Six People Killed as Wedding Pandal Catches Fire in Bihar's Darbhanga

The deceased were identified as Sunil Paswan (26), Lila Devi (23), Kanchan Devi (26), Siddhanth Kumar (4), Shashank Kumar (3) and Sakshi Kumari (5). Three cows were also killed in the fire, police said

6 killed as wedding pandal catches fire in Bihar's Darbhanga

killed as wedding pandal catches fire in Bihars Darbhanga

Six killed as wedding pandal catches fire in Bihar's Darbhanga

The pandal caught fire during the bursting of firecrackers, eyewitnesses said.

Union Minister Nityanand Rai owns movable, immovable assets worth Rs 15.45 crore: Affidavit

Union Minister Nityanand Rai, seeking re-election from Ujiarpur Lok Sabha seat in Bihar, declared movable and immovable assets totaling Rs 15.45 crore in his affidavit, with his wife's assets amounting to Rs 2.47 crore. Elections for Ujiarpur, Darbhanga, Samastipur, Begusarai, and Munger Lok Sabha seats are scheduled for the fourth phase on May 13.

Three Special Trains to be Operated Due to Full Trains in Summer Vacations

Jaipur : The North Western Railway has announced the operation of three summer special trains to meet the additional passenger rush during the summer vacation season. These trains will connect Pune-Dehgaon ka Balaji, Darbhanga-Daurai, and Sabarmati-Patna. Pune-Dehgaon ka Balaji Special Train: This weekly train will depart Pune on April 24 and May 1 at 9:45 ... Read more

Union Minister Giriraj Singh declares assets worth Rs 10.16 crore

Union Minister Giriraj Singh declares assets worth Rs 10.16 crore Senior BJP leader and Union Minister Giriraj Singh, who is seeking re-election from Begusarai Lok Sabha seat as the NDA nominee, owns movable and immovable assets worth Rs 10.16 crore, as per the affidavit filed by him. His wife owns movable and immovable assets worth Rs 4.15 crore. Singh filed his nomination papers from Begusarai Lok Sabha seat as the NDA nominee on Friday. Elections will be held in Begusarai, Darbhanga, Ujiarpur, Samastipur, Begusarai, Munger Lok Sabha seats of Bihar in the fourth phase on May 13. In the affidavit filed before the Returning Officer along with the nomination paper, Singh has declared that he has movable assets worth Rs 2.09 crore and immovable assets owned by him are worth Rs 8.07 crore. His wife owns movable assets worth Rs 1.25 crore and immovable assets of Rs 2.90 crore. According to the affidavit, the union minister has Rs 1.96 lakh cash in hand whereas his wife has 1.46 lakh cash in hand. Singh has two bank accounts and gold jewellery worth Rs 1.10 lakh. His wife has six bank accounts, gold jewellery worth Rs 7 lakh and silver jewellery worth Rs 50,000. As per affidavit, Singh's immovable assets also include some ancestral property. His income for the year 2023-2024 is Rs 16,61,990. Singh is pitted against Communist Party of India (CPI) candidate Awadhesh Rai, who is Mahagathbandhan's nominee. Rai has already filed his nomination paper from the seat. Speaking to reporters after submitting his documents on Friday, the firebrand BJP leader asserted that India was on its way to becoming 'Vishwa Guru' (world leader) under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which the ''tukde-tukde gang'' was finding hard to stomach. ''I believe in Modi's motto of 'sabka saath sabka vikas'. The NDA will get more than 400 seats this time. I do not need votes from those who have a problem with our nationalism,'' Singh said.

Punjab: Several trains affected as farmers squat on track demanding release of fellow protesters

Punjab: Several trains affected as farmers squat on track demanding release of fellow protesters Farmers under the banner of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha on Wednesday squatted on a rail track in Patiala district near the Punjab and Haryana border, demanding the release of three farmers who had been arrested by the Haryana Police. The movement of more than 30 trains was impacted as they were either diverted, cancelled or short-terminated because of the blockade at the Shambhu Railway Station, railway authorities said. The disruption in rail movement also caused inconvenience to rail passengers on the occasion of Ram Navami. KMM leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said the Haryana administration had given them an assurance that the arrested farmers would be released by April 16. ''When our farmers were not released, we decided to squat on the rail track,'' Pandher said. Three farmers, including Navdeep Singh, were arrested during the ongoing farmers' stir. Though the Punjab Police had erected barricades to prevent protesters from heading towards the rail track, farmers forced their way and sat on the Ambala-Ludhiana rail track. Farmer leaders said they will not end their protest until the protesters are released. ''If the government releases them now, we will vacate the rail tracks within 10 minutes,'' said another farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal. The farmer leaders said they were forced to sit on the rail track as the Haryana government failed to accept their demand. Pandher threatened to squat on more rail tracks if the three farmers were not released in the coming days. According to railway authorities, trains from Amritsar to New Jalpaiguri, Amritsar to Kathiar, Pathankot to Old Delhi, Amritsar to Tata Nagar, Kolkata to Amritsar, Delhi to Amritsar, Haridwar to Amritsar and Darbhanga to Amritsar were diverted. While trains from Ludhiana to Churu and Churu to Ludhiana, Ambala Cantt to Jalandhar City, Ludhiana to Ambala Cantt, and Patiala to Ambala were cancelled, they said. The SKM (non-political) and the KMM are spearheading the 'Delhi Chalo' march by farmers to press the government to accept their demands which include that the Centre should give a legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops. The farmers have been staying put at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13 when their march was stopped by the security forces.

