Criminals kill BEd student by slitting her throat in Muzaffarpur

In a shocking incident in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, Tannu Kumari, a 22-year-old BEd student, was murdered in her rented home. Unidentified criminals broke into the house in Bahwal Bazar and slit her throat, also injuring her mother. Police investigation suggests the attack was targeted, not a robbery. The forensic team is gathering evidence, and the body has been sent for postmortem.

Two bank officer sisters die in Muzaffarpur train accident

In a tragic accident near Muzaffarpur, two sisters, Ruchi and Suruchi, both bank probationary officers, died while attempting to disembark from a moving train. Ruchi, who worked with Canara Bank, and Suruchi, with State Bank of India, were commuting from Patna to Muzaffarpur. The sudden acceleration of the train led to the fatal incident, leaving their family in deep sorrow.

Now, RJD threatens to contest all 243 seats in Bihar assembly election

PATNA: AMID the ongoing seat-sharing talks within the Opposition INDIA bloc for the upcoming Bihar assembly elections, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav sparked controversy by declaring that the RJD would contest all 243 seats. Addressing a public gathering in Muzaffarpur late on Saturday evening, Tejashwi said, We will return. Understand this, You all have to stay united, and this time, Tejashwi will contest elections on 243 seats. Whether it is Kanti, Muzaffarpur, or Gaighat, Tejashwi will contest elections from every place. This government, which has been in power for 20 years, which works to spread communal violence, has to be ousted, he said. Tejashwis remarks are being seen in political circles as a pressure tactic at a time when seat sharing talks within INDIA bloc are stuck. However, RJD spokesperson Mritunjay Tiwari downplayed Tejashwis remarks, and said he meant to say that elections would be contested under his (Tejashwis) leadership. So, he will contest all seats. Tejashwis remarks would not impact the alliance as INDIA bloc candidates would be fielded on all 243 seats under Tejashwis leadership. It should not be read beyond that, Tiwari said, adding that INDIA bloc was intact. Seat sharing negotiations in INDIA bloc have got trickier with the possible entry of Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren s Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and former union minister Pashupati Parass Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP). Launching a blistering attack on the states NDA government, Tejashwi at the workers event said that businessmen were being kidnapped and killed daily in the state, and corruption had reached its peak, with the poor being exploited from local police stations to the state headquarters. Earlier this week, AICC in-charge of Bihar Krishna Allavaru suggested that RJD should show more flexibility in seatsharing deal. Sources said Congress wants to contest 70 seats that it fought in the 2020 elections, while RJD is ready to offer it 52 seats. Among NDA allies, Jitan Ram Manjhis Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) has said it will contest 100 seats if it is not offered 15-20 seats in the upcoming election.

RJD leader and leader of opposition in Bihar, Tejashwi Yadav hits the road again with Bihar Adhikar Yatra

Tejashwi Yadav, RJD leader, is launching the 'Bihar Adhikar Yatra' on September 16 from Jehanabad, covering ten districts in five days. This follows the Voter Adhikar Yatra and aims to maintain momentum while positioning the RJD at the forefront of Bihar's opposition narrative. The tour includes public interactions, roadshows, and meetings, with gatherings planned in Muzaffarpur and Madhubani beforehand.

Tainted education department official suspended

Virendra Narayan, the Regional Deputy Director of Education for the Tirhut division, has been suspended following an SVU raid prompted by allegations of disproportionate assets. The vigilance unit accuses Narayan of possessing assets exceeding Rs 3.76 crore, leading to the recovery of substantial cash during raids across Muzaffarpur, Patna, and Purnia. Disciplinary proceedings will follow.

Only 4 per cent of global clinical trials are conducted in India, despite a 20 per cent disease burden

NEW DELHI: India accounts for 17% of the worlds population and 20% of the global disease burden, yet fewer than four percent of international clinical trials are conducted in the country. This gap means Indian patients often wait years after global approvals to access breakthrough therapies. Now, a new initiative, aligning it with Central Drugs StandardControl Organisations (CDSCO) priorities to boost participation of government sites in Phase 3 and 4 trials, has trained nearly 400 professionals, including investigators, ethics committee members and support staff to meet the global Good Clinical Practice (GCP) standards. The initiative is aimed at strengthening Indias role in global clinical research and facilitating faster patient access to breakthrough therapies. Launched by Roche Pharma India, the company on Saturday announced the successful completion of its first phase of the Advanced Inclusive Research (AIR) Site Alliance initiative in India, in which it partnered with 10 leading government hospitals from across the country. This milestone marks a significant step forward in strengthening Indias readiness to participate in global and local clinical trials, enabling faster patient access to breakthrough therapies and ensuring Indias diverse population is better represented in clinical research, said the company. Launched in 2023, the initiative focused on streamlining internal processes, building digital readiness for better data capture and monitoring and delivering tailored training programs to enhance operational efficiency. By equipping leading government hospitals with global-standard clinical trial capabilities, we are helping to bring innovations faster to India. This is a crucial step toward building equitable healthcare and shaping treatments that are relevant for India, said Dr Sivabalan Sivanesan, Country Medical Director, Roche Pharma India. Dr Amit Sehrawat, Associate Professor, Medical Oncology and Haematology, AIIMS, Rishikesh, said, This initiative is a strong example of how publicprivate partnerships can accelerate capacity-building and strengthen Indias clinical research ecosystem. India carries a significant burden of cancer, infectious and chronic diseases, yet has historically been underrepresented in global trials. By enabling government hospitals to participate in cutting-edge research, this program ensures Indian patients are part of the evidence generation process helping make treatments safer, more effective and relevant for our population. Dr Vyunkta Raju K N, Professor, Dept of Paediatric Neurology, Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health, said: The AIR Site Alliance program has been transformational. Our investigators and ethics committees are now better equipped to conduct research of global standards. This collaboration has given our institutions new opportunities to bring advanced research directly to our patients. The 10 hospitals, which are part of this initiative are: AIIMS, Rishikesh; Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi; PGIMS, Rohtak; Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital & Research Center, Muzaffarpur; Balco Medical Centre, Raipur; Government Medical College, Aurangabad; Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health, Bengaluru; Dr. Bhubaneswar Borooah Cancer Institute (BBCI), Guwahati; Kalyan Singh Super Speciality Cancer Institute & Hospital, Lucknow and Acharya Harihar Post Graduate Institute of Cancer, Cuttack. The project aligns closely with Indias national priorities, including the CDSCOs encouragement for greater participation of government sites in Phase 3 and 4 trials and the Pharmaceutical Research and Innovation Policy (PRIP) initiative that explicitly encouraged industry-academia partnerships to strengthen R&D capabilities, build clinical trial infrastructure and enhance Indias global competitiveness in innovative research, the company said. This initiative supports the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047 - creating a future-ready, world-class healthcare ecosystem where India emerges as a global hub for clinical research, accelerates access to breakthrough innovations, and delivers equitable health outcomes for every citizen, it added. The AIR Site Alliance is Roches flagship global initiative designed to expand access to clinical trials for underrepresented populations. Already implemented in the US, UK, Canada, and Africa, the AIR Site Alliance is now active in India, helping to close representation gaps, generate more robust scientific evidence and accelerate equitable healthcare outcomes worldwide, the company added.

Crores in cash, property seized from premises of education department official

The Special Vigilance Unit (SVU) raided the properties of Virendra Narayan, the regional deputy director of education, uncovering disproportionate assets. Raids across Patna, Muzaffarpur, and Purnia revealed over Rs 3.76 crore in illegal assets, including significant cash, a luxurious mansion, and a market complex.

Siblings Show Bihar Women Mushroom Dreams, Dupe Them Of Rs 2 Crore

A case has been registered in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district against a company for allegedly siphoning off nearly Rs 1.9 crore from loans sanctioned in the names of 100 rural women enrolled in the government's livelihood programme.

SVU raids Bihar educational official's residences in Patna, Muzaffarpur and Purnea over Rs 3.75 crore DA case

PATNA: The Special Vigilance Unit (SVU), anti-corruption wing of the Bihar police, on Thursday conducted simultaneous searches at the office and residential premises of a senior official of the state education department, Virendra Narayan in Patna, Muzaffarpur and Purnea districts in connection with a disproportionate assets case. Virendra Narayan is currently posted as the regional deputy director of education (RDDE), Tirhut in Muzaffarpur. Before being elevated to the post of RDDE, he was posted as the district education officer (DEO) of Vaishali district. The RDDE has been accused of accumulating disproportionate assets worth Rs 3.75 crore. Officials engaged in the search operation said that Rs 4 lakh in cash and documents related to huge investments have been recovered from his house at Jaganpura in Patna. A huge cash has also been recovered from his rented accommodation in Muzaffarpur. Narayan owned a palatial house in Purnea, which is estimated to be worth Rs 5 crore. A search warrant was obtained from the competent court against RDDE in question on Wednesday, Chandra Bhushan Kumar, DSP, SVU, said. Kumar said that Virendra Narayan was under the scanner of the probe agency when departmental proceedings were initiated against him during his stint as DEO of Vaishali district. The then district magistrate of Vaishali, Yash Pal Meena, had disciplinary action against him for his involvement in financial irregularities. Virendra Narayan was appointed as DEO, Vaishali, on July 10, 2022. He remained on the post till July 4, 2024. Officials confirmed that documents, laptops, and other electronic devices were seized during the operation. The members of the raiding teams were going through the financial papers, with entry to the raided premises strictly barred. Complaints against Narayan had been coming to SVU for some time, a senior SVU official said, adding that the complete valuation of seized assets will be made public once the documentation process is finished.

Muzaffarpur CBI court sentences three to life imprisonment for murder of journalist

A CBI court in Muzaffarpur sentenced three to life imprisonment with a fine of Rs 30,000 each for the 2016 murder of journalist Rajdev Ranjan in Siwan. While Ranjan's wife expressed satisfaction but sought the death penalty, she also plans to challenge the acquittal of three others due to insufficient evidence.

20,000 RSS volunteers working at grassroots in Bihar to boost NDA's chances in assembly polls

NEW DELHI: With Bihar set for a keenly fought battle at the polls following the Opposition's launch of the 'Voter Adhikar Yatra', the RSS the ideological mentor of the BJP has reportedly intensified its groundwork in the state to smoothen the pitch for the BJP-led NDA. Over 20,000 RSS volunteers are discreetly advancing the organisations mission at the grassroots level by promoting the Sanghs nationalist ideology and highlighting how the government's actions are aligned with the Sanghs vision of the national interest. With Bihar poised for a high-stakes triangular contest in a majority of assembly constituencies after the entry of political strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor's newly formed Jan Suraj Party, the role of the Sangh on the ground has become more crucial. In an emerging situation where the Opposition-led by the RJD with the Congress has started creating a fake narrative on SIR and other issues against the government, our duty as citizens is also to dispel these narratives on the ground. The Sangh is dedicated to the nation and the people as the world's largest social organisation, remarked a Sangh volunteer, neither denying the presence of Sangh volunteers on the ground nor admitting it on record. Although the Sangh does not directly engage in political campaigning, its volunteers, who are called Swayamsevaks, continue to actively promote its nationalist and Hindutva ideologies to help create a favourable ground for the saffron party in the electoral arena. As part of its nationwide strategy to mark its centenary celebrations beginning this Vijayadashami which falls on October 2 this year the Sangh is planning outreach efforts across the country, including in the remote areas of Bihar. A series of public interactions have been planned to deepen the Sanghs connection with the masses. Topics such as the success of Operation Sindoor, the SIR whether it is needed in the country or not and other issues designed to bring about social change in the broader interest of the public, will be actively addressed during the centenary year. Sources indicated that Sangh volunteers are already active on the ground in many districts across Bihar, including Siwan, Buxar, Ara, Patna, Muzaffarpur, Gopalganj, Bhagalpur, Kishanganj, Purnia, Sitamarhi, Darbhanga, Begusarai, Rohtas, West Champaran, Vaishali, and others. With the aim of educating and making people aware of national issues and interests, the Sanghs volunteers are reportedly well ahead in their ground-level work in the run-up to the assembly elections. The RSS has also deployed volunteers from other states including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, and others to assist in groundwork ahead of its centenary functions, which coincide with the Bihar assembly elections scheduled for November this year. Even in Bihars Seemanchal region, which has a significant Muslim population, the Sangh has an organised presence, with volunteers working in a disciplined manner to inspire people towards nationalist ideologies. The entire state of Bihar has been divided into four zones, each managed by experienced Sangh volunteers working in coordination with volunteers from other RSS-inspired social organisations. The Sanghs volunteers, affiliated with several RSS-inspired organisations such as the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), Sanskar Bharti, Swadeshi Jagran Manch, and the Rashtriya Shaikshanik Mahasangh are also on the ground ahead of the elections, in the same coordinated manner they had adopted in Haryana and Maharashtra prior to the assembly polls there. A senior source closely associated with the Sangh said the centenary-related activities in Bihar have already commenced, but they are expected to gain momentum after 22 September the conclusion of the inauspicious Pitra-Paksha period, which begins on September 7. Numerous Hindu Sammelans are scheduled to be held in Bihars interior regions as part of the centenary events, coinciding with the growing election fervour in the state.

