Category: India

The Trinamool Congress was forced to call off a legislators’ meeting at Mamata Banerjee’s residence after only 20 of the party’s 80 newly elected MLAs attended.

A day after Trinamool Congress General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee was attacked, a meeting of the party’s newly elected legislators failed to take off as only 20 of the 80 MLAs turned up at Mamata Banerjee’s Kalighat residence. The absence of nearly three-fourths of the legislators raised eyebrows. However, the TMC was quick to dismiss concerns, saying several MLAs were busy organising ground protests against the authorities over alleged political violence and therefore could not attend the meeting.

TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said many legislators could not attend the meeting because of developments on the ground following Saturday’s attack on Abhishek Banerjee and the alleged assault on party MP Kalyan Banerjee a day later.

Speaking to reporters outside former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s Kalighat residence, where the meeting was due to be held, Ghosh said the party had instead decided to intensify its protest programme over the next 48 hours against the Suvendu Adhikari-led BJP government. He also announced block-level and ward-level rallies on Monday, followed by a day-long sit-in in central Kolkata on Tuesday to be led by Mamata Banerjee.

Ghosh said the meeting had been fixed in advance, but the attacks on the party’s leaders had led MLAs to organise protests in different areas. He said police action had then been taken against TMC workers, and several legislators who could not attend were occupied with handling the situation locally and helping workers who had been arrested.

According to Ghosh, those MLAs informed the legislative party about the developments and asked whether the meeting could be postponed for the time being. He said the party accepted what he described as a valid request and decided to call off the meeting for now, even though around 20 MLAs had already reached the venue for the 3 pm meeting.

He said the meeting would be held later and that the revised details would be communicated to all MLAs. Ghosh added that all the party’s legislators had conveyed that they stood firmly with the organisation during this period. Party sources said that despite the low attendance, Mamata Banerjee held informal discussions with those who were present.

Announcing the party’s next steps, Ghosh said leaders had been told to hold protest rallies on Monday at the block level in rural areas and in municipal wards in urban parts of the state. He said the rallies would protest against the attacks on Abhishek Banerjee, Kalyan Banerjee and party workers, whom he described as targets of post-poll terror by the BJP.

Ghosh, who is also the TMC MLA from Beleghata, said the party would then hold a one-day symbolic sit-in on Tuesday at the Rani Rashmoni Road protest site in Esplanade. He said the protest, to be led by Mamata Banerjee, would be against the continuing post-poll violence and the eviction of hawkers through the use of bulldozers across the state. He added that the party’s next political programme would be announced from the dharna venue on June 2.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/tmc-mlas-low-turnout-mamata-kalighat-meeting-after-abhishek-banerjee-attack-2920045-2026-06-01

According to the state government, the exercise was part of an event titled “Sikhiya Da Maha Jashan”, held to mark Punjab’s top ranking in the NITI Aayog’s School Education Quality Report 2026, where it claimed to have surpassed Kerala on key foundational learning indicators.

The Punjab government on Saturday organised simultaneous mega Parent-Teacher Meetings (PTMs) across more than 19,000 government schools in the state.

According to the state government, the exercise was part of an event titled “Sikhiya Da Maha Jashan”, held to mark Punjab’s top ranking in the NITI Aayog’s School Education Quality Report 2026, where it claimed to have surpassed Kerala on key foundational learning indicators.

Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said teachers and non-teaching staff were felicitated for their performance during the programme. Students, including board exam toppers, achievers of the English Edge Programme, and JEE qualifiers, were also given certificates and recognition.

The government said more than 20 lakh parents participated in the PTMs and related workshops, which focused on summer learning continuity, holiday homework management and developing study routines during the vacation period.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/punjab-aap-government-schools-parent-teacher-meetings-20-sikhiya-da-maha-jashan-2919982-2026-05-31

A Delhi couple exchanged rings inside Ujjain’s Mahakaleshwar Temple and posted the video online. The viral clip led the temple committee to remove the post, penalise staff and tighten enforcement.

A Delhi couple performed their engagement ceremony inside the Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain and later shared a video of the event on social media, prompting action from the temple committee. The committee got the video deleted from Instagram and imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on the temple’s security agency for the violation.

According to temple authorities, the incident came to light on May 26 when the couple from Delhi entered the temple through the VIP protocol arrangement after obtaining the required receipt. The couple exchanged engagement rings inside Ganesh Mandapam within the temple premises and recorded the ceremony.

The devotee who uploaded the video on Instagram captioned it, “Jab Mahakal raazi to kya karega kaazi.” After the video went viral on social media, the Mahakaleshwar Temple Committee took immediate action.

The committee first got the social media post removed for violating temple rules. It then initiated action at the temple level. Mahakaleshwar Temple Assistant Administrator Ashish Falwadiya said the committee imposed a penalty of Rs 50,000 on the security agency responsible for the area.

Authorities also completely barred the attendant seen in the video from entering through any special gates of the temple. The committee issued a warning to the concerned protocol personnel and priest, while officials are also preparing show-cause notices for the temple employees linked to the incident.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/delhi-couple-mahakaleshwar-temple-ujjain-engagement-video-fine-instagram-deletion-2919997-2026-05-31

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education will meet on 1 and 2 June to examine the NEET paper leak, CBSE on-screen marking and the three-language policy. The hearings will bring education, health and examination officials before MPs as they seek answers on students’ concerns and key policy issues.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports will hold meetings on June 1 and 2 to discuss the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case, examination reforms, CBSE evaluation practices and the implementation of the three-language policy in schools.

On June 1, the committee has summoned the Secretary of Higher Education, the Secretary of the Ministry of Health, the Director General of the National Testing Agency (NTA), and Gulshan Garg of the United Doctors Front. The panel will seek the NTA’s views on the NEET-UG paper leak issue and discuss examination-related matters, including reforms in the conduct of tests.

On June 2, the parliamentary panel will meet the Secretary of School Education and the Chairman of the CBSE. Members are expected to examine the utility of the On-Screen Marking (OSM) system used in Class 12 CBSE examinations and discuss concerns faced by students because of the evaluation method. The committee will also review the implementation formula for the three-language policy in Classes 9 and 10 and seek clarifications on its rollout.

The meetings come amid heightened scrutiny of the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case. Members of a parliamentary panel on May 29 stressed the need to protect the sanctity of the NEET-UG examination and plug loopholes in the system while reviewing the ongoing investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), according to sources.

The Committee on Government Assurances, headed by AIADMK MP M Thambidurai, heard presentations from Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi, NTA Director General Abhishek Singh, CBI Director Praveen Sood, senior Health Ministry officials and the Chairman of the National Medical Commission (NMC).

During the meeting, members questioned NTA officials about statements made in the Rajya Sabha in July 2024 regarding the conduct of NEET examinations and the investigation into alleged irregularities. The CBI is currently probing the leak of this year’s NEET-UG examination, which was cancelled and rescheduled for June 21. NTA officials are learnt to have briefed the committee on developments in the case. Members also emphasised that the MBBS seat matrix should remain undisturbed and counselling should proceed on schedule.

The Education Ministry had informed Parliament in July 2024 that the NEET-UG 2024 examination was conducted on May 5, 2024, and that several cases of alleged irregularities, cheating and malpractice were reported after the test.

The ministry subsequently referred the matter to the CBI for a comprehensive investigation and also constituted a seven-member high-level committee headed by former ISRO Chairman Dr K. Radhakrishnan to recommend reforms in examination processes, data security and the structure and functioning of the NTA. Parliamentary members have sought details on the implementation of the committee’s recommendations.

The Standing Committee had last week also sought an update from the NTA Director General on the NEET-UG paper leak probe and the steps being taken to prevent similar incidents in the future. Sources said the NTA chief informed members that the leak did not originate from the agency’s systems and that the CBI was investigating the source of the leaked question paper. The committee also discussed preparations for the transition of NEET-UG to a computer-based test from next year, including infrastructure, frequency and duration of examinations.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/parliamentary-standing-committee-education-neet-paper-leak-cbse-on-screen-marking-three-language-policy-2920014-2026-06-01

His remarks come as the CBSE faces huge pressure after reports of technical glitches in its post-result portal and irregularities in evaluated answer sheets.

Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Sunday blamed the Centre and the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) for compromising the evaluation process of answer sheets of the Class 12 examinations, alleging that changes in tender specifications led to answer sheets being scanned on mobile phones.

He was responding to a social media post by Sarthak Sidhant, a Class 12 student from Jharkhand, who alleged that the board gradually altered technical requirements across three consecutive rounds of tenders in a way that favoured the vendor that ultimately secured the contract.

The Congress MP’s remarks come as the CBSE faces mounting pressure after reports of technical glitches in its post-result portal and irregularities in evaluated answer sheets.

Rahul Gandhi’s fresh attack on CBSE

In a post on X, Gandhi pointed to a CBSE tender released in May 2025 and alleged that key technical standards for scanning answer sheets were diluted in a revised version issued later.

“CBSE’s May 2025 tender required answer sheets to be scanned with automatic robotic scanners, spines preserved, at a minimum of 300 DPI. The tender reissued in August quietly removed all of it. ‘Scanners’ became generic. Resolution dropped to 200 DPI,” Gandhi said.

He also claimed that answer sheets had been scanned using mobile phones.

CBSE’s May 2025 tender required answer sheets to be scanned with automatic robotic scanners, spines preserved, at a minimum of 300 DPI.

The tender re-issued in August quietly removed all of it. “Scanners” became generic. Resolution dropped to 200 DPI.

Now we know what that… https://t.co/XXdorOi3oq

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 31, 2026

“Now we know what that meant in practice. It has been exposed that COEMPT scanned the answer sheets using mobile phones. The blurred copies, the missing pages, the unscanned books — they are not ‘errors.’ They are the predictable outcome of a contract written to fit a vendor,” Gandhi alleged.

Describing the issue as “fraud”, Gandhi said, “This is fraud. And every child whose marks were wrongly evaluated is a victim of it.”

Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Gandhi questioned why the government had not responded to the issue.

“This morning, the Prime Minister had time to speak about mangoes. He has not had time to speak about 18.5 lakh children whose answer sheets were scanned with phones. Dharmendra Pradhan still sits in office. Modi’s silence is no longer indifference. It is complicity,” Gandhi said.

Notably, he was responding to a post by Sidhant, who spent several days examining tender documents available on the Central Public Procurement portal and later shared his findings on his website.

Sidhant said that the key issue was that the technical and eligibility requirements for the OSM contract were gradually relaxed across three rounds of the Request for Proposal process, eventually allowing Coempt EduTeck to qualify. He alleged that several of the changes appeared to align closely with the company’s profile.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-says-cbse-answer-sheets-scanned-using-mobile-phones-osm-row-this-is-fraud-101780278312632.html

Sarthak Sidhant, 17, claimed several discrepancies in the tender process that pointed towards preferential treatment of a particular service provider.

Amid controversy surrounding the CBSE’s On-Screen Marking (OSM) system to check Class 12 results, a student has alleged several discrepancies in the tender process, which he argued pointed towards preferential treatment of Hyderabad-based Coempt Eduteck Pvt Ltd.

Sarthak Sidhant, 17, claimed several discrepancies in the tender process that pointed towards preferential treatment of a particular service provider. He shared his findings in a detailed blog that included a comparison of several CBSE tender documents.

Sidhant, a Class 12 student from Jharkhand, described himself as one of the 17 lakh students affected by the OSM process. He said concerns over his own evaluation experience prompted him to investigate the OSM tender process.

What Did Sarthak Find?

Over several days, Sidhant reviewed and compared multiple versions of CBSE’s tender documents before publishing his findings on his website. In his blog, the student said that CBSE gradually modified eligibility and technical criteria across three rounds of bidding, ultimately enabling Coempt EduTeck to qualify for the contract.

He also highlighted that Coempt Eduteck, earlier called Globarena Technologies, had previously faced scrutiny over its role in the 2019 Telangana Intermediate examination process. He said the company never signed a formal agreement with the Telangana State Board, and missing marks and systemic discrepancies impacted over 3.8 lakh students.

Sidhant said the CBSE issues a public Request for Proposal (RFP) to invite competitive bids. It issued its first tender on February 4, 2025, for which TCS and Coempt Eduteck applied, before it was wiped from public records.

The student alleged that the CBSE modified clauses related to previous blacklisting, poor performance criteria, turnover requirements and project eligibility norms to favour Coempt Eduteck over TCS. In the old RfP, the board said a service provider would be instantly disqualified in case of a record of poor performance, but the clauses were completely wiped out in the new RfP.

The blog also alleged revisions to software certification requirements and image-scanning standards used during answer-sheet digitisation.

“The third thing I found out is the 50 crore limit, which you needed to qualify, and Coempt qualified that by 1.7%. The time frame of corrupt practices was halved, and there were project criteria changes,” he told news agency ANI, adding that the revised criteria disadvantaged larger technology firms.

#WATCH | Ranchi, Jharkhand | A class 12th student, Sarthak Sidhant, says, “…I have written a blog that compares the tender documents of CBSE. I have uploaded and published it… There were at least 15 discrepancies, as per my blog. I would like to highlight three or four of them.… pic.twitter.com/TtL7DgOe9M

— ANI (@ANI) May 30, 2026

Rahul Gandhi Backs Student’s Claims

The blog quickly caught attention after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi shared it on X. “17-year-old Sarthak Sidhant has exposed how CBSE manipulated its own selection process to benefit COEMPT, using CBSE’s own documents,” he said.

“An independent judicial inquiry is now essential to uncover the full extent of this scam. Sarthak’s work shows that India’s Gen Z is brilliant and fearless. And sooner or later, they will find out the full truth,” he added.

17-year-old Sarthak Sidhant has exposed how CBSE manipulated its own selection process to benefit COEMPT, using CBSE’s own documents.

The details in his blog reveal how CBSE changed the RFP to unduly benefit COEMPT, at the cost of TCS.

He has revealed the hollowness of… https://t.co/g7YSYIxDrh

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 29, 2026

AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal also urged people to read Sidhant’s blog, alleging that rules were altered to award the contract to a “shady company” that impacted the future of lakhs of students.

CBSE Response

CBSE officials denied any wrongdoing, stating that the tender was awarded in accordance with established procurement norms and that Coempt EduTeck emerged as the lowest qualified bidder under the Quality-and-Cost-Based Selection (QCBS) framework.

Officials said the modifications made during the bidding process were intended to address shortcomings identified in earlier rounds and should not be viewed as attempts to favour any particular company, according to Moneycontrol.

Meanwhile, Coempt Eduteck also denied any irregularities, with CEO VSN Raju insisting that the company was cleared in subsequent legal proceedings after the 2019 Telangana fiasco.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/time-frame-of-corrupt-practices-halved-class-12-student-decodes-red-flags-in-cbses-osm-tenders-ws-l-10121965.html

Sources say the ISI has actively propped up Lahore-based gangster Shahzad Bhatti as a cost-effective, deniable proxy to orchestrate low-intensity terror

In a major national security development, intelligence agencies have decoded a dangerous new dimension of the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) hybrid warfare strategy against India. According to top intelligence sources, the ISI has actively propped up Lahore-based gangster Shahzad Bhatti as a cost-effective, deniable proxy to orchestrate low-intensity terrorism, targeted radicalisation, and criminal disruption across India. Bhatti, who previously operated from Dubai before relocating to Pakistan under the direct protection of state handlers, represents a highly sophisticated “gangster-turned-operative” model. This structural setup allows Islamabad to maintain persistent security pressure on Indian border states and metropolitan centres at minimal diplomatic risk, keeping state fingerprints completely hidden behind the facade of independent gang activity.

Operating as a key pivot for the ISI, Bhatti has demonstrated lethal efficiency in digital narrative management and social media recruitment, specifically targeting vulnerable Indian youth. These recruits are groomed into highly disposable, localised modules tasked with executing high-risk operations, including grenade attacks, targeted killings of police personnel, and the defacement of public property. To fund these expansive operations, the ISI has established a continuous stream of capital through cross-border narco-terror smuggling networks, aimed primarily at triggering widespread communal and civil unrest across Punjab and other strategic border regions.

The TTH Banner and Recent Pan-India Plots

A critical component of Bhatti’s recent operational blueprint is the creation of a front organisation known as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Hindustan (TTH). Under this banner, the module has unleashed aggressive propaganda campaigns alongside highly coordinated targeted killing plots. The extent of this hybrid threat was starkly exposed throughout May 2026, when law enforcement agencies busted multiple interconnected interstate modules. These crackdowns revealed extensive propaganda operations, police shooting plots, and provocative terror graffiti painted across public spaces in Delhi and Faridabad, leading to several high-profile arrests that effectively unmasked the TTH as an ISI-Bhatti construct.

Simultaneously, the module had been actively laying the groundwork for a series of spectacular strikes on highly sensitive installations across the National Capital Region (NCR) and neighbouring states. Investigations in May 2026 exposed advanced terror plots targeting a prominent temple in Delhi, a crowded commercial dhaba on the Delhi-Sonipat highway, and a heavily fortified military camp spanning Delhi NCR and Haryana. By utilising local criminal logistics, Bhatti came close to executing these reconnaissance-backed operations before federal agencies intervened to neutralise the immediate threat.

Extensive Geographic Footprint and Judicial Crackdowns

The operational history of the Shahzad Bhatti module reveals a relentless trajectory of violence stretching over the last two years. Bhatti first drew significant federal scrutiny following a high-profile grenade attack on the residence of YouTuber Rozer Sandhu in Jalandhar, Punjab, a case that subsequently culminated in a comprehensive chargesheet filed against him by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Undeterred by federal indictments, the module struck again in November 2025, executing a targeted grenade attack directly on a police station in Gurdaspur, Punjab, in a blatant bid to demoralise local law enforcement.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/the-gangster-operative-model-inside-isis-cost-effective-blueprint-to-destabilise-indian-states-exclusive-10121694.html

The case was uncovered on 6 January 2025, when Omaha police went to the hotel after receiving a theft complaint.

A 27-year-old man from Gujarat, India, has been sentenced to ten years in prison in the United States after he paid sex traffickers to abuse a teenage girl at the hotel where he worked.

Kavankumar Patel worked at the AmericInn hotel in Omaha, Nebraska. He told the court that he used money from the hotel’s cash till to pay traffickers to have sex with a 15-year-old girl.

The case was uncovered on 6 January 2025, when Omaha police went to the hotel after receiving a theft complaint. Once there, they found signs of sex trafficking. Officers from the Homeland Security Task Force and the Omaha Police Department then rescued two girls, aged 15 and 16. The girls had been brought to the hotel from another state by traffickers who were selling them for sex.

The US Attorney’s Office in Nebraska described the terrible conditions the girls had been living in. “The two minor females reported that their traffickers had instructed that the minors must engage in sex with hotel staff for a reduced room rate or they would be kicked out of the hotel,” the office said.

Three hotel staff members were involved in the abuse. Two of them, including Patel, paid the traffickers to access one of the girls. A third employee abused the other girl without making any payment. After this, all three employees allowed the traffickers and the girls to keep staying at the hotel for several more days.

The girls told investigators they had barely any food and felt they had no way out. While they were being held at the hotel, the traffickers kept posting adverts online to arrange more sex acts involving the teenagers.

Source : https://www.news18.com/world/indian-hotel-staff-had-sex-with-minor-in-exchange-for-cheaper-room-rates-for-traffickers-arrested-ws-l-10120950.html

Schengen Visa: Slovenia emerged as the toughest Schengen destination for Indian applicants, with a non-issuance rate of 46.1%.

Schengen Visa: More than 181,000 Schengen visa applications submitted by Indian travelers did not result in a visa being issued in 2025, according to newly released data from the European Commission. India remained the world’s third-largest source market for Schengen visas last year, with 1.15 million applications filed. However, 181,111 of those applications were not issued visas, resulting in an overall non-issuance rate of 15.8%.

The figures mean that roughly one in every six Schengen visa applications submitted by Indians failed to result in a visa. While several major European destinations maintained relatively low non-issuance rates, others recorded rates that were more than double the average.

Which Schengen Countries Had Highest Non-Issuance Rates For Indians?

Slovenia emerged as the toughest Schengen destination for Indian applicants, with a non-issuance rate of 46.1%. Nearly half of all applications submitted for Slovenian visas did not result in a visa being granted. Bulgaria followed with a non-issuance rate of 37%, while Greece recorded a rate of 33%, meaning about one in three Indian applicants failed to secure a visa. Malta and Estonia also reported high rates of 31.7% and 30.1%, respectively.

Among higher-volume destinations, Greece stood out for combining strong demand with a high non-issuance rate. The Greek Embassy in New Delhi processed more than 41,000 applications from Indians in 2025, with 13,532 applications not resulting in a visa.

The Netherlands and Austria also reported rates above the overall average. The Netherlands recorded a non-issuance rate of 20.6%, while Austria’s stood at 21.6%.

Which Schengen Countries Were More Likely To Approve Indian Visa Applications?

Germany, which processed more than 153,000 applications from India, reported a non-issuance rate of 10.5%. Italy recorded a rate of 12.7%, while Switzerland- the most sought-after Schengen destination among Indians in 2025- reported a rate of 13.6%. Belgium and Denmark recorded some of the lowest non-issuance rates among major destinations, at 7.7% and 6.9%, respectively.

Which Schengen Countries Recorded Highest Number Of Non-Issued Visas

Switzerland recorded about 30,700 non-issued applications, followed by France with roughly 29,500, the Netherlands with about 20,100, Germany with around 16,000 and Greece with approximately 13,500.

Source : https://www.news18.com/world/181000-indian-schengen-visa-applications-failed-in-2025-list-of-countries-with-highest-rejection-rates-ws-l-10121652.html

The building had a coaching institute on the ground floor and construction work was underway on upper floors. It is suspected that those trapped maybe students.

As many as 12 people were rescued, two with critical injuries, after a five-storey commercial building collapsed near the Saket metro station in south Delhi on Saturday evening.

The entire structure was reduced to a massive mound of rubble, with twisted metal, broken pillars and concrete slabs scattered across the site.

“A total of 12 people have been rescued. Two are critically injured. It doesn’t look like anyone else is trapped but the search operation is still ongoing,” a senior police officer said, adding that a case will be registered over the incident.

A multi-agency operation is underway to search for anyone who may still be trapped under debris, officials said.

Witnesses said cries for help could be heard from beneath the debris. “All we could hear were screams coming from under the rubble. There was a huge cloud of dust. When it settled, we realised that part of an adjoining structure had also been affected,” a local resident said.

The building, with a coaching institute, cafes and offices operating in it and construction work underway on the third floor, collapsed around 7.45 pm on Western Marg in Saidulajab area near Saket metro station.

According to Delhi Fire Services (DFS), three people were rescued by local and PCR personnel before firefighters arrived, while others were pulled out by DFS personnel with assistance from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).

Fire officials said the ground-plus-three-floor building collapsed completely, toppling onto an adjoining temporary tin-shed canteen where students were having dinner. Balwant Yadav, father of an injured student, said his 25-year-old daughter Neelam was at the canteen adjacent to the building when the structure came crashing down. Neelam had recently returned from abroad after completing her MBBS and was preparing for her postgraduate entrance examination at Arise Medical Academy in Saket.

“At the time of the incident, around 30 to 35 students were present in the canteen. Most of them were students preparing for various medical entrance examinations at the institute. My daughter suffered a fracture in her leg and is currently undergoing treatment,” Balwant said.

Residents said the building was frequented by a large number of students and office-goers.

Locals had claimed around 100 to 150 people could be trapped under the debris.

“Around 100 to 150 people may be trapped under the collapsed building. Several cafes, coaching centres and corporate offices were operating from the premises.

“The building was relatively new and probably constructed around four or five years ago,” said Ravindra Singh, a local resident.

Dharamveer Singh, an official from the district magistrate’s office present at the site, said rescue personnel were working to reach those still trapped underneath.

“The exact number of fatalities, if any, can only be confirmed after all the trapped individuals are evacuated and shifted to hospital,” he said.

Ravinder Singh, president of the Chaar Gaon Committee, said many of those feared trapped could be students.

Aspiring doctors come here for coaching and other courses, and some of them may be among those trapped in the collapsed building, he said.

According to DFS officials, three fire tenders and an emergency response vehicle were initially dispatched. Additional fire engines and a lighting vehicle were later rushed to the scene as the scale of the collapse became clear.

Firefighters, NDRF personnel, police teams and local residents are jointly carrying out search operations. Heavy machinery, including JCB excavators, have been pressed into service to carefully remove debris. Teams are using hydraulic cutters and jacks to cut through steel girders and concrete slabs, while specialised equipment such as victim-location cameras, earth-auger drilling machines and trained sniffer dogs are on the site to search the debris.

Visuals from the site showed anxious relatives, residents and students gathering around the debris as rescue teams worked under floodlights.

Several rushed between hospitals, including AIIMS, in search of information about their loved ones. Many said they were unable to immediately ascertain whether relatives inside the building had been rescued or were still trapped.

Police said an investigation would subsequently examine ownership of the building, whether necessary permissions had been obtained for construction activities and whether any lapses contributed to the collapse.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/5-storey-building-collapses-in-south-delhi-several-feared-trapped-11569583?pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories

Abhishek Banerjee, one of the party’s most prominent leaders, was assaulted by a mob in Sonarpur, South 24 Parganas, where he had gone to meet the victims of the post-election violence. Several INDIA Bloc members criticised the attack.

The assumption that the Bengal Assembly election reversal diminished Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee’s stature within the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) came under strain on Saturday, as several Opposition leaders rallied behind her in condemning the assault on her nephew and TMC leader, Abhishek Banerjee.

Abhishek Banerjee, one of the party’s most prominent leaders, was assaulted by a mob in Sonarpur, South 24 Parganas, where he had gone to meet the victims of the post-election violence. Mamata Banerjee, who was unseated earlier this month after a whirlwind 15 years in power, blamed her nemesis, the Bharatiya Janata Party, for the attack. The ruling party, however, denied the allegation.

