Month: September 2025

Himachal Pradesh has suffered a heavy human and infrastructure loss this monsoon season with 417 deaths reported so far, including 236 in rain-related incidents such as landslides, flash floods and drowning, and 181 in road accidents, the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) said on Tuesday.

Since June 20, when the monsoon arrived in the hill state, disasters triggered by torrential rains have also left 477 people injured and 45 missing. The calamity has further led to the death of over 2,407 animals and nearly 27,000 poultry birds, according to the cumulative report compiled by the SDMA.

The disaster authority stated that the state has recorded 1,668 houses fully damaged, 29,362 partially damaged, and 584 shops/factories destroyed. More than 2,000 cowsheds and labour huts have also collapsed, rendering hundreds of families homeless.

On the infrastructure front, Himachal Pradesh has suffered losses worth over Rs 4,58,000 lakh (Rs 4,582 crore). The Public Works Department (PWD) alone accounted for over Rs 2,80,000 lakh in losses, followed by the Jal Shakti Vibhag (Rs 1,40,531 lakh) and the power sector (Rs 13,946 lakh). Damage has also been reported to schools, health facilities, fisheries, and rural development works.

Among districts, Mandi has recorded the highest toll with 66 deaths, followed by Kangra (57), Chamba (50), Shimla (47), Kullu (44) and Una (27). While landslides claimed 52 lives, flash floods led to 11 deaths, cloudbursts to 17, and drowning incidents to 40, besides other causes like electrocution and snake bites.

The SDMA report highlights that incessant rains have not only disrupted normal life but also caused a massive dent in the state’s economy, damaging roads, irrigation channels, electricity infrastructure and agricultural land.

Officials said restoration work is underway on a war footing, but continuous landslides and road cave-ins are making the task difficult. The authority has warned of more rain-triggered hazards in vulnerable belts and advised people to remain cautious. (ANI)

Actor Prosenjit Chatterjee has called his upcoming film ‘Devi Chowdhurani ‘ more than just a cinematic release, describing it as a retelling of history that deserves to be known worldwide.

Prosenjit Chatterjee is all set to lead Bengal’s rebel saga, ‘Devi Chowdhurani ‘ as Bhavani Pathak.

Speaking to ANI, Prosenjit shared how the story, written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, the author of the 1882 novel Anandamath. He was the composer of Vande Mataram, which reflects an early chapter in India’s resistance against colonial rule.

Based on Bankim Chandra Chatterjee’s novel, Devi Chowdhurani, the film is produced by Aparna Dasgupta and Aniruddha Dasgupta of ADited Motion Pictures, along with Soumyajit Majumdar from LOK Arts Collective.

‘Devi Chowdhurani ‘ stars Srabanti Chatterjee in the titular role along with Prosenjit Chatterjee, Sabyasachi Chakraborty, Arjun Chakraborty, Darshana Banik, Bibriti Chatterjee, and Kinjal Nanda.

Set in 1770 Bengal, the narrative follows the transformation of a simple village girl into the revolutionary leader Devi Chowdhurani under the mentorship of Bhawani Pathak, a Robin Hood-like figure who fought the British and distributed wealth among the poor.

“This is not just a story, this is history,” Prosenjit said, adding that Devi Chowdhurani was revered by villagers like a mother and even today a 200-year-old temple dedicated to her exists in North Bengal.

“This film should be known to the whole world. Long before the Rani of Jhansi, Bengal had Devi Chowdhurani leading a movement against the British,” Prosenjit said.

The film carries added significance this year as the 150th anniversary of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay’s legacy is being celebrated. Prosenjit emphasised that Devi Chowdhurani is not only a Bengali release but also a national and international one, backed jointly by the Indian and UK governments.

Marking his 36th or 37th Durga Puja release, the actor expressed gratitude to audiences who eagerly await his films during the festive season. “For decades, there has been a saying that just as new clothes and songs are released during Puja, so must there be a Prosenjit film. It is a blessing that our audience waits for my work during this time,” he said.

Scheduled to release on September 26, just ahead of Durga Puja, the actor described the project as “Maa Ki Shakti”, aligning with the festival’s spirit of Durga as power.

“For the younger generation, this film will be both entertaining and educational. They will watch it, then Google it, and understand how revolutions were started long before independence. At the end of the day, the film speaks for itself,” he said.

