Assam activist leading protests against Kaziranga luxury hotels detained

Eknath Khadse, a former BJP leader, is currently a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) from the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP-SP). File | Mr. Khadse, a former BJP leader, is currently a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) from the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (SP). Recently, it was reported that BJP General Secretary Vinod Tawde had called on Mr. Khadse at his residence, fueling speculation about the veteran leader's return to the saffron party.During the 2024 Lok Sabha election campaign, reports of Mr. Khadse's possible return to the BJP had gained traction after photographs of his meetings with senior party leaders in New Delhi surfaced. However, the move did not materialise."Yes, I had gone to Delhi. Amit Shah had called me and asked me to join the BJP. But senior BJP leaders told me that if I was inducted into the party, local leaders would not work. They even said they would ensure the party lose the Lok Sabha seat if I was taken back," Mr. Khadse claimed in a video released on Saturday (July 11, 2026)."The seniors then told me to continue working for them in the Lok Sabha elections and that they would see later. So who exactly is opposing my entry?" he asked.Mr. Khadse did not specify which seat he was referring to. His daughter-in-law Raksha Khadse is a BJP MP from Raver Lok Sabha seat in Maharashtra's Jalgaon district and is currently a Union minister.Clarifying speculation triggered by his recent meeting with Mr. Tawde in Mumbai, Mr. Khadse said it was only a courtesy call. "He enquired about my health and there was no political discussion. I invited him to my birthday function. I have also invited Nitin Gadkari, and he has told me he will attend," the MLC said."I want to make it clear that I have no interest in joining the BJP now. I am with Sharad Pawar and will remain with him till the end. My workers may be interested in joining the BJP, but I am not," he asserted.Meanwhile, State Minister Girish Mahajan dismissed reports claiming that he stalled Eknath Khadse's return to the BJP."How can I stop Khadse's entry? He has a direct hotline to Delhi. I am a small man and do not even have a hotline to Mumbai. If he has received a green signal from the top leadership, that is fine. I am not an astrologer, nor am I Sanjay Raut," Mr. Mahajan quipped.Mr. Mahajan also said he had no information about Eknath Khadse's possible induction into the BJP and remarked that state minister Gulabrao Patil (who is a legislator from Mr. Khadse's native place Jalgaon) would be better placed to comment on the matter.Referring to Eknath Khadse's forthcoming birthday celebrations, he said the veteran leader's stature would ensure a grand event, adding that leaders from Delhi were expected to attend and that he would consider attending if invited.In a related development, Mr. Khadse on Friday (July 10, 2026) met Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray at the latter's residence 'Matoshri', triggering speculation about his political plans.Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut was also present during the "courtesy meeting", sources said. Published - July 12, 2026 11:33 am IST

Charminar police recovered 30 lost or stolen mobile phones using the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) portal and technical investigation, before returning them to their rightful owners on Saturday.The recovered mobile phones were handed over to the complainants by Charminar ACP P. Chandra Shekar during a programme held at the Charminar police station.According to the police, the mobile phones belonged to citizens who had lost them under different circumstances and had subsequently lodged complaints.Police urged the public to report lost or stolen mobile phones without delay at the nearest police station or by registering the details on the CEIR portal. They said prompt reporting helps authorities quickly block, trace and recover lost devices. Published - July 11, 2026 07:25 pm IST

A 25-year-old youth has been arrested by the Kochi city police with 387.26 gram of suspected MDMA as part of the ongoing State-wide anti-narcotics drive Operation Toofan in Kerala.Muhammed Sadique, a gym trainer from Edathala in Aluva, was nabbed from an apartment at Vazhakkala by the District Anti-Narcotics Special Action Force on Thursday night, the police said on Friday.The police also seized ₹66,000 and a bike, allegedly used by the accused for drug peddling. The number plate of the vehicle was allegedly removed, according to the police.Police sources said the anti-narcotics force zeroed in on Mr. Sadique following a tip-off and that he had been under the police radar for the past few days. The police have found financial transactions to the tune of around ₹10 lakh from his bank account in the past one week. The investigators will be tracing the money trail as part of the probe into alleged drug trafficking. Published - July 10, 2026 02:24 pm IST