This movie based on Widow remarriage grabs eyeballs in Mithila region

Based on the plight of widows and social obstacles in their remarriage, Milan a Maithili film has proved to be an all-time hit, simultaneously running in several cinema halls of the Mithila region of Bihar, the movie is attracting huge crowds from all sections of the society. The charm of Maithili cinema shines through in Milan . For the first time, a Maithili film is making waves, marking a record in its history by running in a dozen theaters simultaneously in the Mithila region. The fervour of Milan has become a celebration across Mithila since its release on March 22 in Darbhanga. Film buffs especially women, are coming in large numbers to see the movie wholeheartedly. What sets this film apart, is its popularity among all age groups- women, children, and the elderly. Directed by Shashi Pathak under the banner of RSJ Productions, Milan, has been produced by, Shyam Sundar Jha and Ram Sundar Jha, along with co-producer Manorama Ram Sundar Jha, who has contributed significantly to this cinematic endeavour. The music for the movie is composed by Aman Shlok, and the cinematography is skillfully handled by Rajesh Mishra. Milan is not just another film, as it delves into various social issues while advocating for women's empowerment. Director Pathak believes this film will pave the way for establishing the film industry in Mithila, providing employment opportunities for local youths and attracting tourists with its picturesque locations. The lead actor Sanjeev Mishra says, The film ' Milan ' illuminates the indomitable spirit of women and the imperative of their empowerment. Through our narrative, we confront the entrenched injustice of our society, raising the question of why blameless women should bear the burden of archaic customs, says Mishra He further says, Residing within Mithila's embrace, endowed me with an intimate understanding of its culture, lifestyle, and traditions, which also enabled me to do justice to my character and performance The heartwrenching tale of Milan delves into the life of a newlywed woman who is thrust into widowhood on the very cusp of marital bliss as her husband meets an untimely demise on suhagraat. Within this poignant narrative, Mishra emerges as the stalwart protagonist, embodying the essence of the film's ethosa poignant portrayal underscoring the imperative of women's empowerment and the often overlooked concept of widow remarriage, deeply entrenched in the cultural fabric of Mithila. The script earnestly confronts the pernicious practices prevalent within our society, he remarks. It implores us to question why blameless women should bear the brunt of archaic customs. Even as an IPS officer, the protagonist champions the cause of a widow, epitomising the essence of compassion and equity. Beyond its cinematic scope, Milan, a low-budget (1 Cr) film seeks to catalyze socio-economic transformation within Mithila, leveraging its scenic locations to promote tourism and create employment opportunities. Moreover, Milan's narrative unveils the insidious ramifications of stagnation of thoughts in society, as confronted by the heroin's father-in-law's progressive stance on women's autonomy. The lead actress Megha Saxena has played her role perfectly and is getting profuse appreciation from the viewers. Mishra questions the rationale behind depriving women of life's joys, following her widowhood, rooted in archaic mores.In essence, Milan transcends the confines of celluloid, serving as a clarion call for all stakeholders for deep introspection and progress. The entire shooting of Milan took place in various locations across Mithila, including the university campus in Darbhanga, the banks of the Ganga river near Simariya Ghat in Barauni, Begusarai city, and several villages and ghats in Darbhanga district. What makes Milan special is its ensemble cast, with actors predominantly hailing from Mithila. Sanjeev Poonam Mishra, the lead actor from Darbhanga district's Ramoli village, expresses high hopes for the film's success. Madhubani district's Sagar Jha, portraying the comedic role of Naurangi, and Vipin Kumar Jha, playing the role of the lead actor's father, add depth to the narrative The movie features six songs, including an item number, with tracks like Gori Ki Galau Ay Dil Chura K Katto Lay Gelo, Bin Aaha E Holi Fika, Har Har Bum Bum Bholenath in the main lineup. (UNI)

Amrit Bharat Train: Railways is preparing to run 50 new Amrit Bharat trains, fare will be less than Rajdhani

Amrit Bharat Train: The official said that currently two Amrit Bharat trains are being run between Anand Vihar-Ayodhya and Delhi-Darbhanga. There are preparations to increase their number to 52 in a phased manner. Amrit Bharat Train: Railway Board has decided to run 50 Amrit Bharat trains for common rail passengers in the current financial year. [] The post Amrit Bharat Train: Railways is preparing to run 50 new Amrit Bharat trains, fare will be less than Rajdhani first appeared on informalnewz .

Lalu's two daughters to represent RJD in Bihar LS polls along with 20 other candidates

Lalu's two daughters to represent RJD in Bihar LS polls along with 20 other candidates The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has formally announced its candidates for all but one of the 23 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar, where the party is contesting as a constituent of the opposition Mahagathbandhan. Party president Lalu Prasad's daughters - Rohini Acharya and Misa Bharti - are among the RJD nominees. According to a release issued by RJD state president Jagdanand Singh late on Tuesday, Acharya will contest from Saran, a seat her father had won many times. Prasad represented the seat until his disqualification in 2013 when he was convicted in a fodder scam. Bharti, his eldest daughter who is enjoying her second term in the Rajya Sabha, will try her luck in the Patliputra Lok Sabha constituency. A party functionary said a candidate is yet to be announced for Siwan, where the RJD had for years been fielding the late Mohd Shahubuddin. As per the seat-sharing arrangement among partners of the Mahagathbandhan, the RJD has kept 26 of Bihar's 40 Lok Sabha seats, leaving nine for Congress and five for the Left parties. The RJD, last week, struck a deal with former Bihar minister Mukesh Sahni, whose Vikashsheel Insaan Party has been given three seats from its quota. Sudhakar Singh got the RJD ticket from the Buxar Lok Sabha seat, while Ali Asharaf Fatmi will contest from Madhubani and Surendra Prasad from Jehanabad. Other RJD candidates include Kumar Sarvjeet (Gaya), Shrawan Kumar Kushwaha (Nawada), Bima Bharti (Purnea) and Archana Ravidass (Jamui). All the four have already filed their nominations. The party also nominated Jai Prakash Yadava from Banka, Lalit Yadav from Darbhanga and Chandrahas Chaupal from Supaul. Alok Kumar Mehta will contest on an RJD ticket from Ujiyarpur, Arjun Ai from Sitamarhi, Deepak Yadav from Valmikinagar, Ritu Jaiswal from Seohar and Kumar Chandradeep from Madhepura. The Lok Sabha elections to 40 seats in Bihar will be held in seven phases between April 19 and June 1.

RJD releases list of 22 candidates for LS polls in Bihar

PATNA: In a late evening development, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) released a list of its 22 candidates, including party president Lalu Prasads two daughters, for the Lok Sabha elections in Bihar. The elections are to be held in seven phases in the state and the first phase of voting will take place on April 19. Lalus daughters Misa Bharti and Rohini Acharya have been fielded from Patliputra and Saran Lok Sabha seats. Rohini, who remains active on social media platforms, came into limelight after she donated one of her kidneys to his ailing father. She is making debut in electoral politics from Saran from where Lalu had earlier been elected to Lok Sabha. Misa, a Rajya Sabha member, has unsuccessfully contested parliamentary elections from Patliputra twice. She was defeated by former union minister Ram Kripal Yadav. While Misa is pitted against Ram Kripal once again from Patliputra, Rohini is fighting against former union minister and BJP sitting MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy from Saran. The party has given tickets to a turncoat Bima Bharti from Purnea. A don-turned politician Vijay Kumar Shukla alias Munna Shukla, whose name had figured in the killing of former state minister Brij Bihari Prasad, has been fielded from Vaishali. He is pitted against LJP (Ram Vilas) nominee Veena Devi. Shahnawaz Alam has been fielded from Araria while Ritu Jaiswal will contest from Sheohar. Kumar Sarvajeet has been fielded from Gaya, Shravan Kushwaha from Nawada, Archana Ravidas from Jamui and Abhay Kumar Kushwaha from Aurangabad, respectively. All the four constituenciesJamui, Nawada, Aurangabad and Gayawill go to polls in the first phase on April 19. Jai Prakash Yadav will be party nominee from Banka , Lalit Yadav from Darbhanga, Sudhakar Singh from Buxar, Chandrahas Chaupal from Supaul, Shivchandra Ram from Hajipur, Surendra Prasad from Jehanabad, Anita Devi Mahto from Munger and Alok Kumar Mehta from Ujiarpur seats. Similarly, Arun Rai has been nominated from Sitamarhi, Md. AA Fatmi from Madhubani, Dipak Yadav from Valmikinagar and prof. Kumar Chandradip from Madhepura seats. Notably, RJD is contesting 23 seats. Grand alliance in Bihar, which is part of opposition INDIA bloc, comprises RJD, Congress, VIP, CPI-ML, CPI and CPI(M). Congress has been given nine seats under seat-sharing arrangements among constituents of grand alliance.

