Opposition accuses AAP govt of burdening Punjab with Rs 1,500 crore loan

STF nabs oxytocin smuggling accused in Lucknow; arrests two members of Barwar gang

PTI — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 01:00:47 +0530

Lucknow, Apr 7 (PTI): The Uttar Pradesh Police Special Task Force (STF) has arrested a member of an interstate gang involved in illegal smuggling of oxytocin injections in Lucknow and seized a large quantity of the drug, officials said on Tuesday.

According to an STF statement, the accused, identified as Rehan, a resident of Tirwa under Rahimabad police station area in Lucknow, was arrested on Monday evening from Karimabad underpass in Kakori area.

The STF said 502 vials (180 ml each) of oxytocin injections, two mobile phones and a motorcycle were recovered from his possession.

During interrogation, the accused confessed to being part of a gang supplying oxytocin illegally in Lucknow and nearby districts. He told police that another gang member, Irfan, a resident of Balaganj's Cattle Colony area, used to provide him with the injections, which were then distributed across various locations in the city.

The STF said samples of the seized injections have been sent for laboratory testing. It noted that the Union Health Ministry had, through a notification in 2001, restricted the sale of oxytocin injections to single-unit blister packs. A case has been registered at Kakori police station and further legal action is being taken by the local police.

In a separate operation, the STF arrested two alleged members of the Barwar gang, who were wanted in a case registered at Kunda police station in Pratapgarh district.

The accused, identified as Harishchandra, a resident of Dhanepur in Gonda district, and his associate Sohanlal, were arrested near Badshah Nagar railway station in Lucknow on Tuesday morning, the STF said.

During questioning, the duo admitted to being active members of the Barwar gang and involved in crimes such as robbery, theft and snatching for the past 15 years, it said.

The STF said both accused are wanted under the Gangsters Act and other relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita in Pratapgarh.

Harishchandra has 17 criminal cases registered against him across multiple districts including Raebareli, Bahraich, Ayodhya, Kushinagar, Gonda, Chitrakoot, Pratapgarh, Basti and Sultanpur, while Sohanlal faces 10 cases in districts such as Pratapgarh, Sultanpur, Balrampur, Raebareli, Gonda and Bahraich, it added. PTI KIS NB NB

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Gold smuggling racket busted at Bengaluru airport, 5 arrested

PTI — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 01:00:07 +0530

Bengaluru, Apr 7 (PTI): The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has busted a major international gold smuggling syndicate operating through Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru following a coordinated operation, according to an official statement.

Five people have been arrested so far in connection with the case and efforts are underway to identify the key masterminds and dismantle the entire network, officials said.

Acting on specific intelligence inputs, officers of the DRI’s Bengaluru Zonal Unit mounted surveillance at Terminal 2 of the airport, leading to the interception of a network involving foreign nationals and local facilitators.

The operation, conducted over April 6 and 7, culminated in the seizure of 3.356 kg of high-purity gold worth about Rs 5 crore in paste form.

“The officers of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Bengaluru Zonal Unit, have successfully busted a major international gold smuggling syndicate operating through Kempegowda International Airport (KIAL), Bengaluru,” the agency said in a press release.

Officials said the contraband was ingeniously concealed in paste form inside capsule-shaped packets, highlighting the sophisticated methods adopted by the syndicate.

Investigations revealed that carriers arriving from abroad deliberately chose Bengaluru as a transit point, exploiting longer layovers to facilitate covert transfers within the airport premises.

“The gold was concealed on the body and transferred using a pre-arranged passcode system inside sensitive areas such as washrooms and smoking zones, thereby bypassing Customs scrutiny,” the statement said.

The use of coded exchanges within restricted zones enabled the syndicate to evade routine checks, it said, adding that the probe also uncovered insider involvement within the airport ecosystem.

“The syndicate had further infiltrated the airport ecosystem, with the involvement of an insider who misused authorised access to restricted zones to receive and smuggle out the contraband,” the DRI said.

The operation also revealed the use of encrypted communication platforms featuring coded messages and disappearing chats.

Authorities said preliminary investigations indicate the involvement of a wider international network.

“Preliminary investigation indicates that the network is part of a larger cross-border smuggling syndicate involving foreign operatives, suspected to be Bangladeshi nationals, working in tandem with domestic handlers and facilitators,” the DRI said.

