India

Hyderabad, Oct 11 (IANS) In view of the severe impact of El Nino and drought-like conditions in Telangana, state government advisor on agriculture and MLA, P. Sudarshan Reddy, on Sunday appealed to farmers not to cultivate a second crop.

He said that the state is facing a shortage of drinking water, and electricity is also in short supply. In view of the present situation, he advised farmers not to cultivate the Yasangi (Rabi) crop.

Reddy said that the water levels in major reservoirs, lakes and tanks have fallen considerably, and groundwater levels have also declined.

He called for urgent measures to address the situation. He said that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, along with the Chief Secretary and officials from various departments, is reviewing critical issues such as irrigation water and electricity supply. Special attention is being given to the prevailing conditions across the state.

In Nizamabad district, particularly in the Singur project area, the available water is primarily being reserved for drinking purposes. Due to insufficient electricity generation in the Nizamsagar and Sri Ram Sagar projects, farmers and the public have been urged to use electricity carefully and conserve water.

The government advisor instructed officials to take appropriate measures to ensure uninterrupted drinking water supplies and prevent wastage. The Singur project is expected to have water available until December 2026, and officials have been directed to prepare plans to manage water resources effectively beyond that period.

Sudarshan Reddy appealed to farmers and the public not to waste water under any circumstances. He emphasised that officials must take strict measures to prevent the unnecessary use of water and ensure that available resources are used responsibly.

He expressed concern that the severe El Nino conditions could worsen the situation if farmers proceed with another crop without adequate water availability. He therefore appealed to farmers not to cultivate the Yasangi crop this season, considering the shortage of irrigation water and electricity.

The government advisor directed officials from the irrigation, agriculture and electricity departments, along with MPDOs and other concerned authorities, to form special committees through gram panchayats in every village. These committees should create awareness among farmers and the public about conserving water and electricity.

Sudarshan Reddy stressed that electricity generation has declined due to inadequate water in the projects and that the state is currently relying heavily on solar power. He urged farmers and the public to cooperate with the government and the concerned departments to overcome the crisis.

--IANS

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Ahmedabad, Oct 11 (IANS) The Ahmedabad City Crime Branch has arrested a Punjab resident accused of posing as a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to gain people's trust and allegedly cheat them of money by promising discounted goods and airport jobs.

The accused, identified as Azma A Sikandar Mohammad Akhtar Kamboj, a resident of Jamalpura in Malerkotla city of Punjab, was apprehended on October 10 near the entrance to Palika Bazaar, behind Sardar Baug in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

According to the Crime Branch, he was wearing a force T-shirt and posing as a CISF DSP-rank officer when he was found in possession of a forged identity card identifying him as a "DSP in the CISF Department, Government of India".

A case has been registered at Karanj police station under Section 204 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, which deals with impersonating a public servant.

During questioning, the accused reportedly stated that he had worked as a casual labourer, mechanic and in other occupations after completing his studies in Malerkotla.

He allegedly collected money from people by promising to arrange walnuts and kerosene from Kashmir at low prices, discounted goods from army canteens, iPhones and other items.

The Crime Branch said the accused had admitted in his statement that he failed to supply the promised goods to some people and spent the money on his personal indulgences.

He allegedly received payments in cash and through online bank transfers. Investigators also found that bank accounts belonging to other individuals, a travel agency and a petrol pump had allegedly been used to receive money.

The accounts, transactions and possible involvement of other people are being examined.

The accused allegedly used the forged CISF identity card to claim that he was employed at an airport and to collect money on the pretext of securing airport jobs, arranging cheaper iPhones from Dubai and procuring discounted army canteen goods.

The police said the allegations and related complaints were being independently verified.

The Crime Branch also found that the accused was wanted in a 2022 cheating and theft case registered at Mazgaon police station in Jammu and Kashmir under Sections 420, 380 and 201 of the Indian Penal Code.

The case is associated with Case No. 08/2022 at the Mazgaon court. Police have seized the fake identity card, a PAN card, an Aadhaar card (details withheld), Rs 1,120 in cash and a mobile phone valued at Rs 10,000.

The total value of the seized items is Rs 11,120.

Further investigation is underway to establish the number of people allegedly cheated, trace the financial transactions and determine whether complaints or cases have been registered against the accused in other states.

