National News
Assam saw major drop in child marriage cases under BJP govt: CM Sarma
Guwahati, Nov 26: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday underscored a “major turnaround” in the state’s battle against child marriage, saying a combination of stringent enforcement and systemic reforms has led to significant declines in the underage marriages and boosted legal accountability.
CM Sarma claimed that according to NFHS‑4 (2015-16) data, 31.8 per cent of women in Assam aged 20–24 were married before turning 18 – a rate that exceeded the national average.
Moreover, district-level fact sheets had recorded alarming prevalence in districts such as Dhubri, South Salmara, Barpeta and Nagaon, as high as 40–55 per cent.
However, the state now claims a decisive shift. Between 2023 and 2024 alone, more than 8,600 arrests were made in coordinated crackdowns under both the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA).
According to the Chief Minister, in 2022 the number of cases registered stood at 224, sharply up from just 149 in 2021, indicating a steep rise in enforcement.
CM Sarma said, “Beyond arrests, Assam has formed district-level task forces, headed by superintendents of police, to track and intercept impending child marriages. Community-level workers – including ASHAs, Anganwadi staff and schoolteachers – are now required to report suspected cases in real time.”
“Several districts have also reportedly established digital databases and child-protection tracking mechanisms,” he added.
The CM claimed that these measures have borne fruit: In hotspot districts, the incidence of child marriage fell by 8–17 per cent within a year, and more than 3,000 planned child marriages were prevented in 2023–24 alone.
Notably, the Assam government’s recent actions – from sustained crackdowns to setting up institutional safeguards – reflect a far more aggressive stance on child marriage than seen in earlier years, when the practice was largely treated as a social issue rather than a crime.
International News
PM Modi condoles death of Dubai Ruler brother, offers condolences to Royal family

New Delhi, Sep 21: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday condoled the death of Dubai Ruler’s brother, Shaikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and lauded his efforts to serve the society. In his message, PM Modi offered condolences to the Royal family and the people of Dubai.
“Deeply saddened by the passing of His Highness Shaikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. His efforts to serve society will be cherished by generations to come. I convey heartfelt condolences to the Royal Family and the people of Dubai. May his soul rest in eternal peace,” PM Modi posted on X.
Earlier in the day, Dubai Ruler Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s court announced that Shaikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum died on Monday morning. He was 76. A 10-day official mourning has been declared in Dubai.
“The Court of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, mourns the passing of the late Shaikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum this morning, Monday. The Court has declared a 10-day period of official mourning in Dubai, during which flags will be flown at half-mast, effective today, Monday,” the Government of Dubai Media Office posted on X.
Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum also paid a personal tribute to his brother.
Shaikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum was the fourth and youngest son of the late ruler of Dubai, Shaikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum. He served as Dubai Police and Public Security’s Deputy Chairman, Group Chairman of A.R.M. Holding, and President of Al Wasl Sports Club.
After graduating from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Shaikh Ahmed joined the Central Military Base in Dubai and later became the Commander in Chief of the base, according to the Al Wasl Sports Club website. In the early 1990s, Shaikh Ahmed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum established the Jebel Ali racecourse to promote horse racing in the UAE. Shaikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has been the president of Al Wasl Sports Club for 60 years.
Crime
Bomb threat email names Somnath temple, Gujarat BJP offices; searches find nothing suspicious

Ahmedabad/Gir Somnath, Sep 21: A bomb-threat email naming the Somnath Temple and BJP offices in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar triggered a security alert across Gujarat on Monday, prompting searches by police, bomb detection and disposal teams and dog squads, officials said.
The threat mentioned the BJP office in Ahmedabad’s Khanpur area, the party’s state office, Kamalam, at Koba in Gandhinagar, and the Somnath Temple.
Police said no suspicious object was found during searches at the locations.
Ahmedabad C-Division ACP Adwait Gandhi said the State Intelligence Bureau in Gandhinagar received the input around 9 a.m., following which the Khanpur BJP office was thoroughly checked, and additional police deployment was put in place.
“At 9 a.m., we received an input from the State Intelligence Bureau in Gandhinagar. According to that, there was a threat of a bomb blast at the BJP Central Office in Khanpur. We informed the BDTS and had the entire premises checked, and police deployment has also been put in place. The situation is normal,” Gandhi said.
He confirmed that the Somnath Temple and BJP office at Koba had also been named in the threat. “Nothing suspicious has been found. The situation is normal,” he said.
Gandhi said there was no need for panic and added that police are carrying out their duties. “I do not have information about the origin of the email at this stage and action had been taken on the basis of the intelligence input,” he noted.
At the Khanpur office, police, fire brigade personnel and bomb and dog squad teams conducted a detailed search.
City BJP president Prerak Shah said the party was informed that intelligence agencies had received an email threatening to blow up the office.
“Based on that, both the police and bomb squad arrived here. The entire Khanpur BJP office was searched, and nothing objectionable or suspicious was found here,” Shah said.
At Somnath, Deputy SP M.F. Chaudhary said the police received the threat email in the morning and the entire police force was placed on alert on the instructions and guidance of the Superintendent of Police.
He said the temple has dedicated security personnel working round the clock and that devotees normally undergo two-layer frisking and checking.
Electronic gadgets and other prohibited items are not allowed inside the temple premises.
“In view of today’s situation, we put our other district branches, including the LCB, Special Operation Group, BDS and QRT, on alert and had the entire temple premises searched. The BDS searched the temple premises but found no suspicious objects,” he said.
The latest threat comes amid a series of similar email-based bomb scares in Gujarat.
Earlier this month, threats were received by courts, schools and the Gujarat Assembly, while separate threats on September 15 and 17 reportedly named courts, Mahatma Mandir and port facilities.
Searches in those cases also did not result in the recovery of explosives.
Gujarat Police had also recently arrested two men in connection with an alleged interstate network involved in sending hoax bomb-threat emails.
Investigators recovered details of 513,847 Gmail accounts and passwords allegedly linked to the network.
Police are examining whether the latest threat has any connection with that network.
Crime
13 foreigners found with immigration issues in north Delhi

