A Maoist was killed in an encounter with C-60 Commandos near Gadchiroli-Chhattisgarh border in Maharashtra, officials said on Thursday, adding that an AK-47 recovered during the operation. According to an official statement issued by the Gadhchiroli Police, based on credible intelligence about the presence of remaining Maoist members of Company Number 10 and an unidentified Maoist group from Chhattisgarh, a large-scale search operation was launched on the evening of February 3. The operation was led by the Sub-Divisional Police Officer of Bhamragad. Fourteen C-60 commandos were deployed late that night in a forested area a few kilometres from Fodewada village, near the Gadchiroli-Narayanpur district border. During a brief exchange of fire with Maoists on Wednesday, security forces destroyed two Maoist camps and seized a large quantity of Maoist-related material. However, due to difficult terrain and dense forest cover, the Maoists managed to escape at that time, police said. Exchange of fire On Thursday morning, four additional C-60 teams and one Quick Action Team (QAT) of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were sent to strengthen the operation. Intermittent firing has been reported since morning. During the operation, the body of a male Maoist was recovered along with one AK-47 rifle and one Self-Loading Rifle (SLR). Police said efforts are underway to verify whether more Maoists have been injured or killed during the encounter. The identity of the deceased Maoist has not yet been established. C-60 commando injured in firing In heavy firing by Maoists late Thursday evening, one C-60 commando was injured after being hit by a bullet. The injured jawan is being evacuated from the forest area for further medical treatment, officials said. The search operation is still underway in the forest region, officials said. The police said further details will be shared by the Gadchiroli police after the operation is concluded.
05 February,2026 11:18 PM IST | Gadchiroli | A CorrespondentThe Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) on Thursday launched its 'Transformation Cell' for speedy resolution of citizen's civic problems, officials said, reported the PTI. Pune Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram and District Collector Jitendra Dudi launched the year-long initiative which is aimed at improving basic civic services to the citizens in Pune through better coordination between government departments and private agencies, the officials said. The initiative, called the Transformation Cell, will focus on delivering quick and visible improvements rather than large infrastructure projects that take years to complete, they said, as per the PTI. The two top civic officials said the emphasis will be on small, practical interventions that can make a noticeable difference to daily life in the city. Ram and Jitendra Dudi said that the recent Pune Grand Cycle Tour showed that meaningful changes are possible in a short time when multiple agencies work together in a coordinated manner. Multiple dept to work together According to the PTI, the Transformation Cell includes representatives from various government departments and agencies. At its first meeting, participants were asked to highlight issues related to lack of coordination. According to Commissioner Ram, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) pointed out that several civic projects are delayed due to pending approvals from other authorities. PMC to bear initial costs for utility shifts Explaining the issue of road widening, Ram said electric poles often remain in the middle of newly widened roads because power utilities face financial constraints. To resolve this, the PMC will initially bear the cost of relocating such infrastructure. The concerned utility department will later reimburse the amount in instalments, officials said, the news agency reported. The officials said this system will also help prevent repeated digging of the roads. Better planning With the Pune Grand Cycle Tour scheduled again next year, departments have been asked to coordinate utility work in advance with PMC projects. This will ensure that roads are not dug up again after completion due to fresh permissions, as per the PTI. The officials said that better planning will help improve efficiency and reduce inconvenience to citizens. (with PTI inputs)
05 February,2026 10:50 PM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondentStruck for hours in Mumbai-Pune Expressway traffic jam, a Pune-based industrialist Sudhir Mehta took a helicopter to return to the city, reported the PTI. He was reportedly stranded for nearly eight hours on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway due to a massive traffic jam caused by an overturned gas tanker. Traffic on the expressway remained disrupted for more than 30 hours after the accident, which occurred on Tuesday evening. Movement was suspended as a safety measure after the tanker began leaking highly flammable propylene gas. Sudhir Mehta, Chairman of Pinnacle Industries and EKA Mobility, shared his experience in a post on social media platform X on Wednesday. He also posted aerial photographs showing long stretches of vehicles stuck on the expressway, according to the PTI. Commenting on the situation, Mehta said the incident underlined the urgent need for better emergency preparedness on high-speed corridors such as