Heartbreaking Tragedy: Two Brothers Burnt Alive in House Fire

Patna: In a heart-wrenching incident, two young brothers lost their lives in a devastating fire that engulfed their home in Sahani Tola of Haat Gachi, located in Supaul Bazaar, Darbhanga. The fire, sparked by the stove, claimed the lives of Ashok Sahni's sons, Ankush (01) and Ankit (01). Their mother, Geeta Devi, suffered severe burns and is currently receiving treatment at DMCH. The incident occurred late on Wednesday night, sending shockwaves through the community. Eyewitnesses recounted that the family had retired for the night after dinner around 10 pm. However, as they awaited a nearby wedding procession, flames were spotted emanating from Ashok's house. Despite frantic efforts to douse the fire, Ankush tragically perished on the spot, while Ankit succumbed to his injuries during hospital treatment. The devastating news halted the nearby wedding festivities, with authorities swiftly offering assistance to the grieving family. SDO Umesh Kumar Bharti provided immediate relief in the form of a Rs 12,000 check and polythene to the victims' family. Additionally, a Rs 4 lakh ex-gratia grant was extended to the fathers of both deceased children. The community was plunged into mourning upon learning of the tragedy, with condolences pouring in for the bereaved family. The sight of grieving relatives, including the aunts Sita Devi, Amala Devi, and Geeta Devi, moved onlookers to tears. The incident has left Ashok Sahni's family devastated, with the loss of the young brothers leaving a profound impact on the community. As investigations continue into the cause of the fire, authorities are providing support to the affected family during this difficult time. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem examinations, as efforts are made to understand the circumstances surrounding this tragic event. Rouse Avenue Court Grants Interim Bail to Three Accused in Chinese Visa Scam Money Laundering Case Shivraj Singh Chouhan Denounces Congress, Branding it as an Endangered Party Congress Urges PM Modi for Clarification on Constitution Amendment Claims

Yusuf Pathan and Kirti Azad: Two cricketers from TMC seemingly on sticky wicket

KOLKATA: Two cricketers, who are contesting in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from Trinamool Congress are seemingly on a sticky wicket . While Yusuf Pathan, the TMC candidate from Behrampore, takes on seven time MP from Congress Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Kirti Azad takes on BJP strongman Dilip Ghosh from Burdwan East. These two former cricketers are now in an alien wicket as they are outsiders. When it comes to advantages, both Pathan and Azad have nothing to lose because Pathan is new in politics, but Azad has got some dabbling in politics. He was previously associated with Congress for a brief stint. They are new in politics and so if they lose it does not matter to them. But on the down side, both Adhir Chowdhury and Dilip Ghosh are Goliaths. Adhir is a seven-time MP. Dilip Ghosh is also an MP and former state president and tough contender. They are also ready to bet their political career on this election as well. On Tuesday, Chowdhury said, If I lose Behrampore , I will quite politics altogether. The internal conflicts within the Party also playing bad for the cricketers. TMC is riddled with factional fights in Burdwan Eastso much so that a few days back, during a rally,two groups of TMC clashed with each other in front of the candidate and Azad had to stop the rally and seek refuge in the temple. Few days back BJP alleged that Yousuf Pathan used the picture of Sachin Tendulkar to woo the voters. Outsiders The BJP on Sunday picked up the Lok Sabha candidates list of the Trinamool Congress to counter the ruling partys charge that the BJP was anti-Bengal and Prime Minister Narendra Modi was an outsider to the state. Speaking on the sidelines of the BJPs rally in Sandeshkhali, BJP state chief Sukanta Majumdar tore into Trinamuls choice of outsider candidates, including former Indian cricketers Yusuf Pathan and Kirti Azad. West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar pointed out that TMC candidates Kirti Azad and Yusuf Pathan arent from the state. Just half an hour before TMCs list was announced, Abhishek Banerjee was making statements like the BJP is anti-Bengal. Now, when the candidates are announced, its clear that TMC is bringing people from outside. I dont know if Kirti Azad and Yusuf Pathan are Bengali, Yusuf Pathan is from Gujarat, and so is PM Modi, but for them, PM Modi is an outsider, he said. According to BJP, INDIA alliance is nothing but a ship without a captain. Its CM Mamata Banerjees strategy and also she is in fear that she wants no other leader to get more importance and become a bigger leader than Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee, hence they give tickets to actresses so that her nephew continues to be a politician, he added. Yusuf Pathan hits campaign trail in Baharampur; Adhir says, 'politics and cricket are not same' Pathan played 57 ODIs and 22 T20Is for India from 2007 to 2012 during which time he scored 810 runs with 2 hundreds and 3 fifties in 50-overs cricket while in the shortest format he amassed 236 runs. The 41-year-old broke into the limelight thanks to the Indian Premier League (IPL) where he was a key part of the Shane Warne-led Rajasthan Royals team which won the inaugural title in 2008. He achieved major success during his 8-year stint with Kolkata Knight Riders where he won the IPL title two more times in 2012 and 2014 under Gautam Gambhir's captaincy. In another notable move, former Indian cricketer and 1983 World Cup winner Kirti Azad has received a TMC party ticket to run for the Durgapur Lok Sabha seat. It's worth mentioning that Kirti Azad previously won the Lok Sabha elections from Darbhanga in 2014 under the BJP ticket. However, in 2018, he departed from BJP and joined the Congress, later shifting allegiance to the TMC in 2021. Northeast BJP CMs slam TMC leader Kirti Azad for tweet over PMs attire

