Big Stories Today: Akhilesh Yadav not to contest Uttar Pradesh polls, Covaxin gets Australia okay, NEET results out, SC sets aside Calcutta HC order banning crackers
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Peoples Conference chief Sajad Lone asks parties in Jammu and Kashmir to create enabling environment for Centre to deliver
Peoples Conference chief Sajad Lone on Monday asked parties in Jammu and Kashmir to create enabling environment for Centre to deliver.He denounces those keen to start a new round of confrontation at the cost of Kashmir’s people.
NTA announces NEET results, sending scorecards via emails
The National Testing Agency has started distributing the results of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Examination (NEET) 2021, the entrance test for undergraduate medical courses via email.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) is sending NEET-UG scorecards to the registered Email ID of the students and the mail sent to candidates also assures that the result will be declared on the official website shortly.
Flight passengers need to be fully vaccinated or furnish RT-PCR negative report at Kolkata airport
As per guidelines of the West Bengal government, all inbound flight passengers to the state shall have to be either fully (doubly) vaccinated or furnish an RT-PCR negative report for a test conducted within 72 hrs of such flight departure the Kolkata airport
Coal minister Pralhad Joshi calls upon Coal India limited to ensure 18-day coal stock by November end
Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi on Monday called upon Coal India limited to ensure 18-day coal-stock with power plants by November end.
CIL had earlier said it is marshalling all its efforts to bridge the demand-supply gap to the extent possible.
Coal India accounts for over 80 per cent of domestic coal output.
10 Zika virus cases confirmed in Kanpur
The Uttar Pradesh government on Monday said that ten cases of Zika virus have been confirmed in Kanpur as it stepped up surveillance to check its spread, officials said.
Since the confirmation of the state’s first case of Zika virus in October, the Uttar Pradesh government is carrying out testing of samples on a large scale, an official statement said.
Nawab Malik targets Fadnavis over drug cartel amid Aryan Khan row
Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik has made a series of exposes on Twitter over the past week targeted at NCB officer Sameer Wankhede. Malik had alleged Wankhede was involved in extortion and had forged a caste certificate to clear the civil services examination.
If AAP comes to power in Goa, Arvind Kejriwal proposes to send every community to its Ram Mandir
Ahead of Goa Polls, Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal said that if AAP forms government in Goa, we will arrange free pilgrimage to Ayodhya for Hindus and to Velankanni for Christians. For Muslims, he said, will provide a free trip to Ajmer Sharif and to Shirdi temple for those who revere Sai Baba
Power rates slashed by Rs 3 for domestic consumers in Punjab from today, says Punjab CM Charanjit Channi
Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Channi on Monday announced that the power rates slashed by Rs 3 for domestic consumers in Punjab from today.
Channi said that Rs 3 per unit reduction in power tariff for consumers have who sanctioned load of up to 7 kW. This, he said, would make power cheap for 95 per cent of the consumers. This reduction is estimated to cost the exchequer Rs 3,316 crore.
Mayawati reacts to Akhilesh’s Jinnah remark, alleges collusion between SP, BJP
In the midst of a war of words between the ruling BJP and Samajwadi Party over Pakistan’s founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah in the poll-bound state of Uttar Pradesh, Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati hit out at them saying they were playing a fixed match on caste and communal issues.
4 get death penalty in 2013 Patna Gandhi Maidan serial blasts case
The National Investigation Agency special court in Patna on Monday pronounces quantum of punishment for 9 convicts in the 2013 Patna Gandhi Maidan serial blasts case. 4 get capital punishment, 2 get life imprisonment, 2 get 10-year imprisonment and one gets 7-year imprisonment.
UP government to light 12 lakh earthen lamps, bettering previous Diwali record
The Uttar Pradesh government on Monday informed that it will light in Ayodhya 12 lakh earthen lamps, nine lakh of which will be lit on the banks of Saryu, bettering the previous Diwali record.
Last year, over six lakh earthen lamps were lit during the Deepotsav to celebrate the festival, creating a world record.
Supreme Court sets aside Calcutta HC order putting blanket ban on cracker bursting in West Bengal
The Supreme Court on Monday set aside the Calcutta High Court order putting a blanket ban on cracker bursting in West Bengal.
The top court said that it had allowed the use of green crackers if ambient air quality is moderate.
SC said: “The order of the SC will be applicable to all states uniformly and WB cannot be an exception.”
Ministry of Minority Affairs releases new guidelines for Haj 2022
Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi released an online application form and new guidelines for the upcoming Haj on Monday. He previously stated that the entire Haj process in India in 2022 would be entirely digital. Starting today, the application process will begin.
According to a statement, the Haj 2022 process is being planned after discussions between the Ministry of Minority Affairs, Ministry of Health, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Haj Committee of India, Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia, and India’s Consul General in Jeddah, as well as other agencies, taking into account all aspects of the pandemic’s challenges.
Sachin Vaze sent to Mumbai Police custody till Nov 6
Former Mumbai Police officer Sachin Vaze was sent to Mumbai Police custody till November 6, after being produced before Killa court on Monday. The Mumbai Police Crime Branch has sought 10-day custody for interrogation in connection with an extortion case.
