Bhopal, May 15 (IANS) Two police personnel were injured when a grenade exploded during a mock drill conducted by the 25th battalion of the Special Armed Force in Bhopal on Thursday. The hand grenade unexpectedly detonated during the exercise, critically injuring two police personnel identified as Head Constable Vishal Singh and Constable Santosh Kumar, the police source said.Both police personnel were immediately transported to a private hospital, where Vishal Singh remains in critical condition.The mock drill was part of an ongoing security reinforcement initiative following tensions between Indian and Pakistan, said the police sources.Law enforcement agencies have been conducting regular mock drills across the state to enhance preparedness and response capabilities.However, during Thursday’s exercise, an unforeseen explosion caused widespread panic in the vicinity, prompting an urgent response from emergency services.In response to the incident, police sources said, the Madhya Pradesh Police Headquarters has ordered a formal inquiry to determine the cause of the explosion and assess any lapses in security protocols.Medical teams at the private hospital are actively monitoring the injured personnel, with a specialised team of doctors overseeing their treatment. Authorities have assured that all necessary medical interventions are being provided to stabilise their condition.A high-level investigation committee is expected to be constituted to examine whether proper safety measures were followed during the drill. The committee will also evaluate the handling of explosive devices and the overall execution of the exercise.The sources indicate that senior police officials, including the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner, have visited the site to assess the situation first-hand.The area surrounding the battalion has been secured, and further mock drills have been temporarily suspended pending the investigation.Intelligence officers have also been directed to conduct an independent review of the incident to ensure accountability and prevent similar occurrences in the future.–IANSsktr/svn

Hyderabad, May 15 (IANS) Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K. T. Rama Rao said on Thursday that Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy’s misdeeds led the state government officials to face the Supreme Court’s stern warning over the issue of Kancha Gachibowli land in Hyderabad.

In his reaction to the Supreme Court’s observations during the hearing of the matter, the former minister demanded that Kancha Gachibowli’s forests must be protected. He demanded that the Chief Minister take responsibility for the whole ‘mess’.“Your misdeeds have led Telangana government officials under your command to face the Honourable Supreme Court’s stern warning, with the looming threat of going to jail. Attempts to evade accountability will not succeed—justice demands answers. The immediate restoration of Kancha Gachibowli’s forests is non-negotiable, or be prepared for legal repercussions,” the BRS leader told the Chief Minister through a social media post.“The Rs 10,000 crore scam to sell HCU land is a blatant act of corruption and betrayal. Deploying bulldozers on weekends to circumvent oversight and destroy green cover is a clear violation of environmental laws,” said the BRS MLA.“These reckless actions jeopardise our ecosystem and undermine the rule of law. Kancha Gachibowli’s forests must be protected, and it is high time you take responsibility for the whole mess,” he added.The Supreme Court on Thursday resumed hearing on the matter related to deforestation of Kancha Gachibowli land near Hyderabad Central University.The bench of Justice B. R. Gavai and Justice A. G. Masih on April 16 had extended the stay on tree cutting in 400 acres of land for a month and directed the Wildlife Warden of Telangana to take steps to protect wildlife affected by deforestation in 100 acres.Abhishekh Manu Singhvi, appearing for the Telangana government, sought more time to study the report of the Central Empowered Committee (CEC), which had visited the spot and submitted the report to the apex court last month.Singhvi told the bench that he received the CEC report at 5 p.m. on Wednesday (May 14) and that he needed more time to examine the same.Chief Justice of India Justice Masih observed that deforestation, prima facie, seemed pre-planned. He said that if he wants the chief secretary and half a dozen officers to shift to a temporary prison, they will do that.The bench once again asked if the authorities had environmental clearance to cut trees and reiterated that the forest should be restored.–IANSms/dan

New Delhi, May 15 (IANS) Making India’s longstanding position clear once again, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar on Thursday said that any issues pertaining to Pakistan will be dealt with Islamabad bilaterally.

