New Delhi, Mar 28 (PTI) India on Saturday said it has strongly opposed the contentious China-led Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD) Agreement for its incorporation into the WTO framework.

Incorporation of the IFD agreement risks eroding the functional limits of the WTO and undermining its foundational principles, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said in a social media post.

This was stated by India in the ongoing 14th ministerial conference of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Yaounde, Cameroon.

"At #WTOMC14, drawing inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi ji's philosophy of Truth prevailing over conformity, India showed the courage to stand alone on the contentious issue of the IFD Agreement and did not agree to its incorporation into the WTO framework as an Annex 4 Agreement," he said.

Annex 4 of the WTO Agreement contains Plurilateral Trade Agreements that are binding only on the WTO members that have accepted them, unlike the mandatory multilateral agreements.

As part of WTO reform discussions, members are discussing guardrails and legal safeguards for plurilaterals before the integration of any specific plurilateral outcome, Goyal said.

"In view of the systemic issue at hand, India showed openness to have good faith, comprehensive discussions and constructive engagement under the WTO Reform Agenda," he added.

At the MC13 in Abu Dhabi also, India had strongly opposed the pact.

A China-led group is pushing for the Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD) proposal. The proposal will be binding for only the signatory members.

The IFD was first mooted in 2017 by China and other countries that depend heavily on Chinese investments, and countries with sovereign wealth funds are party to that pact. PTI RR MR

Mumbai, Mar 28 (PTI) Industrialist Vijaypat Singhania, who died in Mumbai at age 87 on Saturday, occupied a rare space in the storied world of corporate chieftains.

His leadership of Raymond since 1980 as chairman and managing director, more than a decade before the economic liberalisation of 1991 heralded the arrival of the Indian consumer, ensured that the textile brand was able to withstand the pressures unlike many legacy brands.

The sky was the limit for the adventure and aviation enthusiast Singhania, who was a rare corporate leader doing risky manouvres beyond the boardrooms.

Pursuits in both the arenas -- business and adventure -- won him accolades, as he went on to receive India's third highest civilian honour Padma Bhushan as well as the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award.

In November 2005, the then-67 year old Singhania created a world record by ascending to approximately 69,000 feet in a hot air balloon. Before that, in 1988, he had set a speed-over-time endurance record for microlight aircraft by flying solo from London to New Delhi over 23 days.

In 1994, the Indian Air Force made him an Honorary Air Commodore in recognition of the over 5,000 hours of flying that he had put in, while in 2006 he was appointed the Sheriff of Mumbai.

On the business front, Singhania expanded Raymond into synthetic fabrics, denim, steel, industrial files, and cement, thus forging a diversified industrial conglomerate.

In March 2007, Dr Singhania was appointed as Chairman of the Governing Council of the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, a role he held until 2012.

Singhania passed the baton of the Raymond Group to son Gautam Singhania in 2000 but continued to be active in public life. Of late, though, his public appearances had become rare.

Vijaypat and Gautam Singhania were embroiled in legal disputes some years back, but they were reported to have settled the issues. PTI AA KRK

Kolkata, Mar 28 (PTI) The Election Commission on Saturday published the third supplementary voter list under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls for 2026.

The poll panel, however, did not provide details on the total number of deletions or inclusions in the third list, which follows the publication of the second supplementary list on Friday night.

The commission had released the first supplementary list of 'Under Adjudication' voters on Monday (March 23) but remained tight-lipped on the number of deletions or the precise figure of cases disposed of on that list, drawing criticism from various quarters.

According to an EC official, the "supplementary list" refers to an additional list of voters' names that are included after the publication of the final roll.

These typically cover newly enrolled voters, corrections in details, and names restored after verification. Alongside this, the office has also released corresponding deletion lists, which contain names removed due to reasons such as duplication, death, or shifting of residence.

Election officials said the phased publication of supplementary lists ensures that all eligible voters are included while maintaining the accuracy of the rolls ahead of upcoming electoral exercises.

"As directed by the court, the supplementary list will be published on a regular basis now,' the official said.

A total of 58 lakh names were deleted following the enumeration phase of the SIR exercise, slashing the state's eligible electors from the initial 7.66 crore to 7.08 crore on grounds of death, migration, duplication and untraceability.

The post-SIR rolls published on February 28 further reduced the number of valid voters to just over 7.04 crore, keeping over 60 lakh names under judicial scrutiny.

Another EC source said around 10 lakh names were in the first supplementary list, and another 21 lakh in the second supplementary list.

Polling for the 294-member West Bengal Assembly will be held on April 23 and 29, with counting scheduled for May 4.

Booth-wise lists were made available on the ECI website around 11.30 pm during the day. PTI SUS ACD

New Delhi, Mar 28 (PTI) Delhi Police will reserve 20 per cent of constable (executive) posts for former Agniveers, with exemptions from the physical efficiency test and relaxation in the upper age limit, according to a Ministry of Home Affairs notification.

The move comes as part of amendments to the Delhi Police (Appointment and Recruitment) Rules, 1980, notified on Friday, formalising the force's recruitment policy in line with the Centre's broader plan to absorb Agniveers into security forces after their four-year tenure in the armed forces.

Detailed procedures for conducting recruitment tests, including written examinations and physical measurements, will be issued separately by the Commissioner of Police.

As per the notification, ex-Agniveers will get a three-year relaxation in the prescribed upper age limit for recruitment to the post of constable (executive), which currently stands at 18-25 years. Additionally, candidates from the first batch of the Agniveer scheme will be eligible for a further five-year relaxation, effectively extending their upper age limit to 30 years.

In a significant concession, ex-Agniveers will also be exempted from the Physical Efficiency Test (PET), one of the most competitive stages of the recruitment process that typically includes endurance events such as running.

However, they will still have to meet prescribed physical measurement and medical standards, which remain unchanged for all candidates.

The notification institutionalises an earlier decision approved by then Delhi Lt Governor V K Saxena, who had cleared 20 per cent reservation for ex-Agniveers in Delhi Police's constable recruitment. Until now, police constables were appointed through 100 per cent direct recruitment. PTI SSJ SKY

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New Delhi, Mar 31 (PTI) Trinamool Congress on Tuesday alleged an "attempt to loot votes" in West Bengal ahead of assembly polls, and claimed that a large number of Form 6 were being submitted in the state.

Addressing a press conference here, TMC Rajya Sabha deputy leader Sagarika Ghose referred to a letter written by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and said democracy is under "severe threat."

"We are here to expose a systematic assault on democracy in Bengal and a systematic attempt to loot votes in Bengal. Let me say this clearly. Yesterday, TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee visited the CEO's office and the CM was forced to write to the CEC," Ghose said.

"When a sitting chief minister has to write to the election commission about fraud inside its own office, democracy is already under severe threat. This is not a mistake, it's a planned operation," she alleged.

Ghose said that between 11 am and 6 pm on Monday, nearly 30,000 Form 6 applications were submitted in bulk at the CEO's office.

"The law is clear, no individual can submit more than 50 applications," she said.

"When we asked for CCTV footage, they said they don't know where the cameras are. This is not negligence, it's a cover-up," she alleged.

Ghose also alleged that 400 forms were found with a man in Medinipur.

"This happened when Suvendu Adhikari was coming out of the CEO's office. Now this is, this is not just unconstitutional, not just illegal, it is contempt of court," she said.

In a strongly-worded letter to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Tuesday, the TMC supremo accused the BJP of trying to illegally include voters from outside West Bengal in bulk through Form 6.

Banerjee shot the letter in less than 24 hours after Abhishek Banerjee alleged that nearly 30,000 Form 6 were submitted by the BJP in a day to make residents of other states voters of West Bengal.

Abhishek Banerjee said the party had "credible information that about 30,000 Form 6 were submitted to the CEO's office in six to seven hours" on Monday. PTI AO VN

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Nashik, Mar 31 (PTI) The Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is conducting a probe against rape-accused self-styled godman Ashok Kharat, on Tuesday detained his son from Nashik city for questioning, police said.

At least 10 FIRs, eight for alleged sexual assault or exploitation and two for cheating, have been registered against Kharat at Sarkarwada police station in Nashik, while the SIT has received more than 100 complaints over phone against him.

An SIT team reached Kharat's house located in Karmayogi Nagar here and detained his son Harshvardhan. He was then taken to the Maharashtra Police Academy (MPA) for questioning, police sources said.

The investigators are trying to trace Kharat's wife Kalpana. However, the SIT team failed to find her at the residence, and detained their son, they said.

Kharat's police custody will end on Wednesday, following which he will be produced in a local court.

Meanwhile, police in neighbouring Ahilyanagar district on Tuesday registered a case against five persons, including Kharat's wife for cheating a land owner of over Rs 4 crore, officials said.

Police in the temple town of Shirdi have arrested two accused persons in this connection. However, Kharat's wife Kalpana is absconding and an operation to trace her is underway, the official said.

"A land owner from Shirdi had borrowed an unsecured loan of Rs 5.52 crore from Kharat's wife against four acres of land. He had made repayment of around Rs 1.5 crore, but Kharat allegedly tried to grab the land. The owner then lodged a complaint with the police, based on which a case was registered for fraud and under the Maharashtra Money Lending (Regulation) Act," he said.

The arrested accused duo was identified as Arvind Bawake and Kiran Sonawane, he said, adding that Kharat, his wife and a middleman are wanted in the case. PTI COR DC NP

Jaipur, Mar 31 (PTI) Jungle safari in Rajasthan will become costlier for tourists from April 1 as the forest department has increased entry fees by 10 per cent across national parks, tiger reserves and wildlife sanctuaries, officials said.

The revised rates, which will remain in effect for two years, also include a 10 per cent hike in charges for buses, jeeps and cameras.

Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden K C A Arun Prasad said the increase covers entry fees, vehicle entry charges, camera fees and eco-development surcharge.

In Ranthambore National Park, Indian tourists will now pay Rs 215 per person, including eco-development charges, while foreign visitors will be charged Rs 1,575 per person. The fee for students has been fixed at Rs 65.

For other parks, excluding Keoladeo National Park and Ranthambore, Indian tourists will pay Rs 165 per person and foreign tourists Rs 1,010, while students will continue to pay Rs 65.

Vehicle charges in Ranthambore have also been revised, with buses priced at Rs 1,095, jeeps and cars at Rs 695, and e-rickshaws or two-wheelers at Rs 115.

Camera fees have also been increased, with Indian companies required to pay Rs 15,980 per day for documentary and film production and foreign companies Rs 24,200.

For feature films and advertisements, the charges have been set at Rs 1,06,480 per day for Indian companies and Rs 1,57,300 for foreign firms, the official said. PTI AG KSS

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Mumbai, Mar 31 (PTI) Senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Tukaram Mundhe was transferred by the Maharashtra government on Tuesday, his 24th posting in 21 years of career in bureaucracy.

Considered an upright civil servant, Mundhe was among several IAS officers who were transferred by the government. These included Ashwini Bhide, Vikas Chandra Rastogi and Lokesh Chandra, officials said.

Mundhe, currently Secretary in the Divyang Kalyan Department at Mantralaya, Mumbai, was transferred as Secretary, Disaster Management, Rehabilitation and Rehabilitation, Revenue and Forest Department at the state secretariat, according to an official order.

He was posted as Secretary of the Divyang Welfare Department (Divyang Kalyan Department) less than a year ago in August 2025.

Bhide, who was serving as Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister, was appointed as commissioner of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), becoming the first woman to hold the post in the 154-year-old history of India's richest civic body.

Rastogi, serving as Additional Chief Secretary in Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries Departments at Mantralaya, was posted as Additional Chief Secretary (Financial Reforms) in the Finance Department.

Chandra, Chairman and Managing Director of Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd, was appointed as Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister.

Vinita Vaid Singal, Principal Secretary, Disaster Management, Rehabilitation and Rehabilitation, Revenue and Forest Department, was transferred as Principal Secretary, Soil and Water Conservation Department.

Senior civil servant Parimal Singh, Project Director of the Nanaji Deshmukh Krishi Sanjivanee Project (POCRA), Mumbai, was posted as Secretary (Agriculture) in the Agriculture and allied departments at Mantralaya.

Prithviraj B P, Additional Municipal Commissioner of Pune, was posted as new civic chief of the Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation adjoining Mumbai, the order stated. PTI ND VT RSY

Lucknow, Mar 31 (PTI) A Delhi-bound Air India Express flight from West Bengal's Bagdogra made an emergency landing at the Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport here after a smoke alarm, sources said on Tuesday.

The flight (IX1523), operated by an Airbus A320 aircraft, was diverted to Lucknow Monday evening after the pilot issued a "Mayday" call -- an internationally recognised distress signal used in life-threatening emergencies -- after the crew detected smoke in the avionics bay.

However, on Tuesday evening, another airline source said it was not a "Mayday" call but a "PAN-PAN" call, declaring urgency and seeking priority landing.

According to sources, the Air Traffic Control in Lucknow was alerted about the diversion, and the aircraft landed safely at around 5.18 pm.

A total of 148 people, including six crew members, were on board at the time.

All passengers were safely evacuated after landing.

Following the incident, the aircraft was declared "Aircraft on Ground", a technical term indicating that the plane has been grounded due to a fault requiring immediate inspection and repair before it can fly again.

Passengers were accommodated on alternate flights to their destinations.

Some passengers were offered full refunds, while others were provided hotel accommodation and rebooked on subsequent flights, sources said.

"Prioritising safety, the crew operating one of our flights to Delhi elected to divert (the plane) to Lucknow and carried out a priority landing following a smoke alert. The aircraft landed safely, and all guests were provided refreshments on arrival. They were subsequently re-accommodated on alternative flights to Delhi. We regret the inconvenience," an Air India Express spokesperson said Tuesday evening.

The aircraft remains parked at the Lucknow airport. PTI KIS VN RUK

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Peshawar, Mar 31 (PTI) A joint Pakistan-Afghanistan 'jirga' here on Tuesday called for an immediate ceasefire to ease the rising tensions between the two neighbours.

A jirga is an assembly of elders and community leaders in Afghanistan and Pakistan that resolves disputes based on consensus.

The declaration was issued at the conclusion of the jirga, which was attended by former governors, political leaders, ex-diplomats, tribal elders, intellectuals, and religious scholars.

The participants emphasised that both countries must ensure their territories are not used against each other under any circumstances. 

"No individual or group should be allowed to use either country’s soil for hostile activities,” the official statement issued said.

The jirga urged governments of both nations to fully utilise their state capacity to implement mutually agreed decisions to maintain peace.

It also stressed that all disputes and differences should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy, declaring these as the only viable options.

