Activist brought down from BSNL tower in Patiala after 18 months
Samana (Punjab), April 24: Activist Gurjeet Singh Khalsa, who had been sitting atop a 400-foot BSNL tower for about 560 days demanding stricter laws against sacrilege incidents in Punjab, was finally brought down safely on Friday morning, officials said. The development brought to an end a dramatic protest that began when Khalsa (43) climbed atop the tower in Samana near Patiala on October 12, 2024, demanding stringent punishment for the sacrilege of the Guru Granth Sahib. He was brought down by a team comprising firemen, police and civil officials with the help of a specialised crane-lift (turntable ladder), a fire official in Patiala said. (PTI)
10 Indians died while fighting in Russia-Ukraine war: Govt to SC
New Delhi, April 24: Ten Indians have died while fighting alongside Russian forces in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, the Centre told the Supreme Court on Friday. A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi said the situation requires “tactful handling” as there may be immense difficulty in recovering mortal remains from the war zone. The submissions about the unfortunate deaths of 10 Indians were made by Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, representing the Centre, before the bench that was hearing a plea seeking directions to the government to take steps to facilitate the safe repatriation of 26 Indians who have allegedly been detained in Russia and forced to fight the ongoing war. The petitioners have alleged that their kin were lured to Russia under the pretext of lucrative job opportunities, only to have their passports confiscated and be coerced into combat. Of the 26 individuals specifically named in the petition, the ASG confirmed that 10 have died, one is imprisoned on criminal charges and one has chosen to remain in Russia voluntarily. (PTI)
Khattar, accused of making anti-St Xavier remarks, held
Panaji, April 24: Right-wing speaker Gautam Khattar, wanted by the Goa police in a case related to his alleged offensive remarks against St Francis Xavier, a deeply revered figure in the coastal state, was arrested on Friday by the Himachal Pradesh police, an official said here. Khattar, the founder of an outfit called Sanatan Mahasangh, was arrested in Kullu district of the hill state, ending days of search. “Based on inputs provided by the Goa police, the Himachal Pradesh police arrested the main accused Gautam Khattar in Kullu district this evening. A Crime Branch team will soon take his custody and bring him to Goa,” SP (Crime Branch) Rahul Gupta informed. A Goa court had earlier issued a non-bailable warrant against Khattar, who was booked after his speech against St Xavier, the patron saint of Goa, sparked a controversy last week. (PTI)
