Uttarakhand

The death of Angel Chakma, a Scheduled Tribe student from Tripura, following an alleged assault in Dehradun’s Selaqui area, has sparked a growing national controversy. The case has now reached a critical stage after the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) issued notices to senior Uttarakhand officials, including Dehradun Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajay Singh, seeking a detailed action-taken report within three days. The NCST has also sent notices to the Uttarakhand Director General of Police and the District Magistrate of Dehradun, raising serious questions about police conduct, delay in filing the FIR, and the absence of stringent charges despite medical evidence. Commission Raises Serious Questions In its notice, the Tribal Commission questioned why the FI...

Tensions escalated in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, on Sunday as local residents protested a forest land survey conducted by the Forest Department in populated areas. Angry demonstrators blocked the Haridwar–Rishikesh railway tracks and the national highway, leading to severe disruption of road and rail traffic. Five policemen were injured in stone-pelting incidents during the clashes. Protests and BlockadesThe unrest began around noon when residents from Amitgram, Mansa Devi, and Geetanagar blocked the Haridwar bypass. Protesters then occupied the railway tracks near Mansa Devi Phatak and barricaded the national highway near Geetanagar’s IDPL City Gate. The blockade caused multiple passenger trains, including the Barmer Express, Kochiveli Express, and Yoga Express, to halt unexpectedly, leav...

Mussoorie, Uttarakhand: The Queen of Hills, Mussoorie, has come alive once again with culture, music, and tourism as the Winterline Carnival 2025 officially began on Wednesday. The festival opened with a grand cultural parade at Survey Ground, where a spectacular flower shower from a helicopter set the entire town in a festive mood. The carnival promises a vibrant celebration for tourists visiting the hills during the New Year season. Grand Cultural ProcessionThe parade started at Survey Ground and passed through Landour Bazaar, Clock Tower, and Kulri Mall Road, culminating at Gandhi Chowk. Artists from cultural institutions like Garhwal Sabha Mussoorie and Jhoomilo Group, along with students from various schools, participated enthusiastically. The streets resonated with the beats of dr...

Jyotirmath (Chamoli): Alarmed by the rapid rise in drug abuse and narcotics trafficking, residents and traders of Jyotirmath launched a strong protest on Friday, bringing the hill town to a standstill. As a mark of protest, all commercial establishments remained closed while hundreds of people took to the streets, demanding strict action against drug peddlers. The demonstration began at the Inter College crossing, from where protesters marched in a procession to the local police station, raising slogans against the drug trade. Upon reaching the police station, traders and residents staged a sit-in, pressing the administration to curb the growing menace that they say is destroying the town’s social fabric. Memorandum Submitted, Four Key Demands Raised Later, a delegation of traders...

Dehradun: The Ankita Bhandari murder case has once again sparked controversy in Uttarakhand. Dushyant Kumar Gautam, BJP National General Secretary and the party’s in-charge for Uttarakhand, has written to the state’s Home Secretary demanding the removal of social media videos and audio clips linking him to the case. He termed these as malicious attempts to tarnish his image and sought government intervention. In his letter to Home Secretary Shailesh Bagoli on Thursday, Gautam urged that relevant social media platforms and news channels be instructed to immediately remove such content and prevent its further dissemination. He requested that any direct or indirect circulation of such material be stopped. Allegations of Malicious ContentAlong with the letter, Gautam submitted a list of ...

: While Uttarakhand’s ambitious All-Weather Road Project has significantly improved connectivity in the Himalayan region, it is also giving rise to serious geological and safety concerns. A massive crack has developed in the Totaghati hill along the Rishikesh–Badrinath National Highway, triggering alarm among authorities, experts, and local residents. Located around 40 kilometres from Rishikesh, Totaghati has witnessed the emergence of a 60-centimetre-wide and nearly 26-metre-deep crack in the hill, approximately 100 metres above the highway. The fissure has effectively split the mountain into two parts, raising fears of potential landslides and road blockages on this crucial pilgrimage route. Hill Cutting Linked to the Damage The crack is being attributed to extensive hill cuttin...

Dehradun, Uttarakhand: Frustrated with unannounced power cuts in his constituency, Congress MLA Virendra Jati took the unprecedented step of cutting electricity at the residences of several officials from the State Electricity Corporation. Action Taken by MLAVirendra Jati, representing the Jhabreda Assembly in Haridwar, had earlier met with electricity department officials to raise concerns about frequent unscheduled power cuts, highlighting the difficulties faced by residents. When the officials failed to take corrective measures, the MLA personally went to the residences of the Chief Engineer, Executive Engineer, and other officials, disconnecting their electricity connections. The action caused a stir in the local area. Reason Behind the ActionMLA Jati emphasized that unscheduled ...

Chamoli, Uttarakhand: In a shocking and terrifying incident at Junior High School Harishankar in Pokhri, Chamoli district, two bears entered the school premises on Monday morning, putting students in grave danger. During the intrusion, a bear lifted a sixth-grade student, Arav, but quick thinking and bravery by eighth-grade student Divya Chaudhary saved his life. Following the incident, the school declared a precautionary holiday until 25 December. Chaos Erupts Around 9:30 AMAccording to reports, the bears appeared around 9:15 AM as students were arriving. Screams of panic erupted among the children. Eighth-grader Divya immediately assessed the situation, raised an alarm, and instructed students to run into their classrooms. One of the bears attempted to break down a classroom door and ...

Pauri Garhwal, December 22, 2025: A major administrative dispute has emerged in Pauri Garhwal after IG Garhwal, Rajiv Swaroop, revoked the transfer orders issued by SSP Sarvesh Panwar. The move is being seen as a clash between two senior IPS officers. SSP Panwar had earlier issued transfer orders for hundreds of police personnel, ranging from constables to sub-inspectors, which triggered controversy across the district. The issue escalated to the IG level, who, citing violations of the Police Act, annulled the SSP’s orders late Sunday night. What Happened?The controversy began when SSP Sarvesh Panwar attempted to implement widespread transfers across Pauri Garhwal, affecting personnel at multiple levels. The mass transfers drew immediate attention and criticism, eventually reaching I...

Dehradun: In an unannounced visit on Friday, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inspected the Dalanwala Police Station and expressed strong displeasure over the untidy lockup and general disorder. During the inspection, the CM directed the SSP to immediately ensure proper cleanliness and organize facilities according to prescribed standards. SHO’s Delay Draws CM’s WrathDespite prior notice of the inspection, SHO Manoj Mainwal arrived late at the station, which drew CM Dhami’s ire. The Chief Minister went through police registers personally and instructed the SSP to place the delinquent SHO on line for disciplinary action. Comprehensive Review of Facilities and RecordsAfter concluding various official meetings on Friday, the CM visited the police station unexpectedly. He c...