Uttar Pradesh

More than six years after the Supreme Court’s landmark 2019 verdict resolving the Ram Janmabhoomi–Babri Masjid title dispute, the mosque proposed at Dhannipur—allocated in lieu of the demolished Babri Masjid—has yet to see its foundation stone laid. Despite the government providing 5 acres of land, administrative hurdles, design delays, and severe funding shortages have stalled the project. Political Heat Rekindled Nationally The issue resurfaced nationwide after TMC MLA Humayun Kabir laid the foundation stone of a Babri Masjid replica in Murshidabad, West Bengal, on the anniversary of the Babri demolition on December 6. The move sparked fresh political and communal debates across the country. Meanwhile, in Ayodhya—at the very site tied to the historic dispute—the Dhannipur mosque...

Tension erupted at a marriage hall in Shahjahanpur on Sunday when members of Hindu organisations, along with the police, stopped the wedding of a Hindu girl who is reportedly a minor. The organisations have alleged that the girl was being forced to convert to another religion before the marriage ceremony. Police have detained the bride, groom, and family members from both sides for questioning. Chaos During the Ceremony The incident took place at Janata Marriage Hall. Hindu organisation leader Rajesh Awasthi reached the venue with the police after receiving information about an alleged underage marriage involving a Hindu girl and a boy from another community.The sudden arrival of the police caused panic among the wedding attendees, and several guests were seen leaving the hall hurrie...

Basti, Uttar Pradesh:In an emotional reunion that bridged 115 years and thousands of miles, Ravindra Dutt and his wife Keshni Hare arrived in Kabra village of the Bankati development block, tracing the roots of a family story that began in 1910. Their ancestors had left India as girmitiya labourers during the British era and settled permanently in Fiji. On Friday, the couple finally stood on the soil their forefathers once called home. A Journey Rooted in History Ravindra Dutt’s great-grandfather, Gareeb Ram, was among the many Indians taken to Fiji in 1910 as indentured labourers under the British “girmit” system. Forced into hard labour and denied the opportunity to return home, he and his descendants built their lives in Fiji.After decades, the family managed to recover an old imm...

Meerut: The Meerut administration has launched a stringent monitoring drive across the city’s slums and informal settlements to identify and track migrant families. A detailed survey conducted by local authorities has identified approximately 6,500 individuals of concern across 1,600 families, with serious verification doubts raised against 3,200 of them. Half of the identified population comprises migrants from Assam, while others claim origins from West Bengal, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh. Drone Surveillance and VerificationAccording to SSP Dr. Vipin Tada, a special slum cell formed four months ago has mapped 52 areas with high concentrations of temporary migrant settlements. Several residents failed to produce valid identification documents, and their details have been separately r...

Lucknow (U.P.): The words “Lucknow” and “Nawabs” are often considered synonymous. Renowned worldwide for its culture, cuisine, language, and architectural beauty, the city bears the imprints of Nawabi elegance in its buildings and gardens. Among these, Charbagh stands out—not just as a bustling railway station, but as a living symbol of Lucknow’s rich history. Origins of Charbagh Historically, the area was called “Chahar Bagh”, named after the garden favored by Asaf-ud-Daula, the fourth Nawab of Awadh. In 1775, when Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula shifted the capital of Awadh from Faizabad to Lucknow, he developed Charbagh as one of the city’s prime gardens. In Islamic tradition, a Charbagh is inspired by the concept of paradise gardens, divided into four equal sections, a style reflected in man...

Jalaun: The mysterious suicide of Inspector Arun Kumar Rai, in charge of the Kuthound Police Station in Jalaun, has taken a dramatic turn as lady constable Meenakshi Sharma has been arrested. Her conduct and presence at the scene moments before the shooting have made her role highly suspicious. According to sources, Meenakshi and the inspector allegedly shared a close relationship, which gradually turned into tension and conflict. Based on the complaint filed by Arun Rai’s wife, a case of murder has also been registered, and police are investigating all possible angles. CCTV Shows Meenakshi Running Out Moments After Gunshot On 5 December, Inspector Arun Rai shot himself with his service revolver inside his government quarters. The bullet pierced through his head, and the pistol wa...

Prayagraj: Under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list, a mega camp is being organised today in Prayagraj to assist citizens with verification and documentation. The district administration has made extensive preparations to ensure that every eligible voter can complete the required formalities. Urban Areas Face Major Challenges in Mapping The biggest hurdle in the ongoing SIR process has emerged from urban constituencies. While a majority of rural voters have been successfully mapped and verified, thousands of urban voters remain stuck under the “No Mapping” category. “No Mapping” refers to voters whose names appear in the 2025 electoral roll but cannot be matched or confirmed with any record from the 2003 voter list. If these voters fail to verify their details,...

Ghaziabad:In a major boost for middle-class and lower-middle-class homebuyers in Delhi–NCR, the Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) is gearing up to launch the first phase of its ambitious Harnandipuram Housing Scheme. With private townships becoming increasingly unaffordable for common citizens, the GDA has taken on the challenge of developing a modern, planned, and affordable township on its own. Land Acquisition in Full Swing According to GDA Vice Chairman Nandkishor Kalal, land purchase for the project is progressing at a war-footing pace. Around 35 hectares have already been registered, and farmers have given consent for 85 hectares more. Importantly, the authority is not acquiring land forcibly. Instead, it is purchasing land directly from farmers at up to four times the D...

A sensational and disturbing case from Haryana’s Panipat has revealed the dark psychological depths of 32-year-old Poonam, a woman accused of murdering four young children within a span of two years and eleven months. Shockingly, her victims include her own three-year-old son, Shubham, and three nieces. Police claim she targeted “beautiful children” out of jealousy, often comparing them to her son. Link to a Tantrik in Kairana, Uttar Pradesh Police investigations have uncovered that Poonam’s trail extends to Shamli district’s Kairana in Uttar Pradesh.Poonam frequently claimed she was “possessed” and insisted that a supernatural shadow followed her. Influenced by her repeated claims, her in-laws took her to a tantrik (occult practitioner) residing in Kairana. The Uttar Pradesh poli...