The government is working on introducing vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) or cars communication technology to help prevent road accidents, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Thursday, reported the PTI. Addressing a press conference after chairing the annual meeting of transport ministers from all states and Union Territories, Nitin Gadkari said that the new technology would allow vehicles to communicate with each other in real time. How V2V technology will work Under the V2V system, drivers will receive real-time alerts about the speed, location, acceleration, braking and presence of nearby vehicles, including those in blind spots. This will enable drivers to take timely action and avoid collisions. Gadkari said a joint task force has been formed with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to implement the system. The DoT has agreed in principle to allocate 30 MHz spectrum in the 5.875–5.905 GHz band for V2V communication, according to the PTI. Focus on reducing road fatalities The minister said wireless technology would allow cars to communicate directly and form a key part of the government’s broader road safety strategy. He added that the government has been working to reduce road deaths through better road engineering, stricter enforcement of traffic laws, and higher penalties for violations. “In India, nearly five lakh road accidents take place every year, leading to around 1.8 lakh deaths,” Gadkari said, as per the PTI. He noted that about 66 per cent of fatalities involve people aged between 18 and 34. Amendments to MV Act Gadkari also announced that the government plans to introduce amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act during the upcoming Budget session of Parliament. The proposed 61 amendments aim to improve road safety, enhance ease of doing business, improve citizen services, simplify definitions and language, improve mobility, and align regulations with global standards, the news agency reported. Key issues discussed at transport ministers’ meet The meeting focused on several critical areas, including road safety, passenger convenience, public transport efficiency, ease of doing business and automobile regulations. Discussions were also held on enhanced safety norms for buses, sleeper coaches and passenger vehicles, including bus body codes, Bharat NCAP (BNCAP) safety ratings, and the phased introduction of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), as per the PTI. Other proposals included a points-based system to track traffic violations and the digital and automated issuance of permits for goods vehicles up to a specified gross vehicle weight. (with PTI inputs)
08 January,2026 10:08 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentHours after the ED raided consultancy firm I-PAC's office, Pratik Jain, the co-founder of the election strategy agency, on Thursday afternoon filed a counter petition at a single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court against the Enforcement Directorate (ED), news agency IANS reported. The petition challenged the ED's raid and search operations earlier in the day at his residence at Loudon Street in central Kolkata as well as at the I-PAC’s office on the northern outskirts of Kolkata. The petition has been admitted by the single-judge bench of Justice Suvra Ghosh. ED accuses CM Mamata Banerjee of misusing her position Earlier in the day, ED also approached the same bench, accusing West Bengal Chief Minister (CM) Mamata Banerjee of misusing her constitutional position, IANS reported. The investigation agency also accused her of creating hindrances to the official duties of central agency officials during raid and search operations. As both the petitions, the first by the ED and then by Jain, are related to the same matter, they have been admitted by the same bench and will be heard simultaneously on Friday. Banerjee had alleged that the ED had stolen documents belonging to the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in the name of conducting search operations at the two premises. The central agency has countered the allegations by the CM and claimed that the raid and search operations were in connection with an alleged coal smuggling syndicate led by Anup Majee. Furthermore, they also claimed that these operations were in no way related to I-PAC's association with any political party. Meanwhile, TMC has issued a statement claiming that CM Banerjee will hit the streets against the ED’s action on Friday. The party stated that Banerjee will lead a protest rally from Jadavpur to Hazra Crossing in South Kolkata at 2 pm. Mamata Banerjee visits I-PAC chief’s home during ED raid Earlier, West Bengal Chief Minister (CM) Mamata Banerjee visited the residence of I-PAC chief Pratik Jain amid an ongoing Enforcement Directorate (ED) raid, alleging that the central agency was attempting to confiscate the Trinamool Congress’s (TMC’s) internal documents, hard disks, and sensitive election-related data (With inputs from IANS)
