Following the eviction of protesting farmers from the Shambhu and Khanauri border points, Haryana security personnel on Thursday started removing cemented barricades, which were erected to prevent the Punjab farmers from heading to Delhi. At the Shambhu and Khanauri borders, JCB and other machines were deployed to remove the concrete blocks to clear the Shambhu-Ambala and Sangrur-Jind roads, which remained closed for over a year after the protesting farmers camped there. The Haryana security officials had fortified the state borders with Punjab with cement blocks, iron nails and barbed wire to scuttle any attempt by the farmers to move towards the capital as part of their ‘Delhi Chalo’ programme. Punjab police also resumed its operation to dismantle the remaining temporary structures on the Punjab side of the Shambhu and the Khanauri border points 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
21 March,2025 09:16 AM IST | Chandigarh | AgenciesRajya Sabha failed to transact any significant business on Thursday and was adjourned for the day after witnessing adjournments over the demilitation row with some DMK members wearing T-shirts with slogans written on them. Soon after the House met in the morning, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar allowed the laying of papers and some reports of the parliamentary standing committees, after which he adjourned the House for about an hour. While the chairman did not cite any reason for the adjournment, the issue of DMK members wearing T-shirts with slogans written on them was objected to by the chairman. Some of the DMK MPs attended the House proceedings wearing T-shirts with the slogan “Delimitation—Tamil Nadu will fight, Tamil Nadu will win”, which was objected to by the Chair. Some MPs also donned stoles that played upon Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s remarks on DMK MPs’ protest in Lok Sabha against the three-language formula of National Education Policy (NEP), and had the word “uncivilised” written on it, with the first two alphabets ‘U’ and ‘N’ having been crossed. 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
21 March,2025 09:16 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesUnion Home Minister Amit Shah said the security forces have achieved another big success in their march to make the country Moaist-free with the two encounters. “The Modi government is moving forward with a ruthless approach against Maoists and is adopting a zero tolerance policy against those Maoists who are not surrendering despite all the facilities being offered to them, ranging from surrender to inclusion,” Shah wrote on X in Hindi. 30 Maoists gunned down In a fresh offensive against Maoists, security forces killed at least 30 members of the banned CPI (Maoists) in two separate encounters in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region on Thursday, officials said. An official said a gunfight broke out around 7 am in a forest along the border of Bijapur and Dantewada districts when a joint team of security personnel was out an anti-Maoist operation in Gangaloor police station area in Bijapur. Union HM Amit Shah While 26 Mosists were killed in Bijapur district, four were gunned down in Kanker by a joint team of the BSF and District Reserve Guard (DRG) personnel of the state police. A police jawan was also killed in the encounter in Bijapur, the officials said. The bodies of 26 Maoists besides firearms and explosives were recovered from the spot, Inspector General of Police, Bastar Range Sundarraj P said. Another encounter took place in the morning in a forest along the border of Kanker and Narayanpur districts when a joint team of the DRG and Border Security Force (BSF) was out on an anti-Maoist operation, Kanker Superintendent of Police Indira Kalyan Elesela said. The bodies of four Maoists and automatic weapons were recovered following the action, he 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
21 March,2025 09:15 AM IST | Bijapur | AgenciesSocial media giant ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), owned by US billionaire Elon Musk, has filed a lawsuit in the Karnataka High Court against the Government of India, challenging what it called “unlawful content regulation and arbitrary censorship.” It raised concerns over the Centre’s interpretation of the Information Technology (IT) Act, particularly its use of Section 79(3)(b), which ‘X’ argues violates Supreme Court rulings and undermines free expression online. The lawsuit alleged the Indian government is using the said section to create a parallel content-blocking mechanism, bypassing the structured legal process outlined in Section 69A. ‘X’ claimed this approach contradicts the Supreme Court’s 2015 ruling in the Shreya Singhal case, which established that content can only be blocked through a proper judicial process or the legal ly defined route under Section 69A. According to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B), Section 79(3)(b) mandates online platforms to remove illegal content when directed by either a court order or a government notification. If a platform fails to comply within 36 hours, it risks losing its safe harbor protection under Section 79(1) and could be held accountable under various laws, including the Indian Penal Code (IPC). However, X has contested this interpretation, arguing that the provision does not grant the government independent authority to block content. 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
21 March,2025 09:15 AM IST | Bengaluru | AgenciesA police encounter in Patna on Thursday led to the injury of wanted criminal Sonu Kumar, who is accused of multiple serious crimes after he and his associates opened fire on the police team attempting to apprehend him, police officials confirmed. City SP, Patna West, Sarath RS, stated that the police had received information about Sonu Kumar's location and acted quickly to reach the spot. However, the criminals fired at the police team, prompting them to retaliate. In the exchange of gunfire, Sonu Kumar sustained injuries and was taken to the hospital for treatment. Speaking to ANI, City SP, Patna West, Sarath RS said, "...A criminal, Sonu Kumar, who is wanted in many heinous crimes - we received information about his whereabouts. The police team reached the spot, but the miscreants opened fire on the police. In retaliatory action by the police, one of the miscreants, Sonu Kumar, sustained injuries and has been sent to the hospital; police are taking further action." He further added, "A few of the criminals fled. FSL team is at the spot, pistol and other things have been recovered..." While some of the criminals managed to escape, the police recovered a pistol and other items from the scene. The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team is also present at the location, and further action is being taken, according to the police. Further details on the incident are awaited. 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
