Category: India

The case centres on claims that attempts were made to persuade at least one TVK MLA to defy the party whip during assembly voting.

Chennai Police are investigating an alleged conspiracy known as “Project Meghalaya”, aimed at destabilising the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government by offering bribes to multiple party MLAs. A senior television journalist was questioned this week as part of the probe, according to the police.

The case centres on claims that attempts were made to persuade at least one TVK MLA to defy the party whip during assembly voting. The complaint was filed by the TVK MLA from Uthangarai, N Elaiyaraja, who alleged that YouTuber Thirunavukkarasu — who operates the opinion polling group IPDS — and others offered him Rs 35 crore to vote against his party’s position.

The MLA also claimed that he and his family faced threats after refusing the offer. Police say their investigation uncovered a plan, referred to as “Project Meghalaya”, to approach around 15 TVK MLAs with financial offerings in an effort to topple the elected government led by actor-turned-politician Vijay.

Officers have questioned Vijayan, a journalist with the regional news channel Puthiya Thalaimurai, over his reported contacts with the main accused. Police said that evidence showed Vijayan sent messages to one of the key accused, known as Thirunavukkarasu and remained in communication with him during the period in question.

His mobile phone was seized for forensic analysis after he was summoned for questioning on July 15 and 16.

The Chennai Press Club has criticised the police action, describing it as an attempt to suppress press freedom. The club said Vijayan was questioned late into the night on July 15, had his phone seized without proper procedure, and was called back for further questioning the next day.

Police have insisted that the investigation is following standard legal procedures.

So far, nine people have been arrested in connection with the alleged bribery attempt. Former DMK minister Senthil Balaji and his brother Ashok have also been summoned for questioning.

The DMK has rejected the allegations, accusing TVK of spreading false claims for political mileage and saying it will respond through legal channels.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/tvk-tamil-nadu-project-meghalaya-and-alleged-attempt-to-destabilise-vijay-government-11781712?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

Activists working with sex workers have estimated that there are over two lakh sex workers in Karnataka, and around 25,000 in Bengaluru.

The sex workers’ community is among several marginalised sections of society struggling with the complicated process and technical hurdles of the ongoing SIR in Karnataka.

Documentation and progeny mapping have been particularly hard for women in sex work, as they are generally uneducated and have lost connection with their respective families for decades.

Those who cannot map themselves to their parents in the 2002 list can still fill their form, which will place them in the draft voters’ list. In that case, however, they will be sent notices and asked to produce one of the 11 documents prescribed by the Election Commission of India (ECI).

This is likely to be a major problem for many sex workers, since they are unlikely to have the necessary documents.

On Thursday, DH visited an enumeration camp set up at Sampangiramanagar in Bengaluru to help sex workers fill their enumeration forms.

“They are seeking proof of parents and grandparents. Since we left home 30 years ago when we were young, we don’t have proof of the family. What’s the guarantee they (family and relatives) will give details when we go and ask?? They should have one rule for those who have documents and another for those who don’t,” a sex worker, who wished not to be named, said.

Another sex worker, also speaking on condition of anonymity, explained that neither her father’s details (said to have voted in Mumbai in 2002) nor her mother’s were available.

“We are born and brought up in Karnataka, and have spent all our time here. Does the lack of specified documents suddenly mean we are not Indians?” she sought to know.

Activists working with sex workers have estimated that there are over two lakh sex workers in Karnataka, and around 25,000 in Bengaluru.

Poorna Ravishankar, a member of the My Vote My Right campaign, who’s helping sex workers enumerate themselves during SIR, noted that dual names of sex workers could potentially become a challenge during document verification.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/we-left-home-30-years-ago-how-karnatakas-sir-is-leaving-thousands-of-sex-workers-fearing-disenfranchisement-4076361

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to convey India’s condolences on the passing of Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. The outreach, alongside national mourning and an official visit to Doha, underscored the importance India places on its strategic partnership with Qatar.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday spoke with Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, to convey India’s condolences over the passing of former Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. Remembering the late leader’s contribution to bilateral ties, PM Modi said his enduring legacy would continue to guide India and Qatar as the two countries deepen their strategic partnership.

This came days after India observed a one-day national mourning in honour of the former Qatari ruler, reflecting the importance New Delhi attaches to its relationship with Doha and the late leader’s role in strengthening those ties.

Sharing details of the conversation on X, Prime Minister Modi said he conveyed heartfelt condolences to the Emir of Qatar and recalled Sheikh Hamad’s affection for India and the Indian community living in the Gulf nation.

“Spoke with HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Amir of Qatar and conveyed heartfelt condolences on the passing of HH the Father Amir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. Recalled his deep affection for India, his warmth towards the Indian community in Qatar and his steadfast commitment to India-Qatar relations. His enduring legacy will continue to guide our two countries as we further strengthen our Strategic Partnership.”

Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, widely regarded as the architect of modern Qatar, passed away on July 12. During his leadership, Qatar emerged as one of the world’s wealthiest nations and significantly expanded its diplomatic and economic engagement with countries across the globe, including India.

KIREN RIJIJU REPRESENTS INDIA IN QATAR

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju travelled to Qatar to represent India at the condolence ceremonies and personally conveyed the country’s sympathies to the Qatari leadership.

In a post on X, Rijiju said he delivered condolences on behalf of the Government of India, Prime Minister Modi and the people of India.

“On behalf of the Government of India, Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodi ji and the people of India, I conveyed deepest condolences to HH the Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on the sad demise of Father Amir of Qatar HH Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.”

Rijiju also thanked the Qatari leadership for the warm reception extended to him during the visit. He expressed gratitude to the Amir, the Prime Minister and other dignitaries for their hospitality and for their continued warmth towards India and the Indian community living in Qatar.

Highlighting Sheikh Hamad’s contribution to bilateral relations, Rijiju said the former ruler played a key role in laying the foundation of the close partnership the two countries enjoy today.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/pm-narendra-modi-speaks-to-qatar-emir-pays-tribute-to-his-late-father-sheikh-hamad-2949482-2026-07-16

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has allowed a 52-year-old woman to undergo IVF at a recognised institution. It said medical fitness, not age alone, should decide access to motherhood.

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has allowed a 52-year-old woman to undergo in vitro fertilisation, holding that a medically fit woman cannot be denied motherhood solely because she has crossed the age prescribed under the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021.

Justice Vishal Mishra passed the order on July 10 while allowing a petition filed by the woman and her husband. The court said the IVF procedure could be carried out at any recognised medical institution, though the final decision would remain with the hospital on medical grounds.

The couple approached the court after a hospital declined to carry out the procedure despite finding them medically fit following the required tests. Their only son had died of jaundice at the age of 21, and they wanted another child after being unable to conceive naturally.

The hospital cited the provisions of the Assisted Reproductive Technology Act, which prescribes the eligible age for women as above 21 years and below 50 years, and for men as above 21 years and below 55 years. The couple argued that they should not be deprived of the opportunity to become parents again because of a rigid interpretation of the law. During the hearing, they also submitted an affidavit undertaking to bear all medical risks associated with the procedure.

Allowing the plea, the court held that the law did not prescribe a joint age limit for a couple. It said that if a woman was medically capable of conceiving, the age limit alone could not become an impediment. The judge also made it clear that while the hospital would be free to take the final decision on medical grounds, the procedure could not be denied solely because the woman was 52 years old.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/madhya-pradesh-high-court-allows-ivf-for-medically-fit-52-year-old-woman-2949514-2026-07-16

Captain Manmohan Singh Virdi’s family has asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to expedite the extradition of murder accused Hussain Mohammad Shattaf from the UAE. The appeal underlines how the restored trial in the 2006 case remains stalled until the accused is brought before the court.

Nearly two decades after the murder of retired Merchant Navy officer Captain Manmohan Singh Virdi, his family has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to expedite the extradition of the prime accused, Hussain Mohammad Shattaf, from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), saying justice has remained elusive due to the prolonged delay.

In a representation submitted to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the victim’s brother and the original complainant, retired Captain Manjeet Singh Virdi, urged the Centre to ensure Shattaf’s early extradition so that the long-pending murder trial can proceed.

“The accused has remained outside India for years, preventing the trial from moving forward. We have waited nearly 20 years for justice,” the family said.

MURDER TRIAL REMAINS STALLED

The case relates to an FIR registered at Lonavala City Police Station in Pune in 2006. It is currently pending before the Sessions Court at Vadgaon Maval as Sessions Case No. 5 of 2024.

According to the family, despite the restoration of the murder case, the trial has made no progress because the accused has not appeared before the court.

They alleged that Shattaf has continued to evade the legal process despite facing serious criminal charges, leaving the victim’s family waiting for justice for nearly two decades.

SUPREME COURT REVIVED THE CASE

The family said they had challenged a Bombay High Court order discharging the accused before the Supreme Court. On May 18, 2023, the apex court set aside the High Court’s order and restored the murder trial, paving the way for fresh proceedings against the accused.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/merchant-navy-captains-family-urges-pm-modi-expedite-uae-extradition-2006-murder-accused-2949564-2026-07-16

Omar Abdullah criticised the Centre’s response to Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike over the NEET-UG row. His remarks came as Wangchuk’s health weakened, a court plea sought medical intervention and supporters pressed for accountability.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday criticised the BJP-led central government over its response to activist Sonam Wangchuk’s indefinite hunger strike, drawing parallels with the Congress-led UPA government’s handling of Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption movement.

In a post on X, Abdullah said the Centre had shown “utter insensitivity” despite Wangchuk’s deteriorating health, contrasting it with the response of the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh-led government, whose ministers engaged with Hazare during his fast.

“All he is demanding is justice for the NEET scam victims and the removal of the education minister. Remember how the Manmohan Singh government and its ministers rushed to meet Anna Hazare and asked him to end his fast? Here, the BJP government doesn’t even care to issue a statement. Politics is one thing, but isn’t compassion and humanity also important?” Abdullah wrote.

SONAM WANGCHUK ON INDEFINITE HUNGER STRIKE

His remarks came as Wangchuk entered the 19th day of his indefinite hunger strike at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, where he is demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG examination.

In a video message posted late Wednesday, Wangchuk acknowledged the toll the fast had taken on his health but said he remained determined to continue the protest.

“I’m not in good shape but not so bad either,” the activist said.

According to Dr Satish Lamba, the senior physician monitoring Wangchuk’s condition, the activist has lost more than nine kilograms since beginning his fast nearly three weeks ago.

Meanwhile, a petition has been filed before the Delhi High Court seeking urgent medical intervention for Wangchuk. The plea requests the court to direct authorities to ensure immediate medical care and consider force-feeding him in view of his prolonged fast.

Wangchuk’s protest is being organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which has demanded accountability for the alleged NEET-UG paper leak and the resignation of the Union education minister.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/sonam-wangchuk-hunger-strike-omar-abdullah-slams-centre-over-neet-row-2949631-2026-07-17

Doctors said Sonam Wangchuk has entered a critical phase of prolonged fasting, warning that his organs could be affected if his condition worsens. As the Delhi High Court ordered daily health monitoring, political leaders, public figures and legal bodies urged him to end his fast, but he remained resolute.

“I don’t want to say this, but Sonam Wangchuk is on his deathbed,” Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke said in an emotional appeal on Thursday.

Dipke, who has shared the stage with the climate activist since Wangchuk began his indefinite hunger strike at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on June 28, made the remarks in a video released by the CJP. Wangchuk has been demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over a series of examination paper leaks, including NEET.

In the video, Dipke said Wangchuk had become so frail that “his bones are visible.” He also claimed the activist narrowly escaped falling twice while walking to the washroom on Thursday.

Videos that surfaced on social media the same day appeared to underscore his deteriorating condition. A visibly weak Wangchuk was seen stepping down from the stage with the support of several people, including Dipke, as he made his way to the washroom with slow, faltering steps.

Yet, despite his condition, he paused to smile and wave at supporters — many of them students and parents who had travelled from Delhi-NCR and other parts of the country.

Dipke also recalled trying to persuade Wangchuk to end his fast on Thursday, only to be firmly rebuffed.

“You just shut up. Don’t ask me to stop my hunger strike. Ask why the government is not listening to us,” Wangchuk told him, according to the video shared on the CJP’s official YouTube channel.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/sonam-wangchuk-hunger-strike-critical-delhi-hc-monitoring-july-20-parliament-march-2949646-2026-07-17

The police said the wife is currently in a state of shock and has been making inconsistent and unusual statements

A 45-year-old anesthesiologist was found murdered inside his apartment in Karnataka’s Dharwad, while his eight-year-old son was found with stab injuries. The doctor has been identified as Dr Kiran Honannavar, an anesthesiologist at Chirayu Hospital.

His wife, Dr Priyanka, an ophthalmologist, has been taken into custody for questioning. Their son has been admitted to a private hospital and is undergoing treatment.

According to Hubballi-Dharwad Police Commissioner N Shashikumar, preliminary investigation suggests that no outsider is believed to have entered the apartment, as it is a highly secured residential complex. Police said only three people – the husband, wife and child – were inside the house at the time of the incident.

The case came to light after Dr Kiran’s relatives repeatedly tried to contact him. They were allegedly told by his wife that he was resting and later that he had gone out. When he remained unreachable until evening, family members visited the apartment and found him lying in a pool of blood. They also found the injured child inside the house.

Police said the child was still breathing when they arrived, following which he was immediately shifted to hospital.

Investigators said the husband was found dead in one room, while the injured child was found in another. Police are yet to establish the exact sequence of events.

The commissioner said the wife is currently in a state of shock and has been making inconsistent and unusual statements. He added that investigators are verifying her version of events and gathering information from both families to determine the motive behind the incident.

Police said there was no indication of any conflict with neighbours and that CCTV footage from the apartment complex will be examined as part of the investigation.

Authorities have registered a case at the Suburban Police Station. Police said the exact cause and circumstances of the murder will become clearer after the post-mortem examination and further investigation.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/karnataka-news/karnataka-doctor-murdered-8-year-old-son-stabbed-at-home-wife-in-custody-11776601?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

An Aligarh man who entered Pakistan without a visa to meet a woman he knew on Facebook remains lodged in Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat Jail. His family says he has completed his sentence and is still awaiting repatriation.

A man from Uttar Pradesh’s Aligarh crossed into Pakistan without a visa in pursuit of a woman he met on Facebook, only to land in prison after his identity aroused suspicion. Months later, even after reportedly completing his sentence, he remains lodged in Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat Jail as his family pleads with the government to secure his return.

Badal Babu worked as a tailor in Delhi before befriending a Pakistani woman named Sana on Facebook. According to his family, their online friendship gradually developed into a romantic relationship.

His family says Badal last spoke to them on October 30, 2024. They claimed that he had left all his documents at home before disappearing.

It was only around 20 months ago, when videos and posts about him began circulating on social media, that they discovered he had entered Pakistan illegally and had been arrested.

According to the family’s account, Badal first attempted to travel to Pakistan in August 2024 but was unsuccessful. He later managed to cross the border without a visa and reached Pakistan on October 15, 2024.

The family has claimed that after Sana declined to marry him, Badal stayed back in Pakistan and took up work there. He remained in touch with his relatives over phone calls.

His troubles reportedly began on December 27, 2024, when he was grazing goats for his employer.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/uttar-pradesh/story/aligarh-man-pakistan-jail-facebook-love-illegal-border-crossing-2948874-2026-07-16

As per the latest medical bulletin issued by the Cockroach Janta Party, 59-year-old Wangchuk is “very weak” and under round-the-clock medical supervision, with his weight dropping to 57.15 kg, down 400 grams in the last 24 hours and nearly 8.9 kg since his fast began.

“I’m not in good shape but not so bad either.”

That’s what a frail-looking Sonam Wangchuk, who entered the 19th day of his indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar on Thursday, demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over irregularities in the NEET examination, said in a video message posted late last night.

According to the latest medical bulletin issued by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), Wangchuk, 59, is “very weak” and under 24-hour medical vigilance. His weight has dropped to 57.15 kg, down 400 grams in the past 24 hours and nearly 8.9 kg since he began fasting.

His blood pressure was recorded at 105/76 mmHg, blood sugar at 80 mg/dL, oxygen saturation at 97%, while doctors said he remained conscious and mentally alert but requires continuous monitoring.

In the video message, Wangchuk also urged supporters not to ask him to end his fast but instead join the organisation’s planned “Chalo Sansad” march to Parliament on July 20. “Rather than asking me to break my fast, please join me on 20th July… Peaceful March to the Parliament,” he said.

Meanwhile, our reporter spent a night at the CJP protest site at Jantar Mantar, closely observing Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike and the protest from the ground.

Wangchuk is not alone in the protest. Several others, including members of student organisations, are also on hunger strike at Jantar Mantar. At a separate stage, All India Students’ Association (AISA) leaders Neha, Manish and Aameen continued their fast despite their worsening health. AISA said that Neha has lost 5.85 kg during the fast, while Manish and Aameen have lost 8.2 kg and 8.3 kg, respectively, with all three recording low blood sugar levels.

The student outfit also said JNUSU joint secretary Danish, JNU Barak Hostel president Hrishikesh and Delhi University student leader Deepak have been hospitalised after their health deteriorated during the protest.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/sonam-wangchuk-hunger-strike-day-19-neet-protester-urges-july-20-parliament-march-2948888-2026-07-16

The post has gained attention as Dipke and the CJP have appealed to opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, to join the protest and extend their support.

A four-year-old social media post by Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), has gone viral, in which he appears to be critical of the leader of the opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s mega ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ in 2022.

The post has gone viral at a time when opposition leaders are lining up to support the CJP protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, as well as activist Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike, which entered its 19th day on Thursday. Follow live updates related to Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike here.

It also comes after the CJP itself said it had contacted leaders across party lines, including Rahul Gandhi, and invited them to Jantar Mantar to show support for the protesting students.

Dipke’s old post on Rahul Gandhi goes viral

Dipke’s post on X, dated September 8, 2022, has gone viral on the social media platform. He had responded to a journalist’s post about Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ and described the march as a “travel vlog”.

For the unversed, the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ was a mega march organised by the Congress party and led by Rahul Gandhi. It covered more than 3,500 km across 12 states and two union territories.

Responding to the post about the march, Dipke wrote on X, “Rahul Gandhi’s #BharatJodoYatra will end up as nothing more than a travel vlog.”

Rahul Gandhi’s #BharatJodoYatra will end up as nothing more than a travel vlog. https://t.co/vTOE8jyfBu

— Abhijeet Dipke (@abhijeet_dipke) September 8, 2022

The post has gained particular attention recently, as Dipke and the CJP have appealed to opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, to join the protest and extend their support.

Social media users react to Dipke’s post

Netizens flooded the replies section, helping the post go viral. One user wrote, “Criticising someone is easy until u face the same situation”.

Another user wrote, “Before asking Rahul Gandhi to join your hunger strike, ask yourself one question. Where were you when he was walking 3,750 km across India to challenge the BJP? Those who mocked him then have no right to seek his support now.”

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/travel-vlog-abhijeet-dipke-4-year-old-post-on-rahul-gandhi-bharat-jodo-yatra-goes-viral-cjp-protest-sonam-wangchuk-101784174439372.html

An NDTV ground investigation across Bhopal, Sagar, Vidisha and Agar-Malwa found that take-home ration supplies had remained disrupted for periods ranging from one to three months at several centres.

In Madhya Pradesh, the administrative structure responsible for providing supplementary nutrition to nearly 8.5 million children, pregnant women and lactating mothers is being changed yet again. The state government has decided to transfer the responsibility for producing and distributing Take-Home Ration, or THR, from the State Rural Livelihood Mission back to the Department of Women and Child Development. This will be the fifth change in the nutrition distribution model since 2018. But while responsibility is moving from one department to another, food is not reaching several Anganwadi centres.

An NDTV ground investigation across Bhopal, Sagar, Vidisha and Agar-Malwa found that Take-Home Ration supplies had remained disrupted for periods ranging from one to three months at several centres.

Anganwadi workers said children, pregnant women and lactating mothers had been registered, their names were visible on government applications and their records were being regularly updated, but the ration meant for them had not arrived.

The nutrition system is estimated to be worth nearly Rs 1,200 crore. Government documents show that schemes are operational, budgets are sanctioned and beneficiaries are registered. Yet, at the last mile, workers are being forced to tell mothers that the packets have not come “from above”.

The contradiction is stark: the system can count the child, weigh the child and record the child on an app, but it cannot always ensure that food reaches the child.

Bhopal’s Link Road is among the capital’s most powerful neighbourhoods. Ministers, senior officials and former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan have residences in the area. Deputy Chief Minister Jagdish Devda also lives there.

In a lane behind his bungalow, Anganwadi Centre Number 729 operates from a small room. Nearly 50 children attend the centre. Fourteen pregnant women and eight lactating mothers are also registered there.

According to Anganwadi worker Rama Kushwaha, the centre received Take-Home Ration in April, but no fresh supply came in May and June.

“We received the stock in April and distributed it during April and May. It did not arrive in May and June. It has arrived again in July,” she said.

The supply may have resumed, but the two-month gap raises a fundamental question. The nutritional needs of a child do not pause when a government supply chain breaks down. A pregnant woman cannot postpone her requirement for protein and calories until the next consignment arrives.

For a malnourished child, every missed packet may mean lost growth that cannot easily be recovered.

Madhya Pradesh has 97,882 sanctioned Anganwadi centres operating under 453 child development projects. Nearly 8.5 million beneficiaries are registered across the state. The cost of supplementary nutrition is shared equally by the union and state governments.

Under the Take-Home Ration scheme, children between six months and three years are supposed to receive every month two packets of halwa premix, one packet of child food supplement and one packet of khichdi.

Pregnant and lactating women are entitled to two packets of wheat-soy barfi, one packet of wheat and gram-flour mix and one packet of khichdi.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/rs-1-200-crore-nutrition-system-but-madhya-pradeshs-children-are-still-going-hungry-11777518?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

Odisha has intensified COVID-19 surveillance before Rath Yatra after rising cases in neighbouring states, urging vigilance without panic during celebrations.

With COVID-19 cases rising in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, the Odisha government has intensified surveillance and public health preparedness ahead of the annual Rath Yatra, one of India’s largest religious gatherings. The move aims to minimize the risk of virus transmission as lakhs of devotees are expected to participate in the festival starting from July 16.

Health experts say that while there is no reason to panic, mass gatherings remain an ideal environment for respiratory viruses to spread, making preventive measures more important than ever.

The Delhi constable was reportedly on the run after allegedly murdering his wife on her birthday. He had dumped her body by a roadside in East Delhi.

The Delhi police constable who had fled after killing his wife on her birthday and after dumping her injured on a roadside in East Delhi– had reportedly died by suicide. The cop who was recently posted with the Anti Auto Theft Squad (AATS) in East Delhi, Manish Bhati, took his life by shooting himself with his service pistol, as per PTI. According to an officer, the body of the cop was found lying behind a five-star hotel in Mayur Vihar. A police officer said a team got information at 6 PM about a body lying behind a hotel.

“The team immediately rushed to the spot and found Bhati’s body. The initial investigation suggested that he shot himself. Further investigation into the matter is underway,” the officer told PTI.

Bhati, a 2022-batch Delhi Police constable, had been on the run since Monday, July 13, after allegedly shooting his 30-year-old wife, Priyanka, in the chest during an argument. It was a delivery executive who had spotted the woman on the roadside. She was then rushed to the Lal Bahadur Shastri (LBS) Hospital; however, she succumbed to her injuries during treatment.

The police had reportedly formed five teams and raided places across Delhi-NCR and parts of Haryana to trace the accused cop. As per PTI, searches were conducted in several major NCR cities, like Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, Faridabad and several locations in Haryana.

According to the investigators, the couple had left their New Vinod Nagar residence together on a two-wheeler in the early hours of Monday after an argument.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/delhi/delhi-cop-on-run-after-killing-wife-dies-by-suicide-shoots-himself-with-service-pistol-article-155101916

The four charged include popular YouTuber Manish Kashyap.

