Srinagar, June 26: Thousands of Shia Muslim mourners joined the 10th Muharram procession on Friday in Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar city.

The procession started at Bota Kadal and will end in the Zadibal area of the city. Beating their chests and chanting elegies for Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, mourners moved in a highly disciplined manner as authorities had made fervent appeals for discipline, communal harmony, and maintaining the sanctity of the occasion.

A multi-layer security grid has been established with deployment of police, CRPF and other security personnel, while drone surveillance and CCTV monitoring are being used to maintain round-the-clock vigilance, police said.

Meanwhile, in view of the large gathering, Srinagar Police had issued a detailed public advisory urging mourners and the general public to observe Muharram with peace, dignity and discipline.

According to the advisory, participants had been asked to maintain communal harmony, follow all directions issued by the administration and police authorities, cooperate with traffic police and volunteers for smooth movement, ensure that the procession remains confined to the permitted route and purpose, respect the religious sentiments and beliefs of all communities, and protect public and government property while maintaining cleanliness.

Police had also advised the public not to indulge in any unlawful activity or create any law and order situation, not to raise provocative slogans or make inflammatory speeches, not to obstruct traffic or pedestrian movement, and not to damage or misuse public property.

The advisory further said that people should not display provocative banners, posters, placards or flags; should not disrespect the National Flag or glorify any country, organisation or group, and should not carry or display flags or symbols of any country, organisation or group.

It also cautioned against engaging in any activity detrimental to the integrity, sovereignty and unity of the nation.

Srinagar Police appealed to all mourners and citizens to extend full cooperation, stating that public participation and responsible conduct would ensure a peaceful and dignified observance of Youm-e-Ashura.

10th Muharram, also called ‘Youm-e-Ashura’, is observed to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussain and his companions in Karbala at the hands of Umayyad Caliph, Yezid’s army.

The martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, occurred on October 10, 680 CE (10 Muharram 61 AH) at the Battle of Karbala. He was killed by the army of the Umayyad caliph Yazid after he refused to pledge allegiance to a corrupt and unjust ruler.

The tragic event is a defining moment in Islamic history, symbolising the ultimate sacrifice in the pursuit of truth and standing against tyranny.

In deference to the sentiments of Muslims, 10th Muharram is a public holiday in Jammu and Kashmir.

New Delhi, June 26: The Special Cell of the Delhi Police on Friday arrested gangster Shabir Ali alias Shabir Chaudhary, who led an organised crime syndicate operating across North-East Delhi and the Trans-Yamuna region. Police said the accused had been absconding since April 2025 in a case registered under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).

According to a statement issued by the Special Cell on Friday, Shabir Ali was wanted in a 2025 MCOCA case being investigated by the Special Cell. Nine members of his organised crime syndicate have already been arrested in connection with the same case.

The arrest was made by a team of the Special Cell’s NDR unit led by Inspectors Alok Kumar Maurya and Nitu Kumar under the supervision of ACP Ashish Kumar.

Police said that, acting on intelligence gathered through credible human sources and technical surveillance, the team apprehended Shabir Ali from the Shambhu Border in Haryana on June 14 and subsequently brought him to Delhi for further legal proceedings.

During the operation, police recovered one XUV and a scooty from the accused.

According to the Special Cell, Shabir Ali alias Shabir Chaudhary heads the Shabir Chaudhary-Hashim Baba-Anwar Chacha organised crime syndicate. The gang is allegedly active in the Trans-Yamuna and North-East Delhi regions, including Seelampur, Bhajanpura, Maujpur, Shahdara and adjoining districts of Uttar Pradesh.

Police alleged that members of the syndicate have been involved in several cases of extortion, murder, attempt to murder, land grabbing and other serious offences. Investigators also claimed that some members of the gang have been operating from abroad, particularly from Nepal and Dubai.

The Special Cell said it has taken a series of actions against the syndicate in recent months. In one such case, registered as FIR No. 08/2026 under the Arms Act at the Special Cell Police Station, alleged sharpshooter, Sohail alias Alam alias Tohid, was arrested on the intervening night of January 10 and 11. Police recovered one pistol and three live cartridges from his possession.

In another operation linked to FIR No. 303/2025 under the Arms Act, police arrested two alleged gang associates — Jasim alias Aalu and Jahangir alias Ikka — on December 11, 2025. Four pistols and 14 live cartridges were allegedly recovered during that operation.

Police said Shabir Ali is a native of Muzaffarnagar district in Uttar Pradesh and allegedly entered the criminal world in the mid-1990s through his association with Haji Afzaal of Seelampur. He allegedly became involved in several incidents of firing, murder and gang rivalry across North-East Delhi and the National Capital Region.

According to the police, following the murder of his brother Shamim Ahmed in 2008, Shabir intensified his criminal activities. During his incarceration in previous cases, he allegedly came into contact with several hardened criminals, including Hashim Baba and Anwar Khan alias Chacha, strengthening the organised crime network.

Police said Shabir Ali has previously been arrested in several criminal cases, including one under the MCOCA, and has been involved in 14 criminal cases relating to murder, attempt to murder, extortion and other serious offences. He is also wanted in FIR No. 629/2024, which is being investigated by the Special Cell and is facing a non-bailable warrant issued by a Delhi court in connection with an Arms Act case registered at Bhajanpura Police Station in 2022.

According to the Special Cell, key members of the organised crime syndicate, including Hashim Baba, Anwar Khan alias Chacha, Zoya Khan, Sameer alias Baba, Salim Ahmed alias Salim Pistol, Harsh Pal Singh alias Rubal and Illiyas, are currently lodged in jail under the MCOCA case.

New Delhi, June 26: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday arrested a manager of the Punjab National Bank’s Bhadrauli Branch in Agra’s Barhan, Uttar Pradesh, in connection with an alleged bribery case.

According to the CBI, the case was registered on June 25, based on a complaint filed by an employee of a private company. It was alleged that the bank manager demanded illegal gratification of Rs 7,000 per loan file to process and clear around 19 solar panel loan applications.

The complainant alleged that after negotiations, the accused agreed to accept a total bribe of Rs 52,000 to clear the 19 loan files, which had already been sanctioned by the bank.

Acting on the complaint, the CBI laid a trap and caught the accused manager red-handed while allegedly demanding and accepting a part payment of the bribe amounting to Rs 30,000 from the complainant.

The accused was arrested on June 25 and is scheduled to be produced before the competent court in Ghaziabad on Friday. Further investigation into the case is underway.

Earlier on June 25, the CBI held a coordination meeting with the Department of Financial Services (DFS) and Chief Vigilance Officers of public sector banks, IDBI Bank and Life Insurance Corporation of India here on Thursday on measures to expedite investigations into bank fraud cases, according to an official statement.

The meeting was attended by the Department of Financial Services Secretary Sanjay Lohiya, the CBI Additional Directors A.Y.V. Krishna and N. Venu Gopal, Joint Directors of the CBI and DFS Joint Secretaries Shalini Pandit, Ashish Madhaorao More and Manoj Muttathil Ayyappan, along with other officials.

“During the day-long meeting, several issues, including previous approval under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, sanction for prosecution under Section 19 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, awaited documents, bank fraud complaints, one-time settlement (OTS) issues, recent court judgments and issues related to mule accounts were discussed and deliberated upon,” the CBI statement said.