“War is not a solution to any problem. Sustainable peace can only be achieved through mutual respect and understanding,” the statement added.

The forum also called for the establishment of a joint and permanent platform to ensure continuous engagement between the two countries, which would help improve understanding of each other’s positions, circumstances, and constraints.

It further recommended concrete confidence-building measures and their effective implementation to strengthen trust.

Last week, Pakistan said that the operation against the Afghan Taliban was going on and it would continue until the objective of eliminating the threat of terrorism was achieved. PTI AYZ SKS SKS GRS

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Peshawar, Mar 31 (PTI) At least nine people were killed and three others injured on Tuesday in a landslide during mining operations in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, officials said.

The incident occurred in the Rustam area of Mardan district.

According to Rescue 1122 authorities, a section of the mountain collapsed while mining work was underway, trapping several people under the debris.

Rescue teams launched an immediate operation and recovered nine bodies, while three injured people were pulled out alive from the rubble.

The injured were provided initial medical assistance at the scene before being shifted to a nearby hospital for further treatment.

Officials said that relief and search operations have been completed at the site. PTI AYZ GRS GRS

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Moscow, Mar 31 (PTI) Russia is ready to supply fertilisers and other agricultural products to countries of the Global South and East, a senior Russian official said on Tuesday.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to the West Asia conflict has impacted the global economy.

At a briefing for foreign diplomats here, Deputy Secretary of the Russian Security Council Alexander Venediktov said that the closure of the Strait has halted approximately 50 per cent of global fertiliser exports, which could disrupt the sowing season in Asia.

“The escalation of hostilities in the Persian Gulf region has led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The logistics and trade-economic architecture, as well as global energy and food security, are on the brink of collapse," Venediktov said.

He added that it is fraught with "very serious consequences" for countries dependent on imported hydrocarbons, fertilisers, and food.

“Nitrogen additive prices have risen by 30 per cent. In the current extremely challenging situation, Russia is ready to act in coordination with its friends—countries of the Global South and East."

"We are ready to extend a helping hand through the supply of agricultural products, fertilisers, and the development of multidisciplinary cooperation," Venediktov said. PTI VS GRS

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Beijing/Islamabad, Mar 31 (PTI) China and Pakistan on Tuesday put forward a five-point proposal to end the West Asia conflict, calling for the restoration of peace and stability in the Gulf region and safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

The peace proposal was put forward after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, who undertook a one-day visit to Beijing to discuss regional developments.

The two reviewed the situation in the Gulf and West Asia region, and Dar briefed Wang about his recent talks with the foreign ministers of Turkiye, Egypt and Saudi Arabia to promote talks between the US and Iran to end the ongoing conflict.

Following the Dar-Wang talks, the two countries put forward five proposals on restoring peace and stability in the Gulf region and West Asia, as well as safe passage through the Strait.

The proposals included the immediate cessation of hostilities, initiation of peace talks as soon as possible, ensuring the safety of non-military targets and safety of navigation, and safeguarding the primacy of the UN Charter.

"China and Pakistan call for immediate cessation of hostilities and utmost efforts to prevent the conflict from spreading. Humanitarian assistance must be allowed to all war-affected areas," according to a joint statement.

They called for starting peace talks as soon as possible.

“Sovereignty, territorial integrity, national independence and security of Iran and the Gulf states should be safeguarded. Dialogue and diplomacy is the only viable option to resolve conflicts,” the statement said.

They also said that the principle of protecting civilians in military conflict should be observed.

“China and Pakistan call on parties to the conflict to immediately stop attacks on civilians and nonmilitary targets, and fully adhere to International Humanitarian Law (IHL), and stop attacking important infrastructure, including energy, desalination and power facilities, and peaceful nuclear infrastructure, such as nuclear power plants,” it said.

The two countries also called for the security of shipping lanes, calling the Strait of Hormuz, together with its adjacent waters, "an important global shipping route for goods and energy".

“China and Pakistan call on the parties to protect the security of ships and crew members stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, allow the early and safe passage of civilian and commercial ships, and restore normal passage through the Strait as soon as possible,” it said.

Lastly, they called for the primacy of the United Nations Charter in ending tension.

Earlier, Pakistan's Foreign Office said that Islamabad and Beijing enjoy an all-weather strategic cooperative partnership, characterised by “close coordination and regular consultations” on regional development and international issues.

Dar, before leaving for China, held a quadrilateral meeting with foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Egypt in Islamabad.

He has also been in contact with China through telephone calls with Wang and meetings with the Chinese ambassador in Pakistan.

Earlier, China said three of its ships carrying oil supplies had passed through the Strait of Hormuz after coordination with relevant parties, and thanked these relevant parties for facilitation and coordination.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning made the remarks during a media briefing here, without naming Iran, which is currently controlling the movement of oil shipments from the Gulf crossing the Strait.

Iran is demanding international recognition of its sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.

The Strait of Hormuz and waters nearby are an important route for international goods and energy trade. China calls for an immediate end to hostilities to restore peace and stability in the Gulf, Mao said.

This is the first time China, a large importer of Iranian oil for years despite US sanctions, spoke of its ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz amid reports that Iran is permitting Chinese ships to cross the Strait given the close strategic ties.

Ever since the US and Israel attacked Iran, China has been calling on all countries to immediately stop military operations.

Beijing has also been calling for keeping the Strait of Hormuz open, as its closure resulted in widespread disruption of fuel supplies.

While condemning the attacks on Iran, China is also preparing for US President Donald Trump's visit scheduled for May 14-15, during which expectations are high to finalise a trade deal between the two countries. PTI KJV/SH GRS GRS

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Moscow, Mar 31 (PTI) Russia and India should maintain "regular, systematic" contacts, a top Russian official said on Tuesday, expressing hope that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay an official visit to Russia at a convenient time this year.

Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko made the remarks in an interview with the state-run TASS news agency.

"It is very important for Russia and India to maintain regular, systematic contacts at various levels," Rudenko said.

"We hope that the Indian prime minister will take advantage of President Vladimir Putin's invitation to pay an official visit to Russia at a convenient time," he added.

Rudeko also said that it is Moscow's turn to host the Russian-Indian Summit this year.

Earlier, Russia's President Putin visited India in December 2025, when the summit was held in New Delhi.

Following talks between Modi and Putin, India and Russia unveiled a raft of measures including a five-year roadmap to build a robust economic partnership and to increase the annual trade to USD 100 billion by 2030.

Over the years, Moscow and New Delhi have signed agreements in various areas of cooperation and reaffirmed their commitment to deepening a special privileged strategic partnership. PTI SKS GRS SKS GRS

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Washington, Mar 31 (PTI) From seeking help from NATO allies in the Iran war to declaring he does not need them, and from threatening to destroy Tehran’s energy infrastructure to postponing such strikes almost overnight – US President Donald Trump’s flip-flops since the start of the “military operations” a month ago have baffled Americans.

Trump’s regular commentary on the war has drawn criticism for being “impulsive” – to put it mildly – to a derisive “Trump Always Chickens Out (TACO)” by social media users.

In an interaction with reporters earlier this month, Trump appeared to seek help from European nations and others dependent on oil and gas from the Middle East in securing the Hormuz Strait, a narrow Iran-controlled waterway used to transport one-fifth of the global crude supplies.

“If we need their mine boats or if we need anything, any piece of apparatus that they may have because of a situation that they have, they should be jumping to help us. We want them to come and help us with the Strait,” Trump said.

But in the same breath, he added, “My attitude is, we don’t need anybody. We’re the strongest nation in the world. We have the strongest military by far in the world. We don’t need them.”

The US President’s appeal for help in securing the Strait of Hormuz has received a cold response from European nations, China, and South Korea, among others.

"All of those countries that can’t get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the United Kingdom, which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran, I have a suggestion for you: Number 1, buy from the US, we have plenty, and Number 2, build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Tuesday.

Last week, the US President threatened to “obliterate” Iran’s power plants if Tehran does not fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours.

The next day, Trump put the strikes on hold – first for five days and then for another 10 days, citing negotiations with a leader in Iran, who appeared to be in control of the situation there.

“Instead of a cold and calculating explanation of his reasons for going in, Trump has sounded much more impulsive and emotional. The problem, then, is any backtracking or scaling back undermines his own ego and posturing,” Edward Lengel, a former chief historian for the White House Historical Association, was quoted by American media outlet ‘Roll Call’.

Engel said Trump was the “most involved wartime president since Abraham Lincoln,” but described the trait as a flaw as it leads to a lack of consistent plan being decided by commanders.

“Most presidents since have actively tried to avoid that and be seen as behind the scenes, leaving the tactical and strategic decisions up to the generals,” added Lengel, a military historian by training.

“For the world there is no longer any such thing as American credibility, just a strange reality television show in which the main actor swerves, bobs and weaves his way through crises, hoping that what he says today will solve the crisis caused by what he said yesterday,” Fareed Zakaria, foreign affairs analyst, said in an article in the Washington Post. 

Trump’s call for postponing the strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure drew ridicule from social media users.

“Enough tacos here for a New Mexican restaurant chain,” Josh Marshall, the founder of Talking Points Memo, said in a post on BlueSky social media platform.

The term TACO (Trump Always Chickens Out) was coined last year when the US President held out a threat of imposing massive tariffs and backing out later.

“TACO Tuesday coming a day early…” California Governor Gavin Newsom’s press office said in a post on X, referring to reports of Trump telling aides that he was ready to end the war without reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

An opinion poll by Pew Research found that about six in ten or 61 per cent Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of the war with Iran. It said 37 per cent approved of the war.

Recently, Trump claimed that a CNN poll among MAGA supporters – his key voter base – found 100 per cent support for the war.

According to the Pew Research survey, Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents overwhelmingly disapprove of Trump’s handling of the conflict (90 per cent) and say the US made the wrong decision in striking Iran (88 per cent).

In contrast, about seven-in-ten Republicans and Republican leaners approve of how Trump is handling the conflict (69 per cent) and think the US made the right decision (71 per cent).

In the AP-NORC poll, 52 per cent of Republicans said US military action in Iran has been about right, and another 20 per cent said it hasn’t gone far enough, compared to 90 per cent of Democrats who said that it’s gone too far.

The Quinnipiac survey found 79 per cent of Republicans think the war with Iran will make the world safer, while 74 per cent of Democrats think it will make the world less safe.

Michael Rubin, a historian at the American Enterprise Institute who worked as a staff adviser on Iran and Iraq at the Pentagon from 2002 to 2004, said Trump is “the first president of any party in recent history that hasn’t self-constrained to live within rhetorical boundaries.”

“So of course it creates a great deal of confusion,” he said.

Trump's unpredictable responses to the war have even confused his Republican compatriots.

Politico reported that House Armed Services Committee chair Mike Rogers, a Republican Congressman, complained about how lawmakers are “not getting enough answers” to questions about the war after a closed-door briefing with Defence Department officials last week.

Republican Congresswoman Nancy Mace voiced her concerns about US operations transforming into boots on the ground: “Let me repeat: I will not support troops on the ground in Iran, even more so after this briefing,” Mace said in a post on X. PTI SKU GRS

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Karachi, Mar 31 (PTI) Members of Pakistan's minority Hindu community staged a sit-in protest here to highlight the rising cases of abduction and forced conversion of Hindu girls to Islam before marriage to older Muslim men.

The protesters came together under the banner of Pakistan Darawar Ittehad (PDI) outside the Sindh Legislative Assembly on Monday.

They attempted to highlight the ongoing injustices, oppression, and discrimination faced by the Sindhi Hindu minority community, according to the PDI Chairman, Shiva Kachhi.

Highlighting a fresh case, Kachhi said on Tuesday that a minor girl had been abducted from the city's Landhi area and forcibly married off after conversion.

“We are still trying to get a proper FIR registered with the Landhi police to move the case forward," he added.

"But the girl is missing, and her family is distraught,” Kachhi said.

Highlighting another case that took place a week ago near Mirpurkhas, Kachhi said, another young Hindu girl had been abducted and forcibly converted and married off.

“The purpose of this protest sit-in was to highlight the insecurity and unsafe conditions for our women, especially in the rural Sindh areas,” he said.

According to eyewitnesses, hundreds of Hindus across Sindh came to take part in the protest, which ended peacefully after the leaders handed over a list of demands to the Sindh Assembly speaker.

Muslim and Christian leaders also supported the protest rally and came together in solidarity with the Hindu community, according to the PDI chairman.

“All these incidents directly violate the Sindh Child Marriage Act, and I know of cases where many families have migrated to other provinces because of the situation in Sindh,” he added. PTI CORR SKS SKS GRS

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Beijing, Mar 31 (PTI) China and Pakistan on Tuesday put forward a five-point peace proposal to end the West Asia war, including a call for safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

The peace proposal was put forward after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks on the Iran situation with visiting Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.

Dar arrived here to brief Wang about his recent talks with the foreign ministers of Turkiye, Egypt and Saudi Arabia to promote talks between the US and Iran to end the ongoing conflict.

After Dar-Wang talks, the two countries put forward five proposals on restoring peace and stability in the Gulf region and West Asia, as well as safe passage through the Strait.

The proposals included the immediate cessation of hostilities, initiation of peace talks as soon as possible, ensuring the safety of non-military targets and safety of navigation, and safeguarding the primacy of the UN Charter.

The Strait of Hormuz, together with its adjacent waters, is an important global shipping route for goods and energy, a joint statement issued after their talks said.

“China and Pakistan call on the parties to protect the security of ships and crew members stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, allow the early and safe passage of civilian and commercial ships, and restore normal passage through the Strait as soon as possible,” Pakistani media reported, quoting the joint statement.

Earlier, China said three of its ships carrying oil supplies had passed through the Strait of Hormuz and thanked relevant parties for facilitation and coordination.

After coordination with relevant parties, three Chinese ships recently transited the Strait of Hormuz. We express appreciation for the assistance of relevant parties, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a media briefing here, without naming Iran, which is currently controlling the movement of oil shipments from the Gulf crossing the Strait.

Iran is demanding international recognition of its sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.

The Strait of Hormuz and waters nearby are an important route for international goods and energy trade. China calls for an immediate end to hostilities to restore peace and stability in the Gulf, Mao said.

This is the first time China, a large importer of Iranian oil for years despite US sanctions, spoke of its ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz amid reports that Iran is permitting Chinese ships to cross the Strait given the close strategic ties.

Ever since the US and Israel attacked Iran, China has been calling on all countries to immediately stop military operations.

Beijing has also been calling for keeping the Strait of Hormuz open, as its closure resulted in widespread disruption of fuel supplies.

