Christa Pike is conscious and speaking after Tennessee failed execution, her attorneys say
The statement was the first indication that Pike has improved since an ambulance carried her away from a Nashville prison
Rate hike after nearly three-and-a half years comes as inflation pressures rise due to the continuing West Asia conflict; policy stance revised to 'calibrated tightening'
Survey ordered to trace 45 acres missing from records near KCRs farmhouse
Notices would also be issued to obtain the land records of former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and his family members, whose land was located near Survey No. 325
How scientists learned to control brain cells with light
The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel for their pioneering discoveries in optogenetics and light-gated ion channels. Their research transformed neuroscience by enabling scientists to control and study specific nerve cells using light, revealing how brain circuits regulate memory, emotions, behaviour and bodily functions. The breakthrough has opened new avenues for understanding neurological and psychiatric disorders and is already influencing research into conditions such as Alzheimers disease, addiction and vision loss.
ED raids Cooperative Banks in three Kerala districts in financial irregularities cases
Digital Desk | Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 7 (IANS) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday launched a major search operation at Cooperative Banks and the residences of their officers and governing body members across three districts of Kerala as part of its investigation into alleged financial irregularities and money laundering. The searches are being conducted simultaneously at multiple locations in Thrissur, Ernakulam and Kozhikode in connection with cases registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The ED teams began the operation around 6.30 a.m., with officials from Kerala and Tamil Nadu taking part in the searches. The operation focuses on the Angamaly Urban Cooperative Bank in Ernakulam, the Kuttanellur Service Cooperative Bank in Thrissur and the Thennala Service Cooperative Bank in Kozhikode. The searches cover bank offices as well as the residences of members of the governing bodies, serving and former employees and other persons linked to the institutions. The ED had earlier detected alleged financial irregularities of around Rs 121 crore at the Angamaly Urban Cooperative Bank through fraudulent loans. The latest searches are understood to be part of the agency's efforts to trace the money trail and establish the role of those allegedly involved in the irregularities. The residence of Shiju, a former employee and accountant of the Angamaly Urban Cooperative Bank, is also being searched. According to the ED, Shiju was among those who allegedly played a key role in the processing of fraudulent loans. In Thrissur, the agency is conducting searches at five locations linked to the Kuttanellur Service Cooperative Bank. Its branches at Ancherichira, West Anchery and Padavarad are being searched. The residences of the former bank president and members of the governing body are also under scrutiny. The ED is conducting searches at seven locations in Kozhikode in connection with the Thennala Service Cooperative Bank. The latest operation assumes significance against the backdrop of the ED's continuing investigations into alleged financial irregularities in Kerala's cooperative banking sector. The agency is examining the role of bank officials and others and is expected to scrutinise loan records, financial transactions and other documents during the searches.
TN cooperatives to sell seeds, fertilisers for cash at prices within MRP
Digital Desk | Chennai, Oct 7 (IANS) Farmers across Tamil Nadu can purchase seeds, fertilisers and other agricultural inputs against cash payments through primary agricultural cooperative credit societies, with prices capped at the maximum retail price, the Cooperation Department said. The department said arrangements had been made through all such societies in the state to help farmers obtain the inputs required for crop cultivation. The provision is intended to extend the benefit of the cooperative supply network to all farmers. Primary agricultural cooperative credit societies provide short-term crop loans to farmers. Alongside this lending, they supply and distribute inputs, including seeds and chemical fertilisers, as part of the crop loan assistance available through the cooperative system. The department said farmers who are not members of these societies could enrol and avail themselves of crop loans at low interest rates. Membership would also enable them to access the seeds and fertilisers supplied through the societies. The statement outlined two means of obtaining agricultural inputs: supplies provided as part of crop loans and purchases made by paying cash. Under the cash purchase arrangement, the amount charged for seeds, fertilisers and other inputs must not exceed their prescribed maximum retail price. By making inputs available for cash payments, the department seeks to ensure that farmers can benefit from supplies distributed through primary agricultural cooperative credit societies. The announcement covers societies throughout Tamil Nadu rather than those in any particular district. For farmers seeking borrowing support, the department pointed to the existing short-term crop loan facility. Those outside the cooperative membership network were encouraged to join a society and use the lending and input supply services available to members. The department reiterated that the societies serve both as providers of agricultural credit and as distribution points for cultivation materials. Seeds and fertilisers form part of the assistance they offer farmers for raising crops. The statement did not specify the interest rates applicable to crop loans, the quantities of inputs available or the documents required for membership. It also did not set out a separate timetable for the cash sale arrangements. Its central assurance was that arrangements had been made across the cooperative network for farmers to obtain cultivation inputs through cash payments at prices within the prescribed MRP, alongside the crop loan and input distribution facilities already offered by the societies.
