Kerala Police reconstitute team probing attack on ED officials

Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to reporters outside the Parliament comple on August 12, 2026, during the ongoing Monsoon Session. Credit: X/PTI screengrab Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said he was willing to have a full debate on the protests against the NEET paper leak, while Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju stated that the government was ready to “increase the time” allotted for a debate on the issue.Parliament Monsoon Session Day 18 - key highlightsLeader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, however, rejected the offer of a discussion, stating that the youth wanted answers on who ordered the alleged firing on and police assault of protesters and “not a lecture” from Mr. Shah.Scheduled to end on Thursday, the Monsoon Session of Parliament has seen little business (with no Question Hour and several Bills being passed amid disruptions) as the Opposition demanded that Mr. Shah respond to allegations of police excess against those protesting against NEET paper leak on July 20.“Ready to answer any question”Speaking outside the Lok Sabha, Mr. Shah made a statement for the first time since the July 20 protests.“First of all, terms like ‘laapata’ (missing), ‘bhaag gaye’ (ran away) are the kind of language increasingly being heard in India’s public and parliamentary life. I have been coming to Parliament regularly since the Session began; I sit in my chamber, but since the Opposition is not allowing Parliament to function—in either House—what is one supposed to do? As for the discussion, Kiren Rijiju, our Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, has made it very clear that the government is ready for a full discussion regarding the NEET protests. We asked for a time to be fixed and for the Opposition to be ready. That was their initial demand, and we agreed to it. I, too, have stated that I am ready to answer any question in Parliament, yet they simply do not want the discussion to take place,” he said.“Now, let the public decide who is running away. Let them submit a letter to the Speaker by 3 p.m. today. We are ready for a discussion on all aspects from 3 p.m. today until 3 p.m. tomorrow. I will sit in the House; I will listen to everyone and respond to every point. The government has nothing to hide. I will even discuss why they did not want the discussion to happen. The NDA government—under Modi ji’s leadership—is ready to discuss anything; they just need to let Parliament function,” Mr. Shah said.Mr. Shah later wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla requesting a discussion on the NEET protests issue in consultation with the Opposition.“Not interested in lecture”Responding to Mr. Shah’s statement, Mr. Gandhi rejected the offer. Identifying himself with the youth cohort, he stated, “We are not interested in listening to Mr. Amit Shah’s imagination. We are not interested in him giving us a lecture or a discussion. We are interested in one simple thing. When I say we, I mean the younger generation of this country — who shot those students, who gave the order to shoot those students, who blinded one of the students, who shot one of the students in the ear, who gave the order to beat the students with lathis and nails?” he said.#WATCH | Delhi | LoP, Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi says, "The Opposition has clearly said that we are not interested in Amit Shah giving us a lecture. When I say 'we', I mean the younger generation of this country. Who shot the students? Who gave the order to beat up the students with… pic.twitter.com/2TSom00vLe— ANI (@ANI) August 12, 2026He further said that the Delhi police and the Rapid Action Force were under the Home Ministry. “Did Mr. Amit Shah give the order to shoot our children or did he not? If he did, he should resign because he is culpable, and if he did not, he should resign because he is incompetent,” he said.Mr. Rijiju accused the Opposition of “running away” from the debate, saying the government was ready to respond. “Even if the Congress agrees to the debate tomorro

