Breaking News, January 30 | HIGHLIGHTS

A man was sentenced to death by a court in Jharkhand's West Singhbhum district on Tuesday for murdering his neighbour.
The principal district and sessions court sentenced Saluka Hembram, a resident of Arahasa village in Goilkera police station area, to death after convicting him under IPC section 302 (murder) for killing Ramdhan Hembram who lived in the same neighbourhood with a sharp weapon in September 2019.

 A special court here on Tuesday permitted scholar-activist Anand Teltumbde, an accused in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case of Maharashtra, to travel to Karnataka for two days to receive an award from the government in the neighbouring state.
Teltumbde, currently out on bail in the seven-year-old case, had filed an application seeking permission to travel to Bengaluru for two days from January 31 to receive the Basava Rashtriya Puraskar Award 2022-23 from the Karnataka government.

The colourful tableau of Odisha that showcased women empowerment in the state as well as its rich handicraft and handloom sector during the 75th Republic Day parade here, has bagged the first prize among the tableaux showcased by various states and UTs, officials said on Tuesday.
Gujarat's tableau showcasing Dhordo tourism village has earned the first place in the people's choice category.

 A 34-year-old man allegedly killed his wife by hitting her with a hammer in Jharkhand's Seraikela-Kharswan district, police said on Tuesday. Rajesh Kumar, the husband, was arrested and the blood-stained hammer was recovered from his house in Bantanagar in RIT police station area, they said. Rajesh and his wife Priyanka, 31, were fighting over the last few days as she was demanding money for jewellery and school fees of their children, police said. Amid one such fight between the two on Sunday, Rajesh allegedly pushed his wife, picked a hammer that was lying nearby and hit her on the head in a fit of rage, they said.

West Bengal and Odisha will get two new radar stations each by August, a senior Coast Guard officer said on Tuesday.

Cracking the whip on unauthorised investment schemes by an agricultural investment platform, Sebi has barred Farm Tech Silo LLP, also known as Growpital, related entities and their directors from collecting money from investors and prohibited them from the securities market till further directions.

India ranked 93 out of 180 countries on the corruption perceptions index for 2023 as its overall score remained largely unchanged, according to a Transparency International report. The index, which ranks 180 countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption according to experts and business people, uses a scale of 0 to 100, where 0 is highly corrupt and 100 is very clean.

Alleging more than nine lakh posts are "lying vacant" in various departments of the central government, Indian Youth Congress national president Srinivas BV on Tuesday said that "no steps have been taken" by the ruling dispensation to fill those posts. Referring to an RTI report, Srinivas claimed that a large number of posts are vacant in the Railways, Home Department, Civil Defence, Ministry of External Affairs, Agriculture Department, and Sports and Youth Affairs.

The authorities in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal district on Tuesday issued an avalanche warning in the wake of snowfall in the higher reaches of the valley, officials said.

The BJP on Tuesday derided the INDIA bloc as "brain dead", saying it was an "unnatural alliance" and is "bound to meet its natural death soon".

The Delhi Police has imposed traffic restrictions and made special arrangements in northeast Delhi's Yamuna Khadar for a four-day religious programme, officials said on Tuesday.

Fourteen opposition MPs, who were suspended during the last session and their case referred to privilege committees, will return to attend Parliament's Budget session, with Union Minister Pralhad Joshi saying that the Chairs in the two Houses have agreed to the government's request to this effect.

At least six terrorists of a banned group were killed when Pakistani security forces thwarted at least three coordinated attacks with rockets and sophisticated weapons by militants on a high-security jail in the country's restive Balochistan province on Monday. A senior police official said at least 15 rockets were fired at the Central Mach Jail on Monday night where some dangerous militants and death row prisoners have been incarcerated. Balochistan’s caretaker Information Minister Jan Achakzai said the Pakistan Army and Frontier Constabulary Balochistan acted swiftly to thwart the attacks during the night.

Jharkhand Governor C P Radhakrishnan Tuesday met senior government officers and took stock of security arrangements in the wake of the unfolding political situation, following ED’s search at the Delhi residence of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, a top official said.

Radhakrishnan called Chief Secretary Lalbiaktluanga Khiangte, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Avinash Kumar, among others, at the Raj Bhavan here, Director General of Police, Ajay Kumar Singh, told PTI.

