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Wed, 23 August 2023
ISRO may launch mission to study Sun next month
Timeline Refresh
23:56 What an incredible moment, tweets Sundar Pichai
Google CEO Sundar Pichai tweets: 'What an incredible moment! Congratulations to @isro for the successful landing of #Chandrayaan3 on the moon this morning. Today India became the first country to successfully achieve a soft landing on the southern polar region of the moon.'
23:52 Union minister Paras says he received threat call, files police complaint
Union minister Pashupati Kumar Paras on Wednesday claimed that he received a threat call, and urged the Union home ministry to look into the episode behind which he suspected the hand of his nephew Chirag Paswan.
Talking to reporters in Patna, Paras said the call was received at the telephone of his official residence in Delhi around midnight on Tuesday, and a police complaint was lodged on his behalf.
"I have also telephoned the Superintendent of Police of Vaishali district as the call seems to have been made from there," said the minister whose Lok Sabha constituency is in Vaishali.
Paras also played an audio clip, purportedly of the threat call, in which the caller can be heard uttering the phrase thok denge (will bump off) while threatening to blacken the face of the minister.
"I am also sending a written complaint to the Union Home Ministry since I evidently face a threat to my life. This is despite the fact that I have been in public life since the 1970s, and have never had any enemies," said the Hajipur MP, who won the seat in 2019 when his late elder brother Ram Vilas Paswan gave it up.
When asked if he suspected anybody known to him of involvement in the incident, Paras said, "There are some people who are envious of my political success. They have done nothing for their own constituency and want to snatch away mine." -- PTI
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23:37 ISRO may launch mission to study Sun next month
Hours after the Chandrayaan-3 successfully landed on the moon, Indian Space Research Organisation chief S Somanath on Wednesday announced that Aditya-L1 mission to study the Sun will be most probably launched in the first week of September.
Aditya-L1 would be the first space-based Indian observatory to study the Sun.
Infroming about the launch of Aditya L1, a mission to study the Sun, the ISRO chief while addressing a press conference said that everything is going as per the plan and most probably it will be launched in the first week of September.
"Aditya L1's mission to study the Sun will be launched soon. We're planning to launch it in the first week of September. Everything is going as per the plan. This launch will go to an elliptical orbit and from that it will travel to the L1 point which will almost take 120 days," S Somanath said.
Earlier on August 14, ISRO informed about mission Aditya-L1, the first space-based Indian observatory to study the Sun and said that it is getting ready for the launch.
"PSLV-C57/Aditya-L1 Mission: Aditya-L1, the first space-based Indian observatory to study the Sun, is getting ready for the launch. The satellite realised at the U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), Bengaluru has arrived at SDSC-SHAR, Sriharikota," ISRO said in a post on 'X' (formerly Twitter). -- PTI
Gunjan Lakhani/Facebook
23:32 Industrialist Gunjan Lakhani dies after short illness
Gunjan Lakhani, director of the country's leading shoemaker Lakhani Armaan Group, died on Wednesday in Medanta Hospital in Gurugram, the police said.
Gunjan Lakhani, son of Lakhani Armaan Group KC Lakhani, was unwell for some time and was undergoing treatment at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram, police added.
He was 50. -- PTI
23:09 Maha power firm engineer booked for celebrating cancellation of transfer
An engineer from Maharashtra power distribution company Mahavitaran has been booked along with nearly 20 individuals for taking out a raucous procession to celebrate the cancellation of his transfer, an official said on Wednesday.
Prakash Chavan, who is posted in Jalna, was recently transferred to Ratnagiri, a posting that he was not interested in.
He pulled all the strings to get the transfer order cancelled and succeeded, the official said.
To celebrate the development, Chavan along with nearly 20 people took out a procession playing loud music in Kanyanagar area of the city on Tuesday, said the official.
However, the police cut short the revelry calling the procession unauthorised and slapped a case against Chavan and others for unlawful assembly and obstruction of a public way, he said. -- PTI
Yevgeny Prigozhin
23:01 Wagner chief who took on Putin killed in aircrash
Wagner mercenary group's founder Yevgeny Prigozhin has reportedly been killed in a plane crash in Russia, according to a BBC report.
The plane carrying Prigozhin, whose mercenary group launched a failed coup against President Vladimir Putin in June this year, reportedly crashed while on a flight from Moscow to St Petersburg, killing all 10 on board, said a Financial Times report.
A Wagner linked Telegram account claimed that the plane was shot down by Russian air defences.
More details soon.
22:46 IAS officer Tekam joins BJP in Chhattisgarh, likely to contest assembly polls
IAS officer Neelkanth Tekam who recently resigned from service joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday and is likely to contest the upcoming assembly polls in Chhattisgarh.
Tekam joined the party in the presence of the BJP's state in-charge Om Mathur, state unit chief Arun Sao, former chief minister Raman Singh and other senior leaders during a party workers' convention in Keshkal town in Kondagaon district.
Tekam, a state-cadre officer who was elevated to the Indian Administrative Service in 2008, had served as Kondagaon collector in the past, and is likely to contest from Keshkal assembly seat in the district.
He was the director of treasury and accounts when he applied for voluntary retirement.
The Department of Personnel and Training accepted his resignation on August 17.
Asked whether he was going to contest from Keshkal, Tekam told PTI, "If it happens, its impact will be seen in all 12 seats of Bastar as I have worked in all the places of the region.
"There is a wave of change in the state and the party will benefit from it. We have already devised a strategy and efforts will be to work for the rights of the people of Bastar. There is not much difference between bureaucracy and politics and it is good if bureaucrats join politics if they get opportunity to work in this direction," he said.
Tekam (55), who belongs to a Scheduled Tribe community, also said that he did not see the Sarva Adivasi Samaj, an umbrella body of tribal communities in Bastar which is planning to contest the polls, as a challenge for the BJP. -- PTI
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22:39 Noida-based tech start-up powers eyes of Chandrayaan's lunar rover
With the Pragyaan rover poised to navigate the moon, its eyes to traverse the crater-filled lunar surface are powered by a software developed by a Noida-based tech start-up.
Omnipresent Robot Technologies, which has been working closely with ISRO for the Chandrayaan series of lunar missions, has developed Perception Navigation Software for the Pragyaan rover that is housed in the Vikram landing module that touched down on the moon Wednesday evening.
