Month: June 2022

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday carried out searches at multiple locations in Jammu and Kashmir in a terror attack case, sources said.

The raids were learnt to be conducted mainly at locations of suspects in south Kashmir with the assistance of Jammu and Kashmir Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel.
Sources said that the raids were conducted in connection with a case pertaining to an attack on the security forces on March 11 this year in Darasgarh, Pulwama.

The NIA sleuths are learnt to have picked a few suspects from their residence for questioning in the case.

The development comes days after the NIA conducted raids at four places in the Union Territory including three locations in Baramulla and one in Handwara district in the cross LoC Trade and terror financing case.

The case pertains to the generation of additional profits through a cross LoC trade mechanism between Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) and using funds so generated for fomenting terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir.

The trade was started in the year 2008 via two Trade Facilitation Centres (TFCs) located at Salamabad, Uri in Baramulla District and Chakan-da-Bagh in Poonch district.

On April 18, 2019, India indefinitely suspended cross-LoC trade at two points along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, following reports that it was being “misused” by elements from across the border to smuggle weapons, narcotics and fake currency.

The case was registered suo-moto by NIA on December 16, 2016.

The LoC trade across Chakan-Da-Bagh in the Poonch district of the Jammu region and Salamabad in the Baramulla district of north Kashmir was intended as a confidence-building measure (CBM) for the population living in Jammu and Kashmir and across the LoC in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (Pok). (ANI)

Multiple people, including a police officer, were shot at a music event on U Street Northwest in Washington, DC, at a location that is just less than 2 miles from the White House, local media reported.

“MPD (Metropolitan Police Department) is responding to the situation in the area of 14th and U Street, NW, for a shooting incident in which multiple people have been shot, including an MPD officer. Media staging at 15th and U Street, NW. Chief Contee to provide a media briefing,” said the DC Police Department in a tweet.
In a tweet, DC police Union also confirmed that a police officer was shot during the DC shooting. ” We can confirm that one of our members working in the area of 14th and U St NW has been shot. The member has been transported to the hospital and is in stable condition.”

According to a local media outlet, the shooting took place at or near the site of a Juneteenth music concert called “Moechella” on 14th and U Street. There are unconfirmed reports of more victims being found with one MPD officer being shot in the leg police are asking everyone to avoid the area, said local US media on Monday.

With increasing incidents of gun violence in the United States, President Joe Biden had said that the US needs to ban assault weapons for the sake of protecting children and families or raise the age to purchase them from 18 to 21.

“We need to ban assault weapons. … if we can’t, then we should raise the age to purchase them from 18 to 21. Ban high-capacity magazines. Strengthen background checks. Enact safe storage laws and red flag laws. Repeal gun manufacturers’ immunity from liability,” he said.

He further said that this is not about taking away anyone’s rights. “It’s about protecting children. It’s about protecting families. It’s about protecting communities. It’s about protecting our freedoms to go to school, to a grocery store, to go to church without being shot and killed,” he said.

“This is not about taking away anyone’s guns…we believe that we should be treating responsible gun owners as examples of how every gun owner should behave,” he said.

On May 24, a mass shooting incident took place at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde in Texas in which several people including 19 children were killed. This was the deadliest attack since the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida, where 17 people were killed, according to CNN.

On May 31, an elderly woman was killed and two other persons were injured when gunfire erupted at a high school graduation ceremony in New Orleans.

The shooting occurred outside the Convocation Center on the campus of Xavier University where graduates of Morris Jeff High School were gathered, NBC News reported citing New Orleans police.

On June 1, at least four people were killed in a shooting incident at a hospital campus in Oklahoma’s Tulsa city, CNN reported citing police. The shootout incidents in the US have been increasing. (ANI)

Over 80 trains have been cancelled and massive traffic jams are being witnessed across Delhi-NCR on Monday as some organisations have called for a “Bharat Bandh” to mark their protest against the Agnipath recruitment scheme unveiled by the Central government last week. This comes a day after Tri-service chiefs ruled out the withdrawal of the scheme.

The commuters in the national capital experienced difficulties in commuting as heavy traffic jams were reported in various parts of the city including at the Delhi-Gurugram expressway as Delhi Police installed barricades at various checkpoints in wake of the Bharat Bandh against the Agnipath Scheme.
Precautionary measures are being taken at various railway stations in many states as several stations were vandalised and many trains were set ablaze by agitators.

