Month: January 2026

A shrine built in the name of Sufi poet Baba Bulleh Shah was vandalised by unidentified miscreants late Saturday night in the Bala Hissar area of Mussoorie.

As a precautionary measure, police personnel have been deployed at the site, and public access to the area has been restricted. The shrine, built on the property of Wynberg Allen School, was found damaged in the morning.

Dehradun SSP Ajay Singh told ANI that, based on a written complaint submitted by members of the Muslim community to the Mussoorie police regarding the demolition of the shrine, he has directed the police to take appropriate action.

While speaking to ANI, Circle Officer Manoj Aswal confirmed the incident, stating, “Yesterday, on the 24th, some individuals trespassed onto the property of the Baba Bulleh Shah shrine and vandalised it. A complaint has been received at the police station regarding this matter.”

The police have registered a case under relevant sections of the law and are investigating the matter. Based on the complaint, three individuals have been named in the FIR, and further investigation is underway to identify more culprits from video footage.

“Yesterday, on the 24th, some individuals trespassed onto the property of the Baba Bulleh Shah shrine and vandalised it. A complaint has been received at the police station regarding this matter. Based on the complaint, a case has been registered under the relevant sections of the law, and further action is being taken…Those involved in the incident have not yet been apprehended. They have been identified. Three individuals have been named in the FIR that we have registered. Three individuals have been named, and as the investigation progresses and we identify more individuals from the video footage, their names will be added to the case…Action will be taken against whoever is found guilty during the investigation.” CO Aswal added.

Baba Bulleh Shah, a revered Sufi poet, is known for his famous lines “Na main Hindu na Turk Peshawari, na main Arabi na Lahori, Bulla ki jaana main kaun”. (ANI)

Legendary journalist Mark Tully passed away at the age of 90 at a private hospital in the national capital on Sunday, the hospital said.

The former BBC journalist had been admitted to Max Super Speciality Hospital in the south Delhi locality of Saket for the past week.

According to an official statement from the hospital, Tully passed away on January 25 at 2:35 PM.

“The cause of death was multi-organ failure following a stroke. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with his family, loved ones, and all those affected by his passing,” the statement said.

Senior Congress leader Pawan Khera has also expressed condolences at the passing away of the Padma awardee journalist Mark Tully.

Khera recollected living in the same locality as Tully.

In a post on X, he said, “Many like me, grew up listening to his voice, reading his books. I ended up living in the very locality in which he lived for years and fell in love with. Travel well, Padma Shri Sir Mark Tully. RIP”

Tully was born in Calcutta in 1935 into a wealthy family of British settlers. His father was the director of a railroad and a partner in a holding company that owned a bank, an insurance firm, and tea plantations. After the Second World War, his parents sent him to boarding school in the United Kingdom. He later took theology courses at Cambridge University and then entered a seminary.

His career as a journalist brought him back to the land of his birth. In 1965, he was hired as an administrator by the BBC’s New Delhi office. Tully returned to London in 1969 to head the Hindi service and then the West Asia service, for which he covered the Bangladesh War of Independence in 1971 and the execution of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

Tully’s coverage of India included the imposition of the Emergency in 1975, Operation Blue Star in June 1984, the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in the same year in October, the killing of Rajiv Gandhi in 1991, the economic liberalisation, the demolition of the Ram JanamBhoomi-Babri Masjid disputed structure in Ayodhya in 1992 and countless elections.

Tully, known as the BBC’s “voice of India”, was even expelled from the country in 1975 at 24 hours’ notice for refusing to sign a ‘censorship agreement’ after the then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, imposed the emergency. But he returned to the country after the end of the Emergency and has been in the national capital ever since. He was residing in Nizamuddin West, South Delhi.

Tully, the former Bureau Chief of the BBC, New Delhi, held the position for 20 years. He worked with the BBC for three decades before resigning in July 1994 for what he described as a “culture of fear” in the organisation under the then Director-General John Birt. But he continued to broadcast on BBC airwaves, notably as presenter of Radio 4’s Something Understood show untill 2019.

The veteran journalist, who was a recipient of many awards, was also awarded the country’s top civilian honours, the Padma Shree and the Padma Bhushan. He was also knighted by the UK government in 2002.

Tully has authored many books on India, including ‘No Full Stops in India’, ‘India in Slow Motion’, and ‘The Heart of India’.

The UNESCO Courier describes Tully as a “radio legend in India.”