While condemning the attacks on Iran, China is also preparing for US President Donald Trump's visit scheduled for May 14-15, during which expectations are high to finalise a trade deal between the two countries. PTI KJV GRS

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Kathmandu, Mar 31 (PTI) The Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) on Tuesday announced a two-week-long protest starting April 11 against the arrest of deposed prime minister and party chair K P Sharma Oli.

The former prime minister and then home minister Ramesh Lekhak were arrested on Saturday for their alleged involvement in suppressing last year's Gen Z protest, which left 76 people dead.

The arrests came after the newly formed Balendra Shah government decided to implement the report of the probe commission into the Gen Z protests in its first cabinet meeting. 

The CPN-UML in a statement said it would launch demonstrations in all municipalities on April 11 and stage similar protests across all wards on April 16.

It also said it would organise protests throughout all seven provincial capitals on April 20 and a grand protest rally here on April 25 to show its strength.

The party's latest protest announcement comes after the Supreme Court on Monday refused to grant an interim relief to Oli and Lekhak.

The Kathmandu District Court on Monday granted a five-day judicial remand of Oli and Lekhak to Nepal Police to record their statements.

A high-level meeting of the CPN-UML on Tuesday termed the arrests by the newly-elected Balen government as illegal, unconstitutional and aimed at taking revenge.

Urging the government to immediately release the two leaders, the party said it would fight political and legal battles both on the streets and in parliament.

The party also plans to raise the issue in parliament as both the Houses commence on Thursday.

The CPN-UML has a strength of 25 representatives in the 275-member House of Representatives. It has asked all other political parties and civil society organisations to participate in its protest programmes.

Hundreds of CPN-UML activists organised protest rallies over the weekend, in which over a dozen party cadres were injured as they clashed with the riot police. Monday's protest rally was peaceful. PTI SBP PY PY

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Male, Mar 31 (PTI) Defending champions India will look to rise to the occasion when they take on Bhutan in the semi-finals of the SAFF U20 Championship at the National Stadium here on Wednesday.

The other semi-final is between Nepal and Bangladesh.

The India U20 men's team heads into the semi-finals after making full use of the three-day break following their group-stage matches. The Blue Colts used the time to recover physically and reset mentally after their outings against Pakistan and Bangladesh.

The squad also enjoyed a day out at the beach, allowing the players to unwind and strengthen team bonding ahead of the match. The positive atmosphere carried into training, where the players showed sharpness, enthusiasm and renewed focus as preparations intensified.

India progressed to the semi-finals as group toppers after composed performances against Pakistan (3-0) and Bangladesh (1-1) in Group B. The team showed resilience in key moments and handled pressure well, particularly in phases where the matches demanded patience and discipline.

India head coach Mahesh Gawli praised his players for their effort and mindset so far.

"The boys have been playing well as they handled pressure well. We didn't get time to prepare before the tournament, but the boys are giving their 100 per cent. I am really happy and proud of the way we have performed so far," said Gawli.

While the group-stage results were encouraging, the Indian camp is aware that the semi-final will require another step forward. The team created opportunities in both matches but will aim to be more clinical in front of goal. Maintaining concentration during defensive phases will also be important in a knockout contest.

"Nothing is easy. We created chances to score, and we need to convert more. We also need to be more focused when defending," Gawli added.

Bhutan enter the semi-finals after showing determination in Group A. They began with a defeat against Nepal but recovered with a goalless draw against hosts Maldives.

Their qualification was sealed in dramatic fashion when they scored in injury time to beat Sri Lanka 1-0. The late winner underlined Bhutan’s persistence and ability to stay in the contest until the final whistle.

India will therefore approach the match with caution. Bhutan's disciplined performances and ability to capitalise on decisive moments make them a dangerous opponent. Staying focused for the full 90 minutes will be crucial for the Blue Colts.

There will also be a key battle in front of goal. India's Vishal Yadav and Omang Dodum have each scored twice in the tournament and have led the attacking effort.

Bhutan's Dhendup Gyeltshen has also netted two goals and will be a major threat. The performance of these forwards could influence the outcome of the match.

With no extra time scheduled, the semi-final will go directly to penalties if the scores are level after regulation time. That adds further intensity to the encounter, where composure and decision-making will play a vital role. PTI AH AH PDS

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Beijing, Mar 31 (PTI) China on Tuesday said three of its ships carrying oil supplies have passed through the Strait of Hormuz and thanked relevant parties for facilitation and coordination.

After coordination with relevant parties, three Chinese ships recently transited the Strait of Hormuz. We express appreciation for the assistance of relevant parties, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a media briefing here without naming Iran, which is currently controlling the movement of oil shipments from the Gulf crossing the Strait.

Iran is demanding international recognition of its sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.

The Strait of Hormuz and waters nearby are an important route for international goods and energy trade. China calls for an immediate end to hostilities to restore peace and stability in the Gulf, Mao said.

This is the first time China, a large importer of Iranian oil for years despite US sanctions, spoke of its ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz amid reports that Iran is permitting the Chinese ships to cross the Strait in view of the close strategic ties.

In related development, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with visiting Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar on the Iran situation in Beijing on Tuesday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, is scheduled to exchange views with Dar on other international and regional issues of common concern, the Chinese state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Earlier, Mao had said the Middle East war would figure in the Dar and Wang.

Dar is expected to brief Wang on the discussions held with the Foreign Ministers of Turkiye, Egypt and Saudi Arabia to promote talks between the US and Iran to end the ongoing conflict.

On Dar's visit, Mao said China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic cooperative partners of mutual trust and mutual support.

    The two countries share similar positions and maintain close communication on major international and regional issues, she said.

    It's believed that the two foreign ministers will step up strategic communication and coordination on the situation in Iran and other international and regional issues of mutual interest, jointly call for peace and a just position, and make new efforts to help end the conflict and bring about peace and stability in the region, she said.

    Ever since the US and Israel attacked Iran, China has been calling on all countries to immediately stop military operations. China has also been calling for keeping the Strait of Hormuz open, as its closure resulted in widespread disruption of fuel supplies.

    While condemning the attacks on Iran, China is also preparing for US President Donald Trump's visit scheduled for May 14-15, during which expectations are high to finalise a trade deal between the two countries. PTI KJV

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New Delhi, Mar 28 (PTI) India on Saturday said it has strongly opposed the contentious China-led Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD) Agreement for its incorporation into the WTO framework.

Incorporation of the IFD agreement risks eroding the functional limits of the WTO and undermining its foundational principles, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said in a social media post.

This was stated by India in the ongoing 14th ministerial conference of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Yaounde, Cameroon.

"At #WTOMC14, drawing inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi ji's philosophy of Truth prevailing over conformity, India showed the courage to stand alone on the contentious issue of the IFD Agreement and did not agree to its incorporation into the WTO framework as an Annex 4 Agreement," he said.

Annex 4 of the WTO Agreement contains Plurilateral Trade Agreements that are binding only on the WTO members that have accepted them, unlike the mandatory multilateral agreements.

As part of WTO reform discussions, members are discussing guardrails and legal safeguards for plurilaterals before the integration of any specific plurilateral outcome, Goyal said.

"In view of the systemic issue at hand, India showed openness to have good faith, comprehensive discussions and constructive engagement under the WTO Reform Agenda," he added.

At the MC13 in Abu Dhabi also, India had strongly opposed the pact.

A China-led group is pushing for the Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD) proposal. The proposal will be binding for only the signatory members.

The IFD was first mooted in 2017 by China and other countries that depend heavily on Chinese investments, and countries with sovereign wealth funds are party to that pact. PTI RR MR

New Delhi, Mar 31 (PTI) India's CCTV market will only sell made-in-India products, as the government has barred the sale of non-certified imported units from April 1, a senior official said on Tuesday.

The Ministry of Electronics and IT had barred the sale of CCTV units without Standardisation Testing and Quality Certification (STQC) from April 9, 2025, onwards, but allowed traders to exhaust imported inventories by March 31, 2026.

"The order to bar non-certified STQC was effective from April 9 onwards. The order does not impact any manufacturer in India," the government official, who did not wish to be named, said.

CCTV traders said that the move has impacted Chinese CCTV companies like Hikvision and TP-Link.

They said STQC has not certified CCTV products of any Chinese company.

Aditya Infotech, which makes CP Plus brand CCTVs, said the STQC compliance regime, implemented by the government in April 2025, represents a significant shift for the surveillance industry as it has accelerated the adoption of trusted and locally aligned solutions, creating a more level playing field for Indian manufacturers.

"With growing focus on security compliance and reliability, customer preferences are expected to increasingly favour such solutions. The government’s follow-through actions, including the prohibition of sales of non-STQC products across all levels of the value chain, will further accelerate and consolidate this process," CP PLUS (Aditya Infotech Limited), Managing Director, Aditya Khemka said.

All Delhi Computer Traders Association (ADCTA) General Secretary Swaran Singh said the price of CCTV products has gone up in the range of 15-20 per cent with STQC certification and ban on imported units, which came mostly from China.

"Domestic players will need to develop their own technology, especially chips and motherboards, to keep quality and price under control," Singh said.

Odymax Technologies Director Sanjay Mittal said CCTV has huge demand in India and only 5 per cent of the market requirement has been met to date.

"Domestic manufacturers will need to ramp up their capacity to avoid any shortage of supply, as well as keep the prices in control so that the product continues to be accessible and affordable for those in smaller towns," he said. PTI PRS PRS BAL

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New Delhi, Mar 31 (PTI) Registration of properties in the Mumbai region in March rose 3 per cent to 15,983 units, highest in the past 14 years, according to Knight Frank.

Registration of properties in Mumbai stood at 15,510 units during March last year.

In a statement on Tuesday, real estate consultant Knight Frank stated that the Mumbai city (area under BMC jurisdiction) recorded 15,983 property registrations in March. The data includes transactions in both primary and secondary markets.

"This marks the highest monthly registration volume for the month of March in the past 14 years, surpassing previous years high observed in March 2025, underscoring the continued depth and resilience of the city's residential market," the consultant said.

In February 2026, the registration of properties stood at 13,029 units.

Residential properties continued to dominate, accounting for nearly 80 per cent of total registrations.

Shishir Baijal, International Partner, Chairman & Managing Director, Knight Frank India, said, "Mumbai's residential market has demonstrated a notable growth with March 2026 registrations surpassing last year's already elevated base to record the strongest March in over a decade."

This growth reiterates the depth of end-user demand in the city, supported by stable economic conditions and sustained buyer confidence, he added.

Akhil Saraf, Founder & CEO, Reloy, said, "Real estate has long been one of the most trusted investments, and property registrations reaching a 14-year high this March confirms that it remains a reliable asset -- even when other asset classes are underperforming or volatile." PTI MJH TRB

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Moscow, Mar 31 (PTI) Russia is ready to supply fertilisers and other agricultural products to countries of the Global South and East, a senior Russian official said on Tuesday.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to the West Asia conflict has impacted the global economy.

At a briefing for foreign diplomats here, Deputy Secretary of the Russian Security Council Alexander Venediktov said that the closure of the Strait has halted approximately 50 per cent of global fertiliser exports, which could disrupt the sowing season in Asia.

“The escalation of hostilities in the Persian Gulf region has led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The logistics and trade-economic architecture, as well as global energy and food security, are on the brink of collapse," Venediktov said.

He added that it is fraught with "very serious consequences" for countries dependent on imported hydrocarbons, fertilisers, and food.

“Nitrogen additive prices have risen by 30 per cent. In the current extremely challenging situation, Russia is ready to act in coordination with its friends—countries of the Global South and East."

"We are ready to extend a helping hand through the supply of agricultural products, fertilisers, and the development of multidisciplinary cooperation," Venediktov said. PTI VS GRS

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New Delhi, Mar 31 (PTI) US-based IT firm Oracle is believed to have laid off approximately 12,000 staff in India, with another round of layoffs expected within a month, impacted employees said on Tuesday.

Globally, the company has fired around 30,000 employees.

"In India, around 12,000 employees have been laid off. The company is planning another mass layoff within a month," said two people impacted by the retrenchment, including one from the company's human resource department.

The company has approximately 30,000 employees in India, including those affected by the layoffs.

Oracle declined to comment on the development.

Oracle, in an email sent to staff, said the employees were informed about certain organisational changes and "because of these changes, a decision has been taken to streamline the operations, and as a result, unfortunately, the position you currently hold will become redundant".

The company has offered 15 days' salary to each employee who has completed a year of service in India, in addition to one month of unpaid wages till termination date, leave encashment, gratuity based on eligibility and pay for a one-month notice period.

Oracle has also offered a two-month salary as a top-up.

However, the severance package is available for those who voluntarily and amicably resign from the company.

An ex-employee of Oracle, Merugu Sridhar, said that he was laid off in September for protesting against the 16-hour work shift that the company has in India.

"I contacted my friends and those who are in human resources. They shared that most of the Indians working in the US with the company have been impacted because the local laws there are very strict when it comes to the retrenchment of their citizens," Sridhar said. PTI PRS PRS BAL

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Varanasi (UP), Mar 31 (PTI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Tuesday highlighted key agreements signed with Uttar Pradesh on religious tourism and giving local products greater visibility and said the two states are moving rapidly on the path of development.

Speaking at the MP-UP Cooperation Conference 2026 here, MP CM Yadav said the event would provide a strong foundation for future economic, industrial and tourism opportunities between the two states.

Yadav also asserted that Madhya Pradesh was now free from Naxalism, which has accelerated industrial growth and investment in the state.

The Centre had set itself a deadline to eradicate Left-Wing Extremism on Tuesday, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah declaring a day before that the country has become free of Naxal violence.

Highlighting key outcomes of the conference, he said a significant memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust and the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga Trust to improve temple management, streamline darshan arrangements and enhance facilities for devotees.

He said Varanasi and Ujjain hold special religious and cultural significance, and major development initiatives have been launched in both cities to tap their tourism potential.

Yadav added that the two states share geographical, cultural, spiritual and historical links, and the cooperation conference would pave the way for future collaboration.

Another agreement was reached between the two states to promote the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative, aimed at giving local products greater visibility in national and international markets.

Yadav added that preparations were underway to build a Unity Mall in Ujjain at a cost of Rs 284 crore, which will provide a platform for ODOP products.

He said that the Ken-Betwa river linking project is benefiting both states by improving irrigation and drinking water supply in the Bundelkhand region. Yadav added that joint work is being undertaken on a 2,000 MW solar project.

He also praised Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for his "good governance" in the state and lauded officials for notable work in law and order and development.

