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Election amid security concerns

• Deep within the forests and rugged terrain south of the Pir Panjal range in Jammu’s Kathua district, the once-isolated hamlet of Kalna Dhanu Parole has become a focal point of political activity.
• Recent assembly elections have breathed new life into the area, despite its limited communication with the outside world.
• This renewed political engagement comes after a decade-long gap in elections, drawing residents eager for change and representation.

Living on edge

• The hamlet, just 10km from a deadly terrorist ambush site, remains on high alert. The July attack claimed the lives of five soldiers and led to the arrest of a local resident for allegedly aiding the terrorists.
• This incident is part of a broader wave of violence that has claimed 15 security personnel’s lives in the region since May, a stark reminder of the persistent threat in Jammu.
• Despite the heightened risks, the community remains determined to participate in the democratic process, with increased security measures in place across the region.

Glimmer of hope

• Political meetings, like the one recently held in Kalna Dhanu Parole, are rare but significant events.
• Local politician Rajinder K’s speech under the open sky reflected the residents’ deep-seated hope for a better future, even as they voiced their scepticism about unfulfilled promises.
• The villagers’ concerns – ranging from poor infrastructure and inconsistent electricity to the constant threat of terrorism – highlight the challenges of living in such a remote and vulnerable area.
• Yet, the promise of renewed representation fuels their optimism.

Change via voting

• For many, the elections offer a chance to address long-standing grievances.
• In Doda district, where the July 15 attack left four soldiers dead, residents like Rafayat Ganai express enthusiasm for the elections, hoping for a responsive government.
• “Security is up, but poor roads and healthcare make life dangerous,” said Basholi resident Vishal Padha.
• Locals blame the absence of an elected government for worsening unemployment and corruption, resenting the “outsider babus” in charge.
• Despite fears, the desire for change and representation outweighs the risks, as villagers across Jammu, prepare to make their voices heard. More here

Naxal operation

• In a major operation on Tuesday, nine Naxalites were killed in a fierce gunfight with security forces in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh.

Fierce battle

• The operation, involving personnel from the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), was launched based on intelligence about the presence of Naxalites from the West Bastar division.
• The gunfight broke out around 10.30am in the forest along the border of Dantewada and Bijapur districts when a joint team of security forces was out on an anti-Naxal operation, Inspector General of Police, Bastar Range Sundarraj P told PTI.
• The police recovered automatic weapons, including SLR rifles, .303 rifles, and .315 bore rifles from the site.
• All security personnel involved in the operation were reported to be safe, and a search operation is ongoing in the area to ensure complete security.

Arrests

• Thirteen Naxalites were arrested in two separate operations in Bijapur district, Chhattisgarh, police said on Tuesday.
• Seven were captured under Gangaloor police station limits on Sunday, while six others were arrested near Tarrem police station on Monday.
• These arrests bring the total number of Naxalites apprehended in Bastar division this year to over 600.

Anti-Naxal campaign

• This encounter follows another operation on August 29, where three women Naxalites were killed in the dense forests of Abujhmad, Narayanpur.
• This incident brings the total number of Naxalites killed by security forces in Chhattisgarh this year to 154, reflecting significant progress in ongoing efforts to combat Naxalism across the Bastar region’s seven districts, including Dantewada and Bijapur.

Government’s commitment

• Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Tuesday saluted the bravery of soldiers for killing 9 Naxals in the border area of Dantewada and Bijapur districts and said that Naxalism will soon be wiped out.
• Amid ongoing operations, Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated on August 24 that the government aims to eradicate Naxalism by March 2026.
• He was present at a review meeting on Left-wing extremism and inter-state coordination in Nava Raipur that was attended by senior officials from seven Naxal-affected states.

Railways tops graft list

• In 2023, railway employees topped the list of corruption complaints in India, with 10,447 complaints filed against them, according to a report by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC).
• Of these, 9,881 complaints were addressed, while 566 remain pending.

Local bodies follow

• The report also highlighted that 7,665 complaints were lodged against staff of various local bodies in Delhi, such as the Delhi Jal Board and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.
• Out of these, 7,278 complaints were resolved, leaving 387 pending.

Banks under watch

• Public sector banks were the subject of 7,004 corruption complaints, with 6,667 resolved and 337 still pending.

Delhi govt employees

• Delhi government employees faced 6,638 corruption complaints, with 6,246 addressed. Meanwhile, Delhi Police personnel were the subject of 5,313 complaints, with 3,325 resolved.
• Additionally, employees of the Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry saw 4,476 complaints, of which 3,723 were disposed of, reports PTI.

Ministries under scrutiny

• Several other government ministries and departments were also under scrutiny.
• Coal ministry employees faced 4,420 complaints, those with the labour ministry 3,217, and the petroleum ministry 2,749. The Home ministry, excluding Delhi Police, had 2,309 complaints.
• The defence ministry saw 1,861 complaints, while the Central Board of Direct Taxes had 1,828, the telecommunications sector had 1,457, and the Central Board Of Indirect Taxes and Customs had 1,205 complaints.

