Four Army Soldiers Killed In Action In Encounter With Terrorists In J&K's Doda 2
Four army personnel, including an officer, were killed in a gunfight with terrorists in Doda district, Jammu and Kashmir. The encounter was part of an intensified anti-terror operation. The region has seen a surge in terror activities recently, attributed to attempts by Pakistani handlers to revive terrorism.
This incident marks the third major clash between security forces and terrorists in Doda district’s forests over the past three weeks. Just a week earlier, a terrorist ambush in Kathua district resulted in the deaths of five soldiers and injuries to several others.
The joint operation, involving troops from the Rashtriya Rifles and the Special Operations Group of Jammu and Kashmir Police, commenced late Monday evening in the Desa forest belt. The encounter occurred around 9 pm.
Following an initial exchange of fire, the terrorists attempted to flee but were pursued by the troops, leading to another intense firefight. Five soldiers were critically injured, four of whom, including the officer, later succumbed to their injuries.
The Army’s 16 Corps, or White Knight Corps, highlighted on ‘X’ that the joint operation was based on precise intelligence inputs, leading to the heavy firefight which ensued at around 2100 hrs.
Despite mobilizing additional forces and conducting extensive searches on Tuesday, no fresh contact was made with the terrorists, who are believed to have infiltrated from across the border and been hiding for months.
The uptick in terror attacks in the Jammu region has been notable since late 2021, attributed to efforts by Pakistani handlers to rekindle terrorism in the area. Over 70 individuals, including 52 security personnel, have lost their lives in terror-related incidents in the region since then.
Security forces have also eliminated 54 terrorists in response to the surge in attacks, primarily concentrated in the Rajouri and Poonch districts.
Pakistan PTI Ban: Imran Khan's Party Faces Treason Charges and Controversy 4
In a controversial move, the Pakistan government announced on Monday that it will ban jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s party for its alleged involvement in anti-state activities and slap cases against him and two of his senior party colleagues for treason.
“In view of the foreign funding case, May 9 riots, and the cipher episode as well as the resolution passed in the US, we believe that there is very credible evidence present to have Khan’s party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) banned,” Information Minister Attaullah Tarar made the surprising announcement at a press conference here.
Khan, 71, has been lodged at the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi on account of multiple cases against him since his ouster as prime minister in April 2022.
Upping the ante against PTI, the federal government has decided to ban the former ruling party as well as file cases against PTI founder Khan and former Pakistan president Arif Alvi for treason under Article 6, Geo News said.
Tarar said that if the country is to move in a forward direction, it cannot do so with PTI’s existence.
“Our patience and tolerance are considered as our weaknesses. The PTI and Pakistan cannot co-exist as the government is trying to stabilise the country politically and economically, while efforts are being made to thwart its efforts,” Tarar said and added that the federal government would move the apex court to file a petition to ban the party.
Tarar also announced that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) led government and its coalition partners have decided to file a review appeal against the decision of the Supreme Court granting reserved seats to the PTI in the National Assembly. “The apex court gave relief to the PTI which had not even asked for it,” the minister said.
The decisions were taken in light of the former ruling party’s involvement in the May 9 events last year and the PTI’s former or current leaders’ attempts to sabotage Pakistan’s deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Geo News added.
Referring to the time when the then-government decided to dissolve the assemblies during the no-confidence motion against Khan in 2022, the minister said the ruling alliance has also decided to move a case against the then-prime minister, then-president Alvi and then National Assembly deputy speaker Qasim Suri.
“Whether it was the foreign funding case, the riots of May 9, or the manipulation of the cipher saga, in which the former Pakistani ambassador to the US, Asad Majeed — who authored the cipher — clarified that there was “no threat”, the PTI continued decrying that the country was in danger.
“You tried to damage the country’s diplomatic relations for the sake of your political interests and went on to get a resolution passed against Pakistan in the US,” the Dawn newspaper quoting Tarar as saying.
Incidentally, the government’s decision comes on the heels of relief given to the PTI by the Supreme Court in the case of the reserved seats as well as to Khan in the illegal marriage case.
The development also comes following PTI vice chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s indictment in cases related to the May 9 riots and Khan’s arrest in cases linked to the incidents that took place following Khan’s arrest in an alleged corruption case.