Amid question marks on the future of the alliance, which is fraught with internal contradictions and infighting, the Opposition appeared united over this matter. Making the attack the focal point of a broader Opposition offensive against the BJP, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal accused the ruling party of fostering political violence.

“Strongly condemn the shocking attack on MP Shri Abhishek Banerjee in Sonarpur, as he went to meet the families affected by post-poll violence in the state,” Mallikarjun Kharge said, alleging “a deliberate lack of adequate police protection for a prominent Opposition leader”.

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav described the incident as a “heinous conspiracy”, alleging that the attack was intended to create unrest.

“By getting a murderous attack carried out on senior Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee, the anarchic BJP government has proved that it can do nothing except indulge in hateful and violent politics,” Yadav said in a post on X.

Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal said the incident pointed to a worsening law-and-order situation in the state.

“I strongly condemn the attack on Abhishek Banerjee ji. There is a deeply worrying breakdown of law and order in West Bengal at present. Wherever the BJP comes to power,” he said, alleging that the BJP can’t tolerate a strong opposition.

“High praise to Abhishek Banerjee ji for standing strong and supporting the grieving family during this tragedy,” he added.

BJP Reaction

The BJP rejected allegations that it orchestrated the attack and maintained that residents were protesting against the ruling Trinamool Congress over recent incidents of violence in the region.

BJP leaders argued that public anger against the TMC was being mischaracterised as a politically motivated assault. BJP leaders have also accused the Trinamool Congress of attempting to use the incident for political mileage.

“There is no BJP involvement in the egg-throwing, manhandling incident. People know how TMC has governed for the last 15 years in the state. The police and authorities should look over the families affected by post-poll violence. The TMC has no moral or political right to go over to them,” said Samik Bhattacharya, the chief of the ruling party’s Bengal unit.

TMC leaders insisted the incident was not a spontaneous expression of public anger but a pre-planned attack.

Rajya Sabha MP Sushmita Dev alleged that the assault was “premeditated and planned”.

“This is not people’s outrage, this is the fear of AITC’s support that may be silent now but still stands with us. This will not work,” Dev said, urging BJP leaders not to blame ordinary people of Bengal for the incident.

What Happened

The confrontation occurred during Abhishek Banerjee’s visit to Sonarpur to meet the family of a TMC worker who recently died amid ongoing political tensions in the area. A mob gathered near the route of Banerjee’s convoy and allegedly attempted to block and attack his vehicle.

Videos circulating on social media show Banerjee being surrounded by a crowd, with eggs, stones, and shoes hurled at him amid chants of “chor chor” (thief). His shirt was torn, and he was seen wearing a helmet for protection while being escorted away.

Police personnel later intervened to control the situation and dispersed the crowd.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/india-revival-in-bengal-support-for-mamata-banerjee-over-nephews-assault-11569753?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

A parking dispute in Kasol market allegedly led a tourist to fire at a local youth. The incident triggered panic, led to four arrests, and renewed concerns over tourist behaviour.

What began as a routine argument over a parking space in the bustling tourist hub of Kasol quickly descended into chaos, with a tourist allegedly opening fire on a local youth, leaving him injured and triggering panic in the crowded market area.

The dramatic incident, which has since gone viral on social media, unfolded in full public view as tourists, shopkeepers and local residents watched a parking dispute spiral into violence. Videos circulating online purportedly show an armed tourist openly waving a pistol on the street moments after the firing, sending shockwaves through one of Himachal Pradesh’s most popular tourist destinations.

Police have arrested four accused in connection with the incident and seized the pistol allegedly used in the firing, along with the vehicle in which the suspects were travelling.

PARKING DISPUTE TURNS UGLY

According to police, the trouble began over vehicle parking in Kasol market.

What started as a verbal exchange between a group of tourists and local youths soon escalated into a confrontation. The argument quickly turned into a physical altercation as tempers flared in the busy market area.

Amid the clash, one of the tourists allegedly pulled out a pistol and fired at a local youth.

The gunshot triggered panic across the market, with people rushing for safety as the situation spun out of control.

The injured youth was immediately taken to hospital, where he is undergoing treatment.

MARKET DESCENDS INTO PANIC

Eyewitnesses described scenes of confusion and fear following the firing.

The sound of the gunshot sent tourists, local residents and traders scrambling for cover. Several people rushed to help the injured youth while others attempted to calm the situation.

The incident unfolded in one of Himachal Pradesh’s busiest tourist destinations, amplifying concerns among visitors and local business owners.

Videos from the scene show crowds gathering in the market amid shouting, commotion and confusion as people tried to understand what had happened.

TOURIST SEEN WAVING PISTOL IN VIRAL VIDEO

One of the most striking aspects of the incident emerged through videos that quickly spread across social media.

The footage purportedly shows a tourist wearing a white shirt openly walking through the market while brandishing a pistol.

Witnesses claimed he continued waving the weapon in public for some time, creating fear among people gathered in the area.

The visuals show the armed man standing in the middle of the road with the pistol in hand while onlookers maintain their distance.

According to eyewitnesses, his companions eventually intervened and attempted to pull him away from the scene before leaving the area.

The videos have since gone viral, drawing widespread attention and outrage.

POLICE SWING INTO ACTION

Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said Vietnam has already signed a deal with India for the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system, though it is yet to be publicly announced, while Indonesia is in the final stages of concluding a similar agreement.

India has signed a deal with Vietnam to supply BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles jointly developed with Russia, while negotiations for a similar agreement with Indonesia are in the final stages, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said on Saturday.

The financial details of the Vietnam and Indonesia agreements have not been officially disclosed. However, a deal with Vietnam could be worth about Rs 60 billion (USD 629 million), including training and logistical support, Reuters had previously reported, citing a source.

Speaking at Asia’s premier defence forum, the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Singh said Vietnam had already signed the agreement, although it had not yet been publicly announced.

“My understanding is that with both Indonesia and with Vietnam, the deal is in the final stages that in fact, for Vietnam, I understand that it has already been signed, probably not publicly announced, but it’s already been signed,” Singh said while responding to a question on potential buyers of the BrahMos missile system.

India has a strong commitment to ASEAN nations, Singh said, without disclosing further details of the BrahMos deals.

The Philippines became the first foreign buyer of the BrahMos missile system after signing a contract worth nearly USD 375 million in 2022. India has been expanding defence exports as part of its broader push to strengthen domestic defence manufacturing for both local use and overseas sales.

Indonesia announced in March that it had entered into an agreement with India to procure the BrahMos missile system. Singh’s remarks indicated that negotiations have progressed significantly and are nearing completion.

Earlier this month, media reports suggested that Vietnam was close to signing a BrahMos missile deal with India. Singh’s comments on Saturday marked the first official public confirmation that the agreement had already been signed.

Referring to the broader issue of defence technology transfers, Singh said countries generally shared advanced military technologies with trusted partners.

“Obviously you share technology with people you trust,” he said.

He added that India viewed ASEAN countries as friendly partners.

“We treat all of you as friendly foreign countries with whom we can share advanced defence technologies,” Singh said.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) comprises Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam.

India’s BrahMos exports to Southeast Asia have attracted attention as New Delhi expands defence cooperation with the region. Several ASEAN members, including the Philippines and Vietnam, have overlapping maritime claims with China in the South China Sea, one of the world’s busiest trade routes.

Addressing a session titled “Building Defence Industrial Resilience”, Singh said India was ready to work with partners across the region and beyond to develop resilient supply chains, trusted defence partnerships, secure maritime commons and innovation cooperation.

“Today, resilience has become one of the defining strategic requirements of our time,” he said.

Highlighting growing geopolitical uncertainty, Singh pointed to conflicts in Europe and West Asia, disruptions in maritime trade routes, supply chain vulnerabilities, technological disruptions and increasing strategic competition as factors reshaping the global security environment.

“The lessons from recent years are clear. Defence preparedness cannot depend upon fragile or overly concentrated supply chains. Nations today require resilient, trusted, diversified, and technologically adaptive defence industrial ecosystems,” he said.

For India, resilience is not only about self-reliance but also about building trusted partnerships, diversified manufacturing networks, innovation ecosystems and secure supply chains that contribute to regional and global stability, he added.

Singh said India had implemented major reforms in defence production, innovation and exports over the past decade. The government opened the sector to greater private-sector participation, encouraged startups and small industries, strengthened indigenous design and manufacturing capabilities and expanded collaboration with global partners.

India is not only modernising its armed forces but is also emerging as a dependable defence manufacturing and maintenance hub, he said.

According to Singh, government-owned companies account for nearly 72 per cent of India’s defence production, while the private sector contributes the remaining share. He also noted that three Indian government-owned defence firms are among the world’s top 100 arms-producing companies.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/brahmos-missile-deal-vietnam-already-signed-with-india-indonesia-pact-in-final-stages-2919650-2026-05-30

Abdul Majeed from Kalikavu in Kerala received a Kerala PSC advice memo for a junior Arabic teacher post last month, despite having appeared for the exam in 2005. The selection came from a rank list that had already expired in 2008, highlighting an unusual administrative lapse.

An advice memo for a government job is usually a moment of joy for aspirants. But it turned into a matter of disappointment for a Kerala man who received it at retirement age – 18 years after the rank list from which he was selected had expired.

Abdul Majeed, a native of Kalikavu in Malappuram district, was taken by surprise when he received an advice memo from the Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) last month for appointment as a part-time junior Arabic teacher.

The irony, however, was that Majeed had appeared for the PSC examination in 2005 and the rank list from which he was selected had expired in 2008.

A disheartened Majeed said a government job had long been a cherished dream for him, and he had waited with hope for an appointment after securing a place in the rank list. However, as years went by without any communication, he gradually gave up hope.

By the time he crossed 60, even that hope had faded, he told reporters on Saturday.

“It took 18 years for the PSC to issue the advice memo. The appointment was delayed to such an extent that I have lost any realistic chance of serving in the post,” Majeed said.

According to him, the appointment was made against a vacancy that remained unfilled after repeated notifications and recruitment efforts failed to find eligible candidates.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/kerala/story/kerala-psc-advice-memo-abdul-majeed-teacher-post-retirement-age-2919737-2026-05-30

National para athlete Chirag Tyagi was found dead in Ghaziabad under suspicious circumstances. Police discovered a hole on the athlete’s back in the early examinations.

National para athlete Chirag Tyagi was found dead in Ghaziabad on Friday night under strange circumstances, a shocking incident that has shocked the sports community. According to authorities, an investigation has been started to confirm the precise cause of death after the body was found in the Sai Upvan region, which is under the jurisdiction of Kotwali police station. Kotwali SHO Sachin Kumar said that the event was reported to the police at approximately 7:00 p.m.

An injury mark or hole in the athlete’s back was discovered during a preliminary examination of the body, raising concerns about the circumstances surrounding his demise. Officials have stated that it is too soon to determine whether the injury was caused by a firearm or anything else.

Sanjay Singh, President of the Wrestling Federation of India, defended the selection trials for the 2026 Asian Games amid Vinesh Phogat’s allegations of unfairness.

Sanjay Singh, President of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), affirmed the fairness of the Asian Games 2026 selection trials following Vinesh Phogat’s loss in the women’s 53kg semi-final at the Indira Gandhi Stadium. After losing against Meenakshi 4-6, Phogat’s ambition to represent India at the Asian Games was dashed. She had previously defeated Jyoti 7-1 and Nishu in her second fight to make it into the semis. However, her winning road came to an end in the semi-finals.

A group of relatives and some locals gathered at the spot and allegedly assaulted Das, who later succumbed to injuries.

A migrant labourer was beaten to death by a mob in Thiruvallur district after he allegedly misbehaved with a woman, police said on Saturday.

The victim has been identified as Prosenjit Das (35), who along with six labourers from Assam came to Thiruvallur in search of a job and were staying in a rented room, they said.

Initial probe revealed that Das, who was under the influence of alcohol, misbehaved with a woman under the pretext of asking for drinking water at her residence. However, the woman was forced to shut the door and go inside her house for safety.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/tamil-nadu/migrant-labourer-beaten-to-death-by-mob-in-tamil-nadu-for-misbehaving-with-woman-4021399

The Supreme Court was informed on Friday that PM Modi was personally monitoring concerns regarding the cancellation of NEET-UG.

In a dig at the government’s counsel informing the Supreme Court that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was personally overseeing the ongoing NEET probe, Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Friday said the PM “personally supervised” the paper leak.

His remarks drew a sharp response from the BJP, which asked the Congress MP to “not make absurd and sensational allegations”.

On May 12, the National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelled the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate), or NEET-UG, that had been conducted on May 3 for admissions to medical courses, following a paper leak, which is being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Rahul Gandhi attacks PM over NEET paper leak issue

During a hearing linked to the probe on Friday, the Supreme Court was informed that PM Modi was personally monitoring concerns regarding the cancellation of NEET-UG following the paper leak controversy.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta made the submission after the apex court asked the government to file an affidavit explaining the process being followed in the investigation and how conclusions in the probe would be reached.

“Honourable Prime Minister is personally supervising,” Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court, according to LiveLaw.

Reacting to a post on the development, Rahul Gandhi took a swipe at the prime minister, saying, “PM Modi also personally supervised the NEET paper leak.”

PM Modi also personally supervised the NEET paper leak. https://t.co/VOph0x7zid

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 29, 2026

The Congress leader has, in recent days, repeatedly targeted the BJP-led Centre over the NEET paper leak row and the controversy surrounding the CBSE’s On-Screen Marking (OSM) system, while demanding accountability from Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan and the prime minister.

BJP reacts to Rahul Gandhi’s jibe

The ruling party hit back at the Congress leader’s comments, saying the Lok Sabha LoP had chosen “sensationalism over responsibility”.

Union tourism minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat called hi statement “absurd” and urged him not to make “sensational allegations”.

He wrote on X, “These kind of absurd statement from @RahulGandhi reflects the immaturity and irresponsibility with which he approaches every sensitive issue concerning India’s youth.

These kind of absurd statement from @RahulGandhi reflects the immaturity and irresponsibility with which he approaches every sensitive issue concerning India’s youth.

A Leader of Opposition is expected to present facts, not make absurd and sensational allegations merely for… https://t.co/25U7uIC0gT

— Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (@gssjodhpur) May 30, 2026

A Leader of Opposition is expected to present facts, not make absurd and sensational allegations merely for political attention. Such statements do not strengthen democracy; they weaken public trust and trivialise the genuine concerns of lakhs of aspirants and their families.”

BJP leader Amit Malviya wrote on X, “It is preposterous, outrageous, and a stretch beyond reason to suggest that Prime Minister Modi personally supervised the NEET paper leak. This is precisely why Rahul Gandhi struggles to be taken seriously on matters of national importance.

Time and again, he demonstrates a lack of gravitas and the maturity required to handle serious issues with the thoughtfulness and sensitivity they deserve.”

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/modi-also-supervised-neet-leak-rahul-gandhi-jabs-pm-after-govt-submissions-to-supreme-court-bjp-reacts-101780113039956.html

Kerala CM V D Satheesan has clarified that there is no legal requirement to sing the national song Vande Mataram in full. This statement comes after Kerala Governor expressed displeasure over the song being played only by a band in the state Assembly.

Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan on Friday said that rendering the national song, Vande Mataram, in full was not mandatory as there was no law enacted by the Parliament in that regard.

Satheesan was responding to reporters’ queries regarding Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar expressing concern over Vande Mataram not being sung in full in the state Assembly when he was present for the UDF government’s policy address.

Arlekar was displeased that neither was the song sung in full, it was only played by a band.

Satheesan said that the Congress and its UDF alliance work within the framework of a political ideology and is governed according to the decisions of the party’s central leadership.

He said that the party’s central leadership has a clear stand on the issue and that is applicable to the alliance also.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/kerala/story/vande-mataram-full-rendition-not-mandatory-says-kerala-cm-vd-satheesan-2919375-2026-05-29

The women and child-friendly initiatives were part of the policy address of the new VD Satheesan-led government, read out by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar in the State Assembly on Friday.

Three days of monthly menstrual leave for schoolgirls is among the women and child-friendly initiatives planned by the UDF government in Kerala, along with ensuring that all workplaces with more than 50 employees provide safe, high-quality daycare centres and creches.

The women and child-friendly initiatives were part of the policy address of the new VD Satheesan-led government, read out by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar in the State Assembly on Friday.

“Our commitment to girl students is reflected in Project ‘Menstrual Dignity’, under which we intend to make educational institutions and public spaces friendly for girls and women.

“My Government also plans to announce upto three days of monthly menstrual leave for school students, along with weekend catch-up classes, so that these girls do not fall behind in their studies,” said the Governor in the address.

He said the government proposes to put in place Child Care Rules, as mandated under the Maternity Benefit Act,1961 ensuring that all public offices, industrial establishments, IT parks and all establishments with more than 50 employees run safe, high-quality daycare centres and creches.

The governor said that under the Destitute and Orphan-Free Kerala Initiative, the government plans to promote adoption campaigns and build a network of trained, well-paid foster families based on the Juvenile Justice Act, aiming to make Kerala India’s first “orphan-free” state.

“My Government will transform Kerala into the most woman-friendly State in the country. Steps will be taken to implement equal pay for women in workplaces. Public restroom facilities will be arranged in all major towns across Kerala,” he said.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/kerala/story/kerala-menstrual-leave-for-schoolgirls-weekend-catch-up-classes-project-menstrual-dignity-2919344-2026-05-29

AAP dominated Punjab’s civic body polls, sweeping most municipal wards across the state, while the BJP and Congress wrested control of Abohar and Kapurthala from AAP.

The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) put up a dominating performance in Punjab’s civic body polls on Friday, sweeping a majority of municipal wards across the state, while the BJP and Congress managed to capture key municipal corporations in a politically significant contest ahead of the 2027 Assembly polls.

The strong performance came as a major shot in the arm for AAP after the party recently faced political setbacks and defections, including Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha and six other leaders joining the BJP, triggering concerns over internal cracks within the Punjab unit.

While AAP won five of the eight municipal corporations – Mohali, Barnala, Batala, Moga and Bathinda – the Congress scored a major victory in Kapurthala and the BJP wrested control of Abohar, while emerging as the single-largest party in Pathankot. Punjab witnessed civic body elections to eight municipal corporations, 75 municipal councils and 20 municipal committees.

Out of the 1,977 wards that went to the polls, results for 1,963 wards had been declared until the filing of this report. AAP won 954 wards, Congress secured 390, Independents bagged 251, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) won 191, BJP secured 170 and BSP managed seven wards. Results for a few wards were still awaited.

Seen as a crucial political test for AAP, BJP, Congress and SAD ahead of next year’s Assembly polls, the civic polls witnessed 7,554 candidates contesting across Punjab. Polling was held using ballot papers on May 26 and recorded a voter turnout of 63.94 per cent.

Despite AAP’s statewide dominance, the Congress delivered a surprise result in Kapurthala Municipal Corporation by winning 31 out of 50 wards and securing a clear majority. The BJP, meanwhile, registered a key urban victory in Abohar and strengthened its presence in Pathankot where it emerged as the single-largest party.

Out of the 75 municipal councils, AAP dominated by winning close to 45 councils, while the party also secured victory in around 10 municipal committees till the report was filed.

BHAGWANT MANN HAPPY WITH AAP’S PERFORMANCE

A jubilant Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann termed the civic poll outcome a reflection of public support for the AAP government and claimed the results offered a glimpse into the 2027 Assembly polls.

“People of Punjab have shown immense faith in us and all the opposition parties have been rejected. We can see the results of the 2027 Assembly polls through this,” he said.

The Chief Minister said voters had backed the developmental works carried out by the AAP government over the last four-and-a-half years. “Standing in queues in hot weather, people came out to cast their vote,” he said.

Taking a swipe at the BJP, Mann referred to it as the “ED party” and alleged that central agencies had been used to target AAP leaders. “They used the ED against our leaders, but the people of Punjab do not tolerate arm-twisting,” he added.

However, political analysts cautioned against linking the civic poll outcome directly with the 2027 Assembly polls.

Speaking to India Today TV, political expert Prof Kuldeep Singh said municipal election results have historically not translated into Assembly victories in Punjab.

“We have seen this pattern before. Congress won the municipal elections in 2021 but lost the Assembly polls in 2022. Similarly, SAD performed strongly in municipal elections in 2015 but lost the Assembly elections in 2017,” he said.

He added that the results also sent a signal to the BJP that its electoral strength in Punjab remains limited without an alliance with the SAD.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/punjab-civic-polls-results-aap-sweeps-wards-bjp-congress-win-key-corporations-2919372-2026-05-29

The Supreme Court granted regular bail to Tathya Patel in the Ahmedabad ISKCON Bridge crash case and ordered him to deposit Rs 1 crore within 15 days. The court said the amount is not compensation and left that question to be decided during the trial process.

Nearly three years after the fatal ISKCON Bridge crash in Ahmedabad that claimed nine lives, the Supreme Court has granted regular bail to the main accused, Tathya Patel, while directing him to deposit Rs 1 crore before the trial court within 15 days.

Before passing its written order, the apex court sought an assurance from Patel regarding his bona fides. During the hearing, the Gujarat government’s counsel suggested that an amount equivalent to Rs 10 lakh for each deceased victim be deposited. Patel’s counsel agreed to the proposal, following which the court ordered a lump-sum deposit of Rs 1 crore.

The court clarified that the deposit should not be construed as compensation, as the trial in the case is still underway and Patel has not been convicted. The issue of compensation, it noted, would be decided at an appropriate stage depending on the outcome of the proceedings.

The case stems from the July 2023 ISKCON Bridge tragedy in Ahmedabad, where Patel allegedly drove,e a speeding vehicle, Jaguar into a crowd and several parked vehicles at the accident site, killing nine people and injuring several others. The incident triggered widespread outrage across Gujarat and the country.

A chargesheet was filed within a week of the crash, and the trial is currently being conducted in the Ahmedabad Rural Sessions Court. Statements of around 29 witnesses have been recorded so far, while many more remain to be examined. The prosecution has listed 191 witnesses in total.

Patel faces charges under Section 304 of the Indian Penal Code, among other provisions. His bail pleas had previously been rejected by both the trial court and the Gujarat High Court, which cited the seriousness of the allegations and the wider societal impact of the case.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/supreme-court-grants-bail-to-ahmedabad-iskcon-bridge-crash-accused-tathya-patel-orders-rs-1-crore-deposit-2919389-2026-05-30

During a breakfast meeting with ministers at his official residence ‘Cauvery’, Siddaramaiah informed Cabinet colleagues that he would step down on the directions of the Congress high command.

In a dramatic, yet carefully managed power transition in Karnataka, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday announced his deputy D K Shivakumar as his successor before formally resigning, bringing the curtains down on his second term in office.

During a breakfast meeting with ministers at his official residence ‘Cauvery’, Siddaramaiah informed Cabinet colleagues that he would step down on the directions of the Congress high command and told them the party had decided to make Shivakumar the next chief minister.

Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil later confirmed the development to reporters. “The chief minister informed us that, following discussions in Delhi, he would resign as advised by the high command. He also told us that the party would make D K Shivakumar the new chief minister,” said Patil.

A defining moment was Shivakumar touching Siddaramaiah’s feet seeking his blessings. His embracing Siddaramaiah in an emotional moment is seen as a public signal of unity after a protracted power-tussle.

Around 2.45 pm, Siddaramaiah left for Lok Bhavan and submitted his resignation letter to the Governor’s secretary, as Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot was away from Bengaluru. He is expected to meet the Governor later to complete the formalities.

Hours later, Siddaramaiah left for Delhi along with Shivakumar, where the two leaders are expected to meet the Congress high command to finalise Cabinet formation and possible restructuring of the party too. He will meet Rahul Gandhi on Friday at 9 am.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/siddaramaiah-resigns-as-karnataka-cm-names-d-k-shivakumar-as-successor-4019868

The largest online expression of dissent against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 12-year rule began with a satirical riposte to a jibe about young people, triggering death threats to its founder and pushback from ruling party politicians.
The rapid fame of 30-year-old Abhijeet Dipke and his Cockroach Janta Party, which says it represents “the lazy, the unemployed, and the chronically ​correct”, is driven by the concerns of the young in a country where those below 30 are estimated to number more than half a population of 1.42 billion.

Political analysts say the group’s enormous popularity has begun to dent Modi’s image, despite ‌his party’s recent victories in key state elections, even as wider frustration grows over rising fuel prices and gas shortages brought by the Iran war.
“If all was well with the country and the economy, 20 million young people would not rally around something like this,” said political activist Yogendra Yadav, who was a top leader of a national movement against corruption in 2011.
“This is a critical moment that tells us something about the state of our polity: underlying all the claims of total dominance, there is a latent but widespread disquiet.”

The 75-year-old Modi has so dominated Indian politics since coming to power in 2014 on the back of massive street protests against government corruption that few analysts expect ​him to cede ground easily to any dissenter.
But the new movement, fuelled by persistently high youth unemployment and recurring leaks of examination papers that threaten to derail the careers of millions of students, hints at cracks in a carefully cultivated image of stability and control.
“This ​is their moment, but they need to walk carefully,” said prominent lawyer Prashant Bhushan, a founding figure of the anti-graft movement.
“If they want to take it forward they will have to organise and then come on ⁠the streets protesting on the issues which they have been raising online.”
Without such a presence, the movement risks fizzling out, analysts and supporters said, adding that Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, which draws much of its support from India’s Hindu majority, has steadily weakened the opposition.

Critics say its tactics include ​wielding investigative agencies against senior opposition politicians, but the government has responded by saying authorities had been given a free hand to tackle corruption.
Senior cabinet minister Kiren Rijiju has said Dipke’s group was undermining the world’s biggest democracy by choosing the name of an insect, while accusing it of seeking social media ​followers from arch-enemy Pakistan and the “anti-India gang”.

SLEEPLESS NIGHTS CREATING CONTENT

In interactions with Reuters from the United States, where he has lived for the past two years, Dipke described sleepless nights creating social media content and doing media interviews.
“The Indian government has declared me a national security threat,” he said by telephone from Chicago. “They are trying to defame me. But democratically, within our constitutional rights, we will do what needs to be done.”

