The arrested accused were identified as Harun Rashid (29) of Rupahihat in Nagaon district, and Junaidur Islam (22) and Ejajul Hoque (23) of Laharighat in Morigaon district, all in Assam.

The accused cyber fraudsters were arrested in connection with a case (206/25) registered at the Cyber Crime and Economic Offence (CC & EO) Police Station, Bhubaneswar, following allegations made by Bulu Dash of Trinath Bazar in Bhubaneswar.

Dash, a retired bank employee, alleged in his complaint, filed on November 5, 2025, that he received a call from the accused fraudsters, who offered to help him update his Life Certificate for pension disbursal, for which he had applied.

He later received a message on November 3, 2025, containing a fraudulent link purportedly sent by UCO Bank for updating his Life Certificate for pension.

"After opening the link and submitting the required details as asked by the fraudsters, he received multiple OTPs. Subsequently, he discovered that Rs 8,50,000 had been fraudulently debited from his bank account through unauthorised online transactions," a senior police official said.

After realising that he had fallen prey to the cyber fraud, he reported the matter to the CC & EO Police Station in Bhubaneswar. Through technical analysis, banking records and KYC details, police detected the involvement of an organised interstate cyber fraud syndicate engaged in procuring mule bank accounts and SIM cards for routing the proceeds of crime.

The investigation revealed that the arrested accused are linked to Kalim Ansari, a key Jamtara-based cyber fraud operator wanted in another cyber fraud case registered at the CC & EO Police Station.

Accused Rashid, a pharmacist, and his associate Parvez Alam Choudhary, also a pharmacist, allegedly opened bank accounts and procured SIM cards in different names before handing them over to the Jamtara-based mastermind, Ansari.

Meanwhile, Hoque recruited mule bank account holders in Morigaon and worked with Ashraful, who allegedly controls the Assam network for procuring and supplying mule bank accounts.

Efforts are on to arrest the remaining accused, including Ansari.

During the raids, the crime branch examined as many as six fuel tankers and one tipper truck.

The storage facility purportedly hoarded the petroleum products without any license, thereby violating the guidelines under the Essential Commodities Act.

The crime branch acted upon a specific tip-off about the stockpiling of petro products and raided the premises in Dabolim region.

The raid comes in the backdrop of stretched and strained energy supply lines, due to curtailed supply of petroleum in the country.

The team inspected six fuel tankers and one tipper truck, leading to their seizure.

Combustible/petroleum liquid was found stored in the tankers following which samples were collected, sealed, and preserved for further examination.

All vehicles and sample exhibits were seized by the police team.

The estimated value of the seized vehicles and petroleum products is said to be nearly Rs 1.5 crore.

The operation was carried out in presence of forensic experts and officials from Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), for a period of about six hours.

Preliminary inquiry revealed that the premises and vehicles are allegedly operated by a person named Devendra Naik alias Raju Chawan of Sancoale in Goa.

The stored petroleum products were found to be diverted in the black market at inflated rates.

Oil experts said that the illegal storage and handling of petroleum products at the site was apparently in violation of the Petroleum Act, 1934, Essential Commodities Act, 1955, and Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, besides endangering public safety.

Accordingly, an offence was lodged under Sections 287 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Section 23 of the Petroleum Act, 1934, Sections 3 read with 7 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, and Sections 8 read with 15 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

The ACB arrested Vatsala Aggarwal, the then Director General Health Services (DGHS), and Neeraj Chopra, Deputy Controller of Accounts (DCA) of DGHS' Central Procurement Agency (CPA), in an FIR, an official statement said.

The allegations pertain to procurement of portable X-ray machines, bed sheets and linen items, C-arm radiological equipment, anaesthesia work stations, Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS), surgical consumables, medicines and other medical items at allegedly inflated rates through manipulated procurement processes, it added.

It was alleged that tailor-made specifications were framed to favour selected suppliers, genuine competitors were excluded from the bidding process and government funds amounting to several hundred crores of rupees were misutilised, a complaint received from the Delhi government said.

The complaint from the Directorate of Vigilance mentioned alleged large-scale irregularities in procurement of medicines, surgical consumables, other consumables and medical equipment by the DGHS CPA.

It was alleged that certain public servants, in conspiracy with private persons, manipulated procurement processes, tender conditions and technical specifications to provide undue advantage to selected firms and suppliers, thereby causing wrongful loss to the government exchequer and corresponding wrongful gain to private entities.

On the basis of the complaint, an FIR dated June 2 under Sections 7A, 13(1)(a), 13(1)(b) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018), read with Sections 61(2), 316(5), 318(4) and 238 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, was registered at the ACB Police Station.

In view of the material collected during investigation, both accused persons were questioned and subsequently arrested by the Anti-Corruption Branch on Saturday.

"Both the accused were produced before the Rouse Avenue Special Judge (Prevention of Corruption Act) on a one-day police custody remand was sought for custodial interrogation to recover incriminating documentary and electronic evidence, trace missing procurement records, identify other beneficiaries and co-conspirators, verify the money trail and unearth the larger conspiracy," the statement said.

Jammu, June 28 (IANS) Eight Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel and a civilian driver were injured in a road accident near Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in J&K’s Reasi district on Sunday, police said,.

Police said the accident occurred when a bus carrying them overturned along the Tarakote route to the shrine.

The condition of three of the injured CISF personnel â€" Head Constables Sammy Kumar and M.M. Dubey and constable P.K. Traya â€" was said to be serious, officials said.

The seriously injured personnel were admitted to the Narayana hospital in Katra town, the officials said.

The rest of the injured, who included a sub-inspector and the civilian driver, Virender Singh, were admitted to the Community Health Centre in Katra, where their condition is said to be stable.

The officials said the CISF personnel, deployed in the shrine area, were heading back to their camp after work.

Road accidents in Jammu & Kashmir are primarily caused by a combination of treacherous hilly terrain, rash driving, and inadequate road infrastructure. These factors are severely exacerbated by overloading, lack of strict traffic enforcement, and delayed emergency response systems along major highways.

The crisis on J&K roads is driven by several factors, including human error and negligent driving, over-speeding & glorification of speed, overtaking on blind curves, and impatient driving, which lead to a large portion of head-on collisions.

A rise in mobile phone usage and texting while driving takes attention away from the difficult mountain roads.

Unqualified individuals operating vehicles, particularly teenagers on two-wheelers, also contribute significantly to road accidents.

Impaired driving due to alcohol or drugs is a notable concern, especially late at night.

Districts like Doda, Ramban, and Kishtwar feature narrow, winding roads with sheer drops and blind spots. Many stretches lack essential safety features like parapet walls, proper crash barriers, and adequate warning signage.

Frequent landslides, fog, heavy rains, and shooting stones make navigation highly perilous in certain seasons.

Passenger vehicles -- especially in rural and hilly areas -- routinely exceed their capacity, which severely affects vehicle balance and braking.

Operating ageing, unfit vehicles without proper brake or tyre checks, leads to mechanical failures.

Failure to wear helmets and seatbelts drastically increases the fatality rate during a crash.

It has issued special guidelines for the teachers to help safeguard students from extreme heat, exhaustion as well as heatstroke.

The Basic Education Department has released 'Guideline for Teachers on Sensitising Students to Heat-Related Illnesses (2026)'.

The guidelines aim to equip teachers with necessary skills and practical guidance, including information on heatwave protection, identifying symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke, administering first aid, and effectively safeguarding students.

The schools have been advised to start a 'heat action plan' for raising awareness among children, parents, and the school community through 'Dos and Don'ts' posters, ensuring that extreme heat does not adversely affect children's education, health, or school life.

The guideline emphasises that teachers will play a pivotal role in ensuring student safety during heatwaves.

