September 10, 2025

THE CLIFF NEWS

National Daily Bilingual Newspaper

Category: Featured

Kolkata Hotel Fire Claims 14 Lives, Dozens Injured in Tragic Incident

A devastating fire broke out in a Kolkata hotel in the early hours of Wednesday, claiming at least 14 lives and leaving several others injured. As thick smoke rapidly filled the stairwells and corridors, guests scrambled to find safety. Some made their way to the rooftop, while others were seen clinging precariously to parapets outside their windows in a desperate attempt to escape the flames. Firefighters mounted a swift rescue operation, using hydraulic ladders to reach those stranded on ledges. Guests on the terrace signaled for help using phone flashlights, while authorities deployed loudspeakers to communicate with those trapped inside, offering reassurance as smoke engulfed the structure. One of the victims, identified as Sanjoy Paswan, was declared dead on arrival at Kolkata Medical College Hospital after reportedly falling from the building while trying to escape. Several other victims are currently being treated for burns and smoke inhalation at the same hospital. Once the fire was brought under control in the early hours, emergency teams were able to access the upper floors of the building. There, they discovered 13 more bodies, many of whom are believed to have died from suffocation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his grief over the incident, writing on social media platform X: “Anguished by the loss of lives due to a fire mishap in Kolkata. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon.” He also announced an ex gratia of ₹2 lakh to the families of each deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF). West Bengal’s Women, Children and Social Welfare Minister Sashi Panja stated that many of the hotel’s occupants were from other states, visiting for business purposes. She confirmed that two children were among the victims and emphasized that an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the blaze. “The fire brigade did its best to rescue all the boarders, but unfortunately some died due to suffocation,” she said. Authorities have cordoned off the area and continue to investigate the incident, as the city mourns yet another deadly tragedy caused by fire safety lapses.

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Tragedy at Simhachalam Temple: Wall Collapse Claims Eight Lives, Injures Several Devotees

In a tragic incident at the Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple in Simhachalam, Andhra Pradesh, eight devotees lost their lives and several others were injured when a rain-drenched wall collapsed in the early hours of Wednesday. The wall, located near the ₹300-ticket queue line close to the shopping complex on the ghat road from Simhagiri Bus Stand, gave way due to soil loosening caused by heavy overnight rains and strong winds. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed deep sorrow over the incident and said he was in constant touch with the District Collector and Superintendent of Police. “Deeply saddened by the death of seven devotees at Simhachalam… my condolences to the families. I’m closely monitoring the situation and have ordered continuous review and support for the victims,” Naidu posted on social media platform ‘X’. He announced an ex gratia of ₹25 lakh for the families of each deceased and ₹3 lakh for the injured. Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy also offered his condolences to the bereaved families. Andhra Pradesh Home Minister V. Anitha, who was present at the temple at the time of the incident, said the collapse was likely triggered by heavy rainfall weakening the soil. She assured that there was no delay in rescue efforts and that the injured were immediately rushed to the hospital. Temple authorities and Endowments Minister K. Ramanarayana Reddy described the incident as a likely structural failure induced by weather conditions. Reddy called the incident unfortunate and emphasized the need for stronger safety protocols across temples to prevent such tragedies in the future. Rescue operations are still underway, with teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) actively involved. Seven bodies—comprising three women and four men—were recovered during the operation, while one person remains unaccounted for. Former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy also expressed shock and urged officials to ensure the best possible treatment for the injured and prompt compensation for the affected families. This incident follows another temple-related tragedy earlier this year, when six devotees were killed in a stampede at the Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple in Tirumala Hills, Tirupati, highlighting ongoing concerns about crowd and structural safety at major religious sites.

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Pahalgam Attack: Pakistani Ex-Commando Identified as Key Perpetrator, Local Network Aided Execution

