JAMMU: Alert security forces foiled an infiltration bid and narcotics-arms smuggling attempt on Wednesday and arrested three terrorists along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district with an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), war-like stores and drugs worth lakhs of rupees in the international market.
An Army jawan and one of the terrorists were injured in a gunfight during the operation. A cordon-and-search operation was underway in the area, said defence spokesperson Lt Col Devender Anand.
The recovery included an AK-56 rifle with balance 10 rounds in the magazine (rest of the ammunition had been fired by the terrorist who was injured), two pistols with two magazines, 70 pistol rounds, one IED weighing around 10-12kg, six Chinese grenades and 20 packets of narcotics, the Lt Col added.
Sources said the trio — identified as Poonch residents Mohammad Riaz (23); Mohammad Zubair (22); and Mohammad Farooq (26) who was injured — was tasked with receiving the consignment of arms and drugs from across the border but were caught by the troops while doing so.
“A joint team of the Army and police intercepted around three-four terrorists near the LoC in Poonch sector while they were trying to cross the border fence on the night of May 30-31, taking advantage of inclement weather and heavy rains,” Lt Col Anand said.
After tracking their movement, around 1.30am a firefight ensued between the infiltrators and the security forces following which a soldier and a terrorist were injured. “Three terrorists were apprehended with weapons, war-like stores including IED and narcotics,” said the spokesperson, adding that blood trails were found in the area.

NEW DELHI: Sports Minister Anurag Thakur on Wednesday asked protesting wrestlers not to take any step that could undermine sports or hurt players and said they should wait for the probe to complete, even as political parties stepped up attacks on the government over the issue.
Delhi Police said the cases filed by women wrestlers are still under consideration and status reports are being filed before the court. It would be against the procedure to say anything before the report is submitted to court, the police said after it deleted three tweets on the case.
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A day after the wrestlers, who are demanding the arrest of former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over allegations of sexual harassment of grapplers, threatened to immerse their medals in river Ganga, Thakur urged them to be patient and have faith in the Supreme Court, the Sports Ministry and Delhi police.
He promised appropriate action once the probe is completed and also said that the WFI will hold elections and a new body will be elected soon.

The government drew more flak over the issue from the Opposition with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee joining a protest in Kolkata against the alleged manhandling of wrestlers at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Sunday. The Congress too lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking why he did not appeal to the protesting wrestlers to not throw their medals in the Ganga.

The wrestlers, except Sakshi Malik, returned to their homes in Haryana and did not speak with the waiting media in Haridwar due to a “silence vow” on Wednesday.
The wrestlers, who were protesting at Jantar Mantar here since April 23, were removed from the site by the police on Sunday after they tried to march towards the new Parliament building following its inauguration.

“I urge the wrestlers to be patient till the outcome of the investigation. I also urge them not to take any step that could undermine sports or hurt any sportsperson,” Thakur said while replying to queries from reporters.
He stressed that his ministry had acted promptly on the wrestlers’ complaint and appropriate action would be taken once the probe is completed.
The WFI president has stepped aside and a committee of administrators set up by the Indian Olympic Association is taking everyday decisions, Thakur said.
Delhi police said the sexual harassment case against Singh is under consideration and the status report of the investigation will be submitted to court.
Early during the day, police sources said the force had not found sufficient evidence in favour of the allegations levelled against Singh by female wrestlers and that it will submit the report within 15 days.

As the news came out in the media, the Delhi Police took to Twitter to say: “It is clarified that this news is wrong and the investigation into this sensitive case is under progress with all sensitivity.”
A public relation officer of the Delhi Police also shared the same message with reporters. After nearly an hour, the Delhi Police deleted its tweet. The PRO also removed the message she had shared in the official WhatsApp group for reporters.
Later, the PRO put another message in Hindi that read: “The cases filed by women wrestlers are still under consideration. Status reports are being filed before the court regarding the investigation in the said cases.
“As the cases are under investigation, it would be against the procedure to say anything before the report is filed in the court,” the message read.

Addressing a programme in Uttar Pradesh’s Barabanki, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh said that he will hang himself even if a single allegation is proved against him.
The BJP MP also said all wrestlers are like his children and he will not blame them as his blood and sweat have also gone into their success.
“I am once again saying that if even if a single allegation is proved against me, I will hang myself,” Singh said while addressing a programme at the Mahadeva auditorium in the Ramnagar area here.
“It has been four months since they (wrestlers) want me to be hanged, but the government is not hanging me. So they were going to immerse their medals in the Ganga. Brij Bhushan will not be hanged by throwing medals in the Ganga. If you have proof, give it to the court and if the court hangs me, I will accept it,” the member of Parliament from Kaiserganj said.

Holding a placard with the message “We Want Justice” written on it, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee participated in the rally in Kolkata support of wrestlers that started at Hazra Road crossing in the southern part of the city and culminated at Rabindra Sadan, the cultural hub of the eastern metropolis.
Banerjee joined the 2.8-km rally at Bhawanipur, her own constituency.
She was flanked by former women footballers Kuntala Ghosh Dastidar and Shanti Mallick, ex-soccer players Alvito D’Cunha, Rahim Nabi, and Dipendu Biswas and several other sports personalities and common people.