On July 29, 2001, a month after former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M. Karunanidhi was arrested at midnight by police, who forcibly entered his Oliver Road house (since sold) in Chennai, the DMK general council passed a resolution to take out a rally on August 12, to condemn the police atrocities during the operation.On the appointed day, the rally commenced at Little Mount in Saidapet. It was to proceed via Cathedral Road to Kamaraj Salai and end on the sands of the Marina beach where Karunanidhi was to address a meeting at the Seerani Arangam (since demolished).Trouble began quite early in the evening. The cadres raised slogans critical of then Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and Chennai Police Commissioner K. Muthukaruppan. As the rally wound its way, it turned violent near the DGP’s Office. Police resorted to a lathicharge. Journalists were also physically attacked by the men in khaki and their camera equipment broken.Soon there was a clash and arson. “Four police vehicles, a bus, a jeep and two motorcycles, were set ablaze by DMK cadres. Five journalists, including The Hindu photographer, Mr. M. Moorthy, eight policemen, and about 15 DMK volunteers were admitted to hospital,” according to a report from The Hindu Archives.The police opened fire at the crowd killing five DMK cadres [In all, six people had died.] The Marina front resembled a war zone. Karunanidhi, sensing the situation was getting out of hand, wound up his address and appealed to the cadres to leave safely.Andhra Pradesh Governor C Ranagarajan, who was holding additional charge as Tamil Nadu Governor, flew down from Hyderabad the following day. Karunanidhi met him at Raj Bhavan (now Lok Bhavan) and submitted a memorandum saying the State had been witnessing “a reign of terror” for the past three months and on Sunday “all forms of force conceivable to human kind were unleashed” on DMK men and the media. “We had already informed Your Excellency of the diabolic design of the ruling AIADMK to disturb our rally and unleash violence on our cadre on August 11,” he said in a three-page memorandum.A day after the firing, video footage emerged which showed a clash had taken place between the DMK cadres and some inhabitants of Ayodhyakuppan near the Marina. Some men wearing headgear and holding sickles were seen targetting the DMK cadre and video also showed scenes of the arson.Karunanidhi told journalists the party had evidence to show streetlights went off near the DGP’s office and, taking advantage of the “darkness”, the police opened fire, aside from resorting to a lathicharge and firing tear-gas shells. “AIADMK rowdy elements” from Ayodhyakuppam went on the rampage, attacking the DMK men with knives and sickles, he charged. “All the DMK men in hospital had sustained stab injuries,” he said, asserting DMK men would not have attacked one another and it was only the handiwork of enemies.The police firing and attack on journalists had triggered widespread political outrage. Jayalalithaa constituted a one-man Commission of Inquiry headed by Justice Bhaktavatsalam, a retired Madras High Court judge, to probe the incidents.A year later, the Commission gave the police a clean chit saying the firing was justified. “The use of force by the police on the procession (on August 12) was the minimum required and justified,” the Commission said, in its report tabled in the Assembly.According to the Commission, a section of the processionists, while passing through Dr. Radhakrishnan Salai, between 7 and 7.15 p.m., tried to “forcibly enter into the DGP’s office complex and committed arson, setting fire to a vehicle parked inside. As it could have set the DGP’s office complex itself afire, the police used water-cannons to disperse the mob.”An archival report, citing the Commission’s report said, the police then burst tear-gas shells. The enraged mob started entering the DGP office complex and caused bleeding injuries to police personnel with aruval and casuarina sticks. A

Medical students hold posters as they attend a protest against what they say was rape and murder of a trainee doctor, inside the premises of R G Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, India, August 13, 2024. | G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata two years ago.The FIR was lodged three days after West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari asked the police to register a fresh complaint regarding why the victim was hurriedly cremated without the consent of the family.Addressing a gathering on August 9 to mark the second death anniversary of the doctor, the Chief Minister said the cremation at the burning ghat was originally scheduled as the third, but was subsequently advanced to the first position, leading to the body being cremated in haste.Parents of the victim, including her mother and now Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Panihati, Ratna Debnath, were present at the event where the Chief Minister made the announcement.Fresh complaintThe victim’s father said he has named three persons in the fresh complaint. He filed a written complaint with the Barrackpore Police Commissionerate on Monday, August 10, following which an FIR was registered at the Khardah police station late that night.The new case includes allegations of criminal conspiracy and destruction of evidence, among other serious charges. The police will investigate the circumstances surrounding the cremation of the victim at the Natagarh Kadamtala crematorium under the Ghola police station.The police will investigate the role of former Panihati Trinamool Congress MLA and former chief whip of the West Bengal Assembly, Nirmal Ghosh, former municipal chairman Somnath Dey and neighbour Sanjib Mukherjee in the cremation process. Mr. Ghosh was a key Trinamool Congress leader and his son, Tirthankar Ghosh, contested on a Trinamool Congress ticket against Ms. Debnath and lost in the recently concluded Assembly polls.In an unrelated incident, Tirthankar Ghosh was arrested in July 2026 for extortion and criminal intimidation.The fresh police probe will run separately from the investigation being conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the case. The central agency was handed over investigation into the rape and murder by the Calcutta High Court. The CBI has filed a charge sheet against a former civil police volunteer for sexual assault and murder. The agency is also probing financial irregularities at the hospital. After the change of regime in West Bengal, the CBI has also stepped up its investigation in the case. Published - August 11, 2026 11:27 pm IST

