The Times of India

Uttar Pradesh government has upheld Supreme Court directives on loudspeaker usage, denying requests for mosque announcements during Ramzan. While Samajwadi Party members argued for 'sehri' and 'iftar' calls, the state cited the 10 pm to 6 am sound restriction. Officials stated mobile phones make traditional time announcements unnecessary, emphasizing adherence to judicial orders over religious practices.

A Vande Bharat train carrying RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat was stoned near Kauda village in Uttar Pradesh, cracking a windowpane. Police are investigating, with preliminary reports suggesting children playing cricket may have been involved. This incident follows meetings between Bhagwat and Uttar Pradesh's Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Ministers, sparking political discussions ahead of state elections.

A grim discovery was made in Sonbhadra district as a teenager's head was found hanging from a tree in a forest. The 16-year-old, missing since January 19th, was identified by his brother. Authorities are investigating the case, with initial assessments suggesting the remains are several weeks old. The incident has sent shockwaves through the local community.

A Bahraich woman, Nankai Kumari, in extreme labour pain and alone, allegedly cut her abdomen with a knife to deliver her baby. Villagers found her critically injured, but doctors at a local health centre successfully facilitated a normal delivery of a healthy baby girl. The mother was later transferred to Lucknow for advanced treatment due to severe injuries.

A gang of five to six men stole a 440 kVA transformer, valued at over Rs 11 lakh, from a residential area on the outskirts of Lucknow. The thieves stripped the transformer of its valuable copper binding, leaving nearly 300 households without power. Authorities are reviewing CCTV footage to identify the culprits.

A woman allegedly stormed a Lucknow power substation, assaulting staff and tearing documents after her home's electricity was disconnected. Nidhi Sharma reportedly became agitated when asked for account details, leading to a physical altercation where employees were injured. Police have registered an FIR and are investigating.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa refuted claims of widespread voter deletions, stating only 4,336 names were removed via third-party Form-7 applications. Over 1.89 lakh Form-7 applications were received, with a significant portion being self-filed or related to transfers. New additions saw 54.4 lakh Form-6 applications, boosting the electoral roll.