NHAI to monetise 33 highway stretches in FY25

New Delhi: National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has identified 33 highway stretches including in Odisha, cumulatively spanning 2,741 km to monetise during the current financial year through toll operate transfer (TOT) and infrastructure investment trust (InvIT) modes. The identified stretches include Panikoili-Rimuli in Odisha, Lucknow-Aligarh, KanpurAyodhya-Gorakhpur and Bareilly-Sitapur in Uttar Pradesh, Gurugram-Kotputli-Jaipur bypass and []

Lok Sabha elections: Keen contest on the cards as eight seats in western UP vote in Phase-I

LUCKNOW: The battle lines have been formally drawn in Uttar Pradesh for the high stakes Lok Sabha election with eight seats in the western region of the state set to vote in Phase-I on Friday. A total of 80 candidates are in the fray and 1.44 crore voters are set to decide their fate. Of the eight seats, the BJP had lost five Saharanpur, Bijnor, Nagina, Moradabad and Rampur in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections when the SP, BSP and RLD were contesting in a grand alliance. The saffron outfit had to be satisfied with Kairana, Muzaffarnagar and Pilibhit. While Saharanpur, Bijnor and Nagina (SC) were won by the BSP, the SP had emerged victorious in Moradabad and Rampur. This time, while the BJP has accomplished a big strategic victory by winning over the Jayant Chaudhury-led Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), which has a strong influence on the Jat vote, the Congress and SP have joined hands in the INDIA bloc and the Mayawati-led BSP is going it alone. As per the Congress-SP seat-sharing arrangement, the Congress will contest only one seat -- Saharanpur -- of the eight in the first phase, with the SP contesting the remaining seven. While the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is relying on the popularity of PM Narendra Modi and CM Yogi Adityanath in UP and beyond, improved law and order, beneficiaries of welfare schemes besides the consecration of Ram Lalla in his abode in Ayodhya, the SP has been harping on caste census while pitching for the Pichhda (OBC) Dalit (SC) Alpsankhyak (Muslim) narrative. Yogis new slogan: 80 banega aadhaar, NDA 400 paar... On the other hand, the Congress is looking for a revival in the state where it has been reduced to a non-entity. Across all eight seats set to vote on Friday, Muslims, Dalits and OBC (primarily Jats, Gurjar and Sainis) hold a sizable presence. However, some of the most watched-out contests would be in Pilibhit where the Gandhis Varun and mother Maneka are not in the scene for the first time since 1989 and the saffron party has pinned its hopes on Jitin Prasada against the SPs Bhagwat Saran Gangwar, a five-time MLA from Nawabganj assembly seat in Bareilly. The BSP, on the other hand, has fielded Anees Ahmad Khan, aka Phool Babu, a three-time MLA from Bisalpur. The BJP is finding it tough to sail through in Muzaffarnagar, the sugar bowl of UP, where its sitting MP and union minister Sanjiv Baliyan, is seeking a straight third term. With the RLD becoming part of the BJP-led NDA, all eyes will be on the challenge thrown by the SPs Harendra Malik, a Jat. The BSP has fielded Dara Singh Prajapati, an OBC, who could potentially consolidate both the OBC and Dalit vote. In Kairana, the BJPs sitting MP Pradeep Chaudhary, a Gurjar, is facing a stiff challenge from SPs Ikra Hasan, sister of SP MLA Nahid Hasan. The BSP has fielded Sripal Singh -- a Thakur -- in what is being perceived as a move to nudge the BJP in the west UP region. In 2019, Chaudhary had defeated Ikras mother Tabassum Begum. Polarisation seems to be the high point in Kairana. On what basis is BJP claiming 400 seats: Priyanka Gandhi smells a rat in NDA slogan In Rampur, another interesting contest is in the offing. Touted to be a pocket borough of senior SP leader and 10-time lawmaker Azam Khan, Rampur was wrested by the BJP in the 2022 by-polls necessitated after Azam vacated the seat following his election to the UP assembly. BJP candidate Ghanshyam Lodhi, the sitting MP, is now pitched against the SPs Mualana Mohibullah Nadvi and BSPs Zeeshan Khan who is reported to be invoking Azam and his legacy while campaigning. In Saharanpur, the contest is expected to be intense, with BJPs Raghav Lakhan Pal Sharma, Congresss Imran Masood and BSPs Majid Ali in the fray. This time, the BSP has replaced Fazlur Rehman, its sitting MP, with Majid Ali. Moradabad, the brass city, is also set for an interesting contest as the SP has replaced sitting MP ST Hasan with Ruchi Veera against the BJPs Kunwar Sarvesh Singh. The BSP has fielded Irfan Saifi, who could potentially eat into the Muslim vote bank of the SP. In Bijnor, the RLDs Chandan Chauhan, a Gurjar, is pitched against the SPs Deepak Saini. In 2019, the seat was won by the BSPs Malook Nagar who is now in the RLD. The BSP has fielded Chaudhary Vijendra Singh, a Jat. In Nagina reserved seat, the BJP has fielded its sitting MLA Om Kumar, who will be up against the SPs Manoj Kumar, a former district judge. The seat was won by the BSPs Girish Chandra in 2019. This time, the BSP has fielded Surendra Pal Singh. Moreover, Azad Samaj Party chief Chandra Shekhar Azad too is contesting from here.

In FY25, NHAI to monetise 2,741 km roads

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is looking to monetise 33 stretches of national highways during the current financial year (FY25) through its toll operate transfer (TOT) and infrastructure investment trust (Invit). These stretches include Lucknow-Aligarh, Kanpur-Ayodhya-Gorakhpur, and Bareilly-Sitapur in Uttar Pradesh, Gurugram-Kotputli-Jaipur bypass and Jaipur-Kishangarh in Rajasthan, Panikoili-Rimuli in Odisha, Chennai Bypass in Tamil Nadu, and Muzaffarpur-Darbhanga-Purnia highway in Bihar. Cumulatively, the 33 stretches, spanning 2,741 kilometres (km) earned approximately Rs 5,000 crore revenue in FY24.

NHAI Identifies 33 Highway Stretches For Monetisation Through ToT/InvIT Modes

The identified stretches include Lucknow-Aligarh, Kanpur-Ayodhya-Gorakhpur, and Bareilly-Sitapur in Uttar Pradesh, Gurugram-Kotputli-Jaipur bypass and Jaipur-Kishangarh in Rajasthan, Panikoili-Rimuli in Odisha, Chennai bypass in Tamil Nadu, and Muzaffarpur-Darbhanga-Purnia highway in Bihar.

NHAI identifies 33 highway stretches for monetisation in FY25

NHAI plans to monetise 33 highway stretches covering 2,741 kilometres in the current fiscal year through toll operate transfer (TOT) and infrastructure investment trust (InvIT) modes. Identified stretches include Lucknow-Aligarh, Kanpur-Ayodhya-Gorakhpur, and Bareilly-Sitapur in Uttar Pradesh, among others.

Asaduddin Owaisi's Uttar Pradesh gambit and why it has left the BJP chuckling in delight

The year was 2015. For Sanjarpur, a small village in Azamgarh in eastern Uttar Pradesh, an offer for its adoption by a political leader could well have helped it shun the image of being a error nursery after its two residents, both Indian Mujahideen operatives, were eliminated in Delhis Batla House encounter in 2008. However, the fact that the offer came from the All India Majlis Ittehadul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Asaduddin Owaisi from distant Hyderabad made the village people realise quickly that it was nothing more than an attempt by him to win over Muslims in UP. Owaisi, also an MP from Hyderabad in Telangana, reportedly applied to the government for adopting the village under the Sansaad Adarsh Gram Yojna, but nothing further is known of the fate of that application. Hyderabad: Despite anti-incumbency, Owaisi is frontrunner The Owaisi initiative caused sleepless nights for Samajwadi Party leader and the then Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav who was into the third year of his term: his comfort zone of the Muslim-Yadav (MY) support was jolted. Long confined to his state, Owaisi had turned to UP (and subsequently Bihar) in the same year. He visited Lucknow during the month of Ramzan (corresponding to July) in 2014 and met, among others, Maulana Saeed Athar Qasmi of the Tehreek Umar Society, an outfit ostensibly dedicated to welfare projects for the Muslims. Qasmi was entrusted with the task of strengthening the membership drive and Mohammad Shaukat Ali of Azamgarh was made the party convenor in the state. In the following year, Owaisi visited the state in January, April and July and brothers Asaduddin and Akbaruddin established a line of contact with the community through a couple of local Muslim leaders in Lucknow and Azamgarh. A rattled Akhilesh Yadav did what he could to check Owaisi's inroads and denied him permission to hold a public meeting in the state as long as he remained the Chief Minister. As per Owaisis own claims, made in a rally in Azamgarh on January 12, 2021, Akhilesh had stopped him from visiting UP 12 times. PDM versus PDA A lot has changed since then. For the 2024 election, Owaisi's party is in alliance with Apna Dal (Kamerawadi), besides two smaller outfits Pragatisheel Manav Samaj Party and Rashtriya Uday Party. The alliance thus formed is named PDM, standing for Pichhdaa (backward), Dalit and Muslim. It came into being after Pallavi Patel's party separated from the INDIA bloc after its demand to be handed the Mirzapur, Phulpur and Kaushambi Lok Sabha seats was not met. Incidentally, PDM seeks to counter Akhilesh's favourite phrase PDA - Pichhdaa (backward), Dalit and Alpsankhyak (backward.) The combination of a Kurmi-dominated Apna Dal (K) and a Muslim-oriented AIMIM may pose a serious threat to Samajwadi Party as both have a score to settle with Akhilesh Yadav. Already, PDM has announced candidates for seven Lok Sabha seats, which includes a Muslim candidate from Rae Bareli and OBC candidates from Bareilly, Hathras, Firozabad, Fatehpur, Bhadohi and Chandauli. SP realizes that Owaisi wishes to make inroads into UP by playing the Muslim card even as the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Congress are keen on doing the same. The importance of being Akhilesh Yadav in this Lok Sabha election Interestingly, despite having a substantial Muslim population, Uttar Pradesh has not seen a Muslim community-oriented political outfit achieve electoral success in the last several decades. On the other hand, caste-oriented parties as SP and BSP have done much better to achieve dominance in the state. Muslims preferred to support either of these parties after the Congress lost its appeal a few decades ago. The AIMIM has had some success in Bihar, though. In the 2020 Bihar elections, Owaisi's party had won five seats (but in June 2022, four of the MLAs joined the RJD). In this Lok Sabha election, AIMIM has decided to contest 11 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar. Maulana Mulayum and the Azam Khan factor In the past, there was a notable attempt to form a Muslim-driven party when the Peace Party, launched by Dr Mohammad Ayub Khan, a medical practitioner from eastern UP in February 2008, contested the UP Assembly elections in 2012 and won four seats. Although it professed to espouse the cause of Dalits and Muslims, its approach was to offer an alternative to Muslims as 'their' party. Interestingly, the past three decades have seen very few leaders emerge from the community itself. Mulayam Singh Yadav held sway over the community, earning the sobriquet of Maulana Mulayam with his strident statements favouring the community especially during 1989-1991. It was in the SP that Muslims saw a tall leader in Azam Khan of Rampur, who wielded considerable influence in western UP. He did help SP consolidate their hold among the community but Akhilesh's arrival in 2017 saw him being marginalised. In the words of S Abbas, a senior lawyer in Lucknow, he SP was considered a well-wisher of Muslims only until Mulayam was alive, but Akhilesh does not care for the community. His disregard for Azam Khan when the latter was hounded by the present government is not unnoticed by the community. The Owaisi plan and its impact Senior Muslim politicians such as Ahmed Hasan, Shafiqur Rahman Burq and ST Hasan did emerge but could not find place in the core team of Akhilesh Yadav. Incidentally, the criminals turned politicians from the community such as Atiq Ahmad and Mukhtar Ansari, only had a limited and local appeal. Mukhtar Ansari: End of a don of many states, many parties In the 2022 Assembly elections, Bahujan Samaj Party gave tickets to 88 Muslim candidates, followed by the Samajwadi Party, who gave it to 64 candidates, and the AIMIM, who gave it to 60. Of these only 32 from SP and 2 from Rashtriya Lok Dal were elected. In some constituencies, AIMIM got more votes than the margin by which the SP candidates lost. If the SP had got those AIMIM votes also, it would have won easily. AIMIM aims to specifically target Muslim-dominated regions, as is evident by Owaisi's recent visit to the family home of late Mukhtar Ansari in Ghazipur and his meeting with local leaders. Incidentally, for some reason Akhilesh visited Ansari household much later. Zia-ul-Haq, a native of Basti, notes that Owaisi has a limited appeal among UP's Muslims primarily because he is a Shia from southern India. His brand of politics has so far not appealed to the community but some educated young Muslims have been drawn to his arguments and statements. His being a lawyer obviously helps. Even though the so-called Muslim vote bank appears to have lost its ability to sway elections in the last 10 years, Owaisi is obviously attempting to rise as the community's go-to leader by playing upon their fears. For the BJP, it means a further fragmentation of the Muslim votes, as the BSP, too, has chosen to field a large number of Muslims this time. Owaisi is widely seen as a polarising figure and if he engages in frequent campaigning, it might lead to further polarization, helping BJP's prospects. It is not for nothing that Owaisi is termed as the B-team of the BJP, observes Abbas. ( Ratan Mani Lal is a senior journalist based in Uttar Pradesh. )

Keshav Prasad Maurya accuses Akhilesh Yadav of verbally attacking his late father in Mainpuri

Keshav Prasad Maurya accuses Akhilesh Yadav of verbally attacking his late father in Mainpuri Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya Monday accused Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav of hurling abuses at his late father and dubbed the opposition party as a factory that produces ''rioters, goons, criminals and mafia''. ''A Samajwadi Party (SP) membership is a certificate of hooliganism,'' Maurya claimed. The BJP leader addressed a meeting of party workers here after its candidate from the Mainpuri Lok Sabha seat Jayveer Singh filed his nomination papers. ''Akhilesh Yadav abused my late father in the Assembly when I went to Saifai to pay tributes to his father. This is the difference of values between the BJP and the SP,'' the state tourism minister said. Mainpuri is the last fort of the Samajwadi party, ''uproot it and make the lotus bloom'', he said. Sharpening his attack on the SP chief, Maurya said, ''Akhilesh Yadav, who became the chief minister through inherited politics, turned the state into a resting place for goons, criminals and mafia. Only one slogan was raised in the entire Uttar Pradesh 'Jis gari mein SP ka jhanda, us gari mein baitha gunda (vehicles carrying SP flags have goons sitting in them)'.'' He also asked voters to ''end nepotism and make the BJP victorious''. ''Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and with the blessings of the people, the BJP will win all 80 (LS) seats in the state,'' Maurya added. Jayveer Singh will be contesting against sitting MP Dimple Yadav, wife of SP chief Yadav. Polling in Mainpuri, along with Bareilly, Sambhal, Hathras, Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, Firozabad, Etah, Budaun and Aonla, will be held in the third phase of the Lok Sabha election on May 7.

