Delhi Records Warmest January Since 2019, Air Quality Sees Improvement

The national capital wrapped up a rather warm January with Friday's maximum temperature reaching 27 degrees Celsius, making it the city's warmest day in the month since 2019.

The month's average maximum temperature was 21.1 degrees Celsius, a notch above the long-period average of 20.1 degrees Celsius, marking it as Delhi's warmest January since 2019.

According to India Meteorological Department (IMD) data, nighttime temperatures were also higher than usual.

The average minimum temperature for the month settled at 8.5 degrees Celsius, a notch above the LPA of 7.5 degrees Celsius, and the highest since 2017 when it was 8.7 degrees Celsius.

Meteorologists attributed the warmer-than-usual January to the absence of strong western disturbances, which typically bring rain, lowering the temperature.

"This month, while western disturbances did pass through north India, most of them were feeble and did not result in substantial snowfall or rainfall," said Mahesh Palawat, a weather expert. "If we had one or two strong systems, we would have seen colder conditions due to icy winds and cloudiness. Instead, temperatures rose quickly." Palawat added that rainfall in northwest India was 81 per cent below normal, impacting winter chill and also reducing fog formation. "January usually sees dense fog, but this time, particularly in the latter half of the month, fog has been nearly absent," he said.

On Friday, Delhi's minimum temperature stood at 9.5 degrees Celsius, a degree above normal, while the lowest temperature recorded this month was 5.6 degrees Celsius on January 28. The coldest day of the month was January 1, when the maximum temperature was 15 degrees Celsius.

Higher temperatures this month contributed to a slight improvement in air quality, as warmer conditions help disperse pollutants. Delhi's average Air Quality Index (AQI) for January stood at 305, the cleanest January since 2022, when the average was 279.

In comparison, January's AQI was 355 last year and 311 in 2023. However, pollution levels remained high, with Friday's AQI recorded at 351 (very poor).

Forecasts suggest Delhi's air will continue to hover in the 'very poor' category until February 3, with slight improvements expected thereafter.

"From February 1 to 3, Delhi's air quality is likely to remain 'very poor.' It may be 'poor' in the subsequent days," stated the Centre's Early Warning System for Delhi.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Mob Tries To Stop Forces From Destroying Poppy Fields In Manipur's Kangpokpi

A mob of around 80 people on Friday confronted a security team that went to destroy illegal opium poppy cultivation in Manipur's Kangpokpi district and damaged four vehicles, police said.

The incident happened in the Lhungjang hill range where personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the police had gone.

"Four light vehicles were broken, mostly the front windshield. The mob was later controlled by using minimum force. Later, reinforcements came... and poppy destruction at Lhungjang hill range resumed," the police said.

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Indian Astronaut To Pilot Private Spacecraft Axiom-4, Do Yoga In Space

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, set to become the second Indian to go to space after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma's journey on board the Soyuz T-11 in April 1984, will take on the role of pilot on the Axiom Mission 4, or Ax-4.

The Ax-4 will go to the International Space Station (ISS) from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Kennedy Space Centre in Florida no earlier than spring 2025, Axiom told reporters on Thursday.

Group Captain Shukla, who is serving in the Indian Air Force (IAF), has also been chosen as an astronaut for India's Gaganyaan Mission by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It was ISRO that sent him to NASA for the Ax-4 mission to the ISS.

Peggy Whitson, former NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, will command the private Ax-4 mission, while Group Captain Shukla will serve as pilot, the American space agency told reporters.

"I am really excited to go into microgravity and experience space flight on my own. The tempo for the mission has been building up each month. I think we are at a stage wherein all the pieces are kind of coming together. I'm extremely excited to see how this unfolds in the coming months and for the actual space flight as well," Group Captain Shukla said in response to a question by NDTV.

The Axiom 4 Mission team speaks to NDTV Science Editor Pallava Bagla

"We have been training for the past four-five months. We now understand the entire CONOPS, the concept of operations, and going forward from here it would mostly be repetition of the things that we have done. So we are ready and confident in our abilities to execute this mission successfully," Group Captain Shukla added.

On whether he would perform yoga as was done by Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma in space, Group Captain Shukla said, "Yes, now that you have said so, I would probably demonstrate a few poses of yoga while we are up on the station."

"But a more important aspect is that we need to practice while we are on the ground so that we have a healthy body which can house a healthy mind and allow us to execute this mission in our full spirits, truly," Group Captain Shukla said.

He added in Hindi, "I am very excited about this mission, and I think the kind of training we have done so far makes me confident in my abilities. We will be able to execute this mission very well. Thank you."

The Axiom 4 Mission team

Ms Whitson praised her team which has a diverse composition.

"These guys are very intelligent, so they absolutely listen to me," she said. "It is an interesting challenge to bring a diverse group from different countries together. I had that opportunity on the previous Axiom mission. And even on the NASA missions, we work as a very international team. But that is what I love to do. I love to bring people together and to build a team. And so that is kind of my main goal of this mission is to build that elite team. And I think I have got it here."

The first private astronaut mission to the ISS, Axiom Mission 1, lifted off in April 2022 for a 17-day mission aboard the orbiting laboratory.

The second private astronaut mission to the station, Axiom Mission 2, also was commanded by Ms Whitson and launched in May 2023 with four private astronauts who spent eight days in orbit.

The most recent private astronaut mission, Axiom Mission 3, launched in January 2024; the crew spent 18 days docked to the ISS.

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Centre Approves Rs 3,027 Crore For Disaster Mitigation Projects Across States

A High-Level Committee (HLC), chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, has approved Rs 3,027.86 crore for disaster mitigation projects across various states.

The committee, which includes Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and the Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog as members, reviewed proposals for mitigation projects related to lightning safety in 50 lightning-prone districts across 10 states, as well as catalytic assistance for 49 drought-prone districts in 12 states, all to be funded from the National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF), according to an official statement.

The committee approved a project for catalytic assistance to the 12 most drought-prone states at a total cost of Rs 2,022.16 crore, with the central share being Rs 1,200 crore.

The 12 states are Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh.

Additionally, the committee approved a mitigation project focused on lightning safety in 10 states, with a total outlay of Rs 186.78 crore. The states covered are Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

The committee also approved a scheme for forest fire risk management, targeting 144 high-priority districts across 19 states, with a total outlay of Rs 818.92 crore.

The central share from the NDMF and NDRF will be Rs 690.63 crore. The main goal of this scheme is to transform forest fire management in India by strengthening and supporting critical forest fire prevention and mitigation activities.

The states of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Manipur, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Uttarakhand will submit proposals to undertake activities related to forest fire mitigation, preparedness for forest fire response, and post-fire assessment and recovery.

To fulfill Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a disaster-resilient India, the Ministry of Home Affairs, under the guidance of the Home Minister, has implemented several initiatives aimed at enhancing disaster management in the country, the statement said.

The Modi government has taken multiple steps to minimise the loss of life and property during disasters by strengthening the disaster risk reduction system in India.

Prior to these proposals, the HLC had approved financial assistance from the NDMF for other projects, including urban flood risk mitigation in seven major cities with a total outlay of Rs 3,075.65 crore, GLOF risk management in four states with a total outlay of Rs 150 crore, and landslide risk mitigation in 15 states with a total outlay of Rs 1,000 crore.

Furthermore, over Rs 24,981 crore has already been released to states during the current financial year. This includes Rs 17,479.60 crore from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to 27 states, Rs 4,808.30 crore from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) to 18 states, Rs 1,973.55 crore from the State Disaster Mitigation Fund (SDMF) to 13 states, and Rs 719.72 crore from the National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF) to 8 states, the statement added.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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CA, BTech, MBA वालों के जिम्‍मे है महाकुंभ, जानें DM, DIG, SSP के बारे में

Maha Kumbh stampede, Mahakumbh 2025:देश-दुनिया की भीड़ महाकुंभ में जुटी है. मुख्य स्नान पर्व मौनी अमावस्या पर भगदड़ मच गई, जिसके बाद यहां की व्यवस्थाओं को लेकर तरह-तरह की चर्चाएं हो रही हैं. ऐसे में आइए जानते हैं कि यहां की बागडोर किन अधिकारियों के हाथों में है?

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US Justice Department Move Against Gautam Adani A "Strategic Blunder": Report

The US Department of Justice's (DoJ) indictment of billionaire Gautam Adani is a strategic blunder with severe geopolitical consequences, leading American publication Forbes has said.

In an article titled "The US Harms The West's Alliances With A Far-Flung Indictment In India", the author, Melik Kaylan, argued that the indictment, which alleges bribery and financial misrepresentation, "risks damaging India-US relations at a time when Washington is actively seeking stronger alliances to counter China's rising influence".

The article highlighted that India is a pivotal partner for the West, especially in initiatives like the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) - a transformative infrastructure project designed to rival China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The DoJ's action, however, undermines economic collaboration and trust at a critical juncture, potentially pushing India closer to Russia and China. In doing so, the US inadvertently weakens its own geopolitical positioning, allowing its rivals to strengthen their influence, according to Forbes.

Moreover, the piece argued that this indictment represents another example of Western overreach, where American extraterritorial legal actions disrupt vital global partnerships.

The broader concern is that while the US and Europe undermine their own allies with such moves, their adversaries continue advancing - economically, militarily, and technologically. As the author bluntly puts it, "They must be laughing in Beijing."

