Jobs in Karnataka

The Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has fielded Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey from the Sundargarh Lok Sabha seat in Odisha. The former Indian hockey captain will lock horns with senior BJP leader Jual Oram, a five-time parliamentarian from Sundargarh. Here are five key facts about Dilip Tirkey: 1. Born on November 25, 1977, in Sundargarh, Dilip Tirkey is the son of Regina Tirkey and Vincent Tirkey, a former hockey player. Mr Tirkey made his debut for the India back in 1995 and was part of the squad that won the gold at the Bangkok Asian Games in 1998. He also represented the country in the Olympics thrice – Atlanta (1996), Sydney (2000) and Athens (2004). 2. Under his captaincy, the Indian hockey team won a silver medal at the 2002 Asian Games, a gold in the 2003 Afro-Asian Games and the 2003 Asia Cup in Malaysia. He represented India in as many as 412 matches. 3. After being honoured with the Arjuna Award in 2002, Dilip Tirkey received Padma Shri in 2004. He announc

Top INDIA bloc leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray, Akhilesh Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav among others will attend a 'maharally' to be held by the AAP at the Ramlila Maidan on March 31, senior party leader Gopal Rai said on Friday. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has received the permission of the authorities concerned to hold the rally for an attendance of more than 20,000 people. It is being held in the backdrop of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's arrest, he said. The call on whether Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita Kejriwal will address the 'Maharally' will be taken later, Mr Rai said. Other prominent political leaders and members of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) like TMC's Derek O'Brien, DMK's Tiruchi Siva, NC's Farooq Abdullah and Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren of JMM will also attend the rally, he said. Kalpana Soren, the wife of former Jharkhand chief minis

A red-headed vulture, a scavenger and predatory bird was released into the open sky with a satellite ring tied to its leg in the Chilla range of Rajaji Tiger Reserve, a forest official said on Thursday. "Every organism in the ecosystem has a role to play in maintaining its balance," Saket Badola, the reserve's Director, who released the bird on Wednesday, said. The satellite ring will track the bird's movements and areas frequented by it, locations or tree species it prefers to make its nest in, and the ambience it selects for breeding, Badola said. The bird was released under a programme being conducted jointly by the forest department personnel and an NGO, he said. Due to the use of banned chemicals like diclofenac, birds of prey and scavengers have been under constant threat for the last several years and their numbers have declined. Therefore, there is a great need for scientific research and study on birds of raptor class, said Badola.  (Except for the head

Union Minister and BJP leader Smriti Irani launched a scathing attack on the Congress, accusing it of peddling division along lines of religion, gender and caste. Speaking at the Times Now Summit , she emphasized that while the opposition fixates on issues of caste and religion, the BJP remains steadfast in its commitment to development, focusing on crucial areas such as health, infrastructure and education. "What is Mr Gandhi offering you? He is offering you division based on religion, gender, caste. He wants you to regress so that somebody could give him one shot at being the king of the day," she said, referring to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi repeatedly raising the issue of caste census. Ms Irani didn't mince words, asserting, "When fools try to fool others, they only end up manifesting how foolish they truly are."  Drawing a sharp contrast between the agendas of the BJP and the Congress, Ms Irani said, "The opposition is asking you to fight about c

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's wife, Sunita Kejriwal, reached the office of the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) on Tuesday evening to meet the AAP chief. The Rouse Avenue Court on Friday remanded Mr Kejriwal to six days of ED custody in the money laundering case related to the alleged liquor policy scam case till March 28, following his arrest on March 21. Earlier on Saturday, March 23, Sunita Kejriwal met CM Kejriwal at the ED's office. Meanwhile, the BJP has been demanding that Mr Kejriwal relinquish the chief minister's post after his arrest in connection with the liquor policy case. However, the AAP has maintained that he will run the government from ED custody. Earlier in the day, Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said that CM Kejriwal has issued a second order from the ED custody, asking him to address the shortage of medicines and diagnostic tests at mohalla clinics and hospitals in the national capital. Mr Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 by the