the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, the news agency reported. Calls for planned exit points and helipads In his post, Mehta said that lakhs of commuters were stranded for nearly 18 hours due to a single tanker accident. He suggested that planned emergency exit points should be created at various locations along the expressway, allowing vehicles to turn back during such crises. He also proposed the construction of helipads near the expressway for emergency evacuations, stating that helipads cost less than Rs 10 lakh to build and require less than an acre of land. He suggested that such facilities should be made mandatory. Traffic restored after 33 hours Officials said traffic on the Mumbai-bound carriageway was restored early on Thursday, around 33 hours after the accident occurred in the Khandala Ghat section. An official from the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) said the overturned tanker was removed from near the Adoshi tunnel at 1.46 am, allowing traffic to resume. Thousands stranded without basic facilities The tanker had overturned at around 5 pm on Tuesday, causing severe congestion on the busy expressway. At the peak of the disruption, queues of stationary vehicles stretched up to 20 km. Thousands of passengers, including women and children, were forced to remain inside their vehicles for several hours, often without access to food, drinking water or toilet facilities. The Mumbai-Pune Expressway, India’s first six-lane, access-controlled concrete toll road, spans 94.5 km and connects Mumbai, Raigad and Navi Mumbai with Pune. (with PTI inputs)
05 February,2026 09:40 PM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondentUttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday directed that deaths caused by “Chinese manja” (razor-sharp kite strings) be treated as murder. He also ordered the strictest possible action against those found guilty. The directive comes after a motorcyclist died in Lucknow allegedly after his throat was slit by a kite string, and follows a rise in similar incidents across the state capital. The Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said in a post on X that Adityanath has “taken serious note of fatalities linked to Chinese manja” and instructed authorities to act against its manufacture, sale, and use. “Taking cognisance of accidents caused by Chinese manja, the chief minister has directed strict enforcement against it and ordered a statewide campaign along with a high-level review. The deaths due to this should be treated under the category of murder,” the post added according to PTI. Adityanath stressed that the Uttar Pradesh government is fully committed to protecting public life. Fatal kite string incident in Lucknow On Wednesday, 34-year-old Syed Shoaib, a medical representative from Sitee Bihar in Dubagga, died after a Chinese manja allegedly cut his throat on the Haiderganj overbridge in Lucknow’s Bazarkhala area. Police said the kite string, sharp and strong, severed a major vein while Shoaib was riding his motorcycle. Losing control, he fell onto the road. Bystanders rushed him to a trauma centre in an e-rickshaw, but doctors declared him dead due to excessive blood loss. In another recent incident, metro services in Lucknow were disrupted when a kite string fell on a high-tension line, forcing trains to halt mid-route. Fatalities every year around the Nation Humans are also affected—45-year-old Bharat Kadam was seriously cut by manja on the Andheri flyover, though his windpipe was spared. The life of a five year old in Hyderabad was claimed due to nylon kite strings. They cause multiple deaths annually. In Gujarat, four people, including children, died during Uttarayan, and emergency cases rose 33 percent due to kite strings, falls, and electrocutions. Activists call for stricter enforcement and awareness campaigns. Animals not spared During Makar Sankranti, Mumbai NGOs rescued over 50 injured birds. A sub-adult macaque was critically injured after getting entangled in a kite string near Sanjay Gandhi National Park on Jan 27. Multiple cases like these surface and despite bans, glass, Chinese, and nylon manja continue to be used, harming animals and humans, says Advocate Pawan Sharma of RAWW. (With PTI Inputs)
05 February,2026 08:42 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentCongress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday said the opposition parties walked out of the Rajya Sabha during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's reply to the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address as the government has made up its mind that both leaders of opposition (LoPs) will not be allowed to speak. Flanked by opposition leaders of the Upper House, Kharge, the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, said the Modi government has made up its mind that both LoPs, he and Rahul Gandhi, will not be allowed to speak either in the Lok Sabha or in the Rajya Sabha. "Our great leaders who sacrificed for this country, who fought for this country, who went to jail and fought against the British to win freedom for the country against those leaders, one man speaks in the House. "He is given a mic, he hurls abuses at will on the mic and the government stays silent. Has the BJP ever condemned this?" Kharge said. "That's why all the leaders of the opposition parties have decided that if they won't let us speak, then we should walk out, we should protest. And especially regarding the insult to our leaders, we too condemn that," he added. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
