Meet Ritu Narang, who helps people struggling with addiction, also Art of Living Yoga teacher
Ritu has also been an active part of major national initiatives like the Swachh Bharat Mission and Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (Drug-Free India Campaign). In 2017, the Moradabad Municipal Corporation appointed her as a Swachhata Brand Ambassador.
CM Yogi ensures admission of five-year-old within four hours of request
LUCKNOW: A five-year-old girl moved Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath during his Janata Darshan in Lucknow on Monday so much so that her grievance was resolved within just four hours. The girl, named Vachi, had accompanied her father to the public meeting and made a simple request: she wanted to go to school but had not been able to secure admission. The Chief Minister, touched by her innocence, smiled warmly and immediately instructed officials to arrange for her enrolment. Within four hours, Vachi was admitted to one of the most prestigious private schools in Moradabad. Seated in front of the CM, Vachi said, I want to go to school, please help me get admission. Amused by her honesty, Yogi playfully asked, Which class? Should we put you in 10th or 11th? To which she promptly replied, I will be just starting now. The CM then handed her application to Home Secretary Sanjay Prasad, directing him to ensure her admission without delay. Acting swiftly on his orders, officials secured her a place in the nursery class of a top-tier Moradabad school. While the interaction with Vachi stood out as a heartwarming moment, the Janata Darshan saw hundreds of people from across Uttar Pradesh present their grievances ranging from land and property disputes to issues involving the police and local authorities. CM Yogi personally listened to each case and instructed officials to act promptly. He warned that negligence particularly in revenue or land-related matters would not be tolerated, and insisted on quick redressal. The Chief Minister reiterated that public service must remain the governments top priority, and urged officials to handle every complaint with honesty and sensitivity to maintain public trust in the administration.
Newborn Abandoned in Bag on Patna-Chandigarh Train Rescued in Moradabad
Baby found alive inside AC coach bag, admitted to NICU; GRP probing CCTV for suspect
NEW DELHI: Highlighting the strength of institutional partnerships and employee welfare measures, Northern Railways and the State Bank of India (SBI) jointly handed over a cheque of Rs 1 crore to the family of a deceased loco pilot from the Moradabad Division on Saturday. The amount was disbursed as part of a Personal Accident Insurance (PAI) claim under SBIs Railway Salary Package. The late loco pilot was an account holder under SBIs Railway Salary Package-Diamond variant, which includes insurance coverage for railway personnel. Following the unfortunate demise of the late loco pilot, SBI, in coordination with Northern Railways, ensured that the insurance claim was processed swiftly and handed over to the family without delay. According to an official statement, the cheque was formally presented by the General Manager of Northern Railways in the presence of the General Manager of SBI Delhi Circle, senior railway officials, SBI representatives, and the family of the deceased. The initiative is a direct outcome of the Railway Salary Package Agreement signed between Northern Railways and SBI Delhi Circle on January 2, 2025, a railway official said. Speaking at the event, officials from both Northern Railways and SBI emphasised their shared commitment to employee welfare and the importance of standing by families during times of loss.
UP: Illegal structures removed at Islam Nagar crossing in Sambhal
Sambhal: Authorities on Tuesday carried out an anti-encroachment drive at Islam Nagar crossing in Bahjoi town here, clearing illegal structures including a temple and 10 shops situated along the Agra-Moradabad National Highway, an official said. Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Chandausi, Vinay Kumar Mishra, told reporters that the drive was conducted as per the directions of the 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 .
UP man bitten on tongue while trying to kiss snake for reel; critical
MORADABAD: A 50-year-old man is battling for his life after a snake bit him on his tongue as he attempted to kiss the reptile, reportedly to create a reel for social media. The bizarre incident, a video of which has been widely circulated on social media, has drawn sharp criticism and disbelief from the viewers. The incident took place on Friday evening at Haibatpur village in Amroha district, where Jitendra Kumar, a marginal farmer, rescued a snake and decided to film a dramatic video with it. Hoping to impress online viewers, Kumar posed with the snake while several bystanders filmed the stunt. According to locals, Kumar was apparently under the influence of intoxicants and was smoking at the time of performing the stunt. One purported video shows Kumar wrapping the snake around his neck and slowly bringing its head toward his mouth. As he extends his tongue towards the reptile, the snake bites him on the tongue, leaving the onlookers horrified. Kumar, whose condition deteriorated rapidly after the bite, was rushed to a nearby hospital and was later referred to a private facility in Moradabad, where his condition remains critical in the ICU. Jaikirat Singh, the village head, said a snake had emerged from a wall in the area on Friday evening, triggering panic. Kumar, who arrived at the scene, caught the snake. He attempted to kiss the snake. But as his grip loosened, the snake bit him on his tongue. Shocked, Kumar dropped the snake, which slithered into the nearby bushes, Singh said.
Posters of absconding accused in Sambhal violence to be put up in other districts in Uttar Pradesh
SAMBHAL: Posters of the absconding accused in the Sambhal violence will be put up in other districts of Uttar Pradesh, a senior police official has said. Superintendent of Police (SP) Krishan Kumar told reporters late on Friday evening that properties of the accused wanted in the Sambhal violence will be attached. Besides, raids are being conducted at various places to arrest them. Some of the accused, whose posters were put up earlier were involved in gathering the crowd on November 24 last year, the SP said, adding that now their posters will be put up in the districts around Sambhal. Referring to one of the accused whose poster will be put up, he said the man wears white kurta-pyjama and sports a long beard. His photos will be circulated among the public and videos shared with various police stations. The SP also said a total of 12 cases -- one in Moradabad and 11 in Sambhal -- were registered in connection with the communal violence that broke out in this Uttar Pradesh district on November 24 last year. Chargesheets have been filed in 11 of the cases and it will be filed soon in the remaining one. A total of 89 accused are in jail and their appeals have been rejected by a court. Clashes between locals and security personnel broke out in Sambhal during a court-ordered survey of the Mughal-era Shahi Jama Masjid on November 24, resulting in the deaths of four people and injuries to several others.
Insurance fraud amount across Sambhal district crosses Rs 100 crore; ED seeks documents from police
SAMBHAL: A massive insurance scam involving fraudulent policies, fake documents and even killings carried out to claim insurance money has surfaced in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal district, with the estimated fraud amount crossing Rs 100 crore, officials said on Thursday. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has also taken interest in the case and sought related documents and FIR copies from the local police, they added. Additional Superintendent of Police (South) Anukriti Sharma told reporters that the gang involved in the scam has been under surveillance since January. So far, 52 people have been arrested in connection with the case, while around 50 accused are still absconding. Three of the accused have surrendered in court. Explaining the modus operandi, Sharma said, The gang members used to target young individuals and, in some cases, killed them to claim life-insurance money. In other instances, they took out insurance policies in the names of people suffering from terminal illnesses, such as cancer, as well as in the names of deceased individuals and then conspired to claim money from health and life insurance companies by forging documents and manipulating records. The officer said the scam has links to at least 12 states and 17 FIRs have so far been registered, including four for murder. In the murder cases, the deaths were passed off as road accidents caused by unidentified vehicles to obtain insurance payouts. The FIRs in those cases were closed, but police managed to reopen those after finding irregularities. Investigations have so far revealed that 29 death certificates used by the gang were completely fake, while some others were genuine but had tampered dates to align with insurance claims, Sharma said. The gang's operations were not limited to Sambhal district alone. Cases have also been identified in nearby districts, such as Amroha, Badaun and Moradabad, according to officials. Police said they believe the total fraud amount has already exceeded Rs 100 crore and the figure may rise further as the investigation progresses. Sharma said police have sought detailed data from various insurance companies and are scrutinising records currently to identify other suspicious claims. The suspected data will be shared with the insurance companies for further verification and follow-up action, she said. According to Sharma, initial findings point to the involvement of ASHA workers, individuals working in the health sector and employees of insurance firms. She said the investigation is going on swiftly and more arrests are likely. Responding to a question about the ED's involvement in the case, Sharma confirmed that the federal agency has sought specific information, including FIR copies, which have been provided by police.
