Top Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist 'Musa' killed in encounter in J&K's Budgam

SRINAGAR, Sept 29: A top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist wanted in connection with several attacks was killed in an encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Budgam district on Tuesday, officials said.

Security officials identified the slain terrorist as Sulaiman Shah, alias ‘Musa’. Musa was wanted for his alleged involvement in attacks on both sides of the Pir Panjal range over several years, officials said. He had also reportedly escaped a security operation in the Yousmarg hills earlier this month.

Security forces launched Tuesday’s operation in the higher reaches of Yousmarg after detecting suspicious movement in the Korag area. The Rashtriya Rifles and other security personnel were involved in the operation.

According to the Army, troops challenged the suspected terrorists after noticing their movement. The militants responded by opening fire, leading to a gunbattle.

“Vigilant troops observed suspicious activity, and upon being challenged, the terrorists opened fire, prompting a fierce exchange of gunfire during which one terrorist was neutralised,” the Army said in a post on X. Musa was killed in the remote forest area of Dudhpathri during the operation.

Musa was wanted for his alleged involvement in a series of attacks on security forces in the Pir Panjal region. According to security officials, the group he was associated with was linked to attacks in Poonch and other parts of Jammu and Kashmir that killed several Army and security personnel between 2021 and 2024. Sulaiman Shah as a LeT commander and linking him to the April 2025 Pahalgam attack, as well as the 2023 Dera Ki Gali attack and the 2024 Ganderbal tunnel attack.

Jawan Opens Fire, Kills 4 Colleagues, Including An Officer In J&K's Kathua

JAMMU, Sept 29: A Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel opened fire and killed four of his colleagues, including an officer, following an argument in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district, sources said.

The incident took place around 6.40 pm at the CISF unit deployed at the Sewa Power Project in Mashka village in Basohli, following an argument, according to sources. The Sewa Power Project is a hydroelectric power station located in the village on the Sewa River which is a tributary of the Ravi.

The victims have been identified as Assistant Commandant Ankit Kumar Pandey, Sub-Inspector Lakshman Singh, Constable Rafiq Ahmed and Constable Sandeep Kumar.

The suspected shooter, identified as Head Constable Avdesh Kumar Singh, allegedly entered the office premises and opened indiscriminate fire with his issued AK-47 rifle. He was carrying 150 rounds of ammunition, according to the CISF. The service weapon has also been seized following the incident.

The four injured personnel were taken to an NHPC hospital in Himachal Pradesh, where they later died from their injuries.

Police reached the site and secured the area. Avdesh Kumar Singh has been arrested and handed over to the police.

Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

56 dead in 48 hours as heavy rain wreaks havoc across UP

LUCKNOW, Sept 27: Uttar Pradesh recorded 97.6 mm rainfall in the 48 hours from September 25 morning to September 27 morning, against a cumulative average of 4.5 mm, as heavy rain and storms claimed 56 lives and injured 46 people across the state in that time period, officials said.

More than 1,020 houses were damaged and 107 animals died due to rain-related incidents during the period, relief commissioner Hrishikesh Bhaskar Yashod said, adding that excessive rainfall was recorded in 56 of the state’s 75 districts. The casualty figures are expected to rise as data compilation is still under way, Yashod added.

The adverse weather conditions that persisted for more than 48 hours have eased somewhat and are now confined mainly to the Terai region, which is likely to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall, the weather department said.

Relief commissioner Yashod said rainfall was 7,385% above normal in Farrukhabad, 5,664% in Kannauj, 4,408% in Shahjahanpur, 4,240% in Hamirpur and 4,100% in Mahoba.

Delhi SIR extended, no mandatory ERO hearing

NEW DELHI, Sept 26: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday announced a series of changes to how it will handle the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and ordered a review of its ECINet portal. This comes days after reports disclosed objections raised internally by two of its three commissioners over control of the poll panel's IT systems.

At a meeting held at Nirvachan Sadan, and attended by all three members of the poll body, the Commission said voters issued notices during the SIR "for being unmapped and logical discrepancies" will no longer need to appear for a personal hearing before the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO). Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will visit such voters at home to collect documents, which will be uploaded to the ECINet portal "for decision by the ERO."

A hearing will be held "only in exceptional circumstances, as decided by the ERO," and will "preferably" be conducted online, with such facilities to be strengthened. The Commission said "any adult member of the family can be authorised by the elector to attend the hearing on their behalf, if required."

