National

BJP Leader Killed in Ranchi; Party Declares Citywide Bandh for Today

Published

1 year ago

March 26, 2025

Ranchi was shaken by a shocking assassination in broad daylight on Tuesday when BJP leader and former district council member Anil Tiger was fatally shot at Kanke Chowk. The attackers targeted him from close range, aiming at his head before fleeing the scene. He was taken to RIMS Hospital, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.

The murder incited immediate protests, with furious locals blocking the road at Kanke Chowk and demanding prompt action in this matter.

In response, police quickly apprehended the shooter on Manatu Ring Road and initiated an investigation. Early findings suggest that a land dispute may have motivated the attack, although authorities have not dismissed other possibilities.

This incident has raised significant alarms regarding the law-and-order situation in Jharkhand, drawing intense criticism from the opposition. The BJP has blamed the state government for the worsening security conditions. Party leaders, including Babulal Marandi, the state president and Leader of the Opposition, accused the government of fostering an environment of lawlessness that endangers both public representatives and ordinary citizens. Marandi alleged that police officials are entwined in land dealings, protecting criminals rather than ensuring public safety.

The BJP has announced a citywide bandh in Ranchi on March 27, calling on traders, citizens, and various organizations to unite in protest against the escalating crime rate in the state. The party pointed to a troubling pattern in the attacks against its leaders, referencing the murder of Jeetu Ram Munda in Ormanjhi as indicative of a broader conspiracy.

BJP spokesperson Ramakant Mahato claimed that a “jungle raj” has taken hold in the state, where criminals operate freely while law enforcement remains ineffective. He criticized the government for altering police regulations to facilitate corruption and criminal activities.

Several senior BJP figures, including Karmveer Singh, MP Aditya Sahu, Dr. Pradeep Verma, Manoj Singh, Rakesh Prasad, Vikas Preetam, Bhanu Pratap Shahi, Neelkanth Singh Munda, and Saroj Singh, extended their condolences and demanded swift justice for Anil Tiger’s family.

The assassination occurred while Jharkhand DGP Anurag Gupta was leading a law-and-order review meeting, raising serious questions about the effectiveness of policing in the state. Ranchi Rural SP Sumit Kumar Agarwal stated that the investigation is ongoing, with further arrests anticipated.

The murder has provoked outrage among residents, who are questioning how such an act could transpire in a busy area of the capital. With the BJP preparing for a confrontation with the state government and public discontent escalating, the citywide bandh on March 27 is poised to be a pivotal moment in the ongoing political and law-and-order crisis in Jharkhand.

National

Delhi Techie Found Dead During Honeymoon Trip

Published

1 day ago

June 17, 2026

Namma Kudla

National: A 27-year-old IT professional from Delhi was found dead at a homestay in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand. The woman, P Radha Gayatri, had gone on a honeymoon trip with her husband.

According to police, the couple checked into a homestay on June 14. Her husband said they had consumed alcohol and went to sleep late at night.

The next morning, he found Gayatri unconscious on the floor. Police said she was lying in a pool of urine, and blood was coming from her nose. She was declared dead at the scene.

The body has been sent for a post-mortem examination. Police are investigating the case and waiting for the autopsy report to determine the cause of death.

National

Pakistan Ranked World’s Most Polluted Country in 2025

Published

5 days ago

June 13, 2026

Namma Kudla

Islamabad: Pakistan has been ranked as the most polluted country in the world in 2025, according to a new report released by Swiss air quality monitoring company IQ Air.

The report found that Pakistan’s average PM2.5 pollution level was 13 times higher than the safe limit recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). PM2.5 refers to tiny harmful particles in the air that can enter the lungs and cause serious health problems.

IQ Air said that only 13 countries and territories met the WHO air quality guideline of less than 5 micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic meter of air in 2025. This was an improvement from seven countries in 2024.

The report also revealed that 130 out of 143 monitored countries and territories failed to meet the WHO standard.

Bangladesh was ranked as the second most polluted country, while Tajikistan secured the third position. Chad, which was the most polluted country in 2024, ranked fourth in 2025.

Experts said that Chad’s lower ranking may be linked to missing pollution data. In March 2025, the United States ended a global air quality monitoring program due to budget cuts. The program had collected pollution data from US embassies and consulates around the world.

Christi Chester Schroeder, the lead author of the report, said that the loss of data makes it difficult to know the true pollution levels in some countries.

Because of data shortages, Burundi, Turkmenistan and Togo were not included in the 2025 report.

The report also identified Loni in India as the world’s most polluted city. The city recorded an average PM2.5 level of 112.5 micrograms per cubic meter. Hotan in China ranked second with 109.6 micrograms.

According to the report, the 25 most polluted cities in the world were all located in India, Pakistan and China.

Only 14 percent of cities worldwide met the WHO air quality standard in 2025. This was lower than the 17 percent recorded in the previous year.

The report noted that large wildfires in Canada increased air pollution levels across the United States and even affected parts of Europe.

Countries that met the WHO air quality guideline in 2025 included Australia, Iceland, Estonia and Panama.

Meanwhile, Laos, Cambodia and Indonesia reported significant improvements in air quality. Experts said wetter and windier La Niña weather conditions helped reduce pollution levels in these countries.

Mongolia also recorded a 31 percent drop in average PM2.5 levels during the year.

Overall, 75 countries reported lower pollution levels in 2025, while 54 countries experienced an increase in air pollution, according to the IQ Air report

National

Indian Air Force AN-32 Transport Aircraft Crashes

Published

5 days ago

June 13, 2026

Namma Kudla

Dispur: An Indian Air Force (IAF) AN-32 transport aircraft crashed at the Air Force Station in Jorhat, Assam, on Saturday. The aircraft caught fire after the crash.

According to reports, the AN-32 aircraft went down within the premises of the air base. A fire broke out immediately after the accident.

Rescue and firefighting teams rushed to the spot and launched an operation to control the flames. The fire was brought under control after their prompt response.

The exact cause of the crash is not known yet. Authorities are investigating the incident.

So far, there have been no reports of any deaths or injuries. The Indian Air Force has confirmed the accident and said that more details will be shared after a complete assessment of the situation.

Further information is awaited.