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JeM camp was hit, no. of kills speculative, says a Military report; foreign media questions claims

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8 years ago

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JeM camp was hit, no. of kills speculative, says a Military report; foreign media questions claims

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Indian defence establishment has proof that the Indian Air Force (IAF) pre-dawn strike on Feb 26 at Balakot in Pakistan hit the four buildings it had targeted inside the campus of Madrasa Taleem-ul-Quran used as Jaish-e-Mohammad training camp, said media reports quoting top defence sources.

As for assessment of number of terrorists killed in the strike, they conceded that it was at best speculative because of limitations of technical intelligence and lack of ground intelligence at this point.

Evidence obtained from Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery showed that the four buildings, identified as targets, were hit by five S-2000 precision-guided munition (PGM) fired from IAF’s Mirage-2000 fighter jets, reports said.

Also Read: IED blast in Pulwama, one civilian injured

The buildings were in the campus of the madrasa run by Jaish which is located on the same ridge line as the hilltop, a few hundred metres to the east. Pakistan has confirmed that the area was struck by India but has denied that there were terror camps or that there was any damage.

Man near damaged trees in Jaba village, Balakot: Reuters photo

Man near damaged trees in Jaba village, Balakot: Reuters photo

A few independent satellite imagery experts had raised doubts whether the Mirage-2000 fighters had actually managed to hit the terror facility on the ‘Jaba Top’ hillock. They claimed that while there was little evidence of damage to the facility in the satellite pictures, craters caused by bombs were visible in open areas around 150 to 200 metres from the barracks/buildings.

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Countering foreign media reports that bombs fell in open area far from any buildings, the defence sources pointed to the fact that the Pakistan army had sealed off the madrasa after the strike and did not allow any journalists to visit it. They said there was evidence in the form of SAR imagery to show that a building used as a guest house, where brother of Maulana Masood Azhar used to stay; an L-shaped building where trainers used to stay; a double-storied building used to house students entering the seminary and another building where those undergoing final combat training used to stay, were hit by the bombs.

They said it was up to the political leadership to take a call on whether to release that imagery and make public what is a ‘classified’ capability.

“The SAR images are not as clear as satellite pictures and we couldn’t get a good satellite picture on Tuesday because of heavy clouds. That would have settled the debate,” an official told The Indian Express (IE).

“The madrasa was selected carefully as it was in the middle of nowhere and there was little chance of any civilian casualties. Intelligence given to the IAF was accurate and timely,” the official said.

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Two Reuters reporters who visited the site of the bombings, where four large craters could be seen, said up to 15 pine trees had been brought down by the blasts.

Explaining further, the sources said that the buildings were targeted by the IAF’s Israeli S-2000 PGM bombs which are not meant to destroy the building but only to cause damage after they enter a building. The S-2000 is a highly accurate, jammer-proof bomb which works precisely even under heavy cloud cover.

“It first penetrates through the roof, then enters the building and explodes after a delay. It is meant to hit the command and control centres and does not destroy the building. The software has to be programmed with the type of roof – its thickness, material of construction etc. – and that, accordingly, sets the delay period for the PGM,” the officer told IE.

These buildings had roofs made of corrugated galvanized iron (CGI) sheets and the SAR imagery shows that on the first day, these roofs had gone missing. These roofs were repaired after two days, making it difficult to assess the full damage by technical intelligence, said the report quoting the officer.

As Pakistan Army has tightly controlled access to the madrassa, there is a lack of human intelligence from the ground to give an accurate picture of total damage and number of terrorists killed in the air strike.

“The whole place has been sealed off by Pakistan Army. We have not been able to get any reliable intelligence inputs and any figures of terrorists killed in the airstrike is purely speculative,” the official added.

Sources also denied that any of the IAF bombs hit the hilltop at Jaba where Pakistan Army has taken a team of journalists to see some craters, and splintered trees. The military official said that “if only S-2000 PGM were fired, there is no possibility of craters or sheared trees. The PGM would go inside the earth and then explode, which would create a mound of earth instead.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Acharya Balkrishna acquitted in 15-year-old forged documents case

Acharya Balkrishna has been acquitted by a Dehradun CBI court in a 15-year-old case involving allegations of obtaining a passport using forged documents.

Published

5 hours ago

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September 8, 2026

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Acharya Balkrishna, a close associate of Yoga Guru Ramdev and general secretary of Patanjali Yogpeeth, has been acquitted in a 15-year-old case involving allegations of obtaining a passport using forged educational and other documents.

