Author: TheStateLine

New Delhi, Nov 22 (IANS) In a monumental display of commitment to both serving personnel and local communities, the Northern Command's Command Hospital in Udhampur successfully concluded 'Op Drisht' -- a first-of-its-kind advanced surgical eye camp -- in collaboration with a specialised surgical team from Army Hospital (Research and Referral) in New Delhi, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said on Saturday. Held from November 18 to 22, the camp far exceeded expectations, screening over 2,000 people and performing more than 400 complex eye surgeries, including procedures for cataracts, glaucoma, and retinal ailments.People, including serving personnel, dependents, Veer Naris (war widows), and local civilians, came from far-flung areas of Jammu and Kashmir, including remote villages in Udhampu...

Itanagar, Nov 22 (IANS) Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lt. General K.T. Parnaik (Retd) on Saturday emphasised that every department of the state must make full and effective use of the PM GatiShakti repository while planning and executing developmental projects. The Governor, during a meeting at Raj Bhavan, reviewed the implementation and utilisation of PM GatiShakti in the state.He said that the powerful platform, with its wealth of integrated data, can significantly enhance the State’s ability to plan smarter, avoid delays, and ensure better coordination across sectors.The Governor further suggested that, in addition to GatiShakti, the state should consider developing its own dedicated application, an integrated digital tool designed to support governance.He said that such an application wou...

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 22 (IANS) Union Minister of State for Fisheries George Kurian on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the CPI-M, alleging that its leaders are amassing gold and wealth so that "no poor people remain in the party".Mocking the ruling party, he said that once all the alleged looting is complete, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan might proudly announce that the CPI-M has become a “fully prosperous party.”“Since they are non-believers, Kurian claimed, party workers at the lower levels often treat their top leaders as ‘gods’.“They may as well pray to the real God to help catch those ‘party gods’,” he remarked.On the Sabarimala gold theft case, Kurian said Lord Ayyappan “will not spare anyone involved.”He noted that those arrested were atheists driven solely by ideology and w...

Chandigarh, Nov 22 (IANS) In a major blow to Pakistan’s ISI-backed trans-border drug trafficking module, Punjab Police’s Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) has arrested a drug smuggler and recovered 50 kg heroin from his possession, said Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav here on Saturday. The accused has been identified as Sandeep Singh, alias Seepa, a resident of Shanna Sher Singh Wala village in Kapurthala.Apart from recovering a big haul of heroin, police teams have also impounded his white Kia Seltos, in which he was travelling.DGP Yadav said preliminary investigation has revealed that the trans-border shipment of 50 kg heroin was sent by Pakistan-based ISI-supported smugglers.He said the accused is a history-sheeter with eight criminal cases, including five under the NDPS Ac...

Anandpur Sahib, Nov 22 (IANS) The magnificent Nagar Kirtan dedicated to the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur was accorded warm and grand welcome by Punjab Cabinet Minister Harjot Singh Bains and Member of Parliament Malwinder Singh Kang upon its arrival here. The devotees greeted the religious procession with Khalsa fervour, spirit and enthusiasm.This Nagar Kirtan started from the holy Baba Farid-ji’s Tap Asthan at Qila Mubarak in Faridkot district. Upon reaching Anandpur Sahib, the ‘sangat’ was accorded a grand reception.A contingent of Punjab Police presented the guard of honour to the Nagar Kirtan. Minister Bains also honored the Panj Pyare Sahiban and the five Nishanchi Sahiban participating in the Nagar Kirtan by presenting them ‘siropas’. Baba Lakha Singh Nanaksar, wh...

Patna, Nov 22 (IANS) Following AIMIM’s victory on five seats in the Bihar Assembly elections, party chief and Lok Sabha MP Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday thanked the people of the Seemanchal region.Addressing a public meeting in Jokihat, Kishanganj, he described the mandate as a great blessing from Allah and expressed deep gratitude for the support extended to his party.Asaduddin Owaisi said he would never forget the respect the people of Seemanchal have given to AIMIM and assured them that he will continue raising the voice of the region.He added that by ensuring AIMIM’s success, the people of Seemanchal have sent a strong message to the entire country—one that will also resonate in Uttar Pradesh by giving strength to the poor there.Urging the local MLA to remain dedicated to public serv...

Kolkata, Nov 22 (IANS) The ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) by the Election Commission of India (ECI) will result in a decline in population in West Bengal as well as correction of the demographic records in the state as many illegal infiltrators who have managed to get their names enrolled in the voters' list will start escaping following the exercise.The observation by the BJP camp on this count came amid the surfacing of an instance during the ongoing SIR process, where the age of the son mentioned in the enumeration form is more than that of his mother.BJP's Information Technology Cell Chief and the party's central observer in West Bengal, Amit Malviya, and the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, had highlighted an instance where, as per reco...