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Jammu & Kashmir MP Under Fire for Spending 94% of MPLAD Funds in Uttar Pradesh

16Feb

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jammu and kashmir, State

Jammu & Kashmir MP Under Fire for Spending 94% of MPLAD Funds in Uttar Pradesh

Jammu, February 16, 2026: BJP’s Rajya Sabha MP from Jammu & Kashmir, Gulam Ali Khatana, is facing sharp criticism from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and National Conference (NC) for allegedly allocating the bulk of his Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) funds to projects in Uttar Pradesh instead of his home state. 94% of Funds Spent Outside Home State Gulam Ali Khatana, a senior BJP leader and prominent face of the Gurjar community, was nominated to the Rajya Sabha in September 2022. Out of ₹14.7 crore allocated under MPLADS for 176 approved projects, 144 projects were in Uttar Pradesh, costing ₹10.58 crore—equivalent to 94% of the total funds. PDP and NC Raise Concerns PDP spokesperson Tanveer Sadiq questioned the logic of nominating a Jammu ...

IAS Avi Prasad Marries for Third Time; Former Wives Both Serving as District Collectors in MP

16Feb

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Madhya Pradesh, State

IAS Avi Prasad Marries for Third Time; Former Wives Both Serving as District Collectors in MP

Bhopal, February 16, 2026: Madhya Pradesh cadre IAS officer Avi Prasad has made headlines with his third marriage to Deputy Secretary Ankita Dhakre. His previous two marriages were with fellow IAS officers, both of whom are currently serving as district collectors in Madhya Pradesh. First Marriage: Riju Bafna Avi Prasad, a 2014-batch IAS officer, first married Riju Bafna, also a 2014-batch IAS officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre. The couple reportedly met while preparing for the UPSC examination. Riju Bafna is presently serving as the Collector of Shajapur district. Known for her strict administrative style, she has previously been involved in high-profile administrative matters, including allegations against officials and disputes during her tenure as SDM of Nagda. The marriage, how...

Elderly Man Beaten to Death Over Milk Payment in Bihar

16Feb

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Bihar, State

Elderly Man Beaten to Death Over Milk Payment in Bihar

Sheohar, Bihar, February 16, 2026: A 65-year-old man in Sheohar district lost his life after demanding payment for milk he had supplied. The victim has been identified as Bacchu Singh, and the police are currently conducting raids to apprehend the accused. Incident in Bahuara Village The tragic incident occurred in Bahuara village of Rohua Panchayat, under the jurisdiction of Shyampur Bhatahan police station. Reports indicate that Singh asked a local resident for his dues in the morning, but by evening, he was brutally assaulted and killed. The victim reportedly had no reason to anticipate that asking for his rightful payment would turn fatal. How the Attack Unfolded According to eyewitnesses, Singh was attacked with bricks, rods, and sticks by multiple locals, leaving him dead...

Sonika Tandi Marries Olympian Sumit Kumar in Simple, Dowry-Free Ceremony; Sisters Receive ₹1.5 Lakh in Traditional ‘Jute Chhupai’

16Feb

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Rajasthan, State

Sonika Tandi Marries Olympian Sumit Kumar in Simple, Dowry-Free Ceremony; Sisters Receive ₹1.5 Lakh in Traditional ‘Jute Chhupai’

Jaipur, February 16, 2026: Rajasthan’s Churu-born hockey star Sonika Tandi has made headlines with her secretive, dowry-free wedding to Olympian Sumit Kumar. The ceremony, marked by simplicity and tradition, also saw a special twist: Sonika’s sisters received ₹1.5 lakh during the customary ‘Jute Chhupai’ ritual, sparking interest and admiration across the state. Highlights of the Celebration Engagement for just ₹1 as a token gesture Dowry-free wedding ₹1.5 lakh distributed during the ‘Jute Chhupai’ ritual Star hockey player from Churu, Rajasthan 11-year journey in hockey to international acclaim A Wedding of Simplicity and Tradition The couple’s wedding, held quietly and without extravagance, stood out for its adherence to values over wealth. During the engagement...

Dhar Bhojshala: Historic Clock, 98-Day ASI Survey Report to Be Unveiled Today

16Feb

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Madhya Pradesh, State

Dhar Bhojshala: Historic Clock, 98-Day ASI Survey Report to Be Unveiled Today

Indore, February 16, 2026: A decisive day dawns for the future of the historic Bhojshala in Dhar, as the 98-day scientific survey conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is set to be made public for the first time. The hearing will take place at the Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, presided over by a division bench comprising Justice Vijay Kumar Shukla and Justice Alok Awasthi, following strict directions from the Supreme Court. Supreme Court Orders Oversight The case is being heard under the guidance of a division bench that includes either the Chief Justice or the senior-most judges, as per the Supreme Court’s directive in the matter of Maulana Kamaluddin Welfare Society vs. Hindu Front for Justice. This step underscores the sensitivity and historical im...

