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Eleven security personnel were injured after six improvised explosive devices allegedly planted by Maoists exploded during an anti-Maoist operation in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district. The explosions took place on Sunday in the forested area of Karregutta Hills
Of the injured personnel, 10 were from the District Reserve Guard, a unit of the Chhattisgarh Police, while one was from the Central Reserve Police Force’s Commando Battalion for Resolute Action, or the CoBRA unit.
The Union government has vowed to end Maoist activity by March 31, 2026.Read more.
The police in Rajasthan's Nagaur district seized nearly 10,000 kilograms of ammonium nitrate in a raid on a farm ahead of Republic Day. The seizure, which took place in the Harsaur village, was perhaps the biggest of its kind in Rajasthan, the police said.
A man named Suleman Khan was arrested in connection with the haul. Nagaur Superintendent of Police Mridul Kachhawa said that Khan has three previous criminal cases against him, of which he has been acquitted in one.
Apart from ammonium nitrate, the police also seized detonators, detonating wires and other material that is “normally used in mining-related blasting”, the police said. Preliminary questioning suggests that Khan supplied the explosives for mining, Kachhawas said. Read more.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said that eviction drives in the state were only targeting Miya Muslims and not Assamese people. He blamed the media for allegedly spreading rumours.
No eviction would take place in the Guwahati hills until the Assembly polls, added Sarma.
“Miya” is a derogatory term for Bengali-speaking Muslims. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in Assam has often labelled the community as “infiltrators” who are allegedly taking over resources, jobs and land of the indigenous people.
Elections to the 126-member Assam Assembly are due in the first half of the year. Read more.
A case has been filed against three persons for allegedly vandalising the shrine of 18th century philosopher and Sufi poet Baba Bulleh Shah in Uttarakhand’s Mussoorie. The persons are allegedly linked to a Hindutva group.
The shrine, located within the premises of Wynberg-Allen school in the town, was vandalised on Saturday. The vandals used hammers and iron rods.
Sharing a video of the shrine being vandalised, Pinky Chaudhary, the chief of the Hindu Raksha Dal, said on social media on Saturday that he “salutes” the Hindutva group’s Uttarakhand unit.
Hindutva organisations had objected to the expansion of the shrine, alleging that it was illegal and built on government land. The Baba Bulleh Shah Committee denied the allegation that the structure had been built on government land. Read more.
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