Category: India

As a cold wave swept across Delhi, many people sought warmth in shelter homes as temperatures fell to the low single digits. In areas like Jama Masjid and near AIIMS, you could see individuals wrapped in thick blankets, trying to cope with the biting cold.

Ved Pal, who manages the shelter near AIIMS, reported that over 40 people used the shelter on Saturday night. “This is a family shelter, and we provide proper beds and as many blankets as needed. We serve food twice a day and tea with rusk in the morning,” he shared. If anyone feels unwell, a doctor visits, or they are taken to nearby AIIMS for treatment. “We keep basic medicines like paracetamol ready,” he added.

In another shelter, Somu Malhotra explained, “We have both families and single people here. Our place has proper beds and medicine. We also offer tea and rusk, and for medical help, AIIMS is close by.”

Roshan Kumar, at the shelter near Jama Masjid, spoke highly of the support from the Delhi government. “There are about four shelters here, with capacity ranging from 30 to 100 people. We receive three meals daily and have all necessary medical support.”

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued warnings for ‘cold wave to severe cold wave’ conditions across parts of North India, including Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. IMD scientist Soma Sen Roy mentioned that temperatures could drop by 1-2 degrees Celsius due to strong winds. The minimum temperature recorded on December 14 was 8 degrees Celsius, and today’s forecast expects it to fall to around 7 degrees.

At the 10th World Ayurveda Congress in Dehradun, experts gathered to talk about Ashwagandha, a popular herb in Ayurveda that helps with many health problems. They believe that the bans and strict rules on Ashwagandha imposed by some Western countries are driven by politics and money. For instance, Denmark has completely banned Ashwagandha, while other countries in Europe and the United States have placed heavy restrictions on it, including forcing companies to warn about alleged serious side effects.

In India, Ashwagandha is made from the root of the plant, but companies in Western nations are using the leaves to create food supplements that claim to boost energy. The experts agreed that Ashwagandha has been safe to use for thousands of years, with plenty of research proving its safety.

Ayurveda practitioners, teachers, and industry professionals at the event emphasized the importance of evidence in traditional medicine. They pointed out that misunderstandings about Ayurveda make it harder for people abroad to accept it. To improve this, they suggested that more clinical trials should be done on new Ayurvedic treatments. The results of these trials should be shared widely in journals and online platforms. Additionally, Ayurveda practitioners should work on better documenting their cases and sharing their experiences on educational websites like Ayurveda Clinical e-Learning (AyurCeL)

On Saturday, there was a violent encounter between Manipur Police Commandos and a group of militants in Thoubal District. During the fight, one armed militant was killed, and six others were arrested. Sadly, two laborers were shot and killed by unknown attackers in Kakching District.

The trouble started when armed militants in two cars were spotted by the police, who thought they might be doing something bad. When the police approached, the militants began shooting at them. The police quickly fought back, leading to a fierce gun battle. One militant was hurt in the fight and later died at a local hospital.

Police officials later identified the slain militant as Laishram Prem, also known as Loktak Singh. The six militants who were caught are: Thokchom Momocha (Sunny), Sarangthem Anand Singh (Malem), Ningthoujam Karna Singh (Pishak), Ningthoujam Manoranjan Singh (Khagemba), Thongam Phalguni (Urikpa/Khoithol), and Moirangthem Johnson (Thouna).

The police also found many weapons and electronic devices at the scene, including two INSAS Rifles, an Amogh Rifle, a .303 Rifle, an SLR, and five mobile phones. Police are now checking if the arrested militants belong to any known armed groups or if they are just local fighters.

In a separate incident, sources say the two laborers killed in Kakching were from Bihar and were working in Wabagai Makha Leikai.

Cold weather is still sticking around in many parts of Haryana and Punjab this Saturday. Faridkot is the coldest place in Punjab, with a low temperature of just one degree Celsius! Pathankot wasn’t far behind, dropping to 2.3 degrees. Gurdaspur and Bathinda also felt the chill, with temperatures at 2.8 and 3.4 degrees respectively. Amritsar recorded 3.4 degrees, while Ludhiana is a bit warmer at 7.8 degrees. Patiala had a low of 6 degrees.

In Haryana, Karnal got quite cold too, with temperatures falling to 4 degrees Celsius. Hisar and Bhiwani reported a little more chill at 4.1 degrees. Narnaul felt the piercing cold, sitting at 4.5 degrees. Rohtak recorded 6.8 degrees, and Ambala was a bit warmer at 7.5 degrees. Chandigarh, which is the shared capital of both states, saw a minimum temperature of 6.6 degrees.

A 33-year-old police officer named Thippanna Alugur sadly took his own life in Bengaluru on Friday night. He left a note saying that his wife, Parvati, and her father, Yamunappa, had caused him a lot of pain and trouble, which led him to make this decision. Thippanna lived in Electronic City and worked at the Hulimavu police station. He originally came from Handiganuru village in North Karnataka.

Thippanna had been married to Parvati for three years, but they didn’t have any children. On the day he died, he worked his first shift from 8 am to 2 pm, then returned home. After arriving, he had a strong argument with Parvati. During this time, Yamunappa allegedly called Thippanna and insulted him.

Thippanna’s note said that during this call, which happened at 7:26 pm and lasted for 14 minutes, Yamunappa threatened him and said that dying would make Parvati happy. Sadly, at about 8 pm, people walking near the railway tracks found Thippanna’s body. He was still wearing his police uniform.

In the note, Thippanna also asked a friend named Malappa from the Karnataka State Reserve Police to pick up his ‘Cheeta’ motorcycle, which police officers use while on duty.

Thippanna’s mother, Basamma Alugur, has reported to the police that she believes her daughter-in-law Parvati and her father Yamunappa pushed her son to end his life because of their treatment of him. The police have said they will ask Parvati and Yamunappa to come in for questioning. This heartbreaking news comes after another individual, a tech worker named Subhash Atul, also committed suicide recently, claiming that his wife and in-laws contributed to his suffering.

On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated the 75th anniversary of India’s Constitution. He said that the Constitution wasn’t just created by its founders, but it was also built by the efforts of every Indian who has followed it over the years.

In a speech in the Lok Sabha, Modi expressed his heartfelt thanks to all citizens for embracing and living by the Constitution for the last 75 years. “Every Indian deserves to be celebrated today,” he said, emphasizing that people should be honored for their commitment to the Constitution.

He also acknowledged the efforts of the founders of the Constitution and proudly called India the “mother of democracies.” Modi stated that this is a proud moment, not only for Indians but for anyone who values democracy around the world.