Earlier, Mumbai Police approached the court to seek Sachin Vaze’s custody to investigate the extortion case registered against him and former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh at Goregaon police station by businessman Bimal Agarwal.
Income Tax raids on major road contractors in Bihar and Jharkhand, seizes Rs 5.71 cr cash
The Income Tax Department has carried out search and seizure operations on prominent road construction contractors in Bihar and Jharkhand. The search action was initiated on October 27 at various premises located in Bihar, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, and West Bengal, the Ministry of Finance informed. Ministry of Finance: The search resulted in the seizure of unaccounted cash of Rs 5.71 crore. Ten bank lockers were placed under restraint. The investment made in fixed deposits of about Rs 60 cr is under verification. It also led to the detection of unaccounted income of about Rs 100 crore.
Former Mumbai Police officer Sachin Vaze produced before Mumbai court, Crime Branch seeks 10-day custody
Former Mumbai Police officer Sachin Vaze was produced before Killa court on Monday. The Mumbai Police Crime Branch has sought 10-day custody for interrogation in connection with an extortion case.
Earlier, Mumbai Police approached the court to seek Sachin Vaze’s custody to investigate the extortion case registered against him and former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh at Goregaon police station by businessman Bimal Agarwal.
Bhima Koregaon Commission suspends all future hearings citing lack of suitable accommodation
The Bhima Koregaon Commission of Inquiry has suspended all its future hearings in Mumbai till the Maharashtra government provides them a suitable location to conduct the hearings. A hearing at Mumbai was proposed from 8th November to 12th November. The two-member commission headed by retired Justice J N Patel was formed by the government for probing into the cause of Bhima Koregaon violence of January 1, 2018, in which one person was killed and several others were injured.
Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya chairs review meeting on dengue in Delhi
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday chaired a review meeting over the alarming surge in dengue cases in Delhi. During the meeting, the health minister discussed ways on how the Centre can assist the Delhi government led by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in curbing the surge in cases.
Akhilesh Yadav not to contest next UP assembly elections
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Monday said that he would not be contesting the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections early next year. He also said an alliance between his party and the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) for the polls had been finalised.
Delhi cinema halls, theatres reopen with full capacity
Cinema halls, theatres, multiplexes reopen with full seating capacity from today, also increasing the number of people allowed to attend weddings, funerals from 100 to 200. The DDMA order said that it will be the responsibility of the owners of cinema halls, theatres and multiplexes for strict adherence to standard operating protocol (SOP) and official guidelines as well as Covid-appropriate behaviour at the premises.
Delhi schools reopen for all classes with strict Covid-19 guidelines
After remaining closed for 19 months Delhi schools reopened for all classes with strict Covid-19 guidelines in place. Students were seen streaming into Delhi schools early this morning, but not before they were thermally screened and their hands spritzed with sanitisers.
Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has determined that India’s Covid-19 vaccine, Covaxin, manufactured by Bharat Biotech and BBIBP-CorV, manufactured by Sinopharm, China vaccines would be recognised for the purpose of establishing a traveller’s vaccination status.
This recognition is for travellers aged 12 and over who have been vaccinated with Covaxin, and those 18 to 60 who have been vaccinated with BBIBP-CorV.
During his Mann Ki Baat broadcast on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the Sachet app, an innovative alert system developed by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
Rolled out across India, Sachet harnesses geo-intelligence to provide near-instantaneous disaster warnings through diverse channels like SMS, web browser notifications, and RSS feeds.
The app’s website advises users to stay alert for SMS alerts marked with the “XX-NDMAEW” header. Beyond disaster alerts, Sachet offers weather updates and allows users to track multiple locations, delivering notifications directly to desktops or laptops. Subscribed entities, such as news outlets, can access alerts via RSS feeds to amplify public warnings.
The app has gained significant traction, with roughly 5.4 crore downloads in Uttar Pradesh, 4.6 crore in Delhi, and 1.1 crore in Maharashtra, underscoring its vital role in bolstering disaster readiness.
Modi praised Sachet as a testament to India’s use of technology to empower citizens, ensuring timely information to mitigate risks during emergencies.
The Prime Minister also addressed the tragic Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22, which claimed 26 lives, predominantly tourists, in the tranquil Baisaran valley.
The investigation has been handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), with the Ministry of Home Affairs urging a swift probe into one of the region’s most lethal civilian attacks in nearly two decades.
The NIA, in a press release, outlined its approach: “Under the supervision of senior officers, including an Inspector General, Deputy Inspector General, and Superintendent of Police, our teams are meticulously interviewing eyewitnesses to piece together the chilling sequence of events.”
The agency is delving into granular details to identify the culprits, linked to The Resistance Front, an affiliate of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba. As the NIA intensifies its efforts, the focus remains on securing justice and fortifying security, especially with the Amarnath Yatra scheduled to commence on July 3, a time when Kashmir expects a surge in visitors.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has assumed control of the investigation into the devastating Pahalgam terror attack, taking over from the Jammu and Kashmir Police to probe the April 22, 2025, assault that killed 26 tourists, including one Nepali citizen, and injured over three dozen others.