In a major revelation concerning the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, investigators have identified one of the two Pakistani terrorists involved as Hashim Musa, a former member of the Pakistan Army’s elite Para Forces, security sources disclosed on Tuesday. Musa, reportedly dismissed from the Pakistan Army before joining the banned terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), is said to have infiltrated into India in September 2023. His area of operation was primarily Budgam district, near Srinagar. Sources believe his association with LeT may have been orchestrated by Pakistan Army’s Special Service Group (SSG) to bolster the outfit’s operations in Kashmir. Trained in unconventional warfare and covert operations, Musa’s background as a para commando makes him highly proficient in sophisticated weaponry, hand-to-hand combat, and survival skills, according to a senior security official. His identity and training background came to light during the interrogation of one of 14 Kashmiri Over Ground Workers (OGWs) who were arrested in connection with the attack. These OGWs allegedly provided logistical support, shelter, and conducted reconnaissance for the attackers. Sources in the security establishment have pointed out that the direct involvement of Pakistan’s Army and ISI is now “evident,” citing similarities with a series of attacks in October 2024, where six non-locals, a doctor, two Army personnel, and two porters were killed. Musa is also believed to have played a role in three attacks in 2024. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has confirmed the involvement of a local terror module in south Kashmir, which assisted the Pahalgam attackers with logistics and possibly helped transport the weapons used in the massacre. Investigators have confirmed the direct roles of four individuals in the April 22 attack: Pakistani nationals Hashim Musa and Ali Bhai, and local operatives Adil Thoker and Asif Shaikh. However, ongoing interrogations suggest the involvement of more Pakistani infiltrators. The April 22 shooting—where terrorists opened fire on a popular meadow near the Pahalgam tourist zone—has become the deadliest terror incident in Jammu and Kashmir since the 2019 Pulwama attack, triggering widespread fear and renewed calls for strong retaliatory measures.

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Editor03 mins

India Shuts Down Over Half of Kashmir Tourist Spots Amid Rising Tensions With Pakistan

A traditional Shikara gliding across the waters of Dal Lake with the Hazratbal shrine in the backdrop paints a serene image of Srinagar. But beneath the surface, tensions are escalating in Kashmir following a deadly terrorist attack last week that claimed 26 lives in Pahalgam. In response to the attack, which officials say specifically targeted Hindu tourists, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has shut down 48 of the region’s 87 tourist destinations. The government order, reviewed by Reuters, aims to bolster security across the insurgency-affected region. Enhanced security measures have been put in place at the remaining open sites. No timeline for reopening has been provided, and government officials have not issued an official comment. The April 22 Pahalgam attack saw armed assailants isolate male tourists, ask their names, and shoot them at close range. Two of the three attackers have been identified by Indian authorities as Pakistani militants. Pakistan, however, has denied involvement, calling for an impartial international probe. The incident has reignited hostilities between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan, who both claim Kashmir in full but govern parts of it. India accuses Pakistan of sponsoring terrorism in Kashmir, while Pakistan maintains it offers only moral and diplomatic support to the region’s self-determination movement. In the aftermath, both countries have taken retaliatory measures. India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty—a long-standing river-sharing agreement—while Pakistan responded by closing its airspace to Indian aircraft. Adding to the volatile atmosphere, the Indian Army reported “unprovoked” small arms fire from several Pakistani posts along the Line of Control (LoC) for a fifth consecutive day. No casualties were reported, and the Pakistani military has yet to respond. Pakistan’s Defence Minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, told Reuters on Monday that a military incursion by India appeared imminent. As a precaution, Pakistan has reportedly reinforced its forces along the border. The violence has dealt a severe blow to Kashmir’s booming tourism industry, which had seen a resurgence as insurgency-related incidents declined in recent years. With the busy summer season just beginning, fear and uncertainty have gripped visitors, prompting many to cut short their vacations and leave the valley.

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Editor04 mins

Owaisi Slams Bilawal Bhutto’s ‘Blood Will Flow’ Remark, Backs IWT Suspension and Calls for Cyber Action Against Pakistan

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday strongly criticised Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari for his inflammatory remarks following India’s withdrawal from the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). Bhutto-Zardari had declared, “The Indus is ours and will remain ours—either our water will flow through it, or their blood.” In response, Owaisi reminded him of the assassination of his mother, former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, stating she was killed by “homegrown terrorists” within Pakistan. Owaisi also took aim at former Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi, referring to him as a “joker” for his comments on the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 Indian tourists lost their lives. The AIMIM leader expressed outrage over Pakistan’s continued support for terrorism and asserted that the country should be placed back on the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which monitors global money laundering and terror financing. Speaking to the media, Owaisi declared his support for the Indian government’s decision to suspend the World Bank-brokered Indus Waters Treaty. The treaty granted India rights over the eastern rivers—Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi—while Pakistan was allocated the western rivers—Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab. Owaisi questioned the logistical implications of the suspension, specifically raising concerns about how India plans to store the additional water from the western rivers, which carry an average annual flow of around 135 million acre-feet. He also urged the Indian government to consider launching cyber attacks on Pakistan, citing Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, which allows member states to act in self-defence. He emphasized that deterrence needs a new approach, as attacks like the one in Pahalgam continue to occur despite India’s past airstrikes. In a scathing rebuke of Pakistan’s internal dysfunction, Owaisi added, “Pakistan should understand that India’s defence budget is bigger than their entire national budget. They are 20 years behind us. That country is facing severe internal crises—they can’t even manufacture malaria medicine but continue to make hollow threats against India.” On a separate note, Owaisi voiced opposition to certain provisions in the Waqf Amendment Act, arguing they contravene constitutional principles. He particularly objected to the inclusion of non-Muslims on Waqf boards, drawing a parallel by asking, “Wouldn’t it be painful if we asked for non-Hindus to be included in the Pandharpur temple trust?”

