
Ruskin Bond marks his 91st birthday in quiet
Ruskin Bond marked his 91st birthday in unostentatious elegance; renouncing the usual fanfare for a quiet celebration at his quaint, old Ivy Cottage in Landour. Unlike previous years, which saw readers and well-wishers congregate at the cottage to greet the litterateur, this birthday was notably low-key. Bond had earlier cancelled all public festivities in a video message, citing the recent tragedy in Pahalgam. 'I won't be able to have a public celebration this year,' he said, almost meditative as he spoke. 'I think maybe it's time to just reflect.' And his well-wishers understood, leaving the luminary to quiet contemplation.
'War' & water: Indian youth harassed in Dubai
In a shocking incident, an Indian youth working in Dubai was allegedly harassed by his Pakistan-native roommates after the Indian government put the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Vishal, hailing from Udham Singh Nagar district, said 'They would taunt me, saying 'If India can stop our water, we'll stop your water too'.' Vishal said the persecution made him fall ill; his attempts to return home were in vain. However, SSP Manikant Mishra intervened and brought Vishal back to India. 'We are grateful to SSP Mishra for rescuing our son,' said Vishal's teary-eyed family after his return.

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Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
Bengaluru Stampede: 5 cops suspended; 2 KSCA officials resign; CM raises compensation to ₹25 Lakh
Bengaluru Stampede: Bengaluru skies lit up with firecrackers on Tuesday, June 3 — as if Diwali had come to the city early — after Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) clinched the IPL trophy for the first time in 18 years. Within a day, however, the celebrations spiralled into a tragic stampede killing 11, leading to the suspension of five senior police officers, transfer of one Karnataka government official. As per the latest developments, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has increased the compensation for the families of those who lost their lives in the Chinnaswamy Stadium tragedy to ₹ 25 lakh each from the earlier ₹ 10 lakh per family. Here's what we know so far: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah's political secretary K Govindaraj was suspended, while Hemanth Nimbalkar, Karnataka's Additional Director General of Police (Intelligence) was transferred. Bengaluru City Police Commissioner B. Dayananda was among five senior police officers suspended in connection with the incident, three of whom are IPS officers. Fans stand next to abandoned shoes and a fallen barrier following a stampede outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru Not just the Karnataka government officials, but RCB heads also bore the brunt of the deadly stampede that injured over 40 others after fans thronged outside Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday, June 4. On Friday, a city court remanded four individuals — including Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Head of Marketing and Revenue, Nikhil Sosale — to 14 days in judicial custody in connection with the fatal stampede. Apart from transferring officials, the Karnataka government on Saturday ordered a Criminal Investigation Department (CID) investigation into the stampede case. As part of the investigation, CID officials visited the office of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) to gather preliminary information on the matter, ANI reported. As per ESPNCricinfo, top senior officials of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), secretary A Shankar and treasurer ES Jairam, have resigned from their posts, citing "moral responsibility" for the stampede. They submitted the resignations to the president of the board, Raghuram Bhat. The brutal stampede also left its footprints on social media. Following the tragedy, angry netizens, who were once all praise for Virat Kohli, demanded that the cricket icon be put behind bars. Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Virat Kohli (L) holds the Indian Premier League trophy aloft alongside teammates outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium as they celebrate with fans winning the Indian Premier League (IPL) title, in Bengaluru on June 4, 2025. At least 11 people were killed in a stampede on June 4, as a tightly packed crowd celebrated the victory of their home cricket team in the Indian city of Bengaluru, the state's chief minister said. Social media users even clashed with each other over #ArrestKohli trending on X, as many users claimed the stampede was because of the organisers' failure.


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
3 held for supplying illegal liquor using luxury vehicles
Bhopal: Police arrested three bootleggers involved in the transportation of illegal liquor using luxury vehicles in Berasia and Khajuri areas. Police seized large quantities of illicit alcohol and the high-end vehicles used in the smuggling operations. Cases were registered against the accused under the Excise Act. According to Berasia Police, a tip-off was received about a white SUV transporting illegal liquor from Khejda Mishr village towards Sironj. Acting on the information, police set up a checkpoint on Khejda Road and intercepted an SUV matching the given description. Upon inspection, 17 cartons of illegal liquor were recovered from the vehicle. The seized liquor was estimated to be worth Rs 72,000, and the SUV, valued at Rs 10 lakh, was also seized. Two accused, Pankaj Sahu, 25, and Sachin Ahirwar, 23, both residents of Berasia, were arrested at the scene. They were produced before the court after a case was registered under relevant provisions of the Excise Act. In a separate incident, Khajuri Police received intelligence during a night patrol about a white car transporting illegal liquor from Sehore to Bhopal. Police set up a checkpoint near Tumda Jod in Phanda village. A vehicle matching the description was soon spotted. When signalled to stop, the driver abandoned the car and attempted to flee but was apprehended after a brief accused, identified as Piyush Yadav, was taken into custody. A search of the vehicle revealed 30 litres of Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL), valued at Rs 48,000. A case under the Excise Act was filed.


New Indian Express
an hour ago
- New Indian Express
Bihar police arrest fake Aadhar card racket helping Bangladeshi infiltrators
PATNA: Bihar police on Saturday arrested a key member of a racket involved in preparing fake Aadhar cards for Bangladeshi infiltrators to help them sneak into Indian territory. The racket was busted in Kishanganj district, and several high-tech materials used in creating fake Aadhar cards were seized. Acting on a tip-off, a police team led by Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Manglesh Kumar raided a house in Malingaon village under Jiyapokhar police station limits and arrested one person, Asharful. However, two of his accomplices, identified as Jamal and Pankaj, managed to escape. During the search of Asharful's house, the police found an eye scanner, a printer, a finger scanner, fake seals, two mobile phones, several SIM cards from India and Nepal, Nepalese currency, and a four-wheeler bearing a West Bengal registration number. The presence of a vehicle registered in West Bengal has raised concerns among investigating officers. Superintendent of Police (SP) Kishanganj, Sagar Kumar, said the police began the investigation after receiving information about a well-organised racket operating from the district, which was involved in providing fake Aadhar cards and other documents to Bangladeshi infiltrators. A special team was formed for the investigation, he added. SP Kumar said Asharful provided fake Aadhar cards and other documents that allowed Bangladeshi infiltrators to enter Indian territory by posing as Indian citizens. He added that these foreign nationals also used the documents to claim benefits under government schemes. 'We have also informed other investigating agencies about the racket. Interrogation of Asharful will throw more light on the racket. Police have registered a case against four members of the gang and raids are underway to arrest them at the earliest,' SP said, adding that the documents seized during the raid are being verified. Police sources said several fake Aadhar cards and related documents were recovered from Asharful's house. A police team has been sent to other districts to collect more information about the members of the inter-state racket, sources added. SP Sagar Kumar said the arrest of Asharful would act as a deterrent to infiltration from Bangladesh. District police, in coordination with the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), have launched an operation along the international border to prevent infiltration attempts. At least five Bangladeshi nationals have already been arrested while trying to enter Indian territory either from Nepal or Bangladesh, according to police sources in Kishanganj district. Kishanganj, which lies close to the Bangladesh border, is considered sensitive from a security point of view.