FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2026 1 INDIA THIS WEEK A Weekly Newspaper Featuring News and Trends from the Indian Sub-Continent Published From the US Capital Web Site: WWW.Indiathisweek.us Volume 36 No. 40 Washington DC. Phone: 301-445-0200; 301-917-4800; 301-445-1868 E-Mail: indiathisweekads@gmail.com Friday October 2, 2026 Asian Games 2026: India secures women’s compound archery team gold, beats China in final Aichi-Nagoya [Japan], September 30 (ANI): The Indian archery trio of Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Chikitha Taniparthi and Prithika Pradeep secured a sensational gold medal for the nation, beating China in the final of the women’s compound archery team event at the ongoing Asian Games in Japan on Wednesday. Indian archers were absolutely clinical in the title clash against China, beating them 238-234. India maintained their lead right from the first rotation, giving Jyothi her fourth Asian Games gold and a first Asiad gold medal to Chikitha and Prithika on their debuts. This is India’s seventh gold at the Asian Games and takes the tally to 53 medals, including 21 silvers and 25 bronze medals. They equalled South Korea’s world record of 238, set in 2014, to secure the gold. China started the gold medal match with three nines, finishing the first rotation with 27 points. On the other hand, the Indian trio started with three tens, making it a 3027 lead for India. China bounced back with two tens in the second rotation, while India also responded with three tens, making it India lead of 60-57 at the end of the second rotation. One of China’s earlier nines was converted to a 10, making it a 60-58 lead for India. In the third rotation, China started with a nine and two backto-back tens. Chikitha registered India’s first nine, dropping a point, while Prithika and Jyothi each scored 10s each, keeping India’s lead intact at 89-87. Halfway point, India was leading 119-116, with China registering two 10s and a nine to end the first half, while India maintained a perfect re- “Played cohesively as a unit”: India’s kabaddi captains Sunil, Pushpa hail golden sweep at Asian Games By Vivek Prabhakar Singh | cord of three 10s. The second half started with three tens from China and a nine and two tens from India, with India still maintaining a two-point lead at 148146. China just could not get those three perfect tens, while India got theirs in the next rotation, and India’s lead increased by one point to 178-175. After a review, one of China’s early nine-point was upgraded to 10, making it 178-176 in arCeHerY: Gold Medal See PaGe 4 New Delhi [India] September 28 (ANI): Indian men’s and women’s kabaddi team captains Sunil Kumar and Pushpa Rana credited teamwork, hard work and the guidance of coaches after India completed a golden sweep in kabaddi at the Asian Games 2026, with both teams defeating Iran in closely fought finals. While the women’s team edged past Iran 37-34 to successfully defend their title, the men’s side produced a second-half comeback to prevail 40-34 and clinch a record ninth Asian Games gold in the discipline.Both men’s and women’s kabaddi contingents received a grand welcome at the Delhi Airport on Sunday night. Speaking to ANI, Sunil Kumar credited the team’s unity and collective effort for their Asian Games gold medal victory, saying that a captain alone cannot win a tournament. He added that he will continue striving to win more gold medals for Team India.”No captain can win a tournament alone; it requires a team. Our team played cohesively as a unit, and that is why we won the gold. I will keep winning gold for Team India,” he said. Meanwhile, Indian women’s kabaddi team captain Pushpa Rana expressed her happiness over the warm welcome received by the team and said the moment of hearing the national anthem after Kabbadi Gold Medal See PaGe 6 ‘Save Democracy March’ from Oct 2-8: INDIA bloc steps up stir against CEC; BJP hits back, calls it “frustration after defeat” New Delhi [India], September 30 (ANI): Presenting a united front against the Election Commission, the INDIA bloc parties on Wednesday demanded the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, a rollback of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), and a return to ballot papers for future elections, sharp- ly escalating its political confrontation with the poll body. Following an INDIA bloc coordination meeting at the Constitution Club in New Delhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge announced a nationwide protest programme, saying that INDIA bloc leaders would hold a “Save Democracy March” at the district level Remember: “The lust for power, for dominating others, inflames the heart more than any other passion.” Tacitus from October 2 to October 8. He further said that opposition MPs would march to the Election Commission on October 6, while opposition leaders would meet President Droupadi Murmu in the second week of October to raise concerns over alleged institutional issues. This prompted criticism from the BJP, with Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan attacking the Opposition over its allegations, saying, “If they win, democracy zindabad; if they lose, Election Commission murdabad”, and termed the criticism a result of “frustration after defeat.” The parties par- ticipating in the meeting were Congress, SP, AITC, NCP(SP), SS (UBT), RJD, CPM, CPI, JKNC, JKPDP, JMM, CPI-ML, IUML, KC(M), MDMK, VCK, RSP, KC(J) and AIFB. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav skipped the meeting but sent two SP MPs to attend it. Listing the bloc’s non-negotiable demands, Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal accused the CEC of “rigging” elections. “Our non-negotiable demands are: Gyanesh Kumar’s immediate removal, use of pre-SIR electoral rolls for all future elections, use of ballot papers and not EVMs iNdia bloC See PaGe 3