In essence, the DoJ's action against Mr Adani is not just a legal decision but a diplomatic miscalculation that risks isolating India at a time when its alignment with the West is crucial for global stability, according to the article.

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Maha Kumbh: Railways Running 360 Trains In Prayagraj On 'Mauni Amavasya'

The railways is running 360 trains, including 190 special trains, for millions of devotees expected to visit the Maha Kumbh Mela on 'Mauni Amavasya', Satish Kumar, Chairman and CEO of the Railway Board, said on Tuesday.

The 'Amrit Snan' on 'Mauni Amavasya' on Wednesday is expected to draw around 10 crore pilgrims to the Maha Kumbh.

Talking to reporters here, Kumar said that the railways has taken extensive measures to accommodate the unprecedented influx of pilgrims and decided to significantly increase train services for 'Mauni Amavasya', the most auspicious day of the Maha Kumbh.

"Railways is operating 360 trains for this occasion, including 190 special trains. The special trains are being run in three zones -- Northern Railway, North Eastern Railway and North Central Railway -- to manage the massive influx of devotees," Kumar said.

"This historic move will ensure a train runs every four minutes, and provide seamless connectivity and uninterrupted travel for millions of pilgrims," he added.

According to Kumar, Indian Railways has undertaken massive efforts to ensure smooth and convenient travel for millions of devotees attending the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj.

Kumar highlighted that the railways has developed infrastructure worth Rs 5,000 crore in and around Prayagraj to support the Maha Kumbh Mela, ensuring timely upgrades and enhanced capacity.

He also mentioned some of the key infrastructure developments such as new road under bridges (RUBs) and road over bridges (ROBs), track doubling and station upgrades, which have made this record-breaking train service possible by decongesting the rail lines.

"Indian Railways has significantly improved passenger amenities to ensure a seamless journey for devotees. Every station in Prayagraj possesses newly constructed toilets along with ample drinking water and food courts," Kumar said.

He added, "In case of an emergency, 'First Aid' booths and medical observation rooms will provide the needed assistance. At Prayagraj Junction and Prayagraj Chheoki, the Yatri Suvidha Kendra will assist devotees with wheelchairs, luggage trolleys, hotel and taxi bookings, medicines, baby milk and other essentials." Regarding passenger safety, Kumar said that RPF personnel are deployed at railway stations to ensure seamless boarding and deboarding.

"To facilitate smooth movement, colour-coded tickets and designated 'Ashriya Asthals' have been introduced," Kumar said.

He further said that RPF personnel escort devotees from the 'Ashriya Asthals' and assist them in reaching the trains.

Kumar also praised the Uttar Pradesh government's arrangements for the convenience of the devotees.

"In a coordinated effort with the Uttar Pradesh government, Indian Railways has established multiple holding areas where passengers can wait comfortably in tents," Kumar said.

"These areas are equipped with food arrangements and display information in several languages. One of the largest such areas is Khusro Bagh, located just outside Prayagraj station, which can accommodate up to 1 lakh passengers at a time," he said. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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21-Year-Old Nursing Student Found Hanging Inside Rented Room In UP: Cops

A 21-year-old nursing student was found hanging in a house in Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad district on Monday, police said.

Officials said that no suicide note was found from the spot.

Police received information in the morning about the body of Jyoti Singh (21), a BSc Nursing student, found hanging in a rented room in Kesari Kunj Colony, Superintendent of Police (City) Kumar Ranvijay Singh said.

A police team, accompanied by forensic experts, rushed to the spot and inspected the scene, he said She was a resident of Babni village of Deoria and her family was informed about the incident, the officer said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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TISS iCall	022-25521111 (Monday-Saturday: 8 am to 10 pm)
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Upset Over 'Betrayal', Man Kills Business Partner's Children: Police

Upset over his business partner's "betrayal", a 70-year-old man picked up his two children from their school, took them to his home, allegedly killed them there and hanged their bodies, according to police.

The incident happened in Boranada here and the children's bodies were found on Sunday, two day after they were reported missing by their family.

Police said they have found a note at the scene, in which the accused has purportedly admitted to killing the children due to the "betrayal" in their partnership in a bangle factory, and also mentioned his intent to commit suicide.

Police said Tamanna alias Tannu (12) and Shivpal (8) had left home on Friday for their school but never returned. Their family searched for them and eventually filed a report at the Boranada police station on Saturday.

DCP (West) Rajarshi Raj Verma said the accused, Shyam Singh Bhati, had started a bangle factory in partnership with Pradeep Devasai nine months ago. However, Devasai left the partnership for some reasons. They knew each other for about 20 years.

"This led to Bhati harbouring resentment against Devasai's family and wanting to teach him a lesson. Seizing an opportunity, Bhati murdered Devasai's two children. Their bodies were found in his (Bhati's) rented house near his factory," said Verma.

He said Bhati is absconding and a search has been initiated to nab him.

Police said the two children studied at a school in Pal. Two days ago, the accused picked up the children from the school under the pretense of dropping them home, but took them to his house near the bangle factory which is located in the vicinity of the Jain Temple in Boranada.

He killed them there and hanged their bodies, police said.

According to preliminary investigation, Bhati had invested money in the bangle factory, while Devasai worked there as a craftsman. Due to some disagreements, Devasai ended the partnership, resulting in financial losses to Bhati.

Verma said that in the note found at the scene, Bhati has written his partner had "betrayed" him, which is why he also wanted to take his own life.

Devasai's family originally hails from Uttar Pradesh. He is a bangle craftsman. Bhati hails from Rajasthan's Phalodi. 

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Padma Vibhushan Osamu Suzuki: The Man Who Gave India Maruti 800 Car

Osamu Suzuki, Suzuki Motor Corp's patriarch and long-time chairman who has been conferred Padma Vibhushan posthumously, headed the company for more than 40 years and revolutionised India's car market with the introduction of the popular Maruti 800 car.

Osamu Suzuki is among seven personalities who were conferred Padma Vibhushans, one of the highest civilian honours in the country, on Saturday.

Osamu Suzuki, who died in late December last year at the age of 94, shared a good rapport with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

According to PM Modi, Osamu Suzuki was a legendary figure in the global automotive industry.

“His visionary work reshaped global perceptions of mobility. Under his leadership, Suzuki Motor Corporation became a global powerhouse, successfully navigating challenges, driving innovation and expansion. He had a profound affection for India and his collaboration with Maruti revolutionised the Indian automobile market,” the Prime Minister had posted on X social media platform.

A former bank employee, Osamu Suzuki got his break in the automotive business after his marriage to Shoko Suzuki, granddaughter of Michio Suzuki, who founded Suzuki Motor's predecessor company in 1909. Osamu Suzuki took his wife's surname, in accordance with the Japanese custom when there are no male heirs.

His entry into India turned out to be a game-changer as the subcontinent-sized market, saddled with the mid-60s technology Ambassador and Fiat cars, drove up demand for the Maruti 800 small car. The waiting lists of customers stretched for as long as up to three years with the car selling at a premium in the second-hand market.

Suzuki Motor agreed to set up a venture with the Indian government outside New Delhi and acquired a 26 per cent stake in the state-owned carmaker Maruti Udyog in 1982. In December 1983, the venture rolled out the Maruti 800 small car which was an instant hit.

Maruti, now a unit of Suzuki Motor, quickly became the biggest car manufacturer in India and still commands more than 40 per cent share of the market.

Osamu Suzuki's more than 28 years as president made him the longest-serving head of a global automaker. After stepping down as president in 2000, he became Suzuki Motor's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. He came back as president at the age of 78 in December 2008, when Suzuki Motor was expecting its first profit decline in eight years amid the global recession to lead from the front.

Suzuki then passed on the presidency to his son in June 2015 and took over as Chairman and CEO, but then resigned as CEO over an embarrassing fuel-economy misstatement.

Suzuki was a man of spartan habits and was known to fly economy class even during his old age as part of his frugal lifestyle.

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D Fadnavis Grants Rs 5 Lakh Relief To Ordnance Factory Blast Victims' Families

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday announced financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh each for the families of those killed in the blast at the ordnance factory in Bhandara district.

The explosion, which took place around 10.40 in the morning, claimed the lives of eight workers and left five others injured, officials said.

The announcement of compensation was made by the Chief Ministers' Office in the evening.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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'Man On CCTV Doesn't Look Like My Son': Father Of Saif Ali Khan's Attacker

Md Ruhul Amin Fakir, father of Mohammed Shariful Islam, the man accused in the recent attack on Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan, spoke exclusively with IANS on Thursday. He defended his son and called into question the allegations. Mr Fakir insisted his son had been wrongfully implicated in the incident.

According to Mr Fakir, the images from CCTV footage showing a suspect with long hair do not match his son's usual appearance. "From what is shown in the CCTV... my son never keeps his hair long. I believe my son is being framed," Mr Fakir asserted, denying any connection between his son's typical appearance and the person seen in the footage.

Shariful, who is from Bangladesh, had moved to India due to the political unrest in his home country.

To a question from IANS, Mr Fakir explained: "He left Bangladesh and came to India for one reason — the political unrest in Bangladesh... He was working where he received a salary, and his employer even rewarded him..."

Mr Fakir went on to describe his son's life in India, painting a picture of a man simply trying to make a living in a foreign country.

"The salary in Mumbai's hotels is higher than in West Bengal. The hotels there are quite large, and the salary is also higher," Mr Fakir noted, suggesting that Shariful moved to Mumbai for better job prospects in the hospitality industry.