The Supreme Court has recently appointed an expert committee to look into the preservation of the Great Indian Bustard which is "non-negotiable" and "need for sustainable development in the context of meeting the international commitments of the country towards promoting renewable sources of energy". A bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra passed the order observing while dealing with a matter relating to protecting the Great Indian Bustard (GIB). The court has sought a report from the committee by July and listed the matter for the second week of August 2024. "We are of the view that it will be appropriate if an expert committee is appointed so as to balance both the need for the preservation of the GIB, which is non-negotiable and the need for sustainable development, more particularly, in the context of meeting the international commitments of the country towards promoting renewable sources of energy," the c

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said that the BJP has kept its assurance of giving at least one Lok Sabha seat with 'winning chance' to its alliance partner Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) so that the regional party has representation in the lower House once again after 15 years. He also said the BJP will lend complete support in ensuring victory of candidates belonging to its allies, while also exhorting the partners to give similar backing to its nominees. The BJP, which leads a five-party coalition government in the state, is contesting in 11 seats, leaving two seats for AGP and one for United People's Party Liberal (UPPL), out of 14 seats in the state. Two other allies, Ganashakti and Rabha Joutha Mancha, are not fielding candidates in the Parliamentary elections. Addressing a meeting of party workers at AGP headquarters here, Mr Sarma said, "We had assured the AGP during talks on seat sharing that it will be given at least one seat with winning cha

The Election Commission on Saturday said Rs 6.13 crore cash was seized in the last 24 hours in the run-up to Lok Sabha elections taking the total amount of cash seized in Karnataka to Rs 15.78 crore since the Model Code of Conduct came into force on March 16. The general elections in Karnataka will be held in two phases on April 26 and May 7 for 28 constituencies. According to EC officials, since the MCC came into force, the flying squads, static surveillance teams and police authorities have seized Rs 15.78 crore cash, Rs 17.3 lakh worth of freebies, 7.41 lakh litres of liquor worth over Rs 23.37 crore, 66.34 kg narcotic substances worth over Rs 65 lakh and precious metals valued at over Rs 43 crore. They have also registered 496 FIRs with regard to seizure of cash, liquor, drugs, precious metal and freebies, while 72,627 arms have been deposited, 836 arms were impounded, eight arms licences have been cancelled, 4,175 cases were booked under preventive sections of CrPC, out of whic

A special court in UP's Bahraich sentenced a 50-year-old man to life in prison for raping an infant. The Additional District Judge (POCSO) Varun Mohit Nigam also imposed a fine of Rs 1.29 lakh on the convict. The man, Bhondu Rehman, raped the one-year-old girl who belonged to the Scheduled Caste, Special District Government Advocate (POCSO Act) Sant Pratap Singh said. On February 17, the man took the girl out on some pretext. When she did not return home for a while, the family started looking for her. Soon, they found Bhondu in a mustard field with the infant who was bleeding. After seeing the family, Bhondu ran leaving the girl, Mr Singh said. A case was registered under relevant Sections of the Indian Penal Code, including for rape, and the POCSO Act. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

A helpline for people seeking Indian nationality under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 became operational on Thursday for providing assistance and information. Anyone who needs assistance in applying for citizenship can make free calls to the number '1032' between 8 am and 8 pm from anywhere in India. "Helpline Number 1032 for CAA-2019 becomes operational. For assistance and information, applicants can make free calls from anywhere in India. Helpline is available from 8 am to 8 pm," a home ministry spokesperson said. A mobile application for applying for Indian citizenship under the CAA already became operational on March 15. Earlier, the Home Ministry launched a portal for eligible people to apply for Indian citizenship under the CAA. The rules for implementation of the contentious CAA, 2019 were notified on March 11, paving the way for granting of citizenship to undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. With the issuance

Six workers injured in a boiler blast at a spare parts manufacturing facility here last week have died, while the condition of 10 others is critical, police said on Wednesday. Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini met the hospitalised victims at PGIMS Hospital in Rohtak and announced a financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh each for the families of those who have died, according to an official statement. Four of the injured persons died on Tuesday night -- Ajay (32), Ramu (27), Rajesh (38) -- at PGIMS-Rohtak and Vijay (37) at Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital, Inspector Jagdish Chander said. Two more workers, who were in their mid 30s, died on Wednesday. Both were being treated at PGIMS- Rohtak, Chander said. While one of them succumbed to his injuries at PGIMS, the other one died on the way after he was referred to Delhi's Safdarjung hospital in the afternoon, he said. The blast took place at the manufacturing facility in Dharuhera industrial area on March 16, leaving 40 workers injured,

