The Home Ministry has designated Lakhbir Singh Landa, a 33-year-old Canada-based gangster, as a terrorist under the stringent anti-terror law UAPA. Landa was involved in a rocket attack on the Punjab Police Intelligence Headquarters in Mohali in 2021, among other terrorist activities, according to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

Born in Punjab’s Tarn Taran district in 1989, Landa fled to Canada in 2017. The MHA identifies him as a member of the notorious Khalistani group, Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). Landa is believed to have close ties with Harvinder Singh, also known as Rinda, a gangster based in Pakistan who has collaborated with the BKI.

According to the Home Ministry, Landa was not only responsible for the rocket attack in Mohali but also involved in the supply of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), arms, sophisticated weapons, and explosives from across the border to various modules engaged in terrorist activities in Punjab.

The Home Ministry in its notification said Landa is involved in various criminal cases related to the formation of terror modules, extortion, killings, planting IEDs, smuggling weapons and narcotics, and utilising funds for terrorist acts not only in Punjab but also in other parts of the country.

Landa had close ties to several Khalistani terrorists based in Canada, including Gurpatwant Singh Pannun of Sikhs for Justice and the late Hardeep Singh Nijjar of the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), among others.

PM Modi Ayodhya Visit Live Updates: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be arriving shortly in the temple town of Ayodhya to inaugurate the Maharishi Valmiki International Airport Ayodhya Dham airport as well as the redeveloped railway station. The prime minister’s visit comes weeks before the grand consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple on January 22. 

In a four-hour long visit, the Prime Minister will also launch or lay foundation stones for 46 infrastructure projects costing ₹ 15,700 crore. PM Modi will also inaugurate beautified roads, a medical college, the Ayodhya bypass, a solid waste treatment and five parking and commercial facilities. “Our government is determined to develop world-class infrastructure, improve connectivity and preserve the rich heritage of Ayodhya, the city of Lord Shri Ram. In this direction, I will inaugurate the newly constructed airport and redeveloped railway station tomorrow. Along with this, I will also get the privilege of inaugurating and laying the foundation stone of many more development projects, which will make the life of my family members in many areas of the country, including Ayodhya and UP, easier,” the prime minister said in a post on X yesterday. 

The Ayodhya airport, which will start operations from January 6, has been developed at a cost of over ₹1,450 crore and will serve nearly 10 lakh passengers annually. Flights from big cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Ahmedabad will bring in devotees from across India to the grand temple of Lord Ram after its consecration. The ₹ 240 crore redeveloped railway station renamed to the Ayodhya Dham junction will be a three-storey facility with food plazas and waiting rooms.

Here are the LIVE Updates on Ayodhya Airport Inauguration:

Union Minister and Amethi MP Smriti Irani came down on an education officer after meeting retired school teachers who still haven’t been paid their dues.

Ms Irani is on a 3-day visit to her parliamentary constituency Amethi. While attending an event on Friday, she was approached by a group of upset retired school teachers who complained about unpaid salaries.

She immediately called up the district inspector of schools and asked him to clear all the pendencies right away.

“Whatever pendency you have on your desk, clear it today itself,” Ms Irani tells the officer.

The video of the BJP MP’s conversation with the education officer has gone viral on social media. She can be heard telling the officer that every person staying in Amethi comes to her directly with their problems.

“Display some humanity. This is Amethi, every citizen here has access to me,” she says.

She told the officer that the Yogi Adityanath government also wants that the teachers should get their dues, so he should take action immediately.