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In early morning encounter, top Lashkar commander Abu Dujana killed in Pulwama

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In early morning encounter, top Lashkar commander Abu Dujana killed in Pulwama

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Clashes between civilians and armed forces erupt at encounter site in Hakripora village, mobile internet services suspended across the Valley

In a major boost for the counter-terror security forces deployed in Kashmir, Abu Dujana – terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba’s (LeT) divisional commander in Kashmir – was gunned down early on Tuesday morning along with his accomplice Arif Lilhaari in an encounter at Hakripora village in Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

The joint encounter operation that began at 4.30 am on Tuesday, was carried out by 182 Battalion, 183 Battalion, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), 55 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and the Special Operations Group (SOG).[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]It is learnt that late on Monday night the security forces got a tip off about Abu Dujana through technical intelligence, when his phone suddenly became active in the Pulwama area. The joint operation team immediately began a search and cordon exercise around Hakripora village. Dujana, sources said, had given security forces the slip on at least five earlier occasions and was listed among the top most wanted terrorists in the Valley with a bounty of Rs15 lakh.

According to reports, militants opened fire during the operation leading to a fierce gun battle that raged on for five hours, ending at around 9.30 am on Tuesday.

Locals protest against encounter, 1 killed in clashes

Sources in the J&K police said that soon after the gun battle between the security forces and the LeT militants began, over 100 protestors gathered around the encounter site and began pelting stones at the security personnel. One person was killed and at least 15 others injured in the clashes that followed.

While there was no official word on the identity of the deceased, locals who had brought him to the Pulwama district hospital identified the deceased as one Firdaus Ahmad, a police official said.

The official said that even as the encounter was raging on, the joint operation team had to also handle the stone-pelters and was “forced to use tear gas shells, pellets and fire few live rounds to disperse the protestors”.

The civilian unrest carried on even after the encounter ended, said sources. As the security forces were retreating from the encounter site, some youth started pelting stones at them near the Pulwama district hospital. The forces had to again respond by opening fire, resulting in injuries to two persons including a nurse working inside the hospital.

Local media reported spontaneous protests erupting in several parts of south Kashmir in the aftermath of Dujana’s encounter.

Fearing an en core of the violent unrest that kept the Valley on the boil for months following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in July last year, mobile internet services have been suspended across Kashmir, an official said, “as a preventive measure to curb dissemination of misleading information, rumour-mongering and calls for further protests”.

Who was Abu Dujana?

Dujana hailed from the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) and had reportedly joined the LeT when he was just 17. In the past two years Dujana was successful in eluding security forces five times. In May, Dujana had escaped from the Harkipora village under the cover of a stone pelting mob.

Sources said Dujana had first infiltrated into India in 2010 after which he developed LeT’s network across Jammu and Kashmir, especially south Kashmir, which has been a hotbed of militancy since the past year. According to one report, in 2014 Dujana had turned up at a funeral of a militant in Kakpora area of Pulwama while other reports suggest that he had also attended the funeral of Burhan Wani last year.

The slain LeT divisional commander is said to be the mastermind behind the Pampore terror attack that killed at least eight CRPF men in 2016. It is believed that Dujana was also in touch with Zakir Musa whom the Al Qaeda, last week, named as the head of its newly formed splinter group in Kashmir.

According to local media reports from Kashmir, Dujana’s handlers in Pakistan were irked by his marriage with a local girl in Pulwama. It is being speculated that at the time of his encounter Dujana was in Hakripira to visit his wife.[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]Kerala youth who joined Islamic State killed in Afghan airstrike

A 23-year-old man from Kasargod in Kerala – identified as one Marwan Ismail – who was suspected to have joined the terror outfit Islamic State (IS) in 2016, was reportedly killed in an air strike in Afghanistan recently.

A report by news agency PTI said: “Kasargod police confirmed, on Tuesday, that Ismail’s father had received a message through Telegram app two days ago informing him about the death of his son in an undisclosed location in Afghanistan. The message, purportedly sent by Ashfaq Majeed who was among the 21 youths from Kerala who allegedly went missing and joined the Islamic State last year, was also sent to social activist BC Abdul Rahman.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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India hits back at Shehbaz Sharif at UN, says terror will have consequences

India hit back at Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s UN speech, with New Delhi warning that terrorism will have consequences.

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India has responded to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s remarks at the United Nations, delivering a strong message on terrorism and warning that such actions will have consequences.

The response came after Mr Sharif addressed the UN and raised issues concerning India and Pakistan. New Delhi rejected the narrative presented by the Pakistani prime minister and highlighted the issue of terrorism.

India’s message was delivered by Petal Gehlot, who represented New Delhi in the response to Pakistan.