"We are very excited and look forward to seeing the Pragyaan rover navigating the lunar surface using our software," Aakash Sinha, chief executive officer of Omnipresent Robot Technologies, said in New Delhi.
Sinha, who is also a professor at Shiv Nadar University, said the software developed by his start-up will capture images of the moon using the two cameras of the lunar rover and stitch them together to generate a 3-D map of the lunar landscape.
This software has been in-built in the rover and the image processing will be done onboard the spacecraft.
The final 3D model will be transmitted back to the mission control, he said. The scientists in the mission control can then take the rover for a tour of the photographed area on the basis of the 3D model of the lunar surface generated by the software.
"This software was originally developed for Chandrayaan-2, but the rover could not be deployed back then. This is now being used for Chandrayaan-3," Sinha said.
Unlike foreign space agencies which use very expensive cameras, the Pragyaan rover uses just two cameras which act as its eyes, while the software generates the 3D maps of the lunar surface. -- PTI
Image of a part of the Chandrayaan-3's landing site after touch down on Moon's south pole./ISRO
21:54 Putin, UAE Vice Prez congratulate India on Chandrayaan-3's success
Russian President Vladimir Putin and UAE Vice President Sheikh Mohammed were among the world leaders who congratulated India on Wednesday on the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon, saying the historic event is evidence of India's impressive progress in the scientific-technological sphere.
President Putin has congratulated India's President Draupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the successful landing of the Indian space probe Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon near its South Pole, the Kremlin's press service said.
"Please accept my heartfelt congratulations on the successful landing of India's Chandrayaan-3 space probe on the Moon near the South Pole. This is a long stride in the exploration of outer space and, of course, evidence of the impressive progress made by India in science and engineering," Putin said in his message.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, congratulated India on becoming the first country to land a spacecraft on the south pole of the Moon.
"Congratulations to our friends in India for the successful landing on the moon. Nations are built through perseverance, India continues to make history," he said in a message posted on his account on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' also congratulated his Indian counterpart on the success of Chandrayan-3.
"I congratulate Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji and ISRO team of India on successful landing of Chandrayan-3 on the surface of the moon today and the unleashing of a historic achievement in science and space technology," he said in a post on X.
British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly described it as a "historic moment."
"Congratulations to India for the first ever landing on the moon's South Pole. An extraordinary achievement by the Indian people," he said.
Maldives foreign minister Abdulla Shahid congratulated India for creating history.
"India creates history! As a South Asian nation, and neighbour, we are proud of the successful landing of #Chandrayaan3 near the moon's south pole. This is a success for all of humanity! Opening new avenues for new areas of exploration. Congratulations #India," he posted on X. -- PTI
21:45 'Happened flawlessly': Chandrayaan-3 project director
The entire mission operations of Chandrayaan-3, right from the launch till landing, 'happened flawlessly' as per the timeline, the team that led India's third mission to the Moon said on Wednesday.
They credited the combined effort of the entire team during the past four years for the success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission.
"It's a great moment of happiness. On behalf of the team it gives me immense satisfaction on achieving this goal as the project director of the mission. The entire mission operations right from launch till landing happened flawlessly as per the timeline," Project Director of Chandrayaan-3 P Veeramuthuvel said.
Addressing the Chandrayaan-3 team at the Mission Operations Complex, he said India has become the fourth country to demonstrate soft landing on the Moon's surface and the first country to arrive at the south pole region of the Moon.
Thanking the navigation guidance and control team, propulsion team, sensors team and all the mainframe subsystems teams, who have brought success to the mission, Veeramuthuvel also expressed his gratitude to the critical operations review committee for thoroughly reviewing the mission operations right from launch till date.
"The target was on spot, because of the review process," he said, as he acknowledged the contribution of Chandrayaan-3 project executives working across various ISRO centres.
India on Wednesday scripted history as ISRO's ambitious third Moon mission Chandrayaan-3's Lander Module (LM) touched down on the lunar surface, making it only the fourth country to accomplish the feat, and first to reach the uncharted south pole of Earth's only natural satellite.
The LM comprising the lander (Vikram) and the 26 kg rover (Pragyan), made the soft landing near the south polar region of the Moon this evening.
The Chandrayaan-3 mission was launched on July 14 onboard Launch Vehicle Mark-III (LVM-3) rocket, for a 41-day voyage to reach near the lunar south pole.
M Sankaran, Director of U R Rao Satellite Centre, where the satellite was built, said, "Today's success has put more responsibility on Team ISRO, because we have set the bar so high, and nothing less spectacular than this is going to be inspiring any of us in the future."
"As the prime minister mentioned, we will now be looking at putting man in space, putting spacecraft around Venus and landing a craft on Mars," he said, adding that work on all these activities have been going on for a few years and this success will inspire and spur the team to take those efforts strongly to make the country proud again and again.
Noting that today Team ISRO has achieved what it had set out to achieve in 2019, Sankaran said, 'it was delayed by about four years, but we have done it.'
Pointing out that the entire project team has been 'sleeping, eating and breathing' Chandrayaan for the past four years, he said, "As a person who has been watching their efforts for the past four years along with them, my heart goes out to them. The amount of effort is tremendous. That is what ISRO is all about and that is what our organisation has taught us to do."
Chandrayaan-3 is a follow-on mission to Chandrayaan-2 and its objectives are to demonstrate safe soft landing on the lunar surface, roving on the Moon, and to conduct in-situ scientific experiments.
Chandrayaan-2 had failed in its lunar phase when its lander 'Vikram' crashed into the surface of the Moon minutes before the touchdown, following anomalies in the braking system in the module while attempting the landing on September 7, 2019.
Chandrayaan's maiden mission was in 2008, and its objective was to place an unmanned spacecraft in orbit around the Moon.
Chandrayaan-3 Mission Operations Director M Srikanth thanked the team and said all the mission operations were carried out 'flawlessly'.
Associate Project Director of Chandrayaan-3 Kalpana Kalahasti, who was visibly overjoyed by the success, said, "This will remain the most memorable and happiest moment for Team Chandrayaan-3.
