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BSF jawan detained by Pakistan Rangers after accidentally crossing border
The family of a Border Security Force (BSF) jawan in West Bengal's Hooghly district on Thursday is anxiously awaiting his safe return after he was detained by Pakistan Rangers for accidentally crossing the international border in Punjab. PK Sahu, who has been posted with the 182nd Battalion of BSF at the Ferozepur border in Punjab, was taken into custody by Pakistan Rangers on Wednesday, reported PTI. According to official sources, the jawan was in uniform and carrying his service rifle when the incident occurred. The incident comes amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan – in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack – with India taking strong measures against Pakistan for allegedly sponsoring terrorism. Officers privy to the developments have stated that a flag meeting is underway between both the sides to secure the release of the BSF jawan, PTI reported. They noted that such incidents, though unfortunate, have occurred in the past and are typically resolved through established military protocols. Sahu, who has been serving in BSF for the past 17 years, hails from Rishra’s Harisabha area, PTI reported. The news of his detention has left the family – his parents, wife, and seven-year-old son – deeply distressed. His wife, Rajani, has been inconsolable after she was informed about the incident. "One of his colleagues called and told us that he was caught while on duty. I last spoke to him on Tuesday night. He has been with the BSF for 17 years. I just want him to return home soon," she said, struggling to hold back tears. According to reports, Sahu was reportedly accompanying a group of farmers near the border when he walked ahead to rest under a tree and accidentally crossed into Pakistani territory, where he was apprehended, reported PTI. His brother Shyamsundar has appealed to the Central government and BSF officers for swift intervention. "We want the government to ensure his safe and immediate return. The entire family is extremely worried," he told a Bengali news channel. As news of the incident spread, neighbours and well-wishers gathered outside the Sahu residence in Rishra. The family, surrounded by visitors, remains glued to television news broadcasts, hoping for a positive update. (With PTI inputs)
25 April,2025 02:46 AM IST | Kolkata | mid-day online correspondent
Attari border closed: Tourists postpone plans, locals laud PM's decision
Locals in Amritsar have lauded the decision of the Indian government to shut the Attari Integrated Check Post (ICP), among other diplomatic measures in response to the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. They also condemned Tuesday's attack and supported the government's decision, even though some of them had to delay or cancel their plans. A tourist from Rajasthan, Surinder Singh, told ANI that they had come to Amritsar with the hopes of crossing through the border to attend a family wedding in Pakistan, but now the plans have been postponed. "I was going to Pakistan today for my brother's wedding, but it will be postponed now. My grandmother and her four sons stay in Pakistan, and her one son stays in India. The attack on tourists (in Pahalgam) was very wrong," he said. Shaitan Singh, a relative of Surinder, expressed uncertainty about his plans. "What the terrorists have done is wrong...We are not being allowed to go (to Pakistan) as the border is closed...Let us see what will happen now," he told ANI. The Central government has also suspended the SAARC Visa Exemption scheme, giving Pakistani nationals 48 hours to return to their country. A Pakistani national, Mohammed Jammeel, also condemned the attack, saying that "whoever's blood is shed is wrong." "Khoon kisi ka bhi bahe woh galat hai (Whoever's blood is being shed is wrong), even if it is mine, or someone else's, everyone's hearts beat the same," Jameel told ANI. At the same time, businessmen in Amritsar said that while their business will be affected, they stand with PM Modi regarding the decision/ A businessman from Attari said, "The closure of the Attari border will definitely affect the business here... but the incident that has happened is also very wrong." Another business said that the attack in Pulwama on innocent people was wrong, adding, "The attack on the tourist was wrong. We stand with the nation. Jis hisab se Modi ji desh chala rahe hain, chalane do. We stand with the decisions of PM Modi," he said. As many as 26 people were killed in the dastardly attack by terrorists on tourists in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday. The attack, carried out by terrorists at Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam on Tuesday, is one of the deadliest in the Valley since the 2019 Pulwama strike in which 40 CRPF jawans were killed. The attack was one of the biggest terror attacks in the region after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. In response, the Central government announced on Wednesday the closure of Attari ICP, reducing the strength of High Commissions in India and Pakistan to 30 officials each, and suspended the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) visas. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said, "Any SVES visas issued in the past to Pakistani nationals are deemed cancelled. Any Pakistani national currently in India under an SVES visa has 48 hours to leave India." This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
24 April,2025 08:00 PM IST | Amritsar | ANI
Day 3 of state mourning for Pope Francis to be observed on Saturday, funeral day