A case has been registered against four influencers, including Manish Kashyap, for allegedly conspiring to defame Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.

The Nagpur Cyber ​​Police registered the FIR against them for spreading misleading information regarding the use of ethanol fuel (E20) and for tarnishing Gadkari’s image by dragging his name into the matter “without any concrete basis”.

Apart from Kashyap, who is a well-known YouTuber from Bihar, the others named in the FIR are Desi BoysNCR, Harshit Rathi and Anklesh Invate.

According to the police, these four influencers circulated controversial videos on popular social media platforms like YouTube and Instagram, claiming that large-scale fraud and bogus transactions were taking place involving ethanol usage.

Through these videos, they attempted to suggest that the law was being violated under the guise of the ethanol policy.

It is alleged that they deliberately misrepresented Gadkari’s ethanol-related policies in their videos.

Terming this a calculated smear campaign, Shishir Tripathi, the head of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s social media cell in Nagpur, lodged a formal complaint with the Nagpur Cyber Police.

The complaint states that, to lend an air of authenticity to the videos, the influencers resorted to using fake or misleading interviews with ordinary citizens, with the primary objective of damaging Gadkari’s political and social reputation. Additionally, they have been accused of disrupting social harmony by spreading such misleading information.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/e20-ethanol-manish-kashyap-4-influencers-charged-for-tarnishing-nitin-gadkaris-image-in-e20-row-11772104?pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories

 

The bill – which has been backed by the White House – could be passed before August and aims to cripple Russia’s revenues from its energy exports.

A bipartisan group of Senators announced a new sanctions bill that proposes tariffs up to 100% on exports from India, China and three other countries for purchasing Russian oil. The bill – which has been backed by the White House – could be passed before August and aims to cripple Russia’s revenues from its energy exports and force an end to the Ukraine war.

“It imposes tariffs that are targeted, narrowly limited to the five major purchasers, up to 100 percent, with waiver authority that is narrowly tailored and constricted. And those five major purchasers right now of oil are China, India, Slovakia, Hungary, Azerbaijan. And on gas purchasers, it makes an exception for the purchasers who are buying less than 15% of total Russian natural gas imports and are taking significant steps to reduce their purchases,” said Senator Richard Blumenthal of the new bill at a press conference in Washington on Tuesday. The bill also includes sweeping sanctions against Russia’s vital energy, defence, financial and industrial sectors.

The bill is a softened version of the Sanctioning Russia Act, which was introduced in the US Senate in April last year and proposed a possible 500 percent tariff on countries purchasing Russian energy, including India. However, the Sanctioning Russia Act has failed to progress to a vote given concerns from legislators about the extreme provisions of the bill as well as lackluster support from President Trump. Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen made clear that the new bill would have much narrower tariff provisions.

According to Senator Blumenthal, the bill could be passed before August given that the legislators proposing the bill are confident it has the support necessary to pass the Senate. He added that the US Trade Representative would decide the exact tariff rate on the countries facing tariffs.

“The decision about the exact rate will be determined by the United States Trade Representative. We’ve had extensive discussions with him. I think it will be set at an appropriate level to discourage China, India and other major purchases of Russian oil and gas. Remember that there are reporting and certification requirements from the US Trade Representative to the Congress if the rate is lowered,” said Senator Blumenthal.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/new-us-bill-proposes-up-to-100-tariffs-on-india-for-russian-oil-purchase-imports-modi-trump-india-us-trade-deal-china-101784077143157.html

 

 

Villagers have alleged that the bridge was constructed using substandard materials and have demanded a thorough investigation into the work.

A bridge reportedly built at a cost of nearly Rs 48 lakh in Maharashtra has landed in controversy after a viral video showed its railing allegedly breaking off with little more than a gentle push.

The clip has fuelled allegations of poor-quality construction and prompted villagers to demand an investigation into how such a project cleared quality checks despite the expenditure.

The bridge is located in Bankaranja village in Beed district. According to residents, the construction was carried out using substandard materials, making the structure unsafe.

The video, which has gone viral on social media, shows local resident Durgadas Lamb pushing the bridge railing with his foot.

Moments later, the railing appears to detach with ease, raising serious questions over the quality of the work and the materials used.

Villagers say the railing can be broken with even a light push by hand or foot, claiming it reflects the poor standards followed during construction.

VILLAGERS SEEK PROBE

After the video surfaced, Lamb demanded an impartial inquiry into the construction. He urged the Beed District Collector to investigate the project and take strict action against the contractor as well as the engineers responsible for supervising the work.

“The quality of the bridge should be examined thoroughly and those responsible must face action,” he said while exposing the alleged defects in the viral video.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/beed-bridge-viral-video-rs-48-lakh-railing-collapses-probe-maharashtra-2948009-2026-07-14

Chandipura virus is considered a public health concern because outbreaks can have a high fatality rate among children and the disease can progress very rapidly, making early detection and hospitalisation critical.

Three children have died and four others are on ventilator support after multiple cases of the Chandipura virus outbreak were reported in Gujarat over the past 14 days, putting the state on high alert and intensifying surveillance and containment measures.

The sudden rise in cases of the deadly Chandipura virus (CHPV), a sand fly-borne virus that causes acute encephalitis syndrome (AES), particularly among children, has raised concerns among health authorities and parents. According to official data, 32 suspected cases have been reported in the two weeks since July 1.

Of these, test reports have been received for 23 patients. Seven have tested positive for the virus, while 16 tested negative. Among the seven confirmed cases, three children have died and four are currently undergoing treatment on ventilator support. Test reports for nine suspected patients are still awaited.

Health Minister Praful Pansheriya said all seven confirmed patients were below the age of 10. He reviewed the situation at a high-level meeting in Gandhinagar on Monday and said the health department was continuously engaged in treatment, surveillance and containment efforts.

“The health department is continuously working towards controlling the virus, treating patients and carrying out surveillance operations,” the minister said, maintaining that the situation was under control.

Authorities said two patients have fully recovered and been discharged from hospital, offering some relief amid the rising number of suspected infections.

The latest suspected case involves a two-year-old girl from Meghraj taluka in Aravalli district. After developing symptoms associated with the virus, she was admitted to Himmatnagar Civil Hospital for advanced treatment.

Speaking to India Today TV, Pansheriya said detailed guidelines had been issued to all paediatricians across Gujarat and they had been instructed to maintain close coordination with the Gandhinagar headquarters. The state government has also involved the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and child specialists in efforts to tackle the outbreak.

Doctors operating small health centres and private clinics have been directed to immediately refer suspected patients to hospitals equipped with oxygen and ventilator facilities after providing primary treatment.

“Doctors running small health centres and private clinics have been instructed that if they come across suspected cases, they should not waste time and should immediately refer patients to hospitals with oxygen and ventilator facilities so that precious lives can be saved,” the minister said.

The health department has also stepped up preventive measures across the state. Pansheriya said health teams had completed spraying operations and public awareness campaigns in all 61 locations where Chandipura virus cases were reported in 2024.

According to the minister, no fresh cases have been reported from any of those 61 previously affected locations. In newly affected areas, authorities have immediately carried out fogging, spraying and sanitisation drives to eliminate sandflies, which are considered one of the vectors responsible for spreading the disease.

To curb transmission, adequate stocks of medicines and essential medical supplies have been made available even at the state’s smallest health centres, officials said.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/chandipura-virus-gujarat-32-suspected-cases-3-deaths-children-under-10-2948024-2026-07-14

Saying the 25% maintenance formula is not binding, the Allahabad High Court enhanced a divorced woman’s monthly maintenance to Rs 20,000, stressing that courts must decide the amount based on the facts of each case.

The Allahabad High Court has clarified that the widely cited norm of awarding a wife 25% of her husband’s net salary as maintenance is only a broad guideline and not a mandatory rule, observing that courts have the discretion to fix a higher or lower amount depending on the facts of each case.

The court also held that “net income” for calculating maintenance generally refers to earnings after mandatory deductions and taxes, and not the gross salary.

Justice Achal Sachdev made the observations while deciding two connected criminal revision petitions: one filed by a divorced woman, Pinki alias Preeti, seeking enhancement of the Rs 12,000 monthly maintenance granted by a family court in Kanpur Dehat and the other by her former husband, Shri Jai Prakash, challenging the award.

The high court reiterated that a decree of divorce does not by itself disentitle a legally wedded wife from claiming maintenance if she is unable to maintain herself, has not remarried and is not living in adultery.

“The object of maintenance is to ensure that the wife is able to live with dignity and not merely survive,” the court observed.

It noted that the woman had no independent source of income, while the husband had sufficient financial means. The husband was drawing a gross monthly salary of Rs 86,674, with Rs 67,043 credited to his bank account after deductions.

Referring to the Supreme Court’s judgment in Kalyan Dey Chowdhury vs Rita Dey Chowdhury Nee Nandy (2017), the court said the 25% benchmark should be treated only as a guiding principle.

It further found that the family court had fixed the maintenance amount without properly considering the husband’s admitted income, prevailing inflation or documentary evidence on record.

The husband had also failed to submit an affidavit detailing his assets and liabilities as mandated by the Supreme Court in Rajnesh vs Neha.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/law-news/story/allahabad-high-court-25-percent-maintenance-guideline-wife-rs-20000-ptag-2948017-2026-07-15

 

The government clarified that an Indian passport is issued to regulate the departure of Indian citizens after due verification under the Passports Act, while noting that it is primarily a travel document and fewer than 8% of Indians hold one.

Amid an ongoing debate over whether passports can be used to verify citizenship, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday clarified that an Indian passport is issued by the government to “regulate the departure” of Indian citizens from the country under the Passports Act, 1967.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the document is issued only after due verification through an established process and noted that less than eight per cent of Indian citizens currently hold a passport.

Jaiswal’s remarks come weeks after senior MEA officials, during a briefing on Passport Seva Divas on June 24, described the passport as a travel document rather than a document to prove citizenship.

The clarification was made in response to questions on whether passports could be accepted as proof of citizenship for the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls being carried out in several states.

Seeking to clarify the government’s position, Jaiswal said, “An Indian passport is a document that, as per the Passports Act, 1967, is issued by the Government of India to regulate the departure from India of citizens of India.”

He added that the issuance of passports is governed by the Passports Act, 1967, and the Passports Rules, 1980, and follows a prescribed verification process.

The June remarks had triggered criticism from opposition parties, particularly the Congress, which questioned how a passport issued by the government to an Indian citizen could not reflect the holder’s citizenship.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/indian-passport-citizenship-proof-debate-mea-regulates-departure-ptag-2947792-2026-07-15

The Odisha government told the Supreme Court that Dara Singh is being considered for Independence Day remission. The disclosure has raised the prospect of the Graham Staines murder convict’s release more than 26 years after the killings.

More than 26 years after Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two minor sons were burnt alive in Odisha, Dara Singh, who is currently serving a life sentence for the triple murder, could be released as part of the state’s Independence Day remission exercise, as per sources.

During the hearing of Singh’s plea seeking premature release, the Odisha government informed the Supreme Court that his name is among those being considered by the state’s screening committee for the release of eligible prisoners on Independence Day.

The state requested the court to defer the matter until the committee completes its exercise.

Accepting the request, a bench of Justices Manoj Mishra and Vijay Bishnoi adjourned the hearing to August 19.

The Odisha government’s limit for granting remission is 25 years.

Dara Singh, whose real name is Ravindra Pal and who hails from Etawah in Uttar Pradesh, is lodged in the Keonjhar district jail.

On the night of January 22, 1999, Staines and his sons Philip (10) and Timothy (6), were sleeping in their station wagon in Manoharpur village in Keonjhar when a mob surrounded the vehicle and set it on fire.

All three were burnt alive in an incident that drew international condemnation.

Following a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe, Dara Singh was convicted for leading the attack. His life sentence was later upheld by the Supreme Court.

In July 2024, Singh approached the Supreme Court seeking remission, arguing that he had spent over 24 years behind bars.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/law-news/story/graham-staines-murder-case-main-accused-dara-singh-remission-odisha-supreme-court-idenpendence-day-2948106-2026-07-15

 

Poland has praised India’s role in efforts to prevent the Russia-Ukraine war from escalating, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi is among the few leaders who can influence Russian President Vladimir Putin. Warsaw also said differences over India’s Russian oil imports have eased, highlighting improved mutual understanding between the two countries.

Poland has lauded India’s diplomatic efforts in relation to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with Deputy Foreign Minister Wladyslaw Teofil Bartoszewski stating that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is among the few global leaders whose views are taken seriously by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

#WATCH | Delhi: On the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Secretary of State of the Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Władysław Teofil Bartoszewski, says, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a very well-known world statesman, who is very respected, and India has a long-standing relationship… pic.twitter.com/R38wQurE9u

— ANI (@ANI) July 14, 2026

Speaking to ANI, Bartoszewski said India’s longstanding ties with Russia have placed New Delhi in a unique position to encourage dialogue and help prevent further escalation of the war. He claimed that PM Modi had played an important role in late 2022 by persuading Russia against the use of tactical nuclear weapons during the conflict.

Describing PM Modi as a widely respected statesman, the Polish minister said President Putin pays close attention to the Indian Prime Minister’s views due to the decades-long relationship between New Delhi and Moscow. He added that India’s influence could prove crucial in efforts aimed at bringing the conflict to an end.

Bartoszewski also said appeals for restraint are more effective when they come from countries that Russia does not view as hostile. Alongside India, he identified China as another nation capable of influencing Moscow’s decisions.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/polish-minister-says-pm-modi-helped-prevent-nuclear-escalation-in-ukraine-war

 

Mercedes-Benz India responds after YouTuber Sourav Joshi blamed E20 petrol for his luxury SUV’s mileage dropping from 17 kmpl to 5 kmpl.

Popular Indian lifestyle vlogger Sourav Joshi recently triggered a massive storm on social media when he claimed that the fuel efficiency of his luxury Mercedes-Benz GLC SUV plummeted from an estimated 16-17 kmpl down to a shocking 5 kmpl. The culprit, according to Joshi? The government-mandated E20 (20% ethanol-blended) petrol. The video, which quickly went viral, showed Joshi expressing severe anxiety about potential engine damage and the logistical headache of transporting his premium vehicle from Haldwani to a Delhi-based service center.

I am scared to fill ethanol-blended petrol in my car. My Mercedes used to give 16–17 km/l mileage, but now it’s dropped to 5. My car will be ruined soon.

—India’s biggest vlogger, Saurav Joshi pic.twitter.com/IQgSgogFHm

— Mohit Chauhan (@mohitlaws) July 12, 2026

However, his public trial of E20 fuel has drawn a direct, highly calculated response from Mercedes-Benz India, throwing a spotlight on the danger of making sweeping mechanical claims on public platforms without professional diagnostics.

Mercedes-Benz Issues Clarifications

Responding to the building public concern, Mercedes-Benz India issued a formal advisory addressing the vlogger’s claims.

Customer Advisory pic.twitter.com/RxuTYl6Phz

— Mercedes-Benz India (@MercedesBenzInd) July 12, 2026

The statement reads, “The luxury manufacturer clarified that all of its modern vehicles sold in India are engineered to be fully compatible with E20 blended petrol. The statement reads, “At Mercedes-Benz, customer safety, vehicle reliability and performance are of paramount importance to use. All Mercedes-Benz petrol BS VI vehicles are materially compatible with E20 fuel and certified accordingly by elevant authorities. We are happy to support customers for any technical queries. Mercedes-Benz remains committed to sustainable mobility.”

The Vlogger’s Claim: Fact vs. Unscientific Friction

In his vlog, Joshi showcased his SUV’s digital instrument cluster to point out the rapid decline in fuel efficiency shortly after fueling up. While a drop from 17 kmpl to 5 kmpl is undoubtedly alarming, diagnosing this drop solely as an “E20 ethanol issue” is technically flawed in every regard.

In modern automobiles, fuel efficiency is governed by a highly complex network of electronic sensors, driving habits, idling times, and ambient conditions. Claiming a vehicle’s engine is failing or that fuel quality is the root cause based purely on a instrument cluster readout – without a physical engine check, fuel sample test, or a formal OBD (On-Board Diagnostics) scan is an unscientific approach. Pointing fingers at a structural fuel transition like E20 without an authorized technical inspection spreads unnecessary panic among vehicle owners.

What Could Rather Be Real Reason For Mileage Drop?

In reality, only a serious examination of the vehicle can reveal the exact reason for the increase in fuel consumption. Theoretically, however, there are multiple reasons for the drop in mileage.

• Prolonged Idling: Keeping a high-displacement engine running while stationary (especially with the air conditioning on during vlogging shoots) will cause the calculated mileage reading to crash.
• Driving Conditions: Short, stop-and-go city runs or bumper-to-bumper traffic in hilly terrains (like Haldwani) drastically impact fuel consumption compared to steady-state highway cruising.
• Electronic Sensor Calibration: Temporary sensor glitches can alter dashboard calculations without affecting the actual, physical fuel consumption of the vehicle.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/auto/youtuber-sourav-joshi-blames-e20-petrol-for-mileage-drop-mercedes-benz-issues-clarifications-11764630?pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories

 

 

In February 2020, northeast Delhi plunged into turmoil over the protests for and against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) exercise

Former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Tahir Hussain and four others have been convicted by a local court for killing an Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer during the riots in northeast Delhi in February 2020. The body of IB officer Ankit Sharma, 26, was found in a drain on February 26 amid the communal violence.

Hussain and the four others – Javed, Anas, Nazim and Kasim – have been convicted for murder and rioting, among other charges. The court, however, acquitted them of the charge of criminal conspiracy.

Six others were also acquitted due to lack of evidence.

What Happened That Day

In February 2020, northeast Delhi plunged into turmoil over the protests for and against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) exercise.

Violence spread fast and engulfed neighbourhoods including Chand Bagh, Khajuri Khas and Mustafabad. The mobs threw stones, burnt shops and vehicles. Gunfire rang out in some of the affected areas.

Sharma had just reached home from work on February 25. He found the scene outside his house extremely tense. According to eyewitnesses and the police chargesheet, Sharma stepped out of his house seeking to pacify the mob.

He managed to reach an area where rioters had taken positions near a mosque and the former AAP MLA’s house. Soon, they surrounded him and started advancing, shouting slogans.

Sharma tried to leave but they caught him and dragged him toward Hussain’s house. There, they assaulted him with sharp-edged weapons and killed him.

According to Sharma’s father, Ravinder Kumar, the IB officer left home on the evening of February 25, 2020, but didn’t return home that night. The next day, Kumar heard about a young man who had been thrown into a drain. When they found the body, Kumar, a former police officer himself, felt devastated with the huge loss.

On February 26, Kumar filed a complaint with the police to find his missing son. During the search, some local residents informed the police that a young man had been killed and his body dumped into a drain.

The body was recovered with the help of divers. The injuries and details of the postmortem report shocked the nation. His body bore 51 deep wounds inflicted by knives and other sharp-edged weapons.

Doctors pointed out he was hit several times with such force that his lungs and brain were severely damaged. He died on the spot due to excessive blood loss. They threw the body into the drain to destroy evidence and make identification of the body very difficult.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/delhi-news/stabbed-51-times-body-dumped-in-drain-delhi-riots-horror-after-6-years-11766191?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

While Ladakh earlier had two districts, five more – Sham, Nubra, Changthang, Zanskar, and Drass – were notified in April this year.

The Union Territory of Ladakh is set to get one hill council each for its seven districts and a UT-level body as Union Territory chief secretary Ashish Kundra made the announcement on Monday. Kundra described the move as a major step towards strengthening grassroots governance and balanced development across the region.

While Ladakh earlier had two districts, five more were formed in April 2026. The new districts of Ladakh are Sham, Nubra, Changthang, Zanskar, and Drass. Elected representation until now has remained with the two existing councils, one each in Leh and Kargil.

“Ladakh Administration has decided to constitute Autonomous Hill Development Council in each of the seven districts. It is a major step towards democratic decentralisation and grassroots governance,” Kundra said, news agency PTI reported.

He said Section 3(1) of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Act already provides for a council for every district, to be constituted from a date the government notifies in the gazette. Only amendments to the Act, where required, and a delimitation of constituencies remain.

The overarching UT-level body above the seven councils has been proposed under a customised Article 371 framework, with legislative, executive, financial and administrative powers, the official said.

The Chief Secretary said the model has no parallel elsewhere in the country and will draw on the best features of other arrangements.

This comes seven years after the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir that ended the special provisions of the erstwhile state of J&K and also paved way for the bifurcation into two UTs of J&K and Ladakh.

Article 371 is a provision in the Constitution that grants special safeguards and autonomy to certain states and regions to protect their cultural identity, land rights, local employment and administrative systems.

Source : hindustantimes.com/india-news/customised-article-371-framework-ladakh-to-get-ut-level-body-hill-councils-for-all-seven-districts-101783951739301.html

Maharashtra’s FDA has launched a statewide drive against milk adulteration under commissioner Tukaram Mundhe. The action has exposed synthetic milk units, disrupted supplies and sparked calls for compliance time.

A massive, state-wide crackdown on milk adulteration is underway in Maharashtra, led by the Food and Drug Administration, which has unearthed synthetic milk production units and severe food safety violations.

The sweeping enforcement drive began May 25, the day IAS officer Tukaram Mundhe assumed office as FDA commissioner. Under his leadership, the agency issued an order tightening food safety norms across the entire milk supply chain, targeting dairies, transporters, distributors, wholesalers, and retailers.

“Milk is not merely a food product; it is a nutritional foundation for millions of children, mothers, patients and senior citizens. Adulterating milk amounts to playing with public health. Such practices will not be tolerated in Maharashtra. We have seen a decrease in supply of milk and paneer since we started action,” Mundhe said.

The intense scrutiny has caused ripples across the state supply chain, with videos going viral on social media showing people dumping milk into drains to avoid FDA inspections.

High-profile businesses have also been swept up in the enforcement blitz. The FDA recently suspended the license of Mumbai’s iconic ice cream parlour, K Rustom & Co. A surprise inspection of the establishment uncovered severe hygiene and food safety violations, including low milk fat compliance.

“We will continue our action will continue on establishments not following Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) norms. Citizens also should be aware about the norms and keep a close watch on hygiene standards,” Mundhe said.

Beyond the dairy sector, Mundhe has also initiated a state-wide drive against gutkha (a chewable tobacco product). As part of the anti-gutkha campaign, the FDA has raided around 904 locations across Maharashtra.

The sudden surge in regulatory enforcement has also raised public questions regarding whether significant oversight was being conducted during the tenures of previous FDA commissioners. Mundhe remains tight-lipped about comparisons with his predecessors.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/maharashtra-milk-adulteration-crackdown-tukaram-mundhe-fda-raids-synthetic-units-2947237-2026-07-14

Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah shared a satirical fake Donald Trump post to attack the BJP over the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood. The post came as the National Conference prepared to intensify its protests against the BJP at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday stepped up his attack on the BJP over the long-pending demand for the restoration of statehood by sharing a satirical fake social media post purportedly from US President Donald Trump.

The parody post jokingly portrays Trump endorsing the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood and praising Abdullah’s campaign, a day after the CM quipped that perhaps he might have to approach the US President since the Centre had failed to fulfil its promise.

The fake post, styled like one of Trump’s trademark social media messages, depicts the US President enthusiastically backing Abdullah’s campaign for statehood.

“Big things happening in Jammu & Kashmir! I have to give a big shoutout to my friend, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. What a guy! He’s working hard, talking smart, and fighting for statehood like a lion (without the roar… mostly),” the satirical post on X depicting Trump reads.

“Let’s bring back Statehood and make Jammu and Kashmir GREAT AGAIN! Believe me, nobody restores better than me… except maybe Omar in J&K,” the post added.

Abdullah shared the parody with a brief caption, “If Only”, on Monday.

WHY ABDULLAH INVOKED TRUMP TO MOCK THE BJP

The satirical post comes amid an ongoing political tussle between the National Conference-led government and the BJP over the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood.

