Sunday, July 19

State

Annamalai Likely to Join BJP President Nitin Nabin’s National Team; Party Eyes Bigger Role for Tamil Nadu Strongman
State, Tamil Nadu

Annamalai Likely to Join BJP President Nitin Nabin’s National Team; Party Eyes Bigger Role for Tamil Nadu Strongman

Chennai/New Delhi: After taking charge as the national president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Nitin Nabin has begun preparations for the upcoming Assembly elections in five states. Amid this organisational reshuffle, strong indications have emerged that former IPS officer and Tamil Nadu BJP leader K. Annamalai may soon be inducted into the party’s national leadership team. Sources within the BJP suggest that Annamalai, widely regarded as a favourite of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, is being considered for a significant organisational role, possibly that of national general secretary. While the official announcement is awaited, party insiders say the elevation could be made soon. The BJP is focusing aggressively on the elections in Tamil Nadu,...
Political Storm in Badaun After BJP Leader Claims Kedarnath, Badrinath and Ram Temple Were Once Buddhist Monasteries
Politics, State, Uttar Pradesh

Political Storm in Badaun After BJP Leader Claims Kedarnath, Badrinath and Ram Temple Were Once Buddhist Monasteries

Badaun, Uttar Pradesh: A political controversy has erupted in Uttar Pradesh’s Badaun district after a video of BJP leader and Ujhani block pramukh Shishupal Singh Shakya went viral on social media. In the video, he is allegedly heard making controversial remarks claiming that revered Hindu pilgrimage sites such as Kedarnath, Badrinath and the Ram Temple in Ayodhya were originally Buddhist monasteries. According to the viral clip, Shakya stated that these sites were initially Buddhist viharas, which were later converted into Hindu temples and subsequently transformed into mosques during periods of Muslim invasions. The remarks, reportedly made during a Buddha Katha programme in Vijaynagala village, triggered sharp reactions across political and religious circles. Following the backlas...
Three Killed, 13 Injured as Truck Hits Auto Returning from Engagement Ceremony in Jhansi
State, Uttar Pradesh

Three Killed, 13 Injured as Truck Hits Auto Returning from Engagement Ceremony in Jhansi

Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh: A tragic road accident in Jhansi claimed the lives of three people, including the bride’s cousin siblings and a priest, while leaving 13 others injured. The incident occurred late Friday night in the Gursarai police station area when a speeding truck collided head-on with an auto-rickshaw returning from an engagement ceremony. The accident took place near Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Women’s College, about two kilometres from Gursarai. The impact was so severe that the auto-rickshaw was completely wrecked. All the victims were travelling back from an engagement ceremony held at Vineet Palace in the Gursarai area. According to police, the bride, Rani, a resident of Kairokhar village in Jhansi, was engaged to a groom from Bangra Birona village. After the ceremony, her c...
Bihar Weather Update for 25 January 2026: Unseasonal Rain Likely in Muzaffarpur, Siwan, Saran, and Gopalganj
Bihar, State

Bihar Weather Update for 25 January 2026: Unseasonal Rain Likely in Muzaffarpur, Siwan, Saran, and Gopalganj

Patna, Bihar: The chill continues in Bihar, although temperatures have risen slightly in several districts. On Saturday, the sun played hide-and-seek across Patna and other areas. Current Weather ScenarioOver the past 24 hours, Bihar’s weather remained mostly dry. Maximum temperatures across the state ranged between 23.8°C and 28.1°C, showing little variation. The lowest minimum temperature was recorded at 6.9°C in Sabour (Bhagalpur), with statewide minimum temperatures ranging from 6.9°C to 13.5°C. Visibility dropped to as low as 600 meters in Purnia. City-Wise Minimum Temperatures on 24 January 2026 CityMinimum Temperature (°C)Patna13Gaya9Bhagalpur (Sabour)6.9Purnia11.7West Champaran12.2Muzaffarpur12.5Saran11.6Darbhanga11Supaul12.3Araria13.4Rohtas10Madhubani9.6East Champaran12.4...
47-Hour Gunbattle in Jharkhand: 13 Naxals Killed in ‘Operation Meghaburu’; ₹4.5 Crore Bounty Neutralized
Jharkhand, State

47-Hour Gunbattle in Jharkhand: 13 Naxals Killed in ‘Operation Meghaburu’; ₹4.5 Crore Bounty Neutralized

Ranchi/Chaibasa, Jharkhand: Security forces achieved a major breakthrough against Naxals in the dense Saranda forests on the Jharkhand-Odisha border under ‘Operation Meghaburu.’ A fierce 47-hour encounter resulted in the deaths of 13 hardcore Naxals, with a total bounty of ₹4.49 crore on them. Among those killed were top commander Rapa Munda and a female Naxal, Muvati Honhanga. The operation also led to the recovery of a large cache of arms and ammunition. Rapa Munda and Muvati Honhanga Among the DeadZonal commander Rapa Munda, with a bounty of ₹35 lakh, was killed in the operation. He was the prime accused in a deadly IED blast in April 2025, which claimed the life of a Jharkhand Jaguar jawan. Additionally, female Naxal Muvati Honhanga, with a ₹2 lakh bounty, was also neutralized. Secu...
Mobile Phones and Cash Stolen from Tourists at Vrindavan Guest House; UP Police Yet to File FIR
State, Uttar Pradesh

