Overview

• The Indian Army is conducting a large, tech-assisted search in South Kashmir’s Kokernag to locate two 5 Para soldiers missing since October 6, with drones, helicopters and dog squads deployed and no confirmed terror angle so far.
• Two successive explosions in Kanpur’s Mishri Bazaar injured eight; early police findings point to illegal firecracker storage and sales, six people are in custody, ATS and STF have joined the probe and an NIA team is being readied for forensic analysis.
• Punjab Police registered non-bailable FIRs across multiple cities against over 100 social media accounts for casteist posts targeting Chief Justice B. R. Gavai, with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann promising strict legal action.
• RJD proposed Tejashwi Yadav as the chief ministerial face and floated a three–deputy CM formula as seat-sharing negotiations in both the NDA and Mahagathbandhan remained unresolved.
• PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti submitted a ‘Land Rights and Regularisation Bill 2025’ in Jammu and Kashmir to shield long-term occupants and curb arbitrary demolitions, seeking the ruling National Conference’s backing.