District election officers have also been asked to "create adequate number of help desks/hold special camps" for people living in night shelters, and for labourers, the poor and the homeless, "as per requirement."

The Commission said the declaration attached to Form 6 for the SIR "has been upheld by the Hon'ble Supreme Court," and that outside the SIR period, forms "applicable as per Rules (the Registration of Electors Rules 1960) will be used."

On the ECINet system, the Commission said a committee headed by a senior deputy election commissioner, "including an independent expert from IIT/IIIT," will "review the ECINET to double-check that it complies with the provisions of the Acts and Rules" and submit a report to the Commission.

It said any further flexibility required by field officers "will be made operational," and that going forward, "all the new initiatives about IT modules and portals will be discussed in the Committee of Officers (COO) before approval by the Commission."

The decision follows a report published by The Indian Express, based on internal documents and interviews, which said election commissioners SS Sandhu and Vivek Joshi separately wrote to cabinet secretary TV Somanathan objecting to changes in work allocation that they said had stripped away a layer of their oversight over the IT backbone of the electoral rolls.

CEC Gyanesh Kumar must resign, turn approver: Rahul Gandhi

NEW DELHI, Sept 24: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday called for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, while reiterating his earlier claims of “vote-chori”.

The leader of opposition in Lok Sabha cited states like Haryana, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, questioning how the anti-incumbency in these states had “disappeared.”

Gandhi's address came after an investigative report from The Indian Express newspaper stated that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi recorded objections to decisions taken in the commission’s name at least 14 times over 10 months.

“... I have shown it with proof, and there is already more than enough information to make this a 100 per cent certainty that Indian elections, Lok Sabha elections, 2024 election, Vidhan Sabha elections are all being rigged,” Gandhi said. The Congress MP further said that the two Election Commissioners had “done a wise thing”, while adding that the CEC must “think seriously and turn approver.”

Gandhi said that he had given a dissent note during the CEC appointment process, saying it should be independent and free from executive control. However, he claimed his note was “junked.”

The appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India is currently governed by the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023. A three-member high-level committee, including the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and a Union cabinet minister nominated by the PM recommends names to the President for the final appointment.

Gandhi mentioned the names of some states when speaking about the anti-incumbency factor, claiming it had “disappeared” in swing states.

“Haryana swings from one party to another for 50 years. Suddenly anti-incumbency disappears. Maharashtra swings; suddenly it disappears. Uttar Pradesh swings. Sometimes Samajwadi, sometimes BSP; it disappears. Madhya Pradesh, it disappears. Gujarat, it disappears. This has been a fundamental question for us,” Gandhi said, according to ANI news agency.

He further said the Opposition “understands the popularity of a person and the performance of the government”. “…But we cannot understand how anti-incumbency disappears,” Gandhi added.

Gandhi said that he had raised concerns, but they had been “ignored.” “People of India believed it. But the institutional framework of India was not interested...” the Lok Sabha LoP said.

“From vote-chori comes Kanun-chori.... From Kanun-chori comes Sanstha chori — institutions. This is the chain that has taken place…” Gandhi alleged. “If the vote has been stolen and the MPs sitting in parliament are there based on a stolen vote, then any law they are making is illegal, and any institutional change they make is also illegal,” he added.

‘Resign within 48 hours or Jantar Mantar 2.0’: CJP's ultimatum to CEC Gyanesh Kumar

NEW DELHI, Sept 24: The Cockroach Janta Party on Thursday demanded chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation, threatening a nationwide agitation similar to the Jantar Mantar protests between June and July if he does not step down within 48 hours.

The organisation accused the CEC of “undermining” voter rights and launched the “Election Commission Thik Karo” campaign.

“If Gyanesh Kumar does not resign within 48 hours, we will start a nationwide protest, before coming for a protest in Delhi,” CJP convenor Abhijeet Dipke said, while addressing a press conference in the Capital along with co-convenor Saurav Das and spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka.

CJP cited voter exclusions across several states during the special intensive revision of voter rolls, saying the “burden” to prove that exclusions were lawful fell on the Election Commission of India.

“When millions of names can disappear from draft rolls, the burden is on the Commission to establish that every exclusion is lawful, transparent and subject to meaningful review,” Dipke said.

He further added, “Under Gyanesh Kumar, we are seeing an electoral system in which the Election Commission is deciding who remains on the voter rolls and who does not.”

