NEWS

A terrorist was killed by security forces in a brief encounter that took place in the Harwan Darbagh Dhara area of the Srinagar district of Jammu and Kashmir. The encounter took place during the early hours of Sunday, December 19.

The investigations and search operations regarding the encounter are still going on, as per the security forces. The Kashmir Zone Police confirmed the news via their official Twitter account at 4:09 am on Sunday, December 19.

In the official statement, the Kashmir Zone police said, “One unidentified terrorist killed. Search going on. Further details shall follow.” According to media reports, a joint team of Police and CRPF launched a cordon and search operation in the Harwan area, after which the terrorist was neutralized.

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal said Sunday that the recurrence of “the most painful acts of sacrilege against the Sikh religion clearly points towards a deep-rooted conspiracy.”

Talking to media persons after addressing gatherings in support of party candidates Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu in Talwandi Sabo and Prem Kumar Arora in Mansa, the SAD chief called upon the Union and the state governments “to demonstrate sincerity and sense of urgency in their conduct and actions to identify, expose and punish those behind this conspiracy”. “Their attitude so far has left much to be desired as there is more politics on the present rulers’ minds than the pursuit of real culprits,” he added.

Ghaziabad: Rajya Sabha MP Dr Subhash Chandra on Sunday (December 19) stressed the need to uplift the poor sections of society. He was speaking at the Vaishya Mahakumbh which was organised in Ghaziabad.

Prominent leaders including Union Minister Piyush Goyal and Rajya Sabha MP Anil Agarwal were also present on the occasion.

"The Vaishya society is not as strong as it seems. 80 percent people are still poor or belong to the middle class. Everyone has to be brought together. Everyone has to work," said Chandra.

The Sri Lankan Navy detained 39 Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu and seized their five boats claiming that they had crossed the maritime border.

The group of fishermen had left Rameswaram on Saturday morning after acquiring permission slips. They were near Neduntheevu when Lankan Navy patrol boats surrounded them.

The fishermen were then taken to Neduntheevu for questioning. The Sri Lankan Navy is yet to decide whether to send the Indian fishermen to Kangesan Camp or let them return home.