Uttar Pradesh

Ayodhya, February 7, 2026: Acharya Narendra Dev University of Agriculture and Technology (ND University) in Ayodhya has developed a new and advanced variety of foreign pumpkin, named ‘Chhappan Pumpkin’, which is rich in cancer-fighting properties and holds the potential to significantly increase farmers’ income. The new variety, developed by the Department of Vegetable Science, is designed for high yield in small spaces and off-season cultivation. The university plans to secure approval from the Vegetable Variety Release Committee (SVRC) this year and release it as a major vegetable crop for the Purvanchal region. High Yield in Limited Space Dr. Aastik Jha, Assistant Professor leading the research, explained that the Chhappan Pumpkin differs significantly from conventional pumpkin...

Sambhal, UP: Tensions erupted at a government primary school in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, after Quranic verses were found displayed on classroom walls in place of pictures of national figures. Activists from the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal alleged that the school management was promoting “Islamic propaganda” and staged a protest at the premises. The incident took place at the Upper Primary School, Nagla Purva, in the Baniyakheda development block. On Friday, VHP department Satsang head, Rituparn Sharma, visited the school with workers and noticed images of Islamic religious sites along with Quranic verses near the headteacher’s office. When questioned, the headteacher reportedly failed to give a clear explanation, which escalated the situation. Suspensions and Police In...

Lucknow: Residents of Dariyapur Labour Colony in Rajajipuram, Lucknow, have been hit by the municipal water department’s alleged negligence, receiving water bills worth thousands of rupees despite having no water connections. Reports indicate that bills ranging from ₹16,000 to ₹25,000 were sent to households in the colony, causing severe distress among residents, particularly women. Many women in the colony manage household expenses by doing chores such as sweeping and mopping, making it nearly impossible for them to pay such inflated bills. Rashmi, a resident, said, “I have never had a water connection at my house, yet I received a bill for ₹16,000.” Another resident, Anjali, reported that a bill of ₹22,400 was issued in her name, even though there is no water supply to her home. ...

Agra: In a shocking discovery, a woman’s body was found wrapped in a blanket near Milestone 148 on the Yamuna Expressway on Friday. The 25-year-old woman, whose identity is yet to be confirmed, had henna on her hands and feet, indicating she was married. Her lips were adorned with lipstick, and her eyes lined with kajal. Authorities suspect she was murdered elsewhere and the body was dumped at the site. The blanket was bound with black tape. Discovery of the BodyAround 3:30 PM, villagers near Saurai noticed a blanket while grazing goats. Upon closer inspection, a foul smell emanated from it. They immediately alerted patrolling guards and police. DCP West Aditya Singh and ACP Etmadpur Devesh Kumar arrived at the scene, and upon removing the blanket, discovered the woman’s body. Forensic ...

Hapur, Uttar Pradesh: The Hapur police have uncovered shocking details in the murder of Rita Sharma in Bahadurgarh. Investigation revealed that her husband, Rahul Sharma, allegedly hired his friends to kill his cancer-stricken wife for ₹5 lakh. The two friends involved have been arrested. Codeword Used to Conceal CrimeAccording to ASP Vineet Bhatnagar, Rahul Sharma allegedly paid his friends, Shera and Firoz, to carry out the murder. To avoid suspicion during discussions and payment collection, the accused reportedly used the codeword “saree money.” Brutal MurderThe incident occurred on the morning of 2 February in Mohammadpur Rustampur village. Rita Sharma was killed by slitting her throat. At the time, Rahul Sharma was reportedly away from home, claiming he was attending a wedding....

Manish Singh, Noida: Once again, Garden Galleria Mall, located in Sector-38A, Noida, has come under the spotlight after a shocking incident of violence was reported late Friday night. A dispute over dancing outside a bar allegedly escalated into a brutal assault, where bouncers were seen mercilessly beating a युवक (youth) in full public view. The incident falls under the jurisdiction of Sector-39 Police Station. A video of the assault has gone viral on social media, forcing the police to take swift action. Following the outrage, authorities arrested seven individuals from both sides involved in the clash. Argument Over Dancing Turned Violent According to reports, a group of young men were dancing outside a bar inside the mall late at night. What began as a minor argument soon turn...

SAHARANPUR: The Army and police in Saharanpur are jointly interrogating two young men after they were caught operating a drone over a military training area. The incident occurred at the Remount Depot, where sensitive photos and videos were reportedly recorded. Drone Spotted Over Army ComplexAccording to Subedar Balu Singh of the Army, soldiers noticed a drone flying over the Remount Depot training area around 10:30 AM on Friday. The drone circled several times over a construction site and surrounding areas, raising suspicion among the on-duty personnel. The Army promptly informed higher authorities, who launched a search operation. Near Rasulpur village, two men were found operating the drone and were immediately taken into custody. A drone and a laptop were seized from their possessio...

LUCKNOW: Despite repeated fatalities and serious injuries caused by kite strings, banned Chinese and nylon kite threads, commonly called manjha, continue to be sold openly on e-commerce platforms and private websites in Lucknow. Online Sales Defy Local BansIn the past three days, a young man died and two others were seriously injured after getting entangled in dangerous kite strings. While authorities have taken action against local vendors selling these strings, online marketplaces remain largely unchecked. Prominent e-commerce sites are selling nylon monofilament, mono kite threads, and super-sharp manjha, priced between ₹200 and ₹5,000, marketed for their strength and razor-sharp edges. Several sellers have even set up private websites to distribute these banned products. Sites of...

GREATER NOIDA: In a tragic incident, a 30-year-old woman, Barkha, jumped from the fifth floor of Twins Building in Greater Noida on Thursday evening, ending her life. Authorities recovered a suicide note in which she expressed deep despair, writing: “Mahadev, what is left in my life? I don’t want to live anymore.” She did not hold anyone responsible for her death. Background and Personal StrugglesBarkha, originally from Khoji village in Jaunpur district, had been living with her grandmother in Jalpura village, Ecotech-3 area. Her mother had passed away when she was a child, and her father lived separately. Raised by her grandmother, Barkha had nurtured a dream of becoming a makeup artist but had been battling prolonged mental stress in recent times due to personal and family circumstanc...

LUCKNOW: Lucknow police have cracked a gang that used Thar SUVs to kidnap and rob passengers under the pretext of giving them a lift. Seven accused have been arrested in connection with the crimes, which occurred in Sairpur, Sarojininagar, and BKTI areas. Truck Driver Targeted in Kidnapping and RobberyThe gang had lured truck driver Hriday Narayan, a resident of Ghatampur, Kanpur, into a black Thar near the Haidil area on 31 January. Offering to drop him to Kanpur for just ₹100, they abducted him, tied him up, and robbed him of ₹60,000. Hriday was beaten when he resisted and later dumped in a potato field in Sairpur. The police recovered ₹40,130 in cash, two mobile phones, two pistols, two cartridges, and the Thar used in the crime. CCTV Footage Leads to ArrestsInvestigations involve...