Heavy Rains Expected in Tamil Nadus Western Districts
Tamil Nadus weather forecast predicts moderate rain on Wednesday, with heavy showers expected in western districts over the next two days. Heavy Rains Expected in Tamil Nadus Western Districts
TN: Courtallam waterfalls closed for public as repair work resumes
Digital Desk | Tenkasi, Oct 7 (IANS) Tourists have been barred from entering the Main Falls at Courtallam in Tamil Nadu's Tenkasi district after authorities resumed repair work that remained unfinished when the previous tourist season began. The reduced water flow has enabled workers to restart construction at the popular bathing spot. Officials said the work was aimed at strengthening the bathing area and protecting it against damage during floods. Large stones are being installed at the base of the waterfall, where repairs had been interrupted to accommodate visitors during the season. Renovation began last year, when the old arch at the Main Falls was removed. A new, larger arch was subsequently built a short distance away, while stone-laying work was also undertaken on the lower level of the bathing area. However, the arrival of the Courtallam season before the work could be completed prompted authorities to allow tourists to bathe at the falls. The remaining repairs were consequently deferred, leaving portions of the project unfinished. With the water flow now declining, workers have returned to complete the pending work. Authorities have closed the Main Falls to visitors while construction proceeds, preventing access to the area where stones are being laid. At present, only a small quantity of water is falling over the section designated for men. This flow is being diverted so that workers can install stones on the ground and complete repairs to the bathing surface. The installation of large stones forms part of efforts to prevent floodwaters from damaging the area. Completing the work before the northeast monsoon begins is the immediate priority, officials indicated. The closure means tourists arriving at the Main Falls will be unable to enter the site or bathe there during the repair period. Access will remain restricted while the work is underway. Authorities said bathing would be permitted once the repairs were completed before the onset of the northeast monsoon. No specific reopening date was provided, with access linked to completion of the pending construction. The latest work continues the renovation undertaken last year, covering the unfinished stone-laying and measures intended to protect the bathing area during periods of heavy flow. For now, the diversion of the remaining water has made it possible to carry out repairs directly beneath the falls. Officials have maintained the entry ban to allow those works to proceed.
'SIR Is Bloodless Political Genocide'
'93 lakhs deletions in Bengal, 96 lakhs in Tamil Nadu, 24 lakhs in Kerala, 77 lakhs in Gujarat, 45 lakhs in Madhya Pradesh, 44 lakhs in Rajasthan. 2.89 crores in Uttar Pradesh. Nearly 3 crores!'