Over 80 trains have been cancelled on Monday amid the protests in various parts of the country against the new recruitment scheme in the Armed Forces.

Train services of the Western Railway zone were affected yesterday as well.

Security has been beefed up in several states on Monday amid protests against the Centre’s new Agnipath recruitment scheme.

States including West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and others have increased security, considering the widespread violence that happened last week as thousands protested against the Centre’s decision.

“Police force has been deployed at multiple locations. We are ready to tackle any kind of situation that may arise. We also urge the youth to not get involved in any untoward activity,” Anupam Singh, DCP North, Howrah told reporters.

In Delhi’s neighbouring areas Faridabad and Noida, Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), which prohibits the assembly of four or more persons, has been imposed.

Uttar Pradesh Police said that strict action will be taken against those found involved in jeopardising peace.

“Amid protests against Agnipath Scheme, anti-social elements may jeopardise peace. Section 144 imposed in Gautam Buddha Nagar and strict action will be taken against those found involved in such incidents,” said Ashutosh Dwivedi, ADCP, Law and Order, Noida.

Heavy traffic jams on the Sarhaul border had also been witnessed at the Delhi-Gurugram expressway as Delhi Police began checking vehicles in wake of the Bharat Bandh protest.

Earlier today, passengers at Gorakhpur Railway Station were troubled after trains got cancelled amid the Bharat Bandh call. “We have been waiting for three to four hours. When we checked train status last night, it didn’t say cancellation, but on reaching there we found out about it,” they told media persons.

On the other hand, all the schools in Jharkhand will remain closed today. “JAC exams for class 11 were scheduled for today. New dates will be announced for today’s exams,” Sister Mary Grace, Principal, Ursuline Convent School and Inter College told ANI.

According to an official order by the district administration, schools in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur will also remain shut today.

In Rajasthan’s Jaipur, prohibitory orders under section 144 have been imposed from 6 pm on Sunday till midnight of August 18 in the view of the possibility of disturbance to law and order due to the protests.

Punjab Police’s ADGP Law and Order has directed the CPs and SSPs across the state to be on alert and asked them to monitor the activities of social media groups which are actively mobilizing or spreading instigating information about the scheme.

Meanwhile, the train services of the East Coast Railway zone were affected amid the protests in various parts of the country, informed the railways’ officials on Monday.

A total of 18 East-bound train services scheduled from different Northern Railway terminals have been cancelled today, according to Northern Railways.

It further informed that as many as 71 Delhi area-bound commuter trains (including return services) have also been dismissed for today in the wake of the protests against the Centre’s Agnipath recruitment scheme.

On Sunday, train services of the Western Railway zone were affected amid the protests in various parts of the country against the new recruitment scheme in the Armed Forces. The train services had cancellations, partial cancellations and a few diversions of trains.

As the protests continue, a senior Army officer on Sunday clarified that the scheme will not be rolled back and said that it is the “only progressive step to make the country young”. (ANI)

Days after the Opposition’s meeting to mull strategy for the presidential poll, Bharatiya Janata Party on Sunday held a key meet to brainstorm on the upcoming election slated to be held on July 18.

The meeting was chaired by the party’s national president JP Nadda at his residence and was attended by senior leaders like Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Ashwini Vaishnaw, G Kishan Reddy, Arjun Ram Meghwal, Vinod Tawde, CT Ravi, Sambit Patra and others.

According to the sources, in the meeting that went on for almost an hour, the elections were discussed in detail. A big announcement is likely to be made soon.

“The management team will hold discussions with the party leaders in the BJP-ruled states and also get in touch with the other parties to seek votes for the NDA candidate for the poll,” said the sources.

Notably, Nadda and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh were entrusted with the responsibility of holding talks with all political parties. However, no major development has taken place in connection with the matter.

Both the leaders have held an interaction with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and other Opposition leaders. However, the party is expecting the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD and Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSRCP to vote for the NDA candidate.

Opposition leaders, who met in the national capital on Wednesday announced that they have decided to field one consensus candidate for the Presidential poll scheduled to be held on July 18.

“Several parties were here today. We’ve decided we will choose only one consensus candidate. Everybody will give this candidate our support. We will consult with others. This is a good beginning. We sat together after several months, and we will do it again,” TMC leader Mamata Banerjee said after the meeting.

CPI MP Binoy Viswam who participated in the meeting said that Mamta Banarjee had proposed NCP’s Sharad Pawar’s name as the Presidential candidate of the Opposition. Pawar did not accept that proposal.

