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Six years of Balakot airstrike when India exhibited zero tolerance policy against Pak-backed terrorism

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New Delhi, Feb 26: India on Wednesday marked the sixth anniversary of the Balakot airstrike, carried out by the Indian Air Force (IAF) in response to the deadly Pulwama terror attack.

The airstrike was part of India’s campaign against cross-border terrorism and manifested the country’s willingness to take decisive action against terror infrastructure in Pakistan.

The airstrike carried out in the very early hours of February 26, 2019, was a “punitive strike” on a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) facility in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) in which Balakot-based terror camp was destroyed.

Codenamed Operation Bandar, the entire operation — right from the aircraft entering PoK and landing back in India — lasted about 21 minutes.

A total of 16 aircraft, six each armed with Spice 2000 and Crystal Maze missiles, crossed the Line of Control (LoC) into PoK and hit the Balakot terror camp while four remained in the Indian territory as a backup.

The airstrike was carried out by the seventh and ninth squadrons of the IAF.

India’s Intelligence had singled out the Balakot facility as one of JeM’s largest training centres, where operatives were trained for suicide missions and deadly terror attacks. The intelligence inputs had indicated that the camp housed a significant number of militants, including senior commanders.

The operation was in retaliation for the Pulwama terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir in which 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) soldiers were killed on February 14, 2019. The attack was by a vehicle-borne suicide bomber at Lethapora in the district.

Later the same day, the Modi government confirmed the airstrike. The airstrike was the first aerial shootdown carried out by India in Pakistan since the India-Pakistan war of 1971.

Commemorating the day, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath posted on his X handle, “On the 6th anniversary of the Balakot Air Strike, a grateful tribute to the infinite valor and unwavering courage of the brave soldiers of @IAF_MCC ! This bold operation is a reflection of the might of the ‘New India’, our nation’s zero tolerance policy against terrorism and the amazing tactical prowess and unique strategic skills of the air warriors. Jai Hind!:

National News

Maharashtra Govt Asks Ladki Bahin Beneficiaries To Complete E-KYC By November 18

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Mumbai: The Maharashtra government has asked beneficiaries of the ‘Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin’ scheme to complete the mandatory e-KYC by November 18.

State Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare said that the honorarium for October will be disbursed from Wednesday, and the amount will be credited directly into the Aadhaar-linked bank accounts of all eligible women beneficiaries.

The state government’s flagship scheme, launched in July last year, provides monthly assistance of Rs 1,500 to women in the 21-65 age group, whose annual family income is less than Rs 2.5 lakh.

The government made e-KYC mandatory for the scheme in September, giving beneficiaries two months to complete the process and issued a government resolution regarding this.

Tatkare, in a post on X, said that the scheme, launched as a social and economic empowerment initiative for women across Maharashtra, continues to gain widespread support and trust from women in the state.

She said that to ensure smooth continuation of the scheme, an e-KYC facility was available on the official portal, ladakibahin.maharashtra.gov.in, since last month, and all beneficiaries have been asked to complete the e-KYC process by November 18.

Talking to PTI, the minister said, “The government has stopped monthly disbursal of Rs 1,500 to 12,000 bank accounts held by men, while the amount disbursed to ineligible women beneficiaries, who were government employees and those covered by other government schemes, over the last year has been recovered.” At present, more than 2.3 crore beneficiaries are registered under the scheme, and the monthly instalment for October will be disbursed from Wednesday, she said.

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Crime

Punjab bypoll: Drugs, liquor, freebies valued at Rs 57.47 crore seized

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Chandigarh, Nov 4: After the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct for the by-election to the Tarn Taran Assembly constituency, Punjab Police, following the directions of the Election Commission, has made seizures of drugs, liquor, cash and freebies valued at over Rs 57.47 crore.

According to details, from October 7, the day the Model Code of Conduct came into effect, till November 3, the police in the Tarn Taran constituency seized 51,429.50 litres of liquor valued at Rs 32,89,160, narcotic substances of Rs 56,67,10,500 (21,811.10 grams), cash amounting to Rs 9,73,480, and other items valued at Rs 37,85,700.

Chief Electoral Officer Sibin C said the police have been directed to maintain round-the-clock surveillance through CCTV cameras at all checkpoints in the constituency to curb illegal smuggling activities.

He added that strict action is being ensured against those attempting to influence voters by distributing cash or any other kind of freebies during the elections.

The Chief Electoral Officer said there are a total of 192,838 voters in the constituency, which includes 100,933 men, 91,897 women and eight third-gender voters. There are 1,357 service voters, 1,657 voters aged above 85 years, 306 NRI voters, and 1,488 voters with disabilities. The number of young voters aged between 18 and 19 years stands at 3,333.

He said there are 222 polling stations set up at 114 polling station locations, of which 60 are urban and 162 are rural.

The Tarn Taran bypoll on November 11 was necessitated by the death of AAP MLA Kashmir Singh Sohal, who had won the seat with 52,935 votes, defeating Shiromani Akali Dal’s Harmeet Singh Sandhu.

Fifteen candidates are in the fray. They include Sukhwinder Kaur of the Shiromani Akali Dal, Harjit Singh Sandhu of the BJP, Harmeet Singh Sandhu of the Aam Aadmi Party, and Karanbir Singh of the Congress.

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National News

Mumbai Police Rescue 60-Year-Old Man Attempting Suicide From 22nd Floor In Malad

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Mumbai, November 4: In a timely and coordinated operation, the Kurar Police in Mumbai prevented a major tragedy by rescuing a 60-year-old man who was attempting to jump from the 22nd floor of a residential building.

The quick-thinking officers acted immediately upon receiving information about the distress call, showcasing the Mumbai Police’s commitment to protecting lives beyond law enforcement duties.

As per a post shared by Mumbai Police on their official handle on X, officials from the Kurar Police Station rushed to the scene soon after receiving the alert.

Recognising the urgency, the police sought assistance from the Fire Brigade, who quickly arrived with rescue equipment. Together, they managed to reach the man and safely bring him down before any harm could occur.

After being rescued, the 60-year-old man was taken to the Kurar Police Station, where he was provided immediate counselling and emotional support. Authorities ensured he was safe and received the necessary care following the traumatic incident.

The Mumbai Police continue to emphasise the importance of mental health awareness and urge citizens to seek help during emotional distress, reminding everyone that timely intervention can save lives.

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