Rediff

The Indian women's hockey team will commence its campaign in the six-nation Asian Champions Trophy on November 19 in Bhopal, aiming for a third consecutive title. Following their recent Asian Games gold, India will face Malaysia in their opening match, with the tournament concluding on November 28.

A 62-year-old retired professor, Chandrashekar Bhaskar Dahikar, was allegedly killed by 21-year-old Ajay Shamrao Bramhankar in Gondia, Maharashtra. The motive stemmed from a failed land deal where Bramhankar, entrusted with Rs 4 lakh of the token amount, was unable to return it after losing a significant portion in intraday share trading. Dahikar was found dead on Tuesday, attacked with a brick, and Bramhankar confessed to the crime.

Tamil Nadu prison authorities have authorised personnel to use firearms to prevent escapes, following a major security breach at Theni District Jail where 17 inmates fled. While 15 have been recaptured, a manhunt continues for two. The new directives include deploying armed guards at watchtowers across 125 state prisons.

Cyclone Arnab, which made landfall as a very severe cyclonic storm along the Andhra Pradesh-Yanam coast, has weakened and is now expected to bring heavy rainfall and strong winds to parts of West Bengal until October 31, while Odisha remains on high alert with over 30,000 residents evacuated.

Police in Madhya Pradesh have arrested 10 individuals in connection with a spurious liquor racket, revealing that one accused used Artificial Intelligence to learn home-brewing methods with chemicals. The illicit alcohol, mixed with real liquor and sold in licensed bottles, is linked to claims of multiple deaths in Dewas district, prompting a state-level investigation.

The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) has requested a meeting with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to discuss postponing the INDIA bloc's November 1 rally at Ramlila Maidan. Traders fear significant business disruption during the festive Diwali season due to the expected large crowd. CTI proposes a dialogue, offering to withdraw protests if convinced of benefits or seeking postponement if losses are proven.

The Madras High Court has ruled that non-Hindus must pledge reverence and abide by traditional customs to enter Agamic temples, stating that failure to do so would compromise religious sanctity. The court criticised political figures for performative displays of faith and directed authorities to strictly enforce temple entry rules.

Police in Latur, Maharashtra, raided an unlicensed moneylender's house in Nilanga on Tuesday, seizing blank cheques, account diaries, and bond papers. The Cooperation Department has urged the public to report illegal moneylending.

The INDIA bloc plans to hold a 'public impeachment' of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's residence on October 30. This decision follows alleged denials of permission to host the event at the Ashok Hotel and Ramlila Maidan. The event is a precursor to a larger rally on November 1, protesting alleged electoral irregularities and demanding Kumar's resignation.

A special POCSO court in Thane has sentenced Aakash Baburao Thorat to 20 years' rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting a 5-year-old girl in 2019. The court relied heavily on the victim's testimony, finding it credible despite defence attempts to discredit it. The accused was also fined and the victim was awarded compensation.

Five people, including four members of a business family, were killed in a shooting at Hotel Bilas Inn in Guwahati following a dispute between the property owners and the leaseholder. The last rites for the victims were performed in their native places in Barpeta and Baksa districts. A Special Investigation Team has been formed to probe the incident, and the accused leaseholder has been arrested.

Beijing published the world's first global framework for vocational standards. If India does not act swiftly, it will be compelled to certify its workers by someone else's rulebook, cautions Abhay Jere, ex-Vice Chairman, AICTE.

India has invited all 10 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member nations, including Pakistan, to the inaugural Civilisational Dialogue Forum in New Delhi from November 20 to 22. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had announced this initiative earlier, aiming to strengthen cultural ties and mutual understanding among SCO countries. The forum will also address the collective fight against terrorism, a key concern for India.

A man and five family members in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, have been booked after he allegedly pronounced triple talaq to his wife over the phone following dowry demands. The victim, Ruksar, filed a complaint stating she was harassed for dowry and then given triple talaq when she refused.

Exit polls from Israel's parliamentary election indicate no clear winner, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party projected as the largest but his bloc falling short of a majority. The opposition bloc, led by Gadi Eisenkot, is also short of the required seats, leading to anticipated prolonged coalition negotiations and potential political instability.

Hundreds of Shiv Sena (UBT) supporters blocked Thane's Ghodbunder Road overnight, burning tyres and causing severe traffic disruption, to protest the detention of Ram Purnekar and demand arrests in connection with his father Pradeep Purnekar's murder. The protest, which stranded commuters for hours, was triggered by Ram Purnekar's attempt to march to the Deputy CM's residence, leading to political leaders joining the agitation and calls for the Deputy CM's resignation.

