Chennai Police bust gang of eight for stealing mobiles at Chepauk Stadium during IPL match
CHENNAI: The Greater Chennai Police (GCP) busted a gang of eight that targeted the crowd at the Chepauk stadium on Friday, stealing dozens of mobile phones. The police said that they received more than 20 complaints of mobile theft on Friday during the Chennai Super Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) match. The gang of eight, including four minor boys, was from Jharkhand and West Bengal and had arrived in the state specifically for this reason, police investigations found. Three of them purchased tickets on the black market to gain entry inside the stadium, while the rest of the gang coordinated with them from the outside. Rajkumar (22), Akash Noniya (23), Vishal Kumar Matto (22), Gobind Kumar (21), and the four minors were arrested from two lodges in Vellore on Monday. A case was filed against them at Triplicane police station here.A senior police officer said, We received over 20 complaints from the Chennai Singam IPL QR Code system that was launched specially to enhance safety of the public at the stadium in Chepauk during the IPL matches. The system allowed spectators to register complaints during the match by scanning a QR code. Greater Chennai Police recovered 38 stolen mobile phones from an eight-member gang | Ashwin prasath Police said that using the CCTV footage from the stadium, they generated images of the suspects with the help of the information provided by the victims. With the generated photos, the police tracked the movement of the suspects and arrested them in Vellore. Preliminary inquiries revealed that the gang targeted cricket matches, religious festivals and places where large crowds gather. The gang went to the stadium in Bengaluru during the RCB vs Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) match on March 22 from Vellore and stole the mobile phones there. After a few days, they came to Chennai on Friday from Vellore. A total of 38 mobile phones were recovered from them. After an inquiry, the four men were sent to judicial remand, while the minor boys were sent to an observation home.
Babulal Marandi demands action against liquor agencies in Jharkhand
Former CM alleges that liquor agencies are responsible for revenue loss of over 25 crore to the State exchequer as it did not deposit the amount of sales in the shop with Jharkhand State Beverages Corporation Limited (JSBCL)
Women attacked during Kalash Yatra in Jharkhands Koderma
Koderma: Women participating in a Kalash Yatra in Chhatarbar village in Jharkhands Koderma district were attacked with stones on Tuesday, April 1. The women, carrying urns on their heads as part of a religious ritual, were seeking alms when unidentified individuals pelted stones from rooftops, damaging several urns. Upon learning about the incident, hundreds of 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 .
Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren greeted with black flags during Sarhul Puja
RANCHI: In a major disappointment for Chief Minister Hemant Soren, he was greeted with black flags by the protesters while performing puja on the occasion of Sarhul Festival at Siram Toli Sarna Sthal in Ranchi on Tuesday. A group of protesters, led by former Congress Minister Geetashri Oraon, were wearing black bands on their heads and hands while Soren and his wife Kalpana Soren performed puja at the Sarna Sthal. To avoid further disappointment, Soren and his wife performed puja in haste and left to attend another programme organized at the Adivasi Hostel. The protest further led to a heated debate between tribal leader Ajay Tirkey and former minister Geetashree Oraon, who was leading the Sirmatoli Bachao Sangharsh Morcha. Geetashree Oraon said that protest is their constitutional right and no one can stop them from doing so. We are protesting against the ramp being constructed before the Sarna Sthal. The Chief Minister has no right to perform puja at this Sarna Sthal as he is not supporting our community to protect this heritage, said Geetashri Oraon. The Chief Minister has no faith in Sarna otherwise he would have done something to protect this Sarna Sthal, she added. Incidentally, the protesters under the leadership of Geetashree Oraon broke the police barricades demanding the complete removal of the ramp on March 30, leading to a scuffle with the police. Later, on the basis of the statement recorded by the magistrate, an FIR has been registered against 21 named persons including Geetashree Oraon in Chutia police station. Earlier, Ranchi bandh was also called during the budget session on March 22 by more than 40 tribal outfits against the construction of a flyover ramp near Sarna Sthla at Siramtoli in Ranchi putting normal life standstill all over the capital city. The protesters are demanding the ramp of the flyover being constructed in Siram Toli be removed as it obstructs access to the religious site and could disturb its sanctity due to traffic movement. According to tribal outfits, about three lakh people from different places will reach the central Sarna Sthal at Sirmatoli with a procession on the occasion of Sarhul and construction of the ramp near the Sarna Sthal will cause trouble to the people coming to the procession.
2 drivers killed, 5 injured as 2 goods trains collide in Jharkhand (VIDEO)
Two people were killed and five others injured in a collision between two goods trains in Jharkhand's Sahebganj in the early hours of Tuesday, police said.
Number of districts most affected by LWE came down to 6 from 12: Amit Shah
NEW DELHI: Noting that Bharat is determined to uproot Naxalism for good by March 31, 2026, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday announced that the country has achieved a new milestone by significantly reducing the number of districts most affected by Left-Wing Extremism to just six from 12. The Home Minister said, Taking a giant stride towards building a Naxal-free Bharat, today our nation achieved a new milestone by significantly reducing the number of districts most affected by left-wing extremism to just 6 from 12. The Modi government is building a Sashakt, Surakshit and Samridh Bharat with a ruthless approach to Naxalism and relentless efforts for all-pervasive development. Later, in a statement, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs said, The total number of districts affected by Naxalism in the country was 38. Among these, the number of most affected districts has reduced to 6 from 12, the number of Districts of Concern has also come down to 6 from 9, and the number of other LWE-affected Districts has also been reduced from 17 to 6. The most Naxal-affected districts included 4 districts from Chhattisgarh (Bijapur, Kanker, Narayanpur, and Sukma), 1 from Jharkhand (West Singhbhum) and 1 from Maharashtra (Gadchiroli), it added. Similarly, out of the total 38 affected districts, the number of Districts of Concern, where additional resources need to be intensively provided, include Andhra Pradesh (Alluri Sitarama Raju), Madhya Pradesh (Balaghat), Odisha (Kalahandi, Kandhamal, and Malkangiri) and Telangana (Bhadradri-Kothagudem), the statement read. Due to persistent action against Naxalism, the number of Other LWE-affected Districts has also decreased from 17 to 6. These include districts from Chhattisgarh (Dantewada, Gariaband, and Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki), Jharkhand (Latehar), Odisha (Nuapada), and Telangana (Mulugu). In the statement the MHA said, The Most Affected Districts and Districts of Concern are given financial assistance of Rs. 30 crore and Rs. 10 crore respectively by the Centre as part of Special Central Assistance (SCA) to fill the gaps in public infrastructure and special projects taken up in these districts are provide funds as per needs. The rapid improvement in the LWE scenario in the last one year is primarily due to the establishment of new security camps in the insurgency-affected core areas and development-oriented works such as expansion of roads, transport facilities, water, electricity and other welfare schemes of the government reaching the villagers, it noted.
NEW DELHI: Over 13,000 sq km of forest area, more than the total geographical area of Delhi, Sikkim, and Goa combined, is under encroachment in 25 states and Union Territories that have submitted data to the Union Environment Ministry so far. Ten states are yet to submit data on forest encroachments. Last year, the National Green Tribunal took suo motu cognisance of a PTI report that cited government data showing that 7,50,648 hectares (or 7,506.48 sq km) of forest area -- more than five times the size of Delhi -- was under encroachment in India. In April last year, the NGT had directed the ministry to compile the details of encroachment of forest areas in all states and Union Territories in a prescribed format. In a report submitted to the NGT last week, the ministry said that as of March 2024, a total of 13,05,668.1 hectares (or 13,056 sq km) of forest area was under encroachment in 25 states and UTs that have provided data so far. These states and UTs are Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Dadar & Nagar and Daman & Diu, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Maharashtra, Odisha, Puducherry, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Sikkim Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram and Manipur. States and UTs, which are still to submit the data and details on forest encroachment, are Bihar, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan,Telangana, West Bengal, Nagaland, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Forest area or The Recorded Forest Area (RFA) includes land officially designated as forest by the government, even if it does not have tree cover. RFA is further divided into three categories: reserved forests, which have full protection, with activities like hunting and grazing generally banned; protected forests, where some activities are allowed unless specifically restricted; and unclassed forests, which are not classified as reserved or protected. This is different from forest cover which refers to the actual area with tree canopy (more than 1 hectare with tree canopy density of at least 10 per cent), regardless of legal status. Forest cover includes forests inside and outside recorded forest areas, such as plantations, community forests and private lands with tree growth. According to the ministry's report, Madhya Pradesh had the highest forest encroachment among all states and UTs, with 5,460.9 sq km affected as of March 2024. Assam has 3,620.9 sq km of forest area under encroachment. A total of 863.08 sq km of forest land in Karnataka is under encroachment, followed by 575.54 sq km in Maharashtra, 534. 9 sq km in Arunachal Pradesh, 405.07 sq km in Odisha, 264.97 sq km in Uttar Pradesh, 247.72 sq km in Mizoram, 200.40 sq km in Jharkhand and 168.91 sq km in Chhattisgarh. Tamil Nadu has 157.68 sq km of encroached forest land, Andhra Pradesh 133.18 sq km, Gujarat 130.08 sq km, Punjab 75.67 sq km, Uttarakhand 49.92 sq km and Kerala 49.75 sq km, 42.42 sq km in Tripura, 37.42 sq km in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and 32.7 sq km in Manipur. The ministry's report said that encroachment has been removed from 409.77 sq km of forest land so far. However, it is unclear whether this area was excluded from the total forest land under encroachment as of March 2024. The ministry informed the NGT that it had asked states to submit data through letters sent on May 1, May 17 and May 28 last year. States and UTs were also reminded multiple times over the phone and a meeting was held with them on November 11. The ministry sent further reminder letters on February 22 and March 26 this year, asking the remaining states and UTs to provide the information in a tabulated format.