Oppn deal: RJD 26, Cong 9 and Left 5

PATNA : The RJD-led Mahagathbandhan in Bihar, which is a part of INDIA bloc at the national level, on Friday announced seat-sharing arrangements for the Lok Sabha elections in the state. As per the seat-sharing deal, the RJD will contest 26 out of the 40 seats in the state. While the Congress will nominate its candidates on nine seats, CPI-ML will field its candidates on three followed by CPI and CPM on one seat each. The RJD has already nominated the candidates for the first phase of election to be held on April 19. Former state minister and senior RJD leader Abdul Bari Siddiqui announced the seat-sharing arrangements among constituents of the grand alliance in the presence of RJD state president Jagadanand Singh and Bihar Congress chief Akhilesh Prasad Singh. Former deputy chief minister and RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav was, however, conspicuous by his presence. Earlier, he was scheduled to announce the seat-sharing deal among constituents of the grand alliance. RJD, Congress, CPI-ML, CPI and CPM are allies of the grand alliance. RJD will contest Gaya, Nawada, Jehabanabad, Aurangabad, Buxar, Patliputra, Munger, Jamui, Banka, Valmikinagar, Purvi Champaran, Sheohar, Sitamarhi, Vaishali, Saran, Siwan, Gopalganj, Ujiarpur, Darbhanga, Madhubani, Jhanjharpur, Supaul, Madhepura, Purnea, Araria and Hajipur seats. Congress has been allocated Kishanganj, Katihar, Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur, Samastipur (SC), Paschimi Champaran, Patna Sahib, Sasaram (SC) and Maharajganj seats. CPI-ML will field its candidates on Ara, Karakat and Nalanda seats, CPI on Begusarai seat and CPI(M) on Khagaria seat. RJD Rajya Sabha member and spokesperson Manoj Jha, who was present at the press conference, said that the names of the candidates would also be announced soon. He claimed that the seat-sharing agreement has been reached through consensus and the INDIA bloc would win all 40 seats. Disagreements over some seats among allies, however, delayed the official declaration of the agreement. Pappu says wont rebel over purnea Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, who joined the Congress last week hoping to contest from Purnea in Bihar, on Friday ruled out the possibility of fighting as a rebel candidate, after the seat went to RJD. However, he spoke of friendly fights in several seats among INDIA bloc partners.

Mahagathbandhan announces LS seat-sharing for Bihar; RJD to contest 26, Cong 9

Mahagathbandhan announces LS seat-sharing for Bihar; RJD to contest 26, Cong 9 The RJD-led Mahagathbandhan in Bihar on Friday announced its formula for seat-sharing, with Lalu Prasad's party laying claim on nearly two-thirds of the state's 40 parliamentary constituencies, virtually steamrolling allies - the Congress and three Left parties. The RJD will be contesting 26 seats, nine more than it had fought in 2019 when it drew a blank. The Congress has got nine seats, as many as it had contested in the last elections, followed by CPI(ML) Liberation (three) and CPI and CPI(M) (one each). The belated announcement, coming a day after filing of nomination papers for the first phase of Lok Sabha polls was over, was made at a press conference here addressed by RJD national spokesman and Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Kumar Jha, state Congress president Akhilesh Prasad Singh and state-level leaders of CPI(ML) Liberation, CPI and CPI(M). Tejashwi Yadav, the Mahagathbandhan's leader in the state legislature, was scheduled to address the press conference but remained conspicuous by his absence. Jha said names of candidates would be announced soon and claimed: ''We have arrived at a unanimous decision, demonstrating a cohesiveness that you may not find in the NDA. We will defeat them at the hustings''. Notably, the RJD had fielded its candidates for the four seats of Gaya, Aurangabad, Jamui and Nawada, which go to polls in the first phase, much to the annoyance of its allies, particularly the Congress which wanted to give ticket to former MP Nikhil Kumar. Moreover, CPI and CPI(M) have already announced their candidates for Begusarai and Khagaria seats. According to the seat-sharing formula, the RJD has also wrested from the Congress Purnia, a seat the latter has been contesting in the past few Lok Sabha polls. Recently, Lalu Prasad, the RJD president, gave party ticket for the seat to JD(U) turncoat Bima Bharti, stopping short of making a formal announcement. The Congress had last week inducted Pappu Yadav, a three-term former MP from Purnea, whose wife is also a Rajya Sabha MP of the party. Yadav had been hopeful of getting the ticket from the seat claiming that an assurance to the effect was given to him by Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi. There were murmurs that Prasad, whose ''blessings'' Yadav had sought before he went to Delhi and merged his Jan Adhikar Party with the Congress, was suggesting that the former Purnea MP try his luck from Madhepura, which he had won on an RJD ticket in 2014, or Supaul which his wife had represented more than once. However, that option, too, seems closed as both seats have been claimed for itself by the RJD and it remains to be seen what is going to be the next move of Yadav who has been dropping hints that he will not flinch from fighting as an Independent from Purnea if the need arose. Among the seats given to the Congress are Kishanganj, Bihar's lone Muslim-majority constituency that the party has been winning for some time, and adjoining Katihar where senior leader Tariq Anwar lost by a thin margin in 2019, having won in 2014 on an NCP ticket. Other seats given to Congress include Patna Sahib, where the BJP has been seemingly invincible, Bhagalpur, where party MLA Ajeet Sharma wanted to field Bollywood actress daughter Neha Sharma, who has refused, and reserved constituency Sasaram, a bastion of late Deputy Prime Minister Jagjivan Ram, whose daughter and former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, has won the seat a few times but reportedly excused herself this time on account of old age. Other seats assigned to the Congress are Muzaffarpur, Samastipur, West Champaran and Maharajganj. The CPI(ML) Liberation has been given Nalanda, a pocket borough of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, whose JD(U) has had an uninterrupted run on the seat for decades. The Left party has also been given Arrah, where the sitting BJP MP is Union minister RK Singh, and Karakat, which the NDA has assigned to former Union minister Upendra Kushwaha's Rashtriya Lok Morcha. However, the RJD has denied the CPI(ML) Liberation Siwan, where the Left party has for long been involved in a bloody feud with late strongman Mohammed Shahabuddin. Having fielded Shahabuddin's widow Hina Shahab in the last two general elections, without success, the RJD is now understood to have given up on her and looking for other candidates. Hina Shahab has, meanwhile, received support from Asaduddin Owaisi's AIMIM which has said it will campaign for her if she contested as an Independent or on ticket of ''a like-minded party''. The RJD has also kept with itself Saran, formerly represented by Lalu Prasad, where his Singapore-based daughter Rohini Acharya is likely to make her debut. Also in the RJD kitty is Pataliputra, where his eldest daughter Misa Bharti may again try her luck after tasting defeat two times on the trot. A high-decibel contest seems on the cards in Hajipur, where the RJD will be challenging Chirag Paswan's bid to claim his late father Ram Vilas Paswan's political legacy, amid fears that estranged uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras, the sitting MP, could play spoilsport. RJD will also contest Munger, which it seeks to wrest from former JD(U) president Rajiv Ranjan Singh ''Lalan''. The party has given ticket to the wife of gangster Ashok Mahto for the seat. Other RJD seats are Buxar, Banka, Valmiki Nagar, Purvi Champaran, Sheohar, Sitamarhi, Vaishali, Gopalganj, Ujiyarpur, Darbhanga, Madhubani, Jhanjharpur and Araria.

AIMIM to contest 16 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar

Patna: The AIMIM on Thursday announced that it has decided to contest the 16 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar. State President Akhtarul Imam said that party candidates will contest the Darbhanga, Pataliputra, Kishanganj, Madhubani, Katihar, Muzaffarpur, Gopalganj, Sheohar, Purnea, Araria, Sitamarhi, Karakat, Maharajganj, Samastipur, Paschim Champaran and Valmiki Nagar seats. Also ReadTelangana Congress may favour 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 .