NDA protests abuse against PM, RJD calls it a flop show

PATNA: The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Thursday staged protests across Bihar against the use of abusive language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his mother during the Oppositions Voter Adhikar Yatra, even as RJD chief Lalu Prasad launched a counter, asking the PM whether he ordered BJP members to insult women during the agitation. While the BJP and its allies claimed that the bandh was successful, RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav said it was a flop and accused BJP workers of indulging in hooliganism. RJD, as well as Congress, posted several videos showing how bandh protagonists allegedly physically assaulted common people during the agitation. The protests are in response to a man identified as Rizvi alias Raja allegedly hurling abuses at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his mother, the late Heeraben, from the stage in Darbhanga during Congress leader Rahul Gandhi`s Yatra. During the five-hour shutdown, essential services, including emergency facilities and rail operations, remained unaffected. The BJP Mahila Morcha led the protest. Senior BJP leaders, including Bihar BJP president Dilip Jaiswal, MPs Ravi Shankar Prasad and Dharmshila Gupta, along with state ministers and MLAs, staged sit-ins. Similar protests were organised in districts such as Nawada, Muzaffarpur, Katihar, and Darbhanga. However, RJD chief Lalu Prasad questioned the PM, saying, Did Prime Minister Modi order BJP members to insult the mothers, sisters, and daughters of Bihar and Biharis today? Should Gujaratis take Biharis so lightly? This is Bihar. Are BJP goons and ruffians abusing respected teachers, women walking on the streets, students, pregnant women, the elderly, and journalists, engaging in physical altercations and mistreating them? Is this appropriate? Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor claimed that the bandh did not garner peoples support and stated that they would be rid of both Lalu (RJD) and Nitish (JD(U)) after the assembly elections.

For me, MY means mahila & youth: Chirag

Chirag Paswan addressed migration, unemployment and discrimination against Biharis at his party's event in Muzaffarpur, emphasising women's respect and youth employment. He contrasted his 'MY' slogan, representing women and youth, with RJD's Muslim-Yadav focus

Rahul Gandhi, Tejashwi Yadav define distinct roles during Voter Adhikar Yatra in Bihar

PATNA: A clear division of roles between Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)s Tejashwi Prasad Yadav was evident throughout the Voter Adhikar Yatra that concluded on Monday after covering nearly 1,300 km distance, 110 assembly constituencies spread over 25 districts of Bihar. While Rahul mainly targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP through his vote chori allegations, Tejashwi attacked Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and his government, accusing it of copying his programmes and policies. Tejashwi also indirectly sought to project himself as the chief ministerial candidate of the INDIA bloc. Do you want a duplicate CM or original CM?, he asked the people during the Yatra at Ara, the district headquarters of Bhojpur, even as the Congress leader evaded to reply to a media query on the issue of CM face of the opposition alliance for the upcoming assembly polls. Tejashwi also accused Nitish Kumar of copying policies that he had announced for the elections. Moreover, while Rahuls speeches mainly centred around the alleged vote theft, SIR (special intensive revision of electoral rolls) and its implications in the days to come, Tejashwi raised other issues like migration, unemployment, lack of health facilities, substandard education and issues related to farmers. They have defined their roles. Rahul is a leader of national repute and PM face of the Opposition, Tejashwi has his role in Bihar, said Gangeshwar Sahni, a resident of Gaighat in Muzaffarpur, who came to Patna to participate in the concluding event of the Voter Adhikar Yatra. The 16-day Yatra has indicated that the Opposition alliance will centre around its campaign over alleged vote theft by the BJP in collusion with the Election Commission of India. Vote chori slogan has become more popular among people who have been left out from the draft electoral rolls published on August 1, said Amit Kumar Yadav, a resident of Madhepura in north Bihar. Amit, 46, who runs a mobile repairing shop in Madhepura, came to Patna to participate in the concluding event of Voter Adhikar Yatra. Be it youth, women, farmers or elderly people, all have supported the Yatra, which is a clear reflection of peoples anger against the double-engine government, he said, adding that the BJP and its allies will bite its dust in the coming Bihar assembly election. Sixty-five-year-old Rajendra Das of Bhojpur, a carpenter by profession, said, For the first time, the united face of the Opposition has become evident on ground level. This will certainly benefit the Opposition alliance in the coming election. All top leaders of the INDIA bloc, including Tejashwi Yadav, Dipankar Bhattacharya of CPI-ML and Mukesh Sahani of VIP travelled along with Rahul in the same vehicle. Rahuls Voter Adhikar Yatra has also given his party a chance to come out of the shadow of RJD to some extent as his initiative has definitely energised the grand old partys rank and file. This became evident when hundreds of enthusiastic Congress workers with party flags in their hands and chanting slogan like Chot Chor, Gaddi Chor participated in the concluding event of the Yatra on Monday. Rahuls vitriolic attack against the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners has also created a buzz in the political circles, as now he has added a new flavour to the forthcoming election through his Voter Adhikar Yatra, remarked a senior Congress leader. This has increased the bargaining power of Congress, and it would demand more number of seats in the coming Bihar assembly elections, he pointed out. The kind of response Rahul got throughout the Yatra has reminded people of AICC Bihar in-charge Krishna Allavarus statement that Congress will be on the front seat and will no longer play second fiddle to the RJD.

Modi's teaspoon outweighs Rahul Gandhi's silver spoon: UP Deputy CM

LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya slammed the Gandhi family on Friday, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi's teaspoon outweighs their silver spoon. Maurya's remarks came in response to a viral video, in which some people were allegedly seen making offensive remarks against the Prime Minister's mother during Rahul Gandhi's Voter Adhikar Yatra in Bihar. In a post in Hindi on microblogging site X, Maurya said, The successful Prime Minister Narendra Modi believes in drawing a bigger line instead of erasing the small line. This is what irritates Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Vadra and Rahul Gandhi. In the same post, he said, That is why this trio, full of hatred, disgust and arrogance, mocks Modi by calling him the 'merchant of death', 'lowly' and 'vote thief'. In fact, by saying so, they mock the public. Maurya, a prominent backward class leader and former state BJP president, said, The Gandhi family has no idea that people have elected Modi , who belongs to the country's largest backward class -- as the Prime Minister of this country thrice after seeing his hard work. He continued, He (Modi) was not born with a silver spoon like Rahul Gandhi. But his teaspoon outweighs Rahul's silver spoon. That is why this trio has given a contract of abusing Modi to their extremely small entourage. The BJP had on Thursday held Rahul Gandhi responsible for the alleged abusive language against Modi's mother during the Voter Adhikar Yatra in Bihar, and said people of the state will give a befitting reply to the Congress for its politics of abuses. The viral video clip is reportedly from Darbhanga district, from where Rahul Gandhi, his sister and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav kickstarted the yatra and set off to Muzaffarpur on a motorcycle. 'PM Modi is scared,' claims Rahul Gandhi during Voter Adhikar Yatra in Bihar

Bihar CM Nitish condemns 'abuses' hurled at PM Modi during 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' in Darbhanga

PATNA: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday condemned the alleged abuses hurled at Prime Minister Narendra Modi during Rahul Gandhi's 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' in the state. The use of indecent language against PM Narendra Modi Ji and his late mother from the Congress and RJD platforms during the Voter Adhikar Yatra in Darbhanga is extremely unbecoming, and I condemn it, wrote the CM in a post on X on Friday. The BJP on Thursday asserted the Congress-led INDIA bloc will be punished by the people in the upcoming assembly polls, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah termed the incident as a stain on the country's democracy. Nitish Kumar (@NitishKumar) August 29, 2025 'PM Modi is scared,' claims Rahul Gandhi during Voter Adhikar Yatra in Bihar Shah, BJP president J P Nadda and party spokesperson Sambit Patra flayed Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, a day after a purported video showed an unidentified person using a Hindi expletive against Modi from a dais raised during the yatra in Darbhanga town, from where Gandhi, Congress general secretary Priyanka Vadra and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav had left for Muzaffarpur on motorcycles on Wednesday. PTI could not independently verify the authenticity of the video. A delegation of Bihar BJP also lodged a complaint at the Kotwali police station in Patna on Thursday in connection with the incident. Meanwhile, protest demonstrations were also staged in Darbhanga as well in Patna on Thursday, even as the state women's commission shot off a letter to the administration, seeking suo motu action against the culprits. Voter Adhikar Yatra aims to fight for peoples rights, says Priyanka Gandhi Effigies of Gandhi and Yadav were burnt by BJP workers in Darbhanga, who joined a procession organised by two-term local MP Gopaljee Thakur. A Congress leader in Darbhanga, who admitted that the viral video was of a podium that he had erected on the outskirts of the north Bihar town, offered an apology, but maintained that the expletives had been hurled in his absence. The video appears to have been shot after I left the spot, following Rahul Gandhi, who passed through. I have not yet watched the clip.Still, I offer my apologies if anything of the sort has happened, said Mohd Naushad, who is a worker of the Youth Congress and is said to be eyeing the party ticket from the Jale assembly seat. Thakur also submitted a memorandum to District Magistrate Kaushal Kumar, seeking the arrest of Naushad and his associates.

BJP slams Rahul Gandhis Bihar yatra over alleged abuses against PM Modis mother

NEW DELHI/PATNA: The BJP on Thursday alleged that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi-led 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' in Bihar had crossed all limits of insult, hate and tastelessness, claiming that abuses were directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mother during the campaign. The party, on its official X handle, refrained from posting the video of the incident, but clips shared online by a few accounts showed some unidentified people using a Hindi abuse for Modi from a dais during the Yatra. The video, which has gone viral, is purportedly of Darbhanga district from where the Yatra had taken off on Wednesday morning, when Gandhi, his sister and Congress general secretary Priyanka Vadra and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav left for Muzaffarpur on motorcycles. PTI could not independently verify the authenticity of the video. Several podiums had been erected along the route for local party workers who tried to mobilise public sentiments in favour of the INDIA bloc ahead of assembly elections due later this year. The BJP said, Tejashwi (Yadav) and Rahul are behind the use of such filthy language that it cannot be repeated from a public platform... Such lowliness was never seen before in politics. This Yatra has crossed all limits of insult, hate and tastelessness. They have used a very vulgar language against the prime minister's late mother, it said. The ruling party claimed that the choice of such abusive words for his mother shows the state of the opposition's desperation, as Gandhi and Yadav had earlier invited leaders like M K Stalin and Revanth Reddy, chief ministers of Tamil Nadu and Telangana, respectively, who are accused of insulting people of Bihar. People of Bihar will not forgive Gandhi and Yadav, the main campaigners for the RJD, for such a mistake, even if they apologise a thousand times, the BJP said, calling the incident extremely shameful. BJP's Darbhanga district chief Aditya Narayan Jha 'Manna' said, We are not going to take this insult lying down. We have burnt effigies of Rahul and Tejashwi and are going to lodge a police complaint, seeking a probe and action against those involved in hurling expletives. A senior Congress leader requesting anonymity said, We cannot say who the people are whose voice is there in the video. Workers of at least half-a-dozen parties are taking part in the yatra. The INDIA bloc, which is known in Bihar as Mahagathbandhan or grand alliance, includes three Left parties and former state minister Mukesh Sahni's Vikassheel Insan Party.

Rahul Gandhi mocks Modi over Trumps claim

Darbhanga/Muzaffarpur/Sitamarhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday sought to berate Prime Minister Narendra Modi over US President Donald Trumps claim that India had agreed to halt military conflict with Pakistan within five hours of an ultimatum from America. The Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, whose fortnight-long Voter Adhikar Yatra in Bihar has three 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 .

Modi's image 'product of his friends with deep pockets,' alleges Rahul Gandhi at Bihar rally; calls PM 'hollow'

DARBHANGA/ MUZAFFARPUR/ SITAMARHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday sought to berate Prime Minister Narendra Modi over US President Donald Trump's claim that India had agreed to halt military conflict with Pakistan within five hours of an ultimatum from America. The Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, whose fortnight-long 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' in Bihar has three more days to go, covered north Bihar districts of Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur and Sitamarhi, all strongholds of the BJP-led NDA. Addressing a rally in Sitamarhi's Runni Saidpur late in the evening, before calling it a day, Gandhi said, What type of Prime Minister do we have? He brags of having a 56-inch chest. But US President Donald Trump says that while Operation Sindoor was on, he called up Modi and told him to stop the military conflict within 24 hours. And Modi, like a deflated tyre (hawa nikal gayi), obeyed the command within five hours. The former Congress president alleged that it only proves Modi is a coward. His (Modi's) image is a product of his friends with deep pockets. He also receives some help from the media, which spends 10 days telecasting the wedding of a wealthy man's son, but cannot spare 15 minutes for our Yatra in which lakhs of people are turning up daily, Gandhi said. The Congress leader claimed that when he challenged Modi in Parliament recently to call the bluff of Trump, he could not muster the courage to utter a word. I have met him a number of times. He seems hollow. A far cry from real heroes like Mahatma Gandhi who never boasted of a 56-inch chest, the Congress leader said. Just imagine the pressure Mahatma Gandhi must have faced from the British Empire which was then a superpower. They placed him in jails, kept him in solitary confinement. But he stuck to his principles, he said. The Congress leader also alleged that the 'Gujarat model' which had helped the rise of Modi, its then chief minister, on the national stage, was all about vote chori (theft of votes). It is the model (Union Home Minister) Amit Shah must have had in his mind when he had predicted that the BJP would rule the country for 30-40 years. Politicians like us know it well that public mood is fickle and we cannot be sure of what is going to happen tomorrow, claimed Gandhi. He said the Congress had begun to suspect something was amiss when it lost the assembly polls in Maharashtra, just a month after the Lok Sabha elections in which the alliance, of which the party was a part, had swept the western state. We polled as many votes in the Maharashtra assembly polls as we had in the Lok Sabha elections. But the BJP-led coalition saw a steep rise in its vote tally, which was commensurate with the number of new voters added to the electoral rolls within a span of a few months. Our request for access to CCTV footage of the elections was turned down by the Election Commission, said Gandhi. Voter Adhikar Yatra aims to fight for peoples rights, says Priyanka Gandhi The EC seems to be gratified that the Modi government had passed a law in Parliament a few years ago providing legal immunity to Election Commissioners, he said adding: Nonetheless, we persisted and managed to sift through a huge pile of documents to point out anomalies in the electoral roll for a Bangalore seat that we had lost. In about six months from now, we will come out with many such disclosures which would establish that vote chori has been on in most places across the country. Even in the Lok Sabha polls, there were manipulations in 70-80 seats, said Gandhi, referring to last year's general elections which saw the BJP falling short of a majority and forming the government with the help of allies like JD(U) and TDP. Gandhi, who has been accompanied by alliance partners Tejashwi Yadav (RJD) and Dipankar Bhattacharya (CPI ML Liberation) all through the Yatra, began the day with a motorcycle rally which saw his sister and Congress general secretary Priyanka Vadra pillion riding the bike he drove. Vadra, who left in the afternoon, had been with the Yatra since Tuesday when she also addressed a public meeting in Madhubani. In Muzaffarpur, the leaders were joined by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M K Stalin, who told a rally that the deletion of 65 lakh voters' names from the draft electoral rolls in Bihar, as part of special intensive revision, was worse than terrorism. The rally also served as an ice-breaker as young Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar was seen shaking hands with Tejashwi Yadav. The perceived rivalry between the two leaders has been a matter of much speculation in a section of the media. The BJP sought to fish in the INDIA bloc's troubled waters by raking up controversial statements made by Stalin and his cabinet colleagues against the people of Bihar. A number of video clips were shared by former Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai on social media. In addition, BJP workers in Patna burnt an effigy of Stalin and Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, who had joined the Yatra a day ago and has been similarly accused of having belittled Bihar. Deletion of voters' names in Bihar worse than terrorism, says Tamil Nadu CM Stalin

People to defeat BJP's bid to snatch away votes: MK Stalin during Opposition yatra in Bihar

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin addressed an Opposition rally in Muzaffarpur. He urged the people of Bihar to resist the BJP's alleged manipulation of electoral rolls. Stalin criticized the Election Commission's neutrality. He highlighted the alliance between Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav. Stalin praised Lalu Prasad's commitment to secularism. He expressed solidarity with the people of Bihar.