The collision between the two trains, operated by power major NTPC, happened around 3 am near Bhognadih.
2 drivers killed as NTPC goods trains collide in Jharkhand
Head-on crash near Bhognadih leaves four others injured
Goods Trains Operated By NTPC Collide Head-On In Jharkhand; 2 Drivers Killed, 4 Injured
The tracks on which the accident happened are also owned by NTPC and mainly used for transporting coal to its power plants.
The track is popularly known as NTPC Lalmatia MGR and the operation of which is not related to Indian Railways.
Tigress Zeenat completes three months in enclosure
BHUBANESWAR : Recaptured after escaping the Similipal landscape in December, tigress Zeenat has now completed three months in enclosure in the tiger reserve. With the tiger supplementation committee yet to take a decision on its rerelease into the wild, officials said the big cat is now spending time in Boma, a large enclosure in the core area of South Similipal in STR. The tigress was shifted to a two hectare enclosure, following its capture and shifting from Bankura district in West Bengal, on January 1. Brought from the Tadoba landscape of Maharashtra as part of a tiger supplementation programme in Similipal, Zeenat was kept in a smaller enclosure of around one hectare in South Similipal for nearly two and half months after its recapture, and was relocated to Boma, a bigger enclosure of around nine hectare land a fortnight back. STR authorities said the enclosure has been designed in such a way that a prey entering it would not be able to escape. This will allow Zeenat to hunt her prey in a larger area, and keep her wild instincts intact during her stay in the enclosure. The big cat will spend time in the enclosure until the supplementation committee takes any decision of its release into Similipal landscape again, they added. While STR authorities had earlier said that the committee is waiting for the estrous cycle of the tigress, the period when it would be receptive to mating, to release it into the wild, sources said the Forest department is also exercising extra caution to ensure it doesnt venture out of the Similipal landscape again. The tigress had kept forest officials of three states - Odisha, Jharkhand and West Bengal - on their toes for 23 days following its exit from STR north on December 7.
Jharkhand jungles dotted with IEDs
RANCHI: Countless IEDs (improvised explosive devices), planted by Maoists to check the advance of security forces into the hinterlands of Jharkhand to uncover Maoist hideouts, has been posing significant challenges to ongoing anti-Maoist operations in the Saranda jungles of Chaibasa. Since November 2022, as many as six security personnel have lost their lives while 20 others have been critically injured. Besides, around 22 civilians have been claimed and dozen others have been wounded in IED blasts triggered by Maoists in Chaibasa forests. In March this year alone, three IED blasts took place in Saranda jungles; three jawans were injured on March 5, one was injured on March 16, while a CRPF sub-inspector Sunil Mandal was martyred and a CRPF head constable was injured in an IED explosion on March 22. Notably, Maoists are now restricted only to Saranda jungles in Jharkhand as they have been wiped out from other remote pockets of the state. According to an estimate, around 85 - 90 Maoists are purportedly hiding in Saranda jungles, where they have apparentplanted thousands of IEDs, which has become a challenge for security forces. According to police sources, on an average, more than 300 IEDs have been recovered every year since November 2022; with a maximum weight of 50 kg. In 2023, 55 IEDs, planted in a series, were recovered. In August 2023, a Maoist hideout was busted by security forces from where around 500 kg of explosives, along with 60-65 IEDs, were recovered. IEDs have become a challenge for the security forces as its components are easily available in the market and could be prepared within hours by an expert. Therefore, it has definitely been posing a significant risk to security operations against the Maoist cadre hiding in deep forests, said SP Ashutosh Shekhar. Forces have to proceed cautiously to avoid any untoward situation, he added. According to the officer, operations need to be halted or postponed in cases of explosion or casualty and has to be re-planned with changed routes or strategies. Despite IEDs dotting the entire forest stretch, forces are advancing slowly into the region with full determination and have established several temporary security camps in the core areas, he said. Notably, Maoists have reportedly distributed pamphlets in villages adjacent to forests, warning villagers not to enter forest limits as they may step on an IED. Shock & Awe Since November 2022, 6 security personnel killed, over 20 critically wounded in IED blasts Around 22 civilians lost their lives, dozen others injured, in Maoist offensive in Chaibasa An average 300 IEDs are recovered every year; with a maximum weight of 50 kg. August 2023: Forces recovered 500 kg explosives and 60-65 IEDs 3 blasts shook Saranda in Mar 25 March 5: 3 jawans injured March 16: 1 injured in IED explosion March 22: CRPF sub-inspector martyred, head constable injured
India braces for hotter summer with more heatwave days from April to June: IMD
NEW DELHI: India is expected to experience hotter-than-usual temperatures from April to June, with more heatwave days in central and eastern India and the northwestern plains, the IMD said on Monday. Most parts of the country will see higher-than-normal maximum temperatures, except for some areas in western and eastern India where the temperatures are expected to be normal. Minimum temperatures will also be above normal in most regions, India Meteorological Department (IMD) chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said in an online press conference. From April to June, most parts of north and east India, central India, and the plains of northwest India are expected to experience two to four more heatwave days than normal, he said. Usually, India records four to seven heatwave days from April to June. An IMD official had earlier said northwest India might face double the number of heatwave days during the summer. The region normally experiences five to six heatwave days during the season. States likely to see above-normal heatwave days include Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and the northern parts of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. In April, most parts of India will likely witness higher-than-usual maximum temperatures. However, some areas in the extreme southern and the northwestern regions may experience normal temperatures. Minimum temperatures will be higher than usual across most of the country, except for a few places in the northwest and the northeast where temperatures may be normal or slightly below normal, Mohapatra said. Experts have warned that India should prepare for a peak electricity demand growth of 9 to 10 per cent this summer season, with the country expected to experience a higher number of heatwave days. Last year, the all-India peak electricity demand crossed 250 gigawatts (GW) on May 30 -- 6.3 per cent higher than projections. Climate change-induced heat stress is one of the key factors driving electricity demand.
Dalmia Bharat Hits 49.5 MTPA Production Target
Dalmia Bharat has a strong footprint in the East with manufacturing units in Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Odisha.
Man brutally kills wife, five-year-old son with iron pan in Jharkhand's Saraikela
A man brutally murdered his wife and five-year-old son in Jharkhand's Saraikela district on Monday morning, using an iron pan to bludgeon them to death, officials said.
Panposh railway station redevelopment to serve as outer station for Rourkela
ROURKELA: Redevelopment of Panposh railway station as outer station of Rourkela is gaining ground as it can provide strategic gain and convenience. Ramesh Agarwal, a member of the Zonal Railway Users Consultative Committee (ZRUCC) has proposed the need for making Panposh the outer station for Rourkela. In a letter to the general manager of South Eastern Railway (SER) on March 21, he outlined strategic advantages of the proposed redevelopment on the lines of the Adityapur station of Tatanagar in the adjacent Jharkhand. The proposed Lathikata-Kalunga freight railway line will help ease congestion at Rourkela junction which is part of the busy Howrah-Mumbai railway line under SER. Once this new railway line is in place, all goods trains will be diverted, freeing up space at Rourkela station. As a result, passenger trains that currently start from Rourkela could begin their journey from Panposh instead. The letter added that Panposh serves as an important entry point to Rourkela city and can become a gateway for visitors travelling to Vedvyas Dham, an important cultural, religious, historical and heritage site in Sundargarh. To boost tourism, the government is planning to build a suspension bridge between Vedvyas Dham and Panposh at a cost of Rs 60 crore. The oldest station in the area under SER, it has been included in Amrit Bharat Station Scheme which covers 56 railway stations in Odisha but no development work has started yet. Since Panposh station is surrounded by Civil Township, Chhend Colony, and other major establishments, it will be a convenient commuting hub for people.
Drug trade: Crackdown continues but no big fish yet in Rourkela police net
ROURKELA: Amid a spurt in sale of brown sugar and ganja in the steel city, Rourkela police has intensified enforcement against drug peddling but has not been able to nab the major suppliers of the contraband so far. In recent times, Rourkela is being increasingly used as a transit hub for smuggling of huge amounts of ganja. Besides, the city has become a flourishing market of brown sugar. Sources said despite the crackdown on illegal sale of contraband, the unique modus operandi of drug peddlers is making the task of police more challenging. It has come to the fore that petty criminals, especially from a particular community, are largely involved in peddling small quantities of drugs to earn fast bucks. Detecting and arresting these small fries is costing time and efforts of the local police with little gain. On March 26, police arrested four youths with criminal antecedents and seized 33.35 gram of heroin from them. Their arrest led to the disclosure about a Uditnagar-based drug peddling gang which had formed a WhatsApp group to target vulnerable youths and students including adolescent schoolchildren. During interrogation, most of the petty drug peddlers revealed that they procured brown sugar worth Rs 8,000-Rs 10,000 from Jamshedpur in Jharkhand at one go and sell it at Rourkela market for more than double the price. They also adulterate the contraband with ash to get extra profit. Sources said the local drug peddlers prefer small amounts as arrest with larger quantity would attract more severe punishment under the NDPS Act. With the intention of busting the local drug network, Rourkela police had conducted a large-scale operation at Meenapada along Mahtab Road here in the wee hours of January 3. However, the cops failed to get the desired result. Rourkela SP Nitesh Wadhwani said so far, police have not been able to detect any major local supplier of brown sugar despite investigation. The ground intelligence of police has increased manifold and the ongoing crackdown is based on intelligence inputs. He said enforcement has substantially increased in the past six months with registration of about 10 NDPS cases from October to December 2024, which increased to 14 cases between January and March 2025. More than 100 kg of ganja and about 85 gram of brown sugar were recovered in the past three months. Police have also initiated process to attach properties of at least four accused persons involved in NDPS cases, the SP added.
