Wanted In Multiple NDPS Cases, Woman Drug Peddler Arrested In J&K’s Anantnag
Bomb Threat Email Triggers Panic; Schools Evacuated in Shimla
Panic gripped several schools in Shimla on Monday after they received bomb threat emails warning of explosives planted on campus, police officials said.
Following the threats, school authorities promptly alerted the police, who evacuated students and staff as a precautionary measure. Teams conducted extensive searches of the premises, but no suspicious objects were found.
Parents were informed immediately, leading many to rush to schools to take their children home. Bomb disposal squads were also deployed and carried out mock drills to ensure preparedness and safety.
Senior Superintendent of Police Gaurav Singh said efforts are underway to trace the origin of the email. The threat message did not include any identifying details, making the investigation more challenging.
Authorities have assured the public that all necessary precautions were taken and the situation remains under control.
Supreme Court Seeks Centre’s Response on Vacancies in Armed Forces Tribunal
The Supreme Court of India on Monday took note of significant vacancies in the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) and sought responses from the Centre and other authorities on a plea demanding timely appointments.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi agreed to hear the petition and requested R Venkataramani to assist the court in the matter.
Concern Over Functioning of Tribunal
The plea, filed by the Armed Forces Tribunal Bar Association (Regional Bench), highlighted that out of the 11 AFT benches across the country, only three may remain functional by the end of the year if vacancies are not filled promptly.
The bench directed the petitioner’s counsel to share a copy of the petition with the Attorney General’s office and scheduled the next hearing in two weeks.
Demand for Time-Bound Appointments
The petition urges the government to complete the selection process and fill vacant posts in a time-bound manner, in compliance with provisions of the Armed Forces Tribunal Act, 2007.
Section 5 of the Act governs the composition and functioning of the tribunal and its benches. The plea also requested that existing judicial and administrative members be allowed to continue in their roles—with their consent—until new appointments are made.
Impact on Justice Delivery
The issue of vacancies is seen as critical, as delays in appointments could severely impact the tribunal’s ability to handle cases related to service matters and disputes involving armed forces personnel.
The court’s intervention is expected to expedite the appointment process and ensure that the tribunal continues to function effectively without disruption.
NCB Officials Suspended After BSF Constable’s Custodial Death; Probe Underway
Two officials of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), including an investigation officer and an assistant director, have been suspended following the custodial death of a Border Security Force (BSF) constable last month, sources said on Monday.
The deceased, Jaswinder Singh, a resident of Chakroi in the R.S. Pura area of Jammu, died in the early hours of March 20 after suffering cardiac arrest while in custody.
Arrest and Transit
Singh had been arrested by the NCB in connection with a narcotics-related case registered in Amritsar. A special NDPS court in Jammu had remanded him to custody, citing links to Punjab in the case.
According to sources, Singh was being transported from Jammu to Amritsar when he first complained of severe chest pain. Although his condition briefly improved, he again experienced discomfort upon reaching Amritsar on the night of March 19. He was admitted to a local hospital, where he suffered two cardiac arrests and died around 4 a.m. on March 20.
Allegations and Investigation
NCB sources indicated that Singh was allegedly in contact with operatives using virtual numbers linked to Pakistan. Investigators also pointed to a relative of Singh—also a BSF constable—who has previously been arrested in multiple narcotics cases.
Following the incident, procedures laid down by the National Human Rights Commission of India (NHRC) for custodial deaths have been initiated. A post-mortem examination was conducted by a panel of three doctors, and a magisterial inquiry is currently underway.
The Jammu Police have registered a zero FIR, and further legal action will depend on the findings of the post-mortem report and the ongoing inquiry.
Family Demands Justice
Singh’s family has alleged lack of transparency regarding his detention. His mother, Gurmeet Kaur, said he had returned home on leave before being taken by the NCB on March 3.
“We were only informed about his deteriorating health on March 20. We were not told why he was detained. We want justice,” she said.
The matter has been reported to the NHRC, which has sought a detailed report and is expected to take further action based on the findings. The case is also under consideration in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Official Action
“The investigation officer and the assistant director concerned have been suspended,” a source confirmed, adding that internal and external probes are ongoing.
The incident has raised serious concerns over custodial safety and accountability, with authorities promising strict action if any wrongdoing is established.