Teachers will educate students on heatwave protection measures during morning assemblies, classroom instruction, co-curricular activities, and daily school routines.

Every school will be asked to formulate a 'School Heat Action Plan' and they will also designate 'Health Nodal Teachers' to coordinate heatwave-related activities.

Orientation sessions will be conducted for teachers, staff, and students.

Messages regarding heatwave protection and emergency contact numbers will be displayed prominently within the school premises.

Instructions have been issued to ensure that every school is equipped with a first-aid kit, ORS, a digital thermometer, and arrangements for contacting emergency medical services, including the '108' ambulance.

All strenuous physical and outdoor activities will be suspended during 'Orange' or 'Red' heatwave alerts.

Schools must ensure the continuous availability of clean and safe drinking water and encourage students to drink water every 20 to 30 minutes; students will also be encouraged to carry their own water bottles.

The guidelines advise wearing light-coloured cotton clothing, using hats or umbrellas, and consuming water-rich seasonal fruits like watermelon, muskmelon, and cucumber.

If a student exhibits symptoms such as excessive sweating, intense thirst, headache, dizziness, weakness, muscle cramps, vomiting, confusion, or fainting, instructions dictate that they be immediately moved to a shaded area for first aid and the application of cool compresses; the '108' ambulance or the nearest health centre should be contacted if necessary.

Special monitoring is required for students with conditions such as asthma, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, or disabilities, as well as those recently recovering from fever or diarrhoea.

Anna's body, the last to be recovered, was found by the Fire and Rescue Services personnel near the Excise Kadavu area, a few metres downstream from the bridge and close to the spot from where the family is believed to have jumped.

Police said all available evidence currently points to it being a case of suicide, though investigations are continuing to establish the exact circumstances behind the deaths.

The deceased have been identified as Narayanan, his wife Bijimol, their six-year-old daughter Anna and their two-year-old son.

The family, originally from Kothamangalam, had reportedly been living in rented accommodation in recent months.

According to the Piravom Police, CCTV footage from the area showed the family having lunch at the nearby Aishwarya Hotel before walking towards the Piravom bridge.

While the cameras captured them leaving the restaurant and heading to the bridge, there was no surveillance footage of the actual incident.

The tragedy came to light on Friday when a local fisherman spotted the body of the couple's two-year-old son floating in the river and alerted nearby residents, who informed the police.

Bijimol's body was recovered shortly afterwards from the same area, while Narayanan's body was found on Saturday.

Anna remained missing until her body was recovered on Sunday morning, ending the three-day search operation.

Following the inquest, Anna's body was shifted to the Government Medical College Hospital at Kalamassery for post-mortem examination.

The bodies of the other three family members are also being kept at the hospital mortuary.

Police have begun recording statements from relatives of both Narayanan and Bijimol as part of the investigation.

Preliminary inquiries suggest the couple had been facing longstanding marital problems, with the Kothamangalam Police having intervened in their disputes earlier.

Investigators also suspect the family was under financial stress due to mounting debts.

Officials said Bijimol had reportedly been estranged from her family and had been living separately for some time.

However, the exact reason that drove the family to the suspected suicide is yet to be established.

The Piravom Police have registered a case under Section 194 (unnatural death) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and further investigation is underway.

"Your maritime domain extends across nearly 1.4 million square kilometres. This makes Seychelles not a small island state but a large ocean country. Long before the blue economy became a part of global discussions, Seychelles was already leading the way," PM Modi highlighted during his special address in the National Assembly of Seychelles during his state visit to the archipelagic island.

Seychelles has helped shape important global conversations in protecting marine ecosystems and in advancing innovations like blue bonds, he said.

"When people look at a map, they may see Seychelles as a group of islands in the Indian Ocean. But we see something much greater. We see a nation whose horizons stretch far beyond its shores," the Prime Minister said.

"The efforts being made by you to protect and preserve this natural wonder reflect our larger philosophy that humanity must live in harmony with nature. This sentiment resonates deeply in India as well. Let us work together to ensure that future generations inherit oceans that are healthier, safer, and more abundant than those we enjoy today," he added.

According to PM Modi, the Global South and the island nations are the most impacted by climate change, and effects are already visible on coastlines, marine ecosystems, weather patterns, and in communities.

"Climate action must be guided by fairness, responsibility, and equity. This is the essence of climate justice," he stressed.

"India has sought to lead by example. Over the last decade, we have undertaken one of the world's largest expansions of renewable energy. We have championed sustainable lifestyles through Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment). Through our initiatives, like the International Solar Alliance (ISA), the Coalition for Disaster-Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), the Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA), and 'Ek Ped Maa Kee Naam' (a tree in mother's remembrance), we have worked with partner countries to boost the green transition," he noted.

The PM congratulated the government and people of Seychelles on the 50th anniversary of Independence and highlighted the special India-Seychelles partnership founded on shared values, strong people-to-people ties and mutual trust.

"PM also underscored the special place Seychelles occupies in India's Vision MAHASAGAR and its commitment to the Global South.PM underscored India's transformative development journey and called for stronger parliamentary exchanges, while advocating deeper cooperation in security, human development and sustainability for mutual benefit," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) wrote on X.

This is the 20th parliament which PM Modi has addressed.

The FIR filed by Ketan's father, Vishal Devichand Agarwal, has reportedly alleged that both Chetan and Siya pushed his son off a cliff to his death, near Pune's Lohagad fort.

According to reports, a major point of contention was a missed trip to Lohagad fort on June 4, which apparently made Siya highly agitated and persistently demanded that her fiance take her there.

As per the detailed timeline of the murder conspiracy shared by sources from the day of the alleged crime, Chetan reportedly disabled his mobile data to stop cell towers from creating a geographic GPS trail of his route to the crime scene at around 7 am.

An hour later, with the aim of misleading investigators into believing he never left his shop, he left his personal smartphone at his workplace and ordered his workers to answer all incoming calls.

Around noon, he attempted to cover his tracks by borrowing an employee's mobile phone to handle necessary communications on his way to Lohagad fort.

At 2 pm, while aiming to conceal his identity from security guards at the historical place, Chetan shadowed Ketan and Siya up the fort trail while wrapped in a thick winter hoodie despite the sweltering 33 degrees Celsius summer heat. This detail later led investigators to suspect him.

Around half an hour later, upon reaching a secluded cliff near the Vinchu Kata ridge, Siya sat down as an alleged visual cue to her co-accused. Chetan then reportedly stepped out from hiding and pushed Ketan 400 feet to his death.

After staying entirely off the digital grid for 10 hours and 40 minutes, Chetan switched on his internet at around 5.40 pm, confident that his calculated location cover-up was flawless.

However, the plan backfired as investigators flagged Chetan's prolonged offline period while tracing his distinct winter attire on CCTV footage. They also confirmed with callers that someone else was answering his phone.

Ketan left home on the morning of June 18, picked up Siya from the Kiwale bridge on the Pune-Mumbai highway, and finally headed to the fort. At 10.45 am, Siya Goyal called her fiancé's mother, claiming that he had accidentally fallen into a gorge at Lohagad Fort. Locals and the police found him in the gorge and took him to the hospital, where the doctors declared him dead.

The family alleged that Siya's phone was constantly busy and that she frequently mentioned her "friend" Chetan, leading them to believe the two were involved in a romantic relationship.

Earlier, the police investigation revealed that Siya may have killed her fiancé to get "three years of freedom".

According to sources, Siya's lover, Chetan, had asked her to wait for at least three years for them to get married as he wanted to settle in his career. But Siya's wedding to Ketan had already been arranged and scheduled for November.

