Author: LokMarg

India supplied the tenth batch of medical assistance to Afghanistan on Thursday consisting of 32 tons of essential medicines as a part of its ongoing humanitarian assistance.

The consignment was handed over to the Indira Gandhi Hospital, Kabul.

“In view of the urgent appeals made by the United Nations to assist the Afghan people, India has, so far, supplied 32 tons of medical assistance in ten batches, which includes essential life saving medicines, anti-TB medicines, 500,000 doses of COVID vaccine etc. These medical consignments have been handed over to the World Health Organization(WHO) and Indira Gandhi Children Hospital, Kabul,” Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.

India stands committed to continuing a special relationship with the people of Afghanistan and providing them humanitarian assistance.

Not only medical assistance, India also have provided wheat to Afghanistan as humanitarian assistance.

The first consignment of humanitarian aid of 2,500 tonnes of wheat from India reached Afghanistan’s Jalalabad through Pakistan on February 26 whereas the second convoy of India’s humanitarian assistance carrying 2,000 MTs of wheat left Attari, Amritsar on March 3 for Jalalabad, Afghanistan.

Moreover, India sent the third consignment of 2,000 metric tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan in 40 trucks via the Attari-Wagah border on March 8.

Meanwhile, the Indian team visited Kabul to oversee the delivery operations of the humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan and met with senior members of the Taliban. During the visit, an assessment of the security situation was also carried out.

As per the local media sources, the Indian Embassy in Kabul was never closed and local staff were providing consular services.

The Taliban entered Kabul on August 15 last year, causing the US-backed government to step down. Later in September, the outfit announced the composition of the new interim government of Afghanistan.

The country is currently battered by the deepening economic, humanitarian, and security crisis following the Taliban takeover. The international community, from governments to non-governmental organizations, has been providing various assistance to the Afghan people. (ANI)

PTI leader Nargis Baloch was shot dead by unknown men on a motorbike near Balochistan University in Pakistan’s Quetta, media reports said.

According to the details provided by Pakistani media outlet ARY News, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Nargis Baloch was shot dead near Quetta’s Balochistan university by unknown men.

It must be noted that Nargis’s two children were shot dead earlier this year.

This is not the sole incident where a PTI leader was attacked earlier on August 6 as PTI’s Member of Provincial Assembly, Malik Liaquat, had been injured after unknown people shot at his vehicle. The firing left four security guards dead while the other four, including the MPA, have been badly injured. The attackers have not been identified, as per the media portal.

Unknown attackers shot at Laiquat’s car when he was travelling with his four guards and some other party workers.

Taking notice of the incident, Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) Mehmood Khan ordered the Inspector General (IG) of the province to present a report of the incident. The police started a search operation after the incident. The CM has ordered to arrest of the culprits as soon as possible.

The law and order situation in Pakistan is continuously deteriorating. The widespread militancy and lawlessness across the country have worsened the internal security situation. There is a rise in criminal gangs at the local level.

The security system of the country is a total fiasco as it is marred with apathy towards vulnerable communities, hatred for minorities, discrimination based on region and subtle promotion of extremism that has gradually resulted in widespread militancy and lawlessness across the country.

All of this has further jeopardised the development and peaceful existence of Pakistani society. Speaking about the issue, PTI chief and former Prime Minister Imran Khan said that the rule of law is the central principle of the development agenda. “The country’s development is not possible without subjecting the powerful and the weak to the same law,” he added.

“It is time for the justice system to focus on lawbreakers and criminal elites,” he said, and urged the lawyers to play their role for the supremacy of law, ARY News reported.

The meeting was also attended by PTI’s vice-president Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Fawad Chaudhry, Farrukh Habib and Hassan Niazi. Matters related to the supremacy of the constitution and democracy were discussed during the meeting. It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan witnessed 434 militant attacks on its security forces during the first six months of 2022, local media reported.