Voter Adhikar Yatra aims to fight for peoples rights, says Priyanka Gandhi

PATNA: Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday said the Voter Adhikar Yatra, launched by her brother and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, is a movement to fight for the peoples democratic rights. Addressing a public gathering in Muzaffarpur, Priyanka expressed satisfaction over the publics overwhelming response to the 16-day, 3,000-km Yatra, which commenced from Sasaram in Rohtas district on 17 August. The people have clearly understood our message, about vote theft and the systematic denial of their right to vote. In this sense, the Yatra has been very successful, she said. Rahul Gandhi, in his address, launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleging that the practice of vote theft originated in Gujarat and was later implemented nationwide. The Gujarat model is not based on economics, but on electoral manipulation, he remarked, accusing the BJP of replicating this model across the country. Rahul Gandhi's voter yatra reaches crescendo as Priyanka joins The Congress leader further alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had been winning elections by stealing votes with the help of the Election Commission. In the 2019 General Elections, Modi confidently claimed his party would win 300 seats, even as opinion polls suggested otherwise. Remarkably, the BJP secured around 300 seats, a result that raises serious questions, he said. Rahul also pointed to Maharashtra and Haryana, where election outcomes were allegedly inconsistent with pre-poll trends. In Maharashtra alone, around one crore new voters were added within just four months, and they all voted for the BJP and its allies. How is that possible? he questioned. Reiterating his accusations, Rahul claimed that Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah were manipulating elections in collusion with the Election Commission of India. Thats why the BJP government quietly passed a law in 2023 granting legal immunity to Election Commissioners. If everything is above board, why the need for such protection? he asked. Priyanka Gandhi to join 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' in Bihar on August 26 Citing the example of Mahadevapura assembly seat, he alleged that vote theft was not limited to Bengaluru Central but occurred in 7080 constituencies across the country during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He said the Congress was actively investigating similar cases of electoral fraud nationwide. Earlier in the day, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin joined the Voter Adhikar Yatra in Darbhanga. Travelling in an open vehicle alongside Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, and other INDIA bloc leaders, Stalin received an enthusiastic reception from crowds along the route. Addressing a public meeting, Stalin said the Yatra had become a beacon of hope for those whose names had been unfairly deleted from the voter list. He pledged to return to Bihar to join the victory march once the INDIA bloc forms a government after the assembly elections. Welcoming Stalins participation, INDIA bloc leaders said his presence added strength and momentum to the Yatra in Bihar. Rahul Gandhi reiterated the urgent need for jobs, progress, and clean elections, asserting that ending voter fraud was the first step towards meaningful development. He reminded the audience that Bihar has always been a land of revolution from the Champaran movement against British rule to todays battle against electoral manipulation. This movement will spread from Bihar across the entire country, he declared. On the eleventh day of the Yatra, thousands joined in Darbhanga. Rahul and Priyanka were seen riding a motorcycle, with Priyanka as pillion, while other INDIA bloc leaders also travelled on motorbikes, drawing enthusiastic crowds. Rahul later expressed deep gratitude for the warmth and support he received. Wherever I go in Bihar, I feel at home, he said, adding that the Yatra had achieved its goal, as now, even young children were chanting, vote chor, gaddi chhor (vote thief, leave the throne).

Rahul Gandhis Voter Adhikar Yatra | Congress Pushes for Electoral Rights | BJP vs Congress Showdown

leader Rahul Gandhi continues his Yatra from Darbhanga to Muzaffarpur, BiharCongress leader Rahul Gandhi continues his Yatra, taking the fight to the streets with a campaign focused on voter rights, democracy, and electoral reform. The yatra comes at a crucial time with the 2025 Lok Sabha elections on the horizon, sparking a fierce political face-off between the Congress Party and BJP.In todays coverage, we track Rahul Gandhis speeches, the public response, and the Congress strategy to position itself as the defender of democracy and electoral rights. With BJP attacking Congress for what it calls political drama and the INDIA bloc rallying behind Rahul Gandhi, the Voter Adhikar Yatra has become one of the most watched political developments of the season. n18oc_indiaNews18 Mobile App - https://onelink.to/desc-youtube

'Trump gave Modi 24 hours to stop fight with Pakistan, he obeyed in 5,' says Rahul Gandhi

MUZAFFARPUR: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had agreed to call off the military conflict with Pakistan in May within five hours of being asked to do so by US President Donald Trump. The leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha was addressing a rally in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district, where he was joined by INDIA bloc partners M K Stalin of the DMK and Tejashwi Yadav of the RJD, among others, as part of the state-wide Voter Adhikar Yatra. You know what Trump has said today? He has said that at the height of tensions with Pakistan, he called up Modi and peremptorily told him to stop the fight within 24 hours. And Modi obeyed promptly. He was given 24 hours, but he did as directed by Trump in five hours, alleged the former Congress president. The allusion was to a video of Trump in which he can be seen addressing a cabinet meeting at the White House. The US President has been insisting that the standoff between India and Pakistan, both nuclear powers, was brought to a halt upon his intervention, a claim that has been rejected by the Narendra Modi government at the Centre. The centre government asserted that India and Pakistan halted their military actions in May following direct talks between their militaries without any mediation by the US. Gandhi trained his guns at the media, saying he media will not show you what Trump has said since it cares only for Modi and his friendly business tycoons and not people like me, Stalin or Tejashwi. |The Congress leader, whose fortnight-long yatra against special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar has three more days to go, vowed, I have come out with lots of evidence to suggest that votes have been stolen for the benefit of the BJP. In the days to come, I will come up with more evidence. He also said the Gujarat model, which was touted by Modi when he was the chief minister of the western state, was all about 'vote chori'. The BJP started stealing people's votes from there. The BJP, Modi and Shah win polls by stealing votes with the help of the EC. The Rae Bareli MP also voiced strong disapproval of the deletion of names of 65 lakh people, declared as dead, shifted or absent from draft electoral rolls in Bihar. Thousands of people in Bihar have complained to us that their names have been wrongly deleted. So much so that many living people have been shown as dead (in draft rolls), Gandhi claimed. He alleged, The EC is deleting names of not the rich but Dalits, OBCs, extremely backward classes and the minorities. It is doing so because the BJP, which rules the Centre, does not want the voice of the common people to be heard.

Deletion of voters' names in Bihar worse than terrorism, says Tamil Nadu CM Stalin

MUZAFFARPUR: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Wednesday asserted that the INDIA bloc will win the Bihar assembly polls if the elections were free and fair, and described deletion of voters' names from electoral rolls as worse than terrorism. The DMK president flew down to the eastern state, along with sister and party MP Kanimozhi, where they joined Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, RJD's Tejashwi Yadav and CPI (ML) general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya for the ongoing 'Voter Adhikar Yatra'. Addressing a rally in Muzaffarpur, the largest town in north Bihar, Stalin delivered his speech in Tamil, which evoked applause from the crowds as it was translated into Hindi. For the past one month, the entire nation has been looking keenly at Bihar...the Election Commission has become a remote-controlled puppet, alleged Stalin, who was impressed with the response to the yatra taken out in protest against the special intensive revision of electoral rolls. Is the deletion of names of 65 lakh people (from the draft electoral rolls) not worse than terrorism? the Tamil Nadu CM asked. Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin joins 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' in Bihar's Muzaffarpur When Rahul Gandhi raised doubts over the fairness of elections held in the past, he was challenged by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to furnish an affidavit, Stalin said. But you cannot scare Rahul Gandhi, the DMK chief said, lauding his alliance partner. I have seen Rahul's camaraderie with Tejashwi, who ride motorcycles together. This friendship is deeper than a run-of-the-mill political partnership. And I am sure that if the elections are free and fair, the BJP-led NDA will be defeated, he asserted. I promise you that after the INDIA bloc wins the assembly polls, I will be back to attend the swearing-in ceremony, Stalin said. Bihar is the land where the foundation of this nationwide coalition (INDIA bloc) was laid, and this alliance succeeded in bringing down the tally of the BJP to 240, which was boasting of winning more than 400 seats in the Lok Sabha polls last year, he said. The Tamil Nadu CM began his speech by recalling the close friendship between his late father K Karunanidhi and RJD president Lalu Prasad, the father of Tejashwi Yadav, whom he hailed for irelessly championing social justice and never getting cowed down by the BJP. Touchdown #Bihar . The land of respected @laluprasadrjd greets me with fire in its eyes, the soil heavy with every stolen vote. Joined my brothers @RahulGandhi , @yadavtejashwi and sister @priyankagandhi as the #VoteAdhikarYatra turns people's pain into unstoppable strength. pic.twitter.com/3aQFje8QV5 M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) August 27, 2025 The DMK president's reverence for Prasad was also evident in a post on his X handle, immediately after he landed in Bihar. Touchdown #Bihar. The land of respected @laluprasadrjd greets me with fire in its eyes, the soil heavy with every stolen vote. Joined my brothers @RahulGandhi, @yadavtejashwi and sister @priyankagandhi as the #voteadhikaryatra turns people's pain into unstoppable strength, he wrote. Gandhi shared a selfie he took with Stalin and other prominent leaders and wrote, Welcome to Bihar and the #VoterAdhikarYatra my brother Thiru @mkstalin. Your presence here strengthens our fight against Vote Chori in Bihar and the entire country. Back in Tamil Nadu, where the DMK's main rival AIADMK is a BJP ally, the saffron party sought to highlight the troubled equations of the chief minister's party with migrants from Bihar. Former Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai shared a few video clips in which supposedly derogatory remarks were made about Biharis and north Indians by Stalin and his cabinet colleagues. In a sarcastic note, Annamalai wrote that he hoped Stalin proudly repeats... every one of those insults in front of the very people he and his party members mocked.

BJP made elections mockery, people will remove it from power as it has stolen votes: MK Stalin

M K Stalin criticized the BJP in Muzaffarpur, Bihar. He alleged the party is manipulating elections. Stalin claimed the deletion of voters is dangerous. He joined Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav to protect democracy. Stalin believes the NDA will lose the upcoming Bihar polls. He accused the BJP of controlling the Election Commission.

Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin joins Voter Adhikar Yatra in Bihar

Muzaffarpur: Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin and DMK MP Kanimozhi on Wednesday, August 27, joined the Congress Voter Adhikar Yatra in Bihars Muzaffarpur district. Soon after joining, Stalin in a post on X wrote, Touchdown Biharthe land of respected Lalu Prasad Ji greets me with fire in its eyes, the soil heavy with 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 .

LIVE | Rahul Gandhi Voter Adhikar Yatra from Darbhanga to Muzaffarpur

Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin joins 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' in Bihar's Muzaffarpur

MUZAFFARPUR: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin and DMK MP Kanimozhi on Wednesday joined the Congress' 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district. Soon after joining 'Voter Adhikar Yatra', Stalin in a post on X wrote, Touchdown Bihar. The land of respected Lalu Prasad Ji greets me with fire in its eyes, the soil heavy with every stolen vote. Joined by my brothers Rahul Gandhi Jee, Tejashwi Yadav and sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as the 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' turns people's pain into unstoppable strength. Touchdown #Bihar . The land of respected @laluprasadrjd greets me with fire in its eyes, the soil heavy with every stolen vote. Joined my brothers @RahulGandhi , @yadavtejashwi and sister @priyankagandhi as the #VoteAdhikarYatra turns people's pain into unstoppable strength. pic.twitter.com/3aQFje8QV5 M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) August 27, 2025 Earlier in the day, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav rode motorcycles as they made their way through the streets of Muzaffarpur district during the ongoing 'Voter Adhikar Yatra'. Senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was seen riding pillion on her brother's motorcycle. Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, and Yadav rode the motorcycles as the yatra entered Muzaffarpur from Darbhanga district, with people lining the streets to welcome them. The 1,300-km yatra was launched on August 17 from Sasaram and will conclude with a rally in Patna on September 1.

