Three criminals were arrested after a brief exchange of fire with police in Delhi's Rohini area, an official said on Wednesday. Govind alias Kohli, Krishna alias Kinha and Daud alias Sameer were arrested around 10.30 pm on Wednesday after police set up a trap on the Pansali Road in Begampur following a tip-off that three inter-state criminals were planning an offence there, the official said. They were spotted in a stolen black Creta car on Helipad Road, Begampur. When police ordered them to halt, the history-sheeters fired five bullets on the cops, the official said. Police officers returned fire in self-defence, causing injuries to Govind and Krishna in their legs, the official said, adding the two were taken to the BSA Hospital. Daud was arrested and two pistols were recovered from him. Police also recovered two semi-automatic pistols, one live cartridge and four used shells from the accused. The stolen Creta car was also recovered, the official said. The police confirmed that the individuals were responsible for multiple offences, including burglary, robbery, loot, and vehicle theft. The car which was being used by the accused was stolen from Netaji Subhash Place, the official added. Govind, a resident of Delhi's Sultanpuri, had over 70 criminal cases against him, including murder, robbery and attempted murder. He has served time in prisons in Visakhapatnam, Hyderabad, and Ahmedabad. Krishna, a resident of Delhi's Pitampura, was involved in more than 23 criminal cases, including robbery, dacoity, and arms act violations. He was imprisoned alongside Govind. Daud, from Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal, has over 10 criminal cases against him, including auto-lifting, robbery, and arms act violations. He was previously detained in Ahmedabad. Govind was released from a jail in Delhi on December 13 last year, whilst Krishna was freed on February 27. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
21 March,2025 01:40 AM IST | New Delhi | PTIDelhi Health Minister Pankaj Singh on Thursday inaugurated six advanced mobile dental clinics in a bid to make oral healthcare more accessible. Equipped with modern dental chairs, portable X-ray units, ultrasonic scalers, sterilisation units and diagnostic tools, the clinics will provide free services such as oral screenings, fluoride treatments, pain management and basic restorative procedures, according to a statement. The initiative, launched in collaboration with Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences (MAIDS), aims to bring modern dental care directly to the doorsteps of Delhi's residents, especially in underprivileged areas, it said. Flagging off the mobile clinics on World Oral Health Day, Pankaj Singh said, "Being from the dental fraternity myself, I've seen firsthand how oral health is often neglected. A healthy lifestyle starts with timely medical consultation and the right treatment, including dental care." "These clinics will reach every corner of Delhi, including slums and densely populated areas, ensuring no citizen is deprived of quality dental care," the minister added. Each vehicle also features smart televisions and audio devices to educate people about maintaining oral hygiene, the statement said. Additionally, Singh praised MAIDS for its role in advancing oral healthcare. The mobile clinics will collaborate with Delhi Government dispensaries, schools and social welfare programmes to reach students, senior citizens and vulnerable communities, he said. "We're working on the ground, not just on paper, to ensure that even the most vulnerable sections receive timely medical attention," he said. The health minister also launched an e-library under the 'One Nation One Subscription' scheme, offering students and medical professionals free access to thousands of books, journals, and research papers. "This e-library is a significant gift for students and doctors. Digital resources are the future of learning, and we're ensuring financial constraints don't block access to knowledge," he said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
21 March,2025 01:27 AM IST | New Delhi | PTIThe Chhattisgarh Assembly on Thursday passed the state's budget for the financial year 2025-26. The state government has presented a Rs 1.65 lakh crore budget for the fiscal 2025-26, proposing substantial funding for welfare schemes related to women, food security, while allocating Rs 10,000 crore for boosting farm prosperity. The government has been working towards the development of the state, empowerment of women, welfare of farmers and increasing employment opportunities while maintaining financial discipline, Finance Minister OP Chaudhary said while answering to the discussions on Chhattisgarh Appropriation Bill, 2025. After the discussion, the appropriation bill was passed with a voice vote in the House. "Chhattisgarh is among the top three states in the country in terms of GST (goods and services tax) growth. There has been a 20 per cent increase in registration fee and a historic increase has also been reported in transport and excise revenue. The Mukhyamantri Mobile Tower Yojana is being introduced to solve the problem of internet and mobile network in rural areas. Due to lack of network in forest areas, the digital divide was increasing, which this scheme will eliminate," he said. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Government has been giving priority to development, financial discipline, employment and women empowerment and is moving towards making Chhattisgarh a developed state, he said while rejecting the allegations of the opposition. "Along along with government jobs, focus is being paid to creating employment opportunities in the private sector as well. The Home Stay Policy has been implemented in Chhattisgarh and tourism has been given the status of industry, which will provide employment to the youth," he said. "Germany has sought 1 lakh youth from India. Our country's youth are increasingly in demand for jobs all over the world. The average age of India is 28 years and that of Chhattisgarh is 24 years, which makes it clear that our state is a young state and new employment opportunities will be created," he added. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