During the press conference, CJP put forward three demands, including the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar and “initiation of criminal proceedings against him.”

The organisation further called for the “freezing” of the SIR exercise and restoration of the January, 2025 voter list. It also demanded the repealing of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023, and reform of the ECI.

The CJP said its campaign would focus on the exclusion of more than 13 crore names from draft electoral rolls across 30 states and Union territories. Dipke also urged the opposition parties to not participate in elections if they believe these are “rigged”. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi had, earlier on Thursday, claimed that “Lok Sabha elections, 2024 election, Vidhan Sabha elections are all being rigged.”

9 dead as AC sleeper bus catches fire in Greater Noida

NOIDA, Sept 23: Nine people were killed after an AC sleeper bus they were travelling in caught fire in Greater Noida late on Wednesday.

According to the police, the bus with 35 passengers was travelling from Noida to Mahoba when the incident took place in Dayanatpur village in Jewar, on the Yamuna Expressway. The bus driver and conductor managed to flee the spot.

The police said the fire on the bus bearing a Bihar registration broke out around 11 pm.

“A few passengers said that as the bus reached the Yamuna Expressway, they experienced a small burning-smell and asked the driver to stop,” Jewar Station House Officer (SHO) Ajay Kumar Singh said.

“By the time the driver stopped the vehicle, the fire broke out and quickly engulfed the vehicle. There were 35 passengers onboard. Nine people, including a woman, failed to escape,” he added.

Police also said the driver and conductor had managed to escape by the time a team reached the spot. “Efforts are on to nab them,” the SHO said.

A case will be registered and a detailed probe initiated, he added.

SIT finds 105 theft instances at Ram Temple, aims to file charge sheet by Sept 25

NEW DELHI, Sept 21: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up by the Supreme Court to probe allegations of irregularities in accounting for donations at the Ram Temple has found 105 distinct instances of alleged theft after analysing CCTV footage, witness statements, and donation records, people familiar with the matter said.

The people said the finding was part of the status report submitted to the top court on September 16 and marks an increase over the 70 instances of donation theft recorded in the interim report of the first SIT led by Vijay Vishwas Pant. The first SIT was set up by the Uttar Pradesh government on June 13.

The second SIT was constituted on July 26 following the top court’s directions and comprises Lucknow zone inspector general of police Kiran S, Ayodhya range deputy inspector general Somen Barma, Ayodhya senior superintendent of police Gaurav Grover and Barabanki additional SP Ritesh Kumar Singh.

The people said investigators analysed hundreds of hours of surveillance video tapes, along with digital logging receipts and bank deposit records, to reconstruct how donations were siphoned off before being transferred to bank lockers.

The status report also detailed the mechanism for handling valuables donated by people, apprised the court about the arrests made in the case and the evidence collected against the accused.

A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and comprising justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana took note of the status report filed by the SIT at its hearing on Monday and expressed satisfaction with the probe.

The Supreme Court, however, declined the request to release the status report to the petitioners at this stage, saying it did not want to take the matter out of the sessions judge’s jurisdiction and would pass further orders if it found that additional investigation was required.

The Uttar Pradesh government, which was represented by solicitor general Tushar Mehta, assured the bench that the charge sheet would be filed by September 25. The deadline is significant as the 90-day statutory period from the first arrest in the case expires that day, after which the arrested accused could become eligible for default bail.

The controversy first surfaced on June 7 when Samajwadi Party leader Tej Narayan ‘Pawan’ Pandey alleged that donations worth ₹5 crore to ₹7.5 crore were siphoned off from temple offerings. In its interim report, the SIT alleged that a portion of the offerings was siphoned off before being deposited into the temple’s designated bank account, leading to the arrest of eight employees associated with handling and counting donations on June 26.

The eight men – Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Ram Shankar Yadav ‘Tinnu’, Manish Yadav, Subhash Srivastava, Avinash Shukla, Rama Shankar Mishra, and Karunesh Pandey – were arrested and booked under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 306, 316(5), 317(4), 317(5), 61 and 3(5), relating to offences such as criminal breach of trust, cheating, theft and criminal conspiracy, along with Section 13(1)(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Anukalp Mishra and Luvkush Mishra are related to each other, and also to Anil Mishra. Ram Shankar Yadav – an aide of Rai – and Manish Yadav are related. Investigators also seized ₹79,85,493 from the eight arrested men, recovering money from bathrooms, haystacks and cow dung cakes.

