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Jharkhand: Boiling oil poured on woman for resisting sexual harassment; one arrested

RANCHI: Two youths poured boiling oil on a woman for allegedly resisting sexual harassment late Sunday evening in Jharkhand's Giridh. According to police, one accused has been arrested, while the other is still on the run. As per information received, the woman runs a shop selling fritters to support her family. The accused persons, Uday Chaudhary and Manish Chaudhary, had gone to her shop on Sunday evening. At that moment, the power went out. Both accused took advantage of the situation and attempted to molest the shopkeeper. When the woman tried to stop them from harassing her, the accused picked up a pan of scalding hot oil from the stove and threw it at her. The woman screamed out of pain as she was burned by the hot oil. Hearing her screams, local villagers rushed to the spot and immediately took her to Sadar Hospital, where she is currently undergoing treatment. According to doctors, the woman's hands and feet have been severely burned and is under constant medical supervision. According to villagers, the womans family depends entirely on the income from the stall. They alleged that the two accused youths have a history of misbehaviour. Both the accused persons come from influential families, due to which people were afraid to confront them earlier. But this time, they crossed all limits. Strict action must be taken against such elements, said a villager requesting anonymity. The villagers are extending all possible support for the womans treatment, they said. The police on the other hand have assured to take strict action will be taken against he accused persons. We have registered a case against the accused persons and arrested one of them, Uday Chaudhary, while the hunt is still on for another accused person, Manish Chaudhary. He will also be arrested soon, said the officer-in charge of Mufassil police station, Shyam Kishore Mahto.

Jharkhand's new campaign to showcase success stories of girls who stood up against child marriage

RANCHI: Jharkhands Social Welfare Directorate is set to launch a a first-of-its-kind campaign to curb child marriage by sharing real-life stories of girls who stood up against the practice. The campaign will showcase the success stories of girls who protested against the outdated practice and persuaded their families to not go through with their marriages, while also discussing the challenges they faced throughout their struggle for autonomy. Through these stories, young girls will be sensitised to the demerits of child marriage and informed about the laws prohibiting it. Officials informed that the campaign will highlight the provisions under the law against the practice of child marriage as well as schemes run by Women and Child Welfare Department, to empower young girls. For this initiative, the Directorate has identified ten such girls who successfully resisted child marriage, continued their education and have since gone on to build successful lives. The representatives include, Damini Sabar (East Singhbhum), Jaimati (Lohardaga), Rupa Kumari (Gumla), Karuna Kumari (Ramgarh), Uma (Jamtara), Chhaya Kumari ( Koderma), Manisha Kumari (Giridih), Milan Sabar (East Singhbhum), Radha Pandey (Koderma) and Chandana (Dhanbad). The campaign will be run in all the 45 sub-divisions of 24 districts of Jharkhand with a special focus on the pockets from where most of the child marriage cases come from, said an official in Social Welfare Department, requesting anonymity. All the officials in the sub-division level will be involved in this campaign to make it a success, she added. Not only government officials but the traditional heads like Manki-Munda and gram Pradhan along with the religious heads of all religion will also be involved so that more and more people get connected with this campaign, said the official. The campaign will be run under the ongoing programme Child Marriage Free Jharkhand, under which the young girls will also be made aware about the ongoing programmes being run for them by the state government.

VHT: After India's T20 WC squad entry, Kishan named Jharkhand's captain

Ishan Kishan has been named captain of Jharkhand for the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025/26, starting this Wednesday. Fresh from leading Jharkhand to their maiden SMAT title with 517 runs, Kishan will also keep wickets. His strong domestic form has earned him a recall to Indias T20 World Cup 2026 squad as a backup wicketkeeper.

Ishan Kishan Named Captain As Jharkhand Announce Squad For Vijay Hazare Trophy

Jharkhand Squad For Vijay Hazare: India wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan has been named captain of Jharkhand for the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy Elite (VHT) 2025/26, the Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) confirmed. The domestic 50-over tournament begins on December 24, with Jharkhand set to open their campaign against Karnataka in Ahmedabad. The squad announced for the season features a mix of experience and youth, including Kumar Kushagra, Anukul Roy, Robin Minz, Abhinav Sharan and Virat Singh, as Jharkhand look to build on recent success in white-ball cricket. Kishans appointment follows a standout Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025/26 season, where he led Jharkhand to their maiden SMAT title. The wicketkeeper-batter was in outstanding form throughout the tournament, amassing 517 runs from 10 innings at an average of 57.44, with two hundreds and two half-centuries to his name. His defining moment came in the final against Haryana, where he struck a commanding 101 to guide his side to the championship. That run of performances has also earned Kishan a recall to the Indian squad for the ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2026. He has been included as the teams second-choice wicketkeeper-batter, behind Sanju Samson, marking a return to the national setup on the back of sustained domestic excellence. Kishans appointment follows a standout Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025/26 season, where he led Jharkhand to their maiden SMAT title. The wicketkeeper-batter was in outstanding form throughout the tournament, amassing 517 runs from 10 innings at an average of 57.44, with two hundreds and two half-centuries to his name. His defining moment came in the final against Haryana, where he struck a commanding 101 to guide his side to the championship. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Jharkhand Squad For Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025/26: Ishan Kishan (WK & captain), Virat Singh, Utkarsh Singh, Kumar Kushagra (WK & vice-captain), Robin Minz, Anukul Roy, Sharandeep Singh, Shikhar Mohan, Pankaj Kumar (WK), Bala Krishna, Md Kounain Quraishi, Shubh Sharma, Amit Kumar, Manishi, Abhinav Sharan, Sushant Mishra, Vikash Singh, Saurabh Shekhar, Rajandeep Singh, Shubham Singh. Article Source: IANS

Codeine syrup seized in UP; six held in separate operations in Etah, Mirzapur

ETAH:The Uttar Pradesh Police have intensified their crackdown on the alleged illegal trade, diversion and distribution of regulated codeine-based cough syrup, arresting six persons in separate operations in Etah and Mirzapur districts, officials said on Monday. The action comes as the probe widened into the alleged codiene syrup trafficking racket, suspected to be involved in illicit trade estimated to be worth hundreds of crores -- with links stretching across several states and possibly beyond international borders. In Etah, a joint team of the Agra anti-narcotics unit and Aliganj police recovered 47 cartons of codeine-based cough syrup, estimated to be worth around Rs 50 lakh, from a tobacco warehouse under Aliganj police station area limits Sunday night. Four persons, including a retired serviceman, were arrested on the spot, police said. According to police, the raid was carried out at a warehouse in Nagla Bani village following a tip-off. Preliminary investigation revealed that the seized cough syrup bore the name of a Baddi-based pharmaceutical company, 'Wings', but the batch numbers printed on the wrappers had been deliberately scratched off, indicating that the consignment was illegally manufactured. Yogis do namune jibe backfires as Akhilesh calls remark a BJP self-goal The arrested accused have been identified as Jitendra Yadav, Jitendra Shakya, Pramod Shakya and Punjab Singh, a retired soldier. Cases have been registered against them under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and other relevant sections, and further investigation is underway, police said. Official sources said the Etah recovery is suspected to be linked to Varanasi-based drug trader, Shubham Jaiswal, who is allegedly associated with an international drug syndicate. A lookout circular has already been issued against him, while his father was arrested earlier from Kolkata. The main accused remains absconding, officials said. In a separate development, Mirzapur police arrested two more accused -- Ajit Yadav and Akshat Yadav -- in connection with a case of illegal supply of codeine-based cough syrup registered at Adalhat police station. The arrests were made on Sunday evening following sustained investigation of the suspects, police said. According to officials, the two accused had allegedly floated firms using forged Aadhaar cards and supplied cough syrup through fake documentation. During investigation, police found that transactions worth over Rs 1 crore had been routed through bank accounts opened in Varanasi in the name of the fake firms. Police said Akshat Yadav, proprietor of a firm named A K Distributors, was supplied around 36 litre of New Phensedyl cough syrup (100 ml bottles) from a trader based in Ranchi, Jharkhand. The firm was found to be non-functional on the ground, and records showed it had been opened only once or twice without carrying out any genuine pharmaceutical business. Further scrutiny revealed that the Aadhaar card used for obtaining the drug licence carried a Mirzapur address and was forged, while a different Aadhaar card with a Varanasi address was used for banking purposes, pointing to deliberate fabrication of documents, police said. The firm's bank account in Varanasi showed a turnover of around Rs 1.28 crore. The two accused have been booked under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the NDPS Act and sent to jail. Police said involvement of more suspects is likely and the investigation is ongoing. Officials said the recoveries and arrests form part of a broader state-wide investigation into the illegal diversion of codeine-based cough syrup, a regulated drug.

BTech student of OP Jindal University dies by suicide in Chhattisgarhs Raigarh

RAIPUR: A 20 year old engineering student of O P Jindal University in Chhattisgarh's Raigarh district allegedly died by suicide in her hostel room on Saturday late night. The deceased has been identified as Princy Kumari, 20, a native of Jamshedpur in Jharkhand who was pursuing her second year B.Tech Computer Science. Speaking to TNIE, Raigarh ASP Akash Markam said the incident came to light after the hostel warden found her body hanging from a ceiling fan. The body was sent for post-mortem examination, and the autopsy report is awaited. The body was later handed over to the family. A case has been registered, and an investigation is underway. Markam said the exact circumstances leading to the suicide are yet to be ascertained. We are examining the contents of the suicide note recovered from her room, and statements of hostel staff, university officials and others are being recorded, he said. (If you are having suicidal thoughts, or are worried about a friend or need emotional support, someone is always there to listen. Call Sneha Foundation - 04424640050, Tele Manas - 14416 (available 24x7) or iCall, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences' helpline - 02225521111, which is available Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 10 pm.)

JMM distances itself from Health Minister's remarks offering job to Muslim doctor involved in Bihar hijab incident

RANCHI: The ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) on Sunday distanced itself from the remarks of Health Minister Irfan Ansari , who offered a job to the female Muslim doctor who was allegedly assaulted by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar during a public event in Patna last week. JMM spokesperson Manoj Pandey said that there is no provision empowering the minister to offer a job with a salary of Rs 3 lakh per month. I dont think a minister can provide a Rs 3 lakh job to anyone. However, the issue that is being suppressed should be discussed, the JMM spokesperson said, stressing that the minister's statement was personal. The party was responding to Ansari's remarks, inviting the female doctor to Jharkhand and offering her a job with a monthly salary of Rs 3 lakh. I have invited the woman doctor to Jharkhand and offered her a job with a Rs 3 lakh monthly salary, a flat, a desired posting and full security, the minister said in Jamtara on Saturday. The minister was responding to the December 15 incident in Patna, where Nitish Kumar pulled the veil (naqab) off the face of a newly-recruited AYUSH doctor while she was receiving her letter of appointment. He accused Nitish Kumar of attempting to demean the hijab (veil) and the Muslim community through the act. Without naming anyone, Ansari also contrasted the incident with Jharkhand's governance. This is Jharkhand. Governance here is sensitive, inclusive and rooted in respect for human dignity, the minister said. Nusrat Parveen, a doctor hailing from Kolkata, was among ten Ayush doctors who had turned up at Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's Secretariat on December 15 to receive their letters of appointment. When Parveen's turn came, the 75-year-old CM pointed towards her veil and exclaimed 'what is this' before pulling it down and exposing her face. The incident has drawn widespread criticism , with many accusing Nitish Kumar of disrespecting Muslim traditions, allegedly in line with the RSS agenda. Meanwhile, former BJP minister C P Singh alleged a possible connection between the woman doctor and the Al-Falah University in Haryana, which has come under scanner in connection with the alleged white collar terror module. Singh demanded an NIA inquiry into the episode and said Ansari was not the health minister for one community alone. People from this particular community want to establish Ghazwa-e-Hind. Therefore, the NIA should investigate whether Nusrat Parveen has any connection to Al-Falah University, the BJP leader alleged. 'She can go to hell': BJP Minister Giriraj Singh defends Nitish Kumar over hijab removal incident involving Muslim doctor

DC Edit | PM Signalling SIR Bid For NRC By Backdoor?

Its not that Mr Modi is expressing his concerns on the infiltration issue and its impact on the local demography for the first time. His single most important campaign theme in Jharkhand earlier this year was also the threat posed to the local demography by the presence of infiltrators

Around 8 passenger trains cancelled for three days due to elephant movements between Jharkhand, Odisha

Movement of a herd of elephants has been noticed near rail tracks between Chakradharpur (Jharkhand's Singhbhum)-Jharsuguda (Odisha) section of the division, especially Bandamuna during night

Two workers die after wall of opencast coal mine collapses in Jharkhand

Tragedy struck Hazaribagh, Jharkhand, as two coal workers lost their lives when a mine wall collapsed onto a truck. The incident occurred late Saturday night in the Urimari Police Station area. Both bodies were recovered Sunday morning.

'He respected the game': Ashwin explains how Ishan earned his T20 World Cup recall

Ishan Kishan has earned his way back into India's T20 World Cup squad after a dominant Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy campaign, leading Jharkhand to their first title. He emerged as the tournament's top scorer with 517 runs. Ravichandran Ashwin highlighted Kishan's renewed respect for domestic cricket as the key to his successful return, emphasizing dedication over external factors.

NUPPL commences mining operations at Pachwara South coal block in Jharkhand

Pachwara South Coal Block, with an approved capacity of 9.0 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA)and extractable coal reserve of 264.84 million tonnes,was allottedfor meeting fuel requirements of NUPPLs Ghatampur Thermal Power Station, says NLCIL

Two workers trapped after wall of opencast coal mine collapses in Jharkhand

Tragedy struck Hazaribagh, Jharkhand, as a mine wall collapsed on a truck. Two workers are trapped. The incident occurred late Saturday night at a Central Coalfield Limited mine. Rescue efforts are ongoing. Darkness, fog, and a protest hampered initial rescue operations. Another worker was rescued and hospitalized. Coal extraction activities have been halted.