In a key judgment, the Supreme Court had last week declared that Khan’s PTI was eligible for the seats reserved for women and minorities in the national and four provincial assemblies. If allotted thus, the PTI will become the largest party in the National Assembly with 109 seats.
On Saturday, a district and session court overturned the conviction of Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi, 49, in the un-Islamic marriage case related to the violation of the mandatory waiting period for a Muslim woman between two marriages.
The PTI founder and hundreds of his party colleagues are being tried under multiple cases, including one under the Official Secrets Act, in connection with the May 9 violent protests by his supporters that damaged key military installations across Pakistan last year.
Khan’s party workers allegedly vandalised a dozen military installations, including the Jinnah House (Lahore Corps Commander House), Mianwali Airbase and the ISI building in Faisalabad. The Army headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi too was attacked by the mob for the first time.
'Sorry. Dismissed': Supreme Court Over CBI Case Against DK Shivakumar 6
The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a petition filed by Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar challenging the CBI’s FIR against him in the disproportionate assets case.
A bench of Justices Bela M Trivedi and S C Sharma said it was not inclined to interfere with the Karnataka High Court order.
“Sorry. Dismissed,” the bench said.
The top court was hearing a plea filed by Shivakumar against the October 19, 2023 order of the high court which rejected his plea.
The HC also directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conclude the investigation and file the report within three months.
The CBI has alleged that Shivakumar amassed assets disproportionate to his known sources of income between 2013 and 2018. He was a minister in the previous Congress government during this period.
The FIR was filed by the CBI on September 3, 2020. Shivakumar challenged the FIR in the high court in 2021.
SC Ruling on Alimony to Divorced Muslim Women Against Islamic Law: AIMPLB 8
The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) said on Sunday that it is exploring all possible measures to get the Supreme Court to “roll back” its ruling on alimony to divorced Muslim women as it is “against” Islamic law.
The AIMPLB Working Committee held a meeting on Sunday to discuss the Supreme Court verdict on the maintenance of Muslim divorcee women and adopted a resolution, which stated it is against the “Sharia” (Islamic law).
“The Board emphasised that the Holy Prophet had mentioned that amongst all permissible deeds the most abhorred is divorce in the sight of Allah, hence it is desirable to continue the marriage by applying all permissible measures to safeguard it and follow several guidelines mentioned in Holy Quran about it. However, if married life becomes difficult to maintain, then divorce was prescribed as a solution to mankind,” the resolution read.
“The board observed that this judgment will create further problems to women who have successfully come out of their painful relationship,” it added.
The AIMPLB authorised its President, Khalid Saifullah Rahmani, to initiate all possible measures (legal, constitutional and democratic) to ensure that “this decision by the Supreme Court is rolled back”, AIMPLB spokesperson Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas said after the meeting.
MUDA Scam: Karnataka Govt Forms Inquiry Commission to Probe Irregularities 10
The Karnataka government on Sunday ordered the formation of an inquiry commission into the alleged alternative site scam in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA).
According to the order, High Court Judge (retd) Justice P N Desai will head the single-member commission.
The commission will be required to complete the inquiry and submit its report to the state government within six months.
The departments concerned and the MUDA officials will have to cooperate with the investigation by providing the necessary documents and information to Justice Desai, the order said.
The government passed the order late Sunday night ahead of the Legislature session, which will start on July 15 and culminate on July 26.
The scam gathered steam after the BJP alleged that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s wife Parvathi was one of the beneficiaries of alternative sites (plots).
Siddaramaiah categorically rejected the allegation and claimed that MUDA “illegally” took over the four acres land belonging to his wife and formed a layout without her permission.
The CM said MUDA compensated them by providing them alternative plots.
The BJP has raised doubts about the claim saying how can MUDA touch such a “high profile” property.
The party has pegged the size of the scam at somewhere around Rs 3,000 crore.
The BJP staged a demonstration over the matter in Mysuru on Friday.
India Reaffirms Its Commitment to Peaceful Resolution of Palestine Question 12
India has reaffirmed its historic and unwavering commitment to the peaceful resolution of the vexed Palestine question, supporting a negotiated “two-state solution” leading to the establishment of a “sovereign, independent and viable state” of Palestine at peace with Israel.
Charge d’Affaires and Deputy Permanent Representative of India to the UN Ambassador R Ravindra made the statement on Friday at a conference of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.
