suffered four bullet wounds and died during treatment at AIIMS Patna.

The lawyer's murder came next.

"Jitendra's family said he used to regularly go out to have tea in this area. The attack happened when he came out to have tea. While he was a lawyer, we were told that he had not been practising for the last two years," the SP told reporters.

The Opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav has taken a swipe at the Nitish Kumar government, calling it a "jungle raj".

Earthquake Tremors Felt In Delhi, Second Time This Week

NEW DELHI, July 11: Tremors were felt in Delhi after an earthquake of magnitude 3.7 struck Haryana Friday evening. The epicentre of the earthquake was at Jhajjar. This was the second earthquake to hit Haryana in two days, sending tremors across Delhi and its neighbouring areas.

The earthquake struck at a depth of 10 km at 7.49 pm, the National Centre for Seismology said. Tremors were also felt in Haryana's Rohtak and Bahadurgarh districts.

Last morning, a 4.4 magnitude earthquake struck near Jhajjar, sending tremors across the Delhi-NCR region.

The national capital is prone to earthquakes as it is located in the Seismic Zone IV. According to the Delhi Disaster Management Authority, this zone has a fairly high seismicity where earthquakes generally occur in the range of 5-6 magnitude, and even 7-8 occasionally. The zoning, however, is a continuous process that keeps changing.

Seismicity in North India, including the Himalayas, is due to the collision of the Indian plate with the Eurasian plate. These colliding plates flex and store energy like a spring, and when the plate's margin finally slips to release energy, an earthquake results.

Bihar Survey To Continue, Top Court Suggests These 3 IDs Must Be Considered

NEW DELHI, July 10: Aadhaar, ration cards, and an identity card issued by the Election Commission itself should be considered as valid documents to re-verify voters' identities - a process that has been allowed to continue - ahead of the Bihar election this year, the Supreme Court observed Thursday.

"In our opinion it will be in the interest of justice if these three are included," the court said.

The observation came after a high-stakes hearing over a 'special intensive revision' of the state's electoral roll, an exercise criticised as "arbitrary" and "discriminatory" in forcing only voters registered after 2003 to to re-verify themselves and to do so without using common government IDs like the Aadhaar or even the poll panel's own Electoral Photo Identity Card.

Approached by a clutch of petitioners - including the Association for Democratic Reforms and Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, who said she feared a similar exercise before the election in Bengal next year - the court also asked three important questions of the poll panel.

These included asking the EC to explain which section of the law - the Representation of Peoples Act - allowed it to conduct this exercise. "There is either 'summary revision' or 'intensive revision'. Where is 'special intensive revision'?" the poll panel was asked.

Explain the panel's authority to conduct a 'special intensive revision',
Explain the validity of the review procedure, and
Explain the timing of the exercise, i.e., just before an election.

The EC was also asked why it had linked this exercise to the 2025 Bihar election, another red flag by petitioners who said a voter list revision could not take place months before polling.

These questions will hopefully be answered when the court re-convenes July 28.

Earlier today the court indicated the problem was not with a revision of the voter list but the timing, and said it had "serious doubts" over the EC's ability to complete the task - without excluding genuine voters and allowing individuals the right to appeal - in time for the election.

"Your exercise is not the problem... it is the timing. We have serious doubts if you can manage this exercise. With such a big population (an estimated eight crore people) being subject to this 'intensive review', is it possible to link this to the forthcoming election?" the court asked.

"... a person will be disenfranchised ahead of the election and s/he won't have the time to defend the exclusion before voting," Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia noted.

"There is nothing wrong in this intensive process so non-citizen do not remain on rolls... but it should be de hors (i.e., conducted separately from) this election," Justice Joymala Bagchi said.

During the hearing the petitioners and the court questioned the decision to disallow government IDs like Aadhaar, PAN (Permanent Account Number) and the poll panel's own card.

The court pointed out the EC's enumeration (exercise) is tied to the identity of an individual, i.e., whether s/he is, in fact, a citizen of India and resident of Bihar and, therefore, should be allowed to vote. "... the entire exercise is primarily about identity only. We feel Aadhaar should have been there (on the list of approved government-issued IDs)," the Supreme Court had observed.

Responding to the arguments, the EC pointed out the Aadhar is not, technically, proof of citizenship because certain foreign nationals can also be issued the ID. "It is not a proof of certain things... it is only a proof of identity. Each document has a purpose and for this purpose the Aadhaar is not usable."

