Three men were arrested in southwest Delhi’s Mahipalpur for allegedly hoarding LPG cylinders to sell them at a premium price, police said on Sunday. They were identified as Krishna, Dinesh Sahu, and Mithilesh, aged 33, 46, and 39, all from Bihar but living in Delhi. The police seized 74 LPG cylinders — 70 domestic and four commercial — along with a transport vehicle and refilling equipment in the raid on Saturday, an officer said. “The trio was engaged in illegally storing LPG cylinders and supplying them to local customers. They allegedly used metal pipes to transfer gas from multiple filled cylinders into empty ones to manipulate supply and increase margins,” the officer 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
23 March,2026 09:59 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesA case has been registered against two US nationals for allegedly flying a drone near the Coast Guard Headquarters in Fort Kochi, police said on Sunday. The accused Katie Michelle Phelps, 32, and Christopher Ross Harvey, 35, are from California. According to police officials at Fort Kochi, the duo had arrived as tourists and were spotted flying a drone to record videos near the Coast Guard Headquarters on Saturday morning. Fort Kochi, which houses establishments of the Navy and Coast Guard, falls under a red zone where drone operations are prohibited. 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
23 March,2026 09:56 AM IST | Kochi | AgenciesThe Punjab Police have booked former state minister Laljit Singh Bhullar in connection with the suicide of a state warehousing corporation official, officials said on Sunday. Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, the district manager of the Punjab State Warehousing Corporation in Amritsar, allegedly took his own life by consuming a poisonous substance on Saturday. Former Punjab transport minster Laljit Singh Bhullar (centre). PIC/FB@laljitbhullar22 The police also booked Bhullar’s father, Sukhdev Singh Bhullar, and personal assistant Dilbag Singh. The case was registered on a complaint of Randhawa’s wife, Upinder Kaur on Saturday night. Following the incident, Bhullar tendered his resignation from the state cabinet after Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann asked him to step down amid allegations of abetment of suicide. Earlier the same day, a video surfaced on social media in which Randhawa, who held the additional charge of Patti, was purportedly heard saying that he had consumed Celphos and accused the transport minister of harassment. Meanwhile, opposition leaders on Sunday staged a ‘gherao’ and demanded Bhullar’s arrest. 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
23 March,2026 09:53 AM IST | Chandigarh | AgenciesContinuous heavy snowfall has blanketed Kedarnath Dham under a thick layer of snow measuring nearly three to four feet, covering the entire township and surrounding areas in white. According to the Kedarnath Temple Committee, at the world-renowned eleventh Jyotirlinga, Kedarnath Temple, and the entire Kedar Valley have been enveloped in a shimmering layer of snow, creating a truly divine and mesmerising scene. Despite sub-zero temperatures and harsh weather conditions, personnel from the Uttarakhand Police and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) remain fully alert, maintaining a strong security presence in the region. "Even in such extreme conditions, the jawans continue regular patrols to ensure the sanctity and safety of the shrine," the Temple Committee said. The security forces have established a robust and impenetrable security cover amid the ongoing snowfall. At the same time, the security personnel are clearing the accumulated snow around the barracks and living areas on their own, demonstrating self-reliance and discipline to ensure that their operations continue without disruption. Meanwhile, Uttarakhand has been witnessing significant developments in its tourism sector, with the government focusing on promoting a blend of spiritual and adventure tourism while expanding infrastructure to strengthen its global appeal. To make pilgrimages smoother and safer, large-scale ropeway projects have been initiated. A 12.9-km ropeway from Sonprayag to Kedarnath Dham will be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 4,081 crore. Similarly, a 12.4-km ropeway from Govindghat to Hemkund Sahib is planned at a cost of Rs 2,730 crore, according to a state government release. Once completed, these projects are expected to significantly reduce travel time and physical strain for devotees. In a major push to boost year-round tourism, winter pilgrimage has been introduced in the state. To promote this initiative, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier visited Mukhwa, the winter abode of Goddess Ganga. In the Kumaon region, under the Manaskhand Mandir Mala Mission, 48 temples are being developed into a religious circuit, providing a further boost to spiritual tourism. Rapid development work is also underway in Kedarnath and Badrinath under their respective master plans. Badrinath Dham is being developed into a smart spiritual hill town with projects worth Rs 255 crore. 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.
