Former Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Chief Minister and President of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mehbooba Mufti demanded on Tuesday that while deporting Pakistani nationals, the Government of India must make concessions for women from Pakistan who came here 30-40 years back, married locals and raised families here.
“The recent government directive to deport all Pakistani nationals from India has raised serious humanitarian concerns, particularly in Jammu & Kashmir. Many of those affected are women who came to India 30–40 years ago, married Indian citizens, raised families, and have long been part of our society. “We urge the government to reconsider this decision, and adopt a compassionate approach regarding women, children and the elderly. Deporting individuals who have lived peacefully in India for decades would not only be inhumane but would inflict deep emotional and physical distress on families who now know no other home,” she pleaded.
It must be recalled that many local youths, who went across to Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) for getting training in arms, came back under the then state government’s rehabilitation policy for ultras. Many such men had married Pakistani nationals during their stay in PoK. These women also came to J&K with their husbands and have since been peacefully living in Kashmir, though without any official sanction to do so.
These women have many times agitated for grant of Indian citizenship since most of them are residents of PoK, which according to the resolution of the Parliament, is an inalienable part of J&K. No decision has so far been taken regarding these women and they continue to raise families, bring up their children and engage in routine chores like any citizen of the Union Territory. The husbands of these women have given up militancy and are living as normal citizens engaging themselves in business, agriculture, education or any other bona fide profession.
–IANS
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Residents of Panangulam village near Srivilliputhur have raised serious concerns about the safety of students after alleging that alcohol and ganja are being sold illegally near a government primary school. A complaint has been submitted to District Collector V.P. Jayaseelan demanding immediate action.
The issue pertains to the Government Panchayat Union Primary School in Panangulam, where more than 100 students are currently enrolled. According to residents, a private individual has constructed a shop adjacent to the school’s entrance and is allegedly selling liquor and ganja from the premises. The shop, they say, has obstructed the main entrance of the school, forcing students to take a detour via a nearby riverbank to attend classes.
Complainants have also claimed that those attempting to question or intervene are being threatened. A video purportedly documenting the illegal activity was submitted to the Krishnan Kovil Police Station, but residents allege that no action has been taken so far.
In their complaint to the District Collector, the residents urged authorities to take appropriate measures to remove the illegal shop and restore safe access to the school for students and the public.
The Congress party has found itself at the center of a fierce political controversy after it shared a provocative poster on social media, appearing to take a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s absence from an all-party meeting convened in the aftermath of the recent Pahalgam terror attack. The move has drawn sharp criticism from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which accused the Congress of stoking extremist sentiments and aligning itself with narratives emanating from Pakistan.
On Monday, 28 April 2025, the official Congress X handle posted an image featuring Prime Minister Modi’s body with the head edited out and the word “Gayab“ (missing) emblazoned across it. Though the post did not explicitly name the Prime Minister, his clothes gave away their intent. The caption accompanying the image read: “Disappears at the time of responsibility”. The post was a veiled reference to PM Modi’s ‘absence’ from the all-party meeting held to discuss the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam region.
Congress flaunts a headless kurta to echo the extremist 'Sar Tan Se Juda' slogan, exposing its continuous slide into Muslim League 2.0 — divisive, desperate, and directionless.
Congress leaders, including Jairam Ramesh, have criticized the Prime Minister for skipping the meeting, insisting that a leader of his stature should have been present to brief the nation and Parliament. Rahul Gandhi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge have since written to the PM, demanding a special session of Parliament to discuss the terror attack.
The controversy escalated further when the same image was picked up and shared by former Pakistani Minister Fawad Hussain Chaudhry. He mocked the Indian Prime Minister, posting: “Had heard about missing horns from donkey’s head, but here Modi has gone missing.” This endorsement from a Pakistani political figure ignited outrage in Indian political circles, particularly among BJP leaders.