Leaders of 17 political parties joined a crucial meeting of opposition parties convened by Mamata Banerjee to build consensus on fielding a joint candidate against the NDA in the presidential election here.

TMC, Congress, CPI, CPI(M), CPIML, RSP, Shiv Sena, NCP, RJD, SP, National Conference, PDP, JD(S), DMK, RLD, IUML and JMM – participated in the meeting held at the Constitution Club of India here.

Amid the rising demands for the scrapping of the newly launched Agnipath recruitment scheme for the military, a senior Army officer on Sunday clarified that the programme will not be rolled back and said that it is the “only progressive step to make the country young”.

Addressing a joint press briefing with the officers from the Indian Navy and Air Force, Lt General Anil Puri, Additional Secy, Dept of Military Affairs, MoD, said that a number of casualties are reported just for health purposes from high-altitude areas.
“Coming to the rollback of the scheme, no. Why should it be rolled back? It is the only progressive step to making the country young. Why is it being made young? We are tinkering with ‘Desk ki Raksha (national security). There is no space. I will give you an example. Do you know how many casualties are reported just for health purposes from high-altitude areas? Do read about it, then you would come to know why young is important,” the officer said.

The announcement of the officer came after the violent protests broke out in some parts of the country wherein incidents like stone-pelting and setting trains on fire were reported.

The officer informed in connection with the violence that the aspirants willing to join the forces will have to give a certificate that “they were not part of protest or vandalism” with 100 per cent police verification.

“Indian Army’s foundation is discipline. There is no space for arson or vandalism. Every individual will give a certificate that they were not part of the protest or vandalism. Police verification is 100 per cent, no one can join without that,” he said.

He said that the individual against whom an FIR is lodged would not be allowed to join the forces.

“And if any FIR lodged against them, they can’t join…They (aspirants) will be asked to write as part of the enrolment form that they were not part of the arson, their police verification will be done,” Lt Gen Puri said.

“We had not anticipated the recent violence over this scheme. There is no place for indiscipline in the Armed Forces. All candidates will have to give a written pledge that they did not indulge in any arson/violence,” he added.

He further said that the Centre will start with the recruitment of 46,000 Army aspirants to ‘analyse’ the scheme.

“In next 4-5 years, our intake (of soldiers) will be 50,000-60,000 and will increase to 90,000 – 1 lakh subsequently. We’ve started small at 46,000 to analyse the scheme…and to build up infra capacity,” said Lt Gen Puri.

He further said, “Our intake of ‘Agniveers’ will go up to 1.25 lakhs in near future and will not remain at 46,000 which is the present figure.”

The top military officer also said the Agniveers will get compensation for Rs one crore if he sacrifices his life in service of the nation.

“We want a mix of josh and hosh and that is why we wanted to reduce the age profile. The average age is 32 years at present and we want to reduce it as per the recommendations of the Kargil review committee and Arun Singh committee report,” Arun Puri said.

He said around 17,600 people are taking premature retirement from the three services every year.

“No one ever tried to ask them what they will do after retirement,” he stated.

He further asserted that Agniveers would get the same allowance in areas like Siachen and other areas which are applicable to the regular soldiers serving at present.

“No discrimination against them in service conditions,” he added.

“This reform was long pending. We want to bring youthfulness and experience with this reform. Today, a large number of jawans are in their 30s and officers are getting command much later than in the past,” he added.

The Union Cabinet on June 14 approved a recruitment scheme for Indian youth to serve in the three services of the Armed Forces called Agnipath and the youth selected under this scheme will be known as Agniveers. (ANI)

The Indian Army continued flood relief operations for the fourth consecutive day, informed officials on Sunday. The relentless relief operations in inclement weather conditions have been carried out in seven districts of Assam.

“14 composite columns have been able to rescue around 4500 stranded locals including critical patients, elders women and children. Alongwith rescue operations Indian Army columns also ensured timely supply to relief camps to support thousands of other locals,” read an official statement.

During relief operations numerous heartwarming stories came to light, one such story is of Captain Rupam Das who hails from Pathshala, Bajali district.

“Captain Rupam Das became an example of service before self. The dedicated Officer as part of the Indian Army Column for flood relief operations in Sathikuchi village in Nalabari District saved hundreds of lives in spite of his house and his family members stranded during the same time,” informed the Army officials.

