Seven including Rs 25 lakh reward carrying Maoist was killed in major operation at Gadchiroli-Chhattisgarh border, officials said on Friday. One police jawan lost his life after being seriously injured in the operation, they said. Among those neutralised was Prabhakar, the in-charge of the Gadchiroli Division Committee, West Sub Zonal Bureau, and Company No. 10 of the CPI (Maoist). He hailed from Kamareddy, Telangana, and carried a reward of Rs 25 lakh on his head, an official statement said. Prabhakar and six other hardcore Maoists were killed during an exchange of fire with Gadchiroli police, the authorities confirmed. Over the past three days of the operation, a total of seven bodies of Maoists have been recovered, including four males and three females. During the operation, police have also seized three AK-47 rifles, one SLR rifle and one .303 weapon, the statement said. It said that the identities of the remaining Maoists are still being verified. Jawan killed According to the police, a C-60 Commandos jawan Deepak Chinna Madavi (38), from Aheri, fought bravely during the encounter. He reportedly neutralised two Maoists in a heavy exchange of fire but sustained a bullet injury. He was airlifted to Bhamragad Sub-District Hospital, where he later died. He will be cremated on Saturday at his native village with full police honours. On Friday, top Gadchiroli police officials paid their final respects to the jawan who was killed after being seriously injured in the operation. Another jawan, Joga Madavi, was also injured in the same operation. He was airlifted to Gadchiroli and is currently stable and out of danger. He is receiving treatment and is expected to be discharged soon. Gadchiroli police have said they will provide more details about the identities of the Maoists and other operational aspects in a press briefing on Saturday. The operation The operation involving 14 C-60 units under the SDPO (Sub-Divisional Police Officer) Bhamragd began on Tuesday near Phodewada village on the Gadchiroli-Narayanpur (Chhattisgarh) border, following inputs about the presence of cadres of company number 10 of the Maoists, police said. The C-60 is a specialised combat unit of the Maharashtra police engaged in tackling Naxalism in the Gadchiroli.
06 February,2026 09:10 PM IST | Gadchiroli | mid-day online correspondentBJP's newly elected corporator Vandana Magre was elected unopposed as the first mayor of Maharashtra’s Jalna Municipal Corporation (JMC) on Friday, as no rival party nominated a candidate against her. Another BJP corporator, Rajesh Raut, was also elected unopposed as deputy mayor, reported news agency PTI. Both leaders will serve a 15-month tenure, after which the party plans to give other aspirants an opportunity, a local leader said. Friday was the last day for filing nomination forms for both posts. The formal announcement of their election will be made on Monday, a civic official said. In May 2023, the state government elevated the status of the Jalna Municipal Council to that of a municipal corporation. Last month’s municipal polls were the first elections of the Jalna civic body since the elevation. In the 65-member JMC, the BJP secured a majority by winning 41 seats, while Shiv Sena won 12 seats, Congress nine, the All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) two seats, and one seat went to an independent. As no nominations were filed by other parties for the posts of mayor or deputy mayor, the election process was completed unopposed. The mayor’s post was reserved for a Scheduled Caste woman candidate. Magre’s name had been doing the rounds since the beginning, and she is known to be a supporter of former MLA Kailash Gorantyal, reported PTI. As decided by the BJP, the tenure of both posts will be 15 months to enable other aspirants to get an opportunity later, BJP leader Bhaskar Danve said. Magre, along with around two dozen former councillors in Jalna, joined the BJP from the Congress last year. A meeting was held in Jalna on Thursday to finalise the BJP candidates for the two posts. The meeting was chaired by senior BJP leader and former Union minister Raosaheb Danve. Elections to 12 Zilla Parishads, 125 Panchayat Samitis in Maharashtra to be held on Saturday Elections to 12 Zilla Parishads and 125 Panchayat Samitis in Maharashtra will be held on Saturday. Adequate arrangements, including police deployment, have been made to ensure peaceful polling, the State Election Commission (SEC) said. Elections to most local bodies in Maharashtra have been pending since 2022. A total of 7,438 candidates are in the fray for 731 Zilla Parishad (ZP) and 1,462 Panchayat Samiti seats. (With PTI inputs)
06 February,2026 07:45 PM IST | Jalna | mid-day online correspondentPimpri-Chinchwad witnessed a historic moment on Friday as senior corporator Ravi Landge was elected unopposed as the 27th mayor of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), ending nearly four years of administrative rule in the civic body. At 41, Landge has created a unique record in PCMC’s history. A two-time unopposed corporator during the 2017–2022 term, he has now carried forward the same distinction to the mayoral post. He has become the first leader in the corporation’s history to be elected unopposed three times consecutively — twice as a corporator and now as mayor. The election is significant as it comes after the civic body remained under administrative control since March 12, 2022, following the expiry of the elected council’s term and delays in municipal elections. During this period, the corporation was administered successively by Commissioners Rajesh Patil, Shekhar Singh and Shravan Hardikar. Deputy mayor and key appointments Alongside Landge’s election, Sharmila Babar was unanimously elected as deputy mayor. Other key appointments include Prashant Shitole as Leader of the House and Bhausaheb Bhor as Leader of the Opposition. Sharmila Babar holds a Master’s degree in History and served as a corporator from Ward No. 15 (Nigdi–Akurdi Pradhikaran) during the 2017-2022 term. Known for her active participation, she recorded 100 per cent attendance in general body meetings and played a key role in several decision-making processes. She also served as Deputy Chairperson of the Education Committee and worked as ward chairperson for two consecutive years between 2019 and 2021. Political consensus signals stability The unopposed elections are being viewed as a sign of political consensus and stability, marking a new chapter in PCMC’s civic governance after a prolonged period of bureaucratic administration.
