New Delhi (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated on Sunday that the terrorists behind the Pahalgam terror attack and those involved in the conspiracy will be served the most stringent punishment, asserting that the victims will receive justice.
In his Mann Ki Baat address, Modi said the solidarity of Indians in the war against terrorism is the country's biggest strength.
He said his heart is in deep pain and every Indian is seething with anger over the terror strike that killed 26 civilians, mostly tourists.
Modi said the incident reflected the desperation and cowardice of terrorists and their mentors at a time when peace was returning to Kashmir, tourism was seeing a record surge, democracy was turning stronger and new opportunities were being created for the youth.
Enemies of the country and Kashmir did not like it, he said, adding that they wanted the Valley to be destroyed again.
He said, "In the war against terrorism, the unity of the country, the solidarity of 140 crore Indians, is our biggest strength."
The world is watching that India is speaking in one voice against the attack, he said, stressing that this unity is the biggest basis of the decisive battle against terrorism.
Irrespective of the state one lives in and the language one speaks, everyone has deep sympathy for the families of victims, he said.
Terrorists on Tuesday opened fire in Baisaran, a popular tourist spot in the upper reaches of Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district, killing 26 people.
In the monthly broadcast, the prime minister also paid tributes to scientist and former ISRO head K Kasturirangan who passed away on Friday, saying his selfless service to the country and contribution to nation-building will always be remembered.
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Kolkata, May 8 (PTI): In the wake of the unnatural death of a third-year civil engineering student on May 4, the IIT Kharagpur has decided to formally file a First Information Report (FIR) with local police, urging a full investigation into the tragedy.
Acting Director Amit Patra told PTI on Thursday that although police were promptly informed about the discovery of Md Asif Qamar’s body through a written complaint, the process to formally lodge an FIR is now underway and expected to be completed by this evening.
"Needless to say, we always inform police after any such incident, both orally and in writing, as we did in the case of Qamar. We have extended all cooperation to the police," Patra said.
"But IIT Kharagpur is filing a complaint in the form of an FIR over the death of the third-year student, as required under law. We will strictly follow the laid-down procedures to facilitate a police investigation into the boy's death," he added.
The institute’s move comes after the Supreme Court, on May 6, sought to know whether FIRs had been registered in the wake of Qamar’s death, as well as in the case of a NEET aspirant who died by suicide in Kota, Rajasthan.
Although Patra did not directly mention the Supreme Court’s order, the apex court has taken suo motu cognisance of both cases.
It specifically questioned whether IIT Kharagpur had lodged an FIR following Qamar’s death and raised similar concerns regarding the case of the NEET aspirant, who hanged herself in her room in Kota.
Meanwhile, IIT Kharagpur has begun forming a committee to examine the circumstances surrounding recent student suicides and to recommend preventive measures.
The institute has been facing increasing scrutiny after three student suicides were reported on campus since January.
Qamar was found hanging in his room at Pt. Madan Mohan Malaviya (MMM) Hall of Residence just two weeks after the death of Aniket Walkar, a fourth-year student of ocean engineering and naval architecture.
On January 12, the body of third-year undergraduate student Shaon Malik was discovered in his hostel room.
Additionally, in June 2024, Devika Pillai, a fourth-year biotechnology and biochemical engineering student, also died by suicide.