“Our relations, our dealings with Pakistan will be bilateral and strictly bilateral. That is the national consensus for many years and there is absolutely no change in that consensus,” EAM Jaishankar told reporters after the inauguration of Embassy of Honduras in New Delhi.Over the last few days, US President Donald Trump has repeatedly referred to the India-Pakistan conflict essaying his role as a peacemaker who is committed to resolving conflicts in the world.Earlier this week, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had cleared that any issues pertaining to the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir have to be addressed by India and Pakistan bilaterally.”That stated policy has not changed. As you are aware, the outstanding matter is the vacation of illegally occupied Indian Territory by Pakistan,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told reporters during a weekly media briefing.The EAM also emphasised that India has achieved “key goals” that it set out to do by destroying the terrorist infrastructure during Operation Sindoor.”I think the Prime Minister made it very clear that the only talks with Pakistan will be on terror. Pakistan has a list of terrorists who need to be handed over, they have to shut down the terrorist infrastructure. They know what to do. We are prepared to discuss with them what is to be done on terrorism. Those are the talks which are feasible,” stated EAM Jaishankar.Spelling out India’s position on a host of issues following the highly-successful Operation Sindoor, Jaishankar highlighted that New Delhi received massive international support after the heinous Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 which resulted in the death of 26 innocent civilians.The Resistance Front (TRF), an international terrorist organisation affiliated to the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), owned responsibility for the killings.”Let me say a few things here. One, we actually got a lot of international support. Many ministers, many leaders called the Prime Minister, and many ministers called me as well. We had a Security Council resolution which very clearly stated that the perpetrators of this attack should be held accountable. On the morning of May 7, we held them accountable through the action that was taken through Operation Sindoor,” the EAM said.He also cleared India’s stance on cessation of firing and the military action.”We achieved the goals which we set out to do by destroying the terrorist infrastructure. Since key goals were achieved, I think we reasonably took the position, because even at the start of the operation, we had sent a message to Pakistan saying we are striking at terrorist infrastructure, we are not striking at the military and the military has an option of standing out and not interfering in this process. They chose not to take that good advice. Once they got badly hit on the morning of May 10. Today, the satellite pictures which actually bring out graphically how much damage we did and how little damage they did,” Jaishankar stated.Earlier in the day, while speaking in Srinagar, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that the ongoing ceasefire understanding is respected by India only as long as no terrorist attack takes place in the country. He also said that it was time that the Nuclear facility of Pakistan was taken over by a global watchdog.Addressing the Indian Army soldiers at the Badami Bagh Cantonment area of Srinagar city, which is the headquarters of the Army’s 15 Corps, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, “Our ‘Operation Sindoor’ is undoubtedly the biggest anti-terrorist operation ever undertaken by India. We hit their chest and left a huge wound on it after they tried to attack our head.”–IANS/as

New Delhi, May 15 (IANS) The government on Thursday said that Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) in current weekly status (CWS), an indicator of employment, among persons of age 15 years and above was 55.6 per cent during April, LFPR for rural areas was 58 per cent and LFPR in urban areas was 50.7 per cent during the month for persons of the same age group.The data also includes rural job figures, for the first time ever, to widen the coverage, according to new series based on monthly data, released by the Ministry of Statistics.The Unemployment Rate (UR) in CWS among persons of age 15 years and above was 5.1 per cent in April, The male UR was a tad higher at 5.2 per cent compared to the female UR of 5.0 per cent at the country level, the data showed.The unemployment rate (UR) in urban areas was 6.4 per cent during October-December, 2024 of the old series which were compiled on a quarterly basis.LFPR in CWS for males of age 15 years and above in rural and urban areas were 79 per cent and 75.3 per cent, respectively, while LFPR among females of age 15 years and above for rural areas was 38.2 per cent during April.Worker Population Ratio (WPR) in CWS in rural areas among persons of age 15 years and above was 55.4 per cent. WPR in urban areas among persons of the same age group was 47.4 per cent with the overall WPR at the country level observed as 52.8 per cent during April, as per the data.WPR for female of age 15 years and above for rural and urban areas were 36.8 per cent and 23.5 per cent, respectively, during the month and the overall female WPR of the same age group at the country level was observed as 32.5 per cent.Considering the need for generation of high frequency labour force indicators with enhanced coverage, the sampling methodology of Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) has been revamped from January 2025.The revamped PLFS design is envisaged to estimate the key employment and unemployment indicators (Labour Force Participation Rate, Worker Population Ratio and Unemployment Rate) on a monthly basis for rural and urban areas in the CWS at all India level.The monthly results are planned to be released in the form of monthly bulletins of PLFS. The present monthly bulletin is the first in the series for the month April 2025.A rotational panel sampling design has been adopted in PLFS for both rural and urban areas from January 2025. In this rotational panel scheme, each selected household is visited four times in four consecutive months – one with first visit schedule and other three with the revisit schedule. The scheme of rotation ensures that 75 per cent of the first-stage sampling units (FSUs) are matched between two consecutive months.–IANSsps/na

Patna, May 15 (IANS) The Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Darbhanga on Thursday escalated into a political confrontation after the district administration denied permission to hold the Shiksha Nyay Samvad at the Ambedkar Welfare Hostel.