06 February,2026 06:32 PM IST | Pune | Archana DahiwalTwo police personnel have been suspended for allegedly honey-trapping a farmer and extorting money from him after he sold his land, a senior officer said on Friday, reported the PTI. According to police, the accused officers were working along with a village headman to target the farmer, who had recently received a large sum after selling his property. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Shlok Kumar said the complainant, Jagdish, a farmer from Agra, alleged that he was called to a room where he was secretly filmed with a woman. He claimed that Sub-Inspector Kapil and constable Rakesh later took him to a police outpost, while his car was allegedly kept at the house of the village pradhan. The village pradhan, identified as Khubi Ram, is a known history-sheeter, police said. Farmer alleged he was forced to pay Rs 1 lakh Circle Officer Anil Kumar Kaparwan said the farmer alleged he was forced to pay Rs 1 lakh and was released only after the accused kept his car in their custody, promising to return it once the remaining amount was paid, as per the PTI. Following a preliminary enquiry, an FIR has been registered against the village pradhan, the woman involved, the sub-inspector who was also the in-charge of the police post, and the constable. Cops suspended “The two policemen have been suspended and departmental action has been initiated against them. Special teams have been formed to arrest the remaining accused,” SSP Kumar said, according to the PTI. Mumbai Police suspend cop for inaction against illegal hawkers Meanwhile, in an another incident, Mumbai Police initiated action against its own personnel, suspending a policeman for failing to act against hawkers while on duty. Assistant Police Inspector Narayan Siddhappa Anand, attached to Azad Maidan police station, was suspended after allegedly failing to take action against illegal hawkers outside the Churchgate subway area on January 27. A police source said Anand was deployed outside Churchgate station between 7 pm and 9 pm, when several hawkers were operating in the subway area. Despite being instructed by senior officers to act against unauthorised vendors, he allegedly failed to take action. Following an internal inquiry, Anand was served a suspension notice, the source added. Hawker-free subway Following the suspension, authorities claim the Churchgate subway area has largely become hawker-free, officials said. “We are taking strict action against illegal hawkers and registering FIRs where necessary. The entire area has been cleared, and regular drives are being conducted to prevent their return,” a police officer said. (with PTI inputs)
06 February,2026 06:07 PM IST | Mathura (UP) | mid-day online correspondentThe Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has announced temporary traffic halts on the Hindu Hriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg (Samruddhi Expressway) to facilitate the installation of overhead gantries under the highway traffic management system (HTMS). The work will be carried out in nine phases between km 300.400 and km 365.800, covering stretches in Buldhana (Lonara, Sindkhed Raja, Deulgaon Raja) and Jalna districts (Jalna taluka). Each phase will involve a complete halt of traffic on the affected carriageway for 45 to 60 minutes. Normal traffic will resume immediately once work at a specific location is completed. Scheduled traffic blocks on Maharashtra's Samruddhi Expressway February 20 Km 305.750 – Mumbai-bound lane: 12 pm to 1 pm Km 308.700 – Mumbai-bound lane: 12 pm to 1 pm Km 308.700 – Nagpur-bound lane: 3 pm to 4 pm February 21 Km 314.250 – Mumbai-bound lane: 12 pm to 1 pm Km 318.500 – Mumbai-bound lane: 12 pm to 1 pm February 22 Km 318.500 – Nagpur-bound lane: 3 pm to 4 pm Km 329.200 – Nagpur-bound lane: 3 pm to 4 pm MSRDC has appealed to commuters to plan their journeys in advance, anticipating delays of up to an hour, and follow on-site signage or instructions for diversions if necessary. The gantry installations form part of ongoing efforts to improve traffic monitoring, safety, and management along the high-speed corridor. Similar short-term traffic halts were carried out earlier this year in sections across Nagpur, Wardha, Washim, and other districts. For further details or schedule updates, commuters can refer to the MSRDC’s website www.msrdc.org.