08 January,2026 08:55 PM IST | Kolkata | mid-day online correspondentWest Bengal Chief Minister (CM) Mamata Banerjee on Thursday visited the residence of I-PAC chief Pratik Jain amid an ongoing Enforcement Directorate (ED) raid, alleging that the central agency was attempting to confiscate the Trinamool Congress’s (TMC’s) internal documents, hard disks, and sensitive election-related data. She said the raid at the residence and offices of Jain, "the in-charge of my IT cell", was politically motivated and unconstitutional, news agency PTI reported. Banerjee arrived around noon, shortly after Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma reached the site, and stayed for 20-25 minutes, emerging with a green folder in hand. “They have raided the residence and offices of our in-charge of IT cell. They were confiscating my party’s documents and hard disks, which have details about our party candidates for the assembly polls. I have brought those back,” Banerjee told reporters. She alleged that ED officers had taken hard disks, mobile phones, laptops, candidate lists, and internal strategy documents of the party. “Is it the duty of the ED to collect political party data?” she asked. TMC data and poll strategies seized: Mamata Banerjee The Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC), which also manages the TMC’s IT and media operations in addition to providing political consultancy, was the target of the searches. Banerjee launched a sharp attack on the BJP leadership, calling the raid an act of “political vendetta” and accusing Union Home Minister Amit Shah of misusing constitutional agencies to intimidate Opposition parties, PTI reported. “This is not law enforcement. Is this how the nastiest home minister functions, who can protect the country? I am sorry Mr Amit Shah, the Prime Minister must control his home minister,” she said. The ED searches had begun early Thursday at I-PAC’s office in Sector V, Salt Lake, PTI reported. Banerjee alleged the raids started around 6 am when no one was present at the office. “They transferred our data, poll strategies and information into their system. This is a crime,” she said after visiting the I-PAC office. Sources said several files were brought out of the office and placed in the CM’s vehicle while she was still at Jain’s residence. Banerjee later visited the Sector-5 office around 1 pm, where senior officers of the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate had cordoned off the area. BJP is murderer of democracy: West Bengal CM Several TMC leaders and ministers, including Bidhannagar Mayor Krishna Chakraborty and state minister Sujit Bose, were present. Senior state police officers, including DGP Rajeev Kumar, also reached the site. Central forces had sealed the building’s entry and exit points. Without using the VIP lift, Banerjee accessed the building through the basement and reached the 11th-floor office. “They have taken our election strategy, our SIR data and other details. If the assembly polls pass and we have to draw up election plans afresh, who will be responsible?” she asked. Banerjee accused the BJP of undermining democracy, alleging large-scale deletion of voters from electoral rolls in West Bengal. “The BJP is the murderer of democracy. Names of over 15 lakh people have been deleted through the SIR process. Do they think they can capture the state by deleting voters and raiding IT cell offices of political parties?” 'Dare BJP to fight us politically if they want to win Bengal' She asserted that TMC is a registered political party paying income tax and said, “The Centre cannot bulldoze us using money and muscle power. I dare the BJP to fight us politically if they want to win Bengal.” Banerjee said she would remain at the I-PAC office until Jain arrived and resumed work. The episode echoes a 2019 standoff at the same Loudon Street address, when Banerjee had rushed to the bungalow of then police commissioner Rajeev Kumar during a CBI search and staged a dharna in central Kolkata. Reacting to the developments, West Bengal’s Leader of Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, accused Banerjee of interfering in the functioning of constitutional agencies. “I feel that the chief minister’s visit, along with the Kolkata police commissioner, was unethical, unconstitutional and a direct interference in a central agency’s investigation,” Adhikari said, questioning why TMC’s internal documents were allegedly with a private consultancy firm. The ED had not issued any official statement on the searches at the time of reporting, and the exact nature of the case being probed remained unclear. (With PTI inputs)