INDIA THIS WEEK FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2026 Himachal monsoon damage crosses Rs. 3,220 crore, 373 dead; central team begins four-day assessment Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India, September 28: The northern Indian hill state of Himachal Pradesh has suffered cumulative losses of more than Rs. 3,220 crore during the 91-day monsoon period from June 30 to September 28, with 373 people losing their lives, according to the latest state disaster data. The latest assessment comes as a seven-member Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) began its four-day visit to Himachal Pradesh on Monday to undertake an on-the-spot assessment of damage caused by cloudbursts, flash floods, landslides and other rain-related incidents. The state government has submitted a memorandum seeking around Rs. 3,200 crore in assistance for the monsoon losses. Of the 373 fatalities recorded during the period, 152 were attributed to disasters, including landslides, flash floods, drowning, snake bites and falls from steep terrain, while another 221 people died in road accidents during the monsoon. The adverse weather conditions also left 623 people injured and 162 reported missing. More than 1,400 houses were destroyed or partially damaged, while 581 animals also died during the period. The damage to public infrastructure and government assets has crossed Rs. 3,220 crore, with major losses reported by the Public Works Department, Jal Shakti Vibhag and Power Department. Educational institutions, health facilities and rural infrastructure have also suffered damage. As of September 28, 61 roads remained blocked in different parts of the state, while 49 distribution transformer (DTR) stations were affected and undergoing restoration. The central team, led by M. Ramachandrudu, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, arrived in Himachal Pradesh on Monday for the field assessment. The visit is scheduled from September 28 to October 1. On the first day, the team is scheduled to visit disaster-affected areas of Kangra, including the Boh Valley in Shahpur, where flash floods caused damage. It will also interact with district officials and review the damage assessment and restoration measures. The team is scheduled to visit the Sainj area of Kullu on September 29 and undertake a field inspection in Banjar on September 30 before proceeding to Shimla. A meeting with the Chief Secretary and other senior state officials is scheduled in Shimla on September 30. On October 1, the team is scheduled to meet Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. Before concluding its visit, it is also expected to inspect affected areas in Shimla, Kasauli and Parwanoo before returning to Chandigarh. The field assessment is significant, as the central team’s report will form part of the process for determining assistance to the state under the Na- tional Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), while assistance under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) is determined separately in accordance with the Finance Commission framework. The state government has been pressing for central assistance after submitting its memoran- dum detailing the extensive damage caused during the monsoon. The latest casualty and loss figures indicate that the scale of damage has continued to rise even after the initial assessments, with the state’s cumulative losses now exceeding Rs. 3,220 crore. (ANI) New Delhi [India], September 29 (ANI): The Congress is holding its Working Committee meeting in Delhi on Tuesday. One of the main issues on the agenda is the Special Intensive Regulation (SIR) process and the reported differences in teh Election Commission over it. The party has been holding vociferous protests demanding the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar. All India Congress Committee (AICC) Incharge for Goa, Manikrao Thakare asserted that the opposition stands fully united against the Bharatiya Janata Party’s alleged attempts to subvert democracy, calling for a nationwide agitation until Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar resigns.Thakare accused the BJP government of taking steps to end democracy and using the poll panel to manipulate electoral outcomes. “The entire opposition is united. Because of the steps taken by the BJP government to end democracy, and through Gyanesh Kumar, the way they have thought of destroying votes and not letting anyone vote, what remains of democracy? So in this manner, the BJP has won elections so far, and even now, people like Gyanesh Kumar are helping them. This has now become clear,” he said. He further added, “There should be a fullfledged agitation against this across every place, and until Gyanesh Kumar resigns, this agitation should continue.”Echoing similar sentiments, Congress leader Rajni Patil said that the removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar remains the party’s central focus following nationwide state-level programs.”Gyanesh Kumar. Gyanesh Kumar must go. That is our key issue. That’s why very good programs were held in all our states, and we are coming right after concluding those,” she said. H i m a c h a l Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) president Pratibha Singh pointed to the internal dissent within the Election Commission (ECI), noting that two members repeatedly objected 14 times. She also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take cognisance of the matter, followed by strict legal action. “We have come to discuss the issue of the Election Commission, which has created a widespread stir across the whole of India. Even two of their members have stated—repeatedly written 14 times—that the Chairman of the Commission is not doing the right thing. Now, what