India

New Delhi, Nov 12 (IANS) For years, farmers in Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh have found themselves at the centre of Delhi-NCR's annual pollution debate – especially if one of these states were ruled by a different political party – over the issue of burning crop stubble between agricultural cycles.

Farmer organisations have repeatedly argued that while stubble burning contributes to seasonal pollution, it has been unfairly portrayed as the principal culprit.

Now, there is a cautious sigh of relief among the farmers of the region as the onus shifts to traffic emissions, with a prominent union leader calling for "family planning of cars".

Welcoming the Supreme Court’s intervention this week, Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) General Secretary Mohini Mohan Mishra asked states to withdraw such cases against farmers and return any fines imposed on them with interest.

"The strong objection raised by the Supreme Court against blaming only farmers for pollution makes it clear that farmers are not the primary cause of pollution," the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-affiliated farmer organisation leader said.

"The administration should pay attention to pollution from vehicles. There should be ‘family planning’ for cars with respect to the numbers owned by a family," he emphasised.

The All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), the peasant wing of the Communist Party of India (CPI), meanwhile, blamed government policies penalising the farming community.

"Agriculture has been painted as a polluting job, while legislations are framed to support corporates," AIKS President Rajan Kshirsagar alleged.

"We’ve been repeatedly stressing that stubble burning is not the principal reason for pollution in Delhi and the NCR, as it is evident," he added.

The Supreme Court's observation, while hearing on Delhi-NCR's pollution crisis, questioned the tendency to place the entire burden of blame on farmers, while a report has highlighted transport as the largest local pollution contributor, while stubble burning's impact declined closer to Diwali.

Levels of nitrogen dioxide in the air peaked during evening rush hours and stayed high until midnight, reflecting the impact of traffic congestion, according to an analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).

The apex court observed that stubble burning is only one among several contributors to deteriorating air quality and drew attention to the much larger challenge posed by vehicular emissions.

Each winter, images of stubble-burning fields dominate television screens, often reinforcing the perception that farmers are chiefly responsible for the Capital's toxic air.

The bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V. Mohana has now directed Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan governments to submit plans covering vehicular movement, emission standards and measures to curb polluting vehicles.

The Supreme Court noted that during the Covid-19 lockdown, stubble burning had not entirely ceased, yet Delhi witnessed significantly clearer skies, suggesting that factors beyond farm fires play a decisive role in the pollution crisis.

The apex court's remarks also echoed scientific assessments. Data suggested that stubble burning accounted for around 14 per cent of Delhi's pollution contribution on November 5, while transportation remained one of the largest local sources of emissions.

The CSE has consistently argued that Delhi's air quality problem is multi-source in nature, stemming from vehicular pollution, industrial emissions, construction dust, waste burning and adverse meteorological conditions, with crop residue burning acting as an aggravating rather than exclusive factor.

Earlier reports this year by the CSE said that between 1,800 and 2,000 new vehicles are added to Delhi’s roads daily, where, as of 2024-2025, its total registered vehicle count crossed 15.6 million, "with a significant surge in private two-wheelers and cars".

Additionally, “the number of registered vehicles in Delhi matches the combined total of registered vehicles in the three metropolitan cities of Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai”.

According to the Economic Survey of Delhi 2025-26, an additional 643,000 vehicles were added in the national capital, which incidentally is the largest single-year increase in nine years. Farmer unions emphasise that the larger lesson emerging is that Delhi's pollution crisis cannot be solved through a single-point blame game; while largely acknowledging the need to reduce stubble burning, they urge for solutions to be practical, incentive-based and equitable.

--IANS

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Jaipur, Nov 12 (IANS) The Rajasthan High Court remained open on the Diwali holiday to hear a case involving four voters from Mendi Gram Panchayat in Bundi district.

A division bench comprising Justice Indrajit Singh and Justice Sandeep Taneja dismissed an appeal filed by the State Election Commission, upholding the relief granted to the four voters.

The court ruled that once the election process has commenced, no changes can be made to the electoral roll.

The State Election Commission and other authorities had challenged a single-bench order dated November 4, which had quashed the Bundi District Election Officer’s decision to delete the names of the four voters from the Mendi Gram Panchayat electoral roll.

Indrajit Singh, Sunita Devi, Sudesh Kumar and Sunita Kumari, residents of Ward No. 4 of Mendi Gram Panchayat in Bundi district, had earlier been registered as voters in Sukhpura Gram Panchayat. Their names were subsequently included in the Mendi Gram Panchayat electoral roll on February 7.

