
610 antiquities retrieved from six countries including US during 2020-24: Govt

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Mint
18 minutes ago
- Mint
Chhangur Baba, accused of running religious conversion racket, money laundering, send to five-day ED custody
Chhangur Baba alias Jalaluddin was remanded to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody on Monday by a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Lucknow. The court was hearing a case related to a money laundering investigation against Chhangur and his associates linked to an alleged illegal conversion racket in Uttar Pradesh, officials said. According to a PTI report, Chhangur Baba alias Jalaluddin alias Karimulla Shah has been in jail in the predicate offence case being investigated by the Uttar Pradesh Police's Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS). The ED had applied to the court for his custody following which it was allowed a five-day remand of the accused till August 1, the officials said. He will be questioned in jail and his statement will be recorded under the PMLA, they added. Earlier this month, the federal agency had conducted searches at Chhangur's native place in Balrampur district and two locations in Mumbai. The ED had said that the accused had received funds worth ₹ 60 crore in 22 bank accounts, including 'large amounts' from abroad. The money-laundering case against Chhangur Baba stems from the ATS FIR filed at a police station in Lucknow's Gomti Nagar under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Act, 2021. Chhangur Baba, his son Mehboob and alleged associates Naveen Rohra alias Jamaluddin and Neetu Rohra alias Nasreen were arrested by the ATS. They are currently lodged in a jail. Chhangur Baba has been accused of being involved in a 'large-scale' conspiracy which includes religious conversions, utilisation of foreign funds, and activities posing a potential threat to national security, as reported by PTI. The ED said, 'Chhangur Baba and his associates are alleged to have established an extensive network operating from the premises of the Chand Auliya Dargah in Balrampur, where he regularly organised large gatherings attended by both Indian and foreign nationals.' 'He is accused of systematically inducing, coercing, and manipulating indiduals of other faiths, particularly Scheduled Castes, and economically disadvantaged persons belonging to Hindu religion, into religous conversion,' the probe agency added. The ED searches also led to the seizure of a number of documents that show that the 'proceeds of crime' (illicit funds) were majorly transferred to different people for purchasing a number of immovable properties worth crores of rupees and carrying out construction in these properties. All the immovable assets acquired by Chhangur Baba are in the names of Naveen Rohra and Neetu Rohra to conceal his actual involvement in money laundering, the ED has said.


India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
Terror networks in J&K deplete, only 40 such camps remain active near LoC
Terrorist activity in Jammu and Kashmir has seen a sharp decline this year, with Indian security forces tightening their grip on militant networks, particularly those led by Pakistani to intelligence inputs, 42 terrorist launch pads remain active across the Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), housing an estimated 110 to 130 around 70 to 75 terrorists are active in the Kashmir Valley, and another 60 to 65 in Jammu, Rajouri, and Poonch districts. Of these, about 115 are believed to be Pakistani Intelligence reports also note that terrorist recruitment among the local young populace has dropped significantly — only four locals have joined terror groups this year, pointing to a major setback for Pakistan-backed terror forces have reportedly neutralised one terrorist every five days this year. Of the 75 terrorists killed so far, a majority were foreign nationals. These include 17 militants killed while attempting infiltration along the LoC and International Border (IB), and 26 eliminated in interior on Monday, three terrorists, one of them believed to be the mastermind of the Pahalgam terror attack, were gunned down by security forces in Srinagar's outskirts under the Army's Operation counter-terror operations have dealt a severe blow to militants across the region. Most of the 42 non-local terrorists killed were in five districts of Jammu — Jammu, Udhampur, Kathua, Doda, and Rajouri. In Kashmir, foreign terrorists were mostly gunned down in Baramulla, Bandipora, Kupwara, and has emerged as the deadliest zone for foreign terrorists, with 14 non-local militants killed in nine forces struck key locations like Sabura Nala, Kamalkot, and Main Uri sectors near the Line of Control (LoC), as well as interior regions such as Chak Tappar Kriri, Sopore's Nowpora, Hadipora, Sagipora, Watergam, and Rajpore."The local terrorist group has almost been wiped out," said a senior crackdown intensified after the deadly Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, in which 26 civilians were killed by The Resistance Front, a proxy of Pakistan-based response, Indian forces launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, carrying out precision air strikes that destroyed nine terror launch pads in PoK and Pakistan. Over 100 terrorists were reportedly killed in the total, 122 people have lost their lives in 60 terror-related incidents across Jammu and Kashmir in 2024. These include 32 civilians and 26 security drastic fall in local terror recruitment and the continued elimination of Pakistani militants reflect a significant shift in the security dynamics of the region, with Indian forces maintaining a dominant edge over cross-border terror operations.- Ends


News18
an hour ago
- News18
‘I Love You, Mummy': Daughter's Plea As Kerala Nurse Nimisha Faces Gallows In Yemen
Mishel, the 13-year-old daughter of Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya, has appealed for her mother's release after her execution was postponed. The 13-year-old daughter of Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya, who is facing the death penalty in Yemen, has arrived in the country to appeal for mercy on behalf of her mother, whom she had not seen in over a decade. Mishel, who was accompanied by her father Tomy Thomas and Global Peace Initiative founder Dr KA Paul, made an emotional appeal in Malayalam and English, saying, 'I love you, mummy. Please help bring my mother back home. I so badly want to see her. I miss you, mummy." Tomy also made a direct appeal to the authorities. 'Please save my wife Nimisha Priya and help her reach her hometown," he was quoted as saying by India Today. VIDEO | Sanna City, Yemen: 13-year-old Mishel (centre), the daughter of imprisoned Indian Nurse Nimisha Priya, reaches Yemen to join Global Peace Initiative founder and evangelist Dr K.A. Paul to appeal to the Yemeni government for the release of her mother, who has been… — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 28, 2025 Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya has been on death row in Yemen for the alleged murder of her former business partner Talal Abdo Mehdi in 2017. Her execution had been scheduled for July 16 but extensive diplomatic interventions contributed to a temporary reprieve, even as serious challenges still remain. Under Sharia law, the family of the victim holds the right to grant a pardon in exchange for diyah, or blood money. Abdelfattah Mehdi, the brother of the deceased, rejected the possibility of clemency, saying, 'There can be no pardon for the crime." Dr KA Paul expressed his gratitude to the Yemeni authorities and the Talal family, who are reportedly involved in the negotiations. 'Nimisha's only daughter did not see her for 10 years. Mishel is here. I want to thank the Talal family. As soon as you release Nimisha, hopefully tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, we shall be very grateful. God will bless you," he said in a video. 'The nation of Yemen will bring investments and prosperity when you address the world because Nimisha has become the daughter of India and the symbol of peace. What you are doing is an amazing gesture," he further said. Dr Paul claimed last week that Nimisha Priya will be released after the cancellation of the death sentence after days and nights of extensive efforts by Yemeni and Indian leaders. No official clarification has come from both governments. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had earlier said that it had appointed a lawyer to assist Priya's family in navigating the complex legal process in Yemen. Nimisha Priya moved to Yemen in 2008 to work as a nurse before starting her own clinic. In 2017, she was arrested for allegedly murdering her Yemeni business partner. Investigators claimed she attempted to sedate Talal Abdo Mehdi to retrieve her passport, which he had reportedly taken from her, but the sedatives proved fatal. 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.