India on Thursday declared that state mourning will be observed on April 26 in honour of the funeral of His Holiness Pope Francis, the Supreme Pontiff of the Holy See. Union Ministry of Home Affairs on Thursday made the declaration through a statement, and further announced that the National Flag will be flown at half-mast on the day throughout India in all buildings where it is flown regularly and there will be no official entertainment. Earlier, the ministry had announced three-day state mourning as a mark of respect on the passing away of His Holiness Pope Francis. As per the ministry, two days' state mourning were observed on Tuesday and Wednesday, and one day's state mourning will be observed on the day of the funeral. Pope Francis passed away at the age of 88 on Easter Monday after a prolonged illness. He was the first Latin American pontiff to lead the Roman Catholic Church after taking over from Pope Benedict XVI on March 13, 2013. This comes a day after Pope Francis made a surprise appearance on Easter Sunday, greeting a crowd of more than 35,000 in St. Peter's Square since recovering from a severe case of double pneumonia. The Vatican has also released images of Pope Francis in an open coffin, dressed in a red robe with the papal mitre on his head and a rosary in his hand. The pictures were taken in the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta, Pope Francis's residence at the Vatican. The dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re, will lead the funeral service. At the end of the funeral, Cardinal Re will deliver the final commendation, a concluding prayer in which the Pope will be formally entrusted to God and the body will be moved to St. Mary Major for burial. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
24 April,2025 07:58 PM IST | New Delhi | ANI
Pahalgam terror attack: Meghalaya tightens security along Bangladesh border
Two days after the Pahalgam terror attack, the Meghalaya government on Thursday asked security agencies to intensify vigilance along the 443-km-long international border with Bangladesh, officials said. Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, currently in New Delhi, en route to the Vatican for the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday, is closely monitoring the state's security apparatus and has called for heightened collaboration with the Border Security Force (BSF), they added. "The Chief Minister, who had condemned the heinous terrorist attack, is closely monitoring the international border in Meghalaya and has sought close coordination between security agencies in the state," a senior home department official told PTI. Director General of Police I Nongrang has been directed to maintain close coordination with the BSF and other security forces to ensure effective border security, the official added. About 20 per cent of Meghalaya's border with Bangladesh remains unfenced due to difficult terrain, including rivers and other waterbodies. In a statement, the BSF in Meghalaya said it has apprehended 78 Bangladeshi nationals who crossed the border without valid travel documents, along with six touts who were facilitating their illegal entry into India, so far this year This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
24 April,2025 07:40 PM IST | Shillong | PTI
All-party meeting underway as govt briefs leaders on Pahalgam terror attack
The government on Thursday briefed leaders of various political parties on the Pahalgam terror attack and heard their views at an all-party meeting. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju were present from the government's side. Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha J P Nadda, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi were also present at the meeting chaired by Singh. Earlier, the opposition had demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi presided over the meeting. Modi on Thursday was in Darbhanga in Bihar where he declared that the killers of Pahalgam will be pursued "to the ends of the Earth" and promised to "identify, track and punish every terrorist and their backers." The all-party meeting comes a day after the government announced a host of measures targeting Pakistan in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack where terrorists killed at least 26 persons, mostly tourists, on Tuesday. The decision to call an all-party meeting was taken on Wednesday, with Singh and Shah reaching out to various parties. There has been a convention for calling an all-party meeting following an incident with serious repercussions related to national security, as was seen after the Pulwama terror attack in 2019 or during the India-China standoff in 2020. It helps present a picture of national unity in moments of crises and allows the opposition leaders to convey their views to the government and be briefed in detail on the official position. Targeting Pakistan following the attack in Pahalgam, India on Wednesday downgraded diplomatic ties with it and announced a raft of measures, including expulsion of Pakistani military attaches, suspension of the Indus Water Treaty of 1960 and immediate shutting down of the Attari land-transit post. The decisions were taken at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
24 April,2025 06:33 PM IST | New Delhi | PTI
In a first, rare white leopard cub spotted in Ratnagiri
In what is believed to be a first for the state, forest officials in Maharashtra have discovered a rare white Indian leopard cub in Ratnagiri district, the officials said on Thursday. Confirming the rare sighting in state, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Girija Desai from the Ratnagiri forest department, said, “We have come across a white newborn cub of an Indian leopard in Ratnagiri district. We also found the cub's mother and an another cub nearby.” She added, "We have also located the mother with an another cub at the spot. We are using camera traps and keeping a close tab on the mother and cubs. As the cub is extremely small it is difficult to say if it is leucistic or albinistic. However this is the first such record from Maharashtra where a white colour leopard cub has been spotted." Leucistic or lucism happens due to genetic mutation that leads to abnormally pale or light coloration. If compared with albinistic or albinism in leopards, the body coat with visible rosette patterns will be replaced with very pale or white fur due to the condition.
