MP में सर्द हुई रातें, कई जिलों में पारा 20 डिग्री के नीचे, जानें आज का मौसम

MP Weather: दिवाली पर कई शहरों में रात के समय तापमान में गिरावट दर्ज की गई. मौसम विभाग के अनुसार, दिवाली के बाद अब दिन में हल्की ठंडी हवाओं के साथ ही रात को ठिठुरन का अहसास हो सकता है.

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BJP Leader Devender Singh Rana Dies At 59

Senior BJP leader and Nagrota MLA Devender Singh Rana, brother of Union minister Jitendra Singh, died on Thursday at a private hospital in Haryana's Faridabad. He was 59.

According to a senior BJP leader, Rana was undergoing treatment at the hospital. He is survived by his wife, Gunjan Rana, their daughters Devyani and Ketki, and son Adhiraj Singh.

As the news of Rana's death spread, hundreds of people, including political leaders, gathered at his residence in the Gandhinagar area of Jammu. Union Minister Jitendra Singh also rushed to his house.

Rana, who turned to politics from business as he built a multi-crore business from scratch, was a strong voice for Jammu's Dogra community.

Rana was recently re-elected to the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly from the Nagrota segment of Jammu district, securing the seat for a second term.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed shock and grief over Rana's sudden demise. "In his passing, we have lost a patriotic and widely respected leader who was committed to the well-being of the people of J&K. I extend my deepest condolences to his family and friends. Om Shanti," the LG's office posted on X.

Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary also expressed condolences. "This news is especially disheartening on an auspicious day (Diwali). My condolences are extended to his family and PMO @DrJitendraSingh ji on the loss of his younger brother. Deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. Om Shanti," Mr Choudhary wrote on X.

PDP chief and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti also offered her condolences. "Shocked to hear about the sudden demise of Devender Rana Ji. Deepest condolences to his family and loved ones," Mufti said on X.

The Jammu and Kashmir BJP said his untimely demise is a great loss to the party and to the people of J&K. "His contribution and dedication to society will always be remembered. May his soul rest in peace, and may God provide strength to his family to bear this irreparable loss," the party posted on X.

Congress National General Secretary and MLA Ghulam Ahmed Mir expressed his shock and sorrow over Rana's death.

"My heartfelt condolences to the family, relatives, and friends of the deceased. Having interacted with him in politics and beyond, Rana was a great, supportive, and visionary leader, an entrepreneur whose business acumen created opportunities for many in J&K," Ghulam Ahmed Mir wrote on X.

Other political leaders including Sajad Lone, Junaid Matoo, Sunil Sharma, Tarun Chugh, Sham Lal Sharma, Choudhary Zulfikar Ali also offered their condolences on Rana's passing.

Once a trusted lieutenant of National Conference leader Omar Abdullah and his political advisor during his previous tenure as chief minister, Rana held considerable sway among Muslims, particularly the Gujjar community in Jammu.

Born into a Dogra family in Jammu's Doda district in 1965, he was the son of former bureaucrat Rajinder Singh Rana and the brother of Union Minister Jitendra Singh.

After earning a degree in civil engineering from NIT Kurukshetra, Rana ventured into business, founding his own automobile company. He led the creation of the Jamkash Vehicleades Group, a multi-crore enterprise, and a cable TV channel from scratch, establishing himself as a top entrepreneur in Jammu and Kashmir.

Rana began his political career with the National Conference (NC), where he rose to prominence as a key strategist and advisor, expanding the party's base in Jammu as Provincial President.

As a trusted aide to Omar Abdullah, he played a significant role in shaping party strategies in Jammu. In his debut bid for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, Rana contested from the Nagrota assembly segment -- a BJP stronghold -- and won it for the NC, defeating the BJP's Jugal Kishore Sharma, a three-time MP.

This victory underscored his ability to connect with a diverse voter base. He had previously served as an MLC and as NC's Provincial President since 2009.

After the abrogation of Article 370, Rana became a vocal advocate for the Jammu Declaration, calling for statehood restoration specifically for the Jammu region. His stance clashed with the People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration, a coalition seeking the restoration of Article 370 and statehood for the entire Jammu and Kashmir region.

In October 2021, after more than two decades with the NC, Rana resigned and joined the BJP. His deep roots in the Jammu region and close connections with local communities made him a prominent figure in J&K politics, particularly for the BJP. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Pressure From Women To Rethink Free Bus Ride Scheme: DK Shivakumar

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday said that the government will hold discussions on the Shakthi scheme in view of many women preferring to pay for their tickets.

"Many women have been communicating to us through social media and emails that they would like to pay for their tickets. We will discuss this," he said, while speaking to reporters after flagging off new Airavata club class 2.0 busses from KSRTC.

"About 5-10 percent of women are saying that the conductors are not taking money for the tickets even when they volunteer. I will soon hold a meeting with Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy and discuss this," he added.

Mr Shivakumar said that KSRTC has made a name for itself in the country.

"It has received 112 national and international awards in the last year. This is a credit to the hard work of its employees. When KSRTC started, it had 120 busses. Today, it has 24,282 busses. After we came to power, we announced a plan to purchase 6,200 busses and we have purchased 3,400 busses till now. We have also initiated recruitment of 9,000 drivers and conductors," he said.

He said that Karnataka has the most efficient transport system in the entire country.

"We have given jobs to about 1000 people on a compassionate basis. The families of employees who are killed in accidents are given Rs 1 crore compensation. We have the best system in the whole country," he said.

"KSRTC is not for-profit firm, it is there to serve the people. The government gets good name due to the good work of KSRTC. Private players have come forward to provide fuel to KSRTC at a cheaper than market rate. We will discuss with all stakeholders and proceed on this. Ramalinga Reddy is doing a great job in the Transport department," he said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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BJP Criticises Nawab Malik's Candidature Again. Why Ajit Pawar Backed Him

The BJP today issued a scathing criticism of the candidature of Nawab Malik, one of the key leaders of the Ajit Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party, who was backed by the party at the last minute for the Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar seat in the coming assembly election in Maharashtra. Mr Malik, accused in an alleged money laundering case involving mafia don Dawood Ibrahim and his associates Chhota Shakeel and Tiger Memon, had filed two nominations. One of these was as a member of the NCP and the other as an Independent. But after the party backing, he called himself the official candidate.

"The BJP's stance is very clear. All the parties in the alliance should decide their own candidate," said the party's Maharashtra unit chief Ashish Shelar later today.  

"The issue is only about Nawab Malik's official candidature from NCP. Devendra Fadnavis has time and again clarified the stance of the party, I say it again: The BJP will not campaign for Nawab Malik. There is no question of us campaigning for him, because we won't endorse anyone who's related to any Dawood or Dawood related case," he added, underscoring the reservations they expressed earlier as well. 

But the party gave the benefit of the doubt to Mr Malik's daughter Sana Malik, who is the NCP's official candidate from the Anushakti Nagar seat, where her father is the sitting MLA. 

"As long as we don't get any proof and information about her, all Mahayuti candidates are BJP's candidates," Mr Shelar said. 

NCP sources said there has been BJP pressure on Ajit Pawar not to give nomination to Nawab Malik. But Mr Pawar has also been facing criticism from closer quarters - his partymen, who feel that he has been compromising a little too much.

In the Lok Sabha election, the NCP was allowed to contest only four seats. In the assembly polls, they got the smallest share of Maharashtra's 288 seats - this even after bringing the same number of MLAs as Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to the ruling alliance.

Sources indicated that Mr Pawar had to assert himself somewhere - and this was an apt case since Nawab Malik is one of the top five leaders of his party. Mr Malik is a prominent face in the Muslim community and the loss of their support had cost the party a lot during the Lok Sabha election. 

The NCP traditionally had good relations with the Muslim community and Pawar Junior's alliance with the BJP has eroded this base.

But in view of the alliance and the BJP's reservations, sources said, the party did not make its support to Nawab Malik public till the last moment - that was at 2.55 pm, five minutes before the expiry of the deadline.

Mr Malik's big rival from Mankhurd, Samajwadi Party's three-time sitting MLA Abu Azmi, has said the BJP's reservations are an eyewash. His presence in the contest is expected to split the Muslim vote, if not beat the SP candidate outright.  

That would play into the hands of the ruling alliance. The BJPs' Kirit Somaiya has posted on X, formerly Twitter, that Shiv Sena's Suresh Krishna Patil is its official candidate.  

"Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar Legislative Assembly Shiv Sena candidate Suresh Krishnarao Patil (' popularly known as 'Bullet Patil') came to my office this evening. I assured him of my full support and wished him well," read his message posted this evening.
 

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Pappu Yadav Seeks More Security After Lawrence Bishnoi Gang Threats

Lok Sabha MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav has written a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, seeking enhanced security after he received a 'death threat' allegedly from a member of Lawrence Bishnoi gang.

The Independent MP from Bihar's Purnia has demanded 'Z' security for himself, while currently he only has 'Y' level security cover.

He further claimed he made multiple attempts to meet Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar regarding his security but to no avail.

Speaking to ANI, Pappu Yadav said, "I have seen a lot of ups and downs in the fight for social justice. I don't have any personal fight with anyone. I only talk about issues. It is the prerogative of the government to provide me with security. I am working to serve the public of Jharkhand and Jharkhand Mahagathbandhan alliance."

"I called Bihar Chief Minister's private secretary, even his chief secretary, but could not fix a meeting with him. I told them that there have been death threats given to me but my plea fell on deaf ears," he claimed.