22 March,2026 08:14 PM IST | Kedarnath | ANIA Russian oil-laden tanker, MT Aqua Titan, chartered by Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL), has arrived in India on Sunday amid growing concerns over global energy supply due to the escalating conflict in West Asia, reported ANI. The tanker is currently anchored in the Arabian Sea, about 10 nautical miles off the Mangaluru coast. The tanker was expected to arrive in India on Saturday. Its arrival comes at a time when global energy markets remain volatile, with supply chain disruptions and geopolitical tensions impacting crude and energy availability. Earlier in the day, a cargo ship carrying Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) from Texas, United States, arrived at the New Mangalore Port in Mangaluru. New Mangalore Port waives LPG and crude charges, Indian ships safe in Gulf According to ANI, on Friday, the Shipping Ministry informed that New Mangalore Port has waived cargo-related charges for crude oil and LPG from March 14 to 31. It also said that there is no congestion reported at any port. During the interministerial briefing, Special Secretary of the Shipping Ministry, Rajesh Kumar Sinha, said all 22 Indian ships and 611 sailors in the Persian Gulf are safe amid the West Asia conflict. "There has been no report of any maritime incident in the last 24 hours. All our 22 ships and 611 Indian sailors in the Persian Gulf region are safe, and we are continuously monitoring them... There is no congestion in any port...New Mangalore Port has issued a circular for waiver of all cargo-related charges for crude and LPG, which is valid from 14 March to 31 March," the Shipping Ministry official said, reported ANI. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the Indian-flagged crude oil tanker, Jag Laadki, successfully arrived at Adani Ports Mundra in Gujarat, marking a significant addition to the nation's energy imports. Earlier, the two Indian-flagged LPG carriers safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz before arriving in India on March 16 and 17. MT Shivalik and MT Nanda Devi - carrying approximately 92,712 metric tonnes of LPG - crossed the Strait of Hormuz on March 13. This comes as the conflict in West Asia enters its 4th week, with trade routes through the Strait of Hormuz hampered, reported ANI. (Inputs from ANI)
22 March,2026 08:13 PM IST | Mangaluru (Karnataka) | mid-day online correspondentThe Gadchiroli Police Force successfully conducted the written examination for Police Constable Recruitment 2024-25 on Sunday. As per the officials' statement, the force recorded an impressive 99.54 per cent attendance. The examination is part of an ongoing recruitment drive to fill 717 constable posts in the district. Out of 7,003 eligible candidates, as many as 6,971 aspirants appeared for the test held across 14 examination centres in Gadchiroli. The examination was conducted in two sessions, with the General Studies paper held from 10:00 am to 11:30 am, followed by a language paper focusing on Gondi and Madiya from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm. Candidates shortlisted after the physical round were eligible for the next level. The recruitment process had earlier seen field tests conducted between February 14 and March 7 on the Gadchiroli Police Headquarters ground. Candidates shortlisted from these physical tests were eligible for the written examination. Exam conducted under stringent security measures Authorities ensured stringent security arrangements, deploying nearly 1,000 personnel, including police officers, constables, teachers, and administrative staff. The officials further noted that the candidates were subjected to thorough screening through metal detectors and biometric verification before entering examination centres. Additionally, signal jammer vehicles were deployed at select locations to prevent malpractice. To facilitate smooth access for candidates, the police utilised digital tools such as Google Maps and social media platforms to share centre locations and seating arrangements in advance. Refreshment arrangements were also made during the break between the two papers. In a move to maintain transparency, the Gadchiroli Police Force released the answer keys for both papers at 3:15 pm on its official website, allowing candidates a 24-hour window to raise objections. The examination was conducted under the guidance of Superintendent of Police Neelotpal, along with senior officers, including Additional SP M. Ramesh, Karthik Madhira, and Gokul Raj G., among others. Officials stated that the use of technology and coordinated efforts of the police personnel ensured a transparent, disciplined, and hassle-free examination process.