EC's novel initiative to increase voter turnout in UP: Polling stations in housing societies

EC's novel initiative to increase voter turnout in UP: Polling stations in housing societies The Election Commission of India has set up more than 200 polling stations within housing societies in the urban areas of Uttar Pradesh to increase the voter turnout in the politically crucial state. In an interview with PTI, state's Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa said the poll body is targeting urban areas that have registered a low voter turnout in the past and expressed that Uttar Pradesh will secure the first position as far as voting percentage is concerned. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the voting percentage in Uttar Pradesh was a tepid 59.11 per cent. ''We have taken a number of important steps to ensure that all kinds of barriers that prevent voters from casting votes are removed. We have ensured that the polling station is located within a two-kilometre radius of every voter. ''Also in urban areas, we have undertaken a new initiative of setting up polling stations within gated communities and multi-storeyed housing societies where there has been a low voter turnout in the past,'' Rinwa told PTI. The senior official said 200-plus polling booths have been set up across the state, with Noida taking the lead. ''Uttar Pradesh has the maximum number of such polling stations and Noida has taken the lead in this regard. Ghaziabad, Lucknow, Kanpur, Bareilly and even Mathura will have such polling stations,'' Rinwa said. Asked if the polling percentage in Uttar Pradesh will exceed 60 per cent this time, the CEO said, ''I am confident that UP voters will score the first division and pass with flying colours.'' Rinwa highlighted that SVEEP (Systematic Voter's Education and Electoral Participation) activities are also ongoing in the state. SVEEP is a flagship programme of the Election Commission for voter education, spreading voter awareness and promoting voter literacy. On the tepid voter turnout in 2019, Rinwa said, ''To find out the reasons, we have taken a bottoms-up approach for each assembly constituency. ''We have asked the EROs (electoral registration officers) and DMs (district magistrates) to prepare a Turnout Implementation Plan (TIP) -- an initiative of the ECI -- to identify the reasons for the low turnout in each assembly constituency and polling station. This is happening for the first time in the country,'' Rinwa said. Rinwa said, this time, more than 15.30 crore people across Uttar Pradesh would be exercising their franchise and the voting will be held from 7 am to 6 pm -- except in two assembly constituencies of Sonbhadra district, as it was earlier affected by Left Wing Extremism. Sonbhadra shares its boundaries with Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. ''Keeping this in mind, the polling timing of 7 am to 4 pm has been proposed to the ECI. The ECI is yet to approve the timing, as it is done phase-wise,'' he said. Robertsganj (SC) Lok Sabha seat in Sonbhadra will go to polls in the seventh phase on June 1. Asked about the challenges in implementing 'One Nation, One Election' in a state like Uttar Pradesh, Rinwa said, ''There will be no problems if we have the necessary infrastructure, mainly, sufficient number of EVMs.'' ''We have over 1.62 lakh polling stations... if 'One Nation, One Election' is implemented, a minimum of 3.24 lakh EVMs will be needed, one for LS polls, and one for assembly polls,'' he added. The official further said the weather in April and May will be hot, and it might discourage the voters from coming out. ''Keeping this in mind, we have asked our DEOs (district election officers) to ensure clean drinking water at polling stations and shade for the voters standing in queues. ''We have also asked for some furniture for senior citizens, pregnant women and physically challenged voters,'' Rinwa said. Rinwa said the people have been advised to use the early morning hours to cast their vote to avoid the afternoon sun. On steps taken by the ECI to ensure that the polling staff also remains physically and medically fit during the election period, the UP CEO said, ''We will provide medical kits to all the polling teams, along with a list of do's and don'ts.'' On the challenges faced by the poll body, the official said, ''In UP and Bihar, there are a number of voters in the voters' list, who do not exist. This happens as people do not file Form 7 to get their names deleted.'' ''In the recent special summary revision, we have taken a number of steps to ensure that our voter list is clean,'' he added. Form 7 has to be filed in case of the death of a voter, shifting to a different constituency, and duplication of a voters identity among other reasons.

Mastermind behind call Spoofing fraud targeting government officials arrested by STF

Anvesh Tiwari, a mastermind in Call Spoofing, and his uncle manipulated government officials for favors. Tiwari confessed to using spoofing for village projects and influencing a fraud case against a police official in Bareilly.

Wont tolerate distortion of facts via social media comments, says SC

NEW DELHI: Expressing its displeasure over the way the social media was being misused to make comments on pending cases, the Supreme Court has said that it will not tolerate distortion of facts. A two-judge bench of Justice Aniruddha Bose and Justice Bela M Trivedi made these observation, while hearing a contempt plea filed by Aminul Haque Laskar, who is now part of the Congress (INC), against All India United Democratic leader and Assam MLA Karim Uddin Barbhuiya. Justice Bose retired on Wednesday. The apex court also asked Barbhuiya to respond to the contempt case filed against him by Laskar. Courts shoulders were broad enough to deal with criticism. It is a matter of serious concern that now-a-days there has been a profuse misuse of social media platforms on which the messages, comments, articles etc. are being posted in respect of the matters pending in the Court, the bench noted. The court also pointed out that posts on social media platforms under the guise of right to freedom of speech and expression, which have the tendency of undermining the authority of the courts or of interfering with the course of justice, deserves serious consideration. Laskar in his contempt petition said that the AIUDF leader had uploaded a post on March 20 on Facebook claiming that he (Barbhuiya) had won a case, at a stage when the top court had only reserved its judgment in the matter. Questioning the posts on social media with respect to pending cases, the court took said, It was very usual that the judges do react during the course of the arguments being made by the lawyers, sometimes in favour and sometimes against a party to the proceeding. But that did not give any right to either of the parties or their lawyers to post comments or messages on the social media distorting the facts or not disclosing the correct facts of the proceedings. The court said such conduct needs to be taken up extremely seriously when parties attempt to interfere with pending proceedings and prejudice the administration of justice. SC fixed the matter for further hearing after four weeks. The SC ordered that a copy of the courts order should be sent to the AG of India. Also in top court SC stays NBW issued against cleric Tauqeer In a relief to prominent Muslim cleric, Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan, the Supreme Court has granted an interim stay on the execution of the non-bailable warrant issued against him in the 2010 Bareilly communal riots case. On March 2, 2010, riots broke out in the UP over a religious procession route. Many were injured and shops and vehicles burned. Issue notice limited to the impugned order having been passed without assigning any reason. In the meanwhile, there shall be stay of operation of the impugned order, it said. SC to hear plea on Lyngdoh panel report The Supreme Court will hear on July 23 a plea challenging a recommendation by the Lyngdoh Committee which stipulates that a candidate cannot contest more than once for the post of an office bearer of a students union. The plea came up for hearing on Wednesday before a bench of Justices Surya Kant and K V Viswanathan. Counsel for the respondent(s) seeks and is granted four weeks time to file the counter affidavit, if so required. Post the matter on July 23, the bench said in its April 10 order.

When bigwigs migrate from hills to plains

DEHRADUN : In the hills of Uttarakhand, migration of people is the biggest obstacle in its development. Since hundreds of people have shifted to the plains in the last few years, politicians too are gone, leaving their constituencies in the remote hills. At least six former chief ministers left their parliamentary and assembly constituencies along with other leaders and migrated to the states plains. Formed more than 23 years ago as the 27th state of the country, Uttarakhand was supposed to amplify the demand for the representation from the hilly regions in the assembly and Parliament. After the Almora parliamentary seat was reserved in 2009 and the Haridwar seat was generalized, veteran leaders of Almora seat and Garhwal region had moved to Haridwar. Bharat Ratna recipient Govind Ballabh Pant, Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna and Narayan Dutt Tiwari were the first to start this tradition. BJP veteran Murli Manohar Joshi, Harish Rawat, Bachi Singh Rawat, Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt are also on the list of migrants from the hills. One of the prominent leaders in the hilly regions, Govind Ballabh Pant originally hailed from Almora district. He practised law in Ranikhet. After independence, in the first Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections in 1951, he contested from Bareilly. Despite being able to contest from Almora or Ranikhet, he became the first UP CM. Speaking to this newspaper, analyst Anoop Nautiyal said: Whether we view the migration as a challenging problem or an undeniable reality, the fact is that both leaders and residents have chosen to leave these areas. He said the trend is due to leaders predilection to stay in the plains. It is difficult to garner peoples support in remote hilly areas. In the plains, it is easier to chart out ones political career, said Nautiyal. Historian Jai Singh Rawat said the exodus from the hills has become common, with leaders also descending to the plains out of necessity. It is a harsh reality. As flies are drawn to honey, individuals too shift to areas of perceived benefits.

SC stays operation of Non-Bailable Warrant issued against cleric Tauqeer Raza Khan Ticker: 2010 Bareily riots case

NEW DELHI, April 11: In a relief to prominent Muslim cleric, Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan, the Supreme Court has granted an interim stay on the execution of the non-bailable warrant issued against him in the 2010 Bareilly communal riots case. On March 2, 2010, riots had broken out in the Uttar Pradesh town over a []

Mastermind in UP police recruitment paper leak case arrested from Jewar

LUCKNOW: In a major breakthrough, the Special Task Force (STF) of UP Police nabbed Ravi Atri, 38, the mastermind of the police constable recruitment paper leak, on Wednesday. He was arrested from Jewar in Gautam Budhh Nagar. A native of Gautam Budh Nagar and based in Delhi before going underground following a probe into the police recruitment paper leak, Atri happens to be the 401st accused arrested so far in connection with the paper leak racket. UP Police Recruitment Board had held an examination to recruit 60,000 constables on February 17 and 18 where over 48 lakh candidates had appeared. Later, the government cancelled the tests and ordered re-examination following the paper leak. While the re-examination will be done in next 6 months, a manhunt was launched for those behind the fiasco. Atri was on the run ever since. An intensive investigation unfolded across various states including Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana and districts of UP including Varanasi, Jhansi, Agra, Kanpur, Bareilly, Ghaziabad, Prayagraj, Meerut, Gorakhpur, Hathras, Noida, and Ballia. A total of 12 cases have been registered in connection with the scandal. Additional DG, law and order, Amitabh Yash, said that efforts of STF Field Unit Meerut tracked Atri and arrested him. During interrogation, Atri said that after passing the Intermediate examination from Shriram Inter College, Thora, Gautam Budh Nagar, in 2006, the accused went to Allen Coaching Centre, Kota, Rajasthan for medical preparation where he came in contact with the examination mafia in 2007. He then started appearing as a solver in various competitive examinations. After passing the HPMT examination in the year 2012, he got admission in PGIMS, Rohtak, Haryana and passed the third year in 2018 but did not appear in the fourth-year examination. Prior to it, he was nabbed by Daryaganj Crime Branch, Delhi in the paper leak case of NEET PG exam in the year 2012 and went to jail. He was also incarcerated the same year after Shahbad Dairy police station, Delhi arrested him for getting the paper of SBI exam out. In 2015, the AIPMT paper was out. The STF said that now Delhi police constable Vikram Pahal, Goldy, Guniya, Dawood, Neetu, Monu Dhakla, Anurag and Ankit Mishra were wanted in connection with the case. Held for getting paper of SBI exam out Prior to it, he was nabbed by Daryaganj Crime Branch, Delhi in the paper leak case of NEET PG exam in the year 2012 and went to jail. He was also incarcerated the same year after Shahbad Dairy police station, Delhi arrested him for getting the paper of SBI exam out.

Ground report: Changing candidates in Pilibhit, Bareilly may impact BJP in UP

Pilibhit has been represented by the mother-son duo of Maneka and Varun Gandhi since 1996 and the locals share a deep sentimental connection with the family, which, they say, has stood with them in their times of need. BJP will win because of PM Modi's popularity. But had Varun Gandhi contested, it would have probably won with a higher number of votes, Ram Swaroop, a village head from the Marauri block of Pilibhit, told ET.Gandhi had won with more than 700,000 votes in 2019.

UP: Mohammad Ansari poses as Kallu Yadav to trap a Hindu widow, threatens her to convert to Islam by blackmailing with her intimate pictures

Another case of purported love jihad came to the fore from Rae Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh where a Muslim youth named Mohammad Ansari hid his religious identity and posed as a Hindu to trap a Hindu widow in his love affair.