Despite the gravity of the accusations against his son, Fakir insists that he hasn't received any communication from the police.

Asked if the local police had contacted him, he said: "No, nothing like that has happened. No one has come from anywhere. We don't know anyone in India. We have no support in India."

Mr Fakir reflected on his last conversation with Shariful, recalling their regular exchanges.

"My last conversation with my son was on a Friday evening," he said. "He (Shariful) used to get his salary after the 10th of every month... After that, he would talk to me."

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Gujarat's Republic Day Tableau To Showcase State's Cultural Heritage, Development

The tableau of Gujarat which will be part of the 76th Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi merges the state's rich cultural heritage and development with the nation's growth and progress, officials said Wednesday.

The tableau, themed "From Anartpur to Ektanagar - A Confluence of Heritage and Development" has the 12th-century Solanki-era 'Kirti Toran' of Vadnagar placed alongside the towering 'Statue of Unity', the world's tallest 182-metre statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, displaying its "historical legacy alongside contemporary achievements", an official release said.

It also illustrates Gujarat's advancements in sectors such as defence, technology, automobiles and manufacturing, highlighting its role in realising the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India), it said.

The tableau also displays Gujarat's tribal culture with Pithora paintings, and commemorates the 100th birth anniversary of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee with the 'Atal Bridge' - a footover bridge on Sabarmati river in Ahmedabad, it said.

Besides that, it highlights Gujarat's emerging underwater sports initiatives at Dwarka and Shivrajpur beach.

Among other displays are key Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives, such as the C-295 aircraft manufacturing unit of Tata Advanced Systems Limited in Vadodara, and showcases its semiconductor manufacturing initiative and its emergence as an automobile production hub, the release said.

"Enhancing the tableau's visual appeal will be Gujarat's vibrant Maniyara Raas, brought to life with the dynamic rhythm of traditional yet modern Duha music," it said.

The tableau has been produced by the Information Department of the Gujarat government.

This year, a total of 30 tableaus will be featured in the Republic Day parade, including 14 from states and Union Territories, as well as contributions from various central government departments, it said.

The President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, will grace the 76th Republic Day celebrations as the chief guest. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"If Illegal Migrants Are In Millions...": Veep On "Demographic Disruption"

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Tuesday said "demographic disruption" is emerging as a serious threat to nationalism, and called for united efforts against attempts to change "organic demography" through allurement and temptation.

During an interaction with students on the theme 'Ideas for building Better Bharat', he said there is a need to deal with the problem of illegal migration, adding it has taken the shape of "unmanageable dimension" with migrants straining the country's resources, employment, health and education sectors.

Batting for a Uniform Civil Code (UCC), he asked how anybody could object to "something that is written in the Constitution".

Students of the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Raipur, Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Raipur and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bhilai were present at the programme held at Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Auditorium in the state capital.

"There is a serious cause of concern we need to address in togetherness. Threats are emerging for our nationalism in the form of demographic disruptions. Demographic disruption is very serious," he said.

"Organic demographic evolution is soothing, harmonious. But if demographic explosion takes place only to destabilise a democracy, it is a matter of concern and we have orchestration of conversions through allurements. It's everyone's supreme right to decide for oneself but if that decision is motivated by allurement, temptation with an object to change the organic demography of the nation, it is a concern which we must all take a note of and address," he added.

He flagged the issue of illegal migration and cited its impact in the country.

"We are suffering illegal migration in this country of millions. If we go to count the number... mind boggling. Illegal migration has to be dealt with, but it developed... without even a token of resistance. It's a problem we will have to handle because it has taken the shape of unmanageable dimensions," he said.

"Millions of illegal migrants who have potential to upset our electoral mechanism - they find easy supporters where people think in terms of petty politics. We should always put the nation first and an illegal migrant in our country has no justification. If it is in millions, look at the impact it has on the economy.

"They [illegal migrants] strain our resources, employment, health and education sectors. Our resolution of this monstrous problem of illegal migrants in millions can no longer wait for a solution. Every passing day would make resolution complex. We need to address this issue," the Vice President said.

He said the best way to serve the nation is that every institution functions in their well-defined roles.

"Another area of concern is it has become a fashion that every institutional individual will be advising the other institution how to handle its affairs. That is not the scheme of the Constitution working. The Constitution has defined a role for every institution. Those in the legislature cannot advise the judiciary how to write judgments, that is the role of the judiciary. Similarly, no institution can advise the legislature day and day out how to conduct its affairs. Constitutional wisdom lies that we respect each other's territory," he said.

No nation can suffer millions of illegal migrants who have the potential to upset our electoral mechanism. They easily find supporters when people prioritize petty politics. We must always put the nation first.

If illegal migrants are in millions, it impacts our economy-they... pic.twitter.com/XB53DTs3fF

— Vice-President of India (@VPIndia) January 21, 2025

"Therefore, the best way to serve the nation is that every institution - the legislature, the executive and judiciary function in their well-defined roles," the Vice President said.

Drawing attention towards those opposing the constitutional obligation of the UCC, Vice President Dhankhar said, "Those of you who are aware of constitutional provisions, UCC is in directive principles. An obligation has been cast on governance to have law, to have uniform civil code. One state, Uttarakhand has done it. How can you object to something which is written in our Constitution, which is part of the directive principles of state policy?"

"We cannot be influenced day in and day out only with the narrow considerations of voting patterns. Framers of the Constitution were very wise, very focused. They gave us certain fundamentals, but they indicated that as democracy matures, as we progress, we must also realise for our people certain goals, one of them is the Uniform Civil Code," he added.

Stating that destruction of public property and challenge to public order cannot be countenanced, the Vice President asked, "How can in this country of 1.4 billion, with civilisation ethos of the kind we have, there can be people who challenge public order? People who destroy public property?"

"In your state also, Vande Bharat was stormed. How can we overlook such kinds of nuisance, such kinds of elements? These must be dealt with very severely in an exemplary manner," he added.

Answering a question of a student during the interaction, Vice President Dhankhar said the nation needs quality politicians and the youth of this country must be worried when public representatives are not doing their job and engaging in disturbance and disruption instead of dialogue and deliberation.

Governor Ramen Deka and Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai were also present on the occasion.

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Surat Firm Creates Donald Trump's Carving In Lab-Grown Diamond

A diamond firm in Surat has crafted a stunning and striking carving of Donald Trump, using a 4.5 carat laboratory-grown diamond, to present it to the US President who took oath for a historic second term on Monday.

The firm had earlier created a 7.5 carat eco-friendly laboratory-grown diamond that was presented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Jill Biden, wife of former US President Joe Biden, in 2023.

The carving, created by Greenlab Diamonds over a period of three months, is estimated to be worth around Rs 8,50,000. 

"We took three months to prepare this diamond, which includes growing, cutting and polishing. Our experts tried to make sure the carving is a replica of Mr Trump's face. This is an important symbol for ties between India and the US. We want to tell Mr Trump that the creativity and our efforts to produce lab-grown diamonds will continue," Smith Patel, one of the owners of the firm, said. 

Mr Patel said the carving was prepared by five experienced jewellers of Surat. "It was made with utmost precision. It will be given to Mr Trump as a present," he said.

Surat is known for its diamond cutting and polishing industry worldwide. Laboratory-grown diamonds are much in demand and the Indian government has decided to promote them in a big way to boost the diamond industry.

During his state visit in 2023, Prime Minister Modi had gifted a 7.5-carat lab-grown diamond placed in a papier mache box from Kashmir, known as 'kar-e-kalamdani', to then US First Lady Jill Biden.

Mr Trump was sworn in for a second term as President on Monday, pledging a blitz of immediate orders on immigration and the US culture wars as he caps his extraordinary comeback. 

With one hand raised in the air and the other on a Bible given to him by his mother, the 47th US president solemnly took the oath of office beneath the huge Rotunda of the US Capitol.

(With inputs from Mahendra Prasad)

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बार-बार घर आता था युवक, दोस्त को हुआ शक, फिर जो हुआ, सिहर गई पुलिस

Datia Latest News : भिंड के मालनपुर फैक्ट्री एरिया में धर्मेंद्र गहलोत नौकरी करता था. उसका अपने दोस्त मनोज सेन के घर आना-जाना था. घर आने-जाने के दौरान धर्मेंद्र का दिल बेकाबू हो गया. फिर जो हुआ, पुलिस सिहर गई.

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Another Member Of Bangladesh-Linked Terrorists Arrested In Assam

The Special Task Force (STF) of Assam Police has arrested another dreaded cadre of the Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), a Bangladesh-based terror group affiliated with Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), officials said on Sunday.

An Assam Police spokesperson said that the STF, in another successful operation against fundamentalists and Global Terrorist Organisations (GTO) arrested the most wanted Jaheer Ali from Dhubri, an Assam district that shares a border with Bangladesh and West Bengal.

With the latest arrest of Ali, the STF so far arrested 13 associates of the ABT.

"These 13 cadres, including a Bangladeshi national, were active in clandestine activities under the direction of Md Farhan Israk, a close associate of Jasimuddin Rahmani, the chief of ABT.

"They sent one Bangladeshi national, Md Sad Radi alias Shab Sheikh a resident of Rajshahi, Bangladesh, to India to spread their nefarious ideology amongst like-minded Indian nationals across India," the spokesperson said.

He said that under the direction of STF Chief Partha Sarathi Mahanta, 'Operation Praghat' was conducted.