In a Moradabad cornfield, a 19-year-old woman was brutally murdered, discovered a day after her disappearance. The autopsy revealed over 40 stab wounds, including to her private parts, leading to fatal blood loss. Mohd Rafi, claiming to be her boyfriend, confessed, citing rage over her communication with another man.
UP Woman Stabbed 30 Times To Death By Lover With Screwdriver, Body Recovered In Fields
A woman was stabbed to death using a screwdriver allegedly by her boyfriend in Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad, the police said.
Mentally Challenged Siblings Allegedly Sexually Harassed By Uttarakhand School Caretaker
Two mentally challenged brothers from Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad district were allegedly beaten and sexually harassed by the caretaker of a boarding school in Dehradun, the police said. Their statements will be recorded in a court, the cops added.
In Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad, two autistic brothers faced abuse at a Dehradun boarding school. They were allegedly beaten, burnt, and raped by Monu Pal. The mother discovered the abuse during a visit. She filed a police complaint, leading to Monu Pal's arrest. Police are investigating, reviewing CCTV footage, and supporting the victims with translators.
Pakistani woman Nafisa linked to radicalisation of 240 Indian youths, UP ATS probes ISI network
LUCKNOW: Over 800 individuals, all contacts of Tufail Maqsood, 34, who was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) from Varanasi on 21 May on charges of spying for Pakistan, are under the radar of the agency. All the 800 people were added to 19 WhatsApp groups operated by Tufail. Notably, UP ATS had arrested Tufail Maqsood from Varanasi, Mohammad Harun, 45, of Delhi, from Noida on 21 May, and Rampur resident Shahzad Wahab, 35, in the same connection from Moradabad on 18 May. All three are currently in ATS custody for interrogation. The details of all 800 contacts were retrieved from Tufails phone. An ATS source claimed that Tufail had been operating 19 WhatsApp groups to stay in touch with his modules across seven eastern UP districts, including Varanasi, Jaunpur, Mau, Bhadohi, Mirzapur, Chandauli, and Ghazipur. He was allegedly involved in radicalising them in the name of religion by posting inflammatory speeches of clerics and terror group leaders from across the border. Establishing his links to Gajwa-e-Hind, Tufail used to post content related to establishing Muslim rule in India before 2047 and bringing Shariat law into force in the country. Moreover, he was being sent such content by a Pakistani woman, Nafisa, whom he had been in touch with for the past four months after connecting with her through social media platforms, said the sources. The social media profile of Nafisa revealed that she had been in touch with Indian youths, as many as 240, including six from Bareilly, Moradabad, Rampur, Kannauj, Lucknow, and Varanasi. It is suspected that ISI had been using Nafisa to connect with Indian youths and radicalise them to rope them in for spying ring and other nefarious activities, said a source. Nafisa had built a network of Indian youths and was spreading hatred by inciting Muslim youths in the name of religion and alleged atrocities on minorities in the country. Tufail was among the members of her network active in India. Earlier, the ATS had claimed that Tufail Maqsood, a resident of Jaitpura, Varanasi, was in touch with at least 600 Pakistani mobile numbers and shared sensitive information related to Indias security. The agency stated that Tufail is highly radicalised, as he used to share videos of banned Pakistan-based terror outfit Tehreek-e-Labbaiks leader Maulana Shaad Rizvi and content related to revenge for Babri mosque demolition.
UP court sentences Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist to 10 years imprisonment
LUCKNOW: A court in Moradabad has sentenced Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Ulfat Hussain to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for being involved in terror activities, the additional district government counsel said on Tuesday. Moradabad Additional District and Sessions Judge II Chhaya Sharma also imposed a fine of Rs 48,000 on the convict in the order pronounced on Monday, said ADGC Suresh Singh. After the pronouncement of verdict, the convict was sent to jail under tight security. Ulfat Hussain alias Mohammad Saiful Islam, a resident of Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir, has been involved in terrorist activities since 2002 and was absconding after being granted bail in 2008, said the ADGC. The Moradabad court had issued permanent warrants against him in both January, 2015 and March 2025. A reward of Rs 25,000 was announced for information leading to his arrest. On March 8, 2025, a joint operation conducted by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and Katghar Police successfully apprehended him in Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir, and subsequently transferred him to Moradabad jail, Singh said. The Moradabad police had arrested Ulfat Hussain along with his other accomplices, including Afzal alias Parvez and Hussain Malik with one more person on July 9, 2002. The police had recovered an AK-47, an AK-56, two pistols of 30 bore each, 12 hand grenades, 39 timers, 50 detonators, 37 batteries and 29 kg of explosive. They were also carrying 560 bullets and eight magazines. As per the police sources, while being rounded up in 2002, Ulfat, along with his accomplices, was planning to carry out terror attacks at various religious places across Uttar Pradesh.
UP: Woman ends life on video, accuses husband, in-laws of harassment
A 23-year-old woman who married four months ago died by suicide, recording the act on her phone. In the video, the woman from Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, accused her husband, father-in-law, and sister-in-law of pushing her to the brink. Amreen Jahan had a love marriage about four months ago. Her husband works as a welder in 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 .
Husband Asks, Why Don't You Die?: UP Woman Kills Self, Blames In-Laws
A 23-year-old woman who married four months ago died by suicide and recorded the act on her phone. In the video, the woman from Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad accused her husband, father-in-law and sister-in-law of pushing her to the edge.
UP: 12-year-old Dalit girl raped by teenagers in Moradabad
In a horrifying act, a 12-year-old Dalit girl was allegedly gang-raped by five boys, all aged between 12 and 15, inside the principals office in Uttar Pradeshs Moradabad district. The incident took place on May 8. The girl alleged the boys spiked her soft drink, raped her and made a video, which was circulated online. 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 .
In a shocking incident, a 12-year-old Dalit girl was allegedly gangraped by five minor boys in a school in Uttar Pradeshs Moradabad district. The crime took place inside principals office at a school near the Civil Lines police Station.
Alleged Pakistani spy from UP's Moradabad sent to 14-day judicial custody
A Pakistani spy, Shahzad, was arrested in Moradabad by Uttar Pradesh ATS for allegedly smuggling goods and passing security information to ISI. He's been sent to 14-day judicial custody. Shahzad is accused of recruiting individuals for espionage under the guise of cross-border smuggling and maintaining contact with ISI agents, sharing confidential details.
UP ATS arrests suspected ISI operative in Moradabad; expands hunt for ISI network in western UP
LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) has arrested a man in Moradabad suspected of spying for Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), as the hunt for ISI agents operating on Indian soil intensifies following Operation Sindoor . The accused, identified as Shahzad, is a resident of Suar Tanda in Rampur district of western Uttar Pradesh. He came on the agency's radar following a tip off on him being involved in cross-border smuggling and spying as an agent for ISI. Shahzad had allegedly been passing sensitive information related to national security to his handlers in Pakistan said the sources in ATS. He had travelled to Pakistan on multiple occasions, a fact confirmed by his wife, said the sources. Shahzad is accused of being allegedly involved in the smuggling of items such as cosmetics, clothes, spices, and others across the border. As per the police sources, besides passing on intelligence inputs to ISI, Shahzad was also suspected to be involved in running the operations for Pakistan's intelligence agency in India. He was entrusted by his handlers across the border to expand his network by recruiting people in India. Sources claimed that Shahzad had added over 20 people till date, including three women with an ISI network in UP. The three women's modules belong to Sambhal, Moradabad and Rampur in western UP. The ATS is currently on a hunt for the three women. Meanwhile, an FIR has been lodged against Shahzad in Lucknow. The probe revealed that Shahzad used to transfer money to other Pakistani agents working in India. He also allegedly helped some people from UP visit Pakistan on the pretext of business but with the actual aim of hiring them for activities related to ISI. These people were allegedly sent to Pakistan with visas and travel documents arranged with the help of ISI agents. Shahzad has also helped arrange Indian SIM cards for ISI agents operating in India. As per Shahzads wife, Razia, her husband owns and runs a textile and readymade garments business for which he used to travel to Pakistan, particularly Lahore, to bring unstitched ladies' suit pieces to India. Razia claimed that Shahzad was being framed in the espionage case. She claimed that her husband was illiterate and did not have links with anyone across the border. YouTuber held for spying for ISI; nine more arrested on espionage charges in two weeks across Punjab, Haryana
UP man arrested for spying, travelled to Pak several times
Shahzad was apprehended on Sunday by the STF Moradabad unit following inputs about his alleged involvement in cross-border smuggling and espionage activities for the ISI.
