Big Stories Today: Gayatri Prajapati gets life imprisonment in minor gangrape case, Army agrees to grant permanent commission to eligible women after SC warning
The Central government on Friday agreed to grant permanent commission (PC) to 11 women Army officers Maoist, Amit Shah, Congress Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook, Anil Deshmukh, Bahrain, Bharat Biotech, Covaxin, Covid-19, IGP Kashmir, Kangana Ranaut, Lancet, Nawab Malik, Ashok Gehlot, Sonia Gandhi
Former UP minister Gayatri Prajapati, 2 accomplices sentenced to life imprisonment in Chitrakoot minor gangrape case
Former Uttar Pradesh Minister in the previous Samajwadi Party government, Gayatri Prajapati on Friday was sentenced to life imprisonment in a Chitrakoot gangrape case. Along with Gayatri Prajapati, accomplices Ashish Shukla and Ashok Tiwari were also sentenced to life terms. He and his two accomplices have also been fined Rs 2 lakh. The former UP Minister, who was a key figure in the previous Akhilesh Yadav government, was convicted by a special court of lawmakers on Wednesday for raping a woman. The special court in Lucknow had two days back pronounced Prajapati guilty in the gang rape case, and had also convicted his two associates.
Indian Army agrees to grant permanent commission to eligible women after Supreme Court warning
The Central government on Friday agreed to grant permanent commission (PC) to 11 women Army officers who meet the eligibility criteria after the Supreme Court threatened to initiate contempt proceedings.
The Centre, which was initially reluctant, conveyed its acquiescence to a Bench led by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud to grant PC to the officers within 10 days.
NIA files chargesheet against 7 Naxals in Dummugudem Maoist case of Telangana
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday filed the chargesheet against seven Naxals and conspirators in the Dummugudem Maoist case of Telangana. Top members of banned CPI (Maoist) hatched a criminal conspiracy along with overground workers to wage war against the government by carrying out attack on security personnel, said NIA
Maoist leader Prashant Bose alias Kishan Da, carrying Rs 1 crore reward, arrested by Jharkhand Police
Top Maoist leader Prashant Bose alias Kishan Da, who was carrying a bounty of Rs 1 crore on his head, has been arrested in Jharkhand along with his wife Sheela Marandi, a senior police officer said on Friday.
80% single dose and 39% double doses of Covid-19 covered, informs Health Ministry
Health workers will knock at every door, check, inspire and motivate under Har Ghar Dastak, says Manohar Agnani, Additional Secretary, Union Health Ministry during an online interactive session on the ongoing Har Ghar Dastak campaign. He said: “80 percent of the single-dose and 39 percent of the double doses of Covid-19 covered. He said: “Every individual has a role, we’ve requested NGOs too. By November 30 we should reach our goal. We have 3 vaccines Covaxin, Covishield and SputnikV.”
Amit Shah reaches Varanasi to check BJP poll preparedness
Ahead of the state assembly elections, Union Home Minister Amit Shah reached Varanasi on Friday. During the two-day visit, Shah will attend Akhil Bharatiya Rajbhasha Sammelan in Varanasi. He will also hold meetings with BJP office-bearers including state chief minister Yogi Adityanath and his deputy Keshav Prasad Maurya.
Congress writes to Mark Zuckerberg alleging Facebook of spreading hate, demands internal inquiry
The Congress on Friday has written to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg claiming Facebook is spreading hate and demanded an internal inquiry.
It is not the first time that Congress has written to the social media giant. In earlier letters to Zuckerberg, the Congress raised issues of bias with many Facebook executives asked to set up a high-level inquiry into the Facebook India leadership team and submit a report to Facebook Inc. within a reasonable period of time. A Wall Street Journal report in August 2020 had said Facebook India’s leadership had supported the ruling BJP and violated the company’s own hate-speech rules. Following the story, the executive responsible had resigned in October 2020.
Rupee gains 7 paise to close at 74.45 against U.S. dollar
The rupee strengthened by 7 paise to close at 74.45 (provisional) against the US dollar on Friday, as a firm trend in domestic equities boosted investor sentiments. Besides, lower crude prices in the international market also supported the local unit, forex dealers said.
Bahrain approves emergency use of Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin
Bahrain’s National Health Regulatory Authority has approved the emergency use of India’s indigenously developed Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin, said the Indian Embassy in Bahrain on Friday.
Covaxin recently received emergency use approval from the World Health Organization (WHO) for people aged 18 and above. Earlier on November 10, Hong Kong and Vietnam also joined the list of countries that approved the jab.
AAP announces first list of candidates for 2022 Punjab Assembly polls
The Aam Aadmi Party on Friday released the first list of 10 candidates for the 2022 Punjab Assembly polls. This is the second such announcement by a political party in the state. Earlier on Sunday last, the BJP announced that it will contest all 117 seats in the Punjab Assembly elections 2022.
Anil Deshmukh sent to Enforcement Directorate custody till November 15 in money laundering case
Former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh has been sent to Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody till November 15 in the money laundering case. Deshmukh’s judicial custody ended on Friday. In its arguments seeking custody, the ED said that they needed to question the former Maharashtra Home Minister for at least two more days.READ STORY
After meeting Sonia Gandhi, Sachin Pilot says those who worked for party should be given the respect they deserve
Congress leader and former Rajasthan Deputy CM Sachin Pilot met Congress president Sonia Gandhi at her residence on Friday. After the meeting, Pilot said those who have worked for the party should be given the respect they deserve.
Pilot said he spoke about the political situation in the state, and said that if there was any change required, it should be done. Pilot met Sonia Gandhi a day after Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.
Delhi government slaps Rs 5 lakh fine on NBCC for flouting anti-dust norms
The Delhi government on Friday imposed a fine of Rs 5 lakh on the National Building Construction Corporation Ltd (NBCC) for flouting anti-dust norms at its construction site in Karkardooma, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai told the media. Earlier in October, the Delhi government issued a show-cause notice to the NBCC for not following the 14-point anti-dust guidelines at its World Health Organization (WHO) building redevelopment site in the capital.
133 terrorists including many top commanders neutralised in Jammu and Kashmir so far in 2021, says IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar
Kashmir Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar on Friday said 133 terrorists including many top commanders have been neutralised this year. He said: “Two terrorists including Shiraz Molvi and Yawar Bhat have been neutralised.” Shiraz was active since 2016 and was involved in several civilian killings. One other terrorist killed in the Srinagar encounter has been identified as Aamir Riyaz, he added.
Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik asks Centre to take back Kangana Ranaut’s Padma Shri, arrest her
Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik has launched a scathing attack on Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut for her controversial remarks on the country’s Independence and demanded that the Padma Shri award conferred on her should be revoked. The Nationalist Congress Party leader said the actor seemed to be speaking untruths.
Covaxin’s efficacy pegged at 77.8%, says Lancet study
In a study published in The Lancet, Covaxin, the coronavirus vaccine developed by ICMR and Bharat Biotech, was found to have a 77.8 percent efficacy rate against symptomatic Covid-19. The study also found it to be 65.2 percent effective against the more dangerous Delta variant of the coronavirus in its preliminary analysis, but said further investigations are necessary to confirm it.
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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