Uttar Pradesh

Banda/Chitrakoot, February 21, 2026: In a landmark judgment, the Banda Court has sentenced Junior Engineer (JE) Rambhavan and his wife Durgavati to death for the sexual exploitation of 34 children across Banda, Chitrakoot, and Hamirpur districts. The Special POCSO Court also imposed fines of ₹6.45 lakh on Rambhavan and ₹5.40 lakh on Durgavati. The case, which dates back nearly five years, gained international attention due to the involvement of Interpol, which provided the CBI with a pen drive containing 79 videos and 679 photos documenting the abuse. Investigators described the case as reminiscent of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal in the United States. International Distribution of Child Pornography According to CBI officials, Rambhavan sold child pornography videos to buyers in Bra...

Lucknow: Despite repeated efforts through lotteries, auctions, and “First Come, First Serve” schemes, the Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) has failed to achieve satisfactory sales and construction targets across multiple housing schemes. In several projects, only 11 percent to 50 percent of the properties were sold, while the authority could not even provide a clear record of the remaining unsold plots, flats, or commercial units. A recent audit conducted by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has exposed large-scale irregularities in plot and flat allotments, tender processes, and payment procedures within GDA between 2017 and 2022. EWS Housing Targets Missed by a Wide Margin The authority had set an ambitious target of constructing 25,000 houses for the Economically W...

Noida, February 21, 2026: In a major push to strengthen road connectivity in Uttar Pradesh, the state government has released ₹1,204 crore for the construction of a 74.3-kilometre-long link expressway connecting the Yamuna Expressway with the Ganga Expressway. The funds have been allocated to the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) for land acquisition. A formal communication regarding the allocation was issued on February 17 by the state government. 740 Acres to Be Acquired Across 16 Villages For the construction of the Ganga Link Expressway, approximately 740 acres of land will be acquired from 16 villages in the YEIDA region. The land acquisition process has already begun following detailed surveys. Villages in Jewar, including Mehndipur Bangar, Bhaipu...

Meerut, February 21, 2026: Security agencies in Meerut have intensified surveillance and verification measures ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit on Sunday for the inauguration of the Namo Bharat train. In a significant development, 13 suspected Kashmiri youths have been taken into custody for questioning, while two others are reportedly missing. The move comes amid heightened security arrangements in the city prior to the high-profile event. Initial Detention and Release According to reports, around 15 youths were seen moving around Sadar Sarrafa Bazaar and nearby localities on Friday, allegedly seeking donations. Local traders grew suspicious of their activities and alerted the police. Some of the youths were reportedly confronted by shopkeepers, leading to ...

Lucknow, February 21, 2026: In a major enforcement drive against unauthorized constructions, the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) carried out extensive demolition operations across multiple areas of the state capital on Friday. The authority demolished illegal plotting spread over approximately 40 bighas of land and sealed a three-storey commercial complex in Hazratganj. 40 Bighas of Illegal Plotting Cleared According to officials, eight illegal plotting projects being developed without approved layouts were razed in Lucknow. The action was carried out in Gosaiinganj, Kakori, and Saerpur areas. Ravi Nandan Singh, Zonal Officer of Enforcement Zone-2, stated that in village Kasimpur Biruha near Chand Sarai Crossing in Gosaiinganj, an unauthorized colony was being developed across...

Greater Noida | February 21, 2026: Panic gripped residents of Greater Noida West on Friday afternoon after a powerful explosion caused by a leaking LPG cylinder triggered a fire at a restaurant near Coco County Society in Sector 10, Ecotech-3 police station area. Two restaurant employees sustained burn injuries, while a woman and a 17-year-old boy were hurt during the chaos that followed. According to Chief Fire Officer Pradeep Kumar Chaubey, the fire department received information about the incident at approximately 12:40 pm. A firefighting team was immediately dispatched to the spot. Gas Leak Led to Regulator Fire Preliminary investigation revealed that the LPG cylinder had developed a leak, which caused the regulator to catch fire. The flames spread rapidly, accompanied by a l...

Greater Noida | February 21, 2026: A 23-year-old B.Tech final-year student allegedly died by suicide after jumping from the 20th floor of the Paramount Golf Foreste Society in Greater Noida on Friday afternoon. The deceased has been identified as Arjun Tomar, a resident of Baghpat district. Arjun was a final-year engineering student at Mangalmay Group of Institutions. According to police officials, no suicide note was recovered from the spot, and the exact reason behind the extreme step remains unclear. Incident Details Police said that Arjun arrived at the society premises on his motorcycle shortly before the incident. After parking the bike, he reportedly took the lift to the 21st floor and then used the staircase to reach the 20th floor, from where he jumped. Residents prese...

Banda, Uttar Pradesh: A tragic incident in Banda has shocked the local community, where a 19-year-old intermediate student ended his life by lying in front of a train after being denied marriage to his aunt. The incident occurred just a day before his scheduled exam. Details of the Incident The deceased, Raja Anuragi (19), son of Rajendra Kumar Anuragi and resident of Jareli Kothi Mohalla, left his home on Tuesday evening without informing anyone. Later that night, he went to Kyotra Railway Crossing and committed suicide by positioning himself in front of an oncoming train. The train fatally injured him, splitting his body into two parts. Passersby alerted the police, who arrived at the scene, secured the body, and began investigations. A mobile phone belonging to Raja was found i...

Bahraich, UP: In a shocking and horrifying incident, a woman in Bahraich district could not bear the excruciating pain of labor and reportedly cut open her own abdomen with a kitchen knife at home. She was rushed to the hospital, where she successfully delivered a baby girl. The Incident The incident took place in Nandwal village, where 38-year-old Nankai, who had been pregnant, started experiencing severe labor pain on Thursday morning. Alone at home, she initially tried to manage the pain, but when it became unbearable, she used a vegetable knife to injure her abdomen. Neighbors rushed to the house upon hearing her screams and were left horrified at the scene. Emergency Response Nankai’s mother arrived shortly after the incident. The woman was immediately taken to the Comm...

Lucknow: The political equations in Uttar Pradesh are being carefully recalibrated as the state enters an election year. With the 2027 Assembly elections just a year away, key political and organizational strategies are already being laid out. As part of the centenary celebrations of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat is currently on a tour of Uttar Pradesh. After visiting Gorkhpur, he reached Lucknow on Wednesday, drawing the attention of top state leaders. CM Yogi Meets RSS Chief Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath met with Mohan Bhagwat at Saraswati Kunj in Nirala Nagar, Lucknow, in a meeting that lasted approximately 40 minutes. The discussions focused on the political direction of the state, preparations for the 2027 Assembly elections, and strategies to e...