Reacting strongly, BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia held a press conference where he displayed the Congress poster and lashed out at the opposition party. “There is a national political party that stays among us, but if we call them Lashkar-e-Pakistan Congress, it won’t be wrong,” he said. He accused the Congress of operating on the instructions of Rahul Gandhi and alleged that such posts serve to weaken India during moments of national crisis.
He went further, drawing a direct connection between the Congress poster and extremist Islamist slogans. “‘Sar tan se juda’ has become the ideology of Lashkar-e-Pakistan Congress today,” Bhatia alleged — a reference to the notorious beheading chant used by radical Islamist mobs.
Amid the uproar, the Congress attempted to distance itself from the controversy. Senior leader Jairam Ramesh clarified that there was “no political agenda” behind the poster and reiterated the party’s call for unity in responding to terrorism. He defended the criticism of the Prime Minister’s absence from the all-party meeting, emphasizing that the Congress simply wanted accountability and transparency from the government.
Shamita Yadav, better known online as ‘Ranting Gola’, has once again triggered widespread outrage and legal scrutiny after her latest rants on the Pahalgam terror attack went viral — not only in India, but also across the border in Pakistan. This time, her content was amplified by a Pakistani propaganda handle, sparking calls for legal action and stronger enforcement against her inflammatory and misleading commentary.
The Trigger: Pahalgam Terror Attack And Her Distortion
The recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, where 26 Hindu pilgrims were brutally killed, shocked the entire nation. Initial survivor accounts revealed that Islamist militants separated Hindus from others by asking them to recite the Kalma or remove their pants, before targeting them — an act chillingly similar to past religious profiling by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists.
Instead of acknowledging the clear communal nature of the massacre, Ranting Gola chose to spin the incident as a political stunt by the Modi government, claiming it was being used for the Bihar elections. In a viral video, she accused the Indian media of “hiding the truth” and implied a false equivalence between Indian electoral politics and Islamist terrorism.
Shockingly, a Pakistani channel picked up her video and used it to attack the Indian government, labelling the Pahalgam terror attack a political gimmick.
بہلگام حملہ اور بہار الیکشن 🔥 مودی سرکار نے بہلگام حملے کو بہار الیکشن کیمپین کے لیے استعمال کرنا شروع کر دیا ہے لیکن گودی میڈیا اس سچ کو چھپانے کی بھرپور کوشش کر رہا ہے اور سچ بولنے والوں کو مارنے کی دھمکیاں دی جا رہی ہیں. pic.twitter.com/67SCKctSD4
Complaint Filed in Delhi: Anti-Bharat, Anti-Hindu, Pro-Pakistan
Following the viral video and its cross-border amplification, a formal police complaint has been filed against Shamita Yadav in Delhi, citing:
Potential pro-Pakistan propaganda
Insult to Hindu beliefs through her earlier video mocking the Manusmriti
Deliberate misinformation intended to stoke communal tensions
Content being weaponized by Pakistani handles
The complaint demands immediate action under sections related to national security, communal incitement, and online misinformation. Activists and legal experts alike argue that this is no longer just an issue of “opinion,” but one of national integrity and communal harmony.
Complaint filled against 'Ranting Gola' in Delhi for her potentially Pro-Pakistan, anti-Bharat propaganda, insulting the Manusmriti, and content amplified by a Pakistani handle. Action to follow …… pic.twitter.com/USGxuDMVJ5
Repeat Offender: History Of Misinformation And Hinduphobia
This isn’t the first time Ranting Gola has stirred up controversy through her content. Her pattern is familiar: sensational videos, fact-free rants, Hinduphobic overtones, and eventual backtracking.
Fake Waqf Amendment Video
Recently, she falsely claimed that the Waqf (Amendment) Bill would strip Indian Muslims of the right to bury their dead. To support this, she shared an unrelated eight-year-old video from 2017 — a local protest over an unrelated land issue — and framed it as proof of government oppression.