21 March,2025 09:12 AM IST | Patna | ANIIn a significant legislative move, the West Bengal Assembly has passed the West Bengal Finance Bill 2025, which includes key amendments to the Bengal Excise Act, 1909, most notably lifting the prohibition on women working in bars, a provision previously deemed discriminatory. The bill, tabled by Minister of State Chandrima Bhattacharya, was passed in the Assembly on Wednesday. The amendments aim to modernise the Bengal Excise Act, aligning it with current legal frameworks and addressing regulatory concerns in the state's excise sector. One of the major changes introduced is the removal of restrictions on the employment of women in ON-category liquor shops. The bill states that this amendment was necessary "to remove the prohibition on employment of women in ON category liquor shops as such provision is discriminatory." Additionally, the bill incorporates updates necessitated by the replacement of major legal codes, namely the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Indian Penal Code, with the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, respectively. "The Bengal Excise Act which contained reference to the repealed laws has been amended accordingly," the bill states. Another key change involves the regulation of molasses to prevent its use in illicit liquor production. The bill highlights the need "to include molasses in the definition of material for prevention of using molasses for manufacturing of illicit liquor." It further states that the amendments "are essentially meant to make both the Bengal Excise Act, 1909 and the West Bengal Molasses Control Act, 1973 complementary to each other and to prevent overlapping." While regulatory aspects of molasses such as licensing and permits will continue to be governed by the West Bengal Molasses Control Act, 1973, its misuse for illicit liquor production will now be treated as a penal offence under the Bengal Excise Act, 1909. The bill also introduces a charging provision in the Act for levying penalties on excess wastage of spirit in distilleries and warehouses, describing it as a necessary "regulatory measure." Another amendment extends the duration of temporary liquor licences, ensuring that "liquor establishments may continue operation till permanent settlement, in the interest of State Revenue." Additionally, the bill includes a provision to introduce statutory procedures for the confiscation of seized articles, stating that this will "remove difficulties in operation." Another provision extends the requirement of prior sanction from the state government "for all Excise officers while on duty." Furthermore, the bill formalises a structural change in the excise administration by replacing the title "Additional Excise Commissioner" with "Special Excise Commissioner" due to an upgrade in the post. The Bengal Excise Act had previously been amended in 2024 to strengthen enforcement, classify offences based on the quantity involved, and enhance departmental penalties. 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
21 March,2025 09:11 AM IST | Kolkata | ANIThe budget session of the 13th Tripura Legislative Assembly for the financial year 2025-26 is set to commence on March 21 and will continue until April 1.The session is expected to witness extensive discussions on the state's budget and key legislative matters.Ahead of the session, a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) was held on Tuesday at the Tripura Legislative Assembly under the chairmanship of Speaker Biswa Bandhu Sen. The meeting was attended by ministers from the treasury bench, Chief Whip Kalyani Saha Roy, and opposition MLAs, including Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury.Later in the evening, a separate meeting of ruling party ministers and MLAs was convened at the official residence of Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha in Agartala.The meeting, chaired by the Chief Minister, focused on preparations and strategies for the upcoming assembly session.The budget session is expected to be crucial, with debates on financial policies, development plans, and legislative proposals shaping the state's governance for the upcoming fiscal year. 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.
21 March,2025 09:06 AM IST | Agartala | ANIThree criminals were arrested after a brief exchange of fire with police in Delhi's Rohini area, an official said on Wednesday. Govind alias Kohli, Krishna alias Kinha and Daud alias Sameer were arrested around 10.30 pm on Wednesday after police set up a trap on the Pansali Road in Begampur following a tip-off that three inter-state criminals were planning an offence there, the official said. They were spotted in a stolen black Creta car on Helipad Road, Begampur. When police ordered them to halt, the history-sheeters fired five bullets on the cops, the official said. Police officers returned fire in self-defence, causing injuries to Govind and Krishna in their legs, the official said, adding the two were taken to the BSA Hospital. Daud was arrested and two pistols were recovered from him. Police also recovered two semi-automatic pistols, one live cartridge and four used shells from the accused. The stolen Creta car was also recovered, the official said. The police confirmed that the individuals were responsible for multiple offences, including burglary, robbery, loot, and vehicle theft. The car which was being used by the accused was stolen from Netaji Subhash Place, the official added. Govind, a resident of Delhi's Sultanpuri, had over 70 criminal cases against him, including murder, robbery and attempted murder. He has served time in prisons in Visakhapatnam, Hyderabad, and Ahmedabad. Krishna, a resident of Delhi's Pitampura, was involved in more than 23 criminal cases, including robbery, dacoity, and arms act violations. He was imprisoned alongside Govind. Daud, from Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal, has over 10 criminal cases against him, including auto-lifting, robbery, and arms act violations. He was previously detained in Ahmedabad. Govind was released from a jail in Delhi on December 13 last year, whilst Krishna was freed on February 27. 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.