TN: Milk price hike fails to bring full relief to Tiruchy farmers amid deductions
Digital Desk | Tiruchy, Oct 7 (IANS) Deductions from milk procurement payments have triggered complaints from dairy farmers in Tiruchy, who say they are receiving less than the revised rate announced by the Tamil Nadu government. The state recently increased the procurement rate for cow milk by Rs 6, taking it from Rs 38 to Rs 44 per litre. The procurement price for buffalo milk was fixed at Rs 53 per litre. The dispute surfaced after payments reached farmers bank accounts on October 3. Producers alleged that cooperative milk societies withheld Rs 4 for every litre of cow milk supplied, reducing their receipts to Rs 40. When farmers sought an explanation, society officials reportedly said the withheld amount covered salaries, administrative costs, festival bonuses and an incentive payable later in the month. They said the breakup provided to them included Rs 1.85 per litre for salaries and administration, Rs 1.15 for Pongal bonus and Rs 1 retained for payment as an incentive at the end of the month. Farmers argued that these deductions weakened the relief offered by the price revision, particularly as expenditure on fodder, cattle feed and other inputs rose. They maintained that the government should bear administrative and related costs instead of passing them on to producers. Aavins Tiruchy management, however, gave a different account of the deductions. It said Rs 1.75 per litre was being collected towards the administrative expenses of cooperative milk societies, while another Rs 1 was retained for payment to farmers. Under this calculation, producers would receive Rs 41.25 per litre in their bank accounts after deductions totalling Rs 2.75. The management said there would be no separate deduction towards bonus. Half of the Rs 1.75 collected would meet society expenses, while the remaining portion would be used to distribute bonuses to milk producers. Aavin said explanatory handbills were being prepared to clarify the payment structure and provide farmers with a detailed account of how their procurement payments would be calculated. Producers representatives questioned the need to withhold Rs 1 per litre and return it later as an incentive. They urged the milk union to release the full payment immediately. Farmers said earlier deductions were modest, whereas the amounts now withheld strained their finances. They appealed to the government to absorb society expenses and ensure the price increase reached producers in full.
The status of the U.S. blockade on Cuba
U.S. blockade and decades-old embargo on Cuba have worsened the islands economic and humanitarian crisis, with fuel shortages disrupting electricity, food distribution, healthcare; as Havana seeks to ease the crisis, Trump administrations pressure and demand for regime change continue to constrain Cubas options
The protests and polls in Spain
Eviction of a senior citizen in Madrid snowballed into protests across the country, forcing Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to first put together emergency legislation to address the situation
Readers Write: deadly gaps at Guindy railway station
A police booth is required at Pudhupakkam junction
Motorists navigating the Pudhupakkam junction, where Vandalur Kelambakkam Road and Pudhupakkam Main Road meet, would face significant risks if they relied solely on the traffic signals
Library in memory of a generous social workerfrom Chromepet
The family members of the late S. Srimathy, a social worker and wife of social activist V. Santhanam, who passed away last month, are constructing a library in her memory
The move comes hours after Delhi Police detained around 260 INDIA bloc protesters, including 10 MPs, during a demonstration demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumars resignation
Why OpenAIs Australia AI hack must dismay world governments
Given that this incident predates the Hugging Face hack, the onus is on OpenAI to show whether their agents went rogue at any point in time during their training and evaluation phase, and as a result gained unauthorised entry into any sovereign governments database to complete a research request
Readers Write: attack on MTC conductor condemned, preventive measures sought
B. Annapoorani has strongly condemned the assault on a bus conductor and has demanded that the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) ensure police personnel are deployed to protect its crew members and the public from aggressive commuters
Blood-tainted ice cubes and a famine in Madras
The Ice House remains a popular reminder of a place where the British sold ice. Behind that luxury, however, lay a darker history of labour, exploitation, and suffering
Back to the future: lessons from the Asian Games for the Olympics
An Olympic medal will mean less to a player than winning a World Cup or World Test Championship. And if the games are in a country with little or no interest in cricket, it is unlikely to spread its message which is what the ICC hopes for
Eva Marie Saint, Oscar winner of Hollywood classics, dies at 102
Her representative Jeff Sanderson said Saint died of natural causes at home in Los Angeles, surrounded by family and loved ones
Here is a select list of stories to start the day
French riot police fire tear gas as more than 2,50,000 rally nationwide for school funding
The protests increased pressure on the administration of outgoing President Emmanuel Macron.
Trump says he has call scheduled with Putin to discuss possible case of pneumonic plague in Russia
Mr. Trump said the U.S. is in very deep discussions on the topic
Rahuls protest a political drama, claims made by Congress are lies: BJP
BJP cited the ECI statement to assert that the poll panel did not receive any request from either the Congress party or any other constituent of the INDIA bloc for a meeting
80% vote in West Bengal bypolls amid rigging, intimidation charges
Bypolls across Nandigram and Rejinagar saw an 80% turnout despite allegations of rigging and voter intimidation. In Tamil Nadu, turnout dipped compared to previous elections, with results showing 86% and 80% participation. Assam's Nagaon Lok Sabha constituency recorded 76% turnout during the bypolls, while Puducherry's Thattanchavady seat had a turnout of 78% by 5pm. Various candidates and parties reported incidents of interference and blocked agents during the polling process.