Engineer Rashid, who is currently lodged in jail on UAPA charges, will contest the Lok Sabha elections from Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla constituency on an Awami Ittehad Party ticket. Abdul Rashid Sheikh alias Engineer Rashid (56) is a former MLA. He was arrested in 2019 and charged by the National Investigation Agency under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), becoming the first mainstream politician to be booked under the stringent anti-terror law. "The political affairs committee of the Awami Ittehad Party decided that we will field Engineer Rashid as our candidate from the Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency," Firdous Baba, the party's spokesperson, said on Wednesday. The party is hopeful that Rashid will be released from prison before the elections, he said. "In case that does not happen, it has been decided that Rashid will contest the polls from jail. Our Constitution allows an accused person, who is not convicted, to contest elections from j

The NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) on Wednesday dared the Nationalist Congress Party led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar to give up the clock symbol and contest the Lok Sabha elections on a new symbol. The Sharad Pawar group also stated that the Supreme Court's order on Tuesday has dealt a "body blow" to the Ajit Pawar camp. Notably, the Supreme Court has asked Ajit Pawar-led faction to issue a public notice in newspapers in English, Hindi and Marathi saying the 'clock' symbol is sub-judice and its use is subject to adjudication. The Supreme Court also allowed the Sharad Pawar faction to use 'Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar' as its name for the upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly polls and to use as its symbol 'man blowing turha' (a traditional trumpet also known as tutari). "This crucial decision made by the Supreme Court judges has delivered a body blow to Ajit Pawar's NCP faction. The court has warned that adhe

In yet another incident of moral policing in Karnataka, a student was allegedly thrashed for talking to a Hindu girl in the Yadgir district, police said on Wednesday.   The incident took place on March 18 when he was returning home from college.  He told the police that he was conversing with a girl from the Hindu community over the phone when a group of nine people attacked him near the Gogi Mohalla. He said that they confined him in a room for five hours and assaulted him. The student said they brandished a knife and threatened to kill him.  The police have filed a case and further investigation is underway. Earlier in January, an inter-faith couple in Karnataka's Haveri was subjected to harassment and threats by a group of nine individuals. The incident took place just days after six men barged into the room of a lodge and assaulted a couple for the 'crime' of being together despite following different faiths.

Mainpuri in western Uttar Pradesh has long been a stronghold of the Samajwadi Party. With its predominantly rural landscape, the constituency has witnessed over 20 elections since 1952. Its politics was dominated by the late Mulayam Singh Yadav, a wrestler turned politician, and his legacy, now carried forward by his daughter-in-law, Dimple Yadav. Mainpuri KYC Electorate and Voter Turnout The electorate of Mainpuri is predominantly rural (87%), while the remaining 13% is urban. Among the rural voters, Hindus constitute 90% of the demographic makeup. Scheduled Castes (SC) form a significant portion of the electorate, accounting for 20.5%.   Mainpuri MP Mulayam's Mainpuri For decades, Mainpuri has been synonymous with the dominance of the Mulayam Singh Yadav family. The late Mulayam Singh Yadav, who served as the Chief Minister of UP for three terms and as Defence Minister, was a towering figure in Indian politics, won the Mainpuri Lok Sabha seat five times. Mainpuri

The battle for Maharashtra will not be simple and the state, with the largest number of seats after Uttar Pradesh, will definitely play a key role in who controls Delhi. In all the elections except the ones of 1977 and 1989, the party that has won more seats in Maharashtra went on to form the government at the Centre. Maharashtra has 48 seats and it is tough to say which way the state would go, concluded a panel of experts at NDTV this evening. The factors that are expected to affect the election in the state are multiple including caste, the swing of the minority vote and the unrest among farmers, the panelists said. But at this point, it would also depend on what the BJP and the Opposition choose to focus on. Psephologist and educationist Sandeep Shastri -- one of the panelists on "Battleground" anchored by NDTV Editor-in-Chief Sanjay Pugalia -- said: "If the campaign is focussed on the BJP, it might change certain things. And what the MVA will focus on -- on Uddhav