Dwivedi rejected the court saying other governemnt IDs, such as a caste certificate, are "based on Aadhaar". So how can caste certificate be accepted and Aadhaar rejected, the court asked.

"Issue of a caste certificate is not based only on Aadhaar... Aadhar is not proof of citizenship or domicile. If someone objects that a person is not who s/he claims to be, then Aadhar can be used."

On the overall need for a 'special intensive revision', Dwivedi said, "Some petitions say around 1.1 crore persons have died and another 70 lakh have migrated. That itself makes a case for intensive revision."

The EC also insisted, in response to the court asking questions about appeals against disenfranchisement, that all those whose names had been removed would get a chance to explain.

The Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal - key members of the opposition Mahagathbandhan bloc - have been vocal in their critique of the voter list revision, arguing it seeks to exclude sone voters and favour the ruling alliance.

That point was mentioned today by senior advocate Vrinda Grover, who said, "This is not an ordinary exercise... it is designed to exclude the poor, the migrant labourer, and vulnerable sections of society.

Delhi Tremors As 4.4 Earthquake Hits Haryana

NEW DELHI, July 10: Strong tremors were felt in Delhi and other parts of the National Capital Region (NCR) as an earthquake struck in Haryana's Jhajjar district. The estimated magnitude of the quake was around 4.4 on the Richter scale, which measures the magnitude of earthquakes. According to the National Institute of Seismology, the earthquake's depth was 10 km.

In several areas of Delhi, residents left their homes after fans and other household items swayed after the quake struck at 9.04 am. The tremors were also felt in office areas in Noida and Gurugram, as computer systems shook and some professionals stepped out of their offices.

In Haryana, tremors were felt in Gurugram, Rohtak, Dadri and Bahadurgarh. Tremors were also felt as far as Meerut and Shamli in western Uttar Pradesh, about 200 km from the epicentre in Jhajjar.

People took to social media to post about the earthquake and how they responded to it, many of them underlined how long it felt.

As soon as the earthquake struck, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) put out an advisory. It asked people not to panic, run outside and take the stairs while doing so. NDRF also had a piece of advice for those driving when the quake hits: pull over at an open space.

Earthquakes are not unusual in Delhi due to its geographic location. According to the Delhi Disaster Management Authority, seismicity in north India, including the Himalayas, is due to the collision between the Indian tectonic plate with the Eurasian plate. "These colliding plates flex, storing energy like a spring, and when the plate's margins finally slip to release energy, an earthquake results," the DDMA explains.

Delhi is located in Seismic Zone 4, which has a higher risk of earthquakes. The national capital is located near several active fault lines, including Delhi-Haridwar Ridge, the Sohna Fault, the Delhi-Moradabad Fault, and the Mahendragarh-Dehradun Fault.

Since 1720, the city has been rocked by at least five earthquakes above 5.5 magnitude on the Richter scale, according to reports.

11 killed, several hurt in Gujarat bridge collapse

AHMEDABAD, July 9: 11 people have been killed and several hurt in the Gambhira bridge collapse in Gujarat. "Most passengers in the vehicles could not be saved. Two trucks, a car, a pick-up van and some bikes fell into the river as the bridge collapsed," said a fisherman, who was close to the bridge.

Out of the people confirmed dead so far, six have been identified -- Vaidik Padiyar (45), Naitik Padiyar (45), Hasmukh Parmar (32), Ramesh Padiyar (32), Wakhasingh Jadhav (26) and Praveen Jadhav (26).

The Gambhira bridge collapse is another example of administrative apathy claiming lives. This bridge has been in operation since 1985 -- 40 years ago -- and was a disaster waiting to happen.

Following a recommendation from local BJP MLA Chaitanyasinh Zala, the state government approved the construction of a new bridge. A survey was conducted and plans to build the new bridge were afoot. The Gambhira bridge was repaired and kept open to traffic. Local residents have said the bridge shook dangerously when vehicles crossed it.

Targeting the state government over the incident, Opposition Congress said it reflects the "corruption and decay behind the Gujarat Model". "In this accident, several vehicles fell into the river, resulting in tragic deaths and injuries. The Congress family expresses deep condolences and prays for the speedy recovery of the injured," the Congress said in a social media post. The party also alleged "rampant corruption" in the state's infrastructure projects.