The accused were arrested and recovery of arms, ammunition, explosives and other materials and various incriminating documents, mobile phones was made from their possession.

On December 30 last year, ABT cadre and the absconding prime accused, Gazi Rahman (35) was arrested with the assistance of Kokrajhar Police.

On December 27 last year, ABT associate Shahinur Islam (36) was arrested from Bandhabpara in Dhubri District while on December 24, the STF arrested Abdul Zaher Sheikh and Sabbir Mirdha from Namapara in Kokrajhar district and a huge cache of arms and ammunition and other war-like items were recovered from the hideout of one of the arrested accused persons.

The STF, as part of Operation Praghat on the intervening night of December 17-18, had apprehended eight ABT operatives across Assam, West Bengal and Kerala.

Among the eight, five were arrested in Assam's Kokrajhar and Dhubri districts, two in West Bengal, and one Bangladeshi national in Kerala. Of the eight arrests, Bangladeshi national Muhammad Sad Radi alias Md Shab Sheikh (32), a resident of Rajshahi in Bangladesh, was apprehended from Kerala.

After the questioning of the eight detainees, the remaining four accused persons were arrested from Dhubri and Kokrajhar, bordering Bhutan and West Bengal.

"With these 13 arrests, the STF achieved a huge success in averting a possible major terror act by fundamentalist/Jihadi elements of a Global Terrorist Organisation (GTO)," the spokesman said.

Assam Police Special Director General Harmeet Singh earlier said the eight persons (arrested on the intervening night of December 17-18) were handlers in Pakistan and Bangladesh.

They were working to form 'sleeper cells' in different parts of India and there were plans to assassinate leaders belonging to the Hindu community and RSS, besides undertaking violent and subversive activities in India, Singh had said.

The Special DGP had said that Operation Praghat was launched in November after a detailed and prolonged examination of intelligence input regarding the clandestine anti-national activities being carried out by a group of individuals under the direction of Md Farhan Israk, a close associate of Jasimuddin Rahmani, the ABT Chief.

The operation was launched under the direct supervision of STF Chief Mahanta.

In December last year, the Assam Police STF also arrested five Pakistan-linked terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) members from Kokrajhar and Dhubri.

Four JeM operatives have been arrested from Kokrajhar district, while one JeM linkman was arrested from Dhubri district, a police officer said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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16 'Mysterious' Deaths In J&K's Rajouri Caused By Neurotoxins: Doctors

To address fear and consternation among people following 16 mysterious deaths in over one month, health department experts addressed a press conference in Budhal village of Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district on Saturday, and said the deaths in the village had been caused by neurotoxins.

The press conference was chaired jointly by the principal of Government Medical College (GMC) Rajouri, Dr AS Bhatia and Budhal MLA Javed Iqbal Chowdhary.

Dr Manohar Lal Rana, chief medical officer Rajouri; Dr Shamim Ahmed, Medical Superintendent, and Dr Zaeem Khan, Head of Chest and TB at GMC Rajouri were also present at the press conference.

Dr Bhatia said all the dead shared a common medical condition, brain swelling, or edema. He elaborated on the treatments being provided to affected individuals and assured that the health department was actively monitoring the situation.

The authorities emphasised that investigations were ongoing and promised continued support to the community while seeking to determine the cause of the deaths.

Dr Bhatia said the neurotoxins found in samples analysed by premier laboratories of the country resulted in brain damage.

"We try to mitigate the problem of patients reporting with brain damage, but once the patient reports with serious brain damage, we cannot reverse the condition," Dr Bhatia said.

Samples collected from the village have been analysed at the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), National Institute of Virology, Pune and other laboratories. Test results did not show any virus or bacteria thereby ruling out any communicable disease. Tests, however, proved that toxins were found in the samples analysed.

The fact that all the victims of the mysterious disease belong to three families created doubts about foul play.

The government has ordered an investigation by the Rajouri Police to unravel the mystery behind 16 deaths caused in Budhal village between December 7 and January 17. Rajouri Police have constituted a special investigation team (SIT) to investigate the case.

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NDTV Impact: Case Against 3 For Poor Road Construction In Chhattisgarh

Following NDTV's investigative report, a First Information Report or FIR has been registered against two Public Works Department (PWD) officers for their alleged involvement in poor-quality road construction on the Gangalur to Neleshnaar route in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur.

The 52.40-kilometer road project, marred by massive corruption, now faces a wider investigation into PWD's functioning in the region.

The FIR names then Executive Engineer BL Dhruv, Sub-Divisional Officer RK Sinha, Deputy Engineer GS Kodopi, and other unidentified officials. Action has been taken against the three officers, who have been suspended.

Additionally, the government has directed the police to investigate retired PWD officers suspected of involvement in the corruption.

NDTV's report sheds light on rampant corruption in the road construction project, revealing poor quality materials and evidence of misappropriated funds.

Soon after, the government ordered an inquiry.

However, the case took a tragic turn when journalist Mukesh Chandrakar, an NDTV contributing reporter associated with exposing the irregularities, was murdered shortly after the investigation order was issued.

NDTV's investigation revealed that the road, intended to be a symbol of changing Bastar, is punctuated with over 35 potholes in just one kilometre.

Local officials admitted to the substandard construction.

The tender of contractor Suresh Chandrakar, accused in Mukesh Chandrakar's murder, was also cancelled as part of the inquiry.

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Need To Fix Accountability For Hindenburg "Hit Job": Mahesh Jethmalani

Senior lawyer Mahesh Jethmalani has punctured US short seller Hindenburg Research's chief Nate Anderson over his announcement that he would wind up the firm. Mr Anderson said the work took a toll on him as it was "rather intense and at times all-encompassing".

Hindenburg targeted the Adani Group in a case that is now seen as an attack on the 'India Story'.

"Frankly speaking, I don't know how old Mr Anderson is, but the fact of the matter is that he's not had some sterling results. His claim to fame really rests on the Adani hit job, which he was part of. I don't think he's done other serious work or businesses of note. So, he is essentially a research analyst," Mr Jethmalani told NDTV.

One of the reasons for winding up Hindenburg, Mr Anderson said, was it completed the projects it was handling. The announcement comes just days before President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration event. There is speculation Hindenburg is disbanding to avoid a possible India-US joint investigation.

"I really don't know his exact line of business. He is a research analyst who provides reports to people, or he is hired by people who need to bear-hammer a few shares for profiteering. In this case, of course, he became a little larger than life because he took on one of the biggest industries in India, which for a couple of days caused serious economic turbulence in the country," Mr Jethmalani said.

Mr Anderson's allegations led to panic among investors and wiped out more than $150 billion in the value of the Adani Group shares at their lowest point. A lot of that was money from small-time investors, men and women who put in their hard-earned savings. And now Mr Anderson says 'I am off, I am done.'

How does one ensure accountability?

"As far as India is concerned, SEBI is on the job. The problem is that this man doesn't live in India. He is presumably a US national. Now, if he is a US national, all the best we can do is seek the cooperation of the government. But the last government, the 'Democratic deep state' as we call it, were hand in glove with this man through the [George] Soros connection," Mr Jethmalani told NDTV, referring to an investigation by the capital markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

"Soros is the biggest financial contributor to the coffers of the Democratic party and has an overwhelming say in their policies, particularly the economic policies. Now, Soros is known for his anti-India and particularly anti-PM Modi government stand. So, there is not much you can do except now hope that - and I suspect - that the Trump administration may already have started some kind of a probe which led to this man winding up his company," the senior lawyer said.

"Having said that, whatever aid we can get from the Trump administration, which will be a lot more friendlier to the Indian government on this issue as well, we should undoubtedly invoke that help, and see that this man is brought to justice along with all the others whom he connived with," Mr Jethmalani added.

Earlier today, another senior lawyer, Mukul Rohatgi, described Hindenburg as a "dubious organisation". Mr Rohatgi, who is also the former Attorney General for India, told NDTV Hindenburg had been constantly attacking the Indian economy and a company, shaking the confidence of the Indian markets and "affecting the investments of millions of people."

"Look, I don't think anybody could accept or, you know, find out anything more about a dubious organisation, an organisation which says that they are short sellers. They say that they are out to create havoc in share markets... And I think they have realised that it is a shoot and scoot policy," Mr Rohatgi told NDTV.

"And therefore, they want to just close down because they don't want to face any investigation, either in India or the US or any other jurisdiction. And maybe they fear that when President Trump takes over, he may look into the complaints filed by Indian bodies and industrial houses or Indian government entities," the senior lawyer said. "Therefore, the idea is to shut shop and run away."

He said Hindenburg will have to face investigation somehow.

"The people who are behind this dubious organisation, they will certainly be liable and they can certainly be tracked down wherever they are. And they must face the heat and face the action," Mr Rohatgi said.

The matter had turned political with the Congress and other Opposition parties seeking a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into the Hindenburg report, despite India's institutions and the Supreme Court completely dismissing Hindenburg's "findings".

Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani at the annual general meeting in June said the group "faced baseless accusations made by a foreign short seller that questioned our decades of hard work."

"In the face of an unprecedented attack on our integrity and reputation, we fought back and proved that no challenge could weaken the foundations on which your Group has been established," he said.

