Amidst mourning the loss of 30 lives in the Maha Kumbh stampede, one man searches tirelessly for a missing seer. Families wander through Prayagraj’s hospitals and police stations, hoping to find their lost loved ones. Desperation grows as posters bearing missing persons’ details cover walls, highlighting the extent of the tragedy’s impact on those seeking closure.
Opposition leaders criticized the BJP government’s Budget, labeling it as lacking innovation and failing to address key economic issues like stagnant wages and a complex GST system. Rahul Gandhi called it a superficial fix, while former FM Chidambaram and others commented on its focus on wooing specific voter groups rather than driving substantial economic change.
Senior Congress MLA B R Patil has resigned as Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah’s political adviser, citing dissatisfaction with the current party scenario. Patil, a long-time loyalist, previously sought a ministerial position but faced resistance within his district, leading to his advisory role instead.
A Bareilly court sentenced a truck driver to life imprisonment for intentionally killing a police constable on duty in 2018. The driver, found to be inebriated at the time, had a previous grudge against police officers. The judge highlighted issues with road policing and recommended stricter regulations on hiring less-skilled drivers.
An engineer from Hingoli, Maharashtra, who had been missing in Iran for almost two months, is currently in a Tehran jail for taking photographs. He informed his wife via WhatsApp that he is expected to be released next Tuesday with the help of the Indian embassy.
A 21-year-old woman from Muzaffarnagar was gang-raped, murdered, and set on fire by her brother-in-law. He took a Rs 40,000 bank loan to hire two killers for the crime. The victim’s remains were identified through partially-burnt belongings. The brother-in-law, involved in an illicit relationship with her, was arrested, while two accomplices are on the run.