--IANS

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Amaravati, Oct 11 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said on Sunday that after the upcoming local body elections, the state will have 'triple-engine sarkar'.

"We have a 'double-engine government' at both the Centre and the state. A 'triple-engine government' will be formed after the upcoming local body elections," the Chief Minister said while virtually inaugurating a programme to distribute house titles in Nellore.

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Chief urged people to elect leaders who work with integrity, honesty, and selflessness.

"The vote you cast in the last election brought about change in every individual's life, every family, and the state itself," Chandrababu Naidu said.

The Chief Minister added that for these municipal elections, the state government introduced a system for the direct election of Mayors and Chairpersons

He also remarked that serving as Chief Minister for the fourth time, he is working with double the speed and enthusiasm compared to the past.

"Before the elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, and I promised to rebuild the state; we have demonstrated our commitment to that promise during our 28-month tenure. We have ushered in an era of good governance alongside welfare and development," he said and added that the distribution of permanent housing pattas to poor families is an integral part of good governance.

Chandrababu Naidu said that the state government is granting permanent rights to poor families who have built homes on government lands and lived there for decades, thereby realising their dream of owning a home.

He inaugurated distribution of permanent house titles to 939 families on 22.31 acres of land in the Sarvepalli constituency in Nellore.

He said that rights have been provided to the poor on land worth around Rs 600 crore, adding the fact that 701 out of the total beneficiaries are women is a testament to the priority the state government is giving to women's empowerment.

He revealed that in Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, and Mangalagiri, the state government handed over land worth Rs 52,000 crore to 60,000 families.

He claimed that the TDP-led coalition government's goal is to ensure security, self-respect, and asset ownership for the poor and middle-class people.

"We are providing tap connections to every household in the state at a cost of around Rs 30,000 crore. We are spending around Rs 1.80 lakh crore on infrastructure in towns and villages," he added.

--IANS

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Bhubaneswar, Oct 11 (IANS) The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) participated in the launch of Odisha Anti Narcotics Task Force (ANTF)'s Mission Zero Cannabis Cultivation in Kandhamal and Boudh, the two districts accounting for the majority of illicit cannabis cultivation in the state, an official said on Sunday.

"In line with Vision Document on Narcotics Control (2026–29), the mission targets the elimination of illicit cannabis cultivation in both districts by March 2027," the NCB said in a statement.

"On the occasion, around 30 acres of illicit cannabis cultivation were also destroyed in Kakendri village of Kandhamal," the NCB said.

Reinforcing the vision of a Drug-Free India, 500 people, including Panchayat members, took the 'Nasha Mukt' pledge at Sudrukumpa, while 500 college students participated in a mini-marathon at Phulbani, the agency added.

Earlier, in a similar action in Rajasthan, teams from NCB Jodhpur, ANTF Rajasthan, and Rajasthan Police uncovered large-scale illicit cannabis cultivation in Nayawas village of Kotra tehsil in Udaipur district under a joint enforcement drive named 'Operation Shankar'.

During the operation, authorities detected and destroyed around 7,577 cannabis plants spread across 9.4 bighas of land.

Officials estimated the potential yield at around 2,273 kg of ganja, with a market value of nearly Rs 11.76 crore.

NCB Jodhpur has registered a crime in connection with the case, and further investigation is underway.

The intensified vigilance comes amid ongoing efforts to eradicate illegal narcotic crop cultivation in the state.

The action aligns with the national Vision Document on Narcotics Control, which aims to eliminate illicit cannabis and poppy cultivation in identified areas by December 2027 through sustained enforcement, prevention measures, and coordinated efforts involving Central and state agencies, district administrations, and local communities.

An NCB statement said Rajasthan has stepped up its crackdown on the illicit cultivation of narcotic crops by strengthening surveillance, imposing stricter reporting responsibilities on revenue officials, and intensifying enforcement operations across vulnerable regions.

As part of the new directives, Patwaris have been instructed to regularly inspect their jurisdictions during girdawari and promptly report any suspected cultivation of narcotic crops to the concerned Girdawar and Tehsildar.

--IANS

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Kohima, Oct 11 (IANS) At least one person was killed and another injured, several houses were burnt and dozens of people displaced in clashes between the Yimkhiung and Tikhir communities in Nagaland’s Kiphire district, prompting the administration to impose prohibitory restrictions and appeal to residents to maintain peace, officials said on Sunday.

