Bhopal, May 28 (IANS) The search for Indore residents Raja and Sonam Raghuvanshi, who ‘mysteriously’ disappeared during their honeymoon in Meghalaya, has intensified.Indore Parliamentarian Shankar Lalwani arrived in Shillong on Wednesday to meet with senior police officials, including Director General of Police Idashisha Nongrang.Members of the Raghuvanshi family accompanied him, seeking answers and assistance. The couple’s family has reportedly offered a reward of Rs 5 lakh to anyone who can provide a substantial lead regarding their whereabouts.Chief Minister Mohan Yadav personally reached out to his Meghalaya counterpart, Conrad Sangma, to discuss the case, following which Lalwani made his visit.In a post on his X handle, Lalwani emphasised that ensuring the safety of Indore’s citizens remains his top priority.He assured that every possible effort is being made to locate the missing couple.During his meeting with DGP Nongrang, Lalwani revealed that tribal residents in the area where the couple vanished are being questioned, but no concrete leads have emerged.He pointed out that the couple’s scooter, their belongings, and the location where they last had breakfast are spread across different areas, suggesting that piecing together these clues could help solve the mystery.He also speculated that something may have happened to them while they were returning.He has also shared photos of his meeting with DGP Nongrang.The couple has been missing for six days. Local police conducted extensive search operations until late Tuesday night, during which two of their bags were discovered in a ditch near dense bushes. On Wednesday, the search resumed but was halted due to heavy rainfall.Torrential water from the mountains has made the terrain treacherous, forcing one search team to remain below while another halted three km away.Authorities have ruled out the possibility of an accident and are now focusing on a criminal investigation, reports said.The police are working on various leads, and a breakthrough is expected soon.The disappearance of Raja and Sonam has caused deep concern among their family and the wider community.Since receiving the distressing news, Lalwani has been in constant communication with Meghalaya’s administration, urging swift and decisive action.The state government has assured full cooperation in the search efforts.In a desperate bid to gather information, the Raghuvanshi family has announced a reward of Rs 5 lakh for anyone who can provide credible leads.The area where their bags were found is notorious for robberies, and even locals avoid venturing there alone.Raja, a transport businessman, and Sonam had travelled to Meghalaya for their honeymoon on May 20.They were last seen in Shillong’s Sohrarim area on May 23. Their abandoned scooter was discovered near Osara Hills the same day.Concerned about their sudden disappearance, Sonam’s brother Govind searched online and managed to trace the person who had rented them the bike. The case has now reached the highest levels of government.Chief Minister Mohan Yadav’s direct intervention has accelerated the search operation.A team of over fifty personnel, including villagers and members of the Village Defense Party, has been deployed to comb through the rugged terrain.Reports quoting East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem said that the couple’s last known mobile location was traced to Mawlakhiat village.Additional personnel were deployed on Wednesday to intensify the search.Investigations have revealed that the couple had visited the famous Living Roots Bridge in Nongriat village with a guide and had spent the night there before heading toward Mawlakhiat.Their movements after that remain unclear, deepening the mystery surrounding their disappearance. Authorities continue to explore all possibilities as they work tirelessly to bring Raja and Sonam home safely.–IANSsktr/pgh

Chennai, May 28 (IANS) The Madras High Court on Wednesday issued a notice to the Hidayathul Muslimin Sunnath Jamath in Thudiyalur, Coimbatore district, in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) against the conduct of Friday prayers on a road in front of the mosque.The notice is returnable by June 11. A special summer vacation Bench comprising Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy and Justice T.V. Thamilselvi also took note of the submission by Additional Advocate General (AAG) M.S. Suresh Kumar, appearing for the Coimbatore District Collector, who stated that no obstruction had been caused on the road since April 18, 2025.The AAG informed the court that revenue officials had convened peace committee meetings with local stakeholders and that the situation was under constant monitoring. Supporting the administration’s stance, Special Government Pleader for the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, N.R.R. Arun Natarajan, added that no disruptions had been caused to nearby temples due to the prayer gatherings.The PIL was filed by S. Vijesh, an employee at Lakshmi Mills Works in Nilambur.Represented by advocate C.K. Chandrasekhar, the petitioner argued that local residents were facing significant inconvenience as the Friday afternoon prayers, held between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m., extended onto the adjacent public road due to space limitations within the mosque premises.The petitioner alleged that this spillover blocked access to two nearby temples and created traffic congestion due to the haphazard parking of vehicles by attendees. He contended that such obstruction of a public road posed a risk to public safety, particularly in emergencies when access for emergency services could be impeded.During the hearing, Justice Ramamoorthy observed, “Ultimately, we are a multi-religious country. So, reasonable accommodation must be extended by people of every faith.” However, noting the need to hear the Jamath’s response, the court issued notice and adjourned the matter for further hearing after two weeks.–IANSaal/uk