The independent MP further said that he spoke about the matter to the Purnia Director General of Police (DGP), Inspector-General of Police (IG) and Superintendent of Police (SP) regarding this, urging immediate action.

"I tried to meet the Chief Minister of Bihar Nitish Kumar many times. They are giving security to those people who don't need any security. I don't know who is giving me threats. I have spoken to the DG and SP regarding this. Even after getting the threat I went to Mumbai and met Actor Salman Khan and the family of Baba Siddique. The Chief Minister of Bihar is not giving time to people who are not in government. I also spoke with Union Home Minister Amit Shah for security and have written a letter to him," he said.

Pappu Yadav allegedly received a death threat from a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, wherein the caller warned the Lok Sabha MP that he would kill him if he didn't stay away from issues involving Bollywood actor Salman Khan.

After Baba Siddique's murder, Pappu Yadav travelled to Mumbai and met his son Zeeshan Siddique.

He had also strongly criticised Lawrence Bishnoi and said he could alone deal with him if the law permits.

Rashtriya Janata Dal MP Misa Bharti also reacted to the incident and criticised the Gujarat government and the jail administration.

"I have received information from the media that gangster Lawrence Bishnoi is in jail in Gujarat. This shows the inefficiencies of Gujarat's jail administration as various threat calls are being given by him from jail. Gujarat Jail authorities should look into it and find out how much truth is there into it. They should inquire about it," she said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Moving Train Catches Fire Near Rohtak, In Haryana, Few Injured

A fire broke out in a moving train near Rohtak, Haryana on Monday evening following an explosion in firecrackers that were being carried by a passenger, officials said. A few passengers sustained minor injuries in the incident.

The train was headed to Delhi from Jind via Sampla and Bahadurgarh.

The fire broke out in a portion of the train and it was soon shrouded in smoke, the Government Railway Police (GRP) official said.

"According to preliminary information, it is suspected that there was a short-circuit in an electrical appliance on the train and as a result, some firecrackers that were being carried by a passenger burst," the official said on the phone from Bahadurgarh.

Two to three passengers sustained minor injuries in the incident, he said.

Forensic experts were called in to examine the spot and further investigation is underway, the officials said. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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On Illegal Migrants From Bangladesh, Himanta Sarma's Appeal To Bengal

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said today that 138 people trying to enter India from Bangladesh have been detected in the last two months in Assam and Tripura and that the border states must stay vigilant to avoid such infiltration. 

Addressing a press conference, Mr Sarma said, "Every day for the last two months, we have been capturing either one or a group of foreigners in our state. Basically, my feeling is that because of the porous boundary between India and Bangladesh, in spite of the best effort by the BSF, there are some people who are still coming into our country." 

States need to play a proactive role to prevent illegal immigration from Bangladesh into our country, Mr Sarma said, adding that Assam and Tripura are working very closely in this direction. He called on the West Bengal government to also cooperate with the Border Security Force and start detecting infiltrators. 

"Tripura is identifying a few foreigners, and Assam is also identifying...We are coordinating with the BSF. Sometimes, people are identified through a joint operation, sometimes by the BSF, and sometimes by the state police. It is a coordinated exercise," Mr Sarma said. 

"Every state government must remain vigilant and they must work very, very closely with the BSF. So, Assam and Tripura, we are working very closely. We are detecting people. If the Bengal government also starts detecting people, I think this will be well-orchestrated and this will be a systematic effort," he added.

Mr Sarma also said that contrary to the expectation that Hindus from Bangladesh would try to enter India due to the "instability" there, it is mostly Rohingya Muslims who are being detected infiltrating. 

"So I think, first, the perception about Hindu-Bengalis is wrong, that is what the data says. Second, Second, the Rohingya Muslims are still trying to come into the various states of our country," he said. 

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Ahead Of Vistara Merger, Air India Revises Policy For Cabin Crew Members

Ahead of the Vistara merger, Air India has finalised a revised policy for cabin crew members wherein layover allowances have been hiked and members will have to share rooms during layovers except for cabin executives, and those operating ultra-long haul flights.

The revised policy has been prepared after taking into consideration the feedback of cabin crew members. Earlier, the policy had proposed room sharing for cabin crew members irrespective of whether the flight is normal, long haul or ultra long haul.

The allowance for international layovers will be increased from USD 85-135 per layover night from USD 75-100, according to an internal communication of the airline.

Under the new policy, cabin crew members will have to share rooms during layovers.

However, cabin crew members of ultra-long haul flights will get single rooms during layovers as well as during unscheduled layovers in the event of a flight diversion, as per the internal communication.

Generally, ultra-long haul flights are those having a duration of 16 hours or more. Air India operates such flights to North America.

Cabin executives, who are senior members with around 8 years of flying experience, will also get single rooms during layovers.

These executives are trained to handle security and emergency situations, including administering first aid to passengers. Traditionally, all Air India cabin crew members had separate rooms for stay during layovers. Air India and Vistara together will have a staff strength of around 25,000. Out of them, there will be about 12,000 cabin crew members.

The revised policy will be effective from December 1.

For domestic layovers, a new support allowance of Rs 1,000 has been introduced. The meal option available to cabin crew on domestic sectors has been changed from only one meal to three meals, the internal communication said.

As part of the harmonisation of the policies in the run-up to the merger of Vistara with Air India, sources in the know said the policies pertaining to leaves, meals during layovers and medical insurance are being upgraded.

Among other benefits, the medical insurance for all employees of Air India will be Rs 7.5 lakh, irrespective of seniority.

Vistara is set to be merged with Air India next month.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"In A Society Governed By Dharma, There's No Room For Inequities": Veep

Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Saturday said dharma is the most fundamental concept of Indian culture, guiding all aspects of life and that inequities have no place in a society governed by dharma.

Dharma represents both the path, the passage as also the destination and the goal, applying to all spheres of existence including divine beings and serves as a practical rather than utopian ideal for righteous living, he said.

"Sanatana stands for empathy, sympathy, compassion, tolerance, non-violence, virtuosity, sublimity, religiosity and all these converge in one word, inclusivity," he added.

Addressing the gathering at the 'Namah Shivaya' Parayan organised by Sringeri Sri Sharada Peetham as part of their Suvarna Bharati Mahotsava here, Mr Dhankhar described "Mantra Cosmopolis" as a rare and spectacular event that resonates deeply, engaging the mind, heart, and soul, with everyone in harmony.

He emphasised that Vedic chanting, one of humanity's most ancient and continuous oral traditions, serves as a living link to our ancestor's profound spiritual wisdom. The precise rhythms, intonations, and vibrations of these sacred mantras create a powerful resonance that brings mental peace and environmental harmony.

"The systematic structure of Vedic verses and the intricate recitation rules reflect the scientific sophistication of ancient scholars. This tradition, preserved without written records, demonstrates the remarkable capacity of Indian culture to transmit knowledge orally across generations, with each syllable meticulously articulated in mathematical harmony," he stated.

He emphasised that Indian culture's defining feature is its unity in diversity, created through the blending of various traditions over time. This journey has instilled values of humility and non-violence. India stands unparalleled in its inclusiveness, representing all of humanity with a sense of unity.

"The divine essence of Indian culture lies in its universal compassion, encapsulated in the philosophy of "VasudhaivaKutumbakam," he said.

Referring to attempts made by "bigotry minds" in the past, the Vice-President said, "All kinds of efforts were made to run down our culture, taint and tarnish our heritage and destroy our moral fabric by some bigoted minds. The nation has survived because our culture is indestructible." 

Recognising Adi Shankaracharya's role in unifying and strengthening Indian culture through his easily comprehensible teachings, Mr Dhankhar said, "We owe a great debt to Adi Shankaracharya Ji for revival of timeless traditions of Indian spirituality and philosophy." Noting that pursuit of wealth should not be reckless or self-centered, he said if creation of wealth is harmonised with human welfare, it purifies the conscience and gives happiness.

He also stressed that business ethics must be aligned with spiritual principles, keeping in mind that Dharma is wedded to fairness to all, equitable behaviour to all, equality for all.

"In a society governed by dharma, there is no room for inequities," he added. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"Pak Terrorists Trying To Evoke Fear": Army On J&K Attack Which Killed 4

The attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla on Thursday, in which two Indian Army soldiers were killed in action and two civilian porters lost their lives, is proof that Pakistani terrorists are deliberately targeting Kashmiri locals to evoke fear in the Valley, the Army has said.

In a statement on Friday, the Srinagar-based Chinar Corps of the Indian Army said the brave soldiers, whose vehicle was attacked in Baramulla's Butapathri area, demonstrated their commitment to countering the "inimical agenda of Pakistan-abetted terrorism in Kashmir".

The Army vehicle was targeted on Thursday and two soldiers, Rifleman Kaisar Ahmad Shah and Rifleman Jeevan Singh from Kashmir's Anantnag and Haryana's Sirsa, were killed in action. The statement said the response by the two soldiers and other troops forced the terrorists to retreat, leaving a weapon behind.  

"Indian Army salutes the bravery of Rifleman Kaisar Ahmad Shah and Rifleman Jeevan Singh, who despite being hit responded and forced the terrorists to flee, before laying down their lives in this cowardly terrorist attack," the Chinar Corps said. 

"Actions by these brave soldiers prevented the terrorists from causing any further damage and demonstrated unwavering courage and commitment to safeguard the National Security and counter the inimical agenda of Pakistan abetted terrorism in Kashmir. Their selfless act is a testament to the Indian Army's resolve to safeguard our Nation and the citizens," it added.