Prosenjit concluded by urging viewers to witness the story on the big screen, saying, “This is our history. It’s a film, but it’s also a movement. And we say, Vande Mataram.” (ANI)

Legendary actor-director Robert Redford, best known for films like ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’, ‘The Sting’, ‘All the President’s Men’ and ‘Ordinary People’, has passed away at the age of 89.

Cindi Berger, the chief executive of the publicity firm Rogers & Cowan PMK, shared the news in a statement to the New York Times, Variety reported.

As per Berger, Redford had died in his sleep early Tuesday morning at his home in Utah.

Robert was last seen in ‘Avengers: Endgame’ in which he reprised his role as Secretary Alexander Pierce and joined several other Marvel vets such as Michael Douglas and Tilda Swinton.

Redford had starring roles in “A Walk in the Woods,” which became a breakout indie hit, while 2018’s “The Old Man & the Gun” drew positive reviews. He also served as executive producer on numerous television projects, most recently for AMC thriller “Dark Winds.”

Starting in 1959, Redford traded his time between television, appearing in such shows as “Perry Mason,” “Playhouse 90,” “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” and “The Twilight Zone,” and acting on the New York stage, in such productions as “Tall Story,” his theatrical debut, and Neil Simon’s “Barefoot in the Park” (1963), reprising the latter role in the 1967 Hollywood version opposite Jane Fonda, as per Variety.

He made his feature film debut in the 1962 drama War Hunt, appearing alongside another young actor, Sydney Pollack, who would go on to direct Redford in seven films, including The Electric Horseman and the Academy Award-winning Out of Africa.

After co-starring in two films with Natalie Wood — “Inside Daisy Clover” (1965), a lurid tale of the Hollywood starmaking machinery, and “This Property Is Condemned” (1966), his first collaboration with director Pollack — Redford’s breakthrough role was as the Sundance Kid to Paul Newman’s Butch Cassidy in what would become the top-grossing film of 1969.

In 1972, “The Hot Rock” and “The Candidate” both provided solid roles before a string of films that made him a superstar.

As per People, Robert and ex-wife Lola Van Wagenen had four children together: Scott (who died just two months after his birth in 1959 from sudden infant death syndrome), Shauna, James and Amy. Redford also lost his mother after a difficult pregnancy when Redford was a teen.

Robert married Sibylle Szaggars Redford in 2009. (ANI)

Mumbai Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) recorded Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty’s husband Raj Kundra’s statement on Monday in an alleged case related to cheating a businessman of Rs 60 crore.

According to EOW, the next interrogation may take place next week. However, statements of more witnesses are yet to be investigated and verified. The next round of interrogation will start only after thoroughly scrutinising the statements of the witnesses.

On September 5, a Lookout Circular (LOC) was issued against Shetty and Raj Kundra, by Mumbai Police in an alleged Rs 60 crore cheating case. The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Mumbai Police, which is probing the case, issued the LOC earlier. The complainant’s lawyers, Dr. Yusuf Iqbal and Adv. Zain Shroff of YNA Legal, had earlier demanded that a lookout circular be issued in the case.

In August, a case was filed against Shilpa Shetty, her husband Raj Kundra, and another person for allegedly cheating a businessman of over Rs 60 crore. The complaint, filed by businessman Deepak Kothari, director of Lotus Capital Financial Services Ltd, claims the incidents took place between 2015 and 2023.

Kothari alleged that the couple took the money under the pretext of expanding their business but used it for personal expenses instead. According to Kothari, in 2015, Shetty and Kundra approached him through a mediator seeking a Rs 75 crore loan for their company, Best Deal TV Pvt Ltd, which promoted lifestyle products and ran an online shopping platform. The proposed interest rate was 12 per cent.

Later, they reportedly asked him to provide the funds as an “investment” instead of a loan, assuring him of monthly returns and repayment of principal. Kothari claimed he transferred Rs 31.95 crore in April 2015 under a share subscription agreement, and another Rs 28.53 crore in September 2015 under a supplementary agreement.