ISI agent arrested in Uttar Pradesh's Rampur
RAMPUR: A Tanda resident was arrested here Sunday for allegedly being an agent of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force. Shahzad was apprehended by the STF Moradabad unit following inputs about his alleged involvement in cross-border smuggling and espionage activities for the ISI. The STF said Shahzad was also passing sensitive information related to national security to his handlers. Shahzad travelled to Pakistan several times over the years and was allegedly smuggling cosmetics, clothes, spices, and other items across the border, the agency alleged. Shahzad has been under sections, including espionage-related provisions, at the STF Police Station in Lucknow, it said in a statement. YouTuber held for spying for ISI; nine more arrested on espionage charges in two weeks across Punjab, Haryana
After Haryana YouTuber, UP Businessman Arrested For Spying For Pakistan
Shahzad was arrested in Moradabad following inputs about his alleged involvement in cross-border smuggling and espionage activities for Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
The IMD forecasts continued rainfall and thunderstorms across southern and northeastern India over the next five days, with potential heatwaves in the northwest. Delhi may experience thunderstorm activity and a slight temperature drop. Rising temperatures in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, have led to an increase in hospital admissions, particularly among children suffering from fever and related ailments.
SP MP's caste remark on Wing Commander Vyomika Singh sparks political storm
LUCKNOW: After Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, who gained attention while conducting media briefings alongside Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri during Operation Sindoor, became the subject of a casteist slur by senior Samajwadi Party (SP) MP and partys national General Secretary, Professor Ramgopal Yadav, triggering a fresh round of political slugfest. Ramgopal Yadav, who is also the uncle of SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, said at an event in Moradabad on Thursday that BJP supporters had targeted Colonel Sofiya Qureshi because of her Muslim identity. Had they known Vyomika Singh was from the Jatav community, they would have targeted her too. Thinking her to be a Rajput, they spared her. The SP MP was referring to Madhya Pradesh minister Kunwar Vijay Shahs remarks on Colonel Qureshi , which led to legal proceedings against him and an admonishment by the Supreme Court of India. The remarks drew strong criticism from BJP leaders, including Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who said, The uniform should not be seen through casteist lenses. Every soldier of the Indian Army performs national duty instead of representing any caste or religion. Relegating a valiant daughter of India to a caste by the National General Secretary of SP is not only a display of his partys narrow-minded thinking but also a grave insult to the valour of the Army and the dignity of the country. FIR against three ' X' users for hate posts against Col Sofiya Qureshi Launching a broadside on the SP leader, UP Deputy CM Keshav Maurya said that the Army had the sole duty of defending the country. Looking at the caste and religion in the Army is a reflection of a low mentality. PM Narendra Modi has also laid stress on womens empowerment in the Armed Forces. Everyone should trust him, said Maurya. Similarly, the other Deputy CM, Brajesh Pathak, called it the anti-woman and anti-Dalit mentality of the SP leader. India will not accept the insult of Dalits. People should refrain from making such statements for the sake of the country, maintained Pathak. However, with Akhilesh Yadav and his ally Congress observing a guarded silence over the issue, Ayodhya MP Awadhesh Prasad took a different line by disagreeing with Ramgopal Yadavs remarks. He said caste had no place in the Army and politics should stay out of it. Such thinking must be rejected. Meanwhile, Ramgopal Yadav came out with a clarification over his remarks 20 hours later but stopped short of offering an apology. He said that in a state where people were shot based on caste and religion, the Chief Minister reacted without watching his full statement. Filed in way that can be quashed later: MP HC criticises FIR against Vijay Shah's remarks on Col Sofiya Qureshi Taking to the microblogging site X, Yadav claimed: In some states of North India, especially in Uttar Pradesh, fake cases are being filed against people based on religion, caste, and class. Encounters are being conducted based on caste and religion. Properties are being seized by labelling people as gangsters based on caste and religion. Atrocities are being committed against women based on caste, religion, and class. Employees and officers are being posted based on caste, religion, and class. He further posted: About people with such a distorted mentality, I said at an event yesterday (Thursday) that Colonel Sofiya Qureshi was identified by her religious name, which is why she was abused. Foreign Secretary Misri was also abused. If these abusers had found out that Wing Commander Vyomika Singh is Jatav and Air Marshal Awadhesh Bharti is Yadav, they would not have refrained from abusing these officers as well. I am surprised that the Chief Minister, under whose nose atrocities are being committed on minorities, Dalits, and backward classes, tweeted without listening to my entire statement. I have no complaints against the media channels that had captured Islamabad and Rawalpindi, because no one trusts them except the ruling party, posted the SP MP. NCW slams Madhya Pradesh minister's objectionable remarks against Col Sofiya Qureshi
Polygamy being widely misused in Islam: Allahabad HC
LUCKNOW: Giving its observation on the provision of polygamy in Islam, the Allahabad High Court said that though it was permitted in Islam to go for more than one marriage under certain circumstances and with certain conditions, this permission was being widely misused by even going against the mandate of Muslim law. The bench, comprising Justice Arun Kumar Singh Deshwal, said polygamy had been permitted, conditionally, by the Holy Quran in early Islamic times for rehabilitation of widows and orphans after heavy wartime casualties but now the said provision was being misused for selfish purposes. The observation came from the bench while hearing a petition by Furqan and two others challenging chargesheet as well as summon order by a Moradabad court under Sections 376(rape), 495 (second marriage with concealment of former marriage) 120-B ( criminal conspiracy), 504 (insult) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC. An FIR was lodged by the opposite party no. 2 (wife) alleging Furqan married her without disclosing to her that he was already married and that he raped her during the marriage. Furqan contended that the woman admitted to having married him after a relationship. His counsel argued that no offence under Section 494 IPC would be made out against him as, under Muslim Law and the Shariat Act, 1937, a Muslim man was permitted to marry up to four times. It was also submitted that all issues regarding marriage and divorce had to be decided as per the Shariat Act, 1937, which also permitted the man to get married again even during the lifetime of the previous spouse. It was further submitted by the petitioners lawyer that since the 1937 Act is a Special Act, while IPC is the General Act, the former will have an overriding effect over the latter. It was also submitted that in Muslim Law, the second marriage was not void if the first marriage was performed as per Muslim Law. Meanwhile, the state counsel disputed this submission by contending that a second marriage performed by a Muslim man would not always be valid if in case the first marriage was not performed as per Muslim law but as per Special Act or Hindu Law. In such a situation, a second marriage would be void and punishable under Section 494 IPC. The court referred to the concept of nikah (marriage) as per Muslim Personal Law and other authorities on Muslim Law to note that a plurality of marriages was not unconditionally conferred on the husband. The court said that if a Muslim male had married as per Muslim law, his second, third or fourth marriages were not void, hence, Section 494 IPC was also not to be invoked for second marriage, except in cases of second marriage declared Batil (void) as per Shariat by Family Court. Secondly, if first marriage was under Special Marriage Act, 1954, Foreign Marriage Act, 1969, Christian Marriage Act, 1872, Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act, 1936 and Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, and second marriage is as per Muslim law, after conversion to Islam, it will be void and punishable u/s 494. The court referred to judgment in case of Jafar Abbas, wherein it was observed that the Holy Quran forbade polygamy if purpose of marrying more than once was self-interest or sexual desire and further observed that it was for Maulvis (clerics) to ensure Muslims did not abuse the Holy Quran to justify polygamy for vested interest. In this case, the court also held there was no law which declared second marriage under Muslim law void, therefore, it would not be punishable u/s 494 IPC. On whether a second marriage contracted by a Muslim could be declared void, court opined it would be void if declared Batil (void) by Shariat, especially if performed within prohibited degree of relationship. Thus, issuing notice to the opposite party, the court in its order, dated May 8, stayed any coercive action against the applicant and ordered to list the matter in the week commencing May 26.