At least 323 security personnel were killed and over 700 injured in these attacks, The Express Tribune reported citing details presented by the Interior Ministry in the Pakistani Senate.

The north-western state of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) reported the highest number of attacks on the security forces with 247 such incidents. Balochistan witnessed the second highest 171 attacks. Sindh province reported 12 attacks while Punjab witnessed the least number of attacks.

Three such incidents took place in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad. There’s a high threat of terrorism and sectarian violence throughout the country, according to a report.

Not only this but the safety and security of women in the country is also a matter of grave concern as the country continues to witness gender-based violence. Last year, Pakistan was placed 153rd ranking on the Global Gender Gap index.

The Sustainable Social Development Organisation (SSDO) and the Centre for Research, Development and Communication (CRDC) compiled a report that pointed out a growing trend in violence against women in Pakistan along with the increasing number of domestic violence cases in the country.

A total of 157 women were kidnapped, 112 women were victims of physical assault and 91 women were raped across Pakistan in the month of June, according to the report.

More sadly, the women are just as misogynistic largely due to lifetimes spent under the patriarchal spell. May it be women professionals, female lawmakers or ordinary countrywomen walking on the road, no one is safe from the hands and eyes ever ready to assault them.

On the other hand, faultlines in Pakistan’s economic policies have led to challenges for the rest of the social and commercial ecosystem. The perceptible deterioration in law and order across major cities has clearly hit the morale of investors including overseas ones.

Ground-level feedback from various channels points towards a visible setback to industrial activities due to security challenges cropping up across Pakistan.

The latest annual security survey conducted by the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) report, ‘Members Security Survey 2022’, reveals a declining trend in business confidence with respect to the law and order situation in the country. (ANI)

Varun Dhawan and Kartik Aaryan are known to be two humble stars who have a huge fan following, majorly because of how down-to-earth and friendly they are with their fans. Apart from being great actors, the two stars have won many hearts for their friendly approach to fans and media.

Recently, in a video that has gone viral on Instagram, Varun and Kartik can be seen shaking a leg together on Kartik’s song ‘Bom Diggy Diggy’. Check it out:

The video is from David Dhawan’s birthday bash. David Dhawan turned 71 on August 16.

Apart from Varun and Kartik, Anupam Kher, Chunky Panday, Shakti Kapoor, Satish Kaushik, and Rajpal Yadav were some of the other attendees of the birthday party.

Talking about Varun and Kartik’s work front, Varun recently delivered a box-office hit ‘Jug Jugg Jeeyo’. The film hit cinemas in June this year and did a business of around Rs 85 crores. The film that also stars Kiara Advani, Neetu Kapoor, and Anil Kapoor in significant roles is now available on Amazon Prime.

Varun will next be seen in ‘Bawaal’ opposite Janhvi Kapoor. He also has ‘Bhediya’ opposite Kriti Sanon in the offing.

Kartik, on the other hand, was last seen in the box-office blockbuster ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2’. The film emerged as one of the biggest hits this year.

Kartik is currently busy shooting for ‘Shehzada’. The film is being directed by Varun Dhawan’s elder brother Rohit Dhawan and stars Kriti Sanon opposite Kartik.

Apart from ‘Shehzada’, he also has Sajid Nadiadwala’s ‘SatyaPrem ki Katha,’ alongside Kiara Advani for the second time. It marks Kartik’s first collaboration with Nadiadwala. ‘Satyanarayan Ki Katha’ is touted to be an epic love story that will bring Kartik in the lead after ‘Pyaar Ka Punchnama’ franchise, ‘Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety’, and ‘Pati Patni Aur Woh’.

While the actor’s previous ventures too were in the romantic space, the viewers will see him bring a narrative that has not been explored before with this one. The film promises to be an unforgettable love story.

