Srinagar, Sep 28: Five people were killed and six others were injured on Monday in a road accident in Jammu and Kashmir’s (J&K) Kupwara district.

Officials said five people were killed and six others injured after a passenger vehicle skidded off the Teetwal–Simari road and dropped into the Kishenganga river in the Karnah border area of Kupwara district on Monday.

The accident occurred in Karnah’s Simari area. The injured were first shifted to sub-district hospital Tangdhar for treatment.

They were subsequently referred to Government Medical College (GMC) hospital in Handwara town. The exact identities of the dead passengers and those injured in the accident are being ascertained.

J&K Lieutenant-Governor, Manoj Sinha expressed grief over the loss of lives in the tragic road accident in Kupwara district.

In a post on X, L-G Manoj Sinha said, “Deeply pained by the loss of lives in an unfortunate road accident in Kupwara. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. Praying for the early recovery of the injured. I have directed the District Administration to ensure best possible treatment to the injured.”

Overspeeding and reckless driving are the primary causes of fatal road accidents in J&K.

Overspeeding has been identified by the traffic department and parliamentary data as the single-largest contributor to severe crashes and fatalities.

Actions like sudden overtaking, aggressive manoeuvering, and ignoring lane discipline cause deadly head-on accidents.

Hilly geography, fragile mountain roads, landslides, and seasonal monsoon or snow-related road erosion frequently lead to a loss of vehicle control.

Narrow corridors, loose soil in mountainous cutting areas, and a lack of protective crash barriers or proper service lanes compound the risk.

Inadequate monitoring and poor traffic regulation enforcement allow persistent safety violations, especially by heavy commercial vehicles.

The local traffic department has deployed special teams to hilly districts in J&K to check traffic violations that lead to loss of precious human lives.

Ujjain, Sep 28: A tense situation gripped parts of Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh on Monday morning as protests against the proposed partial removal of the historic Shahi Masjid turned restive, with stone-pelting reported and police resorting to tear gas shells to disperse the crowd.

A heavy police force remains deployed around the mosque complex amid ongoing preparations for the Simhastha 2028 event.

The unrest centres on road-widening work along an approximately 900-metre stretch from Kanthal Square to Gopal Mandir. Authorities are expanding the route to 15 metres to manage the expected large influx of pilgrims during the major Hindu religious gathering.

Several religious structures fall within the project’s alignment. Officials note that most of around 60 such structures along the route have already been cleared. However, the Shahi Masjid and a nearby mazar close to the “Khade Hanuman Mandir” have become focal points of opposition in recent days.

The Shahi Masjid, described by community members as a centuries-old Waqf property (with some accounts dating it to around 1390), is proposed for partial demolition affecting portions of the prayer hall, a minaret, and related structures.

The Madhya Pradesh High Court in Indore had earlier dismissed petitions challenging the Ujjain Municipal Corporation’s notices, citing public interest and traffic needs for the upcoming Simhastha. A further hearing related to the matter was scheduled for Monday at the Indore High Court.

Anticipating possible enforcement, authorities deployed nearly 2,000 police personnel along with heavy machinery, including earthmoving machines.

Members of the Muslim community began gathering at the Shahi Masjid complex and adjoining roads from Saturday night, raising slogans. The protests continued through Sunday night. Barricades were erected on the “Kanthal-Gopal Mandir” route to restrict movement, and surveillance was conducted using drone cameras.

Police and Rapid Action Force units maintained a strong presence.

On Monday, as the situation remained charged, some youths continued pelting stones at police personnel even as tear gas shells were fired repeatedly, police sources said. More than a dozen and a half shells were used in efforts to disperse the gathering.

Tension continued at the site while forces worked to restore order.

In a related incident during law-and-order duties, Crime Branch TI Pushpa Panchal sustained an injury to her hand. According to police, a group of women was advancing during the protest. While the female police contingent attempted to move them away safely, officers approached the group, who were using a sheet as cover. The corner of the sheet cut TI Panchal’s hand. She received first aid, and her hand was bandaged.

Police confirmed that none of the protesting women was injured and all remained safe.

The administration has emphasised that the road-widening forms part of broader infrastructure upgrades for Simhastha 2028, which is expected to draw crores of devotees. Similar actions have been taken against numerous other religious and non-religious structures across the city to ease congestion near key sites, including the Mahakaleshwar Temple area.

Community representatives have called for the mosque to be spared, while authorities maintain that the work proceeds under legal processes and development plans.

As of the latest reports, a large police contingent continues to maintain security around the mosque, with efforts focused on preventing further escalation while the High Court hearing proceeds.

Mumbai, Sep 28: The Shiv Sena(UBT) leader and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut on Monday launched a scathing attack on Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, retaliating sharply against his recent remark that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had “lost his brain” for alleging large-scale voter list manipulation and electoral fraud.

Raut questioned who had actually lost their mental balance, demanding to know why top BJP leaders were acting as “defence lawyers” for Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar instead of addressing the core issues raised by the Opposition. Raut aggressively countered CM Fadnavis’s attempt to dismiss Rahul Gandhi’s accusations.

He questioned the BJP’s urge to shield the Chief Election Commissioner, alleging that the poll body has lost its constitutional independence and is operating under political influence. “Instead of debating who lost their mind, speak on the actual issue. Why is Devendra Fadnavis defending Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar? Has the Election Commission hired him as its advocate?” he asked, alleging that the ruling party’s desperate defence points towards a systemic cover-up.

Pointing to investigative news reports detailing internal dissent within the Election Commission, Raut noted that Rahul Gandhi was not the sole voice raising concerns. He referred to the media reports regarding procedural irregularities and internal friction among Election Commissioners. “Does Fadnavis lack basic political history, or is he deliberately ignoring facts?” he asked.

Comparing the three-member Election Commission to the ruling alliance in Maharashtra, Raut alleged that the commissioners pose together for photographs like Fadnavis and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, despite severe internal division. “Do they even share a working relationship? No. Just like CM Fadnavis and Dy CM Eknath Shinde stage photo-ops, these three Election Commissioners pose together for optics while the institution crumbles inside,” Raut remarked.

Escalating his rhetoric, the MP accused the ruling dispensation of deploying state power and police forces to protect the poll panel chief from public protests. He alleged that the central leadership views the Chief Election Commissioner as a crucial tool for electoral manipulation, making his protection an absolute priority for the regime.

“Gyanesh Kumar has become a bone stuck in the government’s throat. Protecting him has become their political necessity because he serves as the weapon to win elections through manipulation,” Raut alleged. “They are using state machinery, police forces, and central security forces to suppress peaceful protests. But let me make one thing clear — Gyanesh Kumar will have to go.”

Extending his critique to state governance, Raut criticised CM Fadnavis over the government’s response to the drought situation in Maharashtra. He hit out at the advice, asking citizens to cut down on personal expenses during severe distress.

“Instead of asking common citizens to cut back on expenses during a severe drought, why didn’t Fadnavis direct his own political colleagues to stop their corruption?” he asked. “Had he shown the courage to rein in corruption within his administration, I would have conceded that he possesses a working mind.”