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Union Budget 2025: Expectations Of Indian Startups From Modi Government

With the Union Budget 2025 only a couple of weeks away, startups in the country are once again looking towards the Modi 3.0 administration to streamline policies to propel the growth story. With the economy showing signs of both resilience and challenges, startups are hoping for measures that might support innovation, ease funding access, and build a more conducive business environment. Here is what the Indian startup community anticipates from the upcoming budget, set to be presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Indian Parliament on February 1, 2025.

Ease of doing business

Despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi consistently stating that ease of doing business had improved in the country during his tenure, several bottlenecks remain. Startups, especially in the manufacturing setup have to go through the hoops to get a simple clearance or approval. The government can make it easier for early-stage startups by easing the compliance burden.

Simplified tax regime

Apart from citizens hoping for a reduction in personal tax rates, startups are also wishing for a simplified tax structure that reduces compliance burdens. This includes extending tax holidays, revising corporate tax rates, and simplifying procedures for setting off and carrying forward losses.

Infrastructure development

Research and development (R&D) is a capital and infrastructure-heavy enterprise. The government should aim to improve its infra to ensure that investment in the area continues. Creating startup hubs with state-of-the-art facilities, co-working spaces, and access to essential services can significantly reduce operational costs and provide a nurturing environment for innovation and growth.

Also Read | Union Budget 2025: When Will Nirmala Sitharaman Present Budget? Check Date And Time

Bet on emerging technologies

With artificial intelligence (AI) being the buzzword, the Indian government has the opportunity to hop on the AI train and make major inroads. The Union Budget 2025 should prioritise innovation and growth with the country's digital economy, projected to reach $1 trillion by 2028, as per a report in Economic Times.

Edtech startups need help

After accelerated growth during the COVID-19 pandemic, the edtech startups have struggled to maintain the same momentum. The industry will be hoping for potential tax incentives, primarily in the form of Goods and Service Tax (GST) exemptions for under-privileged students, and reduction in GST for educational products and services.

Intellectual Property Rights

Enhanced support for Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), including faster patent processing, lower fees for startups, and more resources for IP education, is what the startups expect from Ms Sitharaman.

Access to credit

Improving credit availability, particularly for MSMEs and startups, through schemes like the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS), is crucial. This would help startups scale operations without the burden of high-interest loans.

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Haryana BJP Chief, Singer Charged For Gang Rape In Himachal's Kasauli

Haryana BJP chief Mohanlal Badoli and a singer were booked after a woman alleged that she was gang-raped by them in a hotel in Kasauli. The Himachal Pradesh Police has registered an FIR against the two men, officials said on Tuesday.

PTI reached out to Badoli but received no response.

According to the complainant, the two men made videos of the act and threatened to kill her if she disclosed the incident to anyone, they said.

The FIR, registered in Kasauli in Solan district on December 13, 2024, names Badoli and Jai Bhagwan alias Rocky. A copy of the FIR was doing the rounds on social media on Tuesday.

According to the FIR, the woman was staying in a hotel in Kasauli with her boss and friend when they met the two accused on July 3, 2023. While Badoli introduced himself as a political leader, Rocky introduced himself as a singer.

Later, the woman and her friend went into a room with the two accused, who promised to help the complainant get a government job and a chance to feature in a music video, the FIR said.

The accused allegedly forced the complainant to drink liquor. When she refused, they raped her, she said in her complaint.

They also clicked pictures and recorded videos of the act and threatened to kill the woman if she disclosed the incident to anyone, the FIR added.

The complainant further alleged that two months ago, she was called to Rocky's house in Panchkula where the accused threatened to implicate her in a false case, police said.

Based on the woman's complaint, police said, a case has been registered against Badoli and Rocky under sections 376 D (gang rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Special Investigation Team Formed To Probe Maharashtra Sarpanch Murder Case

The Maharashtra government on Monday formed the new Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up to probe the murder of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh in Beed district.

The new SIT includes police officers Anil Gujar, Vijay Singh Jonwal, Mahesh Vighne, Anand Shankar Shinde, Tulshiram Jagtap, Manoj Rajendra Wagh, Chandrakant S Kalkute, Balasaheb Devidas Akhakore, Santosh Bhagwanrao Gitte. Basavaraj Teli will continue as the chairman of this SIT.

Santosh Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog village in Beed district, was murdered on December 9 after he allegedly opposed an extortion attempt targeting an energy firm installing windmills in the area.

The extortion attempt was reportedly led by local leader Vishnu Chate, who demanded Rs 2 crore from the company. Deshmukh's intervention allegedly led to his abduction, torture, and subsequent murder.

The police have filed three FIRs in connection with the case: one for Deshmukh's abduction and murder, another for assault on a windmill firm's security guard by locals, and a third for the Rs 2 crore extortion bid targeting the firm.

On January 6, NCP SP leader Sharad Pawar requested Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to ensure safety and security for all public representatives protesting the death of Santosh Deshmukh in Beed.

Earlier, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis said that none of the accused in the Beed sarpanch murder case would be spared, emphasizing his focus on justice over political controversies.

"We will not spare any accused. We will find them. Today, I discussed the matter with Santosh Deshmukh's brother over the phone and assured him that the police will identify the guilty and ensure they are punished. The police will act based on evidence, and those against whom evidence is found will not be spared. I do not wish to be involved in the politics surrounding this case," the Maharashtra CM said.

Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde has called the murder of a sarpanch in Beed district "unfortunate" and said that a special investigation team (SIT) has been formed to probe the matter. He assured that action would be taken against the accused.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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'पैसों की जरूरत थी तो', महिला ने छोड़ी लाज-शर्म, CCTV का नजारा देखकर उड़े होश

Bhopal Crime News : भोपाल के एक अस्‍पताल में बने मंदिर से माता लक्ष्‍मी की मूर्ति की चोरी का मामला सुर्खियों में है. मिसरोद पुलिस ने बताया कि सागर मल्टीस्पेशलिटी हॉस्पिटल से चांदी से बनी माता लक्ष्‍मी की मूर्ति 9 जनवरी को चोरी हो गई थी. इसके बाद जांच पड़ताल की गई और सीसीटीवी फुटेज की मदद से चोर को पकड़ लिया गया है. इस मामले के पर्दाफाश होने के बाद लोग हैरान हो गए हैं.

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Centre Approves 56 New Watershed Development Projects Worth Rs 700 Crore

The Rural Development Ministry has approved 56 new Watershed Development Projects that will be undertaken at a cost of Rs 700 crores in the ten best-performing states, the government said on Monday.

In a statement issued here, the ministry said the projects will be undertaken in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Nagaland, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Sikkim.

"Department of Land Resources announces sanction of 56 new Watershed Development Projects at a cost of Rs 700 crores under the ongoing scheme of PMKSY-WDC 2.0 in the 10 best-performing states...," the ministry said.

"Each project will approximately have an area of 5,000 hectares, but in hill states, it may be lesser. The initiative prioritises visible field impacts by allocating Rs 700 crore to cover approximately 2.8 lakh hectares, ensuring timely recovery of degraded land and efficient utilisation of funds," the statement said.

"These projects would further help in increasing the income of farmers, addressing land degradation and strengthening climate resilience efforts," it said.

The Department of Land Resources (DoLR) is implementing the Watershed Development Component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (WDC-PMKSY) which aims to develop degraded and rain-fed areas of the country, by undertaking watershed development projects in an integrated approach.

The activities undertaken, include ridge area treatment, drainage line treatment, soil and moisture conservation, rainwater harvesting, nursery raising, pasture development, and livelihoods for asset-less persons.

"The evaluation of the completed projects under WDC-PMKSY 1.0 has revealed significant improvement in groundwater table, increased availability of surface water, improvement in crop productivity and farmers' income. WDC-PMKSY, through these interventions, seeks to ensure sustainable development through improved natural resource management and better resilience of farmers to climate change," the ministry said.

In 2021-22, 1,150 projects covering an area of about 50 lakh hectares have been sanctioned at a cost of Rs 12,303 crores under the WDC-PMKSY 2.0.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Upset Over Being Replaced From His Seat, Delhi MLA Makes It To 3rd BJP List

BJP rushed to placate the outgoing MLA from Karawal Nagar after the ticket from his current seat was given to Kapil Mishra. Mohan Singh Bisht was then given a ticket from Mustafabad in the third list of candidates released on Sunday, ahead of the February 5 Delhi Assembly election.

Mr Bisht, who has won all except one assembly election from Karawal Nagar since 1998, had earlier said, "The BJP thinks they will field anyone and he will win. This is a big mistake. You have challenged the 'samaj' (his Uttarakhandi community), not Mohan Singh Bisht. The BJP will lose at least 8-10 seats because of this decision, including Karawal Nagar, Burari, Mustafabad and Gokalpuri."

Later, Mr Bisht expressed confidence that he would win the Mustafabad seat for the BJP. "I met the national president and things were ironed out. I have assured that I will contest from Mustafabad and win the seat for the party," Bisht told PTI. The MLA said he and the BJP had considerable support in Mustafabad and he has already attended two public meetings there.

Another protest at the Delhi BJP office voiced resentment over the candidate fielded from Tughlakabad. "Vikram Bidhuri Tum Sangharsh Karo; Modi Se Bair Nahi, Rohtas Teri Khair Nahi," the protesters, including mostly youngsters, chanted as the party leaders tried to pacify them. In the second list of BJP candidates, Rohtas Bidhuri was fielded from the Tughlakabad seat. 

A similar protest was also held by some party workers outside the Delhi BJP office against Mehrauli candidate Gajainder Yadav after the announcement of the first list of candidates earlier this month.

