Nashik, April 16: Police were pelted with stones in Kathe Gali area of ​​Nashik on Tuesday night. The incident took place when the electricity was cut off in the area and taking advantage of the darkness, the mob suddenly started pelting stones on the police and vehicles parked nearby. In this violent incident, three to four policemen were injured, while five vehicles were also damaged. The cause of the ruckus is being said to be a rumor about a religious place.

The police had to take immediate action to bring the situation under control. Around 500 policemen were deployed at night so that the situation does not deteriorate further. It is being told that around 400 to 500 people were present at the time of commotion. The police have also changed the traffic routes in the area to avoid any untoward situation. Administrative and police officials together kept a close watch on the situation and patrolling continued throughout the night.

Sources said that the root of this whole matter is a controversial religious site, which has been under tension for the past few days. The municipality had on April 1 issued a notice on an unauthorized construction following a court order, which said that the administration would take appropriate action if the construction itself was not removed. Despite this warning, the religious site was not removed, causing discontent among the local people and all kinds of rumours.

Officials said that some religious places in the area were constructed without permission and notices were given to remove them, after which the incident took place. All such unauthorized religious places will be removed in the next two days. Nashik Police says that police are taking action to maintain peace in the entire area. Police and administrative personnel are still present in the area and the situation is being monitored.

New Delhi, April 16: Bihar BJP President Dilip Jaiswal reacted sharply to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s meeting with Muslim religious leaders on Wednesday and alleged that she was playing the political game using anti-social elements to build her vote bank.

The meeting reportedly aims to formulate a strategy to oppose the Waqf Act in West Bengal.

While speaking with media, Jaiswal said, “This is Mamata Banerjee’s political game. Muslim brothers never try to establish unrest or promote violence. But to build her vote bank, she is using people with an anti-social mindset.”

CM Banerjee and her party, Trinbamool Congress, have openly criticised the Centre’s approach to religious and minority rights, and Wednesday’s meeting is expected to finalise a roadmap for ‘legal and public resistance’.

In another development, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a significant case on Wednesday regarding the constitutional validity of the Waqf Act; ahead of it, Dilip Jaiswal urged people to give the Act at least a year.

He stated that if improvements are needed after that time, the government is open to making amendments.

Opposition parties have filed a petition demanding the annulment of the Act, claiming it is discriminatory and lacks a proper legal framework. The case is likely to have wide-reaching implications for religious endowments and community rights across the country.

Dilip Jaiswal addressed the issue ahead of the hearing in the Supreme Court, defending the legislation and urging the public to give it time.

“You can see that the Waqf Board was formed through a democratic process for the welfare of Pasmanda Muslims, poor Muslims and to free the board from those who had long controlled it. A Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) was constituted, opinions were taken from crores of people, and extensive discussions were held in both Houses of Parliament. Only after that was this law brought in,” Jaiswal said.

He added a comparison to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), saying, “My appeal to the people is, take a look at this law for one year, just as we did with the CAA. At that time, an atmosphere of fear was created among Muslim brothers across the country. If, after one year, you feel improvements are needed, we are open to amendments.”

Imphal, April 15: In a series of joint operations, the security forces have recovered illegally held 77 arms, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), grenades, various ammunition and war-like stores, officials said on Tuesday.

The security forces also arrested nine militants of different outfits.

A Defence spokesperson said that the Army, Assam Rifles, CRPF, BSF, ITBP and Manipur Police during the past few days recovered the 77 arms, several IEDs, grenades, different types of ammunition and war-like stores from seven districts — Churachandpur, Bishnupur, Imphal East, Kakching, Jiribam, Kangpokpi and Imphal West.

He said that the recovered arms include Carbines, Self-Loading Rifles (SLR), AK series rifles, AK series rifles, .303 Light Machine Guns (LMGs), Carbine Machine Guns, .303 Rifles, INSAS rifles, Snipers rifles, Double-barrelled Rifles, Single-barrelled Bolt Action Rifles and pistols.

He said that the joint operations by security forces have also resulted in the apprehension of six cadres from various extremist groups, adding that the apprehended extremists and the recovered arms and ammunition have been handed over to the Manipur Police.

“These coordinated efforts by security forces highlight their unwavering commitment to maintaining peace and security in Manipur,” the defence official said.

In separate operations, Manipur Police arrested two militants of the PREPAK outfit and a cadre of the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) group from Bishnupur, Jiribam and Imphal East districts and recovered a few arms and ammunition from their possession.

An official said that extortion money of Rs 21.50 lakh was recovered from the UNLF militant.

He said that the search operations and area domination were conducted by security forces in the fringe and vulnerable areas of hill and valley districts. During these operations, temporary shelters of a training camp for Village Volunteers were dismantled at Gelmol village in Churachandpur District.