Yadav said India is emerging as a strong nation symbolising stability, potential and trust under the prime minister's leadership and is moving towards becoming the world's third-largest economy. Industrialists, MSME representatives, artisans and officials from both states were present on the occasion. PTI COR ABN SKY

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New Delhi, Mar 31 (PTI) IndiGo's Co-Founder and Managing Director Rahul Bhatia, who is currently managing the affairs of the airline, on Tuesday described himself as 'Kuchh Hee Dinon Kaa Mehmaan' as the carrier is set to welcome William Walsh as the new CEO.

Less than three weeks after the sudden exit of then CEO Pieter Elbers on March 10, IndiGo on Tuesday announced that aviation industry veteran Walsh will be the replacement and is expected to take over on or before August 3 this year.

In an internal message to the staff, Bhatia said that to his mind, IndiGo is privileged to be led by a leader of Walsh's stature and track record.

"Equally importantly, I take pride in knowing that by accepting the invitation of the Board of Directors of IndiGo to lead the charge, he has placed his belief and confidence in what has been painstakingly built over the years by all of you... I expect to have the good fortune of handing over the baton to him on or before the 3rd of August 2026!," he said.

He signed off in the message saying 'Rahul' or 'Kuchh Hee Dinon Kaa Mehmaan', which literally means a guest for a short time.

In the context of IndiGo, the words imply that now that his responsibility of managing the airline's affairs will be for a short period as the new CEO will take over.

When the announcement of Elbers' resignation was made on March 10, Bhatia had sent a message to the staff saying, "I step into my expanded role of managing the affairs of IndiGo with a deep sense of responsibility -- not only to the company's customers and its shareholders, but to every employee who powers this airline...

"I remain, as I have always been, fully committed to strengthening our culture, reinforcing Operational Excellence, and ensuring that we continue to deliver exceptional service and value to our customers".

He signed off in the message as 'Rahul alias Main Hoon Naa'.

'Main Hoon Naa' was a Bollywood blockbuster starring Shah Rukh Khan that was released in 2004.

Elbers had quit three months after the massive operational disruptions at the airline in December 2025. PTI RAM TRB

Jaipur, Mar 31 (PTI) The Centre has approved a proposal by the Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation Ltd to expand affordable electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure across urban areas and highways in the state, with a financial assistance of Rs 81.12 crore, officials said.

Under the plan, a total of 591 EV charging stations will be set up at 262 locations across Rajasthan's four smart cities and along key highways, strengthening the state's EV ecosystem.

According to an official statement, the proposal was submitted under the Prime Minister's e-Drive scheme to promote green energy and encourage the adoption of electric vehicles in the state.

Approval of the project is seen as a significant step towards boosting sustainable mobility.

As part of the scheme, 112 charging stations will be installed in Jaipur, 49 in Ajmer, 39 in Udaipur, and 28 in Kota, while 34 stations will be set up along national and state highways. All charging stations will be established on land belonging to government departments.

Officials said the move will facilitate long-distance travel for EV users and improve accessibility to charging facilities.

The initiative is also expected to promote the use of non-polluting electric vehicles, reduce carbon emissions and expand the green energy network across the state, the statement added. PTI AG TRB

Jammu, Mar 31 (PTI) Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said Rs 3.80 crore has been disbursed as UT subsidy in favour of 4,288 consumers of Kashmir and Jammu Power Distribution Companies under the PM Surya Ghar - Muft Bijli Yojana.

Replying to a question raised by BJP legislator Shakti Raj Parihar in the legislative assembly regarding the scheme, Abdullah, who also holds the power portfolio, said Rs 1.80 crore has been disbursed in favour of the first 2,053 consumers of KPDCL, in line with the central financial assistance (CFA).

Similarly, Rs 2 crore has been disbursed in favour of 2,235 beneficiaries of JPDCL under the scheme, he said.

He informed the House that under the scheme, the subsidy component is primarily borne by the central government through the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, with an additional subsidy component provided by the Union Territory.

The CFA is provided to residential consumers installing rooftop solar systems at Rs 33,000 per kW for the first two kW of installed capacity and Rs 19,800 per kW for the next one kW, taking the total maximum subsidy to Rs 85,800 for systems up to three kW, the chief minister said.

In addition, he said, the UT provides a subsidy of Rs 3,000 per kW, Rs 6,000 for two kW and up to Rs 9,000 for three kW (capped at 3 kW), taking the total subsidy up to Rs 94,800 for a three kW system, he added.

The chief minister said delays, wherever applicable, in the release of the UT’s share are primarily due to the verification of beneficiary installations, scrutiny of supporting documents, and integration of subsidy disbursement through the national portal.

He said the J&K administration is taking necessary steps to streamline the process and assured that the pending UT subsidy share will be released to eligible beneficiaries upon completion of verification formalities. PTI TAS BAL

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Mumbai, Mar 31 (PTI) Private sector lender RBL Bank on Tuesday said it is planning to open 200 branches in FY27 to take its network to over 800 branches.

The lender launched 23 new branches across many states on Tuesday to take its overall branch size to over 603, as per a statement.

Eyeing the diaspora-related business, the bank said 13 of the 23 newly opened branches are in Keralam, the statement said.

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Niyo aims to increase share in outbound forex market to 10-15 pc over 18 months

* Fintech firm Niyo said it is targeting to increase its share in the country's USD 45-billion outbound forex market to 10-15 per cent over the next 18 months and is strengthening distribution with the same objective.

The company is targeting to increase the number of branches to 50 across the country, and launched an outlet in Chennai, which has strong diaspora linkages, on Tuesday, as per a statement.

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DBS India launches 'DBS Aspire' for emerging affluent segment

* DBS India, the local unit of the Singaporean lender, on Tuesday launched a new proposition for the emerging affluent segment.

'DBS Aspire' comes with a slew of features, and is open for those with a total relationship value of Rs 10 lakh or a minimum monthly savings account average balance of Rs 2 lakh, the company said in a statement. PTI AA TRB

Kochi, Mar 31 (PTI) Noted Malayalam film director Ranjith was taken into custody on Tuesday evening in connection with an attempted sexual assault case, police said here.

He was taken into custody based on a complaint filed by a woman actor, who alleged that he attempted to sexually assault her on a film set, they added.

Ranjith was taken into custody from Idukki district, police said. PTI TBA TGB ROH

Los Angeles, Mar 31 (PTI) "Hangover" star Heather Graham has joined the star cast of HBO's acclaimed dark comedy series "The White Lotus" for season four.

Created by Mike White, the series explores the chaotic, often disastrous lives of wealthy guests and the staff at an exclusive, tropical resort chain over a single week.

Alongside Graham, actors Rosie Perez, Ben Schnetzer, Tobias Santelmann, and Laura Smet will also appear in the series, according to the entertainment news outlet Variety.

They will join the previously announced cast comprising Helena Bonham Carter, Carrie Coon, Parker Posey, Leslie Bibb, Jason Isaacs, Michelle Monaghan, Domhnall Gleeson, and Natasha Lyonne.

The first season of the series released on HBO in 2021, comprising six episodes and went on to win 10 Emmy Awards. The successful release was followed by two more seasons in 2022 and 2025.

Each season of the show revolves around the dynamics between rich guests and employees of a fictional resort chain called The White Lotus. The first season was set in Hawaii, and the second season was shot in Sicily, Italy. "The White Lotus 3" was set in Thailand.

HBO officially announced the renewal of "The White Lotus" for the fourth season in January 2025, ahead of the premiere of season 3, which released in February. The fourth season is set in France. PTI ATR

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Los Angeles, Mar 31 (PTI) "Anyone But You" star Sydney Sweeney is reprising her role of a housemaid in "The Housemaid's Secret", a sequel to the 2025 psychological thriller "The Housemaid".

The sequel, also starring Kirsten Dunst, is set to release on December 17, 2027, reported Variety.

The film is based on the second novel in Freida McFadden’s bestselling "Housemaid" book series and it is directed by Paul Feig, known for projects such as "Bridesmaids" and "A Simple Favor".

Actor Michele Morrone is reprising his role as Enzo in the film, with Amanda Seyfried, who played a central role in the first part, is playing a small cameo.

"The Housemaid" released in 2025 and was a commercial success, earning over USD 390 million at the global box office.

The first film followed Sweeny's Millie Calloway who becomes a live-in maid for the Winchesters in an affluent NY suburb and gets entangled in their secret lives.

The film is produced by Feig and Laura Fischer under the banner Pretty Dangerous Pictures, Todd Lieberman, Carly Elter, and Alex Young under Hidden Pictures, and Sweeney through her banner Fifty-Fifty Films. PTI ATR

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Mumbai, Mar 31 (PTI) Acclaimed designer Rahul Mishra says there's a dire need to archive the design histories of the Indian fashion industry, which is otherwise celebrated for its vibrant textiles and intricate handiwork.

“One of the most pressing challenges for the Indian fashion industry is the lack of formal infrastructure around how we document, preserve, and build upon our work. There is very little culture of archiving collections or systematically recording design histories, which makes the evolution of fashion here feel less structured than it actually is,” Mishra told PTI in an interview.

“This also extends to areas like intellectual property and conservation, where, in the absence of documentation, designers are often not fully equipped to protect or contextualise their work,” he said.

The Kanpur-born designer said the Indian fashion industry is driven by cultural context and occasion rather than seasonal cycles in the West.

“Much of fashion in India is also rooted in the idea of conservation of keeping traditions alive rather than individual authorship alone. I believe that building stronger systems of documentation, design thinking, and long-term value while remaining rooted in this unique context, can be truly transformative.”

Mishra reimagined the cotton fabric in high-fashion couture for his latest collection at the Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) 2026, titled White Gold. The LFW was held from March 19 to 22.

“Our approach was not to transform cotton, but to present it with the sensitivity and context it deserves. The collection is a small expression of that ongoing exploration,” he added.

Mishra aims to reinterpret existing Indian textiles rather than searching for new ones.

From Bandhani, wool tartans, Madras checks, Maheshwari silks to Chanderi and Khadi, Mishra’s goal is to engage with these fabrics in ways that feel both “respectful and contemporary”.

“These textiles carry their own history and context... For me, the excitement lies not in introducing something new, but in reinterpreting what already exists, and presenting it in a way that allows it to be seen with renewed relevance.”

While Mishra’s work is often celebrated for its visual storytelling, the designer said he spends his time gardening and making sweets.

“For now, storytelling remains woven into the garments,” he said when asked whether he ever thought of directing a movie or a story.

The designer said he finds inspiration in the works of American astronomers like Neil deGrasse Tyson and Carl Sagan, and natural historian David Attenborough in the way they bring together science, nature, and imagination.

Mishra recalls being drawn to astronomy, geometry, and physics in his childhood.

“At one point, I would have imagined myself continuing in the field of science, as it was a strong area of interest during my early years. There was always a curiosity about how things work, and an inclination towards structure and logic,” he said.

Over time, Mishra became interested in architecture and space design, that's how Aatman, a boutique hillside villa, came about. The property is the debut architectural project by Mishra and his wife, Divya Bhatt Mishra in Uttarakhand.

“I now find myself increasingly interested in designing spaces and architecture,” he said. PTI KKP

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Los Angeles, Mar 31 (PTI) "Grey's Anatomy" has been renewed for season 23, making it the longest-running medical drama on American television.

Created by Shonda Rhimes, the name behind many small screen hits such as "Scandal", "Private Practice" and Netflix's "Bridgerton", the medical drama also becomes the longest-running scripted primetime show ever on ABC.

Centred around Ellen Pompeo's Meredith Grey, the series features Chandra Wilson (Miranda Bailey) and James Pickens Jr (Richard Webber) since the beginning.

The new season will move without long-serving cast members Kim Raver and Kevin McKidd, who will leave the show following the May 7 finale of the 22nd season, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Pompeo also executive produces and narrates the medical drama about a group of doctors at the Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital.

Over the years, the series has featured stars such as Sandra Oh's Cristina Yang, Patrick Dempsey's Derek Shepherd, Katherine Heigl as Izzie Stevens, Justin Chambers as Alex Karev and late Eric Dane as Mark Sloan.

"Grey's Anatomy", which began airing in 2005, is expected to cross 475 episodes in the new season.

The long-running series, despite many popular actors leaving the show, has remained popular with the audiences.

According to THR, "Grey’s Anatomy" more than doubles its initial on-air audience of 2.22 million viewers with a week of streaming and other delayed viewing, and it’s among the top 15 network series (barring live sports) in the key ad demographic of adults 18-49. The show’s large library, which streams on Hulu and Netflix, is also a fixture in Nielsen’s streaming ratings. PTI BK BK

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New Delhi, Mar 31 (PTI) HYBE INDIA has opened applications for a new girl group audition, which will take place from March 31 to July 31.

The audition invites female talent from across India born between 2005 and 2011 to showcase their individuality and creativity across a range of performance categories. Application categories include vocals, rap, dance, acting, modelling, and more, according to a press release.

"India has never lacked talent or ambition; what’s been missing is a consistent pathway to the global stage. What we’re building is that bridge: a system that allows us to nurture artists with intention, and to be seen, heard, and understood beyond borders. This audition is where that process begins," Damien Woochang Lee, ceo of HYBE INDIA, said in a statement.

The audition process will include both online submissions and in-person rounds to be held across Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Pune.

BookMyShow will join as a ticketing partner.

HYBE INDIA shared the news with an announcement post on its official Instagram handle on Tuesday. "The search begins. To all the girls from India who dream of performing on a global stage — this is your moment. From here to global. Apply now at india.hybeaudition.com #HYBEIndia #HYBEIndiaAudition," it said. PTI ATR

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Los Angeles, Mar 31 (PTI) Hollywood star Zendaya said she will be "disappearing" for a while following a lineup of her back-to-back films.

Zendaya is set to feature alongside Robert Pattinson in "The Drama", followed by the final season of the drama series "Euphoria", "Spider-Man: Brand New Day", "Dune: Part Three", and "The Odyssey". According to reports, she will also feature in "Avengers: Doomsday".

The actor said she hopes the audience doesn't get "sick" of her and extended gratitude to her fans. "I just hope people don’t get sick of me, and I really appreciate everyone who supports any of the movies (and) supports my career in any kind of way. I’m deeply appreciative," she told Fandango in an interview.

"I just hope you guys don’t get sick of me this year because I’ll tell you what, I’m disappearing for a little bit. I’m going to have to go into hiding for just a little bit," she added.

Her next film, "The Drama", is set to release on April 3 and is directed by

Kristoffer Borgli. It revolves around an engaged couple who get put to the test when an unexpected revelation sends their wedding week off the rails. PTI ATR

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New Delhi, Mar 31 (PTI) Bollywood actor Arjun Rampal expressed his gratitude to all his supporters following the success of "Dhurandhar: The Revenge".