Mr Bisht is the only candidate announced as part of the third list of BJP candidates for the Delhi polls. In the first and second lists, 29 candidates each were announced. So far, the BJP has announced 59 candidates.

Elections to the 70-member Delhi Assembly are scheduled on February 5, the counting of votes for which will be held on February 8. The elections will see the Aam Aadmi Party looking to retain power for the third consecutive term, despite many of its leaders being tainted by various cases. The BJP, out of power in Delhi since 1998, is making all-out efforts to return to the helm.

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Violent Attack On Cows In Bengaluru Sparks Outrage, Chief Minister Orders Probe

Tension gripped Chamarajapet area in the city after unidentified people attacked three cows, severing their udders.

According to police sources, the incident occurred at Vinayakanagar in Chamarajpet. The cows belong to a local named Karna.

Residents woke up to the distressing sounds of the cattle and found the injured animals lying in a pool of blood, sparking outrage in the locality.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said he has directed Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda to investigate the case and take action.

Reacting to the incident, the BJP announced plans to observe 'Black Sankranti' if the government failed to take action.

"This heinous act reflects a Jihadi mindset. We will observe 'Black Sankranti' if the government fails to take action against the accused persons," Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly R Ashoka told reporters.

He further stressed the cultural and religious significance of cows and bulls, which are decorated and worshipped during Sankranti festival.

"After this incident, how could we celebrate Sankranti?" Ashoka asked.

The BJP leader along with the party workers visited the spot and consoled the owner of the cows.

Several BJP leaders, including the Leader of Opposition in the state Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy and former Deputy Chief Minister C N Ashwath Narayan condemned the incident.

CM Siddaramaiah said he has instructed the police to take action against the culprits.

“I have spoken to the Police Commissioner. I have told him to take immediate action against the culprits. I have told him to find out those who did it,” the CM told reporters in Ballari.

He said he would ensure that whoever did it will be brought to book.

To a query on Hindu outfits staging protests, Siddaramaiah said they were trying to "politicise" the issue.

A case has been registered in connection with the incident, police said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"Love Staring At My Wife": Anand Mahindra Amid Row Over L&T Chief's Remark

Weighing in on the much-debated topic of work-life balance and putting in more working hours as suggested by some corporate leaders in the recent past, Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra said he believed in the quality of work and not the quantity.

Addressing the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2025 here in the national capital, Anand Mahindra, said that the ongoing debate was wrong because it emphasises on quantity of working hours.

"I have huge respect for Narayana Murthy (founder of Infosys) and others. So let me not get this wrong, of course. But I have to say something, I think this debate is in the wrong direction," Anand Mahindra told the youth.

"My point is we have to focus on the quality of work, not on the quantity of work. So it's not about 48, 40 hours, it's not about 70 hours, it's not about 90 hours," Anand Mahindra said.

He said that it depends on the output of the work. "What output are you doing even if it's 10 hours? You can change the world in 10 hours."

Notably, several countries are experimenting with or have adopted a four-day workweek.

Anand Mahindra said he always believed that one has to have leaders and people in their company who make wise decisions and choices.

Expanding onto which kind of mind makes the right choices and right decisions, Anand Mahindra said it is a mind that is exposed to holistic thinking that is open to inputs from around the world.

"That is why I'm for liberal arts. I think even if you are an engineer, even if you're an MBA, you must study art, you must study culture," Anand Mahindra said. "Because I think you make better decisions when you have a whole brain when you are informed about arts and culture, that's when you'll make a good decision."

"If you don't, if you're not spending time at home, if you're not spending time with friends if you're not reading, if you're not, if you don't have time to reflect, how will you bring the right inputs into making a decision?"

Citing an example about his auto manufacturing business, Anand Mahindra said to manufacture a car for a family one must understand the family's needs.

"Let's take our business, you make a car. We have to decide what a customer wants in a car. If we are only in the office all the time, we are not with our families, we are not with other families. How are we going to understand what people want to buy? What kind of car do they want to sit in?," he argued.

In the same breath, Anand Mahindra quoted Mahatma Gandhi. "Open your windows, let the air in."

"You cannot be in a tunnel all the time," Anand Mahindra said, reiterating his support for quality of work instead of quantity.

Anand Mahindra was asked in a quick follow-up about how many hours he puts in. He avoided a direct answer and instead said quality was important.

"This is what I want to avoid. I don't want it to be about the time. I don't want it to be about quantity. Ask me what's the quality of my work. Don't ask me how many hours I work," he said.

Infosys's Narayana Murthy and Larsen & Toubro Chairman SN Subrahmanyan recently advocated for a long workweek. The remarks snowballed into a controversy, with many criticising them over work-life balance.

Coming back to Anand Mahindra, an active social media user, he was also asked how much time he spends on X. He responded by saying that he was not on social media to make friends but because it is an amazing business tool.

"I'm on X on social media not because I'm lonely. My wife is wonderful, I love staring at her. I spend more time. So I'm not here to make friends. I'm here because people don't understand it is an amazing business tool," he remarked.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Video: Revanth Reddy's Brother Gets Convoy And Band, Opposition Hits Out

A video of Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's brother Tirupati Reddy arriving for a school function in a convoy led by a police car and being welcomed with a marching band and a parade has gone viral, igniting controversy and attracting barbs from opposition parties BRS and BJP. Tirupati Reddy holds no official position in the state.

The video, from the state's Vikarabad district, shows the convoy pulling up near the school and Mr Reddy being handed a bouquet of flowers as he exits a black SUV. Students are lined up on either side of the road and a band marches towards the chief minister's brother. Mr Reddy is then welcomed by one of the students leading a mini parade.

Taking to X on Friday, BRS working president KT Rama Rao took a veiled dig at Revanth Reddy and his brothers and said Telangana has got half a dozen chief ministers after the Congress came to power, even though it elected only one.

Continuing in a sarcastic vein, Mr Rao said, "My wishes to Vikarabad chief minister Tirupati Reddy."

Tamil Nadu BJP Spokesperson NV Subhash said Tirupati Reddy enjoys privileges like a police convoy even though he is not an MP, MLA or even a corporator. The Vikarabad District Collector, Mr Subhash alleged was acting like Mr Reddy's "personal bodyguard" during the school event.

Congress Spokesperson Sama Rammohan Reddy told news agency PTI that it is for a school's management to decide who it wants to invite for its events and how it wants to welcome the person.

He also alleged that family members of the then Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao violated rules and protocols several times during the party's nearly decade-long rule in the state.

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"Language Of Convenience": BJP's Annamalai On R Ashwin's Hindi Remark

Cricketer R Ashwin's recent remark that Hindi is not India's national language but only an official language has been supported by BJP Tamil Nadu President Annamalai, who has said that it is a "language of convenience". 

Attending a convocation ceremony at a private college near Chennai on Thursday, the Tamil Nadu-born cricketer had asked what language the students would like him to address them in. "English students in the house - give me a yay," he said, getting a loud cheer in reply. He then said "Tamil" and got an even louder roar from the audience. When he said "Hindi", however, there was total silence.

 "I thought I should say this. Hindi is not our national language; it is an official language," he then said in Tamil.

Asked about the comments on Friday, Annamalai said Hindi was a "link language". 

"Correct. It is not a national language, which Annamalai is also telling you. Not only my dear friend Ashwin has to say that... not only anybody... It is not the national language. It was a link language, it is a language of convenience... And nowhere am I saying or anybody is saying Hindi is the national language, which Ashwin ji is correct (sic)," he said.  

"Hindi imposition" has been a sensitive subject in Tamil Nadu and there have been several protests and campaigns in the state over the years. 

In October last year, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK chief Stalin MK had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of Chennai Doordarshan being combined with Hindi Month Celebrations and said celebrating "such-Hindi language oriented events in non-Hindi speaking states" can be avoided.

"As you are aware, the Constitution of India does not accord national language status to any language. Hindi and English are used only for official purposes such as legislation, judiciary and communication between the Union government and state governments. In the circumstances, in a multilingual country like India, according special place to Hindi and celebrating Hindi Month in non-Hindi speaking States is seen as an attempt to belittle other languages," Mr Stalin wrote.

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AAP MLA Dinesh Mohaniya Gets Pre-Arrest Bail In Fruit Vendor Assault Case

A Delhi court has granted anticipatory bail to AAP MLA Dinesh Mohaniya in an alleged assault case.

The judge granted relief to the Sangam Vihar MLA on January 8 saying the investigating officer (IO) failed to point out the ground for custodial interrogation and the accused had already joined the probe.

"The accused deserves anticipatory bail in the instant matter. Therefore, in the event of arrest accused Dinesh Mohaniya shall be released on bail," the court said.

Mr Mohaniya was directed to join and cooperate in the investigation whenever required by the IO.

"Applicant shall not flee from the justice. Applicant shall not tamper with the evidence," said the order.

The MLA was directed not to leave the country without court's permission.

Mr Mohaniya claimed he along with government officials was acting against an illegal encroachment by the complainant, a fruit vendor. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"Completely Unfounded": Ex-Chief Justice On Criticism Over Court Vacations

The criticism that the Supreme Court has a lot of vacations is "completely unfounded" since the judges are working "24*7 and 365 days", former Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud has said.