05 February,2026 08:06 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIThe Rajya Sabha witnessed a stormy start to the session on Thursday, with government and Opposition getting into verbal confrontation over denial of permission to Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi to speak in the Lok Sabha and also over attempts to stall Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address. Lok Sabha was adjourned moments after reconvening on Thursday, following which the Upper House witnessed noisy scenes and uproar with Opposition accusing the government of gagging the Leader of Opposition. This invited strong counters from Leader of House in the Rajya Sabha J.P. Nadda and Union Minister Kiren Rijiju. Rijiju slams Opposition for distrupting PM's address, urges MPs to follow House rules Rijiju condemned the Opposition’s conduct and schooled the members on following Parliamentary protocols. "Today we all are expecting that all MPs will follow rules and traditions of the House. All the Parliamentarians are waiting to hear the Prime Minister's speech today. Congress doesn't want to listen to the PM's address, but all other members do. Your LoP Lok Sabha doesn't follow the House rules," Rijiju told the House. Mallikarjun objects to Nehru, Indira remarks; seeks Rahul Gandhi's turn to speak Mallikarjun Kharge took strong objections to ‘humiliation’ of late Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi by BJP lawmakers, apparently referring to citations from controversial books, and insisted that Rahul Gandhi be given a chance to speak in the House. "Parliament means Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The LoP, Lok Sabha, wanted to speak on the country's interests, but was not allowed to speak. How can you run the House like this?" Kharge said. J.P. Nadda counters Opposition amid slogan-shouting in Rajya Sabha J.P. Nadda, turning the tables on the Opposition, said, "The LoP should know that the proceedings of the Lok Sabha cannot be discussed in the Rajya Sabha." While the leaders engaged in fierce arguments, uproar prevailed in the House with Opposition members resorting to slogan-shouting. Earlier, the INDIA bloc floor leaders held a meeting inside the Parliament House to deliberate on their strategy on cornering the government. (Inputs from IANS)
05 February,2026 07:40 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentTo tackle leopard attacks in the Junnar region, Maharashtra deputy CM Eknath Shinde said that the state cabinet has approved two leopard rescue centres, an official statement issued by his office said on Thursday. “Protecting human lives is Maharashtra government’s responsibility. We will create a leopard attacks-free environment,” he said. Multiple leopard attacks in Junnar had last year turned political. Last year in December, Shiv Sena's Junnar MLA Sharad Sonawane had arrived at the state legislature in Nagpur during the Maharashtra Assembly Session dressed in a leopard costume. While speaking to the media outside the assembly premises, Sonawane had claimed that 55 people have died in leopard attacks in Junnar Taluka of Pune district in the past three months. Raising the issue, Sonawane had demanded that the government should declare a ‘state emergency’ and capture at least 2,000 leopards and put them in rescue centres. MIDC and IT park near Shivneri Fort Eknath Shinde also announced plans to set up an MIDC and IT park near Shivneri Fort, construct a grand entrance gate, establish a food processing park at Dumbarwadi, and promote tourism-led employment. He pledged to make Junnar the number-one tourism taluka in the country. Shinde also said religious sites will be developed, Buddhist caves conserved, and forts protected. The Deputy CM listed several infrastructure and development projects, including the Murbad-Junnar highway, faster progress on the Pune-Nashik railway line, the 56-km Junnar-Talegaon road, Rs 313 crore for repairs to Chilewadi Dam, Rs 35 crore for bridge construction, and a Rs 240 crore proposal for Parunde Kumbh Mela facilities. He also mentioned water supply schemes for tribal hamlets, MI tanks, canals, check dams, drinking water for plateau regions, and a Rs 32,000 crore compensation package for losses caused by excessive rainfall. Farmer has first right over state treasury: Shinde Calling farmers the nation’s food providers, Shinde said they have the first right over the state’s resources. He announced that steps would be taken to grant municipal council status to Otur and Narayangaon. He also said boating permissions for tourism would be encouraged and priority would be given to providing jobs to local youth. Appeal to vote for Shiv Sena candidates Shinde announced the names of all Shiv Sena candidates for the district council and panchayat committee elections and urged voters to press the bow-and-arrow button on February 7. “A vote for the bow and arrow is a vote for development,” he said, assuring five years of dedicated service. Promising to transform Junnar and repay the debt to Shivaji Maharaj’s land, he concluded his speech with chants of “Jai Maharashtra”. Several Shiv Sena leaders, candidates, party officials and workers were present at the event.