The actor went down memory lane and shared a series of throwback pictures on his Instagram handle on Monday, also adding the behind-the-scenes pictures from the sets of "Dhurandhar".

Featuring Ranveer Singh in the lead, "Dhurandhar"released in 2025, followed by the release of the latest installment on March 19, both were directed by Aditya Dhar. The first film crossed Rs 1000 crore globally and the second release earned over Rs 1300 crore at the global box office.

"From playing cowboys as kids, to landing my first film #moksha to #Dhurandhar I am blessed to have been with everyone who was part of the journey. Thank you my dearest fan family for sticking with me on the ride, thank you to this incredible #Dhurandhar family @adityadharfilms @vik_now @ojas_gautam for being my pillars and of course mera Babbar sher @ranveersingh #lokeshdhar jyotideshpande shweta @castingchhabra @actormaddy @therakeshbedi @duttsanjay @preetisheel smriti this list will keep growing," Rampal wrote in the post.

"I am over the moon. Patience, Perseverance, Passion stick with them and dreams come true. @dhurandhartherevenge and of course the mesmerising @shashwatology your music is phenomenal.. the action team the fabulous @dokkaebi530 and @msjoeykim thank you for everything," he added.

The latest film, where Rampal essays the role of Major Iqbal, also stars R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, Sara Arjun and Rakesh Bedi, who are reprising their roles.

Set in Lyari town of Karachi, an area known for its history of gang wars and violent turf battles, "Dhurandhar" revolved around covert intelligence operations against the backdrop of geopolitical and terror events like the Kandahar plane hijack, the 2001 Parliament Attack and the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.

The sequel charts the rise of Singh’s character Hamza Ali Mazari in the Karachi underworld while also delving into his origins as Jaskirat Singh Rangi, tracing the journey of the young man who eventually transforms into the covert operative

The film is produced by Jyoti Deshpande and Lokesh Dhar and released in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam languages. PTI ATR

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New Delhi, Mar 31 (PTI) Filmmaker Zack Snyder recalled working with Bollywood actor Huma Qureshi in "Army of the Dead" and said she brings "pure brilliance on screen".

Snyder directed the 2021 film, in which the actor essayed the role of Geeta. It released on Netflix.

Also starring Ella Purnell and Dave Bautista, the film revolved around a group of mercenaries who take the ultimate gamble and venture into the quarantine zone in hopes of pulling off an impossible heist, following a zombie outbreak.

Snyder shared a poster of the film, featuring Qureshi on his Instagram handle on Tuesday. "@iamhumaq, one of the most amazing actors I’ve had the pleasure of working with on Army of the Dead. Talent, presence, and pure brilliance on screen," he wrote in the caption.

The "Gangs of Wasseypur" actor re-shared the post and left a comment, which read, "You the best .. boss man".

The film also served as the actor's Hollywood debut.

She will next feature in "Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups", which is led by Yash. The film is directed by Geetu Mohandas and is set to release on June 4. It features the actor in the role of Elizabeth.

The film also stars Kiara Advani, Nayanthara and Tara Sutaria in pivotal roles. PTI ATR

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New Delhi, Mar 31 (PTI) Actor Sanjay Mishra is set to feature in the neo-noir dark comedy "Arjun Bewakoof".

Produced by 8th Pillar Motion Pictures, the film also stars Rajesh Tailang and Dolly Singh, and marks Mishra’s reunion with director Smita Singh and writer Anand Raaj after their earlier collaboration on "Andaman", according to a press release.

"I play an atrangi character who enjoys revenge. It’s layered, unexpected and has a very different energy to it, something I’ve truly enjoyed exploring as an actor," Mishra said in a statement.

"I’m doing this film only for Smita. The bond we share goes way beyond that of a director and actor. There’s a certain trust and comfort that makes the collaboration very special," he added.

The shooting for the film started in March. It also features Malvi Malhotra, Jigisha Joshi, Shikhar Mishra and Satendra Yadav in pivotal roles.

Mishra's latest work is "Vadh 2", which released in February. Directed by Jaspal Singh Sandhu, the film also starred Neena Gupta alongside the actor. PTI ATR

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Mumbai, Mar 30 (PTI) Actor Sayani Gupta on Monday announced the launch of her production house, Sayani Gupta Movies (SGM) and her directorial debut with short film "Aasmani".

Known for her films "Article 15", "Margarita With a Straw" and the hit show "Four More Shots Please!", Gupta has worked across films and streaming for over a decade.

“It (production) has been a long dream. I've been wanting tell a certain kind of stories and the idea is to be able to create an enabling space for collaboration. We will go slowly but steadily, concentrating on one film at a time. For us the quality of writing, craft, storytelling will always take precedence.. and for that to happen, the right kind of time, care and attention needs to be given to every project," she said in a statement. "Aasmani", has been written, directed and produced by Gupta, who earlier co-produced titles such as "Where the Winds Blow", "Upar Neeche", "Dear Men" and "Shameless". The film stars Revathy, Daria Bedi and Abhay Kaul.

Backed by Sumitra Gupta Foundation for Arts and One India Stories, the film brings together Executive Producers Nikkhil Advani, Dia Mirza and Ananya Rane. PTI BK BK

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Paphos (Cyprus), Mar 31 (PTI) Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa suffered a major setback in his campaign, going down to Javokhir Sindarov of Uzbekistan in the third round of the FIDE Candidates Tournament here on Tuesday.

The defeat with the white pieces could prove costly for Praggnanandhaa, who had begun his campaign on a high by defeating Dutch Grandmaster Anish Giri, leaving the Indian on 1.5 points after the setback and in urgent need of a quick recovery.

Apart from Sindarov, American Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana -- the pre-tournament favourite -- defeated Wei Yi of China in one of the strangest games of the opening three rounds, with Caruana and Sindarov sharing the lead on 2.5 points apiece.

They are followed by Praggnanandhaa on 1.5, while Matthias Bluebaum, Andrey Esipenko, Hikaru Nakamura and Giri are tied for fourth on one point each. Wei Yi sits at the bottom on half a point in the eight-player double round-robin event with 11 rounds still to be played.

For Praggnanandhaa, it was a heartbreak after a rousing start, as with the white pieces he faced a Queen's Gambit Declined and, on another day, it could well have been a straightforward draw had he not pushed to play decisively.

Sindarov, the youngest-ever World Cup winner, has emerged as a fierce competitor against the world elite over the past year, and on Tuesday was no different as the Uzbek seized his chances in the middle game, sacrificing a piece to dismantle white's initiative early on.

Praggnanandhaa was pushed onto the back foot as the pressure mounted, and a series of errors in the later stages of the middle game proved costly for the Indian.

Caruana secured a win that few expected to end so swiftly, as the game began with an English Opening and initially promised a complex battle, but Wei Yi found himself out of preparation early on, allowing the American to seize control, trap a bishop with resourceful play and wrap up the contest in just 19 moves.

In the women's event being held simultaneously, the ice was finally broken by Bibisara Assaubayeva of Kazakhstan who scored the first victory of the event at the expense of Zhu Jiner of China.

India's R Vaishali kept herself in the hunt drawing with Anna Muzychuk in an uneventful game but women's World Cup winner Divya Deshmukh was on the brink of a defeat against Aleksandra Goryachkina of Russia.

In the other game of the day, favourite Tan Zhongyi of China also suffered a setback against seasoned Kateryna Lagno of Russia.

The Candidates is played to determine the challenger for the next world championship match.

In the open section, the winner will face D Gukesh while in the women's the champion will have a showdown with Ju Wenjun of China.

Results (Round 3) Open: Fabiano Caruana (USA, 2.5) beat Wei Yi (Chn, 0.5); R Praggnanandhaa (1.5) lost to Javokhir Sindarov (Uzb, 2.5); Hikaru Nakamura (USA, 1) drew with Anish Giri (Ned, 1); Matthias Bluebaum (Ger, 1) drew with Andrey Esipenko (Rus, 1).

Women (Round 3): Tan Zhongyi (Chn, 1) lost to Kateryna Lagno (Rus, 2); Bibisara Assaubayeva (Kaz, 2) beat Zhu Jiner (Chn, 1); R Vaishali (Ind, 1.5) drew with Anna Muzychuk (Ukr, 1.5); Aleksandra Goryachkina (Rus, 1) playing Divya Deshmukh (Ind, 1). PTI Cor AM AM

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New Delhi, Mar 31 (PTI) Three-time Olympian Manika Batra registered a gritty 3-2 win over USA's Lily Zhang to stay in contention for a place in the knockouts of the ITTF Table Tennis World Cup in Macau on Tuesday.

The 30-year-old Batra rallied past Zhang 11-7, 11-2, 14-16, 5-11, 11-6 in a 43-minute Group 4 clash, bouncing back from her opening match defeat to Japan's Miwa Harimoto.

In another match, world No. 43 Sreeja Akula suffered a 1-3 (11-8, 9-11, 13-15, 8-11) loss to Portugal's Fu Yu in her Group 2 opener. She will next face China's world No. 2 Wang Manyu on Wednesday.

In the men's draw, Manav Thakkar faces a must-win situation against Sweden's Olympic silver medallist Truls Moregard in Group 2 after going down 0-3 to Korea's Park Ganghyeon in his opening match. PTI ATK AH

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New Delhi, Mar 31 (PTI) The India U23 men's national team went down 0-1 against Tajikistan in the deciding fixture of the U23 Tri-Nation Championship 2026 at the Golden Jubilee Stadium in Yupia, Arunachal Pradesh on Tuesday.

A first-half goal by Tajikistan midfielder Khaitov Azizbek (9') proved to be the difference as the Blue Colts, despite creating a number of chances and applying sustained pressure, were unable to find the equaliser.

With this result, Tajikistan clinched the U23 Tri-Nation Championship with two wins from two matches, maintaining clean sheets in both outings. India finished second with one win, while Bhutan ended third without any points.

The Blue Colts began on the front foot, pressing high and putting the Tajikistan defence under early pressure. Suhail had an early opportunity in the eighth minute, latching onto a precise through ball from Mohammed Sanan, but rushed his effort wide.

However, Tajikistan took the lead a minute later. Azizbek's long-range strike took a deflection off Pramveer Singh's shoulder, wrong-footing India goalkeeper Mohan Raj, who could not do much to stop the ball from finding its way into the net.

India responded positively and continued to carve out chances, but could not find the back of the net. PTI AH AH AM

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Kochi, Mar 31 (PTI) Australian-born Ryan Williams made a dream India debut as his fourth-minute strike set up the home side's 2-1 win over Hong Kong in an inconsequential Asian Cup qualifying round match here on Tuesday.

Akash Mishra scored the other goal for India in the 50th minute, also his first international strike, to help the Khalid Jamil-coached side notch their first victory of the third round of the qualifiers.

Already out of contention for the continental showpiece, India ended their campaign with five points -- from one win and two draws -- and at the bottom of Group C.

Everton Camargo pulled one back for Hong Kong in the 65th minute.

India had lost to Hong Kong 0-1 in the first leg on June 10 last year in Kowloon. Singapore, who beat Bangladesh 1-0 at home earlier in the day, qualified for the 2027 Asian Cup as Group C toppers with 14 points from six matches.

Williams slotted home with a first time right footer into the back of the net after a brilliant low delivery into the middle by Manvir Singh to give the big Kochi crowd a wonderful moment to cheer in just the fourth minute.

Williams was included in the squad after FIFA cleared his change of association, paving the way for the 31-year-old winger to represent India at the senior international level. He had earlier been part of India's preparatory camp for the Bangladesh match but missed out on the lineup due to pending documentation.

It was also his international debut as he has not played for Australia in an official senior match. He represented Australia at the youth level, featuring in the 2012 AFC U-19 Championship and the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

A versatile attacker currently playing for Indian Super League side Bengaluru FC, Williams relinquished his Australian passport last year to play for India.

Williams was substituted in the 67th minute as he limped out of the ground.

Minutes later, Anwar Ali was also taken off after on-field medical attention.

It was the fastest goal scored by a debutant for India, surpassing the previous record of sixth-minute strikes by K Appalaraju against Ceylon (Sri Lanka) in a pre-Olympics match in Colombo in 1963 and Mehtab Hossain against Nepal in the 2005 SAFF Cup in Karachi.

The home side played with confidence after taking the lead, enjoying majority of possession and looking assured on the ball and dictating the tempo.

Manvir Singh then delivered a searching cross towards Lallianzuala Chhangte inside the box, but a Hong Kong defender did well to clear the danger.

The Indian defence denied Hong Kong's attackers any space in their own half with four to five blue shirts surrounding the attackers whenever a chance opened up. The defence were always behind the ball whenever the visitors showed any glimpse of promise in their attacks.

India looked dangerous in counter attacks whenever there was an opportunity. Williams received the ball from midfield and passed it to Manvir on the right and the forward flicked it to Chhangte on the first touch.

The winger then let a shot with his weaker right foot but Hong Kong defender Shinichi Chan did well to block it and concede a corner.

Apuia came close to doubling the advantage at the 25th-minute mark. The midfielder was at the end of a swift counter-attack, with Manvir Singh and Ryan Williams combining well down the left, but his right-footed effort from distance drifted just wide of the post.

At the other end, Hong Kong looked to build patiently, working the ball into wide areas and delivering crosses into the box, but the Indian defence dealt with them comfortably to ensure they went into the break with their one-goal lead intact.

The Blue Tigers began the second half just as brightly as the first. Rahul Bheke's long throw was not cleared by the opposition defence. As the ball bobbled inside the box, Akash Mishra reacted quickest at the near post, rifling a right-footed effort from a tight angle past the goalkeeper for his first international goal and double India's lead.

India's defence was breached just after the hour mark as Braunshtain Barak found space between Sandesh Jhingan and Rahul Bheke to slip a pass through to Everton Camargo. The forward timed his run perfectly, got to the ball ahead of the defenders and finished past Gurpreet to halve the deficit. PTI PDS PDS AH AM AH AM

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Chennai, Mar 31 (PTI) Reigning world champion D. Gukesh on Tuesday decided to scale back his tournament schedule following a disappointing performance this season, opting to play only two Grand Chess Tour events in 2026 to prioritise training and preparation for his title defence.

Gukesh's inconsistent run has seen him endure an early exit as top seed at the Chess World Cup in November 2025 at home. It was followed by lowly finishes at the World Rapid and Blitz Championships in December, a 10th-place result after tie-breaks at the Tata Steel Chess Tournament, and a ninth-place result at the recently concluded Prague Chess Festival.

"My performance in the last few events has been quite disappointing, not just for me, but for all of you who support me," wrote Gukesh on 'X', something he does not do very often.