"We have achieved our goal flawlessly. From the day we started rebuilding our spacecraft after the Chandrayaan-2 experience, it has been breathe in, breathe out Chandrayaan-3 for our team. Starting from the reconfiguration to all the special tests and the assimilation we have conducted meticulously, this has been possible because of the team effort and guidance from seniors," she added. -- PTI
Modi consoling K Sivan after Chandrayaan-2 fails
21:16 Waited for this for 4 years: ISRO ex-chief K Sivan
As Chandrayaan-3 achieved a soft landing on the South Pole of the moon, making India the first country to reach that particular area, former ISRO chief K Sivan on Wednesday said that it is sweet news, for which they have been waiting for the last four years.
"We are really excited to see this grand success. For this, we have been waiting for the last four years. This success is sweet news for us and for the entire nation," K Sivan said.
Sivan was the chief of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) at the time of the Chandrayaan-2 mission, launched in 2019.
The country's second lunar mission was only "partially successful' since the lander lost contact, in the last moments when a distance of 2.1 km was left, and made a hard landing on the surface of the Moon. Following this, Sivan broke into tears.
21:05 ISRO releases images lander took during descent
Soon after the successful Chandrayaan-3 mission, ISRO said communication link was established between the Lander and the space agency's Mission Operations Complex (MOX) in Bengaluru.
The MOX is located at the ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC).
ISRO also released images from the Lander Horizontal Velocity Camera taken during the descent to the Moon's surface.
Chandrayaan-3 mission's Lander Module on Wednesday touched down on the surface of the Moon.
20:23 CJI Chandrachud hails landing of Chandrayaan-3 on Moon
Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud on Wednesday hailed as a 'historic achievement' the landing of Chandrayaan-3 on Moon's south pole and congratulated team ISRO on the feat.
The CJI told PTI that the success of the lunar mission places India in a select group of nations that have successfully achieved soft landing on the lunar surface.
"It is with immense pride as a citizen of our great nation that I witnessed the remarkable landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon today," he said.
"It is all the more significant because India is the only nation to have achieved the lunar landing on the south pole of the Moon. This will help new avenues and scientific research and discovery. Truly, this lunar landing represents a milestone in the onward march of our nation," he said.
He congratulated the team ISRO and the entire scientific community on this 'historic achievement'.
"They have truly made the nation proud of their work," Justice Chandrachud said.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta also congratulated the scientists involved in the project.
He said the entire nation is feeling proud of the achievement.
"India has already started its journey of being number one in everything under the vibrant leadership of our Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi. This is one more achievement for this great country," he said.
"A big congratulations to our scientists most of whom represent the female power of the nation. The entire nation is feeling proud. Proud to be an Indian," Mehta said. -- PTI
19:44 Glad to be your partner: NASA congratulates ISRO
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson on Wednesday congratulated India on being the 4th country to successfully soft-land a spacecraft on the Moon and said the United States space agency was glad to be India's 'partner' on this mission.
India's Chandrayaan-3 became the first space mission to land near the south pole of the moon.
The attempt comes days after Russia's unmanned Luna-25 spacecraft spun out of control and crashed into the Moon.
'Congratulations @isro on your successful Chandrayaan-3 lunar South Pole landing! And congratulations to #India on being the 4th country to successfully soft-land a spacecraft on the Moon. We're glad to be your partner on this mission!' Nelson posted on X.
India's third Moon mission Chandrayaan-3 touched down on the lunar south pole at 6.04 pm after a flawless 41-day voyage.
With this touchdown on the Moon in its second attempt in four years, India has become the fourth country to master the technology of soft-landing on the lunar surface after the US, China and the erstwhile Soviet Union. -- PTI
19:42 Your name is linked to moon: Modi told ISRO chief
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday congratulated Indian Space Research Organisation chairman S Somanath on the success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission and said he would soon visit them in Bengaluru to greet the entire team in person.
"Somanath ji...your name Somanath too is linked to the Moon. Your family members too would be elated. Hearty congratulations to you and your team," the prime minister said in a phone call from Johannesburg, where he is attending the BRICS summit.
The prime minister called the ISRO chief immediately after successful landing of Chandrayaan.
"Please convey my greetings to everyone. If possible, I would personally greet you very soon," the prime minister said. -- PTI
19:15 Rajasthan minister congratulates 'passengers' on Chandrayaan mission
In a goof-up, a Rajasthan minister on Wednesday congratulated passengers he suggested were taking part in the Chandrayaan-3 mission to the moon.
Rajasthan Sports Minister Ashok Chandna made the slip hours before the touchdown by Chandrayaan's lander on the lunar surface an unmanned landing eagerly anticipated across the country.
'If we are successful and make a safe landing, I salute the passengers, he told reporters on the sidelines of an event here. Our country has taken a step further in science and space research. I congratulate the countrymen for this.'
Chandrayaan-3 made a successful soft-landing on the moon Wednesday evening, making India only the fourth country to do so and first to reach its uncharted south pole. -- PTI
19:08 Success of every Indian: Cong on Chandrayaan-3
After Chandrayaan-3 touched down on the Moon, the Congress on Wednesday said it is a collective success of every Indian and ISRO's achievement today reflects a saga of continuity and is truly fantastic.
The opposition party said an elated nation with 140 crore aspirations today witnessed yet another achievement in its six-decade-long space programme.
It said the entire world is looking up to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) which is a matter of special pride for all Indians.
"The success of Chandrayaan-3 is the collective success of every Indian. An elated nation with 140 crore aspirations witnessed today yet another achievement in its six-decade long space programme.
"We are deeply indebted to the remarkable hard work, unparalleled ingenuity and unflinching dedication of our scientists, space engineers, researchers and everyone involved in making this mission a triumph for India," Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said.
Congress general secretary, communications, Jairam Ramesh said ISRO's achievement today reflects a saga of continuity and is truly fantastic.
"ISRO's accomplishments have always been anchored in self-reliance. They reflect phenomenal team work, partnerships and enterprise. The entire world is looking up to ISRO today, acknowledging its achievements, and for us Indians, it is a matter of special pride," Ramesh said in a video message.