Insurance and power sector

• Public sector insurance companies faced 960 complaints, the power ministry had 930, and the Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ministry saw 929 complaints.
• The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions faced 889 corruption allegations, according to the CVC report.

Total complaints received

• A total of 74,203 graft complaints were received, with 66,373 resolved and 7,830 pending, highlighting persistent corruption issues. More here

Unanimous support

• The West Bengal Assembly on Tuesday passed a new bill to deal with cases of rape.
• The ‘Aparajita’ bill comes three weeks after the gruesome rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor at Kolkata’s SG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
• It was passed unanimously by the House but will become law after it’s approved by state governor CV Ananda Bose and President Droupadi Murmu.

Notable clauses

• The state law will be the first to introduce more stringent amendments to the Centre’s rape law.
• It lays down the death penalty in cases where rape and other sexual offences cause the victim’s death or leave her in a vegetative state.
• It also lays down life sentence without parole as the standard punishment for men convicted of rape.

CM says

• West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee told the House: “Through this bill, we have tried to plug the loopholes that exist in the central legislation. Rape is a curse against humanity, social reforms are required to stop such crimes.”
• She urged the Opposition to “ask the governor to sign the bill. It is our responsibility to enact it after that. We want justice from CBI, death by hanging of the guilty.”
• She also brought up the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita that replaced the India Penal Code, saying, “Crime rates against women in states like UP, Gujarat are abnormally high. While tortured women in West Bengal are getting justice in court, West Bengal was not consulted before passing BNS. We wanted discussions on it after the new government’s formation.”

Opposition reaction

• BJP welcomed the bill but said BNS already has stringent provisions to deal with crime against women and children.
• It said it fully supports the bill, but wants it enforced immediately.
• Leader of Opposition (LoP) Suvendu Adhikari asked for seven amendments to the bill.

Looking east

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi started his tour of Southeast Asia on Tuesday with his first stop in Brunei.
• Although Brunei and India have maintained diplomatic relations for 40 years, this is the first-ever visit by an Indian head of state.
• The PM will travel to Singapore for a two-day visit on Wednesday.

Right time

• Before his departure, the PM wrote on X: “Over the next two days, I will be visiting Brunei Darussalam and Singapore. During the various engagements in these nations, the focus will be on further deepening India’s ties with them.”
• Foreign minister S Jaishankar said the time is ripe for a visit to these two countries.
• “Given the transformation underway in India and the changes in the world, they need to become more contemporary. In many ways, that is why Prime Minister Narendra Modi has chosen to visit Singapore so early in his third term,” PTI quoted Jaishankar as saying.

In Brunei

• Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah had invited PM Modi to visit his country.
• On landing in Brunei, the PM was received by Crown Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah (photo above).
• The visit is meant to strengthen bilateral cooperation in sectors like defence, trade, energy and space technology.

Singapore plans

• Singapore is India’s biggest trade partner in the ASEAN bloc. In FY 2023-24, direct investment worth $11.8 billion came to India through the island nation.
• Modi last visited Singapore almost six years ago.
• He will hold talks with Singapore’s new PM Lawrence Wong.
• The two countries have been trying to find new areas of cooperation, such as digitisation, sustainability, health, and advanced manufacturing.
• During Modi’s visit, MoUs related to food security, renewable energy, green hydrogen and semiconductors are likely to be signed.

What

• Three crew members aboard an Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) are reported missing.
• The chopper had made an “emergency landing” in the Arabian sea late Monday night.

Rescue duty

• The helicopter had recently played a vital role in rescuing 67 lives during cyclonic weather in Gujarat.
• On Monday night, it was launched to evacuate a seriously injured crew member from the Indian-flagged motor tanker Hari Leela, located approximately 45km off the coast of Porbandar in Gujarat.
• The Coast Guard said there were four crew members on board.
• The chopper was forced to make an emergency landing at sea while approaching the vessel.
• The cause of the emergency landing is still under investigation.

One man found

• The wreckage of the aircraft has been located.
• One crew member was found at the crash site, while the search for three others is on.
• Four Coast Guard ships and two planes are combing the region to find the missing crew.

Recent success

• Late in the evening on August 25, the Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Chennai received a distress signal.
• A Mumbai-registered general cargo vessel named MV ITT Puma that was travelling from Kolkata to Port Blair had sunk approximately 90 nautical miles south of Sagar Island in West Bengal.
• The Coast Guard’s regional headquarters (North-East) in Kolkata quickly dispatched two vessels and a Dornier aircraft to the location.
• On August 26, the Coast Guard rescued 11 crew members during a challenging night-time search and rescue operation.