Uttar Pradesh

Lucknow: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati reiterated her decision to contest the upcoming Uttar Pradesh elections independently and addressed recent controversy regarding the allocation of a Type-8 bungalow to her in Delhi. Speaking at a press conference in Lucknow, she also reminded supporters of the 1995 State Guest House attack, urging them to remain vigilant against political rivals. Safety Reasons Behind the Bungalow Allocation Mayawati stated that she was allotted the Type-8 bungalow in Delhi for security reasons. “On 2 June 1995, under the instigation of the then SP leader, I was attacked at the State Guest House in Lucknow. Following the attack, the Government of India provided me with high-level security. The bungalow has been with me since the Congress-led central g...

Shamli, Uttar Pradesh: A heated phone exchange between a former Zila Panchayat chief and a Junior Engineer (JE) over electricity issues in Dundukheda village has gone viral on social media. In the video, former Zila Panchayat chief Manish Chauhan is seen threatening JE Satyaprakash, saying, “If the linemen don’t come, I will set this power station on fire.” The JE responds calmly, “Go ahead, it’s yours anyway.” The clip has sparked widespread reactions online. Manish Chauhan is the son of BJP MLC Virendra Singh. Around six months ago, JE Satyaprakash had visited the village with a team to cut electricity connections due to power theft and pending dues. Many residents’ connections were disconnected during this operation, which led to complaints. Chauhan reportedly contacted the JE over t...

Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh: The grand ‘Surya Tilak’ ceremony at Shri Ram Lalla’s head during Ram Navami in Ayodhya will now be conducted annually by the Central Building Research Institute (CBRI), Roorkee. The Ram Mandir Trust is set to sign a 10-year contract with CBRI to ensure technical precision in this historic ritual. This was announced by Nripendra Mishra, Chairman of the Ram Mandir Construction Committee, after a two-day meeting. He stated that the institute that developed the Surya Tilak technology will now operate it, ensuring flawless execution for years to come. 15 Other Temples to Open After March 19 Mr. Mishra further informed that 15 other temples within the Ram Mandir complex will open for public darshan after a special program on March 19. A maximum of 1,000 devotees ...

Amroha, Uttar Pradesh: In a startling revelation, a newlywed man in Amroha discovered that his wife was already pregnant just 17 days after their wedding. The incident has caused widespread discussion in the local community, leaving both the husband and the in-laws stunned. The Incident The marriage took place on 28 January 2026 between a young man from Amroha and a woman from Sambhal district. All pre-wedding and wedding rituals were completed traditionally. Initially, the newlyweds appeared to have a normal start to their marital life. However, about a week after the wedding, the bride began complaining of stomach pain. Using her illness as a pretext, she distanced herself from her husband. Concerned, the husband took her to a private doctor on 13 February 2026 for a check-up. ...

Agra: A controversial video showing a man allegedly claiming political influence and openly glorifying corruption has gone viral on social media in Agra, prompting police to register a case and launch a search operation to trace him. The accused has been identified as Dama Yadav, a resident of Awas Vikas Colony under the Jagdishpura police station area. He reportedly projects himself as a Samajwadi Party (SP) leader and was seen driving with a convoy of vehicles carrying an SP flag. Viral Reel Sparks Outrage In the viral Instagram reel, Dama Yadav is seen moving through city roads with a show of strength. The video features an objectionable audio track in the background, which includes a dialogue claiming that officials can be “bought” at different rates. The audio reportedly s...

Ghaziabad: The controversy surrounding the proposed Solid Waste Management Plant in Mirpur Hindu village of Loni area in Ghaziabad has further escalated, with farmers and villagers intensifying their protest after a recent police lathi-charge and multiple FIRs. Following clashes between the police and locals on Sunday, FIRs were registered against more than 150 villagers, triggering widespread anger in the area. In response, a large village panchayat was held on Tuesday, attended by representatives of various farmer organisations and political groups. Panchayat Resolution: Protest Will Continue During the meeting, the panchayat unanimously resolved that the agitation will continue until the cases registered against villagers are withdrawn and a concrete decision is taken to remove...

Banda, UP: The electoral verification work in Uttar Pradesh has been ongoing for several months, and the intense pressure appears to have taken a serious toll on one of the officers. Anita Rawat, a female BLO (Booth Level Officer) assigned to SIR duty in Banda, suffered a heart attack on Monday evening. She was initially admitted to the district hospital and later referred to Gwalior for specialized care, where she remains in the ICU in critical condition. Family Points to Work PressureAnita, posted as a Shiksha Mitra at the Primary School Ganchha in Kahla village of the Sadar Assembly constituency, had reportedly been under significant mental stress due to the rigorous demands of the voter list revision process. Her family claims the sustained pressure contributed to her sudden cardiac...

Ghaziabad: The District Magistrate of Ghaziabad, Ravindra Kumar Mandad, has issued a strict ultimatum to departmental officers, warning that salaries of officials in poorly performing departments may be withheld until targets are met. During a review of the Chief Minister’s dashboard and revenue collection, several departments were found to be performing well below expectations. DM Mandad stated that officers in departments ranked “C” and “D” will have their salaries suspended until they achieve their set goals. Officers absent from the meeting were also asked to provide explanations. Strict Accountability and ActionDM Mandad emphasized that delays in government work and public grievance redressal will not be tolerated. Tehsildars and SDMs were directed to expedite the resolution of ...

Sambhal, February 18, 2026: In a bid to curb extravagance in weddings, the Kidwai community of the Muslim society in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, convened a panchayat and issued six strict directives for marriages in the community. Key Directives Only one wedding feast per marriage is allowed. The bride and groom are not to share mobile numbers before the wedding. The wedding procession (baraat) must arrive between 3 PM and 4 PM; any delay will attract a ₹5,000 fine per hour on the groom’s side. DJ music and bhangra performances are banned at wedding venues. Items gifted by the bride’s side should not be displayed or showcased. Enforcement and PurposeThe panchayat has warned that violations of these rules will result in penalties decided by community elders. The move aims...

Lucknow, February 18, 2026: The Uttar Pradesh government is set to launch the Women AI Mission under its “Developed UP @2047” campaign, aiming to train over 1 crore women in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Analytics by 2047. The initiative seeks to increase women’s participation in the workforce and promote both self-employment and employment opportunities in the technology sector. AI Training and PPP ModelThe training program will leverage digital platforms and the existing AI lab network across the state. In collaboration with leading global companies like Google, Meta, and OpenAI, women will receive practical training under a public-private partnership (PPP) model. The IT and Electronics Department will formalize agreements with multiple companies for this purpose. Additionally...