Court Deals Major Blow to Lalu Family: Charges Framed in Land-for-Job Scam, Regular Trial to Begin

16Feb

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Bihar, State

Court Deals Major Blow to Lalu Family: Charges Framed in Land-for-Job Scam, Regular Trial to Begin

Patna/Delhi: In a significant legal setback for RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family, the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi on Monday formally framed charges against 41 accused, including Lalu Prasad Yadav, former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi, and their sons Tejashwi Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav, in the high-profile land-for-job scam. The court’s decision clears the way for the regular trial to commence. During the proceedings, Judge Vishal Gogne described the case as the work of a “criminal syndicate” and an “organized conspiracy.” The court observed that government jobs were misused as instruments of barter to acquire valuable land and properties. While Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi were present in court, considering their age and health, the court has granted them exemption ...

Jaipur Police Stunned by ‘Foodie’ Thief Who Stole Bike While Thanking God

16Feb

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Rajasthan, State

Jaipur Police Stunned by ‘Foodie’ Thief Who Stole Bike While Thanking God

Jaipur, Rajasthan: In a bizarre and almost cinematic incident in Sanganer, Jaipur, a thief managed to steal a motorcycle in a truly unusual fashion, leaving police both amazed and amused. CCTV footage shows the suspect arriving at a showroom on Goshala Road with a hot samosa in hand. For four minutes, he casually ate the snack while surveying the surroundings, seemingly blending in with other customers. However, his attention was on the parked vehicles and the people nearby—a meticulously planned reconnaissance before the crime. When the moment was right, the thief swiftly broke the bike’s lock, started it, and—astonishingly—looked up toward the sky as if offering a silent prayer of thanks before riding away. The bike belonged to Honey Madhani, a resident of Phagi, who works in mo...

Bomb Threats Shake Vadodara Schools; Police Launch Investigation

16Feb

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Gujarat, State

Bomb Threats Shake Vadodara Schools; Police Launch Investigation

Vadodara, Gujarat: In a shocking development, 18 schools in Vadodara have received threatening emails claiming plans to carry out bomb blasts. The emails, reportedly referencing the Khalistan group, have caused widespread alarm among students, parents, and school authorities. Some schools in Ahmedabad also reportedly received similar threats. The emails arrived shortly after Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to the city. Following the threats, Vadodara Police immediately evacuated the affected schools and deployed teams for thorough security checks. Initial inspections have so far found no suspicious objects, but investigations continue. Schools that received the threats include DR Amin (Vasna Road), Urmi (Sama-Savli), Nalanda (Waghodia Road), Baroda High School (Bagicha), Navayu...

ND University Initiates Research to Develop High-Yield Ramdana Variety Amid Rising Temple Demand

16Feb

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State, Uttar Pradesh

ND University Initiates Research to Develop High-Yield Ramdana Variety Amid Rising Temple Demand

Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh: Responding to the increasing demand for Ramdana (Amaranth/ Rajgira) prasadam in temples, Acharya Narendra Dev University of Agriculture and Technology (ND University) has launched a dedicated research project aimed at developing a high-yield, advanced variety of the crop. The university’s Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics is conducting the study under the Coordinated Research Network on Potential Crops, an initiative of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). Scientists are targeting the development of a new variety by 2028 that combines high productivity with superior grain quality, suitable for local agro-climatic conditions. According to Dr. Vikramjeet Singh, head of the department and associate professor, Ramdana is a resilient crop tha...

Russia to Host Grand Ramlila on February 20; Russian Artists to Portray Key Roles

16Feb

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State, Uttar Pradesh

Russia to Host Grand Ramlila on February 20; Russian Artists to Portray Key Roles

Ayodhya / Moscow: The grandeur of Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir and the Diwali celebrations is set to travel beyond borders, as a spectacular Ramlila will be staged in Moscow, Russia, on February 20. Russian artists, who have previously performed in Ayodhya, will enact the epic with major roles assigned to local talent: Evgeny as Ram, Daria as Sita, Murat as Lakshman, and Dmitri as Hanuman. This cultural event draws inspiration from the famed Diwali festival in Ayodhya and is being hailed as a new chapter in India-Russia cultural relations. The Ramlila is being organized in collaboration with the Indian Embassy and the Jawaharlal Nehru Cultural Centre (JNCC) in Moscow. The main organizer is the Indo-Russian friendship organization ‘Disha’, led by Dr. Rameshwar Singh, who emphasized that the even...