21 March,2025 01:40 AM IST | New Delhi | PTIDelhi Health Minister Pankaj Singh on Thursday inaugurated six advanced mobile dental clinics in a bid to make oral healthcare more accessible. Equipped with modern dental chairs, portable X-ray units, ultrasonic scalers, sterilisation units and diagnostic tools, the clinics will provide free services such as oral screenings, fluoride treatments, pain management and basic restorative procedures, according to a statement. The initiative, launched in collaboration with Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences (MAIDS), aims to bring modern dental care directly to the doorsteps of Delhi's residents, especially in underprivileged areas, it said. Flagging off the mobile clinics on World Oral Health Day, Pankaj Singh said, "Being from the dental fraternity myself, I've seen firsthand how oral health is often neglected. A healthy lifestyle starts with timely medical consultation and the right treatment, including dental care." "These clinics will reach every corner of Delhi, including slums and densely populated areas, ensuring no citizen is deprived of quality dental care," the minister added. Each vehicle also features smart televisions and audio devices to educate people about maintaining oral hygiene, the statement said. Additionally, Singh praised MAIDS for its role in advancing oral healthcare. The mobile clinics will collaborate with Delhi Government dispensaries, schools and social welfare programmes to reach students, senior citizens and vulnerable communities, he said. "We're working on the ground, not just on paper, to ensure that even the most vulnerable sections receive timely medical attention," he said. The health minister also launched an e-library under the 'One Nation One Subscription' scheme, offering students and medical professionals free access to thousands of books, journals, and research papers. "This e-library is a significant gift for students and doctors. Digital resources are the future of learning, and we're ensuring financial constraints don't block access to knowledge," he 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.
21 March,2025 01:27 AM IST | New Delhi | PTIThe Chhattisgarh Assembly on Thursday passed the state's budget for the financial year 2025-26. The state government has presented a Rs 1.65 lakh crore budget for the fiscal 2025-26, proposing substantial funding for welfare schemes related to women, food security, while allocating Rs 10,000 crore for boosting farm prosperity. The government has been working towards the development of the state, empowerment of women, welfare of farmers and increasing employment opportunities while maintaining financial discipline, Finance Minister OP Chaudhary said while answering to the discussions on Chhattisgarh Appropriation Bill, 2025. After the discussion, the appropriation bill was passed with a voice vote in the House. "Chhattisgarh is among the top three states in the country in terms of GST (goods and services tax) growth. There has been a 20 per cent increase in registration fee and a historic increase has also been reported in transport and excise revenue. The Mukhyamantri Mobile Tower Yojana is being introduced to solve the problem of internet and mobile network in rural areas. Due to lack of network in forest areas, the digital divide was increasing, which this scheme will eliminate," he said. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Government has been giving priority to development, financial discipline, employment and women empowerment and is moving towards making Chhattisgarh a developed state, he said while rejecting the allegations of the opposition. "Along along with government jobs, focus is being paid to creating employment opportunities in the private sector as well. The Home Stay Policy has been implemented in Chhattisgarh and tourism has been given the status of industry, which will provide employment to the youth," he said. "Germany has sought 1 lakh youth from India. Our country's youth are increasingly in demand for jobs all over the world. The average age of India is 28 years and that of Chhattisgarh is 24 years, which makes it clear that our state is a young state and new employment opportunities will be created," he added. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
20 March,2025 11:56 PM IST | Raipur | PTIJammu-Kashmir Police chief Nalin Prabhat Thursday reviewed the security situation and the operational preparedness of the force in the Union Territory. Prabhat, the Director General of Police (DGP), Jammu-Kashmir, chaired a security review meeting at the Police Control Room, Kashmir, a police spokesman said. The meeting, attended by senior officers, including Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Jammu-Kashmir, VK Birdi, range deputy inspectors general (DIGs) and district Senior Superintendents of Police (SSP), focused on assessing the current security situation, including the counter-terrorism measures, crime control, and the effectiveness of ongoing security operations. The DGP emphasised the importance of enhanced coordination between districts to improve intelligence sharing and operational effectiveness, the spokesman said. Prabhat instructed officers to maintain heightened vigilance, particularly in sensitive areas, and expedite investigations, ensuring strong legal follow-ups in Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) cases. The rising challenge of narco-terrorism was also discussed, with a directive to intensify efforts against drug smuggling networks linked to terror funding. The meeting concluded with the DGP reiterating a zero-tolerance approach to terrorism and criminal activities, urging officers to remain alert and work in synergy, the spokesman 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.
20 March,2025 11:43 PM IST | Srinagar | PTIADVERTISEMENT