"In order to find my best form my team and I have decided that I should compete with slightly less intensity over the next few months. Consequently, we feel it is in my best interest to skip long events away from home to allow for more dedicated training time," he added, indicating his priority from now on would be preparing to defend the world title he won by beating Ding Liren of China in Singapore in 2024.

The decision could prove to be a strategic pause to reset after a string of early exits, though it is certain to draw close attention from the chess fraternity.

Gukesh's opponent for the FIDE World Chess Championship later this year is currently being decided at the FIDE Candidates Tournament in Cyprus, where eight competitors are battling it out, with the winner earning the right to challenge him for the title.

Gukesh added that he had requested the organisers of the Grand Chess Tour to allow him to play only two events this season, a request they supported.

"With this in mind, I approached the Grand Chess Tour organisers and asked to play only two European Rapid & Blitz events. They were very supportive and understanding, and we agreed that I would participate in the Rapid & Blitz tournaments in Warsaw and Zagreb this year.

"I'm very grateful for their support. Respectfully, I am not planning to play any other events during the Grand Chess Tour schedule and will certainly be back for the full Grand Chess Tour in the future," he added.

With Gukesh opting not to play the full Grand Chess Tour, the organisers have brought in reigning World Cup champion Javokhir Sindarov as his replacement.

"Reigning World Cup champion Javokhir Sindarov will join the 2026 Grand Chess Tour as a full tour participant, replacing Gukesh Dommaraju, who has withdrawn from the full tour to focus on training but will still compete in select Grand Chess Tour events in Warsaw and Zagreb.

"Sindarov will compete in Warsaw, Bucharest and both Saint Louis events, bringing his dynamic play and recent World Cup-winning form to the Tour," wrote Grand Chess Tour on 'X'.

Gukesh will next play in the Euro 26,000 Masters Chess Menorca in Spain from April 7-12. PTI AM APS AM

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Mullanpur, Mar 31 (PTI) Scoreboard of the IPL match between Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans here on Tuesday.

Gujarat Titans Innings:

Sai Sudharsan c Shreyas Iyer b Marco Jansen 13

Shubman Gill c Cooper Connolly b Yuzvendra Chahal 39

Jos Buttler c Xavier Bartlett b Yuzvendra Chahal 38

Glenn Phillips c Marco Jansen b Vijaykumar Vyshak 25

Washington Sundar c Arshdeep Singh b Vijaykumar Vyshak 18

Shahrukh Khan c Arshdeep Singh b Vijaykumar Vyshak 4

Rahul Tewatia not out 11

Rashid Khan not out 0

Extras: (LB-2, W-11, NB-1) 14

Total: (For 6 wkts, 20 Overs) 162

Fall of Wickets: 37-1, 83-2, 119-3, 129-4, 144-5, 150-6

Bowling: Arshdeep Singh 4-0-42-0, Xavier Bartlett 4-0-36-0,

Marco Jansen 4-0-20-1, Vijaykumar Vyshak 4-0-34-3,

Yuzvendra Chahal 4-0-28-2. (MORE) PTI ATK ATK

Mullanpur, Mar 31 (PTI) Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal brought his years of experience to the fore to help Punjab Kings stymie Gujarat Titans in the middle overs, limiting them to 162/6 on a good batting surface in their IPL match here on Tuesday.

Chahal ended with fine figures of 2/28 in four overs, while seamer Vijaykumar Vyshak grabbed 3/34.

Skipper Shubman Gill (39 off 27 balls) and Jos Buttler (38 off 33 balls) were the chief contributors for GT in an insipid batting display.

Sent in to bat first, Gill dealt in boundaries as the side raced to 35 in three overs.

Gill looked in sublime touch as he picked the gaps at will to score at a good clip, forcing PBKS skipper Shreyas Iyer to effect a bowling change and introduce the tall Marco Jansen (1/20 in 4 overs) into the attack.

The move paid dividends straightaway as left-arm pacer Jansen got Sai Sudharsan (13) to slice one straight towards mid-off where Shreyas completed a simple catch.

Sudharsan appeared to be attempting to loft the ball over mid-on, giving the PBKS a much-needed breakthrough in the fourth over.

That brought Jos Butter to the crease and the Englishman, coming off a disappointing T20 World Cup campaign, got off the mark in style, caressing Vyshak Vijaykumar through cover for a boundary, the shot giving the batter a lot of confidence moving forward.

Buttler employed the cut shot against a short and wide Jansen delivery to get a four through backward point and then struck the game's first six when he lofted Vyshak straight down the ground, as the seamer failed to land his attempted slower ball in the right area.

GT ended the powerplay at 54 for one, with PBKS having pulled things back a bit after leaking plenty in the first three overs.

Chahal came on in the eighth over and the leg-spinner, who has a good record against Gill having dismissed the opener three times in previous IPL match-ups, had his man once again as the batter holed out to deep midwicket after setting him up for a big score.

Chahal bowled one slower through the air and while Gill got the elevation, he did not get distance to clear the rope.

New man Glenn Phillips smashed Chahal over long-on for a maximum, and then, Buttler smoked a short Xavier Bartlett ball over mid-on for a six.

PBKS then pulled things back. PTI AH AH ATK

Mullanpur, Mar 31 (PTI) A disciplined bowling effort helped Punjab Kings restrict former champions Gujarat Titans to 162 for six in an Indian Premier League match here on Tuesday.

Vijaykumar Vyshak (3/34) was the most successful bowler with three wickets, while Yuzvendra Chahal (2/28) and Marco Jansen (1/20) snared two and one respectively after PBKS opted to bowl.

For GT, skipper Shubman Gill (39), Jos Buttler (38), Glenn Phillips (25) and Washington Sundar (18) scored bulk of the runs.

Brief Scores:

Gujarat Titans: 162 for 6 in 20 overs (Shubman Gill 39; Vijaykumar Vyshak 3/34, Yuzvendra Chahal 2/28). PTI ATK AM

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Tangier (Morocco), Mar 31 (PTI) Indian trap shooters Bhowneesh Mendiratta and Kynan Chenai enjoyed an eventful opening day, shooting with precision and consistency to put themselves in contention for a place in the finals at the inaugural ISSF Shotgun World Cup here on Tuesday.

In a highly competitive field led by Nathan Hales of Great Britain -- the Paris Olympics gold medallist and former world champion -- both Bhowneesh and Kynan hit 72 targets to be in joint sixth place alongside seven others after three rounds of 25 shots each, totalling 75 clay targets.

The third Indian in the fray, Olympian Prithviraj Tondaiman, endured a disappointing outing, managing 65/75 to be placed joint 62nd in the field.

Bhowneesh showed steady improvement across rounds, beginning with a 23 in the opener, followed by a 24 and a perfect 25 in the next two, while Kynan displayed remarkable consistency with three rounds of 24 to total 72.

Two more rounds of 25 shots each, totalling 50, will be played on Wednesday, with the top eight scorers progressing to the finals.

Olympic champion Nathan Hales, whose former coach Peter Wilson is now India's foreign coach and is accompanying the team, led the field with a score of 74/75 after opening with a 24 and following it up with two perfect rounds of 25.

However, the women's trap contingent endured a lean day, with Kirti Gupta, Aashima Ahlawat and Olympian Rajeshwari Kumari all returning identical scores of 65 after three rounds of 25, placing them joint 19th alongside several others in a field of 59. PTI AM AM AH

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Kochi, Mar 31 (PTI) Australian-born Ryan Williams made a dream India debut as his fourth minute strike set up the home side's 2-1 win over Hong Kong in an inconsequential Asian Cup qualifying round match here on Tuesday.

Akash Mishra scored the other goal for India in the 50th minute, also his first international strike, to help the Khalid Jamil-coached side notch their first victory of the third round of the qualifiers.

Already out of contention for the continental showpiece, India ended their campaign with five points -- from one win and two draws -- and at the bottom of Group C.

Everton Camargo pulled one back for Hong Kong in the 65th minute.

India had lost to Hong Kong 0-1 in the first leg on June 10 last year in Kowloon. Singapore, who beat Bangladesh 1-0 at home earlier in the day, qualified for the 2027 Asian Cup as Group C toppers with 14 points from six matches.

Williams slotted home with a first time right footer into the back of the net after a brilliant low delivery into the middle by Manvir Singh to give the big Kochi crowd a wonderful moment to cheer.

Williams was included in the squad after FIFA cleared his change of association, paving the way for the 31-year-old winger to represent India at the senior international level. He had earlier been part of India's preparatory camp for the Bangladesh match but missed out on the lineup due to pending documentation.

It was also his international debut as he has not played for Australia in an official senior match. He represented Australia at the youth level, featuring in the 2012 AFC U-19 Championship and the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

A versatile attacker currently playing for Indian Super League side Bengaluru FC, Williams relinquished his Australian passport last year to play for India.

Williams was substituted in the 67th minute as he limped out of the ground.

Minutes later, Anwar Ali was also taken off after on-field medical attention. PTI PDS PDS AH

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Chennai, Mar 31 (PTI) Reigning world champion D Gukesh on Tuesday decided to scale back his tournament schedule following lack of satisfactory performance this season as he opted to play only two Grand Chess Tour events in 2026, prioritising training and preparation for his title defence.

Gukesh’s inconsistent run has seen him endure an early exit as top seed at the Chess World Cup in November 2025 at home. It was followed by lowly finishes at the World Rapid and Blitz Championships in December, a 10th-place result after tie-breaks at the Tata Steel Chess Tournament, and a ninth-place finish at the recently concluded Prague Chess Festival.

"My performance in the last few events has been quite disappointing, not just for me, but for all of you who support me," wrote Gukesh on 'X', something he does not do very often.

"In order to find my best form my team and I have decided that I should compete with slightly less intensity over the next few months. Consequently, we feel it is in my best interest to skip long events away from home to allow for more dedicated training time," he added, indicating his priority from now on would be preparing to defend the world title he won by defeating Ding Liren of China in Singapore.

With the teenager set to defend the world title he won in 2024, the decision could prove to be a strategic pause to reset after a string of early exits, though it is certain to draw close attention from the chess fraternity.

Gukesh’s opponent for the FIDE World Chess Championship later this year is currently being decided at the FIDE Candidates Tournament in Cyprus, where eight competitors are battling it out, with the winner earning the right to challenge him for the title.

Gukesh added that he had requested the organisers of the Grand Chess Tour to allow him to play only two events this season, a request they supported.

"With this in mind, I approached the Grand Chess Tour organisers and asked to play only two European Rapid & Blitz events. They were very supportive and understanding, and we agreed that I would participate in the Rapid & Blitz tournaments in Warsaw and Zagreb this year.

"I’m very grateful for their support. Respectfully, I am not planning to play any other events during the Grand Chess Tour schedule and will certainly be back for the full Grand Chess Tour in the future," he added. PTI AM AM APS

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Mathura (UP), Mar 31 (PTI) Four men and five women were arrested from the basement of a roadside eatery on the Delhi-Agra National Highway on Tuesday for their alleged involvement flesh trade, police said.

Circle Officer (Chhata) Bhushan Verma said that acting on a tip-off, police conducted a raid at the dhaba in Chhata area this afternoon, during which the four men and five women were found in compromising positions in rooms constructed in the eatery's basement.

Verma further informed that a search of the premises led to the recovery of several QR codes and other incriminating materials.

He said that all the arrested individuals are being interrogated. PTI COR NAV NB

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Nashik, Mar 31 (PTI) The Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is conducting a probe against rape-accused self-styled godman Ashok Kharat, on Tuesday detained his son from Nashik city for questioning, police said.

At least 10 FIRs, eight for alleged sexual assault or exploitation and two for cheating, have been registered against Kharat at Sarkarwada police station in Nashik, while the SIT has received more than 100 complaints over phone against him.

An SIT team reached Kharat's house located in Karmayogi Nagar here and detained his son Harshvardhan. He was then taken to the Maharashtra Police Academy (MPA) for questioning, police sources said.

The investigators are trying to trace Kharat's wife Kalpana. However, the SIT team failed to find her at the residence, and detained their son, they said.

Kharat's police custody will end on Wednesday, following which he will be produced in a local court.

Meanwhile, police in neighbouring Ahilyanagar district on Tuesday registered a case against five persons, including Kharat's wife for cheating a land owner of over Rs 4 crore, officials said.

Police in the temple town of Shirdi have arrested two accused persons in this connection. However, Kharat's wife Kalpana is absconding and an operation to trace her is underway, the official said.

"A land owner from Shirdi had borrowed an unsecured loan of Rs 5.52 crore from Kharat's wife against four acres of land. He had made repayment of around Rs 1.5 crore, but Kharat allegedly tried to grab the land. The owner then lodged a complaint with the police, based on which a case was registered for fraud and under the Maharashtra Money Lending (Regulation) Act," he said.

The arrested accused duo was identified as Arvind Bawake and Kiran Sonawane, he said, adding that Kharat, his wife and a middleman are wanted in the case. PTI COR DC NP

New Delhi, Mar 31 (PTI) The CBI on Tuesday arrested a CGST assistant commissioner posted in Ratlam in an alleged bribery case of Rs 1.5 lakh, officials said.

The CBI caught Shankar Parmar red-handed taking Rs 1.5 lakh bribe, they said. The action came hours after Parmar allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 5 lakh, and a complaint was made against him.

"The CBI registered the instant case on 31.03.2026 against Assistant Commissioner, CGST, Ratlam...and caught the accused Assistant Commissioner, from the CGST Office, Ratlam, red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs. 1.5 lakh through the middleman," a CBI spokesperson said in a statement.

Searches were conducted at the premises of the accused, it said. PTI ABS VN

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Berhampur/Bhubaneswar (Odisha), Mar 31 (PTI) A 17-year-old girl fleeing sexual abuse by her stepfather in Andhra Pradesh was allegedly drugged and raped by two persons in Odisha, police said on Tuesday.

Odisha Police arrested two persons and took a boy into custody in connection with the incident.

The girl was allegedly drugged and raped by two men in Berhampur city on March 29, an officer said, adding that a police team rescued her after receiving information from locals.

Berhampur Superintendent of Police Saravana Vivek M said that three persons were taken to custody, of whom two adults of 23 years and 19 years were arrested, while a 15-year-old boy was sent to a juvenile home.

Apart from a gang rape case under various sections, including provisions of the POCSO Act, the police have also registered another case against the survivor's stepfather in Andhra Pradesh for alleged sexual abuse that prompted her to run away from home, police said.

During the investigation, police found out that the girl, a native of Kadapa district in Andhra Pradesh, had fled her home and reached Berhampur railway station aboard Prashanti Express on March 24 to escape sexual abuse by her stepfather.

