Swordplay on garba beats,women power on display at Akola events
Over 130 girls and women participating in unique Navratri event
Families Perform Kanya Pujan On Ashtami, Festive Frenzy Grips City
Police security beefed up at Wathoda institute after protests intensify
Maharashtra CEO Seeks Changes to Form 6
The Maharashtra CEOs letter seeks to remove the words new voters from the forms title and introduce an alternative declaration for applicants who were previously enrolled in an Assembly constituency but are no longer registered anywhere and are applying for inclusion again.
69-year-old man dies after falling into 10-foot-deep pit at Pune civic work site
Digital Desk | Pune, Oct 18 (IANS) A 69-year-old man died after falling into an 8 to 10-foot-deep pit dug for a drainage line project by the Pune Municipal Corporation in the Yerawada area of Pune in Maharashtra, police said on Sunday. The incident took place around 12.30 p.m. on October 17 near Chitra Chowk vegetable market. The deceased has been identified as Pradeep Pardeshi, a resident of Yerawada. According to police, Pardeshi was walking along the road when an autorickshaw passing nearby allegedly brushed against him, causing him to lose his balance and fall into the excavation pit. Senior Police Inspector Yuvraj Nandre of Laxmi Nagar Police Station told IANS that drainage line work had been underway at the location for the past 15 days. He said barricades had been installed around the excavation site as a precautionary measure. Following the incident, Pardeshi was rushed to Shubhankar Hospital in Yerawada, where he succumbed to his injuries during treatment in the evening. Nandre said the police received information about the incident through a medico-legal case (MLC) intimation on the morning of October 18. Initially, we were informed that a vehicle had skidded and fallen into the pit, resulting in the death of a person. We made some inquiries following the information, he said. The police subsequently contacted the family members of the deceased to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident. After some inquiries, the family members told us that they would visit the police station after performing the last rites and lodge a formal complaint, Nandre said. Police said no formal complaint had been registered in the case so far. Further action will be initiated after the family members approach the police station and submit their complaint, Nandre added. The incident has once again brought attention to safety arrangements at road excavation sites during ongoing civic infrastructure projects.
Kolkata Woman Defrauded of Rs 61 Lakh by Fake NIA Officers in Mumbai
Mobile Phone Row Turns Deadly in Mumbra; Four Held Within an Hour
Attack on actor Tiger Shroff: Maharashtra CM vows swift action, oppn slams deteriorating law & order
RSS social work is most impactful, a source of inspiration for youth: German politician Rahul Kumar
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 18 (IANS) On the occasion of the centenary year of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Rahul Kumar, Deputy Head of the city of Frankfurt in Germany and the first person of Indian origin to become an Asian City Parliament member, highly praised the organisations social work in connection with the book Hundred Years Young: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Asked about his experience with the RSS and which aspects of its work had influenced him the most in the context of the book, the German politician said, The social work of the RSS is the most impactful thing, especially for the youth. Here in Germany, we do not have the RSS; we have the HSS, and it is working here in Europe and in Germany as well. Since I was a child, I have been watching their activities. They organise cultural programmes and take up many projects for the youth. This was very impactful for me and also for my elder brother. Commenting on the book Hundred Years Young: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Rahul Kumar said, This book is perhaps an inspiration for the youth. If they read that a person of Indian origin has become the first Indian Asian City Parliament member in an international city like Frankfurt, it will be an inspiration. My goal was to give this spiritual and inspirational feeling that is in our blood; we have to feel it. In every Indian, in every person of Indian origin, there is the feeling of Bharat Mata, and you have to feel it. And I think then all the challenges that come in the future will not be as difficult as they were earlier. When asked how his personal experiences had helped him understand the RSS better and whether direct dialogue and conversation could help people develop a deeper understanding of the organisation, Rahul Kumar said that to feel the warmth of water, one has to step into the water. Therefore, to know about the RSS or the HSS, one has to connect with people. For me, RSS means Right, Seva and Satsang, he said. On the RSS completing 100 years and its contribution to nation-building, social service, discipline and the development of leadership qualities among the youth, Rahul Kumar said, It has been a long journey, but I think it was not an easy journey for the organisation because they faced many challenges. Completing 100 years while walking on the same path of humanity, service and culture is not easy. So, I feel that