Muslim Man Can Have Multiple Wives If He Treats All Of Them Equally: Court
A single bench of Justice Arun Kumar Singh Deswal made the remarks while hearing a petition to quash the chargesheet, cognisance, and summons order against a man, Furkan, issued by a court in Moradabad.
'Food adulteration is a social crime,' says UP CM Yogi; calls for public shaming of offenders
LUCKNOW: Launching a renewed crackdown on those involved in food adulteration and the sale of counterfeit medicines, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday termed the menace a social crime, declaring that such acts would not be tolerated. In a strong deterrent measure, the CM called for the public identification of offenders by displaying their photos at major intersections to raise awareness and discourage others. Chairing a high-level review meeting of the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) department in Lucknow, Adityanath directed officials to take strict and decisive action against adulterators, fake medicine traders, and others under the states zero tolerance policy. He instructed that daily consumables such as oil, ghee, spices, milk, and cheese be tested rigorouslypreferably at production unitsto ensure quality. Special teams should be formed to carry out intensive checks of milk and dairy products with continuous monitoring, he said. Additionally, professional blood donors should be identified, and effective control should be established in this sector, he added. Public health is the state's top priority and it must be handled with full transparency and commitment. Officials informed the CM that the states network of food and drug laboratories had expanded significantly. Apart from six major divisions already in operation, new laboratories and offices have been established in Aligarh, Ayodhya, Azamgarh, Bareilly, Basti, Chitrakoot, Kanpur, Mirzapur, Moradabad, Prayagraj, Saharanpur, and Devi Patan divisions. Laboratory buildings in Lucknow, Gorakhpur, and Jhansi have also been upgraded, while three modern microbiology labs have been set up in Lucknow, Meerut, and Varanasi. These facilities are equipped for testing microorganisms, protozoa, viruses, bacteria, mycotoxins, and other pathogens. Testing is already underway in Lucknow and Meerut. The Chief Minister suggested the creation of a Corpus Fund to support the operation and maintenance of these laboratories. To tackle the fake drug trade effectively, Adityanath directed improved coordination between FSDA and police authorities to ensure better enforcement and drug quality checks. For transparency in the food safety process, FSDA has implemented a password-protected barcode system, allowing confidential and impartial sample analysis. Each sample is digitally tested by scientists and validated only after senior official approval. To boost public involvement, the department has introduced a mobile app called Food Safety Connect and a toll-free number (1800-180-5533). The CM instructed that a complaint be considered resolved only after the complainant expresses satisfaction. Significant progress has also been reported in the pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing sectors. Over the past three years, investment proposals worth 1,470 crore have been approved, generating direct employment for more than 3,340 people. There has also been a notable increase in pharmaceutical units, medical device production, blood banks, and retail medicine sellers across the state.
Red alert announced in Uttar Pradesh, mock drills conducted across state
LUCKNOW: A red alert was issued in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday, with the administration conducting mock drills across the state to prepare for any eventuality. The move follows air strikes carried out under Operation Sindoor, in which Indian defence forces targeted and destroyed terrorist camps and infrastructure at nine locations inside Pakistan. UP DGP Prashant Kumar, while announcing red alert, asked the state police authorities to work in tandem with Army and the India Air Force to ensure security of significant installation in the state. Claiming that state police were in alert mode and ready to provide security to citizens, the DGP said that the security of important religious and other establishments was spruced up in the state. While security was enhanced with the deployment of over 600 police personnel in and around Kashi Vishwanath Corridor in Varanasi, the police authorities increased patrolling and vigilance at Shree Krishna Janmabhoomi in Mathura and around the upcoming Ram temple in Ayodhya. The Babri litigant Iqbal Ansari prayed for Indian Army saying that with the grace of Allah, the Indian forces would answer the evil designs of Pakistan and name it as Hindustan. For the demonic forces like Pakistan, Lord Ram is needed. Pakistan has been responded in such a language that it will never forget, said Ansari. Additionally, security was heightened at key locations including Varanasi Airport, Kanpur Central Railway Station, and the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, with intensive vehicle checks underway. This marks the first red alert issued in the state in decades. It was during 1971 war that the state was kept on red alert. After that, it is the first such occasion when a red alert has been declared, says former UP DGP Sulkhan Singh. As per UP police authorities, red alert is warning system which indicates at emergency situation. People are asked to be alert and follow administrations instructions during a terror threat or war like situation. It is mandatory to follow the Red Alert as it is meant for the security of citizens, says a senior police official. Meanwhile, reacting to the Operation Sindoor, UP CM Yogi Adityanath congratulated the Armed Forces , SP chief Akhilesh Yadav took to X to post in Sanskrit: Parakramo Vijyate (courage wins). On the other, former CM and Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati called Operation Sindoor, a commendable act of pride. However, post-Operation Sindoor, celebrations were reported from different districts across UP. While fireworks were seen in Sambal and Chandausi, people played Holi with colours and distributed sweets in Gonda. In Varanasi, locals , traders and businessmen posed with lemon and chillies to keep the countrys army safe from evil eye and burst firecrackers. At the same time, the mock drill was conducted in various districts, including Varanasi, Chitrakoot, Kanpur, Lakhimpur Kheri, Ghaziabad and Moradabad, of the state on Wednesday. Residents of Varanasi were trained on how to protect themselves during an attack, with sirens sounding to simulate real-time emergency alerts. Civilians were also trained in dousing the fire. Scenes of a stampede were recreated during a mock drill, and people were told how to save themselves in such a situation. They were also imparted training in giving Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) in case of an emergency. In Chitrakoot, scenes of air strikes were recreated and the people were told how to cope with it. In Ghaziabad and Moradabad, people were told to lie down on the ground covering their ears, soon after hearing the sirens. While the Union government had identified 19 districts of UP for mock drill but the state administration decided to conduct it across all the districts.
Indian Idol 12 winner Pawandeep Rajan stable after surgery following major road accident
The musician suffered severe injuries after his SUV rammed into a stationary canter truck that had broken down roadside on National Highway-9 near Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh
22 Pakistani Women With Over 90 India-Born Children Living In UPs Moradabad: Report
These women possess Indian government-issued ration and Aadhaar cards, allowing them to access public welfare benefits, but none of them have acquired Indian citizenship so far.
Moradabad authorities found 22 Pakistani women with 95 children. The women have long-term visas. Their children are Indian citizens. This discovery followed a security review after the Pahalgam attack. Authorities are checking visa status and family backgrounds. One Pakistani national faces deportation after 17 years in India. Another woman is accused of using fake documents for a teaching job.
CBI Cracks Down On Digital Arrest Syndicates, Arrests 4 After Searches At 12 Locations
NEW DELHI, Apr 15: In a major crackdown on syndicates running digital arrest scams, the Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested four people following searches at 12 locations, officials said on Tuesday. Terming it Operation Chakra-V, they said the CBI carried out searches in connection with a digital arrests case registered by it on the request of the Rajasthan government in which two persons each were arrested from Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh and Mumbai. It was alleged that the arrested [] The post CBI Cracks Down On Digital Arrest Syndicates, Arrests 4 After Searches At 12 Locations appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday said it has arrested four kingpins in a major digital arrest case, where a victim was extorted 42 times over three months to the tune of Rs 7.67 crore by cyber-criminals posing as law enforcement officers. The case, originally registered at the Cyber Police Station in Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan, was taken over by the CBI at the request of the Rajasthan government. Officials said the victim was digitally detained by cyber fraudsters impersonating personnel from various enforcement agencies. The arrests, two each from Mumbai and Moradabad, were made as part of the CBIs ongoing Operation Chakra-V. Extensive follow-up search operations were carried out at 12 locations across the country, including Moradabad and Sambhal in Uttar Pradesh, Mumbai in Maharashtra, Jaipur in Rajasthan and Krishnanagar in West Bengal. Upon taking over the case, the CBI sleuths conducted an in-depth investigation involving extensive data analysis and profiling. The agency employed advanced investigative techniques to identify the perpetrators, a senior official said. Based on the leads generated during the investigation, the CBI conducted extensive searches recently, across twelve locations in Moradabad and Sambhal in UP, Mumbai in Maharashtra, Jaipur in Rajasthan and Krishnanagar in West Bengal, leading to the arrest of four accused involved in this highly organised crime syndicate, During the searches, the CBI recovered substantive evidence including bank account details, debit cards, cheque books, deposit slips and digital devices. The arrested accused were produced before a competent court and have been remanded to five days of CBI custody. As the investigation continues, the CBI reiterated its resolve to combat the rising threat of cybercrime and digital arrests. The CBI has been adopting a multi-pronged approach in investigating Digital Arrest cases, with a special emphasis on dismantling the infrastructure behind such offences. In recent months, the CBI has registered multiple cases of Digital Arrests, the official said.
