Bihar

Supaul, Bihar, January 17, 2026: Rail travelers in the Kosi and Mithilanchal regions now have reason to rejoice. The Baijnathpur–Andauli–New Jhajha bypass line has been completed, and following a successful inspection by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS), train operations on this route are set to commence. The new line will allow trains to run directly to Patna and Darbhanga without changing engines, saving up to 40 minutes on the Saharsa–Darbhanga stretch. Direct Connectivity Without Engine Changes Previously, trains on this route required engine reversal or replacement to change direction, causing delays and inconvenience to passengers. With the new bypass line operational, trains can now move seamlessly from Supaul, Saharsa, Darbhanga, Nirmali, and Forbesganj to their desti...

Bagaha, Bihar, January 17, 2026: In a sensational verdict in the high-profile Lorik Yadav murder case (2022), a Bihar court has sentenced four accused, including the victim’s wife, to life imprisonment. The court also imposed a fine of ₹50,000 each on all four; failure to pay the fine will result in an additional six months of imprisonment. The gruesome case originates from Bishunpurwa village in Chautarwa (Bathuwaria) police station area, West Champaran district. The victim, Lorik Yadav, was killed by his wife Madhu, who conspired with her lover Krishna and two of his friends, Chhota Yadav and Ranjit Ram. Following the murder, the body was dismembered and disposed of at different locations, with the skull, hands, and legs recovered separately by the police. The trial was conducted b...

Speculation over an imminent split within Bihar-based political outfit Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) has been put on hold, at least for now, following a carefully timed political move by party chief Upendra Kushwaha. An informal evening meeting with two key party legislators has helped defuse internal tensions that had been simmering for weeks. The crisis erupted after Kushwaha facilitated the induction of his son, Deepak Prakash, into the Nitish Kumar-led cabinet, triggering allegations of “dynasty politics” from within the party. Three RLM MLAs — Madhav Anand (Madhubani), Alok Kumar Singh (Dinara), and Rameshwar Mahato — had openly expressed displeasure and distanced themselves from party activities. The dissent became more pronounced when the disgruntled legislators skipped Kushwaha’...

Patna, January 17, 2026: After returning from an extended foreign tour, RJD leader and Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav convened a review meeting following the party’s defeat in the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections. However, the meeting has raised eyebrows, as none of the party’s MLAs were present, prompting questions about the actual purpose of the gathering. Political Context and TimingPolitical circles suggest that Tejashwi’s review meeting was in part a reaction to the “dahi-chura” feast organized by Janta Shakti Dal leader Tej Pratap Yadav, which signaled the emergence of a new political center within the Lalu family. Even party supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav’s attendance at the event highlighted growing family dynamics within RJD. Who Attended and What Was DiscussedThe review meetin...

Patna, January 17, 2026: Marriage registration in Bihar has become easier and more convenient than ever. Under the Special Marriage Act, 1954, the Department of Prohibition, Excise, and Registration has streamlined the e-registration (e-Nibandhan) process, allowing couples to complete the procedure from home without repeated visits to government offices or submitting multiple hard copies. No Physical Documents RequiredAjay Yadav, Secretary of the department, clarified that the online registration system is designed entirely for the convenience of citizens. Physical documents are no longer mandatory. Applications submitted online are reviewed daily by staff, and if any corrections are needed, applicants are informed online and can resubmit digitally. Simplified Process Without Affidav...

Muzaffarpur, January 17, 2026: Police in Muzaffarpur have uncovered a large-scale operation involving counterfeit cigars being sold as premium products, revealing a sophisticated supply network with potential international connections. The discovery comes after a raid on a warehouse in the Old Bazaar area near Sheetla Mata Mandir Road on Friday. Fake Cigars Sold as BeedisAccording to police, the suspects were distributing counterfeit cigars by misleading consumers into thinking they were premium products, while in reality, they were low-cost beedis. During the raid, authorities seized a substantial quantity of raw and finished goods, with the estimated value ranging between ₹1.5 crore and ₹2 crore. The stock was being secretly stored in a residential building and distributed to various ...

Patna/Mumbai: The Maharashtra civic body elections have delivered historic results, with the ruling Mahayuti alliance registering a sweeping victory by capturing 25 out of 29 municipal corporations across the state. The most striking outcome came from Mumbai, where the Bharatiya Janata Party–led alliance secured a majority in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), ending the decades-long dominance of the Thackeray family after 25 years. Amid this political shift, the influence of Bihar-born folk singer and BJP MLA Maithili Thakur emerged as a significant factor, particularly among Hindi-speaking voters. Her energetic and culturally nuanced campaign played a key role in mobilizing support for the Mahayuti alliance. The impact was so pronounced that six individuals from Bihar’s Jha...

Muzaffarpur: The mysterious case involving the recovery of a woman and her three minor children’s bodies from the Budhi Gandak river in Muzaffarpur has taken a new turn, with investigators uncovering significant social media links and a possible connection to a singer. The bodies of Mamta Kumari and her three children were found tied in yellow cloth beneath the Chandwara bridge in the Ahiyapur police station area, triggering shock and outrage across the district. As the investigation intensifies, police are now closely examining Mamta’s social media activity, where she was reportedly very active on platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram. According to police sources, Mamta was in contact with several individuals through social media. During scrutiny of these interactions,...

Patna: The Bihar government has announced financial assistance for farmers whose crops were damaged during the Rabi 2025-26 season. The Cooperative Department has invited applications under the Bihar State Crop Assistance Scheme. The application process is completely free of cost. The scheme covers notified crops, including wheat, maize, sugarcane, potatoes, eggplant, tomatoes, cauliflower, pigeon pea (arhar), chickpea (chana), lentils (masoor), onions, mustard (rai-sarson), and chili. Compensation Details:Farmers experiencing up to 20% crop loss will receive ₹7,500 per hectare, while losses exceeding 20% will be compensated at ₹10,000 per hectare. A farmer can claim compensation for a maximum of 2 hectares. The scheme benefits tenant farmers (rayat), non-tenant farmers (gair-rayat),...