further investigation they conduct on this, we will wait to see. We would also want—the whole of India is watching—the Prime Minister to take cognisance of this as well and take some action,” she said. Addressing counter-allegations from the ruling party, Congress leader and AICC Observer Mukul Wasnik said that Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi has raised the issue for the past two years and now the public has recognised the reality behind the opposition’s long-standing concerns regarding election procedures.” The entire nation has now understood who is speaking the truth and who is lying. Now this matter has become clear. Rahul Gandhi has not been talking about the Election Commission for just the last four days; he has been consistently speaking for the past two to four years about the kind of irregularities taking place within the Election Commission and how everything is being conducted in a wrong manner. He has addressed this repeatedly during interactions with journalists and raised it before the public in public rallies. This is not something being discussed for just four days; this conversation has been ongoing for many days,” he said. He further rejected BJP’s charges against Gandhi as baseless, alleging that the ruling party is attempting to compromise autonomous bodies.”Today, the allegations being made against us are completely baseless. The reality is that the Bharatiya Janata Party, through its Central Government, is attempting to capture key institutions and impose its ideology on the nation, which goes against the Constitution,” he noted. The Congress Working Committee (CWC) is expected to move a resolution on the subject and cal for further protests even as the party chalks out a strategy with other allies in the INDIA bloc meeting on Wednesday. (ANI) Congress Working Committee meets in Delhi, leaders echo “Gyanesh Kumar must go” Immigration Lawyer Law Office of Ryan Morgan Knight Email or call for free consultation ryan@immigrationknight.com 1 (888) 735-0560 Ryan Knight Licensed to practice immigration law Nationwide; Licensed to practice art law in Maryland
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2026 3 M A K E YO U R R E TI R EM E NT E V E N MO R E Extraordinary Discover premier senior living at an Erickson Senior Living®-managed community. • Gain time and freedom from house maintenance. • Enjoy stylish residences and on-site amenities. • Benefit from a safety net of on-site support. Call 1-800-691-2034 or visit EricksonSeniorLiving.com for your free brochure. • Riderwood® Silver Spring, MD • Greenspring® Springfield, VA • The GrandviewSM Bethesda, MD • Woodleigh Chase® Fairfax, VA 2816250 • Ashby Ponds® Ashburn, VA ‘Save Democracy March’ from Oct 2-8: INDIA bloc steps up stir against CEC; BJP hits back, calls it “frustration after defeat” iNdia bloC FroM PaGe 1 and an effective appeals mechanism for all those excluded from the voter rolls, besides protection for genuine voters from exclusion due to technical/administrative reasons,” he said on X. Addressing the meeting, Kharge said India’s democratic system was built on the principle of “one person, one vote, one value,” and alleged that it was facing a threat.” Across the country, citizens and political parties are raising grave concerns about the functioning of the Election Commission,” he said. He alleged that questions over EVMs, voter-list manipulation and changes in electoral rolls had not received adequate answers. On the SIR, Kharge said, “It is shocking that as many as 13.3 Crore voters have blatantly been removed from voter list. Their power to take part in a DEMOCRACY has been snatched.” “There can be no credible election without an Independent and impartial Election Commission as envisioned in Article 324 of the Constitution,” he added. Targeting the CEC, Kharge said, “Today our Chief Election Commissioner stands totally exposed. His two fellow members have written 14 times in 10 months! It questions his very integrity and intentions. Therefore, he should be removed from his position. If he has even an iota of Constitutional or moral shame left in him, he will resign himself and turn approver against the powers who are interfering in our electoral rolls.” Rahul Gandhi said INDIA leaders were personally committed to ensuring that those who destroyed Indian democracy were punished.It doesn’t matter how senior they are, who they are; Indian democracy is bigger than every single person in this country,” he said. “We are confident that over the next few months, we will make serious changes in the coun- try.”Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the protest would continue till Gyanesh Kumar resigns, and also demanded Prime Minister Modi’s resignation. “We will save democracy. We want your support, students, youth and journalists,” she said. The meeting brought together parties that are rivals in several states, including the CPI (M) and the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, and Congress and the Left parties in Keralam. Setting aside these state-level differences, they came together as the row continues to escalate. Significantly, opposition to the CEC extended beyond the INDIA bloc framework. Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MP Sasmit Patra stated that while his party is not part of the alliance, it demands Gyanesh Kumar’s removal. Similarly, AAP MP Sanjay Singh said the issue concerning Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar was a “national issue” and called for political parties to support a protest scheduled for October 2. Despite differences with Congress following the Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections, DMK spokesperson TKS Elangovan said his party and the Congress were saying the same thing on Gyanesh KumaR.”Congress and DMK are saying the same line, that Gyanesh Kumar should be removed. But this does not mean we are a part of the INDIA bloc. Parties like AAP are also not attending today’s meeting, but we are together on the subject of Gyanesh Kumar. If this issue comes up in Parliament, we will support it,” he said. As it happened, several BJP leaders dismissed the opposition allegations as “frustration” and “ranting” after electoral defeats. Leading the charge, Shivraj Singh Chouhan questioned the EVM allegations from Congress. “How did Congress win in Karnataka? How did Congress win in Telangana? How did Congress win in Himachal?” He said. Echoing similar sentiments, Bihar BJP president Sanjay Sarogi said, “Slowly, cracks are appearing even among them. DMK has said that we won’t go, Akhilesh Yadav isn’t going... Whenever elections come, or the opposition loses badly, such meetings happen, and after the meeting, there’s just ranting.” Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Premchand Bairwa questioned the alliance’s longevity. “Whenever they have formed alliances, those alliances have failed; the reason for this failure is a lack of trust in their modus operandi. I do not believe their alliance will last, or indeed, has ever lasted,” he said. Targeting the Congress leadership directly, Bihar Minister Ramkripal Yadav argued that deep-seated differences would prevent any meaningful unity withing the opposition. “There is a difference of opinion among them; these people can never unite... Right now, the Congress party is at 99, but under their (Rahul Gandhi’s) leadership, it will drop to 9,” he said. Downplaying the meeting, West Bengal Minister Shankar Ghosh described the coalition as a reaction to fear of political decline. “I do not think the INDIA alliance has any real existence. They meet occasionally to serve their own personal interests. Right now, they are fearful about their survival in the political arena, so such meetings take place to save themselves, but nothing will come of it... They are coming together to concoct propaganda to mislead the people; that is all there is to it,” he said. BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said, “They will continue to march to their own tunes and hold endless meetings-with some saying they will attend, while others say they will walk away.”With the opposition unrelenting on the issue, the stage is set for a bitter political fight, especially with five states going to the polls in 2027. (ANI)
INDIA THIS WEEK FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2026 Amritha Praveen Earns Congressional Award Gold Medal, Inspired by Brother With Autism By Geeta Goindi WASHINGTON, September 24, 2026 – Indian-American high school senior Amritha Praveen has earned the 2026 Congressional Award Gold Medal – the U.S. Congress’ highest honor for youth – as well as the Silver Medal, capping years of commitment to public service, personal development, physical fitness and exploration. Praveen, of Buffalo Grove, Illinois, attends Adlai E. Stevenson High School. She was recognized as a Gold Medalist in the Congressional Record and presented with the honors by Democratic U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider, who represents Illinois’ 10th District. Earning the Congressional Award’s highest distinction is no small feat. The Gold Medal requires a minimum of two years of participation, including at least 400 hours of voluntary public service, 200 hours each of personal development and physical fitness, and a five-day, four-night expedition or exploration. Established by Congress in 1979, the Award is non-competitive, with participants earning progressively higher levels of recognition by meeting individual goals and program requirements. For Amritha, those hundreds of hours included volunteering with organizations serving people with disabilities, working with young children, developing her technical and business skills, and undertaking an expedition to the Rocky Mountains. “It was a privilege to present Stevenson High School senior Amritha Praveen with the Congressional Silver Award and Gold Medal,” Schneider said. “Amritha exemplifies service and leadership through her volunteer work with the Center for Enriched Living and the Northwest Special Recreation Association, her role on the National Youth Empowerment Board, and her efforts to expand STEM and math enrichment.” But behind the medals – and many of the accomplishments that helped earn them – is a deeply personal story. Much of Amritha’s work in autism research, accessible STEM education and inclusion has been shaped by her relationship with her brother, who has autism. His love of science and technology was often frustrated by conventional STEM kits, whose rigid formats and instructions were not designed for the way he learned. Amritha began adapting the materials, creating simplified visual instructions and video tutorials tailored to his needs. Seeing the difference those changes made prompted her to think about other children who might face similar challenges. That experience helped inspire Amethyst Changemakers, the organization she founded to expand STEM opportunities for neurodivergent and underserved students. Using principles of Universal Design for Learning, Amritha and her team developed kits designed to accommodate different learning styles. More than 250 have been distributed to students, including in Chicago Public Schools and Peoria-area classrooms. What began as one sister finding a way to help her brother engage with science was reaching children well beyond their home. His experiences in school also helped inspire PIE – Peer Inclusion Empowerment, an app Amritha developed after Indian-American high school senior Amritha Praveen receives the 2026 Congressional Award Gold and Silver Medals from U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider of Illinois’ 10th