SIR issue: Congress steps up vote chor, gaddi chhod campaign with Ramlila Maidan rally today
The Congress party is set to hold a major rally at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan on December 14, protesting alleged vote chori and the SIR issue. This event, a significant step in their campaign against the BJP-led government, will see participation from leaders and workers across several states, including Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.
Man Posing As IAS Officer Who Drove In Beacon-Fitted Cars And Hired Gunmen, Arrested
Lalit Kishor posed as IAS officer Gaurav Kumar in Gorakhpur, running a fake racket with Abhishek Kumar and Parmanand Gupta, extorting crores across UP, Bihar, Jharkhand and MP.
'Digital progress uneven across states': Report
India's digital progress is uneven. Some states are building world-class digital systems, while others fall behind. Delhi leads with a high digitalisation score. Jharkhand ranks last. This disparity risks India's ambitious Digital Bharat goals. Ensuring weaker states catch up is crucial for India to become a global digital powerhouse.
Injured Tusker From Jharkhand Triggers Panic In Odisha
Nilgiri Ranger officials confirmed that the animal was mobile and capable of rejoining its herd once stabilised. A veterinary team is expected to assess the injury and initiate treatment.
FSDA writes to UP district magistrates to invoke Gangster Act in illegal cough syrup case
LUCKNOW: While government agencies are conducting raids and cracking the whip on those allegedly involved in illegal diversion of codeine-based cough syrup and trafficking of narcotic-category medicines, the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) has shot of letters to 31 district magistrates (DMs) across Uttar Pradesh to book the alleged syndicate operators under the UP Gangsters Act. The FSDA has told the DMs to initiate action under the laws provisions that include seizure of properties disproportionate to the known source of income. Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids in a palatial bungalow worth crores, owned by dismissed police constable Alok Kumar Singh in Lucknow on Friday. Alok Kumar Singh, who was arrested in connection with the cough syrup scam, is currently languishing in jail. The ED raided 25 locations simultaneously across six cities in Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Gujarat on Friday morning in connection with a major illegal network dealing in codeine-based cough syrup, officials said. The size of Alok Kumar Singhs bungalow and its overt opulence were there to take everyone in awe. Meanwhile, the development regarding the letters written by FSDA to the DMs has come three days after the Uttar Pradesh government formed a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT), led by Inspector General of Police, Law & Order, LR Kumar, to investigate the case. The UP Police and FSDA authorities have carried out raids in 332 firms across 52 districts in UP, during the past two months, lodging FIRs against 133 of them across 31 districts. UP forms SIT to crack Rs 425-crore codeine cough syrup smuggling racket According to FSDA Secretary and Commissioner Roshan Jacob, the department conducted months of intensive investigation spanning Jharkhand, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh and collected evidence, including the business links of Uttar Pradeshs super stockists and wholesalers with those states, before launching the raids two months ago. Jacob has also written to district magistrates to initiate action against the jailed operators under the Gangsters Act. As per the FSDA commissioner, CM Yogi had issued directives for stringent action against the culprits ensuring that no diversion takes place from Uttar Pradesh to any other state or country. He (CM) instructed officials not to trouble small traders during enforcement but ensure firm action against super stockists and wholesalers involved in illicit activities, Jacob said. According to officials, for the first time, cases have been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS) Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for illegal diversion of codeine-based cough syrup. Earlier, such violations were dealt with only through licence cancellations. Informed sources reveal that while probing the records of 332 drug-selling establishments, it was found that many of them did not actually exist and were functioning only as billing points with no purchase or sale records. Many others lacked proper storage arrangements. Out of the 332 firms, 133 were found to be involved in the organised illegal diversion of these medicines for non-medical use. It was discovered that the diverted stock was being routed primarily through state capital Lucknow, Kanpur, Lakhimpur Kheri, and Bahraich to Nepal, and from Varanasi and Ghaziabad to Bangladesh. Cases of trafficking of codeine-based cough syrup for drug abuse have been identified in cities including Varanasi, Jaunpur, Kanpur Nagar, Ghazipur, Lakhimpur Kheri, Lucknow, Bahraich, Bijnor, Prayagraj, Pratapgarh, Sitapur, Sonbhadra, Balrampur, Raebareli, Sant Kabir Nagar, Hardoi, Bhadohi, Amethi, Shravasti, Siddharthnagar, Unnao, Basti, Ambedkarnagar, Azamgarh, Saharanpur, Bareilly, Sultanpur, Chandauli, Mirzapur, Banda, and Kaushambi, officials said.
SMAT: Haryana Defeats Rajasthan, Kushagra Helps Jharkhand Chase Down 236 Against Punjab
Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Super: Haryana opened their Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Super League campaign with a commanding sevenwicket win over Rajasthan, while Kumar Kushagra slammed an unbeaten 86 to help Jharkhand chase down a massive 236 against a formidable Punjab. At the MCA Stadium, fast bowlers Anshul Kamboj and Ishant Bhardwaj set the tone by sharing four wickets between themselves to restrict Rajasthan to 132/8. In reply, captain Ankit Kumars fluent 41ball 60 sealed the chase with 22 balls to spare. After electing to field first, Haryana made immediate inroads as Rajasthan lost four wickets inside the PowerPlay. Kunal Singh Rathore fell cheaply, while Deepak Hooda was run out without scoring in bizarre fashion. Shubham Garhwals 33 and Mahipal Lomrors unbeaten 37 offered resistance, while Rahul Chahar chipped in with 20 runs down the order. But the innings never recovered from the early collapse. Kamboj and Bhardwaj finished with identical figures of 2-24. Chasing 133, Haryanas top order ensured there were no early setbacks. Ankit forged stands of 37, 52 and 40 with Aarsh Ranga, Yashvardhan Dalal and Himanshu Rana to keep the scoreboard moving. His knock, laced with eight fours and a six, was his third fifty of the tournament as Haryana cruised home in a modest chase. Meanwhile, at the DY Patil Academy in Ambi, Jharkhand scripted history by overhauling Punjabs 235/6 and set a new record for the highestever chase in the history of the competition. Kushagras unbeaten 86 came off 42 balls, as Jharkhand romped home with six wickets in hand and 11 balls to spare. Punjabs innings was built around a blistering knock from wicketkeeperbatter Salil Arora, who smashed 125 off just 45 deliveries, including reaching his hundred in 39 balls. After his fireworks, Jharkhands response was equally emphatic. Skipper Ishan Kishan struck 47 off 23 balls to set the tone for the successful chase, before Kushagra stitched crucial partnerships with him, Anukul Roy and Pankaj Kumar to secure Jharkhands eighth consecutive win in the tournament. Punjabs innings was built around a blistering knock from wicketkeeperbatter Salil Arora, who smashed 125 off just 45 deliveries, including reaching his hundred in 39 balls. After his fireworks, Jharkhands response was equally emphatic. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Punjab 235/6 in 20 overs (Salil Arora 125 not out, Naman Dhir 27; Sushant Mishra 2-47, Bal Krishna 2-66) lost to Jharkhand 237/4 in 18.1 overs (Kumar Kushagra 86, Ishan Kishan 47; Ramandeep Singh 1-37, Sanvir Singh 1-40) by six wickets Article Source: IANS
ED raids Jharkhand-based traders residence over alleged money laundering through coal trade
RANCHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday raided the official and residential premises of Dhanbad-based coal trader Manoj Agrawal at Bhelatand and Dhansar. The action is said to be part of an investigation into alleged money laundering through illegal coal trade. According to local sources, the ED teams arrived at both locations simultaneously at around 7 am and cordoned off the premises before they entered the residence and started the search. On November 21, ED teams from Kolkata had conducted similar raids at the residences and offices of five coal traders and transporters in the district. This action reportedly is based on documents and financial activity obtained during a major raid conducted at approximately 18 locations in Dhanbad last month. The ED team has been conducting searches for the last several hours and action is expected to continue further. Last month, the ED simultaneously raided the premises of Dev Prabha Company, which handles outsourcing work for BCCL, its owner, LB Singh, his brother Kumbh Nath Singh and several other locations in Jharkhand. During the raid on November 21, the ED team had recovered cash worth Rs 2.2 crore and seized over 120 land-related documents from Jharkhand. The ED had also seized cash and jewellery during the raid from the locations of the coal mafia. According to information, EDs investigation is being conducted into the matters related to black coal trade, irregular contracts and illegal financial transactions. The ED, during the raids conducted at 44 locations in Jharkhand and West Bengal on November 21, had recovered cash and jewellery worth over Rs 14 crore, along with a substantial amount of incriminating evidence. According to the ED, the action, carried out under Section 17 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, was linked to a sprawling illegal coal mining, theft, transportation and sale racket that has allegedly been operating across the two states for years. Officials also found various property deeds tied to the coal syndicate, agreements related to land transactions, digital devices and books of accounts belonging to entities allegedly controlled by the accused. According to the ED, raids were conducted at 20 locations spread across Dhanbad and Dumka in Jharkhand. These locations are linked to individuals, including Lal Bahadur Singh, Anil Goyal, Sanjay Khemka, Amar Mondal, and several others associated with their companies and entities. Whereas in West Bengal, ED teams searched 24 premises at Durgapur, Purulia, Howrah, and Kolkata, which included residences, offices, illegal toll booths, and coke plants reportedly connected to Narendra Kharka, Krishna Murari Kayal, Yudhishthir Ghosh, Raj Kishore Yadav, Lokesh Singh, Chinmay Mondal, Nirad Baran Mondal, and others. The crackdown stems from multiple FIRs filed by West Bengal and Jharkhand Police regarding an organised coal smuggling racket operating between the two states. The FIRs suggest that a vast network has been transporting coal from Jharkhand into West Bengal using forged or invalid documents. Seized documents, diaries, registers, and digital data have reportedly corroborated allegations of large-scale illegal supply chains and the involvement of local authorities. According to the ED, the syndicate was highly active in border districts, generating huge proceeds of crime. Several registers detailing illegal cash collections and beneficiary lists have also been recovered, offering deep insights into the financial trail of the smuggling network, it said. The investigation is still on and more developments are expected as scrutiny of seized materials progresses.
Raids In UP, Gujarat, Jharkhand Linked To Rs 1,000 Crore Cough Syrup Racket
In a sweeping operation early Thursday or Friday, the Lucknow Zonal office conducted raids at 25 locations connected to a sprawling illegal codeine-based cough syrup network to the tune of Rs 1,000 crore.
NIA raids ISIS suspect's house in Jharkhand's Hazaribagh
The NIA officials remained tight-lipped about the content of the laptop and other documents seized from the residence of the suspect
Multiple Locations Raided Across UP, Gujarat, Jharkhand In Rs 1,000 Crore Cough Syrup Racket
The prime accused, Shubham Jaiswal, is currently absconding and believed to be in Dubai. His father, Bhola Prasad, has been arrested.
The Enforcement Directorate has launched a massive crackdown across Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Gujarat, raiding 25 locations linked to a sprawling codeine-based cough syrup diversion and trafficking racket. This financial investigation, triggered by multiple FIRs, aims to unravel a complex network of illegal manufacturing, forged documentation, and money laundering generating crores.
Cough syrup trafficking racket: ED raids 25 locations in UP, Jharkhand, Gujarat; ECIR filed against 67 accused The Times of India
ED raids in multiple states in UP illegal cough syrup case
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday raided multiple locations across several states as part of a money-laundering investigation into an alleged illegal cough syrup trafficking racket in Uttar Pradesh, officials said. The searches, which began around 7:30 am, are being conducted at 25 premises in Lucknow, Varanasi, Jaunpur and Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh, as well as in Ranchi (Jharkhand) and Ahmedabad (Gujarat). The ED has registered a criminal case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to probe the illegal manufacturing, trade and transportation of codeine-based cough syrups (CBCS), including suspected cross-border smuggling into Bangladesh. Locations linked to the absconding main accused, Shubham Jaiswal, and his alleged associates Alok Singh and Amit Singh, along with certain cough syrup manufacturers and Chartered Accountant Vishnu Aggarwal, are being searched, the officials said. The agencys action is based on around 30 FIRs registered by Uttar Pradesh Police after the state government took cognisance of widespread misuse and illegal circulation of CBCS. The estimated proceeds of crime in the case amount to about Rs 1,000 crore, according to ED officials. Shubham Jaiswal is believed to have fled to Dubai, while his father has been arrested by Uttar Pradesh Police. A total of 32 people have been taken into custody so far, and the state police have constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter.
