VK News Today https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html Weekly Horoscope, April 20 to April 25, 2026: Read weekly astrological predictions South Korean President Lee Jae Myung Make in India, Together with Korea: Korean president backs Atmanirbhar BharatAs he arrived in India for a State visit, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said Koreas and India must work closely as emerging global leaders amid heightened geopolitical uncertainty, and that the 2 countries can give a new direction to multilateralism when it’s faced with mounting challenges. In an exclusive interview to TOI, Lee said while Korea exemplified remarkable economic growth under the multilateral trading system, India stood well placed to shape new global rules with its economic scale and dynamism. On China’s dominance in critical minerals, Lee said that reducing excessive dependence on any single country had become a matter of survival, directly linked to the economic security of both India and South Korea.Speaking on the Hormuz crisis, the president said that ensuring the security of critical maritime routes is essential for the survival of both nations and Korea will work together to ensure freedom of navigation in the key energy waterway. With focus now on defence industrial collaboration, the president said Seoul will fully back India’s “independent production” of defence equipment, while exploring joint technology development and coproduction. In an exclusive interview to Sachin Parashar and Alpyu Singh, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung shared his vision for the special strategic partnership with India in key areas like trade, technology, critical minerals, defence and ship-building in which Seoul is a global leader. Excerpts: This is your first visit to India as president. How do you hope to further strengthen the special strategic partnership with India in the current circumstances, especially in key areas like trade, and critical and emerging technology? India – the world’s most populous country, the fourth-largest economy, and a leading voice of the Global South – is an ideal partner for the Republic of Korea. Our partnership rests not only on highly complementary economies, but also on shared core values of democracy and a market economy. At a time of heightened geopolitical uncertainty and mounting challenges to multilateralism, it is more imperative than ever that Korea and India work closely together as emerging global leaders. Building on our Special Strategic Partnership, we will deepen comprehensive ties of cooperation that drives mutual growth and innovation, while expanding our strategic horizons. A key priority is accelerating negotiations to upgrade the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Beyond traditional sectors such as electronics and automobiles, we will broaden cooperation into shipbuilding, finance, and the defense industry, bringing to life the vision of “Make in India, Together with Korea.” We will also step up collaboration in AI and digital technologies. Korea’s, world-class AI infrastructure and India’s vast pool of AI talent make us natural partners. Together, we will actively identify projects that generate meaningful synergy. At the same time, we will further expand cultural and people-to-people exchanges, the enduring foundation of our relationship. By bringing together India’s rich cultural assets, exemplified by Bollywood, and Korea’s globally influential K-Culture, we aim to create even greater synergy. Since my first meeting with PM Modi in Canada in June last year, I have felt a genuine warmth and familiarity, as if reconnecting with an old friend. I believe in our shared commitment to people-centered politics, holding on to hope even in times of adversity. It’s therefore especially meaningful, and a great pleasure, for me to visit India and meet PM Modi again. I am confident that this visit will mark an important milestone in further strengthening the friendship and trust between our two nations. Like India, South Korea is heavily dependent on safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz for its energy needs. How can both countries work together to aid efforts to keep the key energy route open and minimise the impact of the West Asia crisis on global economy and energy security, as well as to de-risk supply chains globally? Both the Republic of Korea and India depend on the Middle East for a significant share of their energy supplies, including crude oil and natural gas. Accordingly, ensuring the security of critical maritime routes is essential to the safety of our peoples and the very survival of our nations.Korea will maintain close communication with India to ensure that all vessels can navigate the Strait of Hormuz safely and freely. We will also continue to work together in relevant international forums to uphold this shared commitment. Another task that our two countries must undertake together is diversifying energy supply chains. Amid growing uncertainties in the global economy, I am confident that forward-looking and strategic cooperation between Korea and India can substantially further our shared national interests.The strategic defence partnership has been strengthened by the co-production of K9 Vajra howitzers. How do you propose to take this partnership forward, especially in terms of technology-sharing that could boost India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative? The Republic of Korea fully supports India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. It is a plan of significant industrial and economic potential, and I am confident that it will certainly be realized thanks to PM Modi’s steadfast commitment. However, self-reliance is difficult to achieve entirely on one’s own. Korea’s rapid industrial development and economic growth were made possible through considerable support and assistance from partner countries.In this regard, Korea seeks to serve as India’s key partner in advancing the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. In particular, the K9 Vajra howitzer project stands as an exemplary case of our bilateral defense and defense industry cooperation. The contract for the second phase of the K9 Vajra project, signed in April last year, provides for more than 60 percent of the manufacturing process to be carried out in India. It is currently being implemented smoothly, as planned. Building on such examples of cooperation, Korea will continue to provide full support for India’s independent production and operation of defense equipment. Moreover, we will discuss various avenues of cooperation in joint technology development and coproduction as well as operations and maintenance, so that both countries’ defense industry ecosystems can advance together. Both countries are exploring opportunities for cooperation in critical energy transition minerals – amid global efforts for resource diversification to avoid reliance on China – and also in areas like the maritime sector and shipbuilding in which South Korea is a global leader. Is there any roadmap that you have in mind for a more result-oriented partnership in these areas? With global supply chains undergoing reconfiguration, reducing excessive dependence on any single country has become a matter of survival, directly linked to the economic security of both nations. In particular, securing critical minerals, which are essential for cutting-edge industries, and stabilizing the maritime logistics networks for those resources will be key factors in national competitiveness going forward.India possesses critical minerals, while Korea has the capabilities to manufacture them into rechargeable batteries, electric vehicles and other advanced products. This makes our two countries ideal partners for generating synergy. By moving beyond the traditional model of importing raw material and combining Korea’s technology with India’s mining and refining industries, we can work together to establish stable critical-mineral supply chains. There is also boundless potential for bilateral cooperation in the shipping and shipbuilding sectors. For India to emerge as a global logistics and manufacturing hub, securing shipbuilding and maritime transport capabilities is essential.With world-class expertise in shipbuilding and shipping, as well as extensive experience