Pioneer in short
JeM terrorist killed in Kathua
A Pakistani terrorist affiliated with the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) was killed in an encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district on Friday, police said. Inspector General of Police (Jammu range) Bhim Sen Tuti said the terrorist was neutralised during a joint Army-police operation in the Billawar area. Acting on specific intelligence, forces cordoned off Parhetar village, established contact and eliminated one foreign terrorist in a “precise strike,” the Army’s Rising Star Corps said. The slain militant was identified as JeM commander Usman. Security forces recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition, including an M4 automatic rifle. Search operations and area clearance are ongoing to ensure no other threats remain. Meanwhile, authorities have stepped up security across Kashmir ahead of Republic Day. Inspector General of Police (Kashmir range) VK Birdi said multi-layered arrangements are in place, particularly in Srinagar. Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Pratik Sharma chaired an inter-agency security review to strengthen coordination and joint operations, ensuring the Valley remains safe during the celebrations.
Tharoor skips Cong Poll meet in Kerala
Ahead of the Kerala Assembly elections, Congress’ top leadership held a key strategy meeting with state leaders on Friday, focusing on poll preparedness, campaign strategy, and UDF seat-sharing. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said 3.6 crore Keralites are “yearning for change,” and the party aims for development-oriented, welfare-based governance. Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi attended, along with AICC general secretary KC Venugopal, party in-charge Deepa Dasmunshi, senior observers Sachin Pilot and KJ George, and Kerala leaders Ramesh Chennithala, VD Satheesan, and state chief Sunny Joseph.
Pune Porche crash: SC seeks Govt reply
The Supreme Court has sought a response from the Maharashtra government on bail pleas filed by an accused in the 2024 Pune Porsche accident case that killed two IT professionals. On May 19, 2024, a Porsche allegedly driven by a 17-year-old under the influence struck the victims in Kalyani Nagar. Amar Santish Gaikwad, represented by advocate Sana Raees Khan, challenged the Bombay High Court’s December 16 order denying him bail, claiming his role as a middleman in the alleged blood-sample tampering at Sassoon Hospital was minor. The plea argues that call records show no contact between Gaikwad and co-accused, including the driver’s parents or doctors, and that the allegations against him are “false and baseless.” Earlier, the top court also sought Maharashtra’s response on bail pleas of two other accused, Aditya Avinash Sood and Ashish Satish Mittal, who were arrested for involvement in the blood-sample swapping.