completing these 100 years is a big achievement for me, for the RSS and for the entire community as well. On India-Germany relations, Rahul said the ties are very friendly. There are frequent visits of delegations from both sides. I think two months ago the Chief Minister of our state of Hessen was in Maharashtra. He signed state-level agreements. One and a half years ago, I was in India with our state delegation, and we signed several state-level Letters of Intent with Uttarakhand and Haryana. Speaking about Indian culture, Rahul Kumar said they do not live it in the same way as it is lived in India. Festivals like Diwali and Holi mean a lot to us. When we say Diwali and Holi, a smile comes on our face; we can feel the colours and the joy. It is not the same when we talk about some German cultures or German festivals. How will the people living here in Germany or Europe, especially the younger generation, connect with their own country from where our parents came? I think this bridge has been very well built through the HSS, through cultural activities for children, so that they can connect with our values, with where we truly come from. He added, I was nominated as the Deputy Head of the city of Frankfurt just a few weeks ago, so now I have one more role. It is more administrative in natureconnecting people and also solving their problems at the local level. This is something I would like to do because it connects a very large number of people from different communities. So, I think it will be a good opportunity, not only for me but also for all those associated with me, to know more about my culture, my thoughts and my perspectives that I have developed here in Germany, including my projects with India. Rahul Kumar further said, In the last few years, India has had a very good international representation across the world, including in Europe. Everyone knows about our culture and our festivals. But the suggestion I would give, or what I am focusing on for next year, is to connect the youth of the world even more. There are many young people whose parents are from India or who were born in India and later moved to other countries. On how Prime Minister Modis focus on youth empowerment, entrepreneurship and innovation can help India become a developed nation and create new opportunities for the younger generation, Rahul Kumar said, I cannot say how India can become one, because I think India is already among the top countries in the world. Everyone is talking about India, about AI, about the youth, about start-ups and here in Europe and Germany we can see that so many people from abroad are coming to Germany and doing well.
Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant criticises Maharashtra government after Tiger Shroff firing incident
The News Mill
DRDO develops 20% more lightweight armour for future combat vehicles
Army's Southern Command troops rehearse combat roles, desert manoeuvres
Digital Desk | Pune, Oct 18 (IANS) The Southern Command of Indian Army showcased operational preparedness and combat effectiveness in the desert terrain in an integrated exercise, an official said on Sunday. The #BattleAxeDivision and #BlackMaceBrigade unleashed their mechanised might across challenging desert terrain sharpening battlefield manoeuvres, rehearsing combat roles and synchronising operations, the Southern Command said in a post on social media platform X. The #IntegratedOperations showcased speed, precision and seamless coordination among combat elements, reinforcing #OperationalPreparedness and combat effectiveness, it added. Earlier, the General Officer Commanding led discussions with officials of the Indian Coast Guard, Maharashtra Police Chief Sadanand Vasant Date and Maharashtra Home Department on emerging security challenges, focusing on boosting civil-military synergy. In a message on X, the Southern Command said, Strengthening a Whole-of-Nation approach to security, HQ Maharashtra Gujarat & Goa (MG & G) Area convened a joint conference under the aegis of the General Officer Commanding, reinforcing coordinated preparedness for emerging security challenges. Bringing together senior stakeholders including DGP Maharashtra, Principal Secretary (Home), ADGP (Int), IG (Sec), FOMA, AOC MAO and DIG Coast Guard, the deliberations focused on Rear Area Security, swift mobilisation and integrated contingency response during war-like situations. The engagement strengthened Civil-Military synergy, inter-agency coordination and collective operational readiness, the post on X said. Meanwhile, the 5th Annual Joint Bilateral Military Exercise AUSTRAHIND 2026 between the Indian Army and the Australian Army is scheduled to start on Monday and last till November 2 in Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala. The aim of Exercise AUSTRAHIND is to promote military cooperation between India and Australia through enhancement of interoperability in conduct of joint sub conventional operations in semi-urban environment in semi-desert terrain under Chapter VII of the UN mandate. The exercise focuses on high degree of physical fitness, joint planning and joint tactical drills. Exercise AUSTRAHIND enables the two sides to share their best practices in tactics, techniques and procedures of conducting tactical operations. The exercise will also facilitate developing bonhomie and camaraderie between soldiers of both the sides.