Locals Risk Lives Daily On Broken Bridge To Cross River In Moradabad, Demand Permanent Fix
People are forced to cross this makeshift bridge every day, risking their lives. For years, locals have been demanding a durable bridge here, but their appeals continue to be ignored
Uttar Pradesh police remain vigil across state in wake of Waqf Amendment Bill
LUCKNOW: Amid the prevailing tension following the passage of the Waqf Amendment Bill in Parliament on late Thursday night, security was tightened in all the 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh amid fierce criticism of the Bill from various quarters of Muslim community. However, there was no incident of public protest reported from anywhere in the state. UP police in all the 75 districts held Flag March in the wake of the passage of the Bill with a strict monitoring of potential troublemakers. Moreover, the state police are keeping an eye on the situation through drones as well. Notably, UP DGP Prashant Kumar had cancelled the leave of all the police personnel calling them back to join duty with immediate effect on Wednesday when the Bill was tabled in Lok Sabha. While cautioning the officers to exercise utmost caution in their respective districts, the state police chief has directed the officers in the sensitive areas to remain mobile in the field and intensify the police patrolling in public places. The police chiefs of respective districts, including state capital Luckow, Kanpur, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Sambhal, Aligarh, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Agra, Bulandshahr, Rampur, Jalaun, Moradabad and Mathura, remained on high alert and conducted flag march coupled with the monitoring of sensitive areas, shrines and dargahs through drone. Moreover, the vigilance was increased in Muslim dominated localities of the cities across the state. Congress to challenge Waqf (Amendment) Bill in Supreme Court In Lucknow, police surveillance was amplified especially in over a dozen localities across the old city area. Special security measures were taken to protect Vidhan Bhawan, Satkhanda, Roomi Gate and Chowk areas. Rapid Action Force, Sashastra Seema Bal and 10 companies of Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) conducted flag march. All the preventive measures have been put in place. Cops are aware of SOPs. People are urged not to have any misconception, said DCP (Central) Lucknow Ashish Srivastava. In the Taj city of Agra, police and PAC units were deployed around the Jama Masjid with barriers erected at various points to control the movement. Flag marches are being conducted since Wednesday morning, especially, in areas with diverse population. Additionally, the authorities are also monitoring social media platforms to prevent any attempt to spread misinformation. Uttar Pradesh: Waqf Board to be reconstituted and new guidelines implemented shortly However, numerous Muslim organisations denounced the Waqf Amendment Bill calling it an infringement of their religious freedom. The AIMPLB and other Muslim organisation have conveyed their concerns over the Bill to the JPC but they were not considered, said Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali, a senior executive member of AIMPLB and chairman Islamic Centre of India. Maulana Fazlul Manna, cleric of famous Tilewali Masjid in Lucknow, said the waqf was owned by Allah. No one else can own the Waqf properties. Now the future course of action would be decided by All India Muslim Personal Law Board. Similarly, in Bareilly, while Ittehad-e-Millat Council chief Maulana Tauqeer Raza claimed that the Bill would not be accepted by the Muslims at any cost, Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi, chairman, All India Muslim Jamat came out in support of the Bill saying it would be in the favour of Muslims if passed by the Parliament. In Saharanpur, Maulana Mahmood Madni, chairman, Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind dubbed the Bill as anti-constitutional. He said it was brought by Modi government following its majoritarian approach against the democratic values. On the other, in Varanasi, Supreme Court advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain welcomed the bill saying it would curtail several 'unchecked' powers previously held by Waqf Boards. Former chief of UP Minority Commission, Ashfaq Saifi said that he was getting life threats for supporting the Bill. I am being intimidated through social media and Whatsapp calls. My brother-in-law Zahid Saifi, who lives in Gunnaur in Sambhal, was attacked by unidentified persons, said Saifi. At the same time, Sumaiyya Rana, daughter of late poet Munnawar Rana, was house arrested as a preventive measure in Lucknow. Waqf amendment bill 'Brazen assault' on Constitution, says Sonia Gandhi
Jama Masjid chairmans son, relatives bound down with Rs 1 lakh surety following Sambhal violence
LUCKNOW: The troubles for the chairman of the Shahi Jama Masjid management committee in Sambhal deepened when five of his family members, including his son, elder brother, and two nephews, were 'bound down' by the district administration with a surety of Rs 1 lakh, fearing a breach of peace or disturbance of public tranquility. The district administration initiated the action on Tuesday against Zafar Alis son Haider Ali, his elder brothers Tahir Ali advocate and Qamar Hasan, along with nephews Mohammad Danish and Mohammad Mujib, under BNSS sections 126 (security for keeping peace in other cases) and 135 (inquiry as to truth of information). This would mean that if the men bound down were found to be involved in any verbal or physical act that could lead to breach of peace, they would be liable to pay Rs 1 lakh to the court. Significantly, all the bound down members of Zafar Alis family are practising lawyers at local Chandausi Court of Sambhal. Sambhal MP Barq under SIT radar following Shahi Jama Masjid committee chief Zafar Alis arrest Notably, Zafar Ali has been languishing in Moradabad district court as he was arrested on March 23 in connection with November 24 violence which had rocked Sambhal during a court-ordered survey of Shahi Jama Masjid leading to the loss of five lives and leaving scores injured including the cops. The violence had broken out after a protesting mob objected to the survey of Shahi Jama Masjid and resorted to stone pelting on law enforcement agencies and vandalism. Sambhal Kotwali incharge Anuj Tomar confirmed the action against the members of Zafar Alis family. Meanwhile, the hearing on the bail plea of Zafar Ali was postponed to April 4 due to unavailability of the case diary. Zafar Ali was arrested as he was found to have played an incendiary role during the violence, last year, said the police authorities. Earlier, Alis bail plea was set for hearing on March 27 when the ADJ-II court of judge Nirbhay Narayan Rai in Chandausi had refused him interim bail posting the matter for April 2 as the date for hearing his regular bail application. The defence lawyer, on Wednesday, sought the court to grant interim bail to Zafar Ali in the absence of case diary but the prosecution said that interim bail plea was already rejected by the court. The court accepted the argument and rejected the application for interim bail, said additional district government advocate Hariom Prakash Saini. The court then asked the prosecution to present the case diary on Friday, April 4. The dispute over the Shahi Jama Masjid of Sambhal arose when the local court ordered a survey of the mosque to ascertain if it was built over a pre-existing Harihar temple as the court was hearing a petition in this regard. Meanwhile, members of the Sambhal District Bar Association decided that none of them would enter the court premises till Ali was freed. We will continue our agitation till the exploitation of our respected leader and advocate Zafar Ali and his family by the police and local administration continues, Mohammed Shahid, a lawyer, said.
