Rats Wreak Havoc, Eat Away Foundations Of Houses In Moradabad; Civic Operation Underway
Moradabad faces a severe rat infestation, damaging infrastructure and homes. A successful pilot project in Ward No 41 captured 683 rats. A citywide campaign is planned.
UP BJP gears up for state president election after announcing 70 district chiefs
LUCKNOW: With the announcement of 70 district unit chiefs, the organisational revamp of the ruling BJP in Uttar Pradesh has set the stage for the much-awaited election of the partys state president. Amid intense discussions at both the state and central levels, several names have emerged as frontrunners for the crucial post. Despite multiple rounds of deliberations in Lucknow and Delhi, the BJP delayed the announcement of district presidents, eventually revealing the names of 70 out of 98. While 28 remain to be named, the number announced so far is sufficient to move forward with the election of the new state BJP chief. Prominent contenders for the top post include Swatantra Dev Singh, the Jal Shakti Minister in Yogi Adityanaths cabinet and a key OBC leader; BL Verma, a minister in the Modi government representing the Lodh community; Amar Pal Maurya, a Rajya Sabha MP and state general secretary, also from the OBC category; Dinesh Sharma, former Deputy CM and Rajya Sabha MP from the Brahmin community; and Laxmi Kant Bajpai, a Rajya Sabha member and former UP BJP president, also a Brahmin leader. Currently, the BJPs state unit is led by Bhupendra Chaudhary, a prominent Jat leader from Moradabad in western Uttar Pradesh. However, party insiders do not rule out the possibility of the BJP retaining him due to his proximity to the central leadership. In either case, the party will weigh the pros and cons related to caste and regional dynamics while electing the new state BJP chief, who will have the responsibility of securing victory for the party in the crucial 2027 assembly elections and the civic polls thereafter, said a senior BJP leader. However, under Chaudharys leadership, the party performed poorly in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, with its tally in Uttar Pradesh falling from 62 to 33 seatsthe worst performance in the politically crucial state in years. Chaudhary was appointed state BJP chief in August 2022, replacing Swatantra Dev Singh, in what was seen as an attempt to appease the Jat community in western UP following growing resentment among farmers against the central and state governments. As per the partys constitution, a minimum of 50% of the total district presidents are required to complete the process of electing the state president. With the announcement of 70 of the 98 presidents, that minimum requirement now stands fulfilled, said Bhupendra Chaudhary. Now, the election of the UP BJP chief will take place at the discretion of the central leadership, he added. Union Minister Piyush Goyal has been appointed election officer to oversee the process. The party has already decided that the election of mandal, district, and state presidents will be conducted through consensus rather than voting. The completion of the state president elections will pave the way for the election of the BJPs national president. According to the partys constitution, the national election process can only begin after at least 50% of the state presidents and other office bearers have been elected. In fact, only a dozen states have been able to elect their state presidents and other office-bearers so far, said a senior BJP leader, indicating that the national presidents election might face further delays. Current BJP president and Union Minister JP Nadda took over from Amit Shah in 2019 for a five-year term and has since been serving on an extended tenure. The organisational elections in Uttar Pradesh began in November 2024 and have been ongoing for the past three months.
UP traders son, 22, arrested for killing 4 during Doon joyride
Vansh Katyal, a 22-year-old from Moradabad, was arrested for fatally hitting four labourers on Rajpur Road with a speeding Mercedes. The incident occurred while Katyal was on a joyride with his 12-year-old nephew. After the accident, he abandoned the vehicle and fled to Delhi. He is now in police custody.
189 mosques in UP covered with tarpaulin on Holi eve as police tighten security
LUCKNOW: With Holi falling on Friday during the holy month of Ramzan and prominent Muslim clerics of Uttar Pradesh having already revised the timings for Friday prayers, postponing them after 2 pm, 189 mosques in at least four districts of the state were covered with tarpaulin ahead of the festival of colours. While Muslim clerics have adjusted the timing of Friday prayers across 18 districts of the state on Holi day, mosques in Bareilly, Sambhal, Shahjahanpur, and Aligarh in central-western UP were covered with tarpaulin to protect them from the splash of Holi colors. For the sake of maintaining peace, UP DGP Prashant Kumar sent a letter to all the district police chiefs, commissionerates, and heads of police zones and ranges with a 20-point directive to fortify the sensitive zones in their respective districts with adequate deployment of police and paramilitary forces. Besides holding direct interactions with top police officers of the state, the DGP personally met senior officers of sensitive districts and discussed police arrangement for the festival. In the hyper-sensitive Sambhal district, where Shahi Jama Masjid has been caught in a litigation for the past few months over the court-ordered survey, several mosques along with the Jama Masjid were already covered with tarpaulin sheets on Wednesday. As per the senior police officer of the district, additional paramilitary force for round-the-clock monitoring and vigilance were deployed in the town. In Sambhal, the Friday Namaz would be held at 2.30 pm due to Holi celebrations. Sambhal Shahi Jama Masjid management committee chief Zafar Ali urged members of both communities to celebrate Holi and offer Friday prayers in a harmonious atmosphere. Regarding the administrations move to cover mosques with tarpaulin, Ali welcomed the decision, stating that it was a positive step. Maximum mosques 109-- were covered with tarpaulin in Bareilly where a Ram Barat was taken out on Holi eve with strict vigilance and deployment of over 5000 police personnel on all the mosques falling in the route of the Barat. In Shahjahanpur, 67 mosques were covered before the traditional Laat Sahab Juloos on Holi. Shahjahanpur is the only district where there is a tradition of playing Joota Maar Holi (playing Holi using shoes/slippers). A person is made to sit on a buffalo cart as laat sahab and is made to take the rounds of the city with people throwing colours, shoes and slippers at him. A senior officer, who is a part of the team monitoring security arrangements at DGP headquarters, said senior officers would escort the traditional procession of Laat Sahab. Around 1000 additional cops were called in from other districts for deployment at sensitive spots. The police contingent carried out a flag march on Holi eve in the district. Similarly, 10 mosques in Sambhal and three in Aligarh were also covered. The drone-equipped vigilance is on across the sensitive districts of the state. Barricades have been erected along the routes of Holi processions with the installation of several CCTV cameras by the respective local administration. As per Shahajhanpur SP Rajesh S, in all 18 Holi processions including the two major Laat Saheb processions, are taken put in the city. To ensure security, the larger procession was divided into three zones and eight sectors, with around 100 magistrates deployed. Moreover, police have taken preventive action against 2,423 people to deter potential troublemakers, he said. Similarly, in other districts including Mathura, Ayodhya, Varanasi, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, Moradabad, Rampur, Aligarh, Agra, Kanpur, Gonda, Bahraich and Siddharthnagar, additional paramilitary forces have been deployed to avert any untoward incident. DGP Prashant Kumar said that officers were instructed to ensure that no group was allowed to perform any act or hold untraditional processions.
A woman named Priya, in her early 30s, and her friends allegedly killed a cat and set it on fire for bringing bad fortune in Moradabad. The act was recorded and posted online, leading to an FIR under the Wildlife Protection Act. Authorities are currently trying to locate Priya and her accomplices.
BJP Councillor Arrested For Allegedly Shooting Ex Soldier's Son In UP's Moradabad
A BJP councillor has been arrested for shooting a man in Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad, the police said.
