Bihar

In Bihar’s Muzaffarpur district, poverty-stricken families are being pushed into a deadly debt trap as illegal microfinance companies—locally dubbed “Gunda Banks”—continue to operate unchecked, exploiting the weakest sections of society. Charging exorbitant interest rates and using intimidation tactics, these unregulated lenders have turned entire villages into zones of fear, with a disturbing rise in suicides linked to loan recovery harassment. Despite the presence of only 22 registered microfinance companies in the district, dozens of illegal entities are functioning openly, exposing serious administrative lapses. These lenders, masquerading as legitimate microfinance institutions, reportedly charge up to 30 percent interest and deploy criminally inclined recovery agents to coerce rep...

Amid the ongoing controversy in Bihar over Chief Minister Nitish Kumar allegedly removing a Muslim woman’s hijab, Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi has come to his defense, calling the incident unintentional and warning against linking it to religion. The incident, which occurred in the political corridors of Bihar, has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties. However, Manjhi, the patron of the Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM), asserted that the Chief Minister’s actions were never meant to hurt religious sentiments or disrespect anyone. He described the event as “accidental” and urged both the public and opposition parties to view it from a humanitarian perspective rather than a religious lens. Manjhi: No Intent to Insult Speaking to the media, Manjhi suggested that Nitish Kumar m...

In a shocking incident that has sent waves of anger and concern among devotees, a major theft has been reported at the famous Thawe Durga Temple in Gopalganj district of Bihar. Unknown miscreants allegedly broke into the temple late on Wednesday night and decamped with the sacred gold crown of the deity, a silver canopy, and gold ornaments worth several lakhs of rupees. According to police officials, two masked thieves scaled the boundary wall of the temple premises around 11:30 pm amid dense fog and near-zero visibility. Using a gas cutter, they broke open the lock of the sanctum sanctorum and carried out the theft within minutes before fleeing the scene by jumping back over the wall. Police Investigation Underway Gopalganj Superintendent of Police Avadhesh Kumar Dixit reached th...

Sitamarhi, Bihar: The appointments of nearly 70,000 teachers recruited in Bihar between 2006 and 2015 are now under scrutiny as the monitoring department reports that crucial personnel files are missing. The absence of these records has raised doubts over the legitimacy of their appointments, with authorities stating that the positions of teachers whose files cannot be located cannot be considered valid until verification is complete. High Court-Ordered InvestigationFollowing a directive from the Patna High Court, the Bihar Monitoring Department has been conducting a statewide investigation into teacher appointments. Hundreds of fraudulent teachers have already been identified, FIRs filed, and dismissals carried out. However, records for 69,649 teachers are still unavailable, preventing...

Ahead of the 2026 three-tier Panchayat elections in Bihar, the State Election Commission (SEC) has clarified confusion circulating on social media regarding the reservation of seats. The commission confirmed that reservations for Panchayat positions will be freshly determined for the upcoming elections, dispelling rumors about the continuation of previous allocations. Clarifying the Confusion The joint Election Commissioner of Bihar stated that misinformation about the Panchayat elections, including the mode of voting—whether by ballot paper or EVM—and the reservation of Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti, and Zila Parishad positions, has been widely circulated. To address this, the SEC issued an official statement confirming that reservations for all posts will be finalized anew. E...

Patna, December 18, 2025: In a startling revelation from Bihar, a junior engineer has been caught with assets far exceeding his official income, including a licensed 9MM pistol and property worth over ₹1 crore. The whistleblower in the case was none other than the engineer’s own sister. Vigilance Raids Uncover Massive Assets On December 17, the Vigilance Department conducted raids at multiple locations linked to Mohammad Ansarul Haq, a Junior Engineer in the Planning and Development Department of Darbhanga district. The raids uncovered significant evidence of disproportionate wealth. Investigators found 12 property sale deeds across different plots, 20 bank accounts, and numerous investment documents. Additionally, Haq owned a mini truck and an SUV. According to preliminary calcul...

Patna, December 18, 2025: In a significant breakthrough, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has apprehended Kamalkant Verma, popularly known as ‘Uncle Ji,’ in connection with a sprawling illegal arms and ammunition smuggling network operating across North India. Authorities say the arrest marks a major step in dismantling the gang that supplied weapons across multiple states, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Haryana. Key Figure in North India’s Arms Trade Kamalkant Verma, a resident of Patna, is the 11th individual to be taken into custody in this case. According to the NIA, Verma played a central role in the network, sourcing illegal firearms and ammunition from factories in Haryana and other regions. These weapons were then distributed extensively across Uttar Pradesh, Biha...

Lakhisarai, December 18, 2025: Police are often associated with fear and authority, but a recent visit by Lakhisarai SP Ajay Kumar turned that perception on its head. During a routine inspection at Kiul Police Station, SP Kumar’s convoy took an unexpected turn towards a government school, leaving students surprised and delighted. Turning Classrooms into Learning HubsAt Utkramit Madhya Vidyalaya Vrindavan, SP Ajay Kumar engaged with students in a unique session, explaining the basics of law, the importance of setting goals, and the significance of staying on the right path in life. His approachable style immediately eased the children’s initial apprehension, creating an atmosphere of interaction, curiosity, and enthusiasm. Beyond Classroom Lessons: Social OutreachFollowing the classro...