Category: India

Punjab’s Director General of Police, Gaurav Yadav said the water route was used to transport drugs from Pakistan and big rubber tubes of tyres have also been recovered.

Chandigarh: Punjab Police on Sunday said it has unearthed a cross-border smuggling racket with the recovery of 105 kg heroin and arrest of two associates of a foreign-based drug smuggler.

Punjab’s Director General of Police, Gaurav Yadav said the water route was used to transport drugs from Pakistan and big rubber tubes of tyres have also been recovered. Two associates of a foreign-based drug smuggler have been arrested and five foreign made and one country-made pistols have also been recovered, he said.

“#Biggest Heroin seizure in #Punjab: In an intelligence-led operation, @PunjabPoliceInd busts a cross-border smuggling racket and apprehends two associates of Foreign-based drug smuggler Navpreet Singh @ Nav Bhullar and recovers 105 Kg Heroin, 31.93 Kg Caffeine Anhydrous, 17 Kg DMR, 5 foreign made Pistols & 1 Desi Katta,” Yadav posted on X.

“Water-route was used to transport drugs from #Pakistan, big rubber tubes of tyres have also been recovered, indicating that narcotic contrabands have been smuggled through water way,” he said, while adding Navjot Singh and Lovepreet Kumar have been arrested.

A FIR has been registered and investigations are underway to establish backward and forward linkages to arrest more criminals involved in the drug cartel, the DGP said.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/punjab/cross-border-smuggling-racket-unearthed-in-punjab-105-kg-heroin-recovered-3250720

The crossing at Petrapole is the largest land port in South Asia and a vital gateway for trade and commerce between the two countries.

Kolkata: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will inaugurate a newly constructed passenger terminal and a cargo gate at the India-Bangladesh land border crossing in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district on Sunday.

The crossing at Petrapole is the largest land port in South Asia and a vital gateway for trade and commerce between the two countries.

Shah arrived here on Saturday and will inaugurate the passenger terminal and the cargo gate at Petrapole during the day, an official said.

Petrapole (India)-Benapole (Bangladesh) is one of the most important land border crossings between the two countries, both in terms of trade and passenger movement, a statement said.

Nearly 70 per cent of land-based trade (by value) between India and Bangladesh occurs through this facility, which is under the administrative control of the Land Ports Authority of India, a wing of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

It is also the eighth largest international immigration port of India and facilitates the movement of over 23.5 lakh passengers annually between India and Bangladesh.

The new passenger terminal at Petrapole is a significant addition to the region’s infrastructure and is set to enhance the travel experience between the two countries, the statement said.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/west-bengal/amit-shah-to-inaugurate-new-passenger-terminal-at-india-bangladesh-border-crossing-today-3250719

A 25-year-old unemployed man from Delhi has been taken into custody for making fake bomb threats to flights

A 25-year-old unemployed man, Shubham Upadhyay from Uttam Nagar, was arrested on Saturday for allegedly sending false bomb threats to multiple airlines, stated Delhi police officials.

Last week, Mumbai police detained a 17-year-old in connection with making threats about bombs on four flights after 275 flights received such threats since October 14.

Why did the man issue bomb threats?

A senior police official said the Class 12 graduate allegedly made posts on social media threatening to bomb Delhi-bound flights after watching television reports about such hoaxes.

Usha Rangnani, deputy commissioner of police (IGI airport) told an HT reporter, “He wanted to draw attention to himself and sent the messages as a prank. The matter is currently under further investigation.”

Another officer stated that after Upadhyay saw television reports of bomb hoaxes, he is believed to have copied the schedule of Delhi-bound flights and pasted them along with a threat saying there was a bomb on these planes.

The government plans to celebrate this occasion by holding meetings, seminars and discussions widely across intellectual circles, schools, and colleges on the Indian Constitution and its principles

Plans are on for grand celebrations to mark the Indian Constitution turning 75. A joint session of Parliament is likely to be called in the Central Hall of the old Parliament building. Several dignitaries, including President of India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, are expected to be present during the gathering in which members of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha will participate.

Apart from this, functions and programmes have been planned for the entire year across states. Union minister of culture and tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat is chairing the group of ministers meeting which multiple ministers from the alliance partners in the Union government are also part of.

The government plans to celebrate this occasion by holding meetings, seminars and discussions widely across intellectual circles, schools, and colleges on the Indian Constitution and its principles. MPs and Union ministers will participate in these programmes along with chief ministers and other constitutional authorities of states.

The Central Hall of Parliament, which is in the old building, also now known as Samvidhan Sadan, is of great historical significance. The transfer of power on the midnight of August 14-15, 1947, from British to Indian hands took place in this Hall. The Indian Constitution was also framed in the Central Hall.

The Central Hall was originally used as the library of the erstwhile Central Legislative Assembly and the Council of States. In 1946, it was converted and refurnished into the Constituent Assembly Hall. The Constituent Assembly met there from December 9, 1946, to January 24, 1950.

Till the making of the new Parliament building, this hall was used for holding joint sessions of Parliament and address by the President of India ahead of the budget session. However, it is now part of the Samvidhan Sadan and is used by MPs for informal meetings.

It has been an initiative of the Modi government to celebrate this day with fervour every year, especially in Parliament, where a debate and discussion take place. The celebration last year was marred by controversy when the entire united opposition boycotted the event, calling it “fakery”. The argument of the Opposition was that the Constitution was under danger under the Modi regime since 2014.

Source: https://www.news18.com/india/joint-parliament-session-seminars-year-long-celebrations-how-modi-govt-plans-to-mark-75-years-of-indian-constitution-9100128.html

Sibal also said that appointments made by the Collegium are not necessarily based on merit.

Senior Advocate and Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Kapil Sibal on Saturday said that judgments of highly-liberal judges often witness a change once they become Chief Justice of any High Court.

Sibal, who is also a Member of Parliament (MP), opined that this happens because the High Court Chief Justices aspire to become judges of the Supreme Court.

“Highly liberal judges who become Chief Justices suddenly find – at least I find – that the colour of their judgments is very, very subtly being changed. Because it’s human frailty. You want to go to the Supreme Court, no arguing with that,” the senior counsel said.

Sibal was speaking at a lecture organised by the Sikkim Judicial Academy at its Auditorium Hall.

In particular, he commented on the Collegium system followed for appointment of judges to the higher judiciary.

Sibal said that the appointments made by the Collegium are not necessarily based on merit.

“And that is where the problem arises. The (HC) Chief Justice looks up to the Supreme Court judges. And that is reflected in their orders, I’m sorry to say that,” he added.

He said that the thought process behind devising the Collegium system was good.

“The problem was that at that point in time, we thought the problem was that lawyers and judges were running to politicians for their appointment. They would pay obeisance to the powers that be. So instead of doing that, let’s have a Collegium system because judges of Supreme Court and High Courts best know which lawyers deserve to be elevated to the Bench. That was the thought behind it, and it was a good thought.”

However, problems arose after that as the lawyers now started running to the judges for their appointment. Similarly, he said the High Court judges go to Supreme Court judges for their elevation.

“And when Chief Justices are appointed around the country, which Chief Justice will go to the Supreme Court depends on what? What are those parameters? Nobody knows what those parameters are, naturally,” he added.

Sibal also said that when a Chief Justice from a particular High Court is elevated to the top court, he naturally recommends someone’s name for elevation.

Source: https://www.barandbench.com/news/verdicts-liberal-judges-change-when-become-high-court-chief-justices-kapil-sibal

Shubham Upadhyay, a resident of Uttam Nagar in the national capital, was arrested for posting two bomb threat messages to draw attention after seeing similar news reports on TV, the police said.

A 25-year-old man was arrested for allegedly posting threat messages to a flight at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport here, police said on Saturday.

Shubham Upadhyay, a resident of Uttam Nagar in the national capital, was arrested for posting two bomb threat messages to draw attention after seeing similar news reports on TV, the police said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (IGI) Usha Rangnani said during the intervening night of October 26 and 29, two suspicious and potential bomb threat messages were received at IGI Airport through an email account.

“Immediate action was taken and standard security protocols were followed but the threat was found to be hoax,” she said.

Case Filed In The Matter

The terrorists opened fire on the Army vehicle in the Bota Pathri area in the evening, when it was headed for the Nagin post in the Afrawat range.

Two porters working with the Army were killed on Thursday while four people, including three soldiers, were injured as terrorists attacked a vehicle of the force six kilometres from tourist hotspot Gulmarg in north Kashmir, officials said here.

They said the terrorists opened fire on the Army vehicle in the Bota Pathri area in the evening, when it was headed for the Nagin post in the Afrawat range.

Citing initial reports, the officials said two porters were killed while another porter and three soldiers were injured.

The condition of two of the injured soldiers was stated to be critical and additional troops have been rushed to the area, they said.

The Chief Minister also mentioned that 1,59,837 people have given their consent and have been successfully evacuated. They have been given shelter in the different camps. The helpline number of Nabanna will work 24×7.

WB CM Mamata Banerjee | FacebookChief Minister Mamata Banerjee to stay at the state secretariat Nabanna on Thursday night to monitor the cyclonic storm ‘Dana’. Addressing the media, Mamata said, “Life is very precious and we have to protect it. We have closed all the schools and colleges. I will stay in Nabanna all night to monitor the situation. The disaster management team will also be stationed here. The Chief Secretary and Home Secretary will also monitor the situation. The CS will oversee the situation from home today and will come to Nabanna on Friday morning.”

The Chief Minister also mentioned that 1,59,837 people have given their consent and have been successfully evacuated. They have been given shelter in the different camps. The helpline number of Nabanna will work 24×7. The helpline numbers are: (033)22143526 and 1070. On the other hand, villagers in Sunderbans were seen making temporary dams to prevent water entering the villages.

According to the latest bulletin given by IMD, the cyclonic storm is very likely to move north-northwestwards and cross north Odisha and West Bengal coasts between Puri and Sagar Island close to Bhitarkanika and Dhamara (Odisha) during mid-night of 24th to morning of October 25 as a severe cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 100-110 kmph gusting 120 kmph.

Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) Mayor Firhad Hakim will also be at the corporation throughout the night. Weatherman Somenath Dutta said that though till the time of reporting the landfall of the cyclone will be at Odisha but it is uncertain as the cyclone’s eye might change.

Some users praised Tina Dabi’s gesture, saying, “Greeting one’s elders is not a bad thing; in fact, it’s a good thing.”

A video of Tina Dabi, District Collector of Rajasthan’s Barmer, has gone viral on social media, where she can be seen bowing her head low multiple times in response to praise from BJP leader Satish Poonia. The video has divided social media users into two camps. One group is praising IAS officer Tina Dabi for her gesture, while others are criticising her.

The incident occurred on Thursday when BJP leader Satish Poonia visited Barmer on his birthday and jokingly praised Collector Tina Dabi, saying, “You are cleaning up the town with authority; Barmer will soon become like Indore.”

In the video that surfaced, IAS Tina Dabi bowed her head low five times within seven seconds in front of Satish Poonia. Praising her work on cleanliness, BJP leader Satish Poonia told her, “You’re doing a good job.”

Some users praised Tina Dabi’s gesture, saying, “Greeting one’s elders is not a bad thing; in fact, it’s a good thing.”

A user named Pratibha Pundir reacted to the viral video, saying, “I don’t understand what’s so wrong in this. Greeting one’s elders is not a bad thing; it’s a good thing!”

A user named Sunil Kumar commented, “When someone appreciates your hard work, and you humbly honour their words with respect, it only makes you more dutiful. When someone respects your work, and you respect their words, it’s not called bowing down, but grace.”

On the other hand, a user criticised Dabi’s gesture, saying, “It would have been better if Tina Dabi had become a BJP leader instead of a collector. Bowing down so much clearly shows that no part of the government wants to do its job properly. Executives are so submissive as if they lack a spine. While leaders get richer by erasing others’ poverty, bureaucrats face the same situation.”

Source: https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/ias-tina-dabi-bows-her-head-low-5-times-in-7-seconds-before-bjp-leader-satish-poonia-viral-video-sparks-online-debate

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Thursday decided that it would not contest the upcoming bypolls for the four seats in Punjab following the recent order of the Akal Takht – the supreme temporal seat of the Sikhs – on SAD chief Sukhbir Badal which declared him “tankhaiya’’ (guilty of religious misconduct) and barred him from contesting elections.

The move came a day after Sukhbir failed to get any temporary relief from the Akal Takht which had declared him “tankhaiya’’ for the “mistakes’’ committed by his party and government during its rule from 2007 to 2017.

Briefing newspersons about the party decision, senior SAD leader Daljit Cheema said that it was felt by the party working committee, district presidents and the constituency incharges that since “the head of the family – party president Sukhbir Badal had been forbidden by Sri Akal Takht to participate in the by-elections, they too could not participate in the exercise’’.

The Akal Takht had declared Sukhbir “tankhaiya’’ on August 30 last for the “mistakes’’, alleged by rebel SAD leaders, which included revocation of the blasphemy case against Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh for imitating Guru Gobind Singh in 2007, the failure to punish perpetrators of the Bargari sacrilege and police officials for the Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan firing incidents, appointment of controversial IPS officer Sumedh Saini as Punjab DGP besides giving Farzana Alam, the wife of controversial police officer Izhar Alam, the party ticket in the 2012 assembly polls.

Verma was declared a ‘person of interest’ by Canada last week in its investigation into the June 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen who has been declared a Khalistani terrorist by India.

Recalled Indian envoy to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma recounted an account of an attack by a Khalistani supporter in Canada’s Alberta, saying that a sword was inches away from him, while speaking to news agency ANI.

“…Yes, a couple of times they came very close to bodily harm us…They were carrying a sword, it was not a Kirpan…When I was in Alberta a sword came around 2-2.5 inches close to my body…,” Sanjay Kumar Verma said.

Verma was declared a “person of interest” by Canada last week in its investigation into the June 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen who has been declared a Khalistani terrorist by India. Before Canada could take further action, New Delhi recalled Verma and five other diplomats who were also similarly named.

“The Khalistanis have made Khalistan into a business in Canada. In the name of Khalistan, they do human trafficking, drug trafficking, gun-running and all. They earn a lot of money through that and also through gurudwaras and they use part of that money for all nefarious jobs,” he told PTI on Thursday.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/sword-came-inches-away-from-my-body-recalled-indian-envoy-recounts-khalistani-attack-in-canada-3248414

Incumbent Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud retires on November 10.

President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday notified the appointment of Justice Sanjiv Khanna as the next Chief Justice of India (CJI) after the Central government cleared the same.

Justice Khanna will take over as the 51st CJI on retirement of incumbent CJI DY Chandrachud on November 10.

As per the norm, CJI Chandrachud had earlier recommended the name of Justice Khanna, who is the first puisne judge at the top court, for appointment as the next CJI.

Union Minister of State with independent charge of the Law & Justice Ministry, Arjun Ram Meghwal, took to X (formerly Twitter), to break the news.

Justice Khanna will have a short tenure of 183 days, which is just little over six months. He would retire on May 13, 2025.

Justice Sanjiv Khanna began his law practice in 1983 in the areas of taxation, constitutional law, arbitration, commercial and environmental matters among other things.

In 2004, he was appointed as the Standing Counsel (Civil) for the National Capital Territory of Delhi. He was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Delhi High Court in 2005 and was made permanent judge a year later.

He was elevated to the Supreme Court on January 18, 2019.

Justice Khanna is the nephew of former Supreme Court judge Hans Raj Khanna, who is known for his dissent in the landmark ADM Jabalpur case.

As a top court judge, Justice Sanjiv Khanna himself has delivered many key judgments, particularly in past few months.

He was part of the Constitution Bench that last year upheld the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution of India.

Justice Khanna was also part of the Constitution Bench that struck down the Electoral Bonds scheme which permitted anonymous donations to political parties.

In May 2023, Justice Khanna along with other judges of a Constitution Bench ruled that the top court can exercise its plenary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to grant a decree of divorce in cases of irretrievable breakdown of marriage.

In April this year, a Bench of Justice Khanna and Justice Dipankar Datta rejected the petition seeking directions to tally all Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips with votes cast through Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) during elections.

Before the Lok Sabha elections this year, a Bench led by Justice Khanna refused to stay the appointment of former bureaucrats Gyanesh Kumar and Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu as new Election Commissioners.

It was the Bench headed by Justice Khanna which on July 12 granted interim bail to then Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the money laundering case connected to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam.

A Justice Khanna-led Bench had earlier granted bail to Member Parliament (MP) Sanjay Singh in the same case.

In August, Justice Khanna questioned a Mumbai college’s ban on students’ wearing burqa, hijab or niqab on campus. The Bench headed by him partly stayed the notice issued by the institution in this regard.

Source: https://www.barandbench.com/news/centre-notifies-appointment-justice-sanjiv-khanna-chief-justice-india

“Experimento India” aims to bridge the digital learning gap, especially for students from low-income communities, by offering internationally recognised educational materials tailored for Indian learners.

“Experimento India” aims to bridge the digital learning gap, especially for students from low-income communities, by offering internationally recognized educational materials tailored for Indian learners. These OER resources will be integrated into Siemens Limited’s “Project Jigyaasa” (curiosity), which operates in more than 170 government schools across India.

The launch event in New Delhi comes at a pivotal moment, coinciding with the Indian-German Government Consultations at the Asia Pacific Conference. This highlights a shared commitment between both nations to promoting education that fosters sustainable development and social inclusion.

Empowering the Next Generation of Innovators

The program is designed to break down language barriers, offering content in regional languages. This localization ensures that students, particularly those from underserved areas, can learn STEM subjects in a way that resonates with their experiences.

