Category: India

India will expand its trade ties with nations that will offer fair, balanced and equitable free trade agreements (FTAs), Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said on Wednesday, stressing that the country’s gains must match its offer of accessing a 1.4 billion-strong, and fast-growing consumer market.

He said that India is negotiating FTAs with different countries and regions, including the European Union (EU) and Oman.

The remarks also assume significance as India is negotiating a bilateral trade agreement with the US. The aim is to finalise the first phase of the pact by the fall (September-October) this year.

“So we will be expanding our trading relations with countries where we get a fair deal, where we can have equitable and balanced free trade agreements, where India’s gains commensurate with what we are offering, a large market of 1.4 billion people, growing market, the world’s fastest growing economy,” he said here at India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) Conclave 2025.

He added that this corridor would help promote trade, seamless movement of goods and people, and cut down logistics costs.

Billed as a pathbreaking initiative, the IMEC envisages vast road, railroad and shipping networks among India, Saudi Arabia, the US and Europe with an aim to ensure integration among Asia, the Middle East and the West.

The IMEC was formed on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in September last year in Delhi. An agreement was signed by India, Saudi Arabia, the European Union, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the US and some other G20 partners for the corridor.

Goyal said that it can also open up opportunities for the financial world.

“We could have multilateral financing agencies along this corridor to help promote both the setting up of the corridor and at some stage…we should explore innovative financing models and see how this could finally be financed. For example, we have had green bonds in the past…long-term, 50-year, 100-year bonds to finance this kind of infrastructure,” he said.

He added that the countries can look at harmonising regulatory practices, and enhanced alignment on process, procedures, trade practices, customs union and paperworks within these nations.

“For example, the UAE and we are already engaged to bring some alignment in our regulatory practices. If this region has to really be successful, we can’t have border checkpoints at every level, so we’ll have to look at regulatory connectivity also. So procedures, processes, regulation, all will have to be aligned to make this corridor a bigger success,” Goyal said.

He emphasised that there would be a need for a railway system also.

“So we’ll have to have more interoperable systems going forward. If you have highways, then we need some interoperable charging infrastructure across highways if we are promoting electrical mobility. So we’ll have to think through all of these possibilities and bring nations together,” he said adding these measures would ultimately add to scale.

The member countries will have to look at a multi-faceted dimension that this project offers.

“For example, like UPI, you could have common payment systems, enabling money flow to be easier, and could be settled periodically, monthly or quarterly, in the reserve currency of the globe, or in dollars. But on a day to day basis, every transaction will not need to go through several iterations, only making the banks richer and adding to the cost of transport or cost of trade,” the minister said.

He informed that India and the UAE have been in a dialogue for a virtual trade corridor.

“Can we extend that through the IMEC corridor?” he wondered.

India, he said, is also in dialogue with Singapore to look at the possibility of having an undersea cable for transporting clean energy.

“I’ve had a conversation with Australia…Singapore is also talking to Australia to see if the Singapore, Australia leg could be connected. We are in dialogue with Saudi Arabia and UAE to see if this leg could be connected,” he said.

Further he said that this project needs to be seen from the lens of public-private partnership as it will help in making it financially viable and it should not be only the government’s initiative.

“I do believe that initiatives will not only reduce the time to transport goods significantly…estimated to be about 40 per cent…bring down transport time, bring down cost of logistics, and therefore make trade seamless across continents, faster, more efficient,” he said adding “I think this can become a new global access of the 21st century”.

The good part of the project, he said, is that it respects sovereignty and it is not trying to foist one idea on everything.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/india-to-expand-ties-with-nations-offering-balanced-free-trade-deals-piyush-goyal-8181787

The observation from court came while it was hearing a plea filed by one Shreya Kesarwani and her husband seeking security and a court order against private respondents disturbing their peaceful married life.

The Allahabad High Court has ruled that couples who marry against their parents’ wishes cannot seek police protection as a matter of right unless there is a real threat to their life and liberty. It also observed that courts are not to “provide protection to those who simply fled to marry according to their own wishes”.

The observation by the Allahabad High Court came while it was hearing a plea filed by a couple seeking protection. The court mentioned that security can be provided in “deserving” cases but not in the absence of any threat perception. In such cases, the couple must “learn to support each other and face the society”, said the court.

Shreya Kesarwani and her husband filed a petition in the court seeking security and a court order against private respondents disturbing their peaceful married life.

“There is no requirement of passing any order for providing police protection to them in the light of the judgement rendered by the Supreme Court in the case of Lata Singh Vs State of UP and another, wherein it has been held that the courts are not meant to provide protection to such youths who have simply fled to marry according to their own wishes,” Justice Saurabh Srivastava observed.

“There is not even an iota of evidence to evince that private respondents (relatives of either of the petitioners) are likely to cause physical or mental assault to the petitioners,” the court noted.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/allahabad-hc-denies-police-protection-to-couple-marrying-against-parents-wish-ws-b-9302173.html

The applicant claimed that he had planned a two-week trip to the United States, including visits to Disney World, Universal Studios, Kennedy Space Center, and various beaches.

A young man’s dream of an international trip to the United States was shattered in mere 40 seconds after he honestly answered a question posed to him during his visa interview.

A Reddit user with username “nobody01810″, shared his ordeal after appearing for B1/B2 tourist visa interview at the US Embassy in New Delhi.

“I had my B1/B2 visa interview at the US Embassy recently, and I was rejected in less than a minute after just three questions. I’m trying to understand what went wrong and how I can improve for next time,” he said in a post on the social media platform.

The applicant claimed that he had planned a two-week trip to the United States, including visits to Disney World, Universal Studios, Kennedy Space Center, and various beaches.

He said that he was asked three questions– Why do you want to travel to the US? Have you traveled outside of India? and Do you have any family or friends in the US?

When asked by the visa officer, “Do you have any family or friends in the US?” he answered, “Yes, my girlfriend lives in Florida, and I plan to visit her.”

After hearing to this honest answer, the visa officer didn’t ask any follow-up questions. Instead, handed him a 214(b) refusal slip and ended the interview, crushing his visa hopes and international trip dream.

Netizens React

The netizens quickly diagnosed the issue, saying “strong ties to the US, weak ties to India.”

“It’s a dangerous minefield—one small slip-up can cost you your international travel,” one user commented.

“You’re a textbook denial, unfortunately. You have zero travel history, especially to Western countries. Plus, a girlfriend in the States? That’s a strong tie to the US,” commented another.

“You were honest mentioning your GF … yes but then again in the eyes of the embassy worker you just want to stay in the US illegally , even if you don’t they think so because you have stronger ties to the US than to India,” another commented

“The moment you mention a relationship with a US citizen or resident, it often triggers an instant rejection. This subreddit is full of such cases,” added another user.

Source : https://www.news18.com/viral/mans-us-visa-rejected-in-40-seconds-after-one-honest-answer-netizens-weigh-in-ws-d-9301657.html

Fugitive Indian jeweler Mehul Choksi, who has been accused of involvement in one of India’s biggest bank frauds, has been arrested in Belgium, his lawyer said Monday.

Choksi and his diamond tycoon nephew Nirav Modi are accused of a $1.8 billion fraud involving Punjab National Bank, the country’s second-largest public lender. Both fled India in 2018.

The arrest was made following an extradition request by Indian authorities, local media reported.

Choksi was arrested on Saturday in the Belgian port city of Antwerp, one of the most important diamond trading hubs in the world. His lawyer, Vijay Aggarwal, told reporters that Choksi’s legal team would file an appeal for his release.

Both Choksi and Modi have denied the accusations.

Punjab National Bank accused Choksi, Modi and others of fraud by using fake financial documents to get loans to buy and import jewels.

Aggarwal said the “obvious” grounds for the appeal would be that Choksi is “not a flight risk, is extremely sick and undergoing treatment for cancer.” He also said they would argue that Choksi’s was a “political” case and mount their defense on grounds that Indian prisons have inhumane conditions.

Modi, who built an international jewelry empire that stretched from India to New York and Hong Kong, was arrested in Britain in 2019. He has been in prison since.

Source: https://apnews.com/article/india-mehul-choksi-belgium-diamonds-fraud-charges-2c392594a6daadbfbe0915909fbe01e1

The detained persons admitted to the police that the act was part of a staged video shoot meant for creating reels and other social media content to promote laptop sales

Thane: Police have detained four persons after they allegedly staged a “fake” crime scene in Navi Mumbai to create social media content and garner people’s attention, officials said on Tuesday.

A white car was spotted in Sanpada area at around 8.45 pm on Monday, with a human hand visibly protruding from its trunk, an official from the Navi Mumbai crime branch said.

A video and photograph of the same went viral on social media at night.

Alarmed by the scene, a person alerted the Sanpada police, suspecting a possible abduction or murder.

Acting swiftly, police teams tracked down the vehicle and detained its driver and three others for questioning. One of them runs a laptop shop in Koparkhairne area of Navi Mumbai and was preparing a reel along with others for his business promotion, the police said.

The persons admitted to the police that the act was part of a staged video shoot meant for creating reels and other social media content to promote laptop sales, the official said without elaborating how the act and the laptop sales promotion were linked.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/maharashtra/human-hand-coming-out-of-car-boot-four-stage-crime-scene-for-social-media-reel-detained-in-navi-mumbai-3494486

Customers will have the option to choose from both postpaid and prepaid plans or trigger a mobile number portability for porting into the Airtel network.

New Delhi: In a first, Bharti Airtel on Tuesday announced its partnership with quick commerce platform Blinkit for the delivery of SIM cards to its customers within ten minutes.

In the initial phase of this launch, the SIM delivery service will be available across 16 major cities, including Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat, Ahmedabad, Surat, Chennai, Bhopal, Indore, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune, Lucknow, Jaipur, Kolkata, and Hyderabad.

There are plans to add more cities and towns over a period of time, according to a release.

“This collaboration marks a significant milestone enabling, as it does, customers to receive SIM cards at their doorstep in a minimal 10 minutes at a nominal convenience fee of Rs 49,” it said.

After the delivery of the SIM card, customers can activate the number using Aadhaar-based KYC authentication, as per stipulated process.

Customers will have the option to choose from both postpaid and prepaid plans or trigger a mobile number portability for porting into the Airtel network.

The release explained that in order to streamline the process, customers can access the online link and view the activation video for a seamless activation experience.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/business/companies/airtel-teams-up-with-blinkit-to-deliver-sim-cards-to-customers-doorstep-in-10-minutes-3494454

In April, the U.S. administration imposed 26% duties on imports from India, much lower than the more than 100% China was facing at the time.

Apple’s main India suppliers Foxconn and Tata shipped nearly $2 billion worth of iPhones to the United States in March, an all-time high, as the U.S. company airlifted devices to bypass President Donald Trump’s impending tariffs, customs data shows.

The smartphone maker stepped up production in India and chartered cargo flights to ferry 600 tons of iPhones to the United States to ensure sufficient inventory in one of its biggest markets on concern Trump’s tariffs would push up costs.

In April, the U.S. administration imposed 26% duties on imports from India, much lower than the more than 100% China was facing at the time. Trump has since paused most duties, except for China for three months.

Foxconn, Apple’s main India supplier, exported smartphones worth $1.31 billion in March, its highest ever for a single month and equal to shipments for January and February combined, according to commercially available customs data reviewed by Reuters.

This included Apple iPhone 13, 14, 16 and 16e models, and took Foxconn’s total shipments from India to the United States this year to $5.3 billion.

Exports from Tata Electronics, another Apple supplier, stood at $612 million in March, around 63% higher than the previous month, and included iPhone 15 and 16 models.

Apple, Foxconn and Tata did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Reuters is the first to report the shipment details.

Customs data showed all Foxconn shipments to the United States in March were by air from the Chennai Air Cargo terminal and landed at various locations, including Los Angeles and New York, with Chicago receiving the majority.

Source: https://www.news18.com/india/apple-airlifted-2-billion-worth-of-iphones-from-india-ahead-of-trumps-tariffs-ws-l-9300495.html

The Chinese Embassy in India has issued over 85,000 visas to Indian citizens between January 1 and April 9, 2025, marking a significant step towards strengthening people-to-people ties between the two nations.

The Chinese Embassy in India has issued over 85,000 visas to Indian citizens between January 1 and April 9, 2025, marking a significant step towards strengthening people-to-people ties between the two nations.

According to Chinese Ambassador Xu Feihong, “As of April 9, 2025, the Chinese Embassy and Consulates in India have issued more than 85,000 visas to Indian citizens traveling to China this year. Welcome more Indian friends to visit China, experience an open, safe, vibrant, sincere and friendly China.” He said this in a post on X.

Visa Relaxations for Indian Travelers

The Chinese government has introduced several relaxations to facilitate smoother travel between India and China:

– No Online Appointment: Indian applicants can now directly submit their visa applications at visa centers on working days without prior online appointments.
– Biometric Exemption: Travelers visiting China for a short time are exempt from providing biometric data, reducing processing time.
– Visa Fees: Now, a Chinese visa can be obtained at a much lower rate, making travel more affordable for Indian visitors.
– Quicker Processing Times: The visa approval timeline has become more streamlined, allowing for quicker issuance and benefiting both business and leisure travelers.
– Tourism: China is actively promoting travel for Indian tourists, showcasing its cultural and seasonal attractions, such as festivals and destinations.

Economic and Trade Relations

Since the start of his presidential term, Donald Trump has been threatening countries about slapping tariffs on them – and especially on China, it’s top economic adversary but major trading partner.
The Chinese Embassy spokesperson, Yu Jing, emphasised the importance of India-China economic and trade relations, stating that “China-India economic and trade relationship is based on complementarity and mutual benefit. Facing the U.S. abuse of tariffs… the two largest developing countries should stand together to overcome the difficulties.” Yu Jing further added that “Trade and tariff wars have no winners. All countries should uphold the principles of extensive consultation, practice true multilateralism, jointly oppose all forms of unilateralism and protectionism.”

Soft Power Gesture

Although the diplomatic relations between India and China have been rife with challenges,
especially the ongoing military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), this move can be viewed as a soft power move to show openness towards India and extend goodwill, as this rebuilds trust from bottom-up, even with officials trying to resolve border and trade issues.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/amid-donald-trumps-threats-china-issues-85-000-visas-to-indian-friends-8172974

Since Myanmar’s military coup in 2021, over 40,000 Chin refugees have crossed over to Mizoram.

On January 24, four refugees from Myanmar allegedly killed an auto-rickshaw driver in Mizoram’s Siaha district after a monetary dispute. Three of the accused were arrested. On April 3, a refugee from Myanmar allegedly assaulted a village council vice president in Vengthar.

The two are among several instances that suggest all is not well between local Mizos and Chin refugees from war-torn Myanmar who have made a home in the northeastern state over the past four years. Both share ethnicity, religion and language — one reason why the state government is sheltering the refugees — but the bonhomie between them is beginning to fray.

On March 11, social activist VL Thlamuanpuia wrote to Union home minister Amit Shah, expressing concern over the escalating influx of Myanmar refugees. He warned of potential threats to national security and demographic balance, and cited mounting pressure on local resources.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/locals-refugees-and-simmering-strife-101744742893160.html

India and China near agreement to resume the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, marking progress in normalizing relations post-LAC standoff, sources say.

India and China are close to an understanding on resuming the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra as the two sides continue the protracted process of normalising their relations after the more than four-year standoff on the Line of Actual Control (LAC), people familiar with the matter said.

The resumption of the pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and Mansarovar Lake in China’s Tibet Autonomous Region, which has not been held since 2020, is among confidence-building measures being discussed by the two sides after they reached an understanding last October on disengagement of troops at the two remaining friction points of Demchok and Depsang.

Two days after the understanding on disengagement of forces, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping met in the Russian city of Kazan and decided to revive several mechanisms to address the border dispute and to normalise ties. One of these mechanisms – the Special Representatives on the border issue – focused on the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage, data sharing on trans-border rivers and border trade at a meeting in Beijing last December.

Following talks through other mechanisms since then, the two sides are now close to an understanding on resuming the pilgrimage, people on both sides familiar with the deliberations said on condition of anonymity. The restarting of the pilgrimage, which was put off in 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic and was subsequently affected by the face-off on the LAC, was one of the major asks of the Indian side.

The people, however, said this year’s pilgrimage may start a little later than usual and continue later than the normal schedule. The Chinese side has sought time to refurbish facilities for the pilgrims as they remained unused for almost five years, the people said. An announcement about the resumption of the pilgrimage is also expected soon, they said.

There was no word from Indian officials on the development.

The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is organised by the external affairs ministry between June and September via two routes , Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand and Nathu La in Sikkim. The site in Tibet is of religious significant to Hindus, Jains and Buddhists, and pilgrims have to trek at altitudes of up to 19,500 feet in extreme weather and rugged terrain.

If the pilgrimage goes ahead, it will mark another step in the slow process of normalising bilateral relations following the standoff on the LAC, which began with skirmishes in April-May 2020. A subsequent clash at Galwan Valley in June 2020, which resulted in the death of 20 Indian soldiers and at least four Chinese troops, took ties to their lowest point since the 1962 border war.

The Chinese side has pushed India to act on a range of measures aimed at enhancing economic activities, including the resumption of direct flights and easing of visa restrictions on Chinese nationals, the people said. The Chinese side is also keen on reviving the practice of both countries allowing the posting of more journalists in each other’s capitals, they said.

There is currently only one Indian journalist in Beijing and no representatives of China’s state-run media in New Delhi.

At an event organised earlier this month by the Chinese embassy to mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations, Chinese ambassador Xu Feihong said the two countries “should properly handle differences through dialogue and never allow bilateral relations to be defined by the boundary question”.

Source:https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-china-close-to-understanding-on-kailash-mansarovar-yatra-101744742473642.html

The Ram Temple in Ayodhya received a bomb threat via email on Monday night, with the police revealing that an “individual from Tamil Nadu wrote the email in English”, as per a report.

Security arrangements have been stepped up at Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir after a bomb threat was emailed to the Ram Janmabhoomi Trust late Monday night. Vigilance was heightened across the temple complex, as well as in Barabanki and neighbouring districts. An FIR has been registered at the cyber police station in Ayodhya, with officials confirming that the cyber cell is investigating the matter.

PTI reported that the police have so far refrained from revealing other details, except that “an individual from Tamil Nadu wrote the email in English”.
Neither the Ram Temple Trust nor the security agencies have released an official statement so far.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/ayodhya-ram-temple-receives-bomb-threat-email-cyber-cell-probes-article-151431214

“India has changed. I wish I could say Pakistan has changed. They, unfortunately, in many ways, are continuing their bad habits,” said Jaishankar.

