India

Baharagora, March 25 (IANS) The Indian Army on Wednesday successfully defused a 227-kg World War II-era bomb recovered from the Subarnarekha River in Baharagora, located in Jharkhand’s East Singhbhum district.

The bomb is believed to have been dropped during World War-II and remained buried under layers of river sand for decades. It came to light during sand excavation about five to six days ago, triggering panic among local residents and prompting swift action by the administration and security agencies.

Authorities were alerted after images of youths posing with the missile-like explosive went viral on social media, raising serious safety concerns.

Taking immediate cognisance, the administration called in a specialised Indian Army team led by Lieutenant Colonel Dharmendra Singh and Captain Ayush Kumar Singh. The team conducted a detailed assessment of the bomb’s structure, condition, and the surrounding terrain before initiating the disposal process.

Following standard safety protocols, a 10-foot-deep pit was excavated using a JCB machine, and hundreds of sandbags were arranged to create a protective barrier to contain the impact of the blast. A 1.5-km radius around the site was cordoned off, and residents from nearby houses and fields were evacuated as a precaution.

Since Tuesday morning, the area had been turned into a high-security zone, with personnel from the police, Jharkhand Jaguar, fire services, and health department deployed on-site. Ambulances were kept ready, and all access routes to the river were barricaded to prevent civilian movement during the operation.

In the final phase, the Army’s bomb disposal squad neutralised the device through a carefully-executed controlled blast. The operation concluded without any casualties or damage.

Experts cautioned that even decades-old unexploded ordnance can remain highly volatile and pose significant risks if disturbed.

Meanwhile, another similar bomb was recovered from a nearby village, where locals had brought it home after finding it in the river. That device was also safely defused by the Army.

For over a week, fear had gripped villages along the Subarnarekha River, disrupting daily activities and livestock movement. With the successful completion of the operation, normalcy is gradually returning, and residents have expressed relief.

--IANS

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Raipur, March 25 (IANS) Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Wednesday transferred Rs 500 crore directly into the bank accounts of nearly 5 lakh landless agricultural labourers across the state under the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Landless Agricultural Labourer Welfare Scheme.

During his visit to Baloda Bazar district, the Chief Minister disbursed Rs 10,000 each to 495,965 beneficiaries as annual financial assistance. The event was organised at the Pandit Chakrapani Shukla Swami Atmanand Excellence School sports ground, where Sai also interacted with several beneficiaries.

The scheme provides direct support to landless families, including 22,028 families from the Baiga and Gunia communities. In Baloda Bazar district alone, 23,568 beneficiaries received more than Rs 23.56 crore.

On the occasion, Chief Minister Sai distributed benefits under various government schemes to around 50 beneficiaries. These included cheques worth Rs 15 lakh to 13 self-help groups from the Women and Child Development Department, fishing nets and ice boxes to six beneficiaries from the Fisheries Department, SVAMITVA cards to 10 beneficiaries, and sprayer pumps to four beneficiaries under the Agriculture Department.

The Chief Minister held a video conference with beneficiaries from Jashpur, Janjgir-Champa, Balod, Gariaband, and Kondagaon districts. He inquired about their well-being and the utilisation of the funds.

One beneficiary from Jashpur shared plans to use the money for goat rearing, while another from Janjgir-Champa mentioned constructing a house. Other beneficiaries also explained how they intended to utilise the assistance for their livelihoods.

Sai also met Savita Yadav, a beneficiary from Baloda Bazar, and held detailed discussions with her.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister emphasised that the state government is committed to the welfare of landless labourers and tribal communities. He said the direct benefit transfer would help improve their economic condition and provide much-needed financial stability.

After the transfer ceremony and interactions, Chief Minister Sai addressed a public meeting in the district. This financial assistance is seen as a significant step towards fulfilling the government's promise of supporting the most vulnerable sections of rural society in Chhattisgarh.

--IANS

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Patna, March 25 (IANS) An atmosphere of fear has gripped Nawada district as a herd of wild Asian elephants continues to wreak havoc in rural areas in search of food due to the shrinking habitat and loss of forests.

In Suartoli village, under Rajauli Hardiya Panchayat, a 30-year-old man, Sanoj Bhuiyan, was tragically trampled to death during the elephant rampage. In addition, three buffaloes were also killed, intensifying panic among villagers in the last 24 hours.

Confirming the incident, Forest Divisional Officer Shreshtha Krishna stated that one human life has been lost and livestock have also been targeted.