Haldwani Violence: Mastermind's Wife Arrested in Uttar Pradesh

The wife of the mastermind behind the violence in Banbhoolpura, Haldwani, has been apprehended from a village in Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly district, as informed by a senior police official on Thursday. Safia was taken into custody from Biharipur village in Bareilly by Uttarakhand Police on Tuesday. According to Nainital SSP Prahlad Narayan Meena, she faces charges related to unlawful plotting, construction, and land transfer through criminal conspiracy in Malik Ka Bagicha area of Haldwani. These actions allegedly involved using the identity of a deceased individual to encroach upon government land. Abdul Malik, her husband, and their son Abdul Moeed were previously detained, with arrests made on February 24 and February 28, respectively. The violence erupted in Banbhoolpura, Haldwani, on February 8 following the demolition of a madrassa and mosque deemed 'illegally' constructed. The clashes resulted in six fatalities and over a hundred injuries, including police personnel and journalists. Major Drug Bust: Ranchi Police Seize 117 Bags of Doda, worth Rs 4.5 Crore Tragic Incident in Bihar: Mohammad Iddu Mian Commits Suicide After Killing Family

Banbhoolpura violence: Wife of mastermind arrested from Uttar Pradesh

Banbhoolpura violence: Wife of mastermind arrested from Uttar Pradesh The wife of Banbhoolpura violence mastermind Abdul Malik has been arrested from a village in Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly district, a senior police official said on Thursday. Safia was arrested from Biharipur village in Bareilly on Tuesday by the Uttarakhand Police. Nainital SSP Prahlad Narayan Meena said she has been arrested on charges of carrying out illegal plotting, construction and transfer of land by using the name of a dead person under criminal conspiracy to grab government land in Malik Ka Bagicha area of Haldwani, he said. Her husband Abdul Malik and their son Abdul Moeed are already in custody. The two were arrested on February 24 and February 28 respectively. Violence broke out in Banbhoolpura area of Haldwani on February 8 over the demolition of an 'illegally' constructed madrassa and an adjoining mosque. The violence left six persons dead and more than a 100, including police personnel and journalists injured.

PM Modi to address digital NaMo rally of UP BJP booth members, 'panna pramukhs' on Apr 3

PM Modi to address digital NaMo rally of UP BJP booth members, 'panna pramukhs' on Apr 3 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday will address a digital NaMo rally through the NaMo app at all 22,648 booths of 10 Lok Sabha seats going to the polls in the third phase in Uttar Pradesh. According to a BJP release issued here on Tuesday, the prime minister will also interact with some booth presidents on this occasion. Prime Minister Modi will connect through the NaMo app with the workers of 22,648 booths of Sambhal, Badaun, Bareilly, Aonla, Etah, Hathras, Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, Firozabad and Mainpuri Lok Sabha seats on Wednesday at 1 pm, BJP state general secretary Sanjay Rai said in the release. The prime minister will address the booth committee members and 'panna pramukhs', it added. The office-bearers of state, area and district units will also go to their booths and join this NaMo rally. Modi will also personally talk to some booth presidents and get information about the activities of the party, it added. Voting for the 10 seats in the third phase will take place on May 7.

PM Modi to address booth committees members, panna pramukhs of UP virtually tomorrow

PM Modi to address booth committees members, panna pramukhs of UP virtually tomorrow Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the digital Namo rally through the Namo app at all the booths of 10 Lok Sabha seats falling under the third phase of elections in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday. On this occasion, he will also talk to some booth presidents. State General Secretary Sanjay Rai said that in the third phase, voting will be held on May 7 in Sambhal, Badaun, Bareilly, Aonla, Etah, Hathras, Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, Firozabad and Mainpuri. Prime Minister Modi will connect with the workers through the Namo app on April 3 at 1 pm at 22,648 booths in all these Lok Sabha seats. Sanjay Rai said that the Prime Minister will address the booth committee members and panna in-charges in the Namo rally. He said that state, regional and district officials will also join this Namo rally by visiting their booths. He said that the Prime Minister himself will talk to some booth presidents and will also get information about the party's activities. Lok Sabha polls will be held in seven phases beginning April 19. Uttar Pradesh, which sends the maximum number of MPs, 80, to Parliament, will vote in all seven phases. Earlier in the 2019 elections, proving all the arithmetic of the SP-BSP 'mahagatbandhan' in Uttar Pradesh wrong, the BJP and its ally Apna Dal(S) won 64 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats. The alliance partners, Akhilesh Yadav's party and Mayawati Party's, won 15 seats. Voting for phases one and two will be held on April 19 and April 26. Next, the state will once again poll in phases three and four on May 7 and May 13. The Uttar Pradesh electorate will also vote in phases five, six and seven on May 20, May 23 and June 1 respectively. The votes will be counted on June 4. The elections for 543 Lok Sabha seats will be held from April 19 to June 1, with the counting of votes scheduled for June 4. (ANI)

UP CM interacts with intelligentsia to garner support for Pilibhit, Badaun, Bareilly candidates

LUCKNOW: UP CM Yogi Adityanath visited Pilibhit, Bareilly and Budaun to campaign for the BJP candidates of the ensuing polls on Tuesday. While Yogi cabinet minister Jitin Prasada is the BJP candidate in Pilibhit, Durvijay Singh is in Budaun, and Chhatrapal Singh Gangwar in Bareilly. In fact, on all the tree seats of Rohilkhand, the party has changed the candidates. While Jitin Prasada has replaced sitting BJP MP Varun Gandhi in Pilibhit, Surviaya Singh has been preferred to Sanghmitra Maurya, daughter of Swami prasad Maurya, in Badaun and in Bareilly the veteran sitting BJP MP and former Union Minister Santosh Gangwar has been replaced by Chhatrapal Singh Gangwar. Yogi Adityanath addressed the gathering of intellectuals in all three constituencies to seek vote and support for the three party candidates. Besides that, party candidate Rajveer Singh, son of former CM late Kalyan Singh, from Aonla. Seeking support for Jitin Prasada in Pilibhit, the CM laid stress on the efforts to harmonize heritage with development initiatives. Initiatives such as the establishment of medical colleges, construction of roads and bridges in Pilibhit are being actively pursued to integrate the region with the broader developmental agenda. The government is promoting Pilibhit as a prime destination for eco-tourism, Yogi added. In Pilibhit, he assured the gathering of the efforts being made in order to minimize the man-animal conflict by erecting electric fencing around farm land situated in the middle of the forests. Moreover, he also informed the audience about the compensation moves for farmers affected by wildlife conflicts by integrating the loss of lives with the disaster category. In Badaun, where the Samajwadi party has fielded Shivpal Yadav, CM Yogi accused the SP-Congress alliance of tarnishing the state's reputation and inciting chaos and anarchy during their previous regimes. Their tenure was marked by bomb explosions, present dispensation is committed to organize peaceful Kanwar Yatras, he added. The CM exhorted the voters to unite for a new India under PM Modi's leadership. He mentioned the achievements of Modi government like ban on triple talaq, abrogation of Article 370 from J&K, and the construction of the Ram temple. He also counted the development works done by his government in Badaun where the party has replaced sitting MP Sanghmitrs Maurya who had to pay for her fathers tirade against Sanatan, Hindu deities and Ramcharitmanas. Meanwhile, in Bareilly, the CM said that 2024 elections are an opportunity for the people of India to express their gratitude to Modi Ji. On one side there is the 'Swarth ka Parivar and on the other side there is 'Modi ka Parivar of 140 crore Indians. The CM also praised current and 8-time BJP MP Santosh Gangwar for his relentless efforts towards the development of Bareilly.

LS Elections 2024: Poll panel ropes in actor Ayushmann Khurrana to encourage young voters

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has roped in a youth icon to urge the youngsters to vote in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The ECI has featured actor Ayushmann Khurrana in its campaign video that encourages the youth to exercise their voting rights in the upcoming elections. Khurrana, known for critically-acclaimed films such as Andhadhun, Dream Girl, Bareilly Ki Barfi and Dum Laga Ke Haisha, said it is imperative that the youth participate in deciding the future of the country. Everyone must vote and be conscious citizens by participating in the process of nation-building. The power to choose the leaders who will represent the country, represent our needs in the Parliament rests with us, the actor said, adding: Every vote counts and every vote is important. Voting is a symbol of empowerment in a democratic nation like ours. Santosh Ajmera, director of Voter Education at ECI, New Delhi, praised the actor for supporting the ECIs campaign, aimed at addressing urban and youth apathy in the electoral participation. The film, which is a commentary on individual behaviour, where voting day is often considered as a holiday with hundreds of excuses, not only encourages to vote but also gives out a beautiful message and a single reason for why one should vote, Ajmera said. Ayushmann Khuranas act is highly convincing and impactful and resonates well with his followers, mostly the younger generation. The ECI has tried to utilize Ayushmanns potential and reach to inspire and mobilize youngsters towards voting, as an important democratic exercise & duty towards the future, he noted further. The Lok Sabha polls are scheduled to be held in seven phases from April 19. The counting of votes will be taken up on June 4. Election Day: No Excuse Day! Join the celebration of #ChunavKaParv with @ayushmannk , Actor and Youth Icon, urging the youth to set aside excuses and come out to vote. From reel to real, let's script the democracy together! #YouAreTheOne #DeshKaGarv #LokSabhaElections2024 pic.twitter.com/SvmuzZns10 Election Commission of India (@ECISVEEP) April 2, 2024

Lovers Kill Themselves by Jumping Before Train in UP's Bareilly

Bareilly Superintendent of Police (Dehat) Mukesh Chandra Mishra said that according to the villagers, both were having an affair and used to talk to each other on the phone

Free online coaching for IIT and NEET in Bareilly, check details here

Free online coaching for IIT and NEET in Bareilly check details here

Vande Bharat Train: Vande Bharat Express started on this route, there will be stoppage at these stations; Know the schedule

This train will reach Dehradun at 1:35 pm via Bareilly, Moradabad, Haridwar. On the very first day there was a waiting list of eight in the AC chair car. Similarly, there is waiting on 31st March also. Vande Bharat Express from Lucknow Junction to Dehradun has started from today. There is continuous waiting in this [] The post Vande Bharat Train: Vande Bharat Express started on this route, there will be stoppage at these stations; Know the schedule first appeared on informalnewz .

CM Yogi to conduct 'Prabuddh Sammelan' in 15 districts of Western UP from March 27

CM Yogi to conduct 'Prabuddh Sammelan' in 15 districts of Western UP from March 27 In the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will conduct 'Prabuddh Sammelan' in 15 districts of Western UP from March 27 to 31. Ahead of the election rallies, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will interact with intellectuals across various districts in the state through 'Prabuddh Sammelan' (meeting of intellectuals), presenting a comprehensive account of the government's work. The Chief Minister's Prabuddh Sammelans are set to begin from Western Uttar Pradesh, where elections will also be held in the first few phases. Through these proposed meetings until March 31, CM Yogi will engage in dialogue with the people, laying the groundwork for the 'Phir ek bar, Modi sarkar' resolution ahead of the elections. As per the schedule announced by the Bharatiya Janata Party, Uttar Pradesh, CM Yogi will visit 15 districts over five days from March 27 to 31. His series of Prabuddh Sammelan will commence from Mathura, Meerut, and Ghaziabad on Wednesday, March 27, where he will engage with dignitaries and the general public. On Thursday, March 28, CM Yogi's schedule includes programs in Bijnor, Moradabad, and Amroha, where he will interact with prominent individuals. Moving forward, on March 29, CM Yogi is scheduled to participate in the Prabuddh Sammelan in Shamli, Muzaffarnagar, and Saharanpur. Continuing this momentum, on March 30, he will attend Prabuddh Sammelan in Baghpat (Modinagar), Bulandshahr, and Gautam Buddha Nagar. Lastly, on March 31, he will be present at Prabuddh Sammelans in Bareilly, Rampur, and Pilibhit. Through these 'Prabuddha Sammelans, ' CM Yogi aims to provide detailed information about the achievements of both the state and the central governments. He will also discuss the schemes benefiting the common people under the double-engine government. CM Yogi had previously organized a similar Prabuddha Sammelan before the 2023 civic elections, significantly benefiting the BJP and leading to a clean sweep in all municipal corporations. Once again, CM Yogi is gearing up with the mission of a clean sweep in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections through these 'Prabuddha Sammelans'. These 'Prabuddha Sammelans' of CM Yogi are starting from Western Uttar Pradesh, where elections will be held in the initial phases. In the first phase i.e. on April 19, 2024, elections are to be held in Saharanpur, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Nagina, Moradabad, Rampur and Pilibhit, while in the second phase i.e. on April 26, elections are to be held in Amroha, Meerut, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Bulandshahr, Aligarh and Mathura. Similarly, in the third phase, elections have been announced in districts like Sambhal, Hathras, Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, Firozabad, Mainpuri, Etah, Badaun and Bareilly. Keeping this schedule in mind, CM Yogi's 'Prabuddha Sammelans' is beginning from the districts of Western Uttar Pradesh so that the impact of his dialogue can reach the common people as much as possible. (ANI)

NITI Aayog ex-employee PhD student dies in London tragic cycle-lorry crash

NITI Aayog ex-employee PhD student dies in London tragic cycle-lorry crash A 33-year-old former NITI Aayog employee pursuing her PhD at the prestigious London School of Economics and Political Science died in a tragic road accident as she was hit by a refuse truck while cycling back home from the university here. Cheistha Kochhar was a Doctoral Candidate studying behavioural research since she moved to London from Gurugram, Haryana, last year. While tributes have been pouring in for the bright, brilliant and brave student after her father shared the news of her death online, the Metropolitan Police are yet to officially name the victim and have appealed for witnesses to the fatal collision. The accident took place on Clerkenwell Road, near the junction with Farringdon Road, on March 19 evening. Officers attended along with paramedics from London Ambulance Service. A 33-year-old woman was found seriously injured. Despite the efforts of emergency services, she died at the scene. Her next of kin has been informed, the Met Police statement said. The lorry, believed to be a refuse vehicle, stopped at the scene and the driver is helping police with their enquiries. There has been no arrest and enquiries into the circumstances continue, the statement said. Anyone who witnessed the incident or road users with dashcam footage which may have captured the events have been asked to contact the Met Police. Cheistha Kochhar worked with me on the #LIFE [Lifestyle for the Environment] programme in NITI Aayog, Amitabh Kant, former NITI Aayog CEO said in a post on X. She was in the #Nudge unit and had gone to do her PhD in behavioural science at LSE. Passed away in a terrible traffic incident while cycling in London. She was bright, brilliant & brave and always full of life. Gone away too early. RIP, he said. Kochhar served as Senior Advisor at the National Behavioural Insights Unit of India for nearly two years until April last year, before moving to London with her software engineer husband Prashant Gautam. I am still in London trying to collect the remains of my daughter, Cheistha Kochhar. She was run over by a truck on 19 March while cycling back from LSE, where she was doing her PhD, her father Lieutenant General Dr S P Kochhar, Director General at the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), said in an emotional post on LinkedIn. It has devastated us and her large circle of friends, he said, along with a link to an online memorial page created in her memory. The memorial page opens with a quote from Cheistha, which reads: What we create should last longer than we do, and is followed by several moving tributes posted by friends and family. A fantastic student and an amazing person. While our interaction was too brief, Cheistha left a lasting impression. Be it her research acumen combined with practical relevance, uncanny foresight and high-level thinking combined with down-to-earth humility and helping nature, she was one of a kind, and always will be. Om Shanthi, read one. The Bareilly-born Behavioural Strategist earned her Masters from the University of Chicago after studying at Ashoka University and Delhi University and completing her schooling in Delhi and various Army schools around India. She made her mark in all these institutions and is still remembered very fondly for her creativeness, spontaneity, compassion, helpfulness, smiling demeanour and yet excelling in academics and co-curricular activities like debating, drawing and dramatics, shared her father in his tribute to Cheistha. Her heart was at obtaining a doctorate in behavioural science under Org Behaviour from LSE. She got selected with a full scholarship and joined in Sep 23. She was the only student to be selected for this programme and was working under Prof. Sosa, he said, describing her sudden death in the road crash on March 19 as a black day for us and the society.