20 March,2025 11:56 PM IST | Raipur | PTIJammu-Kashmir Police chief Nalin Prabhat Thursday reviewed the security situation and the operational preparedness of the force in the Union Territory. Prabhat, the Director General of Police (DGP), Jammu-Kashmir, chaired a security review meeting at the Police Control Room, Kashmir, a police spokesman said. The meeting, attended by senior officers, including Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Jammu-Kashmir, VK Birdi, range deputy inspectors general (DIGs) and district Senior Superintendents of Police (SSP), focused on assessing the current security situation, including the counter-terrorism measures, crime control, and the effectiveness of ongoing security operations. The DGP emphasised the importance of enhanced coordination between districts to improve intelligence sharing and operational effectiveness, the spokesman said. Prabhat instructed officers to maintain heightened vigilance, particularly in sensitive areas, and expedite investigations, ensuring strong legal follow-ups in Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) cases. The rising challenge of narco-terrorism was also discussed, with a directive to intensify efforts against drug smuggling networks linked to terror funding. The meeting concluded with the DGP reiterating a zero-tolerance approach to terrorism and criminal activities, urging officers to remain alert and work in synergy, the spokesman said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
20 March,2025 11:43 PM IST | Srinagar | PTIThe Haryana Assembly on Thursday passed the Seeds (Haryana Amendment) Bill, 2025, which provides for stringent provisions including imprisonment of one to three years and fine up to Rs 5 lakh to prevent the production and sale of substandard or fake seeds. Besides, the Insecticides (Haryana Amendment) Bill, 2025, was also passed by the assembly, aimed to have a stricter law in place to check the sale of counterfeit and substandard pesticides in the state. On Thursday, the state assembly passed a total of six Bills. An official statement said the Seeds (Haryana Amendment) Bill, 2025, includes strict provisions aimed at both companies producing fake seeds and those selling them. As part of this amendment, Section 19-A has been added after Section 19, which addresses violations of Section 7 of the Seeds Act, 1966, in Haryana. To ensure stricter enforcement, the state government has made such violations a cognizable and non-bailable offence. According to the statement of objects and reasons of the Bill, "The Seeds Act, 1966 was enacted to provide for regulating the quality of certain seeds for sale, and for matters connected therewith". "It is noticed that many producers, dealers, and sellers are engaged in production, stocking, sell, import, transport or distribution of seeds which are not as per standards. The farmers are being sold such seeds which do not provide results for improvement of productivity of the farm produce. "The same is also resulting into increase of cost of crop production and loss of economy. Therefore, the Government of Haryana considers it expedient to prevent sale of substandard seeds and for that purpose inserted section 19A after Section 19 for the contravention of Section 7 of the Seeds Act, 1966," says the statement. The amended provisions have significantly strengthened the penalties for those involved in the production, sale, and distribution of fake, adulterated, and substandard seeds. Under the new provisions, any company or producer found guilty of producing or manufacturing such seeds will face a minimum imprisonment of one to two years, along with a fine ranging from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 3 lakh for the first offence. In the case of a second or subsequent offence, the punishment increases to a minimum of two to three years of imprisonment, and a fine ranging from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. Similarly, for persons or seed sellers found guilty of selling and distributing fake, adulterated, or substandard seeds, the new provisions impose a minimum imprisonment of six months to one year, along with a fine of Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh for the first offence. For a second or subsequent offense, the punishment increases to a minimum of one to two years of imprisonment, with a fine ranging from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh. The Haryana Assembly also passed a Bill amending the existing Insecticides Act, increasing penalties and fines for offenders. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
20 March,2025 11:26 PM IST | Chandigarh | PTIOne person was killed and three others were injured in a lightning strike in Jharkhand's Lohardaga district on Thursday evening, police said. The lightning struck near Jamri pond in Kudu police station area. The deceased, identified as Tulu Oraon, was returning home in Jamri village on a bicycle when he was struck by lightning, a police officer said. Another person accompanying him, identified as Arjun Oraon, received a minor injury. Tulu Oraon was taken to a community health centre, where doctors declared him dead. A motorcyclist and a pedestrian were also injured in the incident, the officer said, adding they are undergoing treatment at the CHC. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
20 March,2025 11:04 PM IST | Lohardaga (Jharkhand) | PTIYSRCP leader Amzad Basha on Thursday accused the Andhra Pradesh government of allegedly "neglecting minorities and discontinuing welfare measures for Haj pilgrims." Basha claimed that the TDP-led government "failed" to renew the embarkation facility at Gannavaram Airport, which had been established through the efforts of former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. "Earlier, Haj pilgrims had to travel to Hyderabad as Andhra Pradesh lacked an embarkation facility. Due to Reddy's efforts, the Centre approved Gannavaram Airport as an embarkation point," he said at a press conference here. The YSRCP leader highlighted a fare disparity, stating that flight costs from Gannavaram had risen significantly compared to Hyderabad. He added that Reddy had agreed to cover the difference, ensuring the government reimbursed the additional cost. Basha noted that while Haj travel was suspended for three years due to COVID-related restrictions, Reddy later credited the reimbursement amount directly into the pilgrims' bank accounts. He accused the state government of "failing" to pay last year's reimbursement and not oppose the removal of Gannavaram from the embarkation list. "This proves that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has been neglecting minorities. Even the 'shaadi tohfa' (wedding gift) scheme and other welfare programmes he announced are yet to be implemented," he claimed. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