Supriya Sule questions Home Ministry on Maharashtra firing incidents amid rising crime
The News Mill
Concerns Raised Over Mumbais Law and Order After Shooting Incident Involving Tiger Shroff
The Congress party criticizes the Maharashtra government following a shooting incident involving actor Tiger Shroff, raising law and order concerns. Concerns Raised Over Mumbais Law and Order After Shooting Incident Involving Tiger Shroff
Five killed as car crashes into State transport bus in Maharashtra's Beed district
CCTV footage from the area showed the speeding car lose control while attempting to avoid potholes on a bridge, leading to the head-on crash with the bus
SRA to hear private landowners before giving slum tag
Thought they were crackers: Eyewitness recounts firing at Tiger Shroffs car in Mumbai
Maharashtras Law and Order Questioned After Shooting Incident Involving Tiger Shroff
NCP MP Supriya Sule criticizes Maharashtras law and order following a shooting incident involving actor Tiger Shroff. Maharashtras Law and Order Questioned After Shooting Incident Involving Tiger Shroff
Sanjay Raut Slams Shinde Sena Over Delayed Visit to Purnekar Family
Child Trafficking Gang Busted In Beed
Police in Beed, Maharashtra, have arrested four individuals, exposing a child trafficking and marriage gang. The arrests came after reopening a five-year-old case involving the abduction and sale of a 13-year-old girl, who was later forced into child marriage.
Jammu-based Army officers wife booked for alleged espionage
The woman is accused of allegedly sharing sensitive information, documents, photographs and electronic data through encrypted communication channels with individuals suspected of having links to foreign intelligence agencies. The allegations are under investigation
Fadnavis Hits Back At Uddhav Over Regime Change Remark
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis says governments must be changed through elections and constitutional processes, hitting back at Uddhav Thackerays regime change remarks.
On October 18, a shocking gunfire incident occurred involving Tiger Shroff in Mumbai's Juhu area. Fortunately, Shroff remained unharmed, though his driver did suffer injuries, prompting a police investigation. A video emerged featuring a man taking responsibility for the attack, claiming Shroff disregarded warnings. Maharashtra's minister reassured that Shroff is safe and stated that senior police officials are on the case.
A firing incident allegedly targeting actor Tiger Shroffs car in Mumbais Juhu area has prompted the Mumbai Police to form 15 teams to investigate the case. Shroff and his driver were taken to Nanavati Hospital following the incident, with the driver sustaining a gunshot injury. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed police to conduct a swift investigation. Alleged claims of responsibility linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang remain unverified.
Airlines reject Navi Mumbai shift, challenge Mumbai airports summer slot reduction plan
Opposition Slams Maharashtra Govt Over Law And Order After Tiger Shroff Car Firing
Opposition parties in Maharashtra have criticised the state government following a firing incident involving actor Tiger Shroff's car in Mumbai. They allege a deterioration of law and order, citing this and other recent high-profile incidents, and demand a separate home minister.
Nalasopara sex racket case: Another woman files complaint against Arif Shaikh; five cases registered in a week Nalasopara (Maharashtra): The Nalasopara sexual exploitation case in Maharashtra has taken a fresh turn, with another 22-year-old woman filing a complaint against the prime accused, Arif Shaikh, taking the total number of cases registered against him to five [] The post Nalasopara sex racket case: Another woman files complaint against Arif Shaikh; five cases registered in a week appeared first on Mangalorean.com .
Gunshots, screams, people run in panic: Video captures firing at Tiger Shroffs car; watch
Puja pandals across Mumbai Metropolitan Region draw vast weekend footfall
Reliance Retail faces FDA crackdown again; action also on Blinkit-linked facility
Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration suspended the licenses of Reliance Retail warehouses after inspections showed safety violations. The inspections revealed issues such as rodent infestation, improper storage, and expired products. In another facility linked to Blinkit, cold-room temperatures exceeded safe limits, and employees lacked necessary food safety training. The FDA registered FIRs and seized a significant quantity of expired products.
