India News

Day after triple terror attacks in J&K, Army chief Rawat in Jammu for security review

Published

9 years ago

July 28, 2017

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Visit comes a day after triple terror attacks in Kashmir’s Gurez and Shopian areas and amid rising infiltration bid by Pak along the LoC

Army chief General Bipin Rawat arrived in Jammu, on Friday, for a two-day visit of forward areas along the Line of Control (LoC).

Rawat’s visit comes a day after three terror attacks across different parts of Kashmir ended with the gunning down of three militants in Gurez sector in north Kashmir’s Bandipora and two Army jawans – one of whom succumbed to his injuries later – being shot at by militants in Shopian situated 50 kilometres south of Srinagar.

On Thursday, a day before the Army chief’s scheduled visit, the Al Qaeda too had sent alarm bells ringing in the Indian security establishment as it announced a new India front – the Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind – with Kashmiri militant Zakir Musa as its head.

In a move clearly aimed at raising the shackles of the Army and the Indian government while disturbing the social fabric of the restive Valley, Global Islamic Front, the online propaganda distribution arm of Al-Qaeda, made the announcement of Musa’s appointment. It said, “After the martyrdom of heroic Mujahid Burhan Wani, the Jihad in Kashmir has entered a stage of awakening, as the Muslim Nation of Kashmir has committed to carry the flag of Jihad to repel the aggression of tyrant Indian invaders, and through Jihad, and with the aid of Allah, we will liberate our homeland, Kashmir. For this goal, a new movement of Jihad has been founded by the companions of martyr Burhan Wani under the leadership of Mujahid Zakir Musa (sic).”

It is learnt that the Army chief landed at the technical airport around 10 am, on Friday, where he was received by Northern army commander Lt Gen Devraj Anbu, 16 Corps GOC Lt Gen AK Sharma and Tiger Division GOC Maj Gen SK Sharma. Soon after, the top officers headed to forward areas in Nowshera, Bhimber Gali (BG) and Krishna Ghati (KG) sectors of Rajouri and Poonch districts in a helicopter.

According to local media reports from Jammu, Rawat is also scheduled to meet formation commanders to get a detailed feedback from on the recent skirmishes in the troubled northern state and of the prevailing security scenario along the Line of Control (LoC).

Since May 1 this year, both the countries have been trading heavy fire on the de-facto border leaving several soldiers and civilians dead on either side of the divide. Nine soldiers were among 11 killed while 16 others injured in border skirmishes this month in Rajouri and Poonch districts, south of the Pir Panjal range. More than 4,000 villagers in Nowshera sector were shifted to five relief camps and over 110 livestock fell prey to shelling and firing by the Pakistani army along the LoC in Rajouri district where nearly 35 structures, including over two dozen houses, were damaged.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1501252298327{margin-bottom: 20px !important;border-bottom-width: 20px !important;padding-top: 20px !important;background-color: #a2b1bf !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text]Hizbul, Lashkar term Al-Qaeda announcement as ‘conspiracy by Índian government’

In a predictable move, terrorist outfits, Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), termed the announcement of Al Qaeda’s Kashmir chapter and the appointment of Zakir Musa as its head as a “conspiracy by the Indian establishment to create divisions in the “(Kashmir) freedom struggle.

Hizbul’s supreme commander, Syed Salahuddin said the new outfit was part of a “conspiracy by the Indian establishment to set the stage for bloodshed in Kashmir on the lines of what had happened in Al-Qaeda and Islamic State-influenced theatres like Afghanistan, Iraq, Turkey etc”.

In a similar tenor, a statement issued by the LeT said: “Indian conspiracies are being foiled ever since the locals and Hurriyat leaders forged unity among themselves… groups like Al-Qaida and IS are being brought up to label the legitimate freedom struggle (in Kashmir) as terrorism.”

Indian authorities are monitoring the Al Qaeda’s move with caution and though they believe that though Musa has no cadre to carry out an immediate attacks; he is targeting youths in Kashmir for recruiting them into the new outfit.

Jammu and Kashmir police chief SP Vaid, while addressing a press conference in Srinagar, responded to the Al Qaeda announcement saying: ä militant is a militant… whichever tanzeem (outfit) he may belong to. Somebody who has picked up a gun is a militant for us. We will investigate the arrival of Al-Qaeda in Kashmir. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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3 dead, several trapped after six-storey building collapses in Delhi, rescue operations continue

Three people died and two were critically injured after a six-storey PG building collapsed in Delhi’s Satya Niketan. Several others are feared trapped.

Published

23 mins ago

September 6, 2026

APNLive Desk

Three people have died and two others are critically injured after a six-storey building collapsed in Delhi’s Satya Niketan on Sunday afternoon. Several more people are feared trapped under the debris as rescue operations continue at the site.

Nine people have been rescued so far, while authorities are searching for others who may still be trapped. The building, which was being used as a 75-bed paying guest accommodation, collapsed at around 1:30 pm, according to officials.

