NIA conducts raids at multiple locations in Bihar in Phulwari Sharif terror module 2
National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday carried out searches at multiple locations in Bihar in connection with the Phulwari Sharif terror module case, sources said. The places raided in Bihar are located in Darbhanga, Arariya, Chhapra and Patna districts of the state.
Multiple NIA teams carried out these searches at the residential premises and other places of suspects said a top official source. The NIA has registered two separate First Information Reports in the Phulwari Sharif terror module case, one mentioning about a plan of miscreants to disturb the proposed visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Bihar by some suspected persons.
Both the FIRs were registered on July 22– first mentions a plan to disturb the PM’s visit by some suspected persons who had assembled in the Phulwari Sharif area on July 11 while the other is linked to the interception of one Margub Ahmad Danish alias Tahir by Bihar Police on July 14 for his alleged involvement in anti-India activities and radicalization of impressionable youth using various social media platforms
During the proposed visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Bihar, some suspected had assembled in the Phulwari Sharif area on July 11, 2022, mentioned the first FIR. The FIR also stated that a raid was carried out on secret information resulting in the interception of two persons Athar Parvej and Mohd Jalaluddin from Patna, and the seizure of several incriminating articles as well as documents related to “anti-India activities”.
The FIR, which named 26 suspects, also says that an initial case was registered on July 12 by Bihar Police at Phulwari Sharif police station. The NIA took over and re-registered the case based on an order issued by the Counter Terrorism and Counter Radicalization Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs taking cognisance of the gravity of the offence and its national security ramifications.
The second FIR is based on the interception of Margub Ahmad Danish alias Tahir, a residence of Munir Colony in Phulwari Sharif, on July 14
India successfully test-fires Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile system 4
India on Thursday successfully completed six flight tests of the Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile (QRSAM) system off the Odisha Coast.
According to Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the flight tests have been conducted as part of evaluation trials by the Indian Army.
The flight tests were carried out against high-speed aerial targets mimicking various types of aerial threats to evaluate the capability of the weapon systems under different scenarios including long-range medium altitude, short-range high, altitude maneuvering target, low radar signature with receding and crossing target and salvo launch with two missiles fired in quick succession.
The system performance was also evaluated under day and night operation scenarios. During these tests, all the mission objectives were met establishing pin-point accuracy of the QRSAM weapon system with state-of-the-art guidance and control algorithms including the warhead chain.
The system’s performance has been confirmed from the data captured by a number of Range instruments like Telemetry, Radar and Electro-Optical Tracking Systems (EOTS) deployed by ITR.
Mumbai Police have arrested a man for allegedly impersonating the PA of an MP from Andhra Pradesh and thus breaching the security of Home Minister Amit Shah during his visit to Mumbai.
The accused, Hemant Pawar of Dhule in Maharashtra, has been sent to five-day police custody by the court on Tuesday after being arrested by the Malabar Hill Police Station on Monday.
According to the police, the accused was also seen outside the residences of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his deputy Devendra Fadnavis by impersonating himself as a member of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) as he also carried its ribbon tag.
He was seen at both the places where the Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s events were held. The security breach for Home Minister in Maharashtra was witnessed during his first visit as the police verified later that the accused name was not mentioned in Shah’s list of security.
Shah visited Mumbai on Monday for the first time after Eknath Shinde became Maharashtra Chief Minister on July 30 following a split in the Maha Vikas Aghadi.
Pentagon stops accepting new F-35 jets after discovering engine part made in China 8
The US Pentagon has stopped accepting new F-35 jets after it discovered a magnet used in the stealthy fighter’s engine was made with unauthorized material from China.
The aircraft’s maker, Lockheed Martin, found a part used in the jet’s engine was made in China, the Defence Department and company confirmed on Wednesday.
The Defence Contract Management Agency on August 19 notified the F-35 Joint Program Office that an alloy used in magnets in the F-35’s turbomachine pumps was produced in China, office spokesperson Russell Goemaere said in a statement to The Hill.
The program office “temporarily paused the acceptance of new F-35 aircraft to ensure the F-35 program’s compliance” with defence regulations “pertaining to specialty metals,” Goemaere said. Though Lockheed makes the aircraft, Honeywell produces the turbomachine.
In late August, Honeywell was notified by one of their third-tier suppliers for the turbomachine that they were using alloy sourced from China which was then magnetized in the United States, according to a statement from Lockheed, reported The Hill. “Out of abundance of caution, there is a temporary pause on deliveries,” the statement said, noting that the magnet does not provide any visibility or access to sensitive program information and there are no safety issues for F-35s currently in use.
The F-35 Joint Program Office also confirmed the part does not affect flight operations of the fifth-generation fighter jets already in service, reported The Hill.
“We have confirmed that the magnet does not transmit information or harm the integrity of the aircraft and there are no performance, quality, safety, or security risks associated with this issue and flight operations for the F-35 in-service fleet will continue as normal,” Goemaere said. Both the Pentagon and Lockheed said an alternative source for the alloy will be used in future turbomachines.