Police said that the situation remained tense in parts of Pungro sub-division following the violence on Saturday during the Tikhir community’s Tsonglak-Nyi festival celebrations in villages inhabited by members of both communities.

Additional security forces have been deployed in vulnerable areas to prevent further escalation, officials said.

According to a report from the district administration, violence affected Pungro town and the villages of Zaonger, Longtsunger and Pokphur. In Pungro town, eight houses were vandalised and six burnt, displacing more than 47 people. In Zaonger village, around 40 houses were burnt or vandalised, forcing residents to leave their homes. At Longtsunger village, one person belonging to the Tikhir community was killed and another injured in a gunfight, officials said.

The extent of damage to houses and the number of people displaced in Longtsunger and Pokphur could not be ascertained immediately. The district administration and police personnel rushed to the affected areas after receiving reports of violence but initially faced resistance while attempting to enter some locations, according to the administration’s report.

The District Magistrate has imposed prohibitory restrictions under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, in parts of Pungro sub-division, apprehending further escalation and a breach of peace.

Deputy Commissioner Temsuwati Longkumer, in a public advisory issued on Sunday, appealed to community organisations, village authorities and individuals to exercise restraint and refrain from provocative statements, intimidation and the circulation of unverified information.

The administration urged residents to comply with the prohibitory orders and cooperate with the police and civil authorities. Village councils, tribal organisations and community leaders were also asked to discourage retaliatory action and help resolve differences through dialogue.

The United Sangtam Likhum Pumji (USLP), in a peace advisory issued on October 10, also called for restraint and cooperation with the district administration and law enforcement agencies. The organisation warned against any individual or group creating tension or disturbing law and order in areas under its jurisdiction in Kiphire district.

Nagaland Deputy Chief Minister Yanthungo Patton, who also holds the Home portfolio, appealed to both communities to maintain calm and cooperate with the law enforcement agencies, stressing that differences could be resolved only through peaceful dialogue.

The Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO), the apex tribal body in the region, also appealed for peace. Its president, Chingmak Chang, urged the Yimkhiung and Tikhir tribal councils to take urgent steps to stop the violence and help restore normalcy.

The district administration said the situation was under control following the intervention of the authorities, although tensions persisted in the affected areas.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Oct 11 (IANS) The Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday hit out at the celebratory tone and style of messages circulated on social media by supporters of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders like Abhijeet Dipke who, along with two other colleagues, was released by the police after 22-hour detention for their illegal anti-Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) protest a day earlier.

Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor said that CJP, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and Communist leaders have been portraying the release of detainees on bond since Sunday morning as if the court has acquitted them and their movement has achieved a victory.

"This is completely misleading," he added.

"All three CJP leaders, including Abhijeet Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, have been released by the court of the Special Executive Magistrate after furnishing bonds of Rs 50,000, subject to the condition that they will not engage in any illegal activity for the next one year," Kapoor said.

The Delhi BJP spokesperson said that it would be better for CJP and AAP leaders to acknowledge the reality of this legal condition and stop misleading the youth.

These CJP leaders are pushing young people into a movement that could ruin their careers, he added.

The three CJP leaders were taken into preventive custody on Saturday under Sections 126 and 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) after being intercepted at the Delhi airport ahead of a planned protest at the Jantar Mantar.

Politicians like Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal were also detained and released after a few hours along with about 3,000 demonstrators detained by law enforcers on Saturday.

The CJP and various opposition parties planned the protest at Jantar Mantar on Saturday to demand the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

To restrict the unauthorised protest, the law enforcers threw an unprecedented security ring around the national capital to prevent chaos at Jantar Mantar. This forced the proposed agitation to break into several small gatherings across the city, with protesters clashing with the police at a few places.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Oct 11 (IANS) The Delhi government's major push towards cleaner mobility to reduced air pollution has resulted in disbursal of vehicle purchase and scrapping incentives of Rs 7.91 crore to more than 2,700 residents since July 1, an official said on Sunday.

"Since its launch on July 1, the policy has received 7,782 incentive applications till October 8, with Rs 7.91 crore disbursed to beneficiaries. A sum of Rs 7.61 crore was given in purchase incentives to 2,707 beneficiaries and Rs 29.50 lakh were given as scrapping incentives to 79 beneficiaries," an official said.