He assured that the Forest Department is actively monitoring the situation and has urged residents to remain cautious and avoid venturing into forested areas.

According to local residents, a herd of around 20–22 elephants has been active in the region for the past three days.

The herd is believed to have entered Bihar from neighbouring Jharkhand due to loss of habitat.

During night, the elephants reportedly enter villages, destroy crops, and damage houses, leaving residents too frightened to step outside.

After causing widespread destruction in Suartoli, the herd has now moved towards Kawakol and has been sighted in the forests of Nawadih.

In response, the Forest Department has launched a full-scale operation to track and manage the herd.

A specialised team has been called in from West Bengal, and drones are being deployed to locate the elephants and prevent further damage.

Authorities continue to appeal for calm while emphasising safety precautions, as efforts are underway to bring the situation under control.

Earlier, similar incidents had been reported in Jharkhand, where herds of wild Asian elephants created havoc across districts such as Hazaribagh, Chatra, and Chaibasa.

In those areas, the elephants reportedly killed several people and caused extensive damage to crops, homes, and other property.

These recurring incidents highlight a growing human-wildlife conflict in the region, often attributed to shrinking forest habitats and migration of elephant herds in search of food and water.

--IANS

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New Delhi, March 25 (IANS) Israel's Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, has warned that Iran will face major consequences if it continues to double down and refuses to cooperate with the American and international community requirements. In an interview with IANS, Azar also asserted that Israel will continue with its operations until the Iranian threats are neutralised.

Excerpts:

IANS: How does Israel assess the risk of a full-blown war if US attacks Iranian power plants. What measure is Israel taking to protect its interests?

Reuven Azar: Well, first of all, we are concentrating at this point in degrading the capabilities of Iran because they have produced two existential threats on Israel. One is the nuclear and the other one is a ballistic threat. They are also supporting proxies around the region that are attacking Israel constantly. So, we have to deal with that militarily. Now, if the Iranians decide to continue doubling down and refusing to cooperate with the American and the international community requirements, they will have to face the consequences. We are ready. Although Israel has been attacked and the Iranian regime is firing mainly at our civilian centres, we will not hesitate to continue this until we make sure that the threats are neutralised. We give the Iranian people this opportunity to embrace their future by degrading this mechanism of oppression that has been killing so many thousands of them. So, we are staying the course.

I think the United States is doing the same and we've seen, fortunately, that this regime was the first to blink because they said at the beginning that they are not going to negotiate with the United States. But in reality, they got into negotiations. So, we hope that the negotiations will end in a good result and that means, from our perspective, to get all the fissile material out of Iran, to have zero enrichment of uranium on Iranian soil or any military nuclear activity and to curb this project of missiles, ballistic missiles, and to stop Iran's assistance to proxies in the region. If we achieve these goals, I think the negotiations can end very quickly and we can stabilise the region very quickly.

IANS: US Vice President J D Vance discussed an effort to open negotiations with Iran during a phone call with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu. They also apparently discussed a possible agreement to end the war. Is it true?

Reuven Azar: It is true that there are negotiations going on. We heard the President of the United States talking about that. We have seen corroboration of that by different sources and our Prime Minister was updated on that situation by the President himself.

IANS: US President Donald Trump has stated that the United States and Iran have held talks in complete and total resolution of hostileness in the Middle East. Is Israel likely to be optimistic about such developments?

Reuven Azar: Yes, we are optimistic, because as I told you, the Iranians in the past weren't agreeing to negotiate as a result of the launching of our operation. So, the fact that now they have agreed to negotiate, it means that they are under pressure. We are also seeing a lot of disconcert among the Iranian ranks. From time to time, you see different statements from different people. I think it shows that there are cracks within the system. I think that they have a very high degree of insecurity and therefore they are denying some of the things that they are doing and this is a good thing. It means that there is a lot of pressure put on them. And this gives me hope that the negotiations will succeed. If they don't succeed, we will continue the operation until we reach our goals, which I stated at the outset.

IANS: How does Israel assess the implication of Saudi Arabia and UAE's recent step to support US-led operation in Iran? And what potential benefits or risks do you see in the shift of regional alliance?

Reuven Azar: I think there is no shift, whatsoever. I think that the countries of the Gulf were supportive of this operation. They weren't stating this openly. But, now that the Iranian regime has decided to attack them, they said publicly what they weren't saying before. So the alignment is pretty clear. I think that everybody in the region wants to see this regime changing its policy. They want to see these threats removed from the scene, so we can enjoy stability in our region.