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Editor04 mins

Pakistani Visa Holders Asked to Leave Following Pahalgam Attack; Cases Identified in Madhya Pradesh

Following directives from the Central Government in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terrorist attack, police across Madhya Pradesh have begun identifying Pakistani visa holders residing in the state and asking them to leave, senior officials confirmed on Monday. A senior officer at the state police headquarters told The Free Press that exit permits have already been issued to four individuals in Indore. In addition, several complex cases involving Indian women with Pakistan-born minor children have been reported in Bhopal, Jabalpur, and Indore. In Indore, two Indian sisters were found to have one and three Pakistan-born children, respectively. Similarly, in Bhopal, an Indian woman has two minor children — aged five years and one-and-a-half years — holding Pakistani nationality. Another woman has applied for a long-term visa for her child. In Jabalpur, police identified an Indian woman married to a Pakistani citizen who had traveled to India with her three children for passport renewal. She is expected to return to Pakistan after completing the process. “In cases involving minor children, they cannot be forcibly deported,” the police officer clarified, noting that guidance from higher authorities has been sought on how to proceed in such sensitive situations. Following the Pahalgam attack, the Centre ordered the cancellation of visas for Pakistani nationals, identifying 14 of the 16 categories of visas for termination. This move is part of broader measures taken by the Indian government in response to escalating tensions after the attack.

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Editor02 mins

India Responds to Pakistan Firing Amid Intensified Kashmir Militancy Search

India said on Monday it had responded to “unprovoked” small arms fire from Pakistan along the de facto border for the fourth consecutive night, as it intensified its search for militants after last week’s deadly attack on tourists in Kashmir. The April 22 attack, which left 26 civilians dead in south Kashmir’s Pahalgam area, has heightened tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors. India has identified two of the three suspected attackers as Pakistani nationals, though Islamabad has denied any involvement and called for a neutral investigation. Security officials and survivors reported that the militants segregated men by religion at the site — a meadow — and specifically targeted Hindus, shooting them at close range. The attack has sparked outrage and grief across Hindu-majority India, fueling demands for stern action against Pakistan, which New Delhi accuses of supporting terrorism in the disputed Kashmir region, a flashpoint for two previous wars. In response, India has suspended the critical Indus Waters Treaty, while Pakistan has closed its airspace to Indian airlines. Meanwhile, China urged both countries to exercise restraint and welcomed any steps aimed at reducing tensions. The Indian Army stated it had retaliated against “unprovoked” firing from multiple Pakistan Army posts around midnight on Sunday along the 740-kilometre (460-mile) Line of Control (LoC), but did not report any casualties. Pakistan’s military did not respond to a request for comment. Separately, Pakistan’s army reported killing 54 Islamist militants attempting to cross from Afghanistan over the past two days. These developments add another layer of complexity to the volatile regional situation. In Indian Kashmir, security forces have launched a massive crackdown following the attack. A local police official told Reuters that around 500 individuals have been detained for questioning, after searches of nearly 1,000 houses and forested areas. At least nine houses have reportedly been demolished during these operations. State political leaders have urged authorities to act carefully to avoid harming innocent civilians. “This is the first time in 26 years that I have seen people coming out to say they are not with this attack,” Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said, addressing the legislature. “Militancy will end when people are with us, and today it seems like people are getting there,” he added. Meanwhile, the militant group Kashmir Resistance, also known as The Resistance Front, initially claimed responsibility for the attack but later retracted its statement, blaming a “cyber intrusion” for the earlier post. The group is considered an offshoot of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba by Indian security analysts.

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ED Raids Multiple Cities in Madhya Pradesh Over ₹71 Crore Liquor Scam

BHOPAL/INDORE/REWA/MANDSAUR, April 28 – The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday conducted raids at several locations across Madhya Pradesh linked to liquor contractors Yogendra Jaiswal and Vijay Shrivastava, in connection with alleged irregularities worth ₹71 crore. The raids, which took place simultaneously in Bhopal, Indore, Rewa, and Mandsaur, are part of an ongoing probe into the Fake Challan Scam related to the state Excise Department, dating back to 2014–2017. Bhopal: Initial reports indicated that Deputy Commissioner of the Excise Flying Squad, Alok Khare’s premises, were being searched. However, ED sources later clarified that no action was taken against Khare. Indore: In Indore, ED teams raided 18 locations connected to several liquor traders, including: Key areas like Basant Vihar Colony, Tulsi Nagar, and Mahalaxmi Nagar were targeted during the operations. Other Cities: Raids were also conducted at locations in Jabalpur and Mandsaur. As of now, the ED has not officially released a public statement regarding the findings from the raids. Background: The case involves 194 fraudulent bank challans used between 2014 and 2017 to illegally lift liquor from government warehouses. The accused allegedly manipulated small bank challans into large ones, enabling them to collect and sell more liquor through their government-approved shops. Following complaints and initial inquiries, the ED formally began investigating the scam in 2024.