Despite the imposition of Section 163 of the BNSS (earlier Section 144 CrPC), which prohibits public gatherings, Rahul Gandhi walked nearly a kilometre to the hostel, accompanied by hundreds of supporters and party workers.He went on to address a packed crowd of students, triggering widespread reactions and a political storm both offline and on social media.Rahul Gandhi’s program was part of a broader campaign to highlight issues around education, reservation, scholarships, and migration faced by Dalit, Mahadalit, backward, and minority students in Bihar.The Congress had sought to host the dialogue at Ambedkar Hostel in Mogalpura, a symbolic location tied to the aspirations of marginalised communities.However, the Darbhanga administration denied permission, citing security and administrative reasons.District Magistrate Rajiv Roshan offered the Town Hall as an alternative venue, saying: “No such political program can be permitted in the hostel premises, especially under Section 163. They are free to use Town Hall.”After his convoy was stopped near Karpoori Chowk, LoP Rahul Gandhi stepped out of his vehicle and began walking towards the hostel.Along the route, his supporters chanted slogans against the JD(U)-BJP government, accusing it of silencing student voices.Despite multiple attempts by the police to block the procession, LoP Rahul Gandhi continued walking and ultimately reached the hostel, where hundreds of students and supporters had already gathered.A makeshift stage had been prepared in anticipation of his arrival.“The double-engine government is afraid of the voice of Dalit and backward students. They are trying to suppress education and social justice. Their obstruction failed to stop me. I am here in the hostel, and they would fail to stop the reservation,” said LoP Rahul Gandhi in his address.“We demand a fair caste-based census like Telangana did in the past, followed by implementation of its recommendations in the reservation,” said LoP Rahul Gandhi.He also reiterated the Congress promise of free education from KG to PG, timely scholarships, and merit-based job recruitment.Abhay Dubey, the Congress national media convenor, called the move a “blatant attempt to stifle democratic dialogue” and accused the District Welfare Officer of cancelling permission without valid justification.“This is not just a denial of permission; it’s an attack on the rights of Dalit students and a sign of authoritarian governance,” Dubey said.After the event, LoP Rahul Gandhi left for Patna, where he is expected to watch the film Phule, based on social reformers Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule, further emphasising his campaign’s focus on social justice and equality.–IANSajk/dan

New Delhi, May 15 (IANS) Delhi Lt Governor V.K. Saxena on Thursday hit out at the narrow-minded politics of the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government for delays and hurdles faced in providing piped cooking gas facilities to residents of the national capital’s rural pockets.“I have no hesitation in saying that the previous government did not have the willpower. They did not want new facilities to be extended to villages. Perhaps, this was due to their politics,” said L-G Saxena, addressing residents of Delhi’s 111 villages which received piped gas supply on Thursday.He said facilities do not reach residents if a government fails to perform its duty.“Development takes place only when the government shows that kind of intention and desire,” said Saxena, praising the BJP-led Rekha Gupta government for bringing about a ‘Spring of Development’ in the the national capital due to the launch of all-round development work and new launches with the help of her Cabinet ministers.He said earlier that Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) used to get no-objection certificates to lay gas pipeline in villages after more than a year-and-a-half.“I had to warn all Delhi departments that a delay of over one month will invite punishment,” he said, pointing to the hurdles created in extending piped cooking gas to city villages.The L-G also expressed satisfaction at seeing the joy on the faces of women who were given symbolic piped gas connection certificates during an event held at Dwarka on Thursday.Earlier, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta also hit out at the previous AAP government, alleging that some MLAs of that party used to create hurdles in the expansion of the piped gas supply in villages despite efforts of BJP MPs.”The MPs from our party were trying hard to bring piped gas to homes in village but the legislators of the AAP created problems and questioned the need for doing so,” she said.CM Gupta also thanked the L-G for pursuing the piped gas project diligently and bring it to a stage where 130 villages were connected to piped gas in the first phase and 111 more villages got the facility on Thursday.–IANSrch/pgh

Vijayawada, May 15 (IANS) K. Dhanunjaya Reddy, a retired IAS officer and former secretary of former Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy and Krishna Mohan Reddy, former Officer on Special Duty (OSD), appeared before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing Andhra Pradesh liquor scam, for the second day on Thursday.