“India has always supported a negotiated two-state solution leading to the establishment of a sovereign, independent and viable state of Palestine, living within (a) secure and recognised border, side by side at peace with Israel,” R Ravindra said.
Delivering India’s statement at the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) pledging conference, he reaffirmed New Delhi’s historic and unwavering commitment to the peaceful resolution of the Palestine question.
He said that India has taken a principled position on the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza and strongly condemned the death of civilians, especially women and children.
The barbaric terrorist attack on October 7 last year “deserves our unequivocal condemnation, and we demand (the) unconditional release of all hostages,” he said, referring to the deadly attack by Gaza-based Hamas militants.
R Ravindra noted that UNRWA’s role in assuaging the difficult humanitarian situation remains critical, particularly, its humanitarian and social services to the Palestinian refugee community living in Palestine, Syria, Jordan and Lebanon.
Underlining that India has been a trusted development partner for the people of Palestine, he said New Delhi’s developmental assistance to Palestine in various forms over the years amounts to nearly $120 million, including $35 million as a contribution to UNRWA.
India has been providing an annual contribution to UNRWA of $5 million from 2018.
“I’m happy to inform that we will be continuing our annual contribution of 5 million dollars this year as well,” R Ravindra said, adding that of this amount, $2.5 million will be transferred to UNRWA in the coming days.
India is providing scholarships to 50 students from Palestine to pursue undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral studies in various educational institutions in India, he said.
India is also donating medicines to UNRWA on their specific request. “There is also a request from (the) Palestinian Authority for life-saving medicines which we are actively considering,” he said.
India appealed to other traditional UNRWA donors to consider enhancing their support and non-donor member states to consider financial contributions to UNRWA. “We reiterate the need for safe, timely and sustained supply of humanitarian assistance to the people of Palestine,” he said.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, speaking at the UNRWA pledging conference, said there is no alternative to UNRWA – which is the backbone of the UN’s humanitarian operations in Gaza.
The UN Chief called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza and an immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held there.
Guterres noted that 195 UNRWA staff members have been killed and that this is the highest staff death count in UN history. Despite these and other obstacles, the women and men of UNRWA have bravely continued their work in whatever area they can, he said.
Commissioner-General for UNRWA Philippe Lazzarini sounded the alarm that the Agency’s ability to operate beyond August depends on Member States disbursing planned funding and making new contributions to the core budget.
For the occupied Palestinian territory emergency appeal – driven primarily by the conflict ongoing in Gaza – UNRWA is appealing for $1.2 billion to cover critical humanitarian needs until the end of the year.
This and the emergency appeal for Syria, Lebanon and Jordan, are less than 20 per cent funded, Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, said at the daily press briefing.
Pune Police Seize Audi Car From Trainee IAS Pooja Khedkar Over Illegal Red Beacon Use 14
Pune police on Sunday confiscated a luxury car used by controversial probationary IAS officer Pooja Khedkar by allegedly installing a red beacon light on it illegally, an official said.
The Pune Regional Transport Office (RTO) on Thursday issued a notice to a city-based private company, which is the registered owner of the Audi car that 34-year-old Khedkar used during her posting.
Shivane village in Haveli taluka was mentioned as the address of the registered user, as per officials.
Khedkar recently came under the spotlight after kicking up a controversy surrounding her demands such as a separate cabin and staff during her posting in Pune.
She allegedly misused the disability and Other Backward Class (OBC) quota to secure a position in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).
Khedkar allegedly used a red beacon light on the Audi car and also got ‘Maharashtra Government’ written on it without permission.
Following the controversy, she was transferred from Pune to Washim district before the completion of her training.
“A notice was issued on Thursday against the unauthorised use of a beacon and name sign on the private sedan Khedkar had been using. The car now has been confiscated, its documents will be checked and we are probing the matter further,” a senior police official said on Sunday.
A jammer was put on the car and barricades were installed around it, he said.
As many as 21 challans with total charges of ₹ 27,000 were issued in the past against the Audi car, which was registered at the Pune RTO on June 27, 2012, for alleged traffic violations.
The fine has been paid, as per officials.
As per section 108 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR) 1989, the state government can grant permission for the use of red or amber beacon lights on official vehicles to VIPs, VVIPs and government officials.