In truth, the Waqf Amendment is an administrative reform related to property management and has nothing to do with burial rights. Her video was slammed by legal experts and religious leaders alike as an attempt to stir panic among Muslims and defame the Indian government.
Scripted Trial Recording – Failed Attack On Abu Asim Azmi
In 2024, she came under fire for a video attacking Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Asim Azmi, accusing him of misgovernance in Govandi. When backlash erupted, she claimed the video was merely a “scripted trial recording” that was “leaked” by mistake — an excuse that only deepened skepticism around her motives.
History Of Hinduphobia
Her digital trail is littered with posts labeling:
Ram Navami processions as “provocative”
Hindu villages as threats to secularism
Hindu festivals as vehicles of majoritarianism
Critics argue that her brand of secularism is selectively applied — defending extremist Islamist rhetoric under the guise of minority rights while vilifying core Hindu practices and beliefs.
Deliberate Disinformation Or Clout Chase?
Observers have begun to question whether Yadav is simply an online provocateur or part of a more calculated disinformation campaign. Her use of emotionally manipulative language, false visuals, and politically timed releases suggests a strategy more dangerous than accidental misjudgment.
Many believe she is no longer just a fringe voice — she is actively undermining national discourse, enabling external enemies, and fanning communal flames, all while playing the victim card whenever challenged.
The time for leniency is over. With her content being used by anti-India Pakistani platforms, her rants misleading millions, and her continual targeting of Hindu sentiments, Ranting Gola has become a symbol of what’s wrong with today’s influencer ecosystem — no accountability, no ethics, just outrage for clicks.
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AIADMK General Secretary and Opposition leader in the assembly Edappadi K. Palaniswami raised serious doubts over the police encounter of Thiruvengadam, a known rowdy element allegedly linked to the murder of Tamil Nadu Bahujan Samaj Party leader Armstrong. He questioned whether the encounter was staged to prevent Thiruvengadam from testifying in court and to shield the actual perpetrators behind the murder.
The issue came up during a discussion in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly over funding for the police department. AIADMK MLA O.S. Manian criticized the DMK government, stating that many of the promises made to the police before taking office remain unfulfilled. He contrasted the current situation with what he described as a “golden era” under former Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami, where peace and progress were prioritized. Manian further alleged that crime—including murder, robbery, and sexual assault—has become rampant, and that even senior citizens are no longer safe in the state.
Manian also highlighted rising costs of construction materials like M-sand and gravel. Responding to this, Minister Duraimurugan said that orders had been given to quarry and crusher associations to reduce prices by ₹1,000. Palaniswami challenged this claim, asking how a ₹1,900 price increase could be justified with only a ₹1,000 reduction.
In response, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin defended his government’s record, listing AIADMK-era incidents in Pollachi and Thoothukudi as evidence of misrule. He said the AIADMK had compromised Tamil Nadu’s interests to protect themselves from corruption cases. Stalin also claimed that 2024 saw a drop in murder cases and noted that over 15,800 individuals had been detained under the Goondas Act during the DMK’s tenure. He added that police casualties had significantly decreased.
Interrupting, Palaniswami demanded clarity on whether Thiruvengadam’s death in police custody—allegedly while being taken to recover weapons—was orchestrated to silence him. He asked how Thiruvengadam came to possess a sickle when it was claimed the weapon used in the Armstrong murder was of the same kind. He insisted the true culprits be apprehended and brought to justice.
Palaniswami also accused the Speaker of denying AIADMK legislators an opportunity to express their views, to which the Speaker responded that Palaniswami had been speaking for nearly an hour, making the complaint unfair.
Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat has come under scrutiny following revelations of a series of high-value property transactions, even as the Union Territory grapples with one of its deadliest terrorist attacks in recent years.