Paswan seeks CMs help for LJP office in capital
BHUBANESWAR: National president of Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) and Union minister for Food Processing Industries Chirag Paswan has requested Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi for a suitable place in the city for opening its state party office. In a letter to the chief minister, Paswan said the LJP is expanding its footprint in Odisha but party workers are facing problems to carry on their political activities in the absence of a party office in the state capital. The LJP (Ram Vilas) is a strong partner of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre and the party has five MPs from Bihar. Besides, LJP members have been elected to Jharkhand and Nagaland assemblies where the party has significant vote share, the letter said. Asserting that LJP workers and leaders had made significant contribution to the victory of BJP in Odisha in the 2024 elections, Paswan said his party needs a permanent office in the state capital to effectively manage its political activities here. He requested the CM to provide an accommodation to the state unit of LJP at a suitable location in Bhubaneswar to open a party office.
UP sharpshooter killed in Jharkhand encounter
Elephant havoc continues, claims two more lives in Jharkhand
RANCHI: A wild elephant that got separated from its herd has killed two more people on Sunday and injured one person in Gumla. The elephant has been on a rampage in Gumla and Simdega for the last three days, claiming four lives on Thursday and Friday. The elephant is reportedly angry after being separated from its herd and has created chaos in the Bano region of Simdega and nearby areas in Gumla. The terror of wild elephants continued in Gumla on Sunday, leading to two more deaths. In the latest attack, 45-year-old James Kujur was crushed to death on Sunday morning while collecting Mahua in the Derangdih Ambakona forests under the Raidih police station. In another incident, 73-year-old Climate Ekka was grabbed by the elephants tusk and slammed to the ground in his own courtyard in Jari Block, Gumla. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition but did not survive. Additionally, 50-year-old Arvind Singh was injured when the elephant attacked him while he was defecating near his village. Both Singh and Ekka were taken to the primary health center in Dumri and later referred to Sadar Hospital, where Climate Ekka was declared dead. According to forest department officials, the families of the deceased have been given immediate relief of Rs 10,000. The remaining Rs 3.90 lakh will be given after the paperwork is completed, said Ranger Jagdish Ram of Gumla Forest Division. He advised people not to set fires in the forest or go to collect Mahua while the elephant is still in the area. The ranger said that the wild elephant, which has become aggressive after being separated from its herd, is roaming an area of 30-35 square kilometers. Due to the seriousness of the situation, several forest department teams are using loudspeakers to warn people in the local language about safety measures. People are being asked to stay away from the forest, especially in the early morning and late evening. The forest department is constantly alerting people with loudspeakers. The wild elephant has crushed five people to death within three days while more than three injured are undergoing treatment, said a forest official. Earlier, on Thursday and Friday, the same elephant killed four people in separate incidents in Gumla and Simdega. The victims were identified as 60-year-old Christopher Ekka and 35-year-old Hemvati Devi from Palkot, Gumla, and Sibiya Lugun and Vikas Ohdar from Bano, Simdega. Meanwhile, people in Hazaribagh have been put on alert as a herd of ten elephants, including two baby elephants, is staying in the forests near the Rice Research Center close to the Sirsi-Shankarpur residential area. Their presence has disrupted daily life in the region, which also has two private schools. Forest officials said this area was once an elephant corridor, and elephants have passed through it before. However, such a large herd has never been seen in an urban area in Hazaribagh. Officials mentioned that removing the elephants during the day would be difficult, so they plan to drive them out at night.
Herd Of Wild Elephants Claims 7 Lives In 4 Days In Jharkhand
A herd of wild elephants has unleashed havoc in Jharkhand's Gumla and Simdega districts, claiming seven lives in the past four days.
Elephants kill seven in Gumla and Simdega district of Jharkhand
According to villagers, two or three elephants have strayed from their herd and have been rampaging through settlements in Gumla and Simdega districts for the past few days, destroying homes and spreading panic
'Lalu Prasad Ate Up Fodder, He Can't Think About Welfare Of Bihar': Amit Shah
The fodder scam, in which crores of rupees were fraudulently withdrawn from treasuries such as Doranda, Deoghar, Dumka and Chaibasa was exposed in the 1990s when Jharkhand was part of Bihar.
Mukhtar Ansari gang shooter killed in joint police operation in Jamshedpur
Fifty-year-old Anuj Kannaujia, a sharpshooter of the Mukhtar Ansari gang, was killed in a police encounter late on Saturday during a joint operation by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (UP STF) and the Jharkhand Police in Jamshedpur, an official said.
Criminal carrying 2.5 lakh reward killed in encounter in Jharkhand's Jamshedpur
Anuj Kanaujia was a shooter of the Mukhtar gang with 23 cases registered against him
With mastermind in seven-day remand, Odisha cops hope to crack Rs 20 crore gold heist
SAMBALPUR: In a major boost to the investigation into the Rs 20 crore Mannapuram Gold Finance robbery, Sambalpur police has brought Subodh Singh, mastermind of the heist, on a seven-day remand. The 42-year-old Singh, an interstate criminal, was operating his network from Presidency Jail in Kolkata. His remand comes weeks after Sambalpur police arrested a key accused, Uttam Paswan, from Guwahati. Paswan, who allegedly coordinated the entire heist, was arrested on February 5. Now with Singh in remand, Sambalpur police hopes to crack the masterminds criminal network, which spanned across states and involved contract killings, murders, and a spate of extortions. According to police, the criminal perfected the art of gold heists across multiple states, including the Muthoot Gold Finance loot, which took place in Sambalpur in 2017. Addressing mediapersons here on Saturday, IG Himanshu Lal said the interstate criminal network would be deconstructed as police would extract crucial information about the looted gold, his associates, as well as modus operandi Sambalpur SP Mukesh Bhamoo said Singh created a strong criminal network across several states. Despite being lodged in jail for a murder case, he continued to run an active group of criminals which operate in different states and execute as per his plans. Singhs list of crimes included at least 28 major offences across Rajasthan, West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, and Madhya Pradesh. The gold heists started in 2016 in Nagpur where he looted 30 kg of the yellow metal, followed by another one in Jaipur in 2017 involving 28 kg. Another 30 kg robbery in Barrackpore was reported in 2018. Of the 28 crimes, around 10-12 were gold heists, five were murders, and the rest involved attempts to murder using firearms and extortion. Singh had found a way to dispose of the looted gold in Nepal using the Bihar border. He got a good value for the yellow metal and used the illegal weapons manufacturing corridor to his advantage, Bhamoo said. With Singh now in seven-day police remand, police are hopeful of making a headway in the investigation, particularly in tracing the missing gold and identifying more operatives linked to his criminal syndicate. Singh is accused of orchestrating the January 3 heist at Mannapuram Gold Finance office in Budharaja, Sambalpur where around 30 kg of gold and cash worth over Rs 4 lakh were looted. Earlier, on January 16, police had nabbed Pankaj Paswan and Ajaya Paswan, both from Hajipur in Bihar in connection with the case.
Mukhtar Ansari Gang Shooter Killed In Joint Police Operation In Jharkhand
Fifty-year-old Anuj Kannaujia, a sharpshooter of the Mukhtar Ansari gang, was killed in a police encounter during a joint operation by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force and the Jharkhand Police in Jamshedpur.
A State level workshop cum lac festival was held today at the College of Agriculture, Iroisemba, Central Agricultural University The project was sponsored by the National Institute of Secondary Agriculture, Namkum, Ranchi, Jharkhand The LaC Festival was held to enhance knowledge on the importance of lac insects' products and conservation of lac insects and its host plants br br p Source The Sangai Express
This outsider started her career with modelling and soon entered into acting. Within a few years of debut, Meenakshi Seshadri became one of the top actresses. However, a one-sided love for the director affected her career.
Separated from herd, elephant kills 4 in Jharkhand
RANCHI: Even though a slew of measures have been taken to minimise the man-animal conflict in Jharkhand, there seems to be no respite. An elephant, believed to be separated from its herd, trampled four people to death in Jharkhands Gumla and Simdega districts within 12 hours between Thursday and Friday, officials said. The lone elephant, said to be furious, has wrought havoc in the Bano region of Simdega. The victims have been identified as Christopher Ekka (60) and Hemvati Devi (35) from Gumlas Palkot and Sibiraya Lugun (45 ) and Vikas Ohdar (28) of Simdegas Bano. The elephant was first seen in the Bano area of Simdega, where it killed two people. Lugun had gone to collect mahua flowers from the jungles of Pabuda Panchayat in the Bano police station area when she got trampled by the elephant. The elephant also attacked Ohdar at his house and killed him. Two other people, Ajay Minj and Imil Ba, were also badly injured in the incident and have been admitted to a hospital for treatment. Later, the giant mammal claimed two more lives in the area falling under the limits of the Palkot police station in Gumla. Ekka had left his house to answer a call of nature when he got crushed by the pachyderm. Devi was killed by the elephant when she ventured into the jungles near Tetartoli to collect lac. The elephant has terrorised the areas. Locals believe the animal has been specifically chasing and killing people. People are avoiding stepping out of home so that they dont encounter the elephant. But they say they dont feel safe at home either. The local residents have called on the Forest Department to shift the elephant to a safer zone. Locals fear that if the authorities concerned fail to take prompt action, more lives will be lost. Meanwhile, forest officials have urged the villagers to steer clear of the wild elephant. Firecrackers and torches are being distributed among locals to help them scare elephants away from the areas populated by humans. A team of forest officials is monitoring the area. Besides, the Forest Department has provided `10,000 each to the kin of the victims as immediate relief. The Jharkhand government provides a sum of `4 lakh as compensation to the families of those killed in elephant attacks. Government data shows that out of the total 24 districts in the state, 20 have elephants, leading to an average of 80 human deaths and around 150 injuries every year. Man-elephant conflict claims 80 lives a year Govt data shows, out of the 24 districts in the state, 20 have elephants, causing an average of 80 human deaths and 150 injuries annually The Jharkhand government provides a sum of `4 lakh as compensation to the families of those killed in jumbo attacks Firecrackers and torches are being distributed among locals to help them scare elephants away from areas inhabited by humans and cultivation lands In this particular instance, the elephant, said to be separated from its herd, trampled 4 to death in Gumla and Simdega districts within 12 hours The victims have been identified as Christopher Ekka and Hemvati Devi from Gumla, and Sibiraya Lugun and Vikas Ohdar of Simdega The state forest department has provided Rs 10,000 each to the kin of the victims as immediate relief
17-year-old Jharkhand girl rescued from Rani Bagh
Jharkhand Board Matric, Inter Results To Be Announced By This Date
JAC Result 2025: The evaluation of answer sheets will commence in the first week of April at 60 designated centers across the state. The entire process will be monitored via CCTV to maintain transparency.
