Page 11 - Uttar Pradesh

UP bars police from contacting parties in sub-judice cases after HC order

After Allahabad High Court's directives, the Uttar Pradesh government has issued a circular restraining police from directly contacting parties and lawyers in pending matters. A PIL was filed by 90-year-old Gauri Shankar Saroj of Jaunpur alleging that local police personnel threatened him to withdraw his petition against alleged encroachment of Gaon Sabha land. The police had also allegedly raided his house in retaliation. In its circular dated July 25, the state government issued comprehensive statewide guidelines to prevent police interference in sub-judice (pending) matters. These guidelines strictly prohibit police personnel from contacting petitioners or their advocates concerned with pending matters without lawful authority and prior sanction from a competent officer or court. Earlier, the high court had taken a very serious note of the allegations made by the petitioner. Subsequently, on July 15, the Uttar Pradesh government had sought 10 days time to formulate statewide ..

Barabanki stampede: 2 dead, 47 injured; UP govt announces ₹5 lakh ex-gratia

Two people were killed and 47 injured as a stampede broke out at a temple here early on Monday after a live electric wire, broken by monkeys, fell onto a tin shed, leading to panic among devotees. DGP Rajeev Krishna said that the casualties were caused by electrocution. The incident occurred at the Avsaneshwar temple in the Haidergarh area during the holy month of Shravan on Monday. Barabanki District Magistrate Shashank Tripathi said that during the 'jalabhishek' ritual, monkeys had damaged an electric wire, which caused current to flow through three tin sheds in the temple complex. The resulting panic led to a stampede in which two people lost their lives and more than two dozen were injured, he added. Prashant Kumar (17) from the Mubarakpura village under the Lonikatra police station area, and another devotee, Ramesh Kumar (28), succumbed to their injuries while undergoing treatment at the Trivediganj Community Health Centre (CHC), officials said. An official of the UP governme

UP CM expresses grief over Barabanki stampede, announces aid of ₹5 lakh

Two people were killed and 32 injured in a stampede at a temple here after a live electric wire, broken by monkeys, fell onto a tin shed early on Monday, officials said. The incident occurred at the Avsaaneshwar temple in the Haidergarh area during the holy month of Shravan on Monday when devotees had gathered at the temple for 'jalabhishek' (offering water as a ritual). The electric current spread through the tin shed as the wire fell, triggering panic and a stampede in the temple premises. Prashant (22) from the Mubarakpura village under the Lonikatra police station area and another 30-year-old devotee succumbed to their injuries while undergoing treatment at the Trivediganj Community Health Centre (CHC), officials said. A total of 10 injured persons were brought to Trivediganj CHC, of whom five were referred to higher medical centres due to their critical condition. Meanwhile, 26 injured devotees are being treated at the Haidergarh CHC, and one of them has been referred for ...

Over 50% children stunted in 63 districts across 13 states, UTs: Parl data

As many as 63 districts across 13 states and Union Territory, including 34 in Uttar Pradesh, have reported that more than 50 per cent of children enrolled in anganwadis are stunted, according to an analysis of multiple documents submitted in Parliament. The analysis also showed that 199 districts reported stunting levels between 30 per cent and 40 per cent. Stunting is a form of chronic undernutrition that occurs when children do not receive adequate nutrition over a long period of time. According to the data based on the Ministry of Women and Child Development's Poshan Tracker for June 2025, some of the worst-affected districts with highest level of stunting include Nandurbar in Maharashtra (68.12 per cent), West Singhbhum in Jharkhand (66.27 per cent), Chitrakoot in Uttar Pradesh (59.48 per cent), Shivpuri in Madhya Pradesh (58.20 per cent), and Bongaigaon in Assam (54.76 per cent). Uttar Pradesh leads the list with 34 districts showing stunting levels above 50 per cent, followed

Ghaziabad man who ran fake embassy visited 40 nations in 10 yrs: UP Police

UP Police say Harsh Vardhan Jain held 12 diplomatic passports and visited over 40 countries, running shell firms from Ghaziabad

Uttar Pradesh govt seeks ₹10 trillion in investment to boost industry

Invest UP, the state's investment promotion agency, has already lined up projects worth ₹5 trillion for the proposed ground breaking ceremony

Adani Ports, 2 others vie to build 174-acre logistics park in Greater Noida

Adani Ports, Super Handlers, and Empezar Logistics are eyeing to build a 174-acre logistics park in Greater Noida, which is expected to attract an investment of ₹1,200 crore

After Kanwar Yatra rush, Haridwar battles waste; Delhi hit by noise, jams

Over 40 million Kanwariyas visited Haridwar as the city struggles with waste cleanup; Delhi sees over 350 complaints over DJ noise, traffic snarls during final days of the Kanwar Yatra