She told the police that her mother had remarried after the death of her father, and the stepfather used to sexually abuse her.

After arriving at Berhampur, she spent some time at a platform and later found work at a nearby tea stall. There, she befriended a local boy, who took her to meet his friends on March 29.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the girl was offered a drink spiked with sedatives following which she lost consciousness. Later, the two adults allegedly raped her while the minor boy assisted them. Later, she was found by local people, who informed the police.

The survivor was produced before the District Child Welfare Committee and her medical examination was conducted. She was lodged in a child care home as per the directions of the CWC, police said.

The incident came to the fore a day after Bhubaneswar Police arrested two ambulance drivers on the charge of raping a 21-year-old woman from neighbouring West Bengal.

Opposition BJD, meanwhile, came down heavily on the state's BJP government and expressed concern over the rising incidents of rape in the state.

Addressing a press conference in Bhubaneswar, BJD general secretary Sumitra Jena alleged that women in Odisha have become extremely unsafe after the BJP assumed power in the state.

Quoting a recent reply of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi in the assembly, the BJD leader said that 48,798 cases of crimes against women were registered in the state in just 18 months (from July 1, 2024 to December 31, 2025).

Of these, 4,292 rape cases were registered. At present, Odisha under the BJP ranks first in the country in cases of crimes against women, while Maharashtra stands second, Jena added. PTI COR AAM AAM ACD

New Delhi, Mar 31 (PTI) A highly decomposed body of a man was found in a field in Outer-North Delhi's Bawana area, police said on Tuesday.

The body was found in a field in Mungeshpur village.

"A police team, along with senior officers, rushed to the spot and found the body of a man in a highly decomposed condition, making identification initially difficult," an officer said.

The deceased was later identified as Pradeep, a local, by his brother Anil.

Police said Pradeep was listed as a "bad character" at the Bawana police Station.

During the investigation, it was revealed that Pradeep had gone to a liquor shop on March 29 along with three of his associates. The group allegedly purchased alcohol and proceeded towards the Mungeshpur area, where they consumed liquor, police said.

Around 10 pm the same night, Pradeep called his wife and told her that he was near the Sohti-Kutubgarh Road and that his scooter had a puncture.

He told her that he would return shortly, but his phone went off soon after.

On Tuesday, his wife approached a police post in the area and lodged a missing person complaint.

The police found that the deceased was the same person reported missing.

A murder case has been filed and police suspect the involvement of the associates who were last seen with Pradeep.

"Multiple teams have been formed to crack the case. Efforts are underway to identify and apprehend the suspects," the officer said. PTI BM VN

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Faridabad, Mar 31 (PTI) A food delivery agent was killed after his bike was allegedly hit from behind by a speeding Mercedes in Sector 15 area of Faridabad, police said on Tuesday.

The car driver fled the scene after the accident around 2 am on Monday and police have seized the vehicle.

According to the police, the deceased was identified as Anand Raj Bind (28), a resident of Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh.

For the past several years, he had been living in a rented place in Bhatola village near Chandila Chowk and used to work as a delivery agent for Zomato.

Police said the car hit his bike from behind in front of the fire brigade office in Sector 15. Due to the high speed collision, he and his bike were thrown away, they added.

His brother reached the spot and found him lying unconscious and the Mercedes parked some distance away.

With the help of some people, he took Anand Raj to a private hospital in a private vehicle from where he was referred to Delhi. He was admitted to a private hospital in Delhi, where he died today during treatment, he added.

Inspector Rajvir, SHO of Central Police Station, Faridabad, said, "Police investigations so far revealed that the Mercedes car was on its way to pick someone up at the airport late at night. The car is registered in the name of a company.

"The (car) driver is still at large but we will arrest him soon," he said. PTI COR SKY

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Jaipur, Mar 31 (PTI) A man and a woman, both in their 20s and suspected lovers, were found dead in a farm's water reservoir (diggi) in Hanumangarh district on Tuesday, police said.

The incident was reported from village 20 LLW under Sadar Police Station limits.

According to police, Sonu and Vimla, aged 22 and 25, had been missing since Monday, and a search for them was on.

On Tuesday afternoon, their families received information that the bodies of a man and a woman were found in a 'diggi' in a farm in the village.

The bodies were retrieved by the police and returned to their families after a post-mortem.

Assistant Sub-Inspector Lalchand said the matter is under investigation.

"Prima facie, it appears to be a case of suicide related to a love affair," he said. PTI AG VN

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Hazaribag, Mar 31 (PTI) Nearly half a dozen suspects have been detained for questioning in connection with the alleged rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl in Jharkhand's Hazaribag district, police said on Tuesday.

Hazaribag SP Anjani Anjan said investigators have obtained crucial leads and are close to solving the case.

"We have certain leads and detained several persons for interrogation. We are close to solving the case," he told PTI.

A senior police officer associated with the investigation said all suspects are being questioned based on available evidence, and arrests are expected soon.

The Jharkhand High Court on Monday took suo motu cognisance of the incident and issued notices to the state administration and the DGP.

According to the FIR lodged by the family, the girl had gone with her mother to watch the ‘Mangla’ procession, taken out as part of Ram Navami celebrations, on the night of March 24.

She was allegedly abducted, and her body was recovered from a field the next day.

A three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to probe the case.

Meanwhile, members of the BJP Mahila Morcha submitted a memorandum to the Sub-Divisional Officer at Bishnugarh, demanding immediate arrest of the culprits and strict punishment for those involved.

The delegation, led by Shefali Gupta, had initially gone to meet the deputy commissioner but submitted the memorandum to the SDO in his absence.

The BJP had also called a 12-hour Hazaribag bandh on Monday in protest against the incident.

State BJP president Aditya Sahu has warned that the party will call a statewide bandh on April 3 if the accused are not arrested within the next two days. PTI ANB SOM

Hoshiarpur, Mar 31 (PTI) A statue of B R Ambedkar, installed atop a building in Noorpur Jattan village here, was vandalised on Tuesday by some unidentified persons, police said.

A rod-like object was used to damage the statue, which was encased in toughened glass, they said.

Later in the day, a video surfaced on social media in which pro-Khalistan leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun of the banned outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) purportedly claimed responsibility for the vandalism.

Officials said they are examining the video for veracity.

Deputy Superintendent of Police, Garhshankar, Daljit Singh Khakh, said a case has been registered against unknown people.

Police said no CCTVs were installed there, but their teams are examining camera footage from nearby areas.

This is not the first such incident.

In June last year, the same statue was vandalised, following which an FIR was registered.

Meanwhile, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) workers, led by its Punjab unit chief Avtar Singh Karimpuri, visited the spot and protested.

Karimpuri condemned the act and demanded that the accused be arrested within 72 hours.

He also announced a party rally in the village on April 18, demanding protection for the Dalit icon's statues.

Karimpuri attacked both the AAP-led Punjab government and the BJP-led central government, alleging that they failed to protect Ambedkar's statue.

He said this is the ninth incident of statue vandalism in the region.

Karimpuri asserted that the acts are part of a larger political conspiracy to disturb social harmony and marginalise the Dalit community.

Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar also condemned the incident and demanded immediate action from the state government.

Jakhar also appealed to the people of Punjab to remain vigilant against divisive forces and said certain forces operating from abroad are attempting to disturb peace in the state and are even targeting police stations.

He, however, expressed regret that the AAP-ruled state government "failed" to take effective action and said Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann should focus on improving law and order in Punjab instead of trying to "please" his Delhi-based leadership.

Former Union minister Som Parkash too flayed the incident and said it has deeply hurt the sentiments of the public in general and Dalits in particular. PTI COR CHS AMJ

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Godda, Mar 31 (PTI) A four-year-old girl and her aunt were killed as a bus hit a two-wheeler in Jharkhand's Godda district on Tuesday, police said.

The accident happened near Ghorichak Chowk in the Belbadda police station area, they said.

"Four people, including two girls, were riding the motorcycle. The bus hit the motorcycle from behind," said Pankaj Kumar Singh, the officer in charge of the Belbadda police station.

The bus and the motorcycle were seized, and the bodies of the deceased were sent for post-mortem examination, he said.

In another accident in the district on Monday night, two brothers were killed after a tractor trolley collided with their motorcycle, police said.

The accident happened in Shahpur village in the Muffasil police station area, they said.

The deceased were identified as Niranjan Mandal (40) and Sanjay Mandal (37) of Kajra village, they added.

The driver of the tractor, which hit the motorcycle from behind, is on the run, police said. PTI COR RPS RPS SOM

Beed, Mar 31 (PTI) The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Tuesday detained a police constable for allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs 2,000 in Maharashtra's Beed district, an official said.

Giving details of the case, Deputy Superintendent of Police of ACB Sopan Chitampalle said the complainant's sugarcane-laden tractor was allegedly stopped by some farmers, who prevented it from leaving a field.

After this, the complainant approached the Sirsala police station and lodged a complaint. Police constable Datta Nighul helped in resolving the issue. But after providing assistance, he allegedly demanded Rs 5,000 on January 27, officials said.

The complainant agreed to give Rs 2,000 to him, but as he was unwilling to pay any bribe to him, he approached the ACB and lodged a complaint. After verifying the allegations, the ACB team laid a trap and detained the constable from his residence. PTI COR NP

Kochi, Mar 31 (PTI) The Kerala High Court on Tuesday upheld the amendments made by the state government to the Kerala Lok Ayukta Act 1999, saying that the changes to the law do not violate the doctrine of separation of powers, the principle of judicial independence or the basic structure of the Constitution.

With the observations, a bench of Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar V M dismissed the pleas moved by senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala and N Prakash, a Kochi resident, challenging the amendments.

The bench said that the amendments, which changed a declaration by the Lok Ayukta to a recommendation and replaced the Governor with the state legislative assembly as the competent authority to accept or reject the suggestion in case of the chief minister, do not dilute powers of the quasi-judicial body.

The amendments also do not interfere with the administration of justice, it added.

"On the contrary, the impugned amendments seek to bring the statutory framework in consonance with the constitutional scheme, as discussed earlier, under which, ministers hold office during the pleasure of the Governor and cannot be compelled to demit office solely on the basis of a statutory declaration," the court said.

It also said that changing the declaration to recommendation and making the competent authority record reasons for accepting or rejecting the suggestion of the Lok Ayukta, does not amount to conferring appellate powers on the executive or encroachment into the judicial domain.

The bench further noted that any arbitrary, mala fide, or unreasonable decision taken by the competent authority in response to a recommendation of the Lok Ayukta would be amenable to judicial review.

"Therefore, the statutory scheme, as amended, preserves fairness at both stages -- at the level of inquiry and at the level of executive response -- and cannot be characterised as arbitrary or procedurally unjust.

"In view of the foregoing discussion, we hold that the amendment of the Kerala Lok Ayukta Act, 1999 does not violate the doctrine of separation of powers, the principle of judicial independence or the basic structure of the Constitution," it said.

The court also held that the state legislature was competent to make such amendments.

At the same time, the bench made it clear that under the amended Act, if the report of the Lok Ayukta with its recommendations is not rejected within 90 days from the date of its receipt, "it shall be deemed to have been accepted on the expiry of the said period of three months".

The petitioners had claimed that the amendments had diluted the efficacy and enforceability of the report of the Lok Ayukta from a 'declaration' to a 'recommendation'.

Rejecting the contentions of the petitioners, the court said that the amendments were enacted to harmonise the provisions of the Lok Ayukta Act with the constitutional framework, rather than to subvert it.

The amendments seeks to remove any inconsistency and align the statutory mechanism with the constitutional mandates, it said.

The state legislative assembly had passed the amendments in 2022. PTI HMP ROH

Prayagraj, Mar 31 (PTI) Observing that a woman is the absolute owner of her 'streedhan', the Allahabad High Court has held that a wife can't face a criminal trial for breach of trust under Section 406 of IPC for allegedly taking the property away.

Allowing a petition filed by Anamika Tiwari and four others, the court quashed the summoning order and criminal case against her and her relatives.

Justice Chawan Prakash in his order dated March 16 observed that properties given to a woman at the time of her marriage constitute her 'streedhan' and do not become the joint property of the husband and wife.

The court said that a wife has all rights to dispose of this property at her own pleasure. It added that while a husband may use it during times of distress, he has a moral obligation to restore the property or its value, and neither he nor other in-laws have any control over the 'streedhan'.

It was the case of the applicant-wife who got married in April 2012 and her family had provided sufficient dowry. However, she later lodged an FIR against her husband and his family members over alleged demands for dowry. A chargesheet in this matter was submitted in December 2018.

Later, the husband filed a complaint alleging that his wife and the other applicants entered his house in September 2018 and took away Rs 6,400 in cash, ornaments worth approximately Rs 1.5 lakh, and certain household articles.

Based on the husband's complaint and statements from witnesses, the magistrate summoned the wife and her family members to face trial. Challenging the same, she filed the present petition.

The high court examined sections 405 and 406 of IPC to note that if any property is entrusted to someone and that person dishonestly misappropriates or converts the same to his own use, then an offence of criminal breach of trust is made out.

The court, however, noted that since the wife is the absolute owner of her 'streedhan', no offence under Section 406 IPC would be made out against the applicant for allegedly taking away her ornaments. PTI COR RAJ KVK

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Bilaspur, Mar 31 (PTI) The Chhattisgarh High Court has ruled that individuals do not require prior permission from authorities to organise religious prayer meetings at their homes provided no law is violated.

A single bench of Justice Naresh Kumar Chandravanshi made the observation while quashing notices issued by police to two petitioners, and directed authorities not to interfere with their civil rights.

As per the order delivered on March 24, the case pertains to two relatives from Godhna village under Nawagarh police station limits in Janjgir-Champa district.

The petitioners had been organising prayer meetings for followers of Christianity in a hall on the first floor of their residence since 2016.

They contended in their petition that despite no disturbance or unlawful activity during these gatherings, the local police had been issuing notices under section 94 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, to prevent them from holding such meetings.

The petitioners told the court that notices dated October 18, 2025, November 22, 2025, and February 1, 2026, were served to stop them from conducting prayer meetings at their residence.

They further submitted that the Gram Panchayat of Godhna had earlier issued a no-objection certificate permitting the gatherings, but later withdrew it under pressure.

Seeking relief, the petitioners urged the HC to quash the notices and restrain the police from interfering in their right to hold prayer meetings at their private residence.

Opposing the plea, Deputy Government Advocate Shobhit Mishra argued that criminal cases had been registered against the petitioners in the past and that they had even been jailed.

The petitioners had not obtained prior permission from competent authorities for organising such gatherings, prompting the police to issue notices, the state counsel argued.