He said he has worked to free his X account from a government block, regain control of his CJP Instagram page from unknown hackers, and ensure the safety of family members in both countries after receiving threats of physical harm on WhatsApp.
Police in the ​western state of Maharashtra, from which he hails, have assured him they will ensure his family’s safety, he said.
Dipke has publicly shared data showing about 95% of the nearly 23 million followers of the Instagram account are based in India, followed by countries such as the United States, home ​to large groups of overseas Indians.
More than two-thirds of these followers are Gen Z, born between 1997 and 2007, said Dipke, a public relations strategist, who graduated from Boston University and was a social media intern with India’s opposition Aam Aadmi Party.
“They know I started this as a joke, as satire,” Dipke said. “But the country’s ‌Gen Z wants ⁠me to actually do something. They don’t want this to be just another meme.”
He has challenged the block of the X account in a Delhi court. X and India’s home and infotech ministries, as well as Modi’s office, did not respond to requests for comment.
“The rise of web blocking in India shows how dissent and satire are being treated not as democratic expression, but as administrative threats,” said Apar Gupta, a lawyer and director of the Internet Freedom Foundation in New Delhi.
Dipke said his followers want him to go beyond memes and he is discussing ways to turn the campaign into a credible movement, but no decision has been made on becoming a political party.

‘WHAT IF ALL COCKROACHES COME TOGETHER?’

The furore was set off by Dipke’s X post on May 16 that quickly went viral, asking, “What if all cockroaches come together?”
He said the post was a response to comments by India’s top judge, Chief ​Justice Surya Kant of the Supreme Court, that compared some unemployed youth ​to cockroaches.
Kant later said he did not mean to criticise ⁠young people but was referring to those with “fake and bogus degrees” whom he likened to “parasites”.
CJP adopted a manifesto and took as its mascot the image of a cockroach on a mobile phone. With its message amplified by Indian social media influencers and content creators, it amassed a massive following on Instagram within days, far outpacing the 9.3 million followers Modi’s BJP has built over more than a decade.
Unemployment in 2025 stood at 3.1% among those aged ​15 and above, government data shows, but in the bracket from 15 to 29 it was much higher, at 9.9%, and higher in urban areas, at 13.6%, than the 8.3% figure in rural regions.
Dipke says ​this disenchanted group has flocked to his ⁠page.
“I have an MBA degree, and I am overqualified for my job and also underpaid,” said Shurin Dixit, a 23-year-old who works in entry-level operations for a tech company in the northern city of Lucknow.
“If the group calls for any protest, I am ready to join them.”
CJP’s burgeoning popularity has drawn comparisons to deadly Gen Z-led uprisings in neighbouring Bangladesh and Nepal that toppled governments, but Dipke cautioned against such parallels.
He said 70% of CJP’s followers were younger than 28 and apolitical people who do not align with any party.

Source : https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/indias-gen-z-cockroach-party-channels-youth-anger-faces-offline-hurdles-2026-05-28/

Asaram surrendered at Jodhpur Central Jail after the Rajasthan High Court cancelled his interim bail. The court upheld his life sentence in the 2013 minor rape case and recorded strong observations on the survivor’s ordeal.

Self-styled godman Asaram surrendered before the authorities at the Jodhpur Central Jail on Thursday evening, a day after the Rajasthan High Court cancelled his interim bail while upholding his life sentence in the 2013 minor rape case.

News of his arrival had drawn a large crowd of supporters to the Jodhpur airport earlier in the day.

He greeted followers and offered blessings from inside his vehicle before proceeding to his ashram in Pal village.

After spending some time at the local ashram in Jodhpur, he visited AIIMS for a medical examination and later surrendered in the evening.

The Jodhpur bench of the high court on Wednesday dismissed Asaram’s appeal and revoked the interim bail, which was extended till July 7.

At the time of the verdict, Asaram, who has been out on bail since October, was staying in Haridwar, Uttarakhand.

His counsel said that they are studying the order and would proceed accordingly on challenging the High Court’s verdict in the Supreme Court.

The division bench of Justice Arun Monga and Justice Yogendra Kumar Purohit had delivered a detailed judgment in the sensational case, affirming the life imprisonment awarded by the trial court.

While delivering the order, the bench made strong observations on the impact of the crime on the survivor.

Referring to the survivor’s birth date, the court remarked that she was born on July 4, celebrated as Independence Day in the United States, and symbolised freedom, dignity and self-respect.

The bench observed that on the night of August 15, 2013, when a country was celebrating Independence Day, the girl’s freedom, dignity and innocence were taken away inside a hut in Jodhpur by “a man she regarded as God”.

Terming faith as a powerful force, the court said devotees quite often adhere to their religious gurus’ instructions without question.

“Devotees of religious gurus will often embrace, without question, the most superstitious pronouncements and irrational counsel, including tales of ghosts and the supernatural. As seems to have happened in the case in hand,” the court noted.

Before pronouncing the order, the court reportedly remarked that it had a “mixed bag” of good and bad news for the accused and asked which part he wished to hear first.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/asaram-surrenders-at-jodhpur-jail-after-rajasthan-high-court-upholds-life-term-in-rape-case-2918804-2026-05-29

Illegal Bangladeshi migrants, who are flocking to the Bangladesh border amid a crackdown in West Bengal, are describing how middlemen moved them into India and helped them in securing documents. Here’s the entire trail, reconstructed from the admissions by the illegal immigrants themselves.

Fearing being detained at holding centres amid a crackdown, hundreds of Bangladeshi illegal immigrants are now flocking to border points and transit terminals in West Bengal. While unsure about crossing over, Bangladeshi aliens who have lived in India for decades, and in some cases their entire lives, are now speaking about how they entered India illegally and procured documents.

Some recalled crossing rivers to enter India, while others spoke about how dalal, or middlemen, used the cover of darkness to coordinate crossings. A person revealed that they could slip into India in 10 minutes if the middlemen found a “patrolling gap”. Others claimed that people of a network, which included workers of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal, helped arrange identity documents. They said they received cash benefits through various schemes and even voted in India.

The accounts come amid a crackdown on illegal immigrants in West Bengal. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has declared that illegal Bangladeshi migrants should neither be sheltered nor produced in court, but instead be directly handed over to the BSF at the border. The BJP government has also said that welfare benefits for illegal migrants in Bengal are being identified and cut off.

Border districts in West Bengal have seen increased checking and monitoring in recent weeks. Amid this, reports have also emerged of people voluntarily seeking to return to Bangladesh to avoid detention centres or deportation proceedings.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday, referring to the reports of hundreds of people heading to Bangladesh, said “since the infiltrators were returning on their own”, the government would not take any legal action against them. He “congratulated Suvendu Adhikari for handing over 600 hectares of land to the BSF”, including some along the Chicken Neck.

The most striking detail in the testimonies is how organised some of the crossings allegedly were. The entire trail has been reconstructed from admissions by illegal immigrants to several outlets.

A carpenter from Bangladesh’s Kushtia district said that he paid Rs 7,000-8,000 to a middleman who watched the movement of BSF personnel at night and sent groups across whenever there was a “gap” in patrolling. Another Bangladeshi illegal migrant in Bengaluru claimed he crossed over despite “military at the border” after paying Rs 20,000 to an agent.

‘THE MOMENT THEY FIND A GAP, THEY SEND BANGLADESHIS ACROSS TO INDIA’

An illegal Bangladeshi migrant told a local YouTube channel, Haldia Live, that he crossed into India from Kushtia with his brothers through a middleman network.

“I worked in Kerala. Now they are asking for a voter card and Aadhaar card to even give a room on rent, and I don’t have those [documents],” he said. He then described how the border crossing worked.

“They have teams of five to six people. At night, they check which areas have the BSF presence and which do not. The moment they find a gap, they send people across. That’s the system,” he said.

“Sometimes you have to wait the whole night for a chance to cross. Sometimes it happens within 10 minutes,” the Bangladeshi illegal told the YouTube channel.

According to the man, the middleman charged around Rs 7,000 to Rs 8,000 per person.

Another illegal Bangladeshi migrant in Bengaluru gave a similar account.

“By paying Rs 2,000 to the man who brought people across, he would take us from Bangladesh into India, even with the military at the border,” he said.

“An Aadhaar card was arranged for Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000. We later travelled to Bengaluru by train,” he added.

These routes are not entirely unknown to authorities. India’s 4,096-km border with Bangladesh includes riverine stretches, agricultural land and densely populated areas. The human traffickers exploit these loopholes to send Bangladeshis into India. Security agencies have for years flagged the role of trafficking and smuggling networks that also facilitate illegal crossings.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Wednesday said that the border fencing work along the Indo-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya is nearing completion, with only 40-45 kilometres remaining out of the total stretch.

The Ministry of Home Affairs said in February 2025 that around 79% of the 4,096.7-km India-Bangladesh border has been fenced, with 3,232.218 km already covered.

‘I GOT MY VOTER CARD AND RATION CARD MADE IN INDIA’

An illegal Bangladeshi migrant claimed local political workers of the Trinamool Congress helped them arrange documents after she entered India.

“I got my voter card and ration card made when Mamata’s party was in power. The party people helped me get the documents. I also received Lakshmir Bhandar benefits for two to three years,” she told ABP News.

Another migrant described how things changed after recent anti-illegal migrant crackdowns in West Bengal began.

“No one said anything during the Trinamool Congress rule. Now the government has changed. Now people are after us. Our landlords were also afraid that if they kept Bangladeshi people, they would be fined Rs 2 lakhs and two years in jail,” he said.

People renting out their properties are now under pressure to not harbour illegal immigrants.

The person admitted that he had voted once and claimed his wife received cash transfers through the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme.

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday said 30 lakh ineligible people were receiving cash benefits under Mamata Banerjee’s Lakshmir Bhandar. He said these bogus beneficiaries, including non-Indians, had been weeded out, and won’t be receiving benefits under the new Annapurna Bhandar scheme.

YEARS IN INDIA AS CARPENTERS, MASONS, DOMESTIC WORKERS, BANGLADESHIS LEAVE FOR HOME

Many of those now returning to Bangladesh or waiting near border points in West Bengal said that they had been in India for years.

Salam Dali, while waiting near the Hakimpur border with his wife and child, told India Today TV that he worked as a carpenter in India. Dali, who said he’s from Khulna district of Bangladesh, said he entered India around five years ago after paying Rs 8,000-10,000 to a middleman.

Another migrant told ABP News that his parents had brought him to India when he was around 10 years old.

“My parents brought me to this country when I was young. Father worked as a carpenter. No one said anything. We just ate, drank and worked,” he said.

The Times of India also reported similar accounts from migrants waiting at border terminals.

Among them was Taklima Khatun from Khulna, who said she entered India through the Ghojadanga border two years ago to work as a domestic help.

According to the report, Khatun said she was returning voluntarily because she feared detention centres or forced deportation. Shahidul Gazi, a mason from Bangladesh’s Satkhira, said he entered India three years ago through the Swarupnagar border with the help of a middleman.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/bangladeshi-migrants-west-bengal-crackdown-illegal-entry-routes-india-2918596-2026-05-29

The ‘tunnel view’ technique is the method through which investigators synchronise CCTV, phone records, Wi-Fi logs, internet activity, smart-device data, forensic mapping, and witness accounts into a focused timeline to digitally reconstruct a crime’s final moments.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is probing the death of former actor-model Twisha Sharma, has deployed what’s known as ‘tunnel view’ investigation technique to digitally reconstruct her final moments before she was found dead at her matrimonial home in Bhopal on May 12.

The agency is creating a highly detailed, minute-by-minute virtual reconstruction of the events leading up to Twisha’s death in an attempt to decode the exact circumstances and sequence of events on the night of the incident.

The ‘tunnel view’ technique is a method through which investigators synchronise CCTV, phone records, Wi-Fi logs, internet activity, smart-device data, forensic mapping, and witness accounts into a single, focused timeline that digitally reconstructs the final moments of an incident.

According to sources, the CBI is integrating CCTV footage, mobile phone data, Wi-Fi logs, Call Detail Records (CDRs), and maps of rooms at the Katara Hills residence to build a virtual spatial model of the house.

The objective is to trace Twisha’s movements, determine who entered or exited specific areas of the house at what time, and establish the timeline of events before her death.

Investigators are also synchronising timestamps from surveillance cameras with phone activity and internet usage to generate a simulated visualisation of Twisha’s final hours.

Through the “tunnel view” analysis, the agency hopes to identify critical time gaps, suspicious movements, inconsistencies in witness statements, and any possible attempts to tamper with evidence after the incident.

Sources said the digital reconstruction could help investigators determine whether there was any coercion, conspiracy, or deliberate manipulation of the crime scene on the night Twisha died.

Twisha Sharma was a Noida-based former actor and model and was married to Samarth Singh of Bhopal last December. She was found hanging at her matrimonial home on May 12 under mysterious circumstances, raising suspicions of alleged foul play.

Following her death, Twisha Sharma’s parents accused her in-laws and her husband of physical abuse, domestic violence, mental torture and even her “murder”. They said that Twisha’s mother-in-law Giribala Singh, a former district court judge, was even trying to influence the probe.

Initially, Twisha’s parents even refused to conduct her funeral, demanding a second post-mortem at AIIMS Delhi. Twisha was finally cremated on May 24 after a second post-mortem was done at AIIMS Delhi.

Meanwhile, Twisha’s in-laws have refuted all claims of foul play and their involvement in her death. They have rather claimed that Twisha had been behaving erratically after she learnt about her pregnancy in April and said she wanted to abort it as she did not want a child.

After absconding for 10 days, Twisha Sharma’s husband Samarth Singh surrendered and was arrested in Jabalpur on May 22.

CBI ARRESTS GIRIBALA SINGH

Japan follows a zero-tolerance policy for invasive pests like fruit flies, which are considered a major threat to domestic agriculture.

Japan has suspended mango imports from India after its quarantine officials found lapses in pest-control procedures at Indian treatment facilities during inspections earlier this year. The move has disrupted exports during the crucial summer mango season and affected premium Indian varieties such as Alphonso, Kesar, Langra and Banganapalli.

First Ban In 20 Years

The suspension marks the first such restriction in nearly two decades. Japan had earlier banned Indian mangoes over fruit fly concerns and lifted those curbs only in 2006 after India strengthened its treatment protocols.

Now, Japanese authorities have once again raised concerns over whether Indian mango shipments are meeting the country’s strict plant health standards.

Japan follows a zero-tolerance policy for invasive pests like fruit flies, which are considered a major threat to domestic agriculture.

A video of Russian tourist Kira Suvorova feeling uncomfortable on Yamuna Kinara Road in Agra went viral, sparking debate over tourist safety. Agra Police said no molestation or explicit harassment occurred and warned that social media claims were misleading. Authorities affirmed commitment to “Atithi Devo Bhava” and legal action may follow against false or inflammatory posts.

A video posted by a Russian woman tourist describing her uncomfortable experience while walking on a road in Agra has gone viral on social media, triggering widespread debate over tourist safety and public behaviour in the Taj city.

The 23-second clip was shared on Instagram by Russian tourist Kira Suvorova, who describes herself as a psychologist on her profile. In the caption, she wrote: “We decided to walk to the shop in Agra. Never do this.”

Viral Video Shows Kira Walking In Agra

The video, reportedly shot on Yamuna Kinara Road, shows Kira walking along the roadside when an auto-rickshaw driver and another man approach her. She appears visibly uncomfortable and continues walking while some locals can be heard saying “Ma’am, Ma’am, Excuse Me Ma’am” in the background. The clip appears to have been recorded by one of her companions walking behind her.

The video quickly gained traction online, receiving more than 23,000 likes and thousands of shares within 48 hours, with many users expressing concern over the experience shared by the foreign tourist.

However, Agra Police later stepped in and said several claims circulating online regarding the incident were misleading and exaggerated.

Agra Police Issues Clarification On The Viral Video

Assistant Police Commissioner Sukanya Sharma clarified that no molestation or explicit harassment had taken place and said some social media posts were spreading false narratives around the incident.

#BREAKING: आगरा में रूसी महिला पर्यटक के वायरल वीडियो को लेकर पुलिस ने बड़ा खुलासा करते हुए कहा है कि वीडियो को सोशल मीडिया पर गलत तरीके से प्रस्तुत किया गया। जांच में किसी भी तरह की छेड़छाड़ या अभद्रता की पुष्टि नहीं हुई है। रूसी पर्यटक किरा सुवोरोवा ने यह वीडियो खुद सड़क पर… pic.twitter.com/rZkI0wJUae

— Uttarpradesh Newz (@upnewz_) May 27, 2026

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/viral/russian-tourist-kira-suvorovaas-video-alleging-harassment-while-walking-in-agra-goes-viral-police-say-claims-are-misleading 

Siddaramaiah’s 2005 expulsion from JD(S) after floating the Ahinda movement, followed by his 2006 entry into Congress with a group of JD(S) leaders, made him the face of the bloc.

If Siddaramaiah steps down as chief minister, the impact on Congress’s Ahinda vote bank will hinge on one question: did he create Ahinda or did he simply consolidate it? The answer could shape the party’s prospects in 2028 Assembly polls.

As Karnataka braces for a possible power transition, the larger political question is whether his exit will weaken Congress’ Ahinda base. Ahinda — minorities, Dalits and backward classes — has long been Congress’s core social coalition. Siddaramaiah did not invent it, but gave it political shape and leadership.

His 2005 expulsion from JD(S) after floating the Ahinda movement, followed by his 2006 entry into Congress with a group of JD(S) leaders, made him the face of the bloc. He became chief minister twice.

Siddaramaiah strengthened Ahinda by elevating his former JD(S) colleagues – Dr H C Mahadevappa, Satish Jarkiholi, Zameer Ahmed Khan and Byrathi Suresh, often overshadowing THE “original” Congress leaders including Dr G Parameshwara, P M Narendraswamy, H M Revanna, Roshan Baig and Tanveer Sait.

In doing so, he sustained Devaraj Urs’ social justice experiment of broad-basing OBC leadership while keeping Vokkaliga-Lingayat-Brahmin dominance in check, note party veterans.

His Ahinda politics helped Congress secure 43% vote share and 135 seats in 2023, including 21 of 36 SC seats and 14 of 15 ST seats.

But the victory was also shaped by Shivakumar’s organisational push, Lingayat anger against BJP after B S Yediyurappa’s exit as CM, the ‘big five’ guarantee schemes and Vokkaliga support shifting to Congress in anticipation of Shivakumar becoming CM.

“The Ahinda vote swing will depend on how Siddaramaiah handles his stepping down and how he aligns with the party in the next two years. His son is likely to be inducted into the Cabinet and his interests will be taken care of. In the last elections itself, non-dominant OBCs had started shifting towards BJP, and Congress win was largely due to Dalit vote, a marginal split in Lingayat vote and Vokkaliga votes,” said political analyst Dr Sandeep Shastri.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/by-forcing-cm-siddaramaiah-out-is-congress-risking-ahinda-drift-4018715#google_vignette

Many migrants at the Bengal border said they had worked as domestic helpers, labourers and rag-pickers in Kolkata’s outskirts before being forced to vacate rented homes. Several admitted crossing illegally through agents, while others said they were brought to India as children and barely remembered Bangladesh.

Fear and uncertainty are unfolding at the Hakimpur border in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district, where dozens of undocumented Bangladeshi migrants have gathered over the past two days seeking to return to Bangladesh. This comes amid growing pressure from authorities and the setting up of holding centres for illegal migrants across the state.

Carrying bags, blankets and identity documents, families who had spent years living in India now wait near the border, to cross back into their country.

At the Hakimpur border outpost, police have set up a registration desk where details of those arriving are being recorded. Officials are verifying Bangladeshi documents and preparing a database before migrants are shifted to holding centres.

According to officials on the ground, records of more than 350 Bangladeshis have already been prepared since Monday.

Around 50 to 60 people were present at the border on Wednesday, many of them from Kolkata’s New Town, Hatiyara, Khardah, Dum Dum and Dankuni areas. Most admitted they had entered India illegally through agents or middlemen over the years in search of work.

“We are poor people. That is why we came here,” said Salam Dali, a carpenter who said he entered India from Khulna district in Bangladesh around five years ago after paying Rs 8,000-10,000 to a middleman.

“The government told us to leave because we do not have documents. So now we are leaving,” he said while waiting near the border with his wife and child.

Several migrants said the atmosphere had changed sharply in recent months, with police visits, document checks and fear of detention forcing them to leave.

Hidoy Mulla, a young man born in 2003 who claimed he grew up in Madhyamgram after his parents migrated from Bangladesh in 2001, said local police had repeatedly demanded proof of residence prior to 2002.

“I was born in 2003. My parents are completely uneducated. They don’t even know ABCD. How were they supposed to make documents?” he said.

Mulla said he possessed Aadhaar, PAN, ration card and school certificates, but his voter ID applications were rejected multiple times.

“I grew up here. This culture is part of me. My parents feel they are returning to their country, but for us it feels like we are leaving our country and going to another country,’ he said.

“What mistake did we make? The mistake was of our parents. They brought us here.”

He added that the family no longer had land or relatives to depend on in Bangladesh.

“What will I do there? There is no friend circle, no future for me there,” he said.

Among those gathered near the border was a visually impaired family from Khardah — Mohammad Shamsur Rahaman, his wife Asiya Khatun and his brother Bilal — all of whom are blind and survived by begging on trains and streets in Kolkata.

“We are requesting the authorities to send us back immediately,” Rahaman said.

The family claimed they had lived in India for over a decade and had obtained Aadhaar and other documents while staying in the Khardah area.

Another migrant, Mohammad Ali Munshi, who claimed he was born in India after his father crossed the border decades ago, said fear and pressure had forced the family to leave.

“I only had Aadhaar and ration card. I left everything behind because none of it is useful now.”

One of the most striking stories came from Mafuza Khatun, originally from Bangladesh’s Khulna district, who said she had lived in India for years and voted in elections multiple times.

She claimed she had Aadhaar and voter ID cards prepared through local political and municipal channels.

“We voted here for years. Now our voter IDs have been cancelled,” she said.

“For the government, we are people from another country, so now we have to go back to Bangladesh.”

Many women at the border said they worked as domestic helpers, rag-pickers and labourers in Kolkata’s outskirts before being forced to leave rented accommodations.

Several migrants admitted they had crossed the border illegally through agents operating on both sides. Some said they were brought into India as children and had little memory of Bangladesh.

Authorities have shifted many of those arriving at Hakimpur to temporary holding centres set up across North 24 Parganas district. The largest centre has been established at Tentulia inside the Pather Saathi building, where officials said 116 Bangladeshis are currently being housed.

Health department teams, cooks and police personnel have been deployed at the facility to manage food, medical care and security.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/west-bengal-illegal-migrants-hakimpur-border-bangladeshis-seek-return-holding-centres-2918142-2026-05-27

Chaos erupted inside a BHU hostel after students allegedly found a dead lizard in chicken curry served at the mess, triggering protests, health concerns and fresh complaints over hostel facilities and food quality.

Panic and protests broke out at Banaras Hindu University in Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi after students allegedly found a dead lizard inside chicken curry being served at the Dalmia hostel mess on Tuesday, triggering outrage over food safety and hostel conditions.

According to students, around 30 to 40 hostel residents had already consumed the meal before the reptile was spotted in the curry container. Soon after the discovery, several students complained of nausea and vomiting, creating chaos inside the hostel premises.

STUDENTS GHERAO WARDEN AFTER VIDEO SURFACES

As news of the incident spread across the hostel, angry students gathered outside the mess and confronted hostel authorities over what they called serious negligence in food quality and hygiene standards.

Visuals from the hostel showed heated arguments between students and officials, while some residents surrounded the warden demanding immediate action against the mess contractor.

The university’s proctorial board and hostel warden rushed to the spot after being informed about the situation.

Students also submitted a written complaint raising several issues linked to hostel management, including poor food quality and shortage of clean drinking water.

MESS OPERATOR BLAMES SUMMER CONDITIONS

Mess operator Arvind Chaurasia claimed the reptile may have accidentally fallen into the food because of the extreme summer weather.

“During summers, many lizards enter the area. One of them may have fallen into the food,” he said.

Students, however, accused the administration of ignoring repeated complaints about hygiene and maintenance inside the hostel mess.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/uttar-pradesh/story/bhu-hostel-mess-dead-lizard-chicken-curry-student-protest-varanasi-2918224-2026-05-27

Once valued at $22 billion, Byju’s is now buried under debt, lawsuits, unpaid dues, and careers that are still not recovered. Founder Byju Raveendran has been sentenced in absentia to jail in Singapore. Byju’s collapse has become India’s biggest cautionary tale on startup greed and unchecked ambition.

Once hailed as India’s most valuable startup, Byju’s soared to a $22-billion valuation in 2022. Its growth was fuelled by demand for online learning driven by the Covid pandemic, massive venture capital inflows, and an ambitious founder. Today, the EdTech giant’s valuation is not even zero. It’s minus Rs 8,245 crore, given the money and incentives it still owes to its employees. Its founder, Byju Raveendran, was sentenced to six months in prison in Singapore. The trial was conducted in absentia with Ravindran reportedly in Dubai. The spectacular collapse of Byju’s, an EdTech pioneer in India, is a tale of caution for start-ups.

After its collapse, while some Byju’s employees have moved on to greener pastures, many others were forced to accept substantial pay cuts in their next jobs, which rarely matched the lucrative compensation Byju’s had offered at its peak. Several former employees are still coming to terms with the sudden reversal of fortunes. Parents of millions of students who bought education packages from Byju’s have lost money.

The company faces debt worth billions, and is mired in dozens of lawsuits. The recent sentencing of founder Byju Raveendran to six months in jail for contempt of court in Singapore is a stark reminder of how unchecked ambition and poor governance can kill even the brightest success stories.

We will return to how greed and unchecked ambition led to the collapse of Byju’s but after looking at the latest case in Singapore.

WHY HAS BYJU RAVEENDRAN BEEN SENTENCED TO JAIL IN SINGAPORE?