Adopt output-based empanelment system for housekeeping services in BMC hospitals in Mumbai: BJP MLA
Maharashtra gambling racket: 11 arrested, cash and vehicles seized in Beed
The racket, which was allegedly being operated from a tin shed at a sports and recreation centre, was uncovered during a raid on Saturday, the official said
Akasa Air extends suspension of Riyadh, Jeddah flights until October 27
Akasa Air has extended the suspension of flights to and from Riyadh and Jeddah until October 27 amid security concerns. Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy has issued a safety advisory for Indian nationals in Saudi Arabia
Kolkata stampede: CM Suvendu orders probe into role of temporary home guards
Taking a dig at the previous Trinamool Congress (TMC) government, Adhikari also claimed that his administration had inherited a baggage of rubbish from the erstwhile regime, adding that cleaning up the system would take time
FDA raids: Rs 3.89 crore chilli powder, raisins seized in festive crackdown
The department said inspections revealed deficiencies in temperature control, pest management, sanitation and the handling of stored food products. Samples of the products have been sent for laboratory analysis, and further legal proceedings will follow after the reports are received
Maharashtra heatwave: Solapur tops state with 37.9 degrees Celsius
Mumbai recorded a maximum temperature of 33.7 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 27 degrees Celsius, with the minimum 1.8 degrees above normal. Santacruz recorded a maximum of 34.3 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 25.6 degrees Celsius
Five killed in Beed as car trying to avoid potholes collides with bus
The accident occurred around 11 am at Shindewadi Cross Road on the Khamgaon-Pandharpur National Highway in Majalgaon tehsil, around 55 km from the district headquarters, an official said
France protests: 1,200 arrested, 150 police personnel injured, says PM
The student-led protests, which began with demonstrations against budget cuts in education and what protesters described as deplorable school conditions, turned violent amid wider unrest in parts of Europe over rising inflation
Uddhav Couldnt Prevent Regime Change In His Own Party: CM Fadnavis Hits Back UBT
Maharashtra CM Fadnavis said that those seeking a change of government must contest elections and win public support
Thiruvananthapuram airport to suspend flights for five hours on October 20
Thiruvananthapuram International Airport Ltd (TIAL) said operations would remain suspended from 4 pm to 9 pm to facilitate the centuries-old religious procession. Passengers have been advised to check with their respective airlines for revised flight schedules
Maharashtra weather update: Yellow alert for rain in 12 districts
The alert covers Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Kolhapur, the ghats of Kolhapur, Satara, the ghats of Satara, Sangli, Solapur, Hingoli, Nanded, Latur and Dharashiv
Nanded Police destroy illegal sand mining equipment worth Rs 3.15 crore in major crackdown
Digital Desk | Nanded (Maharashtra), Oct 18 (IANS) In a major crackdown on illegal sand mining, the police in Maharashtra's Nanded have seized and destroyed equipment and materials worth Rs 3.15 crore used for illegal extraction of sand from the Godavari river, officials said on Sunday. The action was carried out on October 16 following instructions from Nanded Superintendent of Police Neelabh Rohan. The operation was conducted under the leadership of Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Manik Bendre, with teams from Nanded Rural, Airport and Mudkhed police stations participating in the coordinated raids. According to an official police statement, simultaneous raids were conducted at several illegal sand extraction points along the Godavari riverbed. During the operation, police seized and destroyed nine large iron boats, each valued at Rs 30 lakh, with a combined value of Rs 2.70 crore. These boats were destroyed through controlled explosions using gelatin sticks after completing the necessary documentation at the spot. One smaller boat worth Rs 15 lakh and a sand extraction engine valued at Rs 3.5 lakh were also destroyed. Moreover, 23 floating rafts, each valued at Rs 50,000, along with 58 brasses of illegally extracted sand, were destroyed by burning and immersing them in the river. Their combined value was estimated at Rs 14.40 lakh. Police also seized a tipper truck loaded with two brasses of sand, valued at Rs 12.10 lakh. The total value of the seized and destroyed material stands at Rs 3.15 crore, according to the police. The process of registering cases under various provisions, including the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), has been initiated at Nanded Rural, Mudkhed and Airport police stations. The operation was supervised by Police Inspectors Ashok Jadhav, Ganesh Karad and Ramdas Shendge, along with their respective teams. Police said such special drives would continue to curb illegal mining, protect the river ecosystem, and prevent revenue losses to the government.