22 March,2026 06:54 PM IST | Gadchiroli | mid-day online correspondentINS Trikand, a frontline stealth frigate of the Indian Navy, has departed from Port Victoria in Seychelles after successfully completing an engaging and productive port call. During the visit, Captain Sachin Kulkarni, Commanding Officer of the ship, called on senior government officials of Seychelles, as well as the High Commissioner of India to the island nation. The ship also handed over critical spares and essential stores to the Government of Seychelles as part of ongoing cooperation. The port call, which began on March 16, concluded on March 20 and featured a range of operational and collaborative engagements between the two countries. INS Trikand makes maiden entry into Exercise Lamitiye 2026 INS Trikand also participated in the first tri-services edition of Exercise Lamitiye 2026, alongside personnel from the Indian Army, Indian Air Force and the Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF). This marked the maiden participation of the Indian Navy in the exercise, reported IANS. As part of the harbour phase, specialised Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) training was conducted onboard, including joint boarding drills involving personnel from both sides. The exercise then progressed to the sea phase, during which INS Trikand operated alongside SCGS Le Vigilant and carried out joint boarding operations at sea. These operations involved a combined team of Indian Navy Marine Commandos and special forces from the Seychelles Defence Forces. Subsequently, troops from the Indian Army and the Seychelles Defence Forces carried out coordinated landing operations on Praslin Island, demonstrating joint operational capabilities. India and Seychelles deepen maritime ties at Exercise Lamitiye 2026 Senior officials of the Seychelles Defence Forces, including Chief of Defence Forces Major General Michael Rosette and Deputy Chief Brigadier Jean Attala, along with other officers, embarked on INS Trikand during the sea phase to observe the exercise. Officials said, "The exercise served as a platform to enhance interoperability and deepen maritime cooperation between India and Seychelles," as cited by IANS. The name 'Lamitiye', which translates to ‘friendship’ in the Creole language, reflects the longstanding and close ties shared between the two nations. The port call is in line with India's vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Region) and underscores the Indian Navy's commitment to remain a preferred security partner and first responder in the Indian Ocean Region. (Inputs from IANS)
22 March,2026 06:22 PM IST | New Delhi [India] | mid-day online correspondentLeader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly and BJP candidate from Bhabanipur and Nandigram Assembly constituencies, Suvendu Adhikari, accused some anti-social elements vandalised the statue of Lord Ram ahead of Ram Navami celebrations in Nandigram. As reported by news agency ANI, BJP leaders on Sunday also held a protest over the alleged vandalism. Speaking to ANI, Adhikari lashed out at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accusing her of backing "goons" for her vote bank. He alleged that the Trinamool Congress government in the state is against the Hindus. Ram statue vandalised ahead of Rama Navami in Nandigram According to ANI, BJP leader Adhikari said that, "Jihadis have vandalised the statue of Lord Ram, which was being sculpted ahead of the Rama Navami celebrations. The state government is against Hindus. Some anti-social elements always do these kinds of acts to disturb the situation ahead of the Hindu festivals. Even Muslims are part of our procession; they don't carry out such acts. Mamata Banerjee has created some goons for her vote bank; they do that." This comes after Adhikari shared a video of an allegedly vandalised sculpture and alleged that unknown people destroyed the statue last night in Nandigram. While posting on X, the BJP leader wrote, "Incidents of jihadist attacks on idols of gods and goddesses and temples of Sanatanis in West Bengal are not new. These incidents have now become an everyday occurrence. This time, the incident took place in Nandigram. At booth number 122 in Bheturia, Block No. 2 of Nandigram, the work of creating an idol of Lord Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram was underway at the Bheturia Bus Stand on the occasion of Shri Ram Navami Puja. The idol's work was nearly complete, but in the darkness of last night, some jihadists came and severed the head of Lord Shri Ramchandra's idol and took it away." Adhikari slams Mamata's appeasement politics after Ram statue vandalism Alleging appeasement politics by CM Mamata, he added, "This jihadist attack on the faith and beliefs of Sanatanis is only increasing in the state due to Mamata's government's appeasement politics and the shameless inaction of the Mamata administration. It has become imperative to bid farewell to this government immediately; otherwise, even worse circumstances await Sanatanis in this state in the coming days." "Therefore, while there is still time, all Sanatanis must unite, form an alliance, and bid farewell to this government that appeases the jihadists," the post read, reported ANI. This comes amid Legislative Assembly elections in the state, where Suvendu Adhikari is set to contest from Nandigram, where he defeated Mamata Banerjee in 2021, and from Bhabanipur, the constituency currently held by the TMC chief. West Bengal will hold polling for the elections in two phases, with the first phase scheduled on April 23 and the second phase on April 29. The counting of votes will take place on May 4, reported ANI. (Inputs from ANI)
