Author: Indmedia

A file photo of Dasara howdah elephant Abhimanyu practising for Dasara Jamboo Savari procession Mysuru: The state govt’s decision to revamp Mysuru Dasara celebrations has raised concerns over the possible commercialisation of the cultural festival. While business entities have welcomed the govt’s grand plans and the scope for increased economic activity, locals and experts are wary that too many new additions could dilute the uniqueness of the celebrations.They fear excessive commercialisation may further dent the festive atmosphere and shift the focus away from the cultural and heritage that has made Mysuru Dasara distinctive. Many stakeholders who spoke to TOI alleged…

Noida: When a 10-year-old boy went missing from Kasna on March 11, 2026, police had little to work with beyond his photograph, physical description and the fact that he was unable to communicate.The cops then circulated his photograph, alerted residents and used technical surveillance, social media, the Vatsalya portal and their informer network to look for him. But there was no immediate breakthrough.Four months later, Kasna police received information from a govt child-care institution in Mathura. A boy found by railway security personnel at a station appeared to match the description of the missing child. The cops compared his photograph…

The murder was the fallout of an old dispute between the victim and the accused Pune: Six men were arrested and two minors were detained on Sunday for allegedly hacking a 26-year-old man to death over an old dispute in Varale village, Maval taluka.The Talegaon MIDC police identified the deceased as Prashant Shingade, a resident of Varale. The accused have been booked under Section 103 (murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and relevant sections of the Arms Act.An officer from the Talegaon MIDC police said Shingade was murdered around 1.30 am at Shikshak Colony in Varale, where he had…

CM Pramod Sawant In assembly Porvorim: Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Monday told the assembly that the Porvorim shootout case has been transferred to the crime branch for further investigation.“The investigation is on. We have shifted the case to the crime branch, which will conduct a thorough probe. I am confident those responsible for the shootout will be arrested,” said Sawant, who also holds the home portfolio.The statement came after Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai raised concerns over law and order in the state.On Aug 25, two unidentified assailants allegedly opened fire on Shrinivas Nayak, director of Majestic Pride Group, which…

Chandigarh: Haryana Police is set to institutionalise artificial intelligence (AI) in policing, with an IPS-led AI Task Force driving technology-based investigations, particularly in cybercrime and financial fraud.The initiative comes amid the growing use of technology by criminals and increasing volumes of digital evidence, banking transactions, mobile records and online activity that investigators have to analyse.DGP Ajay Singhal said AI would help police analyse large datasets faster, identify critical leads, and ensure accurate investigations, while retaining human judgement at the core of policing.“We can look at AI not merely as a new technology, but as an important tool for strengthening policing…

Ekana stadium under an overcast sky Lucknow: Rain has had a deep impact on the second phase of the ongoing UPT20 League, changing the course of the tournament. Now, once again, the league’s playoff matches and final will be held in Lucknow instead of Kanpur.Qualifier-1 and the Eliminator will be played on Sept 3, Qualifier-2 will be held on Sept 4, while the title clash of UPT20 League will be held on Sept 6 at Ekana Stadium.The fourth edition of the UPT20 League has remained in discussion from the beginning. In particular, the venue was changed twice. Initially, preparations were…

Residents wade through the flooded access road near Chakdahwa in Bagaha-2 block of West Champaran Bettiah: A stretch of the main access road to Chakdahwa, Jhandutola, Bin Toli and Kanhi Tola in Bagaha-2 block of West Champaran has become a major ordeal for nearly 3,000 residents with around five feet of water inundating the route amid fluctuations in the Gandak-Narayani river.Residents are being forced to wade through chest-deep water and strong currents to reach Bherihari and Valmikinagar for treatment, daily needs and essential supplies.Anju Kumari, a Chakdahwa resident, crossed the flooded stretch on Sunday while returning from Bherihari after taking…

Alwar: A 9-year-old boy fell down an open borewell in Alwar district Monday and ended up getting trapped almost 55ft underground, triggering an intense rescue effort led by police and the local administration and involving heavy earthmoving equipment.According to the latest reports, the boy is presumed safe as his voice is still being heard from inside the deep well.The incident occurred in Bantoli village under Lakshmangarh police station area when the boy was chasing a kite through an uncultivated field. Local villagers said people had no idea of the well’s existence at the spot because it remained unused for a…

Nagpur: A 32-year-old widow from Hudkeshwar area lodged a complaint against a 25-year-old man, accusing him of establishing physical relations with her on multiple occasions on the promise of marriage.One of the places mentioned in the complaint is a private hotel on Manewada Road, within the limits of Hudkeshwar police station. Police visited the spot on Aug 30.A case was registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for rape and sexual intercourse by deceitful means, including a false promise of marriage. No arrest has been made so far.The complainant was married in 2011 and has three daughters. She…

Students were encouraged to use the ECINET app to complete and submit Form 6 for inclusion in electoral rolls Ranchi: Election Commission’s voter awareness campaign reached 13,350 students across 20 educational institutions in Ranchi in Aug, as officials intensified efforts to enrol first-time voters.The camps, held from Aug 8 to 27, targeted students who will turn 18 by Oct 1 this year, the qualifying date for voter registration under the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR). Officials said the initiative was aimed at ensuring that no eligible young citizen is left out of the rolls ahead of voting for the first…