Kartik will also be seen in ‘Freddy’ opposite Alaya F. Produced by Ekta Kapoor, the film is touted to be a romantic thriller. He also has Hansal Mehta’s ‘Captain India’ in his kitty. Bankrolled by Ronnie Screwvala and Harman Baweja, the film revolves around India’s most successful rescue operations from a war-torn country. (ANI)

Conspiracy for smuggling 500 kg of illegal narcotic drugs (Heroin) from Pakistan to Gujarat via sea route was hatched in Dubai, NIA’s fresh charge sheet reveals the fact on Saturday.

“The 500 kg of Heroin was brought in a Pakistani fishing vessel and was delivered in the Indian territorial waters approximately 7-8 miles away from Jakhau Port, Kutch, Gujarat by Pakistani nationals,” reads the supplementary charge sheet filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in a Special Court in Ahmedabad.

Investigations by NIA have revealed that the smuggled drugs, costing 1,500 crores in the international market were sent from Pakistan to India for further delivery in Amritsar, Punjab for raising funds by Pakistan National Haji Saab alias Bhaijaan and to harm the well-being of the vulnerable youth population of India, mentions the charge-sheet.

The NIA named nine drug traffickers, including one woman, in the charge sheet in connection with the case of Salaya drugs seizure in Gujarat in 2018.

The case was initially registered on August 12, 2018, at the Anti-Terrorist Squad police station in Ahmedabad and re-registered by the NIA on July 2, 2020.

The charge-sheeted accused are identified as Basheer Dawood Kundga alias Raja Kathiyara, Mamad Ibrahim Sama, Tamanna Gupta, Major Singh, Shahil Sharma, Anwar Masih, Sukhwinder Singh, Mantej Singh alias Mantej Mann and Arman Bassar Mal. Mal belongs to Achen Province in Afghanistan’s Jalalabad, two from Gujarat while others are residents of Amritsar in Punjab.

All have been booked under section 120B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), sections 21(c), read with 8(c), 25, 27(A) and 29 of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, and sections 17 & 18 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

“Further investigations in the case are in progress,” the agency further said. (ANI)

Taking note of the 26/11-like terrorist attack threat received by Mumbai Police on Saturday, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the government has taken the message “very seriously” and added that the agencies have been directed to investigate the matter.

A threat message warning of a 26/11-like terrorist attack was sent to the WhatsApp number of Mumbai Police traffic control from a Pakistan-based phone number. The threat message states that 6 people will execute the plan in India.
A case has been registered against unidentified persons under section 506 (2) of Indian Penal Code at the Worli Police Station

This comes days after a boat with 3 AK-47 guns and ammunition was recovered at Harihareshwar Beach.

“We have taken the case of the threat message (26/11-like terrorist attack on Mumbai) very seriously. Agencies have been informed of all measures to investigate the threat matter. Mumbai CP will give further details of the case,” said Maharashtra’s Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis.

The investigations have been started by the crime branch and the officials informed that the registration of the case is underway at the Worli police station.

Confirming the facts, the Commissioner of police outlined the series of events around the incident.

“Last night, Mumbai’s traffic police control received some messages, talking about spreading terror, they were threatening. The texts mentioned that some of the threatener’s associates are also active in India,” said Mumbai Commissioner of Police Vivek Phansalkar.

“Let me assure you that Mumbai Police will not take this case lightly, we are fully investigating the matter… we are not ruling out any possibility. We have launched the ‘Sagar Kavach’ operation and alerted the agencies to secure maritime boundary,” he added.

He further informed that the phone number from India could be hacked from Pakistan and said,” Crime branch has started investigations to trace the number. In this context, registration of a case is underway at Worli PS in Mumbai. We’re sharing all the information we have so far with ATS Maharashtra.”

The Mumbai Police has initiated a probe on an immediate basis, sources said, adding that security agencies have put on alert.

The WhatsApp message talked of reviving memories of the attacks on November 26, 2008 in which Pakistan terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba carried out strikes across Mumbai.