UP ATS Arrests J&K Man On Charges Of Anti-National Activities
Moradabad (UP), Mar 8: The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of Uttar Pradesh Police arrested Ulfat Hussain, a resident of Jammu and Kashmirs Poonch, on charges of anti-national activities. As per a press statement, the arrest was made on Friday following intelligence gathered by the ATS, Saharanpur unit, and allied agencies, which indicated Hussains alleged involvement in terrorism and his wanted status in connection with a case lodged in 2001. This case involved charges, including attempted murder (307 IPC), Arms Act violations, [] The post UP ATS Arrests J&K Man On Charges Of Anti-National Activities appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Dalit Girl Gang-raped For Days, Attacked With Acid, Forced To Eat Meat In UPs Moradabad
UP Dalit Girl Gang-rape, Torture: Police said the survivor was abducted while she was on her way to a tailor
14-Year-Old Dalit Girl Tortured, Gang-Raped In UP; One Arrested: Cops
A 14-year-old Dalit girl was allegedly kidnapped, tortured and gang-raped repeatedly in Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad district, police said on Wednesday, adding that one of the accused was arrested.
Amroha woman dies by suicide after failing to bear loss of pet cat
LUCKNOW: A woman from the Amroha district in Western Uttar Pradesh failed to bear the loss of her pet cat and ended her life. Before taking the extreme step, the woman, 36, refused to bury her cat and kept it close to her for three days, hoping it would return to life. As per police sources, the woman allegedly hung herself in Mohalla Kot Hasanpur on Saturday night. She was mentally unstable and had been undergoing treatment in Moradabad. While interacting with media persons, the victims mother said that her daughter loved the cat called Titu. Titu's tongue turned blackish and after about 45 minutes, it died on Wednesday night at around 10 pm, she said. She also clarified that her daughter had not given any hint of ending her life. The relatives of the woman said that she had domesticated the cat nearly two years ago and raised it like her own child. The demise of the pet shattered the victim and she could not survive the grief, they said. She had a belief that her cat will come back to life. I told her that almost three days had passed, and now it is time to bury it, but she did not reply. She remained quiet and calm, said the distraught mother. One of the family's neighbours said that he had seen the cat mostly staying with the woman. He claimed that the woman was married off eight-nine years ago but the marriage did not last beyond a few days. As a result, an emptiness had crept in her life, said the neighbour adding that she used to find her support in the cat. After the woman's death, the cat was finally buried in the presence of the police. As per the psychologists, the victim was probably suffering from a psychotic illness. It is a mental illness that involves a loss of contact with reality and not wanting anybody to enter their world. (If you are having suicidal thoughts, or are worried about a friend or need emotional support, someone is always there to listen. Call Sneha Foundation - 04424640050, Tele Manas - 14416 (available 24x7) or iCall, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences' helpline - 02225521111, which is available Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 10 pm.)
Woke up beside dead co-worker, ate snow to survive: Uttarakhand avalanche survivor recalls tragedy
DEHRADUN: BRO worker Jagbir Singh came to his senses surrounded by an endless expanse of white, next to a dead co-worker, his body stuck inside mounds of snow with a fractured leg and injuries to his head. Singh saw a hotel some distance away and took shelter in it for around 25 harrowing hours, eating snow when thirsty and battling piercing cold with only a single blanket to share with over a dozen of his companions, all of who were trapped under an avalanche in the high-altitude village of Mana in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district. Jagbir Singh from Amritsar said he was sleeping in his container at the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) camp when the snowslide sent them tumbling several hundred metres down. The container we were in went rolling down. By the time we could figure out what had happened, I found a colleague had died and one of my legs was fractured. I also had an injury in the head. There were heaps of snow everywhere, he said. They somehow trudged to a hotel at some distance and took shelter. We were rescued after 25 hours during which 14-15 of us had just one blanket to cover us. We ate snow when we felt thirsty, he said. Fifty-four BRO workers who were all housed inside containers for the night got stuck due to the avalanche Friday morning . Seven workers died while 46 of them are receiving treatment for their injuries after they were pulled out safely following a multi-agency rescue operation. Efforts to find one other worker are still underway. The traumatised survivors of the avalanche brought to the military hospital in Jyotirmath recount their horrifying ordeal. The avalanche was so fierce that it blew the containers 300 metres down in just ten seconds, said Manoj Bhandari from Uttarkashi. I lost my senses for a while then realised running away was impossible as there were 3-4 feet of snow all around. Somehow we walked barefoot through the snow to reach an empty Army guest house to take shelter. Rescuers reached us after 2-3 hours, Bhandari said. The containers were all swept away towards Alaknanda river, said Munna Prasad from Vaishali district in Bihar. We lay scattered under snow for around 12 hours. Snow was clogging our nostrils. It was difficult to breathe. However, thankfully the Army and ITBP teams came to our rescue before it was too late, he said. Many workers survived by taking refuge in whatever shelter they could findArmy camps and barracks, deserted hotels. While some were rescued within hours of the avalanche on Friday, others had to spend tens of hours in the cold with next to no resources. Thirty-three of them were rescued by Friday night and 17 on Saturday. Another Bihar resident Avinash Kumar's entire body was buried under snow, except for his head, which was bleeding and injured as he had hit an iron object during the avalanche. He was rescued by Army personnel after two hours and later sent for treatment where he received 29 stitches in the head. Chandrabhan from Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh said a milder snowslide preceded the main one which came around 5.30 am, giving them no time to prepare. I escaped through an opening on top of the container, he said. Vipin Kumar from Himachal Pradesh said everything happened in a flash. The Army guest house served as a shelter for many stranded labourers who spent nearly 25 hours in sub-zero temperatures, amid constant snowfall, without proper clothing, he said. Another rescued worker, Ganesh Kumar from Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand said it had snowed overnight before the avalanche hit early morning. He said he was asleep when it happened. It was around six in the morning. I was sleeping in the container with my colleagues. Meanwhile, our container started moving with the snow and soon we found ourselves stuck in the middle of the snow, he said. After some time, the rescue team came and took us to the Army hospital on a stretcher, Kumar added. Moradabad's Vijaypal and his companions fell into a ditch more than a hundred metres deep. They saw a deserted Army barrack some 200 metres away and waded through the debris of the avalanche towards it. Due to the area's vulnerability to avalanches, the Army does not use the barrack in winter. The barrack became a lifeline for them where they stayed for around 24 hours before being taken to safety. Vijaypal said it had been snowing for many days and on the morning of February 28, there were two avalanches near their camp. We survived the first avalanche but after a few minutes there was another more powerful avalanche and we went down about 150 metres along with the container. On the road to Mana, at a distance of about 150-200 metres, there was an empty army camp where we spent the whole night in the empty barracks, he said.
Meet the family from Moradabad that has kept the tradition of sarangi alive
In the second edition of the Legacy Series, Kiran Nadar Museum featured Murad Ali, who belongs to sixth generation of hereditary sarangi artistes.
Class 3 student loses vision after injury at UP school
A Class 3 student in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, allegedly suffered a severe eye injury, leading to the loss of vision in one eye. The student's mother has accused the school principal of causing the injury, while the principal denies the allegations and claims the injury occurred due to an accidental elbow strike by a classmate. Authorities have initiated an inquiry into the incident.
