Uttar Pradesh

Etawah, UP: Authorities in Etawah are preparing to take bulldozer action against a centuries-old mazar (shrine) in the Fisher Forest area, known as the Behrad Wale Syed Baba Mazaar, after the caretaker failed to provide required documents. The illegal shrine, constructed on forest department land, has been served a notice following a complaint to the Chief Minister’s office. Caretaker Fazle Ilahi was asked to submit documentation by 22 January but failed to do so. Once the deadline lapsed, the administration affixed a notice on the shrine. Every Thursday, large crowds gather at the mazar, and Urs celebrations have reportedly been held without official permission. Faithful Express ConcernsLocals and devotees have expressed distress, saying that blocking access to the shrine is an affr...

Ghaziabad: The Health Department in Ghaziabad has launched an investigation into disability certificates issued over the past two decades, following reports of fraudulent certifications being used to secure government jobs and benefits. Nearly 28,000 certificates issued in the last 20 years will be reviewed. Individuals found with fake certificates will not only lose their government employment but also face legal action, including recovery of benefits obtained through the false document. Focus on Specific DisabilitiesAccording to officials, certificates claiming vision, hearing, or ENT-related disabilities will be examined closely. A medical review team has been formed under the supervision of Nodal Officer Anwar Ansari. “The department issues disability certificates only after thor...

Lucknow: Residents of Jaunpur and Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh have a reason to cheer as the central government has approved new bypass projects for both cities, aimed at reducing congestion and improving regional connectivity. Jaunpur Western BypassThe 12.2 km, 4-lane Western Bypass in Jaunpur has been approved at an estimated cost of ₹944.19 crore. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari shared the update on his X handle, highlighting that the project will complete a missing link in Jaunpur’s regional road network. The bypass will connect National Highway 731 on the west and National Highway 135A on the north, creating uninterrupted connectivity. It will also integrate with the existing NH-31 bypass and other national highways (NH-31, NH-135A, NH-128A, NH-731), si...

Ghaziabad: In a dramatic accident on Thursday night, a car carrying five young men plunged into a drain near the Modinagar railway crossing in Ghaziabad district, Uttar Pradesh. The passengers broke the car windows to escape, narrowly saving their lives. Fortunately, they sustained only minor injuries. The vehicle was later recovered from the drain with the help of a crane. The youths—Rohit Kumar and Vikas Kumar from Khanjarpur Colony, and their friends Saurabh, Gaurav, and Sujit from Chudiyala village—had gone to Meerut for work-related purposes and were returning home via the Hanumanpuri route instead of the Delhi-Meerut main road. According to reports, near Dr. K.N. Modi Global School, a motorcycle suddenly appeared in front of them. In an attempt to avoid collision, the car went out...

Ayodhya: The remuneration for artists performing in the Anvarat Ramleela program in Ayodhya has been increased, with payments for participating troupes now doubled. The program, organized by the International Ramayana and Vedic Research Institute, aims to enhance the quality of the Ramleela performances by selecting higher-standard troupes. Under the new structure, troupes are categorized into two classes, with corresponding payments of Rs 17,500 and Rs 25,000 per troupe for a 15-day performance. CEO Ashutosh Dwivedi explained that artists in standard troupes will receive Rs 700 per artist, while artists in national-level troupes will be paid Rs 1,000 each. Previously, remuneration was set at Rs 8,500 per troupe, which was considered insufficient. Improved Facilities and BudgetPerfor...

Mahoba: Amid rising controversy over alleged irregularities in Jal Jeevan Mission projects in Mahoba district, District Magistrate (DM) Ghazal Bharadwaj has clarified the administration’s position and provided detailed updates on the mission’s progress. The issue escalated after BJP MLA Brijbhushan Rajput raised concerns over the state of the Har Ghar Nal (tap water) scheme. The MLA reportedly stopped the convoy of Water Resources Minister Swatantradev Singh to highlight the alleged shortcomings. Following the incident, the minister and MLA met with officials at the district collectorate, where the matter was addressed. DM Provides Mission DetailsDM Ghazal Bharadwaj outlined that under the Jal Jeevan Mission, the administration had planned to lay pipelines in 344 villages, covering a...

Mathura: A Home Guard posted at Jaint Police Station in Mathura has accused a departmental Head Constable of using abusive language and collecting illegal payments from complainants. The officer-in-charge (CO) has assured that appropriate action will be taken after investigating the matter. Allegations of Abuse After DutyJyoti Sharma reports that Sahib Singh, a Home Guard at Jaint Police Station, submitted a written complaint to the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), alleging that Head Constable Dharmveer verbally abused him without cause after his duty, which runs from 7:45 AM to 4:00 PM. Singh stated that the incident left him demoralized. Illegal ‘Commission’ from ComplainantsIn his complaint, the Home Guard also questioned the overall conduct of Head Constable Dharmveer, clai...

Ghaziabad: Police in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, have busted a gang that posed as doctors from reputed hospitals to order expensive medicines from medical stores, only to hand over fake cheques and flee. A joint operation by the SWAT team and the Crime Branch led to the arrest of four gang members. Authorities recovered high-value medicines, multiple SIM cards, and mobile phones from their possession. ADC(P) Crime Piyush Singh stated that the accused used to call medical stores, claiming to be senior doctors, HODs, or other medical staff from well-known hospitals. They leveraged these hospital names to gain trust and demanded immediate delivery of medicines. Once the medicines were delivered, the gang would hand over fake cheques. By the time store owners realized the cheques had bounced,...

Unnao / Gonda: A shocking case of police malpractice has come to light in Uttar Pradesh, where officials were allegedly filing fake investigation reports to fraudulently claim insurance money. Following a complaint by an insurance company, one inspector and 11 sub-inspectors (SIs) have been suspended. The misconduct was uncovered across three districts of Purvanchal—Bahraich, Gonda, and Shravasti—where investigations into road accidents were found to be riddled with irregularities. Officers not only misrepresented vehicles and drivers in accident reports but also manipulated the facts of the incidents to extract compensation from insurance companies. Out of the 15 police personnel involved, an inspector and 11 SIs have been suspended, while departmental action is underway against thr...

Patna, Bihar – The Bihar Legislative Assembly’s upcoming budget session is set to commence on February 2, with a total of 19 meetings scheduled during the proceedings. Ahead of the session, a high-level all-party meeting was held on Friday under the chairmanship of Assembly Speaker Dr. Prem Kumar to ensure smooth conduct and effective functioning of the House. Focus on Orderly Proceedings and Basic Arrangements The Speaker emphasized that this year’s budget session will be extensive, and strict instructions were issued to tighten arrangements related to security, traffic management, medical facilities, cleanliness, and parking within the Assembly premises. The all-party meeting was convened to reduce disruptions in the House and promote constructive debate. Top leaders from both the ...