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Sirsa shutdown as security forces ‘sanitise’ rapist godman Ram Rahim Singh’s Dera

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Dera lockdown

Police,41 companies of paramilitary forces led by retired sessions judge AKS Pawar in Sirsa to carry out probe ordered by Punjab and Haryana HC at Dera Sacha Sauda headquarters

A massive “sanitation exercise” is currently underway at convicted rapist Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh’s Dera Sacha Sauda headquarters in Haryana’s Sirsa district. The search operations that were ordered by the Punjab and Haryana High Court are being overseen by retired District and Sessions Judge AKS Pawar, who was appointed as Court Commissioner for the probe on Tuesday

The entire sanitisation process will be videographed and is out of bounds for the media. Curfew remains enforced on the road leading to the Dera headquarters and no unauthorised person will be allowed to enter the Dera premises till the operation is completed.

Sources privy to the operation said that an undisclosed amount of cash, some weapons, computers, hard disks and various document ts have been seized from the Dera premises and details of these may be made public once the entire proceedings are completed.

However, there have also been startling revelations of a large number of skeletons being recovered from the Dera premises, which according to some Dera insiders who spoke on condition of anonymity, were of the corpses “donated to the hospital located inside the Dera headquarters for the purpose of research”. The forensic team from Roorkee is expected to arrive at the Dera premises later in the day to analyse these skeletons.

Deputy director (information), Satish Mehra informed that the next course of action with regard to the sanitization operation will be decided by Friday evening after meeting between administration officials and Court Commissioner Pawar.

A large number of vehicles, including police buses and paramilitary vehicles, Quick Reaction Team vehicles, bomb disposal squads and anti-sabotage team vehicles, carrying cops and paramilitary personnel along with a posse of administration officials drawn from various government departments are part of the mammoth exercise, sources said. Fire tenders, heavy earth moving machines and tractors have also been pressed into service for the sanitisation exercise.

“We have formed a strategy and are hopeful that the sanitisation process will be conducted in a smooth manner. The Dera management too has expressed willingness to cooperate with the local administration and police during investigation,” said Haryana’s Director General of Police (DGP) BS Sandhu in Chandigarh.

File photo of rapist godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh

File photo of rapist godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh

Vipassana Insan, who took over as the cult’s ‘chairperson’ after Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was recently sentenced to a 20 year jail term for raping two of his followers, has appealed to the Dera followers to “maintain peace and calm”.

“Today (on Friday), the sanitisation process has begun. We have always followed the law. We will extend all cooperation in carrying out this exercise by the government and appeal to all to maintain peace and calm,” Vipassana Insan said in Sirsa.

Court Commissioner Pawar had arrived in Sirsa on Thursday to take stock of the preparedness for the sanitisation exercise. He had held long discussions with top officials of the civil and police administration and made it clear that no disruption should be allowed in the operation.

As many as 16 nakas have been set up near the Dera and a total of 41 companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed in the Sirsa district. Policemen of the bomb disposal squad and 40 commandos of the elite Special Weapons and Tactics team along with dog squads are also part of the sanitisation process. Among the central forces, CRPF, Sashastra Seema Bal, Rapid Action Force and BSF have been deployed in Sirsa.

Over the past three days, Dera followers have surrendered over 30 rifles, pistols, hundreds of live cartridges and several sharp-edged and modified weapons to the police after they were issued a 48-hour deadline to do so by the Sirsa police on Sunday.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court had earlier admitted a public interest litigation filed by Ravinder Dhull, a Panchkula resident, who had raised concerns over the law and order situation in Sirsa and stated that over 1.5 lakh people had entered the district despite prohibitory orders.

File photo of the August 25 riots by Dera followers in Sirsa

File photo of the August 25 riots by Dera followers in Sirsa

It may be recalled that Sirsa and Panchkula – where Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was convicted of rape by a special CBI court – had seen the maximum incidents of violence and arson by Dera followers on August 25 after the self-styled godman was held guilty of rape. The violence unleashed by the rapist godman’s followers had led to the death of over 35 people – all reported from Panchkula and Sirsa while damage to property worth crores of rupees was reported from neighbouring states of Punjab, Delhi and Rajasthan.

The Haryana government – which the Punjab and Haryana High Court had reprimanded for its “complete collusion” with the Dera violence – had on Friday filed a plea with the high court seeking “permission to sanitise the Dera headquarters under judicial supervision.”

A report of the whole sanitisation process will be submitted to the high court by the Court Commissioner, with a copy to be given to the state government.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had earlier said that some “objectionable” items were found during the sanitisation of the sect’s namcharcha ghars (congregation centres) from across the state and said that over 100 of these centres that are spread across Haryana have already been sanitised.

India News

Security tightened across Delhi metro stations after bomb threat emails

Delhi is on high alert after bomb threat emails targeted metro stations, the Red Fort and the Assembly. Authorities confirmed the threats were hoaxes but tightened security as a precaution.