Jana Sena Party (JSP) chief Pawan Kalyan praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday for his visit to the state of Andhra Pradesh, drawing a parallel between PM Modi's arrival and the mythological tale of King Bhagiratha bringing the River Ganga to Earth for his ancestors' salvation. A day after the Election Commission of India announced the schedule for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Modi reached Andhra Pradesh and addressed a public rally of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) with Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N Chandrababu Naidu and Pawan Kalyan at Chilakaluripet town in Palnadu district. The NDA rally, named "Prajagalam," marks the first NDA election meeting in Andhra Pradesh in the run-up to the simultaneous Legislative Assembly and Lok Sabha polls scheduled for May 13. "PM Narendra Modi's arrival in Andhra Pradesh resembles how Bhagiratha brought Ganga to Earth. Modi has come here to support us and save us from undemocra

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar used a verse on Saturday to take a dig at the critics of electronic voting machines (EVMs), saying the poll authority is often at the receiving end of "unfulfilled desires". " Adhoori hasrato ka iljam har bar hum par lagana thik nahi, wafa khud se nahi hoti, khata EVM ki kehte ho, aur baad mein jab parinam aata hai toh uspe qayam bhi nahi rehte ," Mr Kumar said, announcing the seven-phase Lok Sabha election. The couplet, which Mr Kumar said he thought of on Friday night, means it is not proper to blame the Election Commission for unfulfilled desires when one has not done his or her job properly. He said this to buttress the point that even ruling parties have lost elections when EVMs were used for polling. Apparently anticipating a vitriolic poll campaign, the CEC also urged political parties and leaders to refrain from abusing and vilifying their rivals. He quoted a couplet from Bashir Badr: " Dushmani jam ke

Ahead of the delivery of six Apache attack helicopters from the US from May onwards, the Army on Friday raised the squadron for the heavy-duty choppers at Jodhpur along the western front with Pakistan. The Apache squadron was raised in the presence of Army Aviation’s director general Lt-General Ajay Suri and other officials.

Six women from West Bengal's Sandeshkhali met President Droupadi Murmu here on Friday and demanded that central security force personnel be deployed in the area for the protection of women. Addressing the media shortly after meeting the President, one of the women who has travelled with her toddler said she fears for her life when she returns home. "I don't know what will happen when I return, we have been threatened that if we speak there will be repercussions," she said in an emotional tone. She even collapsed after the press briefing. Another woman said they have demanded deployment of central forces in Sandeshkhali to ensure their protection. According to her, the President said that she is looking into the issue seriously. The six women demanded justice in their memorandum to the President. They came here with some RSS members and social activist Parth Biswas who called the situation in Sandeshkhali "very dire". "Sheikh Shahjahan's modu

A purported video of a murder accused lodged in Bareilly Central Jail hosting a live video on a social media platform has surfaced and a probe has been ordered into the matter, police said on Thursday. Action will be taken against whoever is found guilty in the investigation, they said. Asif is accused of shooting a public works department (PWD) contractor Rakesh Yadav (34) to death on December 2, 2019, in the Sadar Bazar Police Station area of Shahjahanpur. Another accused Rahul Chaudhury was also accused of having killed Yadav and the duo are currently lodged in Bareilly Central Jail. A video of a murder accused lodged in prison went viral on social media, Deputy Inspector General (Prison) Kuntal Kishore said. In the 2-minute-long video, Asif is heard saying, "I am in heaven and enjoying it." On seeing the video on social media, the victim's brother met District Magistrate Umesh Pratap Singh on Thursday and gave him a complaint letter. He said in the letter that t

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday held extensive talks with his Bhutanese counterpart Tshering Tobgay focusing on ways to further strengthen the ties between the two countries. The talks took place hours after Mr Tobgay began a five-day visit to India, his first foreign trip after assuming the charge of the top office in January. Mr Tobgay was received at the airport in the national capital by Union minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey. "The visit of @PMBhutan is in keeping with the exemplary ties of friendship between India & Bhutan," external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on 'X'. The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Bhutan on extending cooperation in the field of energy efficiency. The Cabinet also cleared the signing of an agreement between Bhutan Food and Drug Authority (BFDA) and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for cooperation in the are