Knowing the contribution of Janjati community to the cause of nations freedom
Martyred to the cause of freedom against British rule , Birsa Munda when went with his parents to seek admission inGerman Christian mission school at Chaibasa(Jharkhand) to start the study, he was made to adopt Christianity. However,after the completion of education as Birsa came into the contact of then a famous Vaishnav saint, Acharya Anand [] The post Knowing the contribution of Janjati community to the cause of nations freedom appeared first on World Hindu News .
Jharkhand News | Five Children Dead Due To A Mysterious Disease | Nagarbhita Village | Malaria |N18S
At least 5 children are dead in a mysterious disease that has gripped the Nagarbhita village in Jharkhand. As of now around 27 villagers have reported the disease, but the cause is yet to be known. Is this a news outbreak? n18oc_shorts News18 Mobile App - https://onelink.to/desc-youtube
BJP slams Hemant Soren govt over rising crime; Marandi demands accountability for murders
BJP slams Hemant Soren govt over rising crime; Marandi demands accountability for murders Ranchi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched a scathing attack on the Hemant Soren-led Jharkhand government over the rising incidents of crime in the state. BJP state president and Leader of the Opposition Babulal Marandi has accused the administration of shielding [] The post BJP slams Hemant Soren govt over rising crime; Marandi demands accountability for murders appeared first on Mangalorean.com .
Odisha, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh to work together for elephant protection
ROURKELA: Senior forest officials of Odisha, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh resolved to work together for protection of elephants and their habitats at an inter-state coordination meeting held at Rourkela on Wednesday. Discussions focused on effective monitoring of elephants in the three states and the ways in which Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh can benefit from emulating successful models of Odisha. Presentations were made on use of AI cameras in Rourkela forest division to prevent elephants from train mishaps, use of drones with thermal cameras in Keonjhar for better monitoring of jumbo herds, rescue of injured elephants, use of Anukampa application and web portal for faster disbursal of compensation against property damages and human casualties besides the role of rapid response teams in handling conflict situation. Presentations were also made on monitoring elephants through radio collaring and role of electricity department and railway authorities to protect the jumbos. Divisional forest officers (DFOs) of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh elaborated on ongoing measures in their respective divisions towards management of elephants. Regional chief conservator of forests (RCCF), Rourkela P Ramaswamy said the annual meeting under the regional wildlife conservation plan aims at strengthening collaboration with the Forest departments of adjacent Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand to ensure protection of elephants and long-term measures for sustaining their population. Ramaswamy said 2,103 elephants have been counted across eight circles in Odisha. Rourkela and Bhawanipatna Circles witnessed significant growth in elephant population during the winter compared to summer. This seasonal variation suggests large-scale inter-state movement, particularly from Jharkhand and West Bengal, with some elephants also migrating from Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh into Odisha. He said in Rourkela circle, elephants traditionally migrate from Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand to Rourkela, Keonjhar and Sundargarh divisions. Permanent presence of 462 elephants in Rourkela and 144 jumbos in Sambalpur circle highlights the critical importance of safeguarding Odishas elephant habitats and migration corridors. Stress was laid on preservation and protection of Odishas 14 traditional elephant corridors including the four inter-state ones covering Odisha and Jharkhand. Among others, PCCF (Wildlife), Odisha Prem Kumar Jha and senior forest officials of Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Sambalpur and Rourkela circles attended the meet.
25 Jharkhand minors rescued in NCR
BJP leaders murder: Shutdown in Ranchi affects normal life
BJP leaders slammed the Hemant Soren government calling it jungle raj; the issue of murder was also raised in the Jharkhand Assembly by the BJP
Jharkhand Bandh: BJP hits streets over murder of Anil Tiger, Ranchi has become crime capital
Huge uproar in Jharkhand Assembly over BJP leaders murder in Ranchi
Huge uproar in Jharkhand Assembly over BJP leaders murder in Ranchi Ranchi: The Jharkhand Assembly witnessed a massive uproar on Thursday over the murder of BJP leader and former Zila Parishad member Anil Mahto Tiger in Ranchi. Before the session began, the BJP MLAs staged a sit-in protest outside the House. As proceedings commenced, they [] The post Huge uproar in Jharkhand Assembly over BJP leaders murder in Ranchi appeared first on Mangalorean.com .
Ruckus in Jharkhand Assembly over BJP leader Anil Mahto's murder; House adjourned
Within two minutes of the start of the proceedings, Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahato adjourned the House till 12.55 p.m. as legislators of both the Opposition and the treasury bench trooped into the Well
Jharkhand BJP Leader Anil Tiger Shot Dead In Ranchi, Shooter Arrested; Protests Erupt Across City
Jharkhand BJP leader Anil Tiger was shot dead in broad daylight in Ranchi on Wednesday.
CBI arrests Jharkhand Gramin Banks recovery agent at Bokaro
The CBI arrested a recovery agent of the Jharkhand Gramin Bank in Bokaro for demanding and accepting a Rs 15,000 bribe. The agent, Dhanraj Kumar Choudhary, was caught red-handed after taking the bribe for delivering a tractor he possessed. The tractor was bought by the complainant during a bank auction. The investigation is ongoing.
Pandemonium over Hazaribagh stone pelting in Jharkhand Assembly
Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi accused the Sorens government of doing politics of appeasement even as the State government said the BJP wants to impose Presidents rule in Jharkhand
Bugbear for opposition leaders, ex-ED chief Sanjay Mishra now dons new hat as economic advisor
NEW DELHI: A bugbear for many opposition leaders, one of the longest serving Enforcement Directorate (ED) chiefs Sanjay Mishra has been summoned by the government again -- this time as a full-time member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister. Mishra, a 1984-batch Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, excelled in matters relating to income tax. This drew the attention of former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley who brought him to the ministry as his private secretary soon after the NDA government came to power in 2014. His proximity to Jaitley earned him a position in the all-powerful Enforcement Directorate as its chief. Initially, he was given charge as an interim arrangement for three months in October 2018, but subsequently he was made full-time director. In bureaucratic circles, Mishra is credited with investigating several high-profile income tax cases, while being posted in the Delhi circle. He also held the position of chief commissioner of Income Tax in Delhi before moving to the ED. Mishra hogged the limelight as under him, the ED, which enforces the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), launched an aggressive probe against several high-profile politicians and dignitaries, including the Congress' Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadras husband Robert Vadra. It also initiated action against Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and National Conference leaders Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah. During his tenure as the ED chief, the agency got approval for the extradition of fugitives such as Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi and arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari. The agency had also arrested persons accused of money laundering such as former Yes Bank managing director and chief executive officer Rana Kapoor and ICICI Bank former MD-CEO Chanda Kochhars husband Deepak Kochhar under Mishras stewardship. Mishras tenure as the ED chief came to an end in September 2023 after the Supreme Court's intervention. Earlier, in an order issued on November 13, 2020, the government had modified his appointment letter retrospectively and replaced his term with three years. On November 17, 2021, the government again extended his tenure for a period of one year till November 18, 2022. The extension came days after the government introduced an ordinance that allowed the directors of ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to occupy the office for up to five years. On November 18, 2022, the Centre again extended Mishras tenure till November 18, 2023. Soon after the ordinance was brought in, a series of petitions were filed before the Supreme Court by Congress and TMC functionaries like Randeep Singh Surjewala and Saket Gokhale, challenging the amendments. However, the government had told the Supreme Court that it had extended Mishra's tenure in public interest as various cases were at a crucial juncture and required proper and expeditious disposal for which it was necessary to ensure the continuity of officers. It also defended its decision to extend Mishras tenure in the ED on the grounds that India's evaluation by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) was still pending. Under the FATF, a countrys systems and processes aimed at combating money laundering and terror financing are evaluated by peer countries for implementation and effectiveness. Born in a middle class family in Lucknow, Mishras first posting was in Gorakhpur as assistant director in the Income Tax department. Besides taxation, he has a keen interest in understanding the nexus between politics and business, as well as matters related to economics and foreign currency.
Rajiv Gauba appointed NITI Aayog member; Sanjay Kumar Mishra appointed member of EAC-PM
Both these appointments, aimed at strengthening the two key institutions, were notified on Tuesday. While Gauba is the retired 1982-batch IAS officer from the Jharkhand cadre who served as a cabinet secretary for five years from 2019 to 2024, Mishra is a 1984-batch Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer from Uttar Pradesh.
Eliminate online betting, gambling apps: YSRCP MP
A strong demand was made in the Lok Sabha to eliminate online betting and gambling applications. YSRCP member Maddila Gurumoorthy urged the government to set up a dedicated task force to take action against betting and gambling apps. He also asked the government to draft regulations for such applications and launch awareness campaigns about the dangers of online betting. Other issues raised included deposit insurance coverage for bank depositors, representation of Scheduled Castes in the Kerala government, challenges faced by nurses, and the need for paramilitary forces in Jharkhand during upcoming Hindu festivals.