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday said the 2008 Mumbai terror attack marked a turning point in relations with Pakistan. When asked about why the Indian government rarely discusses Pakistan publicly, Jaishankar reminded the audience that one should not waste their precious time on a country that is continuing with its “bad habits”.
Speaking at Charotar University of Science and Technology during an interactive session, Jaishankar acknowledged India’s transformation under Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the last decade, adding that Pakistan has remained unchanged.
He said that after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, Indians collectively felt that such behaviour from a neighbouring country could no longer be tolerated.

When asked why the Indian government rarely discusses Pakistan publicly anymore, Jaishankar explained that there was no need to waste “precious time” on them.
“India has changed. I wish I could say Pakistan has changed. They unfortunately, in many ways, are continuing their bad habits. I would say the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attack was the turning point. I think that was when the Indian public, across political parties, said this is too much,” he said.
“People felt that the country (India) cannot accept this behaviour from a neighbour. I think that feeling was very very strong in society, but it may not have been entirely understood at that time by the Government at that time, which is a different matter,” the Rajya Sabha MP from Gujarat told the audience.
“During this period, we have grown economically and politically, and our standing in the world has improved. But, Pakistan continued the old playbook,” he said.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/why-india-rarely-discusses-pakistan-publicly-jaishankars-precious-time-reply-and-a-bad-habits-reminder-article-151433060

A video of a Ghaziabad Police officer allegedly threatening a woman to file a false rape case against her husband.

A shocking video of a Ghaziabad Police officer allegedly threatening a woman to file a false rape case against her husband surfaced online. Soon, the video went viral on social media. In the footage, the officer could be heard saying that as soon as a rape case is filed, the person will land in Jail whether he has done anything or not.

The incident reportedly took place at the Sikanderpur Police Station in the Teela Mod area. In the video, the police officer could also be heard using abusive words while having a heated conversation with the woman complainant.

‘Kya karwayi karein yeh bta, tu kya karwayi karein. Jayada kanoonchi ban rhi hai (What action will we take, you tell. You are becoming lawyer), the police officer could be heard shouting.

He further added, “Jyada bole jaa rhi hai, ch*t**a samajh rhi hai kya humein (You are talking too much).”

Video Of Police Officer Shouting And Threatening Woman:

“Case mein kuch nahin hai yaar… I hope there is a conclusion. They call me when they want to digress from the original issues,” Vadra said. He added that whenever he speaks in favour of the country, he is stopped, and it is all just a “political vendetta” by the BJP.

After reaching the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the Gurugram land case in the national capital on Tuesday, Businessman Robert Vadra expressed his discontent over the matter, stating that there was “nothing” in the case and hoped for a conclusion in the investigation.

Robert Vadra’s Statement

“Case mein kuch nahin hai yaar… I hope there is a conclusion. They call me when they want to digress from the original issues,” Vadra said.

He added that whenever he speaks in favour of the country, he is stopped, and it is all just a “political vendetta” by the BJP.

“I hope there is a conclusion… They call me when they want to digress from the original issues… When I speak in favour of the country, I am stopped; Rahul is stopped from speaking in the Parliament. BJP is doing it. This is a political vendetta. People love me and want me to join politics… When I express my willingness to join politics, they bring up old issues to bring me down and divert from the real issues,” Vadra said.

Referring to the number of times he had appeared before the ED, Vadra expressed frustration over the length of time it had taken to find anything in the case.

Source: https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/case-mein-kuch-nahin-hai-says-robert-vadra-after-appearing-at-ed-office-over-gurugram-land-case

Importantly, the Court said that if a new born is stolen from hospital, the first step to be taken is to cancel the license of the concerned hospital.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday laid down extensive guidelines to be followed by States to prevent child trafficking and to deal with cases involving child trafficking offences.

A Bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan also directed High Courts across the country to issue directions to lower courts to complete trial in child trafficking cases in six months.

“State governments shall take a look at the detailed recommendations by us and study the report which was submitted by Bhartiya Institute and implement the same at the earliest. High Courts across the country are directed to call for status of pending trial in child trafficking cases. Then directions shall be issued to complete trial in 6 months and also conduct day to day trial,” the Court ordered.

Any laxity showing to implement the directions would be taken seriously and be treated as contempt of court, the Bench added.

Importantly, the Court said that if a new born is stolen from hospital, the first step to be taken is to cancel the license of the concerned hospital.

“If any new born is trafficked from a hospital, the first step should be suspend the license of such hospitals. if any lady comes to deliver a child to the hospital and the baby is stolen, the first step is suspension of license,” the Court ordered.

The Court issued the directions while hearing anticipatory bail pleas filed by accused in a child trafficking case from Uttar Pradesh.

The top court today slammed both the Allahabad High Court and the Uttar Pradesh government for the manner in which they dealt with the matter.

“The High Court dealt with bail applications callously and it led to many accused to abscond. These accused pose serious threat to society. Least which was required from High Court while granting bail was to impose a condition to mark presence in police station every week. The police lost track of all accused persons,” the Court opined.

As regards the State, the Court said,

“We are thoroughly disappointed how State of UP handled this and why no appeal was made. No seriousness was showing worth the name,” the Court stated.

The case involved a stolen baby being delivered to a couple who were desirous of having a son.

“It appears the accused was longing for a son and then got a son got for ₹4 lakh. If you desire a son.. you cannot go for a trafficked child. He knew that the baby was stolen,” the Court noted.

Directions shall be issued by High Courts to complete trial in child trafficking cases within 6 months and also to conduct day to day trial.
Supreme Court
Therefore, the Court proceeded to cancel the bail granted to the accused.

“All accused directed to surrender and they shall be sent to judicial custody. We direct CJM Varanasi and ACJM Varanasi to commit the cases to court of sessions within two weeks. Charges shall be framed within one week. If it’s informed that some accused have absconded, the trial court to issue non bailable warrants. Trial of those present shall go on and not be delayed. Once charge is framed concerned court shall proceed on recording of evidence preferably within a week. Three special public prosecutors to be appointed by state and police protection to be given to the witnesses. We direct that trafficked children are admitted in school under Right to Education Act and continue to provide them education. The trial court to pass orders with regard to compensation under BNSS and the UP state law as well,” the Court ordered.

Source: https://www.barandbench.com/news/supreme-court-slams-up-allahabad-hc-for-bail-to-child-trafficking-accused-sets-6-month-deadline-for-trial-in-such-cases

A woman’s Reddit post went viral on social media and left the internet petrified for all the obvious reasons. As per the post, the Redditor and her partner were left scared after a stranger allegedly slipped a ‘note’ into their ‘bedroom window’ at around 3 AM in the morning. Here’s what the note read…

What was supposed to be a regular night for a young couple living together, turned into a petrifying one at around 3 AM in the early morning! Taking to social media, a woman shared an incident on Reddit. Opening up about the matter, the 20-year-old woman- allegedly living with her 22-year-old partner- shared that the duo woke up at around 3:15 AM in the morning, after hearing the sound of someone writing something on a piece of paper and tearing it apart. Switching to ‘alert’ mode, the women began to find the source of the sound, only to realise that a stranger was near their bedroom window! The stranger then allegedly slipped the same note into the duo’s bedroom window. As soon as the stranger left, the couple opened the note- ONLY to find a contact number written on it. As bizarre as it may sound, the note further read that the stranger had lost the duo’s contact number- in return giving them a number to call- to reconnect.
As per the post, the couple informed about the same to their landlord, and decided not to call the number. The woman also clarified that the duo only moved to the ground floor apartment last year in September, speculating that the stranger was possibly at the house for someone else.
The troubled couple also called the ‘non-emergency line’ the next morning, however, the authorities left as nothing happened after the incident.

Times Now could not confirm the location and the authenticity of the post. The netizens, on the other hand, suggested that they call the police and not call the number.

“Stranger slipped a note into my bedroom window,” the post read.
“My partner (f22) and I (f20) were woken up this morning at 3:15ish am with the sound of someone writing a note and ripping the page out to put inside our cracked window. The sound of the page ripping woke me up, but I have the feeling they may have tried opening it as well.
The note has a named listed and a phone number, and it states that the writer of the note has lost our number, but neither of us know this person or number listed. We called the non emergency line as once we had gotten up (and shut all our windows) as nothing else had happened and they had left the scene,” the post read.
The video was shared on Reddit, by the handle ‘Ok-Alarm-3382’. The post was shared a day ago and pulled more than 800K likes from people.
Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/viral/couple-horrified-after-stranger-slips-note-into-their-bedroom-window-at-3-am-here-what-it-read-viral-reddit-post-article-151425129

Tahawwur Rana, extradited from the US, is being interrogated daily by the NIA for up to ten hours over the 26/11 attacks, with officials probing a larger conspiracy and ensuring legal and medical access.

Tahawwur Rana, the key mastermind behind the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, is currently undergoing intense interrogation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), according to sources cited by news agency PTI. He is reportedly being questioned for up to ten hours each day. Rana arrived in New Delhi on Thursday after being extradited from the United States.
The NIA aims to unravel a larger conspiracy behind the deaded strikes, which killed 166 people and injured over 230.
The NIA officials are ensuring Rana’s medical check-up and he is being allowed t meet his lawyer, according to the order of a Delhi court that had on early Friday morning granted 18-day custody to the probe agency following his extradition from the US.

Rana is currently held in a high-security cell at the NIA headquarters in Delhi CGO Complex. PTI sources said that he has been cooperating with investigators led by Chief Investigating Officer Jaya Roy. Rana has requested a pen, some paper on notepad, and a Quran.
According to PTI sources, there has not been any specific food-related demand raised by Rana so far and he is being provided with “food items which are given to any other accused” according to the standard protocols meant to deal with such subjects.
“Rana has been cooperating during the questioning,” a source said, adding that a team of NIA officials led by Chief Investigating Officer Jaya Roy is interrogating him.
Rana is being grilled on the basis of various leads gathered by the probe agency during the course of its investigation, including a large number of phone calls between him and his co-conspirator David Coleman Headley alias Daood Gilani.

NIA, earlier on Sunday, dissected dozens of phone calls between Rana and his childhood friend and Pakistani-American terrorist David Coleman Headley, using them to piece together the larger conspiracy that spanned continents.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/8-10-hour-interrogations-asks-for-quran-pen-paper-inside-tahawwur-ranas-nia-custody-article-151419957

Marie Pearl Zelmer Robinson from the US set a Guinness World Record for the largest mouth gape at 7.62 cm, surpassing the previous record of 2.56 inches.

In a revelation that’s as startling as it is fascinating, a woman from the United States – Marie Pearl Zelmer Robinson – has officially secured her place in the Guinness World Records as the woman with the largest mouth gape in the world, a distinction she claims was hiding in plain sight for years.

Measuring an astounding 7.62 centimetres (3 inches) when fully agape, Marie’s mouth easily eclipses the previous record of 2.56 inches held by Samantha Ramsdell. She can effortlessly fit a towering burger stacked with ten patties between her jaws – a feat that defies belief until witnessed in person.

But Robinson’s record-setting moment could have come much sooner – if not for an unfortunate scheduling conflict. Back in 2021, she had a chance to claim the title when her hometown hosted an event associated with Guinness World Records. Ironically, the occasion had nothing to do with mouths but with wellies: nearly 2,000 people gathered to break the record for the world’s largest Wellington boot race. Marie, however, had to miss the event – duty called at the courier business she runs with her husband.

It wasn’t until she stumbled across online videos showcasing the reigning male and female record-holders for the largest mouth gape that Marie realised she might have them beat – quite literally by a wide margin. “I was watching the videos and I thought, ‘Wait a second, there’s a record for that? And people are measuring it?'” she recalled with a laugh. “I grabbed a ruler, looked in the mirror, and thought – I can totally do that,” she said.

Watch the viral video:

Marie’s unique ability to stretch her mouth isn’t just about muscle flexibility or freak genetics. In fact, the phenomenon has a physiological twist. She describes her jaw as being positioned unusually high – so much so that she can feel it extend into her ear canal, something she says is extremely rare.

Source: https://www.news18.com/viral/woman-with-worlds-largest-mouth-eats-a-whole-burger-with-10-patties-in-one-go-ws-kl-9298881.html

In a recent incident, Naya Khullar, a tarot card reader and social media influencer, accused MakeMyTrip of negligence, alleging that the company’s mismanagement compromised her family’s safety during their trip to the Khatushyam Ji Temple in Rajasthan.

The incident has triggered fresh concerns over traveller safety and customer support accountability in India’s booming tourism sector.

Influencer Naya Khullar shared a video on Instagram, alleging that MakeMyTrip’s arranged driver was late, prompting her family to book another cab to return to Delhi. However, the original driver allegedly became aggressive, demanding payment despite not rendering the service.

In the video, Naya claimed the MMT’s driver threatened to follow them to Delhi and their home, raising fears for their safety.

“MMT failed to ensure our safety! We are at Khatushyam Baba, and this is what happens when you book through MakeMyTrip! I’m in fear for the safety of my family and my life. If anything happens to me and my family, then MakeMyTrip will be responsible,” she said in the video.

“I’m stuck at Khatushyam Baba, and he is not letting go. He has been threatening us. We booked the driver for Rs 2000 at night, but he didn’t come on time. We had a discussion, and he misbehaved. I’ve women and family travelling with me,” Naya added. The lack of proper arrangements and immediate customer support, she said, left the family feeling vulnerable.

Following her public post, a MakeMyTrip representative reportedly reached out and assured her that safety measures were being taken. “We understand your agony, and we regret the inconvenience caused. We request you to provide the detail related to your concern in DM along with your contact details and booking ID so that we can investigate the issue at the earliest.”

Source: https://www.news18.com/viral/failed-to-ensure-safety-influencer-shares-ordeal-raises-concerns-about-makemytrips-accountability-ws-kl-9299115.html

We are also covering: Sensex Rallies Over 1,600 Points, Nifty Tops 23,300; Katra To Srinagar In Just 3 Hours and Bengaluru Woman Assaulted After Husband Spotted Her With A Male Friend, among other stories.

In today’s afternoon digest News18 brings you latest updates on New Twist In Saif Ali Khan Stabbing Case; Tahawwur Rana ‘Smiled, Laughed’ Weeks Before 26/11 Mumbai Attack and MS Dhoni Questions Logic Behind Him Winning POTM, among other top stories.

In a big twist in the Saif Ali Khan’s stabbing case, the chargesheet has revealed that the crucial fingerprint samples collected from inside the actor’s Mumbai flat did not match with that of the accused Shariful Islam. Nearly ⁠20 samples were sent to the state CID’s Fingerprint Bureau, of which 19 did not match with that of the accused.

While the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is questioning Tahawwur Rana in a high security cell inside the agency’s headquarters, he himself told the US court how he reacted when he was briefed on the 26/11 Mumbai terror plot by David Headley, the Pakistani-American operative who conducted surveillance for Lashkar-e-Taiba. The NIA is also looking for the men who prepared Headley’s documents on the order of Rana and worked in his travel agency.

Chennai Super Kings snapped their losing streak by beating Lucknow Super Giants in an IPL 2025 match held at the Ekana Cricket Stadium on Monday night. The MS Dhoni-led outfit produced a vastly improved show across departments for a confidence-boosting five-wicket win – their second in seven matches of the season so far.

Source: https://www.news18.com/india/news18-afternoon-digest-twist-in-saif-ali-khan-case-as-accuseds-fingerprints-not-found-in-actors-flat-other-top-stories-9299582.html

GPS spoofing: Every mission was achieved as planned, says IAF

New Delhi, After sources in the military establishment suggested that Indian Air Force’s transport aircraft carrying relief materials to earthquake-hit Myanmar late last month faced “GPS spoofing”, the IAF has said its crew are well capable to handle such situations, and “every mission was achieved as planned”.

GPS spoofing can be considered to be a form of cyber attack that includes generating false GPS signals to mislead an aircraft. The false signals result in misleading the navigation equipment, posing a significant risk to the aircraft.

“The possibility of degraded GPS availability was published by the Mandalay International airport as NOTAM and all due precautions were put in place to cater for such conditions,” the IAF said in a post on X on Monday.

NOTAM or ‘Notice to Airmen’ is a notice filed with an aviation authority that seeks to alert pilots of an aircraft of potential hazards.

“IAF crew are well capable to handle such unavailability, while ensuring safety of flight and achievement of the designated task or mission. Accordingly, every mission was achieved as planned,” the IAF added.

India sent the first consignment of relief materials to Myanmar on March 29 in a C-130J aircraft and its pilots reported that the plane’s GPS signal was tampered with when it was in Myanmar’s airspace, sources told PTI on Sunday.

New Delhi sent a total of six military transport aircraft to Myanmar, transporting relief materials, field hospitals and rescue teams, with a majority of them experiencing GPS spoofing, they said.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/gps-spoofing-every-mission-was-achieved-as-planned-says-iaf-101744688393392.html

The treaty was first signed on 29 October 1901 between Britain, who was ruling India at the time, and Belgium and underwent amendments in 1907, 1911, and 1958.

Mehul Choksi, a fugitive diamond trader accused of defrauding the Punjab National Bank of over ₹13,500 crore, has been arrested in Belgium after a seven-year-long struggle by Indian agencies to extradite him to India.

Mehul Choksi was arrested on Saturday while he was reportedly preparing to flee to Switzerland citing medical reasons. However, Belgium authorities acted swiftly on request of Indian investigation agencies – Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) and arrested him.

Wasting no time, Indian agencies reportedly made use of an almost 125-year-old extradition treaty between India and Belgium and have requested Choksi’s extradition so he can be tried for the charges levied against him.

India-Belgium extradition treaty
The treaty was first signed on 29 October 1901 between Britain, which was ruling India at the time, and Belgium and underwent amendments in 1907, 1911, and 1958. However, after India gained independence, the two countries (India and Belgium) decided to continue the treaty through an exchange of letters in 1954.

The treaty agrees to extradite people accused or charged of committing serious crimes if found on each other’s soil. A person can be extradited between India and Belgium for some serious crimes such as murder, manslaughter, forgery or counterfeiting of money, fraud, rape, extortion, illegal drug trafficking, and more.