LG addresses convocation of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bihar University

Excelsior Correspondent Srinagar, Aug 25: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha addressed the Convocation of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bihar University, Muzaffarpur, Bihar. Arif Mohammed Khan, Governor of Bihar presided over the Convocation Ceremony. In his address, the Lieutenant Governor congratulated the management of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bihar University, faculty members, staff and graduating students and extended his best wishes. He called upon the youth to cultivate two key qualities -positive mindset for change and courage for greater achievement and growth. He said [] The post LG addresses convocation of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bihar University appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

LG Sinha Addresses The Convocation Of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bihar University

Srinagar, Aug 25: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha addressed the Convocation of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bihar University, Muzaffarpur, Bihar. Arif Mohammed Khan, Governor of Bihar presided over the Convocation Ceremony. In his address, the Lieutenant Governor congratulated the management of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bihar University, faculty members, staff and graduating students, and extended his best wishes. He called upon the youth to cultivate two key qualities positive mindset for change and courage for greater achievement and growth. He said the optimism [] The post LG Sinha Addresses The Convocation Of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bihar University appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Wanted inter-state criminal killed in police encounter in Bihar, constable injured

PATNA: An interstate criminal carrying a bounty of Rs.50,000 on his head was killed in a fierce encounter with police in Bihars Vaishali district on Friday. Arvind Sahni, 30, had escaped from a court lockup after evading police in Samastipur district on May 28 this year and had been on the run since. According to police, he was involved in at least 22 cases of murder, loot, dacoity, and arms deals across Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, Samastipur, and East Champaran districts. A police constable was injured during the exchange of fire. Based on a tip-off, a joint team of the Special Task Force (STF) and district police surrounded Chintamanipur village under Vaishali police station limits on Thursday evening to search for Sahni. On seeing the police, Sahni and his accomplices opened fire. Sahni sustained gunshot injuries, while his accomplices managed to escape. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was declared dead. Superintendent of Police, Vaishali, Lalit Mohan Sharma, said, While Sahni was killed, a police constable sustained injuries in the exchange of fire. The deceased, a member of an inter-state gang, was wanted in at least 22 cases in several districts in the state. Sahnis name had also figured in a major jewellery loot case in Chhattisgarh. Sahni, a resident of Sahtha Bhagwanpur village in Vaishali district, was also involved in the 2019 gold loot from the Hajipur office of a private finance company. SP Sharma added, We have launched intensive search for other members of the gang. The operation will continue till their arrest. Sahnis elimination in the police operation has come as a major relief for businessmen in Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, and Samastipur, who had been targeted by his gang. Police said the gang had unleashed a reign of terror in these districts, and efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining accomplices.

Chiraj Paswan's MP, JD-U MLC have 2 voter IDs: Tejashwi

The RJD leader on Wednesday had accused senior BJP leader and Muzaffarpur Mayor, Nirmala Devi and her two relatives of having dual voter ID cards.

Tejashwi, Bihar Deputy CM lock horns over twin EPIC cards

PATNA: Verbal exchanges between Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Vijay Kumar Sinha and RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav have heated the ongoing political row over double EPIC cards in the state. On Wednesday, Sinha displayed his matriculation and higher education degrees to prove he was 57 and counter Yadavs allegations about age discrepancies. Yadav had earlier alleged that Sinha was registered as a voter in both Lakhisarai and Patna districts and claimed inconsistencies in the deputy CMs age records. He also alleged that Sinhas age was listed as 57 in one constituency and 60 in another, calling it an age scam. Sinha contended that he had already deleted his name from the Patna voters list. Referring to Tejashwi Yadav as the Yuvraj of Jungle Raj, he asked him to present his degrees and explain how Tejashwi Yadav became 26 and his brother Tej Pratap 25 in 2015? Tejashwi Yadav also alleged that Nirmala Devi (Sahu), a prominent BJP leader and mayor of Muzaffarpur, possessed two EPIC IDs and she, along with her brothers-in-law, had votes at two different booths. The Election Commission has issued notices to them in this connection. EC 'colluding' with BJP to 'steal' votes in Bihar, alleges RJD's Tejashwi

After finding CBI, ED ineffective against opponents, BJP now using EC to fix Bihar polls: Tejashwi

PATNA: RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Tuesday charged the Election Commission with trying to fix upcoming Bihar assembly polls in favour of the ruling BJP at the Centre which, he claimed, found the CBI, ED and Income Tax department ineffective against the saffron party's political opponents. Yadav went hammer and tongs at the EC at a press conference here, alleging that the poll panel is providing more than one voter ID card to many BJP voters. The leader of the opposition said the option of boycotting the assembly elections, due later this year, is open in view of the poll panel being allegedly hell bent upon treachery. The EC is unabashedly trying to fix the assembly polls in favour of the BJP. The constitutional body seems to have replaced agencies like CBI, ED and Income Tax department, which have proven to be ineffective in the game of cornering those opposed to the party that rules the Centre, Yadav alleged. INDIA bloc leaders have been alleging that the BJP-led central government uses agencies such as CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED) to intimidate opposition functionaries. He claimed that as part of the game, the EC is providing more than one voter ID card to many BJP voters. Last year, I had exposed the case of Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha. Today, I wish to bring to light the instance of Muzaffarpur Mayor Nirmala Devi, who may well be the BJP candidate in the upcoming polls. Both she and her husbands younger brother, in addition to another relative, have two voter ID cards each, Yadav said. They must have also filled up as many enumeration forms, and officials involved in the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls chose to look the other way, he alleged. Shortly afterwards, the district administration of Muzaffarpur served a notice to Nirmala Devi and her two relatives for allegedly possessing two voter ID cards, and asked them to reply to it by August 16. Sinha, who claims to have applied last year to delete his name from the voters list in one of the two places, had been served with a notice last week. Tejashwi Yadav should first come clean on the two EPIC cards that he possesses. He is levelling baseless charges against me. I am mooting legal action, the BJP leader said. At the press conference, Yadav expressed bewilderment over the EC never talking to the press despite so much controversy. Democracy seems to be seriously imperilled in this country. The Prime Minister never talks to the press, nor does the chief minister of Bihar. Now, the Election Commission seems to be following their example, he said. The EC only comes up with inane press statements and falsely claims that no political party has filed any objection, even though the RJD's booth-level agents have been doing so in every assembly segment, Yadav asserted. Yesterday, the ECs counsel was screaming before the Supreme Court - you should cooperate with us! You should cooperate with us! This begs the question, are you even talking to us? said the RJD leader, whose party colleague Manoj Kumar Jha happens to be one of the petitioners who have challenged the SIR in the state. The former Deputy CM said, The Election Commission stands exposed before the top court where several persons turned up, after having been declared as dead in the SIR, leading to deletion of their names in the draft electoral rolls. The RJD leader, who is the INDIA blocs de facto chief ministerial candidate, alleged that this is not the first time that votes were stolen by the EC. The game was played in the 2020 assembly polls as well. Our vote tally for all 243 assembly segments was just about 12,000 less than that of the NDA, and this left us short of a majority by a dozen seats, he said. Replying to a query, the RJD leader said he would be joining Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for the 'Matdata Adhikar (voters right) yatra' beginning in Rohtas district on August 17. As stated earlier, we shall also be keeping the option open to boycott the polls if the EC remains hell-bent upon treachery, Yadav said. Yadav also took exception to Bhikhubhai Dalsania, the BJPs state general secretary (organisation), getting registered as a voter in Bihar despite hailing from Gujarat. The RJD leader was lambasted by Nityanand Rai, a former state BJP president who is now the Union Minister of State for Home. The stupidity of Tejashwi Yadav makes me laugh. He seems to be rattled by the fact that the Supreme Court has upheld the validity of SIR, throwing his objections out of the window, Rai said. As far as Bhikhubhai Dalsania is concerned, he is an RSS pracharak who has devoted his life to serving the nation, he said. A dynast like Tejashwi Yadav can never appreciate the likes of Bhikhubhai, who did not care to set up their own family. The RJD and its allies are worried that fake electors, who were patronised by them as part of vote bank politics, are all set for ouster, claimed Rai.

Row Over Bihar Mayor's Twin Voter ID Cards, Poll Body Sends Notice

The Mayor of Muzaffarpur have been asked to explain two voter ID cards that she allegedly has, sources have said.

Bihar: EC sends notice to BJP's Muzaffarpur mayor; hours after Tejashwi said she has 2 voter ID cards

EC 'colluding' with BJP to 'steal' votes in Bihar, alleges RJD's Tejashwi Yadav

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has accused the Election Commission of colluding with the BJP to steal votes in the upcoming Bihar assembly polls. He alleged that the EC is helping BJP leaders obtain multiple voter ID cards, citing the example of Muzaffarpur Mayor Nirmala Devi, who allegedly possesses two voter IDs. Yadav questioned the anomaly and demanded accountability.

Tejashwi claims Muzaffarpur Mayor has two EPIC numbers, days after allegation against Bihar Deputy CM

The RJD leader also claimed that Bihar BJP organisation General Secretary Bhikhubhai Dalsania, who was a voter of Gujarat till the last Lok Sabha election, has now become a voter of Patna district

81 AAI-run airports suffer Rs 10,853 crore loss in 10 years; 22 now non-operational

NEW DELHI: Eighty-one airports operated by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) have suffered a cumulative loss of Rs 10,852.9 crore in past 10 financial years. Today, 22 of these airports have become non-operational. Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol presented the data in the Rajya Sabha on August 4 while replying to a query posed by Congress MP Jebi Mather Hisam. The MP wanted to know details of Indian airports operating at a loss and if there were any plans to shut those with negligible flight operations. She also wanted to know if any financial aid was being offered to underperforming airports. Data released for the years from 2015-2016 to 2024-2025 reveals the 81 airports across the country have cumulatively suffered a Rs 10,852.9-crore loss. Delhis Safdarjung airport has suffered the most, incurring a loss of Rs 673.91 crore. Agartala airport with a Rs 605.23-crore loss stands second, while Hyderabad, with Rs 564.97 crore, Dehradun with Rs 488.01 crore, and Vijayawada with Rs 483.69 crore in losses figure among the top five loss-making airport nationwide. Asked for a reason, a senior Aviation Ministry official said Safdarjung airport, though the main airport in the national capital, is now a thing of the past, as it is not actually operational for commercial flights presently. It serves to ferry VVIPS to the Indira Gandhi International Airport, he said. Among other major loss-making airports are Bhopal (Rs 480.43 crore), Aurangabad (Rs 447.83 crore), Tirupati (Rs 363.71 crore), Khajuraho (Rs 355.53 crore), Imphal (Rs 355.19 crore). Airports closed for operations The airports which have become non-operational are Donakonda, Daparizo, Jogbani, Muzaffarpur, Raxaul, Deesa, Chakulia, Dhalbhumgarh, Khandwa, Panna, Shella, Aizawl, Thanjavur, Vellore, Nadirgul, Warangal, Kailashahar, Kamalpur, Khowai, Asansol, Balurghat and Malda. Mohol also said the Regional Connectivity Scheme Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (RCS-UDAN) was launched on October 21, 2016, to boost regional air connectivity from unserved and underserved airports in the country. The scheme provides Viability Gap Funding to airlines to bridge the gap between operational costs and expected revenues. The budget allocated for the RCS-UDAN for the financial year 2025-2026 is Rs 300 crore, the minister said. This provided financial incentives and concessions to the airlines from the Central and state governments, Union territories and airport operators to lower operational costs and thus promote their operations, he added. A total of 92 unserved and underserved airports, including 15 heliports and two water aerodromes have been operationalised under the scheme, he pointed out.

I Am Alive, But My Son Killed Me': 90-Year-Old Man Knocks On DM's Door In Bihar

A Muzaffarpur man was declared dead on paper by his own son so he could sell his land. The nonagenarian has demanded cancellation of land registration, and legal action against son

Pratyaya Amrit appointed as new Chief Secretary of election-bound Bihar

PATNA: A senior IAS officer Pratyaya Amrit has been appointed new chief secretary of Bihar. The 1991-batch officer from Bihar is currently holding the post of development commissioner. Pratyaya Amrit will replace Amrit Lal Meena, who is scheduled to retire from service on August 31. He will assume charge on September 1. Pratyaya has been posted as officer on special duty (OSD) in the office of chief secretary upto superannuation of Meena. A notification with regard to appointment of Pratyaya as new chief secretary was issued by general administration department on Monday. As per notification, Meena (1989 batch IAS officer) will retire on August 31, 2025. Pratyaya, a native of Muzaffarpur in north Bihar, is currently holding additional charge of additional chief secretary of health and disaster management department. He is considered close to chief minister Nitish Kumar. With appointment of Pratyaya Amrit as chief secretary, it is evident that assembly elections in the state would be held under his supervision.

