Wednesday, July 22

State

Mussoorie Weather Takes a Turn: Rain and Snow Flurries Intensify Cold, Bring Relief to Tourists and Farmers
State, Uttarakhand

Mussoorie Weather Takes a Turn: Rain and Snow Flurries Intensify Cold, Bring Relief to Tourists and Farmers

The weather in Mussoorie, popularly known as the “Queen of the Hills,” witnessed a sudden change on Friday as light rain and snow flurries were reported across the town and its surrounding areas. The shift in weather has led to a noticeable drop in temperature, bringing much-needed relief to residents, tourists, and farmers who had been grappling with prolonged dry conditions. From early morning, dark clouds enveloped the sky, accompanied by intermittent light rainfall. In higher-altitude areas, mild snow flurries further enhanced the wintry charm of the hill station. As temperatures dipped, people were seen bundling up in warm clothes and lighting bonfires to cope with the increased chill. For nearly three months, Mussoorie and nearby regions had not experienced any significant rain...
Kanpur: Hawala and Betting Racket Busted, Crime Branch Seizes 61.84 kg Silver and ₹2 Crore Cash; Five Arrested
State, Uttar Pradesh

Kanpur: Hawala and Betting Racket Busted, Crime Branch Seizes 61.84 kg Silver and ₹2 Crore Cash; Five Arrested

In a major crackdown, the Kanpur Crime Branch has exposed a large-scale hawala and betting racket, seizing 61.84 kilograms of silver and ₹2 crore in cash during a late-night raid. Five accused, including the house owner, have been arrested in connection with the case. According to police officials, the raid was conducted on Thursday night at a house located in the Dhankutti area of Kanpur. During the search, the Crime Branch recovered a huge quantity of silver, cash amounting to ₹2 crore, and two currency notes from Nepal. The counting of cash continued late into the night using a currency-counting machine. Betting and Hawala Operations Uncovered Investigations revealed that the accused were involved in hawala transactions as well as illegal betting through cricket betting applica...
In Gujarat’s Vadodara, Where PM Modi Once Secured a Record 8.45 Lakh Votes, It’s Joshi vs Joshi—Who Will Win Voters’ Blessing?
Gujarat, Politics, State

In Gujarat’s Vadodara, Where PM Modi Once Secured a Record 8.45 Lakh Votes, It’s Joshi vs Joshi—Who Will Win Voters’ Blessing?

After Maharashtra, the stage is now being set for high-stakes municipal elections in Gujarat, with an official announcement expected in the coming days. These civic polls are being widely viewed as a political semi-final ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. Amid this backdrop, an interesting and unusual political contest is taking shape in Vadodara—BJP’s long-standing stronghold—where three prominent leaders sharing the surname “Joshi” are set to test their popularity. Vadodara holds special political significance for the BJP. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, when Narendra Modi was the prime ministerial candidate, he contested from both Varanasi and Vadodara, winning the latter with a record 845,464 votes, securing 72.75 percent of the total vote share. In subsequent elections—2019 and...
Fake ‘Desi Ghee’ Factory Busted in Jodhpur, Adulteration Threatens Marwar’s Food Legacy
Rajasthan, State

Fake ‘Desi Ghee’ Factory Busted in Jodhpur, Adulteration Threatens Marwar’s Food Legacy

Marwar, known across Rajasthan and the country for its rich culinary traditions and ghee-based sweets, has been rocked by the exposure of a large-scale fake ghee manufacturing racket. Rajasthan Police have busted an illegal factory producing and supplying entirely fake and potentially harmful ‘desi ghee’ in Jodhpur, raising serious concerns about public health and food safety. In a major crackdown on food adulteration, police conducted a raid on Friday morning in the Kudi Bhagtasni area of Jodhpur, uncovering a fake ghee manufacturing and packaging operation running out of two warehouses. During the operation, a huge quantity of counterfeit ghee packed in tins bearing labels of well-known dairy brands was seized. Fake Ghee Worth ₹25 Lakh Seized Police recovered around 120 tins of ...
Sonam Wangchuk: A Scientist’s Mind Behind Bars, Learning the Lessons of Freedom from Ants
Rajasthan, State

Sonam Wangchuk: A Scientist’s Mind Behind Bars, Learning the Lessons of Freedom from Ants

Jodhpur Central Jail, usually known for housing hardened criminals and high-profile inmates, is witnessing an unusual transformation. The prison has, in many ways, turned into a laboratory of ideas—thanks to renowned climate activist, educationist, and Ramon Magsaysay Award winner Sonam Wangchuk, who has been lodged there for the past 119 days. Detained under the National Security Act (NSA), Wangchuk has converted his prison barrack into a space for observation, learning, and innovation. Even in confinement, the scientist’s mind continues to question, explore, and experiment. Learning from Ants, Thinking of Sustainable Design During a recent meeting with his wife Geetanjali, it was revealed that Wangchuk is currently kept in solitary confinement but remains deeply engaged in intel...
Shashi Tharoor to Skip Congress Meeting in Delhi After Alleged Snub at Party Platform
Kerala, Politics, State