Nashik Police Sub-Inspector dies in road accident, several others injured
Digital Desk | Nashik, Oct 18 (IANS) Nashik Rural Police's Sub-Inspector Vijay Bansidhar Gaikwad died, while several others, including police personnel and devotees, were injured after a road accident near Saptashrungi Gad in the Maharashtra district on Sunday, officials said. According to information provided by the District Information Office, Nashik, police personnel had been deployed at the Nanduri-Abhona T-point to manage traffic and crowds amid a heavy influx of devotees visiting the Saptashrungi Gad temple. During this time, a Maruti Ciaz car, travelling from the Nashik side, hit a motorcycle rider near a speed breaker, approximately 500 metres before the T-point. Following the collision, the car veered onto the wrong side of the road and crashed into an oncoming vehicle. It then rammed into police barricades placed in the middle of the road, hitting personnel deployed on traffic duty. Sub-Inspector Gaikwad, 57, sustained serious injuries, including injuries to his chin and both legs, besides a fracture in his spinal column. He succumbed to his injuries while being taken to the hospital. Police Head Constable Sachin Raut suffered a fracture in his left leg. Devotee Moreshwar Balu Patil, 52, a resident of Mahape in Mumbai, also sustained a fracture in his left leg, while his wife Tejaswi and Gopal Eknath Sonawane suffered minor injuries. The injured were initially taken to a hospital in Vani and later shifted to Nashik for further treatment. The injured police personnel are undergoing treatment at Magnum Heart Institute in Nashik. The Superintendent of Police and District Collector visited the hospital to enquire about the condition of the injured. Two police teams have been formed to trace the driver responsible for the accident. Gaikwad, a resident of Nashik's Adgaon area, was serving with the Nashik Rural Police. The police department is shocked and in a state of mourning over his death. His last rites will be performed in Nashik city.
Five people, including an 11-year-old boy, were killed in a road accident in Maharashtra's Beed district on Sunday morning after their car reportedly swerved to avoid potholes and collided with a state transport bus, police said. The accident took place around 11 am at Shindewadi Cross Road on the Khamgaon-Pandharpur National Highway in Majalgaon tehsil, around 55 km from the district headquarters, an official said.
Bomb threat on Ahmedabad-Hyderabad flight turns out to be schoolgirls prank
The Class 7 student was returning to Hyderabad with other students and teachers on Saturday after a school trip when she made the remark. A cabin crew member who overheard the conversation alerted the pilot, prompting a security alert, a police official said
Kolkata Durga Puja stampede: SIT under sitting judge to probe tragedy, says CM
The stampede, triggered by a massive rush of devotees at the Durga Puja pandal, claimed 19 lives and left 25 people injured. Adhikari said six people had been arrested in connection with the incident and that two of the injured remained in the ICU
Tamil Nadu: DRI recovers 137 kg of suspected meth, arrests four in Nagapattinam
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized 137 kg of suspected crystal methamphetamine, estimated to be worth over Rs 100 crore, in Tamil Nadus Nagapattinam district. Four people were arrested over an alleged plan to smuggle the consignment to Sri Lanka through a mid-sea transfer
Devendra Fadnavis hits back at Uddhav Thackeray over regime change remarks
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis criticised Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray over his support for regime change remarks. Fadnavis accused Thackeray of abandoning Hindutva and Balasaheb Thackerays ideals
Uddhav Thackeray vs Devendra Fadnavis Over 'Regime Change' Remarks
A fresh political confrontation has erupted in Maharashtra after comments linked to the 'regime change' controversy triggered a war of words between Uddhav Thackeray and Devendra Fadnavis. Thackeray said questioning the government often leads to critics being branded anti-national, while Fadnavis hit back, asserting that no one should call for or wish for a regime change and that the country remains united and strong. The exchange has intensified the political debate surrounding the controversial remarks.
