Thursday, December 18

State

IRCTC Cracks Down on Train Vendor Overcharging with New System
State

IRCTC Cracks Down on Train Vendor Overcharging with New System

Mumbai: Overcharging by onboard vendors has long been a persistent problem for train passengers. To curb this issue and ensure transparency, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has introduced a new initiative across select express trains. Under this new system, vendors will be provided with a distinct uniform displaying a helpline number. Each vendor will also carry a special QR-coded card, which passengers can scan to verify prices and register complaints easily. The initiative has been launched in the Western Zone on premium trains including Shatabdi, Tejas, Rajdhani, and Vande Bharat High-Speed trains. Helpline and Complaint RedressalThe helpline number printed on the new uniform will allow passengers to immediately report overcharging or any other grievance. T...
Chenab River Water to Flow Through Rajasthan to Gujarat; Minister Shekhawat Says Modi Government Rectifying Historical Mistakes
State

Chenab River Water to Flow Through Rajasthan to Gujarat; Minister Shekhawat Says Modi Government Rectifying Historical Mistakes

Sri Ganganagar: During a one-day visit to Sri Ganganagar, Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat sharply criticized the previous Congress government over water-sharing policies. The minister highlighted that under the Indus Water Treaty, former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had allocated 80% of river waters to Pakistan, ignoring engineers’ warnings, in an attempt to “buy peace”—a move he called detrimental to India’s national interest. Shekhawat claimed that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this policy has been revised. In the coming years, water from the Chenab River will no longer flow to Pakistan but will instead pass through various regions of Rajasthan and reach Gujarat. Historical Oversight by NehruShekhawat referred to a book written by engineers who ...
Father of Kasba Law College Gangrape Victim Threatened to Withdraw Case
State

Father of Kasba Law College Gangrape Victim Threatened to Withdraw Case

Kolkata, West Bengal: In a disturbing development, the father of the victim in the Kasba Law College gangrape case has received threats from unidentified bikers, urging him to withdraw the case. The police have registered a complaint and initiated an investigation into the matter. Details of the Threat On Wednesday, two men on a motorcycle approached the father of the victim and threatened him to drop the legal proceedings. After issuing the threats, the assailants fled the scene. The father could not identify the individuals. A police officer stated that the complaint has been formally lodged at Baruipur Police Station, and the investigation team has been notified. Police are currently questioning local residents near the scene and examining CCTV footage to track down the culprit...
Maharashtra Moves to Enforce HSRP on 1 Crore Vehicles; Only 47 Lakh Cars Equipped So Far
State

Maharashtra Moves to Enforce HSRP on 1 Crore Vehicles; Only 47 Lakh Cars Equipped So Far

Pune/Mumbai: The Maharashtra Transport Department has emphasized the mandatory installation of High-Security Registration Plates (HSRP) on older vehicles. Despite the directive, only 47.23 lakh vehicles across the state have been fitted with HSRP so far, leaving over 1.08 crore vehicles yet to comply. The deadline for installation has been extended to November 30, 2025, after which action will be taken against non-compliant vehicles. Why HSRP is Essential:The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways mandated HSRP installation on all vehicles manufactured before April 1, 2019. Maharashtra alone has 2.43 crore vehicles falling under this category. While 87.18 lakh vehicles have been registered for HSRP, a significant number of vehicle owners have yet to register or install the plates. City-...
Five Jharkhand Workers Stranded in Cameroon Appeal for Urgent Repatriation
State

Five Jharkhand Workers Stranded in Cameroon Appeal for Urgent Repatriation

Hazaribagh/Ranchi: A distressing situation has emerged for five migrant workers from Jharkhand, who are currently stranded in Cameroon, Africa. The workers hail from Hazaribagh and Giridih districts and have not been paid for their labor, leaving them in severe hardship for food, shelter, and basic necessities. Identities of the Stranded WorkersThe stranded workers include Sunil Mahto, Sukar Mahto, Chandra Shekhar Kumar, Deelo Mahto from Vishnugarh (Unchaghna) in Hazaribagh, and Dilchand Mahto from Dumri in Giridih. Workers Claim Non-Payment of WagesAccording to the workers, the company they were employed with has failed to pay their wages. In a video message, the workers highlighted their plight and appealed to the Indian government for immediate repatriation. Social Activist Seeks Gov...
Eknath Shinde Voices Discontent, Targets BJP Ahead of Maharashtra Local Body Polls
State

Eknath Shinde Voices Discontent, Targets BJP Ahead of Maharashtra Local Body Polls

