The security operations against Maoist groups have drawn a wide range of reactions from political leaders, with many acknowledging the government's firm approach in addressing insurgency.

The killing of high-profile 70-year-old Maoist leader Basava Raju, who had a bounty of Rs 1 crore on his head, along with the elimination of 27 others in Chhattisgarh, has intensified discussions on the future of Maoism in India.

Raju was reportedly involved in several major attacks on security forces, and his death could deal a significant blow to the Maoist movement.

Talking to IANS, Member of Parliament (MP) from Delhi, Manoj Tiwari, emphasised the government's commitment to eradicating Maoism, highlighting Home Minister Amit Shah's repeated assurances in Parliament that a concrete plan is in place.

He noted that Maoists had long obstructed development in various regions, preventing progress and prosperity.

A soldier was killed and two others injured on Thursday in an ongoing gunfight between the joint security forces & terrorists in J&K’s Kishtwar district, officials said.

Officials said that the soldier was martyred in the encounter in the Singhpora Chatroo area of Kishtwar.

"Army jawan martyred in ongoing Kishtwar encounter has been identified as Sepoy Gaykar Sandip Pandurang, resident of village Karandi tehsil, Akole, Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra. The injured soldiers have been shifted to the hospital. The encounter is going on," an official said.

Following the rising tensions between India and Pakistan, security measures have been intensified in Jamnagar -- a strategically significant district in Gujarat that shares proximity to the International Border and hosts all three wings of the Indian Armed Forces.

As part of a district-wide alert system, the Jamnagar administration has begun installing 100 sirens across coastal villages to ensure swift communication with residents in case of emergencies. “We are installing sirens in about 100 coastal villages to enhance public awareness and preparedness,” said Jamnagar District Collector Ketan Thakkar. “So far, 55 sirens have been installed based on priority areas near the sea. The remaining units will be deployed after surveying the rest of the villages.”

Following the rising tensions between India and Pakistan, security measures have been intensified in Jamnagar -- a strategically significant district in Gujarat that shares proximity to the International Border and hosts all three wings of the Indian Armed Forces.

As part of a district-wide alert system, the Jamnagar administration has begun installing 100 sirens across coastal villages to ensure swift communication with residents in case of emergencies. “We are installing sirens in about 100 coastal villages to enhance public awareness and preparedness,” said Jamnagar District Collector Ketan Thakkar. “So far, 55 sirens have been installed based on priority areas near the sea. The remaining units will be deployed after surveying the rest of the villages.”

Two terrorists were killed in an ongoing gunfight with the joint security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district, said officials on Thursday, adding that a soldier was injured.

Joint forces, including Para two, 11 Rashtriya Rifles, 7 Assam Rifles and the special operations group (SOG) of J&K Police, started the operation against Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorists, reportedly three to four in number, in the Singhpora Chatroo area of Kishtwar district.

“The encounter broke out in the morning and is still going on,” officials said.

Officials said that the joint security forces launched a CASO in Singhpora, Chatroo area of Kishtwar district after getting specific information about the presence of a group of three to four terrorists.

After Kolkata, mysterious movements of drone-like illuminated objects have been spotted in the skies of Sagar Island in the South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal.

Sagar Island, located at the confluence of the River Ganges, is famous for the iconic Kapil Muni Ashram and the annual Gangasagar Mela there.

Eyewitnesses told the police and the media persons that at around 12.30 p.m., illuminated objects with colours like red, green and yellow were spotted in the skies of Sagar Islands.

As per the latest information available, such mysterious movements of illuminated objects were also spotted in the skies of Sagar Island-adjacent Mousuni Island, Fraserganj and Namkhana.

The Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) continued its demolition drive in the city and surroundings.

HYDRAA personnel were seen in action on Thursday in Peerzadiguda in Medchal Malkajgiri district on the outskirts of Hyderabad, clearing encroachments and demolishing unauthorised constructions.

Bulldozers were pressed into service since early morning in Parvathapur under Peerzadiguda Municipal Corporation amid tight security by the police.

Residents staged a protest over the demolition. They demanded that officials give them two hours to vacate the houses. Some of the protesters were detained by police.

Following stern directives from the Madras High Court, authorities have initiated the removal of encroachments along the Adyar riverbank in Tamil Nadu's Anakaputhur, with plans to complete the process within a week.

The court had recently issued a three-month deadline to the Tamil Nadu government to eliminate all encroachments obstructing the Adyar River Restoration Project.

Responding to this, the Water Resources Department on Wednesday began demolishing illegal structures, including around 50 houses in Anakaputhur. Officials confirmed that this is the first phase of the eviction drive.

The removal will continue in downstream areas such as Thideer Nagar, Jyothi Ammal Nagar, Surya Nagar, and Malligaipoo Nagar in Saidapet and Kotturpuram in the coming weeks.

Eleven fishermen from Tamil Nadu, who were arrested by the Sri Lankan Coast Guard earlier this year, returned home on Wednesday night to an emotional reception at Chennai airport.

The fishermen, all residents of Rameswaram, had set out to sea on January 11 for a routine fishing expedition. However, they were intercepted mid-sea by the Sri Lankan Coast Guard for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).

Their boats were seized, and the fishermen were taken into custody, later remanded in judicial custody and lodged in a Sri Lankan prison.

The arrests sparked concern in Tamil Nadu, prompting Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to appeal to the Union government for immediate intervention.

Heavy rain, hail, and powerful winds battered several parts of Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) on Wednesday evening, providing much-needed relief from the scorching summer heat but also causing widespread disruption across the region.

Visuals from Terminal 3 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport showed continuous rainfall, while strong winds swept through central and western Delhi. Areas such as Gol Market and Lodi Road experienced a brief but intense hailstorm, adding to the dramatic shift in weather. In Noida, drivers reported navigating through sheets of rain and hail, leading to low visibility and waterlogged roads.