The Chinar Corps also saluted Kashmiri porters Zahoor Ahmad Mir and Mushtaq Ahmad Choudhary who lost their lives in the attack. 

"It is evident that Pakistani terrorists are, deliberately and unregretfully, targeting Kashmiri locals to evoke fear and terror in Valley, which is progressing towards peace and stability. The only ideology these terrorists espouse is of 'The Reign of Terror in Valley'... The sacrifices of these brave Kashmiris and Indian Army Soldiers will inspire the future generations to stand against the perpetrators of terror," it said in the statement.

On Sunday, six construction workers and a doctor were killed after terrorists opened fire on a camp housing workers of a private company, who were building a tunnel in Jammu and Kashmir's Ganderbal district. A labourer from Uttar Pradesh, Shubam Kumar, was also shot at in Pulwama's Tral on Thursday morning. 

Farooq Abdullah, president of the National Conference, which formed a government in Jammu and Kashmir last week, also called out Pakistan as the source of terror attacks.

"Many of our colleagues have been martyred... but it continues every year and you know the ones responsible for it. They mistakenly think this will help them unite Kashmir with Pakistan," Mr Abdullah said on Friday. 

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German Chancellor Arrives In Delhi, To Hold Strategic Talks With PM Modi

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz arrived here on Thursday as part of his three-day official visit to India during which he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take part in wide-ranging talks on strategic ties in several key areas.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in a post on X said, "Olaf Scholz of Germany lands in New Delhi for the 7th Intergovernmental Consultations and the 18th Asia Pacific Conference of German Business (APK 2024)." The Chancellor, who arrived late Thursday night, was received by Ministry of State Home Affairs Nityanand Rai.

The MEA had in a statement earlier said that Scholz will pay an official visit to India from October 24 to 26 at the invitation of Prime Minister Modi.

The two leaders will hold wide-ranging talks with a focus on boosting bilateral strategic ties, including in the areas of defence, trade, and clean energy.

On Friday, Modi and Scholz will co-chair the seventh Intergovernmental Consultations (IGC).

The IGC is a whole-of-government framework under which ministers from both sides hold discussions in their respective areas of responsibility and report on the outcome of their deliberations to the prime minister and the chancellor.

The IGC is a biannual exercise, and the last one was held in Berlin in May 2022.

In the meeting between Prime Minister Modi and Chancellor Scholz, the German-Indian Green and Sustainable Development Partnership (GSDP) was agreed upon.

At a media interaction at his residence here on Wednesday, Ambassador Philipp Ackermann said the country "will have a big basket of things" to discuss on Friday when the chancellor and the five federal ministers of Germany will be in New Delhi.

The German Cabinet has recently adopted a key document, 'Focus on India', aimed at elevating the bilateral relations to the next level, the country's envoy also said. PTI KND VN VN

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Baba Siddique Shooter Was Promised Passport For Fleeing Country

The masterminds of the murder of NCP leader Baba Siddique had promised to obtain a passport based on fake documents for one of the shooters so that he could escape abroad, police said here on Thursday.

They also paid the shooter, Gurnail Singh (23), Rs 50,000, a police official told PTI.

Siddique, a former Maharashtra minister, was shot dead outside the office of his MLA son Zeeshan Siddique in the Bandra area here on October 12.

Gurnail and another alleged shooter Dharmaraj Kashyap were arrested immediately after the attack, whereas their accomplice Shivkumar Gautam managed to flee.

Gurnail Singh, a resident of Kaithal in Haryana, had a murder case registered against him in 2019, the official said.

He had fear of being convicted in that case and wanted to flee the country, as per the probe. The conspirators promised to help him leave India by obtaining a passport based on fake documents for him, the police official said.

Shivkumar, Dharmaraj and Gurnail were from the "second module" of the shooters who were in contact with `conspirator' Shubham Lonkar and `mastermind' Mohammed Zeeshan Akhtar, he said.

Shivkumar and Dharmaraj were allegedly paid Rs 1.5 to 2 lakh to execute the killing.

As per the Mumbai crime branch which is investigating the case, a "module" based in Thane, comprising Nitin Sapre and Ram Kanoujia, initially received the contract to kill Siddique.

They conducted a recce of Siddique's house and office for several days, the official said, adding that Rupesh Mohol (21), Karan Salvi (19) and Shivam Kohad (20) were also with them. Mohol, Salvi and Kohad were arrested from Pune on Thursday.

Sapre and Kanoujia demanded Rs 50 lakh for executing the killing, but the conspirators felt the sum was too big. The module led by Sapre then backed out, and a new set of shooters, including Gurnail Singh, was engaged by the conspirators, the official said.

Before that, Kanoujia had visited Udaipur with Bhagwatsingh Omsingh (also arrested) on July 7 to get the pistols that were eventually used in the crime.

The conspiracy to kill Siddique was hatched in the second half of June. As the weapons were sourced from north India, Mumbai police suspect that those who ordered the hit on Siddique were based in that part of the country, the official said.

Wanted accused Zeeshan Akhtar, who is from Jalandhar, was in Haryana in July and stayed at the residence of Amit Hisamsingh Kumar. Amit Kumar, now arrested, was an important link between Akhtar and Gurnail Singh, the official said.

So far, the police have arrested 14 persons in the case. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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On CCTV, 2 Terrorists Seen Entering Workers' Camp In J&K Before Attack

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.

The workers were employees of APCO Infrastructure, which is building a tunnel from Z-Morh to Sonamarg tourist resort to make the Srinagar-Sonamarg road an all-weather road. After the tunnel becomes functional, Sonamarg will be an all-season tourist destination. This will help the local economy and also generate employment for the local youth.

The attack, coming shortly after Jammu and Kashmir got a new government, was widely condemned by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Roads and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and former Chief Ministers Farooq Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti, and Ghulam Nabi Azad.

The Lt Governor sanctioned ex gratia relief in favour of the Gagangir victim families while APCO Infrastructure released Rs 25 lakh as immediate relief for the families of the victims.

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'Bengaluru Resembles Venice': HD Kumaraswamy's Dig As Rain Batters City

Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Tuesday took a dig at the Congress government in Karnataka for its handling of the rain situation, saying Bengaluru resembled Venice and not Singapore, which they had promised to transform it into.

As rains battered the country's IT hub for the third day, the JD(S) second-in-command told reporters, “They (Congress) had said they would make turn Bengaluru into Singapore, but we are seeing Venice like situation where people move around in boats.” He claimed that the issue is not just about water-logging in some parts of Bengaluru. For the past three years, people are forced to leave their homes and stay in hotels during rains.

Mr Kumaraswamy alleged that no state minister has made a field visit. Also, no one in the government including Chief Minister Siddramaiah showed the courtesy to speak about the huge crop loss in various parts of Karnataka.

The opposition BJP too slammed the state government for the potholes in the city.

“People are cursing the Congress government for not handling the potholes. Killer potholes rule in DCM D K Shivakumar's Brand Bengaluru. Dear Bengaluru Development Minister Shivakumar, first you please solve the problem of Bengaluru,” the BJP Karnataka unit said in a post on ‘X'. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Why Switch To Electric Vehicles 'Makes Sense'? Charge Zone CEO Explains

Kartikey Hariyani, the founder and CEO of Electric vehicle (EV) charging network Charge Zone, while speaking at NDTV World Summit 2024, explained why switching to EV makes Sense.

"In India, the purpose of an EV or a car is for personal mobility. 80 percent of the mobility requirement of an Indian consumer is less than 51 k a day. So, with this stat, EV becomes a natural choice for adoption but it also (poses) a question whether the cost makes sense. Then as an individual consumer, you will say I don't need an EV or the payback is not really attractive," he said.

Mr Hariyani, however, insisted that "there is good news around".

"Two developments have happened in the industry so far. In the last two quarters, the cost of the battery has come down by half. The second good news is some of the OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) have initiated battery as a service which means battery and charging will effectively becomes your fuelling system. So, what you are going to buy will be a car without the battery cost, it means (it would be) equivalent to the cost of a petrol car," he said.

Mr Hariyani stressed that one has to think through carefully in terms of how the recharging networks will be planned.

"For each of the EV segments, the industry players have started investing into this. Six years ago, standards got built into this. Later on, local ecosystem played a big part. Localisation did happen in terms of semiconductors as well as power electronics. Today we are ready with the chargers, localised both for three wheelers and four wheelers," he said.

He also said that even though fast-charging is a key for adoption of EVs but it's not just about cars but also buses and trucks.

"For a charging company like us, when we started off in 2019, there were green sprouts around electric cars coming into the market, then electric buses started coming. And today we see the launch of electric trucks. As a priority, I will enable inter-city mobility. In other words, charging infra on highways is our priority number one. We have electrified 33,000 kms of highways in India. Fast-charging is a cornerstone. But, if I invest into fast-charging only for cars, I won't be able to make money even in my whole life time. Inter-city buses and inter-city trucks are going to be the biggest enablers," he added.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised the importance of clean energy for a better future, stating that "clean energy is the need of the hour".

At COP26, India committed to reducing projected carbon emissions by 1 billion tonnes by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. These commitments necessitate a rapid transition to renewables.

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Protesting Doctors To Attend Meeting Called By Bengal Government On Monday

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.