Guv defends CM Nitish action in hijab row, doctor fails to report back at work

PATNA: Contrary to the expectations, Ayush doctor Dr Nursat Parveen, who hit the national headlines after Bihar CM Nitish Kumar pulled down her hijab (veil) at an official function in Patna last week, did not join her job on Saturday. Bihar Governor Arif Mohammed Khan defended CM Kumar, saying that there could never be any conflict between a father and a daughter. Nitish Kumar is like a father to Nusrat, and it is wrong to label the affection and discipline a father shows towards his daughter as a conflict, he added. There are few instances in the past when the health department has given an extension, he added. Dr Parveen has been posted at Sabalpur primary health centre (PHC) in Patna Sadar, and was expected to complete the joining formalities by Saturday at 6 pm. However, she failed to report even after the expiry of the deadline.According to the health departments procedure, Dr Parveen has to go through several formal steps before starting her work. These include a medical examination and verification of documents at the State Health Committee. Patna civil surgeon Dr Avinash Kumar Singh confirmed that Dr Parveen did not join her duty on Saturday. He said that now the state health department could give her extension for joining her duty. According to health department officials, 75 AYUSH doctors were selected. Out of which 63 have joined. Remaining 12 doctors are yet to join duty. Dr Nusrat Parveen is among the 12 doctors who have not joined yet, a senior health department official said. Meanwhile, a political row erupted after Jharkhand health minister Dr Irfan Ansari, while lashing out at Nitish, offered a government job to Dr Parveen, promising to pay a salary of `3 lakh per month, and a posting of her choice in the Jharkhand health department.

Words Said To Ishan About WC Selection Have Turned Into Reality, Says Childhood Coach Mazumdar

Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy: Ishan Kishan's childhood coach, Uttam Mazumdar, said his words about the wicketkeeper-batter's selection for the T20 World Cup have urned into reality following the 26-year-old's inclusion in India's squad for the mega event and T20I series against New Zealand. Kishan, who topped the charts in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with 517 runs and captained Jharkhand to the title, became a surprise replacement for Shubman Gill in Indias T20I squad. Those stupendous performances, including hitting 101 in the final against Haryana, and the team managements preference to have a back-up wicketkeeper-batter who could bat in the top order led to Kishans return to the national set-up. Mazumdar revealed he had told Kishan during Jharkhand's Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy knockouts campaign that a match-winning century in the final would secure his place in the World Cup squad, and he was glad that his student did exactly that. When the Jharkhand team qualified for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy knockouts, I told Ishan that, You have made a lot many runs. But if you hit a hundred in the final and make the team win the trophy, it should put your name in that team for the World Cup. It just came out of my mouth and I was literally manifesting that he has to be there in the team for the World Cup. He just did that and those words turned into reality today. It's a matter of pride and a very big pleasure for all of us because he was out of the set-up for two years. But then the way he led Jharkhand and won the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, we are very happy and everyone is happy, Muzumdar told IANS from his Greater Noida academy at the SDRV School on Saturday. Kishans last game for India was the third T20I against Australia at Guwahati in November 2023, before being out of reckoning after taking a mental health break and even losing his BCCI central contract. Muzumdar received news of Kishans return to the Indian team after starting a religious ceremony for him. After the news of his selection came, I got a call in the afternoon, informing me about this. I didnt know of it before as I was busy with a puja since morning. We have organised a Bhagavad Gita paath for Ishan starting from today and it will go on for six days. Its definitely divine intervention that hes now in the World Cup squad, he added. Mazumdar feels the Kishan of 2025 has inner stillness and maturity as compared to his 2023 version, which reflects strongly in his recent consistent performances. A theraav (stillness) has come now in Ishan. Plus, maturity, patience and focus have come within him, due to which theres more consistency in his game. This is a very big thing because when there is consistency, stillness and determination in the game, everything starts to go well. It is a game of mindset and when that moves towards a very positive mindset at this level in the game, then a persons worldview also changes. So, that same thing happened with Ishan. He has also backed Kishan to be an automatic selection in Indias playing eleven and open the batting alongside in-form Abhishek Sharma. In all the competitions, Ishan has done very well. I don't think the team management will be able to put Ishan out of the playing eleven because of the calibre he has. The Indian T20I team needs such an explosive player. In T20Is, the power play is very important. So, I think Ishan will be very fit as far as those things are concerned. The team management should give him a chance to open with Abhishek. The rest will be seen later as we can also play two keepers in the playing eleven. We do know the kind of keeping Ishan does, added Muzumdar. Amidst a joyful two days for him, Muzumdar revealed he will speak to Kishan later in the day. I think I will talk to him only in the night. He was in Jharkhand for two days and had to meet the CM as well. The players were very happy because it was a historical win. It was a moment of wonder for a lifetime. All were uncapped players in the Jharkhand team and bringing all of them together to win the trophy as their captain, Ishan did that job really well. It was such a great achievement to win the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, considering there are a lot of formidable teams. To beat all of them and win the final, its a very big achievement. Mazumdar still fondly remembers the time when at the Moinul Ul Haq Stadium in Patna, Pranav Pandey approached him with a request to take a seven year old Kishan under his wing, a moment that would mark the beginning of a brilliant cricketing journey which has seen tons of highs and lows. Till date, Kishan maintains a ritual of seeking blessings of Muzumdar before playing big matches. Mazumdar, who fondly calls Kishan as Ishu, signed off by confidently affirming that the wicketkeeper-batter will have a big impact in Indias title defence in the T20 World Cup. Mazumdar still fondly remembers the time when at the Moinul Ul Haq Stadium in Patna, Pranav Pandey approached him with a request to take a seven year old Kishan under his wing, a moment that would mark the beginning of a brilliant cricketing journey which has seen tons of highs and lows. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The way his performances have been, I am sure the team management will use it to the fullest during the New Zealand series and the World Cup. I really believe they will use Ishan in this Indian team in a very good way. Article Source: IANS

T20 WC 2026: 'Dropping Gill And Jitesh Sharma, I Didnt See It Coming', Says Dinesh Karthik

New Zealand T20I: Former India cricketer Dinesh Karthik was shocked after the exclusion of India's Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill from the T20 World Cup 2026 and the New Zealand T20I series. Along with Gill, Karthik also expressed his disappointment at the removal of Jitesh Sharma from the squad. The squad was announced by BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, captain Suryakumar Yadav and chief selector Ajit Agarkar on Saturday, and Axar Patel was named as the vice-captain. Ishan Kishan makes a remarkable comeback after showcasing explosive form while leading Jharkhand to victory in the recent Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Rinku Singh also returns to the T20I squad after missing out on the 3-1 series win in South Africa. Karthik admitted surprise at Shubman Gills exclusion and expressed disappointment over Jitesh Sharma missing out, terming both as shocking omissions from the squad. The big news of the day: India World Cup T20 squad is announced and guess what? Shubman Gill, the current vice captain of the T20 team, incumbent opener has been dropped. Not just from the XI but from the squad. They wanted to bring in an extra opener and they brought in Ishan Kishan and dropped Jitesh Sharma as well. And instead of Jitesh Sharma, its gonna be Rinku Singh. That is huge news. Dropping Shubman Gill and Jitesh Sharma. I didnt see it coming. Just tells you theres a little bit of clarity lacking. They have backed Shubman Gill for so long and come the day they pick the squad, they have let him go, Karthik said on Instagram. Karthik believes India head into the upcoming T20 World Cup with a formidable squad on paper, built around match-winners across all skillsets. Karthik said India possess the best opener in Abhishek Sharma, the best spinner in Varun Chakaravarthy, the worlds premier allrounder in Hardik Pandya and arguably the best fast bowler ever in Jasprit Bumrah, which ensures a strong playing XI even before final combinations are decided. However, he pointed out a couple of potential vulnerabilities, highlighting that for the first time India will go into a T20 World Cup without the experience of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, while also flagging concerns over Suryakumar Yadavs recent form, though he backed him to turn it into a strength once he regains touch. Karthik believes India head into the upcoming T20 World Cup with a formidable squad on paper, built around match-winners across all skillsets. Karthik said India possess the best opener in Abhishek Sharma, the best spinner in Varun Chakaravarthy, the worlds premier allrounder in Hardik Pandya and arguably the best fast bowler ever in Jasprit Bumrah, which ensures a strong playing XI even before final combinations are decided. Also Read: Live Cricket Score India's T20 World Cup campaign will start on February 7 at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium against the United States. After that, on February 12, they will head to New Delhi to play Namibia at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. The big match versus Pakistan at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on February 15 would come next. On February 18, India will play the Netherlands at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad to conclude their group round. Article Source: IANS

Jharkhand minister offers job, flat to Bihar doctor after niqab row

Ranchi: Jharkhand Health Minister Irfan Ansari on Saturday said he has offered a job with Rs 3 lakh monthly salary, a government flat and desired posting to a woman doctor from Bihar following the niqab controversy during distribution of appointment letters. Ansari alleged that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar tried to demean niqab and the 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 .

From contract snub to World Cup squad: Ishan Kishan's story of comeback

Ishan Kishan's surprising return to India's T20 World Cup squad marks a hard-earned comeback. After stepping away for personal reasons and facing consequences for prioritizing the IPL over domestic cricket, Kishan rediscovered form. His stellar performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, leading Jharkhand to victory, ultimately earned him a spot, showcasing resilience and dedication.

Happy For My Thambi Sanju: Ashwin Reacts To Indias T20 WC Squad

BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia: Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin expressed delight at Indias T20 World Cup 2026 squad, stating that the team was ready for its itle defence. He said he was happy for his brother, Sanju Samson, and lauded Ishan Kishans selection, who has made a comeback to international cricket. In a surprising move, defending champions India have excluded Shubman Gill from their squad for next years T20 World Cup and the upcoming T20Is against New Zealand. As announced by BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia, captain Suryakumar Yadav, chief selector Ajit Agarkar, and vice-captain Axar Patel, this squad highlights notable changes. Besides Gill, wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma is also omitted, as Ishan Kishan makes a remarkable comeback after showcasing explosive form while leading Jharkhand to victory in the recent Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Rinku Singh also returns to the T20I squad after missing out on the 3-1 series win in South Africa. Title defence loading. Superb squad. Great to see Rinku back and happy for my thambi Sanju, who will now rightfully open alongside Abhishek. Adipoli Chetta! Huge applause for Ishan, who showed his hunger by grinding hard in the domestic circuit, Ashwin wrote on X. The 2026 Mens T20 World Cup, taking place from February 7 to March 8, will feature 40 group matches, all scheduled to be played by February 20. The top two teams from each of the four groups will move on to the Super Eights, beginning on February 21. India and Sri Lanka are hosting the Mens T20 World Cup for the second time. Sri Lanka previously hosted in 2012, while India last held the event in 2016. After finishing a three-match ODI series, India will play five T20Is against New Zealand starting on January 21 in Nagpur, with matches also scheduled in Raipur, Guwahati, Visakhapatnam, and Thiruvananthapuram. In the Mens T20 World Cup, defending champions India are in Group A with Pakistan, USA, Netherlands, and Namibia. India kicks off its tournament against the USA at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on February 7, followed by a match against Namibia at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on February 12. India and Sri Lanka are hosting the Mens T20 World Cup for the second time. Sri Lanka previously hosted in 2012, while India last held the event in 2016. After finishing a three-match ODI series, India will play five T20Is against New Zealand starting on January 21 in Nagpur, with matches also scheduled in Raipur, Guwahati, Visakhapatnam, and Thiruvananthapuram. Also Read: Live Cricket Score India squad: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (vice-captain), Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar and Ishan Kishan. Article Source: IANS

Jharkhand Minister offers job, flat to Bihar doctor after hijab row

I have invited the woman doctor to Jharkhand and offered her a job with a 3 lakh monthly salary, a flat, a desired posting, and full security, says Jharkhand Health Minister

Gills Omission Surprising, Maybe Lack Of Form And Touch Went Against Him, Says Gavaskar

Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy: Legendary India batter Sunil Gavaskar described Shubman Gills omission from the T20 World Cup squad as surprising, suggesting that a lack of form and touch may have gone against the right-handed opener. At the press conference held in BCCI HQ on Saturday, Gill's omission from the squad for the T20 World Cup and series against New Zealand emerged as a huge talking point. Since returning from the Asia Cup, Gill struggled to get going, with his highest score being 47 across 15 innings. It is a surprise. He is a classic, quality batter who had a fabulous season post the 2024 T20 World Cup. Yes, he struggled in a few matches against South Africa. But class is permanent, and form is temporary. He was also coming back after a long break and was out of rhythm. When you are not in rhythm in T20 cricket, where you have to attack from the start, it is hard. His natural game is more for Test cricket, playing along the ground. The shots needed in T20 do not come as easily to him. But he is a very good player. We have seen that in the IPL, so T20 is not new to him. Maybe just that lack of form and touch went against him, said Gavaskar on JioStar. In Gill's absence, Axar Patel was named as Indias vice-captain. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar later attributed Gills exclusion as the team management's preference for a wicketkeeper to open the innings. It also meant Ishan Kishan came back into the India T20I team for the first time after November 2023. Kishan scored 517 runs in 10 innings in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he captained Jharkhand to the title. When you see someone performing, you pick him. Ishan Kishan has already been in the side and shown he can do it. That is a big plus. In Gill's absence, Axar Patel was named as Indias vice-captain. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar later attributed Gills exclusion as the team management's preference for a wicketkeeper to open the innings. It also meant Ishan Kishan came back into the India T20I team for the first time after November 2023. Also Read: Live Cricket Score With Indias plans being reshaped, Jitesh Sharma also emerged as a notable omission, with left-handed batter Rinku Singh included to bolster the middle order firepower. I feel for Jitesh Sharma though. He did nothing wrong. He was a very good wicketkeeper in his chances, and after MS Dhoni, he was perhaps the best at helping the captain with DRS calls from behind the stumps. It is tough on him, but he is young. He just needs to go back to domestic cricket and keep performing, concluded Gavaskar. Article Source: IANS

Jharkhand minister offers job, flat to Bihar doctor after naqab row

RANCHI: Jharkhand Health Minister Irfan Ansari on Saturday said he has offered a job with Rs 3 lakh monthly salary, a government flat and desired posting to a woman doctor from Bihar following the naqab controversy during distribution of appointment letters. Ansari alleged that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar tried to demean naqab and the Muslim community by removing the veil of a woman. I have invited the woman doctor to Jharkhand and offered her a job with Rs 3 lakh monthly salary, a flat, desired posting and full security, he told reporters in Jamtara. The way a doctor and a woman was humiliated and treated with indecency by pulling her naqab is not merely an attack on one individual but a direct assault on human dignity, honour and the Constitution itself, he said. The incident, a video clip of which has been circulated widely and sparked a major political row, took place on Monday at the chief minister's secretariat in Patna when Ayush doctors had gathered to receive their letters of appointment. When the woman came up for her letter, Kumar saw her naqab, said what is this?, and then removed the veil. Meanwhile, a social worker filed a police complaint against Kumar over the incident, an officer said on Saturday. Mohammad Murtaza Alam, along with some villagers, submitted the complaint with Itki police station on Thursday, he said. Manish Kumar, officer-in-charge of Itki police station, told PTI that the complaint was filed on the basis of a video purportedly showing Kumar pulling off the naqab of the woman doctor.

