TVK Alliance Takes Shape; Key Meeting on Sept 9; Name of Coalition to Be Declared

Pakistani Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Yasir has been killed in an encounter with joint security forces in the Yousmarg area of Budgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Yasir was previously associated with the Sulaiman Musa group of Lashkar before they split nearly a year ago, with his movements being traced across the higher reaches of Budgam. Sulaiman Musa, identified as the mastermind of the Pahalgam terror attack, was killed in an encounter last year in Srinagar's Achigaam forest area. Security forces tracked down Yasir, who worked closely with Musa, as part of continuous operations to locate and eliminate hiding terrorists across Jammu and Kashmir.

The Delhi Police has arrested Swatantra Bhardwaj from Bulandshahr following multiple complaints, including an alleged assault incident on 23 June against Sanjay Azad and subsequent social media harassment of Azad's daughter. Two FIRs have been registered in connection with the matter, incorporating stringent provisions under the POCSO Act and the SC/ST Act, alongside BNS sections related to voluntarily causing hurt, wrongful restraint, and common intention. The arrest came after a viral video emerged in which Bhardwaj claimed responsibility for the assault. Following his arrest, members of the Hindu Rashtra Dal staged protests near Parliament Street Police Station demanding the withdrawal of the SC/ST Act sections and his release, which were later called off following police intervention. Bhardwaj is being produced before Delhi's Patiala House Court, where the Delhi Police seeks extended custody to investigate the assault and online harassment allegations.

Delhi Police have arrested Swatantra Bhardwaj from Bulandshahr and produced him before the Patiala House Court, which remanded him to one-day police custody. The accused had previously claimed political protection after injuring a man's head with a metal bangle during a protest. Following outrage, online threats to the victim's family prompted the police to add provisions of the POCSO Act and the SC/ST Act to the FIR. Police clarified that attempt-to-murder charges were not initially added because medical reports showed no skull fracture. Authorities must now present evidence to substantiate the invoked charges.

A mosque located within the Saharanpur District Magistrate collectorate complex in Uttar Pradesh has been demolished following a court order. The demolition drive was carried out early in the morning, leading to political reactions across parties. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi questioned the administrative action, stating that religious freedom, property rights, and due process were disregarded despite the mosque committee presenting historical records from 1911 showing over a century of continuous prayer. Owaisi argued that the mosque pre-dated the collectorate complex and questioned whether places of worship can be razed on flimsy grounds without proper legal protection. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also posted a cryptic reaction on the matter.