Taxiing aircraft grazes another at Kolkata airport

An IndiGo aircraft grazed a stationary AI Express plane at Kolkata airport, causing damage. Incident led to passenger jolt. 169 bound for Chennai & 133 for Darbhanga affected. DGCA inquiry initiated, pilots de-rostered.

IndiGo aircraft grazes wings of Air India plane at Kolkata airport

Agencies An IndiGo aircraft grazed the wings of an Air India Express plane at the Kolkata airport on Wednesday, leaving the wings of both aircraft damaged, officials said. The IndiGo flight was headed to Darbhanga, while the Air India Express plane was scheduled to leave for Chennai. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has [] The post IndiGo aircraft grazes wings of Air India plane at Kolkata airport appeared first on Northlines .

IndiGo aircraft brushes wings of Air India Express plane at Kolkata airport

Kolkata: An IndiGo aircraft grazed the wings of an Air India Express plane at the Kolkata airport on Wednesday, leaving wings of both aircraft damaged, officials said. The IndiGo flight was headed to Darbhanga, while the Air India Express plane was scheduled to leave for Chennai. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched 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 .

Bizarre Accident At Kolkata Airport Damages Wingtips Of 2 Aircraft

A Darbhanga-bound IndiGo aircraft, taxiing at the Kolkata Airport, hit a stationary Air India Express flight waiting for clearance to enter the runway.

Bizarre accident at Kolkata airport damages wingtips of two planes

KOLKATA: In a bizarre accident at the Kolkata airport on Wednesday, an IndiGo aircraft grazed the wings of an Air India Express plane, leading to both aircraft sustaining damage on their wings, officials said. Launching a probe, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) de-rostered the IndiGo pilots involved in the accident, they said. The accident occurred on the taxiway near the runway of the airport around 11 am, sources at the airport said. The Air India Express aircraft was scheduled to fly to Chennai from Kolkata, while the IndiGo aircraft was supposed to travel to Darbhanga. Passengers were reportedly on board both aircraft at the time of the accident. No harm to passengers or crew members was, however, reported. The Airports Authority of India said in a statement that the wingtip vortices of both planes were badly damaged.

IndiGo and Air India Express planes graze wings at Kolkata airport

KOLKATA: In a bizarre accident at the Kolkata airport on Wednesday, an IndiGo aircraft grazed the wings of an Air India Express plane, leading to both aircraft sustaining damage on their wings, officials said. Launching a probe, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) de-rostered the IndiGo pilots involved in the accident, they said. The accident occurred on the taxiway near the runway of the airport around 11 am, sources at the airport said. The Air India Express aircraft was scheduled to fly to Chennai from Kolkata, while the IndiGo aircraft was supposed to travel to Darbhanga. Passengers were reportedly on board both aircraft at the time of the accident. No harm to passengers or crew members was, however, reported. The Airports Authority of India said in a statement that the wingtip vortices of both planes were badly damaged.

NHRC issues notice to Bihar govt over 'delayed police action' in sexual assault of minor

NHRC issues notice to Bihar govt over 'delayed police action' in sexual assault of minor The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) sent a notice to the government of Bihar over reports on the alleged delay in police action in the sexual assault of a minor girl in Darbhanga. According to an official release, the Commission has issued notices to the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police, Government of Bihar, calling for a detailed report within six weeks. It should also include the status of the investigation conducted into the matter. The response from the authorities is expected at the earliest but not later than 6 weeks. The NHRC took suo motu cognizance of a media report that in Bihar's Darbhanga, the police failed to know till the death of a 13-year-old rape victim that her parents and the village Panchayat tried to settle the case by asking her tormentor to pay Rs 1.25 lakh to the family, the release mentioned. Reportedly, after receiving the amount, the victim's family sent her to the house of the accused, saying nobody would marry her. She stayed with the accused for 5 days before being thrown out. Subsequently, she was sent to her elder sister's house by her parents, where she died 16 days later. As per reports, the assault happened on March 1, 2024. The Commission has observed that the contents of the media report, if true, amount to the violation of the human rights of the victim girl, as stated in the release. According to the media report, on March 19, 2024, the victim was sexually assaulted by a man from the same village when she had gone to graze the cattle in the area coming under the jurisdiction of Vazidpur Police Station in Darbhanga district. Reportedly, the victim was not provided with any medical treatment. The police exhumed the body of the victim and sent it for a post-mortem examination. (ANI)

NHRC notice to Bihar govt, DGP over 'delayed' police action on sexual assault of minor girl

NHRC notice to Bihar govt, DGP over 'delayed' police action on sexual assault of minor girl The NHRC has sent a notice to the Bihar government and the state's police chief over reports of alleged delayed police action in a case of sexual assault of a minor girl in Darbhanga district, according to officials. The commission said in a statement on Tuesday that it has sought a detailed report within six weeks. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken ''suo motu cognisance of a media report that in Darbhanga district of Bihar, the police failed to know till the death of a 13-year-old rape victim that her parents and the village panchayat tried to settle the case by asking her tormentor to pay Rs 1.25 lakh to the family'', it said. ''Reportedly, after receiving the amount the victim's family sent her to the house of the accused saying nobody would marry her. She stayed with the accused for five days before being thrown out. Subsequently, she was sent by her parents to her elder sister's house where she died 16 days after her sexual assault on March 1,'' the rights panel said in the statement. The commission has observed that the content of the media report, if true, amounted to a violation of the victim's human rights. Accordingly, the NHRC has issued notices to the chief secretary and the director general of police of Bihar, seeking a detailed report. ''It should also include the status of the investigation conducted in the matter. The response from the authorities is expected at the earliest but not later than six weeks. ''According to the media report, on March 19, the victim was sexually assaulted by a man of the same village when she had gone to graze the cattle in the area coming under the jurisdiction of Vazidpur Police Station in Darbhanga district. Reportedly, the victim was not provided with any medical treatment. The police exhumed the body of the victim and sent it for a post-mortem examination,'' it said.