Ranchi Diary | New SOP to tackle stray dog menace in state
Amid the debate over stray dogs, the Jharkhand government has drawn up an action plan to tackle the canine problem and released a standard operating procedure (SOP) to guide its implementation. Urban local bodies have been instructed to sterilise and vaccinate 70% of stray dogs within their jurisdictions. The SOP also makes it mandatory for pet owners to register their dogs with municipal or panchayat bodies. The cost of treatment in the event of a bite by a pet dog must be borne by its owner, who will also be responsible for legal liabilities arising from the incident. Rare bird sighted at Udhwa sanctuary Birdwatchers are excited over sighting of a rare bird at Udhwa bird sanctuary in Sahibganj. The migratory bird, Pallass Gull, has been spotted there after a long time. The last recorded sighting of this species was in 2015. Its return after nearly a decade is considered a positive sign for the biodiversity of Udhwa Lake. This species breeds in colonies in marshes and on islands from southern Russia to Mongolia. It is a migratory bird, wintering in the eastern Mediterranean, Arabia, and India. This gull nests on the ground and lays two to four eggs. According to officials, sighting of the Pallass Gull indicates that the lakes habitat is safe, favourable and attractive for migratory birds. Panel formed to revive lost glory of Ranchi The Jharkhand HC, expressing concern over the deteriorating condition of Ranchi city, has directed the government and departments concerned to take steps to revive its lost glory. Hearing a PIL seeking development of the capital and restoration of its lost glory, the HC stated that all stakeholders should be brought together on a platform to address the problems of the city. The court has constituted a committee headed by the states advocate general Rajiv Ranjan. The next hearing will be held on December 12. The PIL was filed by Jharkhand High Court Advocates Association exposing the deteriorating condition of the capital and seeking immediate action. Mukesh Ranjan Our correspondent in Jharkhand mukesh.r@newindianexpress.com
NIA raids house in Hazaribagh over suspected terror links
RANCHI: Amid the investigation into the explosion near Red Fort in Delhi, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday raided the residence of a suspected terrorist, Shahnawaz Alam. The raids were conducted by a joint team of NIA and Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), in Ansar Nagar, under the Pelawal police station area in Hazaribagh. According to sources, this action was taken based on information provided by a doctor who was previously arrested by the NIA. This operation is being conducted as part of an investigation into the network linked to suspected terrorist Shahnawaz Alam , who was arrested by the Delhi Police Special Cell in October 2023. The team is reportedly questioning people inside the house. Besides NIA and ATS, additional police forces have been deployed in the area. Officials refrained from sharing any information, looking at the sensitive nature of the operation. Meanwhile, the NIA team has recovered a printing machine from the house. The NIA believes that some kind of documents, posters or objectionable material were being printed there. Shahnawaz Alam, originally hailing from Hazaribagh, was arrested by the Delhi Police Special Cell in October 2023. Investigators suspect that his network may have tentacles in Jharkhand, making Thursdays raid strategically significant. Investigators are also revisiting the background of Shahnawaz, who had earlier been jailed in 2019 for robbery and theft. After securing bail in December 2020, he allegedly came into contact with ISIS handlers, eventually becoming a crucial figure in the Pune module case. Officials suspect that individuals associated with Shahnawaz may still be active in Jharkhand. Reportedly, Shahnawaz Alam alias Safiuzzama had received terrorist training in the forests of Pune. Based on fresh intelligence received in this case, the NIA team has raided his residences in Hazaribagh.
Rare migratory bird spotted in Jharkhands Sahibganj Sanctuary
Sahibganj: A rare migratory bird, Pallass Gull, also called the Great Black-headed Gull, has been sighted in Udhwa Bird Sanctuary in Jharkhands Sahibganj district after nearly a decade, officials said on Thursday. The bird was noticed on Wednesday evening, the official said. A juvenile Pallass Gull (biological name Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus) was noticed by bird watchers 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 .
CRPF Trooper Shoots Himself Dead in Srinagar
SRINAGAR: A CRPF trooper died on Wednesday late night after shooting himself with his service rifle during naka duty at Karpura Brane in the Nishat area of Srinagar outskirts. He was affiliated with 54 Battalion, posted in Brein Nishat. The deceased was identified as Sujeet Kumar from Jharkhand. Police said proceedings have been initiated and []
Coal Remains India's Energy Backbone, House Committee Report Reaffirms 1.5 Bn Tonne Target For 2030
Odisha is expected to produce 494 MT by 2030, followed by Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra by 2030
Caught in the cyber cobweb: How TN women are fighting the deepfake battle
August 21, 2025, started like any other day for Rajathi Kamalakannan until a familiar face popped up on her phone while scrolling. An AI-generated morphed picture of hers with her contact details was circulated on Facebook. I was shocked, says Rajathi, who operates a food business, Rajis Kitchen in Dindigul, and runs a popular YouTube channel, RK Family Vlogs. When she checked this profile, it had 16K followers. Photos of several other women were misused similarly, says the 35-year-old. What followed was a nightmare that consumed three months of Rajathis life. I received more than a hundred calls from old friends, distant relatives, all enquiring about it. Many blamed me for having an indecent photo on Facebook. Having to respond to each one of them was really painful, she says. Rajathi was determined to fight the case. She filed a complaint against Facebook, seeking the removal of the AI-generated image. In an email, Facebook refused to take action. The response read, Well remove photos and videos reported through this channel if it infringes or violates your privacy. Unfortunately, based on the information you provided, we were unable to determine how the reported content infringes or violates your privacy. We recommend reaching out to the owner of this content to resolve this issue (sic). The email infuriated Rajathi. Along with her husband, she went to the Dindigul cybercrime office and filed a complaint on August 25. She recounts at least 10 visits to the police station, even on her husbands birthday, giving statements and signing documents. The accused was eventually arrested on November 14, but Rajathi is yet to get full closure. I couldnt work for a week due to the fear of being shamed, she says. But the larger question that she pondered was why was she targeted. On the other hand, her business continued, and the popularity of the YouTube channel rose. Her online presence remained essential to her livelihood, even as it made her prone to abuse. Such people get involved in crime since they think no one will complain, she says, asserting, You [perpetrator] hid your face while doing this. I will not hide mine while seeking justice. There is growing awareness around such crimes against women across Tamil Nadu, who realise that their faces from cooking videos, travel photos, business profiles, and even passport-size images are being weaponised by strangers. While some of them find the courage to speak out, many remain silent due to a wide range of social factors. Systemic issue Tamil Nadu recorded 1.75 lakh reported cybercrimes last year alone, with financial scams exceeding `1,600 crore, according to retired director general of police (DGP) C Sylendra Babu. The sheer scale of the loss reveals how the tentacles of crime have found new ways to evade police action despite the presence of cybercrime police stations in each of the 38 districts. If you put together crimes like chain snatching, motorcycle theft, robbery, murder for gain, these cannot cross `100 crore. But in cybercrime, money is lost just like that. A small percentage of these are women paying money due to harassment. With an overwhelming number of complaints, we cant cope, he states. He also observes that a vast majority of women never come forward. They change their number or block the caller, but the damage is already done. They live in perpetual fear of who will receive the photo or video next? The methods have evolved beyond photo-morphing. The retired DGP describes a new pattern where criminals target women with fake romantic or professional contacts, then use AI to create explicit content when the women refuse to engage. They access the victims contact lists and send sample images to relatives, demanding anywhere from `10 lakh-`20 lakh from women earning `30,000-`40,000 monthly. Women silently pay, but how long can they keep paying? he asks. Such crimes have links across the world, and it makes the job difficult for the police. Gangs operating from Laos, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Thailand lure women through apps disguised as dating platforms. Indian scam hubs operate from Jamtara in Jharkhand, Mathura in UP, and Neem at the Rajasthan-UP-MP border, Sylendra Babu notes. Its a new generation of organised crime with no borders. Easy access Priyanshu Raikar, a security researcher who has been tracking AI-generated abuse, believes that the tools for carrying out such crimes have become more accessible. Some widely available open-source image models that come with safeguards can be easily bypassed, he says. Girithar Ram Ravindran, a cybersecurity specialist, seconds the opinion. Most of these suspects do not have a strong technical background. If access becomes difficult, they will give up, he says. Comparing the models available, Priyanshu is shocked by the manner in which Chinese models manipulate images. The shadows, skin texture, background details, everything is convincing. The people in the images dont even exist in real life, he states. While the technology is getting better, the infrastructure for abuse online is already laid out. You have click farms, fake followers and bots run from China. With one click, they can send you 1,000 likes; with one phone, they can manage 10,000 profiles. Now imagine this infrastructure combined with powerful AI models, he explains. On Reddit, Priyanshu even found numerous forums dedicated to AI-generated explicit content, including deepfakes of celebrities being sold commercially. Some people in India are already producing non-consensual content and selling it, he says. The crisis has gone to an extent where high-profile celebrities like actor Rashmika Mandanna and dancer Anita Ratnam had to move court to protect their digital identity. Battles beyond deepfakes AI-generated images represent only one facet of a broader crisis of image-based abuse. Swetha Shankar, executive director of programmes at the International Foundation for Crime Prevention & Victim Care (PCVC), works with survivors of various forms of digital violence and sees patterns that extend far beyond deepfakes. A lot of abuse happens when intimate pictures shared during a relationship are used against the person after a breakup, Swetha says. PCVC works with the cyber cell and uses a resource called Stop NCII (Stop Non-Consensual Intimate Image sharing), a website that partners with large platforms like Meta and even Pornhub. When someone uploads an image there, the site creates a digital ID for it. If anyone tries to upload the same image anywhere else, it automatically gets flagged. We help survivors create this digital ID so they can track and prevent their images from being re-uploaded. The fear extends beyond the immediate violation. A lot of survivors are terrified that their parents or husbands will come to know. For married women whose ex-boyfriends are threatening them, there is fear that their marriages will end. Younger women who have moved away for work, are petrified that the police will involve their parents. They worry that if families find out, their mobility and freedom will be cut off, they may be taken back home, forced to marry, and even have their phones taken away, she says, adding They constantly check messages because theyre scared something might be leaked. It affects them very deeply. Police responses can compound the problem. Even when a woman is above 18, the police say things like, Call your parents, Are you married? This makes women even more worried that approaching the police will lead to further control, she adds. For minors, the situation is even more complex. Its hard for them to say theyre in an abusive relationship when being in a relationship itself is a taboo, Swetha says. The pattern of abuse is also consistent. In many of the cases we work with, intimate images are used to blackmail individuals. There is a lot of assault, and the person feels helpless because they are scared the images will be leaked. It gets held over them repeatedly, Swetha adds. Never-ending trauma Priyanshu shares the story of a minor girl whose Instagram account was hijacked by a gang. They demanded `50,000, and when she couldnt pay, the man forced her to send a nude video. Once she sent it, he leaked it anyway, then asked for more money, he says, adding that the case exposes the relationship between financial blackmail and sexual exploitation. For content creators and entrepreneurs, the threat creates a chilling effect. Many are afraid to maintain the online presence their livelihoods require. Once the content spreads, tracking it becomes nearly impossible. Girithar describes how metadata, the digital fingerprints attached to photos, gets erased when images are shared. When sent through WhatsApp or shared multiple times, metadata gets stripped away. Once it spreads through thousands of groups, connecting the dots becomes very hard, he says. Priyanshu adds that investigators rely on open-source intelligence tools to track where the content first appeared, but many platforms lack robust traceability. People download leaked or generated videos from one platform, then re-upload them across many others. For each view and engagement, they get paid. Thats their business model. For women like Rajathi, the intensity of the crisis has a huge impact. Girithar warns, Keep accounts private unless necessary. But even from a private account, photos give enough data for criminals to create fake images or videos. Priyanshu is more practical about the reality: Once you post anything online, you lose control over it. Its your image, but if someone downloads and shares it, you cant really do much. The courage to fight The Facebook profile that violated Rajathi's privacy remains active, with its last post dated November, and is still accessible despite her repeated complaints and the accused's arrest. Meta's own Oversight Board has noted that the platform often fails to remove AI-generated explicit images unless cases receive significant media attention, leaving ordinary victims to hunt down and report every instance themselves. Having gone through the ordeal, Rajathi says women should not suffer in silence, and points out how screenshots, URLs, and other evidence of such abuse could help their case. She also sought faster police action. Response time shouldnt be too late. Women need supportive and swift systems so that they dont lose courage halfway, she says. Priyanshu suggests large-scale awareness campaigns. Every household seems to have at least one creator or influencer now. We need the media, lawmakers and police to join together for nationwide education, in schools, colleges, and communities. While Sylendra Babu believes social media poses a threat to privacy, and that laws alone cannot help prevent these crimes, Swetha notes that gender-based violence has always adapted to whatever tools are available. Long before AI, controlling devices was already a part of domestic violence, monitoring phones, knowing passwords, controlling mobility, and isolating women. Technology is just another tool. The deeper issue is how we view women and how we normalise abuse. We often elevate the idea of family over the safety and well-being of women. The legal labyrinth Current laws provide some recourse but lack teeth, specifically for AI-generated abuse. Sylendra Babu suggested that a separate clause for AI-enabled offences can be added to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita due to the gaps in the existing laws. Priyanshu demands that authorities constitute a specific, standalone offence. From here, it will only get worse if we dont, he says. The IT Act 2000 contains relevant sections, particularly Section 67 with subsections for sexually explicit content and child protection, with potential punishments of 5-7 years. But Girithar notes these provisions were written before AI: These open-source models must have stricter guardrails or should be banned. Updated IT rules from 2021-22 require large platforms to appoint officers responsible for handling takedown requests under the Indian law. Priyanshu says success stories remain exceptions, as most survivors have a difficult and uncertain path to justice. If you or someone you know is affected by deepfake abuse, file a complaint at the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (cybercrime.gov.in) or call 1930. Tamil Nadu has cybercrime police stations in all 38 districts. (The author is a Laadli Media Fellow. The opinions and views expressed are those of the author. Laadli and UNFPA do not necessarily endorse the views.)