06 February,2026 05:27 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarFinance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, while presenting Union Budget 2026, announced an allocation of Rs 7.8 lakh crore for the country’s defence sector. This is a 15 per cent increase in the allocation from the Rs 6.81 lakh crore allocated for the sector in financial year (FY) 2025-26. The defence forces have been allocated Rs 2.19 lakh crore for the purchase of military hardware as part of the capital outlay in the Budget, news agency IANS reported. This constitutes a 21.8 per cent increase compared to the Rs 1.80 lakh crore allocated in FY 2025-26. Check LIVE Budget updates here The increased outlay comes against the backdrop of Operation Sindoor and the changing geopolitical landscape. The approach is also in line with the government's push for an 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat', or self-reliant India, by encouraging indigenous research and manufacturing. Custom duty to be waived off on raw materials used for aircrafts: Nirmala Sitharaman Sitharaman also proposed to waive of basic customs duty on raw materials imported for the manufacture of parts of aircraft to be used in maintenance, repair, or overhaul requirements, which will benefit units in the defence sector. Commenting on the Union Budget 2026 allocation for the sector, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, "This budget, following the historic success of Operation Sindoor, has reinforced our resolve to further strengthen the country's defence system. This budget strengthens the balance between security, development, and self-reliance." Union Budget 2026: Boost to capex in defence sector The approach of the budget is a continuation of the broader strategic shift to prioritise spending on force modernisation, air defence systems, and next-generation platforms. The increase in capex has been driven by higher allocations for fighter jets, warships, missiles, artillery guns and other state-of-the-art defence equipment. The higher allocation for the purchase of defence equipment is expected to benefit both public-sector defence undertakings and their private-sector suppliers, especially as order books across the sector have expanded sharply. HAL and Bharat Dynamics to get a major boost The public sector companies expected to benefit include Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, which has an order book mainly from the Indian Air Force; Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, which produces warships for the Indian Navy; and Bharat Electronics Ltd, which produces electronics equipment for the forces. Apart from large-scale companies, smaller private sector companies such as MIDHANI, BEML, Bharat Dynamics and various startups in the drones sector are also expected to benefit from Union Budget 2026. (With inputs from IANS)
06 February,2026 05:18 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentThe Supreme Court on Friday, while permitting the medical termination of a 30-week pregnancy of a 17-year-old girl, said that courts cannot force a woman, especially a minor, to continue a pregnancy. A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan noted that the girl became pregnant while in a relationship with a neighbourhood boy and had approached the court seeking termination of the pregnancy. The bench directed Mumbai’s JJ Hospital to perform the medical termination, while ensuring that all requisite medical safeguards are in place, reported news agency PTI. Pregnancy of minor ‘ex facie illegitimate’, SC focuses on reproductive choice The court observed that it had considered the right of the minor to continue the pregnancy, which, on the face of it, was “illegitimate” as she herself is a minor and was facing the pregnancy due to an unfortunate situation arising from a relationship. It said the issue was not whether the relationship was consensual or the result of sexual assault. “What has to be considered in the instant case is the right of the minor child to continue a pregnancy which is ex facie illegitimate, inasmuch as she is a minor and has to face this unfortunate situation owing to a relationship she had. The issue is not whether the relationship was consensual or whether it was a case of sexual assault. Ultimately, the fact is that the child to be born is not legitimate and, secondly, the mother-to-be does not want to bear the child,” the bench said, reported PTI. The top court took note of the medical board’s report stating that there was no threat to the life of either the mother or the child if the pregnancy were carried to full term. “If the interest of the mother is to be taken note of, then her reproductive autonomy must be given sufficient emphasis. The court cannot compel any woman, much less a minor child, to complete her pregnancy if she is otherwise not intending to do so,” the bench said. Courts must address abortion pleas to prevent unsafe practices, says Justice Nagarathna During the hearing, Justice Nagarathna referred to the difficult moral and legal questions involved and observed that if courts do not address medical termination requests, people may turn to quacks and illegal medical establishments, which would be unsafe. The court said that while the birth of a child ultimately results in a life, the decisive factor in the present case was the clear and consistent unwillingness of the minor to continue the pregnancy. “It is also difficult for us, but there is no other way. Should we