BJP announces candidates for 17 LS seats in Bihar, drops Union minister among 3 sitting MPs

BJP announces candidates for 17 LS seats in Bihar, drops Union minister among 3 sitting MPs The BJP on Sunday announced its candidates for 17 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar, dropping three sitting MPs, including Union Minister Ashwani Kumar Choubey. According to a list of nominees released by the party in New Delhi, Choubey, who was elected from Buxar for the second consecutive term in 2019, was replaced by Mithilesh Tiwari, a senior BJP leader and a former MLA. The party also dropped its incumbent MPs Chedi Paswan and Ajay Kumar Nishad from Sasaram and Muzaffarpur constituencies respectively. The BJP fielded former MLA Shivesh Ram for Sasaram, while Raj Bhushan Nishad, a greenhorn in the Lok Sabha polls, would contest the Muzaffarpur seat on a party ticket. Vivek Thakur, a Rajya Sabha member, was fielded from Nawada, where the BJP would be contesting this time, instead of its ally Lok Janshakti Party (LJP). All the remaining 14 candidates are sitting MPs, who will seek re-election from their respective seats. Union ministers R K Singh, Giriraj Singh and Nityanand Rai will seek re-election from Ara, Begusarai and Ujiarpur Lok Sabha seats respectively. Former union ministers Ravi Shankar Prasad was renominated from Patna Sahib, Radha Mohan Singh from Purvi Champaran, Rajiv Pratap Rudy from Saran and Ram Kripal Yadav from Patliputra. Sanjay Jaiswal will contest from Paschim Champaran, Ashok Kumar Yadav from Madhubani, while Pradeep Kumar Singh from Araraia, and Gopal Jee Thakur from Darbhanga will seek re-election. Janardan Singh Sigriwal from Mahrajganj and Sushil Kumar Singh from Aurangabad were also fielded again. Nine of the candidates are from the upper castes, who are known to be, by and large, BJP supporters in Bihar. BJP sources were also tight-lipped over the party's failure to field a woman candidate in Bihar. In the outgoing Lok Sabha, the party's lone woman MP from the state, Rama Devi, represented Sheohar, a seat which has gone to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's JD(U) this time.

2 mths before it bagged project in Bihar, Megha gave JD(U) Rs 10 crore

MEIL donated Rs 10 crore to JD(U) out of Rs 12 crore EB receipts. JD(U) encashed bonds and won Darbhanga Expressway contract. MEIL was a top donor after Future Gaming, with JD(U) also receiving funds from Shree Cement and Bharti Airtel.

Paras exits NDA, but BJP draws Sita Soren, ex-US envoy Sandhu

PATNA/JHARKHAND: A day after announcing its seat-sharing formula for Bihar, the NDA lost an ally though it had already accommodated the rival faction. There were rumblings within the JD(U) as well as its as its general secretary put in his papers. Union minister Pashupati Kumar Paras on Tuesday resigned from the Union ministry as the rival LJP led by Chirag Paswan was given five seats in the NDA, including the prestigious Hajipur, for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in Bihar. Paras accused the BJP of doing injustice to his LJP faction by excluding it from the seat-sharing deal. Tej Pratap Yadav, elder son of RJD chief Lalu Prasad, offered to accommodate Paras in the opposition alliance. We will be the first to welcome him (Paras), he said. Paras though was cautious. We will seek the opinion of party workers before taking the call on a new pre-poll alliance, he said. As for the JD(U), national general secretary Mohammad Ali Asaraf Fatmi resigned from all posts of the party. He is likely to join the RJD on Wednesday and could be fielded as candidate either from Madhabani or Darbhanga. In Jharkhand, Shibu Sorens daughter-in-law Sita Soren resigned from the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and joined the BJP. Sita represents Jama in the state assembly. She alleged the at the JMM was isolating her and hatching a conspiracy against her family members. Sita is the widow of Durga Soren, the eldest son of Shibu Soren. The BJPs acquisitions continued with former Indian ambassador to the United States, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, joining the party amid buzz on fielding him in the Lok Sabha polls from Amritsar in Punjab.

Setback to JD(U), former MP quits Nitish party to join Lalu

PATNA: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal (United), a major ally of ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Bihar, received a major setback on Tuesday when former Darbhanga MP Mohammad Ali Asaraf Fatmi resigned from all posts of the party barely a month before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. He was the national general secretary of JD(U). Fatmi, a former union minister, sent his resignation letter to JD(U) president Nitish Kumar saying that he was resigning from all post of JD(U) for the sake of moral values. He is likely to join Lalu Prasads RJD on March 20 and may be fielded as candidate either from Madhabani or Darbhanga Lok Sabha seats. Fatmi holds immense political clout in the Mithilanchal region comprising Madhubani and Darbhanga districts. The development came a day after seat-sharing arrangements among constituents of NDA were announced in New Delhi on Monday. As per seat-sharing deal, BJP would contest on 17 seats, JD(U) on 16 seats, LJP (Ram Vilas) on five seats and Rashtriya Lok Morcha led by Upendra former union minister Kushwaha and former Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhis Hindustani Awam Morcha one seat each, respectively. Sources said that Fatmi was feeling uncomfortable ever since Nitish Kumar joined hands with BJP to form a new government in Bihar. In seat-sharing arrangements for 2024 Lok Sabha seats, Darbhanga Lok Sabha seat has gone to BJP. CM puts up brave face Fatmis resignation is being considered as a major setback for Nitish Kumar before the Lok Sabha polls. JD(U), however, said that Fatmis exit from party would not affect poll prospects. He was made national general secretary of JD(U) after Nitish Kumar assumed charge as national president of the party after Lalan Singh had resigned.

'Shocked' at Nitish's realignment with BJP, JD(U) general secretary quits

'Shocked' at Nitish's realignment with BJP, JD(U) general secretary quits JD(U) national general secretary Mohammed Ali Ashraf Fatmi on Tuesday quit the party, claiming that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's recent realignment with the BJP has left him in a state of ''shock''. Fatmi, who was earlier with the RJD, did not rule out the possibility of returning to that party, while admitting that he was looking forward to contesting the Lok Sabha polls from a seat of his choice. ''I had started my political career in the late 1980s when (RJD president) Lalu Prasad, Nitish Kumar and I were all together. Whatever may have taken place in between, I was pleased to see the two having sunk their differences and our party chief virtually declaring Tejashwi Yadav as his successor, Fatmi told PTI over phone. ''A fine coalition government was in place and Nitish Kumar was gaining traction as one of the leaders taking up cudgels against the BJP's hegemony. But, when he made the volte-face in January, I was shocked. He did not even devise any convincing reason for the step, he said. Fatmi said since then he had been feeling uneasy and, finally, to do justice to my own moral values, I gave up my party post and primary membership. I do admit that there is political consideration as well. I parted ways with RJD in 2019 when I did not get a chance to contest the Lok Sabha polls. I want to do so this time''. The former Union minister, who has represented the Darbhanga Lok Sabha seat four times, said it was Madhubani, another constituency in north Bihar with significant Muslim population, that was his seat of choice five years ago and which he has set his eyes on this time as well. The move comes a day after the NDA announced its seat-sharing formula for Bihar, where the BJP will contest 17 seats, including Darbhanga and Madhubani, bringing down the curtains on Fatmi's aspiration for a party ticket. Replying to a query, he said, ''I have not spoken to Lalu ji after quitting the JD(U). But, we go back a long way. Even when I was not in his party, I kept meeting him to enquire about his health. We may meet in the near future. Everything will be made public''. The development comes as a setback, ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, to the party headed by the Bihar chief minister, who has been successful in winning away a section of Muslims. The JD(U) reacted with vehemence, accusing Fatmi of ''betrayal''. A press conference was held at the JD(U) office in response to his exit, which was jointly addressed by MLC Khalid Anwar, state president of minorities cell Ashraf Hussain and some other former legislators from the minority community. The JD(U) leaders reminded Fatmi that he was politically ''rehabilitated'' by Nitish Kumar, who also gave party ticket, in the 2020 assembly polls, to his son Faraz, a former RJD MLA. ''It was not anybody else's fault that his son did not win. Fatmi had also been hoping for a Rajya Sabha ticket. Clearly, he was in the party for personal benefits. We would like to see how many takers he is left with, having been not just in RJD but also the BSP. He even ran his own party for some time. Muslims know what Nitish Kumar has done for them. They will not be affected by weathercocks, said the JD(U) leaders.

