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New Indian Express
07-07-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Colourful Monkey Puzzle butterfly spotted in MP's Pench Tiger Reserve
BHOPAL: In a heartening discovery, a vibrant Monkey Puzzle butterfly has been spotted in the Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR) of south-eastern Madhya Pradesh, famously known as the 'Land of Jungle Book's Mowgli.' Forest guards in PTR, have now taken up photography as part of a unique conservation effort. With their mobile phones, they have helped identify nearly 100 species of butterflies and 44 species of wild mushrooms, many of which are mostly of European origin. These discoveries were made across the 1,179 sq km reserve, particularly in its 411 sq km core area. Among the butterflies, the Monkey Puzzle 'Rathinda' was captured on camera—believed to be the first time it has been spotted in the forests of Central India. 'Each forest guard and associated watchers/chowkidars work in an average area of 5-7 square km and serve as the backbone of conservation efforts, by working tirelessly on the frontlines to protect forests and wildlife. Over the years, the round-the-clock patrolling duties to track the movement of carnivores, like tigers and leopards and preventing any possible animal poaching and tree felling in the dense forests make them feel aloof and often leaves them fatigued. The entire idea of training them in clicking perfect pictures of insects and butterflies was aimed to enrich their work, decrease monotony by incentives like photography competitions and ultimately improve their precise vision and reflexes,' said PTR's deputy director Rajnish Singh. He added, 'While large number of forest guards were engaged in the unique exercise for the last many months, over 30 of them, aided by watchers and chowkidars, have really done good. One of them Milind Gedam helped us spot the butterfly Monkey Puzzle, perhaps the first time ever in the Central Indian jungles. We've so far identified 100 butterfly species, which are being compiled in a booklet titled 'Butterflies and Tiger: Photographs by the Brave Forest Guards of Pench,' to be released on July 29 (International Tiger Day).'
India Gazette
09-06-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
India sees 53 pc drop in Naxal violence over past decade
By Rajnish Singh New Delhi [India], June 9 (ANI): In a significant development towards achieving a Naxal-free India, there has been a 53 per cent drop in the incidents of Naxal violence over the last ten years between 2014 and 2024, compared to the decade before, government data suggests. Between 2004 and 2014, the data mentions, there were 16,463 incidents of Naxal violence. However, from 2014 to 2024, the number dropped to 7,744. As per the officials in the security establishment, the reduction in Naxal violence reflects 'the success of intensified counter-insurgency operations and strategic policies by security forces.' The impact has also been seen in the number of casualties, as the deaths of security personnel fell by a dramatic 73 per cent, from 1,851 in 2004-2014 to 509 in 2014-2024. Similarly, civilian deaths declined by 70 per cent, dropping from 4,766 to 1,495 over the same period, 2024-2025. The data also show that the trend continued strongly into 2024 and 2025. In 2024 alone, 290 Naxals were neutralised, 1,090 were arrested, and 881 surrendered. Among those neutralised were 18 top Naxal leaders, a major blow to the insurgent command structure. In 2025 (till now), 226 Naxals have been killed, 418 arrested (including 2 Central Committee Members), and 896 have surrendered. These figures highlight the continuing momentum of the government's efforts against Naxalism or Left-Wing Extremism (LWE). The coordinated actions of security forces and the surrender policy seem to be yielding long-term peace dividends in previously affected regions. The government's aggressive anti-Naxal operations over the past few years have dealt a decisive blow to the insurgency's top leadership structure. A total of 18 top Naxal leaders, many of them Central Committee Members (CCMs) and Politburo Members (PBMs), have been neutralised between 2019 and 2025. Many of these figures carried heavy cash bounties, ranging from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1.47 crore. The most high-profile eliminations among them are Rukla Srinivas alias Ramtra (CCM) - reward of Rs 1.4 crore - neutralised in 2019; Buryari Sudhakar (CCM) - neutralised in 2019; Prashant Bose alias Kisan Da (PBM) - reward of Rs 1.47 crore - neutralised in 2021; Sheela Marandi (CCM) - neutralised in 2021; B.G. Krishnamurthy (CCM) - neutralised in 2021; Milind Teltumbde alias Deepak (CCM) - reward of Rs 50 lakh - neutralised in 2021; Yapa Narayan Rao alias Haribhushan (CCM) - neutralised in 2021; and Akkiraju Haragopal alias RK (CCM) - neutralised in 2021. Besides, Vijay Arya, alias Jaspal (CCM), Mitlesh Mehta, alias Mitlesh Prasad (CCM), and Arun Kumar Bhattacharya, alias Kanchan (CCM), were neutralised in 2022. Kudakam Sudarshan alias Anand (PBM) - carrying a reward of Rs 1 crore, Pramod Mishra (PBM) and Sanjay Deepak Rao (CCM) were neutralised in 2023. In a major symbolic and operational breakthrough, Basav Raju, the General Secretary of CPI-Maoist, was neutralised in 2025 under the continuing offensive operations. With a bounty of over Rs 1 crore, Raju was the highest-ranking Maoist leader killed so far and a key ideologue behind the group's armed struggle. Chalapathi Pratap Reddy (CCM), another top commander carrying a Rs 1 crore reward, was also eliminated in 2025, marking a significant collapse of Maoist central leadership. These high-value neutralisations were carried out under coordinated intelligence-led operations, often with the support of local informants and sophisticated tracking techniques. (ANI)