BJP Surges Ahead in West Bengal Assembly Trends, TMC Trails as Counting Continues
Kolkata, May 4: Early trends in the West Bengal Assembly election counting on Monday संकेत a potentially dramatic राजनीतिक बदलाव, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) taking a commanding lead over the ruling All India Trinamool Congress (TMC).
According to data from the Election Commission of India, the BJP was leading in 185 seats in the 294-member विधानसभा, comfortably crossing the majority mark of 148. The TMC, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, was trailing with leads in 91 constituencies as counting progressed.
Tight Battle, Early Momentum for BJP
The early trends suggest a possible breakthrough for the BJP in a state where the TMC has been in power since 2011. The चुनाव, widely seen as a referendum on Banerjee’s bid for a fourth consecutive term, has witnessed intense campaigning and high voter turnout.
While the BJP gained significant ground across border areas, tribal belts, and industrial regions, the TMC managed to hold on to parts of Kolkata and select rural strongholds, indicating a geographically divided mandate.
Key Constituency Highlights
- In Bhabanipur, Mamata Banerjee was leading by over 16,700 votes against BJP challenger Suvendu Adhikari after five rounds of counting.
- In Nandigram, Adhikari was ahead by over 3,100 votes against TMC’s Pabitra Kar in early rounds.
Several TMC heavyweights were trailing, raising concerns within the ruling party:
- Udayan Guha trailed in Dinhata.
- Manas Ranjan Bhunia lagged in Sabang despite a strong electoral history.
- Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee was behind in Baruipur Paschim.
In Kolkata, BJP’s Purnima Chakraborty led TMC minister Shashi Panja, pointing to cracks in urban क्षेत्रों.
Vote Share and Deeper Trends
Preliminary estimates showed the BJP’s vote share rising to around 44.8%, while the TMC’s stood near 41.7%, indicating erosion in its traditional support base. The BJP also appeared to be making inroads into constituencies previously dominated by the TMC, particularly in segments affected by significant voter list revisions.
Poll Countermanded in Falta
The Election Commission cancelled polling in the Falta constituency in South 24 Parganas district, citing “severe electoral offences and subversion of the democratic process.”
Other Parties
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) was leading in Domkal, while the Indian Secular Front (ISF) was ahead in Minakhan. Smaller players also showed isolated leads in parts of Murshidabad.
Outcome Still Uncertain
Despite the BJP’s strong शुरुआती बढ़त, officials cautioned that trends could shift as counting progresses through multiple rounds. Clearer results are expected later in the day.
If the current trends hold, the outcome could significantly reshape West Bengal’s political landscape, marking one of the most consequential electoral contests in the state’s recent history.
West Bengal Polls: BJP Crosses Majority Mark, Leads In 185 Seats; Mamata Ahead In Bhabanipur
Signalling a potential churn in West Bengal, a state long dominated by TMC’s Mamata Banerjee, the BJP surged past the halfway mark on Monday, leading in 185 assembly seats against the TMC’s 91 as counting progressed steadily, according to the Election Commission data.
With the majority mark of 148 in the 294-member House breached in early trends, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s momentum pointed to a possible breakthrough, while the ruling Trinamool Congress scrambled to close the widening gap in what has emerged as a potentially game-changing electoral battle.
The early numbers, indicating a possible outcome that could reshape the state’s political landscape following a fiercely fought elections, also suggested a geographically split mandate, with the BJP pushing ahead in border, tribal and industrial regions, while the TMC held ground in parts of Kolkata and select rural strongholds.
Counting for 293 Assembly seats began at 8 am with postal ballots, followed by EVM votes.
The Election Commission has countermanded polls in the entire Falta constituency in South 24 Parganas district, citing “severe electoral offences and subversion of the democratic process during polling in a large number of polling stations”.
The election is widely seen as a referendum on Banerjee’s bid for a fourth consecutive term against an aggressive BJP that has sought to convert its 2021 gains into a decisive breakthrough.
Even as the broader trend favoured the BJP, Banerjee was ahead in her Bhabanipur stronghold by 16,706 votes over BJP challenger Suvendu Adhikari after five rounds of counting, offering early comfort to the TMC in a prestige seat.
The Bhabanipur contest witnessed sharp swings through the morning, with Banerjee leading in the first round, trailing in the second, and regaining the advantage in the third — underlining the volatility of early trends.
However, in Nandigram, the other marquee battleground, Adhikari was ahead by over 3,135 votes against TMC’s Pabitra Kar after two rounds of counting. Beyond the headline numbers, the trends indicated a deeper churn in the state’s political landscape.
