National

Mobile Phone Ban Lifted as Odisha Journalists Protest by Boycotting House Proceedings

Published

11 months ago

March 12, 2025

On Wednesday, Odisha Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy lifted the ban on journalists carrying mobile phones into the press gallery of the House. This decision followed a boycott of the House proceedings by the journalists.

The issue was addressed after Speaker Padhy and Government Chief Whip Saroj Pradhan met with the protesting journalists. While mobile phones are now permitted inside the press gallery, videography of the House proceedings remains prohibited, according to an official from the State Assembly.

Although there was no formal notification barring journalists from bringing mobile phones into the House, security personnel at the entry gates had prevented reporters from doing so, inciting frustration among them. This led to the journalists staging a boycott of the proceedings in protest.

Additionally, the journalists held a dharna near the Mahatma Gandhi statue within the assembly grounds, calling for the reversal of the restrictions. The ban on mobile phones was imposed just a day after media outlets circulated photographs and videos of a physical altercation among MLAs, which had quickly spread on social media.

The protesting journalists asserted their right to document the proceedings during Question Hour with photographs and videos. Opposition parties, including BJD and Congress, condemned the restriction.

BJD MLA and former minister Arun Kumar Sahoo vigorously criticized the media ban, appealing to the Speaker to uphold press freedom. He remarked, “This action is unacceptable. They have suspended a senior member of the opposition and are now restricting journalists.”

Congress MLA Taraprasad Bahinipati, who has been suspended from the House, strongly condemned the measures and expressed his party’s full support for the journalists’ protest.

National

Three Burned Alive as Car Falls from Bridge in Gujarat’s Rajkot

Published

2 weeks ago

January 31, 2026

Namma Kudla

Gujarat: A tragic accident claimed the lives of three people in Gujarat’s Rajkot district on Monday.A car fell from a bridge and caught fire, killing all occupants on the spot.

The incident occurred on the Gondal–Atkot highway.The car was travelling from Chhota Udepur towards Gondal.

According to reports, the vehicle hit the bridge’s safety barrier.After the collision, the car fell nearly eight feet into a small stream below the bridge.

Soon after the fall, the car caught fire.The occupants were trapped inside the vehicle and were unable to escape.All three were burned alive and died at the scene.

Police and fire personnel rushed to the spot after receiving information.The fire was later brought under control.The bodies were recovered and sent for post-mortem examination.

The exact cause of the accident is under investigation. Further details are awaited.

National

Girl Records Reels Inside Jail, Video Sparks Debate

Published

2 weeks ago

January 30, 2026

Namma Kudla

Bhopal: A young woman has come under public attention after recording reels inside a jail while meeting her boyfriend.

The incident happened at Raipur Central Jail in Chhattisgarh, which is known for high security. Mobile phones are strictly not allowed inside the jail. Despite this rule, the woman carried her phone into the visitor room.

She recorded videos while talking to her boyfriend during the meeting. In the video, she speaks emotionally about visiting him on his birthday. She says she feels sad because she cannot stay with him on his special day.

After the meeting, she uploaded the video on her social media account. The video quickly went viral on different platforms. The inmate seen in the video is identified as Tarakeshwar.

He is currently lodged in Raipur Central Jail. He is an accused in a case under the NDPS Act. The incident has raised serious questions about jail security.

People on social media are criticising jail staff and officials. Many users are asking how a mobile phone was allowed inside the jail.

They are also questioning the checking process at the jail entrance. So far, jail authorities have not given any official reaction.

National

MBBS Student Alleges She Was Drugged, Raped by Friend in Delhi Hotel

Published

4 months ago

October 6, 2025

Namma Kudla

New Delhi: An 18-year-old MBBS student has accused a 20-year-old male friend of drugging and sexually assaulting her at a hotel in Delhi’s Adarsh Nagar area. The alleged incident took place on September 9, police officials said.

According to the complaint, the accused, who is also a medical student, invited the woman to “Hotel Apple” on the pretext of spending time together. Once there, he allegedly gave her a drink laced with drugs and then raped her.

The survivor told police that the accused recorded obscene videos and took pictures during the assault. He later threatened to make the content viral if she reported the incident.

The woman, a native of Jind in Haryana, is currently staying at the hostel of Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College in Rohini, Delhi.

Based on her complaint, police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code. A search is underway to locate and arrest the accused, officials added.

In a separate case earlier this month, a school manager in Uttar Pradesh was arrested for allegedly raping a Class 8 student. In February, a tuition teacher in Delhi’s CR Park area was accused of repeatedly raping a 15-year-old student over three years and threatening her with blackmail.