Neighbours gather near a demolished house related to the family of Ahsan Ul Haq Sheikh, who is suspected of involvement in the Pahalgam tourist attack, in Murran village of Pulwama, south of Srinagar, on April 26, 2025.
| Photo Credit: Imran Nissar
Pahalgam terror attack: Houses of six militants razed in Kashmir; hundreds detained
At least six more houses of alleged active militants were turned into rubble through controlled blasts, while more than 100 residences of alleged militant supporters were searched, and hundreds of local people were detained in Kashmir on Saturday, against the backdrop of the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 that left 26 civilians dead. Meanwhile, there was no let-up in skirmishes on the Line of Control (LoC) for the second day. Local people said security forces raided three villages in south Kashmir’s Kulgam, Shopian, and Pulwama and directed residents to empty the localities surrounding the houses of three alleged active militants.
Massive explosion at Iran’s port linked to missile fuel shipment kills 14
The explosion of unknown origin at Iran’s most advanced container port has now killed 14 people and injured 750 others, Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni said in an update Sunday.
“Fourteen dead and 750 injured so far in the explosion at Shahid Rajaee Port in Bandar Abbas,” Mr. Momeni said. The death toll had previously stood at eight.
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat alludes to the Ramayana in the aftermath of Pahalgam terror attack
The duty of the king is to protect people, and the king must perform his duty, Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat said on Saturday, following the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed. Mr. Bhagwat criticised Pakistan for its “evil act” .He was speaking in Delhi at the launch of a book, The Hindu Manifesto, authored by Swami Vigyananand, a senior functionary of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, and initiator of the World Hindu Congress.
As pressure mounts, TRF denies involvement in Pahalgam attack
As the global condemnation mounts, the Lashkar-e-Taiba’s (LeT) front The Resistance Front (TRF) on Saturday (April 26, 2025) denied its involvement in the Pahalgam terror attack, which left 26 civilians dead, and termed the previous online claim as a breach. “We unequivocally deny any involvement in the Pahalgam incident. Any attribution of this act to TRF is false, hasty, and part of an orchestrated campaign to malign the Kashmiri resistance,” a TRF spokesman said, in a purported claim made on social media platforms.
MHA deadline to end today: police depts. told to ensure exit of Pakistani nationals
Police departments in various States, including Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, were asked to ensure that Pakistani nationals leave the country by Sunday, as per the Union Ministry of Home Affairs’ (MHA) April 24 directive. The order issued by the MHA following the Pahalgam terror strike stated that all visas, except medical, long-term and diplomatic visas, issued to Pakistani citizens will be revoked from April 27. Those with medical visas have been given until April 29 to leave. On Friday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah asked all Chief Ministers to ensure that Pakistani citizens don’t stay beyond the deadline.
Remote block along LoC in J&K connected by all-weather roads for the first time
Khwas, a remote block situated in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district along the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), has not experienced any terrorism-related incidents in the past year, according to a presentation made by Deputy Commissioner Abhishek Sharma on April 21. The change comes after four panchayats in the block were connected by road for the first time under the Union government’s Aspirational Block Programme.
IPL 2025, KKR vs PBKS: Prabhsimran and Priyansh sizzle before the heavens open up
Heavy rains played spoilsport as the Indian Premier League match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings at the Eden Gardens here was abandoned on Saturday. Opting to bat, PBKS benefitted from openers Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh’s brilliant half-centuries, resulting in a 72-ball 120-run partnership, to post a challenging 201 for four. KKR was seven for no loss after the first over when strong dusty winds followed by thunderstorm and heavy rains stopped play around 9:35 pm. Massive covers blew away like small clothes even as groundsmen bravely stood on the covers to prevent those from flying away.
Congress slams Madhya Pradesh DGP’s order mandating ‘salute’ to MPs, MLAs
The Madhya Pradesh Congress on Saturday (April 26, 2025) criticised a directive issued by the State’s Director General of Police (DGP), Kailash Makwana, that mandates police personnel in uniform to salute Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) at government functions and general meetings. As per media reports, the order dated April 24, which has since been reviewed by The Hindu, also instructs police officers to give “utmost priority” to public representatives when they visit police stations, and to ensure timely resolution of their concerns.
Pakistan’s Defence Minister seeks stronger ties with Bangladesh
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has said he looked forward to “deepening” engagement in various sectors with Bangladesh and said both Islamabad and Dhaka are keenly working for furthering economic, political, and cultural cooperation. Mr. Asif was speaking at a reception to celebrate the 54th National and Independence Day of Bangladesh as the chief guest on Friday, Geo News said on Saturday (April 26, 2025).
Tell him to get his mental condition checked: Union Minister Hardeep Puri slams Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s comments on Indus
Launching a scathing attack on Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari over his remarks following the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Saturday (April 26, 2025) urged him to “get his mental condition checked.” “Enough is enough,” Mr. Puri said, warning that India’s patience has worn thin. “Tell him to get his mental condition checked, what kind of statements he is giving… We will no longer tolerate this. Now wait for a few days,” Mr. Puri said, while speaking to news agency Asian News International.
49 killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza over 24 hours as mediators scramble to restart ceasefire
At least 49 people were killed by Israeli strikes in the last 24 hours, according to health officials, as Arab mediators scrambled to restart a ceasefire .An airstrike in a neighbourhood in western Gaza City early Saturday (April 26, 2025) morning flattened a three-story house, killing 10 people, according to a cameraman cooperating with The Associated Press.
Published – April 27, 2025 08:12 am IST