The two then pushed Ketan into a valley at the Lohagad Fort near Maharashtra's Pune as a part of the conspiracy that let them "buy time", sources said.

The double murder in Maria Sai Tola in the Manjhari police station area of Chaibasa has sent shockwaves throughout the area.

Police said the weapon used in the crime was recovered shortly after the incident.

The deceased have been identified as Nanika Birua, 30, and her daughter Sharmila Birua, 8.

According to the police, Nanika’s husband, Dakhel Singh Birua, had gone to work in the fields at the time of the incident.

Taking advantage of his absence, the accused, Ramay Birua, entered the house and allegedly attacked Nanika with an axe following a dispute.

When Sharmila tried to protect her mother, she too was attacked by the accused. Both victims died on the spot.

The couple’s other daughter, Tulsi Birua, informed her father about the incident after reaching the fields.

When Dakhel Singh Birua returned home, the accused reportedly attempted to attack him as well. However, he managed to defend himself by picking up a stone, after which the accused fled towards the nearby forest.

Police said that another villager, Kande Birua, who tried to intervene, was also attacked with an axe and sustained injuries. He has been admitted to a hospital for treatment.

On receiving information from villagers, a team from Manjhari police station reached the spot and sent the bodies to Chaibasa Sadar Hospital for a post-mortem examination.

The police launched a search operation in the forest and arrested the accused, Ramay Birua. The axe used in the crime was also recovered on his instance.

Preliminary investigation by the police suggests that a family dispute triggered the incident. Locals have also claimed that the accused was under the influence of alcohol at the time of committing the crime, a claim that the police are probing.

The Maharashtra State Council of Examinations (MSCE) abruptly postponed the examination on Saturday, after a joint raid by the Bhiwandi police exposed a major question paper leak just a day before the state-wide examination.

Speaking to IANS, an aspirant Girish Patil in Maharashtra's Dhule, said: "Due to the exam paper leak, the candidates are extremely disappointed. All the teachers had worked hard in the blistering heat during the month of May for TET 2026 exam. The teachers had prepared for the exam while undertaking visits for Census-related work and working as Booth Level Officers (BLOs) for SIR."

"In Maharashtra, schools reopened on June 15 this year. Teachers had prepared for that too. Despite all this, the candidates worked hard for the exam but due to the paper leak their entire effort has been wasted," he added.

School teachers have been appointed as BLOs to assist the Election Commission of India (ECI) for the SIR of electoral rolls. They are also deployed as enumerators and are required to conduct house visits for Census 2027.

Patil appealed the state government to conduct an impartial probe into the incident and take strict action against the guilty.

A primary teacher, Kiran Patil, called instances of paper leak a "disappointment" for the democracy, saying "such incidents are extremely wrong, wherever it happens in the country".

"First of all, conducting exams for teachers despite so many years of their experience is itself unfair," he added.

Kiran Patil echoed, saying: "Now, teachers are involved in so many works like SIR, Census... even after that so many teachers worked hard and prepared for the exam and then the exam paper got leaked. This is so wrong."

Condemning the incident, he, too, urged the Maharashtra government to conduct a thorough probe and to take care that such incidents do not get repeated.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday ordered the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to launch a thorough probe into the alleged irregularities into the TET examination which was scheduled to be held in the state on Sunday.

Leh, June 28 (IANS) Acting tough against visitors doing illegal off-roading in the highly fragile environment of Ladakh’s Pangong and other protected wildlife areas, authorities on Sunday imposed over Rs 2 lakh fine on tourists found indulging in such acts.

Seen as the first action of its kind in the Ladakh region, the administration has imposed a total penalty of Rs 2 lakh on four tourists for illegally driving their vehicles through Pangong Lake and other protected wildlife areas, as part of a major crackdown on off-roading in ecologically sensitive zones.

The action was taken by the Wildlife Department on the directions of Lt Governor V.K. Saxena, who has called on tourists to act responsibly and respect Ladakh’s fragile environment.

Officials said four vehicle owners from Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh were fined Rs 50,000 each under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, after being found guilty of driving in protected areas, including Pangong Lake, Changthang, and Nubra wildlife sanctuaries.

Their vehicles were impounded and released only after the penalties were paid. According to the administration, the action followed violations detected during routine patrolling and through social media surveillance.

The incidents were reported from Merak and Lukung along the shores of Pangong Lake, Nurboo La in Hanle and Sumur in Nubra Valley. In one of the latest cases, an SUV was found being driven into the waters of Pangong Lake near Merak on June 23 for stunt purposes, causing damage to the fragile habitat and polluting the lake.

In another case, a vehicle was caught off-roading near Lukung within the Changthang Cold Desert Wildlife Sanctuary.

Authorities also acted against an SUV that was filmed driving through a stream inside the Karakoram (Nubra-Shayok) Wildlife Sanctuary, and another SUV that was allegedly driven off-road near Nurboo La while reportedly chasing a Tibetan gazelle inside the Changthang Cold Desert Wildlife Sanctuary.

Lt Governor Saxena said Ladakh welcomes visitors from across India and abroad, but stressed that tourists, adventure enthusiasts and vehicle owners must refrain from entering protected wildlife habitats or disturbing the region’s delicate ecosystem.

He warned that off-road driving within or near protected areas is a punishable offence under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and said strict action against violators will continue to safeguard Ladakh’s biodiversity and environmentally sensitive landscapes.

One of the main demands of Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), two main representative bodies of the Union Territory, is that guarantees should be given by the Central government to protect and preserve the heritage, culture and the delicate ecology of the region.

The report, titled 'Gujarat Bio-Economy 2030: Strategic Skill Architecture and Workforce Development', said that India's bio-economy has rose from around $10 billion in 2014 to more than $150 billion in 2024.

Backed by the Centre's BioE3 Policy (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment), the country has set a target of building a $300 billion bio-economy by the end of the decade, with Gujarat expected to play a significant role.

According to the report, Gujarat is well positioned to support that target because it accounts for around 40 per cent of India's pharmaceutical production and is one of the country's leading chemical manufacturing centres.

"Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, the state aims to strengthen its position in biotechnology and biomanufacturing by leveraging its existing industrial base and expanding its skilled talent pool," an official said.

The report notes that the national bio-economy target is based on expected growth in both domestic demand and exports. It identifies biopharma, bio-industrial manufacturing and bio-agriculture as the principal drivers of future growth.

Biopharma, which contributes about 35 per cent of the sector, continues to be driven by vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics.

India currently supplies more than 35 per cent of global vaccine demand, and the report says "advances in technologies such as mRNA and viral vectors are expected to expand this capability further".

The bio-industrial segment, accounting for 47 per cent of the sector, is witnessing growing demand for fermentation technology specialists due to increased use of bio-based chemicals and the country's ethanol blending programme, which achieved its 20 per cent target ahead of schedule.

Bio-agriculture represents around eight per cent of the sector.

The report says climate change is advancing the adoption of technologies such as CRISPR-based crops and bio-fertilisers, which are moving from research laboratories to agricultural fields.

The BioE3 Policy places particular emphasis on creating a skilled workforce for high-performance biomanufacturing.

According to the policy, the availability of appropriate talent and supporting infrastructure will allow the sector to maximise its production capacity.

The report also highlights Gujarat's existing strengths, including its manufacturing ecosystem, research institutions, progressive policy framework, 1,600-km coastline and diverse agricultural base.

It states that these factors provide a strong foundation for the state to become a major participant in the global bio-economy.

Referring to the Gujarat State Biotechnology Policy 2022-27, the report says the state intends to move beyond large-scale production of generic medicines and expand into the development of innovative biologics, reflecting a broader shift from conventional industrial manufacturing towards a knowledge-driven bio-economy.