22 March,2026 06:17 PM IST | Purba Medinipur | mid-day online correspondentParents of over 200 Jammu and Kashmir students stranded at the Azerbaijan border on Sunday demanded urgent Central government intervention for the safe return of their children. Anxious parents have sought help for the safe return of these students as they face severe financial and health issues, reported IANS. These parents have told reporters that more than 200 students are studying in Isfahan and Golestan provinces of Iran. The parents said that these students have successfully crossed the Iran-Armenia border as the first essential step to return to their country. Parents allege that the students have been left to arrange their travel independently, placing a heavy financial burden on already distressed families. Parents demand Govt help as Indian students return from Iran “We have been bearing all the expenses ourselves. The government must at least facilitate their return at this crucial time,” said one of the parents, expressing frustration over what they described as inadequate logistical support, reported IANS. Several batches of students were expected to return to India between March 20 and March 25, including those from Shiraz University. According to IANS, Indian engineering students from Kerman have also reached the Iran-Armenia border and are currently awaiting visa clearances. However, the situation remains grim at the Azerbaijan border, where over 100 Indian students are reportedly stranded due to procedural delays. "Only around 6 to 10 students are being issued exit codes each day, which has significantly slowed down the evacuation process," the parents said, reported IANS. Many students have been stuck at the border since March 12, missing scheduled flights and incurring heavy financial losses. 250 Kashmiri students stuck at Azerbaijan, many falling ill According to IANS, parents also claimed that around 250 Kashmiri students remain stuck at the Azerbaijan border, with several suffering from chest infections and influenza-like symptoms, while access to proper medical care remains limited. "A total of 151 Indian students managed to cross the Iran-Azerbaijan border in the last 24 hours. Some students with tickets for March 14, 18, 19, and 20 were allowed to cross, but those students who had bookings for March 15, 16, and 17 are still stranded," the parents said. Despite some progress, the overall situation remains critical. Hundreds of students are still stranded at various border points, grappling with financial hardships, health risks, and uncertainty, as families continue to appeal for swift and comprehensive government intervention to ensure their safe return home. Over 1,200 Kashmiri students were studying in Iran when the present conflict began on February 28, reported IANS. Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MEA) has been in constant touch with the Iranian authorities to ensure that all Indian students are able to safely leave for their country. (Inputs from IANS)
22 March,2026 06:15 PM IST | Srinagar | mid-day online correspondentAmid the ongoing LPG crisis across the country, the Government of India on Sunday asked city gas distribution (CGD) companies to prioritise piped natural gas (PNG) connections for commercial establishments. As reported by news agency ANI, the government has also taken several steps to ensure stable fuel supplies as conflict in West Asia continues to impact energy flows. In an official update released on Saturday, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said, "City Gas Distribution (CGD) entities have been advised by the Govt. of India to prioritise PNG connections for commercial establishments such as restaurants, hotels and canteens across all their gas to address concerns regarding the availability of commercial LPG." Misinformation can lead to unnecessary panic.Proactive measures are in place to ensure uninterrupted LPG supply across the country.