Supporting India’s Skill Development Mission

Siemens Limited India is contributing to India’s national education and skill development goals through this initiative. Sunil Mathur, CEO of Siemens Limited, highlighted the importance of skilling India’s young population: “Our strategy is aligned with the Indian government’s Skill India mission, focusing on a lifecycle approach to education that prepares students for the challenges of the digital era.”

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/siemens-stiftung-launches-experimento-india-to-boost-digital-learning-for-a-sustainable-future-article-114559115

In Shivamogga, Karnataka, an SUV driver dragged a traffic police officer on the vehicle’s bonnet after being asked to stop. The incident, which occurred on Wednesday and was captured on video, shows the driver, identified as Mithun, arguing with the officer, Prabhu. The accused then fled the scene, prompting authorities to register a case.

An SUV driver dragged a traffic police on his vehicle’s bonnet when he was asked to stop in Karnataka’s Shivamogga. The video of the incident has gone viral and a case was registered on Friday.

The incident took place on Wednesday afternoon when the cop, Prabhu, tried to stop the accused, identified as Mithun. The car driver was seen arguing with the cop and kept on driving the vehicle despite the cop insisting he park his SUV in the corner.

According to Shivamogga Superintendent of Police Mithun, the incident occurred around 2 pm in front of Sahyadri College. While conducting routine checks, officers signalled a car coming from Bhadravati to stop. Instead, the driver accelerated, dragging the officer for over 100 meters before fleeing the scene, news agency ANI reported.

“A Traffic Police personnel on duty narrowly escaped death after being dragged on a car bonnet on Thursday, 24th October in front of Sahyadri College in Shivamogga city. The Police personnel was dragged for over 100 meters. The incident took place around 2 pm, while Traffic Police personnel were conducting routine checks near the college. When they signalled a car coming from Bhadravati to stop, the driver sped up towards the personnel, forcing him to cling to the bonnet to avoid being crushed,” Shivamogga SP Mithun said.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/on-camera-suv-driver-drags-traffic-cop-on-bonnet-in-karnatakas-shivamogga-article-114568883

The NIA announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for information leading to the arrest of Anmol Bishnoi, brother of Lawrence Bishnoi.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for information leading to the arrest of Anmol Bishnoi, brother of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi.

It comes after the Mumbai Crime Branch said the three suspected shooters involved in the assassination of senior NCP leader Baba Siddiqui were in contact with Anmol Bishnoi, claimed sources.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said both India and China have been involved in talks at diplomatic and military levels to resolve the ongoing border dispute in Ladakh since 2020-21

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said India and China have achieved a broad consensus on patrolling and grazing to traditional areas in a step towards resolving differences along the Line of Actual Control.

Singh said both the countries have been involved in talks at diplomatic and military levels to resolve the ongoing border dispute in Ladakh since 2020-21. Speaking at the Chanakya Defence Dialogue 2024, he described the pact reached between the two countries as a “significant development” that underscores the importance of defence dialogue on the global stage.

“India and China have been involved in talks both at diplomatic and military levels to resolve their differences in certain areas along the LAC. Pursuant to the talks, broad consensus has been achieved to restore ground situation based on the principles of equal and mutual security,” he said.

IMD’s Mrutunjay Mohapatra said the cyclone will gradually weaken on Friday and move deeper in the state, triggering heavy rains in most places.

Authorities remained on alert as the landfall of ‘severe’ Cyclone Dana on the Odisha coast began on Thursday night and continued into the early hours of Friday. The coastal districts of Bhadrak, Kendrapara and Balasore witnessed sudden increase in wind speed which reached 100 kmph to 110 kmph and extremely heavy rain. Similar conditions were also witnessed in West Bengal.

The storm moved north-northwest at a speed of 15 kmph over the past six hours before making landfall between Bhitarkanika in the Kendrapara district and Dhamra in Bhadrak, with wind speeds of around 110 kmph, a senior IMD official said.

IMD DG Mrutunjay Mohapatra said the system will continue to remain as the severe cyclonic storm will gradually weaken on Friday and move deeper in the state, triggering heavy rains in most places.

Here are the updates on Cyclone Dana:

Siddique – expelled by the Congress in August, after the party reported cross-voting in legislative council polls – will defend the Vandre (East) seat he won with that party in 2019.

Zeeshan Siddique, son of ex-Maharashtra minister Baba Siddiqui – who was shot dead on October 12 – joined the Ajit Pawar-led faction of the Nationalist Congress party Friday morning.
He joined in the presence of Mr Pawar, who is also the Deputy Chief Minister.

Mr Siddique will defend the Vandre (East) seat he won in the 2019 election when he was with the Congress. His opponent will be Varun Sardesai, the nephew of Uddhav Thackeray, whose Shiv Sena faction is allied with the Congress and Sharad Pawar’s NCP group as the Maha Vikas Aghadi.

Expelled by the Congress in August – after reports of cross-voting in a legislative council election – Mr Siddique’s jump to the NCP comes a day after he hit out at the Maha Vikas Aghadi, accusing them of having deserted him after his father, a three-time Congress MLA who also moved to the NCP, died.

Mr Siddique’s outrage was after the MVA said Vandre (East) will be contested by Thackeray’s Sena as part of a deal that will see his party, Sharad Pawar’s NCP, and the Congress fight 85 seats each.

And, in his first comment after following his father’s footsteps, Mr Siddique once again slammed the opposition alliance for having abandoned him. “MVA declared their candidates and the Congress’ seat (of Vandre (East) was given to the Shiv Sena (Thackeray’s camp) … this is very unfortunate.”

“Congress and MVA leaders were in touch with me over the past few days… but they intended to deceive. In that difficult time, Ajit Pawar, Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare, and the NCP trusted me.”

“This is an emotional day for my family and me…” he told NDTV after joining the NCP.

“I have got the nomination from Vandre (East), I am sure that with the love and support of all the people, I will definitely win Bandra East yet again… It was an unfinished dream of my father that we win this seat again and fight for the rights of people. He was murdered while fighting for this.”

“His blood runs in my veins. I will fight his fight and win by a record margin…” he declared.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/baba-siddiques-son-zeeshan-siddique-expelled-by-congress-joins-team-ajit-pawar-6868476

The latest wave of threats targeted approximately 20 flights each from Air India, Vistara, and IndiGo, while Akasa Air received threats for 13 flights.

At least 80 domestic and international flights operated by Indian carriers received bomb threats on Thursday, as authorities sought cooperation from social media platforms to stem the tide of hoax messages that have disrupted air travel across the country.

The latest wave of threats targeted approximately 20 flights each from Air India, Vistara, and IndiGo, while Akasa Air received threats for 13 flights. Alliance Air and SpiceJet each saw about five flights affected, according to reports.

According to PTI, the government has asked social media platforms Meta and X (formerly Twitter) to share data about the hoax threats, which have now affected more than 250 flights in 11 days.

IndiGo confirmed receiving security alerts for 20 specific flights, including international services 6E 11 (Delhi to Istanbul), 6E 17 (Mumbai to Istanbul), and 6E 58 (Jeddah to Mumbai), alongside domestic routes connecting major cities such as Bengaluru, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Goa.

“After thorough inspections, all the aircraft concerned were released for operations,” an Akasa Air spokesperson said, adding that airport services teams coordinated with local authorities to ensure “efficient handling of the situation including safe deplaning of passengers, assistance and refreshments as required.”

The threats triggered emergency responses across multiple airports. At Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar, director Prasanna Pradhan confirmed receiving a threat on X about bombs on an Akasa Air flight. “Following standard operating procedure (SOP), we have cleared the flight and it departed for its destination,” Pradhan said, according to PTI.

In Kolkata, airport director Pravat Ranjan Beuria reported that several flights were taken to isolation bays for thorough inspection. The threats affected operations at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, contributing to delays in flight suspensions related to Cyclone Dana.

At Gorakhpur Airport, a bomb threat on Akasa Air flight QPP 1880 from Bengaluru caused significant delays, with airport director R K Parasher reporting that an IndiGo flight to Hyderabad was delayed by 30 minutes and the subsequent Akasa flight to Delhi was delayed by four hours.

The development follows a virtual meeting on Wednesday between the IT ministry and representatives from airlines and social media platforms. Joint secretary Sanket S Bhondve, who chaired the meeting, questioned X’s representatives about their measures to prevent such false threats.

“The IT ministry told the social media companies to promptly give the government and law enforcement agencies information related to the bomb threats. This includes, but is not limited to the details of the person posting the hoax message,” said a person who attended the meeting, speaking on condition of anonymity.

In 2009, India had reported 741 polio cases, the highest in the world. In January 2011, India reported its last polio case. How did the turnaround come about? Here’s a brief account.

October 24 is observed as World Polio Day. The Day was established by Rotary International to commemorate the birth of Jonas Salk, who led the first team to develop the vaccine against the disease in the 1950s.

India has managed to eradicate polio, a highly infectious viral disease that causes paralysis and even death, mainly affecting children. There is no cure for polio, it can only be prevented through a vaccine.

In 2009, India had reported 741 polio cases, the highest in the world, according to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. In January 2011, India reported its last polio case, in West Bengal’s Howrah. The turnaround, in the face of huge challenges, was a major success story of India’s healthcare system, and learnings from the process were utilised during the Covid-19 vaccination drive recently.

India beat polio through coordination between various levels of government and international aid agencies, successful messaging, overcoming cultural barriers, and ensuring last-mile coverage. Here’s a brief account of how the story unfolded.

First, the challenges

Indian businesses have increased pressure this year on Modi’s government to relax the restrictions on China, according to officials familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified.

After a 2020 border clash killed at least 20 Indian soldiers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a range of steps to block investment from China, even going further than the US in some areas. Now there’s a recognition in New Delhi that he may have gone too far.

Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday at the BRICS summit in Russia, where the two leaders pledged to stabilize relations. Xi said both sides should strengthen cooperation and manage “differences and disagreements.” India said that special representatives from both sides would meet to plan next steps.

The 2020 border clashes, which also left an unknown number of Chinese dead, prompted India to impose strict rules on Chinese businesses seeking to invest in the country, ban hundreds of Chinese apps and slow visa approvals. The stringent measures led to the collapse of several investments proposals, including BYD Co.’s $1 billion plan to build electric vehicles in India.

Indian businesses have increased pressure this year on Modi’s government to relax the restrictions on China, according to officials familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified. It became clear, they said, that the tough stance on China was backfiring on Indian companies and hurting Modi’s push to attract more high-end manufacturing, including chipmakers.

India’s top economic adviser added to the debate in July, stating in stark terms that the South Asian nation needs to attract Chinese businesses to achieve the ambition of becoming a manufacturing hub. National security officials started to shift their stance around the same time, advising various ministries to take a “positive view” on investment proposals that posed no clear threat to India, the people said.

China had its own pressures as well, facing a more hostile world characterized by trade barriers and rising competition with the US over technology. Beijing in recent months has sought to improve ties with a range of countries, including American allies Australia and Japan, ahead of a US election that could bring back Donald Trump, who has threatened 60% tariffs on China.

Still, it’s unclear how far India will go in loosening its rules. Officials in Delhi said suspicion of China remains deep, and the move to improve ties is aimed at strengthening India’s economy over the long haul rather than making a strategic shift to turn its back on the US-backed Quad, which also includes Japan and Australia.

Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman signaled on Tuesday that any easing of restrictions would be done cautiously. Speaking to a US audience, she said foreign investment needs “safeguards,” especially where it affects the “national interest.” She didn’t mention China specifically, but spoke in general about investment coming from neighboring countries.

India could start with moves to fast-track visas for Chinese technicians and add direct flights between the nations, according to officials familiar with the matter. Investment proposals would be cleared on a case-by-case basis, with preference given to Chinese manufacturing projects backed by government incentives, they said.

India is also considering a proposal to allow Chinese investment of as much as 10% in majority-owned Indian companies in sectors like electronics and electric vehicles, although restrictions would remain in place in sensitive areas like airports, defense and telecoms, a Finance Ministry official said, asking not to be identified.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/xi-modi-breakthrough-followed-months-of-pressure-by-indian-ceos-3246425

With a net worth of ₹12 crore, Priyanka Gandhi owns ₹2.1 crore in land and ₹5.63 crore in property. Her annual income for FY 2023-24 is ₹46.39 lakh, alongside mutual funds and gold assets, as detailed in her election affidavit.

Net worth ₹12 crore

Priyanka Gandhi has declared a net worth of about ₹12 crore, as per details in her election affidavit.

Of these, Priyanka has movable assets worth over ₹4.24 crore, and immovable property worth ₹7.74 crore.

Priyanka purchased a property worth over ₹1.09 crore and spent ₹5.05 crore on construction after purchase. She has inherited immovable assets worth ₹2.10 crore. Gandhi also declared liabilities worth over ₹15.75 lakh in her election affidavit.

Annual Income- Cash in hand

Priyanka Gandhi has declared her annual income of ₹46.39 lakh for the Financial Year 2023-24 . She earned ₹47.21 lakh in the FY 2022-23.

She has ₹52,000 cash in hand on September 30, 2024.

Shares, Mutual Funds

Priyanka Gandhi owns mutual fund worth ₹2.24 crore. She has purchased 13,200 units of Franklin India Flexi Cap-Growth. She also has ₹17.38 lakh in her PPF account in SBI. She has about ₹3.6 lakh in bank accounts.

While she does not own any shares, her husband, Robert Vadra, has a diverse investment portfolio with shares from Usha Martin, Infosys, Tata Power, NIIT, Rail Vikas Nigam, etc.

Car- Gold-Silver

Priyanka Gandhi also has a Honda CRV car worth ₹8 lakh which her husband gifted. She also has gold worth ₹1.15 crore and silver worth ₹29 lakh.

Source: https://www.livemint.com/elections/inside-priyanka-gandhis-12-crore-net-worth-heres-how-much-wayanad-candidate-owns-in-mutual-funds-gold-silver-11729693297865.html

The photographs were developed from footage recorded by CCTV cameras installed inside the camp in Gagangir area in Ganderbal.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Wednesday released the photographs of two foreign terrorists involved in the Sunday terrorist attack on a workers’ camp in the Ganderbal district, leaving seven people dead and several others injured.
The photographs were developed from footage recorded by CCTV cameras installed inside the camp in Gagangir area in Ganderbal.

The police had said earlier that two foreign terrorists had entered the workers’ camp in the evening and fired indiscriminately at civilians. Seven people, including six non-local workers and a local doctor were killed in the attack, and four others were injured.

Investigators have already questioned over 40 people in connection with the terrorist attack. An NIA team, headed by a senior officer, also visited the terror attack site and had reportedly collected some vital clues from the terror attack site.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/on-cctv-2-terrorists-seen-entering-workers-camp-in-j-6857987

Police have recovered cash, two gold rings, a bracelet and a gold chain from the accused. They have also found the dog collar used in the murder.

The property dealer from Ghaziabad, whose charred body was found in a Toyota Fortuner SUV Tuesday night, did not die in a fire. Police have found Sanjay Yadav was choked to death, allegedly by his two friends Vishal and Jeet, with a dog leash after the three had a beer party.

The accused have been arrested. The probe has revealed that they looted Yadav’s ornaments, put his body in the SUV and set it on fire. The charred SUV was found in a forest area in Dadri on Monday night. A body inside the car was identified as Sanjay Yadav.

Police said the family members had told them that Yadav went to meet his friends Vishal Rajput and Jeet Choudhary and alleged that they must have murdered him. Accordingly, a case was registered and the accused were taken into custody.

Cyclone Dana updates: Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi said over 30% of the targeted 10 lakh people have been evacuated to safe places by Wednesday evening.

Cyclone Dana updates tracker: As Cyclone Dana approaches the Odisha coast, expected to make landfall by October 25, the state is preparing to evacuate around 10 lakh people from several coastal districts. Meanwhile, more than 1.14 lakh people in West Bengal have already been moved to shelters as a precautionary measure.

Odisha chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who reviewed the state government’s preparedness, said only 30 per cent of the people, or around 3-4 lakh people living in the identified ‘danger zone’, have been evacuated by Wednesday evening.

Cyclone Dana, with wind speeds expected to reach up to 120 kmph (75 mph), is likely to hit between Bhitarkanika National Park and Dhamra Port in Odisha by Friday morning, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

Cyclonic storm ‘Dana’, formed over east-central Bay of Bengal on Wednesday, is set to bring heavy rainfall in several southern West Bengal districts, including Kolkata, the IMD said.

The Eastern and South Eastern railways cancelled a large number of trains on October 24 and 25, in view of the cyclone.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/cyclone-dana-over-200-trains-cancelled-flights-suspended-odisha-bengal-on-alert-ahead-of-landfall-10-points-101729726919288.html

A meth lab was allegedly being run by engineering and chemistry graduates in Chennai, busted by cops on Wednesday.

Seven students in Chennai were arrested by the Tamil Nadu Police for running a methamphetamine laboratory inside one of their homes, reported The Times of India. Four of these were robotics engineering graduates and one was pursuing MSc in chemistry. The incident took place in the Kodugaiyur area of Chennai, the report added.

The police knocked on the door of the alleged meth lab on Wednesday, and the parents of the student said the peers were working on academic research. Upon investigation, police found out that the seven were cooking meth inside one of the rooms of the house. The accused have been arrested and sent to judicial custody.

The police reportedly raided the house in Kodugaiyur after a tip-off. The police also suspect that apart from the seven accused, others could be involved in this case.