Key features of the treaty

• • Dual criminality is a major key feature to seek anyone’s extradition between India and Belgium. It means that the crime the person is accused of or charged with shall be considered a punishable crime in both the countries.
  • Enough and strong evidence of either conviction of the said criminal/accused or their crimes, in case they are yet to be tried, shall be presented by the country seeking extradition.
  • Neither country is obliged to extradite their own citizen(s).
  • An extradition request can be denied if it is found to be politically motivated or for political crimes.
  • The treaty also puts a certain timeline on the extradition process. If the country seeking extradition of an accused or a criminal does not make a formal request within 14 days of the said person’s arrest, that person may be released. The person can also be released if enough proof of their crime is not presented within two months of their arrest.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/all-about-125-year-old-extradition-treaty-india-is-using-to-bring-mehul-choksi-from-belgium-101744687660188.html

Federation of Karnataka State Lorry Owners and Agents Association (FOKSLOAA) launched this strike.

Karnataka based trucks that transport goods within and outside the state came to a screeching halt as a key lorry operators association launched its idefinite strike against fuel price hikes and toll-related issues, starting midnight between Monday and Tuesday.

Federation of Karnataka State Lorry Owners and Agents Association (FOKSLOAA) launched this strike, condemning the fuel price hike and alleged harassment they face at toll plazas.

The association is an umbrella organisation of 129 truckers associations with six lakh members — drivers, agents and truck owners.

The trucks keep off the road as strike began.

The truckers’ strike may affect the economic activities in the state severely, increasing the prices of essential commodities.

Harish Sabharwal, president, All India Motor Transport Congress told PTI that the initial response shows that stir is successful. According to him, neither the trucks from any part of India would enter Karnataka, nor trucks from the state will go out.

Somasundaram Balan, Honorary General Secretary of FOKSLOAA, alleged that the state government has not yet responded to its requests to address its grievances, which compelled the truckers to go on strike.

The association gave a call for an indefinite strike demanding to solve critical and long-standing issues faced by the road transport sector in the state.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/karnataka-truckers-go-on-indefinite-strike-against-fuel-price-hike-toll-harassment-101744698043702.html

The case was registered against Bajwa at Cyber Crime police station in Mohali under sections 197(1)(d) (false and misleading information that endangers country’s sovereignty and unity) and 353(2) (false statements intend to create enmity and hatred or ill will) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, sources said.

Chandigarh: Hours after being quizzed over his “50 bombs have reached Punjab” claim, police on Sunday booked Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the state assembly Partap Singh Bajwa on charges of giving misleading information that endangers country’s sovereignty and unity.

The case was registered against Bajwa at Cyber Crime police station in Mohali under sections 197(1)(d) (false and misleading information that endangers country’s sovereignty and unity) and 353(2) (false statements intend to create enmity and hatred or ill will) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, sources said.

Earlier in the day, a two-member team of Punjab Police reached the residence of Bajwa and questioned him over his claims even as Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann asked the Congress leader to reveal the source of his information, questioning if he “had direct links with Pakistan”.

Sticking to his statement, Bajwa said he cooperated with the police team but refused to divulge his sources.

The Congress accused the AAP government of trying to “intimidate him out of sheer political vendetta” and asked it not to divert the public attention from the “serious threat that has been posed to peace and harmony in Punjab”.

Bajwa said, “It is deeply unfortunate that Mann is running the government not with the intent to serve the people of Punjab but to carry out personal vendettas. Today’s events stand as clear testimony to the AAP government’s misuse of power.”

Earlier, Mann lashed out at Bajwa over his claims, saying neither Punjab Police Intelligence nor a Central intelligence agency has shared any such information.

The chief minister said strict action will be taken if Bajwa’s statement was meant only to “create panic”.

In an interview to a private television channel, Bajwa claimed, “I have come to know that 50 bombs have reached Punjab. Of this, 18 have exploded, 32 are yet to go off.”

The Qadian MLA’s claims came amid several grenade attacks in the state in recent months.

A team of Punjab Police comprising Assistant Inspector General of Police Ravjot Kaur Grewal and Mohali Superintendent of Police (City) Harbir Atwal on Sunday visited the residence of Bajwa and questioned the source of his statement.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/punjab/punjab-lop-bajwa-booked-after-being-quizzed-by-police-over-50-bombs-claim-3492338

Zuhail Ahmed, a resident of Hebbal, doused himself in petrol around 4.30 pm while reporters had gathered to cover a politician’s press briefing. Reporters intervened, snatching a plastic bottle from him. The police said he was not carrying a matchbox or lighter.

Bengaluru: A 26-year-old man attempted to kill himself near Raj Bhavan on Sunday, in what the police described as an effort to garner media attention.

Zuhail Ahmed, a resident of Hebbal, doused himself in petrol around 4.30 pm while reporters had gathered to cover a politician’s press briefing. Reporters intervened, snatching a plastic bottle from him. The police said he was not carrying a matchbox or lighter.

Bystanders poured water on Ahmed and handed him over to the police. He was booked by the Vidhana Soudha police for causing public nuisance.

Speaking to reporters, Ahmed alleged that he had been assaulted by his wife and admitted to a hospital. He claimed he wanted to draw the media’s attention to his plight.

A police officer familiar with the case said the Chikkaballapur police had earlier booked Ahmed under IPC Section 498A (cruelty by a husband or his relatives) following a complaint filed by his wife.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/bengaluru/bengaluru-man-attempts-suicide-near-raj-bhavan-wanted-to-attract-media-attention-3492419

The CCTV footage, captures the accused Nitesh Kumar, carrying the little girl in his arms, leading her away from a residential lane in Hubli, near the area where her mother worked as a domestic help.

 In the shocking rape and murder case of a 5-year-old girl in Karnataka, a CCTC footage has surfaced, which shows the accused abducting the child from a residential area in Hubli.

The accused, identified as Nitesh Kumar (35) from Patna, Bihar, was shot dead in an encounter with the police after he allegedly attacked officers while in custody, on Sunday, April 13.

The CCTV footage, now in possession of the Hubli police, captures Kumar carrying the little girl in his arms, leading her away from a residential lane near the area where her mother worked as a domestic help. As per reports, the child was accompanying her mother for work on the day the incident took place. Shortly after, the girl went missing.

Have a look at the shocking video here:

According to reports, the girl’s lifeless body was discovered in a nearby vacant building hours later. Police officials told ANI that the CCTV footage played a crucial role in identifying and tracking the accused, who was later booked under the POCSO Act on charges of rape and murder.

Source: https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/cctv-footage-shows-horrific-abduction-of-5-year-old-girl-raped-murdered-in-karnataka-accused-killed-in-police-encounter

A woman’s Reddit post left the netizens shocked and speechless at the same time, soon after getting shared. As per the post, an employee at the Redditor’s office ended up leaving the job- after citing a ‘pimple’ as a ‘health issue’.

Man leaves job because of a pimple.
Photo : iStockThe ample number of skincare products that are ruling the market somewhat also explains the value many have for ‘flawless skin’ all around the world. From using all kinds of products to maintaining a great diet and impressive water intake- there are quite a few ways which are considered beneficial for healthy skin. However, among all the methods, ‘quitting job’ for better skin surely turned out to be something ‘new’! Taking to social media, a woman narrated an incident on Reddit. As per the Reddit post, the woman’s company hired a man for a post that involved working with machinery. The machinery allegedly also ‘needed to be cleaned with ethanol’, making the chemical an everyday thing for the man. However, just after working for a month, the man ended up leaving the job- citing a ‘pimple’ as a ‘health issue’.
As per the post, the man texted the woman saying that he never had a pimple before but got one after working with the chemicals. The post went viral in an instant, leaving people laughing, shocked and speechless- all at the same time.
Times Now could not confirm the authenticity of the incident.

“Coworker resigned after getting a Pimple,” the post read.

“We hired a new guy last month. To work in our manufacturing line. Job description included working with machinery in a temperature and humidity controlled space. The machinery needed to be cleaned with ethanol. That was the extent to which he would be involved with chemical solvents. After training the guy for a month, he sent me a text one morning citing health issues due to using chemicals,” the post read.
“The health issue was that he got a pimple on his forehead. And he never grew any pimples at all. Therefore it had to be because he was exposed to chemicals during work and he couldn’t work with us any longer,” added another.
The post was shared on Reddit, by the handle ‘lstsmle331’. The post was shared 4 days ago and pulled more than 6K upvotes from people.
Check out the viral post:

“We once had a new coworker who was allergic to everything. No one in the office could wear scented anything. One day we had an issue with a specialized printer. A repairman was working on it and was using canned air to clean it all out before putting it back together,” a user said.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/viral/man-leaves-job-after-citing-pimple-as-health-issue-viral-reddit-post-article-151412265

The US is cracking down on immigration-related fraud by increasing scrutiny of spouses of US citizens or newly-weds who are yet to enter the country. Gaining a green card through marriage is no longer a straightforward process under the Donald Trump administration.

The process of obtaining a green card through marriage to a US citizen or lawful permanent resident has become significantly more stringent, as American immigration authorities increase scrutiny over potential fraud. While marriage-based green card applications have historically included an interview stage, recent months have seen a shift toward more intense vetting.
The relaxed approach once seen under the Biden administration — including occasional interview waivers — has been scaled back. The stricter policies introduced during the Trump era continue to shape current immigration procedures.
According to a TOI report, immigration attorney Ashwin Sharma said that officials are now adopting a more investigative approach. “Officers will be looking deeper… leaning into their discretion more often than they did in the Biden years. They are already spending more time verifying marriages and we are seeing an increase in requests for evidence,” he said.

If the spouse applying for a green card resides abroad, the interview is conducted at the relevant US consulate, such as in India. Those already in the United States — for instance, on a non-immigrant H-1B visa — must apply for adjustment of status, with interviews carried out by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/us-donald-trump-tightens-green-card-rules-tougher-interviews-vetting-for-spouses-of-us-citizens-article-151412046

India has sent relief materials on six planes for earthquake-struck Myanmar. While in Myanmar airspace, an Indian aircraft faced ‘GPS spoofing’, a type of cyberattack that give wrong navigation signals to a pilot.

New Delhi: An Indian Air Force carrying relief material toearthquake-hit Myanmarlast month intercepted ‘GPS spoofing’, and the pilot’s timely action saved the aircraft from any untoward incident, revealed Defence sources, as per PTI. It was not clear if the attempt of GPS spoofing was made on all the six aircraft, but the pilot of the plane which faced the attack did inform all the pilots, the sources added.
GPS spoofing is a type of cyberattack in which the attackers try to confuse the pilot by sending false navigation. This makes them believe they are in wrong place and at times, causes crash like accidents as well.
On March 29, India sent the first consignment of relief materials to Myanmar in a C-130 J aircraft. Defence sources told PTI that the pilots reported that the plane’s GPS signal was tampered with when it was in Myanmar’s airspace.

A total of six military transport aircraft were sent to Myanmar that had relief materials and a majority of them experienced GPS spoofing, they said.

What Did Pilot Do To Tackle Cyberattack?
One of the pilot faced the GPS spoofing attack and immediately switched to the backup systems, sources in the military establishment said. The pilots activated the backup system called ‘inertial navigation system’ to prevent any significant damage due to the attack.
Indian Air Force has not issued any statement on the development. However, on any possible probe, sources said it is practically impossible to investigate such episodes if they take place in foreign airspace.
“The GPS spoofing must have been carried out by our adversary in the region,” said a source, quoted PTI.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/indian-air-force-plane-on-myanmar-relief-ops-faced-big-cyberattack-then-this-happened-article-151412159

Absconding diamantaire Mehul Choksi has been arrested in Belgium following an extradition request by Indian probe agencies for his involvement in the Rs 13,000 crore PNB bank loan ‘fraud’ case.

Bengaluru-based entrepreneur Hariprasad SV, the whistle-blower of Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam, hailed the arrest of fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi on Monday, April 14. Mehul Choksi was arrested in Belgium on India’s request for his role in the PNB loan fraud case.
Speaking to ANI, Hariprasad termed it as “great news” not only for India but for all those who were cheated by him.
“Wow, Mehul Choksi getting arrested in Belgium is great news not only for India but also for all those who got cheated by him. The government must bring him back to India as soon as possible, and justice must be delivered,” he said.

“Apart from bringing him back, the most important thing is to get back all those billions of dollars he looted from India and stashed anywhere in the world. Hopefully, the Government of India will succeed this time. Great news,” Hariprasad said.

The principal of Delhi University’s Laxmibai College was seen applying cow dung on the walls of a classroom in an effort to combat the scorching heat in the national capital.

The principal, Pratyush Vatsala, herself shared a video of the act on the college’s internal teachers’ group, showing her coating the walls of the classroom with cow dung, a traditional Indian practice believed to regulate indoor temperatures.

The Principal said that the act was part of an ongoing project—Study of Heat Stress Control by Using Traditional Indian Knowledge— being undertaken by a faculty member.

“It is under process. I will be able to share details of the full research after a week. The research is being carried out in porta cabins. I coated one of them myself because there’s no harm in touching natural mud. Some people are spreading misinformation without knowing the full details,” she said.

In the video, Vatsala is seen applying cow dung on the walls with the help of her staff.

She shared the video herself in the college’s teachers’ group which later surfaced on social media. She noted that indigenous methods are being adopted to cool classrooms in C Block.

Source: https://www.news18.com/india/amid-heat-wave-warning-in-delhi-du-college-principal-coats-classroom-with-cow-dung-video-9297840.html

At least six workers lost their lives and seven others sustained injuries after an explosion at a fireworks manufacturing plant in Andhra Pradesh’s Anakapalli district on Sunday.

Upon receiving the information, fire department personnel and police reached the spot and began the rescue operations.

The injured were taken to the hospital for treatment.

All the victims in the incident belonged to the Samarlakota locality of the Kakinada district.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has also expressed shock over the death of six workers in the explosion. According to the CMO, the Chief Minister spoke with the District Collector, Superintendent of Police, and state Home Minister Anitha to gather details about the incident.

He directed officials to ensure the injured received the best possible medical care. He assured them the government would support the victims’ families and urged them to stay strong. He instructed officials to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident and submit a report to him.

Officials informed the Chief Minister that the condition of two of the injured workers is critical.

Source: https://www.news18.com/india/six-workers-killed-seven-injured-after-explosion-in-firecracker-factory-in-andhra-pradesh-ws-bl-9297374.html

This year, the spotlight is on the western coast of the country, where Gujarat – home to India’s longest coastline – has emerged as a significant hub for dolphin conservation.

National Dolphin Day is celebrated across India on April 14, a day dedicated to raising awareness about the ecological importance of dolphins, their conservation, and the protection of their natural habitats.

This year, the spotlight is on the western coast of the country, where Gujarat – home to India’s longest coastline – has emerged as a significant hub for dolphin conservation.

With its 1,600 km-long coastline, Gujarat has a rich marine biodiversity. In the latest Dolphin Census conducted by the Gujarat Forest Department, approximately 680 dolphins were recorded across a 4,087 sq. km marine stretch – a promising outcome of sustained conservation efforts, as per government data shared today.

The coastal expanse from Kutch to Bhavnagar has been identified as a thriving habitat for dolphins.

The Marine National Park and Marine Sanctuary located in the southern part of the Gulf of Kutch, between Okha and Navlakhi, recorded the highest dolphin population: 498 dolphins in 1,384 sq. km.

The northern Gulf of Kutch saw 168 dolphins in 1,821 sq. km, while 10 were spotted in Bhavnagar and 4 in Morbi.

Experts highlight that dolphins are top predators in the marine food chain and play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance. Their presence is often an indicator of a healthy ocean ecosystem.

Conservationists also credit coastal fishing communities, particularly from Kutch to Bhavnagar, for their growing awareness and cooperation in dolphin protection.

Among the species sighted along Gujarat’s coast, the Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin is the most prominent.

Recognised by its distinctive hump and elongated dorsal fin, this dolphin species is known for its acrobatic displays and friendly nature.

Found in shallow waters near estuaries, these dolphins feed primarily on fish, crabs, and shrimp.

India officially declared the dolphin as its National Aquatic Animal in October 2009, with the Ganga Dolphin symbolising the purity of the Ganges River.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/680-dolphins-spotted-off-gujarat-coast-in-latest-census-8156561

The judge directed senior police officers, including the Uttar Pradesh police chief, to take action against Banwarilal so that “such unwarranted acts” were never repeated in future.

In a bizarre mix-up, a policeman in Uttar Pradesh’s Firozabad launched a hunt for a judge after writing down her name in place of the accused man on the proclamation order in a theft case.

The mix-up emerged last month when sub-inspector Banwarilal, who was assigned to serve a court notice to theft suspect Rajkumar, informed the chief judicial magistrate, Nagma Khan, that the accused “Nagma Khan” could not be found at her home despite a “thorough search”.

“When the attached NBW (non-bailable warrant) was served by me, then a thorough search was done at the mentioned address of Nagma Khan, and no accused of this name lives at the said address. Therefore, you are requested to please pass further orders,” he told the court.

In her March 24 order, Magistrate Khan said it was “quite bizarre” that Banwarilal had “little to no idea of what was sent by this court, who exactly sent it and against whom”.

“Without giving an inch of attention to the process, he first carelessly mentions the proclamation as an NBW and he then just wrote the name of the presiding officer quite blindly,” she said.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/up-cop-starts-looking-for-judge-nagma-khan-instead-of-accused-after-court-order-mix-up-8159218

The seized contraband is suspected to be methamphetamine and has been handed over to the ATS for further probe, a release by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) said.

The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad and the Coast Guard have seized 300 kg of drugs valued at Rs 1,800 crore which were dumped into the Arabian Sea by smugglers before fleeing across the international boundary line, officials said on Monday.

The seized contraband is suspected to be methamphetamine and has been handed over to the ATS for further probe, a release by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) said.

The ATS and the Coast Guard carried out the joint operation near the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) in the Arabian Sea off Gujarat on the intervening night of April 12 and 13, said the release.

Upon seeing the approaching Coast Guard ship, the smugglers, who were on a boat, dumped the contraband into the sea and fled across the IMBL, it said.

“In an overnight operation on April 12-13, the Indian Coast Guard undertook an intelligence based anti-narcotics operation at the sea jointly with the Gujarat ATS. More than 300 kg of narcotics approximately valued at Rs 1,800 crore have been seized. The seized drug is suspected to be methamphetamine,” the release said.

Based on an input from the Gujarat ATS, an ICG ship from the Coast Guard Region (West) was diverted to that area in the sea near IMBL where a suspected boat’s presence was detected, it said.

“The ICG ship identified a suspect boat despite pitch dark night. On realising the approaching ship, the suspect boat dumped its narcotics consignment in the sea before it started fleeing towards the IMBL. The alert ICG ship deployed its sea boat immediately for recovery of the jettisoned consignment whilst commencing a hot chase of the suspect boat,” it said.