in overseas port projects, Korea is well positioned to become India’s foremost partner. I understand that relevant MOUs are expected to be signed during the upcoming visit. I look forward to the day when vessels jointly built by our two countries sail across the world’s oceans. Bow that there are question marks about the US commitment to the Indo-Pacific under President Trump – and with Washington’s focus shifting also to West Asia – how do you propose to work with like-minded countries to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific? The world today faces complex and multi-layered crises. We are in a time of profound upheaval, as rising protectionism and the restructuring of global supply chains unsettle the foundation of the existing international order.The war in the Middle East has underscored the strategic reality that the Indian and Pacific Oceans form a single, interconnected maritime space – one whose stability no country can secure alone. Despite its intense dynamism and vast potential, the Indo-Pacific, has long remained more a beneficiary than a shaper of the international order, constrained by geopolitical tensions and the lack of institutional frameworks,Today, however, regional countries, including Korea, have the capacity to lead in strengthening multilateralism and advancing a rules-based order. At this critical juncture, Korea will work closely with regional partners, playing a bridging role to foster deeper cooperation and help anchor a more resilient regional order.As strategic coordination and unity across the Indo-Pacific have become ever more vital, my government will continue to expand cooperation with regional partners, including India. In this spirit, we participated this year in the International Fleet Review and the multilateral exercise MILAN hosted by India. We intend to join the India-led Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative. Peace and prosperity are essential to realizing a free and open Indo-Pacific. To that end, we will deepen cooperation with key partners, including India, in strategic sectors such as shipbuilding, finance, AI, and the defense industry.Both India and South Korea have been at the receiving end of the US tariff policy. While Seoul has signed a trade deal under which it will invest $350 billion in US industries, India’s efforts for a bilateral trade agreement with Washington is still a work in progress. What’s the advice you can offer to New Delhi on managing the trade relationship with the US? Also, how can India and South Korea help in keeping the global trade framework multilateral, rules-based and inclusive?Korea and the US were able to reach a successful trade agreement last year because both sides pursued creative, pragmatic solutions.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosUS Nationals Detained At Srinagar Airport Over Banned Satellite DeviceNo Fuel Shortage: Govt Assures 100% Domestic Gas Supply As India’s LPG Demand Falls 13% In MarchPM Modi Takes ‘Jhalmuri’ Break, Interacts With Locals In West Bengal’s Jhargram Amid Poll CampaignIndia Warns Iran Of Consequences After Attack On Two Tankers In Strait Of HormuzIndia Expands Export Relief After Hormuz Tensions Adds Egypt & Jordan To Shield Trade RoutesCongress Holds Protest After PM Modi’s Address To The Nation On Women’s Reservation Bill SetbackIndia’s Naval Push In Indo-Pacific: IOS Sagar Departs Phuket After Successful Thailand Port CallManipur Streets Erupt As Security Forces Fire Tear Gas On Protesters | WatchManipur Horror: Retired Soldier Among Two Shot Dead In Ukhrul Highway AttackWhat We Know About Indian Ships Hit In Hormuz Strait By Iran Gunboats And Unknown Projectile123Photostories5 style lessons from Amitabh Bachchan’s iconic wardrobeWhy you forget names instantly: It’s not your memory, it’s your attention, and here’s how to fix it5 Horror movies based on real-life events: ‘The Conjuring’, ‘The Exorcist,’ and moreTop 5 sneaker releases of 2026 you shouldn’t missBeautiful Indo-Arabic and Persian baby names quietly used in Indian familiesHe never drank alcohol, yet was diagnosed with severe fatty liver: What this says about modern diets and silent lifestyle risksHow to stop rice flour roti from cracking: 5 proven home tips to make soft and puffed rotiAs Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh announce second pregnancy, a look at Bollywood’s cutest pregnancy announcementsInside Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez’s parenting style: How they’re raising grounded, disciplined teen sons7 factors driving property price growth in Indian metro cities123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingIPL Orange Cap 2026VijayPM Modi LiveWorld Largest EconomySue BirdIce SpicePahalgam Pony Wallah StoryWomen Quota BillE Coli Smuggling CaseErika Kirk Event Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh announce second pregnancy: Actress’s old comment on wanting THREE KIDS resurfaces – WATCH After bill defeat, government counters Congress ‘false narrative’ with FAQs NEW DELHI: The concept and nomenclature of Civil Lines, residential areas established by the British and long associated with their proximity to administrative power, may fade into history.As the Centre intensifies its efforts to replace remnants of colonial-era laws and practices with alternatives that are of Indian origin and reflect the country’s culture, the framework ‘Civil Lines’ has been identified as one such legacy for review.TOI has learnt that an extensive exercise is being undertaken to identify vestiges of British rule, aimed at decolonising mindset and embracing indigenous identity. PM Narendra Modi, in Jan, had asked ministers and top bureaucrats to identify colonial-era practices and suggest alternatives that have Indian roots.Originally developed in the 19th century, Civil Lines were planned as exclusive enclaves with better infrastructure, which signified power and proximity to colonial masters. These were built to house “senior colonial civilian officials”. Civil Lines exist in Delhi and several cities across states such as Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Maharashtra. For long, these remained different from other parts of “old” cities or bazaars. “The development of Civil Lines was a part of planned development. On one side of the city, there was cantonment board, and on the other, Civil Lines. This is how cities have developed,” said an urban planner and architect who has done extensively studied British-period planning and architecture.Former DDA commissioner (planning) A K Jain said Civil Lines across the country have been completely transformed in all these years. “In place of bungalows, now you have multi-storeyed buildings; population has increased manifold and these have become part of main cities. So, changing names hardly has any significance.””During the colonial era, about 75 cantonments were developed in India. Civil Lines were the counterpart of the military enclaves,” he added.In the past decade, govt has renamed certain key roads and offices whose original names were iconic to the British era. Some of these include changing the name of Race Course Road in Delhi to Lok Kalyan Marg among others.