Speaking to the doctors over the phone during a visit by Pant and Home Secretary Nandini Chakraborty to the protest site in Esplanade on Saturday afternoon, Banerjee said, "Everybody has the right to protest, but it shouldn't affect healthcare services. I would request you all to withdraw your fast." Banerjee also rejected the demand for the removal of Nigam, explaining that "it is not possible to remove everyone in a department at once; we have already removed the DHS (Director of Health Services) and DME (Director of Medical Education). Please rise above politics and rejoin work." The agitating doctors, supported by colleagues statewide, have threatened to escalate their protest by organising a strike of all medical professionals in West Bengal on October 22 if their demands are not met.

In addition to Nigam's removal, which the Chief Minister has resisted, the junior doctors are demanding elections in medical colleges. Banerjee requested more time, citing upcoming Diwali celebrations and bypolls in the state.

The junior doctors began a 'cease-work' on August 9 following the alleged rape and murder of their colleague at RG Kar hospital, and their hunger strike commenced on October 5 after nearly 50 days of 'cease-work' in two phases.

Their other demands include establishing a centralised referral system for all hospitals and medical colleges, implementing a bed vacancy monitoring system, and forming task forces to ensure essential provisions such as CCTV, on-call rooms, and washrooms at their workplaces.

They are also calling for increased police protection in hospitals, recruitment of permanent women police personnel, and the swift filling of vacant positions for doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Assam Rifles Says Power Outage At Posts After Row With Mizoram Minister

The Assam Rifles today said their posts across Mizoram faced an electricity outage for several hours on Thursday after soldiers allegedly stopped the convoy of Mizoram Power Minister F Rodingliana. Mr Rodingliana on Friday alleged his convoy was stopped by Assam Rifles soldiers on the outskirts of Aizawl while he was returning home from Champhai.

This led to a confrontation between officials accompanying and the paramilitary troops.

An official statement said the power outage across Assam Rifles' posts and locations in Mizoram, following the incident, jeopardises operational readiness and poses a security risk in border (Myanmar) areas.

"The power outage (on Thursday) affecting Assam Rifles posts across Mizoram appears to be a deliberate move aimed at obstructing their operations," the statement said.

Media reports said electricity supply was restored after six to seven hours when Assam Rifles commanders requested Chief Minister Lalduhoma.

The AR said that on October 17, a mobile vehicle checkpost was set up near Zokhawsang based on intelligence inputs about the possible transport of weapons.

"When the convoy of Rodingliana, comprising four vehicles, approached the checkpoint, the minister's vehicle was allowed to pass as per standard procedures. However, the convoy voluntarily stopped at the location where routine checks were being conducted on civilian vehicles. This contradicts the claim that Assam Rifles forcibly halted the convoy," the statement said.

It said that the public secretary to the minister, who came out of his vehicle, removed his jacket, verbally abused the Assam Rifles personnel on duty and forcibly took body cameras from the soldiers, while other members of the convoy engaged in disruptive behaviour, including unpatriotic remarks.

"Assam Rifles has consistently worked harmoniously with the Mizoram government, civil society organisations, and local communities, and has built strong relationships. The Power Minister appears to have acted on his own accord," the AR said in the statement.

The statement said the AR is mandated to guard the 510-km India-Myanmar border section in Mizoram and is also tasked with countering illegal drug trade under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

The AR this year so far in over 130 operations have seized drugs worth over Rs 690 crore in Mizoram, mostly along areas bordering Myanmar.

The reports concerning the incident involving the convoy of the minister and Assam Rifles on October 17 are "misleading, malicious, and seem intended to damage the reputation of Assam Rifles," the statement added.

The Opposition party Mizo National Front (MNF) alleged the Assam Rifles troopers "misbehaved" with the minister while the only Congress MLA C Ngunlianchunga and party president Lal Thanzara also blamed the AR and termed the incident "most unfortunate."

Mizoram's student body Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) and the youth wing of the ruling Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) said the action of Assam Rifles was an insult to the Mizo people, who elected the minister as their representative.

The MZP said it would file a complaint with the Home Ministry over Thursday's incident.

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Building Collapses After Explosion In Morena, Many Feared Trapped: Cops

At least half a dozen people are feared to be trapped under the debris after an explosion in a building in Madhya Pradesh's Morena district on Saturday.

The impact of the explosion was such that the building collapsed completely within a few seconds, turning into debris.

Eyewitnesses told the press that at least four residential buildings located adjacent to the blast site were also damaged badly.

Local area police and district administration were alerted and the rescue operation was underway. According to information, two women were rescued alive and they have been rushed to a nearby hospital.

JCB machines and the SDRF team reached the spot. Ambulances have also arrived to assist in the rescue of those feared trapped under the rubble.

The building where the explosion occurred belongs to Niranjan Rathor, a resident of Islampura area.

Police said the preliminary investigation suggests the blast occurred due to a fire in LPG cylinders. However, police also said firecrackers were also stored inside the building.

SDRF and police along with local residents were clearing debris to reach out to the people feared to be trapped.

"A building has collapsed and some people are feared to be trapped. Local area police have reached the spot and a rescue operation is underway," Morena SP Sameer Saurabh said.

Sameer Saurabh said what exactly caused the massive explosion will be known after the investigation. "Once the rescue operation is over, an investigation will be initiated with the help of the forensic team to find out the exact reason behind the blast," he added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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India Dispatches 11 Tons Of Medical Aid To Lebanon

India on Friday dispatched the first tranche of 11 tons of medical supplies to Lebanon as part of a humanitarian effort to support the nation amid rising tensions and the ongoing conflict in southern Lebanon. A total of 33 tons of medical supplies are being sent.

Randhir Jaiswal, the official spokesperson for the MEA, posted on X (formerly Twitter), "India sends humanitarian assistance to Lebanon. A total of 33 tons of medical supplies are being sent. The first tranche of 11 tons of medical supplies was dispatched today. The consignment comprises of a wide range of pharmaceutical products, including cardiovascular medications, NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), anti-inflammatory agents, antibiotics and anaesthetics."

?? sends humanitarian assistance to Lebanon.

A total of 33 tons of medical supplies are being sent. First tranche of 11 tons of medical supplies was dispatched today.

The consignment comprises of a wide range of pharmaceutical products, including cardiovascular medications,… pic.twitter.com/h35wcaeFHD

— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) October 18, 2024

According to the post, this is the first tranche of the 33-ton consignment, which includes cardiovascular medications, NSAIDs, anti-inflammatory agents, antibiotics, and anaesthetics. The remaining supplies are expected to follow in the coming days, marking a significant step in India's commitment to aiding Lebanon during this crisis.

Amid escalating violence in southern Lebanon, India has reiterated its strong stance on the safety of United Nations peacekeepers, particularly the personnel stationed along the Blue Line, which separates Lebanon from Israel. With multiple attacks reported on UNIFIL premises, Jaiswal emphasised the nation's concern.

"We take the safety of peacekeepers very seriously. We have called for all action to be taken to maintain the safety of the UNIFIL premises," Jaiswal said during a press conference. India has further confirmed that none of its troops are stationed along the Blue Line but continues to monitor the situation closely.

India's response comes amid growing concerns over the safety of peacekeepers, especially following the recent injury of two Indonesian UNIFIL peacekeepers due to Israeli tank fire. The MEA issued a statement saying, "We are concerned at the deteriorating security situation along the Blue Line. We continue to monitor the situation closely."

The statement also reiterated that the "inviolability of UN premises must be respected by all, and appropriate measures taken to ensure the safety of UN peacekeepers and the sanctity of their mandate."

The situation has drawn international attention, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling on UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to withdraw peacekeeping forces, citing Hezbollah's growing influence in the region.

UNIFIL, which has been operational in the region since 1978, recently renewed its mandate for another year, stressing the importance of protecting its peacekeepers as violence continues to escalate in southern Lebanon.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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India Plans To Limit Laptop Import To Boost Domestic Manufacturing: Report

India is expected to limit imports of laptops, tablets and personal computers after January, two government sources with direct knowledge of the matter said, a move to push companies such as Apple to increase domestic manufacturing.

This plan, if implemented, could disrupt an industry worth $8 billion to $10 billion and reshape the dynamics of the IT hardware market in India, which is heavily reliant on imports.

A similar plan to restrict imports was withdrawn last year following backlash from companies and lobbying from the United States. India has since monitored imports under a system set to expire this year and has asked firms to seek fresh approvals for imports next year.

The government feels it has given the industry enough time to adapt, said the sources, who did not want to be identified as discussions are private.

One of the sources said New Delhi will begin consultations with all sides starting next week. It could delay implementing the import restrictions by a few months if needed, the source added.

India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is working on a new import authorisation system, where companies will have to get prior approvals for their imports, one of the two sources said.

Under the current regime, laptop importers are free to bring in as many devices after an automated online registration.

The industry is dominated by the likes of HP, Dell, Apple, Lenovo and Samsung, with two-thirds of Indian demand being currently met through imports, a significant amount from China. India's IT hardware market, including laptops, is estimated at nearly $20 billion, of which $5 billion is domestic production, according to consultancy Mordor Intelligence.

The government is considering minimum quality standards under its 'compulsory registration order' for laptops, notebooks and tablets, as one of the ways to weed out low quality devices, the officials said.

"We are working on such restrictions as global treaties stop us from any tariff action on laptops and tablets. It leaves us with few policy options to limit imports," the second official said.

The federal electronics ministry did not respond to request for comment. The trade ministry said an appropriate decision on the import management system would be taken after consultation with the electronics ministry and other stakeholders.

Such a move will benefit contract manufacturers such as Dixon Technologies who have entered separate pacts with global firms like HP to make laptops and computers in India. Dixon aims to cater to 15% of India's total demand.