Prabhat, a 1992-batch IPS officer from the Andhra Pradesh cadre, took over as J&K’s top cop in October 2024. Just two months later, in December, he and his family acquired an eight-bigha plot of agricultural land in Manali, Himachal Pradesh, for ₹9.6 crore. The land, located in Phathi Baruah Kothi of Manali tehsil in Kullu district, was jointly registered in the names of his wife Poonam and son Ahaan. Records show a total transaction cost exceeding ₹10 crore, factoring in a stamp duty of ₹76 lakh and a registration fee of ₹19 lakh.
This purchase is part of a pattern. In 2023, while serving with the CRPF, Prabhat also acquired a luxury bungalow in Chandigarh’s elite Sector 5 area for ₹26.23 crore—believed to be one of the most expensive real estate deals by an IPS officer in recent times. The bungalow is jointly owned by Prabhat, his wife, and his son.
According to Prabhat’s disclosure to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the Chandigarh property was financed through a transaction involving Vijay Bansal, a businessman based in Gulab Bagh, Uttam Nagar, West Delhi. Prabhat claims Bansal provided an advance in exchange for three agricultural plots in Zirakpur, Punjab, two of which were ancestral properties inherited from his grandfather D.S. Mohi.
While the timing of the transactions is raising eyebrows, the source of funds and the valuation methods have also prompted questions. Prabhat’s declaration cites a monthly government salary of ₹2,24,100, leaving gaps about how the crores-worth of transactions were arranged.
Further, Prabhat spent ₹1.8 crore in 2023 on renovations and additions to the Chandigarh bungalow. Additional property disclosures include:
A ₹2.35 crore plot in Zirakpur gifted by his mother Archana Mohi in 2021.
A ₹37-lakh flat in Motia’s Royal Oasis in Zirakpur, purchased in 2013.
A ₹9-crore bungalow inherited from his father in 2015.
A ₹25-lakh house in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh.
These revelations come amid national mourning and public outrage over the Pahalgam terrorist attack, which left 27 Indian tourists dead. The attack is widely believed to have been carried out by Pakistan-backed militants. The timing of these property disclosures, alongside the tragedy and Prabhat’s recent appointment as DGP, has intensified scrutiny.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has reportedly received full documentation of the transactions, as required for senior officers under central deputation, but the scale and timing of the purchases—especially amid heightened security concerns in Kashmir—have raised eyebrows within bureaucratic and political circles.
Prabhat, who was previously decorated with three Police Gallantry Medals and the Parakram Padak, has long been known for his expertise in counter-insurgency operations. He earlier headed Andhra Pradesh’s elite anti-Naxal Greyhounds and served in key postings in Bastar, Chhattisgarh, and with the CRPF and ITBP in Jammu and Kashmir.
He was appointed as J&K DGP in October 2024 following the retirement of his predecessor, R.R. Swain. His appointment was seen as a strategic move by the Centre, considering his experience with insurgency and terrorism. However, the latest revelations may cast a shadow over his tenure.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken over the Pahalgam terror probe, examining all angles including potential lapses in intelligence and preparedness.
Following the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, senior BJP leader H Raja strongly condemned the incident and called for the monitoring of individuals who express support for Pakistan.
Speaking to the media on 28 April, Raja criticized leaders like VCK’s Thol Thirumavalavan, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and others, accusing them of showing support for Pakistan. He stated that groups like Hamas, which have carried out violent attacks against Israel, are among the main organizations driving global Islamic terrorism, most of which operate from Pakistan—not Arab countries. He added that during a Hamas attack on Israel that killed over 5,000 people, the Israeli public stood by their government rather than blaming it. In contrast, he said, India has more people who speak against their own country than foreign enemies do.
Raja went on to say that some individuals within India, whom he called traitors, even observed India’s Independence Day in 1947 as a day of mourning. He accused them of being like mercenaries who once served the British. He also claimed that the Pakistani flag was raised in Melpalayam on 14 August 1947, as a sign of misplaced allegiance. Drawing a comparison with the United States, he said that although Americans come from different places, they don’t speak against their country the way some do in India. According to Raja, it’s this internal disloyalty that gives an advantage to countries like Pakistan, which oppose India.