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosUS Nationals Detained At Srinagar Airport Over Banned Satellite DeviceNo Fuel Shortage: Govt Assures 100% Domestic Gas Supply As India’s LPG Demand Falls 13% In MarchPM Modi Takes ‘Jhalmuri’ Break, Interacts With Locals In West Bengal’s Jhargram Amid Poll CampaignIndia Warns Iran Of Consequences After Attack On Two Tankers In Strait Of HormuzIndia Expands Export Relief After Hormuz Tensions Adds Egypt & Jordan To Shield Trade RoutesCongress Holds Protest After PM Modi’s Address To The Nation On Women’s Reservation Bill SetbackIndia’s Naval Push In Indo-Pacific: IOS Sagar Departs Phuket After Successful Thailand Port CallManipur Streets Erupt As Security Forces Fire Tear Gas On Protesters | WatchManipur Horror: Retired Soldier Among Two Shot Dead In Ukhrul Highway AttackWhat We Know About Indian Ships Hit In Hormuz Strait By Iran Gunboats And Unknown Projectile123Photostories5 style lessons from Amitabh Bachchan’s iconic wardrobeWhy you forget names instantly: It’s not your memory, it’s your attention, and here’s how to fix it5 Horror movies based on real-life events: ‘The Conjuring’, ‘The Exorcist,’ and moreTop 5 sneaker releases of 2026 you shouldn’t missWhy it’s so hard to end long-term relationships as per science, therapist revealsBeautiful Indo-Arabic and Persian baby names quietly used in Indian familiesHe never drank alcohol, yet was diagnosed with severe fatty liver: What this says about modern diets and silent lifestyle risksHow to stop rice flour roti from cracking: 5 proven home tips to make soft and puffed rotiAs Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh announce second pregnancy, a look at Bollywood’s cutest pregnancy announcementsInside Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez’s parenting style: How they’re raising grounded, disciplined teen sons123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingIPL Orange Cap 2026VijayPM Modi LiveWorld Largest EconomySue BirdIce SpicePahalgam Pony Wallah StoryWomen Quota BillE Coli Smuggling CaseErika Kirk Event Scorpio Horoscope Today, April 20, 2026: Avoid quick profit schemes, risky trading, or lending money without documentation MA Baby NEW DELHI: The opposition on Sunday accused PM Narendra Modi of shedding “crocodile tears” over women’s quota, as it stepped up its attack on him for delivering a “political speech in the garb of an address to the nation“. Highlighting that the PM “spewed venom” against the opposition for 29 minutes on Doordarshan, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said, “How could the PM use this platform, funded by taxpayers’ money, to push forward his political agenda when the model code of conduct is in effect… How does EC not take suo motu cognisance of exploitation of govt machinery for pure political purpose?” CPM general secretary MA Baby, in a complaint to CEC Gyanesh Kumar, alleged “serious violation” of the model code of conduct. “The content, tone, and messaging of the address can by no stretch of imagination be termed govt communication. It was blatantly political, targeting the opposition parties… and seeking to influence public opinion, including voters of Tamil Nadu and West Bengal,” he said. CPI’s Rajya Sabha MP Sandosh Kumar P also wrote to CEC seeking an inquiry.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosUS Nationals Detained At Srinagar Airport Over Banned Satellite DeviceNo Fuel Shortage: Govt Assures 100% Domestic Gas Supply As India’s LPG Demand Falls 13% In MarchPM Modi Takes ‘Jhalmuri’ Break, Interacts With Locals In West Bengal’s Jhargram Amid Poll CampaignIndia Warns Iran Of Consequences After Attack On Two Tankers In Strait Of HormuzIndia Expands Export Relief After Hormuz Tensions Adds Egypt & Jordan To Shield Trade RoutesCongress Holds Protest After PM Modi’s Address To The Nation On Women’s Reservation Bill SetbackIndia’s Naval Push In Indo-Pacific: IOS Sagar Departs Phuket After Successful Thailand Port CallManipur Streets Erupt As Security Forces Fire Tear Gas On Protesters | WatchManipur Horror: Retired Soldier Among Two Shot Dead In Ukhrul Highway AttackWhat We Know About Indian Ships Hit In Hormuz Strait By Iran Gunboats And Unknown Projectile123Photostories5 style lessons from Amitabh Bachchan’s iconic wardrobeWhy you forget names instantly: It’s not your memory, it’s your attention, and here’s how to fix it5 Horror movies based on real-life events: ‘The Conjuring’, ‘The Exorcist,’ and moreTop 5 sneaker releases of 2026 you shouldn’t missBeautiful Indo-Arabic and Persian baby names quietly used in Indian familiesHe never drank alcohol, yet was diagnosed with severe fatty liver: What this says about modern diets and silent lifestyle risksHow to stop rice flour roti from cracking: 5 proven home tips to make soft and puffed rotiAs Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh announce second pregnancy, a look at Bollywood’s cutest pregnancy announcementsInside Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez’s parenting style: How they’re raising grounded, disciplined teen sons7 factors driving property price growth in Indian metro cities123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingIPL Orange Cap 2026VijayPM Modi LiveWorld Largest EconomySue BirdIce SpicePahalgam Pony Wallah StoryWomen Quota BillE Coli Smuggling CaseErika Kirk Event PM Modi (PTI image) KOLKATA: PM Narendra Modi sharpened his attack on Trinamool Congress, declaring in rallies across Bengal that “mothers and sisters” would punish it for stymying the women’s reservation bill and urging voters to deliver “maha-punishment” to what he called “maha-jungleraj”, reports Rohit Khanna. Addressing four rallies in six hours Sunday — Bankura’s Barjora, Purulia, Jhargram and Midnapore — before the April 23 phase of the assembly polls, Modi accused TMC and Congress of “conspiring” against women. “Women’s welfare is Modi’s guarantee,” he said, alleging TMC is “maa virodhi (opposed to mothers)”.Trinamool has deceived Bengal’s daughters, who wanted 33% reservation to be implemented from 2029. Modi tried to implement that. If women join the legislature in large numbers, they will speak for their rights. TMC thinks woman MLAs from villages and districts will make them accountable for their misdeeds,” the prime minister said, adding the party “connived with Congress” to block amendments. A brief stop at a jhalmuri shop in Jhargram during the campaign leg drew attention online as BJP pushed for a last-mile voter connect. Modi outlined welfare promises, saying pregnant women would get Rs 21,000 and Rs 5,000 after childbirth, cervical cancer vaccination would be free, and medicines would be available at steep discounts through Jan Aushadhi outlets.Also Read | ‘Do you eat onions?’ PM Modi takes ‘jhalmuri break’ during Bengal poll campaign – watch He also spoke of an annual Rs 36,000 support for women, free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh and dialysis in govt hospitals. Modi accused Trinamool of seeking religion-based reservation. “Muslims are being brought within the ambit of reservation for other backward classes. This is against the Constitution,” he said. He also warned of “infiltration”, saying Bengal risked losing its identity. “Trinamool’s agenda is dangerous. It wants to establish a govt of infiltrators, which will protect religion and language of infiltrators,” he said. Targeting the party on tribal outreach, he alleged it is following the tactic employed by “Nehru to defeat Babasaheb Ambedkar”. The PM said: “BJP nominated the country’s first tribal woman President. Trinamool put up a candidate against her. They played a game to prevent a tribal woman from becoming President.” He alleged tribal districts lagged under Trinamool and land was being usurped by “syndicates”.About the AuthorRohit KhannaRohit Khanna covers sectors like government finance, economy, industry and issues related to financial crime.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosUS Nationals Detained At Srinagar Airport Over Banned Satellite DeviceNo Fuel Shortage: Govt Assures 100% Domestic Gas Supply As India’s LPG Demand Falls 13% In MarchPM Modi Takes ‘Jhalmuri’ Break, Interacts With Locals In West Bengal’s Jhargram Amid Poll CampaignIndia Warns Iran Of Consequences After Attack On Two Tankers In Strait Of HormuzIndia Expands Export Relief After Hormuz Tensions Adds Egypt & Jordan To Shield Trade RoutesCongress Holds Protest After PM Modi’s Address To The Nation On Women’s Reservation Bill SetbackIndia’s Naval Push In Indo-Pacific: IOS Sagar Departs Phuket After Successful Thailand Port CallManipur Streets Erupt As Security Forces Fire Tear Gas On Protesters | WatchManipur Horror: Retired Soldier Among Two Shot Dead In Ukhrul Highway AttackWhat We Know About Indian Ships Hit In Hormuz Strait By Iran Gunboats And Unknown Projectile123Photostories5 style lessons from Amitabh Bachchan’s iconic wardrobeWhy you forget names instantly: It’s not your memory, it’s your attention, and here’s how to fix it5 Horror movies based on real-life events: ‘The Conjuring’, ‘The Exorcist,’ and moreTop 5 sneaker releases of 2026 you shouldn’t missWhy it’s so hard to end long-term relationships as per science, therapist revealsBeautiful Indo-Arabic and Persian baby names quietly used in Indian familiesHe never drank alcohol, yet was diagnosed with severe fatty liver: What this says about modern diets and silent lifestyle risksHow to stop rice flour roti from cracking: 5 proven home tips to make soft and