IANS: How does Israel see the role of Pakistan in facilitating indirect talks between US and Iran and what implication does this have for Israel's own diplomatic efforts?

Reuven Azar: Well, it's up to the United States to decide who they want to choose as facilitator for the negotiations. As long as the result serves the common interest of the US and Israel, there's not much difference where the negotiations will be held.

IANS: Can Pakistan be even trusted as they are involved so much in terrorism?

Reuven Azar: Well, we are not going to engage in trusting a country that doesn't have diplomatic relations with us. What we trust is our judgment and the judgment of the President of the United States.

IANS: If you can tell us that what specific factor contributed to Iron Dome's failure to intercept the Iranian ballistic missiles in Dimona and Arad? How does Israel plan to enhance its air defence system in future?

Reuven Azar: Well, first of all, we have a very high rate of success in interceptions. We are talking about more than 90 per cent success and it's not just Iron Dome. We have different systems like Arrow 3, David's Link, Iron Beam, Iron Dome and we also have the Air Force of Israel and the United States that are engaged in intercepting missiles that are incoming from Iran. So, from time to time, these missiles penetrate, and the damage is quite substantive. We have unfortunately lost already 20 lives in Israel, and have hundreds of wounded civilians. What we are trying to do in order to minimise the toll is to get citizens to be disciplined, to enter into safe zones when these missiles are being shot. From the outset of the war, most of the missiles that the Iranian regime has been firing are cluster missiles that have small bombs between two to 10 kilos and are dispersed in a large area.

So, when we don't manage to intercept it on time, then a number of bombs fall. Fortunately, these bombs are not capable of penetrating safe buildings. You can reduce the number of casualties if people keep in safe zones and they adhere to the recommendations of our home front command. We hope that people will continue cooperating. The downside is that we haven't been able to open our school system yet in Israel, and that people have to wake up at night and run to shelters. But all in all, the devastation in Iran is much larger because we are hitting... We control the skies of Iran. We're capable of continuously hitting military targets, their military industry, command and control centres, the top tier of the command and control. So, we'll continue doing that and inflicting that kind of pressure. I think that it's working. At the end of the day, as I told you before, the Iranians have blinked first and we hope we'll be able to get into a diplomatic outcome.

--IANS

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Kolkata, March 25 (IANS) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has initiated a probe into a bomb blast incident within the jurisdiction of the Bijayganj Bazar Police Station under the Bhangar division of Kolkata Police, a central agency insider said on Wednesday.

The incident involved a series of consecutive explosions that occurred while crude bombs were being assembled in the South Bamunia village of Bhangar in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district.

A person identified as Moshiur Qazi was killed in the blasts.

It is alleged that, following the explosions, Moshiur's charred remains were transported nearly 10 to 12 km away to Haroa and dumped near a fish farm.

The NIA investigators suspect that a conspiracy lies behind the entire incident.

Bomb-making activities were reportedly underway at the site in Bhangar.

Much like the incident in Bhupatinagar in East Midnapore district in 2022, an attempt was made in Bhangar as well to dispose of the body.

It has been alleged that a fatality resulting from an explosion occurred within the Kolkata Police's jurisdiction, yet the body was subsequently removed and transported into an area under the control of the West Bengal Police.

According to investigators, a deep-seated conspiracy underlies this sequence of events.

Upon the conclusion of preliminary inquiries, a decision has been taken to conduct a full-scale investigation into this specific aspect of the case as well.

The NIA has, in the meantime, registered an FIR in the matter.

According to the insider, the NIA indicate that details regarding this explosion will be presented before a Special NIA Court.

The bomb blast in Bhangar occurred nearly a week ago.

Within a few hours of the incident, the mutilated body of a man was recovered.

However, the recovery took place in Haroa in North 24 Parganas district.

Six days after the incident, the police successfully unraveled the mystery surrounding the case.

The police said that Moshiur Qazi died in the explosion while he was in the process of assembling bombs.

It was reported that Qazi served as the Trinamool President for booth No. 178 in the Gangnia area of ​​Deganga.

However, the Trinamool Congress has not confirmed whether Qazi was a party worker.

In connection with this incident, the police had arrested an ambulance driver named Sanjay Mandal.

--IANS

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Bhubaneswar, March 25 (IANS) The Odisha Police have arrested a man from Kolkata in connection with a multi-crore online investment scam in which a businessman from Cuttack was duped of more than Rs 12.33 crore, a senior Crime Branch official said on Wednesday.

