The HQ 101 Area Shillong on Apr 24, which has the unique distinction of having taken part in active combat operations despite being a logistic formation, celebrated 60 glorious years of service to the nation.

The 101 Communication Zone, as it was then called, was raised in 1963 in the aftermath of the Chinese aggression for providing logistic support to all formations and units in the Northeast.

It undertook counter-insurgency operations in Mizoram from 1966-69. During the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, it took part in operations in Sylhet and Mymensingh districts of erstwhile East Pakistan (now Bangladesh).

It was the first formation to reach Dhaka (then Dacca) on the morning of December 16, 1971 leading to surrender by Pakistan that afternoon, earning it the name “First in Dacca”.

The celebration on Apr 24  commenced with a solemn ceremony to pay tributes to the bravehearts at the Shillong War Memorial by Army’s Eastern Commander Lt Gen Rana Pratap Kalita. Major General RK Jha, Officiating General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 101 Area and all soldiers also paid tributes.

The Bar Council of India (BCI) on Apr 23  passed a resolution opposing the grant of legal recognition to same-sex marriage in the country.

BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra said the resolution has been passed by the Bar after holding a meeting with representatives of all State Bar Councils.

As per documented history, BCI said ever since the inception of human civilization and culture, marriage has been typically accepted and categorized as a union of biological man and woman for the twin purpose of procreation and recreation. In such background, it would be catastrophic to overhaul something as fundamental as the conception of marriage by any Law Court, howsoever well-intentioned it may be.

Issues pertaining to social and religious connotations should typically be dealt with by Courts through the doctrine of deference, the Bar Council said.

The Constitution Bench comprising the Chief Justice, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Justice Ravindra Bhat, Justice Hima Kohli and Justice PS Narasimha is dealing with a batch of petitions pertaining to 'marriage equality rights for the LGBTQI+ community'.

The Constitution Bench started hearing the petitions on April 18.

The Congress targeted the central government over the CBI summons to former Jammu and Kashmir governor Satya Pal Malik, saying it is intended to send out a message to him and all those speaking the truth to remain silent.

Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said that though the summons itself is not surprising, what has come as a surprise is that the "vengeful" act came 10 days after he raised relevant and pertinent questions related to national security.

The CBI has asked Malik to answer certain queries in connection with an alleged insurance scam in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

This is the second time in seven months that Malik will be questioned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

He was questioned in October last year after he concluded his gubernatorial responsibilities in Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Goa and Meghalaya.

Khera said Malik had pointed to the prime minister in a telephonic conversation that the Pulwama terrorist attack on February 14, 2019 was due to a security lapse, "but the prime minister asked him to keep quiet".

Madhav has strongly rejected the charge.

Gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed's lawyer Khan Shoulat Hanif has been booked for criminal conspiracy in the Umesh Pal murder case.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (City) Deepak Bhukar said Hanif's name was added under Section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code to the FIR registered at Dhoomanganj police station in the Umesh Pal murder case.

Asad, the third of Ahmed's five sons, was killed in a police encounter in Jhansi on April 13.

Sources said the police might soon file a remand application in court to interrogate Hanif, who is currently lodged in Naini Central Prison after being sentenced to life imprisonment in the Umesh Pal kidnapping case.

Umesh Pal, a key witness in the murder of BSP MLA Raju Pal, and his two security personnel were shot dead on February 24.

On February 25, the police registered a case against Ahmed, his brother Ashraf, wife Shaista Parveen, two sons, aides Guddu Muslim and Ghulam, and nine other accomplices at Dhoomanganj police station.

A special court on March 28 convicted Ahmed, Hanif and Dinesh Pasi and sentenced them to life in prison in the 17-year-old kidnapping case.

Hanif and Pasi were detained in Naini Central Prison while Ahmed was sent to Sabarmati Central Jail in Gujarat's Ahmedabad.

Ahmed, a former Samajwadi Party MP, and Ashraf were shot dead on April 15 by three assailants when they were being taken by the police for a medical examination.

Two women Naxalites, collectively carrying a reward of Rs 28 lakh on their heads, were killed in an encounter with security forces in Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh.

The face-off took place in Kadla forest area under Garhi police station limits in the wee hours, Superintendent of Police (SP) Sameer Saurabh said.

The deceased Naxalites were identified as Sunita, an Area Committee Member (ACM) and Commander of Bhoramdev Committee, a wing of the Maoists, and Sarita Khatia Mocha, ACM and active in Vistar Dalam .

Both of them were carrying a reward of Rs 14 lakh each . Guns, cartridges, some other ammunition and Naxal literature were recovered from them.

Himachal Pradesh BJP chief Suresh Kashyap  has resigned from his post ahead of the Shimla Municipal Corporation polls, citing personal reasons and thus paving way for the appointment of the new state party chief.

Kashyap was appointed state party president in May 2020 as he had then succeeded Dr Rajiv Bindal who resigned from his post.

India’s easternmost Changlang district in Arunachal Pradesh received the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration in the category of “innovation” for its initiative New Age Learning Centre (NALC).

The NALC is a flexible, state-of-the-art, futuristic, leisure learning space-cum-library established in the Miao subdivision to enable people from all age groups to learn and improve every aspect of their personality. The space is designed as per the comfort needs and demands of the users. Anyone can access the facilities at zero membership fees.

The initiative is the brainchild of Changlang District Magistrate Sunny K Singh. 

Veteran CPI(M) leader and former member of its central committee Madan Ghosh died at his residence in Bardhaman.

Ghosh, who died at the age of 81 years, was also a member of CPI(M)'s West Bengal state committee.