The trigger for this latest chapter came on Wednesday, when a Singapore court ordered Raveendran to serve six months in jail for non-compliance with disclosure orders related to his assets. The ruling, initiated by a subsidiary of Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), stems from disputes over document disclosure in ongoing financial proceedings. Raveendran must surrender to authorities, pay legal costs of 90,000 Singapore dollar, or about Rs 67 lakh, and provide proof of ownership of Beeaar Investco Pte, a corporate entity linked to the company.

In a statement, Raveendran described the order as “procedural contempt” tied to document disputes, not a finding of fraud or dishonesty on the merits. He emphasised that settlement discussions with lenders and investors, including GLAS Trust and QIA, were nearing conclusion and expressed disappointment that the matter was being pursued at this stage.

“The parties have also acknowledged that there has been no wrongdoing on my part or on the part of the other founders,” he said in a statement, adding that he prioritises resolution over confrontation and plans to appeal.

It must be noted that Byju Raveendran still harbours hopes of reviving his EdTech empire.

“Byju Ravindran firmly believes the company can be turned around. Despite the fall, he plans to return to India and is convinced that one strong turnaround moment could help restore the business. I don’t know exactly how he intends to do it, but he remains remarkably positive,” a top associate and close confidant of the founder told India Today Digital.

A LOOK AT THE RISE AND EXPANSION OF BYJU’S

Byju Raveendran, a former maths tutor, built Byju’s from a simple learning app into a global EdTech powerhouse. The Covid-19 pandemic supercharged its growth as schools shut and parents turned to online education. The company raised billions of dollars from top investors, expanded aggressively, and signed high-profile brand ambassadors, like Shah Rukh Khan and Lionel Messi, while sponsoring major events like the Indian Premiere League (IPL).

At its peak, Byju’s claimed over 150 million users and positioned itself as a one-stop learning platform.

However, this ascent laid the groundwork for its fall.

A top executive at Byju’s, who requested anonymity due to ongoing sensitivities, told India Today Digital, “We rode the wave perfectly during the pandemic. Demand was insane, money was flowing, and the vision was to build the world’s largest learning company. But we scaled too fast without building strong foundations.”

THEN CAME BYJU’S FALL, FUELLED BY FOUNDER’S GREED

The core issue was greed-fuelled overexpansion.

Flush with capital, Byju’s spent over $2.5–3.6 billion on more than a dozen acquisitions between 2019 and 2022.

Major deals included Aakash Educational Services for nearly $1 billion, WhiteHat Jr for $300 million, Epic for $500 million, Toppr for $150 million and others like Great Learning and Osmo. Many acquisitions were poorly integrated, delivered limited synergies, and continued to bleed cash.

When the pandemic eased, demand for paid online learning dropped sharply as schools reopened.

The company’s revenue growth stalled, but costs, especially from acquisitions and heavy marketing, remained high. The company posted massive losses, reportedly Rs 4,588 crore in one year, with cash burn accelerating. Aggressive, sometimes predatory sales tactics exacerbated the problem.

Its sales teams faced intense pressure to meet targets, leading to complaints of misleading parents about course benefits, pushing EMI options, and hard-selling to vulnerable families.

Parents lost significant money on courses that didn’t deliver promised results or flexibility for refunds. Many reported being locked into long-term subscriptions or facing aggressive recovery calls.

This correspondent received multiple SOS messages from both parents and employees about the losses incurred by them at the behest of the company.

Meanwhile, the company’s internal financial health kept deteriorating.

“There was pressure to maintain hyper-growth led to decisions that prioritised short-term optics only,” a top lawyer associated with Byju’s told India Today Digital.

TOP-TIER EMPLOYEES AT BYJU’S VS EVERYONE ELSE

While Byju’s empire crumbled, the pain was unevenly distributed.

Top executives and the founder reportedly retained significant personal wealth and benefits even as the company struggled. In contrast, mid- and lower-level employees faced months of salary delays, sudden layoffs (sometimes via phone calls), and harsh working conditions.

Many worked 14–15 hour shifts to meet the intense sales pressure.

The top executive, who spoke to India Today Digital, said, “At the leadership level, we knew what was about to come, but we were still chasing big visions and deals. Meanwhile, people at lower levels were waiting for salaries. It created immense guilt, but we continued till the ship sank.”

Parents, too, bore the brunt of the collapse of Byju’s.

Thousands have taken to social media to complain about poor learning outcomes and persistent technical glitches in the tablets. These are issues that fell on deaf ears, despite the expensive courses aggressively pushed during uncertain pandemic times. Even today, Byju’s tablets keep surfacing in clearance sales and grey markets. Parents of millions of students lost money.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/byjus-collapse-byju-raveendran-singapore-contempt-debt-greed-jail-term-india-edtech-companies-2918153-2026-05-28

When the couple explained they were in the country “to explore the world,” the stranger responded aggressively, saying, “No, we don’t want you here. You have to go home.”

A video from the United States has sparked outrage online after an Indian couple was allegedly subjected to an unprovoked racist confrontation by a stranger. In the clip circulating on social media, a man sitting inside a car asks the couple if they are from India before telling them to leave the country. The exact location of the incident has not been independently verified, but the video has reignited conversations around racism, xenophobia, and the experiences of immigrants abroad.

In the video, the stranger questions the couple about whether India is better than the US. The husband gracefully replied that “both have both,” without escalating the situation. When the husband mentions that their family lives in India, the man asks why they are in the US if India is so good.

When the couple explained they were in the country “to explore the world,” the stranger responded aggressively, saying, “No, we don’t want you here. You have to go home. Get the f*** out of my country.” Despite the hostile remarks, the couple remains composed throughout the exchange.

Here’s the video: 

I encountered some incredible H-1B indians, and I had to let them know something! pic.twitter.com/Qi8FyfcjzF

— tone (@AyTone4th) May 20, 2026

The clip quickly gained traction online, with many praising the couple for handling the situation calmly. Social media users commended the couple’s dignity, noting that they refused to match the attacker’s volatile energy.

Others, however, argued that remaining silent during such incidents can embolden racist behaviour. Several social media users also pointed out that immigrants and visitors enter the country legally through visas issued by the government, questioning the logic behind targeting random individuals with abuse.

Many users tagged US Secretary of State Marco Rubio while sharing the video online. During an earlier visit to India, Rubio had said that every country has people who make racist remarks, while maintaining that the United States remains welcoming overall.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/feature/get-the-f-out-of-my-country-indian-couple-faces-unprovoked-racist-attack-in-us-11554553?pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories

Karan, a resident of Makwal village in Jammu region, was lured by a female ISI operative on Snapchat a few months ago, the police said

A 23-year-old school dropout from Jammu and Kashmir has been arrested for allegedly spying for Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) after falling prey in a honeytrap.

Karan, a resident of Makwal village in Jammu region, was lured by a female ISI operative on Snapchat a few months ago, the police said. She posed as a Border Security Force (BSF) soldier posted in Punjab and gradually gained his trust through frequent chats and obscene video calls.

Once she was certain Karan was under her influence, she asked him for a WhatsApp one-time password (OTP) of a family member, claiming she had been transferred to the Sunderbani sector in Rajouri where mobile connectivity was poor.

Without suspecting anything, Karan shared his mother’s OTP, giving the ISI handler access to the account.

The ISI operative then nudged him to send photos and videos of army bunkers, defence installations and flyovers near Jammu region. For the first batch of pictures, Karan allegedly received Rs 2,000 in his bank account. When she demanded more, Military Intelligence (MI) grew suspicious.

Sources said MI kept him under discreet surveillance. Once his espionage activities were confirmed, the army alerted the police in Jammu. A joint team then arrested Karan from Makwal.

Police have seized his mobile phone and are looking into his social media accounts and digital footprint. During interrogation, he reportedly confessed to sharing sensitive material. A case has been filed and further investigation is on.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/j-k-man-honeytrapped-by-pakistani-woman-spy-shared-military-pics-arrested-11556909?pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories

Heatstroke has killed at least 16 people in southern Telangana state, and Prime Minister Modi has said Indians must heed warning signs. The heat wave has also sparked forest fires in the north.

The two sides opposed ‘any unilateral actions’, apparently referring to the August 5, 2019, move by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government to strip J&K of its special status and reorganise the erstwhile state into two Union Territories.

India on Tuesday categorically rejected “unwarranted references” to its Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir in a joint statement issued by China and Pakistan.

The joint statement was issued after Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and military chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, in Beijing on Monday.

Xi’s meeting with Sharif and Munir saw both sides reaffirming “the importance of maintaining peace and stability in South Asia and resolving all outstanding disputes through dialogue and diplomacy”, according to the joint statement issued by the governments in Beijing and Islamabad, apparently making an indirect reference to the dispute over J&K between the two South Asian neighbours.

The two sides opposed “any unilateral actions”, apparently referring to the August 5, 2019, move by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government to strip J&K of its special status and reorganise the erstwhile state into two Union Territories.

Sharif and Munir, according to the joint statement, briefed Xi on “the latest situation in Jammu and Kashmir”. Xi reiterated that the issue of Kashmir was a historical dispute and should be properly resolved peacefully in accordance with the United Nations Charter, relevant UN Security Council resolutions, and relevant bilateral agreements.

“India’s position is consistent and well known to the concerned parties,” Randhir Jaiswal, the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, said in New Delhi on Tuesday, reacting to the reference to Jammu and Kashmir in the joint statement issued by China and Pakistan.

“The Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh have been, are and will always remain integral and inalienable parts of India. No other country has the locus standi to comment on the same,” he added, articulating New Delhi’s position on the issue.

New Delhi maintains that the 1972 Simla Agreement between India and Pakistan and the 1999 Lahore Declaration had left no scope for the United Nations or any other third party to play any role in resolving the “outstanding issues” between the two South Asian neighbours.

The joint statement issued by Beijing and Islamabad also referred to the upgraded version of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.

New Delhi opposed the CPEC 1.0 as it violated the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of India. The 3000-km-long connectivity project, a flagship component of the Belt and Road Initiative envisaged by Xi, linked China’s Xinjiang Autonomous Region and the port city of Gwadar in southern Pakistan.

It covered India’s territory in J&K under illegal occupation by Pakistan. China pledged to invest $65 billion in infrastructure projects along the CPEC, including the territories of India occupied by Pakistan.

The CPEC 2.0 is likely to allow China to spread its tentacles not only in Pakistan and areas illegally occupied by Pakistan but also over the larger Afghanistan-Pakistan-Iran region, posing a strategic challenge to India.

“As regards the so-called CPEC projects, some of which are in India’s sovereign territory, we resolutely oppose and reject any moves by other countries to reinforce or legitimise Pakistan’s illegal and forcible occupation of these territories, impinging on India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Jaiswal, the MEA spokesperson, said in New Delhi. “This has been clearly conveyed to Pakistani and Chinese authorities several times.”

The China-Pakistan joint statement also referred to the “willingness” of both sides for “trans-boundary water resources cooperation based on the principles of equality and mutual benefit”.

“We have also seen references to the so-called ‘trans-boundary water resources cooperation’ between China and Pakistan,” Jaiswal said on Tuesday.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/jammu-and-kashmir/india-rejects-unwarranted-references-to-jk-in-china-pakistan-joint-statement-4017101#google_vignette

The “true goal” of this movement is to “derail the focussed hard work” required for nation-building and replace it with a “culture of grievance”, claimed one of the articles

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) is an “anarchic digital activism” and has been launched from overseas in an attempt to “indoctrinate Gen Z against the government”, according to two articles published in RSS-linked Organiser magazine.

The CJP is a satirical digital outfit that recently took social media by storm.

The “true goal” of this movement is to “derail the focussed hard work” required for nation-building and replace it with a “culture of grievance”, claimed one of the articles, titled ‘Cockroach Syndrome: The new face of anti-India tech cynicism’, published on the magazine’s website.

Krishnakumar Kaimal, the author of the article, noted that the “digital eruption of the so-called Cockroach Janta Party is being enthusiastically hailed by a certain freebie-centric, left-leaning political ecosystem as a masterstroke of Generation Z satire”.

However, a “close serious examination of their so-called five goals reveals a terrifying blueprint for institutional collapse, masquerading as youthful, digital rebellion,” he said.

Another article, titled ‘Cockroach Janta Party: A bid to indoctrinate Gen Z against the government’, noted, “One AAP (Aam Aadmi Party) member living in the United States created an Instagram page called Cockroach Janta Party and made great promises to young people, plainly indicating an anti-BJP push.” “In a short period of time, this page attacked millions of followers from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkey, the United States and other countries. The objective can be interpreted as brainwashing young people in order to overthrow the government,” Dr Pankaj Jagannath Jayswal, the author of the article, said.

In his article, Kaimal noted that the most sinister of the CJP’s promises is the “explicit documented demand” to cancel the licences of media houses owned by the Adani Group and Reliance Industries alongside probing the bank accounts of “specific journalists”.

“This is textbook Stalinist communist censorship. It is vicious, targeted attack on domestic capital, seeking to silence any platform that does not align with their chaotic left-wing worldview,” he charged.

“This explicit venomous attack on major Indian conglomerates exposes the profound, unignorable hypocrisy of the CJP, its founder, and its digital supporters,” he added.

The author of the article said the CJP’s demand that the chief election commissioner be arrested under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) if votes are deleted, is a “violent threat designed to paralyse the democratic process”.

“Demanding an arbitrary, mandated 50 per cent reservation for women in Cabinet positions, completely bypassing parliamentary strength, electoral mandates and meritocratic realities, showcases a complete, frightening ignorance of constitutional governance,” Kaimal said.

It is a “hollow slogan” designed for social media engagement, not a serious policy for running a complex nation for 1.4 billion people, he added.

Kaimal further noted that CJP’s call for an immediate 20-year ban on politicians who switch parties is a “totalitarian oversimplification of democratic representation”.

“It strips elected officials of their constitutional agency and binds them as slaves to party high commands, destroying the very essence of intra-party democracy and representative flexibility,” he added.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/cockroach-janta-party-an-anarchic-digital-activism-against-govt-rss-linked-magazine-4017094

The latest video comes days after Burhan’s funeral on May 22, which reportedly brought several Pakistan-based wanted terrorists under one roof, including Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin and Al-Badr commander Bakht Zameen Khan.

A new video of terrorist Hamza Burhan, who was killed by unidentified gunmen on May 21, holding an AK-47 rifle has further exposed the ISI’s role in protecting the most-wanted terrorist in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

According to sources, the video was recorded a few days before his killing. They further said that Burhan was often seen carrying the weapon, as he feared being targeted by unknown assailants.

Intelligence sources also claimed that the ISI had appointed him as a school principal, a position he used to spread propaganda among children in PoK.

TOP TERRORISTS ATTEND FUNERAL

The latest video comes days after Burhan’s funeral on May 22, which reportedly brought several Pakistan-based wanted terrorists under one roof, including Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin and Al-Badr commander Bakht Zameen Khan.

Apart from senior terror operatives, individuals linked to Pakistan’s intelligence agency were also seen at the funeral gathering, according to visuals shared by locals on social media.

Visuals from the ceremony also showed heavily armed militants carrying AK-47 rifles and other weapons deployed around senior figures, highlighting the security presence during the gathering.

According to sources, the funeral footage further underscored allegations of Muzaffarabad being a hub for Pakistan-based terror networks.

WHO WAS HAMZA BURHAN?

Burhan, also known as Arjumand Gulzar Dar and by the alias ‘Doctor’, was buried in Muzaffarabad a day after he was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in PoK.

He was allegedly one of the masterminds of the Pulwama terror attack that killed more than 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel in February 2019.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/hamza-burhan-video-ak-47-isi-pok-principal-cover-2917486-2026-05-26

The raids were part of the ED’s ongoing probe into alleged financial irregularities involving Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited and Exalogic Solutions, a private company owned by Pinarayi Vijayan’s daughter T Veena.

The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday conducted searches at 10 locations across Kerala, including the home of ex-Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, in a money laundering probe linked to the Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) corruption case in which his daughter is implicated.

Officials told news agency ANI that the raids were part of the ED’s ongoing probe into alleged financial irregularities involving Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited and Exalogic Solutions Pvt Ltd, owned by Vijayan’s daughter T Veena. The searches came a day after the Kerala High Court refused to cancel the ED’s investigation into the CMRL case.

ED sleuths also raided former minister and MLA PA Muhammad Riyas in Kozhikode. He is T Veena’s husband.

CMRL, a Kerala-based company engaged in the manufacture of synthetic rutile and industrial chemicals, has been under the scanner over allegations of bribery and money laundering.

The controversy centres on claims that Exalogic Solutions received large sums from CMRL without providing any services in return. Though the case does not directly name Vijayan as an accused, it triggered a major political storm in Kerala. Notably, the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation had a 13.4 per cent stake in CMRL.

WHAT IS THE CMRL CASE?

The allegations first surfaced in August 2023 after reports claimed that Exalogic had received Rs 1.72 crore from CMRL between 2017 and 2020 despite rendering no services. Following the revelations, the Centre directed the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) to carry out a detailed probe.

In its 160-page prosecution complaint, the SFIO named Veena, CMRL Managing Director Sasidharan Kartha and 25 others as accused. The agency also named several companies, including CMRL, Exalogic Solutions and its subsidiary Empower India Capital Investments.

According to the SFIO, Veena’s firm received Rs 2.70 crore from CMRL. Separately, the Income Tax Interim Settlement Board reported in 2023 that Rs 1.72 crore had been paid to the company, citing depositions by CMRL employees.

In April 2025, the Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs approved prosecution proceedings against T Veena in connection with the alleged illegal payments.

Veena has been charged under Section 447 of the Companies Act, 2013, which deals with corporate fraud. The offence carries a jail term ranging from six months to 10 years, along with a fine that can extend to three times the amount involved in the alleged fraud.

‘POLITICALLY MOTIVATED’

CPI(M) General Secretary MA Baby called the ED a heinous attack that was politically motivated. He also alleged that two members of the VD Satheesan-led cabinet also received money from CMRL.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/former-kerala-cm-pinarayi-vijayan-house-among-10-locations-raided-by-enforcement-directorate-in-money-laundering-case-2917660-2026-05-27

How the Delhi Gymkhana Club was the stage for a CIA intelligence coup involving the Indian Army’s Soviet-built tank fleet.

New Delhi’s 113-year old Delhi Gymkhana club has been asked to vacate its premises by June 5, 2026. The eviction notice from the central government cites ‘national security, defense infrastructure’ and ‘urgent public interest’ in taking over the 27-acre club, located a stone’s throw away from the Prime Minister’s residence on 7 Lok Kalyan Marg. The club with its manicured lawns, two dozen tennis courts, a swimming pool, a wooden-floored ballroom, and multiple bars, serves Delhi’s elite. Nearly fifty years ago, the club was also a drop site for the egregious leak of Indian military secrets. This incident was detailed in granular detail in ‘See No Evil’, the 2002 autobiography of a former CIA agent Robert Baer.

The Gymkhana Club then was one of the places where spies disguised as diplomats could mingle with Indian officials, bypassing government rules forbidding contact with foreign nationals. Spies could also enter the club and shake off determined ‘tails’ from India’s Intelligence Bureau.

The story began in the late 1970s with the arrival of Baer, a freshly minted CIA agent to the US Embassy. The Cold War was then at its peak. NATO and Warsaw Pact armies stood ranged against each other, on hair-trigger alert, across Europe. Among the growing mass of military hardware were some cutting edge Soviet platforms that caused the West serious worry.

If the Cold War burst into a hot war, titanium-hulled Alfa class interceptor submarines would barrel down the Atlantic Ocean to hunt NATO warships, stratosphere-skimming MiG-25 ’Foxbats’ would shoot down US bombers, and on the ground, a new battle tank, the T-72 would lead Soviet armoured spearheads across the Fulda Gap into West Germany.

The Pentagon and the CIA pursued these advancement in Soviet hardware with relentless zeal— to understand their capabilities, detect their vulnerabilities and field countermeasures.

The T-72 was of great interest to the Pentagon. A 41-tonne medium tank that was a generational leap over the older T-55s and T-62s, it was armed with a new 125 smoothbore gun that fired kinetic energy rounds at 1,800 meters per second, several hundred meters per second more than Western tanks. Its glacis— the sloped frontal part of the tank— was protected by ceramic/steel laminate armour, it had a laser rangefinder, an auto-loader which eliminated the need for a fourth crew member. The tank reached full scale production in 1979, when the USSR produced 2,000 T-72s that year.

The West relied on intelligence coups like the defection of Soviet pilot Viktor Belenko who flew his MiG-25 into Japan in 1976. Western engineers took the jet apart to understand the secrets behind the world’s fastest jet. But such coups were rare. It was difficult to persuade someone to not just betray his country but also take a piece of sensitive military technology while doing so.

So, the next best thing was to rely on what the CIA called SOVMAT— Soviet military manuals, which minutely detailed the capabilities of the hardware. The CIA efforts to vacuum SOVMAT extended into the Warsaw Pact countries and interestingly, India. By the 1970s, India had become the biggest buyer of Soviet hardware— tanks to fighter jets and submarines.

‘Since the Soviets typically would sell India their most advanced weapons, it had also become the most important country in the world for vacuuming up information on the Soviet military,’ Baer writes.

In 1978 the Indian Indian Army directly imported the first batch of 500 T-72, T-72M and the T-72M1 tanks from the Soviet Union. The CIA station in New Delhi intensified its efforts to obtain information on the Indian Army’s newest acquisition. Baer claims these efforts ranged from trying to get an Indian military contact to do a ‘Belenko’— drive a T-72 tank across the border into Pakistan to bribing a contact in a tank depot to drill a core sample into a T-72 hull to understand its armour composition. These efforts came to nought.

There was also the constant threat of surveillance by India’s Intelligence Bureau (IB), an agency which Baer calls ‘focused, disciplined and tough’. The IB could field thousands and thousands of surveillants on foot and in cars. Their job was to keep a watch on foreign diplomats, particularly spies. A few years before Baer was posted in Delhi, the IB caught a CIA case officer with several sub-sources. The case officer and the station chief in Delhi were sent home and Indian operations were shut down for almost two years. The IB was one reason Baer says ‘India was one of the toughest operating environments in the world.’

Sometime in late August, Baer hit an intelligence jackpot. One of his Indian agents brought him a duffel bag filled with T-72 tank manuals.

‘The T-72 tank manuals were the Holy Grail we’d been after for years, the keys to the kingdom of knowledge. My heart started racing, especially when the agent said he had to have them back in two hours. The sergeant who had borrowed the manuals needed to return them to the safe before he went off duty. There wasn’t enough time to go to the office, copy them, and run a good counter surveillance route. Worse, at that hour New Delhi would be crawling with IB, but I could take them that night or maybe never.’

Baer chose to take the manuals. He slammed on the brakes, pushed the agent out of the car and yelled at him to meet me in two hours behind guest house number three at Delhi’s Gymkhana Club.

At the US Embassy, Baer copied the tank manuals. He had exactly 17 minutes to drive back to the Gymkhana Club. By now there were three pairs of car lights behind him which he hints at being his IB surveillants. By the time he pulled through the Gymkhana’s gates, the three pairs of lights had grown to five.

‘In my rearview mirror I watched them file through the gates one by one. The closest car was maybe ten feet from my rear bumper. There wasn’t any more road, but I kept going- right down a gravel walking path between two tennis courts. I figured they wouldn’t follow me. I was right. All five cars stopped in front of the club’s main building and started deploying on foot. I hit the brakes, stuffed the duffel bags with the manuals in it into a tennis bag, and ducked between two tamarind trees. Footsteps echoed behind me as I followed a path bordered by tall myrtle until I came to a protected section of the hedge that fronted guest house number three. I could see the agent’s shadow through the foliage, right where I had told him to be. Without stopping, I pulled the duffel bag out of the tennis bag and tossed through the hedge in one quick motion. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the agent pick it up and walk away.’

Baer then entered the Gymkhana’s bar through the back door. ‘The place was empty except for a distinguished Indian gentleman in a three-piece suit, sitting alone and reading a newspaper. I walked over and sat next to him. Without saying a word, I summoned a waiter and ordered two double Scotches, straight up and no ice, for both of us. It wasn’t until I struck up a conversation as if we were old friends that he looked like he might run for it.’

When the CIA agent glanced at the back door, he saw two IB surveillants looking at the two of them. ‘I could tell that their interest was quickly narrowing down to the Indian gentleman, trying to figure out why I had been in such a hurry to come see him. By the time they got around to questioning him, the agent would have long cleared the area and returned the manuals to the sergeant.’

Copies of the tank manuals made their way back to the CIA headquarters in Langley, and to the Pentagon. Interestingly, a 1982 CIA SWOT analysis of the T-72 tank based its observations on the T-72M export model of the tank. One of its biggest strengths, a fire control system superior to previous versions, which used optical gyrostabilised sights and automatic changes in the ballistic cam when different types of ammunition were selected. A critical weakness the CIA observed, the T-72 had extremely poor night fighting capabilities, its thermal sights had a range of just 800 metres.

These revelations would have been shared with the US military industrial complex— Chrysler defence was then producing the new MBT the M1 Abrams and Hughes Aircraft making the Javelin anti-tank missile. The intelligence might also have been given to the Pakistan Army, a frontline US ally and potential Abrams buyer.

After a three-year stint in Delhi, Baer went on to serve in the Middle East where his exploits framed him as one of the CIA’s most celebrated field agents in that geography. He quit the agency in 1997, around the time a handful of field agents had begun worrying about the threat posed to American interests by a former Mujahideen fighter, Osama bin Laden.

Baer finished writing his book just two months after the CIA’s most spectacular intelligence failure— the September 11, 2001 ‘ 9/11’ attacks. The attacks were masterminded by bin Laden, a civil engineer brought in by the CIA to fight the Soviets in Afghanistan. The title of Baer’s book ‘See No Evil’ is a dig on the CIA’s post Cold War bureaucratisation, when the agency fell in love with technology and got rid of human intelligence assets. This led to intelligence failures like missing 9/11 lead hijacker Mohammed Atta openly recruiting suicide bombers from a mosque in Hamburg for a spectacular strike on the US.

