State

Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh:A magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the controversial encounter of a highly wanted criminal, Talib alias Azam Khan, in Sultanpur. The District Magistrate (DM), Kumar Harsh, has appointed SDM Sadar, Vipin Dwivedi, as the inquiry officer to conduct a detailed investigation into the case. Public Notice for Evidence Submission The SDM has issued a public notice inviting anyone with information, evidence, statements, or documents related to the encounter to present them at the SDM office on any working day before 5 February. Details of the Encounter The encounter occurred on 5 January in the Lambhua police station area. A joint team of Sultanpur and Lakhimpur Kheri police had surrounded Talib, who, according to police reports, opened fire on the offi...

Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh:A western disturbance has caused significant weather changes across Uttar Pradesh, leading to rain, hail, and a sharp dip in temperatures in many districts. Cities including Lucknow, Noida, Ghaziabad, Varanasi, Barabanki, and Ayodhya witnessed intermittent showers this morning, with early-day drizzle recorded in Lucknow and Barabanki. Live Updates from Key Cities: Lucknow: Light showers began early Wednesday morning and are expected to continue intermittently throughout the day. Strong winds of 30–40 km/h are blowing, and the temperature ranges from a low of 11°C to a high of 20°C. Noida & Ghaziabad: Early morning drizzle coupled with gusty winds increased the chill factor. Residents are advised to exercise caution on slippery roads. Varanasi: Cloud ...

Siddharthnagar/Varanasi:In a major crackdown on codeine cough syrup smuggling, Varanasi police have arrested three key associates of the alleged kingpin Shubham Jaiswal. The arrests were carried out in Siddharthnagar on Tuesday morning, following earlier look-out notices issued against the suspects, who were reportedly planning to flee to Nepal. The arrested individuals are: Vikas Singh Narve, resident of Narve village, Bardah Police Station, Azamgarh Akash Pathak, resident of Siddhamata Gali, Maidagir Golghar Ankit Srivastava, associate of Vikas Singh Earlier, the police had announced a reward of ₹50,000 each for information leading to the arrest of Vikas Singh and Akash Pathak. Significance of Vikas Singh’s Arrest Authorities describe Vikas Singh Narve as a key pla...

Ayodhya:A large-scale fraud has been uncovered in the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme in Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya district, with funds being disbursed to accounts of deceased farmers. Authorities have confirmed that several beneficiaries have been illegally receiving payments despite being ineligible. According to Dr. P.K. Kanaujia, Deputy Director of Agriculture, 37,638 registered farmers in the district were found to be either deceased or receiving funds in violation of scheme rules. “Out of a total of 4,41,000 farmers in the district, 4,26,707 have been verified as registered under the scheme,” Dr. Kanaujia stated. “Among them, over 37,000 were found to be unlawfully receiving installments. Immediate action has been taken to suspend further payments, and recovery proceedings for the disb...

Gorakhpur:In a decisive move following a high-profile case involving the rape of a minor and her trafficking to multiple spa centres, six police officials in Gorakhpur have been suspended, and five station in-charges are under departmental inquiry. The action comes after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered strict measures against lapses in police handling of the case. The incident involves a minor girl who was lured from her home on January 5 by a friend she met on Instagram. She was first taken to a hotel in Karimnagar, then to an unlicensed spa in Betiya Hata, and finally to a spa in Badhhalganj. During this period, the girl was reportedly psychologically manipulated and coerced by her boyfriend and spa operators. CCTV footage examined so far has not shown direct physical coercion,...

Lucknow:The Uttar Pradesh government has rejected the resignation of PCS officer Alankar Agnihotri, who was serving as City Magistrate in Bareilly, and has instead placed him under suspension, ordering a departmental inquiry for alleged violation of service conduct rules. The action comes amid heightened political and administrative controversy in the state over the UGC’s new regulations and remarks related to Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand. On Monday, Agnihotri tendered his resignation in protest, while on Tuesday, Prashant Kumar, Deputy Commissioner in the State Tax Department posted in Ayodhya, also submitted his resignation, expressing anguish over comments made against Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. However, th...

Lucknow:With the wedding season set to begin from February 5, expenses for social and ceremonial events in Lucknow are expected to rise sharply after the Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) approved a significant increase in the rent of Kalyan Mandaps and community centres. The decision is likely to place an additional financial burden on residents planning marriages and social gatherings. The decision was approved during the Municipal Corporation’s General House meeting on Tuesday. As per officials, the revised rates will come into effect immediately after the meeting minutes are formally signed. According to the new decision, the rent of Kalyan Mandaps has been increased by 40 percent, while the rental charges for several community centres have been doubled. Additionally, license f...

Hathras:In a deeply disturbing incident, a 27-year-old man preparing for the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) died by suicide in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras district, allegedly after battling prolonged depression. Before taking the extreme step, the youth wrote a suicide note on his hand, holding himself responsible for the decision and referring to his deteriorating mental health. The incident took place on Tuesday evening in Aashirwad Dham Colony under the jurisdiction of Sadar Kotwali police station. The deceased has been identified as Nagendra Pratap Singh alias Bobby, the only son of Hari Singh, who is currently posted with the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). According to police sources, Nagendra was alone at home at the time of the incident, as his father and other family m...

Baghpat:In a tragic incident highlighting the growing concern over cardiac issues among young people, an 18-year-old NEET aspirant died of a suspected heart attack while studying at her home in Uttar Pradesh’s Baghpat district. The incident occurred in Rampur locality of Khekra town, where Simran Sharma, daughter of Dr. Surinder Kaur Sharma, was preparing for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). Simran had passed her Class 12 examination last year and was working hard to fulfill her dream of becoming a doctor. According to family members, Simran was studying alone in her room on Monday evening. At around 8 pm, her brother Raghav entered the room and found her lying on the floor beside the bed. Her body was reportedly drenched in sweat. The family immediately checked her...

Lucknow:Weather conditions have changed across Uttar Pradesh, with rain, drizzle, and hailstorm activity affecting several districts and bringing a sharp increase in cold conditions. Light rain and hail were reported on Tuesday in Lucknow, Noida, Ghaziabad, and several parts of Purvanchal, leading to a noticeable drop in temperatures. Early Wednesday morning, Lucknow witnessed intermittent drizzle, while cloudy skies and rainfall continued in parts of the National Capital Region. According to the Meteorological Department, rain and hailstorms are likely in many districts of the state today (Wednesday), accompanied by strong winds and thunderstorm activity. The recent spell of rain and overcast skies has intensified the winter chill across the region. Rainfall Brings Temperature Drop ...