New Delhi, Sep 21: In a coordinated effort to strengthen surveillance and ensure compliance with immigration laws, Delhi Police have launched an intensive combing and verification exercise to identify foreign nationals staying in the North district and verify their immigration status.
As part of the exercise, two teams were constituted on the directions of senior officers to trace foreign nationals overstaying in India and also verify the status of foreigners against whom criminal cases have been registered.
The first team was formed under the supervision of ACP/Burari Shashi Kant Gaur and headed by Inspector Girish Chandra Raturi, SHO, Burari Police Station. The team comprised Head Constables Kamlesh and Ankit and Constable Nishant.
The second team was formed under the supervision of ACP/Operations/North Vishesh Dhatterwal and led by Inspector Rohit Saraswat, I/C Special Staff, and SI Pradeep Katoch, I/C Foreign Cell, in coordination with Head Constable Bal Kishan of Special Staff.
During a systematic search and verification in the area of Burari Police Station on September 7, the team detected three Nigerian nationals, identified as Victory Isimah, Godspower Ikechukwu and Aliou Cisse, who were found staying in Burari’s Baba Colony.
During verification, Victory Isimah produced his passport, but his visa was found to have expired. The other two foreign nationals, Godspower Ikechukwu and Aliou Cisse, failed to produce valid documents establishing their identity or lawful stay in India.
Necessary proceedings were therefore initiated against all three at Burari Police Station. Subsequently, the three foreign nationals were produced before the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), Delhi.
Vide three separate Restriction Orders dated September 7, their movement was restricted to Sewa Sadan, Lampur, Narela, Delhi.
Following the orders, all three were handed over to the Restriction Centre at Sewa Sadan, Lampur, Narela, for further necessary action in accordance with the applicable rules and procedures.
In another operation, a joint team of Special Staff, Foreign Cell and Anti-Narcotics Cell of North District Police conducted a coordinated checking operation during the early hours of September 16 at identified premises in Chandan Vihar, Pragati Enclave and Maurya Enclave in Burari.
The operation was conducted on the basis of specific intelligence regarding the unauthorised stay and overstay of foreign nationals.
Police said the intelligence was developed by the joint team through sustained field verification and identification of locations where foreign nationals were reportedly residing.
During the operation, 10 foreign nationals belonging to Ghana, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Uganda and Cameroon were found present at the identified locations. Their identity documents, passports, visas and immigration status were thoroughly checked and verified by the police team.
The verification found four foreign nationals overstaying in India on expired visas, while two others failed to produce valid passport or visa-related documents.
Those identified for necessary immigration action were Ann Favorite Michael, a Ghanaian national whose visa expired on August 13, 2023; Elise Djonba, an Ivorian national whose visa expired on January 5, 2018; Ebuh Happiness, a Nigerian national whose visa expired on August 18, 2026; and Godstime Ikechukwu Chukwuma, a Nigerian national whose visa expired on October 12, 2019.
The other two, Costa Abraham and Raymond Maduka Eze, both Nigerian nationals, failed to produce a valid passport or visa-related documents during the verification process.
After completion of all requisite formalities, including medical examination, the six foreign nationals were produced before the FRRO for necessary immigration action, including deportation proceedings wherever applicable.
Subsequently, as per the orders and proceedings of the competent authority, all six were sent to Restriction Centres at Lampur and Sarai Rohilla for further necessary action.
During detailed verification of the 10 foreign nationals, three were found to be involved in criminal cases presently pending trial before the competent courts.
They were identified as Ndagire Mizzy, daughter of James Mukuye, who is involved in Court Case No. DRI-SC/399/2022; Emmanuel Owusu Nsiah, son of Owusu, who is involved in FIR No. 28/2024 of Police Station Special Cell; and Sunday Chikezie, son of Chikezie, who is involved in FIR No. 11/2022 of Police Station Crime Branch.
Since the cases are pending adjudication before the competent courts, the three foreign nationals were relieved from the present immigration action.
Another foreign national, Samuel Enow Ebot Manyienow, son of Manyienow, was also relieved after verification established that his visa was valid.
Accordingly, necessary immigration action was taken against the remaining foreign nationals in accordance with the applicable rules and prescribed procedures.
North District Police said it remained committed to maintaining vigilant surveillance, strengthening actionable intelligence and ensuring prompt and lawful action against violations of immigration laws.
Further verification and necessary immigration and legal action are being undertaken in close coordination with the concerned authorities, officials said.
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