The Congress attacked the BJP, saying the slogan of ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ now means ‘Beti BJP ke netaon se bachao (save daughters from BJP leaders)’ .
Olympic medallists Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia and Asian Games gold medallist Vinesh Phogat had gone to Har ki Pauri to protest the inaction against 66-year-old Singh.
Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters, Congress MP Deepender Hooda said, “These medals are their life, they represent their struggle, their families’ sacrifices and the nation’s pride. What kind of a cruel government is this? We want to ask the prime minister and government as to why they did not even urge the wrestlers not to throw their medals.”
“The prime minister and ministers, who used to queue up to get photographs with these sportspersons when they won medals, did not even issue an appeal. It sent a message that they are not only anti-sportspersons but also anti-medals,” the Congress leader from Haryana said.
“You talk of Uniform Civil Code, will that not be applicable to BJP leaders. Is there a separate law for them,” Hooda asked.

Meanwhile, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said the way protesting Indian wrestlers were treated by Delhi Police over the weekend was “very disturbing” and said allegations by the wrestlers should be followed up on by an unbiased, criminal investigation.
The IOC’s reaction follows the United World Wrestling’s (UWW) criticism of the detention of the grapplers during their protest at Jantar Mantar, in which the sport’s world body threatened to suspend the national federation if it fails to hold its election within the stipulated time.
“The treatment of the Indian wrestling athletes over the weekend was very disturbing. The IOC insists that the allegations by the wrestlers are followed up on by an unbiased, criminal investigation in line with local law,” the IOC said in the statement.
“We understand that a first step towards such a criminal investigation has been made, but more steps have to follow before concrete actions become visible. We urge that the safety and well-being of these athletes are duly considered throughout this process and that this investigation will be speedily concluded.”

NEW DELHI: Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chairperson Swati Maliwal on Wednesday issued a summon to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, New Delhi in a case pertaining to the wrestlers-WFI case where an identity of a minor wrestler who has accused Brij Bhushan of harassing her was revealed on social media.
In the letter to DCP, New Delhi, DCW chairperson Maliwal wrote, “Now, a video is being circulated on social media wherein a person claiming to be the uncle of the minor survivor has revealed the identity of the survivor which is a criminal offence as per the POCSO Act.”
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She further stated that the accused Brij Bhushan is highly influential and has not been arrested to date.
“The accused in the matter is highly influential and has not been arrested to date. The Hon’ble Supreme Court, considering the sensitivity of the case, and the direct threat to the survivors, especially the minor one, had directed the police to provide them security,” summon read.
The summon further pointed out that in such a scenario, the act of revealing the minor survivor’s identity has to be dealt with seriously.

In this regard, DCW chief Maliwal has issued a summon to the Deputy Commissioner of Police of New Delhi District seeking registration of an FIR in the matter. The Commission has asked Delhi Police to provide a copy of the FIR along with details of the accused arrested in the matter.
The Commission has also asked Delhi Police to inform the reasons for not arresting the main accused Brij Bhushan Singh to date. Further, the Commission has asked Delhi Police to provide a copy of the enquiry report investigating whether the accused Brij Bhushan Singh is in any way linked to the act of revealing the identity of a minor survivor.
DCW Chief has asked DCP, New Delhi to appear before the Commission on June 2 along with an action taken report on the matter.
Earlier today Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan responded to the protesting wrestlers’ allegations and said that he would “hang” himself if allegations against him are proven.
“If a single allegation against me is proven, I will hang myself,” the WFI chief said while addressing a public rally in UP’s Barabanki.
“It’s been four months and they want me to be hanged. The government is not hanging me that’s why they gathered at Haridwar on Tuesday and threatened to immerse their medals in the Ganga. This will not bring the sentence that they want for me, it is all emotional drama,” he said.
Several ace grapplers including Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik have been protesting against the WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh accusing him of sexual harassment and demanding his arrest. They also went on to question the fact that how the women wrestlers had to hide for the entire day.