20 March,2025 10:58 PM IST | India | PTIA young man was killed in a leopard attack near Jawai Dam in Rajasthan's Pali district on Thursday evening, officials said. Later the leopard was caught in a trap, according to a forest officer. The incident took place in a forested area under the Sumerpur police station limits. The leopard attacked the victim from behind, grabbed him by the neck and attempting to drag him toward a cave, they said. The victim's father, who was present at the spot, raised an alarm, following which the leopard fled leaving the young man critically injured. A forest department and police team reached the spot and rushed him to Sumerpur Hospital. However, he succumbed to his injuries within 15 minutes of treatment, officials added. "A leopard was trapped in a cage placed near the incident site. It has been confirmed that this was the same leopard that attacked," Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) P Bala Murugan said. The body has been kept in the mortuary of Sumerpur Hospital, where family members have gathered, demanding compensation, police said. The matter is being investigated, they said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
20 March,2025 10:58 PM IST | Jaipur | PTIThe Congress on Thursday accused the ruling BJP of "murdering" Parliamentary democracy by disrupting both houses on frivolous issues and finding excuses not to answer questions on their failures. In a post on X, Congress general secretary, organisation, K C Venugopal said the BJP must answer on the economic "crisis", social tensions and the "collapse" of the welfare state. "The BJP's modus operandi to murder Parliamentary democracy is simple - pick up a silly, frivolous issue and use it as an excuse to adjourn proceedings. It is the order of the day that the ruling regime itself is disrupting Parliament and not taking up discussions concerning serious Ministries," he said in his post. "As a responsible opposition, we have repeatedly agreed to discussions instead of disruptions, but the government itself is scared of answering difficult questions about their failures and discuss even matters related to important Ministries," Venugopal said. "The BJP must answer for the mounting economic crisis, increasing social tensions, and the collapse of the welfare state - it cannot run away," he said. Both houses of Parliament were adjourned without transacting any business after a row over DMK members protested wearing T-shirts with slogans on delimitation inside both houses. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
20 March,2025 10:52 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIThe Punjab cabinet on Thursday gave a nod to place the Budget Estimates for the year 2025-26 in the Budget Session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha which will start on Friday. A decision to this effect was taken in a meeting of the council of ministers held here under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. A spokesperson of the chief minister's office said the Budget will be presented by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on March 26. The cabinet also gave consent to place the report of Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) for the year 2023-24 on the floor of the House. The cabinet also gave a nod to amend the Punjab Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules, 2011 for omitting clause 7 (01). This will enable students belonging to the economically weaker sections (EWS) to avail of admission to private schools. This initiative will herald a new era of education revolution in the state by opening doors to quality education for the poor in private schools too, along with that being already imparted in government schools, said the spokesperson. The Right to Education stipulates that 25 per cent of seats in all private schools will be reserved for the EWS. However, this provision in the rules framed by the previous regimes debarred students from availing admission directly to private schools. But this "historic" decision of the state government will now remove all the restrictions on the students of weaker and underprivileged sections and provide them access to quality education in private schools across the state, said the spokesperson. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
20 March,2025 10:51 PM IST | Chandigarh | PTIPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday urged Gujarat's Bharwad community to adopt natural farming and plant trees as part of the "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam" campaign. He also urged the community, which is mainly into cattle rearing, to contribute towards making India a developed nation by 2047. PM Modi was virtually addressing the community members who had gathered in large numbers at Bavaliyali Dham in Dholera taluka of Ahmedabad to attend a religious event. "We have given immense pain to our Mother Earth as we kept drawing water and then dumped poisonous chemicals into it. Now, it is our responsibility to make it healthy again and cow dung can help revive Earth. I urge you all to adopt natural farming and serve Mother Earth," he said. He appealed to the community to ensure their cattle receive vaccine shots, provided free of cost by the Centre, against foot-and-mouth disease. "We have to build Viksit Bharat in the next 25 years and I need your community's support for it. And I firmly believe that the first step is to make our villages developed," said the PM. He informed the community members that the Kisan Credit Card, which was earlier issued to farmers only, is now being extended to cattle rearers too, enabling them to avail loans at low interest rates. "We also run Rashtriya Gokul Mission for the conservation of indigenous bovine breeds. You should take advantage of these schemes. I also urge you to plant a tree under the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign," said the PM in his address. He called Bavaliyali Dham a place of faith, culture and religion. Modi appealed to the community to "change as per circumstances and make their daughters learn (to operate) computers". Earlier in the day, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel had visited Bavaliyali Dham and attended the religious programme organised by the Bharward community. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
20 March,2025 10:50 PM IST | Ahmedabad | PTIADVERTISEMENT