States

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

A 15-year-old boy, Ram Potam, was injured by a pressure IED planted by Naxalites in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district. He received medical attention at a CRPF camp and district hospital. Security forces launched a search for additional explosives

The Indian Army’s Trishakti Corps installed a 10-KW solar power plant in Muguthang village, North Sikkim, providing year-round electricity to 32 residents. The project under the Vibrant Villages Programme enhances safety, connectivity, and prevents seasonal migration

Allegations of irregularities have emerged over non-academic and administrative appointments at Visva-Bharati University, with complaints to PM Modi, the Education Ministry, and UGC. Applicants claim merit lists were not published and rules bypassed, while the university denies any wrongdoing

In Firozabad, 50-year-old transport businessman Balmukund Dubey was beaten to death by his partner Gajendra Singh and associates over a financial dispute. Police registered a case, and one accused has been taken into custody for questioning

A man, Jitendra alias Ballam, was arrested in Baghpat for allegedly torturing a dog and forcing it to drink alcohol after a video went viral. A case under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act has been registered

Eleven monkeys, including two langurs, were found dead in Tumakuru’s Devarayanadurga forest area over two days. Forest officials suspect food poisoning based on post-mortem findings, though the exact cause will be confirmed after laboratory analysis of collected samples

Devotees thronged Sangam ghats on Magh Mela’s third day in Prayagraj, praising arrangements and security. The 44-day festival began January 3, features multiple auspicious bathing dates, extensive crowd management, transport facilities, and concludes on Mahashivratri with strong administrative oversight statewide

In Ernakulam’s Kadathy, a 68-year-old man, Ravi, died and another, James, suffered serious burns after a firecracker explosion at St Peter’s and St Paul’s Church during festive preparations. Police registered a case against the priest and church officials

In a shocking update, police revealed a 25-year-old woman was gang-raped inside a private hospital ambulance, not a van, in Faridabad. Both accused drivers have been arrested. The victim remains hospitalized while investigations continue via a surfaced testimonial video

In West Singhbhum, Jharkhand, Pradhan Purty was arrested for murdering a 25-year-old woman. He confessed to strangling her and crushing her head with a stone after she demanded marriage and money. Evidence, including her mobile and a blood-stained stone, was recovered

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said the Ballari violence, triggered by a banner dispute between BJP and Congress supporters that left one dead, may be handed to the CID. Two private gunmen have been detained, with ballistic reports awaited