CISF holds special conferences to make air travel more secure
Senior security officials from across southern India gathered at Cochin International Airport this week for a two-day Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) operational conference aimed at making air travel both secure and passenger-friendly. The conference, held Sept. 11–12, was inaugurated by Praveer Ranjan, IPS, Special Director General (APS), in the presence of Jose Mohan, IPS, Inspector General of CISF. Top airport security chiefs discussed issues that directly affect travelers, including smoother security checks, improved coordination between agencies, and reducing hassles while maintaining safety. Cochin airport’s IT team showcased new technologies designed to streamline procedures without compromising security. Demonstrations included AI-enabled surveillance, full-body scanners, advanced intrusion detection systems, and cyber security upgrades. Officials said the tools are expected to cut down on long lines while keeping airports more efficient. “The focus is on making security dynamic and people-centric,” Ranjan said, stressing that while threats continue to evolve, passenger comfort and convenience must remain priorities. The Kochi conference was part of a series of regional workshops following a high-level meeting in New Delhi earlier this year. Similar events in Guwahati and now Kochi provide opportunities for security officials to share ground-level feedback and implement practical improvements. For passengers, this translates into faster screening, simplified processes, and safer journeys. The event also saw the inauguration of new welfare facilities for CISF personnel, underscoring the force’s emphasis on staff well-being. Officials said investing in workforce morale indirectly benefits travelers by ensuring alert and motivated security teams. With Cochin International Airport serving as a major gateway in southern India, authorities emphasized that adopting advanced technologies and people-friendly practices is essential. The conference highlighted the dual mission of strengthening defenses while ensuring air travel remains smooth and stress-free for millions of passengers each year.
Gang rape of college student reported near temple town Puri: police arrest two
A 19-year-old college student was allegedly gang-raped by a group of youths in a casuarina grove near a beach in Odisha’s Puri district, police said Monday. The incident, which occurred on Saturday evening about 20 kilometers from Puri town, has led to the arrest of two suspects, while one more has been detained. Police said additional individuals are believed to be involved and a search operation is underway. According to the complaint, the woman had gone to the beach with a male friend when several local youths allegedly began filming and photographing them on their mobile phones. When the couple objected, the group attacked them, police said. The friend was reportedly beaten and tied up, while the assailants dragged the woman into a nearby casuarina grove about 500 meters away, where she was gang-raped. The woman lodged a complaint at the local police station two days later, on Monday evening. Puri Superintendent of Police Prateek Singh said the survivor initially hesitated to narrate the ordeal because of trauma. “After women police officers spoke to her, she gathered courage and filed a complaint. We immediately arrested two men and detained another. We suspect more people are involved and are investigating further,” Singh told reporters. Another police official said the accused had also attempted to extort money from the couple by threatening to circulate the photographs and videos they had taken. “When the demand was resisted, the situation escalated,” the officer said. The case has drawn comparisons to a similar crime reported in May in Odisha’s Ganjam district, where a college student was allegedly abducted from Gopalpur beach and gang-raped by a group of youths. Puri’s beaches are popular tourist destinations and remain crowded throughout the year, though the latest survivor and her friend are both residents of the district, police said. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of women in coastal areas of the state, with calls for stronger policing of isolated stretches near beaches. Police said they are analyzing digital evidence and continuing raids to apprehend the remaining suspects.
Idols vandalized at Kushtia temple in Bangladesh ahead of Durga Puja
Miscreants vandalized idols at a Hindu temple in Bangladesh ahead of the Durga Puja festival, underscoring rising anti-Hindu violence under Muhammad Yunus’ interim government. Local media reported that the attack took place Sunday night at the Shwarupdah Palpara Sri Sri Rakhha Kali Temple in Kushtia district’s Mirpur upazila. Vandals smashed the heads and hands of the idols of Kartik and Saraswati and stole a security camera along with its memory card. “At the time of the incident, there was no electricity in the area, and it was raining lightly. Taking advantage of the situation, the idols were vandalized,” said temple committee president Amaresh Ghosh, quoted by The Business Standard. He said the temple, a temporary tin-shed structure, is usually guarded but was vulnerable during load-shedding. “For the past three years, we have been organizing Durga Puja here. This incident has left us in fear,” added Badal Kumar Dey, the temple’s former secretary. Mominul Islam, officer-in-charge of Mirpur Police Station, confirmed the attack and said a report would follow after investigation. The Kushtia vandalism is the latest in a series of assaults on Hindu temples and minorities since Yunus assumed office in August 2024, following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League government. Critics say the interim administration has allowed radical Islamic groups to operate freely, fueling violence and lawlessness. The incident comes amid controversy over recent remarks by Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, the government’s home affairs adviser, who reportedly described Hindu rituals as “gatherings of liquor and drugs.” The Awami League condemned the comments, calling them “deeply disrespectful” and accusing Chowdhury of inciting religious hatred. “The home affairs adviser of the illegitimate Yunus government has shattered the spirit of Bangladesh’s Liberation War,” the party said in a statement. Durga Puja, the largest religious festival for Bangladesh’s Hindu minority, is set to begin next month. Community leaders warn that growing hostility and repeated attacks have created an atmosphere of fear and insecurity ahead of the celebrations.