Addressing a public meeting at Maharaja Hari Singh Park in Jammu on Sunday, Abdullah announced that his party would begin a fresh agitation from July 20, with a protest at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on the opening day of Parliament’s Monsoon Session.

“We pursued the restoration of statehood for nearly two years, giving enough time to the Central government to fulfil its promise made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” Abdullah said.

He added that the National Conference would now adopt “a new method” to press the demand.

Taking a swipe at the BJP, Abdullah remarked, “Let the BJP tell us whether we have to go to US President Donald Trump for statehood and hold a dharna outside the White House. Until then, we will protest in our own national capital.”

The protest will be the first major demonstration led by the ruling National Conference against the Centre since it formed the government following the 2024 Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections.

The restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood has remained one of the region’s most significant political demands since August 2019, when the Narendra Modi government abrogated Article 370 and bifurcated the erstwhile state into the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

While the Centre has repeatedly stated that statehood would be restored at an appropriate time, no timeline has been announced.

CM ABDULLAH’S BRIBING OF MLAs ALLEGATIONS AND BJP’s LEGAL NOTICE TO THE CM

The exchange over statehood has unfolded alongside another political confrontation in the region. The BJP’s Jammu and Kashmir unit has served a legal notice on Abdullah after he alleged that the saffron party was attempting to lure National Conference MLAs with cash and ministerial positions in an effort to destabilise his government.

Demanding evidence for the allegation, the BJP warned that it would file a Rs 100-crore defamation suit unless Abdullah substantiates his claims or issues a public apology.

Responding to the notice, Abdullah dismissed it as a “love letter” by the BJP.

“I have received a letter from a lawyer… I consider this a great honour as I am the only politician in Jammu and Kashmir to have been bestowed with a love letter like this by the BJP. I consider it a mark of respect that I am obviously a political force in Jammu and Kashmir that they cannot ignore,” Abdullah said while speaking to journalists at the National Conference headquarters.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/omar-abdullah-trump-fake-post-jammu-and-kashmir-statehood-article-370-pm-modi-government-bjp-legal-notice-2946907-2026-07-13

An RTI response from the Railway Board has revealed the scale of Indian Railways’ encroachment challenge: 1,068.54 hectares of its land under illegal occupation as of March 2025. The figures reveal a worrying trend: encroachments have grown over the years and the Railways lacks a comprehensive long-term database of the problem.

Indian Railways is sitting on an encroachment problem large enough to fit nearly 42 Narendra Modi Stadiums or around 1,496 FIFA-standard football fields.

According to an RTI response accessed by India Today from the Railway Board, 1,068.54 hectares of railway land was under encroachment as of March 2025.

And the problem is not shrinking. The data shows that encroachments have increased over the past five years, while efforts to reclaim land have made limited progress.

ONLY FIVE YEARS OF DATA AVAILABLE

The RTI application, filed by India Today, sought a 25-year history of encroachment on railway land. However, the Railway Board provided only a five-year snapshot.

The data shows that the total area under encroachment rose from 810.31 hectares in 2020-21 to 1,068.54 hectares in 2024-25, marking an increase of nearly 32 per cent.

The figures are also in line with the government’s response in Parliament on March 27, 2026.

According to the government, as of April 1, 2025, Indian Railways owned approximately 4.99 lakh hectares of land, of which about 0.21 per cent, or nearly 1,068 hectares, was under encroachment.

JUST HOW BIG IS 1,068 HECTARES?

Numbers of this scale can be difficult to visualise, so here is some perspective.

The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the world’s largest cricket stadium by capacity, occupies around 63 acres, or approximately 25.5 hectares.

The railway land currently under encroachment could accommodate nearly 42 such stadiums.

In football terms, the same area is equivalent to around 1,496 FIFA-sized football pitches. However, this comparison only considers the playing surface and excludes spectator stands, parking areas and other facilities.

A RISING CHALLENGE

The Railway Board’s Land and Amenities Directorate provided year-wise data on both encroachment and removal efforts.

In 2021-22, the area under encroachment temporarily declined to 782.81 hectares. However, the numbers rose sharply thereafter, reaching 1,078.55 hectares in 2023-24.

That marked an increase of nearly 268 hectares in a single year, the biggest jump during the five-year period.

Although there was a marginal decline in 2024-25, the overall trend remains upward.

Efforts to remove encroachments have made limited progress. Over the five-year period, only 98.02 hectares of encroached railway land was cleared, compared with the current backlog of more than 1,068 hectares.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER RECLAIMING RAILWAY LAND?

The government told the Lok Sabha that around 98.02 hectares of railway land was reclaimed from encroachment during the last five years.

The recovered land is used for railway infrastructure projects, including multi-tracking works, workshops, passenger terminals and freight terminals.

Land that is not immediately required for operational purposes is transferred to the Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) for commercial development.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/railway-land-encroachment-india-1068-hectares-in-five-years-rti-2946990-2026-07-13

Nihang Sikhs blocked Ferozepur Road outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Ludhiana, demanding action in Fatehveer Singh’s death. The protest deepened tensions as police cited an SIT report calling it a natural death.

Ludhiana witnessed major traffic disruption on Monday as a large group of Nihang Sikhs staged a protest outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office, blocking both sides of the busy Ferozepur Road and demanding justice in a three-year-old case involving the death of Nihang Fatehveer Singh.

The protesters began their sit-in around 10 a.m., occupying the middle of the road and bringing traffic to a standstill. Long queues of vehicles were seen stretching across the area as commuters faced significant delays due to the blockade.

The demonstrators alleged that Fatehveer Singh was brutally murdered nearly three years ago and accused the police of failing to take meaningful action in the case. According to the protesters, those responsible for his death continue to roam freely despite repeated demands for justice.

The Nihang Sikhs said they had been approaching the police and administration for the past three years seeking action but had received no satisfactory response. Frustrated by what they described as official inaction, they said they were compelled to take to the streets.

Protesters warned that their dharna and road blockade would continue until the police provide a concrete assurance of action and arrest those allegedly responsible for Fatehveer Singh’s death.

However, the police rejected the allegation that it was a murder case. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Harpal Singh said a Special Investigation Team (SIT) had examined the matter and concluded that the case did not involve homicide.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/nihang-sikhs-block-ludhianas-ferozepur-road-demand-justice-in-3-year-old-death-case-2947224-2026-07-14

The use of the word “kharku” for Khalistani terrorists in Diljit Dosanjh’s Satluj has reignited a debate over the vocabulary used in the film now taken down by ZEE5. What does the word mean? How’s it linked to the beheading of ML Manchanda, the station director of AIR Patiala, by Babbar Khalsa?

Around 18 minutes into the film, Satluj, the character of Jaswant Singh Khalra, played by Diljit Dosanjh, goes to a police station to report the “disappearance” of the mother of a slain friend, who the police call an “aatankwadi” (terrorist). As he looks for the woman, Dosanjh refers to the dead person as a “kharku”, seconds after he was called a “terrorist” by an officer.

Among other things, the use of the word “kharku” by the character played by Dosanjh for an individual allegedly linked to the Khalistani movement, attracted criticism. A person said the film, now taken off by streaming platform ZEE5, “legitimatised the word kharku”.

People also slammed the filmmakers, arguing that they adopted the vocabulary of Khalistanis who wanted to be referred to as “kharku”, not “atankwadi” or “terrorist”.

During the years of the Khalistani movement, armed insurgents and terrorists in Punjab sought to shape how they were described in the mass media. So, media organisations became obvious targets of violence, sometimes brutal and deadly.

One of the most alarming examples of the enforcement’s diktats, was the 1992 killing of AIR Patiala station director ML Manchanda by Babbar Khalsa terrorists. Babbar Khalsa has been named a terrorist organisation in India, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the European Union.

The terrorists targeted and killed the state broadcaster’s official over its programming and role as a government-run media outlet, and not specifically over the use of the word “kharku”. But the use of the term was part of the terrorist’s diktat, like the use of Punjabi instead of Hindi. The sheer brutality of Manchanda’s murder, with his head severed and dumped separately, showed the lengths to which the Khalistanis would go to terrorise the people of Punjab.

Babbar Khalsa terrorists abducted and beheaded in 1992 after demanding that AIR stop broadcasting Hindi and relay only Punjabi programmes. The murder was meant to terrorise the media into accepting the terrorist’s ideological and linguistic diktat. Now, the controversy over Satluj has revived the debate over the use and meaning of the word “kharku” and why and how ML Manchanda was murdered by the terrorists and his body mutilated.

WHAT DOES THE WORD ‘KHARKU’, USED IN SATLUJ FILM, MEAN?

“Kharku” or “kharkoos” is not a neutral description to name the armed Khalistani militants and terrorists. It was the term many of them used for the people who fought for Khalistan. It was their preferred nomenclature to be addressed with during the Punjab insurgency of the late 1970s to early 1990s.

Derived from Punjabi usage conveying someone bold, fearless or one who “shakes things up”, the label projected an image of a courageous warrior rather than an outlaw. Khalistani terrorists and militants often refer to themselves as “Kharku Singhs”, presenting their campaign as “a struggle for Sikh sovereignty”.

“Uggarwadi was the official term used freely in government statements and in the English-language media, state television and radio broadcasts. The official term stands in opposition to the more popular term Kharku, or freedom fighter. Both terms refer to masculine bodily styles — ugar or ferocious, kharag — honed; its etymological roots drawn from the weaponry — kharag — an iron scimitar,” author-academic Radhika Chopra wrote in a 2010 research paper.

The government, security agencies and most mainstream media, however, described them as “militants” or “terrorists”, reporting on the targeted killings, bombings, assassinations and massacres carried out by armed Khalistani foot-soldiers during the insurgency.

As they always are, the choice of words was also central to competing narratives about the Khalistani movement. And the film Satluj has made sure that the use of “Kharku” is still being debated.

WHY USE OF THE WORD, ‘KHARKU’ IS AT THE CENTRE OF THE SATLUJ ROW

Critics of Satluj and what has been portrayed, argue that calling terrorists “kharku” was giving in to the separatist movement’s choice of vocabulary, and implicitly legitimising the self-image.

However, a section of the Sikh society also referred to these men as “kharku” during that period.

“The panth… tended to perceive them as kharkoos or ‘combatants for the faith’ and not as terrorists,” former IAS officer Ramesh Inder Singh noted in his book, Turmoil in Punjab: Before and After Blue Star.

“Towards the end of the 1980s, the practice of inserting advertisements in newspapers to eulogise militants as shaheeds of the quam became common. The objective was to attract people to bhog functions, build goodwill for the cause and create an aura of martyrdom around the kharkoos. The ‘martyrs’ and their services to the panth were recognised by conferring siropas on their next of kin, and in some cases extending financial assistance. In the case of prominent militants, calls for bandhs and hartals were also given,” Ramesh Inder Singh added.

A siropa was also presented to General Dyer in the Golden Temple in 1919, days after the Jalianwala massacre. The circumstances and authorities were different then.

Ramesh Inder Singh also wrote that many within the Sikh community initially viewed the kharkoos as “combatants for the faith” rather than terrorists, but argued that they later “transformed from religious warriors to terrorists”.

“They had transformed from religious warriors to terrorists and, to expand their reach, they now executed a planned ‘consternation strategy’ to demoralise the security forces and paralyse the state administration. They aimed to gain international recognition, particularly among the Sikh diaspora,” former IAS officer Ramesh Inder Singh wrote.

So, now in 2026, the row over the term is a result of the historical divide over the Punjab insurgency. The same individuals were simultaneously and sometimes interchangeably described as a “martyr”, “militant” or “terrorist”, depending on who narrated the story.

HOW KHALISTANI TERRORISTS OF BABBAR KHALSA KILLED AIR PATIALA’S CHIEF

The power of terminology and narrative, and the Khalistani effort to enforce that, was revealed in one of Khalistani terrorism’s most gruesome crimes.

In May 1992, Babbar Khalsa terrorists kidnapped ML Manchanda, station director of All India Radio’s Patiala station. His beheaded body was later recovered in Patiala, while his severed head was found in Ambala.

According to reports, the terrorists had demanded that AIR discontinue Hindi and other non-Punjabi broadcasts and transmit only Punjabi programming. The killing was intended as a warning to state-run media and triggered protests, with radio and television stations across Punjab temporarily suspending broadcasts.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/satluj-kharku-controversy-terrorist-air-patiala-ml-manchanda-killing-khalistani-media-diktat-2946658-2026-07-14

The recommendations were prepared following the Supreme Court’s directions to address rising minor pregnancies and concerns over consensual adolescent relationships being prosecuted under POCSO.

The Centre on Tuesday informed the Supreme Court that it is agreeable to introduce comprehensive sex education in schools and colleges across the country and will implement the recommendations of an expert committee once it receives the court’s approval.

Appearing before the bench, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Aishwarya Bhati said the Central government has accepted the committee’s report and is prepared to roll it out nationwide after the Supreme Court gives its nod.

The development came during the hearing of a suo motu case examining ways to address the growing number of cases where consensual relationships between adolescents end up being prosecuted under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Congress has criticised Prime Minister Modi for his silence regarding the alleged theft of donations intended for the Ram Temple, asserting that this indicates a breach of public trust.

Congress on Monday once again launched a scathing attack on the Centre over the Ram Temple donation fund theft case and said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence on the matter is a breach of “public trust”. Congress General Secretary and Rajya Sabha MP, Jairam Ramesh, wants the Prime Minister to address the issue as the matter is linked to the faith of crores of devotees. The development comes even as the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust invited applications for the appointment of a CEO, to look after the management of the temple.

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, Jairam Ramesh said, “Chanda chori, aastha dhokha. What does Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mysterious silence signify regarding the ‘chanda chori’ carried out by the BJP-RSS in the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and the betrayal of public trust? Why is he so eager to aid the ‘chanda chor’ (charity thieves)?”

In another statement, the Congress leader said, “The nation is asking why the prime minister, who claims ‘zero tolerance’ for corruption, has remained silent on this serious issue for the past month? The public is demanding answers from him for this breach of trust. Dear prime minister, break your silence, provide answers.”

Satluj was released on July 3 on the OTT platform ZEE5. Two days later, the platform took it down, triggering a massive controversy in Punjab.

Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu has received a “should-remain-within-his-limit” warning from one of the most prominent faces of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Punjab, Iqbal Singh Lalpura, betraying an unease within the party’s state unit over its stance on the Dijit Dosanjh-starrer Satluj.

The genesis of the public spat was Bittu’s challenge of the premise of the controversial movie — that 25,000 unidentified bodies had been secretly disposed of when the state was in the throes of militancy.

“If anywhere 25,000… the unidentified bodies they have talked about, if that data is true, let them show that list in front of you. Forget 25,000, I am saying even the data for 5,000, they should place it in the media, place it before their commission, and place it in the Supreme Court, high court,” the Union minister told NDTV earlier this week.

Lalpura trashed this assertion.

“Everybody should stay within their limit. When Jaswant Khalra (the activist on whom the film is based) spoke about the disappearances of 25,000 people, he gave a message. The claim was verified by the National Human Rights Commission. If Bittu Sahib wants the data, he can seek it from the NHRC (National Human Rights Commission),” Lalpura said.

Lalpura, a former Indian Police Service officer, is among the three police officers who arrested militant leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale in connection with a clash involving members of the Nirankari sect.

Satluj was sent to the Censor Board in 2022. It was finally released on July 3 on the OTT platform ZEE5. Two days later, the platform took it down, saying it was exploring other avenues.

The film is based on the struggle of Khalra to unearth alleged extrajudicial killings when militancy was at its peak in Punjab.

Satluj’s filmmaker had claimed that the Censor Board had asked him to make 127 cuts.

Sources had told NDTV that certain portions in ‘Satluj’ could be misused by anti-India forces.

What Had Bittu Said

In his interview with NDTV, Bittu had refuted allegations that the Centre forced the film off streaming platforms, calling it a “manufactured narrative”.

“They tried to use the film to light a fire. I am saying exactly this: that there was no ban at all; this is propaganda. They put the film on OTT, uploaded it themselves and took it down themselves,” he said.

Bittu, the grandson of former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh, who was killed in a 1995 bomb blast, alleged that the makers of Satluj glorified Jaswant Singh Khalra’s life but failed to depict the challenges faced by civilians and security forces fighting extremism.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/over-union-ministers-satluj-stance-punjab-bjp-leaders-stay-in-limit-barb-11762367?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

CDS to make a presentation before defence minister Rajnath Singh at month end for permission to get CCS approval.

General N S Raja Subramani, who recently took over as India’s third Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), is set to push the process of theaterisation and make a crucial presentation on the road ahead to defence minister Rajnath Singh by the end of this month, people familiar with the matter said.

While Gen Subramani’s predecessor, Gen Anil Chauhan, submitted his final draft proposal on the subject before he demitted office on May 31, the new CDS is expected to make a detailed presentation of the same proposal before all stakeholders and the minister, the people added. Once the minister green-lights the proposal, the theatre commands plan will be sent as a note to the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) for final approval by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.The plan has been a work in progress since 2022.

At the core of the military theatre commands plan are Northern (facing China), Western (facing Pakistan) and Maritime theatre commands (with the Andaman and Nicobar Island command). Under the proposal, four new posts of four star commands, equivalent to the current service chiefs, will be created, including that of the Vice Chief of Defence Staff (VCDS). Each theatre command will be headed by a four-star officer, according to the plan.

While the political leadership is fully behind theatre commands as part of much-needed military reforms, the three service headquarters remain in two minds over the dilution of service chiefs’ powers; under the new structure, they will have no operational role. Their responsibilities will be limited to training and sustenance, with the theatre commanders taking instructions directly from the defence minister in times of war. The military-civilian bureaucracy is understandably cagey about creating four more posts of four-star officers, who will hold the same rank of ex-officio cabinet secretary as the service chiefs. While there is a case for not making the command structure top-heavy, the counterpoint is that the uniformed services thrive on hierarchy and seniority. Simply put, if the three theatre commanders were three-star officers, the service chiefs would dominate them and the entire exercise would fail.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/cds-gen-n-s-raja-subramani-may-soon-present-theaterisation-strategy-to-defence-minister-rajnath-singh-101783903374365.html

According to the complaint, when she pointed out that the form did not have a photograph, one of the women allegedly told her that she “belonged to Bangladesh and therefore would not affix her photograph”.

Police in Telangana’s Kamareddy district have registered a case after a 42-year-old woman Booth Level Officer alleged that three people, including two women, stopped her from doing her official work, abused her and assaulted her during house-to-house voter enumeration. Police said on Sunday that an investigation is under way.

In her complaint, the government official said the incident took place on July 10 while she was carrying out voter enumeration. She alleged that during the exercise, two women approached her and submitted an Enumeration Form, and a dispute broke out when she refused to accept it after finding that it did not have a photograph affixed.

According to the complaint, when she pointed out that the form did not have a photograph, one of the women allegedly told her that she “belonged to Bangladesh and therefore would not affix her photograph”. The BLO then refused to accept the form. The complainant alleged that the two women then “obstructed her from discharge her official duties, abusing and pushing her”.

She further alleged that a man later arrived at the spot, questioned her for rejecting the form by referring to Bangladesh, and threatened to kill her if she did not accept it. During the altercation, the accused allegedly snatched her mobile phone, damaged it, and abused and assaulted her, the complaint said.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/telangana-voter-enumeration-kamareddy-blo-assault-rejecting-form-without-photo-ptag-2946309-2026-07-12

A woman Home Guard constable in Vaishali has alleged she was kidnapped and sexually assaulted by Subodh Paswan and others. Police have contested the allegations, citing a prior relationship.

A woman Home Guard constable has alleged that she was kidnapped and sexually assaulted in Bihar’s Vaishali district, while police have disputed the allegations, saying the case stems from a prior relationship between the woman and the accused.

According to the woman’s family, the accused, identified as Subodh Paswan, along with his brother and two others, allegedly kidnapped the Home Guard constable and her minor sister while they were returning from a market. The family alleged that both daughters were confined inside a house, where the constable was sexually assaulted.

The family further claimed that after they informed the police, officers rescued the woman Home Guard constable from the accused’s house. However, they alleged that the accused managed to flee from the spot during the police operation.

“My daughters had gone to the market with their father when Subodh Paswan allegedly kidnapped them. He also assaulted my husband when he tried to rescue them. We even went to Paswan’s house and pleaded with him to release my daughters, but he refused. Left with no other option, we approached the police. I want him to be sent to jail because he has been harassing my daughter for a long time. He is a married man with three children, yet he continues to assault my daughter,” the woman constable’s mother told India Today TV.

Mahua Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Sanjeev Kumar, however, presented a different version of events. He said the woman and the accused were previously in a relationship and that after she secured her job, she began distancing herself from him.

According to the SDPO, the accused allegedly molested the woman following a dispute arising out of the relationship. He said the case did not involve kidnapping or rape, adding that the woman had been sent for a medical examination.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/vaishali-home-guard-constable-kidnapped-sexually-assaulted-bihar-police-2946458-2026-07-13

Vijeta Dahiya’s dance videos from the Cockroach Janta Party’s protest stage at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, right next to a fasting Sonam Wangchuk, have gone viral. Dahiya says he wants to be the world’s first dancing activist. Here’s what Dahiya has to say about his dancing and Wangchuk’s reaction.

For artists, an empty stage is an invitation to perform. The sprawling platform setup at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar for the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) protest demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation has become more than just a site of sloganeering. It has turned into a stage for music and dance. Among those making the most of it is CJP spokesperson Vijeta Dahiya, whose energetic dance performances have become one of the most talked about aspects of the protest.

“I want to be the world’s first dancing activist,” Dahiya told India Today Digital with a chuckle, insisting that dance is not a distraction from protest but a form of resistance in itself. “I’m using dance as a tool to protest against Brahmanvad,” he added.

But while Dahiya dances before addressing the gathering, just a few metres away, climate activist and educationist Sonam Wangchuk continues his indefinite hunger strike, which is entering its 15th day.

Some join Dahiya on the stage while other participants dance below. However, a fasting Wangchuk seems to be numb to the efforts.

Wangchuk isn’t alone. History is filled with towering personalities who frown upon dance. Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy reportedly dismissed it as a frivolous pursuit, while English statesman Oliver Cromwell viewed dancing and theatre with suspicion.

Videos from the protest site show the activist from Ladakh maintaining a subtle silence as Dahiya grooves to music on stage, showing little sign of joining in or even acknowledging the performances. But, according to Dahiya, the dance performances at the protest site are not bothering him. Rather, “Wangchuk motivates them,” he said.

JANTAR MANTAR DANCE CLIPS SHIFT SPOTLIGHT FROM DIPKE TO DAHIYA

The action follows a thorough investigation that uncovered widespread irregularities in teacher recruitment carried out through local bodies between 2006 and 2015.

The Bihar Education Department has dismissed 3,035 government school teachers who allegedly secured their jobs using forged documents. According to a Dainik Bhaskar report, the state government has also decided to recover nearly Rs 1,400 crore, along with interest, paid to these teachers as salaries over the years.

The action follows a thorough investigation that uncovered widespread irregularities in teacher recruitment carried out through local bodies between 2006 and 2015. The scam came to light after the Patna High Court directed the Vigilance Investigation Bureau (VIB) to probe the appointments.

According to the report, the dismissed teachers allegedly submitted forged caste, Aadhaar, age, disability, and educational certificates to obtain government jobs. Investigators also found that several teachers had used fake CTET and TET certificates, while degrees issued by certain universities and colleges were also found to be forged.

Bihar Education Minister Mithilesh Tiwari said the dismissals mark only the beginning of a larger crackdown.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, the minister said, “The investigation had been going on for a long time. Now it has come to light that the Vigilance Investigation Bureau has completed the investigation and found that more than 3,000 teachers had secured jobs using forged degrees.”

He added, “We have directed our departmental officials to take strict action. Going forward, the Education Department will ensure such stringent measures that no one dares to indulge in such fraudulent activities again.”

When asked whether the government would recover the salaries paid to the dismissed teachers along with interest, Tiwari said, “A decision will be announced once it is finalised. As I said, it will be a strict decision.”