The total amount was credited to Best Deal TV’s bank accounts. Repeated attempts to recover the funds allegedly failed, and Kothari accused the couple of “dishonestly using” the money for personal benefit. Shilpa and Raj’s lawyer Prashant Patil has denied the allegations and said they will present “our truth” before investigating agencies. (ANI)

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has exhorted the Armed Forces to go beyond the traditional concepts of war and remain alert and ready to deal with invisible challenges emanating from unconventional threats such as information, ideological, ecological and biological warfare, the Ministry of Defence said in a press release.

Addressing the Combined Commanders’ Conference 2025 in Kolkata, West Bengal, on September 16, the Defence Minister emphasised the need for constant assessment of the changes taking place across the globe, and their impact on the security system of the country, in view of the turbulent global order, regional instability and the emerging security landscape.

Rajnath Singh asserted that the nature of warfare is continuously evolving, and the recent global conflicts have underlined the relevance of a “technology-friendly” military.

“Wars of today are so sudden and unpredictable that it is extremely difficult to foretell its duration. It can be two months, a year, or even five years. We need to be prepared. We need to ensure that our surge capacity remains sufficient,” he added.

Terming India’s defence sector as an amalgamation of the offensive & defensive capabilities, Raksha Mantri called upon the Commanders to be proactive in their approach and strive to build the Sudarshan Chakra as envisioned by PM Modi. Stating that a committee has been formed to examine the project and prepare a “realistic action plan”, he suggested devising a medium-term plan for the next five years and a long-term plan for the next ten years to bring the vision to fruition.

Highlighting that the country’s defence sector is centred around modernisation, operational readiness, technological superiority and credible deterrence, Rajnath Singh called for focusing on the mantra of “JAI (Jointness, Aatmanirbharta and Innovation)” given by PM Modi in the inaugural session of the conference on September 15, 2025.

Singh batted for deeper engagement with the industry and academia in developing future-ready technologies. He reaffirmed PM Modi’s vision to further enhance the role of the private sector in creating a robust defence innovation ecosystem and making the domestic industry the biggest & best in the world.

Moreover, Rajnath Singh underscored the importance of jointness and synergy among the Armed Forces as well as with other agencies, in line with the whole of nation approach, terming it as “essential” to deal with future challenges. He mentioned the creation of Tri-Service Logistics Nodes and Tri-Service Logistic Management Application to promote integration and jointness in the defence sector, while also highlighting the attention being paid to greater civil-military fusion.

“Operation Sindoor has demonstrated that Strength, Strategy and Self-reliance are the three pillars that will give India the power it needs in the 21st century. Today, we have the capability to face any challenge with the help of indigenous platforms and systems coupled with the indomitable courage of our soldiers. This is the real strength of Aatmanirbhar Bharat,” said Rajnath Singh, commending the Armed Forces for their “outstanding performance” and “exemplary professionalism” in the planning and execution of the operation.

Reiterating the Government’s commitment to Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Rajnath Singh stated that self-reliance is not a slogan, but a necessity, which is key to strategic autonomy. He emphasised that defence indigenisation under self-reliance is fueling economic growth, generating employment, and enhancing the capacity of shipyards, aerospace clusters and defence corridors. This is the multiplier effect of Aatmanirbharta in defence, he said.

Singh also spoke about his approval of the Defence Procurement Manual 2025, which aims to streamline the procurement process. He added that the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020 is being revised, and the objective is to simplify the processes, reduce delays, and provide operational strength to the forces quickly.

Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary (Ex-servicemen Welfare) Dr Niten Chandra, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr Samir V Kamat, Financial Advisor (Defence Services) Dr Mayank Sharma and other senior officers were present during the meeting. (ANI)

Three students were reportedly taken into custody by Pakistani security forces in the Mehnaz area of Buleda tehsil, Kech district, on September 13, again sparking concern over the persistent issue of enforced disappearances in Balochistan.

According to The Balochistan Post, eyewitnesses said the incident occurred around 10:30 am (local time), when Pakistan’s Frontier Corps personnel detained the students and transferred them to an undisclosed location.

Those allegedly subjected to disappearance were identified as 18-year-old Shehak, son of Nusratullah; 19-year-old Waseem, also son of Nusratullah; and 19-year-old Inayatullah, son of Dur Muhammad.

