Russian President Vladimir Putin has pardoned a convicted murderer after his decided to enlist for the war in Ukraine. Vladislav Kanyus served less than a year of his 17-year sentence for brutally killing his ex-girlfriend, Vera Pekhteleva, reports suggest.

Kanyus had stabbed his ex-girlfriend 111 times, raped and tortured her for three-and-a-half hours, for breaking up with him. He then strangled her with a cable iron, ultimately killing her, according to The Sun. Hearing her scream, neighbours called the police seven times, but their calls went unanswered.

This revelation came after Vera Pekhteleva’s mother, Oksana, discovered photographs of Kanyus in a military uniform holding a weapon. The mourning mother lamented, “This was a blow at me. My child will rot in her grave and I’ve been deprived of everything – my life, any hope.”

“I don’t live, I exist. This simply finished me off, it just totally finished me off. I am a very strong person. But this lawlessness of our state just pushes me into a dead end. I don’t know what to do next,” she cried.

Women’s rights activist Alyona Popova on Wednesday said that prison authorities confirmed Kanyus’ transfer to Rostov in southern Russia, bordering Ukraine. She shared a letter from the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office dated November 3, stating that Kanyus had been pardoned, and his conviction was expunged by a presidential decree on April 27. 

Oksana is heartbroken and blames Putin for pardoning her daughter’s killer. She is confused by the decision to let him join the war after murdering her daughter and is now worried for her own safety. “How could a cruel murderer be given a weapon? Why is he sent to the front – to defend Russia? He is scum. He is not a human being,” she said.

“[The killer] can at any moment kill any of us, the victims, out of revenge.”

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov defended the policy, saying that Russian prisoners sent to fight in Ukraine are atoning for their crimes “with blood,” AFP reported. “Those convicted, including for serious crimes, are atoning with blood for their crime on the battlefield,” Peskov told reporters.

Bhai Dooj, Bhai Tika (in Nepal) or Bhaubeej (in Maharashtra) is a cherished festival celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters. It is observed on the second day after Diwali, making it the fifth day of the Hindu calendar month of Kartika. Falling on the new moon day, this auspicious occasion typically occurs in October or November, depending on the lunar calendar. Due to difference between the solar cycle and lunar cycle, on which the Hindu calendar is based, festivals are celebrated on different dates every year. Then there is difference in the start of a Tithi (duration of two faces of Moon that is observed from Earth) to celebrate a particular festival due to the alignment of the Moon. This creates confusion sometimes as to when to perform puja and begin celebrations.

This year, Bhai Dooj will be celebrated across India spanning two days to emphasise the special sibling bond.

Bhai Dooj date and shubh muhurat

According to Drik Panchang, Bhai Dooj will start on November 14 and continue till November 15. The panchang further says that the auspicious muhurat will last for a little over two hours on November 14 (Tuesday) – from 01.10pm to 3.19pm.

The Dwitiya tithi will begin at 02:36pm on November 14 and conclude at 01:47pm on November 15.

Significance behind Bhai Dooj date

The choice of this particular date for Bhai Dooj carries cultural and mythological significance. According to one of the popular stories, Lord Krishna visited his sister Subhadra on this day after defeating the demon Narakasura. Subhadra welcomed her brother with warmth and affection, marking the beginning of the tradition of sisters performing aarti and applying tilak on their brothers’ foreheads.

The date of Bhai Dooj is eagerly anticipated by families across India. It is a time when siblings make special efforts to be together, reinforcing the strong ties that bind them.

Several houseboats on Dal lake in Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar were reduced to ashes in a massive fire early this morning, the police said.

Police said the fire broke out at a houseboat near Ghat number 9 of Dal lake, which quickly spread and engulfed other houseboats.

While five houseboats have been completely destroyed, several others suffered damage, officials said.

“There were no immediate reports of injuries or loss of lives in the fire,” they said.

Police said the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.