Karnataka Chief Minister leaves for Delhi ahead of GST Council meeting
Sources said the visit could also provide an opportunity for Mr. Shivakumar to meet senior Congress leaders and discuss pending issues
DMKs Defamation Case Against Gem Granites Owner Faces Legal Challenge
Tamil Nadu ministers challenge a Madras High Court ruling allowing DMK to pursue defamation against them over serious allegations. DMKs Defamation Case Against Gem Granites Owner Faces Legal Challenge
J&K GCC Summit 2026: The Arithmetic of a Capability Centre
Ask the chief financial officer of a Global Capability Centre what it costs to run. The answer begins with people. Salaries and benefits take the largest share of a centre's annual budget. Rent and technology account for most of the remainder. Plant and machinery barely feature. That simple fact should shape how Jammu and Kashmir competes for the sector. And that simple fact is what the J&K Government is going to position at the J&K GCC Summit 2026, being organised by Government of J&K and IIM Jammu. A capability centre is a ten-year commitment to recurring cost. The location decision turns on what the centre will cost to run in its fifth and eighth years, discounted to today. The one-time cost of setting up is a minor line in that calculation. We have 55 investors from the worlds leading Fortune 500 GCC and GCC-enabling companies and Indias leading multinationals descending at IIM Jammu on 9-10 October for the Summit. And each one of them perhaps already knows that a capital subsidy, however generous, only addresses the smallest part of the problem. A subsidy is easy to announce, and it makes good PR. But what moves a location decision is sustained relief on recurring cost. That means employment-linked support for each professional hired and retained, a defined share of payroll cost reimbursed for a limited period, lease rental assistance, electricity duty exemption, stamp duty relief on leases and a grant for each candidate trained and placed. Outcome-linked support also has a fiscal property that capital subsidies lack. Its cost rises only when jobs rise. The exposure of the exchequer is therefore bounded by success and can be budgeted year by year against verified employment. A capital subsidy is paid at the start, whatever happens afterwards. Recovering it from a centre that underperforms is slow and uncertain. Retention is the second variable. Here Jammu and Kashmir holds a structural advantage. Consider an illustrative centre of 500 professionals. At an annual attrition rate of 20 percent it must replace 100 people every year. At 10 percent it replaces 50. Over a decade, the difference is 500 replacements, equivalent to rebuilding the entire centre once over. Each replacement carries the cost of recruitment, training and months of reduced productivity. Professionals who work in Jammu and Kashmir are, for the most part, working where their families live. The pull of a marginally better offer across town, which drives much of the churn in metropolitan clusters, operates with far less force here. Add office, talent and utility costs well below metropolitan levels, and the Union Territory has a cost position that rests on its own fundamentals. The competition is real. At least eight States have notified dedicated GCC policies, from Karnataka, which moved first, to Haryana in May 2026. Tamil Nadu addresses the sector through a dedicated framework and Andhra Pradesh through its IT policy. Their incentive menus vary widely. So do the thresholds at which benefits begin. A Union Territory without an existing GCC base cannot borrow a threshold designed for a mature cluster. It must set thresholds that a first entrant can realistically meet. J&Ks GCC Policy has been drafted and will be showcased to the prospective GCC multinationals that are attending the J&K GCC Summit. These multinationals will benchmark J&K against the above expected benefits. Be that as it may, we should assess support for the sector in J&K against five rules. First, pay for outcomes. Support from the J&K Government should be attached to jobs created and sustained, payroll actually paid and candidates actually placed, each verified against EPFO and ESIC records. The exchequer should pay for delivery and only after it. Second, setting a horizon. Every incentive should reduce over time and end on a known date, so that a centre's economics is tested on its own profitability rather than continuing purely because of support. Third, avoid paying twice. A Union Territory instrument should fill the gaps left by Central and Union Territory schemes already in force for industry and skilling, chiefly on operating and lease cost and not vice versa. Fourth, weigh the return. At an illustrative average salary of 10 lakh a year, a centre of 500 professionals pays 50 crore in salaries every year, much of it spent locally. It pays stamp duty on its leases. Its local spending and the consumption of its employees generate GST. It supports a comparable number of indirect jobs in facilities, transport and hospitality. For a Union Territory working to strengthen its own revenue base, a sector whose spending stays local is fiscally attractive. Fifth, publish the ledger. The incentives paid and the jobs verified against them should be disclosed every year. Transparency is the cheapest way to sustain public confidence in industrial incentives. But then, the caveat is that no incentive