India Gazette
04-05-2025
- India Gazette
Ho Chi Minh glows ahead of Holy Buddha relic exposition as global delegates arrive
By Rajnish Singh Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), May 4 (ANI): With just two days remaining until the official commencement of the Holy Buddha relic exposition, the city is already witnessing a surge in spiritual fervor and international attention. On Day 2 of the grand event, the venue reported an impressive cumulative footfall of 3.5 lakh devotees, reflecting the deep reverence and anticipation surrounding the sacred occasion. 'Ho Chi Minh City shines on Day -2 of the Holy Buddha Relic Exposition with a cumulative footfall 3.5 lakhs. Delegates of UNDV across the globe arriving today add ethnic glamour to the devotee participation,' International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) shares the footfall on its X. Adding to the vibrant atmosphere, international delegates arriving for the United Nations Day of Vesak (UNDV), 2025 celebrations are infusing the city with rich cultural diversity. Their presence is lending an added layer of ethnic glamour to the spiritual gathering, as devotees from around the world converge in shared reverence for the holy relics of the Buddha. The city is brimming with devotional energy, with colorful cultural showcases, spiritual discourses, and preparations in full swing, promising a truly historic exposition in the days to come. The sacred relics of the Buddha are being ceremoniously enshrined, venerated, and worshiped here at Thanh Tam Monastery in Ho Chi Minh City. The relics, that reached here from National Museum in Delhi on May 2, will be kept here till May 8, 2025 (coinciding with the United Nations Day of Vesak 2025). Following the initial display, the Buddha relics will be transported to Ba Den Mountain in Tay Ninh Province, a revered spiritual pilgrimage site in southern Vietnam, where they will be exhibited from May 9 to 13. The relics will then be moved to Quan Su Monastery in Hanoi, the central headquarters of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, for public viewing from May 14 to 18. The final stop will be Tam Chuc Monastery in Ha Nam Province--recognized as Southeast Asia's largest Buddhist center and the host of the 2019 United Nations Day of Vesak--where the relics will be on display from May 18 to 21. A large gathering of monks, bhikkhunis, diplomats and the Sangha had offered chanting and special prayers to the Holy Buddha relic at a protected enclosure of the National Museum, New Delhi when it was brought there on May 1 from Sarnath, a famous place in India known for the first teachings of Buddhism by Gautam Buddha, en route to Vietnam. The Ambassador of Vietnam to India, Nguyen Thanh Hai, as also the Acting High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India Priyanga Wickramasinghe had joined the prayers. The Ministry of Culture, Government of India in collaboration with the IBC is holding for the first time an exposition of the sacred Buddha relic in four cities of Vietnam to coincide with the celebrations for the UN Vesak Day. This holy relic of the Buddha is enshrined in Mulagandha Kuti Vihara, Sarnath and was excavated in Nagarjuna Konda, Andhra Pradesh (India). It is believed to be dated older than 246 CE. On May 1, when the sacred relic left Delhi, as a special gesture, around 120 monks from Vietnam reached from Vietnam to the National museum in New Delhi to pay their obeisance to the holy relic and then returned to their country on the same day, before the relic travels to Vietnam, in order to receive the Holy Relic in Vietnam. (ANI)
India Gazette
29-04-2025
- India Gazette
NIA
By Rajnish Singh New Delhi [India], April 29 (ANI): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is 'verifying' the possible involvement of a zip line operator who was reportedly heard chanting 'Allahu Akbar' as gunfire erupted during the Pahalgam terror attack which left 26 tourists dead, including a Nepali citizen, sources told ANI. The zip line operator, identified by the locals as Muzammil, is being questioned by the NIA since Monday following a viral social media video in which he is heard chanting 'Allahu Akbar' amid the terrorists' gunfire around 2 pm on April 22 in Baisaran, the picturesque meadow located around five kilometres from Pahalgam town in Kashmir's Anantnag district. Sources said the Central anti-terror agency is currently verifying the operator's role and assessing whether there was any connection to the attackers. Meanwhile, sources said, the NIA has questioned several people that included family members of victims and tourists present at the incident spot, pony rider operators amog others since it took over Pahalgam terror attack case from the Jammu and Kashmir Police. The NIA formally registered a First Information Report in the case on April 26 night following an order issued from Counter Terrorism and Counter Radicalisation (CTCR) division of the Ministry of Home Affairs considering the gravity of the case as Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba's proxy, the Resistance Front (TRF), has claimed responsibility for the attack. The NIA took over the case five days after the incident and four days after its team visited the attack site and started supporting the Jammu and Kashmir Police in probing what is considered the deadliest assault on civilians in the region in almost twenty years. The NIA teams have been camping at the Pahalgam terror attack site since April 23 and have intensified the search for evidence. The teams, overseen by an Inspector General, a Deputy Inspector General and a Superintendent of Police, are examining the eyewitnesses who had seen the horrifying attack unfold before their eyes at the peaceful and picturesque Baisaran valley. 