New Delhi, Sep 14: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Nitin Nabin has urged people to light an ‘Aashirvaad ka diya (lamp of blessings)’ at their homes on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday on September 17, calling for prayers for his long life and good health and highlighting his 25-year journey in public service and nation-building.

In a post on X, Nabin said that “Public Service for National Service” has been the core motto of PM Modi’s life, describing the Prime Minister’s 25-year journey dedicated to public service and nation-building as unprecedented.

“‘Public Service for National Service’ has been the core motto of the life of the Honourable Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji. As the head of the government, his 25-year journey dedicated to the resolve of public service and nation-building has been unprecedented,” Nabin said.

He said PM Modi’s “visionary leadership” had given the country a new direction and strength, adding that India was moving rapidly towards the goal of “Developed India @ 2047” as a result of the collective resolve provided by the Prime Minister.

“To express our best wishes for the country’s progressive journey and for PM Modi ji’s illustrious leadership, let us light the ‘Aashirvaad ka diya’ (lamp of blessings) in our respective homes between 6 and 7 pm on the auspicious occasion of the Prime Minister’s birthday on September 17, and offer our blessings while praying for his long life and good health,” Nabin said.

In a video message, Nabin also highlighted what he described as the challenges facing the country when PM Modi began guiding its leadership.

“When he started guiding the country’s leadership, the situation was not easy. He introduced new schemes, new plans and a new vision, and gave hope to the nation’s youth that challenges can be turned into opportunities,” Nabin said.

He also cited the government’s initiatives for women, particularly the Lakhpati Didi programme, saying it was helping women become financially self-reliant and contribute to India’s development.

“Through Lakhpati Didi, our nation’s women are becoming self-dependent and contributing to the nation’s development. We believe PM Modi’s leadership will take women forward and strengthen their confidence,” he said.

Nabin further highlighted the issue of Naxalism, saying the Prime Minister had made its elimination a key resolve of his government.

“Our country had Naxalism for a long period of time. PM Modi included it in his resolve, and Naxalism has been abolished at the root. In 2026, India is Naxal-free,” Nabin said.

Hyderabad, Sep 14: A minor girl was drugged, abducted and sexually assaulted by nine people over a span of three days in Medchal Malkajgiri district near Hyderabad.

All the accused were booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and arrested after the victim escaped from their clutches and lodged a complaint at Alwal Police Station under Malkajgiri Police Commissionerate.

The 16-year-old girl, a Class 11 student, was sexually assaulted on various occasions by the accused including those known to her, at different places including in a car, during a train journey and in a hotel room.

According to police, the victim came in contact with one J. Varun when she was in 10th class. A few months ago, the accused sexually assaulted her in his car after giving her a chocolate laced with sedatives. Another youth Romala Varun, who was introduced to her by J. Varun, also sexually assaulted her after making her a cigarette, liquor and Ganja addict.

Preliminary investigation by police revealed that the victim had earlier came in touch with one David Varun through Instagram. The accused had made her consume liquor and misbehaved with her.

Suspicious over her behavior, the girl’s father admonished her on September 9. Angry over this, the girl left the house and reached Bollarum Railway Station, where a person Neeraj met her. He called his friend Vicky and they sexually assaulted the victim after giving her some intoxicated substances.

Later, Vicky along with another friend Nikhil took the girl to a OYO room in Dulapally. Vicky and Nikhil along with two others sexually assaulted her. On the night of September 9, Vicky brought her his house in Bollarum and confined her here.

The next day she managed to escape and reached Bollarum Railway Station. Vicky along with his friend Ganesh reached there and forcibly drugged her. They took her to Medchal Railway Station. From there, they took her to Malkajgiri and on the way sexually assaulted her in the train. After reaching Malkajgiri, they boarded an autorickshaw. However, she managed to escape and reached her house and with the help of family members approached police.

On a complaint by the victim, police registered cases under POCSO Act and various sections of BNS against the accused.

The police have also arrested manager and owner of OYO hotel for admitting the minor and allotting a room without proper verification.

Srinagar, Sep 14: Police in Jammu and Kashmir’s Sopore area arrested a drug peddler with psychotropic substances while two others were arrested in Shopian district with heroin and charas on Monday.

Police said continuing its sustained drive against the drug menace, Sopore Police arrested a drug peddler and recovered 240 capsules of Spasmo-Proxyvon Plus along with Rs 47,000 in cash.

During naka checking at Amargarh Crossing, in the jurisdiction of Police Station Tarzoo, a truck bearing Registration No. JK05H-4164, driven by Jahangir Ahmad Dar son of Nazir Ahmad Dar resident of Patoosa, Rafiabad, was intercepted and subjected to checking.

During the search, 240 capsules of Spasmo-Proxyvon Plus and Rs 47,000 in cash were recovered from the possession of the accused and seized in accordance with due legal procedure.

Accordingly, FIR No. 125/2026 under relevant provisions of the NDPS Act has been registered at Police Station Tarzoo and investigation has been taken up to ascertain the source and wider linkages involved.

Sopore Police reiterates its zero-tolerance policy against drug trafficking and remains committed to sustained action against drug peddlers to safeguard youth and society from the menace of narcotics.

Police have arrested two persons in separate operations in Shopian district and recovered substances suspected to be heroin and charas from their possession, officials said.

During naka checking at Kiloora Crossing, a police party from Police Station Imamsahib intercepted a person after noticing his suspicious movement, officials said.

A personal search led to the recovery of around 1.210 grams of a heroin-like substance. The person was identified as Murshid Ahmad Malik, a resident of Krawoora, Imamsahib.

Police have registered FIR No. 64/2026 under relevant provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at Police Station Imamsahib and taken up investigation into the case.

In a separate operation, cops from Police Station Zainapora intercepted another person during naka checking at Babapora Zainapora crossing, officials said.

A search resulted in the recovery of around 18 grams of a charas-like substance. The accused was identified as Muneeb Ahmad Thoker, son of late Shamem Ahmad Thoker, a resident of Beibagh, Yaripora, Kulgam.

An FIR, numbered 120/2026, has been registered at Police Station Zainapora under relevant provisions of the law, and an investigation has been initiated to determine the source of the suspected contraband and other circumstances of the case, officials said.

The two cases are being investigated separately. The recovered substances have been described by police as heroin-like and charas-like material pending further legal and forensic procedures.