BJP to win all 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar, claims Shahnawaz Hussain

BJP to win all 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar, claims Shahnawaz Hussain Bharatiya Janata Party leader Shahnawaz Hussain on Tuesday expressed confidence that the BJP-led NDA would secure victory on all the 40 seats in Bihar in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. There are no political differences between the parties and everyone is happy, he said. We are going to win 40 seats in Bihar. No one is angry with us. People of Bihar are happy with us and when the public is happy then everyone is happy, Hussain told ANI. The BJP will contest the Bihar elections in alliance with the HAM, the Rasthriya Lok Morcha and Chirag Paswan's LJP., Shahnawaz Hussain said that the alliance in Bihar is strong and good. It is a very good alliance in Bihar, last time BJP was fighting on 17 seats, this time also BJP is fighting on 17 seats. JDU had 16 MPs last time. Chirag Paswan's party has been given 5 seats, one seat has been given to Upendra Kushwaha and one seat has been given to Jitan Ram Manjhi's Ham Party. It is an excellent alliance, he added. Some of the seats that we had earlier too have been exchanged, there has been a change among ourselves, but most of the seats are the same which were fought last time. This time there is a double-engine government, so we are working on how to win 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar. We have to win 40 seats in Bihar under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and this time NDA will win 400 seats. Bihar will contribute 10th per cent to this mission, he added. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will contest on 17 seats, Janata Dal-United (JDU) on 16 seats, Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) (Ram Vilas) on 5 seats, Hindustani Awam Morcha and Rashtriya Lok Morcha on one seat each in 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Meanwhile, Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP) President Pashupati Kumar Paras resigned from the post of Union Minister on Tuesday and said that injustice has been done with us and our party. The seat-sharing arrangement was announced by Vinod Tawde, BJP's General Secretary, at a joint press conference held by members of the Bihar NDA alliance on Monday. Bihar will see polling in seven phases. The first phase of polling will be held on April 19, the second phase on April 26, the third phase on May 7, the fourth phase on May 13, the fifth phase on May 20, the sixth phase on May 25, and the seventh phase on June 1. The BJP will field candidates in key constituencies including Pashchim Champaran, Purvi Champaran, Aurangabad, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Maharajganj, Saran, Begusarai, Nawada, Patna Sahib, Patliputra, Aara, Buxar, and Sasaram In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the NDA, consisting of BJP, JDU ( (Janata Dal-United), and LJP (Lok Janshakti Party), secured victory by taking the lead on 39 out of 40 seats. Meanwhile, the Mahagathbandhan, led by RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal), INC (Indian National Congress), and RLSP (Rashtriya Lok Samta Party), only managed to secure one seat. The Lok Sabha Elections 2024 will be held in seven phases from April 19. Counting of votes on June 4. (ANI)

DRI Busts Gold Smuggling Syndicate, Seizes Over 61 Kg Gold Worth Rs 40 Crore

The operation planned and coordinated across four states, resulted in the seizure of a huge quantity of smuggled gold along with 19 vehicles, cash and other electronic items in Guwahati, Barpeta, Darbhanga, Gorakhpur and Araria

We have decided to contest on 11 seats in Bihar, says AIMIM MLA Akhtarul Iman

We have decided to contest on 11 seats in Bihar, says AIMIM MLA Akhtarul Iman AIMIM will contest 11 out of 40 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Bihar. The announcement was made by party MLA Akhtarul Iman at a media interaction on Wednesday in Bihar. We have decided to contest 11 seats in Bihar, the AIMIM MLA said. We tried a lot to save the secular votes in Bihar and at the national level. But these people stabbed us in the back and took away our people But in the interest of the nation, minorities, and Dalits, it is important to support them, he said. The seats are Araria, Purnia, Katihar, Kishanganj, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Ujiarpur, Karakat, Buxar, Gaya and Bhagalpur. The announcement came months after Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who was at the forefront of the INDIA bloc, joined hands with the BJP-led NDA. Nitish Kumar, after parting ways with the BJP in 2022, took on the initiative of uniting all opposition forces to jointly take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling party in the national election. Taking a swipe at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, he said, Nitish ji did the work by mistake (by joining the NDA). And he wrote the story of his hundreds of offences. Responding to a query, he said, Our fight is not for power. But for the deprived class of the state and the nation. AIMIM had won 5 seats in the 2020 Assembly elections in Bihar, but in 2022 four of its legilsators left the party and joined hands with the RJD. In the 2019 Lok Sabha election AIMIM contested just 1 seat of Kishanganj in Bihar. The AIMIM had contested on 3 seats across India winning from Aurangabad and Hyderabad. The Lok Sabha elections are expected to be held in April-May. (ANI)

Bihar Raj Bhavan directs banks to de-freeze accounts of state-run varsities

Bihar Raj Bhavan directs banks to de-freeze accounts of state-run varsities Bihar Raj Bhavan on Sunday wrote to banks to overrule an education department order that had frozen the accounts of state-run universities, barring one. This comes after vice-chancellors of the universities allegedly failed to attend a recent review meeting convened by the education department. Meanwhile, the standoff between the Raj Bhavan and the education department seemed to worsen with the authorities lodging a police complaint against at least one of the VCs on Sunday. Robert L Chongthu, principal secretary to the governor (who is also the chancellor of state universities), directed the banks to de-freeze the accounts of the universities immediately. The letter stated, ''The chancellor (governor) has ordered that the orders of the education department stands withdrawn.'' The a copy of the letter is with PTI. Earlier, the education department had ordered the freezing of bank accounts of all state-run universities, except one, and withheld salaries of their vice-chancellors for allegedly being absent from a review meeting convened by the education department in late February. The department's letter to all VCs, except the VC of Kameshwar Singh Darbhanga Sanskrit University, sought clarification on their absence from the meeting to discuss pending examinations and other issues. The letter warned that if satisfactory replies were not received within two days, FIRs would be lodged against the authorities, and salaries of VCs would remain withheld. Additionally, banks were instructed not to operate any accounts of the universities until further notice. Education secretary Baidyanath Yadav's letter, which was also sent to examination controllers of all universities except Magadh University and Kameshwar Singh Darbhanga Sanskrit University, expressed strong dissatisfaction with the VCs' absence, stating they had failed to discharge their duties as public servants. Meanwhile, Samar Bahadur Singh, the Darbhanga District Education Officer, submitted an application to the University Police station seeking a police complaint against the VC, Examination Controller, and other officials for failing to attend the recent meeting called by the education department. Despite attempts to reach him, Bihar Education Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary was unavailable for comment on the issue.