'The eyewitnesses are being questioned in minute detail to piece together the sequence of events that led to one of the worst terror attacks in Kashmir.' NIA's investigation in the case is significant, as 26 tourists, including one Nepali citizen, have lost their lives and over three dozen were injured at Baisaran meadow, near the popular tourist town of Pahalgam, with the clear hand of three Pakistani terrorists and two local terrorists. The NIA team is also learnt to have recreated the scene of the terror attack and conducted a thorough assessment of the attack site, collected forensic evidence, and engaged in identifying those responsible for the carnage. The incident occurred at around 2 pm when terrorists came down from the mountain in Baisaran valley and started firing at the tourists who frequent the place, which is often dubbed 'mini Switzerland' because of its long, lush green meadows. Authorities pressed a chopper into service for the evacuation of the injured persons. The attack comes at a time when Kashmir is experiencing a significant uptick in tourist arrivals after years of militancy. Notably, the 38-day Amarnath Yatra is set to commence on July 3. The NIA's fresh move followed a recent alert issued by the agencies, which have alerted about a possible plan of terrorists to attack 'soft targets, especially police officials and local army and paramilitary personnel while on leave.' In view of the inputs, it is also advised in the alert that police personnel should be advised to avoid visiting their native places, especially those which are terrorism affected. Earlier, intelligence agencies compiled a list of 14 local terrorists actively operating in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. These individuals, aged between 20 and 40 years, are actively aiding foreign terrorists from Pakistan by providing logistical and ground-level support. The identified operatives are reportedly affiliated with three major Pakistan-backed terror outfits: Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). Among them, three are associated with Hizbul Mujahideen, eight with LeT, and three with JeM. Sources revealed the names of these individuals as: Adil Rehman Dentoo (21), Asif Ahmed Sheikh (28), Ahsan Ahmed Sheikh (23), Haris Nazir (20), Aamir Nazir Wani (20), Yawar Ahmed Bhat, Asif Ahmed Khanday (24), Naseer Ahmed Wani (21), Shahid Ahmed Kutay (27), Aamir Ahmed Dar, Adnan Safi Dar, Zubair Ahmed Wani (39), Haroon Rashid Ganai (32), and Zakir Ahmed Ganie (29). Dentoo joined LeT in 2021 and actively working as the Sopore district commander of the banned outfit. Asif Ahmed Sheikh, a terrorist of JeM, is the district commander of Awantipora and has been continuously involved in terrorist activities since 2022. Ahsan Ahmed Sheikh is active in Pulwama as an LeT terrorist and has been involved in terrorist activities continuously since 2023. Haris Nazir is terrorist from Pulwama and active in LeT since 2023 while Aamir Nazir Wani is also an active terrorist in Pulwama linked to JeM since 2024. Yawar Ahmed Bhat is also completely active in Pulwama and is associated with JeM since 2024. Asif Ahmed Khanday is a terrorist from Shopian district in Jammu and Kashmir, and he joined Hizbul Mujahideen in July 2015, and is currently an active member of the terror group aiding Pakistani terrorists. Naseer Ahmed Wani is also actively involved in terrorist activities in Shopian since 2019 as an active member of LeT significantly aiding Pakistani terrorists. Shahid Ahmed Kutay, another active terrorist in Shopian, is linked with LeT and its proxy group The Resistance Front (TRF), since 2023. Aamir Ahmed Dar, also active in Shopian since 2023, is working with LeT and play a major role as an aide to foreign terrorists. Adnan Safi Dar, who is another active terrorist from Shopian district, has been working jointly for LeT and TRF since 2024, and acts as a conduit for information from Pakistani handlers to terrorists. Zubair Ahmed Wani alias Abu Ubaida alias Usman, is the Chief Operational Commander of Hizbul Mujahideen in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir. He is categorized as an A+ active terrorist and significantly aids other terrorists and has been implicated multiple times in attacks on security forces since 2018. Haroon Rashid Ganai, an active Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist also from Anantnag, is on the search radar of security forces. He had earlier travelled to Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) where he received training during 2018. He reportedly came back to South Kashmir recently. However, Zubair Ahmed Gani, a major terrorist from Kulgam district in Jammu and Kashmir, is associated with LeT and continuously involved in attacks on security forces and targeted killings. The identification of these local terror aides comes as agencies intensify efforts to dismantle the support networks facilitating cross-border terrorism. The NIA is also gathering inputs about three Pakistan terrorists whose sketches were earlier released by the agencies. The authorities had earlier released three sketches of these Pakistani terrorists--Asif Fauji, Suleman Shah and Abu Talha. The other two Valley based operatives were identified as Adil Guri and Ahsan. A bounty of Rs 20 lakh on each has also been announced. (ANI)
