UP: Prisoners carry out Kanwar Yatra in Shahjahanpur district jail
Jail Superintendent Mizaji Lal told PTI that several inmates had approached him with a request to participate in the Kanwar Yatra, which is traditionally held during the month of Sawan.
However, since prisoners cannot leave the jail premises, arrangements were made to bring Ganga water from Panchal Ghat in Farrukhabad, he said.
Around two dozen inmates, dressed in saffron attire, carried symbolic kanwars on their shoulders and performed yatra within the jail compound, chanting Shiva hymns and dancing, before offering sacred water to the deity.
Among the participants was Amandeep Kaur, a British national on death row for killing her husband in 2015. She carried a pot filled with Ganga water and performed the Jalabhishek (water offering ritual) to Lord Shiva.
The inmates saw this ritual as a spiritual cleansing and an act of penance and a prayer for early release, the officer said.
'This initiative is aimed at encouraging positive and spiritual thinking among inmates and such reformative activities allow prisoners to take part in religious and cultural programmes, helping to instil discipline, restraint and spiritual awareness," the jail superintendent added. PTI COR KIS APL HIG
view comments
First Published:
July 21, 2025, 15:30 IST
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
24 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Three terrorists, including Pahalgam attack planner, killed: Officials
The Indian Army on Monday killed three terrorists, including a man suspected to be the mastermind behind the April 22 Pahalgam attack, during an encounter on the outskirts of Srinagar, officials said, according to news agency PTI. The action was part of 'Operation Mahadev', following the detection of a satellite phone signal linked to those involved in the Pahalgam incident. Those killed have been identified as Sulieman alias Asif, Jibran, and Hamza Afghani. According to officials, Sulieman is believed to have played a central role in planning the Pahalgam attack, in which 26 people — mostly tourists — were shot dead at Baisaran meadows in April 2025. The incident had triggered a broader response from the Indian defence forces, including 'Operation Sindoor', under which Indian forces targeted terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) on May 7. Meanwhile, Jibran was allegedly involved in the October 2024 attack at the Sonamarg tunnel project in Gagangir that left seven people, including a doctor, dead, the report added. The encounter began after a joint team from 24 Rashtriya Rifles and the 4 Para unit detected movement of three terrorists around 11.30 am on Monday, the report added Security forces recovered one M4 carbine rifle, two AK rifles, and other ammunition from the site. The bodies were handed over to the local police, who assisted with the identification and initiated legal formalities, the report added. Additional troops have been deployed in the area amid inputs suggesting the presence of more militants, officials said. This comes hours after the Chinar Corps of the Indian Army said that three terrorists were neutralised in an intense firefight. "Three terrorists have been neutralised in an intense firefight. Operation continues," the Army's Chinar Corps said in a post on X.
News18
41 minutes ago
- News18
Trump says hes shortening 50-day deadline for Russia to end the war in Ukraine
Last Updated: Edinburgh, Jul 28 (AP) US President Donald Trump said Monday he intends to shorten the 50-day deadline he gave Russian President Vladimir Putin to reach a deal that ends the three-year war in Ukraine. His announcement came as Russia fired an overnight barrage at Ukraine of more than 300 drones, four cruise missiles and three ballistic missiles, the Ukrainian air force said. Trump said two weeks ago he would implement 'severe tariffs" on Russia unless a peace deal is reached by early September, as he expressed exasperation with Putin over the bombardment of Ukrainian cities amid the Republican president's attempts to stop the fighting. Trump said he would give Putin 10 to 12 days from Monday, meaning he wants peace efforts to make progress by Aug 7-9. The plan includes possible sanctions and secondary tariffs targeting Russia's trading partners. The formal announcement would come later Monday or on Tuesday, he said. 'No reason in waiting," Trump said of the shorter timeline. 'We just don't see any progress being made." Putin has 'got to make a deal. Too many people are dying," Trump said during a visit to Scotland. Trump repeated his criticism of Putin for talking about ending the war but continuing to bombard Ukrainian civilians. 'And I say, that's not the way to do it," Trump said. He added, 'I'm disappointed in President Putin." A Russian drone blew out the windows of a 25-story residential building in the Darnytskyi district of Kyiv, the head of the city's military administration, Tymur Tkachenko, wrote on Telegram. Eight people were injured, including a 4-year-old girl, he said. The attack also started a fire in Kropyvnytskyi, in central Ukraine, local officials said, but no injuries were reported. The main target of the Russian attack was Starokostiantyniv, in the Khmelnytskyi region of western Ukraine, the air force said. Regional authorities reported no damage or casualties. The western part of Ukraine is on the other side of the country from the front line, and the Ukrainian military is believed to have significant airfields as well as arsenals and depots there. The Russian Defense Ministry said its forces carried out an overnight strike with long-range, air-launched weapons, hitting a Ukrainian air base along with an ammunition depot containing stockpiles of missiles and components for drone production. (AP) RD RD view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