Police personnel deploy water cannons to disperse student protesters and job aspirants attempting to breach barricades during a 'Vidhan Sabha Gherao' protest march towards the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly over alleged paper leaks and irregularities in the JPSC and JSSC-CGL recruitment examinations, in Ranchi, on August 10. | The shutdown, announced after the police used water cannons, tear gas and batons against protesters in Ranchi on Monday (August 10), was being observed from 8 a.m. to midnight, with essential services kept outside its purview, BJP state president Aditya Sahu said.Follow here for LIVE updates:August 11, 2026 09:53 For Jharkhand’s job aspirants, it was a march for lost yearsFor Jharkhand’s job aspirants, it was a march for lost yearsJharkhand job aspirants protest against recruitment irregularities, demanding a CBI probe and accountability from the state government. Published - August 11, 2026 09:39 am IST

The State government will deploy civil police officers currently serving with magistrate and sessions courts to assist District Consumer Dispute Redressal Commissions across Kerala.The State government communicated the decision to the Kerala High Court the other day.The Division Bench of Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar noted that the police personnel would specifically assist the Commissions in executing summons, warrants and orders, with an emphasis on the attachment of properties while enforcing orders.The court directed the State to keep it apprised of the progress in the creation of new posts to assist the Commissions. The State was also instructed to report the number of CPOs deployed to the various Commissions and whether the forums were functioning smoothly.The Bench had previously expressed serious concern over the lack of police assistance for the Commissions and its impact on the discharge of their functions. It had also emphasised that without effective deterrent action against non-compliance with orders, the authority of the Commissions could potentially be undermined.The court was considering a petition filed by advocate C.K. Mithran, who raised issues regarding the implementation of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, in the State. He highlighted various shortcomings with respect to the constitution of the Commissions, including a shortage of staff and the need to attach sufficient police officers. He also sought the establishment of mediation cells and State and district consumer protection councils. Published - August 10, 2026 10:25 pm IST

Former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda participating in the second day of the Bidadi Padayatra, led by JD(S) Youth Wing president Nikhil Kumaraswamy, protesting against the Bidadi Township Project, which commenced from BGS Circle in Bidadi Janata Dal (Secular) Youth Wing president Nikhil Kumaraswamy, who was leading a padayatra from Bidadi to Bengaluru opposing the Bidadi Township project, concluded the yatra midway at Kaniminike on Monday after the police blocked its entry into Bengaluru. Condemning the obstacles posed to the yatra by the State government, Mr. Nikhil announced that the party would hold a rally at Freedom Park on August 18, led by former Prime Minister and JD(S) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda. The Bidadi Township project has emerged as a major political flashpoint between Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and the JD(S) in the Vokkaliga heartland.Mr. Deve Gowda, who flagged off the padayatra on the second day, Monday, later condemned the police action and said the party’s struggle against the project would not stop. “The Chief Minister has said that the government will not force farmers to give up their lands. Then why stop the padayatra?” he asked, alleging that the Chief Minister was in a hurry to implement the project to fulfil promises made to the Congress high command.Earlier in the day, as the padayatra crossed the Bengaluru-Mysuru National Highway toll plaza near Kaniminike and entered Bengaluru Urban district, the police blocked it. Mr. Nikhil Kumaraswamy and JD(S) workers strongly objected to the police action and raised slogans against the government. Following a heated exchange, Mr. Nikhil sat on the road in protest. As the situation threatened to escalate, he eventually announced that the padayatra would be called off, accusing the government of attempting to suppress the farmers’ agitation.Mr. Nikhil hit back at Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar and alleged that the Bidadi township project was a “real estate project”, and the farmers couldn’t be bought with money. He was responding to Mr. Shivakumar’s recent statement that the compensation for one acre of land for the project could be as high as ₹3 crore. Meanwhile, speaking to reporters in Malur, Mr. Shivakumar said there were no farmers in the BJP-JD(S) padayatra and that the parties had gathered party workers from other constituencies. Published - August 10, 2026 09:55 pm IST