H. Raja cautioned, “What I want to tell them is: stop speaking against the nation expressing support for Pakistan. We also desire it, we are not war mongers, but if war does arise sometimes, can anyone guarantee that these individuals won’t act against the country? Right now, what are the they are openly speaking and writing in Facebook? Asks ‘Can we blame the nation for the wrongdoings of four or five?’ Yet the country has admitted itself. Their Defense Minister, Khawaja, has stated that, ‘we’ve been involved in such activities against India for the past 30 years.”
Continuing his criticism, H. Raja took aim at VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan, saying, “I am asking, does this Thirumavalavan not know justice at all? Does he not have any loyalty towards this country? Is it his condition to speak against the country? Therefore, if a war comes tomorrow such bad force will act against this country. Therefore, the government should put them under surveillance right now. I would like to inform you that if not, the country will be in danger.”
H. Raja went on to criticize the DMK and its allies for their hypocrisy. He targeted those who celebrated and supported Karnataka leaders like D.K. Shivakumar—who had openly stated that he would not release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu—by offering them snacks like bajjis, Kovilpatti groundnuts, and even Kanchipuram silk.
He accused Thirumavalavan and the Communist factions of backing both Siddaramaiah and D.K. Shivakumar, despite their refusal to provide even a drop of water to Tamil Nadu. Raja noted that while India generously gives 80% of the Indus River’s water to Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty, Pakistan continues to act aggressively toward India.
He condemned the Pakistani sympathizers as as “evil forces” and warned, “if they continue on this path, the people of India will rise up and silence them.”
The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea by former Gujarat IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt seeking suspension of his life sentence in connection with a custodial death case dating back to 1990. A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta refused to grant bail to Bhatt but directed that the hearing of his criminal appeal be expedited.
“We are not inclined to enlarge the appellant on bail. Our observations made herein above are restricted to bail only and will have no bearing on the appeals of the Appellant and co-accused. The prayers sought by the Appellant is dismissed, however, the hearing of the appeal is directed to be expedited,” Justice Mehta said while pronouncing the order.
Bhatt, who was convicted in 2019 by a sessions court in Jamnagar, was sentenced to life imprisonment along with constable Pravinsinh Zala. Both were held guilty under Sections 302 (murder), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), and 506(1) (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The case pertained to the death of one Prabhudas Madhavji Vaishnani, who allegedly died as a result of custodial torture following his arrest during a Bharat Bandh in November 1990.
At the time, Bhatt was serving as the Assistant Superintendent of Police in Jamnagar. He and other officers had taken into custody 133 individuals, including Vaishnani, on charges of rioting. Vaishnani, who was held for nine days, died ten days after being released on bail.
An FIR was registered against Bhatt and others, but the trial was delayed for years due to a stay granted by the Gujarat High Court, which was vacated in 2011. Bhatt’s conviction was upheld by the Gujarat High Court in January 2024, with the court finding no reason to interfere with the lower court’s decision.
Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Bhatt, argued in the Supreme Court that there was insufficient evidence to link his client to the custodial death, and that Vaishnani died due to pre-existing medical conditions. He noted the absence of any complaint of police torture made to the victim’s family doctor after his release.
Countering the arguments, Senior Advocate Maninder Singh, appearing for the Gujarat government, asserted that the victim’s kidney failure was caused by the alleged physical abuse — including forced sit-ups and crawling — inflicted during custody. Singh also highlighted Bhatt’s criminal history, including a 20-year sentence in an unrelated drug planting case, arguing that there were no exceptional grounds to suspend his current sentence.
Bhatt’s petition was filed through Advocate-on-Record Rajesh Inamdar. The apex court had earlier reserved its verdict on February 28. With the dismissal of his bail plea, Bhatt remains in custody while the criminal appeal is set to be fast-tracked.
