Page 9 - Uttar Pradesh

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 ..

Lohia Worldspace to launch ₹200 cr luxury villa project in UP's Moradabad

Realty firm Lohia Worldspace will invest about Rs 200 crore to develop a 10-acre housing project in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, marking its entry into real estate business. This will be the company's first real estate project, comprising 175 luxury villas. Lohia Worldspace is the real estate arm of the diversified Delhi-based Lohia Global, a privately held company with an annual revenue of around Rs 1,200 crore. Established in 1979, the Group has four businesses - handicraft exports, electric vehicles, tiles and solar energy. Now, it has entered into real estate business to monetise its land bank of around 200 acres across various cities in North India. "Our vision with Lohia Worldspace is to create homes that are modern, meaningful, and rooted in thoughtful design," said Pyush Lohia, Director, Lohia Worldspace. The project cost is estimated at Rs 200 crore and expected to be delivered by 2029. Pyush said there is a huge demand for premium homes in Moradabad market. Last year, Lohi

2,000 police personnel deployed in Varanasi ahead of first Monday of Sawan

Nearly 2000 police personnel, 6 companies of CRPF, 10 companies of PAC, one flood relief company, and 1 team of ATS have been deployed

Uttar Pradesh govt mops up nearly ₹27,858 crore tax revenue in Q1 FY26

Of the total collection, the share of goods and services tax (GST) and value added tax (VAT) stood at ₹20,798 crore and ₹7,060 crore, respectively

UP DElEd 2025 results out at btcexam.in; Here's how to download scorecard

UP DElEd 2025 results for 2nd and 4th semesters are now available at btcexam.in. Candidates can check and download their mark sheets by using their login credentials

Uttar Pradesh plans ₹700 cr EV park near freight corridor in Kanpur

The project will be developed under a public-private partnership (PPP) model, and will span 500 acres

UP govt to plant more than 125 million saplings under MGNREGA scheme

The Uttar Pradesh government is set to plant more than 12.5 crore saplings in the state under the MGNREGA scheme following the directives of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. According to the state government, the aim is not only to enhance greenery but also to generate large-scale rural employment. This year's plantation drive will be carried out under the theme 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0', blending ecological responsibility with emotional and cultural sentiment by encouraging people to dedicate a tree to their mothers, it said. The highest 42 lakh saplings would be planted in Lakhimpur Kheri, followed by Sonbhadra and Hardoi. A total of 1.89 lakh plantation sites have been identified across the state, with plant species selected based on local climatic and geographical conditions. The initiative ensures that plantation efforts are sustainable and tailored to each location. In a special move to promote nutrition and health, each beneficiary of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Rural) wi

Hindustan Power commences work on 435 MWp solar project in UP

Hindustan Power has commenced work on a 435 megawatt peak (MWp) solar power project at Lalitpur in Uttar Pradesh. Awarded by the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL) through a competitive process in April 2025, the project will supply clean electricity to the state for the next 25 years, the company said in a statement. The initiative will also create new jobs and help drive sustainable growth in the local community. The company did not provide any further details related to the project cost and tariff at which the clean power will be supplied to the state. Hindustan Power is a leading integrated power generation company in India with a focus on renewable and transitional energy generation.

Gyanvapi case: Court rejects plea to transfer 1991 suit to another court

A district court here has dismissed a plea seeking the transfer of the original 1991 Gyanvapi suit from the court of the civil judge to another court. Advocate Vijay Shankar Rastogi, who is a party to the case, said District Judge Jay Prakash Tiwari rejected the transfer application on Monday, stating that the petitioners were not parties to the original suit and hence had no legal standing to seek such a transfer. The plea was filed by Manikuntala Tiwari, Neelima Mishra and Renu Pandey. They are the daughters of late Harihar Pandey, one of the litigants who filed the original suit. According to Rastogi, the plea submitted that they were not being given adequate time to present their side before the civil judge (senior division) fast track where the original suit is pending since 1991 and sought the case to be transferred to another court. Rastogi argued that the three sisters were not listed as parties in the 1991 suit and therefore did not have the locus standi to file a transfer

UP: Ghats submerged in Varanasi, Prayagraj; waterlogging in Moradabad

In West UP, Moradabad & Kasganj likely to receive rainfall of 15 cm; Aligarh 12cm, Sambhal 9cm; Kasba Tanda, Rath, and Sikandra Rao likely to receive 8 cm, and Khurja to receive 7 cm of rainfall

EC should take cognisance of violent incidents in Bihar: Mayawati

BSP chief Mayawati on Monday said the Election Commission should take cognisance of incidents of violence in Bihar, including the murder of Patna-based businessman Gopal Khemka, for the conduct of peaceful elections in the state. In a post on X, she spoke about the "deteriorating" law and order situation in Bihar ahead of the assembly polls laster this year. "The recent sensational murder of Gopal Khemka, a prominent industrialist and leader of the ruling party BJP, in Patna, has heated up the politics of the state in a new way," the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said. "If the Election Commission takes cognisance of this bloodshed and appropriate action right now, it will be better for conducting peaceful elections," she said. Khemka was shot dead by an unidentified armed assailant outside his house in Gandhi Maidan locality of Patna on Friday as he was about to alight from his car. His mortal remains were consigned to flames at Gulbi Ghat in Patna on Sunday. A large number