When the District Inspector of Schools visited the school, he stated that candidates are allowed to wear any attire during the examination. He permitted the students to take the exam wearing hijabs after checks by female teachers
Former SP MLA Abdullah Azam Khan walks out of UP jail after 17 months
LUCKNOW: Former Samajwadi Party MLA Abdullah Azam Khan walked out of the Hardoi jail in Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday after spending 17 months behind bars. SP leaders and supporters flocked to the prison gates in large numbers to welcome Khan who is the son of jailed SP stalwart and former UP cabinet minister Azam Khan. Abdullah Azam Khan is a former MLA from Suar assembly constituency of Rampur. Rampur MP/MLA special magistrate trial court Judge Shobhit Bansal recently granted him bail in a case related to enemy properties registered against him in 2020. While he did not speak to the media, his lawyer Satnam Singh Nattu claimed that the entire country knew that he and his family were persecuted and imprisoned. Today, we thank God, Allah, Waheguru for paving way for Abdullah Bhai's release. He will finally walk free and return home today, he said outside Hardoi jail. As news of his impending release spread, his supporters started gathering outside the prison, along with Moradabad MP and SP leader Ruchi Veera. Over the years, 45 cases, including one related to machine theft, had been registered against him and he had secured bail in all of them. His release was delayed due to procedural issues related to bail verification. On Monday, the release order from the MP-MLA Magistrate Trial Court was sent to Hardoi jail, paving the way for his freedom. He was disqualified from the Uttar Pradesh Assembly on February 14, 2023 following his conviction and two-year jail term in a 15-year-old case. Along with his father Azam Khan, he was sentenced under Section 353 (criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and other provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) over a dharna on a state highway on January 29, 2008 as their cavalcade was stopped by police for checking in the wake of an attack on a CRPF camp in Rampur on December 31, 2007. This was his second disqualification from the Assembly. He was earlier disqualified in 2020 after the Allahabad High Court had set aside his election to the Assembly. His previous disqualification was effective from December 16, 2019. Former state cabinet minister Azam Khan is currently lodged in Sitapur jail in connection with various cases.
Why Delhi is sitting on a seismic timebomb with Haridwar and Moradabad connection
A 4.0 magnitude earthquake struck Delhi-NCR early Monday, marking the first significant seismic activity directly within Delhi in 295 years. The epicenter was in New Delhi at a depth of five kilometers, with tremors felt at 5:36 am. Fortunately, no damage or injuries were reported. Delhi lies in Seismic Zone IV, making it vulnerable to future earthquakes.
Samajwadi Party prepares ground for 2027 Assembly polls, chalks out strategy to prevent BJPs return
LUCKNOW: After failing to repeat the Lok Sabha election performance in the recent bypoll to 10 assembly seats necessitated by the election of sitting MLAs to the lower house of Parliament in 2024, the Samajwadi Party (SP), has unveiled its 2027 formula. The formula eyes to aid the 2027 UP assembly elections. It is a revamped strategy aimed at strengthening the partys position by roping in former bureaucrats from backward, Dalit, and minority communities into its fold to meet its Picchda-Dalit- Alpasankhyak (PDA) narrative. Moreover, the party has also decided to make early announcements of the candidates so that they could nurture their seats well in advance, reinforce booth-level networks, and use social media as a tool to crowdsource key electoral issues directly from the people. The fresh formula was revealed in a meeting of the party while evaluating the reasons partys poor performance in the bypolls including the Milkipur constituency. The BJP won the Milkipur seat with a massive margin of over 61,000 votes defeating the SP's Ajit Prasad. BJP candidate Chandrabhanu Paswan maintained a steady lead since the initial rounds of counting and it gradually widened with the progression of rounds. The political experts attributed the BJP win to the sentiment of repentance among the voters for sending Awadhesh Prasad to Lok Sabha from Faizabad defeating BJPs Lallu Singh in the 2024 general elections. The political pundits feel that the result of Milkipur was the reflection of the victory of Hindutva and the development formula over SPs Picchda-Dalit-Alpasankhyak (PDA) strategy, which failed to resonate with the masses, this time. In all, of the 10 bypoll seats, SP could hardly retain Karhal, (vacated by Akhilesh Yadav) and Sisamau in Kanpur seats. Rest eight were won by the BJP which managed to wrest the SP strongholds of Katehari in Ambedkarngar and Kundarki in Moradabad. In the meeting to review the partys performance, SP identified relatively a weaker booth-level organisation compared to the BJP. Having acknowledged our weakness, we are, now, focusing on strengthening our presence in every booth, said an SP insider. Unlike previous elections, the party now plans to declare candidates nearly 18 months ahead of the assembly elections to give candidates sufficient time to nurture their respective constituencies. District party presidents and candidates will be entrusted with setting up booth-level teams and mobilizing support in their constituencies. The SP is also looking to rope in former bureaucrats, including former IAS, IPS, and Election Commission officials. Recently, Akhilesh Yadav held discussions with former Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi, signalling SPs intent to involve experts in shaping its election strategy. More retired officers are expected to join the advisory panel to help SP counter BJPs well-structured electoral machinery. The party contemplates to seek public opinion on various issues to be included in its manifesto so that it could resonate with the voters. The party believes that grassroots concerns should shape its electoral agenda. Party insiders said in the 2027 assembly elections, the party intended to highlight alleged atrocities against backward classes, Dalits, and minorities under the BJP rule. The party has the confidence that it can capitalise on PDA, which played a crucial role in the 2024 elections and stopped the BJPs return. The party aims to focus on farmers distress, labour rights, and youth employment as central themes of its campaign. It plans to counter BJPs economic policies by proposing welfare-oriented solutions. SP is particularly wary of smaller parties like AIMIM and Azad Samaj Party of Bhim Army chief Chandra Shekhar Azad as they tend to split anti-BJP votes. The party is assigning regional Muslim and Dalit leaders the task of countering these parties ensuring that votes remain consolidated in SPs favour. With Akhilesh Yadav set to personally oversee preparations, the party hopes to avoid past mistakes and present a formidable challenge in the upcoming elections.
National Highways Of UP: Work On 2,600 Km Underway, 77 Of 96 Projects To Be Ready In 2025
The longest of these projects is the 100-km section on NH-9, which connects Hapur Bypass and Moradabad. The deadline for this road is June 2025 and it has achieved 98% physical progress so far
BJP, SP set for crucial battle in bypoll in UP's Hindutva heartland
LUCKNOW: The stage is set for the Milkipur assembly seat bypoll in the Faizabad parliamentary segment, a crucial battle between the ruling BJP and the main opposition Samajwadi Party (SP). Polling in the reserved constituency, a part of the Hindutva heartland of Ayodhya, will be held on Wednesday with the results to be announced on February 8. Both Milikipur and Ayodhya assembly seats are part of the Faizabad LS constituency. The bypoll for the assembly seat was warranted after sitting Samajwadi Party MLA Awadhesh Prasad vacated it following his victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Faizabad. Prasad had drubbed BJPs two-time MP Lallu Singh in a shocking defeat to the saffron brigade in Faizabad, which came in the backdrop of the consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla in Ram Temple by PM Narendra Modi on January 22, 2024. The battle for Milkipur has settled for a direct contest primarily between the BJP and the SP with both parties deploying battery of senior leaders for campaigning. While BJP, keeping the caste configuration of the seat, has fielded Chandrabhan Paswan against SPs Ajeet Prasad, son of Awdhesh Prasad. The battle for Mikipur has become a direct contest primarily between the BJP and the SP with both parties deploying a battery of senior leaders for campaigning. Keeping to the caste configuration the BJP fielded Chandrabhan Paswan against SPs Ajeet Prasad, son of Awdhesh Prasad. However, Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azads Azad Samaj Party has intensified the fight by fielding Santosh Kumar Chaudhary, the SP rebel. Meanwhile, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has already announced to keep clear of the contest. With the BJP's prestige on the line after its defeat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, by winning the Milkipur seat, the party aims to reinforce its stronghold in Ayodhya, the heart of its political ideology, and counter opposition narratives on the Constitution and reservation. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who has taken charge, addressed around half a dozen public meetings, while a team of BJP ministers, MLAs, and leaders have been mobilised to secure a victory in the constituency. The BJP is hopeful winning in Milkipur after its victory in the byelection to nine assembly seats in November, last year. The ruling party, which holds only five of the nine seats, wrested two Katehari in Ambedkarnagar and Kundarki in Moradabad -- from SP. The district unit chief of Ayodhya, Mithilesh Tripathi said that the BJP had held around 1000 big and small public rallies in the run-up to the bypoll, contacting every household in the constituency. On the other, relying on its PDA formula to retain the seat, the SP has fielded Ajeet Prasad, son of Awadesh Prasad who is believed to enjoy respectable clout in Milkipur a Passi-dominated constituency. Top SP leaders, including party chief Akhilesh Yadav and SP MP from Mainpuri Lok Sabha seat Dimple Yadav, addressed a public meeting and participated in road shows to win the support of voters. According to political observers, Dalit and Brahmin votes will be the deciding factor in the bypoll. In the absence of BSP, both the BJP and SP are trying to woo Dalit voters. In 2022 assembly election, a large chunk of Brahmin votes went to SP. But BJP leaders of the Brahmin community campaigned in Brahmin-dominated villages to win support for the bypoll, claimed local sources.