08 January,2026 08:07 PM IST | Kolkata | mid-day online correspondentChief Minister Mamata Banerjee will reportedly lead a protest in Kolkata on Friday, January 9 following the ED raids at I-PAC office in West Bengal in connection with the alleged fake government job scam, reported the ANI. The ED claimed that Banerjee allegedly entered the residential premises of I-PAC director Prateek Jain during its search operation and allegedly removed key evidence, including physical documents and electronic devices. ED alleges interference by CM In a statement, the ED said its search proceedings were conducted 'peacefully and professionally' until the arrival of Banerjee, accompanied by several police officials. According to the agency, the Chief Minister took away documents and electronic devices during the operation, as per the ANI. The ED is investigating whether the removal of documents interfered with its ongoing probe into the alleged scam involving fake government jobs. Banerjee accuses ED of targeting TMC Earlier, Banerjee reportedly visited the I-PAC office on a public road and accused the central agency of unlawfully seizing party-related laptops, mobile phones, and strategic documents. She called the raid a 'crime' and challenged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to contest the political battle democratically in West Bengal, according to the ANI. The Chief Minister insisted that I-PAC is not a private firm but an authorised team of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC). She alleged that the ED confiscated sensitive party documents, including data linked to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, despite the TMC being a registered political party that regularly submits income tax returns, the news agency reported. BJP criticises Banerjee’s actions The BJP sharply criticised Banerjee for her actions during the raid. In a post on X, the party said her presence at the site “raised disturbing questions” and suggested a "deeper conspiracy", reported the ANIK. The BJP added that the sight of a sitting Chief Minister rushing to an investigation site to secure party files and hard disks appeared to be an attempt to hide incriminating evidence, rather than mere damage control. They questioned, “If there is nothing to hide in West Bengal, why would a Chief Minister scramble to secure files from an official investigation site?” The party asserted that the truth would eventually emerge, claiming that Bengal would vote in favour of the BJP in response, the news agency reported. (with ANI inputs)
08 January,2026 08:06 PM IST | Kolkata | mid-day online correspondentWith a week to go for the Pune Municipal Corporation Election 2026, the BJP unveiled its manifesto on Wednesday. The party has promised property tax waivers for economically weaker sections and sops for women, including concessions for them in metro rail and city bus fares in its manifesto, news agency PTI reported. The manifesto, titled 'Sankalp Patra', was unveiled in the presence of the party's Pune Lok Sabha MP Murlidhar Mohol, state ministers Chandrakant Patil and Madhuri Misal, MLAs, and other leaders. The party has promised free travel on Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd (PMPML) buses to citizens above 75 years of age along with concessions on fares to women on the city buses and Pune Metro, if it comes to power in Pune Municipal Corporation, PTI reported. Will soon build AIIMS and data centre near Mumbai-Pune Motorway: Union Minister The BJP manifesto also promised Rs 2500 per month to poor women under the state government's 'Ladki Bahin Yojana' and a waiver of property tax for houses and flats measuring under 500 square feet. While addressing a press conference, Mohol said, "We have managed to achieve most of what we promised in the last manifesto. We had assured Punekars about metro train service, equitable water distribution and riverfront development. We have managed to deliver on these promises." He further claimed that projects under the Smart City initiative have been implemented in parts of the city, including Balewadi and Baner, as per the plan. "We also assured Punekars of an annual free medical check-up for everyone above 30 years. We will soon build an AIIMS Hospital, and a data centre near the Mumbai-Pune Motorway will also be constructed," added the Union Minister. Elections to the Pune Municipal Corporation and 28 other civic bodies in the state will be held on January 15, and the results will be declared the next day. The Pune civic body has 165 seats. While the BJP is contesting solo in Pune, the Shiv Sena is fighting on 123 seats. Ajit Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is contesting 138 seats. The Congress, NCP (SP), and Shiv Sena (UBT) are contesting on 99, 43 and 44 seats, respectively. (With inputs from PTI)