Rivers in spate in Bihar after heavy rain, CM directs officials to remain alert

PATNA: The water levels in several rivers in Bihar have risen due to heavy rain in the last 24 hours, officials said on Sunday. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar directed all officials concerned to remain alert. According to the latest district-wise rainfall bulletin issued by the Meteorological Department on Sunday, Light to moderate rain was recorded in many districts, including Patna, Banka, Muzaffarpur, Begusarai, Bhagalpur, Bhojpur, Buxar, Gayaji, Jehanabad, Kaimur, Katihar, Khagaria, Munger, Nalanda and Vaishali since August 2. Several key roads and many low-lying areas in Patna were waterlogged following incessant rain in the state capital on Sunday. The Meteorological Department issued an 'orange' alert (be prepared) for several districts, including Patna, Gayaji, Jamui, Aurangabad, Khagaria, Banka, Vaishali, Samastipur, Seikhpura, Lakhisarai, East Champaran, Arwal, West Champaran and Nawada for the next 48 hours. Officials of the state Water Resources Department (WRD) said that incessant rain in several districts has caused rivers and streams to overflow. The increased inflow also caused the water level in many dams to rise, they said. Besides, incessant rainfall in catchment areas of Nepal has also led to the rivers touching or flowing above the danger level in several places, they added. No causality has been reported so far, and in certain areas in East and West Champaran, Bhagalpur and Patna districts, villagers of low-lying areas have been shifted to safer places by the district administration. Owing to moderate to heavy rain in certain areas in the state, major rivers, including Ganga, Kosi, Sone, Bagmati, Gandak, Kamla, and Adahrwa, are maintaining a rising trend in their courses in the past couple of days, the latest report of the WRD said. Ganga is flowing above the danger level in Bhagalpur, and at Gandhi Ghat and Hathidah in Patna, Burhi Gandak in East Champaran, and Kosi in Supaul and Khagaria, it added. Almost all rivers are maintaining a rising trend throughout their courses, engulfing low-lying localities along their courses. However, all embankments are safe, a senior WRD official said. Meanwhile, the chief minister on Sunday inspected the State Emergency Operations Centre of the Disaster Management Department (DMD). According to a statement issued by the DMD, During the inspection, the CM reviewed the rainfall situation in the state, water levels of rivers, and the status of crop coverage. Bihar Development Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) of the DMD, Pratyaya Amrit, briefed the CM about the rainfall situation in the state. The CM directed all officials concerned to remain alert, it added. From June 1 to August 3 this year, the state recorded 409 mm of rainfall, which is 22 per cent less than normal. The ACS also mentioned that the state received good rainfall in the past 24 hours, with 25 mm or more rainfall recorded in 222 blocks across the state, the statement said. Regarding the current water levels of rivers in the state, the ACS said that the water levels in the Ganga, Kosi, and Burhi Gandak and some other rivers have risen, but the situation is currently under control. Providing details on crop coverage, he stated that as of August 3, paddy crop coverage in the state stands at 79.43 percent, whereas it was 67.38 percent during the same period last year. It is expected that 100 per cent coverage will be achieved by August 15 under normal circumstances, the statement added.

Muzaffarpur-Sabarmati express derails near Kanpur, none hurt

Restoration work has been initiated immediately, officials said.

Muzaffarpur-Sabarmati Jan Sadharan express derails near Bhaupur Station, all passengers safe

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar unveils projects worth 574 crore in Muzaffarpur

Projects include road over bridges and road widening works; Mr. Kumar interacted with social security pensioners in which beneficiaries thanked him for increasing the pension amount from 400 to 1,100 per month

Two arrested for raping Dalit girl in Bihar

MUZAFFPUR: A Dalit girl has been allegedly raped in Muzaffarpur district of Bihar by a mobile repair shop owner and his staffer, both of whom have been arrested, police said on Monday. According to a statement issued by the district police, the girl had been missing since Saturday after she had gone out of her home in Aurai police station area to get her phone repaired. When she did not return, her father lodged a complaint at Aurai police station on Sunday, claiming that he suspected abduction of the girl. Following an intensive search by police, the girl was found unconscious at some distance from the village, where she was dumped by the alleged perpetrators, who had also hit her on the head with a rod. The girl has been admitted to the SKMCH hospital in Muzaffarpur town for medical tests and treatment, while the mobile shop owner and his associate have been caught and booked under sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Meanwhile, a delegation of the Congress' Bihar unit, led by state president Rajesh Kumar, visited SKMCH hospital to take stock of the condition of the girl, who has received a serious head injury. Speaking to reporters, the BPCC president said, The girl started getting proper medical attention only upon intervention, in the matter, of the district Congress. The shameful incident is yet another proof that lawlessness prevails in Bihar. The guilty must be given exemplary punishment, the Congress leader said.

Scrap dealer shot dead outside his shop in Bihar's Muzaffarpur

MUZAFFARPUR: A scrap dealer was shot dead by unidentified miscreants in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district, police said on Thursday. The scrap dealer identified as Mohammad Gulab was shot dead outside his shop in Majhaulia area of Muzaffarpur district on Wednesday late evening, the police said. Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of Town-II, Vinita Sinha, told reporters, Police received information that a scrap dealer was shot at by some unidentified miscreants outside his shop on Wednesday late evening. Police immediately reached the spot and took the victim, with bullet wounds, to the nearest hospital where he was declared brought dead. Now, the body has been sent for the post-mortem examination. A case has been registered and a manhunt has been launched to nab the accused. Prima facie, some land dispute suspected to be the reason behind the incident, the SDPO said, adding further investigation is on. As the news of Gulab's death spread, his relatives, along with a large group of locals, went on a rampage. Family members of the deceased took the body to National Highway-28 and blocked the movement of traffic and also set two vehicles parked outside the suspect's house on fire, a local police officer said. Additional security personnel were engaged to bring the situation under control. Senior officials reached the spot and got the NH cleared for the movement of vehicles.

Bihar SIR | BLOs in a fix over voter apathy

PATNA: Electors are finding excuses to delay the submission of filled enumeration forms (EFs) in the ongoing SIR exercise in Bihar, a ground zero investigation reveals. The excuses range from lack of time to awaiting required information. Come next day, we are busy with some other important work, is the common refrain. The delay is taking a toll on most Booth Level Officers (BLOs). BLOs complain that they find it difficult to submit filled EFs to the respective offices for upload on the app. We have to visit a house twice or thrice to collect filled EFs. People blame BLOs for delay in distributing EFs, but they often fail to admit to their own faults. After all, we have to report to our seniors/supervisors every day, said a visibly upset Dinesh Paswan, a BLO in Vaishali district. Paswan, a teacher in a government middle school under Patepur assembly constituency, was seen virtually begging the electors to return filled EFs. My job will be in danger if you fail to return filled EFs before the deadline, i.e., July 25. We have to collect forms from so many people, the BLO was heard telling electors. Bihar SIR exercise: Nepali, Bangladeshi nationals found with Indian documents He said filled EFs were submitted to the supervisors office at Panchayat Bhawan, Raj Davaichh, where computer operators uploaded them on the App. The dillydallying attitude of electors is not solely to blame. At some places, BLOs complained that the slow internet speed also delays the uploading process. I have been issued a show cause notice for slow progress in uploading EFs, said a BLO under Patepur assembly in Vaishali. An official under Baruraj assembly constituency in Muzaffarpur district said some people were exerting pressure to include names of those staying outside the state without providing their ID proof. Ambiguous EC diktat BLOs in Begusarai, Patna, Bhojpur and Jehanabad pointed out a remarkable shift in ECs orders. Earlier, we were told to collect enumeration forms with required documents. But now we take Aadhaar numbers, date of birth and signatures, they said. As per EC, SIR requires 11 documents, including proof of citizenship. Aadhaar is not included in the list. Inside the SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar: Process, concerns and political fallout

Bihar: Delay in enumeration forms raises fear of being left out of voter list

PATNA: Narendra Kumar, a resident of Muzaffarpur in north Bihar, is making frequent calls to his brother to ascertain whether the enumeration forms have reached home for verification. Currently in Pune for the treatment of his ailing mother, Narendra is worried as a simple mistake may lead to the deletion of his name from the voters list. The 23-year-old said that his name was included in the electoral rolls before the 2020 Assembly elections. I exercised my franchise for the first time during the last Assembly polls. If my name gets deleted, I will never forgive myself for the lapses not on my part but for others slackness, he told this reporter over the phone. INTERVIEW | Special rolls revision couldve begun earlier : OP Rawat He said, despite his frantic attempts, he could not connect with the Booth Level Officer (BLO) I will return to Muzaffarpur on July 27, two days after the last date of submission of the forms, he said, adding that he is at the BLOs mercy. Narendras family resides at Kanhaili under the Musahari block. His wife, Sabita, who works in a public school, said that the enumeration forms have been provided to some of the residents of the same locality. But the BLO did not visit us for the reason known to him, she said. Rambabu Prasad, a resident of Runnisaidpur in Sitamarhi district, said that only three forms have been provided by the BLO against seven voters in the family. I requested to the BLO to provide remaining enumeration forms. He promised to do so the next day, but has not turned up even after a week, he remarked. Nationwide SIR aims to snatch voting rights of those who won't vote BJP: Opposition People have submitted their enumeration forms without documents. This has led to confusion among voters, he added. While the EC has repeatedly stressed that enumeration forms should be submitted with required documents, the personnel in the field have not asked for documents. Who is correct? The EC or the personnel on the field? After all, we have to follow the diktats of personnel on field, he said. Om Prakash Sinha, a builder-cum-developer, who resides in AG Colony under Digha assembly constituency in Patna, said that they received the enumeration forms. Still the person concerned has not yet turned up to collect filled-up forms. We are waiting for him to collect the forms, he said. These people are not alone. Scores of residents in Patna and other districts are also still waiting for the enumeration forms. Rajbaallabh Prasad Sinha, a resident of Sandalpur under Kumhrar Assembly constituency in Patna, said that he has been waiting for the enumeration form. It is not ECs job to issue citizenship certificate: Former Election Commissioner Lavasa on Bihar poll roll revision Meanwhile, the EC claimed that 6,60,67,208 out of the 7,89,69,844 electors have already received the enumeration forms, which is about 83.66%. Till date, 1.59% electors have been found dead and 0.73% of them have registered their names at more than one place. Similarly, 88.18% of electors have either submitted their enumeration forms or have died or shifted to other places permanently. It means only 11.82% electors are left to fill up forms and submit them, the EC said. Till date (July 14, 2025), around 5.74 crore enumeration forms out of 7,89,69,844 electors have been uploaded, while 11 days are still left. BDO in Bihar resigns over harassment by senior Bihar public service officer Hariom Sharan posted as Block Development Officer (BDO) of Barsoi block in Katihar district has submitted a resignation letter to the district magistrate, Manesh Kumar Meena, accusing Sub Divisional Officer Dixit Shwetam of mentally harassing him amid the special intensive revision of the electoral rolls. Election Commission activates poll machinery for pan-India revision of electoral rolls from next month

As Bihar heads to polls, crime wave fuels law and order concerns

PATNA: Back-to-back killings targeting businessmen, politicians, lawyers, teachers and ordinary citizens have raised serious concerns about Bihar's law and order, with police blaming the surge on the widespread availability of illegal firearms and ammunition. Over the past 10 days, a string of killings including those of businessman Gopal Khemka, BJP leader Surendra Kumar, a 60-year-old woman, a shopkeeper, a lawyer, and a teacher has rocked the poll-bound state. According to the latest State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB) data, the state recorded 1,376 murders with an average of 229 each month between January and June, compared to 2,786 in all of 2024 and 2,863 in 2023. According to senior police officers, proliferation of firearms, which are illegally manufactured or procured without a valid license, coupled with unchecked availability of ammunition, have contributed to the recent spurt in violent crimes. Bihar has consistently ranked among the top-five states in terms of violent crimes, including those involving firearms, according to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) figures. The state has held second position in violent crime rate in 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2022, NCRB data said. NDA turned Bihar into 'India's crime capital': Rahul slams Nitish, BJP over murder of Patna businessman Talking to PTI, DGP Vinay Kumar, said, Land disputes and property matters are the main reasons behind most of the killings. In such cases, role of police is limited and it starts after the crime takes place. Our force has achieved 100 per cent detection rate. The DGP, however, claimed that organised crime has come down compared to last year. Proliferation of firearms, illegally manufactured or procured without valid licenses, coupled with unchecked availability of ammunition are issues which are being looked into by the authorities, he said. A state with such a large population, having over 60 per cent population under the age of 30 and unemployed, is bound to be vulnerable to law and order problems, Additional Director General of Police (Headquarters) Kundan Krishnan said. To check violent crimes, there is a need to plug the gaps in the existing system and standardise the process of issuing arms licenses, Krishnan, who is also the ADG of the Special Task Force (STF) of Bihar Police, told PTI. According to the National Database of Arms Licenses-Arms License Issuance System (NDAL-ALIS) portal (Ministry of Home Affairs), Bihar has 82,326 firearms holders and 77,479 active arms licences. Out of 141 licensed arms dealers in the state, only 114 are operational, while 27 have been found inoperative. This poses a serious threat of misuse. We have brought the matter to the notice of the authorities concerned. Licenses of such dealers must be suspended, Krishnan said. An analysis of district-wise firearm licences in relation to population reveals that Bhojpur has the highest density, with 205 firearms and 196 licensees per lakh population, surpassing Patna, which has 161 firearms and 156 licences per lakh. SCRB data further shows Patna as the leading district in Arms Act cases, averaging 321.7 cases annually, followed by Begusarai (167.7), Muzaffarpur (158.3), Nalanda (117.9), and Vaishali (117.8). In the last 10 years, the number of recovered country-made firearms has more than doubled from 2,356 in 2015 to 4,981 in 2024, it said. A correlation between arms Act cases and violent crimes shows Patna again topping the list, averaging 82 violent incidents annually, followed by Motihari (49.53), Saran (44.08), Gaya (43.50), Muzaffarpur (39.93), and Vaishali (37.90).Most violent crimes in the state involve the use of firearms. However, ammunition used in these crimes are manufactured by licensed industrial units. Therefore, the identity of the 25 inoperative arms dealers out of 138 listed in the state can be exploited by criminals to illegally procure arms/ammunition, the ADG added. Talking to PTI , Jitendra Rana, Inspector General (IG) of central range (Patna), said, It is not true to say that gun-related violence has increased in Patna. Yes, it is true that some sensational murder cases have taken place. But, the accused have also been arrested in those cases and arms and ammunition were also recovered. Commenting on the surge in violent cases, Abhayanand, former DGP, told PTI, I must say that the existing criminal justice system is not able to match up to the crime. The legislature must make laws to give more power to police to check such crimes effectively. Reacting to surge in crimes, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav in a post on X said, If the crumbling law and order and rampant corruption in Bihar aren't making anyone angry in the state, then we must say that the person's sense of justice and human compassion has died. Ignoring the government's failures and public sentiments in the name of caste and religion is disastrous for Bihar and the people of the state. Under the NDA's rule, 65,000 murders have taken place so far !!! Does the unconscious Chief Minister dare to make a statement on any such incident?. ! #Crime #Bihar #NDA #Corruption Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) July 10, 2025 Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha recently told reporters that, Increasing criminal incidents involve the sand mafia, land mafia and liquor mafia. These mafias are linked to the RJD. RJD members want to spread anarchy in Bihar before the elections.

