National News
‘Surpassed Laxman Rekha, indelible scar’, ex-judges, bureaucrats on SC remarks against Nupur Sharma

A group consisting of 15 retired judges of various high courts, 77 retired bureaucrats and 25 retired armed forces officers have written an open letter criticising the observations of the Supreme Court on a plea by former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma.
They alleged that the comments made by the two judges — Justices Surya Kant and Justice J.B. Pardiwala — are unfortunate and unprecedented, and the top court surpassed the ‘Laxman Rekha’ and called for urgent rectification steps.
The statement said: “In the annals of judiciary, the unfortunate comments have no parallel and are an indelible scar on the justice system of the largest democracy. Urgent rectification steps are called for as these have potentially serious consequences on democratic values and security of the country.”
The veterans said they believe that the democracy of any country will remain intact till all the institutions perform their duties as per the Constitution. “Recent comments by the two judges of the Supreme Court have surpassed the Laxman Rekha and compelled us to issue an open statement.”
It further added that observations are not in sync with judicial ethos and by no stretch these observations, which are not part of the judicial order, can be sanctified on the plank of judicial propriety and fairness.
The veterans said through such observation, perceptionally there is virtual exoneration of the dastardliest beheading at Udaipur in broad daylight. “The observations also graduate to the most unjustifiable degree that this was only to fan an agenda… In the annals of judiciary, the unfortunate comments have no parallel and are an indelible scar on the justice system of the largest democracy,” said the three-page open statement. They said Sharma was de facto denied access to the judiciary and in the process, there was an outrage on the Preamble, spirit and essence of the Constitution.
The veterans said the legal fraternity is bound to be surprised and shocked at the observation that an FIR should lead to arrest and the observations on other agencies in the country, without notice to them, are indeed worrisome and alarming. “Forcing a petitioner by such damning observations, pronouncing her guilty without trial, and denial of access to justice on issue raised in the petition, can never be a facet of a democratic society,” added the statement.
Sharma had moved the top court seeking clubbing of FIRs, registered in various parts of the country, into one FIR at Delhi in the matter connected with her remarks against the Prophet Muhammed. On July 1, the apex court slammed Sharma for her controversial remarks.
The statement said the allegations constitute only one offence for which separate prosecutions (FIRs) were launched and Article 20 (2) of the Constitution prohibits prosecution and punishment more than once for the same offence. “Article 20 falls under Part III of the Constitution and is a guaranteed fundamental right. The Supreme Court in a number of cases, including Arnab Goswamy vs. Union of India (2020) and T.T. Anthony vs. State of Kerala clearly laid down the law that there can be no second FIR and consequently there can be no fresh investigation in respect to the second FIR on the same issue. Such an action is violative of fundamental rights as guaranteed under Article 20(2) of the Constitution”, it said.
“Such an approach of the Supreme Court deserves no applause and impacts the very sanctity and honour of the highest court of land,” it added.
The signatories include former chief justice of the Bombay High Court Kshitij Vyas, former Gujarat High Court judge S.M. Soni, former Delhi High Court judge S.N. Dhingra, former chief justice (acting) Gauhati High Court K. Sreedhar Rao, former Rajasthan High Court judges R.S. Rathore and Prashant Agarwal.
The other signatories include: former IAS officers R.S. Gopalan and S. Krishna Kumar, former DGPs S.P. Vaid and B.L. Vohra, ambassador (retired) Niranjan Desai, Lt Gen V.K. Chaturvedi (retired) and Air Marshall (retired) S.P. Singh. The coordinators are Justice P.N. Ravindran, former judge of Kerala High Court, and Anand Bose, former chief secretary, Kerala.
National News
JeM terror outfit chief Azhar Masood admits 10 of his family members killed in ‘Operation Sindoor’

Jammu, May 7: Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terror outfit chief, Azhar Masood admitted that ten of his family members were killed in the missile strikes launched by the Indian armed forces during ‘Operation Sindoor’ in the wee hours of Wednesday.