The 36-year-old accused, identified as Rahul Jaiswal, is a resident of Maniktala Main Road, Kakurgachi, Kolkata, West Bengal. The police further ascertained that the accused Jaiswal is an MBA graduate and is currently self-employed.

The senior official noted that on July 31, 2025, the victim businessman from Cuttack was contacted by unknown cyber fraudsters through WhatsApp. The cyber criminals, identifying themselves as stock market consultants, lured the victim to join a group on WhatsApp.

The fraudsters gained his confidence by sharing fake investment tips and fabricated testimonials. Subsequently, the victim was persuaded to install a fraudulent trading application and invest funds.

“Between August 12 and September 2, 2025, the complainant transferred a total amount of Rs 12,33,50,000 from his Axis Bank account into nine different accounts through 52 transactions, as instructed by the fraudsters. When he attempted to withdraw the invested amount, the so-called “risk control team” of the fake platform denied the request on various pretexts,” added the senior police official.

He soon realised that he had fallen into the trap and lost such a huge amount. Subsequently, the victim lodged an FIR at the Cyber Crime Police Station of the Crime Branch on September 6, 2025. The investigating team carried out a thorough analysis of transaction trails and digital evidence. Based on technical intelligence and field verification, a raid was conducted at Maniktala, Kolkata, West Bengal, leading to the arrest of accused Jaiswal on Tuesday.

The police sources also revealed that Rs 4,15,50,000, out of the total defrauded amount, was transferred by the complainant into the bank account linked to the arrested accused. During the raid, incriminating materials, including mobile phones, SIM cards, and other digital devices, were seized from the accused Jaiswal’s possession.

The accused was arrested and produced before the A.C.J.M., Sealdah, Kolkata, and has been brought to Odisha on transit remand.

--IANS

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Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh), March 25 (IANS) Chairperson of the All India Anti-Terrorist Front (AIATF), Maninderjeet Singh Bitta, on Wednesday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath, for the construction of the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple "without any riots or violence".

Bitta was in Ayodhya to offer prayers at the Ram Temple and Hanuman Garhi temple.

He told reporters, "Even after my death, my soul will keep thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and all the devotees of Lord Ram that during our lifetime Shri Ram Temple was constructed without any riots or violence."

"I would appeal to all Indians around the world, all devotees of Lord Ram, irrespective of whichever political party they belong to, give priority to Lord Ram first and then to your political parties," he said.

Further praising PM Modi and CM Adityanath, he said, "Whenever you oppose PM Modi or CM Adityanath, do think that by Lord Ram's grace they have been able to built the Ram Temple and also have removed Article 370 (from Jammu and Kashmir). They have also freed India from terrorism."

Further, Bitta flagged his disappointment with the Sikh community members for "not raising their voice over attacks on India's heritage" in other countries like Canada.

"I am disappointed and I apologise to the country that when attacks happen on India's heritage in other countries like India's Tricolour being disrespected in Canada, Hanuman Temple in Canada comes under attack, no one from the Sikh community speaks about it," he said.

He further asserted, "My religion is Bharat Maa and my caste is Vande Mataram."

During the interaction with reporters, Bitta alleged that many political parties in the past had attempted to protect the terrorists who attacked him.

"Now in the times of social media, everybody's real face will come out in public. All those who helped the terrorists (will be exposed)", he said.

--IANS

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Chandigarh, March 25 (IANS) A delegation of the BJP, led by the party’s Punjab unit chief Sunil Jakhar, on Wednesday met with Governor Gulab Chand Kataria here and demanded a CBI investigation into the alleged suicide case of Divisional Magistrate Gagandeep Singh Randhawa.

Speaking to the media, Jakhar said, “When ministers of the government themselves are facing allegations, how can one expect a fair investigation from that government?” He said the deceased’s family and the people of Punjab are demanding a CBI probe to ensure justice.

Jakhar said while the people are fighting for justice, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is busy campaigning in Gujarat for his party leadership, reflecting the government’s lack of sensitivity. He also questioned how justice can be expected when senior officials like the Chief Secretary and the DGP are seen participating in political activities at a rally in Moga.

He said, “This is why the party approached the Governor demanding a CBI probe”. Jakhar said the Opposition “plays an important role in a democracy, but in Punjab the Congress appears as if it is functioning under the influence of Chief Minister Mann”.