16-year-old girl gang-raped by 4 teens, found stabbed to death days later in Delhi

NEW DELHI, Sept 17: Four teenagers have been apprehended for the gang-rape and murder of a 16-year-old girl whose body was found stabbed and hidden beneath leaves in a field in north Delhi’s Swaroop Nagar, police said on Thursday.

Police said Shivam Ganesh (19) was arrested in connection with the crime. His accomplices, the three minors aged 17 and 16, have been taken into custody. The two knives used by the suspects and the clothes that they allegedly wore at the time of the crime have been seized at their instance.

The girl, a school dropout who was living on her own and searching for work to help support her family, was found dead on September 13. Police said the body had about six to eight stab wounds.

The girl knew one of the suspects, a 17-year-old, and had gone to meet him on the evening of September 10. “He raped her and when she threatened him, he called his friends who also raped her. They were all under the influence of alcohol. We have already taken their blood samples. After they committed rape, they took her to a field and stabbed her more than six times early on September 11. They tried to hide the body under leaves and mud. They later fled in the tempo,” a police officer said, citing initial investigations.

Her decomposing body was found on September 13.

Deputy commissioner of police (Outer North district) Shobhit Saksena said further investigation was in progress to establish the complete sequence of events, ascertain the individual role of each apprehended person, verify all available forensic and technical evidence, and examine the involvement of any other person in the offence.

“The recovered exhibits have been preserved for forensic examination and necessary legal action will be taken accordingly,” Saksena added.

Police said the girl was found stabbed to death in an open field near Kushak Road, Swaroop Nagar two days later. Police said they lodged a case of murder, rape and causing disappearance of evidence on the basis of their initial investigations and the autopsy report.

A team led by additional DCP (Outer North) Lokeshwaran R and assistant commissioner of police Ravinder Ahlawat found that none of the locals had spotted the girl on Saturday night or Sunday. More than 50 CCTVs were scanned and then a tempo was spotted moving near the field around the time of the incident.

Investigators said the registration number was not clearly visible in the footage due to darkness but the vehicle was finally identified with the help of CCTV mapping,

Police said they picked up the driver of the tempo, who revealed that his younger brother, 17, often took the vehicle.

“The footage also revealed the presence of four young boys inside the tempo. The boys were soon identified but had fled from their home,” said an investigator.

DCP (outernorth) Shobhit Saksena said the team had analysed the movement of the tempo across multiple CCTVs and used the footage along with local inquiry to establish the route taken by the accused.

“On the basis of the developed leads, a night-long search operation was conducted during the intervening night of Tuesday-Wednesday. The tempo was traced in Khadda Colony, Swaroop Nagar. Its driver was identified and questioned. Further investigation led to the apprehension of four persons,” the DCP.

Top Court On 'Intimidation' Of Protester By Influencer

NEW DELHI, Sept 10: The Supreme Court on Thursday took serious view of allegations of harassment of a minor girl who participated in the Cockroach Janta Party protests in July. The court said nobody can be permitted to browbeat a victim or her family for pursuing criminal proceedings.

The counsel appearing for the 14-year-old girl told the court that she was harassed and her house was vandalised after she registered the FIR against right-wing influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj who claimed in a video that he had attacked her father during the CJP's protest.

"There cannot be any second opinion about it. Such matters cannot be taken lightly. Nobody should be protected. If violence against a child is involved and persons are roaming free and trying to browbeat the child or the family so that they do not pursue the criminal proceedings, then it's a serious matter," the CJI led bench observed.

Earlier, Delhi Police on September 5 had added provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and criminal intimidation to the FIR against Swatantra Bhardwaj over the alleged assault on the minor activist's father during the CJP-led protests.

Bhardwaj was detained in Bulandshahr after the CJP staged a protest outside the Parliament Street police station demanding his arrest over the alleged assault.

The action followed outrage over an interview in which Bhardwaj claimed he had "cracked the skull" of the minor activist's father during the July 20 protest and escaped arrest because of his political connections.

Without referring to any names, the lawyer said instead of prosecuting those who were accompanying the accused and were allegedly caught on camera, an FIR has been registered against the child.

This is also contrary to the Supreme Court's earlier order, the lawyer said, adding that video can be placed on record showing that the girl's residence had been subjected to stone pelting.

