The death toll in the suspected hooch tragedy rose to four on Friday after three more persons died allegedly due to consumption of spurious liquor in dry Bihar's East Champaran district, officials said. At least six others are undergoing treatment at a government hospital, while seven people have been discharged after initial treatment, they said. The incident took place at Turkauliya and Raghunathpur areas of Motihari on Thursday. 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
04 April,2026 10:32 AM IST | Motihari | AgenciesUnion Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in Assam have prepared a roadmap for tribal development, and the BJP’s return to power in the state would ensure its implementation. Addressing a rally at Dudhnoi in Goalpara district, Shah said that Congress never made an Adivasi woman the country’s President, but Modi changed that. 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
04 April,2026 10:31 AM IST | Dudhnoi (Assam) | AgenciesCourts should not determine essential religious practices as they are a matter of faith held to be sacred by the followers of a religion, the Akhil Bharatiya Sant Samiti has told the Supreme Court while seeking to intervene in the upcoming Sabarimala review proceedings. A nine-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant is set to commence the final hearing on April 7 on petitions relating to discrimination against women at religious places, including the Sabarimala temple in Kerala, and on the ambit and scope of the religious freedom practised by multiple faiths. 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
04 April,2026 10:24 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesThe Delhi Police on Friday arrested a wanted criminal associated with the notorious Sonu Dariyapur Gang and recovered a pistol along with live cartridges from his possession in a swift operation carried out by the Anti-Auto Theft Squad (AATS) of the Outer North District. The accused, identified as Aryan (22), resident of Prahladpur Bangar in Delhi, had been on the run since March 19, 2026, after allegedly opening fire in the jurisdiction of PS Sultanpuri. He was intercepted and apprehended by the police team near Jeet Farm on Narela Alipur Road. According to police officials, the arrest was made following specific secret intelligence inputs received on March 30 regarding Aryan's movement in the area. Acting swiftly on the information, a dedicated team was formed under the leadership of Inspector Anand Kumar Jha, in charge of AATS. The team included SI Dimpy Gulia, Head Constable Asharam, and Constable Sachin, and operated under the supervision of senior officers of the Outer North District. During the interception, police recovered one sophisticated 32 bore pistol along with two live cartridges from Aryan's possession. Subsequently, a case under the Arms Act was registered at PS Narela Industrial Area, and the accused was formally taken into custody. During interrogation, Aryan disclosed his involvement in a firing incident in Sultanpuri, where he, along with other members of the gang who had already been arrested, had targeted a rival identified as Arun and his associates. Police further revealed that Aryan was planning to procure additional weapons and carry out more criminal activities. He was also allegedly attempting to lure and influence local youths into joining the Sonu Dariyapur Gang, raising concerns over the gang's expansion. Officials stated that Aryan has a criminal background, with two previous cases registered against him under the Arms Act. Police said the successful operation highlights their proactive approach in tackling organised crime and preventing further incidents, reaffirming their commitment to maintaining law and order and ensuring the safety of residents in the national capital. 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
04 April,2026 10:11 AM IST | New Delhi | ANIMeat worth Rs 4.34 crore seized from three trucks in Jalna on suspicion of being beef has been confirmed as buffalo meat by a laboratory in Chhatrapati Maharashtra's Sambhajinagar, a police officer said on Friday. Following the laboratory analysis, the consignment, comprising 83,988 kilograms of frozen meat, was released along with the three trucks, Sub-Divisional Police Officer Anant Kulkarni said. “The meat was seized on April 1 following a tip-off from right-wing activists. A case was registered at Chandanzira police station under the Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act. Three persons, all residents of Varanasi, were held at the time,” another officer said. The accused have been identified as Shambuprasad Prajapati, Sattyaprakash Gupta, and Virenda Gupta. According to police, the trucks were transporting the meat from Parbhani to Mumbai for export. Many packets in the consignment had markings in Arabic, suggesting they were likely destined for Arab nations. “We requested an early report from the laboratory to ensure the meat did not deteriorate. The transporter had valid documents. After verification, the containers were released within 24 hours of receiving the report,” SDPO Kulkarni added. Earlier, on April 1, right-wing activists had intercepted the three container trucks at a toll naka in Jalna, alleging they were carrying beef. The drivers were detained and meat samples were sent to the laboratory for testing. Inspector Balasaheb Pawar of Chandanjhira police station said the seized containers were transporting around 120 tonnes of meat, reportedly meant for export. Packets bore the name of LS Frozen Foods, Visakhapatnam, with Arabic labelling. The drivers were allegedly manhandled by activists. “We will take appropriate action after receiving the lab report,” Pawar had said at the time. Following the confirmation that the meat was buffalo, police released the consignment and trucks. Further action in the case will be taken as required, the officials said. Assam CM targets opposition candidate’s mother over social media posts showing beef consumption Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday criticised the mother of Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) candidate Kunki Chowdhury over social media posts showing beef consumption, claiming they hurt the sentiments of Sanatani people. Speaking during his campaign at Khowang, Sarma alleged that Chowdhury’s mother, Sujata Gurung Chowdhury, had shared multiple posts and photos related to beef on Instagram. “We do not have a problem with her being from Sikkim, but she has shared many photos of eating beef. She is challenging the Sanatani people,” the CM said, showing one such photo on his mobile. The remarks triggered a strong response from the AJP. Party president Lurinjyoti Gogoi accused Sarma of resorting to “Hindu-Muslim rhetoric” to deflect from questions raised by the party. Kunki Chowdhury, 27, is contesting her first election from the Guwahati Central constituency. She is among the youngest candidates in the fray and is pitted against senior BJP leader Vijay Kumar Gupta. Police and election authorities have not commented on the allegations, and there is no report of any legal action related to the social media posts so far. (With PTI inputs)
03 April,2026 11:53 PM IST | Jalna | mid-day online correspondentA 42-year-old State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) jawan was allegedly killed by his minor daughter's alleged boyfriend and his associates in Maharashtra's Nagpur, following which police arrested five persons, news agency PTI reported, quoting an officer on Friday. The assistant sub-inspector was fatally attacked in the Matoshree Nagar area, under the jurisdiction of the MIDC police. His 30-year-old brother-in-law sustained grievous injuries in the incident, police said. According to the police, the 23-year-old accused had been in a relationship with the victim’s minor daughter for the past two years, PTI reported. The jawan was opposed to the relationship and had warned the accused several times to stay away from the 16-year-old. During a Hanuman Jayanti programme at a local temple on Thursday night, the accused allegedly approached the girl and started talking to her. The jawan noticed this and asked him to leave, leading to an argument, the officer said. After the heated exchange, the accused returned home and came back with a knife, accompanied by relatives and friends, PTI reported. The group attacked the SRPF jawan with sharp weapons. When the jawan’s brother-in-law tried to intervene, he was also assaulted. The duo was rushed to Shalinitai Meghe Hospital, where doctors declared the jawan dead, the officer quoted above said. Another officer added that five persons, including the accused, his brother, and their mother, have been arrested for their involvement in the murder, and a probe is underway, PTI reported. BSF jawan's wife, lover arrested for his murder in Meerut In a dramatic turn of events, the wife of a Border Security Force (BSF) jawan, who was found dead with a gunshot wound at his home in Meerut last week, has been arrested for his murder along with four other people, including her alleged lover. The BSF jawan, Nain Singh, was found dead at his home in Dhanpur village on March 28. He was posted in West Bengal and had come home on March 6 for his leave. A case was registered on March 28 based on a complaint by the jawan's father. Neighbours were initially named in the complaint; however, in the absence of eyewitnesses, police pursued the investigation using technical and forensic evidence. Speaking to reporters, Senior Superintendent of Police Avinash Pandey said five persons, including the jawan's wife, have been arrested in connection with his murder. Pandey said the investigation revealed that the BSF constable frequently taunted and humiliated his wife, Komal, for having an extra-marital affair with Gulshan, a local resident. The accused confessed to shooting and killing Nain Singh while he was asleep, in a premeditated manner driven by animosity, police said. The arrested persons have been identified as Komal and four others — Rahul alias Pawan, Gulshan, Guddu, and Montu. Acting on the leads provided by the accused, the police have recovered an illegal country-made pistol and ammunition. A reward of Rs 25,000 has been awarded by the SSP to the police team that cracked the case, police added. (With PTI inputs)
03 April,2026 11:12 PM IST | Nagpur | mid-day online correspondentYo Yo Honey Singh was set to host his next concert in Pune on April 4; however, it seems his fans from the city have to wait a little bit more for him to perform for them. The singer-rapper shared an update about his Pune gig on his social media accounts. He revealed that the show has been pushed and also shared the reason behind it. Honey Singh shares an update about his Pune concert Honey Singh took to his Instagram and X to announce that his April 4 concert in Pune has been postponed. The singer-rapper stated that tickets will remain valid for the new date. Yo Yo further revealed that the state government advisory is the reason for the shifting of the concert date. He wrote, "Fans!!! Despite being completely sold out for Saturday (04.04.2026), we have to reschedule the show to 18.04.2026 due to anticipated rain and thunderstorms. This decision has been made in line with the government advisory, as the safety of my fans remains the top priority. All tickets purchased will remain valid for the new date (18.04.2026). See you soon, Pune—in just 2 weeks!" The singer also attached a copy of the press note released by the Maharashtra government. Take a look at the post here More about Honey Singh's My Story world tour Honey Singh is currently on his 'My Story' world tour. He kicked off the tour in Dubai on February 6, 2026. After the Pune concert, he was set to perform in Ahmedabad on April 11. Post that, Indore on April 25, Lucknow on May 2, and Kolkata on May 9. The 'Desi Kalakaar' singer will conclude his India leg in Bengaluru on May 16. In 2026, Yo Yo Honey Singh dropped his album 'Glory', which includes the track "Beeba", released in March that year.