Mobile Phones and Cash Stolen from Tourists at Vrindavan Guest House; UP Police Yet to File FIR

Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh: A theft at the Hit Dham Guest House in Vrindavan has raised serious questions about the safety of pilgrims visiting the holy town. Tourists from Rajasthan and Gujarat reported the loss of mobile phones, cash, and other valuables from their rooms, yet an official FIR has still not been registered, sparking criticism of police inaction and the guest house management’s negligence. The IncidentThe theft occurred around 2 a.m. on the night of January 22, 2026. A family from Jaipur staying in Room 103 reported five mobile phones stolen, while a Gujarati family on the ground floor lost an iPhone, AirPods, cash, and other valuables after the thief entered through a sliding window. CCTV footage reportedly shows the suspect clearly, raising suspicions of inside collusion...
AIMIM Surges in Mumbai BMC Elections: Has Asaduddin Owaisi Become the New ‘Messiah’ for Muslims?
Maharashtra, State

AIMIM Surges in Mumbai BMC Elections: Has Asaduddin Owaisi Become the New ‘Messiah’ for Muslims?

Mumbai, Maharashtra: The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), led by Asaduddin Owaisi, has made a notable mark in the 2026 Mumbai BMC elections, sparking widespread discussion about the changing political landscape. While the party performed strongly in several pockets across Maharashtra, its impact was particularly felt in Mumbai and the MMR region, raising questions about the waning influence of the Samajwadi Party (SP). AIMIM Outperforms SP in MumbaiAIMIM secured 126 seats across the state in the BMC and 29 municipal elections, signaling a major rise in its influence. In contrast, the Samajwadi Party, which had entered Mumbai in the early 1990s following the communal riots, saw its presence shrink to just two seats. Back then, SP had captured the Muslim vote, emerging as t...
Patna Hostel Case: Lalu’s Daughter Launches Fresh Attack on Nitish Kumar Following ‘Operation Leapapoti’
Bihar, Politics, State

Patna Hostel Case: Lalu’s Daughter Launches Fresh Attack on Nitish Kumar Following ‘Operation Leapapoti’

Patna, Bihar: The investigation into the Patna Girls Hostel case is still ongoing, with the SIT report yet to be submitted. Amidst the developments, Rohini Acharya, daughter of RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav, has launched a sharp attack on the Bihar government, directly targeting Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Rohini Acharya, who contested the last Lok Sabha elections from Saran on an RJD ticket, expressed outrage over the death of a girl preparing for NEET in Patna, questioning the state government’s claims about women’s safety. Rohini Acharya Criticizes Government ApathyOn Saturday, Rohini posted on the social networking platform X (formerly Twitter), addressing Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. She wrote: "Chief Minister, it is a matter of shame that despite all your claims of rule o...
Bihar to Transport Sand and Cement via Rivers: Cheaper and Eco-Friendly Alternative to Road and Rail
Bihar, State

Bihar to Transport Sand and Cement via Rivers: Cheaper and Eco-Friendly Alternative to Road and Rail

Patna, Bihar: Bihar is set to witness a major transformation in goods transportation as rivers will now be used to move sand, cement, and other heavy materials. The state’s Transport Minister, Shravan Kumar, announced the development of seven national waterways, including the Ganga and Kosi, aimed at reducing transport costs, easing road congestion, and creating new employment opportunities. Rivers as Commercial RoutesThe initiative will significantly reduce the pressure of heavy trucks on Bihar’s roads. During the “Inland Waterways Development Council” meeting held in Kochi, Minister Kumar unveiled a roadmap for developing seven national waterways in the state. He emphasized that waterway transport is not only cost-effective but also environmentally sustainable. The plan includes the e...
Groom Arrives at Wedding in Ambulance, Touching Moment in Dewas Inspires Everyone
Madhya Pradesh, State

Groom Arrives at Wedding in Ambulance, Touching Moment in Dewas Inspires Everyone

Dewas, Madhya Pradesh: A heartwarming and extraordinary moment unfolded at the Chief Minister’s Mass Marriage Ceremony in Dewas, Madhya Pradesh, when the groom, Zubair Khan from Ichhawar in Sehore district, arrived at his wedding in an ambulance. Zubair had recently suffered a severe leg injury in an accident, leaving him unable to walk. Despite this, his family and friends refused to let the injury stop the wedding. They ensured he reached the venue safely in an ambulance, allowing the ceremony to proceed as planned. This remarkable gesture became the most emotional and memorable moment of the event. Ambulance Shocks OnlookersThe ceremony, held at the Agricultural Produce Market Complex in Dewas, initially surprised everyone when an ambulance arrived. Soon, people realized that the ...