The SIT officials were questioning former bureaucrats about the recipients of kickbacks from the distillery companies. The SIT had questioned them on Wednesday and directed them to appear the next day.Dhanunjaya Reddy and Krishna Mohan Reddy are accused numbers 31 and 32, respectively, in the case.They, along with another accused Govindappa Balaji were directed to appear before the SIT on Monday, but they skipped the appearance.On May 7, the Andhra Pradesh High Court rejected their anticipatory bail pleas, citing the preliminary stage of the investigation into the alleged scam of Rs 3,200 crore.The SIT arrested Balaji, Director of Bharathi Cements Corporation, in Karnataka on Tuesday. He was brought to Vijayawada and produced before the ACB Court, which remanded him to judicial custody till May 20.Balaji, alleged to be a close aide of Jagan, is listed as accused number 33 in the case, who “distributed kickbacks” among liquor syndicate members through shell companies.Meanwhile, intensifying the probe into the alleged scam that took place during YSR Congress Party rule, the SIT on Thursday took accused number 6, Sajjala Sridhar Reddy, into custody for questioning.After a court granted three-day police custody of Sridhar Reddy, the SIT officials took him into custody from Vijayawada jail.Sridhar Reddy, who is also the managing director of Spy Agro Industries, along with other accused, allegedly participated in the meetings conducted on the liquor policy.He is alleged to have played a key role in mediating between the owners of various distillery companies, officers of Andhra Pradesh State Beverages Corporation Limited (APSBCL) and the Prohibition and Excise Department and the YSR Congress party leaders and in receiving kickbacks.There are allegations that the YSR Congress Party leaders encouraged a new liquor policy, floated new brands during YSRCP rule, received kickbacks from the distillery companies and caused huge losses to the government.Raj Kasireddy, the prime accused in the case, was allegedly handing over the bribe to the trio after collecting from the owners of the liquor companies.The SIT on April 21 arrested Kasireddy, who allegedly played a key role in the alleged illegal collection of nearly Rs 3,000 crore over a five-year period. He was the IT advisor to Jagan Mohan Reddy.The TDP-led NDA government constituted the SIT in November last year to investigate the allegations of irregularities and corruption in Andhra Pradesh State Beverages Corporation Limited (APSBCL) under the YSRCP tenure.The TDP leaders alleged that some YSRCP leaders had links with the liquor manufacturers; they floated shell companies and made illegal money.–IANSms/svn

New Delhi, May 15 (IANS) Delhi Leader of the Opposition (LoP), Atishi, has written to Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, urging immediate action against Delhi Public School (DPS) Dwarka for allegedly expelling 34 students over non-payment of increased annual fees.In her letter, Atishi called the incident “shocking” and “completely unacceptable”.“There has been a shocking incident wherein DPS Dwarka has reportedly expelled 34 students for non-payment of increased annual fees. Such an action by a private school is completely unacceptable. Imagine the trauma these young students must be going through. They were stopped at the school gate by additional security and forced to withdraw their admission. This is not just unjust, it’s inhumane,” she wrote.Atishi criticised the BJP-led Delhi government for its inaction, claiming that parents were left with no option but to approach the courts for justice.“What kind of precedent are we setting when parents have to go to court to secure their children’s right to education? The Delhi government should have taken immediate action as soon as this came to light,” she said.Recalling the Aam Aadmi Party’s tenure, Atishi said, “During the last 10 years of AAP governance, we never allowed private schools to raise fees arbitrarily, let alone expel students. We took strong action against any such violations, sending a clear message to the private school mafia that this would not be tolerated.”She further alleged that since the BJP came to power three months ago, private schools across Delhi have been increasing fees “in an arbitrary and uncontrolled manner.”“Despite repeated protests by parents, there has been no rollback of fees or action taken against erring schools. This complete inaction has emboldened such institutions to take drastic steps against students,” she added.Atishi urged the Chief Minister to intervene urgently and ensure justice for the affected students and their families.–IANSskp/dan