The report identifies the development of a strong local talent ecosystem as one of the state's biggest opportunities.

"Investing in specialised education and skills training could reduce the migration of skilled professionals, lower the need for workforce retraining and support sustainable industrial growth," it said.

As part of its assessment, GRIT examined 23 institutions offering biotechnology and related programmes across Gujarat.

The study concludes that the state already has a strong educational foundation capable of producing quality biotechnology professionals, while also identifying opportunities to further align academic curricula with emerging industry requirements so that graduates are better prepared for future employment in the sector.

Following incessant rainfall, various areas of Alipurduar district have been submerged. At the same time, continuous rain has increased the water level in the Torsa River in Cooch Behar district. Meanwhile, traffic has come to a halt on Falakata Road in Alipurduar.

According to administrative officials, a landslide occurred in Mirik on Sunday morning following continuous overnight rain. Work to clear the debris began swiftly. On the other hand, various areas of Alipurduar town have been inundated due to the relentless downpour. Water has accumulated in several areas, including Wards 1, 4, 5, 8 and 9. The sluice gates have been closed because of the rising water levels in the Dima and Kaljani rivers. As a result, water from the town is unable to drain out.

The situation in Cooch Behar is also grim. The water level in the Torsa River has risen due to continuous rainfall. The Madhupur area under Cooch Behar Block II has turned into a flood-affected zone. Sukumar Roy, BJP MLA from the Cooch Behar Uttar Assembly constituency, visited the area on Sunday to take stock of the situation.

The administration is closely monitoring the weather situation and making arrangements to assist people in distress. Relief materials have been stocked at BDO offices, while civil defence personnel have been kept on high alert.

It is worth noting that a red alert for heavy rain has been issued in north Bengal till Monday. According to the forecast, the districts of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar may receive up to 200 millimetres of rainfall. An orange alert is in force in North Dinajpur district. Similar alerts for thunderstorms and rain have also been issued for South Dinajpur and Malda districts. A yellow alert for heavy rain remains in place in the remaining districts.

Due to the continuous rainfall, a large number of tourists are stranded in the hill stations of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Mirik. Landslides have forced them to take detours and remain in hotels until roads are cleared. In view of the inclement weather, several hotel booking cancellations have also been reported across many areas.

The family was engaged in routine farming activities when the weather suddenly turned hostile in the afternoon. Dark clouds gathered rapidly, accompanied by strong winds, heavy rainfall and intense thunderstorms. As the family scrambled to find shelter, a powerful lightning bolt struck them with a deafening thunderclap, police officials said.

The impact caused immediate chaos in the field, with screams echoing across the farmland. Villagers working in nearby fields rushed to the spot upon hearing the commotion. They found the seven family members severely affected and quickly arranged for their transport to a nearby hospital.

Doctors initiated urgent treatment, but the young woman, who had sustained critical injuries, could not be saved despite their best efforts. She succumbed to her injuries at the hospital, plunging the entire family and Jilehari village into deep mourning.

The remaining six victims continue to receive medical care, with some still in critical condition. Local police and the administration have visited the site and are providing support to the grieving family.

As many as 18 people have died due to lightning in Madhya Pradesh so far this season.

This tragedy comes amid an active spell of thunderstorms across Madhya Pradesh. The India Meteorological Department has issued alerts for light thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and light rain over several districts, including Rajgarh, Agar-Malwa, Shajapur, Ratlam, Ujjain, Dhar, Jhabua, Vidisha, Alirajpur, Barwani, Khargone, Burhanpur, Shivpuri, Gwalior, Bhind, Datia, Niwari, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Dindori, Anuppur, Shahdol, Sidhi, Singrauli, Chhindwara, Pandurna, Seoni, Balaghat and Mandla during the noon hours.

In the last 24 hours, strong winds were recorded in several areas, with Shivpuri registering the highest speed at 61 kmph, followed by Gwalior and Jabalpur at 56 kmph each.

The state is also facing a significant rainfall deficit so far this monsoon season (June 1 to June 28, 2026). Madhya Pradesh has received 38 per cent less rainfall than the long-period average, with East Madhya Pradesh experiencing a sharp 67 per cent deficit and West Madhya Pradesh recording a milder 10 per cent shortfall.

New Delhi, June 28 (IANS) Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday led volunteers, social organisations and residents in a voluntary service campaign at Yamuna Ghat in Chilla village as part of the ‘Clean Delhi with CM’ cleanliness campaign.

Appreciating the volunteers and social organisations that participated in the campaign, Chief Minister Gupta said that the Delhi government considers public participation the greatest strength of this initiative.

She said that with the joint efforts of the government and society, the campaign would grow into a major people's movement and give fresh momentum to the resolve of building a clean, green and developed capital.

The Chief Minister said that the Yamuna is not merely a river but Delhi's memory, culture and lifeline. Keeping the river clean, pure and free flowing is not just the responsibility of the government, but the shared responsibility of every citizen.

She said that the Yamuna, which has remained a centre of faith for millions of people for centuries, is today facing the challenge of pollution, and restoring it to a clean and pristine state is a shared responsibility of both the government and society.

She urged people not to immerse puja materials, plastic, construction debris or any other waste into the Yamuna, and to actively contribute towards making cleanliness a people's movement.

During the campaign, Chief Minister Gupta also interacted with volunteers and young environmentalists.

They informed her that the plastic waste collected during the drive could be recycled into benches, dustbins and other useful products for schools and environmental conservation.

Appreciating the innovative idea, the Chief Minister said the Delhi government would extend all possible support to such innovations and circular economy-based initiatives.

A young environmental activist also told the Chief Minister that he had joined the Yamuna conservation campaign after being inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

The Chief Minister said that the Delhi Government is continuously working towards the scientific, sustainable and comprehensive rejuvenation of the Yamuna, and that the clean ghats are a living testament to that commitment.

The government is rapidly modernising sewage treatment plants, setting up new decentralised sewage treatment plants, expanding the sewer network, and tapping all drains flowing into the Yamuna in a phased manner as part of a scientific and sustainable solution.

In response to media queries regarding allegations made by Pakistan, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said: "We have seen Pakistani reports making baseless allegations against India regarding the recent incident in Karachi. We categorically reject them. Instead of pointing fingers at others, Pakistan would do better to look inwards, take credible action against the terror infrastructure on its territory and rid itself of its proclivity to rely on terrorism as an instrument of state policy."

The MEA's statement comes after the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) claimed that the attack on the Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) Camp in Karachi on Saturday was carried out by terrorists belonging to the Indian-backed group Jamaatul Ahrar.

At least three Sindh Rangers personnel were killed after a facility of the paramilitary force in Karachi’s Gulistan-i-Jauhar was attacked on Saturday.

Intense firing was also reported near Meteorological Chowrangi on University Road following a loud blast, Pakistan's Geo TV reported.

According to Inspector General, Sindh, Javed Alam Odho, there had not been any confirmation about a blast having occurred or not, as the terrorists had rammed the main gate with their vehicle.

He also noted that three terrorists were killed in the attack on the local Rangers headquarters.

In March, India slammed Pakistan, terming the country as a "state sponsor of terrorism for decades", and one which also has no credibility when it comes to cross-border terrorism. Reacting strongly to Islamabad's allegations of India's involvement in the ongoing conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan along the Durand Line, the MEA said that nobody is fooled by Pakistan's "assumed victimhood" now.

Addressing a weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Jaiswal said that it has become second nature for Pakistan to blame India for its misdeeds.

"We reject such baseless allegations. It has become second nature for Pakistan to blame India for its misdeeds. As a state sponsor of terrorism for decades, Pakistan has zero credibility when it comes to cross-border terrorism. No amount of storytelling is going to alter this reality, nor is anyone fooled by Pakistan's assumed victimhood," he said.

