Uttar Pradesh

Varanasi: Uttar Pradesh has received a major boost in the Union Budget 2026 with the announcement of a high-speed rail network. The budget unveiled plans for two new high-speed corridors passing through the state, positioning Varanasi as a key hub. The proposed network will connect Varanasi to Siliguri via Patna, and eventually link to Delhi, allowing bullet trains to operate along this route. The corridor will feature elevated tracks, with trains running at speeds of up to 350 km/h. Notably, the Varanasi–Siliguri high-speed corridor will include an underground section in West Bengal. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw outlined the government’s plans for high-speed rail in the general budget, highlighting that Mumbai–Ahmedabad will serve as the first operational corridor. In the secon...

Gorakhpur, Feb 3: Police in Gorakhpur have cracked a sensational murder case in the PPganj area, revealing that the killing of a woman was orchestrated by her ex-lover, Vijay Kumar Sahni, and his wife Sandhya. The duo reportedly carried out the brutal act to end ties with the victim. The incident came to light last Thursday when the body of a woman, around 35 years old, was discovered near the Gobarhiya nala in Barghatta. Local residents alerted the police, who sent the body for post-mortem and launched a detailed investigation. The deceased was later identified as Priya Shetty. Lured from MumbaiDuring police interrogation, Vijay Sahni confessed to the crime, stating that he wanted to rid himself of Priya, who he felt was interfering in his life again. On the night of the murder, he ...

Sambhal, Feb 3:A case related to an interfaith relationship has surfaced in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district, where a Muslim woman has expressed her desire to marry a Hindu man, citing a four-year-long relationship. The woman has recorded her statements before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), asserting that she wishes to live with and marry the man of her own free will. The matter pertains to Nawada village under Hazratnagar Garhi police station area, where Ankit Kumar, a local resident, and Sameerin, a Muslim woman from the same village, have allegedly been in a relationship for nearly four years. According to both individuals, on January 26, Sameerin voluntarily went to Ankit’s house and conveyed her intention to stay with him and marry him. As the case involves individuals from ...

Sambhal, Feb 3:The management committee of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district has sought permission from the district administration to install loudspeakers during the holy month of Ramzan to facilitate smooth conduct of prayers and religious sermons. The request was formally made by Zafar Ali, President of the Shahi Jama Masjid Intazamia Committee, who has written a letter to the District Magistrate (DM) seeking approval. However, according to sources, permission for installing loudspeakers has not yet been granted by the district administration. Speaking on the matter, Zafar Ali said that the holy month of Ramzan is set to begin on February 18, and during this period it is essential that the Imam’s sermons, prayers, and important religious instructions are cl...

Cyber fraudsters allegedly cheated a retired elderly man of ₹23.33 lakh in Ghaziabad by luring him with promises of high returns through online trading. The accused persuaded the victim to transfer money into multiple bank accounts on the pretext of stock market investments. The victim, Suresh Chandra Shekhar, a resident of Khoda Colony, lodged a complaint at the Cyber Crime Police Station after realizing he had been defrauded. According to the complaint, on November 25, a person identifying himself as Professor Prem Prakash Verma added the victim to a WhatsApp group named “VIP Eight.” The accused claimed that he was writing a book on stock management, scheduled for release in February, and projected himself as a market expert. On December 23, Verma allegedly began online trading ...

Jhansi, Feb 3:The Union Budget has brought a major development boost for the Jhansi Railway Division, with an allocation of ₹2,598 crore aimed at accelerating key railway infrastructure projects, including gauge conversion, line doubling and station redevelopment. According to railway officials, the allocated budget is 11 per cent higher than last year, reflecting the Centre’s strong focus on strengthening rail connectivity and passenger facilities in the region. A significant portion of the budget has been earmarked for station redevelopment projects. The Virangana Lakshmibai Jhansi Railway Station has received ₹150 crore for modernization, while Gwalior Railway Station has been allotted ₹100 crore and Khajuraho Railway Station ₹120 crore for redevelopment works. Jhansi Divisiona...

Ghaziabad: The city’s traffic is now being closely monitored through the Integrated Traffic Management System (ITMS), which allows authorities to penalize negligent drivers in real-time. On 1 February alone, ITMS issued a total of 326 challans, with the majority—302—being for riders not wearing helmets. Modern Surveillance for Safer RoadsThe ITMS relies on high-definition and Caesar cameras installed at major intersections. These cameras automatically detect vehicles that cross stop lines or enter the camera range without helmets. The system scans the vehicle’s number plate and retrieves the owner’s information from the database, after which a challan message is sent directly to the registered mobile number of the vehicle owner. Municipal Commissioner Vikramaditya Malik stated that “...

Mau: The political temperature in Mau district rose late Monday night as police stopped and checked the convoy of former Ghhosi MP Atul Rai, ahead of the upcoming by-elections. Rai released a video on social media calling for a fair and impartial probe by the administration. According to reports, Mau Sadar Kotwal Anil Singh and Traffic In-Charge SS Pandey invoked Section 163 of the Indian Penal Code to stop and search Rai’s convoy. The search, carried out in Bunkar Colony area of the city, found no objectionable or illegal material. After completing the check, the police allowed the convoy to proceed. Background of the IncidentAtul Rai was returning to his home district of Ghazipur after attending a series of ceremonial events in Mau. His convoy comprised four vehicles. Upon reaching...

Ghaziabad: A case of a minor girl being coerced into changing her religion for marriage has come to light in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. The incident occurred in the Kanavani area under Indirapuram police station. Hindu organizations alerted authorities, leading to police intervention and the prevention of the marriage. The minor, a resident of Faridabad, had been lured by a local youth who kept her at a relative’s home in preparation for the wedding. Police reached the location in time, stopped the marriage, and handed the girl back to her family. The accused youth and his family members were taken into custody, and a formal investigation is underway. Bajrang Dal AlertAmit Parashar, Special Contact Head of Bajrang Dal Harnandi, said the organization received information about the inci...

Lucknow: A reckless act of road law violation in Lucknow’s Gomtinagar Vistar area has gone viral on social media, raising serious concerns over public safety. A video circulating online shows a man in a white Mahindra Thar smashing through police barricades and performing dangerous stunts while the vehicle was in motion. The video, reportedly filmed on G-20 Road, shows the Thar crashing into barricades at high speed. The individual uploaded the footage himself on social media. Inspector Sudhir Awasthi of Gomtinagar Vistar confirmed that the police are working to identify the Thar driver and investigate the incident. Tragic Accident on Farmer PathIn a related incident, 38-year-old Surendra Kumar Singh, a truck driver from Chhapra, Bihar, lost his life while clearing debris stuck in hi...