Baer’s book hit the stands in 2002 after being cleared by the CIA’s Publications Review Board which eliminated classified information from it. Strangely, the book went unnoticed in India.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/the-cia-the-t-72-and-the-delhi-gymkhana-club-a-cold-war-tale-2917604-2026-05-27

Following the change in government, authorities have moved swiftly to address long-standing border security concerns by implementing a strict “3D Policy” — Detect, Detain and Deport. Under the policy, every district has been directed to establish specialized “Holding Centres” where undocumented immigrants will be kept pending lawful repatriation.

In less than a year, the Hakimpur Border in North 24 Parganas has once again become the center of national attention. Just last August, ahead of the implementation of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), thousands of undocumented immigrants had gathered at this very checkpost. Today, hundreds are lining up once more — this time to return to Bangladesh — driven by a new political and administrative reality.

Following the change in government, authorities have moved swiftly to address long-standing border security concerns by implementing a strict “3D Policy” — Detect, Detain and Deport. Under the policy, every district has been directed to establish specialized “Holding Centres” where undocumented immigrants will be kept pending lawful repatriation.

The impact of the policy was immediate. Fearing detention and legal action, thousands of illegal immigrants living across the Greater Kolkata region have started heading voluntarily toward the Hakimpur Border in hopes of avoiding legal complications and returning to Bangladesh on their own.

TIGHT SECURITY AND MULTI-LAYER VERIFICATION

Despite the sudden surge, Indian security agencies have maintained strict order at the border, turning what could have become chaos into a tightly controlled processing operation.

The repatriation process follows a multi-layer verification system:

Individuals are first divided into groups and their credentials verified by the Border Security Force (BSF).

Those cleared then undergo fingerprint and biometric registration to create a permanent digital record and prevent future unauthorized entry.

After Indian authorities complete verification, the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) cross-checks the documents with its own records before allowing entry into Bangladesh.

According to officials, the process is moving efficiently. Around 50 individuals were repatriated yesterday, while another larger batch is currently awaiting final clearance at the checkpoint.

HUMAN STORIES BEHIND THE BORDER CRISIS

Even as the government pushes ahead with its “3D Policy” for border security and law enforcement, the scenes at Hakimpur underscore the human cost of illegal immigration.

CASE STUDY 1: THE FAMILY RETURNING AFTER CANCER TREATMENT

For Rozina Bibi, the border marks the end of a long and uncertain stay in India.

“We came to India seven years ago for my husband Saidul’s cancer treatment,” she said. As the treatment stretched on, the family continued living in India illegally. But after the new policy came into force, their landlord allegedly asked them to vacate the house, leaving them with no option but to return.

CASE STUDY 2: A FAMILY TORN APART

Thirty-six-year-old Sabina Khatoon sat near the checkpoint holding her two young children.

Years ago, she had crossed into India illegally with the help of touts and later married an Indian citizen. She said both her children were born at RG Kar Hospital using her husband’s documents.

Now, the new policy has left the family divided. Her husband, being an Indian citizen, cannot accompany them to Bangladesh.

“I do have family in Satkhira, but I don’t know how we will reunite,” Sabina said tearfully while looking at her children. “Will my children ever get to see their father again?”

CASE STUDY 3: DREAMS WASHED AWAY

For 25-year-old Akhruzamman, the dream of building a better life in India lasted barely two months.

“I swam across the Sonai river at night to reach India,” he admitted. Coming from a financially struggling family in Khulna, he risked everything hoping for work and stability.

Now, he waits at the border for clearance from both BSF and BGB officials.

“I have no other option left,” he said quietly.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/new-detect-detain-deport-policy-sparks-exodus-towards-hakimpur-border-2917624-2026-05-27

A police complaint has been lodged by a lawyer in Siliguri, who has alleged that Mamata Banerjee, during her stint as West Bengal’s CM, made derogatory remarks against Hindus and Hinduism at an Eid celebration in Kolkata last year.

A case has been registered against Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal’s Siliguri following a complaint by a lawyer, who has alleged that the erstwhile chief minister hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus by making derogatory remarks against Hinduism while attending an Eid celebration in Kolkata last year.

The police have invoked Sections 351 (1) (criminal intimidation), 352 (intentional insult with the intent to provoke breach of peace), 353 (promoting feeling of enmity, hatred or ill will between communities) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against Mamata in the case.

The complainant, Rinki Chatterjee, has referenced the then-West Bengal CM’s speech at an Eid event that was organised on Kolkata’s iconic Red Road in 2025.

While targeting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from the stage, Mamata had purportedly said, “I do not subscribe to that filthy religion — a religion that this ‘Jumla Party’ has deliberately fabricated.” She characterised the version of Hinduism espoused by the BJP as “Ganda Dharm,” or “filthy religion.”

Chatterjee has alleged that Mamata’s comment labelled Sanatan Dharma as “filthy” and offended Hindus across India and the rest of the world. The lawyer further said in her complaint that the remark, made from the stage of a Muslim religious congregation, was “absolutely unacceptable.”

She said she is hopeful that appropriate legal action will be taken.

The reported statement by Mamata had triggered sharp reactions last year from the state BJP leadership, including from now-CM Suvendu Adhikari and other prominent figures, who had voiced strong objections.

Chatterjee’s complaint and the resulting FIR mark the first direct legal step in connection with the matter.

In her complaint, she has also claimed that multiple senior leaders of the TMC, including ministers in the earlier government, have targeted Hinduism in recent years. She described the purported “Ganda Dharm” remark by Mamata as the most serious of those instances.

Chatterjee has also alleged that Mamata made an indirect threat to the Hindu community during the campaign period of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly polls.

“Such remarks allegedly created fear among members of the Hindu community and promoted social unrest, religious provocation, and communal disharmony with the intention of influencing voters through fear and intimidation,” she said in her complaint, referring to a specific instance.

Asked about his reaction to the police complaint, Atri Sharma, who is a lawyer and the general secretary of the TMC’s Darjeeling unit, refrained from making any comment in his capacity as his party’s spokesperson.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/mamata-banerjee-faces-legal-trouble-over-anti-hindu-remark-tmc-bengal-news-2917556-2026-05-26

China accused the Quad of bloc confrontation after the grouping criticised coercive actions in disputed waters. The exchange came as the four countries widened cooperation on critical minerals, port infrastructure and shipping security.

Hours after Quad foreign ministers meeting in New Delhi issued a joint statement criticising coercive actions in the South China Sea and unveiled fresh cooperation on critical minerals, maritime security and Indo-Pacific infrastructure, China accused the grouping of promoting “bloc confrontation” and forming exclusive small cliques aimed at targeting third countries.

“Cooperation between nations should be conducive to promoting regional peace, stability, and prosperity, and should not target any third party,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said during a press briefing.

“We oppose the creation of exclusive small cliques and oppose bloc confrontation,” she added.

The sharp response came after the Quad ministers voiced direct concern over the East China Sea and South China Sea, where Beijing has steadily expanded its military and maritime presence in recent years.

QUAD’S CLEAR MESSAGE ON CHINA’S ACTIONS

The Quad foreign ministers — India’s S. Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi — met in New Delhi on Tuesday for the latest Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting hosted by India.

In their joint statement, the four countries said they remained “seriously concerned” about developments in disputed waters across the Indo-Pacific.

“We reiterate our strong opposition to any destabilising or unilateral actions, including by force or coercion, that threaten peace and stability in the region,” the ministers said.

The statement also criticised dangerous military manoeuvres, interference in offshore resource development, obstruction of freedom of navigation and the “militarisation of disputed features” in the South China Sea.

While China was not named directly, the language left little doubt about who the statement was aimed at.

Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea despite overlapping claims from several Southeast Asian countries and has built military infrastructure across disputed islands and reefs. China and Japan also remain locked in a separate territorial dispute in the East China Sea.

Despite Beijing portraying the Quad as an anti-China alliance, officials from India insisted the grouping was far broader than a military or strategic bloc. Addressing reporters after the meeting, Ministry of External Affairs Additional Secretary Nagaraj Naidu said the Quad had evolved steadily over the years around practical development projects and regional cooperation.

“The Quad’s existence is not because we need to address a particular geography’s concerns,” Naidu said. He pointed to the grouping’s vaccine coordination efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic as an example of practical cooperation.

“As we always keep saying, our focus within the Quad has been to deliver practical projects,” he added.

The Quad also announced its first major joint infrastructure project, a plan to help develop port facilities in Fiji as part of efforts to expand its presence across the Indo-Pacific.

“We are going to be partnering on issues of port infrastructure,” Rubio said.

CRITICAL MINERALS AND SHIPPING SECURITY TAKE CENTRE STAGE

One of the biggest outcomes of the meeting was the launch of a new critical minerals framework designed to strengthen supply chains for materials essential to modern industries such as semiconductors, defence systems and renewable energy.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/china-opposes-creation-of-exclusive-small-cliques-after-quad-meet-in-india-over-deepening-indo-pacific-cooperation-2917505-2026-05-26

DGCA has issued strict SOPs for airlines after WHO declared the Ebola outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, officials said. Airlines linked to Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo must collect passenger self-declaration forms, make onboard health announcements and strengthen screening at international gateways to reduce the risk of infection entering India.

India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has issued a strict set of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for airlines after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the Ebola virus disease outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern.

Airlines Must Enforce Rigorous Screening Measures

The directives have been issued to airlines linked to the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, which have witnessed Ebola outbreak. The new protocols aim to establish a robust line of defence at international gateways to mitigate the risk of the highly contagious virus breaching Indian borders.

Under the newly released guidelines, airlines operating direct or connecting flights from Uganda and the Congo are mandated to enforce rigorous screening measures. Carriers have been directed to ensure the mandatory filing and collection of physical or digital self-declaration forms from all passengers before they are permitted to disembark. Airlines will also have to broadcast targeted health announcements during flights to educate passengers on the virus’s early warning signs and encourage self-reporting before reaching the terminal.

Passengers Urged to Report Fever, Bleeding or Vomiting

With his resignation, the seat from Odisha now stands vacated.

Rajya Sabha Chairman C P Radhakrishnan on Monday accepted the resignation of BJD Rajya Sabha MP Debashish Samantaray.

Earlier in the day, Samantaray quit the BJD and also resigned from the Rajya Sabha. He met the Rajya Sabha chairman in Parliament and submitted his resignation from the Upper House.

With his resignation, the seat from Odisha now stands vacated.

According to a notification by the Rajya Sabha Secretariat, Samantaray’s membership in the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Housing and Urban Affairs and the Committee on Public Undertakings also ends.

A long-time associate of BJD chief Naveen Patnaik, Samantaray said he would soon join the BJP and that talks with the saffron party leadership had been finalised.

Sources said Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and state BJP president Manmohan Samal are in New Delhi, and Samantaray may join the BJP in their presence either later on Monday or the following day.

In his resignation letter to Patnaik, Samantaray said he felt “systematically belittled” in the party.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/resignation-of-bjd-mp-debashish-samantaray-accepted-by-rajya-sabha-chairman-4015952

“Stay Tuned – the cockroches are just getting started,” read the Instagram post of the CJP, after the founder Abhijeet Dipke claimed crackdown on party’s X handle and official website. ​​

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a satirical outfit launched on social media by Abhijeet Dipke, on Sunday claimed that the “cockroaches have just gotten started” and the party aims to build an independent, youth-driven movement focused on holding the government accountable and amplifying youth voices.

The outfit, which emerged as a online protest after Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant’s “cockroach” remarks, attracted a massive support from Indian youth on social media and crossed an extraordinary number of 22.8 million followers on Instagram. The party’s Instagram page overtook the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Instagram followers count, which currently sits at approximately 8.8 million followers on the platform, in just a span of a week.

While the CJP garnered significant attention and support soon after its launch, questions remain about what lies ahead for the satirical outfit. Will it fade into the sea of countless meme pages, or evolve into a more tangible political force?

Well, the answer, has emerged from the Cockroach Janta Party’s own social media page.

“Stay Tuned – the cockroaches are just getting started,” read the Instagram post of the CJP, after the founder Abhijeet Dipke claimed crackdown on party’s X handle and official website.

According to a post on the CJP Instagram page, the outfit acknowledged that while it began as a satirical voice, it quickly “resonated with crores of young Indians frustrated with systemic issues like paper leaks, unemployment, and a lack of accountability in the system.”

“As the movement continues to grow exponentially with each passing day, there is growing public curiosity around the direction it will take in the days ahead. We want to make it clear – we want to build an independent, youth-driven movement focused on amplifying the concerns of young people and holding the government accountable. Our values align with the Constitution of India. Taking inspiration from our nation’s founders – Gandhi, Ambedkar, Nehru, Shaheed Bhagat Singh and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, we believe in secularism, democracy and social justice,” the post read.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/just-gotten-started-cockroach-party-charts-next-move-as-instagram-following-crosses-22-8-mn-article-154392058

This is his second parole in 2026. Before this, he had been granted parole and furlough 15 times. The current release is his 16th parole/furlough since conviction.

The incarcerated chief of the Sirsa-based sect Dera Sacha Sauda, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, walked out of Rohtak’s Sunaria Jail on Tuesday after being granted 30 days of parole, the 16th temporary release he has received since 2017. He is serving a 20-year sentence in the Sadhvi sexual assault case.

Earlier, on January 5, 2026, he was released on a 40-day parole during celebrations marking Shah Satnam Singh’s birth anniversary.

This is his second parole in 2026. Before this, he had been granted parole and furlough 15 times. The current release is his 16th parole/furlough since conviction.

Listed as convict 8647/C in prison records, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has spent 406 days outside Rohtak’s Sunaria prison during the 3,193 days of his sentence completed so far, roughly eight years and eight months.

He is serving a 20-year sentence after a special CBI court convicted him in 2017 for raping two women disciples. In 2019, he was sentenced to life imprisonment in the murder case of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati, and in 2021, for conspiring to kill Dera manager Ranjit Singh.

However, the Punjab and Haryana High Court acquitted him in the Ranjit Singh murder case in 2024 and in the Ram Chander Chhatrapati murder case in 2026.

With the latest 30-day parole, the dera chief has now exhausted the 10-week parole limit permitted for 2026 under the Haryana Good Conduct Prisoners (Temporary Release) Act, 2022. Earlier this year, he had been granted 40 days of parole in January.

Under the law, prisoners can avail parole for a cumulative period of 10 weeks in a calendar year, split into two parts. Separately, they may also receive three weeks of furlough, which cannot be divided. The dera chief remains eligible to avail three weeks of furlough this year.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/dera-chief-gurmeet-ram-rahim-walks-out-on-30-day-parole-16th-release-since-conviction-ws-l-10112333.html

Abortion and a ₹7 lakh claim: What Twisha Sharma’s husband told MP SIT before CBI took over probe

Before handing the Bhopal ‘dowry death’ case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday, the Madhya Pradesh police Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Twisha Sharma ‘dowry’ death case questioned her husband, Samarth Singh, for over three hours, during which the lawyer reiterated to the investigators that the former model has become “distressed” following her abortion.

Twisha Sharma, a Noida-based former Miss Pune title holder, was allegedly found hanging at her marital home in Bhopal on May 12. While her in-laws and an autopsy report have claimed that she died by suicide, her family alleges foul play.

According to MP police sources quoted by news agency ANI, the SIT conducted a recreation of the crime scene, lasting over two hours, prior to which the SIT interrogated Twisha’s husband, Samarth Singh, for approximately three hours.

The quoted sources added that Samarth informed the SIT that Twisha had been distressed following her abortion. Earlier, he had claimed during previous rounds of questioning that their relationship had soured after Twisha learnt about her pregnancy, news agency PTI reported citing sources.

When questioned regarding his period of abscondence, Samarth repeatedly attempted to mislead the investigators, the ANI sources said. During the interrogation, he reiterated his claim of having given ₹7 lakh to Twisha.

The SIT has seized Samarth’s laptop, mobile phone, passport, Aadhaar card, and other key documents.

CBI takes over

The CBI on Monday registered an FIR in the case and formally took over the investigation after the Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant handed over the probe to the central agency.

The CBI booked Twisha Sharma’s husband and her mother-in-law, former district judge Giribala Singh, invoking sections 80(2), 85, and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita along with sections of the Dowry Prohibition Act, which were levelled by the state police as well.

Earlier in the day, the agency sent a Special Crime unit to Bhopal to take charge of the investigation and collect the necessary documents and evidence.

After the meeting, the CBI re-registered the state police FIR naming Samarth Singh and Giribala Singh as accused in its own case, in accordance with the procedure.

The Bhopal police had registered the FIR two days after Twisha’s death.

What the state police FIR had alleged

The FIR alleged that Twisha’s husband, Samarth, brought her to the AIIMS, Bhopal, after she, her husband claimed, hanged herself at home at 10.20 pm on May 12.

Doctors at AIIMS informed the police on May 13 at 12.05 am that she was brought dead to the hospital, and a PMLC was registered, the FIR said.

The post-mortem report said that death was due to “antemortem hanging by ligature” and her body bore “multiple antemortem injuries (simple in nature, possible by blunt force over other parts of the body have been noted).”

After receiving the post-mortem report and recording the statement of Twish’s family members, the police registered the FIR on May 15.

A second autopsy was conducted by a specialised team from AIIMS Delhi, and the report is still awaited.

The dowry claim

Twisha Sharma’s family members, in their statements, alleged that she was tormented by her in-laws, who were not satisfied with the dowry paid at the time of marriage on December 9, 2025.

They accused her in-laws of mental torture and domestic violence, and pushing the 33-year-old to take the extreme step.

Twisha’s mother-in-law, Giribala Singh, has, in her turn, questioned her purported medical treatment, alleged drug use, and mental state in several media interviews.

In the statement given to the police at the time of filing the FIR, Twisha’s family said that she had spoken to her mother at 9.41 pm.

During the call, her husband was heard shouting, and the call was cut abruptly, the FIR citing the statement alleged.

After repeated calls, Giribala Singh picked up the phone and told Twisha’s sister-in-law that “she is no more” and cut the call, it is alleged.

The central probe agency initiates an investigation, referred by the state police, by re-registering the police FIR, which serves as the starting point of the investigation.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/abortion-and-a-7-lakh-claim-what-twisha-sharma-husband-told-madya-pradesh-sit-before-cbi-takeover-of-probe-101779758344147.html

Ahead of Bakrid, high-priced goats Salman and Sultan have become talking points at Patna’s Jagdev Path market.

As Bakrid approaches, two premium goats named Salman and Sultan have emerged as major attractions at Patna’s bustling goat market on Jagdev Path, though traders say the intense heatwave has kept several buyers away.

A two-year-old black goat named Salman Khan has become the centre of attention due to its hefty price tag of Rs 2.4 lakh. Standing four feet tall and weighing over 100 kg, the goat was brought to Bihar’s capital by Parvez, a trader from Ara, who purchased it for Rs 1.8 lakh from Uttar Pradesh.

Parvez said Salman is fed grains and green vegetables and has been drawing curiosity at the market. However, he added that soaring temperatures have significantly reduced footfall, affecting sales.

“People are not even coming to see the goats because of the heat,” he said, recalling that he had sold a goat for Rs 2 lakh during last year’s Bakrid season.

Another crowd-puller at the market is Sultan, a two-year-old goat priced at Rs 1.8 lakh. Sultan was brought by Saddam, a trader from UP’s Mau, who said he had raised the animal himself.

Saddam echoed concerns over weak customer turnout due to the heatwave but remained hopeful of finding a buyer before Bakrid. “The market is slow because of the weather, but we expect business to improve closer to the festival,” he said.

Buyers visiting the market said goat prices were comparatively higher this year. While some customers arrived with budgets of around Rs 40,000, most said they were looking for goats priced around Rs 15,000.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/patna-bakrid-goat-market-salman-sultan-prices-heat-hit-footfall-2916956-2026-05-25

In a post on social media, newly elected BJP MLA Ratna Debnath said she met CM Suvendu Adhikari on the 14th floor of the state secretariat and contrasted her own loss with Mamata Banerjee’s political defeat.

BJP MLA Ratna Debnath, the mother of the RG Kar rape-murder victim, met West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari at the state secretariat on Monday and later took a swipe at TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee over her loss in the Assembly polls.

In a post on social media, the Panihati legislator said she met CM Adhikari on the 14th floor of the state secretariat and contrasted her own loss with Banerjee’s political defeat.

On the intervening night of August 8 and 9, 2024, Debnath’s daughter, a 31-year-old post-graduate trainee resident doctor on duty, was raped, tortured and murdered inside the seminar room of the state-run R G Kar Medical College and Hospital.

There have been allegations that evidence was destroyed and attempts were made to downplay the incident in its immediate aftermath.

Following the sweeping defeat of the Trinamool Congress in the West Bengal elections, the BJP government announced the case would be expedited and that justice would be served.

In the social media post, Debnath said, “Today I am on the 14th floor of Nabanna in a meeting with the chief minister. His name is Suvendu Adhikari. The power of honesty is immense. One only needs to patiently fight against injustice.”

“Today, both Mamata (Banerjee) and I are bereaved. I have lost my only daughter and have dedicated myself to serving people. She has lost her chair on the 14th floor,” she said.

The newly elected MLA also said that the former chief minister and her “team” would face a “more tragic outcome”. “Wait and watch,” she said.

The Calcutta High Court last week ordered setting up a three-member special investigation team (SIT) of the CBI to probe the developments from the time the RG Kar Medical College’s trainee doctor had dinner on the ill-fated night of August 2024 to her cremation.

The young medic’s rape and murder had caused an uproar in the state as well as among the doctors’ community across the country.

Debnath has repeatedly alleged that several individuals were directly and indirectly involved in the crime and that not all suspects had come under the purview of the investigation.

According to sources, she had earlier written to Chief Minister Adhikari in a sealed communication, seeking action against individuals she believed should be investigated in connection with the case.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Debnath said that despite becoming an MLA, “all happiness” had disappeared from her life and her only goal was to secure justice for her daughter.

“I may have become an MLA, but all the joy has gone from my life. My only objective is justice. The names I submitted to the chief minister had earlier also been shared with investigators,” she said.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/rg-kar-victim-mother-ratna-debnath-says-i-lost-my-daughter-mamata-banerjee-lost-her-chair-2917008-2026-05-25

The Garib Nagar demolition in Mumbai’s Bandra suburb has triggered calls to clear more slums across the city, with viral videos shot from local train windows fuelling demands for similar drives in Wadala, Kurla, Dadar and beyond. But these settlements also house the workers Mumbai depends on.

Days after bulldozers tore through Garib Nagar in Mumbai’s Bandra East, calls for more slum demolitions across Mumbai have only grown louder. As Western Railway carried out another demolition drive between Goregaon and Malad on Monday to reclaim illegally occupied railway land under Bombay High Court directions, social media was flooded with videos shot from local train windows — of stretches of blue tarpaulin roofs in Wadala, Kurla, Dadar, Govandi and beyond.

Many users tagged authorities and demanded that similar drives be carried out across the city, not just on railway land but also on BMC and government-owned plots.

Barely a week after authorities evicted over 1,500 people from Garib Nagar from over 400 two-three storey shanties, Western Railways has reclaimed approximately 1,500 square metres of vital Railway land in the northern suburbs of Goregaon and Malad. A total of 36 hard encroachments and 24 soft encroachments were cleared through a coordinated operation.

When it comes to “urban clean-up” drives, there is always a contradiction at play. The videos from Garib Nagar struck a nerve not just because many saw the demolition as inevitable, but because they also laid bare the human cost behind Mumbai’s idea of “order” — a city where slums and skyscrapers have long co-existed, often uneasily, but dependently.

As the earthmovers reduced homes to rubble under a Bombay High Court-backed eviction drive by the Western Railway, the demolition of hundreds of homes also unleashed something else across Mumbai. It was anger for many, and a moment of applause for the rest.

But perhaps the most revealing videos were shaky phone clips shot from local trains, zooming into slum clusters along tracks in Wadala, Dadar and Kurla. “Next please”, the captions read.

An X user, Satish Pandita, said, “Mumbai, a world city, is reduced to City of Slums. Have a look at this video [a video taken from a local train], it is just a fraction [pointing at the slums in Wadala]. When will Mumbai be free from slums?”

Referring to Mumbai as “Slumbai”, another person commented on a video shared by Indian Tech and Infra that showed sprawling slum clusters across Mumbai. “When I went to Mumbai, I was under the impression that slums were confined to Dharavi and that the rest of the city was modern. But slums are everywhere. I still can’t believe the scale of it. And the sheer size of these settlements means they cannot simply be cleared overnight. It would take decades.”

The calls for demolition have since expanded beyond railway land, with several local train commuters now demanding that the government clear slum clusters not just from railway property, but also from BMC and other government-owned land across the city.

For a section of Mumbai’s upper and upper-middle classes, the demolition of Garib Nagar slums was a long-awaited “clean-up” of the city. The demolition of the slums in Dharavi has also been lauded by the same section of society.

But there is a contradiction here that Mumbaikars confront every day, and yet sometimes forget. The city needs the labour, but its administration and the governments over the years have been unwilling to accommodate it.

Slums occupy nearly 24% of Mumbai’s land while housing more than half its population, according to Maharashtra’s Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA).

Mumbai-based architect PK Das, on his website, estimates that roughly 7.5 million people live in these slums. That alone explains why Mumbai’s slum debate can never be reduced to aesthetics.

Almost every second Mumbaikar lives in informal housing, compressed into barely a quarter of the city’s geography.

People invest in houses worth crores of rupees, and the view is slums. This is true for the majority of real estate markets in Mumbai and its northern suburbs. Even in a place as posh as Colaba Causeway, there are slums.

More importantly, the people being pushed out of these settlements are not peripheral to the city’s economy. They are the city’s economy.

They drive the delivery bikes that keep Mumbai’s app economy alive. They clean homes in gated towers overlooking the Arabian Sea. They pour concrete into luxury skyscrapers they will never live in. They run roadside eateries, work as security guards, tailors, plumbers, electricians, nurses, drivers, mechanics, loaders and sanitation workers.

