The Gujarat Police traced 1,470 missing persons during a month-long statewide campaign called Operation Milap, reaffirming its focus on public safety and family reunification. Launched on May 7, the initiative aimed to investigate pending missing persons cases across Gujarat and strengthen citizens’ trust in policing.

According to police records, 24,767 people have been reported missing in the state since 2007. Under the leadership of Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, Gujarat Police adopted a citizen-focused policing strategy emphasising women’s safety, child protection, action against drug networks, identification of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, and national security concerns. Operation Milap was a major part of this broader effort. Director General of Police GS Malik stated that although the special drive has formally concluded, police personnel will continue investigating missing persons cases alongside their regular duties. He stressed that locating missing women and children remains a top priority for the department.

Ajay Choudhary, Additional Director General of Police, CID Crime (Women Cell), said the operation combined technical analysis and human intelligence. Investigators reviewed old case files, monitored digital and social media records, checked transport hubs and shelter homes, and revisited complainants and witnesses to obtain new leads. The operation uncovered key trends in missing persons cases, particularly among adolescent girls, who were identified as the most vulnerable group. Police traced several long-pending cases and recovered individuals from states including Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Assam, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.

Among the 1,470 people traced were 852 women, 342 men, 42 minor boys, and 234 minor girls. Surat City Police recorded the highest number of recoveries, successfully tracing 341 missing persons. Police analysis revealed that romantic relationships and elopement were the primary reasons behind many disappearances, especially among girls aged 14 to 17 years. Other major factors included family disputes, parental pressure, academic setbacks, and migration among labour families, which often led to interstate movement and complicated investigations.

As part of Operation Milap, authorities reopened several old cases dating back to 2007, leading to the successful tracing of individuals whose whereabouts had remained unknown for years. Officials credited the success of the initiative to extensive field investigations, intelligence gathering, mobile phone tracking, interstate coordination, and family counselling efforts. The operation also highlighted Gujarat Police’s continued commitment to responsive and people-centric policing.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.

The Centre has approved the operation of a special train between Jammu and Haridwar for devotees travelling on the occasion of Somvati Amavasya on June 14 and 15, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh announced on Tuesday. The proposal was made following a request by Prem Nath Dogra, Jammu and Kashmir State Executive Member and In-Charge of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, who sought a dedicated train service to help pilgrims visit Haridwar in Uttarakhand during the religious occasion.

Expressing his appreciation, Jitendra Singh thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for responding positively to the demand. In a post on X, Singh described the move as “good news” for the people of Kathua, Hiranagar, and Jammu, adding that no major regional demand had remained unaddressed during the past 12 years under the Modi government.

Singh had written to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, forwarding Dogra’s request for the special service from Jammu to Haridwar on June 14 and the return journey on June 15 to facilitate pilgrims observing Somvati Amavasya. Indian Railways regularly introduces special trains during festivals and pilgrimage seasons to accommodate increased passenger demand. Recently, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini flagged off a special train from Kurukshetra to Somnath in Gujarat, carrying over 1,100 devotees, while highlighting the role of pilgrimages in promoting social harmony and preserving cultural heritage.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.

A viral video claiming that a bedsheet labeled “Made in Pakistan” was being sold at a religious fair in Pune has prompted local authorities to launch an investigation into the matter. The controversy surfaced after a woman from Pimpri-Chinchwad alleged that she found the label on a bedsheet she had purchased from a stall during the Sankashti Chaturthi fair near the historic Moraya Gosavi temple. According to her, the label was noticed only after the item was washed at home.

The woman recorded a video showing the tag stitched onto the bedsheet and shared it on social media. The clip quickly went viral, drawing sharp reactions online and raising questions about the sale of imported goods at religious events. Following the circulation of the video, police and local officials reportedly began examining the issue. Authorities are expected to verify the authenticity of the label and identify the vendors involved in the sale of the product.