Former Zila Parishad member shot dead in Jharkhand
RANCHI: Former Zila Parishad member Anil Tiger was shot dead by unidentified assailants near Kanke Chowk under Kanke police station in Ranchi on Wednesday. The bike borne assailants opened fire on Tiger before fleeing the scene. According to reports, Anil Tiger was standing near Kanke Chowk when the armed assailants targeted him. Soon after the attack, the criminals managed to escape. Confirming the incident, Ranchi Rural SP said that Anil Tiger had been shot and that a probe is underway to identify and apprehend the criminals involved in it.
More than 200 booked for Hazaribag religious clash
An FIR has been lodged against 10 named and 200 unidentified individuals in connection with a clash and stone-pelting incident during a religious procession in Jharkhand's Hazaribag. The clash, involving two communities, broke out over the playing of an objectionable song. Police fired two rounds into the air to control the situation. The incident led to uproarious scenes in the Jharkhand Assembly with BJP MLAs demanding action against the perpetrators.
Stones pelted during Ram Navami procession in Jh'khand
Stones were allegedly pelted during a religious procession in Jharkhand's Hazaribag district, triggering tension in the area. The incident occurred near Jama Masjid Chowk around 11 pm on Tuesday when a Mangla procession was underway as part of the Ram Navami celebration. Police resorted to firing in the air to bring the situation under control. The exact reason for the stone-throwing is yet to be ascertained, but locals say a dispute arose between two groups over the playing of communal songs.
NLCIL observes International Day of Forests and World Water Day
CUDDALORE: Neyveli Lignite Corporation India Limited (NLCIL) observed the International Day of Forests and World Water Day at its Corporate Office on Thursday. The themes for this year's observances were Forests and Food and Glacier Preservation, respectively. According to a press statement from NLCIL, Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) Prasanna Kumar Motupalli, Executive Directors, senior officials, and employees participated in a function. On the occasion, Prasanna Kumar Motupalli emphasised the importance of forest conservation and sustainable water management. Since its inception, NLCIL has undertaken the ecological restoration of 3,117 hectares of mined-out land and afforested 2,775 hectares of the restored land, he said. He stated that under the National Green Credit Programme, NLCIL has registered 356 hectares of degraded forest land for restoration, with 245 hectares in Jharkhand and 111 hectares in Odisha. He highlighted NLCIL's water management efforts, We are actively involved in sustainable water management through mine water utilisation and community water supply. Around Neyveli, 430 lakh cubic meters of water is supplied yearly to irrigate 25,000 acres in 40 villages. He went on to say that mine water is provided as drinking water to one lakh residents of Neyveli Township. Additionally, the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSS) handles its treatment and distribution. At the same time, the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board (TWAD) supplies drinking water to six town panchayats and 625 villages in the Cuddalore district, benefiting 7.68 lakh people. Prasanna Kumar Motupalli assured that NLCIL would continue its efforts in water conservation, ecological restoration, and sustainable initiatives. To mark the occasion, different varieties of herbal water were distributed to raise awareness about medicinal water's health benefits. CMD, Executive Directors, and senior officials planted saplings at the Corporate Office. The statement added that B Anbuchelvan, Executive Director of Renewable Energy Power Projects (REPP), welcomed the gathering and conducted the event earlier.
Tension in Hazaribag After Stone-Pelting During Ram Navami Procession
Stones were allegedly thrown during a Mangla procession in Jharkhand's Hazaribag, prompting police action to control the situation
Stones pelted during religious procession in Jharkhands Hazaribag
The incident occurred near Jama Masjid Chowk around 11 p.m. on Tuesday (March 25, 2025) when a Mangla procession was underway as part of the Ram Navami celebration, police said
Ranchi Diary | Jharkhand government seeks Rs 1,500-cr loan from RBI
The Jharkhand government has sought a loan of Rs 1,500 crore from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to ensure a smooth run for development schemes in the state under the provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act. According to government sources, Jharkhand Finance Secretary Prashant Kumar has sent a request letter to the Reserve Bank of India in this regard. Theres a provision under the FRBM for the states to take loans up to 3% of GSDP from the RBI. The state will get this loan at an annual interest rate of 6.92% and repay the loan amount in the next three years. In a first, state to build skywalks for tourists Jharkhand will soon become the third state in the country to build glass bridges and skywalks at three major tourist spots across the state. The glass bridges will be constructed at Dassam Falls and Hundru Falls in Ranchi district as well as Magnolia Point and Koel View Point in Netarhat. These glass bridges and skywalks will be built along the lines of the one constructed in Bihars Rajgir. The tourism department has ensured that sufficient land is available for the project and has got in touch with the consultancy firm engaged in the construction of the glass bridge in Rajgir. Speaker calls for law to regulate private schools Expressing concerns about the unregulated fee structure at private schools in the state, Jharkhand Assembly Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahato called for a fresh law to regulate the same. Education Minister Ramdas Soren stated that various committees already exist at both school and district levels to oversee the fee structure and noted that any legal measures to be taken would be based on recommendations from these bodies. The concern was first flagged by Hazaribagh MLA Pradip Prasad, who sought to know why a law shouldnt be enacted to rein in practices that burden parents financially. Mukesh Ranjan Our correspondent in Jharkhand mukesh.r@newindianexpress.com
Jharkhand: Murder accused out on bail face social boycott
RANCHI: A panchayat body in the Tarwan village of Koderma district has reportedly imposed a social boycott on three members of a family accused in a double murder case even though they have been granted bail by a court. Village residents Dilip Yadav, his wife Jaswa Devi and their son Rajesh Yadav stand accused of killing one Suman Devi and her eight-year-old son, Prem Kumar, in a property-related dispute in August last year. Sumans father, Tipan Mahto, had lodged an FIR against the family in this regard last August. A panchayat meeting was convened by the head of the village, Devendra Yadav, on Sunday in the presence of at least one member from each household there. Looking at the attitude of the accused since the grant of bail, the panchayat was forced to take the decision unanimously, stated the mukhiya, Raj Kumar Yadav.
Bihar: Five Naxals arrested in Aurangabad district
Patna: Five Naxals belonging to the banned outfit Jharkhand Jan Mukti Parishad (JJMP) were arrested by Bihar Police in Aurangabad district on Tuesday, officials said. A cache of arms and ammunition, including three 315-bore rifles, a country-made rifle, 13 cartridges, a walkie-talkie set, seven camouflage uniforms and several other incriminating items were seized from their 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 .
Jharkhand government pledges action against private schools charging arbitrary fees
With multiple legislators expressing concern over the issue in the Assembly, the government promised action on any complaint received at district-school committees
Finance bill a classic case of patchwork, says Tharoor
NEW DELHI: The Opposition and the treasury Benches locked horns in Lok Sabha on Monday over issues such as US tariff, GST and fund allocation for states during a debate on the Finance Bill 2025. Initiating the debate on the Finance Bill, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor criticized it, calling it a classic case of patchwork and labeling Indias GST as the most complex tax in the world. On the other hand, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra accused the government of favoring crony capitalists over small businesses and workers. Meanwhile, senior BJP leader Anurag Thakur recalled that Mughal emperors Babur and Aurangzeb had imposed jizya on Hindus, accusing opposition parties of appeasing Muslims. Tharoor accused the BJP government of facing structural challenges in economic management. He compared the Finance Ministers Budget speech to a garage mechanic who, unable to fix the brakes, makes the horn louder, and now, with the Finance Bill, she tells taxpayers, I couldnt repair the roof, but I brought you an umbrella. This Finance Bill is a classic example of patchwork solutions. At a time when the nation needs clarity, conviction, and decisive leadership, the governments economic management is grappling with deep-rooted structural challenges, said Tharoor. Moitra accused the government of creating special rules to benefit select businessmen while ignoring the needs of the broader economy. All tax rules are made for Vishwakarmas India, not Kubers India. But when it comes to crony capitalists, there are special rules, she said. The TMC MP highlighted the case of a Special Economic Zone in Gonda, Jharkhand and alleged that a particular businessman received undue advantages. In 2016, a rule stated that an SEZ could not consist solely of a power plant. But for a very special friend, this was allowed, she claimed. Speaking during the debate, the former Union minister said, Figures like Rana Sanga and Shivaji are our heroes, yet the opposition tries to tarnish their legacy. He added, Their ideals should have been those of Rana Sanga, Shivaji, and Maharana Pratap, but instead, they remember Babur and Aurangzeb, who imposed taxes on Hindus. Jizya was a tax historically levied on non-Muslim subjects by Muslim rulers. Thakur also questioned on how low the Opposition would go for vote-bank politics, urging Congress to avoid appeasement politics. You have proposed reservation for Muslims only for appeasement, he said.
Jharkhand to conduct caste census in next financial year: Minister Deepak Birua
RANCHI: Transport, Revenue, and Land Reforms Minister Deepak Birua confirmed that the state government plans to conduct a caste-based survey in the next financial year. Birua was responding to a question raised by Congress MLA Pradip Yadav during the ongoing Budget session of the Jharkhand Assembly on Monday. With this, Jharkhand will be the third State in the country to conduct caste census after Bihar and Andhra Pradesh. Birua Assured that the Personnel department has been appointed as the nodal agency for the survey. Birua emphasized the governments commitment to the survey, revealing that the decision was made in February of the previous year. The Minister also stated that efforts would be made to carry out the survey during the upcoming fiscal year, following a similar approach used in Telangana and Bihar, further adding that the Personnel department had issued a notice on March 4 to hire an agency that would assess the required workforce, task levels, and financial aspects of the exercise. Birua also mentioned that he had been in discussions with several agencies, though the process would take some time. With only a few days left in the current financial year, the minister assured that the survey would be conducted promptly in the next fiscal year. Meanwhile, MLA Pradip Yadav also requested the government to include a Sarna religious code in the survey to account for the population of Sarna followers. Notably, ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the then Chief Minister Champai Soren had given his approval for the caste census in Jharkhand. After the caste census was conducted in Bihar, many parties started demanding the same in Jharkhand. Notably, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had also promised caste census during his Nyay Yatra in Jharkhand. The previous government led by former CM Hemant Soren also wanted to conduct a caste census in the State, but it could not make a decision that which department would do the census. As per the rule book, the census is allotted to the Land and Revenue and Land Reforms Department, but the work of caste-based census was not allotted to any department in the executive rules. Champai Soren government, however, succeeded in resolving the issue and gave his approval for conducting the survey by Personnel Department which is to prepare a proposal regarding the caste census.