Judicial commission visits Sambhal to inspect riot-hit areas, record witnesses' statements
SAMBHAL: A judicial commission formed by the Uttar Pradesh government visited Sambhal on Tuesday to inspect areas affected by riots during a court-ordered survey of a Mughal-era mosque on November 24 last year and record the statements of witnesses. According to commission member and former Uttar Pradesh director general of police (DGP) Arvind Kumar Jain, several people came to meet the panel members and 51 applications were received. The commission, formed on December 1 last year, revisited certain locations, including the Shahi Jama Masjid area, where the violence occurred. The delegation was accompanied by District Magistrate Rajender Pensiya, Superintendent of Police Krishna Kumar Vishnoi and Moradabad Police Range DIG Muniraj G. The team, led by the commission members, conducted an extensive inspection that lasted more than an hour. Subsequently, they recorded public statements at the PWD guesthouse on Chandausi Road till 4 pm. Besides Jain, the commission comprises retired high court judge Devendra Arora and former Uttar Pradesh principal secretary Amit Mohan Prasad. The panel was formed to investigate the November 24 incidents and ensure accountability. Talking to reporters, Jain said, We have set up this camp to ensure that those who wish to share their concerns and provide information do not have to travel to Lucknow. This is for their convenience. We will be here for four-five hours to hear them out. The inquiry aims to uncover what led to the riots and gather relevant evidence from those affected. Four people were killed while several others, including security personnel, were injured in the November 24 violence, even as the incident snowballed into a major political controversy.
Doctor in speeding Mercedes SUV kills man painting dividers in UP's Meerut
An ENT specialist in Moradabad, driving a Mercedes SUV at high speed, lost control and fatally hit a labourer employed by the NHAI on the Lucknow-Delhi highway. The police have registered an FIR and seized the vehicle. The doctor was not under the influence of alcohol, and charges include rash driving and causing death by negligence.
Dalit teen identifies rapist from ID card
A 16-year-old Dalit girl was abducted and raped in a moving car in Moradabad, UP, before identifying her assailant, Rashid, 30, via his ID card left on the cars dashboard. The police arrested Rashid, a taxi driver, and are investigating further. The incident was reported by the girl's family, leading to Rashids capture.
Girlfriends husband clings to bonnet as lover drives for miles in UP
A shocking incident unfolded in Uttar Pradeshs Moradabad when a man, Mahir, drove his car for several kilometers with his girlfriends husband, Sameer, clinging to the bonnet. The dramatic sequence occurred on the Agra State Highway in the Katghar Kotwali area and was captured on video, sparking widespread attention online. According to reports, Sameer spotted his wife with Mahir in a car and attempted to stop them using his motorbike. Instead of halting, Mahir accelerated, causing Sameer to fall onto the car's bonnet. Rather than stopping, Mahir continued driving at high speed, forcing Sameer to hold on to avoid falling. Eyewitnesses said the car sped along the highway for several kilometers while other vehicles pursued it. Eventually, Mahir was forced to stop as people intervened and blocked the car. A heated argument ensued between Sameer and Mahir, drawing a crowd at the scene. The incident quickly went viral after a video of the high-speed chase and the argument was shared on social media. Many viewers expressed shock at the brazen act, while others raised concerns about road safety and personal disputes spilling onto public highways. Following the altercation, Sameer filed a complaint with the police. Acting promptly, authorities arrested Mahir and seized his vehicle. The police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident, including the confrontation and the apparent extramarital affair. The safety of all road users is our priority, and such reckless behavior cannot be tolerated, a police official said. They added that appropriate legal action would be taken against Mahir for endangering lives. The incident has sparked conversations about the impact of personal disputes in public spaces and the risks involved in such dangerous actions. While Sameer was uninjured, the reckless chase could have resulted in a severe accident, endangering not just the individuals involved but also other road users.
Court rejects Azam Khans appeal in 2008 blockade case
Moradabad: An MP-MLA court here has upheld the sentence and fine imposed on Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan in a 2008 case of blocking a road outside a police station, a lawyer said on Friday. Special Public Prosecutor Mohan Lal Vishnoi said the court rejected Khans appeal on Thursday against the two-year imprisonment and Rs Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Husband Hangs On Bonnet As His Wife Sits In Car With Lover In UP | Video
The husband was seen being dragged on the bonnet of a car by the lover of his wife while she was sitting inside the vehicle in Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad.
Mahakumbh 2025: UP handicrafts set for trade worth Rs 35 crore at ODOP exhibition
LUCKNOW: Mahakumbh-2025, a massive congregation of pilgrims along the banks of Sangam, is providing a platform for the artisans of Uttar Pradesh. Devotees, besides seeking spiritual fulfilment, are thronging the exhibition of 'One District, One Product' (ODOP), set up over 6,000 square metre area showcasing an array of exquisite handicrafts of the state. Be it the exquisite carpets of Bhadohi and Mirzapur, or intricate zari-zardozi, Katan silk quintessential to Banaras reflecting the ethos of the most ancient city of world, Firozabad's glass work, Moradabads brass work or fine wooden art pieces of Saharanpurall narrating the richness of handicraft industry of the state. Sharad Tandon, Joint Commissioner of Industries in Prayagraj Division, underscores the remarkable growth in trade from Mahakumbh held in 2019. In 2019, the turnover of handicraft industry was Rs 4.30 crore, but this time we are expecting a turnover of up to Rs 35 crore, an approximately eight times jump in the revenue from ODOP. This remarkable increase will offer new opportunities to the artisans while empowering small entrepreneurs, says Tandon. Adding another dimension to the event, Flipkart has set up a stall where local entrepreneurs are being offered a free sales opportunity. Artisans and handicraft sellers can now sell their products through Flipkart platform without any charge. It has been drawing shoppers in hoards. The exhibition is showcasing various crafts and Geographical Indication (GI) products. According to Dr Rajnikant, a GI expert, 75 GI products from the state are on display at ODOP exhibition in mela area. Among the 75 GI products, 34 are from the Kashi region, which has played an important role in securing the GI tag, offering recognition and protection to these unique crafts. Dr Rajnikant also mentioned efforts to bring other iconic products like Banaras Thandai, Lal Peda, and Banarasi Tabla to the global stage. The GI products up for grabs include Varanasi red chilies, Banarasi sarees, Pratapgarh amla and delicacies made of it, brass utensils from Mirzapur, and Gorakhpur terracotta. Additionally, carpets from Kushinagar and glass toys and utensils from Firozabad are top selling items at the exhibition. Visitors from across India and abroad are grabbing the opportunity to purchase products from local artisans, highlighting the growing popularity of this handcrafted treasure.
Kidnapped telecom company employee rescued after police encounter in UP's Moradabad
Abhinav Bhardwaj was kidnapped for ransom in Hathras district on January 1 and a case was registered at Hathras Gate police station, said Additional Director General of Police (STF and Law & Order) Amitabh Yash
Temple in Moradabad reopens after 44 years
The development comes in light of multiple abandoned or locked temples in various parts of Uttar Pradesh being reopened for prayers.