NITI Aayog ex-employee PhD student dies in London cycling crash

NITI Aayog ex-employee PhD student dies in London cycling crash A former NITI Aayog employee pursuing her PhD at the prestigious London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) died in a tragic road accident as she was hit by a truck while cycling back home from the university here. Cheistha Kochhar, 33, was a Doctoral Candidate studying behavioural research since she moved to London from Gurugram, Haryana, last year. While tributes have been pouring in for the bright, brilliant and brave student after her father shared the news of her death online, the Metropolitan Police are yet to officially name the victim and have appealed for witnesses to the fatal collision. The accident took place on Clerkenwell Road, near the junction with Farringdon Road, on March 19 evening. Officers attended along with paramedics from London Ambulance Service. A 33-year-old woman was found seriously injured. Despite the efforts of emergency services, she died at the scene. Her next of kin has been informed, the Met Police statement said. The lorry, believed to be a refuse vehicle, stopped at the scene and the driver is helping police with their enquiries. There has been no arrest and enquiries into the circumstances continue, the statement said. Anyone who witnessed the incident or road users with dashcam footage which may have captured the events have been asked to contact the Met Police. Cheistha Kochhar worked with me on the #LIFE [Lifestyle for the Environment] programme in NITI Aayog, Amitabh Kant, former NITI Aayog CEO said in a post on X. She was in the #Nudge unit and had gone to do her PhD in behavioural science at LSE. Passed away in a terrible traffic incident while cycling in London. She was bright, brilliant & brave and always full of life. Gone away too early. RIP, he said. Kochhar served as Senior Advisor at the National Behavioural Insights Unit of India for nearly two years until April last year, before moving to London with her software engineer husband Prashant Gautam. I am still in London trying to collect the remains of my daughter, Cheistha Kochhar. She was run over by a truck on 19 March while cycling back from LSE, where she was doing her PhD, her father Lieutenant General Dr S P Kochhar, Director General at the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), said in an emotional post on LinkedIn. It has devastated us and her large circle of friends, he said, along with a link to an online memorial page created in her memory. The memorial page opens with a quote from Cheistha, which reads: What we create should last longer than we do, and is followed by several moving tributes posted by friends and family. A fantastic student and an amazing person. While our interaction was too brief, Cheistha left a lasting impression. Be it her research acumen combined with practical relevance, uncanny foresight and high-level thinking combined with down-to-earth humility and helping nature, she was one of a kind, and always will be. Om Shanthi, read one. The Bareilly-born Behavioural Strategist earned her Masters from the University of Chicago after studying at Ashoka University and Delhi University and completing her schooling in Delhi and various Army schools around India. She made her mark in all these institutions and is still remembered very fondly for her creativeness, spontaneity, compassion, helpfulness, smiling demeanour and yet excelling in academics and co-curricular activities like debating, drawing and dramatics, shared her father in his tribute to Cheistha. Her heart was at obtaining a doctorate in behavioural science under Org Behaviour from LSE. She got selected with a full scholarship and joined in Sep 23. She was the only student to be selected for this programme and was working under Prof. Sosa, he said, describing her sudden death in the road crash on March 19 as a black day for us and the society.

UP: BJP drops Varun Gandhi, VK Singh; Maneka, Jitin Prasada get ticket

UP: BJP drops Varun Gandhi, VK Singh; Maneka, Jitin Prasada get ticket The BJP on Sunday declared 13 candidates from Uttar Pradesh for the ongoing Lok Sabha polls including Ramayan TV serial-fame actor Arun Govil, who played the role of Lord Ram, from Meerut, while replacing sitting MP Varun Gandhi from Pilibhit with UP PWD minister Jitin Prasada. Varun Gandhi has recently been vocal against the BJP on several issues, including employment and health. However, his mother Maneka Gandhi has been retained in the list of the candidates, and has been fielded from Sultanpur parliamentary constituency. The BJP has fielded Atul Garg from Ghaziabad and dropped sitting MP and Union Minister V K Singh. Shortly before the list was announced, Singh said in a post on X that he will not contest the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. Similarly, the party has fielded Ramesh Awasthi from Kanpur Lok Sabha seat, after sitting MP Satyadev Pachauri on Sunday expressed his unwillingness to contest the elections and conveyed the same to the party's national president J P Nadda. This is the second list of candidates from UP released by the BJP for the Lok Sabha elections. The party is yet to declare its candidate for the Raebareli Lok Sabha seat. In Budaun, the party has announced the name of Durvijay Singh Shakya, overlooking its current MP Sanghamitra Maurya. In Bareilly, the party has replaced sitting MP Santosh Gangwar and given the ticket to Chattrapal Singh Gangwar. The party has announced Raghav Lakhanpal as its nominee from Saharanpur, Sarvesh Singh from Moradabad and Satish Gautam from Aligarh seats. On the reserved seats of Barabanki and Bahraich, the BJP has named Rajrani Rawat and Arvind Gond respectively. The BJP in its first list had named its sitting MP Upendra Rawat from Barabanki. Rawat, however, refused to contest the election after an obscene video allegedly involving him surfaced on social media.

Mosques in UP covered with tarpaulin sheets ahead of Holi

LUCKNOW: For the last 6-7 years, it has become new normal for the mosques in UP to be covered with tarpaulin sheets ahead of Holi festival. This, according to authorities, helps to maintain law and order situation and avert any attempt by miscreants to incite communal tension by throwing colours on the places of Islamic faith. Since the Yogi Adithyanath government came to power, this practise has been in place. Like previous years, this year also, the mosques on the Ram Baraat route in Bareilly and the Laat Saheb procession path in Shahjahanpur have been covered with tarpaulin and plastic sheets to prevent any untoward incident, said the authorities. According to Bareilly Senior Superintendent of Police Ghule Sushil Chandrabhan, he led a police flag march along the proposed route of the Ram Baraat from Narsingh Temple on Sunday. The administrations in districts are on high alert as the holy month of Ramzaan is also underway. The district administration is taking extra precautions on the Ram Baraat Yatra taken out by Brahmpuri Ramlila Committee in Bareilly every year amid heavy police cover. As a result, all mosques on the route have been covered with tarpaulin. The Bareilly SSP said that every effort was being made to maintain communal harmony during the festival of colours. The police administration is in constant touch with the religious leaders of both the communities. The clerics were contacted in the district on Friday and they have been told that the mosques will be properly covered in order to avoid any mischief to disturb communal harmony. The clerics expressed satisfaction over the arrangements, said the SSP adding that a police contingent would accompany the yatra which, after passing through many areas in the city, will return to the Narsingh Temple. In Aligarh, Abdul Karim Masjid will be covered to save it from the Holi colours. Other mosques in communally sensitive areas of the district are also covered ahead of Holi. As per Haji Iqbal, the chief cleric of the Abdul Karim mosque, the religious site is being covered following the instructions of the district administration. In all, four mosques in sensitive areas of Aligarh have been covered with tarpaulin sheets by the Masjid Intezamia Committee on Saturday. Similarly, in Shahjahanpur, a Laat Saheb ki Baraat is an annual affair and is taken out on Holi from the Phoolmati Devi Temple since the 18th century. During the Baraat, revellers throw footwear at the procession moving with a buffalo cart and a hapless man. Earlier, the procession was called the Nawab Saab ki Baraat and the person sitting on the cart was depicted as a Nawab, but since Independence, it is known as Laat Saheb ki Baraat in which the person on the cart is portrayed as a Britisher. Mosques located along the procession route remain covered with plastic sheets and the law and order machinery in Shahjahanpur is on high alert to avert any untoward incident.

Tragic Road Accidents Claim 4 Lives Before Holi in Uttar Pradesh

Lucknow: Before the celebration of Holi, Uttar Pradesh witnessed two tragic road accidents resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries. In Rampur's Milak area, a truck rear-ended a tractor trolley, leading to the deaths of four individuals and injuries to a dozen others. The incident occurred late Saturday night on the Dharampur village road, according to police sources. Authorities are actively pursuing the truck driver, who fled the scene after the collision. The victims have been identified as Kavita (18), Tinku Yadav alias Ravi (18), Ramwati (45), and Savitri (30). Reportedly, they were returning to Bareilly from Moradabad at the time of the accident. The injured individuals are currently receiving treatment in the hospital, with their condition reported as stable. Additionally, just two days prior, another tragic road accident occurred in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, claiming the lives of three students. In the Ghatampur area of Kanpur, three polytechnic students were cycling to their morning studies when a roadways bus struck them from behind, resulting in their immediate demise. The collision caused the bus to overturn, injuring passengers on board. Upon receiving information about the incident, police swiftly arrived at the scene, facilitating the rescue of bus passengers and transporting them to the hospital. The bodies of the deceased students were retrieved by the police and sent for post-mortem examination. BJP Worker Found Dead in West Bengal Ahead of Lok Sabha Elections India Alliance Announces Mega Rally in Delhi Against Kejriwal's Arrest Delhi Weather Update: Drizzle Expected Before Holi, Temperature Likely to Drop

Miffed at police, Buduan boys' father sets bike on fire, attempts immolation

Miffed at police, Buduan boys' father sets bike on fire, attempts immolation The father of the Budaun boys who were killed by a barber in their house set his bike on fire and tried to immolate himself too, upset over the fact the police have yet not been able to ascertain the motive behind the attack. Two children were killed in the Baba colony area here on March 19. Vinod Kumar, their father, after setting his bike on fire, tried to immolate himself but was stopped by police. Vinod's mother Munni Devi said it's been six days since she lost her grandchildren but the police were yet to come up with a motive behind the cruelty. ''It seems that the police are hiding something,'' she said. Senior Superintendent of Police Alok Priyadarshi said Vinod was missing his children because of Holi and set his bike on fire in rage. ''Seeing their shoes, clothes and other festival items, he could not stop himself and set fire to his bike to vent his anger,'' he said. After the incident, Sajid and Javed, both barbers, were identified as the assailants. While Sajid was killed in an encounter with police the same day, Javed had on March 22 surrendered at the Satellite Police Outpost of the Baradari Police Station in neighbouring Bareilly district. According to police, Javed had been on the run since the killings and had stayed at his in-laws' house before moving to Delhi, where his acquaintances told him that the police were looking for him. He later surrendered. Hours after the incident on March 19, Sajid was shot dead in an encounter with police. Sajid had entered the house of a family he knew and allegedly attacked Ayush, 12, Ahaan alias Honey, 8, and Yuvraj, 10, with a knife. Ayush and Ahaan died on the spot, while Yuvraj was admitted to the hospital with serious wounds. The Budaun district administration has ordered a magisterial inquiry into Sajid's encounter.

Budaun double murder a campaign hot topic for BJP and SP

BUDAUN: The brutal murder of two minor brothers here has become the talking point in the constituency ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, with the Samajwadi Party targeting the BJP over the law and order situation while the saffron party asserting that apid police action resulted in the death of the main accused. Located in western Uttar Pradesh, Budaun is considered the gateway to the Braj region from Rohailkhand. Samajwadi Party, which is eyeing to reclaim the seat that it lost in 2019, has fielded Shivpal Singh Yadav as its candidate. The BJP is yet to declare sitting MP Sanghamitra Maurya as its candidate for the Lok Sabha polls. While the political fervour was building up in the constituency, two minor brothers were hacked to death on Tuesday evening, sending shock waves across the district and the state. The double murder has altered the political discourse in the constituency. Terming the murder as a failure of law and order, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav said the lives of the two brothers could have been saved. The lives could have been saved had the police worked properly. They (BJP government) can't hide their shortcomings, this encounter is not going to hide their failure, Yadav had said. Shivpal Yadav also attacked the government over the incident. The incident in Budaun is very saddening but the law and order of the government has failed totally. This becomes clear by incidents like these, Yadav had said. Maurya, who visited the house of the deceased boys on Wednesday, assured full support to the family members and accused the SP of doing politics over the issue. I condemn the murder of the two minor boys. Our family of the BJP is with the grieving family. I would just say to those people who are doing politics on the issue that this is not the time to do so, she said. Samajwadi Party is doing politics on the issue because its so-called fort of Budaun was demolished by the people here in 2019. The SP candidate must have seen that no one was there to ask about him in Budaun today. This is why they are doing politics on the issue, Maurya said. She was apparently referring to SP leader Shivpal Yadav, who first visited Budaun last week after his name was announced as the candidate for the Lok Sabha elections. Shivpal Yadav's son and party leader Aditya Yadav had on Thursday met the family of the deceased brothers and also met the district magistrate and SSP to lodge a complaint against Maurya. BJP MP Sanghamitra Maurya made indecent, baseless and misleading remarks against our leader Shivpal Yadav. We have given a complaint to the DM and SSP in this regard. In the coming days, a team of our lawyers will file a defamation case also, Aditya Yadav had said. Double murder of minor brothers leads to communal tension in UP's Budaun While the leadership of the parties is busy attacking each other, the party cadre is trying to take their respective messages to the grassroot. The mere fact that anyone could commit such a crime proves that he has no fear of law in his mind, Saumitra Yadav, a local office bearer of the SP, said. The fear and faith in law can be instilled by ensuring that the accused are held guilty in a court of justice. Encounters do little to ensure this, he added. BJP members on their part are reaching out to the public with the message of swift action. The police managed to catch the main accused shortly after the incident and he was killed in an encounter. The other accused was also arrested within 48 hours. This shows our commitment to law and order, Sarvesh Pandey, member of the BJP's metropolitan unit, said. The incident had posed a major threat to the peace in the area as the incident involved people from both Hindu and Muslim communities. Gauging the sensitivity of the situation, the police had sprang into action Our first motive was to clearly identify and arrest the accused in the case but surely a bigger challenge was to ensure law and order in the area, Rakesh Singh, Inspector General (IG), Bareilly Range, said. Budaun Lok Sabha seat, which comprises considerable number of voters from the minority community, was earlier considered a bastion of the SP. The party won had its hold on the seat from 1996 to 2014. This included four consecutive terms (1996-2004) of Saleem Iqbal Shervani and two terms (2009, 2014) of Akhilesh Yadav's cousin Dharmendra Yadav. The BJP, however, turned the tables in the 2019 polls and fought on the bandwagon of ultra nationalism in the aftermath of Pulwama attacks. BJP's Maurya defeated Dharmendra Yadav in 2019 polls, ending the party's over three-decade long wait of tasting success from the seat. Before Maurya, Swami Chinmayanand won from Budaun in 1991 on BJP ticket. The polling in Budaun will be held on May 7 and the result will be announced on June 4.