In a giant leap for its space programme, India's Moon mission Chandrayaan-3 touched down on the lunar south pole at 6.04 pm on Wednesday, propelling the country to an exclusive club of four and making it the first country to land on the uncharted surface. -- PTI
18:44 Chandrayaan-3: Aerospace, defense stocks in limelight
Shares of companies related to aerospace and defense sectors were in the limelight on Wednesday with Chandrayaan-3 set to touch down on the lunar surface.
The stock of Centum Electronics zoomed 14.91 per cent, Paras Defence and Space Technologies Ltd jumped 5.47 per cent, MTAR Technologies rallied 4.84 per cent and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd climbed 3.57 per cent on the BSE.
Centum delivered more than 200 mission critical modules to the Chandrayaan-3 mission, according to the company's website.
Shares of Bharat Forge climbed 2.82 per cent, Astra Microwave Products gained 1.72 per cent and Larsen & Toubro (1.42 per cent).
Many of these firms also hit their 52-week high levels during the day.
Earlier in the day, the ISRO said it was all set to initiate the automatic landing sequence for its ambitious third Moon mission Chandrayaan-3's lander module to touch down on the lunar surface this evening.
"Several defence companies which have supplied parts used in Chandrayaan-3 rallied on expectation of a successful landing," Siddhartha Khemka, Head - Retail Research at Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd, said.
In the equity market, the BSE Sensex climbed 213.27 points or 0.33 per cent to settle at 65,433.30.
The NSE Nifty gained 47.55 points or 0.25 per cent to end at 19,444.
"Market participants rushed to board on defense companies like L&T, MTAR Technologies and HAL ahead of the Chandrayaan-3 landing," Riches Vanara, Technical And Derivatives Analyst at StoxBox, said.
Chandrayaan-3 has made a soft landing on the lunar south pole.
In a giant leap for its space programme, India's Moon mission Chandrayaan-3 touched down on the lunar south pole at 6.04 pm on Wednesday, propelling the country to an exclusive club of four and making it the first country to land on the uncharted surface. -- PTI
18:35 Modi logs in from Johannesburg, greets team ISRO
I heartily congratulate ISRO, its scientists for this unprecedented feat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a virtual address after Chandrayaan-3's landing on Moon.
" I may be in South Africa but my heart has always been with Chandrayaan mission," Modi said, adding, "This is a historic moment and sounds the bugle for a developed India."
We are witness to the new flight of new India; new history has been written, Modi said, even as celebrations broke out at ISRO's Mission Operations Complex in Bengaluru as Chandrayaan-3 lander module makes soft landing.
18:12 Chandrayaan 3: India successfully lands on moon
Chandrayaan-3 lander Vikram touches down on the Moon's South Pole Congrats to all our scientists at ISRO.
18:03 Chandrayaan: India minutes away from landing
The mission ops team says the sensors are operating nominally. The lander is just 1 km from the moon. The lander is now successfully approaching the vertical landing.
18:03 Chandrayaan: Lander minutes away from moon
The lander is now successfully approaching the vertical landing.
17:59 Chandrayaan: Lander just kilometres away from moon
The lander has completed nearly 80 per cent of its journey. The fine braking phase to begin soon and will continue for 3 minutes. There is no ground control now. PM Modi joins the watch from Johannesburg.
17:54 Chandrayaan: Lander 18km from moon now
20 per cent of the journey to the moon is complete. The power descend going as per plan, it's going well. The next phase is the altitude hold phase. The mission ops team is analysing the data. The performance so far seems good. The altitude of the lander from the moon is roughly 18 km now. The lander has already travelled over 600 km.
17:48 Chandrayaan: Lander propelling towards moon
Lander module propelling towards moon's surface along intended trajectory. The lander velocity will come down during this phase. The velocity of the lander is 130 km now. The lander module has travelled a distance of 228 km.
17:38 Chandrayaan: ISRO chairman at Mission Complex
The Vikram lander will begin its descent towards the moon surface at a velocity of 1.68 km per second. It will then slow down -- but the lander is still almost horizontal to the surface of the moon. The lander will be made vertical to the moon surface, with this begins the 'fine braking phase'. Even a tiny mistake in how the spaceship descends can cause it to crash or get damaged.
ISRO Chairman S Somanath at Mission Control Complex in Bengaluru for Chandrayaan-3 Mission soft landing on the moon.
According to experts, the final 15 to 20 minutes will determine the success of the mission when Chandrayaan-3's Vikram lander with rover Pragyan will make its soft landing.
17:33 Watching it live at CSIR...
Union MoS Science & Technology Dr Jitendra Singh at CSIR headquarters in Delhi to witness the landing of Vikram lander on the Moon.
17:25 Chandrayaan: 30 minutes to Rough Braking phase
30 minutes away from initiation of Rough Braking phase. ISRO has reported everything about the Chandrayaan 3 mission is proceeding precisely as planned.
17:13 Chandrayaan: Lander module to arrive at 17:44
Chandrayaan-3 Mission: All set to initiate the Automatic Landing Sequence (ALS). Awaiting the arrival of Lander Module (LM) at the designated point, around 17:44 Hrs. IST. Upon receiving the ALS command, the LM activates the throttleable engines for powered descent. The mission operations team will keep confirming the sequential execution of commands.
17:00 Best of luck, Praggnanandhaa! 2nd game begins
The second game of FIDE World Cup final gets underway between Indian chess grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa and world champion Magnus Carlsen The first game had ended in a draw after 35 moves.
16:28 ED searches on Baghel's advisor, OSDs
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday conducted searches at the premises of Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel's political advisor Vinod Verma and two Officers on Special Duty (OSDs) in Raipur and Durg districts, sources said.
The searches were also held at the premises of a businessman in Durg district, they said. The exact case in connection with which the searches were being conducted was not yet known.
Reacting to the ED's action, CM Baghel, who turned 62 on Wednesday, in a sarcastic post on X said, "Respected Prime Minister and Mr. Amit Shah! Thank you very much for the priceless gift you have given me on my birthday by sending ED to my political advisor, OSD and close aides."
Some paramilitary personnel were seen at the residence of the CM's political advisor Vinod Verma in the Officers Colony at Devendra Nagar in state capital Raipur and the houses of OSDs Ashish Verma and Manish Banchhor in old Bhilai area of Durg. Security personnel were also seen outside the house of businessman Vijay Bhatia in Nehrunagar area of Bhilai in Durg.