After Sambhal Jama Masjid chief, his kin come on police radar
LUCKNOW: The troubles for the chairman of the Shahi Jama Masjid management committee in Sambhal deepened when five of his family members, including his son, elder brother, and two nephews, were 'bound down' by the district administration with a surety of Rs 1 lakh, fearing a breach of peace or disturbance of public tranquility. The district administration initiated the action on Tuesday against Zafar Alis son Haider Ali, his elder brothers Tahir Ali advocate and Qamar Hasan, along with nephews Mohammad Danish and Mohammad Mujib, under BNSS sections 126 (security for keeping peace in other cases) and 135 (inquiry as to truth of information). This would mean that if the men bound down were found to be involved in any verbal or physical act that could lead to breach of peace, they would be liable to pay Rs 1 lakh to the court. Significantly, all the bound down members of Zafar Alis family are practising lawyers at local Chandausi Court of Sambhal. Sambhal MP Barq under SIT radar following Shahi Jama Masjid committee chief Zafar Alis arrest Notably, Zafar Ali has been languishing in Moradabad district court as he was arrested on March 23 in connection with November 24 violence which had rocked Sambhal during a court-ordered survey of Shahi Jama Masjid leading to the loss of five lives and leaving scores injured including the cops. The violence had broken out after a protesting mob objected to the survey of Shahi Jama Masjid and resorted to stone pelting on law enforcement agencies and vandalism. Sambhal Kotwali incharge Anuj Tomar confirmed the action against the members of Zafar Alis family. Meanwhile, the hearing on the bail plea of Zafar Ali was postponed to April 4 due to unavailability of the case diary. Zafar Ali was arrested as he was found to have played an incendiary role during the violence, last year, said the police authorities. Earlier, Alis bail plea was set for hearing on March 27 when the ADJ-II court of judge Nirbhay Narayan Rai in Chandausi had refused him interim bail posting the matter for April 2 as the date for hearing his regular bail application. The defence lawyer, on Wednesday, sought the court to grant interim bail to Zafar Ali in the absence of case diary but the prosecution said that interim bail plea was already rejected by the court. The court accepted the argument and rejected the application for interim bail, said additional district government advocate Hariom Prakash Saini. The court then asked the prosecution to present the case diary on Friday, April 4. The dispute over the Shahi Jama Masjid of Sambhal arose when the local court ordered a survey of the mosque to ascertain if it was built over a pre-existing Harihar temple as the court was hearing a petition in this regard. Meanwhile, members of the Sambhal District Bar Association decided that none of them would enter the court premises till Ali was freed. We will continue our agitation till the exploitation of our respected leader and advocate Zafar Ali and his family by the police and local administration continues, Mohammed Shahid, a lawyer, said.
Amid tight security, Eid-ul-Fitr namaz offered peacefully in UP's mosques
LUCKNOW: Namaz of Eid-ul-Fitr was completed peacefully in 30,000 mosques and 40,000 Eidgahs across Uttar Pradesh on Monday amid state-imposed curbs prohibiting the offering of Namaz on roads and public properties. Special vigilance was deployed in Sambhal, Aligarh, Lucknow, and Meerut districts; Namazis who thronged the Jama Masjid of Varanasi were forced to offer Namaz on the stairs of the mosque. Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged that the state government deliberately stopped his fleet to delay his arrival at the Lucknow Eidgah. They kept my fleet held up for half an hour. When I asked for reasons behind the delay, the officer had no reply. Is it a dictatorship or some emergency? Today, the countrys constitution is at the greatest risk, said Akhilesh. Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak also reached Lucknow Eidgah and greet the Namazis. UP DGP Prashant Kumar said that the Namaz of Eid-ul-Fitr was offered peacefully in all the districts of the state abiding with guidelines issued by the administration. People did not offer Namaz at public places following the advice of the clerics and also the norms laid out by the state administration amid tight security arrangements, said the DGP. Mamata calls for unity, slams BJP's 'divisive politics' at Eid prayers In Sambhal, around a dozen companies of security forces were deployed. Over 1300 CCTV cameras were installed around mosques and the disputed Shahi Jama Masjid. The district administration kept a close vigil on the situation through drones. Meanwhile, SP MP from Sambhal, Zia-ur-Rehman Barq also reached Shahi Jama Masjid to offer namaz. On the ban on holding Namaz on road, the MP said that there should not be double standards in the country. On one hand, roads are barricaded to celebrate festivals, on the other, there is a huge problem if Namaz is offered for just 10 minutes on roads, said the SP MP. In Moradabad, a few young Namazis lodged their protest over intense checking while on way to Eidgah. They said that due to the delay, they could not offer the Namaz, and that the Eidgah management organised Namaz again so that they could offer it. In Meerut, two Muslim groups clashed after the namaz at Siwalkhas town and they engaged in heavy stone pelting and firing at each other leaving many injured. The clashes could be stopped after the police intervention, said the local sources. According to SP, Meerut Dehat, Rakesh Kumar Mishra said that five persons were held in connection with the trouble. In Saharanpur, Namazis were seen waving the flag of Palestine saying Muslims were suffering a lot in that nation. They also raised slogans against the Congress MP Imran Masood, saying that while Muslims were suffering in Palestine, the MP was busy celebrating Holi and playing with colours. Meanwhile, the Namazis were seen wearing black band at number of places in protests against the impending Waqf Amendment Bill . No Eid prayers to be offered at Srinagars Eidgah: Waqf board
UP BJP weighs caste balance in search for new state chief
LUCKNOW: With the organisational reshuffle in the Uttar Pradesh BJP now complete down to the district level, the ruling party is set to appoint a new state unit chief who will lead it into the 2027 assembly elections. The selection process presents a dilemma, as the party must counter the oppositions caste mobilisation strategy, particularly the Samajwadi Partys (SP) PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) narrative. According to party insiders, caste will play a crucial role in the appointment, and the BJP may opt for a Dalit leader. Senior BJP leaders in UP acknowledge the impact of caste-based voter mobilisation in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and are considering a Dalit leader to consolidate their vote bank. The party aims to attract Dalit voters who have drifted away from the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) after its successive electoral setbacks since 2012. A senior BJP leader said, In 2017 and 2022, the BJP secured a significant share of Dalit votes. Appointing a Dalit leader as the UP BJP chief for the first time may help shift a section of the BSP vote bank towards the party, It may also help the party to counter the Oppositions propaganda about the BJP being anti-Ambedkar and anti-Dalit. Vidya Sagar Sonkar, Ram Shankar Katheria, and Jugul Kishore are among the names being discussed for the UP BJP chief post. However, the party cannot overlook the OBC vote base, which played a crucial role in the BJPs landslide victory in 2017 and its return to power in 2022. Non-Yadav OBCs, who largely backed the BJP against the Yadav-dominated Samajwadi Party (SP), were instrumental in these wins. Amar Pal Maurya, BL Verma, and Dharam Pal Singh, a minister in the Yogi Adityanath government, are some of the OBC leaders being considered for the top organisational post. If the party decides to go with an upper-caste leader, Harish Dwivedi, Dinesh Sharma, and Govind Narayan Shukla are among the frontrunners. BJP announces 70 District chiefs in Uttar Pradesh, upper castes dominate list The incumbent UP BJP chief Bhupendra Chaudhary, a Jat leader from Moradabad, took over from Swatantra Dev Singh in August 2022. With Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath (Thakur), Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak (Brahmin), and Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya (OBC) already in key positions, the party may look at a Dalit leader to strengthen its social coalition. However, an OBC face could also be an option to counter the SPs PDA strategy. Party leaders also feel much will also depend on the appointment of a new BJP national president to replace JP Nadda
Rats Wreak Havoc, Eat Away Foundations Of Houses In Moradabad; Civic Operation Underway
Moradabad faces a severe rat infestation, damaging infrastructure and homes. A successful pilot project in Ward No 41 captured 683 rats. A citywide campaign is planned.