The great Indian election money game: A whopping Rs 18,742 crore spent, but where did it all go?
Bangalore: In an unprecedented financial spectacle, the 2024 Lok Sabha and four Vidhan Sabha elections in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha, and Sikkim witnessed an eye-popping expenditure of nearly Rs 1.5 lakh crores. Yet, the real question remains: Where did all this money go? Despite the Election Commission of India, mandating full disclosure of election expenditures, a shroud of secrecy still looms over the `actual figures.' While some parties have complied, the full financial truth remains hidden from the public eye. A recent study by the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative --CHRI, has brought to light shocking revelations about how political parties amassed and spent their war chests in the battle for power. The surprisingly large figures were: Rs 18,742.31 crores were at the disposal of just 22 political parties for election spending, A huge jaw-dropping Rs 3,861.57 crores were blown up in the high-stakes game of political warfare, Rs 7,416.31 crores were raised in donations alone, with BJP bagging a colossal 84.5% of the total amount, BJP declared the highest expenditure of Rs1,737.68 crores, accounting for more than 45% of the total amount spent. Check undue influence of money power in Indian elections: CFD Speaking to TNIE , Director CHRI, Mr Venkatesh Nayak said, ``It appears that money power is important here and look at the role the media has played: Rs 992.48 crores were splurged on media advertisements, covering print, TV, and digital platforms, Rs 196.23 crores were dedicated to social media and virtual campaigns, with just seven parties disclosing such expenses, Rs 830.15 crores were spent on the extravagant travel of star campaignershelicopters and private jets ruled the skies, Rs 398.49 crores went into flashy banners, posters, hoardings, and promotional materials to flood every street and household. Asked about the source of money he said, ``There are many unanswered questions: At the end of the elections, a staggering Rs 14,848.46 crores remained in party coffers. Where will this surplus money go? Six political parties, including BJP, ended up with more money than they started with! How did this happen?, Several prominent partiesCommunist Party of India, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Shiv Sena, and Shiromani Akali Dalhavent even disclosed their expenditures. and asked if they were hiding something?. Summing up he said, it is clear that someone pays the price, ``With such astronomical figures in play, one thing is clearelections in India are no longer just about democracy; they are a high-stakes financial battleground. As politicians revel in their multi-crore campaigns, the common voter is left wondering: where does all this money come from, and who benefits in the end?'' The truth behind this mega-financial drama remains obscured, but one thing is certainmoney, not just votes, plays a decisive role in shaping India's political destiny. Will the ECI crack down on non-compliance, or will this cycle of money power and secrecy continue unabated?
Caste-based survey to be conducted in Jharkhand in next financial year: Minister
Jharkhand to conduct caste-based survey next financial year, nodal agency appointed, efforts to ensure completion
Govt staff, teachers stage hunger strike demand reverting to old pension scheme
CHENNAI: The state government employees and teachers who are members of JACTTO-GEO staged a hunger strike at all district headquarters across Tamil Nadu on Sunday, pressing for their 10-point charter of demands, which included reverting to the old pension scheme (OPS) instead of the contributory pension scheme (CPS). In Chennai, government employees and teachers were on hunger strike in Ezhilagam. Talking to reporters, office-bearers of the JACTTO-GEO (Joint Action Council of Tamil Nadu Teachers Organisations and Government Employees Organisation) said that the state government should make announcements about fulfilling the demands of the government employees by April 30 when the ongoing session of the state Assembly comes to an end. Otherwise, the government employees will decide their future course of action, they said. Asked whether the JACTTO-GEO office-bearers still have the confidence that the government would fulfil their demands as four years have passed since the present government assumed office, the office-bearers said, In the past, 1.76 lakh government employees were dismissed in one go. But now the situation is not that worse. This government is saying that our demands will be considered. We still have hope. But we will not give up our protests until our demands are accepted. The office-bearers held discussions with Chief Minister MK Stalin on March 13 and expressed confidence that their demands would be met soon. However, they expressed disappointment when they could not find any announcement regarding their primary demand to revert to the old pension scheme in the budget session. Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu, however, made certain announcements, including restoration of leave encashment. Meanwhile, the long-time struggle of the JACTTO-GEO received support from the Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam led by actor Vijay. Expressing his full support to the demands of the government employees and teachers, Vijay, in a statement here, said the DMK had failed to fulfil its electoral promise of reverting to the old pension scheme. Due to the deceitful action of the DMK government, the employees and teachers were forced to stage protests on their holiday (Sunday). This shows that the DMK government does not regard their protest as a matter of concern, he added. Vijay also said Rajasthan, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh have already reverted to the old pension scheme, and recently Karnataka also announced that it would bring back the old pension scheme soon. But why is the DMK government, which claims to be a pioneer on many initiatives, turning Nelsons eye to the vital demand of its employees in reverting to the old pension scheme? he asked.
New India Cooperative Bank case: Mumbai Police arrest Jharkhand hotelier
On February 12, the EOW registered an FIR against the banks former general manager Hitesh Mehta for allegedly embezzling R122 crore from the Prabhadevi and Goregaon branches. The police have also arrested businessman Unnanathan Arunachalam, alias Arun Bhai, in connection with the case
Jharkhand hotelier is 8th arrest in 122cr New India Coop Bank scam
Hindustan Copper aims to earn Rs 2,400 cr over 20 years from Jharkhand mines: CMD
KOLKATA, March 23: State-owned Hindustan Copper aims to generate around Rs 2,400 crore revenue over the next 20 years from its recent contract with a JSW Group firm which has been appointed as a mine developer and operator for two blocks in Jharkhand, a top company official said on Sunday. JSW Groups South West Mining []
Maoists are rattled by ongoing operations against them: Jharkhand CM Soren
Ranchi: Reacting to the death of CRPF Sub-Inspector Sunil Kumar Mandal in an IED blast triggered by Maoists in Chaibasa, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren said that insurgents are rattled by the ongoing operations against them. Maoists are frustrated with the ongoing operation against them in Jharkhand. Regular attacks by the security personnel are indicative of their frustration, CM Soren said after paying tribute to the martyred officer. He reaffirmed that the campaign against Maoists would continue without any slowdown. CM Soren, along with Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar, paid floral tributes to the mortal remains of Mandal, who succumbed to his injuries in hospital after being critically injured in the blast. Sub-Inspector Mandal of CRPFs 193 Battalion was out on an operation against Maoists in the forests of Chhotanagra Police Station area when an IED planted by insurgents exploded, injuring both him and CRPF Jawan GD Parth. They were immediately airlifted to Ranchi for treatment, but Mandal could not be saved. CM Soren also expressed grief over the death of Jawan Kishore Bara from Simdega, who lost his life in an Army vehicle accident in Ladakh. Sad news has been received about the martyrdom of Jawan Kishore Bara Ji from Simdega and another Jawan due to an Army vehicle accident in Ladakh. May the souls of the martyrs rest in peace, and may Marang Buru give strength to the bereaved families to bear this difficult time of grief, he posted on X. Security forces continue to face frequent IED attacks in the Maoist-infested Saranda forests of Chaibasa, where several insurgent commanders remain active. Maoists have planted thousands of IEDs across the region, leading to repeated blasts that have killed both security personnel and civilians. On Monday, security forces recovered a 10 kg IED from the region. Just a day earlier, SI Subodh Kumar of CRPFs 134 Battalion was injured in a similar explosion in Saranda. Over two dozen villagers, including women and children, have lost their lives to IED blasts in Maoist-hit West Singhbhum, with several security personnel also falling victim to the explosives planted in the Kolhan jungles. The ongoing anti-Maoist operations in Saranda involve CRPF, CoBRA, Jharkhand Jaguar, and Jharkhand Police personnel, who continue to recover IEDs on a near-daily basis.
Alert in C'garh, J'khand as Maoists escalate IED blasts
An alert has been sounded in the anti-Naxal operations theatre of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand following a spike in IED blasts and recoveries, including that of a device rigged with beer bottles and a small antenna for remote control explosion. The uptick in improvised explosive device (IED) recovery and blasts has been noticed as multiple security forces move into core Naxal areas to meet the Union government's deadline of wiping off Left Wing Extremism (LWE) from the country by March 2026.