UP man lynched by vigilantes on suspicion of 'cow slaughter'
A 37-year-old man from Moradabad, UP, was beaten to death by cow vigilantes after allegedly being caught slaughtering a cow. The police have registered an FIR against unidentified persons for the murder. The victim's family claims he was falsely accused and wrongfully killed, while right-wing groups assert he was caught with the cow's remains.
Moradabad man fatally assaulted over allegations of cow slaughter, FIR filed
The Moradabad police have registered cases against unidentified persons after a man, Shahid Din, who was caught and beaten up mercilessly on allegations of cow slaughter died in Meerut on Tuesday, December 31, while undergoing treatment. Speaking to Siasat.com, the station house officer (SHO)of Majhola police station said that based on a complaint lodged by Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Motorcyclist Killed After Being Dragged Under SUV in UP
Sambhal: A motorcyclist died after he was hit by an SUV and dragged under it for some distance here, police said on Monday. An FIR has been registered against the SUV driver. The police action came after a purported video of the incident surfaced on social media on Monday. In the video, the SUV is seen dragging the motorcycle under it, causing sparks on the road. A BJP sticker reading 'gram pradhan' is pasted on the rear windshield of the speeding SUV. The victim was identified as Sukhveer (50), a resident of Shahjad Kheda village, police said. According to a complaint lodged by a relative of the victim, Sukhveer was returning home from Hayatnagar on Sunday evening when a Bolero hit him on Moradabad road and the SUV driver dragged him under his vehicle for some distance. Sukhveer was rushed to the Sambhal hospital, from where he was referred to Moradabad. He died during treatment on Monday, the complaint stated. Station House Officer (SHO), Sambhal, Anuj Kumar Tomar said a case of culpable homicide has been registered against the SUV driver and the vehicle has been seized. The matter is being investigated.
Video: Biker dies after being dragged 2 km by Bolero in UPs Sambhal
A biker succumbed to his injuries on Monday, December 30 after his two-wheeler was hit by a vehicle and dragged for almost two kilometres in Uttar Pradeshs Sambhal district. The victim has been identified as Sukhbir from Shahzadkhera village in Moradabads Mainather police station area. He was returning home from Basla village on December 29 Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
UP Woman Reunites With Family 49 Years After She Was Abducted At Moradabad Fair
Fulmati alias Fula Devi, now 57, was abducted as an eight-year-old during a visit to the fair in Moradabad with her mother.
YouTuber held for pressuring cop for interview on Sambhal violence
The Uttar Pradesh police arrested a YouTuber named Mashkoor Raza Dada for allegedly pressuring Sambhal circle officer Anuj Kumar Chaudhary for an interview over the violence which rocked the city on November 24, resulting in the deaths of five Muslim men. Dada, a resident of Moradabad, reportedly argued with police officer Chaudhary when the latter Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
UP man posts fake news about Amit Shah's 'demise' to gain followers, held
Ghaziabad Police arrested Rohit from Moradabad for spreading fake news about Union Home Minister Amit Shah's 'demise' on social media. The arrest followed an FIR lodged by BJP office-bearer Anil Sharma. Legal proceedings have been initiated, and further investigations are underway. Rohit admitted to posting the false news to gain followers.
Female Cops From Anti-Romeo Squad Harassed On Duty In UP's Moradabad
The Anti-Romeo Squad, which was created to specifically address incidents of public harassment, continues to face challenges.
Uproar as BJP worker threatens Muslim shopkeepers in U.P.s Moradabad for selling meat in Hindu area
Opposition parties claim this is an attempt to bring in a Minus Muslim society
A Muslim man in Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh divorces his wife using the banned triple talaq practice just because she said that the riots and attack on police in Sambhal was wrong
Minority couple sells new house after protests from housing society in Moradabad
Amidst strong Islamophobic protests from their neighbhours, a doctor couple belonging to the minority community were forced to resell their newly brought house in Uttar Pradeshs Moradabad district. The events unfolded on December 3, when the Hindu residents of TDI City, a residential society in Northern Moradabad, started protesting the recent sale of a house Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
The localsfurther claim that when this colony was founded, it was decided that members of other communitieswould not be allowed to buy houseshere. The colony residents have promised to gather donations and repay the registry money to Ikra Chaudhary.
'Hindu Housing Society' protests after house sold to Muslim buyer in UP's Moradabad
Protests broke out in the posh TDI society in Moradabad, allegedly over a house being sold to a Muslim doctor by a resident. According to a PTI report, slogans were raised by the members of the housing society after they came to know that one Dr Ashok Bajaj had sold his house to Dr Ikra Chaudhary. Residents mounted a demonstration at the colony gate holding banners 'Dr Ashok Bajaj Apna Makan Wapas lo' (take your house back). Both, the buyer and the seller, were not available for comments. Its a Hindu society' This is a Hindu society, where over 400 Hindu families live. We don't want anyone from the other communities to reside here, a protester said to news agency PTI , adding that the house is near a temple. TDI City Society chairman Amit Verma also joined the protesters. One of the residents feared the ownership may change the nature of the colony. We fear that there will be a disturbance in the demographic structure of the society and unwanted changes might occur if other communities start to settle there and Hindus start to leave, the person said. Another resident stated, as reported by Times of India , that they had no enmity with any community but did not want the system to change. She emphasized that their house had been their home for over 15 years and expressed the importance of registering the property in the name of a Hindu again. Pallavi warned that if this did not happen, Hindus might begin leaving, which could lead to significant changes. District Magistrate Anuj Kumar Singh said the society members have filed a complaint, raising objection over selling of the house, reported PTI. We are talking to concerned parties and trying for a unanimous, amicable solution to it, he said. The incident follows a recent communal dispute in Uttar Pradesh, sparked by a court-mandated survey of a mosque in Sambhal. On November 24, violence broke out in Sambhal during an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) examination of a Mughal-era mosque. The clashes left four people dead and several others, including police personnel and locals, injured. The ASI survey was initiated after a petition in a local court claimed that the mosque was originally constructed on the site of a Harihar temple. (With inputs from PTI)
UP: Protests in Moradabad over sale of house to minority couple
Protest erupted in Uttar Pradeshs Moradabad on Tuesday, December 3, after a house in the TDI City, a residential society mainly occupied by Hindus, was sold to Muslim couple Dr Yusuf Malik and Dr Iqra Chaudhry. The outrage sparked in the locality after a Hindu doctor, Dr Ashok Bajaj, reportedly conducted the sale. The residents Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
UP: Protests over sale of house to Muslim doctor
Protests broke out in the TDI society in Moradabad, India, after a resident sold his house to a Muslim doctor. Residents, citing the society's primarily Hindu demographic, protested the sale, fearing a change in the community's character. The society chairman and several residents joined the protest, expressing concerns over potential disruptions to the social fabric. The district magistrate has been trying to mediate a solution.
Protest Erupts in UP Over Sale of House to Muslim Man
Moradabad: Protests broke out in the posh TDI society here allegedly over a house being sold to a Muslim doctor by a resident. Slogans were raised by the members of the housing society after they came to know that one Dr Ashok Bajaj had sold his house to Dr Ikra Chaudhary. Residents mounted a demonstration at the colony gate holding banners 'Dr Ashok Bajaj Apna Makan Wapas lo' (take your house back). Both, the buyer and the seller, were not available for comments. This is a Hindu society, where over 400 Hindu families live. We don't want anyone from the other communities to reside here, a protester said, adding that the house is near a temple. TDI City Society chairman Amit Verma also joined the protesters. One of the residents feared the ownership may change the nature of the colony. We fear that there will be a disturbance in the demographic structure of the society and unwanted changes might occur if other communities start to settle there and Hindus start to leave, the person said. District Magistrate Anuj Kumar Singh said the society members have filed a complaint, raising objection over selling of the house. We are talking to concerned parties and trying for a unanimous, amicable solution to it, he said.