Building was being used as a PG accommodation

According to police, the building was around 40 to 50 years old and consisted of a basement and five upper floors. It was being used as a paying guest accommodation, with repair work reportedly underway in the basement when the collapse occurred.

The building was located in Satya Niketan, near Delhi University’s South Campus, an area with a large student population.

An eyewitness said at least 50 students were believed to have been inside the building when it collapsed. A student at the scene also reported hearing cries for help from beneath the rubble.

Rescue operation underway

Teams from the Delhi Police, National Disaster Response Force, Delhi Fire Service and Delhi Disaster Management Authority have been deployed for the rescue operation.

At least 12 fire tenders have been sent to the spot. An excavator has also been deployed, while additional machinery is being brought in to remove concrete slabs and girders from the debris.

Locals were also seen helping with the initial search before rescue teams and machinery reached the site.

The adjacent building has been vacated as a precautionary measure, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said. She added that rescue work was being carried out on a war footing and that authorities were coordinating efforts to assist those affected.

Government agencies coordinate rescue efforts

Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu said concerned agencies, including the Delhi Police, Delhi Fire Service and DDMA, had been directed to work together to ensure swift rescue operations.

Local BJP MLA Anil Sharma, who was at the site, said some students were still believed to be trapped and that some were reportedly making calls from inside the collapsed structure.

AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj blamed alleged corruption for the incident and raised questions about building safety and inspections. His comments were political allegations and no official cause for the collapse has been established in the report.

India News

PM Modi takes aim at critics with Dimagi Naxal remark at SRCC centenary address

PM Modi revived his dimagi Naxal remark at SRCC’s centenary celebrations and spoke about India’s development journey.

Published

9 hours ago

September 6, 2026

APNLive Desk

Prime Minister Narendra Modi revived his ‘dimagi Naxal’ remark while addressing the centenary celebrations of Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) in Delhi on Saturday, using the term to criticise his opponents.

Speaking to students at the Delhi college, PM Modi described the phrase as a “homeopathic pill” and said it had prompted those he described as “dimagi Naxals” to come forward and reveal their views.

The prime minister also used his address to speak to Gen-Z about India’s development journey and asked students to consider the challenges the country had faced in the past.

PM Modi recalls past crises

During his speech, PM Modi referred to the 2013 Kedarnath disaster and the 2008 global financial crisis while criticising the handling of national emergencies by previous governments.

He said the government at the time of the Kedarnath disaster was shaken and questioned its ability to respond to the crisis.

Referring to the 2008 banking crisis, PM Modi alleged that the government of the time failed to effectively deal with the situation and claimed that India’s banking system was pushed close to collapse.

Prime minister lists challenges faced by his government

PM Modi also highlighted several major global crises that occurred during his government’s tenure.

He mentioned the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, disruptions to global trade and supply chains, and the crisis in West Asia.

The prime minister said there had been concerns that India would struggle during these crises but argued that the country had continued to move forward.

PM Modi’s earlier SRCC visit

PM Modi had earlier visited SRCC in 2013, when he was the chief minister of Gujarat. His speech at the college received significant attention, particularly on social media, ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha election.

His latest visit came during the college’s centenary celebrations, where his address focused on young people, India’s development ambitions and the challenges faced by the country.

India News

India Metro Rail Network May Overtake US in 2 Years

India’s metro rail network has reached 1,170 km across 26 cities. Union minister Manohar Lal said the country could overtake the US in network length within two years.

Published

23 hours ago

September 5, 2026

APNLive Desk

India is on track to become the country with the second-largest metro rail network in the world after China, with Union Minister Manohar Lal saying the country could overtake the United States within the next two years.

India’s metro rail network has now expanded to 1,170 km across 26 cities. The network is only 216 km shorter than the US metro rail network, which stands at 1,386 km, according to figures cited by the minister.

India’s metro network expands rapidly

Speaking after the inauguration of an extended metro service in Indore, Manohar Lal highlighted the pace at which metro connectivity has grown in India.

He said metro services were operational across just 245 km in five cities when Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed office in 2014. The network has since expanded to 1,170 km across 26 cities.

The minister said India could overtake the US in terms of metro rail network length in the next two years and become the world’s second-largest country in this segment after China.

China currently has around 8,000 km of metro rail lines, according to the figures cited by the minister.

Indore metro extension inaugurated

The minister made the remarks after inaugurating an extended section of the Indore metro. The project was built at a cost of around Rs 2,850 crore.

The Indore metro was earlier operating commercially on a six-km stretch between Gandhi Nagar and Super Corridor-3 stations. Following the extension, the service will operate on a 17-km route between Gandhi Nagar and Malviya Nagar Chauraha.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said the metro service would mark a new phase in Indore’s development. He also said the network would eventually be extended to Ujjain and other nearby areas.