"The high-powered committee will take time, but if something happens to the child in the meantime, that cannot subsequently be reversed or repaired through the committee," the counsel submitted.

Responding to the submission, the CJI said, "If there are anti-social elements who indulged in violence against child, and they are roaming free, and are trying to browbeat the child, that may be a serious thing."

A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to ensure action on the girl's FIR and sought report from Delhi and Uttar Pradesh governments on the issue.

MCD surveys 1,252 PG buildings after Satya Niketan tragedy; 3 found 'dangerous', 9 need major repairs

NEW DELHI, Sept 9: The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has surveyed 1,252 paying guest (PG) buildings between September 7 and 9 as part of its safety assessment drive launched after the Satya Niketan building collapse, according to officials.

Of the buildings surveyed, 1,201 were found to be visibly safe, while 39 require minor repairs and nine need major repairs. Three buildings were found to be dangerous, with demolition of one of them already underway. The civic body has separately identified 26 framed structures above G+4 floors on Wednesday for close monitoring as they may be vulnerable.

The survey of PG buildings will continue on Thursday, even as the civic body seeks to further intensify action against unauthorised construction, misuse of properties and dangerous structures. Several such properties have already been identified for major action.

Days after the Satya Niketan tragedy, civic officials also carried out a large-scale demolition drive against unauthorised and unsafe buildings, in separate action. The drive on Tuesday involved demolitions of 35 buildings across 12 MCD zones, according to an earlier report.

After Delhi tragedy, MCD plans PG survey, steps up demolition drive against unsafe buildings

NEW DELHI, Sept 8: The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is planning a massive survey of paying guest (PG) accommodations and the number of occupants they house, aiming to zero in on such facilities that are unsafe in the wake of a building collapse in the Satya Niketan area that killed at least seven people, including five students, according to officials aware of the developments.

Two days after Sunday’s tragedy that struck a five-storey building that housed a PG, civic officials also carried out a large-scale demolition drive targeting unauthorised and unsafe buildings in a separate action. A day ago, MCD suspended five officials, including a deputy commissioner.

Tuesday’s drive entailed 35 demolitions across 12 MCD zones.

These included a major demolition exercise in Najafgarh, as well as another action against a four-storey building in Shahdara North. Multiple demolitions were carried out in Rohini (6), Narela (3), Civil Lines (3), Shahdara North (6), among others.

In addition to this, nine sealing actions were carried out, including two targeting large godowns in Karol Bagh and one against a hotel in the West Zone.

MCD intends to further intensify action against unauthorized construction, misuse of properties and dangerous structures. Several such properties have already been identified for major action.

MCD’s many challenges in identifying and acting against such structures also include legal hurdles.

The National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Act, 2011 — amended in 2014, 2017, 2021 and 2023 — provides protection to “unauthorised development” (unauthorised construction and misuse of properties, including encroachments) from punitive action until December 31, 2026.

According to officials, punitive action in this context could mean demolition, sealing or even the vacation of premises.

The collapse of the paying guest accommodation in Satya Niketan comes amid intensified action by MCD against unauthorised construction and misuse of premises, following recent incidents in Saket and Malviya Nagar.

Between June 1 and September 3, 2026, the civic body carried out demolition at 983 properties, sealed 464 properties, issued 1,516 show-cause notices for unauthorised construction and 708 sealing show-cause notices, and issued 726 demolition orders.

MCD has also conducted a three-month survey of residential areas to identify commercial misuse of residential properties. Around 300,000 properties across 404 colonies and 168 wards have been surveyed.

The survey has identified more than 8,000 cases of commercial activity in residential areas, with the civic body initiating action against activities considered impermissible under the Master Plan for Delhi. Around 30-40 properties have already been sealed, while action against several others is at various stages.

Delhi building collapse toll 7; MCD officials suspended, PG hubs to be reviewed

NEW DELHI, Sept 7: Day after the building collapse in Delhi's Satya Niketan claimed at least seven lives and injured many others, chief minister Rekha Gupta listed out the actions taken against those responsible for the incident and precautionary measures imposed to prevent such mishaps.

On Sunday, a five-storey building used as boys paying guest accommodation collapsed in Satya Niketan at around 1.30 pm.

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta, who promised strict action after she visited the site on Sunday, said on Monday that several officials of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, including its deputy commissioner, executive engineer, superintending engineer and others have been suspended.

She added that the owner of the building, Hariram Gupta, has also been arrested.