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Supreme Court Allows Podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia to Reclaim Passport for Work Travel

The Supreme Court on Monday allowed popular podcaster and YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia to reclaim his passport to travel abroad for work purposes, following confirmation from the Assam and Maharashtra governments that investigations against him in the “India’s Got Latent” case were complete. A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh relaxed the earlier conditions imposed on Allahbadia, asking him to approach the Maharashtra Cyber Police Bureau to retrieve his passport, PTI reported. The court also indicated that during the next hearing, it would consider Allahbadia’s plea to club multiple FIRs filed against him and consolidate them into one location. Senior advocate Abhinav Chandrachud appeared for Allahbadia in the proceedings. Earlier, on February 18, the Supreme Court had granted Allahbadia interim protection from arrest in connection with multiple FIRs lodged over his controversial comments during an episode of India’s Got Latent. The court had directed him to deposit his passport with the investigating officer of the Nodal Cyber Police Station in Thane and had restrained him from airing new episodes of his podcast, The Ranveer Show, to ensure there was no influence on the sub-judice matters. However, on March 3, the apex court allowed Allahbadia to resume his podcast with strict conditions: the content must maintain “morality and decency” and be “suitable for all age groups.” During previous observations, the court criticized Allahbadia’s comments as “vulgar,” accusing him of having a “dirty mind” that “put the society to shame.” Alongside Allahbadia — popularly known by his online name “BeerBiceps” — others named in the Assam FIRs include comedians Samay Raina (the show’s creator), Ashish Chanchlani, Jaspreet Singh, and Apoorva Makhija. In a related development, the Supreme Court also permitted the Cure SMA Foundation, a Gurugram-based patient support group, to file a separate petition. The group seeks to implead Raina, other influencers, and individuals accused of ridiculing physical and other disabilities, allegedly fostering societal bias.

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Editor03 mins

India Signs ₹63,000 Crore Deal with France for 26 Rafale Marine Jets for Navy

India and France on Monday signed a major ₹63,000 crore deal for the procurement of 26 Rafale Marine aircraft for the Indian Navy. Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh represented the Indian side during the agreement, with Navy Vice Chief Admiral K Swaminathan also present at the signing. The deal was cleared earlier this month by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Cabinet Committee on Security, amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan. The government-to-government contract includes 22 single-seat Rafale-M jets and four twin-seat trainer variants. Along with the aircraft, the deal covers some weapons packages, simulators, crew training, and a five-year performance-based logistics support arrangement. The new jets will primarily operate from the deck of India’s indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant. The delivery of the 26 Rafale-M fighters is scheduled between 37 to 65 months from now, with India expected to make an initial payment of 15% of the total contract value. “The new Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) mirrors the one signed for the Indian Air Force’s Rafale deal. All 26 jets are to be delivered by 2031,” an official told TOI. The omni-role, 4.5-generation Rafale-M fighters are capable of performing maritime strike, air defence, and reconnaissance missions, and can also deliver nuclear weapons. The aircraft will be equipped with 70-km range Exocet AM39 anti-ship missiles, over 300-km range ‘Scalp’ air-to-ground cruise missiles, and state-of-the-art Meteor air-to-air missiles, which can engage enemy aircraft at ranges of 120 to 150 km. The Rafale-M had emerged as the frontrunner against the American F/A-18 Super Hornet after extensive trials conducted by the Navy in 2022. The French fighter also benefited from logistical advantages and spares commonality, given the Indian Air Force’s earlier induction of 36 Rafales. Currently, the Indian Navy operates only 40 of the 45 MiG-29K jets procured from Russia since 2009 at a cost of $2 billion. These aircraft operate from the Russian-origin INS Vikramaditya and the new INS Vikrant. However, the MiG-29Ks have been plagued by poor serviceability and technical issues over the years. With the indigenous Twin-Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF) expected to take at least a decade to become operational, the Navy had strongly pushed for the acquisition of the Rafale-M jets as an interim solution.

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