Uttar Pradesh

Noida: India’s celebrated sculptor Ram Sutar, the visionary artist behind some of the country’s most iconic monuments—including the world’s tallest statue, the Statue of Unity—passed away late Wednesday night at his residence in Sector 19, Noida, following a prolonged illness. He was 100 years old. With his passing, the nation has lost not just a master sculptor, but a towering figure in India’s cultural and artistic heritage. Ram Sutar had been bedridden for a long time and was unable to sit or stand due to age-related ailments. His last rites will be performed on Thursday at Sector 94, Noida. The news of his demise was confirmed by his son Anil Sutar, himself a noted sculptor who has been carrying forward his father’s artistic legacy. Architect of India’s Monumental Identity ...

Amethi:True success is often born out of struggle, and the life of young cricketer Prashant Veer stands as a shining example of this belief. Hailing from a modest background in Amethi district, Prashant has scripted an extraordinary success story by earning a ₹14.2 crore contract in the IPL mini-auction, where he was picked up by Chennai Super Kings (CSK). With this, he has become one of the most expensive uncapped players in IPL history, sharing the record with Agra’s Kartik Sharma. Prashant’s rise is not just about money or fame—it is a story of determination, discipline, and unshakeable resolve. For years, he cycled nearly 14 kilometres every day from his village Gunjipur to the Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Stadium to attend practice sessions, regardless of weather conditions. His single-min...

The controversy surrounding cough syrup misuse and illegal trade in Uttar Pradesh has taken a dramatic turn with Sonbhadra Police arresting a wanted accused carrying a reward of ₹10,000. The arrest has exposed a large-scale paper transaction involving a fake purchase worth nearly ₹6 crore of cough syrup, allegedly carried out for a profit of just ₹1 per bottle. The accused, 28-year-old Satyam Kumar, a resident of Varanasi, was arrested during a special crackdown against drug mafias. Police said he had obtained a fraudulent drug licence in the name of “Maa Kripa Medical” using forged documents and was operating an elaborate network of fake billing and financial transactions. The operation was conducted under the direction of Superintendent of Police Abhishek Verma, with a special team...

In a landmark initiative aimed at empowering rural youth with modern education and competitive exam preparation facilities, the Uttar Pradesh government has announced the establishment of digital libraries in 11,350 gram panchayats in the first phase. Acting on the directives of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the scheme seeks to bridge the urban–rural education gap and make quality learning resources accessible at the grassroots level. With this move, students in villages will no longer have to migrate to cities to prepare for civil services and other competitive examinations. Instead, they will gain access to high-quality academic content within their own gram panchayats. According to Amit Kumar Singh, Director of Panchayati Raj, digital libraries will be opened in a phased manner ...

Gorakhpur, UP: In a shocking incident from Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, a 20-year-old private school teacher reportedly consumed poison ordered online and later succumbed to her injuries. The teacher’s family alleges that she was being harassed repeatedly by a 17-year-old intermediate student, which drove her to take this tragic step. The incident occurred in Bansgaon Police Station jurisdiction. According to reports, the young teacher was repeatedly bothered by the student from Patraitha village while commuting to and from school. Despite several warnings and attempts to stop his behavior, the harassment allegedly continued. On December 13, in distress, the teacher ordered sulphas online and consumed it. When her condition worsened, her family took her to BRD Medical College, and later to...

Lucknow: In a significant development, the case against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, previously being heard in the MP/MLA Court of Rae Bareli, will now be transferred to a special court in Lucknow. The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court issued this order on Wednesday following a hearing before Justice Brijraj Singh. The transfer petition was filed by BJP worker S. Vignesh Shishir, who raised questions regarding Rahul Gandhi’s alleged British citizenship. The petition argued that given certain circumstances in Rae Bareli, a fair trial could not be ensured, and there were potential security concerns for the petitioner in the Rae Bareli jurisdiction. After hearing the arguments, the court approved the transfer of the case to a special court in Lucknow, ensuring that further proc...

Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh: Just six days after the inauguration of India’s first hydrogen-engine luxury cruise, operations have been halted following a collision with a local boat on the Ganga. The cruise, inaugurated by Union Minister Sarvanand Sonwal on December 11, suffered significant damage during the incident. Cruise Company Alleges Deliberate Collision The company operating the cruise has lodged a complaint with Adampur police, alleging that a local boat operator intentionally rammed into the vessel. CCTV footage from the cruise, which captured the collision, has been submitted to the authorities. Details of the Incident The hydrogen-powered cruise, operated by a private agency under the Indian Waterways initiative, runs between Namo Ghat and Ravidas Ghat. According to Vib...

The IPL 2026 auction has brought joy and pride to Mau, Uttar Pradesh, as 24-year-old left-arm fast bowler Mangesh Yadav has been acquired by Challengers Bengaluru for ₹5.20 crore. This makes him the second player from Mau to enter the IPL this season, following Ravi Singh, who was bought by Rajasthan Royals for ₹95 lakh. A Journey of Struggle and DeterminationMangesh Yadav hails from a humble family. His father, Ramavadh Yadav, moved the family—including wife Rita Yadav, daughters Payal, Priya, Kajal, and Mangesh—from their ancestral village in Kaithwali, Mau to Pandhurna, Madhya Pradesh, where he worked as a truck driver. Growing up in modest circumstances, Mangesh’s interest in cricket far outweighed academics, and his determination stood out even in challenging times. Family Pride...

Kannauj, December 17, 2025: A traffic sub-inspector in Kannauj, Uttar Pradesh, has come under scrutiny after a video of him addressing schoolgirls went viral, sparking controversy over his remarks on Islam. Afaaq Khan, a popular traffic SI with millions of social media followers, had visited Ideal Inter College to educate students about safety measures. In the video, he mentioned “Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam” while saying that a household is blessed when a daughter is born. The video quickly drew criticism from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal, who accused Khan of promoting religious teachings while in police uniform. Leaders of the organizations staged a protest outside the Superintendent of Police (SP) office on Monday. When summoned, it was discovered that SI Khan...

Mau/Varanasi, UP: Uttar Pradesh’s Mau district, already known for producing talented athletes in basketball, wrestling, and weightlifting, has now made its mark in cricket. 24-year-old Ravi Singh, son of a vigilance sub-inspector, has risen from local school grounds to secure his place in the IPL 2026, with Rajasthan Royals winning him in the auction for ₹95 lakh. Earlier, Royal Challengers Bangalore had bid ₹90 lakh for the left-handed batsman and wicketkeeper. A Family of Support and DedicationRavi’s father, Prithviraj Singh, serves as a Sub-Inspector in Varanasi’s vigilance department, while his mother is a homemaker. Growing up in Mau and Varanasi, Ravi devoted all his time to cricket. He is the middle child among three brothers, with the elder working in the PSC and the younger sti...