The Supreme Court collegium on Wednesday recommended the transfer of two Delhi High Court judges to Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh High Courts. The five-member collegium headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud transferred Justice V Kameswar Rao to the Karnataka High Court after he requested for a shift to any other court. "By a communication dated March 4, 2024, Justice V Kameswar Rao, Judge, High Court of Delhi, has requested for transfer to any other High Court. Acceding to his request, the Collegium resolves to recommend that Justice V Kameswar Rao be transferred, in the interest of better administration of justice, to the High Court of Karnataka," the collegium, also comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, Surya Kant and Aniruddha Bose said in its resolution. The collegium also recommended the transfer of Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva to the Madhya Pradesh High Court. "By a communication dated March 3, 2024, Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva, Judge, High Court of Delhi, has

The government on Tuesday granted a six-month extension in service tenure of Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra, who was scheduled to retire at the end of next month, according to an official order. The decision was taken by the Appointments Committee of Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Mr Kwatra, a 1988-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, took charge as the foreign secretary on April 30, 2022. According to the order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), "The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved extension in service of Shri Vinay Mohan Kwatra (IFS:1988) as Foreign Secretary for a period of six months beyond 30.04.2024 i.e. up to 31.10.2024 or until further orders, whichever is earlier, in public interest, in terms of provisions of FR 56 (d)."  Under the Fundamental Rule (FR) 56 (d), the government can give extension in service to the defence secretary, foreign secretary, home secretary, Intelligence Bureau direct

As the Lok Sabha elections loom closer, the political landscape of Jamui constituency in Bihar paints a picture of intrigue and complexity. Situated amidst historical significance and cultural heritage, the Jamui Lok Sabha constituency holds a unique blend of tradition and modern-day politics. Jamui KYC Historical Reverence and Religious Significance Jamui, formerly known as Jambhyagram, is steeped in history dating back to the era of the Mahabharata. Its association with Jainism, particularly as a place where Lord Mahavir is believed to have attained divine knowledge, adds to its religious prominence. The constituency, spanning across six assembly constituencies, encompasses a significant portion of forested land, contributing to its natural allure. Jamui MP Political Dynamics and Ongoing Turmoil The constituency, currently represented by two-time MP Chirag Paswan, finds itself embroiled in political turmoil. Paswan, the scion of the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) founded by hi

The Himachal Pradesh Police on Sunday registered a case against an independent MLA and the father of a Congress rebel and others over "electoral offences" and bribery related to the recent Rajya Sabha polls in which six party MLAs voted for the BJP candidate from the state. The case against Hamirpur's independent MLA Ashish Sharma and Gagret's now disqualified MLA Chetanya Sharma's father and others was registered on the basis of a complaint lodged by Congress MLAs Sanjay Avasthi and Bhuvneshwar Gaur. Ashish and Chetanya are among the nine MLAs, including six Congress rebels and three independents, who voted in favour of the BJP nominee Harsh Mahajan in the recently held Rajya Sabha polls. However, the alleged role of Chetanya's father, a retired bureaucrat, is not known yet. This triggered a crisis in the state's Congress government, which appeared to have lost its majority in the assembly. A case of criminal conspiracy, corruption practices and undu

Traffic movement will be regulated in many areas of Dwarka on Monday for inauguration of the Dwarka Expressway, according to an advisory issued by the Delhi Traffic Police. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the expressway in Dwarka Sector-25 and traffic movement will be regulated in the area from 8 am to 2 pm, the advisory, issued on Sunday, stated. The advisory has urged commuters to avoid Dhulsiras Chowk, Sector 8-9 crossing, Carmel Chowk Sector-20, Janki Chowk near Sector-23 police station and Pochanpur flyover Sector-23 Chowk. Other routes where traffic will be regulated are near the Transport Authority office, Sector-21 metro station and the Pacific Mall cut, Golf Course Road to Dhulsiras Chowk and Bamnoli, and Bharthal Chowk to Dhulsiras Chowk and Chhawla Road. Those going to the railway station, hospital and ISBTs are advised to plan their travel in advance, the advisory stated. "The general public and motorists are advised to keep patience, observe traffic