• Domestic LPG production has increased• Supply is being prioritised for households• Measures have been implemented to prevent diversion•… pic.twitter.com/5ZF9wc6kVK — Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas #MoPNG (@PetroleumMin) March 12, 2026 Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry also added that the government has asked ministries and state governments to speed up approvals related to gas infrastructure, reported ANI. The Ministry added, "Govt. of India, vide letter dated 19.03.2026 has requested all concerned Central Government Ministries to issue necessary directions... for immediate fast tracking and disposal of all pending and new permissions related to CGD infrastructure." Indian government encourages offices to use PNG The government has also encouraged government offices and establishments to move towards PNG usage where possible. "All Central Government establishments/Colonies/Officers/Canteens may also be advised to switch over to PNG wherever the same is available," the ministry said. To support commercial users, the government has increased the allocation of commercial LPG cylinders. The ministry asserted, "Govt. of India, vide letter dated 21.03.2026 has allowed another 20 per cent allocation of commercial LPG to states, which would take the overall allocation to 50 per cent." "This additional 20 per cent allocation shall be given on priority to sectors like restaurants, dhabas, hotels, industrial canteens, food processing/dairy, subsidised canteens/outlets run by state governments or local bodies for food, community kitchens, and 5 kg FTL for migrant labourers," it added while expressing concerns over the LPG crisis across India. It also noted that the government has stepped up monitoring to prevent black marketing and hoarding of LPG cylinders. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, while expressing concerns over the black marketing of LPG cylinders, also noted, "Raids continue to be carried out in many of the States/UTs to check the hoardings and black marketing of LPG. More than 3,500 raids have been conducted, and around 1,400 cylinders have been seized in Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, etc., as per ANI. The ministry also stated that "All refineries are operating at high capacity, with adequate crude inventories in place", adding that "the country is also maintaining sufficient stocks of petrol and diesel." It also reassured the public that there are no fuel shortages at retail outlets (ROs). "No cases of fuel dry-outs have been reported at any of the ROs by the oil marketing companies," the ministry said, while advising people "not to resort to panic buying". The development comes amid the escalating tensions and conflict that began on February 28 with the killing of 86-year-old Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in joint military strikes by the US and Israel. (With inputs from ANI)
22 March,2026 05:45 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentPrime Minister Narendra Modi will chair a meeting Sunday evening with senior ministers to review to take stock of petroleum, power, and fertiliser sectors in view of the evolving West Asia situation, sources have said. The focus of the meeting is to ensure uninterrupted supply, stable logistics and efficient distribution across the country, and the government is taking proactive steps to this end, they said. Continuous monitoring of global developments to protect consumer and industry interests is the key focus of the government, they said. On March 12, Modi said that the war in West Asia has triggered a worldwide energy crisis, posing a critical test of national character that requires dealing with circumstances through peace, patience, and increased public awareness. The prime minister emphasised that his government is working relentlessly to address disruptions that have emerged in international supply chains. "Continuous efforts are also underway to determine how we can overcome the disruptions that have occurred in the supply chain," Modi said. The prime minister has spoken to many global leaders since the West Asia conflict started on February 28, with the US and Israel attacking Iran. Iran has retaliated by attacking Israel and several of its Gulf neighbours. Iran controls the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route through which 20 per cent of the world's energy is transported. Since the conflict, very few ships have been allowed by Iran to cross it. The blockade has resulted in severe disruptions in energy supply to many countries, including India. Since the conflict, Modi has had telephonic conversations with leaders from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, France, Malaysia, Israel and Iran. 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.
22 March,2026 03:29 PM IST | New Delhi [India] | PTIADVERTISEMENT
-1774189246975_d.png "A view of the snow-covered Kedarnath Temple amid fresh snowfall, in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. Pic/PTI")
-1774189432578_d.png "Aqua Titan was diverted to India and arrived off the Mangaluru coast. Pic/PTI")
-1774185875696_d.png "Police exam conducted in Gadchiroli amid stringent security. (Pic/Special arrangement)")
-1774176239217_d.png "INS Trikand. File Pic")
-1774181533079_d.png "Suvendhu Adhikari. Pic/PTI")
-1774182558544_d.png "Pic/AFP")
-1774173432116_d.png "Narendra Modi. Pic/X")