The Baloch Yakjehti Committee condemned the detentions, calling for the immediate recovery of the missing students and demanding their presentation before a court of law. The organisation stressed that enforced disappearances amount to a violation of fundamental rights and pose grave consequences for Balochistan’s younger generation, The Balochistan Post reported.

The climate of fear has been further intensified by the recent case of Sher Khan Marri, a journalist from Kohlu, who was allegedly picked up by police and plainclothes personnel in Sibi.

His family maintains that he has been missing since the arrest, while colleagues note that he had been outspoken on social media about enforced disappearances. Human rights organisations and journalist unions have called for his immediate and safe recovery, adding to growing outrage over the state’s actions.

Separately, The Balochistan Post noted that the family of Mehr Gul Marri, a former Deputy Director of Agriculture, allegedly missing since 2015, staged a sit-in outside the Quetta Press Club. The relatives demanded his safe recovery, saying they had endured years of hardship due to his disappearance, which they attributed to security forces and intelligence agencies.

Meanwhile, the protest camp of Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP), also outside the Quetta Press Club, marked its 5,939th consecutive day. Families once again called for the release of their loved ones. As The Balochistan Post underlined, the VBMP demonstration has become a symbol of resistance against enforced disappearances that continue unabated in the province.

Pakistani authorities have not issued any statement on the Buleda incident or responded to the broader allegations of disappearances, The Balochistan Post added. (ANI)

Former Union Minister and BJP leader V. Muraleedharan on Tuesday supported the Supreme Court’s interim order regarding the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. He said that the Opposition was saying that the Waqf Amendment is unconstitutional, but the Supreme Court has said that there’s nothing unconstitutional in that.

Speaking to ANI, Muraleedharan asserted, “All these days, the opposition was saying that the Waqf Amendment is unconstitutional, but the court has upheld the amendment. The court has said that there is nothing unconstitutional in that.”

V. Muraleedharan further said that the Supreme Court has accepted the necessity of reforms in the Waqf Act. He said that the Act’s transparency, the development of the waqf properties, and digitisation are all upheld by the Supreme Court.

“What the opposition is trying to say is that it is a setback for the Government. The fact is, those who went to the court didn’t really get what they wanted,” he added.

In the interim order, the apex court stayed the provision allowing the Collector to decide the dispute over the property. It said the Collector cannot be permitted to adjudicate the rights of personal citizens, and this will violate the separation of powers.

The top court held that till adjudication happens by the Tribunal, no third-party rights can be created against any parties, and the provision dealing with such powers to the Collector shall remain stayed.

The bench stayed the provision in the Act that a person should be a practitioner of Islam for five years to create a Waqf. It said the provision will be stayed till rules are framed on determining whether a person is a practitioner of Islam. The bench said that without any such rule or mechanism, the provision will lead to an arbitrary exercise of power.

The bench also said that the provision that not more than three non-Muslim members should be included in the state Waqf Board, and that, in total, not more than four non-Muslims shall be included in the Central Waqf Councils for now. The court also noted that, as far as possible, the CEO of the Board should be a Muslim.

However, the top court refused to stay the provision which abolished the concept of ‘Waqf-by-user’, and said prima facie deletion of the provision in the amendment “cannot be said to be arbitrary.”

“If the legislature, in 2025, finds that on account of the concept of Waqf-by-User, huge government properties have been encroached upon and to stop the said menace, it takes steps for deletion of the said provision, the said amendment, prima facie, cannot be said to be arbitrary,” the court said. (ANI)

India’s defence sector required the involvement of multiple players to develop robust national capabilities, as no single firm can address all of the country’s defence needs, said Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran on Tuesday.

During his visits to Solar Industries Defence Facility in Nagpur, Tata Sons Chairman affirmed the Conglomerate’s intention to collaborate in the defence sector.

Speaking exclusively with ANI, Chandrasekaran said, “Defence is a very important sector, and we will need multiple players. Nobody can solve the defence needs of the country alone; we all have to contribute. Wherever there is scope for collaboration, we will always collaborate. Today’s visit was about understanding their facility and learning what they have.”

He emphasised that the approach towards defence manufacturing should not be viewed purely as a business.

“Whether it is ammunition, missiles, or other areas, the requirement for capabilities is immense. I don’t want to use the word ‘demand’ because this is not about business — it is about building capabilities required for the nation,” Chandrasekaran noted.