Senior Congress MLA Amit Chavda said the Opposition had repeatedly raised the condition of the bridge with the state government. "No steps were taken. The responsibility of today's incident and the deaths lies with the state government. Gujarat has several old, damaged bridges, but the state government is not taking any concrete steps," he said.

Elon Musk's X says ‘deeply concerned’ about ‘press censorship’ in India after Reuters accounts blocked

NEW DELHI, July 8: Elon Musk-owned social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday expressed deep concern about “ongoing press censorship” in India, days after global news agency Reuters' account was 'withheld' in the country.

X's Global Government Affairs account has claimed that last week, on July 3, Indian government ordered the social media platform to block 2,355 accounts in the country, including that of Reuters “under Section 69A of the IT Act.” It added that non-compliance to the order “risked criminal liability”.

Elon Musk's X also claimed that India's IT ministry demanded that social media platform to adhere to the order “within an hour” and did not provide any “justification” for the move.

“The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology demanded immediate action- within one hour- without providing justification, and required the accounts to remain blocked until further notice,” the post read.

The Indian government requested to unblock the accounts of Reuters and Reuters World after “public outcry”, it added.

X expressed deep concern over the move and said that it is exploring all legal options possible.

“We are deeply concerned about ongoing press censorship in India due to these blocking orders. X is exploring all legal options available. Unlike users located in India, X is restricted by Indian law in its ability to bring legal challenges against these executive orders. We urge affected users to pursue legal remedies through the courts," it said.

Day after Reuters' accounts were withheld in India, an official spokesperson of the IT ministry had said that there is no requirement from the government to withhold Reuters’ handle, and that they were “continuously working with X to resolve the problem.”

Some people within the ministry, who were aware of the matter, said that it seemed the accounts were withheld due to some “technical issue”.

Apart from Reuters, accounts of other international news agencies such as Turkey’s TRT World and China’s Global Times News were also not visible in India since Saturday evening. However, all the accounts were restored within 24 hours.

The Indian government has denied issuing any fresh orders for blocking X accounts of Reuters on July 3 and added that as soon as the accounts were withheld in India, the government wrote to X ‘immediately’ to unblock them.

“The Government has not issued any fresh blocking order on 3rd July, 2025 and has no intention to block any prominent international News Channels including Reuters and ReutersWorld. The moment Reuters and ReutersWorld were blocked on X platform in India, immediately the government wrote to ‘X’ to unblock them. The Government continuously engaged and vigorously pursued with ‘X’ from the late night of 5th July 2025,” said an official spokesperson of the government.

It also added that X did not unblock the URLs and “un-necessarily exploited technicalities around the process”.

“However, after lot of follow up on hourly basis, X has finally unblocked Reuters and other URLs after 9 pm on 6th July 2025. They took more than 21 hours to unblock Reuters,” the statement added.

Khalistani Terrorist Behind 16 Punjab Blasts Being Brought To India From US

NEW DELHI, July 7: US-based Khalistani terrorist Harpreet Singh, alias Happy Passia, who was arrested in April and sent to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, is now being brought to India, according to sources.

Singh is wanted in connection with at least 16 terror attacks across Punjab and is alleged to have collaborated with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Khalistani terrorist group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI).

Singh, who has also carried out hand grenade attacks on police stations, faces more than 30 criminal cases.

A resident of Amritsar, Punjab, Singh was arrested in the US on April 17 by teams of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the ICE.

India's anti-terror agency, National Investigation Agency (NIA), had announced a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh on Singh.

'India's Interest More Important, Not Deadline': Piyush Goyal On US Trade Talks

NEW DELHI, July 4: India is in no hurry to finalise any major trade deal on the basis of a deadline, but will agree on a decision if it is a win-win for both parties, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said today. His comments come as India and the US are likely at the final stages of an interim trade deal.

The Union Minister highlighted India's approach to international trade negotiations remains firm and principled.

While India is seeking greater market access for its labour-intensive goods, the US wants duty concessions for its agricultural products. These talks are important as the suspension of US reciprocal tariffs is ending on July 9. The two sides are looking at finalising the talks before that.

"It should be a win-win agreement, and only when India's interests are safeguarded - national interest will always be supreme - and keeping that in mind, if a good deal is formed, India is always ready to engage with developed countries," he said on the sidelines of the 16th Toy Biz B2B expo in Delhi.