T.S. Srivatsa, Krishnaraja MLA, addressing a press conference in Mysuru on Monday. | S. Srivatsa, has urged the State government to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the alleged pledged-gold fraud by Soundar Raj alias ‘Chinna Tambi’.Addressing a press conference in Mysuru on Monday, Mr. Srivatsa assured the victims of the alleged fraud that he would raise the issue through a Calling Attention Motion in the Legislative Assembly during the coming session.An FIR has been registered at the Kuvempu Nagar Police Station in Mysuru against ‘Chinna Tambi’ after several people complained of being cheated by the gold-trading firms run by the accused.According to the complaint, the accused allegedly lured customers who had pledged gold with various financial institutions by offering them loans at lower-than-market rates and promising to buy back the ornaments at a higher price. A case was registered against him after several customers alleged that the companies he ran failed to pay the agreed sum for the pledged gold, and accused him of melting the ornaments with intent to cheat them.While the government has already constituted a Competent Authority, headed by the Assistant Commissioner of Mysuru taluk, to confiscate the accused’s properties, Mr. Srivatsa said the process needed to be expedited to restore the victims’ faith that justice would be served.Referring to a recent incident in which the victims of the alleged fraud vandalised an establishment believed to belong to the accused — pelting stones and damaging property, and leading to an FIR against six to eight persons — Mr. Srivatsa said such attacks would not help the victims secure justice. “Don’t indulge in such activities. We are with you. I will raise the issue in the Session,” he said.On the accused’s release on bail, the MLA said there was a need to work with lawyers to ensure he was sent back to jail, which would help restore the victims’ confidence that justice would be done.Responding to allegations that some police personnel were also complicit in the fraud, Mr. Srivatsa said the government had taken no action in this regard so far.He added that the number of victims in the case likely exceeds 400, with an estimated 600 kg of gold transacted by the accused, and said an SIT probe would help unravel the full extent of the fraud and expose all those involved. Published - August 10, 2026 06:56 pm IST