The Anti-Drug Intelligence Unit (ADIU) of Chennai raided the meth lab and seized 250 gm of methamphetamine, two mobile phones, a chemical weighing machine, jars, laboratory equipment, test tubes, pipettes, burettes, raw chemicals stored in glass jars and other apparatus.

The police suspect that these students were supplying meth to a larger criminal syndicate, and are currently investigating the matter. The accused in the case have been identified as Fleming Francis, 21; Naveen, 22; Pravin Pranav, 21: Kishore, 21; Gnanapandian, 22; Arunkumar, 22; and Dhanush, 23.

Praveen, Kishore, Naveen and Dhanush had recently graduated with a degree in robotics engineering, while Gnanapandian is currently pursuing MSc in Chemistry. The other two accused are their associates, said the police.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/tamil-nadu-engineering-chemistry-students-run-meth-lab-from-home-in-chennai-arrested-101729740653849.html

The 11th accused arrested by Mumbai Police is suspected to have helped with logistical and financial support to alleged mastermind Mohammed Zeeshan Akhtar, who is still on the run

The Mumbai Police claimed to have established a key link between one of the shooters and the alleged mastermind with the arrest of the 11th accused in the Baba Siddique murder case.

Police identified the 11th accused as 29-year-old Amit Hisamsing Kumar, who was nabbed from Haryana by the crime branch on Tuesday evening (October 22). He was brought to Mumbai on Wednesday morning and remanded in police custody till November 4.

According to police, he helped with logistical and financial support to Mohammed Zeeshan Akhtar, who is still on the run and is suspected to have masterminded the NCP politician’s murder. His role in the crime came to the fore during the interrogation of other accused in custody. He was involved in planning the murder and its execution, they said.

Police said this could be a breakthrough in the case as he is an important link between Gurmail Singh – one of the shooters in custody – and Akhtar, who in turn is the common link between the shooters and murder conspirators.

But, how did Akhtar and Amit meet?

Police said on June 7, Akhtar was released from Jalandhar jail, where he was serving a prison term in a riots case. Before this, Amit was also in Kaithal jail. As the former had several cases against him in Punjab’s Nakodar town, he decided to set his base at Kaithal in Haryana, they said.

A mutual friend of Gurmail and Amit, who live close to each other, put them in touch with Akhtar, police said. Amit would receive money in his bank account, which he would give to Akhtar, they said.

As part of the investigation, police found that several accused in the case received money in their bank accounts, but from different individuals. In Akhtar’s case, Amit is suspected to have provided monetary aid, they said. Amit received Rs 2 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh from the account of a nationalised bank, which he gave to Akhtar in eight instalments, they added.

Amit, police said, is a Class 12 pass-out and runs a liquor store in Kaithal. He was aware of the plan to kill Siddique, they said.

Akhtar is suspected to be part of the Vikram Brar gang, but Amit does not belong to any such gang. He would be in touch with people from different gangs as he runs a wine shop, police said.

Akhtar did not even travel to Mumbai, but fled from Kaithal eight days before Siddique was shot. He does not hold a passport, police added.

The investigation so far

Top Mumbai Police sources said the communication for planning Siddique’s murder would take place through an app called ‘Zangi’, which is the new app used by gangs. Earlier, they also used ‘Signal’ app.

Besides, the investigation in the sensational murder case so far suggests that a five-member Thane-based module initially got the contract to kill Siddique. The module, however, backed out of the contract over disagreement on demanding a sum of Rs 50 lakh for executing the crime and given the clout of the former Maharashtra minister. They, however, provided logistical support and other help for carrying out the hit, as per police.

This comes after seven persons including two Jammu and Kashmir residents and five non-local workers were killed by terrorists in Gagangir, Ganderbal.

Unknown terrorists shot a migrant man, identified as Shubam Kumar, at the Batgund Tral area of Pulwama. Shubam Kumar, a resident of Bijnore, received a gunshot injury in the arm when the terrorists fired at him.

Kumar was rushed to a nearby hospital and is currently undergoing treatment. Further details are awaited.

This comes after seven persons including two Jammu and Kashmir residents and five non-local workers were killed by terrorists in Gagangir, Ganderbal.

A CCTV grab of a Pheran-clad terrorist allegedly involved in the Gagangir attack in Jammu and Kashmir emerged on Wednesday but investigators said they are yet to ascertain if the AK rifle-wielding assailant carried out the October 20 assault that left seven dead.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/3-days-after-ganderbal-attack-migrant-worker-from-up-shot-in-kashmirs-pulwama-article-114530371

Television footage showed fishermen rushing to secure their straw homes and boats with ropes, and officials escorting residents in coastal areas to shelters as heavy winds and rains pounded parts of Odisha on Thursday.

Flights to and from the capital cities of Odisha and West Bengal, including Kolkata, will be suspended from Thursday evening to Friday morning as the region braces for a cyclone set to hit during that time, officials said.

Cyclone ‘Dana’, currently over the Bay of Bengal, is expected to cross the coasts of the states between midnight and Friday morning with wind speeds of 100-110 kmph (62-68 mph), gusting up to 120 kph (75 mph), the weather department said.

Both states have closed schools in the areas that are expected to be bear the brunt of the storm and asked fishermen not to venture out to sea.

Television footage showed fishermen rushing to secure their straw homes and boats with ropes, and officials escorting residents in coastal areas to shelters as heavy winds and rains pounded parts of Odisha on Thursday.

The Adani group’s Dhamra port in the state’s Bhadrak region has also suspended operations.

“We have evacuated approximately 50,000 people so far, and a total of around 300,000 people are likely to be evacuated,” Special Relief Commissioner Deoranjan Kumar Singh told Reuters.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/odisha/flights-suspended-at-kolkata-odisha-airports-as-cyclone-dana-approaches-3246501

The 56-year-old Jaleel is planning to contest the Aurangabad Central seat of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and the Lok Sabha bye-elections from Nanded.

For Imtiaz Jaleel, the journalist-turned-politician, who leads the Maharashtra unit of the the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), this election is a big challenge.

The 56-year-old Jaleel is planning to contest the Aurangabad Central seat of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and the Lok Sabha bye-elections from Nanded.

Just back from Hyderabad after meeting AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi and his brother Akbaruddin Owaisi, Jaleel said that the party is moving strategically in Maharashtra.

“We will surely win seats, we have a list ready,” Jaleel tells DH’s Mrityunjay Bose in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.

You intend to contest for Lok Sabha as well as Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. 

My party people and supporters want me to contest the two seats. I had represented Aurangabad Central as an MLA for five years from 2014-19. I was the Aurangabad MP from 2019-2024. As regards, Nanded seat is concerned, it was from Nanded, that AIMIM made a grand entry in Maharashtra. My supporters are insisting that I should contest. There is no harm in it.

What about the seats that are with you now.

We have two seats in the outgoing Assembly – Malegaon Central, which is represented by Mufti Ismail and Dhule City which is represented by Shah Faruk Anwar. We have a list ready. I am just back after meeting Owaisi Sahab.

Why have the talks failed with Congress?

The ball is in their court. We had some discussions but at the end the Maharashtra leadership said that the Congress high-command would take a call. Owaisi Saheb will speak to them and take a call.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/elections/maharashtra/maharashtra-assembly-elections-2024-dh-interview-we-are-moving-strategically-aimim-leader-imtiaz-jaleel-3246472

The victory or defeat of its national general secretary Priyanka Gandhi will only have a degree of impact on her formal acceptability as the de facto second-in-command behind her elder brother Rahul Gandhi.

The upcoming Lok Sabha by-election for Kerala’s Wayanad seat has thrown open an intriguing prospect for the Congress party.

Irrespective of the outcome, the Nehru-Gandhi family will win, and the Congress party will lose. The victory or defeat of its national general secretary Priyanka Gandhi will only have a degree of impact on her formal acceptability as the de facto second-in-command behind her elder brother Rahul Gandhi.

Rahul has been taking all major decisions in the party ever since he stepped down as its national president following another debacle in the Lok Sabha polls in 2019, even without holding any formal post in the party. Now that he is Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, he had no hesitation publicly announcing way back in June that Priyanka would be the Congress candidate for the Wayanad seat, without bothering for the party to make a formal announcement, which was made only on October 15. Wayanad seat had fallen vacant following Rahul Gandhi’s decision to retain Rae Bareli seat after he won both these seats in the June Lok Sabha elections.

Technically, Priyanka Gandhi is only one among equals as the party has 12 national general secretaries. However, she was informally anointed as second-in-command when Rahul Gandhi as the Congress president named her as the national general secretary in January 2019. Her formal entry into politics was as the party general secretary, leaving none in doubt that she is being groomed for a bigger role in the party.

The script clearly defining the roles of the two Gandhi siblings was conceived by their mother Sonia Gandhi. According to that script, Rahul Gandhi was to become the prime minister of the country and Priyanka Gandhi would run the party. Although Rahul Gandhi made a winning debut in 2004 after winning the family bastion Amethi, his alleged slow learning of the nitty-gritty of politics delayed Priyanka’s entry into politics for 15 years. It is no secret that Sonia Gandhi did not want the siblings to come in the way of each other. Priyanka was then seen as more politically astute compared to Rahul and was often compared to her grandmother Indira Gandhi.

The Shital Nath Temple is located in the Habba Kadal area of Srinagar. The temple was re-opened by devotees in 2021 on Basant Panchmi.

Notably, Kashmiri Pandits have deep devotion for the Shital Nath Temple. Festivals and annual hawan on Navreh and Shivratri have already been performed after a hiatus of 31 years and has been now drawing devotes and tourists alike from all over the country. But the temple has been in a dilapidated state due to its decades-long closure.

A document says that what the government has envisaged is a “comprehensive effort to reconstruct a new temple facility addressing the structural deficiencies of the old temple while incorporating modern amenities and traditional design elements.”

The foundation work of the temple and an adjoining ‘Hawan Shalla Building’ has already been completed as part of the project. Now, the works of superstructure of these buildings and other developmental works of the confined premises will take place in the next few months.

“By leveraging structural steel components, quality materials, and thoughtful design considerations, the project aims to create a sacred space that fulfills the spiritual and practical needs of devotees while preserving the cultural heritage of the temple,” says a document outlining the project.

A Parikarma floor level is being made in the temple, along with an RCC frame structure, doors and windows made in fine deodar wood, and the floor made in marble. Various ornamental features and flooring outside the temple will be done.

Significance Of Shital Nath Temple

The Shital Nath Temple is located in the Habba Kadal area of Srinagar. The temple was re-opened by devotees in 2021 on Basant Panchmi with a special pooja after it was closed for nearly 31 years due to terrorism and the Kashmiri Pandits exodus.

A group of 30 Kashmiri Pandits had led the prayers then, terming it a major confidence-building measure that the Kashmir Valley was safe for the Kashmiri Pandits now.

A peep into the history of this complex and you realise that the place has been a major hub of Kashmir’s socio-political life with an intellectual import that transcends religious borders.

“Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, Vir Sawarkar and others came to galvanise the freedom struggle through their addresses from the Shital Nath complex before 1947.

“When late Sheikh Abdullah appealed for joint resistance to the tribal invasion in 1947, men and women from both communities took up weapons of whatever kind they could lay their hands on, at the temple complex to preserve the land of Sufis and saints from the tribal invasion”, Kaul said.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/terror-struck-shital-nath-temple-set-for-revamp-after-35-years-rekindling-kashmiri-pandits-faith-article-114458590

In a lighthearted encounter at the Chief Minister’s residence in Madhya Pradesh, a 12-year-old blogger named Binnu Rani from Chhatarpur caught the attention of both the Chief Minister and social media users alike. Known for her engaging content in the Bundeli language, Binnu’s latest vlog has quickly gone viral, amassing lakhs of views.

During her visit to CM Mohan Yadav’s residence in Bhopal to film her latest blog, Binnu’s innocent comments and lively personality brought smiles to those present. She humourously referred to the swimming pool outside the residence as a “pond,” prompting laughter from the audience, including the chief minister himself, who was seen chuckling behind her throughout the video.

The highlight of the vlog came when Binnu Rani turned the camera towards CM Yadav and asked if he had seen any of her videos, to which he playfully replied, “Aapko dekh kar hi darr lag raha hai (I am sacred of seeing you only).” The chief minister’s reply left the officials chuckling.

Watch the video here:

INDIA-CHINA-INVESTMENT:India to retain investment curbs on border nations

NEW DELHI – India will retain curbs on investment from nations with which it shares a land border, the finance minister said days after the South Asian country struck a pact with China on patrolling their disputed Himalayan frontier.

The deal paves the way to end a four-year military stand-off and improve political and business ties between the Asian giants strained since a deadly border clash in 2020 that slowed exchanges of capital, technology and talent.

“I cannot blindly receive foreign direct investment because I want money for investment, forgetful or unmindful of where it is coming from,” Nirmala Sitharaman told a gathering at the Wharton business school in the United States on Tuesday.

The dispute led to stagnation in ties between the world’s two most populous countries at a time of exploding demand for electric vehicles, semiconductors and artificial intelligence, key growth areas offering opportunities for co-operation.

In 2020, India stepped up vetting and security clearances in its scrutiny of investments from companies based in neighbouring countries, but did not specifically mention any nations.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-to-retain-investment-curbs-on-border-nations-101729658395968.html

A report said that Lawrence Bishnoi’s brother Anmol Bishnoi spoke to the shooters of Baba Siddique before the murder, and a Snapchat link was established.

Establishing a strong connection between the murder of Baba Siddique and Lawrence Bishnoi, the Mumbai Police said the gangster’s cousin Anmol Bishnoi spoke to the shooters of the Nationalist Congress Party leader just hours before the assassination, reported The Times of India. The report said Anmol Bishnoi communicated with Baba Siddique’s shooters via a messaging app, sharing photos of the politician and his son.

While most of the communication was removed from the app, the Mumbai crime branch stumbled upon some of the conversation which was not deleted. The cops said the shooters and Anmol Bishnoi communicated through messaging app Snapchat, where the gangster shared photos of Baba Siddique and his son MLA Zeeshan Siddique.

Police suspect that Snapchat was used for conversation as the messages and photos shared via the app disappear after 24 hours.

The police said, “We have identified two layers—the shooters themselves and the weapon suppliers. Now, we are getting closer to the third layer, which could involve the conspirators and those who issued the killing contract.”

The Mumbai Police also said the shooters given the contract for killing Baba Siddique had done gun practice in forest for at least five sessions before carrying out the attack. The practice sessions took place in September, where the shooters aimed at trees.

“The shooters practiced shooting in a forest located on Karjat-Khopoli Road before targeting Baba Siddique. The accused practiced by shooting at a tree in the forest near Palasadari village near a waterfall on Karjat-Khopoli Road,” Mumbai Police told ANI.

Baba Siddique was shot dead outside his son Zeeshan’s office building in Bandra East on October 12. He was shot at by three armed assailants, and sustained three bullet injuries. Shortly after the incident, a social media post was uploaded by Shubham Lonkar, a suspected member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, claiming responsibility for the murder.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/lawrence-bishnois-brother-baba-siddique-shooters-used-snapchat-before-murder-report-101729655391967.html

A public meeting is also scheduled in Kalpetta town following the roadshow at which senior leaders of the Congress are expected to speak and campaign for Priyanka in her debut election.

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is scheduled to file her nomination papers on Wednesday for the upcoming bypolls in Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency in Kerala.

Priyanka and former Congress president Sonia Gandhi reached Sulthan Bathery town in Wayanad late night on Tuesday. They flew down to Mysuru and reached Sulthan Bathery by road, Congress sources said.

Priyanka also made a surprise appearance at the home of a voter in Sulthan Bathery late on Tuesday.

“(Former Wayanad MP) Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge will reach Wayanad on Wednesday morning. Rahul and Priyanka will lead a massive roadshow through the streets of Kalpetta town starting 10am from the vicinity of the new bus stand. Later, Priyanka will submit her nomination papers at the district collectorate,” Shamsad Marakkar, Congress district vice-president, told HT.

A public meeting is also scheduled in Kalpetta town following the roadshow at which senior leaders of the Congress are expected to speak and campaign for Priyanka in her debut election.

Marakkar said that no other events are planned for the day and that the three members of the Gandhi family will fly back to Delhi on Wednesday itself. “The election committee conventions of the Congress will continue in Wayanad. Priyanka is expected to return for the campaign on October 28,” he said.

Apart from Sonia Gandhi and Kharge, three Congress chief ministers including Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar, Himachal SM Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu are expected to mark their attendance at the proceedings to mark Priyanka’s debut election.

Leaders of the Congress-led UDF including state president K Sudhakaran, LoP VD Satheesan, deputy LoP and IUML leader PK Kunhalikutty and IUML state president Panakkad Sayed Sadik Ali Shihab Thangal have already reached Wayanad for the event.

Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal said thousands of workers of the UDF will take part in the roadshow in a show of strength of the party in a constituency it has always won since 2009.

The bypoll was necessitated after Rahul Gandhi vacated the constituency and chose Rae Bareilly, the second seat, he won in this year’s Lok Sabha elections. Gandhi had won the Wayanad seat by a margin of 3.6 lakh votes this year, defeating CPI’s Annie Raja. The Congress subsequently fielded Priyanka in the bypoll in Wayanad.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/priyanka-reaches-wayanad-to-file-her-nomination-today-101729625139889.html

The spate of bomb scares targeting major Indian airlines continued on Tuesday after over 70 domestic and international flights received a bomb threat within a span of 24 hours from Monday night to Tuesday. As per the latest tally, at least 23 flights from Indigo, 21 from Vistara, 12 from Akasa Air and 23 from Air India have received bomb threats during this period.