03 April,2026 09:44 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday announced that all employees, including daily wage and casual workers, will be entitled to a paid holiday on polling days for the upcoming General Elections and bye-elections this month. In a press note, the ECI said, "As per Section 135B of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, every person employed in any business, trade, industrial undertaking, or any other establishment, and entitled to vote at an election to the House of the People or to the Legislative Assembly of a States/UTs or Bye-election to a PC/AC shall be granted a paid holiday on the day of poll." The announcement covers elections to the Legislative Assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal and Bye-election to eight Assembly Constituencies across six states, which are Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Nagaland and Tripura. Polling will be held on April 9 for Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Goa, Karnataka, Nagaland, and Tripura; April 23 for Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Maharashtra; and April 23 (Phase I) and April 29 (Phase II) for West Bengal. The Commission further stated that wages will not be deducted on polling day, and violators will be fined. "No deduction of wages shall be made on account of such a paid holiday. Any employerwho contravenes these provisions shall be liable to a fine," the statement read. The Commission further clarified, "Electors (including casual and daily wage workers) who are working or employed in industrial or commercial establishments located outside their constituency but are registered as voters in a constituency going to polls shall also be entitled to the benefit of a paid holiday on the day of poll to enable them to cast their vote." ECI also directed all State and UT governments to ensure strict compliance. "Necessary instructions have been issued to concerned authorities to ensure that all electors are able to exercise their franchise freely and conveniently," the statement added. Meanwhile, the results for the upcoming Assembly and bye-elections are scheduled to be announced on May 4, 2026. 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.
03 April,2026 09:34 PM IST | New Delhi [India] | ANIRajasthan Police has busted a cyber fraud racket offering "escort service", which was operating from a remote island near a dam in Dungarpur district, and arrested 12 persons, officials said on Friday. Acting on a tip-off received by the district cyber cell on Thursday, police raided a small island near the Som Kamla Amba dam in the district. The accused were found in an isolated area, using their mobile phones to carry out cyber fraud, police said. "Police arrested 12 accused persons after surrounding the spot. During preliminary inquiry, the accused made contradictory statements. An inspection of their mobile phones and social media accounts revealed that they were running a fake escort service to cheat people across the country," SP Manish Kumar said. Police also seized one SUV, 25 mobile phones, 50 SIM cards, two debit cards and Rs 10,000 in cash during the raid. According to Kumar, the accused uploaded fake advertisements offering escort service and used objectionable images downloaded from the internet to lure their victims. "The victims contacted the numbers listed in the advertisements after which the accused trapped them to extort money. They persuaded the victims to select profiles and transfer advance payments into multiple bank accounts," the officer said. During interrogation, the accused confessed to operating the racket and cheating people, he added. The accused have been identified as Naresh (19), Ganesh Patidar (20), Mehul Suthar (26), Ganesh Patidar (27), Prakash Patidar (36), Vijay Patidar (25), Hitesh Patidar (21), Tejpal Patel (26), Dinesh Patidar (32), Naresh Patidar (27), Bhavesh Patidar (27) and Manish Patidar (25), police said. 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.