16:11 Adani Group portfolio grows 42% in Q1FY24
The Adani Group portfolio delivered yet another outstanding performance with an all-time high quarterly profit (EBITDA) of Rs 23,532 crore, 42 per cent higher year-on-year.
The June quarter 2023-24 results compendium for its portfolio of listed companies was released by the conglomerate on Wednesday. EBITDA is net income before taking out interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization expenses.
The core infrastructure and utility platform, which generates stable and assured cashflows, accounted for 86 per cent of the total portfolio EBITDA and stood at Rs 20,233 crore.
This gives a high level of stability and multi-decadal earnings predictability and visibility. The robust profits have resulted in the portfolio gaining a very strong liquidity position. The cash balance at the end of June 2023 was Rs 42,115 crore, 4.2 per cent higher than a quarter ago. -- ANI
16:00 Mom scolds teen for phone time, she kills herself
A 19-year-old college student died allegedly by suicide after being scolded by her mother for spending too much time on her mobile phone, an official said on Wednesday. Renuka Pramod Kale was a first-year undergraduate student and lived in Zenda Chowk area.
The police official said Renuka had lost her father and was being raised by her mother, Seema, who ran a daily needs shop.
Citing the versions of friends and neighbours, the official said Renuka was a bright student.
However, she recently appeared to have lost focus on her studies and would spend a lot of time on her mobile phone. Renuka was busy with her mobile phone on Monday afternoon when Seema reprimanded her for ignoring her studies. Renuka then went to their bedroom and hanged herself, the official said. Seema found her daughter hanging after an hour. The Gittikhadan police have registered a case of accidental death, the official added. PTI
15:10 Mallika Sarabhai remembers dad & ISRO founder
Kartikeya Sarabhai, son of physicist and founder of India's space program Vikram Sarabhai, on Wednesday said the Chandrayaan-3 project represents the "new India" and every citizen is proud of this project.
In a tribute to Vikram Sarabhai, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has named Chandrayaan-3's lander as `Vikram'.
The lander, along with the rover `Pragyan', is set to touch down on the lunar surface on Wednesday evening. India will be only the fourth country to do so and first to reach the uncharted south pole of the moon.
"It is a great day for all of us, not only Indians but globally, because no one was able to reach the southern side of the moon. People had tried in the past, but failed. There is a likelihood of water there in a different form," Kartikeya Sarabhai, an environmentalist, told PTI.
"It is a very proud feeling for us because the lander has been named after Vikram Sarabhai. But, this pride is for all of us, not just the immediate family. Different components of this lander are made by different people. So it actually integrated so much of India into it. Scientists from all over the country were involved. It represents new India," he said.
His father believed in learning from everyone instead of imitating others, Sarabhai added. Chandrayaan-2 was not a failure because it is still helping the latest moon mission, he said.
"We were heartbroken when the Chandrayaan 2 lander could not make it. But we learnt so much. Chandrayaan 2 is helping Chandrayaan 3 in finding the right location to land. So it was indeed a success because we learnt from our mistakes. We are making our own path as we are going towards 2047. That is what Chandrayaan is. It has found its way," said Sarabhai.
Vikram Sarabhai's daughter and dancer, activist Mallika Sarabhai said the Indian moon mission is a step forward for the entire humanity.
"I believe in effort and science. I believe that ISRO scientists have done hard work and it will be a fulfillment of one of my father's dreams. He dreamt of using science and technology not for a race with other countries, nor to prove how great we are. But to see how mankind, humanity and the planet can get better, safer and more dignified for all," she told PTI.
"I see this as a step forward for the entire humanity because no one has landed on the south side of the moon. It is not about India alone. It is about the human spirit. I think my father was about the human spirit. For my father and my mother, science and art were the language to make life better for people, to bring justice, to bring happiness and dignity," she added. -- PTI
14:34 Board exams to be held twice a year: Education Ministry
Board examinations will be conducted twice a year with students having the option to retain the best score, while class 11 and 12 students will have to study two languages instead of one, according to the Ministry of Education's new curriculum framework.
According to ministry officials, the curriculum, as per the New Education Policy (NEP), is ready and textbooks will be developed on its basis for the 2024 academic session.
"In classes 11 and 12, students will have to study two languages and one of them has to be an Indian language," the final NCF (National Curriculum Framework) document accessed by PTI said.
In order to make the board exams "easier" from the current "high stakes" practice, the examination will assess the understanding and achievement of competencies rather than months of coaching and memorisation.
"Board exams will be offered at least twice a year to ensure students have enough time and opportunity to perform well. Students can then appear for a board exam in subjects they have completed and feel ready for. They will also be allowed to retain the best score," it said.
The choice of subjects in classes 11 and 12 will not be restricted to streams such as Arts, Science and Commerce to get flexibility to choose.
"In due course of time, school boards are to develop capacities to offer 'on demand' exams in due course of time. Besides board exam test developers and evaluators will have to go through university-certified courses before taking up this work," it said.
The new framework has also noted that the current practice of 'covering' textbooks in classroom will be avoided, while stressing that the cost of textbooks should be optimised.
Rape accused Premoday Khakha
14:17 Delhi govt officer accused of rape sent to jail
Delhi court sends suspended Delhi government officer Premoday Khakha, accused of raping a minor, to 14-day judicial custody. Khakha allegedly raped the several times and made her pregnant.
His wife Seema Rani, who is accused of giving the girl medicine to terminate her pregnancy, was sent to judicial custody for a day yesterday. Both were produced separately before the duty metropolitan magistrate.
The accused, an ex-cadre officer, had allegedly raped the girl several times between November 2020 and January 2021.
His wife allegedly gave the girl medicine to terminate her pregnancy. The couple has two kids.
Kartikeya Sarabhai
14:07 Wonderful for humanity: ISRO founder's son
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) founder Vikram Sarabhai's son, Kartikeya Sarabhai, on Wednesday said the landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the lunar surface will be great for humanity as no one has been able to land on the south side of the moon.
"It's a fantastic thing if you think of it, that for anyone on the planet, not just for India, but to be able to send, this precision with which we have been able to send Chandrayaan-3 and also through a process which is quite different from the others," Kartikeya Sarabhai told ANI.