SC refuses to stay QR code directive for eateries along Kanwar Yatra route

The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to stay the "QR" code directive for eateries along Kanwar Yatra route in UP, Uttarakhand and directed all hotel owners along the route to display their licences and registration certificates in line with the statutory requirements. A bench of Justices M M Sundresh and N Kotiswar Singh said it was not going into the other issues over display of names of the hotel or dhaba owner and the QR code, Tuesday being the last day of the Kanwar Yatra. "We are told that today is the last day of the yatra. In any case it is likely to come to an end in the near future. Therefore, at this stage we would only pass an order that all the respective hotel owners shall comply with the mandate of displaying the licence and the registration certificate as per the statutory requirements," the bench said. The top court was hearing a plea filed by academician Apoorvanand Jha and others. Senior advocate Abhishek M Singhvi, appearing for the petitioners, submitted that th

Samajwadi Party misused power to occupy office space for ₹115: SC

The Supreme Court on Monday rapped the Samajwadi Party for "fraudulently occupying" office space for a paltry Rs 115 in Uttar Pradesh's Pilibhit, underlining a "clear misuse of political power". A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi told senior advocate Siddharth Dave, appearing for the political party, that it was not a case of fraudulent allotment but a case of "fraudulent occupation using muscle power and misusing power". The top court was acting on the party's plea against Nagarpalika Parishad of Pilibhit's eviction order. Dave argued despite paying rent for the office space, the municipal authorities were adamant to evict his client. He said a suit seeking injunction on the eviction order had been filed. "You are a political party. You misused official position and political power to occupy the space. When action comes, you start remembering everything. Have you ever heard of office space in a municipal area for Rs 115 rent. This is a clear case of abuse of power

Sambhal mosque row: Court defers hearing to Aug 5 due to lawyers' strike

A civil court in Chandausi on Monday deferred the hearing in the ongoing dispute over the Shahi Jama Masjid-Harihar temple to August 5 due to the strike by the local bar association. Civil judge (senior division) Aditya Singh was scheduled to hear the matter. The Muslim side had previously challenged the maintainability of the case in the Allahabad High Court, but on May 19, the high court upheld the subordinate court's order permitting a court-monitored survey and directed the trial court to proceed with the hearing. Advocate Shri Gopal Sharma, appearing for the Hindu side, told PTI, Due to the condolence meeting and strike by the bar association today, the court has fixed August 5 as the next date of hearing. District government counsel Prince Sharma confirmed the state government submitted an affidavit in court today. The matter pertains to a dispute over the Shahi Jama Masjid and the claimed Harihar Mandir. The high court's earlier stay was vacated on May 19, and the documents

Two arrested by Odisha CID for making fake website to dupe tourists in Puri

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Odisha Police has arrested two persons from Rajasthan for creating a fake website of a hotel to dupe tourists in Puri, officials said. The arrested persons have been identified as Aamir Khan (24) and Yusuf (27). Earlier, Anshuman Sharma, another accused person in the case, was arrested from Agra in Uttar Pradesh, the CID said in a statement issued on Monday. The arrests were made against a case registered on the basis of a complaint filed by the chief administrator of Jagannath Temple, Puri, it said. According to the police, the fraudsters had created a fake website and provided a mobile number to trap gullible people in the scam. They gave false assurance of accommodation at the hotel and provided mule bank accounts to transfer funds. However, the hotel's authority was completely unaware of the bookings and eventually received a lot of complaints, the CID said. The arrested accused persons were produced at Govindgarh court in Alwar i

Three held with drugs on Kanwar Yatra route in Muzaffarnagar: UP Police

Police have arrested three people for allegedly supplying drugs along the Kanwar Yatra route here and seized contraband from them, officials said on Monday. They also seized Rs 19,450 in cash from the trio during the arrest under the Civil Lines area here on Sunday evening, officials said. Circle Officer Raju Kumar Sab said a case has been registered against Vaibhav, Gulshan Kumar, and Krishan Kumar under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. On Sunday, thousands of kanwariyas (Lord Shiva devotees), heading back from Haridwar in Uttarakhand with Gangajal, were greeted by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath with a helicopter showering flowers on them in Muzaffarnagar. Authorities have implemented tight security measures along the Kanwar Yatra routes. The Yatra concludes on July 23, when the pilgrims will return home after offering the holy water from the Ganges at Shiva temples on their way. As he welcomed the pilgrims, Adityanath cla

Kanwariyas assault CRFP jawan after argument in UP, three arrested

Three kanwariyas were arrested for allegedly assaulting a CRPF jawan following an argument over purchasing tickets at the Mirzapur railway station here, an official said on Sunday. The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan was going to catch the Brahmaputra Express, while the kanwariyas (devotees of Lord Shiva) also wanted to buy tickets for the same train for going to Baidyanath Dham in Jharkhand. An argument broke out between them over purchasing the tickets. Government Railway Police (GRP) Inspector Raghavendra said the GRP jawans deployed on the spot tried to control the situation. More force was sent from the police station and the CRPF jawan was rescued. The GRP registered a case against the kanwariyas under sections 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 352 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) of the BNS and the Railway Act. Later, the kanwariyas were released on bail, the GRP said.