Double murder shifts focus to law and order in Budaun

Double murder shifts focus to law and order in Budaun The brutal murder of two minor brothers here has become the talking point in the constituency ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, with the Samajwadi Party targeting the BJP over the law and order situation while the saffron party asserting that ''rapid police action'' resulted in the death of the main accused. Located in western Uttar Pradesh, Budaun is considered the gateway to the Braj region from Rohailkhand. Samajwadi Party, which is eyeing to reclaim the seat that it lost in 2019, has fielded Shivpal Singh Yadav as its candidate. The BJP is yet to declare sitting MP Sanghamitra Maurya as its candidate for the Lok Sabha polls. While the political fervour was building up in the constituency, two minor brothers were hacked to death on Tuesday evening, sending shock waves across the district and the state. The double murder has altered the political discourse in the constituency. Terming the murder as a ''failure of law and order'', Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav said the lives of the two brothers could have been saved. ''The lives could have been saved had the police worked properly. They (BJP government) can't hide their shortcomings, this encounter is not going to hide their failure,'' Yadav had said. Shivpal Yadav also attacked the government over the incident. ''The incident in Budaun is very saddening but the law and order of the government has failed totally. This becomes clear by incidents like these,'' Yadav had said. Maurya, who visited the house of the deceased boys on Wednesday, assured full support to the family members and accused the SP of doing politics over the issue. ''I condemn the murder of the two minor boys. Our family of the BJP is with the grieving family. I would just say to those people who are doing politics on the issue that this is not the time to do so,'' she said. ''Samajwadi Party is doing politics on the issue because its so-called fort of Budaun was demolished by the people here in 2019. The SP candidate must have seen that no one was there to ask about him in Budaun today. This is why they are doing politics on the issue,'' Maurya said. She was apparently referring to SP leader Shivpal Yadav, who first visited Budaun last week after his name was announced as the candidate for the Lok Sabha elections. Shivpal Yadav's son and party leader Aditya Yadav had on Thursday met the family of the deceased brothers and also met the district magistrate and SSP to lodge a complaint against Maurya. ''BJP MP Sanghamitra Maurya made indecent, baseless and misleading remarks against our leader Shivpal Yadav. We have given a complaint to the DM and SSP in this regard. In the coming days, a team of our lawyers will file a defamation case also,'' Aditya Yadav had said. While the leadership of the parties is busy attacking each other, the party cadre is trying to take their respective messages to the grassroot. ''The mere fact that anyone could commit such a crime proves that he has no fear of law in his mind,'' Saumitra Yadav, a local office bearer of the SP, said. ''The fear and faith in law can be instilled by ensuring that the accused are held guilty in a court of justice. Encounters do little to ensure this,'' he added. BJP members on their part are reaching out to the public with the message of swift action. ''The police managed to catch the main accused shortly after the incident and he was killed in an encounter. The other accused was also arrested within 48 hours. This shows our commitment to law and order,'' Sarvesh Pandey, member of the BJP's metropolitan unit, said. The incident had posed a major threat to the peace in the area as the incident involved people from both Hindu and Muslim communities. Gauging the sensitivity of the situation, the police had sprang into action ''Our first motive was to clearly identify and arrest the accused in the case but surely a bigger challenge was to ensure law and order in the area,'' Rakesh Singh, Inspector General (IG), Bareilly Range, said. Budaun Lok Sabha seat, which comprises considerable number of voters from the minority community, was earlier considered a bastion of the SP. The party won had its hold on the seat from 1996 to 2014. This included four consecutive terms (1996-2004) of Saleem Iqbal Shervani and two terms (2009, 2014) of Akhilesh Yadav's cousin Dharmendra Yadav. The BJP, however, turned the tables in the 2019 polls and fought on the bandwagon of ultra nationalism in the aftermath of Pulwama attacks. BJP's Maurya defeated Dharmendra Yadav in 2019 polls, ending the party's over three-decade long wait of tasting success from the seat. Before Maurya, Swami Chinmayanand won from Budaun in 1991 on BJP ticket. The polling in Budaun will be held on May 7 and the result will be announced on June 4.

Police sub-inspector caught taking bribe in UP's Shahjahanpur

Police sub-inspector caught taking bribe in UP's Shahjahanpur A police sub-inspector was caught taking bribe after threatening an accused of illegal liquor trade here, officials on Saturday said. Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Sanjay Kumar told PTI that a case was recently registered against a person named Satyapal Singh, a resident of Banda police station area, on charges of illegal liquor business. Singh had alleged that Sub-Inspector Narendra Kumar Sharma had threatened him that if he did not give him a bribe of Rs 10,000 then he would add a serious charge in the case and send him to jail. The victim had lodged a complaint in this regard with the Bareilly-based Anti-Corruption Organisation and its team which was here last night arrested the sub-inspector while accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000 inside the Banda police station, the ASP said. The Anti-Corruption Organisation team has lodged a case against the accused sub-inspector at the Sadar Bazar police station, he added.

Brother Of Man Who Killed 2 Boys In UP's Badaun Jailed

A court in UP's Badaun jailed the brother of the main accused in the double murder case. Javed, who was missing since the incident at Baba Colony on Tuesday, surrendered in Bareilly yesterday.

Budaun double murder case: Court sends brother of main accused to 14-day judicial custody

A court on Friday sent to 14-day judicial custody the brother of the main accused in the Budaun double murder case.Javed, who was at large since the incident at Baba Colony on Tuesday, surrendered at the satellite police outpost of the Baradari police station in neighbouring Bareilly district on Thursday.

Budaun killer stabbed kids 13 and 11 times

Mohd Sajid's brother arrested in Bareilly after Sajid killed neighbor's sons in Budaun. Javed surrendered at Baradari PS, revealing he fled to avoid locals. Autopsy: Ayush & Ahaan brutally stabbed by Sajid.

Budaun Double-Murder: Fearing Encounter, Second Accused Javed Surrendered in Bareilly

In a latest twist in the Budaun double murder case, the second accused Javed has surrendered before UP Police in Bareilly. In a video that went viral on social media, Javed pleaded innocence and said he has nothing to do with the murder that his brother committed. The main accused Sajid, who killed the two minor brothers in their home in Budaun, was killed in an encounter hours after he committed the crime.

I didnt know anything, he did it: Second accused in Badaun double murder case and Sajids brother Javed claims innocence after arrest in Bareilly

Accused Javed blamed his deceased older brother Sajid for the murder of the two Hindu boys in Badaun, Uttar Pradesh.

Unveiling the Mystery: Who is Judge Ravi Kumar Divakar? High Courts Displeasure Revealed

Allahabad High Court News: Upholding Judicial Integrity In recent developments from the Allahabad High Court, a decision made by an Additional District Judge (Fast Track) in Bareilly sparked controversy, leading to its removal by Justice Ram Manohar Mishra. Lets delve into the details surrounding this significant event and its broader implications. The Allahabad High Court ...

Budaun Double Murder case: Uttar Pradesh police arrest second accused from Bareilly

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News18 Afternoon Digest: Badaun Killer Sajid's Brother Javed Arrested from Bareilly And Other Top Stories

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Badaun double murder case: Police arrest second accused Javed. Here's what he said after surrender. Watch video

Uttar Pradesh Police has arrested the second suspect in the Badaun double murder case, from Bareilly. His brother, Sajid, the primary accused, was killed in a police encounter shortly after the incident. Javed, now in custody, denies knowledge of his brother's motives. The attack claimed the lives of Ayush and Honey, with Piyush sustaining serious injuries.

Budaun Double Murder Case: Police arrest second accused from Bareilly in murder case

A man accused in the Budaun double murder case was arrested in Bareilly after a manhunt. The incident involved the killing of two children by a local barber, leading to widespread shock and condemnation, including from Israel. The main accused was shot dead by police, and the motive behind the murders remains unclear.

Police arrest second accused in Budaun double murder case

Budaun: A man accused in the Budaun double murder case was arrested from Bareilly on Thursday, police said. Javed, the brother of main accused Sajid, was arrested by a police team in nearby Bareilly district. He is being brought to the district for further questioning, said Badaun Senior Superintendent of Police Alok Priyadarshi. Also ReadYoutuber Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Badaun murders: Second accused arrested from Bareilly

Badaun (UP), March 21 (IANS) Uttar Pradesh Police arrested Javed, the second accused in the Badaun double murder case, from Bareilly on Thursday. Javed was on the run after the murder of two children on Tuesday evening. His brother and the main accused Sajid was gunned down in a police encounter within two hours of []

Double murder of minor brothers leads to communal tension in UP's Budaun

LUCKNOW: Badaun, a district of western Uttar Pradesh, was on the brink of communal tensions after two minor boys --- Ayush (13) and Ayaan aka Honey (6), were murdered gruesomely by a local barber Sajid (30), at their home on Tuesday night, said the police. As per the police sources, about two hours after the incident, Sajid, the accused, was gunned down in an encounter with the cops. According to UP Director General of Police (DGP) Prashant Kumar, Sajid was shot dead when he opened fire on the police as he fled following the horrifying act. According to Inspector General, Bareilly Range, Rakesh Singh and SSP, Badaun, Alok Priyadarshi, the motive behind the incident was yet to be ascertained, however, an FIR was registered against two persons -- Sajid and his brother Javed -- based on a complaint filed by Vinod Singh Thakur, the father of the deceased boys at the Civil Lines Police station. Both Sajid and Javed were booked under Sections 452 (House-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault, or wrongful restraint), 302 (murder), and 307 (attempt to murder) of Indian Penal Code (IPC). While the Special Operation Group (SOG) of UP police has launched a hunt for Javed, the father and uncle of the accused were picked up by the cops for interrogation. Meanwhile, Sajids mother Nazeer claimed that she had no regret over her sons encounter as he had taken two innocent lives ruthlessly. As per the post-mortem examination report, while Sajid had inflicted five wounds with a sharp-edged weapon on the chest and hand of Ayush, 13, he killed Ayyan by slitting his throat. According to Badaun SSP Alok Priyadarshi, Sajids shop is located near the boys home in Baba Colony, Civil Line police station area, in Badaun. The victimss father is a contractor, while their mother, Sangeeta, runs a beauty parlour from the ground floor of their house. A structure set on fire by angered people after a barber allegedly killed two boys, in Budaun, Tuesday night. As per the complaint, Sajid went to the house of Vinod Singh Thakur, a contractor by profession, at 7.45 pm on Tuesday. The incident occurred when their father was away while their mother was at the parlour. All the three boys were at home with their paternal grandmother, police said. According to police, Sajid, who often used to buy some goods for the salon from Sangeeta, asked her for some clips and asked to lend him Rs 5,000 for the treatment of his pregnant wife. Sangeeta is said to have given the amount after consulting her husband and when she had gone inside the house to make tea, the accused had went to the third floor and had asked one of the boys to bring him water. As Piyush left to take water, Sajid attacked Ayush and Ayaan with a sharp-edged weapon, slitting their throats, police said. Piyush upon returning with water was attacked by Sajid but had managed to escape with minor injuries. He screamed and alerted the family. As the family raised an alarm, Sajid fled the house shouting that he had completed his task. At about 10 pm, Sajid was gunned down in the Shekhupur area, about 7 km from the victims house. However, following the boys killing, mob vandalised Sajids shop and set it ablaze. UP double murder: Barber accused of killing two boys had gone to their house seeking money Two other makeshift shops were also set on fire by the angry protestors. Additional police personnel were deployed, and the situation was brought under control, said the police officers. The police dismissed reports linking the killings to occult. As per SSP Badaun, social media is being monitored to prevent such rumours. Thakur denied any dispute with the barber whose shop the children used to frequent for haircut. I had no dispute with him. I was away from home for work when he came to the house. One of my sons was able to escape him and warn his mother, said the father of the victims while talking to reporters. Meanwhile, the main opposition party leader Akhilesh Yadav mocked at the UP governments claim of zero tolerance towards crime.

BREAKING: Badaun Double Murder Case Accused Javed Arrested From UP`s Bareilly

In a horrifying event in Badaun's Baba Colony, three minor siblings were murdered with an axe. The victims, Ayush (12), Ahaan, also known as Honey (8), and Yuvraj (10), were at home during the assault.