India warns Pakistan over terrorism

India’s response focused on Pakistan’s record and its approach towards terrorism. New Delhi made clear that terrorism cannot be separated from its consequences and that those responsible cannot expect such actions to go unanswered.

The Indian side also pushed back against the claims and allegations made by Mr Sharif during his UN speech.

The exchange comes amid continuing tensions between India and Pakistan, with terrorism remaining a major point of disagreement between the two countries.

Shehbaz Sharif’s UN remarks

In his address, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke about India-Pakistan relations and raised several issues concerning New Delhi.

India subsequently exercised its right of reply to respond to Pakistan’s statements at the United Nations.

New Delhi’s response underlined its position that terrorism remains a serious issue in the relationship and that there would be consequences for terrorist actions.

The latest exchange at the UN adds to the continuing diplomatic confrontation between the two neighbouring countries.

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India News

Veeramani POCSO case: Vijay questions Stalin over earlier probe

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay has questioned MK Stalin over the handling of the Veeramani POCSO case, while Stalin has rejected allegations that the previous DMK government protected anyone.

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Actor Vijay

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president C Joseph Vijay has questioned DMK president MK Stalin over the handling of the POCSO case involving Gem Granites founder R Veeramani. The political exchange follows renewed investigation into allegations involving minor girls.

Vijay’s remarks came as the ruling TVK stepped up its questions about how the case was handled during the previous DMK government. The party’s IT wing has alleged that the earlier investigation was weakened and questioned why a final report was filed.

The allegations have been rejected by the DMK. Stalin has said that no order was issued by the DMK government to protect anyone in the case and has called the allegations false and defamatory.

What did Vijay say about the Veeramani case?

Vijay questioned Stalin over the handling of the case and demanded an explanation from the former chief minister.

The TVK has specifically questioned why action was not taken against Veeramani during the previous administration and why the earlier investigation resulted in a closure report.

The party has also raised questions about the role of officials involved in the earlier investigation. These are political allegations made by the TVK and have not been established as facts.

What is the Veeramani POCSO case?

The case concerns allegations of sexual abuse of minors involving R Veeramani, the founder of Gem Granites.

The case came under renewed scrutiny after a special POCSO court rejected an earlier closure report and ordered further investigation. The expanded probe has subsequently identified additional alleged survivors who were minors at the time of the alleged offences, according to current reporting.

The investigation is also examining the circumstances surrounding the earlier probe and whether there were any lapses in how the case was handled.

What has MK Stalin said?

Stalin has rejected allegations that the previous DMK government protected Veeramani.

He has said that no order was issued by the DMK government to shield anyone in the case. Stalin has also said that everyone responsible for the alleged offences, including anyone who aided or attempted to protect the accused, should face the law.

The DMK president has further said that the focus should remain on securing justice for the affected girls rather than making political allegations.

Why has the case become a political issue?

The Veeramani case has become the subject of a political dispute between the ruling TVK and the DMK over the handling of the earlier investigation.

The TVK is questioning the previous government’s handling of the case, while the DMK has denied that it intervened to protect the accused.

At this stage, claims about political interference or deliberate weakening of the earlier investigation should be treated as allegations unless established by the ongoing investigation or judicial proceedings.

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India News

Women wrestlers challenge Brij Bhushan’s acquittal in sexual harassment case

Four women wrestlers have challenged the acquittal of former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and co-accused Vinod Tomar in a sexual harassment case.

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Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh

Four women wrestlers have approached a Delhi court challenging the acquittal of former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in a sexual harassment case.

The wrestlers have also challenged the acquittal of co-accused Vinod Tomar. The matter is scheduled to be heard by a Special Judge at the Rouse Avenue Courts.

The appeal challenges the order passed by an Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate on August 3, 2026, when Brij Bhushan and Tomar were acquitted in the case.

Wrestlers challenge court’s reasoning

In their appeal, the wrestlers have argued that the acquittal order is legally unsustainable and that the evidence was not assessed appropriately.

They have also alleged that the order relied on assumptions about how victims of sexual assault and harassment were expected to behave instead of assessing the evidence and circumstances of the complainants.

The challenge seeks judicial scrutiny of the findings that resulted in the acquittal of Brij Bhushan and Tomar.

Brij Bhushan was acquitted in August

The Rouse Avenue court acquitted Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on August 3 in the sexual harassment case involving women wrestlers. The court’s decision followed consideration of the evidence and statements presented during the proceedings.

The case had emerged after several women wrestlers accused the former WFI chief of sexual harassment. The allegations had led to a major protest by wrestlers in 2023.

The latest appeal means the acquittal is now being challenged before a higher court.

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