In an exclusive interview with NDTV, Justice Chandrachud also said the Supreme Court of India is among the world's top courts with the "longest duration of working days". "You know there are Supreme Courts in other parts of the world where if a judge sits for a week on hearing cases, they would get a week off to actually deliver judgment," he said.

The debate over the top court's vacations has cropped up repeatedly. In 2022, then Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju told Parliament that "there is a feeling among people of India that the long vacation which the courts obtain is not very convenient for justice-seekers", and that it is his "obligation and duty to convey the message or sense of this House to the judiciary". 

Asked whether the world, at large, needs to be sensitised more towards the vacation of the top court, Justice Chandrachud said: "Absolutely. I completely agree with you. For the reason that even during the summers, it's a partial court working period. The court does not close its shutters." 

He added: "The criticism that the court has too many vacations is completely unfounded because it doesn't, you know. It's not justified by what is the truth, which is, the judges are working 24*7, 365 days." 

The former CJI said the "first victim of a life on the bench is your own ability to spend time with your own family". "So I'm making up for lost ground now, you know," Justice Chandrachud, who concluded his tenure as the 50th CJI after two years on November 10, said.

In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha in February in 2023, Mr Rijiju said the top court has been working on an average of 222 days in a year. He said the Supreme Court Rules, 2013, which were notified in 2014, provide that the period of summer vacation shall not exceed seven weeks and the length of the length of the summer vacation and the number of holidays for the court shall be such as may be fixed by the Chief Justice, so as not to exceed 103 days, excluding Sundays not falling in the vacation and during court holidays.

All High Courts, on the other hand, have been normally working for 210 days in a year, according to a statement by the Ministry of Law and Justice in 2011. However, no data on the number of working days in the lower courts is maintained centrally, it said.

Justice Chandrachud said all the judges of the top court work throughout the week, that is, from Monday to Sunday. "There are no weekends for Supreme Court judges because on Saturdays and Sundays, you are doing two things. You are reading for the Monday's cases, 70 or 80 cases, and you are delivering judgments which have been held back in reserve, either that week or the previous week. In the summer, the so-called summer vacation, it's not a vacation," he said. 

He explained that critical constitutional cases or those involving important questions of law are mainly the ones that are dealt with during the vacations. "It's only when you have a mini break or a longer break, say, a mini break like for Holi or for Diwali that judges get down to doing all this work," he said. 

"Occasionally, you know, judges would go out of town. But even when they go out of town, say, on a Friday evening and come back on Saturday, they are addressing students of law colleges. They are conducting legal aid camps. So that's equally a part of the functioning of a contemporary judge. So it's not that judges have, you know, unlimited time off or, you know, time to spend with their families," he added. 

In the past, several judges, including former CJI N V Ramana, have said that there is a misconception that judges stay in ultimate comfort and enjoy their holidays. 

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Accused In Elgar Parishad Case Gets Interim Bail To Appear For Law Exam

More than four years after his arrest, a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Mumbai on Friday granted interim bail to Sagar Gorkhe, an accused in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist link case, to appear for his law degree exam. The 22-day temporary bail was granted on a PR (personal recognizance) bond of Rs 50,000 and a surety of similar amount.

In case the accused is unable to arrange a surety, he is allowed to furnish cash bail of Rs 25,000, the court noted and imposed a set of conditions on him.

Gorkhe, a member of the Kabir Kala Manch, an alleged front organization of banned outfit CPI (Maoist), was arrested in September 2020 and is currently lodged at Taloja jail in neighbouring Navi Mumbai.

Special judge Chakor Bhaviskar granted temporary bail from December 14 to January 4 to Gorkhe to allow him to appear in the first semester examination of Bachelor of Laws (LLB).

As per Gorkhe's plea, after clearing the pre-entrance exam, he had enrolled in three-year LLB programme at a college under the jurisdiction of a university headquartered in Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar) in central Maharashtra.

Citing the "congested" and "stressful" condition in the prison, he had sought temporary relief not only to appear for the exam, but also "prepare for it without any distraction and stress".

His plea mentioned that although the sanctioned strength of inmates in his barrack was 18, more than 40 prisoners are lodged there.

"Besides the congested nature of the barrack, the jail is not a conducive place to peacefully study and prepare for the exam," the plea said.

The temporary bail was granted to the accused on a PR bond of Rs 50,000 and a surety of similar amount. Such a bond allows releasing an accused from custody on a promise to appear as required by a court.

The court directed Gorkhe to furnish an active mobile cell phone number to jail authorities, the NIA and the prosecution as well.

"He shall keep that cell phone alive, so that, if required, he may be contacted and his whereabouts can be traced," the judge observed.

The judge said the NIA, the probe agency in the case, may monitor and track the whereabouts of the accused on that given cell phone number for the period of temporary bail only.

Meanwhile, the court also granted permission to another accused, Mahesh Raut, to appear for viva-voice, Semester-I, entrance examination of LLB, first year.

Gorkhe, Raut and 13 other activists and academicians were booked in connection with allegedly provocative speeches that were delivered at the Elgar Parishad conclave held in Pune on December 31, 2017.

The speeches triggered violence at Koregaon-Bhima, on Pune city's outskirts, the next day, according to police.

As per the Pune police, which initially probed the case, the conclave was backed by Maoists. The NIA later took over the probe into the case. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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BSF इंस्पेक्टर की भारी मन से पहुंचे SP के पास, भर आई आंखें, फिर...

Gwalior News : मध्य प्रदेश के ग्वालियर के टेकनपुर स्थित बीएसएफ में तैनात इंस्पेक्टर भारी मन से एसपी ऑफिस पहुंचे. उन्होंने एसपी धर्मवीर को अपना परिचय दिया. एसपी को अपना परिचय देने के बाद उनका गला भर आया और एसपी के सामने फूट-फूटकर रोने लगे. पूरा मामला दिल को झकझोर देने वाला है.

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Maha Kumbh 2025: Biometric Attendance System For Police Personnel

The Uttar Pradesh Police have taken a significant step towards attaining a digital Mahakumbh by implementing a fully biometric attendance system for its personnel.

Shifting from traditional paper-based records, the attendance of police personnel deployed for the grand event will now be recorded digitally, thereby saving time and facilitating maintenance of records.

All police personnel assigned duty for the Mahakumbh-2025 are being trained for their roles at the event. Their attendance during the ongoing training sessions is recorded biometrically, saving time and simplifying record management.

Around 50,000 police personnel will be deployed to ensure the safety of an estimated 40 crore devotees participating in the Mahakumbh-2025.

SSP Kumbh Mela, Rajesh Dwivedi, emphasised the importance of ongoing training, which covers soft skills, disaster management, and geographical awareness of the event site.

He noted that biometric attendance not only saves time but also enhances record accuracy.

"Earlier, it was difficult to maintain a traditional register for attendance, but digital attendance has freed us from these hassles," he remarked.

The first and second phases of training, involving over 10,000 police personnel, have already been completed, while the third phase is currently underway. Personnel from nearly all districts of Uttar Pradesh have arrived for duty in the Mahakumbh.

Their complete details have been securely stored in the biometric system, ensuring proper monitoring and management of the workforce during the event.

Maha Kumbh Mela, the world's largest public gathering, will see devotees taking a holy dip of faith in river Ganga, for over a month-long period from January 13 to February 26.

Notably, the Kumbh Mela is a religious pilgrimage, celebrated four times over the course of 12 years. Its geographical location spans over four locations in the country and the Mela site keeps rotating between one of the four pilgrimages on four sacred rivers.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Bride Takes Bathroom Break, Runs Away With Cash, Jewellery Mid-Wedding In UP

A bride here in the Khajni area decamped mid-wedding with jewellery and cash leaving her 40-year-old groom high and dry. The drama unfolded at the Shiv Temple in Bharohiya where Kamlesh Kumar was undergoing the rituals for his second marriage, having lost his first wife.

He had secured the relationship with the woman paying a mediator Rs 30,000 in commission.

Kamlesh, a farmer from Sitapur's Govindpur village, approached the media after the incident.

Police said no complaint has yet been filed in the matter.

According to the allegations, on Friday, the bride, accompanied by her mother, came to the temple, and so did Kamlesh, with his family.

Kamlesh alleged he gave the woman sarees, beauty products, and jewellery, and was already bearing the wedding expenses.

However, as the rituals began, the bride excused herself to the bathroom and never returned, he told reporters. Her mother also disappeared.

"I just wanted to rebuild my family but ended up losing everything," he said.

Superintendent of Police, South, Jitendra Kumar said no complaint has been filed at the local police station but the matter will be investigated if someone does.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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MP में 3 दिन बाद फिर हावी होंगी बर्फीली हवाएं, आज इन शहरों में घना कोहरा

MP Weather Update Today: मध्य प्रदेश में मौसम ने करवट बदली है, जिससे दिन के समय राजधानी भोपाल सहित कई शहरों में तेज धूप खिली. न्यूनतम तापमान भी कई शहरों में 7 डिग्री के आसपास रहा. वहीं, घने कोहरे का ऑरेंज अलर्ट जारी किया गया है.

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पंचकर्म सेंटर पर आती थीं नई-नई लड़कियां, ऐसा खुला राज, नजारा देख कांप गए लोग

Bhopal News: भोपाल के पॉश इलाकों में चल रहे स्‍पा एंड पंचकर्म सेंटर्स पर पुलिस ने शनिवार शाम छापा मारा. यहां से 68 लड़के-लड़कियों को आपत्तिजनक हालत में पकड़ा गया है. इनमें से अधिकतर लड़कियां कॉलेज की छात्राएं बताई गई हैं. पुलिस ने स्‍पा सेंटर्स से शराब, सेक्‍स वर्धक दवाएं और अन्‍य आपत्तिजनक सामान बरामद किया है. अब इनके जब्‍त मोबाइल से कई राज और खुल सकते हैं.