LOCAL PRODUCTION

Limits to India's imports should be calibrated based on India's domestic production capacity, an industry source who is part of the government's consultations said.

The nation's key production incentive scheme for IT hardware has drawn participation from global firms including Acer, Dell, HP and Lenovo. Most of the approved participants are ready to start manufacturing, India's electronic minister said last year.

India has federal subsidies worth nearly $2.01 billion to promote domestic production.

Data from research firm Counterpoint shows imports of laptops completely assembled abroad in the first five months of 2024 fell 4% from a year earlier, with firms such as Lenovo and Acer increasing local assembly for entry-level laptops.

India has been long emphasised the need for "trusted sources" for electronics and communication devices amid growing concerns over cyberattacks and data theft.

In 2022, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India should cut reliance on foreign countries for communication technology such as servers.

India will implement mandatory testing of "essential security parameters" for all CCTV cameras from April 2025.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Congress Agreed To Contest 2 Seats In UP? Samajwadi Party's Claim Contested

The sharing of 10 seats in Uttar Pradesh where by-polls are due, are turning into another tug-of-war between the Congress and the Samajwadi Party. The SP, which has already announced candidates for six seats, announced a seventh today, and said the Congress has agreed to contest only two seats. 

"Our agreement is final with the Congress. Of the 10 seats, the Congress will contest on two Khair (Aligarh) and Ghaziabad, while on the rest eight,the SP will contest," SP Spokesperson Rajendra Chowdhury was quoted as saying by news agency Press Trust of India. 

The Congress disagreed. The party has been demanding five of the 10 seats going to polls in November, though it is on a considerably weak footing after its disasterous performance in Haryana.

State Congress chief Ajay Rai said, "We are not aware of this. As of now, we stand by our demand of five seats". 

The SP has already declared candidates for seven seats including Muzaffarnagar's  Meerapur from where it has fielded Sumbhul Rana.
The Congress wanted this seat, but NDTV has confirmed that this time, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav is ready to give it only two seats -- Khair and Ghaziabad. 

Sources said the SP chief has relented because the party is interested in contesting two seats in Maharashtra as part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi Alliance. 

After the Congress's poor performance in the Haryana election, the SP had snubbed its request for seat sharing in the by-polls. It was not just about Congress performance though. As in Madhya Pradesh, the two parties had failed to come to an understanding about the seats in Haryana  -- which is one of the reasons attributed to its defeat in both states where it was widely expected to win.

In both cases, state Congress leaders were blamed - Kamal Nath in Madhya Pradesh and Bhupinder Hooda in Haryana. 

Nine of the assembly seats in UP fell vacant after their MLAs were elected as MPs in the Lok Sabha polls. Bypolls are being held in the Sisamau due to the disqualification of its MLA, Samajwadi Party's Irfan Solanki, who was convicted in a criminal case. Except Milkipur, the Election Commission has announced polls on the rest nine seats. 

The polling seats will be held on November 13.

The candidate for Meerapur, Sumbul Rana, is the daughter-in-law of former BSP MP Qadir Rana, who has now joined the Samajwadi Party. Sumbul Rana's husband is Shah Mohammad Rana.

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7 Of Family Killed After Car Falls Into Stream In Telangana

Seven members of a family, including three girls, were killed and another person was injured after a car they were travelling in fell into a stream in Medak district of Telangana on Wednesday, police said.

While two people died of injuries sustained in the accident, the others drowned, they said based on preliminary investigation.

The person, who was driving the vehicle was injured in the incident and has been shifted to a hospital.

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy expressed shock over the accident and directed officials to provide better medical treatment and necessary assistance to the injured, a release from CMO said.

He extended his condolences to the bereaved family.

The car crashed into a tree before falling into the stream along the road in Shivampet mandal, police said.

The occupants of the vehicle were natives of Shivampet mandal and were returning home after attending a family function in Siddipet.

The vehicle was allegedly driven rashly, they said.

Further investigation was on. 

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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घर से 1300 KM दूर रहती थी महिला, पति के पास आई, प्रेमी से करवाई हत्या

MP News : देवास के सिविल लाइन थाना क्षेत्र में झारखंड से एक महिला अपने पति के घर आई थी. महिला झारखंड में केंद्रीय विद्यालय में लाइब्रेरियन की पोस्ट पर तैनात है. महिला साल में सिर्फ दो-तीन बार ही ससुराल लौटती थी. पति को शक जरूर था. महिला के पति के पास लौटते ही जो हुआ, उसकी कल्पना किसी ने नहीं की थी.

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Baba Siddique's Killers Relied On YouTube For Shooting Practice: Sources

The shooters who killed Maharashtra politician Baba Siddique relied on YouTube videos to practise shooting. Accused Gurmail Singh and Dharamaraj Kashyap - who were arrested hours after they fired six rounds at Siddique - learned to shoot by watching videos on YouTube, sources said.

The police are trying to find out about the location they used to practice at, the sources added.

The Mumbai crime branch has so far recorded the statements of more than 15 people in this case, including many witnesses. The Mumbai Police also arrested one more person today - its fourth arrest - in connection with the killing of the NCP leader, claiming that he provided money and weapons for the crime.

Harishkumar Balakram Nisad (23), from Bahraich in Uttar Pradesh, was on Tuesday remanded in police custody till October 21 by a court in Mumbai.

Accused Pravin (arrested) and Shubham Lonkar (on the run) had given Rs 2 lakh to the arrested shooters Gurmail Singh and Dharamaraj Kashyap and this money was sent through the fourth accused Harish, the police said.

Nisad worked as a scrap dealer in Warje area of Pune city, said a police official.

Gurmail Baljit Singh (23), Uttar Pradesh native Dharmaraj Rajesh Kashyap (19) - the alleged shooters - were arrested on Saturday while "co-conspirator" Pravin Lonkar was arrested yesterday.

Three accused in the case - including another suspected shooter Shiva Lumar Gautam and Shubham Lonkar - are still on the run.

Nisad and Kashyap belong to the same village as the wanted accused Gautam.

Baba Siddique (66), a former Congress leader who had joined the Nationalist Congress Party earlier this year, was shot outside his MLA son Zeeshan Siddique's office in Bandra east's Nirmal Nagar area. He was rushed to the nearby Lilavati hospital where he was declared dead.

Pravin Lonkar was accused of "enlisting" two of the three alleged shooters. The police were also verifying a purported social media post of his brother Shubham, an alleged member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, owning up to the murder of Siddique.

The police have also written to the Facebook and Instagram authorities, seeking more details about the post.

Shubham Lonkar was also picked by Mumbai Police in June this year for questioning after the firing incident outside Salman Khan's house in Mumbai in April as the Bishnoi gang's involvement was suspected.

But he was let off as no evidence was found. Still, he was kept under surveillance, but on September 24 he became untraceable.

The crime branch, meanwhile, has recovered a 7.62 mm gun from a black bag found near the crime scene.

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Decade Of No Dialogue, Then A 20-Second Greeting, India, Pak De-Hyphenated

S Jaishankar, who is in Pakistan for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation or SCO Summit being hosted by Islamabad, had a brief interaction with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif today at an official dinner held for all the summit attendees.

The two leaders shook hands and exchanged a courtesy greeting as Mr Sharif welcomed Mr Jaishankar for the official dinner for SCO leaders. Few worlds were spoken during the interaction that lasted less than twenty seconds.

Ties between India and Pakistan have nearly been non-existent in the last decade since Pak-based terrorists targeted Indian military establishments in a series of terror attacks in 2015 and 2016. India, which has for long aimed for peace and stability in the region, has made it amply clear to Pakistan that "terror and talks cannot go hand-in-hand", and that "dialogue and diplomacy can only move forward in an environment free of terrorism."

NEARLY A DECADE OF NO DIALOGUE

Mr Jaishankar's visit to Pakistan is the first by an Indian minister in nearly ten years. The last visit by an Indian foreign minister was when Mr Jaishankar's predecessor, Sushma Swaraj, had visited Islamabad for a conference on Afghanistan. Mr Jaishankar, who was then the foreign secretary had accompanied the then minister on her official visit.

Sushma Swaraj's visit was followed in quick succession by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who pushed for peace in the region by taking the initiative and giving a surprise visit to then Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif at his ancestral home. But despite sincere efforts by India, talks were yet again derailed by a series of terror attacks on Indian soil by terrorists harboured and sheltered in Pakistan.

Before he reached Islamabad, Mr Jaishankar said at a press conference in New Delhi that his visit to the neighbouring country was only for the SCO summit and that no bilateral talks with Islamabad will be taking place.

| Watch: NDTV World Summit on October 21-22. Get All The Details Here.

Mr Jaishankar had said, "Like with any neighbour, India would certainly like to have good relations with Pakistan, but that cannot happen by overlooking cross-border terrorism and indulging in wishful thinking." The decision to send the senior minister to Pakistan, which is the host nation for the SCO Summit this time, is seen purely as a display of India's commitment to the forum.

Pakistan is hosting the two-day SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG) summit on October 15 and 16. "The SCO CHG meeting is held annually and focuses on the trade and economic agenda of the Organisation," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had said.
 

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Stage Set For Omar Abdullah To Take Oath As J&K Chief Minister

The stage is set for Omar Abdullah to take oath as the first chief minister of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir following the victory of his National Conference in the maiden assembly election after the abrogation of Article 370.

Preparations have been put in place for the oath ceremony of the chief minister and his council of ministers at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) on Wednesday, officials said.