Maharashtra nears Maoist elimination as 11 top cadres surrender in Gadchiroli
MUMBAI: Maharashtra moves closer to eliminating the Maoist threat by March 2026 as 11 senior Maoist cadres, including four commanders with a combined bounty of Rs 82 lakh, surrendered before state police chief Rashmi Shukla in Gadchiroli. Among the surrendered leaders were divisional committee members Ramesh alias Baju Lekami and Bhima alias Kiran Hidma Kowasi. Lekami, associated with the movement since 2004, served as president of the Edasgondi Gaon Panchayat Janatana Sarkar before becoming a divisional committee member in Bhamragad. Kowasi joined the Maoist ranks in 1998 and became a divisional committee member in 2019. Gadchiroli police said the surrenders deliver a major blow to Maoists in the Dandakaranya region, spanning Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Telangana, marking one of the biggest successes since the surrender of Maoist Politburo member Bhupathi alias Mallojula Venugopal Rao in October, along with 60 others. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had handed over a copy of the Indian Constitution instead of weapons during that program. Police Chief Shukla described the fresh surrender as the beginning of the end of Maoism in Gadchiroli and reaffirmed the commitment to the Union governments March 31, 2026, deadline to eliminate the Left-wing insurgency. She said 112 Maoists have surrendered in Gadchiroli this year alone. The surrender ceremony at Eklavya Hall also saw officers and personnel of the elite C-60 anti-Naxal unit felicitated for operations in the remote Laheri forest, which led to 61 Maoists surrendering and the recovery of 54 firearms. Other surrendered Maoists included Poriye alias Lucky Adama Gota, Ratan alias Sanna Masu Oyam, Kamala alias Rago Iriya Veladi, Poriye alias Kumari Bhima Veladi, Ramaji alias Mura Lacchu Pungati, Sonu Podiyam alias Ajay Sanu Kato, Prakash alias Pandu Kundra Pungati, Sita alias Jaini Tonde Pallo, and Sainath Shankar Made. The surrenders follow intensified anti-Maoist operations across India, with security forces killing over 270 Maoists in the past year in Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Bihar, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. So far, more than 1,225 Maoists have surrendered, and 680, including top leaders, have been arrested. The killing of Maoist chief Nambala Kesava Rao, alias Basavaraju, on May 20, marked a major milestone in the fight against the insurgency. According to the Union government, the number of Left-Wing insurgency-affected districts has fallen from 18 in April to 11, signalling significant progress in curbing the movement.
BJP MLAs take Kya Hua Tera Wada swipe at Soren government in Jharkhand
Opposition MLAs allege that before coming to power, the Hemant Soren government made seven major promises to the public, including gas cylinders for 450, employment for 10 lakh youth every year, and timely scholarships to the poor, but the government has failed to fulfill even one of these promises
State is a continuum with commitments beyond pleasing the party or leader of the day: Supreme Court
The apex courts observations came while dismissing a petition filed by the State of Jharkhand against a State High Court-ordered CBI probe into an illegal mining case in which the accused are linked to CM Hemant Soren
'Jharkhand now has to...': CM Hemant Soren reveals vision for state as it completes 25 yrs
Hemant Soren has been serving as the current Chief Minister of Jharkhand since July 2024.
Investments Will Come Soon: Gautam Adani In Dhanbad
Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani on Tuesday said that Jharkhand -- particularly Dhanbad -- holds significant potential, and the state is poised for strong growth in the coming years.
Gautam Adani Inaugurates Vocational Training For Differently Abled In Dhanbad
Adani Group Chairman and Founder Gautam Adani on Tuesday inaugurated vocational training for differently abled and a cloud kitchen in Dhanbad, Jharkhand.
Jharkhand to deploy university volunteers for tiger census for the first time
RANCHI: For the first time in Jharkhand, volunteers from different universities studying botany and zoology will be deployed for the tiger census in the state. According to forest officials, besides creating a young workforce, this move will help raise awareness about comprehensive tiger estimation and conservation. This is also the first time tiger census activities will be conducted outside the Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR), covering forest ranges in Ranchi, Dumka and Hazaribagh. The Field Director and Deputy Director of PTR have been appointed as nodal agencies for the tiger census in Jharkhand. Forest personnel across the state have also been trained for the exercise, and the training process is still underway. Tiger censuses are conducted every four years, and the next data will be released on July 29, 2026. The last census was released in 2023. According to PTR Deputy Director Prajesh Kant Jena, volunteers will undergo a skill test before being deployed. In the first phase, PTR will recruit 20 botany and zoology students from Nilamber Pitamber University as volunteers for the tiger count. Only those who clear the skill test will be included, he said. This is the first time volunteers are being involved in the count, he added. Jena said the aim is to involve more people in the campaign to build awareness about wildlife conservation. Botany and zoology students from various colleges will be given basic training and then integrated into the campaign, he said. Letters have been sent to vice-chancellors seeking student participation; the PTR is awaiting a response from Nilamber Pitamber University. Tiger census data released in 2023 recorded three tigers in Jharkhand, all within the PTR. Tiger counting includes deploying high-resolution cameras and conducting special patrols. Every activity and wildlife-related data point is documented during the exercise. Spread over 1,149 sq km, PTR is home to tigers, elephants, bison, spotted deer and bears. Current forest department data shows six tigers, around 180 elephants, over 10,000 spotted deer, more than 50 bison and around 200 wolves. According to the 2006 census, Jharkhand had 10 tigers, which fell to three in 2014. The latest report puts the number at six. Beginning with 22 tigers in 1972, PTR reached its peak in 1995 with 71 big cats before witnessing a steep decline, down to three in 2014 and zero in the 2018 census.
India Must Define Its Own Growth Path Amid Fractured Global Alliances: Adani
Dhanbad (Jharkhand), Dec 9: Emphasising that Indias sovereignty depends on mastering the resources beneath its soil, Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani on Tuesday said the nation must chart its own development path at a time when global alliances are increasingly fracturing. Delivering the keynote address at the 100th foundation day celebrations of the Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, Adani said nations across the globe were acting in pure self-interest, and India must master the energy systems [] The post India Must Define Its Own Growth Path Amid Fractured Global Alliances: Adani appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
JSSC CGL result of JGGLCCE-2023 released at jssc.jharkhand.gov.in: Direct link to download here
The Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission has released the JSSC CGL Result 2025, publishing the final merit list for the JGGLCCE. Candidates can now check the PDF to verify their roll numbers and confirm selection, marking the end of the multi-stage recruitment cycle. Those not shortlisted must wait for upcoming JSSC vacancies and future examination notifications.
10 held after fight erupts at Pilar Jharkhand Day event
Panaji: Agassaim police have arrested 10 personsone from Chhattisgarh and nine from Jharkhandfor allegedly creating a ruckus and fighting in a public place, disturbing the peace during a musical event organised on the eve of Jharkhand Day at a ground belonging to an educational institution in Pilar on Sunday. They have also been booked for [] The post 10 held after fight erupts at Pilar Jharkhand Day event appeared first on The Navhind Times .
Fake Doctor Lures Woman To House In Jharkhand, Rapes Her In Front Of Child
The incident occurred on December 5, but the matter was reported to the police on Sunday. The quack was subsequently arrested.
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Fake Doctor Lures Woman To House, Rapes Her In Front Of Child: Police
A 26-year-old woman was allegedly raped by a quack in front of her child in Jharkhand's Palamu district, police said on Monday.
Jharkhand government orders statewide safety audit after Goa nightclub tragedy
RANCHI: The Jharkhand government has ordered an immediate, state-wide safety audit of all bars, restaurants, hotels and hospitals, directing district administrations to submit their reports within a week. The decision comes in the wake of the horrific fire at a restaurant-cum-nightclub in Goas Arpora on Saturday night , which claimed 25 lives, including three youths from Jharkhand who had recently migrated there for work. The victims have been identified as 24-year-old Pradeep Mahato and 22-year-old Vinod Mahato, both residents of Fatehpur village in Ranchis Lapung block, and 22-year-old Mohit Munda from Govindpur village under Karra block of Khunti district. All three were employed as cooks in the nightclub and were present inside the kitchen when the blaze erupted. According to Health and Disaster Management Minister Irfan Ansari, the government would deal firmly with any lapse related to public safety. If an incident like the one in Goa happens in Jharkhand, officials will be held accountable, he warned. Ansari stressed that all commercial establishments must adhere to strict kitchen safety norms, carry out routine technical checks of gas pipelines, burners and chimneys and ensure that fire-safety equipment and emergency exits remain operational at all times. Meanwhile, the mortal remains of three migrant workers from Jharkhand were brought to Ranchi on Monday morning. Agriculture Minister Shilpy Neha Tirkey, who coordinated with the Goa government to bring back the bodies, informed that all three workers belonged to the Assembly constituency, Mandar. The bodies were sent to their native villages in special ambulances. I will request Chief Minister Hemant Soren for some welfare provisions for the families of the victims, said Tirkey. The Labour Department has handed Rs 50,000 each to the families of the victims as immediate assistance. State Migrant Control Room's team lead Shikha Lakra, who received the bodies at the airport, said that the Labour Department has ensured that two of the family members of the victims who are still stranded in Goa are brought back to Ranchi by a flight by the evening.
Goa nightclub fire: Last rites of 3 workers killed in blaze held in Jharkhand
The last rites of three Jharkhand migrant workers who died in the Goa nightclub fire were performed in their native villages on Monday. Brothers Pradeep and Binod Mahto from Ranchi and Mohit Munda from Khunti were among the 25 victims
Jharkhand government tables Rs 7,721.25 crore supplementary budget in Assembly
RANCHI: The Jharkhand government on Monday presented a supplementary budget of Rs 7,721.25 crore for the 202526 financial year in the state assembly. Finance Minister Radhakrishna Kishore placed the second supplementary budget of the fiscal year before the House. The first supplementary allocation, amounting to Rs 4,296.62 crore, had been approved during the monsoon session on August 25. Earlier, in March, Kishore had introduced the states annual budget of Rs 1.45 lakh crore for 202526. Shortly after the supplementary budget was tabled, Speaker Ravindra Nath Mahto adjourned the days proceedings till 11 am on Tuesday. The session had been marred by disruptions. As the House assembled for the second day of the winter session, BJP MLAs rushed to the Well of the House demanding action over alleged irregularities in student scholarship schemes. Members of the ruling coalition also moved to the Well, resulting in heated exchanges and loud sloganeering from both sides. The uproar forced the suspension of Question Hour. Expressing displeasure, Speaker Mahto said that such disruptions defeat the purpose of all-party meetings and undermine the functioning of the Business Advisory Committee. He also warned that the House cannot operate meaningfully if important public issues are not allowed to be addressed. Despite multiple appeals for order, the protests continued, prompting the Speaker to adjourn the House first until noon and later for the remaining day. The winter session, which began on Friday, spans five working days and is scheduled to conclude on December 11.
The court passed the order despite the National Investigation Agency (NIA), opposing Bhokta's plea challenging a Jharkhand High Court order denying him bail
SC grants bail to banned Jharkhand group's zonal commander in extortion, terror financing case
The Supreme Court has intervened to grant interim bail to Dashrath Singh Bhokta, a purported zonal commander of the disbanded Tritiya Prastuti Committee, who is embroiled in allegations related to extortion and terror financing. Taking into account his extensive time in custody and the bail granted to other primary defendants, the court found merit in his appeal.
Goa nightclub fire: Mortal remains of Jharkhand migrant workers killed in accident brought back
Jharkhand Agriculture Minister Shilpy Neha Tirkey, who coordinated with the Goa Government to bring back the bodies, said all three workers belonged to her Mandar constituency.
The needy students are not getting their scholarships. The government is yet to begin the procurement of paddy from farmers. The farmers are being forced to sell their paddy to middlemen at a low price, says Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi.