20 river sites under flood risk, 3 locations in Assam and Bihar face severe inundation: CWC

Several regions in India are on high alert. The Central Water Commission reports twenty river sites are under flood threat. Assam and Bihar are experiencing severe conditions. Water levels have crossed danger marks in Golaghat, Muzaffarpur and Gopalganj. The Brahmaputra and Ganga river systems are most affected. Authorities are monitoring the situation closely.

Aadhaar saturation rate higher than 100 per cent in Bihar's Seemanchal region

PATNA: Aadhaar saturation rates in Seemanchal region of election-bound Bihar are above 100 per cent, official data revealed. The data was collected from Seemanchal region comprising Kishanganj, Purnea, Katihar and Araria districtsthat have Muslim populations ranging from 39 per cent to 68 per cent. According to official data collected during caste-based survey by the Bihar government, while the states average Aadhaar coverage stands at around 94 per cent, Kishanganj, with 68 per cent Muslim population, shows an Aadhaar saturation of 105.16 per cent of the districts total population. Similarly, Katihar (45 per cent Muslim population) and Araria (50 per cent) each have a saturation rate of 101.92 per cent and 102.23 per cent, respectively. Purnia (with 39 per cent Muslim population) stands at 101 per cent of the districts total population. The figures suggested that there were over 120 Aadhaar cards for every 100 residents in Seemanchal region, which shares its border with West Bengal and Nepal. This anomaly raised questions about who these additional Aadhaar cards were meant for and why they existed. Authoritative sources said that Aadhaar cards were being mostly used for obtaining domicile certificates in these districts. Sudden rise in applications for domicile certificates also raised doubts and officials posted in the districts shared their concerns with their seniors in the state secretariat. Deputy chief minister Samrat Choudhary said that around 2 lakh applications have been submitted for domicile certificates in the past one week and so in Kishanganj district alone. A sudden jump in applications for domicile certificates in Muzaffarpur district has also raised concern, he added. The state government has ordered an investigation into sudden jump in applications for domicile certificates in Seemanchal region, especially after the Election Commission (ECs) Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls started on June 24, he told the media. Deputy chief minister did not rule out possibility of Bangladeshi citizens settling in these districts as countrys international border with Bangladesh is not far off from Kishanganj. An IAS officer posted as district magistrate in Seemanchal region, said on condition of anonymity that the district administration was keeping a close watch on applications for domicile certificates under his jurisdiction. According to official figures, 1,27,000 applications for domicile certificates were submitted to authorities concerned in Kishanganj district between July 1 and 6. The four districts of Seemanchal region have registered about 16 per cent growth in Muslim population between 1951 and 2011, as per census. The average Muslim population in the four districts stands at 47 per cent. The issue has stirred debate not only in poll-bound Bihar but also in neighbouring West Bengal, where Mamata Banerjees government is already grappling with Aadhaar card deactivation concerns. Many political observers have questioned whether this is an attempt by Opposition parties and the Left to position Aadhaar as proof of citizenship. Given the one person-one Aadhaar rule, the figures have triggered concerns over possible duplication or issuance to non-citizens. Seemanchals geographical location adds sensitivity to the issue, as the region borders West Bengal, Nepal, and is not far from Bangladesh, said a senior journalist Pramod Kumar, who earlier worked in Purnea. The Opposition, including RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, called for a Bihar bandh on July 9 to protest the ECs Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, which excludes Aadhaar as valid proof for voter verification.

Inside the SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar: Process, concerns and political fallout

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has triggered a major political controversy in Bihar, where assembly polls are due later this year, with the opposition INDIA bloc alleging that it was designed to enefit the ruling NDA, a charge denied by the Election Commission of India (EC) that is carrying out the exercise. The issue has also reached the Supreme Court , which will hear petitions on July 10 challenging the Election Commission's decision to carry out the exercise in Bihar. What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR)? The Election Commission on June 24 issued a notification to begin a door-to-door verification of Bihar's eight crore voters. According to the process, all voters in the state are required to sign enumeration forms, in duplicates, that come with their names, addresses and photographs printed, and return these with fresh photographs along with a valid proof of residence. However, those whose names were not in the electoral rolls of 2003 will have to provide additional documents, a feature of the SIR that has been the main bone of contention. The objective of SIR is to ensure that the names of all eligible citizens are included in the electoral rolls so as to enable them to exercise their franchise. The revision is being carried out under Section 21 of the Representation of the People Act (RP Act), which authorises the EC to undertake special revisions at any time for reasons recorded in writing. The last intensive revision for Bihar was conducted by the poll panel in 2003. The exercise is being executed by one lakh Booth Level Officers (BLOs), aided by four lakh volunteers and thousands of Booth Level Agents (BLAs) nominated by political parties. The EC has cited large-scale additions and deletions in the electoral rolls over the past 20 years, driven by migration and urbanisation, as a key reason for the fresh revision. The Commission has also noted that the presence of duplicate entries necessitates a clean-up. Although the plan is to extend SIR to the rest of the country, the exercise is currently being rolled out only in Bihar, which heads to polls later this year. Unlike the 2003 revision where enumerators conducted house-to-house verification using printed voter lists, the 2024 SIR requires voters to proactively submit enumeration forms to BLOs. Electors registered as of January 2003 do not need to submit additional documents beyond the 2003 roll extract. However, voters added post-2003 must furnish documentation establishing their date and place of birth, along with that of their parent(s), where applicable. It is not ECs job to issue citizenship certificate: Former Election Commissioner Lavasa on Bihar poll roll revision Why the political uproar? The SIR has been under attack from the opposition INDIA bloc, which has alleged that it was designed to enefit the ruling NDA, and that the poll panel, which had allegedly helped the BJP-led coalition in Maharashtra by adding fake voters, was now trying to wrongfully delete the names of many such people in Bihar who were unlikely to vote for the ruling dispensation. The opposition INDIA bloc, led by Tejashwi Yadav and supported by CPI(ML) leader Dipankar Bhattacharya, has moved the Supreme Court against the SIR. A protest march to the EC office in Patna was led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday. Concerns are also being voiced over a clause that states Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) will refer cases of suspected foreign nationals to the competent authority under the Citizenship Act, 1955, which, it is feared, could be used against a large number of unwanted voters in the Seemanchal region bordering Nepal. What are their key concerns? Targeted timing : Why is this being done only in Bihar and right before elections? Exclusion fears : Allegations that the EC aims to delete voters unlikely to support the NDA. Document burden : Over three crore people who weren't in the 2003 rolls face a heavier documentation process. Youth scrutiny : Voters born after 1987 must also furnish their parents' date and place of birth if the latter were not listed in 2003. Unacceptable exclusions : Common documents like Aadhaar and MNREGA cards are not accepted as valid ID. The EC has stated that Aadhaar is neither proof of citizenship nor date of birth, which is why it is excluded. Accepted documents include caste certificates, land allotment records and family registers. Fears over disenfranchisement and misuse : The clause empowering EROs to decide on claims and objections has raised alarms, with opposition leaders fearing misuse. Migrant exclusion concerns : Migrant workers and students, many of whom move frequently, may struggle to meet documentation deadlines. Critics argue that while the RP Act considers temporary absence as still meeting the ordinarily resident requirement, SIR implementation may overlook this nuance. What is the EC's response? The poll panel has maintained that the revision is lawful and constitutional. It says the exercise is necessary due to massive demographic shifts in the last two decades. So far, the door-to-door process has covered 2.88 crore voters (approximately 36.5%). Pure electoral rolls inevitable for strengthening democracy: CEC Gyanesh Kumar on Bihar SIR What opposition leaders say? Why has this exercise been ordered only in Bihar when in 2003 a similar revision of electoral rolls was undertaken for the entire country? And why just before the assembly polls? If it was so urgent, why was the work not started immediately after last year's Lok Sabha elections, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, who leads the INDIA bloc charge in the upcoming elections, said. His ally Dipankar Bhattacharya, the general secretary of CPI(ML) Liberation, claims that the EC has opted for a logistical nightmare and that it was almost impossible to complete, by July 25, the exercise that involves more than eight crore voters, most of them living in areas that are ravaged by floods during monsoons. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi alleged that the EC was attempting to steal votes in Bihar, just as he claimed it had done in Maharashtra. Sharpening his criticism of the poll body and the ruling government, Rahul said, In Maharashtra, the mandate was stolen. Now in Bihar, the right to vote is under threat an old conspiracy in a new form. We will continue to expose these anti-Constitutional forces. Together with the people and the youth, we will give a fitting reply. Ground realities? Citizens are flagging serious issues in the implementation of SIR. I was aghast to see that my son's address was listed as a cremation ground ('shamshaan ghat'). My daughter-in-law's address was left blank, said a resident of Muzaffarpur, who requested anonymity. Plea in apex court The Supreme Court on Thursday will hear a batch of petitions challenging the SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar. Several fresh pleas, including a joint petition by opposition parties -- Congress, NCP (Sharad Pawar), Shiv Sena (UBT), Samajwadi Party, JMM, CPI and CPI (ML) -- were filed in the apex court against the poll panel's decision to conduct the exercise before the state goes to polls later this year. (With inputs from PTI, ANI and ENS) Election Commission must justify need for Bihar voter roll revision

Rahul Gandhi leads opposition march to Patna's EC office against electoral rolls revision

PATNA: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday led a Mahagathbandhan march to the Election Commission's office in Patna to protest the ongoing special intensive revision of electoral rolls before the Bihar assembly polls. The leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, who arrived in the state capital in the morning, was accompanied by RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, CPI(ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, CPI general secretary D Raja and senior leaders of other opposition parties. Gandhi, along with the other leaders, were atop a vehicle during the protest march which started at Income Tax Golambar in Patna. Rail and road traffic were disrupted in parts of Bihar as workers of opposition parties hit the streets to enforce a statewide bandh called by the Mahagathbandhan. A large number of Opposition party leaders blocked the movement of road traffic on Patna's Mahatma Gandhi Setu by burning tyres. LoP in the Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi with Bihar party President Rajesh Ram, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, CPI General Secretary D Raja, and others takes part in a protest rally during 'Bihar bandh' called by the INDIA bloc Independent Lok Sabha MP from Purnea, Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, along with his supporters, reached Sachiwalay Halt railway station and tried to disrupt the movement of railway traffic. Yadav's supporters blocked rail and road traffic in several parts of Patna as well as in other parts of the state, including Araria, Purnea, Katihar and Muzaffarpur. Speaking to reporters in Patna, he said, The Election Commission, through its special intensive revision of electoral rolls, is snatching voting rights from migrants, Dalits, Mahadalits, and poor voters. It's a conspiracy to block votes ahead of the Bihar assembly polls due later this year. Workers from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress, CPI(ML) Liberation and CPM burnt tyres and blocked roads in support of the Bihar Bandh in Arwal, Jehanabad and Darbhanga as well. Meanwhile, adequate security arrangements have been made for bypolls to nagar panchayats in different parts of Patna district. SC to hear on July 10 pleas challenging EC's decision to undertake revision of electoral rolls in Bihar

Bihar Govt Engineer Stabbed To Death By Robbers In Muzaffarpur, Cops Launch Probe

Mumtaz was killed in front of his wife and children by the robbers who decamped with valuables from his house

2 IAF Personnel Drown In Lake As Heavy Rains Batter Uttarakhand

Prince Yadav (22) from Pathankot, Punjab and Sahil Kumar (23) from Muzaffarpur, Bihar, were part of a group of eight IAF personnel, including four women, vacationing in Nainital.

Self-proclaimed 'tantrik' arrested for raping seven-month pregnant woman on pretext of treatment in Bihar

PATNA: A 25-year-old pregnant woman was allegedly raped by a self-proclaimed 'tantrik' in Bihars Muzaffarpur district after he lured her under the false pretext of curing her pregnancy-related health issues. Police arrested the accused on Tuesday. The woman had visited an alleged tantrik (exorcist) at a village under Siwaipatti police station limits on June 29 after she experienced persistent dizziness during her pregnancy. Despite consulting multiple doctors, she found no relief and was advised by co-residents to visit the self-proclaimed tantrik. According to the police complaint, the victim visited the exorcists house along with her husband. She was initially told that she would be cured through ritual practices and that she would need to visit a couple of times. Once alone in the room, the alleged exorcist undressed her, claiming it was part of the ritual. When she resisted, the exorcist raped her and threatened to kill her and her husband if she spoke to anyone or lodged a police complaint. The following day, on her husbands insistence, she visited the exorcists house again, where the assault was repeated. During the second incident, she experienced abdominal pain and finally disclosed the ordeal to her husband. Apprehending trouble, the accused fled the scene. The victim was then taken to a government facility for treatment, where she was reportedly kept waiting for nearly two hours. Despite receiving an appointment slip, we were asked to wait from 12.30 pm to 2.30 pm, during which my wife laid on the floor in acute pain, the victims husband said. In-charge of the SKMCH police outpost, Sarvari Khatoon, said that the victims statement has been recorded. The accused, identified as Shanker Shah, has been arrested and sent to judicial custody. Further investigation is underway, the SHO said.