In little over a week, more than 120 flights operated by Indian carriers have received bomb threats.

The IndiGo flights that received threats are 6E-63 Delhi Jeddah, 6E-12 Istanbul-Delhi, 6E-83 Delhi-Dammam, 6E-65 Kozikode-Jeddah, 6E-67 Hyderabad-Jeddah, 6E-77 Bengaluru-Jeddah, 6E-18 Istanbul-Mumbai, 6E-164 Mangalore-Mumbai, 6E-118 Lucknow-Pune and 6E-75 Ahmedabad-Jeddah, 6E-17 Mumbai-Istanbul, 6E-196 Bengaluru-Lucknow, 6E-214 Mumbai-Srinagar, 6E-297 Hyderabad-Jodhpur, 6E-318 Kolkata-Ahmedabad, 6E-323 Bagdogra-Chennai, 6E-381 Goa-Ahmedabad, 6E-394 Kolkata-Jaipur, 6E-399 Lucknow-Goa, 6E-403 Pune-Dehradun, 6E-455 Kolkata-Bengaluru, 6E-433 Aizawl-Kolkata, and, 6E-419 Surat-Goa.

The passengers from the respective flights were disembarked safely, an airline spokesperson said.

Bengaluru building collapse: There were around 20 people inside the building at the time of the collapse, said officials.

The death count in the Bengaluru building collapse increased to five on Wednesday morning as rain continued to batter the IT hub. Efforts are underway to clear the debris and rescue the trapped persons. Five people have been injured and 13 have been rescued so far, officials said.
The under-construction building collapsed last afternoon in the Horamavu Agara area in the eastern part of Bengaluru. There were around 20 people inside the building at the time of the collapse, said officials.

The rescue operation resumed this morning amid a continuous downpour in the city. A dog squad also joined the rescue operation, reported news agency ANI.

One of the trapped persons, Ayaaz, was rescued alive after being stuck for nearly 16 hours.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar visited the collapse site on Tuesday night, stating that 21 people were trapped under the debris. The under-construction building was being built illegally, he said, assuring that strict action will be taken against the culprits.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/bengaluru-building-collapse-5-killed-in-building-collapse-after-heavy-rain-in-bengaluru-6852135

He injured his finger and was later suspended for a day from the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill.

Senior Advocate and All India Trinamool Congress leader Kalyan Banerjee was suspended for a day on Tuesday from the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill after smashing a glass bottle during a heated argument with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Calcutta High Court judge Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay.

According to NDTV, Banerjee injured his thumb and index finger, requiring first aid at the medical center inside the parliament complex.

The incident happened when two Odisha based organizations were making a presentation, the relevance of which was questioned by the opposition MPs.

Banerjee was reportedly speaking out of turn, intent on making his point while Gangopadhyay was speaking. However, the BJP MP was just as resolute in not giving him the floor, the report suggested.

“According to eyewitnesses to the incident, TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee picked up a glass water bottle kept there and hit it on the table and hurt himself by accident,” tweeted ANI.

Banerjee, a TMC MP from Serampore in Hooghly district, first won an Assembly election in 2001 from Asansol Uttar. Though he lost in 2006, he transitioned to parliament by 2009. After his recent victory in the Lok Sabha elections, he is now serving his fourth term as MP from Serampore (West Bengal).

He is also a Senior Advocate who practices before the Supreme Court of India and Calcutta High Court.

Justice Gangopadhyay is an MP from the Tamluk constiutency in West Bengal.

Justice Gangopadhyay had resigned as judge in March this year and joined the BJP before going to contest the Lok Sabha elections.

Even as a judge, Justice Gangopadhyay had been a vocal critic of Mamata Banerjee led TMC government in the State.

Source:https://www.barandbench.com/news/wakf-bill-senior-advocate-smashes-glass-bottle-heated-exchange-former-judge-jpc-meet

The Indian government has denied its association or involvement with such a plot to kill an American national on US soil. Following allegations by the US, New Delhi had set up an inquiry committee to investigate the matter.

Washington: The US has said it would not be fully satisfied until there is “meaningful accountability” resulting from India’s investigations into the alleged foiled plot to assassinate Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil.

Washington: The US has said it would not be fully satisfied until there is “meaningful accountability” resulting from India’s investigations into the alleged foiled plot to assassinate Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil.

“We continue to expect and want to see accountability based on the results of that investigation, and certainly the United States won’t be fully satisfied until there is meaningful accountability resulting from that investigation,” State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters at a news conference.

Patel was responding to a question on last week’s visit of an Indian Enquiry Committee to the US for talks.

“There was valuable engagement with India’s inquiry committee last week, and information was exchanged between our two governments to further our respective investigations. We understand that the Indian inquiry committee will continue its investigation, and we expect to see further steps based on last week’s conversations,” Patel said.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/us-says-it-wants-meaningful-accountability-on-results-of-indias-probe-into-pannun-murder-for-hire-plot-3244553

The ED investigation is related to alleged quid pro quo in giving sanctions for Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority works during Vaithiyalingam’s stint as the Tamil Nadu housing development minister.

Chennai: The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday conducted searches against former AIADMK minister Vaithiyalingam and some others as part of a money laundering case investigation, official sources said.

The raids are being undertaken in four cities in Tamil Nadu, including Chennai, under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The ED investigation is related to alleged quid pro quo in giving sanctions for Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority works during Vaithiyalingam’s stint as the Tamil Nadu housing development minister.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/tamil-nadu/ed-raids-former-tamil-nadu-minister-vaithiyalingam-some-others-3244562

While no suicide note was found, as per the deceased’s Medical/Health report card, he had been under psychiatric treatment.

An MSc second year student at IIT Delhi died allegedly by suicide by hanging from a ceiling fan at his hostel last night, ANI reported.

The student, Kumar Yash, was from Deoghar, Jharkhand.

The room was closed from inside but his friend and the IIT staff broke the windows to enter.

The body has been kept in the mortuary. Family members of the deceased have been informed.

While no suicide note was found, as per the deceased’s Medical/Health report card, he had been under psychiatric treatment.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/delhi/student-found-hanging-in-iit-delhi-hostel-room-no-suicide-note-found-3244538

The victim, Manjula, and her husband, Dwarkanath, both residents of Panthadi, were running errands for Diwali celebrations when the incident took place while they were shopping in Mattuthavani where the chain-snatching attempt took place injuring the Manjula

A woman from Madurai was reportedly dragged through the streets by two bike-borne men during a chain-snatching attempt. The incident horrifying occured on a Sunday evening and was captured on a CCTV camera installed in the area and occurred on a Sunday evening. Following the incident, the video began circulating widely on social media.

According to a report by the news organisation India Today, the victim, Manjula, and her husband, Dwarkanath, both residents of Panthadi, were running errands for Diwali celebrations when the incident took place while they were shopping in Mattuthavani.

In the video, it can be seen that the husband had parked his vehicle by the roadside while his wife, Manjula, was dismounting from it. At that moment, two men on a motorcycle approached them from behind.

As they passed by the couple, the man sitting on the pillion seat reached out and grabbed Manjula’s chain, attempting to pull it off. This sudden action caused Manjula to fall off the bike and be dragged for several meters. The husband also fell from his bike while trying to save his wife.

According to media reports, the chain did not break and Manjula was dragged for several meters before one part of the chain was left in the snatcher’s hand, while the other remained with her.

In a significant shift in their fundraising strategy, ISIS is moving away from popular cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, now increasingly soliciting donations through Monero, a privacy-focused cryptocurrency known for its untraceable transactions.

: In a significant shift in their fundraising strategy, ISIS is moving away from popular cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, now increasingly soliciting donations through Monero, a privacy-focused cryptocurrency known for its untraceable transactions.

According to senior officials, the change is a response to the growing traceability of non-privacy-oriented tokens, making Monero (XMR) a preferred choice for terrorist groups seeking to evade financial oversight. The cryptocurrency utilizes advanced technologies to obscure transaction details, including the amounts sent and the identities of both the sender and receiver.

Law enforcement agencies and counterterrorism organizations have flagged the use of Monero by ISIS, particularly in its crowdfunding efforts. The group has leveraged its propaganda magazine, Voice of Khurasan, to promote these initiatives. In a recent issue, the magazine featured posters encouraging Muslim supporters to contribute to the cause, framing donations as part of charitable Islamic deeds. One poster, depicting an armed jihadi, urged followers to “Please donate with safe cryptocurrency Monero (XMR) for waging jihad with wealth and to finance those who are waging the same with their lives”. The publication prominently displayed its Monero wallet address, facilitating anonymous donations.

A high-level official explained that Monero cryptocurrency is crafted for complete anonymity, distinguishing it from Bitcoin’s transparent blockchain. Monero employs advanced cryptographic techniques to mask transaction details through several key features

# Ring Signatures:- This technology blends a user’s transaction with multiple others, making it difficult to ascertain which transaction is authentic.

Sky News exposes the scale of staff-on-staff bullying at UK schools from more than 320 current and former teachers. Some have suffered a devastating emotional toll and were paid thousands to “keep quiet”.

Warning: This story contains references to suicide along with racist and sexist language readers may find distressing.

When Maya* started a new teaching job, she did not expect to be called the n-word as she walked down the corridor.

The bullying from her fellow teachers proved relentless. She was called a “curry lover” and believes she was hidden from meeting parents at one point due to her skin colour.

It was not just racism she faced there but also sexism. Male colleagues told her she would have to “bend over a desk to get a promotion” and had “blowjob lips”. Incidents like these happened “almost every day”, she says.

Eventually forced to leave her job, Maya signed a Non Disclosure Agreement (NDA) making her unable to speak about the abuse she suffered. As part of the conditions of her exit, she also received a significant payout, which she describes as “money to keep quiet”.

Sky News has spoken to over 320 current and former teachers from state, private and special schools across the UK, who allege having been bullied at work. Among those, 119 say they signed NDAs and received payouts ranging from the low thousands to tens of thousands of pounds in compensation.

Sky News has calculated that the total amount of money paid to these teachers is more than £1.73m.

This is taxpayers’ money meant for school budgets, which is instead being used to pay teachers to leave. We cannot verify when the earliest of these payments was made, but most were completed within the last decade.

The National Education Union, the UK’s largest education union, confirmed that the “vast majority” of financial settlements included NDAs.

NDAs used to ‘cover up’ bullying

The use of these NDAs was “not appropriate,” said Phil Clarke, the NEU National president. He added that the use of them was “covering up” or preventing further investigation into whether “it was appropriate for the individual, and an appropriate use of public money, for them to be paid to exit a school”.

Maya says she felt there was no other option but to accept the payment and NDA to escape the bullying, which left her feeling “worthless, sad and suicidal”.

Over a third of the teachers we spoke to have experienced similar thoughts and made plans to harm themselves to escape the bullying. A handful have gone as far as trying to end their lives.

It’s a familiar story for Tracy*, who says she “drove into school each morning willing myself to have an accident so I didn’t have to go in”.

Junior doctors in India’s eastern city of Kolkata called off on Monday a 17-day-old hunger strike launched in protest against the rape and murder of a colleague, they said, in response to an appeal by the victim’s parents.
Protesters also met the chief minister of the opposition-led state, which has drawn scrutiny for its handling of sex crimes, to press their demand for better security and conditions at government hospitals, as well as justice for the woman.

A police volunteer was arrested for the crime, which sparked nationwide protests in August and September, after the woman’s body was found at the city’s R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital on Aug. 9.
“They (the victim’s parents) expressed their worries about the fasting junior doctors’ health as well as the defunct health care services that must have affected hundreds of ordinary citizens,” said Dr Debasish Halder, a spokesman for the doctors.

Some strike participants suffered severe dehydration and had to be admitted to hospital.
The doctors said Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee agreed to most of their demands when she met them on Monday.
“Our movement for justice and a healthy, secure healthcare system will continue,” Halder said, adding that the doctors would track progress on her assurances and orders for change.
Government hospitals across India lack basic amenities such as restrooms for doctors, security personnel, and closed circuit television cameras (CCTV), doctors say.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/india/indian-doctors-call-off-protest-hunger-strike-over-medics-murder-2024-10-22/

Cyclone Dana is likely to hit Odisha coast on October 24 In the wake of the heavy rainfall, the Odisha government urged tourists not to visit holy town Puri until the cyclone makes landfall.

Here Are Latest Updates About The Cyclone:

• Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida said the district collectors have been empowered to declare holidays of schools, anganwadi centres and colleges in the prone districts till normalcy is restored, reported PTI.
• A red alert has been issued predicting very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall above 20cm to occur at isolated places in the districts of Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Cuttack on October 24, reported IANS.
• Meanwhile, a red alert has also been issued about very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in north Odisha districts such as Keonjhar, Bhadrak, Balasore, and Mayurbhanj for October 25.
• The IMD has issued an Orange warning predicting heavy to very heavy rainfall in districts including Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jajpur, Dhenkanal, Angul, Deogarh, Sundargarh.
• The weather agency also warned of flash floods, water logging in low-lying areas of the sttae, inundation of agriculture fields. The weather agency also warned authorities of mud and landslides in hilly areas of the state.
• Odisha Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari said that the state government has made preparations in the wake of the cyclone.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/cyclone-dana-expected-to-make-landfall-by-oct-24-odisha-govt-asks-tourists-to-leave-puri-ndrf-teams-on-alert-10-points-article-114437855

Dozee is one of hundreds of health-tech firms looking to use AI and other cutting-edge technologies to fill chronic, structural gaps in health-care delivery in the world’s most populous nation.

When racing-car engineer Mudit Dandwate nearly lost an uncle to undiagnosed sepsis in an Indian hospital, he made it his mission to improve patient monitoring in the country of 1.4 billion.

Dandwate, a consultant to sports carmakers such as McLaren at the time, decided to apply his experience with race cars to health care. He and a fellow engineer began working on a project to use the kinds of sensors used in Formula 1 cars that can monitor body’s micro-vibrations to map health metrics in non-intrusive ways at hospitals.

“We use a lot of sensors, analytics, artificial intelligence to assess the health of a car.” Dandwate, 33, told Bloomberg News in an interview. “And that’s where my race car-engineering background helped, because we used some of the same methods to develop a sensor-based contactless patient monitoring system.”

Hospitals across India — as in much of the world — are often understaffed and doctors and nurses overworked resulting in small delays in patient care that can lead to life-threatening complications.

Dozee is one of hundreds of health-tech firms looking to use AI and other cutting-edge technologies to fill chronic, structural gaps in health-care delivery in the world’s most populous nation.

From private equity giants like TPG Capital to the investment arms of big pharmaceutical firms like Novo Nordisk A/S, investors have bet a combined $3.7 billion on Indian health-related startups since 2022, according to data aggregator Tracxn Technologies Ltd. This is half of the $7.4 billion that health tech-focused firms have raised across the Asia Pacific region, according to Tracxn.

Bain & Co expects health care innovation in India to be a $60 billion opportunity by 2028, dominated by pharma services and health-tech.

Surviving Covid

Despite the country’s potential, at least 170 Indian health-tech startups have gone out of business since 2023, according to Tracxn data, as the world emerged from Covid shutdowns. Many of those that survived have seen their valuations drop significantly.

Most startups now see expanding at home and tapping more lucrative overseas markets as the two main pathways to scaling operations and one day turning profitable.

The global Covid-19 pandemic and the related movement curbs spawned a wave of health care startups seeking to replace in-person engagements with online services, such as online pharmacy PharmEasy. Many of them are now facing valuation cuts as investors gravitate toward companies with a hybrid model aiming to plug the gaps in India’s health infrastructure.

Co-founded by Dandwate in the southern tech hub of Bangalore in 2015, Dozee is valued at about $150 million. The company uses two sensor sheets placed under mattresses as an early warning system to detect cardiac, respiratory, sleep and other vital signs.

The sheets capture patient data every second with 98 per cent accuracy, Dandwate says, easing the workload of hospital staff, and improving real-time observation.

The company charges fees of more than half a million rupees ($5,947) for integration of its smart beds into a hospital’s administrative software, and its products are used in more than 16,000 beds across about 250 hospitals in India and another 55 in the US.

Having raised $35 million so far, Dozee plans an additional funding round in six months to finance its expansion in the US, Dandwate said.

Such technology-backed health care allows people to ensure that a “limited resource of highly-skilled world class experts are now more democratically used,” said Mohit Bhatnagar, managing director at venture firm Peak XV Partners. Formerly known as Sequoia Capital India & SEA, Peak XV has backed at least 14 health care startups in India.

Acute Scarcity

India has 7.3 physicians per 10,000 people, compared to a world average of 17.2, according to data by the World Health Organization. This scarcity is more severe for specialist doctors, especially in rural areas which fall short of the needed numbers by 80 per cent.

“It is a global phenomenon that you have a provider shortage,” said Carl Byers, a partner at F-Prime Capital. “I think it’s particularly acute in India, especially outside of the tier-one cities.”

Dhruv Joshi and Dileep Raman, two intensive-care experts formerly at Cleveland Clinic in the US, moved to India to set up Cloudphysician — a firm that enables remote monitoring of hospital intensive care units across India through their team of about 120 doctors and nurses that work out of Bangalore.

The firm which, raised $10.5 million in June, works with hospitals across 23 states in India — from Mumbai to the tiny city of Deogarh in eastern Jharkhand state.

Reducing ICU Stay

Paramount Hospital, a small 40-bed health center in northern Mumbai, is one of Cloudphysician’s partners. With a five-bed intensive care unit, and patients mostly from lower- or middle-income background, Paramount did not have the money to hire full-time critical-care specialists, its owner Utkarsh Angachekar told Bloomberg News.