08 January,2026 08:02 PM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondentSeveral residents of Greater Noida’s Delta 1 sector fell ill after allegedly consuming contaminated drinking water, triggering health concerns and complaints of sewage mixing with the potable water supply, officials and residents told news agency PTI. Residents reported symptoms, including vomiting, fever, stomach ache, and diarrhoea after consuming tap water in parts of the sector on Tuesday and Wednesday. However, officials of the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA) denied any sewage contamination of the water supply, stating that tests conducted so far had found the water to be clean, PTI reported. Rishipal Bhati, a resident and former president of the local residents’ welfare association (RWA), told PTI on Thursday that sewage overflow and pipeline leakages, especially in C Block, led to the problem. “Around six to seven families fell ill with symptoms such as vomiting, fever and loose motions after consuming contaminated water,” he said, adding that similar complaints had earlier been reported from other blocks as well. The incident comes amid heightened concern over water safety following recent cases in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, where multiple deaths were linked to consumption of contaminated water, and in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, where several people reportedly fell ill due to polluted water supply. Authorities across states have since stepped up monitoring and testing of drinking water sources. Greater Noida residents allege sewage overflow and pipeline leaks led to contamination Residents of Delta 1 alleged that sewage water from blocked sewer lines was mixing with broken pipelines and reaching household taps. One resident complained of severe stomachache after consuming tap water, while others said water leakage has been a recurring issue in the sector. Harendra Bhati, a resident of the neighbouring Beta 1 sector, claimed that sewage overflow is a common problem in several parts of Greater Noida. “I have raised the issue multiple times, but no permanent solution has been implemented,” he said. GNIDA officials said the authority took immediate note of the complaints on Wednesday, with a water department team visiting the affected homes and collecting water samples. “The samples were found to be clean. There was a supply connection issue in one house and a leak at another, which were fixed immediately,” a senior GNIDA official said. Officials said Greater Noida Authority CEO N G Ravi Kumar has directed random water testing across the city in view of similar incidents reported elsewhere. Additional CEO Sunil Kumar Singh said the water department has been instructed to conduct random testing in all areas supplied by the authority. “Fresh samples were collected again on Wednesday evening after the water supply resumed, which will be sent for testing,” he said. Singh added that builders and apartment owners’ associations have been directed to regularly clean water reservoirs, get samples tested and submit reports to the authority. He said a letter is also being issued to residents urging them to immediately report any instance of contaminated water supply. Meanwhile, the health department organised a free medical camp in Delta 1 on Wednesday, during which 23 people were examined and seven patients suffering from vomiting and diarrhoea were treated, Gautam Buddh Nagar Chief Medical Officer Narendra Kumar said. (With PTI inputs)
08 January,2026 07:50 PM IST | Noida | mid-day online correspondentPolice in Uttar Pradesh’s Rampur district have registered an FIR against a woman for securing a job in the basic education department by allegedly concealing her Pakistani nationality, news agency PTI reported, quoting officials on Thursday. The Uttar Pradesh Police said that the case was registered at Azim Nagar Police Station on the basis of a complaint filed by the basic education department after an internal inquiry found that the accused, Mahira Akhtar alias Farzana, had obtained employment using forged documents. Additional Superintendent of Police Anurag Singh said the accused had worked as a teacher at a primary school in the Kumhariya village. "An FIR has been registered under sections 318(4), 336, 338 and 340 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for cheating and forgery. It is alleged that despite being a Pakistani national, she secured a job in the education department by using a fake residence certificate," said Singh. Accused attained Pakistani citizenship after marriage Police said the woman had married a Pakistani national in 1979 and subsequently acquired Pakistani citizenship. After her divorce, she allegedly returned to India on a Pakistani passport and got