Officials said the case reflects the increasing sophistication of smuggling operations and reiterated that the agency remains committed to curbing such organised economic offences. PTI GMS NB

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UP: Posters target Akhilesh with 'Dhurandhar' reference; SP chief says check NCRB data

PTI — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 00:45:40 +0530

Lucknow/Amethi (UP), Apr 7 (PTI): Posters and hoardings inspired by Bollywood movie 'Dhurandhar' targeting Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav have surfaced at several locations in Lucknow and Amethi, triggering a political row months ahead of the 2027 assembly elections.

Yadav said if doesn't matter what Samajwadi Party says or BJP does but if the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data is put out honestly by media, people can decide for themselves.

The posters, put up outside the Amethi railway station and at various intersections, carry the slogan "Aap ko kya chahiye? Akhilesh ka Lyari raj." Lyari is a locality in Pakistan's Karachi, once notorious for gang wars and violence. It has been mentioned in the film 'Dhurandhar'.

The hoardings, allegedly put up by a group calling itself "Youth Against Mafia", also juxtapose alleged incidents of violence and riots during Yadav's tenure as chief minister with the current government's crackdown on mafia and criminals under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Names and photographs of the organisation's office-bearers, including its executive president, general secretary and Pratapgarh in-charge, are also displayed on the posters.

Similar posters by the same organisation were also seen at several places in Lucknow on Tuesday.

Interacting with reporters in Lucknow, Yadav urged media to rely on NCRB data and present facts on crime incidents, saying the public would then decide "who stands where".

He also alleged deterioration in healthcare services and rising drug inflow under the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh.

"The Samajwadi Party may put up posters and BJP can make claims, but the truth should be assessed through verified data. If journalists honestly bring out NCRB data and details of recent murders in key areas, and once the facts are presented, the public will decide for itself," he added.

Yadav also took a swipe at the government, saying people should themselves assess the situation and decide the nature of governance.

He further raised questions over funding of films and similar content, asking who was financing such productions and for what purpose.

The Samajwadi Party condemned the move, alleging political vendetta.

Amethi district spokesperson advocate Rajesh Mishra said the posters reflected the "frustration and desperation" of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party government.

He claimed the BJP was resorting to such tactics as it had realised that it would not return to power, adding that the public was aware of these "attempts to mislead".

Amethi police station in-charge Ravi Singh said police had received information about the posters and a team had been sent to the spot. PTI COR ABN KIS PRK

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UP: Five of family get life term in Azamgarh murder case

PTI — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 00:31:44 +0530

Azamgarh (UP), Apr 7 (PTI): A court in Uttar Pradesh's Azamgarh district has sentenced five members of a family to life imprisonment in a nearly two-year-old murder case.

Special Sessions Judge Jainuddin Ansari, after completing the trial in the murder of a man named Pankaj, convicted Guddu Bharti, Nikhil Bharti, Jang Bahadur, Vansh Bahadur and Gulabi, wife of Jang Bahadur, and awarded them life imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 37,000 each.

The prosecution said that the complainant, Kiran, a resident of Bag Lakharav village under Sidhari police station area, had alleged in her complaint that on March 21, 2024, Guddu Bharti had called her husband Pankaj to attend a village panchayat.

Around 11 am, she was informed that Pankaj was being assaulted. When she rushed to the spot, she saw Guddu alias Kailash, Nikhil Bharti (sons of Jang Bahadur), Vansh Bahadur and Jang Bahadur (sons of Algu), along with Gulabi and a minor, attacking Pankaj with sticks and an axe, the prosecution said.

The accused fled the spot after Kiran raised an alarm, and Pankaj succumbed to his injuries on the way to the hospital.

After completing the investigation, police filed a chargesheet against all the accused in the court. The case against the minor was separated and sent to the Juvenile Justice Board, the prosecution said.

Assistant district government counsels Nirmal Sharma, Om Prakash Singh, Avinash Rai and Virendra Yadav examined eight witnesses during the trial.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the court held the five accused guilty and pronounced the sentence, it added. PTI COR KIS NB NB

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U'khand CM holds meeting ahead of PM Modi's visit for inauguration of Delhi-Dehradun Expressway

PTI — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 00:31:18 +0530

Dehradun, Apr 7 (PTI): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Tuesday held a high-level meeting here ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's proposed visit to the state for the inauguration of Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor (Delhi-Dehradun Expressway) on April 14. Dhami directed officials to ensure that the event is grand and successful.

Describing this occasion as extremely significant and historic for the state, Dhami stated that this economic corridor would provide a massive boost to employment, tourism, and trade within Uttarakhand.

