States

The political storm in poll-bound West Bengal, triggered by multiple ED raids, once again blurs the line between criminal investigation and electoral politics

Uncertainty has engulfed the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence in Katra after the NMC withdrew its letter of permission, citing non-compliance, even as faculty and students allege political pressure behind the decision following protests over admissions

Activist Sharjeel Imam told a Delhi court that he never supported violence and had no coordination with co-accused Umar Khalid, arguing that the prosecution failed to establish any agreement required to prove a criminal conspiracy in the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots case

Raids by the Counter Intelligence Wing of J&K Police have uncovered a large network of mule accounts used for cyber fraud and terror financing in the Valley, amid heightened online activity by ISI-backed elements and a crackdown on VPN misuse

Karnataka Police and the State Women’s Commission rejected claims that BJP worker Sujatha Handi was assaulted or stripped, stating she removed her own clothes while resisting arrest during voter revision disputes in Hubballi. Investigations are ongoing to verify facts, with judicial custody already imposed

Women’s rights activist Brinda Adige condemned the alleged assault and stripping of BJP worker Sujatha Handi by police in Hubballi, Karnataka, calling it a grave violation of human and constitutional rights and demanding immediate suspension and accountability for the officers involved

In Chhattisgarh's Sukma district, 26 Naxalites—including seven women and high-value cadres—surrendered under the "Poona Margem" rehabilitation initiative. Rewards on their heads totaled ₹65 lakh. They received ₹50,000 each and will undergo further government-led reintegration

Delhi High Court directed Congress and AAP to remove social media posts within 24 hours linking BJP leader Dushyant Kumar Gautam to the 2022 Ankita Bhandari murder case, granting interim protection against defamatory content targeting him as a "VIP"

Kerala High Court extended interim protection from arrest for expelled Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil in a sexual assault and forced abortion case until January 21. He has challenged denial of anticipatory bail, claiming the relationship was consensual

In Hubballi, Karnataka, a BJP woman worker, Sujatha Handi, was allegedly assaulted and stripped by police during a voter list revision dispute involving a Congress corporator. The incident, captured on video, has sparked outrage and calls for police action

At least six people, including four from a family, were killed in fresh wild elephant attacks in Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district. The tusker has killed 13 people in two days, prompting forest teams to launch operations to drive it away

Badlapur whistleblower Sangeeta Chendvankar, who exposed the 2024 school sexual assault case, joined the Ajit Pawar-led NCP ahead of Maharashtra civic polls, saying the party offers her a better platform to serve citizens

Police in Maharashtra’s Thane district are investigating after a human-like skull and skeletal remains were found in an abandoned house in Dombivli. The remains were sent for forensic examination as a case of accidental death was registered

Uttar Pradesh published its draft electoral roll after a Special Intensive Revision, excluding 2.89 crore voters due to deaths, migration and duplication. Opposition parties criticised the exercise, while the Election Commission opened a month-long claims and objections window

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said whether he completes his tenure and becomes the longest-serving CM depends on the Congress high command, as he equalled the record of late D Devaraj Urs, crediting people’s blessings for the milestone

Rajasthan is experiencing severe cold, with night temperatures dipping below 10°C and four locations recording below 5°C. Schools in over a dozen districts, including Jaipur and Ganganagar, extended winter vacations. Dense fog, cold day conditions, bonfires, and night shelters are reported across the state

In Dhaka, Sharif Osman Hadi’s party staged a day-long “March for Justice,” demanding the trial of his killers and repatriation of alleged culprits reportedly in India. Bangladesh’s claims of Indian involvement were denied by New Delhi, while local investigations found no evidence of border crossings by the suspects

Reliance Industries confirmed it has not received Russian crude for nearly three weeks and expects none in January, halting imports at its SEZ refinery to comply with EU sanctions, amid reports linking three tankers to its Jamnagar complex

A bomb threat on the Kashi Express at Mau railway junction triggered panic and evacuation on Tuesday. Security teams, including police, GRP, and RPF, conducted thorough checks, finding no explosives. Authorities are investigating the hoax call’s origin

Cricketer Mohammed Shami and his brother were asked to appear for SIR verification in Kolkata due to errors in their voter forms. Shami, representing Bengal in Rajkot, has requested new dates, rescheduled between January 9–11 by the Election Commission

A 15-year-old boy in Pathankot, Punjab, was arrested for allegedly sharing sensitive security information with Pakistani handlers after being radicalized online. Police said the tech-savvy minor’s mobile was cloned, and he had recorded key locations, posing potential national security risks

The Madras High Court, Madurai Bench, upheld a single judge’s order permitting lighting of a lamp on the ‘Deepathoon’ stone pillar at Thirupparankundram hill, affirming the site belongs to the Lord Subramania Swamy Temple, hailed as a victory by devotees

Three children aged three to six died in a Varanasi village after allegedly consuming poisonous kaner fruit while playing. Police said the incident appears accidental, with no foul play suspected, and precautionary medical checks conducted for other children present

Scientists from Mizoram and international collaborators have discovered a new non-venomous reed snake species, *Calamaria mizoramensis*, endemic to the state. Published in *Zootaxa*, the finding corrects a long-standing misidentification and highlights Northeast India’s rich but underexplored biodiversity