UP: Protest in Moradabad over sale of house to man from minority community
Moradabad: Protests broke out in the posh TDI society here allegedly over a house being sold to a Muslim doctor by a resident. Slogans were raised by the members of the housing society after they came to know that one Dr Ashok Bajaj had sold his house to Dr Ikra Chaudhary. Residents mounted a demonstration Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Two Moradabad jailers suspended for letting SP delegation visit Sambhal violence accused
The prison officials allegedly violated the jail manual; 30 people arrested after violence; SP MP booked for incendiary speeches; SP delegation promises partys help for those who were booked falsely
The SP delegation, which included former Parliament member ST Hasan,Nawab Jaan Khan, and Chaudhary Samarpal Singh, visited the Moradabad jail to meet Sambhal violence accused
NOIDA: Police on Tuesday arrested more than 160 protesting farmers, including the president of Bharatiya Kisan Parishad Sukhbir Yadav 'Khalifa', who were holding a sit-in at the 'Dalit Prerna Sthal' in Noida after their march to Delhi on land compensation and other demands was stopped a day earlier. The protesters, who had gathered in Gautam Buddh Nagar from different parts of Uttar Pradesh on Monday on the call of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), had threatened to resume their march to the national capital if their demands were not met within a week. Condemning the police action, the SKM said it was a violation of the constitutional rights for peaceful protest and urged the judiciary to intervene. In a statement, the farmers' collective claimed the police had arrested hundreds of farmers including more than one hundred women and forcibly evicted them from the protest site. The SKM alleged that the police had violated the consensus reached with the farmers' leadership on December 2, asking for seven days to allow the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh to discuss and resolve the demands. Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Shiv Hari Meena said that they arrested more than 160 protesters at around 1.30 pm under Section 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). The provision allows the police to carry out arrests to prevent the commission of a cognisable offence. Among the arrested were women and several farmer leaders like Khalifa and Pawan Khatana the state president of Bharatiya Kisan Union (Western Uttar Pradesh), according to the police. The protesters were taken to the Luksar jail in Noida, officials said. Khalifa told PTI on phone that they will continue to fight for their just demands. Slamming the arrests, the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) convened an emergency panchayat over the matter at the Kisan Bhavan in Sisauli village of Muzaffarnagar where it decided to amplify the protest on Wednesday. It was decided in the Panchayat that BKU workers from the five divisions of Uttar Pradesh, which include Meerut, Saharanpur, Aligarh, Agra, Moradabad -- will reach the 'Zero Point' in Gautam Buddha Nagar while peaceful dharna would be observed across all other districts in their respective police stations, BKU's youth wing president of Uttar Pradesh Anuj Singh told PTI. Zero Point refers to a location at the convergence point of the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway and the Yamuna Expressway in Gautam Buddh Nagar district's Greater Noida city. BKU leader Rakesh Tikait warned that the ongoing protest led by the SKM would turn into a nationwide agitation of farmers. Tikait asserted that the moment the farm leaders of Gautam Buddh Nagar call for help, we will immediately respond to their call. The BKU leader, who was in Iglas here on Tuesday in connection with a private function, was speaking to media persons during his visit. This agitation would turn into a nationwide agitation of farmers who are protesting against the unjust manner in which farmlands are being acquired by the government without paying just and full payment to the farmers, he said. He said that the Gautam Buddh Nagar protest has been put off till December 9 to give the government some time to resolve this long-standing dispute between farmers in that district and the authorities which had been continuously delaying the process of payment of full compensation as envisaged by the Land Acquisition Act 2013. Tikait said that the farmers of Gautam Buddh Nagar are not alone in this protest and representatives of different farmers' organisations have been stationed there to assist them in their quest for justice. He said it has become a regular practice of the present government to acquire farmlands at low prices and to add to the farmers' woes, even the agreed amount of compensation is delayed inordinately. I will shortly be visiting Gautam Buddh Nagar to converse with the local leaders of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha during their ongoing negotiations with officials of the state government, he said. The farmers had gathered near the Mahamaya flyover and left for Delhi on Monday demanding proper compensation for their land acquired by the government, but were stopped by the police near Dalit Prerna Sthal, after which they sat on dharna there. Massive traffic snarls had caused inconvenience to commuters crossing the Delhi-Noida border as police had set up multiple layers of barricades and deployed heavy security to stop the march, which coincided with Parliament's Winter Session.
BJP gears up for campaigning efforts in Ayodhya's Milkipur ahead of by-poll
LUCKNOW: After sweeping seven out of nine seats in the recently held by-poll, BJP has intensified its efforts to wrest the high-stake Milkipur seat in Ayodhya where the bypoll is scheduled soon. The party has deputed two more key organisational functionaries UP minister JPS Rathore and MLC Dharmendra Singh who led the party win in Kundarki (Moradabad) and Katehari (Ambedkarnagar) assembly bypolls, respectively where the lotus bloomed after three decades. Both Rathore and Dharmendra Singh are mandated to work alongside state ministers Surya Pratap Shahi, Mayankeshwar Singh, Girish Jatav, and Satish Sharma. Rathore, a known strategist in the party, is an MLC and UP cooperative minister in Yogi cabinet. He joined the state government after the BJP returned to office in 2022. He was tasked with ramping up BJP poll preparation in the Kundarki seat which has over 50 per cent of Muslim voters. Kundarki also faced a bypoll following the election of SP MLA Zia-Ur-Rehman Barq to Lok Sabha from Sambhal. BJPs victory in Kundarki consolidated Rathores position in the party. On the other, Dharmendra Singh being entrusted with Milkipur bypoll is equally significant. Singh has been a key organisational leader in the Gorakhpur region, the turf of Yogi Adityanath. Just over a year ago, Singh was anointed partys state vice-president while being nominated for the legislative council. Singh, an OBC, was deployed in Katehari, which has a sizable population of OBC and Dalits. As per the political experts, the BJP wants to capitalise on its victory in the bypolls. Milkipur, the reserved seat had fallen vacant following the election of SP nine-time MLA Awadhesh Prasad who had emerged as the master killer by defeating BJPs sitting MP Lallu Singh in Faizabad (Ayodhya) seat in recent Lok Sabha elections. However, the EC had postponed the bypoll since an election petition concerning Milkipur in Lucknow bench of Allahabad high court. The HC dismissed the pending petition last week, thereby clearing the decks for bypoll in Milkipur. Milkipur may well turn out to be another battle of prestige between the BJP and the SP since the BSP has opted out and Congress has decided to back SP. A per the party sources, ground-level preparation have already intensified in Ayodhya while revamping its organisational structure at the booth and mandal level. The Milkipur assembly seat has 414 booths and five divisions, which are scheduled to have a new set of functionaries. Analysts said that the BJP is expected to play on its tried and tested Hindutva pitch with a focus on Yogis Batenge toh katenge call to counter SPs caste narrative of Pichhda, Dalit, and Alpsankhyak (PDA).
Stones hurled at Kashi Vishwanath Express in UP
Bareilly (UP): Unidentified persons pelted stones at the Kashi Vishwanath Express at Dhaneta Halt, near Fatehganj West here and damaged the window of a coach, an official said on Monday. No injuries were reported in the incident, he said. According to Ajit Pratap Singh, the station in-charge of Bareilly Railway Police Force, the incident took place on Saturday, when the train was going from Delhi to Varanasi.When the train reached Dhaneta Halt, some people started throwing stones at it, causing a window of coach B-1 to crack, Singh said. An FIR has been filed in Rampur in connection with the incident. The RPF has launched a search operation in villages along the railway line, from Bareilly Junction to Chandausi, Moradabad and Shahjahanpur to identify and apprehend the stone pelters, Singh said.