Paramount was earlier not hospitalizing “patients beyond a certain level of criticality and let them go to a center where there is better monitoring,” said Angachekar, recalling the situation when the hospital approached Cloudphysician. “Now, it has led to a increased level of confidence on the consultants who treat higher levels of criticality at our place,” he said.

The results are evident: the average stay for a patient at Paramount’s ICU has dropped to three days from five days a year back when it was not using Cloudphysician.

The combination of India’s infrastructure shortfall and a rapidly developing economy means there is no shortage of these types of startups.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/health/healthcare/from-ai-beds-to-remote-icus-startups-are-plugging-indias-health-gaps-3242735

Prime Minister Narendra Modi says ‘India values close cooperation’ of BRICS members before leaving for 16th Summit in Kazan, Russia

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday emplaned the Air India One to head out for Kazan, Russia where he will take part in the 2024 BRICS Summit.

“I look forward to extensive discussions on a wide range of subjects. I also look forward to meeting various leaders there,” the PM said in a post on X.

In his official Departure Statement as per ANI Modi said, “India values the close cooperation within BRICS which has emerged as an important platform for dialogue and discussion on issues concerning the global developmental agenda, reformed multilateralism, climate change, economic cooperation, building resilient supply chains, promoting cultural and people to people connect, among others.”

“The expansion of BRICS with the addition of new members last year has added to its inclusivity and agenda for the global good. Building upon the Annual Summit held in July 2024 in Moscow, my visit to Kazan will further reinforce the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia. I look forward to meeting other leaders from BRICS as well,” the statement read.

Modi is set to hold a series of bilateral meetings including with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the margins of the BRICS (Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa).

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/prime-minister-narendra-modi-leaves-for-kazan-russia-to-attend-16th-brics-summit-3242680

Meanwhile, gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, currently lodged at Sabarmati Central Jail in Ahmedabad, has reportedly received an offer to contest the Maharashtra Assembly elections from a political party.

Maharashtra NCP leader and former minister Baba Siddique’s murder has once again brought gangster Lawrence Bishnoi into the spotlight. Bishnoi who openly claimed responsibility for the murder stated that the NCP leader’s close ties with actor Salman Khan led to his unfortunate death. Lawrence Bishnoi has threatened to kill Salman several times over the alleged blackbuck killing case.

Amid these developments, Raj Shekhawat, the national president of Karni Sena, made a significant announcement. He reportedly declared that any police officer who encounters Lawrence Bishnoi will be rewarded with Rs 1,11,11,111 by Karni Sena.

Shekhawat emphasized that India needs a nation free from fear, not one living in terror. He stressed the importance of eliminating such individuals and assured that the Karni Sena would take care of the responsibility for the safety and welfare of the police officer’s family, according to an Aaj Tak report.

Lawrence Bishnoi Offered To Contest Maharashtra Assembly Polls

A video of the aftermath of the incident has surfaced on the internet and it can be seen in the video that people have gathered at the site to rescue the people trapped after the incident.

In a shocking incident, a house was completely demolished after a gas cylinder exploded inside the building on Monday. Around 15 people, including women and children, are feared trapped under the debris. A video of the aftermath of the incident has surfaced on the internet and it can be seen in the video that people have gathered at the site to rescue the people trapped after the incident.

The incident occurred in Ashapuri locality in Secunderabad, Bulandshahr on Monday evening. There was a huge explosion in the house in the evening and there are reports that there were around 15 people present inside the building when the incident occurred. The police and the resue officials reached the spot upon receiving the information about the incident. They reached the spot and initiated the rescue operation.

There are no reports of any casualties in the incident so far. The team rescued few individuals from beneath the roof and were rushed to the hospital for treatment as they suffered injuries. The owner of the house has been reportedly identified as Riyazuddin. The blast occurred at around 8 PM in the evening which caused panic and chaos in the area.

Source: https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/video-building-collapses-after-gas-cylinder-blast-in-ups-bulandshahr-rescue-operation-underway

The Court directed that all police stations should be provided with a web link to update their latest inventory and the status of the Malkhana on a monthly basis.

Following an incident where rats destroyed evidence at a police station, the Madhya Pradesh High Court recently directed the Director General of Police (DGP) to ensure the proper maintenance of ‘malkhanas’ (evidence storage rooms) in all police stations to prevent such occurrences in the future.

Justice Subodh Abhyankar directed that all police stations should be provided with a web link to update their latest inventory and the status of the Malkhana on a monthly basis.

“In such circumstances, it is directed to the Director General of Police to take stock of all the Malkhanas of all the police stations, so as to ensure that such incidents are avoided in future in other police stations. For this purpose, a web link can also be provided to all the police stations, updating the latest inventory and the status of Malkhana every month, viz., if any action is required to be taken to ensure its proper maintenance, which would at least keep all the police personnel responsible for the same, on their guards,” the Court said in its order of October 4.

The issue gained attention during the Court’s consideration of a bail application filed by one Ansar Ahmad accused of assaulting his wife in August 2021, resulting in injuries to her head, hand and spine.

During the hearing, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Abhinay Vishwakarma and Station House Officer (SHO) Chandrakant Patel from Vijay Nagar police station informed the Court that rats damaged plastic cans containing viscera during the rainy season.

This led to the destruction of crucial evidence, thereby preventing the the police from obtaining histopathological report.

Additionally, they highlighted that 28 other samples were also destroyed by the rats.

The Court was further informed that a departmental inquiry has been initiated against former SHO Ravindra Singh Gurjar and Malkhana in-charge Suresh Chandra Mehta for their lapses.

The Court was also told that department has acknowledged the destruction of evidence and has relocated the seized materials and the Malkhana to a different room and has also implemented additional precautions to sanitize and seal the area.

The Court said that though valuable evidence has been destroyed no further order would be required in the case.

“Although, the aforesaid explanation, by no stretch of imagination, can be said to be satisfactory as apparently, the valuable evidence has already been destroyed due to the negligence on the part of the concerned officers of the Police, who were responsible to keep the articles/material collected during the investigation, in proper and safe custody, hence, no further order is required to be passed so far as the present case is concerned,” the order said.

The Court also said police officers should have considered all relevant factors to protect the seized materials during the investigation.

While nothing can be done about the lost evidence, this incident has highlighted the poor conditions under which investigation materials are stored in the state’s police stations, it added.

“It is anybody’s guess as to what the situation in the police stations at small places would be, when in the present case, the police station was one of the most busy police stations of Indore city,” the Court said.

Source: https://www.barandbench.com/news/bombay-high-court-affirms-muslim-mens-right-register-multiple-marriages

India and China reached an agreement on patrolling arrangements along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) after a series of discussions and deliberations at both diplomatic and military levels. The breakthrough comes after a military standoff between the two countries in Eastern Ladakh since 2020.

Defence sources have confirmed to CNN-News18 that the agreement pertains to friction points in Depsang, Demchok and other areas where disengagement has already taken place. “Over the past several weeks, Indian and Chinese diplomatic and military negotiators have been in close contact with each other on a variety of fora. As a result of these discussions, an agreement has been reached on patrolling arrangements along the LAC in the border areas, leading to disengagement and a resolution of the issues that had arisen in these areas in 2020. We will be taking the next steps on this,” Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said in a press conference on Monday.

While the Ministry of External Affairs did not elaborate on the design and process of the agreement, Defence officials stated that it was reached after several meetings between diplomats from both countries, with active participation from their respective militaries. They emphasised that in addition to Corps Commanders level talks in February and the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) in August this year, meetings and consultations were held regularly.

“Both countries have agreed on patrolling. It is mainly for Depsang and Demchok where we have more than five patrol points, but it is not limited to these two friction points only,” said a highly placed source in the Ministry of Defence. “It is going in a positive direction, but modalities are being worked upon and further plans can be announced after the possible meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of BRICS.”

Source: https://www.news18.com/india/lac-patrolling-to-disengagement-at-depsang-demchok-details-of-india-china-agreement-after-4-year-standoff-9093659.html

Protesting junior doctors on Monday withdrew their 17-day-long hunger strike after being urged by the parents of the trainee medic who was allegedly raped and murdered at the RG Kar Hospital and Medical College.

The doctors had earlier held a meeting with Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as well.

The meeting lasted for two hours after which the doctors said that they felt ‘unhappy’ seeing the ‘body language’ of the government officials.

“In today’s meeting (with the CM), we did get the assurance of some directives, but the body language of the state government was not positive… The common people have wholeheartedly supported us. They, as well as the parents of our deceased sister (RG Kar hospital victim), have been requesting us to call off the hunger strike, keeping in mind our deteriorating health,” a spokesperson for the doctors said.

“We are therefore withdrawing our ‘fast-unto-death’ and also Tuesday’s total shutdown in the health sector,” said Debashish Halder, one of the junior medics.

The decision was taken following a general body meeting of the doctors.

The junior doctors, however, were of the opinion that they were able to ‘bargain’ and implement some of the changes they sought. They also said that there will be no health strike on Wednesday.

Source: https://www.news18.com/india/kolkata-doctors-end-hunger-strike-after-appeal-by-rg-kar-victims-parents-meeting-with-mamata-9093891.html

While the city saw a significant dip in the number of deaths this year, there was a spurt in the number of positive cases in October. But doctors attributed this increase to more people turning up at diagnostic centres for testing due to greater awareness

LUCKNOW Overall, the city was able to check the spread of dengue to a large extent this year due to more testing and awareness among people about the vector-borne disease. As many as 135 testing centres were set up in Lucknow compared to last year’s 83, said chief medical officer (Lucknow) Dr Manoj Agrawal.

While the city saw a significant dip in the number of deaths this year, there was a spurt in the number of positive cases in October. But doctors attributed this increase to more people turning up at diagnostic centres for testing due to greater awareness. “Early testing leads to early diagnosis and treatment,” said Dr KK Singh, faculty of general surgery at King George’s Medical University (KGMU).

According to the CMO, the number of cases in October went up by about 5% compared to last year, but the total number recorded in the entire year was significantly less. “Last year, we saw around 2,700 positive cases. And data reveals that the total number so far this year currently stands at 2024,” he said.

Georgia authorities said Sunday they are investigating the “catastrophic failure” of a dock gangway that collapsed and killed seven people on an island off the state’s Atlantic seacoast, where crowds gathered for a celebration by the island’s tiny Gullah-Geechee community of Black slave descendants.

“It is a structural failure. There should be very, very little maintenance to an aluminum gangway like that, but we’ll see what the investigation unfolds,” Georgia Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Walter Rabon said at a news conference, a day after the tragedy on Sapelo Island.

He said three people remained hospitalized in critical condition from Saturday’s collapse.

Hundreds were visiting Sapelo Island for a Cultural Day event when disaster struck

The gangway, installed in 2021, gave way as an estimated 700 people visited largely unspoiled Sapelo Island, about 60 miles (nearly 100 kilometers) south of Savannah and 7 miles (11 kilometers) offshore. No bridge connects the island to the mainland. People traveled there Saturday for the annual fall Cultural Day event spotlighting Hogg Hummock, home to a few dozen Black residents. The community of dirt roads and modest homes was founded after the Civil War by former slaves from the cotton plantation of Thomas Spalding.

On Saturday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had urged the junior doctors protesting the rape-murder of their colleague at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital to end their fast-unto-death.

Kolkata: Agitating junior doctors said they will attend a meeting called by the West Bengal government on Monday to resolve issues related to their demands, emphasising that its outcome will determine whether they will withdraw their indefinite hunger strike.

On Saturday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had urged the junior doctors protesting the rape-murder of their colleague at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital to end their fast-unto-death. She said most of their demands have been met but rejected their insistence on the removal of the state health secretary.

“We will attend the meeting but the hunger strike will not be withdrawn before it,” Debasish Halder, one of the agitating medics, told reporters after a general body meeting of the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front on Sunday.

“The outcome of the meeting will decide in what form the agitation will continue,” he added.

Chief Secretary Manoj Pant invited the medics for a 45-minute discussion with Banerjee on Monday at the state secretariat, conditional upon the “withdrawal of the hunger strike.” However, the junior doctors maintained their demand for the resignation of Health Secretary N S Nigam.

Halder expressed concern over the health of the hunger strike participants, noting that among the eight medics currently fasting, three have been on strike since October 5, two since October 11, one since October 14, and two since October 15. Six other medics participating in the hunger strike have fallen seriously ill and required hospitalisation.

Halder said those on hunger strike will not attend the meeting due to health concerns. He highlighted that the junior doctors have previously attended all meetings called by the state government, even with very short notice.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/west-bengal/agitating-doctors-to-meet-bengal-government-today-but-wont-end-hunger-strike-at-present-3240615

No one was injured in the blast which initial investigation suggests could have been caused by a crude bomb. Police said a school wall, nearby shops and a car were damaged.

After a loud explosion near a CRPF school in the Prashant Vihar area in Rohini sparked a security alert in the national capital, the cops are probing a possible Khalistani link in the blast. A multi-agency probe was launched to determine the reason behind the explosion and apprehend the perpetrators.

Police said they were probing a possible Khalistani link to the incident after a post circulating on social media claimed that the explosion was in retaliation to the alleged targeting of Khalistani sympathisers abroad. The claim was made by Justice League India using a clip of the blast with a “Khalistan Zindabad” watermark at the bottom and circulated on social media platforms.

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau had accused India of having a hand in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Further, a former Indian government employee has been accused by the US of plotting the assassination of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. Both Nijjar and Pannun have been designated as terrorists by the Indian government. Social media posts alleged that the blast was to take revenge for the “failed” assassination bid on Pannun and the motive was to give a message by carrying out a non-lethal attack outside the CRPF school.

No one was injured in the blast which initial investigation suggests could have been caused by a crude bomb. Teams from the National Investigation Agency (NIA), National Security Guard (NSG), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Delhi Police cordoned off the area and forensic experts collected samples from the site to ascertain the cause of the explosion which was reported at around 7.50 am on Sunday.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/khalistani-link-in-delhis-crpf-school-blast-multi-agency-probe-underway-article-114412321

In a hearing at 6 PM today, the bench of Justice Attau Rehman Masoodi and Justice Subhash Vidyarthi gave a relief of 15 days to the affected individuals to respond to the Demolition Notices issued by the Uttar Pradesh Government. The occupants were earlier ordered to respond to notices that had been pasted on their houses on October 18 within three days.

In an unprecedented Sunday session, the Allahabad High Court took up a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Association for Protection of Civil Rights, represented by its Vice President for UP East, Sayed Mehfuzur Rehman, challenging the Uttar Pradesh Government’s plans to demolish properties belonging to some of those accused in the Bahraich violence case.

In a hearing at 6 PM today, the bench of Justice Attau Rehman Masoodi and Justice Subhash Vidyarthi gave a relief of 15 days to the affected individuals to respond to the Demolition Notices issued by the Uttar Pradesh Government. The occupants were earlier ordered to respond to notices that had been pasted on their houses on October 18 within three days.

Moreover, the Court observed that no notices were mentioned as having been served on the occupants stating which houses constructed on kilometer 38 of the Kundasar-Mahasi-Nanpara-Maharajganj District Road had valid construction permission, as reported by Live Law.

Though the court did not, explicitly have ordered the demolition to be stayed in its order, it observed that it has no reason to believe that the UP Government will not follow the Supreme Court’s order on demolitions in letter and spirit.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/no-reason-to-say-up-govt-wont-allahabad-high-court-stays-bulldozer-action-in-bahraich-article-114402939

Shankaracharya of Kanchi Kama Koti Peetha Sri Shankar Vijayendra Saraswati Swami on Sunday said that God has blessed Narendra Modi and his government is ‘NDA’, which means ”Narendra Damodardas ka Anushasan”.

Addressing a function after the inauguration of RJ Sankara Eye Hospital in Varanasi, Shankaracharya said, “God has blessed Narendra Damodar Das Modi and his government is ‘NDA’ Narendra Damodardas ka Anushasan (discipline of Narendra Damodardas).” He said that the government is doing beautiful work for the welfare of everyone as an ideal government in the world.

The eye hospital was inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi, who was present at the function.

The Shankaracharya started his address in Sanskrit and said, “Today is an opportunity to see Netra Utsav and this is an important occasion of service. It started in Coimbatore and now the 17th hospital is starting. There are two hospitals in UP in Kanpur and Varanasi.” ”We have got good leaders, the person and personality are also important in the society, we need a virtuous leader, we need a leader who unites everyone,” the Swami said.

Source: https://www.news18.com/india/nda-is-narendra-damodar-das-ka-anushasan-shankaracharya-applauds-pm-modi-9092677.html

NCP leader Baba Siddique’s son Zeeshan said that he was also on the target list of the people who murdered his father earlier this month.

Congress MLA Zeeshan Siddique, son of late NCP leader Baba Siddique, said in a social media post that the killers of the veteran politician have turned their sights on him, but he won’t he intimidated. Baba Siddique was gunned down on October 12 by three shooters, who were allegedly linked to jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi.

Posting on X, Zeeshan Siddique said, “They silenced my father. But they forget – he was a lion and I carry his roar within me, his fight in my veins. He stood for justice, fought for change and withstood the storms with unwavering courage.”

In a seeming challenge to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, which is allegedly behind the murder of his father, Zeeshan further said, “Now, those who brought him down turn their sights on me assuming they’ve won, to them I declare: The blood of a lion runs in my veins. I am still here, unafraid and unbroken. They took one, but I rise in his place. This fight is far from over. Today, I stand where he stood : ALIVE, RELENTLESS and READY. To my people of Vandre East, I am always with you (sic).”