Meanwhile, Nationalist Congress Party’s Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar today said that the state government should take the threat seriously and probe the issue.

Maharshtra Police has been asked to stay vigilant after a boat carrying AK 47, rifles, guns and ammunition was found on the Harihareshwar beach in the Raigad district of the state.

According to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the boat belongs to an Australian citizen. “Boat’s engine broke out in the sea, people were rescued by a Korean boat. It has now reached Harihareshwar beach. Keeping in mind the coming festive season, police and the administration have been instructed to be prepared,” he said.

More than 150 people were killed and several others were injured when 10 members of the Lashkar-e-Taiba stormed several places in Mumbai in November 2008. (ANI)

Seeking to further strengthen operational preparedness, India is likely to allow defence forces to buy critical weapons systems under emergency acquisition powers which would allow them to buy any system or equipment under the fast-track route.

The powers, which were first granted to defence forces post-Uri surgical strikes in 2016 during heightened tensions with Pakistan, have been helpful in tackling the military standoff with China going on since May 2020.
The case for granting emergency acquisition powers to defence forces is expected to come up for discussion in a high-level defence ministry meeting planned to be held next week. government sources told ANI here.

The emergency powers allow forces to acquire any new or in-service equipment on a fast-track basis to improve preparedness for conflict situations.

In the previous approvals, the defence forces had the power to sign deals for equipment worth Rs 300 crore and the products had to be delivered within three months to one year, the sources said.

The armed forces have to spend funds on the new acquisitions from their own budgetary allocation and they don’t have to take the defence ministry’s approval for these deals, the sources said.

The defence forces have strengthened their preparedness through these acquisitions as the Indian Air Force and the Army received ‘Heron’ unmanned aerial vehicles which have now been deployed for surveillance in Ladakh as well as in the northeast for keeping an eye on Chinese activities.

The forces have also got missiles which can hit ground targets from long ranges. The Rafale fighter jets have also received a boost with the induction of the HAMMER missiles which can hit hardened ground targets like bunkers from a long distance.

The Army and the IAF also used these powers to strengthen their small arms as the Sig Sauer assault rifles have been inducted into all three forces now.

Indian armed forces extensively utilised the emergency procurement powers granted to them in different phases by the government to equip themselves with the necessary weaponry to handle any conflict or aggression by enemies on both sides.

The armed forces have a long list of equipment to buy and will use the powers to buy both indigenous as well as foreign manufactured products.

The powers are being granted to the defence forces again by the government at a time when China is showing aggressive manoeuvres on the Taiwan front and holding multiple missile firings and indulging in display of strength in the region.

On the other hand, Pakistani agencies are also trying to carry out operations along the maritime border with India near the Gujarat coast. (ANI)

Have you ever drooled at Mahesh Babu’s fit physique and chiselled body? To add more to your imagination, take a look at this latest photo of the superstar shared by his wife Namrata Shirodkar! Doesn’t he look like he is coming straight from a calendar shoot?

In the photo, or as Gen Z says – a ‘thirst-trap photo’, the actor is seen flaunting his fit and chiselled body as he enjoys a good swimming session at his private pool in his house. Namrata shared two photos on Instagram and wrote, “Some Saturday mornings are like these….” followed by the hashtag #toocoolforthepool.
He has set social media on fire, and we don’t complain!

Recently on the occasion of Mahesh’s birthday, his wife shared a sweet note for him. “You light up my world like nobody else! Happy birthday MB @urstrulymahesh!! Here are too many more crazy years together!! Love you, now and always,” Namrata wrote.

The couple also shared many photos together from their month-long vacation in the US and Europe.