can compensate for an unclear approval timeline, a building that is yet to be built or a talent pipeline that falls short of an employer's requirement. And that is where the J&K Government is ensuring that investors, and not just from the GCC ecosystem, are provided clear approval timelines, assessed and industry-ready talent pool and infrastructure that is plug-and-play ready than bare land. As I mentioned earlier, the J&K GCC Summit 2026 at IIM Jammu on 9 and 10 October gives the Union Territory a rare opportunity to hear from operators what actually can work for us to be considered as the emerging destination for GCCs. Join the conversation and give us your inputs on what may work. Well, this is a first step, and we hope one that goes a million miles. (The writer is Additional Chief Secretary, Finance Department, Government of Jammu and Kashmir)
Voter Turnout High in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry By-elections
Voter participation was strong in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry by-elections, despite minor disruptions at polling stations. Voter Turnout High in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry By-elections
Let there be light: on the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology/Medicine
The Nobel Laureates for Medicine illuminated how the brain works
Traffic snarls at Delhis brand-new flyover persist week after opening
Why charging for UPI changes the math
If 100 collected in MDR causes more than 100 of economic value to disappear elsewhere, the payment system ends up better funded and the country poorer
Four persons held for murder in Tiruttani
Prakash Raj flags attempts to divide country into those with voting rights and, those without votes
He also pointed out how the BJP government brought in two legislations to amend the way in which the Chief Election Commissioner was chosen
Residents of western suburbs call for regulation of spaces beneath flyovers
These encroachments under the bridge and along the service lanes were there for nearly 15 years without any interference from an agency, said a resident
Twenty-five years of leadership, an India transformed
Prime Minister Narendra Modis 25 years in leadership reflect Indias transformation and its rising national ambitions
There is no G-2 yet in U.S.-China relations Washington and Beijing may manage their tensions, but their strategic competition remains entrenched
20-year-old legislative privilege reference closed as infructuous
The reference arose from the Tamil Nadu assembly's November 7, 2003, resolution, sentencing journalists associated with The Hindu to 15 days' simple imprisonment for alleged breach of privilege and contempt following publication of articles and editorials critical of the then state government.
Incomplete civic works hit monsoon readiness in some areas across Chennai
Deputy Mayor says alternative monsoon preparedness measures have been proposed in many areas, such as Besant Road, Ganesapuram, Perungudi, and Sholinganallur. Corporation Commissioner G.S. Sameeran says all culverts across 44 canals have been desilted, and end-to-end desilting has been completed in major waterways such as the Kodungaiyur, Padikuppam, and Trust Puram canals
Forest Department destroys 125 illegal country-made guns in Tiruvannamalai
Forest officials said thattraditionally, tribals possessed illegal country-made guns to guard themselves from wild animals and thefts
Vellore police hands over missing phones to owners
The cybercrime team had been monitoring the missing mobile phone handsets through their IMEI number at periodical intervals
RPF, Nemili police seize 16 kg of ganja in separate cases; four persons held
The drug peddlers were allegedly selling small quantities of ganja at public places in surrounding villages near Nemili and Arakkonam towns
Burglars decamp with 30 sovereigns of gold, 5 lakh in Ranipet
The rear door of the house was also damaged
T.N. records highest Southwest monsoon temperatures in the last nine years
An analysis by the Regional Meteorological Centre found that the State registered a mean temperature of 29.45C between June and September this year, which is nearly 1.21C above the 2018-25 average
DMK seeks ECI probe into TVK candidates poll expenditure in April poll
Minor defects in election papers cant be dubbed improper acceptance: Vijay to HC
Rare Japanese sparrowhawk sighted in Adyar estuary
Bypoll turnout dip points to voter fatigue
AC mechanic hacked to death in Mylapore, 3 college students detained
Woman poses as doctor, steals gold from Stanley hospital hostel
Teachers oppose move to set up University of Western Australia campus in city
TN scrutinises senior professors list to appoint interim VCs for 10 state universities
Built to feed the city, Amma Unavagams battle with fraying kitchens
Pic by Srinath
Traffic diversions announced at TTK RoadSriram Nagar North junction
Bypolls see high turnout in Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Assam
The assembly bypolls in Nandigram witnessed a voter turnout of 79.39% and Rejinagar at 78.42%. Congress party members voiced accusations of vote rigging and intimidation, consequently pushing for a repoll. Tamil Nadu reported impressive turnout figures as well, with Madurantakam at 83.86% and Dharapuram at 78.53%. Meanwhile, Assam's Nagaon Lok Sabha seat recorded a turnout of 76%, with election results slated for an announcement on October 9.
