Latest news with #Badrinath-Kedarnath
Mint
a day ago
- Politics
- Mint
Uttarakhand to toughen anti-conversion law; life imprisonment, ₹10 lakh fine proposed — check details
The Uttarakhand government's move to bring another legislation to amend the Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion Act is expected to make the law even more stringent. The amendment, approved by the state cabinet, aims to prevent religious conversions through coercion, fraud, or undue influence. The amendment legislation, approved by the state cabinet on Wednesday, proposes a maximum punishment of life imprisonment and a fine of up to ₹ 10 lakh for forced conversion. Currently, the maximum prison term for the offence in the state is 10 years and the highest fine is ₹ 50,000. This is the second legislation to amend the Act, which has been in force in the state since 2018. The first amendment was made in 2022. The Pushkar Singh Dhami-led government is preparing to introduce the legislation during the monsoon session of the state assembly, which is scheduled to begin on August 19, reported news agency PTI, citing sources. According to the Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion (amendment) legislation, 2025, fraudulent or forced conversion would be a cognizable and non-bailable offence. In such cases, police will be allowed to arrest an offender without a warrant and bail will be granted only if the trial court (sessions court) is convinced that the accused is not guilty and would not repeat the offence. "Yet another amendment legislation to make the law even more strict has been occasioned by recent cases of conversions in the state aimed at demographic change," PTIquoted Ajendra Ajay, BJP leader and former chairman of Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple committee, as saying. Terming the cabinet's decision as historic, Ajay said: "An amended act with stricter provisions will work as a strong deterrent for potential offenders and help preserve the original identity of a border state like Uttarakhand, which is also known as Devbhoomi." The Bill also expands the definition of inducement to include any gift, gratification, easy money, or material benefit in cash or kind, employment, free education, promise of marriage, hurting religious faith, or glorifying another religion, categorising all of them as crimes.
Hindustan Times
15-06-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau to probe Uttarakhand helicopter crash that killed 7
Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will probe a helicopter crash near Gaurikund in Uttarakhand, in which seven people, including an infant, were killed on early Sunday. On Sunday morning, an Aryan Aviation Bell 407 helicopter VT-BKA operating on sector 'Shri Kedarnath ji- Aryan Helipad, Guptkanshi' was involved in an accident. "There were 5 passengers, one infant and one crew member on board. The helicopter took off from Guptakashi at 05:10 Hrs and Landed at Shri Kedarnath ji Helipad at 05:18 hrs. Helicopter took off again at 05:19 hrs for Guptkanshi and crashed near Gaurikund," an official statement said. Five pilgrims, the pilot and an employee of the Badrinath-Kedarnath temple committee were among those killed. The statement issued by the civil aviation ministry said the accident will be investigated by AAIB. As a precautionary measure, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation(DGCA) has already reduced frequency of helicopter operations to Char Dham. The watchdog is carrying out the enhanced surveillance and reviewing the operation for any further action, the statement said.
Al Etihad
15-06-2025
- General
- Al Etihad
Seven killed in helicopter crash near India's Kedarnath shrine
15 June 2025 09:59 RUDRAPRAYAG, INDIA (PTI)A helicopter crashed near the Kedarnath shrine in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand amid poor visibility early Sunday, killing all seven on said the accident took place above the forests of Gaurikund. Five pilgrims, the pilot, and an employee of the Badrinath-Kedarnath temple committee - all of whom were onboard - were killed. The helicopter had gone missing and its wreckage was found early morning State's Chief Minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami, said in a post on X that the State Disaster Response Force and other agencies are engaged in relief and rescue chopper crash comes days after an Air India flight to London crashed in Ahmedbad, killing 241 people on board and at least 38 others on the ground. In the wake of the latest crash, Dhami issued strict instructions for helicopter operations in the state.
The Print
06-05-2025
- The Print
FIR lodged against group of youths for violating sanctity of Kedarnath shrine
Dehradun, May 6 (PTI) A group of youths were booked on Tuesday on the charge of violating the sanctity of the Kedarnath shrine after a video of them singing and dancing to loud DJ music behind the Himalayan temple circulated on social media, police said. An FIR was lodged at the Sonprayag police station under BNS Section 298 (desecrating a religious place of worship) against unnamed persons based on a complaint by Girish Devli, the officer in charge of the Badrinath-Kedarnath temple committee, the social media cell of Rudraprayag police said.