Bayview Projects, backed by filmmaker Boney Kapoor and real estate developer Bhutani Group, on Tuesday bagged a contract to develop the International Film City near the upcoming Noida International Airport in Uttar Pradesh, according to officials.

The financial bid for the greenfield project was opened on Tuesday afternoon by the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA), which functions under the Uttar Pradesh government.

 NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) working president Supriya Sule on Tuesday alleged the BJP was misusing probe agencies against its opponents and breaking parties and families to retain power.

Speaking to reporters, Sule said the BJP has "weaponised" Central probe agencies and misusing the Income Tax, CBI and ED against its opponents, while the country is facing serious issues such as quotas, inflation and joblessness.

"They are misusing agencies, breaking parties and families only to remain in power," the Baramati MP said.

"This is a short session and the last one of the 17th Lok Sabha...We have requested the MPs to not come with placards," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said.

Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren is holding a meeting with the legislators of the ruling alliance at his residence in Ranchi.

He is being probed by ED in money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam.

Ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday undertook a padayatra in the northern part of the state. Banerjee, who is currently in northern West Bengal for an administrative visit, took out the 'Jonosanjog Yatra' in Chopra town in Uttar Dinajpur. Later, she undertook another yatra in nearby Islampur.

Jharkhand BJP president Babulal Marandi on Tuesday claimed that a constitutional crisis-like situation was created in the state due to "sudden disappearance" of Chief Minister Hemant Soren. He also announced a reward of Rs 11,000 from his side for providing information about the chief minister and posted a 'missing' poster of the CM on X. Speaking to reporters, Marandi said, "Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren has been missing for the last two days. It is a serious issue that the director general of police and the intelligence department of the state are not aware of the location of the CM".

"INDI alliance is brain dead now," Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said.

Karnataka Congress chief D K Shivakumar on Tuesday dismissed as false and speculation some media reports which claimed that former party President Sonia Gandhi may be offered a Rajya Sabha seat from the State, and clarified that no such discussions have taken place. There have been reports in a section of media that Sonia Gandhi may not contest the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, and she may be given a Rajya Sabha seat from Karnataka.

BJP candidate Manoj Sonkar on Tuesday defeated AAP's Kuldeep Kumar to win the post of mayor in the Chandigarh mayoral polls. The polls, being held following the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, assumes significance with opposition INDIA bloc members Congress and AAP joining hands to contest the elections. As part of the alliance, the AAP is contested for the mayor's post while the Congress has fielded candidates for senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor.

The 40-day harsh winter period known as ‘Chilla-i-Kalan' ended on Tuesday with no snowfall in the plains of Kashmir and below normal precipitation in the higher reaches of the valley, officials said. While there was light to moderate snowfall in the higher reaches of the valley at the fag-end of the 40-day period, most of the Chilla-i-Kalan – when the chances of snowfall are maximum and most frequent – remained dry. The valley witnessed a prolonged dry spell this winter, with no snowfall in the plains. During the 40-day harsh winter period, a cold wave sweeps the region and temperatures drop considerably leading to the freezing of water bodies and water in supply pipes.

India has logged 124 fresh Covid cases while the number of active cases of the infection is 1,415, the Union health ministry said on Tuesday. No deaths have been reported in a span of 24 hours, according to the ministry's data updated at 8 am. The number of daily cases had dropped to double-digits till December 5, but it began to rise after the emergence of a new variant and cold weather conditions.

Hitting back at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge for his "last election" barb, the BJP on Tuesday said dynastic politics under the garb of democracy is coming to an end in the country and emergence of true democracy is in the offing. Slamming Kharge for the remarks, BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said, "Dynastic politics under the garb of democracy is coming to an end, and they are wondering what will be their future". "Whether it is Abdullah and Mufti families in Jammu and Kashmir, or Badals in Punjab, Hooda family in Haryana, all of them lost elections. Ashok Gehlot's son also lost, Akhilesh Yadav's wife lost election, in Bihar Lalu Prasad Yadav's daughter lost election...or the biggest symbol of dynastic politics Rahul Gandhi lost election," Trivedi said.

"The search is on for the missing Chief Minister of Jharkhand," BJP announced a reward of Rs 11,000 for the person who finds Hemant Soren.