Panic grips UP village as drones spotted flying over homes at night

Panic has gripped residents of Chhajlat area here following the repeated spotting of drones flying over their homes at night. Fearing that organised gangs are using drones to conduct recces to commit burglaries, several residents have begun carrying out night patrols and even resorting to firing in the air to deter potential criminals. The latest incident occurred on Thursday night. A drone was seen hovering in the sky, prompting the panicked villagers, believing that thieves were targeting their homes, began firing in the air. Locals have recorded videos that are now circulating in the community. According to Superintendent of Police (Rural) Kunwar Akash Singh, while the police are actively investigating the matter, the incidents currently "appear to be a simple act carried out by a few youths." "Such drones are easily available in the market and are likely being used to create panic among the villagers," Singh said. "We are investigating the matter. We will soon identify and ..

ED raids in UP, Mumbai in conversion racket case linked to Chhangur Baba

The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday raided multiple locations in Uttar Pradesh and Mumbai as part of a money laundering investigation into an alleged religious conversion racket linked to 'Chhangur baba', officials said. At least 14 premises, including 12 in Balrampur district and two in Mumbai, are being searched under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), they said. The raids were launched around 5 am, along with a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) team, which was there to provide security cover to the ED officials. The federal probe agency recently filed a case to probe the activities and financial details of Jalaluddin alias Chhangur Baba, alleged to be a mastermind of an illegal religious conversion racket operating in Uttar Pradesh. Jalaluddin hails from Balrampur district, and his real name is Karimulla Shah. Jalaluddin, his son Mehboob and associates Naveen alias Jamaluddin and Neetu alias Nasreen were arrested by the UP Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) recently,

SC seeks UP govt reply on plea against amended law on religious conversion

The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought Uttar Pradesh government's response on a plea against certain provisions of the 2024 amended UP law on unlawful religious conversion. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta issued notice to the state asking for its response. It tagged the plea for hearing with other similar petitions. The top court was hearing a plea filed by academician Roop Rekha Verma, who hails from Lucknow, and others against the amended law. The petitioners have called certain provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act amended in 2024 "vague and overly broad" arguing their ambiguity infringed upon free speech and religious propagation.

UP schools to remain shut from 16 to 23 July due to Kanwar Yatra rush

Closures in Meerut, Muzaffarnagar and other UP districts come amid Kanwar Yatra rush; officials cite student safety and traffic control as key reasons, with catch-up classes planned in some areas

UP rolls out Gram-Urja model to cut LPG use by 70 pc in rural homes

Uttar Pradesh rolled out the Gram-Urja model to boost energy self-sufficiency and employment opportunities for rural households. The initiative promotes the local production of organic fertiliser and aims to reduce domestic LPG use by 70 per cent, the state government said in a statement on Tuesday. The initiative is being integrated with the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee (MGNREGA) scheme, and is planned to directly benefit farmers. Biogas units will be installed near individual households or farms, enabling farmers to produce both cooking gas and organic fertiliser for personal use. This will cut farming costs and improve productivity, the statement added. Rural households will benefit from the construction of personal cattle sheds, and the dung generated will be used in biogas units to produce kitchen fuel. Additionally, farmers can sell the leftover slurry as organic fertiliser to nearby cultivators, creating a new income stream and enhancing self-sufficienc

Kanwar yatra: Adityanath asks officials to maintain heightened vigil

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday chaired a high-level meeting to review preparations for the kanwar yatra, and directed officials to maintain surveillance in sensitive areas, asserting any attempt to disturb the yatra must be met with strict action. Maintaining that the safety and convenience of devotees are the top priorities of the state government, he instructed officials to ensure adequate arrangements along the yatra route, including cleanliness, medical services, drinking water, canteens, and toilets. Emphasising on the safety and comfort of women kanwariyas, he directed effective deployment of women police personnel, an official statement said here. Adityanath directed 24x7 surveillance in sensitive areas using drone cameras and CCTV, and instructed intelligence agencies to maintain heightened vigilance to prevent any disruption. To enhance communication and spiritual ambience, the CM directed the use of public address systems along the route and the ..