“For over a quarter of a century, one of the most recognised and trusted radio voices in India was that of Mark Tully. This British correspondent for the BBC has covered all the momentous events that marked the country’s recent history, until the mid-1990s. He is a living witness of the time when radio was the main medium to reach the masses, telephone communications were unreliable, and radio recordings were made on magnetic tapes that had to be physically sent to the editorial offices,” it said. (ANI)

Actress Chandrika Ravi reflected on her collaboration with the music sensation Diljit Dosanjh for the recently released song ‘Saanvle’. The star called the opportunity to work with Diljit a “no-brainer,” as the song celebrated the beauty of dark skin, a representation she felt was lacking during her childhood.

In an interview with ANI, Chandrika Ravi admitted that she was approached by the makers of Diljit’s song because of her dark skin, as the song was centred on dark-skinned representation.

“When they called me for it (Saanvle song), they said that they were looking for someone who lived in Los Angeles, who was a darker-skinned actress, and I was the only person that they heard of. It was like a no-brainer. Like, I didn’t even have to give it any thought because I was like, of course, it’s Diljit. I also know what he touches is great, and I realised how big the message was behind it,” said Chandrika Ravi.

The actress described her experience with Diljit Dosanjh as “amazing” while also highlighting the significance of the song in society. She recalled the early days of shooting, saying that everyone was “excited” to work on the project.

“I think all of us went into the project very excited. All of us were very excited about what this was going to be. The team was incredible from the production side, the stylists, everyone. It was such a great experience. I knew the magnitude of what it was going to be because I needed a song for this (dark-skinned representation) when I was growing up. I needed someone like Diljit to say that dark skin was beautiful, right? It was an amazing experience,” said Chandrika Ravi.

Chandrika Ravi described the recognition and love she received after the song’s release as “monumental” because, according to her, the song represented the kind of validation and celebration of dark Indian skin that she herself missed while growing up.

“The recognition and love I’ve got on this one has been really monumental because it was something I needed growing up. It was something that I didn’t have when I was growing up to see a big artist celebrating dark Indian skin. So, for me, it was like, oh, wow, I’ve done something that will change lives. For people to see a South Indian woman, especially being celebrated in the biggest Punjabi artist’s music video, you know? I’m still pinching myself, and I’m like, wait, was this real? Like, did it really happen? Because we also shot it quite a while ago,” added Chandrika Ravi.

Saanvle is sung by Diljit Dosanjh and Raj Ranjodh, while the lyrics are composed by Raj Ranjodh. The song features Chandrika Ravi in the video. The actress is also known for her dance performance in Nandamuri Balakrishna’s film Veera Simha Reddy.

The actress will be next seen in the biopic of the late actress Silk Smitha. (ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday highlighted the 10th anniversary of the Startup India initiative, noting that the ecosystem has grown from under 500 startups in 2016 to over 200,000 recognised entities today, while addressing the nation during the 130th episode of his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat.

Referring to a social media trend in which people are refreshing their memories of 2016, the Prime Minister said he, too, wished to share one such memory with the country. PM Modi recalled that a decade ago, an ambitious but crucial journey was initiated for the youth and the future of India — the Startup India mission.

“Ten years ago, in January 2016, we started an ambitious journey. At that time, many could not even understand what it was,” PM Modi said, adding that the true heroes of this journey are India’s young innovators who stepped out of their comfort zones and created history.

Highlighting the progress made over the past decade, the Prime Minister said India has today emerged as the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem.

“These startups are out of the ordinary. They are working in sectors that could not have been imagined ten years ago – AI, space, nuclear energy, semiconductors, mobility, green hydrogen, biotech, you name it, and you will find an Indian startup there,” he added.

The Prime Minister praised the nation’s youth for driving innovation, job creation, and investment, cementing India’s position as a global leader in the startup landscape, adding that India’s growing economy has placed greater responsibility on its citizens.

“Bharat’s economy is growing rapidly, and the eyes of the world are on us. At such a time, our biggest responsibility is to focus on quality,” he said.

The Prime Minister said the era of “it happens, it’s fine, it will work” is over. He called for an uncompromising focus on quality across all sectors, urging citizens to adopt the mantra of “quality, quality and only quality.”

PM Modi further stressed that Indian products, whether textiles, technology, electronics or packaging, must become synonymous with world-class quality. He reiterated his vision of “zero defect, zero effect,” first articulated from the Red Fort, saying that sustained commitment to quality is essential to accelerate India’s journey towards becoming a Viksit Bharat.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on this year’s first Mann Ki Baat address, touched upon a wide range of topics, including tomorrow’s Republic Day celebrations, National Voters’ Day, the cultural importance of bhajan and kirtan, and India’s role in the AI Impact Summit.