The MEA reaction came as the hostilities started between Afghanistan and Pakistan after Afghan forces launched retaliatory operations against Pakistani military installations on February 27, following Islamabad’s actions targeting areas in Afghan territory on February 21. After Afghanistan's attacks, Pakistan launched 'Operation Ghazab lil-Haq' (Righteous Fury) in response to what it described as "unprovoked firing" by the Afghan forces across multiple border sectors.

Posting, on X, a video in which a man slapped the teacher in the presence of police officials, she said that a group of ‘BJP goons’ barged into the campus of a school in Telangana and assaulted a teacher who was teaching Urdu, right in front of the police.

Shama Mohamed tagged Chief Minister Revanth Reddy in her tweet and demanded that the police officials be suspended and the ‘BJP goons’ be punished strictly.

"They now have a problem with the Urdu language," she posted and asked where Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' is.

The incident occurred on Saturday at Bharath Chandra School in Armoor, Nizamabad district, when some local BJP leaders stormed the premises and assaulted the school principal, Amer Khan.

They slapped and verbally abused him for conducting Urdu language classes under direct instructions from the school management.

The BJP leaders raised objections to Urdu being taught as a second language, alleging that their children had been exposed to Urdu songs and religious content.

Amer Khan alleged that he and another teacher were taken to a police station, where they were made to sit on the floor for a long time. He said no action was taken against those who assaulted them.

The principal claimed that Urdu was introduced as a second language at the request of the parents of the students. A teacher was hired to teach the language.

According to Amer Khan, the management was planning to have a separate block for the Urdu department. However, the newly appointed teacher wasn’t aware of this and took a combined class.

Meanwhile, various organisations have called for a shutdown in Nizamabad district on Monday to protest against the assault.

Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT) leader Amjed Ullah Khan has condemned the incident. He alleged that Telangana is gradually becoming a laboratory of the RSS under the Congress government.

He voiced concern over what he called a series of attacks on members of the minority community in Nizamabad.

"The continuous targeting of minorities and selective policing raises serious concerns about law and order in Telangana. The soft Hindutva politics of the Revanth Reddy Government is damaging the future of Congress across India," he alleged.

Mumbai, June 28 (IANS) In a horrific road accident, five members of a single family were killed after a speeding car crashed into a stationary container on a road in Maharashtra’s Amravati on Sunday.

The accident happened at around noon. The impact of the accident was so severe that all occupants of the car died on the spot, and the vehicle was completely damaged.

The deceased include two men, two women, and a young girl. Preliminary reports indicated that all the deceased belonged to the same family from Chandrapur district.

Police officials said that the accident took place on the Samruddhi Mahamarg, passing through the Dhamangaon Railway tehsil of Amravati.

They said that the family, having begun their journey from Nagpur, was headed towards Mumbai when their vehicle collided with the truck.

Upon receiving news of the accident, police and emergency service teams rushed to the scene, along with emergency rescue squad. Traffic was also disrupted due to the accident. Police took control of the situation and subsequently sent the bodies to the hospital.

According to eyewitnesses, the car was speeding and rammed into the rear of a stationary container truck. The impact was so severe that the car was completely wrecked, leaving passengers with no chance to escape the fatal collision.

The occupants trapped inside the car were extricated and taken to Dhamangaon Rural Hospital, where doctors declared all five dead.

The heart-wrenching accident on the Samruddhi Mahamarg cast a pall of gloom over the entire region. The police have registered a case and initiated an investigation into the cause of the accident.

Earlier, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Sudhir Gadgil suffered a narrow escape with minor injuries as his car met with an accident in Sangli constituency on Saturday. The tragedy was averted as his car's airbags opened in time, leaving him with minor injuries.

Sudhir Gadgil was reportedly travelling from Mhaishal to Sangli. A two-wheeler rider suddenly appeared in front of his car on the Arjunwad service road, resulting in a collision. The two-wheeler rider was injured in the accident and was admitted to the hospital.

Amaravati, June 28 (IANS) Police in Andhra Pradesh's Amaravati capital region have registered three cases with regard to Saturday’s clashes during a visit by leaders of the opposition YSR Congress Party.

A case under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act was registered against YSRCP leaders on a complaint by Manikyam, a resident of Penumaka.

YSRCP leader and former minister Ambati Rambabu has been booked on a complaint by Tadepalli Circle Inspector Virendra Babu for allegedly restraining a police officer from performing his duties.

Police have also registered a case against leaders of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) on a complaint by YSRCP leader Narayana Murthy for damaging the window panes of cars.

A visit by YSRCP leaders and members of the CRDA Farmers Protection Committee to the capital region on Saturday led to tension and clashes.

According to the YSRCP, the delegation visited Undavalli and nearby Penumaka following an ''invitation'' from farmers who have been protesting for several days against what they describe as forced land acquisition.

The leaders alleged that farmers are facing pressure for refusing to surrender their lands and claimed that soil was dug up around their fields, preventing them from continuing cultivation.

The YSRCP alleged that TDP activists attacked its leaders, farmers and vehicles by pelting stones and throwing eggs. Several vehicles were reportedly damaged during the violence. The opposition also claimed that some police personnel deployed at the spot suffered injuries while trying to control the situation.

Meanwhile, the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, Botsa Satyanarayana, on Sunday condemned the attack on YSRCP leaders and demanded stern action against those involved in it. He alleged that Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is running the government with the police and not with public support.

He told the media in Visakhapatnam that the law and order in the state has deteriorated and that there is a jungle raj in the state. He said YSRCP MLCs and former ministers were going to Penumaka on the invitation of locals to observe the manner in which they are being harassed.

"While they were on their way, TDP goons stopped the convoy and attacked it. The farmers had told our leaders about the harassment being meted out on them, and our team was visiting them, which is a democratic process. The manner in which they carried out the attack shows that they are guilty of the charges of harassing the farmers who did not part with their land," he said.

That question has lingered ever since. People steal from homes, shops, banks and businesses. Such crimes, unfortunate as they are, have become part of everyday headlines. But stealing money which devotees have offered at the temple is different because it crosses a line that many never imagined could be crossed.

Over the past two months, the country has witnessed two developments that have shaken public confidence -- the donation theft at the Ram Temple and the NEET paper leak.

At first glance, the two cases have nothing in common. One concerns a temple. The other concerns a national entrance examination. But both reveal the same disturbing truth -- those who were expected to protect the system allegedly chose to exploit it.

That is what makes these incidents far more serious than ordinary crimes.

Society can deal with criminals. It has laws, courts and prisons for that. What is much harder to deal with is the collapse of trust. Every institution, whether it is a temple, a school, a court or an examination body, functions because people believe those running it will do the right thing. The day the custodians themselves begin violating that trust, the damage goes far beyond.

For crores of Hindus, the Ram Temple is not merely another place of worship. It represents a centuries-old civilisational aspiration. The temple is the culmination of a long legal, social and emotional journey that generations witnessed and participated in. Every day, thousands of devotees travel to Ayodhya from every corner of the country. Some leave a few rupees in the donation box, others contribute larger amounts, some offer jewellery and some clothes. The value of the offering has never mattered, but what matters is the faith with which it is made.

Very few devotees pause to think about what happens after they drop the money into the donation box. They assume, quite naturally, that those entrusted with counting and safeguarding these offerings will discharge their responsibility honestly. That faith is as important as the offering itself. It is precisely this faith that has been shaken.

Eight people associated with counting the donations have been arrested after CCTV footage showed them removing wads of currency notes during the counting process. They were entrusted with safeguarding devotees' offerings. Instead, they now stand accused of stealing them.