Badaun murder case update: Second accused Javed surrenders in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh

'I Didn't Do Anything, Came Here to Surrender': Brother of Killer in UP Double Murder Case Arrested From Bareilly

Following the horrific incident, Javed had switched off his mobile and ran away to Delhi

SP buries buzz over Varun Gandhi, unveils pick from Pilibhit

Pilibhit BJP MP Varun Gandhi will not be joining forces with Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party, as confirmed by SP's latest candidate list. Bhagwat Saran Gangwar has been nominated by SP for the Pilibhit seat, replacing the incumbent. Gangwar, a veteran five-time MLA from Nawabganj in Bareilly, had previously contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Bareilly under the SP banner.

Allahabad HC expunges district court judge's 'philosopher king' remark on Yogi Adityanath

The move by the single bench of Justice Ram Manohar Narayan Mishra came while passing an order on Tuesday on a plea to set aside the order passed on March 5 by the additional sessions judge of Bareilly, Ravi Kumar Diwakar, when the latter had summoned a Muslim cleric and political leader Tauqueer Raza Khan to face trial for being the alleged mastermind of communal riots that took place in Bareilly in 2010.

Samajwadi Party puts lid on speculation over ticket to Varun Gandhi, fields Gangwar from Pilibhit

LUCKNOW: After dropping hints over fielding Varun Gandhi, the sitting MP from Pilibhit, by saying that it would ponder over the matter if the BJP denied him the ticket, the Samajwadi Party brought the curtain down on the speculation by announcing a candidate from the seat on Wednesday. Releasing its sixth list of another six candidates, the SP announced the name of Bhagwat Saran Gangwar from Pilibhit amid buzz that Varun Gandhi may jump ship to side with Akhilesh Yadav. Gangwar, a five-time MLA from Nawabganj in Bareilly, was runner-up in 2019 when he had secured 4 lakh votes but lost the seat to Santosh Gangwar, the 8-time MP of the BJP from Bareilly and a former Union minister. Giving precedence to family, the SP has fielded Ziaur Rehman Barq from Sambhal, the sitting SP MLA from Kundarki in Sambhal, and grandson of late SP MP Shafiqur Rehman Barq. Shafiqur Rehman Barq was already announced as the SP candidate from Sambhal in the partys first list but he passed away last month after a prolonged illness. His politician son Mamlurul Rehman Barq had also expressed the desire to take his fathers legacy forward in Sambhal but the party preferred his son. BJP considers retaining Maneka Gandhi, but axe may fall on Varun Besides, the SP also announced the candidate for the Mirzapur seat, fielding Rajendra S Bind thus putting the first break on the ambition of ally Apna Dal (Kamerawadi) headed by Sone Lal Patels wife Krishna Patel and his elder daughter Dr Pallavi Patel. Earlier, in the day, Pallavi Patel had taken to social media demanding three seats as a member of the INDIA alliance from the quota of 63 seats at the SPs disposal. Patel had demanded Mirzapur, Phoolpur and Kaushambi. However, by announcing the SP candidate from Mirzapur, Akhilesh Yadav sent across a clear message to Patel, a sitting MLA on the SP symbol from Kaushambi. Of late, Patel had been humming some dissenting tunes as she had aggressively opposed Akhileshs choice of candidates for the recently concluded Rajya Sabha elections. Others in the list include Manoj Chaudhary from Baghpat, Rahul Awana from Gautam Budh Nagar and Rajeev Rai from Ghosi. While Rahul Awana has replaced Dr Mahendra Nagar in Gautam Budh Nagar, Rajeev Rai was seen as one of the architects of the impressive assembly bypoll victory of the SP in Ghosi over its turncoat and BJP candidate Dara Singh Chauhan.

2010 Bareilly riots case: Allahabad HC rejects bail plea of cleric Maulana Tauqir Raza Khan

2010 Bareilly riots case: Allahabad HC rejects bail plea of cleric Maulana Tauqir Raza Khan The Allahabad High Court has declined to stay the non-bailable warrant (NBW) issued against cleric Maulana Tauqir Raza Khan in 2010 Bareilly riot case. However, the court directed Khan to appear before the trial court on or before March 27 and apply for bail. It directed the trial court to decide his bail application strictly in accordance with law. The court said that the NBW till then shall not be executed against him only with a view to giving him an opportunity to appear before the court below. The court also expunged certain remarks made by an additional sessions judge of Bareilly in one of his orders pertaining to the 2010 Bareilly riots case in which he had praised Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The court in its order on Tuesday said, ''I have gone through the order under challenge whereby learned trial court while passing the impugned order mentioned certain unwarranted expressions containing political overtones and personal views... Besides this, he has also shared his personal experiences in the said order which is not at all required while passing judicial order,'' it said. The court said it is not expected from the judicial officer to express or depict his personal or pre-conceived notions or inclinations in the matter. The judicial order is meant for public consumption and such type of order is likely to be misconstrued by the masses, said the court. The court then said, ''It is expected from a judicial officer that he should use a very guarded expression while focusing upon the issue in hand and should not use any observations which are tangent or alien to the core issue.''

Allahabad High Court expunges remarks by Bareilly judge hailing Yogi Adityanath

It is not expected of a judicial officer to express his personal or preconceived notions, says court

Allahabad HC expunges remarks by Bareilly judge hailing Yogi Adityanath

It is not expected of a judicial officer to express his personal or preconceived notions, says court

If there was a way to anticipate such incidents...: BJP MP condemns Badayun double murder

If there was a way to anticipate such incidents...: BJP MP condemns Badayun double murder BJP MP Sanghmitra Maurya on Wednesday condemned the horrific murder of two young siblings in Badayun, Uttar Pradesh, while also expressing her grief over the incident. Speaking to ANI on Wednesday, the BJP MP termed the incident as 'saddening', adding, I condemn the way two small children (brothers) were found with their throats slit. A third child, who managed to escape, also sustained injuries. This incident is reprehensible. In the incident on Tuesday, two children were hacked to death in Badayun's Baba Colony, drawing shock and outrage among locals and across the political spectrum. One of the alleged accused in the incident was shot dead during an exchange of fire, the police informed. Speaking to ANI earlier, Rakesh Kumar, the inspector general of police, Bareilly, said, There was an unfortunate incident in which two children were killed. Though a police team arrived at the scene after receiving word of the incident, the accused managed to escape. As we chased the accused, one of them opened fire at us. He was killed in retaliatory firing but the others got away. Further investigation is underway. Commending the prompt and efficient response of the Badaun police, the MP said, The response of the police was prompt and efficient. It was because of the alacrity shown by the police that one of the culprits was killed. It's impossible to get a hunch on what's happening behind closed doors at someone's house. If there was a way to anticipate such incidents, the police could prevent them. However, it's not possible to read someone's criminal or murderous intent beforehand. So, it's unfair to blame the police in light of this incident. Responding to the Samajwadi Party (SP) claiming that the incident was orchestrated by the ruling BJP in the state as part of the ploy to stir up trouble close to the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP MP retorted, Under the SP rule, from 2012 to 2017, there were more than 300 riots in the state. The Muzaffarnagar riots have still not faded from public memory. However, there has been a change for the better since and it was the BJP government that brought about this change. The state now has a double-engine government, with the Modi government at the Centre and the Yogi government in the state. (Union) Home Minister Amit bhai (Amit Shah) has already made it clear to the country that goons, mafias, and criminals, who enjoyed political patronage earlier, would be taken to task as per the law. The police in Badayun have demonstrated zero tolerance in bringing the culprits behind the double homicide to book, Maurya said. Sharing further details on the incident, the Bareilly IGP said earlier, The children were playing on the terrace. The accused came, waited for their chance to strike before climbing to the terrace and killing them. Opening up on the accused, Kumar said, The accused are aged between 25-30. We will be disclosing their details after further investigation. The surviving brother of the two deceased children, an eyewitness to the incident, said earlier two people came to the house and took his brothers to the terrace. Speaking to ANI, he added that the accused had tried to attack him but he pushed them away and fled. The man from the barber shop had come here. He took my brothers upstairs; I don't know why he killed them. He tried to attack me too, but I pushed away his knife, pushed him away and ran down. I suffered injuries in my hand and head. Two people (the accused) had come here, he said. The father of the deceased children named Javed (brother of Sajid) as the main accused in his complaint, based on which an FIR was registered. (ANI)

Barber hacks to death 2 boys in UP's Budaun; gunned down within hours

Barber hacks to death 2 boys in UP's Budaun; gunned down within hours A local barber hacked two boys to death and critically hurt a third in an axe attack on Tuesday in Baba Colony here, an officer said. He was gunned down in an encounter hours later, he said. A man who had recently opened a barber shop in the locality entered a house and attacked three brothers -- Ayush, 12, Ahaan alias Honey, 8, and Yuvraj, 10, with an axe, District Magistrate Manoj Kumar said. Ayush and Ahaan died in the attack, while Yuvraj was rushed to a hospital with grievous wounds, he said. The incident took place a few steps away from Mandi Police Post of Civil Lines Police Station. Hours later, the assailant, identified as 22-year-old Sajid, was gunned down in an encounter, IG Bareilly range RK Singh told PTI. Sajid had decamped from the house after killing the boys, and was found wearing the same blood-soaked clothes when he was confronted by police, he said. ''Our team came to know about him and chased him. He was seen in the forest of Shekhupur. When our SOG and police station team reached there, he fired at them. In the retaliatory firing he received a bullet wound and died,'' Singh said. The IG said Sajid entered the house, met the boys' grandmother, and went to the second floor where the boys were. After the incident, the boys' family members and some local residents vandalised shops and damaged a motorcycle, he said. Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police Prashant Kumar said, ''The incident took place at around 8.00 pm, when a person named Sajid entered a house located opposite to his shop, and attacked the children there. Two children were killed, while one child was injured. He (Sajid) fled from the spot.'' He added, ''The police immediately acted, and cordoned him off. He also fired at the police, and in retaliatory firing by the police, he was injured, and later he died.'' Kumar said the area is now peaceful and under the watch of IG Bareilly range RK Singh, ADG Bareilly zone, and Bareilly Divisional Commissioner. ''The incident took place due to personal enmity, and there is no communal angle to it. We are monitoring the situation, and our social media cell is also monitoring it,'' he said. The DG said there was only one person involved in the attack, Sajid, and no other. It was earlier reported that there were two people involved in the attack. ''As per information received at the headquarters, only one person was involved --- Sajid,'' Kumar said. After the killings led to a ruckus in the area, the Senior Superintendent of Police ordered deployment of security there to bring the crowd under control. Sajid used to run a barber's shop in the locality. His shop was located quite close to the house where the boys lived, the officer said. The DM said the bodies of both the children have been sent for post mortem and the injured child has been admitted to the district hospital.

Barber hacks to death 2 boys in UP's Budaun; one assailant gunned down

Barber hacks to death 2 boys in UP's Budaun; one assailant gunned down A local barber hacked two boys to death and critically hurt a third in an axe attack on Tuesday in Baba Colony here, an officer said. One of the men involved in the act was gunned down in an encounter hours later, he said. A man who had recently opened a barber shop in the locality entered a house and attacked three brothers -- Ayush, 12, Ahaan alias Honey, 8, and Yuvraj, 10, with an axe, District Magistrate Manoj Kumar said. Ayush and Ahaan died in the attack, while Yuvraj was rushed to a hospital with grievous wounds, he said. The incident took place a few steps away from Mandi Police Post of Civil Lines Police Station. Hours later, one of the accused, identified as 22-year-old Sajid, was gunned down in an encounter with the police, IG Bareilly range RK Singh told PTI. Another police officer, who requested anonymity, said, ''The motive behind the incident is yet to be ascertained. One of the accused, Sajid, was running away after committing the crime, and also fired at the police. Police in retaliation fired at him, and he died.'' After the boys' killing, their family members and a few local residents vandalised shops and damaged a motorcycle. The Senior Superintendent of Police has ordered deployment of security in the area to bring the crowd under control. Sajid and Javed used to run a barber's shop in the locality, and their shop was located quite close to the house where the boys lived, the officer said. Javed is still at large. The DM said the bodies of both the children have been sent for post mortem and the injured child has been admitted to the district hospital.

Muslims forced to shut shops in Uttarakhand town

A local traders' body has forced Muslim shopkeepers in Dharchula to down shutters and given a call for their ouster from the Uttarakhand town after two minor girls were allegedly lured by a couple of men from Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh.

Senior SP leader Azam Khan sentenced to 7 years in Dungarpur case

Senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan has been sentenced to seven years in prison in the Dungarpur case, along with three others who received five-year terms. The case stems from a 2016 property dispute in Uttar Pradesh's Rae Bareilly district. This is the fifth case in which Khan has been convicted in the past two years, highlighting his ongoing legal challenges. Currently serving a sentence in another case, Khan's convictions raise questions about the future of the Samajwadi Party.