Startup India was launched on January 16, 2016, by the Prime Minister as a national programme to nurture innovation, promote entrepreneurship and enable investment-driven growth, with the objective of making India a nation of job creators rather than job seekers.

Over the past decade, Startup India has emerged as a cornerstone of India’s economic and innovation architecture, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.

“It has strengthened institutional mechanisms, expanded access to capital and mentorship, and fostered an enabling environment for startups to grow and scale across sectors and geographies,” the PMO said.

India’s startup ecosystem has witnessed unprecedented expansion during this period, with more than 2,00,000 startups recognised across the country. These enterprises have become significant drivers of employment generation, innovation-led economic growth and the strengthening of domestic value chains in diverse sectors. (ANI)

The Patna Police on Sunday suspended two police officers in the death of a NEET aspirant in a Patna Hostel.

The suspended officers are the station house officer of Chitragupta Nagar police station, Roshni Kumari, and the additional station house officer of Kadamkuan police station, Hemant Jha.

The Patna Police released a press statement providing this information. According to the statement, the suspension is a result of delayed action and failure to collect intel in a timely manner. Senior officers of the Patna Police suspended both officers on these grounds.

The statement read, “During the review of Chitraguptnagar Police Station Case No. 14/26, Additional Station House Officer Hemant Jha of Kadamkuan and Station House Officer Roshni Kumari of Chitraguptnagar have been suspended with immediate effect for their failure to collect intelligence and take timely action.”

According to a press release issued by the Social Media Cell, office of the Senior Superintendent of Police, traces of semen were found on clothing worn by the deceased at the time of death during the forensic investigation.

“During the examination conducted by the FSL, traces of human sperm were found on an undergarment allegedly worn by the deceased at the time of the incident. A DNA profile is being prepared from this sample,” the press release read.

The sample will be used to match the DNA of the accused, who has been arrested, as well as the suspects identified by the Special Investigation Team to uncover further details.

“This DNA profile will be matched with the DNA of the accused who has been arrested, as well as with the DNA of other suspected individuals identified by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), as part of the ongoing investigation,” the release stated.

Earlier, last week, Abhinav Kumar, Patna Sadar Assistant Superintendent of Police, said that a thorough investigation is underway in the death of a NEET aspirant in a Patna Hostel.

“An investigation is underway, and whatever facts emerge during the investigation will be shared with you. We are investigating from all angles…” he said.

Earlier, Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi said that the Bihar government is taking all necessary measures to ensure justice in the NEET aspirant’s death in Patna.

Manjhi stated that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed, and the CBI has also taken over the case.

“The Bihar government is taking all necessary steps, and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has also been formed. The CBI has also taken over the case. Whoever committed this crime will not escape punishment, and action will be taken against those involved… If there are any difficulties in the case, we will also speak to the Ministry of Home Affairs of the Government of India, and every possible step will be taken. Steps will also be taken to prevent such incidents from happening again,” Jitan Ram Manjhi told reporters in Patna.

The Bihar Police have formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter. (ANI)

Polls are set to start from 9 AM (Local Time) to elect 17 new members for the National Assembly, which will fall vacant from March 4, 2026, according to the Election Commission.

The Commission said all preparations have been completed for the voting, which will take place from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm across all seven provinces.

Though 18 seats in the upper house of the Federal Parliament are set to be vacant, the one post under the Khas Arya category in Koshi Province has already been filled unopposed.

“Nepali Congress candidate Sunil Bahadur Thapa was elected without contest. It was unopposed,” Commission spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai told ANI.

Elected representatives from various bodies are set to vote to choose the remaining 17 seats.

The Election Commission has designated the Provincial Election Offices as the polling stations for all seven provinces. As per the Election Commission, polling stations have been set in Biratnagar, Morang (Koshi Province); Mahendra Narayan Nidhi Mithila Cultural Centre in Janakpur Sub-metropolitan City-4, Dhanusha (Madhesh Province); and Bhutan Devi Secondary School in Hetauda Sub-metropolitan City-4, Makawanpur (Bagmati Province).

Similarly, polling stations have been set up at the Provincial Election Office in Pokhara, Kaski (Gandaki Province); the Lumbini Province Employees’ Meeting Centre in Ghorahi, Dang; the Provincial Election Office in Birendranagar, Surkhet (Karnali Province); and the Provincial Election Office in Dhangadhi, Kailali (Sudurpaschim Province).