Salman Khan joined the engagement celebrations of Shanaya Munot and Bhavik Merchant at Shanti Bungalow in Mumbai on Saturday. The ceremony was attended by Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde and MNS chief Raj Thackeray.
India bars sugar-based ethanol in 2026-27 tender, cuts maize incentive
The move comes amid concerns over domestic sugar availability and rising prices after poor rainfall in key sugar-producing States, including Maharashtra and Karnataka, raised the risk of lower output
India bars sugar-based ethanol in 2026-27 tender, cuts maize incentive
The move comes amid concerns over domestic sugar availability and rising prices after poor rainfall in key sugar-producing States, including Maharashtra and Karnataka, raised the risk of lower output
Tragic Collision in Maharashtra Claims Five Lives
A devastating crash in Beed, Maharashtra, involving a car and a bus, leaves five dead and one critically injured. Tragic Collision in Maharashtra Claims Five Lives
Pune: Three arrested within eight hours, valuables worth Rs 57.87 lakh recovered
The robbery allegedly took place between 1 am and 1.15 am, when the victim, Bharati Maruti Bhalekar, was asleep. According to Senior Police Inspector Ranjit Jadhav, the accused allegedly broke open the door of her hall, tied her hands and legs, covered her face with a sari and assaulted her
Retired bank manager loses Rs39.74 lakh in online share trading fraud
Inside Thomas Cook's new Tadoba wildlife retreat: Luxury villas, Saoji cuisine, and launch offers
Located in Maharashtra's Chimur region, the property provides strategic access to five distinct safari gates of the renowned Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve.
Leopard drags away nine-year-old pilgrim in Maharashtra's Chandrapur
A nine-year-old boy was attacked by a leopard in Chandrapur district while walking with a neighbour. The incident occurred as the child was part of a pilgrimage to the Mata Mahakali temple. Local residents, police, and forest department teams conducted a search for the injured boy. He was subsequently found in nearby bushes with a deep neck wound and taken to the hospital.
Marco Rubio defends Trumps 60-day Russia sanctions waiver
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended President Donald Trumps 60-day waiver from Russia-related sanctions, citing Indias importance as a US partner and its continued reliance on Russian energy. He said Washington needed time to assess the wider economic impact of enforcing tariffs and sanctions together
London: Indian diaspora rallies in support of PM Modi, criticises CJP protesters
Members of the Indian diaspora rallied outside the Indian High Commission in London in support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, waving the Tricolour and raising slogans. Participants criticised Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) protesters amid demonstrations in India over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls
Army's Central Command chief calls for sharpening operational capabilities
Lieutenant General Sanjay Mitra, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Armys Central Command, visited forward areas in the Garhwal sector to review operational preparedness. He urged frontline troops to maintain vigilance, sharpen combat capabilities and remain ready for every contingency
Speeding car runs over devotees outside Durga Puja pandal in UP
Three people were killed and four injured after a speeding car ran over devotees watching a video outside a Durga Puja pandal in Chirgahiyan Belha village, Uttar Pradeshs Balrampur district, late Saturday night. Two injured persons were referred to a hospital in Bahraich, police said
Maharashtras Kolhati women preserve the States Tamasha folk tradition even as many face sexual exploitation, financial insecurity and social stigma, and their children are denied access to education and a chance to choose better future. Radheshyam Jadhav explores how community members and activists are working to break this intergenerational cycle of exploitation while preserving their cultural heritage
Soybean output may dip to 2%; MP, Rajasthan to cushion Maharashtra losses
India's soybean production is expected to decline marginally by 2.11 per cent to 107.93 lakh tonnes in the ongoing Kharif season despite drought-like conditions in several regions, the Soybean Processors Association of India (SOPA) has said. Higher output in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan will likely largely offset crop losses in Maharashtra, according to the association's first crop estimate report. The data was shared during the concluding session of SOPA's international soybean conference in Indore on Saturday. Soybean is a key oilseed crop that provides domestic cooking oil and a protein base for the livestock and poultry industries. Overall production is estimated to decline by 2.11 per cent from the previous season, the association said. It attributed the losses in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Telangana to prolonged dry spells and moisture deficiency during critical stages of crop growth. Soybean crops sown across a combined 7.02 lakh hectares in these three states were completel
Indias soybean output seen falling 2.1% to 107.93 lakh tonnes in Kharif 2026: Farmers' body
India's soybean production forecast indicates a slight decline to 107.93 lakh tonnes during the ongoing Kharif season. Drought-like conditions in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Telangana are contributing to this reduction in output. However, increased production in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan is expected to compensate for these losses. The area cultivated with soybean increased by approximately 5 lakh hectares compared to the previous season.