Guwahati, May 28 (IANS) Assam BJP president and Lok Sabha MP Dilip Saikia on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi regarding Pakistan visit of the state chief of the grand old party. Saikia said: “The state government will come up with big revelations on September 10 and there will be earthquake in the Congress camp following this. Gaurav Gogoi has divulged only a part of his visit to Pakistan and the links of his wife with the neighbouring nation.”The state BJP president also claimed that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) has collected many details about Congress MP’s visit to Pakistan which will be revealed in September.“The people will get to know about every detail on September 10,” Saikia stated.Earlier on Wednesday, Gogoi addressed the controversy involving his 2013 visit to Pakistan and his wife’s professional background.In a bid to end speculation and social media narratives questioning his family’s associations, Gogoi clarified that his wife, Elizabeth Colburn Gogoi, worked with an international NGO and was stationed in Pakistan in 2011 for a year as part of her official duties.“I visited Pakistan only once, in 2013, in full compliance with the Government of India’s rules and regulations,” he said.“My personal and professional life has always been transparent and aligned with the national interest.”He also emphasised the need for fact-based political discourse and urged opponents to focus on substantive issues rather than personal attacks.Responding to questions about his family’s citizenship, Gogoi acknowledged that his wife and two children hold British citizenship.“My wife’s citizenship is a personal decision. My second child was born in the UK. We faced many challenges while living in England during the COVID-19 pandemic, which led us to convert our first child’s citizenship to British,” he said.–IANStdr/pgh

Bhopal, May 28 (IANS) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has welcomed the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs’ decision to approved two multi-tracking railway projects aimed at enhancing transportation efficiency for both passengers and freight. These projects include the construction of a third and fourth railway line between Ratlam and Nagda, as well as a fourth line between Wardha and Balharshah in Maharashtra. These two projects are important as the projects will contribute to India’s climate goals by reducing oil imports by 20 crore liters and lowering CO2 emissions by 99 crore kg, beyond economic benefits. Additionally, the railway expansion will generate approximately 74 lakh human-days of direct employment during construction. In a post on his X handle, CM Mohan Yadav said: “The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs under the leadership of the Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved two multi-tracking projects for Indian Railways. These projects will significantly enhance connectivity in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, benefiting approximately 784 villages with a combined population of 19.74 lakh. On behalf of the people of Madhya Pradesh, I sincerely extend my gratitude to the Honourable Prime Minister for this invaluable initiative.” The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the projects on Wednesday. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that these initiatives will bolster infrastructure along the Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Chennai economic corridors, addressing congestion and improving transport flow. The total estimated cost of the projects is approximately Rs 3,399 crore, with completion expected by 2029-30. These projects are part of the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, which emphasises integrated planning to ensure seamless multi-modal connectivity for the movement of people, goods, and services. Covering four districts across Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, the new railway lines will add approximately 176 km to the existing Indian Railways network. These routes play a crucial role in the transportation of key commodities such as coal, cement, clinker, gypsum, fly ash, containers, agricultural products, and petroleum-based goods. The capacity enhancement will facilitate an estimated 18.40 MTPA (Million Tonnes Per Annum) of additional freight traffic, making logistics more efficient. These developments are expected to enhance travel convenience, optimise supply chains, and accelerate economic growth by improving logistical efficiency. Increased rail capacity will lead to better operational performance and service reliability, ultimately alleviating congestion. In alignment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a self-reliant India, these projects will foster regional development, creating new employment and self-employment opportunities for local communities. –IANSsktr/pgh