The proximity of the international boundary line and the initial separation between the Coast Guard ship and the boat at the time of its detection helped the boat to evade interception before it crossed over the IMBL within a short time, said the release.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/drugs-worth-rs-1-800-crore-dumped-by-smugglers-in-gujarat-sea-off-seized-8158967

Netizens shared pictures of other places they were stuck at since they could not complete the payment with UPI being down.

Unified Payments Interface (UPI) users across India took to socal media on Saturday to complain about the service being down. This is the third time in less than a fortnight that UPI witnessed outages impacting transactions. In the recent past, UPI outage was reported on March 26 and April 2.

Laughing at the Indian online payment system, one user wrote on X: “#UPIDown again. So strange!! This is becoming way too frequent nowadays. First #UPI goes down, then banks declare their own “downtime” for UPI transactions. India ka online payment system 😂😂😂!”

Another shared the embarrassment one faces when UPI stops working during a payment.

“Just finished lunch like a boss but when I tried paying via UPI—boom! Server down. Now I’m just sitting in hotel like a wanted criminal full stomach but cooked RIP to me! 💀,” a social media user wrote on X.

Netizens also shared pictures of other places they were stuck at since they could not complete the payment with UPI being down.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/business/cash-is-always-king-upi-down-again-netizens-share-anecdotes-3491157

The action has been taken under Section (8) and Rule 5(1) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Probe Agency Takes Action On Key Properties In Congress-Linked Herald Case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) Saturday said it has issued notices to take possession of immovable assets worth Rs 661 crore that it had attached in a probe into the money laundering case against Congress-controlled Associated Journals Limited (AJL).

The notices, which seek vacation of the premises, were affixed at the Herald House at ITO in Delhi, at the premises in Bandra area of Mumbai and the AJL building located at Bisheshwar Nath Road in Lucknow on Friday, the central agency said in a statement.

The action has been taken under Section (8) and Rule 5(1) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The ED, the central agency which investigates financial crimes, attached these immovable assets in November 2023.

“These properties were attached after extensive investigation by ED which revealed signification generation, possession and use of proceeds of crime to the tune of Rs 988 crore. Therefore, to secure the proceeds of crime and to prevent the accused from dissipating the same, the immovable properties of AJL located at Delhi, Mumbai and Lucknow valued at Rs. 661 crore along-with the shares of AJL valued at 90.2 crores were attached by issuing provisional attachment order (PAO) dated 20.11.2023 by the Directorate of Enforcement and the same has been confirmed by the Ld. Adjudicating Authority on 10.04.2024,” said the agency.

The investigation by the ED into the case began in 2021, on the basis of an order issued on June 26, 2014, by the Metropolitan Magistrate Patiala House Courts in New Delhi. The case is based on a private complaint filed by BJP’s Subramanian Swamy.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/probe-agency-begins-process-of-taking-possession-of-herald-house-other-properties-in-national-herald-case-linked-to-congress-8147614

A forest officer said villagers tortured the animal to death. People can be jailed for up to two years for such crimes

A horrific video of cruelty against animals has surfaced on social media and gone viral. The incident involving a bear was reported from Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district.

A forest officer said villagers tortured the animal to death. People can be jailed for up to two years for such crimes.

The video showed the bear writhing in pain with its legs twisted and blood coming out from its mouth. Some men were seen hitting the animal with sticks. They also pulled out its nails.

One of them was seen pulling the ears of the bear, while another hit the animal on its head.

Chief Conservator of Forest RC Dugga said he has seen the video and is trying to find the people who tortured and killed the bear.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/legs-tied-bloody-mouth-bear-tortured-to-death-on-camera-in-chhattisgarh-8148900

A policeman was killed and a paramilitary soldier was injured in a blast triggered by Maoists in a hilly area in Jharkhand.

A policeman was killed and a paramilitary soldier was injured in a blast triggered by Maoists in a hilly area in Jharkhand.

The policeman, Sunil Dhan, was critically injured after an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by Maoists exploded in the state’s hilly Chaibasa area, police said.

Vishnu Saini of the Central Reserve Police Force’s (CRPF) Cobra unit was also injured. The two were taken in a helicopter to the state capital Ranchi for treatment. However, Sunil Dhan died of critical injuries.

“Two jawans – one from CoBRA 203 battalion and another from Jharkhand Jaguar – were injured in the incident. Both have been airlifted to Ranchi for better treatment,” Kolhan DIG Manoj Ratan Chothe earlier told news agency PTI.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/police-personnel-dies-crpf-man-injured-as-maoists-explode-bomb-in-jharkhands-chaibasa-8149204

NIA continues questioning 26/11 conspirator Tahawwur Rana for a second day to investigate broader conspiracy. He is kept in a secured cell in New Delhi.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) questioned 26/11 Mumbai attacks conspirator Tahawwur Hussain Rana for the second consecutive day to probe a larger conspiracy of the series of coordinated strikes of 2008.

Tahawwur Rana is kept in a highly-secured cell, inside the NIA’s head office at CGO complex in New Delhi, being guarded by security personnel round the clock, news agency PTI reported, citing unnamed sources.

Official told HT that Tahawwur Rana is being treated “as any other arrested person with no special treatment”. He has been provided with a copy of the Quran at his request and is observed offering Namaz five times daily in his cell at the agency headquarters.

“He requested for a copy of Quran which we provided. He is seen offering Namaz five times in his cell,” said an officer, describing Rana as a “religious man”.

Besides the Quran, Rana asked for pen and paper, which have been provided, though he remains under close observation to ensure he doesn’t use the pen to harm himself. “Beyond that, he has not made any other demands,” the officer noted.

As per court directives, Rana is allowed to meet a lawyer provided by the Delhi Legal Services Authority (DLSA) every alternate day, and undergoes a medical examination every 48 hours. “All procedures are being followed, like for other arrested individuals,” confirmed another officer.

Rana was brought to the NIA headquarters early Friday morning after a Delhi court granted 18-day custody to the probe agency, following his extradition from the US.

Tahawwur Rana’s grilling continues

• • Tahawwur Rana is being questioned by a team of NIA officials as they try to piece together his exact role in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks that left the country shaken over 16 years ago.
  • Unnamed sources told PTI that investigators are grilling him based on a series of leads, including dozens of phone calls between him and David Coleman Headley — also known as Daood Gilani — the American national who’s currently serving time in a US prison for his role in the plot.
  • Rana is also being asked about people he met in the lead-up to the attacks, especially a key contact in Dubai who, according to officials, may have been aware of the plan to target Mumbai.
  • The 64-year-old Canadian businessman, originally from Pakistan, is also under the scanner for his suspected links to Pakistan’s intelligence agency, the ISI, and the terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba, which carried out the strikes.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/in-nia-custody-tahawwur-rana-demanded-3-things-quran-pen-and-26-11-mumbai-attacks-questioning-101744502744774.html

Tatkal ticket timings: Amid the buzz on social media platforms regarding changes in Tatkal and Premium Tatkal train ticket booking timings, the Indian Railways has issued a statement clarifying that no such changes have been proposed or implemented.

The clarification came in wake of several misleading reports doing rounds the corner on social media platforms claiming that the Tatkal ticket booking timings have been revised.

“Some posts are circulating on Social Media channels mentioning about different timings for Tatkal and Premium Tatkal tickets. No such change in timings is currently proposed in the Tatkal or Premium Tatkal booking timings for AC or Non-AC classes. The permitted booking timings for agents also remain unchanged,” the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) said in statement shared on X.

Indian Railways has further urged the passengers to rely only on official sources for any information related to ticket booking rules and not to believe such rumours.

Current Timings For Tatkal Tickets
As per IRCTC, Tatkal tickets can be booked one day in advance of the journey date, excluding the day of travel, from the train’s originating station. It can be booked on the opening day from 10:00 IST for the AC class (2A/3A/CC/EC/3E) and at 11:00 IST for the non-AC class (SL/FC/2S). Tatkal bookings are allowed in all classes except First AC.

Source: https://www.news18.com/india/are-tatkal-ticket-booking-timings-changing-irctc-clarifies-ws-kl-9296721.html

This week, global markets were rattled by a fresh wave of trade tensions triggered by new US tariffs, leading to sharp declines across Wall Street and Asian indices. While Indian markets also witnessed a steep drop, they showed notable resilience. In contrast to its neighbour China, India has taken a more cautious approach to navigating the tariff issue. Let’s take a deep dive into India’s strategy for tackling the tariff shock.

New Delhi: Tariff hike, global market meltdown, and trade war were some of the buzzwords that dominated the headlines this week. April 7 brought several key global indices to their knees as Wall Street registered a 52-week low at the start of trade on Monday. The fallout was the outcome of a reciprocal tariff announcement by US President Donald Trump on April 2. Asian markets were also hit hard; however, compared to other major economies, India did not feel the impact as much, at least for now. The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which plunged over 3,000 points during early trade on Monday, showed some recovery to close the day down by just over 2,000 points.
The days that followed saw extreme global reactions, not-so-in-favour of Mr Trump, who insisted that his tariff move was doing “really well” for the US and his administration amid the fear of recession.

But with China, things got a bit too far. The tariff war that began in February gradually took the shape of a trade war between these two countries as they kept increasing tariffs in a tit-for-tat move. From 10% in February, the Trump administration kept on increasing the tariffs as currently it stands at a whopping 145%. China, too, has retaliated with a counter-tariff of 125% on US goods. Not only this, the US, in a bid to tame the dragon, announced a pause on tariffs for 90 days, except for China.

India, in the meantime, did not take China’s route of retaliation and chose a path of dialogue and trade talks. Firstly, the tariffs on New Delhi were comparatively lower than a few major economies, and secondly, Trump has been, so far, favourable to India’s approach to tariff hikes. India was slapped with a 26% reciprocal tariff; however, after the announcement of a pause for 90 days, the country only needs to pay a 10% baseline tariff for now.

Trump’s Tariffs Rattle World Markets — India Falls Least
The Indian market has shown resilience at a time when global indices are finding it tough to negotiate with Trump’s tariff shock. On April 7, the BSE Sensex plunged by 2,226.79 points or 2.95% to close at 73,137.90 and the Nifty 50 declined by 742.85 points or 3.24% to end at 22,161.60.

Compared to India, the Shanghai Composite tumbled over 8% intraday before closing 7.3% lower. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index posted a historic 13.2% crash — its steepest fall since the 2008 global financial crisis. Japan’s Nikkei 225 closed 7.8% lower, while Taiwan’s benchmark index recorded a staggering 9.7% decline, the worst in its history. Australia’s ASX 200 and South Korea’s Kospi were also hit hard, losing 4.2% and 5.6%, respectively.
Sensex looks set on its way to recovery as the Indian equity markets bounced back with strong momentum on April 9, adding Rs 7.32 lakh crore to investor wealth. The benchmark BSE Sensex surged 1,089.18 points or 1.49% to close at 74,227.08. On April 11, Indian equity markets surged as the Nifty 50 and BSE Sensex logged gains of over 1,100 points and 385 points, respectively in early trade.

London-based gangster Kapil Sangwan alias Nandu, took responsibility for the murder of a property dealer in New Delhi. The 52-year-old victim, Rajkumar Dalal, was gunned down in Paschim Vihar (East) on Friday, April 11, while he was on his way to the gym.

In a new development hinting at escalating gang rivalries, a gangster based in London took responsibility for the murder of a property dealer in New Delhi. The 52-year-old victim, Rajkumar Dalal, was gunned down in Paschim Vihar (East) on Friday, April 11, while he was on his way to the gym. According to reports, the attack took place when the two vehicles intercepted Dalal’s Toyota Fortuner and opened fire, pumping around 15 bullets into the car.

Sangwan’s Social Media Confession

The police’s suspicion of gang-related violence was confirmed when Kapil Sangwan, alias Nandu, claimed responsibility for the killing through a post on Facebook. Currently hiding in London, Nandu is wanted under an Interpol Red Corner Notice. In his post written in Hindi, he wrote, “I got the murder done. He used to occupy a plot for my enemy Manjeet Mahal. When out on parole, I met Manjeet Mahal and told him that whoever supports him would become my enemy.” He further warned, “Don’t play this victim card. You started it. I am going to finish it.”

The police believe the hit was premeditated, with the attackers likely surveying the area in advance. The precision and speed of the attack also suggest that the killers were highly organised.

Source: https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/i-got-the-murder-done-gangster-kapil-sangwan-posts-shocking-confession-claims-hit-order-on-delhi-properly-dealer

Due to the unavailability of an ambulance, an 11-year-old boy had to take his injured elder brother to the hospital using a scrap-pulling rickshaw. The video of the heartbreaking incident has hit the internet and has gone viral on social media.

A shocking incident from Raebareli district has once again highlighted the poor state of healthcare and emergency services in Uttar Pradesh. Due to the unavailability of an ambulance, an 11-year-old boy had to take his injured elder brother to the hospital using a scrap-pulling rickshaw. The video of the heartbreaking incident has hit the internet and has gone viral on social media.

Details About The Incident

The incident took place in Hasanpur village of Unchahar area. A 13-year-old boy fell from a wall and was seriously injured. The family made several attempts to call an ambulance, but received no response.

With no help in sight, the younger brother who is just 11 years old placed the injured boy on a hand-pulled rickshaw usually used for collecting scrap, the same kind his father uses for a living, and dragged it all the way to the hospital. A woman, possibly their mother, was seen walking behind the cart, pushing it from the back.

Source: https://www.freepressjournal.in/viral/heart-wrenching-11-yr-old-boy-pulls-injured-brother-on-scrap-cart-due-to-unavailability-of-ambulance-in-ups-raebareli-video

District police arrested Anuj Chauhan alias Shiva, who is under trial in another murder case, in connection with the killing of a youth whose body was found on March 25 in Amardobha village.

A man was arrested here on Friday for allegedly killing a youth who had an affair with his wife and later blackmailed them with objectionable photos and videos he had clicked of her.

District police arrested Anuj Chauhan alias Shiva, who is under trial in another murder case, in connection with the killing of a youth whose body was found on March 25 in Amardobha village.

Superintendent of Police Satyajeet Gupta said that the investigation revealed that Chauhan killed Heyatullah over a personal dispute involving his wife.

Heyatullah allegedly had a relationship with Chauhan’s wife while he was lodged in jail in connection with a 2022 murder case, the SP said.

“Anuj Chauhan, who was released on bail on January 25 this year, learnt about the affair after his release. His wife admitted to the relationship and promised to end it. However, Heyatullah refused to stop meeting her,” SP Gupta said.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/uttar-pradesh/up-man-arrested-for-murder-blackmail-linked-to-his-wifes-affair-led-to-crime-say-police-3490492

P M Nair, former chief of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), shares with DH’s SNV Sudhir his views about the rescue mission launched after the SLBC tunnel collapse in Telangana.

P M Nair, former chief of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), shares with DH‘s SNV Sudhir his views about the rescue mission launched after the SLBC tunnel collapse in Telangana. He also talks about India’s disaster management capabilities.

Excerpts:

How do you evaluate the rescue operation launched after the SLBC tunnel collapse?

Every disaster presents unique challenges, making it impossible to apply a standard yardstick. The ongoing rescue efforts are commendable, with human efforts being supported by sophisticated technology. Unlike building collapses, where untrained individuals might help, tunnel collapses demand precise technological intervention. Even deciding where to drill is critical because a wrong choice could cause more harm. Tunnels are complex systems with interlinked electrical, mechanical, and structural components, requiring meticulously crafted rescue plans.

Do you believe the authorities have handled this with sufficient caution?

The approach has been appropriately cautious. You can’t bulldoze your way through. Indiscriminate use of heavy equipment could worsen the situation. A careful approach may cause delays, but it is ultimately safer.

What key lessons can be learnt from this incident?

One recurring issue is human error, often caused by complacency. Security becomes second nature, and then people get careless, especially when fatigue sets in. That’s when leaders and supervisors must intervene. Constant reminders, security refreshers, and alertness checks are essential. Take, for example, a security constable assigned to a VIP movement. If the VIP is delayed for hours, the constable stands exposed to the elements, and fatigue sets in. Expecting the same level of alertness from that individual throughout the day is unrealistic. The solution is effective management — rotating personnel, ensuring they are well-rested, and maintaining their focus. I’m not sure if this was applied in the SLBC case, but it’s a critical takeaway. If you are observant and vigilant, you can often spot indicators before a disaster occurs. These early warning signs should alert the right people to take preventive action. Carefulness in advance can prevent major incidents.

Does India have adequate disaster response mechanisms?

India’s disaster response capabilities rank among the best globally. During the 2011 Japanese tsunami and nuclear disaster, Indian teams stayed longer than other foreign teams despite dangerous radiation levels. Our disaster response teams consistently receive praise for their compassion, technical skill, and professionalism in global operations.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/telangana/construction-companies-should-focus-on-disaster-management-ai-can-help-3490773

The US and India are engaged in virtual talks for a trade agreement aiming to boost trade from $200B to $500B by 2030, with initial outcomes expected soon

The US and India are “intensely” engaged in sector-specific talks through virtual mode in lines with the terms of reference (ToRs) they finalised on March 29 in New Delhi that binds them to find “mutually beneficial solutions” for reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers, increasing market access and deepening supply chain integration, people aware of the development said.

The ToRs are “broad-based” giving “wide scope” to both parties to negotiate an “ambitious, mutually beneficial, multi-sector BTA” (bilateral trade agreement) that would help to enhance the two-way trade to $500 billion by 2030 from the current level of about $200 billion, two of the people added, requesting anonymity. They, however, declined to divulge specific details of the ToRs because of a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).

“We are progressing well on the BTA negotiations and we expect to be ready with the first tranche of BTA before the fall of 2025. Possibly, the two countries would sign an early harvest deal where tariff and non-tariff issues will be addressed for greater market access. It will be followed by other complex issues such as protection to intellectual property (IP) and government procurement,” one of them said.

Hindustan Times on Friday reported that India and the US are negotiating the first tranche of the BTA through a fast-track mechanism and expected to arrive at some tangible outcomes over the next 90 days. Washington has suspended an additional 16% (10% baseline tariff for all countries kicked in on April 2) reciprocal tariffs for India till July 9, 2025.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/terms-finalised-us-india-drill-down-on-sectors-for-trade-deal-101744397368645.html

In India, these species are found only in a few pockets in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

The police in Assam’s Dibrugarh seized 11 rare tokay gecko lizards and arrested three smugglers on Friday. The export of tokay geckos is banned as they are listed as highly endangered under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972.