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray was denied permission to meet party MP Sanjay Raut, who is currently lodged in Arthur Road Jail in connection with the money laundering case.
Raut is a close aide of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. Thackeray has sought permission from Arthur Road Jail Authority to meet Sanjay Raut in the jailer’s room but the jail authority has refused.
The jail authority said Thackeray would have to take permission from the court to meet Raut and the meeting cannot take place in the jailer’s room at all.
“They will have to meet in the same way as ordinary prisoners meet on that side of the lattice and for that to the permission of the court is required,” the jail authority said.
The jail official said that he had not received any written application. A Shiv Sena leader close to Uddhav Thackeray had called the jail administration and said that Uddhav Thackeray has to meet Sanjay Raut for only 15 minutes, but the jail administration refused.
After which the Jail Superintendent said, “If you want to meet, then you will have to meet like other people meet all the prisoners and for that, you have the permission of the court.” Saying this the jail officer denied permission to meet Sanjay Raut.
Earlier on September 5, a Special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court extended the Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut’s judicial custody by 14 days till September 19 in connection with the Patra Chawl land scam case.
Raut was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on August 1 in connection with alleged financial irregularities in the redevelopment of the Patra Chawl in suburban Goregaon.
After being in the ED’s custody initially, the Shiv Sena leader was sent to judicial custody for 14 days on August 8.
On 22 August, a special PMLA court extended Raut’s custody till September 5 which has now been further extended till September 19.
ED officials raided the Shiv Sena leader’s home on July 31, and after detaining and questioning him for several hours, arrested him on August 1.
On June 28 this year, Sanjay Raut was summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the prevention of the money laundering case pertaining to the Rs 1,034 crore Patra Chawl land scam.
Back in August, the wife of Shiv Sena MP was also summoned by the agency in connection with the Patra Chawl land case.
The MP’s wife Varsha Raut was summoned by the central agency after the ED officials raided the Shiv Sena leader’s home and after detaining and questioning him (Sanjay Raut) for several hours, arrested him.
Meanwhile, another FIR was registered against Sanjay Raut in Mumbai for allegedly threatening Swapna Patkar, the wife of Sujit Patkar who is believed to be a close aide of the Shiv Sena MP.
The case was registered at the Vakola police station under sections 504,506 and 509 of the Indian Penal Code. An audio clip had gone viral in which Raut was allegedly heard threatening Swapna Patkar. Notably, Swapna Patkar is also a witness in the Patra Chawl land case in connection to which the ED detained Raut after conducting a raid at his residence.
According to sources, ED officials seized Rs 11.50 lakhs unaccounted cash from his residence during the raids. Soon after the ED officials detained him in connection with the Patra Chawl land scam case, the Shiv Sena leader said that he “won’t be cowed down”.
Speaking to media persons, Raut said, “False charges and documents are being framed against people. All of this is being done to weaken Shiv Sena and Maharashtra. Sanjay Raut won’t be cowed down. I will not leave the party.”
On June 28 this year, Sanjay Raut was summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the prevention of the money laundering case pertaining to the Rs 1,034 crore Patra Chawl land scam. Raut is being probed in connection with the re-development of Mumbai’s Patra Chawl.
In April this year, the ED had attached immovable properties worth Rs 11.15 crore, including a flat at Dadar, held by Sanjay Raut’s wife Varsha and eight land parcels at Kihim near Alibag, jointly held by the latter with Swapna Patkar.
A massive fire, causing a loss of crores, broke out at a Benelli & Isuzu showroom near Basistha in Assam’s Guwahati on Wednesday.
However, no casualties have been reported in the matter, police said.
“Isuzu cars worth at least Rs 1.5 crores burnt, while Benelli bikes worth Rs 6-7 lakhs burnt. Totalling with the property loss, we hit a Rs 4-5 crores loss,” said the Sales executive manager at the car showroom.
The Supreme Court Constitution bench on Wednesday posted on September 27 for deciding the schedule of hearing the plea of the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government’s plea on the contentious issue of who should control administrative services in Delhi over the transfers and postings of officers in the national capital.
A five-judge bench headed by Justice DY Chandrachud said it will fix the timeline of the case on September 27 and that this will be a complete green bench and there will be no papers in this matter.
“Don’t circulate any paper compilations. We want this bench to be a green bench,” Justice Chandrachud said. “In the meantime, it is anticipated that proceedings before Chief Justice of India-led Constitution bench likely to conclude. In case the hearing in CJI court spills over this case will be listed on October 11,” the bench said also comprising Justices MR Shah, Krishna Murari, Hima Kohli and PS Narasimha.
The top court said to make counsels acquainted with technology in the legal proceedings, training would be conducted over the weekend. The Registry is to make soft copies of all documents and provide them to the Centre and Delhi government.
The bench to decide the legal issue concerning the scope of legislative and executive powers of the Centre and Delhi government over control of services in the national capital.