Bahadur Singh later raised an objection to their inclusion. However, the Returning Officer rejected the objection on October 2.

The following day, October 3, the State Election Commission announced the schedule for the Panchayat elections. On October 13, Bahadur Singh filed an appeal before the Bundi District Election Officer.

The officer issued notices to the four voters on October 17 and ordered the deletion of their names from the electoral roll the very next day, October 18. The four voters challenged the District Election Officer’s decision before the High Court.

After hearing the matter, a single bench of Justice Anand Sharma quashed the deletion order on November 4. Subsequently, the State Election Commission, the Bundi District Election Officer and the Hindoli Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) challenged the single-bench decision before a division bench.

During the hearing, counsel for the State Election Commission argued that the election schedule had been announced on October 3 and that no formal election notification had been issued.

Therefore, the District Election Officer was still entitled to exercise his statutory powers.

Rejecting the argument, the division bench observed that once the election process has commenced, no amendments can be made to the electoral roll.

The court declined to interfere with the single-bench order, thereby dismissing the appeal and granting relief to the four voters.

--IANS

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Kolkata, Nov 12 (IANS) The West Bengal Police's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) will investigate the encounter of rape and murder accused Prahlad Das in Gaighata of North 24 Parganas district, a government official said on Thursday.

A CID delegation led by a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP)-rank officer inspected the crime scene earlier in the day.

According to the government official, the investigators are trying to understand where the shooting took place and how the accused tried to escape.

On October 25, the body of a 17-year-old girl was recovered in Gaighata.

On October 24, the victim had gone to a jalsa near her home where her friends and family members were also present. The jalsa went on until late at night.

Her family claimed that the girl received a call at around 11:30 p.m. on October 24.

After receiving the call, she left the event following which she went missing.

The girl's naked and injured body was recovered the next morning. The victim's family claimed that she was raped and murdered.

After the initial investigation, the police arrested Prahlad Das, a distant relative of the girl, on the day the body was recovered.

The police suspected that the youth had offered the girl physical intimacy. When the girl did not agree, he hit her on the head with a heavy object. When the girl lost consciousness, the accused tortured her.

The youth fled the area leaving the girl in a bloody state.

Police sources claimed that there were scuffles, nail scratches, etc. on her body.

Police reconstructed the incident with the accused in the middle of the night.

Police sources claimed that the accused attacked the policemen while returning after the reconstruction phase of the incident on the night of October 27.

At one point, Prahlad snatched the policeman's revolver and ran away.

Police claimed that he fired three rounds in which a policeman was injured. However, it is not known whether the policeman was shot or not.

However, the police vehicle in which the accused was taken has a bullet mark.

The source claimed that the police also fired four rounds in self-defence.

Prahlad died in retaliatory fire by the police.

This time, the CID has launched an investigation into the incident.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Nov 12 (IANS) The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment said on Thursday that over 9.11 lakh people are seeking treatment across 198 district de-addiction centres in the country.

The Ministry said the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA), launched by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on August 15, 2020, has evolved into a nationwide people's movement against substance abuse, reaching over 35.88 crore people.

The campaign has connected with more than 14.35 crore youth and 11.33 crore women, reflecting its expanding outreach among key sections of society.

More than 2 lakh citizens have also enrolled as Nasha Mukti Mitr, strengthening community participation in the collective effort to build a drug-free India, the statement said.

A senior official in the Ministry said the Abhiyaan was initially launched in 272 districts identified as particularly vulnerable to substance use, which was subsequently expanded to 372 districts in August 2022 and extended to all districts of the country with effect from August 15, 2023.

He said over the past six years, NMBA has evolved from an initiative driven by institutional participation into a community-led movement, with States, districts, educational institutions, civil society organisations and local stakeholders actively contributing to its implementation.

The Official said the campaign has reached over 35.88 crore people as on date, marking a significant expansion from approximately 1.4 crore people reached in 2021.

Its growing footprint reflects sustained efforts towards awareness generation, community mobilisation and encouraging citizens to actively participate in the movement against substance abuse, he said.

The Official noted that more than 34.07 lakh awareness activities have been conducted in educational institutions, engaging students and young people in discussions on the harmful consequences of substance use.