Cyclone Arnab remained stationary along the Andhra Pradesh coast early on Wednesday, with its landfall process expected to continue for several hours. Heavy rains and strong winds lashed multiple districts, leading to flooding and power disruptions. Rescue operations were underway for stranded individuals, and the Chief Minister reviewed the situation, directing officials to manage the aftermath and set up rehabilitation centres.

The US Navy's Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) has predicted that Cyclone Arnab could intensify into a powerful storm with winds reaching 222 kmph, significantly higher than the India Meteorological Department's (IMD) forecast of 125-135 kmph at landfall. Coastal Andhra Pradesh is bracing for potential severe weather and a sea surge.

Counting of votes has commenced for Legislative Council seats across Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Karnataka, with significant political implications ahead of upcoming electoral battles. The elections saw varied turnouts and intense contests between ruling alliances and opposition parties.

Bhopal's special POCSO court has sentenced former newspaper owner Pyare Miyan to 10 life imprisonments and a Rs 77.64 lakh fine for the rape and sexual assault of five minor girls. His accomplice, Rabia Bi, received a 20-year prison sentence. Miyan, 78, lured victims with job promises since 2014.

Jammu police have arrested the main accused in an alleged Rs 4.10 crore fraud involving fake job offers in the railways and tenders for water bottle supply. The investigation is ongoing to identify and apprehend other suspects and trace financial transactions.

Police in Mansa, Punjab, forcibly removed the body of a 35-year-old man who allegedly died of a drug overdose, leading to clashes with his family and protesters. The family sought to join a protest demanding justice for an anti-drug activist. Police claim the death is being investigated as a murder and used mild force, while opposition parties have severely criticised the government and police for their handling of the situation and alleged disrespect to Sikh sentiments.

Police in Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh, have arrested three individuals suspected of involvement in a multi-crore fraud targeting the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme. The investigation revealed an inter-district gang, with the arrested including a Common Service Centre operator, a contractual government operator who allegedly leaked official credentials, and a network partner involved in money laundering. Authorities recovered significant evidence and are continuing their probe into the wi

A 47-year-old scientist with the DRDO's Aeronautical Development Agency, Sharad Katiyar, died by suicide in Bengaluru on October 21. His family informed police that he was suffering from mental distress due to work-related pressure and was undergoing treatment for a depressive episode. Police have registered an unnatural death case.

A 47-year-old scientist with the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) in Bengaluru allegedly died by suicide after jumping from his apartment building. His family reported that he had been suffering from work-related pressure and mental distress for over a month, for which he was receiving treatment. Police have registered an unnatural death case.

A 17-year-old Class 12 student was found hanging from a ceiling fan at her home in Wazirpur JJ Colony, northwest Delhi, on Tuesday. Her family suspects foul play, and police are investigating the incident, with no suicide note found.

A 13-year-old girl in Kolkata was allegedly drugged and gang-raped, with the accused filming the act and using the video to blackmail her family for money. Police have launched an investigation based on the mother's complaint, though no arrests have been made till Tuesday.

A 16-year-old girl was allegedly hacked to death by her uncle with an axe in Rajasthan's Didwana district on Tuesday after an argument. Her grandmother, who tried to intervene, was seriously injured. The accused later attempted suicide by consuming pesticide and is now undergoing treatment under police custody.

Two men accused in separate murder and rape-murder cases were killed in alleged gunfights with law enforcers in West Bengal on Tuesday. Both incidents occurred during crime-scene reconstruction after the accused purportedly snatched firearms from officers and opened fire. The cases involved the rape and murder of a 17-year-old schoolgirl and the killing of a BJP worker, both of which had triggered public outrage.

Police in Bhilwara, Rajasthan, have arrested two men, including a neighbour, for the alleged murder of a 70-year-old woman. The victim was reportedly strangled, robbed of her gold jewellery, and her body was burnt to destroy evidence before the remains were dumped in a river.

Three Myanmar nationals have been apprehended in Hyderabad for allegedly repeatedly sexually assaulting an 18-year-old woman, also from Myanmar, who was reportedly confined by her husband. The woman's husband, the main accused, is currently absconding, and police are investigating the case.

Assam Police have formed a six-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe a firing incident at Hotel Bilas Inn in Guwahati that claimed five lives on Monday night. The incident stemmed from a dispute between the hotel owners and leaseholder Ghanakanta Gogoi, who has been arrested. Four members of a family and a staffer were killed, while another person was injured. The bereaved family alleges the attack was planned.

A 28-year-old farm labourer in Latur, Maharashtra, allegedly died by suicide on Monday due to distress over unpaid loans from private finance companies. He left a note naming the companies and expressing inability to repay his mounting debt.

Police in Hyderabad are investigating a tragic incident where a 31-year-old man allegedly killed his two-year-old daughter before he and his wife died by suicide. Suicide notes were found, but the exact reasons remain unknown as of Tuesday.