After the tragic incident, all illegal five-storey buildings in Delhi have been sealed and paying guest accommodations near the collapse site are also being inspected.

Allahabad HC reprimands Noida DM over DU student's NSA detention during Noida workers protest

ALLAHABAD, Sept 7: Allahabad High Court came down heavily on Gautam Buddha Nagar District Magistrate Medha Roopam last week while quashing the detention of a Delhi University student and called her conduct “despotic”.

On Wednesday last week, the Allahabad high court quashed the detention order against a 25-year-old Delhi University graduate Akriti Chaudhary who has been in judicial custody for around five months in connection with the Noida workers’ protest of April 2026, saying her detention was based on a “concocted story”.

Chaudhary was detained under the stringent National Security Act (NSA) and the order of detention was passed by Roopam.

While quashing the move, the bench of justice Atul Sreedharan and justice Achal Sachdev made a reference to English writer George Orwell, who is well-known for his dystopian novel ‘1984’ and his allegorical novella ‘Animal Farm’.

The court said that “it shan't be long before the errant in the bureaucracy reduce the State of Uttar Pradesh to an Orwellian Dystopia”, reported Live Law.

It also said that when bureaucrats and cops go against their oath, they may be viewed as an “oppressive vestige of the British Empire”.

The bench also ordered immediate release of Chaudhary and awarded her a compensation of ₹5 lakh and directed that it must be recovered from the salaries of the district magistrate to every officer responsible “right down to the SHO”.

The court observed that the police report only contained allegations against Chaudhary and it was on the district magistrate to examine the record 'threadbare' and see if the case warranted stringent action such as the NSA.

“The conduct of the District Magistrate Gautam Buddha Nagar who passed the impugned order, is worthy of derision,” the court said, adding that Roopam "desired to set an example" out of Chaudhary to deter others from protesting or supporting the protesting workers.

The state counsel had told the judges that Chaudhary was arrested on the morning of April 12, 2026, on charges of instigating the mob to resort to arson and stone-pelting. The Uttar Pradesh Police subsequently invoked the National Security Act (NSA), 1980 against Chaudhary.

To this, the judges said that a proper notice under Section 126 of the BNSS had not been served on the petitioner before her arrest.

Earlier on Tuesday, September 1, the high court had directed the state government to produce footage showing whether Chaudhary had instigated protesters to engage in stone-pelting or set vehicles ablaze. The state sought additional time to submit the footage, but the bench refused, pointing out that Chaudhary had already spent five months in jail.

5 dead in Delhi building crash; 40 students feared trapped under rubble

NEW DELHI, Sept 6: The death toll in the Delhi building collapse has gone up to five after another injured succumbed at AIIMS on Sunday evening following the collapse of multi-storey PG building in Delhi's Satya Niketan. Around 40-50 students are feared trapped under the rubble as rescue efforts are underway at the site with teams from DDMA, NDRF, Delhi Fire Services, Delhi Police, MCD, CTS and Civil Defence involved in the operation on a "war footing," according to chief minister Rekha Gupta.

Meanwhile, some 11 students have been rescued from under the rubble and admitted to nearby hospitals.

Deputy commissioner of police (southwest) Amit Goel said that a first information report (FIR) has been registered against the building owner Hariram and others under sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 290 (negligent conduct with respect to pulling down, repairing or constructing buildings), and 125 (act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at the South Campus police station.

Police said that a PCR call regarding the incident was received at South Campus Police Station at around 1:34pm.

A police official at the site, later cited preliminary inquiry, around 40-50 students are suspected to have been inside the building at the time of the collapse.

According to locals in the area, the collapsed building was a boys' PG. An eyewitness reportedly said that the five-storey building was called "Hostel Daze", a dedicated boys' PG.

"The adjacent building also collapsed... All the students in their rooms were trapped under the rubble. We will only know the exact number of trapped students by checking the registration records," the eyewitness told a news agency. He added that many students have suffered severe injuries, adding that rescuers are working to pull them out with great difficulty.

Students in the vicinity claim that, since it was Sunday, most students would have been inside the building at the time of the incident.

ISRO rejects reports of privatisation, calls them ‘incorrect’

NEW DELHI, Sept 6: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Sunday rejected claims of a possible move to privatise the agency or reduce its role, days after reports said nine associations representing thousands of ISRO employees had sought clarification over a proposal to hand the space agency’s manufacturing and operational work to private entities.