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2 Ex-Armymen Killed Woman, 17-Day-Old Twins And Hid For 19 Years; Arrested

Fearing that a paternity test would prove that he was the father of a 24-year-old woman's twin daughters, who were just 17 days old, an Armyman allegedly killed her and the infants with the help of a fellow soldier. The two men then went into hiding - deserting the Army, marrying and having children - and managed to evade the law for a staggering 19 years; until a tip-off proved to be their undoing.

The case dates back to February 10, 2006, when 24-year-old Ranjini and her newborn daughters were murdered in their rented house at Yeram near Anchal in Kerala's Kollam district. Ranjini's mother had discovered the bodies upon returning from the panchayat office, where she had gone to get the twins' birth certificates.

Investigation revealed that Dibil Kumar B, a native of Anchal who was 28 at the time and served in the Indian Army's 45 AD Regiment in Pathankot, was in a relationship with Ranjini. After the twins were born on January 24, 2006, however, he began distancing himself from her.

The unwed mother then approached the Kerala State Women's Commission, which ordered a test to establish the paternity of the twins. This infuriated Kumar, who allegedly began plotting her murder.

CBI officials said that Rajesh P, who was 33 at the time and also served with Kumar in the same Army regiment, befriended Ranjini and her mother. He assured them that he would help convince Kumar to marry Ranjini, but allegedly joined in the plot to kill her and her daughters instead. 

Manhunt

Kumar and Rajesh went on the run soon after the crime and were declared deserters by the Army in March 2006. 

Despite extensive investigations by local police and a reward of Rs 2 lakh for information that would lead to their capture, there was no sign of the two men. 

The case was handed over to the CBI in 2010 on the orders of the Kerala High Court, but a breakthrough eluded the agency as well. 

Whole New Lives

After years of pursuit, the CBI received a tip-off that Kumar and Rajesh were living in Puducherry under fake names and had managed to get new documents made, including Aadhaar cards. They had reportedly married two teachers in the city and had also fathered children. 

After carrying out surveillance, the CBI's Chennai unit arrested the two men on Friday and brought them to Kochi, where they were produced before the Ernakulam Chief Judicial Magistrate Court on Saturday. 

They have been remanded in police custody until January 18. Officials said the CBI will also seek their custody.

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India Sends 1st Batch Of Humanitarian Aid To Bolivia To Combat Forest Fires

India on Friday dispatched the first batch of humanitarian assistance to Bolivia to support the country's efforts in tackling devastating forest fires.

In a post X, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal shared the details of the consignment which includes firefighting gear, first-aid kits, medicines, and other essential utilities.

"India sends the first tranche of humanitarian assistance to Bolivia to support tackling of forest fires. The consignment consisting of fire fighting gears, first-aid kit, medicines and other utilities has departed for Bolivia," Jaiswal said on X.

?? sends the first tranche of humanitarian assistance to Bolivia to support tackling of forest fires.

The consignment consisting of fire fighting gears, first-aid kit, medicines & other utilities has departed for Bolivia. Overall, 16 tons of fire-fighting equipment and related… pic.twitter.com/trHtXt5A7r

— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) January 3, 2025

"Overall, 16 tons of fire-fighting equipment and related relief material will be sent. The assistance would also help in tackling environmental crisis and health issues caused by forest fires," he added.

Last year, Bolivia's Defence Ministry declared a state of national emergency on September 7, 2024, in response to the widespread and intense forest fires sweeping the country.

Earlier, India has sent humanitarian assistance consignment to Lesotho compromising of 1000 metric tonnes of rice to help in addressing the food security and nutritional requirements of people in Lesotho.

In a post on X, the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal wrote, "India sends humanitarian assistance to Lesotho. A consignment of 1000 MT rice, today departed from Nhava Sheva Port for Lesotho. The consignment will help in addressing food security and nutritional requirements of the friendly people of Lesotho."

Last year in November, India had sent 15 tons of humanitarian aid to Nigeria as the country reels under devastating floods.

The details of the humanitarian assistance were shared by the Ministry of External Affairs in a post on the social media platform, X.

"In keeping with our commitment to humanitarian assistance for the people of Nigeria, India sent 15 tons of the total 75 tons of aid to Nigeria in the wake of the devastating floods in the country.

The post also noted, "The aid comprises of food items, sleeping mats, blankets, water purification supplies etc. and will support the rehabilitation efforts in the region".

India and Nigeria enjoy warm, friendly, and deep-rooted bilateral relations.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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धरी रह गई ठसक, 3 स्कूलों को लौटाने होंगे 33 करोड़, वजह जान उड़ जाएगी नींद

Jabalpur Latest News : मध्य प्रदेश के जबलपुर में अजीबो-गरीब मामला सामने आया है. यहां के तीन प्राइवेट स्कूलों के खिलाफ जिला प्रशासन ने सख्त एक्शन लिया है. तीनों स्कूलों को अभिभावकों को 33 करोड़ रुपये देने वापस लौटाने होंगे. आइये जानते हैं पूरा मामला...

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Senior Karnataka Cop Sexually Assaults Complainant In His Office, Arrested

A Deputy Superintendent of Police was arrested and suspended after a video, which allegedly showed him sexually harassing a woman who approached him with a complaint, went viral on social media, police said on Friday.

The 58-year-old officer, identified as Ramachandrappa, was posted as DSP in Madhugiri, they said.

In the purported video, the senior police officer can be seen misbehaving with the woman and acting inappropriately.

According to police, the alleged incident occurred on Thursday when the woman visited Ramachandrappa's office in Tumakuru to complain about a land dispute. The woman has alleged that he took her to a room and misbehaved with her, touching her inappropriately.

However, the incident was recorded by a person from outside the window and later went viral on social media platforms.

Stating the incident as a serious matter, a senior police officer said the department will not tolerate harassment or violence against women.

"We have registered a case under sections 68 (sexual intercourse by a person in authority), 75 (sexual harassment), and 78 (stalking) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and have arrested the DYSP. He has also been suspended from service," he said.

The case is being investigated by an officer of the rank of Additional Superintendent of Police, police added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Two-Year-Old Crushed To Death As Scooter Skids, Comes Under Tempo

A two-year-old girl died and her parents were seriously injured after their scooter skidded at a spot where road repair work was underway and they were hit by a tempo, city police said on Thursday.

The incident took place on Dr Ambedkar Road in Parel area around 10.30 am, said an official.

Manoj Shantaram Pawar (32), a resident of Ghatkopar, his wife Vidya (29) and daughter Shravi (2) were heading for the Jijamata Udyan in Byculla on scooter to enjoy the New Year holiday.

The two-wheeler skidded at a spot where repair work was going on. The three fell down on the road and were hit by a tempo coming from behind, said an official.

All three sustained serious injuries and were rushed to the civic-run KEM hospital where Shravi was declared dead on arrival, he said.

Manoj Pawar and Vidya are undergoing treatment.

A case for rash driving was registered against the tempo driver at Bhoiwada Police Station and probe was underway. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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बालाघाट: 2024 की आखिरी शाम..रही भक्ति के नाम, कहीं ऑर्केस्ट्रा तो कहीं डीजे

New Year 2025: नए साल के स्वागत से पहले बालाघाट में 31 दिसंबर की रात को जमकर आयोजन हुए. कहीं डीजे पर डांस पार्टी हुई तो कहीं भक्ति के कार्यक्रम हुए. रात 12 बजते ही पूरे शहर में जमकर आतिशबाजी हुई.

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श्रद्धा और खुशियों के संग मनाया नए साल का जश्न; वेंकटेश मंदिर में उमड़ी भीड़!

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"China's Planned Dam Will Make Brahmaputra Ecosystem Fragile": Himanta Sarma

China's plan to build a mega dam on the Brahmaputra could make the entire ecosystem that depends on the river fragile, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma warned on Wednesday, adding that India has already communicated its concern to Beijing. 

Last week, the Chinese government approved the construction of the world's largest hydropower dam, which can generate 60,000 MW of power, on the Yarlung Tsangpo River - the Chinese name for the Brahmaputra. The dam will span a gorge in the Himalayas in eastern Tibet, where the Brahmaputra River makes a U-turn to flow into Arunachal Pradesh.

When he was asked about the dam's impact on Assam and Arunachal Pradesh during a media interaction in Guwahati on the first day of the New Year, Mr Sarma said, "This matter is already within our notice. Government of India has already communicated its concern to the Chinese side. And I am sure that in the dialogue process which is presently going on between India and China, this will be definitely raised by the Indian side. 

"As far as we are concerned, we have already communicated that if this dam comes, then the Brahmaputra ecosystem will become completely fragile, it will become dry and will only depend on the rainwater of Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh," he added

Stating that, to the best of his knowledge, the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Pema Khandu, has also raised the issue with the Centre, Mr Sarma said the consequences of the dam's construction could be a big problem for them. 

"If Bhutan and Arunachal doesn't get enough rain, then Brahmaputra will be completely dried up. So this is a big problem for us, this is a big issue for us, and we have already raised this concern with the government of India," she said.

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