Juice mixed with urine ‘served' to Kanwariyas, 2 held in UP
The accused, identified as Zeeshan and Mahtab, were operating a juice shop at Sihani Chungi on the Delhi-Meerut Highway, a key route for the annual Kanwar Yatra.
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India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
Why Pushkar Dhami ordered ‘Operation Kaalnemi' during Kanwar Yatra
As the Kanwar Yatra, the annual pilgrimage of Shiva devotees, picks momentum, the Uttarakhand government has started a first-of-its-kind 'Operation Kaalnemi' to take action against imposters defrauding people in the name of Sanatan earlier this week on the orders of chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, the operation mainly targets the plains districts of Dehradun, Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar. In just a few days, the police have detained over 220 'fake' this week, Dhami announced he has given instructions to officers to start Operation Kaalnemi. 'Many cases have come to light in the state wherein anti-social elements are cheating people, especially women, by disguising themselves as saints and sages. This is not only hurting the religious sentiments of people but also harming the image of social harmony and Sanatan tradition. In such a situation, if a person of any religion is found doing such acts, strict action will be taken,' Dhami posted on Kaalnemi draws its name from Kaalnemi, a demon in the Ramayana known for deceit. According to the epic, when Lakshman was wounded in battle, Lord Hanuman was sent to bring the life-restoring Sanjeevani herb. Ravan, desperate to stop him, summoned Kaalnemi to mislead Lord Hanuman. Disguised as a sage, Kaalnemi set up an ashram along Hanuman's path, hoping to trick him. But Lord Hanuman saw through the disguise and killed Kaalnemi before continuing on his mission. 'Just as the demon Kaalnemi tried to mislead people by disguising himself as a saint, similarly, many Kaalnemi are active in society, who are committing crimes by disguising themselves as religious people. Our government is fully committed to protecting public sentiments, the dignity of Sanatan culture and maintaining social harmony. Those who spread hypocrisy in the name of faith will not be spared under any circumstances,' said to data shared by the Uttarakhand police, 52 such imposters have been caught so far in Haridwar. In Udham Singh Nagar, police said, several people were posing as 'Peer Fakir Baba' and preying on the poor and distressed. Police there have detained 66 such Dehradun, police have arrested 111 people over the past four days. 'The police are also keeping a close watch on people of a particular religion who cheat innocent people in the name of exorcism by showing fear of witchcraft, divine wrath, etc. Imposters coming from West Bengal, Bihar and other states are playing with the religious sentiments of the common people. The impostor may belong to any religion. If involved in such activities, action will be taken,' the Dehradun police said in a year, during the Kanwar Yatra, the Uttarakhand police had ordered all eateries and shops to display their names clearly—a move that drew criticism for being seen to identify Muslim-owned establishments. Many believe Operation Kaalnemi resembles that earlier effort in the sense that it too targets a specific concern linked to faith during the the stated aim this time is to act against religious imposters, the pattern of special measures during the Kanwar Yatra suggests a recurring anxiety about those seen as outsiders within the larger religious the number of arrests under Operation Kaalnemi rises, Dhami has warned that 'all those living as impostors should either reveal their true identities or be prepared for strict action'. He has also appealed to the public to help identify suspected to India Today Magazine- Ends
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
How was Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya's execution halted by in Yemen, who intervened: Explained
The execution of Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya, who was convicted for murder in Yemen, was halted for now after last-minute efforts by the Indian authorities, reports said on Tuesday. The execution was scheduled for Wednesday (July 16). She is currently lodged in a jail in Sana'a in the part of Yemen controlled by the Houthi rebel group. Priya hails from Kerala's Palakkad district.(File Photo) Govt intervention, role of 'Grand Mufti' Priya's executed was postponed after 'concerted efforts' by the Indian government, ANI quoted sources as saying. The sources stated, as per the news agency, that the government had put in efforts in recent days to seek more time so that Priya's family could reach a mutual agreement with the other party. This mutual agreement, as understood from the efforts so far, could be about paying 'blood money' to the victim's family. Another possible turning point was the intervention of Sunni Muslim leader Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musliyar, also known as the 'Grand Mufti of India'. Kanthapuram was a part of the last-minute efforts to halt the execution of Priya. The Sunni Muslim leader had earlier held talks with religious authorities in Yemen, according to news agency PTI. 