If found guilty, there is a maximum punishment of seven years of rigorous imprisonment.

In India, these species are found only in a few pockets in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, but they are highly demanded in the grey market in Southeast Asia.

The arrested persons were identified as Debashis Dohutia (34), Manash Dohutia (28) and Dipankar Gharphalia (40 ).

During interrogation, they told the police that they brought the tokay geckos from Arunachal Pradesh and were trying to sell each of them for Rs 60 lakh.

The police said they acted on a tip-off regarding the smuggling of the tokay gecko lizards in Dibrugarh and formed a team of Special Task Force (STF).

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/endangered-tokay-gecko-lizards-seized-in-assam-were-to-be-sold-for-rs-1-lakh-each-8145108

Piyush Goyal said that India’s trade talks are progressing with the US, the UK, the European Union, and several other nations globally.

US Tariffs: Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday said that India “never negotiates with any country on gunpoint” but wait for “favourable time constraints” to start trade negotiations.

His comments came after US President Donald Trump announced a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariff imposition on countries including India.

While speaking on the sidelines of the Italy-India Business, Science and Technology Forum in the national capital, Goyal said, “We never negotiate on gunpoint. Favourable time constraints motivate us for quicker talks, but till the time we are not able to secure the interest of our country and our people, we do not hurry.”

The Union Minister further said that India’s trade talks are progressing with the US, the UK, the European Union, and several other nations globally. “All our trade talks are progressing well, in the spirit of India First, and to ensure our pathway to Viksit Bharat by 2047 in the Amrit Kaal,” he said without giving specifics of any deal.

The US has announced the suspension of reciprocal tariffs on India until July 9 this year, according to the White House executive orders. After Trump’s tariff announcement on April 2, India’s Ministry of Commerce & Industry had said discussions were ongoing between Indian and US trade teams for the expeditious conclusion of a mutually beneficial, multi-sectoral Bilateral Trade Agreement.

Further at another event, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke about India’s trade talks with several nations and blocs, including with the US.

While speaking at the Carnegie Global Technology Summit, Jaishankar said India is certainly prepared for a high degree of urgency in reaching a trade deal with regards to the United States. He added that Washington has “fundamentally changed its approach to engaging with the world and it has consequences across every domain.”

“This time around, we are certainly geared up for a very high degree of urgency. I mean, we see a window. We want to see stuff. So our trade deals are really challenging. And we are really, when I look at the trade deals, I mean it’s not my direct credit, but we have a lot to do with each other. I mean, these are people very much on top of their game, very ambitious about what they want to achieve,” he said.

Source: https://www.news18.com/india/we-never-negotiate-at-gunpoint-piyush-goyal-on-donald-trumps-90-day-pause-on-tariffs-ws-kl-9295752.html

Mumbai-Dubai Underwater Train: The train, once launched will cover the distance of nearly 2,000 kilometres in two hours. It will not only boost the tourism but will also provide the travellers an alternate option to travel besides flight.

What if you could travel from Mumbai to Dubai in just two hours, that too in a train? Yes, that may be possible soon with the launch of an underwater train by the UAE. The project by UAE’s National Advisor Bureau Limited will not only make travelling between the two countries faster, but will also make it more convenient and easier.

India-Dubai Underwater Train: Boost Tourism, Make Travelling Economical

The India-UAE underwater train once launched, will reduce the travel time by over one hour. Normally, it takes 3 to 3.5 hours to travel from Mumbai to Dubai by flight. The train will use the latest technology, like the Hyperloop system, enabling the passengers to travel faster.

This step will also reduce the travelling cost, reducing the economic burden on pockets of people. The cost of tickets is yet to be disclosed.

It will also make it more convenient to travel as compared to flights.

The distance between India and Dubai is nearly 2,000 kilometres. The underwater train will open an alternate option for travellers, who now only get to travel via flight. The project will boost tourism.

Mumbai-Dubai Train To Strengthen Trade Relations

The Mumbai-Dubai underwater train will not only be used for passengers to commute, according to a report by the Times of India, the train also plans to transport goods, including crude oil and water, boosting the trade relations between India and Dubai.

Source: https://www.news18.com/india/mumbai-to-dubai-in-only-two-hours-what-we-know-about-uaes-underwater-train-project-9295939.html

The footage shows thick black smoke in the background as the woman carefully lowers the children through the staircase balcony without any safety equipment

Two children were rescued from a burning residential building in Ahmedabad’s Khokhra area on Friday, after a woman passed them through a staircase balcony to two men on the floor below.

A video of the dramatic rescue has gone viral on social media. The footage shows thick black smoke in the background as the woman, standing with two children and another woman, carefully lowers the children through the staircase balcony without any safety equipment.

The men below, standing on the floor beneath, catch the children and bring them to safety.

Moments later, the same woman tries to climb down through the narrow opening herself. She nearly slips, but the men quickly grab her legs and pull her to safety.

According to officials, at least 18 people were rescued after the fire broke out in the multi-storey residential building on Friday afternoon.

The fire started around 3:30 pm and was brought under control by 6:00 pm, according to the Ahmedabad Fire and Emergency Services (AFES).

Source: https://www.news18.com/india/ahmedabad-fire-children-rescued-as-woman-passes-them-off-balcony-video-ws-l-9295815.html

As per reports, the NIA is planning to confront 26/11 terror attacks mastermind Tahawwur Rana with one key witness – the man who helped Rana’s co-conspirator David Coleman Headley when he visited Mumbai in 2006.

A mystery witness could be NIA’s key to break the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks case against Tahawwur Rana — a man accused of helping Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives plan and prepare for the carnage that left 166 people dead. As per a report, officials say that the “protected witness” was in direct touch with Rana and assisted his co-conspirator David Coleman Headley during a key visit to Mumbai in 2006.

“This protected witness was very close to Rana and could be confronted with him soon,” said officials aware of the developments, as per an HT report.
According to details of the investigation, the man had received Headley upon his arrival in India that year and helped set up his accommodations and logistics. “During this visit, Headley was received by an individual close to Rana, who is a protected witness now. This person received a call from Rana after which this person arranged accommodations and other logistics for Headley,” an official said, requesting anonymity.

The witness’s identity has been withheld even in court proceedings due to fears of retribution from Pakistan-based elements, including the LeT and state actors suspected of backing the attack.

NIA officials believe this mystery man could be a vital link to establishing Rana’s knowledge of — and role in — Headley’s movements and meetings during his reconnaissance trips to India from 2006 to 2009. “Rana might soon be confronted with the witness about his connections in India and places Headley visited and people he met during his multiple trips to India between 2006 and 2009, as well as about any other suspects who may have traveled to India during that time,” the HT report said quoting a second officer.
Rana-Headley Call Recordings Under NIA Lens
The NIA is also relying on recordings of calls between Rana and Headley captured by the FBI in 2009. In addition to confronting Rana with the protected witness, investigators plan to question several individuals associated with his Immigration Law Centre office in Mumbai.
Rana, extradited from the US after a years-long legal battle, arrived in India aboard a special Gulfstream G550 aircraft. After his arrival in Delhi, he was remanded to 18 days in NIA custody by a special court. Officers from the NIA and other agencies began questioning him soon after the court order.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/who-is-nia-mystery-witness-man-who-helped-david-coleman-headley-could-break-26-11-case-against-tahawwur-rana-article-151402392

The fresh spell of snowfall is likely to cause a further delay of atleast one day in restoration of vital Mughal Road.

Jammu: Over 200 people are stuck near Sinthan Top after fresh snowfall blocked motor vehicle moments on Kishtwar-Srinagar National Highway. Fifty vehiclesa are reportedly stuck, sources said.
Authorities are on job to reach out to them and shift them to safer place.

Meanwhile, the fresh spell of snowfall is likely to cause a further delay of atleast one day in restoration of Mughal Road. The vital road was earlier scheduled to get restored by Friday afternoon but the restoration of road got affected due to bad weather conditions prevailing in Kashmir region.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/200-passengers-stranded-as-fresh-snowfall-blocks-kishtwar-srinagar-nh-highest-motorable-road-in-jk-article-151401771

Hailing the extradition of 26/11 mastermind Tahawwur Rana, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said, “I appreciate the counter-terrorism cooperation between our two countries.”

New Delhi: External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Friday responded to a post on X by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Hailing the extradition of 26/11 mastermind Tahawwur Rana, External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar said, “Appreciate the counter-terrorism cooperation between our two countries.”

He also called the move “a big step” in ensuring justice for the victims. “This is indeed a big step in ensuring justice for the victims of 26/11 attacks.”

Marco Rubio had said, “We extradited Tahawwur Hussain Rana to India to face charges for his role in planning the horrific 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks. Together, with India, we’ve long sought justice for the 166 people, including 6 Americans, who lost their lives in these attacks. I’m glad that day has come.”

Besides, the State Department had on Thursday said that the 26/11 terror attacks shocked the entire world, adding that Washington supported India’s efforts to ensure that those responsible were brought to justice.

Meanwhile, NIA on Wednesday (April 10) told Patiala House court, it suspects that Tahawwur Rana devised similar terror plots to target other cities in the country.

The court remanded Rana to a 18-day NIA custody. The judge directed the agency to conduct the 26/11 key accused’s medical examination every 24 hours and allow him to meet with his lawyer every alternate day.

Who Is Tahawwur Rana?

Tahawwur Hussain Rana is a Pakistani former military doctor who served in the Pakistan Army. Rana moved to Canada after gaining citizenship and became an immigration service businessman.

In 2011, he was convicted of providing support to the militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and of allegedly plotting an attack on the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten.

On 17 January 2013, he was sentenced to 14 years in prison in the Danish newspaper attack case. A US court has denied the bail plea of Pakistani-origin Canadian businessman Tahawwur Rana, a key accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attack and declared a fugitive by India, asserting that he has not negated the “risk of flight”.

Rana was born and raised in Chichawatni in the province of Pakistan’s Punjab and attained his education at the Cadet College Hasan Abdal. Notably, at this college, Rana befriended Headley. A physician by profession, Rana served as a captain general duty practitioner in the Pakistan Army Medical Corps.

Source: https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/big-step-in-ensuring-justice-eam-jaishankar-responds-to-us-secretary-of-state-marco-rubios-post-on-2611-attacks-mastermind-tahawwur-ranas-extradition

The Delhi-NCR region was hit by a massive dust storm and lightning for the second time on Friday, bringing much-needed respite from days of scorching weather. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) sounded an orange alert, warning of adverse weather conditions till 9 pm, while one person was killed in a storm-related accident. Over a dozen flights were diverted due to the storm.

The national capital and its adjoining areas in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh witnessed a drop in the temperature following strong dust storms in the evening today, with power outages in some areas. The weather department had forecast thunderstorms and light rain during the day.

A 67-year-old man was killed while another person sustained injuries after construction material fell on them from the roof of a building in Delhi’s Chander Vihar area following the storm. The incident took place at around 6:30 pm in the evening from the roof of the five-storey building. Meanwhile, two people were injured after a huge pillar signage fell on a car on the Dwarka Expressway in Gurugram.

Tree branches fell in several areas of Delhi, including Mandi House. Several videos uploaded on social media showed the impact of the dust storm, with a tree falling on a motorcycle in the Delhi Gate area. Traffic was disrupted in other areas due to debris.

More than 15 flights were diverted at the Delhi airport on Friday evening due to inclement weather conditions. “Due to inclement weather conditions in Delhi, some of the flights at Delhi Airport are impacted. Passengers are advised to contact their respective airlines for the latest flight updates,” airport operator DIAL said.

Meanwhile, IndiGo said Delhi and Jaipur are experiencing a dust storm, affecting takeoffs and landings and potentially causing air traffic congestion. Air India also said that its flights were being delayed or diverted due to poor weather, caused by heavy thunderstorms and gusty winds. “We are closely monitoring the situation and are doing our best to minimise the disruption,” it said in a statement.

Source: https://www.news18.com/india/dust-storm-hits-delhi-ncr-for-second-consecutive-day-brings-relief-from-rising-heat-9295670.html

After signing a Memorandum of Understanding on April 5 to implement the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), the BJP government in Delhi signed another MoU with the Centre on Thursday for the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM).

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday lauded the implementation of twin central government health schemes, including an insurance cover programme, in Delhi as a revolutionary step in the national capital.

“This mission of the double engine government is going to be very beneficial for lakhs of brothers and sisters in Delhi. I am delighted that people of Delhi, too, can now received treatment under the Ayushman scheme,” he said on X.

After signing a Memorandum of Understanding on April 5 to implement the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), the BJP government in Delhi signed another MoU with the Centre on Thursday for the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM).

PM-ABHIM was launched in October 2021 to ensure that the public health infrastructure effectively manages future pandemics and outbreaks of diseases.

The previous AAP dispensation had declined to adopt the schemes.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/delhi/pm-modi-lauds-delhi-joining-centres-health-programmes-as-revolutionary-step-3489244

The funds were mobilised through CSR contributions as part of Sibal’s campaign promise during the SCBA presidential elections.

A massive fire at a pipe manufacturing unit in Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar has engulfed the area in the blaze, with dark clouds covering the sky.

MP Fire: A huge blaze broke out at a pipe manufacturing company in Dhar’s industrial area in Pithampur in Madhya Pradesh. The incident took place in Sector 3 of Pithampur. Several fire tenders have been rushed to the spot, and efforts are being made to bring the fire under control. The fire broke out in the night, but the flames continue to burn at the site.
The incident occurred a few metres away from the Ramco factory where the hazardous waste of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy is being disposed. Ramco Factory is in sector 1, while the site of the fire is in Sector 3.

The visuals show clouds of smoke covering the sky with ashes all around the area. The enormous dark clouds are posing a challenge in the fire fighting operations as well. More than two dozen have been roped in to extinguish the blaze.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/huge-fire-pipe-manufacturing-unit-madhya-pradesh-dhar-bhopal-gas-tragedy-ramco-factory-article-151394621

In an age of rising cyber threats, cyberterrorism and online crime, Karnataka has taken the lead in setting up India’s first full-fledged Cyber Command Centre. It aims to be a streamlined, centralised investigating arm—bringing cybersecurity, cybercrime, and digital threat response under one roof.

“This is a significant step in Karnataka’s attempt to build a single, coordinated mechanism to respond to the growing and complex world of cyber threats,” a senior government official told News18.

“Cybercrime is the most neglected piece of architecture—or furniture—in the police house. Only 2 per cent of cases are getting charge-sheeted, no convictions so far, and plenty of allegations of corruption, all of which need to be tackled with a firm hand and sharp investigative skills,” said the source.

From ransomware and hacking to cyberstalking, sextortion, identity theft and digital arrest scams—the new Cyber Command will tackle it all. It will also address online crimes against women and children, financial fraud, deepfakes, disinformation, and threats to the state’s digital infrastructure.

A senior retired police officer who has been advising the government in putting the command centre together told this reporter that while reporting and detection of cybercrime is one aspect, another key concern that needs to be highlighted is cybersecurity—and that requires an entirely different set of specialised skills.

“The officer in charge of this command centre is also the CISO—Chief Information Security Officer—of the state. So that post looks after the security of the IT infrastructure, ICT infrastructure, and information and communications technology,” the retired official explained.

Critics say Karnataka’s digital infrastructure has also been seeing a surge in cyberattacks. They have been targeting the state’s critical infrastructure as well. A recent example is the DDoS attack on the Kaveri 2.0 portal, which brought property transactions to a standstill for days—causing major disruptions and losses to the state’s exchequer.

It is learnt that senior IPS officer Pronab Mohanty, a 1994-batch officer, will head this new unit. He has been re-designated as DGP, Cyber Command. Mohanty already holds charge of the Internal Security Division, Police Computer Wing, and Cyber Crime & Narcotics. Now, with the Cyber Command, all these functions are brought together in a centralised command structure for the first time.

By setting up a new command structure to tackle online threats—bringing cybercrimes and cybersecurity under one roof for the first time—all 45 cybercrime police stations in the state will now report to the newly appointed DGP (Cyber Command).

It was also pointed out that disinformation and misinformation require specialised handling in today’s digital landscape. There is a need for specialised training to be imparted to personnel investigating cybercrime cases. General investigation officers—IOs—without technical backgrounds cannot effectively handle such investigations.

Apart from training, prosecution also needs special attention. Prosecutors must be trained in handling cybercrime cases, and this will also be taken up by the Cyber Command Centre. There is a growing need for efficiency, quick response, and better coordination between enforcement agencies and other stakeholders—across state departments, the central government, corporate entities, NGOs, and activists—for improved detection and conviction rates.

According to data shared by state officials, 20 per cent of cybercrime cases in India originate from Karnataka. Of all crimes registered in the state, 20 per cent are cybercrimes.

Source: https://www.news18.com/india/over-60000-cybercrime-cases-in-3-years-karnatakas-answer-is-indias-first-cyber-command-centre-ws-l-9294400.html

The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has experimented for the first time in India with a camera collar to capture the rare footage of the elusive leopard world in one of the man-animal conflict zones of Junnar in Maharashtra. A team led by Dehradun-based WII’s scientist Bilal Habib, installed a collar camera on a leopard some time back.

Speaking with News18, Bilal said the video footage collected from the camera collar will provide a glimpse into the world of leopards, active in the sugarcane belt of Junnar region of Maharashtra.

“We have video footage that was recorded by the camera collar over a period of the last three months. We will analyse the data (that will be helpful to understand the behaviour of leopards),” he said.

Bilal revealed the project on X, saying, “For the first time in India, a camera collar has captured the world through the eyes of a wild leopard. Deployed as part of a research initiative, this groundbreaking footage offers an intimate glimpse into the life and landscape of one of India’s most elusive big cats. A remarkable step forward in blending science, technology, and conservation for deeper understanding and coexistence (sic).”

“We have video footage that was recorded by the camera collar over a period of the last three months. We will analyse the data (that will be helpful to understand the behaviour of leopards),” he said.

Bilal revealed the project on X, saying, “For the first time in India, a camera collar has captured the world through the eyes of a wild leopard. Deployed as part of a research initiative, this groundbreaking footage offers an intimate glimpse into the life and landscape of one of India’s most elusive big cats. A remarkable step forward in blending science, technology, and conservation for deeper understanding and coexistence (sic).”

Junnar, located around 90 km from Pune city, has often hit headlines for intense man-leopard conflict. Junnar is predominantly a sugarcane belt offering a perfect hideout to the leopards. Moreover, the availability of easy prey — livestock of the farmers — attracts big cats near village homes. Last year, seven human lives were lost in just eights months between March and October.