The Special Investigation Team submitted its preliminary findings, and an FIR followed. The investigation is still underway, and only the courts will ultimately determine individual guilt. The arrests and the CCTV footage have come as a painful shock to countless devotees.

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust receives donations worth hundreds of crores every year. The temple also witnesses an average daily footfall of around 70,000 to 80,000 devotees, with numbers swelling at weekends and festivals. Handling offerings of this scale demands more than administrative efficiency. It demands integrity beyond question. People are not merely depositing money; they are placing their faith in the hands of those responsible for protecting it.

The same sense of betrayal is visible in the NEET paper leak case.

Lakhs of students spend years preparing for one examination. Families invest their savings, make sacrifices and build their hopes around the belief that merit will decide the outcome. But their trust was betrayed. Several teachers and subject experts appointed by the National Testing Agency (NTA) leaked final question papers and ran exclusive coaching sessions.

The allegations that teachers, paper setters and others associated with the examination process misused their positions have hurt not only individual students but also public confidence in the system itself.

A temple and an examination hall are very different places. One is built on faith, the other on merit. However, both ultimately depend on trust.

When a teacher leaks a question paper, it is not merely an academic offence. When a person entrusted with counting temple donations pockets the offerings, it is not merely theft. In both situations, the offender occupies a position that society expects to be above temptation. That expectation is what makes the alleged wrongdoing so disturbing.

Perhaps this is why these incidents have generated an emotion across the country. They touch something deeper than financial loss. They force people to ask uncomfortable questions about honesty, responsibility and values. What makes someone betray a responsibility placed in their hands with complete confidence? At what point does greed become greater than conscience? These are questions no investigation can answer.

The criminal justice system will do its job. Those found guilty will face the law. But legal proceedings alone cannot restore what has been damaged.

Despite everything, the stream of devotees heading to Ayodhya has not stopped. Every day, thousands continue to stand patiently in long queues for the darshan of Ram Lalla. They continue to bow their heads, fold their hands and make their offerings. Their faith in Lord Ram remains untouched.

Temples are ultimately sustained not by cash in donation boxes but by the devotion of those who walk through their doors. That devotion has survived wars, invasions and political disputes over centuries. It will survive this, too.

The law will take its course. The guilty will be punished. But for devotees, one question may never find an answer: How could they do it?

(Deepika Bhan can be contacted at deepika.b@ians.in)

Itanagar, June 28 (IANS) Demonstrating its unwavering commitment to nation-building and humanitarian assistance, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) restored the crucial Kimin-Potin road within an impressive 36 hours after torrential monsoon rains, flash floods and landslides caused widespread devastation in Arunachal Pradesh’s Keyi Panyor and Papum Pare districts, officials said on Sunday.

Defence spokesman Lt Col Mahendra Rawat said incessant rainfall triggered multiple landslides and major formation breaches along the 45-km road stretch, washing away sections of the roadway and burying several portions under mud, boulders and uprooted trees.

The disruption completely halted vehicular movement and snapped connectivity to key locations, including Potin, Yazali, Yachuli, Joram and Ziro, he said.

According to the defence spokesman, the road closure severely affected the movement of essential commodities, emergency response teams and access to critical healthcare facilities, including the Tomo Riba Institute of Health & Medical Sciences (TRIHMS) in Naharlagun.

With National Highway-13 also rendered inaccessible due to extensive flood damage, restoration of the Kimin-Potin road became critical for sustaining relief, rescue and emergency response operations.

Responding swiftly to a request from the civil administration, BRO’s 756 Border Roads Task Force (BRTF), under Project Arunank, mobilised nearly 80 personnel along with heavy earth-moving machinery to undertake the restoration work.

Lt Col Rawat said that despite relentless rainfall, unstable hill slopes and recurring landslides, BRO personnel worked round the clock under extremely challenging conditions to clear debris, reconstruct damaged embankments and restore the road to traffic-worthy condition.

The road was successfully reopened for vehicular movement at midnight between Saturday and Sunday, within just 36 hours, re-establishing connectivity and enabling the uninterrupted movement of relief materials, emergency services and the general public, he said.

The BRO is also undertaking the upgradation of the Kimin-Potin road to double-lane specifications, which will significantly enhance the route's long-term reliability, resilience and carrying capacity, further strengthening connectivity in this strategically important region.

The swift restoration once again underscores the BRO's dedication to ensuring seamless connectivity in remote and challenging terrain while standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the civil administration during natural disasters and emergencies, the defence spokesman said.

Meanwhile, the death toll in the rain-triggered flash floods since June 23 in Keyi Panyor district has risen to two after rescuers recovered the body of a 30-year-old woman from beneath the debris at the NEEPCO Colony on Saturday. Three other people remain missing.

Officials said search and rescue operations by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and Keyi Panyor Police are continuing to trace the three missing persons in the flash flood incident at the NEEPCO Colony.

The missing persons have been identified as Elesh Marak (13), Tao Anjina (46) and Sourav Kumar (48).

An Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter was deployed on June 25 to airlift relief materials, including a rescue boat, and transport National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel to the flood-affected Keyi Panyor district.

According to district administration officials, five persons were initially reported missing after flash floods inundated the NEEPCO project colony near Poosa under the Yazali circle of Keyi Panyor district.

At least 20 people sustained injuries of varying severity in the calamity, including three who are reported to be in critical condition. The injured have been shifted to a government hospital for treatment.

Officials said an under-construction retaining wall collapsed following incessant heavy rainfall, leading to severe waterlogging in low-lying residential areas in and around the NEEPCO colony.

Around 20 houses and residential units were damaged after flash floods, triggered by continuous rainfall since June 23, battered the Yazali circle of Keyi Panyor district.

This comes after the eight individuals were sent to three-day judicial custody on Friday. They will stay in jail till June 29 and will be produced before a city court again on Monday.

According to police sources, some cash and property documents were also recovered from the house of Yadav, who is associated with the temple management.

By evening, the police will complete an assessment to determine exactly what has been recovered from the premises of each accused.

Later at night, the investigators will decide whether to seek police custody of the accused again during the court hearing tomorrow.

Officials have recovered some items from the residence of each accused, and all the recovered materials are currently being verified.

Earlier in the day, accused Tinnu Yadav's neighbour, Tara Devi, speaking to IANS, referred to him as a "brother" and expressed faith in his innocence.

Asserting that Yadav was a good person, she claimed: "He is being framed."

Krishna Nand Tiwari, a neighbour of accused Anukalp Mishra, said: "Action is being taken, brother (Mishra) or whoever is involved in this, whoever has committed theft or wrongdoing, they should be given the strictest punishment. They should be ashamed of their act, especially since it is related to God. They have betrayed the faith of crores of devotees."

About the accused, he said: "Though he (Mishra) didn't come across as such a kind of person, but one can never gauge anybody's intentions."

Another neighbour, Anurag, said he had known Mishra for around a year. "He was a person of good nature; we used to greet each other whenever we met. But I don't know if he had any malicious intention," he told IANS.

A total of eight accused have been booked for alleged theft at the temple, and all were subsequently arrested. The FIR was registered at Ayodhya Kotwali police station on Thursday, based on a complaint filed by Krishna Mohan, a member of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.

Those named in the case include Ramshankar Yadav, Trust employees Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra, and Avinash Shukla; and retired bank employee Subhash Srivastava.

The filing of the case came soon after a three-member SIT flagged several irregularities at multiple levels in its preliminary report.

The police state that the entire episode of alleged theft will be uncovered based on interrogation of the accused and CCTV-based evidence. If more names are revealed in the investigation, action will be taken against them as well.