He instructed officials to ensure the participation of every section of society in this grand event so that the program could truly take the form of a public festival.

Issuing directives to decorate the venue with a blend of traditional and modern aesthetics, while ensuring the extensive participation of artists, Dhami emphasised that this event should not merely be a government function, but rather a symbol of the state's culture, tradition, and pride.

He also appealed to the public to step out of their homes and join the event by holding the national flag during the prime minister's roadshow, and urged that a festive atmosphere be created across the entire state.

Dhami stated that the Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor would provide a new direction to Uttarakhand's development and further strengthen the state's position within the mainstream of national development.

He added that the significant reduction in travel time between Delhi and Dehradun, facilitated by this corridor, would not only provide an unprecedented boost to tourism but also lead to an expansion of industrial and commercial activities in Uttarakhand, thereby creating new employment opportunities for the youth.

The CM further noted that this corridor would bring about revolutionary changes in the fields of logistics, transportation, and investment, thereby bolstering the state's economy. PTI DPT NB

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TMC delegation to meet EC on Wednesday, raise SIR-linked issues

PTI — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 00:30:48 +0530

New Delhi, Apr 7 (PTI): A Trinamool Congress delegation will meet the Election Commission on Wednesday amid the ongoing controversies around the SIR exercise in West Bengal.

Party leaders will also raise the issue of the alleged links with the BJP of the several middle-level officials appointed following the poll panel's orders.

Addressing a press conference here, TMC's Rajya Sabha leader Derek O'Brien said they had written to the Election Commission (EC) on Monday seeking an appointment, and the reply came at around 3 pm on Tuesday.

The four-member party delegation, which includes Saket Gokhale and Menaka Guruswamy, besides O'Brien and Sagarika Ghose, will meet the EC on Wednesday morning, he said, adding they were prepared for a sit-in protest if the poll panel had not given them an appointment.

Targeting Chief Election Commission (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, O'Brien said at a press conference, "Enough of your arrogance. You listen to us tomorrow.

"We are not here to speak only about the TMC; we are here for you to listen to the voices of people you have disenfranchised or those you are attempting to disenfranchise." A TMC leader said they will also raise the issue of recent appointments done on EC's directions, and alleged that several middle level officials like BDOs and police observers and general observers have "clear and visible BJP connections and cases on them". The party leaders will also highlight some specific instances.

On the Lok Sabha speaker and Rajya Sabha chairman rejecting the notice for a motion to remove CEC Gyanesh Kumar, O'Brien said that opposition parties are "in touch" over the issue.

"First, they gave no reason. Now, they're giving some flimsy reason. I want to update you on this, that all the non-BJP parties, the like-minded parties, we are in touch with each other," he said.

In separate orders, the speaker and the Rajya Sabha chairman refused to admit the notices moved under Article 324(5) of the Constitution, read with other relevant constitutional and statutory provisions, praying for the removal of Gyanesh Kumar as the chief election commissioner.

Radhakrishnan, in his order, said that while the allegations are relevant for political debate, they do not prima facie meet the high constitutional bar for removal proceedings.

Radhakrishnan said he finds that the allegations lack the proof necessary to constitute misbehaviour which establishes a prima facie case for the removal of the CEC.

TMC Rajya Sabha deputy leader Sagarika Ghose said the EC was trying to be a "bully", but is actually "scared".

"Around 27 lakh people are out of the adjudication list. The first phase electoral roll has been frozen. How are genuine voters going to be added?" she said and accused the EC of being partial.

"An extremely compromised EC, which is trying to take away the right to vote from a citizen in Bengal," she alleged.

Over 27.16 lakh of 60.06 lakh 'under adjudication' voters have been deleted during the now-concluded scrutiny by judicial officers, the EC data showed.

O'Brien said, "If you're going to do this and take away 27 lakh votes. C-R-I-M-I-N-A-L. Out of 27 lakh, how many have approached the tribunal and got clearance? Why don't you have a reasonable guess? Out of 27 lakh, just two," he said.

Nearly 91 lakh voters have been deleted from the electoral rolls in West Bengal following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in the state, according to data released by the Election Commission.

The poll panel is yet to officially announce the final voter base for the state after the roll revision process.

From the available figures, however, the total deletion in the state at this point, based on the 7.66 crore electors identified at the end of October last year, stands at over 11.85 per cent.

