State

Amroha: Security agencies were put on alert in Amroha’s Mandi Dhanaura area after a Bangladeshi woman, who had married an Indian-origin man in Saudi Arabia, entered India illegally via Nepal. Acting on a tip-off from local residents, police detained the couple on Thursday evening and questioned them for several hours. A case was registered late night for lack of required travel documents. On Friday, an Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) team reached Mandi Dhanaura and initiated an in-depth investigation. During interrogation, it emerged that the woman, Reena Begum, returned to Bangladesh three months ago following her father’s death. Her husband Rashid, who works in Saudi Arabia, visited her twice in Bangladesh. On his third visit, the couple obtained a 30-day tourist visa for Nepal and late...

Varanasi, December 12, 2025: Varanasi has introduced India’s first hydrogen-powered cruise, inaugurated by Union Minister Sarvanand Sonwal. Operating four times daily, this eco-friendly cruise combines modern technology with the city’s cultural heritage, offering a sustainable way to experience the Ganga. A Milestone in Green TechnologyFlagged off from Namo Ghat on Thursday, the cruise is currently managed by the Indian Waterways Authority. The vessel is entirely based on indigenous technology, producing zero emissions or noise pollution. Each cruise can accommodate up to 50 passengers, allowing tourists to enjoy morning rides as well as the evening Ganga Aarti in complete comfort and sustainability. Five such cruises are now operational from Namo Ghat, with plans to expand operations i...

Gajraula, Amroha, December 12, 2025: A bizarre case has emerged from the Gajraula area of Amroha, Uttar Pradesh, where a woman is insisting on living with a married temple priest. The issue escalated to the point that a local panchayat was convened, but hours of deliberation failed to produce any resolution. Allegations and ClaimsAccording to the woman, she had been in a long-standing relationship with the priest, who allegedly treated her like a wife and had promised to marry her. She claims that even the priest’s wife was aware of the relationship and that, for some time, both women were living with him. The dispute intensified when the priest recently refused to continue cohabiting with the woman. She also alleges that the priest had listed himself as the father on her child’s Aadhaa...

Lucknow/Varanasi, December 12, 2025: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has launched a major crackdown in the ongoing investigation into the illegal trade of codeine-laced cough syrup. Simultaneous raids were conducted at around 25 locations, including Lucknow, Varanasi, Jaunpur, Saharanpur, Ranchi, and Ahmedabad. Key DevelopmentsThe probe into the illicit cough syrup syndicate continues to uncover startling revelations. The mastermind, Shubham Jaiswal, remains at large, reportedly having fled to Dubai. However, his father, Bhola Jaiswal, has already been arrested. In the latest operation on Friday, ED teams raided multiple locations at approximately 7 a.m., including the opulent residence of Alok Singh in Lucknow. Singh, a former STF constable and close associate of former MP Dhananjay S...

Meerut, December 12, 2025: Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwarananda Saraswati strongly criticized the recent decision to rename the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) as ‘Sevatirth’. He described the move as inappropriate and a violation of the core principles of Sanatan Dharma. The Shankaracharya, returning from the winter Char Dham pilgrimage in Uttarakhand, arrived at Yogipuram Colony in Kankar Kheda, Meerut, where he received a warm welcome. During his visit, he sprinkled Ganga water over the local residents as a blessing and distributed prasadam to men and women, wishing them long life and prosperity. Addressing the media, Swami Avimukteshwarananda said that he first learned about the renaming of the PMO to ‘Sevatirth’ on December 2, 2025, through news reports. He expressed...

Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh – The police administration in Muzaffarnagar has registered an FIR after a muazzin from a local mosque threatened to behead a police officer. The incident, which quickly went viral on social media, followed a dispute over the volume of the Azaan (call to prayer). Details of the IncidentThe confrontation occurred at Madina Mosque, Madina Chowk, in the Civil Lines area. Two days ago, the muazzin, Mohammad Irfan, alleged that Incharge of Kachchi Sadak Police Outpost, Sub-Inspector Vinod Chaudhary, had misbehaved and physically assaulted him over the Azaan’s loudness. A video circulated online showed claims of the officer allegedly dragging Irfan out of the mosque and engaging in a scuffle. Escalation and ThreatWhile police were investigating these allegation...

Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh – The Uttar Pradesh government has filed a petition to withdraw the case related to the Bisahda incident, aiming to restore communal harmony in the region. The petition was taken up today in the Fast-Track Court, where the Assistant District Government Counsel (Criminal), acting under the direction of the government and the Joint Director of Prosecution, submitted the application seeking approval for case withdrawal. Court ProceedingsDuring today’s hearing, the prosecution requested additional time to respond, following which the court scheduled the next hearing for December 18, 2025. Government Decision and Legal ProcessThe decision to withdraw the case was issued by the Department of Justice-5 (Criminal), Uttar Pradesh, on August 26, 2025. Subsequently,...