The Karnataka High Court has quashed proceedings under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against Infosys co-founder and IISc Council Chairman S. Krish Gopalakrishnan and 15 others, including several Indian Institute of Science (IISc) faculty members. The case was based on a complaint by former IISc professor Dr. D. Sanna Durgappa, who had alleged caste-based discrimination and wrongful dismissal from service.
Justice Hemant Chandangoudar, delivering the judgment, stated that the allegations made in the complaint did not constitute offences under the SC/ST Act. “The present private complaint is an abuse of the process of law,” the court observed, adding that it was a vexatious attempt to harass the petitioners by giving a civil dispute a criminal color.
Dr. Durgappa had earlier claimed he was falsely implicated in a 2014 honey trap case, which led to his termination from the institute. However, the court noted that the termination followed a departmental inquiry related to allegations of sexual harassment and was later converted into a resignation as part of a settlement. The terms of that settlement—recorded in a joint memo filed in W.P. No.19594/2015—had been fulfilled, with all terminal benefits paid to Durgappa, who also agreed to withdraw all related proceedings and complaints.
Despite this, the complainant filed multiple complaints on similar grounds, prompting earlier High Court orders in 2016 and 2022 quashing FIRs arising from those filings. The present complaint included two additional respondents accused of issuing threats, but the court found no merit in the new charges.
The court also reserved the liberty for the petitioners to approach the Advocate General for initiating criminal contempt proceedings against Dr. Durgappa.
Named alongside Gopalakrishnan in the complaint were IISc faculty members Govindan Rangarajan, Sridhar Warrier, Sandya Vishwswaraih, Hari K V S, Dasappa, Balaram P, Hemalata Mhishi, Chattopadyaya K, Pradeep D Sawkar, and Manoharan, among others.
An unsettling incident unfolded at a well-known biryani outlet. Salem RR Biryani, in Chidambaram’s Vandigate area, where a customer reportedly discovered a cockroach in their food, leading to a heated dispute with the staff. A video of the confrontation has since gone viral across social media platforms.
The issue came to light when a couple from Virudhachalam visited the restaurant for lunch. While eating, they were horrified to find a cockroach in the biryani served to them. Tensions quickly escalated, and a verbal altercation ensued between the couple and the restaurant employees.
The situation became even more concerning when it was revealed that the woman involved is pregnant. Following the incident, she and nine others, including children, sought medical attention at the Government Medical College Hospital in Annamalai Nagar, Cuddalore. While most have since been discharged, the pregnant woman remains under medical observation.
The incident has caused alarm among local patrons, with many expressing concern over food safety standards. The viral video has sparked widespread criticism and raised questions about hygiene practices in popular eateries.
This is not the first time in recent months that such news have been coming out about unhygienic biryani shops. Earlier this month, Food Safety officials sealed Hotel Bilal Biryani in Triplicane after over 20 customers reportedly suffered food poisoning on 30 March 2025 from consuming beef biryani and beef rolls. Victims experienced vomiting and dysentery, with several hospitalized at the Communicable Diseases Hospital. Following customer protests and police complaints, officials inspected the premises and found food safety violations. A separate complaint was filed against Hotel Bilal’s Anna Salai branch after two college students fell ill following a family dinner. Both the Triplicane and Ice House police have registered cases against the respective outlets.
SS Hyderabad Biryani in Kodungaiyur, Chennai, was shut on 19 September 2024 after 40–45 people suffered vomiting and diarrhoea, reportedly after eating biryani. Some were treated at the Communicable Diseases Hospital, while others sought private care. Food safety officials found the kitchen unhygienic but couldn’t collect food samples as the restaurant had cleared them. Locals questioned the delay in sealing the outlet. A viral video showed distressed customers confronting police, citing hospitalised family members. Authorities confirmed the closure and ongoing investigation, though it’s unclear if food poisoning was the cause.