The preliminary probe has highlighted key roles played by each accused at various levels. The role of Ramshankar Yadav, alias Tinnu Yadav, is particularly under increased scrutiny.

This comes after the eight individuals were sent to three-day judicial custody on Friday. They will stay in jail till June 29 and will be produced before a city court again on Monday.

According to police sources, some cash and property documents were also recovered from the house of Yadav, who is associated with the temple management.

By evening, the police will complete an assessment to determine exactly what has been recovered from the premises of each accused.

Later at night, the investigators will decide whether to seek police custody of the accused again during the court hearing tomorrow.

Officials have recovered some items from the residence of each accused, and all the recovered materials are currently being verified.

Earlier in the day, accused Tinnu Yadav's neighbour, Tara Devi, speaking to IANS, referred to him as a "brother" and expressed faith in his innocence.

Asserting that Yadav was a good person, she claimed: "He is being framed."

A total of eight accused have been booked for alleged theft at the temple, and all were subsequently arrested. The FIR was registered at Ayodhya Kotwali police station on Thursday, based on a complaint filed by Krishna Mohan, a member of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.

Those named in the case include Ramshankar Yadav, Trust employees Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra, and Avinash Shukla; and retired bank employee Subhash Srivastava.

The filing of the case came soon after a three-member SIT flagged several irregularities at multiple levels in its preliminary report.

The police state that the entire episode of alleged theft will be uncovered based on interrogation of the accused and CCTV-based evidence. If more names are revealed in the investigation, action will be taken against them as well.

The preliminary probe has highlighted key roles played by each accused at various levels. The role of Ramshankar Yadav, alias Tinnu Yadav, is particularly under increased scrutiny.

The seizure was made by officers of the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Ahmedabad Customs on Sunday after the passenger, who hails from Mangrol town of Junagadh district, arrived on Thai Airways flight TG-343 from Bangkok.

During examination of the checked-in baggage, a customs sniffer dog gave a positive indication of the presence of narcotic drugs.

Based on the baggage tag, officers identified and intercepted the male passenger. A detailed search of the passenger's checked-in trolley bag led to the recovery of five silver-coloured polythene packets containing green-coloured plant material concealed inside the baggage.

The substance tested positive for hydroponic marijuana (ganja) using a field testing kit.

"The total net weight of the seized contraband was 10,911 grams. The seized hydroponic marijuana is estimated to be worth approximately Rs 11 crore in the international market," a customs official told IANS.

The contraband has been seized under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, and the passenger has been arrested.

Further investigation is underway to establish the source, intended recipients, and any links to wider trafficking networks.

The latest interception adds to a string of hydroponic marijuana seizures involving passengers arriving from Bangkok at Ahmedabad airport.

Last month, Customs arrested a passenger after seizing more than 20 kg of marijuana concealed in checked baggage on another Bangkok flight.

In another case, Ahmedabad Customs also recovered around 6.5 kg of hydroponic marijuana from a Bangkok passenger travelling on the same Thai Airways route, while another operation led to the seizure of about four kg of the drug from baggage linked to a separate traveller.

The trend is not confined to Ahmedabad. Last week, Mumbai Customs arrested two passengers arriving from Bangkok after recovering more than 19 kg of hydroponic weed from their baggage, highlighting continued attempts to smuggle high-potency cannabis into India through international airports.

This comes after the eight individuals were sent to three-day judicial custody on Friday. They will stay in jail till June 29 and will be produced before the city court again on Monday.

Krishna Nand Tiwari, a neighbour of accused Anukalp Mishra, said: "Action is being taken, brother (Mishra) or whoever is involved in this, whoever has committed theft or wrongdoing, they should be given the strictest punishment. They should be ashamed of their act, especially since it is related to God. They have betrayed the faith of crores of devotees."

About the accused, he said: "Though he (Mishra) didn't come across as such a kind of person, but one can never gauge anybody's intentions."

Another neighbour, Anurag, said he had known Mishra for around a year. "He was a person of good nature; we used to greet each other whenever we met. But I don't know if he had any malicious intention," he told IANS.

Accused Tinnu Yadav's neighbour Tara Devi said: "Tinnu is like a brother. Searches at his home will only take place when all the neighbours are around."

Asserting that Yadav was a good person, she claimed: "He is being framed."

A total of eight accused have been booked for alleged theft at the temple, and all were subsequently arrested. The FIR was registered at Ayodhya Kotwali police station on Thursday, based on a complaint filed by Krishna Mohan, a member of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.

Those named in the case include Ramshankar Yadav (alias Tinnu), who is associated with temple management; Trust employees Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra, and Avinash Shukla; and retired bank employee Subhash Srivastava.

The filing of the case came soon after a three-member SIT flagged several irregularities at multiple levels in its preliminary report.

The police state that the entire episode of alleged theft will be uncovered based on interrogation of the accused and CCTV-based evidence. If more names are revealed in the investigation, action will be taken against them as well.

The preliminary probe has highlighted key roles played by each accused at various levels. The role of Ramshankar Yadav, alias Tinnu Yadav, is particularly under increased scrutiny.

Addressing a joint press meet with Seychelles President Patrick Herminie following their meeting, PM Modi said, "We believe the Indian Ocean is our shared home. Its security, sustainability and prosperity are our shared responsibility. This sentiment is the basis of our MAHASAGAR vision."

India wants the Indian Ocean to pave the way for economic prosperity along with maritime security, he said.

"The message of my visit to Seychelles is clear - India envisions an Indian Ocean where economic prosperity grows alongside maritime security; where our partnerships are based on mutual respect and trust rather than size; and where we move forward not merely in proximity to one another, but together. Our vision is to make the Indian Ocean into an Ocean of Opportunity."

PM Modi expressed gratitude to President Herminie for the warm welcome and honouring him with the "Guardian of the Blue Horizon" award.

"I express my heartfelt gratitude to President Herminie for our warm welcome and gracious hospitality. Being honoured by him with the 'Guardian of the Blue Horizon' is a matter of immense joy for me and 1.4 billion Indians. While humbly accepting this honour, I dedicate it to all those countries that are fighting the challenge of climate change and consider environmental conservation their duty towards future generations."

He noted that the Indian Ocean has nurtured the ties between India and Seychelles for years and has fostered trade, culture, and human connections between the two nations.

"My visit takes place at a historic occasion as Seychelles marks 50 years of its independence, and we celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Seychelles. Over the course of these 50 years, we have transformed friendship into trust, trust into cooperation, and cooperation into public welfare. The Indian Ocean has nurtured the relationship between India and Seychelles for centuries; its waves have continuously fostered trade, culture, and human connections between us," he said.

PM Modi announced that India and Seychelles will continue to explore new opportunities for the industries of both nations, and efforts will be made to enhance connectivity between the two nations.

"The joint vision issued during the President's visit to India in February of this year has laid the blueprint for our future partnership. Building upon this, our cooperation across all sectors is strengthening. Today, we discussed making our economic cooperation more resilient and future-ready. We will continue to explore new opportunities for the industries of both our nations. Efforts will also be made to enhance connectivity between India and Seychelles. This will not only boost our trade but also strengthen ties with East Africa and the Indian Ocean region."

PM Modi termed digital technology an effective means to bridge the distance between the two nations and announced that India will share its successful experiences in digital public infrastructure with Seychelles.

The arrested leaders have been identified as Sumit Sharma and Syed Kalimuddin alias Bappa. Sumit is a councillor of Ward No. 1 of Burdwan Municipality. He is known to be close to former Trinamool MLA Khokan Das, who was arrested earlier in a related case.

According to the police, Sumit, who is accused of corruption, extortion, and issuing threats, had been away for a long time after the Assembly election results were announced.