DMK hits out at Rahul for silence on SIR in TN
Minister inspects Bheemunipatnam-Narsipatnam road widening works
ASHA workers seek 15,000 monthly remuneration
Accredited Social Health Activists affiliated to the All India United Trade Union Centre staged a protest in front of the Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officers office in Karwar on Tuesday as part of a State-wide protest week, demanding a minimum monthly remuneration of 15,000 and timely payment of incentives and honorarium
Earthquake of magnitude 5.1 strikes State of Uttarakhand in India, EMSC says
Earthquake tremors were also felt in New Delhi
Karnataka to have dedicated single-window interface to promote international tech partnerships
Karnataka focused on building sustained relationships rather than pursuing individual investment transactions, says Priyank Kharge
Ganga Water Treaty is flawed, needs to be updated: Bangladesh river expert
The Ganga Water Treaty is three decades old and flawed as it does not include a guarantee clause. It also does not have ecological flow and environmental flow considerations, Manjur A. Chowdhury, chairman of Bangladesh River Conservation Commission told The Hindu
KBN University gives priority to holistic development of students: Ashfaq Ahmed
ECI says Opposition MPs Parliament Annexe meet demand could not be accepted
Poll panel says protocol requires meetings with politicaldelegations to be held at its premises; offers to receive memorandum through senior-most officer on duty
Man arrested for throwing acid at 24-year-old woman in Delhis Jafrabad
DGP calls for peaceful, transparent, impartial conduct of local body polls
Reviewing a preparedness meeting, Harish Kumar Gupta says officials should complete preparations in advance as the election process would be completed within a short period after notification
Dharapuram byelection: DMK seeks ECI probe into TVK candidates Rs 31cr poll expenditure claim
Delhi CM, L-G launch initiatives to strengthen health care
The protest that wouldnt end: Inside Rahul Gandhis daylong siege of Akashvani Bhawan
After police appeared to have broken up the Oppositions march against the Election Commission of India, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi improvised by turning the All India Radio campus in the national capital into the unlikely centre of an all-day sit-in that lasted well past sunset
Analysis: Why NASA wants to build nuclear reactor on the moon
The Artemis Accords, to which the U.S. and its allies vis-a-vis the moon are signatories, envisage temporary safety zones to prevent harmful interference
Cabinet approves five commissionerates for Bengaluru; former officers express concern
Former senior police officers have questioned whether a civic structure can be directly replicated in policing, arguing that crime, law and order, traffic management and emergency mobilisation do not necessarily follow municipal boundaries
Delhi: 263-crore drain approved to tackle waterlogging in four constituencies
Worker electrocuted to death in Theni
Prime accused in DMK functionary murder case hacked to death in Dindigul
Watchman gored to death by Indian Gaur in Theni
Watch: Tamil Nadu bypolls wrap up with high turnout and minor booth glitches
Tamil Nadu concluded crucial assembly bypolls for the Madurantakam and Dharapuram constituencies on October 6, 2026, following the resignations of sitting AIADMK legislators K. Maragatham Kumaravel and P. Sathyabama to join the ruling TVK party.