These activities aim to promote informed choices, encourage healthy lifestyles and strengthen awareness about substance abuse prevention among the younger generation, he added.

He said the NMBA’s expansion is rooted in the need to address substance dependence as a complex psycho-social and medical challenge affecting individuals, families and communities.

The Official informed that the first National Survey on the Extent and Pattern of Substance Use in India, conducted in 2018, highlighted the scale of the challenge, indicating that more than 7 crore people in the country were affected by substance use disorders, including nearly 1.2 crore children and 58 lakh women.

Recognising the need for a comprehensive and sustained response, the Ministry launched NMBA as the flagship awareness initiative under the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR), which focuses on prevention, treatment and rehabilitation, the Official said.

Alongside awareness generation, the Ministry has strengthened the treatment and counselling ecosystem under NAPDDR, the Official noted.

--IANS

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Kolkata, Nov 12 (IANS) The Enforcement Directorate's (ED) Kolkata Zonal Office has provisionally attached immovable properties worth Rs 2.78 crore belonging to former Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Santanu Sinha Biswas, his family members, and his associates in connection with the Sona Pappu money laundering case.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the central agency confirmed that the assets, comprising three flats in Kolkata and parcels of land at Kandi in Murshidabad district, were attached as proceeds of crime under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.

The ED initiated its investigation based on multiple FIRs registered by the West Bengal Police against alleged criminal Biswajit Podder, alias Sona Pappu, and his associates involving charges of murder, extortion, and land-grabbing.

Earlier in the probe, ED sleuths conducted coordinated raids across Kolkata and adjoining areas, searching the residences of Biswas, Jay S. Kamdar, and Podder. Those searches resulted in the seizure of Rs 1.64 crore in cash, gold jewellery, a Toyota Fortuner car, an unlicensed revolver, and various incriminating documents and digital devices.

Following the raids, the agency arrested all three accused, who are currently remanded in judicial custody.

According to the agency's findings, the proceeds of crime were generated through extortion, illegal real estate grabbing, and unauthorised construction carried out via entities controlled by Podder, Kamdar, and their associates.

Investigators revealed that Biswas, who previously served as the Officer-in-Charge of Kalighat Police Station before his elevation as DCP, developed a close nexus with Kamdar during his stint at Kalighat and actively facilitated his illicit operations. Through this association, Kamdar allegedly wielded significant clout within the police establishment.

The ED statement further noted that Biswas directly and indirectly acquired, concealed, and possessed proceeds of crime amounting to at least Rs 2.89 crore.

--IANS

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Patna, Nov 12 (IANS) Rohini Acharya, daughter of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, arrived in Patna on Thursday to celebrate Chhath and used the occasion to comment on state and national politics, targeting the BJP-led government over crime, inflation and other issues.

Speaking to reporters at Patna airport, she extended Chhath greetings to the people of Bihar and those observing the festival fast.

Asked whether she would meet Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Rohini said she had no hesitation in visiting him, describing him as her uncle.

"Why wouldn't I go? He is my uncle. Since it is Chhath, I will certainly visit him to partake in the Kharna prasad," she said.

On speculation about taking up an active political role or getting a major responsibility in the RJD, she said such decisions rested with the party's top leadership. For now, her focus was on celebrating Chhath, she added.

Commenting on the INDIA bloc and opposition unity, Rohini said the political parties concerned would decide the coalition's structure.

However, she maintained that all opposition parties must set aside their differences and unite if they wanted to remove the BJP from power.

Asked about references to Nitish Kumar in connection with Sonia Gandhi's recently published book, she said she had not read the book yet and would comment only after going through it.

Rohini also criticised the state government over the law-and-order situation, alleging that crime was rising across Bihar and pointing to incidents in which police personnel had been killed.

She also referred to allegations of land grabbing against people linked to those in power.

She cited the silver robbery in Darbhanga and a terrorist attack on security personnel in Jammu and Kashmir while questioning the Centre's policies.

Taking a swipe at her critics, Rohini said those who had once questioned Lalu Prasad were now being judged by the public, which could assess the difference between their statements and actions.

Meanwhile, when asked about the wedding of the daughter of Mokama MLA Anant Singh, Rohini extended her congratulations and wished the newlywed a happy and prosperous future.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Nov 12 (IANS) More than 9 crore MSMEs could face significant compliance challenges as India advances Scope 3 emissions reporting requirements under the Securities and Exchange Board of India's (SEBI) Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR) Core framework, according to a study released by the Chintan Research Foundation (CRF) on Thursday.

