The Times of India News

Assam Police and BSF deported 19 illegal immigrants to Bangladesh following their apprehension in Nagaon and Karbi Anglong. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma declared it a full Doomsday moment for infiltrators, emphasizing a zero-tolerance policy. This operation is part of a larger campaign to safeguard Assam's demographic balance and security, sending a clear warning to those attempting illegal settlement.

Renowned sarod player Shiraz Ali Khan fled Bangladesh to Kolkata after his concert venue was vandalized. Hours before his performance, the cultural hub was attacked amid unrest. Khan, whose family has roots in Bangladesh, concealed his Indian identity to safely depart, while his tabla player remains stranded. He vows not to return until artists and cultural spaces are protected.

A basement wall collapse in Agra's Bah sub-division tragically claimed two lives and left five others critically injured. Villagers were gathered around a bonfire near the newly built wall when it gave way, burying them under debris. The injured were rushed to a community health center, with two succumbing to their injuries.

BJP secured the Kamptee municipal council president post for the first time in 40 years, with Ajay Agrawal winning by a narrow margin of 103 votes. The close contest saw allegations of malpractice from the runner-up, Congress' Shakur Nagani, who claimed a suspicious late shift in results.

BJP's Pramila Panchal secured the presidency of Mudkhed Municipal Council by a razor-thin margin of one vote against the AIMIM candidate. Despite a recount demand, the result stood, prompting Panchal to reflect on the profound significance of individual votes, echoing Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's philosophy.

Union minister G Kishan Reddy has written to Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, demanding clarification on the party's unfulfilled promises to farmers and others in Telangana. Reddy questioned Gandhi about the status of the Abhayahastam manifesto, released during the 2023 assembly polls, and highlighted the state government's focus on a new vision document instead of addressing earlier guarantees.

Congress staged nationwide protests at district headquarters against the alleged rollback of MGNREGA, accusing the Modi government of dismantling the scheme. Party leaders asserted that the lack law seeking to repeal it will be defied, with future actions to be decided on December 27. Left parties have also called for joint protests.

President Droupadi Murmu has approved the Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025, replacing the UPA-era MGNREGA. The new law guarantees 125 days of wage employment per rural household, enhancing livelihood security and income stability for the poor.

Kerala's Education Minister V Sivankutty has warned private schools against blocking Christmas celebrations, citing reports of such incidents. He emphasized that the state government will not tolerate divisive religious models and will take strict action against institutions promoting narrow communal interests.

India suspended visa operations in Chittagong following protests sparked by the lynching of a Hindu man for alleged blasphemy. New Delhi slammed attempts to equate protests targeting its facilities with a demonstration outside the Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi, calling them misleading propaganda.

The BJP-led Mahayuti coalition has secured a decisive victory in Maharashtra's civic elections, winning nearly 207 out of 288 council and nagar panchayat president posts. This performance mirrors their assembly election success, with the BJP emerging as the biggest gainer. The results consolidate Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis's position and are seen as a significant win for the ruling alliance.

A three-year-old tigress was flown from Pench Tiger Reserve to Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve. This marks a significant step in an inter-state tiger translocation program. The operation involved extensive planning and use of technology. Air transport was chosen to minimize stress and travel time for the animal. This initiative is a template for future tiger movements between states.

A survivor of a brutal 2016 gang rape on NH-91, now a law student aiming to be a judge, shared her family's harrowing journey of constant relocation and vilification. Despite enduring savage and inhuman treatment and nightmares, they remained united. A recent court conviction offers hope, though healing remains a distant prospect.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat emphasized that viewing the Sangh through the BJP's lens is a ig mistake, clarifying the organization's goal is the organization of Hindu society without opposing others. He defined Hindus as those respecting their motherland, irrespective of language or rituals, and urged Muslims to recognize their shared national and cultural identity.

A teenager from Patna has vanished without a trace for four days after heading out from her home. Her alarmed family received a frantic phone call, leading them to file a police report. Investigators tracked her last communication to a guava seller near Gandhi Maidan, where witnesses reported seeing her board an e-rickshaw.

In a tumultuous education landscape, Bihar universities are clashing with UGC guidelines and state orders by exhibiting a concerning inconsistency in confirming assistant professors post-probation. While some institutions provide confirmation at the one-year mark, others stretch it to two, creating a fragmented system.

In Kasianganj, four suspects have been arrested in connection with the brutal murder of 25-year-old Zulfkar. The heinous crime reportedly arose from familial outrage over a supposed affair. Zulfkar was enticed to a woman's residence, where he was discovered in a compromising scenario, brutally assaulted, and ultimately killed.