Uttar Pradesh

Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, February 16, 2026: A wedding in Barabanki took an unexpected turn when the groom, who was supposed to lead the bride in the saat phere (seven wedding rounds) and adorn her with sindoor, was revealed to be transgender. The shocking discovery during the bride’s farewell ceremony sparked outrage, and the family refused to let her leave. How the Truth Came Out The incident occurred in a village under Kothi police station. On Friday, a local transgender group (known for visiting weddings for neg – customary cash collection) arrived at the venue and immediately recognized the groom. They revealed that the groom had previously collaborated with them in collecting cash at other weddings. The revelation caused panic among the groom’s side, while the bride’s family re...

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...

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...

Ghaziabad: The Bhojpur police station in Modinagar is once again in the spotlight after a fresh case of embezzlement worth Rs. 80,000 surfaced from the station’s record room. Shockingly, the alleged officer involved, former Head Clerk Gajendra Singh, passed away in March 2024, yet a case has been registered against him. According to sources, Gajendra Singh served as the Head Clerk at Bhojpur Police Station about three years ago. The station’s record room stores seized vehicles, weapons recovered from criminals, cash, and other evidence, all under the Head Clerk’s supervision. During a recent audit, discrepancies were discovered in the Rs. 80,000 stored in the record room, prompting senior officials to be informed. The investigation was assigned to ACP Masuri and ACP Wave City. The in...

Meerut, February 16, 2026: A shocking incident has come to light at a junior high school in Badagaon, Meerut, where students were reportedly punished by being made to stand in the humiliating “chicken” pose and beaten with sticks. A video of the incident, said to have been recorded on Saturday, has gone viral on social media, sparking outrage among parents and villagers. The school, located in the Amaloli area of Phalavda police station jurisdiction, has come under scrutiny after the video surfaced. The footage reportedly shows the teacher using abusive language while physically disciplining several students. Parents have identified the affected children as Armaan, Riyaaz, Faiz, Altaf, Aleena, Khushi, Shivam, Meet, Krishan, Hammad, Rizwan, and Sagar, all enrolled at the same school. ...

Hathras (Uttar Pradesh): Hathras witnessed intense gunfire early Monday morning as the Special Operations Group (SOG) and Sadabad Police engaged in an encounter with a wanted shooter carrying a reward of Rs 25,000, accused in the brutal murder of an Army man. The accused, identified as Hemant, allegedly opened fire on the police team during the operation. In retaliation, the police shot him in the leg, leaving him injured. He was immediately taken to a hospital and admitted for treatment. Soldier Shot Dead on February 5 The encounter is linked to the murder of Army personnel Akhilesh Chaudhary, who was gunned down on February 5 near Chandra Farm House on the Agra-Aligarh National Highway. According to police sources, Akhilesh was surrounded and shot at by assailants arriving in...

Lucknow: In a major breakthrough, the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (UP STF) and the Cyber Crime Police Station have arrested the alleged mastermind of a large-scale loan fraud racket that reportedly used the identities of more than 100 individuals to obtain loans worth crores of rupees illegally. The accused, identified as Aamir Ahsan, was arrested on Sunday morning near Sahara Homer locality on IIM Road in Lucknow. Investigators claim the gang, with the support of certain bank officials and employees, fraudulently sanctioned loans under fake documents and forged identities, leading to a massive financial scam. Bank Officials Allegedly Involved According to the STF, the fraud was carried out in collusion with bank staff. Earlier, the manager of Union Bank of India’s Jankipuram...

Gorakhpur: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Dr. Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday urged society members not to rely solely on the RSS for social transformation, and instead take responsibility at their own level by engaging in discussions within their caste and community groups for the welfare of the larger Hindu society. Addressing a Social Harmony Meeting organised as part of the RSS Centenary Year celebrations in Gorakhpur, Bhagwat said that expectations from the RSS have significantly increased in recent times, but society must understand that real work has to be done by the people themselves. “People should not remain dependent on the RSS. One must reflect on what we are doing for the Hindu society,” he said while responding to questions raised by representatives present at the mee...

Lucknow: Panic gripped the Gomti Nagar area of Lucknow after a constable of the Special Security Force was allegedly taken away in a black Scorpio SUV, triggering widespread rumours of kidnapping. However, police investigation later revealed that the action was carried out by the Rajasthan Police, who arrested the constable in connection with a fraud case registered in 2002. The arrested constable has been identified as Akhilesh Tripathi, a resident of Vikas Khand, Gomti Nagar, currently serving with the Special Security Force in Lucknow. Taken Away in Black Scorpio According to reports, the incident occurred on Sunday morning around 9:00 am, when Tripathi had gone to a Shiva temple with his two sons, Amol and Agam, to offer prayers. While returning, near Gwari village, a man repo...

Sambhal: In a major disciplinary action, Sambhal Superintendent of Police Krishna Kumar Bishnoi has suspended the entire Special Operations Group (SOG) team, including its in-charge, following serious allegations of extortion. A total of eight police personnel, including the SOG in-charge, have been placed under suspension after a scrap dealer accused them of illegally collecting Rs 30,000 and seizing scrap material. Scrap Dealer Alleges Illegal Detention and Extortion According to reports, a scrap dealer Zafaruddin, a resident of Bilari in Moradabad, was travelling with his son Aas Mohammad on the night of February 2, carrying scrap material consisting of mobile phone plates, towards Ladum Sarai in Sambhal. During the journey, the SOG team allegedly stopped their motorcycle an...