In December 2013, the state government pruned the list of government posts entitled to use beacons and published a revised list in 2014, on the directives of the Supreme Court.
In October 2014, the transport commissioner’s office had asked various departments to remove beacons on vehicles of the officials not entitled to use them.
As per the list, only top officials above the secretary level in the state government, police officers of and above the rank of inspector general of police and regional commissioners are allowed to use amber beacons without flashers, while top level district officials are entitled to use blue beacons.
The Centre on Thursday constituted a single-member committee “to verify the candidature” of the 2023-batch IAS officer of the Maharashtra cadre.
In a statement, the Centre said the probe would be conducted by an additional secretary-rank officer to verify claims over Khedkar’s candidature and other details.
She may be terminated from service if found guilty, official sources earlier said.
Congress and Allies Secure 11 Out of 13 By-Poll Seats in INDIA Bloc Victory 16
The INDIA Bloc celebrated a substantial victory in the recently concluded by-polls, clinching 11 out of 13 legislative assembly seats across seven states. The youth leader of Uttar Pradesh Congress, Nitant Singh Nitin, showcased a poster at the state headquarters highlighting the win, particularly emphasizing the success of Congress candidate Lakhapat Singh Butola in Uttarakhand’s Badrinath seat.
The poster prominently stated, ‘The constitution has won once again; after Ram Ji’s Ayodhya, we’ve received Lord Vishnu’s blessings in Badrinath.’ This underlined the significance of the victory after a symbolic win in Ayodhya.
The by-poll results dealt a blow to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which secured only two seats. Voting took place on July 10 across seven states, including Bihar, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh. The INDIA bloc’s success was evident with Congress winning in key constituencies and its allies performing strongly in other regions.
Delhi University Awaits UGC's Nod for PhD Admissions Amid UGC NET Cancellation 18
Delhi University (DU) has decided against conducting separate PhD entrance exams, unlike Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), as stated by Vice Chancellor Yogesh Singh on Sunday. Singh mentioned that DU is currently waiting for guidance from the University Grants Commission (UGC).
The uncertainty regarding PhD admissions emerged after the Centre canceled the UGC NET exam, which has been pivotal for PhD program entries. The UGC NET, organized by the National Testing Agency (NTA), is essential for determining eligibility for teaching positions and PhD admissions. ‘We have no plans to hold a separate in-house PhD entrance exam. We will follow whatever the UGC suggests. As of now, we have received no communication from the NTA and are awaiting their guidance. We anticipate a one-month delay in the PhD academic session,’ Singh told ANI.
Singh’s comments addressed inquiries about DU’s plans to conduct its own entrance test amidst the controversy surrounding the NTA’s UGC NET exam. On June 19, the Centre canceled the exam following concerns raised by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) regarding the exam’s integrity.
Meanwhile, JNU is contemplating moving away from the UGC NET exam for PhD admissions and returning to an in-house entrance test. This year, JNU decided to accept National Eligibility Test (NET) scores instead of conducting its own entrance test, aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. According to a UGC notification dated March 27, 2024, starting with the academic session 2024-25, the NET score could replace entrance tests conducted by various universities and higher education institutions (HEIs) for PhD admissions.
The UGC NET, administered by the NTA in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode since December 2018, determines eligibility for Assistant Professorship and Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) in Indian universities and colleges. The award of JRF or eligibility for Assistant Professorship depends on the aggregate performance in Paper-I and Paper-II of the UGC NET.
Imran Khan Acquitted But Faces Fresh Arrest Orders Amid Political Turmoil 20
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his third wife were acquitted on charges of marrying unlawfully by a Pakistani court on Saturday, but he will not be freed after authorities issued fresh orders to arrest him. This ruling came just a day after Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party secured more seats in parliament, adding pressure to the fragile ruling coalition grappling with a broken economy.
The couple had been sentenced to seven years in February when a court found them guilty of violating Islamic law by not observing the required interval between Bushra Khan’s, also known as Bushra Bibi, previous marriage divorce, and her subsequent marriage to Khan. They appealed against their convictions.
An appeal court overturned their convictions, citing insufficient evidence from the prosecution. Nevertheless, authorities have issued new warrants for Khan in three separate cases allegedly linked to violence against military and state installations. The PTI party has criticized these new arrests as efforts to prolong Khan’s detention.