District. She earned the honors for her sustained commitment to public service, personal development, physical fitness and exploration. Photo (left): Rep. Brad Schneider/Facebook observing the challenges he faced in inclusive educational settings. The app approaches inclusion from a different direction: rather than focusing solely on teaching students with disabilities how to adapt, it helps their peers learn how to better understand and support them. PIE won the 2024 Congressional App Challenge for Illinois’ 10th District. Amritha’s interest in autism has also found expression through scientific research. Asian Games 2026: India secures women’s compound archery team gold, beats China in final arCHerY: Gold Medal FroM PaGe 1 favour of India. China slipped with 10 and two nines, while India’s two tens from Prithika and Jyothi kept India in the lead of 208-204. India finally beat China, managing a perfect 10 each to conclude the final. Earlier, the Indian women’s compound archery team set up a gold medal match against China, beating South Korea in a tense semifinal. India beat South Korea by 235233, by the barest of margins. With South Korea piling up pressure in the second half of the match and levelling the scores at 175-all, the Indians first took a one-point lead, and then two 10s from Chiki- tha Taniparthi and Prithika Pradeep and a nine from Jyothi Surekha Vennam helped India seal a twopoint win. Prithika and Jyothi were the stars for India, shooting six tens out of eight attempts, with Chikitha getting five 10s in eight attempts.The Indian trio of Jyothi, Chikitha and Prithika started off well, with Prithika managing a nine and Jyothi following it with a 10. South Korea had a fine start with three 10s, as per ESPN. India responded back with convincing 10s from the trio in the second rotation, and South Korea managed to level the scores 59-59 at the end of second rotation. During the third rotation, India was slightly rocky at the start, with Chikitha managing only a nine, but Prithika and Jyothi made up for it by firing perfect 10s. South Korea started with a nine as well, and then the same score on the second and third shot helped India reach a lead for the first time in the match, at 88-86. India had another incredible rotation, with 10s raining from Chikitha, Prithika and Jyothi, while the 14-year-old Kang managed her third nine in a row and the other two getting perfect 10s. Halfway through the semifinal, India led 118-115. During the second half, Koreans got to shoot first, with India tasked with matching their opponents. South Korea made a comeback at the start of the second half, managing three 10s. On the other hand for India, Chikitha and Prithika shot perfect 10s while Jyothi shot her first nine of the match. Nonetheless, Team India led 147-145. South Korea continued to turn tables with another perfect set of three tens, while Chikitha and Prithika added two nines and Jyothi a 10, bringing the scores level to 175-175. Later, two 10s came from Korea and a nine from Kang, which was responded by a nine from Chikitha and 10s from two other Indians. India led by one point at 205-204, with one set of arrows from each player to go. After South Korea finished the semifinal with a score of 233, two tens from Chikitha and Prithika and a nine from Jyothi helped India secure a win by two points, making it 235-233. (ANI) As a sophomore, she won the 2025 Illinois BioGENEius Challenge for developing an ensemble machine-learning model aimed at early risk assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorder using microbial biomarkers. Her work subsequently expanded into genetics and computational biology. At the 2026 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair, she earned third place in her category for autism-related research and received a scholarship. Amritha is also an accomplished veena player who has studied the traditional Indian classical string instrument since age six, earning national-level honors and performing at concerts across the Chicago area. She brought her musical and scientific interests together in an earlier project exploring how artificial intelligence and physiological feedback could make music therapy more responsive to the individual. Her system used indicators such as heart rate to assess a listener’s response and help tailor musical characteristics to emotional needs. The project propelled her onto the national stage as one of 30 finalists in the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, where she went on to win second place in mathematics. Amritha has also distinguished herself in competitive math, qualifying for the American Invi- tational Mathematics Examination, Math Prize for Girls and the Harvard-MIT Mathematics Tournament. Through her leadership with INTEGIRLS Chicago, she has worked to encourage girls and non-binary students to build confidence in problem-solving and pursue opportunities in the field. Her accomplishments span national science competitions, advanced autism research, classical Indian music, community service and STEM advocacy. Yet a thread connecting much of Amritha’s work cannot be measured by medals, rankings or hours logged. It is the bond between a sister and her brother. His experiences helped her see problems worth solving and questions worth asking – about who gets to participate, how learning can be made more inclusive and how science can improve lives. Those questions have carried Amritha from adapting materials at home to developing an award-winning app, bringing STEM resources to classrooms and pursuing advanced autism research. The Congressional Award Gold Medal recognizes the extraordinary commitment reflected in those accomplishments. Behind it is a more intimate story: a sister trying to help her brother – and discovering that what she learned from him could help others, too.