The final deletion figure, since the beginning of the SIR process, stood at a little over 90.83 lakh. PTI AO PRK

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Use of nuclear weapons can never be justified: Rahul after Trump's warning to Iran

PTI — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 00:30:03 +0530

New Delhi, Apr 7 (PTI): With US President Donald Trump threatening that a whole civilisation will die on Tuesday night, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said any language or action that contemplates the end of civilisation is unacceptable in the modern world and asserted that the use of nuclear weapons can never be justified.

In a post on X, Gandhi said, "Wars are tragic, yet they remain a reality. Any language or action that contemplates the end of civilisation is unacceptable in the modern world." "The use of nuclear weapons can never be justified -- under any circumstances," the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha asserted.

His remarks came after Trump threatened that a whole civilisation will die on Tuesday night if Iran fails to meet his latest deadline to strike a deal that includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz, while the Islamic republic urged young people to form human chains around power plants and other potential targets.

Even before the deadline, airstrikes hit two bridges and a train station, and the United States targeted military infrastructure on the Kharg Island.

It was the second time American forces struck the island, a key hub for Iranian oil production.

Since the war began, Trump has repeatedly imposed deadlines linked to threats, only to extend those. But the US president has insisted that this is the final one and will expire at 8 pm in Washington, without a major diplomatic breakthrough.

A whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again, if a deal is not reached, Trump said in an online post on Tuesday morning. But he also seemed to keep open the possibility of an off-ramp, saying that maybe something revolutionarily-wonderful can happen.

Meanwhile, Tehran's United Nations representative, Amir-Saeid Iravani, said Iran will take immediate and proportionate action if the US president follows through on his threats to attack the country's whole civilisation. PTI ASK RC

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NHRC notice to Health Ministry, FSSAI after complaint over 'action' taken against 'whistleblowers'

PTI — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 00:16:33 +0530

New Delhi, Apr 7 (PTI): The NHRC has issued a notice to the Health Ministry, FSSAI and Delhi Police following a complaint that "action" was taken against "whistleblowers" who had raised their voice against alleged wrongdoing in the larger public interest, according to the proceedings of the case.

The rights panel also sought an action taken report within two weeks.

The complainant in the case has claimed that some persons submitted "fraudulent" documents during the recruitment process and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) also conducted an "internal inquiry" into the case and found them "guilty".

The complainant also claimed that the portion of the inquiry report which was shared, was done "without any addition, alteration, or personal interpretation, and it was disseminated in good faith and without any intention to act maliciously or to malign the reputation of any person," the proceedings says.

The complainant also alleged that an FIR in March 2026 was registered "against them" (people raising the issue) for reporting findings as recorded in an official internal inquiry report, it says.

When asked about the case, NHRC member Priyank Kanoongo on Tuesday said one of the "whistleblowers" -- a person who had raised the issue of "irregularity" through a social media post -- approached the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) with a complaint, alleging that a police case has been slapped against persons who raised this issue.

The complainant has alleged that "they are whistleblowers", who raised their voice against corruption and wrongdoing in the larger public interest, the proceedings says.

A bench of the NHRC, presided over by Kanoongo, took cognisance of the matter under Section 12 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.

The allegations made in the complaint, prima facie, seem to be "violations" of the human rights of the complainant, reads the proceedings dated April 7, the bench observed.

"The Registry is directed to issue a notice to the CEO, FSSAI, New Delhi, the secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, New Delhi and the DCP, Central Delhi, with directions to get the allegations made in the complaint inquired into," it said.

The NHRC has asked the Central Delhi DCP to "ensure that the identity and details of the whistle blower(s)/complainants are not disclosed and their safety, security and privacy are duly protected, particularly in accordance with the provisions of the Whistle Blowers Protection Act, 2014".

Further, the DCP was directed to "ensure that the inquiry report of the committee constituted by the FSSAI is "made part of the investigation", as the FIR "appears to have been registered on the basis of an alleged leak of details/documents of the said inquiry report," the proceedings added.

Earlier this month, Delhi Police in a statement said, they received a complaint from an FSSAI representative on March 12, flagging the circulation of the organisation's official documents, which are possibly tampered with, across social media platforms.

Delhi Police has registered an FIR against some social media influencers and other unidentified persons over alleged unauthorised circulation of these official documents of the FSSAI.

In the complaint received by the police, it was alleged that some influencers and unidentified persons, possibly in connivance with insiders, may have been involved in spreading the content "to create distrust and harm the organisation's reputation".

Police had said that as part of the investigation, they were preserving digital evidence related to the case.