Meanwhile, a team from WII, working in the area since 2019, has analysed the behaviour of the big cats. Besides, the forest department took measures like putting solar fencing near homes to mitigate the problem.

Source: https://www.news18.com/india/a-day-in-the-life-of-leopards-in-a-first-camera-collar-to-capture-rare-footage-of-big-cats-in-maharashtra-ws-l-9294731.html

After a heatwave, Delhi saw cloudy skies and light rain in some parts on Thursday. The IMD forecasts similar conditions for April 11 and 12.

In a much-needed respite from the heatwave that hit Delhi earlier this week, the national capital’s sky turned cloudy on Thursday, followed by a light drizzle in some parts of the city.

The city, however, touched the 40-degree mark in some places on Thursday. The weather monitoring stations at Ridge and Ayanagar recorded temperatures of 40.9 degree Celsius and 40.2 degree Celsius, respectively, according to the weather department.

The Safdarjung weather station recorded a maximum temperature of 39.6 degrees Celsius, which is 4.5 notches above the normal.

The minimum temperature in the national capital on Thursday was recorded at 25.9 degrees Celsius, which is six notches above the normal. It is also the highest night temperature recorded in April in the last six months, according to the IMD.

Thunderstorm likely on Friday, Saturday
Following Thursday, the IMD has predicted similar weather conditions for Delhi on Friday and Saturday. According to the weather department, the national capital is likely to witness a cloudy sky, paired with thunderstorms and light drizzle on April 11 and 12.

For Friday, the weather could lead to falling of trees or branches, leading to minor traffic disruptions. Commuters are advised to be careful on the roads. The weather could also lead to disruption in electricity supply in some parts of Delhi NCR.

People are advised to check for traffic congestion on their route before leaving and stay away from power lines or electrical wires. They are also advised to keep away from water bodies and all the objects that conduct electricity.

On April 13, the sky will likely be cloudy with chances of a light rain, however, without any thunderstorm, followed by two days of mainly clear sky on April 14 and 15.

Weather conditions may take a turn from April 16 as the IMD has predicted strong surface winds during day time for two days in Delhi.

25 dead in lightning strikes, hailstorms in Bihar
The weather turned extreme in several regions of Bihar on Thursday, leading to the deaths of as many as 25 people across the state due to lightning strikes and hailstorms, reported PTI.

According to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), 18 people died in Nalanda, followed by two in Siwan, one each in Katihar, Darbhanga, Begusarai, Bhagalpur and Jehanabad.

However, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav claimed in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that over 50 people have died.

“I am deeply saddened by the tragic deaths of more than 50 people in various incidents of storm, rain, lightning, tree and wall collapse in Bihar. I express my deepest condolences. May God provide strength to the families affected by the disaster in this hour of grief,” he said in the post.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/25-killed-in-bihar-in-lightning-strikes-rain-brings-respite-from-heat-in-delhi-thunderstorm-today-weather-updates-101744337559396.html

A video of the incident has gone viral on social media, prompting action from school education authorities.

A private school in Tamil Nadu’s Coimbatore district forced a student of Class 8 to sit outside of the class while writing her examination, reportedly because she was menstruating. A video of the incident, which shows the girl sitting outside the class on a staircase to write her exam, has gone viral on social media.

In the video, a woman seemingly approaches the girl, reportedly her mother, and is heard asking in Tamil, “Won’t they let you take the exam inside the class if you attained puberty?” reported NDTV.

The girl is heard saying, “The principal asked me to sit here and write the exam.” She added that this was not the first time and that she was made to write another exam at an isolated spot outside the class, the NDTV report added.

The girl in the video is reportedly from a Dalit community. HT.com could not independently verify the video’s authenticity.

School principal suspended
The outrage over the video prompted authorities to take action. Tamil Nadu school education minister, Anbil Mahesh, said the principal of the school, located in Senguttaipalayam village near Pollachi in Coimbatore, has been suspended.

The education department authorities have also sought explanation from the management of the school, reported news agency PTI. In a post on X, Anbil Mahesh said, “A departmental inquiry was conducted against the private school. The school principal has been suspended.”

“Oppression of children in any form cannot be tolerated. Dear student, do not sit alone! We are here. We will be here,” he added.

The girl reportedly started menstruating on April 5 and wanted to write her exams happening this week. Her parents said they asked the school to arrange a separate chair and table for her to write her exams, however, they made her sit outside the classroom.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/class-8-menstruating-tamil-nadu-student-forced-to-write-exam-outside-classroom-school-school-principal-suspended-101744331512391.html

Tahawwur Hussain Rana is accused of being tied to the Pakistani Lashkhar-e-Taiba group behind the Mumbai attacks. His extradition had been earlier announced by US President Donald Trump.

A Pakistani-born Canadian national accused of being involved in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks landed in the Indian capital of New Delhi on Thursday after being extradited from the US, according to Indian authorities.

Rana’s extradition was a yearslong effort, India says
Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a 64-year-old physician who ran an immigration consultancy in Chicago in the United States, was extradited to India after a decision by the US Supreme Court. Rana had earlier attempted to fight his extradition.

The extradition “took years of sustained and concerted efforts to bring the key conspirator behind the 2008 mayhem to justice,” India’s National Investigation Agency said.

US President Donald Trump announced Rana’s extradition in February, saying Rana is going to “face justice in India.” Trump made the announcement during a press conferencewith Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House.

Indian Home Minister Amit Shah hailed Rana’s extradition as a “great success” due to Modi’s diplomacy.

“It is the responsibility of the Indian government to bring back all those who have abused the land and the people of India,” Shah said in a post on social media.

What are Rana’s suspected ties to the Mumbai attacks?
The Mumbai attacks in November 2008 occurred over 4 days and left over 160 people dead along with hundreds more injured.

The terror attacks were planned and carried out by members of the Pakistani Lashkar-e-Taiba group. Ten Lashkar-e-Taiba members took part in the attacks, with nine of them being killed by Indian security forces.

Source: https://www.dw.com/en/mumbai-attacks-suspect-arrives-in-delhi-after-us-extradition/a-72208206

In the picture, Rana’s face is not visible. However, his long white beard is visible. His hands are being held by two NIA officers. Rana can be seen in a brown color atire.

Mumbai 26/11 terror attack mastermind Tahawwur Rana has been extradited to India on a special flight from California on Thursday. First photo of Rana being taken out of the Palam Airport in Delhi surfaced online.

In the picture, Rana’s face is not visible. However, his long white beard is visible. His hands are being held by two NIA officers. Rana can be seen in a brown color atire.

The 64-year-old Pakistan-born Canadian national and a close associate of David Coleman Headley alias Daood Gilani, is being extradited from the United States to face trial in India for his role in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks that claimed around 170 lives and several others were injured.

First Visuals Of Tahawwur Rana Being Taken Out From The Airport:

The corner shop Ramji Dharod has manned for over six decades is now on the brink of closure.

The store sits in a bylane in the central Indian city of Mumbai’s busy shopping precinct, and has served the community for 75 years.

Dharod began coming to the shop with his father when he was just 10. These days, he mostly sits idle, waiting for an occasional customer to walk in.

Behind him, cardboard boxes of unsold biscuit packets and snacks show a “stock clearance sale” sign posted on them.

“I wouldn’t get a minute to breathe a few years ago, but now I rarely get anyone coming,” says the septuagenarian wryly. “They are all shopping online. I’ve decided to retire and down the shutters.”

As 10-minute online deliveries by “quick commerce” apps like Zomato, BlinkIt and Zepto pervade urban India, hundreds of thousands of neighbourhood stores across cities have closed down.

A lobby group of consumer product distributors estimated that number to be 200,000 last October, while the municipal body of the southern city of Chennai estimated 20% of small grocers and 30% of larger departmental stores had shut down in the city in the past 5 years.

Sunil Kenia who runs a provision store right beside Dharod’s shop says he’s still in business only because his family owns the shop. Those on rent are no longer able to stay afloat, he says.

“It started going downhill after the Covid lockdowns. Business is at 50% of what we did before the pandemic,” Kenia told the BBC.

Most of his revenue now comes from wholesale customers – hawkers or those selling street-side snacks. The retail customer has all but “vanished”, he says, because of the convenience of mobile deliveries.

Mumbai-based graphic designer Monisha Sathe is among the millions of urban Indians who’ve stopped their weekly run to the market because of the ease of quick commerce.

“Lugging groceries back home was a big pain,” says Sathe. And occasionally, when she took out her car, navigating narrow market lanes and finding a parking slot would be a challenge.

Sathe says she misses the human interaction she had with the grocers and vegetable vendors and even the variety of fresh produce on sale – but for her, the balance still tilts in favour of online deliveries because of how much easier it has made her life.

A recent survey by consultancy PwC shows some 42% of urban consumers in India’s big cities think like Sathe, especially preferring quick delivery for their urgent needs. And these shifts in buying behaviour have led to three out of 10 retailers reporting a negative impact on their business, with a 52% drop in essential goods sales.

But to what extent is quick commerce really hollowing out the Indian high street?

There’s no doubt general trade – which includes grocery stores, corner shops and even big retail outlets – has come under threat, says Ankur Bisen, a partner at Technopak retail advisory. But at least for now “quick commerce is still a three-four city story”, he says. Nearly all of their sales come from these cities.

Lightning fast deliveries bucked the global trend and became successful in India largely due to a large concentration of people staying in urban clusters.

They are serviced through low-rent “dark stores” – or small shops dedicated to delivery and not open to the public – in densely populated areas, enabling economies of scale.

But the precarious nature of demand and fragmented demographics of smaller towns could make it expensive for quick commerce players to expand and make money beyond the metros, says Mr Bisen.

There’s little doubt though that these online deliveries will disrupt trade in the longer run.

Bain and Company expects quick commerce to grow at over 40% annually through to 2030, driven by expansion across “geographies”.

And this has made traditional retail nervous.

Trade organisations – like the Confederation of All India Traders, or the All India Consumer Products Distributors Federation which calls itself the voice of India’s 13m retailers – have made urgent and repeated pleas to the government against this breakneck expansion.

They allege that these companies are using billions of dollars in venture capital funds to engage in anti-competitive practices like “predatory pricing” or “deep discounting” which has further distorted the playing field for mom-and-pop shops.

The BBC spoke to several small retailers who shared these concerns. Mr Bisen too agreed there’s evidence of such practices in the clusters that quick commerce companies operate.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgkgm7rk3rmo

According to the complaint, Sonkali married Naresh Kumar, a resident of Milak Qazi village, on April 28, 2017. Her husband frequently subjected her to physical abuse for failing to bring a motorcycle and jewellery as dowry.

Pilibhit (UP): Police in Uttar Pradesh’s Pilibhit district have registered a case of dowry death against a man and his parents for allegedly burning his 26-year-old wife alive after their repeated demands for dowry were not met, officials said on Wednesday.

Jehanabad SHO Manoj Kumar Mishra said the case was registered based on a complaint lodged by Amar Pal, the deceased woman’s brother.

According to the complaint, Sonkali married Naresh Kumar, a resident of Milak Qazi village, on April 28, 2017. Her husband frequently subjected her to physical abuse for failing to bring a motorcycle and jewellery as dowry.

Sonkali’s father-in-law, Janki, and mother-in-law, Bhagwan Devi, have also been accused of subjecting her to sustained mental and physical abuse, the SHO said.

Following a dispute on March 30, Kumar and his parents allegedly wrapped Sonkali in soiled clothes, poured turpentine on her, and set her on fire, Mishra said.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/uttar-pradesh/woman-burnt-alive-for-dowry-in-ups-pilibhit-husband-in-laws-booked-3486416

Claiming that the “gravely flawed” economic policies have broken the back of the common man, Congress’ resolution said the soaring prices of essential goods have made them unaffordable for crores of ordinary households.

Ahmedabad: The Congress on Wednesday accused the Narendra Modi government of systematically eliminating competition across sectors to pave the way for monopolies, duopolies and oligopolies manned by two or three favoured industrialists while the “real job creators”, the MSME sector, have been pushed to the brink of bankruptcy.

According to the ‘Nyay Path’ resolution adopted at the AICC Session here, the policy of economic liberalisation with inclusive growth pursued by the Congress governments provided a sound economic edifice for the nation “has been overturned in the past decade” by the Modi government which “bulldozed the rights-based paradigm” to “subserve the economic interests of a handful of crony capitalist friends”.

“The current government is systematically eliminating competition across sectors to pave the way for monopolies, duopolies and oligopolies manned by two or three favoured industrialists. On the contrary, MSMEs, the real job creators, have been pushed to the brink of bankruptcy. The cheap and highly subsidized import of Chinese goods has further destroyed the financial viability of our MSMEs,” it said.

It said the Congress firmly believes that the revival, protection and promotion of MSMEs and mid-level industries is paramount for job creation and the growth of domestic manufacturing. Congress envisions an economy where a broad base of entrepreneurs and manufacturers thrive and genuine competition breaks the grip of a handful of state-sponsored monopolists.

“India must also establish our leadership position in future-friendly technologies, including Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Drones, Battery Storage, Blockchain Technology, Renewable Energy, and Emerging Energy Resources to reclaim our space in the league of nations,” it said.

Referring to the income inequality in India, it said the refusal to conduct Census after 2011 has led to the denial of food security to 11 crore people while 1 per cent of the richest Indians own over 40 per cent of the country’s wealth. “Wealth disparity is so extreme that 10 per cent of richest Indians now own 70 per cent of the nation’s wealth. Tragically, the bottom 50 per cent of the poor and the middle class possess only 6.4 per cent of the nation’s wealth,” it said.

Claiming that the “gravely flawed” economic policies have broken the back of the common man, the resolution said the soaring prices of essential goods have made them unaffordable for crores of ordinary households.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/modi-govt-promoting-monopolies-while-pushing-msmes-to-bankruptcy-congress-3486674

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan claims the SFIO’s investigation into his daughter T Veena is politically motivated. He dismisses calls for his resignation.

Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said the Serious Fraud Investigation Office’s (SFIO) action against his daughter, T Veena, in the “illegal payment” scandal was aimed at targetting him.

Vijayan said, therefore, he was not taking the SFIO action very seriously. Responding to the Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party’s demands for his resignation over it, Pinarayi Vijayan told reporters, “You can keep hoping for my resignation.”

The SFIO has reportedly named T Veena in an “illegal payment” scandal involving her now-defunct IT firm Exalogic and private mining company Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL).

“I know you want my blood, but you will not get it easily,” Pinarayi Vijayan replied on being repeatedly asked about the issue.

On being asked why the party jumped to his daughter’s defence, but the same stand was not taken when late Marxist stalwart Kodiyeri Balakrishnan’s son was facing money laundering allegations, Vijayan said in that case, the CPI(M) veteran was not targetted.

Vijayan also accused the media of hiding the fact that the payment received by Exalogic from CMRL was through proper channels, that it was not black money and that GST as well as income tax was paid in connection with it.

He also accused them of hiding CMRL’s claims that the payment was for services rendered by Exalogic. Vijayan said even his daughter’s firm had given details of the services rendered. “But, you hid all that. Why?” he asked.

Who is T Veena?

• • The Indian Express reported that Veena has been under the radar of multiple central agencies following a 2023 Income Tax Department report on Kochi-based Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL). The report alleged that CMRL made “illegal payments” worth ₹1.72 crore over three years starting from 2018-19 to Veena’s company, Exalogic, despite the firm not offering any services in return.
  • The SFIO investigation reportedly found that Veena T had received ₹2.70 crore from a private mining company without providing any services, news agency PTI reported.
  • According to the media reports, the SFIO investigation has uncovered a ₹182 crore financial fraud within the mining company, in which several others are also accused. It stated that the fraud was carried out by inflating non-existent expenses and creating fake bills.
  • The Enforcement Directorate is also reportedly preparing to register a case against Veena T, who is already facing a probe by the SFIO in the alleged “illegal payment” scandal.
  • The central investigation agency initiated a probe in March 2024 into an alleged illegal payment case linked to Veena, after receiving a complaint from Shone George — a Kottayam district panchayat member and son of veteran politician PC George, who recently aligned with the BJP.
  • Shone approached the ED, demanding an investigation into Exalogic Solutions Private Limited, the IT firm run by Veena.
  • There were also media reports that the Union ministry of corporate affairs has granted approval for prosecution proceedings against her in the SFIO case.
  • Veena has often found herself at the centre of political controversies in Kerala, dating back to her college days. Her father, Pinarayi Vijayan, came under fire from political opponents when Veena pursued engineering in a private college in Tamil Nadu in the early 2000s — a move seen as contradictory to the CPI(M)’s then-stance against self-financing colleges in Kerala.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/mother-of-3-converts-to-marry-class-12-student-in-ups-amroha-101744208259365.html

Anand Kushwaha, a labourer from Bihar, won Rs 1 crore on Dream11, transforming his family’s life. They plan to build a house, start a business, and invest in education

A labourer from Bihar’s Chhapra has become a millionaire overnight. Anand Kushwaha from Parsa in Ekma block in Bihar experienced a windfall thanks to the internet. While the internet offers numerous opportunities and risks, for Anand, it brought an unexpected fortune.

Facing financial struggles, Anand moved to Bangalore to work as a labourer. His mother, Dhanesara Devi, still works in others’ fields, and his father, Raja Ram Kushwaha, sells vegetables to support the family. The family lives in a three-room house without a proper roof, surviving in dire conditions.

Despite these hardships, Anand’s fortune changed dramatically when he won Rs 1 crore on Dream11, an online gaming platform he had been playing for the past two years. Initially, Anand kept his participation in Dream11 a secret, especially after losing Rs 22,000. However, upon winning the substantial amount, he immediately informed his father.

Source: https://www.news18.com/india/bihar-labourer-wins-rs-1-crore-on-dream11-becomes-millionaire-overnight-ws-dkl-9293478.html

Chidambaram fainted due to heat and fatigue on Tuesday when he was attending a prayer meeting along with other senior Congress leaders at the Sabaramati Ashram.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given instructions to the Gujarat government to ensure that there is “no deficiency” in former finance minister P Chidambaram’s treatment. The senior Congress leader fainted on Tuesday while attending a prayer meeting at Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad.
In a press release, the Gujarat BJP said, “When former finance minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram came to Gujarat to participate in Congress party’s national convention, his health deteriorated. Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to know about the entire development”
“Although he is holding the post of Prime Minister, as a Gujarati considering it his responsibility without indulging into party politics that no guest who has come to Gujarat faces any difficulty; and in that regard, Union health minister J P Nadda was immediately telephoned and informed to consider ill health of P Chidambaram and to ensure that there is no deficiency in his treatment,” the press release added, as per The Indian Express.