While the motive behind the killing of Baba Siddique is yet to be ascertained, the shooter arrested in the case said that the NCP leader was “not a good man” and had links to Dawood Ibrahim.

Zeeshan Siddique: 5 facts about Baba Siddique’s son
Zeeshan Siddique is a member and prominent leader of the Indian National Congress in Maharashtra, and is currently serving as an MLA from the Bandra East assembly constituency.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/who-is-zeeshan-siddique-ncp-leader-baba-siddiques-son-who-challenged-killer-lawrence-bishnoi-101729479520343.html

Nayab Singh Saini took oath as the chief minister of Haryana at a grand ceremony in Panchkula on Thursday that was attended by a galaxy of NDA leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini kept key departments, including home and finance, while Anil Vij got energy and transport as portfolios were allocated to the Council of Ministers on Sunday, three days after the swearing-in of a new government in the state.
Mr Saini will handle 12 portfolios. Besides home and finance, he is also in charge of planning, excise and taxation, town and country planning and urban estates, information, public relations, language and culture, criminal investigation, law and legislative, and housing for all departments.

Mr Vij, who held the home portfolio when Manohar Lal Khattar was the chief minister, has now also been given the charge of the labour department, in addition to energy and transport.

The health department, which Mr Vij handled during the Khattar government, has now been allotted to Arti Singh Rao, who will also take care of the medical education and research and Ayush departments, said a government order issued late in the night here.

Mr Saini (54) took oath as the chief minister of Haryana at a grand ceremony in Panchkula on Thursday that was attended by a galaxy of NDA leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and thousands of people from across the state.

Apart from him, 13 MLAs, including two women, took oath.

Rao Narbir Singh has been allotted industries and commerce, environment, forests and wildlife departments while Mahipal Dhanda got the school education department.

Vipul Goel has been allotted revenue and disaster management, urban local bodies and the civil aviation departments while Arvind Sharma will handle jails and cooperation portfolios.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/haryana-portfolios-allocated-chief-minister-nayab-singh-saini-keeps-home-finance-6834769

The IMD alerted of a cyclonic circulation in the Andaman Sea likely to intensify into a low-pressure area within 24 hours, impacting coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal. Heavy rainfall and strong winds are expected in various regions, with warnings for fishermen

The India Meteorological Department on Sunday, October 20, issued an alert of a cyclonic circulation formation over the Andaman Sea, and said the cyclonic circulation is likely to intensify into a low-pressure area in next 24 hours.

The formation may have an impact on coastal areas of north Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal next week, the government-run weather agency said.

The IMD, in a bulletin, said, “The yesterday’s cyclonic circulation over central Andaman Sea lay over the north Andaman Sea and neighbourhood at 0300 UTC of today, the 20 October, under its influence, a low-pressure area is likely to form over the east-central Bay of Bengal and adjoining north Andaman sea by next 24 hours.”

“Thereafter, it is very likely to move west-northwestwards and intensify into a depression around 0000 UTC of 22 October and into a cyclonic storm by 23rd October, 2024 over east-central Bay of Bengal thereafter, it is very likely to move northwestwards and reach northwest Bay of Bengal off Odisha-West Bengal coasts by 24th October morning..,” the IMD added.

The IMD has issued a weather warning. “Very heavy rainfall is likely to occur over South Interior Karnataka and Andaman and Nicobar”, IMD said.

Additionally, heavy rainfall is expected in Gujarat, Konkan & Goa, Madhya Maharashtra, Coastal & North Interior Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Rayalaseema, and Andhra Pradesh today.

Meanwhile, IMD Director-General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra has said that the Cyclonic circulation is likely to take the shape of a severe cyclonic storm.

Mohapatra said parts of Odisha are likely to experience heavy to very heavy rainfall from October 23 onwards.

“Some places in the coastal region may experience 20 cm rainfall on October 24-25. The intensity of the spell may also increase to 20 to 30 cm, and above 30 at some places,” ANI quoted Mohapatra Mohapatra as saying.

India’s response to the allegations was to withdraw the diplomats. It was followed by Canadian government’s move to formally expel them. India reiterated by ordering out six Canadian diplomats.

Indian envoy to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma – now withdrawn by New Delhi — has accused Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of wrecking bilateral ties with India and reiterated that Ottawa’s allegations are politically motivated. Ottawa has accused Mr Verma of having links to the murder of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
India’s response to the allegations was to withdraw the diplomats. It was followed by Canadian government’s move to formally expel them. India reiterated by ordering out six Canadian diplomats.

In an interview to CTV aired on Sunday, Mr Verma said, “On the basis of intelligence, if you want to destroy a relationship, be my guest. And that’s what he did”.

Justin Trudeau had specifically tied the Indian diplomats to the murder of Nijjar that took place last year in British Columbia.

Asked whether he had had anything to do with Nijjar’s murder, Mr Verma said: “Nothing at all. No evidence was presented. (This is) politically motivated.”

“On what basis do they want to question me… If you are a defendant, for example, which I am not, then evidence would be shared and that happens even if you are caught for a petty crime. If I’m going for an interrogation I need to know what I am interrogated for. I need to know what evidence you have so I go prepared,” Mr Verma told the Canadian network when asked about India’s refusal to join the so-called ongoing investigations.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/justin-trudeau-wrecked-canada-india-ties-says-indian-envoy-6834429

“The civil terminal, foundation for which was laid on Sunday, will clear many hassles that a traveller looking for flights had to undergo,” said Rajeev Saxena, member of Civil Society of Agra, while hoping that work for the civil terminal will be completed in time to enhance air connectivity of Agra.

Agra ::: Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually laid the foundation stone for the civil terminal project here on Sunday. This project was much–awaited, seeing see-saw progress for the past 12 years. The civil terminal, when completed, will provide access to air passengers without going through extra scanning because Kheria terminal of Agra is within the defence area.

PM Modi was in Varanasi on Sunday to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of 23 projects worth ₹6,611.18 crore to the countrymen.

“Those interested in travelling by air have to reach the civil enclave within Kheria Airport which is located on Air Force premises. Thus, there were restrictions and commuters had to get down at Kheria gate from where they were allowed in buses to reach Kheria civil enclave from where flights take off and land,” said Rajeev Saxena, member of Civil Society of Agra which had been raising the demand for separate air terminal for flight connectivity to Agra.

“The civil terminal, foundation for which was laid on Sunday, will clear many hassles that a traveller looking for flights had to undergo,” said Saxena while hoping that work for the civil terminal will be completed in time to enhance air connectivity of Agra.

The airport proposed at Dhanoli in Agra district is to be spread in an area of 150 acres. The project was prepared in 2012 during the BSP regime and next year in 2013, Samajwadi Party government in UP led by Akhilesh Yadav cleared the proposal for land acquisition for civil terminal but things were not very smooth.

The exact site of the airport could not be fixed and in 2014, a location within Firozabad district was preferred. However, in 2016, the process for acquiring land at Dhanoli in Agra district began and work for boundary wall began in 2018. Today, the laying of foundation stone has revived hopes for comfortable air connectivity for Agra denizens.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/lucknow-news/agraites-hope-for-smooth-air-travel-as-pm-lays-stone-for-civil-terminal-project-101729452417532.html

A doctor and six migrant workers were killed after terrorists struck a tunnel construction site on the Srinagar-Leh national highway in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal district on Sunday evening, officials said.

The terrorists had opened fire on a camp housing workers of a private company, who were working on an under-construction Z-Mohr tunnel in the Gund area, which connects Gaganeer to Sonamarg in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.

The police and army have cordoned off the area to track the attackers.

The Z-Mohr tunnel is strategically important for defence. The tunnel will provide all-weather connectivity to people and the Indian Army in Ladakh. Heavy snowfall at Zojila often cuts off Ladakh from Kashmir. This disrupts the movement of forces, people and essential goods and services.

Security personnel from the Central Reserve Police Forces (CRPF) along with local police officials have cordoned off the area. Teams from the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the premier agency that investigates terror attacks, have also rushed to the spot.

Pak-Backed Lashkar’s Front Claims Attack

The attack was orchestrated by the terrorist group The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), as the group claimed responsibility for the killings.

At least two unidentified terrorists carried out the attack, said sources, adding that they attacked the labourers and other staff when they returned to their camp after working on the tunnel project.

Police said they were probing a possible Khalistani link to the incident after a post circulating on social media claimed that the explosion was in retaliation to the targeting of pro-Khalistan separatists allegedly by Indian agents.

A strong blast ripped through a wall of the CRPF school in Rohini’s Prashant Vihar area Sunday morning sending shockwaves across the national capital and the country’s top investigation agency, including the NIA, to the spot to find clues into the explosion.

No one was hurt in the incident.

Police said they were probing a possible Khalistani link to the incident after a post circulating on social media claimed that the explosion was in retaliation to the targeting of pro-Khalistan separatists allegedly by Indian agents.

Sources in Delhi Police said it was a low-intensity IED (Improvised Explosive Device) controlled with a timer or remote without shrapnel or ball bearings.

It is suspected that the perpetrators wanted to send a message to the authorities, a senior police officer told PTI.

After the explosion, teams from the National Investigation Agency (NIA), National Security Guard (NSG), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and Delhi Police cordoned off the area and forensic experts collected samples from the site.

Mr. Modi will reach Babatpur airport around 12.30 p.m. on October 20

Over 500 hoardings have been put up across Varanasi, the Lok Sabha constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, ahead of his visit to the city on Sunday (October 20, 2024).

One of the prominent hoardings, put up by BJP Yuva Morcha district president Aman Sonkar, shows Mr. Modi with 10 hands, each representing various government schemes such as Swachh Bharat Mission, Jan Dhan Yojna, and ‘Make in India’.

It has become a topic of discussion among people after it was put in Lanka, Chitaipur and Sarnath areas of the city.

Mr. Sonkar said that the hoarding reflects the Prime Minister’s commitment to development and the welfare of the people.

“Not only India, but the whole world recognises our Prime Minister as ‘Yug Purush’. Kashi is the city of Lord Shiva and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been the MP of Kashi continuously. He has the blessings of Lord Shiva,” Mr. Sonkar added.

The people of the country and the residents of Kashi are proud to have Modi as their representative and this hoarding is an expression of the love and gratitude for the same, he said.

Grand welcome

BJP’s Kashi region president Dilip Patel said party workers, excited by the victory in Haryana Assembly election and the strong performance in Jammu and Kashmir, were planning a grand welcome for the Prime Minister.

Mr. Patel said that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will receive Mr. Modi at the Babatpur airport. When he leaves the airport, BJP workers led by Pindra MLA Awadhesh Singh will greet him with flowers, drums, and conch shells, Mr. Patel said.

Similarly, Ajgara MLA T. Ram will lead another welcome at Wajidpur Tiraha, and Shivpur Assembly workers will welcome the prime minister at Atulanand, he said.

More than 500 small and large hoardings are being set up along the Prime Minister’s route of travel and major crossings are decorated with party banners and flags, he added.

According to the expected schedule, Mr. Modi will reach Babatpur airport around 12.30 pm on October 20. He will then visit the inauguration of Sankara Eye Hospital on Ring Road, Mr. Patel said.

Aditonally, the Prime Minister will address around 1,000 people invited by the Prime Minister’s Trust and thereafter reach the Sampurnanand Sports Stadium in Sigra by road to inaugurate the sports complex, he said.

Source : https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/uttar-pradesh/over-500-hoardings-varanasi-pm-modi-visit-oct-20/article68772794.ece

A BJP MP said that despite a decade of promises, pollution in the Yamuna has only worsened, posing serious health risks to people living near it.

East Delhi MP Harsh Malhotra on Saturday blamed the Aam Aadmi Party government for pollution in the Yamuna, saying cleaning the river has never been its priority.

Responding to the BJP’s allegations, the AAP in a statement said, “The BJP is only indulging in dirty politics. The Aam Aadmi Party government is working at a war level against pollution… The BJP government is polluting the Yamuna by sending dirty water from Uttar Pradesh while their leaders are merely putting on a show in Delhi,” AAP said.

Mr Malhotra made the remark after going to the banks of the river at Kalindi Kunj, accompanied by BJP spokesperson Anil Gupta and local councillor Brahm Singh.

Referring to the thick white froth covering the Yamuna River said, “The Arvind Kejriwal government has only spread lies and illusions about cleaning the Yamuna. When the Lieutenant Governor initiated steps to clean the Yamuna, the Kejriwal government approached the Supreme Court to block them. Cleaning the river has always been a political issue for AAP, not a priority.”

He said that despite a decade of promises, pollution in the Yamuna has only worsened, posing serious health risks to people living near it.

Since Friday morning, the Yamuna River has been covered with a thick layer of white froth. Experts have warned against taking a dip in the river, even as people gear up for the Chhath Puja.

The Delhi government on Friday said it is closely monitoring the situation.

Mr Malhotra also questioned the AAP government’s handling of the ₹ 1,000 crore collected as pollution cess, intended for tackling air and water pollution.

“The Delhi government should clarify what happened to these funds,” he said.

The MP also highlighted the severe drop in oxygen levels in the Yamuna as it flows through Delhi and the absence of sewage treatment plants at critical drainage points.

The oxygen content of the river’s water drops from 9 units when it enters Delhi to zero as it leaves, making it hazardous for both residents and the environment, he told PTI Videos.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/yamuna-pollution-yamuna-froth-bjp-blames-delhi-government-for-yamuna-pollution-aap-hits-back-6826813

Navya Haridas will be pitted against Congress’s Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and CPI’s Sathyan Mokeri, the Left candidate, in the high-profile constituency in the 13 November by-election.

The BJP announced on Saturday that Navya Haridas, a two-time councillor in the Kozhikode Corporation, will be the NDA candidate for the Wayanad Lok Sabha by-election.

Navya Haridas will be pitted against Congress’s Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and CPI’s Sathyan Mokeri, the Left candidate, in the high-profile constituency in the 13 November by-election.

As the BJP released its candidate list for the upcoming by-elections in various states, Navya Haridas, a young woman leader in the saffron party, was named as the party’s nominee for this crucial seat.

A software engineer by profession, Navya Haridas serves as the parliamentary party leader for the BJP in the corporation.

She is also the state general secretary of the Mahila Morcha, according to party sources.

The by-election for Wayanad LS seat became necessary after Rahul Gandhi, who won the Lok Sabha polls from there and Rae Bareli constituency, decided to vacate it.

Meanwhile, BJP state general secretary C Krishnakumar would contest in Palakkad Assembly constituency where the saffron party is pinning its hope to win the most in the upcoming bypolls in the state.

During the previous Assembly polls, the party had come to an impressive second position in Palakkad through “Metroman’ E Sreedharan, who was defeated by Congress’s Shafi Parambil in a tight contest.

Though the names of several high profile leaders, including senior leader Shobha Surendran was doing the rounds in the segment, the party high command chose Krishnakumar finally.

Youth Congress state president Rahul Mamkootathil and expelled Congress digital media convenor P Sarin would be the Congress and the CPI (M) candidates in the constituency respectively.

In Chelakkara assembly constituency, K Balakrishnan would be the party candidate, as per the BJP candidate list.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/bjp-fields-this-young-leader-against-priyanka-gandhi-in-wayanad-bypoll-6827660

So far this week, more than 70 domestic and international flights of Indian airlines have received bomb threats, with all of them turning out to be hoaxes.

Indian airlines have been facing a wave of hoax bomb threats this week, with over 70 domestic and international flights targeted. The threats, which have caused widespread disruptions and forced emergency procedures, have mostly turned out to be false alarms. However, they have left airlines and authorities scrambling to ensure passenger safety, while investigating the sources of the threats.

Among the airlines most affected are Air India Express, Air India, Vistara, IndiGo, and Akasa Air, with each reporting multiple security scares. Air India Express was particularly hit hard, with at least seven of their flights receiving bomb threats. At least two Air India flights also received similar threats. An Air India flight from Mumbai to London had to be escorted by a Royal Air Force fighter jet to Heathrow Airport after a bomb threat, which was later confirmed to be a hoax.

Vistara, another major carrier, saw six of its flights targeted. Five of these were international routes, including flights from Singapore, Frankfurt, and Colombo to India. One Vistara flight from Udaipur to Mumbai was taken to an isolation bay upon landing after a threatening note was found in the lavatory, prompting thorough security checks. The airline followed protocol by notifying authorities immediately, a spokesperson said.

IndiGo, the country’s largest airline by market share, reported threats to five of its flights, including two international services to Istanbul. The airline confirmed that all passengers on the affected flights disembarked safely, and the aircraft were inspected as per security guidelines. Akasa Air also faced bomb threats on five of its flights, including routes to Bengaluru, Guwahati, and Mumbai, but all aircraft were cleared after inspections.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/hoax-bomb-threats-which-airline-has-been-hit-the-hardest-101729399015502.html

The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) on Saturday held a meeting with the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of several airlines over the series of hoax bomb calls received in the last four days and asked them to stick to standard protocols and keep all stakeholders informed.

During the meeting which was held at the Civil Aviation Ministry’s office in the Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan, officials of the BCAS directed the CEOs to adhere to the standard operating procedures (SOP) for addressing the bomb threats.

They underlined the importance of keeping all stakeholders informed about the threats and the measures being implemented in response, sources told news agency IANS.

Indian Skies Are Safe: BCAS DG

Meanwhile, BCAS DG Zulfiqar Hasan reassured that Indian skies were safe. He said, “Indian skies are absolutely safe.

