National

Over Four Illegal Mining Incidents Reported Daily in Himachal Pradesh Border Areas

Published

11 months ago

March 11, 2025

In the fiscal year 2024-25, a total of 1,531 instances of illegal mining and transportation were reported in the border regions of Himachal Pradesh (HP). The affected areas include Mand, Indora, and Fatehpur in Kangra; Nalagarh in Solan; Paonta Sahib in Sirmaur; and certain parts of Una district. This figure translates to an average of more than four illegal mining cases per day.

The Himachal Pradesh government disclosed this information during a session in the Vidhan Sabha on Tuesday, in response to a query from Indora MLA Malender Rajan.

Out of the recorded cases, penalties totaling Rs 77.96 lakh were imposed for 981 violations, while the remaining cases are currently pending resolution either in court or at the departmental level. To prevent the smuggling of sand to other states, the government has enacted a ban on issuing mining leases in border regions.

Additionally, the government has introduced the Himachal Pradesh Mineral Policy, 2024, aimed at regulating illegal mining in these border areas. The policy emphasizes the protection of valuable mineral resources, environmental conservation, and the scientific management of mineral extraction.

Authorities acknowledged that illegal mining predominantly occurs on government land. The 2024 policy empowers the Public Works Department and the Irrigation Department to file FIRs whenever they observe damage to their infrastructure, including bridges and irrigation systems.

The government also highlighted that a lack of clear land demarcation in border areas has led to the illegal extraction of soil, sand, and stones from riverbeds to meet local demand. This activity is often facilitated by the construction of unauthorized roads along riverbanks and public works roads, which are intermittently closed with the help of local administration.

Furthermore, the government pointed out that illegal mining activities are mostly conducted during nighttime. To combat this, restrictions have been implemented on mining operations from 8 PM to 5 AM. According to these guidelines, individuals are prohibited from engaging in mining during these hours, and no machinery or vehicles should be left parked in mining areas during this timeframe. However, this restriction does not extend to materials being processed by stone crushers.

The state government has also empowered officials from various departments, such as police, forest, and revenue, to file legal actions against individuals involved in illegal mining and transportation. They are also authorized to seize any machinery and equipment used in these activities. At the district level, Deputy Commissioners (DCs) are continuing to hold meetings to address the issue of illegal mining.

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.