Arriving here days after being made BJP nominee for Varanasi Lok Sabha seat for the third time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was accorded a rousing reception at the Varanasi airport on Saturday. BJP workers and locals lined up on the roads outside the airport from where PM Modi began a 28-km long roadshow during which he also stopped at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple to offer prayers. #WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds a roadshow in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. pic.twitter.com/1Ors42a6JQ — ANI (@ANI) March 9, 2024 Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, senior party leaders and office bearers were present at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport in Babatpur to welcome the prime minister. Prayed at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Har Har Mahadev! pic.twitter.com/sDeJIDioYF — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 9, 2024 BJP regional chief Dilip Patel said that Varanasi district and metropolitan unit made elaborate arrangements for Modi's visit. The locals, including women and children, sh

Days after a woman from Spain was allegedly gang raped in Jharkhand, the Ministry of External Affairs on Friday said the matter is "under investigation" and several people have been arrested. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said this in response to a query on the case at his weekly media briefing here. The tourist from Spain was allegedly gang raped in Jharkhand's Dumka district, police had said on March 2. "As you know, the matter is under investigation. Several people have been arrested," Jaiswal told reporters. In his response, the spokesperson also said, "And, you would have also see that the High Court of Jharkhand, suo motu has taken action on this particular matter." Some reports refer to the act of cognisance by the court. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

A day after getting custody of suspended Trinamool Congress leader Shajahan Sheikh, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) visited his house and office in Sandeshkhali's Sarberia today, officials said. After finding both the premises locked, the team took photographs of the houses from outside and left, they said. Later, the team visited the Sheikh Shajahan market, where they interacted with villagers. CBI officials operated under the protection of central forces. Mr Sheikh, along with his followers Shiba Prasad Hajra, Uttam Sardar and others, have been accused of sexual abuse and land grabbing in Sandeshkhali. After being on the run for 55 days, Mr Sheikh was arrested on February 29 from a house in the Minakhan area, around 30 km away from Sandeshkhali on the outskirts of Sunderbans. He was named in two cases lodged at the Nazat police station in connection with an assault on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officers on January 5 during a raid at his house in a ration scam cas

The Maldivian defence force on Thursday said it will have operational authority over the helicopter given by India to the island nation and the civilian crew that will pilot it. Addressing a press conference, the Principal Director of Plans, Policy, and Resources Management for the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), Colonel Ahmed Mujuthaba Mohamed said that discussions are underway for withdrawing Indian troops from the Maldives. He emphasised that the government of President Mohamed Muizzu has decided not to permit any foreign troops to remain stationed in the Maldives beyond May 10, PSM News, the state broadcaster reported. Last week, India said its first civilian team of technical experts has reached the Maldives to replace the military personnel operating an advanced light helicopter in the island nation. "The first team of technical personnel to operate the advanced light helicopter has reached the Maldives. It will replace the existing personnel who were operating t

The construction work at the Ram temple complex in Ayodhya will be completed by December this year, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust said today. Nearly 75 lakh devotees visited the temple since the consecration of the Ram Lalla idol on January 22, officials said. Anil Mishra, a member of the temple trust, said that currently about 1,500 workers are employed and more than 3,500 additional workers will be deployed soon to speed up the construction of the two remaining floors of the three-storey temple building. The ground floor was built in December last year. A meeting of the temple construction committee was held recently and it was decided construction in the Ram Janmabhoomi complex will be completed by the end of this year, Mr Mishra said. The sanctum sanctorum is on the ground floor of the temple and the court of Lord Ram will be installed on the first floor as after having "darshan" of Ram Lalla, devotees will be able to have "darshan" of Lord R

In a jolt to the BJP ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, Mukut Mani Adhikari, a BJP MLA from the Matua belt in Bengal's Nadia district, joined the Trinamool Congress today and participated in a rally in Kolkata. Mr Adhikari, who represents the Ranaghat Dakshin constituency for the BJP, expressed his dissatisfaction with the party's decision to field sitting MP Jagganath Sarkar again from Ranaghat. "I think the TMC is the only platform where you can work for the masses. So I have decided to join them," he said. During a TMC rally in Kolkata, Mr Adhikari was spotted walking alongside Abhishek Banerjee, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's nephew, further solidifying his move to the ruling party. "BJP4Bengal leader and MLA Mukutmani Adhikari joined our party and marched in our rally on the eve of #InternationalWomensDay. When BJP leaders leave their anti-women party and extend support, you know that you are on the right side of history. Standing tall for women's r

