Uttar Pradesh

Jhansi: A 16-year-old boy was detained by police after he attempted to purchase a ticket for an Underwater Mermaid Show at the ongoing Jhansi Festival using counterfeit currency. The incident came to light when the fair manager grew suspicious of a ₹500 note tendered by the teenager and immediately alerted the police. According to officials, the incident occurred at the exhibition ground where the popular underwater show is drawing large crowds. When the teenager approached the ticket counter, the manager noticed irregularities in the currency note and informed the Nawabad police station. Police personnel arrived at the spot and took the minor into custody for questioning. During a search, police recovered two counterfeit ₹500 notes from the teenager. Initial interrogation revealed t...

In a major breakthrough against inter-state drug trafficking, the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) of Uttar Pradesh has seized 11 kilograms of illegal opium worth approximately ₹55 lakh in Bareilly and arrested two inter-state traffickers involved in a long-running narcotics supply chain from Jharkhand to Punjab. The operation was carried out by the ANTF Bareilly unit following sustained intelligence inputs indicating large-scale smuggling of opium cultivated illegally in the hilly and forested regions of Jharkhand. The contraband was being routed through Bareilly before being supplied to drug syndicates in Punjab. Interception Near Rampura Bujurg Underpass Acting on precise information, the ANTF team intensified surveillance and began vehicle checks near the Rampura Bujurg underp...

The main accused in the Lakhimpur Kheri gangrape case, Talib alias Azam (26), was killed in a police encounter in Sultanpur on Monday, 21 days after the crime was reported. Police officials confirmed that the accused, who was carrying a reward of ₹1 lakh, was neutralized during a joint operation by the Lakhimpur Kheri and Sultanpur police teams. According to police sources, Talib had been absconding since December 15, when a Class 12 student was allegedly gangraped in the Fardhan police station area of Lakhimpur Kheri district. Despite continuous search operations, the accused managed to evade arrest until intelligence inputs led police to his location in Sultanpur. Encounter Near Diyara Bridge The encounter took place near Diyara Bridge under Lambhua police station limits. Acting...

A fresh case of alleged medical negligence has surfaced at Hallet Hospital in Kanpur, raising serious concerns over patient safety in one of the state’s premier government medical institutions. A 15-year-old boy lost his life after a ward staff nurse allegedly administered a potassium injection without a doctor’s prescription, officials confirmed on Monday. The incident occurred on December 16, 2025, when the minor, identified as Satish, a resident of Orai, was undergoing treatment for abdominal pain in the hospital’s Medicine Department. According to hospital sources, a male ward staffer named Ranveer administered the injection without consulting the attending doctor. Soon after, the boy’s condition deteriorated sharply, forcing doctors to shift him to the ICU. Despite prolonged tre...

A major road accident caused by dense fog claimed two lives and left several others injured on the Agra–Gwalior Highway on Monday morning. The incident occurred near Iradatnagar in the early hours, when near-zero visibility led to a chain collision involving eight vehicles. According to eyewitnesses, the accident took place around 6 a.m., when thick fog severely reduced visibility to just a few metres. Vehicles moving at high speed were unable to react in time, resulting in sudden braking and a domino effect of collisions. The impact was so severe that two people—identified as Vishnu, a resident of Baad under Malpura police station limits, and Imran from Kirawali—died on the spot. Eight others sustained serious injuries and were rushed to nearby hospitals, where doctors said that the...

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has busted a major bribery racket within the Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) department in Jhansi, arresting IRS officer and Deputy Commissioner Prabha Bhandari along with four others. The arrests were made in connection with an alleged ₹1.5 crore bribery deal aimed at providing relief to a hardware businessman accused of large-scale tax evasion. According to CBI’s Anti-Corruption Branch, the accused officials were demanding bribes to settle a case involving crores of rupees in GST evasion. After negotiations that reportedly continued for nearly eight days, the deal was allegedly finalized at ₹70 lakh. Deputy Commissioner Prabha Bhandari was arrested from her residence in Delhi, while the remaining accused were apprehended in Jhansi. Du...

Lucknow: New Year celebrations in Lucknow’s Hazratganj area on the night of 31 December turned chaotic when a drunken police constable allegedly tried to run over fellow officers and defy traffic authorities. The constable, identified as Soumya Jaiswal, who is posted at Barabanki Police Lines, was arrested after a tense confrontation. Incident During Heavy CrowdsThe incident occurred late Wednesday night when large crowds had gathered in Hazratganj for New Year festivities. To maintain order and manage traffic, police had set up diversions. Around this time, Jaiswal, reportedly under the influence of alcohol, reached Atal Chowk in his car. When a duty officer instructed him to move the vehicle aside, Jaiswal allegedly argued with the officer, verbally abused him, and attempted to flee b...

Ghaziabad: Residents of Sutthari village in Muradnagar police jurisdiction are living in fear as a rogue dog has attacked 21 people in just one week, leaving children and women among the seriously injured. The village, home to around 2,000 people, has been grappling with this menace for the past month, and repeated attempts to control the animal have so far failed. Locals claim that the dog has become mentally unstable and attacks anyone who comes near without provocation. The ongoing attacks have created a climate of terror, especially affecting children and women, who are now afraid to leave their homes. Impact on Daily LifeChildren have stopped playing in the streets, and even the elderly now venture outside only carrying sticks for protection. Residents remain on constant alert, ...

Prayagraj: A 63-year-old retired teacher narrowly escaped losing her life savings to cyber fraud, thanks to the vigilance of bank staff in Prayagraj. On 31 December 2025, cyber criminals “digitally arrested” Chanchal Srivastava, prompting her to rush to Punjab National Bank to transfer ₹90 lakh from her fixed deposit (FD) to a savings account. Chanchal Srivastava, a resident of Clive Road in Civil Lines, was approached by fraudsters who created panic, claiming digital legal action against her. At around 1:30 PM, she met bank employee Neetu at the front desk and requested the FD withdrawal. Sensing the unusually large amount, Neetu immediately informed Chief Manager Vipin Kumar. Suspicious Behavior Raises AlarmDuring discussions with the chief manager, Chanchal gave inconsistent detai...

Lucknow: In a significant move to make electricity connections more affordable and consumer-friendly, the Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) has released the new Cost Data Book 2025, effective for the next two years. The updated data book simplifies procedures and reduces charges, providing major relief to residents, particularly those in underdeveloped and non-electrified colonies. What is the Cost Data Book?The Cost Data Book details the fees and charges applicable for electricity services. It specifies rates for connection processing fees, security deposits, supply provisioning charges, material costs, and smart meters. The 2025 version replaces the previous revised data book issued in July 2019. With this, electricity connections are set to become more transpare...