Congress, AAP slam Goa government over safety lapses at nightclub; demand CMs resignation
Criminal failure of safety and governance, says Congress leader Rahul Gandhi; BJP MLA calls for audit of clubs; Jharkhand Minister demands proper compensation for victims, stern action against culprits
Severe cold grips north India; IMD warns of cold wave, fog across multiple states
NEW DELHI: Cold conditions prevailed across north India on Sunday, with the Amarnath yatra base camp being the coldest recorded place in Jammu and Kashmir at minus 4.3 degrees Celsius and parts of Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan reporting minimum temperatures between three and seven degrees Celsius. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said cold wave conditions were very likely to prevail in isolated pockets over Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha in Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha on Monday and Tuesday. In Delhi, the minimum temperature was recorded at eight degrees, up from 6.8 degrees a day ago and yet 1.6 notches below normal. The maximum temperature was 24.7 degrees Celsius, 0.1 notch below normal, while the relative humidity was 92 per cent in the morning. For Monday, the weather department forecast a minimum of 10 degrees Celsius and a maximum of 25 degrees Celsius, with mist expected. Pollution levels in Delhi remained in the very poor category on Sunday, prolonging the spell of toxic air that has hung over its residents for several weeks now. The city logged a 24-hour average AQI of 308. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, an AQI between 0 and 50 is classified good, 51 and 100 satisfactory, 101 and 200 moderate, 201 and 300 poor, 301 and 400 very poor and 401 and 500 severe. Further in the north, the night temperatures in Kashmir rose by several degrees but stayed below the freezing point, officials said. The Pahalgam resort in south Kashmir, which serves as the base camp for the annual Amarnath yatra, was the coldest recorded place in Jammu and Kashmir as the minimum settled at a low of minus 4.3 degrees Celsius. The minimum temperature in Srinagar -- the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir -- settled at minus 0.9 degrees Celsius, a rise of 3.2 degrees compared to the previous night. The gateway town to the valley, Qazigund, recorded a low of minus one degree Celsius, while the minimum settled at minus 0.8 degree Celsius in north Kashmir's Kupwara, and 1.1 degrees Celsius in south Kashmir's Kokernag, according to officials. The meteorological department said the weather would remain generally cloudy but dry on Sunday, and a brief spell of light snowfall at isolated places in the higher reaches of north and central Kashmir is likely on December 8. In Himachal Pradesh, The IMD predicted dense fog in parts of the state until Wednesday. A yellow alert for dense fog was also issued in parts of the reservoir area of the Bhakra dam in Bilaspur district and over some parts of the Balh valley in Mandi district during early morning till Monday. In Punjab, Faridkot remained the coldest place, with the minimum temperature settling at 4.4 degrees Celsius, while in Haryana, Narnaul saw the lowest temperature at 4.6 degrees Celsius, according to the local meteorological department. Chandigarh, the common capital of the two states, recorded a minimum temperature of 8.2 degrees Celsius. In Punjab, Bathinda and Gurdaspur recorded a minimum temperature of 4.6 degrees Celsius, while Ferozepur recorded 6 degrees, Amritsar 6.1 degrees, Ludhiana 6.8 degrees, and Patiala 8.9 degrees. In Haryana, Bhiwani recorded a low of six degrees, Hisar 6.2 degrees, Sirsa 6.6 degrees, Karnal seven degrees, Rohtak 7.8 degrees, and Ambala 9.8 degrees. Rajasthan, similarly, reeled under intense cold, the Meteorological Centre here said. Fatehpur in the Sikar district continued to record the lowest minimum temperature, albeit at 3.5 degrees Celsius, slightly up from 2.3 degrees a day ago. According to the weather department, Lunkaransar (Bikaner) recorded a low of 5 degrees Celsius, followed by Dausa at 6 degrees, Churu at 6.3 degrees, Vanasthali (Tonk) at 6.4 degrees and Jhunjhunu at 7.2 degrees Celsius on Sunday morning. The department said a fresh but weak western disturbance is likely to cause partly cloudy skies in some parts of the state over the next few days. Under its influence, the minimum temperature is expected to rise by two to three degrees Celsius, providing relief from the cold wave, it said. Meanwhile, in Jharkhand, eight districts recorded minimum temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius, the IMD said, noting a cold wave in parts of the state. Gumla recorded the lowest temperature in the state at 3.5 degrees Celsius up from three degrees Celsius while Khunti logged five degrees Celsius, the IMD weather bulletin stated. The minimum temperature in Jharkhand's capital, Ranchi, was 7.5 degrees Celsius, while Daltonganj recorded 6.5 degrees and Jamshedpur recorded 9.6 degrees Celsius. Deputy Director of the Ranchi Meteorological Centre, Abhishek Anand, said, North-westerly winds prevailing in the lower tropospheric levels over Jharkhand have caused the drop in mercury. Dry weather conditions are likely to prevail across the state over the next five days.The minimum temperature may rise by 2-3 degrees Celsius during the next 72 hours, he added. In West Bengal, the mercury dipped below the 10-degree mark for the first time this winter in the state's plains with Sriniketan in Birbhum districts recording a minimum temperature of 9.8 degrees Celsius on Sunday, the IMD said. Its forecast for West Bengal suggested dry weather across all districts of West Bengal for the next week, with shallow to moderate fog likely in the northern districts. Darjeeling was the coldest in the hills at 6.2 degrees Celsius, while the other Himalayan tourist town of Kalimpong was warmer at 10.5 degrees Celsius. The other places which recorded low night temperatures are Alipurduar (11 degrees), Kalyani (11.4 degrees), Purulia (11.4 degrees) and Panagarh (11.9 degrees). Kolkata recorded a minimum temperature of 15.2 degrees Celsius, the IMD said, forecasting mist in the morning on Monday. IMD further predicted dense fog conditions in isolated pockets of Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura between December 8 and 12. It was also very likely in parts of west Madhya Pradesh on Monday and in Odisha until Tuesday. In west India, a gradual fall by two to three degrees over the next three-four days is expected, and no significant change is anticipated thereafter, the IMD said.
Shock grips Jharkhand villages as three migrant workers dead in Goa nightclub fire
I lost both my brothers Pradeep and Vinod. My father, Dhaneshwar Mahto, is in a state of shock and has been staring blank ever since, said Phagu Mahto.
10 blackbucks die due to 'bacterial infection' in Zoological Park in Jharkhand's Jamshedpur
It is suspected to be H.S. (Haemorrhagic Septicaemia), which is a bacterial disease caused by Pasteurella species of bacteria. The disease is also known as Pasteurellosis, Dr. Pragya Lakra said
'I Give Up': College Student Dies By Suicide At Greater Noida Hostel, Note Recovered
A 25-year-old MCA student from Jharkhand, died by suicide in his Greater Noida hostel. Police found a note and learned he suffered from a medical condition causing distress.
Goa nightclub fire tragedy extremely heartbreaking: Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren
Ranchi: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Sunday said the loss of lives in a fire accident at a nightclub in Goa was extremely heartbreaking. The chief minister extended prayers for the swift recovery of those injured in the incident. At least 25 people were killed, and six others suffered injuries in the blaze that 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 .
College Student Dies By Suicide At Noida Hostel, Cops Find I Give Up Note
The police found the body of Krishnakant, a resident of Jharkhand, in his hostel in Greater Noida on Saturday.
J.P. Nadda alleges Hemant Soren of betraying people of Jharkhand
Mr. Nadda also accuses the Soren government of siphoning off funds from the mining of natural resources
Low sittings, key legislations: 25 years on, three state Assemblies present a mixed record
NEW DELHI: Twenty-five years after they were carved out of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, respectively, the Legislative Assemblies of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand have entered a milestone year with a troubling record: some of the lowest numbers of sitting days in the country. Data compiled since their formation in 2000 shows that Chhattisgarhs Assembly met for an average of just 29 days a year, while Jharkhand averaged only 23 sitting days, among the lowest for any State legislature in India. Uttarakhands records remain incomplete for long stretches, including the years 20002015 and 2025, making long-term assessment difficult. These figures fall far short of the recommended national benchmark of 60 sitting days for State legislatures, raising concerns about legislative scrutiny and democratic engagement. The challenges extend beyond sitting days. In all three State Assemblies, the post of Deputy Speaker remained vacant for prolonged periods, signalling what legislators describe as institutional neglect and a weakening of bipartisan norms. Jharkhand has gone over 20 years without a Deputy Speaker, an absence that many members believe undermines legislative balance and accountability. Despite these structural gaps, some States have taken important legislative steps worth emulating. Chhattisgarh, which has 21% women MLAs, one of the strongest representations in the country enacted notable laws in its early years. A 2002 law that enabled private universities to be created through simple notification resulted in over 100 universities being established, but critics point out that many existed only on paper. The Supreme Court struck it down in 2004, flagging serious quality concerns. A decade later, Chhattisgarh passed its own Food Security Act (2012), which became a reference point and model for the national legislation enacted in 2013. Jharkhand was among the first States to introduce 75% reservation for local candidates in private-sector jobs, a move later mirrored by Andhra Pradesh and Haryana. Courts struck down Haryanas law in 2023, and challenges remain pending in other States. Uttarakhand, meanwhile, passed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in 2024, becoming the first State to implement it. Supporters hailed it as a step toward equality, while critics warned that it risked disrupting social equilibrium and overlooking community practices. Legislators across the three States agree that democratic functioning demands consistent sittings, procedural stability and open debate. Many acknowledge that confrontational politics, repeated adjournments and legislative delays have eroded the Assemblys core responsibilities. As the three States complete 25 years, expectations from State legislatures are rising. Citizens increasingly demand more time spent in the House, faster decisions on longstanding issues, stronger oversight and dependable forums where public concerns can be voiced and debated. The next quarter-century, lawmakers say, must be defined not by institutional gaps but by a renewed commitment to democratic performance.
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Asjad Madani Calls on Scholars to Uphold Protection of Finality of Prophethood
Hazaribagh: A representative conference on Tahaffuz Khatme Nabuwat (Protection of the Finality of Prophethood) was organised by Jamiat Ulama Jharkhand at Mahad al-Quran, Madani Masjid, Nawada, Hazaribagh. The event was presided over by Maulana Habibur Rahman Qasmi, President of Jamiat Ulama Jharkhand. The programme saw participation from around 500 scholars, madrasa principals, imams, Jamiat officials, [] The post Asjad Madani Calls on Scholars to Uphold Protection of Finality of Prophethood first appeared on .
RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh, with intensified strict vigilance, has cracked down on the transportation of paddy from other states and seized over one lakh quintals so far in separate cases ever since the procurement began from November 15. The state has launched special campaigns in different districts, with alert and rigorous monitoring underway. There are continuous checks, check posts set up in districts and along state borders, besides keeping track of GPS-equipped vehicles used for foodgrain transport to prevent illegal paddy transportation. This year, several check posts have undertaken a digital verification oversight process and a resolute inter-state coordination. Meticulous measures are adopted in every procurement centre, having a more accountable and technology-driven system, to record entries on the actual paddy received on a given day. The state government has issued a directive to all district collectors to ensure transparency in the procurement process of paddy in all centres, while illegal transportation and fictitious purchase will not be tolerated. The paddy procurement is to continue till January 31, 2026. According to officials, the Chhattisgarh State Cooperative Marketing Federation Limited (CG-MARKFED) has set up check-posts in border districts and constituted task forces headed by district collectors to check the movement of paddy from neighbouring states. The MARKFED has this year instituted Integrated Command and Control Centre to manage real-time surveillance of the procurement process and closely monitor every border area of the state. Over 16 separate check posts with installed cameras have been set-up in areas connecting Chhattisgarh to other states for round the clock observation at the Command Centre, a senior officer said. The detail of every vehicle entering Chhattisgarh state is recorded by deployed staff at every small or big check post, including those connecting the border areas. Chhattisgarh, often cited as the rice bowl in Central India, offers Rs 3,100 per quintal as minimum support price (MSP) to paddy growers, which is believed to be the highest in the country. There are sneaky attempts from neighbouring states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, and Telangana to secure high returns of paddy from the government procurement centres in Chhattisgarh state. There were instances where officials had earlier confiscated paddy illegally transported and stored in the state.
Dhanbad mine gas leak: Experts find CO level 'dangerously high' in affected areas
A team of experts who visited the Kenduadih area of Jharkhand's Dhanbad district, which reported a toxic gas leak incident on Wednesday, has recorded carbon monoxide (CO) levels in the air as dangerously high, at up to 1,500 parts per million (PPM). At least two women were killed while over 20 others complained of vomiting and headache, allegedly due to leakage of toxic carbon monoxide gas in the Putki Balihari Colliery Area of Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL)in Dhanbad's Kenduadih. Officials are yet to confirm the cause of the women's death. According to the experts, the CO levels in the area is around 30 times higher than the permissible limit, as the dangerous level of carbon monoxide concentration starts with 50 PPM. A joint experts' team of Dhanbad IIT-ISM and Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS) visited Rajput Basti, Masjid Muhalla and Area No.5 of the Putki-Balihari colliery area on Friday to assess the carbon monoxide levels, said Dhanbad Deputy Commissioner Aditya Ranjan. The experts recorded the level of carbon monoxide at up to 1,500 PPM, which poses a serious threat to human health, and recommended immediate shifting of residents from Rajput Basti. Headache appears when the level reaches 200 PPM, and symptoms like dizziness, nausea and unconsciousness begin at 800 PPM, the expert said. According to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), the permissible limit for CO is 2 mg/m3 (milligram per cubic meter) for an eight-hour average in residential areas, and 4 mg/m3 for a one-hour average, a Ranchi-based environmentalist said. The 1,500 ppm CO concentration is dangerously high for human survival, said the environmentalist who refused to be quoted. Ranjan said, People from the affected areas are being shifted to temporary camps. So far, around 400 people have been shifted. The process is on to shift the rest of the residents from the area. A section of the locals said they are worried about their livelihood in new areas and are not in favour of shifting. The DC himself visited the affected sites on Friday and assessed the condition of the people living in the area. The problem did not arise now; it has existed for decades. Due to different reasons, the residents could not be shifted to a safe place, Ranjan said. The area has long been declared a 'danger zone' due to underground mine fires. The DC said he urged the residents to shift to a safe place as soon as possible. An arrangement has been made at Belagadia and Karmatand. For the time being, temporary accommodation has been provided till the situation becomes normal in the area, Ranjan said. (With inputs from PTI) Dhanbad DC orders detailed enquiry into toxic gas leak incident that killed two
Jharkhand CM appears before MP-MLA court for ''non-compliance'' of ED summons
The ED had moved the court, alleging that Mr. Soren did not turn up for questioning based on earlier notices issued to him in connection with an alleged land scam
JPSC Forest Range Officer PT result 2025 released at jpsc.gov.in: Direct link to download here
The Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) has announced the Preliminary Test (PT) result for the Forest Range Officer (FRO) Recruitment Examination 2025. Candidates who took the exam on June 29, 2025, can now access the PDF result on jpsc.gov.in, listing the roll numbers of shortlisted individuals for the 170 vacancies.