compel her to give birth to a child? Because the child that will be born is also ultimately going to be a life. There is another question—if she can terminate the pregnancy at 24 weeks, then why not at 30 weeks? Ultimately, she does not want to continue the pregnancy. The bottom line is that she does not want to give birth,” the bench observed, reported PTI. It added that it often takes time to decide whether to terminate a pregnancy. “There are many cases where termination takes place beyond what is stipulated under the MTP (Medical Termination of Pregnancy) Act, 1971, and doctors refuse to carry it out. Where will such people go? To quacks and unauthorised doctors. That will be dangerous,” it said. Counsel appearing for the Maharashtra government submitted that, according to medical reports, even if the child were born at present, the baby would be alive, and one of the views taken by the high court was that the child could be given to an orphanage if the mother did not wish to keep it. The top court said it would release the operative part of the order for the benefit of the hospital, and that a detailed order would follow. (With PTI inputs)
06 February,2026 05:07 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentInadequate awareness about tyre care among motorists is a major factor behind serious and fatal road accidents, particularly on highways, said Sanjay Sasane, the principal of the Institute of Driver Training and Research (IDTR), Pune, highlighting tyre safety as a neglected yet crucial aspect of road safety. Sasane stated that tyres are the only point of contact between a vehicle and the road, bearing the entire weight of the vehicle and playing a critical role in braking, stability and control. “Despite this, tyre health is often ignored by motorists, resulting in preventable and sometimes fatal crashes,” he noted. Sasane added that achieving road safety through awareness and collaboration aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 3.6, which aims to reduce road traffic crashes and fatalities by 50 per cent. Pune institute, tyre advisory committee join hands to boost safety awareness and driver training On the occasion of Road Safety Month in January 2026, IDTR Pune signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Indian Tyre Technical Advisory Committee (ITTAC) to strengthen technical capacity building and tyre safety awareness among drivers and the general public. The collaboration aims to integrate scientific knowledge of tyre maintenance, defect detection and safety practices into structured driver training programmes, ensuring that tyre-related risks are addressed at the grassroots level of road safety education. The MoU signing ceremony was held in the presence of Sudarshan Singh Gusain, chairman of the Tyre Safety Awareness Wing of the Automotive Tyre Manufacturers’ Association (ATMA); Vinay Vijayvargia, deputy director, ITTAC; Deepak Salunkhe, senior police inspector (traffic branch), Pimpri-Chinchwad; Sourabh Sonawane from Vital Strategies under the Bloomberg Philanthropies road safety initiative; along with officials, trainers, and road safety experts. As part of the initiative, ITTAC handed over copies of its Tyre Safety Manual and awareness posters explaining tyre nomenclature, maintenance methods, identification of defects and proper tyre care. These materials have been displayed in the automobile laboratory at IDTR as well as at the driver test track used by licensing authorities in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad for conducting confidence tests and driver certification.
06 February,2026 04:15 PM IST | Pune | Archana DahiwalHighlighting the growing partnership between India and the European Union (EU), External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar on Friday described the signing of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as a transformative milestone in bilateral ties while addressing the India-EU forum. He also underlined the potential for deeper cooperation between India and the EU in areas including security, defence, climate, technology and talent flows. “Addressed the inaugural India-EU Forum this morning. Highlighted that the FTA has been a game changing development for our partnership. Also flagged other dimensions that hold great potential, including security, defence, climate, technology and talent flows. Hope that the India-EU Forum promotes more conversations and creates greater convergences between India and the EU,” EAM posted on X. PM Modi, EU leaders hail landmark India–EU FTA, stress stronger trade ties Earlier on January 27, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, hailed the successful conclusion of negotiations of the landmark India–EU FTA. "This historic deal is a milestone in the India–EU Strategic Partnership that will significantly enhance bilateral trade and investment ties, drive shared prosperity, strengthen resilient and diversified supply chains, and support sustainable and inclusive growth," read a joint statement issued after the 16th India–EU Summit co-chaired by the three leaders. The leaders emphasised the central role of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in the multilateral trading system and global trade governance and underlined that meaningful, necessary, and comprehensive reform of the WTO is essential to improve its functions so that it is better suited to advance all members’ objectives. In the context of global uncertainty and disruptions, closer economic ties between India and the EU are more important than ever to drive growth, job creation, green transition, industrial development, and more resilient, sustainable and trustworthy supply chains, the statement said. The leaders of India and the EU are committed to ensuring the full implementation of the FTA. Additionally, they tasked their respective teams to complete negotiations, at the earliest opportunity, on an Investment Protection Agreement (IPA) and on an Agreement on Geographical Indications (GIs). They committed to work on scaling up bilateral investments and engage in discussions on Blue Valleys to accelerate private sector engagement in strengthening select value chains, the joint statement said. (Inputs from IANS)