His action is an exceptional example of selfless service to humanity, country people and the nation. Such inspiring acts manifest exceptional human values, strong military grooming and display the foundational qualities of the youth of the nation, added the statement.

In another incident, at Palepara village in Kamrup Rural, a cancer patient, a lady in her 40s, who was stuck for three days was rescued and further sent to hospital in Guwahati for advance health care.

Three elderly people in their 90s were rescued safely at Kadamtola and Holapara in Baksa District.

Nearly 31 lakh people of 32 districts – Bajali, Baksa, Barpeta, Biswanath, Bongaigaon, Cachar, Darrang, Dhemaji, Dhubri, Dibrugarh, Dima Hasao, Goalpara, Hojai, Kamrup, Kamrup (Metro), Karbi Anglong West, Karimganj, Kokrajhar, Lakhimpur, Majuli, Morigaon, Nagaon, Nalbari, Sivasagar, Sonitpur, Sivasagar, South Salmara, Tamulpur, Tinsukia, Udalguri, have affected in the second wave of the deluge

More than 7.31 lakh people have affected alone in Barpeta district followed by 3.54 lakh people in Darrang district, 3.52 lakh people in Bajali, 2.41 lakh in Nagaon, 2.21 lakh in Goalpara, 2.18 lakh in Kamrup, 1.65 lakh in Nalbari, 1.14 lakh in Lakhimpur, 1.25 lakh in Hojai and 1.13 lakh in Bongaigaon.

Following the torrential rains in Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and neighbouring country Bhutan, the water level of all major rivers of the state are rising and many rivers are flowing above danger level marks in several places.

The water level of Beki, Manas, Pagladiya, Puthimari, Kopili, Jia-Bharali, and Brahmaputra is flowing above the danger level mark in many places of the state. (ANI)

Former India cricketer Yuvraj Singh and his wife Hazel Keech on Saturday revealed the name of their newborn baby boy on the occasion of Father’s Day.

Revealing the name, Yuvraj took to his Instagram and wrote a heartwarming message for his son along with a picture. It featured the former cricketer alongside Hazel who was holding their baby in her hands. “Welcome to the world Orion Keech Singh,” Yuvraj wrote in the caption along with a heart emoji.

“Mummy and Daddy love their little “puttar”. Your eyes twinkle with every smile just as your name is written amongst the stars,” he further added with a hashtag #HappyFathersDay.

Meanwhile, Hazel Keech too penned a heartfelt post for Yuvraj and their newborn baby.

“Happy first Fathers Day to you @yuvisofficial You’ve dreamt of this day since before we even met, now here you are, a burping, bottle feeding, nappy-changing, rocking-baby-to-sleep Papa with all the sleep deprivation and vomit that comes along with the giggles, smiles and joy,” she posted on Instagram.

“You’re a great hands-on dad and im proud of the effort you make, always trying your best xx,” she added.

Yuvraj and Hazel tied the knot in November 2016 and welcomed their first child on January 25, 2022. (ANI)

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) state president K Atchannaidu on Sunday said that the party would organise a ‘Chalo Narsipatnam’ on Monday in protest against alleged murders and non-stop attacks on Backward Classes.

In a statement here, the TDP leader said that Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy had misused his power by making the officials and the police to carry out the midnight demolition at former Minister Chintakayala Ayyanna’s house.
“In the past also, Jagan had carried out such attacks on the properties of TDP BC leaders like Palla Srinivas and Sabbam Hari,” he alleged.

The TDP leader recalled that the Chief Minister did not utter a word when BC activist Jallaiah was murdered by the YCP leaders recently.

“With each passing day, attacks were increasing on BCs all over the State. Till now, the YCP has eliminated over 26 BCs,” he said.

Atchannaidu said that the Chief Minister has not called on the family members of any of the murder victims till now.

“When the TDP leaders tried to visit them, false cases were being filed against them. Jagan Reddy was saying that BCs were ‘backbone castes’ but he was doing a lot of injustice to them,” the TDP leader said.

The TDP leader called upon all sections of BCs to reject the false affection of Jagan Reddy.

“All the BCs should come in large numbers and make the TDP Chalo Narsipatnam programme a big success,” he appealed. (ANI)

The Jammu and Kashmir Police, along with the Indian Army, have neutralized four terrorists, including two Pakistani terrorists, in the two ongoing anti-terrorist operations in Kupwara and Kulgam districts on Sunday.