"I mean, to think of a process which meant that you circle the Earth first and then like a sling, you go there and then you circle the moon and then come back," Kartikeya, Director of Ahmedabad-based Centre for Environmental Education said.
His father Vikram Sarabhai was of the view India must be second to none in the application of advanced technologies to the real problems facing society.
Asked about what has changed in Indian space science and ISRO after his father, Kartikeya said, "It's such a sea change' recounting his childhood days and on spending time seeing his father doing innovation and research. Vikram Sarabhai is considered the father of the Indian space program. The establishment of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was one of Vikram Sarabhai's greatest achievements. He successfully convinced the government of the importance of a space programme for a developing country like India."
14:00 Tussle between Nitish Kumar govt and Raj Bhavan escalates
The ongoing tussle between the Nitish Kumar government and the Raj Bhavan further escalated with the Bihar education department inviting applications for the post of vice-chancellors (VC) in different universities days after Governor (Chancellor) Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar's secretariat issued a similar advertisement.
The chancellor's secretariat earlier invited applications for the post of VCs in Patna University, Lalit Narayan Mithila University (Darbhanga), Kameshwar Singh Darbhanga Sanskrit University, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bihar University (Muzaffarpur), Jai Prakash University (Chapra), BN Mandal University (Madhepura) and Aryabhatta Knowledge University (Patna), while the education department on Tuesday invited applications for only five, leaving the last two.
The terms and conditions for the posts are almost the same in both advertisements, except the last date for submission of applications.
According to a circular by the chancellor's secretariat, the date for submission of applications for the post in seven universities is between August 24 and 27 while the last date in the education department's advertisement is September 13.
It may be recalled that the Nitish Kumar government and the Raj Bhavan have already locked horns over the freezing of bank accounts of the VC and pro-VC of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bihar University, Muzaffarpur.
The education department refused to withdraw its earlier order on freezing the bank accounts of the top officials of the university as directed by the Raj Bhavan.
The state education department on August 17 stopped the salaries of the vice-chancellor and pro-VC for their alleged failure in inspecting the educational institutions under their jurisdiction and also for not attending a review meeting convened by the department.
A day later, Robert L Chongthu, principal secretary to the governor, sent a letter to the bank concerned, directing it to defreeze the accounts of the two officials and the university with immediate effect.
These developments have triggered a political slugfest between the ruling alliance partners of Mahagathbandhan government and the opposition BJP.
Coming in support of the governor, Bihar BJP spokesperson Nikhil Anand told PTI, "The governor's office has invited applications for the appointment of VCs and when the due date was about to get over, the state education department has notified appointment of same VCs from its own end."
12:56 Chandrayaan 3: All set to initiate landing sequence
Chandrayaan-3 Mission on X: "All set to initiate the Automatic Landing Sequence (ALS). Awaiting the arrival of Lander Module (LM) at the designated point, around 17:44 Hrs. IST. Upon receiving the ALS command, the LM activates the throttleable engines for powered descent. The mission operations team will keep confirming the sequential execution of commands."
12:48 Mizoram bridge collapse: Ex-gratia of 2L for dead
PM Narendra Modi announces an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakhs from PMMRF to the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured in the bridge collapse in Mizoram.
At least 17 workers were killed on Wednesday after an under-construction railway bridge collapsed near Sairang area of Mizoram, police said. Several others are feared trapped at the site, as 35-40 workers were present when the incident occurred around 10 am, about 21 km from Aizawl, they said.
"Under construction railway over bridge at Sairang, near Aizawl collapsed today; at least 17 workers died: Rescue under progress. Deeply saddened and affected by this tragedy. I extend my deepest condolences to all the bereaved families and wishing a speedy recovery to the injured. Sending gratitude to the people who have come out in large numbers to help with rescue operations," said the Mizoram CM.
The Singapore High Commissioner offers prayers
12:31 India, world prays for successful moon landing
Singapore High Commissioner Simon Wong on Wednesday said that he is praying for the success of the historic landing attempt on the lunar surface of India's third lunar mission -- Chandrayaan-3.
Prayers from across the world irrespective of nation and nationality for a successful moon landing.
"I am joining the billions of people in praying for the success of the #Chandrayaan3 mission. - HC Wong," Wong said on an X (formerly known as Twitter)."
Wishes have been pouring in from across the world ahead of the today's attempted moon landing.
A large number of devotees reached at Bageshwar Dham in Madhya Pradesh's Chhatarpur district and offered prayers for the successful lunar landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the moon.
Prayers were offered at Surat's Gyarah Mukhi Hanuman Temple in anticipation of a successful climax of the country's third lunar mission '" Chandrayaan-3.
The scheduled soft touchdown of the Vikram lander on the lunar south pole is around 18:04 IST on Wednesday while its powered descent is expected at 1745 IST.
12:05 Ex-ISRO chief: Milestone for planetary exploration
Ahead of the much-awaited soft landing of the country's third moon mission -- Chandrayaan-3, former ISRO Chairman G Madhavan Nair spoke to ANI and delved into how this mission is significant for overall spacefaring for India and also about the last-minute manoeuvres.
"The last leg of its operation and everybody is anxiously looking forward to this great event. As far as the Indian space program is concerned, this is going to be the most significant milestone for planetary exploration. Of course, in the past, we have made an attempt to land on the lunar surface, but unfortunately, it did not succeed at the time. Since then, ISRO has done considerable studies and simulations and strengthened the designs and provided redundancies so that the mission success probability can be improved," he said.
The scheduled timing for the soft landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the moon's south pole on August 23, 2023 (Wednesday), is around 18:04 IST, with the powered descent of Vikram lander expected at 1745 IST. With all set for a soft landing, he said the last 20 minutes where the powered descending from the lunar orbit to the lunar surface will take place, is going to be the most challenging moment in the history of this mission.
"As far as this soft landing is concerned, not many people have succeeded. It is only USA, Russia and China have succeeded so far to land on the south pole of the Moon. Of course, recently, the Luna spacecraft of Russia also crashed and landed on the lunar surface. Considering all this background, we have to really make sure everything is normal and perfect before the landing operation takes place," he said.