Home News India Jharkhand "I appeal to all students and citizens through the media that our march will be completely peaceful and conducted constitutionally," said student leader Ravindra Paswan Updated - August 10, 2026 11:26 am IST Students hold protest march towards Vidhan Sabha amid heavy police force deployment on Monday, August 10, 2026. | Protestors alleged that hundreds of students coming to the State capital from different parts of Jharkhand were being stopped by the police forcefully.Also read: For Jharkhand’s Adivasi youth, competitive exams are about finding a voice in the system that governs them The Jharkhand government on Sunday (August 9, 2026) agreed to cancel the 14th Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) preliminary examination and the JPSC backlog examinations held in 2023 and 2025 following six hours of discussions with protesting student groups. However, the students remained firm on their demand for a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities in the JSSC-CGL examination and said the agitation would continue. The announcement came even as all three JPSC members resigned and Chief Minister Hemant Soren assured protesters that “justice will be delivered with full transparency”.Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) and JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, said they want cancellation of JSSC-CGL and all exams connected to the TSR Data Processing Private Limited Agency, a blacklisted entity.Follow here for more updates,Key Updates ED initiates probe into Jharkhand PSC exams irregularities case For Jharkhand’s Adivasi youth, competitive exams are about finding a voice in the system that governs them Why are Jharkhand students protesting against JPSC Exams? | Ground Report Students remain firm on their demand for a CBI probe into the irregularities in JSSC-CGL examination Security tightened, prohibitory orders clamped for students' protest march Students from every district of Jharkhand are arriving for today's protest: Student leader Ravindra Paswan August 10, 2026 11:25'Until our demands are met, we will not stop', says protestorA student participating in Vidhan Sabha gherao march, said, “We have been stopped here but we will head towards the Vidhan Sabha peacefully. Until our demands are met, we will not stop. We demand CBI investigation...”- ANIAugust 10, 2026 11:20 ED initiates probe into Jharkhand PSC exams irregularities caseThe Enforcement Directorate has launched an investigation into alleged irregularities in the conduct of multiple recruitment examinations in Jharkhand particularly the JSSC-CGL examination, officials said on Monday (August 10, 2026).They said the central agency has taken cognisance of a state police CID FIR and some other complaints to initiate a probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).Students have been agitating in the State for 16 days demanding a CBI probe into alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations, particularly the JSSC-CGL (Jharkhand General Graduate Level Combined Competitive Examination).- PTIAugust 10, 2026 11:18 Protestors peacefully marching towards assembly with volunteers forming human chain ahead of themProtestors are peacefully marching towards the State assembly with volunteers forming human chain ahead of them. Jharkhand Police’s water canon vehicle and riot control vehicle are present at the site.- Aniket Singh Chauhan, Suruchi KumariWhatsApp Image 2026-08-10 at 11.14.20 AM.jpeg

Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar addressing a press conference in Udupi on Saturday. | SHETTIGAR Udupi Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar on Saturday said preliminary probe into the August 7 murder of David D’Souza in Mudarangadi revealed that financial dealings related to Udupi Power Corporation Limted (UPCL) contracts were the main reason for the murder. D’Souza is a former president of the Mudarangadi Gram Panchayat.A CCTV footage of the incident being circulated on social media showed that one of the assailants approached D’Souza from behind when the latter was about to get into the driving seat of his car in front of St. Francis Xavier Church in Pilar. The assailant hit D’Souza and he collapsed. Soon after, he shot at D’souza from a close range.Speaking to reporters after the arrest of the three accused allegedly involved in shooting Mr. D’Souza at Udupi, the SP said more than ₹2 lakh was paid into the bank account of Accused No. 1, Raju, who allegedly shot the victim. A probe is on into the source of this money and those who paid.Mr. Shankar said the victim was a contractor and there was a dispute between him and another contractor regarding a ₹2 crore to ₹3 crore contract. It is suspected that a person from North India had offered supari to get him killed. The SP said that a special team was already working to find that person.9 mm pistol usedMr. Shankar said Raju used a 9 mm pistol to shoot Mr. D’Souza. The police have seized the pistol, three mobile phones, and SIM cards from the accused.The three had arrived at Mudarangadi about two months ago and hatched the crime. A probe was also under way to check local support. The police were also finding who had provided the bike to the accused that was left behind.Borders sealedMr. Shankar said immediately after the incident, the police sealed the borders of the district to prevent the accused from fleeing even as over 500 personnel were deployed to trace them. Checks were carried out at Udupi and Bhatkal railway stations. The operation was carried out in cooperation with the Railway Police and the Uttara Kannada district police.26 cases against RajuRaju has a total of 26 cases of murder, assault on women and robbery registered against him in five States including Maharashtra, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan. Accused No. 2 Ajay Rastogi alias Anmol has eight cases registered in four States. Investigation has revealed that Accused No. 3 Ziaul Vazul Sheikh has 12 cases against him, including robbery, shootout and dacoity.The accused were not even completely acquainted with each other. They had introduced themselves to each other by giving false names. If the accused had escaped, the mobile phones they had used would not have been found. The SP said that the investigation was currently under way on the basis of mobile phones and SIM cards. Published - August 08, 2026 08:11 pm IST