Amaravati, May 28 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Wednesday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the Union Cabinet approved the four-lane Badvel-Nellore corridor.Responding to a post by the Prime Minister on X, the Chief Minister stated that the approval is a major step forward in the state’s growth, boosting regional connectivity and empowering youth.He thanked Prime Minister Modi and Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari for sanctioning the corridor.Earlier, the Prime Minister posted that the corridor will benefit the development journey of Andhra Pradesh and generate several opportunities for the youth of the state.Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan also took to X to thank the Prime Minister, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, for sanctioning the Badvel–Nellore 4-lane highway. “This key project will reduce travel distance to Krishnapatnam Port by 33.9 km, boost industrial connectivity, and strengthen transportation infrastructure, laying a strong foundation for SwarnaAndhra 2047 and contributing to the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. Your leadership and support are driving Andhra Pradesh towards a brighter, stronger and self-reliant,” posted the Jana Sena Party leader.The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister, approved the construction of the four-lane Badvel-Nellore Corridor with a length of 108.134 km at a cost of Rs 3653.10 crore on NH 67 on Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Transfer (DBFOT) Mode.According to an official release, the approved corridor will provide connectivity to important nodes in the three Industrial Corridors of Andhra Pradesh, i.e., Kopparthy Node on the Vishakhapatnam-Chennai Industrial Corridor (VCIC), Orvakal Node on Hyderabad-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (HBIC) and Krishnapatnam Node on Chennai-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (CBIC). This will have a positive impact on the Logistics Performance Index (LPI) of the country.Badvel Nellore Corridor starts from Gopavaram Village on the existing National Highway NH-67 in the YSR Kadapa District and terminates at the Krishnapatnam Port Junction on NH-16 (Chennai-Kolkata) in SPSR Nellore District of Andhra Pradesh, and will also provide strategic connectivity to the Krishnapatnam Port, which has been identified as a priority node under Chennai-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (CBIC).The proposed corridor will reduce the travel distance to Krishanpatnam port by 33.9 km from 142 km to 108.13 km as compared to the existing Badvel-Nellore road. This will reduce the travel time by one hour and ensure that a substantial gain is achieved in terms of reduced fuel consumption, thereby reducing the carbon footprint and Vehicle Operating Cost (VOC).–IANSms/uk

Bhopal, May 28 (IANS) All four police personnel from Bihar who were injured in an accident in Ratlam have been referred to Indore for further treatment. The accident, which took place on Wednesday morning on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, claimed the lives of two police personnel when their vehicle suddenly overturned midway.A video capturing the incident has gone viral, shedding light on the tragic event.According to Amit Kumar, the Superintendent of Police in Ratlam, the accident occurred near the Ratlam Industrial Area on the eight-lane road.The vehicle, belonging to Bihar’s Special Task Force (STF), was en route to Gujarat to apprehend certain suspects.One of the injured officers was immediately transferred to Indore due to the severity of his condition.The remaining three were first taken to Ratlam Medical Hospital, where they received first aid before also being referred to Indore for further treatment, according to police officials.Ratlam SP Amit Kumar stated that the Bihar STF team was traveling in a Scorpio from Gaya to Gandhidham to apprehend an accused individual.Among those who tragically lost their lives was Sub-Inspector Mukund Murari, a 2018 batch officer from Bakhtiyarpur, Patna.Mukund had initially joined the Patna District Force as a constable in 2015 and was later posted to the Patna STF. Constable Vikas Kumar, another victim of the accident, was a resident of Jehanabad.The injured personnel include Sub-Inspector Santosh Kumar from Bhagalpur, Constable Mithilesh Paswan from Kaimur, Constable Ranjan Kumar from Nawada, and Constable Jeevdhari Kumar.Constable Ranjan Kumar recalled that he had been asleep in the backseat and was unaware of how the accident unfolded.When he woke up, he found himself amid the wreckage, with three individuals lying outside the vehicle.He stated that they had been sleeping in the trunk while their superior was driving. Injured officer Mithilesh Paswan stated that they were on a secret operation from Gaya to Gandhidham when the accident occurred.He described how the vehicle lost balance on the expressway near Ratlam and overturned, dragging along the road for nearly 100 feet before finally coming to a halt.–IANSsktr/pgh

Bhagalpur (Bihar), May 28 (IANS) A national conference on ‘Accelerated Horticultural Development for Livelihood Improvement in Amrit Kaal’ is being held from May 28 to 31, at Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, in Bhagalpur district, Bihar.