Thereafter, Nadda dialled Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and state BJP president C R Paatil and asked them to instruct state health minister Rushikesh Patel to make sure that no deficiency is there in the treatment of Chidambaram, the Gujarat BJP said.

Chidambaram faints at Congress event in Gujarat
The 79-year-old former finance minister likely fainted due to heat and fatigue after a busy day, PTI reported, citing sources. He was quickly taken to a hospital for medical attention. The incident happened as Congress leaders gathered at the Sabarmati Ashram for prayers. When Chidambaram collapsed, other leaders helped carry him to an ambulance.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/pm-modi-inquires-about-chidambarams-health-ensure-no-deficiency-in-treatement-article-151380768

The NGO further alleges this was not an isolated incident, stating the individual has “done this many times.” When bystanders attempted to intervene, he reportedly threatened them with the same stick.

A disturbing video has emerged on social media showing what appears to be a severe case of animal cruelty within a military facility. The footage, which has sparked outrage online, depicts a man allegedly beating a stray dog with a stick.

The non-governmental organization (NGO) People For Animals (PFA) shared the video on their Instagram account, identifying the individual as A Paidu Raju, reportedly a Lance Havildar of the 16 Madras Regiment.

According to PFA, the incident occurred Tuesday night inside the Pallavaram Army Camp in Chennai. The NGO claims the dog suffered serious injuries from the beating and “died slowly… in agonizing pain that lasted for hours.”

The NGO further alleges this was not an isolated incident, stating the individual has “done this many times.” When bystanders attempted to intervene, he reportedly threatened them with the same stick.

“We are sharing the unedited footage, not to shock you, but because people need to see how long this torture continued. This is the reality. And it cannot be ignored,” the NGO stated in their post.

Source: https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/army-man-brutally-beats-stray-dog-to-death-in-chennai-claims-ngo-disturbing-video-surfaces

Sources revealed that Rana, a Canadian-American citizen of Pakistani origin, is expected to land in New Delhi later in the day. Upon arrival, he will be taken into custody by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is coordinating his extradition along with the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). He is likely to be presented before a Delhi court soon after.

Tahawwur Hussain Rana, one of India’s most wanted accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, is en route to New Delhi following his extradition from the United States after exhausting all legal avenues to stall the move.

About The Extradition

A special chartered flight carrying the 64-year-old left the US on Wednesday, April 9, marking a significant moment in India’s pursuit of justice for the 2008 terror attack that killed 166 people.

Sources revealed that Rana, a Canadian-American citizen of Pakistani origin, is expected to land in New Delhi later in the day. Upon arrival, he will be taken into custody by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is coordinating his extradition along with the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). He is likely to be presented before a Delhi court soon after.

Rana has been charged under multiple sections, including criminal conspiracy, waging war against the Government of India, murder, forgery, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The Mumbai Police, however, have not yet received an official communication regarding his transfer to the city.

On Wednesday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah hailed the extradition as a major diplomatic success for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.

“Tahawwur Rana’s extradition is a big success of Prime Minister Modi’s diplomacy,” Shah said, calling it a defining triumph for the administration and a step toward justice for the victims of the horrific attacks.

Rana’s extradition marks the beginning of long-awaited legal proceedings into one of the most devastating terror episodes in India’s contemporary history.

Officially handed over to the NIA on April 8, 2025, in California, Rana had fought a protracted legal battle in the US to avoid being sent to India. His legal team had filed multiple appeals, including to the US Supreme Court, but all were ultimately rejected.

In his defence, Rana cited deteriorating health conditions, including Parkinson’s disease, a serious abdominal aneurysm, and symptoms of bladder cancer, claiming these made him unfit to face trial in India.

However, the US courts were unconvinced by his arguments, with his final appeal dismissed on April 7.

The extradition honours a prior assurance reportedly given by former US President Donald Trump during discussions with Prime Minister Modi.

Source: https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/flight-carrying-2611-mumbai-terror-attack-accused-tahawwur-rana-to-arrive-in-delhi-today

Mumbai terror attack accused Tahawwur Rana is expected to be extradited to India from the US “shortly”, sources have said.

According to government sources in India, a multi-agency team from India has gone to the US and all paperwork and legalities are being completed with US authorities.

Sources said, “very high possibility” that Rana “could be extradited shortly.”

It is also learnt that Rana is not coming to India on Wednesday and the extradition process is in the works.

The hugely significant development comes just days after Rana’s last resort attempt to evade extradition to India failed after the US Supreme Court justices denied his application, moving him closer to being handed over to Indian authorities to face justice in the dastardly attacks.

Rana (64), currently lodged in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles, had submitted an ‘Emergency Application For Stay Pending Litigation of Petition For Writ of Habeas Corpus’ on February 27, 2025, with Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States and Circuit Justice for the Ninth Circuit Elena Kagan.

Kagan had denied the application earlier last month.

Rana had then renewed his ‘Emergency Application for Stay Pending Litigation of Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus previously addressed to Justice Kagan’ and requested that the renewed application be directed to US Chief Justice John Roberts.

An order on the Supreme Court website noted that Rana’s renewed application had been “distributed for Conference” on April 4 and the “application” has been “referred to the Court.”

A notice on the Supreme Court website Monday said that “Application denied by the Court.”

New York-based Indian American attorney Ravi Batra had told PTI that Rana had made his application to the Supreme Court to prevent extradition, which Justice Kagan denied on March 6. The application was then submitted before Roberts, “who has shared it with the Court to conference so as to harness the entire Court’s view”.

The Supreme Court justices are Associate Justice Clarence Thomas, Associate Justice Samuel A Alito, Jr, Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice Elena Kagan, Associate Justice Neil M Gorsuch, Associate Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh, Associate Justice Amy Coney Barrett, and Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.

In his emergency application, Rana had sought a stay of his extradition and surrender to India pending litigation (including exhaustion of all appeals) on the merits of his February 13.

In that petition, Rana argued that his extradition to India violates US law and the UN Convention Against Torture “because there are substantial grounds for believing that, if extradited to India, the petitioner will be in danger of being subjected to torture”.

“The likelihood of torture in this case is even higher though as petitioner faces acute risk as a Muslim of Pakistani origin charged in the Mumbai attacks,” the application said.

The application also said that his “severe medical conditions” render extradition to Indian detention facilities a “de facto” death sentence in this case.

It cited medical records from July 2024 that confirm Rana has multiple “acute and life-threatening diagnoses”, including multiple documented heart attacks, Parkinson’s disease with cognitive decline, a mass suggestive of bladder cancer, stage 3 chronic kidney disease, and a history of chronic asthma, and multiple Covid-19 infections.

“Accordingly, petitioner certainly has raised a credible, if not compelling, factual case that there are indeed substantial grounds for believing he would be in danger of torture if surrendered to Indian authorities.

“Further, because of his Muslim religion, his Pakistani origin, his status as a former member of the Pakistani Army, the relation of the putative charges to the 2008 Mumbai attacks, and his chronic health conditions he is even more likely to be tortured than otherwise would be the case, and that torture is very likely to kill him in short order.”

Rana, a Canadian national of Pakistani origin, is known to be associated with Pakistani-American terrorist David Coleman Headley, one of the main conspirators of the 26/11 attacks.

During a joint press conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the White House in February, President Donald Trump announced that his administration has approved the extradition of “very evil” Rana “to face justice in India”.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/maharashtra/mumbai-terror-attack-accused-tahawwur-rana-likely-to-be-extradited-to-india-shortly-sources-3485189

Karnataka MGNREGA Payment: In Karnataka’s Yadgir district, men posed as women and uploaded fake attendance photos to fraudulently claim MGNREGA benefits worth Rs 3 lakh. The scam prompted local outrage.

Several men dressed in sarees covered their heads and posed as women to defraud a government scheme and claim benefits worth Rs 3 lakh.

The incident happened in Karnataka’s Yadgir district, where men got themselves clicked posing as women, and these photos were later uploaded to the National Mobile Monitoring Service (NMMS) – an attendance logging system, to falsely portray that women workers were participating in the scheme.

According to the details, these pictures were clicked and uploaded in February this year.

The scam not only defrauded the government scheme but also left women, desperately looking out for jobs, without work.

As the scam came to light, locals of the district demanded strict action against the authorities.

Meanwhile, the local panchayat blamed some outsourced workers for the scam and alleged that no officers were involved.

“I have no role in this case. An outsourced employee did this, I was unaware of the entire scam. When it came to my notice, I suspended the employee. Now, MGNREGA work is going seamlessly in the village. We have given work to 2,500 workers,” Chennabasava, Panchayat Development Officer of the Malhar village said.

Department of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj claimed that it had taken initiatives in March, to provide jobs for 100 days in a year under the MGNREGA scheme.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/karnataka-district-men-pose-as-women-upload-photos-claims-mgnrega-scheme-benefits-yadgir-zila-panchayat-9291040.html

A special court in Jaipur on Tuesday sentenced four convicts to life imprisonment in connection with the 2008 serial bomb blasts that rocked the city, killing and injuring dozens. Special Public Prosecutor Sagar Tiwari confirmed the sentencing, stating, “Court has pronounced life imprisonment to all four accused Mohd Sarwar, Saifur Rehman, Saif, and Shahbaz. The court has said that this incident does not only affect a specific person but it’s an attack on nation’s sovereignty and integrity.”

He also noted that the defence requested that the punishment already served in related cases be considered as part of the sentence. “The other side demanded that the punishment served in old connected matters should now be set off, but we informed the court about Supreme Court’s decision that the provision of set off is not applicable in such cases,” he said.
The verdict comes 17 years after the coordinated bombings, which had triggered nationwide outrage and led to a high-profile investigation.

Saif-Ur-Rehman, Mohammed Saif, Mohammed Salman, and Sarwar Azmi were initially sentenced to death in December 2019 for their involvement in the 2008 Jaipur serial blasts. However, the Rajasthan High Court overturned the verdict in March 2023. The state government and blast victims challenged that decision by filing special leave petitions in the Supreme Court, where the matter is still under consideration.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/attack-on-nations-sovereignty-2008-jaipur-blasts-convicts-get-life-imprisonment-article-151373914

In less than 12 hours, Punjab police have cracked the case of the explosion outside the house ofBJP leader Manoranjan Kalia on the intervening night of April 7-8. A senior police officer on Tuesday said that the two arrested suspects, who threw the grenade just a few meters away from Kalia’s house, were working as per the instructions of Zeeshan Akhtar, the mastermind of the attack. Akhtar is also involved in the killing of NCP leader Baba Siddique who died in October last year. Akhtar, who is a close aide of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, is still at large and is wanted by Mumbai police in connection with the murder of 66-year-old Mumbai MLA.
Arpit Shukla, Director General of Police (DGP), said that an auto rickshaw was also seized, which was allegedly used in the attack on Kalia late on Monday night. Pakistan’s ISI (expand) links have also surfaced in connection with the case, according to Punjab police sources. The attack, the sources said, was intended to disturb communal harmony.

Earlier it was reported that the attackers have links with Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). As of now, the police are investigating links to Pakistan-based Khalistani terrorist Harvinder Singh alias Rinda and gangster Happy Pasia, a link with Pakistani spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Pakistani gangster Shahzad Bhatti also involved. The case is being probed as a cross-border planned attack.

Earlier in the day, Deputy Commissioner of Police Manpreet Singh said a “loud sound” was heard at around 1 am at the residence of Kalia near Shastri Market in Jalandhar. “No one was hurt in the incident. The forensic team is investigating the matter.”

Speaking on the blast, BJP leader Kalia said it could be a hand-grenade. “The grenade attack was so severe that the partition in the house was severely damaged. The window glass of the kitchen was damaged. A bathroom door was damaged,” he added.
Kalia said he was sleeping when he heard the sound of the explosion, adding that initially he thought “it was a thunder”.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/jalandhar-punjab-blast-case-bjp-leader-house-2-arrested-for-grenade-attack-lawrence-bishnoi-link-emerges-article-151372883

A sudden electrical malfunction triggered a cascading series of fires, panic, and destruction in the quiet hamlet of Jalibenchi in Karnataka’s Yadgir district. The incident, which occurred late last night, saw nearly a hundred homes affected, leaving behind a trail of charred appliances and injured residents.

Several videos of the terrifying incident have since gone viral, capturing dramatic visuals of sparks leaping from electric poles, smoke rising from rooftops, and scorched interiors of homes. Footage from inside the affected houses shows extensive damage – burnt switchboards, charred batteries, blackened fan blades, and destroyed household appliances like televisions and refrigerators.

Two people were reported injured in the incident, although their conditions remain stable. Emergency services were quick to respond, and fire risks were eventually brought under control.

Initial probe suggests the incident was caused by sudden gusty winds that swept through the region. These strong winds may have caused aging electric wires to come into contact with each other, resulting in short circuits and subsequent fires. However, the exact cause is yet to be officially confirmed.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/sparks-smoke-panic-power-chaos-in-karnataka-village-damages-100-homes-8121006

Mumbai’s Bandra Police said they have filed a 1000-page chargesheet, including several pieces of evidence in the Bandra court in connection with the stabbing attack on Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan.

“This chargesheet includes several pieces of evidence found by the police against the arrested accused, Shariful Islam. This chargesheet is more than 1000 pages long. The report of the forensic lab has also been mentioned in this chargesheet, which states that the knife pieces found at the crime scene, from Saif Ali Khan’s body and from the accused, are three pieces of the same knife, ” as per Mumbai police.

“At the same time, the fingerprint report of the accused’s left hand found by the police during the investigation has also been mentioned, said the Mumbai Police.

The attack on Saif Ali Khan occurred on January 16 when accused Shehzad, allegedly attempting a robbery, broke into the actor’s Bandra residence.

During the incident, Mr Khan was severely injured, suffering damage to his thoracic spine and other body parts.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/saif-ali-khan-stabbing-mumbai-police-files-1-000-page-chargesheet-in-saif-ali-khan-stabbing-case-8121106

Noting that the world is looking at India and has hope from the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday that his government has opened new possibilities through its policies and the decisions taken in the nearly 100 days of this year have strengthened the foundation for the future.

Addressing the Rising Bharat Summit organised by News 18, PM Modi said that those who thought that India will move slowly and steadily, they are seeing “fast and fearless India”.

“Despite global challenges, India raced fast and doubled the size of its economy in just a decade. People who thought India would move slowly and steadily now see a fast and fearless India. Undoubtedly, India will soon become the third-largest economy in the world. Who is driving the unprecedented growth of the country? Youth of India, their ambitions and aspirations,” he said.

“We have opened up new possibilities through our policies. Now, income up to ₹12 lakh is tax-free. Young professionals and entrepreneurs will greatly benefit from this change,” he added.

PM Modi said his government has opened up several sectors. He also talked about the achievements of his government.

“Similar to the space sector, the nuclear energy sector has now been opened up to private enterprises. Individuals connected to the gig economy will receive social security protection. People who were invisible to others are now at the centre of the policies. A term loan of ₹2 crore will be available for entrepreneurs from the SC, ST, and women’s groups. Inclusivity is not just a promise; it’s a policy,” he said.

PM Modi said delay is the enemy of development.

“The country cannot function by simply delaying projects; it thrives on action and a fast pace of work. Delay is the enemy of development, and we are determined to overcome this challenge. The foundation stone for Assam’s Bogibeel Bridge was laid by former Prime Minister Devegowda ji in 1997, and the work was initiated under Vajpayee’s government. However, when the Congress Party came to power, the project was halted. The people of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam faced difficulties, but the government at that time showed little concern. In 2014, when we were allowed to serve, the project was restarted. Remarkably, we completed the bridge in just four years, by 2018,” he said.

PM Modi also talked about the achievements of the MUDRA scheme.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/indias-economy-raced-fast-despite-global-challenges-pm-modi-101744129909424.html

Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim was released by the Haryana Government on a 21-day furlough (parole) on Wednesday morning. Rahim is a convict in rape and murder cases.

In January this year also, the Dera Sacha Sauda chief had been granted a 30-day parole by the Haryana Government, just before the Delhi Assembly Elections in February. He is currently lodged in Rohtak’s Sunaria Jail

Since January 20 last year, Gurmeet Ram Rahim has been released for a total of 142 days by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government in Haryana, reported The Times of India.

Notably, it is reportedly the 13th furlough/parole given to the Dera Sacha Sauda chief since October 24, 2020.

In February this year, the Supreme Court refused to hear a plea of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) against the temporary release of Gurmeet Ram Rahim. The plea was filed challenging the Punjab and Haryana High Court order.

The bench of Justices B R Gavai and Prashant Kumar Mishra noted Singh’s counsel objection to the maintainability of the PIL before the high court, which it disposed of, on the ground that it was filed against a single person, who was Singh.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/rape-convict-dera-sacha-sauda-chief-gurmeet-ram-rahim-out-of-jail-again-granted-21-day-furlough

Contrary to general perception, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has revealed that his vehicle, too, was fined twice on the Bandra-Worli Sea Link in Mumbai. This revelation came during the Rising Bharat Summit 2025, organised by the News18 news channel.

“I built the Bandra-Worli Sea Link. I have a car in Mumbai, and I received a challan for it twice. Nobody can escape. The camera catches everything. I had to pay ₹500,” said Gadkari. “People often complain about fines, but they should simply follow the rules. Fines are not meant for revenue generation,” he added.

During the interaction, Gadkari hinted at upcoming toll tax reforms that may benefit lakhs of motorists. Responding to a question about the possibility of roads becoming toll-free, he said, “A policy that will provide relief to tollpayers is in the works. It will be announced in 8-10 days. The toll amount will be reduced by 100%. That’s all I can reveal at the moment.”

Gadkari acknowledged that the ministry’s target of halving road accidents has not yet been achieved. He attributed this to both road and automobile engineering, noting that while vehicle manufacturing standards are strong, there are shortcomings in road infrastructure. To address this, the government has allocated ₹40,000 crore to rectify accident-prone “black spots.” Additionally, under the Raahveer scheme, a reward of ₹25,000 will be given to those who assist accident victims, and efforts are underway to cover medical expenses for the injured—a proposal that has been submitted to the Prime Minister.

Gadkari emphasised that reckless road behavior is a major concern. To prevent dangerous median crossings, the government plans to increase median heights to 3.25 feet and plant trees as additional deterrents. Foot overbridges will also be redesigned to accommodate not just pedestrians but also two-wheeler riders and cyclists, with separate provisions for divyangjan (differently-abled individuals).