The minister further said that all future recruitments would involve mandatory verification of candidates’ certificates before appointments are made.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/education/bihar-sacks-over-3-000-fake-teachers-to-recover-rs-1-400-crore-in-salaries-with-interest-11758206

The incident took place around 5:45 am near the 50th step of the pilgrimage route. The family, from Modaj village in Kheda district, was climbing the hill when the lion suddenly attacked in the presence of hundreds of devotees.

An 11-year-old boy was allegedly dragged away and killed by a lion while climbing Gujarat’s Girnar Hill with his family early Sunday morning, prompting authorities to suspend the pilgrimage and launch a massive search operation.

The incident took place around 5:45 am near the 50th step of the pilgrimage route. The family, from Modaj village in Kheda district, was climbing the hill when the lion suddenly attacked in the presence of hundreds of devotees.

The lion reportedly dragged the child into the nearby forest. Parts of the body were later found about 100 metres from the spot. The body parts have been sent for forensic examination.

The Forest Department immediately stopped devotees from using the Girnar steps and launched a search operation with trackers, forest guards and veterinary teams.

Within about four hours, officials captured the lion believed to be responsible for the attack. Two other lions spotted in the area were also captured as a precautionary measure and shifted to Sakkarbaug Zoo for examination.

According to Forest Department officials, the lion suspected of carrying out the attack vomited during examination, and body parts were found in the vomit, strengthening the suspicion that it was involved in the incident. The two other lions are also being examined.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/lion-snatches-boy-11-from-hill-in-gujarat-mauls-him-to-death-in-forest-11758805?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

A 16-year-old boy allegedly died of electrocution after coming into contact with a low-hanging electric wire connected to a government school in Karnataka’s Tumakuru district.

A 16-year-old boy allegedly died of electrocution after coming into contact with a low-hanging electric wire connected to a government school in Karnataka’s Tumakuru district, prompting police to register an FIR against officials of the Karnataka Electricity Board (KEB).

According to the FIR filed by the boy’s father, the incident occurred on Friday evening under the Koratagere Police Station limits.

The teenager was returning home after playing near the government school in his village when he came into contact with an electric wire hanging dangerously low. He was rushed to Sridevi Hospital by local residents, but doctors declared him dead on arrival.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/16-year-old-electrocuted-in-karnataka-parents-file-case-against-power-board-11759216?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

 

A Gandhinagar cyber unit has exposed a Rs 250 crore fraud network allegedly operated from Dubai and arrested 19 accused. The probe linked the suspects to 146 cyber crime cases across 21 states, showing the network’s wide reach.

A Gujarat Police cybercrime investigation has uncovered a Dubai-linked fraud network that allegedly siphoned off a collective amount of over Rs 250 crore through online scams, leading to the arrest of 19 accused from five cities, including an MBA student from a private university.

Investigators said the accused are linked to 146 cybercrime cases registered across 21 states, exposing the scale of an organised interstate racket.

The breakthrough came during “Operation Mule Hunt 2.0,” carried out by the Gandhinagar-based Cyber Center of Excellence.

The operation focused on five major cyber fraud cases registered in Vadodara, Bhavnagar, Surat, Patan and Gandhinagar. According to investigators, the syndicate operated through a network spanning Gujarat and Dubai, using multiple bank accounts to channel proceeds generated through online fraud.

Superintendent of Police Dr Rajdeep Singh Jhala said the accused worked together to provide corporate bank accounts in exchange for commissions, enabling the movement of money generated through cybercrime.

“The accused colluded and, lured by commissions, provided corporate bank accounts used for cybercrime; they committed these crimes in collusion with each other for financial gain,” he said.

The investigation found that the group relied on fake and rented bank accounts to route illicit funds and used bulk banking facilities to transfer large amounts simultaneously.

Victims were allegedly duped into downloading APK files and other applications or enticed with fake investment, trading, deposit and UPI-related schemes.

Police said the network was coordinated from offices in Surat’s Mota Varachha and Jahangirpura, while several operatives managed activities from Dubai.

Authorities arrested six accused from Mehsana and Gandhinagar, while another key suspect, described as the main handler of one of the accounts, was also taken into custody. Investigators said transactions exceeding Rs 161 crore were traced through a single accused’s bank account.

In a separate leg of the operation linked to the Vadodara case, four accused were arrested.

Police said they are connected to more than 101 cybercrime cases registered across the country, with alleged fraud amounting to over Rs 46 crore. Investigators also found that one of the accused is wanted in a murder case.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/dubai-cyber-fraud-rs-250-crore-19-arrested-146-crimes-21-states-2945858-2026-07-11

A positive operation theatre culture report has raised infection control concerns, but authorities deny any link to the deaths, maintaining the women died from medical complications rather than infection.

Mahatma Gandhi Hospital in Rajasthan’s Bhilwara has come under scrutiny after five women died within six days at its Maternal and Child Health (MCH) wing following Caesarean deliveries, triggering allegations of medical negligence and raising fresh concerns over patient safety in the state’s public healthcare system.

The deaths have also drawn attention to the hospital’s infection control measures after the operation theatre’s culture report returned positive, although authorities maintain there is no confirmed link between the report and the fatalities.

Hospital officials have rejected allegations of negligence, asserting that the deaths resulted from medical complications and not infection.

The latest victim, Sangeeta Jinagar (32), a resident of Potla, died on Friday after her condition deteriorated following a Caesarean delivery.

She was shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) but could not be saved despite treatment. Her death sparked protests by family members, who accused the hospital of negligence in providing timely and proper medical care.

Her death followed those of Shimla Gurjar on July 5, Phori Devi on July 7, Isha Pandey on July 8 and Divya on July 9. In each case, the women reportedly developed complications after undergoing Caesarean sections, were admitted to the Medical ICU and later died during treatment.

Their families have levelled similar allegations, blaming the hospital administration and doctors for lapses in care.

The latest deaths have taken the number of maternal fatalities at Mahatma Gandhi Hospital since March to nine, with five occurring during the first 11 days of July alone.

The series of deaths has intensified questions over the hospital’s handling of obstetric cases and the overall quality of healthcare being provided.

The controversy has also highlighted concerns over the hospital’s surgical workload.

Around 30 to 40 Caesarean deliveries are reportedly performed every day, despite the hospital having only eight surgical instrument sets—five meant for routine procedures and three reserved for emergencies.

Since each surgical set requires at least three hours for sterilisation before being reused, concerns have been raised that the volume of surgeries may be exceeding the hospital’s operational capacity, potentially increasing the risk of infection.

Adding to the concerns, the operation theatre’s culture report returned positive, prompting questions over infection control protocols. However, it remains unclear whether the findings have any direct connection with the maternal deaths.

Hospital Superintendent Dr Arun Gaur dismissed claims that infection caused the deaths, stating that microbiological sampling from operation theatres and intensive care units is a routine practice.

He said disinfection and sterilisation are carried out continuously in accordance with the Infection Control Committee’s guidelines and that if any sample fails to meet prescribed standards, the concerned operation theatre is immediately taken out of service.

According to him, the affected OT has remained closed for the past three days for sterilisation and fumigation, and surgeries will resume only after fresh samples return negative.

A special committee comprising experts from the departments of Microbiology, Surgery, Gynaecology and Anaesthesia has been constituted to investigate the recent maternal deaths.

Bhilwara District Collector Jasmeet Singh Sandhu also inspected the hospital and, after reviewing available reports, ruled out infection as the cause, stating that the women died due to different medical reasons and that all necessary precautions were being followed.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/bhilwara-maternal-deaths-five-women-die-after-caesarean-deliveries-at-mahatma-gandhi-hospital-2945877-2026-07-11

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra’s search committee has fixed the CEO post criteria and timeline. The move begins the process of appointing a full-time executive as the trust’s responsibilities grow.

Amid the Ram Temple donaton theft row in Ayodhya, the search committee of the Trust, constituted to appoint the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), held its first meeting on Saturday, finalising the eligibility criteria and selection process for the post.

According to officials, the committee decided that applications for the CEO position will be accepted until July 18. An official email ID is being created through which interested candidates can submit their applications.

The three-member search committee comprises retired Justice Pramod Kohli, Lieutenant General (Retd.) Vishnukant Chaturvedi and former Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust chairman Suresh Haware. During the meeting, the members discussed the qualifications, experience and selection procedure for the appointment.

As per the eligibility criteria, applicants must be graduates and should have at least 20 years of experience in administration or finance. Preference will be given to candidates with prior experience in temple management. The committee has also specified that the applicant must belong to the Hindu faith.

After the application deadline, the committee will scrutinise the applications and hold interactions with shortlisted candidates before making its recommendation for the appointment.

SELECTION TO BE DONE FOR 3 YEAR TENURE

Officials said the selected candidate will initially be appointed for a period of three years and will be required to reside in Ayodhya during the tenure. The committee is aiming to complete the selection process within one month.

To facilitate the recruitment process, the committee also decided to appoint a secretary who will assist in coordinating the selection procedure and handling administrative work related to the appointment.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/ram-janmabhoomi-teerth-kshetra-ceo-applications-open-till-july-18-2945894-2026-07-11

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari met the families of the Baruipur rape-murder victim and Indrajit Mondol, who died in a mob lynching. He announced Rs 25 lakh compensation and a civic volunteer job for Mondol’s family, inaugurated a police outpost with a women’s help desk, praised the police for arrests, and assured that all those involved in the rape-murder case would face justice.

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday had met both the families of Baruipur rape and murder victim and the one who died due to ‘mob lynching’.

Adhikari gave compensation of Rs. 25 lakhs and a job to the family of Indrajit Mondol who was mob lynched.

Talking to the media, Adhikari says ‘radical forces’ behind the ‘mob lynching’ incident.

“Can’t call this incident as mob lynching as Indrajit was beaten to death after he said his name and his identity. Some radical communal forces or individuals rejected by voters may have played a role in the violence. Police are investigating the matter,” said Adhikari.

The West Bengal Chief Minister gave Indrajit’s elder brother a job of civic volunteer.

Notably, Adhikari in keeping with the request of the family members of the rape and murder victim also inaugurated a new police station with women help desk at Surjapur Rural Police Outpost under the Baruipur Police District.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/west-bengal-cm-suvendu-adhikari-meets-baruipur-victims-families-announces-25-lakh-aid-for-lynching-victims-kin

Abdullah said the MLA rejected the offer given by the BJP official, who also happens to be a Supreme Court lawyer, and informed him about the approach.

Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah has alleged that one of the National Conference’s MLAs was approached by a BJP official, who offered ₹20-30 crore and a ministerial berth to switch sides and join the party.

Abdullah said the MLA rejected the offer and informed him about the move.

“A BJP official, a Supreme Court lawyer, told one of my Jammu MLAs in a closed room, ‘We will give ₹20 to 30 crore, one ministry, and statehood. You walk with us.’ Do they think that the faith of these people is so cheap?” Abdullah asserted while addressing the gathering.

He further accused the BJP of attempting to come to power through “the back door”.

“BJP people, don’t consider us so weak. There will be no entry for you from the back door. You will not come to the front chair from the back door. Currently, the people have kept you behind, and you will remain behind,” he said.

BJP hits back

The Jammu and Kashmir BJP hit back at Abdullah over his allegation that the party was trying to topple the National Conference government, asking him to either identify the BJP leader allegedly attempting to poach NC MLAs or issue a public apology.

The party also warned that it would initiate legal proceedings against Abdullah if he failed to substantiate his claims.

BJP spokesperson and MLA RS Pathania accused the chief minister of trying to divert attention from his government’s alleged failures in governance by making “baseless” allegations against the BJP.

“Chief Minister Omar Abdullah should disclose the names of the MLAs who were allegedly offered money, identify the BJP leaders involved, and reveal when and where the alleged offers were made,” he said, according to PTI.

“If such a serious incident occurred, why was it not reported to the investigating agencies? An elected chief minister cannot make such allegations without placing evidence before the authorities,” he added.

NC to hold protest over J&K statehood on July 20

National Conference will be holding a protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on July 20, demanding the restoration of full statehood for Jammu and Kashmir. Abdullah said no permission has been granted yet to hold the protest, but that it would not stop his party from staging the sit-in.

CM Abdullah said, “We are still in the process of trying to secure that permission. It didn’t even take 24 hours for the cockroach party to get permission, whereas we have been at it for four or five days now. Some people are intent on sabotaging our program; they changed their dates to coincide with ours.”

Abdullah also appealed to other parties to come together, setting aside electoral battles, to fight for J&K’s statehood. He added that he has been wrongly accused of not “consulting others”.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/omar-abdullah-claims-bjp-offered-his-mla-20-30-crore-ministerial-berth-statehood-to-switch-sides-jammu-and-kashmir-101783778618250.html

The CBI has registered a bank fraud case against the directors of Furnace Fabrica (India) Ltd and searched premises in Mumbai and Cochin. The probe centres on alleged false financial disclosures, diversion of loan funds, and the roles of others linked to the case.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a bank fraud case involving an alleged loss of Rs 133.52 crore to the State Bank of India (SBI) and carried out searches at multiple locations linked to the directors of a Private Company in Mumbai (Maharashtra) and Cochin (Kerala).

The agency conducted raids on July 10 at premises in Mumbai and Cochin, as part of its investigation into the alleged fraud.

The case was registered on July 9 based on a complaint filed by SBI’s Stressed Assets Management (SAM) Branch in Mumbai. The FIR names the directors of M/s Furnace Fabrica (India) Ltd — A.R. Basheeruddin, Badri Prasad, Nezee Basheeruddin, Raiz Basheeruddin and Sanam Basheer — along with unknown public servants and private individuals.

According to the CBI, the accused allegedly conspired to obtain enhanced credit facilities from SBI by submitting false financial information. The agency further alleged that funds availed from the bank were diverted or siphoned off for purposes other than those for which the loans had been sanctioned, resulting in a wrongful loss of approximately Rs 133.52 crore to the lender.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/cbi-books-mumbai-firm-directors-conducts-searches-in-rs-133-crore-sbi-fraud-investigation-2945367-2026-07-11

Locals have claimed that the teacher, identified as Ramesh Chandra, would remain intoxicated throughout the day. They have also alleged that he frequently roamed the school during working hours dressed only in an undergarment and a towel.

The headmaster of a government primary school in Uttar Pradesh’s Mahoba district has been suspended for allegedly misusing the institution’s premises to consume alcohol and indulge in other inappropriate activities.

Locals have claimed that the teacher, identified as Ramesh Chandra, would remain intoxicated throughout the day.

They have also alleged that he frequently roamed the school during working hours dressed only in an undergarment and a towel.

The alleged pattern of misconduct came to light after a viral video purportedly showed the headmaster lying on a bench in an inebriated state inside an empty classroom.

Meanwhile, vulgar video songs are seen playing on an LED screen installed as part of a smart school initiative.

A student said that the headmaster would threaten anyone with false cases under the SC/ST Act if they dared oppose his misconduct on the school premises.

A local said that the teacher would routinely use abusive language in front of children. He alleged that the school premises had turned into a venue for late-night drinking parties involving anti-social elements.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/uttar-pradesh-school-headmaster-suspended-for-alcohol-consumption-on-premises-mahoba-viral-video-2945397-2026-07-11

Pune Police has alleged that Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary pushed Ketan Agarwal off Lohagad Fort. The case now rests on whether investigators can prove an unbroken chain of circumstantial evidence.

The Pune Lohagad Fort murder case may finally come down to a few feet of rock. The rock from which 26-year-old Ketan Agarwal fell to his death on June 18.

In the three weeks since, what was initially treated as a trekking accident has become a closely watched murder investigation. A young businessman is dead before his wedding, his fiancee Siya Goyal, 20, and her boyfriend Chetan Chaudhary, 22, have been arrested. The police theory is that the two conspired to push Ketan off the Lohagad Fort.

Through official statements and unofficial briefings, the Pune Rural Police has gone some way towards convincing the public of their core theory: that Siya, unhappy with her arranged marriage to Ketan and in love with Chetan, conspired with her boyfriend to kill her fiance by pushing him off a cliff. According to the police, the planning involved cafe meetings, rehearsals and even a failed attempt.

That is the case as it exists in the headlines. None of this is proved yet. Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary remain accused persons.

For a court to find them guilty, that police story will have to move from allegation to proof. The alleged affair may establish motive; the cafe meetings and rehearsals may establish planning. Phone records, clothes, CCTV footage, location data and conduct after the fall may strengthen the chain. But for this chain to hold up in court, it must lead to one conclusion, and one alone: that Ketan did not slip, jump or lose his balance, but was deliberately pushed.

That is harder to prove than it is to allege — something the Pune Police appears to recognise. In a now-withdrawn plea for lie-detector tests, the police reportedly told a court that it had neither a direct eyewitness nor conclusive evidence establishing who allegedly pushed Ketan to his death. What they claimed to have were “confessions” by Siya and Chetan.

Senior advocate Tanveer Ahmed Mir dismisses confessions made in police custody as “bulls**t”. Mir, a prominent criminal defence lawyer who represented the Talwar couple in the appeal that led to their acquittal in the 2008 Aarushi-Hemraj double murder case, is equally blunt about public perception.

Public perception “never works in a court of law and never should”, he says. The job of a court is not to mirror the anger outside it, but to ask a cold question: what has actually been proved?

What makes the Lohagad case difficult is the kind of evidence on which it appears to rest right now: a murder prosecution built largely, perhaps entirely, on circumstantial evidence.

THE PANCHSHEEL RULES

The incident occurred during the hearing of a case filed by Prabal Pratap, a resident of Lucknow, who argued his own plea.

The Supreme Court on Friday witnessed an unusual incident when a person arguing his case used unparliamentary language against the Chief Justice of India (CJI) and threw papers inside the court in a fit of rage. The police detained him and the court, noting his “incoherent” conduct, decided to let him off.

The incident occurred during the hearing of a case filed by Prabal Pratap, a resident of Lucknow, who argued his own plea. The court sensed something was amiss as Pratap, dressed in a lawyer’s attire—a black coat and white shirt—began by saying, “Mr Judicial Servant, I order you to order the registration of the FIR against ACP (assistant commissioner of police), Vikas Nagar, Lucknow and against Duplex Technologies Services Limited.”

The bench, comprising justices KV Viswanathan and Alok Aradhe, asked: “Are you ordering us?”

The petitioner did not respond and continued his submissions. He said, “Duplex Technologies is running a cyber crime syndicate across the country.” Adding that he had nothing further to add, he said, “This is all from my side. Everything is on record.” He then took a bunch of papers and hurled them in the air, using unparliamentary language against the CJI.

Security personnel from the Delhi Police standing behind him swiftly caught and removed him as lawyers assembled in the courtroom watched the entire chain of events in utter disbelief and shock.

The case records revealed that Pratap had approached the Allahabad high court, challenging the order of the Special CJM (Custom), Lucknow, which directed his criminal complaint against Duplex Technologies to be filed as a private complaint. The high court turned down this prayer on April 6 following which he approached the top court in May.

On June 12, his petition was verified and registered for listing. Since he appeared in person, as per the Supreme Court Rules, 2013, one of the registrars in the Judicial Administration branch even interacted with him, certifying him to be fit to argue in person.

As the police questioned the petitioner, the bench summoned the concerned registrar to the court. “How did you certify that he is fit to argue?” the bench asked the official, adding, “You have stated that I am of the opinion that he is able to give assistance in a proper manner.”

As the court official stood clueless, the bench said, “Are you aware of what happened in court today? Did somebody tell you what happened?” Following a brief interaction, the court noted that the petitioner appeared to be “incoherent” during the court proceedings. Taking exception to the petitioner’s conduct, the bench said, “The petitioner-in-person in this matter, instead of presenting the case, made incoherent and unparliamentary utterances.” At the same time, the bench decided against pursuing the case further. “We have, however, considering the condition of the petitioner above named, do not propose to take any action against him.”

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/cji-abused-papers-thrown-behind-the-ruckus-in-supreme-court-by-lucknow-man-101783709274836.html

Shubman Gill is the fourth Indian captain to get an invitation to watch Wimbledon from the Royal Box, after Tendulkar, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

India’s Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill and batting great Sachin Tendulkar were among the celebrities at Wimbledon on Friday at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London. In a viral picture, Gill was seen sitting alongside Tendulkar and his wife, Anjali, in the Royal Box on Centre Court. Gill is the fourth Indian captain to receive an invitation to watch Wimbledon from the Royal Box, after Tendulkar, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

Shubman Gill with Sachin Tendulkar and Anjali Tendulkar at Wimbledon ❤️ pic.twitter.com/mLkqV9Tjfg

— Shubman Gill Fc (@ShubmanGill7fc) July 10, 2026

Tendulkar, considered one of the greatest cricketers ever, retired in 2013 after playing in his 200th test match. Wimbledon called him ” cricket royalty.”

Another former cricket star, Brian Lara of the West Indies, was also in the Royal Box, an area reserved for special guests invited by the All England Club.

Netherlands defender and Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk was also a guest. The Dutch were eliminated at the World Cup in the round of 32.

American actor Dennis Hoffman, 88, wasn’t in the Royal Box, though he was a guest there in 2024.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/wimbledon-2026/shubman-gill-joins-sachin-tendulkar-anjali-in-wimbledon-royal-box-viral-pic-breaks-internet-11755715?pfrom=home-ndtv_lateststories

 

When asked whether AI could make humans less intelligent over the next decade, Amodei said the outcome would depend on how society chooses to use the technology.

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has said that artificial intelligence is likely to automate coding before taking over the broader field of software engineering, while emphasising that human-centred skills, critical thinking, and AI-focused industries will become increasingly valuable in the years ahead.

Speaking with Indian entrepreneur Nikhil Kamath on his podcast, Amodei discussed how AI is reshaping careers, software development, and education, while offering advice to young professionals trying to choose future-ready skills.

Responding to a question on which industries are likely to see the biggest disruption, Amodei said software development is becoming increasingly AI-driven.

“I think coding is going away first,” he said, adding that AI models will automate coding before handling the broader responsibilities of software engineering.

“The broader task of software engineering will take longer. But I think doing that end-to-end is going to happen as well,” he said.

ANTHROPIC CEO: “CODING IS GOING AWAY FIRST, THEN ALL OF SOFTWARE ENGINEERING” pic.twitter.com/4Sjo9LSB4C

— Vivek Sen (@Vivek4real_) July 8, 2026

However, he noted that certain aspects of software development would continue to require human involvement, including product design, understanding user needs, identifying market demand and managing teams of AI systems.

Even if humans contribute only a small portion of the work, AI can dramatically increase productivity, he said. “If you’re only doing 5% of the task, the AI does the other 95%, you become 20 times more productive.”

Asked what skills young people should invest in today, Amodei advised focusing on fields that complement AI rather than compete with it.

He suggested opportunities in semiconductor technologies and other traditional engineering disciplines that involve the physical world, while also highlighting the importance of professions centred on human interaction.

“Anything where you’re building on AI, where AI is the tailwind,” he said, adding that human-centred professions and industries combining analytical thinking with real-world applications are likely to remain resilient.

Amodei also stressed that critical thinking could become one of the most valuable skills in an AI-driven world.

“As AI can generate anything and create anything, having basic critical thinking skills may be the most important thing to success,” he said.

He warned that increasingly realistic AI-generated images and videos could make it difficult to distinguish genuine content from fake information, making “street smarts” and the ability to verify information essential.

The Anthropic chief also cautioned against relying excessively on AI, saying careless use could erode important human abilities.
Referring to students using AI to complete assignments, he said, “It’s basically just cheating on homework.”

He added that Anthropic’s internal studies found that some ways of using AI for coding can lead to “de-skilling,” while more thoughtful use can help people improve rather than lose their abilities.

When asked whether AI could make humans less intelligent over the next decade, Amodei said the outcome would depend on how society chooses to use the technology.

“If we deploy AI carelessly, then yes, people could become stupider,” he said. “Even if an AI is always going to be better than you at something, you can still learn that thing. You can still enrich yourself intellectually.”