24 April,2025 06:20 PM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet Jadhav
BREAKING
Pahalgam terror attack: India suspends visa services to Pakistani nationals
India on Thursday announced suspending visa services to Pakistani nationals with immediate effect in line with its retaliatory measures against Islamabad in the wake of the brazen Pahalgam terror attack. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said all existing valid visas issued by India to Pakistani nationals stand revoked with effect from April 27. It said medical visas issued to Pakistani nationals will be valid only till April 29. The MEA said all Pakistani nationals currently in India must leave the country before the expiry of their visas. It also strongly advised Indian nationals to avoid travelling to Pakistan and advised those currently in the neighbouring country to return home at the earliest. India on Wednesday downgraded diplomatic ties with Pakistan and announced a raft of measures, including the expulsion of Pakistani military attaches, suspension of the Indus Water Treaty of 1960 and the immediate shutting down of the Attari land-transit post in view of the cross-border links to the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 people. The punitive measures against Pakistan were decided at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
24 April,2025 05:37 PM IST | India | PTI
Pahalgam terror attack: Pune victim's daughter leads funeral procession
Wearing bloodstained clothing that starkly recalled the Pahalgam terror attack tragedy, Santosh Jagdale's daughter, whose father was killed in the terror attack, led his funeral procession on Thursday, with thousands joining her in chanting anti-Pakistan slogans. On Tuesday, Jagdale's daughter Asavari and his wife survived the horrific attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, while he and his childhood friend Kaustubh Ganbote were among the 26 victims shot by terrorists. According to PTI, the mortal remains of Jagdale and Ganbote were flown to Pune in the early hours of Thursday. As the city virtually came together in collective grief, the final rites of the two Pune residents were performed at the electric crematorium at Vaikunth in the Navi Peth area. Their teary-eyed relatives and thousands of other people attend the last rites. Asavari, 26, a human resource professional here, wore the same bloodstained clothes as at the time of the attack, as a reminder of the tragedy, while she led her father's funeral procession, reported news agency PTI. Those parts of the procession shouted angry slogans against Pakistan. Earlier, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar visited the homes of Jagdale and Ganbote and paid tributes to them. Their families recalled the Pahalgam terror attack horror, while speaking to Pawar and demanded that the perpetrators be given the strictest punishment. Maharashtra minister Madhuri Misal also visited Jagdale's house. Ganbote operated a snacks business, while Jagdale ran an interior design business. Pahalgam terror attack: Over 2000 Pune tourists still stranded in J&K An internal list released by the Pune district collector's office confirms that over 2000 tourists from the city are currently in Jammu & Kashmir, with many stranded after the recent incident. As of Wednesday afternoon, more than 356 tourists had contacted the local District Information Office (DIO) for help with evacuation and safe return, according to district collector Jitendra Dudi. Ashvarya Gosavi from Bhosari, who traveled to Kashmir with her family, said, “After the Pahalgam attack, our phones started ringing continuously. There is a network issue here, but we are safe.” Her WhatsApp status also reassures that the family is safe. Kavita Kedari, who had long planned a visit to Kashmir, cancelled her trip following Tuesday’s attack. “After my daughter's Std X exam, we had planned to visit Kashmir with the entire family, but we had to cancel it,” she said. The tragic incident has cast a shadow over the holiday season. With summer vacations ongoing, nearly 2000 tourists from Pune had planned trips to the Valley. Many families are now cancelling or postponing their plans due to safety concerns. (With PTI inputs)
24 April,2025 03:10 PM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondent
Fire breaks out at Bhopal-based BHEL plant; none injured
A fire broke out at Bhopal-based plant of Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) on Thursday though no one was injured in the blaze, officials said. The blaze at the PSU's facility manufacturing power plant equipment started just after noon, they said. "On getting information, we rushed fire tenders to the spot to control the blaze. More water bowsers are being dispatched," Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC)'s Fire Officer Saurabh Patel told PTI. No one was injured in the fire, BHEL Public Relation Officer Vinodanand Jha said. The fire, whose cause was not immediately known, was brought under control at around 1 pm, Jha informed. According to people present in the premises, the flames were first noticed near the gate No. 9 of BHEL -- a Maharatna PSU -- where there was a dump. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