Jharkhand tribal family carries infant's body in plastic bag as hospital fails to provide transport

RANCHI: Family members were forced to carry their dead four-month-old child in a plastic bag as the hospital failed to provide transportation facilities. Dimba Chatomba, a resident of Baljori village under Noamundi block, had brought his sick child to Sadar Hospital at Chaibasa on Thursday. The child's condition worsened, and the child died during treatment on Friday. After the child's death, the family members had requested the hospital management to provide a vehicle to take the body back to their village. The family reportedly waited for hours for a vehicle, but no arrangements were made. According to family members, the hospital administration neither made any alternative arrangements nor was it considerate towards the family. Broken by administrative insensitivity and the negligence of the healthcare system, the family was forced to carry the child's body in a plastic bag and take a bus back to Baljori village. Dimba had only 100 rupees in his pocket. Out of desperation, he bought a plastic bag for 20 rupees from a nearby shop and placed his four-month-old son's body inside it. With the remaining money, Dimba had to pay for the bus fare from Chaibasa to Noamundi and travelled with his sons body in the bag, said an attendant of a patient requesting anonymity. From Noamundi, Dimba will have to walk to his village Bada Baljori, the attendant added. Hospital administration, however, said that they were trying to arrange a vehicle and asked them to wait for a few more hours, but they left the hospital with the deceased child in a bag. We don't provide ambulances for transporting dead bodies. There is a separate hearse service for it, and we have only one such vehicle in the district. We asked the child's family to wait for two more hours as the hearse was at Manoharpur at that time, but they didn't agree and left for home with the body in a bag, said Chaibasa Civil Surgeon Dr Bharti Minj. According to the Civil Surgeon, the four-month-old child had breathing problem. The doctors had suggested taking the child to a higher center, but the father disagreed. The child eventually succumbed to the illness. Since the mother of the child was not there, we had inserted a tube for feeding. The child was brought in on Thursday evening and died at 1:15 pm on Friday, said the Civil Surgeon. Health Minister Irfan Ansari has assured to conduct an inquiry into the matter and see that action is taken against anyone found responsible. If something like this has really happened to a tribal family, an inquiry will be conducted and action will be taken against those responsible for it, said Ansari.

Gill Axed, Axar Named Vice-captain; Ishan Returns As India Name T20 WC Squad

BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia: In a surprising development, defending champions India have left out Shubman Gill from its squad for next years T20 World Cup and T20Is against New Zealand. In the squad announced by BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia, captain Suryakumar Yadav and chief selector Ajit Agarkar, Axar Patel has been named as the vice-captain. Apart from Gill, wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma misses out as Ishan Kishan makes a stunning return to the team, following his explosive form leading Jharkhand to a recent Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy win. Meanwhie, Rinku Singh also makes his return to the T20I team after missing out on the 3-1 series win in South Africa. We are looking at combinations. Our thought was to have another keeper. Gill is a quality player, unfortunate to miss out, but it is the combination we want. Ishan bats at the top, he has been in good form, and played before for India. He wasn't there because Jurel and Pant were ahead. Sanju is at the top. Ishan at the top. That is the combination we are looking at right now. We felt he is the best back up keeper at this point, said Agarkar. The 2026 Mens T20 World Cup, to be held from February 7 to March 8, will have 40 group matches scheduled to be played till February 20. Top two teams from each of the four groups will advance to the Super Eights starting on February 21. India and Sri Lanka are hosting the Mens T20 World Cup for the second time. Sri Lanka were the hosts of the 2012 edition, while India last hosted the competition in 2016. After the completion of the three-match ODI series, India will play five T20Is against New Zealand, starting on January 21 in Nagpur, followed by games in Raipur, Guwahati, Visakhapatnam and Thiruvananthapuram. In the Mens T20 World Cup, defending champions India have been placed in Group A alongside Pakistan, USA, Netherlands and Namibia. The Men in Blue will be aiming to become the first team to successfully defend the Mens T20 World Cup title, the first team to win the T20 World Cup on home soil, and the first team to clinch the T20 world title for a third time. India will open its Cup campaign against USA at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on February 7, before facing Namibia at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on February 12. In the Mens T20 World Cup, defending champions India have been placed in Group A alongside Pakistan, USA, Netherlands and Namibia. The Men in Blue will be aiming to become the first team to successfully defend the Mens T20 World Cup title, the first team to win the T20 World Cup on home soil, and the first team to clinch the T20 world title for a third time. Also Read: Live Cricket Score India squad: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (vice-captain), Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar and Ishan Kishan. Article Source: IANS

Jharkhand elephant attack claims another life in Ramgarh; toll crosses 1,270 in 18 years

RANCHI: In yet another incident of man-animal conflict in Jharkhand, 35-year-old man, Loknath Munda, was trampled to death by a wild elephant in Karma Sugiya Khira Beda area of Ramgarh on Friday. This is the fifth such death in the last three days in Ramgarh itself, as four people were trampled to death by the herd of elephants in Ghatto OP area on Thursday. Those who lost their lives on Thursday, include Amit Rajwar (33), Amul Mahto (35), Parvati Devi (40) and Savitri Devi (45). According to officials, a herd of 42 elephants, divided into 6-7 separate groups, is active in this area, which is on a rampage, causing loss of life and property in the area. Ramgarh DFO Nitish Kumar informed that Hamar Haathi app provides information about the location of elephants within a radius of approximately 10 kilometers. He also appealed to people to move to a safe place if they receive information about elephants being in the area and to refrain from disturbing the elephants or taking photos or videos of them. Notably, as per official data, more than 1270 people were killed in the last 18 years due to elephant attacks across Jharkhand. Not only have humans lost their lives, but more than 150 elephants have also been killed due to electrocution, train accidents or IED blasts during these years. According to data provided by the forest department, 474 people died in elephant attacks between 2019 and 2024. This includes 87 deaths in 2023, 96 in 2022, and the highest number, 133, in 2021. More than 16 deaths have already been reported in elephant attacks so far in 2025. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) Wildlife, Paritosh Upadhyay, said that during the last three months alone, elephants have killed more than a dozen people. The only way to prevent human-elephant conflict is to somehow guide the elephants deeper into the forests, he said. A special team from the forest department has been deployed to safely guide the elephants deep into the forests, said Upadhyay. The cooperation of villagers is also being sought in this regard, he added. Wildlife experts said that human settlements have encroached right up to the edge of the forests, as a result, elephants venture into the villages and damage crops when they can't find food in the forests. The elephants only attack villagers when they try to chase them away. Looking at the trend of elephant-related human deaths, it becomes clear that elephants only kill people after being provoked or treated in a way they perceive as threatening, said a wildlife expert, requesting anonymity. It has also been observed that the wild elephants cause maximum damage only in the new areas which they have visited for the first time, he added. Wildlife experts also said that proper awareness is required among the people in the elephant prone areas. Due to lack of knowledge, people unnecessarily disturb the elephants by throwing stones at them or taking selfies with them, which irritates them, prompting them to attack the human population, they said. Looking at the problem, more than 17 elephant corridors have been notified in Jharkhand. In addition to that, a permission has also been sought from the Government of India to install radio collars on each of the female elephants leading the herds to make it easier to track them and guide the straying elephants back to the herd.

Ranchi Diary | Jharkhand lifts Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy

The Jharkhand cricket team, led by Ishan Kishan, has created history by lifting Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. It defeated Haryana by 69 runs to win the prestigious domestic T-20 tournament for the first time. Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Friday met the team members, who made history by winning the Trophy. Soren congratulated all the players, support staff and the Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) on the historic win. Soren said that by winning the Syed Mushtaq Ali T-20 cricket tournament, Jharkhand has created a new record in domestic cricket. This is an achievement and a moment of pride for the entire state. Vulture conservation centre in state Jharkhand is set to get its first Vulture Conservation and Breeding Centre, marking a significant step towards protecting its countrys rapidly declining vulture population. Located at Muta, about 36 km from Ranchi, the facility, is expected to become operational soon, offering renewed hope for the critically endangered species. According to officials, the state government has approved a proposal by the forest department to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), which will provide technical expertise for running the centre. The project was originally sanctioned by the Centre in 2009 with the objective of reviving the vulture population in the state. Soren to visit Australia to study rehab practices Chief Minister Hemant Soren is planning a visit to Australia to study post-mining rehabilitation practices, with special emphasis on tribal regions. The proposed visit follows an official invitation from the Australian Ambassador, who recently met Soren at his residence. During his visit, the Chief Minister will focus on the living conditions of indigenous communities displaced by mining activities and closely examine Australias rehabilitation frameworks in mining-affected areas. He is also expected to study initiatives aimed at the socio-economic uplift of indigenous populations, including welfare programmes and empowerment measures. Mukesh Ranjan Our correspondent in Jharkhand mukesh.r@newindianexpress.com

Labourer from Jharkhand held for murder of friend in Vasai

Jharkhand College Students Forced To Kiss At Gunpoint, Blackmailed for Money

Two college students in Jharkhand's Koderma district were assaulted, forced to kiss at gunpoint and then blackmailed for money with threats of making their videos viral.

Migrant worker lynched to death in Kerala over false theft charge, autopsy reveals over 80 injuries

A 31-year-old migrant worker from Chhattisgarh died after being brutally assaulted by a group of local residents near Walayar in Palakkad district, allegedly on suspicion of theft. The deceased was identified as Ramnarayan Bhayar (31), a native of Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh, who had been residing in Kanjikode. Police said the incident occurred at Attappallam East on Wednesday (December 17) evening, when a group of persons allegedly attacked Bhayar with the intention of causing grievous harm. He sustained multiple injuries in the assault and was taken to the Palakkad District Government Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries later that night. Local residents claimed the incident occurred around 3 pm after Bhayar allegedly entered multiple houses in the area in an attempt to commit burglary. They said he was injured during an altercation and was taken to hospital by the police around 4.30 pm. Police on Friday said five persons have been arrested in connection with the incident. The arrests were formally recorded late Thursday night and all the accused were booked for murder under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. They were produced before a court and remanded to judicial custody. Police initially stated that Bhayar hailed from Jharkhand, but later clarified that he was a native of Chhattisgarh. A relative of the deceased told reporters that Bhayar had arrived in Kerala only four days ago in search of work and was planning to return home after failing to find suitable employment. He was new to the area, did not know the routes and got lost. That is how he landed at the place where the incident occurred, the relative said, adding that Bhayar had no criminal record and is survived by two children aged eight and 10. Bihar man lynched over religious identity in Nawada; four arrested, police probe underway According to police, Bhayar was attacked on allegations that he was involved in a theft at Kizhakeattappallam near Walayar. As per the FIR, the incident occurred before 7.40 pm. Police said a detailed investigation is underway to ascertain the exact sequence of events. According to a report by Onmanorama , the autopsy revealed that Bhayar was brutally assaulted with a stick and had sustained more than 80 injuries from head to toe. The post-mortem report confirmed that he died due to severe assault and excessive bleeding caused by head injuries, and also noted internal bleeding. The report said Bhayar, who was intoxicated at the time, had not committed any theft. Following the assault, he collapsed after vomiting blood and was allegedly abandoned on the roadside for nearly four hours before being taken to hospital by the police. Onmanorama further reported that after visuals of the brutal assault surfaced, police took around 10 people into custody, following which the arrests of five accused were formally recorded. Taking suo motu cognisance of the incident, the State Human Rights Commission ordered a probe and directed the Palakkad district police chief to submit a report within three weeks. The killing has revived memories of the 2018 lynching of Madhu, a tribal youth from the Kadukumanna settlement in Attappady, who was beaten to death by a mob after being accused of theft. Disturbing visuals of that assault had triggered nationwide outrage, and 13 of the 14 accused were later sentenced to seven years of rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs 1 lakh each.

Ishan Kishan 2.0: Calm, spiritual and matured cricketer eyes journey into future

Ishan Kishan led Jharkhand to their first Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title. He emerged as the tournament's top scorer with 517 runs. Kishan now finds peace in reading the Bhagavad Gita. This spiritual practice has brought him maturity and a calmer approach to his game. The Jharkhand team received a Rs 2 crore reward for their historic win.

How SMAT winner Ishan Kishan found calm amid chaos through the Bhagavad Gita

Ishan Kishan's career has seen dramatic highs and lows, culminating in a period of reflection and a renewed focus on his game. Inspired by the Bhagavad Gita, he found inner peace and a disciplined approach, leading Jharkhand to a maiden T20 title. This transformation marks a significant turning point, as he aims to reclaim his place in the Indian team.

Parents in India devastated as children with thalassemia test HIV positive

The five cases in Madhya Pradesh state come weeks after a similar incident was reported in Jharkhand state.