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/education/coding-is-going-away-first-then-software-engineering-anthropic-ceo-dario-amodei-11754270?pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories

 

‘Satluj’, which dramatises the extra-judicial killing of Jaswant Singh Khalra by the Punjab Police in 1995, was banned by the government two days after its release.

As the controversy surrounding Satluj intensifies a week after its release, senior journalist Satinder Bains, whose reporting first exposed the abduction and killing of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, has said the Centre’s decision to ban the film was a mistake that only fuelled public curiosity.

Speaking to NDTV’s Senior Executive Editor Aditya Raj Kaul, Bains said the film is largely faithful to the historical record and rejected allegations that it glorifies terrorism or promotes separatism. He also said the renewed debate surrounding Khalra’s killing was now being politically leveraged by the Shiromani Akali Dal ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections.

Satluj, which dramatises the extra-judicial killing of Jaswant Singh Khalra by Punjab Police in 1995, was banned by the government two days after its release. However, the ban has done little to curb its circulation online, with the film continuing to be shared widely on WhatsApp and social media, reigniting debate over one of the darkest chapters of Punjab’s militancy years, the alleged mass cremations of unidentified bodies and the killing of the man who sought to expose them.

Bains, who covered the case for The Indian Express throughout the mid-1990s, said he had personally watched the film and found little to object to in its depiction of the events. According to him, the narrative is largely accurate, with only minor factual deviations, including the identity of the officer who fired the fatal shots and the portrayal of the assassination of a former Punjab Chief Minister.

NDTV has accessed The Indian Express report by Satinder Bains, published on May 5, 1996, under the headline “I Heard Two Shots, And I Ran Back. Khalra Had Stopped Breathing.” The report marked a turning point in the investigation, which until then had been treated as a missing person’s case.

Bains was the journalist who tracked down and interviewed Kuldeep Singh, a Special Police Officer (SPO) who had served as the driver of the Station House Officer allegedly involved in Khalra’s killing. Kuldeep Singh’s account, first documented by Bains and later recorded by the CBI, became a crucial piece of evidence that eventually led to the conviction and life imprisonment of five police personnel.

According to Bains, Khalra, then a bank employee turned human rights activist, had uncovered records suggesting that thousands of unidentified bodies had been secretly cremated in Punjab. Khalra estimated the number at around 6,500, while other activists put the figure much higher. Despite repeated warnings from senior police officers to abandon his investigation, he continued his work before being abducted from outside his home in September 1995.

Recounting Kuldeep Singh’s testimony, Bains said Khalra was allegedly tortured for several weeks before being shot dead inside a police station in late October 1995. According to the witness, his body was later disposed of at a location where the river’s current would carry it towards Pakistan. Bains added that Kuldeep Singh himself was later killed years after testifying and never received the protection or promotion he had allegedly been promised.

Bains also claimed that the late Punjab Director General of Police KPS Gill had ordered Khalra’s elimination. However, he acknowledged that no direct evidence ever linked Gill to the murder and said Gill consistently maintained during conversations with him that he did not know who Khalra was.

The veteran journalist also revealed that one of the convicted officers, DSP Jaspal Singh, has remained untraceable since securing bail from Nabha Jail in 2023. Bains said there appeared to have been little effort to locate him, a development he recently reported on his own news portal, Punjab News Express.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/satluj-row-only-amplified-curiosity-journalist-who-broke-khalra-murder-story-11755779?pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories

After the attacks, Rajkumar called his father and told him about the killings.

In a gruesome crime in Telangana’s Ranga Reddy, a 35-year-old man has allegedly killed his wife and children before murdering the teen girl who accused him of sexual harassment.

The accused, Rajkumar, first attacked his 30-year-old wife, Parvathi Saritha, and two sons — aged 4 and 1 — at their residence in Shabad on Friday night.

He then travelled to the house of a 17-year-old girl, who had filed a complaint under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act against him on May 16. He took her in a car to a deserted location and then allegedly murdered her.

He also killed her 45-year-old mother and 65-year-old maternal grandmother. At the time of the incident, her 20-year-old sister, a person with disabilities, was also present in the house, but she was not harmed.

After the attacks, Rajkumar called his father and told him about the killings.

“He told his father, ‘I have done this. I have murdered these people.’ After that, he switched off his phone. He also said he was going to die by suicide, but that has not been confirmed yet,” senior police officer Tarun Joshi said.

“The accused is currently on the run. Special police teams have been formed, and we have developed leads. He will be apprehended soon,” he said.

A Love Marriage In 2018

Rajkumar and Parvathi had a love marriage in 2018. The couple initially lived outside the village before settling in houses they owned in Shabad and Devalaguda.

They had three children – their first child, a daughter, died in infancy.

In May, Rajkumar was arrested after a case was filed against him for stalking and sexually harassing the minor girl.

“The accused was following the girl from her coaching institute to her house and was pressuring her to accept his proposal,” Joshi said.

He said Rajkumar was on the run after the case was registered and later secured anticipatory bail from the court, as the sections invoked carried a punishment of less than seven years.

He was granted anticipatory bail on a personal bond of Rs 20,000 about a week before the sensational murders.

The officer said that Rajkumar had a history of behavioural issues.

“We called him two or three times for counselling. His family members have stated that his mental condition was not stable. He also had a gambling habit and had accumulated loans earlier,” he said.

‘Children Killed In Sleep’

Relatives who reached the house said that the children appeared to have been killed in their sleep, while signs of a violent struggle were visible in the room where Parvathi’s body was found.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/ranga-reddy-out-on-bail-telangana-man-kills-wife-children-teen-he-allegedly-raped-and-her-family-11756511

Matthew VanDyke and others are accused of training and arming banned Indian insurgent groups.

Citing humanitarian grounds and claiming he has been unable to eat the food served in Tihar Jail, a US man arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in a terror case has moved a Delhi court seeking permission to cook his own meals in prison.

Matthew Aaron VanDyke, a mercenary, has said the prison diet has forced him to remain on a hunger strike for over 50 days, prompting him to seek a kitchen-like arrangement with food supplies and utensils at his own expense.

In his application before Additional Sessions Judge Prashant Sharma at Patiala House Court, VanDyke, who has been lodged in Tihar Jail since April, said he has been on a hunger strike since May 6 because he is unable to consume the “spicy, oily, deep-fried and greasy” food served in prison.

“The Applicant/Accused… has been constrained to remain on a hunger strike since 06.05.2026,” the petition states, adding that, as an American citizen, he is “not accustomed to the diet ordinarily served in Indian prisons”.

Through his lawyer, VanDyke has claimed the prison diet has caused “severe physical discomfort” and adversely affected his health.

The petition says he has lost nearly 30 pounds (about 14 kg), developed vision problems due to inadequate nutrition, and suffered a significant decline in strength, stamina and immunity.

Calling the request a humanitarian one, his counsel submitted that the proposed arrangement is intended solely to safeguard his health while he remains in judicial custody. The plea also states that VanDyke’s family is willing to bear the entire cost of the food, cooking equipment and related expenses.

The court has sought a response from Tihar Jail authorities and listed the matter for hearing on July 21.

VanDyke has sought permission to keep food items, including lentils, red meat, chicken, fish (shrimp), pasta, uncooked noodles, rice, potatoes, onions, beans, spices, bread, butter, olive oil, toned milk, soya milk and bottled water. He has also requested an induction cooker, pots, bowls and a plastic chopper so he can prepare his own meals.

Arrest

The NIA arrested VanDyke at Kolkata airport on March 13 along with six Ukrainians. According to the agency, they were part of a conspiracy to carry out terrorist activities against India.

Investigators have alleged that the accused maintained links with banned Indian insurgent groups, supplied them with weapons and other terrorist hardware, and provided training. The agency has also claimed the accused admitted during questioning that they were in direct contact with armed terrorists carrying AK-47 rifles.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/matthew-vandyke-mizoram-tihar-jail-food-spicy-oily-need-shrimp-pasta-us-mercenary-to-court-11750864?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

The opening match of the Big Bash League (BBL) 2026-27 will take place in Chennai, with the Melbourne Renegades taking on the Perth Scorchers at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on December 12.

The opening match of the Big Bash League (BBL) 2026-27 will take place in Chennai, with the Melbourne Renegades taking on the Perth Scorchers at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on December 12. The announcement was made by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, forming the centrepiece of a wider initiative to build a relationship between the two countries known as ‘G’day Namaste’. It will be the first time ever that a Big Bash League match will take place in another country, and BBL organisers said that they expect a huge crowd for the encounter.

“We know there are incredibly passionate cricket fans all over India, but particularly in Chennai. Everyone we’ve spoken to has been really optimistic that we should expect a good crowd,” Alistair Dobson, CA’s executive general manager of Big Bash Leagues, told reporters.

“What has become clear to us as we’ve built this event out is just how popular the BBL already is in India. It’s got nothing on the IPL, obviously, but the BBL is well-liked and respected. We can’t wait to see all the fans turn out, albeit I suspect there’ll be a fair chunk of yellow in the crowd,” he added.

The match will be a ‘home’ game for the Renegades, and both teams will be given extra time to return to Australia ahead of their next fixtures. The complete BBL schedule will be announced next week, according to media reports. Multiple BBL teams were interested in the fixture, but some teams did not formally apply in order to avoid a ‘hectic’ schedule.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/big-bash-league-in-chennai-teams-announced-for-overseas-season-opener-11751851

India and Russia jointly condemned the Pahalgam attack and the Red Fort terror incident at counter-terror talks in New Delhi. The meeting underscored a shared push for stronger action against evolving terror threats, financing and radicalisation.

India and Russia jointly condemned terrorism “in all its forms and manifestations”, including the Pahalgam attack and the terror incident near Delhi’s Red Fort last year, during the 14th meeting of the India-Russia Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism held on Wednesday. The two sides also reaffirmed their commitment to deepen counter-terror cooperation on bilateral and multilateral platforms.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday, the two countries called for “concerted action against terrorists and terrorist groups, including those listed in the UNSC 1267 Sanctions Committee and their proxy groups and affiliates”. They also discussed current and emerging terrorist threats at the global and regional levels.

The meeting was co-chaired by Sibi George, Secretary (West) in the MEA, and Dmitry Lyubinsky, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. Representatives of relevant departments and agencies from both sides also took part. The MEA said, “Both sides condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism and condemned in the strongest terms the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, India on April 22, 2025 and the terror incident near Red Fort, New Delhi on November 10, 2025.”

The two sides shared their experiences in countering terrorism and agreed to enhance cooperation to address violent extremism, radicalisation, terror financing, and the use of new and emerging technologies and digital financial technologies for terrorist purposes. The MEA said both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation at forums including the UN, BRICS, EAG and SCO, and agreed to hold the next meeting of the joint working group in Russia on a mutually convenient date.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/india-russia-condemn-pahalgam-red-fort-attacks-deepen-counter-terror-cooperation-ptag-2944279-2026-07-09

The Amarnath Yatra, a year after the Pahalgam terror attack, which hit tourism and pilgrimage, has drawn record pilgrims. But the sacred ice lingam in the cave shrine has shrunk dramatically in just five days. Over 50 days of the pilgrimage are still to go. Is climate change alone to blame, or is there more to the story?

A year after the Pahalgam terror attack hit pilgrimage and tourism in Jammu and Kashmir, the ongoing Amarnath Yatra is witnessing an overwhelming response from devotees. With record numbers of devotees returning to the Amarnath cave shrine, the naturally formed ice lingam, also called the Baba Barfani, has melted by over 90%. Some reports even say that the ice lingam has almost disappeared just five days into the 57-day Yatra. People on social media have also claimed that the Amarnath ice lingam shrunk just days into the pilgrimage in Jammu and Kashmir.

Raising an alarm, and sharing images of the shrinking lingam, People’s Democratic Party (PDF) leader, Iltija Mufti, questioned the management of the pilgrimage during the Amarnath Yatra and sought intervention. Raising concerns over the environmental impact on the cave shrine, Mufti referred to a Supreme Court-mandated cap on daily pilgrims, which she said was 10,000. Mufti’s statement on X came even as authorities celebrated a sharp rise in pilgrim turnout after last year’s terror attack.

The shrinking of the sacred ice formation, which has been revered for centuries as Baba Barfani, has reignited an old debate. Is climate change melting the ice lingam earlier than before every year? Are rising pilgrim numbers and expanding infrastructure inside the fragile Himalayan ecosystem accelerating the lingam’s shrinking?

The Amarnath Cave Shrine is located at an altitude of about 3,888 metres (12,756 feet) in the Himalayas of Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district. It’s nestled beneath the Lidder Valley in the Kashmir Himalayas. Pilgrims can reach the shrine via the traditional 48-km Pahalgam route or the shorter but steeper 14-km Baltal route.

The pilgrims worship the naturally formed ice lingam, which is a seasonal ice stalagmite that waxes and wanes with the cave’s temperature and weather conditions.

IS RECORD PILGRIM FOOTFALL AT AMARNATH BEHIND EARLY MELTING OF LINGAM?

The Amarnath Yatra began on July 3 this year under unprecedented security following the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians. Despite security concerns, pilgrim numbers have surged.

At least 93,000 pilgrims visited the shrine in the first four days.

An Instagram video showed a woman climbing the Amarnath Yatra’s Baltal route with a wooden stick, a forearm crutch and prosthetic limbs.

According to The Hindu newspaper, more than 32,000 devotees had offered prayers by July 5, while over 20,000 pilgrims visited the shrine on the second day of the Yatra alone. This was the highest second-day footfall in several years. Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who also heads the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), described it as a “massive surge” compared to the previous four years.

The administration, however, simultaneously expressed concern over thousands of unregistered pilgrims arriving without mandatory health certificates or RFID registration, warning that they were straining both security arrangements and infrastructure, reported the newspaper.

“We are seeing a large influx of unregistered pilgrims. I strongly urge those without prior registration to remain patient and wait for their turn. This cooperation is essential for a smooth and seamless Yatra experience,” Sinha said.

The Board has capped daily pilgrim numbers at 10,000 each along the Pahalgam and Baltal routes.

On being asked if there should be a limit on the number of pilgrims visiting the Amarnath cave shrine, Jammu and Kashmir CM Abdullah said a cap had already been placed by the Supreme Court, reported PTI.

HAS AMARNATH ICE LINGAM REALLY MELTED?

News reports from the shrine and accounts from devotees and journalists show that the ice lingam has shrunk dramatically within the first week of the Amarnath Yatra.

“Once again, the naturally formed Shiv lingam at Holy Amarnath Cave has melted within the first week of Amarnath Yatra,” India Today journalist from the Srinagar Bureau, Ashraf Wani, posted on X on July 6, while hashtagging global warming and Kashmir.

“Only a week into Amarnath Yatra and the naturally formed lingam has already melted,” PDP’s Iltija Mufti, the daughter of former Jammu and Kashmir CM Mehbooba Mufti, posted on X, asking if the proposed ropeway to the cave shrine was at all needed.

Srinagar-based entrepreneur, Vineet Kaul, who goes by the name GuyFromValley on X, said the Amarnath ice lingam “has not melted like this for the first time”, noting that similar early melting occurred in years such as 2004, 2006, 2007, 2016 and 2020. He, however, stressed that this example should not be used to ignore the issue.

Calling any proposed ropeway near the shrine “absolutely abhorrent”, Kaul argued that while infrastructure and safety should improve, the area’s ecology and sanctity must be preserved.

Some news reports claimed the ice formation had melted by over 90%. Others suggested it had almost completely disappeared. At the time of filing this report, the Shrine Board had not issued any statement or an official scientific assessment quantifying the extent of the melting.

A devotee from Indore, Madhya Pradesh, who visited the cave shrine during the initial days of the Yatra, told India Today TV that the shrinking of the ice lingam was clearly visible.

“The ice lingam has melted to some extent. This year, it has melted a little earlier than usual. The changing weather is also affecting people’s faith in a way, because earlier Baba would give darshan to devotees for around 40 to 45 days. In recent years, however, the duration has reduced to barely five to seven days. This time, we had darshan on the fourth day of the Yatra, but the ice lingam had already melted significantly. It has become much smaller,” he told India Today TV.

The naturally formed ice stalagmite waxes and wanes every year depending on snowfall, cave temperatures, humidity and weather conditions. Its size has never remained constant across pilgrimage seasons and years.

SO, WHY IS CLIMATE CHANGE THE BIGGEST FACTOR?

Scientists have repeatedly warned that the Himalayas are warming faster than many other mountain systems globally. Rising average temperatures, changing snowfall patterns and retreating glaciers have become increasingly visible across Jammu and Kashmir.

Media reports this week pointed to unusually warm conditions around the cave and surrounding glaciers as one of the principal reasons for the rapid melting of the ice stalagmite. The Amarnath cave lies at an altitude of nearly 3,900 metres. Even slight increases in ambient temperature, combined with changes in humidity inside the cave, can affect the growth and survival of the naturally forming ice structure.

Also, this is also not the first such episode. According to a report in AajTak Digital, the ice lingam melted within 29 days in 2018, 38 days in 2020, 28 days in 2022 and within about a week in 2024. This year, the melting appears to have occurred even earlier.

Weather or climate change might not be the only factor behind the quick melting of the lingam.

Over the past two decades, the Amaranth route has undergone significant changes. Roads have been widened, temporary accommodation has expanded, langars (community kitchens) have moved closer to the shrine, electricity and solar lighting have been introduced, and heavy machinery has been used to improve access. Recently, the Centre also approved a ropeway project. Discussions continue on a proposed tunnel between Sheshnag and Panchtarni.

While these steps have and would make the pilgrimage safer and more accessible, the cumulative impact of infrastructure expansion and rising human activity in an ecologically sensitive region might be altering the cave’s microclimate. Therefore, a growing number of pilgrims adds to those concerns.

Congress national spokesperson Ashwani Handa urged Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to order an “independent scientific study” to examine whether the recently built rain shelter near the Amarnath Cave was “altering the local microclimate and contributing to the faster melting of the Holy Ice Lingam”. Handa on X said a “transparent, evidence-based assessment” was needed to protect both the shrine’s sanctity and the fragile Himalayan environment.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/amarnath-ice-lingam-melts-within-days-record-yatra-footfall-climate-concerns-2944266-2026-07-10

A viral video has sparked allegations that a Booth Level Officer in Jharkhand’s Garhwa district demanded Rs 50-100 as “kharcha-pani” to process SIR forms. Villagers claimed money was sought for voter verification, while the accused BLO denied the allegations, calling them a conspiracy to malign her.

Allegations of extortion during the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise have surfaced from Jharkhand’s Garhwa district, where villagers claim they are being asked to pay money to obtain, fill and submit voter verification forms.

A video purportedly showing a Booth Level Officer (BLO) seeking “kharcha-pani” (expenses) while processing the forms has gone viral on social media.

The video shows Jamila Bibi, a BLO posted in Gorayaband Tola under Khapro Panchayat in Ranka block, demanding between Rs 50 and Rs 100 from residents for providing, filling and submitting SIR forms. Instead of directly asking for a fee, she is allegedly heard referring to the payment as “kharcha-pani”.

When India Today visited the village to verify the claims, several residents alleged that the BLO was indeed demanding money.

Some said they had already filled out their SIR forms but were reluctant to submit them because they were being asked to pay. Others claimed they were told to pay in exchange for assistance with the paperwork, despite the process being free of cost.

“The BLO is demanding around Rs 50 for filling up the form. If someone objects or refuses to pay, they are threatened, saying, ‘We will snatch your citizenship.’ We also approached several people, but they told us to let it go,” local resident Mohammad Parvez Ansari told the media.

Several people were also seen outside the BLO’s residence with completed SIR forms. Villagers said many residents had gathered there to complete the verification process, adding that there was confusion over the submission procedure.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/jharkhand-sir-garhwa-blo-cash-demand-voter-forms-video-2944565-2026-07-10

The Congress party criticised the Modi government, claiming that China retains significant influence over India’s strategic industries, as indicated by a recent report.

The Congress on Thursday attacked the Modi government, claiming that China still has power over India’s strategic industries, citing a report. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that the government at the centre has allowed China to “capture” India’s most critical industries and open more opportunities for Chinese to “flourish”.

Kharge, based on a report, claimed that China still has power over India’s strategic industries to target the government.

Ketan Agarwal Murder Case: Ketan’s father urged authorities to ensure that the case is heard in a fast-track court and that those found guilty receive the strictest punishment.

Ketan Agarwal Murder Case: The father of Pune realtor Ketan Agarwal, who was allegedly murdered at Lohagad Fort last month, has written to President Droupadi Murmu, seeking a fast-tracked investigation and speedy justice for his son.

In an emotional email sent to the secretary to the president on Wednesday, Vishal Agarwal said his family had been devastated not only by Ketan’s death but also by the loss of his own father just 20 days later.

Vishal said Ketan’s grandfather could not cope with the grief of losing his grandson. His health deteriorated, his blood pressure dropped and he eventually died after suffering a cardiac arrest.

“I am writing this email with a heart full of pain and hope. I am not writing as a businessman or someone with influence. Main sirf ek baap hoon, jo apne bete ke liye insaaf maang raha hai (I am writing as a father seeking justice for his son),” he wrote.

‘Every Night, We Sleep With The Same Question’

Describing the pain his family has endured since Ketan’s death, Vishal said their lives had completely changed.

“My son Ketan was brutally murdered. Since that day, our lives have completely changed. Every morning we wake up with the same pain, and every night we sleep with the same question: When will Ketan get justice?” he wrote.

Vishal said the family’s suffering deepened when his father died within just 20 days of Ketan’s death.

“He loved his grandson more than anything. He could not bear the shock and grief of Ketan’s death. His blood pressure dropped, and eventually his heart stopped working. In just 20 days, I lost both my son and my father. Our family has been shattered,” he said.

Father Seeks Fast-Track Trial And Strictest Punishment

Vishal urged authorities to ensure that the case is heard in a fast-track court and that those found guilty receive the strictest punishment allowed under the law.

He stressed that the family was not asking for special treatment but only wanted justice without unnecessary delays.

“Delay in justice only increases the pain of families like ours,” he said.

Vishal added that while Ketan could never return, those responsible for his death should not be allowed to believe they could escape or delay the consequences of the crime.

“A strong punishment will not only give us some peace, but it will also send a message that innocent lives matter and that such crimes will never be tolerated,” he wrote.

Concluding his appeal, the grieving father urged the President to personally look into the matter and help ensure speedy justice.

“Please don’t let my son’s case become just another file. Behind this case is a family that has lost everything,” he wrote.

What Is The Ketan Agarwal Murder Case?

Ketan Agarwal, a 26-year-old Pune-based realtor, died after falling from a cliff at Lohagad Fort near Pune on June 18. What was initially believed to be a trekking accident later turned into a murder investigation.

Police allege that Ketan’s fiancee, Siya Goyal, and her friend and suspected lover, Chetan Babulal Chaudhary, conspired to kill him and pushed him into a gorge. Both were subsequently arrested and booked on charges of murder and criminal conspiracy.

According to investigators, Siya had initially told Ketan’s family that he had slipped during the trek. However, CCTV footage and other evidence reportedly raised suspicions about the presence of another person at the fort, eventually leading police to Chetan.

Police have alleged that the murder was planned in advance. Investigators suspect that Siya and Chetan met at a café hours before Ketan’s death to discuss the plan. Police have also claimed that the accused conducted online searches related to murder methods and rehearsed how Ketan could be pushed.

What Has Happened In The Investigation So Far?

As part of the investigation, police took both accused to Lohagad Fort to reconstruct the sequence of events leading to Ketan’s death. Investigators also used a dummy matching Ketan’s weight during the crime scene reconstruction and conducted a gait analysis of Chetan.

Police also seized Chetan’s two-wheeler, which he allegedly used to travel nearly 90 km to Lohagad Fort. Investigators suspect he chose a scooter instead of a car to avoid leaving a trail at toll plazas. A hoodie and headphones were also recovered during the probe.