The current protocol (to deal with the situation) is robust and is being strictly followed. We reassure passengers that they should fly without any fear and in fact, fly even more.”

More than 30 bomb threats were made against flights operated by various airlines on Saturday alone.

The investigation has revealed that some of the IP addresses linked to these threats originated from London, Germany, Canada, and the US, sources said. However, the officials did not also rule out the possibility that those making the threats used VPNs (virtual private networks) to conceal their true locations.

According to information, the BCAS and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) are expected to release new guidelines for airlines to deal with bomb threats.

Over 70 Flights Recieve Bomb Threats

The recent wave of hoax calls and threats, which began on Monday, has persisted daily, leading to numerous flight diversions and delays. So far this week, at least 70 flights of Indian carriers have received threats.

The sources said more than 30 flights, including domestic and international ones, operated by domestic airlines have received bomb threats through social media since Saturday morning. In at least one of the flights, a note was found in the lavatory saying there was a bomb in the flight.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/stick-to-protocols-keep-stakeholders-posted-aviation-safety-panel-tells-ceos-of-airlines-amid-bomb-threats-9092158.html

A mysterious blast was reported near a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) school on Sunday morning in the Prashant Vihar area of Rohini in New Delhi. The cause of the explosion has yet to be ascertained.

The fire department was notified about the incident at around 7:50 AM following which two fire brigades were immediately dispatched, Delhi Fire Services official said.

The loud sound of the blast panicked local residents in the surrounding areas. However, there have been no reports of any casualties yet.

Speaking about the incident, the Delhi police said that the wall of the CRPF school was found damaged and emitted a foul smell. Additionally, the windows of the nearby shops and a parked car were also damaged.

“A PCR call was received in which the caller informed that a blast with a high volume took place near CRPF School Sector 14, Rohini. SHO/PV and staff reached the spot, where the school wall was found damaged with a foul smell,” they said.

The police confirmed that no one was injured in the incident.

“Our forensic team and crime unit are at the spot to collect samples from the blast location. It could be a firecracker, but we are investigating the entire matter from all angles,” a senior police officer stated.

NSG team on ground

Meanwhile, the National Security Guard (NSG) team has reached the spot to analyse the cause of the explosion.

Shashank, an eyewitness to the blast, told news agency ANI: “The only possibilities which we think of are a cylinder blast or a building collapse… There was a big cloud of smoke here which stayed for a good 10 minutes.”

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/blast-reported-outside-crpf-school-in-delhis-rohini-no-fire-major-damage-found-so-far-9092307.html

Lawrence Bishnoi, born Balkaran Brar, is currently lodged in Gujarat’s Sabarmati Central Jail and is being probed by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in multiple cases.

The family of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, whose name has come up in the connection of fatal shooting of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique, spends around Rs 40 lakh every year, his cousin revealed.

Ramesh Bishnoi, 50, also said the family ‘never imagined’ the 31-year-old, a law graduate from Panjab University, would go on to become a criminal. Ramesh Bishnoi said that the jailed gangster hails from a wealthy family, which spends around Rs 35-40 lakh on him every year.

“We have always been wealthy. Lawrence’s father was a constable in the Haryana Police and owns 110 acres (of land) in our village. Lawrence always wore expensive clothes and shoes. In fact, even now, the family spends ₹35-40 lakh annually on him in jail,” The Daily Guardian quoted Ramesh as saying.

Ramesh recalled that he had last seen Bishnoi a decade ago during a court hearing.

Lawrence Bishnoi, born Balkaran Brar, is currently lodged in Gujarat’s Sabarmati Central Jail and is being probed by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in multiple cases.

After Siddique was fatally shot outside his son’s office, the Bishnoi gang claimed responsibility for the murder. Shubham Lonkar had publicly claimed responsibility for the attack on Siddique in a social media post. Further, investigation revealed that the hit job was fisrt assigned to the Maharashtra module of Bishnoi gang, who first demanded Rs 50 lakh but later backed out due to disagreement over payment and also considering the NCP leader’s clout.

Bishnoi gang has expanded in an unprecedented manner, similar to how Dawood Ibrahim established his network in the 90s, according to the NIA in recent years. The notorious gang reportedly has over 700 shooters in its ranks, with 300 linked to Punjab.

The NIA has charged 16 gangsters, including Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar under the stringent UAPA law. In its chargesheet, the NIA said that the Lawrence Bishnoi gang operates like how Dawood Ibrahim’s D-Company established his network in the 90s.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/lawrence-bishnois-family-spent-rs-40-lakh-every-year-on-jailed-gangster-since-2015-cousin-makes-shocking-revelation-article-114390166

The State had opposed the bail of accused saying that they had failed to produce and hand over their mobile phones.

The Andhra Pradesh High Court recently held that the failure of an accused to submit their mobile phones to the investigating agency cannot be termed as non-cooperation [Avuthu Srinivas Reddy Versus The Station House Officer].

Justice VRK Krupa Sagar made the observation while granting bail to former Member Parliament N Suresh Babu and businessman Avutu Srinvasa Reddy in a case related to the alleged attack by YSR Congress Party workers on the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) office in 2021.

The State had opposed the bail saying that the accused had failed to produce and handover their mobile phones. The police want the phones to recover WhatsApp chats and collect Google timelines of the crime, the Court was told.

However, the Court said the investigation agency cannot feel deterred in securing further electronic evidence simply because it could not take hold of the mobile phones from the accused.

t also referred to a Delhi High Court verdict holding that an accused cannot be coerced to reveal the passwords of his gadgets and online accounts in view of the protection guaranteed to him under Article 20(3) (right against self-incrimination) of the Constitution of India.

“In the light of the above principles, the failure of accused in submitting their mobile phones while in custody cannot be termed as non-cooperation from the accused,” the Court said.

It added that while the material produced before it did indicate some sort of presence of the accused outside the TDP office, their continued detention must be justified by the prosecution.

“The contention of the State is that there are other accused who are still at large and there is larger conspiracy which is to be unearthed. Those contentions show that qua these accused, investigation stood completed. They were arrested on 04.09.2024 and were remanded to judicial custody on 05.09.2024 and for the last one month, they have been in judicial custody,” the Court said.

Source : https://www.barandbench.com/news/is-refusal-give-mobile-phone-police-non-cooperation-andhra-pradesh-high-court-answers

Abdullah was accompanied by Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty at the flagging ceremony of the marathon in which around 2000 athletes from across the country and abroad took part.

Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday flagged off Kashmir Marathon, the first international athletic event to be held in the valley.

Abdullah was accompanied by Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty at the flagging ceremony of the marathon in which around 2000 athletes from across the country and abroad took part.

The participants included top long-distance runners from India, Asian gold medallists and some of the best runners from Europe and Africa.

There will be two categories of the races – a 42-km full marathon and a half-marathon of 21 kilometres.

The event has been organised by the Department of Tourism with the aim to show the world that the situation has improved in the valley.

“Kashmir is open to all. We welcome tourists from different parts of the world. If someone is running 42 km, it itself makes a statement that Kashmir is now peaceful,” Tourism Director Raja Yaqoob said on Saturday.

“We also want to showcase our heritage, niche products, handicrafts, cuisine to the world. These runners have millions of followers on their social media, so they will be our brand ambassadors,” he added.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/jammu-and-kashmir/over-2000-athletes-take-part-kashmirs-first-international-marathon-3240325

Terming Babu as an honest and good officer, KPCC chief Sudhakaran alleged that the government was dragging its feet on investigating the matter.

Thiruvananthapuram: The opposition Congress in Kerala has slammed Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan by questioning his silence on the alleged suicide of former Kannur ADM Naveen Babu following corruption allegations levelled against him by CPI(M) leader P P Divya.

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief K Sudhakaran and Leader of Opposition in the state assembly V D Satheesan both questioned why the CM was silent on the matter as he did not even convey his condolences to the bereaved family.

Terming Babu as an honest and good officer, Sudhakaran alleged that the government was dragging its feet on investigating the matter.

Similar allegations were made by Satheesan who claimed that Vijayan and his office were trying to save the culprits behind the alleged suicide of Babu.

He also contended that the CPI(M) created a fake document to show Babu was corrupt and save Divya, the former Kannur District Panchayat President.

Satheesan also sought to know why District Collector Arun K Vijayan kept silent when Divya publicly made those allegations against Babu.

He alleged that there was a conspiracy behind the allegations made against the former Kannur ADM.

Divya was on Thursday booked for the offence of abetment of suicide under section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and by late that night the CPI(M) removed her from the post of Kannur District Panchayat President.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/kerala/congress-hits-out-at-kerala-cm-vijayan-over-silence-on-kannur-adms-death-3240346

After the protesting junior medics wanted to meet in person for a meeting, the Chief Minister had asked a 10-member delegation to visit the state secretariat Nabanna on Monday at 5 pm.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday had spoken with the protesting doctors including those on hunger strike through Chief Secretary Manoj Pant’s phone.

Speaking with the junior medics, Mamata had urged them to withdraw the hunger strike. After the protesting junior medics wanted to meet in person for a meeting, the Chief Minister had asked a 10-member delegation to visit the state secretariat Nabanna on Monday at 5 pm.

“Most of the demands are under process, time has changed and accordingly things need to be processed. I request all of you to withdraw from the hunger strike and resume work. I will also ensure that strict invigilation is given during the medical examination,” Mamata.

Referring to few more demands of the junior medics, Mamata said that even she wants ‘Justice’ for the RG Kar rape and murder incident.

“We are ready to induct more police but since the matter is subjudice we are unable to recruit. I cannot remove the Health Secretary as it is not possible to remove everyone. I have replaced the Kolkata Commissioner of police. Many more festivals and bypolls are coming so I will ask for three to four months’ time for preparing for students’ body elections,” further mentioned the West Bengal Chief Minister.

However, the junior medics are not keen to withdraw the same till all the demands are met.

Talking to the media, most of the junior medics said, “It seems that the Chief Minister is not clear about our 10 demands. We wanted to meet today but she gave time on Monday. Maybe, our lives are not that important than her pre occupations. We are still hopeful that we will get affirmative nudge on Monday. The Chief Minister was also getting jittery while speaking. It is very unfortunate. She has a wrong notion that the junior doctors are not working. Except eight junior doctors on hunger strike all are performing their duties.”

Meanwhile, ‘NyayBichar Yatra’ for RG Kar incident started on Saturday afternoon from Sodepur and will culminate at the Esplanade area.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/kolkata-doctor-rape-murder-case-cm-mamata-banerjee-to-meet-junior-doctors-on-oct-21-at-nabanna

The West Zone Task Force Police conducted the raid after receiving information about an obscene dance performance being held at the club to attract customers. During the late-night raid, the police reportedly arrested around 180 people, including over 40 women, from the club in Banjara Hills.

In a shocking incident, approximately 140 people were arrested during a surprise raid at a pub in Hyderabad, Telangana. The West Zone Task Force Police conducted the raid after receiving information about an obscene dance performance being held at the club to attract customers. During the late-night raid, the police reportedly arrested around 140 people, including 42 women, from the club in Banjara Hills.

The incident took place at the well-known Tales Over Spirits (TOS) club, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Banjara Hills Police Station. According to Deccan Chronicle reports, the raid was conducted at the TOS pub on Friday night (October 18) after police received information about illegal activities taking place at the club.

Reports suggest that the club was hosting obscene dance performances by female dancers in an attempt to lure more customers. Additionally, there are claims that the club had hired female dancers from different states under the false pretense of offering them legitimate jobs, only to make them perform at the club.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/hyderabad-140-people-including-42-women-arrested-for-obscene-acts-dance-after-surprise-raid-at-banjara-hills-pub-videos-surface

Russian navy ships moved 1,500 North Korean soldiers to Vladivostok, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service confirmed.

The National Intelligence Service (NIS) confirmed in a statement on Friday that Russian navy ships transferred 1,500 North Korean special operations forces to the Russian port city of Vladivostok from October 8 to October 13.

It said more North Korean soldiers are expected to be sent to Russia soon. The development could draw a third country into the conflict and further escalate tensions between North Korea and the West.

The NIS reported that North Korean soldiers sent to Russia have been provided with Russian military uniforms, weapons and forged identification documents. Currently stationed at military bases in Vladivostok and other locations such as Ussuriysk, Khabarovsk and Blagoveshchensk, they are expected to be deployed to combat zones once their training is complete.

The spy agency posted on its website satellite and other photos showing what it called Russian navy ship movements near a North Korean port and suspected North Korean mass gatherings in Ussuriysk and Khabarovsk in the past week.

At a news conference on Friday, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said he “could not yet confirm North Korea is sending troops to Russia”.

South Korean media, citing the NIS, also reported that Pyongyang has decided to dispatch a total of 12,000 soldiers in four brigades to Russia. The NIS did not immediately confirm those reports.

‘Serious security threat’
South Korea’s President Yoon Suk-yeol convened an emergency security meeting on Friday on the move, where it was acknowledged that the close military ties between Russia and North Korea had gone “beyond the transfer of military supplies”.

“The current situation, in which the rapprochement between Russia and North Korea has led to the delivery of military equipment and the actual deployment of troops, poses a serious security threat not only to our country but also to the international community,” his office said in a statement.

Ukrainian media reported that six North Korean soldiers were killed in a Ukrainian missile attack on Russian-occupied territory near Donetsk on October 3.

Russia has denied using North Korean troops in the war, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov describing the claims as “another piece of fake news” during a news conference last week.

On Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his government has intelligence indicating that 10,000 North Korean soldiers are being prepared to join Russian forces in the fight against Ukraine.

He warned that the involvement of a third nation could escalate the conflict into a “world war”.

The United States-based Institute for the Study of War think tank also said that several thousand North Korean soldiers had arrived in Russia and were being prepared for their deployment in Ukraine.

Pyongyang and Moscow have been allies since North Korea’s founding after World War II and have drawn even closer since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

South Korea, backed by the US, claims that Pyongyang has become a major supplier to Russia of weapons being used in Ukraine. The two countries have denied the allegations.

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/10/18/south-koreas-spy-agency-says-north-korea-sending-troops-to-russia

ED’s investigation is based on FIRs filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and other law enforcement agencies, which have uncovered a conspiracy by PFI members to raise funds for terrorism.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached 35 immovable properties, valued at Rs 56.56 crore, allegedly linked to the Popular Front of India (PFI) under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The attached assets are held in the names of various trusts, companies, and individuals but are reportedly beneficially owned by PFI.

Among these properties, 19 assets worth Rs 35.43 crore were attached on October 16, while 16 assets worth Rs 21.13 crore were seized earlier on April 16, 2024. ED’s action follows investigations based on FIRs registered by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and other law enforcement agencies, which uncovered a conspiracy by PFI members to raise funds for terrorism.The financial probe agency stated this on Friday.

ED’s investigation is based on FIRs filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and other law enforcement agencies, which have uncovered a conspiracy by PFI members to raise funds for terrorism.

ED Probe Reveals PFI Collecting Funds From India & Abroad

The ED investigation revealed that PFI was involved in collecting funds both in India and abroad through banking channels, hawala networks, and unlawful donations. for committing and financing terrorist acts across India.The total proceeds of crime attributed to these activities amount to Rs 94 crore, with funds traced across 29 bank accounts in Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Delhi, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal,Assam, Jammu & Kashmir and Manipur.

According to ED official statement Since February 2021, 26 PFI members have been arrested, and nine prosecution complaints have been filed.The list of arrested members includes key figures such as KA Rauf Sherif, the National General Secretary of Campus Front of India (CFI), and Abdul Razak BP, Divisional President of Perumpadappu Division in Kerala. perwez Ahmed president of delhi state PFI,Sahul Hameed A PFI member dealing in hawala for PFI and several others.

Sayantani Ghosh Hazra, a protesting doctor said that she is running out of words to ask why the Chief Minister didn’t meet them despite several requests.

Kolkata: The junior protesting doctors on Friday had expressed their disappointment after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee didn’t meet the doctors on hunger strike for the last 14 days.

Sayantani Ghosh Hazra, a protesting doctor said that she is running out of words to ask why the Chief Minister didn’t meet them despite several requests.

“We are just drinking water and not even glucose water. She is the head of the state and despite seeing the odds that we are facing she didn’t come here to meet us. How can she be so rude? This protest will continue. After Nyaya Yatra on Saturday, we would request the common people to gather here at the Esplanade area to show solidarity for our 10 demands,” said Sayantani.

Another protesting junior medic said that the Chief Minister will have to ‘pay’ for every drop of water.

“If something happens to us then she will be responsible. The 10 demands that we are asking to implement are nothing much for the state administration. We can see rape and murder incidents are continuing in the state. This should come to an end,” added the junior medic.

Notably, a notice has been sent to all medical college principals from Swasthya Bhawan asking them to give a status report of those doctors who are getting admitted due to hunger strike twice daily.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Kunal Ghosh stated, “The Chief Minister went to meet the junior medics when they were protesting near Swasthya Bhawan. She had called for a meeting both at the state secretariat Nabanna and at her residence. The junior doctors made the Chief Minister wait. Now how can they say that the Chief Minister didn’t meet them?”

Source: https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/kolkata-doctor-rape-murder-case-junior-doctors-express-disappointment-after-cm-mamata-banerjee-fails-to-visit-protest-site-2

In a statement early Saturday morning, an airline spokesperson said the flight landed safely at the Frankfurt airport and mandatory checks are being conducted. The flight will continue to its destination once cleared by the security agencies.

New Delhi: A London-bound Vistara flight from Delhi was diverted to Frankfurt on Friday following a bomb threat.