Bihar: Two vendors detained after Made in Pakistan bedsheets found on sale
Police in Bihars Motihari have detained two travelling vendors for questioning after complaints about bedsheets labelled Made in Pakistan being sold locally. Investigators are examining the products origin and tracing a possible supply link to a textile trader, while the authenticity of the labels remains unverified
Delhi-Mumbai Expressway accident: Eight from Madhya Pradesh killed in Rajasthan
At least eight people from Madhya Pradeshs Betul district were killed and around nine injured after a tempo traveller fell into a 15-foot-deep drain on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway in Rajasthans Kota district around 6 am on Saturday. The group was travelling to Khatu Shyam Temple in Sikar
Giant pumpkins, paper planes and AI tigers: The internets strangest stories
From a 1,083 kg pumpkin winning Californias World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off to Idahos David Rush catching 20 paper planes with his mouth, unusual stories are making headlines. The roundup also features a viral sheep mascot, an unexpected lottery win and an AI-generated video of Donald Trump
Do you have a title, will you be retaining Old Cypress, my mother had asked.
An ode to fish and fisherfolk of Mumbai
The cause is dull and chemical. Rice balls, flour, flowers and ghee go into the water
Flamingo nests found in Sambhar Lake
More than 4,000 flamingo nests documented at Rajasthans Sambhar Lake have raised hopes that the wetland could become a significant breeding ground beyond Gujarats Rann of Kutch. Wildlife photographer Gaurav Dadhich recorded nests of Lesser and Greater Flamingos, along with evidence of successful breeding involving chicks
Gwalior: 13 killed, as truck rams devotees near Sheetlamata Mandir
At least 13 people were killed and nearly 40 injured after a truck loaded with paddy crashed into devotees waiting near Sheetlamata Mandir in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, around 1.30 am on Sunday. Police said the driver lost control of the vehicle, which stopped after hitting the temple wall
Kolkata stampede: 19 killed, 25 injured at Chorebagan Durga Puja pandal
At least 19 people died and 25 were injured in a stampede at the Chorebagan Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata on Maha Saptami after a crowd surge amid rain. Authorities detained organisers and security guards and ordered a probe. PM Modi announced financial assistance for the victims
Nana Patekar: An Essayist of Characters
Nana Patekar died in the early hours of Thursday, 8 October 2026 of a cardiac arrest at his home in Goa. He was seventy-five. Four days earlier, at a function near Panaji, he had spoken of death without theatre. We all have to go someday. I dont know whether I will be here tomorrow But before the time comes we have to think am I able to do what I want to do? Have I made the effort? Then, The Indian Express reports, he danced with a troupe and told a fan who asked for a Krantiveer dialogue that none would leave his throat until he heard the jingling of money in his ears. Frank, funny, faintly dangerous, and honest about the clock: that was Nana to the last. I keep a short roll of honour among the worlds actors: Gregory Peck, Marlon Brando, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Dilip Kumar, George C. Scott, Donald Sutherland, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Charles Chaplin, Alec Guinness, Jack Nicholson. Nana Patekar belongs on that roll, and not as a courtesy of nationality. He was an essayist of characters. Each of his men arrived as a thesis, made its case in a rasp or a silence, and left the audience altered. Look at the range. In Salaam Bombay! (1988) he was Baba, a drug dealer and pimp without a flicker of pity. In Parinda (1989) he was the crime lord Anna Seth, whose maniacal laugh won him his first National Award. In Krantiveer (1994) he turned anger into a public argument against corruption and won Best Actor. In Khamoshi: The Musical (1996) he played a deaf-mute father with no dialogue to lean on; the Express called it pure performance, the hallmark of a true actor. In Ab Tak Chhappan (2004) he was a police inspector so obsessed with cleaning up crime that all semblance of balance disappeared. In Natsamrat (2016) he became Ganpat Appa Belwalkar, the