Investigators have recovered data from three mobile phones seized from the accused and are examining digital evidence, witness statements and alleged secret conversations involving codewords, nicknames and emojis.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/dont-let-my-sons-case-become-another-file-ketan-agarwals-father-appeals-to-president-murmu-ws-l-10202524.html

The CCTV clip, shared online on X, has triggered emotional reactions, with many questioning whether warning signs of distress were systemically ignored.

A heartbreaking post on X has reignited the conversation around bullying in schools after CCTV footage from a classroom in Jaipur began circulating online. The video is allegedly from a school in Jaipur, where a class 4 student had died by suicide in 2025 after jumping from the fourth floor.

According to the post shared by @theskindoctor13, Amayra, who died on November 1, 2025, had been subjected to bullying for nearly 18 months, with classmates allegedly using abusive language, including remarks with sexual undertones. The post further alleges that despite repeated complaints from both Amaira and her parents, her class teacher dismissed the concerns and reportedly advised her to “adjust” with her classmates.

The parents have now publicly shared CCTV footage they say they obtained from the school. According to the viral post, the footage appears to show Amaira approaching her teacher multiple times on the day of the incident, but receiving no response. Addressing a press conference after the Jaipur Police filed the chargesheet on July 1, Amayra’s mother, Shivani Meena, alleged that it showed her daughter repeatedly approaching class teacher Punita Sharma for help after classmates allegedly showed her something inappropriate on a digital slate. “My child went from the ground floor all the way up to the fourth floor. Desks were set up at every level where someone should have questioned her, ‘Child, where are you going?’ No one stopped her until the fourth floor,” the mother was quoted by Free Press Journal.

Sharing the clip, the account wrote: “Hard to believe that teachers, even at such posh schools, are not trained to handle severe bullying or recognize a child in deep psychological distress. Totally preventable death.”

The post has sparked reactions, with many expressing grief and calling for greater accountability in schools. One user, identifying themselves as a teacher, commented: “I’m a teacher and i can clearly see, this classroom is a mess. Everyone is walking around, and two careless teachers are sitting there.”

Another shared a personal experience: “Apathy of teachers is very common. My own daughter who was 5 years old then, was in class Prep at DPS, Lucknow where her class teacher accused her persistently of ‘cheating’… She scolded her so much daily that my daughter refused to go to school… Thankfully we changed the school timely.”

Many said schools should be places where children feel protected. “Schools are supposed to be safe spaces, not places where children lose hope. The teacher who dismissed her cries, the administration that ignored complaints — they all have blood on their hands.”

Source : https://www.news18.com/viral/she-asked-for-help-repeatedly-cctv-of-10-year-old-girls-final-hours-in-jaipur-classroom-triggers-anger-online-10200387.html

The selection committee is expected to recommend three names to the Ram Temple trust, which will make the final appointment.

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has begun the search for a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), with members of the selection panel saying the appointment is expected to go beyond administrative competence and focus on restoring the confidence of millions of devotees following the recent donation theft controversy.

The move comes days after the trust initiated a major organisational overhaul in the wake of the alleged embezzlement of temple donations, a scandal that has triggered political attacks, public outrage and intensified scrutiny over the management of one of India’s most significant religious institutions.

‘CEO Must Be A Ram Devotee’

Speaking to The Indian Express, retired IAS officer and selection committee member Suresh Haware said the person chosen for the post should not merely possess administrative skills but should also have deep faith in Lord Ram. Haware said the primary requirement for the CEO is “Ram ke prati shraddha ka bhav (devotion towards Lord Ram)”. “We are not looking for just an administrator. The CEO should be a Ram devotee. The responsibility before the new CEO will be enormous because the trust of devotees has been shaken,” Haware told The Indian Express, adding that rebuilding that trust would be among the appointee’s foremost responsibilities.

Haware said that the recent donation theft case has shaken the faith of devotees, making the new CEO’s foremost responsibility the rebuilding of public confidence in the trust’s functioning. The search is focused on integrity as much as experience, he said, adding that the committee is looking for a person with an impeccable reputation who can inspire confidence among devotees while also ensuring efficient administration of the temple and its affairs.

As per the report, the selection committee is expected to recommend three names to the trust, which will make the final appointment. The position is being seen as crucial because the CEO will oversee the temple’s day-to-day administration, financial systems and governance at a time when the trust is under unprecedented public scrutiny.

Leadership Shake-Up At Ram Mandir

The CEO recruitment exercise follows sweeping changes announced by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust after the donation theft case surfaced.

The trust has said the new CEO will play a central role in introducing stronger institutional safeguards and restoring public confidence. Trust officials have acknowledged that the controversy has deeply hurt devotees and stressed that reforms are aimed at ensuring greater transparency and accountability in handling offerings made by pilgrims.

The trust has already accepted the resignations of general secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra, appointed interim arrangements and constituted a search panel to identify suitable candidates for the CEO’s post.

Trust treasurer Govind Dev Giri has also said that the alleged theft might have been prevented had the trust earlier appointed a professionally experienced CEO with stronger administrative oversight.

The incoming CEO will be expected to strengthen financial controls, improve operational transparency and reassure devotees that every contribution is being safeguarded.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/devotion-to-lord-ram-primary-requirement-for-ram-mandir-trust-ceo-says-search-panel-member-ws-l-10202525.html

 

India is exploring diplomatic channels, including discussions with Iran, to ensure the safe passage of nine tankers in the Persian Gulf amidst escalating attacks that jeopardize a fragile ceasefire.

India is weighing a range of options, including direct talks with Iran, to ensure the safe passage of at least nine Indian-flagged tankers stranded in the Persian Gulf as renewed attacks around the Strait of Hormuz continue to disrupt shipping despite a fragile interim ceasefire, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

According to the report, the Narendra Modi government is closely monitoring the movement of the vessels, which are carrying crude oil and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), amid growing concerns over the safety of cargo and crew in one of the world’s busiest energy corridors.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is expected to engage with Iranian authorities to seek assurances over the safety of Indian seafarers operating in the region. The discussions are part of New Delhi’s broader efforts to protect its energy supplies and citizens as tensions persist.

Official sources told Times Now that only nine Indian-flagged vessels remain in the Persian Gulf region, west of the Strait of Hormuz, with 198 Indian seafarers onboard.

India’s decision to increase the share of biofuels blended with petrol is facing ire from motorists who question its viability in a market where a majority of vehicles are not yet designed for it.

The world’s largest two-wheeler market and third-largest car market, is trying to reduce its dependence on imported oil and cut carbon emissions. It began blending ethanol – made from crops such as sugarcane and maize – into petrol in the mid-2000s and has steadily increased the proportion ever since.

Complaints intensified in April this year when India made E20 – petrol blended with 20% ethanol – the standard fuel at every pump, replacing the 10% blend that most vehicles are designed to use.

Although unblended petrol is still available, it is often 40-50% more expensive than E20, depending on the state, and many motorists are unaware they can ask for it.

Over the past few months, consumers have flooded social media with complaints of engine wear, lower fuel efficiency and reduced performance.

Last week, several motorists joined a protest in Delhi, organised by an entrepreneur who often backs the opposition Congress party in TV debates, accusing the government of unilaterally imposing E20 and leaving them with higher servicing costs and little choice at fuel stations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has dismissed the complaints as “misleading” and “social media misinformation”.

In a statement last month, the government said the fuel was rolled out after extensive testing and does not damage engines. It has also issued statements on the benefits of E20 and to bust what it called the “more colourful myths that have circulated on social media”.

The government has also enlisted experts and automakers to defend E20.

Last weekend, in an unusual show of unity, six automakers joined a government press conference to say that years of testing and service data showed no evidence of widespread vehicle damage from the mandatory 20% ethanol blend.

Rahul Bharti, senior executive officer for corporate affairs at Maruti Suzuki, said that India’s largest carmaker had serviced more than 15 million older vehicles which were not E20 compliant but found no fuel-related fault.

The automakers did admit that the use of E20 had led to a 3-3.5% drop in fuel efficiency due to lower energy content in ethanol. Some estimates, however, say the actual drop in efficiency could be higher, between 4-12%.

From a broader perspective, the government’s biofuel push aims to cut India’s oil import bill, support farmers and reduce emissions, as ethanol burns cleaner than petrol and is produced domestically from crops such as sugarcane and maize.

Government data suggests it has largely delivered on those goals.

India imports most of the crude oil it consumes, and the disruption to global oil markets during the Iran conflict has strengthened the case for producing more fuel at home. Other oil-importing Asian countries, including Indonesia and Vietnam, are also accelerating plans to expand ethanol-blended and flex-fuel programmes.

Brazil, the model Indian officials often cite, built its ethanol-ready vehicle fleet gradually over four decades before mandating higher blends. Consumers there can choose between E27 petrol and 100% ethanol, with pump prices often making ethanol the cheaper option.

India compressed a similar transition into just three years, moving from 10% ethanol in 2022 to a mandatory 20% blend by 2025 – five years ahead of schedule. Critics say it skipped the step every other major market took first: giving vehicles time to adapt before raising ethanol levels.

More than 75% of vehicles on Indian streets are not E20 compliant, said Puneet Gupta, director of auto research firm Mobility Global. An analysis by Thomson Reuters Foundation last year came to a similar conclusion, finding that only some 20% of new petrol vehicles sold in past 15 years were E20-compliant.

The rapid transition has fuelled concerns, especially among owners of pre-2023 vehicles designed for lower ethanol blends, who fear engine corrosion and reduced performance.

Complaints have mounted in recent months, with protesters at last week’s Delhi demonstration describing problems they said emerged after using E20.

The BBC spoke to several car and two-wheeler service centres and mechanics in Mumbai. While some said they had seen no issues so far, others reported cases they believed were linked to the higher ethanol blend.

Mohammed Arif, who repairs motorcycle engines at a workshop, said he has serviced several older bikes over the past year for fuel residue build-up in carburettors, which he attributes to the higher ethanol content.

The deposits reduce performance and require more frequent cleaning, he said, increasing servicing costs for customers.

Basil Jacob, who runs a car servicing centre, said customers are reporting lower fuel efficiency, forcing them to fill up more often. Although ethanol is cheaper to produce, those savings have not been passed on at the pump, with E20 retailing at the same price as before.

“They’re paying the same per litre but getting fewer kilometres,” he said.

Some experts say potential risks may not show up immediately, but after months of E20 use – in the form of accelerated wear and tear of components.

“It will be a slow-burn impact. There could be corrosion in fuel delivery systems after 10,000-20,000 km of use. But if you maintain your car well, there may not be a problem,” Hormazd Sorabjee, editor of Autocar India, told the BBC, adding that some social media concerns are overblown.

Ethanol attracts moisture, which can separate from the fuel over time and cause corrosion, he said.

It can also loosen old engine deposits, sometimes clogging fuel pumps and injectors. The result could be faster wear, more frequent servicing and additional part replacements, although Sorabjee said the long-term costs are unlikely to be significant.

A survey done by online community platform LocalCircles of more than 44,000 people who bought petrol vehicles before 2023 found a jump in those who reported “an unusual increase in wear and tear or need for repairs”.

But no scientific studies are publicly available to support either the claims of damage or the government’s and automakers’ assurances that extensive testing found none. That evidence gap is fuelling the confusion.

“If you’re going to force this on the public, you should be able to prove it’s safe,” said a senior industry expert who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Source : https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crlw74gd6lro

Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu said the BJP and the Centre had no role in ZEE5 withdrawing Satluj. He said the row was being politicised and Punjab’s history must be viewed in full context.

Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu has rejected allegations by leaders of opposition parties that the BJP or the Centre had a role in the removal of the film Satluj from OTT platform ZEE5, calling the claims baseless. He said the issue should be seen in its proper context and argued that blaming the BJP for developments linked to the film was politically motivated and had no factual basis.

Bittu said the events shown in the film relate to a period when both Punjab and the central government were led by the Congress. He also said OTT platforms are not subject to prior government censorship in the same way as films released in theatres, and that decisions on hosting or withdrawing content are taken by the platforms themselves under their editorial, legal and commercial policies.

Speaking on the sidelines of a visit to the redeveloped Jalandhar Cantt railway station with senior officials of the Ferozepur Division, the minister of state for railways said Punjab’s history should be presented in full and not through a “one-sided narrative”.

He added that government certification and regulatory rules for films mainly apply to theatrical releases, while satellite television and cable broadcasts are governed under separate statutory and regulatory frameworks. “Consequently, attributing the removal of ‘Satluj’ from ZEE5 to the BJP or the central government has no factual or legal basis,” he said.

The film, earlier titled Punjab ’95, is based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra and is set in Punjab during the turbulent 1990s, when the state was reeling under terrorism. It was released uncut on ZEE5 on July 3 under the new title Satluj, after being held up with the censors for more than three years. It was removed from the platform two days later, on July 5.

Bittu, who is the grandson of former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh, said he has consistently maintained that any discussion on the years of militancy must recognise not only allegations against the state but also the suffering caused by terrorism to thousands of innocent civilians, police personnel, public servants, elected representatives and ordinary families.

The minister said militancy has no religion and that violence must never be glorified or linked to any community or faith. Punjab’s history, he said, should be examined through facts, verified records and historical context rather than selective narratives or political propaganda.

He also said the government led by Beant Singh had inherited a Punjab devastated by years of terrorism, and that its foremost task was to restore peace, law and order, and democratic governance. The return of normalcy, revival of democratic institutions and restoration of public confidence, he said, were also an integral part of that period and deserved equal recognition.

Bittu added that the BJP believes history can and should be debated in a democratic society, but such discussions must be based on facts, evidence and a balanced historical perspective rather than misinformation or efforts to create political controversy.

Several political parties and Sikh bodies in Punjab had on Monday criticised the removal of Satluj from the OTT platform, saying the film compels India to confront one of the state’s “darkest chapters” and that history must be faced with honesty, not buried through censorship.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/satluj-zee5-removal-ravneet-bittu-denies-bjp-centre-role-ptag-2943610-2026-07-08

Self-styled godman, Narendra Nayan Shastri, is facing a cheating probe after Noida’s Dr Rishabh Chaubey accused him of exploiting his brother’s mysterious death.

A self-styled spiritual leader popularly known as “Rice Baba” has been booked by Raipur Police after a Noida-based doctor accused him of allegedly cheating him of nearly Rs 40 lakh by exploiting his emotional distress following his younger brother’s mysterious death.

The accused, Narendra Nayan Shastri, is already lodged in Madhya Pradesh’s Mahasamund Jail in connection with a separate rape case, while police have launched an investigation into the fresh allegations of cheating and criminal deception.

According to the complaint, Dr Rishabh Chaubey approached Shastri after his younger brother died under mysterious circumstances in Indore in August 2024.

Searching for answers and spiritual guidance, the doctor met the self-proclaimed godman in Raipur, where Shastri allegedly claimed he possessed supernatural powers that could reveal the truth behind the death.

Police said the accused gradually won the doctor’s trust before allegedly telling him that evil forces had targeted his family and that his children were also under supernatural influence.

Investigators alleged that Shastri convinced the doctor that elaborate religious rituals and ceremonies were necessary to protect his family from impending danger, leading to repeated financial transactions over several months.

During the investigation, police found that between October 2024 and early 2026, the complainant allegedly transferred nearly Rs 20 lakh into Shastri’s bank account after being told the money was needed to purchase a luxury vehicle.

The doctor also claimed to have paid another Rs 10 lakh in cash for rituals and spent nearly Rs 10 lakh more on the accused’s travel, accommodation and other personal expenses, taking the alleged fraud to around Rs 40 lakh.

After suspecting he had been misled, Dr Chaubey lodged a complaint at a police station in Raipur.

An FIR has since been registered, and investigators are examining bank transactions, financial records and other evidence to establish the full extent of the alleged fraud.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/narendra-nayan-shastri-rice-baba-raipur-jailed-rape-case-accused-cheating-noida-doctor-rs-40-lakh-2943706-2026-07-08

A venomous krait entered a girls’ hostel in Lohardaga and bit four students as they slept. One girl died, and three others were taken to hospital, with one later shifted to RIMS Ranchi.

A 13-year-old girl died and three other students were critically injured after a venomous krait entered the girls’ hostel of a private residential school in Jharkhand’s Lohardaga district and bit them while they were asleep.

The incident occurred on Tuesday night at Sanvasira Higher Secondary Residential School in Rocho Mahuatoli.

According to officials, the students had gone to sleep after dinner when the snake entered their room at around 11 pm.

It first bit Varsha Oraon, whose screams woke up the other girls. Before anyone could react, the krait also bit Anisha Oraon, Manisha Kumari and Fulmania Oraon.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/jharkhand/story/jharkhand-school-hostel-snakebite-krait-kills-13-year-old-three-students-critical-2943765-2026-07-09

Dinesh K Patnaik emphasised that the sweeping legal actions directly align with India’s long-standing requests for Western allies to crack down on deep-seated transnational gangs

India’s High Commissioner to Canada, Dinesh K Patnaik, has welcomed the recent wave of coordinated arrests and indictments across North America linked to crime rings allegedly involved in the 2023 assassination of alleged Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The diplomatic validation follows a multinational law enforcement operation that dismantled leadership nodes of notorious India-linked criminal syndicates operating across international borders. Patnaik emphasised that the sweeping legal actions directly align with New Delhi’s long-standing requests for Western allies to crack down on deep-seated transnational gang networks.

The envoy noted that the simultaneous enforcement actions by both Canadian and United States federal authorities mark a turning point in addressing organised crime within the region. For a substantial period, there was an underlying perception in India that North American administrations were turning a blind eye to the growing security threats posed by these groups. According to The Globe And Mail, Patnaik observed that the recent judicial and law enforcement interventions serve as a positive indicator that Western security agencies are now actively confronting the global networks that leverage foreign soil to coordinate violent crimes.

Confronting the Nexus of Organised Crime

The development follows a major multi-year federal investigation, which resulted in dozens of charges spanning racketeering, murder-for-hire plots, extortion, and narcotics smuggling. Legal filings have increasingly connected high-profile gang leaders to targeted violence targeting members of the South Asian diaspora. New Delhi has consistently maintained that these syndicates are not merely localised street gangs but highly sophisticated networks that pose severe national security threats to both India and its international partners.

Indian officials view the synchronised crackdowns as a structural shift away from political narratives and toward tangible law enforcement metrics. By treating these modules as criminal entities rather than political dissidents, North American authorities are systematically dismantling the logistical infrastructure that allowed fugitive operatives to safely direct extortion rackets and targeted hits back in India from their sanctuaries abroad.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/turning-a-blind-eye-no-more-indias-envoy-welcomes-canada-us-action-against-crime-rings-linked-to-nijjar-case-10199121.html

Xbox veteran Kevin LaChapelle used his first-ever LinkedIn post to share news of his layoff after a 37-year career at Microsoft.

Kevin LaChapelle worked at Microsoft for 37 years without ever publishing a single LinkedIn post. That changed on Tuesday, a day after LaChapelle, alongside 1,600 other Xbox employees, was laid off in the first tranche of the Microsoft-owned company’s AI-led restructuring. Having risen through the ranks, the former vice president of the Xbox Platform spent decades driving massive tech milestones like cloud gaming and backward compatibility, only to be met with a rather unceremonious end.

While the occasion was sombre, LaChapelle expressed satisfaction over the work he and his team accomplished over the years.

“I will add my name to the list of people who were laid off today at Xbox. This ends my 37 years at Microsoft. I have worked in many different parts of the company, and I will say my fondest memories are of leading the team of very talented engineers who built the Xbox Backward Compatibility program,” wrote LaChapelle.

“Sitting in the auditorium when Phil announced the program at E3 2015 was incredible. The audience’s reaction was unbelievable. I followed that with leading the team who created our Cloud Gaming product.”

“I am a firm believer that all entertainment will eventually become streamed to you wherever you are. I look forward to watching how Xbox evolves going forward and I wish the team nothing but success.”

Created in May 2005, LaChapelle’s LinkedIn account had been silent for years. His first and only post turned the profile into a final farewell message, as social media users empathised with him.

“I’m sorry to hear this. 40 years career for a man, 37 years is definitely a significant milestone and commitment,” said one user while another added: “Kevin, I’m sorry this is how such a long and impactful Microsoft chapter ended. The work you helped lead shaped how millions of people experience Xbox.”

A third commented: “Kevin, we haven’t met before but sincerely, thank you! Saw that you worked on Windows Movie Maker – I used to make anime music videos on there back in 2007.”

Xbox Layoffs

In an email to workers, Xbox CEO Asha Sharma informed them of the layoffs, highlighting that the business was ‘not healthy’. In addition, Sharma announced that Xbox will divest four of its gaming studios and is preparing to part ways with another.

“Our business today is not healthy. We are operating at margins that are 3-10x lower than comparable platform and publishing businesses,” Sharma said in her email, which she posted on X, while noting that the layoff decision does not reflect the “talent and dedication” of employees.

Sharma laid out three ways that Xbox will reset itself – overhauling its content portfolio, platform and how the team operates.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/offbeat/after-37-years-at-microsoft-an-xbox-vice-presidents-first-linkedin-post-is-his-layoff-announcement-11745925?pfrom=home-ndtv_lateststories

“So far, we have no evidence regarding the marriage of Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary. We are verifying where these claims originated from and how such information came into circulation. If there is any such evidence, we will share it with the media at the appropriate time,” Gill said

Pune Rural Police have denied reports claiming that murder accused Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary were secretly married before the murder of businessman Ketan Agarwal, saying there is no evidence to support such claims at present.

Speaking to The Free Press Journal, Superintendent of Police (Pune Rural) Sandeep Singh Gill said the investigation has so far found no proof that the two had solemnised a marriage.

“So far, we have no evidence regarding the marriage of Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary. We are verifying where these claims originated from and how such information came into circulation. If there is any such evidence, we will share it with the media at the appropriate time,” Gill said.

He added that the reports claiming the two were already married are not true based on the evidence available with the police at present.

Earlier, several reports had claimed that investigators had uncovered evidence suggesting Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary had secretly married around four months before the murder of businessman Ketan Agarwal. However, Pune Rural Police have now clarified that no such evidence has been found during the investigation so far.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/pune/pune-police-deny-claims-of-secret-marriage-between-siya-goyal-and-chetan-chaudhary

An experimental HIV vaccine candidate developed by LJI, Scripps Research and IAVI generated high levels of broadly neutralising antibodies in primates, researchers said. Tested on rhesus macaques, the vaccine prompted antibody production in about 44% of animals. The findings, published in Nature, mark a major step after 14 years of research aimed at preventing HIV infection.

An experimental HIV vaccine candidate has delivered encouraging results in a preclinical study involving primates, offering fresh hope in the long-standing effort to prevent HIV infection. Developed by scientists from the La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI), Scripps Research and the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), the vaccine is designed to stimulate the production of rare broadly neutralising antibodies capable of combating HIV despite its rapid mutations. According to LJI, it is the first HIV vaccine candidate to generate high levels of these virus-fighting antibodies in primates.

“This feels like a huge success,” said Shane Crotty, chief scientific officer at LJI, who co-led the research with Scripps Research professor William Schief. “We constructed a successful vaccine from the ground up, which required a deep understanding of the immune system.”

The vaccine works by guiding the maturation of B cells, the immune cells responsible for producing antibodies. B cells begin in a naïve state and mature after recognising parts of a pathogen, enabling them to generate antibodies that bind to the pathogen and help prevent infection. As they mature, B cells refine these antibodies to improve their ability to target vulnerable sites on viruses.

Overcoming HIV’s complex defence mechanisms

A woman in Uttar Pradesh’s Fatehpur allegedly tied her husband to a cot, held him captive overnight, brutally assaulted him and gave him electric shocks following a domestic dispute, leaving him critically injured.

A woman tied her husband to a cot, held him captive overnight, brutally assaulted him and gave him electric shocks following a domestic dispute in Uttar Pradesh’s Fatehpur district, police said.