A 31-year-old chef, his wife, and their two-year-old daughter were found dead in Hyderabad in an apparent murder-suicide. Police found suicide notes, but the exact reasons for the tragedy are still under investigation.

The Supreme Court has sought the Centre's response on a petition filed by the Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA) challenging the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023, and its accompanying Rules. The DNPA argues that the law, lacking exemptions for journalism, could impede news gathering and infringe upon citizens' right to information. The challenge highlights concerns over consent requirements for reporters and the Act's impact on the Right to Information.

Two suspected gangsters were arrested in Ranchi following a gunfight with police on Tuesday. One suspect sustained a bullet injury, while the other was taken into custody. They are linked to the Rahul Singh gang, involved in extortion and other criminal cases across multiple districts.

The Enforcement Directorate has attached assets worth over Rs 23 crore in an ongoing money laundering investigation related to an alleged online betting network. The assets belong to Karnataka Congress MLA K C Veerendra, Gulshan Khattar, and Neha Tandon. Veerendra, arrested in August 2025, is considered the prime accused in the case, which stems from FIRs across multiple states concerning illegal online betting platforms like King567.

A passenger arriving from Sharjah was arrested at Ahmedabad airport on Tuesday after Customs officials found 495 grams of 24-karat gold paste, valued at over Rs 72 lakh, concealed in his luggage. The individual, Moin Sabin Vahora, faces charges under the Customs Act.

The Election Commission has directed five states - Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand - to transfer officers involved in election work ahead of the 2027 assembly polls. This move, a standard practice for fair elections, targets officers in their home districts or those completing three years in a district by May 2027, covering various administrative and police roles.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the road rage incident involving female biker Shivani Chauhan in Gurugram has concluded that accused Kalyan Baisla deliberately rammed his car into her motorcycle after misbehaving with her. All charges, including attempt to murder, are likely to be retained in the upcoming chargesheet.

Israel's crucial general elections witnessed over 16 per cent voter turnout in the first three hours, the highest since 1981, indicating a tight race between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and challenger Gadi Eisenkot. The election is influenced by the ongoing conflict and demands for accountability over the October 7, 2023, attack, with Arab citizens' participation potentially playing a significant role in the outcome.

The Allahabad High Court has scheduled November 30 to hear the appeal of Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla, who were sentenced to death by a Meerut court in the sensational blue drum murder case. The duo was convicted for the murder of Muskan's husband, Saurabh Rajput, and attempting to conceal his body in a cement-filled drum.

The Supreme Court has questioned the Centre regarding the significant disparity between the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) of medicines and their price to retailers, suggesting the entire system might be favouring manufacturers. The court also expressed concerns about the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA)'s effectiveness, despite the Centre's argument that medicine prices in India are among the lowest globally. The bench has reserved its order on the matter.

A 24-year-old man, Akshay, was allegedly beaten to death by his in-laws in Biharipur village, Muzaffarnagar, for marrying their daughter against their wishes a year ago. The incident occurred on Monday evening. Police have registered a murder case and arrested two persons, with security tightened in the village.

The Bombay High Court has granted interim relief to Bollywood actor and US citizen Imran Khan, keeping a Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) notice in abeyance until November 2. The notice had directed Khan to leave India by October 28, failing which deportation procedures would be initiated. The court deferred the hearing after the Solicitor General sought time, with an assurance that no coercive action would be taken against Khan until the next hearing.

Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have identified a new species of electric ray, named Tetronarce Ramanamurthy, in the deep waters of the southeastern Arabian Sea. This discovery, part of the Deep Ocean Mission, marks the first confirmed record of the genus Tetronarce in the northern Indian Ocean and highlights India's rich deep-sea biodiversity.

Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari stated on Tuesday that the opposition to 20 per cent ethanol-blended petrol (E20) was a paid campaign, noting that millions of vehicles have been running on similar blends without issues for three years. He also highlighted the government's commitment to improving highway quality, reviewing numerous projects, and expanding India's road network, emphasising infrastructure's economic impact.

The Government Railway Police (GRP) in Mumbai have registered an FIR against two passengers for allegedly assaulting and manhandling an on-duty ticket checker at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) last week. The incident occurred on October 26 when the ticket checker, Jignesh Vasantlal Bhavsar, attempted to verify their tickets. The accused, Rishikesh Sanjay Pawar and Nikita Rishikesh Pawar, allegedly refused to show valid identification or tickets and assaulted Bhavsar. They have been

Three individuals arrested for allegedly forcing a teenage boy, his father, and a friend to walk naked in Kolkata after the boy kissed his girlfriend, were paraded by police to reconstruct the incident. The accused, including the girl's father, uncle, and elder brother, were taken through the locality shirtless and in shorts, mirroring the humiliation they allegedly inflicted. The incident, stemming from vigilantism, led to public outrage and a police investigation into assault and alleged firea