The agency registered a fresh First Information Report (FIR) late Saturday, April 26, following directives from the Ministry of Home Affairs’ Counter Terrorism and Counter Radicalisation (CTCR) division, prompted by the attack’s severity and the involvement of The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), which claimed responsibility.
Five days after the attack and four days after an NIA team, led by a Deputy Inspector General, visited the Baisaran meadow attack site near Pahalgam, the agency formally launched its probe. The team had initially supported local police in investigating what is considered the deadliest civilian attack in Jammu and Kashmir in nearly two decades.
The NIA is now tasked with conducting a comprehensive assessment, collecting forensic evidence, and identifying the perpetrators of the 2 p.m. massacre, which shattered the tranquility of a popular tourist destination. Helicopters were deployed to evacuate the wounded, underscoring the scale of the tragedy.
The attack coincides with a surge in tourist arrivals to Kashmir, raising concerns ahead of the 38-day Amarnath Yatra, set to begin on July 3. Against this backdrop, intelligence agencies have compiled a list of 14 local terrorists, aged 20 to 40, actively supporting Pakistan-based operatives with logistics and ground operations.
These individuals, affiliated with Hizbul Mujahideen, LeT, and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), include Adil Rehman Dentoo (LeT’s Sopore commander since 2021), Asif Ahmed Sheikh (JeM’s Awantipora commander since 2022), Ahsan Ahmed Sheikh (LeT, Pulwama, since 2023), Haris Nazir (LeT, Pulwama, since 2023), Aamir Nazir Wani (JeM, Pulwama, since 2024), Yawar Ahmed Bhat (JeM, Pulwama, since 2024), Asif Ahmed Khanday (Hizbul Mujahideen, Shopian, since 2015), Naseer Ahmed Wani (LeT, Shopian, since 2019), Shahid Ahmed Kutay (LeT/TRF, Shopian, since 2023), Aamir Ahmed Dar (LeT, Shopian, since 2023), Adnan Safi Dar (LeT/TRF, Shopian, since 2024), Zubair Ahmed Wani (Hizbul Mujahideen’s Anantnag commander since 2018), Haroon Rashid Ganai (Hizbul Mujahideen, Anantnag, trained in PoK in 2018), and Zakir Ahmed Ganie (LeT, Kulgam).
Security forces have intensified operations in South Kashmir, particularly Anantnag and Pulwama, targeting these operatives to disrupt terror networks. The NIA is also exploring links between these 14 individuals and five terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack, including three Pakistani nationals—Asif Fauji, Suleman Shah, and Abu Talha—whose sketches were released earlier, and two local operatives, Adil Guri and Ahsan, with a ₹20 lakh bounty on each.
Terrorists shoot dead social activist Ghulam Rasool in J&K’s Kupwara
His words underscore a growing international consensus on the need for collective action to address the scourge of militancy, particularly as India-Pakistan tensions flare.
In a grim reminder of the region’s fragile security, suspected terrorists shot dead 45-year-old social activist Ghulam Rasool Magray in his home in Kandi Khas, Kupwara district, late Saturday night.
According to officials, the assailants fired at Magray inside his residence, and despite being rushed to a hospital, he was declared dead on arrival. The motive behind targeting the activist remains unclear, deepening the unease in a region still reeling from the recent Pahalgam terror attack.
Authorities have launched an investigation to uncover the circumstances and perpetrators of this brazen killing.
The murder follows the devastating Pahalgam attack on April 22, which claimed 26 lives, mostly tourists, and was attributed to The Resistance Front, a front for the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba. In response, security forces have escalated their crackdown on the terror ecosystem. On Saturday night, officials demolished the homes of three active terrorists across Jammu and Kashmir, signaling zero tolerance for militancy. In Shopian’s Wandina, the residence of Adnan Shafi, who joined terrorist ranks in 2024, was razed. In Pulwama, the house of Amir Nazir met a similar fate, while in Bandipora, the home of Jameel Ahmad Shergojri, a Lashkar-e-Taiba operative since 2016, was reduced to rubble. These actions reflect the government’s resolve to dismantle terror networks in the wake of escalating violence.
The Pahalgam attack has reverberated beyond India’s borders, drawing condemnation from Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian during a phone call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, April 26. In a statement shared on X by Iran’s embassy in New Delhi, Pezeshkian labeled the attack “inhumane” and called for regional solidarity to combat terrorism. “Such tragedies compel nations to unite in empathy and cooperation to uproot terrorism and secure lasting peace,” he said. His words underscore a growing international consensus on the need for collective action to address the scourge of militancy, particularly as India-Pakistan tensions flare.
The killing of Magray comes amid heightened India-Pakistan friction, with New Delhi suspending the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty and Islamabad retaliating by closing its airspace to Indian airlines and threatening to suspend bilateral agreements. Cross-border skirmishes along the Line of Control have intensified, with the Indian Army reporting exchanges of fire for two consecutive nights
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