A police officer was injured when terrorists opened fire in the Bemina area of Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday. The injured cop, Mohammad Hafiz Chad, was transported to a hospital for treatment, police said. The area of the attack has been cordoned off as the investigation gets underway just a day after final respects were paid to Inspector Masroor Ahmad Wani, who was fatally shot by militants in October. Wani was playing cricket when a Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist fired three shots at close range into his eye, abdomen and neck. He is survived by his pregnant wife. Authorities continue search operations to find those responsible for the latest attack in Srinagar. [Representative Image]

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has announced a technical correction after BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi denied signing the reply to a Parliament question on declaring Hamas a terrorist organization. Contrary to initial documentation, the MEA clarified that Union Minister V Muraleedharan provided the response in the Lok Sabha. Lekhi, expressing her denial on social media, tagged Foreign Minister S Jaishankar and the PMO, stating, "You have been misinformed as I have not signed any paper with this question and this answer, Dr. S Jaishankar, PMO India." MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi acknowledged the need for a correction, emphasizing, "This is being suitably undertaken," regarding Muraleedharan as the responding minister. The parliamentary query, raised by Congress MP Kumbakudi Sudhakaran, sought information on India's stance and any demands from the Israeli government.        

The Income Tax department intensified raids on an Odisha liquor company group linked to Congress Rajya Sabha MP Dheeraj Sahu. The distillery firm Boudh Distillery Pvt Ltd, managed by Sahu's son Ritesh, is accused of tax evasion. I-T raids across Odisha, Jharkhand and West Bengal since Wednesday have led to a massive haul of unaccounted cash set to reach ₹290 crores. This would be the highest ever black money seizure in a single operation. The crackdown comes a day after PM Modi pledged return of public money looted by corrupt. Officials said the distillery company is also tied to Baldeo Sahu & Group which was previously raided over financial irregularities.

The bodies of two construction workers were recovered on Friday after being trapped for nearly 4 days in a 60-foot trench in Chennai, India. The trench collapsed Sunday amid heavy rains from Cyclone Michaung, causing a bus shelter, gas station, and makeshift office to cave in. An assistant engineer and 21-year-old gas station worker were trapped inside the office. Rescuers faced difficulties reaching the men due to rising water levels. Police have arrested two construction site supervisors and are searching for two more people for charges related to negligence and culpable homicide. An investigation into construction violations is also underway.

A fraudulent toll plaza operated for 1.5 years on private land in Gujarat's Morbi, bypassing a national highway. Charging half the toll price, it deceived drivers, including government officials and police. The scam was exposed by the authorized Vaghasia toll plaza, revealing daily extortion. Truck drivers, tempted by reduced tolls, unknowingly contributed to the illegal tax collection, diverting traffic from the actual highway route. Morbi district authorities and police took action after receiving information, filing a complaint against the owners of White House Ceramic Company, whose land facilitated the scam. The incident raises concerns about security and oversight.

India's anti-terror agency NIA conducted extensive raids across 40 locations in Maharashtra and 1 in Karnataka on Saturday, arresting 13 people linked to an ISIS module case. Most raids were carried out around Mumbai, targeting 31 places in Thane Rural and 9 in Thane City, along with sites in Pune and Mira Bhayandar. The operation is connected to suspect Aakif Ateeque Nachan arrested last August for allegedly making explosives for the busted terror cell. It builds on September arrests of 5 other module members from Mumbai, Pune and Thane where explosives and conspiracy plans were uncovered. The raids expose the expanding web of the Islamic State-affiliated network.

A disturbing incident transpired at an Aligarh police station as a woman named Ishrat was accidentally shot in the head during passport verification. Caught on camera, the mishap occurred when a policeman, inspecting a firearm, misfired while Ishrat awaited her turn. The victim, in critical condition, was swiftly taken to the hospital. The family alleges financial harassment by the officer, leading to an argument culminating in the tragic shooting. Inspector Manoj Sharma faces suspension, with a criminal case initiated. Authorities, including SSP Kalanidhi Naithani, assure a thorough investigation, vowing strict action against the accused policeman, as shocking footage circulates online.            

The Income Tax department has recovered around ₹250 crore in unaccounted cash so far from raids on an Odisha-based distillery group. Premises linked to Congress Rajya Sabha MP Dhiraj Sahu were also searched. Huge stacks of cash were found stashed away in almirahs across locations in Odisha, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. Tagging a news report on the raids, PM Modi tweeted: "Countrymen should look at these piles of currency notes and then hear the addresses of its (Congress) leaders on honesty. Every penny looted from people will have to be returned. This is Modi's guarantee." The raids launched against Boudh Distillery Private Limited on Wednesday are continuing.

A six-year-old girl was raped at a wedding in eastern Rajasthan’s Dausa district on Thursday. The girl had gone to attend the wedding with her parents at a hotel. While playing, she went missing for a long time before being found unconscious by her mother. There were blood stains on her clothes. She was rushed to JK Lone Hospital in Jaipur where she is in critical but stable condition. Inspector General Umesh Chand Dutta said teams are questioning guests present at the event and checking CCTV footage, while forensic teams gather evidence. Police have launched a manhunt for the unidentified perpetrator.

In the aftermath of Cyclone Michaung and heavy rains, schools and colleges in Chennai remain closed for the fifth consecutive day. The Tamil Nadu government declared a holiday, prioritizing student safety amidst widespread flooding and civic issues. District Collector Kalachelvi Mohan ordered continued closures in flood-affected circles, including Sriperumbudur and Kunradathur. With at least 20 lives lost due to the rains and flooding, relief efforts are underway. The Tamil Nadu School Education Department postponed half-yearly exams, rescheduling them after assessing the situation. Parents and students are urged to stay updated on school notifications.