24 April,2025 01:51 PM IST | Bhopal | PTI
Pakistan government’s X handle withheld in India after Pahalgam terror attack
In the wake of the devastating terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, which claimed the lives of 26 individuals, tensions between India and Pakistan have reached a critical point. In a series of strong countermeasures, India has taken significant diplomatic and strategic steps, the most immediate being the withholding of the official X (formerly Twitter) account of the Government of Pakistan within Indian territory. As per ANI, users attempting to access the handle @GovtofPakistan from India are met with a message stating the account has been “withheld in response to a legal demand.” A high-level Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting was convened immediately after the attack. Chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah along with other top officials, the government reviewed the situation and approved a slew of stern measures. One of the most consequential decisions to emerge from the CCS meeting is the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 — a decades-old agreement between India and Pakistan on the sharing of the Indus river system. The treaty will be held in abeyance until such time that Pakistan “credibly and irrevocably” renounces its backing of cross-border terrorism, ANI reports. Additionally, India has decided to shut down the integrated Attari Check Post with immediate effect, effectively halting any formal land-based exchanges between the two nations. Visas issued under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) have been revoked, and Islamabad has been formally instructed to withdraw its personnel from India within 48 hours. Further diplomatic downsizing was also announced: India declared the Defence, Naval, and Air Advisors at the Pakistani High Commission as persona non grata, requiring them to exit the country within a week. India will simultaneously withdraw its own military advisors from its High Commission in Islamabad. As per ANI, five additional support staff attached to these defence posts will also return, as both sides reduce their high commission strength from 55 to 30, effective 1 May 2025. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, in a press briefing following the CCS meeting, laid out these decisions in detail. Misri stressed that India’s response comes in the interest of national security and in pursuit of long-term peace, should Pakistan cease harbouring terrorism on its soil. (With inputs from ANI)
24 April,2025 01:01 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
Pahalgam terror attack: Dy CM Shinde meets stranded Maharashtrian tourists
On Wednesday, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde met stranded tourists from Maharashtra in a camp near Srinagar Airport. He reassured them that all necessary help will be provided to them to make sure that they return to Mumbai safely and as soon as possible. Eknath Shinde arrived in Srinagar on April 23, Wednesday after which he met the stranded tourists in the camp. In a social media post on X, the Maharashtra Deputy CM reassured that the state government will take all necessary steps to bring back the stranded Maharashtrian tourists back home safe and sound. "I met many of our stranded tourists--tired, anxious, but resilient. It was heartening to see their spirits lifted just by knowing that their government was with them on the ground. I'm here not just as Deputy CM, but as a fellow Maharashtrian--to stand by them, reassure them, and personally coordinate their safe return home. Also proud to note the outstanding work done by the team of Dr Shrikant Shinde in these critical hours--coordinating logistics, providing emotional support, and ensuring every individual felt cared for. We will bring everyone home--with care, dignity, and the full strength of our government behind them," Maharashtra Deputy CM posted on X. I met many of our stranded tourists—tired, anxious, but resilient. It was heartening to see their spirits lift just by knowing that their government is with them, on the ground. I’m here not just as Deputy CM, but as a fellow Maharashtrian—to stand by them, reassure them, and… pic.twitter.com/MV5xT6pkWH — Eknath Shinde - एकनाथ शिंदे (@mieknathshinde) April 23, 2025 After the brutal terror attack in Pahalgam, several Maharashtrian tourists who were on a vacation in Jammu and Kashmir became stranded, and some of them had reached out to Shinde over the phone asking for an immediate help. In response, Shinde sent a Shiv Sena team led by Abhijit Darekar and Rajesh Kadam to help stranded Marathi citizens. To expedite the relief efforts, Maharashtra Deputy CM Shinde personally went to meet the stranded tourists in Jammu and Kashmir, many of whom said his presence felt like a trusted family member had come to support them, the statement said. The Maharashtra government is taking all the necessary steps to bring its people back safely, arranging special flights for their evacuation. (With inputs from ANI)
24 April,2025 10:41 AM IST | Jammu and Kashmir | mid-day online correspondent