Cold wave grips north, east India; Kolkata records seasons lowest, Kashmir below freezing point
Residents across parts of north and eastern India woke up to biting cold on Saturday, with temperatures dipping well below normal, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). In Kolkata, the mercury plunged to 14.5 degrees Celsius, the coldest morning this season and 2.1 degrees below normal. The maximum temperature in the city is expected to hover around 26 degrees Celsius, with misty and foggy conditions likely in the evening. Other parts of Gangetic West Bengal are also experiencing a gradual temperature drop, which IMD forecasts will continue over the next 24 hours. Cold wave conditions gripped Jharkhand, with Gumla recording the states lowest temperature at 3 degrees Celsius. A yellow alert for cold wave has been issued for 11 districts including Garhwa, Palamu, Chatra, Lohardaga, Simdega, Ranchi, Ramgarh, Bokaro, Khunti, Latehar, and Gumla till 8.30 am on Sunday. Minimum temperatures ranged from 3 degrees in Gumla to 10.1 degrees in Ranchi, with north-westerly winds contributing to the fall in mercury. Officials expect temperatures to drop by up to 2 degrees more over the next 48 hours before rising slightly. Meanwhile, in Kashmir, night temperatures plunged well below the freezing point, with Srinagar recording a low of minus 4.1 degrees Celsius. Shopian was the coldest place at minus 6.4 degrees, followed by Pahalgam at minus 4.4 degrees. Other towns such as Qazigund, Kupwara, Kokernag, Gulmarg, and Konibal recorded minimums ranging from minus 0.2 to minus 5.2 degrees. A thick layer of fog engulfed parts of the valley, and the meteorological department has forecast generally cloudy but dry weather on December 6-7, with light snowfall at isolated higher reaches possible on December 8. No respite from toxic air in Delhi The air quality in the national capital remained in the 'very poor' category on Saturday morning, as the Air Quality Index (AQI) at 9 am settled at 335. According to the Central Pollution Control Board Sameer App, 36 monitoring stations across the capital also reported very poor air, with Mundka recording the worst levels at 387. According to the CPCB, an AQI between 0 and 50 is classified good, 51 and 100 satisfactory, 101 and 200 moderate, 201 and 300 poor, 301 and 400 very poor, and 401 and 500 severe. Delhi's air quality has swung sharply through the week, the city recorded an AQI of 279 on Sunday, 304 on Monday, rose sharply to 372 on Tuesday, and stood at 342 on Wednesday. The city's AQI remained in the very poor category on Thursday with a reading of 304, and 327 on Friday. Meanwhile, the minimum temperature settled at 6.8 degree Celsius, 2.7 degree Celsius below normal, with morning humidity at 95 per cent. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the maximum temperature may reach 24 degree Celsius under a partly cloudy sky. (With inputs from PTI)
Hemant Soren calls for tribal unity, warns big fish will eat little fish if communities stay divided
RANCHI:Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren urged the tribal communities across the country to stand united, warning that otherwise they may face extinction. He used the ig fish eat little fish proverb to buttress his point. Asserting that the tribal community never receives its due place in the census, Soren said it was time to fight for their rights, as challenges will continue to increase. Today, the people have chosen me as the chief minister of Jharkhand. But I know that as we move forward, the challenges will keep increasing. You must have seen that a big fish always tries to eat the little fish, Soren said, addressing tribal representatives gathered here from different parts of the country on Friday. Unless and until the community is united, they may face systemic marginalisation and neglect, the JMM president cautioned. Recalling the legacy of legendary freedom fighters and revolutionaries like Birsa Munda, Sido-Kanhu, Tilka Manjhi and 'Dishom Guru' (leader of the land) Shibu Soren, he said Jharkhand is not merely a state but he land of Mother Earth that leads the tribal society of the entire nation. The CM said that the tribal community must assert its rights, fight for its land, protect its cultural identity and safeguard its existence. He stressed that tribal people can progress only through collective unity and that their struggles must no longer remain isolated or unheard. The tribal people of the country will have to unite and fight together so that our problems do not remain mere voices but become an agenda of national politics, he said, adding that tribal society must recognise itself as a community with a shared past and an equally shared future. He lamented that the tribal community has not been able to produce an extensive written record of its civilisation. We are worshippers of nature; our document is nature itself, he posted on X, insisting that the world must recognise that indigenous lifestyles rooted in nature are crucial for global ecological balance. Pointing to the alleged depletion of the Hasdeo forest in neighbouring Chhattisgarh and the environmental crisis in Delhi, Soren said the world was now finally facing the consequences of ignoring ecological preservation - something tribals have upheld for generations. The chief minister raised concerns over the natural wealth of Jharkhand, urging people to reflect on whether its mineral richness has been a blessing or a curse. He argued that nature and tribal society have never been prioritised in national policy-making, despite being central to environmental sustainability. He warned that a society deeply connected to water, forests and land has continuously been pushed to the margins, even as environmental threats intensify. Soren voiced strong dissatisfaction over the lack of adequate representation of tribal populations in the national census exercises. He said that while every section of society receives recognition and categorisation, tribals often do not receive their rightful place in demographic exercises. If this continues, he warned, the community may gradually be erased from the nation's consciousness. He also highlighted the gaps in economic, social, intellectual and political opportunities available to tribal citizens, asking how many from the community have truly been allowed to advance in various fields Alleging political discrimination against tribal leaders, Soren said that, except for the North East and a few states, tribals have rarely held chief ministerial positions. He claimed that neighbouring states appointed tribal CMs only after Jharkhand elected one, illustrating how representation of the community at the highest levels remains a significant challenge. Soren informed the gathering that he had instructed his office to collect contact details of all tribal representatives present so that communication, coordination and solidarity could be strengthened. He assured them that whenever he visits their states, he will meet them personally. Yes, if we unite as a group, then we can move forward as a great power, he said, emphasising that isolated struggles cannot secure a collective future. He said that the tribal community has always played a significant role in various fields and has produced countless brave men and women, but lamented that the community has been forced to remain divided for far too long. The chief minister reaffirmed his commitment to standing firmly with all indigenous societies and announced that his government will prepare a detailed action plan aimed at building a strong, unified and empowered tribal society. As the challenges ahead grow, he said, unity will be the only shield.
Ministers Visit State Capitals to Invite CMs for Telangana Rising Summit
Bhatti met Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren in Ranchi and presented him with the specially printed summit invitation and briefed him on Telanganas vision of achieving a $ 3 trillion economy by 2047.
Telangana Deputy CM invites Jharkhand CM to Telangana Rising 2047 Global Summit
Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren invited to attend Telangana Rising - 2047 Global Summit
Singapore Envoy Misses Staff's Wedding As IndiGo Cancels Flight To Jharkhand
My sincere apologies to my young staff waiting for me to attend his Shaadi. Lost for words, Simon Wong said.
The Jharkhand High Court has extended significant relief to Chief Minister Hemant Soren by allowing him exemption from personally appearing before the trial court in a case filed under Section 174 of the Indian Penal Code. The provision deals with the non-compliance of lawful summons and is categorised as a minor, summons-triable offence. Justice Anil [] The post Jharkhand High Court grants Hemant Soren exemption from personal appearance in Section 174 IPC case, citing minor nature of offence appeared first on India Legal .
Singapore High Commissioner among stranded passengers amid IndiGo's flight chaos
In a post on X, the official handle of Singapore HC in India, wrote that his flight to the Jharkhand town was cancelled unexpectedly, leaving him unable to attend the wedding of a young staff member
Soren meets allies amid buzz over change of guard
RANCHI: Putting an end to speculation that Jharkhands political equations might change in the coming days, the INDIA bloc in the state displayed unity during a meeting of alliance partners conducted by CM Hemant Soren on Thursday. The meeting, held ahead of the Winter Session of Jharkhand Assembly beginning December 5, was significant because rumours had circulated after Soren and his MLA wife, Kalpana Soren, visited Delhi, claiming they had allegedly met senior BJP leaders. These reports suggested dissatisfaction within the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) over the performance of its allies, the Congress and the RJD, in the recent Bihar polls. The concerns had intensified after the JMMs decision to withdraw from the 2025 Bihar elections, citing what it called a political conspiracy by its allies in Bihar. Days after the Mahagathbandhans rout in the polls, JMM general secretary Vinod Pandey said that it was time to review the alliance not only in Jharkhand, but at the central level too. However, after the Thursday meeting, sources said the coalition is focused on governance and the upcoming Assembly session. All four ministers from the Congress quota, along with Jharkhand in-charge K Raju and state Congress president Keshav Mahto Kamlesh, attended the meeting. All the 16 MLAs will be present during the Winter Session of Jharkhand Assembly and put the questions in the interest of the people of the state, said State Congress Chief Keshav Mahto. Finance and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Radhakrishna Kishore said the speculation about a change in power had been proven baseless. He added, Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently stated during the winter session of Parliament that the Lok Sabha is a place for delivery, not drama. BJP MLAs should also keep this in mind. Agriculture Minister Shilpi Neha Tirkey said they would not allow the BJP narrative to succeed. Health Minister Dr Irnan Ansari said the BJP had no issues to raise and had resorted to drama. JMM ministers and MLAs, however, avoided speaking to the media.
Suspected gas leak kills two, leaves several others ill in Jharkhand's Dhanbad
RANCHI: At least two women allegedly died while several others complained of vomiting tendency and headache due to leakage of toxic carbon monoxide gas for the last two days near Children's Park in Dhanbad's Kenduadih, affected by underground fire for more than a century. Though efforts are being made to seal the leaking spots, authorities have urged people to vacate the area as a precautionary measure. According to locals, the impact of the gas is being felt in the Rajput Basti, Masjid Mohalla and Officers Colony areas of Kenduadih, home to a population of approximately 10,000. The persistent stench and gas leakage have made life difficult for the residents. Dhanbad Deputy Commissioner also asserted that two people have died due to the gas leakage. Yes, two people apparently died due to the gas leakage. Meanwhile, we have done a makeshift arrangement for nearly 400 families living in the area, said the DC Aditya Ranjan. Eviction notice has already been issued long back in the wake of the underground fire in the region, but people are reluctant to vacate the place, he added. According to Ranjan, taking a fresh initiative, the district administration has been making announcements through the public address system, appealing to people to vacate the place as soon as possible. Though the permanent solution is eviction, as a temporary solution, we have directed to make two ambulances available, both by the district administration and Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL), each, said the DC. #WATCH | Dhanbad, Jharkhand: 2 women lost their lives as a gas leak in Kenduadih escalated. Villagers blocked the Dhanbad-Ranchi main road and burned tyres in protest against the district administration and the BCCL (Bharat Coking Coal Limited) management. pic.twitter.com/igWcKvy9De ANI (@ANI) December 4, 2025 According to locals, one woman--Priyanka Devi--died late Wednesday evening, while another woman, Lalita Devi, died on Thursday. Besides, a dozen children and women in the area have fallen ill, they said. However, the exact cause of death for both women will only be clear after postmortem reports. These frequent deaths have fueled locals anger. Protesting against the local administration and BCCL, locals blocked Dhanbad-Ranchi Road for several hours by burning tyres on the road. Protesters claimed that a thick haze has lingered since morning. Their homes have filled up with smoke, causing breathing problems for children and the elderly. Eye irritation, cough and choking problems have also increased, they said. They fear that if the underground fire expands further, the entire area could be in grave danger. Locals have been demanding adequate compensation and arrangements for relocation to a safer location. Meanwhile, Project Officer Lakhan Lal Barnwal stated that the gas accumulated in the colliery, closed for nearly 15 years, started leaking through cracks in the ground. The impact of the gas has been felt within a radius of approximately 400 feet, he said. BCCL has set up emergency shelters for 15-20 families by erecting tents at two locations.