Bengaluru, May 15 (IANS) The Karnataka High Court on Thursday granted relief to singer Sonu Nigam and directed the police not to take any coercive action against him in the controversial remarks case.The case pertains to Sonu Nigam’s alleged remarks linking a demand for a Kannada song during an event in Bengaluru to the terror attack in Pahalgam.A bench headed by Justice Shivashankar Amarannavar has also directed Sonu Nigam to cooperate with the investigation.However, opposing relief to Sonu Nigam, the prosecution’s counsel said the incident was part of a live broadcast and gained wide media coverage, warranting legal action.An FIR was lodged on May 3 under Sections 351(2) (criminal intimidation), 352 (statements inciting public mischief), and 352(1) (intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of peace or incite another offence) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).The FIR was based on a complaint by Dharmaraj A., president of the Bengaluru City District unit of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike.Sonu Nigam approached the Karnataka High Court, seeking the quashing of an FIR registered against him by the Karnataka Police.Notably, during the event at East Point College of Engineering and Technology in Bengaluru, Sonu Nigam was interrupted by a youth in the audience who requested a Kannada song.Reacting to the interruption, Nigam said, “I have sung in different languages. Among them, the best songs are in Kannada. Whenever I come to Karnataka, I come with a lot of love and respect. You all have treated me like family. I always sing Kannada songs when requested. I’ve been singing in Kannada longer than that particular youth’s age. But I didn’t like the way he shouted ‘Kannada, Kannada’. It is because of such behaviour that incidents like the Pahalgam attack happen.”His remarks sparked outrage, with several Kannada organisations demanding an unconditional apology.The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) subsequently barred him from engaging in professional work within the Kannada film industry and demanded an apology.In response, Sonu Nigam apologised on his Instagram handle, stating: “Sorry Karnataka. My love for you is bigger than my ego. Love you always.”–IANSmka/svn

New Delhi, May 15 (IANS) Emphasising that India achieved “key goals” that it set out to do by destroying the terrorist infrastructure during Operation Sindoor, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar on Thursday made it clear that the only talks with Pakistan will be on terror.

“I think the Prime Minister made it very clear that the only talks with Pakistan will be on terror. Pakistan has a list of terrorists who need to be handed over, they have to shut down the terrorist infrastructure. They know what to do. We are prepared to discuss with them what is to be done on terrorism. Those are the talks which are feasible,” EAM Jaishankar told reporters after the inauguration of the Embassy of Honduras in New Delhi.Spelling out India’s position on a host of issues following the highly successful Operation Sindoor, Jaishankar highlighted that New Delhi received massive international support after the heinous Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 which resulted in the death of 26 innocent civilians.The Resistance Front (TRF), an international terrorist organisation affiliated to the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), owned responsibility for the killings.”Let me say a few things here. One, we actually got a lot of international support. Many ministers, many leaders called the Prime Minister, and many ministers called me as well. We had a Security Council resolution which very clearly stated that the perpetrators of this attack should be held accountable. On the morning of May 7, we held them accountable through the action that was taken through Operation Sindoor,” the EAM said.He also cleared India’s stance on cessation of firing and the military action.”We achieved the goals which we set out to do by destroying the terrorist infrastructure. Since key goals were achieved, I think we reasonably took the position, because even at the start of the operation, we had sent a message to Pakistan saying we are striking at terrorist infrastructure, we are not striking at the military and the military has an option of standing out and not interfering in this process. They chose not to take that good advice. Once they got badly hit on the morning of May 10. Today, the satellite pictures which actually bring out graphically how much damage we did and how little damage they did. It is clear who wanted cessation of firing,” Jaishankar stated.Earlier in the day, while speaking in Srinagar, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that the ongoing ceasefire understanding is respected by India only as long as no terrorist attack takes place in the country. He also said that it was time that the Nuclear facility of Pakistan was taken over by a global watchdog.Addressing the Indian Army soldiers at the Badami Bagh Cantonment area of Srinagar city, which is the headquarters of the Army’s 15 Corps, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, “Our ‘Operation Sindoor’ is undoubtedly the biggest anti-terrorist operation ever undertaken by India. We hit their chest and left a huge wound on it after they tried to attack our head.”–IANS/as