The case was slated to be heard by a Constitution bench after a three-judge bench had in May this year decided to send it to a larger bench on a request by the Central government. On February 14, 2019, a two-judge Bench of the top court delivered a split verdict on the question of powers of the GNCTD and Union government over services and referred the matter to a three-judge Bench.
While Justice Ashok Bhushan had ruled the Delhi government has no power at all over administrative services. Justice AK Sikri, however, had said the transfer or posting of officers in top echelons of the bureaucracy (joint director and above) could only be done by the Central government and the view of the lieutenant governor would prevail in case of a difference of opinion for matters relating to other bureaucrats.
The two-judge bench which was hearing pleas on six matters pertaining to a long-running conflict between the Centre and the Delhi government had given a unanimous order on the remaining five issues except for the control over services.
Governance of the national capital has witnessed a power struggle between the Centre and the Delhi government since the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) came to power in 2014.
Prior to February 2019 judgement, a five-judge constitution bench of the Supreme Court had on July 4, 2018, laid down the broad parameters for governance of the national capital.
In the landmark verdict, it had unanimously held that Delhi cannot be accorded the status of a state but clipped the powers of the LG saying he has no “independent decision-making power” and has to act on the aid and advice of the elected government.
It had restricted the jurisdiction of the LG to matters pertaining to land, police and public order and on all other matters, it held that the LG would have to act on the aid and advice of the council of ministers.
The Rajasthan government will launch on Friday an ambitious scheme to provide 100 days of employment to needy families in urban areas on the lines of rural employment guarantee scheme MGNREGA.
More than 2.25 lakh families have already registered for the Indira Gandhi Urban Employment Scheme which was proposed by chief minister Ashok Gehlot in the state budget this year.
An official said the scheme to be launched on September 9 would cover works like environment protection, water and heritage conservation, garden maintenance, and removing encroachments, illegal sign boards, hoardings, banners etc.
Sanitation, cleanliness and other such works will also be undertaken under the scheme, he said. “People from the age group of 18 to 60 are eligible for the scheme. Interested families will get 100 days of employment. The scheme will be implemented in all the urban local bodies from September 9,” the local self government department official said.
The state government has allocated Rs 800 crore for the scheme.
Ministers in charge of districts will launch the scheme in their respective areas.
Chief Minister Gehlot recently held a meeting to review the preparations for the implementation of the scheme.
The ratio of material cost and remuneration cost for getting the work approved and executed of “general nature” will be 25:75, while the ratio will be reversed for the works of “special nature”.
Details were not immediately available about the works to be kept in these two categories.
Payments will be made in the bank accounts of the beneficiary within 15 days.
A provision has been made in the scheme to redress complaints and conduct a social audit.
The official said the local bodies doing excellent work under the scheme will be awarded by the state government.
A PhD student of IIT Kanpur was found dead inside his hostel room. The incident came to light at about 8:30 pm on Tuesday when a resident of Hall 8 called the institute security section to report that the student named Prasant Singh’s room was locked from the inside and was unresponsive to knocks.
“When the Institute’s administrators forcibly opened the door, they discovered Prasant Singh hanging from the ceiling with the help of a bedsheet,” the institute said in a statement.
He was taken and hurried to the health centre of the institute, where the on-call physician pronounced him dead. In the meantime, Singh’s family members and the city police were made aware of his tragic passing.
“The police forensic team came that same evening and began their investigations. Prasant Singh’s body was taken to the Mortuary of Hallet Hospital,” the institute stated, adding that it was awaiting the police investigation to determine the likely reason behind his suicide.
Prasant Singh, a student in the Department of Mechanical Engineering with outstanding academic qualifications, enrolled in IIT Kanpur in 2019 to work for his master’s degree before deciding to enrol in a PhD program in 2021. While condoling his death, the institute lost a talented student and aspiring scientist, the statement added.
Rahul Gandhi to sleep in container for next 150 days in Bharat Jodo Yatra 15
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who embarks on ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ from Tamil Nadu’s Kanyakumari today, will be staying in a container for the next 150 days.
In what is being seen as a Congress’ “masterstroke” to take on the Narendra Modi government in the upcoming 2024 elections, Congress is launching the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ on Wednesday in which Rahul Gandhi will start the 3,570 km journey lasting about 150 days from Kanyakumari to Kashmir.
As the party begins the nationwide yatra, some pertinent questions arise about the lodging and flooding of Rahul Gandhi. However, the party has made it clear that he will not stay in any hotel but rather will complete the entire journey in a simple manner.
Rahul Gandhi is going to stay in the container for the next 150 days. Sleeping beds, toilets and air-conditioners are also installed in some of the containers.
During the journey, the temperature and environment will differ in many areas. The arrangements have been made keeping in view the intense heat and humidity with the change of places. “About 60 such containers have been prepared and sent to Kanyakumari where a village has been set up in which all these containers have been placed.
The container will be parked in a new place every day in the shape of a village for night rest. Fulltime Yatris who stay with Rahul Gandhi will eat together and stay close,”