In an Urdu statement released to the media, Masood said, “Ten members of my family including five children, my elder sister and her husband, my Islamic scholar nephew, his wife and my niece in addition to this, my old friend Hazifa, his mother and two other colleagues were killed.”
He alleged that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had targeted innocent children, devout Muslim women and elderly people.
“I am grieved beyond words, but I am neither sorry, nor afraid. I have been praying to Allah that I should have been included in these 14 guests of Allah who become martyrs today.
“The killing of children and innocent people have not dampened our resolve. They (Indians) should not expect any mercy from us now.
“The fallen minaret of Subhanullah mosque will finally fall on the Indian people in such a manner that their future generations won’t be able to forget”, he threatened.
In the same statement, the JeM chief said that the funeral prayers of these 14 killed in Indian strikes would be held at 4 pm.
Around 1.44 am on Wednesday, Indian armed forces targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) with precision and without attacking any military target in Pakistan.
A Ministry of Defence statement said that nine places were hit during ‘Operation Sindoor’ including Muridke, Bhawalpur, Kotli and Muzaffarabad in PoK.
Pakistan Army has used heavy mortar shelling to violate the ceasefire on the Line of Control (LoC) today.
Seven civilians were killed in Pakistani shelling and 38 others were injured in Poonch district.
Pakistan Army used mortar shells in Uri, Karnah in the Valley and Poonch and Rajouri in Jammu division.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha took review of the situation on the LoC and directed the district administration to shift the population to safer places from vulnerable areas.
Meanwhile, the Indian Air Force has taken over the Srinagar airport and announced suspension of civilian flights till May 10.
National News
Mock Drills In India Today: Know Timings, Locations And Answers To All Queries About ‘Operation Abhyas’

New Delhi: Today, Civil Defence Mock Drills are being conducted in 244 districts nationwide to prepare for potential threats. Public cooperation is encouraged during these exercises, which involve various local authorities and volunteers. ‘Operation Abhyaas’ occurs at 55 locations in Delhi, while Punjab, Maharashtra, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat also participate with specific drills aimed at enhancing disaster response readiness.
A large-scale mock drill, dubbed Operation Abhyas, will take place on Wednesday, May 7, across 244 locations in India as part of a nationwide preparedness exercise. Initiated by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the drill aims to enhance readiness for potential India-Pakistan conflict amid rising political tensions, particularly following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam. The simulation will include air raids, blackouts, evacuations, and emergency rescue operations, designed to prepare both citizens and local authorities for possible war scenarios.
Drills are scheduled to commence at 4 PM, with timings varying by location. In Delhi, the drill will last from 4 PM to 7 PM; Jhansi will conduct its session at the Reserve Police Lines; Bareilly will experience a brief blackout; and in Kerala, multiple drills across 14 districts will start at the same time. Additionally, air raid simulations will occur in Visakhapatnam and sirens in Dehradun. This initiative strengthens civil defense capabilities and raises public awareness for emergencies, contributing to the Integrated Response System (IRS) to protect citizens during crises.
The central government has mandated nationwide civil defence mock drills on May 7 to prepare states and UTs for potential “hostile attacks,” particularly following the Pahalgam terrorist incident that claimed 26 lives. The drills will occur across over 250 districts in response to escalating tensions with Pakistan, triggered by a shooting in Jammu and Kashmir where terrorists, reportedly linked to Pakistan, attacked tourists.
These mock drills are designed to assess India’s readiness for emergencies such as air raids, blackouts, and evacuations, serving as crucial components of the nation’s passive defence strategy. As per the Ministry of Home Affairs, maintaining optimal Civil Defence preparedness is essential given the current geopolitical landscape.
Despite public concerns, schools, colleges, banks, and government offices will remain open during the drills, ensuring daily routines continue with minimal disruption. Brief blackout drills may occur at select locations to simulate emergency shutdowns aimed at enhancing safety during potential air raids. These measures are crucial for reducing visibility and casualties in real threats.