No one size fits all, says Environment Minister at Pre-COP31 climate summit meetings
Local studies and assessments, Bhupender Yadav says, are key to identifying emerging challenges, mitigation and adaptation measures, and the resources needed
Dharapuram byelection: Poll official shifted after alleged bid to influence elderly voter
Delayed stormwater drain work at busy Tirunelveli Junction causing hardship to people
Corporation Commissioner says as several utility lines passed through the busy Tirunelveli Junction, the contractor has been asked to take utmost care while executing the work
Tamil Nadu bypoll row: Polling officer removed after directing voter to press TVKs whistle symbol
Calf beaten to death at farm near Sulur; probe on
Rahul, Priyanka and other Opposition MPs detained from Akashvani Bhawan
Andhra Pradesh Police arrest two, including Naval employee, for spying for Pakistan
Digital Desk | Vijayawada, Oct 6 (IANS) The Andhra Pradesh Counter Intelligence Cell has arrested two persons, including a Naval employee, for allegedly sharing sensitive information about Naval and defence establishments with Pakistan-based intelligence operatives. Annam Sai Varaprasad, a civilian contract driver engaged for Naval officers, was arrested in Visakhapatnam, while Pradeep Mukherjee, a Naval employee at the Visakhapatnam Naval base, was arrested in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. The AP Counter Intelligence Cell made the arrests after launching a coordinated operation on October 1 against an alleged espionage module involving 18 suspects, including 13 Naval personnel. Code-named Operation Firewall2026, the operation involved 12 Counter Intelligence teams deployed across 10 states and union territory -- Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, Goa, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh and Bihar. The Counter Intelligence Cell said in a statement on Tuesday that it received credible information that certain people in India were allegedly in direct contact with Pakistan Intelligence Operatives (PIOs) and their suspected involvement in an espionage conspiracy prejudicial to national security. The suspects were allegedly collecting and sharing the sensitive/classified information relating to defence establishments and strategic locations in Visakhapatnam and other parts of the country was collected and shared through encrypted communication channels. The Counter Intelligence Police Station in Vijayawada registered a case on September 2 under Sections 61(2), 147 and 148 read with Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, Sections 17 and 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, and Section 3 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923. Counter Intelligence teams worked in coordination with the concerned state Anti-Terrorism Squads, Naval officials and local police. They examined the alleged involvement of the 18 suspects and seized electronic gadgets following legal procedures. Two of the suspects were arrested after their role was established prima facie in this case, while investigation into the remaining suspects is continuing. Annam Sai Varaprasad, a civilian contract driver engaged for Naval officers, was arrested for his involvement in sharing sensitive/classified information relating to Naval/Defence establishments with a Pakistan-based intelligence operative and received money in connection with it. He was sent to judicial remand until October 14 and is currently lodged in District Jail, Visakhapatnam. Pradeep Mukherjee, a Naval employee at the Visakhapatnam Naval base, allegedly shared an OTP to activate a WhatsApp account used by a PIO, communicated with PIOs and shared sensitive information relating to Naval and defence establishments. After obtaining a transit warrant from a local court in Coimbatore, the Counter Intelligence Cell produced Mukherjee before the jurisdictional court in Vijayawada. He was sent to judicial custody until October 14 and is currently lodged in District Jail, Vijayawada. The Counter Intelligence Cell said the investigation into the remaining suspects was continuing and that further details would be disclosed at an appropriate time, keeping in view the requirements of the investigation and national security.
Anti-ragging guidelines drawn up, State informs Kerala HC
The Division Bench of Chief Justice had previously directed the State to issue guidelines based on the draft Kerala Prohibition of Ragging (Amendment) Bill, until it was enacted
TN ministers appeal against HC order permitting DMK to sue them
Union Cabinet congratulates PM Modi on 25 years of continuous leadership
The Cabinet resolution listed initiatives aimed at empowering women, encouraging startups, expanding opportunities for youth, supporting farmers and vulnerable tribal communities, also noting that over 25 crore people had been lifted out of poverty
CEC protests | Delhi Police manhandle Congress leader K. C. Venugopal
TN govt sets up additional court to fast track NIA cases