Congress leader and former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. File | “Unlike in other parties, it is not a one-way communication and command in the Congress. The Congress values and respects the seniority and contribution of each leader, which is acknowledged and rewarded at the right time,” he told media persons.Mr. Baghel, who has been convening meeting here with party leaders and workers surrounding preparations for the Punjab Assembly elections 2027, expressed confidence about the party’s prospects of forming the next government in Punjab.He said the Congress was on its way towards a comfortable victory in the coming elections. “The Aam Aadmi Party government had completely failed and people want to get rid of it as soon as possible,” he added.He said the Bharatiya Janata Party’s presence on the ground remains marginal. “Even the BJP leadership knows it well and it is only making hoax claims so that their cadres and leaders don’t desert it ahead of the elections,” he said.Asked about which leaders he will be meeting, Mr. Baghel said that he will be meeting every leader, as that is part of his brief. “The Congress was completely united in Punjab in its mission and purpose,” he said. Disgruntled party leaders, including former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi is likely to meet Mr. Baghel on July 10. Published - July 10, 2026 12:54 pm IST

Two persons were arrested by Vaniyambadi taluk police in Tirupattur for manufacturing and selling arrack in the area on Wednesday.The arrested persons were identified as K. Perumal, 52, and S. Rajesh, 26. They are residents of Kothakottai village near Vaniyambadi town. Superintendent of Police (SP) Akshay Anil Wakhare has formed special teams to prevent illegal activities, including the sale of contraband like ganja and gutka in the district.Police said that Mr. Wakhare directed a police team to conduct a surprise raid in the village on the complaint of an illegal arrack unit. Accordingly, the team searched several spots in the village and found an arrack-making unit in a farmland.Police said that the duo tried to escape from the spot on noticing the police team, but the team nabbed them. They also destroyed several barrels of arrack and the unit. A case was registered, and the arrested persons were lodged at a sub-jail in Tirupattur. Further probe is under way. Published - July 09, 2026 12:57 am IST

Police used water cannons to disperse Yuva Morcha activists after they took out a protest march to the Public Service Commission (PSC) Regional Office in Thrissur on Wednesday.The march, organised by the Yuva Morcha’s Thrissur district committee, demanded a government-ordered independent probe into the alleged irregularities in the PSC, claiming that the controversies had undermined the future of job aspirants.The protest was inaugurated by Yuva Morcha State president V. Manu Prasad, while the organisation’s city district president, Manu Pallath, presided over the function.Addressing the gathering, Mr. Manu Prasad alleged that the PSC had been misused in a manner that had eroded the confidence of young job seekers. He demanded the resignation of the PSC chairman and other members facing allegations and called for an independent investigation into the charges.BJP city district president Justin Jacob also addressed the gathering, alleging that public confidence in the PSC had been severely shaken and stressing the need for a transparent inquiry to establish the facts.The situation turned tense when the police stopped the march near the PSC office. As the protesters attempted to move forward, the police used water cannons to disperse them.Several activists who later tried to place a wreath at the entrance of the PSC office as part of the protest were taken into custody and removed from the spot.Yuva Morcha city district president Manu Pallath said the agitation would continue until “justice is ensured” for job aspirants. Published - July 08, 2026 08:54 pm IST

A CCTV grab shows the moment after the accused allegedly tried to force their way into the house at Hamali Colony in Anantapur, on July 1. | According to the police, the families of Uma Maheswari and Shakila live on the first floor of a house in Hamali Colony under Anantapur II Town police limits. On June 9, the two families had a dispute over the sweeping of trash on the staircase. Both families filed complaints against each other at the Anantapur II Town police station over the matter.The police registered cases against Uma Maheswari, Shakila, and their family members on the complaints. Notices under Section 35(3) of the BNSS were issued as per the law.On July 1, the family members of Shakila, Shafi and Hasan, trespassed into Uma Maheswari’s house, terrorised her and her husband, and injured her by kicking her. They smashed windowpanes and damaged Uma Maheswari’s two-wheeler parked below.Based on the victim’s complaint, a case was registered on July 2 at the Anantapur II Town police station against six persons under Sections 74, 115(2), 324(3), 351(2), 329(4) and 331(6) read with Section 3(5) of the BNS.The police took Shafi and Hasan into custody, produced them before the court on July 3, where they were remanded.The police said that although the complainant alleged that the accused had consumed ganja before the fight, the investigation found they had consumed only alcohol at the time.“The altercation stemmed entirely from personal animosity between the two families, and there are no underlying reasons or political motives involved,” the police said.Two-Town circle inspector Pullaiah asked the public not to believe rumours or misinformation about such personal disputes. Published - July 07, 2026 01:42 pm IST