"The landing operation involves first reducing the velocity of the spacecraft from 1.6 kilometre per second to a few hundred meters per second and then making it over at a low altitude, taking pictures of the lunar surface and identifying the spot where it can safely land.
"There are rocks and there are craters and valleys in the region. So one has to really choose the spot on which the landing can take place safely. And this operation will be done in the last minute or so."
11:59 17 killed after in bridge collapses in Mizoram
At least 17 workers were killed on Wednesday after an under-construction railway bridge collapsed near Sairang area of Mizoram, police said.
Several others are feared trapped at the site, as 35-40 workers were present when the incident occurred around 10 am, about 21 km from Aizawl, they said. Seventeen bodies have been recovered from the debris so far... many others are still missing, a police officer said. More details are awaited. PTI
11:48 I am alive and well: Heath Streak
Hours after announcing Zimbabwe cricketer Heath Streak's death on X, his former teammate Henry Olonga said in a second post that the legend is alive. Henry Olonga said in his new post that "rumours of Streak's death were greatly exaggerated" and that he had heard from him.
"I can confirm that rumours of the demise of Heath Streak have been greatly exaggerated. I just heard from him. The third umpire has called him back. He is very much alive folks," Olonga said on X.
Heath Streak sent out a message saying, "It's a total rumour & lie - I am alive & well, I am very upset to learn that something as big as someone apparently passing can be spread unverified especially in our day & age - I believe the source should apologise, I am hurt by the news."
11:25 After Chandrayaan-3 it's NASA's turn for...
Amid the frenzied anticipation in India around its third lunar mission -- Chandrayaan-3, American space agency NASA has chosen a geology team that will develop the surface science strategy for the first crewed lunar landing mission in more than 50 years, the agency informed through an official release.
For advancing scientific research and opening the door for extensive lunar exploration, NASA's Artemis III mission will send humans, including the first woman to set foot on the Moon, close to the lunar South Pole.
Dr Nicky Fox, NASA's Science Associate administrator, was quoted as saying in the release, "Science is one of the pillars of Artemis," adding, "This team will be responsible for leading the geology planning for humanity's first return to the lunar surface in more than 50 years, ensuring that we maximise the science return of Artemis and grow in our understanding of our nearest celestial neighbour."
Led by principal investigator, Dr Brett Denevi, The Artemis III Geology Team will work with the agency to ascertain the mission's geological science objectives and design the geology surface campaign that the Artemis astronauts will conduct on the Moon during this historic mission.
These objectives will be defined in accordance with the established Artemis science priorities, the release added.
"Selecting this team marks an important step in our efforts to optimize the science return of Artemis III. This team of well-respected lunar scientists has demonstrated experience with science operations, sample analysis, and operational flexibility, all of which is critical for the successful incorporation of science during Artemis III," said Dr. Joel Kearns, deputy associate administrator for exploration in NASA's Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. -- ANI
11:12 Indian diaspora in US eagerly awaits moon landing
The Indian diaspora in the US is eagerly waiting for Chandrayaan-3's much-anticipated landing on the Moon on Wednesday with many of them saying the lunar mission will propel India as a global leader in space technology and inspire millions of children to take up science, physics and astronomy as their area of pursuit.
ISRO's ambitious third Moon mission Chandrayaan-3's Lander Module (LM) comprising the lander (Vikram) and the rover (Pragyan) is all set to land on the lunar surface on Wednesday evening at 6.04 pm, as India eyes becoming the first country to reach the uncharted south pole of Earth's only natural satellite.
"I am very excited about what Chandrayaan-3 can achieve for us," New York-based commodity trader and Physics enthusiast Sandeep Daga told PTI.
"The Chandrayaan-3 mission is really a shot in the arm for the Indian space programme and the ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation). It will propel India as a global leader in space technology and it will inspire millions of kids to take up science, physics and astronomy as their area of pursuit. That's the way to go," Daga said.
Daga, like many other members of the Indian diaspora, are keenly following Chandrayaan-3's countdown to land on the lunar surface later today, propelling India to the elite space club of nations that have landed a rover on the moon.
Till now only three other nations - the US, China and the erstwhile Soviet Union - have landed a rover on the moon.
" I am very excited about Chandrayaan-3. We will be only the fourth country in the world to land a rover on the moon," Daga said.
Describing the lunar mission as a "moment of pride for India, Daga underlined the project's massive economic impact.
"We know that the space economy is worth more than half a trillion dollars every quarter. So it is a pretty big deal. I see (Chandrayaan-3) as a vindication of India's technological prowess. And what's even more amazing is that we have achieved this mission at a cost of less than USD 75 million, which is much lower than what a Hollywood space movie would cost today," he said.
11:02 Ex-cop Pradeep Sharma gets bail
SC grants bail to ex-Mumbai cop Pradeep Sharma in Antilia bomb scare case and killing of businessman Mansukh Hiran.
10:44 Few hrs for moon landing, what's happening now?
140 crore Indians have kept their fingers crossed as D-day approaches for the much-awaited soft landing of the country's third moon mission -- Chandrayaan-3.
People across the country are praying to God for a successful ISRO mission.
The scheduled timing for the soft landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the moon's south pole on August 23, 2023 (Wednesday), is around 18:04 IST, with the powered descent of Vikram lander expected at 1745 IST.
The live telecast of the landing operations at Mission Operation Complex (MOX) will begin at 1720 IST on Wednesday. Live actions of landing will be available on the ISRO website, its YouTube channel, Facebook, and public broadcaster DD National TV from 17:27 IST on Aug 23, 2023.
In its latest update on Chandrayaan-3 soft landing, ISRO has said the mission is on schedule and systems are undergoing regular checks. It also released a series of up-close images of the moon.
These images assist the lander module in determining its position (latitude and longitude) by matching them against an onboard moon reference map.
This mission, if it turns out to be fruitful, will make India the only country to have marked its presence on the lunar south pole which is considered to be difficult for its rough and harsh conditions, and fourth -- after US, China, and Russia -- to have successfully landed on the moon's surface. -- ANI
10:22 How soil from TN contributed to Chandrayaan mission
It is not only Tamil Nadu's sons of the soil -- former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, Chandrayaan-2 Mission Director Mayilsamy Annadurai, and Chandrayaan-3 Project Director Veeramuthuvel P -- who have contributed to ISRO missions, but literally the state's soil itself.