Mumbai’s pace survives on the backs of workers who often cannot afford formal housing within the same city they sustain.

MAHARASHTRA GOVTS, BMC, RAILWAYS HAVE FAILED TO CREATED SPACE FOR MIGRANTS

A Mumbai-based senior journalist, who has lived in the city since childhood and has covered the city’s civic issues for over 15 years, described the current situation as a failure of urban imagination as much as governance.

“What Mumbai, Maharashtra, the BMC, the Railways, everyone in authority, failed to do was create space for the millions of migrant workers who came here and took up the jobs many others didn’t want to do,” the journalist said, requesting anonymity.

The journalist pointed out that migrants from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and southern states have long filled the city’s labour vacuum, often performing physically demanding work with little security or dignity in return.

“And now, when it is inconvenient, we are simply throwing them away,” the journalist added.

The emotional charge around Garib Nagar also reflects a shift in the city’s social mood. In older “Bombay”, class divides certainly existed, but there was still a performative idea of coexistence — a belief, however imperfect, that the city belonged to everyone who worked in it. The mill workers were a great example of this, who lived in places that now house the most expensive real estate in India.

The journalist argued that this social compact now appears to be eroding.

“There was at least a social expectation that you should behave with some humanity. Now even that pretence is disappearing,” the journalist told India Today Digital.

The remarks come at a time when public spaces themselves are increasingly becoming sites of class conflict.

In Bandra, debates have erupted over access to gardens, promenades and open spaces, with residents in some affluent pockets complaining about “outsiders”, street vendors, dog-walkers and children from “poorer neighbourhoods” using public amenities.

The Garib Nagar demolition, therefore, did not happen in isolation. It has tapped into a wider aspiration among sections of the city who view slums less as housing crises and more as visual blight.

MEGACITIES AROUND THE WORLD HAVE DEPENDED ON INFORMAL, LOW-INCOME SETTLEMENTS

Urban historians have pointed out that megacities across the world have always depended on informal or low-income settlements.

Paris has its banlieues. New York had immigrant tenements. Los Angeles, which has Skid Row, struggles with homelessness. Most global cities absorb migrants faster than formal housing systems can accommodate them.

Mumbai’s challenge is more extreme and acute. Its geography constrains expansion, while one of the world’s most expensive property markets has made affordable housing scarce even for many middle-class residents. The market has paralysed affordable housing even for the top 1% of this country.

The city has effectively become a place where luxury towers and informal settlements exist wall-to-wall, and that is not because of accident. Each has economically sustained the other.

And that is perhaps the central paradox of Mumbai. The same city that markets itself as India’s financial capital often relies on invisible housing economies to function.

Everybody in Mumbai knows this, even if the city rarely says it aloud.

Soon after the demolitions in Garib Nagar, videos of chaos at Mumbai’s Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) went viral. Sources that India Today Digital spoke to could not confirm whether the people leaving were migrants displaced from Garib Nagar returning home. But on social media, there was hostility. “Send them back,” some wrote. “Kick them out,” said others.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/mumbai-slum-demolition-garib-nagar-local-train-videos-who-will-do-the-city-work-rehabilitation-sra-2916428-2026-05-26

A woman in Bilaspur was taken into custody after allegedly attacking her sleeping husband with a sickle. Police said recurring disputes over a suspected affair may have led to the incident.

A woman was arrested in Chhattisgarh’s Bilaspur after she allegedly attacked her husband with a sickle while he was asleep and severed his private parts over suspicions of an extramarital affair, police said.

The victim, identified as Rajesh Kaushik, a mason by profession, was admitted to the state-run SIMS Hospital in critical condition. Doctors said he is undergoing treatment.

According to police, the couple had been facing frequent domestic disputes for a long time, with the accused woman, Draupati Bai, suspecting her husband of having a relationship with another woman.

Police said the couple had dinner together on the night of the incident before going to sleep. Late at night, the woman allegedly attacked Rajesh with a sickle while he was asleep, chopping off his private parts, and seriously injuring him.

Bleeding heavily, the injured man reportedly ran out of the room screaming for help, alerting family members. His minor son woke up on hearing the cries and informed relatives, following which the family rushed Rajesh to hospital along with the severed body part.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/chhattisgarh-woman-attacks-sleeping-husband-cuts-off-private-part-over-affair-suspicion-2917046-2026-05-26

India will host the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi, where EAM S. Jaishankar will meet counterparts from the US, Japan, and Australia. Discussions will focus on Indo-Pacific cooperation, maritime security, supply chains, critical minerals, emerging technologies, and regional geopolitical challenges. The meeting may also unveil new economic and technology partnership measures.

India will host the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday, with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar set to welcome Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio for high-level discussions under the Quad framework.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the meeting is expected to focus on strengthening cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, maritime security, critical minerals, emerging technologies, supply chain resilience, and regional geopolitical developments, including the situations in West Asia and Ukraine.

The official statement said, “In keeping with the Quad vision for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, the Ministers will build on discussions held in Washington, DC on 1 July 2025. They will exchange views on advancing Quad cooperation across priority areas, review progress on ongoing Quad initiatives, and reflect on recent developments in the Indo-Pacific region and other international issues of mutual concern.”

The meeting is expected to focus on key areas of cooperation, including maritime security, resilient supply chains, infrastructure development, critical and emerging technologies, climate action, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

The discussions will also review ongoing Quad initiatives aimed at strengthening regional stability and economic growth.

During their India visit, the Foreign Ministers of Australia and Japan, along with the US Secretary of State, were also expected to hold bilateral meetings with EAM Jaishankar.

Earlier on Monday, EAM Jaishankar met Japanese counterpart Toshimitsu Motegi ahead of Tuesday’s Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi, highlighting that the special strategic and global partnership between both countries remains rooted in their joint vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific.

“Between India and Japan of course, we have a special strategic and global partnership and that signals that our ties have a larger implication, larger importance, larger impact and one example of that will be tomorrow when we meet in the Quad format to discuss how to advance free and open Indo-Pacific,” EAM Jaishankar said in his opening remarks during a meeting with the visiting Japanese Foreign Minister.

During his stay in New Delhi, the Japanese Foreign Minister is also scheduled to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi with other ministers on Tuesday.

The Quad meeting comes at a time when Indo-Pacific geopolitical dynamics continue to evolve, with member countries seeking to deepen cooperation and coordination on shared regional and global challenges.

Reports suggest the Quad countries may announce new measures to strengthen economic security and technology partnerships during the meeting.

Earlier on Sunday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that India and the US are strategically aligned on several key global issues, including critical minerals, supply chains and terrorism. He called India “one of the most important strategic partners” for the US in the world.

While addressing a joint press briefing with EAM Jaishankar, Rubio said that India and the US have suffered due to global terrorism networks. He noted that India and the US as democracies understand the importance of public scrutiny, accountability.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/india-to-host-quad-foreign-ministers-meeting-today-amid-evolving-indo-pacific-challenges

A 12-year-old girl was raped and murdered in Budgam district, triggering protests and SIT probe.

A 12-year-old girl was allegedly raped and murdered in Jammu and Kashmir’s Budgam district on Sunday. The body of the minor girl was found near 200 metres from her home. The incident has triggered protests and demands for justice and tracking down perpetrators.

The police investigation has been launched and prima facie, it appears to be a case of rape and murder.

According to reports, the child went missing on Saturday evening at Galwanpora village. On Sunday morning, she was found dead in nearby fields.

“At around 7:15 am today, the body was recovered from a spot nearly 200 metres from her home. All medico-legal formalities were subsequently completed and prima facie, it appears to be a case of rape and murder,” said Hariprasad KK, SSP Budgam.

Police said a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to probe the case. The officer said the SIT is examining all possible angles to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident. Police have assured that the investigation will be conducted in a fair, transparent, and professional manner.

Locals have described the incident as horrific and deeply disturbing. The killing has sparked widespread outrage, with political leaders demanding strict action against the culprits. National Conference leaders, including Education Minister Sakeena Yatoo, visited the bereaved family and assured them of prompt justice.

“She left home around 4 PM for her religious class. We fail to understand how she went missing despite so many houses in the surrounding area,” said a local elderly resident. “The killer should be caught immediately. We just want justice for the girl,” he said, adding that the girl was carrying a Quran with her, which was later found nearby too.

Police have requested people not to circulate unverified information or indulge in speculation regarding the matter, as such actions may hamper the investigation and cause unnecessary distress.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has strongly condemned the brutal murder of a young preteen girl in the Budgam district, describing the incident as “shocking and deeply distressing”.

Expressing profound grief over the tragedy, the Chief Minister condemned the heinous act in the strongest possible terms and conveyed his heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved family.

“May she find place in Jannat,” the Chief Minister said while expressing solidarity with the grieving family.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/missing-girl-12-raped-murdered-in-j-k-body-found-200-metres-from-home-11542766?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

Medical experts have long warned that multiple pregnancies in quick succession can significantly increase the risk of anemia, malnutrition, chronic fatigue, pregnancy complications and maternal health emergencies.

A video shared by a gynecologist in Uttar Pradesh has sparked widespread concern online after revealing the case of a 22-year-old woman who is pregnant with her sixth child. According to the doctor, the woman and her husband were married when they were 15 and already have five children – four daughters and one son. Despite this, the couple, who are from Rajasthan, reportedly decided to continue having children in hopes of having another boy. The case was shared by Dr. Pragya Tomar of Spandan Hospital, who said the video was posted with the consent of the patient and her husband.

During the interaction, the woman reportedly told the doctor, “I keep having girls… we have one boy, we need another boy.” Her husband added that one son was “not enough” to support the family and continue the family lineage, remarks that quickly triggered debate online over deep-rooted son preference and gender bias.

The doctor warned the couple about the severe health risks linked to repeated pregnancies at such a young age. According to her, the woman had already complained of breathlessness, dizziness, and body pain – symptoms commonly associated with physical exhaustion, anemia, and nutritional deficiencies caused by closely spaced pregnancies.

“You’re risking your life with so many pregnancies,” the doctor told the patient, warning that repeated childbirth without proper recovery time could seriously endanger both the mother and unborn child.

Watch the video here:

The video soon went viral on social media, with many users expressing concern over the woman’s condition and criticising the societal pressure placed on women to give birth to male children. Many users also pointed to broader issues such as lack of awareness around contraception, early marriage, limited access to family planning education, and the unequal value often placed on daughters and sons in parts of society.

Medical experts have long warned that multiple pregnancies in quick succession can significantly increase the risk of anemia, malnutrition, chronic fatigue, pregnancy complications and maternal health emergencies, especially among very young mothers.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/viral-video-ek-aur-beta-chahiye-doctor-raises-alarm-after-22-year-old-woman-becomes-pregnant-for-sixth-time-11541048?pfrom=home-ndtv_lateststories

She explained that Meta’s long-term ambitions no longer aligned with her own personal and professional goals.

A Meta employee has gone viral after revealing that she voluntarily asked to be included in the company’s latest round of layoffs, citing growing misalignment with Meta’s direction and its increasing focus on becoming an “AI-first” workplace. Julie Bone, who worked as a content designer for Facebook in Los Angeles, shared in a LinkedIn post that she left the company after completing exactly six years at Meta. According to her, the decision to leave had been building for a long time rather than being a sudden reaction to the layoffs.

She explained that Meta’s long-term ambitions no longer aligned with her own personal and professional goals. Bone also said the timing felt right for her personal life and added that part of her motivation was the hope that voluntarily stepping away might help another employee retain their position.

“I had been there exactly six years, which was longer than 80% of the company. This was not an impulsive decision. For a long time now, Meta’s ambitions and my own were in different continents. I wanted to move on because the timing was right for my personal life, and partly because I hoped it might help save the spot of someone who wanted to stay,” she wrote.

In the post, she acknowledged that she was unsure whether her request had actually changed anything internally, joking that she may already have been included in the layoff plans before making the request.

Bone also reflected on the changing work culture inside Meta, describing how AI-focused skills had increasingly become an expectation across teams. She said employees were encouraged to use AI tools for prototyping ideas, troubleshooting coding problems, and automating repetitive tasks. At the same time, she argued that simply learning AI tools would not guarantee long-term job security for workers in the tech industry.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/feature/meta-employee-goes-viral-after-volunteering-to-be-laid-off-amid-ai-push-i-asked-to-be-included-11541320?pfrom=home-ndtv_lateststories

Rather than waiting until their 60s to retire, Bianca and Charlie decided they wanted to enjoy life while they were still young, healthy, and financially stable enough to take the risk.

Bianca Chan and Charles Boddie, a married couple who built successful careers at Amazon and Business Insider, made an unconventional decision that many professionals only dream about. In their early 30s, the couple walked away from high-paying corporate jobs to begin a “first retirement” – a temporary mid-career break focused on travel, freedom, and personal growth aboard a sailboat.

What initially started as a joke slowly turned into a serious life plan. Rather than waiting until their 60s to retire, Bianca and Charlie decided they wanted to enjoy life while they were still young, healthy, and financially stable enough to take the risk.

Before leaving her job, Bianca worked as a senior finance reporter at Business Insider, where she covered how major Wall Street firms were investing in and using technology. Charlie, meanwhile, had spent eight years at Amazon after joining the company as a college hire. Over time, he rose through the ranks and was on track to become a principal engineer. He led multiple engineering teams responsible for much of Amazon’s buy-now-pay-later business operations in the United States and Canada, Business Insider reported.

Despite their professional success, the couple admitted that the intense commitment required by their jobs often came at the expense of other parts of life. Long work hours and career ambition left little room for hobbies, flexibility, or extended travel experiences. Though they often talked about finding a lifestyle with more freedom, lucrative salaries, bonuses, and career opportunities repeatedly kept them tied to corporate life.

Bianca Chan and Charles Boddie, a married couple who built successful careers at Amazon and Business Insider, made an unconventional decision that many professionals only dream about. In their early 30s, the couple walked away from high-paying corporate jobs to begin a “first retirement” – a temporary mid-career break focused on travel, freedom, and personal growth aboard a sailboat.

What initially started as a joke slowly turned into a serious life plan. Rather than waiting until their 60s to retire, Bianca and Charlie decided they wanted to enjoy life while they were still young, healthy, and financially stable enough to take the risk.

Before leaving her job, Bianca worked as a senior finance reporter at Business Insider, where she covered how major Wall Street firms were investing in and using technology. Charlie, meanwhile, had spent eight years at Amazon after joining the company as a college hire. Over time, he rose through the ranks and was on track to become a principal engineer. He led multiple engineering teams responsible for much of Amazon’s buy-now-pay-later business operations in the United States and Canada, Business Insider reported.

Despite their professional success, the couple admitted that the intense commitment required by their jobs often came at the expense of other parts of life. Long work hours and career ambition left little room for hobbies, flexibility, or extended travel experiences. Though they often talked about finding a lifestyle with more freedom, lucrative salaries, bonuses, and career opportunities repeatedly kept them tied to corporate life.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/feature/us-couple-quits-corporate-careers-for-first-retirement-at-30-buys-a-sailboat-to-explore-the-world-11542043?pfrom=home-ndtv_lateststories

Marco Rubio met Ajit Doval and S Jaishankar in Delhi to advance talks held with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The discussions centred on counter-terror concerns, defence co-production, technology transfer and wider India-US cooperation.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met National Security Advisor Ajit Doval in New Delhi on Sunday, with India conveying strong concerns over Pakistan-based terror networks and warning that terrorism was “not just an ideology but an entire ecosystem”.

According to sources, Doval told Rubio that terror infrastructure operating from Pakistan remained continuously active and that instability across the Afghanistan-South Asia region continued to pose serious security concerns.

Sources said Doval underlined during the talks that India was no longer focused merely on remaining vigilant against terror threats, but was increasingly moving towards an “action mode” approach in dealing with terrorism and cross-border networks.

Regional security, counter-terrorism cooperation and strategic coordination in the Indo-Pacific and South Asian region figured prominently in the discussions, officials said. The two sides also discussed expanding India-US defence cooperation, with a focus on technology transfer, joint development and co-production initiatives under the India-US Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET).

Officials described the defence push as part of a broader strategic shift aimed at positioning India not merely as a defence buyer, but as a co-developer and manufacturing partner in advanced technologies.

Rubio later held a bilateral meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar at Hyderabad House, where both sides reviewed cooperation across trade, technology, artificial intelligence, supply chains, defence and energy sectors.

After the meeting, Rubio said India-US ties “have not lost momentum” and expressed confidence that relations between the two countries would become stronger in the coming years. “India-US relations have not lost momentum India-US relations will come out much stronger in the coming years,” Rubio said.

The US Secretary of State also said Washington hoped the long-pending trade agreement between the two countries would be concluded soon, adding that India and the US were “strategically aligned” on most major global issues.

Jaishankar said the discussions covered developments in West Asia, the Indian subcontinent and East Asia, while reiterating India’s support for “unimpeded” maritime commerce. “We discussed the situation in West Asia, Indian subcontinent and East Asia,” Jaishankar said after the meeting.

The External Affairs Minister also said the two sides discussed civil nuclear cooperation and welcomed recent progress in the energy sector. “Secretary Rubio and I welcomed recent cooperation between India and the US in the energy sector,” he said.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/terrorism-an-ecosystem-pakistan-based-networks-still-active-nsa-ajit-doval-marco-rubio-talks-delhi-2916473-2026-05-25

The Supreme Court has reaffirmed that daughters are equal heirs to their father’s share under Hindu law. The ruling highlights how legal equality continues to face resistance within families and social practice.

Across India, courts are increasingly being called upon to settle disputes over daughters’ inheritance rights, exposing the continuing gap between legal equality and social reality. From royal families to ordinary households, women are still being denied their lawful share in family property despite clear constitutional and statutory protections.

One of the most prominent examples is the ongoing dispute involving the royal family of Mewar, where the daughters of the late king have challenged his will in the Delhi High Court after his separate properties were left entirely to his son, the current king. Similarly, in February, the Supreme Court directed compulsory mediation in a long-running partition dispute among siblings in Hyderabad, observing that mediation could provide a faster and less damaging resolution than prolonged litigation.

The issue once again came into focus on May 15, 2026, when a Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Sanjay Karol and Augustine G Masih reaffirmed that daughters possess equal inheritance rights under Hindu law. The Court clarified that even before the 2005 amendment to the Hindu Succession Act, daughters had the right to inherit an equal share in their father’s portion of ancestral property through the principle of “notional partition.”

This ruling reflects a broader legal position that daughters are equal heirs in all forms of parental property, whether ancestral or self-acquired. Yet, patriarchal social norms often continue to override the law in practice. In many families, daughters are given gifts at the time of marriage and are thereafter expected to forgo any claim to family property, while sons inherit the entire estate.

Advocate Varun Chopra notes that the denial of women’s inheritance rights is often less about law and more about social conditioning. According to him, many sisters avoid legal disputes to preserve “family tranquility,” while others remain unaware of their legal entitlements altogether. He explains that the Hindu Succession Act clearly grants daughters inheritance rights, but social attitudes frequently discourage women from asserting them.

A key turning point came in 2005, when Parliament amended Section 6 of the Hindu Succession Act to grant daughters equal coparcenary rights. Coparcenary refers to the right acquired by birth in a Hindu Undivided Family (HUF), allowing a person to inherit ancestral property and demand partition.

Before 2005, daughters could inherit only their father’s share after his death but could not seek partition of ancestral property. The amendment recognised daughters as equal coparceners alongside sons.

The Supreme Court further strengthened this principle in the landmark 2020 Vineeta Sharma judgment. The Court ruled that a daughter is a coparcener by birth, equal to a son, and that marriage does not extinguish her rights. Importantly, the judgment clarified that the father did not need to be alive on September 9, 2005 — the date the amendment came into force — for daughters to claim their share. The ruling also affirmed daughters’ equal rights to partition and inheritance within Hindu Undivided Families.

The Court has continued expanding gender equality in succession law. In the 2025 Ram Charan verdict, the Supreme Court extended equal inheritance rights to tribal women, observing that customary laws denying succession to women could not survive constitutional scrutiny. The Court emphasised that customs cannot remain “stuck in time” and cannot be used to perpetuate discrimination. Invoking

Article 14 of the Constitution, which guarantees equality before law, the bench held that denying female heirs succession rights only deepens gender inequality.

Despite these progressive judgments, discrimination persists in several state-specific laws, especially concerning agricultural land. For example, the Uttar Pradesh Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, 1950 prioritises widows, sons, and unmarried daughters in inheritance of agricultural land. Married daughters inherit only in the absence of these relatives and even parents of the deceased are given preference over married daughters.

The law also provides that a widow loses inheritance rights upon remarriage. Such provisions reveal how outdated legal frameworks continue to undermine women’s equality.
Inheritance rules also vary across religions in India. Under Muslim personal law, there is no concept of coparcenary or inheritance by birth.

Property devolves only after the death of a parent. However, sons generally receive twice the share of daughters. In contrast, Christians governed by the Indian Succession Act receive equal inheritance rights regardless of gender.

The recent May 15, 2026 judgment in the BS Lalitha case further clarified the concept of “notional partition.” The Supreme Court explained that under the earlier Section 6 of the Hindu Succession Act 1956, which was built on the basis of the Hindu Mitakshara law, a deceased coparcener’s (father) share would be separated through a deemed partition before death, enabling daughters to inherit that share equally.

The Court also observed that a later partition deed cannot extinguish daughters’ rights if those rights had already vested by operation of law. Meaning that daughters have always been recognised as equal heirs of the father’s share of the property.

The earlier law, before the 2005 amendment, merely denied the right to demand a formal partition. However, the right to claim their share from the notional division on the death of the Father has been read into the 1956 Act also.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/law-news/story/daughters-inheritance-rights-supreme-court-notional-partition-2916437-2026-05-24

Lakhs of tribal community members gathered in Delhi for the Janjati Sanskritik Sangam and called for converted tribals to be delisted from the Scheduled Tribe category. The event paired cultural celebrations marking Birsa Munda’s 150th birth anniversary with demands to review constitutional safeguards linked to tribal identity.

Lakhs of tribal community members from across India gathered in the national capital for the Janjati Sanskritik Sangam, where participants celebrated indigenous culture and raised demands for the “delisting” of converted tribals from the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category.

The event, organised by the Janjati Suraksha Manch affiliated to the RSS, marked the 150th birth anniversary of tribal icon Birsa Munda. Representatives from more than 550 tribal groups from different states took part in the gathering near Delhi Gate.

Participants dressed in traditional attire performed cultural programmes, marches and public demonstrations highlighting issues related to tribal identity, constitutional rights and preservation of indigenous customs.

A key demand raised during the event was the amendment of Article 342 of the Constitution to remove ST status from individuals who convert to religions other than traditional tribal faiths. Protesters argued that converted tribals continue to avail reservation benefits meant for Scheduled Tribes while also receiving benefits available to minority communities.

Several speakers at the gathering said religious conversion leads to a gradual loss of tribal traditions, customs and cultural identity, and called for a review of the existing constitutional framework governing ST status.

Organisers and participants maintained that the demand was linked to the protection of tribal heritage, community rights and preservation of indigenous culture rather than targeting any particular religion.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/janjati-sanskritik-sangam-tribals-seek-delisting-of-converted-scheduled-tribes-2916459-2026-05-25

Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), announced plans to advance their movement despite recent setbacks, including the hacking of their social media accounts and website.

Abhijeet Dipke, the founder of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), on Saturday claimed that they are working on a plan to take their movement to a next level and will share more information soon. Dipke’s statement has come after he claimed their accounts can be hacked or withhold but they cannot hack this movement. The Cockroach Janta Party is not an official political organization but it’s a satirical online movement, launched by Abhijeet Dipke, who is a student at Boston University in United States. The CJP, which came up last week on May 16, 2026, gained a rapid traction on social media through memes and political commentary around unemployment, examination paper leaks and education-related issues.

On Friday, Dipke had claimed that the outfit lost access to its Instagram accounts, its X handle has been withheld in India, its backup account was briefly taken down and its website — cockroachjantaparty.org — was also taken down.

“Please note that we currently do not have access to any of our platforms. Any post made after this should not be considered an official statement from the Cockroach Janta Party,” Dipke said in a post on X.

Claiming crackdown on CJP’s select social media accounts, and its website, Dipke took to his personal X page and wrote, ”

You can hack and withhold the accounts but you cannot hack this movement. We are not going to stop and we will keep raising our voice against this autocracy. Every attack makes cockroaches stronger. We are working on a plan to get this movement to continue sustainably and take it to the next level. Will share more soon! Cockroaches never die!”

The weather department has forecast strong surface winds and heatwave conditions during the afternoon and evening hours through the next three days in Delhi.

Delhi is set to witness another week of heatwave conditions, with the India Meteorological Department issuing a yellow alert for the Capital over the next three days.

The weather department has forecast strong surface winds and heatwave-like conditions during the afternoon and evening hours through the next three days. The maximum temperature on Monday is expected to hover around 44 degrees Celsius, with the minimum temperature around 30 degrees Celsius.

Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 43.6 degrees Celsius on Sunday, 3.4 notches above the seasonal average, with the minimum temperature settling at 28.4 degrees Celsius, two notches above the seasonal average.

The weather department has warned of heatwave conditions over isolated pockets of Delhi during May 24 to May 28, with severe heatwave conditions in some pockets between May 25 and May 27.

On Sunday, several weather stations across Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) logged temperatures significantly above normal, with Ridge and Ayanagar recording the highest maximum temperature at 44.6 degrees Celsius each. This was followed by followed by Lodhi Road at 43.8 degrees Celsius, Palam at 43.7 degrees Celsius and Safdarjung at 43.6 degrees Celsius. Relative humidity levels fluctuated between 37 per cent and 18 per cent.

Heatwave conditions to persist over north India, red alert in UP

The week ahead will bring little relief for north India, as the IMD forecast shows severe heatwave conditions over central and northwest India. Heatwave and severe heatwave conditions are likely to prevail over central and north west India over the next week, and over east and adjoining peninsular India over the next five days. The temperatures will only witness a fall after May 29, according to IMD.

