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Time of India
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Four political outfits to join hands in Malegaon for civic polls
Nashik: In Malegaon, four political organisations are expected to form a pre-poll alliance for the upcoming municipal elections in the textile town. The coalition comprises Samajwadi Party , Indian Secular Largest Assembly of Maharashtra (ISLAM), CPI and RJD. These parties established the minority defence committee (MDC) in Jan this year to advocate and provide legal support to Malegaon residents following state govt's formation of a special investigation team (SIT) to investigate potential illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar. BJP's Kirit Somaiya had claimed that illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar obtained birth certificates through deception, enabling them to acquire Indian citizenship. The local functionaries of Samajwadi Party and ISLAM, Md Mustaqueem and Asif Sheikh, respectively, indicated the possibility of the four MDC-affiliated groups contesting the elections together. "Although the stakeholders of MDC are yet to have formal talks on civic polls, there is a distinct possibility we could have a pre-poll alliance. Our work on the illegal migrants issue has been hugely appreciated by people in Malegaon town," said Sheikh, who is the former MLA of Malegaon Central constituency. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo Mustaqueem confirmed the strong coordination between MDC-affiliated parties. "I feel that these parties should have an alliance for the civic elections in Malegaon. The seat sharing would not be a problem," he said. Amongst these groups, Samajwadi Party and ISLAM maintain substantial support in Malegaon. MDC sources indicated that parties would field candidates in their allocated constituencies under their respective symbols, with full support from other MDC partners. MDC sources dismissed potential collaboration with Congress, despite Malegaon being its traditional stronghold where it emerged dominant in the 2012 and 2017 civic elections. "Congress's popularity is on the wane in Malegaon. The party did not come forward to help the locals on the illegal migrants issue. It would not be possible for MDC to have an understanding with Congress," insiders of MDC said. Congress experienced a significant setback in Jan 2022 when 28 corporators, including mayor Tahira Sheikh, left for undivided NCP. Tahira is ISLAM party chief's mother. Following NCP's division, Asif Sheikh remained with Sharad Pawar's faction before leaving to establish ISLAM. He subsequently lost the Malegaon Central election to AIMIM's Mufti Mohammad Ismail by 162 votes. Malegaon Municipal Corporation comprises 84 seats–60 in the eastern section with minority community voters predominating, and 24 in the western section where Shiv Sena and BJP maintain significant influence among majority community voters. Political analysts suggest that control of the civic body depends on success in the eastern section, where Congress previously performed well. "This time, the main contest in the eastern part will be between AIMIM and MDC, if there is an alliance among the parties associated with the latter," said political observers.
Scroll.in
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Homes of 10 suspected militants demolished in Jammu and Kashmir after Pahalgam terror attack
The authorities in Jammu and Kashmir have demolished the homes of at least 10 suspected militants in the aftermath of Tuesday's Pahalgam terror attack, reported NDTV citing unidentified officials. In addition, more than 2,000 persons have been detained by the police across the Union Territory, The Indian Express reported. On Thursday, the authorities razed homes belonging to Adil Thoker from Anantnag and Asif Sheikh from Tral, both suspected members of the militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba. Other suspected militants whose homes were targeted have been identified as Lashkar-e-Taiba members Zakir Ahmad Ganai, Amir Ahmad Dar, Shahid Ahmad Kuttey and Ahsan ul Haq Amir, Jaish-e-Mohammed's Amir Nazeer Wani, Jameel Ahmad Sher Gojri, and The Resistance Front's Adnan Safi Dar and Farooq Ahmad Tedwa. No statements have been issued either by the Army or the police about the demolitions. However, unidentified police officers told The Hindu that the suspected militants had joined the Lashkar-e-Taiba and another militant group Hizbul Mujahideen. The demolitions began two days after 26 persons were killed and 17 others were injured in the terror attack on April 22. The attack took place in the Baisaran area of Anantnag district. Militants fired at tourists, most of whom were from outside the state. The terrorists targeted tourists after asking their names to ascertain their religion, the police said. All but three of those who died were Hindu. This was the first major terrorist attack targeting civilians in Kashmir since the Union government revoked Jammu and Kashmir's special status in 2019. Following the attack, security forces have been conducting search operations around Pahalgam and the police intensified their crackdown on suspected militant supporters across the Union Territory, according to The Indian Express. In Srinagar district, police raided the homes of about 63 alleged militant supporters, including a woman, to 'dismantle the terror ecosystem', The Indian Express reported. 'This decisive action of J&K police aims to dismantle the terrorist ecosystem by identifying and taking legal action against individuals engaged in such anti-national and criminal activities,' the newspaper quoted an unidentified police officer as saying. The searches were carried out to seize weapons, documents and electronic devices to collect evidence and gather intelligence gathering to detect and deter any conspiratorial or terrorist activity, the officer added. In Anantnag district, 175 suspected militants and their supporters were detained. 'In the wake of the recent Pahalgam incident and as part of intensified efforts to curb terrorism and its ecosystem, the Anantnag Police, in close collaboration with the Army, CRPF [Central Reserve Police Force] and other security forces, have launched extensive search and cordon operations across the district,' The Hindu quoted an unidentified police officer as saying. 'Day and night search operations are underway.' Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that the punishment meted out by India for the attack in Pahalgam will be ' bigger than what the terrorists imagine '. Modi vowed that India would ' identify, trace and punish every terrorist and their backers' involved in the attack and 'pursue them to the ends of the Earth'.