"Discussions are ongoing with various countries -- be it the European Union, New Zealand, Oman, the US, Chile, or Peru. Talks about agreements are underway with many nations," he said.

"A free-trade agreement is only possible when there is mutual benefit. India never enters into trade deals based on deadlines or time pressure. A deal is accepted only when it is fully matured, well-negotiated, and in the national interest," Goyal added.

Goyal's sentiment has parallels to what External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar once said about buying Russian oil amid threat of sanctions by the West over the war in Ukraine, that India will buy from anyone who sells oil for the best possible price or a better deal for the country in the interest of its citizens.

Other experts have also said that the India-US interim trade deal is intended to be a true win-win negotiation and an agreement that will endure and one that will be built on in a broader mega deal.

The interim trade deal is expected to be announced anytime and will have to navigate sensitive issues linked to agriculture, no matter what the deal may look like.

Kolkata Student Given Inhaler So She Could Be Raped: Lawyer In Court

KOLKATA, July 1: The Kolkata rape survivor was not given an inhaler when she suffered a panic attack out of concern for her, but so she could recover and be brutalised, the public prosecutor has informed a court in the city.

The 24-year-old law student was allegedly raped at the South Calcutta Law College in Kolkata's Kasba area on June 25 by Monojit Mishra, a 31-year-old former student of the college. Two students, identified as 19-year-old Zaib Ahmed and 20-year-old Pramit Mukhopadhyay, and a security guard are the other accused, and all four have been arrested.

In her complaint, the student had said she suffered a panic attack before the assault on her and Mishra, asked one of the other accused to get an inhaler for her. She used the inhaler, felt better and tried to escape, but she was dragged to the security guard's room and allegedly raped by Mishra as Ahmed and Mukhopadhyay recorded the act.

During a hearing in a Kolkata court seeking 10-day police custody of the accused, the public prosecutor said the survivor's allegations are being confirmed through medical and electronic evidence.

"First, the survivor was brutally assaulted. When her health deteriorated, she was given an inhaler. The inhaler was not given so that she could recover, but so that she could be brutalised again as soon as she recovered," the prosecutor said.

Making his case for 10-day custody, the prosecutor said the investigation is still incomplete and many other aspects are being probed.

The defence lawyer, appearing for Mishra and the two students, however, argued that his clients were cooperating fully. Asking whether the survivor's phone had been seized and call detail records had been collected, the lawyer called the case a conspiracy against his clients.

The court granted the Kolkata Police custody of Mishra and the two students till July 8, and of the security guard till Friday.

After photos were shared of Mishra with senior members of the party, including Abhishek Banerjee, who is an MP and nephew of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and Health Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya, the Trinamool Congress had admitted that he was linked to its student wing, but stressed that this would not come in the way of him getting the strictest possible punishment.

A former student of the South Calcutta Law College also said on Tuesday that everyone was afraid of Mishra and that he had been involved in several other crimes as well. Mishra had graduated from the college, but returned as a contractual employee.

"In 2019, he sexually harassed a woman in college and tore her clothes. In 2024, he beat up a security guard and vandalised college property. He was also involved in some kind of theft. There have been several complaints against him, but nobody took any action because of his political influence," the former student said.

"I don't think there is any girl in college who wasn't harassed by him. There were many complaints. Even his parents disowned him," she added.

Telangana pharma plant blast toll rises to 36

PASHAMYLARAM (Sangareddy dist), July 1: The death toll from Monday's devastating explosion at Sigachi Industries' dryer unit in Sangareddy, Telangana has risen to 36, making it one of the worst industrial disasters in recent memory. Seventeen people remain missing, and the dealth toll is expected to rise further.

The explosion occurred shortly after the morning shift began on Monday, when approximately 143 workers were present in the factory. The blast claimed the life of Vice President EL Elangovan, who was responsible for attendance and had just entered the building when the explosion occurred. His death initially created confusion about the exact number of people present during the tragedy.
Of the 143 workers on site, 57 have been located and confirmed safe, while 34 injured workers are receiving treatment at various hospitals. Several remain in critical condition.

Of the 36 confirmed deaths, only six victims have been identified so far. Authorities are struggling to establish the identities of the remaining victims and have resorted to DNA profiling for identification. The factory employed 189 people, with a majority hailing from other states.

Official sources indicated that the missing persons may have been either burned beyond recognition or trapped under debris.