puffed rotiAs Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh announce second pregnancy, a look at Bollywood’s cutest pregnancy announcementsInside Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez’s parenting style: How they’re raising grounded, disciplined teen sons123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingIPL Orange Cap 2026VijayPM Modi LiveWorld Largest EconomySue BirdIce SpicePahalgam Pony Wallah StoryWomen Quota BillE Coli Smuggling CaseErika Kirk Event Libra Horoscope Today, April 20, 2026: Avoid impulse buying, flashy offers, and anything that sounds too easy . NEW DELHI/SRINAGAR: Visiting US national Jeffrey Scott, who was stopped at Srinagar airport after a satellite phone-like device was detected in his baggage — a prima facie violation of provisions of the Indian Telegraph Act — was allowed to fly out of the Valley after it became clear that he had carried the device as a navigational aid for his trekking trips, unaware that its possession and use were banned in India, report Bharti Jain & Naseer Ganai. Sources said the device is commonly used by trekkers in the US, where it is not banned, as a satellite communicator to navigate remote areas without any cellular coverage.Scott and his travel companion Haldar Koushik, an Indian-origin naturalised US citizen who has worked with US govt, reached Kashmir via Delhi and were to fly out from Srinagar to Kathmandu, via Delhi. “Scott, unaware of the ban on satellite phones in India, had carried the device from the US for use as a navigational tool for trekking trips in both J&K and Nepal. A background check by agencies, including RAW, cleared him after it did not find any malicious intent on his part,” a source told TOI. An officer said Scott, who hails from Montana, was neither detained nor arrested. No FIR was registered against him either. “The phone he was carrying is not really a satellite phone like Garmin or Thuraya but a phone-like device that also acts as a satellite communicator. After a background check found him in the clear, he was allowed to fly out. He may leave Srinagar tonight or tomorrow,” the source added. A police officer said such communication devices are restricted in J&K and other parts of the country and they are allowed to be used only after authorisation.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosUS Nationals Detained At Srinagar Airport Over Banned Satellite DeviceNo Fuel Shortage: Govt Assures 100% Domestic Gas Supply As India’s LPG Demand Falls 13% In MarchPM Modi Takes ‘Jhalmuri’ Break, Interacts With Locals In West Bengal’s Jhargram Amid Poll CampaignIndia Warns Iran Of Consequences After Attack On Two Tankers In Strait Of HormuzIndia Expands Export Relief After Hormuz Tensions Adds Egypt & Jordan To Shield Trade RoutesCongress Holds Protest After PM Modi’s Address To The Nation On Women’s Reservation Bill SetbackIndia’s Naval Push In Indo-Pacific: IOS Sagar Departs Phuket After Successful Thailand Port CallManipur Streets Erupt As Security Forces Fire Tear Gas On Protesters | WatchManipur Horror: Retired Soldier Among Two Shot Dead In Ukhrul Highway AttackWhat We Know About Indian Ships Hit In Hormuz Strait By Iran Gunboats And Unknown Projectile123Photostories5 style lessons from Amitabh Bachchan’s iconic wardrobeWhy you forget names instantly: It’s not your memory, it’s your attention, and here’s how to fix it5 Horror movies based on real-life events: ‘The Conjuring’, ‘The Exorcist,’ and moreTop 5 sneaker releases of 2026 you shouldn’t missBeautiful Indo-Arabic and Persian baby names quietly used in Indian familiesHe never drank alcohol, yet was diagnosed with severe fatty liver: What this says about modern diets and silent lifestyle risksHow to stop rice flour roti from cracking: 5 proven home tips to make soft and puffed rotiAs Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh announce second pregnancy, a look at Bollywood’s cutest pregnancy announcementsInside Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez’s parenting style: How they’re raising grounded, disciplined teen sons7 factors driving property price growth in Indian metro cities123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingIPL Orange Cap 2026VijayPM Modi LiveWorld Largest EconomySue BirdIce SpicePahalgam Pony Wallah StoryWomen Quota BillE Coli Smuggling CaseErika Kirk Event Jennifer Aniston reacts to ex-husband Justin Theroux welcoming first child with wife Nicole Brydon Bloom Virgo Horoscope Today, April 20, 2026: Meetings go smoother if you carry a clear agenda ‘Super Mario’ dominates North American box office with USD 747 million haul; Akshay Kumar’s ‘Bhooth Bangla’ debuts among Top 10 | Enforcement Directorate KOLKATA/NEW DELHI: Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Sunday raided the residence of a Kolkata Police DCP (Special Branch), Shantanu Sinha Biswas and arrested city businessman Joy Kamdar in a moneylaundering probe linked to alleged illegal land deals and extortion . The ED action during the Bengal poll season came days after I-T searches at the home of TMC candidate Debashis Kumar and Miraj Shah, one of CM Mamata Banerjee’s nomination proposers in her Bhowanipore seat. “The house of the person who looks after my security has also been raided since this morning. Do you want to kill me? They are raiding us every day. We will file cases for every single incident,” Mamata said at a rally in Tarakeshwar on Sunday. Kamdar, managing director of several firms largely in real estate, was taken into custody after questioning at ED’s office. Searches were carried out at his Behala residence; ED claimed to have recovered Rs 1.2 crore cash. He had earlier skipped two ED summons. ED sleuths also searched DCP Biswas’s Ballygunge home. A former OC of Kalighat Police Station, he was not present. His counsel termed the raids “unanticipated”. The probe stems from alleged illegal land deals and extortion by a syndicate led by history-sheeter Biswajit Podder, aka Sona Pappu. ED said a Toyota Fortuner and a US-made revolver were seized during a recent search. ED sources said illicit funds were routed through shell and front companies to integrate them into legitimate channels.About the AuthorRohit KhannaRohit Khanna covers sectors like government finance, economy, industry and issues related to financial crime.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosUS Nationals Detained At Srinagar Airport Over Banned Satellite DeviceNo Fuel Shortage: Govt Assures 100% Domestic Gas Supply As India’s LPG Demand Falls 13% In MarchPM Modi Takes ‘Jhalmuri’ Break, Interacts With Locals In West Bengal’s Jhargram Amid Poll CampaignIndia Warns Iran Of Consequences After Attack On Two Tankers In Strait Of HormuzIndia Expands Export Relief After Hormuz Tensions Adds Egypt & Jordan To Shield Trade RoutesCongress Holds Protest After PM Modi’s Address To The Nation On Women’s Reservation Bill SetbackIndia’s Naval Push In Indo-Pacific: IOS Sagar Departs Phuket After Successful Thailand Port CallManipur Streets Erupt As Security Forces Fire Tear Gas On Protesters | WatchManipur Horror: Retired Soldier Among Two Shot Dead In Ukhrul Highway AttackWhat We Know About Indian Ships Hit In Hormuz Strait By Iran Gunboats And Unknown Projectile123Photostories5 style lessons from Amitabh Bachchan’s iconic wardrobeWhy you forget names instantly: It’s not your memory, it’s your attention, and here’s how to fix it5 Horror movies based on real-life events: ‘The Conjuring’, ‘The Exorcist,’ and moreTop 5 sneaker releases of 2026 you shouldn’t missBeautiful Indo-Arabic and Persian baby names quietly used in Indian familiesHe never drank alcohol, yet was diagnosed with severe fatty liver: What this says about modern diets and silent lifestyle risksHow to stop rice flour roti from cracking: 5 proven home tips to make soft and puffed rotiAs Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh announce second pregnancy, a look at Bollywood’s cutest pregnancy announcementsInside Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez’s parenting style: How they’re raising grounded, disciplined teen sons7 factors driving property price growth in Indian metro cities123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingIPL Orange Cap 2026VijayPM Modi LiveWorld Largest EconomySue BirdIce SpicePahalgam Pony Wallah StoryWomen Quota BillE Coli Smuggling CaseErika