The HC, in its order, noted there is no need to get prior permission from any authority for conducting a prayer meeting if it is organized without violating any law.

"The petitioners are registered owner of said lands where they used to organize 'Prayer Meeting' of the followers of Christianity since 2016. There is no such law restraining any persons to organize prayer/prayer meeting in their dwelling house. Further, there is no need to get prior permission from any authority for conducting prayer/prayer meeting if the same is organized without violating any law," Justice Chandravanshi noted.

If any nuisance is caused due to noise pollution or situation of law and order arises, then it is always open for authorities to take necessary action under provisions of the relevant laws, the HC maintained.

"The respondents/police authorities are directed not to interfere with the civil rights of the petitioners and also shall not harass them under the guise of enquiry," it said, and quashed the notices issued to them by the police. PTI COR TKP RSY

New Delhi, Mar 31 (PTI) A Delhi court has imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 on an applicant for filing a complaint with grammatical errors and meaningless words, saying the application was an example of reliance on “technical intervention” or AI-driven drafting tools without human oversight.

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Neha Mittal was hearing a complaint by a woman seeking directions to the Delhi Police to register an FIR.

In an order dated March 30, while dismissing the complaint on the grounds of being “non-maintainable” and for being outside the court’s jurisdiction, the ACJM said, “Before parting with this order, this court deems it appropriate to highlight the quality of the drafting that has been dumped before it.”

She said that the application was full of “grammatical mistakes”, besides “insertion of some random meaningless words”, resulting in wastage of judicial time as efforts were made to make sense of such words, but to no avail.

To illustrate the absurdity, the court’s order quoted specific excerpts: “In para no. 3 of the complaint annexed with the application...few lines read as ‘that is why the me could not take legal action against the OCT accused because the me is Lady. a LATTES simple Framner... The mean Lebaut was in depression... The complaint EO SHO PS Mehrauli, New Delhi BHE BE Action was taken till me.”

Hinting that the petition was possibly drafted using artificial intelligence, the magistrate said, “These lines certainly do not make any sense and fail to convey anything else except the fact that drafting might have been done with more technical intervention and less of human mind contribution.”

The magistrate said that the country’s constitutional courts had deprecated the practice of filing such petitions.

“Despite nipping such complaints in the bud, litigants filing these frivolous complaints are definitely successful in wasting judicial time, if not more.

"In such situations, courts cannot be left powerless. Hence, in order to meet the ends of justice, this court deems it fit to impose cost upon the complainant," she said.

The magistrate directed the complainant to deposit a cost of Rs 20,000 with the Delhi Legal Services Authority (DLSA). PTI MNR MNR KVK

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New Delhi, Mar 31 (PTI) A Delhi court has refused anticipatory bail to a man involved in hoarding and black marketing of LPG cylinders amid the prevailing LPG situation triggered by the West Asia conflict, as it noted the investigation requires further custodial interrogation to unearth the black marketing racket.

Additional Sessions Judge Vinod Kumar Gautam was hearing the anticipatory bail of Mukesh Kumar, who has been charged under Section 7 (violation of contravening orders prohibiting hoarding in this case) of the Essential Commodities Act (ECA) and Section 61(2) (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The counsel for the accused argued that Section 7 of the ECA carries limited punishment and is bailable in nature, citing four high court precedents from Madhya Pradesh and Assam. He also argued that Kumar is ready to join the investigation, and recovery has already been effected. He sought parity of bail as the co-accused in the case has already been granted bail.

The court stated that the precedents cited by the accused's counsel are not binding on this court and are only persuasive in nature.

It also noted that the law on grant of anticipatory bail is well settled as it cited four Supreme Court judgements to justify its denial of bail.

It elaborated that according to apex court precedents, deep-rooted conspiracies require a different approach in considering bail, especially when investigation is at a crucial stage and custodial interrogation is required.

Since custodial interrogation is far more effective than questioning a person on anticipatory bail, it reaffirmed the Supreme Court judgement that held anticipatory bail is an extraordinary remedy rather than a matter of routine.

"This court is of the considered opinion that the applicant has failed to make out a case for grant of anticipatory bail," said the court in its order dated March 28, dismissing the bail plea.

The court also noted the allegations pertained to illegal procurement and black marketing of LPG cylinders amidst the ongoing crisis, indicating "organised activity having wider ramifications on public safety and distribution system".

It rejected the argument on parity of bail, as it noted that the role and conduct of the co-accused is materially different from that of Kumar, who is stated to be owner of the vehicle used to commit the offence and even alleged to be the main conspirator.

"This court also cannot lose sight of the fact that offences relating to black marketing of essential commodities, particularly LPG cylinders, assume greater seriousness in times of rising prices and increased public dependence, thereby affecting the larger public at large. Economic offences of this nature, committed in times of rising prices of essential commodities, strike at the very root of public welfare," the court added.

The court clarified that the recovery having been effected does not remove the requirement of custodial interrogation in cases of organised illegal activity and conspiracy.

It also harshly criticised the accused for not joining investigation prior to the bail hearing, supporting the State's argument for further custodial interrogation as it said, "The investigation is at a crucial stage and custodial interrogation appears necessary to unearth the complete chain of procurement, transportation and illegal distribution."

The court disposed of the anticipatory bail application and clarified none of its finding went into the merits of the case. PTI MDB ZMN

New Delhi, Mar 31 (PTI) A Delhi court on Monday sent to one-day CBI custody a deputy commissioner and an administrative officer of Municipal Corporation of Delhi in a corruption case.

Special Judge (PC Act) Dig Vinay Singh allowed a day-long custodial interrogation of Lt Col Abhishek Kumar Mishra, Deputy Commissioner, Shahdara North, and the other officer, who were arrested in a Rs 4 lakh bribery case.

According to the officials, the Central Bureau of Investigation arrested Mishra after he sought a bribe. PTI MNR

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New Delhi, Mar 31 (PTI) A Delhi court has acquitted two men who were facing trial for allegedly attempting to murder their neighbour in the Seelampur area after the victim and the main complainant turned "hostile" and failed to identify the attackers.

Principal District and Sessions Judge Sanjay Sharma was hearing a case against Bilal and Sahil who were accused of stabbing their neighbour on June 30, 2020.

In an order dated March 27, the court said, “There is no hesitation to hold that the prosecution has failed to prove its case against either of the accused for the offences punishable under Section 307 (attempt to murder), 120B (criminal conspiracy) the IPC and against accused Sahil for the offence punishable under Section 25 Arms Act”.

According to the prosecution, the complainant, Tarif, alleged that his brother Shakir was stabbed by Bilal multiple times in the waist, abdomen, and armpit. The motive was attributed to a quarrel that had occurred two days ago.

However, during the trial, both the injured victim (Shakir) and the complainant (Tarif) failed to support the police’s case.

Shakir testified that while he was stabbed, he could not see the assailant because it was totally dark.

Similarly, Tarif, who had initially named Bilal in the FIR, failed to identify either of the accused in open court. Both witnesses were cross-examined by the Additional Public Prosecutor but remained firm that they did not see who committed the crime.

"The injured and the complainant both turned hostile regarding the identity of the accused and did not identify them as the assailants even in the cross-examination," the court said.

The court also pointed out several loopholes in the prosecution's evidence. Regarding the recovery of a blood-stained knife from Sahil’s house two days after the incident, the judge termed it "highly unlikely" that an accused would retain such a weapon in an unlocked almirah.

“The recovery of the knife from an open almirah cannot be attributed or connected to the accused, to say that it was kept by him alone when the almirah was accessible to other members of the house as well,” the judge said.

Criticising the medical evidence, the court remarked that while doctors labelled the injuries as "grievous," they provided no specific reasoning as required under IPC Section 320.

"The prosecution has failed to prove its case against either of the accused... they are hereby acquitted," the court held, ordering the discharge of their personal and surety bonds. PTI SKM SKM NB

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New Delhi, Mar 31 (PTI) The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has asked the Haryana Power Generation Corporation Limited (HPGCL) to explore the possibility of having a dense plantation in the 152-acre area reclaimed after lifting fly ash from a disposal site.

The green body is hearing the matter regarding the disposal of fly ash, a byproduct of coal-based power stations, lying at the site of the Faridabad Thermal Power Station (FTPS), a unit of HPGCL.

In an order dated March 25, a bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert members A Senthil Vel and Afroz Ahmad noted that there were two ash disposal sites or ash dykes, of which the old dyke, spread over 103 acres, had been remediated or settled, while the new dyke had been evacuated after the lifting of ash.

The bench said, "The record reflects that on remediation of the new ash dyke an area of 152 acres has been reclaimed by the HPGCL. If this area is not put to any other use, it should be utilised for the betterment of the environment."

"Therefore, HPGCL will explore the possibility of having a dense plantation, including (by) Miyawaki forest (technique) in that area."

The technique, pioneered by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, focuses on recreating native forest ecosystems by planting a mix of indigenous tree species densely and closely together, thereby accelerating forest growth up to 10 times faster and creating plantations that are 30 times denser than traditional methods.

The tribunal noted that Additional Solicitor General Vikramjeet Banerjee, appearing for HPGCL, said that the possibility would be explored.

"Hence, we dispose of the original application (OA) directing the HPGCL to submit the report before the registrar general in respect of the decision taken for utilisation of the reclaimed land for betterment of the environment within three months."

"If deemed necessary, the matter will be listed for consideration before the bench again," the tribunal said. PTI MNR MNR KSS

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Kota (Rajasthan) March 31 (PTI) A 44-year-old man was sentenced to life imprisonment by a local court for killing his 38-year-old wife with an axe at their home while she was asleep, Public Prosecutor Rajendra Singh Solanki said on Tuesday.

In an order on Monday, the upper district and sessions court in Bundi's Nainwan subdivision also imposed a penalty of Rs 5,000 on the convict.

The accused, Vimal Kumar Meena, was arrested on April 14, 2022, after the victim’s father filed a case at the Nainwan police station on April 8, 2022, accusing him of killing his daughter, Mosam Bai, in Pai village.

The police had registered a case under Section 302 of IPC against Meena and began a probe, the lawyer said.

Statements of 26 witnesses were recorded during the trial, and 42 documents were exhibited to the court, he added. PTI COR ASD SKY

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New Delhi, Mar 31 (PTI) The Supreme Court is slated to hear on Wednesday a plea challenging an order of the Madhya Pradesh High Court which said it will inspect the Bhojshala Temple-Kamal Maula Mosque complex in Dhar before April 2 in light of the "numerous disputes" pertaining to the ASI-protected structure.

According to the cause list of the apex court, a three-judge bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi is likely to take up the appeal filed by Maulana Kamaluddin Welfare Society.

On March 16, a high court bench of Justices Vijay Kumar Shukla and Alok Awasthi had set April 2 for the regular hearing of the petitions related to the disputed Bhojshala Temple-Kamal Maula Mosque complex and said it will inspect the site.

On March 28, the two high court judges inspected the complex in Dhar. Justices Shukla and Awasthi of the Indore bench of high court had reached the site at around 1:50pm and left at 2:45pm.

The Hindu community considers Bhojshala to be a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, while the Muslim side claims the 11th-century monument is the Kamal Maula Mosque.

As per an ASI order of April 7, 2003, Hindus are allowed to worship at the complex every Tuesday, while Muslims are permitted to offer namaz every Friday.

The high court, in its oral remarks, had said, "In view of the numerous disputes, we would like to visit the complex and inspect it. We will visit the complex before the next date (April 2)."

It, however, had clarified that no party involved in the case will be allowed to be present at the disputed site during this visit.

The disputed complex in Dhar is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which, following high court orders, conducted a scientific survey of it and submitted a detailed report.

The ASI's more than 2,000-page report has indicated that a large structure dating back to the reign of the Parmar kings of Dhar predated the mosque and that the current disputed structure was built by reusing parts of ancient temples.

Retrieved architectural remains, sculptural fragments, large slabs of inscriptions with literary texts, Nagakarnika inscriptions on pillars, etc., suggest that a large structure associated with literary and educational activities existed at the site, according to the report.

Based on scientific investigations and archaeological remains recovered during the investigations, this pre-existing structure can be dated to the Paramara period, the report emphasised.

"Based on scientific investigations, survey and archaeological excavations conducted, study and analysis of retrieved finds, study of architectural remains, sculptures, and inscriptions, art and sculptures, it can be said the existing structure was made from the parts of earlier temples," the report stated.

From the art and architecture of the decorated pillars and pilasters, it can be said that they were part of earlier temples and were reused, while making colonnades of the mosque over a high platform of basalt, the ASI said in the report.

The Hindu community, which approached the court with the primary plea of determining the religious nature of the entire disputed complex, claims that coins, sculptures, and inscriptions found by the ASI during its scientific survey prove the structure was originally an ancient temple.

The Muslim side, however, has disputed the claim and questioned the survey, alleging the ASI ignored its earlier objections and included "objects placed in the disputed complex" in the survey. PTI PKS PKS KVK

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New Delhi, Mar 31 (PTI) The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has sought a response from the Centre and others in a matter regarding improper solid waste and sewage management in Sai Upvan, the 200-acre forest area in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad.

The green body was hearing a plea regarding incessant dumping and burning of wastes in Sai Upwan city forest area, popularly known as the city's lungs, besides choking of the stormwater drain passing through it.

The plea by former municipal corporator Rajendra Tyagi, filed by advocate Akash Vashishtha, claimed that around 70,000 trees were facing destruction in the area earmarked as a city forest in Ghaziabad's master plan.

In an order dated March 19 made available recently, a bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert member Afroz Ahmad said, "Pointing out the issue of mis-managed solid waste disposal in Sai Upwan city, counsel for the applicant has submitted that there is illegal dumping of solid waste in the area and the burning of solid waste also takes place consequently about 70,000 trees are drying."

It also noted the mismanagement of sewage waste, saying a part of the area was submerged because of overflowing sewage during the rainy season.

"Issue notice to the respondents for filing their response/reply by way of affidavit before the tribunal at least one week before the next date of hearing (July 2)," the tribunal said.

The respondents in the matter are the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Uttar Pradesh government, Central Pollution Control Board, UP Pollution Control Board, district magistrate (DM), forest department of UP, Ghaziabad Development Authority and Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam (municipal commission).

The plea underlined that in a highly polluted city like Ghaziabad, Sai Upwan served as a medium to replenish fresh air and provide health benefits to millions of residents.

"Almost half of the Sai Upwan city forest has been destroyed over the last few years due to incessant waste dumping, incessant dumping and burning of solid wastes, massive accumulation of legacy waste and other non-forest activities; mixing up of soil with legacy waste in a vast part of the forest area, causing massive soil contamination," the plea said. PTI MNR MNR KSS

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