The conference has brought together prominent scientists, policymakers, and academicians from across the country. The primary objective of the event is to deliberate and formulate new strategies and action plans to drive growth in India’s horticulture sector.Speaking at the inaugural session, Chief Guest Dr Sanjay Kumar highlighted the pivotal role of horticulture in nation-building. “Horticulture provides the highest returns per unit area, and it is a welcome shift that farmers are moving from traditional food crops to high-value horticultural crops,” he said. Emphasising the need to move beyond conventional practices, he advocated for a focus on marketing, branding, and the promotion of region-specific produce.He also suggested setting up GI-specific malls and retail stores to reduce post-harvest losses and address malnutrition through diversified horticultural interventions.Dr H.P. Singh, also present at the event, underscored the need for collective efforts under the Viksit Bharat (Developed India) initiative and the adoption of high-yielding, resource-efficient technologies.Dr A.R. Pathak appreciated the contribution of members of the ‘ASM’ Foundation and commended their patriotic spirit. Awards were also presented to individuals for outstanding contributions.Dr S.N. Jha stressed the importance of focused research on crops such as makhana and litchi. He recommended adopting functional breeding to enhance the effectiveness of university-based research.Dr Alok K. Sikka called for a transformative approach to achieve the vision of a developed India by 2047. Stressing the balance between economic growth and environmental sustainability, he stated that horticulture plays a vital role in agricultural GDP.Organising Secretary Dr Fizza Ahmad presented key achievements of Bihar Agricultural University, including 19 patents, 1 trademark, the registration of 56 farmer-developed varieties, and the release of GI-tagged postal stamps.During the conference, important research journals and publications were launched, and scientists who made notable contributions to the horticulture sector were felicitated. The inaugural session concluded with a collective commitment to empowering rural livelihoods through innovation, sustainability, and inclusiveness in horticulture.All dignitaries appreciated the visionary leadership of Dr D.R. Singh, Vice Chancellor of Bihar Agricultural University, for steering the institution’s teaching, research, extension, and training programmes in a progressive direction.–IANSbrt/uk

New Delhi, May 28 (IANS) The Delhi Police on Wednesday filed a status report at a court here in connection with a matter pertaining to derogatory posts made by an account allegedly belonging to journalist Rana Ayyub against whom an FIR was registered.According to sources, Delhi Police submitted the status report in the Saket Court. The court was told that details related to the X account of Rana Ayyub were awaited.The police said that further investigation would be carried out upon receiving the details of the X account.The police, also stated that while examining and going through the X account, the so-called “derogatory posts” were found.Delhi Police further said that after receiving the reply from X, further investigation will be carried out and the probe into the case will be finalised.Earlier, Saket Court had directed Delhi Police to register an FIR against Rana AyyubEarlier in January this year, the Delhi Police filed an FIR against Rana Ayyub on the court’s direction over “derogatory posts”.The FIR was filed on the basis of a complaint by Advocate Amita Sachdeva under relevant sections.According to the FIR, the complainant has accused Rana Ayyub of using her platform to “insult revered Hindu deities, malign Indian unity, and incite hostility against India, including disparaging the Indian Army”.The complainant also claimed that Rana Ayyub had made multiple derogatory social media posts on X between 2013 and 2017 which insulted revered Hindu deities, spread anti-India sentiments, and incited religious disharmony.–IANSscor/

Kolkata, May 28 (IANS) In wake of the Supreme Court order earlier this month directing the West Bengal government to clear 25 per cent of the dearness allowance dues to the state government employees immediately, the state Finance Department has started a survey on the exact number of current and retired state government employees who will be eligible for the payment.Sources from the state Finance Department said that initial estimates show the number of eligible recipients at around 10 lakh, which include those attached to different state government departments, state-run schools, affiliated bodies like municipalities and municipal corporations, and retired employees.The employees appointed in 2019 or after will not be eligible for payment of such dearness allowance dues since the term of the last RoPA (Revision of Pay & Allowance) under the 5th Pay Commission, which was introduced in 2009 during the previous Left Front regime, ended in 2019. The tenure of one RoPA period is 10 years.Now, one confusion has surfaced during this calculation survey, which is whether the teaching and non-teaching staff in state-run schools appointed in the 2016 panel and who have lost their jobs following a Supreme Court order last month will be eligible for payment of this 25 per cent dearness allowance dues or not.The state government has yet to come to a final decision on the matter.Besides surveying to find out the number of eligible employees, the state Finance Department officials are also busy with the task of exploring avenues to arrange funds for this payment, which is estimated to cost the state exchequer around Rs 12,000 crore or so.All the members of the state cabinet, including Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, have refrained from making any comment so far on the Supreme Court order on payment of 25 per cent dearness allowance arrears immediately. The Chief Minister just said once earlier this month that she would not comment on the Supreme Court’s order, but would act on it in a legal way.–IANSsrc/vd

New Delhi, May 28 (IANS) In a pioneering effort to bring menstrual and reproductive health…