Kirk Event Leo Horoscope Today, April 20, 2026: Venus warms your heart, and you’ll enjoy the company of your spouse ‘Blew a hole in engine room’: Donald Trump claims US seized Iranian vessel TOUSKA in Strait of Hormuz Gemini Horoscope Today, April 20, 2026: Not a good day for investment Government in process to procure compact UAV system for IAF special forces for high-altitude areas Fake contracts, false revenues: Two Indian-origin executives charged in Brooklyn for AI platform scam Cancer Horoscope Today, April 20, 2026: A clear plan will calm your mind more than random searching on property apps Rajnath Singh on Germany visit from Tuesday for defence cooperation; submarine deal talks likely India moves closer to opening nuclear power sector to foreign investment as AEC cleared FDI policy: Official | India News From lab to market: IISc team, surgeon develop dissolving stent to cut 2nd surgeries | India News Aries Horoscope Today, April 20, 2026: Be cautious about health today As Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh announce second pregnancy, an old clip of the ‘Dhurandhar’ actor talking about fatherhood, daddy duty goes viral | Hindi Movie News 12 types of Submarines: A detailed guide to powerful underwater naval vessels Greene: Marjorie Taylor Greene floats claim that Trump’s assassination attempt was staged: ‘What happened in Butler…’ Strait of Hormuz NEW DELHI: “Iranian Navy, Iranian Navy. I will alter to starboard and go back, I will alter to starboard and go back, don’t fire…Sepa Navy, Sepa Navy, motor tanker Sanmar Herald. Sepa Navy, you gave me clearance, you gave me clearance to go. My name is second on your list, you gave me clearance to go. You are firing now, let me turn back.” The distress call from the captain of Indian-flagged oil tanker Sanmar Herald captured vividly the confusion that ensued during the firing in Strait of Hormuz on Saturday as Iran reimposed restrictions on passage casting a shadow on the ceasefire and the movement of ships through the Strait. The over two-minute audio recording on Channel 16, the international marine radio frequency dedicated to emergency, distress, safety, and calling, has the captain of the Indian ship appealing to the Iranian navy not to fire and promising to turn back. Meanwhile, another video recording of the radio communications captured and shared on social media show that Indian cargo ship Bhagya Laxmi was approaching the Strait from UAE waters when it was intercepted. The social media post shows an IRGC operator telling the crew, “Hormuz Strait is blocked and there is no permission for you. You are ordered to go back to your departure immediately.” The Iranian Navy personnel also told the captain to wait forpermission. As per Maritime Traffic data, no ship was crossing the crucial global energy choke point as of Sunday evening. The shipping ministry on Sunday said that one Indian Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) Samnar Herald and another bulk carrier Jag Arnav, returned to the Persian Gulf following a firing incident while transiting the Strait of Hormuz and no injury to any crew has been reported.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosUS Nationals Detained At Srinagar Airport Over Banned Satellite DeviceNo Fuel Shortage: Govt Assures 100% Domestic Gas Supply As India’s LPG Demand Falls 13% In MarchPM Modi Takes ‘Jhalmuri’ Break, Interacts With Locals In West Bengal’s Jhargram Amid Poll CampaignIndia Warns Iran Of Consequences After Attack On Two Tankers In Strait Of HormuzIndia Expands Export Relief After Hormuz Tensions Adds Egypt & Jordan To Shield Trade RoutesCongress Holds Protest After PM Modi’s Address To The Nation On Women’s Reservation Bill SetbackIndia’s Naval Push In Indo-Pacific: IOS Sagar Departs Phuket After Successful Thailand Port CallManipur Streets Erupt As Security Forces Fire Tear Gas On Protesters | WatchManipur Horror: Retired Soldier Among Two Shot Dead In Ukhrul Highway AttackWhat We Know About Indian Ships Hit In Hormuz Strait By Iran Gunboats And Unknown Projectile123Photostories5 style lessons from Amitabh Bachchan’s iconic wardrobeWhy you forget names instantly: It’s not your memory, it’s your attention, and here’s how to fix it5 Horror movies based on real-life events: ‘The Conjuring’, ‘The Exorcist,’ and moreTop 5 sneaker releases of 2026 you shouldn’t missWhy it’s so hard to end long-term relationships as per science, therapist revealsBeautiful Indo-Arabic and Persian baby names quietly used in Indian familiesHe never drank alcohol, yet was diagnosed with severe fatty liver: What this says about modern diets and silent lifestyle risksHow to stop rice flour roti from cracking: 5 proven home tips to make soft and puffed rotiAs Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh announce second pregnancy, a look at Bollywood’s cutest pregnancy announcementsInside Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez’s parenting style: How they’re raising grounded, disciplined teen sons123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingIPL Orange Cap 2026VijayPM Modi LiveWorld Largest EconomySue BirdIce SpicePahalgam Pony Wallah StoryWomen Quota BillE Coli Smuggling CaseErika Kirk Event ‘Dhurandhar’ singer Jasmine Sandlas opens up on her battle with alcoholism: ‘I drank more than I should have and I regret it’ The simple bedroom habit for better sleep and a longer lasting mattress | Taurus Horoscope Today, April 20, 2026: Venus brings sweetness, yet Mercury makes you overthink small things The wax trap: Why your polishing routine is robbing your wood furniture of its natural glow | Bangladeshi student self-deports from US amid ‘inhumane’ ICE detention: ‘I felt completely broken’ Dinesh Trivedi (PTI image) NEW DELHI: India has proposed the name of West Bengal BJP functionary Dinesh Trivedi as the next high commissioner to Bangladesh. According to official sources, Dhaka’s approval is awaited for what would be a rare political appointment in the neighbourhood. Trivedi (75) has served multiple terms as MP in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, and was also railway minister and minister of state for health. He left TMC in 2021 to join BJP. If it goes through, the appointment will come at a sensitive moment in the bilateral relationship when both sides are working towards a reset in ties. Following former PM Sheikh Hasina’s exit, the relationship descended and entered a period of severe strain characterised by border disputes, trade restrictions and heightened rhetoric. However, with the new BNP govt settling in, the relationship is beginning to stabilise although differences remain over critical issues like Hasina’s continued presence in India and what Dhaka calls border killings by Indian security forces. Foreign minister Khalilur Rahman raised the Hasina issue during his recent “goodwill” visit to India. Trivedi’s appointment will be significant as this will be the first time that India will have a political appointee as an ambassador or high commissioner in the immediate neighbourhood since the early 90s. India had appointed JNU professor Bimal Prasad as ambassador to Nepal in 1991. More recently, in the extended Indian Ocean neighbourhood, India appointed former army chief Dalbir Singh Suhag as high commissioner in Seychelles in 2019. There had been speculation for weeks now about a political appointee for Dhaka who would serve there with the status of a minister of state.