Delhi Police used an Israeli facial recognition system to identify and arrest two accused persons in an Rs 80 lakh robbery case. The accused were identified as Md Ali and Samir, who were apprehended after police analyzed footage from over 500 CCTV cameras and used the technology to match Md Ali's face with a database, resulting in a 32.09% similarity score. The police recovered Rs 79.5 lakh in cash, a semi-automatic pistol, and other incriminating materials during a raid at Samir's residence. The robbery occurred in the Chandni Chowk area on Monday, when an employee of R K Enterprises was robbed at gunpoint while carrying Rs 80 lakh.
Delhi has been wrapped in a security blanket for Tuesday's 77th Independence Day celebrations, with more than 10,000 personnel manning the area in and around the Red Fort from where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation, the police said.
He halted for a while to let the ambulance pass.
Rediff readers share their best photographs of India from their travels.
The record lies with first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru who did the honours 17 times from 1947 to 1964.
Gandhi was seen sitting behind a few rows of seats, which were occupied by members of the Indian contingent that took part in the recently-held Paris Games.
'Dharmendra, Shashi Kapoor and I were inseparable while we struggled together.' 'When a disillusioned Dharmendra was packing his bags to return home, I prevailed upon him to give himself two months.' 'Five days later, he was signed for Shola Aur Shabnam and I signed Picnic.'
'Given our turbulent neighbourhood, the prime minister is likely to emphasise on democratic dividend as the reason behind India's continuous prosperity.'
The Indian government has sanctioned the creation of the first all-women Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) reserve battalion, consisting of over 1,000 personnel. This move addresses the increasing demands on the force at airports and other vital installations. The new unit will be formed from existing CISF personnel and will be led by a senior commandant-rank officer.
The 21-gun salute is conducted by a specifically-designed cartridge or a blank round which is used to create the sound of firing as opposed to actual shells being fired.
A multi-layered security cover has been put in place to secure the historic Red Fort from where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation on the 75nd Independence Day on Sunday.
'When I met Lakshya for the first time, he was very small but now he has grown up.'
In Rajasthan, Pilani recorded 44.9 degrees Celsius, Phalodi and Churu touched 43.8 degrees Celsius and 43.5 degrees Celsius respectively, while Bikaner and Jaipur registered 43.4 degrees Celsius and 43 degrees Celsius.
For the first time, a home-grown howitzer gun will be used for the ceremonial 21-gun salute during the Independence Day ceremony at Red Fort, Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar said on Wednesday.
The indigenous howitzer gun that was used for the ceremonial salute on Monday has been designed by the Centre-run Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
Setting the tone for his 2024 re-election bid, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday called for waging a war against the 'three evils' of corruption, appeasement and dynastic politics, stepped up the OBC outreach with a mega scheme and exuded confidence he would return to address the nation from the Red Fort next year.
"Singh was seen in a video swinging two swords at Red Fort with intent to motivate or radicalise and energise the violent anti-national elements indulging in brutal assault or attack on police persons on duty with swords, 'khandas', iron rods, axes, 'barsaas', sticks etc and damaging historical monument Red Fort on Republic Day," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Pramod Singh Kushwah said.
After videos went viral on social media showing actor-turned-activist Deep Sidhu handing over a flag to a man to hoist on the ramparts of the Red Fort on the Republic Day during the farmers' tractor rally, farmer leaders on Wednesday raised doubts over his political affiliation, claiming that "he is a worker of the Bharatiya Janata Party".
Modi said laws which divide the country on communal lines and become a reason for inequality have no place in a modern society.
Two persons, including a 21-year-old man who assaulted a policeman on duty at Red Fort with a spear on January 26, has been arrested in connection with the violence at the historic monument, police said on Wednesday.
'In front of Aurangzeb's tyrannical thinking, Guru Tegh Bahadurji, becoming 'Hind di Chadar', stood like a rock.'
'Fifteen days ago, we were only talking of Ayodhya. Now we are talking about farmers.'
'The Election Commission's involvement in the avoidable SIR controversy has carried a message down to the last voter -- who just does not like it,' observes N Sathiya Moorthy.
As India crossed the 1 billion COVID-19 vaccination milestone, heritage sites and monuments across the country were lit up in tricolour lights on October, 21, 2021.
Glimpses from the preparations and rehearsal for Independence Day.
As the preparations are in full swing, here's what to expect at this year's Independence Day in different parts of the country.
They also said adequate measures have been taken to prevent kites, balloons, drones, or any manned or unmanned flying objects to reach the area where the Independence Day function will be held on August 15.
Two magazines with 20 live cartridges were snatched from two constables by protestors who also damaged vehicles and robbed anti-riot gears during the violence at Red Fort on Republic Day, according to the first information report (FIR) filed in connection with the incident.
"The people of Manipur should build on the peace that has been restored over the past few days. The path for a solution will be found through peace in Manipur," the Prime Minister said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chose a saffron headgear with red patterns and a long tail for the 75th Independence Day celebrations at the historic Red Fort in New Delhi on Sunday.
The Independence Day celebration at the iconic Red Fort in Delhi this year will be a low-key affair due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. Security arrangements and preparations have been made differently keeping in mind social distancing due to the coronavirus COVID-19 crisis. Here's what to expect at this year's Independence Day.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed the argument that a three-judge bench, rather than a two-judge bench, should hear appeals of convicts in the 2002 Godhra train burning case. The court found that the Gujarat High Court commuted the death penalty to life imprisonment, therefore not requiring a three-judge bench. The hearing of the appeals will continue on Wednesday, with the state government seeking restoration of the death sentences of 11 convicts.
There will be around 4,000 security personnel at the Red Fort and they will stand in adherence with social distancing norms.
Security personnel have also been deployed at the Red Fort.
'The Modi government must tell us what this person's connection with the BJP is.'
Metropolitan Magistrate Prigya Gupta sent Sidhu to the custody after the police alleged he was one of the main instigators of the violent incidents at the Red Fort.
While the first chopper was controlled by Wing Commander Baldev Singh Bisht, the second was commanded by Wing Commander Nikhil Mehrotra.
A court in Chandigarh has issued notices to Kangana on a complaint accusing them of maligning the image of Sikhs in her upcoming movie Emergency.
Police personnel checked vehicles and conducted flag marches at various places in Punjab on Wednesday while central forces maintained a tight vigil in Tripura.