INDIA THIS WEEK 5
India This Week Friday, October 2, 2026 “Played cohesively as a unit”: India’s kabaddi captains SC rules extra-judicial confession cannot be Sunil, Pushpa hail golden sweep at Asian Games sole basis for NSA detention; imposes Rs 10 lakh cost on UP in illegal detention case Kabbadi: Gold Medal From Page 1 their gold medal triumph was indescribable. She attributed the victory to their hard work, belief in the team’s abilities, and execution of strategies planned with their coaches.“We are very happy, and we literally thought that when we return home, we would receive such a welcome. (On the national anthem playing after the gold medal win) We cannot explain that feeling. We felt extremely good, and we had worked very hard for this. We knew our team would perform well because of the effort we had put in. In the end, the entire team executed what we had decided and what our coaches had instructed us to do,” she said.The head coach of the Indian men’s kabaddi team, Balwan Singh, said the victory belonged to the entire nation and credited the support of citizens, the government, the Sports Authority of India (SAI), the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI), The Poetic Pen INDIA THIS WEEK- October 2, 2026 Power Is a Snare By Rajan George History records many, many men whose lust for power Has led them across oceans to distant lands, Engrossed in perilous pursuits—not to benefit Humanity, but to satiate their hunger for power. They never sought to serve, But loved instead to be served, To exert their power and revel in their might, Subjugating the people they conquered, Looting their wealth and plundering their lands, Making them slaves, and taking their women As concubines and sex slaves to satisfy their wanton desires— Women reduced to property, Exposed and stripped of their dignity, A grim testament to their rapacious greed For wealth and power. Those who seek to conquer a nation With little concern for its people, Nor any desire to serve them as they deserve, Seek only to exploit its treasures And leave it barren and dry. Conquerors in ancient times descended Upon other nations in pursuit of expansion, Seeking crowns and glory As rulers of the known world— Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, and others. But today, conquerors may rise from within, Attempting to conquer their own nations, Using deceitful tricks to usurp elections, Establishing power and imposing pernicious agendas, Keeping the public blind While ruling over them as subjects, Believing the people to be mere fools Whom they can subjugate and control Endlessly, providing them only a pittance. Swaying elections through bureaucrats Who, for mundane gains, Have sold their souls May become one of the ways the evil forces Within a nation seek to conquer and subjugate. But let it be known: Power acquired by wicked means Will never last, Nor will it benefit the crown forever. One day, it will dissipate, And those who wielded it, will be called to account. For power is a snare— A throne built on deceit can never stand forever. and everyone involved. He expressed confidence in India’s strength and said the team would continue winning in the future.“Wow, what a moment! This is the victory of the countrymen. This is the victory of the entire nation. This is the victory of Bharatvarsh, the victory of kabaddi. We will win in the future as well; we will always win. Our country is strong, and our kabaddi is strong. The support from all the citizens was incredible. The people supported us, the government supported us, SAI supported us, the AKFI supported us, and everyone supported us,” he said.Indian women’s kabaddi team player Raj Rani also expressed delight over winning her first gold medal and praised the team’s performance. She expressed happiness over both the men’s and women’s teams winning gold and said they would continue striving for more gold medals in the future. “It feels very good; we got the gold. It’s my first time, and our team played very well. And we feel very good that our team, both boys and girls, got the gold; we feel very good. Very, very good. I would just like to say that we will bring gold in the future as well,” she said. (ANI) 72-YEAR-OLD woman swept away in Brahmani River in Odisha, rescued alive 12 hours later Jajpur (Odisha), Sept 29, 2026 (ANI): Kesi Dalai, a resident of Kalakhand village under Bari block, was rescued after she was swept away in the Brahmani River while she had gone near the river on September 26th. She was found near Pattamundai in Kendrapara district by two youths travelling in a boat, who rescued her and provided first aid before sending her to a local hospital. INDIA THIS WEEK Phone: 301-445-0200; 301-917-4800 www.indiathisweek.online India This Week is published every Friday by ADV Solutions Inc, Views expressed in this paper are those of the individual writers and not necessarily of India This Week. India This Week accepts no liability for the errors in advertisements or in any of its reports. For remedial actions any errors should be brought to the attention of the editor by the information provided below. Publisher: Dr. Babu Stephen Chief Editor: Rajan George Contributing Editors: Saju Mathew Isaac George Asst. Editors: Manu Jacob Sherena Panjikkaran Special Business Correspondent Elisha B. Pulivarti Business Coordinators Rajan C. George Jithu Johny Panjikkaran Dr. Renuka Misra, Special Correspondent: Geeta Goindi Community Coordinator: Prof. Vinod Goel India Office Manesh Krishna Columnists: Anadi Naik World Religions Dr. Sam Prasad Jillella Photo Journalist: Mathew Karmel, System Admn. & Maintenance: Rajan C. George Layout & Graphics: Prinston Samuel, Business Affairs: Mrs. Molly George CALL US • 301-445-0200 • 301-917-4800 e-Mails: Advertisements: indiathisweekads@gmail.com Press Releases: indiathisweekpress@yahoo.com Web: www.indiathisweek.online New Delhi [India], September 29 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that an extra-judicial confession cannot be the sole basis for preventive