As many as 7,782 applications -- 7,706 for two-wheelers -- have been received since the launch of the launch of Delhi Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy 2026.

Delhi EV Policy 2026 is a major step towards tackling air pollution and building a cleaner, greener Delhi. With purchase and scrappage incentives, along with 100 per cent waiver of road tax and registration fees for eligible EVs, the policy is accelerating the shift to electric mobility and paving the way for a sustainable future, a statement said.

"The policy aims to promote the adoption of electric vehicles through purchase incentives and encourage the scrapping of eligible vehicles on purchase of new EVs. The application and disbursement figures provide an overview of the implementation of these provisions during the initial period following the policy's commencement," it added.

Of the 7,782 applications received, 7,706 pertain to two-wheelers, including 116 applications for scrapping incentives. Two-wheelers thus account for the overwhelming majority of applications received under the reported categories.

"The application data also includes six applications relating to N1-category trucks with a gross vehicle weight of up to 3.5 tonnes, including one application under the scrapping category. In addition, 70 applications have been received for e-cars scrapping incentives," the statement said.

The scrapping incentive component has recorded disbursements to 79 beneficiaries, with the total amount released standing at Rs 29.50 lakh. Of these, 55 beneficiaries in the two-wheeler category have received scrapping incentives amounting to Rs 5.50 lakh. Another 24 beneficiaries in the four-wheeler category have received Rs 24 lakh under the same component.

"The reported figures show that both two-wheeler and four-wheeler owners have benefited from the scrapping incentive mechanism, with the four-wheeler category accounting for the larger share of the amount disbursed under this component," the statement added.

"The Delhi government remains committed to the effective implementation of the Delhi EV Policy 2026, with a continued focus on promoting electric mobility, encouraging vehicle scrapping and advancing the transition towards cleaner and more sustainable transport in the national capital," it said.

--IANS

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Srinagar, Oct 11 (IANS) Kashmir’s handicraft industry is on a path to revival after the turbulent years of militancy and the Covid-19 pandemic, with exports crossing Rs 1,100 crore and the Jammu and Kashmir government setting a Rs 2,000-crore export target, a report said.

According to a report in India Narrative, many traditional artisans have found new markets within the country and globally, bringing hope for a new lease of life to the struggling sector.

"Kashmiri artisans now have a direct pathway to bulk buyers and high-end export markets by combining traditional craftsmanship with better materials, contemporary design, quality certification, and access to international showrooms. This is helping transform centuries-old craftsmanship into globally competitive products while preserving the skills, stories, and cultural heritage," Gulam Sadiq, a third-generation artisan from Baramulla, said, as per the report.

Citing the Jammu and Kashmir Economic Survey 2025-26, the report said handicrafts and handloom support about 4.45 lakh artisans and craftsmen in the Union Territory. Woollen shawls alone account for Rs 477.25 crore of exports, while carpets account for Rs 317 crore.

"Of late, the Jammu and Kashmir government has also started giving a global push to the sector, setting out a target to expand handicraft exports, modernise traditional crafts, improve artisans’ skills, strengthen market access, and promote GI-certified products globally,” Noor Hasan, a Kashmiri trader, told India Narrative.

The government’s policy envisages export subsidies, marketing support, design development and infrastructure, with Dubai, London, Singapore, Paris, New York, Milan, and Tokyo among the international markets being explored, according to the report.

"The government’s Rs 2,000-crore export target should therefore be regarded as a milestone rather than a destination," it said.

In 2025, the government trained about 11,000 people in carpet weaving to preserve and revive the craft, and in April 2026, it constituted a Handicrafts Quality Control Council to protect the authenticity and reputation of Kashmiri crafts, the report noted.

GI tagging has also brought a positive change to the sector, it said.

“It has immensely helped protect the originality and identity of traditional crafts like Pashmina shawls, Kani shawls, Sozni Craft, Papier-mache, Walnut Wood Carving, Gabba, Willow bats, Kashmiri hand-knotted carpets, and half a dozen other products. Even Basohli Painting, Basohli Pashmina, Rajouri Chikri Wood Craft, and Ramban’s Sulai Honey and Udhampur Kaladi (a traditional dairy product) are GI-tagged,” a senior official in the Jammu and Kashmir Industries Department said, according to the report.