'The fact that he is a follower of Sheikh Habib Umar's Sufi order and the son of another prominent Sufi leader offers great hope,' Kanthapuram's office said. Murder victim's family agrees to meeting A meeting between the representatives of prominent Yemeni scholar Sheikh Habib Umar bin Hafiz and the family of the murder victim, Yemeni national Talal Abdo Mehdi, was also scheduled in Dhamar on Tuesday. According to a source quoted by PTI, the family's agreement to hold talks was being seen as a 'positive signal', given that efforts to establish contact with Talal's kin had failed till now. "It was only through Kanthapuram's intervention that communication with the family became possible for the first time," sources told PTI. Priya, 37, was handed the death sentence for Mehdi's murder in 2017. Since the conviction, the Indian government has been in regular contact with the Yemen authorities and members of Priya's family. Priya is from Kerala's Palakkad district and had moved to Yemen's capital city of Sana'a in 2011 to work as a nurse there. She had partnered with Talal to open a clinic, a legal requirement for foreign nationals in Yemen. Priya sedated Talal in order to retrieve her passport, which he had seized. But the Yemeni national died due to overdose of drugs, following which Priya, along with her colleague, dismembered his body and disposed of it in a tank. Right to pardon under Islamic law Speaking about the case on Tuesday, Kanthapuram said that he made the family understand the issues. 'Islam has another law. If the murderer is sentenced to death, the family of the victim has the right to pardon. I don't know who this family is, but from a long distance, I contacted the responsible scholars in Yemen,' the scholar said, according to ANI. He said that after his request to the scholars, they said 'they would do what they could'. 'They have officially informed us and sent a document stating that the date of execution has been postponed, which will help facilitate the ongoing discussions,' Kanthapuram said. The Indian government had earlier said they 'cannot do much' about the execution. 'There is a point till which the Government of India can go. We have reached that," Attorney General R Venkataramani told the Supreme Court on Monday. He further said the government had reached out to 'an influential sheikh" to speak to authorities in Yemen, but was not sure of that approach would work either.
News18
2 hours ago
- News18
'Efforts Will Continue To Avert Execution': Nimisha's Husband Hopeful For Her Return
Last Updated: Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya's execution in Yemen has been postponed, bringing relief to her family. Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan called the halt "comforting and hopeful." The postponement order of Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya's execution in Yemen has brought relief and renewed hope to her family. Expressing joy over latest development in the case, her husband Tomy Thomas said his family is happy. He also expressed satisfaction over the collective effort made by the government in bringing relief to Nimisha, saying he is hopeful that 'efforts will continue to avert the execution," news agency PTI reported. Hoping for her return, Thomas said, 'The execution has been postponed. That is good news. We are happy and relieved. I am sure efforts will continue to avert her execution and bring her back safely." The postponement order of execution is being viewed as a diplomatic opening. Meanwhile, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan described the halt of her execution as 'comforting and hopeful," reaffirming the state government's commitment to supporting all efforts aimed at saving her life. Earlier, the nurse was scheduled to be executed in Yemen on July 16. However, the fresh date for her execution was not immediately known. The government of India, which has, since the beginning of the case, been rendering all possible assistance in the matter, has made efforts in recent days to seek more time for the family of Nimisha Priya to reach a mutually agreeable solution with the other party. Hailing from Kerala's Palakkad district, Nimisha Priya is on the death row for the murder of Mahdi, her Yemeni business partner. She was sentenced to death in 2020, and her final appeal was rejected in 2023. She is currently imprisoned in a jail in Sanaa, the capital of Yemen. Earlier in the day, news agency PTI quoted sources and stated that last-minute efforts to halt Nimisha Priya's execution were underway, under the leadership of a Sufi scholar there, at the behest of influential Sunni Muslim leader Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musliyar. A meeting between representatives of prominent scholar and Sufi leader Sheikh Habib Umar bin Hafiz, and the family of Talal Abdo Mahdi – the Yemeni national allegedly killed by Nimisha Priya in 2017, was also expected to be held at Dhamar on Tuesday, it mentioned. view comments First Published: July 15, 2025, 18:33 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