Mumbai: Tensions within Maharashtra’s ruling alliance have escalated ahead of the upcoming local body elections. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde openly criticized the BJP during a rally in Dahanu, signaling growing friction within the Mahayuti coalition. Speaking to a large crowd, Shinde refrained from naming the party directly but made his discontent clear, highlighting issues of alleged arrogance and authoritarianism. Full Story: During his Dahanu rally, Shinde drew a parallel to the epic of Ramayana, saying, “Even Ravana was arrogant, which led to the fall of Lanka. On 2nd December, the people must unite to eliminate corruption and vote for development.” He urged voters to support Shiv Sena candidate Raju Machhi and his team in the upcoming elections. The local body electio...
Jharkhand Assembly Celebrates 25th Foundation Day: Raj Sinha Honoured, Families of 16 Martyrs Felicitated
State

Jharkhand Assembly Celebrates 25th Foundation Day: Raj Sinha Honoured, Families of 16 Martyrs Felicitated

Ranchi: The Jharkhand Legislative Assembly marked its 25th Foundation Day on Saturday with a grand Silver Jubilee celebration. The historic event was conducted in two separate sessions and was inaugurated by Governor Santosh Gangwar. Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Assembly Speaker Ravindra Nath Mahto were also present on the dais. Outstanding Legislator AwardThis year, the 21st Outstanding Legislator Award was presented to BJP MLA Raj Sinha from Dhanbad in recognition of his exemplary contributions. In addition, the families of 16 martyrs were felicitated for their sacrifices in the line of duty. A Milestone for Young JharkhandCongratulating Raj Sinha, Chief Minister Hemant Soren described the 25th anniversary as a significant milestone in the journey of the young state of Jharkhand. He...
Hathras Policeman Duped by Fake ‘Supreme Court Judge’; Held at Hotel, Extorted ₹4 Lakh
State

Hathras Policeman Duped by Fake ‘Supreme Court Judge’; Held at Hotel, Extorted ₹4 Lakh

Hathras, Uttar Pradesh: A shocking case of online fraud has come to light in Hathras, where a local policeman fell victim to a sophisticated scam, allegedly losing ₹4 lakh after being lured by a person claiming to be a Supreme Court judge.How the Scam UnfoldedThe incident dates back to February 2, 2025. The victim, a police constable posted in Hathras court, received a Facebook Messenger call from a woman claiming her name was Aarohi. She told him she was a judge at the Supreme Court and had previously served with Delhi Police. Over three months, she established contact, gaining the policeman’s trust. On February 20, the policeman was invited to Agra, where he met a man claiming to be Aarohi’s brother, Rupa. He was allegedly given a drugged cold drink and taken to a hotel in Bharatpur. Th...
Cyber Fraud in Hooghly: Amrish Goswami’s Three-Month Jail, Controversial Claims Raise Eyebrows
State

Cyber Fraud in Hooghly: Amrish Goswami’s Three-Month Jail, Controversial Claims Raise Eyebrows

Bareilly/Hooghly: A shocking cyber fraud case has come to light involving Amrish Goswami, a resident of Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh. The 25-year-old spent three months in Hooghly jail, West Bengal, after a complaint was lodged against him and his associates for cyber fraud. Recently released on bail, Amrish approached the Bareilly SSP office with startling allegations against his friends.Allegations of Religious CoercionAmrish claimed that during his time in Hooghly, he was allegedly coerced into performing Namaz and reciting Kalma. According to him, he was also fed meat against his will, and his identity was altered—he was given the name Dr. Raza, and a YouTube channel was created under this name. He said that his Aadhaar card address was changed and 14 bank accounts were opened using his cre...
Bears Turning Deadly in Uttarakhand: Daytime Attacks Raise Alarm
State

Bears Turning Deadly in Uttarakhand: Daytime Attacks Raise Alarm

Dehradun: Uttarakhand is witnessing a surge in wild bear attacks, posing a serious threat to both humans and livestock in hill districts including Uttarkashi, Pauri, Pithoragarh, Chamoli, and Rudraprayag. In a recent incident in Chamoli’s Pokhri block, a woman collecting fodder in the forest was severely mauled by a bear. Despite her injuries, she managed to cling to a tree overnight until villagers found her the next morning. She was airlifted to AIIMS Rishikesh due to the severity of her wounds. In another instance, a woman successfully defended herself against an attacking bear using a sickle, forcing it to flee.Statistics Paint a Grim PictureData from the past 25 years indicates 2,081 bear attacks in Uttarakhand, leaving 2,009 people injured and 71 dead. In 2025 alone, the forest depar...