“Heat wave conditions very likely in isolated pockets over Punjab, Haryana Chandigarh & Delhi during 24th-28th; with severe heat wave conditions in some pockets during 25th-27th May,” the weather department stated in a warning.

It said that heatwave conditions were also likely in some pockets over Uttar Pradesh till May 28, with severe heatwave conditions over some parts of east UP till May 26.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/delhi-under-yellow-alert-imd-warns-of-severe-heatwave-conditions-over-north-india-101779664764808.html#google_vignette

Manisha Sanjay Havaldar from Pune was appointed as an expert by the National Testing Agency

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a Pune-based person in connection with the NEET-UG 2026 case for allegedly leaking some Physics questions.

The accused has been identified as Manisha Sanjay Havaldar, currently working in Seth Hiralal Saraf Prashala (Pune).

According to the CBI, she was involved in the NEET-UG 2026 process and appointed by the National Testing Agency (NTA) as an expert.

The agency alleged that she had complete access to the Physics question papers. In April 2026, she had shared some of the questions with co-accused Manisha Gurunath Mandhare, who was arrested on May 16 for allegedly leaking Biology questions. The questions Ms. Havaldar shared have tallied with the Physics questions in the examination paper, it said.

The CBI registered the case on May 12, following a complaint from the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, and has so far arrested 11 persons.

Among them is Shivraj Motegaonkar, a professor and owner of RCC Coaching Institute in Latur. The institute has nine branches. He is acquainted with Chemistry lecturer P.V. Kulkarni, who is associated with the NTA and has been arrested by the CBI on the charge of leaking Chemistry questions.

Searches at the institute premises and Mr. Motegaonkar’s residence resulted in the seizure of a Chemistry question bank that contained questions identical to those which appeared in the test held on May 3, the agency said.

Source : https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/cbi-arrests-key-accused-linked-to-neet-ug-2026-physics-paper-leak-case/article71011069.ece

India’s viral “cockroach” political parody group says its website has been blocked just days after it launched.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has gained more than 20 million online followers since being set up as a joke after India’s chief justice reportedly compared unemployed young people to the insects.

He later clarified he was referring to people with “fake and bogus degrees”, not India’s youth more broadly.

Its website can no longer be accessed in the country and also appears to be down elsewhere. The group’s founder Abhijeet Dipke said Indian officials had “taken down our iconic website” and asked why they were “so scared of cockroaches”.

He wrote on X that the group, which is not an official political party, was already working on a new “home” and added: “Cockroaches never die.”

Its official X page – with more than 200,000 followers – is also inaccessible in the country. Those trying to open it are shown a message that it has been withheld “in response to a legal demand”.

Dipke, a political communications strategist and student at Boston University in the US, has also claimed both his personal Instagram and the group’s have been hacked.

The CJP – or the cockroach people’s party – satirises the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has been in power since 2014.

The group claims to be “the voice of the lazy and unemployed”. Its tongue-in-cheek membership criteria include being chronically online and having “the ability to rant professionally”.

Source : https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cddpq71866do

Sonam Wangchuk hoped constitutional safeguards will be granted to Ladakh after recent talks between Ladakh groups and the Centre.

Environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk on Saturday expressed hope over the proposal of granting constitutional safeguards to Ladakh under Article 371, while describing the recently concluded negotiations during a high-level meeting in New Delhi as a “work in progress.”

This comes a day after representatives of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) held talks with the Union government and said that they have reached an “in-principle understanding” over enacting special constitutional safeguards in the region. “We made significant progress this evening in our talks with the Govt. MHA, Apex & KDAleaders of Ladakh had a broad consensus on restoring democracy with a tailor made legislative body,” he said on X.

In an interview with news agency PTI on Saturday, Wangchuk said talks are underway to finalise and devolve the responsibilities in the region under Article 371. “This is not a time to celebrate or deplore based on what has been discussed so far. It is a work in progress. Only an understanding has been reached and it is not an accord or an agreement…We hope that there will be progress in this in the coming days,” he said.

What is Article 371?

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

Sonam Wangchuk backs CJP

During the interview, he also voiced support for the viral “Cockroach Janta Party” (CJP), adding that while he isn’t qualified to become a member of it, he identified himself with its message. “I am neither unemployed nor am I lazy. So sadly, I am not a member. But I consider myself an honorary cockroach,” he said.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/sonam-wangchuk-says-article-371-talks-for-ladakh-still-work-in-progress-backs-cockroach-janta-party-101779588723203.html

A laid-off Meta engineer has alleged that he was routinely excluded and ostracised by his Chinese colleagues at the company.

A laid-off Meta engineer has alleged that he was routinely excluded and ostracised by his Chinese colleagues at the company. Meta employee Jeremy Bernier alleged race-based discrimination at the tech giant, claiming he was part of a team where “90% of his coworkers were Chinese”, and where “non-Chinese were routinely excluded, disadvantaged, and targeted for layoffs.”

Bernier was among the 8,000 employees affected by layoffs at Meta on May 20. He opened up about his experience with the Mark Zuckerberg-owned company on X.

‘6 out of 7 layoffs targeted non-Chinese’

In his lengthy post on X, Bernier claimed that certain Meta teams, particularly in ads and MRS, were “notorious for being Chinese dominated”. He alleged that despite non-Chinese employees being “the vast minority”, “6 out of the 7 layoffs I observed targeted non-Chinese”.

“I think Americans would be outraged if they knew that their own citizens were getting marginalized and laid off at their own companies, while Chinese promote themselves up, conquer entire orgs, and reap millions,” he wrote.

Bernier compared his experience at Meta with a hypothetical scenario at Chinese telecom giant Huawei.

“Imagine if Huawei in Shenzhen had entire orgs and leadership chains completely dominated by Japanese people who brazenly spoke Japanese at work without a care in the world that their Chinese coworkers don’t understand,” he wrote, adding that Chinese citizens “would be outraged” in such a situation.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/trending/us/exmeta-employee-says-non-chinese-workers-were-targeted-for-layoffs-101779585862683.html

At a review meeting held by state revenue minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy on Saturday, the officials informed him about the deaths in the seven districts.

At least 16 people have died due to suspected heat stroke across seven districts in Telangana this summer season to date, while no deaths were reported in the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh though 319 cases of sunstroke were reported in that state, officials aware of the matter said on Saturday.

At a review meeting held by state revenue minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy on Saturday, the officials informed him about the deaths in the seven districts.

“Jayashankar Bhupalpally district reported four deaths, while Warangal Urban, Karimnagar and Nizamabad districts recorded three deaths each. One death each was reported from Jogulamba Gadwal, Rangareddy and Suryapet districts,” an official statement from the minister’s office said.

An official, however, said on condition of anonymity that unconfirmed reports from various districts indicated that 34 people died of sunstroke till Friday. “However, the district authorities have not confirmed whether the deaths were precisely due to heatstroke,” the official said. The official statement said the state government had announced an ex gratia of ₹4 lakh each to the families of the deceased. The revenue minister directed officials to expedite the compensation process without delay.

Reddy said temperatures in the state had reached alarming levels due to the severe El Nino impact, leading to intensified heatwave conditions. He warned officials against any negligence in safeguarding public health.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/at-least-16-dead-in-telangana-due-to-suspected-heatstroke-as-temperatures-soar-4-lakh-ex-gratia-announced-101779584942268.html

The chief yardstick for the performance appraisal was the ministries’ agility in complaint redressal and file disposal.

Several ministries were rated as “satisfactory” in Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led performance appraisal. The assessment assumes significance as the report cards of ministries will be the determining factor when the government draws up plans for a possible Cabinet expansion, sources said.

The Union Cabinet held a meeting under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership on Thursday, in which Cabinet Secretary TV Somnathan gave a detailed presentation on the performance of all the ministries of the government.

The main yardstick for the performance appraisal was the ministries’ agility in complaint redressal and file disposal. Other sectors, like artificial intelligence, digital platforms, data sharing, data-based decision making, and inter-ministerial cooperation, also played a role in the government’s report card exercise.

The government told the ministries that files shouldn’t remain pending, and complaints mustn’t remain unresolved, the sources added.

PM Modi has directed the ministries to complete developmental work quickly and simplify processes. He called for identifying obstacles to development work and finding solutions.

The ministries have been asked to explain what hinders work, what obstacles delay decisions, implementation, and benefit distribution, and what improvements can be made to address them.

Ministers Swung Into Action

Several ministers immediately swung into action. Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan directed his ministry officials to simplify procedures and eliminate outdated and irrelevant regulations.

Following the meeting, the agriculture minister spoke about changing the administrative work culture in a meeting with officials. He said there is a need to improve the quality of file creation, decision-making and drafting.

Describing drafting as a crucial area, he urged departments to train officers who can prepare files and notes in a robust, clear, and policy-consistent manner.

The Union Cabinet also discussed the issue of pending court cases. All departments have been asked to compile a list of pending cases, review them, designate nodal officers, strengthen legal preparedness, and, if necessary, assign better lawyers.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/after-pm-modis-satisfactory-appraisal-rating-ministers-swing-into-action-11538150?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

The Karnataka government raised minimum wages by 60 per cent, taking the minimum monthly pay for labourers in Bengaluru to Rs 23,376 under the revised pay structure.

The Karnataka government on Saturday increased minimum wages for workers by 60 per cent, with labourers in Bengaluru now set to receive a minimum monthly wage of Rs 23,376 under the revised structure.

Announcing the decision, Labour Minister Santosh Lad said the move would strengthen economic security for workers and fulfil a long-pending demand of the labouring community across the state.

Under the revised structure, skilled workers in Bengaluru will be entitled to Rs 31,114 per month, while minimum wages in other parts of Karnataka will range between Rs 19,300 and Rs 21,251 depending on location and category.

Calling it a major labour reform, Lad said the revision had been carried out in line with directions issued by the Supreme Court while determining minimum wages.

“Our government has issued a notification increasing the minimum wages of workers by 60 per cent. Through this, our government has fulfilled a long-pending demand of the labouring community in the state,” Lad said in a post on X.

He said the revised wages would provide economic security to workers in the unorganised sector as well as employees in notified sectors and bring lakhs of workers under a more streamlined framework.

The minister also announced a structural change in the wage system, saying the government had done away with the earlier four-zone classification model and, for the first time, brought all scheduled employments under a single notification.

According to Lad, the revised wage structure is expected to directly benefit lakhs of workers employed across 81 scheduled occupations in Karnataka.

“This notification will provide economic security to workers in the unorganised sector and other specified sectors across the state. While determining the minimum wages, directions of the Supreme Court bench have been followed in carrying out this revision,” he said.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/karnataka/story/karnataka-minimum-wages-labourers-hike-siddaramaiah-govt-santosh-lad-bengaluru-salary-workers-2916104-2026-05-23

TMC councillor Sanjay Das was found hanging in his room, police say it appears to be suicide. The incident comes amid ongoing investigations into recruitment scams involving several TMC leaders in Kolkata.

The body of a 50-year-old TMC councillor of the South Dum Dum Municipality on the northern outskirts of Kolkata was found hanging in his room on Saturday, police said.

Sanjay Das, the chairman-in-council of the civic body, who lived in the Nagerbazar area of north Kolkata, was taken to a local private hospital where he was declared dead on arrival.

Police said that prima facie it looked like a case of death by suicide, although no note confirming the nature of the incident could be recovered so far.

A case of unnatural death has been registered at the local Nagerbazar police station.

Das’ body, police said, would be handed over to his family following the mandatory autopsy procedure.

The incident left Das’ followers and friends in a state of shock, many of whom were seen waiting outside the hospital premises after the body was brought there.

Das, who represented ward number 18 of the municipality, is widely believed to have remained a close aide of Debraj Chakraborty, Bidhannagar TMC councillor and husband of former party MLA Aditi Munshi.

On Friday, the couple had moved the Calcutta High Court seeking anticipatory bail in a disproportionate asset case filed by the Bidhannagar City Police.

Previously, Chakraborty had been questioned by the CBI in connection with the alleged recruitment scam at the primary level in state-run schools.

Several TMC councillors, believed to be close associates of Chakraborty, have been arrested over the past few days in cases involving extortion, assault and intimidation.

Former TMC minister Sujit Bose was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on May 11 in connection with an alleged recruitment scam at the South Dum Dum Municipality and was slapped with a Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) case.

The former chairperson of the TMC-run civic body, Panchu Roy, has also been questioned by the ED in connection with the alleged irregularities in recruitment.

Sources close to Das said he had been depressed for the past few days, but failed to pinpoint the reason behind the mental state of the deceased.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/sanjay-das-death-south-dum-dum-tmc-councillor-found-hanging-in-kolkata-2916109-2026-05-23

Ten cows died after eating leftover food from a terhavi (post-death) ceremony in Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura district. Twenty others were saved as veterinarians treated them for acidosis and food samples were sent for investigation.

As many as 10 cows lodged at a gaushala in a village in Mathura died after allegedly eating leftover food from a ‘terhavi’ (post-death) ceremony on Saturday, an official said.

A total of 30 cows fell ill due to acidosis — a medical condition characterised by excess acid in body fluids — after eating the leftover food, Chief Veterinary Officer Dr NN Shukla said. “Ten cows died, but doctors managed to save another 20 cows, which are doing fine now.”

The incident took place in Bhaisa village falling under Refinery police station limits.

The ‘terhavi’ — ritual offerings on the thirteenth day of a persons death — of the gram pradhan was organised on May 20. A large quantity of food was left over following the ceremony, which was given to animals of the temporary gaushala on May 22, the officer said.

Subsequently, 30 cows fell ill, developing symptoms of acidosis.

A team of 10 veterinarians were pressed to nurse the bovines back to health, Shukla said, adding that experts from Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Pashu Chikitsa Vigyan Vishwavidyalaya Evam Go-Anusandhan Sansthan, Mathura, were also called.

Post-mortem on the cows have been conducted, and samples sent for investigation, he said.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/mathura-gaushala-cows-die-after-eating-terhavi-leftover-food-village-ceremony-2916111-2026-05-24

A roadside lottery seller won Rs 12 crore Vishu bumper jackpot in Kerala’s Kollam. Elated, the lottery seller said he said the windfall would help arrange his son’s marriage and clear family debts.

For Ponnan, a lottery seller who on Saturday became the winner of the Rs 12 crore Vishu bumper lottery, the windfall will help him find a good bride for his son, Vinod.

“It is difficult to find a bride for someone in a poor family. Now we have crores. Lets see if we can get a good proposal for him,” he said.

Lady luck smiled on Ponnan, who has been selling lottery tickets on the roadside for years and also buys tickets for himself sometimes.

Talking to reporters in Kollam after he was announced as the winner, he said that this time when he brought tickets for selling them, he purchased one for himself and it turned out to be lucky. His wife said that it would allow them to settle a lot of debts they had.

Ponnan said his lucky number is 2 and that was the last number of the ticket he brought.

All three of them started selling lottery tickets during Covid-19, he said.

“My husband has become a crorepati,” Ponnan’s wife said happily.

Ponnan, on the other hand, said that he never expected to win.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/kerala/story/kerala-lottery-seller-vishu-bumper-jackpot-plans-son-marriage-clear-debts-2916112-2026-05-24

Manipur Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh told the United Naga Council that the abduction case of six missing Naga villagers will be handed to the NIA. The move comes amid competing hostage claims and renewed tension in Kangpokpi and Senapati districts.

Naga villagers by armed militants to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh said on Saturday amid continuing tensions in the hill districts of the state.

The announcement came after a six-member delegation of the United Naga Council (UNC), led by its president NG Lorho, met the chief minister and senior cabinet ministers at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat to discuss the prevailing law and order situation in Manipur.

Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho, Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam and several Naga MLAs were also present during the meeting.

According to an official statement, the UNC delegation urged the government to intensify efforts to trace the six abducted Naga villagers from Konsakhul village in Kangpokpi district, who have remained missing since May 13.

“The Chief Minister informed the UNC delegation that the case of the six abducted Nagas will be handed over to the NIA,” the statement said.

The chief minister also noted that the killing of three church leaders in Kangpokpi district earlier this month had already been transferred to the central agency for investigation.

Singh said search and rescue operations have been underway since May 14 to locate the missing villagers. He appealed to the UNC to assist in securing the release of 14 Kuki civilians who, according to the government, have been held captive since the violence erupted.

He also appealed to Kuki community organisations to cooperate in tracing the missing Naga villagers and urged all communities to support efforts to restore peace and normalcy in the conflict-hit state.

The latest development follows a series of violent incidents in Kangpokpi and Senapati districts on May 13, during which more than 38 people were reportedly abducted and held hostage by armed groups hours after three church leaders were killed in an ambush.

Officials said 31 of those abducted have since been released, including 12 Naga women and 16 members of the Kuki community. However, six Naga men remain untraced.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/manipur-govt-to-hand-over-abduction-of-six-naga-villagers-to-nia-says-cm-y-khemchand-singh-2916122-2026-05-24

Raghav Chadha, a former AAP Rajya Sabha MP who recently joined the BJP following differences with the party leadership, has been assigned a key role in the Upper House.

Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha, who recently switched from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has been appointed chairman of the Rajya Sabha’s Committee on Petitions following the panel’s reconstitution.

Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan nominated 10 members to the committee with effect from May 20, according to an official notification.

“Raghav Chadha has been appointed chairman of the committee,” a Rajya Sabha notification said.

Other members of the panel include Harsh Mahajan, Gulam Ali, Shambhu Sharan Patel, Mayankkumar Nayak, Masthan Rao Yadav Beedha, Jebi Mather Hisham, Subhasish Khuntia, Rwngwra Narzary and Sandosh Kumar P.

In a separate notification, the Rajya Sabha Secretariat said Chairman Radhakrishnan had nominated Menaka Guruswamy to the Joint Committee on the Corporate Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, on May 20.

Separately, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla nominated Arvind Sawant to the same joint committee with effect from May 21, according to a Lok Sabha notification.

Raghav Chadha, formerly a Rajya Sabha MP from AAP, joined BJP in April this year citing differences with the party leadership and alleging that the outfit had strayed from its founding principles.

His move triggered intense scrutiny online and marked another high-profile exit from the AAP.

Alongside Chadha, six other Rajya Sabha MPs, namely Swati Maliwal, Harbhajan Singh, Rajinder Gupta, Vikram Sahney, Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal, also quit the AAP and joined the BJP.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/raghav-chadha-appointed-rajya-sabha-committee-on-petitions-chairman-after-bjp-switch-2916065-2026-05-23

New Delhi: With Washington, D.C., prodding India to raise its energy imports from the United States, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has received another invitation for a visit to White House, almost a year after he turned down one from US President Donald Trump, who was then also hosting Field Marshal Asim Munir of Pakistan.

Trump’s Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, met with Modi in New Delhi on Saturday, discussed the situation in West Asia and conveyed the US president’s invitation to the prime minister.

Rubio emphasised during his meeting with Modi that the US would not let Iran hold the global energy market hostage and affirmed that US energy products had the potential to diversify India’s energy supply, according to a readout issued in Washington, D.C, after the meeting.

Rubio arrived in New Delhi after a stopover in Kolkata, where he, along with his wife, visited the Missionaries of Charity founded by Saint Teresa early on Saturday. He is the third senior official of the Trump Administration to visit India, after Tulsi Gabbard, who just resigned as the US Director of National Intelligence, in March 2025, and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick just three months back.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/us-president-donald-trumps-fresh-invite-to-pm-modi-after-hosting-to-pakistan-army-chief-irked-india-4014000

The initiative is aimed at strengthening last-mile communication and improving awareness of key public digital services among citizens.

Mumbai: Roppen Transportation Services Private Ltd (Rapido) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Maharashtra Information Technology Corporation Limited (MahaIT), the Government of Maharashtra’s nodal agency for digital governance and ICT initiatives, to explore collaboration opportunities aimed at strengthening citizen awareness, digital inclusion and trusted digital mobility ecosystems across Maharashtra.

The collaboration aims to leverage Rapido’s technology platform and extensive captain network to support awareness and adoption of citizen-centric digital governance initiatives such as Aaple Sarkar, MahaID, MahaSaarthi and other MahaIT-led public service platforms, a press statement said.

Commenting on the MoU, MahaIT official Subhash Shelake said an important aspect of the agreement includes a digitally verifiable onboarding and background verification process, including integration with MahaID, for Rapido captains to ensure trust, transparency and passenger safety in the state.

“We also see strong potential in enabling Rapido captains to act as grassroots digital information ambassadors, helping drive greater awareness and adoption of public digital services among citizens across Maharashtra,” he said.

Rapido Co-founder Pavan Guntupalli said the partnership would help strengthen public digital initiatives while enhancing trusted mobility services.

“Through this collaboration with MahaIT, we aim to leverage our digital ecosystem and extensive captain network to support public digital initiatives while continuing to strengthen safer and more trusted mobility experiences for citizens across Maharashtra,” he said.

Under the proposed framework, Rapido will support dissemination of government-approved awareness messages through designated in-app communication formats, including banners, notifications and informational messaging integrated across user and captain touchpoints in Maharashtra.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/maharashtra/rapido-signs-mou-with-mahait-to-boost-digital-inclusion-in-maharashtra-4013366

Petrol in Delhi will now cost Rs 99.51 per litre and diesel Rs 92.49 per litre.

Prices of petrol and diesel rise again by 87 paise and 91 paise repsectively, on Saturday.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/third-hike-petrol-price-increases-by-87-paise-diesel-by-91-paise-4013317#google_vignette

The CBI’s NEET-UG 2026 paper leak probe has identified the alleged sources of leaked Chemistry, Biology and Physics questions. Investigators are tracing the money trail and the middlemen who allegedly arranged students and coaching sessions.

The Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) investigation into the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak has begun, revealing what investigators describe as a structured network involving examination insiders, subject experts, coaching operators and middlemen who allegedly leaked questions of specific subjects before the examination and monetised them through paid “special coaching classes.”

The agency, between May 15 and May 22, has identified key accused linked to the leak of Chemistry, Biology and Physics questions. It also claimed to have uncovered the chain through which students were mobilised and coached using questions that later matched the actual examination paper.

According to CBI, the investigation suggests the leak was not a single-source operation but a subject-wise network where individuals with access to examination material allegedly handled separate portions of the paper and shared them with intermediaries and selected candidates.

CHEMISTRY LEAK: CBI NAMES NTA-LINKED LECTURER AS ‘KINGPIN’

The first major breakthrough came on May 15 when the CBI announced the arrest of PV Kulkarni, describing him as a “kingpin” and the source of the Chemistry paper leak. Investigators said Kulkarni, a Chemistry lecturer associated with the examination process on behalf of National Testing Agency (NTA), allegedly had access to question papers.

The CBI said that during the last week of April, Kulkarni allegedly mobilised students through co-accused Manisha Waghmare and organised special coaching sessions at his residence in Pune. During these sessions, he allegedly dictated questions, answer options and correct responses to candidates, who handwritten the material in notebooks. Investigators claim these notes later matched the actual NEET-UG examination paper conducted on May 3 and got cancelled after the leak surfaced.

The agency said its probe had established Kulkarni as the “actual source” behind the Chemistry paper leak and identified middlemen who allegedly collected lakhs of rupees from students for access to these sessions.

BIOLOGY LEAK: SENIOR TEACHER IDENTIFIED AS ANOTHER ‘MASTERMIND’

A day later, on May 16, the agency announced another arrest and described Manisha Gurunath Mandhare as a “mastermind” behind the Biology leak. Mandhare, a senior Botany teacher from Pune, had allegedly been appointed by NTA as an expert and had complete access to Botany and Zoology question papers.

According to investigators, Mandhare allegedly used Manisha Waghmare to mobilise NEET aspirants and organised coaching sessions at her Pune residence. During these classes, she allegedly disclosed questions from Botany and Zoology, asking students to note them down and mark relevant portions in textbooks. The CBI said a majority of these questions matched those appearing in the actual examination.

The agency subsequently noted that its investigation had established the source of Chemistry and Biology leaks and identified the middlemen allegedly responsible for arranging students and facilitating the operation.

COACHING INSTITUTE OWNER ALSO ARRESTED

On May 18, investigators widened the scope of the alleged conspiracy with the arrest of Prof Shivaraj Motegaonkar, the owner of RCC Coaching Institute in Maharashtra’s Latur. The CBI described him as another key accused and said he was close to Kulkarni, who allegedly leaked the Chemistry paper.

Searches at his residence and institute allegedly led to the recovery of a Chemistry question bank that, according to investigators, contained questions exactly matching those appearing in the NEET-UG examination.

The CBI also alleged that students paid several lakhs of rupees to attend special coaching classes where questions likely to appear in the examination were discussed and dictated. By then, investigators claimed they had traced the actual source of leaks involving both Chemistry and Biology papers.

PHYSICS LEAK SOURCE IDENTIFIED

The latest development came on May 22 when the CBI announced the arrest of Manisha Sanjay Havaldar, a teacher working at Seth Hiralal Saraf Prashala in Pune, who investigators said was the source of leaked Physics questions.

The CBI alleged that Havaldar had been appointed by NTA as an expert and possessed complete access to Physics question papers. In April, she allegedly shared some Physics questions with co-accused Manisha Mandhare. Investigators said the questions matched the Physics section appearing in NEET paper sets.

With Havaldar’s arrest, the CBI said it had now uncovered the “actual source” of leaked question papers and identified the middlemen allegedly involved in arranging students and facilitating coaching sessions.

NETWORK SPANNING MULTIPLE STATES

The investigation, registered on May 12 following a complaint by the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education, has rapidly expanded across several states. The CBI said special teams carried out searches and interrogations across the country immediately after taking over the case.

The number of arrests increased from seven on May 15 to eleven by May 22, with accused being picked up from Delhi, Jaipur, Gurugram, Nasik, Pune, Latur and Ahilyanagar.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/neet-ug-paper-leak-cbi-traces-subject-experts-middlemen-coaching-network-2915745-2026-05-22

According to the UP STF, the gang was manipulating online examinations conducted for recruitment to the CAPF, SSF Constable GD, and Assam Rifles Rifleman Examination-2026.