Hindustan Times
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Houses of four more terrorists demolished in South Kashmir
The residences of four suspected terrorists were demolished by security personnel in South Kashmir in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives, people aware of the matter said on Saturday. After the Pahalgam killings, forces have launched search operations in the houses of militants who are active in south Kashmir's different districts. The house of Shahid Ahmed Kuttey was demolished in Shopian's Chotipora village by the security forces during the night, while the house of another active militant Zakir was destroyed at Kulgam. Late last night, the security forces had also demolished the house of Ahsan ul Haq Sheikh in Muran, Pulwama. Police sources said that he had gone to Pakistan in 2018 and infiltrated into the Valley recently. Also Read | Ceasefire pact under strain as India returns Pakistani salvo at Line of Control Another house was blasted in Kalaroos in Kupwara today evening. The house belonged to Farooq Teewda who has crossed to Pakistan and never returned. He had crossed to Pakistan in early 90s Police sources said currently 16 to 18 local militants are currently active in the Valley and associated with different terror groups. On Thursday night houses of families of two Kashmiri militants alleged to be involved in an attack on tourists in Pahalgam were destroyed in explosions during the night. Also Read | 14 'active' terrorists identified in Kashmir The homes of LeT militants Adil Hussain Thokar at Bijbehara, Anantnag, and Asif Sheikh at Tral, Pulwama, suffered severe damage due to blasts during the night. While the officials said security forces were conducting searches at Asif Sheikh's house when the explosives already kept inside the houses went off, the family members alleged that the forces planted the explosives. A sister of Asif Sheikh told the media that all her family members were being called to the police station for the past four days. The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Thursday revealed the sketches and names of terrorists involved in the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam in which 26 civilians, mostly tourists, were killed. The attackers were identified as Adil Hussain Thoker (resident of Anantnag) and foreign terrorists Hashim Musa alias Suleiman, and Ali Bhai alias Talha Bhai. The police have also announced a ₹20 lakh reward for providing the whereabouts of the absconding terrorists. Police sources are now also identifying Asif Sheikh as one among the five attackers. While Adil Thoker infiltrated into Pakistan in 2018 and returned to the union territory last year, Asif Sheikh's family said that he went missing some three years ago.
Time of India
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Deadly Shooting In Israel; 2 Killed In Tira After Gumnen Fire; Second Attack Amid Fresh Tensions
India Blows Up Houses Of Two LeT Linked Terrorists In Kashmir | Big Action After Pahalgam Attack In a major crackdown following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, Indian security forces demolished the homes of two local terrorists linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba. The terrorists, Adil Hussain Thoker and Asif Sheikh, are believed to be involved in the Pahalgam massacre that claimed 26 lives. Investigators are now probing a deeper terror conspiracy connecting the Pahalgam, Gagangir, and Baramulla attacks, pointing to a larger network. Watch 9.1K views | 2 hours ago
The Hindu
26-04-2025
- The Hindu
Pahalgam terror attack: Houses razed, hundreds detained in massive crackdown in Kashmir
Authorities in Kashmir have launched a massive crackdown on terrorists and their sympathisers in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, razing homes of the ultras, raiding their safe havens and detaining hundreds of overground workers for questioning, officials said on Saturday (April 26, 2025). The security forces are going after the known terrorist associates and their sympathisers across the length and breadth of the Valley, with an aim to create a deterrent against any Pahalgam-like attacks, the officials said. Terrorists on Tuesday opened fire in Baisaran, a popular tourist spot in the upper reaches of Pahalgam in Anantnag district, killing 26 people, mostly tourists. Pahalgam terror attack: April 26, 2025 Houses of five terrorists or their associates have been demolished in the past 48 hours with officials saying similar action will be taken against others involved in terror activities. Mysterious blasts blew up the houses of two active terrorists — Aadil Thoker in the Bijbehara area of Anantnag district and Asif Sheikh in the Tral area of Pulwama district. While Thoker has been named as one of the three terrorists involved in the gruesome killing of tourists in Pahalgam, Sheikh's involvement in the attack has also not been ruled out, officials said. The blasts took place after security forces raided the houses on Thursday night, they added. The security forces have also rounded up hundreds of overground workers (OWGs) and their supporters — mostly in four south Kashmir districts — in their bid to track down the terrorists who carried out the attack on Tuesday. One alleged OWG was killed in firing by terrorists during one such operation in Bandipora district on Friday, officials said. Altaf Lalli was killed when security forces took him to a terrorist hideout in the Kulnar area of Bandipora district after he pointed out the location of the ultras. Two policemen were also injured in the firing by the terrorists, who managed to escape, the officials said. On Saturday, the action shifted to Srinagar where raids were carried out at more than a dozen places, including Safakadal, Soura, Pandach Bemina, Shalteng, Lal Bazar and Zadibal areas, they said. In Anantnag district, search operations are being carried out round-the-clock as security forces step up vigilance. Mobile vehicle check-points have been put up across the district to monitor any suspicious movement, the officials said.