MUMBAI: Sean Fraser, Canada’s immigration minister, today announced the much-awaited launch of the category-based selection for the Express Entry program – a point-based popular route for Indians to gain permanent residency in Canada.
India is the top source country for immigrants under the Express Entry Route. In 2020, Indian citizens bagged 50,841 invites to apply for permanent residence in Canada, which was 47% of the total invites issued by its immigration agency.
TOI had last May, written about the proposed introduction of category-specific draws to meet the country’s labour and economic needs. Today’s announcement is on expected lines, it means good news for those from the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) occupations. Canada is a popular destination for Indian’s tech workers and this announcement could help them get an easier inroad. Canada could also prove to be a stronger attraction for blue collar workers like electricians, plumbers and even truck drivers.
For 2023, category-based selection invitations will focus on candidates who have a strong French language proficiency or work experience in the following fields: Healthcare occupations (this includes general practitioners, licensed nurses, dentists); Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) occupations (this includes data scientists, data analysts, computer engineers, civil engineers); Trade occupations (this includes as carpenters, plumbers, electricians); Transport occupations (this includes pilots, aero engineers, truck drivers) and lastly Agriculture and agri-food occupations.
India is the top source country for immigrants under the Express Entry Route. In 2020, Indian citizens bagged 50,841 invites to apply for permanent residence in Canada, under the ‘Express Entry’ route. This is 47% of the total invites (1.07 lakh) which were issued by Canada’s immigration agency. But for aspiring Indians today’s announcement is a mixed bag.
Canada’s immigration levels plan had set the targets at 4.65 lakh permanent residents in 2023. In this backdrop, Ken Nickel-Lane, founder of an immigration services firm, told TOI, “I suspect this may not end up being particularly good news if you do not fit within the National Occupation Classification (NOC) codes being focused on. In my estimation it’s unlikely these targeted draws will be in addition to current targets, thus the spots awarded under the category-based rounds will in effect take away from general draws. The potential result will be an increase in score cutoff’s for general draws making selection less likely for those who do not fit in these categories.”
It will be even more challenging if the category specific draws become a larger percentage of Express Entry draws going forwards, adds Nickel-Lane.
According to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), these categories have been determined following extensive consultations with provincial and territorial partners, stakeholders and the public, as well as a review of labour market needs. Further details on the timing of invitations for individual categories and how to apply will be announced in the coming weeks.
Fraser said, “Everywhere I go, I’ve heard loud and clear from employers across the country who are experiencing chronic labour shortages. These changes to the Express Entry system will ensure that they have the skilled workers they need to grow and succeed. We can also grow our economy and help businesses with labour shortages while also increasing the number of French-proficient candidates to help ensure the vitality of French-speaking communities…”

NEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday raided 25 locations spread across Bihar, Karnataka and Kerala, in connection with the Popular Front of India (PFI) conspiracy to radicalise and train its cadres and members for carrying out acts of terror and violence.
Searches were conducted at the premises of suspects in Katihar district of Bihar; Dakshina Kannada, and Shimoga districts of Karnataka; and Kasaragod, Malappuram, Kozhikode & Thiruvananthapuram districts of Kerala. A slew of digital devices, including mobile phones, hard disk, SIM cards, pen-drives, data cards, etc, incriminating documents and materials related to the banned organisation were seized during the raids. Indian currency of the face value of Rs. 17.5 lakh was also seized.
So far, a total of 85 locations have been raided during the course of investigations into the case.
Acting on a tip-off, Bihar police had carried out a raid at the rented premises of one Athar Parvez on July 11, 2022, and had seized incriminating articles related to PFI including a document titled ‘India 2047 Towards Rule of Islamic India’. The document recorded in detail PFI’s plans to strike terror in the country by radicalising and giving weapons training to vulnerable Muslim youths to carry out terror acts with the ultimate aim of establishing Islamic rule in India by the 100th year of Independence.
Athar Parvej was arrested along with another accused Md. Jalaluddin Khan, Arman Malick @ Imteyaz Anwer and Nooruddin Zangi @ Advocate Nooruddin. A charge-sheet was filed by the NIA against these four on January 7, 2023. Ten others were later arrested for promoting the unlawful and anti-national activities of PFI and channelising illegal funds from abroad to the PFI members/accused persons in the instant case.
NIA probe has found that multiple channels were allegedly being operated on popular video platforms by persons suspected to be associated with PFI. These channels were distributing content aimed at inciting communal violence and terror in India. The suspects, having international links, were also indulging in propagation of PFI ideology using social media.

Charu Asopa and Rajeev Sen, who were in a troubled relationship and went through a lot of ups and downs, have filed for divorce. The estranged couple is on cordial terms with each other now and are also co-parenting their daughter Ziana. ETimes TV has exclusively learnt that Charu and Rajeev’s final hearing for their divorce is scheduled for June 8.
Sources informed us that Charu and Rajeev’s divorce proceedings are going on from early January this year. After going through counselling, a cooling-off period of six months was given to them by the court and now the final hearing for June 8. Post which their divorce will come through.
After going through a rough patch, Charu and Rajeev decided to separate and filed for divorce. Ever since then, they are making sure to be cordial with each other and give their daughter a healthy atmosphere.
When ETimes TV asked Charu about the same, she refused to comment.
Recently, while talking to ETimes TV, Rajeev spoke about co-parenting daughter Ziana with estranged wife Charu, he said, “Ziana will always be my priority. Sometimes you have to look at the bigger picture. It is never about any individual and it is about the child. For me as a father it is very important to give her that kind of security and to make sure that her upbringing is done in the right way.”
Charu had also spoken about the changed equation with Rajeev and how they want only good things to happen with their daughter. The Mere Angne Mein actress had said back then, “Yes, things between Rajeev and me are cordial now. We both want our relationship to be cordial now because Ziana is growing up fast and she’s slowly understanding things. I don’t want anything negative to happen now.”
While Charu recently shifted to a new apartment with her baby girl, Rajeev was recently seen promoting his debut production venture, Hasrat.