The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) has busted a major racket allegedly involved in rigging Staff Selection Commission (SSC) examinations by guaranteeing candidates a pass in exchange for nearly Rs 4 lakh per candidate. Seven accused, including the alleged mastermind of the operation, were arrested during a raid at an examination centre in Greater Noida, where officials recovered around Rs 50 lakh in cash, laptops, mobile phones, and several documents linked to the examinations.

According to the STF, the gang was manipulating online examinations conducted for recruitment to the Central Armed Police Fores (CAPF), Secretariat Security Force (SSF) Constable GD, and Assam Rifles Rifleman Examination-2026.

The accused allegedly used sophisticated technical methods to bypass the examination system and provide candidates with answers in real time during the test.

The arrests were made after the STF received intelligence inputs about organised cheating in SSC online examinations.

A covert investigation led officials to “Balaji Digital Zone,” an examination centre located in the Knowledge Park area of Greater Noida.

The STF conducted a raid on May 22 and apprehended seven accused identified as Pradeep Chauhan, Arun Kumar, Sandeep Bhati, Nishant Raghav, Amit Rana, Shakir Malik, and Vivek Kumar.

Investigators said the accused did not directly hack the SSC examination system.

Instead, they allegedly installed a proxy server by bypassing the company’s server at the examination centre. Through a screen-sharing viewer application, question papers were reportedly transmitted to solvers stationed outside the centre.

These solvers would then remotely solve the questions and relay correct answers to candidates appearing for the examination.

Police said Pradeep Chauhan had been running the racket for a long time and had set up the examination centre where SSC online examinations were conducted through the company Eduquity.

Arun Kumar allegedly handled the technical operations, including the installation and management of the proxy server system used to facilitate the cheating network.

The development comes amid heightened scrutiny over examination integrity across the country following the controversy surrounding the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak.

The examination faced nationwide criticism after reports emerged that question papers had been circulated before the test, triggering protests by students and parents.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/ssc-exam-scam-uttar-pradesh-special-task-force-seven-accused-running-racket-greater-noida-rs-50-lakh-seized-2915824-2026-05-23

A rare albino buffalo nicknamed ‘Donald Trump’ has become a viral attraction, with crowds flocking to see the animal for its pink-toned skin and golden hair that many say resembles the US President’s trademark hairstyle.

An albino buffalo that went viral for its resemblance to United States President Donald Trump is set to be sacrificed in Bangladesh during Eid al-Adha after drawing huge crowds and becoming a social media attraction ahead of the festival.

The nearly 700-kg buffalo, raised at a farm in Narayanganj near Dhaka, earned the nickname “Donald Trump” because of the blond tuft of hair falling across its forehead, which many compared to the US President’s signature hairstyle.

Farm owner Ziauddin Mridha said the animal had already been sold to a customer for sacrifice during Eid al-Adha, one of the most significant Islamic festivals marked by the ritual sacrifice of livestock.

“I am going to miss Donald Trump, but that is the core spirit of Eid al-Adha — making a sacrifice,” Mridha told news agency AFP.

The four-year-old albino buffalo became an internet sensation over the past few weeks, with visitors arriving daily to take selfies and videos with the unusually coloured animal. Many travelled from distant districts to see the buffalo, while children crowded outside the farm gates hoping for a glimpse.

Mridha said his younger brother came up with the nickname after noticing the buffalo’s flowing blond hair. He described the animal as gentle and calm by nature, adding that albino buffaloes are generally non-aggressive unless provoked.

The buffalo required special care, including four baths a day and multiple meals to maintain its health before Eid, according to the owner. However, he said the constant crowds and attention had also caused stress to the animal, leading to weight loss and restrictions on public viewing.

Livestock officials said albino buffaloes are extremely rare in Bangladesh because of a lack of melanin, giving them their pale skin, pinkish nose and light-coloured hair.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/albino-buffalo-donald-trump-bangladesh-eid-al-adha-sacrifice-bangladesh-2915818-2026-05-23

The confrontation between Humayun Kabir and the BJP government in West Bengal snowballed as the Opposition MLA warned it over cow slaughter restrictions, curbs on Eid namaz and mandatory singing of Vande Mataram in madrasas.

Humayun Kabir’s confrontation with the BJP government led by Suvendu Adhikari in West Bengal intensified, with the AJUP supremo warning Adhikari “not to play with fire” as he launched a broad attack on the state government over issues ranging from ritual cow sacrifice and Eid prayers on roads to the mandatory singing of Vande Mataram in madrasas.

The confrontation erupted after the Bengal government notified fresh guidelines restricting cow slaughter unless specific conditions are met ahead of Eid al-Adha. Kabir hit back strongly, asserting that qurbani, the ritual sacrifice of animals, including cows, would take place regardless of the restrictions.

The Bengal government had clarified that the guidelines on cattle slaughter had nothing to do with Eid.

That confrontation escalated further after Humayun Kabir, a former TMC member and Rejinagar MLA, raised the issue of restrictions on Eid prayers on Red Road, as well as the compulsory singing of Vande Mataram in madrasas across the state. Kabir has warned that the government’s actions risked sparking unified protests by the Muslim community in the state.

QURBANI WILL HAPPEN AT ANY COST, ASSERTS HUMAYUN KABIR

Humanyun Kabir has strongly opposed the West Bengal government’s new restrictions on cow slaughter that were notified ahead of Eid al-Adha on May 28. The notice had stated that no cattle or buffalo can be slaughtered until and unless it is certified in writing that the animal is over 14 years old and no longer fit for work or breeding, or has become permanently incapacitated due to old age, injury, deformity, or any incurable disease.

In response, Kabir had argued that the act of qurbani (wherein animals, including cattle, are sacrificed), was a longstanding religious tradition, and would continue regardless of directives. “The government can make a rule asking Muslims not to eat beef, but ritual sacrifice [qurbani] will continue. We won’t listen to any objections,” ANI quoted Kabir as saying.

Since then, however, a petition that had been submitted by TMC MLA Akhruzzaman to the Calcutta High Court to stay the cattle-slaughter notice was rejected on Thursday. In its ruling, the court observed that the Supreme Court had previously held that cow sacrifice is neither an essential part of Eid al-Adha nor a mandatory religious practice under Islam.

As such, Kabir on Thursday asserted that animal sacrifice during Eid “will happen at any cost”.

Kabir, who founded the Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) after being booted out of Trinamool Congress, said Muslims would not compromise on the issue of qurbani and accused the Bengal government of interfering in religious matters.

“We respect the law. But qurbani will happen. Whatever is written in the Quran will happen. I want to tell Suvendu Adhikari directly not to play with fire. It may prove dangerous for you. The Muslim community will not compromise on qurbani,” he said.

However, BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya brushed aside Kabir’s remarks and maintained that the issue was about enforcing law and preventing illegal activities. “Illegal slaughterhouses will not be allowed to operate,” he was reported by PTI as saying on Thursday.

He clarified that the BJP does not interfere with people’s individual food preferences but firmly opposes open or public slaughter of cows. “Illegal slaughterhouses will not be allowed to operate. But if someone says they want to eat beef, they will eat beef. In a democratic country, no one’s consumption of beef can be stopped,” the Bengali newspaper Sangbad Pratidin quoted him as saying.

THERE WILL BE PROTESTS IF PRAYERS ARE NOT ALLOWED ON RED ROAD, SAYS MUSLIM LEADER

Another issue raised by Humayun Kabir on Thursday was the West Bengal government’s ban on large-scale Eid prayers in Kolkata.

The traditional Eid congregational prayers on Kolkata’s iconic Red Road — a decades-old practice where thousands of Muslims gathered for namaz — might not take place under the Suvendu Adhikari-led BJP government.

The ban was announced in early May 2026, shortly after the BJP assumed power, with the government directing that no religious prayers or gatherings would be permitted on public roads and streets. Authorities cited traffic blockades and inconvenience to the public as the primary reasons for the restriction.

“Eid prayers are held on Red Road. If that is not allowed in future, there will be protests. Adequate space should be provided for offering prayers. If arrangements are not made, then pujas on roads should not be allowed either,” Kabir was quoted as saying by PTI.

In response, BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya warned Kabir that not allowing pujas on roads would result in massive public anger.

“The things that Akbar, Babur, and Humayun had stopped 300–400 or 500 years ago will start happening again. They will once again stop pujas in Bengal. The people of Bengal will not stay silent. The public will not spare them. People are very angry. The state government will not be able to control everything. They will land in trouble,” Sangbad Pratidin quoted Bhattacharya as saying.

HUMAYUN KABIR OPPOSES BENGAL’S VANDE MATARAM MOVE

Kabir also raised the issue of West Bengal making the singing of Vande Matarm, India’s National Song, compulsory in madarasas in the state a week after making it mandatory in schools.

“Vande Mataram will not be sung in madrasas. The government has no authority to dictate such matters in madrasas,” Kabir was quoted by PTI as saying on Thursday. He further claimed that if the directive was enforced, “All Muslims will unite to protest such a diktat”.

In response, West Bengal minister Dilip Ghosh on Friday asserted that singing of Vande Mataram is compulsory in all schools and madrasas across the state, wherever government funds are used.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/west-bengal/story/eid-al-adha-2026-bengal-cow-slaughter-norms-ajup-leader-humayun-kabir-warning-to-bjp-west-bengal-dilip-ghosh-samik-bhattacharya-2915512-2026-05-23

An X video showing Chennai Super Kings fans using whistles continuously during the SRH match has sparked fresh debate online over stadium noise and fan behaviour

Sunrisers Hyderabad’s playoff-clinching win over Chennai Super Kings has now sparked another debate online. While Ishan Kishan’s whistle celebration grabbed attention after the match, a viral crowd video from Chepauk is now becoming the bigger talking point among cricket fans on X (formerly Twitter).

SRH defeated CSK by five wickets on May 18 to book their place in the IPL 2026 playoffs. Chasing 181, Ishan Kishan played a key role in the win with a 70-run knock off 47 balls, hitting seven fours and three sixes.

Soon after the match ended, Kishan celebrated with a whistle gesture that many fans felt was aimed at CSK supporters and their famous “Whistle Podu” culture.

Later, the wicketkeeper-batter also shared pictures from the match on Instagram and wrote, “Only thing louder than the whistles was the bat. Into the playoffs.”

Crowd Video Starts Fresh Debate

Amid the discussion around Kishan’s celebration, another video from the stadium started spreading widely on X. The clip shows several fans sitting in the stands with their hands covering their ears while whistles continue blowing loudly around them during the match.

Many users claimed the constant noise appeared to irritate even people inside the stadium. The post sharing the video carried the caption, “Why do CSK fans bring whistles to stadiums man? It’s so annoying, even the crowd looks so irritated by it. Ishan Kishan’s that celebration was genuinely justified.”

The images from the video show fans seated close together in the stands, with multiple people visibly covering their ears while the match goes on. Some appear uncomfortable as whistles continue from nearby sections of the crowd.

Fans Remain Divided Online

The video quickly divided social media users. Some supported the criticism and questioned why whistles are allowed inside stadiums.

“Why don’t stadiums ban it? Let them use in home ground,” a user wrote. Another said, “BCCI should take strict action.”

Others defended the atmosphere at Chepauk and argued that whistles are part of CSK’s identity and fan culture. “Bruh in football fireworks and lasers and idk what not are brought and idk how it’s allowed…… Didn’t u c…… Atleast it’s only a whistle,” a person commented.

“That’s why I watch it on my TV at 4K 50fps. Absolute peace,” another user joked.

A comment read, “If you don’t like it don’t come to the stadium.” Another added, “Whistles should not be allowed in stadiums. Or any kind of instruments that make unnecessary noise pollution.”

Eight people were arrested for their alleged involvement in a pre-planned racket to steal 2.1 kilograms of gold jewellery from the cargo of Akasa Air in Ahmedabad.

A 2.1 kilograms consignment of gold jewellery worth nearly Rs 2.5 crore was shipped via air cargo from Ahmedabad Airport to Bengaluru — but it vanished before reaching its destination. The investigation that followed uncovered a carefully orchestrated mid-transit robbery straight out of a Bollywood crime thriller.

Eight people were arrested for their alleged involvement in a pre-planned racket to steal 2.1 kilograms of gold jewellery from the cargo of Akasa Air in Ahmedabad, a police official was quoted as saying.

The investigation into the case took place after seven parcels containing gold jewellery were dispatched from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Gujarat to Bengaluru through Sequel Logistics Company via Akasa Air on May 18 and one parcel containing 2.1 kilograms of gold went missing, Deputy Commissioner of Police Zone-4 Atul Kumar Bansal said.

It has been learnt that the high-value gold jewellery consignment worth over Rs 2.58 crore was carefully orchestrated involving airline and airport staff.

How Was The Theft Executed

Roshan Patel, the alleged mastermind of the heist and a cleaning in-charge with Akasa Air, was assisted by Zaid Hasan Ansari, the airline’s security in-charge, to move the gold out of the airport’s high-security zone while evading CCTV cameras.
Zaid Ansari, Roshan Patel and Junagadh resident Sultan Sama were the key conspirators behind the theft, according to Deputy Commissioner of Police Atul Bansal.

Salemohammad, alias Salam Mohammad Amin Ansari, allegedly posed as a passenger on the same flight on which the consignment was carried, with his ticket being booked in advance by Jayanti Patel, the official said explaining how the heist took place.

“Roshan Patel is in-charge of cleaning at Akasa Air, while Jayesh Parmar is employed in the role of cargo handler. When cargo was being loaded from Ahmedabad airport, Parmar allegedly created an obstruction while loading the cargo and shifted gold from the parcel to Salam Ansari’s bag,” the official said.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/ahmedabad-airport-hit-by-bollywood-style-heist-gold-worth-rs-2-58-cr-goes-missing-mid-transit-article-154380906

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has expanded internationally with new branches in Pakistan, including the Cockroach Awami Party and Muttahida Cockroach Movement.

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) now has international branches! Multiple Pakistan-based versions of the movement have now surfaced online, including the Cockroach Awami Party, Cockroach Awami League, and the Muttahida Cockroach Movement. The bio of the Cockroach Awami Party describes itself as “a political front of the youth, by the youth, for Pakistan,” adding, “turning struggle into strength. har halaat mein zinda hain”.

Another similar account declares, “Jinhein system ne cockroach samjha, hum unhi awaam ki awaaz hain” (We are the voice of those people whom the system considered cockroaches).

The pages also feature logos strikingly similar to the Indian CJP branding, but redesigned in Pakistan’s green-and-white colour palette. The rebranding appears aimed at positioning these accounts as an alternative to mainstream political parties such as Imran Khan’s PTI, the PML-N, and the PPP.

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann announced a statewide campaign to eliminate stray and ‘killer’ dogs after the Supreme Court’s stray dog order. BJP leader Tajinder Bagga accused the AAP government of misrepresenting the ruling, saying it did not permit a blanket elimination drive and applied only to legally defined dangerous cases under law.

A political row erupted over Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s announcement of a statewide campaign against stray dogs, with BJP leader Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga accusing the AAP government of misrepresenting the Supreme Court’s recent order on the issue.

The controversy began after Mann announced that Punjab would launch a ‘massive campaign’ to eliminate stray and ‘killer’ dogs following the apex court’s observations on rising dog attack incidents across the country.

“Following the Honourable Supreme Court’s decision, the Punjab government will launch a massive campaign starting tomorrow to eliminate stray and killer dogs that endanger the lives of children and pedestrians,” Mann posted on X, thanking the Supreme Court for the ruling.

Tajinder Bagga Calls Mann ‘Darubaaz’

Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) launched a new X handle ‘Cockroach Is Back’ after its original account was withheld in India. Founded by Abhijeet Dipke, the satirical youth movement claims rapid online growth, surpassing BJP on Instagram. It has sparked political debate over follower data and remarks attributed to the Chief Justice that inspired its formation.

The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) on Thursday launched a new account on the social media platform X after its original handle was withheld in India. It is not clear what specific complaint triggered the withholding.

The original X account was reportedly withheld a few hours after it overtook the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s follower count on the Instagram.

Party founder Abhijeet Dipke announced the new handle, ‘Cockroach Is Back’, shortly after the original account became inaccessible in the country. Confirming the action against the account, Dipke shared a screenshot on X showing that the handle had been withheld in India.

“As expected, Cockroach Janta Party’s account has been withheld in India,” Dipke wrote.

The satirical political movement has rapidly gained traction online. Its Instagram account crossed 14.5 million followers, surpassing the BJP’s official Instagram account, which has 8.8 million followers. The CJP’s original X account had also crossed 200,000 followers before it was withheld in India.

At 7.10 pm, in a matter of hours, the new ‘Cockroach Is Back’ handle had gained 49,100 followers. The profile caption read: “cockroaches don’t die”.

CJP has received support from the movement, including Trinamool Congress leaders Mahua Moitra and Kirti Azad, senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan, and activist Anjali Bharadwaj.

BJP North East Delhi IT co-head Amar Rai shared screenshots claiming that 49% of the party’s Instagram followers were from Pakistan, 14% from the US, 14% from Bangladesh and only 9% from India.

The claim triggered a response from Dipke on X. “I know you are desperately trying to hack the account but since you have failed to do so, let me share the real data. Why would you call 94% of Indian youth as Pakistanis?” he wrote.

According to Dipke, the account’s followers were 94.7% from India and 1% from the US, with no mention of Pakistan or Bangladesh.

The Party describes itself on X as “A political front of the youth, by the youth, for the youth.”

The ‘Party’ has also listed an “eligibility criteria” for people wanting to join the movement. According to its website, members must be “unemployed”, “lazy”, “chronically online” and able to “rant professionally”. One requirement states: “Minimum 11 hours a day, including bathroom breaks.”

The Party has also shared a satirical “manifesto” on its website. Among its proposals are barring retired Chief Justices from getting Rajya Sabha seats, reserving 50% of Parliament and Cabinet positions for women, banning defecting MLAs and MPs from contesting elections for 20 years.

On Instagram, the outfit identifies itself as “a union of lazy, unemployed cockroaches” and calls on Gen Z supporters to join the movement.

The Cockroach Janata Party was founded on May 16 by Dipke, a former political strategist for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The movement emerged after Chief Justice of India Surya Kant allegedly referred to unemployed youth as “cockroaches” while hearing a plea related to senior designation in the legal profession.

On May 15, the Chief Justice had said, “There are youngsters like cockroaches, who don’t get any employment or have any place in profession. Some of them become media, some of them become social media, RTI activists and other activists and they start attacking everyone.”

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/cockroach-janata-party-launches-new-x-handle-cockroach-is-back-after-original-account-withheld-in-india

Accused mother-in-law and ex judge Giribala Singh tells court Twisha Sharma chats and audio are fabricated, seeks seizure of devices of her relatives.

Former district judge and mother-in-law of Twisha Sharma, Giribala Singh, claimed in the court that the WhatsApp chats and audio clips being widely shared are fabricated and appealed to the court to seize the cellphones of the family members of the deceased so that the “original source” of these chats can be investigated.

Giribala Singh is an accused in the death of Noida woman Twisha Sharma, who died by suicide last week following alleged dowry harassment by her husband and in-laws.

‘Contents Of DVR Not Recorded, Discrepancy In CCTV Footage’

Giribala Singh on Thursday moved an application before a magistrate stating that police have not recorded the contents of the seized DVR and failed to detail the contents of the recorded footage in the seizure memo.

She appealed that it be reopened in front of independent witnesses to record a formal entry.

A Digital Video Recorder (DVR) was among the items that the police officials seized during the investigation of Twisha’s death on May 12.

In the application, Twisha’s mother-in-law claimed that a private firm was maintaining the eight CCTV cameras installed at her residence and that it had not regularly serviced the equipment.

In the plea, Singh said that because the CCTVs were not regularly serviced, there is a discrepancy of two days, two hours, and 20 minutes in the timestamp on the footage, which has created confusion among the public.

‘Fabricated Text Conversation’

Singh also appealed to the court to seize the electronic devices of Twisha’s relatives, which contained her WhatsApp chats, while alleging that the family of the deceased woman was using fabricated text conversations to manipulate the narrative.

On May 12, 33-year-old model turned actor, Twisha Sharma, was found hanging at her marital home in the Katara Hills area of Bhopal.

The family members of the Sharma accused her in-laws of dowry harassment. Meanwhile, the Singhs claimed that she was addicted to drugs.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/fabricated-chats-clips-used-twishas-mother-in-law-seeks-seizure-of-victim-familys-phones-twisha-sharma-suicide-case-ws-l-10104985.html

A viral Reddit thread has opened up conversations around burnout, mental exhaustion and the fear of career breaks in a high-pressure tech industry

For the last few years, the tech ecosystem is seeing a very similar trajectory. You graduate, land a solid role and for the first two years, you are electric. But then, the shifts get longer. The appraisals don’t match the output. The physical toll kicks in and most people get exhausted with work. It is quite natural to feel so.

A viral thread on Reddit’s r/developersIndia captured this exact crisis. In a post titled ‘Has anyone taken a career break due to burnout? Did it help?’, a developer with 4 years of experience laid bare the terrifying paradox of modern tech” I’m planning to quit my job and honestly I’m very conflicted about it.

I’m a Java developer with 4 years of experience. For the first 2–2.5 years of my IT career, I was excited, motivated, energetic, and genuinely enjoyed working. But over time, something changed.

Lately I feel constantly exhausted physically and mentally. I have frequent headaches, back pain, shoulder pain, and I feel irritated most of the time. I barely socialize anymore, rarely go out or meet friends,” they wrote in their post. “The strange part is, I ACTUALLY LOVE TECH… but I feel mentally exhausted to the point where I just don’t want to think about work or job interviews for a while,” the post read.

They are contemplating a career break to reset, but are paralyzed by the classic Indian tech anxieties: market volatility, parental judgment, and the fear of a resume gap. The responses from fellow developers offer a raw, unfiltered look at what actually happens when you hit the ‘pause’ button in India’s high-pressure tech landscape.

The Reality Check Of Quitting Your Job

For those who actually took the plunge, the recovery is real—but it comes with a social tax. One developer who quit after 3 years and has been unemployed for 8 months gave a stark, line-by-line breakdown of the aftermath: “Quit my job due to loss of interest after 3y, been 8mo with no new job yet, here’s my view

> What if I regret quitting?

You will (when it comes to money) and you won’t when you remember why you left (alternates)

> What if I struggle to get another job later?

The complaint cited a May 2, 2021 social media exchange between actors Parambrata Chatterjee and Swastika Mukherjee, alleging their remarks encouraged violence at a time when attacks on BJP workers were being reported across Bengal following the Assembly election results.

A five-year-old tweet linked to West Bengal’s post-poll violence has landed prominent Bengali actors Parambrata Chatterjee and Swastika Mukherjee in soup, with a police complaint lodged against them at Kolkata’s Gariahat Police Station.

The complainant, identified as Joydeep Sen, has sought the registration of an FIR against the duo, accusing them of abetting and instigating the large-scale post-poll violence that erupted in West Bengal in May 20.

According to the complaint dated May 21, the matter pertains to a social media post made on May 2, 2021 — the day the results of the Bengal Assembly election were announced.

The complaint highlights a tweet posted by Parambrata Chatterjee at approximately 4 pm that day, which read in Bengali: “Let today be declared World ‘Rogorani’ thrashing Day!”). Actress Swastika Mukherjee allegedly replied to the tweet with an emoji, stating, “Hahahah Hok Hok” (“Let it happen”).

The complainant argued that the statements, made by influential public figures, appeared on the face of it to “abet, encourage, incite and instigate large-scale violence” at a highly sensitive time when reports of attacks on BJP workers were already surfacing.

“A complaint has already been filed against Parambrata Chatterjee and Swastika Mukherjee under Section 107 of the Indian Penal Code. Their remarks had instigated the murders of BJP workers, the rape and molestation of BJP women workers, and the violence allegedly carried out by the Trinamool Congress in 2021,” the complainant said.

The complaint also links the timing of the social media interactions to subsequent real-world violence. It notes that around an hour after the tweet, BJP worker Abhijit Sarkar of Beliaghata was allegedly murdered in a case in which the accused have already been sentenced.

Furthermore, the complaint alleges that from the late afternoon of May 2, 2021 onwards, organised large-scale violence against BJP workers spread across West Bengal, resulting in murders, assaults, sexual violence, arson and extortion — incidents of which the Calcutta High Court later took cognisance.

The violence that followed the 2021 Assembly election in the state sparked a major political controversy and led to several investigations. These followed allegations of attacks, intimidation and the displacement of people in several districts after the election results were declared.

The election was held in eight phases between March 27 and April 29, and recorded an average turnout of 82 per cent, according to Election Commission data. Violence intensified during the polling period and continued after the results were announced on May 2.

“A complaint has already been filed against Parambrata Chatterjee and Swastika Mukherjee under Section 107 of the Indian Penal Code. Their remarks had instigated the murders of BJP workers, the rape and molestation of BJP women workers, and the violence allegedly carried out by the Trinamool Congress in 2021,” the complainant said.

The complaint also links the timing of the social media interactions to subsequent real-world violence. It notes that around an hour after the tweet, BJP worker Abhijit Sarkar of Beliaghata was allegedly murdered in a case in which the accused have already been sentenced.

Furthermore, the complaint alleges that from the late afternoon of May 2, 2021 onwards, organised large-scale violence against BJP workers spread across West Bengal, resulting in murders, assaults, sexual violence, arson and extortion — incidents of which the Calcutta High Court later took cognisance.

The violence that followed the 2021 Assembly election in the state sparked a major political controversy and led to several investigations. These followed allegations of attacks, intimidation and the displacement of people in several districts after the election results were declared.

The election was held in eight phases between March 27 and April 29, and recorded an average turnout of 82 per cent, according to Election Commission data. Violence intensified during the polling period and continued after the results were announced on May 2.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/parambrata-chatterjee-swastika-mukherjee-face-complaint-over-2021-bengal-violence-post-2915258-2026-05-22