“These assertions are completely baseless and incorrect. We wish to categorically state that ISRO will neither be privatised nor will its importance be diminished,” the space agency said in a statement.

The statement added, “ISRO will continue to remain India’s principal institution for advanced space research and technology development, national and strategic missions, space science and exploration, and critical and frontier space capabilities.”

It said that the private-sector participation in space would not reduce ISRO's role, but would allow the agency to focus more closely on the next phase of India's space programme while private industry expands proven technologies and capabilities. “What is changing is not the importance of ISRO, but the scale and structure of India’s space ecosystem.”

ISRO said industry, start-ups and academic institutions are being encouraged to take part across the space sector, while adding to and expanding its existing capabilities. “The reforms should therefore be seen as ecosystem expansion and capability multiplication, not privatisation.”

ISRO said the shift was key for its Space Vision 2047, which aims to establish the Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2035, send Indian astronauts to the Moon by 2040, build next-generation and reusable launch systems, continue long-term exploration of the Moon and other planets, and position India as a leading space power globally.

“These are technologically demanding missions that require ISRO to remain focused on advanced research and capabilities that cannot simply be substituted by commercial activity,” the statement read.

The objective is therefore to enable industry to scale mature capabilities while ISRO pushes India towards the next technological frontier, it said.

“Private participation in operations and services will be enabled where appropriate and will remain subject to national-security, safety and other regulatory requirements. Strategic and nationally critical capabilities will continue to be governed by security, safety, quality and national-interest considerations,” ISRO said.

In a letter dated September 4 and addressed to ISRO chairman and Department of Space (DoS) secretary V Narayanan, the associations asked for clarity on the government's privatisation policy, the agency's future role, and how the proposed changes could affect existing staff and future recruitment, HT reported earlier.

The letter was signed by employee bodies representing several ISRO centres and was reviewed by HT earlier. The signatories include the ISRO Staff Association, SHAR Employees Association, ISAC Employees Association, ISRO Staff Association-LPSC, ISRO Staff Association-BBU, NRSA Employees Union, Space Employees Association-BBU, ISRO Staff Association-IPRC and SAC Employees Welfare Association.

The associations said that the reports had caused concern among the employees and their families.

Pawan Goenka, chairperson of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), said on Sunday that ISRO's role was not being reduced and that the agency would continue to be the foundation of India's space sector.

IN-SPACe is an autonomous body under the Department of Space that promotes, enables, authorises and oversees space-related activities by non-government entities.

In a post on X, Goenka said, "The reforms since 2020 are about expanding India's overall space ecosystem. The idea is to let industry increasingly manufacture and scale mature launch vehicles, satellites and other systems."

Notably, the associations had sought clarification after Goenka said at a recent event that “eventually, Isro will not make any launch vehicles and will not manufacture any launch vehicles. That will all be done by the private sector or PSU.”

Ayodhya Ram Temple Gets Air Force Veteran As CEO, 3 New Members

AYODHYA, Sept 2: Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra (Retired) has been selected as the first chief executive officer of the Ram Temple Trust from a long list of over 5,000 applicants. The former officer held several commanding positions in the Indian Air Force and was the chief of its Western Command during Operation Sindoor.

He will have on his hands the onerous task of making the management and financial accountability of the temple robust, which had been hit by a debilitating donation theft controversy earlier this year.

Air Marshal Mishra was commissioned in the Indian Air Force as a fighter pilot in December 1986. He retired in May 2026 after serving for over 38 years. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Pune, Air Force Test Pilots School, Bangalore, Air Command and Staff College, USA and the Royal College of Defence Studies, UK.

Mishra's appointment is part of the structural changes brought in the Ram Temple Trust following the donation theft in Ayodhya. Three new members have been added to the trust. They are: Madan Mohan Pandey from Ayodhya, Mahesh Bhagchandka from Delhi and Nirmala Yadav from Shikohabad.

Eight people, mostly linked to the counting of donations, have been arrested. The trust's general secretary, Champat Rai, also resigned in the wake of the row.

The trust had received 5,585 applications for the post.

The search panel was headed by retired judge Pramod Kohli and included retired Lieutenant General Vishnukant Chaturvedi and former scientist Suresh Haware.

The applicants were evaluated based on a 600-mark framework. The final interviews of 16 candidates took place in Ayodhya on August 11 and 12.