A Ukrainian woman was jointly arrested by SSB personnel and police in Bihar's East Champaran district for allegedly overstaying in India after the expiry of her visa and attempting to cross into Nepal illegally, officials said on Tuesday (July 7, 2026).An official complaint has been lodged against the woman at Harpur police station near the Indo-Nepal border, they said.The woman has been identified as Oksana Shevtsova, police said.According to Motihari police, the woman was picked up by the SSB and district police in a joint operation near Sainik Road while she was allegedly attempting to cross into Nepal illegally through Harpur.In a written complaint to Harpur SHO, SSB sub-inspector Narayan Sidhu said the woman was intercepted near the Harpur border around 6:30 p.m. on Monday (July 6, 2026) during a routine patrol.During questioning, she allegedly failed to produce valid travel documents proving her lawful stay in India. She later showed electronic copies of her passport and visa on her mobile phone, which, upon examination, were found to have expired in 2022.A mobile phone, an earbud and Indian currency worth ₹7,330 were recovered from her possession.Further investigation is underway, officials said. Published - July 07, 2026 05:50 pm IST

Supreme Court of India in New Delhi. | The court advised the Opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) to counter such statements with “more speech”, rather than seek a judicial gag.The remarks by a Bench headed by Justice K.V. Viswanathan came during the hearing of an application filed by DMK Organising Secretary R.S. Bharathi, alleging that TVK leaders, including Aadhav Arjuna, were publicly making false accusations of criminal liability and issuing “threats” against political opponents in connection with the Karur stampede. Mr. Bharathi had also sought to be impleaded as a party in the Karur stampede case pending before the Supreme Court.The tragedy left 41 people dead and 142 injured during a TVK rally on September 27 last year. The apex court had ordered a CBI investigation into the stampede on October 13, 2025. The probe is continuing, and some TVK leaders have been named as accused.Senior advocate Ranjit Kumar, appearing for Mr. Bharathi, said TVK leaders, including Mr. Arjuna, who is also an accused in the stampede case under CBI investigation, should be restrained from making public statements on the case during the pendency of the investigation.“That may amount to an injunction on free speech. Mr. Kumar. Which law sanctions it? You also make your speeches, you counter free speech with more speech,” Justice Viswanathan remarked.The Bench questioned the propriety of entertaining the impleadment plea of a political rival in a case in which it had ordered a CBI investigation and was monitoring its progress. Justice Viswanathan said the court could not be converted into a political forum and that political battles must be fought outside the courtroom.Further, Mr. Kumar objected to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s proposed visit to Karur on July 10 to meet the families of the stampede victims and hand over compassionate appointments. He said the State government had already announced an ex gratia payment of ₹10 lakh to the affected families.Mr. Kumar said a “narrative is being built by the accused persons. I am not against the compensation, I am against compensation being given directly by the accused to the families, who are also witnesses in the case,” the senior advocate said.The court said Mr. Vijay was arraigned as an accused neither in the FIRs nor in the DMK’s own application.“You please check up on your facts,” Justice Viswanathan said.The judge asked how the Supreme Court was expected to “regulate the itinerary” of the Chief Minister.“If the Executive Head is travelling to merely distribute what has already been ordered for the victims by the State government, how will the victims be influenced? Does it not really reflect your thoughts on the victims?” Justice Viswanathan asked, expressing doubt whether the application was “well-thought through” in the first place.Acting on instructions, Mr. Kumar withdrew the application. Published - July 07, 2026 02:30 pm IST