A few days ago, the police received information that Sumit had returned to his house in the Lakshmipur Math area of ​​Burdwan. The police conducted a raid and arrested him at his house.

Another Trinamool leader who was arrested is Syed Kalimuddin alias Bappa. The Trinamool block president in the Raina area was arrested near National Highway-19 in the Nababhat area late Saturday night following specific inputs, police said.

He also faces multiple charges, including extortion.

According to the police, Sumit Sharma is accused of extorting money from local residents and traders in Burdwan. He allegedly collected "cut money," i.e., illegal commissions -- in exchange for facilitating access to government schemes.

Meanwhile, Syed Kalimuddin is accused of similarly extracting illegal commissions and assaulting several individuals who failed to pay the demanded cut money.

Police said they are probing all aspects of the complaints against the two.

Police said several cases have been registered across the state against leaders of the former ruling party after the Assembly elections, including allegations of extortion, threats, assault, illegal land acquisition, embezzlement of government funds, and hoarding of relief materials.

Authorities said investigations are ongoing and further arrests may follow.

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has warned that everyone who was involved in such crimes will face justice.

The award acknowledges PM Modi's long-standing push for sustainable growth and his green vision.

This is the latest in a series of global honours recognising PM Modi’s work on climate action, sustainable development, and green growth.

In May, PM Modi was conferred the 2026 Agricola Medal, the highest honour of the Food and Agriculture Organisation, during a ceremony held at the FAO Headquarters in Rome.

The medal was presented by FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu at the historic FAO Plenary Hall in recognition of PM Modi’s contribution to food security, agricultural development, and farmer welfare, according to the organisation.

Earlier in 2018, he received the Seoul Peace Prize for advancing sustainable economic growth, global cooperation and inclusive development.

PM Modi was also conferred the Champions of the Earth Award 2018 for Policy Leadership by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres at a ceremony held at Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra in New Delhi.

PM Modi is currently on a three-day State visit to Seychelles.

Earlier in the day, PM Modi and Seychelles President Patrick Herminie held a meeting at State House in Seychelles.

Prior to the meeting, PM Modi was accorded a Guard of Honour at the State House.

On Saturday, PM Modi handed over 'Made in India' Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) PS LESPWAR, six ambulances, 10 utility vehicles and five laser radial boats to strengthen Seychelles' maritime surveillance and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) priorities.

The handing-over ceremony took place in the presence of President Herminie at the Seychelles Coast Guard Base in Victoria, during the first day of PM Modi's State Visit to the archipelagic island.

"Together as partners. Stronger as one. In a special gesture, PM Narendra Modi handed over the ‘made in India’ Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) PS LESPWAR to President Dr. Patrick Herminie. The FPV will contribute to strengthening Seychelles’ maritime surveillance and EEZ patrol capabilities," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on X.

"PM also handed over six ambulances, 10 utility vehicles and five laser radial boats, which will further contribute to the development and security of Seychelles. Guided by India’s Vision MAHASAGAR, India and Seychelles continue to strengthen their robust defence partnership, contributing to security and stability in the Indian Ocean region," it added.

The two leaders also planted a sapling of the rare ‘Coco de Mer’ palm at the Seychelles National Botanical Garden on Saturday.

PM Modi arrived in Seychelles on Saturday afternoon to attend the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the country’s National Day as the Guest of Honour and further strengthen bilateral cooperation.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) (Lonavala division) Gajanan Tompe said, "Today, according to Siya's description, we recreated the crime scene at the Lohagad fort. Superintendent of Police (SP) and other senior officials were also present (during the recreation)."

"Siya is currently an accused in this case, and the investigation is ongoing accordingly," he told IANS.

The police reportedly carried a fibre-made dummy to reconstruct the crime scene.

Officials said that during the reconstruction process, Siya revealed the entire conspiracy to the police.

According to information shared by a senior police officer, the victim's fiancée admitted during questioning and the reconstruction that she, along with her associate Chetan, had planned to eliminate Ketan.

As per the plan, Siya was supposed to walk to a higher point at Lohagad Fort and pretend to tie her shoelaces. As soon as she bent down under the pretext of tying them, Chetan was to approach Ketan from behind and attack him.

According to police sources, the reconstruction of events revealed that Chetan allegedly came from behind and suddenly pushed Ketan, causing him to lose his balance and fall approximately 300 feet into a deep gorge. The victim reportedly died on the spot.

The police have video-recorded Siya's alleged confession during the crime scene reconstruction as well as the entire reenactment. Further investigation will proceed accordingly.

Meanwhile, the probe has revealed that both the accused, Siya and Chetan, had googled ways to kill Ketan Agarwal.

According to reports, Siya and Chetan went to the fort alone before committing the crime to "rehearse" the murder. The two had also prepared and practised their answers, in case they were caught by the police.

Investigation further revealed that the two murder accused had planned to disguise themselves during the murder to avoid suspicion.

Earlier, it was reported that Siya and Chetan had systematically wiped their entire phone chat history and recycle bins before and after the crime. Their mobile phones have been sent to a forensic laboratory to retrieve the logs of deleted chats, officials said.

An explosive device was planted by unidentified assailants along the Mian Ghandi Link Road near Pir Wali on Saturday, and the blast took place when the police vehicle carrying prisoners from Dasht court to Mastung jail passed through the location, police said, The Express Tribune reported. The vehicle suffered damage in the explosion.

SHO, Dasht, Akhtar Muhammad said that the four police personnel were injured in the explosion and were provided medical treatment at the site of the incident. After the explosion, heavy contingents of security forces rushed to the site of the incident, cordoned off the area, and launched a search operation.

The incident occurred amid a rise in attacks targeting law enforcement personnel in Pakistan, especially the border provinces of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

On June 14, two police personnel were killed, and six others were injured after a suicide attack targeted a police check post in the Wahwa area near the Punjab-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa border.

The police check post also suffered extensive damage due to the suicide attack. An explosion took place on Sunday after unidentified assailants rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the main gate of the checkpost, according to officials, The Express Tribune reported.

District Police Officer Muhammad Sadiq Baloch stated that two police personnel succumbed to their injuries while six other police personnel were seriously injured in the attack. All the injured personnel were taken to the hospital for treatment.

Officials said the check post structure was completely destroyed in the blast. The blast also led to the collapse of the roofs and walls of several houses in the nearby area. Furthermore, more than a dozen local residents were injured in the attack.

Speaking to reporters, Sadiq Baloch said that the suicide bomber was also killed in the blast, and further investigations have been launched into the attack.

Earlier this month, the monthly security assessment released by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) revealed that the security situation in the country deteriorated in May, particularly due to an increase in militant attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

The latest findings by PICSS showed an increase in militant attacks during May after a brief period of relative decline, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, the daily Dawn reported. The sharp rise in attacks, casualties, suicide bombings and kidnappings suggests that security challenges remain severe.

As many as 128 militant attacks occurred in May in comparison to 101 in April, showcasing a 27 per cent rise. As many as 71 people, 68 security personnel, and six members of peace committees were killed, while 147 people, 35 security personnel, and three peace committee members were injured in the violence in May.

Compared to April, civilian casualties rose from 37 to 71, showcasing a 92 per cent increase, while security personnel fatalities rose from 28 to 68, showcasing a 143 per cent increase. Pakistan witnessed six suicide attacks in May, causing the deaths of 34 security personnel and nine civilians, Dawn reported.

Balochistan was the most affected province of Pakistan in May as it recorded 71 militant attacks, in comparison to 34 in April, showcasing a 109 per cent rise. As many as 54 kidnappings occurred in Pakistan in May. Of them, 52 kidnappings took place in Balochistan alone.