Jharkhand: Gas leak kills two women in Dhanbad, villagers accuse authorities of negligence
Two women died in Jharkhand's Dhanbad district due to a suspected toxic gas leak, sparking protests and a highway blockade. Residents accused authorities of negligence, demanding relocation and identification of the gas source. Officials are awaiting post-mortem reports while BCCL confirmed the area has been unsafe for years due to mining activity.
Jharkhand ponzi case: ED raids in three cities in Uttar Pradesh
At least 20 premises in Noida, Ghaziabad and Meerut are being searched in a case related to Maxizone ponzi scheme
Speculation in the political circles of Jharkhand was that Chief Minister Hemant Soren and his wife, Kalpana Soren, had recently visited Delhi and met with some top BJP leaders and engaged in talks with the likely shift of power in the State
Jharkhand Court Exempts Hemant Soren From Appearance In 'Land Scam' Case
The Jharkhand High Court on Wednesday granted relief to Chief Minister Hemant Soren by exempting him from making a personal appearance before the MP-MLA Court in a case filed by the Enforcement Directorate regarding an alleged land scam.
INDIA Alliance In Jharkhand Is Rock-Solid: Congress Leader KC Venugopal
Congress general secretary KC Venugopal on Wednesday dismissed reports of a rift within the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)'s Hemant Soren-led INDIA bloc government in the state.
JSSC-CGL paper leak: Jharkhand HC rejects PIL seeking CBI probe
RANCHI: The Jharkhand High Court on Wednesday dismissed a petition seeking a CBI investigation into the alleged paper leak of the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission's Combined Graduate Level Examination (JSSC-CGL). On November 3, after hearing arguments from all parties, a division bench of the High Court Chief Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Justice Rajesh Shankar had reserved the order. The court has also directed the JSSC to declare results and initiate the recruitment process. The court, in its order, has also put a stay on the publication of results for ten candidates who had gone to Nepal ahead of the examination in the name of preparation. JSSC-CGL examination 2023 was held on September 21 and 22, 2024. Appearing on behalf of the state government, Advocate General Rajiv Ranjan, reiterated that no evidence of a question paper leak was found in the examination and CID investigation has not yet revealed any leaks. Guess papers are being termed as paper leak by some of the candidates as they deliberately want to disrupt the examination process by portraying it as a question paper leak, he said. According to the Advocate General, a person named Santosh Mastana has also been arrested and thoroughly interrogated; he also talked about the guess papers. A new SIT was formed, headed by an IG-rank officer, to ensure a fair investigation, he said. Senior Supreme Court lawyers Gopal Shankar Narayan, V Gohana and Amritansh Vats, representing successful candidates, Deepak Oraon and others, also dismissed the question paper leak allegation as baseless. They also submitted that no evidence had been found to suggest question paper leaked. It was submitted by the successful candidates advocates that repetition of previous years' questions took place on September 21, so candidates were focused on the repeated questions in September 22 examination; there appears to be no issue of a question paper leak. No leaks of question paper or answer sheets were found anywhere, they said. Petitioners advocate on the other hand, stated that the state government, citing court orders, dissolved the previous SIT and formed another SIT to prevent the investigation going into the right direction. Senior Supreme Court advocate Ajit Kumar Sinha and senior High Court advocate Ajit Kumar presented arguments on behalf of the petitioners. Advocate Sanjay Piprawal and Advocate Prince Kumar appeared on behalf of the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC). Notably, the students have been alleging that the exam was marred by irregularities such as paper leaks, unsealed papers, and the repetition of a large number of questions. 304,769 candidates participated in the CGL 2023 exam. Selected candidates will be appointed to 2,025 positions in various departments. According to the students, only 82 candidates qualified in the exam held on September 21, whereas 2178 passed in the exam held on September 22. They also alleged that the answers to the questions were available to many candidates even before the start of the first shift of examination on September 22.
ED takes over Jharkhand liquor scam probe, launches PMLA investigation
RANCHI: In a significant development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has formally taken over the Jharkhand liquor scam probe from the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), launching its own investigation into the case. ED sources confirmed that the agency has adopted ACB case 9/2025 and registered a parallel Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) numbered 10/2025 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Following the registration of the ECIR, the ED moved the Special PMLA Court in Ranchi seeking permission to interrogate the accused arrested by the ACB. The court approved, allowing the agency to question individuals currently lodged in jail and record their statements. EDs application carried filing number 11431/2025 and registration number 10/2025. With the ED stepping in and launching its own probe under the PMLA, the case has taken a significant turn, adding a new layer of scrutiny to the unfolding scandal. Notably, the case was first registered by the Economic Offences Wing based on the statement of Vikas Singh, a resident of Argora police station area in Ranchi. Singh had accused Chhattisgarh officials Anil Tuteja, Anwar Dhebar, Arunpati Tripathi, and others of causing a revenue loss worth billions of rupees to the Chhattisgarh government through a liquor scam. Following an FIR (36/2024) registered by the Chhattisgarh Economic Offences Wing, the ACB Ranchi also registered a preliminary investigation (PI). During the investigation, the ACB questioned former Excise Secretary Vinay Choubey and Gajendra Singh multiple times. Based on information obtained during the initial questioning, the ACB registered a regular FIR related to the liquor scam with government approval. After completing the investigation of the FIR registered in Chhattisgarh in March 2025, the Economic Offences Wing wrote to the Jharkhand government requesting sanction for prosecution against Vinay Choubey and Gajendra Singh. The ACB registered the FIR in May after completing its preliminary inquiry into the alleged liquor scam. The FIR named senior IAS officer Vinay Choubey, Excise Department Joint Secretary Gajendra Singh, Vinay Singh, and seven others as accused. Following the FIR, the ACB arrested Vinay Choubey and Gajendra Singh. So far, more than a dozen arrests have been made in the case, several of whom have since secured bail. The ACB continues to pursue its investigation independently.
Punjab Regimental Centre inducts 962 Agniveers in Jharkhand's Ramgarh district
A statement issued by the PRC said parents of all the Agniveers were felicitated with the traditional 'Gaurav Padak' for allowing and motivating their children to join the Indian Army.
Several districts reported that land for the purpose has been identified, while the process was still pending in some districts, an official release said
Punjab records highest groundwater extraction in India, says CGWB report
CHANDIGARH: Groundwater extraction in the country is the highest in Punjab, followed by Rajasthan and Haryana, according to the latest National Compilation of Dynamic Ground Water Resources of India, 2025 report of the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB). The findings show that 25 per cent of the 6,762 total blocks in India have been categorised as over-exploited, critical or semi-critical, a situation concentrated in nine states, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Puducherry. As per the report, groundwater extraction in Punjab stands at 156.36 per cent, the highest in the country, followed by Rajasthan at 147.11 per cent and Haryana at 136.75 per cent, all significantly above the national average of 60.63 per cent. At the national level, annual groundwater extraction has seen a marginal decline, from 27.66 billion cubic metres (BCM) in 2023 to 26.27 BCM last year. The total annual ground water recharge of Punjab has been assessed as 18.6 bcm and annual extractable ground water resource as 16.8 bcm. Out of total 153 assessment units including three urban areas taken for study, 111 assessment units (72.55 per cent) have been categorized as Over-exploited, 10 blocks (6.54 per cent) as Critical, 15 blocks (9.80 per cent) as Semi Critical and 17 blocks (11.11 per cent) as Safe, the report said. Similarly, out of 50175.27 square kilometers recharge worthy area of the state, 34294.3 sq km (68.35 per cent) area are under Over-Exploited, 4353.15 sq. km (8.68 per cent) under Critical, 4478.11 sq km (8.92 per cent) under Semi-critical and 7049.71sq km (14.05 per cent) under Safe category, reads the report. For Rajasthan, the report states,Out of the 302 assessment units (blocks and urban areas), 213 units (70.53 per cent) have been categorized as Over Exploited, 23 units (7.62 per cent) as Critical, 27 units (8.94 per cent) as Semi-Critical, 36 units (11.92 per cent) blocks as Safe and 3 units (0.99 per cent) as Saline. Similarly, out of 317010.74 sq km recharge worthy area of the state, 222266.46 sq km (70.11 per cent) area are under Over-Exploited, 19404.23 sq. km (6.12 per cent) under Critical, 22535.05 sq km (7.11 per cent) under Semi-critical, 43869.11 sq km (13.84 per cent) under Safe and 8935.89 sq km (2.82 per cent) area under Saline categories of assessment units. In Haryana, the situation is similar. While in Haryana, out of total 143 assessment units (blocks/Urban), 91 units (63.64 per cent) have been categorized as Overexploited, 6 units (4.20 per cent) as Critical, 15 units (10.49 per cent) as Semi Critical and 31 units (21.68 per cent) as Safe categories of assessment units. Similarly, out of 43,205.81 sq. km recharge worthy area of the State, 26,828.05 sq. km (62.09 per cent) area are under Over-Exploited, 1,170.46 sq. km (2.71 per cent) under Critical, 4,253.89 sq. km (9.85 per cent) under Semicritical, 10,953.42 sq. km (25.35 per cent) under Safe categories of assessment units, it added. The report assesses the total annual groundwater extraction of the entire country for 2025 at 247.22 bcm. Agriculture remains the largest consumer, accounting for 87 per cent, or 215.10 bcm, followed by 11 per cent for domestic use (27.89 bcm) and 2 per cent for industrial use (4.23 bcm). In the present assessment, total annual groundwater recharge has been pegged at 448.52 bcm, while the annual extractable groundwater resource stands at 407.75 bcm. The average stage of groundwater extraction at the national level is 60.63 per cent. Out of 6,762 blocks in the country, 730 units (10.80 per cent) are categorised as over-exploited, and 201 blocks (2.97 per cent) are classified as critical where extraction ranges from 90 to 100 per cent. Another 758 blocks (11.21 per cent) fall under the semi-critical category, while 4,946 units (73.14 per cent) are considered safe, with extraction below 70 per cent. Additionally, 127 blocks (1.88 per cent) have been listed as saline due to brackish or saline groundwater in phreatic aquifers. The report highlights that the percentage of over-exploited, critical and semi-critical blocks exceeding 25 per cent of total units is found only in nine states, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Puducherry. It attributes the situation to region-specific factors, Over-exploitation of ground water resources could be due to various region-specific reasons. The assessment units located in the north-western part of the country (particularly in the states of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh) have plenty of replenishable ground water resources but because of the over extraction beyond the annual ground water recharge, many of these units have become Over-exploited. Overexploited units are also common in the western part of the country, particularly in Rajasthan and Gujarat where the prevailing arid climate results in low recharge of ground water and hence stress on these sources, the report stated. It further adds, In peninsular India, over-exploited units are wide spread in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and parts of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana which could be attributed mainly to the low storage and transmission capacities of aquifers of the hard rock terrains, which results in reduced availability of the resource. The report also notes that in Arunachal Pradesh, Delhi, Goa, Kerala, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, Andaman and Nicobar, Chandigarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Lakshadweep, domestic groundwater extraction exceeds 40 per cent. Groundwater extraction stands between 90 and 100 per cent in Delhi, and between 70 and 90 per cent in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. In most other states and Union Territories, including Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Sikkim, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Andaman and Nicobar, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Lakshadweep, extraction levels are around 70 per cent. The report concludes that compared to the Dynamic Ground Water Resource Assessment of 2024, the total annual groundwater recharge has marginally increased from 446.9 bcm to 448.52 bcm.
Cough syrup case: Fourth man arrested from Lucknow for illegal storage, trade of banned drug
The informants revealed that these drugs were being sent to other parts of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam, West Bengal and Bangladesh
Jharkhand Governor Meets Amit Shah Amid Buzz Over Hemant Soren-BJP Tie-up
Amid mounting speculation over a possible BJPJMM realignment in Jharkhand, state Governor Santosh Gangwar met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi
Enforcement Directorate raids 15 locations under FEMA, money laundering probe
RANCHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday raided the premises of Chartered Accountant (CA) Naresh Kejriwal in Ranchi, conducting searches at 15 locations across Ranchi, Mumbai and Surat under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) and money laundering provisions. Unlike previous actions under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), this marks the first major ED action under FEMA in Jharkhand. Searches continued at Kejriwals residence and office at Church Complex in Ranchi, where ED teams examined documents related to financial dealings and suspicious foreign exchange transactions. Premises linked to Kejriwals family members, relatives and business associates were also searched. The crackdown follows an Income Tax Department investigation that revealed Kejriwal had invested in several undeclared foreign shell companies in the UAE, Nigeria and the US. These companies were allegedly operated from India, raising concerns about their purpose and the nature of their transactions. Investigating agencies have reportedly gathered key information about foreign investments, transactions and bank accounts. Based on this input, the ED launched searches under FEMA. Meanwhile, the ED has intensified its probe into the illegal mining case in Sahibganj, involving an estimated Rs 1,000 crore. The agency has summoned 11 individuals, including mining officers, businessmen and contractors, to appear at its Ranchi office for questioning. The investigation stems from an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) based on case number 85/2020. As of June 30, 2025, the ED has filed five supplementary charge sheets in the case before the PMLA court.