The chief minister and his ministers will be administered the oath of office and secrecy by J-K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at 11:30 am.

Security has been tightened around the venue of the swearing-in ceremony, the officials said.

"The security has been increased especially as a lot of VVIPs will be attending the event. We will ensure the smooth conduct of the event," the officials added.

Invitations to attend the oath ceremony have been sent to the constituents of the INDIA bloc.

National Conference (NC) Kashmir provincial president Nasir Aslam Wani said it was not clear yet who will be attending the ceremony.

"We will get to know about the VVIP attendees later this evening after receiving their confirmation," Wani said.

Sinha on Monday invited the NC vice president to take oath as the J&K chief minister.

The invitation came a day after the Centre revoked the President's rule in the Union Territory.

In a letter to Abdullah, Mr Sinha said, "I have received a letter of 11th October 2024 from Dr. Farooq Abdullah, President, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, wherein it has been informed that you have been unanimously elected as Leader of the Legislature Party." 

He said he has also received a letter from Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief Tariq Hameed Karra, CPI(M) secretary G N Malik, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national secretary Pankaj Kumar Gupta and Independent MLAs-elect Payare Lal Sharma, Satish Sharma, Mohammad Akram, Rameshwar Singh and Muzafar Iqbal Khan extending their support to the NC.

"I am pleased to invite you to form and lead the Government of Jammu and Kashmir. As separately settled, I shall administer Oath of Office and Secrecy to you, and to those recommended by you for induction as members of your Council of Ministers, at SKICC, Srinagar on 16th October 2024 at 11:30 a.m," Sinha said in his letter.

The LG's emissary had handed over the letter to Abdullah and informed him about the date and time of the swearing-in ceremony.

Abdullah was unanimously elected the leader of the NC Legislature Party on Thursday, setting the stage for his second term as chief minister. His first term, from 2009 to 2014 when Jammu and Kashmir was a full-fledged state, was also under an NC-Congress coalition government.

The NC won 42 out of the 90 seats which went to poll in the recent elections, while the Congress won six. Together, the two pre-poll allies hold a majority in the 95-member assembly -- five members are to be nominated by the LG.

Their strength is further bolstered by the support from five Independent MLAs-elect and a lone AAP MLA-elect.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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On Hijab Inside Booths, Poll Body Points To 'Rule', 'Cultural Value'

Voters at polling booths will be identified as per election rules but with due respect to their cultural values, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said on Tuesday.

Mr Kumar made the comments in response to a question on controversies surrounding women wearing hijab to polling booths and debate around democratic rights versus cultural rights.

"The conduct of election rule 35 specifically mentions about identification of electors and 34 mentions about facilities for women electors. Identification of voters will be done exactly as per those rules but with full respect and regard to the cultural aspects of the area," the CEC said.

"There are some issues which are prevalent in many states like Rajasthan..many parts of the country..the identification will be as per rules position and fullest possible respect to the cultural value of that particular area," he added.

In May, a purported video clip had surfaced showing BJP candidate for Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat K Madhavi Latha asking burqa-clad women Muslim voters to show their faces to compare with the photo identity cards.

In the same month, a delegation of the Delhi BJP met the Chief Electoral officer (CEO) demanding proper verification of women voters wearing 'burqa' or face masks with the help of female officials during polling. It said the step would prevent "anti-social and anti-democratic elements" from "rigging" the elections on the seven Lok Sabha seats in the national capital.

The Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday announced the schedule of the Maharashtra and Jharkhand Assembly polls, besides bypolls to 47 Assembly seats and the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Baba Siddique Shooters Were Given Flex Banner To Identify Target: Cops

The plot to kill former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique was hatched over 100 km away in Pune months ago during several meetings. The shooters were given Rs 50,000 as an advance, Baba Siddique's photo and a flex banner to "identify the target", the cops revealed. 

Baba Siddique was shot dead on October 12 outside his son's office in Mumbai. Three shooters - Gurmel Baljit Singh, Dharmaraj Kashyap and Shivkumar Gautam from Uttar Pradesh killed - Baba Siddique. The cops have arrested Gurmel and Dharmaraj, the third shooter on the run.

Yesterday, the cops got a breakthrough when Pravin Lonkar - an alleged co-conspirator - was arrested. The initial investigation has revealed new details on how the plan to assassinate Mr Siddique was hatched.

Mumbai crime exposed the alleged role of Pune-based Pravin Lonkar and his brother Shubham Lonkar in the plot. "The motive behind the killing will be ascertained once the wanted accused are arrested," a police official said.

Meanwhile, sources told NDTV that the accused have claimed that they work for gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. Bishnoi, who is lodged at Gujarat's Sabarmati jail, was also involved in the shooting incident outside the Mumbai residence of Bollywood actor Salman Khan, who is known to have been a close friend of Baba Siddique.

Police said the Lonkar brothers are key figures in the crime. The duo allegedly financed the shooters, coordinated logistics, and orchestrated meetings leading up to the attack.

Pravin worked at a dairy owned by Shubham, where they recruited Shivkumar Gautam and Dharmaraj Kashyap, who had connections to a nearby scrap shop.

The conspiracy took shape over several meetings, with promises of substantial payment upon successful "execution of the plan". The shooters were given an advance of Rs 50,000 each. They purchased a motorcycle to monitor Mr Siddique's routine, officials said.

Pravin Lonkar is accused of drafting two shooters to target Siddique and identified by police as a "co-conspirator".

The cops are on the hunt to catch the suspected "handler", Mohammad Yasin Akhtar, and shooter Gautam, who allegedly fired at the senior politician.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday said the third accused in the Baba Siddique murder case will be arrested "soon".

The investigation disclosed that it was Gautam who called Kashyap to work with him in Pune three months ago, the police official said.

Subsequently, Gautam relocated to Vinoba Bhave Nagar locality in Kurla in Mumbai in September last year and started staying on rent. He roped in Singh in the conspiracy, he said.

All three shooters- Singh, Kashyap, and Gautam- were paid Rs 50,000 each upfront. Investigations have revealed that the three accused used to travel from Kurla (where they lived on rent) to Bandra every day, mostly in auto rickshaws, and recce the places Baba Siddiqui and his son used to frequent. These places included areas around their house, office, and the events they attended.

Gautam fired on Mr Siddique while Kashyap and Gurmel Singh stood behind him. Kashyap was carrying pepper spray which he used on Siddique after he was shot.

While Kashyap and Gurmer Singh were arrested from the spot in Bandra, Gautam fled.

In a purported post on Facebook, Shubham Lonkar attributed the attack to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. This post has since been deleted, but screenshots have circulated widely. The Mumbai Police are now coordinating with social media platforms to trace its origins.

The probe found that Shubham Lonkar gave the shooters guns and ammunition. He was incarcerated in a separate arms case registered against him in Akola district in January.

Police have confiscated two pistols, 28 live rounds, and four mobile phones from the suspects, which are being analysed for further insights into the conspiracy, the official said.

The crime branch is trying to identify the persons with whom the Lonkar brothers were in touch.

"We are investigating all possible angles, including the involvement of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang," the official said, adding that the persons involved in the crime were assigned particular tasks.

On the possibility of Mumbai Police questioning Lawrence Bishnoi, currently lodged in the Sabarmati Jail, the official said a proposal had been sent to the Home Department for his custody in a case registered earlier.

- With inputs from PTI

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"Land, Spit Jihad Will Not Be Allowed In Uttarakhand": Pushkar Dhami

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said on Sunday that religious conversion, encroachment, "land jihad and thook (spit) jihad" will not be allowed in ‘Devbhoomi' Uttarakhand.

He also called upon the educated people to come forward to stop such things.

At a felicitation ceremony in Udham Singh Nagar district's Kichha, the chief minister said that Uttarakhand is ‘Devbhoomi' where everyone lives together.

"But religious conversion will not be allowed in Uttarakhand, encroachment will not be allowed, land jihad will not be allowed. Some people are doing spit jihad in Uttarakhand, but spit jihad will not be allowed in the state," Mr Dhami said.

"Educated people should come forward to stop bad things in the society. Whatever is wrong, will not be tolerated. This will not be tolerated in Uttarakhand at any cost,'' he said.

Recently, two brothers – Naushad Ali and Hasan Ali, residents of Khatauli in the Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh – were arrested for allegedly spitting in a tea pot and serving that tea to customers.

Mr Dhami said his government is taking tough but necessary decisions. He mentioned the anti-copying law, anti-riot law etc and said the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) will also be implemented in the state soon.

He said the people of Uttarakhand had given a mandate to his government for UCC and it will become the first state to implement it in independent India.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"Act Against Evildoers": BJP MLA Distributes Swords Among Girls In Bihar

BJP MLA Mithilesh Kumar distributed swords among girls during the Vijayadashami celebration in Bihar's Sitamarhi district on Saturday.

“If any evil person dares to touch our sisters, his hand will be chopped off with this very sword,” he said while addressing the gathering at one of the Puja Pandals at Kaprol Road in Sitamarhi city.

“We have to make our sisters capable of cutting off their hands and, if needed, me and you all would have to do this. All those evildoers who have ill will against our sisters must be destroyed,” Mr Kumar said.

Mithilesh Kumar appealed to the people to support him in his initiative and encouraged people, especially women, to act against evildoers. The swords were distributed to school- and college-going girls.

Mr Kumar displayed several firearms, swords and other weapons at the venue and worshipped them.