With GI tags, buyers can better identify genuine Kashmiri handicrafts and trust their quality, helping artisans gain recognition and reach wider markets in India and abroad, the report added.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Oct 11 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s Mahila Morcha has announced a protest march to the Congress headquarters on Monday, over its alleged "protection and patronage" of a party MP despite him being 'held guilty' of sexual exploitation of female students at the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).

The BJP's Mahila Morcha said on Sunday that its protest march will start from the 'Andhra Education Society School' on Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg at 11 a.m. on Monday and will proceed to the Congress headquarters, 'Indira Bhawan', followed by a demonstration in front of the headquarters.

The agitation titled 'Nari Shakti Hunkar Andolan' is against the "political protection" provided to Congress MP Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, despite him being dismissed from the Jawaharlal Nehru University over alleged sexual harassment of 11 female students.

The demonstration will be led by BJP Mahila Morcha National President Roop Kumari Chaudhary and Mahila Morcha In-charge Daggubati Purandeswari and will see several party women MPs, MLAs, Councillors and party's Mahila Morcha workers taking to the streets to register strong protest against "anti-women and hypocritical" conduct of the Congress and Rahul Gandhi.

The controversy erupted sometime ago over the serving Congress MP as well as professor, being accused of sexually exploiting girls over examination marks.

The University, in its internal committee report on October 9, found the charges against him "substantiated" and subsequently dismissed him.

"Despite significant action and outcry from 11 female students, the silence of Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge proves that entire Congress party stands firmly with its MP in support of this heinous act, providing him with full protection," the BJP's Women Wing said in a statement.

It alleged that the "silence" from Rahul Gandhi and the Congress leadership is no coincidence and rather part of a long-standing pattern of shielding offenders.

It also claimed that several female leaders previously exposed heinous practices, such as the "casting couch" within the party but the grand old party kept shielding the perpetrators.

"In 2023, amid allegations of harassment and gender discrimination, the Congress expelled the complainant—Ankita Dutta—rather than the accused, B.V. Srinivas," it said in a press note.

"In 2024, a case emerged involving the rape of minor girls by former Congress MLA Mewaram Jain from Barmer; the party expelled him only after his obscene videos went viral, yet recently, they reinstated him," it alleged.

Making an unequivocal demand, the BJP Mahila Morcha says, "Rahul Gandhi must immediately expel the accused MP from the Congress, ensure his resignation from the Lok Sabha, and apologise to the 11 female students."

--IANS

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New Delhi, Oct 11 (IANS) National Commission for Women (NCW) Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar on Sunday told non-collegiate women students of Delhi University at Miranda House that self-motivation, self-confidence and the desire to learn something new are the true strengths of success.

Addressing the students at a Self-Building, Skill Development, and POSH Awareness Programme on the theme “Udaan – Sapne Bade Hon, Raaste Aneka Hon”, Rahatkar said, “When daughters believe in themselves and persistently strive toward their goals, they not only shape their own future but also become inspirations for change in society.”

She encouraged the students to recognise their abilities, learn new skills, and seize every opportunity to realise their dreams, as per a statement.

The NCW is organising ‘Udaan’ programmes at various Non-Collegiate Women's Education Board (NCWEB) Centres of the University of Delhi, with the objective of raising awareness among students about Self-Development, Future Skills, and the POSH Act related to the safety of women in the workplace.

Through these initiatives, students are being provided the opportunity to move forward with confidence and prepare for future opportunities, the statement said.

As part of the activities, the NCW organised a Self-Building and Skill Development Programme for the students of NCWEB at Vivekananda College, Jhilmil Colony. Special emphasis was placed in the session on Self-Belief, Personal Growth, Cyber Security, and Digital Awareness.

The Commission also organised a self-development and skill development programme for the students of NCWEB at Bharati College in New Delhi on the theme “Udaan – May Dreams Be Grand, May Paths Be Many.”

The objective of the programme was to encourage the girl students to become self-reliant and to move forward in the direction of realising their dreams, the statement said.

At a separate event, the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Delhi hosted a Self-Building and Skill Development Programme for NCWEB students. Nearly 150 students aged 18–24 and 9 faculty members participated in the programme.

The session emphasised self-development and acquiring skills essential for the future. Nestology Founder Vartika and Counselling Psychologist Meena guided the students as resource persons during the programme, the statement said.

Similar programmes were held at Janki Devi Memorial College of Delhi University and Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar College.

--IANS

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