05 February,2026 06:18 PM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondentUnion Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman highlighted a major relief initiative for road accident victims and their families in the Union Budget 2026. While addressing the Lok Sabha on Sunday, Sitharaman announced that the interest accrued on motor accident compensation claims will be fully exempt from income tax, news agency IANS reported. The proposal is aimed at ensuring that accident victims receive the complete amount of their claim without any deductions. The move will also eliminate Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) on such interest payments. The announcement came as part of broader tax relief initiatives in the Budget, presented by Sitharaman for the ninth consecutive time. Under current provisions, interest components awarded by the Motor Accident Claims Tribunals (MACT), often substantial due to delays in claim settlements, are treated as taxable income under the Income Tax Act. This has resulted in victims or their dependents losing a portion of the compensation to tax liabilities, sometimes forcing them to navigate complex refund processes or face reduced financial support for medical care, rehabilitation, and livelihood restoration. Union Budget 2026: Exemption applies to interest awarded to individual claimants The Finance Minister emphasised that the exemption applies specifically to interest awarded to a “natural person (individual claimants)," recognising the compensatory and humanitarian nature of these awards. "Any interest awarded by the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal to a natural person will be exempt from income tax, and any TDS on this account will be done away with," she further highlighted. The change is expected to come into effect from the financial year 2026-27, providing immediate relief in ongoing and future cases. Road accidents remain a major public health and economic challenge in India, with thousands of fatalities and injuries annually leading to prolonged legal battles for compensation. The delays in tribunal awards often inflate the interest component, intended to compensate for the time value of money and suffering endured. By removing the tax burden, the government aims to make the compensation more meaningful and victim-centric, aligning with efforts to improve ease of living and support vulnerable sections. Union Budget 2026: Exemption on accident claims welcomed by experts The proposal has been welcomed by legal experts, victim rights groups, and insurance stakeholders, who argue that it addresses a long-standing inequity. Further, the move also prevents erosion of awards meant for rehabilitation and could encourage faster claim resolutions. The full exemption is poised to benefit lakhs of affected families, ensuring that justice in motor accident cases is not diminished by fiscal deductions. (With inputs from IANS)
05 February,2026 05:50 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA major rail accident was narrowly avoided on Thursday morning when the Chennai Central-New Jalpaiguri Express derailed near Jakhapura in Odisha’s Jajpur district, reported the IANS. According to East Coast Railway (ECoR) officials, the incident occurred at around 8.51 am while the train was passing through Jakhapura Yard. One AC coach and two general coaches derailed within the yard limits. Railway authorities said the train was travelling at a very slow speed at the time of the derailment, which helped prevent serious damage. In an official statement, ECoR confirmed that there was no loss of life and no injuries to any passengers, as per the IANS. "A minor derailment involving Train No. 22611 Chennai-New Jalpaiguri Express occurred at 08:51 hrs today morning, while the train was passing through Jajpur Yard (JKPR)," the East Coast Railway (ECoR) said in a release. Passenger services remain unaffected ECoR informed that passenger train operations were not disrupted due to the minor nature of the derailment. Railway officials rushed to the spot immediately and arranged alternative accommodation for affected passengers in vacant coaches, the news agency reported. Accident Relief Trains from Bhubaneswar and Khurda Road, along with Accident Relief Medical Equipment from Khurda Road, were dispatched within minutes of receiving information about the incident. Additional coaches to be attached Speaking to the media, East Coast Railway Chief Public Relations Officer Deepak Rout said that additional coaches would be attached to the train at the Kharagpur Division if required, to ensure passenger comfort, as per the IANS. Senior railway officials are present at the site and are closely supervising restoration work and safety measures. Train services normalised As per the latest update from ECoR, the affected Chennai Central-New Jalpaiguri Express was moved from the derailment site after safely detaching the damaged coaches. Train movement on both tracks has now returned to normal. Passengers recall moment of panic Passengers travelling on the train said they were frightened after hearing a loud noise and feeling a sudden jolt when the derailment occurred. However, railway officials reassured them that there was no reason for concern, as no major damage had been caused. (with IANS inputs)