The statement noted that police have also issued notices to social media platforms, including microblogging site X, seeking details of the accounts that shared and amplified the content.

According to the NHRC proceedings of the case, the secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has been directed to submit a report on whether the FSSAI has constituted any internal inquiry against the alleged employees in respect of irregular or malicious procedures adopted in the selection process of candidates; and what action, if any, has been taken thus far against the said employees involved in the selection process.

The NHRC has asked the FSSAI CEO to furnish the outcome of the internal inquiry (said confidential report/details) conducted in the matter, if any, along with a copy thereof for perusal of the Commission, the proceedings says. PTI KND RT PRK

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Autorickshaw driver held after pregnant police constable injured near Delhi's South Campus road

PTI — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 00:16:01 +0530

New Delhi, Apr 7 (PTI): An autorickshaw driver has been arrested after a pregnant constable of the Delhi Police was seriously injured in a road accident near the Motilal Nehru College on South Campus, an official said on Tuesday.

According to police, a PCR call regarding the accident was received at the South Campus police station on April 2, following which an investigating officer reached the spot and found a damaged autorickshaw and a loading tempo stationed ahead of it on the roadside.

"Both drivers -- Vijender Singh, a resident of Jaitpur, and Aditya Kumar, a resident of Chhawla -- were present at the scene, but no complainant was found," the officer said.

Police said information regarding a medico-legal case (MLC) linked to the incident was later received from the AIIMS Trauma Centre. The injured, identified as Dzuthotalu Rhakho, a resident of Munirka village, was found unfit to give a statement at the time.

On April 5, the injured woman, who is posted as a constable in the Security Unit of the Delhi Police, recorded her statement. She told police that she was travelling in an autorickshaw from the Security Line to Munirka along with two colleagues when the accident took place.

According to her statement, a loading tempo moving ahead of the autorickshaw applied sudden brakes and the autorickshaw, which was being driven in a rash and negligent manner, collided with the vehicle. She sustained injuries to her knee in the incident.

"Based on her complaint, a case was registered. The autorickshaw driver, Vijender Singh, has been arrested," the officer said.

Both the autorickshaw and the loading tempo involved in the accident have been seized, and further investigation into the case is underway. PTI BM RC

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Opposition accuses AAP govt of burdening Punjab with Rs 1,500 crore loan

PTI — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 00:15:35 +0530

Chandigarh, Apr 7 (PTI): Opposition parties' leaders on Tuesday targeted the AAP government in Punjab over the state's debt, accusing it of further burdening the state's finances by taking an additional loan of Rs 1,500 crore.

Expressing concern over the "rising debt", they claimed that the fresh borrowing of Rs 1,500 crore would take the total outstanding debt to more than Rs 4 lakh crore.

Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia slammed the Bhagwant Mann government, questioning its financial priorities and claiming that the fresh borrowing has been undertaken at a time when the state is already under "significant debt".

In a statement, Majithia alleged that instead of focusing on fiscal discipline or reducing liabilities, the government continues to "rely on loans, thereby pushing Punjab deeper into financial stress".

Majithia further criticised the AAP government, stating that the party had come to power with a promise to reduce Punjab's debt and not to impose any additional financial burden on the state.

However, he alleged that in the last four years, the government has done the opposite by continuously taking loans.

"This approach has not only increased the debt but has also weakened Punjab's economic position," he claimed.

Stating that Punjab was once considered a prosperous state, Majithia said the current financial trajectory has pushed it towards "economic distress".

He alleged that instead of making Punjab "rangla" (vibrant) as promised, the government's policies have made it "financially strained".

Congress MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa also slammed the AAP government over fresh borrowing, alleging that the Bhagwant Mann government is "pushing Punjab towards a financial emergency." Development works have stalled, and the debt burden per citizen has risen to over Rs 1.26 lakh, he claimed in a statement.

Randhawa claimed the state's debt has increased by more than Rs 1.33 lakh crore during the tenure of the AAP government.

"A major portion of this borrowing is being used to service past liabilities and to fund free electricity and subsidies. To fulfil the promise of 300 units of free electricity, the government is providing over Rs 20,400 crore annually as subsidy to the power utility," said the former deputy chief minister of Punjab.

Criticising the government's priorities, Randhawa alleged that instead of focusing on public welfare, funds are being spent on political showmanship.

"Loans are being used for national-level advertisements and frequent chartered flights by the Chief Minister, rather than for genuine development," Randhawa alleged. PTI CHS NB NB

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