We don't trust committee set up by govt: SP's Shivpal Singh Yadav on panel probing Sambhal violence
HAPUR: Samajwadi Party leader Shivpal Singh Yadav urged for an investigation led by a sitting judge as he expressed distrust on the probe initiated by the three-member judicial committee in connection with the violence in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal . Speaking to ANI on Sunday, Shivpal Singh Yadav said, We don't trust the committee set up by govt. If the probe happened under a sitting judge then it would have been fine. This government is dishonest. They are not letting the people cast votes. With the support of the police, people were stopped from voting. People are totally angry against this govt so they are making violence happen, he added. Samajwadi Party MP Awadhesh Prasad said the incident was very sad adding that the opposition wanted to raise the matter in Parliament but government wanted to hide their shortcomings. The incident in Sambhal is very sad. This incident has also affected the brotherhood and peace of the state. But the Supreme Court through its decision has prevented a major incident from happening and has helped in restoring the rule of law in the state, he said. The youth of the country are unemployed, inflation is very high. We wanted to raise the Sambhal incident in Parliament as well, but the government wanted to hide its shortcomings and did not allow the Parliament to function, he added. Who actually fired at Muslim men in UP's Sambhal? Earlier, a three-member judicial committee appointed by the UP government inspected the Shahi Masjid area in Sambhal where the violence broke out on November 24. Former UP DGP AK Jain, member of probe committee said, Probe will continue, it will continue for two months. Speaking on three-member judicial probe committee, Moradabad Divisional Commissioner Aunjaneya Kumar Singh said, Two members from the probe committee visited the place. Their key goal was to inspect the area where the violence took place. They also met people and spoke to a few people who wanted to meet them. We have given answers to the questions they asked us related to that day. They spoke to Masjid committee members as well. Tensions in Sambhal have been high since November 19, when a local court ordered a survey of the mosque. Clashes between protestors and police over the court-ordered survey of the Jama Masjid resulted in four deaths. The survey was initiated following a petition claiming the mosque site was originally a Harihar temple. A stone-pelting incident occurred on November 24 during the ASI's examination of the Mughal-era mosque, resulting in the deaths of four individuals and injuries to several others, including officials and locals. So far, 27 individuals, including 25 men and two women, have been arrested, and seven FIRs have been registered in connection with the violence, according to police. On November 29, the Supreme Court asked Uttar Pradesh to ensure harmony and peace in Sambhal and directed the trial court there not to proceed in the suit against the Jama Masjid till the petition filed by the Masjid Committee against the survey order is listed in the High Court. A bench of Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar directed that the report of the advocate commissioner, who conducted the survey of the mosque, should be kept in a sealed cover and should not be opened in the meantime. The top court was hearing the plea of the Committee of Management of Jama Masjid in Sambhal against the November 19 order of the local court for the survey of the mosque. Sambhal mosque row: ASI files response in court, seeks control, management of Mughal-era structure
Judicial panel members inspect Jama Masjid area in Sambhal to probe violence
SAMBHAL: Amid tight security, members of a judicial commission on Sunday visited the Shahi Jama Masjid here and other areas which witnessed violence over a court-ordered survey of the Mughal-era mosque. Panel head retired Allahabad High Court judge Devendra Kumar Arora and retired IPS officer Arvind Kumar Jain were the two members of the three-member Commission which visited the areas that witnessed violence on November 24. The panel's third member, ex-IAS officer Amit Mohan Prasad, was not present during Sunday's visit. The committee members visited the areas and spoke to the residents as well as officials regarding the incident. The panel was accompanied by security personnel as they visited the violence-hit area. The Commission members, however, did not respond to any media queries during the visit in the morning hours. They were accompanied by Moradabad Divisional Commissioner Aunjaneya Kumar Singh, DIG Muniraj G along with the Sambhal District Magistrate Rajendra Pensiya and Superintendent of Police Krishan Kumar. Arora and Jain had reached Moradabad a day ago while Prasad was expected to join them in Sambhal, the divisional commissioner Aunjaneya Kumar Singh had said on Saturday. On Sunday, the Commissioner said that the situation in Sambhal is currently peaceful and the authorities are constantly monitoring the same. The situation in Sambhal is absolutely peaceful, there is no problem there right now, constant monitoring is being done. Vigilance is maintained so as to ensure peace and order, he said. The Uttar Pradesh Police on Thursday held a flag march in the area. We have strengthened the security and forces have been deployed. We are committed to organising all the events safely. There is no sign of violence and the police force is deployed at every crucial point. Namaz will be offered tomorrow, Sambhal ASP Shrishchand said. Violence erupted in Sambhal on November 24 during a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid, killing four persons and injuring many others. The survey was linked to a petition claiming that a Harihar temple once stood at the site of the mosque. Who actually fired at Muslim men in UP's Sambhal? So far, 27 individuals, including 25 men and two women, have been arrested, and seven FIRs have been registered in connection with the violence, according to police. The Commission formed via a notification on November 28 has been directed to complete its probe within two months. Any extension of this timeline will require government approval. The panel has been entrusted with the task of examining whether the clashes were spontaneous or part of a well-planned criminal conspiracy, as well as the preparedness of the police and the administration in handling the situation. The Commission will also analyse the circumstances leading to the violence, and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents from recurring in the future. On November 29, the Supreme Court asked Uttar Pradesh to ensure harmony and peace in Sambhal and directed the trial court there not to proceed in the suit against the Jama Masjid till the petition filed by the Masjid Committee against the survey order is listed in the High Court. A bench of Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar directed that the report of the advocate commissioner, who conducted the survey of the mosque, should be kept in a sealed cover and should not be opened in the meantime. (With inputs from PTI and ANI) Sambhal mosque row: ASI files response in court, seeks control, management of Mughal-era structure
ASI seeks control of Sambhal mosque
Sambhal: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has submitted its response in a court which had allowed a survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid here -- seeking control and management of the Mughal-era mosque as it is a protected heritage structure. Representing the ASI, lawyer Vishnu Sharma said the agency submitted its counterargument in the court on Friday, stating that it faced resistance from the mosque's management committee and locals in conducting surveys of the site. He said the ASI also highlighted an incident from January 19, 2018, when an FIR was filed against the mosque's management committee for installing steel railings on the mosque's steps without proper authorisation. The mosque, notified as an ASI-protected monument in 1920, is under the purview of the agency and as such, public access to the structure should be permitted, provided it adheres to ASI regulations, Sharma said. The ASI argued that control and management of the monument, including any structural modifications, must remain with it. It also raised concerns that unauthorised changes to the mosque's structure by the management committee are unlawful and should be restricted. The court is expected to deliberate on the matter in the coming days. Violence erupted in Sambhal on November 24 during a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid there, killing four people and injuring many others. A three-member judicial commission has been formed to probe the violence and it is likely to visit Sambhal on Sunday. Moradabad Divisional Commissioner Aunjaneya Kumar Singh said, Two members of the commission formed by the Uttar Pradesh government reached here on Saturday. The third member will join them on Sunday as they head to Sambhal. The survey was linked to a petition claiming that a Harihar temple once stood at the site of the mosque. The commission formed via a notification on November 28 has been directed to complete its probe within two months. Any extension of this timeline will require government approval. The commission headed by retired Allahabad High Court judge Devendra Kumar Arora comprises ex-IAS officer Amit Mohan Prasad and Arvind Kumar Jain, a retired IPS officer. It has been entrusted with the task of examining whether the clashes were spontaneous or part of a well-planned criminal conspiracy, as well as the preparedness of the police and the administration in handling the situation. The commission will also analyse the circumstances leading to the violence and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
Judicial panel members may reach Sambhal today
Two members of a three-member judicial commission formed by the Uttar Pradesh government to investigate the November 24 violence in Sambhal arrived in Moradabad on Saturday and are expected to visit the violence-hit town on Sunday. The commission, headed by retired Allahabad High Court judge Devendra Kumar Arora, has been tasked with determining if the clashes were spontaneous or a planned conspiracy and assessing the police and administration's response. The commission will also analyze the events leading to the violence and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Sambhal admin extends ban on entry of outsiders till December 10
LUCKNOW: The Sambhal district administration on Saturday extended the restriction on the entry of outsiders in the western UP district till December 10. Its earlier ban on the entry of outsiders had to expire on Saturday. Meanwhile, three Samajwadi Party MPs, on their way to Sambhal, were stopped in Ghaziabad. A 15-member delegation of the main opposition party in UP was scheduled to visit Sambhal to gather information about the violence that broke out on November 24 over a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid. Leader of Opposition in the UP Assembly Mata Prasad Pandey, who had to lead the SP delegation, told mediapersons outside his Lucknow residence that a senior IAS officer called him and requested him not to visit Sambhal. The Sambhal district magistrate also called and told me that the ban on the entry of outsiders had been extended, said Pandey. The SP took to microblogging site X to post that the state government deployed police at the homes of leaders who were part of the delegation, preventing them from travelling to Sambhal. The BJP government is hiding the truth of the Sambhal violence. The SP delegation should have been given permission to visit, it said. To maintain peace and order, the imposition of Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) has been extended to December 31 in the district, said Sambhal DM Rajendra Pensiya. No outsider, any social organisation or public representative can enter the borders of the district without seeking the permission of the competent authority till December 10, he added. SPs Muzaffarnagar MP Harendra Malik, accompanied by his Kairana counterpart Iqra Hasan and Sambhal MP Zia-ur-Rehman Barq, was stopped from entering the town from Ghaziabad. I dont understand why we are being stopped. Are the opposition MPs so irresponsible that they cant be allowed to move within the state, Malik asked. In Moradabad, SP MP Ruchi Veeras residence was surrounded by cops to prevent her from travelling to Sambhal. Tension had been brewing in Sambhal since November 19 when the court-ordered survey of the Mughal-era mosque was carried out following claims that a temple previously stood at the site. Five people were killed in the violence.