Four Decembers of Ishan Kishan: Double century, dropped, Bhagavad Gita, redemption

Ishan Kishans career has swung between extremes a historic double century, prolonged benching, questions over attitude and eventual spiritual rediscovery. Across four Decembers in four years, the wicketkeeper-batter found solace in the Bhagavad Gita amid professional setbacks. Now leading Jharkhand with explosive returns, Kishans hunger to reclaim his India place burns brighter than ever.

Zero visibility across north India as IMD sounds red alert for Delhi

A thick blanket of dense fog covered large parts of north India on Friday morning, severely impacting the visibility. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for Delhi, warning of major disruptions to road, rail and air traffic. Satellite imagery showed widespread fog over Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, northeast Madhya Pradesh and Bihar. Visibility dropped to zero metres at several locations, including Agra, Bareilly, Saharanpur and Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh; Amritsar, Ludhiana, Bathinda and Adampur in Punjab; Safdarjung in Delhi; Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh; Bhagalpur in Bihar; and Daltonganj in Jharkhand. The IMD cautioned that extremely poor visibility could impact airport operations and cause delays on highways and railway routes. An orange alert was issued for multiple districts in Uttar Pradesh, parts of Uttarakhand, Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar, and several districts in Punjab, including Amritsar, Patiala and Sangrur. Meteorologists warned of hazardous driving conditions and an increased risk of road accidents, along with the possibility of power line tripping in affected regions. Residents were advised to avoid unnecessary travel, use fog lights, and stay updated on transport advisories. According to IMD definitions, very dense fog occurs when visibility ranges between 0 and 50 metres, while dense fog refers to visibility between 51 and 200 metres. As North India chokes, there can be no hiding 'behind the smokescreen of farm fires anymore' In Delhi, early morning visibility remained poor due to dense fog mixed with smog. Delhis air quality remained alarming, with the 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 382, placing it in the very poor category and close to severe. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board showed that 14 monitoring stations reported severe air quality, while the remaining recorded very poor levels. Vivek Vihar registered the worst AQI at 434. The Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi has forecast that air quality will stay very poor until Saturday and may deteriorate to severe on Sunday. Meanwhile, stricter pollution control measures came into effect in the national capital on Thursday. The entry of non-Delhi private vehicles below BS-VI emission standards has been banned, and the No PUC, No Fuel rule is being enforced. Fuel stations are denying fuel to vehicles without valid Pollution Under Control certificates, with checks supported by automatic number plate reader cameras, voice alerts and police deployment. 'More headline and image management': Unreliable data mask just how bad India's air quality crisis is

'Felt bad, I was doing well': Ishan Kishan breaks silence on India snub

Ishan Kishan's explosive 101 off 49 balls powered Jharkhand to their maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title. The wicketkeeper-batter, who finished as the tournament's leading scorer, broke his silence on his national team absence, emphasising hard work and self-belief over expectations. Kishan's dominant performance and leadership secured a memorable victory for his side.

Weather update: IMD warns of dense fog in UP, Punjab, Bihar, puts Delhi on yellow alert for today. Check forecast of all states here

IMD Weather update: Delhi has been put on a yellow alert by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) today. The IMD has predicted partly cloudy sky with moderate to shallow fog in the national capital. Very dense fog is likely to prevail in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Odisha, the IMD said.

Goas Justice Sonaktipped to be CJ of Jharkhand HC

NT Reporter Panaji Goas Justice Mahesh S Sonak, a senior judge of the Bombay High Court, has been recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium to be the next Chief Justice of the JharkhandHigh Court. The Supreme Court Collegium on Thursday recommended the appointment of five High Court judges as Chief Justices of different High Courts [] The post Goas Justice Sonaktipped to be CJ of Jharkhand HC appeared first on The Navhind Times .

Kishan Surpasses Dhoni, Equals Abhishek After 45-Ball 100 In SMAT Final

Ishan Kishan was in fiery form for Jharkhand against Haryana in the final of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy - the national T20 tournament

Ishan Kishan's 10-six blitz, 49-ball century power Jharkhand to maiden SMAT title with 69-run win over Haryana

Ishan Kishan delivered a sensational performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final, blasting 10 sixes en route to a 49-ball century as Jharkhand registered a dominant 69-run victory over Haryana to clinch their maiden SMAT title in emphatic fashion.

SC Collegium recommends appointment of Chief Justices of five State High Courts

NEW DELHI: In a significant development, the Supreme Court Collegium, in its meeting held on December 18, 2025, has recommended the elevation and appointment of five Judges as Chief Justices to five State High Courts across the country. The SC Collegium said Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta (Allahabad High Court) has been recommended to be the Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court. Justice Revati P. Mohite Dere (Bombay High Court) has also been recommended to be the Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court. Similarly, Justice MS Sonak (Bombay High Court) has been recommended to be the Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court. Justice A Muhamed Mustaque (Kerala High Court) has been recommended to be the Chief Justice of the Sikkim High Court. Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo (Orissa High Court) has been recommended to be theChief Justice of Patna High Court. The decision to recommend the Judges' names wastaken by the SC Collegium, which was headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant. This was the second major decision taken by CJI Kant after taking charge on November 24 from CJI B R Gavai (now retired).After theSCCollegium's recommendations, the Centre will deliberate upon names, decide and send its final proposal to the SC Collegium for final decision. TheSCCollegiumis an apex body, headed by the CJI, who decides, recommends and transfers judges to various State High Courts depending upon the expertise, know-how, etc.

Jharkhand's first medical university to come up in Ranchi: Health Minister Irfan Ansari

RANCHI: Jharkhand Health Minister Irfan Ansari on Thursday said the state is all set to get its first medical university, with land identified for the proposed institution in Ranchi's Brambe locality. We hope the foundation of the university will be laid by the end of January next year, Ansari said while distributing appointment letters to 66 health officials, including 33 medical officers and 33 specialist doctors. He assured that manpower in the health sector would be increased and more recruitment would be carried out next year. Even after 25 years of Jharkhand's creation, there is no medical university in the state, which has led to a shortage of faculty and doctors. We have been working to improve the health sector system, the minister said. He said four medical colleges would be established in the state in the coming years. The minister added that he recently met Union Minister of State for Ayush Prataprao Jadhav and requested him for an ayurvedic college in the state. The Union minister has asked us to send a proposal in this regard, Ansari said. Later, talking to reporters, Ansari said a building of the panchayati raj institution at Brambe, which previously functioned as the Central University of Jharkhand, has been selected for temporary operations of the medical university. The matter has already be discussed with the governor, and the medical university is expected to commence functioning within the next 67 months, Ansari said. The Brambe-based institution, which is spread over 67 acres, has 45 large and small buildings, including academic blocks, hostels and an auditorium, a health official said.

JAC 8th, 9th, and 11th Exams 2026 dates released, registration begins today

Jharkhand Academic Council (JAC) has released the 2026 exam dates for 8th, 9th, and 11th grades. Registration for 11th-grade exams starts on December 18, 2025, and continues until January 2, with a late fee window from January 3 to 9. 9th-grade registration begins shortly. Exams will use OMR sheets, with 9th-grade at Matriculation centres and 11th-grade at Intermediate centres. The 8th-grade exam is expected in the second week of March, after Holi. Schools are coordinating submissions.

Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025 Final: Who won the BCCI's premier T20 tournament? Check full list here

Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025 Final: Haryana and Jharkhand are facing each other in the final of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025, marking their first-ever appearance in the championship match. Before this final, the elite tournament has been played 18 times. Here is a list of full list of SMAT trophy winners.

Five arrested, weapons seized in Nalanda

In a bold move, law enforcement in Nalanda district has successfully disrupted a major interstate arms trafficking operation, apprehending five suspects hailing from Jharkhand. During this significant raid, authorities seized 153 rounds of AK-47 ammunition, five homemade firearms, and an SUV. Notably, one of the arrested individuals is reportedly on the radar of the National Investigation Agency.

CRICKET | A maiden title beckons finalists Haryana and Jharkhand

SYED MUSHTAQ ALI TROPHY | The captains, Kishan and Ankit, have led from the front with consistent batting; dew will be a major factor, making the toss all the more crucial

Elephant herd kills four in a day as villagers panic in Jharkhands Ramgarh

RANCHI: A herd of wild elephants went on a rampage in the Ghatto OP area of Jharkhands Ramgarh district, around 40 km from the state capital Ranchi, killing at least four people, including two women, within a few hours between Tuesday and Wednesday. The back-to-back attacks by the herd, which is said to comprise 42 elephants, triggered widespread panic among residents of several villages in the area. Those killed have been identified as Amit Rajwar (33), Amul Mahto (35), Parvati Devi (40) and Savitri Devi (45). The first incident took place around 4 pm on Tuesday near the Ara Number Four Feeder Breaker in West Bokaro. According to local accounts, a group of people from nearby areas had gathered to get a glimpse of the herd, which was resting by the roadside. Some of them moved closer to take selfies and photographs, during which one of the elephants attacked Amit Rajwar, killing him on the spot. Amit Rajwar was killed by an elephant which, according to eyewitnesses, repeatedly slammed him to the ground with its trunk. The incident triggered panic, leading to the blockage of the RamgarhKedla main road. Several drivers of heavy vehicles plying on the stretch reportedly abandoned their vehicles and fled to save their lives. Family members of the deceased said Amit Rajwar, who worked at Sarubera Colliery, had returned home to Ichakadih after duty and later went to the Ara Number Four Feeder Breaker to see the herd of elephants. Later in the night, the elephants again entered a residential area along Ara Kata Road Number 4. Hearing loud trumpet sounds, residents rushed out of their houses and began fleeing. During the chaos, two women, Parvati Devi and Savitri Devi, were trampled to death by the elephants. The rampage did not stop there. The herd also attacked a young man, Amul Mahto, who was riding a motorcycle, and crushed him to death. Forest Ranger Bateshwar Paswans confirmed that four people, including two women, died in the elephant attacks. Lakshmi, the daughter-in-law of Parvati Devi, said the family panicked after hearing the elephants. We got scared of the elephant trumpets and everyone started running towards the road. My mother-in-law was left behind, and the elephants trampled her to death, she said. Another local resident said the elephants knocked down their mud house and injured her parents. All the family members started running out through the back door after the elephants entered the village making loud noises. My parents stood near the gate to prevent the elephants from entering the house, but the elephants knocked down the mud house along with the gate, injuring my parents, said Pari, daughter of the injured couple. On Wednesday, enraged villagers blocked the R-4 road, alleging negligence on the part of the forest department. Despite all information about the movement of elephants, neither timely patrolling was done nor were villagers alerted, said one resident, requesting anonymity. In view of the seriousness of the situation, police personnel have been deployed in the area. According to officials, a herd of 42 elephants is currently active in the region, moving through the forests of Mandu, Ghatto and Kuju. The herd has reportedly split into three separate groups.

SMAT: Haryana stuns Hyderabad, takes on Jharkhand in final

Tiger pugmarks found in Jharkhand's PTR on day-one of tiger census

RANCHI: Tiger pugmarks found on the very first day of the tiger census have lent significant weight to forest officials claims about the presence of big cats in the Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR). The census began across Jharkhand on December 15. According to officials, it is being carried out across 31 territorial forest divisions and five protected wildlife divisions in the state, including major conservation areas such as the Palamu Tiger Reserve and the Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary. The exercise is part of a nationwide wildlife enumeration programme conducted once every four years to generate accurate and scientifically validated data on animal populations. PTR Deputy Director Prajesh Kant Jena confirmed the finding of tiger pugmarks in the reserve. Tiger pugmarks and their scat have been found at several places in the PTR on the very first day of the tiger census which started on Monday, Jena said. With this, the active presence of tigers in the area has been confirmed, he added. According to Jena, the pugmarks and other signs collected till December 22 will undergo scientific verification and documentation. The process will cover all ranges and beat areas in a phased manner and will also include camera trapping and data analysis. Besides tiger pugmarks, significant evidence of the presence of leopards and wolves has also been found, the Deputy Director said. The primary objective of the programme is to collect scientific and reliable data on the presence, activities and habitat of tigers, as well as other major carnivores and large herbivores. All activities will be conducted smoothly and in a timely manner, in accordance with the All-India Tiger Estimation (AITI) 2026 guidelines. Jena also said that 110 forest guards, 300 trackers and 25 volunteers are participating in the exercise. All teams have been deployed across various ranges and beats of the Palamu Tiger Reserve, where they are carrying out track searches, sign surveys and primary data recording. Notably, this is the first time in Jharkhand that volunteers from different universities studying botany and zoology have been deployed for the tiger census. According to forest officials, apart from creating a young workforce, the initiative will help raise awareness about comprehensive tiger estimation and conservation. This is also the first time in the state that tiger censuses are being conducted outside the Palamu Tiger Reserve, in forest ranges such as Ranchi, Dumka and Hazaribagh. Officials confirmed that the exercise combines traditional field-based methods with modern technology, including camera traps and a specially designed ecological mobile application for real-time data collection across the states forested landscapes. According to the 2006 census, Jharkhand had 10 tigers, a number that fell to three in 2014. The latest report places the total number of big cats in the state at six. Beginning with 22 tigers in 1972, the Palamu Tiger Reserve saw its peak in 1995, when it had 71 big cats. The decline that followed left only three tigers in 2014. In the 2018 tiger census, the number of tigers in the Palamu Tiger Reserve was reported as zero.