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Delhi Metro

Security has been intensified across all metro stations and major installations in the national capital after a series of bomb threat emails were received on Monday. Authorities later confirmed that the threats were hoaxes following detailed inspections by security agencies.

According to officials, several key institutions — including the Delhi Secretariat, Delhi Assembly, the Red Fort and two schools — received threatening emails earlier in the day. Extensive searches were carried out at all the locations mentioned in the messages, but nothing suspicious was found.

A senior police officer said cyber teams are working to trace the origin of the emails. Preliminary findings suggest that the senders may have used Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) in an attempt to conceal their identities and mislead investigators. Officials expressed confidence that those responsible would be identified.

Metro stations under heightened surveillance

Following specific references to metro services in the emails, security arrangements were strengthened across the entire network of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation. Additional personnel have been deployed at stations, and anti-sabotage checks are being conducted.

Police said random frisking of passengers and intensified CCTV surveillance are being carried out as part of precautionary measures. Bomb disposal squads and dog squads were stationed at sensitive sites, including the Red Fort, Delhi Secretariat and the Assembly complex.

The threatening emails reportedly included the slogan “Delhi banega Khalistan” and warned of explosions at an Army school, the Assembly and the Red Fort at specific times during the day. Officials stated that all mentioned locations were thoroughly checked and declared safe.

Authorities also coordinated with counterparts in neighbouring states to enhance security at metro stations falling under their jurisdictions.

While no explosives were found, officials said the tightened security arrangements will remain in place as a precaution. Cyber teams continue efforts to trace the IP addresses and identify those behind the threat emails.

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JNU protest turns violent as Left and Right student groups trade charges

A late-night protest at JNU turned violent as Left and ABVP student groups accused each other of stone-throwing and attacks near the East Gate.

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JNU Protest

Tension gripped the campus of Jawaharlal Nehru University in the early hours of Monday after a protest march allegedly spiralled into violence, with rival student groups accusing each other of triggering the unrest.

Students claimed that the incident occurred around 1.30 am when a confrontation broke out during a march called by the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union. The protest, named “Samta Juloos”, was headed towards the East Gate and was organised to demand the resignation of Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit and the withdrawal of a rustication order.

According to protesters, several students were injured after alleged stone-throwing during the clash. They alleged that the university administration did not intervene during the march and instead permitted members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad to confront demonstrators.

However, the ABVP denied the allegations and countered that Left-affiliated organisations instigated the confrontation and were spreading misinformation about the events.

Left-backed groups, including the All India Students’ Association, claimed that ABVP activists targeted the JNUSU encampment and hurled stones at “unarmed students”, leading to multiple injuries.

Videos shared by students on social media reportedly showed chaotic scenes near the protest site, with members of rival groups engaged in heated exchanges and physical scuffles.

University authorities did not immediately respond to queries regarding the incident. Students said the situation on campus remained tense following the overnight clashes.

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India News

World praised India’s AI potential at AI Impact Summit, says PM Modi

PM Modi said the world praised India’s AI potential at the AI Impact Summit 2026, where 89 countries endorsed the New Delhi Declaration on artificial intelligence.

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pm modi speech

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that the world wholeheartedly praised India’s potential during the recently concluded AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, highlighting the growing global confidence in the country’s young technology talent.

In a post on X, the Prime Minister said the summit demonstrated how the mindset of India’s youth in the field of technology would serve humanity at large. He described the event as historic and underlined the positive global response to India’s AI capabilities.

The AI Impact Summit 2026, organised in New Delhi last week, concluded with the adoption of the New Delhi Declaration on AI Impact. The declaration has been endorsed by 89 countries and international organisations, signalling broad global agreement on promoting artificial intelligence for economic growth and social welfare.

Broad global participation

The summit saw the participation of several prominent world leaders and top technology executives. Among those present were UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, French President Emmanuel Macron, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and Swiss President Guy Parmelin.

Other leaders attending the summit included Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Croatia Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, Serbia President Aleksandar Vucic, Seychelles Vice President Sebastien Pillay, Estonia President Alar Karis, and Finland Prime Minister Petteri Orpo.

Chief executives and senior leaders from major global technology firms were also part of the gathering.

Focus on inclusive AI growth

Held under the theme ‘Sarvajan Hitay, Sarvajan Sukhay’ (welfare for all, happiness of all), the summit aimed to position India as a global leader in artificial intelligence while ensuring that AI development remains inclusive and sustainable.

The event brought together more than 500 international AI leaders. This included around 100 CEOs and founders, 150 academicians and researchers, and 400 CTOs, vice presidents and philanthropists. Additionally, over 100 government representatives and nearly 60 ministers and vice ministers participated in discussions.

The New Delhi Declaration seeks to strengthen international cooperation and ensure that AI technologies contribute to economic progress, social good and environmental protection.

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