UP BJP gears up for state president election after announcing 70 district chiefs
LUCKNOW: With the announcement of 70 district unit chiefs, the organisational revamp of the ruling BJP in Uttar Pradesh has set the stage for the much-awaited election of the partys state president. Amid intense discussions at both the state and central levels, several names have emerged as frontrunners for the crucial post. Despite multiple rounds of deliberations in Lucknow and Delhi, the BJP delayed the announcement of district presidents, eventually revealing the names of 70 out of 98. While 28 remain to be named, the number announced so far is sufficient to move forward with the election of the new state BJP chief. Prominent contenders for the top post include Swatantra Dev Singh, the Jal Shakti Minister in Yogi Adityanaths cabinet and a key OBC leader; BL Verma, a minister in the Modi government representing the Lodh community; Amar Pal Maurya, a Rajya Sabha MP and state general secretary, also from the OBC category; Dinesh Sharma, former Deputy CM and Rajya Sabha MP from the Brahmin community; and Laxmi Kant Bajpai, a Rajya Sabha member and former UP BJP president, also a Brahmin leader. Currently, the BJPs state unit is led by Bhupendra Chaudhary, a prominent Jat leader from Moradabad in western Uttar Pradesh. However, party insiders do not rule out the possibility of the BJP retaining him due to his proximity to the central leadership. In either case, the party will weigh the pros and cons related to caste and regional dynamics while electing the new state BJP chief, who will have the responsibility of securing victory for the party in the crucial 2027 assembly elections and the civic polls thereafter, said a senior BJP leader. However, under Chaudharys leadership, the party performed poorly in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, with its tally in Uttar Pradesh falling from 62 to 33 seatsthe worst performance in the politically crucial state in years. Chaudhary was appointed state BJP chief in August 2022, replacing Swatantra Dev Singh, in what was seen as an attempt to appease the Jat community in western UP following growing resentment among farmers against the central and state governments. As per the partys constitution, a minimum of 50% of the total district presidents are required to complete the process of electing the state president. With the announcement of 70 of the 98 presidents, that minimum requirement now stands fulfilled, said Bhupendra Chaudhary. Now, the election of the UP BJP chief will take place at the discretion of the central leadership, he added. Union Minister Piyush Goyal has been appointed election officer to oversee the process. The party has already decided that the election of mandal, district, and state presidents will be conducted through consensus rather than voting. The completion of the state president elections will pave the way for the election of the BJPs national president. According to the partys constitution, the national election process can only begin after at least 50% of the state presidents and other office bearers have been elected. In fact, only a dozen states have been able to elect their state presidents and other office-bearers so far, said a senior BJP leader, indicating that the national presidents election might face further delays. Current BJP president and Union Minister JP Nadda took over from Amit Shah in 2019 for a five-year term and has since been serving on an extended tenure. The organisational elections in Uttar Pradesh began in November 2024 and have been ongoing for the past three months.
UP traders son, 22, arrested for killing 4 during Doon joyride
Vansh Katyal, a 22-year-old from Moradabad, was arrested for fatally hitting four labourers on Rajpur Road with a speeding Mercedes. The incident occurred while Katyal was on a joyride with his 12-year-old nephew. After the accident, he abandoned the vehicle and fled to Delhi. He is now in police custody.
189 mosques in UP covered with tarpaulin on Holi eve as police tighten security
LUCKNOW: With Holi falling on Friday during the holy month of Ramzan and prominent Muslim clerics of Uttar Pradesh having already revised the timings for Friday prayers, postponing them after 2 pm, 189 mosques in at least four districts of the state were covered with tarpaulin ahead of the festival of colours. While Muslim clerics have adjusted the timing of Friday prayers across 18 districts of the state on Holi day, mosques in Bareilly, Sambhal, Shahjahanpur, and Aligarh in central-western UP were covered with tarpaulin to protect them from the splash of Holi colors. For the sake of maintaining peace, UP DGP Prashant Kumar sent a letter to all the district police chiefs, commissionerates, and heads of police zones and ranges with a 20-point directive to fortify the sensitive zones in their respective districts with adequate deployment of police and paramilitary forces. Besides holding direct interactions with top police officers of the state, the DGP personally met senior officers of sensitive districts and discussed police arrangement for the festival. In the hyper-sensitive Sambhal district, where Shahi Jama Masjid has been caught in a litigation for the past few months over the court-ordered survey, several mosques along with the Jama Masjid were already covered with tarpaulin sheets on Wednesday. As per the senior police officer of the district, additional paramilitary force for round-the-clock monitoring and vigilance were deployed in the town. In Sambhal, the Friday Namaz would be held at 2.30 pm due to Holi celebrations. Sambhal Shahi Jama Masjid management committee chief Zafar Ali urged members of both communities to celebrate Holi and offer Friday prayers in a harmonious atmosphere. Regarding the administrations move to cover mosques with tarpaulin, Ali welcomed the decision, stating that it was a positive step. Maximum mosques 109-- were covered with tarpaulin in Bareilly where a Ram Barat was taken out on Holi eve with strict vigilance and deployment of over 5000 police personnel on all the mosques falling in the route of the Barat. In Shahjahanpur, 67 mosques were covered before the traditional Laat Sahab Juloos on Holi. Shahjahanpur is the only district where there is a tradition of playing Joota Maar Holi (playing Holi using shoes/slippers). A person is made to sit on a buffalo cart as laat sahab and is made to take the rounds of the city with people throwing colours, shoes and slippers at him. A senior officer, who is a part of the team monitoring security arrangements at DGP headquarters, said senior officers would escort the traditional procession of Laat Sahab. Around 1000 additional cops were called in from other districts for deployment at sensitive spots. The police contingent carried out a flag march on Holi eve in the district. Similarly, 10 mosques in Sambhal and three in Aligarh were also covered. The drone-equipped vigilance is on across the sensitive districts of the state. Barricades have been erected along the routes of Holi processions with the installation of several CCTV cameras by the respective local administration. As per Shahajhanpur SP Rajesh S, in all 18 Holi processions including the two major Laat Saheb processions, are taken put in the city. To ensure security, the larger procession was divided into three zones and eight sectors, with around 100 magistrates deployed. Moreover, police have taken preventive action against 2,423 people to deter potential troublemakers, he said. Similarly, in other districts including Mathura, Ayodhya, Varanasi, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, Moradabad, Rampur, Aligarh, Agra, Kanpur, Gonda, Bahraich and Siddharthnagar, additional paramilitary forces have been deployed to avert any untoward incident. DGP Prashant Kumar said that officers were instructed to ensure that no group was allowed to perform any act or hold untraditional processions.
A woman named Priya, in her early 30s, and her friends allegedly killed a cat and set it on fire for bringing bad fortune in Moradabad. The act was recorded and posted online, leading to an FIR under the Wildlife Protection Act. Authorities are currently trying to locate Priya and her accomplices.
BJP Councillor Arrested For Allegedly Shooting Ex Soldier's Son In UP's Moradabad
A BJP councillor has been arrested for shooting a man in Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad, the police said.
UP ATS Arrests J&K Man On Charges Of Anti-National Activities
Moradabad (UP), Mar 8: The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of Uttar Pradesh Police arrested Ulfat Hussain, a resident of Jammu and Kashmirs Poonch, on charges of anti-national activities. As per a press statement, the arrest was made on Friday following intelligence gathered by the ATS, Saharanpur unit, and allied agencies, which indicated Hussains alleged involvement in terrorism and his wanted status in connection with a case lodged in 2001. This case involved charges, including attempted murder (307 IPC), Arms Act violations, [] The post UP ATS Arrests J&K Man On Charges Of Anti-National Activities appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Dalit Girl Gang-raped For Days, Attacked With Acid, Forced To Eat Meat In UPs Moradabad
UP Dalit Girl Gang-rape, Torture: Police said the survivor was abducted while she was on her way to a tailor
14-Year-Old Dalit Girl Tortured, Gang-Raped In UP; One Arrested: Cops
A 14-year-old Dalit girl was allegedly kidnapped, tortured and gang-raped repeatedly in Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad district, police said on Wednesday, adding that one of the accused was arrested.