19-year-old man dies by suicide in Thane after family delays marriage plans
Thane: A 19-year-old youth allegedly died by suicide in Maharashtras Thane district, apparently due to mental stress over his familys insistence on postponing his marriage, police said on Tuesday. The incident took place on November 30 in the Dombivli area here, they said. The man, originally from Jharkhand, was in love with a girl from 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 .
CIC has been without Chief since September 14, 2025: Petitioners to SC
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court was informed on Monday by Advocate Prashant Bhushan appearing for the petitioners, that despite its strict directions, vacant posts in the Central Information Commission (CIC) have not been filled. The CIC has been without a Chief since September 14, 2025, and of the 10 posts of Information Commissioners, eight remain vacant. The backlog of cases in the CIC has now reached 30,134, Bhushan told a two-judge bench, headed by Justices Surya Kant and Bagchi, during the hearing on the non-appointment of Information Commissioners. He further pointed out that vacancies persist in several state information commissions as well. The apex court was hearing pleas filed by petitioners Anjali Bhardwaj, Commodore Lokesh Batra (Retd), and Amrita Johri, seeking directions for the filling of vacancies in the Central Information Commission and State Information Commissions. The Jharkhand and Himachal Pradesh SICs are completely defunct, with all posts, including that of the Chief, lying vacant. Citizens right to information is being frustrated due to the failure of governments to fill vacancies in the information commissions, leading to large backlogs and delays of over a year in the disposal of appeals and complaints, the petitioners submitted. The counsel for the Centre informed the court that the selection committee, consisting of the Prime Minister, a Cabinet Minister, and the Leader of the Opposition, is scheduled to meet on December 10, 2025. After hearing the submissions, the Court directed all Chief Secretaries to file affidavits indicating the number of sanctioned posts in their respective State Information Commissions, the number of vacancies, and the backlog of appeals and complaints. The bench stated that the matter would be heard again in two weeks. Bhushan also handed over a state-wise table indicating the number of sanctioned posts and vacancies for the courts consideration.
Marandi claims Dhanbad coal mafia switching to Apple FaceTime to evade ED surveillance
RANCHI: Making a sensational revelation, State BJP Chief and Leader of the Opposition in the Jharkhand Assembly, Babulal Marandi, has claimed that fearing the possibility of normal phone calls being traced, the police and the coal mafia in Dhanbad are now preparing to operate a coal theft syndicate using Apples FaceTime. According to Marandi, this indicates a new strategy in which elements within the police and the coal mafia may be shifting to FaceTime, considered more difficult to intercept due to its advanced security features. FaceTime is regarded as safe and secure because it uses end-to-end encryption, meaning only the sender and receiver can access the audio and video content. Apple states that it does not store the content of FaceTime calls and regularly updates its software to address vulnerabilities. Marandi further stated that following the Enforcement Directorates (ED) crackdown and sustained pressure on the coal mafia, which exposed widespread coal theft, there has been an undeclared partial pause in the illegal coal trade in Dhanbad. This, he said, has instilled fear among the mafia, leading to a slight reduction in the ongoing plunder. However, he claimed his reliable sources have informed him that coal thieves are becoming active again and have changed their communication methods to evade the law. The most shocking information is that a shopkeeper at Bank More in Dhanbad recently ordered about 55 iPhones. The motive is clear: fearing that normal calls can be traced, the police and the mafia are now preparing to run a coal theft syndicate through FaceTime, Marandi told media persons at the State BJP headquarters in Ranchi on Friday. He reiterated that this reflects a new strategy by those involved, including some within the police, to exploit FaceTimes reputation for being harder to intercept. Marandi urged central investigative agencies to closely monitor the iPhones that have recently become active in Dhanbad, as well as their buyers and users, both known and unknown. He asserted that no matter what technology the thieves adopt, he will continue to expose them to stop the plunder of the states natural resources. Police officials, however, expressed ignorance of these claims. I have no idea about it, said Dhanbad Senior Superintendent of Police, Prabhat Kumar. Marandis remarks gain significance in light of the Enforcement Directorates recent raids at 44 locations across Jharkhand and West Bengal on 21 November, during which cash and jewellery worth over 14 crore were recovered, along with a substantial amount of incriminating evidence. According to an official communiqu issued by the ED, the action, carried out under Section 17 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 , was linked to a sprawling illegal coal mining, theft, transportation, and sale racket allegedly operating across the two states for years. Officials also recovered various property deeds tied to the coal syndicate, agreements related to land transactions, digital devices, and books of accounts belonging to entities allegedly controlled by the accused. The ED reported that raids were conducted at 20 locations across Dhanbad and Dumka in Jharkhand. These locations are linked to individuals including Lal Bahadur Singh, Anil Goyal, Sanjay Khemka, Amar Mondal, and several others associated with their companies and entities operating in Dhanbad.
Delhi horror: Teenager shot dead after minor scuffle in baraat; CISF man held
A CISF head constable, on leave for his cousin's wedding, allegedly shot a 17-year-old boy in Shahdara after a scuffle over money being showered during a procession. The teen's family, migrant labourers from Jharkhand, confirmed he was collecting thrown money when the dispute escalated. The accused officer was arrested from Etawah.
After Delhi blast connection, Nuh linked to MP cybercrimes
BHOPAL: Haryanas Nuh district, which is under glare as an operational base of the white-collar terror module linked to 10/11 Delhi blast case, has also come out as the nucleus of Madhya Pradeshs biggest-ever inter-state cybercrime ring. MP polices cybercrime unit has traced masterminds of the racket to Nuh. The cyber fraud ring involved over 1000 bank accounts of people in Vindhya and Mahakoshal region of MP, being used as mule accounts to park and circulate fraud money. More than 25 people from MP, Haryana and Bihar have been arrested and charge-sheeted. As the investigations progress, its becoming clear that operatives based in Nuh are the masterminds of the racket. They sourced SIM cards and mule accounts mostly from MP and used them for their inter-state racket, said a MP police involved in the probe. The men in Nuh operated an illegal call centre at a flat in Gurugram, which was used to make calls to people for duping them. The SIM cards, sourced by operatives in MP and other states, reached the kingpins through middlemen based in Patna. The mule bank accounts served as the pipeline through which more than Rs 3,000 crore was routed. The funds were actually proceeds of cybercrimes committed in various parts of the country, religious charity money as well as money from unknown sources suspected to have been used possibly for terror funding. Large sum of money was routed through mule accounts to the Middle East, the officer added. The fraudsters also operated shell companies in Hyderabad and parts of Maharashtra. The 25-plus men arrested over the last 11 months have been charge-sheeted. Now we are going to zero in on the racket masterminds in Nuh, he said. Years back it was Jamtara in Jharkhand, but crackdown saw newer hotspots in West Bengal. Over last couple of years Nuh and adjoining Rajasthan districts have emerged as the cybercrime hub, SP (cybercrime cell) Pranay Nagwanshi said.
Need to further reduce risk of HIV transmission through blood transfusion in India: Experts
NEW DELHI: The risk of HIV transmission through blood transfusion in India has dipped over the years due to improved screening and testing protocols. However, the recent incident in which six children with thalassemia got infected with HIV once again exposes that the overall risk has still not been eliminated, said experts. On the eve of World AIDS Day on December 1, experts said the Jharkhand incident serves as a reminder that strict adherence to safety standards are vital to maintaining and further reducing HIV risk. Dr Ishwar Gilada, Secretary General, Peoples Health Organisation (India) and President Emeritus, AIDS Society of India, said, Children with Thalassaemia require multiple transfusions, almost 20-25 annually, making them statistically more susceptible to transfusion transmitted infections including HIV. According to Dr Sangeeta Pathak, Secretary General, Indian Society of Blood Transfusion, though the overall risk of HIV transmission through blood transfusion has generally decreased, the Jharkhand incident is concerning. There have been concerns and reports about recent cases where children with Thalassemia or other conditions received infected blood, highlighting that the risk, while low, is not eliminated. This serves as a reminder that ongoing improvements and strict adherence to safety standards are vital to maintaining and further reducing this risk, she told TNIE . Experts said that though the chance of catching HIV through blood transfusion is extremely low- about one in 1.5 million to 2 million transfusions, with less stringent screening, the risk may be higher. HIV transmission to Thalassemia children in Jharkhand exposes gaps in Indias blood banking system: Advocacy group Deepak Chopra, Mentor, Thalassemia Patients Advocacy Group (TPAG), said, The tragic case in Jharkhand, where children with thalassemia reportedly contracted HIV through blood transfusions, is not just a breach of protocol; it is a stark reminder of how preventable failures persist when governance weakens, and public health takes a backseat. Transfusion-transmitted infections remain a persistent threat, and continuing to rely on outdated screening methods is no longer acceptable, he added. Prof. NK Ganguly, former director general of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), stressed that safe blood is not a privilege; it is a right. Patients must be educated, empowered, and encouraged to demand it, systems must be equipped to deliver it, and policymakers must uphold transparency and accountability as non-negotiable pillars of blood service governance. He said the best way forward is to carry out public awareness campaigns to encourage voluntary donation while educating citizens about the risks of unsafe blood, the importance of advanced testing technologies like Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT) and their right to access blood that meets the highest safety standards. NAT enables the earliest detection of infections, including HIV, HBV (Hepatitis B Virus) and HCV (Hepatitis C Virus) and other transfusion-transmitted infections even during the window period, thus drastically reducing risk and creating a triple benefit that protects patients, empowers providers, and strengthens Indias public health and productivity, Prof. Ganguly told TNIE . Dr Gilada, who is a Governing Council Member and Focal Point for Asia-Pacific, International AIDS Society, explained that a wider window period up to 12 weeks with conventional HIV screening tests that are routinely used in blood banks allows some contaminated blood to be transfused. This isn't a human error but a policy and management issue, he said. Plan and start using NAAT-based HIV screening at all the blood banks. To reduce the cost per test, pooling of samples can be used with a pool of 5 or 10 samples, which can reduce cost by 75 to 90%, as our national HIV prevalence is still around 0.2%, he added. India's HIV prevalence has seen a decline from 0.33 % in 2010 to 0.20% in 2024 in India, as per government data. Chopra said what is equally critical is regulatory reform. India needs a unified national blood safety framework backed by enforceable standards, a centralised digital registry, and strict, meaningful audits. We must shift decisively from reaction to reform and ensure that every unit of blood transfused in this country is not only life-saving but life-affirming. The need of the hour is also to continue improving testing sensitivity, said Dr Pathak. NAT testing should be implemented to eliminate window period transmissions; pathogen inactivation techniques should be implemented for all blood products; voluntary, non-remunerated blood donation should beencouraged, alongwithmaintaining strict donor screening and deferral policies; and promoting awareness and testing among blood donors, she added. She further said that to prevent the repeat of Jharkhand-like incidents related to transfusion-transmitted infections like HIV, the government should take urgent and comprehensive actions. The most important is to strengthen blood safety protocols; investing in modern blood banks with state-of-the-art testing and pathogen reduction technology; ensuring proper storage, handling, and disposal of blood products; establishing an independent body to monitor blood safety practices; and regularly auditing blood banks and enforcing compliance with safety standards. Also, emphasis should be placed on providing ongoing training for healthcare workers and blood bank staff on the latest safety protocols and on developing protocols for the quick investigation and management of any suspected transfusion-related infections. As people with thalassemia are exposed to transfusion-transmitted infections,Dr Pathak said, the government should formulate policies that prioritise the safety of blood products for vulnerable groups like thalassemia patients. A specialised centre for thalassemia care with access to safe blood and comprehensive management is the need of the hour, along with the rollout of national registries for thalassemia patients to ensure they receive continuous, safe care. What is also needed is support to research into gene therapy and other curative approaches for thalassemia and developing and promoting affordable, safe alternatives to transfusions, Dr Pathak added. Jharkhand HC seeks info on demand, availability of blood in State hospitals after children test positive for HIV
Jharkhand to launch state-wide tests for thalassemia, sickle cell, says Health Minister Irfan Ansari
RANCHI: In a major decision, Jharkhand Health Minister Dr. Irfan Ansari said that everyone in the state will be made to undergo tests for thalassemia and sickle cell. According to Ansari, Jharkhand still lacks concrete data on these serious diseases, posing a major challenge to the state's health system. There is no information available about the number of patients suffering from Thalassemia and Sickle Cell in any of the districts. This is a very serious disease, and its treatment will be ensured in Jharkhand at all costs, said Ansari. The goal is to make Jharkhand Thalassemia and Sickle Cell free, he added. Ansari said that the state government will bear the entire cost of treatment for thalassemia and sickle cell patients. Additionally, the process of providing bone marrow transplant facilities at Ranchi Sadar Hospital has also been initiated, he said. The Minister further said that special initiatives will be taken to connect experienced doctors from various states to Jharkhand. The state government will also provide the necessary budget for this, he said. The Minister explained that without accurate data, children are constantly forced to visit private hospitals and government blood banks. To improve this situation, all district-level blood banks are being equipped with high-tech equipment, which includes, installing new-generation blood testing machines, providing state-of-the-art AIDS/HIV testing, and providing the latest blood safety technology. All these facilities will soon be made available in every blood bank in the state to prevent a recurrence of incidents like the one in Chaibasa. HIV transmission to Thalassemia children in Jharkhand exposes gaps in Indias blood banking system: Advocacy group In a shocking case of negligence in October, five children were contracted with HIV after being transfused with infected blood at Sadar Hospital at West Singhbhum district in Jharkhand. Chief Minister Hemant Soren had ordered the suspension of the civil surgeon and the medical officer responsible for the same. The matter came into light after family members of one of the children lodged a complaint with the deputy commissioner and the state government. Over media reports, the Jharkhand High Court took Suo-moto cognisance of the matter and ordered an urgent probe into the matter and sought a detailed report from the state health department. Following the Courts directive, a high-level medical investigation team from Ranchi visited Chaibasa to inspect the hospitals blood bank and related facilities. During the investigation, it was discovered that four more children have been given infected blood and were found to be HIV positive. The team inspected the hospital's blood bank and PICU ward and gathered detailed information from the children's families. The medical team discovered several deficiencies and serious irregularities during their inspection of the blood bank and laboratory. Preliminary findings indicate that poor testing protocols, lack of supervision, and procedural negligence may have allowed contaminated blood to be used for transfusions a failure that has endangered several young lives.
