State

Lucknow/Varanasi, December 12, 2025: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has launched a major crackdown in the ongoing investigation into the illegal trade of codeine-laced cough syrup. Simultaneous raids were conducted at around 25 locations, including Lucknow, Varanasi, Jaunpur, Saharanpur, Ranchi, and Ahmedabad. Key DevelopmentsThe probe into the illicit cough syrup syndicate continues to uncover startling revelations. The mastermind, Shubham Jaiswal, remains at large, reportedly having fled to Dubai. However, his father, Bhola Jaiswal, has already been arrested. In the latest operation on Friday, ED teams raided multiple locations at approximately 7 a.m., including the opulent residence of Alok Singh in Lucknow. Singh, a former STF constable and close associate of former MP Dhananjay S...

Meerut, December 12, 2025: Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwarananda Saraswati strongly criticized the recent decision to rename the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) as ‘Sevatirth’. He described the move as inappropriate and a violation of the core principles of Sanatan Dharma. The Shankaracharya, returning from the winter Char Dham pilgrimage in Uttarakhand, arrived at Yogipuram Colony in Kankar Kheda, Meerut, where he received a warm welcome. During his visit, he sprinkled Ganga water over the local residents as a blessing and distributed prasadam to men and women, wishing them long life and prosperity. Addressing the media, Swami Avimukteshwarananda said that he first learned about the renaming of the PMO to ‘Sevatirth’ on December 2, 2025, through news reports. He expressed...

Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh – The police administration in Muzaffarnagar has registered an FIR after a muazzin from a local mosque threatened to behead a police officer. The incident, which quickly went viral on social media, followed a dispute over the volume of the Azaan (call to prayer). Details of the IncidentThe confrontation occurred at Madina Mosque, Madina Chowk, in the Civil Lines area. Two days ago, the muazzin, Mohammad Irfan, alleged that Incharge of Kachchi Sadak Police Outpost, Sub-Inspector Vinod Chaudhary, had misbehaved and physically assaulted him over the Azaan’s loudness. A video circulated online showed claims of the officer allegedly dragging Irfan out of the mosque and engaging in a scuffle. Escalation and ThreatWhile police were investigating these allegation...

Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh – The Uttar Pradesh government has filed a petition to withdraw the case related to the Bisahda incident, aiming to restore communal harmony in the region. The petition was taken up today in the Fast-Track Court, where the Assistant District Government Counsel (Criminal), acting under the direction of the government and the Joint Director of Prosecution, submitted the application seeking approval for case withdrawal. Court ProceedingsDuring today’s hearing, the prosecution requested additional time to respond, following which the court scheduled the next hearing for December 18, 2025. Government Decision and Legal ProcessThe decision to withdraw the case was issued by the Department of Justice-5 (Criminal), Uttar Pradesh, on August 26, 2025. Subsequently,...

Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh – In a major operation against drug trafficking, the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) has arrested a notorious smuggler, Kamlesh Rawat, from Barabanki. Authorities recovered 522 grams of heroin, valued at approximately ₹1.05 crore in the international market, from his possession. Details of the ArrestThe operation, led by the local Superintendent of Police, targeted Rawat, a known drug trafficker. During interrogation, Rawat admitted that he procured narcotics from suppliers and distributed them on commission. He also revealed that after suffering a leg injury 4–5 years ago, which left him physically disabled, he turned to drug trafficking due to inability to perform physically demanding work. Ongoing InvestigationThe ANTF confirmed that the arrest has provided...

Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh – In a symbolic and historic move, the Deepa Sarai Police Outpost in Sambhal was inaugurated on Friday by a young girl named Junaira. Remarkably, the outpost has been constructed using bricks and stones that were previously used during last year’s communal violence in the area, turning a symbol of unrest into one of law and order. From Violence to VigilanceThe construction of the police outpost began after the November 24, 2024, violence in Deepa Sarai, which saw widespread rioting and attacks on police personnel. During the unrest, Sub-Inspector Shah Faisal and another officer were attacked, government property was destroyed, and motorcycles were set on fire. To strengthen law enforcement and ensure rapid police assistance to citizens, authorities decided to buil...