The death toll of Indians in the Haj stampede has risen to 81 even as scores of nationals are still missing after the September’s tragedy, worst to hit the annual pilgrimage in 25 years.

Noting that Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh was in Saudi Arabia for the identification process of the missing Indians by the Saudi authorities, MEA Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said seven more Indian have been identified among the deceased in the Haj stampede taking the toll to 81.

“The minister sought the intervention of the Saudi Health Minister to find the identities of all the Indian pilgrims. He also conveyed that several missing cases were still pending with the Indian mission and it can only be resolved after the identification process is complete. Singh has been assured of all support and assistance by the Saudi minister,” he said.

The Spokesperson did not give the number of missing Indians in the tragedy, saying it was not possible given the current situation where many of them were now identified as deceased.

The Haj stampede on September 24 broke out after two massive lines of pilgrims converged on each other from different directions at an intersection close to the five-storey Jamarat Bridge in Mina for symbolic stoning of the devil.

It was the second major accident this year for pilgrims, after a construction crane collapsed on September 11 at Mecca’s Grand Mosque, killing over 100 people, including 11 Indians.

Women pilots will soon fly fighter jets of the Indian Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha said today.

“We have women pilots flying transport aircraft and helicopters, we are now planning to induct them into the fighter stream to meet the aspirations of young women of India,” said the air chief on the 83rd Air Force Day.

“I have no doubt that women will be able to overcome any physical limitations to become fighter pilots,” he added.

The proposal has been sent to the defence ministry, but the air chief said it was a matter of time.

Women can enter the fighter stream within one year but it will take three years for them to be trained and taken on board as fighter pilots.

There are around 1,500 women in the Air Force, including 94 pilots and 14 navigators.

In the past, the Air Force had refused to allow women in fighter squadrons because of fears of torture or rape if they were shot down in combat.

The air chief said while women should ultimately be cleared to operate behind enemy lines, a start can be made by assigning them air defence missions over Indian skies.

If the Air Force does make a historic leap, it will be the first to have women in active front-line combat.

In 2010, women in the army and the Air Force were allowed full term service by the Delhi High Court, which commented that women officers “deserve better from the government.”

Last month, women naval officers also scored this milestone, with the High Court saying it would “frown upon any endeavor to block progress of women.”

We want to live like before, Dadri lynching victim Mohammad Iqlakh’s eldest brother said on Thursday, stressing that the family has no plan to permanently shift out of Bishada village although it may move out for “2-4 months” if required.

Gautam Buddh Nagar District Magistrate Nagendra Prasad Singh also said that the family will continue to be in Bishada where it is getting round the clock police protection.

“As you can see, our family members have not shifted anywhere and do not intend to do so either. We are very much in Bishada,” Iqlakh’s brother Jamil said at his residence, which is adjoining Iqlakh’s home.

Jamil said that they will never leave Bishada permanently where 5 generations of his family have stayed. “If needed, we may go somewhere for 2-4 months but who knows of the future,” he said.

On report that Iqlakh’s son Sartaj had moved the family to Delhi, Jamil said, “He (Sartaj) is saying certain things out of concern but that does not mean he will go beyond my words”.

The DM said that the family has not shared any plans with him regarding moving out immediately, although “Sartaj is concerned about their safety”.

Days after a man was lynched for allegedly consuming beef, Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav has finally broken his silence on the Dadri outrage. He claimed that the incident was a conspiracy hatched by three persons of a specific party.

“Those behind Muzaffarnagar riots were involved. We will take stern action against culprits once names are clear. Even if we have to sacrifice the government, we will take stern action against the culprits once the names are clear,” Mulayam said.

He also appealed to the people to cooperate and maintain harmony. “This is for the good of all,” he said.

The BJP MLAs who thrashed Independent MLA Engineer Rashid over holding a beef party have warned him against carrying out such bashes in the future.

Rahid, MLA from Langate, had hosted a beef party on the lawns of the MLA hostel here. As per reports, guests were served beef kebabs, ‘ristas’ (meat balls) and beef patties.

BJP MLAs said that when they came face-to-face with Rashid today morning in the assembly they questioned him about the beef party.

Rashid responded by saying that he would organise a thousand more such parties in Kashmir. One BJP MLA also claimed that Rashid specifically mentioned “cow beef party”.

Hearing such a statement, the BJP MLAs allegedly lost their cool and assaulted Rashid.

“What he did was a violation of Constitution of J&K. He said in the Assembly that he will hold 1000 more parties like this,” BJP MLA Ravinder Raina asserted.

Another BJP MLA added that Rashid had hurt the sentiments of Hindus, who are a minority in Jammu and Kashmir.

The MLAs later warned that Rashid would be thrashed all 1000 times if he went ahead and held 1000 beef parties.

The beef row first erupted after a division bench of the High Court in Jammu directed the state to strictly implement the ban in the state as per the law.