For the National Assembly election, members of the Provincial Assemblies, mayors and deputy mayors, and chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of rural municipalities will be eligible to vote.

The Commission noted that the vote weight assigned to the election has been reduced following the resignations of several elected representatives who are contesting the House of Representatives election scheduled for March 5. (ANI)

As part of Operation Kavach 12.0, the West District Police carried out extensive arrests and recoveries through a massive 24-hour enforcement drive involving all police stations and specialised units in Delhi.

According to an official statement, a total of 147 teams conducted 325 raids, during which 1,439 persons were detained, 586 persons were arrested, 328 challans were issued, 2,164 quarters of illicit liquor were seized, and Rs 70,310 in cash was recovered. Under Operation Kavach 12.0, West District Police launched a district-wide intensive operation from 6 PM on January 23 to 6 PM on January 24. The operation targeted narcotics suppliers, illicit liquor smugglers, illegal arms carriers, gamblers, BNSS offenders, Delhi Police Act (DP Act) violators, COTPA violators, and other anti-social elements.

The entire operation was conducted under the overall supervision of the undersigned, with the full participation of all 12 police stations of the West District. A total of 147 teams were deployed across the district, conducting 325 intelligence-based raids at identified hotspots, slum clusters, industrial areas, liquor smuggling routes, suspicious premises, isolated locations, night crime-prone points, and vulnerable stretches.

The operation involved continuous naka checking and mobile patrolling, technical and human intelligence-based surveillance, surprise raids and night domination, photo and video documentation for transparency, and strict secrecy and disciplined execution as per the Operation Kavach protocol. Special Staff, ANTF, AATS, and Technical Surveillance Units played a vital role in intelligence development, real-time coordination, and providing actionable field-level inputs.

Under the NDPS Act, four cases were registered, leading to the arrest of four persons and the recovery of 1.662 kg of Ganja, 15 grams of Smack, and panni pipes. 15 cases under the Delhi Excise Act resulted in 22 arrests, and recovery of 2,164 quarters of illicit liquor seized, while 15 Arms Act cases led to the recovery of one country-made pistol, one live cartridge, and 14 knives. Preventive action under Sections 126 and 170 of the BNSS led to 79 arrests.

Overall, all 12 police stations and specialised units carried out 325 raids, 586 arrests, 1,439 preventive detentions, 328 COTPA challans, and 165 arrests under NDPS, Excise, BNSS, Arms Act, and other preventive provisions. The coordinated 24-hour enforcement drive ensured strong police visibility, effective crime control, disruption of illegal networks, enhanced public safety, and a strong deterrent against habitual offenders.

Meanwhile, similar enforcement under Operation Kavach 12.0 was carried out in the South East District, covering 15 police stations. 78 teams raided 94 locations, registering 53 cases and arresting 70 persons. Major recoveries included 5,296 kg of ganja, 4,075 quarters of illicit liquor, arms, gambling proceeds worth Rs 61,280, and 11 luxury cars recovered by AATS. (ANI)

Just days after releasing the teaser for its first song, the makers of the Salman Khan starrer Battle of Galwan have now unveiled the full track.

Salman took to his Instagram account to share the first song, “Maatrubhumi”, giving fans a first look at the emotional side of the war drama.

In the song, Salman appears as an Indian Army officer, with Chitrangada Singh playing his wife. Their scenes together highlight strong family bonds. The visuals shift between peaceful moments at home with their two kids and intense scenes from the Galwan battlefield.

“Maatrubhumi” is composed by Himesh Reshammiya, with lyrics written by Sameer Anjaan. The song is sung by Arijit Singh and Shreya Ghoshal. The music and vocals aim to evoke strong patriotic emotions.

The film’s teaser was released in December last year and gave a glimpse of Salman’s character, who portrays an Indian Army officer. The teaser shows him with a serious and restrained expression. The visuals depict rough terrain, cold weather, and close combat, offering a preview of the challenges soldiers face at high altitudes.

The film is based on the Galwan Valley clash between India and China in 2020, in which 20 Indian soldiers lost their lives. Following the clashes, tensions between India and China rose, with the army deploying formations near the Galwan Valley along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh and undertaking activities such as surveying border areas to prevent “possible” Chinese aggression.