03 April,2026 09:24 PM IST | Jaipur | PTIFour persons have been arrested in Maharashtra's Nashik for allegedly stealing a tablet from a senior citizen and attempting to extort Rs 12 lakh by threatening to leak his private photographs and videos on social media, police said on Friday, reported news agency PTI. According to the police, the accused gained access to private data after stealing the gadget from the victim's office in Satpur a few days ago and allegedly used objectionable videos and photos found on the device to blackmail the complainant, threatening to make the files viral unless he paid them Rs 12 lakh, an official said, reported PTI. He said that the complainant approached the Satpur police and informed them about his plight, stating that he had already paid the accused Rs 10,000 some days ago and was to hand over Rs 50,000 on Thursday evening. The city police formed two teams and apprehended the suspects from the Adgaon Shivar area on the Mumbai-Agra National Highway, the official said. The accused, Akash Pundlik Bakre, Prakash Ramdas Panpatil, Suraj Sunil Gawai and Shreepat Bhimrao Shinde, have been booked under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Further probe is underway to find out if they have been involved in similar offences earlier, reported PTI. Beed man duped of Rs 23.42 lakh in 'digital arrest' fraud; three held In another case, three persons, including a woman, have been arrested for allegedly duping a man of Rs 23.42 lakh by threatening him with 'digital arrest' in Maharashtra's Beed district, police said on Friday, reported PTI. The police recently arrested the accused, Prasann Ajay Kasat (31), his wife, Swati (26), and their aide, Sanket Deepak Beldar (22), from Jalgaon in connection with the fraud, an official said, reported PTI. According to the police, the trio allegedly posed as police officials and threatened to place the victim, Suryakant Munde, a resident of Parli Vaijnath, under digital arrest to extort money from him. Investigations revealed that the fraudsters duped the victim of Rs 23.42 lakh and diverted the money to their bank accounts, they said, reported PTI. The police traced the accused based on technical analysis, seized Rs 3 lakh cash from them and froze their bank accounts, the official said, adding that further investigation is underway to identify other members of their gang involved in the racket. (With inputs from PTI)
03 April,2026 07:43 PM IST | Nashik | mid-day online correspondentThree persons, including a woman, have been arrested for allegedly duping a man of Rs 23.42 lakh by threatening him with 'digital arrest' in Maharashtra's Beed district, police said on Friday, reported news agency PTI. The police recently arrested the accused, Prasann Ajay Kasat (31), his wife, Swati (26), and their aide, Sanket Deepak Beldar (22), from Jalgaon in connection with the fraud, an official said, reported PTI. According to the police, the trio allegedly posed as police officials and threatened to place the victim, Suryakant Munde, a resident of Parli Vaijnath, under digital arrest to extort money from him. Investigations revealed that the fraudsters duped the victim of Rs 23.42 lakh and diverted the money to their bank accounts, they said, reported PTI. The police traced the accused based on technical analysis, seized Rs 3 lakh cash from them and froze their bank accounts, the official said, adding that further investigation is underway to identify other members of their gang involved in the racket. Gurugram police arrest five in cyber-fraud cases with links to Philippines, Cambodia In another case, Gurugram police said on Wednesday they have busted a cyber-fraud racket with links to the Philippines and Cambodia and arrested five people for using and delivering illegal SIM boxes, reported PTI. The devices -- also known as GSM gateways -- are primarily used to hold several SIM cards and make international calls appear as domestic. The SIM boxes were supplied through the China-Nepal-Bihar route and used to commit cybercrimes, including call diversion, police said, reported PTI. A recovery of 13 SIM boxes, seven Wi-Fi TAPO cameras, 30 batteries, 504 SIM cards and other equipment was made. Police also seized 2,258 recharged fake SIM cards used for digital arrests and various cybercrimes, reported PTI. The operation started after four house owners in Gurugram filed complaints stating their tenants were illegally operating SIM boxes in their houses. After this, police conducted raids at the rented houses where they found illegal devices which were allegedly used in cybercrimes. Five accused, including a woman, were arrested in connection with the case, identified as Rahul Kumar, Yash Amrit Singh Dugar, Bhavika Ramesh Bhagchandani, Sagar and Litesh, reported PTI. (With inputs from PTI)
03 April,2026 07:37 PM IST | Beed | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
-1775232614492_d.png "Yo Yo Honey Singh. File Pic")
-1775232227229_d.png "Election Commission of India. File Pic")