Pregnant tribal woman and her unborn child die due to lack of road facility in Jharkhands Gumla

RANCHI: In a heart-wrenching incident in Jharkhands Gumla, a pregnant tribal woman, Sukri Kumari and her child in the womb, lost their lives due to a lack of road service on Sunday. Since the ambulance could not reach the village, she was carried by her family members for over a kilometre from her home in Jhalakapat to Karasilli village on a carrying yoke through the hilly terrain. After reaching Karasilli, the woman got a Mamta Vahan in which she was taken to the Ghaghra Community Health Centre. Giving her initial treatment, the doctors immediately referred her to Gumla Sadar Hospital as her condition was critical. Amidst the struggle for treatment, due to a lack of basic facilities, Sukri Kumari died just after reaching Sadar Hospital. Gumla Civil Surgeon, Dr Shambhu Nath Chaudhary, asserted that Sukri Kumari lost her life due to delayed access to medical assistance. Unable to find an ambulance, tribal man in Jharkhand sets off for home carrying his ailing wife Had she had to give medical assistance at the CHC a few hours before, maybe her life could have been saved. The terrain from her village, located on the hills, is really very difficult, where the Mamta Vahan can't reach, said the Civil Surgeon. After reaching the CHC, all the medical facilities were provided to her on time, he added. According to the Civil Surgeon, the cause of death of the woman in medical terms was pregnancy-induced hypertensive disorder, but the real cause of death is delayed medical access. At 2:39 am, a call was received by the local Sahiya Didi, and at 2:44 am, the call was received by the call centre. At 3:15 am, Mamta Vahan reached at the spot. But it took several hours for the woman to reach Mamta Vahan, waiting for her at Karasilli, about a kilometre from her village, said the Civil Surgeon. The Civil Surgeon also informed that Sukir Kumari had returned from Himachal Pradesh, where she had gone to secure money. It has delayed the registration process. She was merely 17 years old, and it was her first pregnancy, he said. According to villagers, Jhalakapat village still lacks a proper road even after 78 years of independence. The situation worsens considerably during the rainy season, they said. Due to the absence of a road, basic amenities such as education and healthcare, and employment opportunities are practically inaccessible to the villagers. Notably, Jhalakapat village under Dirgaon Panchayat is a Maoist-affected location in an extremely remote area. Villagers claimed that they have been demanding a road for several years, but have received only empty promises. In the village, predominantly inhabited by tribal communities, development schemes have remained only on paper. Even the children have to travel several kilometres to pursue education. In 2025, reaching the hospital for the sick is a perilous task for Jharkhands Gumla villagers. Pregnant woman dies after falling from operation theatre table in Jharkhand hospital

CM to open labour conclave on December 19

Labour Ministers of Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, and Telangana will take part in the conclave, says V. Sivankutty.

cough-syrup-trafficking-racket-in-up-had-700-fake-firms-generating-billions-of-rupees-ed-says

The Enforcement Directorate raided more than 25 locations in UP, Gujarat, and Jharkhand over 40 hours, over a large illicit money laundering cough syrup racket. Officials found that over 700 fake firms were set up in the name of 220 operators. The firms were found to be generating billions of rupees. In the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR), 67 people were named as accused in the case. It was found to be the states largest codeine-based cough syrup diversion and trafficking racket. Factories, warehouses, and residences linked to the accused were raided. The firms existed only on paper, and many of their authorised individuals were also only found on documents. ED sources said that more of the key links in the firms were being exposed, which will lead to more evidence. The body is also moving to seize assets from the masterminds behind the racket, Subham Jaiswal, Alok singh, another man who is a close associate of a former MP, and Amit Tata managed to get away last year eve after the STF conducted an investigation. ED sources said that large cash transactions were found in the bank accounts of Subham Jaiswal and the other two names. Subhams father, Bhola Prasad Jaiswal, is also a person of interest in the case. Some of the firms involved in the transactions were in Ranchi and Ahmedabad. In Uttar Pradesh, locations in Lucknow, Saharanpur, Varanasi, and Ghaziabad. The EDs ECIR enables the agency to summon suspects, freeze bank accounts, seize evidence, and attack properties acquired through illicit proceeds. The report was based on 24 FIRs registered over the past year by UP police, STF and FSDA across districts. Subham Jaiswal, who is the alleged mastermind behind the racket, was issued a notice to appear before the ED on December 8. More summons are expected as the financial probe expands.

JSSC Special Assistant Teacher recruitment 2025: Apply online for 3,451 posts before January 13

JSSC Special Assistant Teacher recruitment 2025: The Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) has opened applications for 3,451 Special Assistant Teacher posts under JIGTSEATCCE-2025. The recruitment includes 2,399 Intermediate Trained and 1,052 Graduate Trained positions. Candidates must meet educational qualifications, age limits, and register with the Rehabilitation Council of India. Applications are open online until January 13, 2026, via the official website https://jssc.jharkhand.gov.in. Selection will be through a written examination, and salary ranges from Rs. 25,500 to Rs. 92,300.

Man trampled to death by elephants in Jharkhands Latehar district

A 21-year-old man was killed after being trampled by a herd of elephants in Jharkhands Latehar district while he stepped out of his house at night. The incident occurred at Bhaisadon village under Balumath Police Station limits on Sunday night when Aryan Lohra went outside his home to relieve himself, he said

Two CoBRA personnel critically injured in Maoist IED blasts in Jharkhand

RANCHI: Two personnel of the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) were critically injured in separate improvised explosive device (IED) blasts triggered by Maoists inside Saranda forest in Jharkhands West Singhbhum district on Sunday, police said. The incident occurred during a search operation in the Baliba forest area under Chotanagra police station limits. The injured jawans, identified as Alakh Das and Narayan Das of the 209 CoBRA Battalion, were airlifted to Ranchi for advanced medical treatment. According to police, the first IED blast took place around 1.45 pm, injuring Alakh Das. While security forces were evacuating him, another IED exploded at about 3.15 pm, injuring Narayan Das, who had moved in to assist his colleague. West Singhbhum Superintendent of Police Amit Renu confirmed the incident and said the blasts occurred during an anti-Maoist operation in the Saranda forest. Two CoBRA personnel of the 209 Battalion were injured in IED blasts. They have been airlifted to Ranchi for better treatment, the SP said, adding that IEDs planted by Maoists have become a major operational challenge for security forces in the dense forest region. Notably, Maoist presence in Jharkhand is now largely limited to the Saranda jungles, after they were pushed out from other pockets of the state. Officials estimate that around 60 to 65 Maoists are currently hiding in the Saranda region, where thousands of IEDs have reportedly been planted. Joint operation by CRPF, Jkhand cops under way A joint operation by the CRPF and Jharkhand Police has been underway in the Kolhan and Saranda forest areas of Chaibasa since November 2022, following intelligence inputs about the presence of senior Maoist leaders.

Jharkhand: 2 CRPF personnel injured in IED blast in Saranda forest

Michaelraj S, IG Operations and Jharkhand police spokesperson said that the personnel belonged to the CoBRA unit of the CRPF. Here are more details on this.

SMAT | Ton-up Jaiswal powers Mumbai past Haryana, keeps remote chances alive

Hyderabad makes it two out of two to consolidate top spot; Hemanths hundred helps Andhra eliminate Punjab; Jharkhand edges MP by one run

Jharkhand to use ballot papers for municipal elections for first time

RANCHI: For the first time, municipal elections in Jharkhand will be conducted using ballot papers instead of EVMs. Since their introduction in 2013, EVMs have been used in the states municipal elections. The State Election Commission cited insufficient availability of EVMs as the reason for the switch. Jharkhand does not have the required number of machines and depends on other states, which have expressed their inability to provide them. Additionally, the company that manufactures EVMs has requested at least a year to produce new machines for the state. Given the current situation, the commission has decided to conduct municipal elections using ballot papers, said State Election Commission Secretary Radheshyam Prasad, adding that preparations are in full swing. Different coloured ballot papers will be used for different positions. One colour will be for the chairpersons post, while another will be for ward members. Voters will receive two ballot papers and cast their votes in separate ballot boxes. Sources said the ballot papers will be printed in pink and white. Prasad confirmed that a sufficient number of ballot boxes are available, with the required quantity assessed based on the number of polling stations in each district. Painting and repair work of old boxes has also begun to ensure smooth polling. The commission has decided to print the ballot papers in Ranchi this time, instead of Kolkata, to save time and resources and ensure better security arrangements.

Cold wave grips Jharkhand; mercury dips below 10C in nine districts

Cold wave conditions prevailed across Jharkhand with nine districts recording minimum temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius, Ranchi being the coldest at 6.1C, the IMD said. Ranchi recorded the lowest temperature in the state at 6.1 degrees Celsius, followed by Gumla (7.1) and Khunti (7.5), the IMD`s weather bulletin stated

Paddy procurement with 60 lakh quintals target to commence from Dec 15 in Jharkhand

On December 15, Jharkhand will launch its paddy procurement season, aiming to acquire 60 lakh quintals at a rate of Rs 2,450 per quintal. In a show of support for local farmers, an additional bonus of Rs 81 per quintal will also be provided.

CBI chargesheets four Chinese behind Rs 1,000-cr cyber crime racket; 111 shell companies unmasked

NEW DELHI: The CBI has filed a chargesheet against 17 people, including four Chinese nationals, and 58 companies for their alleged roles in a transnational cyber fraud network that siphoned off over Rs 1,000 crore through a sprawling web of shell entities and digital scams, officials said on Sunday. After busting the racket in October, investigators unravelled a single, tightly coordinated syndicate that relied on an elaborate digital and financial infrastructure to run a range of frauds. These included misleading loan applications, fake investment schemes, Ponzi and multi-level marketing models, bogus part-time job offers and fraudulent online gaming platforms. According to the probe agency's final report, the group layered the flow of illicit funds through 111 shell companies, routing about Rs 1,000 crore via mule accounts. One account received more than Rs 152 crore in a short span. The shell companies, the CBI said, were incorporated using dummy directors, forged or misleading documents, fake addresses and false statements of business objectives. These shell entities were used to open bank accounts and merchant accounts with various payment gateways, enabling rapid layering and diversion of proceeds of crime, a CBI spokesperson said in a statement. Investigators traced the origins of the scam to 2020, when the country was grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic. The shell companies were allegedly incorporated at the direction of four Chinese handlers -- Zou Yi, Huan Liu, Weijian Liu, and Guanhua Wang. Their Indian associates procured identity documents from unsuspecting individuals, which were then used to establish the network of shell companies and mule accounts to launder proceeds from the scams and obscure the money trail. CBI, FBI dismantles transnational cyber crime network in Noida, six arrested The investigation exposed communication links and operational control that, the agency said, nailed the role of Chinese masterminds running the fraud network from abroad. Significantly, a UPI ID linked to the bank accounts of two Indian accused was found to be active in a foreign location as late as August 2025, conclusively establishing continued foreign control and real-time operational oversight of the fraud infrastructure from outside India, the CBI statement said. The probe found that the racketeers employed a highly layered, technology-driven modus operandi, using Google advertisements, bulk SMS campaigns, SIM-box-based messaging systems, cloud infrastructure, fintech platforms and multiple mule bank accounts. Each stage of the operation -- from luring victims to collection and movement of funds -- was deliberately structured to conceal the identities of the actual controllers and evade detection by law enforcement agencies, the spokesperson said. The chargesheet names 17 individuals, including the four Chinese nationals, and 58 companies. The investigation was launched on the inputs from the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs, which flagged large-scale cheating of citizens through online investment and employment schemes, resulting in the arrest of three individuals in October. Though initially appearing as isolated complaints, detailed analysis by CBI revealed striking similarities in applications used, fund-flow patterns, payment gateways and digital footprints, pointing towards a common organised conspiracy, the agency said. Following the October arrests, the CBI conducted searches at 27 locations across Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand and Haryana, seizing digital devices, documents and financial records that were later subjected to detailed forensic examination.

Queer children face maximum discrimination, bullying at homes, schools: Survey

A recent survey of over 900 LGBTQ+ individuals by a Kolkata-based organisation, 'Bridge', which works for the rights of the community across Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, Odisha, Jharkhand and West Bengal, reported that most bullying happens between the ages of 12 and 15 years

Queer children face maximum discrimination, bullying at homes, schools and neighbourhoods: Survey

GUWAHATI: A recent survey found that LGBTQIA+ children and adolescents face the highest levels of discrimination and bullying in their own homes, schools and neighbourhoods, with activists and stakeholders urging for concerted efforts to address these issues to help them get equal opportunities. A recent survey of over 900 LGBTQ+ individuals by a Kolkata-based organisation, 'Bridge', which works for the rights of the community across Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, Odisha, Jharkhand and West Bengal, reported that most bullying happens between the ages of 12 and 15 years. Many young people are forced to drop out of school, losing out on education, future employment, and income security, Bridge's founder director Prithviraj Nath told PTI . Even after the decriminalisation of homosexuality in 2018, the NALSA judgment in 2014, and Transgender Protection Act of 2019, LGBTQ+ people continue to face systematic exclusion in education, health care, workplaces, and public life, he said. Basic human rights still remain out of reach for many and it is extremely important that we bring to light the lived realities and challenges faced by the LGBTQIA+ community, and have dialogues with the larger society towards equal rights and inclusion of the community, Nath added. Rudrani Rajkumari, founder of 'Xomonnoy', an LGBTQIA+ rights organisation and support group, pointed out that the government and all stakeholders must make collective efforts to create a roadmap to reduce discrimination and promote equal rights. We cannot talk about human rights in India and leave out LGBTQIA+ citizens. Every child deserves safety in their home, respect in their school, and dignity in their workplace. Equality is not a favour, it is a constitutional promise, Rajkumari said. Former vice principal of Guwahati's Dispur College, Sunita Agarwalla, claimed that it is one of the pioneer institutions in Assam, having done commendable work for the education of the children from the community. Besides having a gender-neutral toilet, it has reserved seats for such students in both its higher secondary and degree courses, with education being free if such a student needs it and sensitisation programmes are also for all its students regarding the issues of the community, she said. I, as an educator, feel that it is very important to understand that people from the LGBTQIA+ community are also human beings and citizens of our country, so they have to be treated equally by everyone in every aspect, Agarwalla said. Lalit Chandra Bharali College's professor Kunjalata Brahma Bhatiri said that more and more people are voicing their support for equal treatment of people from the community and judgement-free spaces, but a collective and concerted effort from all stratas of society is needed. Sensitisation and orientation to drive in the very understanding of the basic right to live freely and with dignity is required at all levels, she said. More people should talk, discuss, opine and work in attaining dignified living spaces for the queer community, she said. Tezpur University's faculty from the Department of Social Work, Sammy said, Incredible work is being done by multiple stakeholders in the field of queer-inclusive education at secondary, college and university levels in the northeastern region but with every new initiative, we face a wall of structural resistance which is coated in layers of binary understanding of society. Social systems like family, schools, neighbourhoods, state authorities, community institutions, health care services, workplaces and every sector that completes a human being needs gender inclusive approaches and practices as well, she said. We cannot lose our queer students, children, adults and elders to public scorn, confined spaces, hopelessness and suicides, Sammy said. Every department in higher education institutions needs to create safe spaces, accessibility to queer-affirmative support initiatives such as gender-neutral toilets, transport facilities, hostels and common rooms, livelihood opportunities, and speedy redressal mechanism for complaints and quality healthcare services, she said. Former Cotton University professor and Assamese writer Najma Mukherjee said, As an educator and litterateur, I believe in the power of art -- be it literature or the visual arts. Books and movies have definitely contributed to the shaping of public consciousness in understanding queer experiences all around the world. Nath pointed out that stakeholders, during discussions on the issue, have pointed out that there is a need for capacity building for school teachers and B.Ed trainees to equip them with skills to support LGBTQIA+ students. There is also a need to engage more with parents to build understanding and provide supportive environments at home and introduce comics, storybooks, and visual learning tools on gender and sexuality in school libraries, especially in Assamese and other languages, he said. Rajkumari pointed out that stakeholders have urged the government to include mandatory training for teachers and staffers in all educational institutions, in line with the Supreme Court's guidelines on student mental health, and biannual sensitisation for officials in judicial, police, and administrative departments on laws and rights related to LGBTQIA+ people.