During the mock drills, several key activities will take place as outlined by the government notice. These include activating Air Raid Warning Sirens, establishing communication links with the Indian Air Force, and manning control rooms. The drills will also involve training civilians and students on civil defense techniques for self-protection during hostile situations. Additionally, civil defense services, including firefighting and rescue operations, will be activated. Other tasks will encompass implementing crash blackout measures, camouflaging essential installations, updating defense plans, and rehearsing evacuation strategies, as well as cleaning bunkers and trenches.
Participants in the drills will include Civil Defence volunteers, Home Guards, the National Cadet Corps (NCC), the National Service Scheme (NSS), local police, and students, necessitating cooperation across various agencies, with civilians potentially joining in. However, the public need not be alarmed, as the drills are a pre-scheduled exercise, not an emergency. There is currently no indication that mobile or internet services will be disrupted during the May 7 mock drills, and citizens are encouraged to remain calm and follow authorities’ instructions. The drills primarily aim to evaluate response mechanisms and preparedness for any hostile attacks.
National News
Operation Sindoor: Pakistan floods social media with misinformation

New Delhi, May 7: As Indian armed forces successfully struck 9 high-value terror targets across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) under ‘Operation Sindoor’, a barrage of misinformation emerged from Pakistani media outlets and government-affiliated sources, attempting to distort the narrative of India’s counterterrorism operation.
Multiple Pakistani government-linked media houses and social media accounts began circulating unverified and misleading claims in the hours following the surgical strikes.
Many of these claims were quickly flagged as fake by independent analysts and India’s official fact-checking mechanisms.
Among the most prominent falsehoods was the claim that Pakistan had responded with missile strikes on 15 locations within Indian territory.
Several other posts falsely alleged that the Pakistan Air Force had targeted the Srinagar Airbase and that an Indian Army Brigade Headquarters had been destroyed.
These claims were aggressively pushed on X, especially by accounts with substantial followings tied to Pakistan’s military media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
However, neither visual nor satellite evidence was provided to corroborate any of these claims. Official fact-checks revealed that many of the visuals used to support the misinformation were not only unrelated but also outdated.
“In a video shared by several pro-Pakistan handles, it is being falsely claimed that the Pakistan Air Force has targeted Srinagar airbase. The video shared is old and NOT from India. The video is from sectarian clashes that took place in the year 2024 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Rely only on official Government of India sources for authentic information,” the Press Information Bureau (PIB) Fact Check division posted on X.
In another post, the PIB Fact Check said, “Social media posts falsely claim that Pakistan destroyed Indian Brigade Headquarters. This claim is FAKE. Please avoid sharing unverified information and rely only on official sources from the Government of India for accurate information.”
Numerous images and clips shared in the wake of the operation were later identified as either digitally altered from unrelated past events or archival footage being repurposed to create a false sense of retaliation.
Despite the clear absence of substantiation, these fabricated narratives were amplified by several mainstream media outlets in Pakistan, indicating a coordinated attempt to control the post-operation discourse and project a retaliatory posture.
The Indian government has urged citizens and the media to rely solely on authenticated information issued by official sources.
-
Crime3 years ago
Class 10 student jumps to death in Jaipur
-
Maharashtra7 months ago
Mumbai Local Train Update: Central Railway’s New Timetable Comes Into Effect; Check Full List Of Revised Timings & Stations
-
Maharashtra7 months ago
Mumbai To Go Toll-Free Tonight! Maharashtra Govt Announces Complete Toll Waiver For Light Motor Vehicles At All 5 Entry Points Of City
-
Maharashtra7 months ago
False photo of Imtiaz Jaleel’s rally, exposing the fooling conspiracy
-
National News7 months ago
Ministry of Railways rolls out Special Drive 4.0 with focus on digitisation, cleanliness, inclusiveness and grievance redressal
-
Crime7 months ago
Baba Siddique Murder: Mumbai Police Unable To Get Lawrence Bishnoi Custody Due To Home Ministry Order, Says Report
-
Maharashtra6 months ago
Maharashtra Elections 2024: Mumbai Metro & BEST Services Extended Till Midnight On Voting Day
-
National News8 months ago
J&K: 4 Jawans Killed, 28 Injured After Bus Carrying BSF Personnel For Poll Duty Falls Into Gorge In Budgam; Terrifying Visuals Surface