SMAT | Swashbuckling Rajkumar swings it Tamil Nadus way against Uttarakhand
CRICKET | Karnataka slips up by one run in a final over nail-biter against Rajasthan, while Ishan Kishans unbeaten century fires Jharkhand to an eight-wicket win over Tripura
43 Heritage Bye-laws for over 50 monuments likely to be tabled in Parliament Winter Session
NEW DELHI: Drafts of at least 43 Heritage Bye-laws (HBLs) covering over 50 monuments readied by the National Monument Authority (NMA) are likely to be laid in Parliament during the winter session starting Monday. The documents will subsequently be put in the public domain to seek feedback. So far, 124 HBLs covering about 178 heritage sites have been placed before the both Houses of Parliament. (450) The drafts are approved in Parliament. In this session, we are planning to lay 43 HBLs covering 54 sites. The process, obviously, depends upon the session of Parliament. We have limited days; two days in a week. One day is for Lok Sabha, that is Monday, and Thursday is for Rajya Sabha. So, according to the business of Parliament, it is done, said an official, aware of the matter. The laws are to ensure that new construction and activities around protected sites comply with regulations for heritage conservation. The NMA prepares the draft bye-laws, and once approved by it, they are submitted to Parliament for their final endorsement. The drafts of monuments prepared this year include Triple shrined Temple of Bhavani (Ahmednagar, Maharashtra), Temple of Amriteshwar (Ahmednagar, Maharashtra), Fort and gateway excluding the ancient buildings and tomb of Bismillah Shah Wali (Kadapa District or YSR Kadapa District in Andhra Pradesh), Nahar Jharokha compound, Rupmati Pavilion, Baz Bahadurs Palace, Darya Khans Tomb, and Hathi Mahal (Dhar, Madhya Pradesh), Kailasanatha Swamy temple (Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu), Bhimesvara temple (East Godavari, Andhra Pradesh), St Francis Church, Fort Kochi (Ernakulam, Kerala) and Fort including ancient temples (Jaisalmer, Rajasthan). To ensure speedy and transparent approval of construction and repair works in the vicinity of the protected historical sites, the NMA has expedited finalisation of HBLs for 141 monuments. The process is expected to be over within the next six months. Following the directions of the culture ministry to prioritise preparation of HBLs for monuments attracting the highest number of applications seeking permission for construction-related applications, the NMA identified 294 such heritage sites across the country. Out of the 294 identified monuments, bye laws of 151 are already completed, prepared or have been submitted before the Parliament. Most applications are received from Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Delhi, where rapid urbanisation is taking place. Fewer applications for approvals are from Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and parts of the northeast. As mandated by the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act 2010, there should be separate bye-laws for all 3,693 heritage sites or monuments under the jurisdiction of ASI to regulate development and construction around protected monuments. These rules were to be framed by 2012. However, till January 2020, by-laws for only five monuments or sites were cleared and presented before the Parliament.
Haryanas Nuh emerges as key operational base in white-collar terror module
BHOPAL:The Nuh district of Haryana has emerged as an alleged hideout, operational base for sourcing materials and recruitment ground for the white collar modules operatives. This comes against the investigations' progress into the white-collar terror module and the 10/11 Delhi blast case. The same southeastern Haryana district has also turned out to be the nucleus of Madhya Pradeshs biggest-ever inter-state cyber crime ring, which was busted by the police in early 2025. As the MP polices cyber crime unit accelerates its probe into the inter-state racket, men operating from Nuh (Haryana) have emerged as the kingpins and masterminds, which is believed to be worth more than Rs 3000 crore. Anatomy of a white collar terror module The cyber fraud ring involved more than 1000 bank accounts of people in the Vindhya and Mahakoshal region of MP, being used as mule accounts to park and circulate fraud money and hundreds of SIM cards sourced from MP were used by cyber fraudsters for committing crimes across the country. More than 25 persons, hailing from MP, Haryana and Bihar, have so far been arrested and charge-sheeted in the court in MP. The men in Nuh (mostly school dropouts) operated an illegal call centre at a flat in Gurugram, which was used to make calls to people for duping them via various kinds of cyber-crimes, including job offers, gaming and cryptocurrency investment frauds, etc. The SIM cards, which were sourced by the rackets kingpins from their operatives in MP and other states, reached through middlemen based in the Bihar capital Patna. Cybercrime police bust ATM card cloning racket, nab onefrom Haryana The bank accounts, which were used as mule accounts (around 70 per cent of them were originally held by low-income people in MPs Vindhya and Mahakoshal regions), served as the pipeline through which more than Rs 3,000 crore was routed to various destinations. The funds which were rotated through these accounts were actually proceeds of cybercrime committed in various parts of the country, religious charity money, as well as money from unknown sources suspected to have been used possibly for terror funding. A large sum of money was actually routed through the mule accounts to the Middle East, a MP police officer added. The men operating from Nuh even operated shell companies/firms in Hyderabad and parts of Maharashtra. These shell firms/companies were particularly used for cyber fraud and the transfer of illicit money. The 25-plus men who have been arrested in the case over the last 11 months have already been charge-sheeted in the court. Now we are going to zero in upon the real kingpins/masterminds of the racket in Nuh, the officer maintained. As per MP police sources, its not the first time that Nuhs name has cropped up in a major cybercrime case. Nuh has gradually emerged as a prime cybercrime hotspot in the country. Years back, it was Jamtara in Jharkhand, but a sustained crackdown witnessed newer hotspots emerge in West Bengal, adjoining parts of Odisha and later some parts of western UP. But over the last couple of years, Nuh in Haryana and adjoining districts of Rajasthan have come out as the prime cyber-crime hub of India, Madhya Pradesh polices SP (state cyber crime cell) Pranay Nagwanshi said. Children are linked to cybercrime in at least three of every 3,000 cases, say experts
'Red corridor' spread due to Congress-Naxal nexus, BJP claims, says influence declined under Modi
NEW DELHI: The BJP on Saturday alleged that Naxal insurgency in India persisted for an extended period and reached alarming proportions largely due to policy paralysis during the second term of the erstwhile Congress-led UPA government. In a series of posts on X, the BJP claimed that then PM Manmohan Singh had described Naxalism as Indias greatest internal threat, yet the UPA had treated extremists as victims instead of confronting them. Congress sheltered sympathisers, blocked anti-Maoist action, and gave political cover that jeopardised Indias safety, it alleged. The BJP accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of fuelling Naxalite sympathies, calling it a threat to national sovereignty. A significant factor behind such a situation was the influence of urban Naxals inducted as members in Sonia Gandhi-led erstwhile National Advisory Council (NAC), it charged. Asserting that there is a significant decline in Naxal influence under Prime Minister Narendra Modis government, the BJP alleged that Naxalite apologists continue to remain entrenched in the Congress leadership. The Red corridor didnt emerge overnight it was allowed to spread under the #CongressNaxalNexus, and emboldened during the years when India needed a spine of steel, the BP said, adding that countless brave personnel were ambushed from Chhattisgarh to Odisha, Maharashtra to Jharkhand. There was no immediate reaction from the Congress to the BJPs charge. The BJP said that PM Modi empowered the home ministry to pursue a decisive strategy against the menace. The influence of Naxalism has witnessed a significant decline since its peak in the late 2000s, when it impacted 180 districts across India. By 2024, this number reduced to just 38 districts, predominantly concentrated within the Red corridor in states, such as Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Maharashtra, and Bihar, it added. Recently, security forces neutralised Madvi Hidma, one of the countrys most wanted Maoist commanders, the party said. Naxal-hit dists down The influence of Naxalism has witnessed a decline since its peak in the late 2000s, when it impacted 180 districts across India.
Jharkhands Anukul enjoys batting up the order
Ranchi Diary | Soren distributes 8,792 job letters to apointees
Chief Minister Hemant Soren marked one year of his governments second term by distributing 8,792 appointment letters to newly selected candidates. This focus on recruitment directly aligns with the governments promise to expand employment opportunitiesa major poll commitment. The CM noted that this anniversary would have been even more meaningful had Dishom Guru Shibu Soren been present. Remembering his recent passing, he said the veteran leader would have been happy to witness so many youths receive appointments. Now, prescription a must to purchase cough syrup The Jharkhand High Court has directed a strict crackdown on the illegal sale of cough syrup and other narcotic medicines across the state. The order was issued during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) highlighting widespread misuse of such drugs, particularly among schoolchildren. The court instructed the state government and all concerned authorities to ensure that no medical store or outlet sells cough syrup or narcotic drugs without a valid prescription from a doctor. The PIL, filed by Sunil Kumar Mahato, cited instances of rampant cough syrup misuse and pointed to a recent seizure of a large quantity in Dhanbad district. MS Dhonis warm gesture wins fans hearts A special gesture by former Indian cricket captain MS Dhoni is winning hearts. He hosted Team India, which is currently in Ranchi for the first ODI against South Africa, scheduled for November 30, for dinner at his home in Ranchi on Thursday. Dhoni often invites national players to his residence whenever there is an international match in Ranchi, and he didnt miss the chance this time either. After the dinner, Dhoni, known for his warm hospitality, dropped Kohli back to the hotel after the meal. Kohli, who now features only in the ODI format, last played the 50-over series against Australia, where he bounced back with a half-century after enduring two ducks. Mukesh Ranjan Our correspondent in Jharkhand mukesh.r@newindianexpress.com
Encroachments put Jharkhand queen of hills at risk
RANCHI: Netarhat, long celebrated as the queen of hills in Jharkhand, is facing rapid, unchecked construction that residents and conservationists say violates SC guidelines meant to protect Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZ). Much of the plateau lies next to the Mahuadanr Wolf Sanctuary, the Palamu Tiger Reserve and Betla National Park, placing it firmly within the ESZ where new commercial structures require strict environmental clearance. According to locals, a surge of illegal hotel and resort construction has triggered what they describe as an environmental, social and legal crisis. The Supreme Court has ruled that any new work inside ESZ boundaries without prior approval is illegal. Yet, several multi-storey hotels have come up in recent months around Netarhats most sensitive locations, including Sunset Point and Koel View Point. Residents say most of these new buildings lack both environmental clearance and an official no-objection certificate. In recent months, several new hotels and resorts have sprung up around the extremely sensitive areas of Sunset Point and Koel View Point. Many of the projects are being driven by outside investors, and almost all stand in direct violation of the ESZ norms, said local environmental activist Govind Pathak. He noted that the official Gazette clearly states that no hotels or resorts can be built within one kilometre of any sanctuary or national park, and that large commercial structures are generally not permissible in ESZs. Construction continues unhindered, he added. Pathak pointed out visible changes in the regions climate as a sign of ecological stress. Due to rampant construction during the last few years, the climate here has changed drastically; a place once known for its cool weather throughout the year now requires air conditioning with the onset of the summer season, he said. Illegal construction, tree felling and the steady spread of concrete structures, he added, are seen as major contributors to rising temperatures. The ESZ Gazette also prohibits new commercial hotels and resorts within one kilometre of protected forests, bars the expansion of existing hotels and permits only local residents to build houses for personal use. Pathak said he had written to Chief Minister Hemant Soren in July, urging an immediate halt to construction and an inquiry into land acquisition involving tribal plots. No action was taken in this regard, he said. He now plans to move the Jharkhand High Court. Local officials claimed that no ESZ committee meeting has been held for several years due to the absence of its Commissioner. They said construction in ESZs is regulated, not banned, but admitted that approvals depend on recommendations that have not been reviewed for a long time.