According to police, the incident came to light on Monday morning after they received information that an injured man was lying at the scene. Police immediately reached the spot and shifted the injured man, Sanjeev Tiwari, to the district hospital. Doctors referred him to Kanpur after providing primary treatment, citing his critical condition.

While undergoing treatment, Sanjeev Tiwari told police that his wife tied him to a cot on Sunday night, held him captive and assaulted him. He also said that she gave him electric shocks using electrical wires.

After Sanjeev Tiwari’s condition improved, his brother submitted a written complaint against the accused woman at the police station. Based on the complaint, police registered a case under relevant sections of the law and took the accused wife into custody for questioning.

Fatehpur Superintendent of Police Abhimanyu Manglik said police received information on Monday morning about an injured. He said that Tiwafri informed police that his wife had tied him up, held him captive and assaulted him during the previous night. The survivor also claimed that she touched him with electric wires to administer electric shocks.

The SP said police first ensured that the injured man received medical treatment before recording his statement. After his condition stabilised, his brother filed a complaint against the survivor’s wife, following which police registered a case and detained her.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/up-fatehpur-woman-arrested-for-tying-husband-to-cot-giving-electric-shocks-2942958-2026-07-08

The raids are part of the NIA’s ongoing investigation into the activities of the human trafficking and cyber slavery syndicate allegedly masterminded by absconding accused Anand Kumar Singh, also known as Munna Singh.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday carried out searches at six locations in three states as part of its probe into a Cambodia-linked human trafficking and cyber slavery case. The agency said the action was linked to an organised syndicate accused of luring Indian youth abroad with false promises of legitimate, well-paying jobs.

The searches were conducted at premises linked to associates and supporters of the arrested accused as well as absconding persons in the case. The NIA said it seized smartphones, laptops, digital devices and other incriminating documents and items during the operation.

According to the agency, searches were conducted at one location each in the Bihar districts of Gopalganj, Siwan, Saran and East Champaran, besides one location each in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi.

The raids are part of the NIA’s ongoing investigation into the activities of the human trafficking and cyber slavery syndicate allegedly masterminded by absconding accused Anand Kumar Singh, also known as Munna Singh.

The NIA’s investigation so far has found that vulnerable Indian youth were recruited through sub-agents and travel agents in India and sent to Cambodia with the help of Anand’s associates. The victims were allegedly lured on the promise of genuine jobs, but their passports were seized on arrival, and they were handed over, along with other trafficked individuals, to scam companies in Cambodia.

In their statements, the victims told investigators that they were forced to work for these scam companies. The NIA said refusal to work led to mental and physical torture, including electric shocks, forceful confinement, and denial of food and water.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/cambodia-cyber-slavery-case-nia-raids-six-locations-in-bihar-delhi-and-uttar-pradesh-ptag-2942906-2026-07-07

Hardeep Singh Puri said the transition towards higher ethanol blends would continue in a phased manner, based on technical studies and industry feedback.

Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri on Monday dismissed concerns over 20 per cent ethanol-blended petrol (E20), calling reports of consumer problems with the fuel a “misrepresentation.”

Puri said both automobile manufacturers and vehicle service providers have found no major issues with E20, while consumers have also accepted the fuel.

“The automobile manufacturers, as well as the people who service these vehicles, all say there is no difficulty. Why this sudden interest? It is a misrepresentation and I don’t want to use stronger words,” he said.

HIGHER ETHANOL BLENDS IN PIPELINE

Defending India’s ethanol roadmap, Puri said the country had followed a gradual path, using E15 for over three years before transitioning to E20 in April 2025. He added that around 20 crore two-wheelers and 20 lakh four-wheelers are currently running on ethanol-blended petrol.

Addressing demands for a faster transition to E25, the minister said the government would not rush the decision and would wait for technical assessments before moving ahead.

“If someone is suggesting E25, we have made it clear that we are conducting tests. Once the reports are available, we will evaluate them and discuss the findings with stakeholders and automobile manufacturers,” Puri said.

Puri said the transition towards higher ethanol blends would continue in a phased manner, based on technical studies and industry feedback. He also said the rollout of E85 fuel has only recently begun and would take time as additional petrol pumps and supporting infrastructure need to be developed.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/e20-petrol-concerns-hardeep-puri-says-no-major-issues-e25-move-ethanol-2942880-2026-07-07

According to federal prosecutors, Bishnoi allegedly directed an international criminal network from inside prison using contraband mobile phones and encrypted internet communication devices.

A sweeping international law enforcement operation targeting India-based transnational organized crime networks, including the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, has resulted in the arrest of 24 suspects across the United States, Canada, and Europe, marking one of the most significant crackdowns in recent years on criminal syndicates accused of murder, drug trafficking, extortion, and cross-border violence.

The coordinated enforcement action, dubbed Operation Hard Ball, was announced by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. Authorities said the operation followed a years-long investigation involving American, Canadian, and European law enforcement agencies into three major criminal organizations allegedly responsible for a wide range of violent and organized crimes affecting communities across North America and beyond.

Federal prosecutors have unsealed three separate indictments charging 37 defendants in total. Among those arrested were 13 suspects in the United States, including 11 in California, one in Indiana, and one in Georgia. Three additional arrests were made in Canada and one in Spain, while seven defendants were already in custody before the coordinated operation. Authorities are still searching for 10 fugitives believed to be located in the United States, India, and Europe.

Investigators also seized approximately one metric ton of cocaine, one kilogram of heroin, around $40,000 in cash, and a dozen firearms during the operation. Search warrants were executed at dozens of locations, including 23 properties in the Sacramento area and 11 locations across Los Angeles.

Officials described the investigation as a major blow to sophisticated criminal organizations that allegedly used violence, intimidation, and international drug trafficking to build influence within Indian diaspora communities worldwide.

“Transnational criminal gangs who spread fear, drugs, and violence will face the full force of justice,” First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli said, emphasizing that law enforcement agencies from the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia worked together to dismantle organizations operating across multiple continents.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation said the operation targeted criminal groups accused of terrorizing communities through targeted killings, extortion schemes, kidnappings, narcotics trafficking, and firearms offenses.

One of the most serious allegations centers on the Bishnoi criminal enterprise, led by Lawrence Bishnoi, a 33-year-old gangster currently imprisoned in India. According to federal prosecutors, Bishnoi allegedly directed an international criminal network from inside prison using contraband mobile phones and encrypted internet communication devices.

The indictment alleges Bishnoi cultivated a public image as a nationalist and religious figure while secretly overseeing a sprawling criminal enterprise involved in political assassinations, murders, kidnappings, extortion, drug trafficking, and human smuggling.

Among the charges is the alleged orchestration of the June 18, 2023, assassination of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, identified in court documents only as “H.S.N.” The victim, who lived in Surrey, British Columbia, was fatally shot outside a Sikh temple.

Prosecutors allege Bishnoi and his North American lieutenant, Satinderjeet Singh, also known as “Goldy Brar,” ordered the killing. Canadian authorities designated the Bishnoi organization as a terrorist entity in 2025, reflecting growing concerns over its alleged involvement in politically motivated violence.

According to investigators, the Bishnoi organization used social media, encrypted messaging platforms, and public claims of responsibility for violent attacks to create fear among business owners, religious leaders, and political figures, particularly within Indian diaspora communities.

Federal prosecutors also accuse the group of running sophisticated extortion operations targeting victims in California, including residents in Los Angeles and Thousand Oaks, where millions of dollars were allegedly demanded under threats of violence.

Beyond extortion, authorities allege the organization financed its activities through international cocaine trafficking and by stealing drug shipments from rival criminal organizations. Investigators claim the gang was linked to more than 520 kilograms of stolen cocaine in the Los Angeles region between 2024 and 2025.

A second indictment targets the Bhagwanpuria criminal syndicate, allegedly founded by imprisoned Indian gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, once considered an associate of Bishnoi before becoming a rival.

Federal prosecutors allege the Bhagwanpuria network expanded into a global organization with more than 1,000 members and associates operating across India, the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

Authorities claim the organization engaged in contract killings, drug trafficking, kidnapping, illegal firearms dealing, and extortion. Prosecutors further allege the syndicate corrupted law enforcement officials in India, using false criminal complaints to intimidate rivals and extort victims.

One defendant allegedly threatened an Ohio family while being held in immigration custody, warning he would shoot their children if demands were not met.

The third indictment focuses on an alleged international drug smuggling organization headed by Ravinder Singh Dhanda, based in Vancouver, Canada.

According to prosecutors, the network transported hundreds of kilograms of cocaine and methamphetamine every week from Southern California into Canada using long-haul commercial trucks. In some cases, narcotics were allegedly concealed inside farm vehicles traveling across the border.

Investigators specifically linked the organization to the movement of more than 430 kilograms of cocaine between 2023 and 2024.

Law enforcement officials from multiple agencies described the operation as an example of unprecedented international cooperation against organized crime.

Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said the operation reflected a shared commitment among local, federal, and international agencies to dismantle violent criminal organizations and improve public safety.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police Commissioner Mike Duheme said the investigation disrupted criminal groups that relied on murder, intimidation, and fear to control victims in both Canada and the United States, adding that authorities would continue pursuing organized crime networks wherever they operate.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/global-crackdown-on-lawrence-bishnoi-gang-24-arrested-assassination-plot-busted-11741245?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

“The government is investigating why mud taken out of the tunnel project was put there without any safety measure,” Kerala Minister T Siddique said

Kerala ministers Ramesh Chennithala and T Siddique have called the landslide in Wayanad today “man-made” and attributed the cause to “unscientific dumping” of debris at a tunnel project site. They demanded to know from the construction company why the excavated debris had not been cleared from the site.

In response, infrastructure company Dilip Buildcon ruled out any technical error that could have led to the landslide, killing five. Dilip Buildcon said the project follows all engineering, safety and environmental approvals and protocols.

Six people were injured in the incident. Rescuers including two teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are checking whether anybody is trapped under the debris. It had been raining for some time before the landslide happened. The area recorded 256 mm rainfall in the last 24 hours.

Siddique pointed out excavated soil had been dumped similarly at the Wayanad Township project, where houses are being constructed for survivors of a massive landslide in 2024.

“The government is investigating why mud taken out of the tunnel project was put there without any safety measure. Instructions were given to the authorities concerned to remove it. The instructions were not followed at all,” Kerala Agriculture Minister T Siddique said.

“Instructions were also given that eight families near the project were supposed to be rehabilitated. The locals had complained there was an issue with water flowing out of the project. This was not a natural landslide but a man-made one caused by mud that was put there after drilling in the tunnel project,” he said.

Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala also agreed with Siddique that the landslide was indeed a “man-made disaster”, which could have been avoided if the construction company had removed the huge quantity of mud excavated during the tunnel work, in line with directions issued by the district administration.

“It is certainly a man-made disaster. If the company had removed the dumped earth, this incident would not have occurred. It is an ecologically sensitive area prone to natural disasters,” Chennithala said. “When a tunnel project is undertaken in such a place, the excavated earth should be removed without delay.”

The landslide was captured on camera. It showed a large mound of mud that had accumulated near a bridge suddenly collapsing due to rain, bringing down trees and barricades at the construction site.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/kerala-news/man-made-disaster-2-kerala-ministers-on-wayanad-landslide-that-killed-5-11740192?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

Expressing sharp displeasure, Acting Chief Justice Ghuge noted that even the footpaths outside the High Court are occupied by illegal shops.

Mumbai’s chronic monsoon waterlogging is a self-created crisis caused by citizens grabbing land, clogging drains, and misusing public infrastructure, the Bombay High Court has said. A division bench of acting Chief Justice Ravindra V Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad remarked that the city is “destined” to see waterlogged roads because people block gutters with waste, turn paved areas into illegal parking spots, and crowd footpaths with food stalls.

Expressing sharp displeasure, Acting Chief Justice Ghuge noted that even the footpaths outside the High Court are occupied by illegal shops. “Our habit is to rob our own motherland. We grab land illegally, and then look for law books only when demolition notices arrive,” he said.

In a related civic matter, the High Court issued a formal notice to the Department of Atomic Energy regarding a road-widening project in Mandala village along the Sion-Trombay stretch.

Representing the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, senior advocate Milind Sathe informed the court that the civic body has already cleared encroachments and felled 192 trees to maintain the existing 30-foot road.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/mumbai-flooding-our-own-creation-stop-blaming-civic-body-high-court-11740828?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

Champat Rai, the former general secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, has questioned the role of the State Bank of India (SBI) and flagged serious procedural and security lapses in the counting process in his statement to the SIT, as seen by Times Now. Champat Rai had tendered his resignation from the post amid the probe into the embezzlement of donations at the Ram Mandir. His resignation was accepted by the Ram Mandir Trust during its meeting on Monday.

Rejecting a February 6, 2025, guideline document, Rai said he neither signed nor was aware of it until June 13, 2026, despite it bearing signatures of other officials. The document prescribed guidelines for the counting of the donation amount.

Rai said he does not agree with its contents and formally disowns it, stressing that he neither signed the document nor was made aware of it at the time.

In his statement, Rai said he came to know about the guidelines only on June 13, 2026, through the accounts office, even though the document claims to have been shared with the Trust. He underlined that between August 2020 and June 2026, all agreements related to such processes bore his signature along with that of the concerned authority, raising the question of why his approval was not taken in this instance. “If I was not in Ayodhya, the matter should have been kept pending,” he noted, indicating a breach of established protocol.

Rai also referred to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with SBI on February 9, 2024, stating that his signatures are present on every page of that agreement.

These included installation of CCTV cameras in the counting room and the use of iron-grilled doors for controlled access. However, he alleged that the execution of these measures was flawed and that the bank’s recommended method of conducting counting—on tables while seated on chairs—may have inadvertently facilitated the alleged theft. Following the incident, he said, the tables were removed and counting was shifted to the floor.

He claimed that essential checks during entry and exit from the counting room were either inadequate or ignored altogether. Despite provisions in the guideline document, there was no enforcement of restrictions such as wearing pocket-less clothing, and the bank itself provided garments with pockets, he noted.

Qatar blamed Iran for the attack on a huge Qatari liquefied natural gas tanker, the Al Rekayyat, which reported being struck overnight by a drone that caused a fire in its engine room.

A Qatari liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker was at risk of exploding due to a fire in its engine room after the vessel was struck by a projectile in the Strait of Hormuz. The tanker has four Indian crew onboard, reported ANI quoting sources. The vessel is proceeding to Dahej in India from Ras Laffan in Qatar, the report added. The incident took place in Gulf of Oman, near the Strait of Hormuz.

The Qatari liquefied natural gas tanker ‘Al Rekayyat’ reported that it had been struck overnight and its engine room set on fire. “Mayday mayday mayday. This is vessel Al Rekayyat, LNG vessel Al Rekayyat. We are being hit by drone on port side, top of engine room,” the Rekayyat’s captain said in a recorded radio call reviewed by Reuters.

“Status: engine room fire and full of smoke. Unable to assess further damage.” He said the crew were safe, but the ship had been disabled without engines or steering, and called for help from any vessels in the area.

Iranian state television said the liquefied natural gas tanker came under attack after ignoring warnings but did not directly claim the assault.

“On 07.07.2026, while transiting in the Arabian Sea, LNGC AL REKAYYAT reportedly experienced a suspected drone attack. The incident was reported to DGCOMM by the RPSL. Initial information indicates that the vessel sustained damage, and there are no casualties or environmental damaged reported. The vessel is proceeding to Dahej, India, from Ras Laffan, Qatar. Location of Incident is Gulf of Oman (near the Strait of Hormuz). There are a total of 29 seafarers on board the vessel, out of which four (04) are Indian nationals. It was informed that all the crew members are safe. The vessel’s engine room caught fire following the strike, resulting in heavy smoke,” ANI quoted sources as saying.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/qatari-gas-tanker-with-indians-onboard-reportedly-at-risk-of-exploding-after-attack-near-hormuz-report-article-154964298

Srivastava developed ties with Prabowo Subianto, Indonesia’s former defence minister and now the country’s president, and reportedly nicknamed himself “Mr G”.

An Indian-origin businessman allegedly posed as a CIA agent to forge close ties with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and other senior officials in an attempt to secure a multibillion-dollar defence deal.

The businessman, identified as Gaurav Srivastava, allegedly presented himself as a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) operative, according to a report by the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP).

The report says Srivastava developed ties with Prabowo Subianto, Indonesia’s former defence minister and now the country’s president, and reportedly nicknamed himself “Mr G”. He allegedly accompanied Prabowo to high-level meetings in Washington, DC, and Jakarta in 2020, where military purchases, including fighter jets and other defence equipment, were discussed.

The report is based on civil lawsuits filed by his former business partner, Niels Troost, in courts in California and New York. Troost allegedly gave Srivastava a 50 per cent ownership stake in his company.

According to Troost, Srivastava also built relationships with powerful Indonesian business leaders, including Hashim Djojohadikusumo, Subianto’s brother and chairman of the Arsari Group.

In the lawsuit, Srivastava claimed in recorded phone calls that he worked for the CIA. The lawsuits allege that he used this claim to gain the trust of senior Indonesian officials and get access to top government meetings.

He allegedly told people that he had helped identify those responsible for the 2002 Bali bombings, the terrorist attack in Indonesia that killed more than 200 people. He also allegedly claimed that he played a key role in getting Subianto removed from the US immigration blacklist.

In 2020, Srivastava managed to get three Letters of Intent (LOIs) from Indonesia for the possible purchase of fighter jets and other military equipment. The report says he secured another Letter of Intent and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2021 and 2022 for two more defence projects.

Between 2020 and 2022, four companies linked to Srivastava signed five preliminary defence agreements with Indonesia’s Defence Ministry and a state-owned defence company.

The proposed deals included the sale of 36 F-15 fighter jets, UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, C-130 transport aircraft, and the setting up of a military command and control centre for Indonesia.

In 2022, the United States approved the possible sale of 36 F-15 fighter jets and related equipment to Indonesia in a deal worth up to $13.9 billion.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/indian-origin-man-poses-as-cia-agent-to-secure-indonesia-defence-deal-11733907?pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories

She left the entertainment industry at the peak of her fame and fortune, and traded the limelight for what the world believed was a picture-perfect family life. For actor Celina Jaitly, however, it was a facade that masked years of unimaginable trauma.

In a candid conversation with NDTV’s Shiv Aroor, the actor shared the realities of a 15-year abusive marriage, the loss of her parents and child, and how she found the courage to step back in front of the camera for her upcoming film, ‘Sister Nivedita’.

“I wanted a house full of kids, a family full of love. The kind of family I grew up in. Marriage was very sacred. Marriage was valued. Marriage was difficult. And marriage was fought for on a daily basis,” she told NDTV.

Raised in an armed forces family, Jaitly said she carried deep-rooted values about commitment into her marriage. When she left her career, country and parents behind, she pointed out that she believed she would be building the life she had always wanted.

But her journey had been full of devastating losses and hurt. Despite that, she showed a remarkable sense of ownership over her situation.

“I was misled by my own wrong judgment. I do not blame anyone for my own decisions in life. I am accountable because that’s the first word that my father taught me,” she said.

The actor highlighted that success and education can’t shield a person from domestic violence, detailing how psychological warfare breaks a person down over time, creating a web of dependency.

“Having personal accomplishments does not protect you from violence. Having a public image does not protect you from private erosion. Having a degree, a great degree, does not protect you from gaslighting. And I eroded privately in the kind of relationship I was in,” she said.

#NDTVExclusive | ‘Trauma As A Mother’: Celina Jaitly Breaks Down At Late Son’s Grave Amid Divorce Battle @CelinaJaitly | @ShivAroor pic.twitter.com/ZkHp9IqY0N

— NDTV (@ndtv) July 6, 2026

“Violence and abuse do not happen overnight. It often begins with love. It begins with intensity. It begins with promises… The first incident shocks you. The second incident, the fifth incident confuses you… The 10th one, you cry. And by the 15th incident, you get used to it,” Jaitly said.

According to her, victims often survive on “small windows of hope,” making excuses for their abuser while their own personality is systematically stripped away. “What people like us go through is not because we are incapable of handling relationships, it’s because we couldn’t handle psychological warfare.”

As her marriage fell apart, Jaitly was hit by a succession of personal losses – the death of both her parents, and the tragic passing of her infant son, Shamsher.

“I was discarded after 15 years of devotion, dedication, bearing abuse, highs, lows, everything,” she said, recalling two-and-a-half “terrible, terrible years of isolation in an Austrian village during COVID.”

When her marriage ended, she found herself emotionally shattered and financially stranded with the responsibility of bringing up her twin sons, Winston and Viraj. “I would see my kids and back out, that this would scare them, this would traumatise them. Where would I go? I don’t have my financial independence anymore.”

Pushed to the brink, she confessed to moments of total despair. “At times, I felt like I can’t go on anymore. I gotta end it. But then I’m a soldier’s daughter. My father did not bring me up to do that.”

Jaitly is returning to the screen now in the manner of a comeback.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/celina-jaitly-to-ndtv-on-her-comeback-after-years-of-harrowing-abuse-and-grief-11735903?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

 

While many parallels are being drawn between Siya Goyal and Sonam Raghuvanshi, the police say Siya Goyal researched online and was better prepared to execute the crime

The murder of Pune businessman Ketan Agarwal at the hands of his fiancee Siya Goyal has been dominating headlines for weeks as the sinister plot was revealed in a police investigation, spearheaded by the Pune police. As details emerged, uncanny similarities have emerged between the murders of Raja Raghuvanshi and Ketan Agarwal.

In both cases, the victims were thrown off a cliff by their partners and investigators believe that Siya Goyal and her boyfriend and accomplice Chetan Chaudhary could have learnt their lessons from the plan hatched by Sonam Raghuvanshi to kill her husband.

NDTV spoke to police officers familiar with the case to piece the saga together — a tale of a criminal mind, precision planning, and a cold heartless intention to kill.

While there are similarities in the two cases, the police have reason to believe that Siya Goyal had learnt from the mistakes of Sonam Raghuvanshi and made a better plan, better arrangements and created better alibis making it difficult for the police to crack the case.

The police say the breakthrough came to them in an epiphany, during the investigation.

Like a stream of consciousness novel, investigators had to peel through layers of alibis before reaching the point where the accused admitted to committing the crime. While a confession in police custody has little evidentiary value, it triggers evidence gathering in case of a murder investigation.

Like the pace and narration in the famous stream of consciousness novel, Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf, the police say the murder plot played out in reality just as it existed in the mind of Siya Goyal, shifting seamlessly between inner thoughts and external realities of its main character – in this case a woman who believed murder was the only way to escape marriage to Ketan Agrawal.

Asked if Siya Goyal was a what can be described as a criminal mind, an officer connected with the investigation told NDTV: “It was a crime of desperation. Personal relations and her thinking process led to her believe this was the way to go about it. The transactional element between families also played a role in her decision.”

“Multiple factors contributed to Siya’s decision to kill Chetan and family and societal beliefs was definitely one of them. But it went beyond that and the investigation suggests there was not one factor but a combination of several factors that triggered her decision to eliminate Ketan Agrawal,” the officer added.

“In that sense, there was intention to commit crime, and they went through with it, plotting alibis to escape detection, trial and hopefully conviction,” a police officer told NDTV.

The police also told NDTV that at this point, both Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary have no regret about killing Ketan Agrawal and have not shown any signs of remorse.

“Time in jail usually breaks the most hardened criminals and perhaps with the duo now being in judicial custody, realisation with dawn on them as they spend time in jail,” the officer hoped.

But the police say had it not been for sustained interrogation, the two would have got away with their act. While Ketan’s family was not convinced that it was an accidental death, the police also had their doubts as the spot from where he fell was not as dangerous as some of the other spots on the trek at Lohagad Fort.

Now, the police also have reason to believe that the couple had conducted detailed research during planning the murder and they had gone through some of the news reports published on the Raja Raghuvanshi murder case, which was planned and orchestrated by his newly married wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi.

While Raja Raghuvanshi was murdered first and his body was flung from a cliff on a remote trek, the details in this case are different.