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosUS Nationals Detained At Srinagar Airport Over Banned Satellite DeviceNo Fuel Shortage: Govt Assures 100% Domestic Gas Supply As India’s LPG Demand Falls 13% In MarchPM Modi Takes ‘Jhalmuri’ Break, Interacts With Locals In West Bengal’s Jhargram Amid Poll CampaignIndia Warns Iran Of Consequences After Attack On Two Tankers In Strait Of HormuzIndia Expands Export Relief After Hormuz Tensions Adds Egypt & Jordan To Shield Trade RoutesCongress Holds Protest After PM Modi’s Address To The Nation On Women’s Reservation Bill SetbackIndia’s Naval Push In Indo-Pacific: IOS Sagar Departs Phuket After Successful Thailand Port CallManipur Streets Erupt As Security Forces Fire Tear Gas On Protesters | WatchManipur Horror: Retired Soldier Among Two Shot Dead In Ukhrul Highway AttackWhat We Know About Indian Ships Hit In Hormuz Strait By Iran Gunboats And Unknown Projectile123Photostories5 style lessons from Amitabh Bachchan’s iconic wardrobeWhy you forget names instantly: It’s not your memory, it’s your attention, and here’s how to fix it5 Horror movies based on real-life events: ‘The Conjuring’, ‘The Exorcist,’ and moreTop 5 sneaker releases of 2026 you shouldn’t missWhy it’s so hard to end long-term relationships as per science, therapist revealsBeautiful Indo-Arabic and Persian baby names quietly used in Indian familiesHe never drank alcohol, yet was diagnosed with severe fatty liver: What this says about modern diets and silent lifestyle risksHow to stop rice flour roti from cracking: 5 proven home tips to make soft and puffed rotiAs Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh announce second pregnancy, a look at Bollywood’s cutest pregnancy announcementsInside Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez’s parenting style: How they’re raising grounded, disciplined teen sons123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingIPL Orange Cap 2026VijayPM Modi LiveWorld Largest EconomySue BirdIce SpicePahalgam Pony Wallah StoryWomen Quota BillE Coli Smuggling CaseErika Kirk Event Don’t let the steam escape: The surprising reason your broccoli is losing its superpowers | PTI image PAHALGAM: A year after the terrorist attack that shook Kashmir’s scenic hill town, tourist arrivals to Pahalgam, have fallen sharply, dimming the vibrancy of what was once among the region’s busiest holiday destinations.Before the attack, the town routinely hosted between 3,000 and 5,000 visitors a day. Today, the numbers tell a different story. Official figures, procured by TOI from the local tourist centre, revealed that from May 2025 to April 15, 2026, Pahalgam recorded 4,30,495 domestic tourists, a steep drop compared to earlier years, when annual footfall ranged between 12 and 15 lakh, with monthly averages hovering around 1 to 1.1 lakh visitors.The decline is particularly striking when contrasted with April 2025, the month of the attack. By April 22, when the attack happened, around 1.37 lakh tourists had already visited the town in 22 days.The drop of tourists in Pahalgam could also be gauged from comparison of data of tourist footfall in the picturesque town from Jan to April 2025, when the total number of visitors for these four months reached 463,390. In contrast, data from Jan to April 2026 shows a sharp decline across all months with just 254,930 tourists, which is almost 45% lower than the same period in 2025. The cumulative drop of over 200,000 tourists suggests a significant negative trend.Yet, amid the downturn, a new and sombre landmark has emerged. A martyrdom memorial, set up by J&K govt near Pahalgam’s popular “Selfie Point” along Lidder river, has become a focal stop for visitors. The memorial bears the names of all the 26 tourists who lost their lives in the attack.For many, the visit is less about leisure and more about remembrance.Along the riverbanks, tourists gather as they always do, some standing on stones to take pictures, some sitting in small groups having snacks, others dipping their feet into the cold water.However, as they approach the memorial, their expression shows what has changed in a year. Their mood shifts. Some stand in silence, reading each name written on the memorial. Others raise their phones to capture the sad moment.The list of 26 begins with Atul Shrikant Mone. It ends with Yatish Bhai Sudhirbhai Pamar. At number 22, is Syed Adil Hussain Shah, a local ponywallah killed while trying to save tourists during the attack.Ravi C, a tourist from Karnataka, said it was his first visit to Pahalgam and he came despite what had happened last year. He was taking pictures of his young child, who was saluting the memorial.Ayaan from Mumbai, travelling with his family, said the violence had not kept him away. “Incidents happen,” he said.Kuldeep Singh, a driver from Punjab, had brought visitors from Punjab. They, too, were reading the names. Kantarajpa, a retired Army officer from Bengaluru, said he wanted to see the place for himself. The attack, he said, has not deterred him.Across the road at the tourist reception centre, officials from the tourism department said visitors have started returning to Pahalgam. They said in the four months after last year’s attack, the resort saw almost no tourists. “Hoteliers had shut their hotels. But with sustained efforts of govt, things are beginning to improve,” said an official.Tourism infrastructure in the area remains substantial, with around 107 hotels, 100 guest houses, and a similar number of homestays recorded by the tourism department. However, officials note that a significant number of unregistered accommodations continue to operate outside formal records.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosUS Nationals Detained At Srinagar Airport Over Banned Satellite DeviceNo Fuel Shortage: Govt Assures 100% Domestic Gas Supply As India’s LPG Demand Falls 13% In MarchPM Modi Takes ‘Jhalmuri’ Break, Interacts With Locals In West Bengal’s Jhargram Amid Poll CampaignIndia Warns Iran Of Consequences After Attack On Two Tankers In Strait Of HormuzIndia Expands Export Relief After Hormuz Tensions Adds Egypt & Jordan To Shield Trade RoutesCongress Holds Protest After PM Modi’s Address To The Nation On Women’s Reservation Bill SetbackIndia’s Naval Push In Indo-Pacific: IOS Sagar Departs Phuket After Successful Thailand Port CallManipur Streets Erupt As Security Forces Fire Tear Gas On Protesters | WatchManipur Horror: Retired Soldier Among Two Shot Dead In Ukhrul Highway AttackWhat We Know About Indian Ships Hit In Hormuz Strait By Iran Gunboats And Unknown Projectile123Photostories5 style lessons from Amitabh Bachchan’s iconic wardrobeWhy you forget names instantly: It’s not your memory, it’s your attention, and here’s how to fix it5 Horror movies based on real-life events: ‘The Conjuring’, ‘The Exorcist,’ and moreTop 5 sneaker releases of 2026 you shouldn’t missBeautiful Indo-Arabic and Persian baby names quietly used in Indian familiesHe never drank alcohol, yet was diagnosed with severe fatty liver: What this says about modern diets and silent lifestyle risksHow to stop rice flour roti from cracking: 5 proven home tips to make soft and puffed rotiAs Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh announce second pregnancy, a look at Bollywood’s cutest pregnancy announcementsInside Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez’s parenting style: How they’re raising grounded, disciplined teen sons7 factors driving property price growth in Indian metro cities123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingIPL Orange Cap 2026VijayPM Modi LiveWorld Largest EconomySue BirdIce SpicePahalgam Pony Wallah StoryWomen Quota BillE Coli Smuggling CaseErika Kirk Event Kentucky lawmakers override veto to pass bill allowing faculty layoffs for financial reasons Beyond the glass: Why your home is losing heat and the simple bubble wrap fix | Horoscope Today: Daily astrological predictions for April 20, 2026 Top 10 car-producing countries in 2026: China leads, the US and Japan follow; know where India ranks . PAHALGAM: A motorable road from Pahalgam town runs through the mountains to a place known locally as CM’s Hut. From there, a roughly 6km trek leads to Baisaran valley, the site of last year’s massacre, when 26 tourists were killed and 17 wounded in a terrorist attack.At the junction near CM’s Hut, the journey stops. Anyone trying to go further along the muddy track is turned back. Police and CRPF personnel appear quickly, mildly reminding visitors the valley is out of bounds. Ponywallahs (local horse guides) do not go beyond this point. Instead, they pause, while tourists take photographs of the Pahalgam bowl from this vantage point and then head back towards Pahalgam town.There are no coils of concertina wire, no visible barricade. Police say they want to avoid alarming visitors. But the closure is felt in quieter ways.Down in the Pahalgam market, pony owners are trying to motivate visitors to at least go up to the junction viewpoint. Abdul Waheed Wani, 39, known locally as “Moulvi Sahab” leads the ponywallahs’ union. Standing on the banks of Lidder, the river that cuts Pahalgam into two, he says Basiran’s closure has changed the town’s rhythm. “People come here to see Baisaran and the four valleys around it. When they are closed, they spend a few hours in Pahalgam town and leave,” he says.Around 5,500 ponywallahs depend on tourism, he says. After last year’s attack, work stopped for almost seven months. “There was nothing to do. Tourists have now started returning, but it is not like before.”He says visitors still ask about whether they can go to Baisaran. “It feels awkward to tell them it is closed,” he says. A year on, he says, the change is visible. “It is not the same Pahalgam after April 22. Earlier, we could move freely and go anywhere. Now there are redlines and accountability. You are accountable if even your horse crosses a redline.”Outside the main taxi stand in Pahalgam, a signboard reads: “Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations.” The stand was full of taxis and drivers were standing in groups chatting, but only a handful of tourists were around.Inside the office, Ghulam Nabi Lone, who has headed it for decades, loves to talk about his life and Pahalgam. Wearing a pheran, the long Kashmiri cloak and sipping tea, he speaks about how he began his career four decades ago driving a military jeep, then an ambassador car. Now he owns three vehicles and has remained president of the taxi stand for nearly 40 years.But, he says, he has never seen a situation like this in Pahalgam. For seven months after the attack, everything came to a halt. “Sadakun par ghaas ug aayee thi (grass had grown on the roads),” he says, describing how there was no movement at all. “Everything was shut. Only Chandanwari was open for some time. Now that too is closed,” he says.Lone says he has raised the issue with officials, including in the recent meeting of senior Army, civil and police officers. “We told them these places, particularly Baisaran, need to open. Without them, tourists will not stay in Pahalgam,” he warns. “If Baisaran opens, tourists will come,” he repeated many times.Lone wants to talk about a security point. He says Baisaran had never been closed before. “I had a ticketing contract there. Many people told me to say that I should tell the media it would remain closed, but I refused. I told them it was never shut before the attack. I even said this in a security meeting,” he says, thus dispelling the rumours that Baisaran was opened by J&K’s elected govt some months before the attack.At Pahalgam police station, officers say there is no clear timeline for reopening of Baisaran. They say Chandanwari has been closed for road construction. Some roads lead nowhere.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosUS Nationals Detained At Srinagar Airport Over Banned Satellite DeviceNo Fuel Shortage: Govt Assures 100% Domestic Gas Supply As India’s LPG Demand Falls 13% In MarchPM Modi Takes ‘Jhalmuri’ Break, Interacts With Locals In West Bengal’s Jhargram Amid Poll CampaignIndia Warns Iran Of Consequences After Attack On Two Tankers In Strait Of HormuzIndia Expands Export Relief After Hormuz Tensions Adds Egypt & Jordan To Shield Trade RoutesCongress Holds Protest After PM Modi’s Address To The Nation On Women’s Reservation Bill SetbackIndia’s Naval Push In Indo-Pacific: IOS Sagar Departs Phuket After Successful Thailand Port CallManipur Streets Erupt As Security Forces Fire Tear Gas On Protesters | WatchManipur Horror: Retired Soldier Among Two Shot Dead In Ukhrul Highway AttackWhat We Know About Indian Ships Hit In Hormuz Strait By Iran Gunboats And Unknown Projectile123Photostories5 style lessons from Amitabh Bachchan’s iconic wardrobeWhy you forget names instantly: It’s not your memory, it’s your attention, and here’s how to fix it5 Horror movies based on real-life events: ‘The Conjuring’, ‘The Exorcist,’ and moreTop 5 sneaker releases of 2026 you shouldn’t missWhy it’s so hard to end long-term relationships as per science, therapist revealsBeautiful Indo-Arabic and Persian baby names quietly used in Indian familiesHe never drank alcohol, yet was diagnosed with severe fatty liver: What this says about modern diets and silent lifestyle risksHow to stop rice flour roti from cracking: 5 proven home tips to make soft and puffed rotiAs Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh announce second pregnancy, a look at Bollywood’s cutest pregnancy announcementsInside Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez’s parenting style: How they’re raising grounded, disciplined teen sons123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingIPL Orange Cap 2026VijayPM Modi LiveWorld Largest EconomySue BirdIce SpicePahalgam Pony Wallah StoryWomen Quota BillE Coli Smuggling CaseErika Kirk Event IPL 2026: ‘Jaw dropping’- Shreyas Iyer stunned by Arya–Connolly destruction show When Arshad Warsi said his children wouldn’t have the pressure that Shah Rukh Khan or Hrithik Roshan’s kids have when they become actors Beyond the gait: Why your shoes wear unevenly and the simple fix in your closet | Sagittarius Horoscope Today, April 20, 2026: If you’re single, a casual conversation at a function can feel meaningful . PAHALGAM: His phone rings often. As president of one of Pahalgam’s largest Ponywallah associations, Abdul Waheed Wani, 39, is rarely out of demand. But he also keeps himself busy to push away memories that still haunt him.Wani was among the first to reach Baisaran valley after the April 22 terrorist attack that left 26 tourists, including a local ponywallah, dead and 17 others wounded. What he saw there, returns to him at night and sometimes even during the day.“What I saw that day I pray no one should ever see,” he says.It was the afternoon of April 22, when he received a call from police saying something untoward had happened in Baisaran. Wani was in a nearby village. He took a shorter route he knew well and reached before police, who had to take a longer trek.“When I reached there, I saw a woman crying, a child crying. Bodies were lying scattered,” Wani says. His brother-in-law, Sajad, was with him. “For a moment, I felt I would not make it back after seeing all this.”As makeshift shops in Baisaran had been abandoned during the attack, he ran to one, picked up a bottle of water and returned to the woman. “I told her police and administration were on the way,” he recalls.Soon after, he sent a message on a WhatsApp group of around 700 ponywallahs, asking all to come and help. Only about 15 managed to reach. Others were stopped by security forces.“We tried to help the wounded,” he says. “Baisaran is a large area and bodies were lying in different places. It took time to bring them together.” He pauses, then says: “These were not ordinary bodies. They had head shots.”Some of the voices he heard that day have stayed with him. One woman, he says, refused to leave. “She kept saying, ‘My husband is here. We were just walking, taking pictures. Where will I go alone?’” he says.He remembers finding a man among seven bodies. Alive. “When we touched him, he spoke. He had bullet wounds in his neck and arm. I still remember his voice when he said what happened to him.”“Those words haunt me,” he adds.Wani says they managed to bring some of the wounded down. “One man we carried on our shoulders, then on a charpai. He survived,” he says.The memories weigh heavily on Wani. “Whenever they return and they do often, I try to keep myself occupied. I move around, find something to do or pick up the phone and call someone,” he adds.