Authorities issue IED alert as new camps appear in sensitive areas
New Delhi: An alert has been sounded in the anti-Naxal operations theatre of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand following a spike in IED blasts and recoveries, including that of a device rigged with beer bottles and a small antenna for remote control explosion, officials said. The uptick in the improvised explosive device (IED) recovery and blasts has []
Will not attend 'Iftaar' hosted by Nitish because of Waqf stance: Bihar Muslim body
The Imarat Shariah, which claims to have followers across Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha, shared a copy of the letter in response to the invitation for the 'Iftaar' that is to be held at the Chief Minister's residence on Sunday
CRPF Sub-Inspector succumbs to IED blast injuries during treatment in Jharkhand
RANCHI: The CRPF Sub-Inspector, who got injured in the IED blast along with a jawan in the forest of Marangponga under Chotanagra police station in Chaibasa, succumbed to his injuries during treatment in the hospital on Saturday. The sub-inspector, Sunil Kumar Mandal, of CRPF 193 Battalion was airlifted to Ranchi along with the Head Constable Parth Pratim for better treatment after getting injured in the IED blast on Saturday. Security forces were conducting a search operation here on Saturday afternoon, during which, two security personnel were hit by an IED. CRPF Sub-Inspector Sunil Kumar Mandal was martyred during treatment in the hospital on Saturday, said Chaibasa SP Ashutosh Shekhar. Notably, several Maoist commanders are active with their squads in the Saranda forests of Chaibasa and have planted thousands of IEDs to check security forces enter into the jungles, due to which regular incidents of blasts are taking place during operations. These IEDs explode as soon as a foot or slight pressure is applied on them. Security forces are continuously conducting anti-Maoist operations in the region and IEDs are being recovered almost every day. On Monday also, security forces had recovered an IED weighing 10 KG. Earlier on Tuesday, SI Subodh Kumar of CRPF's 134 battalion was injured in an IED blast in Saranda forests. The injured jawan was given initial treatment at the spot itself and was airlifted to Ranchi by helicopter.
Charred Bodies Of Woman, Twin Babies Found In Jharkhand's Chatra: Police
The bodies were found in Karihara village in the Pratappur police station area on Friday night, police said.
HI names 65-member core probable group for womens national coaching camp
New Delhi, Mar 22: Hockey India on Saturday named a 65-member core probable group for the senior womens national coaching camp, set to begin at the SAI center in Bengaluru on Sunday. The group has been selected based on the players recent performances at the Senior Womens National Championship in Panchkula, where Hockey Jharkhand emerged champions, defeating Hockey Haryana in a tense shootout. We saw some exceptionally talented players at the National Championships earlier this month and players have been [] The post HI names 65-member core probable group for womens national coaching camp appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
The Ranchi-Lohardaga road was blocked near Titla Chowk in Ranchi, while agitators gathered at the city's Kanke Chowk and other areas to impose the bandh
Power Mech Gets Rs 579 Crore Order From BHEL For Jharkhand Project
Power Mech is expected to complete the project in under three years.
Jharkhand B.Ed Entrance Exam 2025: Extended Application Deadline Announced
The Jharkhand Combined Entrance Competitive Examination Board has extended the application deadline for the B.Ed Entrance Exam 2025. Candidates can now apply online from March 22 to April 20, 2025. This article provides essential details about the exam, including eligibility criteria, application fees, and important dates. The entrance exam is scheduled for May 11, 2025. For more information, including the official website link, read the full article.
Man's Blood-Soaked Body Found In Public School's Classroom In Jharkhand
Tension gripped the Ulidih OP area of Jamshedpur on Friday after the blood-soaked body of a local youth was discovered in a classroom on the second floor of a government school located on Kunwar Singh Road.
India Post GDS merit list 2025 released for few states: Direct links to download here
India Post has released the Gramin Dak Sevak (GDS) merit list 2025 for Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, and Maharashtra. Applicants for the 21,413 vacancies can check their selection status on indiapostgdsonline.gov.in. The recruitment spans multiple states, with selected candidates receiving salaries between Rs 10,000 and Rs 29,380 per month.
Kolkata and regions in Bengal, Odisha, and Jharkhand are forecasted to face severe weather conditions, including thunderstorms, squally winds, hailstorms, and lightning, from Friday to Sunday. Wind speeds may reach up to 60 kmph in certain areas, prompting the IMD to issue warnings and advise caution for residents and fishermen.
One killed, 3 injured in lightning strike in Jharkhand`s Lohardaga
A motorcyclist and a pedestrian were also injured in the incident, the officer said, adding they are undergoing treatment at the CHC
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Maiyan Samman Yojana: Jharkhand government to release list of deleted beneficiaries
RANCHI: Jharkhand government will release a list of the names of the beneficiaries whose names have been deleted from Maiyan Samman Yojana. Responding to the question raised by BJP MLA Neera Yadav during the Budget Session of the Jharkhand Assembly on Thursday, Minister Chamra Linda said that the government will consider her suggestions and will work to make necessary improvements. MLA Neera Yadav questioned that the government has disqualified the beneficiaries of Maiyan Samman Yojana, who received the amount for three months before 2024 Assembly elections, without giving any reason which has created a sense of confusion among them. According to MLA, women are making rounds of the block offices to get the benefit of the scheme. To remove this confusion, the government should organize a camp and issue a list of ineligible women along with the reasons for deleting their names. My demand is simple. If the state government has fixed any criteria for giving the benefits of Maiyan Samman Yojana then make it public and release a list of those women whose names have been deleted from the list of beneficiaries along with the reasons for denying the benefits of the scheme by organizing camps at Block of Panchayat level, said Neera Yadav. The Minister has assured the women that the government will consider their suggestions and will work actively to make necessary improvements in it, she added. Maiyan Samman Yojana: Funds of 112 women going into one mans account, probe underway Notably, names of more than 18 lakh women have been deleted from the list of beneficiaries of Maiyan Samman Yojana without giving them any reasons. Those women, whose names have been deleted from the list have been making rounds of the block officers but are not getting any satisfactory answers from them and hence there is a sense of confusion. These women want to know where they went wrong or what mistakes they have made in filling up their forms. According to government sources, major reason for most of the women not getting money under Maiyan Samman Yojana is that there is a mismatch between their bank account number and online account number. Due to this, a large number of women have been kept on hold, they said. The second major reason is that most bank accounts do not have Aadhaar cards linked to them, leading to the deletion of their names from the list of beneficiaries. Thirdly, most of the beneficiaries have not yet got their KYC done, hence their payments have been kept on hold, said a government employee requesting anonymity. In addition to that, a lot of irregularities came into light during the physical verification of the beneficiaries being conducted all over the state following reports that huge fraud had been committed by the computer operators while filling up the forms for the scheme. Based on those reports, names of ineligible beneficiaries are being deleted from the list. Maiyan Samman Yojna, Hemant Soren Governments flagship programme under which women between the age group of 18-49 get Rs 2500 every month. Finance Minister Radha Krishna Kishore has tabled the annual Budget of Rs 1, 45,400 crores for FY 2025-26 in the Jharkhand Assembly on March 3, out of which Rs 13,363 crore has been allocated for the Maiyan Samman Yojana.
Efforts on to settle royalty, tax dues with certain states over mineral rights: Centre tells SC
NEW DELHI: The Centre on Thursday told the Supreme Court that it was making efforts to resolve the issue of recovery of royalty and tax dues on mineral rights and mineral-bearing lands between it and several mineral-rich states. The top court meanwhile deferred to April 24 the hearing on subsequent pleas of several mineral-rich states like Jharkhand seeking to recover royalty and tax dues on mineral rights and mineral-bearing lands worth thousands of crore of rupees from the Centre and the mining firms. A special three-judge bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and MM Sundresh and Ujjal Bhuyan said it will decide on the sequence in which the pleas of several mineral-rich states would be heard. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, said efforts were on to find a settlement of the issue and the pleas may be listed in the first week of May. Senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, appearing for Jharkhand, said a settlement can be arrived at any stage and the hearing should not be delayed. On July 25, 2024, a nine-judge bench headed by the then Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud (since retired), in a majority 8:1 verdict, had ruled that the legislative power to tax mineral rights vests in states and not Parliament. In a subsequent order on August 14, the top court clarified that the judgement will not have prospective effect and permitted mineral-rich states recover from the Centre and mining firms the royalty and tax dues on mineral rights and mineral-bearing lands worth thousands of crore of rupees since April 1, 2005 over a period of 12 years. Later, a special bench headed by Justice Oka was set up to resolve the subsequent dispute between several states and the Centre. Dwivedi had urged the bench to allocate states' pleas relating to recovery of dues and the legal impediments in realising them to a bench. Post the July 25, 2024 judgement that held that the states have the power to levy tax and royalty, Dwivedi had referred to legal impediments coming in the way of Jharkhand in levy tax on minerals and mineral-bearing lands. He had said one issue still remained and that was Jharkhand's law to collect royalty on minerals and mineral-bearing land, which was set aside earlier, needed to be upheld now. Unless the Act is declared valid, we cannot collect taxes on minerals and mineral-bearing land. Please list it expeditiously before the appropriate bench, Diwvedi had said. He had referred to a decision of the Ranchi bench of the Patna High Court that had struck down Section 89 of the Mineral Area Development Authority Act of 1992 vide its judgment dated March 22, 1993. Section 89 of the Mineral Area Development Authority Act empowered the state government of then undivided Bihar to levy tax on not only mineral-bearing land but also land used for commercial or industrial purposes. In a majority 8:1 verdict on July 25, the bench had held that legislative power to tax mineral rights vests with states. The verdict had overruled a 1989 judgement, which held that only the Centre has power to impose royalty on minerals and mineral-bearing land. Some opposition-ruled mineral rich states then sought refund of royalty levied by the Centre and taxes from the mining companies since the 1989 verdict.