married to a local man around 1985, PTI reported. Around the same time, she took up employment in the basic education department by projecting herself as an Indian citizen. Following the revelation of her Pakistani nationality, the department suspended her and later dismissed her from service. Police registered the FIR based on the department's report. The additional superintendent of police further said that the investigation is underway and evidence is being collected. Officers stated that no arrests have been made so far. Two Nepalese citizens arrested on India-Nepal border with 10 kg silver Police have arrested two Nepalese citizens from the India-Nepal border in Uttar Pradesh's Maharajganj district with 10 kg of silver worth about Rs 50 lakh, officials said on Thursday. As reported by news agency PTI, the arrests were made on Wednesday when a car bearing a registration plate from Nepal was stopped for checking. During the search, two plastic packets were found in the car with small pieces of silver in them, police said. A Customs team soon reached the spot and arrested Rakesh Rajak and Sameer Kumar Singh, both residents of Siddhart Nagar district in Nepal. Assistant Commissioner of Customs, Sudhir Kumar Tyagi, said that about 10 kg of silver has been seized from the car, and action is being taken against the accused under the Customs Act. The estimated value of the silver is around Rs 50 lakh, Tyagi said. Police suspect that Rajak and Singh were carriers for a racket operating from somewhere else. (With inputs from PTI)
08 January,2026 06:50 PM IST | Rampur | mid-day online correspondentA court in Kannur district, Kerala, on Thursday sentenced seven RSS-BJP activists to life imprisonment for the 2008 murder of CPI(M) worker K. Latheesh, marking the conclusion of one of north Kerala’s most brutal cases of political violence, reported the IANS. The Thalassery Additional District and Sessions Court also imposed a fine of Rs 1.40 lakh on each convict. The court awarded cumulative sentences totalling 35 years under four sections of law, to run concurrently, in addition to life imprisonment, the news agency reported. Earlier, the court had found accused numbers one to seven guilty, while accused numbers nine to twelve were acquitted. The eighth accused died during the course of the trial. Those convicted are P. Sumith, K. K. Prajeesh Babu, B. Nidhin, K. Sanal, Rijosh, Sajeesh and V. Jayesh, as per the IANS. Latheesh, aged 28, was a CPI(M) activist, a CITU fishermen’s union leader, and a member of the Thiruvangad local committee. He was hacked to death at around 5.30 pm on 31 December 2008 at Chakyathumukku beach in Thalassery. Attackers first hurled bombs According to the prosecution, the attackers first hurled bombs to spread panic and then chased Latheesh, assaulting him with swords and axes. He attempted to take shelter in a friend’s house but was caught and fatally attacked, according to the IANS. The assault also left Latheesh’s friend and fellow CPI(M) worker Mohanlal, also known as Lalu, seriously injured. Three others -- Santosh, Suresh and Majeed -- sustained injuries in the bomb attack and required medical treatment. Launched a coordinated attack The prosecution stated that the accused arrived as an armed group from different locations, surrounded Latheesh and launched a coordinated attack. Sumith allegedly delivered the first blow with a sword, while Prajeesh Babu inflicted the fatal neck injury using an axe, reported the IANS. Continued to hack and stab deceased Even after Latheesh collapsed near the shore, the attackers continued to hack and stab him before fleeing the scene, throwing additional bombs as they escaped. Of the 64 witnesses listed by the prosecution, 30 were examined during the trial. The case was registered based on a complaint filed by Latheesh’s brother, K. Santosh, the news agency reported. (with IANS inputs)
08 January,2026 05:24 PM IST | Kannur (Kerala) | mid-day online correspondentAnonymous emails threatening bomb attacks were sent to three district courts in Odisha on Thursday, triggering panic and the temporary suspension of judicial work, the IANS reported. According to reports, the registrars of the District and Sessions Courts in Cuttack, Sambalpur and Deogarh received emails warning of bomb explosions on court premises. Following the threats, court authorities immediately evacuated the buildings and suspended all proceedings as a precautionary measure. Local police teams, along with bomb disposal units, dog squads and cyber experts, rushed to the locations and conducted extensive searches of the premises. No suspicious objects were reported during the initial checks, according to IANS. Security beefed up The Odisha Police have significantly enhanced security arrangements at all affected court complexes to prevent any untoward incident. Confirming the development, Odisha Director General of Police YB Khurania said that anonymous emails threatening damage to court premises had been received at several locations. He added that police had taken cognisance of the matter and launched a comprehensive investigation. As a precaution, intensified security checks and heightened vigilance are being maintained, while the situation continues to be closely monitored. Probe launched The DGP also appealed to the public not to panic and urged cooperation with the police to ensure safety and assist the investigation. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed serious concern over the threat emails sent to district-level courts. As per a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), he directed senior state officials to verify the authenticity of the threats and ensure a thorough probe, as per the IANS. The Chief Minister held discussions with the Chief Secretary, the Additional Chief Secretary of the Home Department, and the Director General of Police, instructing them to keep a close watch on the situation and swiftly identify and apprehend those responsible. To be investigated in depth Stressing the gravity of the matter, CM Majhi said the incident must be treated with utmost seriousness and investigated in depth. Officials were asked to visit the affected locations, gather detailed information and determine the motive behind the threats. The Chief Minister is expected to conduct a detailed review of the incident during a high-level meeting later in the day, the news agency reported. (with IANS inputs)
08 January,2026 04:11 PM IST | Bhubaneswar (Odisha) | mid-day online correspondentPrime Minister Narendra Modi has said the Somnath Swabhiman Parv, beginning Thursday, is about remembering the countless children of Bharat Mata, who never compromised with their principles and ethos. The year-long celebrations mark the resilience of the Indian civilisation, which rebuilt the Somnath temple at Veraval in Gujarat that was ravaged repeatedly by foreign invaders. "Jai Somnath! Somnath Swabhiman Parv begins today. A thousand years ago, in January 1026, Somnath faced its first-ever attack. The attack of 1026 and the subsequent attacks couldn't diminish the eternal faith of millions, nor break the civilisational spirit that rebuilt Somnath time and again", Modi said in a post on X. The prime minister is scheduled to take part in the Somnath Swabhiman Parv at the temple on January 11. Modi also shared some pictures from his previous visits to Somnath and urged his followers to share their photos using the hashtag #SomnathSwabhimanParv. "Somnath Swabhiman Parv is about remembering the countless children of Bharat Mata, who never compromised with their principles and ethos. However daunting the times were, their resolve remained unshaken and their commitment to our ethos unwavering", Modi said. The prime minister also shared some glimpses from a programme held at Somnath on October 31, 2001, to mark 50 years since the rebuilt temple opened its doors in the presence of then-president Rajendra Prasad in 1951. "The efforts of Sardar Patel, K M Munshi and several others in the reconstruction of the Somnath temple were noteworthy. The programme of 2001 was attended by then Prime Minister Atal Ji, Home Minister Advani Ji and several other dignitaries", Modi said. "In 2026, we will mark 75 years since the grand ceremony of 1951", the prime minister 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.
08 January,2026 01:16 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIEminent environmental scientist and Padma awardee Dr Madhav Gadgil passed away late on Wednesday night following a brief illness in Pune. He was 83. His mortal remains will be kept at his residence in Pashan, Pune, throughout Thursday, after which the last rites will be performed at Vaikunth Crematorium at 4 pm, sources told mid-day.com. Dr Gadgil is survived by his son, daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law and grandchildren. His wife passed away last year. Dr Madhav Gadgil was instrumental in formulation of Biological Diversity Act, 2002 Widely regarded as one of India’s foremost ecologists, Dr Gadgil played a pivotal role in shaping the country’s environmental policies. He was instrumental in the formulation of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, and chaired the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel in 2009, which emphasised sustainable development with community participation. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, paying tribute to Dr Gadgil in Pimpri-Chinchwad, said, “India has lost a dedicated environmentalist who successfully combined science with people’s participation to protect nature.”
08 January,2026 01:01 PM IST | Pune | Archana DahiwalADVERTISEMENT