15.34 crore eligible to vote in UP's seven-phase election; Polling in Varanasi, Gorakhpur in final phase

15.34 crore eligible to vote in UP's seven-phase election; Polling in Varanasi, Gorakhpur in final phase Around 15.34 crore people are eligible to vote in Uttar Pradesh - a politically crucial state with 80 Lok Sabha seats where elections will be held in seven phases from April 19. According to the poll schedule announced by the Election Commission on Saturday, single-phase polling will be held in 15 states and seven Union Territories, while staggered elections will be held in the rest of the 13 states and Jammu and Kashmir. Elections will be held in seven phases in the three states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal. ''At present, there are around 15.34 crore voters in Uttar Pradesh, of which 8.17 crore are males and 7.17 crore are females. ''There are 6,638 third gender voters, while there are more than 12.51 lakh divyaang voters,'' State Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa told reporters. He said there are 92,587 polling stations in the state, while there are over 1.62 lakh polling booths. According to the election schedule, eight parliamentary constituencies in UP will vote in the first phase of Lok Sabha polls on April 19. These are Saharanpur, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Nagina (SC), Moradabad, Rampur and Pilibhit. The seventh and final phase of polling will be held on June 1, and among the seats it will cover are Varanasi -- represented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi -- and Gorakhpur, the pocket borough of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Voting in the second phase will take place on April 26 and it will cover eight parliamentary constituencies of Amroha, Meerut, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Gautambuddh Nagar, Bulandshahr (SC), Aligarh and Mathura. Ten parliamentary constituencies of Sambhal, Hathras (SC), Agra (SC), Fatehpur Sikri, Firozabad, Mainpuri, Etah, Budaun, Aonla and Bareilly will go to polls in the third phase on May 7. The fourth phase of the Lok Sabha polls in UP will witness voting on May 13 and will cover the 13 constituencies of Shahjahanpur (SC), Khiri, Dhaurahra, Sitapur, Hardoi (SC), Misrikh (SC), Unnao, Farrukhabad, Etawah (SC), Kannauj, Kanpur, Akbarpur and Bahraich (SC). State capital Lucknow will go to polls on May 20, in the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections. The other (13) seats going to polls in the fifth phase in the state are --- Mohanlalganj (SC), Rae Bareli, Amethi, Jalaun (SC), Jhansi, Hamirpur, Banda, Fatehpur, Kaushambi (SC), Barabanki (SC), Faizabad, Kaisarganj and Gonda. The sixth phase of the general elections will cover 14 seats of Sultanpur, Pratapgarh, Phoolpur, Allahabad, Ambedkarnagar, Shravasti, Domariyaganj, Basti, Sant Kabir Nagar, Lalganj (SC), Azamgarh, Jaunpur, Machhlishahr and Bhadohi. Voting in the sixth phase will be held on May 25. Apart from Varanasi and Gorakhpur, the other parliamentary constituencies that will go to polls in the seventh phase are Maharajganj, Kushinagar, Deoria, Bansgaon (SC), Ghosi, Salempur, Ballia, Ghazipur, Chandauli, Mirzapur and Robertsganj (SC). The counting of votes will be held on June 4. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP won 62 seats and its ally Apna Dal (S) two seats, brushing aside the challenge of the SP-BSP alliance. The Congress won the lone Rae Bareli seat of Sonia Gandhi. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) was the biggest gainer in the alliance with 10 seats. Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party won five seats and the smallest partner Rashtriya Lok Dal couldn't open its account in the polls.

'In heaven': Murder accused goes live from UP jail

Bareilly Central Jail suspended 3 warders over an inmate's live-stream claiming to be in heaven. Involved are District Magistrate, Deputy Jailor, DIG of Prisons, and another accused, Rahul Chaudhury, linked to a daylight murder.

Murder accused hosts social media live from UP Jail: 3 jail wardens suspended

SHAHJAHANPUR: The jail administration has suspended three jail wardens of the Bareilly Central Jail in Uttar Pradesh following an investigation into the matter of an inmate accused of murder possessing a mobile phone on which he hosted a live video on a social media platform. The probe was ordered after a purported video of a murder accused Asif lodged in Bareilly Central Jail hosting a live video surfaced on a social media platform on Thursday. In the two minute-long video, Asif is heard saying, I am in heaven and enjoying it. On seeing the video on social media, the deceased's brother met District Magistrate Umesh Pratap Singh on Thursday and gave him a written complaint. The authorities have also shunted a deputy jailor and sought written explanation from the two jailors regarding the incident. Three jail warders Ravi Shankar Dwivedi, Hans Jeev Sharma and Gopal Pandey have been suspended for dereliction of duty on Friday. The deputy jailor Kishan Singh Baldia has been attached to the Jail Headquarters Lucknow, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Prisons Kuntal Kumar on Saturday said. A written explanation has also been sought from jailors Vijay Kumar Rai and Neeraj Kumar regarding the incident, he added. The officer said that no objectionable item was recovered in barrack searches held as part of the investigation. Asif is accused of shooting a public works department (PWD) contractor Rakesh Yadav (34) to death in broad daylight on December 2, 2019, in Sadar Bazar Police Station area of Shahjahanpur. Another accused Rahul Chaudhury was also accused to have killed Yadav and the duo are currently lodged in Bareilly Central Jail.

UP paper scam main accused surrenders

LUCKNOW : In connection with UP Police Constable Recruitment paper leak case, the roots of which are being traced to Gujarat, Haryana, Delhi and Bihar besides UP, one of the prime suspects Arun Kumar Singh surrendered before the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) in Kaushambi on Friday. The UP STF immediately shifted Singh into the custody of the Manjhanpur Kotwali Police where the case has been registered in connection with the paper leak. Three other accused of the case have already been arrested. The top cops DGP Prashant Kumar and ADG UP STF Amitabh Yash, said that the other three prime suspects Abhishek Kumar Shukla of Prayagraj, Shivam Giri of Mirzapur and Rohit Kumar Pandey of Bhadohi were arrested from Lalkua flyover in Vijaynagar of Ghaziabad on Thursday. The STF also seized three mobile phones along with a question paper pertaining to the second shift of UP Police Recruitment Examination conducted on February 18, 2024. According to UP DGP, the STF conducted a swift operation across Varanasi, Jhansi, Agra, Kanpur, Bareilly, Ghaziabad, Prayagraj, Meerut, Gorakhpur, Hathras, Noida, and Ballia in UP lodging 178 cases pertaining to the offence and arrested 396 individuals so far in connection with the paper leak of UP Police Constable Recruitment, RO and ARO paper leak case. As per the sources, the investigators are camping in Delhi, Bihar and Haryana to trace other conspirators. All the three accused arrested from Ghaziabad are former employees of TCI Express Company of Ahmedabad which was engaged in storage, transportation and distribution of question papers. As per the top cops, all the three accused along with the masterminds Rajeev Nayan Mishra took the photo of the leaked paper in the warehouse and sold it for lakhs. How it all started Feb1, 2024: Shivam Giri tells Abhishek Shukla about cop recruitment exam papers to TCI Exp Co. in Ahmedabad Feb 4: Shukla and Ravi Atri send photo of the trunks lying in TCI Exp Co. facility to Bhopal-based Rajiv Nayan Mishra, who transfers `3 lakh to Giris account Feb 5: The gang calls Dr Shubham Mandal, an expert in opening sealed trunks, to reach Ahmedabad Feb 5: Mandal, along with Mishra and Rohit Kumar Pandey, opens the trunk, takes pictures of the Code 2 exam paper Feb 9: Mishra and Atri leave Ahmedabad and sell papers to aspiring candidates for Rs 5 lakh each Feb 17-18: 48 lakh students appear for the exam in centres across 75 districts of UP for over 60,000 vacancies Feb 24: Following protests, Yogi Adiyanath cancels exam, orders probe March 14: Shukla, Giri and Pandey arrested from Ghaziabad; Atri, the main accused, elusive

UP: Security Tightened Ahead of Friday Prayers

Massive anti-CAA protests broke out in Aligarh, Kanpur, Bareilly, Varanasi and Lucknow in 2019 after Parliament passed the contentious law

Probe ordered as undertrial uploads video from UP jail

Bareilly, March 15 (IANS) A probe has been ordered into a purported video on social media of a murder accused, who is lodged in Uttar Pradeshs Bareilly Central jail. The accused in the video that went viral on Thursday, was identified as Asif. He allegedly shot dead a public works department (PWD) contractor Rakesh Yadav []

I'm In Heaven: Murder Accused Hosts Social Media Live From UP Jail

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.

I am in heaven and enjoying it, says murder accused in jail video; UP Police order probe

Shahjahanpur: 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. Also ReadUP groom stands Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

CM Yogi dedicates 64 projects worth Rs 328.40 crore to Bareilly

The News Mill

NBW issued against Tauqeer Raza Khan for 2010 riots

Lucknow, March 12 (IANS) The court of Additional District Judge (fast track), Bareilly, has issued a Non-Bailable Warrant (NBW) against Ittehad-e-Millat Council (IMC) Chief Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan for avoiding court orders. ADJ Ravi Kumar Diwakar issued the warrant against Tauqeer Raza and ordered the circle officer city (1) to serve the warrant, arrest and []

Communal riots happen due to appeasement of one community: Bareilly court, hails CM Yogi Adityanath to Platos idea of Philosopher King

The main reason for communal riots in India is that the political parties here are engaged in appeasement of a particular religion, due to which the morale of prominent people of that particular religion increases so much and they believe that even if riots etc. if they get it done, not even a hair will be left unturned due to power protection,he Judge Ravi Kumar Diwakar said.

PM Modi To Flag Off Dehradun-Lucknow Vande Bharat Express Train Tomorrow; Know Timings, Stoppages

The distance between the capitals of the two states, Dehradun and Lucknow, is 545 kilometres, which is now going to be covered in just about 8 hours. The stoppage of the train is proposed at 3 stations which are Haridwar, Moradabad and Bareilly.

Stage set for establishment of big industrial parks in UP, 2.70 lakh job opportunities in pipeline

Stage set for establishment of big industrial parks in UP, 2.70 lakh job opportunities in pipeline The Ground Breaking Ceremony (GBC@4.0), organized by the Uttar Pradesh government, has played a pivotal role in attracting substantial investments, shaping the economic landscape of Uttar Pradesh, said an official statement of the government. Private industrial parks have emerged as key contributors to this economic boom, with investors pouring capital into various districts across the state, the statement added. Notably, the establishment of 13 major industrial parks is currently in progress, promising a substantial investment of Rs 14,634 crores and the creation of employment for 2.70 lakh people in the state. The Industrial Park being established in Kanpur alone is expected to generate 2.5 lakh employment opportunities. Additionally, industrial parks are being set up in Baghpat, Barabanki, Bareilly, Chandauli, Ghaziabad, Hapur, Meerut, Saharanpur, and Shahjahanpur. It is noteworthy that in February, the Yogi government through GBC@4.0 introduced over 14,000 projects with an investment of over Rs 10 lakh crores across the state, potentially creating 34 lakh employment opportunities. In a significant achievement regarding private industrial parks, Kanpur is gearing up to provide the most employment opportunities. The Mega Leather Cluster Development (UP) Pvt. Ltd. is establishing a private industrial park in Kanpur at a cost of Rs 5,850 crores. This industrial park is set to generate employment for a record 2.5 lakh people. This is the largest number of jobs being created through the industrial park. This initiative will strengthen Kanpur's industrial identity and establish it as a hub for employment. Crescendo Interiors is setting up a private industrial park in Ayodhya at a cost of Rs 500 crore, creating employment for 100 individuals. Additionally, Lucknow H.M. Green City Pvt. Ltd. is setting up a private industrial park in Barabanki at a cost of Rs 150 crores, providing employment for 200 people. Shahjahanpur is also contributing to these establishments with LatestPlus Apparel Pvt. Ltd. investing Rs 5,000 crores in an industrial park that will offer jobs to 1,000 people. Furthermore, in Bareilly, Realply Plywoods LLP is launching a project worth Rs 408 crores, aiming to employ 1,000 people. In Chandauli, DRS Developers is managing employment for 150 people through a project funded with an investment of Rs 50 crores under the Pledge Scheme. Industrial parks are also being established on a large scale in the western part of the state. Under this, BMR Buildcon Projects Pvt. Ltd. is setting up a 30-acre industrial park in Baghpat with an investment of Rs 200 crores, expected to create jobs for 1,200 individuals. Additionally, Kalindi Estate Pvt. Ltd. is establishing a 25-acre industrial park in Baghpat itself with an investment of Rs 200 crores, providing employment opportunities for approximately 1,430 people. Similarly, Multiwings Electric LLP is constructing a logistics park in Ghaziabad with a cost of Rs 500 crore. It will be able to provide jobs for 800 people. Meanwhile, Shiv Shankar Industries is investing Rs 350 crores in Hapur, generating employment for 500 people. Vishwakarma Industrial Estate is building an industrial park in Meerut at a cost of Rs 626 crore, which will provide employment to 6570 people. Additionally, Paswara Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd. is investing in a Rs 300 crore project in Meerut, providing jobs for 500 people. Pulastya Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd. is constructing an industrial park in Saharanpur with an investment of Rs 500 crores, aiming to create employment opportunities for 5,000 people. In these private industrial parks being established in Uttar Pradesh, all the facilities for industrial units will be available in a single complex. The manufacturing zone of the park will have flat factories and factory sheds. Under common facilities, there will be a business and shopping centre, incubation centre, hotels and restaurants, hostels, office blocks, health and communication facilities, police and fire stations, and more. These industrial parks will also include common infrastructure such as electricity, water, and road connectivity, along with facilities like a common effluent treatment plant, and testing and certification labs. Additionally, logistics facilities such as warehouses, container and truck terminals, railway siding infrastructure, fuel stations, etc., will be available. Green zones filled with lush greenery will also be part of these industrial parks. To ensure security at the parks, police stations will be constructed and security guards will be deployed. (ANI)

indias-moves-not-conducive-to-peace-at-border-says-china

Amid a diplomatic standoff between the two countries, China warned India that deploying more troops at the border is not conducive to safeguarding peace and tranquility of the border areas. The statement comes amid reports that India has pulled around 10,000 personnel from the western border and deployed them at the border with China. Adressing a press conference, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said, India's move of strengthening military deployment along the border with China is counterproductive to the two countries' efforts to ease the situation at the border and not conducive to safeguarding peace and tranquility of the border areas. Asserting that China is always committed to upholding peace and tranquility in the border areas, Mao Ning said India's actions do not conform with common understandings reached by China and India on deescalating tensions in the border areas. India and China have been in a military stand-off since the altercations in eastern Ladakh in 2020. Times of India had reported that the Army wants to convert the Uttar Bharat (UB) Area based in Bareilly into an operational corps, to guard the middle sector of the 3,488-km line of actual control (LAC). Interestingly, in February this year, India and China had held the 21st round Corps Commander level meeting at the Chushul-Moldo border to defuse tensions along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement. The 21st round of India-China Corps Commander Level Meeting was held at Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on 19th February 2024. The discussions built on the previous rounds, seeking complete disengagement in the remaining areas along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh as an essential basis for restoration of peace and tranquillity in the India-China border areas.