Namrata and Mahesh met on the sets of their movie ‘Vamsi’ in 2000 and later began dating. They got married in February 2005 during the shooting of ‘Athadu’. The duo has two children – Sitara Ghattamaneni and Gautham Ghattamaneni.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Mahesh Babu was last seen in the hit Telegu film ‘Sarkaru Vaari Paata’. The movie also starred Keerthy Suresh and was directed by Parasuram Petla. It was released in theatres on May 12. In the film, Mahesh played the role of a US-based money lender, who travels to India for personal reasons. But, as the story proceeds further, he is drawn into a woman’s life, who has suffered from the nexus between politicians and banking officials. He then takes a pledge to help the woman and ends up fixing the banking system in the country.

The film wasn’t received well by critics and didn’t do expected business at the box office either. However, it did manage to be a profitable one, owing to Mahesh Babu’s stardom.

Mahesh Babu will soon be seen sharing the big screen with Pooja Hedge in ‘Jana Gana Mana’. (ANI)

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inspected the affected areas in Sarkhet village in Dehradun’s Raipur where a cloudburst incident was reported on Saturday.

Dhami ordered the State Disaster Management Department and other administrative officials to be on alert mode in a view of the devastation following heavy rainfall in the Garhwal division including Dehradun.
“Our disaster management team, SDRF teams and other administration officials have reached the areas where heavy rains wreaked havoc overnight. I am also trying to reach the spot to inspect the rescue operations,” Dhami said.

A cloudburst occurred in Raipur block in Dehradun district of Uttarakhand in the early hours of Saturday.

The cloudburst was reported by locals at 2.45 am on Saturday in Sarkhet village in Raipur block. State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) team rushed to the spot after getting information.

The Chief Minister also directed all the concerned departments to reach the affected areas.

“All the people stuck in the village were rescued while some took shelter in a resort nearby,” said SDRF.

“Due to the continuous torrential rains since yesterday, the Tamasa river flowing near the famous Tapkeshwar Mahadev temple in Dehradun has taken a formidable form. Due to this the contact of Mata Vaishno Devi Cave Yoga Temple and Tapkeshwar Mahadev has been lost, the pool has also been damaged. By the grace of God, there has been no loss of life or property,” said Acharya Bipin Joshi, the founder of the temple.

Meanwhile, heavy rainfall triggered flash floods near Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Katra town in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday.

In view of the heavy rains and flash floods, the upward movement of devotees in Mata Vaishno Devi temple was stopped for some time.

“In the wake of heavy rainfall, upward movement of pilgrims to Vaishno Devi temple has been stopped from Katra. Priority is given to pilgrims coming downwards. Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have already been deployed, The situation is being monitored. No untoward incident reported so far,” said Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board.

However, the movement to the shrine has been resumed now.

Earlier in July, a cloudburst struck the holy cave area of Amarnath which resulted in a heavy discharge of water in the ‘Nallah’, adjoining the holy cave, following which the route to Amarnath was damaged, it the yatra was on halt for some time.

Four Mi-17V5 and four Cheetal helicopters of the Indian Air Force were also deployed for rescue and relief efforts at the Amarnath shrine.

The Yatra began on June 29, from Jammu amid tight security arrangements made by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) along with the army and the local police.

The Amarnath shrine pilgrimage to the 3,880-metre-high cave shrine of Lord Shiva, located in the upper reaches of the Himalayas, is held from the twin routes of Pahalgam and Baltal. (ANI)

Amid the row over the excise and liquor policy case in the national capital, Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court had issued search warrants against Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Thursday.

While the FIR was registered on August 17, the concerned court of ASJ MK Nagpal issued the search warrant to CBI in the matter on August 18, 2022. The search list submitted by CBI included some documents in the court.
The CBI on Friday conducted a raid at the house of Minister Manish Sisodia in connection with the alleged corruption in the implementation of the Delhi Excise Policy.

CBI registered a case against Manish Sisodia, Deputy Chief Minister, GNCTD of Delhi and others including Arva Gopi Krishna, the then Commissioner (Excise), GNCTD of Delhi, Anand Tiwari, the then Deputy Commissioner (Excise), GNCTD of Delhi, Pankaj Bhatnagar, then Assistant Commissioner (Excise), GNCTD of Delhi and 10 liquor licensees, their associates and unknown others on a reference from Ministry of Home Affairs.