detention under the National Security Act (NSA), quashed the detention of Mulla Afroz in the Sambhal violence case and imposed costs of Rs 10 lakh on the Uttar Pradesh government. A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu allowed Afroz’s appeal, holding that while an extra-judicial confession may constitute relevant material, the detaining authority must also consider other relevant circumstances before arriving at the satisfaction required to order preventive detention.The Court found that the detaining authority had failed to take such factors into consideration in Afroz’s case and had therefore wrongly exercised the power of preventive detention. The case relates to Afroz’s detention under Section 3(2) of the NSA in connection with the violence that broke out in Sambhal in November 2024 during a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid.Afroz was arrested by Sambhal police on January 17, 2025, in connection with cases arising from the violence. The District Magistrate subsequently passed an NSA detention order against him on October 13, 2025. The State Government later confirmed the detention. Afroz challenged the detention before the Allahabad High Court, arguing that the material relied upon by the authorities was insufficient and that the case against him substantially rested on an alleged extra-judicial confession. The State opposed the plea and relied on the material Remember: collected during the investigation. It alleged that Afroz was involved in instigating the crowd during the violence and that his activities had the potential to disturb public order.The Allahabad High Court had upheld the detention. It recorded that the detaining authority had considered the material placed before it and that the documents relied upon for the detention had been supplied to Afroz. The High Court had also held that while exercising judicial review over a preventive detention order, the court was required to examine whether the detaining authority had applied its mind to relevant material rather than sit in appeal over the sufficiency of that material.The Supreme Court, however, found that the detention could not be sustained on the material considered by the authority. The bench considered whether an extra-judicial confession could form the basis of a preventive detention order and whether the material relied upon by the detaining authority was legally sufficient. (ANI)The Court held that an extra-judicial confession cannot, by itself, justify preventive detention. Other relevant and substantive circumstances must also be considered by the detaining authority before exercising the power. In Afroz’s case, the Court found that the authority had failed to take such factors into account and had consequently exercised the power for a purpose not supported by the material before it.The Supreme Court therefore quashed the detention order and allowed Afroz’s appeal. It also imposed costs of Rs 10 lakh on the Uttar Pradesh government. (ANI) “In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.…
India This Week 7
INDIA THIS WEEK FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2026 International Conference organized by PEACE, USA Fatima College, Madurai highlights Nanotechnology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Madurai, September 18, 2026: Fatima College (Autonomous), Madurai, in collaboration with the People Empowerment Alliance for Creativity and Education (PEACE), Maryland, USA, successfully conducted the International Conference on “Transformative Research for a Sustainable Future: Integrating Nanotechnology, Smart Technologies, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship” (ICTRSF-2K26) at Jubilee Hall on September 18, 2026. The conference brought together more than 200 participants from over 25 colleges at the regional, national, and international levels, including faculty members, research scholars, students, entrepreneurs, and industry representatives. The sessions emphasized the need to connect nanotechnology and smart technologies with innovation, entrepreneurship, sustainability, and community-focused development. Paper and poster presentations, conducted in hybrid mode, enabled participants to share research on sustainable nanotechnology, smart technologies, innovation, and entrepreneurship. The conference was held under the guidance of Dr. Sr. Ignatius Mary, Secretary; Dr. Sr. M. Fatima Mary, Principal of Fatima College; Dr. Gandhimathi Muthuselvam, Director of the Institute for Sustainability and Environmental Research, PEACE, USA, who provided an in-depth insight into nanotechnology; and Dr. Sonia Selwin, Founder and President of PEACE, USA, and Conference Organizing Chair. Dr. Sonia Selwin, during the conference, underscored the relevance of the Penta Helix Model, illustrating how coordinated efforts among academia, industry, government, NGOs, and the community New Delhi [India], September 29 (ANI): The Delhi High Court has held that custodial interrogation is not required merely for recovery of stridhan, observing that such recovery does not fall within the domain of the bail court. The court also questioned the investigating officer’s claim that an elderly accused had failed to join the investigation, noting that the alleged notices were issued verbally and no case diary was produced.Justice Girish Kathpalia made the observations while granting anticipatory bail to an around 80-year-old retired government servant in a matrimonial dispute case involving allegations under Sections 354, 354A, 376, 498A, 406 and 34 of the IPC and Section 74 of the BNS. The court noted that the investigating officer had initially stated that the accused did not join the investigation despite repeated notices. However, when asked to produce the notices, the officer stated that they had been issued verbally. The court further noted that no case diary relating to the alleged notices was produced and said the investigating officer’s exercise failed to inspire confidence. The court said it found no hesitation