Rural women better employed than urban: Study

BENGALURU: Karnatakas rural women are better employed in comparison to those in urban areas and men in both areas proportionately, said a report from the Reserve Bank of India. The report, Handbook of Statistics on Indian States 2024-25, released on Friday, said the unemployment rate of women in rural areas was nine per 1,000 in 202324 and 13 in 202223. The unemployment ratio of men in the same periods were 25 and 17, respectively. The overall unemployment rate in Karnatakas rural area was recorded as 19 during 202324, and 15 during 202223. This is lower than the national average of 25 and 24, respectively. In the case of urban areas, the unemployment rate of women during 202324 was 44 and during 202223, it was 51. The RBI report also noted that the urban male unemployment rate in 202324 fiscal was 41 and in 202223, it was 38. The overall unemployment rate in urban areas in 202324 and in 202223 it was 42. The all India unemployment rate in 202324 was 51 and in 202223, it was 54. A finance expert in the state government said, There is unemployment in Karnataka. But compared to other states and India, it is less. The rise in rural womens employment rate is a positive indication, but worrisome when the urban statistics are noted. The overall rural unemployment rates in Goa, Madhya Pradesh and even Jharkhand are even lower. Karnataka also ranked fourth in the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) size. The report said Karnatakas GSDP (at current prices) for the year 202425 was Rs 28,83,903.23 crore. In 202324, it was Rs 25,57,241.35 crore. The state ranks second in the overall GSDP growth with 12.8% for the fiscal 202425, after Tamil Nadu (16%). Uttar Pradesh is slightly behind Karnataka with 12.7%, and Maharashtra trails with 11.7%. The GSDP growth rate of Gujarat is recorded as 10.2%. An official in the finance department, seeking anonymity, said, while other states fared better under the overall urban employment category, Karnatakas population should also be accounted for. The reason for the drop in male employment in rural areas also needs to be studied, the official said. FKCCI chairperson Uma Reddy said womens employment in rural areas increased because of the agricultural sector and self employment. The rural entrepreneurship training programmes also appear to be beneficial. In the case of urban areas, a larger push for the women workforce is needed to control the attrition rate. Reddy said the overall unemployment rate of the state is worrying. The report is only till 202324. But an analysis of 202425 and 202526 is needed for a clearer picture. The reasons cannot be fully ascertained yet, but some indicators include technological interventions, drop in investments and the tariff issue, she said.

Man Posing As IAS Officer Who Drove In Beacon-Fitted Cars And Hired Gunmen, Arrested

Lalit Kishor posed as IAS officer Gaurav Kumar in Gorakhpur, running a fake racket with Abhishek Kumar and Parmanand Gupta, extorting crores across UP, Bihar, Jharkhand and MP.

'Digital progress uneven across states': Report

India's digital progress is uneven. Some states are building world-class digital systems, while others fall behind. Delhi leads with a high digitalisation score. Jharkhand ranks last. This disparity risks India's ambitious Digital Bharat goals. Ensuring weaker states catch up is crucial for India to become a global digital powerhouse.

Injured Tusker From Jharkhand Triggers Panic In Odisha

Nilgiri Ranger officials confirmed that the animal was mobile and capable of rejoining its herd once stabilised. A veterinary team is expected to assess the injury and initiate treatment.

FSDA writes to UP district magistrates to invoke Gangster Act in illegal cough syrup case

LUCKNOW: While government agencies are conducting raids and cracking the whip on those allegedly involved in illegal diversion of codeine-based cough syrup and trafficking of narcotic-category medicines, the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) has shot of letters to 31 district magistrates (DMs) across Uttar Pradesh to book the alleged syndicate operators under the UP Gangsters Act. The FSDA has told the DMs to initiate action under the laws provisions that include seizure of properties disproportionate to the known source of income. Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids in a palatial bungalow worth crores, owned by dismissed police constable Alok Kumar Singh in Lucknow on Friday. Alok Kumar Singh, who was arrested in connection with the cough syrup scam, is currently languishing in jail. The ED raided 25 locations simultaneously across six cities in Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Gujarat on Friday morning in connection with a major illegal network dealing in codeine-based cough syrup, officials said. The size of Alok Kumar Singhs bungalow and its overt opulence were there to take everyone in awe. Meanwhile, the development regarding the letters written by FSDA to the DMs has come three days after the Uttar Pradesh government formed a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT), led by Inspector General of Police, Law & Order, LR Kumar, to investigate the case. The UP Police and FSDA authorities have carried out raids in 332 firms across 52 districts in UP, during the past two months, lodging FIRs against 133 of them across 31 districts. UP forms SIT to crack Rs 425-crore codeine cough syrup smuggling racket According to FSDA Secretary and Commissioner Roshan Jacob, the department conducted months of intensive investigation spanning Jharkhand, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh and collected evidence, including the business links of Uttar Pradeshs super stockists and wholesalers with those states, before launching the raids two months ago. Jacob has also written to district magistrates to initiate action against the jailed operators under the Gangsters Act. As per the FSDA commissioner, CM Yogi had issued directives for stringent action against the culprits ensuring that no diversion takes place from Uttar Pradesh to any other state or country. He (CM) instructed officials not to trouble small traders during enforcement but ensure firm action against super stockists and wholesalers involved in illicit activities, Jacob said. According to officials, for the first time, cases have been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS) Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for illegal diversion of codeine-based cough syrup. Earlier, such violations were dealt with only through licence cancellations. Informed sources reveal that while probing the records of 332 drug-selling establishments, it was found that many of them did not actually exist and were functioning only as billing points with no purchase or sale records. Many others lacked proper storage arrangements. Out of the 332 firms, 133 were found to be involved in the organised illegal diversion of these medicines for non-medical use. It was discovered that the diverted stock was being routed primarily through state capital Lucknow, Kanpur, Lakhimpur Kheri, and Bahraich to Nepal, and from Varanasi and Ghaziabad to Bangladesh. Cases of trafficking of codeine-based cough syrup for drug abuse have been identified in cities including Varanasi, Jaunpur, Kanpur Nagar, Ghazipur, Lakhimpur Kheri, Lucknow, Bahraich, Bijnor, Prayagraj, Pratapgarh, Sitapur, Sonbhadra, Balrampur, Raebareli, Sant Kabir Nagar, Hardoi, Bhadohi, Amethi, Shravasti, Siddharthnagar, Unnao, Basti, Ambedkarnagar, Azamgarh, Saharanpur, Bareilly, Sultanpur, Chandauli, Mirzapur, Banda, and Kaushambi, officials said.

Terre des hommes India Organises 'Children and Climate 2025', Calls for Integrated Child-Responsive Climate Action

Terre des hommes (Tdh) India , a child rights organisation that has deepened its understanding of how climate change affects children by actively listening to young people in the Sundarbans region and in Jharkhand, organised Children and Climate 2025 on 11th December 2025, at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. Insights from these communities helped Tdh recognise the direct link between environmental stress and the fulfilment of children’s rights. The event convened donors, researchers, practitioners, youth speakers, and policymakers for an in-depth dialogue on how climate change is rapidly emerging as one of the most urgent child-rights challenges of our time.   Children and Climate 2025 conference organised by Terre des hommes (India)   In India, the impact of climate change is accelerating, with over 85% of districts exposed to recurring extreme climate events such as heatwaves, floods, and cyclones. These shocks directly affect children’s nutrition, education, protection, mental health, and long-term development.   At the Children and Climate conference , participants explored these intersections through an integrated, child-sensitive lens. Discussions focused on designing climate programmes that strengthen social protection systems, embed child-sensitive health responses, and support families facing climate-induced migration. Manavi Bhardwaj from India Climate Collaborative, Sarbjit Singh Sahota from UNICEF India, Harini Kannan from J-Pal, Pragya Vats from IPE Global, and Dr. Sudeshna Chatterjee from WRI were some of the panelists. The event also amplified community voices, highlighting how local experiences must inform larger climate-resilience frameworks.   The conference structure drew from the project cycle management approach , enabling a step-by-step examination of how child-centred climate interventions should be planned, financed, implemented, and evaluated. Panel discussions and breakout sessions encouraged funders, practitioners, and researchers to collectively identify gaps, share evidence, propose innovative financing models, and understand the practical challenges of mainstreaming climate considerations into existing child-focused programmes.   Anindit Roy Chowdhury , Multi-country Director (India & Nepal), Terre des hommes , said, “Children are not merely victims of the climate crisis, they are essential actors in shaping resilient and inclusive futures. Yet the systems meant to support them still respond in fragments. Climate risks intersect with health, protection, and migration in a child’s life, and our solutions must reflect that. Through this convening, we aim to strengthen the collective resolve to design truly integrated programmes that prioritise children’s rights, safety, and well-being”.   Children and Climate 2025 reinforced the need for multi-sectoral partnerships and sustained cooperation across development, climate, and social systems. Tdh India reaffirmed its commitment to advancing integrated solutions that safeguard children in India’s most climate-vulnerable contexts, and to collaborating with stakeholders to shape a more inclusive, resilient future for every child.   About Terre des hommes (Tdh) India Terre des hommes (Tdh) India is a leading child-rights organisation working to strengthen health, protection and resilience systems for vulnerable children, youth and communities across high-risk geographies. With a deep focus on digital innovation, climate-resilient child protection, safe mobility and maternal and child health, Tdh collaborates closely with government departments, frontline workers, and community institutions to drive long-term structural change. Since 2016, Tdh India has reached more than 500,000 children, families, and community members , advancing safer childhoods, stronger systems, and equitable access to care and opportunity.

ED raids Jharkhand-based traders residence over alleged money laundering through coal trade

RANCHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday raided the official and residential premises of Dhanbad-based coal trader Manoj Agrawal at Bhelatand and Dhansar. The action is said to be part of an investigation into alleged money laundering through illegal coal trade. According to local sources, the ED teams arrived at both locations simultaneously at around 7 am and cordoned off the premises before they entered the residence and started the search. On November 21, ED teams from Kolkata had conducted similar raids at the residences and offices of five coal traders and transporters in the district. This action reportedly is based on documents and financial activity obtained during a major raid conducted at approximately 18 locations in Dhanbad last month. The ED team has been conducting searches for the last several hours and action is expected to continue further. Last month, the ED simultaneously raided the premises of Dev Prabha Company, which handles outsourcing work for BCCL, its owner, LB Singh, his brother Kumbh Nath Singh and several other locations in Jharkhand. During the raid on November 21, the ED team had recovered cash worth Rs 2.2 crore and seized over 120 land-related documents from Jharkhand. The ED had also seized cash and jewellery during the raid from the locations of the coal mafia. According to information, EDs investigation is being conducted into the matters related to black coal trade, irregular contracts and illegal financial transactions. The ED, during the raids conducted at 44 locations in Jharkhand and West Bengal on November 21, had recovered cash and jewellery worth over Rs 14 crore, along with a substantial amount of incriminating evidence. According to the ED, the action, carried out under Section 17 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, was linked to a sprawling illegal coal mining, theft, transportation and sale racket that has allegedly been operating across the two states for years. Officials also found various property deeds tied to the coal syndicate, agreements related to land transactions, digital devices and books of accounts belonging to entities allegedly controlled by the accused. According to the ED, raids were conducted at 20 locations spread across Dhanbad and Dumka in Jharkhand. These locations are linked to individuals, including Lal Bahadur Singh, Anil Goyal, Sanjay Khemka, Amar Mondal, and several others associated with their companies and entities. Whereas in West Bengal, ED teams searched 24 premises at Durgapur, Purulia, Howrah, and Kolkata, which included residences, offices, illegal toll booths, and coke plants reportedly connected to Narendra Kharka, Krishna Murari Kayal, Yudhishthir Ghosh, Raj Kishore Yadav, Lokesh Singh, Chinmay Mondal, Nirad Baran Mondal, and others. The crackdown stems from multiple FIRs filed by West Bengal and Jharkhand Police regarding an organised coal smuggling racket operating between the two states. The FIRs suggest that a vast network has been transporting coal from Jharkhand into West Bengal using forged or invalid documents. Seized documents, diaries, registers, and digital data have reportedly corroborated allegations of large-scale illegal supply chains and the involvement of local authorities. According to the ED, the syndicate was highly active in border districts, generating huge proceeds of crime. Several registers detailing illegal cash collections and beneficiary lists have also been recovered, offering deep insights into the financial trail of the smuggling network, it said. The investigation is still on and more developments are expected as scrutiny of seized materials progresses.