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/i-made-bandra-worli-sea-link-yet-my-car-was-fined-twice-union-minister-nitin-gadkari-on-importance-of-traffic-rules

Mehbooba Mufti, the former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and People’s Democratic Party leader, in an interview with DH’s Zulfikar Majid, emphasised that the final solution to the Kashmir issue can only be achieved when the region is demilitarised and its people feel a sense of accomplishment rather than defeat. She also discussed the contentious issue of Article 370, challenges facing Kashmir’s political future, and her views on the way forward for Kashmir and its people. Excerpts:

The PDP suffered a significant setback in the 2024 Assembly and general elections. What do you think were the main reasons behind it?

The primary reason was the widespread anger among the people regarding our 2015 alliance with the BJP. Additionally, since 2018, the BJP government at the Centre has actively worked to weaken the PDP. Almost 60 of our key leaders, including MLAs, MLCs, and MPs, left the party. A strong political presence takes at least 20 years, and when a party loses such a large number of senior leaders, the public starts to view it as a broken party. The question then becomes: what are we voting for?

Do you acknowledge that the PDP’s alliance with the BJP played a role in the party’s decline?

Yes, absolutely.

With the BJP making significant inroads in J&K, is there room for two major regional parties —the PDP and National Conference?

If you look at our history, we began with just one MLA, at a time when the situation in Kashmir was not ideal. The NC was in power with 68 MLAs, yet we succeeded because we had the people’s interest at heart. Success in politics is about representing the people’s interests.

A hypothetical question: if a similar situation arises in the future, would you consider an alliance with the BJP again, as you did in 2015?

I don’t consider the alliance a mistake. It had a larger purpose—to find a solution to the Kashmir issue. My father (late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed) always said that anyone can build roads and infrastructure; he didn’t want to be a CM just for that. His goal was to resolve the Kashmir problem, and that could only be done with the support of the central government.

Do you still believe that Article 370 will be eventually restored?

Why not? It has to come back through the judiciary.

But the judiciary, specifically the Supreme Court, has already ruled on this matter.

It doesn’t matter. No authority is absolute, especially when it comes to human decisions. I believe the Government of India will have to reconsider it if they genuinely want to resolve the Kashmir issue. However, I would argue that the Kashmir problem is more than just about Article 370. Even if it is restored, many other steps are needed to resolve the issue.

New Delhi claims that the only unfinished agenda regarding Kashmir is the retrieval of Pak-occupied Kashmir. Is that realistic?

I wish the government would first focus on the 4,500 sq km that China has taken over. The rhetoric about PoK is one thing, but India should first address what it actually has control over. At the same time, we see rising hostility against Muslims in India, and I wish that would stop. My suggestion to the government of India is to arrange meetings with legislators from both sides of Kashmir—one in Srinagar and one in Muzaffarabad. If legislators on the other side genuinely want to be part of India, we can make that happen. If the Indian government considers PoK to be part of India, they shouldn’t have a problem with such discussions.

Omar Abdullah has been the CM of the J&K Union Territory for almost six months now. What’s your take on his government’s performance?

It is too early to make a judgement. However, the problems in J&K go beyond just infrastructure development. Political challenges and their consequences need to be addressed, and we haven’t seen much action from the Omar government on that front.

You have often supported dialogue with Pakistan, separatists, and even militants. Do you still think that’s possible under the current right-wing government in the Centre?

We don’t expect miracles, but there are basic expectations. People hoped that an elected government would stand up for them. They wanted to see an end to the unilateral termination of government employees on allegations of pro-militancy connections, the cessation of NIA and agency raids, and the release of political prisoners from outside state jails. The NC, with its majority, should have at least been able to stand up for these issues.

Do you think a UT government has the authority to challenge these issues?

It is not about confrontation; it is about standing up for the people. Before the elections, Omar and Farooq Abdullah sought votes, claiming if any other party comes to power, they are going to normalise the situation post-August 2019.

But who has normalised everything now? Because when you don’t speak up when things are happening in the same manner that happened before (elections), that means you are normalising everything.

Do you want the elected government to confront the Lieutenant Governor regarding terminations, raids, and bans?

They should at the very least take up the issues. For example, the April 4 meeting at the Deputy CM’s residence was more about a protest over transfer orders for patwaris (junior officials). These are minor issues compared to serious concerns like the treatment of prisoners, raids, and the firing of employees. People voted for the government to safeguard them, not to engage in petty disputes over official transfers.

Critics argue that the PDP has been inconsistent in its ideology, saying that the party says one thing in power and another in opposition.

The PDP is the only party with a consistent ideology and a logical roadmap for resolving the Kashmir issue. From (late) Sheikh Abdullah to Omar Abdullah, no one has genuinely attempted to address the Kashmir issue the way Mufti Sayeed did. His approach was pragmatic, focused on finding solutions without challenging the sovereignty of India or Pakistan and without altering borders. That solution remains the only practical one.

Do you think ideas like PDP’s self-rule, NC’s autonomy, separatist UN resolutions, and militant violence have become part of Kashmir’s history, especially after the abrogation of Article 370?

The final solution to Kashmir will only come when the region is not heavily militarised, when Kashmiri people can walk with their heads held high, and when they feel a sense of accomplishment instead of defeat.

Do you mean to say Kashmiris have accepted defeat?

At this point in time, Kashmiris have a sense of defeat. But they have not accepted defeat. People are tired, and they feel betrayed. They may be lying low for now, but this isn’t normalcy. What’s happening is enforced through draconian laws like UAPA, PSA, and agency raids. It is not organic peace.

The BJP is making the same mistake the separatists made in the past. In 1990, Mufti Sayeed, as Union Home Minister, reached out to separatist leaders in jail and offered them a chance to negotiate, excluding the demand for Azadi. The separatists turned it down, thinking they could achieve independence. Today, the BJP is repeating that mistake. They fail to understand that the people’s will is often stronger than the State’s power.

But what about the changing political and ground realities right now? Because right or wrong, as you rightly said, people have accepted defeat.

As I said, there is a sense of defeat, but people have not accepted defeat. They have not given up. Because had they given up, the Government of India would not be so jittery about everything here.

Mehbooba Mufti of the 1990s travelled to parts of the valley where militants held sway and gave hope to the youth. Why aren’t you doing the same now?

We aim to reignite that hope. If we could do it then, we can do it now. But first, we need to rebuild the PDP. Once the party is strong again, the voice of Kashmir will be louder. The BJP broke our party because they knew PDP was the only real challenge, yet they left the National Conference untouched. They knew they could manage them because of their history, but they couldn’t control us. They have seen my style; they saw my father when we were even in coalition with them. It was our agenda that was working that time.

What do you foresee in the next one, five, and 10 years for Kashmir?

It won’t be easy, but there will always be a new dawn after a dark night. Kashmiris have struggled and sacrificed so much, and I don’t believe all of that will be in vain.

A short message for the people of India from a Kashmiri Muslim leader…

I would urge them not to mistreat minorities. As a Kashmiri, I can speak from experience. We failed to protect our Kashmiri Pandit minority in the 1990s. Though the situation was different then and there was fear of guns, the majority community could have done more to prevent their exodus.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/jammu-and-kashmir/the-kashmir-problem-is-more-than-just-about-article-370-3482646

Artificial intelligence-driven cyberattacks are expected to rise in the coming days, posing challenges to traditional cybersecurity measures, according to the Digital Threat Report-2024 for the Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI) sector.

The report, prepared by Cert-In, India’s cyber nodal agency, and SISA, a global cybersecurity firm, says, “By 2025, we expect AI-driven cyberattacks to become one of the most scalable and adaptable threats, challenging traditional defences and requiring innovative countermeasures.”

With AI being leveraged by both defenders and attackers, the report warns of a future dominated by highly personalised, large-scale cyberattacks driven by such technologies.

“The cyber threats are no longer a distant concern — they are an immediate and inescapable reality, particularly for the BFSI industry,” the report said.

The report highlights that in 2024, the BFSI sector experienced a rise in the sophistication and diversity of cyberattacks. It notes that the sector’s ecosystem faces distinct challenges due to its interconnected infrastructure and the high-value financial data it safeguards.

“This convergence of high rewards and expanding technological complexity has made the sector a prime target for attacks by cyber malicious actors. Phishing and compromised credentials are some of the key forms of cyber-attacks in India,” the report said.

The first half of 2024 witnessed a 175 per cent increase in phishing attacks compared to the same period last year, underscoring heightened activity in an increasingly volatile threat landscape, according to the report.

As attackers increasingly utilise AI, identity-based attacks have become more sophisticated and widespread. AI’s capability to exploit identity vulnerabilities and bypass defences through social engineering represents a concerning shift in cyber tactics. Deepfake technology, for example, facilitates large-scale impersonation scams such as executive-level Business Email Compromise (BEC) attacks and misinformation campaigns.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/ai-driven-attacks-to-hit-banking-sector-report-3483254

A purported video of the incident showed him dangling from the railing before jumping and a huge crowd was gathered on the road below.

A 45-year-old man attempted suicide by jumping from the railing of east Delhi’s Mayur Vihar Phase-1 Metro Station on Monday afternoon despite attempts by emergency personnel to rescue him after he was seen dangling from the building, officials said.

The man, Vikas Sharma, from Hauz Khas area, was injured and is undergoing treatment at the Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) Hospital, they said.

A purported video of the incident showed him dangling from the railing before jumping and a huge crowd was gathered on the road below.

The incident occurred around 12.40 pm when Sharma was seen hanging from the station wall, facing the roadside, a police officer said.

He said, “Information was received from the station controller of the Mayur Vihar-1 metro regarding the man hanging over the side of the road for about half an hour.” “CISF, Delhi Metro staff, local police, PCR and fire brigade tried to rescue him,” the officer said.

However, despite all efforts Sharma jumped on the road below around 1.40 pm. He was taken to Lal Bahadur Shastri (LBS) Hospital from where he was referred to GTB Hospital for further treatment, the officer added.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/man-injured-after-suicide-attempt-at-delhi-metro-station-seen-clinging-to-wall-for-hour-before-jumping-ws-l-9290466.html

India US Trade Deal: Global stock markets witnessed intense selling on Monday after China announced retaliatory tariffs in response to US President Donald Trump’s import duties.

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar on Monday spoke with his US counterpart Marco Rubio and said that India and the US have agreed on the importance of the early conclusion of the Bilateral Trade Agreement.

Discussions were also held on Indo-Pacific, the Indian Sub-continent, Europe, Middle East/West Asia and the Caribbean during the telephonic conversation.

Spokesperson for the United States Department of State, Tammy Bruce, shared the details of the conversation between Jaishankar and Rubio.

“The Secretary and External Affairs Minister affirmed the strength of the U.S.-India strategic partnership and discussed opportunities to deepen collaboration in the Indo-Pacific region,” Bruce said in an official statement.

The spokesperson added that both the leaders also discussed US reciprocal tariffs on India and how to make progress toward a fair and balanced trade relationship

Global stock markets witnessed intense selling on Monday after China announced retaliatory tariffs in response to US President Donald Trump’s import duties.

Trump has announced 26% reciprocal tariffs on India, significantly down from its Asian peers. Even though China retaliated with 34% tariff on US goods imports, India is not planning to put any reciprocal tariffs.

India does not plan to hit back at the US over the 26% reciprocal tariffs, a government official said, citing the ongoing trade deal talks between the two nations, news agency Reuters reported.

The government of India has found a clause of Trump’s tariff order that offers a possible reprieve for trading partners who “take significant steps to remedy non-reciprocal trade arrangements”, the official said.

According to this clause, the countries can be excused or get relief from the tariffs if they make efforts to fix unfair trade deals. Another official, who did not want to be named, said that New Delhi sees itself to be in a better place than other Asian nations like China, Vietnam and Indonesia, who have been hit by higher Trump tariffs, as India is one of the first nations to have already initiated talks with Washington over a trade deal – something the country considers an advantage.

After Trump’s tariff announcement on April 2, India’s Ministry of Commerce & Industry had said discussions are ongoing between Indian and US trade teams for the expeditious conclusion of a mutually beneficial, multi-sectoral Bilateral Trade Agreement.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/agreed-on-india-us-discuss-trade-agreement-as-trump-tariffs-rattle-global-markets-ws-l-9290352.html

Garhwal Divisional Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey said that the administration’s preparations for the Char Dham Yatra are almost complete. He added that there will be no cap on the number of devotees who can participate in the pilgrimage.

The official said that traffic arrangements, pure drinking water, and parking are the main focus of the preparations.

“Our preparations are almost done. There is a special focus on 3-4 things: traffic arrangements, pure drinking water, and parking. This time, the Yatra route has been divided into sectors of 10 km each. Our officials will travel this 10 km on two-wheelers with walkie-talkies. After the sector, it has been further converted into zones and super zones,” Mr Pandey told ANI.

“Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has given very clear directions that the pilgrims should not face any kind of inconvenience. Registration is ongoing; around 13.5 lakh people have registered online so far. This time, there is no cap on the number of pilgrims undertaking the Yatra,” he added.

The official also talked about the administration’s efforts to make the Yatra ‘green’ and ensure cleanliness throughout the pilgrimage.

“PM Modi has given a tagline of ‘Green Yatra’ for this Yatra, so it is being appealed to the pilgrims and field officers have been clearly told that he Dhams have a religious value and their holiness has to be kept intact but it should also be our effort to ensure that there is no garbage on the route and deter the usage of something that is harmful to the environment. People are being motivated towards this, and an alternate is also being made available,” Mr Pandey said.

He said that soon after the conclusion of the Yatra, the Chief Minister instructed officials to prepare for this year’s.

“Soon after the Char Dham Yatra concluded last year, the Chief Minister gave directions to begin preparations (for this year’s Yatra). 2-3 meetings have already been done by the Chief Minister. He takes feedback regarding the preparations every day. I held a meeting at Yatra office in Rishikesh in February and on 5th (April), all DMs, SPs and HoDs of all departments of Garhwal division were present there,” Mr Pandey said.

Earlier, as part of the yatra’s preparations, a 30-member advance team of the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) reached Badrinath Dham yesterday to oversee and begin restoration and infrastructural arrangements ahead of the annual pilgrimage, said an official statement.

The doors of Badrinath Dham are opening on 4th May. The state government is preparing for the Chardham Yatra before the Yatra, while preparations are being made continuously at the BKTC level for the Yatra.

The weather is clear in Badrinath Dham, although snow can still be seen in some places and on the nearby hills.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/char-dham-yatra-uttarakhand-official-says-no-cap-on-number-of-devotees-this-year-for-char-dham-yatra-8113134

Muskan Rastogi, accused and jailed for allegedly murdering her husband, Saurabh Rajput, in Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut, is reportedly pregnant. Her positive test result was confirmed on Monday, an India Today report said.

Rastogi, along with her lover Sahil Shukla, had allegedly stabbed Rajput to death on March 4 before chopping his body up into multiple pieces and hiding them inside a cement-filled drum.

Both the accused are lodged in separate barracks at the Meerut district jail. Last week, a local court extended their judicial custody for another 14 days.

According to the India Today report, chief medical officer Ashok Kataria confirmed on Monday that Rastogi’s pregnancy test result came back positive.

Earlier, the jail administration had written to the chief minister’s office, requesting a medical test for Rastogi. In response, a team from the district hospital was sent to the jail.

Last week, Rastogi and Shukla came face-to-face for the first time since their arrest. The prison administration has strictly prohibited any communication between the two accused.

Rastogi broke down when she saw her lover during her appearance in court via video conferencing, PTI reported citing sources.

Meerut murder

The alleged murder committed by Rastogi and Shukla sent shockwaves across the country, with chilling details emerging from the investigation into the case.

The two had also undertaken a trip to Himachal Pradesh after the alleged murder.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/meerut-murder-accused-muskan-rastogi-is-pregnant-report-101744031098418.html

Tension gripped a border village in South Tripura district on Monday after locals discovered a suspected Bangladeshi drone inside the Indian territory.

According to villagers, a farmer first spotted the drone in a paddy field near the Indo-Bangladesh border at Ballamukha, under Bilonia subdivision, around 300 meters from the barbed wire fencing on the Indian side of the border and immediately informed the local police.

He claimed a few days ago, they had seen a drone flying over the area from the direction of Bangladesh, appearing to conduct an aerial survey. They suspect the recovered device might be the same one.

A police team rushed to the spot and recovered the drone, which was equipped with a camera.

Both the Tripura Police and the Border Security Force have launched an investigation to determine the origin of the drone and the purpose behind its flight in the sensitive border region.

According to locals, the drone had been seen flying in the area over the past few days, and there is suspicion that it may have originated from the Bangladesh side of the border.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/drone-fitted-with-camera-found-in-tripura-village-bordering-bangladesh-8111109

A blast has taken place outside the house of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Manoranjan Kalia in Jalandhar, Punjab. The explosion occurred at 1 am in the night and police as well as forensic teams have reached the area. Initial probe has led the investigators to one Happy Singh Passia, a member of Khalistani orgamisation – Babbar Khalsa International (BKI).
“The forensic team will inspect and give the report. The incident took place at the residence of Manoranjan Kalia,” Manpreet Singh, DCP, Jalandhar, said.

Speaking on the blast, BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia said, “There was a blast at around 1 am…I was sleeping, and I thought that it was the sound of thunder…”

“Later I was informed that a blast had taken place…after this, I sent my gunman to the police station…CCTV is being investigated; forensic experts are also present here…” he added.

Dhanpreet Kaur, Jalandhar Police Commissioner, said a probe is on to ascertain if it was a grenade blast. “Around 1 am, we got information of blast here, after which we reached the spot and started the investigation. The forensic team is investigating the matter…We are also monitoring the CCTV… The forensic team is investigating whether it is a grenade attack or something else…” she said.

Kalia is a former Cabinet minister and the former president of Punjab BJP. Similar incidents of explosions targeting police posts in Amritsar and Gurdaspur have also taken place in the past four to five months. Last month, a blast occurred outside a temple in Amritsar.

A man who allegedly posed as a UK-returned cardiologist and conducted complex heart procedures without proper medical qualifications was arrested Monday after being linked to at least seven deaths at Damoh’s Mission Hospital in Madhya Pradesh. Astonishingly, this is not the first time the same individual—identified as Narendra Vikramaditya Yadav—has been in the spotlight.

In 2006, he was accused of causing the death of then Chhattisgarh Assembly Speaker Rajendra Prasad Shukla during a surgery at Bilaspur’s Apollo Hospital. Two decades later, the same man was found operating under the name “Dr N John Camm” in Damoh.