Mithilesh Kumar is a BJP MLA from the Sitamarhi constituency. He made headlines at the start of Navratri when he visited several Durga Puja Pandals and distributed swords.

Worship of weapons is a tradition among a section of the Hindu community during Navratri. 

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In Big Breakthrough, Cops Arrest Main Shooter In Delhi Gym Owner's Murder

Achieving a major breakthrough, the Delhi Police has arrested the man who had shot a gym owner in south Delhi's upscale Greater Kailash area last month. The man, who is believed to be associated with the Lawrence Bishnoi and Hashim Baba gangs, was arrested after a shootout.

Police said they had received a tip-off that Madhur alias Mota Arman, who was the main shooter in the killing of Nadir Shah, would be in the Narela Industries area in north Delhi on Saturday. A team laid a trap for him and when he arrived in the area on a motorcycle around 9 pm and was asked to stop, he opened fire.

The police fired back and some bullets hit Madhur, who is undergoing treatment at a hospital. A pistol and 12 cartridges were recovered from the spot.

"In this shootout, Madhur sustained bullet injuries in his right knee and left ankle. A bullet fired by him hit Sub-Inspector Adesh Kumar, who was wearing a bulletproof jacket," an official was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. 

CCTV footage of the September 12 shooting had shown Madhur, wearing a checked shirt, opening fire at Shah in Greater Kailash-1. An associate who was with Shah managed to duck but the gym owner was shot six to eight times and died at a hospital.

Police had later said that Shah, who is of Afghan origin, had come in the crosshairs of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang because he had asked his business partner not to pay Rs 5 crore that the outfit had tried to extort from him.

Shah was allegedly also friends with south Delhi gangsters Ravi Gangwal and Rohit Chaudhary, who were enemies of Hashim Baba, a northeast Delhi gangster. Sources said Rohit Godara, a key member of the Bishnoi gang - who has claimed responsibility for Shah's murder - used this enmity to rope in Hashim Baba in his plan to kill the gym owner.

Hashim Baba brought in Randeep, a gangster from Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh, who is currently in the US. Baba, who is lodged in Tihar Jail, also roped in his jailmate Sameer Baba, a gangster who was once threatened by Shah. 

At least four arrests had been made in the case earlier.

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When Baba Siddique Helped End SRK-Salman Khan Feud

Former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique was shot dead in Mumbai's Bandra today. A political veteran in Maharashtra, Mr Siddique left Congress, after nearly five decades of association with the party, and joined the ruling BJP's ally Nationalist Congress Party in February this year.

He had served as a minister when the Congress and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP coalition government was in power.

Mr Siddique was known not just for his political connections across party lines but also for hosting lavish parties. In one such party in 2013, Mr Siddique inadvertently played a role in uniting two of Bollywood's megastars, Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan.

Despite occasional conflicts and publicised disagreements, the two actors have maintained a bond over the years. One significant moment in their relationship unfolded at Baba Siddique's Iftaar party in 2013, bringing an end to a five-year-long cold war.

The Iftaar party hosted by Mr Siddique became the backdrop for the much-anticipated reconciliation between the Khans. Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan, who had previously avoided each other following a heated argument at Katrina Kaif's birthday party in 2008, finally came face to face. The tension that had overshadowed their relationship dissipated as they warmly greeted each other and shared a heartfelt hug. A photo capturing that moment went viral across social media and news channels alike.

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India "Concerned" As Israel Hits UN Facility In Lebanon, IDF Puts Out Map

India has expressed grave "concern" over the abysmal conflict situation in West Asia as Israel intensifies its resolve targeting Hezbollah hideouts. New Delhi issued a statement today after UN peacekeepers stationed in south Lebanon came under fire from Israeli forces.

Among the UN peacekeepers stationed in Lebanon, there are approximately 900 Indian soldiers. It is important to note that they were not at the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon or UNIFIL headquarters at the time it was attacked by Israeli forces. Besides the soldiers, there are around 25 staff officers, including medical experts deployed there.

"We are concerned at the deteriorating security situation along the Blue Line," the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement, adding that "We continue to monitor the situation very closely."

New Delhi underscored the importance it attaches to United Nations' peacekeeping initiatives saying UN premises cannot be allowed to be targeted, and respecting its sanctity is a mandate.

"Inviolability of UN premises must be respected by all, and appropriate measures taken to ensure the safety of UN peacekeepers and the sanctity of their mandate," the foreign ministry said.

Israel however, has defended its actions, with the Israeli Defense Forces or IDF claiming that "Since the beginning of the war, Hezbollah has fired more than 130 rockets in close proximity" to 26 United Nations facilities."

The IDF also put out a map in which it has identified these places as being "less than 300 meters" from the UN facilities.

WHAT THE UNITED NATIONS SAID - UNIFIL STATEMENT

The UN has said, "Recent escalation along the Blue Line is causing widespread destruction of towns and villages in south Lebanon, while rockets continue to be launched towards Israel, including civilian areas. In the past days we have seen incursions from Israel into Lebanon in Naqoura and other areas. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers have clashed with Hizbullah elements on the ground in Lebanon."

It further said that "UNIFIL's Naqoura headquarters and nearby positions have been repeatedly hit," adding that on Thursday "two peacekeepers were injured after an IDF Merkava tank fired its weapon toward an observation tower at UNIFIL's headquarters in Naqoura, directly hitting it and causing them to fall. The injuries are fortunately, this time, not serious, but they remain in hospital."

Speaking about the Israeli offensive, the UN statement asserted that "IDF soldiers also fired on UN position (UNP) 1-31 in Labbouneh, hitting the entrance to the bunker where peacekeepers were sheltering, and damaging vehicles and a communications system. An IDF drone was observed flying inside the UN position up to the bunker entrance."

It further highlighted that on Wednesday "IDF (Israeli) soldiers deliberately fired at and disabled the position's perimeter-monitoring cameras. They also deliberately fired on UNP 1-32A in Ras Naqoura, where regular Tripartite meetings were held before the conflict began, damaging lighting and a relay station."

Reminding Israeli forces that its attacks on UN facilities is a grave violation of international humanitarian law as well as UN Security Council resolution 1701, the UN said, "We remind the IDF and all actors of their obligations to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and property and to respect the inviolability of UN premises at all times. UNIFIL peacekeepers are present in south Lebanon to support a return to stability under Security Council mandate. Any deliberate attack on peacekeepers is a grave violation of international humanitarian law and of Security Council resolution 1701."

WHAT IS UN SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION 1701

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 is a resolution that was adopted with an intention to resolve the 2006 Lebanon War.

The resolution has been the linchpin of peace between Israel and Lebanon for almost two decades and the 10,000 UN peacekeepers who are tasked with implementing it on the ground.

United Nations Security Council unanimously adopts resolution 1701 in 2006. (file) (Photo Credit: un.org)

Adopted unanimously by the UN Security Council in 2006, the purpose of resolution 1701 continues to be about ending hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, with the Council calling for a permanent ceasefire to be based on the creation of a buffer zone.

WHAT IS 'THE BLUE LINE'

The 'Blue Line' is a United Nations-recognised demarcation line to indicate that Israel had withdrawn its military from southern Lebanon. It separates Lebanon from Israel and the Golan Heights, but it is not an official international border.

Stretching for 120km along Lebanon's southern frontier and Israel's northern border, the so-called "Blue Line" is "a key to peace in the region" and one of the central elements of resolution 1701 since the war in 2006, with UNIFIL peacekeepers being its temporary custodian, according to UN Peacekeeping.

UNIFIL and Lebanese officers operate one of the "Blue Barrels", which determine the Blue Line, in southern Lebanon in 2010. (file) (Photo Credit: un.org)

Based on various historical maps, some dating back almost a century, the Blue Line is not a border, but a temporary "line of withdrawal" set by the UN in 2000 for the practical purpose of confirming the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon.

Whenever Israeli or Lebanese authorities wish to undertake any activities close to the Blue Line, UNIFIL requests that they provide advance notice, allowing the UN mission to keep authorities on all sides informed, to minimise any misunderstandings that could lead to increased tensions.

ISRAEL'S LETTER TO THE UNITED NATIONS

Israel's Minister of Foreign Affairs has written a letter to the United Nations clarifying its stance amid the ongoing and escalating crisis in the Middle East (West Asia), especially with regard to its operations in Lebanon.

In its letter, the minister wrote that "On Ictiber 8, 2023, Hezbollah, a terrorist, Iranian-backed organisation, launched an unprovoked attack on Israel, joining the war initiated by Hazas on October 7, 2023. Since then they have fired over 13,000 projectiles, 1500 anti-tank missiles and hundreds of explosive drones at Israeli communities, forcing more than 63,000 people to evacuate their homes."

The minister further said that "This war which was imposed on Israel has so far resulted in 51 casualties and over 372 injuries, besides causing severe damage ot Israeli towns and villages."

The minister said that as a result of Hezbollah's unilateral and unprovoked actions, "One year later, on October 1, 2024 the IDF initiated a targeted, limited raid operations in southern Lebanon aimed at Hezbollah military assets and infrastructure along the Blue Line, with a goal of dismantling them and neutralising the ongoing threat."
 

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रतन टाटा का जाना... एक युग का अंत! खरगोन की जनता बोली- चला गया गरीबों का मसीहा

Public Opinion: रतन टाटा का जाना देश के लिए अपूरणीय क्षति है. वह सिर्फ एक उद्योगपति नहीं, बल्कि एक महान समाजसेवी थे, जिन्होंने गरीबों के लिए बहुत काम किया. उनका योगदान देश के इतिहास में हमेशा याद रखा जाएगा. 

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Heavy Rain Along With Thunderstorms Hit Mumbai, Festival Celebrations Hit

Heavy rains accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning lashed several parts of Mumbai late Thursday evening.

Due to the showers, waterlogging was reported from some low-lying areas in the metropolis.

The sudden downpour took many by surprise as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had only issued a 'yellow' alert for light to moderate rainfall in the financial capital.

The showers also hampered the ongoing Navratri festivities and spoiled 'garba' (a ritualistic and devotional dance associated with the nine-day festival) plans of many revellers. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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PETA India Urges Salman Khan To Remove Donkey From Bigg Boss 18 Set

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India on Wednesday appealed to Bollywood superstar Salman Khan to use his influence to remove a donkey from the sets of "Bigg Boss 18".

In a letter sent to Salman Khan, PETA India highlighted growing public concern over the use of the donkey, which was introduced on the popular reality show's latest edition as the 19th contestant Gadhraj.

Season 18 of "Bigg Boss", hosted by Salman Khan, premiered on Colors TV channel on Sunday.

"We are being inundated with complaints by members of the public who are deeply distressed over the keeping of a donkey in the 'Bigg Boss' house. Their concerns are valid and must not be ignored," read the letter.

Through the letter, penned by its representative Shaurya Agrawal, PETA India asked the "Tiger 3" star to use his "influence to urge the show's producers to avoid using animals as props for entertainment".

"This would not only prevent stress to the animals and upset to viewers but also set a powerful precedent," it read.

In the letter, the not-for-profit organisation also requested that the donkey be surrendered to PETA India for "rehoming in a sanctuary", where it could live alongside other rescued donkeys.

The complaints center around the donkey being confined in a small space and exposed to the harsh conditions of a television set, which can be particularly distressing for prey animals like donkeys.

"'Bigg Boss' is lighthearted entertainment, but the use of animals on a show set is no laughing matter. As prey animals, donkeys are naturally nervous. They, and other animals, would find the lights, sounds and clamor that is standard on all show sets confusing and frightening.

"That a show set is no place for an animal is obvious to viewers who are saddened to see the donkey kept in a small, confined space standing in waste," the letter stated. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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States Informed To Comply With Emission Standards: Air Quality Panel

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has informed the Supreme Court that it has asked the Delhi government and the neighbouring states for strict compliance with the emission standards and pollution norms, given vehicular pollution contributes heavily towards poor air quality.

In a compliance report filed before the top court, the air quality panel said that regular certification of vehicles for compliance with emission standards was a must.

According to the panel's data, a total of 1.81 lakh challans were issued in Delhi till June 2024 for either driving without valid pollution under control certificate (PUC) or driving over the prescribed load limit, in comparison with 1.64 lakh challans for similar offences in 2023.

"Regular certification of vehicles towards compliance of emission standards is a must and in this context the commission has directed the national capital region (NCR) state governments and the government of national capital territory of Delhi (GNCTD) for effective implementation of the new PUC certificate regime, including periodic audits of the PUC certificate issuing agencies, in compliance of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules (Amendment) Rules, 2021 dated June 14,2021," the CAQM said.

The body further informed the supreme court that drives were being carried out regularly for ascertaining compliance.

The panel further said that all states concerned have been directed to strictly adhere to the age limit of vehicles -- 15 years in the case of petrol vehicles and 10 years in case of diesel vehicles -- and ensure any vehicle above the prescribed age limit does not ply on NCR roads.

The panel said a boost in public transport infrastructure and facilities is the need of the hour to ease congestion on roads and abate vehicular pollution.

"The GNCTD and NCR state governments have been accordingly advised to prioritise public transport while also mandating e-mobility in some sectors and augmentation of the charging infrastructure," it said.

Batting for a transition to e-mobility, the commission said it has issued an advisory "mandating procurement of e-vehicles" in the government, e-commerce platforms for door-to-door deliveries, service agencies etc., to give a further push to clean technologies in the transport sector.

"Equally important is the need to build requisite infrastructure to support e-mobility i.e., battery charging stations, battery swapping points and for disposal of large volume of batteries which is likely to be generated in the ensuing years," the panel said.

The commission disclosed that Delhi has 3,00,810 electric vehicles and 4,793 charging points.

It said that GNCTD has been given a target of increasing the number of charging points to 18,000 by 2025-26, with UP and Haryana being set targets for an addition of 252 and 170 points, respectively, by the end of 2026.

The submissions were part of a report filed in response to the directions of the top court, which is hearing a plea to curb air pollution in the national capital.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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2 Malayalam Actors Met Gangster Arrested In Drug Case, Says Police

The names of two prominent Malayalam actors have emerged in a case involving a notorious gangster who was arrested from a star hotel in connection with a drug case recently, according to police.

The names of actors Sreenath Bhasi and Prayaga Martin, who have been part of several hit movies, appeared in the custody application report submitted by the Maradu police investigating the case following the arrest of gangster Om Prakash.

Prakash was involved in several criminal cases. He and his accomplices were apprehended at the hotel in Maradu on charges of possessing banned narcotics.

The Maradu police, in their report, stated that they had received secret information indicating that the accused were procuring substances like cocaine from abroad and distributing them at DJ parties being organised in the city.

The accused had been under surveillance by the intelligence wing of the police.

To evade police detection, the gangster booked hotel rooms in another person's name, according to the police.

As a detailed investigation was conducted, it was found that over 20 individuals, including film actors Bhasi and Martin, had visited Prakash at the hotel, the report noted.

Prakash is accused in over 30 cases, police further stated.

A senior police officer said a comprehensive investigation is being carried out in the case, and investigators have collected all vital evidence in this connection.

"Various articles were collected from the site where the accused were arrested. They were sent for the forensic examination, and their results are awaited," he told reporters here.

The officer said the call details of mobile phones seized from the accused would be examined, and a detailed interrogation of those who contacted the gangster would be carried out after that.

When asked about the film actors who had allegedly visited him, the officer said the police had collected all details, including CCTV visuals from the hotel.

Bhasi and Martin's names in the police report come at a time when allegations of various malpractices in the Malayalam film industry, including sexual abuse of female actors and drug abuse, were revealed in the Justice Hema Committee report, triggering an uproar in the state recently. The two actors were yet to react to the developments.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Delhi-London Air India Flight Diverted To Denmark Over Medical Emergency

An Air India flight from Delhi to London was diverted to Copenhagen on Sunday due to a medical emergency, according to an airline official.

A male passenger who was feeling ill was de-planed at Copenhagen (Denmark) and taken to a local hospital for medical attention. Later, the flight departed for London, the airline official said.

"Our ground colleagues at Copenhagen airport did their best to minimise inconvenience caused to all the guests due to the diversion," the official added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Supreme Court Dismisses Petition Seeking Review Of Its Poll Bonds Scheme Order

The Supreme Court has dismissed a batch of pleas seeking review of its February 15 verdict, which had scrapped the Modi government's electoral bonds scheme of anonymous political funding.

A bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices Sanjiv Khanna, B R Gavai, J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra said there is no error apparent on the face of the record.

The top court also rejected the prayer for listing the review petitions in an open court.

"Having perused the review petitions, there is no error apparent on the face of the record. No case for review under Order XLVII Rule 1 of the Supreme Court Rules 2013. The review petitions are, therefore, dismissed," the bench said in its order dated September 25 that was uploaded today.

The review pleas filed by advocate Mathews J Nedumpara and others contended that the matter related to the scheme falls in the exclusive domain of legislative and executive policy.

"The court failed to notice that even assuming the issue is justiciable, the petitioners therein having not claimed any specific legal injury exclusive to them, their petition could not have been decided as if a private litigation for the enforcement of rights which are specific and exclusive to them," Nedumpara had submitted in his plea.

He had said the court failed to notice that the public opinion could be sharply divided and the majority of the people of this country could probably be in support of the scheme, brought into existence by their elected representatives, and that they too have a right to be heard as much as the petitioners.

"The court failed to notice that, if at all it is venturing into the forbidden domain of adjudicating upon a matter of legislative policy, they have a duty to hear the public at large and that the proceedings ought to be converted into representative proceedings," the plea had said.

Holding that the 2018 electoral bond scheme was "violative" of the constitutional right to freedom of speech and expression and right to information, a five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice of India Chandrachud had scrapped the scheme.

The top court had also directed the State Bank of India (SBI), the authorised financial institution under the scheme, to submit the details of electoral bonds purchased since April 12, 2019, to the Election Commission, which was asked to publish the information on its official website.

Under the electoral bonds scheme, ruling parties can coerce people and entities to contribute, the apex court had said and rejected as "erroneous" the Centre's argument that it protects the confidentiality of the contributor which is akin to the system of secret ballot.

The electoral bonds scheme, which was notified by the government on January 2, 2018, was pitched as an alternative to cash donations made to political parties as part of efforts to bring transparency in political funding.

On March 13, the SBI told the Supreme Court that a total of 22,217 electoral bonds were purchased and 22,030 redeemed by political parties between April 1, 2019 and February 15 this year.

In a compliance affidavit filed in the apex court, the SBI said as per the court's direction, it has made available the details of electoral bonds to the Election Commission of India before the close of business hours on March 12.

The electoral bond controversy had become a major poll issue during the Lok Sabha elections as the opposition alleged it was an "extortion racket", while the ruling BJP defended the scheme, saying it had a laudable objective of bringing transparency in poll funding.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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