DA case: Bihar EOU raids six locations of BSFC accountant, finds assets over 200% disproportionate to income

PATNA: The Economic Offences Unit (EOU), an anti-corruption wing of the Bihar police, on Friday carried out searches at six locations of Rajesh Kumar, an accountant with the Bihar State Food Corporation (BSFC), in connection with a disproportionate assets case. A senior official said that the accountant is accused of accumulating disproportionate assets worth more than 201.94 per cent of his actual income. The searches, which began early in the morning, continued till the report was filed. The searches were conducted at the office and residential premises of Kumar in Patna, Motihari (East Champaran), Muzaffarpur and Hajipur (Vaishali). In addition, raiding teams also searched the houses of Rajesh Kumars close relatives. Initial searches led to the recovery of documents related to investments in real estate, insurance companies. Some suspicious transactions of money were discovered and some electronic devices were seized. Evidence of huge investment in real estate has been found during the operation, the officer said. Earlier, EOU registered a case against the accountant and obtained order for carrying out searches at the office and residential premises at multiple locations in the state capital and outside. The details will be available after the search operation concludes, the officer associated with the operation said. Meanwhile, the Director General of Police (DGP) Vinay Kumar has asked the officials of the Special Vigilance Unit (SVU), EOU and Vigilance Investigation Bureau (VIB) to intensify operations against corrupt public servants. More than 60 such operations have been conducted across the state in recent months. The frequent operation against corrupt public servants has created a flutter in the states administrative circles.

Bihar to grant arms licences to Panchayat representatives amid rising attacks

PATNA: In a significant move ahead of the upcoming assembly elections, the Bihar government has decided to issue arms licences to representatives of the three-tier panchayati raj institutions across the state. The decision follows a series of violent attacks on panchayat representatives, particularly mukhiyas (panchayat heads). The state government has directed all District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police to begin processing arms licence applications from elected panchayat members. However, the directive emphasises that the established rules for verifying arms licence applications must be strictly adhered to. The verification process should be completed promptly and without unnecessary delay, the government noted. The proposal, initiated by the Panchayati Raj Department, received approval during a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday. Kumar instructed officials to expedite the licensing process, treating applications from panchayat representatives as a priority. The move comes in the wake of several high-profile killings. Just last week, a mukhiya and his aide were shot dead in Lakhisarai district while returning home from a function. In February, Mahesh Mishra, Deputy Mukhiya of Chiraila Panchayat in Gaya district and a JD(U) block secretary, was murdered. Similar incidents, including murder attempts and threats, have been reported from multiple districts such as Samastipur, Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, Saran, Bhojpur, Jamui, and Nawada. Concerned by the deteriorating security situation, panchayat representatives had previously met senior state officials to demand protection. This measure adds to a series of steps taken by the state government to support local representatives ahead of elections expected in OctoberNovember this year. Allowances for panchayat members have already been increased. In another key decision, the government has approved the construction of marriage halls in every panchayat for the weddings of women from economically weaker backgrounds. A budget of Rs 4,026 crore has been sanctioned for the scheme, which will be implemented through 'Jeevika Didis', members of local womens self-help groups.

PM Modi inaugurates, lays foundation stones for projects worth over Rs 5,900 crore in Bihar's Siwan

SIWAN : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched 28 development projects worth more than Rs 5,900 crore in Bihar's Siwan district. Modi inaugurated the new Vaishali Deoria railway line project, built at a cost of over Rs 400 crore, and flagged off a new train service on this route. Additionally, in a major boost to connectivity in north Bihar, Modi also flagged off the Vande Bharat Express between Patliputra (Patna) and Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh) via Muzaffarpur and Bettiah. Further promoting the 'Make in India, Make for the World' initiative, Modi flagged off a state-of-the-art locomotive built at Marhowra plant for export to the Republic of Guinea. The locomotive is equipped with high-horsepower engines, advanced AC propulsion systems, microprocessor-based controls, ergonomic cab designs, and regenerative braking. In line with his commitment to conservation and rejuvenation of the Ganga, the PM inaugurated six Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) under the Namami Gange project, worth over Rs 1,800 crore. He also laid the foundation stone for additional water supply, sanitation and STP projects across Bihar, totaling Rs 3,000 crore. In a major thrust to the energy sector, the PM laid the foundation stone for a 500 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) across 15 grid substations in the state, including those in Muzaffarpur, Motihari, Bettiah, and Siwan. With each substation to house 20-80 MWh capacity batteries, the system is expected to help discoms reduce peak-hour electricity costs and enhance supply reliability. These units will save the distribution companies from buying electricity at expensive rates by feeding the already-stored electricity back to the grid, benefiting the consumers, an official said. Modi also handed over the first instalment to more than 53,600 beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Urban (PMAY-U) and marked the Grih Pravesh ceremony for over 6,600 completed houses by handing over keys to select beneficiaries. Earlier in the day, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister, Samrat Choudhary, in a post on X wrote, Today the people of Bihar are eagerly waiting for Modi ji, from energy to railways, from housing to export.He (the PM) is bringing many gifts for the people of the state during his 51st visit to Bihar today. Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Deputy CMs Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, Union ministers and several officials were present on the occasion.

Bihar to get six new airports, cabinet gives key approval

The Bihar cabinet has approved air connectivity for six more cities, including Madhubani and Muzaffarpur, under the UDAN scheme, allocating 150 crore for airport development. Additionally, a five-star hotel will be constructed in Patna via PPP, and MSPs were fixed for chana, mustard, and masoor.

Bihar Police propose establishment of 100 fast-track courts for timely justice

PATNA: Bihar police have proposed fast track courts in each district of the state for the speedy trial of cases, especially those related to attachment of property acquired through illegal means. Talking to media persons, Director General of Police (DGP) Vinay Kumar said on Monday that the state police headquarters has sent proposals to government for setting up 100 fast track courts to conduct proceedings of pending cases on a priority basis. He recalled that in 2005, when Nitish Kumar had assumed power, 178 fast track courts were operational across the state which ensured speedy trial of criminal cases and increased conviction rates. The courts were all opened between 2000 and 2011, he said, adding that they were later stopped and hence cases started piling. DGP Kumar revealed that around 17 lakh cases were pending in various courts. Bihar has a special POCSO court, an ST/ST court and a special prohibition court. DGP Kumar said that action will be initiated against the accused irrespective of their profession. Action will be taken against corrupt police personnel, politicians and other professionals who have accumulated wealth through unlawful means, he asserted. DGP Kumar said that 1,172 criminals under 1,249 police stations have been identified, who have amassed assets through unlawful activities. Sub-divisional police officers (SDPOs) have submitted proposals for attachment of property against 239 criminals, he added. Moreover, proposals against 212 criminals were pending at offices of SPs concerned. Besides, 188 proposals have already been submitted to courts, in which decisions are yet to be taken by the courts. However, in four cases, courts have issued orders, including two criminals of Muzaffarpur. Explaining the procedure, DGP Kumar said that the respective courts will issue notices to criminals against whom proposals for attachment of property have been submitted, seeking their opinion within 14 days. The courts have power to take ex-party decisions, if the criminals fail to reply to notices within the stipulated period. DGP Kumar said that the investigating officers (IOs) have been given special powers to take decisions about the offenders against whom proposals for attachment of property have to be given to their seniors. It will depend on the nature of offences they have been involved and value of property they have earned through illegal means, he told the media. Property attachment is considered to be a significant step towards breaking the morale of anti-socials. DGP said that cases in all heads have declined considerably in recent months.

Cant give bike? Donate kidney: Bihar woman faces dowry demand from in-laws

PATNA: In a bizarre incident, a couple in Bihars Muzaffarpur district asked their daughter-in-law to donate her kidney to her ailing husband since she failed to get a bike, cash and jewellery as dowry. The woman, Dipti, filed a complaint with the Womens police station in Muzaffarpur regarding her situation. Narrating her ordeal, the woman stated that she was married in 2021, after which she moved to her in-laws house located within the Bochaha police station limits in Muzaffarpur. Previously, she lived in the Mithanpur police station area of the divisional headquarters town. After initial years of peace and harmony, her in-laws started tormenting her mentally and physically, forcing her to get a bike and cash from her parents house. When she failed to concede to their demands, her in-laws allegedly started coercing her to donate one of her kidneys to her ailing husband. I came to know about my husbands kidney ailment after two years of my marriage, though he was suffering from it before marriage, she said. Initially, I took their demand casually, but later, they started exerting pressure on me. When I refused to oblige them, I was beaten black and blue and thrown out of the house, she said. Police attempted to broker peace between the two parties but failed. Dipti also insisted on getting a divorce from her husband, but he refused to part with her. Later, a case was registered at the district womens police station, naming four members of her in-laws family, including her husband, as accused. Vidyasagar, SP (Rural), Muzaffarpur, said that an investigation has been launched in this connection. The investigating officer has been asked to go into depth of the matter and unearth the truth, he told this reporter over the phone on Tuesday. In Bihar, the practice of dowry is banned. CM Nitish Kumar had earlier announced that he would not attend any wedding ceremony in which dowry has been demanded.

'Rapists Should Be Tried For Treason': YouTuber Khan Sir On Muzaffarpur Rape-Murder Case

The girl, who was raped and brutally attacked on May 26, died from her injuries at a government-run hospital on Sunday morning

Tejashwi Escapes Unhurt As His Convoy Hit By Truck In Bihar, 3 Security Personnel Injured

Vaishali (Bihar), Jun 7: RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav escaped unhurt as a speeding truck hit two vehicles of his convoy, injuring three security personnel in Bihars Vaishali district early on Saturday, police said. The vehicle of the leader of the opposition was not hit by the truck, a senior officer said. The accident took place around 12.30 am when Yadavs convoy had stopped for a tea break on the Patna-Muzaffarpur national highway near Goraul, he said. They were returning to [] The post Tejashwi Escapes Unhurt As His Convoy Hit By Truck In Bihar, 3 Security Personnel Injured appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Properties of rape accused razed in Bihar, locals dub it 'bulldozer justice model'

The accused, who had been dodging the police, has surrendered. Further action will be taken as per directions of the court, says Vidya Sagar, SP (Rural) Muzaffarpur

Patna Diary | Nitish Kumar: A CM full of surprises

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar always has a surprise up his sleeve whenever he is in public. This time around, Nitish was participating at a public function in Darbhanga when, in the middle of his speech, he suddenly pointed at Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Samrat Choudhary, saying, Our partys deputy CM has also arrived, stand up. After this, all the ministers, MPs and others sitting around him stood up while the audience clapped enthusiastically. Undoubtedly, the CM considers standing up as a sign of reverence. To that effect, he had appealed to people to stand up from their respective seats to welcome PM Modi during the Bikramganj rally, giving observers a reason to smile even as poll heat intensifies in Bihar. PK targets Lalu, Tejashwi over CM ambition Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor never misses a chance to take a dig at RJD chief and former Bihar CM Lalu Prasad. During his Bihar Badlao Yatra, he accused Lalu of aspiring to see his son, Tejashwi Yadav, as King of Bihar, even though he has not cleared class 9. Kishor clarified he is not criticising Lalu for his putra moh (affection for son) but praising him because people must learn how to take care of their children from the former CM. Lalu has always been worried about his family and not the people of Bihar, Kishor jibed. He is so worried about his child that he wants him to become king of Bihar. When I say this, people say I complain about him. No! We are praising Lalu Yadav. BJP MLA draws flak from rape-murder victims kin A piquant situation unfolded when BJP MLA Manoj Kumar Gupta asked family members of a rape-murder victim in Muzaffarpur to swear they were telling the truth about delay in treatment of the victim at Patna Medical College and Hospital. The victims family got agitated over the MLAs contention and alleged the latter didnt pay heed to their repeated calls for help when they visited the hospital for treatment of 9-year-old victim. As the situation heated up, deputy CM Vijay Sinha intervened and assured that justice would be done. Sinha said the government has taken a grave view of the incident and the offenders would not be spared. Ramashankar Our correspondent in Bihar ramashankar@newindianexpress.com

Bihar sexual assault case: Accused surrenders before court

PATNA: Mukesh Rai, the prime accused in the alleged rape of an 11-year-old girl in Bihars Muzaffarpur district, surrendered before a local court on Thursday. His appearance in court came after a police team reached his house tasked with attaching his property following a directive from the competent court. Earlier in the day, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha had visited the victims family, assuring them of comprehensive support from the state. Sinha reiterated the government's stance on criminal justice, stating, Police have been given free hand to deal with serious criminal offences. Rai had been absconding since the case was registered against him at the Turki police station in Muzaffarpur. Confirming his arrest, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Muzaffarpur, Sushil Kumar, said, Police will submit a chargesheet against the accused soon and put the case for speedy trial. The incident, which garnered widespread public attention, occurred on May 3. According to police reports, Rai allegedly abducted the minor, a Class VIII student, from near her house and subsequently outraged her modesty at a secluded place on the outskirts of the village. He is reported to have later dropped the victim near her residence, allegedly threatening her not to reveal the ordeal. When the girl's relatives attempted to lodge a complaint at the Turki police station, the station house officer (SHO) reportedly advised them to approach the womens police station to register the case. This perceived dilly-dallying attitude prompted the family to escalate the matter to senior police officials. Taking a serious note of the matter, SSP put the SHO under suspension and also a woman sub-inspector for her slackness to initiate prompt action against the accused. Another assistant sub-inspector of police was suspended for dereliction of duty. In a related development, a roadside eatery purportedly belonging to the accused was demolished by authorities. Rai, who is reported to work as a middleman at the block office, is believed to have amassed significant assets through illicit means.

Chirag fires salvo at Nitish before joining Bihar politics

PATNA: On the verge of joining Bihar politics, Union minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan on Wednesday fired a salvo at the Nitish Kumar government over a young girls death after she was deprived of immediate treatment at a government hospital in Patna. In a letter to the chief minister, Paswan said the incident reflected poorly on the governments inadequate health infrastructure. The girl, who hailed from Muzaffarpur district, waited for hours in an ambulance at the government-run Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) and died because of delayed treatment. The victims family alleged hospital indifference caused her death. Paswan said, The heart-rending incident of Dalit girls rape and murder exposes the failure of Bihars law and order, social awareness and public health. Paswans letter comes amid reports that he may formally announce his intention to contest the Assembly elections at a public rally in Ara, Bhojpur district, next week. His letter is significant, given that the assembly elections are a few months away and Chirags LJP(RV) and Nitishs JD(U) are constituents of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The relationship between Nitish and Chirag soured after the LJP leader, the son of the late Ram Vilas Paswan, fielded candidates against JD (U) candidates on some seats in the last assembly election, which impacted the latters chances in 36-40 seats. However, their recent bonhomie in public seems to suggest they had buried the hatchet. Paswans letter blamed the hospitals doctors and administrative staff for the girls death. They did not provide prompt treatment and thus lost precious time. It is not just negligence, but a crime against humanity, he wrote. Paswan said his partys leaders met with the victims family and assured them of justice. But justice will be incomplete and unacceptable without strict and transparent action against the accused at the administrative level. He requested an investigation into the alleged negligence of the medical staff. It is not simply a matter of death as it has become a symbol of the failure of our social system and a failure of our constitutional responsibility. If the administration stays silent, this silence will become the biggest crime, he asserted.