Shashi Tharoor to Skip Congress Meeting in Delhi After Alleged Snub at Party Platform

Ahead of the Kerala Assembly elections, signs of growing discord between senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor and the party high command have become increasingly visible. Hurt by what is being described as a public snub at a recent party event in Kochi, the Thiruvananthapuram MP has decided not to attend a key Congress meeting in Delhi convened to discuss election preparations. According to party sources, Tharoor will not be present at the January 23 meeting called by the Congress leadership to chalk out strategy for the Kerala polls. While he has not made any official statement on the matter, his close associates say the decision stems from resentment over his alleged humiliation during the Congress ‘Mahapanchayat’ event in Kochi, which was attended by Rahul Gandhi. Change in Proto...
Nagpur Mayor: City to Get a Woman at the Helm as BJP Begins Search for New Face
Maharashtra, Politics, State

Nagpur Mayor: City to Get a Woman at the Helm as BJP Begins Search for New Face

Nagpur is set to have a woman mayor once again, as the post of Mayor of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has been reserved for women from the general category for the current term. With the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) returning to power for the fourth consecutive time, the party has begun internal deliberations to decide who will become the city’s 55th mayor. In the recently concluded NMC elections, the BJP secured a commanding victory by winning 102 out of 151 seats. As a result, the party is certain to hold the mayor’s post for the next two-and-a-half years. Following the reservation draw announced by the Maharashtra government on Thursday, it became clear that the mayoral position would go to a woman councillor from the general category. Reservation Draw Brings Clarity T...
Banks to Remain Closed for Four Consecutive Days in Bihar; Customers Advised to Complete Urgent Work in Advance
Bihar, State

Banks to Remain Closed for Four Consecutive Days in Bihar; Customers Advised to Complete Urgent Work in Advance

Bank customers in Bihar are set to face significant inconvenience over the coming days, as banks will remain closed for four consecutive days due to a combination of holidays and a nationwide strike by bank employees. Customers have been strongly advised to complete all essential banking transactions in advance to avoid financial difficulties. According to the official holiday calendar, banks will remain closed on January 24 (fourth Saturday), January 25 (Sunday), and January 26 (Republic Day). Immediately following these holidays, banking operations are expected to come to a halt on January 27 (Tuesday) as various bank unions have called for a nationwide strike in support of their pending demands. As a result, both public and private sector banks are likely to remain shut for four cont...
Agra: Father Who Killed Seven-Year-Old Son Believing Him to Be ‘Ravan’ Sentenced to Life Imprisonment
State, Uttar Pradesh

Agra: Father Who Killed Seven-Year-Old Son Believing Him to Be ‘Ravan’ Sentenced to Life Imprisonment

In a deeply disturbing case highlighting the dangers of superstition and blind faith, a court in Agra has sentenced a father to life imprisonment for the murder of his seven-year-old son, whom he believed to be an incarnation of ‘Ravan’ under the influence of tantric rituals. The verdict was pronounced on Thursday by the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADJ-29) Dinesh Kumar Chaurasia. The court held the accused father guilty of murder and sentenced him to life imprisonment along with a fine of ₹50,000. The incident dates back to August 10, 2019. According to the prosecution, the accused, Amit, a resident of Mahadev Nagar New Abadi on Shamshabad Road under Tajganj police station limits, had recently become deeply involved in tantric practices and rituals. Under this in...
Ghaziabad: Six-Year-Old Child Seen Dangling from Sixth-Floor Balcony Railing, Video Sparks Panic
State, Uttar Pradesh

Ghaziabad: Six-Year-Old Child Seen Dangling from Sixth-Floor Balcony Railing, Video Sparks Panic

A disturbing video from a high-rise society in Ghaziabad has sent shockwaves across social media, raising serious concerns about child safety in residential apartments. The incident reportedly took place in the Angel Jupiter Society located in the Ahinsa Khand area of Indirapuram. The viral video, around 17 seconds long, shows a young child—believed to be about six years old—sitting and playing on the metal railing of a sixth-floor balcony, with his legs dangling outside. The sight left residents and viewers deeply shaken, as a single misstep could have resulted in a fatal fall. According to information, the video is about a week old. Witnesses said the child climbed onto an object kept in the balcony and from there managed to sit atop the railing. Fortunately, a plastic net installe...