A trust official said that "three highly qualified professionals" had been recommended. They were evaluated on parameters like institutional leadership, management expertise, integrity and vision required to head an institution of national and international significance.

The former IAF officer met all these criteria.

Air Marshal (Retired) Mishra is known for his exceptional leadership. He has served as Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Operations), commanding officer of a fighter squadron, Chief Test Pilot at the Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE), Air Officer commanding two frontline air bases, Director (Operational Planning and Assessment Group), Principal Director (ASR), Commandant ASTE and Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Doctrine, Organisation and Training).

He received military honours such as Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal for his distinguished service.

Supreme Court scraps all FIRs against NEET protesters

NEW DELHI, Sept 1: Meeting a key demand of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) which spearheaded the Jantar Mantar protests in New Delhi over exam paper leaks, the Supreme Court, acting Tuesday on requests by the Centre and some states, used its extraordinary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to quash FIRs registered across the country against students who participated in the protests.

Following the order, the CJP called off a protest march scheduled for September 5 in New Delhi.

“All the FIRs… are hereby quashed,” ordered a three-judge bench, comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana, allowing applications filed by Delhi Police and the states of Maharashtra, Bihar, Assam and West Bengal.

On being told that states like Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh too had registered FIRs against the protesters but had not approached the court for their quashing, the bench directed that “if there is any other FIR registered with respect to the same incidents of protests between July 20-25, 2026, in any state/Union Territory which has not been formally brought to our notice, (they) shall not be pursued or investigated and such FIRs be taken as closed for all intents and purposes”. It said “no state/UT shall register any fresh FIR in relation to incidents of protests between July 20-25”.

The bench said it was exercising Article 142 powers “keeping in view the future” of young protesters who “bonafidely came to protest”. “We find it a fit case to invoke Article 142. These applications are allowed,” it said.

It, however, permitted the Central government/Delhi Police to register a fresh FIR in respect of 2,873 individuals with criminal records who were allegedly present at the protest sites.

The Delhi Police had told the court earlier that 2,873 individuals with serious criminal charges against them including those related to “murder, attempt to murder, dacoity, rape, POCSO etc” were at the protest sites.

“Such FIR shall be registered without prejudice to rights of parties to take lawful recourse,” the bench said.

The CJP informed the bench that it was withdrawing its call for a protest march on September 5.

“As co-convenor of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), I want to state that in view of the positive assurances of the Government of India and the judicial sanctity bestowed upon them today, and in view of the order being passed by this Hon’ble Court, the CJP deems it appropriate to withdraw the call for the march on 5th September and looks forward to the compliance of today’s order,” CJP spokesperson Saurav Das, who was present in the courtroom, said, reading from a statement.

Taking note, the bench said “in light of the above directions, both sides shall abide by statements and commitments made before this court”.

“This order invoking Article 142 is subject to the condition that both sides shall abide by the understanding arrived at. These directions, being issued in peculiar facts and circumstances, shall not be treated as a precedent,” it said.

Appearing for the Centre and states, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta recalled the discussions between the Central government and protesters to end the July protests and the assurances given to the latter. He said there was some apprehension in the minds of the protesters about the assurances, and that the government remained committed to fulfilling them.

He urged the court to also quash FIRs registered in states and Union Territories even though they may not have approached the court.

Mehta urged the court to give the government three months to work out the modalities for grant of compensation to the families of the students who took their lives following the exam paper leak. He then asked Das to respond.

After Das read out his statement, the CJI said, “Fair enough from their side… If both sides will show a good gesture, then any, all issues can be resolved one by one… There is nothing in the world which is too complicated that it (cannot be resolved).”

Accepting the Centre’s request for time to work out the modalities for payment of compensation, the bench said, “The Central government is directed to formulate the modalities and policy with respect to payment of compensation on a pan-India basis. Such model policy may be circulated to all the State Governments/Union Territories in consultation with all the State Governments/Union Territories, and such a framework may then be adopted by all the State Governments and Union Territories as a regular mechanism of compensatory measures. As regards to the students who committed suicide in respect of NEET 2026, the Central government shall pay compensation to the affected families after the policy is formulated, within a period of three months.”

Towards the end of the hearing, Das thanked the bench. “I just want to thank the court for doing what it did today. It’s historic.”

The CJI replied: “You have also shown a very good gesture. Credit to both sides. In a way, as an institution, we are thankful that a very constructive environment has been created which will help youngsters.”