“Earlier, Kupwara Police along with Army (28RR) launched a joint anti-terrorist operation today on the disclosure of an arrested terrorist Showkat Ahmad Sheikh in the forests of Chandigam Lolab area of Kupwara. During the search of a hideout, the hiding terrorists started firing indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated effectively (by the officials) leading to an encounter,” an official statement from Jammu and Kashmir Police said.
In the initial exchange of fire, one terrorist was killed and the arrested terrorist who led the search party also got trapped.

“In the ensuing encounter, so far two Pakistani terrorists of proscribed terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) were killed. Heavy exchange of fire is still going on and operation is in progress,” it said.

Meanwhile, at about 3.30 pm, based on specific input generated by police regarding the presence of terrorists in DH Pora Kulgam, a joint cordon and search mission was launched by the police and Army (9RR) in the said area.

As the joint search party approached the suspected spot, the hiding terrorists fired indiscriminately upon the search party which was retaliated leading to an encounter.

Later on, the CRPF also joined the operation.

In the ongoing encounter, two local terrorists identified as Haris Sharief of Srinagar and Zakir Padder of Kulgam have been killed so far.

As per police records, the killed terrorist Haris Sharief was linked with the proscribed terror outfit LeT while Zakir Padder was linked with Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terror outfit. Both the killed terrorists were part of the groups involved in several terror crime cases including attacks on Police/Security Forces (SFs) and civilian atrocities.

Both the operations are currently going on and further details regarding the operations are awaited. (ANI)

Soon after announcing that there will be no rollback of the Agnipath Scheme amid protests against the new military recruitment programme, a top army official on Sunday urged the youth to “start preparing” instead of “wasting their time” by taking to the streets.

Earlier today, the top officials of the Indian Army, Navy and Airforce held a joint press briefing here wherein they explained the benefits of the Agnipath Scheme and clarified that the programme would not be rolled back.
Speaking to ANI, Lt Gen Anil Puri, Addt’l Secy, Dept of Military Affairs, said, “By going to the streets, they are only wasting their time, they should spend this time to get themselves physically ready. The worst issue is that today we are not what we were 10 years back. Everything is interconnected. Why roger your future? It’s not worth it. I appeal to them to start preparing.”

The officer, while explaining the motive of the scheme, said that it was designed keeping the youth in mind.

“We have thought through the scheme which has been designed keeping the youth of the country in mind. We know that in the coming days that the youth of the country will be less than 25 years, 50 per cent of them. And the Indian Army has to be reflective of this,” Lt Gen Puri said.

Mentioning the protests that turned violent in various parts of the country, the officer said that they never thought that the “youth will damage the government property” though they knew that there may be some anger because of the change in the recruitment procedure.

“We know that all these problems (protests) may happen. Anger comes when change happens but we never thought youth will damage govt property… Anger and arson are two different things,” he said.

When asked about the appropriate place where the youth can express their opinion and anger against the scheme, the Army officer said that there are various recruitment centres across the country where they can be informed about the new procedure of recruitment properly.

“There are 112 recruitment centres, 84 of the Army. All they have to do is knock the door and ask about the scheme. They are stopping themselves because somebody is stopping them,” he said.

“What is the definition of the youth? It’s 17 and a half to 21, 23 years. Who is telling him about the scheme? Everyone else except him and they are telling him there is some problem. Because of this, there is negativism. I feel this will come down, there is no doubt about it,” the officer added.

Earlier today, giving a stern message to anti-Agnipath protestors who vandalised public property during their agitation, Lt Gen Anil Puri said that the aspirants will have to “write a pledge in the enrolment form” that they were “not involved in arson”, warning that if “FIR is lodged, they simply can’t join” the forces.

“Indian Army’s foundation is discipline. There is no space for arson or vandalism. Every individual will give a certificate that they were not part of the protest or vandalism. Police verification is 100 per cent, no one can join without that,” he said.

The officer also clarified amid demands by several corners regarding the scrapping of the newly launched Agnipath Scheme, that the programme will “not” be rolled back.

“Coming to the rollback of the scheme, no. Why should it be rolled back? It is the only progressive step to making the country young. Why is it being made young? We are tinkering with ‘Desk ki Raksha (national security). There is no space. I will give you an example. Do you know how many casualties are reported just for health purposes from high-altitude areas? Do read about it, then you would come to know why young is important,” the officer said. (ANI)