The police have told NDTV that both Siya and Chetan had pushed Ketan off the cliff together. This was part of the plan since if Siya pushed him alone, she may not have had enough strength to make sure he fell into the gorge below.

According to the police, the browsing history from a mobile phone seized from Siya Goyal’s possession indicates that she did go through the details of the Raja Raghuvanshi murder, which took place in Meghalaya.

The police have also found that she checked whether women are beaten in police custody and the rights of female prisoners.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/siya-goyal-researched-learnt-from-sonam-raghuvanshis-mistakes-say-cops-11735720?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the state is keen to play a bigger role in the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership after meeting Japanese Ambassador Ono Keiichi in New Delhi. They discussed opportunities arising from the India-Japan Summit, focusing on semiconductors, clean energy and Japanese language training, while reaffirming stronger bilateral cooperation.

Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday said the state is keen to play a greater role in deepening the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership, with a focus on semiconductors, clean energy and Japanese language training.

In a post on X, Sarma said he met Japanese Ambassador to India, Ono Keiichi, at his official residence in the national capital, where the envoy hosted him for Cha-no-yu, the traditional Japanese tea ceremony.

“I am grateful to H.E. Mr. Ono Keiichi, Ambassador of Japan to India, for hosting me at his residence in New Delhi for Cha-no-yu, the traditional Japanese tea ceremony,” the Chief Minister wrote.

Sarma said the two sides held a ‘productive exchange’ on emerging areas of cooperation and discussed the outcomes of the recently concluded India-Japan Summit, particularly the opportunities it offers Assam in semiconductor research, clean energy and Japanese language training.

The Chief Minister said he reaffirmed Assam’s commitment to contributing meaningfully to the growing strategic partnership between India and Japan.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/assam-eyes-stronger-japan-ties-in-semiconductors-clean-energy-after-india-japan-summit

Maharashtra experienced severe rain, leading to significant waterlogging and traffic disruptions, particularly in Thane and Bhiwandi. Amidst the chaos, Shadab Momin, a local social media content creator dressed as Spider-Man, emerged as a hero by assisting stranded commuters and guiding them through flooded streets.

After days of heavy rainfall across Maharashtra, several parts of the state were left waterlogged, disrupting traffic and affecting daily life. Thane was no exception, with Bhiwandi witnessing torrential rain over the past four days, bringing normal life to a standstill. Residents grappled with severe traffic congestion, stranded vehicles, and flooded roads. Amid the chaos, a man dressed as ‘Spider-Man’ emerged as an unlikely hero, helping commuters navigate the waterlogged streets.

The man, Shadab Momin, a resident of Bhiwandi in Thane district, is a social media content creator known for posting videos in his “Spider-Man” avatar.

In videos that have now gone viral, Momin can be seen directing traffic, guiding commuters through flooded roads, warning motorists about deep potholes, and pushing stranded two-wheelers and four-wheelers to safety. His selfless efforts have earned widespread praise from netizens.

“It feels very good. Helping people is my duty, and I am doing it in real life as well. There is a lot of difficulty here, and this is actually the responsibility of the municipal authorities, but they have not done anything about it so far,” he told IANS.

According to police officials familiar with the Ketan Agarwal murder probe, there are “uncanny similarities” between the two cases.

The murder investigation of Pune-based realtor Ketan Agarwal has taken a new turn, with police drawing parallels between the case and the high-profile Meghalaya honeymoon murder case involving businessman Raja Raghuvanshi.

The police conducting the investigation claimed that accused Siya Goyal and her alleged accomplice Chetan Chaudhary may have studied Sonam Raghuvanshi’s murder plan before carrying out the crime.

According to police officials familiar with the investigation, both cases show similarities as the victims were allegedly pushed from cliffs as part of the murder plans involving their partners. Investigators believe Siya and Chetan may have learnt from the mistakes made in the Raja Raghuvanshi case and prepared a more detailed plan with stronger alibis.

Police Say Siya Studied Sonam Case

Raja Raghuvanshi, an Indore-based businessman, was found dead in a gorge near a waterfall in Meghalaya’s Sohra area after he went missing during his honeymoon in 2025. His wife Sonam Raghuvanshi was later arrested on charges of conspiracy to murder him. Police alleged that she had planned the murder along with her alleged lover Raj Kushwaha and three hired killers.

In the Ketan Agarwal case, police allege that Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary killed Agarwal by pushing him into a gorge at Lohagad Fort in Pune district on June 18.

Speaking to NDTV, a police official familiar with the investigation said officers found evidence suggesting that Siya Goyal had researched the Raja Raghuvanshi murder case while allegedly planning Ketan Agarwal’s killing.

According to the official, the browsing history on a mobile phone seized from her showed that she had accessed news reports about the Meghalaya murder case. Investigators also found online searches related to whether women are beaten in police custody and the legal rights of female prisoners.

Officials believe Siya and Chetan made changes to the alleged plan after studying the earlier case. Police said both of them pushed Ketan together as part of the plan because Siya alone may not have been able to push him into the gorge.

Police Probe Alibis, Say Crime Was Driven By Multiple Factors

Police said the investigation involved examining multiple layers of alleged alibis before reaching a breakthrough. Officials told NDTV that sustained questioning helped them uncover details of the alleged conspiracy.

An officer familiar with the case described it as a “crime of desperation”, saying personal relationships, family pressure and other factors may have contributed to the alleged decision.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/sonam-raghuvanshi-link-in-ketan-agarwal-case-police-find-similarities-in-siya-goyals-plan-ws-l-10193964.html

A Nashik court granted bail to Nida Khan and co-accused Tausif Attar in the TCS Nashik conversion case. The order came as the SIT continued its probe into the matter, while refusing similar relief to another accused Danish Shaikh.

A court in Nashik on Monday granted bail to Nida Khan, one of the accused in the religious conversion and sexual harassment case linked to a Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)-associated BPO unit, nearly two months after her arrest. The court also granted bail to co-accused Tausif Attar, while rejecting the bail plea of another accused, Danish Shaikh.

Additional Sessions Judge KG Joshi of the Nashik Road Court passed the order in connection with a case registered at the Deolali Camp Police Station.

Khan, who worked as a telecaller at the TCS Nashik BPO unit, was arrested in May after evading arrest for over six weeks and has been in judicial custody since then. She had filed multiple bail applications, citing her pregnancy and the difficulties she was facing in jail. The court had earlier sought a report from the prison’s medical officer and, while declining bail on previous occasions, had directed authorities to provide her necessary facilities during custody.

The case came to light earlier this year after multiple women employees at a TCS-linked BPO unit in Nashik alleged sexual harassment, sexual assault and coercion to convert to another religion by colleagues and supervisors. Following the complaints, Nashik police registered multiple FIRs between March and April and constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the allegations.

Investigators have alleged that Khan played a role in the religious conversion aspect of the case. According to police, one complainant accused Khan of hurting her religious sentiments and attempting to influence her religious beliefs.

During the investigation, the SIT allegedly found that Khan had shared Islamic religious material, including books and videos, with the complainant. Police are also examining her reported links in Malaysia after allegations that she had offered to help the complainant secure employment there.

While granting Khan bail, the Nashik court declined similar relief to Danish Shaikh. The prosecution had opposed the bail pleas of Shaikh, arguing that evidence collected during the probe pointed to sexual exploitation and efforts at religious coercion.

According to the prosecution, Shaikh allegedly gave the complainant an Islamic religious book and a burqa with the intention of influencing her religious beliefs. Prosecutors further argued that the accused attempted to convert the woman despite being aware that she belonged to a Scheduled Caste community.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/tcs-nashik-conversion-case-nida-khan-gets-bail-danish-shaikh-denied-2942003-2026-07-06

An SIT probing the Ram temple donation theft casehas held former trustee Anil Mishra responsible for supervisory and administrative lapses. The findings came as the trust accepted the resignations of Mishra and former general secretary Champat Rai, and appointed Krishna Mohan as the interim head.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the theft of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya has held former Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust trustee Anil Mishra responsible for serious supervisory and administrative lapses, saying he failed to ensure adequate security safeguards despite repeated warning signs.

According to the SIT’s preliminary report, Mishra oversaw financial matters and cash management, including coordination with the bank on the standard operating procedure (SOP) governing the counting and handling of temple donations. Investigators said he played a key role in framing the SOP and was directly responsible for coordinating cash counting, storage and security arrangements.

The report alleged that Mishra failed to issue effective written instructions to strengthen frisking of staff, deploy adequate security personnel, enforce designated uniforms, prohibit employees from carrying personal belongings into sensitive areas, conduct surprise inspections or introduce a system of daily reporting. The SIT concluded that these omissions weakened the security framework and contributed to the theft.

It further stated that despite receiving information about irregularities, Mishra failed to ensure timely corrective action, making him accountable at the supervisory level for the lapses.

CCTV FOOTAGE REVEALS 70 SUSPICIOUS INCIDENTS

The SIT’s findings are based in part on CCTV footage recorded between April 27 and May 6, which captured around 70 instances of employees concealing cash during the counting of offerings.

According to the report, staff members were seen hiding currency notes in pockets, shoes and clothing, tampering with bundles of cash and engaging in other suspicious activities before carrying money out of the counting room. Investigators said the footage suggested the alleged theft was not an isolated incident, but a systematic practice repeated over several days.

The report identified six individuals whose roles were found to be prima facie suspicious during the investigation.

SECURITY PROTOCOLS IGNORED

The SIT report flagged multiple violations of security procedures in the donation-counting process. It found that employees were not being frisked adequately, personal belongings were not effectively restricted and cash from different donation boxes was often counted together.

Investigators said several safeguards prescribed under the SOP were either ignored or implemented only on paper. The report also highlighted deficiencies in record-keeping, CCTV monitoring and overall supervision of the counting process.

According to the SIT, weaknesses in security arrangements, surveillance systems and compliance mechanisms allowed the alleged thefts to go undetected for an extended period.

FINANCIAL TRAIL UNDER THE SCANNER

The SIT probe also uncovered indications of financial transactions and cash deposits disproportionate to the declared incomes of some of the accused.

Investigators have recommended a detailed examination of bank accounts, assets and financial transactions to trace the alleged proceeds of the theft. The report said nearly Rs 78.94 lakh has already been recovered from some of the accused, while an additional Rs 2.25 lakh was recovered from the counting room during the investigation.

So far, eight people, mostly involved in handling and counting donations, have been arrested in the case.

TRUST ACCEPTS RESIGNATIONS, ANNOUNCES REFORMS

YouTuber Raavan arrested for 5th time in 6 days over remarks against Pawan Kalyan

YouTuber Raavan was arrested for the fifth time by the Andhra Pradesh Police on Saturday, extending a series of successive arrests that began on June 30 over multiple cases linked to his alleged remarks against Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan.

According to police, Raavan had just secured bail in the latest case registered against him by the Payakaraopeta Police when he was intercepted at the Vempadu toll gate and taken into custody once again. This time, he was booked under Sections 13 (punishment for unlawful activities) and 39 (offence relating to support given to a terrorist organisation) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

The latest arrest follows a pattern that has seen Raavan repeatedly granted bail in one case only to be re-arrested in another.

The sequence began with his arrest by the Pithapuram Police. After obtaining station bail from a magistrate, he was immediately taken into custody by the Sarpavaram Police. Upon securing bail in that case, he was arrested again by the Inaguduru Police, followed by another arrest by the Payakaraopeta Police after his release.

YSRCP QUESTIONS GOVT STANCE

The repeated arrests have sparked a political controversy in Andhra Pradesh, with the opposition YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) accusing the ruling coalition government of targeting the YouTuber.

In a series of social media posts, the YSRCP questioned the government’s actions and accused Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan of focusing on Raavan while neglecting other issues. Referring to the Sugali Preethi case, the party alleged that if the same level of attention had been devoted to securing justice in that case, the accused would have been punished.

The YSRCP further claimed that the case had been used for political purposes before the change in government and alleged that the accused were now moving freely due to the coalition government’s inaction. The party also cited remarks attributed to Sugali Preethi’s mother, who allegedly expressed disappointment with Pawan Kalyan over the handling of the case.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/andhra-pradesh/story/youtuber-raavan-fifth-arrest-uapa-andhra-pradesh-pawan-kalyan-row-2942098-2026-07-06

Laid-off employees of a US healthcare tech company have been allowed back into its Kochi office till July 10. The temporary relief pauses immediate escalation as Kerala awaits fresh talks with the management.

Employees of a US-based healthcare technology company who were recently laid off will be allowed to enter its Kochi office till July 10, when another round of talks with the management is scheduled, Thrikkakara Congress MLA Uma Thomas said on Monday. The development comes after 850 employees engaged in medical coding work at the company’s Kochi and Kozhikode offices were laid off.

Thomas and Kerala Labour Commissioner Safna Nazarudeen held a meeting with the company’s legal adviser after the layoffs. The state authorities said they have asked the company to keep the layoff process on hold for now, and added that legal proceedings are not being started at this stage as they are waiting for the next meeting with the management.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Thomas said the company’s legal adviser, Amir, represented the management. “We have requested the company to keep the layoff process on hold. The employees can return to the office from Tuesday,” she said.

Nazarudeen said representatives of the company’s management did not attend the meeting and were expected to take part in the next round of discussions on July 10. “The company will function from Monday itself. Employees will be allowed to remain in the office and necessary facilities will be provided. The government will make every effort to help the company resume full-fledged operations. We are not initiating legal proceedings now and are waiting for the July 10 meeting,” she said.

Thomas said the company had already transferred compensation to the bank accounts of employees on Friday. “The company told us the payments could not be stopped because the instructions had already been given to the bank before its representatives reached Kochi. We do not know whether that is true. It is possible that the bank has already processed the request,” she said.

Nazarudeen said the company had assured the Labour Department that its management representatives would attend the July 10 meeting. “They have told us they will come. If they do not turn up, legal action will be initiated after discussions with the Labour Minister,” she said.

Thomas and Nazarudeen also met the employees, who urged them to resolve the issue and ensure that they could continue in their jobs. Meanwhile, DYFI activists reached the company’s Kochi office in the morning after employees complained that they were not being allowed to enter the premises. Police and DYFI leaders later held discussions with company representatives at the office, after which the employees were allowed inside.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/kochi-layoffs-850-staff-allowed-back-to-office-till-july-10-talks-ptag-2941642-2026-07-06

Akriti Sutar’s family rejected the possibility of suicide, saying that on Saturday, she had not only joined office but also hosted a small party for her colleagues. This was not a sign of depression, they have argued.

Akriti Sutar, who was found dead at a residential society in Delhi on Saturday evening, had joined office earlier that day. The 28-year-old, who had got married on April 24, was on leave. Her family has alleged that she was murdered.

They rejected the possibility of suicide, saying that on Saturday, she had not only joined office but also hosted a small party for her colleagues. This was not a sign of depression, they have argued.

Moreover, Akriti had spoken to her mother around 6 in the evening and seemed quite normal at the time. She spoke of the party and said she was on way home.

Akriti’s uncle Mananjay Sutar said two hours later, around 8 pm, the family received a call from her husband, who said she has gone missing. “Nearly 90 minutes later, the police informed them that a woman’s body had been found at Palika Kunj,” he added.

Akriti, who was a Sales Executive with a private company in Chhatarpur, was found dead at a residential society in Lodhi Colony — around 10 km from her Pushp Vihar home. Her body was found lying on the ground around 9 pm on Saturday. It is assumed that she had fallen from the building.

Akriti’s 24-year-old brother Amay Sutar claimed that she is mentally strong and would have never taken her own life.

The family also alleged that her husband Arastu Sikka and his relatives were pressuring her for dowry. They claimed that Arastu and his family have been demanding Rs 20 lakh and had subjected Akriti to repeated harassment and threats since the marriage.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/delhi-newlywed-joined-work-hosted-party-hours-before-murder-says-family-11731052?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

Israeli Prime Minister Bejamin Netanyahu has pushed back against JD Vance’s comments, saying that his country gets “tremendous” support from India.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday called India one of the greatest supporters of Israel, as he pushed back against JD Vance’s recent comments that the country has no “powerful ally” other than the United States.

In an interview with Fox News, Netanyahu said Israel has “tremendous support” in India.

“We have some other friends, like a small country called India. It has 1.4 billion people, and boy, do we have a tremendous support there,” the Israeli leader, who has received significant backlash from around the world over the wars his country has been engaged in with Gaza, Iran, and Lebanon.

Netanyahu further said that he respected US Vice President JD Vance, and called President Donald Trump the “greatest friend” Israel has ever had in the White House.

“But it doesn’t mean that I agree with everything that he (Vance) says and I have to point out this,” he said.

Netanyahu’s remarks come weeks after Vance warned Israel not to mess with its “only powerful ally”.

The Israeli Prime Minister further claimed that he is “flooded by the overwhelming support” from India on social media platform Facebook, and asserted that his country has many other allies.

Without naming anyone, he went on to say that in many countries, it is “fashionable” on social media to have “anti-Israeli, anti-Semitic material”.

But leaders from these supposed countries, he claimed, call him up to sign deals or ask him to “teach us some of the things that your military does”.

“So the relations are not quite as they appear, and we have, we have many, many friends,” Netanyahu said.

Vance’s remarks, made during a press briefing at the White House, appeared to signal a new course in US-Israel relations as ceasefire talks with Iran advance.

“If I was in the cabinet of the Israeli government, I might not be attacking the only powerful ally that I have anywhere left in the entire world,” Vance said, while defending the US’ memorandum signed with Iran last month in a major breakthrough to end the war.

Netanyahu Clarifies Stance On Lebanon

While the memorandum signed by the US and Iran has a provision for Israel to withdraw his forces from Lebanon, the country has not given in to the demand despite multiple ceasefire announcements.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/jd-vance-says-us-is-israel-only-ally-bennjamin-netanyahu-cites-1-4-billion-indians-11730954?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the body that manages prominent gurdwaras in the country, and the Shiromani Akali Dal have thrown their weight behind the movie.

The ouster of the Diljit Dosanjh-starrer Satluj from the OTT platform ZEE5, barely two days after its release, has triggered a full-blown political controversy in Punjab.

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the body that manages prominent gurdwaras in the country, and the Shiromani Akali Dal have thrown their weight behind the movie.

Satluj is based on the struggle of an activist to unearth alleged extrajudicial killings when militancy was at its peak in Punjab.

“Shocked and saddened by the arbitrary removal of Satluj from ZEE5 in India. A powerful film that courageously unveils Punjab’s painful history and honours the supreme sacrifice of S. Jaswant Singh Ji Khalra cannot be silenced this way. This is not mere censorship – it is an assault on our collective memory, truth, and freedom of expression,” said SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal on X.

“I strongly condemn this move. Punjab deserves to confront its past with honesty, not suppression,” he added.

Shocked and saddened by the arbitrary removal of #Satluj from #ZEE5 in India.
A powerful film that courageously unveils Punjab’s painful history and honours the supreme sacrifice of S. Jaswant Singh Ji Khalra cannot be silenced this way.
This is not mere censorship — it is an… pic.twitter.com/yfrkMKYq5D

— Sukhbir Singh Badal (@officeofssbadal) July 5, 2026

Kulwant Singh Mannan, the chief secretary of SGPC, appealed to the people of the state to watch Satluj.

“Film attempts to bring to light the true events of a period when Punjab was going through difficult times. Jaswant Singh (Diljit Dosanjh’s character) fought a long battle to bring to light the cases of alleged fake police encounters and disappearances. We appeal to the youth of Punjab to watch the film, as it would provide them with an opportunity to understand the history of Punjab and the contributions of Jaswant Singh Khalra,” he said.

Congress MP Tariq Anwar said the issue shouldn’t be turned into a political controversy.

“Yes, during that time, there was a Congress government in Punjab. But there is no need for any politics. If any film is based on facts, then it is okay, but politics is not required,” he said.

AAP leader and Punjab minister Aman Arora sought to play down the row.

“This film has been under discussion for a long time, but no one clearly knows its content. It is said to be based on fake encounters. Facts should be made public, as both good and bad incidents are part of history. However, such facts must be presented in a way that does not harm brotherhood and unity in the future,” he said.

Earlier, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, the Jathedar of the Akal Takht, also backed Sutlaj.

“Even in the present time, I read a report about how many fake encounters have taken place. Those responsible should be punished in accordance with the laws framed by the worldly authorities. It is a very wrong thing for mothers to lose their sons through unlawful killings,” he said.

What ZEE5 Said

ZEE5 shared a statement on Instagram, saying it was exploring other avenues to release the movie.

“At ZEE5, we stand firmly by Satluj and the creative vision behind it. We believe that powerful storytelling has the ability to inspire, endure and leave a lasting impact. We remain committed to championing authentic and meaningful narratives. In light of the current developments, Satluj will be unavailable in India until further notice. We remain committed to exploring every appropriate avenue through due process to bring the film back to our audiences at the earliest opportunity,” it said.

Diljit Dosanjh Reacts

In his first reaction, Diljit Dosanjh shared a cryptic post on Instagram. He posted a still from the movie with a hard-hitting caption. “I challenge the darkness,” he wrote.

“The same thing that happened to Satluj also happened to Shaheed Jaswant Singh Khalra,” he added in Punjabi.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/diljit-dosanjhs-satluj-ban-triggers-political-row-in-punjab-zee5-sad-sgpc-congress-reacts-11731108?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

 

Addressing a rally outside the Hanuman temple in Mumbai, Thackeray recited “Hanuman Stotra”, “Hanuman Chalisa” and “Ram Raksha Stotra”, and attacked the BJP over the Ram Temple theft.

Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday hopped on the Ram Temple bandwagon to revitalise his massively depleted Shiv Sena UBT faction, as he attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party over the donation theft scandal. The ruling party’s reply was swift and equally scalding — it attributed the former chief minister’s political decline to his alleged abandonment of “Lord Ram’s path”.

The BJP’s retort came from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, one of its most towering politicians in Maharashtra.

“Our only expectation was that he should remember Ram. He had abandoned Ram’s path. That’s why his party declined. If he walks the path of Ram, it will be good for him. Not just today, I expect that he will recite ‘Ram Raksha’ every day,” he was quoted as saying by news agency PTI in the state’s Gadchiroli.

Thackeray — who lost power and most of the party his father, Bal Thackeray, founded to a rebellion by confidante-turned-foe Eknath Shinde in 2022 — had to endure another exodus last month. Six of his party’s nine Lok Sabha MLAs defected to the dominant Shinde-led bloc.

Both factions claim to champion Bal Thackeray’s legacy. The rebels, however, claim his son, Uddhav, has strayed from his path by ditching its decades-old alliance with the BJP and joining hands with the Congress.

The six parliamentarians had told Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla last month that senior Thackeray Sena leaders had plans to merge with the Congress. Some of them said they jumped ship because of a dearth of funds to develop their constituencies.

What Uddhav Thackeray Said

Uddhav Thackeray seized upon the Ram Temple issue to return to his party’s age-old core agenda – furthering Hindutva.

On Sunday, he launched his “Ram Raksha” agitation and alleged that those looting Hindus are in power. Addressing a rally outside the Hanuman temple in Dadar, he recited “Hanuman Stotra”, “Hanuman Chalisa” and “Ram Raksha Stotra”.

“If anyone loots a temple by misusing Hindutva, then Hindus will not spare them,” he warned, giving a call to his supporters for what he called a “BJP-mukt Ram”.

“We are staunch Hindus who take pride in our country. We are innocent and naive but not fools. Now Hindus will not spare you if our Hindutva is misused to loot a temple,” he added.

Meanwhile, BJP chief Nitin Nabin accused the Opposition of having a history of “insulting” the Hindu faith.

“These are the same people who questioned Lord Ram’s existence, filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court calling Lord Ram imaginary, questioned the existence of the Ram Setu and ordered firing on kar sevaks,” he said, referring to the Opposition’s incessant attacks on the BJP over the temple theft case.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/bjp-retort-on-uddhav-thackerays-temple-theft-barbs-abandoned-rams-path-11730758?pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories