Delhi Chief Minister Atishi today inaugurated a government school in Kirari and described it as a significant milestone in the region’s development.

Reportedly, the 68-classroom school is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and will operate in two shifts, accommodating around 2,000 students in each shift. It also boasts modern laboratories, including biology and computer labs, and a lift.

At the inauguration event, CM Atishi said that once considered an underdeveloped region that lacked basic amenities such as schools, proper water supply and sewer systems, Kirari has witnessed a remarkable transformation. She added that the establishment of this world-class school marks a significant milestone for the community, providing local children access to quality education close to home.

Recalling her visits to Kirari in 2014-15, Atishi said she was informed how children from the area had to travel long distances to attend school. She expressed that the perseverance of Kirari residents has paid off. She added that through relentless efforts, including legal battles, they secured this land from the DDA (Delhi Development Authority), paving the way for the construction of this impressive facility.

The Chief Minister said schools in the region struggled with infrastructure issues like waterlogging during monsoon, broken windows, a lack of drinking water facilities, and unclean toilets. She noted that the contrast between those days and the present state of this new school is a testament to the community’s determination for change.

She further stated that the majority of residents in Kirari were from Purvanchal, who moved to the city for better opportunities. Their dream of ensuring a brighter future for their children is now within reach, she continued. Chief Minister Atishi also remarked that AAP national covenor Arvind Kejriwal had vowed to provide quality education to every child and this school is an example of that promise being fulfilled.

In an unfortunate incident, eight District Reserve Guard (DRG) jawans and a driver were killed after Naxals blew up their vehicle using an improvised explosive device (IED) in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district. 

The blast took place on the Bedre-Kutru Road in the district. Reports said that the security personnel were returning from an operation when the incident happened. 

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Bastar said that the security personnel were returning to the base camp from a joint operation of Dantewada, Narayanpur, and Bijapur when, at around 2.15 pm on January 6, unidentified Maoists detonated an IED near Ambeli village in the Kutru police station area of Bijapur district.

The officials further added that they will soon release a detailed statement on this. They mentioned that this is the biggest strike on security personnel by Naxalites in the last two years.

Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai expressed condolences over the death of the security personnel and called the incident extremely painful. He offered condolences to the families of the martyrs, and prayed for peace to the souls of the martyred soldiers and to provide strength to the bereaved families.

The Chief Minister stated that the Naxalites are frustrated with the ongoing Naxal eradication campaign in Bastar and are perpetrating such cowardly acts out of frustration. He said that the martyrdom of the soldiers will not go in vain, and their fight to end Naxalism will continue strongly.

Former Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh and Chhattisgarh Assembly Speaker said that whenever big operations are conducted against them, the Naxalites resort to cowardly attacks. He expressed his condolences to the families of the soldiers who lost their lives in this attack. He added that the significant steps being taken by the Chhattisgarh government and the central government will continue to move forward.

Reportedly, an NIA team will soon visit Bijapur, and the team will be sent from the Raipur NIA branch. Also, the NIA forensic team will also be present.

This follows a day after five Naxalites were killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar. The gunfight occurred on Saturday evening (January 4) at a forest in south Abujhmaad along the border of Narayanpur and Dantewada districts when a joint team of security personnel was out on an anti-Naxalite operation.

Earlier on April 26, 2023, ten police personnel and a civilian driver were killed after Naxals blew up their vehicle, which was part of a convoy carrying security personnel in neighbouring Dantewada district.

The Ministry of External Affairs on Monday condemned Pakistan’s airstrikes on Afghanistan, describing it an old practice of Islamabad to blame its neighbours for its own internal failures.

The Ministry said that they have noted the media reports on airstrikes on Afghan civilians, including women and children, in which several precious lives have been lost. They also unequivocally condemn any attack on innocent civilians.

In its statement, the External Affairs Ministry said that it is an old practice of Pakistan to blame its neighbours for its own internal failures. It added that they have also noted the response of an Afghan spokesperson in this regard.

The Taliban in December claimed that 46 people including women and children were killed in the airstrikes carried out by Pakistan. The deputy spokesperson for the Afghan government, Hamdullah Fitrat said to the media that those killed in the strikes that targeted four locations in Barmal, a district in the province of Paktika, were refugees, adding that six others were also wounded.

Furthermore, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan spokesperson Mohammad Khurasani claimed in a statement that 50 people, including 27 women and children, died in the strikes. He mentioned that they were unarmed refugees who fled to Afghanistan because of Pakistan’s offensive in the northwest.

The TTP, a separate group but also a close ally of the Afghan Taliban also shared photos, alleging they were of children killed during the Pakistani operation. The strikes followed hours after Mohammad Sadiq, Pakistan’s special representative for Afghanistan, traveled to Kabul to discuss a range of issues.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry in Kabul summoned the Pakistani envoy and lodged a strong protest over the strikes by Pakistan’s military. Issuing a statement, it said that while a representative of the civilian government of Pakistan was busy in talks with the Afghan officials, the strikes were carried out by Pakistani forces to create mistrust in the relations between the two countries.

The statement added that Kabul will not accept the violation of the country’s territory under any circumstances, and the country is ready to defend its independence and territory and such irresponsible actions will definitely have consequences.