PM Modi to launch multiple development projects in West Bengal, Bihar today

PM Modi to launch multiple development projects in West Bengal, Bihar today Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate, lay the foundation stone of and dedicate to the nation multiple development projects worth crores in West Bengal and Bihar on Saturday. The Prime Minister who is on a two-day visit to three states, reached West Bengal's Arambagh on Friday afternoon where he launched several development projects and addressed a rally in Hooghly. On Saturday, at around 10.30 am, the Prime Minister will reach Krishnanagar, Nadia district, West Bengal, where he will inaugurate, dedicate and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth Rs 15,000 crore. At Krishnanagar, the Prime Minister will inaugurate, dedicate to the nation and lay the foundation stone of several development projects related to sectors like power, rail and road. Strengthening the power sector in the country, the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of Raghunathpur Thermal Power Station Phase II (2x660 MW) located at Raghunathpur in Purulia district. The Prime Minister will inaugurate the Flue gas desulfurization (FGD) system of Units 7 & 8 of Mejia Thermal Power Station. The Prime Minister will also inaugurate the road project for four lanes of the Farakka-Raiganj Section of NH-12 (100 km). Developed at a cost of about Rs 1986 crore, the project will reduce traffic congestion, improve connectivity and contribute to socio-economic development of North Bengal and Northeast region. He will dedicate to the nation four rail projects worth more than Rs 940 crore in West Bengal including the doubling of the Damodar - Mohishila rail line; the third line between Rampurhat and Murarai; the doubling of the Bazarsau - Azimganj rail line; and New line connecting Azimganj - Murshidabad. At around 2.30 pm, the Prime Minister will inaugurate, dedicate and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth Rs 21,400 crore in Bihar's Aurangabad. Strengthening the National Highways network in the state, Prime Minister will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for several National Highway projects worth more than Rs 18,100 crores. The projects that will be inaugurated includes a 63.4 km long two- lane with paved shoulder Jaynagar-Narahia section of NH-227; section of six lane Patna ring road from Kanhauli to Ramnagar on NH-131G; a 3.2 km long second flyover parallel to existing flyover in Kishanganj town; four laning of 47 km long Bakhtiyarpur-Rajauli; and four laning of 55 km long Arra - Parariya section of NH-319. The Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for six National Highway projects including the construction of 55 km long four lane access controlled Greenfield National Highway from Amas to village Shivrampur; 54 km long four lane access controlled Greenfield National Highway from Shivrampur to Ramnagar; 47 km long four lane access controlled greenfield National Highway from village Kalyanpur to village Balbhadarpur; 42 km long four-lane access controlled greenfield National Highway from Balbhadarpur to Bela Nawada; 25 km long four lane elevated corridor from Danapur - Bihta Section; and upgradation of existing two lane to four lane carriageway of Bihta - Koilwar section. He will also lay the foundation stone of the six lane bridge across River Ganga that will be developed as a part of Patna Ring Road. This bridge will be one of the longest river bridges in the country. PM Modi will also inaugurate twelve projects under Namami Gange in Bihar that have been developed at a cost of about Rs 2,190 crore. The projects include Sewage Treatment Plant at Saidpur & Pahari; Sewerage Network for Saidpur, Beur, Pahari Zone IVA; Sewerage system with Sewer network at Karmalichak; Sewerage scheme at Pahari Zone V; and Interception, Diversion and Sewage Treatment Plant at Barh, Chhapra, Naugachia, Sultanganj and Sonepur town. The Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of Unity Mall in Patna. To be constructed at a cost of more than Rs 200 crore, the project is envisioned as a state-of-the-art facility, encompassing international design practices, technology, comfort, and aesthetics. The mall will provide dedicated spaces to states, union territories, and districts, enabling them to showcase their unique products and craftsmanship. There will be 36 large stalls for States/ UTs and 38 small stalls for each district of Bihar. Unity mall will promote local manufacturing and promotion of One District One Products, Geographical Indicators (GI) products and handicraft products of Bihar and India. Prime Minister will also dedicate to the nation three railway projects in Bihar including the project for doubling of Patliputra to Pahleza railway line; 26 km long new rail line between Bandhua - Paimar; and a MEMU Shed in Gaya. Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone of the Ara Bye Pass rail line. At around 5.15 pm, PM Modi will reach Begusarai, Bihar where he will participate in a public programme and inaugurate, dedicate and lay the foundation stone of multiple oil and gas sector projects worth about Rs 1.48 lakh crore across the country, and several development projects in Bihar worth more than Rs 13,400. The public function in Begusarai will witness a significant boost to the energy sector in the country. The projects are spread across the country in various states like Bihar, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab and Karnataka along with KG Basin. Prime Minister will dedicate 'First Oil' from KG Basin to the nation and will flag off the first crude oil tanker from the ONGC Krishna Godavari deepwater project. The extraction of 'First Oil' from KG Basin marks a historic achievement in India's energy sector, promising to significantly reduce our dependence on energy imports. The oil and gas sector projects worth about Rs 14,000 crore will be taken up in Bihar. This includes foundation stone laying of the expansion of the Barauni Refinery with project cost of more than Rs 11,400 crore and inauguration of projects like Grid Infrastructure at Barauni Refinery; Paradip - Haldia - Durgapur LPG Pipeline's extension to Patna and Muzaffarpur, among others. The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone of the Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy (IIPE), Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. He will inaugurate the Hindustan Urvarak & Rasayan Ltd (HURL) fertiliser plant in Barauni. Developed at more than Rs 9500 crore, the plant will provide affordable urea to farmers and lead to an increase in their productivity and financial stability. This will be the fourth fertiliser plant to be revived in the country. PM Modi will also inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of several railway projects worth about Rs 3917 crore. These include the project for Raghopur - Forbesganj Gauge Conversion; doubling of Mukuria-Katihar-Kumedpur rail line; project for Barauni-Bachhwara 3rd and 4th line, Electrification of Katihar-Jogbani rail section, among others. The Prime Minister will flag off four trains also including Danapur - Jogbani Express (via Darbhanga - Sakri); Jogbani- Saharsa Express; Sonpur-Vaishali Express; and Jogbani- Siliguri Express. He will dedicate to nation 'Bharat Pashudhan' - a digital database for livestock animals in the country. Developed under the National Digital Livestock Mission (NDLM), 'Bharat Pashudhan' utilises a unique 12-digit Tag ID allocated to each livestock animal. Prime Minister will also launch '1962 Farmers App', an app which records all data and information present under the 'Bharat Pashudhan' database, which can be utilised by the farmers. (ANI)