He said Congress MPs had earlier demanded a CBI inquiry in the Parliament, but when Union Home Minister Amit Shah asked them to submit a written request, some Congress MPs backed out under pressure from the Chief Minister. He said this “shows how Congress has surrendered before the AAP government”.

He concluded by saying that the BJP is fighting this battle for justice with full determination and will appeal to all elected representatives to write to the authorities demanding a CBI probe. He emphasised that the struggle will continue until justice is served.

The BJP delegation comprised working state President Ashwani Sharma and party leaders Iqbal Singh Lalpura, Som Prakash, Tikshan Sood, Manpreet Singh Badal, Keval Singh Dhillon, Jangi Lal Mahajan, Dinesh Singh Babbu, Jeevan Gupta, Sarabdeep Singh Virk, Anil Sareen, Parminder Singh Brar, Harvinder Singh Sandhu, Harjeet Singh, Amarpal Singh Boni, Rajbir Sharma and Vineet Joshi.

--IANS

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New Delhi, March 25 (IANS) A Delhi court sentenced Kashmiri separatist Asiya Andrabi to life imprisonment under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), drawing strong and divergent reactions from political leaders across party lines.

Additional Sessions Judge, Chander Jit Singh delivered the sentence after concluding arguments on the quantum of punishment. Andrabi, the chief of Dukhtaran-e-Millat, had earlier been convicted on charges including waging war against the country and criminal conspiracy.

Speaking to IANS, BJP spokesperson Altaf Thakur welcomed the court’s decision, alleging that Andrabi was deeply involved in activities ranging from stone pelting to recruitment for militancy. He claimed that she played a key role in instigating unrest and disrupting peace in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in the Kashmir Valley.

BJP National General Secretary, Tarun Chugh, also backed the verdict, calling it a “clear and firm message of strict action against terrorism.”

He asserted that in 'New India,' there is no place for anti-national elements and said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism is being implemented effectively on the ground.

Offering a more procedural perspective, National Conference leader Sheikh Bashir said the verdict must be respected as it follows due judicial process.

He noted that the trial was conducted in court and the sentence announced thereafter, adding that Andrabi has the legal right to approach a higher court if she wishes to challenge the ruling.

“This is what justice is called. It is the court’s decision; it is the law, and the law must be followed,” he said.

Meanwhile, PDP president and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, struck a different note, highlighting humanitarian concerns. While acknowledging her longstanding ideological differences with Andrabi, Mufti said there is a need to consider the human aspect, pointing out that Andrabi has already spent several years in prison and considering the demands of her age.

Mufti further argued that life imprisonment till natural life should be abolished across the country, suggesting that it should instead be interpreted as a fixed term, such as 14 years, as was earlier understood in many cases. She appealed for reconsideration of Andrabi’s case on these grounds.

The case against Andrabi relates to allegations of promoting separatist activities and mobilising support for militancy, with agencies accusing her of playing a significant role in anti-national operations.

--IANS

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New Delhi, March 25 (IANS) The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has flagged the practice of hotels and restaurants demanding or collecting additional charges -- 'LPG charges', 'gas surcharge' and 'fuel cost recovery' -- in consumer bills, terming it an unfair trade practice, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution said on Wednesday.

The authority said such charges are being imposed by default to bypass existing norms on service charges, and issued an advisory directing that no such fees should be levied automatically.

The ministry further stated that the CCPA also warned that violations may invite strict action under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.

The move follows complaints received through the National Consumer Helpline (NCH) and media reports highlighting that certain establishments are adding such charges over and above menu prices and applicable taxes.

According to the regulator, such practices lack transparency and impose unjustified costs on consumers.

The authority clarified that input costs such as fuel, LPG, electricity and other operational expenses are part of running a business and must be factored into menu pricing.

"Recovery of such costs through separate mandatory charges constitutes an unfair trade practice," it said.

The CCPA directed that no hotel or restaurant shall levy such charges by default, and that menu prices should remain final, excluding only applicable taxes. It also stressed that consumers must not be misled or compelled to pay any additional charge that is not voluntary in nature.

The advisory reiterated that such charges, irrespective of nomenclature, are akin to service charges and their automatic levy would violate the guidelines issued on July 4, 2022.

The authority said it is closely monitoring such practices across the country and will take necessary action to safeguard consumer interests.

Consumers encountering such practices can request removal of the charge from the bill or lodge complaints through the National Consumer Helpline by calling 1915 or via its mobile application.

They can also approach the consumer commissions through the e-Jagriti portal or file complaints with district authorities or the CCPA.

--IANS

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