Citing Ramcharitmanas, top environmentalist and a well-known innovator Sonam Wangchuk drew the Centre's attention to its Ladakh promises as he began his fast unto death. " Raghukul rit sada chali aayi pran jaye par wachan na jaye ...This government claims Ram as their adarsh and Ram is all about maryada who never broke a promise. So we can hope this government will also not break the promises that they made to our people," Mr Wangchuk told NDTV. A sub-committee formed to look into the demands of Ladakh's people Monday failed to make any headway after two back-to-back meetings with central government functionaries. The Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) have been demanding statehood for Ladakh, inclusion of the Union territory in the 6th Schedule of the Constitution and the setting up of an exclusive public service commission for the high-altitude region. "Protecting identity of Ladakh under Sixth Schedule was one of the top three pro

The Congress on Wednesday removed Himachal Pradesh MLA Sudhir Sharma, who was disqualified by the Assembly Speaker after he cross-voted in the Rajya Sabha polls, from the post of All India National Congress (AICC) Secretary. A statement signed by Congress General Secretary K C Venugopal stated that Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has removed Sharma from his position as AICC Secretary "with immediate effect." Responding to the development Sharma, a former Himachal Pradesh minister, shared the statement on his social media platform X and wrote in Hindi "They have relieved me of the burden as if the entire burden was on my shoulders." " Chinta miti, chaahat gayi, manva beparwah, jisko kuch nahin chahiye, vo hi shahanshah ," he wrote that loosely translates to "Worries and desires are gone, the heart is carefree, the one who does not want anything is the emperor." During the February 27, Rajya Sabha elections, Sharma was among the six Congr

The Bengal police have attributed the delay in handing over Sheikh Shahjahan to the Central Bureau of Investigation to the state's appeal in the Supreme Court. The handover was made since the case was not listed for hearing today, they said. In a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter, the police recounted the events leading up to the handover, including the filing of the appeal and the top court's response.  The court had refused to hold an urgent hearing, suggesting that the state approach the Registrar who would list the case in due course. The CBI, meanwhile had filed a special petition before the High Court, which held the state officials in contempt, the police said. In view of the pending petition before the Supreme Court, "the state government in due deference to the majesty of the High Court and the orders passed by it, is complying with the directions," the police statement read. pic.twitter.com/IXBgEFTteW — CID West Bengal (@CIDWestBengal) March 6, 2

An MP/MLA court here on Wednesday sentenced former MP Dhananjay Singh to seven years of imprisonment in a 2020 kidnapping and extortion case. Presently with the Janata Dal (United), Dhananjay Singh was reportedly preparing to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from Jaunpur. But the conviction now makes him ineligible under the Representation of the People Act to contest election. Additional Sessions Judge Sharad Kumar Tripathi, who held Dhananjay Singh and his associate Santosh Vikram guilty in the case of kidnapping of Namami Gange project manager Abhinav Singhal on Tuesday, also imposed a fine of Rs 75,000 on each of them, District Government Counsel (Criminal) Satish Pandey said. Satish Pandey said that Muzaffarnagar resident Abhinav Singhal had filed a case against Dhananjay Singh and his partner Vikram on May 10, 2020, at Line Bazar police station under IPC sections of kidnapping, extortion, conspiracy and others. According to the FIR, Vikram, along with two associates,

A local court here on Tuesday held former MP Dhananjay Singh and one other guilty of kidnapping 'Namami Gange' project manager Abhinav Singhal, demanding extortion, abusing and threatening him. Additional Sessions Judge Sharad Kumar Tripathi, after hearing both the factions, held Singh and his associate Santosh Vikram guilty in the matter. The punishment will be decided on Wednesday. Both Dhananjay Singh and his associate have been sent to judicial custody. Giving details of the case, District Government Counsel (Criminal) Satish Pandey said that Muzaffarnagar resident Abhinav Singhal had filed a case against Dhananjay Singh and his partner Vikram on May 10, 2020, at Linebazar police station under sections of kidnapping, extortion, conspiracy and others. It was alleged that Vikram, along with two associates, kidnapped Singhal and took him to the residence of the former MP where Dhananjay Singh came with a pistol and abused him and pressurised him to supply low quality mater