Tejashwi Yadav Slams Nitish Kumar Over Muzaffarpur Rape Case

Bihar Leader of the Opposition, Tejashwi Yadav, launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his government on Monday over the Muzaffarpur rape case and medical negligence at PMCH that led to the death of a 10-year-old Dalit girl.

11-year-old girl gangraped, killed in Bihar; five arrested

PATNA: Plucking a mango from a nearby orchard proved costly for an 11-year-old girl who was gang raped and subsequently killed by five youths in Bihars Sitamarhi district, police said on Wednesday. The incident which tooj place on May 31, came to light on June 1 when the victims family lodged a formal complaint about the girl's disappearance of since the previous evening. Nanpur police station in Sitamarhi district registered a case and started investigation. Amit Ranjan, Superintendent of Police (SP), Sitamarhi said that a special investigation team (SIT) was formed under leadership of deputy SP, Pupri to solve the case. During investigation it came to light that five youths had an altercation with the girl over plucking a mango from an orchard. The youths brutally assaulted her, took her to a nearby under-construction building and raped her. During sexual assault, the girls condition deteriorated, and she died. Thereafter, the offenders hanged her body with the roof of the building to make it appear as a case of suicide. The accused identified as Satyam Kumar, Ranvir Kumar, Harshvardhan Kumar, Ajit Kumar and Ravi Kumar, all residents of Chatgaura under Nanpur police station limits were arrested. During interrogation, the accused confessed to the crime. SP Amit Ranjan said that the investigating officer of the case has been told to collect scientific evidence against the accused. Since all the accused have been arrested, we will recommend the case for speedy trial. Chargesheet will be filed in the case at the earliest, he added. The incident has sparked off tension at the village. Residents have demanded stern action against all the accused. The accused should be hanged, a close relative of the victim told local journalists at Sitamarhi sadar hospital where postmortem of the body was conducted. Spurt in rape cases in Bihar Bihar has witnessed a series of rape incidents in recent past. At least three incidents of sexual assault and murder were reported from Muzaffarpur district in the past one week alone. Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Prasad Yadav visited Turki in Muzaffarpur to meet family members of one of the victims on Tuesday. A nine-year-old girl was raped and attacked with a knife by the accused at a village under Kudhani police station on May 26. The victim was admitted to Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH) from where she was referred to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) on Saturday. The victim had to wait for more than four hours in an ambulance as bed was not available in the PMCH. The victims uncle alleged that the delay in treatment led to her death on Sunday morning. The alleged hospital administrations apathy came under sharp criticism. On Tuesday, state health department removed deputy superintendent of PMCH Dr Abhijeet Singh and Dr Kumari Vibha, superintendent of SKMCH, for their negligence. Dr Kumari Vibha has been put under suspension. Meanwhile, state health minister Mangal Pandey said that a three-member committee has been constituted to look into the allegations of the rape victims family. Further action will be initiated on the basis of the report, Pandey told the media. The three-member committee comprising Dr. Aryan Choudhary, Dr.B K Singh and Dr. Pramod Kumar have been asked to submit their report at the earliest. The team will investigate events both at SKMCH, Muzaffarpur and PMCH in the state capital.

Bihar has been carrying failure of NDA govt for many years: RJD's Tejashwi Yadav

Tejashwi Yadav attacked the Bihar government, citing failures. He mentioned the Muzaffarpur case and alleged administrative issues. Yadav claimed the government is neglecting important matters. Rahul Gandhi also criticized the Bihar government over the Muzaffarpur incident. He alleged negligence in the girl's treatment at PMCH. Gandhi demanded strict action against those responsible. Bihar assembly election is due this year.

Rape victim's death: Bihar govt suspends hospital officials

Following opposition protests regarding inadequate care for a minor rape victim from Muzaffarpur, the Bihar government has taken decisive action. Dr. Vibha Kumari, superintendent of SKMCH, Muzaffarpur, was suspended, and Dr. Abhijeet Singh of PMCH was relieved of duties due to negligence. A thorough inquiry has been initiated to investigate all levels of negligence in the victim's treatment.

Bihar court awards death sentence to two accused in Madhubani gangrape case

PATNA: A court in Madhubani district on Tuesday awarded death sentence to two men Sushil Kumar Rai and Om Prakash Jha in a gang rape and murder of an eight-year-old dalit girl. Syed Mohammad Fazlul Bari, judicial magistrate, POCSO court, Madhubani ,delivered the verdict after hearing the case from both the prosecution and the defence. The court also slapped a fine of Rs.1.20 lakh each on the accused. The court, in its order, said that the amount realised from the two convicts as fine would be given to the victims family. In addition, the court directed the government to pay Rs.8 lakh as compensation to the rape victims family as compensation. The brutal rape and murder case occurred in a village in Madhubani district in 2023. The court observed that the incident comes under rarest of the rare category and severe punishment awarded to accused will work as a deterrent to incidents of crime against women. The court further said that the capital punishment awarded to the convict is a significant step towards delivering justice to the victims family. According to the prosecution, the horrifying incident took place when the victim was playing outside her residence in June 2023. They took the girl to a make-shift house in Kosi Colony at Jay Nagar, raped her and later killed her by gaging with a towel. The body was dumped in the make-shift room made of asbestos. On the next day, police arrested Om Prakash Jha and recovered the body of the victim. They also recovered blood-stained clothes of the accused from the spot and sent to the forensic science laboratory for test. The accused were held guilty under sections 366 (A), 376(D), 302/34, 4/5 POCSO Act and 3/5 SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Altogether 18 witnesses were examined by the court. Dalit minor rape case: Bihar govt suspends two medical officials of PMCH Meanwhile, state health department on Tuesday suspended deputy superintendent of Patna Medical College and Hospital Dr. Abhijeet Singh and superintendent of SKMCH, Muzaffarpur, Dr. Kumari Vibha for negligence in treatment of a nine-year-old Dalit rape victim from Muzaffarpur. The girl was made to wait for over four hours in an ambulance as bed was not available at PMCH. The victims family alleged that she died on Sunday morning, within 24 hours of her admission to PMCH, due to a delay in treatment. Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary said that a three-member team has been constituted to probe the role of the hospital administration in the entire episode. Further action will be taken based on the report, he said. On Tuesday, leader of opposition Tejashwi Prasad Yadav and Bihar Congress president Rajesh Ram met the rape victims family in Muzaffarpur and assured their support to fight for justice. Tejashwi slammed chief minister Nitish Kumar and Health Minister Mangal Pandey for negligence on the part of hospital administration, which resulted in the Dalit girls death. Earlier, the state women commission took suo motu cognisance of the incident and sought a report from the state government.

Dalit minor rape case: Bihar government takes action against two medical officials

The 11-year old child was raped and found with nearly 20 knife wounds in Muzaffarpur on May 26; she died at the PMCH on June 1 after waiting in the ambulance for over five hours, waiting to be admitted

Oppn slams Bihar govt over rape, death of 10-year-old

Bihar faces political turmoil. Opposition blames the government for negligence. A Dalit girl from Muzaffarpur was raped and died. Parties protest against poor law and order. They allege delayed treatment at Patna Medical College Hospital. Rahul Gandhi demands justice. Congress seeks the Health Minister's resignation. An NDA ally also wants action for the delay. The government promises a speedy trial.

10 things to know about the Muzaffarpur rape case that shook Bihar

Congress raps Nitish government over rape and murder of nine-year-old Dalit girl in Bihar's Muzaffarpur

PATNA: The Opposition Congress has vowed to continue its agitation over the rape and murder of a nine-year-old Dalit girl in Bihar's Muzaffarpur until justice is delivered to her family. On Monday, Congress workers took out a protest march from the party headquarters at Sadaquat Ashram with posters and banners, demanding justice for Bihars Dalit girl who died on Sunday morning. However, they were stopped by police from marching towards CM Nitish Kumar's residence. A minor scuffle ensued between police and protesters. Some leaders were also taken into custody and detained for a while. However, the protesters reiterated their resolve to fight for justice for the victims family. They got support from Congress MP Rahul Gandhi who wrote on X, The brutality against a minor Dalit girl in Muzaffarpur and subsequent negligence in her treatment is extremely shameful. If she had received timely treatment, her life could have been saved. But the 'double-engine' government was negligent not only in providing security but in saving her life. Demanding justice for the victim, Rahul further wrote, We will not sit quietly until the victims family gets justice. Strict action should be taken against the culprit and negligent officers. He called the death of the rape victim a case of systematic apathy and medical negligence. The Congress women's cell is also busy chalking out a strategy to corner the NDA government over womens safety. Women cell leaders attacked Bihar CM Nitish Kumar for his failure to ensure safety and security to women, who they said were being subjected to sexual assault at frequent intervals across the state. Meanwhile, a group of people torched the house of the accused and demanded stern action against him for his heinous act. They described the accused identified as Rohit Sahni, a resident of the same village the victim belonged to, as a a psycho rapist who had committed such an offence for the second time. Bihar Dalit rape victim dies after being made to wait for hours in ambulance Vidyasagar, superintendent of police (SP), Muzaffarpur (Rural), said the chargesheet against the accused would be submitted in the court within 15 days and the case listed for speedy trial. SSP Sushil Kumar said that the victim was known to the accused. He was immediately arrested and produced in the court, which remanded him in judicial custody, he added. The incident occurred on May 26. The accused lured her by providing her chocolates, took her to a nearby maize field and sexually assaulted her. He also attempted to kill her on the spot by stabbing her with a knife around her chest and neck 20 times, causing multiple injuries. The rape victim was rushed to Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital in Muzaffarpur from where she was referred to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) on Saturday. In the PMCH premises, she had to wait for more than four hours in an ambulance before finally getting a bed. The victims family alleged that the girl was admitted to PMCH after the intervention of some Congress leaders who reached the hospital and talked to senior officials. The deceaseds uncle alleged that they were made to wait for two hours with the minor, but the hospital administration didnt admit her. Her uncle said that if the girl had been admitted to PMCH on time, her life could have been saved. According to police, there were slash wounds on the girls throat and chest. The accused tried to kill her by slitting her throat. Her vocal cords were damaged, and she was unable to speak, an investigating officer Aditi Kumari said.

Bihar Dalit Girl Dies After Rape, Knife Attack. Waited 5 Hours For A Bed

A nine-year-old Dalit girl in Bihar's Muzaffarpur was raped and the attacker slit her throat and fled. The minor was later found, bloodied and semi-naked, by her mother. She was rushed to the nearest hospital and then referred to Patna

11-year-old Dalit rape victim dies of injuries in Patna

She was raped and found in a pit with 20 knife wounds in Bihars Muzaffarpur; Congress leader says she was left in ambulance outside Patna hospital for 5 hours before being admitted; party stages protest blaming NDA government for the death

Bihar: Rape victim dies at Patna hospital, Congress accuses Nitish govt of being insensitive

A minor Dalit girl, victim of a brutal rape in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, died at a Patna hospital due to severe injuries and alleged medical negligence. The incident sparked outrage, with accusations of delayed treatment and government insensitivity. Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party condemned the state government, demanding justice and accountability for the tragic loss and systemic failures.

Bihar Dalit rape victim dies after being made to wait for hours in ambulance

PATNA: A nine-year-old Dalit girl from Bihars Muzaffarpur, who was raped and brutally attacked on May 26, died at Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) on Sunday morning, amid allegations that she was left waiting in an ambulance for several hours before getting a bed. She was brought to PMCH from Muzaffarpur-based SKMCH in a critical condition on Saturday. Former Congress MP Ranjeet Ranjan said the party would ensure justice for the victim's family. She also lashed out at state health minister Mangal Pandey over the deteriorating condition of premier hospitals like PMCH. I demand Mangal Pandeys resignation. He has no moral right to remain in office when the poor are being denied healthcare despite the state government's tall claims of improving infrastructure in government-run hospitals, she said. Rajesh Rathod, media in-charge of Congress, said that the rape victim had to wait in ambulance for several hours in the premises of the PMCH. Her family members reached the PMCH at 11 am on Saturday. It took the hospital administration more than four hours to arrange a bed for her, he added. Bihar Congress president Rajesh Ram slammed the state government for its insensitivity towards women, citing the rising incidents of sexual assault. The law-and-order machinery has completely collapsed in the state, he said. Sushil Kumar, senior superintendent of police (SSP) of Muzaffarpur district, said that the accused, identified as Rohit Sahni has already been arrested. Muzaffarpur residents alleged that the accused Rohit Sahani had earlier committed the same offence with another 12-year-old girl at the village and attempted to kill her. However, she had survived in the incident. Meanwhile, the Muzaffarpur unit of the Congress staged a protest at Saraiyaganj Tower Chowk, condemning the incident and threatening to intensify their agitation. Party members alleged that three cases of rape have been reported in the district in recent days.

Gorakhpur to Patna in just 5 hours with new Vande Bharat Express: Check timings, ticket prices, stoppages here

The new Gorakhpur-Patna Vande Bharat express, with 8 coaches, will cover a distance of about 500 kilometers. From Gorakhpur to Patna, Muzaffarpur will be the only scheduled stoppage.