Raids In UP, Gujarat, Jharkhand Linked To Rs 1,000 Crore Cough Syrup Racket

In a sweeping operation early Thursday or Friday, the Lucknow Zonal office conducted raids at 25 locations connected to a sprawling illegal codeine-based cough syrup network to the tune of Rs 1,000 crore.

Multiple Locations Raided Across UP, Gujarat, Jharkhand In Rs 1,000 Crore Cough Syrup Racket

The prime accused, Shubham Jaiswal, is currently absconding and believed to be in Dubai. His father, Bhola Prasad, has been arrested.

Cough syrup trafficking racket: ED raids 25 locations in UP, Jharkhand, Gujarat; ECIR filed against 67 accused

The Enforcement Directorate has launched a massive crackdown across Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Gujarat, raiding 25 locations linked to a sprawling codeine-based cough syrup diversion and trafficking racket. This financial investigation, triggered by multiple FIRs, aims to unravel a complex network of illegal manufacturing, forged documentation, and money laundering generating crores.

Cough syrup trafficking racket: ED raids 25 locations in UP, Jharkhand, Gujarat; ECIR filed against 67 accused - The Times of India

Cough syrup trafficking racket: ED raids 25 locations in UP, Jharkhand, Gujarat; ECIR filed against 67 accused The Times of India

ED raids in multiple states in UP illegal cough syrup case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday raided multiple locations across several states as part of a money-laundering investigation into an alleged illegal cough syrup trafficking racket in Uttar Pradesh, officials said. The searches, which began around 7:30 am, are being conducted at 25 premises in Lucknow, Varanasi, Jaunpur and Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh, as well as in Ranchi (Jharkhand) and Ahmedabad (Gujarat). The ED has registered a criminal case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to probe the illegal manufacturing, trade and transportation of codeine-based cough syrups (CBCS), including suspected cross-border smuggling into Bangladesh. Locations linked to the absconding main accused, Shubham Jaiswal, and his alleged associates Alok Singh and Amit Singh, along with certain cough syrup manufacturers and Chartered Accountant Vishnu Aggarwal, are being searched, the officials said. The agencys action is based on around 30 FIRs registered by Uttar Pradesh Police after the state government took cognisance of widespread misuse and illegal circulation of CBCS. The estimated proceeds of crime in the case amount to about Rs 1,000 crore, according to ED officials. Shubham Jaiswal is believed to have fled to Dubai, while his father has been arrested by Uttar Pradesh Police. A total of 32 people have been taken into custody so far, and the state police have constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter.

Ranchi Diary | New SOP to tackle stray dog menace in state

Amid the debate over stray dogs, the Jharkhand government has drawn up an action plan to tackle the canine problem and released a standard operating procedure (SOP) to guide its implementation. Urban local bodies have been instructed to sterilise and vaccinate 70% of stray dogs within their jurisdictions. The SOP also makes it mandatory for pet owners to register their dogs with municipal or panchayat bodies. The cost of treatment in the event of a bite by a pet dog must be borne by its owner, who will also be responsible for legal liabilities arising from the incident. Rare bird sighted at Udhwa sanctuary Birdwatchers are excited over sighting of a rare bird at Udhwa bird sanctuary in Sahibganj. The migratory bird, Pallass Gull, has been spotted there after a long time. The last recorded sighting of this species was in 2015. Its return after nearly a decade is considered a positive sign for the biodiversity of Udhwa Lake. This species breeds in colonies in marshes and on islands from southern Russia to Mongolia. It is a migratory bird, wintering in the eastern Mediterranean, Arabia, and India. This gull nests on the ground and lays two to four eggs. According to officials, sighting of the Pallass Gull indicates that the lakes habitat is safe, favourable and attractive for migratory birds. Panel formed to revive lost glory of Ranchi The Jharkhand HC, expressing concern over the deteriorating condition of Ranchi city, has directed the government and departments concerned to take steps to revive its lost glory. Hearing a PIL seeking development of the capital and restoration of its lost glory, the HC stated that all stakeholders should be brought together on a platform to address the problems of the city. The court has constituted a committee headed by the states advocate general Rajiv Ranjan. The next hearing will be held on December 12. The PIL was filed by Jharkhand High Court Advocates Association exposing the deteriorating condition of the capital and seeking immediate action. Mukesh Ranjan Our correspondent in Jharkhand mukesh.r@newindianexpress.com

Impostor posing as IAS officer for three years arrested in Gorakhpur

LUCKNOW: A high-profile impostor, posing as an IAS officer for nearly three years, was arrested in Gorakhpur on Tuesday. Accused Gaurav Kumar Singh alias Lalit Kishor, 27, was nabbed after a probe exposed a massive fraud racket spanning several states, fake identities, luxury cars and promises of lucrative government jobs and contracts. As per police sources, Gaurav Kumar Singh was living as a 2022-batch IAS officer, meticulously maintaining a lifestyle equipped with a white Innova with red-blue beacon lights, a 15-member entourage trained to create an atmosphere of officialdom best suited to the profession. Moreover, he used to spend Rs 5 lakh per month just to sustain the pretence. Gaurav Kumar is accused of allegedly cheating dozens across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh promising government jobs, tenders, and official contracts in lieu of hefty amounts running into crores. Police, on Wednesday, also arrested his two aides Parmanand Gupta and Abhishek Kumar, both natives of Bihar. Gorakhpur SP, Abhinav Tyagi who led the probe, said that investigations gained momentum after a merchant Mukund Madhav from Mokama in Bihar was detained at Gorakhpur Railway Station with Rs 99.09 lakh in cash when the neighbouring state was having assembly polls. Police believed that it was the amount meant to bribe Gaurav Kumar in exchange of a government appointment. Though the deal later fell apart and the money was returned to Mukund Madhav, the seizure triggered deeper inquiry ultimately exposing Gauravs network. Following the discovery, Gaurav attempted to evade arrest: he fled Gorakhpur to a rented home in Lucknows Aashiana area to avoid a police raid. But a tip-off later led officers back to Gorakhpur, where they arrested him when he returned to meet an associate. According to police sources, Gaurav Kumar hails from Mehasoul village in Sitamarhi district of Bihar. He completed post-graduation in Mathematics in 2019 with aspirations to become a DIOS in the education department. He spent nearly three years preparing for civil-service exams. In 2022 he opened a coaching centre, Aditya-50, to train students for competitive exams. But that same year, he allegedly defrauded a student, collecting Rs 2 lakh for a promised job that never materialised prompting an FIR, said Tyagi. As his civil-service hopes dashed after failure to crack the competition, Gaurav went underground for a year and resurfaced claiming to have cleared the 2022 IAS batch, assuming the identity of an IAS officer. He quickly built a parallel life: with help from his brother-in-law Abhishek Kumar trained in software he created forged identity documents and later leveraged AI tools to generate convincing official papers, tender documents, inspection reports, and even fabricated media clippings showing him seated in a DMs chair, said the police sources. Investigators say the fraudulent network expanded rapidly across four states. Gaurav reportedly took money from over 40 people, promising government contracts or jobs. During investigation, police seized two mobile phones belonging to Gaurav. Chats revealed he maintained romantic relationships with four women, three of whom under the impression he was an IAS officer claimed to be pregnant. He was also married to a woman from Bihar. None of these women were aware of his real identity. Gauravs racket started unravelling when a contractor, defrauded of millions, filed complaints in Bihar. Similar grievances surfaced in Gorakhpur. Intelligence agencies and local police began monitoring Gauravs movements for months. Eventually, surveillance and tip-offs converged to place him back in Gorakhpur where he was finally arrested. Authorities recovered several forged documents, luxury cars, and bank records. During interrogation, Gaurav reportedly claimed that once the backlash from cheated contractors grew strong, he fled to Lucknow, but later returned thinking the heat had subsided.

NIA raids house in Hazaribagh over suspected terror links

RANCHI: Amid the investigation into the explosion near Red Fort in Delhi, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday raided the residence of a suspected terrorist, Shahnawaz Alam. The raids were conducted by a joint team of NIA and Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), in Ansar Nagar, under the Pelawal police station area in Hazaribagh. According to sources, this action was taken based on information provided by a doctor who was previously arrested by the NIA. This operation is being conducted as part of an investigation into the network linked to suspected terrorist Shahnawaz Alam , who was arrested by the Delhi Police Special Cell in October 2023. The team is reportedly questioning people inside the house. Besides NIA and ATS, additional police forces have been deployed in the area. Officials refrained from sharing any information, looking at the sensitive nature of the operation. Meanwhile, the NIA team has recovered a printing machine from the house. The NIA believes that some kind of documents, posters or objectionable material were being printed there. Shahnawaz Alam, originally hailing from Hazaribagh, was arrested by the Delhi Police Special Cell in October 2023. Investigators suspect that his network may have tentacles in Jharkhand, making Thursdays raid strategically significant. Investigators are also revisiting the background of Shahnawaz, who had earlier been jailed in 2019 for robbery and theft. After securing bail in December 2020, he allegedly came into contact with ISIS handlers, eventually becoming a crucial figure in the Pune module case. Officials suspect that individuals associated with Shahnawaz may still be active in Jharkhand. Reportedly, Shahnawaz Alam alias Safiuzzama had received terrorist training in the forests of Pune. Based on fresh intelligence received in this case, the NIA team has raided his residences in Hazaribagh.

Rare migratory bird spotted in Jharkhands Sahibganj Sanctuary

Sahibganj: A rare migratory bird, Pallass Gull, also called the Great Black-headed Gull, has been sighted in Udhwa Bird Sanctuary in Jharkhands Sahibganj district after nearly a decade, officials said on Thursday. The bird was noticed on Wednesday evening, the official said. A juvenile Pallass Gull (biological name Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus) was noticed by bird watchers Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Coal Remains India's Energy Backbone, House Committee Report Reaffirms 1.5 Bn Tonne Target For 2030

Odisha is expected to produce 494 MT by 2030, followed by Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra by 2030