The report, titled "Building India's Scope 3 Architecture: A Phased Roadmap for Credible, Interoperable, and Equitable Emissions Accounting," examines India's preparedness for value-chain emissions reporting as top-listed companies prepare for mandatory Scope 3 disclosures.

Authored by CRF researchers Shagun Mamgain and Sandra V. Kurian, the study argues that while India has moved quickly on disclosure mandates, the supporting infrastructure required for reliable and consistent emissions accounting is yet to fully develop.

According to the report, about 27 per cent of major Indian companies already disclose value-chain emissions, significantly above the global average of 15 per cent.

However, the study highlights substantial inconsistencies in reporting methodologies, with companies relying on a mix of international frameworks such as the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards without a unified national baseline.

The absence of a nationally validated emissions-factor database and standardised reporting boundaries has resulted in significant variations across disclosures, making it difficult to distinguish genuine decarbonisation progress from changes in reporting methodologies, the report noted.

The study said the burden of compliance is likely to be most acute for India's MSME sector, which forms a critical part of the supply chains of large corporations. Many smaller enterprises already face multiple regulatory requirements and environmental compliance obligations and often lack the technical expertise or dedicated teams needed to monitor and report greenhouse gas emissions.

While some large companies have initiated supplier capacity-building programmes, the report said MSMEs will increasingly need to reduce their own Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions to remain competitive as suppliers, since these emissions directly influence the Scope 3 footprints of larger corporate buyers.

Without adequate support mechanisms, sudden compliance requirements could increase costs for smaller businesses and potentially push some suppliers out of corporate value chains, the study warned.

To address these challenges, the report proposes a three-phase roadmap for developing India's Scope 3 reporting ecosystem.

"Phase 1 prioritises refining methodology, including standardising boundary protocols, identifying material categories via a sector-cluster approach, establishing a nationally validated emission factor database, and ensuring interoperability between other reporting frameworks," it said.

The second phase centres on capacity building, including formalising anchor-firm-led supply-chain engagement, creating targeted support mechanisms for MSMEs, and expanding the ecosystem of trained third-party auditors.

The final phase envisions enforcement measures such as mandatory third-party verification, legally binding disclosure requirements, and integration with emerging carbon markets.

--IANS

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Ahmedabad, Nov 12 (IANS) The Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Branch has warned citizens against a fake message circulating on social media claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is offering Rs 8,000 in cash assistance for the Diwali festival, saying the fraudulent links are being used to hack WhatsApp and Telegram accounts and steal banking information.

According to the Cyber Crime Cell, fraudsters are sending messages claiming that all Indian citizens are eligible for the cash benefit.

The messages contain suspicious links which direct users to fake websites and are designed to compromise their social media accounts and mobile phones.

The fake website tells users that their mobile number has been selected for an Rs 8,000 reward and asks them to share the message with five WhatsApp groups or 20 friends on WhatsApp or Telegram.

This is intended to spread the malicious link to a larger number of people. In the next step, users are asked to enter their mobile number to claim the reward.

The website then displays an eight-digit 'Connection Code', which victims are instructed to enter under the 'Linked Devices' option in their WhatsApp settings. "Once the code is entered, hackers gain control of the victim's WhatsApp account," the Cyber Crime Branch said.

The fraudsters are also attempting to gain access to Telegram accounts using the same method.

In another stage of the fraud, victims are persuaded to download and install malicious Android application package (.apk) files on the pretext of receiving the reward through PhonePe or withdrawing the cash benefit.

Once installed, these applications can give hackers access to SMS messages, one-time passwords (OTPs), banking applications and other data stored on the mobile phone, potentially allowing them to withdraw money from victims' bank accounts.

The Cyber Crime Branch clarified that the government is not offering any Rs 8,000 cash assistance through such links and urged citizens not to forward the messages or click on links received from unknown sources.

It also cautioned people against entering any code under "WhatsApp's Settings > Linked Devices" at the request of an unknown person or website. Those who have unknowingly linked an unauthorised device have been advised to log it out immediately.

For Telegram users, the branch recommended enabling "Two-Step Verification through Settings > Privacy and Security, checking 'Active Sessions' and removing unfamiliar devices".

It also advised users never to share their login codes with anyone. The police further warned against downloading .apk files from websites or links outside the Google Play Store.