05 February,2026 05:38 PM IST | Bhubaneswar | mid-day online correspondentLok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday said he had advised Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi not to attend the House after receiving information that an inappropriate incident could take place near the PM’s chair amid continuing disruptions by the Opposition, news agency IANS reported. Making a statement in the Lok Sabha, Birla said, “With immense sadness, I want to inform the House that the manner in which a few MPs behaved in the Lok Sabha chamber yesterday was unprecedented. This has never happened in the history of the Lok Sabha. The Speaker holds a respected position in the House, as mentioned in the Constitution. Differences of opinion have always existed in Parliament, but such behaviour has not been seen earlier.” The Speaker also criticised the conduct of some Opposition leaders in his office, describing it as inappropriate for parliamentary functioning. “What some Opposition leaders did in the Speaker’s office was not appropriate for parliamentary activities. I would say it was like a ‘black spot’. All of us should contribute to the smooth functioning of Parliament,” Birla said. Referring to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address, Birla said he had received information that a few Congress MPs might create an inappropriate situation when the Leader of the House was scheduled to reply. “When the Leader of the House was to respond to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address, I got information that a few Congress MPs could do something inappropriate. I have also witnessed such incidents in Parliament earlier,” he said. Budget Session 2026: Any such incident would have undermined democratic traditions, says Speaker Birla said that any such incident would have severely undermined the country’s democratic traditions. “If such an incident had occurred, it would have torn apart the democratic traditions of the nation. To prevent this, I requested the Prime Minister not to come to the House yesterday. As Speaker, it is my responsibility to maintain the decorum of Parliament,” he added. The Lok Sabha later adopted the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address on Thursday without the customary reply by Prime Minister Modi, as Opposition protests continued for the fourth consecutive day during the Budget Session. The Speaker noted that this was not without precedent, recalling that in 2004, then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was also unable to reply to the Motion of Thanks due to Opposition disruptions. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi was absent from the House when the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address, delivered to both Houses on January 28, was passed. Amid sloganeering by Opposition members, the Speaker adjourned the House till 2:00 pm. Some Opposition MPs also entered the Well of the House carrying posters bearing the Prime Minister’s photograph with the slogan “Narendra-Surrender” written on them. (With IANS inputs)
05 February,2026 05:36 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentWest Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said that the interim budget tabled by her government in the assembly is "pro-people" and shows fiscal discipline, "unlike the directionless and rudderless" Union Budget. Speaking at a post-budget press conference, Banerjee said the state government prioritised the welfare of ordinary people despite what she termed as "sustained financial deprivation" by the Centre. "Our budget is pro-people, not directionless and rudderless like the Union Budget," the chief minister said, adding that the state managed its finances prudently while continuing to expand social welfare measures. Alleging that West Bengal had been denied its legitimate dues by the Centre, Banerjee said the state government, nevertheless, ensured that development and welfare schemes were not compromised. "Despite the state being financially deprived by the Centre, we have brought in a pro-people budget," she said, underscoring that allocations have been made with a focus on women, youth, workers and vulnerable sections. Rejecting criticism over the state's fiscal management, the chief minister said the budget reflected financial discipline and responsible governance. "Our budget reflects financial discipline," Banerjee said, maintaining that the government had balanced welfare spending with fiscal prudence. The West Bengal Assembly, earlier in the day, witnessed the tabling of the interim budget of Rs 4.06 lakh crore for the 2026-27 fiscal, ahead of the assembly elections due in less than three months. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
05 February,2026 05:23 PM IST | Kolkata (West Bengal) | PTIADVERTISEMENT
-1770288584424_d.png "Chinese kite strings cause fatal accidents. Representational Image")
-1770301382462_d.png "Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. File Pic")
-1770292191629_d.png "Mamata Banerjee criticises Union Budget ahead of elections. File Pic")