Actor Chitrangada Singh has been paired opposite Salman in the film. The movie will be released on April 17. (ANI)

As the winter storm intensified in the United States over the weekend, more than 14,000 flights have been cancelled from Saturday through Monday, CNN reported.

US President Trump has issued emergency declarations for 10 states as authorities continue to prepare for frigid cold which will sweep across the eastern two-thirds of the country.

In the wake of the storm, over 14,800 flights have been cancelled between Saturday and Monday, with stretches of interstate shut down from dangerous road conditions, CNN reported, citing FlightAware.

According to CNN, 43% of American Airlines’ scheduled flights have been grounded, and 35% of Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines’ scheduled flights.

It further noted that Saturday saw more than 4,000 cancellations, primarily in Dallas and Charlotte, and Monday already has more than 1,600 flights cancelled, with the majority of the effects in New York and Boston.

Meanwhile, US President Trump approved emergency declarations for Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, Maryland, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Indiana, and West Virginia, and said that authorities are working closely with FEMA, Governors, and State Emergency Management teams to ensure the safety of everyone.

As per the National Weather Service, the winter storm would sweep across the eastern two-thirds of the US over the weekend. Noting that sub-zero lows will spread from northern and central plains into the northeast through Sunday, NWS said that sub-freezing temperatures are expected each night as far south as the Gulf Coast.

It said that extremely cold temperatures would expand across the eastern two-thirds of the US, with very cold weather continuing through the next week, and advised preparing for the “life-threatening cold,” as wind chills and prolonged cold could pose a risk of hypothermia and frostbite.

In another post on X, it said the winter storm would expand into the Mid-Atlantic states tonight, then into the Northeast late Sunday.

According to the NWS, heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain will have significant impacts across much of the eastern half of the United States.

As the storm approaches, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem urged people to stay off the roads and take necessary precautions.

A massive winter storm is sweeping across the US, bringing heavy snow, ice, and record-breaking cold temperatures. The storm spans over 1,300 miles, with impacts expected across more than 2,000 miles from Texas to New England through Sunday, reported CNN.

Increasing ice accumulation is causing power outages across the South, with thunder and lightning possible in areas of heavy freezing rain and sleet.

More than half of Americans will experience subzero wind chills, locking snow and ice in place and leaving those without power shivering for days.

The National Weather Service has issued winter storm warnings, and emergency declarations have been made in over 17 states, according to CNN. (ANI)

After the United States’ withdrawal from the World Health Organisation (WHO), Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said they hoped the US would return to active participation in the WHO in the future

In a post on X, the WHO Chief hailed the contributions of the United States, a founding member of the WHO, which played a significant role in many of the WHO’s greatest achievements, including the eradication of smallpox.

He said on X, “WHO has always engaged with the US, and all Member States, with full respect for their sovereignty. Unfortunately, the reasons cited for the US decision to withdraw from WHO are untrue. The notification of withdrawal makes both the US and the world less safe. We hope the US will return to active participation in WHO in the future”

“Meanwhile, WHO remains steadfastly committed to working with all countries in pursuit of its core mission and constitutional mandate: the highest attainable standard of health as a fundamental right for all people.”

He also shared the WHO statement on the notification of withdrawal of the United States

The statement highlighted America’s contributions to many of the WHO’s greatest achievements, including the eradication of smallpox and progress against other public health threats, such as polio, HIV, Ebola, influenza, tuberculosis, malaria, neglected tropical diseases, antimicrobial resistance, food safety, and more.

“In its statements, the United States cited as one of the reasons for its decision, “WHO failures during the COVID-19 pandemic”, including “obstructing the timely and accurate sharing of critical information” and that WHO “concealed those failures”. While no organization or government got everything right, WHO stands by its response to this unprecedented global health crisis. Throughout the pandemic, WHO acted quickly, shared all information it had rapidly and transparently with the world, and advised Member States on the basis of the best available evidence. WHO recommended the use of masks, vaccines and physical distancing, but at no stage recommended mask mandates, vaccine mandates or lockdowns. We supported sovereign governments to make decisions they believed were in the best interests of their people, but the decisions were theirs,” the statement read.

This comes after on January 22, the United States of America came down heavily on the World Health Organisation, terminating its membership of the global health body, citing inefficient bureaucracy, mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic, and “failures” inflicted upon the American people.

In a joint statement issued by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Health Secretary Kennedy, it was mentioned that going forward, the US engagement with the WHO will be limited strictly to effectuate its withdrawal and to safeguard the health and safety of the American people. (ANI)