06 February,2026 02:52 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentA private coaching class teacher in Latur was arrested on Thursday for allegedly sexually harassing a 13-year-old student, a police official said. While highlighting the incident, an official from Shivaji Nagar Police Station said that, as per the complaint, the victim had been harassed by the accused since April 13, last year. Accused Amit Yadav is said to be a science teacher who runs coaching classes, as reported by news agency PTI. The official further added, "He contacted the minor girl on a messaging platform, made inappropriate comments and asked her to enter into a relationship with him. He pestered her with such messages and also threatened her when she refused to reply. In June last year, he stopped her after class and inappropriately touched her." While hailing the complainants' courage, the official asserted that the victim mustered the courage to approach police after she confided in a friend, who encouraged her to speak out, as per PTI. Inspector Abhishek Shinde, while briefing about the investigation, asserted, "She and her friend eventually approached the school counsellor, who contacted the victim's parents and accompanied them to Shivaji Nagar police station. Yadav was arrested under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for sexual harassment and other offences." Latur: 60-year-old woman, her daughter confined at home In a different scenario, earlier this week, a 60-year-old woman and her daughter, both reportedly suffering from mental health issues, were allegedly confined to a room in their house by the elderly woman's son in Maharashtra's Latur district, officials said, adding that both were rescued following the intervention of police and social workers, reported the PTI. According to the PTI, relatives said the women, rescued on Tuesday, were kept isolated after allegedly disturbing neighbours by throwing stones. The room from which they were rescued was found littered with several hundred empty plastic water bottles and emitted a foul smell. The shocking incident came to light in Ratnapur Nagar near Pakharsangvi village, about five km from Latur city, the news agency reported. Tip-off by social worker prompts rescue Social activist Venkat Panhale received a tip-off about the situation eight days ago. After verifying the information, he contacted Sharad Zare, founder of Majha Ghar, a shelter home for underprivileged children. Both then met Superintendent of Police (SP) Amol Tambe on Monday and informed him of the situation, according to the PTI. The SP directed the Anti-Human Trafficking Cell (AHTC) to take immediate action. Accompanied by social workers, a police team reached the spot on Monday and rescued the woman and her 30-year-old daughter around 11 am the following day. (With inputs from PTI)
06 February,2026 02:51 PM IST | Latur | mid-day online correspondentParts of Kashmir received fresh snowfall while rains lashed the plains as the night temperature rose above the freezing point at some places, including Srinagar city, officials said on Sunday. Snowfall was witnessed in higher reaches of Pahalgam in Anantnag district and Qazigund area of Kulgam district while many parts of South Kashmir were hit by rains, the officials said. They said Srinagar city also witnessed early morning rains. The minimum temperature in Srinagar city settled at 2 degrees Celsius on Saturday night, up from the previous night's minus 0.1 degrees Celsius.This was 2.6 degrees above the season's normal. While the temperature data for several places, including Sonamarg in Ganderbal district, was not available, the ski resort of Gulmarg in Baramulla district was the coldest recorded place in Jammu and Kashmir at minus 7 degrees Celsius. Officials said Pahalgam tourist resort in south Kashmir recorded a low of minus 1.4 degrees Celsius, up from minus 2.6 degrees Celsius the previous night. It was 3.8 degrees higher that seasonal normal. In Qazigund, the minimum temperature settled at 0.4 degrees, while Kokernag recorded zero degree Celsius and Kupwara recorded low of minus 1.7 degrees Celsius. A 20-day 'Chillai Khurd' (small cold) began on Saturday, after the culmination of the 40-day harshest winter period, 'Chillai-Kalan'. Chillai Khurd will be followed by the 10-day 'Chillai Bachha' (baby cold). The meteorological department has said the weather will remain cloudy, and there is a possibility of light to moderate rain or snow, especially in the higher reaches, with thunder or gusty winds at many places on Sunday. Light rain, with snow in the higher reaches, is possible at scattered to many places on February 2-3, officials 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.
06 February,2026 02:43 PM IST | Srinagar | PTIADVERTISEMENT