Since 2012, Namakkal, which is about 400 km from state capital Chennai, has supplied soil to ISRO for testing for the Chandrayaan Mission capability, as the earth in that district is similar to that of the lunar surface.
This has enabled ISRO to test and refine the ability of the lander module to soft land on the surface of the Moon, given that the properties of the Namakkal soil are similar.
So, if Chandrayaan-3's lander module achieves its objective of successfully soft landing on the Moon, it would give Tamil Nadu an extra reason to cheer.
This is the third time that Tamil Nadu has supplied the necessary soil to the Bengaluru headquartered space agency for performing the tests for its ambitious Moon missions.
According to the Director of Geology Department of Periyar University, Professor S Anbazhagan, the soil was available in abundance in the Namakkal area, enabling them to rise to the occasion when the need arose for ISRO.
"We have been engaged in conducting research in geology. Tamil Nadu has the kind of soil that is present on the lunar surface, particularly that which is very similar to the soil present at the southern pole (of the Moon). The lunar surface has 'Anorthosite' (a type of intrusive igneous rock) type of soil," he said.
"We have been sending the soil to ISRO soon after it announced the Moon exploration programme, he told PTI in a brief interaction.
The Chandrayaan-3 Mission aims at soft-landing of the spacecraft on the unexplored southern pole of the Moon. It would make India the fourth country to achieve this remarkable feat after the United States, erstwhile Soviet Union and China.
Elaborating on how it all began, Anbazhagan said that following the success of the Chandrayaan-1 mission in 2008, scientists were gearing up to perform the Chandrayaan-2 mission, which aimed at demonstrating the capability to soft land on the surface of the Moon. In comparison, Chandrayaan-1's mission was to orbit the Moon and not land on its surface.
In Chandrayaan-2 mission, it was planned that a rover would come out of the lander module and crawl on the surface of the Moon, undertaking tests in the process, he said.
"About 50 tonnes of soil were sent to ISRO, which was similar to the kind of soil present on the lunar surface," Anbazhagan, who specialises in remote sensing and groundwater exploration at the university in Salem, said.
After undertaking various tests, scientists at ISRO confirmed that the soil available in the Namakkal area matched with that of the lunar surface, he added.
09:36 Prayers across world for success of Chandrayaan-3
Prayers are resonating around the globe, as people of various religious affiliations unite for the successful landing of India's Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon's South Pole.
Regardless of religious boundaries, individuals are coming together to lend their support to the Chandrayaan-3 mission.
This demonstration of solidarity is extending worldwide, with people participating in prayers, offering religious observances, and engaging in diverse rituals to foster its success.
According to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the Chandrayaan-3 is set to land on the Moon today, around 18:04 hours IST.
From the Parmarth Niketan in Rishikesh to United States, special rituals, prayers, and ceremonies are being conducted to invoke blessings for Chandrayaan-3's success.
Religious ceremonies spanning various faiths are being conducted across India to seek blessings for the success of Chandrayaan-3's groundbreaking mission.
A Ganga Aarti was dedicated to Indias lunar mission. Ganga Aarti was performed with tricolour in hands at Parmarth Niketan Ghat in Rishikesh. A special Ganga Aarti was performed with tricolour in hands at Parmarth Niketan Ghat in Rishikesh.
Before the Aarti, devotees performed Havan Pujan for the success of Chandrayaan 3 at the Ghat.
On this occasion, Swami Chidanand Muni, a prominent spiritual leader, led the Havan Pujan and Aarti at Parmarth Niketan Ghat, where devotees gathered to seek divine intervention for the mission's triumph.
He said that from Vedas to science, the world is acknowledging our country and he has full faith that India will hoist its flag on the South Pole.
The Ganga's waters bore witness to offerings and prayers, accompanied by the resounding cheers of patriotism. A wonderful sight was seen on the banks of the Ganga during this period. Everyone thanked PM Modi on this occasion. Missile man former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam was also remembered on the banks of the Ganga.
A group of people in Bhubaneswar, Varanasi and Prayagraj performed 'havan' and offer prayers for successfully landing of Chandrayaan-3.
Similarly, devotees gathered at the Hanuman temple in Aliganj and performed aarti for Chandrayaan's successful landing on the moon. A large number of devotees are participating in the Aarti and sincerely praying for the successful landing of Chandrayaan 3. -- ANI
08:57 Modi to witness Chandrayaan-3 landing virtually
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in South Africa to attend the 15th BRICS Summit, will virtually witness the historic landing attempt on the lunar surface as part of the country's third lunar mission -- Chandrayaan-3.
According to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Chandrayaan-3 is all set to create history by landing on the uncharted south pole of the moon.
The attempted soft-landing has been scheduled at 18:04 hrs IST.
Wishes have been pouring in from across the world ahead of the attempted moon landing on Wednesday.
Indian students and research scholars in Uxbridge, London organised a special prayer at the Adya Shakti Mataji Temple for the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon.
Meanwhile, the members of the Indian diaspora performed a havan at a temple in Virginia, US for the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon.
00:08 Nuh administration denies nod to VHP yatra
Authorities have denied permission to hold on August 28 the Vishva Hindu Parishad's Brij Mandal Jalabhishek Yatra in Haryana's Nuh that was disrupted after communal violence in July, police said on Tuesday.
The Nuh district administration on Tuesday evening rejected the application for permission moved before it by the organisers of the yatra.
The development comes over a week after a 'mahapanchayat' by Hindu outfits at Pondri village in Palwal on August 13 decided to resume the VHP yatra from Nalhar temple in Nuh.
Nuh Superintendent of Police Narender Bijarnia confirmed that the application seeking permission for the procession has been rejected.
When contacted, local VHP leader Devender Singh said he is not aware of the rejection of permission and asserted that there is 'no need for any permission' for the yatra.
At the 'Sarva Jatiye Mahapanchayat' on August 13, it was decided that the yatra will resume from Nalhar temple in Nuh and pass through Firozpur Jhirka's Jhir and Shingar temples in the district.
Six people, including two home guards and a cleric, died in the clashes that erupted in Nuh after the VHP procession was attacked by mobs on July 31.
Gurugram also witnessed stray incidents of violence. -- PTI
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