In a statement early Saturday morning, an airline spokesperson said the flight landed safely at the Frankfurt airport and mandatory checks are being conducted. The flight will continue to its destination once cleared by the security agencies.

“Vistara flight UK17 operating from Delhi to London on October 18, 2024 received a security threat on social media. In line with the protocol, all relevant authorities were immediately informed and as a precautionary measure, the pilots decided to divert the flight to Frankfurt,” the spokesperson said.

According to an official in the know, the flight had received a bomb threat.

Meanwhile, Akasa Air said its flight QP 1366 scheduled to fly from Bengaluru to Mumbai on Friday received a security alert shortly before departure.

“Hence as per safety and security procedures, all passengers had to be deplaned as the local authorities followed necessary procedures. We request your understanding as our team on ground did everything possible to reduce inconvenience,” the airline said in a post on X.

Source: https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/vistaras-delhi-london-flight-receives-bomb-threat-on-social-media-diverted-to-frankfurt

Imphal: Fresh violence broke out in Manipur on Saturday as militants attacked a village in Jiribam district, an official said.

Using sophisticated weapons, the militants opened fire, targeting the village in the vicinity of the Borobekra police station around 5 am, he said.

They also charged bombs, he added.

CRPF and police personnel retaliated and a heavy exchange of fire was underway, the official said.

Additional security forces were being rushed to the spot, he said.

No casualties have been reported so far, he said.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/manipur/fresh-violence-in-manipur-as-militants-attack-village-in-jiribam-district-3239596

The 56-year-old founder of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has decided to maintain an equidistant approach to the BJP-led Maha Yuti and the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi.

Mumbai: For the charismatic Raj Thackeray, the 2024 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections, are a make-or-break moment.

Raj, who is going solo in this year’s polls has been telling the people not to get scared of “there is no alternative” theory propagated by bigger parties.

Rightly, as Raj draws inspiration from Ekalavya, the character from epic Mahabharata.

A poem penned by Dr Vageesh Saraswat, a journalist-writer and filmmaker, who is a senior functionary of MNS, is liked by Raj.

“Ekalavya anghuta katwakar, hamesha chatpatayange. Satya ka virodh Drona ki mazboori hai. Rajguru ki padvi zaroori hai. Dronacharya badal nahin sakte. Badal nahi sakte Kaurav aur Pandav. Magaar badal sakte hai Ekalavya. Shraddha ke shaap se ho sakte hain mukt” – these couplets from ’Eklavya ka Angutha’ sums up his challenges.

Raj is an excellent cartoonist and caricaturist and an orator-par-excellence like his late uncle and mentor.

The 56-year-old founder of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has decided to maintain an equidistant approach to the BJP-led Maha Yuti and the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/elections/maharashtra/maharashtra-assembly-elections-2024-make-or-break-polls-for-raj-thackeray-3239572

A thick layer of fog engulfed the national capital on Saturday as the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) dropped to 251, categorised as ‘Poor’ by the Central Pollution Control Board.

As the India Gate and surrounding area recorded ‘Poor’ AQI, the air quality in other areas of the national capital including Anand Vihar dropped to 334, categorised as ‘Very Poor.’

As per the Central Pollution Control Board, the AQI when marked under the ‘Poor’ category can cause breathing discomfort to most people on prolonged exposure, whereas, when under the ‘Very Poor’ category, it can cause respiratory illness on prolonged exposure.

The Delhi Government on Tuesday announced the strict implementation of measures under the Graded Response Action Plan-1 (GRAP-1) to improve air quality in the national capital, according to a statement from the Delhi Chief Minister’s Office.

The announcement followed a high-level meeting chaired by Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, with Environment Minister Gopal Rai and senior officials in attendance.

According to the statement, 99 teams have been assigned to inspect construction sites for dust control. The Public Welfare Department (PWD) will deploy 200 anti-smog guns, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) 30, the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) 14, and the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) 80.

Additionally, Delhi Police will assign extra personnel to traffic-prone areas, and Home Guards will be on standby if needed.

Source: https://www.news18.com/india/delhi-air-pollution-thick-layer-of-fog-india-gate-anand-vihar-aqi-poor-air-quality-index-october-19-9091260.html

A special court on Friday denied bail to one of the shooters allegedly involved in firing outside actor Salman Khan’s Bandra house in April this year.

Vicky Gupta’s bail plea was rejected by BD Shelke, special judge for cases under MCOCA. The detailed order was not made available as yet.

Gupta was arrested along with others for the incident that took place outside the film superstar’s Galaxy Apartments on April 14. He and co-accused Sagar Pal had opened fire while riding past on a motorcycle.

Gupta, in his bail plea filed through lawyers Amit Mishra and Pankaj Ghildiyal, claimed he was influenced by gangster Lawrence Bishnoi’s persona as depicted in electronic, print and social media.

Gupta claimed he was ”magnetically attached to the principles followed by Lawrence Bishnoi” since the latter is an ardent follower of Bhagat Singh.

Opposing his plea, police said the crime was committed at the behest of Bishnoi through the jailed gangster’s syndicate.

If bail is granted, then there is strong possibility Gupta will inform Bishnoi about the probe conducted during his custody and evidence that is yet to be obtained may be destroyed, police told court.

Underlining his role in the case, police said it was Gupta who had purchased the motorcycle used in the crime at the behest of Bishnoi siblings Lawrence and Anmol.

Source: https://www.news18.com/india/firing-outside-salman-khans-house-mumbai-court-rejects-shooter-vicky-guptas-bail-9091188.html

Amid the ongoing row between India and Canada over the assassination of a Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Canadian former national security adviser (NSA) Jody Thomas stated that initial intelligence and police probe suggested that Nijjar was killed in retaliation for the murder of Ripudaman Singh Malik, who was accused of involvement in the 1985 Air India Kanishka bombing.

While appearing before Canada’s foreign interference inquiry, the former NSA further added that certain members of the Canadian Sikh community were not satisfied with the assessment that Nijjar’s killing was in retaliation for Malik’s murder. Notably, Thomas was Canada’s NSA at the time when Nijjar was gunned down in Surrey last year.

“Nijjar’s killing was the second high-profile murder in the same gurdwara,” Thomas said. “Mr Malik’s murder had occurred almost exactly the year before. The initial hypothesis was that it was a retaliation. But the community was raising concern,” Thomas said during the testimony.

However, as the investigation progressed, further intelligence indicated that Nijjar’s assassination might have been an extra-judicial killing. “Through very good intelligence and policing work, we learnt that there was a high probability that this was an extra-judicial killing,” Thomas stated.

It is important to note that Thomas’s testimony echoed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s accusations against India, where he alleged the involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Nijjar. However, the Ministry of External Affairs has rejected Trudeau’s claims and stated that Canada has not provided India with any evidence of the allegations levelled against it.

‘We Couldn’t Share Much Because…’: Ex-NSA
Further mentioning the reason why Canada did not share much information regarding the case with India, Jody Thomas explained that the country could not share as much evidence, as the US shared, as they (Canada) were investigating the murder case.

“We couldn’t share as much evidence with India as America was able to. This explains the difference in the handling and cooperation of the two cases,” she stated.

Trudeau Accuses India Amid Row, Delhi Rejects Claims
The India and Canada ties soared after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of supporting criminal activities on their soil. The ties further strained after Ottawa earlier this week, alleged that the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats were ‘persons of interest’ in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. However, New Delhi rejected those charges as “motivated and absurd”.

Later on Wednesday, Trudeau fell short of his allegations and acknowledged that Canada had not provided India with concrete proof regarding Nijjar’s killing in Canada while testifying before the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference and said that there’s “only intel” on the involvement of Indian agents and that Cnada does not have any “hard evidentiary proof”.

“And at that point, it was primarily intelligence, not hard evidentiary proof,” Trudeau said, referring to the allegations he levelled against India, linking ‘Indian agents’ to the murder of Nijjar outside a gurdwara in Canada.

Source: https://www.news18.com/world/canada-former-nsa-hardeep-nijjar-trudeau-india-retaliation-for-kanishka-bombing-accused-murder-latest-news-9089937.html

The Delhi Police Special Cell had arrested Vikash Yadav, charged by the US over the Gurpatwant Singh Pannun case, in an extortion case.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has released a wanted poster of Vikash (Vikas) Yadav, “a former Indian government employee”, in connection with his alleged role in directing a foiled plot to assassinate pro-Khalistani leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on the US soil.

On Thursday, the ministry of external affairs confirmed that the individual named in the US Justice Department’s indictment case in the foiled assassination plot of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun was “no longer an employee of the government of India”.

Now, a report published by The Indian Express on Saturday claimed that the Delhi Police’s Special Cell had arrested Vikash Yadav in an extortion case. The arrested was made less than three weeks after Vikash Yadav was mentioned by the US Department of Justice documents as “CC-1” (co-conspirator) last November, The Indian Express report added.

The newspaper, citing records, also reported that Vikash Yadav was released on bail in April this year.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/vikash-yadav-indias-ex-raw-official-wanted-in-gurpatwant-pannun-case-was-arrested-by-delhi-police-report-101729305772968.html

Zeeshan Siddique had demanded justice for his family, while also appealing that his father’s death should not be politicised and nor should it go in vain.

Even as the number of arrests in NCP leader Baba Siddique’s murder case went up to nine, his MLA son Zeeshan Siddique on Friday shared a cryptic post on social media platform X.

On the same day, Zeeshan Siddique met Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the home portfolio in the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government, and was apprised of the police probe so far into the murder of his father.

Earlier on Thursday, Zeeshan Siddique had demanded justice for his family, while also appealing that his father’s death should not be politicised and nor should it go in vain.

Baba Siddique was gunned down near Zeeshan Siddique’s office in Nirmal Nagar in Mumbai’s Bandra area on October 12. Nine persons have been arrested in the case so far, including five held on Friday after raids in Panvel and Karjat in neighbouring Raigad district.

Meanwhile, a shooter of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang claimed Baba Siddique was not a good man and had connections with India’s most-wanted criminal Dawood Ibrahim.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/zeeshan-siddiques-cryptic-post-after-father-baba-siddiques-killing-not-all-that-is-hidden-6822850

Sandeep Singh Sidhu, an employee of CBSA and a member of the banned International Sikh Youth Federation, is accused of promoting terrorist activities in Punjab.

Amid a massive diplomatic row between Indian and Canada over the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, New Delhi has reportedly added a Canadian Border Service Agency (CBSA) official, identified as Sandeep Singh Sidhu, to its list of fugitive terrorists sought for deportation.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police went public this week with allegations that Indian diplomats were targeting Sikh separatists in Canada by sharing information about them with their government back home.

They said top Indian officials were then passing that information along to Indian organised crime groups who were targeting the activists, who are Canadian citizens, with drive-by shootings, extortions and even murder.

India, for its part, has rejected the Canadian accusations as absurd, and its foreign ministry said it was expelling Canada’s acting high commissioner and five other diplomats in response.

Reports indicate that Sandeep Singh Sidhu, an employee of the CBSA and a member of the banned International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF), is accused of promoting terrorist activities in Punjab. Sandeep Singh Sidhu allegedly had ties with Pakistan-based Khalistan terrorist Lakhbir Singh Rode and other ISI operatives, reportedly playing a role in the 2020 assassination of Balwinder Singh Sandhu.

Balwinder Singh Sandhu, a Shaurya Chakra awardee, became a symbol of resistance for his efforts against Khalistani militants during Punjab’s insurgency and for opposing Khalistan referendums led by Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) in the US and Canada.

Times Now reported that Sandeep Singh Sidhu had been promoted to superintendent at CBSA. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) claims that Canada-based Khalistani operatives, including Sunny Toronto and Pakistan-sheltered terrorist Lakhbir Singh Rode, masterminded Sandhu’s murder. It is still unclear whether “Sunny Toronto” is an alias for Sandeep Singh Sidhu.

At least 26 extradition requests from Indian side
The report comes days after ministry of external affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, at a press briefing, pointed out that at least 26 extradition requests from the Indian side, sent over the last decade or more, were still pending with Canadian authorities.

“There are 26 extradition requests pending with the Canadian side, these are over the last decade or more, along with that, there are several provisional arrest requests, which are also pending with the Canadian side, of certain criminals,” said Randhir Jaiswal.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/gurpatwant-pannun-assassination-attempt-us-charges-indias-ex-raw-official-for-plotting-to-kill-sikh-separatist-101729209966691.html

Two key accused in Baharaich communal violence were shot by the Uttar Pradesh Police while they allegedly attempted to flee to Nepal.

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi on Thursday criticised the Uttar Pradesh government over the Bahraich encounter.

Owaisi questioned the actions taken by the Uttar Pradesh police. He also mentioned “thok denge” policy of chief minister Yogi Adityanath.

Five people allegedly responsible for the Bahraich violence were arrested after an encounter with the Uttar Pradesh Police in which two of the key accused suffered gunshot wounds.

According to the police, the accused were trying to flee to Nepal, which shares a border with Bahraich district in Uttar Pradesh.

Reacting to the encounter, Owaisi noted that if the police had sufficient evidence, they should have pursued legal punishment for the accused instead of “resorting to extrajudicial measures”.

“It is not difficult to know the truth about the “encounter” of the accused of Bahraich violence by the police. Everyone knows about Yogi’s “Thok Denge” policy,” Owaisi wrote in a post on X.

“If the police had so much evidence, then efforts would have been made to get the accused punished legally,” he added.

How did the encounter unfolded?

According to Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) Prashant Kumar, the incident took place when the police was taking the five accused for weapon recovery near the India-Nepal border.

“When the Police were taking the five arrested accused for weapons recovery near the India-Nepal border, the two accused tried to run away,” Kumar was quoted as saying by ANI.

“As they tried to run away, shots were fired. During this, Mohammed Sarfaraz and Mohammed Talib were injured. Abdul Hameed, Fahim, and Abdul Afzal were arrested. A total of five accused were arrested. The situation is under control,” he added.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/asaduddin-owaisi-reacts-to-bahraich-encounter-everyone-knows-about-yogi-thok-denge-policy-101729175923208.html

Baba Siddique Murder: Zeeshan Siddique also made an appeal that his father’s death should not be politicised.

In his first reaction after his father and former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique was shot dead last week, Bandra East MLA Zeeshan Siddique has said he and his family want justice. Mr Siddique also made an appeal that his father’s death should not be politicised and nor should it go in vain.
In a post on X on Thursday, Zeeshan Siddique wrote: “My father lost his life protecting and saving the lives and homes of poor innocent people. Today, my family is broken but his death must not be politicised and definitely not go in vain. I NEED JUSTICE, MY FAMILY NEEDS JUSTICE!”

Baba Siddique, 66, was shot dead by three men outside Zeeshan’s Bandra East office around 9.30 pm on Dussehra, October 13. Police had said six bullets were fired at him, four of which hit him and another hit an aide in the leg. Siddique was rushed to the Lilavati Hospital, where he was declared dead.

Two of the shooters, Gurmail Baljit Singh from Haryana and Dharamraj Kashyap from Uttar Pradesh, were arrested soon after the murder while Shiv Kumar Gautam, who is also from Uttar Pradesh, is on the run.

On Sunday, Kashyap had claimed in a Mumbai court that his age was 17 despite his Aadhar card stating that he was 19, and a bone ossification test had been ordered. On Monday, the results of the test proved that he is not a minor.

Police sources said the suspects have claimed that they work for gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, who is lodged in Gujarat’s Sabarmati jail, and the same claim was made in a social media post on Sunday. The Facebook post was made on the handle of one Shubuu Lonkar, believed to be Bishnoi gang associate Shubham Rameshwar Lonkar, claiming responsibility for the murder.

Police said the post was made by Lonkar’s brother, Pravin, who was arrested from Pune on Sunday evening. On Tuesday, another arrest was made in the case – that of Harishkumar Balakram, 23, from Bahraich in Uttar Pradesh. Balakram worked as a scrap dealer in Pune and officials said he was part of the conspiracy to kill Baba Siddique.

The alleged handler of the three shooters, Mohammad Zeeshan Akhtar, is also on the run and the police are looking for him as well as Shubham Lonkar. Look-out circulars have been issued against both of them as well as Shiv Kumar Gautam.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/mla-zeeshan-siddique-on-father-baba-siddiques-murder-i-need-justice-my-family-needs-justice-6811777

A new handheld X-ray device developed for screening TB, enhances early detection and treatment efforts, ultimately improving public health outcomes.

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Director General Dr Rajiv Bahl spoke about new projects and achievements in public health and highlighted a significant advancement in tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis: a new handheld X-ray device developed for screening TB, enhancing early detection and treatment efforts, ultimately improving public health outcomes.
Speaking at the 19th International Conference of Drug Regulatory Authorities (ICDRA) INDIA-2024 on Wednesday, ICMR DG Dr Bahl said, “The handheld X-rays are available at a very high cost and now the IIT Kanpur in partnership with ICMR has developed a handheld X-ray indigenously which will be less than half the cost of what the cost of imported handheld X-rays are. This will make sure we can have screening for TB near the homes of patients and even the vulnerable population.”

Dr Bahl further said that India has developed three testing kits for Mpox as well. “We have developed three testing kits for Mpox and there are three companies who are manufacturing such kits,” he said.

Over a million people are affected in India with sickle cell disease, which is the second largest in the World, last year Prime Minister Narendra Modi also launched the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission to eliminate sickle cell disease as a public health problem by 2047.

ICMR is constantly working on this and recently they have conducted a brainstorming session with doctors and scientists all over the country at the New Delhi Head office.