The Tata Sons Chairman further stressed that the Group’s outlook is long-term and nation-first.

“It is not about thinking about how much business we should do. I am considering the capabilities we need, what we currently have, what others possess, and what we must develop. This is not about a business plan for the next year, but about creating the foundation for national capability,” he added.

Chandrasekaran reviewed Solar Industries’ manufacturing units and capabilities, inspected Solar’s ammunition, missile and other defence production facilities.

Tata is playing an increasingly important role in defence programmes of strategic importance in the defence domain. The company has partnered with the Ministry of Defence (MoD), armed forces and Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO).

Going forward, the group is focused on partnering with global OEMs for ‘Make in India’ programmes for fighters, helicopters, transport aircraft, weapon systems and land systems; building unmanned systems, supporting other critical aerospace & defence programs for the Indian defence sector, and setting up world-class aero engine components manufacturing facilities. (ANI)

The two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu started her campaign at the ongoing China Masters with a win over Denmark’s Dawall Jakobsen in the first round on Tuesday.

As per ESPN, Sindhu defeated her opponent Jakobsen in two straight games by 21-5, 21-10 in just 27 minutes.

It would be crucial for Sindhu to go far in this competition, as she has had a season to forget so far, suffering six first-round exits in the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour this year.

Sindhu started really well, racing to a massive lead and wiping off the first game in over 10 minutes. This pattern continued in the second game as well, with Sindhu closing out the game in 17 minutes and defeating Jakobsen for the third time.

The veteran shuttler will be aiming to roll back the clock and repeat her heroics in China when she won the China Open in 2016. Her best performances this year have been quarterfinal finishes in the India Open and BWF World Championships.

Later, Ayush Shetty had a disappointing outing as he faced a first-round exit at the hands of sixth-seeded Chou Tien Chen 19-21, 21-12,16-21 in a close battle. The Indian star gave a considerable amount of fight, taking the match to a decider, but could not close it with a win.

Ayush is the only Indian to have captured a title in the BWF World Tour scene this year, having won the US Open title back in June, beating Canada’s Brian Yang in the finals.

The tournament started today and will go on till September 21. (ANI)

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday emphasised the need for a robust crackdown on drug cartels and highlighted the importance of protecting India’s youth to achieve the vision of a developed nation by 2047.

In his address at the second National Conference of Heads of Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) of States and UTs ,Shah outlined strategies to dismantle drug networks, enhance extradition processes, and streamline deportation mechanisms to combat the drug menace effectively.

The minister identified three types of drug cartels operating in India–those at entry points, distribution networks, and local retail chains. He urged ANTF heads to deliver a decisive blow to these networks.

“There are three types of cartels, one is the cartel that operates at all the entry points of the country, the second is the cartel of distribution from the entry point to the state, and the third is the cartel that operates in the states till the paan shop or the street corner selling drugs. The time has come to give a harsh blow to these three types of cartels. I believe that it can happen only when the people sitting here decide that this fight is our fight,” he said.

Shah further stressed that protecting the younger generation from drugs is critical to realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a fully developed India by 2047, noting the proximity of global drug supply hubs as a significant challenge.

“Modi ji presented a concept of building a great India in 2047. An India that will be fully developed. If we want to build such an India, then it is very important to save our young generation from drugs. Because the concept of any great state, its foundation is the young generation of that country. If our future generations become hollow, then the country will go astray… Unfortunately, both the areas from where drugs are supplied all over the world are close to us… So this is the time that we fight against it strongly,” he said.

Further, Shah called for stronger collaboration with the CBI to facilitate the extradition of drug traffickers operating from abroad and emphasised the need for practical deportation mechanisms.

He announced that the Home Ministry will soon issue a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to streamline deportation processes.

“Deportation and extradition of fugitives are both very important. Now the time has come to bring people who are doing drug business here while sitting abroad, within the net of our law. CBI has done a very good job in this. I request all the A&TF presidents to contact the CBI director and set up a system for extradition, which will not only be useful for drugs, terrorism, gangs, but also for everything else,” he said.

“A liberal approach should be taken towards the process, a way should be ensured for the arrangement of deporting them. The Home Department is going to issue an SOP for this, too,” he added. (ANI)