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosUS Nationals Detained At Srinagar Airport Over Banned Satellite DeviceNo Fuel Shortage: Govt Assures 100% Domestic Gas Supply As India’s LPG Demand Falls 13% In MarchPM Modi Takes ‘Jhalmuri’ Break, Interacts With Locals In West Bengal’s Jhargram Amid Poll CampaignIndia Warns Iran Of Consequences After Attack On Two Tankers In Strait Of HormuzIndia Expands Export Relief After Hormuz Tensions Adds Egypt & Jordan To Shield Trade RoutesCongress Holds Protest After PM Modi’s Address To The Nation On Women’s Reservation Bill SetbackIndia’s Naval Push In Indo-Pacific: IOS Sagar Departs Phuket After Successful Thailand Port CallManipur Streets Erupt As Security Forces Fire Tear Gas On Protesters | WatchManipur Horror: Retired Soldier Among Two Shot Dead In Ukhrul Highway AttackWhat We Know About Indian Ships Hit In Hormuz Strait By Iran Gunboats And Unknown Projectile123Photostories5 style lessons from Amitabh Bachchan’s iconic wardrobeWhy you forget names instantly: It’s not your memory, it’s your attention, and here’s how to fix it5 Horror movies based on real-life events: ‘The Conjuring’, ‘The Exorcist,’ and moreTop 5 sneaker releases of 2026 you shouldn’t missBeautiful Indo-Arabic and Persian baby names quietly used in Indian familiesHe never drank alcohol, yet was diagnosed with severe fatty liver: What this says about modern diets and silent lifestyle risksHow to stop rice flour roti from cracking: 5 proven home tips to make soft and puffed rotiAs Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh announce second pregnancy, a look at Bollywood’s cutest pregnancy announcementsInside Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez’s parenting style: How they’re raising grounded, disciplined teen sons7 factors driving property price growth in Indian metro cities123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingIPL Orange Cap 2026VijayPM Modi LiveWorld Largest EconomySue BirdIce SpicePahalgam Pony Wallah StoryWomen Quota BillE Coli Smuggling CaseErika Kirk Event Bigg Boss Marathi 6 Winner: Tanvi Kolte lifts the Bigg Boss Marathi 6 trophy, Raqesh Bapat emerges as the first runner up Canada’s Doug Ford to sell $28.9 million private jet ‘as quickly as possible’ after facing scrutiny: ‘Should fly economy like rest of us’ Babban Khan enacting the play In August 1965, when India and Pakistan were engaged in a desperate war on the northern borders, a 22-year-old penniless young man wrote a play in a little over three hours under the street-lights of the old city of Hyderabad. By the time its final curtain came down more than three and a half decades later in 2001, “Adrak Ke Panje’ had been performed more than 10,000 times – often to houseful boards, and occasionally requiring a lathi charge to control crowds – in over 60 countries and in dozens of languages.Babban Khan, who wrote, produced, directed and enacted the central role of a bank clerk in that iconic and blockbuster comedy, passed away after a brief illness at a Hyderabad hospital on Friday night. He was 83.In the 1960s and ‘70s, family planning was the focus of the government’s health policy. The sarkari slogan, “Do ya teen bacche…bas,” was common on billboards and a frequent subject of radio jingles. Later, the catchphrase became a sterner “Ek ya do”. “Adrak Ke Panje” (literally, The Claws of Ginger), addressed the problematic and provocative issue of family planning but in a witty and messy way. Which perhaps was a reason why the play – the title is a metaphor for uncontrolled birth — found the public’s pulse and tickled its funny bone.The protagonist clerk (Ramtoo) has eight kids and a bunch of debtors; from milkman to school master. Yet he never loses his sense of snappy humour and a carefree zest for life. The play’s set was basic. Production cost was minimal. But like a hit Hindi film, ‘Adrak Ke Panje’ would draw huge advance bookings. The actor was even invited to Radio Ceylon’s popular programme, “S Kumar’s ka filmi muqaddama”, generally reserved for Hindi film personalities. In time, the play would also find a place in Guinness Book of Records, and be seen, among others, by film director Francis Ford Coppola, actor Rex Harrison and thriller writer Frederick Forsythe.“Johnny Walker, the film comedian, said that for 15 years he had been making film audiences laugh, but here was a play that made him laugh!,” said a 1970 article in ‘The Illustrated Weekly of India.’Babban was untrained in theatre and had dropped out of college. ‘Adrak Ke Panje’ was born out of real-life experience and characters. His father, who worked in the fire department, died when he was six. “All my siblings died young…I somehow survived to tell the tale,” the playwright told TOI in 2001.Talking to TOI in 1995, the playwright revealed that he had sold his mother’s lone piece of wedding jewelry for Rs 275 to finance the play. “I paid Rs 200 as theatre rent, Rs 30 for printing tickets, Rs 2.50 for an umbrella and Rs 18 on the material for a sherwani, which the tailor stitched in return for a pass to the show,” he said. The first show staged in September 1965 was a flop. But the second wasn’t; it never was thereafter.Analysing the play Bilkiz Alladin wrote in the Weekly, “In the strict sense of the word ‘Adrak Ke Panje’ can hardly be called a play. It has no plot, no tense dramatic situations, and no conflict. It is a string of jokes from beginning to end. Yet one sits through it. Laughing, and one wonders that the end, which is really two hours away, has come so soon. It is very Hyderabadi in essence and flavour, in location, in thought and manner, and in its every little joke. To lovers of old Hyderabad and its Urdu dialects, the play brings a glimpse of the now disappearing, picturesque style of speech.”The play’s super success made Babban a lakhpati in the days when beggars would be happy with a five paisa donation. In a 1979 interview to TOI, Babban Khan admitted to owning three homes in Hyderabad’s swank Banjara Hills, selling off his Mercedes to buy a Volkswagen and decorating his house with Persian carpets, chandeliers and marble statues. By then, he had written another play “Gumbad Ke Kabutar” (Pigeons Of The Dome) which dealt with corruption.In later years, Babban’s home in Shantinagar served as a training centre for upcoming drama artistes and film actors. He personally trained the students. Hundreds of stage lovers and admirers turned up for the funeral on Saturday. Cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle wrote on X, “When we were kids growing up in Hyderabad, Babban Khan’s Adrak ke Panje was a big hit. Sadly, never got to see it and was reminded of it when I read the news of Babban Khan’s death. It ran for over 30 years and I wish now I could catch glimpses of it to celebrate the humour that came naturally to people who speak Dakhni.”(With inputs from Syed Akbar in Hyderabad)About the AuthorAvijit GhoshAvijit Ghosh is an associate editor with The Times of India. He is addicted to films, music, cricket and football—and not necessarily in that order. He is the author of Bandicoots in the Moonlight, Cinema Bhojpuri, 40 Retakes, and now, Up Campus, Down Campus, a novel set in 1980s JNU. He tweets from the handle @cinemawaleghoshRead MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosNo Fuel Shortage: Govt Assures 100% Domestic Gas Supply As India’s LPG Demand Falls 13% In MarchPM Modi Takes ‘Jhalmuri’ Break, Interacts With Locals In West Bengal’s Jhargram Amid Poll CampaignIndia Warns Iran Of Consequences After Attack On Two Tankers In Strait Of HormuzIndia Expands Export Relief After Hormuz Tensions Adds Egypt & Jordan To Shield Trade RoutesCongress Holds Protest After PM Modi’s Address To The Nation On Women’s Reservation Bill SetbackIndia’s Naval Push In Indo-Pacific: IOS Sagar Departs Phuket After Successful Thailand Port CallManipur Streets Erupt As Security Forces Fire Tear Gas On Protesters | WatchManipur Horror: Retired Soldier Among Two Shot Dead In Ukhrul Highway AttackWhat We Know About Indian Ships Hit In Hormuz Strait By Iran Gunboats And Unknown ProjectilePakistan Clears $2Bn UAE Debt As Saudi Extends $3Bn Deposit Term123Photostories5 style lessons from Amitabh Bachchan’s iconic wardrobeWhy you forget names instantly: It’s not your memory, it’s your attention, and here’s how to fix it5 Horror movies based on real-life events: ‘The Conjuring’, ‘The Exorcist,’ and moreTop 5 sneaker releases of 2026 you shouldn’t missBeautiful Indo-Arabic and Persian baby names quietly used in Indian familiesHe never drank alcohol, yet was diagnosed with severe fatty liver: What this says about modern diets and silent lifestyle risksHow to stop rice flour roti from cracking: 5 proven home tips to make soft and puffed rotiAs Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh announce second pregnancy, a look at Bollywood’s cutest pregnancy announcementsInside Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez’s parenting style: How they’re raising grounded, disciplined teen sons7 factors driving property price growth in Indian metro cities123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingIPL Orange Cap 2026VijayPM Modi LiveWorld Largest EconomySue BirdIce SpicePahalgam Pony Wallah StoryWomen Quota BillE Coli Smuggling CaseErika Kirk Event US seizes Iranian vessel in Hormuz; Iran warns ‘retaliation soon’ — what we know