Security forces on Tuesday detected and defused two explosive devices in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district, officials said. Locals informed police and the Border Security Force (BSF) about some suspicious material packed in a pothyene bag in the Sherpur area, around 2 kilometers away from the International Border, they said. Secuirty personnel rushed to the spot and a bomb disposal squad was called. The explosive devices were defused safely, the officials said. The matter is being investigated.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday observed a two-minute silence in the memory of those who laid down their lives in the struggle for India's freedom. A seven-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, which was hearing arguments on the issue of minority status of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), stood up at 10.59 am and observed two-minute silence.

"Through this 19-seater aircraft, we are going to connect both these destinations. This will be the first flight from Pithoragarh which has a 1600-m runway and we invested Rs 7 Crores there," Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said.

Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren remains untraceable. Enforcement Directorate has recovered Rs 36 lakhs in cash and also seized two cars from the Delhi residence of Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren during the probe into a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam, sources said.

A Kerala court on Tuesday sentenced to death 14 persons associated with the now-banned Islamist outfit Popular Front of India (PFI) in connection with the murder of BJP OBC wing leader Ranjith Sreenivasan in this district in December 2021. The sentence was pronounced by Mavelikkara Additional District judge V G Sreedevi.

After paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, Jharkhand Minister Alamgir Alam said, "...If CM was in Ranchi, he would have been present here, since he is not here, I have come".

Two men were found dead on the tracks near Kasaragod railway station in Kerala's Kasaragod on Tuesday, police said. The bodies, suspected to have been hit by a goods train, were found this morning in separate locations along the railway line.

The Enforcement Directorate has seized Rs 36 lakh, an SUV and some "incriminating" documents after it searched the Delhi residence of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, official sources said Tuesday. The federal agency searched the 5/1 Shanti Niketan residence of the JMM leader in south Delhi on Monday and camped there for almost 13 hours in order to question him in a money laundering case linked to an alleged land deal case of Jharkhand. The sources said the ED teams seized about Rs 36 lakh in cash, a HR (Haryana) number plate bearing BMW registered under a "benami" name and some "incriminating" documents during the day-long operation.

An all-party meeting convened by the government ahead of the Budget session of Parliament gets underway at the Parliament Library building in Delhi.

Bihar's former Deputy CM & RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav enters ED office in Patna, to be questioned by the central agency in alleged land-for-job-scam case.

Section 144 CrPc imposed within 100 meters radius of Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren's residence, Raj Bhavan and ED office in Ranchi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid floral tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat on the occasion of his death anniversary.

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar paid floral tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat on the occasion of his death anniversary.

President Droupadi Murmu paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat on the occasion of his death anniversary.

"He is a beloved CM not a fugitive...this is an insult to the people of Jharkhand and the tribals," JMM leader Manoj Pandey said.

"The opposition needs to accept the fact that they have to fight elections and also need to face these agencies," RJD MP Manoj Jha said.

Enforcement Directorate will question former Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar and Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut's brother Sandeep Raut today, in the Covid body bag scam case and Covid Khichdi scam case, respectively.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan highlighted Mahatma Gandhi's "steadfast commitment to democracy and secularism" on Tuesday and urged everyone to safeguard the country's secular social fabric from the "clutches of religious fanaticism." On the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's martyrdom, Vijayan in a post on 'X', said his message of peace and harmony is more crucial than ever. "As communal forces attempt to undermine these values, let's heed Gandhi's warning against division and stand united for inclusivity and equality. Let us pledge to safeguard our secular social fabric from the clutches of religious fanaticism, the very force that claimed Mahatma Gandhi's life," the chief minister said.

"...from Mamata Banerjee's side she has said that they will contest from 40 seats but when we are in an agreement, it is a give and take so all parties need to realise this," Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said.

Rahul Gandhi, during Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Bihar's Araria, paid respects to Mahatma Gandhi on his death anniversary.

19 trains to and from Delhi are running late due to operational reasons and fog conditions in some parts of north India: Indian Railways

Rahul Gandhi will address a public meeting today at the Rangbhumi Maidan in Purnea at around 2 pm as the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra entered Bihar yesterday.

The state government is expected to pass the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill during this session of the Assembly.

Flight operations were affected due to thick fog at Delhi airport on Tuesday morning.

Met Department has predicted 'moderate fog' conditions tomorrow.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi will hold a meeting today with the floor leaders of political parties in both houses of Parliament before the start of the upcoming Budget Session. The all-party meeting will be held this afternoon at the Parliament Library Building.