It was alleged that irregularities were committed including modifications in the Excise Policy and undue favours were extended to to the license holders including waiver or reduction in licence fee, an extension of L-1 license without approval etc.

It was further alleged that illegal gains on the count of these acts were diverted to concerned public servants by private parties and making false entries in their books of accounts.

Earlier in the day Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said that he might be arrested soon stating that the liquor issue or the excise policy was just an excuse to target him since he was a minister under Delhi Chief Minister Arwind Kejriwal.

Sisodia alleged that the raids against him was all political and had nothing to do with the alleged violations in Delhi’ Excise Policy.

“Maybe within the next 3-4 days, CBI-ED will arrest me… we won’t be scared, you won’t be able to break us… Elections of 2024 will be AAP vs BJP,” said Sisodia while addressing a press conference in the national capital today.

“Their issue is not liquor/excise scam. Their problem is Arvind Kejriwal… whole proceedings against me, raids at my residence and office, are to stop Arvind Kejriwal… I haven’t done any corruption. I’m just Arvind Kejriwal’s Education Minister,” he said.

Pointing out that Delhi’s excise policy was the best policy, Sisodia said,” Excise policy due to which whole controversy is created is the country’s best policy. We were applying it with transparency and sincerity. Had Delhi LG not changed his decision conspiring to fail the policy, Delhi government would’ve been getting at least Rs 10,000 cr every year.”

Earlier on Friday, Sisodia said that he and his family had cooperated with the CBI, which he claimed was “being misused” by the Centre, on a day when the investigative agency carried out raids at multiple locations in connection with a case linked to the AAP government now withdrawn excise policy.

Speaking to the reporters after the CBI officials left after a 14-hour-long raid on Friday, Sisodia said, “CBI team came this morning. They searched my house and seized my computer and phone. My family cooperated with them and will continue to cooperate. We have not done any corruption or wrong. We are not afraid. We know that CBI is being misused.”

Sisodia was among 15 persons booked in an FIR filed by the CBI. Excise officials, liquor company executives, dealers along with some unknown public servants and private persons have been booked in the case.

The FIR said that “facts in the matter prima facie disclose the commission of offences” punishable under section 120-B, 477A IPC and section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988″ against the accused.

The premises of the Excise Commissioner Arava Gopi Krishna and Anand Tiwari were among those searched.

The raids led to a political slugfest with Union Minister Anurag Thakur hitting out at Kejriwal and Sisodia over alleged “liquor corruption”.

“No matter how hard a corrupt person tries to prove himself innocent, he will still remain corrupt. This is not the first case of corruption by AAP. There has been huge corruption in the liquor stores in Delhi,” Thakur said.

The Union Minister alleged that Delhi’s liquor policy was withdrawn on the same day a CBI investigation was ordered into it. “If there was no scam in the liquor policy, why was it withdrawn?” Thakur asked.

AAP leader Sanjay Singh stressed that the raids on Delhi’s Deputy CM were an attempt to stop the “revolutionary work done in the education and health sector” by the Kejriwal-led Delhi government.

“Manish Sisodia was on the front page of America’s biggest newspaper New York Times. Everyone throughout the whole country is happy about it but not the BJP. He has done some extraordinary work when it comes to the health sector, be it Mohalla clinics or be it the education sector, the AAP leadership has revolutionised all of it. Now these CBI raids are nothing but an attempt to stop all of this,” Sanjay Singh told the media.

“The developments prove that the next Lok Sabha election in 2024 will be AAP versus BJP, it will be Modi versus Kejriwal. We will fight. I am saying it again that you cannot stop Kejriwal, or our education or health model. You may arrest our health minister or education minister, but no work of Delhi will be stopped,” he added. (ANI)