1. Migrant worker from UP killed by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir
2. Maratha Quota: Houses of 2 NCP Leaders, Civic Office Torched as Protests Intensify; 3 NDA Legislators Resign
3. IAF activates 3 S-400 missile units on the China, Pak border; meeting with Russian officials soon to discuss final delivery schedule
4. India needs to take a ‘consistent position’ on terrorism, says Jaishankar
5. Rajnath says ‘might is right’ has no place in Indian Ocean amid China’s rise

What Else

6. Kerala blast accused Dominic charged under sections of the Explosive Substances Act, UAPA: Kochi Police At security forum meet in Beijing, China and Russia aim for US
7. Pakistan: Military officers, judges accountable under NAB law: SC judge
8. Pakistan shuts Afghan schools as deadline for deportation approaches
9. Children in PoK suffer due to fractured education infrastructure

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Migrant worker from UP killed by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir

• A migrant worker from UP was shot dead by terrorists in the Nowpora southern Kashmir’s Pulwama on Mon, making it the 3^rd attack in the valley in the last 24 hours.
• The series of attacks forced the police to heighten security across the Kashmir Valley, even as a joint combing operation with paramilitary force CRPF is ongoing.
• Mon’s attack comes a day after a J&K Police inspector was shot and injured by terrorists.
• This comes at a time when a joint team of police and the Indian Army are fending off terrorists from infiltrating the valley through the Line of Control.
• During the operation, a terrorist was gunned down in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district, police said. (here)

Maratha Quota: Houses of 2 NCP Leaders, Civic Office Torched as Protests Intensify; 3 NDA Legislators Resign

• As fresh protests erupted over the Maratha Quota issue in Maharashtra, the houses of two leaders of NCP’s Sharad Pawar faction were set ablaze in Beed on Mon.
• Videos of protestors vandalizing and setting the residence of MLA Prakash Solanke and Sandeep Kshirsagar in Beed on fire went viral.
• Vehicles parked inside the house were also set ablaze by the agitators.
• Earlier today, the office of former minister Jaydattaji Kshirsagar, who is now a member of the Eknath Shinde faction and an NCP office was also torched Beed as fresh violence sparked in several districts of Maharashtra.
• In separate incidents, protesters set the first floor of a municipal council building on fire and vandalized it in Beed district.
• The office of BJP MLA Prashant Bamb was vandalized in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, according to police. (here)

IAF activates 3 S-400 missile units on the China, Pak border; meeting with Russian officials soon to discuss final delivery schedule

• With the Air Force already operationalized three of its S-400 air defense missile squadrons along borders with China and Pakistan
• Indian and Russian officials are set to meet soon to discuss the final delivery schedule for the remaining two squadrons.
• India had signed an over Rs 35k crore contract with Russia in 2018-19 for 5 squadrons of the S-400 missiles of which 3 have arrived but 2 were hindered due to the conflict.
• The Russian and Indian officials would be soon meeting again to discuss the final delivery schedule of the remaining two missile squadrons, sources said. (here)

India needs to take a ‘consistent position’ on terrorism, says Jaishankar

• External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said that the country must consider terrorism as serious when it impacts other countries, otherwise, the nation will lose its credibility.
• He said that New Delhi takes a strong position on terrorism because “we are big victims of terrorism”.
• The foreign minister said that India “will have no credibility if we say that when terrorism impacts us, it’s very serious; when it happens to somebody else, it’s not serious”.
• His comments came amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, which has escalated tensions across West Asia, with fears of spillover in the region.
• He didn’t directly mention the Israel war, but his remarks can be seen as a veiled reference to it.

Rajnath says ‘might is right’ has no place in Indian Ocean amid China’s rise

• Defense minister Rajnath Singh on Mon said no single country should dominate others in a hegemonic manner in the IOR while making a fresh call for a free, open and rule-based maritime order in the vast stretch.
• “‘Might is right’ has no place in such a maritime order,” Singh said at the 4^th Goa Maritime Conclave attended by top naval officials from 13 countries.
• This comes against the backdrop of China’s expanding influence in the region by setting up military bases, bullying countries to advance unlawful maritime claims, and ensnaring vulnerable states in unsustainable debts to force strategic concessions.
• He said the common security and prosperity of all stakeholders cannot be preserved without them adhering to the legitimate maritime rules of engagement.
• “Fair rules of engagement are crucial for fostering collaboration and ensuring that no single country dominates others in a hegemonic manner.”
• The hosted by the Indian Navy, began on Oct 29 and is being attended by rep from Comoros, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaysia, the Maldives, Mauritius, Myanmar, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. (here)

Kerala blast accused Dominic charged under sections of the Explosive Substances Act, UAPA: Kochi Police

• Kerala blast accused Dominic Martin has been charged under the UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act) and Explosive Substances Act.
• Dominic Martin surrendered after claiming responsibility for carrying multiple blasts in the Ernakulum district of the state during a religious prayer event a day ago.
• Multiple explosions took place at a prayer meeting of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Kalamassery area of Kochi at around 9:00 a.m. on Sun.
• Meanwhile, the death toll in the twin blasts rose to 3 after a 12-year-old girl, identified as Libina from Malayattoor, succumbed to her injuries in the early hours of Mon.
• Pinarayi Vijayan, the Chief Minister of Kerala on Mon convened an all-party meeting following the incident of blasts. (here)

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

At security forum meet in Beijing, China and Russia aim for US

• Chinese and Russian military chiefs targeted the US for criticism at a security forum in Beijing on Mon, even as China’s 2^nd-most-senior military commander vowed to boost defense ties with Washington.
• The lack of regular communication between the US and Chinese militaries has been a persistent worry for Washington amid tensions between the two and the risk of an accidental clash in the South China Sea or near Taiwan.
• China’s biggest annual show of military diplomacy began Sun without the defense minister, who typically hosts the event, but included a US delegation amid roiling regional tensions.
• Russia’s Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu warned the West that its involvement in the Ukraine war created grave danger.
• But in other parts of his speech, Zhang stressed the need for improved military ties with the US. (here)

Pakistan: Military officers, judges accountable under NAB law: SC judge

• Supreme Court’s Justice Mansoor Ali Shah issued a 27-page dissenting note on the NAB amendments verdict, observing that members of the armed forces and judges are accountable under the accountability laws.
• In a majority 2-1 verdict, the court on Sept 15 annulled some amendments made to the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999 during the tenure of the previous PDM-led govt.
• In the dissenting note issued today, Justice Shah said during over 50 dates of hearings in the case, the SC judge said a question was also raised as to whether the judges of the constitutional court and the members of the armed forces enjoy exemption from the NAB Ordinance. (here)

Pakistan shuts Afghan schools as deadline for deportation approaches

• Following Pakistan’s decision to expel nearly 1.7 million foreign nationals, primarily Afghans, schools teaching Afghan children in Pakistan have started closing their doors.
• The closure of schools is primarily affecting Afghan girls in Pakistan as it may mark the end of their education for the foreseeable future.
• Leading to this, many of Afghan women are forced to return to Afghanistan, where the Taliban govt has already prohibited them from accessing secondary education. (here)

Children in PoK suffer due to fractured education infrastructure

• Poorly maintained school premises with no classrooms, no benches, no toilets, and no blackboard – this is the harsh reality of school infrastructure in PoK.
• The students of Gahal Jabra village in Hattian Bala district of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir are forced to study under the open sky
• The area was affected due to an earthquake some 18 years ago and since then no attention has been paid by the authorities. (here)