A 40-year-old dental surgeon died by suicide after poisoning his two minor daughters in Jharkhand's Hazaribag district on Monday afternoon, police said. The exact cause has not yet been established, but family feud is suspected to be a reason, a police officer said. Raj Kumar fatally slit his wrist veins after poisoning his two daughters, identified as Anvi Raj (8) and Adhya Raj (5), to death in Bishnu Puri locality under Hazaribag Sadar police station, the officer said. Raj Kumar's clinic was situated in the busy Nawabganj locality of Hazaribag town. Raj Kumar's wife Chandani Devi (35), along with her three children, including their three-year-old son Ranjeet, had gone to her parents' place to attend a family function when the doctor arrived there in Kumhartoli area of the town, police said. According to the relatives of the victim, the doctor picked up his two daughters on his scooter under the pretext of purchasing gifts for them as they had performed well in th

Former Gujarat deputy chief minister and senior BJP leader Nitin Patel on Sunday said he has withdrawn his claim to contest from Mehsana Lok Sabha seat. Mr Patel didn't assign any reason for this decision, which he announced on social media, even as the BJP is yet to officially announce the contestant from Mehsana. In a post on social media, Mr Patel said he had staked a claim for Mehsana seat and requested the party to field him as its nominee. He said he was withdrawing his claim before the BJP came out with the name of the candidate for Mehsana seat. Mr Patel had never contested the Lok Sabha election. The BJP on Saturday released the first list of 195 nominees, including 15 from Gujarat, which sends 26 members to Lok Sabha. "The selection process of Mehsana Lok Sabha candidate is still underway. But before that, I withdraw my claim as a BJP candidate and pray to God that Narendrabhai Modiji becomes the Prime Minister for the third time in a row to elevate the prestig

The number of bail pleas in the Supreme Court is steadily rising since it is not being granted in the district courts or even the high courts, Justice Bhushan R Gavai said on Sunday. Every Supreme Court bench hears at least 15 to 20 bail matters each day, the top court judge said at an event where the ' bhoomi pujan ' of a new court building was held in Pune's Pimpri Chinchwad. "These days the situation is such that bail is not granted in the district courts. It has become a challenge to get bail even in the high courts. Therefore, the pendency of bail matters in the Supreme Court is going up," he said. Asserting that judges have the courageous and unbiased nature of Ramshastri Prabhune, the revered Chief Justice of the Maratha Empire in the latter half of the 18th century, Justice Gavai said, "Why should we fear to grant bail? Even after spending nine-10 years in jail before the trial is over, if judges don't consider the bail plea, we should think ab

On a day that the BJP released its first list of 195 candidates for the Lok Sabha polls, the National Democratic Alliance led by the party also got a boost with Jayant Chaudhary's Rashtriya Lok Dal formally joining the bloc. The Uttar Pradesh-based party was a part of the opposition INDIA alliance and had been indicating for some time now that the switch was likely to happen.  Posting photos of Mr Chaudhary meeting him and Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP President JP Nadda said in Hindi on X, “I met RLD chief Jayant Chaudhary in the presence of Amit Shah. I heartily welcome his decision to join the NDA family. Under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, you will make an important contribution to the journey towards a developed India and the development of Uttar Pradesh. Ab ki baar NDA 400 paar. ”  Rumours that an alliance between the BJP and the RLD was in the works had been doing the rounds for a while and had got credence when the Bharat Ratna was announced for Mr Chaudhary's gr

Targeting the Congress administration following the explosion at the city's popular eatery Rameshwaram Cafe on Friday, Karnataka BJP President B Y Vijayendra said the government's "callousness" and the failure of police intelligence is evident in this incident. The BJP state chief accused the government of downplaying such crimes and said it "is pushing the state into this chaos, making it a safe haven for antisocial elements. "Deeply troubled to hear about the blast at Rameswaram Cafe in Bangalore. Praying for a swift recovery of all the injured in the incident. State govt should order a detailed enquiry and spare no efforts in apprehending the perpetrators," Vijayendra posted on social media platform X. Vijayendra said the failure of police intelligence is also evident in this incident. "We strongly urge the police to conduct a thorough probe and eradicate these elements from the core without yielding to any political pressures," he adde