Amroha woman dies by suicide after failing to bear loss of pet cat
LUCKNOW: A woman from the Amroha district in Western Uttar Pradesh failed to bear the loss of her pet cat and ended her life. Before taking the extreme step, the woman, 36, refused to bury her cat and kept it close to her for three days, hoping it would return to life. As per police sources, the woman allegedly hung herself in Mohalla Kot Hasanpur on Saturday night. She was mentally unstable and had been undergoing treatment in Moradabad. While interacting with media persons, the victims mother said that her daughter loved the cat called Titu. Titu's tongue turned blackish and after about 45 minutes, it died on Wednesday night at around 10 pm, she said. She also clarified that her daughter had not given any hint of ending her life. The relatives of the woman said that she had domesticated the cat nearly two years ago and raised it like her own child. The demise of the pet shattered the victim and she could not survive the grief, they said. She had a belief that her cat will come back to life. I told her that almost three days had passed, and now it is time to bury it, but she did not reply. She remained quiet and calm, said the distraught mother. One of the family's neighbours said that he had seen the cat mostly staying with the woman. He claimed that the woman was married off eight-nine years ago but the marriage did not last beyond a few days. As a result, an emptiness had crept in her life, said the neighbour adding that she used to find her support in the cat. After the woman's death, the cat was finally buried in the presence of the police. As per the psychologists, the victim was probably suffering from a psychotic illness. It is a mental illness that involves a loss of contact with reality and not wanting anybody to enter their world. (If you are having suicidal thoughts, or are worried about a friend or need emotional support, someone is always there to listen. Call Sneha Foundation - 04424640050, Tele Manas - 14416 (available 24x7) or iCall, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences' helpline - 02225521111, which is available Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 10 pm.)
Woke up beside dead co-worker, ate snow to survive: Uttarakhand avalanche survivor recalls tragedy
DEHRADUN: BRO worker Jagbir Singh came to his senses surrounded by an endless expanse of white, next to a dead co-worker, his body stuck inside mounds of snow with a fractured leg and injuries to his head. Singh saw a hotel some distance away and took shelter in it for around 25 harrowing hours, eating snow when thirsty and battling piercing cold with only a single blanket to share with over a dozen of his companions, all of who were trapped under an avalanche in the high-altitude village of Mana in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district. Jagbir Singh from Amritsar said he was sleeping in his container at the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) camp when the snowslide sent them tumbling several hundred metres down. The container we were in went rolling down. By the time we could figure out what had happened, I found a colleague had died and one of my legs was fractured. I also had an injury in the head. There were heaps of snow everywhere, he said. They somehow trudged to a hotel at some distance and took shelter. We were rescued after 25 hours during which 14-15 of us had just one blanket to cover us. We ate snow when we felt thirsty, he said. Fifty-four BRO workers who were all housed inside containers for the night got stuck due to the avalanche Friday morning . Seven workers died while 46 of them are receiving treatment for their injuries after they were pulled out safely following a multi-agency rescue operation. Efforts to find one other worker are still underway. The traumatised survivors of the avalanche brought to the military hospital in Jyotirmath recount their horrifying ordeal. The avalanche was so fierce that it blew the containers 300 metres down in just ten seconds, said Manoj Bhandari from Uttarkashi. I lost my senses for a while then realised running away was impossible as there were 3-4 feet of snow all around. Somehow we walked barefoot through the snow to reach an empty Army guest house to take shelter. Rescuers reached us after 2-3 hours, Bhandari said. The containers were all swept away towards Alaknanda river, said Munna Prasad from Vaishali district in Bihar. We lay scattered under snow for around 12 hours. Snow was clogging our nostrils. It was difficult to breathe. However, thankfully the Army and ITBP teams came to our rescue before it was too late, he said. Many workers survived by taking refuge in whatever shelter they could findArmy camps and barracks, deserted hotels. While some were rescued within hours of the avalanche on Friday, others had to spend tens of hours in the cold with next to no resources. Thirty-three of them were rescued by Friday night and 17 on Saturday. Another Bihar resident Avinash Kumar's entire body was buried under snow, except for his head, which was bleeding and injured as he had hit an iron object during the avalanche. He was rescued by Army personnel after two hours and later sent for treatment where he received 29 stitches in the head. Chandrabhan from Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh said a milder snowslide preceded the main one which came around 5.30 am, giving them no time to prepare. I escaped through an opening on top of the container, he said. Vipin Kumar from Himachal Pradesh said everything happened in a flash. The Army guest house served as a shelter for many stranded labourers who spent nearly 25 hours in sub-zero temperatures, amid constant snowfall, without proper clothing, he said. Another rescued worker, Ganesh Kumar from Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand said it had snowed overnight before the avalanche hit early morning. He said he was asleep when it happened. It was around six in the morning. I was sleeping in the container with my colleagues. Meanwhile, our container started moving with the snow and soon we found ourselves stuck in the middle of the snow, he said. After some time, the rescue team came and took us to the Army hospital on a stretcher, Kumar added. Moradabad's Vijaypal and his companions fell into a ditch more than a hundred metres deep. They saw a deserted Army barrack some 200 metres away and waded through the debris of the avalanche towards it. Due to the area's vulnerability to avalanches, the Army does not use the barrack in winter. The barrack became a lifeline for them where they stayed for around 24 hours before being taken to safety. Vijaypal said it had been snowing for many days and on the morning of February 28, there were two avalanches near their camp. We survived the first avalanche but after a few minutes there was another more powerful avalanche and we went down about 150 metres along with the container. On the road to Mana, at a distance of about 150-200 metres, there was an empty army camp where we spent the whole night in the empty barracks, he said.
Meet the family from Moradabad that has kept the tradition of sarangi alive
In the second edition of the Legacy Series, Kiran Nadar Museum featured Murad Ali, who belongs to sixth generation of hereditary sarangi artistes.
Class 3 student loses vision after injury at UP school
A Class 3 student in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, allegedly suffered a severe eye injury, leading to the loss of vision in one eye. The student's mother has accused the school principal of causing the injury, while the principal denies the allegations and claims the injury occurred due to an accidental elbow strike by a classmate. Authorities have initiated an inquiry into the incident.
When the District Inspector of Schools visited the school, he stated that candidates are allowed to wear any attire during the examination. He permitted the students to take the exam wearing hijabs after checks by female teachers
Former SP MLA Abdullah Azam Khan walks out of UP jail after 17 months
LUCKNOW: Former Samajwadi Party MLA Abdullah Azam Khan walked out of the Hardoi jail in Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday after spending 17 months behind bars. SP leaders and supporters flocked to the prison gates in large numbers to welcome Khan who is the son of jailed SP stalwart and former UP cabinet minister Azam Khan. Abdullah Azam Khan is a former MLA from Suar assembly constituency of Rampur. Rampur MP/MLA special magistrate trial court Judge Shobhit Bansal recently granted him bail in a case related to enemy properties registered against him in 2020. While he did not speak to the media, his lawyer Satnam Singh Nattu claimed that the entire country knew that he and his family were persecuted and imprisoned. Today, we thank God, Allah, Waheguru for paving way for Abdullah Bhai's release. He will finally walk free and return home today, he said outside Hardoi jail. As news of his impending release spread, his supporters started gathering outside the prison, along with Moradabad MP and SP leader Ruchi Veera. Over the years, 45 cases, including one related to machine theft, had been registered against him and he had secured bail in all of them. His release was delayed due to procedural issues related to bail verification. On Monday, the release order from the MP-MLA Magistrate Trial Court was sent to Hardoi jail, paving the way for his freedom. He was disqualified from the Uttar Pradesh Assembly on February 14, 2023 following his conviction and two-year jail term in a 15-year-old case. Along with his father Azam Khan, he was sentenced under Section 353 (criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and other provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) over a dharna on a state highway on January 29, 2008 as their cavalcade was stopped by police for checking in the wake of an attack on a CRPF camp in Rampur on December 31, 2007. This was his second disqualification from the Assembly. He was earlier disqualified in 2020 after the Allahabad High Court had set aside his election to the Assembly. His previous disqualification was effective from December 16, 2019. Former state cabinet minister Azam Khan is currently lodged in Sitapur jail in connection with various cases.