'Won't ease tensions', says China on Indias move to add more troops at border

According to a spokesperson from China's foreign ministry on Friday, the increase in troop presence by India at the contested border is viewed as counterproductive to the alleviation of tensions. The Uttar Bharat (UB) Area in Bareilly, primarily designated for administrative, training, and peacetime purposes, is set to undergo transformation into a fully-fledged corps. This restructuring involves the incorporation of additional infantry, artillery, aviation, air defense, and engineer brigades.

Bareilly News: Police Busts Illegal Arms Factory, Arrests Two Accused

The accused used to sell one pistol for four to five thousand rupees to young boys and criminal gangs.

8 get death sentence for 10-year-old triple murder, dacoity case in Bareilly

LUCKNOW: A local court in Uttar Pradeshs Bareilly on Thursday awarded death sentence to eight persons, including two women, in connection with a 10-year-old triple murder case. Nine people have been convicted in the case, and one of them, a jeweller, has been given a life sentence. According to a court officer, the murder took place during a dacoity in the house of an Income Tax department inspector in 2014. During the dacoity bid in Suresh Sharma Nagar in Bareilly, the I-T officers mother, brother and sister-in-law were murdered by the members of the Chaimar Hassen gang. Special Fast Track Court Judge Ravi Kumar Diwakar awarded the death sentence to eight members of the Chaimar Hassen gang, identified as Wajid, Haseen, Yasin alias Zeeshan, Nazima, Hashima, Sameer alias Sahib, Zulfam and Fahim. Assistant District Government Advocate (ADGA-Criminal) Digambar Patel said that plaintiff Ravikant Mishra, an inspector in the I-Tax department in Pilibhit, had left home for his official work at 9 am on April 21, 2014. When he returned home on April 23, he found the main gate of his residence locked from the inside, the window in the gallery opened with its grill removed, and the door to the terrace unlocked. When the officer looked inside from the roof of an adjoining under-construction house, he saw the body of his 70-year-old mother, Pushpa, lying near the stairs, the ADGC said. The bodies of his brother Yogesh and and sister-in-law Priya were found in the bedroom while the house was lying ransacked. During the investigation, police found that the accused had broken into the house at night through the neighbouring under-construction house by removing the windows grill. When Mishras mother woke up due to the noise, the dacoits killed her by hitting on the head with a brick. They then killed his brother and sister-in-law with a crowbar and brick. On a tip-off, police raided some camps on May 2, 2014, on the banks of a river in Umaria village of Bithri. They found silver coins, some papers, and a purse, all of which Mishra identified as his familys belongings. When photographs of the convicts were published in newspapers, it was found that some used to roam around under the garb of vegetable sellers to take stalk of the place. Modus operandi The eight convicts belonging to the Chaimar Hassen gang had planned a dacoity at the I-T officer Ravikant Mishras house in Bareilly in 2014. When the Mishra was out for official work, they broke open the house and murdered his mother, brother and sister-in-law. He found the bodies lying in the house two days later when he returned and personal belonging missing.

I will shed rivers of blood of Hindus: UP court declares Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan mastermind behind the 2010 Bareilly anti-Hindu riots. Read chilling details of the case

Mualana Tauqeer Raza Khan has delivered hate speech several times in the past inciting Muslims and has also made insulting statements for PM Modi

Court says Tauqeer Raza mastermind of 2010 communal riots, summons him on March 11

Bareilly: A court in Bareilly on Tuesday summoned Ittehad-e-Millat Council (IMC) chairman Maulana Tauqeer Raza in connection with the communal riots in the Qutub Khana area here in March 2010, observing that he was the mastermind behind the violence, according to a government counsel. The court also said that the then divisional commissioner and district Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Suspense prevails over Rae Bareli as BJP probables for remaining UP seats wait with bated breath

LUCKNOW: All eyes are on the BJP's choice of candidate for Rae Bareli after the exit of former AICC chief Sonia Gandhi and the buzz of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra replacing her mother in the Gandhi family stronghold. Various names are doing the rounds as the possible BJP candidate for the Rae Bareli seat which did not figure in the first list of 51 candidates released by the ruling party on Saturday for the Lok Sabha polls. BJP probables are waiting with bated breath for the second list of candidates for the remaining 29 seats of Uttar Pradesh, which include seven -- Moradabad, Rae Bareli, Bijnor, Ghazipur, Mainpuri, Saharanpur and Ghazipur -- where the ruling party had lost to the SP-BSP grand alliance in 2019. The BJP had fielded candidates in 27 of those remaining 29 seats in 2019 and had won 20, including Prayagraj, Bareilly, Sultanpur, Kaiserganj, Bahraich, Deoria, Ballia, Machhalisahar, Kanpur, Firozabad, Hathras, Aligarh, Badaun, Meerut, Kaushambi, Baghpat, Phulpur, Ghaziabad, Pilibhit and Bhadohi. The political experts feel that the BJP would tread cautiously in Rae Bareli and is likely to reveal its cards only after the announcement of opposition candidates including those of the Congress and the BSP. However, the names of SP turncoat Manoj Pandey, who had cross-voted in the recent Rajya Sabha election in favour of the BJP candidate, and BJP MLC and Yogi minister Dinesh Pratap Singh are doing the rounds. Moreover, an equal amount of suspense prevails over two other seats having sitting members of the Gandhi family -- Sultanpur and Pilibhit -- which are represented by Maneka Gandhi and her son Varun respectively in the Lok Sabha. BJP trusts old guard in Uttar Pradesh, repeats 44 sitting MPs in first list of LS candidates Maneka Gandhi, an eight-time MP and former Union minister, is seeking re-entry into the Lok Sabha for a record ninth term though her victory margin against the BSP candidate was very thin 10,000 in 2019. Similarly, Pilibhit, represented by Varun Gandhi, who has not been let go of any chance to criticise the Modi and Yogi governments for the last couple of years, would be an interesting bet to watch out for. Varun had won the 2019 Lok Sabha election defeating his nearest rival Hemraj Verma of the SP by over three lakh votes. He had won from Pilibhit in 2009 and Sultanpur in 2014. Another seat to watch out for would be Kaiserganj, the stronghold of controversial former WFI chief Brijbhushan Sharan Singh. The BJP has not named the candidate for Kaiserganj, which has been represented by Singh for six terms. Singh is now facing legal proceedings after allegations of sexual harassment levelled against him by women wrestlers. Sources claim that the BJP may deny a ticket to Brij Bhushan this time and replace him with his son Prateek Bhushan Singh, the sitting BJP MLA from Gonda seat. What is more, the NDA allies in UP including Apna Dal (S), RLD, Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) and NISHAD are also awaiting the allocation of seats of their quota. In quest for 25/25, whiff of discontent in Rajasthan as BJP's first list of candidates out Two of these seats, Mirzapur and Roberstganj, are represented by the Anupriya Patel-led Apna Dal (S) and it will get the same two seats. As per informed sources, NDAs new ally, the Jayant Chaudhury-led RLD, is likely to get Baghpat and Bijnor while OP Rajbhars SBSP may get the Ghosi and Ghazipur seats. The fate of the partys sitting MP Rita Bahuguna Joshi vying for a second term from Prayagraj and eight-term MP Santosh Kumar Gangwar from Bareilly hangs in the balance as age does not favour them. However, by repeating Hema Malini, 75, from Mathura, the party has given hope to Joshi and Gangwar. The name of General (Retd) VK Singh, Union minister of state for road transport and civil aviation, was also missing in the first list and so was the name of former IPS officer Satya Pal Singh, the Baghpat MP. The fate of BJP MP from Badaun Sanghmitra Maurya hangs in the balance due to her father Swami Prasad Mauryas tirade against the BJP. The BJP candidates for Mainpuri and Firozabad, the two seats of Yadav land and SP strongholds, are also expected to be announced in the next list. Disconnect with voters, anti-incumbency may have cost four Delhi BJP MPs Lok Sabha ticket

Four killed in separate lightning strike incidents in UP

LUCKNOW: Four people died in separate lightning strike incidents in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday as rain and hailstorms lashed parts of the state, a senior official said. Relief Commissioner Naveen Kumar said that the deaths were reported from Lakhimpur Kheri, Hardoi, Sitapur and Shahjahanpur. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, according to a government release, expressed deep grief over the loss of lives due to lightning in various districts of the state and has given instructions to immediately provide financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh each to the families of the deceased. Adityanath has directed the concerned district magistrates to immediately provide permissible financial assistance to the affected people in cases of loss of animals, damage to houses due to disasters like lightning, hailstorm, heavy rain, storm etc, the release said. The relief commissioner said that Farrukhabad, Kannauj, Muzaffarnagar, Jalaun, Jhansi, Kanpur Dehat, Shahjahanpur, Lalitpur and Saharanpur were hit by hailstorms between 8:30 am and 2:30 pm. Rain was also reported in Ayodhya, Azamgarh, Badaun, Baghpat, Bahraich, Balrampur, Bareilly, Deoria, Etah, Gonda, Gorakhpur, Hardoi, Kanpur Nagar, Rampur, Sambhal, Sant Kabir Nagar, Bhadohi, Shravasti, Sitapur, Sonbhadra, Sultanpur, Unnao, Varanasi, Lakhimpur Kheri, Lucknow, Mainpuri, Mathura, Mau and Rae Bareli districts, Kumar said. He said there is a report of collapse of a house due to excessive rain in Mathura, where the tehsildar has been sent for investigation. Information has been received about partial damage to houses due to lightning in Saharanpur district, Kumar added.

BJP banking on its sitting MPs as it targets to win all 80 Lok Sabha seats in UP

BJP banking on its sitting MPs as it targets to win all 80 Lok Sabha seats in UP After the declaration of candidates on 51 seats by the ruling BJP for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, the political picture of the contest in Uttar Pradesh is becoming clear. INDIA bloc partner Samajwadi Party (SP) has so far declared tickets on 31 seats, including Varanasi, which it later withdrew due to the seat-sharing arrangement with the Congress. Amidst party workers' demand of fielding Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra from Amethi and Raebareli seats, the Congress is yet to come up with its list. As per the arrangement, the Congress will field candidates on 17 seats while the SP will contest on 63 seats. Apart from Raebareli, Amethi and Varanasi, the other seats on which the Congress will contest include Kanpur City, Fatehpur Sekri, Basgaon, Saharanpur, Prayagraj, Maharajganj, Amroha, Jhansi, Bulandshahr, Ghaziabad, Mathura, Sitapur, Barabanki and Deoria. Sonia Gandhi is currently the MP from Raebareli, while Rahul Gandhi lost his Amethi seat to BJP leader Smriti Irani in 2019 polls. Aiming to retain power at the Centre for the third time in a row, the BJP banked heavily on its sitting MPs and the party is working on a target to win all the 80 seats in the state. The notable names in the BJP's first list include Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Varanasi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh from Lucknow, Hema Malini from Mathura, Ajay Mishra Teni from Kheri, Smriti Irani from Amethi, Lallu Singh from Faizabad (Ayodhya) and Mahendra Nath Pandey from Chandauli among others. The new faces in the BJP list included Saket Mishra from Shrawasti and Kripa Shankar Singh from Jaunpur. Sitting MP from Ambedkar Nagar Ritesh Pandey, who recently resigned from the BSP and joined the BJP, has also been given a ticket. Saket Mishra, who is a sitting MLC, is the son of Nripendra Mishra, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple Construction Committee's chairman and former principal secretary to Prime Minister Modi. Kripa Shankar had quit the Congress to join the BJP. The candidates for Pilibhit and Sultanpur, which are held by Varun Gandhi and Maneka Gandhi respectively, are yet to be announced. Prime Minister Modi will be seeking re-election from Varanasi for the third time, winning the earlier two elections in 2014 and 2019 from the same seat with a handsome margin of more than 3.71 lakh and 4.79 lakh votes, respectively. Rajnath Singh will also be seeking re-election from Lucknow for the third time after winning it in two previous elections in 2014 and 2019 comfortably by a margin of 2.72 lakh and 3.47 votes, respectively. The BJP has again reposed faith in Ajay Mishra Teni from Kheri. Mishra had been in the thick of storm in connection with October 3, 2021, violence in which his son Ashish Mishra allegedly ran his car over the farmers protesting in Lakhimpur Kheri. Mishra won the Lok Sabha elections from the Kheri constituency in 2014 and 2019. The BJP has also reposed faith in Smriti Irani for the Amethi seat, regarded as a Gandhi stronghold. Irani had rendered a major blow to the Congress, defeating its then sitting MP Rahul Gandhi in the 2019 elections by a margin of more than 55,000 votes. From Raebareli, though the BJP has not declared any name yet but speculations are rife that it may field SP MLA Manoj Kumar Pandey, who recently resigned as the party's chief whip in the state assembly and cross voted in favour of the BJP in the Rajya Sabha polls. The SP has so far released three lists of its candidates and has fielded Dimple Yadav from Mainpuri while Shivpal Yadav has been given a ticket from the Budaun seat. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, who is an MLA from the Karhal seat, might also contest from Kannauj or Azamgarh. The party has given a chance to Ikra Hasan, daughter of former MP Tabassum Hasan, from the Kairana seat while Praveen Singh Aron has been given a ticket from the Bareilly seat and Afzal Ansari from the Ghazipur seat. The SP's first list also included the name of sitting Sambhal MP Shafiqur Rehman Barq, who died recently. The BSP has so far officially not declared its list of candidates. In 2019 polls, SP and BSP contested in an alliance in which they won five and 10 seats, respectively. The BJP and allies got 65 seats.

Man sentenced to death for murder of Army jawan in UP's Bareilly

Man sentenced to death for murder of Army jawan in UP's Bareilly A court here on Wednesday sentenced a man to death and his brother to life imprisonment for the murder of an Army personnel in 2018. District Government Counsel Suniti Pathak said Lance Nayak Anil (35) was shot dead in broad daylight in Bareilly district of Uttar Pradesh in March 2018 following an argument. The court of additional district judge Gyanendra Tripathi sentenced Dhruv Chaudhary to death and his brother Rajesh Chaudhary to life imprisonment for the murder, Pathak said.