Efforts On To Settle Issue Of Recovery Of Royalty, Tax Dues With Certain States: Centre To SC
New Delhi, Mar 20: The Centre on Thursday told the Supreme Court that it was making efforts to resolve the issue of recovery of royalty and tax dues on mineral rights and mineral-bearing lands between it and several mineral-rich states. The top court meanwhile deferred to April 24 the hearing on subsequent pleas of several mineral-rich states like Jharkhand seeking to recover royalty and tax dues on mineral rights and mineral-bearing lands worth thousands of crore of rupees from the [] The post Efforts On To Settle Issue Of Recovery Of Royalty, Tax Dues With Certain States: Centre To SC appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Orissa High Court issues notices to Centre, state governments over sacred groves in STR
CUTTACK: The Orissa High Court has issued notices to the Centre as well as the state government on a petition seeking its intervention against inclusion of Jayara, the sacred groves and burial ground of the Munda tribal community, in the enclosure constructed for tigress Zeenat in the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR). The single judge bench of Justice SK Panigrahi issued the notices on Monday on a petition filed by Nandi Ho and two other members of Munda community of Jamunagarh. Jamunagarh, a part of Gudgudia gram panchayat, comes under STR in Mayurbhanj district. Zeenat, translocated from Tadoba Andheri Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra as part of a tiger supplementation project last year, had moved out from Similipal to Jharkhand and then to Bengal. On December 28, she was recaptured in West Bengal and brought back on Jan 1. The tigress was initially lodged in a small enclosure but later shifted to a larger enclosure, as per the guidelines of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). The petition sought the HCs direction to shift the enclosure from the area in which the sacred groves and burial ground of the Munda tribal community was located. The petition also sought direction for restoration of the sacred grove to its original condition prior to construction of the enclosure. While senior advocate Rajesh Kumar Mohapatra appeared on behalf of the state government and additional government advocate Debasish Nayak represented the state, advocate Afraaz Suhail made submissions on behalf of the petitioners. The deputy director of Similipal south division had rejected the applications of the petitioners and other residents of Jamunagarh for entering their sacred groves and burial ground. The petition challenged the rejection order issued on January 22. Taking note of the submissions, Justice Panigrahi sought replies from the respondents and fixed March 25 as the next date for hearing on the matter. Accordingly, Justice Panigrahi issued notices to the secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA), additional chief secretary, Forest and Environment department of Odisha, principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife), collector & district magistrate of Mayurbhanj, deputy director of Similipal south division and field director of STR.
Government, Opposition in war of words over performance of Jal Shakti ministry
NEW DELHI: During the discussion on demand for grants for Jal Shakti ministry in Lok Sabha, the Opposition parties and the ruling government on Wednesday traded charges over the budgetary allocation and the performance of the ministry. While initiating the discussion, BJP MP Jagdambika Pal questioned why opposition-ruled states of Jharkhand, Kerala, and West Bengal are lagging behind in providing clean drinking water to rural households under the governments flagship Jal Jeevan Mission. He also questioned the oppositions commitment to ensuring safe drinking water for all. If you are truly committed to providing safe drinking water, then why are these states still behind, Pal asked. Today, when we are working to provide tap water to every household, states like Jharkhand, Kerala, and West Bengal are still the most behind, he said. Pal said that according to official data, Kerala has the lowest coverage under the Jal Jeevan Mission at 54.41 per cent, followed by Jharkhand at 54.77 and West Bengal at 55.01 per cent. Countering the charges, RSP MP from Kollam N K Premachandran termed Jal Shakti as a non-performing ministry. What is the purpose of providing grants to your ministry because you are not utilising the funds. He said the spending towards the Jal Jeevan Mission was the lowest since it was implemented in 2021. Premachandran further said that the right to safe drinking water is a fundamental right. Unavailability of portable water and quality of water are critical issues, he said. The source of water has to be made along with transportation and treatment plants. This would also mean digging roads and creating pipes. This would only benefit contractors, he added. Pal highlighted the Centres achievements under the Jal Jeevan Mission, which was launched in 2019 to ensure 100 per cent tap water supply in rural India.
ISRO chief inaugurates space technology incubation centre at NIT Rourkela
ROURKELA: ISRO chairman Dr V Narayanan on Wednesday inaugurated the new Space Technology Incubation Centre (STIC) at the National Institute of Technology-Rourkela on Wednesday. Addressing the event virtually as the chief guest, Dr Narayanan said, This is a momentous occasion as we are inaugurating the STIC facility at NIT-Rourkela and also celebrating the return of Sunita Williams and her fellow astronauts after their remarkable mission aboard the International Space Station. He highlighted ISROs Venus Orbiter, Chandrayaan-4, Chandrayaan-5 and the ambitious Gaganyaan missions to send Indian astronauts into space. The success of Indias space programme is a collective effort, involving ISRO team, industrial partners and academia including institutes like IITs and NITs. With 20 departments, outstanding faculty and excellent infrastructure, NIT-Rourkela is an ideal place for a centre focused on space research. I urge students to embrace the opportunities at STIC and play a key role in shaping Indias future in space exploration. Director of the Capacity Building Programme Office (CPBO) at ISRO G Harikrishnan said STIC is designed to strengthen the academic foundation, develop high-quality human resources and build infrastructure at academic institutions to support the Indian space programme. To facilitate this, an MoU between ISRO and NIT-Rourkela was signed four years ago. Since then, eight projects with a total value of approximately Rs 1.7 crore, have been underway. I firmly believe that the new STIC facility will further expand the institutes horizons, enabling the launch of more space technology projects, he added. Scientific secretary to ISRO M Ganesh Pillai emphasised the importance of nurturing young talents and collaboration between academia and industry to advance space technology research. NIT-R director Prof K Umamaheshwar Rao also spoke on the occasion. The STIC at NIT-Rourkela acts as the hub for the eastern region covering Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The STIC initiative is coordinated by ISROs CBPO, which oversees activities related to incubation centres across the country.
The Quint's Athar Rather & Vishnukant Tiwari Win Ramnath Goenka Award
Take a look at their award-winning docuseries The 'Witches' of Jharkhand.
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Uproar in Jharkhand Assembly over demand of special debate over law and order situation
RANCHI: The Jharkhand Assembly on Tuesday witnessed an uproar over the clash between the two groups in Giridih during the Holi procession, with BJP legislators trooping into the well of the House and demanding a special debate over the state's law and order situation in the state. Despite repeated requests by Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahato, the BJP MLAs continued to raise slogans against the JMM-led coalition government and disrupted the House not letting the question hour take place. Unable to run the House, the Speaker adjourned proceedings till noon. Notably, several people were injured after a clash broke out between two groups during a Holi procession in Giridih on Friday, during which, at least three shops were allegedly torched by the unruly mob. The incident took place during the passing of a Holi procession in Ghodthamba when it was opposed by a group, leading to a clash. Leader of the Opposition, Babulal Marandi, alleged that the incident occurred in a planned manner, further adding that when people were moving forward while playing Holi, police stopped them while miscreants threw stones, and hurled petrol bombs at them. Meanwhile, the police remained mute spectators without taking any concrete action against the miscreants, he said. Marandi also charged the Hemant Soren government of practising the politics of appeasement, stating that it had gone too far. An FIR has been filed against 80 people, with 40 Hindus and 40 Muslims among them. Of the 22 arrested, 11 were Hindus and 11 were Muslims, said Marandi. Hindus were going to play Holi and neither had stones nor petrol bombs in their hands; therefore, action should be taken against those who tried to disturb the communal harmony, he added. Marandi then insisted on holding a debate on law and order, highlighting that law and order in the state was deteriorating, especially with upcoming events such as Eid, Sarhul, and Ram Navami. He requested that the debate be held instead of the question hour. Looking at the seriousness of the matter, I would insist that a debate on the incident of Giridih should be conducted in the House instead of the question hour, said Marandi. Earlier on March 10, the Jharkhand Assembly had witnessed uproar as the MLAs stormed the well of the House and raised slogans against the government following the BJP MLAs allegations of lawlessness in the state. Citing the incidents of Ranchi, Mandar, and Hazaribagh, Marandi claimed that such a deteriorating law and order situation had never been seen in the past 25 years. Marandi also highlighted the recent shooting of coal trader Vipin Mishra in Ranchi and the cold-blooded murder of NTPC DGM in Hazaribagh, questioning the governments response to the increasing crime rate.
CRPF SI injured in IED blast triggered by Maoists in Jharkhands Chaibasa
RANCHI: A CRPF sub-inspector was injured near Radha Poda village under Jeraikela police station in Chaibasa on March 18 in yet another IED blast triggered by Maoists in Kolhan jungles. Identified as Subodh Kumar, belonging to the CRPFs 134 battalion was airlifted immediately to a hospital in Ranchi after being administered first aid at a health hub in Jeraikela. According to police, the paramilitary forces, including the CRPFs 134 battalion had been conducting anti-insurgency operations in the hilly terrain of Jeraikela and the adjoining areas since March 4. During the operation, the paramilitary forces had an encounter with the Maoists on March 18. After a prolonged exchange of fire between the two sides, the Maoists started retreating as they could withstand the firing being done by the paramilitary forces. Meanwhile, while fleeing from the spot, the Maoists triggered a powerful IED, planted earlier by them to target the security forces, said Chaibasa SP Ashutosh Shekhar. The SP further added that the sub-inspector Subodh Kumar who was in the blasts impact range was injured in the incident. He was immediately airlifted and admitted to a hospital in Ranchi after being provided first aide in Chaibasa, he said. The condition of the injured officer is stable and he is recuperating, said the SP. According to a press communique released by the police, the encounter took place at around 10 am on March 18 following which an intensive search operation is being conducted in the region. Notably, several Maoist commanders are active with their squads in the Saranda forests of Chaibasa and have planted thousands of IEDs to check security forces enter into the jungles, due to which regular incidents of blasts are taking place during the operations. Since November 2022, at least four security personnel have been killed while more than 30 were critically injured. Besides claiming the lives of more than a dozen civilians in IED blasts triggered by Maoists in Kolhan jungles, the Maoists have also distributed pamphlets in the adjacent villages. They have also warned villagers not to enter deep into the jungles as they may walk over an IED and lose their lives. According to Chaibasa SP, even though Maoists have planted IEDs in the entire area, forces are advancing slowly into the jungles with full determination and have established several temporary security camps in their core areas. The state police launched a joint operation in Kolhan jungles in November 2022 after a tip-off that some of the senior Maoist leaders, including Misir Besra and Patiram Majhi alias Anal Da are hiding in that forest stretch. It is said to be strategically important.