Officials are also likely to investigate the supply chain to determine how the bedsheet reached the fair and whether any rules related to trade or product sourcing were violated. The incident has triggered a broader debate on social media, with several users demanding stricter checks on products sold at temporary fairs and public gatherings. Others, however, urged caution and said conclusions should not be drawn until the investigation is complete.

Textile industry observers note that products sold in local wholesale markets often pass through multiple distributors before reaching retail stalls, making it difficult in some cases to immediately trace their origin. No official confirmation has yet been issued regarding whether the bedsheet was directly imported from Pakistan or whether the label may be linked to old stock or third-party distribution channels. Authorities are expected to release further details once the preliminary inquiry is completed.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from NDTV.

IIT Roorkee on Friday dismissed reports claiming that a major data breach had compromised the personal information of lakhs of JEE (Advanced) aspirants, describing the allegations as “misleading” and “factually inaccurate.” In a statement shared on X, the institute clarified that the information being circulated online does not present the complete picture and accused some sections of spreading misinformation regarding the incident.

According to IIT Roorkee, technical measures were introduced on June 2 to help candidates who were facing difficulties while accessing their admit cards and to ensure the registration system functioned smoothly. During this process, a temporary and minor misconfiguration occurred in one of the cloud storage systems. The institute said the issue was identified by ethical hacker Rylen Anil, who informed authorities that the database could be accessed. IIT Roorkee stated that the problem was fixed immediately and access permissions were restricted without delay.

The institution further explained that the affected storage system had “read-only” access, meaning no data could be altered or deleted. After reviewing cloud access logs, officials confirmed that there was no bulk download or mass extraction of candidate information. IIT Roorkee added that the exposure was limited to less than 0.05% of the data and that no sensitive details were compromised.

The institute also emphasized that the incident had no effect on examination-related outcomes, including candidates’ marks, rankings, or category details. Reaffirming its commitment to secure admissions and examination processes, IIT Roorkee said it remains dedicated to maintaining the integrity, transparency, and security of both JEE (Advanced) and JoSAA counselling procedures.

The statement also expressed concern over what it described as attempts to misrepresent the technical issue and weaken public confidence in the examination system. “The JEE (Advanced) team remains committed to supporting every aspirant through a smooth and secure admission process into IITs and IISc,” the institute added.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.

On Made in SG, Melanie Oliveiro chats with Singaporean singer-songwriter Frances Tan, who recently competed in the Commonwealth Song Contest — an international music competition featuring participants from all 56 Commonwealth countries. Tan shares her experience of being chosen as a Grand Finalist, representing Singapore alongside six other finalist nations. She also discusses her original track, Just Me, which she submitted as her contest entry.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.

Following the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Donald Trump and the White House administration responded strongly, accusing the media and the Democratic Party of contributing to rising political violence. Reged Ahmad and Jonathan Yerushalmy explore the origins of the deep political divide between Democrats and Republicans in the United States. At the same time, Usha Vance has started a new podcast, raising questions about her motives, while King Charles’s upcoming visit to the White House is expected to shed light on Donald Trump’s relationship with the British monarchy.

Disclaimer: This video is taken from The Guardian.

In “Made in SG,” Melanie Oliveiro interviews author K. C. Vijayan about his biography The Benjamin Sheares Story: From Pioneering Gynaecologist to Singapore President. The book offers a vivid and humanising account of Benjamin Sheares, Singapore’s second President and a prominent figure in the Eurasian community, tracing his journey from working in busy maternity wards during the baby boom era to serving as President of Singapore from 1971 to 1981 at the Istana.

Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.

A new AI system developed by NTU can forecast the rate at which food spoils, enabling supermarkets to reduce waste, enhance safety, and manage inventory more efficiently. The technology works by predicting bacterial growth in food. Could this signal the future of food retail? Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman discuss with Natalie Ong, CNA journalist, and Professor William Chen, Executive Director of FRESH@NTU, to explore the possibilities.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.