Caught in the cyber cobweb: How TN women are fighting the deepfake battle

August 21, 2025, started like any other day for Rajathi Kamalakannan until a familiar face popped up on her phone while scrolling. An AI-generated morphed picture of hers with her contact details was circulated on Facebook. I was shocked, says Rajathi, who operates a food business, Rajis Kitchen in Dindigul, and runs a popular YouTube channel, RK Family Vlogs. When she checked this profile, it had 16K followers. Photos of several other women were misused similarly, says the 35-year-old. What followed was a nightmare that consumed three months of Rajathis life. I received more than a hundred calls from old friends, distant relatives, all enquiring about it. Many blamed me for having an indecent photo on Facebook. Having to respond to each one of them was really painful, she says. Rajathi was determined to fight the case. She filed a complaint against Facebook, seeking the removal of the AI-generated image. In an email, Facebook refused to take action. The response read, Well remove photos and videos reported through this channel if it infringes or violates your privacy. Unfortunately, based on the information you provided, we were unable to determine how the reported content infringes or violates your privacy. We recommend reaching out to the owner of this content to resolve this issue (sic). The email infuriated Rajathi. Along with her husband, she went to the Dindigul cybercrime office and filed a complaint on August 25. She recounts at least 10 visits to the police station, even on her husbands birthday, giving statements and signing documents. The accused was eventually arrested on November 14, but Rajathi is yet to get full closure. I couldnt work for a week due to the fear of being shamed, she says. But the larger question that she pondered was why was she targeted. On the other hand, her business continued, and the popularity of the YouTube channel rose. Her online presence remained essential to her livelihood, even as it made her prone to abuse. Such people get involved in crime since they think no one will complain, she says, asserting, You [perpetrator] hid your face while doing this. I will not hide mine while seeking justice. There is growing awareness around such crimes against women across Tamil Nadu, who realise that their faces from cooking videos, travel photos, business profiles, and even passport-size images are being weaponised by strangers. While some of them find the courage to speak out, many remain silent due to a wide range of social factors. Systemic issue Tamil Nadu recorded 1.75 lakh reported cybercrimes last year alone, with financial scams exceeding `1,600 crore, according to retired director general of police (DGP) C Sylendra Babu. The sheer scale of the loss reveals how the tentacles of crime have found new ways to evade police action despite the presence of cybercrime police stations in each of the 38 districts. If you put together crimes like chain snatching, motorcycle theft, robbery, murder for gain, these cannot cross `100 crore. But in cybercrime, money is lost just like that. A small percentage of these are women paying money due to harassment. With an overwhelming number of complaints, we cant cope, he states. He also observes that a vast majority of women never come forward. They change their number or block the caller, but the damage is already done. They live in perpetual fear of who will receive the photo or video next? The methods have evolved beyond photo-morphing. The retired DGP describes a new pattern where criminals target women with fake romantic or professional contacts, then use AI to create explicit content when the women refuse to engage. They access the victims contact lists and send sample images to relatives, demanding anywhere from `10 lakh-`20 lakh from women earning `30,000-`40,000 monthly. Women silently pay, but how long can they keep paying? he asks. Such crimes have links across the world, and it makes the job difficult for the police. Gangs operating from Laos, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Thailand lure women through apps disguised as dating platforms. Indian scam hubs operate from Jamtara in Jharkhand, Mathura in UP, and Neem at the Rajasthan-UP-MP border, Sylendra Babu notes. Its a new generation of organised crime with no borders. Easy access Priyanshu Raikar, a security researcher who has been tracking AI-generated abuse, believes that the tools for carrying out such crimes have become more accessible. Some widely available open-source image models that come with safeguards can be easily bypassed, he says. Girithar Ram Ravindran, a cybersecurity specialist, seconds the opinion. Most of these suspects do not have a strong technical background. If access becomes difficult, they will give up, he says. Comparing the models available, Priyanshu is shocked by the manner in which Chinese models manipulate images. The shadows, skin texture, background details, everything is convincing. The people in the images dont even exist in real life, he states. While the technology is getting better, the infrastructure for abuse online is already laid out. You have click farms, fake followers and bots run from China. With one click, they can send you 1,000 likes; with one phone, they can manage 10,000 profiles. Now imagine this infrastructure combined with powerful AI models, he explains. On Reddit, Priyanshu even found numerous forums dedicated to AI-generated explicit content, including deepfakes of celebrities being sold commercially. Some people in India are already producing non-consensual content and selling it, he says. The crisis has gone to an extent where high-profile celebrities like actor Rashmika Mandanna and dancer Anita Ratnam had to move court to protect their digital identity. Battles beyond deepfakes AI-generated images represent only one facet of a broader crisis of image-based abuse. Swetha Shankar, executive director of programmes at the International Foundation for Crime Prevention & Victim Care (PCVC), works with survivors of various forms of digital violence and sees patterns that extend far beyond deepfakes. A lot of abuse happens when intimate pictures shared during a relationship are used against the person after a breakup, Swetha says. PCVC works with the cyber cell and uses a resource called Stop NCII (Stop Non-Consensual Intimate Image sharing), a website that partners with large platforms like Meta and even Pornhub. When someone uploads an image there, the site creates a digital ID for it. If anyone tries to upload the same image anywhere else, it automatically gets flagged. We help survivors create this digital ID so they can track and prevent their images from being re-uploaded. The fear extends beyond the immediate violation. A lot of survivors are terrified that their parents or husbands will come to know. For married women whose ex-boyfriends are threatening them, there is fear that their marriages will end. Younger women who have moved away for work, are petrified that the police will involve their parents. They worry that if families find out, their mobility and freedom will be cut off, they may be taken back home, forced to marry, and even have their phones taken away, she says, adding They constantly check messages because theyre scared something might be leaked. It affects them very deeply. Police responses can compound the problem. Even when a woman is above 18, the police say things like, Call your parents, Are you married? This makes women even more worried that approaching the police will lead to further control, she adds. For minors, the situation is even more complex. Its hard for them to say theyre in an abusive relationship when being in a relationship itself is a taboo, Swetha says. The pattern of abuse is also consistent. In many of the cases we work with, intimate images are used to blackmail individuals. There is a lot of assault, and the person feels helpless because they are scared the images will be leaked. It gets held over them repeatedly, Swetha adds. Never-ending trauma Priyanshu shares the story of a minor girl whose Instagram account was hijacked by a gang. They demanded `50,000, and when she couldnt pay, the man forced her to send a nude video. Once she sent it, he leaked it anyway, then asked for more money, he says, adding that the case exposes the relationship between financial blackmail and sexual exploitation. For content creators and entrepreneurs, the threat creates a chilling effect. Many are afraid to maintain the online presence their livelihoods require. Once the content spreads, tracking it becomes nearly impossible. Girithar describes how metadata, the digital fingerprints attached to photos, gets erased when images are shared. When sent through WhatsApp or shared multiple times, metadata gets stripped away. Once it spreads through thousands of groups, connecting the dots becomes very hard, he says. Priyanshu adds that investigators rely on open-source intelligence tools to track where the content first appeared, but many platforms lack robust traceability. People download leaked or generated videos from one platform, then re-upload them across many others. For each view and engagement, they get paid. Thats their business model. For women like Rajathi, the intensity of the crisis has a huge impact. Girithar warns, Keep accounts private unless necessary. But even from a private account, photos give enough data for criminals to create fake images or videos. Priyanshu is more practical about the reality: Once you post anything online, you lose control over it. Its your image, but if someone downloads and shares it, you cant really do much. The courage to fight The Facebook profile that violated Rajathi's privacy remains active, with its last post dated November, and is still accessible despite her repeated complaints and the accused's arrest. Meta's own Oversight Board has noted that the platform often fails to remove AI-generated explicit images unless cases receive significant media attention, leaving ordinary victims to hunt down and report every instance themselves. Having gone through the ordeal, Rajathi says women should not suffer in silence, and points out how screenshots, URLs, and other evidence of such abuse could help their case. She also sought faster police action. Response time shouldnt be too late. Women need supportive and swift systems so that they dont lose courage halfway, she says. Priyanshu suggests large-scale awareness campaigns. Every household seems to have at least one creator or influencer now. We need the media, lawmakers and police to join together for nationwide education, in schools, colleges, and communities. While Sylendra Babu believes social media poses a threat to privacy, and that laws alone cannot help prevent these crimes, Swetha notes that gender-based violence has always adapted to whatever tools are available. Long before AI, controlling devices was already a part of domestic violence, monitoring phones, knowing passwords, controlling mobility, and isolating women. Technology is just another tool. The deeper issue is how we view women and how we normalise abuse. We often elevate the idea of family over the safety and well-being of women. The legal labyrinth Current laws provide some recourse but lack teeth, specifically for AI-generated abuse. Sylendra Babu suggested that a separate clause for AI-enabled offences can be added to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita due to the gaps in the existing laws. Priyanshu demands that authorities constitute a specific, standalone offence. From here, it will only get worse if we dont, he says. The IT Act 2000 contains relevant sections, particularly Section 67 with subsections for sexually explicit content and child protection, with potential punishments of 5-7 years. But Girithar notes these provisions were written before AI: These open-source models must have stricter guardrails or should be banned. Updated IT rules from 2021-22 require large platforms to appoint officers responsible for handling takedown requests under the Indian law. Priyanshu says success stories remain exceptions, as most survivors have a difficult and uncertain path to justice. If you or someone you know is affected by deepfake abuse, file a complaint at the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (cybercrime.gov.in) or call 1930. Tamil Nadu has cybercrime police stations in all 38 districts. (The author is a Laadli Media Fellow. The opinions and views expressed are those of the author. Laadli and UNFPA do not necessarily endorse the views.)

Maharashtra nears Maoist elimination as 11 top cadres surrender in Gadchiroli

MUMBAI: Maharashtra moves closer to eliminating the Maoist threat by March 2026 as 11 senior Maoist cadres, including four commanders with a combined bounty of Rs 82 lakh, surrendered before state police chief Rashmi Shukla in Gadchiroli. Among the surrendered leaders were divisional committee members Ramesh alias Baju Lekami and Bhima alias Kiran Hidma Kowasi. Lekami, associated with the movement since 2004, served as president of the Edasgondi Gaon Panchayat Janatana Sarkar before becoming a divisional committee member in Bhamragad. Kowasi joined the Maoist ranks in 1998 and became a divisional committee member in 2019. Gadchiroli police said the surrenders deliver a major blow to Maoists in the Dandakaranya region, spanning Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Telangana, marking one of the biggest successes since the surrender of Maoist Politburo member Bhupathi alias Mallojula Venugopal Rao in October, along with 60 others. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had handed over a copy of the Indian Constitution instead of weapons during that program. Police Chief Shukla described the fresh surrender as the beginning of the end of Maoism in Gadchiroli and reaffirmed the commitment to the Union governments March 31, 2026, deadline to eliminate the Left-wing insurgency. She said 112 Maoists have surrendered in Gadchiroli this year alone. The surrender ceremony at Eklavya Hall also saw officers and personnel of the elite C-60 anti-Naxal unit felicitated for operations in the remote Laheri forest, which led to 61 Maoists surrendering and the recovery of 54 firearms. Other surrendered Maoists included Poriye alias Lucky Adama Gota, Ratan alias Sanna Masu Oyam, Kamala alias Rago Iriya Veladi, Poriye alias Kumari Bhima Veladi, Ramaji alias Mura Lacchu Pungati, Sonu Podiyam alias Ajay Sanu Kato, Prakash alias Pandu Kundra Pungati, Sita alias Jaini Tonde Pallo, and Sainath Shankar Made. The surrenders follow intensified anti-Maoist operations across India, with security forces killing over 270 Maoists in the past year in Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Bihar, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. So far, more than 1,225 Maoists have surrendered, and 680, including top leaders, have been arrested. The killing of Maoist chief Nambala Kesava Rao, alias Basavaraju, on May 20, marked a major milestone in the fight against the insurgency. According to the Union government, the number of Left-Wing insurgency-affected districts has fallen from 18 in April to 11, signalling significant progress in curbing the movement.

BJP MLAs take Kya Hua Tera Wada swipe at Soren government in Jharkhand

Opposition MLAs allege that before coming to power, the Hemant Soren government made seven major promises to the public, including gas cylinders for 450, employment for 10 lakh youth every year, and timely scholarships to the poor, but the government has failed to fulfill even one of these promises

State is a continuum with commitments beyond pleasing the party or leader of the day: Supreme Court

The apex courts observations came while dismissing a petition filed by the State of Jharkhand against a State High Court-ordered CBI probe into an illegal mining case in which the accused are linked to CM Hemant Soren

Jharkhand government announces proposal to rename Lok Bhawans after Birsa Munda, Sido-Kanu

RANCHI: In a significant move, Jharkhand Government has made a proposal in the Assembly to name the Lok Bhawan in Ranchi as Birsa Munda Bhawan after the tribal icon, Bhagwan Birsa Munda, and the Lok Bhawan in Dumka after Santhal rebellion, Sido-Kanu Murmu. The proposal was made by the Parliamentary Affairs Minister Radhakrishna Kishore in the Assembly on Wednesday. The minister announced in the House that Ranchi's main Raj Bhavan will be named as Birsa Bhavan, and Dumka's Raj Bhavan will be called Sido-Kanu Bhavan. I propose that the Raj Bhavan in Ranchi be renamed Birsa Bhawan after Birsa Munda, and the Raj Bhavan in Dumka be renamed Sido-Kanhu Bhawan after Sido-Kanu Murmu, said Kishore in Jharkhand Assembly. Notably, the Raj Bhavan in Jharkhand was officially renamed Lok Bhavan on December 3, as part of a nationwide initiative to shed colonial-era titles. According to Kishore, the Lok Bhavan is state government property, under Article 154 of the Constitution, the executive power of the state rests with the Governor, so his office is also part of the state. The state government has full authority to name the property, said the minister. The BJP has criticised the decision, arguing that Governor Houses across the countrynot just in Jharkhandhave been renamed as Lok Bhawan. The party also accused the ruling alliance of creating unnecessary political controversy over the matter. Where were the leaders of the ruling alliance when Birsa Mundas recognition was limited only to Jharkhand? It was the BJP-led government at the Centre that brought Birsa Munda national prominence. This is nothing but petty politics. Instead of indulging in such trivial issues, they should focus on constructive governance, said state BJP spokesperson Pradeep Sinha. Notably, the central government on December 3 had ordered that all Raj Bhavans across the country to be renamed Lok Bhavan. Lok Bhavan in Ranchi is spread over 52 acres of land, which also includes Audrey House, built in 10 acres. Its foundation was laid in 1930 and it was completed in March 1931 at a cost of just Rs 7 lakh.

'Jharkhand now has to...': CM Hemant Soren reveals vision for state as it completes 25 yrs

Hemant Soren has been serving as the current Chief Minister of Jharkhand since July 2024.

Investments Will Come Soon: Gautam Adani In Dhanbad

Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani on Tuesday said that Jharkhand -- particularly Dhanbad -- holds significant potential, and the state is poised for strong growth in the coming years.

Gautam Adani Inaugurates Vocational Training For Differently Abled In Dhanbad

Adani Group Chairman and Founder Gautam Adani on Tuesday inaugurated vocational training for differently abled and a cloud kitchen in Dhanbad, Jharkhand.

Jharkhand to deploy university volunteers for tiger census for the first time

RANCHI: For the first time in Jharkhand, volunteers from different universities studying botany and zoology will be deployed for the tiger census in the state. According to forest officials, besides creating a young workforce, this move will help raise awareness about comprehensive tiger estimation and conservation. This is also the first time tiger census activities will be conducted outside the Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR), covering forest ranges in Ranchi, Dumka and Hazaribagh. The Field Director and Deputy Director of PTR have been appointed as nodal agencies for the tiger census in Jharkhand. Forest personnel across the state have also been trained for the exercise, and the training process is still underway. Tiger censuses are conducted every four years, and the next data will be released on July 29, 2026. The last census was released in 2023. According to PTR Deputy Director Prajesh Kant Jena, volunteers will undergo a skill test before being deployed. In the first phase, PTR will recruit 20 botany and zoology students from Nilamber Pitamber University as volunteers for the tiger count. Only those who clear the skill test will be included, he said. This is the first time volunteers are being involved in the count, he added. Jena said the aim is to involve more people in the campaign to build awareness about wildlife conservation. Botany and zoology students from various colleges will be given basic training and then integrated into the campaign, he said. Letters have been sent to vice-chancellors seeking student participation; the PTR is awaiting a response from Nilamber Pitamber University. Tiger census data released in 2023 recorded three tigers in Jharkhand, all within the PTR. Tiger counting includes deploying high-resolution cameras and conducting special patrols. Every activity and wildlife-related data point is documented during the exercise. Spread over 1,149 sq km, PTR is home to tigers, elephants, bison, spotted deer and bears. Current forest department data shows six tigers, around 180 elephants, over 10,000 spotted deer, more than 50 bison and around 200 wolves. According to the 2006 census, Jharkhand had 10 tigers, which fell to three in 2014. The latest report puts the number at six. Beginning with 22 tigers in 1972, PTR reached its peak in 1995 with 71 big cats before witnessing a steep decline, down to three in 2014 and zero in the 2018 census.

India Must Define Its Own Growth Path Amid Fractured Global Alliances: Adani

Dhanbad (Jharkhand), Dec 9: Emphasising that Indias sovereignty depends on mastering the resources beneath its soil, Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani on Tuesday said the nation must chart its own development path at a time when global alliances are increasingly fracturing. Delivering the keynote address at the 100th foundation day celebrations of the Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, Adani said nations across the globe were acting in pure self-interest, and India must master the energy systems [] The post India Must Define Its Own Growth Path Amid Fractured Global Alliances: Adani appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

JSSC CGL result of JGGLCCE-2023 released at jssc.jharkhand.gov.in: Direct link to download here

The Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission has released the JSSC CGL Result 2025, publishing the final merit list for the JGGLCCE. Candidates can now check the PDF to verify their roll numbers and confirm selection, marking the end of the multi-stage recruitment cycle. Those not shortlisted must wait for upcoming JSSC vacancies and future examination notifications.