The Special Judicial Magistrate (CBI) court in Dehradun also acquitted Naresh Chandra Dwivedi, who was accused of providing the alleged forged documents to Balkrishna.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered the case and began its investigation in 2011 following a complaint alleging that Balkrishna was a Nepali national who had obtained an Indian passport using forged documents.

The case involved allegations related to the procurement of a passport on the basis of forged educational and other documents. After a prolonged legal process, the court acquitted Balkrishna and Dwivedi.

The Special Judicial Magistrate (CBI) court in Dehradun acquitted both accused in the case.

Naresh Chandra Dwivedi was facing allegations of providing forged documents to Balkrishna. The court’s verdict brought the 15-year-old proceedings to an end with the acquittal of both accused.

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Delhi buildings over 50 years old may face safety audits after Satya Niketan collapse

The Centre is considering regular safety audits of DDA buildings more than 50 years old following the deadly Satya Niketan collapse.

Published

6 hours ago

on

September 8, 2026

By

Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar

The Centre is considering a plan to conduct safety audits of Delhi Development Authority (DDA) buildings that are more than 50 years old, Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said on Monday.

The proposal comes a day after a five-storey building in Delhi’s Satya Niketan collapsed, killing seven people and trapping several others under the debris.

Khattar said the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs is examining the proposal for safety audits of older DDA buildings. Under the plan, such buildings could undergo audits at intervals of 10 years, five years and three years.

Safety audits proposed for older DDA buildings

According to the minister, the government is looking at a system under which DDA buildings crossing the 50-year mark would undergo periodic safety assessments.

The proposal is aimed at identifying structural safety concerns in ageing buildings and ensuring that necessary action can be taken.

Khattar also said the Municipal Corporation of Delhi should take action at its own level to prevent similar incidents.

“I am deeply saddened by the heart-wrenching incident that occurred yesterday at Satya Niketan in Delhi,” Khattar said.

Proposal follows Satya Niketan building collapse

The proposed safety audit plan comes after a five-storey building in Satya Niketan, near Delhi University’s South Campus, collapsed on Sunday.

The building collapsed during repair work, killing seven people. Twelve people were rescued during the operation, according to the report.

The incident has renewed concerns about the safety of ageing and vulnerable structures in the national capital.

Khattar’s proposal specifically concerns DDA buildings that are more than 50 years old, while the minister also called for action by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to prevent such incidents.

Possible audit intervals under consideration

The ministry is considering safety audits at different intervals, including:

  • Every 10 years
  • Every five years
  • Every three years

The details of the proposed system, including how the audits would be implemented, are yet to be finalised.

The proposal comes amid heightened scrutiny of building safety in Delhi following the Satya Niketan collapse.

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Nandigram bypoll on October 6 after Suvendu Adhikari vacates seat

The Election Commission has announced October 6 as the polling date for the Nandigram bypoll, with votes to be counted on October 9.

Published

18 hours ago

on

September 7, 2026

By

Suvendu-Adhikari

The Election Commission has announced the schedule for the Nandigram bypoll in West Bengal, with voting set to take place on October 6. The counting of votes will be held on October 9.

The by-election has been necessitated by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari vacating the Nandigram Assembly seat after winning the constituency as well as Bhabanipur in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. Adhikari decided to retain Bhabanipur and give up his Nandigram seat.

The Election Commission said the poll process will formally begin with the issue of the gazette notification on September 9.

Nandigram bypoll schedule

According to the election schedule, candidates can file their nominations until September 16. The nomination papers will be scrutinised on September 17, while September 19 will be the last date for withdrawal of candidature.

Polling in Nandigram will be conducted on October 6 and votes will be counted on October 9. The Election Commission has said the entire election process will be completed by October 11.

Why is a Nandigram bypoll being held?

The Nandigram Assembly seat fell vacant after Suvendu Adhikari resigned from the constituency.

Adhikari had contested the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections from both Nandigram and Bhabanipur and won both seats. He subsequently chose to retain Bhabanipur and vacate Nandigram, making a by-election necessary for the constituency.

The Nandigram contest is also significant because Adhikari had defeated Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee from the constituency in the 2021 West Bengal Assembly election.

Rejinagar bypoll also scheduled

The Election Commission has also announced a by-election for the Rejinagar Assembly constituency in West Bengal. The Rejinagar seat became vacant after Aam Janata Unnayan Party founder Humayun Kabir gave it up.

Polling for Rejinagar will also be held on October 6, with counting scheduled for October 9.

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