If a mobile phone displays a 'File might be harmful' warning during a download, users should cancel the process immediately.

Citizens who fall victim to such fraud or find their social media accounts hacked have been asked to report the matter immediately by calling the National Cyber Crime Helpline at 1930 or filing a complaint on the official website.

--IANS

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Imphal, Nov 12 (IANS) A Kuki woman was shot dead while a man was injured in an exchange of fire between suspected rival militant groups near the Kuki Taphou village along the border of Manipur's Kangpokpi and Senapati districts on Thursday, triggering tension in the area, officials said.

A police official said that the violent incident prompted advisories against non-essential travel along the Imphal-Dimapur National Highway (NH-2).

The gunfight broke out in an area between Taphou Kuki village in Kangpokpi and Kailengjang in neighbouring Senapati.

According to a Kuki organisation, the slain woman, identified as Kimneineng Chongloi (41), mother of a 4-year-old boy from Taphou Kuki village, was killed by the NSCN-IM and ZUF-K while she was working in a paddy field.

According to preliminary reports, Kuki militants allegedly opened fire on Naga cultivators working in the area, triggering retaliatory firing. The victim was reportedly holding a sickle in her hand when her body was recovered by local residents and security personnel.

A man who sustained injuries in the incident was shifted to a private hospital in Kangpokpi district for treatment.

Security forces rushed to the area to contain the situation and prevent further escalation.

The incident occurred amid protests by the Kangpokpi-based Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU), which organised a sit-in demonstration at the district headquarters over what it described as an unsatisfactory response to its charter of demands following the recent abduction and killing of two Kuki-Zo youths from Taphou Kuki village.

COTU has demanded that Taphou Kuki village be brought under the jurisdiction of Kangpokpi district police instead of the existing Senapati district police station.

The two Kuki youths, who went missing from the vicinity of Taphou Kuki village on October 28, were found dead in neighbouring Senapati district on November 1. Their killing had triggered widespread resentment, prompting COTU to call a total shutdown in Kangpokpi district.

Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Monday had said that the state government has handed over the case relating to the killing of two Kuki youths to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for investigation.

The two Kuki youths -- identified as Tinginlun Chongloi, 21, and Paoginlal Hangshing, 20 -- went missing from Taphou Kuki village in Kangpokpi on the evening of October 28. Allegedly abducted by unidentified attackers, their bodies were subsequently recovered from Senapati during a joint search operation by the Central and state security forces.

--IANS

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Patna, Nov 12 (IANS) Hopes have been renewed for the construction of a permanent bridge between Bihar’s Revealganj in Saran district and Sitab Diara in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, as Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary has assured that the government will pursue the construction of a permanent bridge instead of a pontoon bridge on the route.

The bridge would provide all-weather connectivity between these two districts.

The Chief Minister said he would meet Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari to discuss the project and initiate the necessary steps.

Choudhary gave the assurance during the inauguration of the ‘Atal Dwar’ at Jharam Ghat in Saran district on Thursday.

During his visit, the Chief Minister also inspected Atal Vatika, Yagyashala and Jeevika Rasoi, which have been developed as part of a rejuvenation initiative at Ram Ghat.

He also unveiled a statue of former Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna awardee Atal Bihari Vajpayee and paid floral tribute to him.

At the event, local MLA Chhoti Kumari met Choudhary and submitted a memorandum seeking the implementation of three major development projects in the region.

Her primary demand was the construction of a permanent bridge between Revelganj and Sitabdiara.

She said the project would provide reliable, year-round connectivity to thousands of residents of Saran and Ballia, while strengthening trade, social interaction and economic ties between the two regions.

Sitab Diara is located in the Saran district (Chhapra) of Bihar, with parts of the village also extending into the Ballia district of Uttar Pradesh.

Responding to the demand, Choudhary assured her that he would take up the matter with Gadkari.

As her second demand, the MLA sought expedited construction of a Marine Drive connecting Bishunpura and Revelganj.

She said the proposed road would improve regional connectivity and open up new opportunities for development.

The third proposal was to include Ahilya Sthan Godna, believed to be the maternal ancestral home of Lord Hanuman, in the Ram Circuit.

She said the move would promote religious and cultural tourism and generate employment opportunities for residents.

The Chief Minister’s assurance has revived hopes among residents, who have long been demanding a permanent bridge to ensure uninterrupted connectivity between the two regions.

--IANS

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