in holding that the investigating officer did not require the accused to join the investigation. On the issue of custodial interrogation, the court noted that the only purpose cited was recovery of the complainant’s stridhan and held that custodial interrogation was “certainly not a requisite” for that purpose.The court further observed that the alleged non-return of stridhan did not fall within the domain of the bail court for the purpose of securing its recovery. It noted that, till then, the complainant had not initiated appropriate proceedings in accordance with law for recovery of her stridhan. The FIR was initially registered on April 29, 2026, under Sections 498A and 406 IPC. Subsequently, Sections 354, 354A and 376 IPC and Section 74 of the BNS were added. The allegations of sexual misconduct were made against the accused, who is the father-in-law of the complainant.According to the FIR, the complainant alleged that the accused had sexually harassed her on various occasions and attempted to establish physical relations with her. One of the allegations related to an incident in which she claimed that while she was massaging his legs, he pulled her hands towards his private parts. She also alleged that can foster innovation and sustainable development. The keynote address was delivered by Dr. T. Vanniarajan, Director of Entrepreneurial Research and Development, PEACE, Maryland, USA, who highlighted the importance of integrating STEM education with entrepreneurship to foster innovation and practical skill development. Dr. S. Athimoolam of Anna University Regional Campus, Tirunelveli, and Dr. Anita R. Warrier of Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan College of Engineering and Technology, Chennai, delivered special addresses. A distinguished panel of judges was appointed to evaluate research paper presentations across the conference tracks. The expert panel included Dr. Erickson Spurgeon Manuel, Dr. Sonia Selwin, Dr. Gandhimathi Muthuselvam, Mr. Prakash Chittode Murugesan, Mr. Suryaprakash Nalluri, Dr. Andrea Baldwin, Dr. Ragam, Dr. Jothimani, Dr. Niranjana, Mr. Muneer Basha Shaik, and Dr. Anandan. The winners of the Best Online Paper Presentation were Karunya College, Kovai, and Government College of Engineering, Tirunelveli. The winners of the Best Online Poster Presentation were K.L.E. Society’s Science and Commerce College, Kalamboli, Navi Mumbai, and Kamaraj College of Engineering, Virudhunagar. The winners of the Best On-Campus Paper Presentation were Madura College, Madurai, and Fatima College, Madurai. The winners of the Best On-Campus Poster Presentation were Fatima College, Madurai, and Kamaraj College of Engineering, Virudhunagar. The valedictory address was delivered by Dr. Kaye Judge, Postgraduate Lecturer in Education at Alphacrucis University College, Australia, and Leadership Coach for Andrews University, Michigan, USA. Dr. Sr. Ignatius Mary offered felicitations during the valedictory session, followed by the distribution of prizes and a vote of thanks. The conference successfully fostered meaningful academic exchange and strengthened collaboration between Fatima College, PEACE, USA, and participating institutions. It provided a platform for emerging researchers to showcase innovative work in nanotechnology, smart technologies, and entrepreneurship. The event concluded with a shared commitment to advancing sustainable research and expanding future joint initiatives that benefit academia, industry, government, NGOs, and the community. in May 2022, he forcibly pushed her onto a bed and had physical relations with her. The accused argued that the allegations were made to pressurise his son, the complainant’s husband, in connection with their matrimonial dispute. The prosecution opposed the anticipatory bail plea, arguing that custodial interrogation was more effective and that the investigation was at an early stage. The High Court referred to the Supreme Court’s judgment in Arnesh Kumar v. State of Bihar, observing that arrests in matrimonial cases should not be automatic or routine. At the same time, the court cautioned that allegations of sexual misconduct in matrimonial cases cannot be presumed to be false and that every case has to be examined on its own facts.While considering the allegations for the limited purpose of anticipatory bail, the court noted that the alleged sexual offences were stated to have taken place in May 2022 or earlier, whereas the FIR was lodged on April 29, 2026. It also noted that no specific date of the alleged offences had been mentioned in the FIR and said it found no convincing circumstances to justify the prolonged silence.The court also considered family photographs placed on record, which depicted the accused, the complainant and their child together. However, it cautioned that these aspects were considered only for deciding the anticipatory bail plea and that the final view would have to be taken by the trial court based on evidence led during the trial.The court also rejected the prosecution’s apprehension that the accused was a flight risk merely because other members of his family were settled in Canada. It observed that the accused could not be deprived of his liberty on that basis and also took note of his age, which was around 80 years. The court accordingly allowed the anticipatory bail application and directed that, in the event of arrest, the accused be released on bail on furnishing a personal bond of Rs 25,000 with one surety of the like amount. The court also noted that the custody of the couple’s three-year-old child had been granted to the husband by a Canadian court. It observed that child custody is a matter of the child’s welfare and not merely a matter of competing rights between the parents, stressing the importance of the child having co-parenting through both parents. (ANI) Delhi HC: Custodial interrogation not required merely for recovery of stridhan, grants anticipatory bail to 80-year-old
INDIA THIS WEEK 9
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