'Political tourism': UP DyCM Brajesh Pathak on Samajwadi Party's delegation to Sambhal
Samajwadi Party's delegation attempt to visit violence-hit Sambhal is blocked, with UP Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak accusing them of political tourism. The Moradabad Divisional Commissioner restricts visits to the area until stability is restored. Tensions arise from a court-ordered mosque survey, resulting in clashes and four deaths.
Sambhal mosque report likely to be submitted to local court; SC to hear plea against survey today
SAMBHAL: Security was stepped up across the district ahead of Friday prayers and the likely submission of a report on the survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid here by the court-appointed ASI team following claims that a temple once stood at the spot. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court will hear a plea by the Sambhal Shahi Jama Masjid Committee (SSJMC) today, seeking a stay on a Civil Judge's November 19 order, which directed a survey of the Mosque. SSJMC contends that the order was issued in haste following a suit alleging the mosque was built on a demolished temple site. Tension has been brewing in Sambhal since November 19 when the court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid was carried out following claims that a Harihar temple previously stood at the site. Divisional Commissioner of Moradabad, Aunjaneya Kumar Singh said security measures have been reinforced at sensitive religious sites in the area and around the court in Chandausi. The lawyer for the Hindu side, Gopal Sharma, said the court hearing on Friday will see the plaintiff's side present their reply, and the court commissioner is expected to submit the findings from the survey conducted on the disputed site. Our further action will be determined after the survey report is reviewed, Sharma said. Shakeel Ahmed Warsi, the lawyer representing the Muslim side, said they are fully prepared to present their case. We have all the necessary evidence, and we will first request a copy of the survey report before strongly presenting our side in court, Warsi stated. Violence erupted on November 24 as protesters gathered near the mosque and clashed with security personnel, leading to stone pelting and arson. Four people died and scores of others were injured in the violence. The situation remains tense, and local authorities are closely monitoring the developments to maintain peace and order. Sambhal killings: SC's observations on Places of Worship Act helped 'some groups to incite discord': Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind
PIL in Allahabad HC seeking CBI probe into Sambhal violence
LUCKNOW: While life is gradually returning to normal in the western Uttar Pradesh district of Sambhal, which witnessed massive violent protests on Sunday, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed in the Allahabad High Court on Thursday seeking a CBI probe into the causes of the violence on November 24. The PIL also requests that the premier investigating agency, under the courts direction, ascertain the role and involvement of all those who led the protests in Sambhal, which resulted in the deaths of five people and left scores injured, including over 20 police personnel. The PIL, filed by Anand Prakash Tiwari through his lawyers Imran Ullah and Vineet Sankalp, urges the court to order a CBI probe and direct the agency to submit its report within a specific timeframe. Days after Sambhal violence, court agrees to hear petition on Ajmer Dargah; summons committee The petitioner has further requested that the court appoint a committee of officers from the central investigating agency, operating beyond the jurisdiction of the Uttar Pradesh government, to examine the role of the state government and its administrative officers in the incident near Jama Masjid, Chandausi, in Sambhal district. The related report should also be submitted within a court-mandated timeframe. Additionally, the PIL calls for a Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by a retired High Court judge, to investigate the role of the Moradabad Divisional Commissioner, Sambhal District Magistrate (DM), and Sambhal Superintendent of Police (SP) It seeks to include other officers under the ambit of the investigation for their alleged actions in managing the unrest and violence near Jama Masjid on November 24. Akhilesh Yadav claims Sambhal victim's kin threatened by UP Police, seeks SC intervention The PIL raises concerns about possible administrative negligence and the alleged controversial role of local authorities in the protests. It also suggests that guidelines be framed regarding the responsibilities of district authorities during future court-ordered surveys of religious monuments or sites. Notably, the protests in Sambhal turned violent on November 24 after a team led by a court-appointed advocate commissioner conducted a survey of the Mughal-era Jama Masjid, as ordered by a local court. The court-mandated survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal's Kot Garvi area stemmed from a petition claiming that a Harihar temple once stood at the mosques location, sparking a confrontation. The PIL is yet to be scheduled for hearing. Parliament adjourned till Friday amid Opposition protest over Adani, Sambhal issues
Road crash leaves four doctors, lab technician dead in UP's Lucknow-Agra Expressway
KANNAUJ: A road accident on the Lucknow-Agra Expressway early Wednesday claimed the lives of four doctors and a laboratory technician, all affiliated with the Uttar Pradesh University of Medical Sciences in Saifai, police said. The incident took place when a high-speed SUV lost control and collided with a divider. A truck then struck the vehicle. Superintendent of Police Amit Kumar Anand said the incident occurred around 3 am when the SUV veered off course and crashed into the median divider. The vehicle subsequently crossed into the oncoming lane, where it collided with a truck. As a result, the four doctors and one lab technician died on the spot. One additional person, a PG student, suffered serious injuries and was rushed to Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Medical College in Tirwa for treatment, the officer said. The deceased have been identified as Dr. Anirudh Verma, 29, from Agra; Dr. Santosh Kumar Maurya, 46, from Bhadohi; Dr. Arun Kumar, 34, from Kannauj; and Dr. Nardev, 35, from Bareilly along with laboratory technician Rakesh Kumar, 38. The group of doctors and the technician were reportedly returning to Saifai after attending a wedding in Lucknow. Circle Officer of Tirwa Dr. Priyanka Bajpai said the injured, Jaiveer Singh, 39, from Moradabad, has been admitted to the Tirwa Medical College. Police have sent the bodies for postmortem.