stage legend who neglected his family in his prime and found they had little time for him in old age. What I prize in the men on my roll is economy: a pause doing the work of a paragraph. Nana had it. His villains were never cartoons, and his heroes never forgot they were angry men. Honorary ranks are often treated as ornaments. Nana Patekars was not. He came to my Regiment first through a film. In Prahaar (1991), which he co-wrote, directed and starred in, he played Major Chavan of the Maratha Light Infantry, a hard taskmaster to his cadets. By several accounts he prepared by training with the Regiment for about three years. He joined the Territorial Army as an honorary Captain around 1990, and held his honorary commission, rising to Lieutenant Colonel, until 2013. Then came 1999. He asked to go to the front and was told that only the Defence Minister could permit it. So he telephoned George Fernandes, who agreed. He reached the Line of Control in August, weeks after the Kargil war was officially declared over, and did the unglamorous work: a base hospital, a quick-response team, patrols. He did not play at being a combatant. Kashmiri readers will know the places. By his own telling, his travels took in Dras, Leh, Kupwara, Baramulla and Sopore. I know that belt. Kupwara is my home district, and Baramulla is where I commanded my battalion on the Line of Control. When I reached Srinagar, my weight was 76 kg, he recalled. When I came back, my weight became 56 kg. In a recent interview he said of that time, simply: I felt happy. I could at least do this little bit for the country. That is how soldiers speak of service: without ornament. There is a coincidence I cannot leave alone. In 1978, the year I was commissioned into the 16th Battalion of the Maratha Light Infantry, Nana Patekar made his screen debut in Gaman . Two roads began that year, and they met in one Regiment. A regiment is a family of obligations. Whoever wears its uniform and means it, belongs to it. Nana meant it. He knew his own faults. I get violent, he told the Express in 2016. Thats the difference. I lost so many things because of that. Few public men name their flaw so plainly. In the same breath he said: Acting is not just a profession for me. This is how I breathe. His generosity was quieter than his temper. In 2015 he and Makarand Anaspure founded the NAAM Foundation to help drought-hit farmers and their families in Maharashtra. And when he learnt that the young shooter Anjali Bhagwat and two teammates were sharing one rifle and one kit for want of money, he stepped in. He is the first sponsor of my career, she says. To newcomers on the range he would say, on the spot: Take my ammunition and shoot. No glove? Here, take mine. Ill get a new one. I must also set down a private regret. I have created and written a screenplay of an eight-episode feature for Netflix that marries Dostoevskys quiet pathos to the reckonings of love in King Lear . Its lead is an ageing patriarch who reeks of lust and greed. My sponsors offered a distinguished shortlist of the countrys finest actors. I insisted on Nana Patekar. My reason was what I call the Al Pacino frequency: volatile, razor-edged, soul-piercing. Nana had an innate, unpredictable savagery. In Parinda it announced itself. In Apaharan , as the MLA and underworld don Tabrez Alam, it learned to wait. Even in The Vaccine War , in a very different part, he kept his power in reserve. With age the fire had hardened into something more dangerous: a quiet, sardonic, bone-chilling cruelty. I wanted that savagery of intent dripping from my patriarchs face and eyes before he spoke a word. I could not imagine another face carrying it. Every writer has a role written for one particular face. Mine was his. Now it is my loss, and a regret I will carry for life. He was cremated late on Thursday night at his farmhouse in Donje village, outside Pune, with full state honours and a 21-gun salute, before more than a thousand mourners. The salute fitted. He had worn two uniforms, the actors and the soldiers, and neither was a disguise. Rest well, Colonel. The Regiment remembers you. Bol Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj ki Jai. (The writer, a retired Colonel of the Maratha Light Infantry, is a strategic analyst and author.)
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