2 electrocuted, 46 hurt as loose power line causes chaos at Barabanki temple
Lucknow: Two devotees were electrocuted, and 46 others sustained minor electric shocks after an electric wire snapped and fell onto a tin shed inside the premises of the Shri Ausaneshwar Mahadev temple in Haidergarh tehsil of Barabanki district on Monday morning. The incident that occurred during the Jalabhishek rituals during the holy month of Shrawan when the temple was crowded with devotees led to a stampede-like situation. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed "deep sorrow" over the loss of lives and extended his condolences to the bereaved families. The state govt has announced an ex-gratia compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of the deceased from the Chief Minister's Discretionary Fund. DGP Rajeev Krishna told reporters in Lucknow that the casualties were caused due to the electrocution because of a monkey. He said that senior officials, including the zonal and range-level officers, visited the spot. "Two people unfortunately died in the incident, which was caused due to electrocution and not because of any stampede. Almost all of the injured have been discharged from hospital after treatment. Some are under observation," he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo The situation is under control, and devotees continue to offer prayers at the temple, he added. However, a controversy erupted after a video statement by Uttar Pradesh Scheduled Caste Commission chairperson Baijnath Rawat went viral. In the video, Rawat contradicted the official explanation, saying that eyewitnesses alleged a home guard had struck a baton near the corridor, causing the wire to snap and fall, leading to the electrocution. "This is a deeply unfortunate incident. The actual cause can only be confirmed through a thorough investigation," he said. Uttar Pradesh Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak has ordered a high-level investigation. A report has been sought from the DM within 24 hours. "Instructions have been given to investigate the causes of the incident and to take necessary steps to ensure such incidents do not recur in the future at our temples and shrines," he said. According to police, the incident occurred around 2:10 am when an electric current spread through the tin-shed corridor erected for the devotees performing Jalabhishek. According to the temple management committee manager Vinod Giri, the temple doors were opened around 1 am, and devotees began entering the temple through the corridor after bathing in the nearby Gomti river. The rituals continued smoothly for over an hour before the corridor turned into a scene of chaos when several devotees collapsed upon coming in contact with an electrified metal pipe near the tin shed. Ranjana Pandey (27), who travelled from Haidergarh with her husband, said, "People were trampling over one another. I screamed for help, but no one could hear me. This was not how we imagined our Sawan darshan." According to Gulshan (19) from Bhakosa village, "We came for Shiva's blessings, but were met with terror. There was no proper wiring, no officials inside. Everyone was focused on managing the crowd outside. What about those inside?" According to Barabanki DM Shashank Tripathi, the electric wire—part of the temple's internal wiring system—broke after monkeys jumped on it, causing it to fall directly onto a metal shed under which devotees had gathered. As a result, several people came in contact with live electricity. "Two persons died of electrocution on the spot. They were identified as Ramesh Kumar (28), son of Ram Sajeevan, a resident of Nakta Sarehiya Kothi, Haidergarh, and Prashant Kumar (17), son of Ram Kripal, a resident of Mubarakpur, Haidergarh. Their bodies were sent for postmortem, which confirmed electrocution as the cause of death. The bodies were later handed over to their families for final rites," said Tripathi. The district administrative officials said that all other devotees sustained minor electric shocks and were taken to the district hospital. All have since been discharged and returned home in stable condition. "The situation was brought under control swiftly, and the temple premises were secured. Law and order remain normal, and devotees continue to perform darshan and puja at the temple," said Barabanki superintendent of police Arpit Vijayvargiya.
